Favorite Eye Shadow Palettes

Custom MAC palette / Original Naked palette / Naked basics palette / Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette / Stila Mind Palette / Bareminerals palette / Wet n Wild palette

I just love eyeshadow palettes.  I, embarrassingly, have more palettes but the ones above are my favorite.  I switch it up and sometimes just use one palette a day or use different colors from others to create one eye look.  I definitely stick to neutral palettes since because of what I do for a living but I love putting eyeshadow on.  I'm not much of a lipstick girl so eyeshadows are my thing.

Custom MAC palette: I picked my own shades for this palette and, for me, it's the perfect neutral palette.  I have another MAC palette that I made but that one has all bright and colorful shadows that I rarely use, honestly.  But this one gets used almost daily.  The colors in mine are: Blanc Type, Brule, Mylar, Naked Lunch, All That Glitters, Dazzlelight, Yogurt, Kid, Cork, Satin Taupe, Swiss Chocolate, Espresso, Patina, Mulch, and Woodwinked.

Urban Decay Naked palette:  Aww, my beloved Naked palette.  I also have the second one but the original gets used a lot more.  I mainly use the colors Buck and Naked but I've pretty much used all colors at some point.  I gravitate towards brown colors which is why this one of the series is my favorite.

Urban Decay Basics palette:  This is a great everyday use palette and I almost always bring this with me when I travel since it's neutral but can be built up to be dramatic.  

Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette: I LOVE THIS FLIPPING PALETTE!  I DO!  And I don't just love it because it smells like chocolate but it doesn't hurt.  I seriously love this palette so much and use the darkest color to line my lids every day.  This is the perfect perfect work and everyday palette but it also has bright colors if that meets your fancy.  Seriously, you need this palette in your life.  If I only could have two palettes, it would be this one and the Urban Decay Basics palette.

Stila Mind Palette: I received this palette as a gift and love the matte colors.  The entire palette is matte which I like to wear during the day.

Bareminerals palette:  The colors and price point sold me on this one.  I was drawn to the coral color and the others match it perfectly.

Wet n Wild palette:  Don't knock this until you try it!  I think I paid like $3.00 for this and it was worth it!  I also bought Comfort Zone and I am seriously impressed.  I even noted MAC dupes with this.  I highly recommend!

Current Beauty Favorites

Trial week has kept me from seeing the light of day but I am slowly emerging from the depths of office to share my current beauty favorites!  I am a self confessed beauty junkie with enough products and brushes to keep give Sephora a run for its money.  Wish reminds me that I must do a beauty purge soon.  

Over the holidays, I added quite a few new products and these are the ones I'm currently loving...

1. Smashbox Pore Primer:  Okay, this is the product that made me want to write this post.  THIS IS AMMMAAAZZIIINNNGGGG!!!  I fell in love with the Sephora Wrinkle filler after seeing this post from Kate over at The Small Things Blog.  As luck would have it, Sephora discontinued it.  Ugh.  After trying various products, a Sephora employee recommended that I try this Smashbox Pore Primer and it is the exact same thing!  I use this product as an undereye primer.  It is absolutely amazing and I can see myself repurchasing many many times.  

2. Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow Powder:  I love this powder to set my concealer.  It is translucent and does a great job at making my concealer last all day.

3.  Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation:  This has replaced my beloved Diorskin Forever Foundation.  I love it because it doesn't oxidize on my skin and blends in with my skin perfectly.  I use this in the shade Cool Bone.

4.  Real Techniques Buffer Brush:  I really like this line of brushes.  I use this buffer brush to apply my foundation and love how well it blends my foundation.

5.  Nars Laguna Multiple:  I received two multiples for Christmas and really like them.  I use Laguna to contour and the shade Orgasm on my cheeks to highlight.

6.  Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer:  Hold the presses, it's an affordable concealer that actually works!  I use this over my Bobbi Brown concealers to highlight and it's amazeballs!

7.  Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep:  My sister, Melisa, gifted this to me for Christmas and I lurve it!  Even though I own way too many makeup brushes, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to eye makeup so I like that this is a relatively large eye brush and applies makeup in one sweep.

My Newborn Must Haves

1. Snugabunny Swing: We only just started using this swing because we were waiting for Lucas to have better neck control.  Although Lucas is an easy sleeper, now that he's waking up more during the day, I have him swinging for a bit if I need to clean up or pump.  He loves it!

2. Nuk Pacifier: We bought all different kinds of pacifiers but these are the only ones he likes.  My uncle, an orthodontist, bought these for him because they are orthodontic and Lucas loves them.  

3. Hooded Towel:  Lucas hates being naked (we call him our little 'nevernude') so wrapping him up immediately after a bath is necessary.  Necessary or else his crying makes me cry...I'm a wimp.

4. Britax Chaperone Car Seat:  As soon as we put Lucas in his car seat, he falls asleep and will stay asleep until we take him out.  Either we have a lazy baby or he loves his car seat!

5. Huggies:  We originally bought all pampers diapers however we were having lots of leaking problems.  I don't know if it is a "boy" thing or just a Lucas issue but after switching to Huggies we haven't had leaking since.

6. Dr. Browns Newborn Bottle Feeding Set:  We've used these bottles from the get go and Lucas has not had any colic nor gas issues.  He takes to the bottle easily and heard great things about Dr. Browns.

7. Simmons Kids Slumber Elite Bassinet:  Lucas sleeps in this bassinet at night and in our bedroom.  We're really happy with it especially because he loves it and will sleep for awhile.  Last night he slept for 5 hour stretches!  Woot woot!

8. Bob Revolution Stroller: Ugh, LOOOOOVE this stroller!  Seriously, this is the lightest and best stroller.  It's so easy to maneuver around in.  I can't wait to take it out on jogs too.

9. Summer Infant Bather:  We just started giving Lucas real baths and I love how this bather does not slip around.

10. Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets:  These are just the cutest blankets.  I use them for everything from swaddling, wrapping, burping, car seat cover, etc.  I keep some in my diaper bag and pretty much every room.  If it's good enough for Prince George then it's perfect for my Prince Lucas!

1. Diaper Genie: What can I say?  Poopy diapers stink and this stops the stink.

2. JJ Cole Nursing and Feeding Pillow:  I cannot give enough positive reviews for this pillow!  My mom bought me this pillow after seeing how uncomfortable I was nursing due to the c-section.  The pillow has helped tremendously!  Not only do we use it for feedings but also to prop our arms on when we're cradling him.  I highly highly recommend this over other pillows that I also own.

3. Snoogle Pillow:  Most women use the snoogle during pregnancy but I just couldn't get used to it.  Now, it has been necessary in order for me to sleep.  The first week home, due to the c-section, I could not lay on my side.  I used the snoogle to prop myself up against and finally get a little bit of sleep.

4. Medella Pump In Style Advanced: I pump now and will continue to do so at work so I love how portable this pump is and that it's not too loud.

5. Bottle Warmer: My husband and I were at first were trying to warm the bottle from the faucet but we quickly got lazy.  Lucas is a really good sleeper but when he's hungry, he's hungry and will let the entire town know so we needed to have his bottles ready pronto.

6, Boon Lawn Drying Mat:  I wash a lot of bottles and parts a day and I really like the look of this mat.  It gets the drying job done while looking great in my kitchen!

 
1. Mittens:  My little guy likes to scratch his face and poke his eyes whenever his mittens aren't on so we keep these on most of the time.
2. Socks:  We love socks that look like shoes...it completes the outfit! Ha!
3. Gowns:  Before Lucas was here I thought I would never use a gown.  They looked uncomfortable and baggy to sleep in.  Now, they are my favorite sleepers!  At 3 a.m., you want the easiest thing to change your baby in and for me, gowns are the best.
4. Onesies:  I had an imagine of me dressing my baby every day in the perfect outfit - shirt, pants, shoes, the whole complete outfit.  That quickly got thrown out the window after having three blowouts in a row.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I still try my best to pick out the cutest outfits for him but he's rarely ever in pants.  I must admit that I am a Baby Gap addict.  I always wait for Baby Gap to have a promotion and then try to just shop clearance.  They have just the cutest clothes and it's the perfect style for Lucas.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but these are my must haves so far.  I'd love to hear any recommendations though!

Current Beauty Favorites: Before and After Pregnancy

Throughout my pregnancy, clothes shopping for myself just didn't appeal to me.  However, clothes shopping for Lucas and beauty products for myself was my vice.  At nine months pregnant, I just felt so incredibly yucky so pampering with new beauty products did the trick.  Now that I'm on maternity leave, I'm not using a whole lot of makeup but when I do, it feels nice to use products that I really like.  Here's what I'm loving lately:

1.  Macadamia Deep Repair Masque:  For the first time in my life, my hair is full!  Pregnancy hormones can be pretty awesome in this area.  With fullness came the tangles so I started looking into deep conditioners to keep my hair soft and smooth.  I love this masque!  Not only does it smell great but it makes my hair so soft without feeling heavy.

2.  Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler:  I've never owned a nice eyelash curler until I bought this curler and I now get the hype!  I have long lashes but they grow straight out.  This is the only curler that has sufficiently curled my lashes and lasts all day.  Totally recommend it!

3.  Urban Decay Naked Basic Palette:  I own both of the naked palettes and love them so I knew this palette would not disappoint.  Lately, I've been using the dark brown shadow as an eyeliner and the lightest shade in my inner eye to make me look semi awake.  This is also such a good palette for office makeup.

4.  Dior Creme de Rose Plumping Lip Balm:  This lip balm smells sooooooooo good!  I have really sensitive lips and this does not irritate them.  In fact, it makes them super soft.  I apply this before I apply any other beauty products to give it time to set.  Love love!

5.  Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer:  I have the darkest of the darkest under eye circles.  Now that I'm only getting a couple hours of sleep at night, they're even darker so I need extra coverage.  I love applying this concealer over my Bobbi Brown color correcting concealer.  It lightens my under eye area and is long lasting.  For the price, it's a great product and I will repurchase once I run out.

6.  Revlon Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon:  The lip butter line is so fun.  I picked up Wild Watermelon and Juicy Papaya and I really like the brightness without looking too teen boppy.

7.  Yes to Cucumbers Cleansing Towelettes:  I'm very particular about removing my makeup and cleaning my face two times a day.  When I don't deep cleanse my skin using my clarisonic mia, I use these towelettes to remove my makeup before washing using a face soap.  It's not irritating on my skin and feels and smells nice.

What are you loving lately?