Products I've Been Loving for the Month of April

These are the products I have found myself grabbing this month the most (click on item name for a link where to buy):

1. NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium 03 - This is very similar to Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. Actually, it's almost identical, except for the huge difference in price. I use it mostly for contouring as it does not have any shimmer. Although it is very pigmented, it is blend-able so use a light hand while applying it. You can always apply more, but it is harder to lighten it up if you've applied too much.

2. NARS Blush in Sin - ::Sigh:: Spring is here, and winter weather is slowly leaving us. Although I'm excited about that, I am sad that this means I most likely will have to retire my favorite blush I've been reaching for these last couple of months! Sin is a berry colored blush with a bit of shimmer but nowhere near as shimmery as Orgasm. Just a flush of color on the cheek gives a healthy glow. It's gorgeous, flattering on all skin colors, and long-lasting!

3. Coastal Scents Camo Quad in Light and Medium - As a concealer junkie, I've used so many of these types of products. I've used (and own) Coastal Scents' Camouflage Palette and love it. This is my third palette that I've repurchased. It usually lasts me about a year since I alternate colors depending on how tan my skin is throughout the seasons. These little quads are convenient because they're smaller, therefore more portable. The creamy consistency is great for blending and dries quickly to a powder finish. These are a great alternative to Laura Mercier concealers if you are trying to save a bit of money.

4. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine - Throw this in your makeup bag for when you need a neutral pink lip color for any occasion. Swipe Revlon's Super Lusterous lip gloss in Lilac Pastelle over it for a pop of purple-y pink or Peach Petal for a more muted rose.

5. Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Primer - In comparison to Urban Decay's Primer Potion, I like this one better. It has more of a primer feel and less of a liquid consistency like the UD one. My eye shadow has stayed put for over 7 hours with this, and I definitely can't leave home without it on if I want my eye shadow to last all day.

Which products have you been reaching for this month? Let me know know in the comments below!

Xoxo, Monica

Some of My Favorite Dupes

As much as we would like to own expensive high end products, sometimes our budget doesn't always agree. I've compiled a list of tried and true products that do the exact same job for less than half the price! Really, who can actually afford to pay $36 for a lipstick? What are some products that you use and feel are great dupes? I will continue to update this list, so let me know in the comments below, and I will add them here with a link to your blog.

High End / Inexpensive Dupe

Lips:

1. MAC - Creme D' Nude / e.l.f - Natural Nymph
2. MAC - Snob / Revlon - Pink Pout
3. MAC - Rebel / Wet n' Wild - 908C
4. NARS - Turkish Delight Lip Gloss  / Bonne Bell Lip Lites - Strawberry Parfait

Eyes:

1. MAC - Blacktrack Fluidline / e.l.f. Black Cream Eyeliner
2. Lancome - Hypnose Drama Volume Mascara - L'Oreal - Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

Face:

1. Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer / Monistat - Chaffing Relief Powder Gel
2. Makeup Forever - HD Foundation / Revlon - Photoready Foundation
3. Makeup Forever - HD Powder / e.l.f. High Definition Powder
4. NARS - Orgasm Blush / Milani - Luminous Blush
5. NARS - Laguna Bronzer / 
6. Too Faced - Chocolate Soleil Bronzer / NYX - Matte Bronzer
7. Benefit Hoola Bronzer - NYC Bronzer in Sunny
8. Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray / Model in a Bottle Makeup Setting Spray

What's in my everyday makeup bag?

I like to carry around my makeup bag wherever I go in case I need to touch up my makeup on the run or when unexpected meetings with friends comes up. I also like to keep small things I might need in case of an emergency like bobby pins, a hair elastic, snap clips (for clipping back my shorter layers in the front), eyelash glue, and gum. And although I change up my products depending on my look for that day, here are my "go to" makeup items in my cosmetic bag: 

Eyes:

2. Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara in Glam Black - this mascara has been the one I find myself grabbing the most. I'm not a huge fan of it like many people seem to be, but it gets the job done. I find it clumps my lashes together, but I love the extreme dark black color which gives my lashes a dramatic look. 

3. Rimmel's Lash Accelerator in Extreme Black - I LOVE this mascara! It's skinny wand reaches the inner and outer corners of my lashes that I can't reach with a fatter wand. I like to mix both the Collosal Volume Mascara and this one for a more lengthy, voluminous look!

4. L'Oreal's Infallible 16 hour Eyeliner in Carbon Black - This has got to be one of the best if not THE best eyeliner I have ever tried! It glides on super smooth and creamy and allows me to smudge it right before it sets. I have repurchased this product time and time again and continue to love it. I will never be without it!

5. e.l.f.'s 'C' Brush - hands down one of my favorite brushes (and cheap too! e.l.f.'s brushes from their Studio Line are extremely high quality and are all under ten dollars!) I use this brush mainly to smudge my eyeliner to give me that smokey look when I don't have to me before work to apply eyeshadow. It blends my eyeliner to give it a more soft look instead of a harsh line.

**Note: I threw a brand new L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara in my bag since my Maybelline Colossal one is almost done. I have repurchased this item time and time again and it never disappoints. It is one of HG items.

Face:

6. NYX Concealer in a Jar in Light - pros: full coverage, lasts all day, a lot of bang for your buck! Cons: has a powdery smell to it which is such a turn off in my book! *Note: When at home, I use Coastal Scents palette which I've spoken about here. This and Revlon's Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer in Light 20 are my current faves.

7. YSL Bronzing Powder in Terre Saharienne - this is the perfect matte bronzer. It has just a hint of shimmer but nothing that will make you look shiny or sweaty as shimmer bronzers often do. I prefer matte bronzers and this color is perfect for olive skin tones like mine. During the winter months when I am too fair for this bronzer I use it mostly for contouring instead.

8. Blush-this is a hard one as I am always trying out new colors and brands. This past summer I used only Tarte's Amazonian Clay in Tipsy, but now I'm experimenting with Wet n' Wild's Heather Silk which I'm loving for two reasons: 1. The color payoff is phenomenal for $1.99 and 2. The rosy color is perfect for a pink wintery flush.

Lips:

9. I can never decide on which lip color I will stick to during the day, so I normally care 2-3 lipsticks and 1-2 glosses in case I want to change it up. Of course a nude-ish pink is always flattering so I tend to stick to those. My all-time favorite lipstick is Sephora's Lip Attitude in Glamour G01. Please pick this up if you are looking for a creamy, moisturizing, pigmented color. It glides on smoothly is the perfect nude pink. I've repurchased this color at least 3 times. It is timeless. I also carry with me NYX's Circe which is a more true nude and NARS' Turkish Delight Lip Gloss, which aside from the smell is the best pink lip gloss color I've ever used. If you are looking for an inexpensive dupe for Turkish Delight try Bonne Bell's Strawberry Parfait for $2.99! Sometimes I like to layer these two lippies and top it with the gloss; a perfect combo!

Some other miscellaneous items I carry in my bag are hair clips, hair ties, and eyelash glue. Of course I change everything up depending on my mood or occasion, but this is pretty accurate to what I normally carry around on a daily basis. You can find all the products mentioned at your local drugstore or Ulta.

What do you carry in your makeup bag? Comment below and let me know what are some items you can't leave the house without. 

Love,

Monica Sofia