Kiko Cosmetics

While I was in Europe I discovered a European cosmetic store/brand called Kiko Cosmetics. I went in a couple of them and each time the store was packed. Like how a MAC store in the US is on the weekends. Kiko Cosmetics has  HUGE line of products, from moisturizer and face masks to mineral shadows and eye primer. The products are also very decently priced...about half the price of MAC but a little more than a drugstore. Since I didn't know too much about the brand and was hesitant to spend a lot of what could be potentially horrible makeup, I only picked up one thing:

This is the Glamorous Eye Pencil in shade 402. I swatched a ton of products, especially the eye liners, and this shade is one that I don't already have in my collections. Yes, I have bronze liners but this one has more red/terracotta tones than anything else I have. 

This eyeliner is super pigmented and very smooth and creamy in texture. The formula is just like the Urban Decay 24/7 liners. It lasts about 2 hours on the water line and all day on the upper and lower lash lines. Overall, I really like this liner and now I wish I had purchased more products.

Have you every heard of or tried Kiko Cosmetics?

Vacation Must Haves

Since I travel a lot I have learned what beauty items I need to pack and what I probably won't use. On my Europe trip I stuck to the same makeup bag that I usually use and packed it with a lot of neutrals and products I know always work for me. I'm not showing you everything I took but here are the products I used just about everyday:

My makeup case is a discontinue black MAC case that one of my best friends gifted to me many years ago. I love it because I have used it a LOT and it is in amazing condition. It does get a bit dirty after a few trips so I clean it with a makeup wipe and then its as good as new. 

The case is long and thin so it lays flat in my luggage. It has a zippered pouch on the inside and a open pocket on the other side, and best of all it easily fits the large MAC palettes. 

I did take some other skin care with me, but these were my absolute can't-live-withouts. 

1. Philosophy Purity Made Simple - The best face wash ever! I have tried many and always come back to this. Even on lazy evenings this is good enough to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin.
2. The Body Shop -Natrulift Firming Serum - I like that this serum is lightweight and absorbs quickly - important for hot weather and when you are in a rush. It helped moisturize my skin and gave it a nice even texture. I will do a full review soon.
3. Philosophy Hope in a Jar for Dry Skin with SPF - I use the non-SPF one too, but it was nice having a all-in-one, especially since we were outdoors most of the day. 

Face Products - Yes, I know this looks like a MAC haul, but what can I say, MAC products are just so reliable and work for me!

1. Fix+ - I am SO glad MAC came out with the mini version last year....I can't live without this product! I used it for setting my makeup everyday, but I also used it as a midday refresher when I was hot or tired, and I also used this in the plane every few hours when my skin felt dry due to plane air.
2. MAC Face and Body Foundation - I decanted it into a small travel bottle because the actual F&B bottle is quite large. Also, I mix different shades and so it is easier to just take the mixed version with me. This is my HG foundation. 
3. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder - Do I really have to talk about what I like this? It's amazing and everyone needs this powder.
4. MAC Blushcreme in Uncommon - Another discontinued product that I wish would come back. This color especially is amazing on medium-dark skin and provides a very natural glow to the skin. It is also so easy to use and blend.

Makeup Products - I did take more makeup but these were the items I kept using over and over.

1. Shu Uemera Eyelash Curler - Again, do I really need to talk about how amazing this is?
2. MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara - This was a risky choice because I purchased it right before my trip since I needed a new mascara. Thankfully, this is a great mascara! It holds curl, adds volume, and is very black. I will do a full review on this though because there is a trick to using this so you don't get clumpy lashes.
3. MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved - The color is dark, it lasts ALL day and glides on easily. What more do I need from an eyeliner?
4. Nars Pro-Prime Eyeshadow Base - Although I didn't wear much shadow on the trip, I used this almost everyday because it helped to make my liner smudge-proof and long-lasting. 
5. Stila Lip Glaze in Kitten - A great peachy-gold gloss that I could wear on its own. I tossed this in my handbag for midday touch-ups. I also used a MAC Tendertone quite a bit, but I forgot to photograph it.

What are your absolute beauty must-haves for vacation?

Classic Cheap Thrills That Work! Rosebud Salve Review and Swatch

I've been talking about dry skin remedies a lot lately, but I can't help it...I'm obsessed with trying to cure my dry, cracked hands! One product I keep in my purse at all times is the classic Smith's Rosebud Salve:

This is one of those all-in-one miracle salves that will cure just about anything. I use it mainly on my lips and my knucles.

The salve itself is pink in the tin that goes on clear. It smells of sweet roses, but it is not very strong and it does fade quickly. It is non-sticky, but since it is a balm it is thick and does take a couple minutes to dry down. The look is slightly glossy, but not super shiny. Rosebud Salve is very moisturizing and really does cure dry skin quickly. 

Swatch of Rosebud Salve

I love Rosebud Salve, and at $6 for 0.8oz, you can't beat the price for a salve that cures just about anything. There are more fragrances available, such as Strawberry and Minted Rose, but I prefer the original rose version. I think you can find this at some drugstores but I pick mine up from Sephora. If nothing else, I think this is especially great for travel, since it is not liquid, and it works in a pinch to moisturize lips, hands, and you can even lightly dab it on your face if you suffer from extreme dry skin while in the air. The scent is also subtle enough that it won't bother your fellow travelers. =)

Do you use Rosebud Salve? 

I'm a Bahama Mama! (Ok, not a Mama, but I did just return from the Bahamas!)

Hello dear! How are you? I am back from my vacation and it was WONDERFUL! My husband and I went on a Bahamian cruise with another couple who are good friends of ours here in Philadelphia. It was so nice to get away from the cold and enjoy the warm, sunny beaches of the Bahamas. Here are a few pics from paradise:

The beautiful lounging area on a private cruise-owned island

My friend and I testing the temperature of the Bahamian beach water

Akward photo yes, but the water was so clear you could see my feet!

Outside the MAC store in Nassau...I was surprised they had a MAC so I had to take a photo of course!

The towel monkey our cabin steward left for us! This is made of one bath towel and one hand towel. Everyday we had a different towel animal waiting for us.

I absolutely LOVE cruising because it is so relaxing and the food is so delicious! No worries about carrying around money because everything is charged to the room, no worries about food because you can eat whenever you want and don't have to search around for a good restaurant, and everything is convenient.

In other news, if you are still thinking about getting the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, right now it is discounted on the Urban Decay website from $64 down to $44, and if you use code SEVENTEEN11 then you save an additional $15. That means the $64 palette is only $29! 

Glimpses of Costa Rica!!!

You dolls are lucky....you are the FIRST to see photos from my Costa Rica vacation! I haven't even posted them on Facebook yet! These are just a few glimpses.....enjoy!

 Sunset on the beach

 We saw sooo much wildlife....a lot of which is unique to Costa Rica and Central America....and we saw all the animals in their own habitat....not in a zoo or anything! These monkeys were playing on a tree about 1 foot in front of us!

Me lounging in a hammock....I am absolutely OBSESSED with hammocks!  

 A frog with crazy red eyes! 

An old tree with new trees growing around it

A view of the green (inactive) side of the Arenal Volcano. It was foggy on the day we went to the black (active) side

I'm Back!!!

Hey Lovelies, I am back from vacation! It is a little bittersweet because it was very warm in Costa Rica and the hubby and I had a great time there and are sad to be back at work and in the snowy Philly weather. However, it was a crazy busy adventure through the rainforests, mountains, and beaches and we are glad to be home and sleep in our cozy bed.

I will definitely post a few vacation pics when I upload them to my computer, but in the meantime, you can take a look at what makeup I took with me:

• Smashbox Halo powder
• MAC Cremeblush in Uncommon
• MAC Technakohl eye liners in Smoothblue and Graphblack
• MAC Moistureblend concealer
• MAC Plushlash mascara
• MAC Pro Longwear Foundation
• Shu Uemera lash curler
• MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect
• MAC Lipstain Marker in Sunset

Believe it or not, this was waaaay to much! makeup Costa Rica is a laid back country that calls for nature adventures....hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, whitewater rafting, and other sweaty sports.....and makeup isn't quite suited for those activities. Thus, you can understand why I barely wore half of these products! At most, I used the face primer, foundation, lash curler and mascara. 

Makeup or not, I had a great trip, but am glad to be back home and look forward to catching up with you lovely ladies and discuss some great makeup....after all, I haven't really talked about or worn much for the last 10 days so I am in withdrawal!

My Honeymoon Makeup Bag

I recently found a couple pics on the makeup I took on my honeymoon, and realized I never posted them. For my honeymoon, I was determined to pack light, at least in terms of my cosmetics, and I am so proud of myself for actually sticking to that!! This is all I took with me:

Here is a list of the products: