September Favorites

My Monthly favorites this month: I had quite a few, which surprised since the heat here in Southern California was excruciating and makeup seemed to melt off me within minutes! But I love me some makeup and still tried!

UD Naked palette- besides being a great collection of nude eyeshadows, I've been using Buck to my sparse eyebrows (never waxing them again!) and Creep as a winger liner. I haven't mastered the perfect cat eye flick- however it's a bit easier than using a gel liner. Let's me practice and is soft enough for day time use. Love this palette!

IsaDora BB Cream All-in-one makeup SPF 12 (05 Tan)*- This has been a savior to my skin during the summer heat. Applying makeup in the summer is pretty much a waste, but I've been using this instead of a moisturizer and it has helped my dry skin and even out my skin tone! Love it:)

elf Eyebrow kit- Another eyebrow product. Honestly when I got waxed earlier in September, my eyebrows got butchered. I was finally starting to be happy with my (semi full) brows and then she waxed them beyond belief! I've been using the wax side of this for more dramatic needed times (going out at night, etc). I've mentioned this kit many times- one of my all time favorite elf products!

Revlon Photoready Coral Reef Cream blush- these are pretty pricey (about $12-14) but so worth it! They apply gorgeous and the pigmentation is spot on- not too thick, not too sheer.

MUA Blusher-shade 4- This was one o the blushers I received in my swap from Mags at Emeraldeyeliner. I've praised this before on my blog, and will continue! I love this color- the pigmentation is amazing, applying lightly to my apples with my Real techniques blush brush has been my go-to most days if I'm in rush or just want a nice flush to my cheeks!

Milani Easy Brow Automatic pencil Dark Brown- Last eyebrow product, promise! I've had this pencil for a while but never really used it. It's great if you're in a rush, but rather hard to apply as the pencil is so soft. I like that it has a spoolie on the other end, to soften the harshness of pencil in brows.

Revlon Lip Balm Stain in Honey- easy to apply and a beautiful natural color. I've mentioned these before. Love the colors and Mint-y smell but with lip balm applied first they are a bit drying for me. Love this shade.

Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Punch- I used this for the beach, work, running errands. So easy to apply and go. I adore the color and smell!

Mascaras- Even though it's pointless to wear mascara is the heat, I love my mascara and simply had to apply a few coats (usually only on my upper lashes). Had three favorites this!
1. Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Definition.
2. Collection 2000 Multiplier
3. L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
All three give Volume and length. (Collection 2000 and Bourjois mascaras were also included in my swap)

Makeup brushes
elf eyeshadow "C" brush- along with the brush that's included in my Naked palette, this brush is great for using in the crease area.
elf powder brush (flat top)- this is my workhorse brush! I use it to buff in my foundation, apply cream blushes and to retouch my powder in my t-zone area. Love, love this brush!
elf blush brush- this brush is actually very tiny! it does apply blush good, but takes a few more sweeps. I also use this for using a highlighter blush.
Real Techniques Blush brush- probably one of the best brushes I own! This picks up the perfect amount of blush. I've tried it with practically every blush I own and it doesn't matter which brand of blushed I use- definitely recommend this!

Last one is my SOHO beauty sponge (I believe this is a dupe of the beauty blender). For the price (on sale for $6) I use this (wet) to set my foundation with my MSFN powder.

I'm loving Monthly favorites more and more- leave your link if you have yours up already!

*received for PR consideration.

L to R: Collection 2000 Multiplier mascara, elf "C" eyeshadow crease brush, L'oreal Voluminous, elf powder brush, RT Blush brush, Bourjois Max Volume, elf blush brush

MUA blush, Revlon Photoready Coral Reef

L to R: Collection 2000 wand, L'oreal wand, Bourjois wand

Labor Day Weekend (California Beach)

Here in the US it's Labor Day, which means no work-BBQ, food, friends, sun (and lots and lots of Sunscreen!!). As I'm beyond broke-I thought I'd tease myself and pretend money was no object and treat myself to a good shopping trip for today's look-D&G Leopard Bikini-yes, please! I've read countless reviews about the Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 and am wanting to try it!! And of course also wanting to try Armani Eye to Kill Mascara (in the waterproof version for this weekend!)and of course my beloved Maybelline Baby lips in Pink Punch. Love it. While I won't be sporting any of the above beautiful items-I will be swimming in the Long Beach Bay and then having a delicious BBQ with my boyfriend and friends.

Labor Day Weekend (California Beach) by cinnamonandzoeykisses featuring cateye sunglasses

Chaser vintage tank top
$70 - farfetch.com

Leopard bikini
$120 - stylebop.co.uk

Dr. Denim cotton shorts
$63 - nelly.com

Mint green shoes
$150 - austique.co.uk

Juicy couture tote bag
endless.com

Tom Ford cateye sunglasses
$310 - seasonsclothing.co.uk

Wet Seal summer straw hat
wetseal.com

Chantecaille tinted moisturizer
neimanmarcus.com

Giorgio Armani waterproof mascara
giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Sun care
skincarerx.com

Maybelline New York Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm, Pink Punch, 0.15...
amazon.com

Bodum - Fyrkat Mini Charcoal Grill
$50 - connox.com

Worth the Hype

There are some products I give into and rush out and buy, but for one reason or another don't work out for me. I tend to give any product many chances and either return it or gift it. Here are some things I bought into and am glad I did!

1. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer (30 Medium)-
My under eye area is very dark and I have tried several (extra emphasis on several!) concealers and while I don't expect miracles, this does not sink into creases and does as good a job as can be expected. My mistake with concealers has been that I packed it on. What's worse than dark under eye circles? Pasty and visible creased concealer! MAC Studio Finish concealer is great for covering spots on my cheeks or chin- but under my eyes- not so much!

2. Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm- This stuff must be sold every 30 seconds! Have seriously seen this everywhere. I waited until the price went under $15 (paid $11 with shipping on Amazon) before caving in. I'd had it in my cart on Amazon and when the price went to $8.95, decided to use up an Amazon credit I had. All the reviews I read said it was grainy upon touch and it is. But it instantly goes on smooth once I apply it on my lips. I've been using this at night and wake up with baby soft lips! Yay!! I know most don't like it for sanitary reasons (you have to apply with your fingers), I apply It before bedtime, my hands having been washed and dried. Very happy with this luxurious lip balm:)

3. Clarisonic Mia- Sooo expensive but worth it in my opinion. I saved up my Birthday and Christmas Sephora gift cards for this and haven't looked back since. Ok- not entirely true. During the "purging" stage I was ready to return this and just deal with my cystic acne and blemishes that we're causing my skin to look really bad:( I had tried everything to try and get rid of my acne (prescription topical treatments, ProActiv, OTC Salicylic Acid) and while it helped somewhat I found myself using heavier makeup to cover up my skin. I've been using this since January and can say that my skin has cleared up significantly, I do get an occasional (hormonal) spot or two, it's nothing like the cystic (and sometime painful) acne that had been taking over my skin for most of last year! Love this!!!

4. Real Technique blush and stippling brushes- AMA-zing! Excuse the not clean brushes- but haven't gotten around to washing these this week! Adore these soft, fluffy brushes! More than my MAC brushes and for waaaay cheaper! I still want the core set and especially the buffing brush that has awesome reviews! I did purchase the powder brush but ended up selling it in my blog sale. While it was soft and a good price, it was just too big! I found that it had my powder flying everywhere! No regrets on these two though!

Does anyone else give in to hyped up products so eagerly/easily like me? I'd love to hear about products that you recommend!

Summer Skin loves Part 1

My blog consists mainly of make-up loves of mine that I want, need to share with everyone! That being said I present some more HOT summer skin loves I've presently been loving, using and telling everyone that will listen about them! First up the new Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector. I managed to snag this at Walmart for about $6. I've been using this for about 3 weeks and while I'm still iffy about it will add that I love the way it applies! It feels like silk gliding onto the skin- I have been applying using my fingers of course and it sits beautifully. I do have to set it with powder (more often than my beloved NARS Sheer Glow) but usually just wear this to work, errands or if I'm going to be swimming, etc. It has an SPF of 30, which is great! The colors available are great, I believe in the US- 6 colors were made available. I picked up Medium/Deep and it matches my skin exactly.

My skin is combination (more oily than dry during the summer), I like to apply Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All day Moisture Defense Lotion Oil-free SPF 30, if I'm just going to be swimming. I received this small sample in my Sephora Sun care kit and love it! May have to repurchase when this is done. Sinks into the skin immediately, and leaves no streaks or whiteness on the skin. Long name but very worth it in the Long run!
Lastly is Origins Vitazing SPF 15 Energizing boosting moisturizer with Mangosteen. Also received this in my Sephora Sun Care. I'd wanted to try this for several months after reading it in several blogs, and I usually apply a bit of this over my PTR moisturizer or under my Maybelline BB cream. It states on the bottle that there is a Sheer Tint release, when it's squeezed out of the tube it looks a bit off white with a beautiful sheen but no color on my skin (no surprise as I'm often to dark for "sheer" products) but a lovely product nonetheless! It smells delightful! And I can honesty see a sheen sitting atop my skin while wearing this. Although I may not repurchase if I finish this off (pricey product!) I'm glad I got to try it and will definitely continue to use it through the summer.

swatches are the same line up as the products pictures: Maybelline BB cream, PTR, Origins Vitazing.