Part 2 of 2 - There can be only one...

What can I say...

 Welcome to Part 2! Did Part 1 get you thinking about what your own choices would be?

I have to admit, Part 2 was MUCH more difficult to determine. How did I find a way to pick out just one mascara and lipstick? Keep going and you'll find out!

Brows:
Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel in Rich Brown | $21

Tarte came out with this product over the Summer using their new colored clay ingredients. What I love about it is how natural it looks after application. It tints the brows and grooms them into place without streaking, and it stays put all day long. Be aware that trying to build the product up for more color will make your brows tacky. It was made to be subtle, so if you want those deep dramatic brows this product is not for you. For me and my brows though, it's just the right thing.

Mascara:
Too Faced Better Than Sex | $23

If I could pick only one pet peeve with makeup products it would be fall out from mascara. Plain and simple, fall out looks horrendous. If you have sensitive skin like me it can also cause your eyes and delicate eye area to sting, swell, and turn red. I want a mascara with little to no fall out, that doesn't irritate my eyes, and makes my lashes look amazing. I've discovered a few that meet my needs, but this one wins hands down. This mascara works for every day with one coat. If I use Too Faced co-founder Jerrod Blandino's three coat method though, my lashes look better than when I wear false ones. If I'm really careful when I apply it there is no clumping to speak of. This is a mascara that really does live up to the hype.

Eyeliner:
Inika Certified Organic Eyeliner in Black | $20

I'm not going to lie. I like eyeliner, but I LOATHE applying it. It's part of the reason I don't have very many of them even though I love the way it looks. I picked this eyeliner because it doesn't irritate my eyes, it has good pigmentation, it stays in place all day, and it's the easiest for me to apply. The formula is very creamy so before I sharpen the pencil I'll stick it in the freezer for 10 minutes. I chose this shade since you can't go wrong with black and it compliments the eyeshadow and mascara I picked out.

Eyeshadow:
Urban Decay Naked 3 | $54

This was the most difficult product for me to decide on for this post series. Now that I've decided on this palette though, it really should have been simple. I have green eyes and warm undertones, and pink/mauve/purple shades just make my eyes pop. Urban Decay's eyeshadows have never given me a reaction, no matter which shade/palette I use. They blend into one another or other shadows effortlessly, even cream or liquid formulas. They don't feel or look chalky, and I have not had any fallout issues. I just love this palette. It has portability, a lovely dual-ended brush, and the samples included are Urban Decay's primer potions. This palette is not a limited edition like the other palettes I was looking at for this post, so that is a huge bonus.

Blush:
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush | $35

By now I'm sure you've realized I have an Hourglass Cosmetics addiction. I can't help it! They have amazing performance, friendly ingredients, and a little really does go a long way.
I did not include a shade for this because Hourglass JUST announced a palette of these blushes for the holiday season, which I will be getting my hands on the moment it gets released. Yes, I am impatient!
I picked this blush over the brand's cream blush for only one reason, and that's my skin's fault. I use powder blushes far more often because I rarely need to add extra moisture to my skin. These blushes blend in like a dream, so well in fact, that the vibrant shades look natural if you're light handed with them. Heck, I can even wear the coral shade, and we all know me and coral! These blushes have their Ambient Lighting powder built into them, the first name of the shade being the shade of Ambient Lighting powder included. Now if they would just release the palette....

EDIT: As of Midnight EST on 9/19 this palette became available to VIB Rouge members at Sephora.com.

Bronzer:
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil | $30

You've heard about this product before from Ashleigh, and for a good reason. While she uses the original Chocolate Soleil I prefer the Milk Chocolate. With the Milk Chocolate I don't have to be as careful, or as light handed with my application. Since it's matte I can use it to warm up my entire face or to contour. It blends smoothly so there are never any harsh lines.
The fun part? It.smells.like.chocolate! It's a perfect mood booster in the morning.

Highlighter/Luminizer:
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette | $58

Originally, I told myself that I didn't need this. While waiting for a sales associate to check if they had something in stock for blog wars I started to "play" with a few products around the store. When she came back she asked me if I was interested in this palette. I told her I couldn't justify it due to cost as I use little to no highlighter because of my skin type. She just smiled and asked if she could try something with my makeup. I agreed since it was raining and I was hoping to wait out the worst of it.
I actually started crying when she was done. My skin was perfect. You couldn't see any imperfections, even up close. The finish was the perfect combination of matte and dewy (even hours later). All she did differently than I had that morning, was use this product. Even my eye makeup, which we didn't change, looked better than before.
I left the store that day with this palette, and I have no regrets.

Lipstick:
Hourglass Femme Rouge in Whisper | $30

I don't even know where to start. There are so many things I love about this lipstick that I don't even flinch at the price tag. There was no question when selecting a lipstick for this post, the only question was which shade. Whisper is a light mauve that goes well with my lips. It has some shimmer and pairs beautifully with the Naked 3 palette. The pigment, lifespan, and finish are just to die for. This lipstick goes a step further and moisturizes your lips. Absolutely no complaints here!

Lip Gloss:

Tarte LipSurgence in Ro | $19

This lip gloss is by far my favorite. They have great pigment and amazing staying power. I can drink my morning coffee (or whatever else I'm drinking) and I wont have to reapply afterwords. The gloss, while not a lip plumper, does plump up your lips. There is no stinging involved, so if you're nervous about that you don't have to be. The vanilla flavor in combination with the smell of the Chocolate Soleil bronzer I mentioned above just makes my whole makeup application time even more enjoyable.
The shade I selected is VERY SADLY a limited edition from the Sephora exclusive 2013 Holiday Collection. Currently the main line doesn't contain a shade like it, so while I want to use this daily, I force myself not to.

 
 That's all for now, but keep your eyes out for our first blog wars post which will be coming soon!

~Amanda