Hi friends! If you’re like me, you’re always looking for some new tips and tricks to make your morning makeup routine a little easier, looking a little fresher and lasting a little longer. I’ve put a small list of my own tips and tricks for y’all to enjoy during this holiday season! Enjoy! xo.

Our skin may be our tough outer layer, but it’s constantly being beaten down by our environment and weather, as well as the products and chemicals we expose it to. This year, in the beauty department, one of my biggest focuses has been making sure I take better care of my skin. This includes prepping it before I put any makeup on. I recently purchased new Urban Decay products to try to help with this, including their B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray and Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion. I’ve been spritzing the Prep Spray on my skin about 5 minutes prior to the Primer Potion. Then, I wait another 5 minutes before applying my foundation. Using both together has done a great job of moisturizing my skin with vitamins and antioxidants, helping minimize shine and oil-production throughout the day, as well as minimizing fine lines. All of those perks combined allows my makeup to look more natural and flawless.

Also, great thing to know … these products are oil and paraben-free! 

Before I started using this eyeshadow primer, my eyeshadow would flake off onto my cheeks and underneath my eyes. At the end of the day, I feel like my face looked really dirty.  The primer preps your lid for the eyeshadow you’ll be applying so that it stays in place and doesn’t move throughout the day. SUCH a game changer! 

I’m notorious for using the same eyeshadow colors every day. I know which ones on the Original Naked Palette that I think look good on me … so I just use those over and over again. I recently purchased the newest Naked palette to get myself out of the same old, same old and try a classic smoky eye. See the first photo in this post as proof 🙂 I’m thinking it’ll be great for holiday parties!

Which palette will help you get out of what you normally wear?

Grab it as treat for yourself this holiday!

I feel like highlighting and contouring your face has gained popularity lately and, honestly, I’m guilty of being a newbie at it. I’ve used this Naked Flushed Bronzer, Highlight & Blush Palette for the past year and LOVE. IT. I use the Naked combination. The blush is a little too pink for me … but the bronzer and highlight is my favorite out of any I’ve tried.

I’m not expert at contouring but I use this brush, swish it in the bronzer, blow off the excess, pinch the brush so it’s more of a line … start at where the top of your ear meets your cheek and apply downward and up toward your cheek at the end. In the picture you see above, I’m applying excess bronzer around my hairline. I also apply it on each side of my nose, on my neck and on my jawline.

With the highlight powder, I use the smaller flat edge round brush end and make a C-shape from the top of my cheeks, around my eye to the top of my eyebrow.

I might need to make a video. That might have been a little hard to follow but if you have any questions, or would like a video, let me know! I might be able to get that done for y’all in the next few weeks.

I’ve always been the kind of girl that loves to get dressed up for game day or themed party … so it should be no surprise that, during the holidays, I love to incorporate subtle pops of red into my outfit to show my excitement for the season! One of my favorite ways to do that is by wearing a bold red lip. As a lipstick lover, I can honestly say that Urban Decay’s Matte Lipstick is one of my favorite formula’s. It’s a little softer than most and the color is super rich. I’m wearing ‘Bad Blood’ with the lipliner with the same name. If you’re not a fan of matte, I also linked their new Revolution Lipstick, which is much creamier with more of a color selection. Pick whatever works best for you and own it! 

I hope these were helpful in making you feel beautiful this holiday season! Thanks for stopping by, friends! xo.

With love & sequins,
Haley

“Be kind to one another.”

Photo Credit: Lyndsey Anne Photography

This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for supporting the retailers that support Sequins & Things.