Swatches + Comparison: Nude and Everyday Lipsticks (Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Lancome)

Products are not twisted all the way up.

I have full sausage lips that get easily chapped. I've tried countless lip balms and the Burt's Bees one is the best one that I've tried. Other ones either just sit on top of my lips or make my them peel and even more chapped. Full coverage and matte lipsticks tend to exacerbate the problem, while glossy and frosty ones tend to accentuate my lips, making it appear fish-like bigger. Therefore, I prefer sheer to medium coverage lip products that are not too matte or too glossy. Also, since my lips are already pigmented, I tend to gravitate towards shades that are "my lips, but better." 

L'oreal Color Riche Balm; Bathroom Lighting

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Swatches + Comparisons: Caudalie Divine Oil for Face, Body and Hair

Summer is right around the corner and since more skin is exposed, it's time to whip out my body oils and nourish my scaly, snake skin, which I've been hiding all winter. Can the Caudalie Divine Oil do the trick, and even for the face, hair or anywhere that screams dryness?  

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Swatches + Review: Drugstore Haul (Milani, Revlon, L'oreal)

Out of all the foundations in the market (drugstore, mid-range and high-end), the Revlon ColorStay and L'oreal Infallible Pro-Matte are one of the best foundations for those with combination and oily skin because of their lasting power. However, the way you prep the skin can make or break the results of both foundations. 

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Swatches + Comparison: Loose and Pressed Matte Powders by Surratt and NARS

I already made a post about setting powders; however, most of the products mentioned have been discontinued. So, I decided to make an updated post about the powders that I have been enjoying. 

I have an extremely oily t-zone and normal (not dry or oily) skin on the rest of my face. I find that when I don't set my foundation with a powder, my skin gets more oily throughout the day and my makeup tends to move or fade. So, I always set my face with a powder.

Generally, in the winter, I'll pair a luminous powder with a mattifying foundation or a mattifying powder with a dewy foundation to prevent over drying my skin & emphasizing dry spots. In the summer, I'm more likely to pair a mattifying foundation with a mattifying powder to prevent my greasy t-zone from looking like it got attacked by a lump of lard.

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Tarte Coupon Code: 30% OFF Entire Purchase (No Exclusions)

Tarte is having a Friends and Family Sale right now. Get 30% OFF your entire purchase, including sale items and products from their new collection, using coupon code FRIENDS. The promotion ends April 15, 2016. You can also get free shipping on orders of $40 or more. 

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Dermstore Coupon Code 2016: 30% OFF (Anastasia Beverly Hills, Beauty Blender, Becca)

DermStore is offering 20% OFF your entire order when you purchase 2 items with code SAS20, 25% OFF your entire order when you purchase 3 items with code SAS25 and 30% OFF your entire order when you purchase 4 items or more with code SAS30. Free shipping (no minimum) will be applied automatically on every order. 

DermStore carries many popular brands, including Ahava, Alterna, Amazing Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Beauty Blender, Becca, Butter London, Cargo, Cover Fx, Dermablend, Drunk Elephant, First Aid Beauty, Japonesque, Jouer Cosmetics, Jurlique, Kevyn Aucoin, Laura Geller, Philosophy, Sigma, St. Tropez, Stila, Tarte, theBalm and Tweezerman, which are all eligible for the promotion.

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Review + Comparisons: Real Techniques Cheek and Lip Brush Set (Limited Edition)

I usually don't buy sets because there's always a few brushes that I don't need and I already have a huge brush collection that I'm trying to declutter. Real Techniques is one of the few brands that I find myself purchasing sets from because there's usually one brush in there that's worth the price alone, which is why I bought the Cheek and Lip Set. I'm sure you guys can figure out which brush that I'm talking about.

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Swatches + Review: NARS Laguna Tiare Bronzer, Mie Kabuki Brush + Goulue Blush

After trying out the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint (review), I decided to check out more products from the brand. Besides the items mentioned in this post, I also purchased some of their loose and pressed powders, which I will review later. 

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Sephora Coupon Code 2016: 15% OFF Sitewide

Sephora 15% OFF Event:

• VIB Rouge: Get 15% off every single item, including sets and sale items from April 7th through April 13th. Enter coupon code ROUGENOTE at checkout.
• VIB: Get 15% off starting April 8th through April 13th. Enter coupon code VIBNOTE at checkout.
• Beauty Insider: Get 10% off starting April 9th through April 12th. Enter coupon code BINOTE at checkout.
• The 15% OFF is valid sitewide, including sale items and gift sets.

Free Canvas Tote:

• One April 7, you can bring a friend to a Sephora store and both of you will receive a free tote bag with purchase. Your friend will also receive 15% off. (12.5" W X 4.25" D X 10.5" H)

Hot Limited Edition Items:

• Lancome Alluring Eyes Set $25 ($64 value)
• Hypnose Drama Mascara (full size, which retails $27.50)
• Drama Liqui-Pencil in Noir Intense (full size)
• Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (1.7oz)

• Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Make A Splash Hydrating Skin Savers $10 ($23 value)
• Marine Boosting Mist (0.338oz)
• Deep Dive Cleansing Gel (0.25oz)
• Drink H2O Hydrating Boost (0.24oz)

Sephora Flash Subscription:

• Purchase Sephora Flash Subscription for $10 and you'll receive Unlimited Free 2-Day Shipping for One Year on every single order. This basically pays for itself after two orders!

Happy Shopping! =)

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Swatches + Review: Marc Jacobs Undercover Coconut Primer, Dolce & Gabbana Sheer Radiance + Perfect Matte Foundation

I've tried countless primers throughout  the years and have not found one that lengthens the wear of my foundation, substantially. At best, they allow makeup to apply smoother, while the silicone-based ones (review) fill in pores really well. The ones that are intended to mattify and to control oil do exactly what they're supposed to do, but they also can emphasize dry spots and over dry the skin, especially when they are over applied or applied to non-oily areas. It's important to find the one that's most suitable for you and to apply the product by using a targeted approach. (For example, I use silicone-based primers only on areas that have enlarged pores. I don't cover my entire face with the primer as it's not needed.)

I decided to try out the Marc Jacobs Undercover Coconut primer and the Dolce & Gabbana Sheer Radiance primer along with their Perfect Matte foundation. I've tested them rigorously, using a combination of various techniques, including the use of (1) light-weight and heavy moisturizers, (2) with and without a primer, (3) light, medium and heavy foundations, (4) mattifying and luminous setting powders, and (5) fingers, various brushes and sponge. I've also waited a few minutes for each product to absorb into the skin before applying the next product. Continue reading to find out about my results!

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First Impressions: NARS Laguna Tiare Bronzer (Limited Edition)

The NARS Tahiti Bronze Collection 2016 has just launched at Nordstrom and Sephora. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up since the Laguna Tiare Bronzer ($59 for 10g/0.35oz) is limited edition. The one that comes in the single compact retails $39 for 0.28oz.

First Impressions: The plastic compact is embossed with a wood grain texture that looks absolutely gorgeous. It has a faint monoi scent during application and smells stronger when I sniff the pan.

The Laguna Tiare Bronzer is a rich brown and contains gold shimmers, which are only noticeable under direct sunlight. The shimmers are actually undetectable under artificial lighting. I've been really enjoying it as a bronzer. I like that it warms up my NC30/35 skin tone without looking orange. It also mimics the look of a tan that can look natural with a light hand or dramatic with a heavy hand. 

The bronzer also comes with a travel brush. The head of the brush is actually full size, while the handle is shorter compared to the regular Ita Kabuki brush ($55). I personally don't use it to apply the Laguna bronzer because I prefer a round, fluffy brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk #19 Tapered Powder brush, for that type of application. The shape of the travel Ita brush is actually more suitable for contouring when used with matte powder products. It's narrow enough to create a chiseled look with one sweep and fluffy enough to blend out harsh lines with barely any effort. 

A full review and swatches will be posted in a few days can be found here!
Will you be getting anything from this collection?

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