Beauty ♥ s

So yes, I have been de-cluttering…in a way. It has been quite the process, and oh, I see no end in sight! However, I wanted to go ahead and share my latest beauty obsessions. It may sound kind of odd, as most of you who read my blog see that I wear very little, if any makeup day-to-day (I am what they call *lazy*)! Which is why I’m going with beauty ♥ s .

Smith’s Rosebud Salve
So one area that I have always considered a “trouble spot” for me since I was a child is my lips. They definitely dry out in colder weather, and TMI alert, I have an absolutely awful nervous habit and pick at them. Chapstick and Burt’s Bees stopped being effective quite a long time ago. And while Neosporin has come out with some really great lip treatment, even those don’t seem to be enough. I’d always heard great things about Smith’s Rosebud Salve, and I finally decided to give it a try when I spotted it at Sephora in the above tube form. Best impulse buy ever. This salve is easy to apply, incredibly soothing, makes my lips feel soft, and (as someone who hates overwhelming floral scents) has just the faintest smell of roses.

Dior Addict Lip Glow
This was actually one of my Christmas presents. I’ve been hunting for a natural looking pink lipstick, and the fact that this is moisturizing and works with your lips for color, I definitely wanted to give this a try. Between this and the rosebud salve, my lips should stay soft throughout winter, and well…now they glow .

Pure Grace Lotion by Philosophy
It is only in the past couple of winters that my hands have also needed some serious moisturizing. I’ve started baking up a storm during the holiday season – a couple of work potlucks, a cookie swap, and just baking for the family. And there was a lot of hand washing (my hands as well as the dishes) involved, and it has taken a toll on my hands. So, one evening while browsing Sephora (yes, I’ve been spending a lot of time there – it is my best friend’s and my “meeting place” for our weekly dinner), I went ahead and tried this lotion out. I wasn’t terribly fond of the smell (it is light and nothing offensive by any means…just not my favorite), but 2 days later…I could still feel it on my hands. And I mean that in a good way! They were still soft, and I could just feel like this light veil of the lotion. Another Christmas gift – a Sephora gift card, and I used it for this lotion . For other options, lotions that are oilier tend to have a longer lasting effect.

 

Essie School of Hard Rocks & Bobbing for Baubles
Well, this is nothing new. I’ve been obsessed with nail polish since elementary school (Oh, I have nail polish *racks*). Essie is kind of a new discovery of mine. I’d not really been impressed by their colors – general nail salon fair, while I like blues, purples, and greens. However, in the past year, most of my favorite polishes have come from Essie. I am very much digging the greyed out tones that are available now (at walgreens & CVS, no less). Currently wearing School of Hard Rocks on my fingernails & Bobbing for Baubles on my toes.

Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay
I do not own the Naked 2 palette, but I do own the original, and when the occasion calls for more makeup, I reach for the golds and bronzes of the Naked palette. I’m certainly interested in the new version.

IllumiCover concealer from Fusion Beauty
I hope that I’m linking to the correct one, as I purchased mine from Sephora a few months ago for less than $20! As I said, I am LAZY, but when I remember to use this – it works like a charm. And it is *light*! I cannot deal with heavy makeup.
Valentina perfume by Valentino
Surprise, surprise, I have a weakness for pretty perfume bottles. Of course, I know better than to judge a book by its cover, and if anything, any of the Daisy perfumes by Marc Jacobs has reinforced that (there we are with those overwhelming floral smells). I was at the Galleria yesterday, and wandered into the Valentino store in hopes of trying the perfume. I have to say, in this case the cover was right, the scent is lovely. For my everyday fragrance, I have actually sworn by Chanel Chance since 2007 (and I get tons of compliments on it), but I am completely enamored with Valentina. I think that I may want to switch it up a bit in the near future!