My favorite Makeup Products

I get asked frequently to do makeup tutorials, not sure I am super comfortable with that...yet. We will see. I have tried a lot of different products though and I thought I would put together a list of some of my favorite products. I have been using some of these products for several years. Maybe this list can help you finish up your last minute Christmas shopping!

1. Mac Painterly Paint Pot in soft ochre is my favorite eye primer. It has a thicker consistency which I love because it evens out my darker toned eyelids and gives a nice base for shadow to adhere to. I have been using this for years.

2. I recently picked up the new Naked Cherry Palette and I am LOVING it! The peach and cherry tones are stunning on any skin tone.

3. These Stila Glitter & Glow liquid shadows are SO beautiful and so easy to apply. My favorites are Kitten and Rose Gold.

4. I have tried quite a few drugstore and high-end mascaras and I always go back to Maybelline Falsies.

5. This Salmon Darkcircle Corrector comes at a great price and doesn't settle into your fine lines. It has the perfect hue of salmon to cover dark circles. I use it as a base for my concealer.

6. I have also tried many concealers and Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer covers well without looking cakey. I use the shade Custard.

7. My favorite eyelash curler is this Shiseido one.

8. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder for under eyes is the finest powder to set concealer and brighten under eyes. I LOVE this product!

9. This Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector is so beautiful! I don't wear it everyday but I love to pull it out for a night out on the town. It gives your skin such a nice glow without looking powdery. I have the color Opal.

10. My favorite eyeliner is It Cosmetics Superhero Waterproof liner. It lasts all day and is so easy to apply. I live in the desert and other liners I have tried dry up in about a month or so. I can get for 4-5 months out of this tube and I wear it almost everyday.

11. I am not the best at brows but the Anastasia Brow Wiz makes it easy for me.

12. Who doesn't love the Hoola Bronzer? It's a classic.

13. I have had this Marc Jacobs Air Blush in Flesh and Fantasy for a month and I. LOVE. IT. SO. MUCH. It's a little more pricey but I usually find a great quality blush and use it for a year until it's gone. I expect this to last that long, or even longer. 

14. I use this Anastasia Foundation Stick in the color Mink for contouring.

15. Laneige Lip Mask is such a luxurious balm. It would make a great gift!!

16. Makeup Forever HD Foundation is one of my favorites. 

17. The It Cosmetics CC Cream is a must especially during the summer months. 

18. My current primer is the Too Faced Hangover primer. It doesn't feel heavy or greasy.

19. I love the Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polishes! My favorite shade for this time of year is 'Be Cherry' but I couldn't find it. You can't go wrong with any shade though!

20. Mac lipsticks are so amazing and so addicting! I have several. Some of my favorite shades are Twig, Angel, Peach Blossom, Diva, Velvet Teddy, I could go on and on . They would make such a great gift. 

21. My second favorite lipsticks are Urban Decay lipsticks! My favorite right now is Back Talk.

I hope you found this helpful. Let me know in the comments below what products you can't live without! I always love to find new loves. 

-Laurie

Gift Guide: Nail Products

Nail Gift Guide

Christmas is coming soon and I thought it would be helpful to create a gift guide of my favorite nail products! These would make great gifts or stocking stuffers. You could even sneak a few in your own stocking. Am I the only one guilty of that?! Haha! Links to all products down below for your convenience.

1. This Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover is lightweight and really gets the job done! It also comes at a great price.

2. I love to use this E.L.F. Smudge brush dipped in acetone to clean up my mani and create a crisp edge along the cuticle, making your mani look more professional.

3. I use this Angled E.L.F. brush to apply cuticle oil on the skin around my nails.

4. I have tried many cuticle oils and CND Solar oil is my favorite.

5. These Tropical Shine emery boards are my fave as well!

6. A Nail Tek glass file is so luxurious, a little more expensive but they last a long time.

7. My favorite nail polish remover is this ZOYA Remove +. Polish comes off like a dream and it doesn't leave your skin dry. The pump is also such a fantastic feature! 

8. As my final filing step I love to square up my nails with these cube files.

9. A silicone mat is good to have if you love to do nail art. 

10. Nail art lovers will also love this bundle of professional nail art brushes from Winstonia.

11. Aquaphor is my most used product. I love to apply this on the skin around my nails at least twice a day and always at night before bed. The secret to keeping your cuticles moisturized. Get this!!

12. Here are some more fine Berry Wine nail art brushes by Winstonia, and my most used.

13. This Tweezerman cuticle pusher works great especially when used with the Sally Hansen cuticle remover.

14. I use these dotting tools for nail art ALL. THE. TIME.

Here are my favorite base and top coats as well as some other great polish gift ideas.

1. My favorite base and top coat are by Glisten and Glow!

2. I have been loving this Glisten and Glow matte top coat as well.

3. Essie First Base is another good base coat option.

4. I also like Essie Speed Setter top coat.

5. Did you know Essie has an Advent calendar out this year? It is available at Costco and comes with 6 full size and 6 mini's. It's a great way to get your collection or a loved ones collection started.

6. My favorite nail line EVER is Essie Gel Couture! If you haven't tried them you must. You can get your mani to last up to 2 weeks. Make sure to use the color and the Gel Couture Platinum Top Coat together for best results.

7. This mini pack of the new Essie Concrete Glitters is such a great gift idea.

8. I loved the OPI Nutcracker collection and this Nutcracker Nail Lacquer Duo Pack from Ulta is another great gift idea for nail polish lovers. 

9. Here is another option for the OPI Nutcracker Collection minis.

10. Did you know OPI brought back Fan Favorites in their OPI Infinite Shine line? You can get old faves like Mrs. O'leary's BBQ and Vodka & Caviar and many more. So, this little gift pack would be fun to give as well.

11. Deco Miami has the cutest gift packs this year! Their packaging is super adorable, just as adorable as their polish bottles. This customizable Trio Gift Set definitely makes a great gift!

12. Another gift option is this Cuticle Oil + File Set