Question of the Week: If beauty products were like Thanksgiving dinner, what’s your gravy? (The product you use with/over EVERYTHING.)

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving Week! I hope it means a short work week, amazing and calorie-free desserts and the sense to keep your mouth shut in front of your mother in law. (Maybe I'm talking about me here...) While I'm most grateful for the best husband, a warm and cozy home and truly wonderful friends, I'd be remiss not to mention the beauty product I'm currently very grateful for. It's the one product I wear every day, no matter what. It goes with everything, which makes it the big dinner equivalent of gravy. My favorite comes in the form of the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder SPF50+. I don't know why more people aren't raving about this. I have never found a pressed powder that delivers such a perfected looking finish. It's almost too perfect. You can wear it lightly on top of your makeup or by itself for a natural, radiant no-makeup-glow. A little goes a long way, so start with a stippling or very fluffy brush so you don't overdo it. I can not be without it. If you grab it right meow from ItCosmetics.com, you can save 25% with code ITFRIEND17.


If you are looking for a sweet deal on skincare that delivers results, use code FALL50 at Your Best Face Skincare. If you are like me and shave your face, you've got to try the Shave Cream for the smoothest skin ever.

  we heart this - There's a Beauty Advent Calendar this holiday season that's $350 in BIG name, full-size products and you can get it for just $88 with free shipping. Go forth and purchase!

Beautygeeks - is talking about fear-mongering marketing, betrayal and a natural-beauty backlash with forbes.com!

Beauty Junkies Unite - Love sneak peeks? So does Amber! Here's a sneak peek of an awesome eyeshadow palette from Urban Decay, Distortion!

Blushing Noir - Love Urban Decay? Love to enter huge giveaways that are open internationally? Then you NEED to check out this massive Urban Decay Giveaway and enter ASAP!

  Clumps of Mascara - Urban Decay Heavy Metals collection has been rockin’ my world. So much so that I did a video all about it.

EauMG - Are you familiar with Houbigant Quelques Fleurs? It’s a little OG floral perfume from the 1910’s. Well, Houbigant has launched an updated classic that I’m smitten with Quelques Fleurs Jardin Secret.

fanserviced-b - I shared my personal holiday wishlist on the blog this week, featuring some info on new at-cost candles and how to score a coveted beauty advent calendar for half price.

Gouldylox - Frizzy hair that soaks up product like a lost wanderer in the desert? THIS may be your issue and I've got the products to fix it.

My Beauty Bunny - has a list of cruelty free beauty brands at Sephora. Bookmark this handy list for holiday shopping!

Phyrra - I'm excited to be sharing my first impressions, swatches, comparison to the Kat Von D Alchemist palette, and 3 eyeshadow looks with the new Urban Decay Distortion Palette!

Prime Beauty - If you're on the fence about the new Urban Decay Heavy Metals Palette, read Prime Beauty's review and check out the swatches!

Realizing Beauty - Can an at home beauty device take on gravity and product visible tightening and wrinkle reducing results? Christa is taking us on a 10 week journey with the Silk'n Titan to find out. Plus there is a chance to enter to win one for yourself!

(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)

we heart this is Currently Craving: The Pat Mcgrath Labs Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette in Sublime. And she asks the Makeup Gods to please relay this information to her husband in time for Xmas...

Phyrra - Everyone's talking about the new Huda Beauty FauxFilter Foundation. See if it's a win for dry skin in my review!

Prime Beauty - Have you ever wanted to try microdermabrasion? I'll be trying the Personal Microderm Device (PMD) for four weeks. See my before pictures, get an introduction to the device and get a 20% off code!

Realizing Beauty - Christa tried to resist the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna hype, but after trying a sample of the Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation she had to pull the trigger. Find out why it's her new favorite foundation.

we heart this - Stef probably got to try 100 of the 1000 (!) brands that were at Cosmoprof 2017. Here are her five favorite products from the biggest beauty trade show in the US.

Beauty Junkies Unite - The easiest way to update your style for fall starts with your nails! Check out 12 gorgeous fall-inspired nail polish hues that Amber hand-picked, just for this glorious season.

Blushing Noir - Turn your kid (or yourself!) into Pennywise the Clown in around 10 minutes with this quick and easy makeup tutorial!

Gouldylox - With only a few days left of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, don't miss out on the one product that gives back 1:1.

My Beauty Bunny - is giving away a major cruelty free prize every day this week. Dermalogica, $1,500 Tomorrow Sleep Mattress, Too Faced, Urban Decay, and much more!

  (Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)

Phyrra is Currently Craving: Even though I own a ton of makeup brushes, I still want this Urban Decay Most Wanted Brush Set! I love the bag that comes with it too!

This month is breast cancer awareness month and if you've managed to avoid falling for everything pink until now, congratulations! The pinking of items this time of year normally drives me nuts. I never endorse charity projects that don't give back earnestly, so you know this brush must be special for a reason beyond being a super girly GLITTERING PINK.

How so? For each brush sold,  It Cosmetics will donate one Live Beauty Fully Brush to women who are currently undergoing cancer treatments, in the hopes that the gentle touch of a really nice brush will help them feel beautiful and give them confidence. 

Not sure how makeup can help others going through cancer treatments? Check out my friend and makeup artist Owen O'Donnell and a program he started a local Baltimore Hospital.

Pick up one brush for yourself and know that each time you smile when applying your foundation, another woman is smiling back at you. #PassItOn

It Cosmetics Live Beauty Fully Love Is the Foundation Brush //  $30.00, Ulta

Let's get one thing straight. I am not a fan of matte makeup on anyone over 30. Ditto for powder foundation. Why emphasize any line or wrinkle for the sake of a matte texture? Unless you want to age yourself, that is. Sure, there are a few exceptions; where the powder makes you look younger, not older.




Comfort Mattes, the foundation component of the new Peaches & Cream Collection from Too Faced are supposed to feel great on the skin while giving you that matte look without the taut, dry skin. Color me surprised, but I'm not mad at them. The foundation is even lighter and more comfortable than expected. I can't put down the Peach Matte Shadow palette - do you need it? Yes, you do. Do you need the Melting Highlighter or Bronzer? Eh...that's a different story. Go!


So the Just Peachy Velvet Matte Shadow Palette is beautiful. The powders blend like a dream and the shade peach punch is the ultimate fair girls' peach. You'll get 12 peachy mattes, all of which smell like a peach. There are lid colors, transition colors and crease colors galore. Add a little Rose Gold or Angelic from this palette and get prepared for compliments. I didn't want to like this palette or these colors and I'm kind of obsessed. $45.00 // Sephora


Let's discuss those Melting Powders for a minute. These are essentially cream blushes that melt into the skin for a long-wearing pop of color.  Apply them with a brush or your fingers and start with a light touch...the blushes are pigmented. So Peachy Melting Powder is a really bright pinky peach (emphasis on the pink) that can go on the lips and cheeks. I've been popping it on my apples for a quick glow that lasts.



However, the Peach Frost highlighter is too beige (described as an icy champagne) to appear on my fair skin. Because it's a matte highlighter that is the same color as my skin, it's a fail for me.



On the other hand, the Bronze Peach Melting Powder is ok, but doesn't offer enough glow or pop for me to get excited. Try the blush and skip the rest. $30.00 // Sephora


The Peach Perfect Mattifying Setting Powder does a really nice job of setting my foundation and helping it last all day long. I've been applying it over my YSL Foundation, which gives me a satin-like finish and doesn't go too matte. I enjoy how this airbrushes the skin to camouflage small imperfections. $32.00 // Sephora 


Now for Jerrod's favorite, the Peach Blur Translucent Smoothing Finishing Powder. How many setting powders does a collection need? I wondered quite often as I try to determine how a pressed setting powder made its way into the collection. This does brighten the skin a tiny bit and it does blur imperfections slightly. If you suffer from dull skin that needs a pickup before happy hour, then keep this in your bag. Otherwise, I just can't get too excited about this adorable little peach. $30.00 // Sephora


Let's talk Comfort Matte Lipstick. I've tried three of the twenty-one Peach Kiss Moisture Matte Long Wear Lipstick; Doll Face, Sunday Funday and Drunk Dial.


These are definitely the most comfortable mattes I've tried lately; they make my lips feel hydrated while looking matte.



Sunday Funday is my go-to nude and Drunk Dial is a glorious grape that I can't wait to wear to a gala this weekend. $21.00 // Sephora


What about the Comfort Matte Foundation? Available in 12 shades, this foundation wears nicely, feels really comfortable and gives the skin a satin-matte finish. This feels more like a tinted moisturizer but can be built up to give full coverage. There aren't many shades that will work for anyone darker than a very light mocha, so keep that in mind. If your skin is showing advanced wrinkling, I'd go for something with hydration. But if you want a matte look, this is comfortable and doesn't sink into wrinkles. I'm easily getting 8 hours of wear before I use the Peach Mattifying setting spray ($32.00). With the setting spray, I'm getting closer to 12 hours of wear. $36.00 // Sephora


About the Mattifying Setting Spray and the Cooling Primer...while they work nicely and I do really like the Peach Setting Spray, both are only $4.00 less than the foundation, which strikes my wallet as weird.


Overall, I am really impressed with this collection. The shadows are amazing, as are the lippies and the blush. All products have that candy-like Peach smell, so if you are sensitive to that, beware. Once applied, I can't smell a thing. And honestly, as long as it's not cloying, heavy or too sweet, I don't care how my makeup smells.



This collection is only available at Sephora. No matter what, grab that shadow palette. You can thank me later.

I haven't cleaned my brushes in way too long and it was time. Let's not ask questions like how long, ok? I  also have a lot of brushes, so this task struck me as extremely daunting.

LOVE Brush Bath!

I grabbed Brush Bath, a spray on brush cleaner that dissolves caked-in foundation like magic. However, you still need to agitate the brushes to remove the debris. So I used my fingers and it was taking forever to remove all of the foundation and gunk.



And then I remembered back to three or four years ago, when the Beautysphere decided that the best way to clean our faces was not with a washcloth, or even a spinning sonic brush. The new way so many doubled down on came from FOREO and their odd little nubby-textured, vibrating blop of silicone affectionately called a Luna. Now for me, this weird "miracle tool" did nothing. It didn't clean my face any better than a washcloth and I might say it did a worse job. It doesn't vibrate enough to be handy in an off-label use (admit it. you've wondered).

BUT COULD I HARNESS THE SONIC-POWERED, VIBRATING NUBBINS TO SPEED CLEAN MY MAKEUP BRUSHES?

It's got to do something, right? Sonic vibrations and that nubby silicone? This seems like it should be well within the FOREO wheelhouse to double as a kick-ass, brush-cleaning speed demon. So I rinsed my brush, I sprayed Brush Bath deep into its crevices and cranked the sonic action up to full speed. I held the brush and the FOREO Luna under a little water and waited for the foundation to wash out, lickety-split.

Nothing happened. 


I did the same thing with a washcloth and guess what? Once again, I got better results using a washcloth to clean my brushes than with the sonic-powered FOREO Luna 2.

What a fail... it would have been genius had it worked. But nope. Once again, the $199 FOREO is outpowered by a $3 washcloth from Kmart.

How do you clean your brushes? Brush Bath is like magic, so check it out next time you need to seriously clean your stash. Just skip the fancy tricks and use some elbow grease.

Brush Bath is available from It Cosmetics and retails for less than $20.

Question of the Week: Share a beauty tip that REALLY helped you…


Recently I purchased this newish PRO Drawing Blending Brush from Sephora and was instantly reminded of the biggest makeup mistake I make. I don't know my own strength. Too much pressure is the quickest way to don'tville , that much I know. Use your brush like a feather instead of a crayon and you'll be surprised with how gloriously airbrushed your eyes and your entire face will be.

Wondering what you missed this week in beauty? Here's the Lipstick League!

EauMG - Want some ideas on how to update your fall fragrance wardrobe on the cheap? Check out my five suggestions of perfumes that transition effortlessly into autumn.

fanserviced-b - I tested 12 sunscreens and found the perfect inexpensive, daily sunscreen that plays well with makeup.

Gouldylox - ThirdLove seems to think their bras are best part of having breasts. Life changing or just too expensive?

My Beauty Bunny - is sharing her favorite cruelty free bronzers for pale skinned gals (and guys)!

Phyrra - Do you have dry skin? Me too! I share the Best Primers & Foundations for Dry Skin.

Prime Beauty - There is a new cosmetics line called NOTE Cosmeticsthat has high-quality makeup products at drugstore prices! Read my review and see swatches of this NOTEable brand.

we heart this - Moisturizing Water...we know that sounds like something made up. But it exists, and it's good. REAL good!

Beautygeeks - is not at all concerned that the new Revlon Youth FX collection is making a liar out of her 49-year-old face. Nope, not at all.

Beauty Junkies Unite - Amber's got the scoop on the latest products from IT Cosmetics, their new Miracle Water and Secret Sauce Moisturizer!

Blushing Noir - Non-Glam Beauty Necessities are a necessary evil. They are are boring & offer no thrill. All they do in life is squeeze the money from your potential Sephora budget. But, alas, we need em. Here are a few of my faves.

(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)

EauMG is Currently Craving: Mini lippies are my weakness. They’re just too darn cute! I can’t resist any of the Sephora Favorites Lip Kits...like this one featuring bold shades from some of my favorite brands.

Question of the Week: What is your HG eyeshadow palette from the drugstore?

Strobe & Chisel Palette + JudyTime / It's Eye Time

I find that L'Oreal makes the majority of drugstore products I pick up. Their Voluminous Lash Paradise really impressed me! But the shadow palettes are hit or miss for me. If I'm going to spend the money on something at the drugstore, I'm going with Pixi Beauty every time. The powders are milled and luxe, without being too soft. And Pixi has more than just shadow palettes.  And the highlighters give good glow. Plus, the palettes are usually cheaper than my other go-to, NYX. What's your favorite drugstore palette? Let's discuss!

EauMG - I went to Budapest and here’s all the beauty products I bought. I need to go on a No-Buy now...

fanserviced-b - I tried Glossier’s newish Wowder Duo and was impressed by the packaging, but wish it didn’t give my skin a red cast or cystic acne spots.

Gouldylox - With so many new launches on the horizon, do you really need the new #IWantKandee collection from Too Faced?

My Beauty Bunny - says if you're going to buy toothpaste (and hopefully you do...), why not buy cruelty free toothpaste that WHITENS?

Phyrra - I share my favorite Daytime Makeup Tutorial. It makes blue and green eyes pop!

Prime Beauty - The newest innovation in skincare is probiotics, but do they actually work? LaFlore Skincare is a brand new skincare brand that harnesses the power of probiotics in their simple 3-Step Skincare System; read about my results!

we heart this - How much would you love us if we told you there was a skincare product that you could add to your existing favorites to actively brighten your skin? How about if we added that it's only about 30 bucks? Meet YBF Brightening Concentrate...

Beauty Junkies Unite - We all love instant gratification, especially when it comes to beauty products! That's why Amber spent over a month testing facial masks to find six that deliver immediate results, for every skin concern. Check them out here.

Blushing Noir - Brooke tried out some products from Fenty Beauty by Rihanna and is here to let you know which products worked the best on her SUPER OILY skin and which ones were a total fail.  GX: I returned the foundation. It oxidized on my dry, pale skin. I love that it has such an amazing shade range, though! I hope other women have better luck than I did!

(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)