IN MY BAG | NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss

If you are a beauty lover like myself, I'm sure you've had your share of  NYX Cosmetics filling your makeup bag. Over the years, beauty brand NYX Cosmetics has been a staple in my beauty arsenal. Their primers, lipsticks, eyeliners, lipliners, brow pens, and blushes have been automatic repurchases, as I've been so pleased with the quality and affordability of theses items. And as much as I've gushed over said products in the past, nothing has quite compared to my love of the NYX Butter Gloss. Any gloss girlie can tell you-- NYX Butter Gloss was, is, and will always be THAT GIRL.

THE HYPE | NYX BUTTER GLOSS

Deemed "America's #1 Lip Gloss" on the NYX Cosmetics website, Butter Gloss is a fan favorite for good reason. With 29 shades of creamy gloss, there's a color (or 3) for everyone. Each gloss gives sheer to medium coverage, with the exception of the clear gloss. And the best thing about them? They glide on beautifully, giving your lips just the desired amount of shine WITHOUT the stickiness. I don't know about anyone else, but for me, a tacky lip gloss can ruin an entire lip look. But not Butter Gloss. She plays well alone or layered with other lip products, such as liners and lipsticks. 

While talking about these glosses with a friend the other day, I was asked which were my favorites among the bunch. So, I decided to share my top three here with you guys as well. I've bought so many different shades of NYX Butter Gloss over the years. However, three in particular are always found IN MULTIPLES in my makeup bag, in my purse, and on my vanity. ENTER: Tiramisu, Praline, and Ginger Snap.

My Five Favorite Skincare Products from The Ordinary

As a skincare enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for the next best skincare products. Like the average consumer, I research products. I look online for their reviews. And because the promise of clear, radiant skin, I am convinced to take many of them home. Do they always meet my expectations? No. But is the pursuit of my skin's holy grail products still worth it? Absolutely. Because more often than not, I will find some pretty awesome goodies that fight for a spot in my daily skincare regimen. And if you've been reading here for a while, you know I have to share the goods with you guys, too!

While looking through previous skincare posts, I realized I did you guys a disservice. I have shared so much about The Ordinary brand for years through DMs, phone conversations, text messages, and emails, but I have never talked about them in depth here. A few years ago, I tried several of their products on a whim. Not only did they offer an array of products for my trouble areas (oily skin, uneven texture, and hyperpigmentation), they came at such an amazing price point. And while I've tried a few products that did not work for me, I found quite a few that I repurchase + keep in stock around here. Today, I'll be sharing five of my favorite skincare products from The Ordinary and how I incorporate them into my regimen.

My Favorite MAC Lipsticks of All Time

If you've been reading the blog for a while, and even if you know me well, you know I could talk about lipsticks all day. I could go on and on about my favorite shades, finishes, and even dupes if it comes to that. And if you aren't careful, I'll talk you into trying a new shade or two. There's just something about trying a new lipstick that empowers me (and empowers me to empower other women as well).

One thing I haven't talked about in a long time in this space here, however, are my favorite lipstick brands. After gushing over my all-time favorite lipstick on National Lipstick day via Instagram, many people asked me about lipstick suggestions via DM. In fact, a few of you guys even asked me what some of my favorite MAC lipsticks were. And since MAC is one of my favorite beauty brands when it comes to lipsticks, I decided it would be cool to share my favorite MAC lipsticks here on the blog, too.

Not only do these high-quality lipsticks come in so many shades, there's a finish to suit everyone's fancy-- 7 to be exact. Everyone can find a shade that compliments their skintone. And MAC lipsticks always meet the criteria for what I'm looking for in a lipstick: great color pay-off, long-lasting, and great scent/flavor. So without further adieu, here are some of my favorites from the brand.

Five Favorites | Pink Lippies

How many of you can remember the first time you fell in love with a lipstick? While I do recall the love I felt the day 7 year old me smeared on my Aunt V's burgundy Fashion Fair lipstick, nothing compares to the first time I purchased my very own. It was the most blindingly brilliant, highlighter neon shade of bubblegum pink you could imagine. I'm an 80's baby, so it's possible that I saw a lot of this particular shade on TV at some point in my childhood (along with stirrup pants and leg warmers, but that's another story). Anyways, I bought this bright beauty on the sneak while my dad was picking up medicine from our local drugstore. I had a couple of crumpled up dollars in my pocket (probably lunch money that I forgot to give the cafeteria lady) and I boldly walked over to the counter adjacent to the pharmacy, as daddy was totally not paying attention. I handed the cashier my $2 + tax and secured my very first impulse purchase.

Beauty | Fall Faves Tag

Now that it's officially Fall in the Carolinas, I've done a bit of switching up my beauty routine. I've traded bright, vibrant hues of lipstick and polishes to darker, muted shades. I've pulled out skincare items that combat my fall/winter dryness as opposed to treating my skin's summer oiliness. And I've actually used up quite a few products before going out to splurge on new items for the seasonal change. While I was planning to post some of the products I've been grabbing for lately, I was given an extra push to post when my blogger boo Jay of Relaxed Thairapy tagged me to do a Fall Faves post. So without further adieu, read more about my current beauty favorites of the season after the jump!

Current Beauty Favorites

I've been keeping my beauty routine pretty simple lately. Neutral hues have become my best friends. Shimmery nudes and bronze shades have been keeping my glow in tact. And my new found favorite drugstore beauty buys are helping me play up my best features. To see what products I've been grabbing for the most these days, read more after the jump! And please be warned, this post is picture heavy!