Sephora VIB Sale Haul

Knowing me, it's not a surprise that I couldn't resist a Sephora sale. It was a 15% off discount, so that's pretty awesome!

There were about 2983243978429 things I wanted to get, but I settled on four.

The first thing I picked up was the Stila Convertible Color in Sweet Pea.  It's part of Sephora's Colorvision collection in the category "Infrared Rouge". This particular formula as a cream blush is my new obsession (I got Camellia just last weekend). Sweet Pea is a bright pink, and, like all of the Convertible Color products, it's highly pigmented. I plan to apply this with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush, as I do with Camellia.

Next up, I chose the Dior 5 Coleurs eyeshadow palette in Petal Shine. Like the Stila product mentioned above, it's a part of Sephora's Colorvision collection. Petal Shine is in the "Lucid Lilac" category. The texture of Dior shadows is seriously incredible. I have several other palettes from Dior that I use all the time. 

I also bought a NARS Larger Than Life eyeliner in Via Veneto (matte black). It's an incredibly dark and creamy-textured pencil liner. I was in need of a basic true black liner, and this one from NARS definitely fit the bill. It's also supposed to be quite long-wearing, so we will see how that goes!

Finally, I purchased the Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment. It's a smoothing and mattifying foundation primer that also contains acne-fighting properties. My oily skin has been driving me mad lately, so I figured I'd give this primer a try. 

That's all for this haul, ladies and gentleman! I hope you've enjoyed this post, and if you have any questions about any of the products please contact me on Tumblr. 

xx,

Jillian

I ♥ Spring Tag

The I ♥ Spring Tag has been going around on YouTube, so I figured I'd bring it to the Blogosphere (if someone hasn't already!). Here are the questions:

1. Favorite spring nail polish?
2. What is your must-have lip color this spring?
3. Show us your favorite spring dress!
4. What's your favorite flower?
5. Favorite spring scarf/accessory?
6. What spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? (Makeup, fashion or both!)
7. Favorite spring candle?
8. Favorite body spray/perfume for spring?
9. What is spring like where you live?
10. What's your favorite thing about spring?
11. Are you a spring cleaner?
12. Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation?

Let's get on to my answers! 

1. Favorite Spring nail polish?

Noooo! I can't pick just one! If I had to, though, I would have to say Butter London's lacquer in Fruit Machine.

2. What is your must-have lip color this Spring?

I''m going to have to go with Giorgio Armani's Rouge D'Armani in Beige 103. It's more of a peachy pink than a beige. It's gorgeous with anything from minimal makeup to a smoky eye. 

3. Show us your favorite Spring dress! 

My favorite dress for this season is undoubtedly my Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique Print Fit & Flare dress. It is the "springiest" piece of clothing I own, and it's surprisingly comfortable. Dress it down with flat sandals for a day out shopping or add some classic nude heels for a more dressy look.

4. What's your favorite flower?

My favorite flower of all time is the peony, but I'm absolutely obsessed with tulips! I'm going to be so sad when they're out of season, because I've had a bouquet of tulips on the kitchen table for months. Right now I have some pink tulips mixed in with a few purple hyacinths and it's probably the prettiest bouquet I've seen all spring. 

5. What is your favorite spring scarf / accessory?

I borrow my mom's lightweight Burberry scarf all the time, so I'd say that is my favorite. It's light enough to be comfy in springy weather and is adorable with most basic outfits!

6. What spring trends are you most excited about this year?

I'm most excited for the always-expected but always-welcomed glowy skin trend! I'm so thrilled about this trend. It comes back every year, but with good reason, because it's pretty much universally-flattering. Spring is so fun with luminizers and highlighters galore! For fashion, I love pastels! Once again, very typical of springtime, but I don't mind!

7. Favorite spring candle?

My favorite spring candle is actually a quite funny pick. I'm currently enjoying Jo Malone's Scented Home Candle in Blackberry & Bay. The smell reminds me most of autumn, but it's fresh enough to work for Spring as well. I used to love Bath & Body Works candles, but I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm allergic to them. They tend to give me strong headaches. So for now, Blackberry & Bay it is! I may transition to something else once my current candle is used up.

8. Favorite body spray / perfume for spring?

I have a crazy obsession with Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber. It's quite possibly the best fragrance I've ever had a chance to smell. It's incredibly fresh because of the cucumber, but the earl grey adds the lovely smell of tea to the mix, creating a perfect blend. 

9. What is spring like where you live?

Spring where I live (Ohio) is very unpredictable. It tends to rain quite a lot, but the sun begins to shine more frequently than it has all winter (which still isn't much). The temperature warms up a bit, getting up to 65 or 70 around this time of year (April). I'll insert a photo of a park in my neighborhood.

10. What's your favorite thing about spring?

My favorite thing about spring is definitely the limited but increasing level of sunshine.

11. Are you a spring cleaner?

I only spring clean in my makeup collection, which I should probably start on soon. My products are a little messy right now, as is my makeup storage. I also sometimes spring clean my desk and my school bag to reorganize myself.

12. Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation?

I actually just got back from spring break in San Francisco. I had an amazing time. The weather was wonderful and the city is just incredible. I'll insert a photo of the view from Coit Tower (which I actually went inside). This is not my photo, though.

That's it for the I (heart) Spring tag! What are your springtime faves?

xx,
Jillian

Small Spring ULTA Haul & First Impressions

I had an ULTA 20% off coupon that was expiring today, so naturally I had to stock up on a few things (and pick up a few items from my wishlist!).

First things first, I needed to stock up on my favorite facial wipes. I use the Murad Clarifying Wipes. I love that it's the same brand and product line as my regular cleanser (the Clarifying Cleanser, also by Murad). I've been using these wipes for months, so I can honestly say I adore them. I use these wipes to remove face makeup before washing my face (or on lazy evenings, just to clean my face). It's always better to actually wash your face, but in a pinch, wipes do the trick!

Next up, I purchased the highly coveted (by myself, of course) Butter London nail lacquer in Molly Coddled. It's an amazing purple shade from the Sweetie Shop collection for Spring 2013 (the same one my beloved polish in Kerfuffle is from). I haven't tried it out yet, but if it's anything like the other two Butter nail polishes I have, it will be outstanding.

I've been wanting to try a cream blush for a while, and the next product I purchased today is absolutely raved about online, so I figured I would give it a try. I'm talking about the Stila Convertible Color in Camellia. I tried it as soon as I got home and I quite like its effect on the cheeks. I love the color, and the formula is really creamy, pigmented, and easy to blend. 

I also got several brushes. Real Techniques makes some of my favorite brushes of all time, so I decided to pick up a few more while I had the coupon to use. 

To use with the aforementioned Stila Convertible Color, I chose the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. As with all Real Techniques brushes, the bristles are very soft synthetic hairs. I tried it out with the cream blush tonight, and I must say, I'm quite impressed. I have never really enjoyed stippling brushes, which is why I didn't have one in my brush collection before today. It could probably be used for foundation and be really nice for that purpose, but I prefer the Expert Face Brush for that (also by Real Techniques). For cream blush, it picks up just enough product and blends it in seamlessly.

I have long been on the hunt for a great eyeliner brush to use with gel liner, so I gave the Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush a try. Once again, I tried it tonight. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that creating a winged eyeliner look has never been so easy! I'm extremely impressed with this brush so far.

The final purchase of the day was the Real Techniques Blush Brush. I'm a tad bit of a blush fanatic, so all my blush brushes (which I only have 2 or 3 of) are getting a little worn. I figured I'd pick this brush up and see how it worked. It deposits just the right amount of product on the cheeks and blends everything incredibly well. I definitely do not think I'll regret this purchase.

That includes my haul, ladies and gentlemen (if there are any gentlemen that bother to read my blog other than my dad...?). I hope you've enjoyed this post, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments or message me on tumblr (also anchorsandcardigans). 

Have a lovely day and/or evening!

xx,

Jillian

Current Beauty Favorites

I'm running low on energy today, but I really wanted to get this post up today, so let's get to it!

My favorite eye product for the past few weeks has been the Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Golden Mink! The shadows are the best I've tried in such a long time, if ever! The quad contains a gold glitter (like chic, grown-up glitter), a copper glitter, a beigey gold satin and a chocolate brown satin. Whether I feel like a pretty, dramatic eye look or if I want to slap on some makeup and go, lately I've been always using this palette. For a dramatic look I use the beigey gold on the lid, the chocolate in the crease, and top the beigey gold with the copper glitter. For a lazy day, I'll wear just one of the glitters all over the eyelid with some mascara.

My favorite face product recently has been the Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup. I wear shade 4. It's an extremely unique consistency for a foundation-like product. It feels as thin as water, but offers excellent coverage, as well as a little bit of SPF. I'd say it's light to medium coverage, specifically. I do have to blot maybe once or twice daily due to my oilier skin, but that's quite manageable, considering I'm in love with the finish! It's very satin-like. Like the Tom Ford palette I mentioned above, it is extremely expensive, but if you can swing the hefty price tag, I would highly suggest giving it a go.

For lips, I've been obsessed with my NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine. I absolutely hate the name, but its lovely pink-mauve color and beautifully matte texture has me in love with the product overall! I highly recommend it. It's not very moisturizing but is also not very drying.

That's it for my current favorites! I might try to get another post like this posted sometime in the next two weeks. 

xx,

Jillian

My goodness, it has been too long!

Two, almost three weeks without a single post? Unheard of! ;)

I'm hoping to get a "Current Favorites" post up in the next few days. It will be current favorites and not monthly because I tend to find the best products at the end of the month, and then it feels like cheating to include them. Oh well!

Sneak peek of my next post:
- Tom Ford products
- Giorgio Armani products
- Maybelline products
- NARS products

xx,
Jillian

Thursday Chitchat and Hair Ideas

Today is a lovely freezing day outside. Two months ago I would have expected this, but in mid March? Come on, weather!

I'm hoping to get my hair cut and colored this weekend, and if I'm lucky, maybe also permanently straightened again. My roots are bugging me, my hair has lost its luster, and my hair is creeping back to its frizzy ways. Thank goodness for hairstylists!

Last time I got my hair colored it was a rich medium brown. I loved it, but this time I want something a little different. My inspiration is the attached photo of Emma Stone. I'm not sure when the photo was taken, but the color is perfect!

I also can't wait to try and curl my hair this weekend, just for fun. I'm hoping that the curl will hold a little longer than the usual ten seconds.

Can you believe it's almost my birthday? Time has gone slowly since my last birthday, but the fact that it's getting so close was still a surprise. Only two months from today and I will be seventeen! Naturally, because I love planning things, I'm already preparing my birthday party ideas and wishlist. You know me, always busy with something silly.

xx,
Jillian

Beauty Survey #1

SKINCARE

• How many times do you wash your face daily? Usually twice, but occasionally I get lazy.
• What skin type do you have? Combination to oily
• What is your current facial wash? Murad Acne Clarifying Cleanser
• Do you exfoliate? About once or twice weekly with my Clarisonic Mia
• What moisturizer do you use? Kate Somerville Oil-Free
• Do you have freckles? Sadly no
• Do you use eye cream? Yes, I use Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
• Do you or did you have acne prone skin? I do. Sadly.
• Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? I used to use it but I really didn't like it very much. It left much to be desired as far as skincare was concerned.

MAKE-UP

• What foundation do you use? Currently I use Diorskin Nude.
• How about concealer? I use a facial concealer as well as an under-eye concealer. My facial concealer is Chanel Correcteur Perfection. My under-eye concealer is Laura Mercier Secret Concealer.
• Do you know your undertone color? I'm pretty positive that I have pink undertones in my skin.
• What do you think of fake eyelashes? I like them, but I rarely wear them, and by rarely I mean around 2-3 times annually. 
• Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months? Ugh, yes. I try to follow that rule, but the first sign that I need to throw a mascara out is when it gets dry or goopy (assuming it wasn't already). 
• What brand of mascara do you use? Right now I'm alternating between Rimmel ScandalEyes Show Off mascara and Benefit They're Real.
• Sephora or MAC? I love them both, but I'll go with Sephora. I could survive with just Sephora but not with just MAC.
• Do you have a MAC Pro-card? Not yet... :)
• What makeup tools do you use in make up application? Brushes
• Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? Yes, I use Laura Mercier Eye Basics right now, but I don't love it, so when it runs out I want to try something else.
• For the face? Yes, I use Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer.
• What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)? NARS' duo in Kuala Lumpur. Both shades.
• Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? Pencil usually but sometimes gel.
• How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? Hardly ever, really.
• What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? I like them, but I find them to be too much work for everyday use.
• Do you use mineral makeup? No.
• What is your favorite lipstick? Chanel Rouge Coco in Magnolia
• How about lipgloss? Laura Mercier Lip Plumper in Pink Pearl
• What is your favorite blush to use? NARS Sin or MAC Stereo Rose

MAKE ME CHOOSE

• Do you buy your makeup on ebay? No.
• Do you like drugstore makeup? Occasionally, but when I buy it I'm often disappointed.
• Do you go to CCO’s? When I'm near them.
• Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? I want to so badly, if I could only find somewhere to take them that would be legitimate. 
• Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? Not particularly... If I try to put on eyeliner too quickly I might mess up.
• Name a makeup crime that you hate? Drawn on brows!
• Do you like colorful shades of makeup? Rarely.
• Which celebrity always has great make up? Mostly models.
• If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use? concealer
• Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? I would probably not be as confident if I did, but I could.
• Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? Depends on how broken out my skin is on any given day.
• In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? Ooh, that's tough. I love love love Dior, though.
• What do you think of Makeup? I think I'm moderately obsessed.

Take this survey and comment with a link to your post, I'd love to read what you all think!

xx,

Jillian

A Very Delayed February 2013 Beauty Favorites

I know, I know, February was practically a decade ago now, but I figured that it's better late than never (or at least I hope it is). 

Favorite nail polish of the month was, by a landslide, Butter London nail lacquer in Kerfuffle. It's a vibrant yet pastel peach shade that I can't help but adore. It was recently released as part of their Spring 2013 "Sweetie Shop" collection. Additionally, I've been extremely impressed with the formula of this polish. It's the first one I've tried by Butter London, and it wears incredibly well for a regular nail polish (not Shellac or Gel). It lasts around 2 weeks while still looking great, and about 3 weeks with some chipping. (Please note, that time frame is when I paint my nails myself, using a base coat, 2 coats of polish, and a topcoat. I'm still in the process of testing how long it lasts when used as part of a professional manicure.)

My favorite eye makeup product of the month was Kardashian Khroma Beauty's The Quickie mascara. It gives me the perfect amount of length and volume. It's clump-free and perfect for everyday, as it's not terribly dramatic and thick. I purchased the product as part of the line's "mascara quartet" and I'm not sure if it's sold separately or not. It was my favorite mascara by far that came in the quartet.

My favorite "base" product in February was what has become my new favorite foundation: Diorskin Nude. I started using this foundation after my acne cleared up significantly. My beloved Laura Mercier Silk Creme had become too thick on my newly clearer skin. I truly love everything about Nude, especially the natural finish. It's a light to medium coverage formula with a nearly gel-like consistency. It's very buildable and never cakey. My shade is 010 Ivory. 

My favorite face product of February? The new and extremely popular Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (in the shade Dim specifically). This product lives up to the hype for sure. It blurs imperfections for a soft-focus, flawless finish. On my very fair skin, it also warms up my complexion a little without being a bronzer by any means. 

Here comes another product that lives up to the tremendous hype: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose. It's a shimmering coral shade with golden veining running through it. I'm having trouble finding a photo that does it justice. It provides the most unbelievable sheen to the cheeks. In fact, even though I'm a massive fan of highlighter, I almost never use it when I use Stereo Rose. Unfortunately, it was limited edition (released for the first time in 2010 and again earlier this year, when I purchased it), but if you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend it. 

My favorite lip product of the month was undoubtedly my Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy lip balm. My lips have been so dry recently (I blame my braces), and this balm has been a lifesaver. It's pricey, but in my opinion so much more effective than the ever-popular Babylips by Maybelline or the EOS lip balms. 

My favorite bath product of February (and possibly of all time) has been Laura Mercier's Soufflé Body Creme in Tarte au Citron, which I received (along with the accompanying honey bath) as a gift last Christmas. LM's Soufflé Body Cremes are by far my favorite body moisturizer for their delightful scent, creamy consistency, moisturizing powers, and the speed at which they absorb into the skin. I hate greasy lotions that sit on the skin, and the Soufflés are nothing of the sort. 

February's favorite hair product? Batiste Dry Shampoo (the classic scent). It solves the problem of greasy roots on 2nd-day hair in a snap. It also doesn't leave a powdery-looking residue in my dark hair.

Finally, perfume! My favorite for February was Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber. It's a fresh scent that makes me smile and lasts all day. One spray is all you need for lasting fragrance. 

That concludes my February beauty favorites! If you'd like to hear about my fashion favorites for the month of February, please let me know. :) 

What were your beauty faves last month?

xx,

Jillian

Pamper Yourself: How I Turn Any Weekend Night into a Relaxing Retreat

After a long week, I love nothing more than a cup of tea and some time to myself. Time spent relaxing really helps me wind down and de-stress. Having a spa night, in my opinion, is the absolute best way to relax. Keep on reading and to find out how to create a somewhat spa-like experience at home!

The first decision to make is whether to take a bath or a shower. It's totally based on personal preference. As for myself, I really like either one, and it really depends on which one I'm in the mood for that night.

Depending on your budget, there are many different products you could use. It also depends on your preference of products whether or not you'll like what I like. My favorite bath and body products by far are by Laura Mercier. LM's products are pricey, but to me, they are definitely worth it.

If I take a bath, I use Laura Mercier honey bath. It's a sort of syrupy looking bath product that foams up in warm water and turns in to something along the lines of a very moisturizing bubble bath. My favorite scent is Tarte au Citron, but that is limited edition for the holidays each year. Luckily, I received a duo of the Tarte au Citron honey bath and body creme for Christmas this year (thanks SO much Nana!). My favorite scents from Laura Mercier's permanent line are Creme Brulee and Fresh Fig.

When you run the bath with warm to hot water and place a dollop of the honey bath under the running faucet, the whole bath tub will foam up and fill with bubbles/foam. The amazing scent fills the bathroom. It's truly a wonderful product. It also moisturizes your skin as you soak in the bath. Then it's just time to take a deep breath and wind down.

If I take a shower, I'll put my hair up into a bun before getting in the shower to prevent my hair from getting too wet (if I'm not washing it). First I wash my body. I usually just use Dove Deep Moisture body wash. It's creamy, moisturizing, and fairly inexpensive. Also, at Target recently, I've been able to find travel/deluxe sample sizes of it in the travel beauty section (y'know, the baskets/bins with the travel sized products).

After my body wash, I use a body scrub. My absolute favorite is Laura Mercier body scrub in either Creme Brulee or Fresh Fig. The exfoliating "scrubby" particles are smaller than those in other scrubs I've tried, such as Lush Ocean Salt or Fresh Brown Sugar Body Scrub, which I really like. After the "scrubby" bits dissolve, you're left with a creamy consistency that's easy to rinse off.

After my bath OR shower, I always make sure to use a body moisturizer of some sort. My favorite is the Laura Mercier Soufflé Body Creme (again, my favorite scent is Tarte au Citron, but I also love Fresh Fig and Creme Brulee). I love the Soufflé Body Creme because it absorbs quickly into the skin while still being very moisturizing. That is an especially important quality for me, considering I hate most lotion or cream-like products. I always coordinate the scent of my body moisturizer with whatever honey bath or body scrub I use. Alternatively, I really like Fresh Brown Sugar Body Cream, as well as Gud Orange Petalooza body lotion (Gud, the brand by Burt's Bees). You can purchase Gud products at Target, so they're fairly inexpensive.

When I'm done, I hop into some comfy pajamas and fuzzy socks and head to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. I light a candle and sit on the couch for a while with my laptop, maybe reading blogs or watching YouTube beauty videos. My favorite candle is Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay, because I can't use Bath & Body Works candles. However, as with every product I've mentioned, feel free to switch it up with YOUR favorite product!

That concludes my pampering night "ritual"! Please let me know what kinds of posts you'd like to see on my blog and I'll be happy to review whatever products you'd like, do a "what's in my purse" or "what's in my school bag", do a tag post, or anything you can think of. :)

Thanks so much for reading!

xx,
Jillian