Tag: Holly Jolly Holiday

I've been tagged by Wanischa S to do the Holly Jolly Holiday tag! I've been wanting to do a holiday themed tag since Thanksgiving but I hadn't had time to find one and now thanks to Wanischa, I don't even have to look.
1. Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until last minute? I'm totally guilty of waiting until last minute to do my Christmas shopping because I'm always so busy with school and finals around Black Friday that I just don't have the time to start shopping early.
2. If you could be in any Christmas movie what would it be? I think I would want to be in Elf because it's such a funny and happy Christmas movie. The end where everyone starts believing in Santa Claus made me seriously tear up!
3. Which do you like better: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Definitely Christmas Day because that's when I see all my family and get to open presents!
4. When does your family put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it? We typically put up our Christmas tree two to three weeks before Christmas and my uncle and I decorate it.

5. White lights or colored lights? I actually like a mixture of both, as you can see from the picture above I use both types of lights to light up my tree!
6. Are you guilty of peeking at your presents or do you like surprise? I've never peeked at my presents before and it's probably because they're so well guarded and wrapped that I've never had the chance to!
7. Would you rather live in a gingerbread house or Santa's Workshop? Definitely would rather live in Santa's Workshop. I'm actually not a huge fan of gingerbread and who wouldn't want to live with Santa and be surrounded by toys.
8. Tell us your Christmas Eve traditions! My Christmas Eve is quite boring. I wrap presents last minute with my mom and then just go to sleep awaiting Christmas day.
9. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone, who would it be? My boyfriend of course! I hope we can spend Christmas together this year, the past two years he's had to work during Christmas and I wasn't able to see him.
10. What tops your tree? This ugly star from Century 21 that lights up and is very tall and skinny. I'm in the process of shopping for a new star at the moment.
I now tag Jayne, Traci, Shari, Nat and Eight!
Thanks for tagging me Wanischa(:

Review: The Balm Nude'tude Palette

I'm sure you've all heard of the Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 palettes but a lesser known amazing neutrals palette is The Balm's Nude'tude ($36). I've had this palette for a while now but since I've been reaching for it a lot lately, I was inspired to write a review of it on my blog. This way I can give you all an option other than a UD palette if you want something with neutrals.

The packaging of this product is very simple, sleek and compact; making it easy to travel with. There's two versions of this palette, naughty and nice. I have the naughty version that has naked girls on the inside with the shadows covering their lovely lady parts, whereas the nice version is just a room in the background.

The palette comes with 12 different eyeshadows all in the neutral range of colors. Unlike the Naked and Naked 2, Nude'tude comes with more "colorful" neutral shades. For example, Sexy is a rich brownish red and Stubborn and Stand-offish are pretty pinks; shades you can't really find in either UD palette.

The shadows are all highly pigmented and have a buttery texture. You can swipe your brush once against any of these shades and you'll get a good amount of color in your application. The colors stay put once they're applied and you don't have to worry about any fallout.

Sassy is white with a satin finish that can be used in the inner corners to brighten up the eyes. Snobby is a yellow gold with a satin finish that can also be used in the inner corners or on the bottom lash line. Stubborn is a toasted pink with a satin finish that can be used lightly as a highlight or all over the eyes, it reminds me a little bit of Sin from the Naked palette. Stand-offish is a light pink with silver glitter that can be used all over the eyes.

Selfish is a mid-tone brown with a satin finish that I like to use either all over the lids or in my imaginary crease. Sultry is a light brown with a matte finish that I like to use all over the lids. Sophisticated is a dark brown with silver glitter that I like to use mostly in my imaginary crease. Seductive is a golden brown with silver glitter that I like to use either all over the lids or in my crease.

Sexy is a brownish red with a matte finish that I like to use all over the eyes or in my crease. Silly is a reddish brown with silver-red glitter that I like to use in my crease. Serious is a matte black that I use as liner, I haven't dared to do a smokey eye yet. Lastly, Sleek is a matte dark brown that I use either as liner or in my crease.

I think what really sets this palette apart from the Naked and Naked 2 is its color range. Naked's shades are almost all in the brown family and Naked 2's is almost all in the taupe family. Nude'tude mixes it up with the pinks and the reddish browns. I also really like how they have a white and gold highlight shade because those are great for accenting an eye look and making it more fun. If you're interested in purchasing this palette, you can buy it off the Balm website or Amazon, unfortunately it is not sold in Sephora. But, if you can wait I would highly suggest purchasing it when it goes on sale on Hautelook. The Balm products go on sale almost once a month on Hautelook and the Nude'tude palette is typically on there. You can get it for up to 40% off there!

Review: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sassy Mauve

If you remember, I purchased this Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sassy Mauve ($4.99) as part of my Target & Lush haul last month. This has quickly become my favorite lip shade for the Fall and I'm sure it will continue being a favorite into the Winter.

Packaging: The lipstick comes in the classic black Revlon lipstick tube with the gold stripe around the center. It looks very Chanel-esque and luxurious. I also like how the top of the container has a little window so you can see the lip color inside.

Quality: For a drugstore lipstick costing me ~$4.99 the quality is amazing, but I expect no less from Revlon. This specific shade is a pinkish mauve with a satin finish. It looks great when worn alone and would look beautiful with a gloss on top. It also isn't too drying but I still like to apply lip balm before I apply my lipstick.

Application: Since it's a typical stick formula lipstick it's easy to apply like you would any normal lipstick. For this specific shade, I actually prefer to pat it onto my lips instead of swiping it on normally because it can be a bit bold. The color payoff is amazing as you can see from the swatch above.

Longevity: The lipstick isn't particularly long wearing, it lasts for maybe 4-5 hours until you need to reapply but even as it fades it still adds a nice color to your lips. I would definitely repurchase this lipstick and I just love Revlon products in general. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an easy to wear every day Fall shade. It works with just about any kind of eye makeup and any kind of outfit, and it looks great day or night.

December Wish List!

Alright, so my wish list is late too but in my defense I've been working my butt off for finals week. My first final is this coming Friday and I'll try to keep posting as much as I can but if you don't hear much from me in the next two weeks don't be alarmed! Now without further ado, let's get on to my December Wish List!

December Wish List by lipstickndlace

1. Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish ($18) - I've been meaning to get a body scrub for like...ever! Yet somehow this has always managed to escape making it onto my monthly wish lists. This body polish from Soap & Glory is supposed to smell deliciously beautiful and I'm dying to try it.

2. Aussie Aussome Volume Mousse ($2.50) - Another thing I've been meaning to get since forever: volumizer. My hair is very straight and limp and I've been on the hunt for a good volumizer, or just one in general! I've never used one before and I'm hoping it'll give me good results. Any recommendations?

3. Lush Hottie Massage Bar ($9.95) - My muscles have been so sore lately and I think it's because I
haven't stretched in months. Once this semester is over I'm determined to start stretching again and maybe signing up for a gym membership. But until then, I think this massage bar and my wonderful loving boyfriend will have to tackle my sore muscle problems.

4. Sigma Performance Eyes Kit ($61) - My eyes are tiny and I have monolids so most eye brushes don't work for me. I will admit that the ones I've been using for the past year are somewhat too big and I think that's why I'm not as daring with my eye looks. This brush set is made for precision, which is just what I need for my Asian eyes.

5. Lush Sunny Side Bubble Bar ($7.25) - I'm Lush obsessed and you probably already knew that, but I've never tried any of their bubble bars/bath bombs! I want to buy some and bring them along with me to Florida in January during my vacation with my boyfriend so I can relax and indulge in them in our hotel bathroom. This bubble bar supposedly sparkles as well as making bubbles when you drop it in. Any other bubble bar/bath bomb suggestions?

6. Mac Cosmetics Making Pretty Lipstick in 3N ($28) - I haven't bought anything from MAC in a seriously long time and I think it's because their latest collections haven't been too appealing, until now. I'm not too sure about the shade of this lipstick, but I am quite the sucker for what looks to me to be a rose gold + textured packaging. I'll have to see it in person at a MAC store before I buy it, but if I like, I will buy!

What's on your wish lists this month? Leave a link below if you have a wish list post, I'm always looking for new wish list ideas!

Liebster Award!

I have been once again nominated for the Liebster Award (I was awarded last month, you can check out my post here), this time by Erica from The Girl with the Muji Hat and Carolyn from The Diary of a Tall Girl! I'd like to thank them both for the nomination and I encourage all my followers to check out their blogs, both girls have a wonderful personality and their blogs are definitely worth checking out. It's really quite an honor to be nominated for this award again.

The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow. 11 Random Facts: 1. I'm 5'5" 2. I've been together with my boyfriend for a little over 2 years. 3. I am part of a lion & dragon dance team. 4. I'm a Junior in college. 5. I'm currently deciding between being a Finance or Marketing major. 6. I'm minoring in Psychology. 7. I will be interning with Barneys next semester in their Web Marketing department. 8. My dream career would be to be an actress. 9. I am a gamer. I have a PS3, an Xbox360 and a WiiU. 10. My favorite number is 3. 11. My favorite color is pink.
The Questions from Erica: 1. What/Who motivated you to begin blogging? I started blogging because I have a strong passion for makeup and fashion and I wanted to share all my tips, tricks and experiences with other people. I figured that a blog would be a great creative outlet and a fun way to share what I know. 2. Describe your style in three words: Classic. Edgy. Girly. 3. What do you hope that people will get out of reading your blog? I hope they will find inspiration whether it be outfit ideas or new beauty products to try out. 4. Who/What is your style inspiration? I don't have anything specific that I look to for style inspiration. A few people whose style I admire would be Lauren Conrad, Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O. I also look to random people on the city streets that I encounter for inspiration, you can find a lot of fashionable ladies and gentlemen when you live in one of the fashion capitals of the world. 5. What is your favorite staple piece? My favorite staple piece would definitely be a well-fit blazer. You can do so many things with a blazer and they bring together any look. 6. Name one accessory you can't live without. The Tiffany 1837 Interlocking Circles Pendant that my boyfriend gave me for my birthday this year. It's so beautiful and dainty and I love how it's something that reminds me of him that I can wear everywhere. 7. Which celebrity's closet would you love to raid? Lauren Conrad! 8. What is the ultimate goal you wish to achieve out of being a blogger? I would love it if this could end up being a full-time paying job for me or help me land a full-time paying job in a related area like being a writer for a magazine. 9. Name 3 of your strengths or weaknesses: My three strengths are that I'm hard-working, dedicated and creative. My three weaknesses are that I'm a perfectionist, idealistic and a planner. 10. What is your favorite beauty product? My Urban Decay Naked palette. It has all the neutral shades I want and need. 11. What is your greatest fear? My greatest fear is living an unfulfilled life.
The Questions from Carolyn:

1. If you were to get a tattoo, where and what would it be? I'm actually very against getting a tattoo because I'm afraid of having something permanently placed on my skin but if I was force to get one I would get an infinity love tattoo on my wrist.

2. What's one food you refuse to eat? There's a lot of food I refuse to eat but one is duck tongue. It's so creepy!
3. If you could be a designer for any clothing company, which would it be and why? This is so tough! I think I would want to be a designer for J.Crew because they match my personal style of classic yet stylish.
4. What was your nickname as a kid? Where did it come from? I actually never had a nickname as a kid.
5. Who was your first celebrity crush? Brian from the Backstreet Boys...so embarrassing!
6. If you could only eat one kind of cake for the rest of your life, what would it be? Vanilla flavor? I'm not a huge cake fan.
7. If you won the lotto and you couldn't keep the money, what would you do with it/who would you give it to? I would donate it to various animal rights organizations.
8. Are you a grammar Nazi? Not really.
9. Where do you typically sit/stand/etc. when you're blogging? (i.e. the couch, your bed, blah blah) I typically sit at my desk in my room.
10. If any, what was the first piercing you got (not including ear lobes)? I only have piercings on my ear lobes.
11. What motivates you to keep up your blog? My wonderful followers and supporters and my love for blogging!

My 11 Nominees: 1. Christine B. of Little Red Bow 2. Yulia of Vicerimus 3. Stephanie of Beauty Infinitum 4. Jasmine of Green Eyed Monster! 5. Nat of Gl0ssy 6. Jamie of The Scarlet Jamie 7. Tina Wirely of Tina Wirely 8. Laila of Townhouse Palette 9. Wanischa of Wanischa S 10. Beauty and Babbling 11. Hy of Raspberry Hy
My 11 Questions for Them: 1. What inspired you to start blogging? 2. What motivates you to continue blogging? 3. What other hobbies do you have besides blogging? 4. What is the concept of your blog (e.g., is it makeup based, fashion based, life based, etc.)? 5. What is your dream job? 6. What's your favorite clothing store? 7. What's your favorite makeup brand? 8. What's your favorite color? 9. What's your favorite number? 10. PC or Mac? 11. What is on the top of your wish list right now?
Once again a huge thank you to Erica and Carolyn for the nomination!

November Favorites!

I'm a few days late but here are my favorite beauty products for the month of November. I decided to go with a different approach on sharing my favorites by creating a set on Polyvore. If you don't know already, Polyvore is a website where you can create and share collages of beauty products, fashion items, and much more. If you're already a Polyvore member, you can follow me here and I'll follow back. Now onto my favorites!

November Favorites 2012 by lipstickndlace

1. Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Set ($42) - This set by Too Faced comes with 12 beautiful shadows, a travel-sized version of the Candlelight Shadow Insurance and a full-sized version of the Lash'GASM Mascara. I purchased this product about three weeks ago and I've been using it nonstop ever since. I think it would make a great gift for the holidays to friends, family or even yourself! If you're interested in knowing more, I wrote an in-depth review including swatches of all the shadows and reviews on the primer and mascara as well.

2. Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Exposed ($24) - I got this Tarte LipSurgence as part of a 5 piece LipSurgence Collector's Edition set that I had included in my Sephora VIB 20% Off Haul. My favorite LipSurgence out of the set at the moment is the Matte Lip Tint in Exposed. It gives this great pinky nude color to your lips and lasts for a really long time.

3. bareMinerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil in Translucent ($22) - I also purchased this using my Sephora VIB 20% Off and while I was skeptical at first at it being any different from the loose powder version I already own, it turns out that I like this one much more. It sets my makeup perfectly without any "cakeiness."

4. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sassy Mauve ($4.99) - I hauled this in my recent Target & Lush Haul and even though I only got it a little over a week ago I already know this will be my go-to lipstick for the Winter. It's the perfect mauve shade that works great with any outfit or look.

5. NYX Cosmetics Powder Blush in Mocha ($6.00) - I purchased this as part of a set on Hautelook a little over a month ago and it has quickly become my favorite Fall/Winter blush. It's a matte mid-tone pink shade that gives you a nice warm glow. Also, the color payoff is amazing!

6. LUSH Ocean Salt Scrub ($21.95) - I cannot explain how much I am in love with this product. I got a few samples of it back in September during one of my LUSH hauls  and I've been using it once a week ever since. I've almost run out of the two samples I got and I just had to purchase the full-sized version. I've started using this product twice a week to slough off any dead or dry skin cells and it leaves my face looking radiant and refreshed. I also love how it smells like the beach!

I hope you enjoyed this haul and let me know if you like this new way of presenting my favorites. I find it much more organized and aesthetically pleasing than the typically messy and dark photos I usually take.

The Monday Blues Blog Hop!

Hey everyone! Today I have the wonderful honor of co-hosting The Monday Blues Blog Hop this week with hosts Jayne of Cosmetic Proof, Traci of DrinkCitra, Christa of ChrissyAi and my fellow co-host Avelima of Miss Avelima's Beauty Blog.


<a href="www.cosmeticproof.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk19/Christtuhh/bloghop/BlogHopButton_zps32c1c32f.png" alt="BlogHopButton" width="200" height="180" border="0"> </a>