We are now deep into the holiday season. It is a crazy, hectic time. Tis the season for parties and get togethers with family and friends. This is the time of the year we all want to look especially good. I put this look together for a party I was attending using mostly high end beauty products. The products are primarily samples I got while Black Friday shopping at Ulta and Sephora as well as beauty box subscription products. This was also the first time I ever wore a red lipstick. I was feeling especially festive!

 

I began this look by doing my usual cleansing, toning and moisturizer routine. I used Acure Brightening Face Scrub in the shower to get my face totally clean and smooth. I used my Clinique Exfoliating Lotion for Combination/Oily skin followed by Advanced Clinical Vitamin C Serum. After all that my face was ready for Clinique Dramatically Different Gel moisturizer and Clinique All About Eyes for my under eye area. I also use Clinique City Block sunscreen every day. I have several areas of hyperpigmentation already so I don’t skip sunscreen.

When I placed my Sephora Black Friday order I got samples of Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I used the primer for this look. I also got samples of the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation. There were 3 small samples in the colors 140 Ivoire N, 220 Buff C, and 250 Bisque W. The samples were so small that I had to use all three to have enough to get one decent layer on my face. The colors blended well together and provided adequate coverage. The shade was close enough that it looked good.

The only concealers I have are my every day ones. I use Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer and Highlighter in 230 Fair/Light under my eyes. I can’t imagine a more expensive product could work better than this one anyway.  The Avon Extra Lasting Concealer in Light is to cover up the hyperpigmented areas on my face. It does a good job and I am satisfied with it.

I set my foundation and concealer with City Color HD Powder. I don’t care much for this powder. It flies all over the place and feels a bit gritty. It does a fine job setting everything but I don’t like the texture or consistency. This came in an Ipsy bag and I would not buy it once it is gone. Once I had the foundation laid I used Too Faced Chocolate Soliel Matte Bronzer in medium/deep as a contour and bronzer. This was somewhat dark for me so I used  a light touch. If I was purchasing a full sized version I would get a shade better suited for fair skin. I do like it though. I got this and the Tarte blush in a sample kit I bought at Sephora for $39. It had a bunch of deluxe sample sizes of top brands. It was a nice chance to try a lot of brands.

For my blush I used Tarte Amazonian Clay 13 Hour in Pampered. This blush was smooth and creamy and blended in well. The color was a good one for me and would work well on many skin tones. I highlighted with Wet n’ Wild Coloricon Bronzer in 743A Reserve Your Cabana. I’m not sure why this is called a bronzer when it does not bronze at all. It is one of the best highlighters you can buy. I bought it at Dollar General for about $4. It leaves a subtle, natural glow that lasts all day. I can’t imagine that a more expensive brand could do any better than this cheap drugstore brand does.

 

To finish the look I did my eyes and lips. I used the Lorac Unzipped palette for my shadow. I love everything about this palette. The shadows are smooth and creamy with no fallout. They are in nice shades of brown and rose. I used the shade Unspoken (the fourth from the right, bottom row) in the crease. On my lids I used Uncensored (third from the left, bottom row) and Unbridled (last one on the top row) in my outer corner and as an under eye liner. To highlight my brow bone I used Undercover (first color top row). This palette can be used for subtle looks or more dramatic looks. It is very versatile.

To finish my eyes I lined my upper lids with Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in black. It applied easily and did not crease or smear. The color was nice and opaque. For my upper eye lashes I used It Cosmetics Hello Lashes in black. I LOVE this mascara. It is not too wet and not too dry. It makes my lashes crazy long and thick. For my lower lashes I used  Clinique High Impact Mascara in 01 Black. This is a wet mascara that I  like on my lower lashes. It works just as good on my upper lashes but I prefer the Hello Lashes.

I finished this holiday look with Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in the shade Underage Red. This is a creamy lipstick that has minimal transfer and lasts forever. The thing I like about it is that it doesn’t leave that lipstick ring around my lips after I eat or drink

I hope that you have enjoyed my holiday look. I enjoyed putting it on and think that it looks really nice for holiday parties.