If I had to choose, I would splurge on face products over eye or lip products. Why? I like thinking that I’m getting my money’s worth in powders and concealers because they have to be the perfect bases for the rest of my makeup.

Plus, good skin ingredients and color ranges come with pricier bases.

I’ve wasted so much time trying many face products to find the perfect ones for me.  But when I did, it was worth it. My eyeshadows look better on my flawless face, and my lips are even more pouty when my complexion looks blemish-free.

These are the products that I’d marry and declare a relationship with for life.  Read on to discover what some of my HG finds for the face.

Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 15 ($35 US – left) is the most pigmented powder I’ve ever tried and feels smooth on the face. I can look flawless by lightly dusting this all over my face. I’m really loving this especially now in the winter! The creamy coverage doesn’t make my face look powdery.

Stila Perfecting Concealer in shade f ($23 US – rigth): I prefer creamy concealers to cover any blemishes I have, and this is the most perfect one ever.

It dries down to a matte finish, but smooths on easily. It lasts the whole day after I set it with powder and looks natural. When I feel like I want super coverage all over my face, I like to blend this with a little moisturzier to make a DIY tinted moisturizer!

I usually don’t need to use a bronzer on my tanned skin, but I find that I do need Benefit Dallas ($28 US – left)! It’s a combo of blush and bronzer that gives me natural all over color for those days when I don’t feel perky. I love brushing this plum-rose-bronze color onto my forehead, cheeks, chin, and nose. No more winter pasties!

I love the bright coral blushes for cheeks and my favorite is Benefit Coralista ($28 US – right). It looks superb on tan skin because of all the pretty gold shimmers. The box is huge and worth the high cost.

I know that lots of people love the fruity scent, but I find it a little fake smelling – it’s a good thing that it doesn’t last too long on the skin!

Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($5.29 US): These classic blue oil blotters work so well for the price. I don’t need fancy sheets, because I use at least one a day. These work so nicely for me, there’s really nothing bad I can say about them.

Pink highlighter looks great when applied on top of blush, but alone it’s a disaster. That’s why I appreciate MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Warmed, a swirl of gold and bronze.

I can totally wear this on top of my bare skin to give me a sun-kissed look that’s fabulous. I find that this doesn’t look that great on top of blushes, but that’s ok – it gets plenty of love from me anyways! (Look for it in your CCO!)

What are your HG face products? Do you like any of the ones I put on my list?

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Last week, I was browsing the makeup counters in Nordstrom with a plan to buy something new.  Instead of acting on impulse, I sensibly decided to purchase a powder, since I was running out.

Powder is important since it keeps me from looking shiny, but I always want one that’s good for my skin. Minerals and SPF were the obvious way to go.

Browsing the counters, I decided to pay Miss Laura Mercier and her new Mineral Makeup Collection a visit.  Being the neat freak I am, I disliked the loose powders in the line, but the Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 15 ($35 US) caught my eye.

First off, I love the packaging! It’s just so sleek, elegant, and classy – exactly what I expected from Laura Mercier. Perfect for touch ups in the powder room (pun intended!), the compact is sturdy but isn’t bulky.

With eight colors, there’s a flawless match for everyone; with mine being Rich Vanilla. This pigmented powder definitely blots shine well while giving me the light, soft coverage I need.

What I really love though, is how creamy this mineral powder is, it glides onto my skin easily. In fact, it’s so buttery smooth that I actually prefer to use the included sponge! (Which I never do.)

I learned at the Laura Mericer counter that the beige side of the sponge is for fuller coverage, and that the white side is for a soft focus finish. I prefer the velour puff side for smooth and silky application.

As much as I like it so far, I do see a couple of potential problems for this powder. The price is daunting at $35 for only 8.1 grams of product, making it an expensive addiction.  Also, the color range is okay at eight shades, but most of the shades are for lighter to medium skintones.

Besides those issues, I can see Laura Mercier in my future. I would most definitely repurchase since I’m willing to splurge on face products and the limited color range does not affect me personally.

Is anything catching your eye in the new Mineral Makeup Collection? Are there any classic products you can’t walk out of the door without from Laura Mercier? Share with us in the comments!

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I have a Sephora Beauty Insider Card, the LBC (Little Black Card) that will give you great rewards like deluxe samples with every $100 purchase, a chance to buy exclusive products, and free birthday gifts.

But what if this program was amped up even more and had exclusive, elite benefits for a select few? Like a 10% off coupon for joining, invites to private events and parties, an accumulative holiday gift card, promotions and freebies, and access to a VIB hotline where you get your questions answered?

What if I said this was a reality and that VIB stands for Very Important Beauty Insider? I would think that I’ve died and gone to heaven. 

Okay, I’ll stop dragging it out now. To participate in the Sephora VIB program, a new premium level to the Beauty Insider, all you have to do is spend $350 at Sephora in one year to qualify and you’ll automatically earn VIB status for that year and the next. That’s it.

Stuck at the $200 mark? Let me help boost you. Below is a list of the items I would seriously consider buying to add dollars to your credit.

All of the Harajuku Lovers .33 oz fragrances are on sale for $15 US! I just had to pick up Music, which smells like a blend of vanilla with fruity pear and sweet pea florals. Plus the cute doll bottle is perfectly sweet.  I love how the scent isn’t too heavy, it’s my new perfect day scent!

The Laura Mercier Mineral Flawless Face Kit ($65 US) includes a full sized blending brush, full sized concealer brush, mineral foundation primer, mineral powder SPF 15, secret concealer, and mineral illuminating powder. This is the perfect kit for those who want to try the Laura Mercier Mineral Makeup Line without having to spend big bucks.

I am loving the value of the Cargo 7 in 7 Kit ($59 US), a set of seven products you can use in seven minutes to get a great look. The kit comes in three shade options and includes full sized versions of the Lash Activator, One Base, Essential Palette, Eye Pencil, Beach Blush, Reverse Lip Liner, and Classic Lipgloss with Timestrip Technology.  If you only bought a couple of items from the set, you’ll go over $59 so it’s a great deal.

The Tarte Femme Fatale Eye Palette ($44 US) is great for big, beautiful smokey eyes. It includes 10 eyeshadows,  a double ended brush, and one double sided eyeliner for quick and easy application no matter where you go. The studded case is chic and the natural shadows come in the most perfect neutral to deep and bold colors.

Make foundation buying easier with the Stila Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe ($18 US). The mini convertible color, natural finish oil free makeup, hydrating primer spf 15, illuminating tinted moisturizer, sheer color tinted moisturizer spf 15, and illuminating liquid foundation will give you a whole slew of products to sample to find your perfect face. I love Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, maybe you’ll find a new favorite with this kit!

The Smashbox Reign Eye Shadow Palette ($42 US) gives you the royal treatment with three baked eyeshadows and the beautiful, luxe packaging.  With two colors Monarch and Majesty, you’ll be able to create amazing dramatic eyes or neutral eyes. If you can’t choose between one, choose both!

What are you lemming from Sephora? Any purchases you’re planning on to bump you up to VIB Level? Spill in the comments!

Last weekend I attended the Nordstrom Cosmetic Trend Show; you saw the hot trends for the season as well as my makeover at MAC.

But I think one of the best things about going to the show were the giveaways and raffles.  What I would have given to win the Clarisonic Skincare System ($195 US)!  I also loved browsing the counters and getting samples.

Almost all the counters had a Gift with Purchase going on that day.  For example, NARS gave away a mini trio of lipglosses with a $75 purchase.

In Part 1, I told you that the $15 ticket was redeemable for any purchase. Well, I’m sure you’re wondering what I bought, right?

I got MAC Blot Powder Pressed in Medium Dark ($21 US) and MAC Eye Shadows in Wedge and Cork ($14.50 US). These are basic staples so I decided to be sensible and purchased what I needed.

MAC was giving out these mini posters for free! Of course, I couldn’t resist getting one. I also convinced my sister to get one, and then she gave it to me. They’re both advertisements for the Viva Glam VI line.

At the MAC counter, if you bought something they gave out these sample bags with four samples in each one! (From left to right): MAC Strobe Cream ($29.50 US), MAC Clear Lipglass ($14 US), MAC Prep+Prime Face Protect SPF 50 ($28 US), and MAC Pigment in Pink Bronze ($19.50 US).  Have you tried any of these, what do you think of them?

Over at Laura Mercier, they gave samples of Laura Mercier Face Polish ($30 US) out to anyone who went to the Trend Show.  These scrubs for your face smell amazing, like gardenias and lemon!

So there you have it, my complete coverage of the Nordstrom Cosmetic Trend Show, what do you think? Would you go to one? Tell me in the comments box below!

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