Birthday Goodies

Last Friday was my 28th birthday. I usually blow up my birthdays, but this one was a little different - my parents visited and I took it fairly easy. It's been years since I spent a birthday with my parents. We had dinner and drinks at El Naranjo on Rainey Street here in Austin. If you've never been, I recommend it if you're looking for yummy drinks and really fantastic dessert - their tres leches cake made my night.

While celebrations were light (but wonderful), I definitely indulged and let myself be treated to beauty goodies from Andres, from myself, from my mom, from anyone that knows me and knows my sweet spot. Andres treated me to a Sephora shopping spree. He tagged along on my trip, patiently carried my Sephora basket and even got excited over different shades of concealer I had a Sephora color specialist try out on me. He's the best.

There was also a TJ Maxx beauty haul, a Lush Cosmetics Haul and a couple other treats here and there. Those are coming!

For now, a list below of my Sephora haul with mini-reviews and first thoughts.

• Too Faced Everything Nice Holiday 2014 Palette - I had been eyeing this since its debut. I swatched all the colors at the store and knew I had to own it. Funny story - I initially walked out of Sephora on my birthday with the Urban Decay Vice 3 palette because I wanted fun colors. I came back a day later after realizing the Vice shadows weren't as pigmented as I expected. If you own any of the Naked palettes and are expecting the Vice to apply with the same pigmentation or smoothness, you might be disappointed. I went back to Sephora and went with my original plan - I should have listened to my gut. I used this for the first time today and it's incredible. The color payoff is so intense. I applied about half my shadow with my fingers and used the tiniest amount and that alone was enough for really good results. I'll do another post on this later with more details, swatches, a couple looks.
• This palette comes with 20 of Too Faced's best-selling shadows, including a gorgeous, happy purple (Live it Up) that stole my heart. This also comes with the Chocolate Soleil bronzer, an exclusive highlighter that's GORGEOUS (Inner Light) and two blushes. I've always loved Too Faced's blushes. 
• It all comes in an adorable, hot pink, glitter case (you had me at hot pink and glitter), and also includes Too Faced's new (and super coveted) Better-Than-Sex Mascara, which I've yet to use. I'll let you know how that one works out. I'm so excited!  
• Too Faced Lip Insurance - My go-to, holy grail, tried and true, must-have primer. This primer is awesome. It will make any drug store lipstick last hours and hours. I posted about this one in my Top 5 Must-Haves post where you can read a little more about it. I was running low on my current tube, so had to stock up. 
• Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow - This is another one that I went back for after my original trip. I first purchased in Something About Berry. After swatching on my hand in the store, the highlight factor seemed high, but when I used on my cheeks I just wasn't sold. The Candy Glow (again, I should have gone with my original instinct) really gives a dewy, highlighted but still flushed finish. I love it. It looks great on, it looks like candy in the container and makes my makeup station that much cuter.
• Benefit Lemon Aid - This is the third product I picked up on my second trip. I originally picked up the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger and had a very negative reaction to it. Within a day, I had broken out under my eyes on the same exact spot on both the left and right sides of my nose (I like to highlight using the triangle). I hate to give products negative reviews because I know what works for me may not for you and vice versa, but my skin really has never reacted so quickly to anything. I think the creamy factor was a little too creamy. The Sephora color specialist also told me this was supposed to be hydrating and I did feel it to be a little dry and a little too matte for my taste. I went back and bought the Lemon Aid. I love a really brightened look under my eyes and I was sold on the Lemon Aid because it's apparently what Kim Kardashian uses to highlight and conceal. And anything she's using on her face is fine by me. This product is actually a highlighter for redness on eyelids, but works great as a concealer and highlighter on any other area of the face. I have issue with redness, so it's going definitely going to me multi-use for me.
• Bobby Brown BB Cream SPF 35 in Natural - I'm currently using Lorac CC Cream for my daily work look, and LOVE IT, but still wanted to give another BB or CC product a try. Bobbi Brown's products are very skincare-focused and I love the SPF 35. It has a  light-to-medium coverage which is working for me now - my skin has really improved and is requiring less coverage these days, so this is sufficient for daily use. I love the finish, it's light and seems to work well with my skin. I feel glowy even hours after having applied. The finish isn't dewy, but my skin is definitely more radiant and has a healthier glow the times I have used it.
• Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - My anti-aging BFF. The truth serum boost collagen production in skin and has a ton of Vitamin C - the fountain of youth. This stuff is liquid gold. I've used for almost a year on and off and see a difference in my skin tone and surface texture when I'm using it. I will have this in my arsenal forever.
• Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask -  A product I cannot be without. This mask is great for weekly, or even bi-weekly use. It gets a great deep clean and really calms my skin. I'm running low on my current tube so had to stock up here, as well. This is a classic and has a really big following.
• First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser - I cannot say enough great things about FAB. I've never owned so many products from one line at the same time. They are literally taking over my bathroom. I was previously using the FAB Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with red clay, and wanted to give another FAB cleanser a run. I'm loving this so far - it's extra gentle. The Skin Rescue Cleanser is gentle, but the regular Face Cleanser has a different finish on the skin. My skin always feels very moisturized, but never oily after using this. I also noticed that even after rinsing my face, this one leaves what feels like a film of moisture on my face. I am still getting used to this, but don't see any negative side effects like breakouts or oil buildup. I'm seeing it as a plus. 
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish - I have used two other products from the Facial Radiance line (Facial Radiance Serum and Facial Radiance Pads) which just blow my mind. I can see these working. The second I use either I see the transformation happen on my skin. I use these anytime I have a special event. I wanted to add a product to my Radiance arsenal and decided to give this a try. I've used twice and am more and more in love with this line.