Makeup Archives | Page 3 of 9

Birthday Wish List 2016!

June 2, 2016

Hi everyone!

With my birthday coming up next week, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of a few items I’ve had my eye on, and serve as inspiration for possible birthday gifts. Enjoy!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush

I’ve heard great things about Estee Lauder blushes and while I was at Macy’s, I checked out the color selection and it didn’t disappoint. Peach Passion is of special interest.

Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Beach Walk

I spritzed this on in the store and fell in love with the scent. With notes of Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Lemon, Ylang Ylang, Coconut Milk, Heliotrope, Musk, Cedarwood and Benzoin, it screams summer.

Chanel Makeup

No beauty arsenal is complete without at least one proper, Chanel makeup item weather it be a lipstick or blush.

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation

I received a sample from Nordstrom of this foundation and I love it. It’s light-weight, gives a nice sheen and makes skin look like skin.

Aesthetics Exposed Mastering Skin Care in a Medical Setting and Beyond by Terri Wojak

The always skin care nerd, I love reading and keeping myself educated on skincare. This book would complement by collection perfectly.

Camera

It would be nice to purchase a basic camera for my blog. 🙂

Gift Cards

Gift cards are always appreciated. Anything from Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom or Macy’s would be highly appreciated.

Of course, whatever I receive, I know I’ll love. 🙂

Have any recommendations you think I’ll love? Share them in the comments below!

Stephanie

May Favorites 2016!

May 31, 2016

Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a safe weekend.

It’s the last day of May which means I’ll be sharing my favorite products. It’s a smaller batch than last month but still great nevertheless. Let’s get to it! 🙂

Nest Grapefruit Candle

One of my favorite brands for candles, after I finished the Moroccan Amber one, I opted for a more spring-like scent. Made with fine fragrance oils and the highest grade of wax materials, notes of Grapefruit, Lily of the Valley, Coriander Blossom, Green Nuances and Soft Woods quickly fill up the room with zest, sparkling scent.

Renee Rouleau AHA Smoothing Serum 17%

Renee was in town a couple of weeks ago, and she was very kind to let me try out a new lab formulation of the AHA Smoothing Serum 17%. I really like the original one, but this new one feels a bit more hydrating. Instead of 17% glycolic acid, it will have a blend of glycolic acid, lactic acid, 1% salicylic, multifruit acids/extracts and niacinamide. The inclusion of niacinamide is what I feel makes this more hydrating (not heavy) and will help keep skin even-toned.

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Angelic Nude

This Tarte lipstick is so creamy and smooth to apply and has a hint of peppermint that’s not too overpowering. It has just enough shine to make lips have a subtle glow and although I have to reapply this more frequently than others, with this formula, I don’t mind. It’s also the perfect peachy pink shade for me and as a testament, I pretty much already finished this lipstick.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer

Even though I love my Nars Creamy Radiant concealer, I wanted to try out the It Cosmetics as I’ve heard such great things about it. I can definitely see why people love this one. The formula is highly-pigmented and provides excellent coverage. A little goes a long way with this one. This settled a little bit into some lines but a tiny bit of setting powder helped diffuse it. Overall, this one is a keeper.

Violet Voss Holy Grail Eye Shadow Palette

With a variety of colors and finishes, this palette is perfect to create natural looking makeup all the way to full smokey glam. You can read my full review and see swatches here.

Cuccio Somatology Yoga Mat Sani Spray Cleaner

Cuccio Somatology recently launched a few products to incorporate into your yoga practice and I purchased the Yoga Essentials Kit. I instantly loved this environmentally friendly yoga mat cleaner as it incorporates scents of eucalyptus and aloe vera and smells amazing. I use it not only to clean my yoga mat but all of my exercise equipment to ensure it’s clean and free from bacteria. Plus, the scent is so addictive, you’ll look forward to cleaning your whole house with it.

That’s it for this month. 🙂

What were your favorites?

Stephanie

Play! By Sephora Unboxing May 2016!

May 24, 2016

Hi everyone!

I was recently scratched off the waiting list for the monthly Play! By Sephora subscription box and couldn’t resist giving it a try. This box is $10 a month where you receive 6 deluxe size samples from prestige brands. This is a curated box so you can’t choose what to receive but with so many amazing brands carried at Sephora, you’re bound to receive something you like.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside!

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi

The Amuse Bouche Lipstick is a new formulation for Bite Beauty that, “provides saturated lip color with weightless coverage and a citrus flavor made from fresh pressed fruit.” I really love the citrus scent to this and the shade Kimchi is described as a shocking pink. You can tone down the shade by blotting down and applying some lip balm.

Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial

This is an overnight mask that is supposed to moisturize and brighten the skin thanks to the vitamin C found on here. I had a bad experience with the Korres Greek Yoghurt line so I am a little scared to try this one. My skin has been a little bit more oily so I may save this for when it’s feeling dry.

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine

Notes of blood orange and geranium are found in this scent that is supposed to bring to mind relaxed mornings, sunrises, and soft sea breezes. It’s classified as zesty, energizing and playful. I’ve spritzed this a few times but I can’t seem to bring myself to love it. It’s a bit overpowering and not really my type of scent.

Top-Bottom: Bite Beauty Kimchi and Tarte Lip Crayon in Latergram

Here’s a swatch of Kimichi and Latergram. (See below for description of Latergram).

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

I was excited to see this mask as it was included in a previous Birchbox and I really loved how soft and manageable this made my hair. Read my review here.

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Latergram

This is a mauve colored retractable lip pencil that has a matte finish. It’s purpose is to help prime and line lips for a perfectly contoured look. Personally, I haven’t jumped on the lip contour trend and as of now, I don’t plan to. However, the staying power on this lip liner is incredible and it’s highly pigmented.

Origins Maskimizer + Drink Up and Clear Improvement Masks

I haven’t had an opportunity to try these yet but basically it’s a kit that has a charcoal mask for deep cleansing, a hydrating mask for moisturizing and a primer for the face mask that’s supposed to help it work better. I’m a little bit skeptical of the primer as it’s only ingredient is a marine algae complex and it may work good for hydrating but not necessarily help the mask work better.

So far, I’m happy with this subscription box! 🙂

What are your thoughts on Play! By Sephora?

Stephanie

Violet Voss Holy Grail Palette Swatches and Review!

May 16, 2016

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to a special post today on the highly coveted and currently sold out Violet Voss Holy Grail Palette. Since Violet Voss will be taking pre-orders Thursday, May 19th, I decided to bump up the review date to today so that in case you’re interested in purchasing this, you have some time to mull over my review.

So, let’s get to it, shall we?

Violet Voss Holy Grail Eye Shadow Palette

Described as, “Violet Voss Cosmetics is proud to present 20 highly pigmented eye shadows in a variety of must have finishes. Our PRO eye shadows are made with the highest quality ingredients and formulated to allow for smooth blending. The perfect go-to for any occasion to create your flawless sexy look.”

Pros

Creamy and smooth application

Great selection of mattes, satins and metallics

You can create a variety of looks

Full sized pans

Cruelty free

Great pigmentation

Cons

Pricey- $52

Limited edition

Case is prone to getting dirty fast (minor issue)

Some shades are fairly similar once applied

Tiny bit of fallout on some shades

Eyeshadows seem a bit fragile

Contains talc (some people are allergic)

Overall: I am very happy with this palette and highly recommend it. Although it is a bit pricey, the formula and shades are so creamy and blend nicely, making a the application process a breeze. There is a bit of fallout from some of the shades, Toffee and Bat My Eyes come to mind, and you really need to pack on the color for Glamping to appear. Some of the shades, when applied to the lid, kind of look the same (Toffee, Awesome Sauce and Chill) yet have subtle differences. You can use these though to seamlessly blend the colors together. I’m not a major fan of the packaging as it accumulates shadow fallout easily but it’s a minor issue and not a deal breaker for me. I have noticed that the eyeshadows seem a bit fragile, perhaps due to the creamy consistency. The plastic protective sheet that is included in the palette seems to scratch the eyeshadows very easily so I need to be careful when removing it. I’m not sure how well this would hold up when traveling or if it accidentally falls. Overall, though I think this is a palette worth investing in, especially if you like warm eyeshadows. Fingers crossed that they make this palette permanent.

Here’s some swatches. 🙂

Crystal- light champagne

Ploof- light shimmery pink

Thanks A Latte- cream

Transition- light brown

Hashtag- orange

Awesome Sauce- bronze peach

Bestie- buff matte

Toffee- burnt orange gold

Chill- shimmery light gold

How U Doin- dark rose gold

Bat My Eyes- espresso brown

Cool Beans- metallic taupey brown

R U Kitten Me- medium brown

So Jelly- shimmery duo chrome pink

On Fleek- metallic red brown

Brownie Points- dark brown

Teddy Bear- plummy dark brown

Glamping- shimmery burgundy

Cranberry Splash- shimmery cranberry

Wine N Dine- matte red/fuchsia

Will you be picking up a palette? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Stephanie

First Impressions: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation!

May 5, 2016

Hi everyone!

A little over a month ago, I found myself at a Charlotte Tilbury counter and was given samples of her new Magic Foundation. Since then, I’ve received requests to share my thoughts on it so here it is. 🙂

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in Shade 4

Described as,” a miracle in a bottle that transforms skin for all ages, skin tones and skin types. It conceals imperfections, glides on like a dream, and literally feels like a second skin. Whether your skin needs just a bit of perfecting, or you struggle with a frustrating issue like acne, melasma or rosacea, my Magic Foundation will give you a perfect looking skin day, every day!”

Pros

Contains broad spectrum sunscreen

Offers medium to full coverage

Fragrance free and no discernible scent

Doesn’t feel heavy

Shade 4 is pretty spot on with my skin tone

Cons

An ingredient in here caused my skin to itch

Contains talc which may be a problem for some people

Clings on to dry areas/imperfections

Vitamin C and mushroom extract are at the bottom of the list

Doesn’t blend easily

Overall: I had such high hopes with this foundation but unfortunately for me, this didn’t work out for me. There’s an ingredient in here that made my nose itch throughout the day. Despite prepping my skin prior to application, this foundation accentuated any abnormality in my skin and looked cakey. Surprisingly, this feels light-weight and comfortable given the thicker consistency of this foundation yet this factor is not enough to offset the patchy application. Using my beauty blender helped give this a more natural look versus applying it with a brush as the damp sponge helps the foundation blend in better. As far as the inclusion of vitamin C and mushroom extract to provide antioxidant and firming properties, these ingredients are included towards the bottom of the list, meaning they may not be concentrated enough to make a notable difference. I appreciate the fact this is fragrance free and includes a mineral source of sunscreen, however, I would highly recommend Charlotte Tilbury’s Light Wonder over this one.

What are your thoughts on Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Foundation?

Stephanie

Sephora VIB 15% Mini Haul!

April 26, 2016

Hi readers! I hope you all had a great weekend!

As promised, here are the final items that I purchased during the Sephora VIB sale along with mini reviews. Enjoy!

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer

I purchased this on a whim and because I couldn’t help but love the new mini travel size options. This one cost $15 and it was smaller than I expected but it’s well worth it. A little goes a long way and the color is visible enough to sculpt cheekbones but light enough to not look fake.

Becca Mineral Blush in Wild Honey

The Tarte Celebrated blush didn’t work out for me as it emphasized my pores and looked patchy so I exchanged it for this one instead. This is described as a peachy nude shade and it looks so pretty on! This is nicely pigmented and blends in easily. Perfect for any season.

Top-Bottom: Benefit Hoola/Becca Wild Honey Blush

The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder The Barest Lip Color in So Bare

I must admit that I first walked by the Estee Edit display a couple of times but dismissed it. After reading good reviews on the lipsticks and later taking time to swatch the colors, I had to have the shade So Bare. As luck would have it, I got the last one and as soon as I tried it, it did not disappoint. Lip balm texture and nicely pigmented color, you should give these a try.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare

This shade is frequently out of stock online and in store so I was ecstatic when I found the last tube in store. Describes as a cocoa blush shade, this shade is gorgeous and will look great on many skin tones. It has good lasting power though it does fade with heavy drinking and eating. You need this shade.

Top-Bottom: KVD Double Dare and Estee Lauder So Bare

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

One of the sales associates recommended this setting powder and although I haven’t used it as much, I do like. It really helps set your concealer and helps prevent it from separating.

That’s it for my mini haul. 🙂

What did you get at the Sephora sale?

Stephanie

Sephora VIB 15% Wish List 2016!

April 7, 2016

Hi everyone! The annual Sephora 15% VIB event is upon us and I’ll be sharing my wish list with you guys today. Let’s go!

Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Celebrated

I’ve been lusting over this blush for close to a year now and I will definitely be picking this up. It seems like the perfect blush shade to wear for any occasion.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

Aside from the shade Outlaw, I’m really liking these liquid lipsticks as they come in gorgeous shades and have lasting power. I’m aiming for the shade Double Dare but Berlin, Bow N Arrow and Beloved are on my list to check out too.

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo

Lately I’ve been interested in lip oil products and since the new Lancome Juicy Lip Shakers are still not sold in stores, I may try these out. A coral and neutral shade are perfect for summer.

Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in Pieno Sole

I had to do a double, maybe even triple take, when I saw that Sephora was carrying Tom Ford. Of course, this product is purely a wish and most likely I will not purchase it but it’s oh so gorgeous looking.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid

I’ve seen these around and since I have a bit of discoloration underneath my eyes due to a prominent vein, I want to give these a whirl. I may try this lavender shade or the pink to see how it works.

So far, this is it for my list. I know it’s pretty short but I have my eye on other makeup releases so I kind of want to save up for those. Who knows, maybe once I get to the store, I’ll add more. 😉 I’ll make sure to do a haul of what I bought later this month with mini reviews.

What’s on your Sephora list?

Stephanie

March Favorites 2016!

March 31, 2016

It’s the end of March guys! Can you believe it? This means it’s time to see what my favorite products of this month were. Let’s get started!

Laneige BB Cushion

I received this sample in a Target Beauty Box and I absolutely love the finish it provides. It’s enough to cover up my redness while still maintaining a natural and satin look. It’s a bit pricey so I’d love to try out the L’Oreal one too and see how it compares.

IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer

This product was included in my January Birchbox and while it wasn’t initially my favorite back then, I tried this on when my skin looked a little lackluster and it gave such a pretty glow. I’m still not a fan of the scent, but this is a nice, subtle product to use when you need a bit of a pick me up.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling

Another Spring 2016 shade that I picked up at the NYX store, I love how pigmented these glosses are as well as inexpensive. You literally can just swipe this on and go as you’ll get opaque coverage with a glossy finish.

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

There’s always room for a lip balm and I really love this one. The formula is thick but spreads easily without feeling goopy on the lips. It nourishes skin and helps keep them feeling soft and hydrated.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

I’m in love with the creamy pigmentation of this formula as well as the neutral colors. For a full review, click here.

Above is a swatch for NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling.

beautyblender

I purchased this last year and while I used it here and there, it’s been pretty much on the back burner until now. I’ve been using the beautyblender regularly and there’s no cakey foundation here. It really helps to blend everything in.

Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer

I picked this up when I went to the Dermalogica Headquarters and I’m so happy I did. Although I don’t experience much hydration from this, it really smooths out my skin’s surface and helps minimize the appearance of my pores. Definitely provides a smooth canvas to work off of.

Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo

A few weeks ago I dyed my hair and got highlights. I was advised to buy a shampoo that would help prevent a brassy hue and after visiting my local beauty supply store, I found this shampoo. It’s supposed to neutralize brassy/orange tones to maintain lightened or highlighted brown hair. It literally lathers up blue and kind of stains your hands with a blue shade. It reminds me of that scene in Bride Wars where Kate Hudson’s hair turns out blue. Fortunately, this does rinse off clean and after a minute or two, the color washes off from your hands-no need to wrap your hair with a shirt or book an emergency appointment with your hairstylist. So far, so good.

Here’s a picture of my highlighted hair though it’s a bit lighter now.

What are your March favorites?

Stephanie

The Beauty Blogger Tag!

March 29, 2016

Hi everyone! How was everyone’s Easter weekend?

It’s been awhile since I have done a tag but I thought it would be something fun to do today. I was nominated by Rahma from Glamorous Etioles for the Beauty Blogger Tag so if you’d like to get to know more about me and beauty, keep reading.

The Rules for this Tag:

Tag the blogger that nominated you
Answer the questions you were given
Nominate 10 bloggers whose blog is about beauty/lifestyle/fashion
Name 10 questions for your nominees to answer
Inform the bloggers you chose that you nominated them

1. Have you ever done yoga and did you like it?

Yes and yes. To be honest though, when I first started yoga, I didn’t care for it. It wasn’t until I was invited to attend a yoga workshop hosted by Danielle Cuccio that I actually learned to appreciate it. The Powerflow session was done to a great playlist and I’ve been hooked ever since.

2.What products do you splurge on?

Skincare and makeup of course. 😉

3.What products do you save on?

I would say nail polish mainly because I hardly buy any.

4.What is your best tip for maintaining healthy skin?

Sunscreen is a must for healthy skin, so rain or shine, chemical or physical, make sure to apply it. Also, keeping your skin hydrated is important as well.

5.What do you use to remove your makeup?

It depends what I have in my skincare arsenal. Makeup wipes, cleansing oils and cream based cleansers are a few that I like to keep around.

6.How do you maintain your eyebrows (example, threading/waxing)?

Threading, tweezing and sometimes waxing. My eyebrows grow like wildfire so if I don’t keep up monthly maintenance routine, I need to resort to all three.

7:What is your favorite mascara?

At the moment, I would have to say Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara

8.Where do you buy most of your makeup?

I would say Sephora and online about equally.

9.What is your favorite shade of lipstick?

An unfair question to ask a beauty blogger and beauty addict if you ask me. However, currently I’m in love with any and all pink/nude shades.

10.What is your favorite perfume?

Ange ou Demon Le Secret by Givenchy. It’s a bit on the pricey side but I love to buy it when it comes in a set.

That’s it for this tag. I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit more about me and thanks to Rahma for the nomination! Check out her blog and give her a follow while you’re at it. Consider yourself tagged if you want to participate.

My 10 questions:

Have you ever done yoga and did you like it?
What products do you splurge on?
What products do you save on?
What is your best tip for maintaining healthy skin?
What do you use to remove your makeup?
How do you maintain your eyebrows (example, threading/waxing)?
What is your favorite mascara?
Where do you buy most of your makeup?
What is your favorite shade of lipstick?
What is your favorite perfume?

See you on Thursday with my March favorites,

Stephanie

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette Review!

March 14, 2016

Hi everyone! As I mentioned last week, I will be taking a spring blog break but before I do, I have a review of the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow palette! It’s available online and in-stores and yes you guys, it’s beautiful.

Here is what the case looks like when it’s closed-very fun and pretty.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

Described to, “define and defend lids from everyday aggressors with this eye shadow palette. Introducing plush shades in a velvety formula, they’re powered by tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex, formulated to hydrate and balance lids with a creamy powder is that is never drying or chalky.”

Pros

Creamy and easy to blend

Great pigmentation on darker shades

Little to zero fallout

Variety of looks can be created from natural to smokey

Long-lasting (with primer)

Cons

No true matte shades

Didn’t experience the hydrating aspect

A bit pricey $34

Lighter shades take a bit to build up color

Overall: I really love this palette! It’s a bit smaller than I initially thought but the shadows are a good size so no problem there. The shades are creamy, easy to blend and the fallout is little to none. These are definitely smoother than my Urban Decay Naked 3 shadows. They last all day on me but I always use a primer. I will say that I didn’t find any true matte shades as Sand and Cove still have a bit of a sheen to them but nothing overly shimmery. The lighter shades, like Seashell and Mermaid take about 2-3 passes to build up a discernible color while the darker shades have opaque coverage in about 1 pass. These don’t have any pop of colors which I don’t mind since I love neutral/bronze shades and this is right up my alley.

Here are some swatches

Sand- Ivory (this shade blends in with my skin, lol)

Mermaid- Gold

Seashell- Pink

Wave- Slate

Cove- Tan

Starfish- Bronze

Reef- Copper (my favorite shade!)

Abyss- Dark brown

That’s it for this week readers. I’ll be back March 21 with new posts so please stay tuned for that. 🙂

Will you be adding this palette to your collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Stephanie