March 2015 Favorites!

Hey guys!  For whatever reason (laziness?) I don't think I did a February favorites, so I definitely wanted to do a March favorites.  I have been using/loving/enjoying so many things and I just really want to share them with you.  Most of the things I'll be talking about are beauty related, but at the end I will have some other stuff as well.  As usual I will link what I can find and what is still available.  I always have stuff that I love that I'm using and stuff that is worthy of mentioning in my 'favorites'.  But this month it's different, the stuff I am talking about today I passionately love.  I am crazyyyyy about these things and stand behind them 100%.

My beauty related favorites this month can pretty much be summed up in one word:  ORANGE.  It's my favorite in makeup, especially in Spring and Summer.  It's obvious I love makeup, hello, lol.  But nothing gets me as excited as orange makeup, my pulse literally quickens.  I love it SO much.

Pictured left to right:

Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact in Gipsy, $53

MAC Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach, (limited edition Toledo collection)

Makeup Geek Vegas  Lights Palette, $37.99 (specifically the Sin City shade)

Revlon Ultra HD Lip Lacquer in HD Citrine, $9.99

YSL Gloss Volupte in #30 Corail Lingot, $32

Maybelline Color Whisper in Orange Attitude, $5.94

Nars Taj Mahal Blush, $30

If you want a true orange blush, Taj Mahal is the perfect selection.  People, this stuff is GORGEOUS!  If you are a woman of color you seriously need this in your life.  There are no glitters or shimmers in this whatsoever, but there is this beautiful golden sheen that is complete perfection.  Couldn't love this more.

MAC releases this beautiful blush from time to time in limited edition collections, but I can't figure out why they don't have it in their permanent line.  So many people love this, and for good reason.  This is not as bright as the Nars blush, but it is in the same color family.  When I use this I just get a really pretty kind of glowy peach look.  Sooooo pretty.

This picture doesn't do this palette justice, sorry about that.  This was my favorite palette of 2014 and while I love every single color in the palette, this month I have been using the shade Sin City soooooo much.  It's described as a shimmery golden apricot/golden medium orange.  That is the perfect description, I LOVE pairing this with my coral-ish orange-ish blushes and lip colors.

If you seen my What's In My Bag blog post then you have already seen me mention this lipstick.  This particular Guerlain lipstick is one of my favorite formulas.  They feel good on your lips, look great on your lips, and the mirrored compact they are housed in is just perfect.  So fancy and girly, I adore this lipstick.  Gipsy is a deep tangerine that is perfect for my orange-obsession, and it is the only lipstick I carry in my bag for Spring and Summer.  (In the Fall and Winter I replace it with Gemma, which is a neutral rosey-mauve shade).

I am crazy about all 3 of these!  I own 2 of the Color Whispers and keep one in my vanity and one in my purse.  I also keep the YSL gloss in my purse as well.  This is basically all I've been using recently.  LOOOOOOVEEEE <3

Pictured:

Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous Liquid Makeup Foundation, $7.19

Covergirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous Fresh Complexion Powder Foundation, $7.19

Maybelline Master Conceal, $8.99

Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Washable Mascara, $8

Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Soul, $49

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, $19

Some of my favorites are in the category I affectionately call my beating-a-dead-horse-favorites.  Items in this category typically include Maybelline's The Rocket mascara, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, MAC Emphasize - things that I use every single time I wear makeup that will continue to be in my rotation as long as I am living, lol.  Those are kind of a given, and I hate mentioning the same thing over and over and over again.  As far as foundations go, I basically have only been using the Covergirl Ready, Set Gorgeous and Make Up For Ever.  This month it has been the Covergirl one, hands down.  It's just so good for controlling oil and as the weather gets warmer I get oilier, and this has been a God-send.  Maybelline Master Conceal is a great concealer.  I don't use this under my eyes, although lots of people say it works great (I've just never tried it).  I use this on some of my rosacea/broken capillaries and on some hyperpigmentation.  Covers great without looking cakey, which is exactly what I want.  I don't always use eyeliner on my upper eyelid, but when I do I have been reaching for my Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper.  Just a great, basic liquid eyeliner pen that is super easy to use and stays on great.

As far as my most used palette this month, this was a total no-brainer.  It's the Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Soul.  Stila makes some of the BEST eye shadow in my opinion, and this palette looks like it was custom made for me.  When I do my eye makeup there are certain things I want:  matte/satin light browbone highlight shadow, matte midtone crease shades, shimmery lid colors, and deep/dark shadows to smoke things out.  This palette has all of those things and more.  I have several shades to choose from for whatever look I want, this is one of my favorite palettes of life.  PERFECT.  (They have 4 palettes in this collection, one that's all matte, one that has brighter colors, etc.  Something for everyone).

This palette has the cult favorite Kitten in it, as well as a lot of their other really popular shadows.  Loooveeeeee this.

Another BADHF (beating-a-dead-horse-favorite) is Essie's I'm Addicted.  My favorite polish of life, this color just makes me happy.  I use it all year long, at least once a month.  Already have a backup.  Couldn't.  Love.  It.  More.

For perfume I have been reaching for my Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet.  Such a sweet fragrance and perfect for Spring.  My mom bought me this for Christmas, it's the BIG bottle.  This stuff will last forever!

I am continually buying/trying/using new products.  In order for something to make it into my favorites it has to be something I have reached for repeatedly that month, and this month I had to include the Tree Hut DD Cream and the St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  I have mentioned Tree Hut products on my blog numerous times in the past and how much I LOVE them.  This lotion is great for warmer months because it has an spf 20, and the scent, Raspberry Macadamia, is just delicious.  I have used the Apricot Scrub for yearsssssssssssss, and it is just the one I keep going back to.  This stuff is chalked FULL of scrubbies, it's like washing your face with sandpaper....but in a good way of course, lol.  Out of the dozens I've tried, this is still the best.

I've said it no less than a hundred times, EVERY time I wash my hair I ALWAYS put a dab of my Chi Silk Infusion paired with a creamy/lotion type product in my hair.  Almost always it's my Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment.  This month I drug out my Alterna Hemp Organics Thickening Compound (unsure if this is still made or available?).  I love this because it has UVA and UVB protection for your hair.  When I put this on I rub a little on my scalp as well (I've had melanoma so you can never be too safe).  Great to use all Summer.

Pictured: Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask, $32 Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Split End Mender, $25
This hair mask is another BADHF - this will always be a favorite of mine as long as they make it.  I was out of this the past several months and it has been so great having it again.   My hair is almost at my waist and it is in such good shape.  I alwaysssss have layers in my hair so I have 'ends' literally the whole length of my hair from my shoulders down.  If you're gonna have long hair then you have to have healthy hair, otherwise it's just not pretty.  Hair that's all broken and fried is not pretty when it's long.  If you're gonna have any length to your hair at all then you want it to be pretty and shiny and strong.  This mask will DEFINITELY help you achieve that.  I hadn't ever tried the Split End Sealer until this month, as Ulta had a promotion where you received it free (full-size) with any $30 Carol's Daughter purchase.  I have to say, it feels lovely in my hair and makes my ends feel super soft and shiny.  LOVEEEEEE.

Rebecca Minkoff 5 Zip "The Rocker" MAC, (no longer in production)

For similar see here.

I knew when I bought this bag that I would love it, and that is a complete understatement.  This bag is perfect for me!  It's small, but big enough to carry what I need it to.  It's versatile, comfortable, and functional in all the ways I need it to be.  I love the color, the style, all the pockets, the shiny gold hardware, I love it all!  I did a blog post comparing this to the current 5 Zip MAC that Rebecca Minkoff makes, you can see that here.  The biggest differences is just that the bag I have is much bigger and it actually has 5 fully functional zippers and pockets.  Another big difference?  The price!  Mine retailed for $330 and the newer version is only $195.  The bags still look remarkably the same.  HIGHLY recommend looking for this particular bag on eBay from a reputable seller, or nabbing the smaller/more affordable version on the RM site.

Tory Burch Patent Caroline Ballet Flat in Camellia Pink, $225

As we transition from the cold Winter months to the warmer Spring months, finding the right shoes can be quite a task.  Here in Kentucky the days might start off cold and then warm up in the early to mid afternoon.  It can snow one day and then be 70 degrees the following (no joke).  A pair of really nice leather ballet flats can be so handy during this time!  They can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion, and they look good with just about anything.  You have to pick and choose what is worth investing in, and to me a classic pair of ballet flats is a wise investment.  I have had these for at least a couple of years, and while they do show some wear and tear, they still look really good.  I have EXTREMELY high arches in my feet, and most ballet flats don't work for me.  My foot literally comes up out of them.  But where these have the oh-so-comfy elastic band that holds them on, I don't have any issues with these.  Once I wear these out I will definitely replace them.  I don't ever want to be without these!

Keds for Kate Spade New York Kick Sneaker, $75

Another really great shoe option is a pair of canvas tennis shoes.  Again, it can be chilly in the morning/warm in the evening and these kinda work in any climate.  When it's not really warm enough for sandals but it's too warm for boots, these just fit the bill.  My favorite?  The adorable polka-dot Kate Spade Keds.  I don't worry about matching these to anything, they kind of just go with anything.  So cute and so comfortable, highly recommend!

And lastly I thought I would mention a few things for the house.  My mom actually bought me this camper bird feeder and rain boot planter.  How cute are these!!??!!

I'm pretty sure she said she found both of these at Rite-Aid in case you are interested in finding them for yourself.

I think campers are just adorableeeeee, so I love anything like that.  Can't wait to use these!

And of course I had to mention a seasonally appropriate candle.  This is one of the Signature Soy candles available at Target and it smells so nice!  Candles are just a great, simple way to switch things up as the seasons change to make your house feel more festive.

Hope you guys enjoyed!  Let me know what things you guys are loving!