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...

Well it's that time of the month again - NO sillies...it's time for my favorites for this month!!  It's been a hot month and I've been trying to keep my makeup routine short and sweet, as well as light on my face.  I've also included non-makeup items too...I hope that you enjoy my favorites for the month of June! 1.  Sleek Rose Gold Blush - I love using this blush...it gives my cheeks that perfect rosey-glowy look.  It's not too over the top and yet not too light...it's been my perfect go-to summer blush color. 2.  Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Mineral Foundation - I have been using this duo this month as my everyday foundation routine.  LM tinted moisturizer is by far the best tinted moisturizer that I have tried - this TM has more coverage than others and I like to apply it with a foundation brush like my Sigma F60 .  I then buff on my LM mineral foundation over the TM with either my MAC 182 Buffer Brush or Real ...

To continue on with my Beauty on a Budget series, here are my favorite eye products from the drugstore: The new Color Tattoo cream shadows by Maybelline are awesome! These are a great dupe for MAC paintpots, MUFE Aqua Creams, Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows, etc. These cream shadows are really pigmented, last all day and don't crease. I love wearing them as a base for my shadows or as an all over lid color blended out with a fluffy crease brush and that's it! These are great especially for busy mom's on the go. I also like the L'Oreal Infalliable Eyeshadows.   The formula of these shadows are buttery and soft and remind me of pressed pigments. They are very richly pigmented and last all day as well without creasing (of course I always use a primer before I apply any eye makeup).  They come in a great range of colors, and in a shimmery finish as well as matte finish. Wet n Wild also have great eyeshadow palettes for super cheap. T...

If you know me or follow my blog, then you know that I love me some makeup, especially the luxurious items that make you feel like a million bucks.  But the truth is that my love for makeup started in the drugstore.  I started out using CoverGirl foundation and concealers, Revlon lipsticks, Maybelline eyeshadows, etc.  As I became more infactuated with makeup, I learned that the good quality stuff was found at the department stores and higher end brands.  So off I went to the mall, and I started exploring the different brands and what they had to offer.  I found a few brands that I eventually depended on for my "makeup fix" (i.e. MAC, Urban Decay, Chanel).  And over the last 5-7 years, the R&D's of these "drugstore" brands have greatly improved and they now offer quality makeup that stands up to the higher end brands.  Not to mention that some of these "drugstore" brands are owned by the same conglomerates that own the hig...

So yet another month has come and gone...time is flying.  The warm summer months are already here and it appears that spring just passed right on by.  After our family vacation to Disney, I sort of fell in love with the variety of natural looks I could create using just my cream eye shadows and Urban Decay Naked2 palette.  I have pretty much stuck to a few products each day and just played up or down certain features using most of the same products that I took with me on my trip.  Not to mention, when the weather is hot, you don't want to wear a ton of makeup - you want to look fresh and clean using minimal makeup.  Here are my favorite products for the month of May: 1.  Cream Eyeshadows - Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Makeup Forever Aqua Cream in #13, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in R.S.V.P.    These stay-all-day cream shadows have been a lifesaver! You put them on your lid or all over from your lash line to ...

Whew - did this month fly by! But of course I've been saying that about every month.  I think when you have children, time flies by in the blink of an eye.  Anywho...I love April - not only is it my birthday month but it's the start of the Spring season heading into the warm Summer months.  I purchased a few new products over the past few months and have been using them like crazy.  I have product reviews on some and some are coming in the near future...but here are my favorites for this month: 1.  Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Intense Plum - I love wearing this liner on my bottom lash line to add a POP of color when I feel like wearing a neutral eye - which seemed like almost every day this month.  I have been using this and topping it off with the plum shade in the the Tarte quad mentioned below to lock the liner in place. Gorgeous color, easy to use, creamy and soft to apply, and very pigmented - love this new liner from Cl...