Tag: #beautyblogger

Tarte “Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette: Volume 2” Review and Swatches!

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Glow, baby! Glow! I cannot get enough highlight in my life and I’m so tempted whenever I see my favorite makeup brands release new products to make my skin look lit from within! The new Tarte “Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette: Volume 2” is seriously glow goals. I wanted to review this highlighting/strobing palette because these shades are truly some of the best I’ve ever used. I love how universal this product is too, it really can work for any skin tone! At $42 for 4 highlight shades, I think this palette is totally worth it since that’s only about $10 per highlight, which is on par with drugstore makeup brands! If you are a makeup artist and do a lot of bridal/special occasion makeup, I would highly recommend because of the variety in shades and long-wearing formula! These are so creamy and blendable and they will not cling to any dry patches or emphasize skin texture. They’re super shimmery, but not glittery! If you’re a fan of the lit-from-within, glossy highlight then you will really love this formula!        


The first shade is, “Daylight” which is described as a white gold! I love this color because it is so bright and has a gorgeous golden shimmer throughout. I find that this is pretty unique because many of my white-pearly colors have a silver or champagne shimmer, making them look a little cool-toned once applied to the face! I think this is perfect for fair skinned gals! I personally cannot wear this color because it’s too light, but I love mixing it with the second shade and placing it on the very tops of my cheekbones and under the brow bone! On its own, it makes an amazing inner corner highlight! 

      

The second shade is called, “Skylight” and this is a true light pearl shade with a silver/champagne micro-shimmer! Although this color is gorgeous, I typically do not grab for a cool-toned highlight on a daily basis! However, if I were to use gray eye shadows or a cool-toned pink blush, I would definitely use this shade in combination with one of the more golden colors in the palette! It’s amazing how evenly pigmented this color is and how bright it reflects in-person and in photography! 

      

Next, is my absolute favorite highlight and the color I cannot stop wearing, “Spotlight.” It is a true golden shade with champagne shimmer! I love this color so much because it compliments my medium-olive skin tone and gives me a gorgeous, noticeable glow! I basically bathe in this color since it’s so glossy! This is also the main color I mix with the two lighter shades to get a even brighter highlight that is borderline blinding. I would compare this color to Laura Geller “Gilded Honey” highlight, which is my all-time favorite product! 

     

Lastly, we have “Candlelight,” which is the perfect rose-gold, copper color! If you have tan to dark skin tones you will love this color! I’m so excited for this to be my go-to shade whenever I’m more tan in the summertime! I can picture this color melting beautifully into a peach blush or bronzer and giving the skin a healthy tan glow! 
     

If you are a highlight lover like me, then I would totally purchase this palette! It’s absolutely worth it since it’s made with awesome skincare ingredients like algae and marine flower to help smooth and soften skin to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles! Coconut and vitamin E to provide moisture and enhance skin elasticity! I love this because I always use great skincare products underneath my makeup, but it’s awesome to know that what I’m laying over top of that is also helping maintain my healthy skin! I’ve noticed that all of the Tarte “Rainforest of the Sea” products are super creamy and hydrating, which I especially love using in these drier, winter months! I really hope you enjoyed reading my review on the new Tarte “Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette: Volume 2!” I have been using this product non-stop since I first bought it and I see no reason to slow down! I decided to post this now that Tarte’s website has this item back in stock after it’s been sold out for a few weeks! I would recommend getting your hands on it as soon as possible! 

     

I really want to try out some new drugstore makeup products for my next blog post, but I want to know which ones specifically you would like to see put to the test! Please leave me a comment below of a new, affordable makeup product that you’ve been dying to see used in a tutorial/first impressions post! There are so many new products that I just want to buy everything, so I would love any extra help narrowing down my shopping list! Thank you again for reading! 

    

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Sweet Peach Makeup Look! 

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If you read my previous post, you know I went peach crazy and ordered every item in the new Too Faced Sweet Peach Collection! Well, rather than only showing the swatches from my review post, I decided to also do a quick, little makeup look using all of the products I purchased! As you can guess, the look is very peachy, but I wanted to create a cohesive look that shows you how to make the pinky-orange tones wearable for day-to-day! Of course, you can totally make it your own! I think this would be gorgeous without eyeliner and brown mascara if you want a more natural, soft effect. You can also add false lashes and darken the outer corners a bit more to give a dramatic effect! Either way, I hope you really enjoy seeing how I put all of these products together for a pretty peach makeup look! 

  1. I first primed my eyes using the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in the shade “Eden.” I love this for canceling out the veins and redness in my eyelids, while also extending the wear of my eyeshadows. Next I applied “White Peach” from the Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette all over my eyelid and up to the brow bone. I find that the rest of my shadows blend easier when I set down a neutral shade to take away the tackiness of the primer and provide a smooth canvas for the colors we place on top. 
  2. For my transitional shades, I took “Peaches ‘N Cream” on a fluffy brush throughout the entire crease area. Once I had that blended out, I added a bit of “Georgia” to soften the entire look, while giving more dimension. 
  3. So the next color I used, “Summer Yum” is an absolute game-changer and definitely my favorite shade in the entire palette. It’s a perfect warm, terracotta, chocolate brown. Ugh, it’s just really something special. So I picked up a more detailed blending brush and focused this color on the outer edges for a wide-eyed effect. This color would also be amazing as an all-over kid shade for an all-matte brown smokey eye! Ah! 
  4. I picked up “Bellini” next, which I would describe as a peachy-rose gold shade. This is perfect for highlighting the eyelid and providing the look with more dimension. I used a flat shader brush to press the color in and reduce any fallout from the shimmer. I also added the color “Nectar” into the corners of my eyes to help them look awake and sparkly! 
  5. To add further depth to the eyes, I took “Delectable,” which I would describe as a matte, deep plum shade on a small definer brush. I blended this onto my upper lash line and slightly into the crease. Typically, I use a matte black color for this step, but I actually really like how this shade worked with the whole look! 
  6. For the final step, I used the Kat Von D liquid liner and applied two coats of Too Faced “Better Than Sex” mascara! After looking at the photos from this pictorial, I really saw how crazy of an impact these steps make! Wow! Of course I did my standard winged eyeliner, but I think it would look equally awesome with just a regular like or no eyeliner at all! 

     


For the rest of my makeup, I used the Sweet Peach Glow palette for my bronzer, highlight and blush topper! I also used the Papa Don’t Peach blush, which I absolutely love! I predict this product becoming my new favorite! For my lips, I used the Sweet Peach Creamy Peach Oil Balm in “Papa Don’t Peach” for a glossy look! I have been wearing this product nonstop and absolutely love the way it feels on my lips, so I’m excited to try the other colors in the range! Let me know if you like this makeup look! I want to know your favorite shades in this palette too! A lot of the colors are out of my comfort zone, but I believe that will continue to inspire me to get more creative with my makeup looks! Thank you so much for reading! 

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Sephora VIB Haul! 

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How can anyone resist a good 20% off Sephora sale?! I fell victim to this seasonal discount because some of these brands never go on sale and I just had to have these items, okay?! This is a great time to stock up on pricey skincare and repurchase those staples that you know you will use time and time again. Aside from the sheer thrill of new makeup, I always look forward to this promotion because Sephora usually brings out great seasonal value sets! As you will notice, I was able to get my greedy little paws on some great makeup, skincare and hair sets this year! I wanted to show you what I purchased, with a brief review on how that product has been performing for the brief week I have used it! Sometimes first impressions can tell a lot about a product, right?! I also wanted to help out if you’ve been eyeing some of these items for gifts and needed some help determining the overall value of these sets and whether or not buying individually is worth it!

    

Makeup

      

Urban Decay, All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Duo, $39.00.

       

This is an awesome deal because only purchasing one of these bottles will cost you $31.00! The Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is a holy-grail item for me because it will make your makeup last all day, keep it from smearing or transferring and fading. It also lays all of your powder products down flat, so you won’t have a cakey or overly matte appearance. One bottle will last you a few months, so you can’t go wrong with purchasing the set of two and having a back up! Love this stuff, especially at such a great price for the two full-size versions!

    
MAKE UP FOR EVER, Pro Light Fusion Highlighter, “2 Golden,” $39.00.

       

I have been lusting after this gorgeous highlighter for months! Laura Geller Gilded Honey is my favorite highlight of all time, but I would have to say this one is a close second! The pigment is gorgeous and it is definitely not chunky or glittery. The shine is a wet-look, glossy, smooth finish that compliments any skin type! I can see this product layering beautifully with a cream highlight underneath since it is so evenly pigmented. The color is a true champagne-gold, but it is light enough to be wearable for fair skin tones. It also lasts incredibly long on the skin, which is just another bonus!

     
Benefit Cosmetics, Sassy Lassie “Chick Picks” Beauty Bestsellers Kit, $39.00.

       

This is an AMAZING deal if you love Benefit products! You get a full-size Roller Lash mascara, which is an amazing product if you struggle to keep your eyelashes curled throughout the day. You also will get a full-size Porefessional Primer, which is great for filling in pores and creating a smooth canvas for your face makeup to adhere to. A full-size Ka-Brow eyebrow pomade that I recently mentioned in my October favorites as being a must-have product! You also get a smaller sized version of their beloved Hoola bronzer as well! So much value in such a little box! I think this is a great gift for anyone, whether they’re a makeup expert or a beginner!

     
stila, Stay All Day Lip Liner, “Marsala,” $20.00.

      

This lip liner is always talked about by beauty influencers, so I decided to give it a whirl! The color “Marsala” is unique to any other lip liners in my collection because it is a warm-toned, peachy-brown color, that I think will compliment those no-lipstick days where I just want to line my lips and throw a chapstick or clear gloss over it. I love that it is a roll-up liner and not a sharpening one, because lets face it, those are an absolute pain to constantly have to maintain a sharp point!

      

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick – Holiday Kiss Collection, “Lolita II,” $21.00.

        

I own the original cult favorite shade, “Lolita” in both the lipstick and liquid lipstick version! The shade “Lolita II” is a warm, peach color in a matte finish. The formula of these lipsticks are super long-wearing, creamy, but with a soft matte finish. They have that wonderful, yummy, vanilla scent like M.A.C lipsticks too! I love this limited edition holiday packaging, which is more glamorous than the standard black studded tubes. I would recommend this shade to anyone because I think it’s neutral enough for different undertones and can be worn with dramatic and natural makeup looks. 

         

MAKE UP FOR EVER, Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation, “118 = Y325,” $43.00.

     

I have heard so many amazing reviews about the formulation of this product that I just had to try it while I could get a mini discount during this sale! It’s a satin finish that is perfect for dry skin types, aka me during these Winter months! I LOVE this product so much, I’ve been testing it out for the past week and it’s long-lasting, creamy, full-coverage and somehow still natural looking! It blends out beautifully with a brush or beauty blender. It will not emphasize pores or cling to texture and dry areas. I’m so glad they have an expansive shade selection with a color for anyone! Plus, it makes it easier to sort by undertones, for example the Y in my shade “118 = Y325” stands for yellow undertone; genius! 

Hair

   

Sephora Favorites, Hair Rescue Masks On The Go, $25.00.

  

I got this kit because I have always wanted to try high-end hair masks, but could never justify the price point! I am really excited to try all of these out because they are top-rated on the Sephora website and have received stellar reviews. Recently, I have been using a purple toning shampoo for my balayage hair, which unfortunately tends to dry out my ends more than usual! With that said, I can definitely see these sample products helping me out during the winter months!

  

Skincare

    

Origins, Origins Bestsellers, $45.00.

    
If you know me, you know I swear by all Origins skincare! I love every single one of these items in this kit, so I could not pass up on buying! If you are looking for a good skincare brand that is all natural, but also really works, then look no further! Their Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash is an awesome cleanser that is perfect for sensitive skin! The Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask is great if you have enlarged pores or blackheads. This is one of those masks that will literally pull dirt out of your face, which is both intriguing and disgusting. This will be my first time trying the, By All Green Foaming Deep Cleansing Mask, but I will surely keep you posted on whether or not it’s a winner! My holy-grail nighttime moisturizer is and always will be the High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Renewal Cream so I was so happy to see this in the kit! It smells like oranges and you will wake up with refreshed and hydrated skin! I love seeing a noticeable difference in the texture of my skin and I know this moisturizer has been the main reason it has improved over the last year! The GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer is a good day-time product that will hydrate and prime before makeup application. The GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream is an “eh” product, I’ve never really been a huge fan, although some people swear by this eye cream! It’s definitely not bad, just doesn’t do a whole lot for my dark circles.

   
CLINIQUE, Pep-Start Eye Cream, $26.50.

  

I decided to purchase the full-size of this eye cream after receiving a sample from Sephora! If you wake up with puffy eyes and can’t seem to find a good moisturizing cream to help, then you should really try this! You only need a tiny bit and it will take down any swelling, while also smoothing out those pesky fine lines and dry areas. It also will not cause your concealer or any makeup you apply over it to crease or settle underneath your eye, which can be the case with other hydrating eye products. I would highly recommend this and could see myself continually repurchasing!

   

LAVANILA, Sport Luxe Deodorant, $16.00.

  

I’m not going to lie, $16 for a deodorant sounds kind of ridiculous, but that’s why I decided to purchase it while it was slightly discounted! I have had such horrible lucky with finding an aluminum-free deodorant that really works! So far, so good with this product, but I haven’t used it for long enough to know if it is truly worth the money! It’s so hard finding a great, all-natural deodorant for some reason, so if this one continues to impress me, I probably will repurchase!

Thank you for taking the time to read about the products I purchased during the VIB sale at Sephora! Let me know your favorite products that you picked up during the sale!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in “Ultimate Glow”

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit, “Ultimate Glow” $45.


Anastasia Beverly Hills is a brand known for their amazing eyebrow products, but recently they have gotten a lot of hype for their gorgeous “Glow Kits.” These sets typical feature 4 highlight shades that are guaranteed to give your lit-from-within shine. One of the reasons I have loved the Anastasia highlight formula so much is because it is smooth and doesn’t have a chunky glitter formula like a lot of other highlights on the market tend to have. I was very excited whenever I saw this limited edition palette come out because it had all warm gold shades which are my absolute favorite to wear! Some of the colors are a little dark for my skin tone, but I figured this would be amazing for medium to dark skin tones, which is great to see makeup brands considering! Now let’s get onto the swatches; the fun part!
     

The first color in the kit is, “Snow” and I would describe this as a bright-white shade that has cool-toned, silver reflects. Out of all the colors in the kit, this one is by far the most glittery. It is a bit stark white, so on my skin tone it is too bright and light to be subtle, but I think some fair-skinned gals will love this color to highlight with! I plan on either mixing this color with other darker shades to make it more wearable and also using it as a brightening, inner-corner highlight. 

     

Next is “White Sand,” which is my absolute favorite color in the whole kit! It reminds me a lot of champagne-pop and that is my all-time favorite highlight! This is a warm, peachy, champagne color with a lot of gold shimmer throughout. I think a variety of skin tones will find this flattering. This color only needed one swatch to show up evenly pigmented, which did alert me to some inconsistency in the formula for this particular Glow Kit. 

     

“Golden Dawn” is a true yellow-gold shade. When I was looking at this palette online, I thought this color was going to be one of my most used in the kit, however once applied to the tops of my cheeks, I didn’t find the strong yellow undertone very flattering. I will most likely just use this shade as an eyeshadow because I’m not sure how else I could make it work on the face!

     

Starting on the bottom row, we have “Sunray,” which I would describe as a peachier version of “White Sand.” This shade has a lot of golden glitter, which looks awesome in photos, but a little odd in natural lighting. I feel like this shade will give you an Instagram worthy highlight in flash photography, but it kind of emphasizes texture and comes across super unnatural in person. I was also displeased with this formula because it was super chunky, most likely from all the glitter packed into the pan. 

     

“Amber Gold” is another extremely glittery shade that has a ton of champagne and gold reflects. This one has a creamier formula, which makes the glitter blend out into nothing once applied onto your cheeks, but still…I don’t know why the majority of these shades are packed with so much loose glitter. None of the other Anastasia Glow Kits that I have tried have this formula, so I don’t know what exactly enticed the brand to change it up. 

    

Lastly, we have “Hot Sand” which is a really gorgeous bronze-rose gold color. I really love the formula and pigmentation on this shade. It is super creamy and blends out gorgeously on the face. Unfortunately, it is too dark to highlight on my skin tone, but I think it may work whenever I have a tan in the summertime! I found it looks gorgeous as a blush/bronzer topper when I am going for that extra glowy look!

   


For my final review of this product, I find myself a little conflicted on if I should recommend this to you. At $45 total, that makes each highlight $7.50, which seems like a great value for a brand known for it’s high quality makeup products. Whenever I switched these, I could tell immediately that they were inconsistent in the formula from shade-to-shade. It was also upsetting to see that these didn’t have the same glossy texture like the other Glow Kits seem to have. I think these shades may be perfect for someone and a lot of this is just personal preference. On a day-to-day basis, I personally don’t wear a super glittery highlight because it does emphasize my pores and is super obvious in natural lighting. I am not sure if I’ll return this or not because there are a few colors I can make wearable and the others I can use as an eyeshadow. 

   

With that said, I would highly recommend the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in “That Glow” because those shades are super creamy, pigmented and perfect for that glossy, natural glow that I love so much in a highlight! For whatever reason this kit in, “Ultimate Glow” is not as wearable and definitely not as easy to work with as the other palettes I’ve tried by Anastasia. I hope you found this review somewhat helpful, even though I have an undecided verdict! I think there is good and bad to this particular glow kit, but it would ultimately be up to personal preference on what you look for in a highlight to decide whether or not the value is there! If you have tried this, what ways do you use the glittery shades to make them work on an every-day basis? Let me know! 

   

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The Best Affordable Fall Eyeshadow Palette! 

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If you have been searching high and low for the perfect Fall eyeshadow palette, well look no further! The Morphe 35O – 35 Color Nature Glow eyeshadow palette is only $22.99! So you are getting 35 richly pigmented, shimmery and matte eye shadows that are all warm-toned, Fall shades. I find this palette is amazing for both daytime and dramatic looks since it has a variety of light and dark colors. Also there a couple of eyeshadows in this palette that give off an intense foiled effect that you can usually only find in high-end eyeshadow formulas. If you are just starting out with makeup and looking to build your collection, then you should definitely purchase this palette! Morphe also has a lot of other eyeshadow palettes on their website that are all matte or cool toned or neon if you aren’t into this particular one!        

   

When I began swatching these shadows, I realized just how pigmented they are and buttery soft! I find that it is so hard to find affordable matte shadows that aren’t chalky. However, these are so soft and blend out like a dream so you can’t go wrong! The shimmery shades are just as beautiful and give your eyes just the perfect amount of definition. There are so many gorgeous all-over-the-lid shades to help you achieve an easy, quick eye look. As I mentioned before, you’ll see in the swatches that there are a few foiled shades that are so bright and glittery! I love these eyeshadows because they look like a loose glitter pigment, but they’re 10 x easier to apply since they’re in a pressed pan and don’t have any annoying fall out! Here are some swatches row-by-row!






I wanted to mention that there are always coupon codes floating around to save even more money on Morphe makeup! I always use the code “JACLYN” for an extra 10% off! Also since these are only available online (since I live in MD and not California) you do have to purchase online at MorpheBrushes.com or click the link here to shop the 35O palette directly! I want to do another blog post on my favorite Morphe brushes because they are really high quality and very affordable! I know the 35O palette is so popular and loved by many, but I want to try out another palette and see if it’s just as good! What is your favorite eyeshadow palette by Morphe? What brushes do you love using? Let me know because I would love to try those out! 

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Favorite Fall Lip Colors!

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Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, “Exorcism,” $20. M.A.C Satin Lipstick, “Rebel,” $17. M.A.C Matte Lipstick, “Diva,” $17. Bite Beauty Matte Lip Creme, “Aubergine,” $24. Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick, “Craft,” $20.


Berry toned lipsticks are my favorite way to turn any simple makeup look into a full Fall themed glam. I have found my absolute favorites after trying out various formulas and shades over the years. I have a medium-olive skin tone, however I know these colors look absolutely beautiful on many other skin tones. As you can see in the swatches, these are all very berry-burgundy toned lip shades, but I personally see a difference in the colors! I’m in no way suggesting you need each shade to achieve a Fall lip look; I am just trying to show you different formulas, undertones and brands to help you determine which one may be a good fit for you!      

    


First up we have the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade, “Exorcism.” This is probably the darkest lip color I own, but I absolutely love wearing it for a fun night out! I was gifted this product by my beauty-loving cousin Cora and I am so happy she sent me this because I don’t know if I would’ve been brave enough to purchase this on my own! In the tube, the color is a bit intimidating, but once applied onto your lips, it blends out into a deep brick red shade, with a hint of a plummy undertone. The formula is super pigmented and you only need one swipe of this to cover your entire lips. It is SUPER matte, so I would definitely recommend wearing a lip primer underneath if you tend to have dry lips. This lasted for 6 hours straight on me without fading or a need for touch ups, so it is definitely perfect for going out! 

     

Next is probably the most wearable shade in the bunch, M.A.C’s Satin Lipstick in the shade, “Rebel.” This is by far my most worn shade in the Fall because it transitions easily between day and night makeup looks. It is fairly natural for being a berry colored lipstick and I get compliments from women of every age when wearing! I love that this formula is a satin because it moisturizes my lips throughout the colder months. I think this color is a perfect violet-toned berry shade that you can pair with really natural looks or dramatic makeup. Rebel lipstick may not last as long as some of the liquid lipsticks I am mentioning, however it does leave behind a beautiful stain on your lips that I personally love! 

      

M.A.C’s Matte Lipstick in the shade, “Diva” is very bold with a deep burgundy undertone. In the swatch, I only swiped on two coats, but you can build this color to look even darker and more vampy. This is a color I would typically wear during nighttime because it is super bold and can be very attention-grabbing during the day, but that is just how I personally rock it! This is a matte formula, which I prefer in super dark shades because I don’t want it to bleed and transfer onto any parts of my face, which can tend to happen with creamier formulas. It is super long-lasting and is a good alternative to a liquid lipstick which can be overly drying. I would highly recommend lining your lips with a darker lip liner before applying this color to ensure it doesn’t bleed outside of your natural lip line and looks as clean as possible! 

       

I had to mention the Bite Beauty Matte Lip Creme, in the color, “Aubergine” because it not only is a stunning mauve-toned violet shade, but the formula is one of the best I’ve tried in a matte lipstick. The packaging provides a super precise tip, so you can basically line your lips and fill them in all with the same product. Plus, Bite Beauty uses all food-grade ingredients, meaning if you accidentally lick your lips or eat while wearing this lipstick, you can rest assured you aren’t ingesting any toxic stuff! Since the exact name of this product is a “matte lip creme” I will say that isn’t a true matte that dries down to a velvety finish, but I personally don’t mind the extra moisture that creates a semi-matte look! I feel like this would be a super “safe” shade to transition into your Fall makeup routine if you have never experimented with berry toned lip colors!

       

Lastly, I had to shout out the Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in “Craft.” On my skin tone, this color turns out nothing like it looks in the tube. When I first bought this product, I thought it would be a pretty close dupe to M.A.C “Rebel,” however it is totally different and definitely has much more of a purple undertone. I would consider this shade to be on the more dramatic side of the spectrum. It’s formula is super pigmented and very matte. It is a cool-toned berry shade, which differs from the others in my collection in a good way! I think this shade pairs beautifully with cool-toned, mauve eyeshadow when I am going for that on-trend, monochromatic makeup look. This is a super drying formula that I always have to wear a lip primer or Chapstick underneath. The formula applies in a way that you can get super close to your lip line for a very precise application, which is convenient if you don’t have a matching lip liner on hand! 

   

As you can tell, I am mildly obsessed with these colors during the Fall months and have an excuse to own each shade and find different ways to categorize them! I feel like this is an essential product if you want to look like you put effort into your makeup look, but don’t want to do a full-face glam! Just swipe on some berry toned lipstick, grab a pumpkin spice latte and you’re good to go! Thank you for reading this post and feel free to leave me a comment about all the Fall lip colors you’re loving this season! 

    

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Romantic Mauve Makeup Look

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Mauve and blush tones are very on-trend this year and seem to be popping up all over various Instagram makeup accounts. I feel like these rose-toned shadows look super natural, without being the same-old browns and gold tones I usually stick to. This makeup look would pair well with your standard neutral shades, like gray, cream and black, but I think it would look gorgeous with a blush-toned ensemble for a monochromatic, trendy vibe. I used the Naked 3 palette to complete the eye look and I loved the way it turned out. I re-discovered my love for these eye shadows and would highly recommend this palette if you love mauve-toned makeup looks.


  1. I started off by priming my eye lids with my new favorite Wet N’ Wild Eyelid primer and then sweeping the color “Strange” from lash line to brow bone. I love using a matte, light color to set my primer and allow the other shades I place on top blend easier.  
  2. Next, I blended “Limit” throughout my crease as a transitional color.
  3. Taking the matte shade, “Nooner,” I deepened my outer crease. I love doing this gradient effect to make my eyes appear larger and more defined.
  4. I used a combination of “Burnout” and “Liar” for my lid shade. I made sure to pack on this color with a flat shader brush to decrease the likelihood of glitter fallout!  
  5. I used ColourPop’s “Tassel” on my inner corner to provide an intense highlight effect and further widen the look of my eyes. I loved the pop of sparkle that this step added to the overall look!
  6. Lastly, I lined my upper lash line using the Stila “Stay All Day” felt tip eyeliner pen and used the Tarte “Tartiest” mascara to prep my eyelashes for falsies.

   

I used the shades “Bubbly” and “Dripping In Gold” from the Anastasia “That Glow” Glow Kit for my highlight! I love the glossy look of this product when applied to my cheekbones, which is rare to find in a powder formula! For the lips, I used ColourPop Ultra-Matte Liquid Lipstick in the shade, “Midi,” which is a cool-toned, dusty pink shade that compliments the eyes really well. I would definitely recommend wearing a chapstick or lip primer underneath these lippies because they’re very drying and borderline chalky otherwise! The only aspect of this look that I wasn’t too fond of was the lashes…not only were they extremely uncomfortable, they would not adhere to my natural lash line! They were the Ardell “Double Up” Wispies, but I wanted to mention the Ardell “Demi Wispies Natural” are my favorite lashes and are so light to wear! I tried two different lash glues with the “Double Up” style and neither of them would help this thick band stay in place on my eyes, which resulted in covering the band with lots of gel eyeliner and trying to make it work! They look beautiful when your eyes are open, but unfortunately it is pretty visible and not cute whenever you close them.

    

Let me know if you enjoy these simple makeup looks and would like for me to do more! I know it would be much easier to film a tutorial from beginning to end, rather than meticulously explain each detail of the process, so let me know if you would be interested in seeing that instead! Thank you so much for reading!

   

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August Favorites!

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Well August flew by! I feel like I just wrote my monthly favorites for July, ah! Regardless, I am really excited to share some of my new favorite products and exciting beauty discoveries for the month. A lot of these products are new items in my collection and products I haven’t heard much buzz about from the beauty community, so hopefully you find some of these mini reviews helpful!     


SEPHORA COLLECTION Lashcraft Length & Volume Mascara, $12. 

As I was browsing the “Just Added” section of Sephora.com (one of my favorite pastimes) I noticed this new mascara by Sephora Collection. I usually don’t buy too much from this brand, but once I read that this is both a lengthening and volumizing mascara, I figured I would try it out! Typically, I use two mascaras to achieve a dramatic lash effect, but in this case, this product can do the work of both combined in one convenient product! After using this product for a few weeks, I can definitely say it saves me a lot of time getting ready in the morning because it does lengthen and provide volume, without me having to switch mascaras! This effect is due to its flat-paddle wand, which you use by taking the flat side of the wand to lift your lashes and create volume, and then use the comb side to lengthen! Something else I love about this mascara is that it lasts all day, doesn’t flake, but somehow removes easily with just warm water! Amazing, huh?! Definitely try this out if you want a time saver product that will give you big and bold lashes! 

     


It’s Skin Cookie & Body Ice Cream, $10.

Just stop reading this blog post now and spring to your nearest Sephora because you need this. I may not know you personally, but I do know you need this product in your life. Of course the novelty of this adorable little “ice cream” container is EVERYTHING, but the actual product inside is equally as exciting! This cream is full of nutrients that will soften and improve the texture of your skin and I can definitely agree with that claim! It is also feel of chemical sulfates and phthalates, so yay for that too! It is so softening on my hands, arms and legs and never feels greasy! A lot of times with scented lotions, I find that they have that sticky, oily feeling, which never actually moisturizes and just feelings annoying throughout the day. This body cream smells like warm cookies, I don’t know how to explain the warm smell, but they mastered it. I have the Mint scent and it has little “chocolate chip-like” beads that absorb into the skin after application. It’s seriously a must have and I cannot wait to try out the other scents as well!

    


stila, Eye Shadow, $18.

I recently received this eye shadow in the shade “Kitten” as a 500-Point Perk from Sephora! Let me just say, I cant believe I haven’t tried this award winning shade before?! I am a huge fan of highlighting my inner corner with a bright, shimmery, champagne shade and this product is exactly that! I will say, you do have to use a primer to get the full-effect of this eye shadow, because otherwise it is not as vibrant or long-lasting. However, it does look stunning on the eyes and can even be used as an intense cheekbone highlight! I have been using this a lot during the month of August to look more awake on those sleepy mornings, rushing off to work!
   
stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner, “Moray”

The stila Smudge stick liners are by far my favorite eyeliners because they not only stay put on your waterline, but they are also creamy enough to blend out on your lower lash line for a soft effect. I have been loving the shade “Moray” because it’s an olive green color with gold glitter. I find that combination especially flattering for my brown eyes, but of course I think this would be gorgeous on any eye color! I’m so excited to continue wearing this color into the fall season since olive is very on trend this year! You can also use these liners as an eyeshadow base to make any powder colors you place on top really pop! I love blending out this gorgeous green color and then going over top with a gold, shimmery shadow for a beautiful foiled effect! 
     
NYX, Soft Matte Lip Cream, in the shade “Stockholm”

I’ve loved these liquid lipsticks for such a long time because they’re affordable and come in so many different colors! Recently, I’ve been loving the shade “Stockholm” because it’s a warm-rose neutral color that looks great as an everyday lipstick. The trick to applying this particular formula so it doesn’t dry out your lips, is to only use a very thin layer of product and then lightly press it out with your finger tip, removing any excess product! Since this formula is very mousey, you can add too much product by just applying the dispensed amount from the wand, causing it to look thick and super dried out on the lips! Instead, I use my ColourPop Lip primer or a light Chapstick and gently tap out the lip cream onto my lips. This color is going to transition beautifully into the fall months and I have a feeling I’ll be buying more soon! 

          
      


Stella McCartney, “Pop” perfume, sample size. 

I received this product as another point perk at Sephora and I’m in love! I definitely will buy the full size “Pop” perfume once I finish this teeny bottle! When I looked up the notes on Sephora.com it said, “Tomato Leaves, Violet Leaves, And Green Mandarin, Violet, Tuberose, Plumeria, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Musks,” which I definitely wouldn’t have guessed that’s what this smelled like! All I can tell you is it’s a very feminine and fresh scent, but it’s not floral or powdery smelling! It’s a mature perfume, but definitely still smells energizing and different from a lot of my other fragrances! If you’re just looking to try something new and different, I would recommend just trying some in-store and seeing if you like how it smells on you! I was really impressed that this perfume lasted so long on me too and didn’t fade off by the end of the day!

     


Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner

This is my new every day shampoo and conditioner and I truly believe it’s helping my hair grow! Once I read the claims that it helps with hair loss and promotes growth, I knew I needed to try it immediately! I have really long hair, but I always seem to shed like crazy and have a whole ponytail worth of hair in my brush once I’m finished coming through! Since using this shampoo and conditioner, I’ve noticed my hair falling out significantly less. Plus it’s actually growing faster than I’ve ever seen it grow before! I love that this formula is sulfate free since I do have color treated hair. It gives me volume and truly cleans my hair from root-to-tip. The only downside is the smell…it’s very earthy and kind of smells like licorice for some reason, which is just personally a bad scent for me. But other than that, it’s pretty reasonably priced and actually delivers on its claims! 

    

Thank you for taking the time to read about my August favorites! Let me know the products you’ve been using and loving all month long and maybe they’ll end up in my September version of this series 🙂 

     

Links to shop my favorite products! 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Lashcraft Length & Volume Mascara, $12. 

http://m.sephora.com/product/P408602

It’s Skin Cookie & Body Ice Cream, $10. 

http://m.sephora.com/cookie-body-ice-cream-P411212    

stila, Eye Shadow, in the shade Kitten, $18.

http://m.sephora.com/eye-shadow-P8431

Stella McCartney, “Pop” perfume, sample size. 

http://m.sephora.com/product/P406521?icid2=skugrid    

stila, Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner, in the shade “Moray,” $22. 

http://m.sephora.com/smudge-stick-waterproof-eye-liner-P261621

NYX, Soft Matte Lip Cream, in the shade “Stockholm,” $5.99.

http://www.ulta.com/soft-matte-lip-cream?productId=xlsImpprod3020045#

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner, both $10.99.

http://www.ulta.com/jamaican-black-castor-oil-strengthen-grow-restore-shampoo?productId=xlsImpprod11361001 

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Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation: Review & Wear Test!

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As soon as I saw there was new foundation releasing from Urban Decay, I knew I had to try it! I am a huge fan of the UD Naked Skin foundation, so I had very high hopes for this product to perform at the same level! I did want to list the claims of this foundation because it is super different than the Naked Skin. The only similarity between the two are the shade categories that Urban Decay created. For reference, I wanted to mention I am a 6.0 in this foundation, but it does oxidize to be a half shade darker. It’s nothing too terrible, but I definitely noticed that as soon as the foundation dried, it did get slightly darker in color.

Urban Decay Cosmetics, All Nighter Liquid Foundation, Shade 6.0. $40 for 1 oz.


    
This is my first “wear-test” makeup review, so let me know if you enjoy these types of posts! I wanted to check in at various points of the day since this product is marketed as long-lasting and mattifying. I marked the times of each photo and documented the way my skin looked and felt, so you will have constant updates on how it’s holding up. I even worked out, while wearing it (and I hate working out with makeup on) so you can see how it performs during crazy conditions!

 

Claims

  • “Full coverage with a modern matte finish that never looks overdone.”
  • “Get all-night wear and a blown-out effect you never thought was possible for a flawless-looking complexion that looks amazing and stays that way.”
  • “Completely matte – but never flat (and it’s oil-free!).”
  • “An insane amount of pigment (about three times as much as Naked Skin Liquid Makeup), so a little goes a long way.”
  • “This waterproof, paraben-free formula diffuses light to blur flaws for beautifully perfected skin as it mattifies and absorbs oil to reduce the appearance of shine.”

       

    Initial Application – 9:00am



    After reading some reviews online, many people suggested that this product applies more evenly with a damp Beauty Blender, so that is what I used! I also applied my Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer beforehand because my skin was looking extra dehydrated on this morning. My first reaction is that a little goes a long way! This product pumps out super thick and creamy, so I was happy I could sheer it out more with the help of my damp sponge. One pump was enough product to cover my entire face, so this formula is extremely pigmented and very full coverage. At $40 for 1oz, I was happy to see that I’ll get a lot of uses out of one bottle. You can see in my before and after that the foundation is extremely mattifying and full-coverage, but in my opinion, it does not look cakey or overdone! I was really impressed with it’s ability to cover all of my redness and uneven pigmentation. If you have problem skin or acne, I could see this product also taking the place of your concealer since it’s so full-coverage.
         
    First Check-In – 1:00pm



    At this point, I had just returned from church and lunch. I was outside in the sun for a little bit, but not to the point where I was sweating. I think my makeup looks pretty fresh. Some foundations tend to break up after a couple hours around my nose and chin, so I was pleasantly surprised that everything looked even and matte after a few hours into the day.  

         

    Second Check-In – 5:45pm



    After lunch, I went to run errands, which of course included a Starbucks visit. Have you guys tried their Iced Coconut Mocha Macchiato?! I am obsessed. Anyways, I thought this picture was an amazing representation of how good this foundation is! First of all, natural light isn’t always forgiving and displays oily skin in a super obvious way. So for this to still look matte and even, I was extremely impressed! I also read a lot of reviews that said the longer you wear this product, the longer it feels cakey. I disagree with that claim because I never noticed a thick feeling on my skin at any point with this product.  

         

    Third Check-In – 8:00pm



    This check-in was after going for a walk and then doing a Kayla Itsines circuit workout. So keep in mind I was sweating a lot, wiping my face and definitely predicting that my foundation would be looking crazy afterwards. Nope, not at all. It still looked good! I noticed that it was a little patchy around my forehead, which was probably from my hair! Honestly, it was more of my bronzer that was breaking up than the foundation itself. This was a true test of it’s claim to be waterproof and oil absorbing. In my opinion, it passed with flying colors! I was seriously shocked when I looked at the photo up close and still thought I looked matte!

    Fourth Check-In – 10:30pm



    Time for bed! I tried to wear this foundation until midnight, but I got super sleepy so 10:30pm had to suffice. I didn’t think my foundation, or makeup in general looked amazing…but keep in mind all that I had put it through and the likelihood of any formula holding up perfectly through those conditions. So although I didn’t look fresh-faced, I still could see that I was matte and the product wasn’t majorly breaking up around the areas on my face that tend to react poorly to liquid foundation. The only part of the foundation that separated noticeably was on my nose. As you can see, most of my freckles are exposed at this point and you can see some slight redness around the sides. For me personally, that isn’t enough to call this product a dud because it withheld an entire day of active wear.

        

    Final Thoughts

    I absolutely think this foundation is worth the money. If you struggle with uncontrollable oily skin or if you have problematic breakouts that can’t be covered with other foundations, then I think you need this! I personally have combination/dry skin, but my t-zone can get super oily during the summer months. I could see that this foundation did an amazing job at controlling this, without feeling heavy. This definitely isn’t a light foundation, but I think applying it with a beauty blender is your best bet at sheering it out to the point it’s comfortable on your skin. I could not be more impressed with it’s wear time and lasting on my skin for 13.5 hours. Keep in mind, this is my personal experience with the foundation and I can certainly see why girls with dry skin types absolutely hate this! It will not provide you with extra hydration or a dewy finish, so steer clear of this if that is you preference! The only small con would be the oxidizing of the foundation after you apply it. It wasn’t anything alarming for me, since it was only slightly darker, but keep that in mind when you are trying to color match! 

        
    I hope you enjoyed this first impression review and update throughout the day! I really liked this style of post, so let me know if you want to see more of this format in the future! What other products would you like for me to put to the test? Let me know! Thanks for reading! 

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    How I Clean My Makeup Brushes!

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    Let’s be real, nobody actually enjoys washing their makeup brushes. Shamefully, I admit I haven’t washed my brushes in about 4 months… There are so many benefits to using clean makeup brushes. There are the obvious hygienic reasons for keeping your brushes clean, like not having bacteria and facial oils cause breakouts on your skin. However, there are also makeup application reasons for keeping your brushes clean too! Once excess oils build up on your brushes, it can cause your powders to apply streaky and give your face a blotchy appearance. Brushes that are full of excess product, will begin to apply more sheer washes of color because they have an existing layer of product that isn’t allowing the hairs to pick up additional pigment. In the case of your eye brushes that are constantly picking up new colors, you want to make sure you clean them well. Your eyes can also easily pick up bacteria, so again, for hygienic reasons it is recommended you wash these every other week. I really want to try the “Color Switch” product by Sephora and Vera Mona, which described on Sephora.com as a, “dry, makeup-removing sponge that allows you to switch colors without having to switch brushes.” This seems too good to be true, so if you have this product and it truly takes away all of the pigment from your brushes, let me know! Anyways, this is my routine (that I need to start doing monthly) for deep cleaning my makeup brushes!     

    2X Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove $39 Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap Almond, $4.09


    To begin, I gather my Doctor Bronner’s Soap (which I’ve mentioned in another post on cleaning my Beauty Blender) and my Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove to wash my brushes. 


    For $39, this glove did seem a bit gimmicky and overpriced, until I used it. Honestly, this product changed the way I washed my brushes and encourages me to wash them more often because it is so easy! I have spent a lot of money on Sigma brushes, so I wanted to also buy the product they sell that claims to cleanse them in the most gentle and effective way. The bumps and ridges on the glove really deep clean down to the brush head and make sure you’re getting all excess product out. In conjunction with the Doctor Bronner’s soap, your brushes will be stain-free and look brand new once dried! Every once in awhile, I’ll mix in some olive oil with the soap for a conditioning treatment to soften the brush hairs, but I definitely don’t do this step every time.

        


    I wash each brush until the stains are no longer visible and only clear water (without soapy bubbles) comes through the bristles. Once I reach this point, I gently swirl my brush onto a soft towel to help the drying process, and lay them down flat. 


    Many people suggest drying your brushes upside down and hanging them so the water does not leak into the brush handle, causing it to detach. Personally, I have never had any issues with laying my makeup brushes flat, but I do suggest flipping the brushes over about halfway through so they dry evenly.

       

    I know this blog post wasn’t the most entertaining or innovative, however I do find that this routine is really helpful on remaining sanitary and extending the longevity of your makeup brushes. I think clean brushes apply makeup more beautifully and definitely help with blending your makeup more seamlessly. What products do you use to clean your makeup brushes? Let me know! Thanks for reading!