With all the travelling we’ve been doing lately I’ve had plenty of opportunities to put a lot of new makeup to the test. All-day wear tests, hot days, and long flights. So these are really more like second impressions, but that’s not a very good blog post title…There are a lot of misses in this roundup and very few hits, so settle in and get your “do not buy” list ready.

The Urban Decay Elements Eyeshadow Palette* is downright gorgeous, but honestly not terribly practical for everyday use. The brown tones are gorgeous and of course UD quality, but the rest of the shades are more for special occasions rather than any ol’ Tuesday. It’s such a fun palette, but you’ll be able to find a lot of the shades in other, more travel-friendly palettes. Save your pennies on this one unless you’re in it for the wow factor of the palette itself.

I picked up the DevaCurl Wave Maker after I chopped my hair off again hoping it would help add curl and style to my new hairdo. It did absolutely nothing for my hair. I used barely any of the product the first few times to no avail, so I bumped up how much I was using. It left my hair feeling greasy and flat. Avoid this one for sure.

I’m obsessed with the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream so when they released the Oil Free Matte* version my interest peaked. I usually avoid matte bases like the plague as my skin is already a dry desert, but this cream didn’t leave my skin looking dry or patchy. I do still prefer the original formula, but this is a great option if I ever step away from the dewy skin vibes. It’s long lasting and can be built up for more coverage. 

I scooped up the Lancome Monsieur Big from a recommendation from The Anna Edit and I must say I’m not overly impressed. It lengthened my lashes, but I’m always on the hunt for bold, voluminous lashes over length. I’ve been pairing it with the IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara for to add some volume, but I won’t be repurchasing this in the future.

IT Cosmetics recently reformulated their Full Coverage Waterproof Concealer* and I’m loving it. It’s thick. Like very thick. And the shade range is MASSIVE so finding the right shade takes a lot of time and guesswork. But it seriously works at covering dark under eye circles. I definitely recommend setting it with a light powder to keep it in place and mattifying it a little bit, but if you struggle with looking like a dead zombie, this one’s for you.

Even though the weather is getting colder in Michigan, with all the travel to warmer areas I’ve still needed a good facial sunscreen. The Derma E Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen* has been fantastic at feeling light-weight on my face while giving me some extra protection. It also sinks into the skin quickly which is a definite must for me in the mornings as I run around constantly late.

Have you tried any new beauty bits lately? What have been your favorites?

The summer blew by in a blink with all the travel we got up to. We only went kayaking once! What a serious shame. I did find some time to shake my my makeup routine and a few products stood out as summer favorites I’m sure I’ll be using even as sweater weather hits.

When I made the shocking discovery that the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue shade I’ve been using for years is in fact TOO DARK FOR ME, my world changed. A bit over-the-top sure, but going down a shade or two made a huge difference. I went from shade five to two and now mix the two together since I have the slightest of tans. I’ve loved the coverage and dewy finish of this for years, but am so glad to finally have the perfect shade. I can only imagine what other foundations I’m not wearing the right color of…

I’m still in a real Glossier moment with my two favorite products being their Boy Brow in Brown and their Cloud Paints. I’ve been wearing Dusk all summer long and have to actively try to wear other blushes just to mix things up. It’s a gorgeous coral-pink that gives a nice flush to the skin without being too overly blushy. It’s also the most buildable blush I’ve ever used. Boy Brow is a brow gel that I use as a brow filler. Lazy me loves swiping this on my brows and calling it good. Plus it darkens up my pretty light brows so you can actually SEE them.

Occasionally I force myself to step away from the Stila One Step Correct and try another primer. I’ve been giving the new bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Primer a go and although it’s not going to replace One Step Correct, it’s definitely a great alternative. It’s hydrating, smooth on the skin without feeling silicone-y, and leaves a nice base to put makeup on top of. If you’re in the market, check this one out.

With it being so hot here lately I’ve taken to actually using powder to keep the shiny away. I’m always a fan of dewy, but greasy and sweaty is just too far. The It Cosmetics Airbrush Perfecting Powder helps to set everything in place without looking cakey or too matte. It also helps to make sure nothing slides off my face during the day. It also has SPF 50 which is bananas. All good things, right?

I’ve also been using a setting spray like nobody’s business. Urban Decay’s All Nighter is my usual go to, but I’ve been using Chill and honestly can’t tell the difference between the two. They take some time to settle onto the skin, but my makeup lasts so much longer when I use a spray over when I don’t. 

Dry lips are basically my MO all year round, but I wanted to mix things up from using my usual plain vaseline to something a bit more festive. I know…look out…Kayla is over here really shaking things up. Vaseline Rosy Lips has everything I love about vaseline, but with a bit of color thrown in. Wild child is my middle name.

Summer has been so hectic over here that I must admit I’m pretty excited to wave the humid weather goodbye and throw a cozy sweater on. Remind me of this when it’s the dead of winter, k?

There are some new loves (and an old favorite) in my makeup collection that just haven’t gotten their time in the sun with a blog post yet. So here we are! Let’s dive right in with the five products you need to buy (or at least swatch) this month.

Urban Decay’s Born to Run Palette* landed on my doorstep on my birthday so it felt like a nice little gift from UD to me. It’s quite possibly my favorite palette by them ever and I’ve given all the Naked palettes a go. It has that classic UD quality, but the color range has everything you could possibly need. There are a ton of neutral shades for everyday, but some great options if you’re feeling a bit adventurous. Plus the packaging is high-quality and gorgeous.

For all my fellow translucent pale people, contouring can be quite the struggle. I spent ages hunting around for a good, light contour option that wasn’t too orange. Although the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder costs a pretty penny, it’s one of the best makeup purchases I’ve ever made. Plus it’s lasted me six months or more so far without really making a dent in it. It’s the best for contouring if you aren’t too sure of what you’re doing, or need something on the cooler toned side of the spectrum. There’s also some darker shades as well.

Every year for my birthday I pick up two new Mac Lipsticks to add to my collection and although I love the other shade I purchased, “Retro” had to be mentioned. It’s this gorgeous burgundy red shade that isn’t too much on the lips. And it truly makes me feel retro when I wear it. There’s just something about the tones in it that are so 1950s.

I’ve had a serious obsession with Glossier lately and you should too. They’re makeup is perfection if you’re wanting a no-makeup-makeup look. Everything is so natural and glowy that I have to stop myself from scooping up one of everything to try. My two current favorites are Boy Brow and Cloud Paint in “Dusk” and both are staples in my every day routine. Boy Brow is the most natural looking brow product ever and does wonders at darkening my brows while filling them in. It never looks like I have anything in them, but they always look full and amazing. The cloud paints are a bit odd at first to get used to, but I just dab the product onto my cheeks and blend it out with a small fluffy brush. Perfect finish every time. Save 10% on your first purchase with my affiliate link!

So if you find yourself near a Sephora or an Ulta this month, definitely pop in for a swatch or two. These five have shaken up my makeup routine and I’m loving every glowy, colorful second of it!

Let’s be honest, I never thought I’d be writing a post about lipglosses. I swore them off years ago once I left my preteens and tossed the sticky messes into the trash. Yet here we are. The Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Lipglosses* have me singing another tune.

These glosses are thick, super easy to apply, but with no sticky, goopy feeling in sight. The color payoff is great for a gloss, but they really shine when put over similar colored lipsticks. They also have a solid lasting power on the lips if you aren’t eating or drinking too much.

Plus they’re minty. Like Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie minty. Those just happen to be my all time favorite…and it’s not just a brief minty flavor that leaves after a few minutes of wear. Oh no, it lasts the whole. dang. time.

I’m most impressed with the shade range. 16 different shades to choose from including metallic bright gold. Sure I personally don’t have the courage to rock those deep purples in the line, but I’m glad they exist for those who do.

It’s no surprise that the mauve options and pinky nudes are my faves. Pictured above (from left to right) is “Fuel,” “Naked,” and “Beso.” I’m also a fan of “Rapture,” “Obsessed,” and “Midnight Cowgirl” that fall into the same color family. 

I’ll have to look twice the next time I pass a collection of lip glosses in Sephora or the drugstore. Hell we can unlock our phone with facial recognition, it was about time lip glosses lost their stickiness and became full of glossy goodness.

Guys. It’s finally happening. I finally got off my butt and placed my first order at Glossier. Can I have my beauty blogging street cred back now? (Can you imagine if beauty blogging street cred was actually a thing?!) After a whirlwind of a weekend last week at the Chicago Planner Conference (watch the vlog if you haven’t the foggiest clue of what I’m talking about), I decided to treat myself to some new beauty bits. Glossier was my first stop followed quickly after by Sephora.

I have yet to really test out any of these products so expect more posts and reviews in the future!

At Glossier I kept things simple. I went for their Phase Two set to test out three of their popular products while saving some extra cash by getting the bundle. I also picked up the Moisturizing Moon Mask after hearing The Anna Edit rave about it one too many times. Plus click here to save 10% off your Glossier order.

StriVectin also sent along their new Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer. I’m getting the sense that they might start venturing into the makeup game. I love a lot of their skincare items so I can’t wait to give this an honest go.

My pal Aimee from Lilac Pineapple Co is a couponing wizard at the drugstore and gifted me a TON of new drugstore bits to try out. I made it one of my beauty goals of 2018 to get back into drugstore so I’m definitely well on my way with all of these products.

I think I’m most excited about checking out this Magnif’Eyes Shadow Palette by Rimmel. They are one of my favorite drugstore brands and this palette sure looks impressive in the packaging. Now to find out if they’re as great as the look…

Aimee gave me a few single shadows that look gorgeous as well plus a Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick that looks right up my alley. 

My Sephora order contained just two items, one of which is a repurchase. I’m still only about half way on my Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo but it’s such a favorite I made sure to get a backup. Plus it helped me get to free shipping which is always a must.

The First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer spurred the Sephora purchase in the first place. I got a small sample of this a few months back and recently started testing it out. It’s love. Heart-eyed emoji love. It’s even started to replace my beloved Stila One Step Correct as my primer before foundation. It’s just that good. More to come on this I’m sure.

So this girl has a lot of new products to slap on her face and report back. Let me know in the comments if there are any products in particular you want to see first!