Bag Balm

Today's entry on my list of contenders for the best lip balm for winter can't be found at department stores.  Instead, you can find it in the drug store, or, more likely, the farm supply store.

Wait, what?

That wasn't a typo.  Today's love is good old-fashioned Bag Balm

It's the best thing I've found yet to heal your skin if it becomes chapped and splits, especially the skin on the outside of the mouth.  It makes sense if you think it through- there's no time for a cow's udder to heal between milkings.

I keep this large tin on my bedside table- it also works to heal chapped noses, etc.

It's the country version of Aquaphor- trust us country girls, we know the real remedies.  Even though I no longer live in the country, I won't forget my roots!

Sunday Dreaming

It's time for another edition of Sunday Dreaming!  This week really will be all dreams, since I'm having to do some wallet-tightening as of late.  Don't worry, I still have a bunch of newly-released goodies to review on this site (keep an eye out for my first 3 items from Chanel Holiday 2013!)

Beauty and Fragrance:



Chanel Ligne Graphique de Chanel Liquid Eyeliner in Bronze, $34

I literally gasped when I swatched this in-store at Nordstrom. It has taken every ounce of self-control not to throw it in my online shopping bag.  I don't have anything like this in my collection, and I foresee this coming into my life once this period of financial instability ends.

Just look at this swatch!

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush- Accent ($43)

This is the other stunner from Chanel Holiday 2013 that I couldn't stop looking at.  However, it would've eaten up nearly half of my initial budget.


Here's a nice swatch to keep me going:

Deborah Lippmann Best of Both Worlds- Rock n Roll Mini Set ($19)

I love holiday sets, mini items, and Deborah Lippmann.  This has the cutest little glittery bag ever, Fast Girls base coat, and Addicted to Speed topcoat.  Love!



NARS Voulez-Vous Eye & Cheek Palette ($59)

This is marked as a Nordstrom exclusive, and includes Molokai, Antananarivo, Rangoun, Lhasa, Deep Throat, and Dolce Vita. I think it's stunning.


Dior Diorshow New Look Set ($28.50)

I adore when Dior does these sets.  You get a mini eyeshadow palette and mascara for the same price as the mascara regularly is.


Dior Diorshow-Iconic Overcurl Mascara Set ($28.50)

Same goes for this set. I highly suspect I end up with both of these. They're a great way to get mini Dior palettes (and who uses an entire quint? Be honest.) and stock up on mascara.



Bobbi Brown Luxe 6-Pan Palette ($15)

I have 2 Bobbi palettes, and no real need for another.  But look at this one- it's beautiful!

Holiday is the hardest time of the year for a beauty junkie's wallet!

Anastasia Brow Gel

After falling in love with the Anastasia Bold & Beautiful Kit, this brand jumped on my radar in a major way.  It was perfect timing that Ulta was offering Anastasia Brow Gel as one of its daily Beauty Steals during the 21 Days of Beauty promotion.  I tested this for the past five days.

I was used to using a setting gel with my CK One brow duo, so this wasn't an entirely new type of product to me.

The only downside to this product is the applicator- a spoolie wand.

Why is that a downer?  Product can be picked up and mixed with the clear gel.

I tested this with both the CK brow pencil and the Anastasia brow powder.  It works equally well with either- and it holds your brows all day long.  The hairs will remain in place until you wash your face, so work quickly!  This exceeded my expectations.  It wasn't love at first sight like the Bold & Beautiful Kit, but I'm quickly learning to appreciate this brand.




Pricing/Availability: $22, at Anastasia Beverly Hills, Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, and others.

Tarina Tarantino Jewel Shadow Palette: Fantastical

It's time to continue the series I started yesterday on one of my favorite brands, Tarina Tarantino.  Many people don't realize that the collection is still available via Tarina's website; it wasn't discontinued after exiting Sephora in 2012.

Overall, I find Tarina's eyeshadows to be of extremely high quality and incredibly affordable price point.  Over these next few posts, I'll be showcasing some of my favorite products of all time.

Tarina Tarantino Jewel Shadow Palettes retail for $32 via Tarina Tarantino. Each palette contains five eyeshadows, with a total net weight of 0.32oz among them.

Fantastical contains the following shades: Pearl Mauve, Beige Shimmer, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Pearl Lilac Purple, and Pearl Vanilla. In terms of theme, this is clearly the purple palette of the group.

Outside, in indirect sunlight

But this is the real way to look at any of Tarina Tarantino's palettes- in direct sun.  Her shimmers are dazzling.

In direct sunlight

Looking individually at the shades,

Pearl Mauve is the most neutral of the purple shadows. It works in any number of looks, from a base in a smoky eye to a single, all-over lid wash.  It's a  "neutral with a kick and a half", if that makes sense.

Outside, in indirect light

In direct sunlight- see the shimmer?

Beige Shimmer is an example of how well Tarina does even a basic nude shade well.  This is a shade that works in any number ways.  As a accent to the brow bone in a more dramatic look, or as a work-friendly look.

Outside, in indirect light

In direct sunlight

Pearl Eggplant Purple is a repeat from yesterday's palette.  It's a sultry purple best meant for smoky eyes or as an eyeliner.

Outside, in indirect light

In direct sunlight

Pearl Lilac Purple is one of the most unique eyeshadows I own. It's multidimensional, neon, and a showstopper all in one. This is best in a fashion-forward work, or for evening wear. It shows up best in the swatches.

Outside,  in indirect light

Outside, in direct sunlight

Pearl Vanilla is a beautiful highlighting color.  There is at least one neutral and one highlighter in each of these palettes. They're all beautiful.

Outside, in indirect light

Outside, in direct sunshine

And now, swatches.

First, outside in indirect sun:

L-R: Pearl Mauve, Beige Shimmer, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Pearl Vanilla, Pearl Lilac Purple

Next, inside, with flash:

L-R: Pearl Mauve, Beige Shimmer, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Pearl Vanilla, Pearl Lilac Purple

And inside without flash:

L-R: Pearl Mauve, Beige Shimmer, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Pearl Vanilla, Pearl Lilac Purple

I get 8-10 hours of wear when I use a primer.  When applying these shades, there is a significant amount of fallout. However, it's worth it.  Texture-wise, these are all silky smooth and the color payoff rich.  I find these palettes to be a great value.

Bottom Line: If you're a purple fan, this palette is for you. I find this line to be a bargain with the quality and color payoff.

NOTD: Chanel Gondola

During this "week" of Chanel reds, I present one of my long-term wants that I only recently acquired.  Many bloggers swatch Gondola as a comparison to Malice, and I fell in love with Gondola through the internet.  Just take a look and see why:

This flash photo indoors isn't quite true to color, but shows the shimmer better than anything else:

Caudalie Lip Conditioner

In today's look at my favorite lip balms in the never ending quest to find the best lip balm for fall/winter, I bring you a recent favorite: Caudalie Lip Conditioner.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner weighs in at 0.14oz at a price of $12, and is touted as being 99.5% natural.

I find this to be relatively nourishing while being lightweight.  It's quite temperature sensitive in that it will melt or break easier than your average drugstore lip balm, but it's nothing like the Fresh lip balms.

When I used it before bed, I'd wake up in the morning with soft lips that weren't looking for moisture- but importantly, didn't feel oily.  There's no discernible scent, and it's an all-around pleasant lip balm.

Listed ingredients: Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax*, Cetyl Palmitate*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract*, Copernica Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Cetearyl Alcohol*, Cetyl Alcohol*, Palmitic Acid*, Stearic Acid*, Hydrogenated Stearyl Olive Esters*, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Parfum (Fragrance), Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract*, Hydrogenated Castor Oil*, Tocopheryl Acetate*, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate*, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid. *Plant Origin

Bottom Line: I find this to a pleasant high-end lip balm. It's more expensive than drugstore products, but not out of sight in terms of price. I keep this in my purse at all times.  It's a steady product that you can always count on.

NOTD: Chanel Metal Grenat

Remember when I said "week of Chanel reds"?  In my case, I have to amend that number.  Since I'd like to move on to some of the other fall collections, here's a bonus NOTD.


The latest Chanel red to be featured is Metal Grenat, an oldie but goodie.  Looking at my bottle, you can see that it's the old style font- the generation of Chanel polishes between the tall skinny bottle and the current modern label.

It's darker and moodier than many of my other Chanel reds.  It feels classic- a twist on the typical vamp.

Tarina Tarantino Jewel Shadow Palettes: Magical

Until now, I've been focusing on recent acquisitions.  While I'll still be doing that, I'm going to keep working my way through lines where I own most if not all of the range.  My series of features on the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense for Lips was my first attempt at this. Part of the best part of starting a beauty blog is getting to revisit purchases and realize why I liked or bought each item.

It's time to talk one of my favorite brands, Tarina Tarantino.  Many people don't realize that the collection is still available via Tarina's website; it wasn't discontinued after exiting Sephora in 2012.

Overall, I find Tarina's eyeshadows to be of extremely high quality and incredibly affordable price point.  Over these next few posts, I'll be showcasing some of my favorite products of all time.

Tarina Tarantino Jewel Shadow Palettes retail for $32 via Tarina Tarantino. Each palette contains five eyeshadows, with a total net weight of 0.32oz among them.

Magical is one of my favorites of the Tarina Tarantino Jewel Shadow Palettes.  Per the website, the five shades are Pearl Ash Pink, Pearl Beige, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Creamy White Shimmer, and Pearl Soft Pink.  In my opinion, this is one of the most workable pink-toned neutral palettes I've seen.

All of Tarina's eyeshadows are best shown in the direct sun.

Pearl Ash Pink is one of my go-tos for a neutral eye. Generally, I have issues with pink eyeshadow, but Pearl Ash Pink has enough shimmer and a cool undertone that makes it very wearable with my blue eyes.  It's a perfect change for when nude eyeshadow isn't quite enough.

Outside, in indirect light

Outside, in direct sun

Pearl Beige is one of my favorite eyeshadow shades of all time.  You'll note just how far down this pan is.  It's just a perfect neutral that wakes up my blue eyes.

Outside, in indirect light

Outside in direct sun

Pearl Eggplant Purple is a sultry deep purple with just enough shimmer. I have used this both in smoky eyes and as an eyeliner.

Outside, in indirect sunlight

Outside, in direct sun

Creamy White Shimmer is a a pretty white shimmer, as the name would suggest. In terms of practicality, this is a nice highlighting shade for the inner eye.

Outside, in indirect sun

Outside, in direct sun

Pearl Soft Pink is a bit more saturated than the name would suggest. I've struggled to use this as an all-over color, but it can work up to the brow bone in a purple/pink smoky eye.

Outside, in indirect sun

Outside, in direct sunlight

Now, some swatches.

Outside, in indirect light:

L-R: Pearl Ash Pink, Pearl Beige, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Creamy White Shimmer, Pearl Soft Pink

Inside, with flash:

L-R: Pearl Ash Pink, Pearl Beige, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Creamy White Shimmer, Pearl Soft Pink

Inside, without flash:

L-R: Pearl Ash Pink, Pearl Beige, Pearl Eggplant Purple, Creamy White Shimmer, Pearl Soft Pink

I get 8-10 hours of wear when I use a primer.  When applying these shades, there is a significant amount of fallout. However, it's worth it.  Texture-wise, these are all silky smooth and the color payoff rich.  I find these palettes to be a great value.


Bottom Line: I may own all of the palettes in this line, but if you were only to pick up a couple of them, this would be one of the ones that I think everyone should have.