Favorites - January 2014

It really doesn't seem like it is already time for my monthly favorites again, then again I was kinda late with last months. Again this month there are 3 items in each category, only this time I am adding a few new categories for non-beauty favorites. I hope you guys like the additions!

Face Products:
Origins VitaZing Moisturizer - This has been my go-to moisturizer and some days even my "foundation", I have been trying to work on finishing up some products, after using up some samples I decided to bring this back out. I really have been liking that it gives me a sun-kissed glow and warms up my skin since when it is rubbed into the skin it has a tint to it. My only complaint is that if I am not careful about how much I apply I can get a bit oily as the day goes on.
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - This is a fuller coverage concealer for sure, but since I have just been using a moisturizer it is nice to cover up my trouble areas. I apply this with my fingers and then blend it out with a damp dense flat-topped brush.
Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray (The Original) - I use this to dampen my brushes, to set my makeup, and sometimes I use it if I feel like my foundation is a little cakey by spraying some on and then blending everything in with a brush.

Face Color Products:
Hoola Bronzer by benefit - This is pretty much my holy grail contour product, it is matte and doesn't turn orange on me. I had a mishap with my box and the powder got crushed, I just recently got around to fixing it with alcohol so of course I started using it again. If you haven't tried this yet you need to get it ASAP.
CORALista Blush by benefit - I guess I should go ahead and say I love all benefit box powders, this one is no exception, it is a very pretty everyday color. Now that I am back at school for the start of the new semester I am all about easy and quick makeup. This blush matches everything so it has been a staple the past few weeks.
georgia box powder by benefit - Lets just say these three make up the perfect cheek trio, again this makes for a very natural highlight, and pairs very well with CORALista since it is in the same peachy coral color range.

Eyeshadows:
Esperanza Palette by Kat Von D - The shades Archangel and Selena are basically the most beautiful colors ever, the glitter in them is so fine and lovely. A sticky base is a must with those in order to keep the shimmer for more than 10 minutes but that is nothing new. This is seriously a palette that you must see in person, swatch and play with in order to appreciate it. The pictures online were pretty but it didn't seem like anything special, until I owned it and now I want to use it all the time.
Naked (Original) Palette - I know just last month I said that I seriously neglect my Naked 1 because I don't usually wear warmer golden neutrals, well smack my hand because I have been doing exactly the opposite lately. Mostly because I decided that I needed to get more use out this palette, but I am finding that I can create very pretty looks without going overboard with the gold in the palette.
Naked Basics - More specifically I have been using Crave, the dark gray/ muted black matte shade. I have been digging a smoked out eyeliner look so I use this instead of a pencil or a gel liner and get the exact effect with less blending.

Eye Products:
tarte Lifted Eye Primer - This is an older sample that came with my True Blood palette, and I know this specific eye primer is discontinued, however tarte has a new formulation which I have heard good things about. It is comparable to other primers by Urban Decay and Too Faced.
Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel - This was an Ipsy bag product and I have been quite pleased, it doesn't get flakey or dry abnormally stiff. I am usually not a big fan of brow gels since I haven't been able to find a formula that I really like, until this one. I will consider a full size when I run out of this one.
Better Than Sex Mascara by Too Faced - This mascara is the shit. I get length, definition, volume, and it is super black. I don't even have to use another mascara with it like I usually do. I wish I hadn't waited so long to try this one, but at the same time I don't know how I will ever be able to afford to use this all the time, so hopefully I can make it last forever.

Lip Products:
MAC Angel - Everyone knows this lipstick, it is the one Kim K wears, and as much as I hate to say it I totally bought this for that exact reason. In my defense it is a totally gorgeous color and so versatile. I am about to have to start scraping this lipstick out of the tube before it gets tossed in my Back To MAC pile. It is just a neutral pinky nude that goes with everything.
Too Faced Perfect Lips Liner in Nude - Again this is an older formulation, which really sucks because I am not real keen on the new formula of lip liners from Too Faced. This one is creamy yet long-wearing and even better goes with just about every lip color imaginable.
NYColor City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color in  - These are a new product for Spring 2014, the chubby stick products are everywhere but most are very lightly pigmented and are more like lip balms rather than lip colors. This is a VERY pigmented product considering it is a nude and a drugstore brand, I am definitely impressed and will have to look into getting a couple more to see if others are on par with the quality of this one.

Brushes:
Ipsy Slanted Eyeliner Brush - This is the brush I have been using with Crave for my smoked out eyeliner look, I like this one because I can easily make my smokey eyeliner have a slight winged out effect at the corners without much effort.
Real Techniques Blush Brush - I love this brush but not for blush, in my opinion it is to large for blush but works well for light applications of powder or for sweeping off eyeshadow fallout. It also works for those times that I get a little carried away with the bronzer and need to blend it out from drag queen to natural contour.
Goody TangleFix Hair Brush: I know this isnt a makeup brush but it is still a brush and I have been pretty much in love with it. I have a ton of hair and it is textured, not pretty curls but wavy and frizzy, without product it is usually not a good look. My hair gets to be very hard to manage after a shower, before anyone says anything I know i should be using a wide tooth comb and not a brush, but I will take whatever gets the knots out and this works very well, and even minimizes the pain.

Nails:
China Glaze Pool Party - Normally this is a summer color for me since it is neon, but I have wanted something bright on my toes so this has been my pedicure color for most of the month. I am not entirely sure if this color is still available but CG does amazing neons and they have a beautiful range of pinks.
China Glaze Wish on a Starfish - This is from the new Sea Goddess collection, these are all textured polishes, which I am not a fan of but that can be fixed with a couple of coats of a good topcoat like my Milani one or Seche Vite (if you can deal with it getting thick after a couple uses.)
essence Nail Art Express Dry Drops - I have tried various brands of these drops, I am still not sure how much they help considering I use a quick dry top coat but in my mind it speeds everything up a bit more. I like that this one conditions my cuticles at the same time.

Other Beauty:
Mystic Divine Nourishing Hair Masque - I first purchased this in a small packet to use after I dyed my hair red to help prevent damage. It smells amazing and while it is not my holy grail Macadamia Masque but it comes pretty close for way cheaper. Not to mention I am a sucker for the cute colored packaging.
Mane 'n Tail Hair Strengthener Leave-In Conditioner - This was an unexpected favorite, I got this free with the purchase of another product at Sally's awhile back but I really love the way this makes my hair smell and feel, it keeps my hair soft while also making it easier to manage and Lord knows I need all the help I can get in that department.
Bath and BodyWorks Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Shower Gel - I got this as a birthday present, it is one of my favorite fall scents but I had never used any of the body products in this scent before only the home fragrance, I must say I love walking around smelling like my favorite fall candle. The scent actually lingers longer than usual with this scent, so when used with the matching body creme (also a present) I don't really even need to wear perfume.

Non-Beauty:
Loungefly Red Embossed Sugar Skull Purse - This was a late Christmas present from one of my best friends. I saw it online and fell in love with it, and now it is one of my favorite handbags lately, second only to my Consuela look-a-like that my mommy got me for Christmas. This one is nice because it is a more structured bag and I don't have any others like it. Of course I love any and everything with sugar skulls and the red is gorgeous. There is another sugar skull bag by Loungefly that I would also love to own but I am more than happy with this one currently.
Scentsy Wax Bar in My Wish - This scent is discontinued as far as I can tell which is really disappointing because it really is one of my favorites, it smells like those candy hearts that are popular for Valentines Day, I really hope this one comes back and I can get my hands on a few more bars.
(Not pictured because I accidentally threw the packaging away when I used that last of it.)
School Binders - This may seem weird but I am a weird person, but I have finally come up with the perfect organization for my notes and course information all while keeping things super cute.  I am seriously considering doing a whole post on my binder set-up.

Music:
"Ride" by Somo - Somo is pretty much just the sexiest thing ever. I saw him at a free concert at SXSW in Austin last year and fell in love. So of course Ride had to make it on my list, if you haven't listened to any of his music this NEEDS to be the first song you listen to, it just oozes sex appeal.

“Royals”  by Lorde - This is my feel-good-belt-it-out-in-the-car-when-im-alone song. It is just so fresh and bad ass. 

"Partition" by Beyonce - HOLY FILET OF FUCK (sorry I have been watching a lot of Dexter) this song is sex for your ears. Just listen to it and thank me later.

Apps:
Mr.Crab - I got this game for free during the 12 days of gifts from Apple, and it is my new Angry Birds! I have been addicted, the little crabs are super cute and the game is fairly easy but a great way to waste a couple minutes here and there.
Day One - This was another free app, but I found this one through the Sephora app. It is an online journaling program. I love paper journals and paper products (I’m weird) but I just cant seem to keep up with writing in them, but this has been even better because I can include pictures and even clips of music in my daily entries. If I want I could convert my entries to a pdf and print them out. Tagging posts makes for easy organization and searching through posts. If you like journaling or are considering starting I highly suggest this app!
Papa Pear Saga - Another game, probably free because I am cheap and don’t pay for very many apps. I get super excited and obsessed with games for a few weeks and then before you know it I am on to a new one, but this is one of my current favorites and you should check it out if you don't already have it.