August Beauty Favorites

It seems like another six months have passed since I last wrote about my monthly beauty favorites. I don't know, guys, maybe my criteria for calling something a favorite are too firm, but these days I don't find myself overly excited about make-up or skincare all that often. However, I have recently been trying quite a few new things as well as been able to rummage through my existing stash as my panning projects were drawing to a close. Let's see what I came up with!

NARS Douceur Blush. I've had this in my blush drawer for a really long time, and have come rather close to decluttering it quite a few times. Why? Well, it doesn't really swatch the best. When you try it out on your hand, the formula seems sheer and very hard in the pan, quite unlike my other blush from NARS, Sin. However, when you apply this discontinued shade on your cheeks with a firmer blush brush, it's magic on fair skintones. It just looks like the perfect neutral rose to compliment just about any make-up look. I promise not to ever give you up, my sweet Douceur!

Speaking of old products from my stash... I don't even want to admit how long I've had this pot of Clinique Brush-on Cream Liner in True Black. Normally I would pitch it straight in the trash at this point but you guys, it looks pretty much exactly the same as when I bought it. It's still incredibly creamy, easy to apply, and long lasting both on the lashline and waterline. I currently don't own another black eyeliner (liquid or pencil) so I've made this one my go-to, and now I wonder why I ever strayed away from it.

You may have noticed from some brief mentions here and there, but I'm digging the warm pinky berry eyeshadow trend. I always avoided these reddish tones on my eyes in the past because they can definitely end up looking a bit rabbitty if you're not careful. But you know, some products just do the work for you - and that's the case with Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in no. 97 New Moon. I bought it back in 2014 when it was first released (see my original review here) but my understanding is that it's now become permanent. I'm usually not one for a lot of glitter on the eyes, but New Moon is so beautifully complex and subtly glistening that I always end up loving my look when I apply on the lids. Added bonus - I don't find that the glitter migrates much throughout the day.

I don't have any skincare favorites to share with you this month, but I have been using a new haircare product: the new Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Instant Shine & Repair Treatment* ($19.99 for 4.7 oz, available at Ulta here). Back when I used to work at a hair salon, Joico's K-PAK range was our go-to recommendation for folks with dry & damaged, chemically-processed hair. The new Luster Lock promises to give your hair vibrant shine and deep repair with the help from their Peptide Complex as well as Manketti and Argan oils. It also contains keratin (that's where the name of this range comes from), glycerin, hyaluronic acid and a whole host of silicones to seal in moisture and help with detangling the hair.

Joico suggests using it either as a pre-shampoo treatment on dry hair, or on shampooed damp hair (like a conditioner or mask). For fine hair types, they recommend applying just to the mid-lengths to ends of your hair, for thick hair, it can actually be used from roots to tips. I have been using it for the past three weeks in lieu of regular conditioner, and even though my fine hair isn't very damaged at the moment, I still think Luster Lock is one of the best conditioners/ treatments I've ever tried. The thick texture sticks to my damp hair very well but at the same time, it's easy to rinse out. After I get out of the shower, my brush simply glides through my hair without needing any additional leave-in detanglers or treatment oils, cutting down on time and products needed to style my hair. It also leaves my locks silky and shiny, and has that lovely 'salon' scent that I'll catch whiffs of throughout the day. I give it a big thumbs up.

This month I also strayed a little from my capsule collection goals when it comes to perfume and I asked my husband to pick up a new fragrance for me from the airport. I've wanted to own a Jo Malone scent for a few years now and have tried several, but overall none of them made enough of an impression to invest in a full size bottle. However, when I recently tried the Wood Sage & Sea Salt at their boutique in Grand Central, I kinda fell in love with the scent. Yes, I agree with what everyone else's been saying - Jo Malone fragrances are definitely not the most long lasting. However, do I thoroughly enjoy this marine blend of musky ambrette, sea salt, red algae, sage and graprefruit for the couple hours I'm able to smell it on myself? Absolutely.

Lastly, this is not beauty-related in any way, but I wanted to share with you the necklace I've been wearing non stop for the past few months. It's my souvenir from our trip to Iceland in June and it's from a local jewelry designer, Guðbjörg Kristín Ingvarsdótir. Her store, Aurum by Gudbjorg, has several lines of jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings) inspired by Icelandic flora and fauna, but I picked out this dainty sterling silver wings necklace styled after swans' feathers (and indeed we saw lots of swans on our roadtrip). I don't currently see this particular necklace on their site but the Raven design (here) looks similar. The necklace obviously holds a special memory for me, but in general I was very impressed with this store's designs and I'd recommend having a look on their website if you love unique, high quality, hand crafted jewelry (they offer worldwide shipping). Also, have you ever seen a more fitting packaging design? This 'volcanic pebble' box is made out of papier-mache.

Wearing NARS Douceur on the cheeks and Chanel New Moon on the eyes.

I hope you enjoyed this quick look at my current favorites and please let me know what you've been loving in the comments!

Disclaimer: Product marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. I purchased everything else myself. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

Easy Hair Styling Favorites from AVEDA feat. Dry Shampure, Thickening Tonic and Air Control

I'm not a hair person, as discussed in detail in this post. On a typical day, I'll wash and condition my hair, brush out the tangles, and wait for it to air dry. I may use some hair spray to tame down fly aways if I'm feeling fancy. And that's it. The reason I don't style my hair is that in my experience, it requires a lot of time and energy but gives minimal results - any volume that I manage to create in my fine hair deflates an hour later, and my curling iron curls fall out even faster *shrugs*.

Which is why I was interested, if a little skeptical, when a gorgeously wrapped box from AVEDA landed on my doorstep. First thing that I zeroed in on was obviously their Shampure Dry Shampoo* ($30 for 2 fl oz/ 56 g, same size refill available for $26 at aveda.com and Nordstrom), given that my oily roots usually need some help by second day.

You may remember that so far, my Holy Grail dry shampoo has been Batiste, but it comes with its own set of issues: a) a can doesn't last very long, b) it's rather strongly scented. Right off the bat, Aveda's Dry Shampure beats Batiste in this respect; from my understanding, the non-aerosol dispense mechanism (it's a soft plastic bottle which releases a cloud of powder when squeezed - and the cool thing is that you could totally pack this anywhere in your carry-on bag since it's not an aerosol nor a liquid) makes the product last incredibly long before you have to repurchase, and the scent is... Yeah, I can understand the hashtag #SmellsLikeAveda. It's a sweet lemon verbena fragrance with a hint of vanilla that makes you feel refreshed and uplifted, and I don't have to hold my breath and then run out of the bathroom when I spray into my hair. I've never come across a dry shampoo that smelled better than this.

Yeah yeah, it smells good, we get it, but does it even work? Yes, yes it does. While the dispenser isn't as directional or continuous as an aerosol spray, I still find it quite easy to get exactly how much I need exactly where I need it. It does have a white cast straight out of the bottle, but in my light brown hair, it only takes a couple brush strokes/ some massaging with my fingertips for it to disappear entirely. This dry shampoo has some interesting natural ingredients: corn and tapioca starch, oat flour, silica... and montmorillonite clay. The combination is very effective at soaking up the oils but also giving my roots some nice volume and texture. The Shampure is definitely more texturizing than Batiste, and for this reason, it doesn't work as well if you want to apply it again on third day hair - which I can sometimes get away with when I use Batiste. But on the other hand, sometimes on the third day with Shampure, I don't even need a top up because my hair still looks fresh and clean (so fresh and so clean clean... LOL). I really enjoy this, and I can see a refill purchase in my future.

On the days when I shampoo my hair, I've been reaching for Aveda's Thickening Tonic* ($28 for 3.4 fl oz/ 100ml) to give some lift to my fine tresses. I have a love hate relationship with volumizing and root lifting sprays - I've tried many from both drugstore and salon brands and they've all felt stiff and sticky in my hair while giving almost no results. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the Thickening Tonic: it feels lightweight in the hair, has a pleasant herbal scent (mint? eucalyptus?), and conditions the hair lightly (thanks to aloe vera, wheat amino acids and brazil nut & soy proteins) while definitely adding some fullness from roots to ends. I've tried it both blow drying my hair and letting it air dry, and I've had good results both times. I also feel like it extends the freshness of my hair so that it looks better the second day after washing. If you've been let down by volumizing sprays in the past, I'd definitely give this one a go.

Lastly, I've also been playing around with setting my dry hair with the Air Control Hair Spray* ($9 for 1.4 oz travel size or $28 for 9.1 oz full size can). Aveda describes Air Control as having lightweight, workable hold, but I guess their lightweight hold packs enough of a punch for my everyday needs (I'd even compare it to MorrocanOil's Strong Hold hairspray - but not anywhere near the shellacked results of Kenra's Platinum 26 Spray). It's a dry spray with a similarly pleasant aroma to the Dry Shampure - maybe a bit more lemongrass. What I like about it is that with a couple sprays, I can pat down all the annoying baby hair at my part, smooth down the frizzies throughout the lenghts, and set my style (or lack thereof) for the rest of the day. In my salon-working days, I tried A LOT of different high-end hair sprays (the two I mentioned above, Big Sexy Hair, TIGI, Sebastian, Enjoy etc.), and the Air Control is among the best of them.

My favorite thing about these three AVEDA styling products is the fact that they require next to no additional time and energy to incorporate into my routine. They're quick, they're easy, they're effective. I also fully commend AVEDA's environmental efforts - they aim for zero impact to the Earth's climate by using renewable wind power in their primary facility, more than 85% of their PET bottles and jars contain post consumer recycled materials, they strive to use sustainable, fair trade natural ingredients and participate in many more iniatives to promote the green message. This month, for Earth Month 2016, you can purchase Aveda's Light The Way Candle (here), of which 100% proceeds support Global Greengrants Fund water-related projects.

Have you used any hair products from Aveda? What are your effortless hair styling favorites? I've also heard good things about their Kinetics skincare line - I may look into those products some time. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: Products featured in this post are press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own money or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

March Beauty Favorites

I haven't posted a Favorites post in a very long time, and even though I don't have that many products to share for this month, I still thought they deserved a mention. Sometimes even those fantastic items get somewhat forgotten between all the reviews that I do, so I wanted to show you what I've been really enjoying reaching for time and time again.

Let's start with a Holy Grail lip balm I've recently repurchased: the Nuxe Rêve de Miel ($15 for 0.52 oz on Nuxe US website). I did a review/ comparison post of this beauty and the Osmia Honey Myrrh Lip Repair a couple years back (here), and while the Osmia is good, Nuxe is better - in fact, it is the best overnight nourishing lip balm I have ever tried. My lips tend to get very dry and dehydrated, and daily lipstick wearing tends to exacerbate the problem. But a generous layer of Nuxe's deliciously citrus-scented Rêve de Miel before bed solves all my parched lips problems, and I love that this balm is thick enough to stay on the lips all through the night. If you haven't tried it yet, I would encourage you to give it a go - the price tag may be a bit high for 'just a lip balm', but one pot lasts me nearly a year.

Continuing with 'targeted area skincare', I've been recently sent a new eye cream to test out - Tatcha Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum* ($95 for 15ml/ 0.5 fl oz, also available in the travel size for $33), which is part of their Luminous range. It's a lightweight gel/ cream enriched with Okinawa Red Algae, Honeysuckle Leaf and caffeine to depuff, firm and plump up fine lines. I don't have very serious concerns when it comes to my under eye area, but a lot of lightweight eye cream textures just aren't moisturizing enough. I'm pleased to report that Tatcha (yet again) got the formulation just right: the serum feels light and absorbs quickly into the skin, but feels very hydrating and soothing on the skin. I also love, love, love the cooling ceramic applicator - the shape fits perfectly in the inner corners and under the eyes, and the serum layers beautifully under concealer. While this product does contain some 23-karat gold dust, the shimmer is so fine that I can't see any particles once on the skin. Big thumbs up.

I don't often feature haircare on the blog as I tend to be rather low-maintenance when it comes to hair products, but this past month I had a chance to try out some of Pacifica's haircare range via their Jet Set Trio Kale Collection* ($19 for 2 x 2fl oz shampoo & conditioner and 0.5 fl oz leave-in detangler, available at Ulta). I haven't formed an opinion on the Super Kale Juiced-up Shampoo & Conditioner yet, but I've been really enjoying the hot pink tube of Hairvana Leave-on Detangling Conditioner*. I tend to be a bit biased against brands that try to do it all - skincare, haircare, bodycare, make-up - but I've been very pleasantly surprised by this Pacifica's product. First off, it smells divine (like coconut vanilla cookies), but more importantly, it detangles my fine hair easily without weighting it down. In fact, I almost feel like it gives my annoyingly soft and fluffy hair a little bit of texture, so that it's easier to manage. I would definitely purchase a full size of the Hairvana ($14 for 5 fl oz/ 147 ml) once I run out of my other detanglers.

Onto two meager make-up items, both of which I reviewed in detail in the past couple of weeks. I wanted to mention them again because they're the type of product that you just can't put away. I've been using the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara* ($26 for 0.32 oz, reviewed here) since early January, and I'm dreading having to toss it rather soon. I haven't been using a lash growing serum but even on my shorter and less dense lashes, the Velvet Noir still gives lots of volume and definition. It is starting to flake off slightly now that my tube is drying out, but I still can't bring myself to swap it out for a fresh mascara from a different brand.

I also can't get enough of my ILIA Multi-Stick in Fine Romance* ($34 for 5g, review with swatches). I don't have a blush in my current Project Pan, so in the past three months, I'd been swapping my blush options out every couple of weeks. But since trying out Fine Romance for the first time, that's all I want to wear on my cheeks. I think it's a great spring-time color for my pale complexion; towards the end of winter, I can look a bit tired and ghostly, but this beautiful berry rose shade brings vitality to my skin again. Seriously, a great cream blush formula.

That's it - a short and sweet list of products this month. I'm getting a little bored using the same items every day due to my Project Pan and I'm looking forward to a new selection in a month's time, when my Project draws to a close. What have you been loving this month? Are you already in a full-on spring mode?

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. I purchased everything else myself. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. All links are non-affiliate. Thank you for reading!

15 Best Beauty Buys of 2015

Drumroll, please! Tis the time you've all been waiting for: my yearly favorites! Every December, I really enjoy looking back at twelve months of posts here on Rocaille Writes and deciding which products are making the cut into my favoritest favorites. However this year, I have to say that I was a bit stumped: I tested a lot of average products that I was feeling a bit 'meh' about, and a lot of good products that I liked, but maybe not quite enough to put them on the list. Then when I searched my memory for products that I used the most this year, a whole lot of them were things I've already mentioned in previous years' installments of my Best Beauty Buys: Buxom Full-On lip glosses, bareMinerals READY eyeshadows, First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads...

But in the end, when I thought about products I tried this year that I would not hesitate to recommend to just about anyone, these 15 beauties emerged from the depths of my beauty stash. All of them have been previously reviewed in detail, so I'll link all the separate posts and just jot down a few additional thoughts to spike your interest. Now, in no particular order...

1. Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01 (review):
This year has definitely been the year of powder highlighter for me, and it all started with this one. In the past, when my skin was quite oily and I was struggling with textural issues, additional glow on the face was not my friend; but as my skin's became more balanced, I've been enjoying wearing luminizing products a lot more. Laura Mercier's Baked Highlight is a cult favorite for a reason: incredibly smooth texture, universal shade, and easily controlled to suit both very subtle as well as more dramatic looks. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but for the amount you get in the compact, it should very well last you for years.

2. Inglot HD Sculpting Powder in 504 (review)
I'm definitely not a fan of the strong contoured look championed by the Kardashians, but Inglot's HD Powder in 504 has won me over with its silky texture, supreme buildability and a very natural look on the face - when used sparingly, it's definitely subtle enough for my critical eye. Since my initial review, I've also been using it a lot as a transitioning shade in the crease to blend out just about any eye look. Big thumbs up.

3. Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic (review)
If you're looking for a gentle acid tone product to incorporate into your routine - perhaps something similar to my favorite First Aid Beauty pads but more economical - Pixi's Glow Tonic is your friend. I'm very nearly done with my first bottle and already have another one on back-up, and I love using it especially in the mornings, because I can rest assured it will keep my skin smooth and bright without any irritation or redness.

4. Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion Moist (review)
Out of all the hyaluronic acid serums I've tried over the years, I truly believe that Hada Labo Gokujyun is the most effective at hydrating my skin - and probably the least expensive price per ounce. It's an incredibly simple product: hardly more than a mixture of water, glycerin and three types of hyaluronic acid, but boy, does it work like nothing else. It's also quite a multipurpose product, as you can use it as a toner and serum in one, or on its own as a lightweight moisturizer, or like Claire suggested, mixed into a clay mask to make it less drying on your face.

5. Laneige Water Sleeping Mask* (review)
 I believe that 2015 was the year of Korean beauty trends truly emerging on our market - even Sephora now carries an assortment of popular Korean brands (obviously, at a steep mark-up; I recommend you browse around online to find the best price). One of the bigger trends are sleeping packs or simply put overnight face masks, out of which Laneige's Water Sleeping Mask is a cult favorite, and for a good reason. The ingredients may raise an eyebrow from those who prefer fragrance and dye-free products, but the truth is that this product really works - much better than the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask that was so popular a year or two ago.

6. Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment (review)
I've been a big fan of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15 and its various Tinted offspring ever since I tried them in a Sephora birthday kit years ago, but this year I finally tried the Sugar lip gloss and was very pleasantly surprised by it. It's just as comfortable and moisturizing as the lip balms, but gives an extra bit of shine and can be easily paired with a lipstick, especially if you want to counteract some drying effects of a less than stellar formula. As you may see in the photos, I'm very nearly done with my mini tube of the Clear shade, but I've recently snatched another mini in the Rose color and I'm very excited to crack it open.

7. Zoeva Make-up Brushes (review of brushes no. 105, 109, 227, 231 and 317 here, review of brushes no. 101, 102, 142 and 226 here)
Zoeva's make-up brushes are easily my most used make-up tools this year. Yes, my Surratt Artistique brushes are more luxurious, but I think that in terms of performance for the price, Zoeva is hard to beat. Out of the nine brushes that I own, my favorite are the 101 Luxe Definer, the 105 Luxe Highlight, 227 Luxe Soft Definer and 231 Luxe Petit Crease - I find the shapes of all these brushes to suit my personal needs perfectly, but all of the Zoeva brushes I have are great quality and have so far been holding up very well, even with almost daily use.

8. Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation (review)
It has somehow transpired that I've been trialling a whole skew of new bases this year, but out of all the older ones in my stash and the newcomers, Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is definitely my favorite. I find that a lot of liquid foundations and BB Creams in my stash are a bit finnicky to work with - they either accentuate dryness unless I prep my skin very carefully, or slip and slide on the face within a couple hours, but the Aqua Foundation does neither; I can really count on it to look great every time I apply it. A word of caution, my bottle isn't the newer reformulated version, but I've heard that die-hard fans are still using it, so I'm hoping it's not massively different.

9. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Rose Stiletto* (review)
And conversely to foundations and BB creams, I have not actually tried very many new lipstick formulas this year, instead focusing on using up what's already in my possession. I haven't been overly impressed by the old YSL Rouge Pur Coutures, but the newly reformulated iteration is much, much better. Sure, it's not the most moisturizing lipstick I own, but the high pigment, beautiful satin finish and long wear time make up for that - and Rose Stiletto is one of those 'it' shades you need to swatch next time you're at the counter.

10. Catrice Defining Blush in Rose Royce (review)
Drugstore make-up fanatics rejoice, Catrice is now available in the US at Ulta! Sad face though, because their Defining Blushes, which are among my very favorite products from the brand, have not been brought out here (yet - I hope). Out of all the powder blushes at the drugstore, I truly believe Catrice's formula to be the best: buttery with just enough pigment, and very natural-looking on the skin. I only wish they carried a bigger shade range in the permanent displays.

11. Maybelline Color Elixir in Caramel Infused (review)
Maybelline's Color Elixir formula is my drugstore lip pick for this year. I realize that make-up aficionados are divided on this: some people love the Color Elixirs, some people hate them. I find the Maybelline lipstick-lipgloss-lip balm hybrid to be very comfortable and cushiony on the lips but not very long lasting, but that's expected for such a glossy product in my humble opinion. I really enjoy the one shade I have, and I may look into purchasing more in the future.

12. Rouge Bunny Rouge Matt Eyeshadows in Sweet Dust Seriema and Chestnut Napped Appalis (review)
Some people use a matte beige/ off white eyeshadow in every single eye look, but I find a matte midtone brown infinitely more useful to seamlessly blend out shadows on the lid and those darker shades in the outer corner. Rouge Bunny Rouge Matt Eyeshadows are beautiful to work with, and these two shades pair easily with any look: Sweet Dust Seriema with cool-toned hues, Chestnut Napped Appalis with warmer colors. They're my current shadow-transitioning staples.

13. Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette (review)
I thought long and hard whether to include this inexpensive eyeshadow palette in my yearly round-up. Even though the quality is great and the colors beautiful, I was trying to find fault with it - and my conclusion was that it's TOO EASY to use. Excuse me? I wasn't happy how effortless it was to pair any of the shades in this palette together - like that's a bad thing? Seriously, I don't know what's wrong with me. So yes, if you like a challenge in your eyeshadow palette, don't pick this up. If you're a normal human being who likes neutral eyeshadows, please do yourself a favor and get it.

14. Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk (review)
I've tried quite a few products from Andalou Naturals this past year and many - most of them get two thumbs up from me. But I guess if I were to choose one stand out product that's not widely available from other brands, be it green or not, Andalou's Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk is the one to look out for: an effective non-foaming cleanser at a very reasonable price point, gentle and non-drying on the skin, and packed full of skin-loving plant oils. As you can see, my bottle is half empty already! (or half full. Depending how you're choosing to look at it :)

15. Perfume: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Eau de Parfum
This is the one product in this line-up that I have not reviewed separately on the blog; mostly because I find perfume reviews a bit difficult to write in a convincing fashion. Out of all the fragrances in my stash, Ambre Sultan is my absolute favorite. It's definitely a ballsy scent: heavy, lingering, attention-grabbing... meaning, not something I can wear at all times (NYC subway in the summer, anyone? I don't want to be THAT person). Yet I wish I could - it feels warm and cozy, like pulling on your favorite sweater. It's a sweet and spicy oriental heavy on resins, myrrh and amber. If you enjoy wearing orientals, you need to give it a sniff - you can thank me later.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorites from this year; I bet that if you're a regular reader of Rocaille Writes, few of these were very surprising to you. Please let me know in the comments your best finds this year - I love reading about your favorite products too! And while we're talking about the best in beauty, please spill your biggest fail too; I had quite a few personally, but I felt that Nature Republic Botanical Shine Lip Tint (reviewed here) was a complete dud. What should we all be avoiding in the future?

Fall Favorites Tag

I find it amusing that I've had three labels here on my blog for years that come together pefectly to make up the name of this tag :) It's been making rounds on YouTube for a couple weeks now, and I had actually been planning to write a general lifestyle post about my current favorites (which are definitely influenced by the seasonal change), so I just decided to do it in this format. Keep reading to find out if I tagged you at the end of the post!

We live in a one bedroom apartment so there isn't a whole lot of space to go all out with seasonal decor, but I put together this little centerpiece with a small pumpkin and some maple leaves I've had for a long time, which I also use as a background for my blog photos.

1. Favorite Candle
Without a doubt and for at least second year running, the Bath and Body Works Marshamallow Fireside. It's just the perfect blend of sweet carmelized marshmallow orbs contrasted with a warm, smokey, woodsy background. I find a lot of BBW candles very overwhelming and get tired of the scent quickly, but this is just delicious. Every. Single. Time.

2. Favorite Lip Color
I've been really enjoying my berry pink Inglot Gel lipstick no. 58 that's in my Project Make A Dent this year. When I picked it out before the Project's beginning, I was already expecting that I'd primarly want to wear it in the fall and winter, and that's exactly what's happened. I sometimes just pat a very thin layer with my finger for that stained look, sometimes wear it full-on, sometimes pair it with a darker lip liner (shown here) or Revlon Back Cherry for a deeper, more vampy look.

3. Favorite Drink
I haven't had a Starbucks latte in over two years, I think, so no PSL for me - I don't rate Starbucks coffee at all. Our rediscovered favorite this season is Adagio's Thai Chai flavored black tea with just a small teaspoon of sugar and soy milk. It's both refreshing and creamy, with lemongrass, ginger and lots of coconut. Both me and the husband often make it in the morning and take it to go in our insulated Klean Kanteen bottles/ thermoses.

4. Favorite Blush
My perennial favorite is NARS Sin, but I've been more focused on rotating through my less used blushes recently and trying to weed out the ones I don't like as much anymore. For a warmer-toned blush, I also really like NYX Powder Blush in Mauve.

5. Favorite Clothing Item
Well, I've obviously dug out my thicker sweaters and scarves now, and even had to pull out my winter coat this past weekend, but one of the newest items in my wardrobe is this little leather crossbody my brother got for me during our Tuscany trip. It's a very simple shape and doesn't fit much (my iPhone 6 Plus barely fits, and I can't carry a wallet, just cash and cards), but I'm a huge fan of the classic feel and the cognac color.

6. Favorite Fall Movie
I don't really rewatch any movies seasonally, but I sure love Hocus Pocus for Halloween, even if it's the most predictable answer on the planet.

7. Favorite Fall TV Show
Okay, you guys are going to laugh, but we recently started watching iZombie on Netflix, and you know what? It's not bad. Sure, the premise is ridiculous and the plot doesn't hold in many spots, but it's actually pretty funny, and I love the realistic attention to detail: in one episode, the main character turns into this hacker/ gamer persona, and her entire apartment is littered with Dorito bags and Sprite cans, which apparently (husband told me) are the proverbial gaming snacks. Other than that, we've also been watching The Voice, although we couldn't stand the frequent commercial breaks on the free version of Hulu anymore, and subscribed for the commercial-free plan - which makes for a MUCH improved viewing experience.

8. Favorite Thanksgiving Food
Being born and raised in Poland, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. I even tried cooking 'Thanksigving-inspired' food a couple years ago, but since I've actually never participated in a real Thanksgiving feast, I don't know what it's supposed to taste like. I do however have a few dishes in my repertoire that I always make in the fall, like a creamy pumpkin soup with lots of cumin (or any other spicy soup - love hot soups in the cold season!), or the Polish apple pie called szarlotka, with cinnamon, meringue and crumble on top.

9. Favorite Halloween Costume
Again, I'm not into celebrating Halloween at all, it's not a traditional Polish holiday, although it is becoming increasingly popular with how prevalent American culture is all over the world. The one year we dressed up for a Halloween party as a Mad Hatter and Alice (click here for photos), our friends had no clue who we were supposed to be. Big fail. But I'll probably paint my nails a very dark vampy shade and top with some glitter for a festive look!

10. Added in by yours truly: Favorite Perfume
I mean, the question about favorite fall perfume clearly must have been omitted by accident. My last year's cold season favorite was Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, which I received in the full size for Christmas - and I still love that heavy, warm, jammy oriental. But when we visited Lucca in mid-September, I noticed a cute apothecary shop (Erborista) in one of the city's beautiful squares, and promptly fell in love with Ambraliquida (clearly, I have a thing for amber) from an Italian brand L'Erbolario Lodi. It's a spicy and sweet scent with notes of sandalwood, incense, patchouli, bourbon vanilla and honey. It dries down powdery and musky, and has incredible sillage and lasting power (probably because it's more of a base-note heavy fragrance). It's definitely not for everyone, but I love it, and my dad loved it so much that a couple hours later he decided to buy a bottle for my mom too. I paid about 22 euro for a 1.7 fl oz/ 50 ml EDP, but you can also purchase it in the US for $45 on CyberCucina and The Herbarium, their authorized US retailer.

That's it for my answers, I hope you enjoyed them! I would love to see the following bloggers answer these questions: Tracy at Beauty Reflections, Larie at Eye Heart It, Liz at So Lonely in Gorgeous, and Claire at The Land of Lorp - as well as anyone else who would like to join in! If you decide to post this, please leave me a link to your blog in the comments :)

Shopping My Stash: Recently Rediscovered Favorites

To counteract the low from my previous post on all the products I don't want to be using anymore, I thought I'd share some of my recently rediscovered favorites from the depths of my make-up stash. To be honest with you, with both the Project Make A Dent and the Project 10 Pan going on at the same time, I often need to force myself not to completely neglect the rest of my collection. I've been so focused on making some progress in the lip products chosen for these challenges, for example, that I honestly don't remember the last time I wore something else on my lips, unless it was specifically for testing and reviewing on the blog. That's a bit sad - I guess I'm maybe a wee bit too driven to do well in my panning projects, lol.

I still think it's very important to keep rotating the products in your routine, either by means of a weekly/ bi-weekly make-up basket or tray, or just switching them ad hoc out once in a while, or maybe even seasonally, when you want to pull in some specific shades to keep you inspired. It's good to know what you own, and it's good to check once in a while if the products you loved in the past are still favorites - and if it turns out they're not anymore, just pass them on to someone more appreciative.

Anyway, here are a couple things I've been enjoying lately. Since I don't have any bronzers in either of my panning projects, I've been making an effort to switch out between the four I own on a monthly basis, usually in the order of their depth (as my skin gets to its darkest shade - by which I mean about NW15 - by the end of the summer/ early fall). Now that it's September, I've been using theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzing Powder, which is a beautiful matte bronzer, but so dark on my fair skintone that I have to be very careful with how I use it. For that reason, I've paired it with my EcoTools Fan Brush, which gives me a lot of control in terms of placement, as well as a sheerer application. If you have a pretty dark bronzer in your stash that you're scared to use, definitely try applying it with a fan brush; it makes a big difference!

On my cheeks, I've gone back to using Tarte's 12-Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Dazzled (reviewed here), which is the perfect early fall blush shade with just a hint of plum. I have to say that I'm not absolutely swooned by the Amazonian Clay formula - it's a bit hard in the pan, and requires multiple layers and lots of blending to show up on my cheeks. But once I get it on, it's really beautiful, so I keep reaching for it again and again.

I've also been rotating through my powder eyeshadows regularly (mostly in pre-made palettes and my Z-Palettes), but haven't really been loving anything in particular. One thing I discovered while playing with my eyeshadow pans is that Surratt's Eyeshadow in Scintillante (reviewed and swatched here) makes for a fabulous highlighter on the face as well. Its delicate, refined sheen looks gorgeous on the top of the cheekbones, and it's just the right amount of glow for everyday.

See that giant crack? The other Benefit Creaseless Cream I have in the original packaging doesn't seem to dry out like that - this crack started to appear just a couple months after I've purchased No Pressure :( It's still creamy though.

I also gave my overworked Maybelline Bad to the Bronze Color Tattoo a short rest just before our holiday break, since I knew I would be using it all the time while in Tuscany, and in the meantime, I played around a bit with the Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in No Pressure (reviewed here). You know, I do think I slightly prefer the Benefit's cream eyeshadow formula over the Maybelline - it's just softer and easier to blend out. The bronzy taupey shade of No Pressure, even though it looks very similar to Bad to the Bronze at first glance, somehow looks a bit prettier once it's on the eyes; it's a bit smoother (doesn't pick up on the texture of the skin on my lids) and the added gold microglitters give it a bit more interest, either when worn alone or paired with a powder eyeshadow over the top.

For the lips, I've been mostly focusing on all the products in my Projects, but I will tell you this - after my bad run with some lip glosses I've been testing recently, I have an even greater appreciation for my Buxom Full-on Lip Polish (I have the shade Dolly, reviewed here) and the Full-on Lip Cream (Cherry Flip, reviewed here). These are just some damn fine glosses, people. My mini tube of Dolly is very nearly finished *sad face*, and you know what, once I use up Cherry Flip, I will be buying another one of these Buxom glosses, or maybe I'll even get one of the Holiday kits with the different minis (probably next year - I don't think Cherry Flip could be all finished before November).

Wearing all my rediscovered favorites on the face; base is Estee Lauder Double Wear Light, brows Shu Uemura Seal Brown, lashes Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara.

And that's it! I hope this post inspires you to go digging in your stash :) Which products have you been loving lately? Have you already started to pull out some fall-appropriate shades?

What's In My Travel Make-up Bag: Two Weeks in Tuscany

We're flying to Italy tonight! I'm choosing to disregard the fact that we still need to haul ourselves to JFK by subway, spend 9 hours on a transatlantic flight, wait another couple hours at Charles de Gaulle in Paris (probably my LEAST favorite airport in the world) and then, at long last, we'll finally reach Florence. In an attempt to dispel some of that Reisefieber, I'll be sharing the contents of my fortnight travel make-up bag with you today.

In the spirit of simplifying and what not, I've tried to only pack a minimum of products that would still allow me a little bit of variety for different occasions. Essentially, our family holiday in Tuscany is going to be very casual: we're staying at an old country house, and we're planning to spend our days lounging, sightseeing, visiting wineries and gorging ourselves on glorious local fare. I also don't want to spend a long time getting ready in the morning and fiddling with my make-up when I could be spending that precious time with the family instead - so I'm aiming for a quick, pulled together look that can take me from roaming between the vineyards to dining at a cosy restaurant in the city.

The bag itself was a gift from a friend but I believe it came from Forever21. It is the perfect size for all my essentials, and it's just a bit padded for extra security. Starting with face products, one category I don't want to skip is my facial SPF, which is why you're seeing both the Paula's Choice Resist SPF 30 and the Bourjois CC Cream SPF 15. The reason I'm putting the sunscreen in my make-up bag is that I've recently taken to mixing it in with my foundation (or CC cream), or applying one after another in quick succession. I feel that this method allows for better blendability, and a more natural look to the skin. I'll be using the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Concealer on both my under eye area and my blemishes, and setting everything with MAC Pressed Blot Powder in Medium.

For my cheeks, I've actually been going back and forth and considering only taking the Stila Convertible Color in Lillium from my Project Make A Dent. I'm really not sure if I need theBalm Bahama Mama bronzer (I've been a bit ambivalent towards bronzers lately and mostly use them to match my white neck to a darker foundation on my face, but the Bourjois CC Cream is a good match at the moment), or the Canmake Cream Cheeks in Clear Pink Joy, but they're in the bag for now.

On the eyes, I've wanted something fuss-free and neutral, so I went with the Maybelline Bad to the Bronze Color Tattoo (either alone or as an eyeshadow base), Dior quint in Earth Reflections (suitable for both subtle and more smokey looks, and the pale shimmery shades can double as a cheek highlight) and Pixi Beauty Endless Silky Eye Pen in Copper Glow (either to quickly smudge along the lashline, a subtle wing or definition in the waterline). A good, long wearing mascara is also a must, and I've been enjoying my tube of Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara in Black the past couple of weeks. For my brows, I opted for the NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe - the handy spoolie on the end saves me from packing a separate brush for my brows.

I've been debating over my lip choices for a long time, but in the end went with two lipsticks from my panning projects: Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait for a shimmery peach and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo for an easy, sheer red. I also added a tube of Maybelline Color Elixir in Caramel Infused for my MLBB pinky mauve fix.

Lastly, for perfume I'm planning to decant one of my perfume minis into a refillable travel spray - this one is from BornPrettyStore. Fun fact, nearly all of my deluxe samples of perfume are 5 ml, while a regular small sample vial of perfume holds between 1,5 to 2 ml. So I could be just taking three small perfume samples with me (I know for a fact that it's more than enough for a two week trip), but you know, gotta use those minis at some point too.

I hope you enjoyed this quick peek into my current travel make-up bag; here's the last version from winter 2013 if you're curious. I realize that what I consider a more streamlined make-up bag may actually be someone else's entire make-up collection, but come on people, we're all beauty addicts here. If you'd like to see MOAR ideas for packing make-up, here are two helpful posts: one from Kar Yi on space-saving solutions for your travel make-up bag, and another from Larie on packing a carry-on beauty pouch for weekend getaways. Do you travel light make-up wise, or do you like to have options? Do you have any special travel tricks or tips up your sleeve that help you save both time in the morning and space in your suitcase? I'd love to know!