I've said it multiple times before but I love a good concealer, and really anything related to the undereye area.

I feel like they're the products that I see the most difference when I use them, and because I have such harsh undereye circles, it's my problem area so I like to tend to that the most.

I've tried almost every gimmicky product under the sun and lately, I've been even more obsessed with finding the perfect under eye routine.

My no shopping for Lent is still going strong, so these products were purchased last month and I've been testing this for the past few weeks, and I have to say, I love every one of these products.

Whether everything really works or is it just a placebo effect is another story.



Physician's Formula Refresh Mint Cucumber & Bamboo Eye Depuffer: After washing my face in the AM with Simple Micellar Water, I run this under my eyes to depuff and cool. I first saw this in a Vogue Beauty Editor's Instagram Story and I needed it immediately. I loved that this was big enough to cover a large surface area, and I was just drawn to it. It feels so good on my under eyes and is naturally cool. It does do a great job at depuffing and prepping my skin for the rest of the products.

Julep So Awake Depuffing Gel Eye Cream: When I saw this first hit the market I knew it was something I had to have. It's not a traditional cream, but has a slight jelly feel to it. A little goes a long way and it really moisturizes my undereye area. It has caffeine which is one of my favorite ingredients in a beauty product because it really awakens the skin.

Becca Anti Fatigue Under Eye Primer: This is another new product that I ordered the minute it was available a few months ago. I apply it after I let the Julep cream sink into my skin as a good base for my concealer. It's a very solid balm, more solid than the Physician's Formula roller. It is NOT cooling at all but it claims to be so I was disappointed by that. However, I do like the feeling of it and I think it really does make a huge difference in my concealer. If you're priming your face and your eyelids, why not your under eye area?

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution: I bought this before any of the other products and I primarily use it at night. At first, it was drying my skin out but it just took a little getting used too. I think it has helped my dark circles over time because at one point, they were really, really bad but they have gotten a bit better. It is a pure, concentrated serum filled with Caffeine and Green Tea so it's probably your best bet when it comes to your under eyes!

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels: I don't know how much more I could talk about these masks but I have to include them in this post. I've tried so many eye masks but these are the ones I continually go back too. They are so cooling, I shiver when I put them on my eyes, and they are the most comfortable masks out there. I hate when the eye mask slides all over your face but these definitely DO NOT do that!

What are your favorite under eye products?
xoxo
B

This month went by in a blur but also very slowly. It was a rough month for some personal reasons but also a happy one because 1) the weather got cold, 2) Thanksgiving, 3) I turn 25 in two days.

November is definitely my 2nd favorite month (October being the first) so I was happy to have it pass by a little more slowly than usual.

I didn't do much shopping this month to save up all my strength and dollars for Black Friday & Cyber Monday... I will attempt to do a haul over on my Youtube channel once I get everything in the mail!

Because I didn't shop that much, I did a really great little shop my stash and really used everything in my collection (makeup wise)



1. Becca First Light Priming Filter: I'm almost done with this primer because I've been using it every day. I forgot how much I loved it and I will be buying it again. It's super light weight, makes my skin look nice and really allows my makeup to last all day. If you haven't tried this primer, I highly recommend it!

2. Hey Honey Silk Facial Serum: While I love nighttime skincare, I am never good at putting skincare on in the morning. I don't like my face to feel oily or too moisturized before applying makeup, which goes against everything I know, but I just like using my primer on clean skin. That is, until now. I don't know where I got this mini sample from but it's almost gone and it's amazing. I've used this everyday before makeup and my skin feels so smooth and supple. The texture that was on my skin is pretty much gone and I think I owe it to this product. It has a smooth texture, doesn't have a smell, and just sinks into your skin. It's an awesome morning serum!

3. Makeup Forever HD Foundation Stick: I've had this in my collection for a while and always use it sparingly. Well, this month I decided I wanted a quick foundation to apply in the morning before work and this was perfect. It makes my skin look flawless, gives medium-full coverage, and is just perfect to apply in a hurry. I apply it with this PUR Cosmetics brush and it takes me under 60 seconds to do my foundation. I kind of want to throw out all my other foundation & use this only.

4.  MILK Makeup Flex Concealer: I've been dying for a new concealer because I've been bored with my collection and I just so happened to get this concealer from an old colleague who works for MILK. Um, it's amazing!! The packaging is so cute (I love the tube + classic applicator) and it is medium-full coverage. It has a brightening effect while not being stark white *not sure if this is a claim but it is for sure brightening on me* and it blends out beautifully. It's a new must-have for me!



5. Snowflake iPhone Case: When I saw this iPhone case from Kate Spade, I was drawn to it immediately. I'm getting into the real winter & Christmas spirit and this went with my aesthic. However, for once, I didn't think spending $55 on a phone case was a good idea so I decided to look on Etsy... I found a few I liked but then I thought, what's cheaper than Etsy? AMAZON! I got this adorable snowflake phone case that is sturdy and fits my mood to a T.

What was your favorite item of the month?
xoxo
B

I didn't realize it until I started working in the beauty industry but in retail, the holiday season starts at the end of September and that is usually when you start seeing all the beauty companies putting out their holiday sets.

It can be very overwhelming to log onto the New Arrivals section of Sephora and Ulta during the holidays because there are so many sets and limited edition product to choose from. Most companies don't release permanent items during this time but may introduce something that is limited edition to get an idea of how customers react to it.

While the end of September/early October is a little early to really consider holiday shopping (in most cases), I like to scoop up some of the sets I know I definitely want and might sell out. Usually, once holiday sets are sold out, they won't come back in stock. Sometimes though, you get lucky and the retailer does restock. I like to shop early just in case.

I can do this because well, I'm not shopping these sets for other people, I'm shopping for myself LOL.

When I was presented with all my options this year, I knew there wasn't going to be much I wanted. None of the Too Faced or Benefit stuff intrigued me, I don't need or necessarily want a limited edition eyeshadow palette and to put it simply, I don't need a lot of other stuff that's available.

I only picked up two items so far and I'm contemplating a few other ones.

When I saw the eyeshadow palette that Becca was releasing, I wanted that so badly but then after much consideration and a few reviews, I opted against it. I was glad when I did because then I saw the face palette Becca released and fell in love.






First, the packaging is incredible. I'm obsessed with icy blue this season and I think I blame this packaging. I feel like Queen Elsa when I use this palette and I love it! I don't have any of the colors in the palette so it's well worth it for me. The formulas great and the colors are perfect for winter -- I highly recommend picking this palette up if you love Becca, loved limited edition items, and love face palettes!

The other item I purchased was one from Bite Beauty. I got the Champagne Discovery Lip Set because I've been dying to try the lip gloss and Multi Stick lipstick. Also, my love of Champagne things has not faltered this year. It's also three full-size items for $35 so you cannot go wrong with this one.





The outer box is so adorable because it has 'I WISH' embedded in it so it has the touch of holiday cheer without being cheesy. The products inside aren't limited edition and are great quality -- I've been wearing all of them nonstop.

Like I said, I only bought these two holiday items so far but below are some others I have my eye on and some that I think would make great gifts for the beauty lover in your life:

January is the time when a lot of beauty brands release their mid winter & spring collections. It's also the time when the new trends start popping up and things are beginning to change throughout the beauty industry.

It's truly an exciting time and probably one of the most exciting months. It's exciting behind the scenes as someone who works in the industry but also truly exciting as a consumer. During the holiday season, brands don't usually release new items because they're releasing value sets & limited edition packaging.

Now is the time when we no longer see the same old products & shades; everything is new and I'm so excited!

Browsing the Just Arrived section of Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom is my favorite pastime and it's even better this time of the year. I have my eye on a few buys and am waiting to hit the "Place Order" button, only because I'm trying to be good and not shop too much.

In January, a lot of brands put out their complexion products, so foundations, primers, and concealers are usually all the rage. That being said, I'm super excited for a lot of items in that range.

I'm also excited for a lot of the trends this year: athleisure beauty & fresh skin (no makeup makeup look) are two of the hottest trends this year & I'm PUMPED.

I want to dive into a few launches I'm really excited for and need to purchase ASAP. They have great reviews and they're all in my cart. They are for sure definite beauty buys for this month!

Nars Radiance Primer with SPF Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm GlamGlow Plumprageous Nudes Collection Skin Fitness Kit Sephora Micellar Cleansing Milk Tarte Lifted Sweatproof Mascara Urban Decay Optical Illusion Complexion Primer

Jaclyn Hill is QUEEN. I love her so much and I think she is the best beauty guru on Youtube. That being said, this post may be SLIGHTLY biased, but to each his own.

Last summer, Jaclyn released, in collaboration, with Becca Cosmetics, a highlighter called Champagne Pop. It took over the beauty industry and put Becca on the map. It's a gorgeous Champagne, beige color that works on so many skin tones. I am confident in saying that Champagne Pop is my favorite highlight to date.

The texture of Becca's highlights are super smooth, easy to apply & blend, and just make your cheekbones pop. I am obsessed.

Champagne Pop was supposed to be limited edition but because it made such a splash, Becca made it permanent and I am so relieved to hear that, because I was so nervous I'd run out or my compact would break and I would never be able to get it again.

Back in December, Becca also released a limited edition holiday palette that had Champagne Pop, Pearl, and Blushed Copper -- all highlighters that soon became permanent. I got my hands on that too, because I can never have too much Champagne Pop.

That's why, when I heard that Jaclyn & Becca were teaming up AGAIN for a release this spring, I nearly lost it.

You can imagine my excitement when I found out it was a whole collection being released, which included a face palette, eye palette *which is no longer being sold due to quality issues*, and the poured creme & liquid versions of Champagne Pop.

I have yet to purchase the liquid & poured versions of the highlight but rest assured that I 100% will at some point. Both of these items are permanent so there is no rush!

However, there is a rush for the Limited Edition Face Palette which hits all Sephora stores on June 16th and should be back online that day as well.




I got my Face Palette when it was released in limited quantities during the Becca release party back in May and my goodness, I am in love.

Even though I've been addicted to cream products, I make an exception for this palette. It comes in this gorgeous gold & white packaging that feels light & heavy at the same time, but always feels luxurious & expensive.

It comes with 5 products; Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop, Rose Spritz, Amaretto, and Pamplemousse.



Jaclyn created ALL of these shades and if you know her, and watch her videos, you can tell that this palette is HER. Prosecco Pop is a new highlighter shade that is a little more golden that Champagne Pop and it's utterly gorgeous.

There are three blushes with three different finishes: Rose Spritz is a Luminous Blush that has a lot of shimmer to it but is beautiful blended out on the cheeks. Amaretto is a neutral, bronzed colored blush that will look fabulous on everyone. Oh and it's also matte!

Pamplemousse is a very pink, bright satin blush that you can certainly make work, whether you like bright colors or not.

I've used all the colors in this palette and I do think that Amaretto is my favorite. Prosecco Pop is also a close second to my favorite highlight.

Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse, Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop

I'm really excited to get my hands on the liquid & poured versions because, well, this post speaks for itself.

I did plan to talk about the eyeshadow palette that was released with this collection because it's beautiful & I love it, but it was taken off the shelves last week. There were some quality issues with the palette and apparently Becca used a different lab to produce this palette, and there were complaints about the dryness of the shadows. Jaclyn asked for it to be removed and Becca agreed.

Being in the cosmetics industry, I know how difficult it is to get a product right & I respect Becca & Jaclyn for their decision.

Anywho... I HIGHLY recommend heading to your local Sephora to grab this LIMITED EDITON palette. Try it out, see if it's something you love & if not, return it. Do not let this moment pass you by because you will regret it. It will be in stores on June 16th!

GO GO GO!

Another week has come & gone. I'm getting ready to head to my cousin's wedding today (it's raining and just not good wedding weather) and I haven't been to a wedding in over 10 years. I'm pretty excited to eat & drink... Millennial complex, ladies & gents.



I hate feeling rushed & hectic but that's what this morning is: I went to the Drybar for the 1st time last night and it was epic. More on that later... but this morning I need to paint my nails, shower, pack up and get out of the house by 2 PM.

The good news is that next week is Memorial Day Weekend which means the start of summer fridays at work so I'll have off every other Friday. I am SO HYPED.

This was also a week of highs & lows. I got published on Elite Daily again but was also passed over for a freelance position and another Elite Daily article got rejected. You win some, you lose some but I'm getting used to rejection...as all writers & everyone else should. Take it with stride!



Also -- the Champagne Glow Collection by Becca & Jaclyn Hill releases next week (I already have the face palette that was released in limited quantities this week) and I'm planning on buying everything because JH is QUEEN and I'm so excited.



That being said, here's what I loved this week:

• 50 couples who made us believe in love
• Twitter is making links & photos NOT part of the 140 character limit! #Rejoice 
• Gilmore Girls is coming back & you may want to refresh your memory 
• Baking a cake? Follow some of these tips
• Student loans are the bane of my existence 
• Interesting article on why we don't enjoy our free time
• Got anxiety? These apps can help

I'm on a shopping hiatus because I went crazy this month, with good intent. Retail therapy does wonders for the soul and I don't care what anyone says!

There were lots of beauty releases this month and I fell in love with every single one of them. I've been reorganizing my beauty collection, making room for all the new items.

I just enjoy beauty from all ends of the spectrum. It's my career, it's my hobby, it brings me joy. Everyone needs a hobby in my opinion ;)

Some of these products are brand new, some are just new to me.





1. Too Faced Peach Palette: If you are subscribed to my newsletter, you saw this in today's email. I was one of the lucky few who got this when it was released on TooFaced.com & literally broke the website. It sold out on Ulta.com, HSN.com, and it will soon be available in Ulta stores & on Sephora's website. It's Limited Edition & I've been wanting this palette for months. It smells like peaches and it's super heavenly. All the shades are super creamy & pigmented. It could use 1-2 more matte shades, in my opinion and the shades Peaches & Cream and White Peach are a little patchy but otherwise, this is my new favorite palette. I tend to stick to more browns & neutrals so I'm really glad to have bright pops of peachy pinks and greens, along with my favorite neutrals. If you can get your hands on this, and you love Too Faced, definitely pick this up!

Middle is Echo Park; bottom is Get Paid Liner; top is limited edition Poppin Matte X Lipstick

2. ColourPop Satin Lip: I placed an order with Colourpop a few weeks ago and I took this as a time to try their Ultra Satin Lip Lipstick. I hated their Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick because they were so drying-- I ended up just throwing them out because I never, ever wore them. These Ultra Satin Lips got really good reviews and the good thing is, they aren't matte so they never dry so they aren't drying. I got the shade Echo Park, which is a beigy, pinkish nude and I love it. It's really comfortable, not drying, and the color is gorgeous. I may try more, I may not, but they are really great alternatives for those who don't like liquid lipstick.


3. Becca Best of Becca Blushed Radiance: I don't have a lot of Becca products. I only have Champagne Pop, AquaLuminous Foundation, and the Jaclyn Hill Holiday Palette. I have been meaning to try more because I know Becca is an incredible brand. I saw this set at Ulta and knew it was a great deal. I decided to be adventoruous and silly and place a stupidly big (big for me) Ulta order and this was in it. I am obsessed! It comes with a mini size Mineral Blush in Flowerchild, mini size Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, Shimmering Skin Perfector Wand in Moonstone, and a mini Backlight Priming Filter. I've worn the primer (and it's amazing: full size, I'm coming for you!) and the Mineral Blush (full size, I'm coming for you!) and I have fallen head over heels. I already know I love the highlighters but this is a great little set if you're looking to try more Becca products.

How cute is the packaging & the stickers?!

4. Glossier Balm Dot Com: This is the best lip balm in the history of the world. I know it feels like I say that a lot but this is the best. I've been meaning to try it FOREVER and I finally bit the bullet. It's a thicker salve that can be used other places like your cuticles, elbows, or ankles. I put it on at night since it's a thicker formula and I wake up the next day to smooth, hydrated, and moisturized lips. It's so thick I still feel remnants of the balm the next morning. It's INCREDIBLE.

There are definitely a few more items that I've collected but these are my top favorites at the moment!

What are your new beauty buys that have been in your top drawer?

I've been on a huge foundation kick lately. I feel like there has been a lot of different releases over the past few months and I want to try them all.

I've never been a huge foundation person--some days I skip it altogether, or just go with a trusty powder foundation (I love this one) but lately I just can't shake the feeling of wanting all the foundations!

I've especially enjoyed the trend of water serum foundations. Every brand is releasing their own version of a hydrating, water based, serum like foundation. My favorite so far is the PUR Cosmetics Hydrafluid Water Serum Foundation but another one had caught my eye around the same time.

The only product I've ever tried from Becca are the Shimmering Skin Perfectors
and I love them so much. They are the best highlighters on the market. I've always wanted to try more Becca products and when I saw that the brand was releasing a water based foundation, I immediately wanted to jump on the train.

The Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation is a light weight, buildable formula that feels weightless on the skin and leaves a slight luminous finish.



I never buy high end products on a whim because they're expensive and I don't like to make rash decisions. I always turn to my trusty beauty v-loggers to see what they think of products before I buy. I watched some reviews before purchasing this and all of them were a go so I couldn't wait to buy it.

I chose the shade Light and it's a near perfect match for me. I never have had an issue with choosing foundation shades online so I'm glad this one was no different.



This foundation has a dropper applicator and I really enjoy that aspect of it. The one issue with this applicator, though, is that I can't seem to get enough product out of it. It may just be me and I don't know the proper way to work the dropper (if that makes sense) but it's such a minor con.



I love this foundation and it has quickly become my go-to. It's light to medium coverage and seamlessly melts into the skin. It feels super hydrating and light weight on the skin -- it doesn't feel like anything in my opinion.

I especially like the light luminous finish it leaves on the skin. It's not overpowering which is always appreciated because who wants to look like a disco ball before applying any bronzer, blush, or highlight?

I can't attest to staying power because a lot of things go into that-- primer, skin type, activity. I never pay attention to how long a foundation stays on my skin because in different lighting, my face looks completely different. I should really try to pay more attention to how long my makeup lasts but it's not something that is uber important to me.

I think this is definitely a foundation for dry skin. I do think it is suitable for all skin types because it's not greasy or slippery on the skin. If you do have oily skin, I recommend heading into your local Sephora or Ulta to test it out before buying.

All in all, I am obsessed with this foundation and it's my go-to every day foundation. It has really turned me onto Becca's complexion products and I'm excited to try more. I'm really curious about the Becca Backlight Priming Filter because everyone raves about it and I think my next Becca purchase will be the Best of Becca kit from Ulta so I can try the primer & one of their blushes.

What is your current favorite foundation?

I've been trying to buy less and spend less money on make-up but it doesn't seem to be working. I've definitely cut back, but I still like to treat myself to something new every so often.

These items have been collected over the course of two months and I've been loving & using all of them religiously.

There's always new things at the drugstore, and obviously those are more affordable but I do love myself a good high end make-up splurge!




Here are some of the beauty items I've been LOVING lately.

//Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation: I've been lusting after this drugstore foundation since it came out last year. It's definitely on the pricey side of the drugstore, rounding out anywhere from $10-$13. I finally splurged on it and it's been life changing. It's a very liquid, water like foundation that has medium-full(ish) coverage. I apply it with a Beauty Blender and it gives me the most beautiful demi matte, powder finish. It wears pretty well throughout the day and I've been wearing it almost everyday. It's well worth the price.




//Maybelline Lip Studio Color Blur: I have been obsessed with lip products lately and I cannot get enough. When I saw that Maybelline released a new line of matte lip colors, I went searching for them and couldn't find them for weeks at my local CVS or Duane Reade. I finally went to Rite Aid in my neighborhood and they had ALL the new beauty products. I picked up this one in "I Like to Mauve It" and love it! It's a little on the pinker side of mauve but it's a great "Kylie Jenner" type of color. It's really comfortable on the lips and the perfect everyday color.

//Loreal Colour Riche Le Matte Lipcolour Stick: In the same breath, L'Oreal released their own line of matte lip colors. They also had ones called "Le Lacquer" and I may want to try those too. I got one in the shade "She's So Matte" and it's a little darker than the Maybelline one. Still, it's very comfortable and a little more matte than the Maybelline. Once again, a perfect every day color!



//Too Faced Sole Mates Blushing Bronzer: These are $34 and 'limited edition' and were released around Valentine's Day. There's only two shades, named after two of the best TV couples ever "Carrie & Big" and "Rachel and Ross." I wasn't going to spend $34 on it so I never got it. That was, until I was in my local Nordstrom Rack and they had a whole bin full of both shades, for $8!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I picked up "Carrie & Big" immediately and haven't used another bronzer since. It's really hard to use the bronzer and blush separately, so I just take a kabuki brush and swirl them together for a luminous, bronzy glow. Ugh, I cannot get enough!





//Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Love Hangover: When I saw that Too Faced was releasing new blushes, I knew I needed one. I didn't know when they were being released, until I woke up one morning and saw that they were up for grabs on Home Shopping Network. I immediately ordered it while I was walking to the train station (I have an addiction) and within a week, this adorable little blush was at my door. It's the perfect everyday, warm pink color that looks very natural on the cheeks. They are 16 hour blushes and honestly, they are very long wearing. They're smooth and perfect and I want more!





//Becca Cosmetics + Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector: I watch a lot of Youtube videos, and love a lot of Youtube v-loggers. All of them talk about Becca's highlighters, and all of them love Jaclyn Hill. With good reason too, as she is one of the OG's of Youtube Beauty Blogging and she is funny, beautiful, down to earth, and relatable. I want to be her! Anyways, Becca & Jaclyn collaborated on a new highlighter called "Champagne Pop". It's $38 but I needed it because it's limited edition and I was in need of a new powder highlight. It was worth it because it's the most intense, beautiful highlight. I've been wearing it every day and I can't stop. You can build up the intensity as much as you want and it looks good on pretty much everyone. I'm obsessed and may never wear another highlight again.

What beauty products have you picked up lately? Tell me in the comments!




Shop my picks below!