Falling In Love All Over Again: New Launches From BareMinerals

*PR Samples/Affiliate Links

If I was to ask myself which makeup brand I've had the longest relationship with, nothing even comes close to BareMinerals. Their Original Loose Powder Foundation was the first high-end product I ever remember owning, and I treasured that jar like it was filled with powdered gold. The obsession only continued - from warmth and mineral veil, to blushes, eyeshadows, and even brow powder. At one point I'm pretty sure my entire makeup routine (with the exception of mascara and lipstick, perhaps) consisted entirely of BareMinerals loose powders.

Fast forward 15 years (...seriously though, how has it been that long?) and BareMinerals products are still some of my everyday go-tos. Of course, a lot of things have changed since high school. With the addition of skincare and pressed powders, the BareMinerals lineup is way more comprehensive than it was in the early 2000s. And while some brands miss the mark while trying to be trendy or keep up with the times, I feel like BareMinerals has always managed to find that sweet spot of creating classic, effortless, everyday products that can work for women of any age.

All that being said, you can imagine my excitement over having the opportunity to go to New York City for an event promoting the launch of the new BarePro 16 Hour Full Coverage Concealer. I have been obsessed with the BarePro Performance Wear Powder Foundation, which provides beautiful, matte coverage while being incredibly convenient and easy to apply. In addition to the concealer, I also got to take home a few other new goodies from BareMinerals to test and try out for you guys. So let's jump in and take a closer look at the latest additions to the family!

A Lesson in Luxury from Emile Cordon

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As someone that grew up in a coupon-clipping, sale-shopping, extra-frugal household, my relationship with the idea of luxury has been a complicated one. Purchases were all about practicality and purpose. As long as it got the job done, spending any more than the bare minimum was unnecessary. That being said, your girl has also always had expensive tastes. My father used to joke that if you took all the price tags off everything in a store, and asked me to pick one thing to buy, it would still end up being the priciest thing they had to offer.

What can I say? I've got an eye for quality.

It's never been about status or appearances, or wanting to impress people with designer labels. I'm just an incredibly sensory person, and have a strong appreciation for the experience of something. Catching a whiff of a beautiful perfume, indulging in the velvety texture of a lotion, being mesmerized by the sparkle of a glittery shadow. That to me is what luxury is really about.

And of course, a luxurious experience or product doesn't necessarily have to be ridiculously priced. I've found my fair share of budget-friendly indulgences over the years. But when you've always felt a pang of guilt when it comes to treating yourself, or never allowed yourself to believe that spending a little more on a certain product is worth it, there is a certain power in giving yourself permission to just enjoy something seemingly frivolous every once in a while.

That perspective is exactly what has lead me to a place of appreciation for the Emile Cordon Cashmere-On Lip Pots. 10 years ago I would have never been able to conceive how a $42 lip balm could possibly be worth it. And while I still wouldn't call something like this a necessity, I have way less judgment around the idea of wanting to pamper yourself with such a luxurious product. If these magical little pots have the potential to bring a moment of joy and self-care to your day, then maybe they're worth the splurge.

New in For Spring 2018: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector

*PR Sample/Affiliate links used

Spring is officially here, and I am SO ready to start switching up my makeup routine. I always prefer to take things in a lighter, brighter direction as the weather warms up - from glowy blushes, to fresh-faced bases, to glossy lips. So of course, this new launch came to me at the perfect time! Thanks to Influenster I had the opportunity to test out the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector in exchange for an honest review. This lightweight perfecting base is designed to blur the look of imperfections on the skin while still being fairly sheer, natural, and easy to apply. After having a few weeks to put it to the test I'm finally ready to report back and share my thoughts with you!

A First Run With FabFitFun

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If you're a regular in the YouTube beauty community, you're probably no stranger to FabFitFun unboxings. Over the past couple of years I've religiously watched them on my favorite channels, because your girl is nosey and I'm always curious to see what people are receiving. FabFitFun is a seasonal subscription box that contains beauty, lifestyle, fashion, fitness and wellness items. Each box costs $50, however you're guaranteed to receive over $200 worth of product.

While it's always sounded like a great value,  I've been subscribed to so many other boxes throughout the years that it never felt like the right time for FabFitFun. Obviously no one ever needs a subscription box. They're all about the anticipation and the surprise, and giving yourself something fun to look forward to. Now, I'm all about that #treatyoself mentality, but I still have a budget and try to make my purchases within reason. So I just went on my merry way, with the knowledge that maybe someday I'd give FabFitFun a try.

And then the Spring 2018 box happened.

There were quite a few things inside that piqued my interest, and for the first time I felt like I had serious FabFitFun FOMO. So I went ahead and pushed that subscribe button, purchased the box, and am finally here to let you guys know whether or not FabFitFun is actually deserving of the hype.

Add a Touch of Glam with Esqido Lashes

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Over this past year I've become a bit smitten with falsies. It's not that I wear them on the daily (your girl needs to give her eyes a break), but my glam looks feel totally incomplete without them. There's just no denying that a great pair of false lashes can take your makeup to a whole new level, and once you've appreciated the difference it's hard to ever go back. That being said, falsies have an unfortunate reputation of being immensely frustrating to apply and uncomfortable to wear. Having been there myself, I totally understand why. I used to HATE wearing falsies back in my ballroom days, and never understood how someone could enjoy wearing them with any kind of regularity.

And then I realized I was doing so many things wrong. I wasn't trimming my lashes (rookie mistake #1). I was using glue that irritated my eyes and didn't have a lot of staying power (rookie mistake #2). And I had never tried a pair of lashes that cost more than $3 (not necessarily a mistake, but cheap lashes are sort of the equivalent of hotel coffee. It'll get the job done, but if it's your first experience with coffee it's not necessarily the most fair way to judge whether you like it or not).

Needless to say, with a little bit of practice and a better understanding of how to get the most out of your falsie experience, you can quickly come to appreciate how awesome they can be. Lately I've been on a bit of a kick of experimenting with different brands and styles to see how they compare. So when Esqido, a luxury mink lash brand, recently reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try a pair of their lashes I happily took them up on their offer.