review

Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Brightening Serum + Concealer Review

Hello my loves! I purchased this concealer about a month back and I have been using it everyday. I purchased mine at Sephora for $34. This item has a stick concealer on one end and a brightening serum on the other end. The concealer has a very creamy consistency and the serum is pinky shimmery color.

Left-Concealer stick, Right-Serum

I have it in the shade 2W Light-Medium (Warm). I had originally purchased 3W, it was my perfect shade, but I wanted a lighter shade for a more brightening effect so I exchanged it. They have 8 shades ranging from cool, warm, and neutral. I’ve never been able to use a stick concealer because of my dry skin, but the concealer is so creamy, it’s works. It’s also very lightweight. My go-to concealers have always been NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Urban Decay Naked Concealer. Those are also very light weight and creamy.

The instructions say to apply the serum first and then the concealer. I usually do my makeup in 10 minutes on a day to day basis so I just use the concealer. I then apply the serum on top of the cheekbones to highlight. This gives my face a very dewy finish and I love it!

Blended out

The concealer blends in so smoothly (with finger or brush) and provides great coverage. It does crease a little bit, but I have yet to find a perfect creaseless concealer so it doesn’t bother me. I have been using the NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder just to set the concealer and it keeps it from creasing a lot. I’d say it lasts about 6 hours.

I LOVE the serum. It is gives a perfect highlight. Since I purchased a warm shade, the serum has a pink tint to it. I think I like the serum more than the concealer side. The serum will stay on all day. I don’t apply anything on top of it either. I love the dewy effect and if I apply a powder on top, it will take that away.

Overall, I give this product an 8 out of 10. I give the serum a 10 out of 10. The concealer side is pretty awesome for being a stick. I give it an 8 because of the creasing, but I do appreciate the creaminess. Like I said before it is not a full coverage concealer. Not like Mac Pro Longwear, so if that’s what your looking for, then look away my friend. But it is perfect for everyday makeup.Face: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, Estee Lauder Concealer and Serum (on cheekbones), NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, Too faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Shade of the Day- Lolita II

Most of you know I love Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks. She recently came out with a Lolita Lip Duo. It includes a mini Lolita and a new shade Lolita II. You know I had to get my hands on this. Unfortunately it’s sold out online, but I would check in stores to see when it comes out. I believe the full size Lolita 2 should be out Dec/Jan.

The formula of the Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks are better than ever! They are easier to apply and they are build-able. There aren’t very many liquid lipsticks out there that you can add layer after layer. They usually get all clumpy and flakey. I think I applied about 4 to 5 layers.
FullSizeRender The OG Lolita is a brown pink nude shade and Lolita II is a peachy pink nude. I think Double Dare is pretty similar but it’s more pink. I really love Lolita II, it’s a great nude and I think it’ll look great on all skin types. I definitely recommend purchasing this duo, especially if you don’t already own Lolita. I did not wear a liner with it.

I will soon be doing a post to show you all what products and techniques I use for my flawless foundation routine.

Thanks for stopping by!

XO, Diana

Favorite Lipsticks for Fall 2015

I recently posted my favorite affordable lipsticks for Fall/Winter. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, you can check it out here. Of course I had to give you guys some higher end options. This was honestly very tough for me. I didn’t realize how many dark vampy colors I had, but I think the lipsticks I chose are great/different options. I apologize in advance for the lighting. These Seattle clouds do not give any natural lighting.

Dose of Colors Truffle ($18)- I’ve already mentioned this lipstick on my blog a couple of times. It’s a great nude with a mauve-y tint. My favorite part about this lipstick is not needing a lip liner. You can check out my shade of the day post here.

Too Faced Melted Berry ($21)- This lipstick is a very pigmented berry fuchsia color. A little goes a long way with this lipstick. It does have somewhat of a glossy finish so I like to apply translucent powder over it. I purchased mine in a holiday set last year. Check out this year’s set at Sephora. You get four mini lipsticks (including berry) for $25. I honestly think Melted Berry is worth purchasing alone.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Audrey ($32)- I LOVE this lipstick. It’s so different and it’s not a color people tend to go with. Which is why I love it so much. It’s described as a red currant. It’s basically a muted red with a little bit of brown. I really like the Audacious line because every color is extremely pigmented.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Mats Lipstick in 206 ($36)- I’m not that big of a fan of brown lipsticks but this one is doable. It’s a very pretty matte red brown. It’s very creamy and not drying at all. The formula is very similar to the NAR Audacious. It also has that wonderful YSL smell to it.

Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Noseferatu ($20)- I think everyone needs a medium-dark red lipstick and this is it! I have been loving this lipstick with the NARS Velvet Lip Liner in Lanikai.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu ($26)- is a deep deep purple. Very similar to NYX Transylvania but this one is 10 times better. It’s a lot easier to apply and more pigmented. I also love the shade Damned. It’s more of a berry red.

I did not use a lip liner or primer for any of these. I wanted you guys to see the true color. I can’t believe I was able to narrow my choices down to 6. I know there are tons of options out there, so I hope these are different to what you have seen so far. For the lipsticks I didn’t include, I will be posting in future shade’s of the day.

Thanks for stopping by!

XO, Diana

Favorite Affordable Lipsticks for Fall/Winter- 2015

Fall is my favorite time of the year for lipsticks. I know there are lots of lipsticks out there, but I think I have compiled some great options for you guys. The best part is they are all under $10. I also think these would look great on all skin tones.

Wet n Wild Sugar Plum Fairy 908C ($2)- I’ve mentioned this lipstick in a review and you can check it out here. I think this color is a great option. It is also a dupe for MAC’s Rebel.

Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Crayon in Raspberry Nude ($8)- This is a good option for those who do not prefer vampy colors. It’s more of a bright pink with a hint of berry. Not sure why the name includes nude. There is nothing nude about this color, pure raspberry. I love these lipsticks. They have a great matte formula. You can purchase this item at Target.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss #107 ($6)- This is a great reddish berry option. It has a semi-matte finish and applies very smoothly.

Maybelline Lip Studio Color Blur in Plum, Please 35 ($9)- I think this may be my favorite out of all of these options. If you were to purchase any of these I’d recommend this one! This is such a pretty burgundy color. When I think of Fall, this is the first color that comes to mind. This also applies very smoothly and has a matte finish. It’s very similar to NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen, but this one is more pigmented and easier to apply.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Transylvania ($6)- This one is for all my vampy girls out there. Transylvania is a deep deep purple. It reminds me of NARS Velvet Lip Pencil in Train Bleu. It’s a little streaky so it can be difficult to apply. I recommend you to apply one layer, let is set for a minute, and then apply another layer. DO NOT rub your lips together. It will mess up the whole application.

I hope this was helpful. I did not wear a lip liner or primer. I wanted you to be able to see the true color. All of these lipsticks have great formulas. For the most part, they all have a creamy matte finish. You could always apply a little bit of translucent powder on top for an even more matte look.

Let me know what your favorite lipsticks for Fall/Winter are. Sephora’s Cream Lip Stain in Blackberry Sorbet is on my list to purchase. I’m sure it would have definitely been on this list! Some of the ColourPop Ultra Matte Lipsticks are also on my list to purchase.

I will also be doing a blog post including my favorite high end choices.

Stay Tuned!

XO, Diana

Shade of the Day- Nightingale

Today’s shade of the day features MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Nightingale. I mentioned this guy in my MAC Haul post. I figured it would be a good idea to give you a lip swatch. I love wearing MAC Lip Pencils as lipsticks. They are super matte and last all day. They are kind of dry so if you don’t like really dry matte lipsticks, you could always apply a lip balm over it. They can be a little tough to apply but I don’t mind it.

T-Shirt is from Target

This color is a beautiful berry color. I’m pretty sure it’s similar to Rebel, which is one of MAC’s most popular shades. I’d definitely recommend this shade for the fall!

I did my eye makeup a little different and I love it. Instead of using my typical liquid liner, I decided to use eyeshadow. I wish I would have used a different bronzer… I guess it’s time to put away my shimmery bronzers and bring out my matte ones.

Face: DiorSkin Nude Air Foundation, Estee Lauder Perfectionist Concealer, Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette, Hourglass Bronzer, Laura Mercier Highlight

Eyes: Kat Von D Eyeshadow Primer, MAC Paint Pot Soft Ochre, Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye, Laetus (lid and crease), Shax (eyeliner), Saleos (brow bone), Dior Iconic Mascara, Clinique Bottomlash Mascara, Sephora Collection Matte Gel Eyeliner dark brown

Thanks for stopping by.

XO, Diana

Shade of the Day- L.U.V.

All makeup worn is featured in May’s Makeup of the Month.

Today’s post features Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid lipstick in L.U.V. ($20). I mentioned this item in my previous post. It is a bright violet with a slight cool undertone. These liquid lipsticks are extra matte and and last all day.

A lip liner isn’t really necessary but I lightly lined my lips with MAC’s Lip Pencil in Magenta. NARS Audacious lipstick in Angela is a lot lighter. I’d say MAC Heroine is similar as well but I don’t own it.

MAC- Heroine, LUV, NARS- Angela

Here’s a picture of yesterday’s OOTD as well!

Top- TJ Maxx

Jeans- JCPenny

Shoes- Converse

Necklace- Baublebar (old)

Bag- Marc by Marc Jacobs

Happy Saturday!

-Diana

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Collection & Swatches

I have compiled a pretty good collection of Makeup Geek eyeshadows. To be honest I’m not really that much of an eyeshadow person. I do go through phases of obsessing with a particular eyeshadow. Right now its Satin Taupe by MAC. But normally on a day to day basis I just wear mascara. Don’t get me wrong I love doing eyeshadow looks but I prefer to do them for special events or a night out.

Makeup Geek was founded by an amazing Youtuber, Marlena. They offer products like eyeshadows, blushes, and brushes. I own 23 eyeshadows, six of them are the foiled eyeshadows. Almost all of the eyeshadows I have are neutral colors. These eyeshadows are awesome. They are creamy, easy to blend, and the pigmentation is great. The regular eyeshadows are $6 each and the foiled eyeshadows are $10. You do have to pay for shipping but it’s super affordable (less than $5). The only negative is having to purchase a Z-palette (if you don’t already have one) because the eyeshadows are sold in individual pans. I purchased my Z-palette at Sephora during last year’s VIB sale. The larger size is $28 and the smaller size is $18. Makeup Geek also sells a variety of Z-palettes. Check them out here.

Enjoy the swatches!

Foiled Eyeshadows

Some of my favorites are Burlesque, Bitten, Gold Digger, Peach Smoothie, Chickadee, and Cocoa Bear. Even though I love Bitten, I do find it a bit chalky. I personally think it’s really hard to find perfect matte eyeshadows. That is why BLENDING is always crucial. My favorite matte eyeshadows are from Urban Decay and I’m dying to try Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadows. I LOVE all of the foiled eyeshadows! I cannot get over how amazing the pigmentation is. I totally recommend checking those out!

www.makeupgeek.com

What’s your favorite eyeshadow brand?

Happy Hump Day!

-Diana

Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette Review

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.

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 is a true taupe color, which is an ideal FullSizeRender-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.

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

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Review

A couple of weeks ago during my weekly visit to Target I spotted these L’Oreal brow products. I decided to purchase them so I could possibly add them to my everyday routine.

Brow Stylist Sculptor: This product claims to be a 3 in 1 tool that lets you fill in, shape, and set your brows. It has a brush and pencil on one end and a wax on the other end. As soon as I applied this to my brow it felt a bit waxy. I have a lot of sparse areas I have to fill and I like it to look natural. It felt too harsh on the fuller areas and didn’t cover my sparse areas enough. Then, I tried using the brush to spread the product evenly and all it did was remove the product. I think this product could possibly work for someone who has fuller brows. I would also recommend using a spoolie brush as opposed to the brush included. I didn’t even notice a difference with the wax end. This removed product as well. I would not repurchase this product, it was a no-go for me!

Brow Stylist Plumper: I currently have the Anastasia Brow Gel but I don’t really like it because my eyebrows feel like they have glue on them. This product on the other hand leaves a very natural finish. It has a light tint and fibers in it to give a fuller looking brow. I was not blessed with full brows so I have to fill mine in first. This product works so well with the Anastasia Brow Powder I mentioned in my last post. My eyebrows were still very intact after 12 hours and normally that doesn’t happen when I use powder alone. I would definitely recommend this product!

Top- Brow Stylist Sculptor and Plumper Bottom- ABH brow powder and Plumper

You can see the difference in the picture above. There are far more sparse areas in top picture and the bottom picture looks a lot more natural. I will have a post all about brows soon including how I groom, shape, and fill them in!

Happy Thursday!

Diana

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Foiled Eyeshadows

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