Treat Yo' Self: Kaitlin's Birthday Sephora Haul

I'm not one to usually go overboard on buying beauty products for myself. I'll grab a thing here or there, maybe three if I'm in desperate need. If I want to try anything special, I tend to wait. It has to be something I need (aka ran out of) or desperately want for me to actually buy it ahead of time. This year was something different and kind of special. I treated the hell out of myself, and Donna and Tom would be proud. Let me preface this, I got a little extra cash for my birthday and a 20% off coupon from Sephora for being a VIB. This allowed all of this to happen, and without it, none of this would have happened. Now, without further ado, let's get magical!

All hail Sephora and their magnificent, exclusive collections! Before I embarked on this makeup land journey, I needed to figure out what I really wanted. Thanks to Play! by Sephora, I knew I was in love with Verb and wanted to try more of their products. Similarly, I wanted to get more of Too Cool for School products. I wanted a better concealer and concealer brush. I needed mascara because I ran out of my last full size and they don't make it anymore. Lastly, I've had my eye on a new NARS lip pencil because they are, and always will be, my jam. With all the plotted out, it was about finding what I wanted and how I was going to get it. Since some of this stuff was only available online, I was about to get both of the birthday gifts from Sephora (shh! Don't tell). 

Verb

• Verb Hydrate Kit: I just got to use this stuff this morning, and it was amazing. Like I mentioned before, I'm familiar with Verb Leave-in Mist thanks to Play! by Sephora, but the Shampoo and Conditioner were a whole new level of amazing. First off, this Shampoo and Conditioner reminds me so much of Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day,which used to be my all time favorite. The problem? Living Proof became way too expensive. If you are looking for quality hair care that is a little cheaper than brands, but a little more expensive than drugstore finds, then this is the product for you. I don't know if I can go back to any other brand.
• Verb Round Brush: I haven't gotten to fully experience this magic, but I did run it through my hair to see how it was to other round brushed I have used. It feels a lot more gentle than the round brushes I am used to, and for that I am grateful!
• Verb Detangling Brush: Are you familiar with Drybar's Lemon Drop Daily Detangler? Well, it is a lot like that, and two dollars cheaper! Okay, so you aren't saving that much, but Lemon Drop was the best detangling brush I have ever used. This feels like a good upgrade and a way to say goodbye and move on from the Lemon Drop (Verb for life!). It works super well with the leave-in mist before styling. 

Tool Cool For School

• Egg-ssential Skincare Set: Like Verb, I fell in love with Egg Mellow Cream through Play! by Sephora. This set is probably one of my favorite beauty purchases I have made. The face wash is a little weird, and totally feels like shaving cream, but it left my skin feels super smooth afterward. *Side note: I've read a lot of reviews of people saying it doesn't remove makeup, in their video tutorial it says to remove makeup before using it. Also, most skincare products don't remove makeup well, which is why you should use an herbal toner because it does. Plain and simple. Back to the Egg-ssential Skincare Set, I haven't had the pleasure of trying the mask yet. The Pore Cleansing Brush, on the other hand, is amazing. Even if I don't use Egg Mousse Soap Facial Cleaner, I do enjoy using the Pore Cleansing Brush as part of my morning routine. 

NARS

• NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (in Chantilly): I've never been more in love with a concealer, and I owe it all to fellow Three Babes Beauty contributor, Hillari. She turned me towards this product, and I am so incredibly thankful. It covers everything and lasts all day. It keeps my skin matte and it just makes me look so much more polished. Never doubt NARS. If I ever gave you one piece of beauty advice, it would be that. 
• NARS Satin Lip Pencil (in Hyde Park): If you are looking for that little bit of pop to your holiday outfits, look no further. This lip pencil glides on smoothly and lasts for hours. I pretty much used NARS lip pencils exclusively (my favorite being NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita), but I'm always so impressed and happy when I get a new one. Hyde Park compliments my fair complexion beautifully, and I can't wait to rock it for all to see.

Kat Von D

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (in Trooper): People either love or hate this product, but I love it. Between being easy to control and taking my eye level game to a 9, I can't help but sing it praises. When it comes to liquid eyeliner, it doesn't get much better than this. Sure, there are cheaper alternatives, many of which I have used, but I just love how this looks and how easy it is to apply. When it comes to liquid eyeliner, do what you want and don't spend extra if you don't want to. Every beauty person has their preferences, and this is currently mine.

Sephora Collection

• Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow (in Cloudy City): For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to try a light gray eyeshadow. I always thought it would compliment my dark brown eyes without being too dark, and I was right. I love, love, love this eyeshadow! It's light enough to go with anything but pigmented enough to make my eyes work their magic. At the end of this, I'll have a selfie that shows off most of these beautiful products. It works for the everyday look, and it can be spiced up for going out. Give gray eyeshadow a chance!
• Sephora Collection Pro Airbrush Concealer Brush #57: Another glorious find thanks to Hillari! This is one of the best makeup brushes I have ever used and by far the best concealer brush. I'll need to get some brush cleaner soon, but I'll enjoy this flawless makeup application life for now. Truly, I'm just happy because I feel like I'm finally attaining the makeup looks I've dreamed of. It's not anything special, but it helps me achieve my Girl Next Door look. If you are looking for quality makeup brushes, give the Sephora Collection a chance.
• Sephora Collection Face Mask (in Pomegranate and Rose): As with the Too Cool for School sheet mask, I have not had a chance to use these yet. I'm very excited, though. I love sheet masks, and I think they are an amazing concept! I'll keep you updated for all the sheet masks beauty adventures!

Marc Jacobs

• Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara (in Blacquer 30): Is this my favorite mascara? Not sure, but it is definitely working for me right now. In an earlier piece (Christmas Wish List), I mentioned wanting to try Wander Beauty. Truly, I think that mascara is more up my ally, but this one works for right now. It makes my lashes look gorgeous and it doesn't clump or weigh down my lashes. So this will do for now, and it gets the job done. I'm just in between while my eyelashes are searching for their mascara soulmate.

Sephora Birthday Presents

• Fresh Beauty Insider Birthday Gift: If you're asking me, I think this is the better of the two birthday gifts. I'm a huge fan of fresh, They are a great skin care line and are more natural than  most skin care products claim to be. I may prefer to stick with my bareMinerals and Tu'el skin care products, but it always nice to mix it up, especially when masks are involved. With this kit, you get to their the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, which is a gel cleanser, and the Fresh Rose Face Mask. I feel like my fellow Three Babes Beauty contributor, Christina, would love this face was. Mostly because it doesn't rip the skin of its essential moisture, which is something she tends to struggle with. As for the mask, it is perfect for everyone. The rose mask set a relaxing mood with its scent, and it just leaves your skin feeling smooth and clean. No complaints here.
• Marc Jacobs Beauty Insider Birthday Gift: If you have ever tried Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner, then you know it is shit. I'm honestly baffled as to how it has high reviews. It is hard to apply, and it always looks kind of weird to me. Here's the thing, I love, and actually prefer, gel eyeliners, but I hate this gel eyeliner with a fiery passion. The one thing I will give it, it is easy to smudge and create a smoky eye look. Even then, find yourself something better and cheaper. As for the Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme Lipstick, it's alright. The color is nice, but it isn't anything to die for. As stated earlier, I'll stick with my NARS lip pencils any day of the week. If we are being real, I'll probably give this set to my mom because it better suits here makeup style. 

Birthday Makeup Selfie

Look created with Sephora Collection Cloudy City eyeshadow, NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Hyde Park, Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner, Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Gel Cream, Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil & Gel, NARS blush in Orgasm

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Kaitlin's 2016 Christmas Wish List

Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year. Almost the most magical, but that honor goes to Halloween (personal preference, it's okay). Family and loved ones, spoiling them with gifts and just being together, what more could you ask for? If your relatives are anything like mine, they are already asking for your Christmas list! If you are really like me, you've already bought everyone's Christmas present because you love spoiling those closest to you.

Anyways, here's some of the things that I wouldn't be disappointed in finding underneath the Christmas tree! From skincare to beauty products, all of these products I've hand picked will bring out your inner goddess. If there's one thing I've learned from the holidays, it's to treat yo'self afterward when everything is on sale!

Fresh Sugar Lip Spree

Have you ever experienced the phenomenal lip sensation that is Fresh Sugar? If not, you are in for a treat! Not only does Sugar makes your lips smooth, soft and kissable, it also gives you a little pop of color. That way even on your no make-up days, you are still looking flawless! The Sugar Lip Spree kit is perfect because it has their best shades and a nourishing lip balm advanced therapy. Sephora has a bigger set as well, Sugar Lip Seduction. It paints your lips in the prettiest of pinks, leaving you more rosy than ever. I prefer the Sugar Lip Spree kit because it gives you a little more variety and makes sure your lips get the TLC they deserve!

Sephora Collection HOLY SHEET! Set

Have you ever seen something so glorious that it is making your skin water instead of your mouth? Okay, totally bad analogy, but my skin is begging for this sweet retreat. Only downside? Sephora Collection's HOLY SHEET! Set has been sold out since it launched, and it is an online only exclusive. Don't worry, you can still treat your face, eyes, hands and feet to a mask, even if it isn't this amazing collection. Make your skin silky smooth for the holidays!

Origins Prep & Mask

It's like Origins ascending from the sky and blessed me with my three favorite masks in one. Seriously, these are my three favorite masks, and I'm even in love with Origins Maskimizer thanks to Play! by Sephora. Whenever I feel like I'm getting a little dry, I sleep in Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. Having a little more breakout than usual? Origins The Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask will help clear you up, and make your skin baby smooth. Even if you're just looking for something to brighten you up and leave your skin feeling refreshed, Origins has you covered with their Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay. This kit really has it all, and it creates a spa day retreat you'll want to come back to each week!

Wander Beauty New York Minute Makeup Kit

Wander Beauty is new on the scene, and I want to try everything. Thankfully, their New York Minute Makeup Kit allows me to do just that. For a cool $39 dollars, you can try their dual Eyes on the Fly Dual Cream Shadow and Eyeliner, a Mini Carryon Lip and Cheek Gel and their to die for Unlashed Volume and Curl Mascara. Wander Beauty is Co-Founded by former Victoria Secret angel, Lindsay Ellingson and it is inspired for those of us who are always on the run. Double bonus? It is cruelty-free! Sign me up! Out of all of these, this is the only one I might truly treat myself to if I don't get it for Christmas. One of the things I love about this set is that the colors would look great on anyone. Don't believe me? Check out the Wander Beauty site to see how these colors look on various skin tones!

Julep Zodiac Collection

Did I only discover this beautiful collection because of Christina's Christmas Wish List? Yup! I'm not even ashamed. Fun fact, all of us at 3 babes beauty are Scorpios. We are passionate, sassy, mysterious and love with all of our hearts. That's why Julep's Zodiac Collection fits us so damn well. While $98 dollars is a lot to throw down on 12 nail polishes, you can always just get that one that calls to your zodiac sign. Being a Scorpio who is married to a Pisces, I'd probably grab both of those up and use them all the time. Pisces and Scorpios are a match made by the gods, and these colors totally prove that. Yin and yang, these colors completely play off of each other. 

This is my Christmas wish list, and I'm sticking to it! I just treated myself to a lot of beauty necessities (be on the lookout for that post), so this list is a little shorter, but just as valuable. I hope it helps you discover some beauty products that you cannot live without! Or makes you realize that you need to treat yourself ASAP!

Happy Holidays (and Bah Humbug!),

Kaitlin

Christina's Christmas Wish List: 2016

Hey guys!

It's almost holiday season and I cannot wait! I've already started my Christmas shopping and I've even decorated a little bit. I know, Halloween just ended, but I couldn't help myself.

In honor of every one preparing for their wallets to be devastatingly empty and their heart to fill with joy thanks to new gifts, I've decided that I would write a gift guide or wish list of my own. Will I get some of these things? Maybe. Do I need them? No, but I wouldn't be upset if I got them (if you know what I mean). Either way, let's move on to the list so I can explain why I think you should be considering these products, too!

1. Bite Beauty: The Perfect Bite Set

Where do I start? I love Bite Beauty's multisticks because I am a lover of anything that is safe to use where I want to on my face. That combined with being cruelty free, Bite Beauty makes me melt. Now on to these lipsticks... I think they're a wonderful gift for a person that hasn't used a Bite Beauty product. It's got a variety of colors that range from office chic to happy hour. The sizes of the lipsticks are perfect to pop in your purse if you are out and about. It's the ideal start to your Bite Beauty addiction.

2. Lancôme: La Palette Des Rêves

While I don't normally give a shout out to brands like Lancôme because I don't buy their products for many reasons, I have to say that the wonderful Lisa Eldridge is killing it as the Creative Director of Makeup. I truly don't want to want this palette, but I totally do. It looks so luxurious and I watched a video of her using it and the shadows look so beautiful on the skin. These neutral shadows will make anyone smile with glee when they unwrap this gift. This would be the ideal palette for anyone who wants a bit of personal luxury to go with their daily makeup routine.

3. Lush: Great Bear

There are three things that I love in a body product: cruelty-free, smells like woods and donates proceeds to animals. I don't normally take baths, so I wouldn't typically yearn for a bath bomb, but the Great Bear checks all three things on my list. If there is only one thing that I could pick from this list to get, it would be this. I love donating to a good cause and I love it even more when it's a mutually beneficial exchange. If you ask my friends what my favorite scent is they would tell you that I go for hot-boyfriend-rolling-around-in-the-woods and musk scents. This. is. my. jam. I know for sure that if someone doesn't get me this, I will buy it myself. This is the perfect gift to give to your eco-friendly friends that want something luxe but don't want to be guilt ridden over chemicals or pollution. Bonus: all of the proceeds go to protect the bears and banning trophy hunting. I liked you, Lush, but now I love you.

4. Lush: Mr. Sandman

Now, I am almost 24 and walking into Lush during Christmas/holiday season is like walking into a tween's wet dream. As you read from above, I love the musky, woody scents and I think it is too sugar sweet and not my cup of tea. Sometimes even normal Lush will give me a bit of an overload with the candy-land scents. Maybe every once in a while I'll go crazy and have something vanilla scented, but it's always paired with lavender, sandalwood or something of that family. That being said, I cannot wait to get my hands on this little diamond. It's recommended to use as a skin dusting at bed time to relax and soothe nerves to help you count your sheep to sleep thanks to the lavender and chamomile. Where do I sign up? Can I have this in gallons? This is a must have/must give to that over stressed friend of yours that needs to chill out sometimes. Give him or her this with some red wine and call it "The New Best Friend" gift. I'll take two please.

5. Julep: Scorpio

I used to be subscribed to the Julep Maven boxes for the longest time. Then I kind of fell out of doing my nails because of school and I can be lazy. Well, then I got a little window shopping happy and went to their website and fell in love with this color. It helps that I am a Scorpio, but damn this color. I want my nails to be this color, I want my lips to be this color... I want my life to be this color. I am in love. It's dark and glittery and me. Dear Taylor, this is officially on my Christmas list... and dear reader, it should be on yours, too.

6. Butter London: Cheerfull

I am nail obsessed lately and all I can say about this is: yes. You do need this, your friend needs this and so do I. If you haven't tried any of Butter London's polish before, you need to. It goes on so beautifully and lasts forever. I have a not-so-secret bad habit of biting my nails (which is why I paint them) and this polish stands up to that. The downside to Butter London is the price, the upside is that their holiday collections are so worth splurging for. They give you a wide arrange of colors to try out and for a pretty good price tag. Who doesn't want to ring in the new year without that gold polish? Not me. So for your nail obsessed relative, I'd check out this 6-piece set for sure.

This pretty much wraps up my little wish list. I'm sure I will find something to add, because I always do. Maybe I'll do another last-minute gift guide in December while some killer deals are going on for us late shoppers.

Until then,
Christina

*Disclaimer: We are not professional skin care consultants. We highly encourage that you do your own research or consult a skin care professional if you have any specific questions about a product. We also do not make any money off these links / these are not affiliate links. We are making it easier for you, as the reader, to find the products we use. We just want to keep it 100% real with you. All of these pictures came from the linked sources, too.