My top 6 blushes for Spring/Summer

The best thing about Spring besides the sunshine, is COLOR! Here are my top 5 blushes for Spring/Summer:
(in no particular order)

1- MAC Ambering Rose.
This was the first MAC blush I ever purchased.
It is perfect for the sunshine with its shimmery blend of rose, gold and coppery colors. Will look divine on any skin tone.

2) MAC Fleur Power! This bright corally pink will give you tons of beautiful color. It's a great rosy cheek to rock in the milder months of March, April and May.

3) First one pictured is MAC Springsheen. Sorry it's in the blush palette. This is known for being a fantastic dupe for NARS Orgasm. The only major difference I would say is that Orgasm has chunky glitter where as Springsheen is much much finer. It's gorgeous, and gives a natural subtle glow.

4) MAC Sunbasque, pictured on the right. It literally does as the name implies. The peachy hues adds the perfect amount of warmth. Divine!

5) NARS Deep Throat. This picture is from the website as I could take a proper one. Out of all of their beautiful blushes, this is my favorite NARS blush for the upcoming season. In my opinion, they make the best blushes. It's pinky-corally color is pigmented but subtle allowing you to use as little or build up to as much as you'd like. A must have!

 6) Surprise, surprise. Everyone's favorite of last
Summer. It still remains a hit for me. It is the perfect color for S/S. If you're looking for just one blush for your S/S color palette, my vote would be for this, Benefit's Coralista. A bonus, the scent is so yummy. Floral and sugary, I can't stop smelling it.

From top to bottom :
Nars Deep Throat, Benefit Coralista, MAC Springsheen, MAC Ambering Rose, MAC Fleur Power, MAC Sunbasque

Mmm. Favorite Bath and Body lotions thus far.

If you see these two on the shelves GRAB THEM. They are luscious! They smell absolutely divine. I plan on picking up Apricot in the same Summer Vanillas line as I have heard really good things. 

Thought I should add these two but I'm not certain you will find them in stores. I wish I had know to purchase a back up of Twisted Peppermint. Oh, how I am kicking myself now. I use it extremely sparingly because I love it so. If you can get your hands on them, don't hesitate!

Putting together my Spring swatches.

 As Spring is approaching, I thought I would do a post on a few things that I have worn quite a lot this winter and what I will be putting away for some time. First up, is Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb. I know everyone has heard the hype surrounding this perfume and while it is very, very good, I do not think I will be re-purchasing this. I've grown really tired of the scent and I find it too over-powering now.

 Next up, is Bobbi Brown's lipstick in Brown 4. This is a lovely matte brown with slight pink undertones. Maybe it's because I've wore a lot of nudes lately and I am craving COLOR, but for now, into the makeup draw it goes.

Ahh, Chanel. How much I love thee! I am truly in love with Chanel's glossimers. The consistency and formula is so amazing compared to MAC lip glosses. I'll continue to use this glossimer in the color "Mirage" until the tube is empty, it's so pretty!

And lastly, MAC's blush in "Love Thing." It's been perfect for

Fall/Winter. It's burgundy hues with gold glitter gave my

NC42 cheeks a perfect rosy glow. 

It is so pigmented that a very little goes a long

way. I will continue to use this blush as well but
perhaps not as often.

MAC Impassioned Lipstick

I have often seen this shade at the counters and passed it up for something more "wearable." I gave in and bought it and I'm so glad I did! It's a perfect bright red-pinkish color that makes me nostalgic for Spring and Summer.

Good finds!

Wanted to share two of my favorite drug store products with you all. I never expect too much from drug store bought makeup, but recently I have noticed that a few brands are really stepping up their game. Whether it be packaging, or assigning a name rather than a number (that never made sense to me!) or the general quality of their product, I feel as though I am getting a bang for my buck. Here's an example: 

This Revlon Luxurious Color eyeshadow comes in a satin finish. The single shadow named, "Shimmering Sienna" is literally stunning! I found it to be very pigmented and blend-able. By the way, I bought this months ago and have used it quite often and have tons left (0.08 oz.) 

This next shadow is by Milani, and I have to say that their packaging is quite pretty. Don't mind the mess, this tends to happen with this particular one but not with any of my other Milani e/s.

This color is Runway Eyes #4 Coffee Shop. It's brown with purple and a touch of gold shimmer but it is very fine and just gorgeous! I use this in the crease and outer v. 

I swatched these next to Mulch, which is one of my favorite MAC shadows.

I think I'll be picking up more of Milani's e/s as I can't get over how pretty their eye shadows are.

Favorite winter lip products

 I normally have dry lips, but the cold weather really takes a toll on them. My current routine for lip care includes, brushing away dead skin with my tooth brush, after I've done in the shower which really does the job, or using a lip scrub- usually one from LUSH. I apply tons of lip balm during the day if I am not wearing lipstick. I really do hate wearing any lip balm under lipstick because it gives the color a lustre finish, which I don't much like. Prior to putting on any lipstick, I apply a lip plumper lip gloss and wipe it off after a few minutes and then apply lip color.

At night, I apply either or these two as I have found they really keep my lips moisturized through the night.

Not too sure why my pics are coming up sideways. Anyhow, Smith's lip balm in Minted Rose is amazing. When I have this on, I am constantly rubbing my lips together to feel the smooth texture. It can feel a bit oily but generally, its quite lovely.

Korres, Plum Lip Butter is a deep plum tinted balm that you can wear out but it wears away easily if you are eating or drinking, and leaves nasty marks on everything that touches your lips. I choose to wear it at night despite the consequence of leaving prints on my pillow because my lips feel amazing in the morning. It might look strange going to bed with a full colored pout but to me, it's worth it.

Another worthy mention, any Burts Bee lip products!

A Surprise from my sweetie.

The boyfriend and I left Brooklyn early in lieu of errands, but lunchtime found us taking a lengthy stroll around the Upper East Side on Tuesday.  It was very cold out so the stroll was more like a brisk walk. I suppose that the forty or so city blocks we walked was a good jump start to the dreaded New Year's resolution of getting slim and trim. We popped into Barney's as he is an absolute fragrance fiend. He purchased Byredo's Oud Immortel and Serge Luten's Ambre Sultan. I know absolutely nothing about fragrances, except which I find pleasing ans which I could live without, and these two I NEED in my life. They smell amazing!


Anyhow, after we left, we sought some warmth and coffee and happened upon a diner. Somewhere between the eggs and the check, he took out a box and said, "I hope you like it." This was ninja like, because I had not left him in the store except the tiniest second when I turned around to eye the NARS counter. He bought me, Frederic Malle's, Portrait of a Lady. 

I have never bought a perfume that cost more than $95 and was completely blown away by the the thought and the beautiful scent. I highly recommend it! It was inspired by the Henry James novel of the same name. It's woody and spicy and a whole list of things I can't adequately describe.