lusting after: christmas wishlist

being a kid, there was nothing better than when holiday catalogs started showing up and when christmas commercials began playing; soaking up the toys that we needed to have waiting under the tree on christmas morning. I was always super elaborate when it came to my lists, noting the stores items were available at and the color/specifications it may have. that type a-ness has carried into my adult life in more ways than one, and holiday wish lists are no exception. while some people love gift cards and your ability to choose your own gift, there's nothing I hate more than a bunch of gift cards. while it's nice to be able to choose exactly what you want (and it's nice to take the pressure off when shopping for someone), I love seeing what someone else has chosen for me. I've rounded up a few things that I would love to find wrapped under the tree on christmas morning 🎄

1. I live in a pair of taupe booties I bought last season, but sometime the slightly higher heel makes them tough to wear all day. I've been meaning to add a pair with a smidge smaller heel to my wardrobe for days when I know I'll be on my feet, that can be worn with jeans and sweaters in the winter/fall and skirts and dresses in the spring/summer. I love this pair from Lucky Brand with it's perforated detail and cut out opening.

2. I almost always ask for a fragrance for the holidays- it's an easy thing for someone to gift (as long as they know what scent you wear), and the gift sets feel extra special with their bonus gifts. this set from Elizabeth and James in my favorite scent (Nirvana Black) comes with a mini version of their dry shampoo (a cult favorite amongst dark haired gals & anyone who loves the scent) and a mini lotion along with the full sized fragrance. if you love the idea of gifting a fragrance but aren't sure what scent is right, try this perfume sampler from Sephora- try the samples, pick your favorite, and get a full sized version of your fave.

3. as someone who loves glitter and sparkle, this phone case is the best. when my uber cool boss showed up with it, I knew it had to be mine. equal parts girly, cool girl, and grown up snow globe- all amazing.

4. rebecca minkoff makes my favorite (and most accessible) handbags, hands down. while my collection seems to keep growing, I can't get enough of her bags. amazing quality leather or suede, great design, and realistic price point. this bag is one of my favorites for a classic bag, in a neutral color that will go with anything (this version is a bit less everyday, but so fabulous or holiday!)

5. I've loved Gray Malin's pieces for years, and with his Positano beach series, I was hooked (it's one of my favorite places on Earth). moving back to the East Coast and redoing my apartment has me dying to add this piece to my life. love everything from the colors, to the symmetry, and of course the subject. whether you're looking to add a piece to a bedroom, living room, or even a child's room- Gray's pieces are perfect.

6. a gift guide from me wouldn't be complete without without some jewels. these earrings are part of the collaboration between my former bosses (M. Flynn) and blogger Erin Gates (behind Elements of Style). love everything from the rose gold color, to the diamond accent, and the compass rose design. the perfect everyday earring that will look fabulous for years to come.

what items are on your wishlist this holiday season?

xx, marissa

makeup madness- sephora VIB sale

as an official card carrying member of sephora's VIB program I finally get to take part in the fun that is their annual shopping event (i.e. 20% off of items that are never on sale!) I've been poking around the interweb, and the super snazzy holiday catalogue that arrived in my mailbox, for the past few days and have narrowed my must haves down from just about everything to a select few. now for those of us that are more forward thinking/less selfish, this would be a great time to start your holiday shopping (starting early and getting things on sale = win, win) and pick up some pretty things for your makeup obsessed bestie, you newbie little sister, or your 'never indulges herself' mom.

the holiday sets are always my go-tos this time of the year. they offer you opportunities to try a bunch of different products a single line (like this option) or a variety of products from a mix of different brands (like this one). last year I opted to try the Tarte holiday gift set and was turned on to an amazing eyeshadow formulation (with an entire pallet of everyday to smoky colors to choose from), and test out a few of their other best selling products that had been on my list. this year the Too Faced Le Grand Palais definitely caught my attention (with its mix of products for eyes/cheek/face and minis of its most popular mascara, primer, and lipgloss) and the Le Grand Chateu would make a great gift for a few girlfriends since the mini pallets can be split up and shared! the packaging is seriously the cutest- tie on a pretty bow and you're good to go (I'm picking this up for my younger cousins and splitting the three pallets out amongst them!) if you're more in the market for a set that will let you sample a little bit of this and a little bit of that from a bunch of sephora heavy hitters, the Sephora Favorites Superstars is the MVP. every year they compile the best selling products throughout the store to offer a mix of full size and deluxe sample sizes to try out. it hits every note- from mascara to primer, and contour to highlight, from many of your favorite brands (like nars, tarte, smashbox, benefit, and laura mercier), in shades that you actually want to try. we see you monthly subscription companies and "gift sets" that are dumping grounds for all the colors that were flops- no one wants a bunch of those, kthanks. sephora offers a gift set for every type of beauty junkie; slave to skincare, eyeliner officianado, mascara fiend, lip product lover, or hair goddess. do you self a favor and take a peek at the sets from sephora- check, check, check on that shopping list.

there are also those products that you find yourself always repurchasing- the perfect liquid eyeliner (I'll be picking up a backup of my holy grail since I know I'll be needing a new one eventually), your go-to foundation (either in the color you're currently wearing or shade/two down to prepare for the coming months and impending paleness), a rollerball of your signature scent (I try and keep this one from Elizabeth and James always in my purse), or the first step for any look (primers for face, lips or eyes- I'll be picking up this one from Too Faced to try). these are the products that you know you'll be buying in the new future, pick them up now for 20% off and it will be like shopping your stash when you finally need them.

the VIB sale is also a great time to invest in the more expensive beauty products you use/have been meaning to try- quality skin care (I'll be picking up the moisturizer from my like it, love it, gotta have it post about sensitive skin moisturizers), fragrance (you know you'll be going through a perfume within the year. use this as the time to stock up on your signature scent, or explore and try something new. layering scents is always fun, or picking a special occasion/nighttime scent), or beauty tools (beauty blenders, clarisonic/brush heads, or new brushes) and save some pretty pennies.

have you ever shopped the VIB sale? what's on your list for beauty goodies this year?

xx, marissa

manicure monday: god's gift to nail art

slight overexaggeration? possibly, but it's pretty great. now I was perfectly content with my makeshift nail art tools (bobby pins, eyeliner brushes, and brushes from old polish), until I noticed that sephora had quite the little nail art kit on sale (thanks sephora app!) and decided that I deserved an upgrade. the sephora "art at your fingertips" nail kit has everything that you need to create so many of my favorite (and easiest!) looks. everything from brushes (for painting small designs using your favorite polishes and cleaning up any stray marks on your cuticles) and dotting tools (for making the perfect polka dots or scalloped edges) to black and white stripers (for making straight lines and zebra print or adding details to any design). it even comes with an info card with different uses for each of the items if you're new to nail aren't and just aren't sure where to start. use this with my other mani must haves (check out that blog post here) and be prepared for everyone to ask where you got your nails done.

how are your nail art skills? are you a diy type gal, or do you prefer to leave it to the professional?

xx, marissa

drugstore faves

now I love a splurge worthy beauty item as much as the next gal, but there are some products that take the cake and have a budget friendly price tag. and while I'm never one to say no to a trip to sephora or a beauty counter, the convenience of popping into a CVS can't be beat. I've rounded up a few of my favorite beauty products (hair & skin care, makeup, brushes, and nail products) that stand up to, and in some cases, blow their high priced counter parts out of the water.

cetaphil daily facial cleanser: this gentle cleanser has been my go-to for years. as someone with super sensitive skin, I seem to have the best luck when I use basic products and don't fuss with it too much. this cleanser is perfect at cleaning my skin, without removing too much oil and leaving it tight and dry. it works great with my clarisonic, getting nice and foamy for a deep clean. good enough for pharrell and naomi campbell, good enough for me.

wet n wild color icon eyedshadow: regardless of if they're in the 99 cent singles, the trios, six pan shadows, or limited edition pallets, these shadows are amazing. the colors are gorgeous, the formula is super pigmented and creamy, and the shades blend like a dream. in their line you can basically fine a dupe for any and every expensive eyeshadow on the market, and not only in tone, but in quality as well. while I tend to steer clear of the super sparkly versions, it's hard to find a color that isn't amazing. a few of my personal favorites would be brûlée (the perfect blending and transition color), nutty (the best color for an easy one shadow look), and the comfort zone pallet.

elf eyebrow kit: I've blogged about my love of this product before (check it out here), but it is definitely worth mentioning again. spot on dupe for the benefit brow zings (besides the mini tweezers) and for a fraction of the cost. helps keep my brows looking more audrey and less frida.

l'oréal oleo therapy perfecting oil: ridiculous name, amazing product. this hair oil is perfect for keeping my thick and curly/wavy hair from looking like a frizzy mess. while it didn't totally beat out the high end version (check out that post here), it was pretty close. and if we're being honest, this is the product that I continue to repurchase, not the expensive paul mitchell version.

maybelline dream bouncy blush: I love a cream product for the summer, blends more naturally into the skin, and this line of blushes is great. I remember when the dream bouncy formula was first introduced it was super blogged about in the beauty community. for a product where you're looking for full coverage (like foundation) I don't think it's the best, but for blushes it's perfect. my favorite is coffee cake, I love the brown with a touch of coral against sunkissed skin, but the bright pinks and hot corals are also great. applied to the apples of the cheeks and blended up towards the temple with a dual fibered stipple brush (I love this one) gives a perfectly natural look. for a bit more pigmented look, and to up the staying power, top with a powder blush in a similar tone and you're good to go.

out the door super fast dry top coat: when you paint your nails as much as I do, you come up with a system of what works best for you (products, technique, tools, etc). I've blogged about my love for this product before (check it out here), and it still is a necessity when it comes to doing my nails. not only does it not have as many scary chemicals as other fast dry top coats out there (I'm looking at you seché vite), it doesn't give you shrinkage around the edges, doesn't leave pillow lines in your nails if you just so happen to paint them right before bed, and doesn't get gooey halfway through the bottle causing you to throw it away and waste what should be perfectly good product. for nails that are super shiny & look like a gel manicure, try this top coat. even over cheapie drugstore polishes, the results are amazing.

wet n wild megalast lipsticks: hands down, the best drugstore lipsticks; and the greatest part? you could try the entire line for less than the cost of one YSL lipstick. super opaque, amazing staying power, and you can find dupes for just about any lip color you're searching for. whether you're looking for a perfect nude (bare it all), a bright coral red (purty persimmon), a deep wine (sugar plum fairy), or a bright peach (just peachy), they are all amazing.

e.l.f. studio makeup brushes: while there are absolutely pros to investing some serious money in expensive makeup brushes, I have no problem achieving great results with these inexpensive alternative mixed in with my expensive brushes. they've gone through countless washes and still manage to look great. with any line there are of course the duds (steer clear of the foundation,  concealer, and angeled eyeliner brushes), there are MVP brushes that I use on the daily (countouring, eyebrow duo, flat topped powder, stipple, and crease brushes). don't be fooled by the cheaper grey/silver essential line of brushes, the matte black studio line is where it's at.

it's easy to walk into sephora and spend a small fortune outfitting yourself with an amazing makeup collection, but these products work great, have a budget friendly price tag, and are available at just about any drugstores- win, win! what are some of your favorite drugstore beauty products? any cult favorites that you can't bear to live without?

xx, marissa

love it/hate it: sephora collection cream lip stain

I had been on a mission to find a classic red lip product that would give me the perfect pinup pout, without turning my lips into a dried out mess and without smearing all over my face (tough order to fill). most products that weren't super drying had no staying power and I ended up looking like I had been smooching the Kool Aid man. and if they were a true stain, my lips looked like the sahara desert after a few hours (and don't even think about reapplying).

I had heard great things about the sephora cream lip stains (side note- does anyone else completely forget about sephora collection cosmetics? I'm always so jazzed about other brands that I usually don't even look) and whenever I would go to check them out, so many colors would be sold out. you know a product is good (or at least being buzzed about) when it's sold out at sephora. one color in particular (always red) was never available, so when I saw it a couple week ago I had to snatch it up.

for starters the product is super opaque- no need to apply multiple coats to build to the perfect color. one swipe and you are good to go. I liked that the product had a few seconds where it's wet before it truly sets, giving you a bit to quickly wipe any stray lines before it stains. I did notice though, that even though the product dries, there's still a bit of transfer when you touch your lips or take a sip. forget about applying this once in the morning and forgetting about it all day- it definitely isn't a true stain. but, because of that bit of give, it wasn't super dry and uncomfortable on the lips. the color is great, that perfect true red that can be classic, preppy, rocker, boho, or full glamazon. 

would I say I love the product? no, not love. do I hate the product? definitely not. I like it, really like it. but I haven't given up my quest for the perfect red stain. this one from sephora certainly isn't it, but it'll do for now.

have you ever tried the sephora cream lip stains? what's your favorite product from the store's line?

xx, marissa

scent story

 

I remember the first bottle of expensive perfume that I ever owned; it was a bottle of Dior Pure Poison that I received as a Christmas present from my father, and I remember instantly feeling so grown-up. while girls my age (I think I was 13 at the time) were wearing sickly sweet, fruity scents, I loved the deep sultry woodsy scents. I still favor sexy over sweet, and have rounded up my favorite perfumes if you'd rather not smell like a floral garden/baby prostitute.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black: 

my recent obsession. I got a sample with a Sephora online order and was hooked! the type of perfume that makes you stop and smell your wrist it's so amazing.

Burberry Brit:

 the sweetest of the bunch, but still sexy. a lighter option than my other fragrances.

Tom Ford Black Orchid: 

a deeper and sultrier version of my classic scent.

Dior Pure Poison: 

the perfume that started my obsession with deep scents. so much nostalgia whenever I smell it.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb: 

my all-time favorite perfume. even when I find a new scent that I like, I always end up coming back to it. a perfume that people are constantly stopping me to ask me what I'm wearing.

while some people think that certain scents are meant for certain time of day/season/occasion, I don't follow those rules. I love a sultry scent early in the morning, in the middle of summer, or even if I'm having a lazy day. find something that you love, and rock it whenever. "rules" are meant to be broken.

what are some of your favorite scents? do you like a sexy, sultry scent; or are you a flowery gal?

xx, marissa

the perfect palette

as a self professed make-up junkie, I have more makeup than I will probably ever use (but that doesn't stop me from buying/trying new things). eyeshadow is one of my favorite products to try, but more often than not I find myself gravitating towards the same colors/textures/shadows over and over again. while I love the look of a dark smokey eye, or a fun colorful eye look, that just isn't what I find myself wearing. I love a natural smokey eye, shadows in taupe, bronze or rose gold, and keeping things very clean and blended. while most makeup junkies live and die by the Urban Decay Naked Palettes 1, 2 & 3, I'm a stubborn girl and never gave into that trend (#ridiculous). instead, I bought (and fell in LOVE) with the Stila In the Light Palette.

the colors are perfect for my everyday look- great light highlights, mid-tone taupes, deeper warm browns, and a basic matte black for liner. I love that the shadows come in a mix of finishes (matte, satin, and shimmer) which makes it possible to do a complete eye look with this palette alone. the only shadow that I find myself never using (and wishing they had skipped) is the shimmery blue- but I think it's good that they stuck a color in there in case you wanted to brighten up a look. I also love that they included a liner (the Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner in Damsel), making this the perfect travel companion. it's no surprise that Stila is one of my favorite makeup brands (their Stay All Day Waterproof eyeliner is my holy grail), but this palette truly takes the cake!

what are some of your favorite eye shadow palettes?

xx, marissa

like it, love it, gotta have it: winged liner

when it comes to makeup, everyone has their signature look. for some it's a super fresh face, for other's a bold lip, or a fun colorful eye look. my go-to is definitely a neutral lid, usually in a taupe or bronze shadow, with a winged cat-eye. i've tried my fair share of eyeliners (pencil, gel, liquid, etc.) and always come back to a pen form of a liquid liner. these are a few of my favorites, at a variety of different price points that make creating that perfect flick of a wing super simple.

Like it- Lancome Artliner this liner has a foam tip, and pen-shaped applicator that make it a breeze to apply. the color is super pigmented, and with a eyeshadow primer stays put all day. the bendable foam tip makes the perfect flick at the end, but also gives you control to make your line thick or thin. the price ($30.50- eek!) is what puts it in the Like it spot.

Love it- L'Oreal Lineur Intense this liner is almost an exact dupe for the Lancome liner. same foam tip, same pen-shaped applicator (except this one has curves on the handle that I think only help), and same deep pigmented coloring. the only differences that I've found are the price ($8.99), and that it's available in the drug store, which puts it in the Love it spot. I have found that it sometimes does this weird thing where it can start to peel off your lids if it's super humid, or you have really oily lids, so make sure to wear it over an eyeshadow primer.

Gotta Have it- Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner this is my hands down favorite eyeliner ever; it's one of those products that as soon as it starts to dry out, I'm heading to Sephora to replace it. I received a set for Christmas from my bosses (they know that makeup is the key to my heart) which included black, dark brown, moss, and midnight- and have been hooked ever since. I originally was obsessed with the black, but one day decided to try the dark brown and instantly fell in love. the brown is super dark, almost black, but doesn't have the wet/metallic look that black liquid can sometimes have. the pen applicator is super easy to hold, gives you a perfect flick, allows you to control how thick or thin your line is, and does not budge. i'm taking heavy duty staying power that needs waterproof makeup remover to get off. it comes in a ton of different colors (I've been meaning to pick up the turquoise to use for a double lined liner look), and is just amazing through and through.

what's your go-to look when it comes to makeup? do you love a colorful eye, a bold lip, or a contoured face?

xx, marissa