My Favorite Makeup Products

Since I'm co-sponsoring a $100 Sephora giveaway right now, I thought it would be fun to share some of my makeup favorites! When it comes to beauty products I don't care what brand it is, as long as it works, I use it. If that means $4 eyeshadow or $40 foundation I am all about it. My cosmetics range from beauty store to drug store. Here are my favorite products:

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Spice - goes on smooth and is long lasting

MAC Lipstick in Heroine - the perfect sassy fall shade

Cargo Blush in Miami Beach - a blend of perfectly pink and blush shades

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment - great value, comparable to Urband Decay Naked shadows

MAC Studio Fix Powder - some people hate MAC but I can't live without this powder

Rimmel Mascara in Scandaleyes Retroglam - makes my boring lashes big and bold

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation - gives me flawless-looking skin

Shop the Products

Makeup Musts

Today I am sharing my makeup must haves. These are the products that I use on the regular and love!

1. Stila Lip Glaze - I have several shades and love them all!

2. CoverGirl Eyeshadow - The shade Champagne is beautiful and a perfect highlight tone.

3. Cargo Blush - Cargo beach blushes are very pretty and I can't live without Miami Beach shade.

4. Maybeline Mascara - Falsies is a cheap mascara but gets the job done!

5. MAC powder - Studio Fix has been my go-to powder for the last 10 years.

6. Rimmel Bronzer - My newest fav, I just bought this in Sun Light and wear it every day.

7. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer - Apply before your eyeshadow - it works!

8. Revlon Nail Polish - Minted is a great shade and long-lasting.

Are any of my favorites on your must have list? Have any items that you can't live without? Tell me about them!

And the Winner Is...

The winner randomly selected was Jules of Chic & Pink! If you haven't checked out her blog yet - get to it! It's amazing. Girl covers everything from fashion, to movies, to life in general. Very entertaining read.

Congrats! You'll be receiving a Stila gift set plus some extra surprise goodies :)

Thanks to all who entered!

Three Year Blogiversary

Three years. It seems so crazy that I've been blogging since December 29, 2007 (check out my first post!). With 2011 fast approaching, I want to thank all of my readers who have been with me the past days, weeks, months, and years. I cannot even describe the joy it brings me to receive comments from each of you, to read and comment on your blogs, and to make the connections - friendships - with you.

I've met so many amazing people and had so many amazing experiences as a result of this blog. Thank you all so very much!! To commemorate the milestone, I am hosting a giveaway!

One lucky reader will win a Stila set that includes:

• 1 oz Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer in Shade 01 (supposed to be for light complexions; however, I own this and it's pretty much just translucent moisturizer - should be suitable for most)
• 0.02 oz One Step PrimeColor in Per Suede (dusty rose)
• 0.08 oz Lip Glaze in Mayberry (rose with shimmer)
• 0.09 oz Eye Shadow Trio in Anya (soft peach shimmer/ soft brown/ deep purple shimmer)

To enter, become a follower, become a Facebook fan, become a Twitter follower, and/or tweet about this giveaway including @jointhegossip.

You can do any one of these, or all of them. The more you do, the more entries. Just be sure to let me know how you are entering in your comment(s).

The winner will be selected Wednesday, January 19 @ 9am PST. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of: Wonderful Worte World via Sephora

My Latest Stila Purchases

For my birthday my friend bought me an Urban Decay Ammo eyeshadow palette, unfortunately I already have the exact one. I went to ULTA with the hope of exchanging these eyeshadows for another set with different colors but they were out. Instead I had $40 to spend. Not an easy tasks when there are so many products to choose from. I couldn't decide!

I wanted to get something Urban Decay because I adore their products and the fact that they are cruelty-free. I just didn't want to buy individual eyeshadows. Palettes offer much more bang for your buck, but they didn't have colors different than those I already have.

So after looking at the Stila, Too Faced, benefit, and Cargo counters, I went back to Stila and snatched up the products that initially caught my eye - backstage eye shadow palette and smudge stick waterproof eye liner.

The eyeshadow colors include:

- Chiffon - shimmery peach
- Flamingo - shimmery fuchsia
- Pacific - metallic navy blue
- Luster - metallic warm alloy
- Poetic - shimmery mauve
- Coal - cool metallic emerald

The blue, green, and even pink colors are beautiful but we'll see how they are on my skin tone. Because I have a pretty light complexion, often times bright colors make me look like a clown...or so I feel.

I've worn chiffon and poetic to work and they are great for daytime looks. I think I can work with the rest of the shades, too.

I wanted to get black liner because I just ran out of my favorite one, MAC Technakohl in Graphblack. Instead I chose the funky hue, purple tang. As you can see in the picture, it's pretty much black with purple glitter. I can't wait to wear it!

When I was in ULTA, I decided to get this Stila liner because it's comparable to the MAC one. I love how easily it is to apply and the smooth finish it provides. I'll have to see if it lasts as long, though.

Overall I did pretty well. I wanted to stay under the $40 mark but I knew it wasn't happening. In the end, I only dished out $10 of my own money and I got some great products!

I was thinking about getting one step correct, which is a, as the Stila site explains, "primer, color corrector, brightener and anti-aging skincare serum does it all..." The only reason I didn't buy it is because it was $36 and would have taken up my entire store credit. I may just order it online because Stila offers free shipping with purchases of $50.

Have any of you tried it?

Photos courtesy of: Stila

More Stila News

After sharing the Stila sales with you (my readers) in a previous post, I decided to purchase some items myself. About two weeks ago I attended a Shecky's Girls Night Out event in Los Angeles with my fellow Beauty Chat contributors and received a Stila coupon code, good for 20% off my purchase, as well as free shipping.

With my discount I bought an illuminating powder foundation refillable compact that I desperately needed. I recently purchased the powder but they were all out of the containers to put the powder in, so now I'm set to easily take my compact with me wherever I go.

I also got a convertible eye color in the stone shade, which is dual-ended and works as an eyeliner, eyeshadow, and smudging tool. This stuff is awesome! It goes on smooth allowing for an easy smudge. I just wish I would have bought more of this product.

And lastly, I had to have the Pon Pon Gerba lip glaze because the color is perfect. However, it doesn't look like that shade is available anymore. If it's discontinued, I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm all out.

What are your favorite Stila products?

(Photo courtesy of: Stila.com)

Stila, Oh How I Love Thee!

I have just discovered the delightfullness that is Stila...and can I just say...it's like finding religion!


I have been a MAC girl for years now, obsessing over their foundation, powder, eyeshadow, brushes, etc. But things are a'changin' in my life. I recently decided to try a new powder and I was pleasantly surprised when the employee at my local JCPenny's suggested Stila. Of course I had heard of it, but I had never tried it.


I purchased natural finish oil-free makeup ($36) and illuminating powder foundation ($26), and combine the two together for a long-lasting, flawless look. I was a bit shocked when I was told that I had to buy a compact to hold my powder. I couldn't believe that it didn't come with the makeup. However; $14 for a reusable compact isn't too bad considering that I am reducing waste and being resourceful.



Right now they are offering some great deals on Stila's Web site. Free shipping for purchases over $50, Acapulco Eye Shadow Trio marked down from $32 to $18, Pon Pon Gerbera Lip Glaze originally $20 but on sale for $7, a free sample with every order, and much, much more! There is a whole page dedicated to the thrifty shopper in each of us.




(Photos courtesy of: stilacosmetics.com)