August Favorites!

1. Tresemme Keratin Smooth Smoothing Serum

This smoothing serum is one of the products that came in the CEW Award's Birchbox Limited Edition box. I wasn't sure I'd love it, even though I used a Chi keratin serum in my hair daily prior to receiving it. Now that I use it on a regular basis I'm happy to report - I love it! The smell is feminine, clean and not overpowering. The product doesn't weigh down or dull my hair. My hair is left feeling soft and smooth and shines all day. I do rotate this with my Fekkai glossing styling cream, but because of it's much lower price point I do use the Tresemme most often.

2. Harvey Prince "Journey" Parfume

This is my "special" scent. The one I put on when I'm feeling thoughtful, mysterious and sexy. It's a very exotic scent, and there's a fragrance note in it that I can't peg. At first sniff, it's just a pleasant midtone floral scent. But then creeps in this deeper, almost-amberlike bass note. The combination is stellar.

3. La Tourangelle Delicate Artisanal Avocado Oil

I haven't used body lotion in over a year. I only use avocado oil on my skin, especially following showers. I live in a super dry climate and when I don't use a moisturizer my skin is itching so badly within hours after bathing that I'll scratch until it bleeds. It's terrible. However...since using avocado oil I have had zero problems with itching. And the Delicate Avocado Oil from La Tourangelle is the best I've tried yet (for only a few dollars more than the blah beauty brand variety). The oil is artisanal, so you know it's quality. The oil is thicker, more green and especially silky. I can't recommend it enough to anyone with dry skin.

4.L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Colors

I think I'm up to owning five shades of this lipstick. To some people that's not a big deal. But I'm very noncommital when it comes to lip products. So to say that I have five of them, love them, and wear them any time I need a pop of color on my lips says something. They are opaque, they are hydrating, they last, and they don't move around on my lips or get onto my teeth. Such a win!

5. Dr. Jart's Ceramidin Liquid & Cream Combo 

This combo is something I come back to again and again. I first heard of the ceramidin cream over a year ago. And for a while it was the only thing that would sooth the rosacea on my cheeks. Then my rosacea was doing really great and I moved onto other serums and products. Recently I tried a retinol cream that really tore up my skin, broke me out like crazy and really inflamed my rosacea again. I tried a few combos of other serums and then decided to reach for my good old Dr. Jart's. It did the trick. My skin breaths a sigh of relief when I put it on. It's a bit pricy, but I'll be stocking up on this stuff for sure.

6. balance Me. Wonder Eye Cream

I love this stuff. It's not oily, it doesn't irritate my eyes. When I don't use it, and I try something else, the skin around my eyes feels dry and tight. This eye cream is the real deal and I love using it. Not sure what else to say.

Music Favorite: Stu Larsen's "13 Sad Farewells"

I can't get this song out of my head. It's on my spotify list, on my Itunes and in my heart. Okay, a little drama much. Stu is Norwegian (I believe), and I love his sound. If you're looking for a place to start in getting to know his sound a little better, than do yourself a favor and check out "13 Sad Farewells".

Pop Culture Favorite: Teen Wolf

It's my dirty little secret, but I've got to add it to the list anyway. This TV show truly is one of my favorites. August saw some serious action on Teen Wolf. The writing is tight, the acting is decent and I love the genre. 

Youtube Favorite: Samantha Schuerman

Sam has been one of my favorite Youtubers ever since I started watching Youtube. I follow her beauty, mommy and vlog channels. If I don't see Sam on any given day, then I feel like I've missed something near and dear to me. Her makeup and beauty videos are spot on, her mommy videos are informational and her family's vlogs are a mainstay in my Youtube viewing. Highly recommend.

Life Favorite: My Day Timer Planner

This may sound crazy, but I am a rampant stationary addict. Pens, paper, and especially...planners. I go all out and decorate it with stickers, washi tape, and I make my own laminated dividers. Basically my planner is my external brain and a sure fire way to keep my stress levels down. I couldn't live without it, and for the month of August when life turned chaotic with back-to-school, etc., it was truly a joy to have.

That's it for me this month. I hope you enjoyed, and maybe found a thing or two to be your next favorite thing.

You may have noticed that I haven't posted a "Five Things Friday" post in a while. I've decided to trade a monthly favorites post for the weekly ones. Weekly favorites was getting a little expensive to sustain. Hope you understand!

Thanks for your time! 

XoxoX

My Husband's Top Choice for a Coffee Roaster

Home Roasting/Drum Roasting Starter Kit from Sweet Maria's

I mentioned to my husband that a friend was looking for a coffee roaster, to start roasting their own beans. Shaun looked around (he really loves comparing and contrasting products). This is his pick, if we had the money, to start with.  

This kit includes:

• A Behmor 1600 Drum Coffee Roaster
• 8 Pound Green Coffee Sampler (Your choice of regular, decaf or beans suitable for espresso.)
• Ten 8oz valve bags for storing your roasted coffee
• Sweet Maria's Roast Log

The Behmor 1600 Drum Coffee Roaster is his pick for the best roaster on the market for home use. And this kit is only $6 more than just the roaster and comes with 8lbs of coffee beans.

Total win. I hope this helps someone out there looking around for a good place to start.

My New Favorite Hair Treatment

Brought to you by Marc Anthony...

Here's a link to the product page on Ulta.com, so you can read the ingredients, claims, reviews, etc. for yourselves:

Linkypoo

"Marc Anthony Hydrating Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Treatment is ultra-lightweight & non-greasy. It instantly transforms parched, dry, damaged hair into soft, supple, shiny silk. Coconut Oil and Shea Butter restore, protect, revive shine and enrich color. Biotin deeply penetrates to fortify, nourish and supercharge healthier, faster growth. Repairs damage and split ends and leaves hair healthy, hydrated and frizz free. Color safe."

I bought the smaller size of this hair treatment for $2.99, thinking that even if I didn't love it I wasn't out a fortune. And it has honestly become my holy grail hair mask. Whenever I use this product, which has been once a week for me, my hair comes away smelling amazing, and feeling like silk. It's one of those times when I actually stop and make people pet my hair, that's how good this stuff is.

Right now on Ulta (as of July 22, 2014) there's a sale on the Marc Anthony line including this treatment. You can buy one, get one half off. I'll probably stock up. And this is also a great chance for me to try out the shampoo and conditioner from this line without spending much money. I should warn you, however, that I'm not sure how long this sale will last.

This is one product I can get behind. Grade? A+

Five Things Friday 12-27-13

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm so sorry this post is going up late. We're far from home and the holidays are crazy with three kiddos, so I'm a little slow. Having said that, I've got my five favorite things about Christmas and also my five favorite beauty things from this week. Let's begin...

Five Favorite Things About Christmas:
1. Family Time

It is a rare occasion in our family where we all still get together. Funerals, weddings, and ...Christmas. Not only do we get to see old faces and catch up on what's new, those of us with kids finally get a temporary reprieve from constant kid-watching because of the extra sets of eyes around. It tickles me heart knowing we're laying down new memories for the kiddos and starting new traditions in the process.

2. Christmas Cookies

I have a wicked sweet tooth. Baked sweet goods are especially delicious. Christmas is the perfect excuse to bake every cookie recipe known to man, and the best part? Then we get to eat them.

3. Amazing Food

The same idea as the cookies... Christmas gives us the best excuse to buy and serve the best cuts of meat and to prepare the family recipes passed down for generations that our new culturally-dictated low-carb, low-sugar, low-fat, blah blah blah ad nauseum diets dictate we avoid.

4. White Christmas

Some people associate Christmas with football games, old war movies or Lawrence Welk. Me? Christmas isn't finished until I've watched Irving Berlin's "White Christmas". Bing Crosby has got to have the best voice in the history of men.

5. Ugly Christmas Sweaters

One person's ugly sweater is another's festive cheer. I love those knitted vests and sweaters ariot with color and depicting Christmas scenes. Try wearing one any other day than Christmas and they'd have me committed. But Christmas? Break out the poppers and cliche wardrobe.

Five Favorite Beauty Things:
1. Boots No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser

This isn't like Eve Lom or Liz Earle. There's no essential oil scent and the cleanser is more foamy than the others. But there is something deliciously creamy and soothing about this hot cloth cleanser. It's advertised as a facial every night. And they aren't wrong. I feel my pores being cleansed. And even though the cleanser is foamy, it doesn't dry out my skin. I can only describe the experience as luxurious. The muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser is larger than the others that I've used and does a good job. I call it a muslin cloth, but it's more like cheese cloth. I'm not sure how else to describe it. 

2. Boots No7 Hydrating Mask

Tis the season for dry skin and flaky lips. Ugh. I've been looking for a hydrating mask, something other than a DIY honey mask. My local Target has started carrying the No7 product line and this mask looked amazing. Merry Christmas, me! I put it on and left it on for the full 10 minutes, although they say only 3 will do. The first day of our trip, my skin was feeling crispy. A slathering of this stuff and it's been hydrated heaven ever since.

3. Nyx Mega Shine Lip Gloss - Sugar Pie

EmilyNoel on Youtube mentioned these mega shine lip glosses in her 'Favorite Products from NYX' recently. I've loved (alright, obsessed over!) my lip butters this winter. So why not try the mega shine? I'll admit, at first I was hesitant. This stuff looks like a frost-fest. And I'm too old, and too over the 90s to want to sport frosty lips these days. I was pleased to see that on the lips this mega shine gloss isn't frosty, but instead gives my lips a healthy, nourished look. I love the Sugar Pie color in particular, it's a gorgeous shiny nude color.

4. Banjees Wrist Wallet

What is it? It's a spandex wristband you wear on your wrist. It's big enough to hold a cell phone, money, my mega shine lip gloss and even my Canon Elph 330 camera. Why do I love it so much? It's spandex, so it breathes and doesn't make my arm sweaty. I'm wearing a lot of leggings and doing a lot of walking lately = no pockets. I can wear this on my wrist and carry with me a house key, an ipod, a phone and always a lip gloss. It's my newest favorite thing.

5. Maybelline's Rocket Mascara

Melissa Raymond on Youtube has declared this her favorite mascara repeatedly. I was in the market for a new mascara and thought I'd give it a try. This stuff lengthens, it volumizes, it's opaque and pigmented and I truly love it. Thanks Melissa!

That's it for this week. I hope you've been blessed with peace, joy and many smiles this Christmas.

Thank you for your time, and stay beYOUtiful!

- Becky xoxox

Birchbox: December 2013

This month's Birchbox was disappointing at best. If you're considering subscribing to this service, take a look at the contents of my box and decide for yourself if it's worth the $10 or not. So much for the sparkle, the shine, and the season of giving. In my book - a hair tie and two travel-sized wipes (I've already been given in another Birchbox) is strike one. Two more boxes like this and I'm out of here.

No new favorite things for me this month. Read on for my thoughts on the products I received in December's box.

Beauty Protector: Protect & Detangle

My favorite thing about this detangler is the smell. It's clean and familiar, I really like it. As for performance, this product works just fine. But so do other less expensive detanglers. It leaves a coating on the hair that makes my hair look stringy by day two. Not something I'd repurchase.

The Honest Company Winter Wellness Exclusive Kit: Healing Balm

The ingredients list for this healing balm is awesome. It's chock full of essential oils that I know have amazing healing properties. The consistency, however, is exactly like lanolin. That stuff they get from sheeps' wool and women put on their nipples after breastfeeding to prevent cracking? I had to put it on my cuticles and rub it in for half an hour and then put on lotion and rub some more to get it to soak in. Who's got that kind of time? Not practical, not something I would repurchase.

LA FRESH: Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes

This is the second time I've received these wipes as a sample in my Birchbox. I wasn't impressed then, I'm not impressed now. They take off makeup. So do a dozen other makeup removing wipes, at a fraction of the cost. Don't insult me with this fluff, Birchbox.

twistband: Hairband

And to top it off they throw in a hair tie and call it a day. Seriously? You can buy these things for $2 from Sephora. They don't even stay in well. I can't wear them when I hike, workout or run. You wasted an entire sample slot on one hair tie?

LAQA & CO Fat Lip Pencil: Ring of Fire

I just didn't like this product. It wasn't opaque, the formula was greasy and bled, and the color was a bright red. Which doesn't look good coming from a lip balm-esque product in stick form. Not something I would repurchase.

Ipsy: December 2013

December was another great month for Ipsy. There were brands I knew, and brands I didn't. There was only one product that didn't knock my socks off, and even that I think I can make work. Versus the other subscription service that I have, Ipsy is winning the competition by a mile.

The December Bag

A beautiful glossy black textured bag with a bright red liner. This makeup bag is the perfect size for any purse and conveys class and refinement. Love the sassy splash of color inside. 

Pop Beauty: Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio - Naturally Bare

I wasn't sure about this little trio the first time I saw it. All of the shades are shimmer, and I always use a matte in the crease. I gave these shadows a whirl and have put together a few really classic, really beautiful looks. In fact, I almost brought this trio with me for Christmas vacation as my sole eyeshadow pallet. In the end, the lack of a matte shade deterred my doing so. But the shadows are creamy, they blend well and the colors are timeless.

Be A Bombshell: The One Stick - Flustered

This product is a fantastic, multipurpose idea. One product to do both your lips and cheeks. My only problem was the color. A little product goes a long way, the color is insanely pigmented and bright, and I'm still working to not look like I've just had a wild romp in the sack after I use it. 

Mirabella: Eye Blender Brush

I've never heard of Mirabella brushes before. But I was elated that Ipsy put a brush in my bag. Like most makeup junkies, I can never have enough brushes. This is a very soft, very effective blending brush. The handle is metal and long, and looks sleek. I'll be checking into other Mirabella brushes in the near future.

Nicka K. New York: Nail Color - Classic Taupe

Another brand I know nothing about. I was so excited to see the classic taupe shade in my bag. I've been on the market for the perfect taupe nail for this season, and getting this in my Ipsy bag just made the decision for me. I am pleasantly surprised by the quality of the polish. It goes on smooth, it's very opaque and one coat was enough for me. I've had it on my nails since Saturday with one coat of top coat in the interim and only minimal chipping. Very impressive.

NYX: Extra Creamy Round Lipstick - Iced Honey

This is the product I struggled with, not because of the lipstick itself but because of the color they sent me. Holy frosty lipstick, Batman! The shade I received is sheer in application, thankfully, so I can lay it over another color for a frosted effect that isn't late-90s looking. Tis the season, and all.

Five Things Friday 12-20-13

There are five days until Christmas and between now and then I have hours and hours of wrapping, cleaning, packing and driving to go. So much for a holiday vacation, right? Having three kids is inspiring on the one hand and down right exhausting on the other. I'm not complaining, but even when we get to my in-laws for the holiday, I'm still on duty washing dishes and keeping the kids from climbing the walls. Can't catch a break. I had a crazy busy week this week, just like most of us did. So I'll cut to the short and get on with the goodies so we can all get back to prepping for Santa.

1. Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush

Sigma has deftly proven it's a powerhouse in the consumer-level realm of beauty brushes. Their brushes are soft, well-made and do a phenomenal job. This is my latest and greatest, and has lifted my eye makeup looks to another, better level. If you have the right tools, it shows.

2. Nicka K New Your Nail Color in Classic Taupe

This came in this month's IPSY bag (overview and review coming shortly), and I was immediately in love with the color. I have no browns or taupes in my collection. I'm not sure why, I've been meaning to buy some for a while. The color is perfect for this time of year. I tried on this polish with no top coat, and it took three days for it to chip. For me - the mother, the dishwasher, the laundress, the floor scrubber and consumate daily hiker - that's impressive. I'll look into the rest of their line before my IPSY discount code expires and probably purchase a few more colors.

3. POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio: Naturally Bare

This was another score from this month's IPSY bag, and I'll be honest, I didn't hold out much hope for quality shadows. The packaging, to me, looks juvenile and cheap. That, and all three shadows are shimmery. I'm not a big fan of shimmery shades in my crease or under my brow. I did a look with these shadows and used Latte from Makeup Geek in the crease and it pulled together nicely. The shadows were creamy, pigmented, blended well and they lasted the entire day. I've used then since with a few of my other pallets with no problems blending and am thinking about bringing just this trio to my in-law's house for Christmas vacation.

4. Scotch Tape for Manicures

I would like to thank DailyBeautyReviews.com for the use of their image.

I have tried tape manis before with horrible results. So I did some research into the best tapes and techniques to  make it work, and am elated with the results. Some folks might be over the whole designer nail trend. I am not one of them. My greatest joy is putting together a unique and classy artistic look on my nails. And the best way to do anything from a french mani to something more complicated and colorful is - scotch tape. The best advice for anyone interested in trying? You HAVE to let the bottom coat of polish dry completely before taping. Run the tape across the back of your hand twice before putting it on the nail. And pull it off quickly while your upper coat of polish is still wet. Nail polish designer, eye shadow and winged liner guide - what can't scotch tape do?

5. Pedometer

I'm in a nutrition and fitness program right now. It's an intensive 16-week course, and we're on week five. So far I've already lost 12 pounds and am so excited about everything I've learned. If you're curious I've been posting notes from my weekly lessons here on the blog. You can find them under the Health and Wellness label on the right hand side. This week we started easing into the fitness portion of the program, and as a result I have had my pedometer on me all day every day. I should name it. How about Buster? Buster goes where I go. My goal this week is to take more than 5,000 steps a day. And I'm doing it! I've been taking the kids hiking in the woods every day (which we all love) and it's made a huge difference not only on my step count but also on my energy level and physical endurance. A pedometer is inexpensive, and puts a whole day into perspective. Finally I'm feeling beautiful on the inside, and out.

So that's it for this week, friends. I hope you're all healthy and happy and claiming your right to be who you want to be. Nobody has the right to tell you that you have to be anything less than joyful and beautiful.

If we don't chat next week - please have the merriest of Christmas'. Stay safe, smile lots and stay beYOUtiful!

- Becky xoxox

Five Things Friday 12-13-13

Welcome back, darlin, to another weekly installment of Five Things Friday. It's the most magical time of the year! I was just telling my kiddos that I wish there was a Christmas every month. Not because of the presents, but because everyone is so bright and loving and we get to spend extra time together as a family. Not much going on here besides the usual hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping and packing for trips. Onto the fun stuff...

1. Revlon 'Cherries in the Snow' Nail Polish

I've taken a break from artistic manicures for a few days this week, and instead I've been rocking this cool-toned red nail. I've had the polish for at least a year and was worried the formula would be goopy or dried out. Not at all, it went on as smooth as the day I bought it and has lasted for four days without chipping. Amazing, and the perfect color for the holidays. I'm going to do a gold metallic tip on it tomorrow and see how it looks. If I like it, I'll add it to our Mani Monday lineup.

2. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

I hate feeling like I'm being cliche when I include this in my list. It's brand new and everyone is going nuts about it. I ordered mine from Sephora and have been playing with it ever since. It's on the list because I'm loving the rose-toned color palette on my face. It's just the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship.

3. Dr. Jarts Premium BB Cream

I haven't met a Dr. Jart's product that I haven't loved. Birchbox was selling a sampler set of all four of the Dr. Jart BB creams for the same price I'd pay for one of them. So I've tried them all out and the premium variety is definitely my favorite. It goes on smooth, evens my skin tone, hydrates my skin and gives me a healthy inner-lit glow. What else could I ask for? I will say that the coverage is pretty sheer. There's enough pigmentation to balance the look of my skin, but that's it. And there are plenty of days when I'll choose health and vita-goodies for my skin over full coverage.

4. Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner

I have a drawer full of eyeliners, but when it comes time for me to line my water line, I reach for Rimmel's Scandaleyes every time. They're hugely pigmented, the formula is creamy and they last a long time. Slowly but surely I'm acquiring every color in the line.

5. Home Roasted Coffee

For a long time I was exclusively drinking tea. We have roasted our own coffee beans for a long time, and I knew they were good, but I just had a hankering for tea. And then I started craving the deep carmely richness of a good cup of coffee. I drink upward of 2 cups a day. Our favorite beans are the Yergacheffe and the Columbian. If you have never roasted your own beans, do yourself a favor and try it. It makes Starbucks laughable. I never knew coffee tasted like fruit and flowers, chocolate and caramel until I roasted and brewed a fresh cup on my own.

Bonus: Customized and Free Santa Video for Your Kids

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/home  I found this site last year and made a video for my twin boys. This year a friend reminded me of it and I made videos for all three kids. We've watched them all twice. It's magical, and the kids wave and answer Santa. If you have children, do them a favor and check out this site. The videos are worth the five minutes it takes to set up, and then some.

That's it for me this week. I hope you found a few new favorite things of your own. I'd love to hear what some of your are loving. Feel free to share your wares in the comments below.

We're coming up on Christmas, and my family will be travelling for most of the holidays. If my posts are irregular, please accept my apology and understand that internet access isn't always going to be possible. I hope each and every one of you has a bright, blessed and safe Christmas. We'll chat again before the new year.

Thank you for your time, and stay beYOUtiful! 

- Becky xoxox

DDF Amplifying Elixir - Warning!

I'm not going to rant and rave and complain about this product. There is a warning right on the box that says, "If irritation occurs, discontinue use." I've done some research online and clearly there are a number of people who react to this stuff or a label wouldn't be necessary. I'm merely posting this here to share my experience with you and possibly caution you from spending nearly $100 on a product that may not work for you. Get a sample first!

I started using this elixir on my face day and night, as instructed on the label, after washing but before moisturizing. Right away it tingled, but I assumed that was normal. Over the course of four or five days, my skin grew increasingly sensitive. Even my regular, ordinarily quite soothing, moisturizer started to sting. Then six days after I started using this elixir I woke up and my face was peeling. Not like a sunburn peel, more like a retinol peel. All over my entire face in little flaky pieces my skin was peeling. 

I went into panic mode and did three days of exfoliating and deep hydrating treatments before the peeling went away. This product was the only thing new in my lineup, so I quit using it immediately and started researching. 

One of the ingredients is niacinamide, a known irritant to a number of people. The funny thing is that niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is usually ingested. So it's interesting that they have it as a topical ingredient. I'm not a chemist, so I digress. My best guess is that I am mildly allergic to this ingredient's derivative when used topically, as are a number of other people, and it led to irritation and peeling. So much for their claims of "strengthening the skin's moisture barrier." 

I've included the product info for this elixir exactly as it's written on the Sephora site in case others are curious. Basically it's intended to enhance the performance of the other beauty products in your regime. I can understand the usefulness of such a product and am disappointed that this product and my skin are not compatible.

As I've already stated, I'm posting this merely as a caution for other people to try a sample before spending so much money on this elixir.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION FROM SEPHORA'S SITE:

What it is:
An antiaging treatment formulated to improve hydration and boost the effectiveness of other skincare products. 

What it is formulated to do:
Clinical studies have shown that DDF's Amplifying Elixir strengthens skin's moisture barrier by up to 50-percent, transforming skin's appearance for lasting change. It also enhances the effectiveness of routines from the three top professional skincare brands. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
This product contains a potent blend of three botanical extracts, including banyan tree, lotus flower, and red clover extracts. Another ingredient, niacinamide, has been proven to strengthen skin's moisture barrier.

1.7 oz

Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ficus Indica Flower/Leaf/Stem/Juice, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Serine, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Threonine, Proline, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkylacrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 10, Sodium Metabisulfite, Allantoin, Methylparaben, Betaine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Disodium Edta, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylparaben, Sodium Pca, Xanthan Gum.

Five Things Friday 12-6-13

I'm sure life is the same frenzy of holiday shopping and party planning for everyone this time of year. No matter how many lists we make for gifts and such, every year seems to spin into the same ole "is it enough?" My husband and I started our Christmas shopping for the kids with the guidelines: "Something they want. Something they need. Something they wear. Something they read." Today while we were chatting on the phone he asked if I thought we had a good out-of-the-box-under-the-tree gift for each kid. And I knew we'd spiraled into chaos. Then the UPS man showed up. Good Lord, we need a bigger boat. When did Christmas become about the gifts? Don't get me wrong, I love a pressie as much as the next gal, but I just feel bad teaching the kids to expect a trove of new toys every year at this time. Maybe I'll have them go through the toys they already have and clean up the good ones and donate them to a charity. Anyone have any suggestions?

Enough about Christmas, let's get to the good stuff. This week's five favorite things. I should warn you that the middle two are from the same brand. I would normally try to avoid doing this, but I found myself blown away and reaching for both of those products repeatedly this week. I like to give an honest review, so they're both on the list.

1. Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat

I perpetually have a manicure on my nails. I try to do at least three different nail looks a week for the blog just to stay ahead of the mani-monday curve. I've tried top coats by Sally Hanson, by OPI, by Revlon ...you name it. Repeatedly in the forums I heard about the Seche Vite brand but never had an opportunity to try it. Until now. And let me tell you, it's the real deal. It dries to the touch within a minute. It completely dries and hardens within 15 to 30 minutes depending on the mani. I've read some reviews about polishes shrinking on the nail when you use Seche Vite, but have never experienced it myself. The glossy sheen is rich and saturated. And the most important part? This stuff holds up under pressure. I have three kids, a dog, two cats and a busy husband. I'm constantly doing dishes, or laundry or housework or playing in the snow or hiking on trails. And Seche Vite holds up from day to day to day (I apply a fresh coat every morning, just for full disclosure. I do this with any manicure I want to preserve, no matter what brand top coat I'm using.). I bought a bottle and a 4 oz. refill as a package on Amazon. And I'm glad I did. 

Addendum: I wanted to amend this review. I've been using this top coat for a lot longer and have had some interesting experiences with it. With other top coats, I would put a fresh coat of top coat on my manicures every day in order to prevent chipping. Doing so never complicated the manicure in any way and I could keep a nice coat of polish on for five days or more. I can't do that with the Seche Vite. It will keep my nails from chipping for three to four days with only one coat. If I put a fresh coat on every day it will start to dry out and pull up the polish from the cuticle end of my nails. I'm wondering if this is what people are referring to when they say this stuff "shrinks their polish". 

The good news is that this top coat only needs one coat to last for days. What I've found, is that if I need to add a top coat after that to maintain the look, I just use a different brand and don't have the polish pulling up problem. I'll try to get a picture of it if it happens again, it's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. But now that I know how to work around it, and what not to do, and what to expect ...not a big deal. And this top coat continues to be my favorite quick dry.

2. Guerlain Lingerie de Peau

Hands down the smoothest foundation I've ever applied. It goes on like silk, seamlessly, with a beautiful medium coverage. It makes my skin look healthy, vibrant and just a little dewy (not at all greasy looking). The first time I put some on I literally sighed. It was a revelation in foundations for me. The only downer? This foundation has very little lasting power. It's phenomenal if you have a date, or a meeting or a short party. But don't expect it to last all day. Having said that, I still love it. The formula is gorgeous and my skin tone was an easy match. 

3. Jane Eye Primer

Samantha Schuerman did a review of the Jane Cosmetics line after it's relaunch and said so many good things about this primer that I had to try it. The reviews for it on Ulta.com were stellar as well, and I was fortunate to pick up a few pieces from their line during a 'Buy one, Get one 1/2 off' deal. I will hands down say that this is the best eye primer I've used to date. I like it even more than the Urban Decay Potion Primer. It goes on a little liquidy but sets up quickly into a clean tacky base. I have zero creasing with any shadows I've tried and the lasting power is phenomenal. I sent Sam a message on Facebook one day thanking her for the recommend, 16 hours after I'd applied my makeup. My eyeshadow? As bright and crisp as it was in the morning. A-mazing.

4. Jane Cream Eye Shadows

The Jane cream eyeshadows was another thing Sam said to absolutely buy. I looked at a few photos of swatches online and then went for it. I have the bronze, the silver, the copper and a sea green color. I've worn all three, and am blown away. These shadows are pigmented like crazy. You use the doe-foot applicator that comes with the shadow and pad on the cream. Give it a minute to set up and then spend the rest of the day being blown away every time you cross paths with a mirror. I wore the copper color yesterday (I have blue eyes) and caught my husband staring at me over and over again with the cutest expression. These creams are a win, plain and simple.

5. Julep Cuticle Oil/Sweet Almond Oil

In blow the winter winds and suddenly my cuticles are cracking. It's a side effect of being a hard-working momma. If you've ever had a cracked cuticle, you know how darned painful and debilitating they are. Now I keep my Julep cuticle oil beside my bed and every night I roll on the oils, rub them in, top it off with some hand lotion and go to sleep. Goodbye nasty dried winter fingers. In case you don't have any cuticle oil from Julep, I've heard that the best cuticle oil is actually simple Sweet Almond Oil. You can buy it in a myriad of places, including Amazon. While I haven't tried it yet myself I thought the price point difference between the two products warranted a mention for both. 

That's it for this week. I hope you enjoyed, maybe found your next favorite thing or two and are enjoying this festive season. Stay safe, stay beYOUtiful and thank you for your time! 

- Becky xoxox