{Favorites} May 2013

Hey there! Been a while since I've done a favorites post, but I figured I'd get back into the swing of things. This past month I've been relying on a few oldies but goodies as well as a couple of new products :)


Eyes:

For the yes I've been using my Shimmer Cubes Plette in 07 from The Body Shop. I bought this during their Black Friday 3 for $30 sale, so I got it for $10, a steal given that the original price was $22. I've been using it daily but as you can tell, except for the brown shade they don't even look dented. You're getting 4g of each shade, so a lot of product that I am never going to finish lol.

For me, this palette is incredibly versatile. I can use it dry for a natural look or wet for a more intense look (though it does mess with the shadows consistency as you can see in the pan). I use the light silvery shade as a highlight for not only my eyes but my entire face. The pink looks beautiful as a shadow or a blush/highlight. I've especially been loving the combo of the pink and the brown. It really brings out my blue eyes. I keep this in my makeup bag because paired with mascara and liner I can do anything from a simple day look to a dark smokey look in minutes just using my fingers. I highly recommend this palette and if you can get it on sale even better!

A word of caution with these, however: they do crease on their own. I always wear them with a primer, especially in the summer.

When you apply them dry they look very natural.

Applied wet they are more intense, both more pigmented and shimmery.

Face:

For the face I've been relying on a couple of oldies but goodies.

I found the Physicians Formula Health Wear Tinted Moisturizer in the shade Ivory to Fair at an Ocean State Job Lot last year for $4 (not the $12-14 I see it for at CVS!) and have since purchased my second tube. This stuff works great for me. It's got a bit more coverage than the average tinted moisturizer, but still feels light. It also seems to dry down after application, so when paired with a powder (lately my Rimmel Stay Matte) it lasts fairly well on my. I'm also loving that it has SPF 50. I don't know if you can still purchase these in regular drugstores but I still see them at Ocean State Job Lot if you're interested. The only downside to this product is that like many other drugstore tinted moisturizers the shade selection is lacking.

I've also been loving Benefit's Highbeam. I bought the smaller size that comes in a travel friendly tube with a doe foot applicator for $10. Honestly, I'm never going to finish this thing. You just need the tiniest little bit of it for dramatic effect. I'm loving how multipurpose it is as well. I use it to highlight my face, as an eyeshadow, I mix it with a cream blush or my tinted moisturizer, sometimes with my lotion. It just gives a beautiful glow.

And a tip: for a bit of an understated highlight put it on your skin first and then apply your base on top of it. That's how I've been wearing it with my tinted moisturizer. I have oily skin so doing the opposite can sometimes be a bit much.

Lips:

For the lips, I've acquired a few new goodies :)

First, Ive been absolutely loving any sheer tinted balms. The Skinnygirl Tinted Lip Balm in Bright Red has been a favorite this past month. Don't let the shade of the balm scare you--it is very sheer. It gives that nice just-been-kissed kind of red lip. Very understated, very moisturizing, and very chic. And best of all? I got it for $2 at Five Below.

Next up is the Jemma Kidd Red Carpet Lip/Cheek Stain and Gloss in Dress Up. It retails for $18, but I got it on clearance for $4 at Target. I'm loving it! It's a purply pink shade that I've been using mostly on my lips. The gloss on the other side is clear and not sticky at all. They pair beautifully and last very well! They have a red shade as well called Glam Up, but they didn't have it on clearance and I didn't want to pay full price.

My only complaint about the stain is the applicator. The stain side has a roller ball and it makes getting a precise application tricky. It can also look patchy if you go over one area too many times trying to get right up the the edge of the lip. I wish it was just another doe foot like the gloss side. My solution has been to use a lip brush or to put it on with a roller ball and then quickly pat it with my finger to blend it out. 

My go to gloss on days I didn't feel like making much effort has been the Victorias Secret Beauty Rush gloss in Melongrageous. It looks pink in the tube it applies clear. This stuff smells DELICIOUS!!! My roommate introduced me to this and I've been in love ever since. I can't even explain it--very sweet and fruity. My favorite scented gloss. Using it always puts me in a better mood. It's a bit stickier than I like, but it lasts well so I can't really complain. 

Finally, I've got the Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate. It's a nice peachy pink lip balm that is multitasking. I use it as a lip balm, a sheer lipstick, and in a pinch as a blush. I love it. It leaves my lips feeling very soft and it the color is so pretty--what's not to like? Well, actually one thing: it's in a pot. I've been such a germaphobe lately and have detested sticking my finger into the pot. I don't know if you can tell, but I've been using a lip brush to apply it (though I used my finger to do the swatch :/ ).

Top to bottom: Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate, Victorias Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss in Melongrageous, Jemma Kidd Red Carpet Lip/Cheek Stain in Dress Up, and Skinnygirl Tinted Lip Balm in Bright Red.

And here's how well the Jemma Kidd stain lasts--this picture was taken after about a minute of rubbing with a makeup removing wipe! Pretty good I'd say :)

I hope you enjoyed this post! What have you been relying on this past month? Let me know in comments!

xoxo
Natalie

{Favorites} March 2011

Not a lot this month, but more than a few cheap and effective goodies!

1. Skin Care

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream and L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cleanser.

I've really really been trying to get my skin looking as great as I can, that's why most of the RIP posts lately have been filled with skin care items. I've really been just wearing less makeup and being more conciencious with my skin care routines, making sure to almost never skip it.

L'Oreal Skin Genesis Deep Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

I wouldn't say that this cleanser is foaming. It does lather, but not enough to qualify as a foaming cleanser. That makes this cleanser so different from others I've tried is that it contains clay. I've been washing my face with this cleanser for the past month and every two nights or so I leave it on as a mask for about 15 minutes before washing it off. It really cleans out my face and since the clays are a little abrasive, it gives me a good dose of exfoliation as well. It's just a really good all in one cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

Now, I know that the idea of a cold cream type product seems very old fashioned, but I have to say that I've seen a drastic improvement in my skin ever since I started first taking off all of my face makeup and only then cleansing. As good as a face wipe is, it's not going to dissolve all of my makeup. If I just use a face wipe to clean my face and then use a bit of toner on a cotton pad, the cotton pad almost always ends up with makeup that I've missed on it. If I do the same but use Noxema instead, my makeup is completely gone. There will be nothing on the cotton pad, and that really leaves my skin cleaner when I finish with my cleanser.

Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

How I use it (and I will have a full review posted soon), is I scoop a little bit out with my hands and massage it into my face and neck after I've removed my eye makeup with a liquid eye makeup remover. I make sure to get the hair line and neck very well because I apply makeup there but tend to neglect the area when cleaning. At first the cream feels thick, but it gets thin very very quickly. Because it is oil based it will dissolve all of the makeup, everything. I then use a cotton pad or a face wipe to remove it, but you can also wash it off. I love how clean but moisturized my face feels after using this stuff.

L to R: Noxema and L'Oreal.

Although the texture of Noxema seems solid in the tub it thins out as your hands warm the product and spreads very easily. ANd if you zoom in you can see the little particles in the L'Oreal cleanser.

2. Makeup

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer, NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat, Benefit High Beam, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent and MAC MSF in Petticoat.

I picked up the pressed version of NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder because while I love the loose version, it simply isn't convenient for every day use. I was really surprised with the pressed version as well. It goes on almost invisible (not completely, but doesn't really add too much coverage) and doesn't look cakey or anything like that. I usually use the loose version in the morning just after applying my makeup and take the pressed version with me to go for touch ups. And because the case isn't as sturdy as more expensive drugstore powders, I make sure to keep it in a makeup pouch. It hasn't cracked/opened on me yet, but I don't want to risk it.

MAC's Petticoat MSF I bought last year around the time that Pret-A-Papier collection came out. At first I was absolutely in love, but after a while I kinda forgot about it. I found it again a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out my vanity and fell in love again. I even found a better way to wear it. I used to just use it as blush, but now I layer it over my bronzer and it gives the most natural finish and keeps my bronzer from looking too matte. I'll show you pics of this later.

And how stunning is the veining!?

Benefit High Beam, Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush, and Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

Whenever I'm breaking out because of stress I try to focus on concealing and illuminating, highlighting the good areas on my skin and concealing the bad. I found the Sally Hansen Carmindy concealer at the Dollar Store (I'll post a haul in a bit) and I love it!!! I completely gets out the red or the purple!!! It can look a bit heavy so I only really use it on pimples, not all over the face.

L to R: Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush and Benefit High Beam.

I love these two highlighters. I actually bought both of them because I couldn't ever find the Boots No. 7 Highlighting Lotion at Target, and I actually found the Shiseido one at TJMaxx for around $16! I usually just use them in the inner corners, cheekbones, and the cupids bow. I find that the pink highlighters don't work on the brow for me. They just end up looking unnatural. I use the Shiseido one when I need a more subtle highlight and the Benefit one when I want a little bit more oomph.

And I love the packaging of the Shiseido one!!! So chic and pretty!

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

I've always been a bit skeptic about color correcting concealers. Before this one, just about every single one would look unnatural, even under regular concealer or foundation. This one doesn't. It blends in seamlessly and looks barely there, even without regular concealer over it. It doesn't look too yellow either, which I like. I actually wanted the lavender version of this concealer, but they didn't have it :(

L to R: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

I've been wearing one of these every single day. That says a lot because I'm not really much of a lip person. I easily get annoyed with something sticky or something that transfers easily. For me, Nude Blush is the perfect my-lips-but-better color. It barely shows up but evens out my lips and gives me just a bit more color. Oddly enough, it also makes my eyes look bluer, which I love!

L to R: Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush and Chanel Glossimer in Seashell.

I love the formulas of both as well. Nude Blush smells like watermelon and goes on very thin, almost like a thin balm. It's very moisturizing. The formula of the Chanel Glossimers is unlike any other lip gloss I've ever used. It's more gel than liquid, a bit thicker but not sticky and always very shiny!!!

Swatches:

Top to bottom: Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush.

Top to bottom: Benefit High Beam and Shiseido Color Stick in Champagne Flush.

Sally Hansen Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer All Over Neutralizer.

It looks a lot more yellow than it actually is when blended out. I'll do a full review to show just how well it works!!!

Top To bottom: NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent, MAC MSF in Petticoat: lightest shade, middle shade, darkest shade, and all swirled together.

That's it for March. No special perfume and you already saw my hair favorites earlier! Hauls and reviews coming up!

{Haul} Sephora, Target, Xmas Tree Shop!

Top to bottom: Nars E/S in Mekong, Palladio Eye Ink in Navy, Benefit High Beam, and Lavera Trend Sensitive Lip Gloss in No.3 Berry.

Another haul! I stopped by the mall and just couldn't resist these four items which I've been eyeing for some time.

1. Sephora:

Nars Eyeshadow in Mekong and Benefit High Beam To-Go.

Nars Eyeshadow in Mekong.

I've been wanting this eyeshadow ever since they first released it. It's a blackened brown with golden shimmer in it, and it is absolutely stunning. It's very versatile because depending on how you apply it you can get completely different effects. As you can see, I couldn't resist trying it out a few times, haha!

I've been wanting Benefit's High Beam for a while now as well, but I just couldn't justify buying the full size because as someone with oily skin, the probability that I would go through even half of the bottle is very small. I was really happy when they came out with the to-go size!!! Only $10 too!

Swatches:

Nars Mekong and Benefit High Beam.

2. Target

Lavera Lip Gloss in No. 3, Berry.

I don't know if this brand is stocked in every target, but Lavera is a bit on the higher end and they offer natural and organic products. I'm very wary when I see a brand sold in, for all intents and purposes, a drugstore, claiming to be organic or natural, but I was sucked in with the gorgeous color!

Lavera Lip Gloss in No. 3 Berry.

A swatch:

It doesn't look like a berry color, but on the lips it just gives enough color to look full and sophisticated. I love how this color looks with just some navy liquid liner. Stunning!

3. Christmas Tree Shop

Palladio Eye Ink in Navy.

I don't know if you guys shop at Christmas Tree Shop, but the one at my mall has a full cosmetics section, just like the ones you see at the drugstore. They stock the bigger brands like L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Revlon, but also smaller brands like Prestige and Palladio. They also have brushes from Ecotools and a bunch of other brands I would only get at Sally Beauty Supply. What sucked me in is that the liners in the Palladio display had testers and I was pleasantly surprised by the small size of the Eye Ink liners felt tip applicator. I'll do a full review later but I definitely suggest you check these out!

A swatch:

Don't be mislead by the swatch. I didn't fully read the label so I hadn't shaken it before swatching. I'll do a full review with better swatches! I really like this liner and am definitely gonna go get more colors. There area a lot of shades!

Well, that's it for the haul! Nothing major, but I thought I'd share anyway!

Review: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Petticoat

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago at the MAC counter at Macy's and I've been wearing it just about every day since. It's such a gorgeous powder and using it everyday is easy as it's so multi-purpose. I use it as an eyeshadow, highlighter, bronzer, and blush, so the possibilities are endless. This is just a review, but I'll post a some looks when I get the chance.



A couple of swatches:



L to R: Lightest area, darkest veining, a mix of the two.

As you can see, it looks different depending on how to pick up the product and the lighting, which I think is great. It's a very versatile product. I have a bit of trouble finishing blushes, highlighters, and bronzers, so anything that I can see myself using till the end is good. A lot of the other MSF's don't have nearly as much color variation so they aren't as versatile. Of course, this does depend on your skin tone. I am very pale so all of these colors show up great on me. If you have more tanned skin then this may be more of a highlighter and blush for you and may not be dark enough to be a bronzer or even a blush if you have a very deep skin tone. I was pleasantly surprised by how warm this MSF is. The pink in it had me picturing it a lot cooler, but it is very warm and works well for summer.

As far as the actual powder is concerned, the texture varies. The lightest part is a very fine powder, but the darker veining, particularly the gold, can be a bit gritty. If you tap the brush before you apply however, you shouldn't have any problems with that grittyness translating onto your face when you apply it. And while it is a bit gritty, I wouldn't say that it is glittery. I didn't see any glitter particles, but rather a fine shimmer. I was also pleased with how well this lasted on my oily skin. Most highlighters or blushes/bronzers with shimmer tend to just make me look oily and then slide off. This lasted on my face and eye lids throughout the day.

I highly recommend this to anyone with very pale skin because not only is it gorgeous, but it also saves me a ton of time in the morning. All I need when I'm in a hurry is this MSF, tinted moisturizer, powder, mascara, and two brushes (eye and face). In under five mins I look gorgeous. And it looks like I've got something different on every part of my face as opposed to the same color everywhere, which I absolutely love! The only warning I give is that it is a very high shimmer, almost metallic finish, so if you dislike that, don't purchase it. When applying, use a light hand so that you don't look like a disco ball. While it is a bit pricey it is well worth the money, especially with how much product you get.

Info:

Price: $28 (for 10g/.35 oz)

Ingredients: Talc, nylon-12, dimethicone, polysorbate 20,m isopropyl palmitate, simmondsia, chinesis (jojoba) seed oil, yeast extract,tocopherol acetate,retinyl palmatate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate magnesium aluminum silicate, bht, dosium dehydroacetate, phenocyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and other ingredients vary per color.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

My Teenie Tiny MAC Haul!

I stopped by the MAC counter at Macy's a couple of weeks ago and picked up a couple of pretty items. Not much of a haul, I know, but if you've been reading my blog for a while now you know I usually purchase my cosmetics at Sephora or the Drugstore, so this is special.

I picked up two items:

L to R: Coral Crepe Paint Pot and Petticoat MSF

Some closeups:

Petticoat MSF


Coral Crepe Paint Pot. This baby is absolutely stunning. I don't have anything even remotely close to this color in my collection so I'm pretty excited, haha! If you haven't gotten it yet, run to the counter! Especially if you've got blue eyes!!!

That's it for now. Reviews are coming soon!!!

Review: Revlon Skinlights Face Illuminator in Natural Light

This is a review for Revlon's Skinlights Face Illuminator in Natural Light. This product, now discontinued, was released by Revlon with their Skinlights collection released in 07 or 08, I'm not entirely sure. I found this one about a year ago at Ocean State Job Lot ad I think you may be able to find some of the line at Big Lots as well. The shade I got is the lightest and it's a pale luminescent pink. They have beige shades as well, and I think beige will suite someone with a darker complexion better than pink. However, if you want to complement a tan, use the pink.

The product itself is a loose powder and comes in a very large sifter--think the size of your setting powder. I've been using mine for a year and still have barely made a dent cause you need a tiny tiny bit for each use.

The packaging is a bit annoying as the holes in the sifter are fairly large, so every time I open the container a shimmer cloud erupts. Also, it makes it difficult to apply because I have to be careful when I stick my brush in that I don't get too much. If I do, I've gotta tap off the excess and that again is a waste of product. Not that I really mind that much cause I'll probably never finish it at the rate I'm going, haha!

Here's a swatch on my hand:

On the left it's strait off a brush, on the right it's blended in a bit.

Having oily skin, I've never been a fan of uber shimmery product as the make me look oilier faster. I much prefer a matte finish, but I've got to say that I'm liking this product. First off, a little goes a long way. I dip my brush in and swirl it in the cap, tap of excess, and apply it to the tops of my cheek bones, brow bones, a tiny bit on my nose, for head, and chin. It gives me a glow, like I've had a full nights rest. I automatically look more awake and I like that. It comes with a brush that is flat and sorta domed (sorry no pic) but I find that a blush brush works better. I also like how multipurpose this product is. I can use it on my face, as an eyeshadow (use a q-tip to dab it into the inner corners of my eyes, or use a brush to use it as a highlight on my brow bones when I'm in a hurry, etc), or I can put some into my foundation/moisturizer/body lotion to get a barely there glow. There's so many things you can do with this product. heck, I've even put it into a nail polish! Word of warning, though, use very sparingly. Otherwise you'll look like a disco ball, no kidding. It does make me look oily faster, but honestly, if I only use a bit it doesn't make much of a difference, maybe only an hour. Lasting power is ok. It looks fresh for about six to seven hours. If you want it to last longer then put it into a lotion or foundation. Overall, great highlighter! It's perfect for this time of year when cooler, more opalescent colors are in style.

Info:

Price: $3.99 (Ocean State Job Lot)

Ingredients: TALC, POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE, DIMETHICONE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, CYCLOMETHICONE, CALCIUM SILICATE, SILICA, ETHYLENE/METHLACRYLATE COPOLYMER, ISOPROPYL TITANIUM TRIISOSTEARATE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 DIISOSTEARATE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, PEG-4 DIHEPTANOATE, PERFLUORONONYL OCTODECYL GLYCOL MEADOWFOAMATE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, LECITHIN, METHICONE, ZINC STEARATE, OCTYL HYDROOXYSTEARATE, SACCHAROMYCES ZINC FERMENT EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES COPPER FERMENT EXTRACT,SACCHAROMYCES MANGANESE FERMENT EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES IRON FERMENT EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES SILICON FERMENT EXTRACT, SACCHAROMYCES POTASSIUM FERMENT EXTRACT, SELENIUM FERMENT EXTRACT, GINKO BILOBA EXTRACT, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, CAMELIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CENTAUREA CYANUS FLOWER EXTRACT, GRAPE SEED EXTRACT, MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, FRAGRANCE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, PHENOXYETHANOL. MAY CONTAIN: MICA, IRON OXIDES, CARMINE, ULTRAMARINES, RED 7 LAKE, RED 6 LAKE, RED 30 LAKE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE, ALUMINUKM POWDER.

Disclosure:The product featured in this post was bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.