Over Christmas, Nate was sweet enough to get me a gift card to Sephora in my stocking. I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't drop any hints that I was wanting to splurge on some beauty items. He always does a great job, but we aren't the type of couple that gift each other with things. We like experiences instead, like planning a road trip or future vacation together. You know, memories instead of "stuff" that we frankly can buy on our own. However, I won't complain because I was able to get these and am so glad that I did.
First, this neutral eyeshadow palette by Tarte.
It's a neutral lovers dream! I own many shadows, including palettes by Urban Decay but for some reason, every single time I passed by this in store, I had to stop and stare. The quality is just beautiful - smooth, easy to blend, no fallout, and a great range from nude to black. I also appreciate that these are mostly matte, with three exceptions being funny girl, rocker, and firecracker. The palette is small and compact, making it perfect for those of us who don't want a bunch of clutter in our makeup drawers.
Next up is my reluctant answer to the Kylie Jenner lip. This cheek and lip pencil by Nudestix called Mystic is the perfect "my lips but better" shade. It adds that slight hint of mauve and brown, but is wearable enough. I was originally looking for Kat Von D's Lolita, but that has been consistently sold out in my Sephora so I decided to try this instead. It appears similar enough, maybe not quite as dark or dramatic. It does dry out my lips a bit, but if I use a balm underneath, it's perfect.
Have you ladies bought any makeup in the new year? Let me know if you have tried these!