TURNING ANOTHER YEAR OLDER & SEPHORA'S BIRTHDAY GIFT

Happy Friday, friends! How has the week been treating you? Thankfully it's the weekend, so hopefully it'll only continue to get better from here. This weekend is a long one, and it's also my birthday weekend!! You would think that a combination like that would make for a big and adventurous weekend, but it looks like it's going to be more of a low key one than anything. And as I'm writing this, and feeling a little tired from the work week, that actually doesn't sound too bad right about now.

Although my drivers license shows that I'm turning 32 tomorrow, I swear sometimes you'd think I was pushing 70. While the wrinkles and grey hair and random body aches seem to be sneaking in at an exponential rate now, it has more to do with the enjoyment that I get from staying home and going to bed early more than anything. Wait, who am I kidding? I can't blame my age, I've always loved those things! I guess that's what you would call introverted at it's finest right here, friends!

It seems there are always two times during the year that I look back and catch myself doing some self reflection - leading into a new year and around my birthday. I like reflecting back on the past 12 months because it makes me appreciate where I am, right now, and what's happened for me to get here. To be honest, this has been the fastest year of my life (thank you wedding planning!), and reflecting back on it has only reconfirmed that. Isn't it funny though how a year can go by soooo fast, but when you piece together all that you've done and experienced and been through, the timeline doesn't seem that short after all? 

While a few things have changed (working a new job, becoming a WIFE - still sounds so strange, friendships, and crossing off some places on our travel bucket list), a lot of things have remained the same (like my obsession with the snooze button, coffee, and chips!!).

And with reflection comes looking ahead. I have no idea what 32 is going to bring, but I do know that I feel full of anticipation and I'm ready to embrace turning another year older (as long as it still comes with unlimited supplies of coffee and chips, but maybe with a little less of the "getting older" weight gain). I feel like I've been craving change more than ever, and I hope this is the year that I make some of those changes, regardless of how big or small they are.

How true!

Moving on to what birthdays are really all about - the presents!!! Ha! If there's one thing you can count on from Sephora, besides emptying your wallet, it's remembering your birthday and giving you a "free" birthday gift. We all know quotations are necessary when you drop enough money in their store to pay for the gifts for the entire world. You continue to suck us in like no other, Sephora!

But I was really excited when I saw what Sephora was offering this year for the birthday gift; the Tarte lip and cheek set. As both a lover of Tarte and mini make up products (especially in lipsticks and blushes), I could not have asked for a better gift option. The colours looked exactly like what I would buy with my own money, so it was a triple win!

What I found out after was that the blush was in colour Paaarty, and that's actually the same blush our makeup artist used on a lot of us girls the morning of the wedding. In fact, my sister liked it so much she went out after and bought a full sized sample herself.

After wearing these products a couple of times this week, here's my thoughts:

• This was my first time using the Creamy Matte Lip Paint, and I was pleasantly surprised with the texture and how it felt on my lips. It wasn't at all sticky or drying. While it's a matte finish, it doesn't seem to completely dry or set in like other matte lipsticks. But, I actually liked that more because 1) the formula looked better on my lips and 2) it felt quite light to wear as opposed to other matte lipsticks.

• With that said, I did find it best if I blotted my lips after applying to get rid of any excess product.

• I was, however, a bit disappointed with the lip colour, Birthday Suit. While it looked more dark pinky- mauvey in the bottle, on my lips it was definitely more brown. It's not that I didn't like the colour on me, I did, and in fact I have several similar shades that I've purchased myself, but I was expecting (and excited for) more of a pinky undertone than what I got.

• Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty was the solid winner. It''s very pigmented (make sure to use lightly at first...I may or may not speak from experience), applies nice and smooth, and the colour is a beautiful pinky-peachy one. 

Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty
Tarte's Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit

Overall I'm quite happy with Sephora's birthday gift this year. They're definitely products I'll wear again and again, and I think they both compliment each other really nicely when worn together (even if the blush does have more of a pink tint on me than the lipstick does). Thanks Sephora! Happy early birthday to me! :)

Have you tried any of these? If so, I'd love to know your thoughts!

Until next time.