Holiday Week in Photos

It was an almost white Christmas!

A good friend of mine graduated this past Thursday.

Coat: Ted Baker

Bag: Kate Spade

Leggings: J.Crew

Ankle Boots: H&M

Lipstick: Ruby Woo//MAC

 Had a fabulous dinner in Boston with BestFriend.

SURPRISE! Helped a friend drop off a surprise Christmas gift at her boyfriend's place. We picked up the package, delivered it, and wrapped it during his last final exam. Stealthy.

Red Lipstick for festivity. Ruby Woo//MAC

Keeping the accessories simple.

Kate Spade bag

Madden Girl flats //DSW

Look what I found while last minute Christmas shopping! The most adorable balloon(s).

Packing is so hard to do...

Catching a flight to Las Vegas with a few girlfriends in the morning!

Hope you all are having a great holiday!

Mid (Finals) Week Haul

Now that the bulk of my finals are over, I decided to treat myself a bit (after my organic chemistry & physics finals today!) to a few things at the mall. I really need to break this habit of post-exam shopping, but for now, it's suiting me just fine.

Madewell has such adorable bags! They're having a 30% off storewide sale (same as J.Crew). The sale applies in store and online, I believe they're doing free shipping as well! Fabulous.

Everything!

Lipliner: Cherry

Paintpot: Soft Ochre

First stop was MAC. I purchased Ruby Woo lipstick a while ago and I've been wanting a lipliner to go with it, so I picked one up in Cherry. Also, a paintpot in Soft Ochre. It's a matte nude with yellow undertones. It goes really well with my skintone, to brighten up the eyes, or use as an eyeshadow base.

Some jewelry at Madewell! I've been looking at that acorn ring for a while (as well as the brass bow, but they were sold out!), and I also came across this gorgeous cuff bracelet! I love the whimsical look of it being a bent twig. Adds some interest to simple outfits.

This one isn't too interesting. Picked up Boscia blotting linens. I've been using them for years, and they're fantastic. This one is peppermint, I figured I'd give it a try.

Another item that's been on my skincare wishlist for a while! I've heard so many good things, and I'm yet to come across a Caudalie product that I don't like (knock on wood). Excited to try it!

I hope everyone's having a great week<3

Review | Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

After so many recommendations of this product, I picked up the large one (in Honey- the bronze case) last year.

The color seemed to be delightfully nude- pigmented yet still understated, and it was. Sort of. Except that the color seemed a bit fake looking on me - almost an exaggerated nude that didn't go with my skin tone. I also wasn't a fan of the consistency. It's like a lipstick where too much comes off with even the lightest touch in application. I find it to be far too heavy, but then I thought that maybe it's just this particular color...

Then my birthday this year rolled around and Sephora's Beauty Insider birthday gift was this adorable duo of the same lip treatment! I was so excited to try the other colors- especially the Rose (apparently the most popular color).

Left swatch : Honey

Right Swatch: Rose

I love love love the Rose color, it's beautiful and gives just enough color and warmth to the face. Again, I don't like the consistency, although the Rose consistency is a bit lighter than the Sugar (clear) and the Honey. I used up the entire clear sample in a little over a week. I felt as though it made my lips more dry- I found myself applying it over and over again obsessively. I don't particularly like this product (even though I tried so hard to)! My favorite out of the three is the Rose, however I wouldn't recommend the product given the price and effectiveness. It made my lips feel really heavy with piled-on product. It was thick but not moisturizing- really disappointing. 

Overall:

Cost: $22.50

Repurchase: no

Recommend: no

Have you tried this product? What are your lip product recommendations? :-)

A Sale, A Candle, A Dress

After my physics exam this morning, I felt up for a bit of shopping- and here was what I picked up!

Camel Sweater

Super adorable and comfortable, but the angora sheds like crazy! Maybe it'll shed less after a wash or two.

Beaded Tank

I was eyeing this tank top a few weeks ago- so glad I didn't purchase it then! Got it for $10 (on sale from $25)

Black Ankle Boots

I've been wanting a pair of black ankle boots since forever, but didn't want to commit to an expensive pair until I was sure I loved the style. These were on sale for $20 (from $50), and a perfect starter pair! They're super comfortable too. I've never purchased shoes from H&M before, so I'm not certain on the quality. Have you?

Diptyque Candle//SpaceNK

Favorite. candle. ever. It smells kind of like a fireplace, but much, much better.

French Connection Fit & Flare Dress

A little black dress! (Had to use a stock photo, You couldn't see the details from my picture :-/) I figure it would go with everything. Can't wait to dress it up for the holidays!

November Favorites!

Quite a few products I've been loving this month! I've been basically using the same makeup every day. Super simple but still pulled together.

MAC's blush in "Peaches"

The perfect peachy color to compliment skin with yellow undertones. I love that it's sheer enough for every day, especially for applying makeup quickly before school. 

 MineralizeSkinfinish in "Soft & Gentle"

Obsessed! I've been wearing this every single day since I purchased it sometime last month. Perfect for highlighting, or for a bit of extra glow for night time. 

MAC 168 blush brush

Sigma's F35 tapered highlighter brush

NARS Lipstick "Dolce Vita"

 Beautiful rose color that's perfect for every day. I've been wearing this one every day too!

Dolce & Gabbana Rose the One

Very fresh and light, with musky undertones. Love this perfume, but I wish it had more staying power.

MAC All That Glitters

MAC Carbon

These two colors blend together so perfectly. I've been using the black as a smudgy liner, then blending it out with All that Glitters. Perfect light & simple smokey eye for every day.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

I've heard so many good things about this foundation, so I finally purchased it a few weeks ago, and I LOVE it! It's so easy to use, it can be applied with the fingers, and is very build-able with medium to full coverage, and stays on all day.

L'Oreal BB Cream

A drugstore find! It really does live up to all that it claims to. It blurs imperfections to even out skin tone, but still looks and feels very light and natural. It was perfect for the warmer months, I used this every day all summer.

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator 

A perfect exfoliator for the face. It's gentle, but still effective enough to remove dead skin. The exfoliants are super-fine so it won't scratch the skin. Leaves my face feeling clean, fresh, and looking brighter. Available at Sephora!

The Body Shop Seaweed Day Cream- Mattifying

Does exactly what it says it does. A perfect mattifying day cream for the face- smells refreshing too. Light and never greasy.

Ponds Clarant B3

Another amazing drugstore find. I've been using this for the past year and it's amazing! 1oz is only about $1 (Target travel section) and more than worth it. It can be piled on and still not get greasy. Smells clean, and is very hydrating. Love this stuff.

Covergirl LashBlast Mascara

There's been so much hype over this product, but it lives up to expectations. This is an AMAZING mascara, probably my all time favorite. Either this one or Diorshow Blackout. That one's pretty amazing too. The plastic applicator grips every lash and is never clumpy. It holds a curl pretty well too.

Redken Extreme Anti Snap Leave in Conditioner

Adds strength to hair, detangles, and smells absolutely amazing. Apply a dime size amount to wet hair, and work it in through the ends. Do not rinse out. Leaves my hair feeling like I just left the salon! That's always a good thing.

What are your favorite finds of the month?

Just A Small Town Girl

She's just a small town girl, living in a lonely world

She took the midnight train going anywhere

I seen her in a smoky room

The smell of wine and cheap perfume

For a smile they can share the night

and it goes on and on and on

Kind of obsessed with the beginning of this song.

(Just a few photos from my hometown over Thanksgiving break.)

Once Upon A Shopping Spree - Black Friday Haul

After a filling and delicious Thanksgiving meal, a friend and I ventured to the Wrentham Outlets' Midnight Madness Black Friday Sale as well as the Natick Collection and picked up some goodies. It's been a tradition since we got our licenses around 6-ish years ago. I picked up a few gifts, as well as a few things for myself:

Ted Baker, got it for about half price!

Brownie Pan! Not that I need to be baking after all that I ate over the weekend.

Cane & Austin Acne Treatment pads

One of my absolute FAVORITE skincare products. It's expensive, at $60 at SpaceNK, but completely worth it. It clears up acne, prevents new breakouts, evens out skin tone, and reduces signs of aging. This is my third or fourth pack of these, and I'll be buying them forever.

My grandmother loves Lancome's skin care line, and this was the free gift that came with purchase that she let me keep!

Lancome Genifique Serum

Genifique Eye Cream

Bi- Facil eye make up remover

Hypnose Doll Mascara

Eyeshadow top row: "Designer" (metallic) It's a sage color, but I'm not sure if it'll show as accurately in the picture & "Latte" (matte). Bottom: "It List" (matte) & "Volcano"(shimmer)

Kate Spade, half price!

Kate Spade Bow Earrings

Kate Spade Bow Bangles. I realize I went a bit bow-crazy, but they were just so cute!

Cole Haan Loafers- I've been wanting leopard flats for the longest time, and finally found one for a reasonable price! ($77 from $188)

Did you find any good black friday deals? Also, if you've got any suggestions/comments/recommendations about lancome, please leave a comment below! I've never tried anything of theirs!

November Birchbox!

I signed up for Birchbox a few months ago to see what the hype is about, and I've gotten pretty cool samples so far. Some of the samples are a bit small, but for $10 a month, I suppose it's not bad.

It came with a lovely little gift guide with ideas for men, women, home, and more.

Such an adorable little box! I may put a little something in it and leave it for my boyfriend.

Chuao Chcolatier $8/pack

 "These bite sized artisanal treats are made with premium Venezuelan cacao and come in a range of unexpected flavors". This seems really interesting! And actually sound pretty good.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray $25

"This light, nonsticky spray gives dry hair a voluminous, sexy, tousled look. Spray from ends to roots for best results. Great for updos, too!"

I've only used one other Oscar Blandi product before- the dry shampoo. It was good, but slightly pricey for what it was. Excited to try out this product though!

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer $20

Funny how I got a luminizer in my Birchbox right after I picked up Benefit's Moon Beam! Looks like such a pretty color. "Add a touch of this luminescent fluid to your cheekbones or decolletage, or mix with your foundation for an all over glow"

Miracle Skin Transformer Vanish Instant Imperfection Corrector

"before applying make up, prep skin with this serum infused primer, which has optical diffusers that mask imperfections" 

Atelier Cologne- Rose Anonyme

Last but not least! A small sample of this cologne (not pictured- it was tiny!) came with this gorgeous card. I love a good rose scented product!

What did you get in your Birchbox? Let me know if there's another beauty box I should try! I've been debating on signing up for Glossybox too.