Favorite Palettes for Holiday Makeup Looks

1. Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette: This is a fantastic holiday palette, which I've been using more frequently lately. Every eyeshadow is warm and pink toned, which can be really great for creative festive makeup looks. My favorite shadow, Trick, is a great pink toned gold shimmer. This palette is a great bargain for the amount of product you're getting, and it will last you forever. I got mine a year ago when it came out and I'm no where near being done with it! {$54}
2. Too Faced's Everything Nice Palette: I talked in depth about this holiday, limited edition palette from Too Faced in this post here, but it deserves another mention. I absolutely love this palette because it is just a fantastic use of your money if you want to get some quality products. Plus, it has perfect warm toned and festive, shimmery shadows that will spruce up a holiday party {$54 originally, but I think it might be only available on amazon at this point}
3. L'Oreal Colour Riche Quad in 'Rose Nude': Here's another fantastic holiday palette, which goes along with my love of pink/warm toned shadows. This is super affordable and the shadows are creamy and pigmented. It's honestly the only thing you need when doing your eyeshadow! Plus, it's easy to bring along with you, unlike some of the clunkier palettes in this post!

♡

What are your favorite holiday palettes?

xo Emily

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Under $50

1. A cute makeup bag for the beauty lover in your life {$45}
2. A versatile hat, perfect for dressing up during the holidays {$42}
3. The Anastasia Contour Kit, a must-have for contouring and highlighting. It's everything you need in one little palette {$40}
4. Fun personalized pillows, a great gift for friends or family wanting to spruce up their homes, dorms, or apartments {$34}
5. An external charger, one that'll power up your phone or other electronic device on the go, which is great gift for anyone {$30}
6. Cool coasters. I love these state themed ones, which are great personalized gift {$35}
7. Settlers of Catan, or any game that'll unite the whole family, this one is a favorite because it's a great game that makes you think {$40}
8. Cute ankle boots that'll go with absolutely everything {$50}
9. Coffee table books, like this one about my favorite macaron place, Laduree. These type of gifts can be found at almost any book store and you can find a specific one for any of your friends or family {$33}
10. A great backpack

♡

xo Emily

New In: Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Gel

Hey guys! I've got a new product to talk about today. I recently picked up the Maybelline EyeStudio Brow Drama in Soft Brown, which is one of the first tinted brow gels for the drugstore. I really was excited to try this out because I wanted a more affordable alternative to the Benefit Gimme Brow, which is over $20. 

 

This runs for about $8 at the drugstore and comes in three shades; blonde, soft brown, and deep brown. It looks like a mascara wand and the soft brown shade actually fits my brow color pretty well. I like how easy it is to use, all you have to do is follow your natural brow arch with the wand, and it just fills in your brows with extra color and fibers. 

It's a good product if you're on the go and don't want to have to shape and maintain your brows too much. It's fast and easy, and in a rush, it'll get the job done and make your brows look fuller and will keep them in place all day. 

{A closeup of the gel in action}

{My left eyebrow without the product, my right brow with the product}

What I don't like is that it doesn't completely fill in my brows the way I wanted to and definitely isn't as effective as Benefit's Gimme Brow. It will fill in some of the gaps but still leaves some parts sparse. Also, if you put too much product on your brows, it'll leave them feeling stiff and cakey, which I really don't like in any sort of brow product. 

Overall, I think it's great in a pinch and I have been using it every so often since I got it. It's a great alternative to the more expensive brow gels, but it does have some flaws.

♡

xo Emily

November Favorites

1. Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in 'Nude Eclipse' {one of my favorite lip products of the month. I love nude lips and this gloss is super pigmented and natural, plus it's only about $5}
2. Too Faced Everything Nice Holiday Palette {took the plunge and bought this at the beginning of the month, and now I've not gone a day without using it. So much variety, it's honestly everything you need for a great price of $56}
3. MAC 'Whirl' Lip Pencil {I mentioned this awhile ago, but this is a great 'Your Lips But Better' Shade for Winter. It's got berry tones which I love for the holidays and it's long-lasting and looks great on any skin tone. The $16 price tag is worth it in my opinion, but Rimmel has a great alternative in their liners called 'Beige'}
4. H&M Platform Boots {my most worn shoes this month other than my fave sneakers and flats, these are super comfortable and give me extra height (I'm only 5 Foot) These are affordable at $35 and go with everything}
5. Alt-J 'This is All Yours' {alt-j's newest album is fantastic. I've been listening non-stop. They're one of my favorite bands and it's awesome to get new music form them. My faves are 'Every Other Freckle' and 'Warm Foothills'}

♡

What are your favorites this month?

xo Emily

Holiday Gift Guide: Under $25

1. A cute monogrammed mug {$18}
2. A great 'Your Lips But Better' lipstick, perfect for the beauty addict in your life (like me!) {$19}
3. A cute journal, a great gift idea as we head into the new year (and it's Kate Spade!) {$24}
4. Warm velvet earmuffs for the cold season {$24}
5. A cool homemade phone case from etsy. This one's Banksy's 'Lovesick'. {$15}
6. Stackable bracelets {$24}
7. A super warm and fun scarf, I love this one with cute deer on it! {$13}
8. Pretty sneakers, these from H&M are totally festive and practical! {$25}
9. A funky sweater, I love this one from Blackfive {$25}
10. Tech knit gloves, so you can text and use your phone when it's cold! {$14}

♡

xo Emily

The Tuesday 10: Things to do in New York during the Holidays

Hey guys! I've got another Tuesday 10 for you today, this time with 10 things to do in New York during the holiday season. New York is one of the most magical places to be during Winter and the holiday season, and there are countless places to visit and experience to make it even more special. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas or not, these are some amazing places to just take in during December!

1. Rockefeller Center {this is an obvious one, but experiencing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and the surrounding holiday decorations at 30 Rock is truly special}

2. Bloomingdale's Windows {the Bloomingdales at 57th and 3rd puts up spectacular Christmas lights each year, with the entire side of the building lit up in glittery holiday spirit. It's such a fun sight to go see and going inside for Christmas shopping is just as fun}

3. Chelsea Market {this market is fun to visit at any time during the year, but during the Holidays, there are decorations and lights up everywhere. Grabbing a hot chocolate or coffee and browsing the shops is fun during Winter}

4. Love Sculpture {located in Midtown at 1359 Avenue of the Americas, this is one of the most iconic pop art images by Robert Indiana. It's a great place for a photo op, plus it's cute to pose in front of with your loved ones}

5. New York Botanical Garden {each year, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx puts up beautiful scenes from across the city, using the gorgeous flowers and plants from their garden}

6. Bryant Park Holiday Market {The ice skating here is great, with the surrounding holiday market making it even more special. There are countless booths of vendors with holiday gifts and the Christmas tree near the rink is beautiful}

7. Ice Skating {there are a ton of great places in New York for ice skating. My favorite is Bryant Park's rink because it's the biggest and cheapest. Rockefeller Center and Central Park are also great places to skate, though a bit more crowded}

8. Christmas Lights {the city does a fantastic job decorating for the holidays and everywhere you look, there are Christmas trees with lights strewn about and ornaments on every branch. I love how colorful and lovely the lights make New York}

9. Columbus Circle Holiday Market {located right by the 59th street entrance to Central Park, this is one of the best holiday markets in the city. It's perfect for finding little gifts and just exploring}

9. Central Park {the park is gorgeous in the Winter, especially when the leaves have fallen and there's snow in the air. Grabbing a hot cocoa and walkign around the reservoir and then visiting the Ice Skating rink is one of the best ways to experience the holidays in New York}

♡

What are your favorite things to do during the holidays in your city?

xo Emily

Exploring New York in December: The Essentials

Happy December! Not only is this one of my favorite months, it's also the month that I most love to spend in New York. The city is even more festive and vibrant than usual, with every street filled with decorations and lights, making everything buzz with that holiday energy. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, New York is a great place to visit during the holiday season. Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, and Columbus Circle are buzzing with people and joy and happiness! Since it's one of my favorite months to explore and enjoy my beautiful city, I thought I'd share with you my essentials for a December day or night in the city!

Exploring in New York by eaperry 

a big puffy coat {I own this Nautica Long Puffer Coat and it's the absolute best thing to have in winter. Most puffy coats are filled with some warm material, like down feathers, that keep you incredibly warm from head to toe...when you're exploring the city in freezing temperatures, this will be your best friend}

a cute (but warm) hat {even if you have a hood on your coat, they're sometimes a huge inconvenience. If you've got a cute hat on, like this cute reindeer hat with a pom from Topshop, then you'll be warm and fashionable}

sunnies {sunglasses are a great thing to have (no matter the weather) because they block harmful UV rays from your eyes. During winter, they're an extra layer to combat against the bitter wind of New York. I adore my Ray-Ban Erika sunglasses which are practical and stylish}

a guide to New York {whether a tourist or not, having a bit of a guide to where and what you'll be exploring is always a great idea. I love using the Zagat guide, which gives you restaurant ideas. It helps narrow down the endless choices New York has!}

a scarf {any scarf will do, but having one on you will literally save your life and add that extra bit of warmth you'll need. I love these cheap ones from H&M}

chapstick {an obvious choice in winter, what with the cold air always wreaking havoc on your skin and lips. My favorite of all time, Carmex, is the best to keep your lips hydrated and healthy during December}

texting gloves {though we all want to unplug and not be attached to our phones, your cell is going to be a huge help when exploring New York. These North Face ones are cozy and practical}

a camera {duh. Though your smartphone might double as your camera these days, it's really nice to have that physical camera with you to capture everything beautiful in New York}

warm boots {in particular, rain boots or winter weather boots, in case of snow or rain. The city is beautiful when it's snowing, but you won't want to have to stop exploring because of fear of frostbite on your toes. I love Hunter Boots because they're such great quality, cute, and comfy}

and finally...

a reliable, long-lasting backpack {first off you need somewhere to hold all these essentials....secondly....you won't want to be walking around the city with your hands full, so a backpack is wonderful. I absolutely adore this cute black one from FjallravenCanada, which also has straps so you can carry it if you need to. This is a great thing to have when exploring the city, not to mention it's a great price and cute as can be}

♡

What are your essentials for exploring?

xo Emily