I’m going to begin with the most spectacular of nail polishes. Special enough that I devoted an entire review to it (you can check it out here). It is the Olivia Palermo for Ciate Polish in “Sunday’s.” Since I did review it, I’m not going to go into a lot of detail, but it is absolutely the prettiest pinky-nude shade that goes with anything. I love the gel-like formula as well and it is just stunning – in presentation, color and formula. Hands down favorite nail polish…maybe ever!
I’ll also briefly mention my favorite-ist of favorite mascaras – Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara. I’ve reviewed this as well and you can read more here, but I felt like I needed to try something new for a while so I took a break. For that, I deeply apologize Better Than Sex because you are pretty close to the most perfect mascara in the world! J It is a bit tricky to apply without getting all over your lash line and I don’t like to attempt it on the bottom lashes, but the volume is to die for. It’s ok for length too, but it really shines in the volume department, which is what I’m most after. It definitely brings the drama! I still have a few sample size tubes around so I have yet to buy a full size, but I definitely will the moment I run out of samples! And, not a complaint, but what’s up with so many ways to get another mini tube? May you never run out of or cease making the Better Than Sex Mascara, Too Faced! J
Since I’ve been using a different mascara on my bottom lashes, I’ll mention that as well. It’s only been recently that I’ve started adding mascara back to my lower lashes and the Tarte Gifted Mascara has been spectacular! It’s a great mascara in general – though it’s no Better Than Sex! – but it is excellent for the lower lashes because the wand is relatively thin and it doesn’t smudge or transfer. Again, I have a baby size and I reviewed this many moons ago (see it here), but I’ve been loving it for lower lashes as well as less dramatic mascara days.
Something else that I’ve been using pretty much every day, but never mention is the Pixi Correction Concentrate in Brightening Peach. Concealer just doesn’t quite cancel out my under eye discoloration as well as I’d like without really caking it on, so this definitely helps. I’m still not sure I love it, but it’s doing the job and it’s a semi-affordable cruelty free option. To be fair, I haven’t really tried many other correctors because I don’t know of many that are still cruelty free. If you need something that helps, the Pixi Corrector is a good option.
For covering up blemishes, redness and any other just undesirable-ness on my face (not my under eyes), I’ve been reaching for the Bare Minerals Multi-Tasking Concealer in Bisque. I’m not usually a huge mineral foundation kinda gal, but I really like using this on top of liquid foundation to just add needed extra coverage. It really does provide coverage and I feel like it also helps set everything in that area since it is a powder product. It’s also pretty quick and easy so I absolutely love the Bare Minerals Bisque lately.
I have an oldie but a goodie for an eye shadow favorite this month. It is Urban Decay’s “Roach.” I have always loved this shade. In fact, I think this is the first Urban Decay shadow I ever purchased and possibly the first “high end” shadow I owned. It’s a red-dy bronze that I love just putting all over the lid for a lazy girl’s smoky eye. Mine is still in the older UD packaging with a slightly different formula I believe, but it’s still a fantastic formula. It’s more the color that I love and “Roach” is freakin’ fantastic! J
For a quick and easy blush, I’ve been reaching for Hot Mama from theBalm. Hot Mama is one of those blushes that just kind of works with everything. It’s a subtly shimmery peachy-pink. It is essentially a dupe for NARS’ Orgasm, but I think I like Hot Mama better because I feel like it takes less building, it seems smoother and I don’t notice any glitter, which I sometimes see with Orgasm. Hot Mama is just a great don’t-have-to-think-about-it kind of blush. Lovely!
Depending on my eyes, I was reaching mainly for 2 different lip colors. With the smokier “Roach” eyes, I’ve been tending towards the Christopher Kane for NARS Lip Gloss in “Glow Pink.” Yet again something that I’ve reviewed here. I swear I didn’t intended to have so many links. Proof that I love what I review! J I’ve also been reaching for this gloss with minimal makeup. It’s just a great, comfortable subtle flush of a slightly purple-pink. Other days, I’ve been grabbing for the Lippie Stix in “Brunch” from ColourPop. I love everything about this little tube of amazingness! It’s a satin finish lipstick, but it really looks more like a not-quite-matte. However, it is insanely comfortable! The color is a gorgeous and wearable orange-y coral. I never thought I would like a color like this on myself, but I adore it! And the Lippie Stix are so freakin’ amazing that I want to own them all!!! It’s been one extreme or the other for my lips in July. J
L to R: Colour Pop Lippie Stix in Brunch & NARS Lipgloss in Glow Pink
Now quickly for my unfavorite. It’s actually a spectacular product that does what it’s supposed to, but it made me break out because of it. It is the Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Lava Rose-Vedic Masque. It’s a mud mask that’s supposed to help pull all of the gunk out of your pores…and it did. My face didn’t much like having all that crap near the surface and it broke out more than it has in quite a while. Fortunately my skin is clearing up now but it was rather unhappy for a week or two there. If you need a good mask for clearing out pores, this is fantastic but for me right now, it just wasn’t a good choice. J
I think that’s going to do it for my July Favorites. It’s been a good time beauty-wise, despite the skin freak out from my poor masking choice. I think I am actually going to post some random favorites next (probably on Friday). I’ve never done that before, but I have enough miscellaneous items for July that it just makes sense. I hope you will come back for it, but I love you even if you skip it. J Until then, thank you so much for stopping by!