Marc Jacobs Beauty For Holiday 2015

Marc Jacobs Beauty has come out with their holiday collection (available now on the sephora website) and I can officially say the holiday shopping has also commenced! I couldn't resist the holiday liner set. I love the set I got last year, think the liners are the best around, and it was literally purchased within 10 minutes of seeing the items online!

Marc Jacobs Beauty #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder In 20 Dream FIlter

This contour duo comes in the exact same massive packaging as the bronzer. The price is $59 here and $49 in the United States.

This is the lightest shade, 20 Dream Filter. The palette is large (like the full size of the palm of my hand) and has a big mirror that covers the entire inside of the lid. I was torn between getting this one and getting Mirage FIlter 40. This one is soft pink and medium bronze, and the 40 is light gold and LIGHT bronze. I think ideally I would have liked the soft pink from this one and the lighter bronze from 40 though this one is a bit more cool toned which is ultimately what lead me to get this one. Also, the light gold would not have worked for me at all and in this one I can use both shades. But I do want 40 as well and would love to find a way to play around with the light gold and make it work!

Both of these shades are matte and they have such a smooth soft texture with essentially no fall out or dust at all. They are creamy and smooth and a dream to work with. The pigmentation is good without being too pigmented making them easy to work with and allow you build up to the desired look. It blends beautifully and I have nothing at all negative to say about this. Its amazing and luxurious and gorgeous and you need it. PERIOD.

You can buy them at Sephora or here on the Marc Jacobs website if you are American!

Free shipping on any order with code SHIP at Marc Jacobs Beauty. Offer valid until 12/31/15.

Bronzers Comparison Swatches!

When swatching the lighter of the two shades of Julep bronzing powder I thought it was too dark for me.

Now from left to right is the Julep Pore Minimizing Bronzer in Light Golden Bronze, Guerlain Terracotta Mineral Flawless Bronzing Powder in 01 Light, Clarins Summer Fever Blush Soaleil Sun Blush in 00 Copper Sun, Guerlain Terra Inca Sublime Radiant Powder and Marc Jacobs Omega Bronze in 102 Tantric.

Now each one is swatched in the order shown above and with the exception of the Julep, each one is swatched REALLY heavily. Like 5-6 swipes of each. As you can see the Marc Jacobs and the Clarins ones are almost as dark as the Julep, but whereas those two are heavily built up with multiple swatches, the Julep one is swatched with only one swipe (though very heavily). So its just far more pigmented than the others. Its also so much softer (even than the Guerlain or Clarins powders) and thus....... it sounds weird to say the pressed blush is more powdery than the powdered mineral bronzers but it is.

Overall, I think its not as dark as I thought it was, its just so much more pigmented that its just far far too easy to get too much (that being said please don't think I would even try to put it on my face so heavily, its merely swatched like this to show you on the skin). I think if you are as pale as me it will be very hard to get a natural and subtle look with this but at the same time I think you certainly could. Overall, the Guerlain Mineral is certainly my favourite followed closely (ok, not SOO closely) by the Marc Jacobs. The Clarins is also a go too for me in the summer but it has a bit more of a satin as appose to matte finish that prevents it from being as much of a must have.

The Battle Of The Contour Kits. What Do You Do?

So right now, the battle of the contour kits is going on and its getting brutal. Everyone and their mother has come out with a kit and each one promises easy step by step instructions and fabulous results. The biggest problem though is that the set that is perfect for one person is not going to be for another. Its like trying to choose the best blush out there. Just because a ton of people love it, doesn't mean its the best one for your skin. So hear I sit. Paralyzed in the decision. Which one do I get? I honestly DONT know. I did just get this one as its cream and matte:

But which POWDER one do I get to try? I think the smashbox one will be too dark for me. And there is a too faced one, but since that includes BRONZERS (which are NOT contour powders at all) I have left that off the list all together. I freaking love everything Marc Jacobs has put out so far, so maybe that one? But the Kat Von D and Anastasia ones are also getting rave reviews!! HELP!! I will get one, POSSIBLY two but that is all. So please leave all your comments and feedback here with your recommendations and why. And keep in mind I am glow in the dark white! 

VIB Sale - Recommendations

So I have done an INSANE amount of holiday shopping already this season and have tried a lot of great holiday items. I also have a few left on my wishlist. But the number one thing I get asked is for recommendations on what I would get with the 20% VIB. Here are my top picks!

Blushes
There are quite a few blush items I have been extremely impressed with so far. The Benefit Cosmetics Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes, Tarte Pin Up Girl Palette as well as the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette from Hourglass are all fantastic deals and great products. While there is really nothing limited edition or exclusive about the Benefit palette (though it looks they are retiring one of the shades from within it) the extreme value (5 half sized and one full sized blush) puts it on the list!

Bronzers 
This is something I dont have yet. But as someone who has almost bought the Too Faced bronzer to try 1000 times, this set seems the perfect little gift! You get to sample all four of their bronzers for one low price of $28! They  may be deluxe minis, but they are all there! This I am hoping to pick up this weekend

Eyeshadow Palettes
I have to say, I usually have very long lists of all my wants and recommendations in this department, but this year? Meh..... The Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Palette is not quite my idea of perfect colour wise, but at $35 its a great priced limited edition palette that seems to get rave reviews. And if you are an Urban Decay fanatic, the Vice3 is always an option, though I think many brands have surpassed UD in both quality and performance.

Now, if chubby shadow pencils are your thing, well, forget that. Even if they are NOT your thing, pick these up anyways. Seriously amazing. The Laura Mercier Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Quartet was sold out online, came back up the other day and is sold out again (for good reason. These sticks are AMAZING! And a great deal) but if you can luck in to them in store, grab them!

Eyeliners
Well, look at me, recommending a set that is NOT Urban Decay! I still love their liners, but the Marc Jacobs ones are better. Seriously. $56 for 7 mini liners may not sound that great a deal, but they are 75% of the size of regular ones. One of my highlights of the season for sure!

Skincare

For skincare, I assume you all know where this is going. The Glamglow Gift Sexy! You pay for one sized amazing face mask, and you get two half sized ones for free. And while the YouthMud is their best selling most popular one, SuperMud (the white one) is my hands down favourite. And while I have not yet reviewed ThirstyMud on my blog (the review is coming!!) I really love it and am finding it my go to moisture mask.

Now for the most part, these sets I have shown you are amazing values and great ways to sample some high end luxe items (ambient lighting blushes, marc jacobs liners, Laura Mercier caviar sticks, Glamglow masks) for a fraction of what it normally costs and at the same time, it gives you a nice selection to really try out the lines. Also, sets such as the tarte and benefit and too faced are simply great ways to try cult classics you might have just always put on the "will try later" list!

Hope this guide was at least a bit of a help, and please! Let me know in the comments below what items you think are must haves!! Also, WHAT ARE YOU GETTING??!!

Marc Jacobs The Sky-Liner Petite Highliner Collection Swatched!

I have a new favourite liner. Its true. No disrespect to the UD 24/7 liner, but these liners trump them. Now this is a mini set, but it totally confused me as .01oz is listed as the size of the full sized and these mini ones. That makes no sense. The real numbers are as follows. Full-sized eyeliners are 0.5g/0.01 oz. and the minis are in this set are 0.37g/0.01 oz.  0.37g is 0.0131 oz. and 0.5g is actually 0.0176 oz. So they are about 75% of the size of a the normal ones.

Now one thing to be mindful of. When I opened the blue liner, there was no liner inside! I took the set back to Sephora and they exchanged it no problem. But make sure there is a gel lead inside each pencil!

These are gel pencils. They are so buttery smooth and even I can apply these easily. They are the easiest and effortless pencils I have ever used, and that is saying A LOT! I usually need two shots to get an easy line with the Urban Decay liners. Yes, I am THAT bad at applying liner. But with these, I am a pro!

From left to right, O(vert), Brown(out), Sunset, Midnight in Paris, Th(ink), (Plum)age and Blacquer, with two shades–Midnight in Paris and Sunset being exclusive to this set.

Each shade glides on the skin effortlessly (unless you sneeze while swatching the black one, oops!) and they are smudge proof and water proof.

Here is an idea of the size of the liner. They are small, but it seems like the lead (gel, liner whatever you call it) goes all the way through it.

Upcoming On The Blog!

I want to apologize to all of you for all the PR announcements and promotional posts on my blog the past few weeks. I have had NO time recently to post swatches and reviews, but I am spending all this weekend getting caught up and getting up all these posts! Between Minneapolis, NYC, NYC and Toronto trips this past 4 weeks there has been no time at all for me to do anything. Stay tuned though for the Hourglass Ambient Light Blush Palette, the new Tarte blush palette, Laura Mercier gift sets, monthly subscription box reviews, and everything else that has been pilling up for the last month!

Sephora Friends & Family Discount - Do You Need A Code?

 on at Sephora. While in previous years the sAle was 100% public and everyone and their mother could access it, as of last year you actually have to get a one time code generated by an employee. I got a code from a friend, used it, and then had remorse. Had I really only ordered two things?

The MARC JACOBS BEAUTYThe Sky-Liner Seven Piece Petite Highliner Collection and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette.

Both of which I am super excited to get and and happy with, but why oh why did I not wait and see what else was coming out, or order more?

So I obviously need a second 20% off code! But How do I get one? Easy. Go to instagram and do a search for sephora posts. There are MANY tagged #sephora that have employees offering them. It will take some time but you will find one!

Limited Edition Marc Jacobs Beauty For Holiday 2014

The Marc Jacobs Holiday Beauty Collection has launched early online at www.marcjacobsbeauty.com. I am assuming that these will all make its way over to Sephora, but no word on dates or such yet. 

Marc Jacobs La Coquette 4 Piece Favorites Collection $55USD

Marc Jacobs The Skyliner 7-Piece Petites Highliner Collection $45USD

Two of these 7 liners are limited edition shades! 

Marc Jacobs Blacquer and Bleu Eye Essentials Set $79USD

Marc Jacobs Holiday 2014 Style Eye-Con No. 7 $59USD

Marc Jacobs Midnight in Paris Holiday 2014 Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer $18USD

Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Collection $350USD

I did not get the last box set, and I don't need this one, right???......... But.......