Christmas may be over, but there's still a lot of holiday gatherings and NYE parties to attend for sure - how about putting together a full makeup look on a a super budget? Sara and I decided to put on this fun holiday take on the popular $20 makeup challenge (see her post here) - see my choices below!

BASE - $3.50

CHEEKS AND CONTOUR - $3.70

LIPS - $1.29

EYES - $2.00

So there you go, a full-on holiday look for a whopping $10.49. How crazy is that?! My main takeaway from this experience is that in a sea of Tom Fords and YSLs and all the covetable makeup brands, it's still very easy to put together an awesome look for a budget. You may say you NEED that fancy contour kit or face primer in your life (which I'm guilty of lol), but sometimes, dialing it down is your best bet and really, you don't NEED all that. Just in case you need to put in more money for that dream vacay or handbag you really covet. Just saying. ;)

Ack! If this isn't the coolest makeup bag in the history of cosmetic bags, I don't know what is! For a very limited time, the cool kids over at Opening Ceremony will be giving out a complimentary Opening Ceremony x Estee Lauder gift bag for every $500 and up purchase from the brand (in-stores and online), which comes with a Pure Color Envy mini, a Modern Muse mini, Advanced Night Repair mini and a compact mirror.

Go get it! :)

*The products above were provided to me by Fragrancenet.com in exchanged for my own honest reviews. In no way did I receive compensation for the aforementioned reviews.

Such color, much wow... Always been a fan of Christopher Kane, always been a fan of Nars, so the two meeting up for one big collaboration is nothing short of unicorn levels magical! Now, this isn't the first time these two have collaborated, but this IS the first time that it goes public for purchasing. Erggggh... I'm seriously tempted. With prices ranging from $25 for the eyeshadow single to $39 for the multiple sticks, it's pretty reasonable for a limited edition collection, methinks. Who's in?

Now available at Nars -- free shipping and returns in the US!

It's bonus time again at Clinique, and conveniently rolled in the same time they release their Spring Into Colour 2015 set! For only $39.50, you get this entire set (the Chubby Stick Lip Tint, Lash Power Mascara and the Eyeshadow Quad is full-size), plus a whole 8-piece gift set for spending more than $27! You'll literally surprise your mom with product after product! Best deal so far if your mom is a Clinique fan :)


ULTA


Aren't these totes looovely? Yours for free with every fragrance purchase of $40 and above. Ulta always has the cutest fragrance gifts! Plus, a lot of fragrance brands will also be having their own gifts with purchase... usually a bag. Bag after bag for mom!:)


ESTEE LAUDER

Eyeshadow and Mascaras:


Estee Lauder Little Black Primer- I love mascara as much as the next girl, but I hate having to deal with the end-of-the-day cleanup routine! Estee Lauder's LBP is my favorite new product from the line this year-- it curls and lengthens so magically sans the "spidery" mascara look. Perfect for grocery and errand days!

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara - I use the Little Black Primer on a daily business, but keep this tube in case I need a bit more drama.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Quad in "Brewed Awakening" - I own several neutral palettes, but this little box from Tarte is my current go-to! Tarte's Amazonian clay formulation is divine and these pigments stay on until the end of the day without primer. It is SO good.



Liners and Lipcolor

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Stockholm" - Wow, just wow. I have to admit that I'm a tad bit late to to the NYX matte lipcolor party, but I am seriously hooked.. They are so worth all the hype they're getting everywhere! The color stays on forever, doesn't dry your lips out, and is super affordable compared to other matte lippies out there. "Stockholm" gives a great pink-y nude tone perfect for everyday wear.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen - I've already mentioned how much I love this gel liner here, and I'll say it again -- this is a GREAT liner. It glides on like silk on skin, gives the inkiest pigment, and doesn't budge when it dries... a very worthy dupe of Lancome's Le Stylo Waterproof, which I worship, but  can't afford. Pixi offers the same payoff but costs only a fraction!



What are your absolute must-haves in your makeup bag? Let me know in your comments! x

Happy Earth Day, my loves! Quick question -- how many of you guys woke up today and was able to confidently say to themselves, "I saved 35 GALLONS of water this month!"? Well, I was, and I've never been happier with myself! With the serious drought situation going on in California and other parts of the world, now is the time to be water-conscious more than ever, for sure!

How exactly did I save that much water, you ask? For Earth Month, I had the amazing opportunity to partner with Influenster and Neutrogena Naturals for the #WipeforWater Campaign, pledging to clean my face with only these all-natural wipes for 7 days in a row. Yes, the notion of not rinsing your face for a whole week seems daunting of a challenge at first, but after finding out that we waste 5 whole gallons of water a day just by washing our faces, I knew I had to step up to the challenge!

Safe to say I survived, and nary a blemish, to be completely honest! I was a little hesitant at first since I HAVE to wear a ton of makeup to work, but it worked out wonderfully. My face felt consistently wiped clean from day 1 till the end. Made of 100% renewable fiber, the Neutrogena Naturals makeup remover wipes are clinically proven to remove every last makeup residue-- waterproof mascara included. Neutrogena is also cruelty-free! They were super gentle on my skin and didn't feel drying at all. Pro-tip, though: you might have to use two wipes for those heavy-makeup days. Don't forget to follow with your favorite moisturizer!

If I survived not rinsing my face for 7 days, you would, too! Take the challenge now over at WipeforWater.com and do your part in helping conserve earth's water-- Neutrogena also pledges to donate $1 for every person who pledges to do the challenge.

Make this year's Earth Day extra special by joining in the #WipeforWater movement! :)


Disclaimer: I received the products complimentary for testing and review purposes.

Usually a seasonal release over the summer, some of the favorites from the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess line, such as the Bronze Goddess Skinscent (a personal favorite!) will now be available year round. Yipee!

Aside from getting to play with makeup all day and being able to play with many different faces, one thing I love the most about working in the beauty industry is all the insider training and education I've received. Working for Estee Lauder (being my first job here in the United States) has been such a rewarding experience thus far. Back when I was working as a fashion stylist, I've always had an appreciation for makeup, but I never really had the expertise or the confidence to say I knew a lot.