{sephora f&f haul}

I love this time of the year when I receive Sephora's F&F 20% discount!  Most of my beauty products are purchased there so I tend to overspend when this baby comes around.  I stalk up on essentials and splurge on items that are not a must.  

{essentials}

{UD Eyeshadow Primer in original, Too Faced Mascara in Pitch Black, UD 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero}

I have 2 favorite make up brands: UD and Make Up Forever.  UD Eyeshadow Primer is a must if you want your shadows to go on true to color and a must if you want to prevent any creasing throughout the day.  Honestly, my eyeshadow looks great all day when I use this primer.  UD 24/7 eyeliner goes on super smooth, I own it in Zero, Yeyo, and Bourbon.  I recently got turned on to Too Faced Lash Injection mascara by my coworker.  I was part of the Diorshow cult for a very long time and have always wanted to venture out to other mascaras but could never find one that worked as well.  Then came along Lash Injection and I broke out of the cult.  ;)

{Make Up Forever: HD Microfinish Powder, Mat Velvet+ foundation in #35, and HD Primer in #7}

Make Up For Ever!!  Let's first talk about face primers.  I always feel it's a must to wear face primer.  Face primers 1) creates a barrier between your skin and your make up, and 2) make your make up go on so much smoother/better.  I use Make Up For Ever's HD Primer in #7, the pink helps to reduce shallowness.  They came in plenty of different colors to combat different flaws.  Make Up For Ever's Mat Velvet+ foundation is great for people who have oily skin (like me!).  This foundation does keep my oil better under control throughout the day compared to their HD Foundation.  I always finish my face with their HD Microfinish Powder (translucent powder).

{Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb parfum, Coco Chanel Mademoiselle parfum}

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb parfum is the only perfume I have ever finished in my whole life.  It is the only perfume I never got tired of.  It's complicated notes always excite me every time I put it on and I get a ton of compliments on it.  I'm giving Coco Chanel Mademoiselle a try.  It shares similar notes to Flowerbomb: bergamot, jasmine, patchouli, and rose.... and both fragrance styles are categorized as oriental/floral.  You can never go wrong with Chanel.  :)

{splurge}

{Boxom lip gloss in April, Clarins On-the-Spot Brightening Corrector}

I received the Boxom 500 pts gift set and really loved the lip gloss in April.  It's a great everyday color that is nice worn alone, over lip liner, or over lipstick.  I thought I'd give Clarins On-the-Spot Brightening Corrector a try since I have a dark spot on my lip and a few tiny specs under my left eye.  There's so many brighteners on the market right now, I might as well jump right in!  I'll do a follow up review on it in a few weeks.  Keep an eye out for it!  

{october's make-up haul}

Lately I've been on a make-up binge.  I've been watching a ton of make-up tutorials/blogs (Kandee Johnson, From Head to Toe to name a few) which in turn inspires me to purchase all different sorts of make-up (horrible for the wallet :().  I've also been a huge fan of the work Mario Dedivanovic does on Kim Kardashian, and that has also inspired me.  Her face always looks immaculate. 

{Crown make-up brushes (other brands are displayed here) & 15 brush holder, 
MAC Cosmetics lipsticks, MAC Cosmetics blush, St. Tropez Wash Off Face Bronzer, 
Dr. Jart+ BB Cream, BH Cosmetics 120 Palette 3rd Edition}

{BH Cosmetics 120 Palette, 3rd Edition}

 I love a smokey eye and this palette gives you smokey eye options in almost any shade possible.  This palette is easy on the wallet ($23) and the pigmentation is great.  The texture is similar to MAC Cosmetics.  I wouldn't describe it as velvety.  I do admit, all these color options have overwhelmed me.  

{MAC Blush in Pink Swoon, UD Naked Palette}

You must be thinking it took me long enough to get the UD Naked palette!  I recently spied one of my gf using it and her eye make-up looked real good.  I don't often sport the "natural" warm tones but I'm always up for trying new things!  The colors are very pigmented, texture is velvety, and you can actually create beautiful brown smokey eyes with this palette.  I love the MAC Pink Swoon blush.  Don't let the hot pink-ness of it scare you!  It actually goes on a bit sheer.  It gives a natural baby doll, youthful look.  It's Kim Kardashian's favorite blush, which I didn't find out about until after I purchased it!  Well, what do you know?  :)

{MAC Cosmetic lipsticks: Fabby, Pink Plaid, Please Me}

{from bottom to top: Fabby, Pink Plaid, Please Me}

I went to MAC Cosmetics on a mission to find a pink-nude lipstick and left with these three colors.  (A terrible habit of mine: if you can't decide on one, get all!).  These actually have more color than a typical nude lipstick.  Please Me is great with smokey eyes and Pink Plaid is great for a playful, youthful look.  Fabby reminds me of my favorite Love Child lip gloss so I had to get it.  

{St. Tropez Wash Off Face Bronzer, Dr. Jart+ BB Cream}

Kandee Johnson inspired me to get the St. Tropez bronzer.  I initially purchased the wash off moose all-over bronzer but I think it was the culprit of my breakouts.  I did a bit of research and discovered St. Tropez makes one especially for the face (the one pictured above).  I love this bronzer.  It gives a nice non-orange instant bronze color.  I put it on over Make Up Forever's HD Primer #7.  Dr. Jart+ is the first BB cream I've tried.  I originally received a small sample from Sephora and I liked it so I purchased the full size.  I like that it's a 4-in-1 (make up, SPF 45, anti-aging, and brightener) and after I wash my face, it feels softer.  

{Crown 15 make up brush holder & some Crown brushes}

Crown offers good make up brushes at a great price.  I picked up a flat head bronzer brush, crease brushes, pencil brush, slanted bronzer/blush brush, and a small slanted brush.  

Hope you've been inspired.  xoxo, jules