DS Diva’s Luxury Christmas List

Now​ ​that​ ​we​ ​are​ ​officially​ ​in​ ​the​ ​holiday​ ​season,​ ​it’s​ ​time​ ​to​ ​think​ ​about​ ​gifts.  Because​ ​I am ​also turning​ ​50​ ​two​ ​days​ ​after​ ​Christmas,​ ​I’m​ ​thinking​ ​luxury​ ​gifts—high​-​end,​ ​high-cost, prestige​ ​goodies.  ​A​ ​girl​ ​can​ ​dream,​ ​right?​ ​ Here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​my​ ​to​ die​ for​ ​products.

Natasha​ ​Denona​ ​Sunset​ ​Palette​ ​(retails for $129)​ ​

​I​ ​used​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​spending​ ​this​ ​much​ ​for eyeshadow​ ​was​ ​downright​ ​criminal.​ ​But​ ​then​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​weeks​ ​ago​ ​I​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​see this​ ​beauty​ ​in​ ​person​ ​and​ ​swatch​ ​the​ ​colors.​ ​I’ve​ ​never​ ​felt​ ​anything​ ​like​ ​it. The creamy,​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​blend, rich,​ ​beautiful​ ​colors​ are completely ​out​ ​of​ ​this​ ​world​! ​ ​I​ ​applied a little​ ​at​ ​the store​ ​with​ ​a​ ​Q​ ​tip​ ​and​ ​it​ ​looked​ ​unbelievable.​ ​The​ ​colors​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Sunset​ ​palette range​ ​from​ ​coppers,​ ​nudes,​ ​browns,​ ​oranges,​ ​reds,​ ​golds.​ ​ The​ ​Lila​ ​palette​ ​is​ ​a close​ ​second,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​prefer​ ​these​ ​shades​ ​to​ ​Lila’s​ ​purples​ ​and​ ​plums.​ ​ You​ ​truly need​ ​to​ ​see​ ​and​ ​feel​ ​this​ ​beauty​ ​to​ ​appreciate​ ​it​ ​and​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​high​ ​price​ ​tag. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

LA​ ​MER​ ​Soft​ ​Fluid​ ​Long​ ​Wear​ ​Foundation (retails for​ ​$110)​ ​ ​

I’ve​ ​had​ ​an​ ​obsession​ ​with​ ​LA MER ​for​ ​years.​  ​Formulated​ ​with​ ​their​ ​world​ ​famous​ ​“Miracle​ ​Broth”,​ ​this​ ​foundation ​​claims​ ​to​ ​soften​ ​lines​ ​and​ ​wrinkles,​ ​plump​ ​skin​ ​with​ ​hydration,​ ​energize​ ​and ​soothe​ ​while​ ​also​ ​making​ ​pores​ ​and​ ​imperfections​ ​disappear.  The formula has​ ​SPF​ ​2​0 ​and​ ​two of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​beautiful​, light​ ​shades​ ​that​ ​I’m​ ​positive​ ​would​ ​match​ ​my​ ​ultra​-​fair, ​ winter​ ​complexion.​  ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​blessed​ ​with​ ​a​ ​sample​ ​of​ ​LA MER’s​ ​Moisturizing​ ​Soft ​Cream​ ​and​ ​I’m​ ​only​ ​using​ ​it​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​times​ ​a​ ​week​ ​so​ ​I​ ​can​ ​make it last as long as humanly possible.  ​Despite the limited use,​ ​I’ve  ​noticed​ ​a​ ​nice​ ​change​ ​in​ ​my​ ​skin – smoother,​ ​not​ ​as​ ​red​ ​and​ ​my​ ​makeup​ ​looks ​ lovely​ ​on​ ​the days​ ​I’m​ ​using​ ​it.​ ​ I​ ​can​ ​only​ ​imagine​ ​that​ ​adding​ ​the​ ​foundation​ ​to​ ​my  ​daily​ ​routine​ ​would​ ​only​ ​make​ ​this​ ​50​ ​year​ ​old​ ​look​ ​a​ ​little​ ​younger! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

​Tom​ ​Ford​ ​Lip​ ​Color​ ​in​ ​Blush​ ​Nude​ ​(retails for $54​) ​

​Visions of this lip color have been dancing in my head​ ​since​ ​I ​saw​ ​Jaclyn​ ​Hill​ ​use​ ​it​ ​on​ ​her​ ​You​Tube​ ​channel.​ ​ Then​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​my​ ​friend​ ​pull​ ​it​ ​out​ ​of ​her​ ​handbag.​ ​ It is ​the ​perfect​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​nude,​ ​peach​ ​and​ ​pink,​ ​that​ ​would​ ​coordinate​ ​with​ ​any​ ​eye ​look​ ​you​ ​create,​ ​dramatic​ ​or​ ​casual.​ ​ IMO, it is the epitome ​of​ ​all nude​ ​lipsticks.  ​It​ ​took​ ​everything​ ​in​ ​my​ ​being​ ​not​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​my ​​friend​ ​if​ ​I​ ​could​ ​use​ ​it.​ ​But​ ​I​ ​did get to​ ​hold​ ​it,​ ​and​ ​gracefully​ ​handed​ ​it​ ​back. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

​Jo​ ​Malone​ ​Wood​ ​Sage​ ​and​ ​Sea​ ​Salt​ ​Cologne​ ​(retails for $135)​ ​ ​

Imagine​ ​sitting​ ​in​ ​the​ ​woods ​with​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​shore​ ​of​ ​crashing​ ​waves​​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​you.​ ​That’s​ ​the​ ​feeling​ ​I​ ​got​ ​the​ ​first​ ​and​ ​only​ ​time​ ​I’ve​ ​smelled​ ​this​ ​incredible​ ​fragrance.  I sprayed​ ​it​ ​quickly​ ​on​ ​me,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​lasted​ ​all​ ​day.​ ​ The​ ​collection​ ​also​ ​includes​ ​a​ ​candle, hand​ ​wash​ ​and​ ​body​ ​cream​.​ ​ ​ ​Since​ ​this​ ​is​ ​my​ ​luxury​ ​wish​ ​list,​ ​I’m adding  ​those​ ​to​ ​this​ ​list too, just​ ​in​ ​case​ ​anyone​ ​is​ ​feeling​ ​extra​ ​generous ​ ​;)

I​ ​could​ ​go​ ​on for days,​ ​but​ ​these​​ ​are​ ​the​ ​ultimate​ ​luxuries​ ​that​ ​I​ ​dream​ ​about.​ ​They​ ​can​ ​all​ ​be found​ ​at​ ​Sephora,​ ​Neiman​ ​Marcus,​ ​and​ ​Nordstrom.​ ​ I’ve​ ​been​ ​a​ ​very​ ​good​ ​Dark​ ​Lord​ ​this year​ ​so​ ​I’m​ ​putting​ ​them​ ​on​ ​my​ ​list​ ​to​ ​Santa.​ ​ Merry​ ​Christmas​ ​everyone!​ ​ I​ ​hope​ ​you​ ​find your​ ​dream​ ​items​ ​under​ ​your​ ​tree!

DS Quickie!

Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip

Sephora holiday collections are highly anticipated and tend to sell out in stores rather quickly. They really outdid themselves with this one! Here are some fast facts about this beautiful lip wardrobe.

Limited Edition, Mega Lip Set

15 lipsticks, glosses and creams

5 full size and 10 deluxe sizes

Well-known brands such as: ABH, Too Faced, Bobbi Brown, Dior, YSL, Sephora, Tarte, Urban Decay, Laura Mercier, Smashbox and Marc Jacobs

Up & Coming Superstars such as: Huda Beauty, Touch In Sol, Hourglass and Wander Beauty

$254 value for $68

Colors range from berries, reds, mauves and nudes

Wearable colors and formulas for everyone and every style

Excellent gift idea for the Diva on your list. There is a shade for you, your mother, grandmother, daughter, niece, friend, you name it. Age appropriate for teens on up.

My only wish is that the set included a lip liner or two that would coordinate with the colors. But that probably would have jacked up the price another $20. I’ll survive using what I already have in my beauty collection!

The Dark Side Diva recommends this set 100%! Let me know if you get it and if you’re able to part with any of them. I’ll let you know if I did!

September 2017 Allure Beauty Box – Allure Best of Beauty

WWW.ALLURE.COM/BEAUTY-BOX

This is my first Allure Beauty box, which is your standard, monthly beauty box subscription. Unlike IPSY, the editors of Allure magazine choose current products that all subscribers will receive. It’s $15 a month but when you sign up your first box is $10. Here’s the 411 on September’s box.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush

I received the shade “Blushing Bride”, a pretty petal pink that’s very wearable. This is a full sized blush that retails for $30, so this one product is worth the price of the entire box. I’m a big fan of Tarte products, especially the Amazonian Clay line so I’m thrilled with this!

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast

At first I thought this was a dry shampoo, which I absolutely hate. But it’s actually a spray-on mist that claims to volumize your hair to make it look like you have twice as much. I’ve played with this several times and it does give great volume to second day hair. I’m not usually a fan of Living Proof products so I’m pleasantly surprised with this one.

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream .5oz

I couldn’t wait to try my first Drunk Elephant item! This whipped, unscented, velvety cream made my combination skin feel wonderful. It hasn’t made me shiny and my makeup has stayed on all day. I’ve used it at night also. This cream has a combo of oils, glycerin and hyaluronic acid and I can see it becoming a staple in my skin care routine.

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye .1oz

It says .1oz but the itty bitty tube was MAYBE filled halfway. I doubt that I’ll see any results with this tiny amount of product. Kiehl’s has been around forever and I’ve used several of their products so I’m disappointed with this embarrassingly small size. It smells like lavender, absorbed very quickly but will be gone long before any true results are seen.

Beauty Blender Micro Mini

Beauty Blender can do no wrong in my eyes. This miniature size is perfect for blending under eyes and around the nose. Love it!

I give 4 of the 5 products in Allure’s September Beauty Box positive reviews and truly it could have been 5/5. Getting the full size Tarte blush was worth the price of admission, but when will these subscription boxes start to realize that teeny tiny skin care products are a waste of time and effort? I’d rather get a tiny fragrance sample so I can try the scent to see if I like it. Three days of an eye serum mean nothing to me!

DS Odds & Ends

Just a quick post today to talk about three new products that may seem a little strange, but have become new favorites of mine!

Face Secrets Shade Switch Cosmetic Brush Shade Remover

A long name for a very cool tool! To be perfectly honest, I only clean my makeup brushes about once every two weeks. When I saw this odd looking black sponge thingy that switches shades I jumped at the chance and ordered it. Basically, when you’re ready for a new shade you just wipe the tip of your brush on the black sponge and it removes the color. I didn’t believe it until I used it for myself. A couple of swipes back and forth and my eyeshadow brush was ready for another color! The white sponge in the middle can be wet and used for wet eyeshadow applicators. A life and time saver that truly works. And it’s only $3.99!

Shiseido Facial Cotton

I’ll admit that $5 for 40 cotton pads had me scratching my head. But I took the advice of several Sephora cast members and purchased them anyway. These are an extremely soft, gentle way to to apply any liquid skin care product. They do not leave any fibers on your face like cotton balls and I feel that they make my products work more efficiently, especially my Clinique Clarifying Lotion. I only need one of cotton pad, instead of the two or three cotton balls, and my entire face is covered.

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

Anytime my skin is looking old, rough, tired or boring I reach for this. I use this luxurious feeling spray as a moisturizer and primer. For me it’s best on dry skin. It has a super fine sprayer, so I only need about 2 sprays for my face. It is also labeled as a setting spray, but I don’t like the way it sits on top of my makeup. The 12ml size is $20 and it will last me quite a while.

Three exciting, innovative products for under $30!! Beat that you can’t!!

www.sallybeauty.com

www.sephora.com

 

 

Luxury Scent Box Perfume Subscription

This week the blog is taking a slightly different direction. Yes, it’s still beauty related and it’s about another monthly subscription box. But this time it’s fragrance. I’ve been wanting to expand my perfume collection, but not at $75-100 a bottle. And in all honesty, it’s a bottle that I’ll probably never finish. I saw my friend Amie (aka TheDeepSouthDarlin) talking about this on YouTube and I was hooked.

Here are the sweet-smelling deets:

The website is very easy to use. You begin with a short survey of what types of scents you’re looking for. Then create an account/profile and add your fragrance of choice to your monthly calendar. In about a week you’ll receive your goods.

My first choice was Bvlgari Mon Jasmine Noir Eau De Parfum. Please don’t think me a snob, but having worked years in the cosmetic/fragrance department I wanted something different. If I have to smell Marc Jacob’s Daisy, D&G Light Blue or, God forbid, Clinique’s Happy I will shatter every one of those bottles with my light sabre.

Every month members receive 9ml of a different spray fragrance, which is approximately a 30-day supply. Your initial purchase also includes a convenient, travel-sized reusable case, and a velvet pouch. There is a large selection of designer fragrances, which includes both men’s and women’s fragrances, but you have to choose which one you wish to receive monthly. The cost of the basic monthly subscription is $15 and includes s/h or $18 for the “Premium” fragrances, which is what I went for. Your first box is 50% off with the code “LuxuryScentBox”, so this smart shopping Diva got hers for just $9. Members also receive a new reusable case each quarter.

No contracts. No commitments. Month to month. And free shipping and handling. Luxury Scent Box is an easy, inexpensive and fun way to try a different type of subscription box. Let’s face it, how many sheet masks and mini mascaras does a Diva really need?

WWW.LUXURYSCENTBOX.COM