Disclosure: I received product samples; the opinions shared here are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links.

The year 2014 brings me one step closer to 40 years old. I’ve only got two years left to enjoy my 30’s and I’m going to make the most of it. My 20’s flew by in a flash and I can’t even say what happened to the last decade. Children?! I started out the year doing one thing that’s been on my To-Do list for months — read the book The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I’ve been holding off for a while because the summary sounded so depressing. In January I decided, to heck with it, I’m reading that book. And oh, what a sweet relief. The book is heartbreaking, yes, but it’s also so deeply satisfying and wonderful. If you haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favor and order it now. This is a story that will make you laugh, cry, and feel so glad to be human! Realizing that Valentine’s Day is creeping up on us, I decided it was a good time to add some new glam to my 30-something face. Try some new cosmetics to wow your Valentine this year!

Motives Cosmetics (by Loren Ridinger) sent me a sweet little package with some goodies to try. My favorite item in the package was the fabulous nail polish pictured above. This shade is called “Shocking Pink” but it is more of a raspberry color. I absolutely LOVE it — it’s perfect for both your hands and feet. I only put on one layer and really should have done two (or at least a topcoat), because the tips were starting to fade a bit by the next day. This polish really hides the imperfections in my nails, such as the little creases or chips. It also goes on super smooth; no gloppy mess with this polish. It’s a definitely favorite and I’ll be taking it with me to the salon for my next pedicure treat!

The next product I tried was the Color Perfection Quad foundation. My skin has been looking a bit reddish as of late. Perhaps it’s the windburn from playing outside with the kids, but I suspect it’s more of that aging factor again. This foundation set is ideal for the person who needs multiple shades or likes to mix products. You can use the variety to highlight your cheekbones or conceal redness, as I did. In this photo, you can see how well the foundation covered that redness with only a tiny dab of product. My skin tends to change color like a chameleon. In the summer, I’m pretty dark but the tan fades to a pale “fair” shade by winter. The Color Perfection Quad will eliminate the need to switch foundations with the seasons. It provides good coverage without being too heavy. This little foundation compact is going to be a big timesaver for me since I won’t have to dig around in my makeup bag for 3+ products every morning. It’s all right there at my fingertips!

Now, I’m always in search of a great mascara. The Lustrafy mascara from Motives (shown here in Onyx) is a really good option for those who want length, length, and more length. The formula goes on smoothly without any clumps. My mom would like this mascara; I vividly remember her attacking her lashes with a safety pin to separate the clumps. No lie!! My eyes are pretty sensitive to the chemicals in certain mascara blends; there was no irritation or watering noted with the Motives mascara. Now for the biggie — the brush is AMAZING.  It’s all bendy and flexible so that it won’t let any of your lashes get away. Seriously, look at it in the photo below. This is great for getting in those tight little spots or for extremely straight lashes that try to -boing- right out of the wand. The brush chases ’em down and get them covered.

I’m thrilled with the Motives cosmetics I received and hope to share more of it with you in the future! Connect with Motives on Facebook and Twitter (@motives).