TOTALLY RANDOM Thursday- Top 10 products I am LOVING this week (NYX,ELF,Benefit, and MORE)

SPRING IS HERE... Well I think? We did get some snow the other night; however as I was getting ready today I noticed that since the weather is changing, I am gravitating towards a few different products this month. Brighter colors, oil absorbing items...you know - all the good things that get us ready for warm weather and shiny faces.

I know I have always enjoyed reading others’ thoughts on product reviews. It really helps me decide what I want to purchase when I am out and about shopping for a new lip color or eye liner. So without further ado, here is my top 10 list of items that I am loving this week. (I say week because I change my mood and style constantly, and the thought of being committed to a month scares me).

1. Is my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge: for $5.99 this little sucker rocks at blending foundation without making you look like Tammy Faye Bakker. It’s pretty dense when dry but expands to almost 3 times its size when damp and just bounces off the skin while blending. I went through a lot of duds before finding one that was comparable to the $20 coveted beauty blender. I truly find this one to be an almost exact dupe in my personal opinion.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod5960824

2. Everyone needs a good highlighter for summer. My favorite is actually considered a baked blush by ELF but I personally think it’s a crappy blush but a beautiful highlighter. It’s from their Studio line so if you pay full price it’s a whopping $3.00 <<--insert sarcasm... but 90% of the time they have awesome deals where you can save up to 50% off their product. You can't beat three bucks but cheaper is even better. The color I currently love is Pinktastic. Just dab it on the tops of your cheek bones and down your nose and a swipe across your cupid’s bow and you are good to go. Love the natural glow it adds to my super pale skin.

I know its probably hard to see but I did swatch it on my hand, It's a pretty rose-gold tone, not too light and not too bronze.
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/baked_blush

3. Number 3 has got to be my Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude. This is perfect for the waterline to open your eyes up and give them the bigger and bolder eye effect. This formula is truly waterproof and doesn't budge. It stays all day even when I am having my allergy eye days. It’s a great addition to add to your eyeliner collection.

http://us.rimmellondon.com/products/eyes/scandaleyes-waterproof-kohl-kajal

 4. Next is my NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair to be specific. I loved the butter lip sticks during the winter and am carrying my love for the "butter" line over in glosses for spring. I have had this color for some time. I purchased it when they first came out but didn't truly fall in love with it until recently. It’s not sticky or gloopy. If it’s windy, your hair will not stick to your lips and it smells like cupcakes. It’s smooth and creamy and lasts a good while for a gloss. I have been wearing it alone or pairing it with a pinkish colored liner and calling it a day. It is also super opaque for a gloss. 

http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/p-191-butter-gloss.aspx

5. My next love is an unexpected love. I actually received this in a Glossybox a few months ago. It’s the OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel. OK so YES it is $30 but so worth it. It claims to keep you matte for 8 hours and from my experience I believe that is a true statement. It says to use as part of your skin care routine but I have been using it as a primer with the next favorite I am getting ready to mention and my skin has never looked better as the seasons change from my skin being super dry to being…umm let’s call it dewy…but in reality it’s oily. You really only need a pea size amount to do your whole face and after it sinks in, it makes you face feel so smooth and soft. Foundation application is super smooth when using in conjunction with this product. 

http://www.oc8.com/about/

Half way there... Woo Hoo

6. Is the Rimmel Stay Matter Liquid Mousse Foundation, this is definitely a nice lightweight,  medium coverage, but buildable foundation. I found the best way to apply this is to use my Mattifying Gel and my Real Techniques Sponge. The moisture left in the sponge really helps this mousse-like texture spread without creasing or caking up. It stays all day and doesn't get shiny at all. I think it’s about six bucks at your local drugstore too; I can't remember the exact cost but it is very affordable compared to other matte mousse foundations I have tried. Also Rimmel is always on sale somewhere so you may be able to find it cheaper... 

 

http://us.rimmellondon.com/products/face/stay-matte-liquid-mousse-foundation?cid=sem_FY14Rimmel_Google

7. ELF Studio Lip Exfoliator- this item is $3.00 and is a must-have in my lip routine. I use this every day before I apply my balm and lipsticks or lip glosses. This is a sugar scrub in a stick form. It gently removes dead skin and preps your lips for color. It is gentle enough to use every day and keeps your lips smooth and soft. It’s definitely a must-have if you wear bold lip colors like red. I find the smoother my lips are, the less likely my lip color is to feather or look patchy. 

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/lips/lip_balm/lip_exfoliator

8. Jordana Made To Last 12hr Eye Liner Pencil- Ok, now I have quite a few colors in this line but my absolute favorite for this time of year is the Aqua Stone. It is the most beautiful teal blue and honestly reminds me a lot of another brands’ 24/7 liners for a fraction of the cost. This formula is super creamy, but not so soft that it breaks and smears everywhere. It has great staying power and is a gorgeous pop of color under the eye especially when paired with the Rimmel Scandal Eyes on the water line. I am normally a very neutral toned girl since I have dark hair, blue eyes and fair skin. So when I picked this up on sale at Walgreens for $1.39 (yeah, you read that right, this liner is super cheap - normally they are $2.99, which is still a steal) I was thinking “Well if it’s horrible I will just pass it on to one of my girls to play with.” However, I fell in love... and that is all she wrote. 

http://www.jordanacosmetics.com/p-162-12-hr-made-to-last-liquid-eyeliner-pencil.aspx

 9. Ok so this is a cult fave I know, I know - I am just one of the many followers but it needs mentioning, and that is my Hoola Bronzer from Benefit. It is the prefect matte bronzer for fairer skinned gals. I love it for contouring or an all-over bronzer. It also lasts forever; the one I have is the old packaging and I use it a few times a week and it hasn't hit pan yet. So yes you are paying $28.00 for a bronzer but you will probably have it forever. 

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/hoola

10. Finally the end right? :) if you have stayed and read until the end. I commend you and you must really like what I have to say... 

So with that being said, what look is complete without eyebrows. I will say I have super pencil thin brows. I don't pluck and they don't grow. I have had thyroid issues and they fell out and never came back. I am not about making huge fake ones but I do like to darken and define the ones I have. I have lots of brow products from your $20.00 Anastasia brow wiz and going down from there. Honestly my go-to is... drumroll please...the ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit. One side is a dark hair colored wax (I use medium) and the other side is a lighter shade powder for setting them. It comes with a double ended brush, which I do use when I travel but I also like to use a clean angled eye liner brush when I am home to get a more precise look. This item is also $3.00 from the elf studio line. 

It is another product that last FOREVER... I have had this since September and use it every day and haven't hit pan yet.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyes/eyebrows/eyebrow_kit

Ok, so there you have it: My top 10 for right now. We all know it will change with my mood but for now I am really loving these items. I tried to get pictures of everything and provide links to the companies in case you would like to look into purchasing them for your own beauty collection/routine or to just get more info on each product. 

Also if anyone would like me to do a post on how this looks put together and what shadows, mascara, blush etc. I use to pull this look together comment below and I would love to do a "how to" spring look for you. 

Again, thank you for taking the time to read this and have a wonderful day. 

-Alyce