It's the product junkie in me! I'm not a fan of the "franchise", but can't help but peruse and purchase the latest and "greatest" on KKW Beauty (and every other cosmetic site I can think of). There's something about the KKW Beauty brand AND it's not the makeup! Admittedly, I have fallen victim to the Kardashian world domination effort.

I love the KKW Beauty packaging. It's good quality and attractive. The brushes are great. They're dense, soft and a pretty shade of pink (me and pink is like a bull headed for a red flag). I haven't washed any of my brushes yet, so I might retract that statement..

I lost the instruction card that came with this light concealer kit, so I watched the KKW Beauty tutorial a few times to be sure I'm getting the application right. The tutorial shows Mario Dedivanovic applying Kim's makeup and explaining his process. Kim Kardashian starts off by saying that Mario doesn't want her to speak during the tutorial, but she continues to chime in.. No surprise there - she is royalty after all!

The concealer is nice. The color in the light kit is No. 4 and suits my pale, olive-toned skin nicely. The texture is medium and blends well. I would compare this concealer to the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer (LOVE this one). The KKW Beauty concealer does have a strange chemical scent - Hmm.. This liquid concealer comes in a small 0.162 oz container and has a doe-foot applicator. It's not gonna last long.

As per the Mario Dedivanovic KKW Beauty tutorial, let the baking begin.. But first, lets put things into perspective here. Kim Kardashian has a near perfect base (no-makeup base) and doesn't have the same struggles as most of us. I'm pushing 40 and masking dark circles is the least of my worries.

I think women of a certain age should stop wearing eye liner and mascara under the eye - makeup is meant to accentuate and why would you want to call attention to your tired, puffy, wrinkled eyes? You don't! Thats is why I avoid powder in this area. It seeps into your wrinkles and creates a dried-up prune"ish" look.

KKW Beauty Baking Powder is no exception and not suitable for anyone with even one wrinkle. This stuff made me look dry AF and only accentuated my wrinkles. I let the baking powder sit for a about 10 minutes and tried to smooth out the result with my beautyblender, but the powder was relentless and caused serious streaks under my eyes.

Step 3 - I applied the Brightening Powder No. 1. I hoped this would finalize the application process and possibly make it look better, but NO! It's too light and I looked like an alien! It definitely covers dark circles, but unless you plan to pile on a ton of makeup, this look is too much. This is not a no-makeup-makeup kinda look.

I have NEVER experienced makeup "boogers" before and was checking may eyes all day to make sure none had returned. I had these pale clumps of goo in the corners of my eyes and am assuming it was the excessive powder under my eyes. GROSS!

Should women approaching or over 40 "bake" their under eyes? NO, keep the baking in the kitchen and I don't mean do your makeup in the kitchen. Women of a certain age should opt for minimal makeup. Eat healthy, drink water and get lots of sleep - leave the faux, too much makeup look to the youngins. Under eye makeup baking is a dangerous zone for most of us.

Albeit, I love the KKW Beauty brushes. The Dual Ended Sponge and Brush Applicator in the concealer kit is perfect for travel. The sponge is great for blending under the eyes and around the nose. This dual-ended brush has landed a permanent spot in my Cosmocube.

I'm sure the KKW brand was created and is backed by expert makeup artists and specialists and suitable for the younger generation, but this kit fell short of my "old" expectations. I was hoping for a perfect look, but ended up with prune face - I get botox three times a year and take good care of my skin, so if this kit accentuated my minimal wrinkles, I'd be cautious if I had a few.

JANUARY 19th - It's been a few days since my initial experience with this kit and my opinion has slightly changed. I'm still not a fan of the the baking powder, BUT I revisited the Brightening Powder No. 1 over my go-to concealers and LOVE the result. I apply Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown concealers, let it sit and after 15-20 min, I gently swept the Brightening Powder No. 1 along the dark areas. This powder made my eyes look brighter and gave me a fresh look. I'm a fan!

..TOODLES 2018. It was a rough one emotionally, but my beauty exploration and fashion addiction survived the madness and remained strong and exciting! I'm heading into 2019 with a new attitude towards health and beauty. My shoe and handbag addiction will probably continue to be ridiculous (by some standards), but 2018 has taught me to make changes, embrace new brands and get creative with my style and makeup.

My biggest obsession is sunglasses. I purchased too many Chloé sunglasses this year! MIU MIU sunnies recently took over my looks, but Chloé reigns supreme on my sunnies shelf.

I just snagged these MIU MIU star embossed sunglasses and Swarovski crystal embellished sunglasses and glasses chain at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. LOVE! I'll be seeing stars in 2019!

My personal style remains the same - chic joggers and sock-style boots with printed t-shirts and sweatshirts. My favorite clothing brands are 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fenty X Puma, Tularosa, GRLFRND, Mother, Spell & The Gypsy Collective, For Love & Lemons, Monrow sweatpants , Karl Lagerfeld and Fiorucci (t-shirts and sweatshirts) and Nation LTD (to name a few).

My infatuation with designer shoes and handbags remains expensive! Louis Vuitton handbags are still taking over my collection. I finally found myself an LV sales representative in New York and she's fabulous. Some LV bags are impossible to get (unless you have a rep). She snagged me a Summer Trunk tote and Time Trunk Alma handbag as soon as they hit the sales floor. She's my handbag fairy!

After a five year hiatus, Gucci has made a comeback in my collection. My husband tracked down a Gucci bag I had been coveting for months and gave it to me for our 10 year anniversary. Best gift a girl could get! AND, of course, I'm still a Chloé girl and LOVE Chloé handbags.

I LOVE BOOTS! I'm still rocking Fendi Rockoko and Yeezy sock-style boots. I purchased too many Adidas sneakers in 2018, got some Chloé boots and a new pair of Fendi fur slides (possibly the best purchase of 2018). I'm looking forward to summer, so I can strut around in my mew Fendi slides.

Another year gone and while I spent most of my time shopping and exploring new beauty products, my go-to brands remain the same. For anti-aging, Neocutis is my favorite. I got a mini fridge for Christmas and am keeping my Neocutis products in there. Applying cold eye and face creams is new to me and I love it! AND, I still love Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Face Cream (great for calming rosacea) and Extra Eye Repair Cream.

My favorite make-up brands list has changed a little. Benefit Cosmetics, Too Faced, Dior and beautyblender reign supreme in my Cosmocube. Oh and there's a few KKW Beauty products in there too - love the brushes. My long-time favorites, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are still taking up some real estate in the cube.

I still get IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Treatment) and Clear + Brilliant laser Treatment. These two combined leave my skin looking fresh, vibrant and reduce the appearance of my rosacea. They are painful and expensive, but worth it. I'm also still doing botox. I've had a few botched jobs and am a little turned off, but I think it's about finding the right dermatologist..

My hair is finally back to normal. I suffered from botched hair for two years and it was a struggle. The silver lining is that I tried too many hair care products and shared my thoughts on b.a.gorgie.com. I hope my product reviews helped a few of you. Surprisingly, I introduced a new shampoo and conditioner to the routine in 2018. My long-time favorite Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil shampoo and conditioner still have a permanent spot in the shower, but now I'm alternating with Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance conditioner. This stuff is amazing!

I tried Coolsculpting and got "minimal results". Highly disappointing. After waiting four months for maximum results and feeling like I spent too much money and wasted my time, I decided to start working out (there are no shortcuts). I also changed my eating habits. I'm eating healthier and smaller portions. I'm proud to say, I've lost 14 lbs. YUP! It was a slow process (took an entire year)! I have another 6 lbs to go and am hoping to get a MIRROR Home Gym in the 2019. HINT HINT.. I'm also considering the new fat reducing procedure Vanquish. I'll let ya know how it goes.

My favorite body wash and creams are Sol de Janeiro and Aveeno (for those sensitive days). The caramel-pistachio scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum body cream, Brazilian Crush body mist and Brazilian 4 Play moisturizing shower cream-gel are delicious! This cosmetic brand has made a few appearances on the blog and still reigns supreme.

That's my favorite cosmetics, procedures, fashion brands and style diary for 2018. I'm still a cosmetic junkie and am obsessed with shoes and handbags. I have a few trips in 2019 and am already planning my outfits..

I've spent too much money on products and procedures to keep my face fresh and young, all the while, neglecting my neck & décolleté. Mind you, I'm still in my thirties and my skin looks great, but it's never to soon to implement an all-over, anti-aging routine. My décolleté looks fine (no wrinkles yet), but I do have two deep lines across my neck - I'm sure these lines are due to staring down at the phone and keyboard. Posture is not my strong suit!

I initially considered cosmetic procedures, BUT due to my last two duds, I am reluctant. Both Kybella and Cool Sculpting failed to diminish unwanted fat on my chin and abdomen respectively. Maybe that's my super power - invincible fat cells! In the end, it's a lot of money wasted and minimal results. So the search to find supreme anti-aging products for the neck and décolleté begins.. Oh and I'm realizing exercise is a must for the body - there's no easy solution to reducing body fat!

I've been applying Neocutis anti-aging products for years. So, of course I turned to my favorite anti-aging brand in search of an anti-wrinkle product for my neck. While perusing the internet, I also came across the "miracle" treatment - Spencer Barnes LA Neck, Chin & Jawline Instant Sculpting Wand. Sounds promising! I'm thinking these two products are gonna do wonders for my necklines..

The Spencer Barnes LA Neck, Chin & Jawline Instant Sculpting Wand claims to take 10 years off your neck, chin and jawline! That's a BIG statement. There are before and after pics on the Spencer Barnes LA site that show dramatic results, but there's no indication of how long these individuals have been using the wand? It says you will see initial results and further affects thereafter. This "no needle, no filter, no surgeon" product seems too good to be true!

The sculpting wand is easy to use and the application feels nice. Just pump out the product by pressing the button on the bottom of the wand (one pump is enough) and glide the stainless silver ball along our neck, chin and jawline. Horizontal and vertical movements along your skin will ensure an even product application and the mini neck massage is kinda nice.

The product has a cooling sensation and dries fairly quickly. If you need an extra boost, you can apply again five minutes later. The scent is light and swiftly diminishes - good, cause it's not so great!

I did not see a dramatic transformation after the first application, or the second, third.. After many weeks, my neck lines do appear slightly less intense (maybe 20% less visible). Along with daily use of the Neocutis Micro Firm Neck & Décolleté Rejuvenating Complex, these two products are making a big difference, BUT which one is driving the anti-wrinkle bus?

I really like the Neocutis Micro Firm Neck & Décolleté Rejuvenating Complex. The jar is innovative and dispenses just enough product to cover my neck & décolleté - simply remove the cover, push down on the white surface and a perfectly portioned dollop appears. Massage the rejuvenating cream along your neck & décolleté morning and night.

YES, I have noticed a change in my neck wrinkles over the past month. My wrinkles appear softer and my neck more youthful. Admittedly, I use the Neocutis Micro Firm Neck & Décolleté Rejuvenating Complex everyday and the Spencer Barnes LA Neck, Chin & Jawline Sculpting Wand a few times a week - SO, I'm gonna brand the Neocutis product as the anti-aging culprit here.

I've been applying Neocutis Bio Essential Lumiére Eye Cream for years. My dermatologist highly recommends this anti-aging brand. I love it and was super excited to learn that Neocutis launched a new line called Micro Essentials. I haven't swayed from my long-time serum and eye cream until now.

The Neocutis Micro Eyes Rejuvenating Cream has the same consistency, barely-there scent and feel of the Bio Essentials Eye Cream. It kinda feels like the exact eye cream. Albeit, sometimes we just need a change. Whether or not it's making a difference is irrelevant, cause physiologically, it's new and supposedly making a difference. I do however like this product and have permanently swapped my Neocutis Bio Essential Lumiére Eye Cream for the Neocutis Micro Eyes Rejuvenating Cream.

This product is lightweight, dries swiftly and doesn't irritate. I highly recommend applying the Micro Serum to your under eyes prior to applying the Micro Eyes rejuvenating Cream. It's the perfect anti-aging combination for the skin around your eyes.

Since I was already shopping the Neocutis Micro Essentials lineup, why not get a new facial cream too!? I use Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream daily - this stuff is great under makeup and smells super fresh. But, I'm aging and realize it may be time to introduce an anti-aging facial cream.

The Neocutis Micro Day Rejuvenating Cream with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 is AMAZING! The product is lightweight and tinted. It blends nicely and gives you an immediate softer appearance. Oh, and it contains that magical Hyaluronic Acid that everyones talkin' about (insert sarcasm)! Yeah, I'm sure Hyaluronic Acid is a key ingredient in anti-aging products, but the mention of this ingredient is getting old (pun intended).

I love this facial cream. I still apply Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream under makeup (I rarely wear makeup), but every other day, the Neocutis Micro Day Rejuvenating Cream with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 is enough to brighten my complexion and nourish my skin.

Dr. Jart+ Shake & Shot rubber masks use the same technique found in high-end Korean spas. The cream-to-sheet deeply penetrates the skin, infusing it with active ingredients to combat the usual issues - hydrate, brighten, firm and sooth. Each mask is comes in a small, colorful cup, with a plastic, moulded face lid. The packaging is genius, super fun and appealing.

I purchased the Dr. Jart+ Shake & Shot Rubber Soothing Mask purely due to the color scheme of the packaging. AND am so glad I did, cause I've been battling a cold and sore throat this last week and my face says it all - I need a little soothing. My rosacea is on fire these days and the skin on and around my nose is super dry and irritated. I need a facial miracle!

The The 'Shake it Up! Give Skin a Shot!' steps are easy - Use the spatula to mix the Super Booster and Soothing Liquid Ampoule in the cup. Close the lid, cover the hole with your finger and shake it up. Within 2-3 minutes, use the spatula to apply an even layer of the product all over your face (avoid eyes and mouth). Leave for 15-20 minutes. Start at the edges of the rubber mask and gently peel it off. Use a damp cloth to remove any residue.

The process is easy and kinda fun! You only have to give the cup a quick shake and you'll feel the product getting thick. The final result is a heavy paste. Applying an even layer with the spatula was difficult, so I suggest spreading the product with your fingers. There is a lot of solution - two people could share one cup of rubber mask. The solution has a barely there cream-like scent (I like that). It does feel little cool on the face, but my air conditioning is cranked, so..

Removing the mask was interesting. The product morphed into rubber and peeled off easily. There was a little residue, but I was able to remove it with a damp cotton pad. Being that this is a Rubber 'Soothing' Mask, I was surprised to see my face flare up. My forehead immediately turned red and I had red blotches everywhere else. My skin remained this way for hours. My skin felt a little dehydrated and the dry skin around my nose was intensified. I had high hopes for rubber masks, but this one fell short of my expectations.

The process was fun and I can check rubber masks off my list, but I much prefer charcoal masks and an exfoliator. My go-to masks are the M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator with the Mineralize Reset & Revive Charcoal Mask AND the Bobbi Brown Instant Detox Mask, followed by the Radiance Boost Mask (exfoliator). Search these products on b.a.gorgie to get a full review..

I'm a longtime fan of Bobbi Brown products, but as of late, have been dabbling in other cosmetics brands. Taking a hiatus from Bobbi Brown was the best decision - now I have twenty-plus cosmetic brands in my GIANT Cosmocube and way too much makeup and skin care products! It's been a journey, but my cosmetic knowledge has expanded dramatically and I'm a better beauty blogger for it. Albeit, there's still more Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in my cube than any other name - this luxurious brand is still up there on my favorites list. So, I'm back on the BB bandwagon and am talkin' about luminous skin..

I've tried all of the Bobbi Brown remedies and like some more than others - the Skin Reviver No 91 Power Greens Ferment and Skin Moisture Solution No 86 Intense Rehydration Compound are an essential part of my daily skincare routine.

I recently purchased the Skin Brightener No 42 Luminosity and Radiance Boost, and I like it. The solution is light and absorbs quickly. I apply all three serums first thing every morning. My face feels refreshed and my complexion is better for it. The Skin Brightener No 42 exfoliates your skin, targeting discoloration and increases cell turnover. I don't think this stuff has changed my life AND I have nice skin to begin with, but another light-weight serum can't be bad for ya! The scent is a little off-putting - don't worry, your face won't smell funky.

I received the Bobbi Brown Retouching Face Pencil Illuminate as a gift with purchase (BB has the best online exclusive gifts). The creamy, matte pencil is perfect for precise highlighting. I use this pencil on the inner corner of my eyes, brow bone and cupids bow. The pearlized pale peach shade goes great with my mostly peach and pink shades of eye shadow and blush. The Retouching Face Pencil glides on nicely and stays put - even on my oily skin. The highlight is not subtle and doesn't blend easily, so be careful when applying it.

Bobbi Brown All Over Glow is a liquid-gel hybrid that gives you intense facial highlighting or an all over body glow. The solution is medium weight and initially feels a little sticky - within seconds the product has an oily texture. Upon application the highlight may seem intense, but this product blends nicely and if used properly, gives you a natural dewy look.

The formula consists of micro gold bits and Squalane - this is derived from Olive Oil and has ability to mimic skins natural sebum. Squalane is often found in moisturizers. I'm dewy enough, so this All Over Glow is too much for my face, BUT I like to smooth some on my arms, shoulders and down the front of my calves - body highlighting is essential. You can kinda see the glow along my forearm in this pic.

The packaging is neat - just twist the bottle and the pump extends from the top. It's only 12 ml, so using this as a body highlighter isn't economical. Maybe Bobbi Brown will release a larger version for the body?! Hint hint..

Move over Bobbi Brown - Benefit Cosmetics has swiftly become one of my favorite brands. The high-quality makeup comes in fun, feminine packaging AND 'some' of the makeup scents are delicious (others - not so much). Scented makeup may not be for everyone (I'm sensitive to smells), but sometimes a light scent on your face and décolletage is nice. If you are sensitive, this palette is not for you - it stinks (in a perfume stinky kinda way)!

The Blush Bar palette has six full-size bronzers and blushes. Three of which have an embellished imprint - I love that! GALifornia, Gold Rush and Rocketeer are three different, but equally beautiful blush shades. The GALifornia is my favorite. It's the perfect coral shade for summer. Gold Rush is a light neutral shade - a warm golden-nectar blush with a radiant finish. Rockateer is a rose gold cheek powder. Dandelion is a brightening baby-pink blush for the perfect soft, flushed look. AND the Hoola matte bronzer is light, buildable and gives you the perfect sun kissed look.

This palette has everything you need to brighten and bronze your face. The powders blend nicely and the Blush Bar comes with a Benefit Cosmetics signature 'Tips and Tricks' booklet. There is also a signature mini powder brush. I'm not a fan of this brush and prefer to use a different blush brush for each shade. That aside, this blush and bronzer Blush Bar is a perfectly curated powder palette for summer.

I'm a no-makeup makeup kinda girl. The first and last time I swayed from my barley there eye makeup routine, I applied blue mascara AND had a severe allergic reaction to the blue dye! Back to my skin-tone eye shadows and black mascara... I love nude eye shadow palettes, but they usually contain darker shades for a smokey look and I rarely go beyond a dark skin-toned eye shadow. All my eye shadow palettes are slowly withering in my Cosmocube. Albeit, I'm still addicted to eye shadow palettes and have too many! I'm more inclined to purchase single eye shadows and create my own perfectly nude palette.

My barley there eye makeup routine consists of seven pink-toned and skin-toned eye shadows, maybe a little sparkle and lots of layers. BUT, first prep + prime is essential. I'm obsessed with eye creams. I use Benefit Cosmetics It's Potent! Eye Cream or Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Eye Cream under my concealer and shadows, and Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream in the AM - yes, I have a wakeup and refresh skincare routine and then a prep + prime for makeup application routine. For anti-aging, I use Neocutis Lumiére Bio-restoraive Serum Powered by PSP and Neocutis Lumiére Eye Cream with PSP before bed. This stuff is amazing!

The Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Eye Cream To Go is compact and the doe-foot applicator is super soft. The hydrating eye cream is light, silky and the perfect under-makeup moisturizer. Your under-eye area feels smooth and refreshed. This 6 ml travel size lip gloss-like tube (limited edition) is convenient and perfect for travel. I prefer this on-the-go applicator over the original Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Eye Cream pot.

Primers are essential to an even skin-tone. Yes, your eyelids need a little primer too. Laura Mercier Eye Basics eyelid primer is like foundation for your eyelids. This primer is available in six shades - even a pale blue to brighten your lids. The foundation-like primer is creamy, conceals discoloration and creates the perfect base for eye-makeup. Eyelid primer is a must-have for the perfect nude(ish) look.

Back to my perfectly procured list of barely there shadows. I have to admit, I'm not a huge M.A.C fan, but the pink and skin-tone eye shadow selection is vast. The on-trend shades are gorgeous and the pigmented eye shadows last all day on your lids. I typically start with the lightest shade, apply pink-tone eye shadow to my lids and then two darker shades at the outer corner of my eyelids and in the crease. The final look is subtle, but makes my eyes appear uniform and brighter.

Apply Brulé satin eye shadow all over (up to your brow), Orb satin eye shadow all over (up to your brow), Malt matte eye shadow from the crease to your lashes, Grain satin eye shadow along the crease and blend Arena satin eye shadow from the outer corner and along the crease. Gorgeous! The subtle layers create dimension and elevate your natural, no-makeup makeup look.

I have been a fan of Sephora Collection eye shadows for years. The selection 'was' vast, the eye shadows are inexpensive and the pink-toned shades met my eye-makeup needs. There doesn't seem to be a big selection of the Colorful shadows anymore? Sephora still creates beautiful shadow palettes, but the single eye shadows are becoming obsolete. Bummer, cause I love the Sephora Colorful luster matte shadow in Desert Rose. The light pink shade is perfect for those 'I don't have time for makeup' days.

The Sephora Colorful glitter eye shadow in Walking in the Sand is a similar pink shade but has a little sparkle. I use this eye shadow to highlight the center or inner corner of my lids. This one is on sale at Spehora.com - Imma stock up.

I kinda wish I was aware that Sephora is discontinuing the Colorful eye shadow collection before I included two of my favorites in this list, BUT you can use these shades as a reference.. AND, it takes forever to shoot and edit these photos - Sephora Colorful eye shadows shall remain on my perfectly procured barely there eye makeup list.

Let me kick this off by saying, I'm not a fan of facial sprays. Some sprays are meant to prep the skin and some to set your makeup - either way, soaking my face with infused liquid is another step I'm not sure is necessary or beneficial. BUT, when the M.A.C Mineralize collection launched, I had to have all three facial products. AND, now I'm a fan!

The M.A.C Mineralize Charged Water Charcoal Spray is super light-weight and feels nice on your skin. This mineralized facial spray is scent free (I like that) and adds a little extra moisture after treatments. I don't use it to prep my skin, but I do like to spritz my face after exfoliating with M.A.C Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator and a five minute M.A.C Mineralize Reset & Revive Charcoal Mask treatment. These three M.A.C Mineralize treatments have landed a permanent spot in my weekly routine. Move over Bobbi Brown masks - there's a new brand on the shelf!

I really like the M.A.C Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. The grains are large and you can feel that the super-exfoliating treatment is removing dead skin, leaving your complexion fresh and revived. The product lathers (kinda strange), but it feels refreshing and leave your skin feeling super soft. The scent is a little off-putting, but the refreshing result makes up for the less than desirable smell.

After exfoliating, I use the M.A.C Mineralize Reset & Revive Charcoal Mask. This mask reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Instant Detox mask. It goes on thick and dries like clay. In combination with the exfoliator and charcoal spray - this regiment is worth the time. I love the M.A.C Mineralize triple treatment - my skin looks great, refreshed and void of the previous weeks damage.

This triple-treatment is very similar to Bobbi Brown Cosmetics masks. Exfoliate, detox (with charcoal) and moisturize seem to be trend here. I do prefer the Bobbi Brown masks collection, BUT will absolutely use the M.A.C Mineralize treatments regularly for an extra facial boost. I LOVE exfoliating and charcoal infused facial masks. I promise you - these treatments make a difference.

The M.A.C Snow Ball collection is AMAZING! I wish I was privy to the launch sooner, cause many items sold out before I had the chance to splurge. The collection is winter themed, sparkly and festive. This Christmas I put the Here Comes Joy Face Powder in my stocking - yes, I filled my stocking with amazing gifts. The high-impact shimmer highlights your face and illuminates your complexion. Apply to your cheek bones, brighten your eyes and create a luminescent finish on your décolletage.

I love the Festive Bling! crystal and glitter festive adornment. It's the perfect accessory for a sparkly event. You can apply the adornment as shown or use individual pieces for a custom look. This face or body bling is unique and fun. The crystal and glitter snowflake adornment can be reworn - just gently remove from your skin and place back on the card till your next 'sparkly event'.

I'm a makeup brush addict. Especially, travel makeup brushes. Every year I purchase a Bobbi Brown brush set, but this year I went with M.A.C Cosmetics brush sets. I'm kinda in a M.A.C mood these days.. During the holidays M.A.C Cosmetics releases a themed collection. Last year the theme was the Nutcracker. I love the cosmetic bags from last years collection. This past holiday season was the Snow Ball collection. A winter themed collection with sparkles, sparkles, sparkles..

I don't really need all three makeup brush sets - I don't 'need' any makeup brushes! But each set had something I wanted, so I purchased all of them. I'm beyond happy with the quality of these brushes. The bristles are super soft and the glitter-embellished handles add a little sparkle to my cosmetic/travel bag. I especially like the brow groomer - the brush is big and the bristles are soft. It's a great brush for taming your brows.

The silver brush set contains your basic brushes - powder, pointed foundation, all-over shadow, smudging liner and brow groomer. The gold brush set includes an angled powder, angled foundation, angled large shadow, angled small shadow and pointed liner brush. The little rose gold set (my favorite color and bag) has three brushes - a powder, large shadow and small angled brush. Each brush set comes with a sparkly cosmetic bag. They each have a fluffy pompom (love that).

The silver and gold makeup brush sets are in the 'goodbyes' section online, so they're on sale and will soon be out of stock. These makeup brush sets would be a great Valentines Day gift..

Yeah, I have thirteen makeup highlighters - I realize it's a little unnecessary! The first highlighting makeup I purchased was Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm, and the rest.. well.. I'm a product junkie!

Highlighting, low-lighting and contouring are a must these days. AND there are hundreds of highlighting products to choose from. Before I get in to the specifics, they're all similar. Yeah, the only major difference is whether the product is a solid (creamy-stick), dewy-balm-like stick, powder or liquid. Maybe some have anti-aging qualities or contain SPF, but aside from texture, color and sheen, they're closely related. Here's what I have to say about some of the more popular highlighting products..

Want a slight glow - Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm is subtle and effective. Application is smooth and the barely-there sheen is flattering. Another BB liquid highlighter is Bobbi Brown Face Highlighter. This light liquid will give you super-shiny highlight. It has a strong gold-tone, and there's a whole lot of sparkle in this product. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance has a gold-tone and lots of micro sparkles. This light liquid is a bit much for my facial skin, but looks great on legs and shoulders - mix with your body moisturizer and blend well. Primers are great for subtle brightening.

BECCA Backlight Filter Face Primer is unique in that it blurs imperfections, while giving your skin a radiant glow. The super-lightweight liquid absorbs nicely. There is a subtle glow, but barely-there sheen. Be warned, this product has a strong scent (for those who are sensitive). Like the Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm and Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance, this product is for priming your skin. The effect is subtle, but makes a difference. 

Want a dewy look? Ciaté Dewy Stick has a balm-like texture that glides on oh so smoothly giving your skin a low-shimmer, dewy glow. This The super-light balm is creamy (not tacky). This multipurpose product nourishes your skin, illuminates and leaves a wet-dewy-like sheen. LOVE! Glossier Haloscope is similar, but has more shimmer. The dual-delivery formula combines makeup and skincare. The inner solid oil core contains vitamin-rich minerals, while the outer circle contains genuine crystal extracts. This two-in-one product is lightweight and high-shimmer. Both these dew-infusing products are great for those no makeup days.

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My go-to highlighters are MILK Makeup Highlighter (perfect for body), Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-powder Highlighter (favorite), and tréStiQue Mini Highlight & Perfect Multipurpose Stick. MILK Makeup Highlighter is the size of a round deodorant. The larger surface allows for great body application. The product melts with your body heat and blends nicely. I use it on my legs and arms. The Watt's Up! Cream-to-powder Highlighter is the perfect shade (on pale or sun-kissed skin), and the little sponge applicator is handy when you're on the road. I use a damp Beauty Blender (with water and Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir) to blend the Watt's Up! highlighter. The tréStiQue Highlight & Perfect Multipurpose Stick is a similar shade and texture to the Watt's Up! The cream-gel product glides on smoothly, and the luminescent shade is perfect on sun-kissed skin.

Powder highlighter is still my go-to finishing touch. I LOVE Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Pink Glow. The cool-pink highlights are nice on pale skin, and the effect is subtle (apply lightly). I use a fan brush to lightly sweep the product across my cheek bones. For more intense shimmer, I use a dense brush and sweep the powder down the bridge of my nose and across my cupids bow. This product is for specific highlighting (not an all-over glow). This powder highlighter is perfect for a little extra light-reflective glow.

I consider highlighting a necessity. Even when your skin looks drab and downright yucky - highlighting will do wonders for your complexion. Apply an all-over illuminator to, well.. allover. Apply makeup highlighter to your cheek bones, down the bridge of your nose (don't go all the way to the tip) and across your cupids bow. Fake a fresh glow and highlight.