Thursday, February 25, 2016

Review + Comparisons - Nordstrom Brush Haul (Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Sigma)


Dior Professional Finish Backstage Eye Brushes Review Dolce & Gabbana

It's difficult to review eye brushes and recommend the "best" one because some work better than others, depending on your eye shape and lid space. So hopefully, these pictures will help you figure out the one that's most suitable for you!


Saturday, February 20, 2016

Swatches + Comparisons - Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint and Brushes


Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint St. Moritz Alaska Groenland Brush Haul Review

I tend to gravitate towards foundations that provide medium coverage with a matte finish. Therefore, I usually stay away from tinted moisturizers, which often provide a luminous finish and minimal coverage. However, the Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint is not your traditional tinted moisturizer, which is why I decided to give it a try. 


Monday, February 15, 2016

Swatches + Comparisons - Chanel Foundations + Concealers


Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Long Wear Foundation 30 Beige Swatch

I remember trying Chanel foundations about 5 years ago and while I did like their formulations, the undertones didn't quite match my skin very well. Since I've been really enjoying their cheek products lately, I decided to give their foundations another try, hoping that maybe they have expanded their color range.


Thursday, February 11, 2016

Coupon Code: B-Glowing 20% OFF (Beauty Blender, Becca, Kevyn Aucoin, Tatcha)



B-Glowing is having a 20% off sale on most brands, including Sigma, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Anna Sui, Becca, Beauty Blender, Butter London, By Terry,  Cargo, Dr. Dennis Gross, Deborah Lippmann, First Aid Beauty, Glam Glow, Illamasqua, It Cosmetics, Jack Black, Japonesque, Jouer Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin, Koh Gen Do, La Roche-Posay, Makeup Eraser, Paul & Joe Beaute, Rouge Bunny Rouge, St. Tropez, Stila, Tatcha, Tocca, Tweezerman, Z Palette, and many more!




Review + Swatches - Becca Under Eye Brightening and Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector


Becca Under Eye Brightening Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector Peach Papaya Review

Most concealers work well for covering minor blemishes, but finding one that covers dark circles is more of a challenge. Peachy concealers are suitable for counteracting the bluish and purplish undertones of dark circles, while pink concealers work best for those with grey undertones. Make sure you understand the undertone of your dark circles because pink concealers can accentuate the bluish undertones of dark circles (in color theory, pink + blue = purple). 

MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NW20 and MUFE HD concealer in R30 work best for counteracting my dark circles. They both have a pink undertone, but it's not too strong where it would accentuate the bluish undertones of dark circles. They also can be worn alone without having to layer a yellow based concealer on top, even for those who have a warm complexion like myself. They are also one shade lighter than my skintone because I like the brightening effect. I just set it with a powder and they last all day without creasing or looking cakey. R22 has a stronger pink undertone and is lighter than R30. (For reference, I'm a MAC NC30/35, MUFE HD Y345, L'oreal True Match W4, and Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031.)

For those who find that peachy or pink concealers are still not enough to diminish the appearance of dark circles, then I recommend using color correctors. They are not concealers, and instead are intended to correct discoloration. Therefore, they must be used in conjunction with concealers.


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Review + Swatches - Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon Blush + Infiniment Illuminating Powder


Chanel Infiniment Illuminating Powder Sunkiss Ribbon Blush Swatch

You all know I bought the Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon blush and Infiniment Illuminating powder because of their gorgeous embossments. The big question is: Are they just nice to look at or do they wear nice on the skin as well?


Monday, February 8, 2016

Review + Comparisons - Sephora Pro Collection Brushes


Sephora Pro Brush Collection Review

Sephora brushes are not as budget friendly as drugstore brands, but not as wallet weeping as luxury brands. They fall somewhere in between and are well worth their price due to their quality, performance and functionality. The only gripe that I have about their pro line (the ones with the silver ferrule) is the length of the handles. I prefer brushes to be no shorter than 6 inches and no longer than 7 inches. The brushes from Sephora's pro line are at least 7 inches long and some are even 8 inches, which can be a nuance and poke my mirror when I get too close. You can prevent this from happening by holding it at the end of the handle, but this will give you less control and a lighter application.