Stocking Stuffers

Stockings are a big deal in my family. But the price tags can add up, so here are a few of my favorites I've found this year:

I first spotted these hair ties on Movie Girl & actually had complemented her 'bracelet.' When she explained they were hair ties...

I went out & got some for myself from Anthropologie! I can't tell you how often I have hair ties or elastics on my wrist for work that look, well like hair ties. These look so lovely on the wrist. Three are for $24- so since I do 3 stockings for my mom & sisters I'd split up the pack.

I'm obsessed with NYX Lip Butters, I mean beyond. When my lips are chapped I used to turn only to by beloved Aquaphor. The fact that I reach for these now too is saying something! I bought these trios for my sisters' stockings at 40% off their normal $9.99 price tag. If you can't find the sets anymore locally, still head to Ulta where the singles are buy one, get one 50% off. 

Here's an option from Benefit with super cute packaging that breaks down to about $4.33 a gloss if divvied up.

 I stumbled upon this Perlier set by accident while watching (ahem being sucked into) a beauty segment on HSN. 

It's a collection of 9 hand creams in the box + 1 bonus anti-aging body balm at a special price if $19.95.

Now I know we all dip into the 99 cent bin sometimes for beauty items, especially for stockings & bulk gifts or favors- but most of the time you feel it in the actual quality of the product or worse the smell is gross. These hand creams are luxurious & much needed this time of year. I would wrap individually & fill an entire stocking for someone like a nurse or teacher or esthetician; ^) that's washing their hands all the time during these cold months.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday: NYX

The Nude Lipgloss Diaries continue as we all know I am powerless to resist adding to my collection!  At the Ulta near me they are expanding their NYX offerings, which makes me quite happy. Add into it that all NYX is buy one, get one half off until the end of this month & there are bargains to be had!

I scooped up 1 of their automatic Lip Liners (regularly $4.50/ea.) MPL10 Nude (top) which is a nude pink beige & 2 of NYX's Lip Butter Glosses (retails for $5/ea.) in BLG05 in Creme Brulee (middle) &BLG07 in Tiramisu (bottom.)

I always fill my entire lip line in with liner. It anchors your color better, plus it also prevents the creepy clown like effect as your lip products wear off of just having an outline left around your mouth. A tip for making your lips appear fuller is to leave the very center bare of color or add a lighter highlighting gloss right in the center of the lip.

 In both pictures, Creme Brulee is on the top lip & Tiramisu is on the bottom lip.

 I know I mentioned in the past, that some of NYX's glosses smelled heavily of Cherry NyQuil...I made sure to do a sniff check before purchasing these & am happy to report that these glosses smell softly of caramels & actually of their shade names. Even at regular prices, NYX products are a great value, but with the current special- they are a definite steals & deals must!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday: NYX

As I previously mentioned I have been loving chubby lip pencils lately.  They're what I reach for when I'm in a rush in the morning, which is pretty much always. They're the perfect hybrid of lip pencil & lipstick + a hint of gloss, since they're often sheerer than traditional lipstick.

I decided to try out NYX's offerings, though a little hesitant. While I adore many of their intensely pigmented eye & cheek colors, their glosses are so heavily Cherry fragranced I am reminded of cough syrup & want to dry heave. Alright they're not that bad, but it's too scented for sure! I purchased their Jumbo Lip Pencil in #721 Soft Fuschia (top) & #719 Pecan (bottom.)

Here I am sporting #721 on the top & #719 on the bottom. Of course I picked 2 very soft, neutral shades that are great building pieces in creating a nude lip or wearing alone. I'm pleased to say the colors really stay put, without being drying! After a few hours & soup for lunch, I looked up to find a nice portion still left on my pucker. Nyx offers 24 shades of this product & I can't wait to experiment with a few more. They already fall into my steals & deals category as they're only $4.50 a piece. I scored an even better deal by scooping them up during a BOGO half off at Ulta! I say pick up a few & draw away.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Fabulous Finds Friday: Nyx

NYX is a cosmetics line that is slowly, but surely gaining a spot in my heart.  In my neck of the woods, I can only find it in Ulta & they don't even carry the entire line.  However, what I've been able to get my hands on has been prestige quality pigment at a mass price point.

So I did a little happy dance when Movie Girl got me this Nyx collection for my birthday.  The Nude on Nude collection boasts 20 neutral shadows that easily give Urban Decay's Naked Palettes a run for their money. 10 shades of lip cremes round out this extensive collection for $25. Yes, half the cost of the Naked Palettes.

This collection houses an entire wardrobe of color at your fingertips.  One end of the spectrum is covered with neutrals & the other end offers intense smokey options.  The lip cremes are great soft colors to match whatever eye look you come up with. This collection is a fabulous basic to have if you're just starting out building your kit, but it has the power to make a seasoned artist like myself swoon.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

NXY

No beauty store is safe from me, I can sniff them out. I got lost the other day & not in the best area- but then like a beacon of light I saw one. I love hopping into different areas since you can discover different brands. I've used & loved some NYX products in the past & of course had to scoop up these pretty Loose Pearl Shadows to cope with getting lost! Shown left to right: Nude Pearl LP 01 ,Sky Pink Pearl LP13, Mink Pearl LP 19, Mocha Pearl LP20.

How pretty are these in the daylight? Here the shadows are from the image above except instead of left to right, swatched top to bottom. There is something about loose pigments that just optimizes shimmer & sheen. I will say that whoever decided to put the powder in the little vials must have been a man, who obviously doesn't use make-up. They're too small to reach into with a brush, so you have to dump it out. Needless to say I felt like Penelope Cruz struggling with vials in the movie Blow!


Here I am using some of the bronze shades for an easy summer look:
LP 01 on the brow bone & lid, LP 19 in the crease.
There's that beautiful Sky Pink LP13 on the lid- I rarely use pinks on my eyes, I usually feel that it can make the whites of your eyes look bloodshot, but it is stunning! LP01 was used on the brow with LP20 in the crease to finish off the look. These are a steal of a deal at only $3 a piece & tiny enough to justify scooping up a bunch!

Peace. Love. Pigments. M