Eye of the beholder.

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here in Atlanta it's a dreary day. Snow will occasionally fall, leaving the ground in wet mush and leaving the sky in a pale grey. This has left me in quite the 'blah' mood and I had been thinking of a way to cheer myself up with no prevail from the usual answer- junk food. But while I was going through my closet in an early attempt to pack for my upcoming vacation, I proceeded to give myself a mini makeover. I went through the clothes that I sadly don't give enough attention and put together a chic little number. Then I went through my Chanel makeup bag and cleaned out all the products I no longer use and decided to give myself the beautiful face I felt I had not woke up with. Suddenly there was a smile upon my face and not the grimace the day originally presented me with. This has inspired me to share with you my top ten favorite products at this moment. I hope this helps you if you're also feeling in a slump!

1. Invest in a great set of makeup brushes. I've seen time and time again where someone had applied too much blush or bronzer and it's most likely because they're using the wrong brush for the product. Throw out those sponge applicators your eyeshadow came with and toss those thick plastic bristled brushes your blush included please!

2. I've gotten a lot of weird looks with this one but I've also gotten a lot of friends addicted to it. Bag Balm. It is the perfect lip balm. Yes, yes it was originally used for chapped cow udders and I know you say you love your Chapstick, but nothing has repaired my lips like this has. Please check it out!

3. This one isn't a secret at all and I'm sure all of you already have it, but Nars 'Orgasm' blush is a bestseller for a reason. It delivers beautiful natural color that even if you accidentally put too much on it doesn't look ridiculous.

4. Tocca 'Brigitte' Eau de Parfum Spray is my new go-to perfume. It was named after the screen siren Brigitte Bardot and gives you the same glamorous, free spirited feeling that she always presented. It gives notes of rhubarb, papaya, ginger, rose, iris, saffron, sandalwood, and musk and is one of the few scents that is strong enough to stay on all day and not give you a headache.

5. I have two bottles of M.A.C SPF 15 foundation. One in the darkest shade my skin will ever get and one in a very light shade. This way you can mix and make your perfect shade for the day. The M.A.C foundation has been the best I've used so far. Its the perfect coverage and doesn't turn oily throughout the day.

6. I recently bought the Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Eye Shadow Collection on a shopping whim at Sephora, hoping that it would come through for me and really give me a natural eye for multiple occasions. My wish came true with this collection. The eyeshadows are wonderful quality and glide on beautifully. For anyone like me who doesn't like walking out the door with nothing on, this is perfect.

7. Being from the Sunshine State, maybe it's instilled in me that a sunkissed faced is the most beautiful. It has caused me to go through dozens of different brands of bronzer and lots of dollars wasted. This is the only one I've come across that gives you a natural bronze appearance and doesn't have any shimmer which can cause an artificial look. As a bonus it also sets your face the same way a loose powder does.

8. Now for my pride and joy. DiorShow Mascara in Rich Black has changed my eyes forever. I wasn't blessed with thick lovely lashes. I also wasn't blessed with the steady hand to put on false lashes. But for $24 dollars I have thick, long and curled lashes that run the risk of making me cry joyful tears every time I apply it.

9. Laura Mercier eye liner gives me the best smoldering nighttime eye and is the only liner that doesn't flake and drift below my eye throughout the evening (which can be rather embarassing if you aren't constantly looking in a mirror).

10. Last but not least is my go-to nail color 'At First Sight' by OPI. It's a lovely light shade of pink that has almost a taupe touch to it. I have found it to be a timeless shade that goes with every outfit and occasion.

Love the face you look at every day

and please let me know any of your suggestions...

(I completely trust your taste!)

Cheers!

with all my love,

Lily