December 2014 Favorites

1. Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil, $16 / 2. Kat von D Foiled Love Lipstick in Adora, discontinued /

3. OPI Gelcolor in I’m Not Really a Waitress, $15 (varies) / 4. Red Carpet Manicure Glitz and Glamorous, $10 /

5. L’Oreal Infalliable Eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe, $7

Rather than waiting a week to get these out, I decided to publish my December 2014 Favorites today. I feel like I should have more on my list, but they kind of overlap with last month…and I imagine next month’s will overlap with this month, too. :P I hope 2014 has been awesome to you, and that 2015 is even more fulfilling.

Before moving on to my favorites, today is the final day for my Urban Decay Naked2 Basics giveaway – it ends at 11:59PM EST, go check it out!

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil – appears again! It is now dry enough that the struggle is real for my face’s moisture level(s). My skin is thirsty, even only using Cetaphil Gentle. Full strength for nighttime, post shower. If I need something in the day, I use Light.

Kat von D Foiled Love Lipstick in Adora – (I think it is discontinued now, but the Studded Kiss lipstick line also features Adora–though I haven’t swatched to check similarity). Adora is a brilliant, metallic candy-apple red that is so effing beyond perfect that words fail me. It was my first prestige lip product purchase and I make sure to get my mileage out of it in December – December is probably the only month I can get away with abusively liberally wearing it.

OPI Gelcolor in I’m Really Not A Waitress AND Red Carpet Manicure in Glitz and Glamorous – INRAW, which is one of OPI’s iconic shades is only my second favorite polish color ever…and this is in gel form. The pigmentation of the gel is different than the RNP, but it is still good. I’m actually partial to the RCM formula (and its pigmentation) over the OPI Gelcolor formula, so I tend to reach for it more often, but they are both good. China Glaze’s Ruby Pumps is also a badass, glittery red that you need in your life (though I’m not sure if they have a Gelaze version), but it is different enough from these to make it worth it (also, glitter).

L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe – I enjoy the holidays, but they also exhaust the living hell out of me. Workdays, especially the ones that fall after or between the holidays, can be rough. I found myself reaching for this (and Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded a lot) – swiping it on with a finger, and getting on with my life. (The Real Techniques shader brush works great, too, but everyone has those days where they just can’t be bothered).

Bonus: This isn’t a product, but rather a video tutorial that Jaclyn Hill shared. It is literally the easiest method of achieving a cat eye look I have ever seen/attempted. Starting off with your wings before everything else also mitigates the rage most of us feel when we screw up a wing and need to do it over since you won’t have to redo your eye makeup (or foundation/concealer in that area) entirely. I used the hell out of this tutorial (and adapted it for my own purposes as needed) this month and will probably be using it again for this evening’s festivities – which, for me, include a night of gaming with my husband and our friends. Hey – I paint my face for me, damn it. Happy New Year!