makeup

Sephora Haul- July 2015

  I’ve mad a few purchase to Sephora these last few weeks so I figured I’d show you what I got.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector- Champagne Pop

  Let’s start off with the most exciting purchase…. The new Becca Highlight in Champagne Pop. This highlight is everything! It’s pretty close to being my favorite. Jaclyn Hill did an amazing job creating this highlight. I think it definitely suits all skin types. It has a gold tone with a little pinch of peach.

Dior Brow Pencil- Universal Shade

I ran out of my second ABH Brow Wiz and decided I was done purchasing it (again). I just cant justify repurchasing this because it runs out too fast. I decided to go online and check out all of the brow products available. This one had lots of great reviews so I decided to give it a go. It’s more expensive than Anastasia but I’m willing to purchase if it lasts longer. So far I am really liking it!

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

This was a repurchase. I seriously love this mascara!

Embryolisse Nourishing Moisturizer 

This was also a repurchase. It’s one of my favorite moisturizers.

Sephora Collection- Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer

  This is a new product from the Sephora Collection. For $14 I figured it was worth a shot trying. Its supposed to be a lightweight buildable concealer. I purchased the color Medium-07 Custard and Tan-14 Toffee. Custard is a little too light for me right now. I think it would be perfect for highlighting or a winter concealer. I purchased Toffee to contour with and I think its gonna be perfect!

Since I made a few orders, I was able to get some pretty good deluxe size samples. They always get me with those emails!

Too Faced-Born This Way Foundation

I got the color Sand since it was the only color left. I think it may be a tad too dark for me but I still make it work. I have been wearing this foundation almost everyday. I will have a review in my next blog post but so far I am loving it.

YSL- Touche Eclat Blur Primer

I was very intrigued by this product. It’s “an illuminating primer that blurs imperfections and boosts the radiance of foundation.” It has a silicone texture with tiny gold shimmers–very interesting. I am looking forward to trying this product.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation

This is another product I’m excited to try. It’s MUFE’s newest foundation. I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of the original HD foundation. I tried it out several times and it just didn’t work. This one is supposed to give a natural yet flawless finish. We’ll just see about that!

Stayed tuned for reviews on most of these products! I’m also expecting a couple more exciting packages! Eeeeek!

XO, Diana

Beauty Products Worth the Splurge

Walking into a Sephora or department store can be pretty intimidating. Finding the right products can be difficult and expensive when you shop at those places. I have compiled a list of products I think are worth splurging on. As well as a list of products I think you could pass on and save your money.

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Foundation

This is the number one product I’d say is worth splurging on. Everyone has different skin types and issues. When you go to a department store you can easily be color matched and get a quick consultation from an expert. Foundations can be expensive so I would suggest getting samples. Get samples of multiple foundations, try them out for a week, and purchase the one you like. Don’t give up on searching for the right foundation, it’s out there! Just keep getting samples! Some of my favorite foundations are Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation, NARS Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.

narsconcealConcealer

There are some good concealers at the drugstore (Maybelline Fit Me or Age Rewind), but I don’t think there are any long-lasting full coverage concealers. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and MAC Pro Longwear Concealer have been my favorites for years. If you are not looking for full coverage then save your money and try out the ones mentioned or the NYX HD Concealer.

tartebronzerBronzer

I chose bronzer because this product alone can give you a nice color and glow. Pricier bronzers tend to blend easier and last longer. There are also a lot more shades to choose from. I’d recommend getting a matte bronzer and purchasing a more affordable blush. Physicians Formula has amazing highlighting powders. You could also use a shimmery nude eyeshadow for highlight. A good all in one bronzer is Tarte Park Ave Princess and a good matte bronzer is Too Faced Chocolate Soleil.

udSetting Spray

If you don’t have issues with pores I would recommend a setting spray instead of a primer. My favorite is the Urban Decay All Nighter. If you spray this on your face before and after applying makeup, your makeup will last for HOURS! There is a smaller size available for $14, so it won’t break the bank too much.

freshMoisturizers

I recommend splurging on moisturizers for the same reason as foundations, everyone has different skin concerns. Again, go to Sephora or a department store for a mini consultation (and get samples). My favorite is the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Cream.

UDPP

Primer

If you have oily eyelids, I’d recommend an eyeshadow primer for sure (UD Primer Potion). Foundation primers really depend on your personal preference. It does make your makeup last longer but I wouldn’t say its necessary. However, I would recommend it if you want to minimize the appearance of pores. Primers do a great job of smoothing out the skin. Some of my favorites include Benefit POREfessional, Hourglass Veil Mineral, Smashbox Photo Finish, and Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer (for dry skin). Don’t forget you could also get samples for these guys too!

kat

Lipstick

This one depends on you. If you prefer a long-lasting lipstick then I would splurge a little. Drugstores have tons of colorful options if you aren’t concerned with longevity. Some of my favorites include NARS Velvet Lip Pencils, NARS Audacious, and Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks.

Products you could save money on:

  1. Powder

    With a good foundation almost any powder would work. If you have dry skin like me then you don’t even need powder. Some of the powders I’ve tried and liked are Rimmel Stay Matte and Nutrogena Mineral Sheers.

  2. Mascara

    Drugstores have awesome mascaras! L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black has always been a favorite. However, I would recommend purchasing Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($10) to avoid looking like a raccoon at the end of the day. For the longest time I never knew why I would have black marks all over my under-eye area, then I realized it was my mascara! That’s when I began purchasing more expensive ones (Buxom Lash & Dior Iconic Overcurl).

  3. Eyeliner

    With a good eyeshadow primer you can pretty much use any eyeliner. If you have hooded eyes like me then you are outta luck. A lot of the affordable liquid liners do not dry fast enough for me. My favorite one is the Maybelline Gel Liner. Favorite more expensive eyeliners include Kat Von D tattoo Liner, Stila stay all day, and MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack.

  4. Eyeshadow

    Save your money when it comes to eyeshadows. My  favorite eyeshadows are currently from Makeup Geek, they are really affordable ($6) and very pigmented. Investing in a Naked Palette is also a good idea. You get twelve eyeshadows for $54 which may seem pricey, but technically you end up paying $4.50 for each eyeshadow.

  5. Brushes

    Brushes are a whole other topic but most of mine come from more affordable brands. My favorites are from Real Techniques and Sigma Beauty. You can often find Real Techniques BOGO 50% off at Ulta.

So there you have it, my honest thoughts on where to splurge and where to save.

A couple of tips to remember:
  • GET SAMPLES! Beauty products are expensive. Don’t spend the money unless you are sure you love the product.
  • Always keep receipts and packaging. I have a bag under my vanity dedicated to receipts and boxes. Places like Ulta, Sephora, and most department stores have great return policies. Sooooo… if you don’t LOVE it RETURN it!

I hope you have found this helpful! Let me know what your favorite products to splurge on are.

Happy Thursday!

-Diana

Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette Review

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I purchased this palette about a month ago so I’ve had enough time to play with it. Contour palettes have become pretty popular since the Anastasia Beverly Hills one came out. Now there are tons of brands to choose from. This palette contains 3 shades for highlighting and 3 shades for contouring. It comes with a mixture of warm and cool tones. I like that there is more product in dark shades. The packaging is a bit thick, but you get a great quality mirror.

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Lucid, Lyric, Levitation

Let’s start off with highlight colors. Lucid is a light pink powder, Lyric has a yellow undertone, and Levitation is a soft peach color. I personally could not use any of these to set my concealer because my undereye area is too dry. When I set my concealer I like to use a translucent powder like the NARS Loose Setting Powder. It did work well to highlight my cheekbones, chin, and forehead. These also worked great to highlight my brow-bone and set my eye primer.

Sombre, Shadowplay, Subconscious

Sombre, Shadowplay, Subconscious

Sombre is a true taupe color, which is an idealFullSizeRender-1 contour color. Shadowplay is a soft warm brown color perfect for bronzing. Lastly, Subconscious is a deep brown. The colors I used the most were Sombre and Shadowplay. Subconscious could be used for a more sculpted look. This color is also perfect for those with deeper skin tones. If you look at the picture on the left you can see a very subtle contour (with Sombre), blended out with Shadowplay.

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Also used Sombre and Shadowplay on cheeks

All of the shades are super creamy and VERY easy to blend. I was pretty amazed at how fast and beautifully these blended together. It’s perfect for a beginner because the application is so effortless. These powders also work great as eyeshadows! I have used every single color as an eyeshadow and they all worked great. I used all 3 contour shades to create a soft daytime smokey eye (picture on right). First, I put Shadowplay in crease and Sombre all over eyelid. I then used a black liner on the top and bottom lash line and blended it out with Subconscious. I used a fluffy eyeshadow brush (Sigma E40) to blend it all together.

Overall this palette is great. The shades are a bit powdery, but they blend out like a dream. If I were to be asked which contour palette I preferred, I would easily pick this one. The only negative for me personally are all of the highlight colors because I don’t really need them. Like I said before I don’t really like using yellow or pink powders to set my concealer, but I think these would be great to set a full coverage concealer like the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. Don’t forget you can use these as eyeshadows too! This palette is truly perfect for anyone! It can be purchased at Sephora for $46.

What’s your favorite product to contour with?

-Diana