It's been awhile since my last beauty favorites post. Let's be honest, it's been awhile since my last post period. However, here I am back and more in love with blogging than ever. I won't apologize for my absence mostly because I'm not sorry. It's taken awhile to get life back to being balanced and it's taken awhile to get into a new routine post-graduation. It feels kind of like I'm learning to blog all over again, yet my passion for blogging and the blog world hasn't waned.

Today, I want to take a sec just to talk about something easy and something that I love: makeup and beauty. I wanted to share some of my recent faves and gather any recs from you as to what you're loving. So without further ado, lets dive in!

.001 Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara - What can I say about this mascara that hasn't been said a million times over before me, by equally obsessed beauty mavens? This mascara is holy grail status here ladies. If you love Benefit's other mascara They're Real!, then please give this one a try. I had a similar experience after trying Roller Lash as I did after trying They're Real! My world was rocked in the best way. I won't lie, the price tag is on the slightly steeper end and I was hesitant, if not borderline resistant, in paying for a mascara I was unsure I really needed. Since I have a great eyelash curler by Tarte, I wasn't totally sold on Roller Lash's miracle curling promises. However, I couldn't drown out the many voices that had raved about this mascara to me, both personally and online. I figured I'd give it a shot and I am so glad I did. It lasts all day, doesn't flake, and makes me lashes look so long and full. I use this mascara nearly everyday now and will undoubtedly be repurchasing in the future.

.002 Sephora Microsmooth Baked Blush Duo (in Tea Rose Tickle) - This made my last favorites and I'm still loving using it as a dupe for Benefit's Rockateur. I love the versatility that the duo offers. The blush is smooth and well-pigmented. It looks a bit more pearlescent in its' container, than it does on your face, which a plus for me. I don't tend to love too many sparkles.

.003 Garnier's Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream (For Normal/Combo Skin) - I've been guilty of not moisturizing my skin enough in the past. Because I had skin on the oily side for most of my teenage/young adult life, I thought the last thing my skin needed was more moisture. However, as I've gotten older, my skin and my skincare regiment has changed slowly, but ten-fold at the same time. I've found that adding a gentle moisturizer at night before bed, after taking off make-up, and in the morning, before putting on make-up, has dramatically improved my skin. It looks fresher and more vibrant. My skin is softer and adding moisturizer doesn't make my skin oily during the day like I previously thought it might. Plus, I find my make-up sits better on moisturized skin. Though I haven't found my holy grail moisturizer yet, this one is doing just fine in the mean time. It smells fresh, feels refreshing, and does its' job. Plus, it's at a great price point!

.004 Tarte's Amazonian Clay Mineral Bronzer (in Park Avenue Princess) - This has made my favorites list so many times I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it. I've searched far and wide, and I just haven't found a bronzer I love more than this one. It's buildable, subtle, not too sparkly, not too matte, and makes you look perfectly sun-kissed. It adds that warmth to my face I find so essential during the summer.

.005 Flower's Lighten Up! Brightening Concealer (in Shade 2)
I'm on my 5th tube of this. This concealer offers the right balance of brightening and coverage. It's both ideal for covering blemishes (I'd say it has light-medium coverage) and using under your eyes. It doesn't crease, which is important, and I instantly look more bright and awake after using it. For the drugstore price, ~$8, you just can't beat giving it a try. My only complaint is that it doesn't last long enough! I find myself repurchasing monthly.

.006 Flower's Color Play Creme Eye Shadow (in Wild Geranium) - After Flower won me over with their concealer, I thought I'd try something else from the range. I decided to go for a creme eyeshadow because I had never tried one and the price was agreeable. It was so agreeable I found myself purchasing one of Maybelline's Color Tattoo creme eyeshadows, which I knew had quite a following, for comparison purposes. I was hesitant to go for Wild Geranium because it seemed so dark in its' packaging. However, when applied to the lid it is much more sheer. Don't get me wrong, it's pigmented, but just not as dark as it seemed in the pot. The creme eyeshadow is, indeed, creamy in the packaging and has a metallic sheen to it. I didn't find it messy or hard to apply at all. In fact, I found it really quick and easy. I found myself applying one to two coats with my ring finger successfully and being able to move on without using a brush to even it out or adding more coats after the first layer dried. The eyeshadow dries fairly quickly after application and stays put all day. I was crazy amazed at its' great stay power. However, I should mention I have fairly "oily" eyelids and I don't often find my eyeshadow budging or creasing on a normal basis. If you don't have "oily" eyelids, consider maybe adding an eyeshadow primer for best results! I've found that even with wearing it multiple times a week that it has stood the test of time and has been really long lasting. You get a lot of bang for your buck!

Color Tattoo was less impressive to me. In the pot, it wasn't nearly as creamy. In fact it had a harder texture and I really had to work with my finger. It much sheerer than anticipated and I felt like I couldn't get as complete of coverage very easily. It felt like I needed to take more time to let dry and build it up.

.007 Honorable Mentions - TheBalm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette (especially the color "Fit"), Pixi by Petra's Illuminating Tint and Conceal (in Bare Glow), Tarte's Precision Long Wear Liquid Eyeliner, and Sonia Kashuk's eyeshadow quads.


What are your recent beauty favorites? Let me know! I'm especially on the hunt for foundation/bb cream and skin care recommendations!