Happy Tuesday! December is over and January is in full swing, which means it’s time for me to share my December favorites with all of you. While I did post a Top 10 series featuring my year-long favorites for 2015, I wanted to highlight some products that I focused on in December. I have a good mix of beauty, skincare, and miscellaneous favorites, so let’s go ahead and jump right into the post!
MAKEUP
Maybelline BROWdrama Pro Palette in Blonde [BUY]
I spotted this brand new eyebrow palette at CVS a few weeks ago, and decided to pick it up because I had a coupon and Maybelline was on sale. I’m so glad I did! I’ve heard mixed reviews from other bloggers, but I’m really enjoying this palette. The color matches my brows perfectly, and I love that it comes with a spoolie and angled brush. I plan on doing a full review soon, so keep an eye out for that!
L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Blush in Baby Blossom [BUY]
Another makeup product I’ve been loving is this blush from L’Oreal. I purchased this one specifically because of the light pink shade. I wanted a blush that looks really natural with my fair skin tone, and this one is perfect! It is a bit shimmery, but not so much that it’s over the top. I’m so glad I got this blush, because it is really wearable and has a great formula.
SKINCARE
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea & Blackberry [BUY]
It’s no surprise that winter weather brings dry skin and lips! For some reason I didn’t own a medicated lip balm that wasn’t tinted, so I decided to pick up a Jack Black one after hearing so many beauty gurus rave about it. I got the Black Tea & Blackberry scent, and I have to say I really like it. The texture is different than a normal lip balm, but it’s not sticky or liquidy – it’s more of a gel. I’m glad I spent a little more on this product, as it works really well!
The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 [BUY]
I began using a new moisturizer in December, and so far it’s been doing a great job! I like that this Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer is light and that it has sun protection. However, I don’t like the citrusy smell! I’ve used a few other Vitamin C products in the past, and none of them smelled like oranges. Luckily, the scent doesn’t linger once the product settles into the skin!
BOOK
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling – Illustrated Edition [BUY]
I’ve been a huge Harry Potter fan my entire life. I went to the book releases, movie releases, and I own perhaps too much memorabilia. Nonetheless, I just had to get the new illustrated edition, and I’m so glad I received it for Christmas. I started reading it on Christmas and finished it the next day. I’m not usually a fan of illustrated books, but it’s Harry Potter, and that made me love it. I can’t wait for the next book to come out in all of its illustrated glory!
HOBBIES
Shopkins [BUY]
I’ve been adoring Shopkins ever since I saw YouTuber Grav3yardGirl post her first unboxing video. They are so cute, but I had no purpose for them, so I decided to save my money. Flash forward to Christmas, when I found a blind basket in my stocking! I was so excited! I decided that I would get a small glass jar and keep my Shopkins in there. That way, I can take my time filling the jar, and stop when it’s reached the top.
Coloring
Adult coloring is so trendy right now, and I finally jumped on board, too. I got a Christmas-themed book at Barnes & Noble that is pictured above, and the Harry Potter coloring book is on its way (though it’s currently back-ordered!). I like to color while I’m watching TV at night. It’s a lot of fun!
That wraps up my December favorites! December is always a busy month, and I am glad it’s come to a close so I can focus on the new year. I’m excited to have a fresh start, and I hope your 2016 is going well so far! Please share your favorites with me in the comments!
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Violet Voltage is a light purple nail polish packed with a subtle magenta shimmer. The formula is perfection, and is opaque in two coats. I am loving this color of polish! While it’s not totally unique, the shimmer does add a nice punch to it. I also really like how Violet Voltage looks with my fair skin tone. I followed up the manicure with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat, by the way. It’s my new favorite!
I am so bad when it comes to taking care of my skin! One of my recurring makeup bad habits is not taking off my makeup before bed. I know, it’s terrible! This year I want to make sure I go through an entire skincare routine both morning and evening. That way I can put my best face forward!
It’s a cliche New Year’s Resolution, but I definitely want to focus on my overall health more than ever. For me, this includes taking the daily vitamins recommend by my doctor, exercising on a regular basis, and eating better foods. As you may know, I am a vegetarian, and this year I want to truly embrace my vegetarianism by focusing more on produce and less on grains and dairy. I don’t aim to go vegan right now, but I know that putting good foods into my body will make me feel a lot better. To go along with this, I want to continue trying new recipes on a regular basis!
Last but not least, I always set a reading goal on the website Goodreads. This past year I was able to read 50 books, and I’m setting my goal at 40 for 2016 so I don’t put pressure on myself. I also want to make an effort to read longer books, so I should have a nice cushion with a goal of 40. Here are the books I received for Christmas this past year. I’m so excited to get to them all!
I got this bright coral blush in a Birchbox, and was surprised at how much l loved it! The blush is very pigmented, and has quite a bit of shimmer. Somehow it looked great on my fair skin! I wore it a ton this past summer. It is a high end product, but worth the splurge if you’re looking for an amazing blush.
I was really excited to find a new highlighter line at the drugstore by L’Oreal. I had to get the rose gold one, just because I love anything rose gold. This highlight is no exception! It is quite shimmery, but it works. I wore it a lot in the summer and fall, and will definitely reach for it again once winter is over. Don’t forget to use coupons on this one!
I’ve become really obsessed with Buxom in the past couple of months, and my favorite lip product thus far is Dolly. It is the perfect shade of mauve-pink, and it is so easy to wear. Plus, it feels great on my lips. I’ve been reaching for this consistently since I got it, and even wore it for Christmas Eve!
Thanks for your support!
3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saénz 
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 
I absolutely drooled over the Zoya Satins collection when it was released. My favorite of the bunch is definitely Brittany. It is just the perfect polish, with a flawless formula and a stunning pale pink shade. I need to wear this again very soon!
Okay, it’s time for another blue polish. Beatnik is just gorgeous, and I don’t know what else to say about it. The rich pigmentation is just so beautiful!
You can laugh at me, because I know Sia is super similar to Beatnik. But it’s just a bit brighter in tone, and the formula is just perfect. I wore Sia a lot when I first received it, and I’m feeling the need to put it on my nails as I type up this blog post!
This is the last blue-toned polish, I promise! The good news is Breaking Blues is more of a periwinkle shade, and I just love it. That’s why it’s number two on my list! The color is quite unique, and it works in any season.
My number one polish of 2015 is Chilly Pepper from KBShimmer. I cannot believe I’m saying this, as I’ve tended to bash red nail polishes in the past because of my pink-toned skin. Somehow KBShimmer has created the perfect red polish that looks good on me. Not only was it a go-to for the holiday season, but it’s the red I will grab from now on. You must get it!
I began my silver and gold manicure with a base of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 
First up, I tested the BB Créme, which is a lightweight and liquid product just like any traditional BB créme. This 5 in 1 product is designed to protect skin, minimize pores, erase imperfections, smooth the skin, and brighten the skin. I am the shade 01 Light, which is the lightest shade available. I tried it both with a face primer and without. I much prefer to use it with a primer, because I found that the product disappears into my skin without that extra barrier. In order to get any coverage at all, I have to use a lot of this product – way more than I would ever use my normal BB crémes. I also found that the product has a scent that was off-putting. While I didn’t smell anything while it was on my face, I definitely smelled something during application. It made me not want to use the product at all! I did find that the BB Créme wore nicely throughout the day, and I liked the appearance of my skin overall. If you’re looking for a really affordable BB créme option, you might try this one for yourself. I, however, wouldn’t repurchase it for my skin.
