MAKEUP DE-CLUTTER WEEK #2 : BLUSH

 Hey guys!

It’s time for week #2 of my makeup de-clutter series, and this week I’m getting rid of….BLUSHES!

I honestly didn’t think I had that many, so when I was decided what to de-clutter next, I thought “ya know, I’m kinda tired this week, I’ll do something easy; like blushes maybe!”.

What. A. Tool. ‘Cuz this was harder than I thought.

In this series, I’ll walk you through what I’m keeping, what I’m tossing or giving away, and why – however, with things like mascara for example, if I’m not keeping them, they’re going in the trash, for very obvious, sanitary reasons.

So let’s get started!

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MY BLUSH COLLECTION

 

So….clearly, I have too much blush. No one needs this much blush….but I like to have options, what can I say? However, I know that there are many that I just don’t reach for anymore.

Let’s see what I decided to toss!

 

Top Row:

Physician’s Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush in Natural – I actually really love this, and the packaging is adorable, but honestly, I never reach for it. So it’s time to pass it on.
Rimmel Match Perfection Blush in Light/Medium – That light pink shade on the right (which looks darker than it really is) makes the overall result too light, even on my fair skin. Out it goes. 
L’Oreal Visible Lift Color Lift Blush in Peach Gold Lift  – This blush has noticeable shimmer in it, which only accentuates the large pores on my cheeks. Buh-bye! 
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake – I had a bunch of these that I recently gave to my stepdaughter, but I kept this one because i like the shade. I just don’t use it. Time to pass it along. 

Middle Row:

Physician’s Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Blush in Natural – I really like this blush, but it always seems to get lost in my collection. Time to give it to someone who can really appreciate it.
Milani Baked Blush in Corallina – The color is absolutely beautiful, but it’s got noticeable glitter in it, which frankly, drives me nuts. Gone.
Revlon Cream Blush in Pinched & Flushed – I have four of these, however Pinched does nothing on my skin; it’s just too light. Flushed is a pretty fuchsia shade, but on my fair skin it’s not that flattering; it would look great on someone with light/medium to medium skin or deeper.

Bottow Row:

NYX Powder Blush in Peach & Pinched – Both absolutely beautiful, but I have similar shades in a blush palette that I’ll get to in a minute, and I just don’t see the need for loose compacts floating around my drawer. 

 

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 Looking back, I probably should have tried harder to organize this into rows for the sake of explaining which is which, but these are labeled pretty damn clearly, so let’s talk about what I’m keeping!

Revlon Highlighting Palette in Rose Glow – Is it a blush, or is it a highlight? I like to use this on days where I want the look of both, but don’t have the time. So pretty! And so similar to the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick! 
L’Oreal Visible Lift Color Lift Blush in Nude Lift – This one has no visible shimmer in it, and it’s a pretty rosy/brown shade that is so wearable with minimal makeup or a full face!
Morphe Brushes 9B Blushed Blush Palette – This is the palette that I was talking about; nine beautiful shades in both matte and shimmer finishes, and I love this for freelance work, because there’s literally something for everyone! 
L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Blush in Soft Peach – This has the most beautiful finish; very natural, no shimmer, blurs my pores ever so slightly, and the packaging makes it easy to toss in my bag for touch-ups throughout the day; no brushes required!
Revlon Cream Blush in Coral Reef & Charmed – I kept these shades because they just seem so much more wearable on me. I love these under foundation, or on minimal makeup days when I just need that little bit of ‘oomph’! 
Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso (top) & Berry Amore (bottom) – Luminoso is a cult classic, so it goes without saying that I’m keeping this. Berry Amore is a berry shade with brown undertones and a touch of shimmer, but not overwhelmingly glittery shimmer, and I’d love to start using it more.
ULTA Sunkissed Blush/Highlight Duo – This actually came as a sample in a ‘gift with purchase’ bag last summer, and I am crazy in love with this shade. Its rosy and mauve-y and brown with a touch of shimmer, but it still looks very natural. The highlighter I could do without, as it’s more of a chalky white, glittery powder, but it’s alright on the eyes; literally, I don’t mind it as a shadow. 
NYX Powder Blush in Mocha – This is hardly a mocha shade; but it sure is pretty. Similar to Berry Amore, but totally matte. It stays. 

TOSS TOTAL : 10
KEEP TOTAL : 10

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I think that’s a decent result actually. Once again, this is another category that I didn’t realize I had so much of until I started going through it! I’m sure my friends will love digging through this stuff!

Have you guys ever done a makeup de-clutter? What kind of things did you toss or keep? Have you tried any of these blushes? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Come follow me around social media!
Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram : @dlynnesposito
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And feel free to reblog this post and share my social media with your friends! Your support means so much!

LOTS OF LOVE!!

REVIEW – MORPHE 35N PALETTE

 So if you read my last post, it was a review on the Morphe 35O palette – the one that everyone loses their mind over – and rightfully so! It’s an incredible palette! But everyone seems to forget that Morphe makes other palettes, as well!

Today I’m reviewing and swatching the Morphe 35N palette, which is a collection of 35 all matte shades, in a variety of neutral colors, ranging from skin-toned nudes, to browns, purples, oranges, and blacks.
This was actually my very first Morphe palette, and I found it on HauteLook at an absolute steal of $15! And Morphe rotates through HauteLook all the time, so if you’ve been thinking of ordering some palettes but are trying to be budget-concious at the same time, HauteLook is a great way! If you can’t grab it on HauteLook, it’s only $19.99 on morphebrushes.com.

I feel like the 35N doesn’t get the love that it should. Every girl needs a solid variety of matte shadows in her collection – they’re essential to any look. I mean, I’ve even filled in my brows and contoured with matte eyeshadows before! They’re so versatile!

Rather than repeat an entire review on the exact same formulation and packaging, I’ll link my previous review of the 35O palette here – but take a look at the swatches below!

 

  
  

Overall Rating : 5/5

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 This is a fantastic palette! I mean, swatches don’t lie! Some of the shades are a bit less pigmented than others, but to be fair, almost every shade in the first and second row are very close to my skin tone as it is (I’m an NC15 for reference), and if I could change one this, it would be to make the black shade in the bottom row more pigmented. It can be built up, but well…go big or go home, right?!

Have you guys tried this palette? What about other Morphe palettes? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know! I love to hear from you!

Come follow me around on social media!
Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram : @dlynnesposito
Facebook : Affordable Gorgeous
Snapchat : dlynnesposito

And feel free to reblog and share my social media with your friends! Your support means so much!

LOTS OF LOVE!!

REVIEW – L’OREAL INFALLIBE PRO-MATTE FOUNDATION

We’re edging ever closer to spring! And if you’re anything like me, maybe you’re skin is getting a little bit oilier. Or maybe you’ve been oily all along. Or even combination. No matter, you’re gonna wanna stick around today!

Today I’m reviewing the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation ($12.99/drugstores); I know, not necessarily a new product. But I bought this awhile back, and it kind of made it’s way to the back of my foundation drawer. The other day while I was looking for something that would not only combat my newfound oil-slick of a face, but some serious redness that had appeared seemingly overnight, I spotted this.

Here’s what L’Oreal has to say about it:

Achieve a matte finish that won’t fall flat with this air-light, longwearing liquid formula. Lightweight and creamy, foundation goes on smooth with a demi-matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours—hiding imperfections for a smooth, clear complexion.

So, is it really all that? Let’s find out!

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PACKAGING 

This foundation comes in a squeeze tube, which would probably fall second in my favorite delivery method for a foundation; obviously the first is a pump, both for sanitary reasons. It transparent black, twist off cap, and the tube itself shows the name printed on the front with a clear window in the center, allowing you to see the shade. And of course, you get the standard 1 fl. oz. of product.

FORMULA

This is neither a thick nor runny formula, but more somewhere in between. It is a water based foundation, and it comes in 12 shades ranging from super fair to deep. There seems to be, however, a leap between shades, in the sense that I find myself having to mix the two lightest shades (Classic Ivory 101 and Shell Beige 102) to get a proper match. Which isn’t a huge issue, as I typically have to mix foundations, but at $13 each, it’s basically the equivalent of going and buying a high end foundation. But the ever present sales at drugstores and ULTA make the need to mix hurt a little less, financially.

APPLICATION & WEAR

In terms of application, the tool is really up to you. I’ve applied it with both a damp sponge, and a brush, and either way I find it looks great. Of course with a sponge, you get a slightly more sheer application, but still a solid light-medium. When I applied it with a brush, which is a Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki, I first like to stipple it on, pressing it into the skin, and then blend it outward from the center of the face, buffing in circular motions. With a brush I can get a solid medium to almost full coverage. But either method you choose, the best part about this foundation is that, for the amount of coverage you can get from it, it still looks very natural on the skin. It’s like, your skin but better.

When it comes to wear, I’ve tried it on bare skin (with just my normal moisturizer) as well as a few different primers. Because it’s a demi-matte finish, and I still like to look a little dewy, I’ve found that using a pore minimizing primer in the center of my face and on my cheeks, like the Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer, and then a luminizing primer elsewhere like the L’Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer, really lends a beautiful, radiant yet smooth, natural finish to the skin.
The longevity of this foundation is what really astounds me, though. While it boasts up to 24 hours of wear, I don’t know anyone (certainly not me) who would wear their foundation for that long – but I’ve worn it upwards of 10 hours on my suddenly oily skin, and it stays put with no blotting or powdering. It doesn’t break apart, it doesn’t cling to dryness, and it doesn’t rub off easily in areas where I’m a known face-toucher (cheeks, jawline, temples, etc.) so color me impressed!

Overall rating : 4/5

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Well guys, I think it’s safe to say that this has crept it’s way into the top 3 most reached for drugstore foundations; dare I say I might even like it better than my beloved Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup! I wish they would make a line of concealers to go along with the line of foundations, powders, lip products, etc!

Have you guys tried it yet? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Come follow me around on social media!
Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram : @dlynnesposito
Facebook : Affordable Gorgeous
Snapchat : dlynnesposito

And feel free to reblog this post and share my social media with your friends! Your support means so much!

LOTS OF LOVE!!

THE BEST EYESHADOW TRICK EVER!

 Everyone loves a good smokey eye. It makes you feel…..powerful. Sexy. Like you can take on the world.

But depending on your eye shape, brushes, and overall skill level, it can be a little tricky to achieve without looking like you’ve been punched in the eye. You know what I mean. You start off nice and clean, and before you know it, your shadows are too high, over-blended, creeping up your temples like a bad contour….well there’s a simple solution to all your eyeshadow woes….

SCOTCH. TAPE.

That’s right – all that tape you have leftover in the box of extra gift wrap from Christmas? You can totally put it to good use!

Keep reading to find out how!

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This is one of those times that you want to start with the eyes before the skin. If you put tape over your foundation or concealer, it’s just going to literally peel off when you remove the tape.

Go ahead and prime your eyes – I’m using the LORAC eyeshadow primer. It’s a mini that came with the LORAC Pro Palette, and I’m loving it, but you can use concealer or any other primer that works for you. If you work it down around the sides of your eyes, that will help the tape to lift off a bit easier later on, especially if your someone with sensitive skin.

Now we can move on to the tape. The first thing to do is figure out where you want to place your tape. A general rule of thumb is to find where your lower lash line starts to angle up toward the tail end of your eyebrow (much like you would for winged liner) and start there.

Next, take a piece of tape about an inch long, and apply it to the back of your hand, peel it off, and repeat. This helps remove some of that adhesive so it’s not too harsh for the delicate eye area.

  Now when you go to apply your tape to your eye, make sure you get it under your lower lashes – be very careful! I can’t stress that point enough – if you get your lashes trapped underneath the tape, you will pull them out when you remove that tape. And take your time applying the tape! Just follow your bottom lash line up – make sure they’re both even. You can always remove and reapply it before you start going in with any shadow.

Once you’ve got your tape on, you can go in with any shadows you want – you can do a neutral smokey eye with brown shades, you can do something bright and colorful, you can go black and gray and super smokey and blown out – it’s totally up to you! I chose to do a wearable eye with all neutral and warm brown shades, using the LORAC Pro Matte Palette, but one of the best pieces of advice I can give you is this – unless you have a lot of lid space to work with, or a very defined crease, be sure to use small brushes. Otherwise you run the risk of ending up with that bruised, “I was jumped in a back alley” kind of look. Small pencil brushes and small to medium tapered blending brushes will work perfectly here!

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 Now go ahead and finish off the rest of your makeup, and you’re all set!! The best part about the tape method is that you really can be as sloppy as you want, because the majority of your shadows will be caught on the tape, and you’re literally going to just peel away the mess! This is also a great trick if you’re someone who struggles with winged liner.

Have you guys tried this trick? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

And please take a moment to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, go give a like to the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook, and reblog or share my social media sites with your friends! Your support means so much!

LOTS OF LOVE!!

IS IT A DUPE? ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY IN PLACE MAKEUP vs. REVLON COLORSTAY MAKEUP

 Hey guys! I’m back today with another installment of “Is It A Dupe?”!

This is one that I’ve seen floating around for a little while, and I briefly mentioned it in the recent “My Favorite Dupes” post, but I felt like this deserved a little more time in the spotlight.

Back over the summer, I picked up some of the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Foundation, on the recommendation from the saleswoman at the counter in Macy’s when I went in looking for MAC Face and Body. They were out, but she turned me in the direction of this product. “Ok, I’ll try it, why not?”

At this point I already owned and loved the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation. And naturally, if it’s thought to be a potential dupe, I want to test it for myself!

So let’s get started!

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ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR STAY-IN-PLACE MAKEUP

 

 Now I only had a sample size of this product, so while I would typically wear something for about a week to compare it to another product, I just didn’t have the amount of product necessary to pull that off. So bear with me here.

This foundation retails for $38 at Macy’s, Sephora, and esteelauder.com, and comes in 28 shades. I have mine in the shade 2C3 Fresco.

Here’s what it claims :

Long-wearing makeup with 15-hour staying power. Looks flawless and natural. Lasts through heat, humidity, non-stop activity. Won’t change color, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable. For a look that lasts all day, without touchups.

BENEFITS

LONG-WEAR: 15 HOURS. MEDIUM COVERAGE. OUR #1 MAKEUP.

COVERAGE

MEDIUM, BUILDABLE

FINISH

NATURAL, SEMI-MATTE

FORMULA FACTS

• OIL-FREE
• DERMATOLOGIST-TESTED
• NON-ACNEGENIC; WON’T CLOG PORES
• FRAGRANCE-FREE

Now, I have some pretty high expectations when it comes to a foundation that costs more than say, $10. So I put it to the test.

I will say that it applies nicely, with a brush or a sponge. I would absolutely recommend applying this over a primer though – not for staying power necessarily, but if you have fine lines or large pores like I do, this foundation will accentuate them.

I don’t think I’ve ever worn ANY foundation for more than maybe 10 hours, and that’s a stretch, so I can’t vouch for the “15 hour wear” claim. I noticed that this particular formula started to break up on my skin around the 8-9 hour mark, and that was with no touching up or powdering throughout the day. And while it claims to not change color, I noticed that it did slightly oxidize on me…so, yeah….

Even though it started to break apart in the areas I tend to get oily, I didn’t notice any oil peeking through, if that makes sense. It almost looks dry as it broke apart. Like cobblestones. To be fair, I did wear it on some of the most humid days of the year, but it claims it can withstand heat and humidity. The one thing I can definitely say is that it didn’t break me out, which is a major fear of mine when it comes to trying new foundations or concealers.

All in all I didn’t hate it, but I just don’t think I was as wowed as I had expected to be. So let’s move on.

REVLON COLORSTAY LIQUID FOUNDATION

 

 I have both the liquid and the whipped creme versions of this particular foundation line, and I love them both for different reasons and different occasions. But let’s stay on track here.

This foundation retails for about $13 at ULTA and various drugstores, give or take a few cents here and there, and it comes in formulas for Normal/Dry skin, and Combination/Oily skin. The Combo/Oily formula offers 20 shades, which is pretty great for drugstore, however, and I’m not sure why, the Normal/Dry skin formula only offers 12 shades…okey dokey then. I use the Combo/Oily formula, and I wear the shade Nude.

Here’s what Revlon claims:

Longwearing coverage with Time Release Technology and a lightweight formula that won’t cake, fade, or rub off. Specifically made for combination or oily skin to control oil absorption and shine. Your look stays flawless throughout the day.

• Comfortable, shine-free finish for up to 24 hours
• 20 beautiful, longwearing shades
• Buildable to full coverage

Again, these are pretty extraordinary claims, but this time from a drugstore product. Now don’t get me wrong, drugstore makeup has really stepped up it’s game in the last few years. So let’t talk about it, shall we?

This foundation, I feel, is probably best applied with a damp sponge, and here’s why – it can be a little clingy if you have any dryness on your face, and because it’s so full coverage, I honestly feel like it’s best to work in light layers with a damp sponge so you don’t feel like you have heavy, cakey makeup on all day. Now it is possible that it appears it’s clinging to dryness more on me because I buy about 2 shades lighter (because I oxidize EVERYTHING) but anytime you apply foundation with a damp sponge, you can still build up the coverage, but that extra hydration can make a world of difference in the comfort of your makeup. Trust me.

As for wear time, I can get a solid 10+ hours (usually busy days or a holiday) without any breakdown at all. I see no shine come through at all. It doesn’t start to crack up around the sides of my nose or my smile lines or anywhere like that. Again, I’d recommend using a primer underneath, because this is a foundation that can accentuate large pores. But it definitely stays matte. Not like an overly dry matte, but a natural matte finish. And again, this foundation did not break me out, which I’ve noticed to be claimed by many when trying Revlon foundations – and let me tell you, I have super sensitive, breakout prone skin, and this did NOTHING to me. I promise you’ll be fine. Overall, I really like this foundation and reach for it quite frequently over all my others.

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So I feel like I can say with confidence that –

  

These are both fantastic foundations, but you guys know me – if I can find an affordable alternative that can truly hold it’s weight, I’m sold! If anything, I think I like the Revlon Colorstay better, simply because it held up better in my T-zone without breaking down like the Estee Lauder did. Perhaps I didn’t moisturize enough, and maybe if I had used a primer with it, I would have had a different result. Regardless, like any other product, it may work wonderfully for you even if was a little sub par for me!

Have you guys tried either of these foundations? What are your thoughts/opinions? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

And don’t forget to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, and go like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook!

LOTS OF LOVE!

MAKEUP FOR GLASSES

 

 As long as I’ve been wearing makeup, I’ve also been wearing glasses.

Two main problems I’ve had when it comes to makeup and glasses, are defining my eyes enough to compete with my thicker, dark frames, and preventing that telltale ‘dent’ in my foundation from where they rest on the bridge of my nose. And I know I can’t be the only one who suffers. I know there are more of us out there!

Contacts never really appealed to me – I’ve always hated the thought of sticking my finger in my eye. Remember that episode of ‘Friends’ where Rachel has to go to the eye doctor and just FREAKS OUT? Yeah, that’s me.

But recently, I’ve realized that since I can’t wear my sunglasses over my regular glasses to drive, and I’ve yet to find an affordable pair of Rx sunnies that I love, it may be time to bite the bullet. But in the meantime, I wanted to do a look that would make me (and hopefully you, too!) feel confident and pretty when I wear my glasses! So let’s get started!

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STEP 1 – PRIMER, FOUNDATION, & CONCEALER

 

 One of the most important ways to avoid that smudgey, dented foundation look is to apply a good primer. If you’re like me and you get oily, oil-free and matte products will be your best friends. I like to use the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer ($7) all over, but especially concentrated on the center of my forehead, down my nose, along the sides, and my chin, otherwise I’m an oily monster.

 

 Then using a matte foundation like the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation ($13) and a damp sponge, blend a thin layer over your skin, taking time to really press it into the skin. The sponge will ensure that you don’t have too much product on, because too much will cause that slipping and smudging.

 

 Next, apply your favorite concealer, you guys know mine is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($7) to your undereye area, on the lids, in the inner corner, and bring it down in a V shape under the eyes. This will brighten up the eye area if you have dark frames. If you plan to highlight with your concealer, nows the time! And finally, set the entire face, lids included, to prevent creasing and shine.

STEP 2 – EYES

Now let’s draw attention to those big, beautiful peepers! I personally feel like because my frames are on the thicker side, and the lens is a more narrow, rectangular shape, dark eye makeup just doesn’t work. But that’s just me. If you have bigger lenses, you may want to darken the eye so they don’t get lost behind your glasses.

 

  I like to take a light, barely there matte shadow like the one just to the left of that bright white shade above, and dust it all over the eye, from lid to brow, with a fluffy blending brush.

 

   Then I like to pop a medium, neutral brown shade (bottom row of the above palette, 2nd shade in from the left) into the crease, really focusing on the outer corners, and then slowly blending upward so there’s no harsh lines. A great palette for a look like this is the Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette ($10).

Then I like to grab a little bit of highlighter, like the Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tiki ($9), and dust that on the lid, inner corner, and just under the highest point of the brow. This really helps to open up the eyes and make them look big and bright and awake.

 Next, grab a gel liner like Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Blackest Black ($8) and a small angled brush and make a very thin line as close as you can to your upper lashes. When you get to the outer corner you can make it just a tad thicker if you like, or even wing it out ever so slightly.

 

  Before finishing my eyes, I realized I hadn’t done my brows! Do whatever you’re most comfortable! I just penciled mine in and brushed through with a clean spoolie. Then taking a black kohl pencil, a good one is Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Black ($4), work it between the bottom lashes, but only on the outer third of your eye. Get a flat definer brush and some of that medium brown shadow you used in the crease, and use that to lightly smudge out that black liner on the lower lash line. Don’t bring it too far into the inner corner however – keep it on the outer third to keep your eyes looking big and awake – basically you want the outer corners dark and the inner corners light.

 

 Next curl your lashes (this will help open up the eyes and keep your lashes from touching your lenses and smudging your mascara on them!) and apply some mascara on your top and bottom lashes, like Maybelline The Falsies Mascara ($6), and you’re good to go!

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 From here on out, all you really need to do is throw on a little blush and/or bronzer, and a lip color and you’re good to go! With such a defined eye, I usually keep my lips as natural looking as possible, with a tinted lip balm or a natural lip stick or stain, I like the L’oreal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain ($10) in Eternally Nude.

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Guys, I really apologize for the terrible lighting! My vanity doesn’t have the best light, and I typically do these very very early in the morning while my son sleeps so I have minimal light to work with in general – thank you for bearing with me! I hope that you get the basic idea!

Do you guys have any favorite products or tips when it comes to makeup and glasses? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

And as always, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito, and go like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook!

LOTS OF LOVE!

NOVEMBER 2015 FAVORITES

Can we just take a minute to acknowledge how FAST this year has flown by?! I feel like I just did my October Favorites yesterday!

So you guys know I’ve been trying to keep up with doing a monthly favorites post for you, whether is just beauty items or a good mix of general favorites. Well this month I’ve decided to jump back to general favorites. I won’t ramble, I’ll just get started!!

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DUNKIN’ DONUTS S’MORES HOT CHOCOLATE

 

 It’s no secret how much I love my coffee – it’s like starter fluid for mornings. But I’ve been trying to cut back on the coffee, since I’ve noticed that right around the middle of the afternoon when I’m on my 4th or 5th cup, I’ve been getting very jittery and (yuck) nauseous. Honestly I’m not sure what made me gravitate towards the S’Mores hot chocolate, but it is AMAZEBALLS! You can actually taste the flavors separately, like you’re biting into a s’more (s’mores? s’more? what’s the singular? I don’t know). It’s crazy good! I’ve probably gotten one a day for the entire past month!

COACH SIGNATURE STRIPE MULTIFUNCTION TOTE

There’s actually a whole story to this – ever since I returned that Adrienne Vitadinni bag that mentioned in my October Favorites (read about it here) and returned it because it was just so uncomfortable, I’d been on the hunt for a big, multipurpose bag that I could carry both my essentials and my sons, but my laptop, notebook, etc. I found one for sale on a local Facebook tag sale page, but the seller wouldn’t budge on the price (a whopping $5 difference that her asking price!), so a friend of mine saw the post and offered me this bag, that she no longer needed. I offered to pay her AT LEAST what I was willing to pay the original poster, and she insisted that she wanted no money for the bag! So this was actually a gift from a very kind, generous friend, and I couldn’t thank her enough! It’s got all the pockets and storage I was looking for and it fits everything I need to carry and then some! So thank you again Ashley R.!

If you guys are looking to find designer pieces on a budget, check out an app called Poshmark, and eBay is also a great place to find great items at a huge discount!

NIVEA KISS OF CARE & COLOR in SHEER CRIMSON

 

 It’s starting to get much colder here in Connecticut now, and naturally with the cold, dry air come dry, chapped lips. This tinted lip balm is super moisturizing, and while the shade name indicates that it would be red, it’s actually that sheer wash of red that looks like natural, healthy, beautifully pigmented lips. The tint is wrapped around a moisturizing core, and while it doesn’t have the greatest lasting power, I find it to be super hydrating, so my lips stay nice and soft even after it’s worn away. I have these in Sheer Coral and Sheer Berry too, but I have like 4 of the Crimson shade in various places, like my vanity, truck, purse, and coat pocket! I’m never without one! Look for them in your local drugstore!

MORPHE M439 DELUXE BUFFER FOUNDATION BRUSH

 

 Since this brush came in the mail, I haven’t been able to use anything else! It applies foundation FLAWLESSLY!! Don’t get me wrong, I still love my trusty Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, and it makes for a fabulous alternative, but currently I’m obsessed with my M439. If you guys haven’t checked out Morphe Brushes, you need to – they’re affordable, amazing quality, and they have brushes for EVERYTHING you could think of – and I believe they’re coming out with a monthly subscription box, so if you’re interested, get over to morphebox.com and get your name on the email list!

MILANI AMORE MATTE LIP CREME *LIMITED EDITION* in BELOVED

 

 I won’t talk your ear off about this product – I’ve actually done a full review on these which you can read here. But I was playing around the other night trying to pull together my Thanksgiving look, and I swiped on this lip creme. Guys, if you were looking for a great ‘Kylie Jenner’ lippie that you don’t need to spend $40 on 5 different products to achieve, this is your baby! It’s the perfect slightly pinky, neutral brown shade, completely matte, hard to get off, and while I’m not a huge fan of the applicator (a flat doe foot style that is almost identical to the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer applicator) I love the product! You could probably wipe some off onto a palette or even the back of your hand and use a lip brush, or just use the applicator very carefully. I don’t believe they’re in stores anymore *sad face* but you can still grab them on milanicosmetics.com for about $9 – get ’em while they last!

FREEMAN CHARCOAL & BLACK SUGAR FACIAL POLISHING MASK

 

 If you have dry, flaky winter skin like me (yes, little ‘ol oily me!) and you find that your foundation just isn’t laying right, or you’re even experiencing a bought of acne breakouts, you want to run to your nearest ULTA and pick this up! The charcoal is great for drawing out impurities, and the black sugar sloughs away dead skin that your makeup clings to, and that also clogs your pores, contributing to breakouts. I like to smooth this on clean skin, leave it on for about 5 minutes, and then wash it off in the shower, since the black sugar is so grainy and get pretty messy! You’re left with super smooth, clean feeling skin that you just wanna touch all day -but don’t, cuz that’s bad for your face!

NYX DARK CIRCLE CONCEALER

 

 So my son is cutting his top molars – which mean little to no sleep for me – which means dark circles from hell….well this concealer covers them like nothing I’ve ever used before. It’s a pretty heavy concealer but it’s got a peachy tint to it to help color correct as it conceals, eliminating that extra step and additional product. Use it only where you see that darkness though, this is not a blemish concealer. And be sure to set it with a powder, or it will crease! I love this stuff! Find it at ULTA!

RIMMEL LASH ACCELERATOR MASCARA

 

 I feel like this is one of those products that I just don’t see get the credit it deserves. Does it actually make my lashes grow? I don’t know – I can’t commit to using one mascara for 6 weeks straight to see (though maybe I should-if you guys want me to do it and review it, leave me a comment!). But what I can tell you is that my lashes immediately look longer, they’re beautifully defined, and it stays put all day long without flaking or smudging. I especially like the wand design for the bottom lashes because it coats them without getting mascara everywhere. If you’re looking for something that will give you loads of volume, this isn’t for you – but if you want gorgeous, natural looking long lashes, this is a great mascara! And you can find it in almost every drugstore!

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What have you guys been loving this month? Let me know in the comments below!

And don’t forget to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram @dlynnesposito and go like the Affordable Gorgeous page on Facebook!! I’ll be hosting a giveaway soon and you won’t want to miss out!

LOTS OF LOVE!