Category: favorites

My Monthly Favorites | August Favorites

It’s that time to go through my favorites for the month of August.

La Croix Sparkling Water in Passionfruit is my favorite go to drink (besides the gallons of coffee).  I have never been a big water drinker so in order to incorporate more water into my routine, I started drinking flavored sparkling water. After testing all the brands and flavors out, Passionfruit by La Croix is definitely my favorite of the bunch.  Its light and refreshing and since its carbonated I am tricking myself into thinking its soda (with no calories). La Croix is available in most grocery retailers, target and online at amazon. Thank you Amy for introducing me.

Carli Bybel Pallet from BH Cosmetics has just the right combination of mattes and shimmers and of course my favorite a variety of neutrals for everyday wear.  I had been on the hunt to find a replacement for my Stila The Natural palette since its discontinued even though I LOVE IT.  A few of my favorite colors are close dupes in the Carli Bybel palette. The best part of all is the low price. You get 14 eyeshadows and 4 highlight colors for only $14.50.

Mac Paintpot in Painterly has been my go-to eyeshadow base for as long as I can remember. Its the perfect shade to cover any veins and prep my eyes for any type of shadow. On my no-makeup (who am I kidding, minimal makeup) days, I typically will just use this with some mascara and be good to go.

Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Sunkissed is the perfect summer glow especially for light skin tones. I am able to give my skin some color without hours in the sun. I find it layers well over my foundation and provides an even application. The packaging is compact and sturdy as well perfect to through in my travel bag.

Colourpop Lippie Stix in Oh-Snap is the PERFECT nude.  These lippie stix are long wearing without being drying to the lips. I throw this on over my lip mask and its the perfect sweep of pinky nude or I can layer it over my NYX mauve lip pencil for a deeper color.  I love wearing my lippie stix over most of my liquid lipsticks.

Have you tried and loved these products lately?

** Make sure to use eBates for cash back at BH Cosmetics and Mac.

My 5 FAVORITE Bronsers

Kat Von D Shade + Light Face Contour Pallet

This is THE BEST contour bronzing pallet on the market right now.  With the 3 shades of warm, neutral, and cool tones, its perfect for any skin tone. I can warm up my face with a wash of color or chisel my cheek bones for a more structured look. Perfect for traveling and 100% cruelty  free.

Retail cost $46.00

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural 1

I found this wonderful bronzer by accident while scanning the Sephora page. This is a wonderful neutral bronzer that works really well with my skin.  It gives great coverage and is easy to blend.

Retail cost $42

Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer

This is my go-to bronzer. I always know that no matter what my skin is doing or what foundation I have use, this bronzer will always look good.  It is the perfect combination of sun kiss glow without being too grey (cool) toned.

Retail cost $29.00

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

If you are not a fan of scents, this isn’t the bronzer for you but to me, this makes me feel like I am on a tropical island with an umbrella drink relaxing the afternoon away….when in reality, I am probably working my butt off in an office. This is a very lightweight bronzer you can build up. Better for lighter skin tones.

Retail cost $14.95

NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium

For being this cheapest of my favorites, this is probably the one one I pick up 2nd. I own 3 different shades depending on my tan and love this both to contour and bronze my face up. It blends perfectly and I never feel orange even though it is a warm bronzer. I find this is one of the best to use for a nose contour.

Retail cost $9.00

My Monthly Favorites | July Favorites

In July, I tried tons of products but I really haven’t been able to say whether or not a lot were my favorites yet so I have been relying on some oldies but goodies.

L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte in Shell Beige – This is one of my all time favorite foundations and ultimately when my skin is acting up I turn to this as I find it doesn’t clog my pours, gives me full coverage with a matte finish, and I always know I can count on it to look fabulous. You can find it at your local drug store or Ulta. Retail cost $12.99

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural – I haven’t been doing a lot of contouring lately but have wanted to bronze up my face for summer and this wonderful bronzing powder has been really working with my skin tone. You can do additional contouring with it as well since it doesn’t have shimmer as well. Retail cost $42

Ardency Inn Modster Smooth Ride Supercharged Liner in Black – This is the BEST and only eye pencil I have found that stays on my water line. I like to tight line daily and this is the only pencil that holds for an extended period of time.  Retail cost $20

Estee Lauder Estee Edit Pore Vanishing Stick – I have never found a primer or pore minimizer that not only works well but also works with my skin.  Most pore minimizers tend to clog my pores and break me out.  This wonderful “wonder stick” has been the best thing I have ever found.  It doesn’t break me out and actually reduces the size of my pores.  It does not help with mattifying, smoothing, or longevity of my foundation but because my foundation works well in those aspects, this stick works so well for me. Retail cost $28

Bath & Body Works 3 Wick Candle in Mango Coconut Cooler – I am a candle junkie. I buy them from everywhere and anywhere as long as they smell good.  I find the Bath & Body Works 3-Wick candles are the best.  They burn evenly and continually give off scent without over powering you.  My favorite scent right now is the Mango Coconut Cooler.  Perfect for summer and keeps me refreshed all day.  Retail cost $22.50 but they have sales all the time so wait until a sale pops up.

What have been your monthly favorites that I can try?

#FridayFavorites GIVEAWAY – National Lipstick Day

In honor on National Lipstick Day, I am starting #FridayFavorites #Giveaway with some lippies.

Here are the rules:

  1. Follow me on IG at @MyPenNamedJane
  2. Like this photo
  3. Repost this photo on IG using #WeLoveLippies
  4. Comment on the IG photo and tag 2 friends.
EXTRA: For my #BlogLoves only, if you comment on this post, you will be entered a 2nd time doubling your chances to win.

Giveaway ends Saturday July 30 at 5pm CT. Giveaway is for US Only.

All products are brand new, purchased by me, not sponsored. Winners will be DM’d directly on IG. Make sure your IG is public.

No giveaway accounts/fake accounts will be counted.

Products to be given: Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in 01 My Pink, NYX Cosmetics Lip Liner in Mauve, Urban Decay Lipstick in Liar, Buxom Full On Lip Cream in Dolly, and Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in Dolce K.