The Cosmo Awards: Best of Beauty 2014!

I really wanted to get this post up before the start of the new year but better late than never! As I work in cosmetic sales and represent various high-end brands, I'm fortunate enough to try just about every product you can think of. As a makeup collector, my love for cosmetics seems to grow deeper each year. While one of my major new year resolutions is to "shop my own stash" as much as possible and to purchase only when necessary, I still have to share my 2014 faves! Without further ado, here are the beauty products that I enjoyed the most this year!


MAKEUP

Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eyeshadow: MAC/Gucci
Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette/LORAC Mega Pro

Eyebrow Pencil: Clarins (Shade 02)
Eyebrow Powder: Billion Dollar Brows
Eyebrow Gel: Benefit Gimme Brow/Anastasia Beverly Hills (Tinted)/Billion Dollar Brows (Clear)
Eyebrow Product: Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade

Eyeliner Pencil: Urban Decay 24/7
Eyeliner Liquid: Lancome 24H

Mascara: L'Oreal Miss Manga/L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes/Tarte Lights Camera Flashes

Concealer Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer
Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
Foundation: Urban Decay Naked/Dior Star
BB Cream: Dior Diorskin Nude
Face Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer

Blush: Charlotte Tilbury/MAC
Bronzer: NARS Laguna/Benefit Hoola
Highlighter: Chanel Holiday/Becca Moonstone/Hourglass Ambient/Bobbi Brown Holiday Shimmer Brick Copper Diamond

Powder: MAC Studio Fix/Gucci/Chanel Les Beiges/Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Reserve Your Cabana
Translucent Setting Powder: Tarte/Makeup Forever
Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter/Chill

Prep Spray: Evian
Contour: Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit/NARS Laguna

Lip Balm: Burt's Bees/Chanel Hydra Beauty Balm/Maybelline Baby Lips
Lip Exfoliator: Philosophy Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub
Lip Liner: Urban Decay/Milani/MAC
Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury/Gucci/MAC/Chanel
Lip Gloss: Revlon HD/L'Oreal Colour Riche/Maybelline Elixir/Clarins Instant Light
Lip Product: Liquid Lipstick- Shiseido, Various Brands/YSL Volupte Sheer Candy

Eye Brush: MAC 217
Face Brush: Crown Brush Fan/it Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Powder Brush/Real Techniques Blush Brush
Tool: Beauty Blender Sponge/Stainless Steel Mixing Tray


SKINCARE

Makeup Remover: Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover
Cleanser: Clarins Water Comfort One Step Peach Cleanser/Bioderma/Dove Beauty Soap
Toner: See Softener
Softener: Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resit Enriched Softener
Serum: Shiseido Future Solution
Moisturizer (Day): Clarins Hydraquench Gel
Moisturizer (Night): Shiseido Future Solution
Eye Serum: Clarins Extra Firming
Eye Cream: Clarins Super Restorative Eye Cream/Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream/Shiseido Future Solution
Neck: Clarins Extra Firming Neck Cream
Exfoliator: Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
Shower Gel: Philosophy/Victoria's Secret/Bath & Body Works
Bubble Bath: Philosophy
Body Lotion: Clarins Moisture Rich/Clarins Extra Firming
Body Oil: Clarins Tonic Oil
Mask: Sheet Masks (Epielle/Shiseido)

HAIR

Shampoo: Pantene Moisture Renewal
Conditioner: Pantene Moisture Renewal/Macadamia Deep Repair Mask/Aussie 3 Minute Miracle
Hair Oil: Orofluido


NAILS

Nail Polish: OPI
Base Coat: Butter London
Top Coat: Dior Gel Top Coat
Remover: Chanel/Anything!


OTHER

Fragrance: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black/YSL Manifesto/Gucci Guilty
Deodorant: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
Toothpaste: Crest 3D White
Candle: Diptyque Feu de Bois
Tweezers: Tweezerman/Billion Dollar Brows
Etc: Shiseido Cotton (for makeup removing, cleansing, softener, nail polish removal...)














Now Playing: "Lights and Camera" by Yuna
*Perfect song for such a vain post ;)

What's In My Purse? Travel Edition

One of my favorite videos to watch on YouTube are What's In My Bag/What's In My Purse! Since I'm going to be leaving for vacation very soon,  I thought I'd share what I have in my purse for the plane ride to Las Vegas. I'm an over-packer by nature. I'll be in the desert for about a week, staying in Vegas until Saturday morning, then flying to Arizona for the Steeler game and Sedona on Monday. My suitcase and carry-on will surely be packed to capacity. I purposefully brought a medium sized purse so I wouldn't over-pack even more unnecessary things. But without further adieu, here's what I currently have in my purse!

CONTENTS:

Paul & Joe Sister leather bag that I got on sale on Gilt for around $70! I also have this bag in black. I highly recommend it!

Terrible Towel! Gotta represent when you travel. Black & Yellow, baby!

Minteas that I got in this month's Birchbox

Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitzer that I got in a previous Birchbox

October issue of Harper's Bazaar for reading material. I'm so behind on all of my magazine subscriptions!

Gummi Worms for a snack.

Hello Kitty notepad- I'm always writing thoughts, ideas or songs down. I'm also a list maker.

Signo Uni-ball Pen (207)- I'm really picky about pens. This is one of my favorite kinds.

Wallet- I got this at Forever 21. I also have it in blush/beige-ish pink. It's my favorite!

BlackBerry Storm (beyond ready for a new phone!)

Sunglasses
*Inside my Chanel pouch is two more pairs of sunglasses and my eyeglasses just in case I need them (I wear contacts)

MAC Holiday Pouch- I put my Gucci Guilty perfume in here so it would be safe from getting broken. I packed travel sized perfumes in my suitcase but I wanted to have this for evenings.

YSL Cosmetic Bag
-Chanel Lipstick in 31 Waikiki (My favorite)
-MAC Lipstick in Speed Dial (Cremesheen)
-NARS Turkish Delight Lipgloss
-Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in 010 Hot Pink Rose
-EOS Lip Sphere Balm in Lemon Drop
-Pangea Organics Lip Balm in Italian Red Mandarin with Rose (love this stuff!)
-Crest Toothpaste (I dab a tiny bit on my tongue if I run out of gum/mints)
-Compact Mirror
-MAC Studio Fix Powder in N3
-Brush











Now Playing: "In For the Kill" by La Roux

25th Birthday Haul!

My yummy cake! I blew all the candles out in one puff (well, with the exception of the 1 for good luck). You know you're getting old when you need 2 boxes of candles!
Yesterday, I had a very nice 25th Birthday! Since it fell on a rainy, Tuesday, I spent the day opening presents and hanging out with my family. At night, my sister and I went to the Cheesecake Factory and to see Black Swan at the movies. Today, my parents are taking me to dinner and this weekend, I'm going out with my friends to celebrate at the bars. Sunday is the Super Bowl, so hopefully my birthday week will cap off with a victory! I was really surprised at how many people wished me a happy birthday! It was so nice to hear from everyone :)

I got a few really nice gifts from my parents and my sister! But since I haven't officially launched my YouTube channel, I thought I'd do a haul blog instead.

My Dad got me the Canon Vixia HF M31 video camera! It's so lightweight and compact! I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet but it has great reviews and I think I'm going to love it! I'm going to use this camera to film my YouTube videos- so, no more excuses! As soon as I get down to my normal weight, I'll start filming! My Dad also got me a laptop case- much needed!


One of the things my Mom got me is something I really wanted. Since I turned 25, I wanted a keepsake that would remind me of this time in my life. My birthstone is amethyst but I didn't want a traditional purple stone. I saw green amethyst online and fell in love. It's also called praseolite. It's a very light green stone. My mom got me a gorgeous pair of earrings from one of the jewelers in downtown Pittsburgh! They are so sophisticated yet simple. I can wear them with just about anything! I LOVE them and will hopefully have them forever!


My sister knows how much I love make-up, so she got me some products and brushes from MAC! I'm really excited to finally have Satin Taupe (eyeshadow). It's the perfect neutral shade! She also got me some of the new, Revlon Colorburst lipsticks and lipglosses! They are one of my favorite products right now! Such a great value! I also got the Urban Decay Naked palette! I thought for sure it would be sold-out (as usual) but my Mom said she scored the last one at Ulta. It's the older set that includes the duo eyeliner not the brush! This made me so happy since I know they changed the packaging!



I also ordered a pair of KORS Michael Kors rain boots that arrived on my birthday! I got them from ShopBop.com on sale! I thought they were super cute and since it was raining on my birthday, I wore them out to dinner. They kind of remind me of Daria Morgendorffer's combat boots but they are still adorable. I think they will be perfect for all of the mud at Bonnaroo in June!

Stow Lace-up Rubber Boots

I'm so grateful for all my gifts and I'm excited to see what this year has in store for me! :)

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Fancy" by Drake