This Week's Beauty Purchases!

It's been quite a productive week in beauty buys for me. I haven't had a chance to try everything out yet, but I figured I'd introduce all of the products and we can go into them a little further later on. Let's get started!

NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna: After a less-than-stellar experience with Too Faced Peach Leopard Bronzer, I thought I'd try this cult classic. I detest super-shimmery bronzers, but the shimmer in this bronzer is almost undetectable; it just imparts a radiant glow. The shade "Laguna" is good for my pale winter skin. Maybe I'll try "Casino" in the summer time.

Maybelline Volum' Express the Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara: Is it just me, or are long product names super annoying? Regardless, I have mixed feelings about this mascara. The curved brush doesn't really do much for me as far as volume, but it helps with curl. I think layering this with another mascara (probably my favorite L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black) would look nice. My only issue is that Maybelline mascaras are a real pain to take off.

Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama: If you're trying to get in on autumn's oxblood trend but don't want to take the full dive, this is a great way to start. I thought this color would just be a deep fuchsia, but the deep burgundy/maroon color is much more than that. Pretty and rich, perfect for fall and winter. 

Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Café Au Lait: I got this lip gloss for free with a top I purchased from Lulu's. Honestly, I thought the gloss I received was a sample size, so I reordered it thinking the retail size would be bigger. I was a little disappointed to find out the petite container is what you get. This gloss is nice and moisturizing, and the color is a great neutral for every day. Would I pay $14 for it again? Probably not. 

Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray: I am so excited for this product, and I haven't even tried it yet. I absolutely loooved Oribe Dry Texturing Spray. Maximista is a "thermal-protective body-builder," and I think using it in conjunction with Oribe Crème for Style will give fantastic results. Did I mention how amazing Oribe products smell? Mmm!

Real Techniques Powder Brush: This is my first Real Techniques brush, and I think it's great. Right now I use an Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush to apply bronzer, and I think it's a little too heavy-handed. For a lighter bronzer application, especially on my pale autumn/winter skin, I think this fluffy brush will do the trick. I had a coupon at Ulta (yay!) and was able to get this brush for around $7 USD. Quite a deal for such a fabulous brush. Now I really want to try the Expert Face Brush. It's supposed to be great for foundation.

YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #001 Nude Beige: This lipstick is creamy. Too creamy? It's too early to pass judgement. The color is a beautiful pinkish-nude, and the packaging is luxe, to say the least. It's a great match for my NARS Fantasia Lipliner Pencil.

Phew! That was a lot. I'm very excited to get better acquainted will all of these products, and I'll definitely keep you posted on what I'm crazy about and what is underwhelming. Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments. Until next time! Xx

Heaven in a Jar?

Light blue sky, fluffy white clouds, pure bliss; these are the makings of heaven, right? Well, it's no coincidence that this small blue jar from Clinique holds my own personal Utopia. I was never one for night creams. My daily lotion worked just fine for me, and my oily skin certainly didn't need any extra moisture. But as the months grew cold and the air became dry, I noticed some flaky patches around my eyes and mouth. Cue this little bit of heaven! Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer (whew, that's a mouthful) is rich, creamy, and dreamy!

I purchased this cream from Nordstrom for $46.50 USD, which I consider to be a reasonable price for a night cream. When I asked the salesgirl if this product was oil-free, she responded, "nothing is oil-free." Huh? A quick glance at the packaging informed me that this product is indeed oil-free (a necessity for my rather oily skin), and made me raise an eyebrow at the less-than-informed employee. But enough negativity! I've been using this cream for almost three weeks, and the difference is more than noticeable. My skin looks brighter, smoother, and the pre-wrinkles (is that a real term? If not, TM that son of a gun!) on my forehead are much softer. Clinique products have always worked wonders for me, and this little gem is no exception. The box states that this is for "very dry to combination oily" skin, and I truly believe it will suit all skin types. If you're looking for a night cream for the winter months, or need a little more moisture year round, I'd give this a try.

The texture is to die for!

Have you changed your skincare routine to accommodate the winter weather? Have you tried this this heavenly cream? If not, what's your favorite night cream? Leave comments below! Xx

I'm a Jerk.

Yes, I'm a big jerk because every once in a while I promise to get back on the blogging wagon, and while I stay on said wagon for a couple of weeks, I always fall back off. Blame work, blame school, blame laziness, whatever. The point is, I solemnly swear to blog (OFTEN!) again. Maybe it's because I have a ton of new, fun stuff I'd love to share, or maybe it's because nothing beats autumn/winter beauty and fashion. So here it is, my declaration that Valley of the Dolls is (really...no slacking this time) back in business. Just give me a few hours to get things together for you. ;)

Xx

Fashion's Night Out!

Watch this amazing spot for Fashion's Night Out, featuring a TON of great celebrities. You can visit http://fashionsnightout.com for more info on the event, which takes place on September 6th.

Oh how I've missed you, Pureology!

My hair is fairly simple. Straight, normal texture, but lots of it. Sure, it's frustrating that it won't hold a style past 3 o'clock, but it's my hair and I like it. I've used almost every product line ever: L'Oréal Professionnel, Bumble & bumble, Shu Uemura, you name it. I've found products I like, products I hate, and everything in the middle, but nothing really compares to Pureology. Pureology is a 100% vegan (not that that's something I'm totally concerned about...terrible, I know), sulfate-free line that's all about color care. I used to use Pureology years ago when I worked at my old salon (and before I really knew how to maximize my own hair's potential), and I think I really took it for granted back then. Thankfully, I've been able to get a hold of it recently, and I am so happy I did. Pureology really is an amazing line. I've tried the Hydrate line and I like it, but I prefer to use the Pure Volume shampoo and Essential Repair conditioner every time I wash my hair. It feels sooo luxurious and smells amazing (the conditioner smells like vacation in a bottle). I've recently purchased the Colour Stylist AntiSplit Blowdry cream and the Silk Bodifier. I haven't used the mousse yet (I'll let you know when I do), but the blow-dry cream is simply fabulous. Not too sticky or too oily, and it makes my blowout look sleek and healthy. Pureology is a little bit on the pricier side, but I promise you, it's totally worth it. To find the Pureology collection that's right for your own hair type, check out the website here.

There's really nothing like a good hair day, right? Have you used Pureology before? If not, what line do you prefer? Leave comments below! Happy weekend everyone! Xx