Dream + Dress: Holiday glow

One of my biggest beauty obsessions is "glow"- everything from highlighters to illuminizers, shimmer potions and everything in between - if it claims to give you a "lit from within" appearance, I'll probably buy it. Friends and loved ones will sometimes try to keep me in check when I'm verging shimmer overload, but I will never stop craving that dewy, luminous, J.Lo-circa-Waiting-for-Tonight-video skin.

I used to be hooked on Stilla's illuminating tinted moisturizer combined with Givenchy's luminizer pen for highlighting the cheek and brow bones, but both run out quickly and aren't cheap. Yesterday I had to run to Sephora anyway, since I was out of my regular Bare Escentuals foundation, and literally got butterflies in my stomach when I spotted the Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Collection.

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Collection

If you like all things shimmery as much as I do, you will die over this collection! The pearl glow primer (#1 above) had the most amazing pearly, dewy finish to it and the shimmer dusts (#2 and 3) shot out super fine glitter/shimmer that you can wear all over. The packaging alone is something any girly girl would love! They would make a perfect gift since they're universally flattering with such a precious presentation! Also, you can't tell from the photo, but the eyeshadow palette is actually really shimmery as well and the lid is much more elegant (less cheesy) in person.

Surprisingly, I didn't actually buy any of them, partially because I'm trying to be good and only buy for others right now, and partially because I just was too overwhelmed with excitement and indecision. I couldn't decide which I wanted, because I wanted them all! I read up on the reviews today though and think I'll have to go with the pearl primer first and then just cross my fingers I'll get the others for Christmas (hint, hint!).

I didn't resist all temptations yesterday, however, and I did walk away with one "glowy" purchase. I discovered that Bare Escentuals now makes an illuminating mineral veil. At first, I was a bit skeptical of how sparkly it looked (even for me) for a product I'd be applying to my entire face, but I was quickly converted to a believer once I tried it. It gives a beautiful glow to the foundation and sets it perfectly! I can't wait for the shine factor when I combine this with the pearl primer!