My New Palette Loves

I have such a fantastic hubby and great friends.  Seriously, I do.

I woke up Christmas morning to a fantastic stocking, filled by Allan, and some fabulous gifts under the tree from my friends.  Truly, I am so lucky to have the people in my life that I do.

I would love to share with you all the gifts I received (some fabulous high heels, 2 amazing scarves, a gorgeous burgundy coat from Lululemon) but really wanted to show you my new makeup.  Sigh, they are so gorgeous.

First up is the Stila A Whole Lot of Love Gift Set.  How cute is this right?  It folds up into a letter with a magnetic rubberized stamp as the closure.

The set contains 4 blushes, a mascara and 20 eye shadows.  The shadows are a fantastic selection of matte, pearl and shimmer shades.  Look at all the deep jewel tones!

Secondly, I received the Smashbox Art. Love. Color. Master Class Limited Edition Set.  Look at the package! It's like a little binder actually.  Inside are cards explaining how to create different eye/face looks.

 
The set contains 32 eye shadows, 6 blushes and 2 highlighters.  I can't wait to dig in to this one!

This next palette I was following ever since it came out about a month before Christmas.  First off, it was only about $19 CAD and had such a great selection of colors making it a steal.  I was so happy to see this in my stocking.

The set contains 1 blush, 2 highlighters and 6 shadows.  The top three are matte shades and the bottom three are shimmer.  I am taking this with me to Mexico next week and can't wait to use it.

Finally, I received the Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette which I'd been dropping hints about for months.  The palette itself is wooden and reminds me so much of my overseas travels that I knew I had to have it.

Inside, the palette contains 6 shadows, 1 blush, 1 highlighter and 1 bronzer.  It's the perfect travel palette.

What goodies did you receive?  Do any of you have these palettes?

    

Dear Santa - My Beauty Holiday Wishlist 2015

December Beauty Holiday Wishlist by redlipgloss 

I have quite the extensive list for "Santa" this year.  I know I am not going to be getting everything, of course, but it's still fun to put together a wishlist on Polyvore.

Like every year, my wishlist is very beauty product related.  Ha.  Honestly, what else would I want right?  This year, I would love to find the following items under my tree...

1. Stila "A Whole Lot of Love" Palette - First off, Stila is such a fantastic brand and I hardly have any Stila items in my collection.  PLUS, it's a palette so I obviously need it.  Plus, look at those gorgeous blush colors...sigh.

2. Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Night Cream - I am in love with this cream.  I bought myself a sample a few weeks ago and seriously am in love.  You have to try this stuff out.

3. Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Coral Blossom - Ummm, I just love this color.  That's it.  Nothing else to say except it's beautiful and perfect for my upcoming holiday to Mexico!

4. Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette - First off it's a limited edition AD it reminds me of my travels through Indonesia.  I don't know why but there is someting about the wooden palette.

5. Herbivore Phoenix Cell Regenerating Facial Oil - I have been on the hunt for a new serum that doesn't cost over $100 and I have read so many great things about this one that I need to try it.  Plus, it will also replace my current day cream, which makes me happy.

6. Nars Dual Intensity Blush in Adoration - Sigh, I have been eyeing this for about 4 months now and just can't seem to justify spending $55 on MORE blush.  But man, I want it.

7. Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Pefector in Champagne Pop - For those that know this highlighter can comepletely understand why it's on the wishlist.  I have tried Opal and love it but seriously, this one would complete my highlighter collection.

There you have it ladies.  The list.  THE LIST.  What's on your wishlist this year?

    

The Best Palettes Under $30 - Your Wallet Will Thank You

Best Palettes Under $30 by redlipgloss 

As you all know, I am a palette-aholic.  Yes, it's a problem but one I can't resist because palettes are just WAY too cute.  You get all these great products in one handy-dandy little kit that you can pack into your carry-on for travel OR sneak into your purse for going out.

Of course, most of the palettes I own are not small enough to fit into my bag, let alone a carry-on suitcase, but they are still a great collection of items at a usually great price.

The ones on this list, though, go beyond any good deal you could even imagine.  I own almost all these palettes myself and can say, without a doubt, that they are a great deal for the money and are so budget friendly, that you MUST go out and get them all.

1. ELF Spotlight Ready 50 Piece Palette (15 USD): This palette is amazing.  It's two full layers filled with shimmer and mattes shades to complete your holiday look.

2. BH Cosmetics 39 Color Special Occasion Palette - Eyes and Face (7.50 USD):  I love this palette as it has every color needed to create the perfect smoky eye in whichever tone you are wanting.

3. Maybelline Gilded in Gold Palette (15 USD): This palette not only has a highlighter, shadows and a blush, but it also comes with a lipgloss and an eyeliner.  So handy.

4. Beauty Gems Shimmer Shadow Kit (5.99 USD): Beauty Gems is a hidden gem of a brand.  Super cheap, quite pigmented for the price and minimal fall out.  Seriously, you have to get this palette.

5. NYX Wicked Dreams Palette (15 USD): I bought this palette for the beautiful gem tones and I am so happy I did.  Love the purples and blues.

6. ELF Artistry Eyeshadow Palette (20 USD): SO this is one of the palettes I don't have but want so badly.  You must get it as ELF sells out of this all time.

7. Clinique A Case of the Pretties Palette (30 USD): First off, anytime you can get a Clinique palette for under $30 you have to buy it.  Clinique has great pigmentation and is very long lasting (as long as you have a primer on).

8. NYX Butt Naked Eyes Makeup Palette (25 USD): Of the three "Butt Naked" styles, this one remains the best.  The colors are beautiful but the blushes are amazing.

There you have it ladies.  The 8 best palettes under $30.  What's your favorite?

    

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: A Recap

Best. Party. EVER.  Seriously, it was.

Saturday the 17th marked my and Allan's first Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.  And to think, we even hosted it too.  Rules were that everyone had to come in their holiday sweater ugliness and join in the merriment.  Now, where to start describing the fun?

Oh look, it's me!  This was taken right before everyone started to arrive.  Allan said that I looked " too cute" for an UCSP (Ugly Christmas Sweater Party) and forced me to wear bright blue eye shadow.  However, it didn't help at all as everyone said I looked too cute and my sweater vest was something I should wear daily.  Hmpfff...

Carmen and Nathan

Ariella, Ryan and Ted

Ted and Jamie

Mark (arm), Lori, Eva and Steve

And of course the boys - Jamie, Allan (my fiance), Matt, Ryan and Ted

Ryan, again.  (Keep a close eye on this guy)

Angie.  (Yes, we do have a real fireplace but nothing says Christmas like the Log)

Allan, looking awesome, with his crazy straw glasses and light up Christmas tree headband.

Guests are starting to arrive and everyone is looking awesome.  Some are definitely better than others (**keep an eye on Ryan as he will definitely start to look even funnier later on**).

Me and the Fuzzy Nectar jello shots.

Vodka Cranberry and Fuzzy Nectar.  Yummy jello goodness.

Everyone's arrived and the drinks are definitely flying.  So, what better way to have some fun then with jello shots???  Yes, I made both red and green shots (red being Vodka Cranberry and the green were Fuzzy Nectars.)  After many many jello shots, we were all quite inebriated...

Balloons in pantyhose are supposed to resemble reindeer antlers but this is just wrong,

Oh look!  Ted, Ryan, Carmen and Nathan got it right!

What else do you do when everyone is inebriated?  Oh, I know, you play super fun games!!  This game was especially fun with pantyhose and balloons but there was also Christmas song trivia for prizes...

Poor Ryan!!!  He was so hot in his overly tight awful sweater that Allan and him decided to cut off the arms of his sweater.  Being that Allan was drinking as much as he was, we were all surprised that this show went off without a hitch.  (aka Blood...)

After the games and the sweater cutting came the crowning of the UCSP.  We all decided that everyone would have 2 votes and the winner would get the best prize of everything....a TROPHEY.  Any guesses as to who the winner was?

Yep, you guessed it Ryan!  Isn't his sweater even uglier with the sleeves cut off?

Flip cup (an amazing drinking game) marked the end of an amazing UCSP.  Hopefully we'll have many more in the years to come.

Best. Drinking. Game. Ever.

Whew, that was one crazy party.  There was about 4 people that spent the night and we all went for an amazingly tasty breakfast the next morning.  Nothing cures a hangover like some turkey bacon, fruit and hashbrowns....yummy.  How was your weekend?  Hope everyone had a fabulous one.