The Musings of a Working Mom

Happy New Year!  And what a year it has been?  It's been a year since I started my blog and one of my first posts was a list of my 2011 favorites...and here we have come round full circle to my favorites list of 2012.   But first off I want to thank all of you for your continued support and for coming back to read my blog posts, commenting, and subscribing to my blog.  This blog has been my side project and my baby (outside of my real babies).  I have had so much fun writing for this blog and doing my "research" (i.e. having a great excuse to buy makeup and beauty products).  I have done quite of bit of "research" this year and have found a lot of great low-end and high-end products that have become my favorites for this past year.  This blog has also allowed me to try beauty products outside of my beloved MAC brand and I have found some amazing products at all price points.  It has taken me quite some time to compile my list but here are my fav...

Here are my favorite makeup brushes for FACE: FYI - I am not sponsored by Sigma brushes but I do have an affiliate link on my pages, which means if you click and purchase any brushes via my link, I will receive a commission from your purchase.  But I would not mention any products that I do not love to use and would not mislead you in order to make any money.  Having said that, I do love their brushes!  I have purchased both their Premium Professional kit as well as their Essential Kit, and a couple of their Sigmax precision face brushes (F82/F84).  These brushes, in my opinion, are comparable to MAC brushes but are a fraction of the prices of the MAC brushes. For face, I love using a couple of brushes and one "tool".  For liquid foundation, I love using my  Sigma Sigmax F84 Angled Kabuki Brush  and my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.  For powder and mineral foundations, I love using the Real Techniques Buffing brush, MAC 182 Kabuki brus...

I know that I'm soo late to the game with respects to this foundation but that's only because I have so many other foundations that I really didn't feel the need to buy or try this one out....until now.  I had some CVS bucks that I needed to use and they had a Buy One Get One 50% off so I decided to try it out.  And I'm so glad that I did!!  This foundation is so amazing and and this price point - it's fricken amazing!!!  I have to say that this foundation is comparable to my high end foundations.  I have been loving it so much that I have been wearing it every day since I bought it.  The finish leaves my skin looking flawless and impeccable.  I love that this foundation doesn't settle into any lines (my laugh lines in particular) and looks matte all day.  I chose the formula designed for oily to combination skin and I really love that this foundation has different formulations for different skin types.  And their color range...

Packing for trips are never fun - you want to pack everything but you can't.  I usually end up packing for way more days than I'm travelling because you just don't know when you might need to wear this or that, or need to wear a different type of shoe for day and night.  And the same goes for my makeup - you never know when you might want to wear a natural eye, or a smokey eye, or bold colors or...well, you get it.  So you end up packing more palettes than you need and more makeup products than you'll use.  Well, my family and I just came back from our 5 day vacation at Walt Disney World. We had a blast and the looks on the kids faces when they saw their favorite Disney characters were priceless.  Anywho...I knew while packing my makeup and hair supplies for our trip that we would be out and about for very long hours and that the weather would be 90 degrees plus.  So knowing this, I tried to pack minimally but pick products that are lo...

Well another month has passed by and I still can't seem to follow my new years resolution to buy no more new makeup for 6 months!!! But it has given me the opportunity to branch out and find new products that I wouldn't have tried previously.  However, I am trying to use up the makeup products that I have and I do try to think twice before buying anything new (I ask myself if I really do need to buy this item - doesn't work all of the time but I am trying!).  Anyway, here are my favorite products for this month: Beauty Blender - I got this last month in my Birchbox and I can see why people love this makeup tool!!  This tool leaves an airbrushed effect on your skin when applying foundation.  I love that it leaves my foundation looking airbrushed.  All you have to do is dampen the sponge and apply the foundation either on your skin or on the back of your hand, and then work the product onto your skin.  I like to start out by stippling the foundation on a...

This month went by pretty fast especially since February is shortest month of the year (plus 1 more day this year).  I kind of fell into a rut and have been using a lot of the same products day after day but there were a couple of products that stuck out for me, especially since I recently purchased a new storage unit/organizer in my bathroom and I had to reorganize all of my makeup and beauty supplies.  I found a lot of previously loved products that got pushed aside but have recently found my love again.  There have also been some recent purchases that I've been using quite frequently for my "quick go-to" looks. 1.  Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer - I purchased this last month and absolutely love this concealer.  Not only does it conceal my dark undereye circles, but they also brighten the area and help make me look more well rested and awake.  The sponge tip applicator feels so nice on the skin but I acutally end up using my fingers to bl...