It's Back! DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea for Holiday 2017

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

I know. It's not even Halloween yet. But before you seriously side eye me for bringing up the holidays, I promise I have a good excuse. Today the DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar is back in stores, and if this year is like every other one before it, it'll be sold out well before anyone has even thought about putting up a Christmas Tree.

If you're feeling a bit out of the loop, Canadian tea retailer DavidsTea curates a stunningly packaged Advent calendar every year containing 24 different loose leaf teas to sample in the days leading up to Christmas. If you've ever enjoyed one of those chocolate Advent Calendars as a kid, this basically takes things to a whole new level of indulgence. As a die hard tea lover there is nothing better than getting up each day and seeing what new flavor awaits me.

Thanks to the fact that I probably spend way too much money on tea every year, I received an email from the brand that allowed me to pick my calendar up a few days before the official launch. So let's take a closer look at exactly what the deal is with this year's collection and how it compares to the 2016 version.

My Newest Fragrance Addiction: Kenzo World Intense

*Affiliate links/PR Sample Used

In the four years I've been blogging, I've written over 400 blog posts, filmed over 100 videos for YouTube, and shared 800 some odd pictures on Instagram. And in all that time, over all that content, I don't think I've ever been this compelled to write about a fragrance. Part of it is just the difficulty of trying to describe a product that's so highly personal and that can smell differently on different people, and part of it is that I just don't often find myself incredibly impressed by fragrances.

That being said, the fact that I needed to tell you guys about this perfume should tell you something. From my first whiff I knew that I had discovered a new favorite, and the countless compliments I receive every time I wear it solidifies the fact that it's just not my nose that understands. The Kenzo World Intense Eau de Parfum is like sprayable sexy magic in a bottle. It's an absolutely gorgeous, sophisticated yet flirtatious fragrance that I never knew I needed in my life.

Score Some Serious Savings: The Tarte Good-For-You Glamour 6-Piece Color Collection

 *Affiliate links used

When it comes to my general makeup buying preferences, I'd define myself as a dabbler. I own one or two products from a LOT of different brands, as opposed to having tons from any one in specific. I love to experiment and try new things, but generally only buy the products that really grab my attention. The one exception to all of this? Tarte.

Somehow over the last year I've amassed a giant collection of their products, and it's probably because almost everything I try ends up becoming an absolute necessity in my everyday makeup routine. Their Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Pencil quickly took the number one spot over my Brow Wiz, the Double Take Eyeliner is the only one I ever really need, and the Shape Tape...well. I don't even think I need to explain my love of Shape Tape.The long story short of it is, I've probably tried more from Tarte than I have any other single brand, and its rare that I come across a dud.

Which brings us back to today's adventure in beauty. A few weeks ago I was somewhat mindlessly scrolling through my Facebook news feed, when up pops an ad for a set of Tarte products on QVC. Now, I'd never bought anything from QVC before, and I knew I had absolutely no need for any more Tarte makeup.

And yet.

This set was honestly such an amazing value I couldn't pass up the opportunity to review it. And not just that "Limited Edition Set" kind of value where it looks like you're getting a great deal but actually you're paying for a sub-par product that's in no way comparable to the original goods. No, this set contained multiple full-sized permanent products for a ridiculous price. Sounds pretty sweet, am I right? So let's break down exactly what you get and whether or not it was as awesome of a deal as it seemed.

Five Face Masks You Need in Your Life Right Now

*Affiliate links used.

As much as I love fall in New England, there is one particular downside to the changing seasons. Every time the weather cools off my face gets completely out of whack. Yes, give it a few months and I will have completed the transformation from full-on summer oil slick to a winter-fied combination complexion, but in the meantime I know I'm going to be a bit out of sorts.

That being said, I've learned a thing or two about skincare over the years, and this time around I'm much better prepared. The secret? I'm keeping an arsenal of face masks on hand for combating whatever crazy turn my face decides to take next. Feeling a bit parched? Got a mask for that. Pores looking clogged? Got a mask for that. Need to calm some irritation and redness? Okay, you get the picture.

While I've got a considerable number of awesome face masks at the ready, today I've got five cream-of-the-crop selections to share that'll help you tackle your different skin concerns. So whether you're going to spend the next month doing damage control like me, or just love having an extra excuse for 20 minutes of me-time each week, hopefully one of these picks will help you out!