Have you ever dropped a pressed powder, highlighter, eye shadow, etc. and it shattered into a million small pieces?  Did your soul leave your body for just a moment when that happened?  Mine usually does because I can just see the dollar signs floating up to the heavens along with my beautiful makeup.  Well-- don't fret, my pet.  This isn't the end of your makeup's life!  You can fix it yourself and it doesn't cost you anything extra and you get to be a scientist for a few minutes!

For my birthday this year I got a BEAUTIFUL, limited edition Becca Cosmetics highlighter that I had been eyeing up in Ulta called "Lilac Geode."  It is the most gorgeous cool lilac pink with gold pearl.  It is so stinkin' pretty!!

Photo cred: Beauddiction

Anyway-- I was loving it and using it daily for about two weeks when tragedy struck my world and I dropped the compact on my tiled bathroom floor.  I watched the beautiful powder crumble into a million tiny pieces.  I was so sad, but remembered that I could repair it myself using isopropyl alcohol.  I had seen a couple of videos and blog posts about it, but had never done it myself.

Halloween is over and now begins the countdown to Christmas.  If my roommate had anything to do with it our house would be covered in lights, tree up and decorated and Christmas songs playing all day and night.  Sooooo... ha!  We are going to hold off on the decorating for right now, but it isn't too soon to start shopping!  I always have a hard time trying to decide what to get my friends and family or even what to ask for when someone asks for ideas!  I read so many blogs and watch so many YouTube videos for inspiration and figured that I could do the same for you guys!  Mine are going to be a bit more beauty-centric, so if that isn't your thing... well why are you here?

Crystal Facial Roller $33

• Helps to stimulate collagen which helps to improve elasticity of the skin.
• Reduces appearance of puffiness and wrinkles.
• Aids in lymphatic drainage.
• Helps to eliminate toxins.
• Tightens pores since the crystal remains cold even when in direct contact with the skin.

This all sounded amazing to me, but I wasn't willing to cough up the $32 for something that I wasn't sure about.  Holiday season is the best time to ask for this!  It is something that I wouldn't normally buy myself, but something that I am incredibly interested in trying!  Do you jade roll?

Philosophy Fresh Cream Gift Set $32

When I tell you this is one of my favorite scents in the world... girl!  I learned about Fresh Cream from my friend Ashley when she was up visiting for my birthday a few years ago.  She put on the body lotion and my nose was immediately attracted.  It smelled like the most amazing freshly whipped cream, vanilla deliciousness.  It isn't sickeningly vanilla like some scents (I'm talking about you Vanilla Fields) or like a cakey vanilla.  I'm telling you it is so good!  This set comes with everything you need-- body wash/bubble bath, hand cream, body lotion and a body spray!  This scent goes a long way and so does the product.  Great gift!

Beauty Blender Sweet Surprise Mystery Blind Bag $20

Beauty Blenders are my all time favorite beauty sponge.  I have tried a lot of different brands and liked a lot of them, but none of them are as good as my beauty blender.  Only problem is that they are $20 a piece!  That is expensive and, while I love them, I'm not always willing to pay that much when I can get another sponge that I like for $7.  The great thing about this gift is that it comes with a solid beauty blender cleanser!  The cleanser is the only product that seems to get my beauty blenders clean, so this is a great bonus!

Tatcha Skincare for Makeup Loves Obento Box $64

This is my favorite gift on this list!  I am a HUGE fan of the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist & the Silk Canvas primer by Tatcha, but I flat out REFUSE to pay the exorbitant prices!  A full size of the skin mist is $48 and a full size primer is $52-- insanity.  This kit includes a FULL SIZE bottle of the skin mist and travel sized Silk Canvas primer, Water Cream and Violet-C Radiance face mask.  These products last a long time, so the travel sizes are perfect!  I want this set, so if anyone that is gifting me this holiday season is reading-- keep this in mind!

Admittedly, no makeup days are great, but I do enjoy wearing makeup.  I have heard "Oh you don't need makeup!" or "You are beautiful without all of that stuff!" Thank you, but please know I don't wear it for you.  Now, I don't always do a full glam face, but I do wear makeup pretty much daily.  I have my every day routine set and wanted to share my favorite products with you!

Foundation: I like a liquid foundation for myself.  I used to use powder foundation, but as my skin is aging (relax-- I know 33 is young) I have preferred a liquid.  I am curious about how a cream foundation would work for me, but I haven't been brave enough to try that yet.  Maybe I will do a review of a few cream foundations in a future post!  Comment below if you would like to see that!  My favorite foundation of the moment is actually from the drugstore!  I am obsessed with the Covergirl Vitalist Healthy Elixir right now.  This is a hydrating formula that is infused with vitamins E, B3, B5 and has an SPF 20!  I'm telling you-- it's so good!  It has a buildable coverage; I'm a full coverage kind of gal and this is perfect!  It has a dewy finish, but doesn't make you look greasy.  The only downfall is the shade range.  I am fair, but not the fairest of them all (despite what my inner princess tells me) and I just make it into the lightest shade.  I could probably go lighter during the winter months, but this is the lightest that they offer.  The only thing that I would change about this product is that they would carry a more inclusive range of shades.

Covergirl Vitalist Healthy Elixir Foundation

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Contour: This isn't a necessary step, but I like it.  Adding dimension to my face makes me a happy Carlye.  My all time favorite contour powder is Sombre by Kat Von D, which is in the Shade + Light Palette.  Right now, mine is out and I don't have the refillable palette. So, my dear reader I've run into a dilemma.  In  its place I have started to use the contour color in a limited edition contour & highlight palette by Tarte.  I like a cooler undertone for my coloring, so this shade was perfect.  I like this powder, but it isn't my Sombre.  I will probably purchase the single pan of that once I am finished with this.

Don't Be Afraid To Dazzle by Tarte Cosmetics

Bronzer:  I have two favorites.  Both are on the pricier side, so I apologize.  But not really because they are beautiful!  First is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer.  This bronzer has a luminosity that just kills the game.  It gives you the best bronzed glow!  I hit pan on mine a few months ago and needed to get a replacement.  I had been eyeing up the Marc Jacobs O!Mega Coconut Bronzer ever since its limited release last year!  I saw that they were adding it as a permanent piece to their collection, so I had to pick it up!  And we have been in love ever since.  It smells delicious and is the perfect combination of warm and cool tones.  I don't know how else to describe it!  I just hit pan last week and I am dreading the time that it runs out.

Marc Jacobs O!Mega Coconut Bronzer

Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Palette

Eyebrows: I have found a new favorite in the Anastasia of Beverly Hills (ABH) Brow Definer pencil.  I like it because it isn't too sticky with wax, but has enough to help keep the hair in place.  The tapered shape is great for getting thinner, more precise lines as well as thicker lines to fill in space.  It is dual ended with a spoolie, which makes it even better!  I follow this up with the ABH tinted brow gel and those girls aren't going anywhere!  Always remember, your brows are sisters, not twins.

ABH Brow Definer

ABH Tinted Brow Gel

Mascara: I have two favorites and I tend to switch it up each day.  Those are Betters Than Sex (BTS) by Too Faced and Roller Lash by Benefit.  I like BTS because it makes my lashes look longer and fuller.  It really is a miracle worker!  I like the Roller Lash because it curls my lashes and lifts them.  It is a lighter formula and doesn't make the lashes as full, but it lifts and separates.  Love this one as well!  I prefer a dryer mascara formula, which is what you get with these two.  If it is too wet it tends to weigh my lashes down and gets literally everywhere!  Pro tip: I always buy travel size mascaras.  Mascara expires after 3 months, so if you buy the smaller one, you are more likely to use it all up before it expires.

Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara

NARS Chelsea Girls Lip Gloss

And, done!  A simple face-- maybe not for all, but for me it is!  I understand that this routine may not be for everyone, but I have gotten it down to a bit of a science for getting me out the door in the morning.

Before (brave post lol)

After

Do you have any holy grail products that you use daily?  Let me know in the comments below!

Photo cred: Influenster

Did you know that your makeup has an expiration date?  I didn't either until someone at Sephora educated me!  All cosmetics and skin care have a shelf life during which the manufacturer deems the product "best suited for use" or "best used by."  If a product is used outside of this time period it is highly likely that the product will not perform as expected/promised.  The manufacturer sets these parameters as a type of disclaimer, like "Hey--this may not be what we promised after this time, so don't come back on us!"

Before I knew about the "expiration" or "best by" dates I had kept makeup for YEARS!  I had known that some of it had to have gone bad because some of the ingredients had separated or it would irritate my skin--now I know why!  How many of us have nail polishes that are more than a year old because we haven't gone through the whole bottle?  I can probably name one color that I have used all the way through!  So, are we just supposed to throw it all away?  Yes.

Knowing when to dispose of products is going to be your best way of ensuring that you are using healthy products.  While they may not have an actual expiration date printed on the packaging, the manufacturers do have symbols on each product, or the packaging that it came in, with a symbol that shows how long you can use the product once you have opened it.

Here are a few things that I plan on implementing into my life to help make sure that what I am using is up to date:

1. Setting calendar reminders of when to dispose of an individual product.
2. Write date of expiration on product that way it is right there when using it.
3. Do a quarterly product purge and get rid of any products that may have expired.
4. Use clean tools for products in pots or jars (spatulas, cotton swab, etc.) instead of your fingers.
5. Buy travel/sample sizes of products, such as mascara, so that I don't waste it before it goes bad.

It pains me to know that I am throwing away products that are so expensive, but it is necessary.  I think this is something that may help some of us (*cough* me) who have some over-buying tendencies to curb our spending.  I don't want to buy two or three foundations if I know that in 6-12 months I am going to have to throw them away and I won't have used the entire bottle!

I am going to challenge myself to an "empty" challenge.  I want to use all of every product that I have (as long as they are in date range) before I buy a replacement or duplicate product!  Want to join this challenge with me?  Comment below if you do!