Month: November 2017

Stila Eye for Elegance Liquid Eye Shadow Set! Review and Swatches!

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It can be so stressful trying to find the perfect gift. With the holidays approaching, I wanted to feature some makeup sets that would make great presents for friends and family members that love all things beauty! During the Sephora VIB Sale, I snagged this Stila “Eye for Elegance Liquid Eye Shadow Set” and I couldn’t wait to share my thoughts with you on how amazing it is! First we can talk about how great of a deal this is, you’re getting 6 deluxe size shadows for $45, for an overall value of $72! There are two different formulas in the set, “Glitter & Glow,” which is exactly as the name states, very glittery with noticeable sparkles. “Shimmer & Glow” is a shimmer, satin formula that doesn’t have any chunky glitter. The “Shimmer & Glow” shadows won’t be released until Spring, so I was very excited to try a product that you can only use if you buy this set!

What I love most about these liquid eyeshadows is their long lasting formulation and the very limited fallout I experience (if any) throughout the day! The “Glitter & Glow” will most likely drop a couple sparkles down from your eyelids, onto to your face, but it’s nothing horrible! I always use these before I do my face makeup, just so I can clean up any fallout before I do my foundation and concealer! The consistency of the formula is somewhat watery, but they do dry very quickly so you have to work fast to blend them out! Once they have set, they’re not going anywhere, so make sure you place it exactly where you want it!

I love that you can layer these liquid shadows, without them breaking up and separating on the lid. The applicator is perfect for placing the shadow down, but I like going in with my ring finger and softly blending out the edges of the shadow right after.

Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows

  • Kitten – This is exactly like their award winning powder eyeshadow, a beautiful champagne shade with a bright peachy, pink shimmer throughout. I would use this shade all over the lid to create an easy, but gorgeous eye look that only takes about 30 seconds to look complete!
  • Grace – I’m not going to lie, I thought this color was a little too similar to Kitten and if I was personally curating the shades selected for this kit, I would’ve chosen something that was more golden to give some variety. With that said, this is a very beautiful taupe color with a champagne shimmer. It looks stunning on the eyes and I think I’ll be getting a lot of use out of it!
  • Twig – This is a warm, chestnut brown with golden shimmer. I’ve been using this on my outer corners to give added depth. This is also beautiful smudged on the lower lash line and looks less harsh than a traditional eye liner.

Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows

  • Peachy Sheen – I don’t know if this color will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I personally love it! It will give you that editorial, glossy lid look that you see in high-end beauty campaigns! The peach shimmer is going to be complimentary on so many skin tones as well! This doesn’t have the pigmented base that the other shadows have, but the glitter is incredible and will give you an effortless, while still on-trend eyeshadow look!
  • Smoldering Satin – This is my favorite shadow in the entire collection! I know this is the shade that I’ll get those most wear out of because it’s a neutral champagne shade that has a ton of gold and silver glitter! I am so excited to pair this with a bold lip for upcoming holiday parties! This would also be beautiful with an all matte eyeshadow look on the top eyelid, with a glitter accent on the lower lash line!
  • Next to Notte – I already have a look in mind for an upcoming tutorial using this eyeshadow! It is a gorgeous cranberry red, with pink and silver shimmer! I am really excited to step out of my comfort zone and rock this stunning red glitter shadow!

I can’t say enough good things about this set! I think it’s definitely worth the money and I know I’ll use all of these shades. I think this would make a great gift for anyone that loves makeup! The formula is on point and I think there are enough wearable shades for someone to use these on a daily basis! The box is so cute that you can just stick a bow on it and you have a perfect little present to place under the tree! What did you think of the swatches? Are you planning on giving makeup sets as gifts this Christmas? Let me know in the comments! Thank you so much for reading this review!

Shop this set here!

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Cover FX Perfect Highlighting Palette! Review and Swatches!

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If you love to highlight, strobe, define, look like a glazed donut, then you need to run to Ulta right now and pick up the Cover FX Perfect Highlighting Palette! Like the name states, this is a perfect combination of 6 gorgeous powder highlight shades! The variety is amazing, with colors ranging from champagne to pink to bronze! I can see this working for light-to-medium skin tones, but I would still highly recommend swatching it in store to see if it could be a good match for you! The great thing is that you can use these individually, or mix them together to get your perfect, custom shade! I’m shocked at how pigmented and shimmery these colors are, yet the formula will not emphasize texture, fine lines or pores! YAY! This palette retails for $39 and is an overall value of $79! Since this a limited edition item, I would absolutely get it while you can!

I received a lot of great feedback on my last review of a palette and everyone enjoys when I review each individual shade so I will go in depth about each pan! You can definitely achieve a multidimensional glow by using each highlight by itself, but these also look beautiful layered and with a damp brush (I love using MAC Fix Plus) to give a metallic effect to the skin! The texture is powder, but they are extremely creamy and pigmented! I use my Anastasia Beverly Hills highlight brush or my Real Techniques tapered brush to get full coverage when applying these. I love a wet-look, borderline blinding highlight on a daily basis, but you can absolutely use a fluffier brush to pick up less product and blend these with a light hand for a more natural effect. I love investing in good highlight palettes because you can use them on your face (as intended), but you can also use them as eyeshadows! My favorite trick to getting ready in a rush is to just tap my highlight all over the lid with my finger and then softly blend my bronzer in the crease! It takes 5 seconds and you have a complete eye look using the products that are already in front of you! Now let’s get into a breakdown of the shades!

Rose Gold – I would describe this as a true, bright pink with gold sparkle. This is very pearlescent and looks beautiful on top of the cheekbones, but I personally plan on wearing this as a blush topper! If you haven’t tried applying these pink toned highlights on the apples of your cheeks, girl what are you doing?! It gives the cutest, rounded effect and looks perfect for getting the “I just came in from the cold” winter look!

Prism – This is probably my least favorite color in the palette (if I had to pick one) but that’s only because it’s a little too light and frosty for my medium skin tone! If you have fair skin, I think you would love this! I plan on using it as an inner corner and brow bone highlight. It also looks pretty when you mix it with any of the other shades to brighten things up!

Blossom – Drum roll for the star of the show, my most loved shade in the palette! This is such a glossy, wet looking highlight and it looks so gorgeous on the tops of the cheekbones, around the eyebrow, down the bridge of my nose, the tip of my nose, my Cupid’s bow, my chin; literally everywhere! I want to drench my body in this highlighter! I’m shocked at the longevity of this formula, it lasted for over 8 hours on my face without fading or looking dull! This is a peachy color, with a rose gold shimmer throughout it and I’m in LOVE!

Gilded – This is another rose, pink color, but it has a peachy undertone! There is finely milled gold and bronze shimmer throughout. I think I’m going to love this when I’m tanned in the summertime! This is the perfect color to use on the tip of your nose, top of the forehead and chin to get a healthy looking glow and tie in your blush shade to the rest of your face makeup!

Celestial – I think everyone is going to love this shade because it’s a universally flattering champagne color, with a pearly shimmer. It looks so creamy and glossy on the cheekbones, but it isn’t unwearable or blinding! This is my favorite one to intensify by applying with a brush that has been spritzed with setting spray. This technique will help any of the powders get super metallic!

Golden Peach – I was initially intimated by a color like this because I knew I couldn’t use it as a highlight, but it makes a gorgeous bronzer topper! After I’ve used a matte bronzer to contour my face, I lightly dust this overtop to give some additional warmth and a subtle sheen! I think this is so pretty in the colder months when my skin is extra dry. I find that this step helps me look dewy, without getting oily since this is a powder product! I’m also excited to use this as an eyeshadow as well!

What do you guys think about this highlighting palette?! I’m obsessed to say the least! It’s my favorite one that I’ve tried so far and I absolutely think you get the most bang for your buck by buying these beautiful highlights in palette form! I think this would make a great gift for the holidays because it really is versatile and the variety of shades will make it easy for a beginner to use! I love looking at makeup that inspires me to be creative and this Cover FX Perfect Highlighting Palette definitely did just that! Have you had your eye on this product? I haven’t seen any reviews featuring it yet, so I hope this helped you decide to pass or buy! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful week!

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How to Look Well-Rested with Brighter and Wider Eyes!

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Do you have dark circles, puffy eyes or just a sleepy looking appearance after repeatedly hitting snooze on your seven alarms? Because same. I developed a routine to de-puff and give a highlighted, lifted appearance to my under eye area, while also brightening and widening my eyes! Keep reading to see the list of products I use and the ways I apply them to look more awake!

I always wake up with puffy eyes and the Clinique “Pep-Start” Eye Cream is my go-to for hydrating and brightening! I love it for so many reasons. I’ve struggled with finding the perfect formula to lightly moisturize my under eyes before I apply concealer. Whenever eye creams are too heavy, it will cause whatever you put on top of it to look heavy and crease. This one is so lightweight, while also being hydrating, so it’s the perfect formula for A.M. application! It is cooling to the touch, which helps with de-puffing as well! I’ve also noticed that this doesn’t give me those small white bumps, which sometimes can happen with different eye creams that I’ve tried. I use a small, pea sized amount and tap it on with my ring finger since it applies the lightest amount of pressure! I wait about a minute for it to sink in and then I go onto the next step!

I’ve been using the Becca “Under Eye Brightening Corrector” for a couple years now and I can’t imagine this product not being in my daily routine! If you have stubborn dark circles that show through with even the most full coverage concealers, then you need to invest in a good corrector! This one is a peach color with light reflecting illuminators, which will counteract the blue tones in your dark circles. A little goes a long way with this product, plus it lasts all day long! I apply this with my damp beautyblender underneath my eye and in the inner corners.

After I’ve moisturized and corrected, I apply a full coverage concealer! I always purchase one that’s 1-2 shades lighter than my foundation to give a highlighted effect! My holy grail formula is the Tarte “Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer” (that’s a mouthful!) and it comes in 14 shades so you’re bound to find your perfect match! It is by far the most lightweight, full coverage formula that I’ve ever tried! It truly conceals acne, dark circles and redness so flawlessly! I always use this product with a damp beautyblender to help sheer it out slightly! If you’ve struggled with your concealer wearing off, then you NEED to try this one because it doesn’t fade during the day or look drying!

By this point, I’ve used so many creamy, liquid products underneath my eyes, that I have to set it with a powder to lock it all in and prevent any creasing! I always choose a yellow-toned, matte highlight powder to enhance the brightening effect I’m going for! Even if you have a different skin tone than me, I would still highly suggest checking out the NYX “Highlight Pro Singles” on Ulta.com! These aren’t sold in store, but I always stock up online! At only $5 a pan, they’re extremely affordable and there are 12 different shades to choose from. I was constantly buying the Anastasia highlight refills and then I discovered these, which are just as pigmented! The powder will also help smooth out any fine lines you may have, which is an added bonus!

Now that my under eyes are concealed and bright, I move onto making my eyes look big and awake! On a daily basis, I typically just apply my bronzer in my crease and take a shimmery shade all over the lid. Even when I’m rushing, I will never forget to highlight my inner corners with a shimmery, champagne eyeshadow! This makes the biggest difference in opening up your eyes and reflecting much needed light in an otherwise shadowy area! I love using this L’Oreal “Infallible Eyeshadow” in “Iced Latte” to brighten everything up! I take my pinky finger and dab the shadow on my inner corners, blending it outwards to seamlessly fade into my lid color.

I have round eyes, with a lot of lid space, so I always use eyeliner on the top lash line to help define and thicken the look of my eyelashes! Whenever I don’t put eyeliner in this area, I feel like my eyes look super tiny and tired. My favorite liners to use are the Kat Von D “Tattoo Liner” in “Trooper” for an ultra black, winged liner and I love the Marc Jacobs “Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner” in “(Earth)quake 41” for a smudged out, brown liner look! I also use the Marc Jacobs liner on my top waterline to further define that area, as well as smudged out on the outer corners of my lower lash line!

I’m pretty sure the best makeup secret to opening up your eyes and making you look awake is using a nude eyeliner in your lower waterline! The Tarte “Fake Awake Eye Highlight” is the most pigmented and long wearing one I’ve tried so far! I’ve repurchased it so many times because nothing compares! The nude color will neutralize any redness you have from having your eyes closed all night long. Using a light color in the lower waterline will help widen and brighten your eye. Back in the day, I would use a white eyeliner, but I’ve started to enjoy the more natural effect of a nude eyeliner now! If you haven’t tried this beauty hack yet, you really need to! It makes the biggest difference and I really can’t do my makeup without it!

Do you have any tips or tricks to getting a fresh and well-rested appearance when you’re really just a sleepy gal?! Let me know by leaving me a comment! I love learning new techniques from you guys! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you found this type of product review/routine helpful!

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