November Haul-iday!

November was a great month for me and the makeup addict community. In this past month alone, my makeup collection has grown exponentially, just because of the amazing high-end sets that have been released for this season. It was a good month. It was a really good month. It was just really great. If I keep going, I’m going to cry. Let’s move on, okay?

I would have posted this closer to the end of November but I’m in the middle of finals right now so… Sorry…?

I have been very financially irresponsible.

My November Makeup Haul-iday Collection:

• Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Palette ($59) (sold out)
• Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette ($46)
• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($19)
• Becca Cosmetics x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Glow Palette ($34) (sold out, unavailable on Sephora website)
• L’Oreal Paris Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray (~$13)
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony ($21)

The total value of this set is $137, but with the HSN deal + a coupon code I found, I paid $41!

• Too Faced All You Need is Love and Makeup set in Brunette ($59) Sold out in Brunette, only available in Taupe) (These are a lot of parentheticals)
  • Better Than Sex Mascara ($23 individual)
  • Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush – Candy Glow ($30 individual)
  • La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream – Sugar Daddy ($22 individual)
  • Perfect Blush Brush ($30 individual)
  • Bulletproof Brows with brush – Universal Brunette ($30 individual)
• Maybelline Color Sensastional Lipstick (~$5 each, depending on seller)
  • Crazy for Coffee
  • Rum Riche
• Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor
  • Seduction
  • Devotion
• Ipsy Bag ($10)
  • Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Deluxe Sample ($20 for regular size)
  • Dermelect ‘ME’ Peptide Infused Lacquer ($14)
  • Albertini International Warm Love Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask ($23 full size)
  • tre’StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon ($28 full size)
  • Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Mechanical Eye Liner ($14)

• Black Friday Deals
  • Tarte Easy Glowing Deluxe Cheek Set ($10 at Sephora)
  • Cover FX Face And Eye Primer Set ($10 at Sephora)
  • Too Faced Christmas Miracles ($16 at Ulta)
    • Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
    • Melted
    • Better Than Sex Mascara
  • Benefit Cosmetics Majorette Cream-to-Powder Blush ($10 at Ulta/Sephora, $28 reg. price)
  • Urban Decay Naked Flushed in Native ($15 at Sephora, $32 regular price)
  • Makeup Eraser ($20, got it for $14)

I was going to add up the total amount of how much I spent, but I don’t really want to acknowledge that amount.

Above: L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Setting Spray, Benefit Majorette Cream Blush, Cover FX Primer Set, Too Faced Christmas Miracles, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, Tarte Easy Glowing Set, Maybelline Colorsensational in Rum Riche and Crazy for Coffee

November favorites:

• Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Palette
  • Probably my favorite purchase of the month. You have literally every single color your little heart could ever desire. My favorite shades are Harpischord and Rewind, which are my go-to autumn colors.
• Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor
  • So there are a lot of complaints about specific shades being blotchy or not a true matte, and I completely agree. However, I use these as a nice in-between matte and gloss, because sometimes I want a matte-looking lip, without the drying consequences. This does that for me.
• Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette
  • The colors are beautiful, the blending is great, I love this palette, it allows me to serve chiseled blended cheekbone realness.
• Benefit Cosmetics Majorette Cream-to-Powder Blush
  • There is a lovely fruity smell, the creamy texture is lovely, it applies very easily and blends well with just your fingertips. Sometimes this is what I need at 8am in the morning when I need something easy.
• Too Faced All You Need is Love and Makeup set in Brunette
  • ….It’s a $137 set and I got it for $41…… My two favorites are the Bulletproof Brows + Brush, and the Lip Creme. I had heard a lot of positives about the Better than Sex Mascara, so I was very eager to acquire the full-size mascara in this set. Sometimes the mascara is difficult to apply, and can be clumpy. But when it works, it works great. Overall, this set is absolutely lovely.
• Becca Cosmetics x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Glow Palette
  • It sold out for a reason. The colors are beautiful, I love every single shade. Each shade has a specific region of your face that it is perfectly suited for. This palette is complementary to just about every skin color. I’m so glad I swiped this up when I had the chance.
• Too Faced Christmas Miracles (Black Friday Set Deal)
  • This was a great set. My only complaint is that the Chocolate Soleil bronzer that was included was so small it looks like a toy. However, it smells so great and is so lovely that I can forgive it. The Melted product included is amazing, so moisturizing and flattering.

November regrets:

• I regret nothing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If you have any questions, comments, personal hangups, or concerns let me know in the comment section below!

My Daily Makeup Routine

What better way to get to know my makeup habits than for me to tell you about what I do to my face everyday? Now, let’s assume that this is a normal day: I wake up when my alarm goes off after 6-8 hours of sleep, and I actually have enough time to do my “usual.”

Me when my alarm goes off at 7:45am

(Maybe one day I’ll post my “jolt awake after 4-5 hours of sleep, Oh my God, why did I sign up for this 9am class, I only have 20 minutes to get ready and put on clothes” routine.)

Anyway, let’s get down to business.  The makeup I use is very affordable, with a few splurge-y items now and then when I convince myself I deserve them (Kat Von D’s Mi Vida Loca Remix Palette…). I would vouch for all of these items… if I hated them, I wouldn’t be using them.

First, I use a generic makeup sponge (maybe one day I will shell out the $20 for a beauty blender…) to put on my Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream SPF 30 in Fair to Light. It’s very sheer, so there is not much coverage. This isn’t my first choice in BB Cream, but for an everyday look, this is what I usually go for. (My preferred BB cream is Etude House’s Precious Mineral BB Cream Blooming Fit (#W13), which is Korean. Koreans know their stuff when it comes to BB creams guys. Unfortunately, I have run out of this stuff which makes me very sad.)

These well-loved products have seen better days…

Then, I use Maybelline’s FIT Me Concealer in Sand under my eyes, on any zits, and to provide a little bit of contouring. I usually also use Revlon Photoready Concealer as well, to provide additional highlight/contour.

Then, I use Maybelline’s FIT Me Powder in Classic Ivory on my face. I use the sponge that it comes with because I’m poor. I am ashamed by this. If you can’t tell, I’m a fan of Maybelline’s FIT Me line.

In case you’re wondering when primer comes into play, it doesn’t. Well, when I was starting out in makeup, I did not know that primer existed, and I always was super annoyed with how my eyeliner would always transfer onto my upper eyelid by the end of the day. Eventually, I realized that using face powder on my eyelids prevented this, and this kind of just stuck. (Also this is an every day look. I don’t have time for this tbh.)

Now, depending on if I have an extra 3 minutes, this is when I pull out my Kat Von D Shade + Light Contouring Palette. I usually stick with the two middle shades, Lyric and Shadowplay, but sometimes use Lucid and Subconscious to add some more dimension. The brush I use is a random highlighting/contouring brush from Forever 21 (I can’t find it online but honestly it’s only okay. It’s not worth the search. Buy an E.L.F. brush.) that my sister left unopened in the kitchen. It’s okay.

Then, I the blush I usually reach for is in Tarte’s Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette. I unleash it upon my face (…The blush’s name is Unleashed…). I use an ELF Blush brush for this.

After that, I take my NYX Cosmetics Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade in Chocolate, and apply it to my brows using my Kelly Quan Eyebrow Brush (bought at Whole Foods for me by my boyfriend’s sister… I can’t find a link online for it tbh).

Can you tell that I’m living for that blush though?

My eyeshadow depends on how much time I’ve wasted with the above steps, and how many more minutes I have to create an eyeshadow look. If I don’t care about being late to class, I’ll pull out my Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Eyeshadow Palette. If I am trying to be on time, I’ll use my go-to smoky eye with my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Usually Verve, YDK, and Busted). If I am already late, I literally just smother on Bootycall from my Naked 2 Palette with my fingers (the fact that this is the only color I have hit pan on should say enough about my punctuality).

I throw on some winged eyeliner using NYX’s Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black. I really enjoy this liner, but I also really want to try Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner… The only thing stopping me is that the Tattoo Liner is double the price! 

My favorites are Urban Decay’s Perversion and MUFE’s Smoky Extravagant. As you can see, I’ve also tried Tarte’s Lights Camera Lashes, Benefit’s They’re Real!, and Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara. Those are all great, but I just loved the other two way more.

Mascara… Let me tell you a thing. I haven’t had to go out and actually purchase a full-sized mascara in about a year. This is because I keep getting deluxe samples from Sephora, Ipsy, or Ulta by buying makeup in sets or as birthday presents (SIGN UP FOR ULTA’S MAILER. I got a free Benefit They’re Real! Mascara because there was a coupon in it!). My favorite mascaras so far are Urban Decay’s Perversion or Make Up Forever’s Smoky Extravagant Mascara.

The lipstick I use on that day depends on my mood/outfit. Here is a list of some of my go-to lip products (if they are very dry, I apply my favorite lip balm first):

• Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Blow
• Maybelline Divine Wine (very drying matte shade, use lip balm first)
• MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo (very drying matte shade, use lip balm first)
• Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Elusive, Unapologetic, or Standout (I am a huge fan of this line if you can’t tell)
• Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Seduction and Devotion (some people say Devotion is blotchy, but I don’t have any  problems with it. I will say that it’s not a true matte, but I still really like this product and plan to buy more).

Revlon makes some of my favorite lip products… However, this line of Maybelline matte lipsticks are also amazing. Also, this is my favorite (…flavor? scent? taste?) of eos lip balm, vanilla mint.

Well, there you have it! This is by any means not all of the makeup I own, but these are the products I reach for in my zombie-like state using muscle memory in the mornings. If you have any suggestions for improvements, let me know (even if you’re going to yell at me for not using a primer or setting spray)! If you have any questions, comments, personal hangups, or concerns, feel free to let me know!

xoxo, Gossip Arvs