My Stila Favorites

In response to the post below, I'd like to give you a list of my all-time favorite products from Stila and also tell you why they're my favorites. I don't usually post in-depth about high-end products on my blog (it is, after all, about saving money!) but because of the amazing discount code currently available (enter STILAPRO at checkout to receive 40% off your order and free shipping, good through June 17), I thought I'd offer you some options if you're having trouble deciding, or maybe you've never purchased a Stila product before and want to take advantage of this sale to experience their products for the first time. Either way, I'm happy to help and I hope that this gives you some ideas about what might work for you!

1) Stila Eyeshadows.

I can honestly say that Stila eyeshadows are THE product that hooked me into high-end, department store makeup. Up until that point, I was perfectly content with my drugstore eyeshadows. But then one day, many many years ago, I walked past this new line of cosmetics at my local Nordstrom and saw the display of shimmering, jewel-tone and earthtone eyeshadows and the rest was history. Stick a fork in me because I knew I was done. After swatching a few on my hand, I knew I was in trouble. And even though that was years ago, I can honestly say that these eyeshadows still have that same effect on me--I get all woosey when I see them and I MUST use one immediately. They are rich, velvety, highly pigmented, and such a joy to apply and blend. But even though the pigment is great, that doesn't mean that you can't control the intensity. You can apply a sheer wash if you'd like, or you can pack it on for a super dramatic look.

Some of my favorite shades:

Kitten. An instant classic that has achieved cult status at this point, and for good reason. A super frosty, almost metallic shade of light pinky-champagne beige. If you think you already own a good champagne beige highlight color, think again. The key to this shade is that there's pink in the mix, which pumps up the champagne and makes it look warmer on the skin. Plus, the texture of shimmery Stila shadows is THE BEST (even better than their matte shadows). It's like swiping pure velvet onto your lids. Over the years I wear this less on my browbone and more on the inside corners of my eyes to make my whole face brighten up. You can even use this as a highlighter. Worth every penny.

Other shades I love:

Wheat. Move over MAC Shroom, there's a new shimmery beige in town. I never thought I'd give up my beloved MAC Shroom, but Stila's Wheat is a tad darker, a tad more wearable, and a tad more versatile. A true workhorse of a color.

La Douce (formerly Irma La Douce). The first eyeshadow I ever used to line my eyes. A simply stunning shade of shimmery, dark olive green that looks gorgeous on all eye colors (but especially hazel and brown). Looks totally different but equally as pretty used wet or dry.

Diamond Lil'. Some call it gunmetal. Some call it taupe. Some call it gray mixed with lilac. Needless to say, it's a complex color (as is the case with so many Stila shades) and it's one of the best colors to use if you're in a hurry and want to use just one eyeshadow for impact. Sweep this from lash to crease, blend, throw on some liner and you're done (and looking gorgeous).

One last note about Stila eyeshadows: They are sold in pans with no container (they come in a disposable plastic package). If you're cool with that, no worries, but if you need a container, you'll have to purchase it separately for $2. Or you can stick these in a palette, but please note that they do not fit in e.l.f. palettes or MAC palettes because the measurement of a Stila pan is larger at 35mm. You can buy a 4-pan palette for $16 on the Stila website, but there are a zillion other places to buy empty palettes for Stila pans (and for less money than the Stila website). One example is this 15-pan palette (36 mm) for $7. I think Ulta and Amazon have some as well.

2) "Jane" lip color.

This is the first shade of lipstick that introduced me to the concept of "less is more." I bought this back when Stila lipsticks were still sold in black cardboard tubes, if that tells you anything. And it remains a favorite because, once again, the color is just so darned complex. The best description I can give is that it's a shimmery pinky-peach-nude that seems to look completely different when you wear it with different eye and cheek colors. It's a chameleon nude, for lack of a better term. But the shimmer in it keeps it from fading into "barely there" territory. Wear this on days when you want to look natural but with an extra "pop". Also, this color is fabulous on redheads :)

3) Lip Glaze.

The original click pen lip gloss. Sometimes you just have to stick with the original, and in the case of Lip Glaze, the first one is still the best. If you're a click pen fan, you must try one (if you haven't already) because they're sheer, gorgeous, and the smell of each gloss matches its name. You can't go wrong with any shade. Except for maybe "Apricot" which tends to look like a clear gloss on many people.

4) Lip Glaze Sticks.

Some people are gloss girls, some are not. If you're not really a gloss lover but want the look of a gloss, THIS product is for you. Stila hit it out of the park with this one, if you ask me. Let me put it to you this way: Remove the stickiness factor of glosses, add a subtle shimmer and make them have better staying power and you have the Lip Glaze Stick. You still get the sheerness of a gloss, but you can build for more intensity. To me, it's the best of all worlds in a stick.

5) Jade Blossom Hair Refresher. I've heard that spray-nozzle dry shampoos are excellent for getting right at greasy roots, but I think I'll stick with Stila's "old fashioned" bottle, thank you very much. With its flip top lid and squeeze bottle spout, I enjoy giving this bottle a squeeze and watching the powder come out in a little "poof", like white smoke. The scent of Jade Blossom is so yummy, so clean, so feminine and never overpowering (a blend of green tea, cucumber and lemon verbena). I squeeze a few "poofs" onto my bangs when I've skipped a day of shampooing and I can throw my hair into a ponytail and no one's the wiser. My bangs look clean, my hair feels soft, and as long as you don't use too much, you can't detect it's even there. Tip: If you do apply too much and your hair looks white, just run a fine-tooth comb through it to remove the excess. Also, I've owned my current bottle for more than 2 years and I haven't even hit the halfway mark yet. Definitely worth the money if you're like me and only use it on rare occasions.

Other very popular Stila products that you might want to consider:

Convertible Color (popular shades: Peony, Gladiola, Petunia)

Smudge Pots (popular shades: Black, Jade)

All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer (popular shade: Luminous Gold)

So there you have it! I hope that this list helps you navigate your way through the site (if you're a newcomer to Stila) and if you end up purchasing anything I've mentioned, I would love it if you left a comment here with your opinion. I hope you enjoy these products as much as I do.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the Stila site to figure out what I'm going to purchase...