Top Ten Favorites of 2012

As you can see: I love this palette.

Hi everyone! Late to the party, I know. But, better late than never, I'd say! Right? Yeah? *Crickets*

My favorite products, in no particular order:

• Naked 2 - I reach for this every single day. Blackout is my brow powder, Foxy is always on my brow bone, and Bootycall always on the inner corners of my eyes. Though I'll never get used to that name, lol.

• Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte - Light coverage and sets foundation with minimal touch-up required throughout the day.
• Diorskin Forever - Lightweight coverage that leaves skin glowing and dewy.

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Illumin8 With Youthful Synergy Complex Bronzer - Sun Kissed - This is the only bronzer I ever reach for. It's perfectly warm and gives the most natural and believable sun-kissed look. I mostly use it just on my cheeks as a blush. I'm already brown (hollaaaaa) so I don't particularly need an all over bronze. 

• Laura Geller Blush & Brighten - Honey Dipped - Aside from Sun Kissed this is the other blush I reach for the most. It's so glamorous.

• Yves Saint Laurent Eyeliner Effect Faux Cils - Deep Black - Very black and very creamy so it's easy on the eyes and doesn't tug.

• MAC Lip Pencil - Cherry - Like Rubywoo in the form of a pencil.

• Estee Lauder Pure Color Matte - Red Velvet - This formula is wonderful, more of a comfortable and flexible matte.

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Highlighting Creme Duo - St. Tropez - Best Highlighter ever for the very top of the cheekbones. I pair this with matte blushes.

• It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In - Conditions lightly, defines my waves, and smells amazing.
  

Hope everyone's year is off to a great start!

xoxo,

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain - Always Red

I must say: I'm very impressed with the formula. A thin layer lasted me through lunch and through 5 glassed of water. I love that I can just apply this and not have to worry about reapplying. A no-fuss product is sometimes just what I need on a busy day. Especially cause I sometimes forget to check if I need to reapply my lips. Formula is a liquid lipstick that sets completely matte; however, I found it to be a flexible, comfortable matte. Also: This smells like cake. Um, yes, please!

 Always Red is a bright blue-based red, just like I like. :D

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

NOTD: OPI DS Classic

 DS Classic is a light tan holo that is absolutely to die for! This is one of the most beautiful polishes I have ever come across. Simple, but with a little kick to it! The red accent nail was not really meant to be an accent nail. I swatched a shade at Sephora that I really liked called Yumi by Julep. I was wearing Wet N' Wild's I Red a Good Book at the time so that's why it's over red. I wasn't quite ready to part with the swatch so I left it on. I do believe I have to pick up a bottle of Yumi. 

On a side note: Giving shorter nails a test-drive. Hmm, not sure how I feel about shorter nails on myself just yet.:)

I do hope you enjoyed the swatches! :)

xoxo,

Flawless Hands

I'm here to help make your hands so soft your significant other will not want to let go of them. Or if you're single, here to make your high fives the nicest and best in town!

To keep hands at their absolute smoothest, I first recommend using either a sugar or salt scrub. I recommend Tree Hut Almond & Honey Scrub. It leaves hands ever so soft and cuticles looking healthy. You will not believe how incredible they feel after just one minute. 

Scrub as if you were using it to thoroughly wash your hands then rinse off and towel dry. 

Use once a week.

Available here & Walmart

I'm a hand cream addict. I use all sorts and have quite a few I rotate everyday. So brace yourself. Up first is the one that works the best on me: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. It is absolutely amazing. Amazing. I fell in love the first time I used it over 10 years ago. It mostly sinks-in and leaves a protective layer on top which is soft to the touch, like a silky glove. 

 Available at drugstores or here

 Avon Moisture Therapy is my seconds favorite. Formula is very similar to the Neutrogena one. Just as emollient and protective. Non-greasy. 

Available here

 J.R. Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Hand Cream is another great one. It's very moisturizing but lightweight and has a nice green tea fragrance. Sinks right into the skin. 

Available here

Jurlique Rose Hand Cream is so very amazing, not only because it's very moisturizing and great for very dry skin, but it also smells like roses! I DIE. I keep this one in my purse at all times. 

Available here

Sleeping Gloves are a great way to not only lock-in the moisture, but if you're a side-sleeper like me, it keeps the lotion off your face. It also just looks classy.:)

Available at drugstores

Sunscreen on the back of your hands is a must, E\especially when you're driving. I use Alba Botanica Green Tea SPF 45. 

Available here or at health food stores, Target and CVS.

If you use hand sanitizer, it's best to use one that's also moisturizing. Such as Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer or Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint.

Jurlique available here

 Twisted Peppermint here

I hope this post was informative and useful.:)

xoxo,

Maja Products

Maja products smell absolutely divine. I love classic vintage fragrances, especially this one. Warm, spicy, and floral, it's a must for lovers of vintage scents and products. 

Available at La Tienda (link)

& 

Walmart; some CVS stores

xoxo,

Images from tienda.com

NOTD: Sinful Colors - Cinderella

They say that the happiest day in a woman's life is the day she gets married.
No, it's not. It's the day when she finds the polish she's been searching for forever. I had been looking for this for months, ever since one of you suggested this shade to me. I searched high-and-low but it was always sold-out everywhere. Finally, I found it at Walgreens. I now know why it was always sold-out. I held this bad girl up in the air and screamed 'YES! FINALLY!' I get overly excited sometimes and I just can't contain myself.
Cinderella is the perfect light-blue with the most gorgeous pink, leaning towards violet almost, micro-glitter. It's much, much, much prettier in person. For the life of me I couldn't capture its' true beauty no matter what setting I used on my camera. Just know what it's wow in real life. When I saw it after I brought it back down after I raised it, I realized how it's way prettier than I had anticipated. 
One coat is sheer so it can be layered over other polishes. Here I used 3 coats. 

Great color on toes as well.;) Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,

Shabby Apple Holiday Promotion

10% off all red dresses with code 'Red' at checkout. Sale lasts for 5 days only; 11/5-11/10/2012.

Link here


xoxo,