Loving Lately - Makeup/Beauty Products

For the final installment of "Loving Lately," I'm going to focus on makeup/beauty products.  Let's be honest, I'm a little new to the whole makeup craze.  In fact, I didn't even wear makeup until I was a senior in high school.  I was very much a tomboy and didn't have time for such frilly things!  Nowadays, I've certainly become more interested in it, and I feel like I'm finally learning not only how to apply makeup, but also how to find the products that really work for me.

Here's a roundup of the makeup/beauty products that I've been using on repeat!

• Urban Decay Naked Eye Shadow Palettes - For Christmas, I got my very first Naked palette and I couldn't have been more excited!  I had heard a lot about them, but because they are a little pricey, I had never purchased one myself.  I got the Naked 3 palette, and boy am I in love!  I have to say, the higher price is definitely worth it, as I can totally tell a difference in quality between my Naked shadows and my drug store palettes.  The consistency is so much better and it truly does last all day long.  I now have the Naked 2 and 3 palettes and I have to say I love them both. I probably get a little more use out of 3 because it is the more rose-tinted neutrals which seems to go with my skin tone a little better.  Overall I love them both and will probably eventually get the original Naked palette.  In my opinion, you can throw out your other shadows because all you need are these palettes! (Note: these are the only higher end shadows I have ever used, so I cannot attest to the Urban Decay prominence over other higher end brands!)
  
• Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush - I had seen other bloggers rave about the Amazonian clay blush, and I just had to try it.  I have the shade "blissful" and I really really like it.  It's the perfect color for my skin tone and it really does last a long time.  Maybe not 12-hours, but that's probably because I give Drew so many kisses throughout the day!
  
  
  
  
• Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter - For Christmas, my mom got me a subscription to Birchbox, and I absolutely love it.  It's so fun to get a box every month, and I've actually found quite a few products through my Birchboxes that I now use on a daily basis.  The Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter is one of those products.  I first received it in my Birchbox and after using up the sample, I had to have it.  It's a great champagne colored highlighter that I use on my cheekbones and brow bones and it really just brightens up my face.  They have since come out with a Cindy-Lou Manizer highlighter that is more of a rose-gold color that I will probably invest in as well!
  
• Benefit They're Real Mascara - I am picky about mascara.  I had the perfect mascara in CoverGirl's  VolumeExact waterproof mascara, but unfortunately, it was discontinued quite awhile ago. I think I have tried every drugstore brand and kind since then, and I just haven't been able to find a mascara that I like even close to as much as the VolumeExact formula.  I'd heard a lot about Benefit's They're Real, and so I decided to give it a try. I bought the tester size, anticipating not liking it just like all the rest.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was the closest that I have found to my beloved VolumeExact.  The wand is similar and it seems to give my lashes both volume and length.  I still don't think I like it as much as I liked my VolumeExact, but I guess it's the closest that I've come so far.
  
• e.l.f. Mineral Face Primer - I had never used a primer before a couple months ago.  I kept reading that it was a must if you want your makeup to last, but to be honest, they were all so expensive and I just wasn't going to pay that much for something that you couldn't even see and would just go on UNDER my makeup.  Then I found the e.l.f. Mineral Face Primer.  It's only $3, so I figured I'd give it a try.  It's great!  It goes on smooth and fills in the lines on my face to create a perfect blank canvas for my makeup.  If you want to try a primer, but aren't thrilled about the price, check out e.l.f.  In fact, they have quite a few products that are pretty good and they range in price from $1-$6.  My kind of prices!
  
• Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave-in Conditioner - I have to be honest, I was skeptical when I received this product in my Birchbox.  My hair is so fine and thin that I was sure a leave-in conditioner would be too heavy for my limp hair and would just make it greasy and gross.  I didn't even really use my sample until my sister received the same sample in her box and absolutely loved it.  She bought the big version, so I figured I had to give it a shot.  And I love it!  It smells delicious and leaves my hair soft and silky smooth without weighing it down or making it greasy.  I spray it on my damp hair and then comb through, which it also helps detangle my snarly hair.  It's pretty much a miracle product. I can definitely tell a difference on the days that I'm too lazy to use it.  It's been great for my hair!
  
• Aquage Uplifting Foam - Now, if you know me, you know I love Kate from The Small Things Blog.  She's really the reason that I ever started reading blogs, and honestly, a pretty big reason why I started this blog.  I just love her!  Anyway, she loves Aquage Uplifting Foam, and the girl has spectacular hair, so I think she knows what she's talking about.  My hair is so fine and limp that I figured a little uplifting couldn't hurt.  I've been using this for a couple months now and it definitely adds volume.  Again, I can absolutely tell a difference on the days I'm too lazy to use it. It has become a daily product for me and I love that little lift that it gives me!
  
• Clarisonic Mia - I got a Clarisonic for Christmas and I have to say I really love it.  It makes me feel like I'm at a spa every time I wash my face!  It gets my face really clean and I think it also adds some luminosity.  It's nice to feel like your face is really getting a deep down clean, and the Mia does that for me!
  
  
  
  

Well, there you have it.  The makeup and beauty products that I've been loving lately.  I hope you enjoyed the "Loving Lately" series.  If there's anything else you're curious about, let me know.  If I come up with other things I've been loving lately, I'll be sure to pass them along!  Happy Hump Day!