Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops- Review

Hello, my loves! I’m back with another review. I’m sure you’ve all seen or heard about the new Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops. I’ve had mine for about a month now. They have been out of stock at Sephora for a while, but they are finally back in stock!

These retail for $42. The price is a bit hefty for 0.5oz. They are available in 6 different shades. I believe they have four highlight shades and two bronze shades. I have the shade Sunlight. I would say this shade is like a metallic medium gold. These things are SO crazy pigmented. All you need is 1 drop.

There are several ways to use this. My personal favorite is mixing 1 drop to my foundation for dewy look. I also like using it as a highlight. One of the best things about this is being able to use it on top of powder. It does not get cakey at all. You could also mix it with your moisturizer on a no makeup day to add a little glow to your skin. You can see in the pic below once it’s sheered out, it gives a nice subtle glow. I used only one pump for the swatch.

Let’s talk about the application… I feel like it was a little difficult to apply at first. It dries super fast so you have little time to apply. The good thing is that once it’s dry, it’s not going anywhere. Even on the hottest day. I’ve tried applying it with my finger and using a small stipple brush (by E.L.F). I think I prefer using the brush. I apply a drop on the back of my hand and then blend my brush in circular motions. I then apply it on my cheekbones and other areas I want to highlight. I do these steps as fast as I can to make sure it blends well. If I want a stronger highlight, then I use my finger to dab more on those specific areas.

In the picture, I mixed one drop with my Erborian BB Creme. For my undereyes, I used the new Kat Von D concealer and loose powder (review coming soon). I used the drops for my highlight as well. I did not apply a highlighting powder on top.

Overall, this is a beautiful product. It’s very versatile and there isn’t any other product on the market out there. The only thing I dislike about this product is the price tag. Other than that, I would absolutely recommend to everyone. So, if you are a lover of highlights and if you loving glowing like JLO 24/7, then go pick one of these up ASAP.

Thanks for reading!

XO, Diana

Play! By Sephora- Is it worth it?

I recently subscribed to the Play! By Sephora monthly box. I just received my first box (July 2016) about a week ago. I made the decision to subscribe because I get the majority of my cosmetics and skin care from Sephora. I like the idea of receiving items from one store and being able to purchase all of the items from the same store. Other subscriptions do contain items that are sold at stores like Sephora and Ulta, but a lot of them aren’t so you have to order online.

So far I’m really liking what I received in my box. Like all of the other services, the first thing you do is fill out a questionnaire. The products you receive are based off of the answers you put in your profile. I have normal to dry skin which explains why I received the products I did. Now to show you what I received in my July box…

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer– One of my favorite primers. Especially in the winter. Right now I am loving the Photo Finish Light for summer. I do not own the full size because I always get them as freebies with points. Glad I get to add another one to my stash.

First Aid Beauty Cleanser– The only product I have tried from this brand is the Ultra Repair Moisturizer. Although that product wasn’t hydrating enough, I’m excited to try this one. It’s perfect for traveling purposes. The 1oz is actually sold online and it is $5.50. There goes half your box!

Benefit Dew the Hoola– I wasn’t too excited about receiving this product. Even though I love liquid/cream products, this one seems a little orange. I have yet to try it on my face but we’ll see. The reviews online are def not the best.

Ouai Haircare Wave Spray– This is the item I was really excited to try. I’ve been wanting to try these products ever since they came out. The prices have been keeping me from trying any. I’ve used this a couple times already and I like it. Enough to buy it? I’m not sure… It smells great and gives the hair just enough texture to get that beachy look. Again, great for traveling or even my gym bag.

Blotterazi by Beautyblender– My friend has this and she loves it! It’s been pretty hot in Seattle lately (believe it or not) so my nose has been quite on the oily side. I will have to try this out. I like the fact that its reusable. It also comes with a sample of the liquid cleanser.

Nest Citrine Eau de Parfum– I LOVE getting perfume samples, especially if it has a spray top. I used to hate receiving perfume samples. One day I decided to put them in a really cute glass container in my bathroom. It’s so easy for me to dig my hand in the jar and actually use the samples. I also love to use them when I travel! I LOVE this smell. It’s the perfect blend of citrus and flower. I wouldn’t mind owning the full size.

Now I want to talk about the pros and cons of this subscription box…

Pros

high end brands
brands you are familiar with
items great for traveling
easy access in-store/online
online how-to videos
one-on-one tutorials in-store with play pass card
50 extra beauty insider points when you scan play pass card with any purchase

Cons

chance of receiving products you dislike
some samples are really small

Overall, I think Play by Sephora is the way to go. I used to be a subscriber for Ipsy and Birchbox years ago, but I got tired of receiving crappy items from brands I wasn’t familiar with. With the Play box, you at least know you will be receiving items from prestigious brands. I have created a chart below comparing other July boxes from Birchbox, Ipsy, and Boxycharm.

July 2016
Play! By Sephora $10	Birchbox $10	Ipsy $10	Boxycharm $21
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer .25fl oz ($36)*	Balance Me Radiance Face Mask 0.5fl oz ($34)*	Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in No Filter ($15)	OFRA Magnetic Palette with 6 OFRA Eyeshadows ($59)
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser 1oz ($5.50)	Marcelle 3-in-1 Micellar Solution 1.7fl oz ($21)*	Shray Queen Bee Mask ($6)	Mally Beauty Rounded Blender Brush ($15)
Benefit Dew the Hoola .16oz ($28)*	Smashbox Cosmetics X-Rated Mascara ($22)*	Shray Ms. Amazing Mask ($6)	Noyah Lip Gloss in Melbac ($16)
Ouai Haircare Wave Spray 1.7fl oz ($26)*	Raw Spirit Fragrances Mystic Pearl Eau de Parfum ($40)*	bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Swag ($18)*	PYT Hair Oil Treatment ($30)
Blotterazi by Beautyblender ($20 for 2)	MDSolarSciences™ Mineral Crème SPF 50 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen .25oz ($30)	Mellow Cosmetics Baked Eyeshadow in Plum ($8 full size included in bag)	Mally Waterproof Eyeliner ($18)
Nest Citrine Eau de Parfum .04fl oz ($68)*

*price for full size items

Birchbox– Contains most items that are sold at Sephora. The good thing is that all of their items are sold online at birchbox.com. I also like their point system. You earn points by reviewing the products you receive. One hundred points equals $10, so thats a big plus!

Ipsy– The July bag contained only one item I’m familiar with. I would’ve been disappointed if I received this box. The Ipsy website does not sell items, but they do provide links to the designated website. They also have coupon codes for each website.

Boxycharm– This subscription box costs more, but it also has a value of at least $100 every month. The items in the July box are pretty good. I just can’t see myself spending 20 bucks a month. I’d rather use that money towards an item I really want. They also include brands I’m unfamiliar with. I honestly don’t think those brands are worth what they are retailed for. That goes for the items included in Ipsy and Birchbox as well.

I think if you are a beginner and have zero makeup, you can’t go wrong with any of these subscription services. My top choice would have to be Play! by Sephora, then Birchbox, Boxycharm, and lastly, Ipsy. There is also the Allure Beauty box ($15) and Glossybox ($20). Those may be worthy of checking out as well.

Thanks for reading. I hope this was helpful! Let me know what your favorite subscription service is!

XO, Diana

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick Review- Queen B

I’m back with another liquid lipstick review. This time around I’m reviewing the newish Too Faced liquid lipsticks. I was lucky enough to pick up Queen B in store at Sephora. I think this is one of their most popular shades and I can totally see why because it’s beautiful! I’m currently obsessed with nudes and mauves so of course I had to get this one.

You can purchase these at the price of $21. This shade is always out of stock everywhere, but it’s currently in stock at Ulta.com. I LOVE this packaging. It’s very different from the typical liquid lipstick packaging.

Queen B is described as a “matte soft mauve.” This has a slight warm undertone. It has the perfect amount of pink and mauve. The closest colors I have to this are Dose of Colors Stone ($18+ shipping) and Kat Von D Lovecraft ($21). You can check out the comparison below.

Queen B, Stone, Lovecraft

I like this formula because it is light and comfortable. It’s less drying than KVD. I’d say it lasted on me for about a good 6 hours. I found this really easy to apply. The applicator is very similar to the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks. I also didn’t noticing any transferring.

Based off of this lipstick only I can say I really like these lipsticks. I would definitely recommend trying at least one. I’m curious as to how the brighter and darker shades wear. I have my eyes on Mrs. Roper and Naughty by Nature. I will update you guys once I try those shades.

XO, Diana

Current Skin Care Favorites: June 2016

Hello Loves! I’ve been using a few different skin care products for a while now. I have been loving them so I wanted to share them with you.

Erborian BB Creme

Erborian

This is what I use as an everyday foundation. I’ve mentioned this once on the blog before and I can’t believe I have never done a review because I love it! It’s very lightweight and gives great coverage. It has SPF 20 which is a plus. The formula is meant to hydrate and even out your skin complexion. The only downside is that there are only 2 colors available. However, I think those two colors could work for many people. I have the shade Dore. You can see in the picture below how it looks. I only wear a little bit of concealer and bronzer. I feel like it gives me the, “your skin but better” look.

NARS creamy concealer set with KVD Shade & light and Hourglass Bronzer

Glamglow Youthcleanse Daily Exfoliating Cleanser

I have this product in my gym bag. I use it everyday after my workouts. I have used the mask version before but I think it was too harsh for my dry skin. The cleanser is a lot more gentle and I feel like it does the same thing. There’s nothing better than a squeaky clean face after a sweaty workout. There are some negative reviews on this because it doesn’t foam up enough. The key to using this is applying it on dry skin first. I’ve also used the blue one but I think this one is better.

Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb

Oh my… How I love this moisturizer. It’s like everything my face has been needing. I’ve been using samples I get with my Sephora points. I honestly don’t remember the last time I purchased a full size moisturizer. I was running low on samples so I decided to purchase this one. I am so happy I did. I’ve used the gel one before but I prefer this one. I felt like my skin soaked the gel right up. And this one actually moisturizes and hydrates my skin. I would definitely recommend this especially if you have dry skin. I think normal to oily skin could use it as well.

Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment

I love face masks. I’m a sucker for them. I purchased this one a couple months ago and I use it about once a week (if I remember). This mask is supposed to minimize the appearance of pores. My skin feels so clean and soft after every use. I don’t really suffer from acne, but when I notice a blemish appearing, this product seems to get rid of it. I definitely prefer this mask over any other charcoal/clay type mask. This mask really looks like pudding and it smells amazing.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading! Let me know if you try any of these out!

XO, Diana

Becca X Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette

A few days ago I happened to be scrolling through Instagram at the perfect time. Sephora had a pre-sale for the Becca X Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette. I believe it was up for about an hour before it sold out. The palette along with the rest of the collection will be available online 5/26 at 9am PST and in stores on 6/16.

Packaging– Beautiful, very elegant. It reminds me of YSL because of the gold. It’s also very sturdy. It’s about the size of my hand. I think the size is perfect, especially the mirror inside. It is a little bit thicker than I’d like, but I still love it.

The palette comes with two highlights in Champagne Pop and Proseco Pop (.19oz), a luminous blush in Rose Spritz (.10oz), and two mineral blushes in Amaretto and Pamplemousse (.12oz). When comparing these to the full size, you get about half of the amount. The cost of this palette is $52. On the website it has the value at $136, but if you are only getting half of the amount the value should be around $70.

Highlights

Champagne Pop is the only permanent shade included. I purchased this highlight when it was first released. Champagne Pop is considered a “soft white gold with a peachy pink undertone.” I’d really recommend this palette if you don’t already own this highlight.

Proseco Pop is a medium warm gold. On the website it states this highlight was inspired by “liquid gold.” I would definitely agree. This shade is beautiful! I love gold highlights. I think this palette is worth purchasing just for this highlight. You can see in the picture below its very gold. The other highlights have more of a bronzey tone.

Left to Right: Proseco, Laura Geller Gilded Honey, MUFE Pro-Sculpting Duo 2, MAC Oh Darling

Blushes

Rose Spritz is a beautiful peachy pink with pale gold shimmer. I’ve been wanting to try out the luminous blushes since they first came out, so I was really excited one was included in this palette. This blush gives such a beautiful glow. It also blends beautifully with the highlights.

Amaretto is a mineral blush described as a “toasted almond.” I think this could be used as a bronzer if you have lighter skin. I would use this as an everyday blush on its own with no bronzer.

Pamplemousse is a super bright coral pink. This shade is perfect for a nice pop of color on the cheeks. I love their mineral blushes. They are very pigmented. Matte blushes can sometimes be blotchy but not these. Nope!

L to R: Champagne Pop, Proseco Pop, Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse

I love this palette because all of the shades are so pigmented. To be honest, I expected nothing less from Becca. All of their products are amazing and this palette is no different. I have been a lover of their highlights and blushes for a while now. I think $52 for five Becca products is worth it.

I don’t have very many blushes so it justified my purchase a little bit more. I do have a lot of highlights, but lets be real, is there really such a thing as too many highlights? Never! I’d def recommend this palette based on the quality and the shades. I think the shades are suitable for all skin types. This palette would have been even better if it included a bronzer (or if Amaretto was a bit darker). But I still think it’s a great palette to travel with. Mine came just in time for my trip to Mexico!

I used Amaretto and Rose Spritz as my blush and Proseco as highlight

I hope this gave you an idea of what to expect from this palette. I don’t think it’s an absolute must have, but it is a nice palette to have in your collection, especially if you are a makeup artist. Let me know if you plan on purchasing!

XO, Diana

Favorite Eye Brushes

I previously did a post on my favorite brushes for the face. Today I have for you my favorite brushes for the eyes. If you didn’t get a chance to read the first one, you can check it out here.

The majority of my eye brushes consist of Sigma. I purchased my first set over 5 years ago and they are still in great condition. I know there a lot more brands out there like Morphe. I’m sure they have a dupe for all of the brushes I’m going to list.

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending

I’m starting off with my favorite brush of all time. I always start with this brush when doing my eyes. It’s perfect for blending the crease. I like to use this especially on days I don’t really feel like doing much. I like to use it with bronzer. All I do is dip it in the bronzer and go back and forth in the crease. It’s so easy to do! If I have more time I add a wing liner.

Real Techniques Setting

I mentioned this brush in my other post, but I also like this brush for the eyes. I use it to set my primer and I also like it to use it to blend above my crease once I’m finished with my eyeshadow.

Sigma E35 Tapered Blending

Another blending brush… This very similar to the E40 except it’s a little smaller. I like to use it to blend out darker colors.

Sigma E45 Small Tapered Blending

This brush is great for adding depth to your look. It allows you to get very precise, but also blends at the same time.

Sigma F75 Concealer

I love this brush because it serves many different purposes. It’s great to apply eye primer and cleaning up my winged liner. I also like to use this wet to apply glitters, loose shadow, or foiled eyeshadow (Makeup Geek).

Angled Liner Brush & Small Dense Brush

These two brushes aren’t available but I wanted to give them a shoutout. I received these brushes in an Ipsy bag yearrrrrrrs ago. It was when the My Glam bags had just started out around 2012. I like the liner brush because it is very thin. I love using this to apply liner with eyeshadow. The Sigma E06 looks like it would be great and it has pretty good reviews. The small dense brush is good to use to blend out the lower lash line. It’s also great to highlight the inner corner. The Morphe B16 looks very similar and it’s only $2!

I hope you’ve enjoyed. Thanks for reading!

XO, Diana

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick Review

As you all know liquid lipsticks are my friggin jam. I’m excited to share these with you. I own two shades: Unicorn Blood and Masochist.

First, can we talk about the packaging??? LOVE! I think these liquid lipsticks have the best packaging. I mean, who doesn’t love pink and rose gold? The container itself is excellent quality, very sturdy. The price is average, similar to others at $18.

Now we can talk about the formula. I love these because they super pigmented and opaque, and matte of course. They also aren’t as drying as other liquid lipsticks, you can still feel the moisture on your lips.They last for hourrrrsss, even after eating greasy wings. They also do not feather so a lip liner is not needed.

Now on to what I don’t like… They are a little sticky. I have the habit of closing my lips together, and it really bothers me when my lips stick together. They also transfer a little bit at first. I’d suggest blotting your lips until the transferring stops. Masochist definitely has a thicker formula than Unicorn Blood. That one is pretty watery.

Lets go back to the packaging for a bit. It has the normal doe foot applicator. However, the applicator on these lipsticks are bigger than normal. So this causes the wand to pick up a lot of product. They are also fuzzier (if that makes any sense). It makes it difficult to get that precision. Both of the lipsticks I own have the fuzziness, especially at the very tip. I have to use a lip brush to get a perfect application. First, I use a lip brush to line my lips. Then, I use the applicator to finish applying. I tend to go back with a lip brush to blend it all out. You can see in the picture below where I compare it to another lipstick.

Left: Kat Von D, Right: Jefree Star

Masochist:

This color is what let me to make a purchase to begin with (not the name, I hate the name). It’s a beautiful medium bright pink. Like a raspberry shade. I love colors like this. They are my favorite kind of pinks to wear.

Unicorn Blood:

I purchased these lipsticks last Fall so of course I had to buy a vampy shade. This one is a deep reddish brown. It’s a pretty shade to have if you don’t have anything like it! I don’t normally go for brown shades.

Overall, I’d rate these an 8 out of 10. These lipsticks would be perfect if they were easier to apply and less sticky. I definitely recommend using a lip brush to apply. I’m sure all of the other colors are just as beautiful and opaque. If you are a beginner at apply lipsticks, these may be a challenge for you. Using a lip brush can be a bit challenging as well, but it’s easier than what you get in these. I’m dying to purchase Androgyny and Gemini.

Thanks for reading!

XO, Diana

Tulip Festival

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A couple of days ago my husband and I went on a mini roadtrip to the Skagit Tulip Festival here in Washington. I have been wanting to visit this place ever since I moved to Seattle. There are 2 massive fields of tulips. The festival welcomes hundreds and hundreds of people every year in April.

I wanted to share some of the pictures I captured. It was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

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Of course I had to take a picture of my lipstick; Kat Von D-Lovesick

I hope you enjoyed my pictures! Be sure to add this place on your bucket list!

XO, Diana

Disneyland Adventures

The Happiest Place on Earth

Hey everyone! I wanted to give a quick recap on my awesome trip to Disneyland. My little sister and I went to celebrate her 15th birthday. We had such a blast! I thought my outfits and makeup were worthy of a blog post.

It was a really fun short trip. We went to both Disneyland Parks the first two days and Newport Beach on the 3rd. I thought I would share a few pictures of my outfits and makeup.

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We had a 6am flight so we decided to just get ready at the airport when we arrived.

Denim shirt: Marshalls

T-shirt: Madewell (new favorite tshirts)

Shorts: Target (old)

Shoes: Birkenstock, Amazon

Necklaces: Forever 21

Watch: Marc Jacobs

I really enjoyed my makeup this day! I went with bronze-y eyeshadow and eyeliner. I also really wanted to mention this new lipstick. It’s from the UD Gwen Stefani Collection. I’ve always loved Gwen’s signature red lip, so when I saw this in store I knew I had to have it.

Face and Eyes: Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua foundation, Too Faced Chocolate bronzer, Becca Wild Honey blush, MUFE Pro Sculpting Duo 2 (eyes and cheeks), KVD tattoo liner.

Lips: MUFE 8C lip liner, UD Gwen 714 lipstick. The lipstick has a super matte texture. It reminds me of the MAC retro matte finish. It’s kind of tough to apply but it does last all day.

How cute is my sister?!

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I loved my outfit this day! It was St. Patrick’s Day and I didn’t have any bright green, so I went with the next best thing, olive. Almost everything is from Forever 21.

Camo shirt: Forever 21, Similar

T-shirt dress: Forever 21

Necklace: Forever 21

Sunglasses: Amazon

Shoes: Nike

I pretty much did the same makeup look this day. I used Dose of Colors Truffle on my lips.

I didn’t take many pictures on the last day. I just leave you with this pretty picture of Newport Beach.

Favorite Face Brushes

Hello my beauties! Today I wanted to go over my favorite face brushes. These are all my go-to brushes I can’t live without.

Tarte Airbrush Finish Foundation Brush ($34)

This is the brush I recommend the most. This brush is perfect for everyday use or full coverage. I mainly use this brush for everyday light foundation application. It’s super soft yet very dense. I love how big it is so it makes the application process super fast and easy. I normally apply the foundation on my face first. I dab a little bit on my forehead, cheeks, chin, and nose. Then, I lightly buff the foundation in with brush using gentle circular motions. I don’t like to apply the foundation directly on the brush because I feel like it wastes too much product. This brush is on the pricier side, but it’s worth every penny in my opinion. Morphe brushes has a very similar brush. I haven’t tried their brushes so I can’t say anything as far as the quality goes, but if you are on a budget, you may wanna check it out.

Beauty Blender ($20)

This may not be brush but it is the best tool to achieve a flawless look. It blends foundation and concealer perfectly. The only downfall is how long it takes to blend in. Not ideal for on the go. To save time I blend the foundation with a brush first and then I go in with the sponge. I also have the Real Techniques version. I think it’s a great dupe.

Bobbi Full Coverage Face Brush ($44)

This is my go-to when I’m too lazy to use my beauty blender. This brush is perfect for traveling purposes because of the short handle. Its not as dense or big as the Tarte but it still applies a flawless application. This brush is great, but I’d recommend the two others above first.

Real Techniques Sculpting Brush ($10)

I think all Real Techniques brushes are amazing. They are super affordable! I’d say this one is my favorite. I use this brush to set my concealer. It works great with loose powder or the Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette (yellow shade). I press the powder under my eye with the brush. I do not blend or buff it, I just press it onto the skin. This is what gives the flawless application. You need this brush!

Real Techniques Contour Brush (set $18)

I use this brush to apply my concealer. Works great. It’s the perfect size to blend concealer. And because it’s tapered, it’s easy to get in the inner corner. I later go in with my beauty blender if I want more coverage. Be sure to wash these often. It tends to carry a lot of product so if you don’t wash it, it doesn’t blend as good. This brush is included in the Core Collection set. It’s a great set to start off with.

Real Techniques Setting Brush ($8)

This brush is great to set your concealer as well. I mainly use this for everyday purposes. I also like to use this brush to set my eye primer. Be sure to check out Ulta for these brushes. They often have them BOGO 50% off. Don’t forget the $3.50 off $10 coupon!

MUFE Large Powder Fan Brush ($48)

I’ve mentioned this brush a couple times now. I can’t say enough good things about it! It is PERFECT for contouring and applying bronzer. It’s even great to apply brush and highlight. Morphe brushes has various similar brushes as well. Check them out here. I’d say the Deluxe Fan or the the Jumbo Badger Fan are the closest. I know this one is pretty pricey.

If you haven’t checked out my post on my flawless foundation routine then check it out here. Stayed tuned for a post on my favorite eye brushes.

I hope this was helpful! Thanks for reading.

XO, Diana

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Pros

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Highlights

Blushes

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Angled Liner Brush & Small Dense Brush

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Masochist:

Unicorn Blood:

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