My twice a year makeup post is happening! I love makeup and get super excited when Sephora has their sale and you can get great deals off their high end makeup. I have been playing with makeup for years so I am finally familiar what works for me and my skin. I always get awkward when people ask for makeup advice because my skin isn’t like theirs at all so my only advice is to ask for samples or schedule makeovers at beauty counters or Sephora/Ulta to see what works for you.
Side thought, sometimes I intentionally make my makeup ugly in hopes that my friends/people I am with tell me I have a smudge or my eyeliner is messed but sadly most never do. My kids always tell me and it is a relief when they whisper in my ear “Mom, check the mirror, your eyes are messed up or your lipstick is on your skin and not on your lips.” Yes, thank you sons for looking out for me! I don’t know why I do that (I do, I am crazy.) I feel like I have been testing people forever and even though it is not a shock when most let me down, I always hold on to the hope someone will tell me. Anyway, if you ever see me in the street please don’t judge my makeup, I am more than likely in a mood to test people.
Anyways, here is what I got, AHHHHH love everything
First up, is RESTOCKS
These are Dan’s restock picks
–Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer-in our household I cook and he washes the dishes and cleans up the kitchen. He always complains about how dry his hands are so he has really grown to love this hand cream. I prefer my Vasoline Extra Strength Hand Cream, but we all have different likes and he raves about this lotion so whatever makes him happy
–Kiehls Ultra Facial Toner-Dan swears by this and we always have a backup to the backup
–Kiehls Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum-Dan likes using this along with the Estée Lauder eye serum because this has Vitamin C. He finds this to be a good value for the price
–Jack Black The Balm Squad Lip Balm Set-We both love this lip balm so I actually ordered 3 of these, they are stocking stuffers for Dan, me, and Dylan. It has SPF 25 and the scents are so nice that this is always a must when the sale comes
Janet’s Restocks
First up
–Sephora Collection Wishing You Cream Lip Stain Set-I got these last year and absolutely loved them! They go on smooth for me and color stays on pretty average BUT all Sephora brand stuff was 30% off!!! So this was an easy add to cart to restock on these since I ran out of most of them
Our original nighttime/sleeping lip mask from Bite Beauty is no more so this is an ok alternative. Not as thick/creamy as Bite’s but a decent alternative
–Laneige Midnight Minis Lip Sleeping Mask Set-this came with 5 different sleeping masks and for the price it is a great deal! I like the scents Berry, Gummy Bear, Mango, Vanilla, and Mint Choco and I also like how they are great travel size. This should last us until April when the next sale comes and I also might gift a couple for Christmas
–Laneige Perfect Pair Lip Hydration Set-this comes with a lip balm (pink) and a lip mask (yellow) in the scent mango
–Tocca Deluxe Perfume Wonders Collection Set-I really like mixing these scents and creating different/new scents so when I noticed they had this cute set I decided to get it. I love the names Stella, Florence, Colette, Cleopatra, Giulietta, and Simone, how pretty!
–Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist-I am not going to lie, not sure how this really compares to other prime and setting sprays since they all seem to do the job in hot and humid weather, but I love Selena Gomez, so buying her brand is a given since I am a huge fan. Her packaging is so clean and simple so that is another reason I love this spray. For $24 though I can see it isn’t necessary since I feel the drugstore brand does the same thing, but we all have our guilty pleasures and this is one of many for me
–Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint Clean SPF 30 Foundation-Milk Makeup is one of those clean brands that are formulated without phthalates, formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers, oxybenzone and octinoxate, etc so I love that about this brand but with that being said I have a love/hate with this foundation. Love that is has SPF 30, feels lightweight on, I really like the roller ball application, love the simple packaging, this foundation stays put! When I went to Italy this summer and sweated so much and questioned why I even wore makeup but then I would look in the mirror and it was still on and lasted all day in the Italian Heat and Janet sweats so that made me fall in love more. Hate or really just not like the smell, for being sans all those chemicals for some reason it smells chemically to me. I also don’t like how sometimes I click too much and a lot of foundation comes out so I have to put the extra in a container or just let it waste, but that is really it. I obviously liked it enough to buy it again
–Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation SPF 15-I don’t know where I was in the head this last year but my all time favorite foundation Dior Airflash is no more!!! Tragic for me because that was my all time favorite foundation in the world and I missed my chance to restock and hoard since they stopped making it last year so I emailed Dior and asked for an alternative since it was obviously I had no one to be mad at but myself for snoozing. Anyway, they recommended this and the shade and with the sale going on I took a chance and just ordered it online. It finally came and OMG I love it so much (not as much as Airflash) but it goes on so nicely and I have gotten a handful of compliments on it already. It is thicker and feels not heavy but does has some weight on my face with it on so those are the only negatives but it doesn’t have a scent that bothers me and it stays on. I haven’t tested it in hot weather but this will definitely be my cold weather foundation
–Hourglass Confession Refillable Lipstick Duo – Ghost-If you know me you know I love lipsticks above all else and when I saw this for sale for $18 and an additional 20% off I had to get one for me and my bestie Laney (she also loves lipstick and Hourglass.) I have this lipstick in different shades and in gold packaging so I also had to get it in silver. I absolutely love this packaging and how fancy it feels holding it and reapplying it. Almost looks like a cigarette or a pen but has good weight and feels nice and cool temp when applying. It lasts average on the lips but I am constantly eating so who knows how long it lasts when you just let it sit. I like that it comes with a nude and a dark red perfect for fall and winter.
–Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer-I have used this concealer for years and am always on/off with it. It is decent, doesn’t really hide my bags and terrible darkness under my eyes from my night terrors but enough to get me by the day. If it weren’t for the sale don’t think I would buy this full price
–Stila Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner-this is another where I am on/off. I have used this and other eyeliners before and am never left impressed. I have extremely oily eyelids and cry all the time so I need something that will stay put. I can’t remember if this stays put but remember liking it enough and when the lady at Sephora recommend it I bought it again
–Sephora Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick-Love Sephora’s liquid lipstick and for $15 with 30% off I got another one. This is called “French Lover” a matte deep red, perfect for the holidays coming up so yes please
–Lancome Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Waterproof Mascara-My friend in Austria recommended this to me years ago and to this day it is my favorite mascara. It stays put even with my oily eye area and many many tears later it doesn’t smudge. I am not sure on volume since I don’t really look for that but man does it last through it all, heat, tears, random swims in open water, etc This is a must for me and it lasts a long time so I really like that too. Also when I go solo shopping in my head I critique counter ladies and if they are nice I obviously buy way more and have them add me to their list for texts, emails, events and I have to say Lancome ladies are always such a delight. From talking about perfume, to trying to find a shade of foundation for me, or eye shadow that lasts they are always so helpful and kind. Granted this applies to a couple of other beauty counters but only some really leave an impression on me and Lancome always does
–Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow-I bought a trio a couple of months ago and I have fallen hard for this particular shade. This Rose Gold Retro is so pretty, glides on easy and blends very nicely. I am most of the time rushed to do my makeup because I am too into my head and put important things like appearance on the back burner that I am always in a rush to get ready like 10 min tops but maybe it is just me enjoying that rush and adrenaline boost to get me going that I delay everything. Anyways, this shade is so pretty and my favorite eyeshadow to date for something simple. I bought the silver and gold shade before and those didn’t blend as well and left some parts splotchy. I just use my ring finger to blend so maybe that is it but I am here for convenience and something that comes out looking great each time
–Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette-When Charlotte Tilbury launched her makeup line in 2013 I fell in love hard and fast. I have almost everything from her line and her makeup line is my very favorite!! I met her too at a Nordstrom Beauty Trend Event in Chicago years ago and she was the kindest person ever, ugh I can’t say enough nice things about her and her brand. I have loved this eyeshadow palette forever and miss when it was called Dolce Vita but now it is called Bella Sofia and if you have a Charlotte Tilbury counter in your mall or near you go and ask for a makeover because you won’t regret it. I love how her stuff smells like and love how it all stays on. I have very dry skin everywhere but my eyelids and it is very hard to find makeup that fits all of my skin but all of her stuff does and it always leaves me amazed. The quality is amazing and I know I am bias so if you don’t like it that is also fine because I have rose tinted glasses with her and she can do no wrong. Her packaging always leaves me drooling. I remember when Dan came with me and she had just launched a new eyeshadow palette that I just had to have he saw me drool and to this day never lets it go and when I am in my bathroom getting ready and holding her stuff he teases to not drool again or if I need a tissue to clean up my drool. Only certain products have made me physically drool and when I hold her stuff it makes me so happy with the weight of it, the old Hollywood glamour vibe it gives, ahhh love it all! This eyeshadow also happens to last all night so when I am not in a rush to get ready I love putting this on and taking my time to apply it. I finally hit pan on my last one so this was easy to add to my cart. It lasted me like a year and a half and with it being my only eyeshadow I wear when I do the math it makes sense. $53 but 20% off is still a pricey buy but knowing that I love it and it lasts physically forever on my eyes and in my makeup drawer it was a no brainer. I also love how her eyeshadow palettes make it very user friendly, you start at the top left (primer), then right (top shade), then below to the right (crease shade you use to blend), finishing off with the bottom left (topper) shade making a circle around the palette. I never have to guess which shade I should be using since it is all in steps to easy follow or you can play with it however you want.
New to me buys
–Sephora Collection #LIPSTORIES Lip Balm-this was only $4 plus an additional 30% off so I decided to try it out. I have to say I really like the Sephora brand a lot and really like how they have these sales on their brand often
–Nars Mini Afterglow Lip Balm Duo-I have never tried Nars lip balms before, but do love their lipsticks and I found these to be cute but loved their cute packaging the most
–Nars Air Matte Liquid Lipstick-Since I do love Nars and their lipsticks I decided to get this new to me matte called Dragon Girl. I have had this shade in another formula and love how it looks on me so I am excited to try this and I love this shade of red
–Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush-Again with the Rare Beauty, yes. I have her blush in a different formula and packaging and love that so decided to try her blush in this formula. I had bought one before but gave it to my bestie because she loved it and she raves about this blush and I finally got one to try for myself
–Violet Voss Eye Glitter Topper-I have heard about this brand for a long time and finally decided to try something from it. Since I loved that Stila shimmer eyeshadow I decided to also try this one out. Hopefully it lasts on my oily eyelids
-Sephora Collection Masks-I bought 6 because they were buy 2 get 1 free and for $3.50 a piece plus 30% off they were a steal! I got 3 for myself and 3 for friends and can’t wait to have my weekly mask day and test them out
–Sephora Collection Boost + Lock Eyeshadow Primer-I normally use Nars eye primer but that is impossible to find so instead I found this and decided to try it. For $12 plus 30% off I see no harm in case I don’t like it and can return the spare
–Sephora Collection Bright Future Gel Serum Under Eye Concealer-Whenever I go into Sephora I always look for the worker that has the best makeup on when I have questions or want a suggestion. I like my Nars normal concealer but don’t love it. So when I asked the lady that had impeccable makeup on which concealer she was using she showed me this one. We tested out a couple of shades and she applied this on me and omg I could definitely tell a big difference. This added the brightening factor I had been lacking and i also noticed it doesn’t crease as much as other concealers! And best of all it is only $15 normal price but if you wait for the 30% of Sephora Collection it makes it $10.50 so comparable to drug store brand prices. I like that it is a gel and blends in really well and again love no creasing!
–Sephora Collection PRO Powder Brush #50 + #50.5 Brush Duo Set-besides my addiction to lipsticks/lip products I love love love makeup brushes. I typically try to buy a new brush every sale and this time I wanted a big face brush for my setting powder. I have another Sephora brush and like that so I was excited to get this one and it doesn’t disappoint. No shedding and there mini one is great for travel!
-I love ordering online because you get so many samples! I also redeemed some points for some deluxe samples and when I went into Sephora they added some more deluxe samples in my bag too for free! I will be keeping some for myself and also gifting some but do love looking at this photo and seeing all the fun makeup samples
I should also note if you missed the sale you can sign up for the actual brand emails and they also always have a sale like 20% off, 30% off, and even 40% off sometimes! With Black Friday next week a lot of brands will have additional sales and most will have a gift with purchase too!
Adventures of Janet 