August Favorites

I'm doing favorites a little bit early this month, because I don't plan on blogging at least for a week with the holiday! I really can't believe that summer is almost over, but I will say...come Monday morning my house will be ALL decked out for autumn. It is definitely our favorite season, so we are very happy to see it come!

This past month I have been loving a few things, so much so that I haven't really dabbled in much else. Not really a rut, just a hard core obsession lately!

First on our list is the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 System. I have the Shampoo, the Conditioner and the Damage Erasing Balm. These are totally unlike any drugstore hair system I've used before. First of all, they actually work. I know that you can't "undo" split ends, but you can sure as heck add moisture and shine and get the appearance and feel of healthier hair. One use of the conditioner and my hair was totally transformed. It made it smell amazing, feel amazing and actually looked a lot healthier. I use the conditioner daily and the balm about 3 times a week. It's amazing. I like to apply after I shampoo and condition and then wrap my hair up on top of my head and leave it at least 45 minutes before I rinse. This is a nighttime product for me. The balm is so thick and the jar is massive. Definitely worth it.

This system is to repair the 5 main signs of damage, split ends, weak, rough, dull dehydrated hair, and it really does repair the appearance of damaged hair for me. Moreso than most other products I have ever tried. These 3 products just makes my hair so happy and feels so dramatically better. I am definitely going to be trying other products in their line, they have a dry oil that looks pretty tempting!

For foundation, I have been trying to use up some of my collection before buying anything new. I never really loved the Revlon ColorStay Whipped Foundation as much as the formula for normal/dry skin. It's alright but was too matte for my liking and I just don't love the finish of it on it's own. So there she sat, until I decided I needed to force myself to use it.

I have been using a little scoop of the ColorStay Whipped on the back of my hand and adding 1 pump of the L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer. I apply with the Real Techniques Expert Face brush and have just been so impressed. It's glowy, but it lasts ALL DAY and doesn't transfer. You get the longevity of ColorStay but it's so glowy and pretty and looks so fresh. I have managed to use almost 3/4 of my jar of ColorStay this way and will definitely be repurchasing that as my next foundation! (Please excuse my rained on hair)

 

L'Oreal leGloss lipglosses. L'Oreal appears to be my favorite contender this past month. I have really been enjoying their products and definitely haven't been disappointed by L'Oreal yet. Hands down my favorite drugstore brand at the moment.

I've already done a full review of the leGlosses but they are definitely top notch in my book. Color payoff, scent and texture are all perfect. The packaging is classy and exactly what I want in a lipgloss.

So that's it for my current favorites! Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend and we will see you in September!

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

If you follow me on Twitter (@lovelydalls) you would have seen that I recently got to experience Ulta for the first time. The closest one to us is about 2 hours away. I was up there for a concert and HAD to go in and check it out.

Let's just say Ulta totally lived up to the hype. They had all kinds of brands that we just can't get where I live unless it's online. It was amazing and so fun. My mom and I were like kids in a candy store!

My 2 main things I wanted to check out was the NYX selection (score) and the Real Techniques brushes.

I loved it because they had sample brushes out so you could feel them before you bought them. I chose the Expert Face Brush and the Setting Brush.

This brush is amazing. I'll cut right to the chase and say it is by far the best utensil that I have ever used to apply foundation. Hands down. I've used Beauty Blenders, MAC brushes, ELF Brushes, Eco Tools Brushes, makeup sponges, everything you can imagine. The Expert Face Brush gives the best application, best coverage, best finish and is the easiest to clean.

This is a very dense but compact brush that is the perfect size for your face, gives you great control and buffs your foundation in for a perfectly blended and gorgeous finish. It has a wonderful handle that enables the brush to stand on it's own, it's very easy to hold and very easy to manipulate. It is also SO soft and I have experienced absolutely no shedding with this brush.

I have tried it with 4 or 5 different foundations, different formulas and have gotten great results each time.

I can not believe something this great was only $9. Totally worth the money. Totally worth the hype and a definite must-have in my collection. Dare I even say it, it's my holy grail foundation brush.

100th Post!! My Dream Makeup Kit

It's my 100th post here on Lovely Dalliances. YAY!

I thought it would be fitting to do a fun post. I love a lot of things, but if I had to pick only one kind of each item, these are the ones I would absolutely HAVE to have. Holy Grail, money is no obstacle kind of "Dream Makeup Kit".

1. Foundation- Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet +

 

 

 

2. Concealer for blemishes- MAC Studio Finish Concealer

 

 

 

3. Concealer for under eyes- Maybelline Dream Lumi

 

 

4. Powder- MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural

 

 

 

5. Bronzer- NARS Laguna

 

 

 

6. Blush- Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Glisten

7. Highlighter- Too Faced Candlelight 

 

 

 

8. Eye Primer- MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

 

 

9. Eyeshadow- Urban Decay Naked Palette

10. Eyeliner- Lancome Art Liner

 

 

 

11. Mascara- Lancome Hypnose (original version)

 

 

 

12. Lipgloss- BareMinerals in Cupcake

 

 

 

13. Lipstick- Tarte Glamazon in Inspired

 

 

 

14. Brow- Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

 

 

 

15. Brush Kit- Real Techniques (every single brush!)

 

 What's in your dream makeup kit?