Makeup Archives | Page 7 of 9

Colour Pop Blushes + Eyeshadows Review!

April 28, 2015

Happy Tuesday everyone! I’m back with some reviews on Colour Pop Cosmetics! If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a company centered in Los Angeles that specializes in “making killer makeup in every shade imaginable at prices everyone can afford.” They carry lip products, eyeshadows and pigments, blushes and more recently, have added highlighters to their collection.

I ordered three blushes and two eyeshadows and it took about a week to receive these goodies. I must say that the personal note card they include adds a special touch. A company who thinks I am awesome? It’s about time a company got it right. 😉

Curious to see what I got and my thoughts? Keep reading!

Blushes

Between the Sheets– Mid-tone beige pink (matte)

Quarters– Mid-tone dusty coral (satin)

Trickery– Soft pastel true peach (satin)

Swatches of the blushes: L-R Between the Sheets, Quarters and Trickery

Pros

Price: $8

Great selection of shades for every skin tone

Long-lasting

Excellent color payoff

Mousse/gel like texture that blends easily

Cons

Matte shades blend unevenly

Best applied with fingertips or a synthetic brush

Must be closed tightly to prevent the product from drying out

Overall: I love these blushes a lot and if you follow my Instagram, you’ll see that Trickery is by far my favorite shade followed by Quarters and Between the Sheets. Using your fingertips is the best method to apply. I found that Between the Sheets applied unevenly with my fingertips but I was able to buff it out later with my Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Buffing Brush No 130.

Eyeshadows

Get Lucky– Liquid-like true gold (metallic)

Sequin– Copper penny like shade with silver and gold glitter (metallic)

Swatches of the eyeshadows: L-R Get Lucky and Sequin

Pros

Price: $5

Great shade selection

Excellent color payoff

Cons

Crease without a good primer

Can be a bit difficult to blend with other shadows at times because of the mousse/gel like consistency

Fingers or synthetic brushes provide best results

Must be closed tightly to prevent the product from drying out

Overall: The colors are amazing and the overall effect is gorgeous. My only complaints are a) you must wear a really good eye primer underneath because they will crease and fade if you don’t and b) I find these hard to blend with other shadows and use them mainly as lid colors. Perhaps the fact that they are metallic finishes could be a reason why.

Colour Pop Cosmetics is definitely a brand to explore! Have you tried Colour Pop Cosmetics? What was your experience and what’s your favorite item?

Have a great day,

Stephanie

Sephora VIB Guide and Wishlist!

April 16, 2015

Hello readers and happy Thursday! Starting today, Sephora kicks off it’s 15% sale for VIB members (yay!) and I thought it would be nice to create a guide for some higher end products that are worth every penny but when you can apply a discount, well, why not! 🙂

Makeup

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Illuminating)- Perfect for creating a healthy glow and excellent for aging skin. Also available in oil free version and regular tinted moisturizer.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush- Amazing blush that is blends effortlessly, provides a subtle glow and is a go-to for my simple makeup routine.

YSL Glossy Stains- Love these stains as they don’t feel drying and are highly pigmented.

Fragrance

Givenchy Ange ou Demon Le Secret- This perfume has been a staple for years and is just very unique with notes of cranberry, green tea, white peony, sambac jasmine, blond woods and white musks.

Giorgio Armani Si- New to my collection, this fragrance delivers a sophisticated scent with notes of pear, freesia and amber wood.

Hair

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo- A great travel item to toss in your purse and use on the go. Read my full review here.

Skincare

Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment- This green tinged product is one of my favorite exfoliators that leaves my skin soft plus I love the scent.

My Wishlist

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

Nars Audacious Lipsticks- looking at shades Greta, Raquel and Anita

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation

Marc Jacobs Beauty Genius Gel Super-Charged Oil Free Foundation

I may tweak a few items here and there but this is what’s on my list so far!

Tell me, what are you planning to get or what’s on your wishlist?

Stephanie

Real Techniques Blush Brush Review!

April 9, 2015

Hi readers! It’s almost Friday again. This week kind of flew by right?

A little over a month ago I asked you guys which blush brush (a bit of a tongue twister there) you recommended and Real Techniques received the majority of votes. So, I went out to purchase it and here are my thoughts.

Described as : “The final step is a perfect finish. Contour and define cheeks for flawlessly blended, high-definition results with this blush brush by Real Techniques; ultra-plush, synthetic taklon bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free; self-standing for easy storage; extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use.”

Pros

Affordable price $8.99

As of now, it hasn’t shed

Soft bristles

Self-standing

Works for blush, bronzer and powder

Blends most powder formulas easily

Cons

Takes a few passes to build up color

Sometimes matte formulas apply uneven/patchy

Not as travel friendly as my small MAC blush brush

Bottom Line: Aside from the few cons, I absolutely love this brush. It took me a while to get used to how light and fluffy the brush is compared to the denser bristles from my MAC one but I learned what works best for me. For bronzer and blush, I have to hold the base of the brush to get a better color concentration and for powder, gripping the top of the brush allows for a light dusting to set makeup. As long as the colors aren’t too matte, I find this brush blends powder formulas easily and doesn’t tug the skin. Storing it is also easy as it is not dependent on a brush holder; it can stand on top of a vanity, table, etc.

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to tune in tomorrow for my weekly skin tip!

Best,

Stephanie

Lip Products Under $10!

March 24, 2015

Hello readers and good morning! Well, at least on my side of the world it’s morning. 🙂 Hope all of you are doing well! I’ve been sick off and on for the past month or so and I feel like this year, it’s been brutal. I think I’m battling allergies now and I just cannot wait until this is over with. Anyone else feel the same way?

Any who, on to the task at hand. Today’s review is all about lip products under $10. Now, as much as I love my higher end lip products- Bite Beauty and Tom Ford, I’m looking at you- there are some pretty amazing ones at a much more affordable cost. And let’s face it, when you have great products that don’t cost a lot, you can buy multiple colors and save that money for, ahem, other makeup items. Charlotte Tilbury anyone? 🙂

Below are my reviews.

NYX Butter Gloss BLG05 Creme Brulee

Described by NYX as “buttery soft and silky smooth, our scrumptious new Butter Lip Gloss tastes as sweet as a sugar cookie—and makes your lips look downright luscious. Swipe it on alone or over your favorite lipstick for creamy sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips and is never sticky.”

Pros

Smell nice

Not sticky

Great color selection

Affordable price range

Cons

Not long-lasting (wears off quickly when drinking or eating

Bottom Line: I love these glosses alone or layered underneath lipstick. The scent isn’t over powering and in my opinion very comparable to some of MAC’s Cremesheen lipglosses at about half the cost.

NYX High Voltage Lipstick HVLS 18 Free Spirit

Described by NYX as amping “up your look with our High Voltage lipstick! Each of the 22 dramatic shades is infused with vibrant color with a super-rich finish!

Pros

Highly pigmented

Affordable cost

Slightly moisturizing

Cons

Can be a bit drying as time goes on

Has a tendency to accentuate fine lines/dry lips

Bottom Line: A great item from NYX if you’re looking for excellent color payoff. Color begins to fade a bit while eating or drinking but leaves behind a good stain. Exfoliating lips prior to use is a must though to avoid it clinging to any dry patches.

Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte Innocence

Described by Milani as “the matte that not only feels great (yes, you read that right – it’s actually comfy) but also lasts for hours and has “a-mazing Instagram selfie” written all over it. Infused with grape seed extract imported from Italy, this smear-proof lip soother delivers mega color that won’t budge, even after a close encounter with a cappuccino cup.”

Pros

Affordable

Feels creamy upon application

Lasts a decent amount of time

Great color selection

Cons

This shade is pretty light so I need multiple layers to get coverage

Accentuates fine lines/dry lips

Bottom Line: This shade looks best when paired with a lipgloss. It lasts better than most lipsticks through drinking but I wouldn’t classify this is long-lasting. The texture is very unique and very similar (if not identical) to Maybelline Mattes. Feels creamy upon application instead of the usual dry texture most mattes have but not exactly moisturizing. Exfoliating lips is a must prior to use.

NYX Matte Lipstick MLS 05 Indie Flick

Described by NYX as “highly pigmented, richly formulated and long-wearing. The formula glides on smoothly and stays put with a non-drying matte finish.”

Pros

Highly pigmented

Excellent staying power

Affordable price

Cons

Drying

Accentuates fine lines, dry lips

Bottom Line: I bought this lipstick after seeing it on Janet from Jan and Jot and I am so glad I did. Not only is a gorgeous shade-perfect for spring and summer-but it is immensely pigmented and very long lasting. I do find this more on the drying side though, so sometimes I’ll sheer it out with lip balm underneath and make sure to exfoliate lips beforehand.

Rimmel London Kate Moss

Described by Rimmel as “Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Matte Collection Lipstick gives the gorgeous color richness and comfort of Kate’s lipstick, now in a velvety, matte finish. Ruby powder-enriched formula intensifies the color while keeping a matte finish all day long.”

Pros

Highly pigmented

Very affordable

Leaves behind a stain

Long-lasting

Cons

Feels drying after a while

Settles into fine lines/accentuates dry lips

Prominent scent that lingers

Bottom Line: Another product I bought after I saw it on Chanelle Hayley from Chanelle Hayleyyy . The color is beautiful and sophisticated and I love the staying power. I do not mind the scent at all, sort of floral mixed with berries, but it is strong and you can definitely smell it while you’re wearing it; it does fade after a while though.

Maybelline Color Sensational Summer Sunset

Described by Maybelline as “crisper color from pure pigments; creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar; lipcolor so rich, so stunning…it’s sensational.”

Pros

Highly pigmented

Long-lasting

Affordable

Extensive shade selection

Cons

Feels a little bit waxy

Not as hydrating as it claims

Can feel a bit drying at times

Clings to dry patches

Bottom Line: I do like these but I will be honest and say I am not fond of the texture. It feels a bit too waxy to me as opposed to creamy but using a lip balm underneath helps. Worn alone it has great staying power and there are so many shades to choose from.

Below are the colors swatched and make sure to follow me on Instagram to see more pictures and looks using these colors. 🙂

L to R: Creme Brulee, Free Spirit, Matte Innocence, Indie Flick, KM 107, Summer Sunset

Thank you for reading and let me know what your favorite under $10 lipsticks/lipglosses are!

Stephanie

How To Disinfect Makeup Tools When You're Sick!

February 24, 2015

Good morning readers! Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. 🙂

Since a lot of people (myself included) have been sick, I wanted to briefly touch on how I disinfect my makeup/makeup tools when this happens. Now, I try not to wear makeup when I am sick, (it’s usually the last thing on my mind) however sometimes you need to look semi presentable so here’s my scoop.

Disposable Sponges

When I need a little bit of coverage and apply foundation, disposable sponges are my go-to choice because, well they’re disposable. What a concept, right? 🙂 As soon as you are done, any contamination that may linger on the sponge goes straight into the trash.

Brushes

Cleansing brushes on a regular basis is crucial not matter what but I feel it becomes a tad more important when you are sick. I wash them with warm water and a little bit of baby body wash. After I lay them flat and they dry, I like to cleanse them again using a brush cleansing solution. MAC Brush Cleanser and Cinema Secrets Brush Cleanser are my favorites.

Sharpener

An easy way to disinfect pencil-type products (e.g. eyeliner pencils, lip pencils) is to sharpen them. However, if you had something like an eye infection, your best bet might be to just toss it out and get a new one.

Makeup Products

For lip products (i.e. lip balm, lipstick) I like to spritz them down with a cosmetic sanitizer such as Eve Pearl Anti-Bacterial Cosmetic Sanitizer. You can also use this on eyeshadows, blushes, etc. Also, if you need to use a lip balm when you’re sick but don’t want to contaminate it, you can scoop out the product with a plastic spatula. You can then toss the spatula or clean and disinfect it.

Also, in case you missed it, I did write a post on how to take care of your skin when you are sick, so if you’re interested, click here.

Was this information helpful? Please comment below and feel free to add your go-to items.

Stephanie

Be a "Daring Darling" or Be a "Sweetheart" for Valentines using Urban Decay Naked3 by Steph and Jen!

February 2, 2015

Hi guys! I don’t usually posts on Mondays but today’s post is special. I collaborated with the lovely and funny Jen from The Avon Insider to come up with a Valentine’s Day look using the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. My look is a more dramatic, nighttime look, hence the Daring Darling name, and if you head on to Jen’s blog, you’ll find the Sweetheart Valentine’s Day look along with some great blog posts.

Let’s get to it!

Get the Look

Foundation: Lancome Teint Miracle in Buff 4C

Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla

Eyeshadow:

Highlight: Strange

Crease: Factory/Mugshot

Mid/Outer Lid: Blackheart/Mugshot

Inner Corner of Lid: Dust

Directions: Apply Factory on the crease and Blackheart on the mid and outer lids. Then apply Mugshot over Blackheart and blend it up to the crease. Use Strange as the highlight shade beneath the brows and just above the crease color. Pat on Dust on the inner corner of the lid to brighten up the look. After you line your eyes (see eyeliner category below), use a pencil brush to trace Mugshot on the outer 2/3 of your bottom waterline and extend it into a slight cat-eye shape. Wipe off the pencil brush and apply Dust on the inner corner of the bottom waterline.

Eyeliner: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink on the top lashline and Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet on the waterline (bottom lashline)

Mascara: Milani Total Lash Cover Mascara with 3 Zone Brush in Black

Bronzer/Blush: I applied Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder on my cheeks and then swirled Burberry Light Glow Earthy Blush No. 7 right on top of the bronzer.

Lips: Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Red Amour

Hopefully you enjoyed this post! Let us know if you try them!

Stephanie

Simple Makeup Routine!

January 29, 2015

How are you enjoying this Thursday readers?

I wanted to share a quick post about my simple makeup routine. As much as I love applying makeup, sometimes I get a bit lazy or don’t have enough time in the morning. So for those days when I prefer to get a little extra sleep, here’s my fast and simple way to look put-together.

*Note: This doesn’t include my skincare routine which will be in a different post.

Products I Use

Foundation: One of my favorite foundations is Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation SPF 15. It feels light, provides full coverage without looking cakey and is a perfect match for my skin.

Concealer: I use Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla to cover up any under-eye discolorations and it provides a little bit of a brightening effect since it’s a light color; it’s also great at concealing redness. It’s not as hydrating as it claims but that’s nothing an eye cream can’t fix.

Blush: If you follow my Instagram, you’ll see I purchased the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion and I can’t say enough about it. It’s a subdued coral color that applies and blends effortlessly, provides a nice glow and looks natural.

Mascara: I purchased Blinc Mascara awhile ago and I like it to achieve a natural look. This mascara forms little tubes around lashes that lengthen and unlike other mascaras, I don’t have little black flakes underneath my eye at the end of the day. One thing this doesn’t do though is provide volume.

Lips: I recently found this lipstick-it was forgotten for a bit in one of my purses-and it’s so natural looking on me. The best part is how moisturizing the formula is which is nice in this cooler weather. Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Angelic Nude.

Here’s my finished look. 🙂

What are your simple makeup must-haves? Share below!

Stephanie

Sephora Moonshdow Baked Palette Review!

January 20, 2015

Hi readers! Hope you all had a great weekend. I have a full day at IDI today, taking a class on acids, peels, and exfoliation (super excited!) but I wanted to leave you with a review on the Sephora Moonshadows. I bought this palette about two months ago and what drew me in initially were the colors and the price, about $12 after a few discounts.

Once you open the palette, there’s a mirror on top and 10 gorgeous colors below. All colors have shimmer so if you’re looking for matte colors, this palette might not be for you. The colors as pictured above from left to right:

Peru: Olive green with gold shimmer

Belize: Red/orange bronze

Barbados: Peach

Seychelles: Peach with a gold undertone

St. Vincent: Frosty white

Grenada: Purple with tiny flecks of silver

Bermuda: Lilac

Fiji: Lilac with a lot of silver strewn in

Martinique: Liquified gold

St. Lucia: Shimmery cream

The majority of the colors are nicely pigmented and blend easily, however, if you want the colors to really pop, using the shadows wet is key. Below are swatches of all the colors, both wet and dry.

Peru, Belize, Barbados, Seychelles, St. Vincent (dry)

Sephora Moonshadow Baked Palette- In the Tropics

Peru, Belize, Barbados, Seychelles, St. Vincent (wet)

Grenada, Bermuda, Fiji, Martinique, St. Lucia (dry)

Grenada, Bermuda, Fiji, Martinique, St. Lucia (wet)

As you can see in some colors, wetting the shadows really brings out the nuances.

Pros

Majority are nicely pigmented

Can be used wet or dry

Blend easily

Can be used to create subtle or dramatic looks

Cons

There’s quite a bit of fallout when you apply the shadow and it also gets all over the palette

No matte colors that can be used as blending/transition shades

A few shades take a few swipes to develop a good color pay off

This palette is Limited Edition

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for pretty, shimmery but not overly glitter eyeshadows, you can’t go wrong with this one. Although this particular palette was limited edition, Sephora has some other great baked shadow palettes and I hope this gave you some insight into what to expect from these 🙂

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions let me know. 🙂

Stephanie

Makeup 411: Easier Application!

January 14, 2015

Applying your eye makeup before foundation makes it easier to clean up any eyeshadow fallout that may occur. Also, in case you make any mistakes, it easier to swipe it off and begin again without having to worry about messing up your other makeup.

What makeup shortcuts do you like to incorporate?

Happy Wednesday,

Stephanie

Tom Ford Lips And Boys Omar Review!

December 29, 2014

Hi readers! I know my posting schedule has been a bit off due to the holidays but should be back to normal starting next week-at least that is the plan. 🙂

Back in November, for Black Friday I went ahead and purchased my very first Tom Ford lipstick. I’ve read so many great things about them but always winced at the steep $50 price tag. That is, of course, until Tom Ford decided to release a pretty extensive limited edition collection of lipsticks (50 to be exact) entitled Lips and Boys. Granted these lippies are smaller than the normal ones (0.07 oz vs 0.10 oz) , but $32 seemed a bit more manageable than $50.

Tom Ford lipsticks come in a dark brown/black (depending on how the light reflects off of it) case accented with gold trim and the signature TF logo etched into them. The TF logo dissipates after a few swipes though.

The Lips and Boys collection is grouped into color categories: nudes to browns; silvers to blacks; metallics; light pinks to mauves; pop pinks to roses; fuchsia to magentas; corals to oranges; reds; violets to orchards; and plums. I settled on the shade (boy?) Omar which pertains to the metallics family as it looked perfect for the holiday season with flecks of gold.

The color was a bit hard to capture in pictures but this is pretty close. To me this shade is kind of copper with red and orange undertones and flecks of gold that give it a metallic finish. It has a slight vanilla scent, reminiscent of M.A.C. lipsticks. While the formula is hydrating and applies pretty smoothly, I didn’t find it to be groundbreaking but perhaps it could be because the finish is metallic? Whatever the case, I absolutely love the color! It stayed on for about 3 hours and didn’t leave a stain behind, only gold shimmer. Below is a picture of how the color looks applied.

Overall: I love the color as it’s unique and unlike any color I own. However, it wasn’t as long lasting as some of the Tom Ford lipsticks are made out to be. Again, perhaps it might be because the finish is metallic. I would recommend these as a way to try out the Tom Ford line though at a more wallet friendlier option.

They are available now online and through the following retailers: Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks.

*Note: These are limited edition so don’t wait too long if you want to try them out. 🙂

Have you tried any Tom Ford lipsticks? What is your opinion on them?

Have a great Monday,

Stephanie