I've officially hung up my credit cards. I've said it before but I will say it again, I need to get a hold of my finances and I need to stop shopping for makeup. I was doing good at some point but fell off the wagon and the result is this post.

I definitely don't need all the makeup I have but it's truly something I enjoy. I love finding new trends and trying the latest product... so I can't help it.

But you probably won't see a haul post for a while...

I have a few more things I want to talk about besides the items here but those are posts coming in a few weeks: a set of skincare products that I've been loving & a post all about lip oils.

For now, here are some new items that I've really fallen for:

• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation: I may do another post on this, more in depth, but I was really looking for a new high end foundation. I had my eye on the Hello Flawless by Benefit (and I still do!) but I couldn't resist this. I've wanted to try Charlotte Tilbury forever and I thought the Magic Foundation was a good place to start. Well, it is magic. I've never received such comments on my skin as I did when I wore this foundation. It's smooth, hydrating, and gives a great natural, but luminous finish. GIVE ME ALL THE CHARLOTTE TILBURY. 

• Smashbox Brow Tech Gloss: I had this pencil in my collection for months before I actually picked it up this month. I watched a review on it a few months back and it was a negative review, so I never thought to pick it up and actually use it. (I received it in this kit) but I decided to give it a go & I'm in love. It's easy to use and fills in my brows while also giving them a shape. This does have a glossy finish, as it states from the name, but I don't mind it. It doesn't look like I applied lip gloss to my brows, it just gives a more natural look and it doesn't look like I filled in my brows with pencil. I will for sure be repurchasing when this is finished.

• Marc Jacobs Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator in "Spotlight": I received this puppy from Influenster and I've never been so happy. Getting a high end product for free is very satisfying. I was also excited because it's the year of cream highlights for me and this does not disappoint. I love that it's a white highlight because it breaks me out of comfort zone of peachy/gold highlighters. I apply it with a small stipple brush and it gives a soft, natural, but still noticeable highlight. It blends beautifully and I've been using it on the daily, without foundation, for a hint of something special.

• Tarte Kiss & Blush Cream Palette: When I saw this on Tarte's Instagram a few weeks ago, my jaw dropped and my heart started to race. I needed it so badly. I've been so into face palettes and SO into cream products. I refused to buy it from Tarte's website because I had a bad experience with them a few months ago so when I saw it launch on Sephora's website last week, I knew this would be my final makeup purchase for a while. These are intensely pigmented so have a light hand when using, but they are so easily blendable. The shades are perfect to take you from summer to fall and right back again; I'm obsessed.

• Benefit 1st Prize Highlighters: Can you see a theme here? Cream products to the rescue! I was eyeing this set from Sephora for a few weeks before I bit the $18 bullet. Three of Benefit's best selling highlighters and I've never tried them before? Blasphemy! These are mini versions of the best sellers, High Beam, Sun Beam, and Shy Beam, but when do you ever go through a full highlighter? I love dabbing these on the tops of my cheek bones and blending with a small stipple brush for a natural, luminous look. It's not overpowering but you probably could build them up by applying more than three dots on each cheekbone. The applicator is a little odd and I feel like I'm applying nail polish to my face but I can appreciate the uniqueness. 

• Ciate London Scrub Stix Exfoilating Lip Balm: I saw this and was completely intrigued. I love a beauty product that makes me think "I wonder what that is like". My lips have been super dry lately (something is happening with my skin) and I thought this would be interesting. I was expecting just a lip exfoliator in stick form but that is not what this is. It's a lip balm, most importantly, that has little exfoliating beads to both hydrate and remove dead skin from your lips at the same time. It's interesting and I love an interesting beauty product. It seems to be working for me so I'm pretty happy with it! 

SaveSave

I find myself browsing Sephora's website for new items pretty much at least once a day. On one of these benders, I found the latest Sephora Favorites collection -- a brow wardrobe.

Sephora is always coming out with these exclusive kits that feature deluxe & full size samples of products. They have one for eyeliner, perfume, and had one for lips but that is currently sold out.

When I saw one for brows, I was instantly intrigued.

I have been meaning to get my hands on a new brow product because I am seriously lacking in that product department.



The collection comes with 4 full size products, one deluxe sample, and two little bonus extras. It has a $40 price tag but the value is $102 -- that my friends is what you call a STEAL.

All of these products have a nice little price tag of $20+ so I think if you've ever wanted to try at least one of these, it's worth it. That was my justification--I've been meaning to try the Anastasia Brow Wiz for over a year because it is a cult classic.

The other products, the Brow Tech Gloss Stick from Smashbox & the Tattoo Brow from Kat Von D are definitely bonuses. I've already used & LOVE the Benefit High Brow (a brow highlighting product) so that is definitely nice to have a back up. I also have another mini deluxe sample of the Anastasia Brow Gel so having another one of those is nice too.




Throw in a pair of tweezers and a mini mirror and I'm all set!

All three brow products are definitely worth the money. They fill in and define the brows beautifully. I think my favorite is the Brow Wiz (no surprise there) because it's easiest to use and control. The Smashbox pencil was definitely a little waxier and sticker than the other two but that's fine, it helps hold the brows in place.

From top to bottom: Brow Wiz, Gloss Stick, Tattoo Brow, High Brow

The Kat Von D liner scares me only slightly because it's a felt tip pencil, similar to a liquid liner, so at first it seemed like it would be difficult to control but with a light hand, it's relatively easy to control & use. I actually really liked the finish it gave off; thick but not too overpowering.

As I said before, the Benefit High Brow is an intense pink highlight perfect for the brow bone. It makes your brows look sculpted, lifted, and super defined. It's definitely holy grail status for me.

I am obsessed with this collection and it's turned me onto the other Sephora favorite collections. I think they're a great value and perfect for beginners -- yes it's a little on the pricey side but if you like trying a bunch of different products to get a distinct look, these are great kits.

If you've been wanting to experiment with filling in your brows but are overwhelmed by the choices in the drugstore, Sephora, and Ulta, I would definitely recommend picking this up. The products are all similar because they're brow pencils but different enough that you could pick out your favorites.

Has anyone else tried these Sephora favorites collections? What brow products are your favorite?

Tarte Petite Treats 12 Days of Christmas Lorac The Royal Eyeshadow Collection Smashbox Try It Kit Stila Flawless Gems Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights Butter London Gilded Gears  Glitz & Glam Party Essentials  Gift Sexy: GlamGlow