NEW Enlight Collection Swatches/Review

Last week, Sigma Beauty launched an all-new,  gorgeous, makeup collection themed around warm neutral shades. I've had mine for a few weeks now and couldn't resist digging in.
Let's just be honest, they kind of had me at "warm neutrals".


The collection consists of one eye shadow palette (twelve shades), three eye shadow bases, three lip glosses, three eye pencils, and three eye brushes.

So as I usually do, I really wanted to use the products and wear them at least a few times before writing this post.
Well, turns out, I've been wearing the eye shadows every day (other than when I do specific videos wearing certain products I'm talking about).  I'm super impressed with them.

Ok ok, so before I get ahead of myself, here's all the eye candy! Keep reading for more of my thoughts on the particular products.

$39.




These have INSANE color payoff and blend so smoothly, with very little effort.  It seems that right now, I have a ton of these "warm neutral" palettes to play with. From Naked 3, to Unzipped, now to Warm Neutrals.  I know, it's been a crazy month for palettes for me. But I'm really loving the variety in this one. It has such an awesome mix of matte and frost shades with perfect crease and blending shades, as well as nice highlight and lid shades to create tons of variety.  I've loved every look I've created with this and can say it's becoming a fast favorite.

$13.


top: Composed, bottom left: Neutralize, bottom right: Awake


It's no secret that I've been a fan of the Sigma bases since they first came out. I'm really excited about these three new shades. These are super pigmented, and work just as well as the originals- staying creaseless (with my super oily lids, which not many bases can do), and holding up well over time. By that, I mean they haven't dried out in the pots. Most cream shadows similar to these begin separating from the edges and shrinking up in as little as 6 months of having them. None of mine have and I've had my original ones for over a year. Definitely some of my favorites.  I can see the pink being in my daily rotation for a while.

$12.


top left: Peaceful, top right: Mellow, bottom: Serene


By looking at these, you can probably tell which ones I'd recommend as a highlight, contour, and actual blush.  These blend really smoothly and hold up well throughout the day.  As far as the actual shades, I think they'd work for a very wide range of skin tones. Especially the Serene shade (the rosier, actual blush shade). It has a ton of color payoff and can actually build very dark. However, you can apply it lightly and make it work for someone with a lighter skin tone as well.


$9.


top-bottom: Eclipse, Nutmeg, Vintage


I'm really impressed with these. I actually really prefer these to the other Extended Wear liner pencils from Sigma. These sharpen easier and actually wear longer.  These shades are super versatile as well. The formula isn't quite as soft as the Extended Wear, but sometimes I actually prefer that in a pencil liner because typically they hold up better. I just warm them up on my hand a bit first before applying them.


$10.


 top-bottom: Tranquil, Hint, Tint
(swatches below in same order from left-right)


To me, these are actually a really great consistency. I've always said that sticky lip glosses do not bother me in the least because they typically last longer. These actually hold up similar to a stickier gloss, but they aren't super sticky.  I'm pretty sure there isn't an exact scale for gloss-stickiness, but I'd say these fall somewhere right in the middle. Not super sticky, but definitely not that watery slick feeling of some. I guess it's just all a matter of personal preference. I'd describe the scent as very sweet. Think cookie dough or cake batter-ish.

So what do you all think? To me,  the stand-out products are the eye palette and the eye shadow bases. Those are definitely worth checking out.

As always, you guys can save 10% with the most current Sigma Beauty discount code (current one is always posted in the sidebar of my blog), DEC2013.

If you guys want to see these products in action, look for a new tutorial coming up later in the week!





*Products provided for consideration by Sigma Beauty with no agreements or obligations to feature or review. All opinions and recommendations are genuine. Post contains affiliate links.

The BEST BB/CC Cream EVER?

...yes.

The first time I used this stuff, I knew things just got real, as they say.
Well that's technically not exactly how they say it, but you get what I mean.

No, this is not a sponsored praise-fest (if you've followed me for a while, you know that basically goes against everything I stand for), just probably the best beauty purchase of my year.


I knew when it came time to review this stuff for you all, (which I've been dying to do since the moment I used it and witnessed its awesomeness) it would be hard to do a typical review where I don't really tell you my thoughts until the end. Yeah, I realize I'm basically shouting from the beginning that it's awesome.
Part of the reason I'm extra excited about this besides the fact that it has totally changed and simplified my whole skincare/makeup routine, is because perfecting your skin is so important. To me, it's probably the most important aspect of a makeup routine. If your skin looks good, you can pretty much get away with anything else.
Because it is so very unique and amazing, there is lots more to share beyond my love it or hate it verdict.
So I created a video below allll about this stuff to share all the details about it (what makes it so unique) as well as a demo so you guys can see how well it covers. So be sure to check that out because it's so much more info than I could ever put down in words.
Well, we all know I could, but you'd still be reading well into next week. ;)

So a description in a nutshell... It's the most multi-tasking bb/cc product I've ever tried. It has the same coverage as a full-coverage foundation, yet looks really natural. It has taken the place of my moisturizer in the morning, as well as my foundation, so to say it has simplified my routine would be an understatement.
Here's a few facts about it:

  • Full Coverage
  • SPF 50+ (physical sunscreen, non-chemical)
  • Anti-Aging Serum (peptides, niacin, algae, vitamins A, C, B, E, hylauronic acid, and hydrolyzed collagen along with anti-oxidants and exotic natural botanicals)
  • hydrating moisturizer
For tons more details (and a demo), check out my full review video below!






Not a sponsored post. Post contains my genuine recommendations and opinions. Post contains affiliate links.

Some progress in the kitchen...

So you may remember in my Christmas decor video (check that out here if you missed it), I mentioned that I was in the middle of painting our kitchen walls.  Well that painting project is DONE and I'm loving our new light and bright kitchen!


























I selected a really warm "greige".  We'll get more into that in a moment, but first let's take a look back at what it looked like before...


Totally not bad, but I was never a fan of how yellow that particular color read on the walls in there. It's actually a beautiful, warm tan that I really quite like in other rooms of the house, but in this one, it just never was right to me. Maybe it was the contrast of all the white cabinets on the walls. Who knows. I just know I'm really happy with the new color and how everything turned out.

The color I chose is Clay Beige by Benjamin Moore. I'd describe it as a very warm light gray. This one is perfect for this space because it's still warm in tone (to play well with the countertops, stone backsplash, and neighboring dining room painted in the original warm tan), but it's lighter. The hint of gray makes it interesting and far from a typical beige.  It reads very different throughout the day. Sometimes it looks a bit more gray, sometimes you can't tell it's gray at all. It's so pretty.

To me, it's just the perfect shade. I like a light and bright kitchen without being SOLID white. I like the tone-on-tone feel of it now. Feels clean, a little glam, yet still cozy.

You guys may remember me mentioning Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore in my guest bedroom post (here).  I found these colors to be super similar, however I think I'd be more likely to choose the Clay Beige for more rooms because the Edgecomb Gray can read a bit too cool sometimes. Which I don't mind in the guest bedroom, but I wouldn't want it in a larger space, personally.  Clay Beige is a bit cozier I think.

I think for a space like this, where the wall space is actually super small (really just around the top of the cabinets and around the door and windows in the breakfast area), a dark color would look a little too jarring and heavy around the ceiling with all the white cabinets. I discovered while painting around the tops of the cabinets that the walls of this room were actually a super dark green at one point! That would have been interesting to see!


Here's a shot looking in from the other direction...


I also painted all the bead board in here. There is some covering the back of the island and also on the black splash on the area on the other side.


Not sure why whoever installed the stone backsplash throughout the rest of the kitchen didn't continue it on this side as well... Oh well. I really think the bead board is quite pretty over there anyway.

I also changed up the chalkboard wall for Christmas too!


You can check out how I created my chalkboard wall in this post.  It's so fun! I don't always plan on having a fancy little creation on there. I just think it's fun for certain holidays when I know we'll be having people over.  The possibilities are endless!

As far as future plans for the kitchen, it's still very much a work in progress. Which I think is what living in a home and making it your own is all about. I love that we still have so much to do over the rest of our lives in this house (yeah, I really don't want to move again...ever), so it's exciting to think we could eventually make it into anything we want over the years.

I really want to update the range hood soon. Maybe add something that looks more custom? Also, eventually update the appliances. Not for stainless for the sake of having stainless because that seems to be what people are thinking is only acceptable now-a-days.  Which is kind of silly to me.  I actually love white appliances when they're done right. Like this and this.  To me, it actually looks more thought-out.

I hate to say this because I hate doing things for the sake of being "trendy" especially in your own home, where decisions should reflect your taste, not someone else's, but I think stainless is kind of losing it's appeal. It seems in most newly-designed kitchens I've seen lately, white has been the popular choice. At our last house, when we re-did our kitchen, we replaced all the appliances with brand new, shiny stainless appliances in our pretty white kitchen. I love the look of that kitchen and I still do. Mostly because we got these amazing smudge-proof stainless by Frigidaire Gallery that have a really professional look without all the upkeep of stainless. I'd make that decision again and again.

But for this kitchen, I want to go another direction. I want it to look a bit warm and homey, while still looking very sleek and designed (eventually)... not like a professional test kitchen...haha.  I know we're going for white when we need to replace anything. Now, there are so many brands that are offering white in some of their best appliances. Right now, I just can't justify replacing appliances that look fine and that work perfectly.
...Well, with the exception of our wall oven, which has done some sketchy things lately.  So we've been giving it the side-eye. But when it does call it quits (hopefully not anytime soon), we'll go with a pretty shiny white like this one.
Our wall oven, range, hood, and dishwasher are original to the house and are about 15 years old. So they make me a little nervous...haha.

Our fridge isn't my favorite, but it's brand new so we'll work with it for a while. Maybe building it in like we did at our last place.

Like I said, lots of plans! But I feel like the wall color made such a difference and is a huge step in the right direction.

So what about you guys? Have you all done any painting projects lately? Isn't it crazy what a difference some paint can make??


Soft Smoky Eye Tutorial- Naked 3 Palette

So after sharing my thoughts on the new Naked 3 palette last week (in this post), I wanted to actually show you all how I make it work for me with this really easy soft and smokey eye look. I think this palette is super versatile. From really natural looks to the more sexy and dramatic, it's really easy to create so much variety with this one.  I would say this look falls somewhere in-between.
I LOVE using darker shades and making them soft and wearable, while keeping a little bit of drama. I could honestly make this look work for any occasion. Definitely a go-to look for me, especially around the holidays when lots of parties, outings, and events are on the calendar.
So be sure to check out the video tutorial below to see exactly how I created this one, step-by-step! I hope you all love it!

Products Used:
Lorac Behind the Scenes eye shadow primer
Naked 3 Palette
Nars Larger Than Life eye pencil in Via di Martelli 
Too Faced Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer
Covergirl Lashblast mascara
Chanel lipstick in Radieuse
Chanel #2 angled brush (contour/cheek)
Sigma Brushes
not shown in video:
Urban Decay Brow Box in Honey Pot
Hourglass Immaculate Foundation
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Undereye Concealer
Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder





*Post contains affiliate links. Post contains my genuine recommendations. Not a sponsored post.

Naked 3 Palette Swatches & Comparison to 1 & 2 (with video)

So I've found that when a new Naked palette comes out, the general question is, "How does it compare to the others?" 

"...and can I make this decision quickly before they inevitably sell out 4 or 5 times when I know good and well they're anticipating this madness and have got plenty to go around??"

K, that second question is a whole other story, but I wanted to wait a bit and review and swatch this palette after the initial first few weeks of madness died down a bit. Just because to me, nothing is worse than seeing all these reviews on a palette only available ONE place online that is sold out 95% of the time. 
So I'm happy to announce that these are finally available at Sephora.com HERE now! 
...Although, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they sell out there a few times as well.
When the first one came out, I thought they were pretty much done. I LOOOVED it and really didn't see how they could make another one equally as great. Turns out, they had 2 more complete Naked palettes up their sleeves as well as a small "Naked Basics" palette. Since that one is totally different (half the size with all matte neutrals, you can't really compare it to the others and I don't really consider it a part of the whole "Naked palette" line. I guess they don't either, or this one would be Naked 4. So I don't count that one here. So there are 3 we'll be talking about.



Judging by how well they sell, I wouldn't be surprised if they come out with a 4 and a 5.

So because comparison is so important with these, I included the swatches of the new Naked 3 as well as my original comparison swatches of 1 and 2 for reference.

I could really go on and on about my thoughts and opinions on these, but I'm saving all that wordy goodness for my review video (at the bottom of this post). This post is mainly for reference and so that you can get a good basis for comparison.

$52
"rose-hued neutrals"
*12 brand new shades*





$52
"bronze-hued neutrals"




$52
"taupe and greige neutral eyeshadows"




Naked 1 palette (top), Naked 2 palette (bottom)


So while I'm saving the super-detailed review for the video, I'll keep my thoughts on here short and sweet. My favorite is still the original. I feel like it really has a little bit of everything. A truly good mix of shades and finishes. While I like the taupe tones of Naked 2, I feel like there are too many frost finishes. If the frost had been toned down a bit for all the actual "taupe" shades in the palette, I think the colors would've shown up better. While the actual payoff is great, sometimes when light-medium depth shades are frosted, they lose a lot of the actual color intensity. For example, try using (and blending) several of those frosts together. They blend, but they look like one giant color. It's hard to get them to really stand out individually and maintain their true color. 
As for the Naked 3, I'm glad they came up with 12 all new shades. I'm really loving the rosy tones as well. This one has a lot of heavy frosts too, but I feel like it works because some of them are darker frosted shades which makes them stand out more against the other frosts when used together. 

So my faves in order would go: Naked 1, Naked 3, and Naked 2.  Actually, I think I may call Naked 1 and 3 a tie.

So what do you think?? Which one is your favorite? 

For a full review and much more on these, check out my new video below.





*Post contains affiliate links*
*Post contains my genuine recommendations and opinions*
*Not a sponsored post*

Christmas Home Tour 2013

Is it me, or does it seem like just yesterday when I was sharing my last Christmas home decor tour?? Crazy how this year has flown by!
2013 has brought so many new and exciting things for us. One of the biggest was moving into our new house! So when the holiday season rolled around this year, we couldn't wait to decorate and start deckin' them halls... say whaaat.

K, moving on...haha


So it seems that this Christmas tour is becoming a yearly tradition. You all seemed to really love it last year, so why not bring it back, right? You can check out the full video below, but I'm also sharing a little photo tour here as well to share a few more specifics.
It's so funny how our Christmas decor changes every year. I just go with what I feel like doing. Strangely enough, I didn't have to buy anything new, other than the big tree and about three little "critter" ornaments for our big tree. I'll explain...

Here is our main, crazy huge tree in our family room.


For this one, I did sort of a "rustic woodland critters" theme. That's totally a thing, btw.
I used all of the same ornaments I've used on our main tree in the past (lots of silver, white, and gold), but added a few more ornaments of cute little woodland critters. Totally goes with what has become the decor theme in that room anyway. I'd describe the room as "rustic glam".  :)


And here's the room with my favorite critter...


The topper deserves some mention because I risked my life putting it up there on a ladder. We had been avoiding it, and Brad kept putting off getting up there to do it. So one day while he was at work, I decided I'd do it and surprise him.  Yeah, totally leaving that job to him from now on.  This is the same topper we've used on our big tree for the past 4 years. Pottery barn still has it which is nice. I'd definitely recommend it. It's really beautiful and timeless.  Something we'll have forever. I linked this particular one in the source list for the room below.


This room's stuff...


Here's the other side of the room. Nothing crazy going on there, but I love the reflection of the tree in the mirrors.


The birch candles are from Pottery Barn years ago and they have really beautiful sparkle beading on them. They don't have the exact ones this year, but you can settle for a similar option I included in the source list as well.
The only thing I'd like to add to the tree is some sort of ribbon or burlap garland. Maybe even something more natural like woven twigs?  That will be an addition for next year.
As for the actual tree itself, we found it at Costco for a great price (compared to other 12-ft LED pre-lit trees).  The lights are a nice warm white (non LED looking at all) and with the flip of a button, they change to multicolored, flashing, alternating...it's pretty awesome.

Here's the living room/my office.


I realized that I had a ton of little Eiffel Tower/Paris ornaments mixed in with our "big tree" stuff. So I thought it would be perfect to theme out a little Paris tree. Complete with little Eiffel Towers, macarons, and sweet little bicycles. It's my favorite one I think.  



The Eiffel Tower topper was from Pottery Barn last year. Sadly, it isn't available anymore, but I did find it on the website in case you wanted to look at it and find something similar (here).




I also have a bit of an obsession with my snowflake pillows. I've had these for years and years. It's no surprise that Pier 1 comes out with these again year after year because they're so darn pretty.  If we lived somewhere snowy, I'd leave them out year-round.

This room's stuff...



Next is our fun food/candy/gingie man tree in the dining room.


I've done this tree for the past several years and it's just so fun.




As for the kitchen, this year I haven't really been into Christmas-y table scapes (yet).  Closer to Christmas I might do something special, but for now, the tables are sort of bare and the kitchen isn't super decked-out. I still like to keep the decor simple.
I would include a big photo of the kitchen, but things are changing in there and it's undergoing a little makeover.  I started painting it yesterday and it. looks. awesome. I'll share it next week!

But here's the little holiday vibe that's going on in there...


Just a simple switch to my Williams-Sonoma Christmas cookbook (I've collected this particular series for the past 10 years!). That particular series has since been discontinued, but I love changing them out to different things throughout the year.  The little trees are from Target years ago.

This photo is definitely not the best. I wanted you guys to see how pretty the garland is at night.  You can see it much better in the video.


And some more garland in the basement. While we haven't really decorated the basement much thus-far, this is what we've got. I show a lot more of the basement in the video if you're curious.


In the video, I didn't show the outside of our house or the details on the decor out there. I've never really shared the outside of our houses just because that seems like it would be putting a little too much out there....haha. Maybe I will eventually, but here's some decor on our porch...


Be sure to check out the full video tour below! I hope you guys enjoy it!




*Post contains affiliate links* Not a sponsored post. Post contains my genuine choices and recommendations.

Classic Holiday Makeup Tutorial

Let the Holiday looks begin!

So I figured since the first few days of December are upon us, it would only be appropriate to roll out the Holiday makeup tutorials. I have another planned for the month as well that is a bit different so keep an eye out for that too!

This one is very classic. Glamorous and glowing with a bit of sparkle, yet using natural tones.  It's definitely my go-to look for holiday parties or when you just want to shine a bit while still looking elegant and put-together.

I hope you all love it!



products used:
Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer
NYX Jumbo Shadow Pencil in MilkMarc Jacobs Lolita eye shadow palette
L'Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense
Too Faced Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer
Chanel Powder Blush in Accent
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light
MAC Pro Longwear Retro Matte lip pencil in Staunchly Stylish
MAC Mattene Lipstick in Deliciously Forbidden (no longer available, try MAC ProLongwear Lipcreme in Unlimited)
MAC Lustreglass in Star Nova
Chanel #2 Brush






Not a sponsored post. Post contains my genuine recommendations and opinions. 
 Post contains affiliate links.
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