My Best of 2013 – New Year’s Eve

Yay for ending 2013 on a good note!  I have never felt more accomplished at the end of the year as I do now! So many good things happened in 2013!

I love it when bloggers do their “best of” posts. It’s cool to see other beauter’s go to products….beauters…is that a word?

Anyway, I decided to share my go to products of 2013. I hope you enjoy!

I’ve become some what of a lipstick junkie this past year.  I love how I can put on a winged eyeliner and a red lip and look fabulous and completely made up….yay for being lazy.  These are my top four of 2013.

<a href="http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-153-color-statement-lipstick.aspx#!prettyPhotoMilani in Uptown Mauve-$5.49 – I absolutely love this berry colored lipstick. It was great for fall this year. It lasts all day and is super creamy.  Kudos to Milani for this one!

MAC Cosmetics – Lady Danger – $15.00 – I got this beauty for free! Thanks to the MAC recycling program!  This is my go to red! It is gorgeous, creamy and helps whiten my teeth! lol. This photo doesn’t even do this color justice…it is almost a borderline orangey color. It’s perfect.  This has to be my favorite favorite of 2013. Go buy it!

Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss – I think I paid about $5 for this. This is the third lipstick I’ve bought from this collection. They truly are long lasting with great pigmentation.  They don’t smell gross either!

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral – $7.49 This has to be my favorite drugstore lipstick. I have about 4 from this collection and they are amazing!  This was my perfect summer color for 2013. Not only is the pigmentation great but it really moisturizes too. This is a winner winner chicken dinner for me!

The next thing on my list is the Naked Basics palette from Urban Decay – $27.00 I got this amazing piece of palette as a Christmas gift from my sister in law last year.  I have used the crap out of it. This is by far the best thing out of the Naked collection. It has all of the colors you need to create both a sultry sexy look or a sweet natural look on the fly.    This baby is with me at all times. If you don’t have this….you need it!  Buy it now!

Stila Make Me Blush Valentines Day Palette – $16.99 This is kind of a cheat. This is the valentines day blush Stila made a couple of years ago. I bought it when it originally came out but I dropped it and along with breaking it, it broke my heart.  This has been my favorite blush since then. I was so excited to find it on Ebay this year so I bought two!  If you can get your hands on it I recommend it 100%!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Genius Kit – $25.00 THIS….THIS STUFF IS AMAZING!  Kudos to Anastasia Beverly Hills! You have officially won me 100% over!  This year I really got into my bushy eyebrows!  I have struggled with my eyebrows for as long as I can remember. They grow way to fast and way to thick. I have finally found the best waxer and the best product to help me maintain them!  I’m excited to try their other products.  I think this is my favorite product of 2013.

I’ve used Voluminous mascara for as long as I can remember; however, I discovered The Rocket Mascara from Maybelline this year and it is AHHHHMAZZZINGGG!  It gives me the volume and length I need and holds my curl without clumping. I think it runs about $7 or so.  I pair it with my Tarte Eyelash Curler and I get the perfect eyelashes! This is by far the best curler I have ever used. I bought this special edition one at Ulta for $19 but the original is only $16. Completely worth it.  My lashes are ridiculously straight and ridiculously long and usually don’t like to cooperate with anything!

The next thing on my list is my Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation -$27 This is a given. I’ve used it for years and I will always love it! I also started using Mac Mineralized Concealer-$20 It really helps with my baggage and dark circles. It really brightens my face up when I use it.  It’s a keeper for me!

The next thing on my list goes with the previous items. It’s Rimmel’s Stay Matte Pressed Powder and is about $5 or so. Once again, this is a given. I’ve used this for a while now! If you are oily then you will love this! It keeps me matte all day!

The final thing on my Best of 2013 post is Beyond the Zone Rock On Volumizing Powder.  $7.49 Although this isn’t a cosmetic item I thought it was important to add this to the best of list.  My hair is absolutely flat. I’ve never had any volume in it. This little magic wonder will do amazing things to my hair. You just sprinkle it in and tease with a comb or your finger and POOF lasting volume!  It’s my only way to get TEXAS sized hair. 😉

I can go on and on about products I love but these take the taco! What are some of your favorite products this year?

Well, I guess until next year! 😉
I hope ya’ll have a safe New Year’s Eve! Love y’all and may 2014 be full of blessings for you and your family! -Moni ❤

I decided to add some photos of some of my favorite moments of 2013 down below. Enjoy!

Hillsong United Concert in Oklahoma City!

Women of Faith Operation Tamales!

Bluprint Marriages!

Family and friends!

…and the biggest blessing…worshipping with my church family.

Goodbye 2013, you were so good to me!

My Top 5 Gifts for the Cosmetic Freak in Your Life!

About three years ago was when my love for makeup really developed. I mean, I’ve always loved makeup but until three years ago I really had no clue what I was missing out on. I put together this list because I know sometimes people don’t know all there is to know about every cosmetic brand out there like those makeup freaks like me do.  Well, this will help steer you in the right direction…or steer SOMEONE in the right direction! I hope you enjoy!

5. Rare Gem Limited Edition Picture Perfect™ Eyelash Curler by Tarte

This gem is $19.00. I once had this eyelash curler but I lost it!  😦 I bought it again at the end of November and fell in love all over again. My lashes are so long and STRAIGHT! It’s so sad. I struggle so hard to keep them curled. This curler works wonders!   It will surely satisfy anyone on your list!  The regular sparkle-less curler is only $16…but hey the rhinestones add that extra touch! 🙂 You can find this at Ulta or order online.

4. Black Market by Urban Decay

This beauty is on sale right now for $24 dollars on the UD website. It is regularly $36.  I have had these eyeliners before and I absolutely love them; however, I don’t own this set yet. They are so smooth and glide on so well!  I recommend these to anyone who doesn’t have a favorite eyeliner!  These colors are fantastic too! Any makeup lover on your list will appreciate this.

3. Glamorous Blush Palette by Bh Cosmetics

This awesome blush palette is only $10.95 right now! It would make a great stocking stuffer! I love anything from BH Cosmetics. They have great pigmentation and the packaging is always space efficient. This is one on my personal wish list this year!  🙂

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Catwalk Palette

This sultry palette is only $29. I have just recently become a fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills. I started with the Brow Genius Kit and now I just want all of their products! I’ve seen so many amazing tutorials with this palette. I would love to get this in my stocking and so would your daughter, sister, aunt or best friend!

1. Naked3 by Urban Decay (surprise, surprise!)

I am obsessed with all of UD’s Naked products. This phenomenon retails at $52. I have the first two palettes that I received as gifts and I use them daily and I think they are well worth the price! The best thing about this palette is that these are brand new, never before seen shades.  Both palettes prior have had some repeats from UD’s other palettes.  Naked3 has mattes, shimmers, darks and lights…it is amazing! I’ve tired to get my hands on this the past couple of days but have been unsuccessful. So if you find one some where snag it!!  Someone on your list will be very happy to get this!

Well, that’s it!  These are my top 5 gifts! I hope this helps when it comes to shopping for your loved ones! What products are you hoping to see in your stocking this year?

Be blessed – Moni ❤