Haul: Bloomingdale's Bonus Box

Hey beauties!! I just wanted to share some goodies that I received from Bloomingdale's with you all. =)

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum Spray (1oz/30ml for $68) is a new fragrance from Tory Burch. It has a warm and sensual woody scent with a hint of sweetness. This is the type of perfume that I tend to gravitate towards. (For reference, I also use Dior J'adore and  Narciso Rodriguez For Her.) The perfume also comes in additional sizes, 1.7oz/50ml for $86 and 3.4oz/100ml for $115. The rollerball is 0.2oz/6ml for $28.

Notes: Pink Pepper, Pink Grapefruit, Sicilian Lemon, Sparkling Pear, Raspberry, Lychee, Rose Essential, Orris, Jasmine Sambac, Patchouli Heart, Ambertonic, Australian Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cedarwood Heart, Tonka Bean Absolute

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Swatches + Review: MAC Good Luck Trolls Glow Rida, I'm Into It Eyeshadow, Cremesheen Lipsticks + Pro Longwear Lip Pencils

MAC Good Luck Trolls Beauty Powder in Glow Rida
(Limited Edition, $28 for 10g/0.35oz)

Color: It's a warm peachy beige that leaves a subtle glow to the skin. 

Formula + Application: The pigmentation is very sheer and works best as a highlighter for my NC30/35 skin tone. I recommend using a dense natural brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk #17 (comparison pictures), because dense natural hair tends to pick up and pack on powder products much easier.

I love pairing Glow Rida with matte blushes when I want a subtle sheen on my cheeks. It gives me just enough luminosity without looking too dewy or frosty for day-time office wear. 

Longevity: It lasts at least 8 hours without fading when worn over foundation + setting powder. (I don't have issues with products lasting on my cheeks in general. I also have cheeks that are neither dry nor oily.)

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Swatches + Review: Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipsticks, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipsticks and Burberry Lip Velvet Matte Lipstick

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipsticks (each retails $26 for 0.15oz)

Packaging: Each tube comes in a rubber type packaging and has a secure closure that snaps shut. 

Scent: They have a pleasant fruity citrus scent and taste.

Formula: The formula is packed with 12 nutritious and edible oils. They're slightly more hydrating than the Burberry Lip Velvet Matte lipsticks, but not as hydrating as the YSL Rouge Volupté lipsticks. They're still wearable for someone like me, who has extremely dry, chapped lips, as long as I prep my lips with a good balm. I love how creamy they are without slipping & sliding all over the place and that they don't "sit" on top of my lips. The formula reminds me alot like the MAC Satin lipsticks (review), except the Bite Beauty ones are slightly more hydrating. I also like that they're not too glossy and they do not emphasize my already full sausage lips.

In terms of pigmentation & longevity, they provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 4 hours of staying power. Sake, Pepper and Fig wear a little bit longer and leave behind a natural stain, while Meringue & Sugarcane fade away quicker, especially when eating & drinking.

• Meringue is a peachy nude with a satin finish. This is my favorite color of the bunch. It actually pulls more pink when worn on my lips and is the perfect nude for my NC30/35 skin tone. 
• Sugarcane is a pale pink with a satin finish. It's paler than Meringue and darker than YSL's Nude Beige #1. I find that Sugarcane complements lighter beauties better.
• Sake is a dusty mauve with a satin finish. It gives me the "vampy" look with a mauvey twist and is a great color for the night time.
• Pepper is a medium-dark dusty rose with a satin finish. 
• Fig is a nude rose with a satin finish.

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Swatches + Review: Nars Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette, Orgasm Blush, Audacious Lipsticks and Velvet Lip Liners

(Direct Sunlight)

Nars Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette ($45, Limited Edition) - The palette is about three-fourth the size of my hand and measures approximately 3.80 inches x 0.25 inches x 2.20 inches. It's very sleek and travel-friendly. Each shade contains 0.03oz/1g of product. Nars' individual eyeshadows retail $25 (with compact) for 0.07oz/2.2g and $18 in pan form.

• Long Hot Summer I is a shimmering cream.
• Long Hot Summer II is a bronze taupe with a shimmery finish.
• Bellissima II is a matte gray-brown. This shade is also available in the duo compact. 
• Long Hot Summer III is a shimmering copper.
• Long Hot Summer IV is a shimmering warm brown.
• Bengali is a matte rich chocolate brown. Out of all the shades in this palette, Bengali is the only one that's available individually. 

Formula: The eyeshadows have great pigmentation, layer well and blend easily. Just make sure to tap off any excess before applying so you don't experience major fallout. I usually apply my eye makeup before foundation so I can easily wipe away any shimmers that have fallen down my cheeks or underneath my eyes. 

Longevity: They last at least 8 hours without fading or creasing. (For reference, I have extremely oily lids and always wear a primer underneath as a base.)

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Swatches + Review: MAC Matte, Satin and Cremesheen Lipstick Collection

Scent: All the lipsticks mentioned in this post have a pleasant vanilla scent when I sniff directly from the tube. They don't taste like anything when worn on the lips. 

MAC Matte Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is the least hydrating of the bunch and can cause the lipstick to cling onto dry patches, which is expected, considering that the finish is matte. (Make sure to exfoliate well and wear a lip balm underneath!) They provide buildable, medium to full coverage and last at least 5 hours. (They will also fade alot quicker when eating and drinking as with any other lipstick.)  

MAC Satin Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is slightly more hydrating than the matte version, but not as hydrating as say, the Burberry Kisses (swatches). They're still wearable for someone like me, who has extremely dry, chapped lips, as long as I exfoliate well and prep my lips with a good balm. They also provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 4 hours of staying power. I especially love that they're not frosty or too glossy as my full sausage lips do not need to be accentuated any further. They also leave behind a very pretty stain.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is the most hydrating of the bunch. I find that they glide onto the lips smoothly without skipping and provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 3 and a half hours of staying power. They are non-drying and very comfortable to wear. They also leave a sheen that's not too glossy (which is very important for me). I'm definitely getting more shades soon!

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Swatches + Review: Burberry Kisses and Lip Velvet Lipstick Collection

After trying a few shades from Burberry's lipstick line and falling in love with the formula, I decided to purchase more from Saks.

Burberry Kisses Lipstick Hydrating Lip Colour ($33 for 0.11oz/3.3g) - The packaging is very lux and comes with a magnetic closure. The lighter shades provide buildable, sheer to medium coverage, while the darker colors can provide up to full coverage without looking cakey or causing my lips to peel. The formula is very comfortable to wear, feels very hydrating, is fragrance-free & tasteless. They also leave a satin finish without looking too glossy or too matte and don't contain any shimmers. As for longevity, they last about 4 hours on my lips and leave behind a natural looking stain. (I drank through a straw and did not eat while I was wearing the lipstick.) 

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Swatches: MAC Vibe Tribe, Brooke Candy, Simpsons, Style Warriors and Indulge Collection (Limited Edition)

I recently purchased a few goodies from MAC's Vibe Tribe 2016 Summer Collection and plan on picking up the Adobe Brick blush as well, which I will review in a later post.

When I was going through my stash to check for possible dupes, I realized that there were a few limited edition MAC products that I never reviewed on my blog. I decided to include them in this post because maybe you guys have forgotten about them too and this may remind you to use them again? You can also call your nearest CCO (The Cosmetics Company Store) to see if they still have them in stock. (The CCO carries products from Estee Lauder-owned companies, including MAC, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Origins, Smashbox and Lab Series, and sells them for around 30% off retail price.)

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Swatches + Comparisons: By Terry Rouge Terrybly and Nars Sheer, Satin & Semi Matte Lipsticks

I purchased a few items from Beauty.com during their 20% OFF Friends and Family Event, which is still going on now and ends May 28, 2016. It's one of my favorite online retailers because I get 5% back in the form of beauty.com dollars, which can be spent on a future purchase, on top of however much cashback I get from Ebates, Mr.Rebates or TopCashBack. ^_^

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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 - Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick

Pure ~ Inspired ~ Enlightened

I received the Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-hour Lipstick in Fierce in my January 2013 GlossyBox and loved it so much that I purchased 3 other shades.

Pure ~ Inspired ~ Enlightened

Pure ~ Inspired ~ Enlightened

Pure (2g/0.07oz for $26) - The swatches are quite deceiving because it looks like a gorgeous light rosy shade on my arm, but when applied onto my naturally pigmented lips, it looks too nude and corpse-like. Also, the formula is very drying, it emphasizes my extremely chapped lips, and it fades within 15 minutes of application, which is weird because I did not have any issues with Fierce. 

Inspired (2g/0.07oz for $26) - It has a more pinky undertone, but the formula is similar to Pure. Also, it looks too pale when applied onto my lips. 

Enlightened (3.7g/0.13oz for $26) - It translates into a nudish peachy brown shade on my lips and I find it to be very similar to the L'oreal Colour Riche Lip Balm in Caramel Comfort, but Enlightened is more pigmented, lasts longer and is matte, which makes it more versatile because I can put a gloss over it for a shiny finish. I am in love with this color because it's a "my lips but better" shade and it's very office-safe.

It lasts at least 4 hours on my lips without fading even after eating and drinking. This is the best formula that I've experienced. Other lipsticks make my lips peel and fade within minutes of application. (Keep in mind that it's very difficult for me to find a lipstick that works well with my extremely chapped lips.) This one applies like butter and feels hydrating!

Note: The Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipsticks are available at Ulta, Tarte, and Sephora for $26 each.

Did you experience the lack of consistency with the formula of the Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipsticks?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Swatches: Neutrogena Cosmetics Spring 2013

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara ($8.49 retail) - Non-waterproof mascaras usually weigh my lashes down and don't hold my curl and the Neutrogena one was no different. However, I did like the non-plastic/rubber brush because it separated my lashes well, darkened them and made them look fuller.

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick ($8.49 retail) - I have it in 30 Sweet Watermelon and I love the color. It gives my lips a hint of color and it's perfect for everyday. It's not too bright or flashy. It leaves a glossy finish and looks frosty in direct sunlight, but under artificial lighting, the finish is toned down and looks office safe. Also, it has a slight fruity and bubblegum taste to it. As for the application, it glides onto the lips easily and feels moisturizing. However, because I have extremely chapped lips, I still need to wear a lip balm underneath and need to exfoliate well before applying or else it will emphasize my flakiness.

Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow ($8.49 retail) - Constant Copper is a light pinky beige that's perfect for a neutral eye look. It can be worn by itself or as a base for powder eyeshadows. Lasting Taupe is a medium greyish brown that I prefer to use as a base because on its own, I find it to be too dark as an all over the lid color for daytime. Both shades are sheer and not as pigmented as the Maybelline Color Tattoos, but they are still buildable. I've tested them without a primer and topped it off with a powder eyeshadow and found that they lasted at least 7 hours without fading or creasing. Keep in mind, I have extremely oily lids. I noticed that they started to crease in the inner corner of my eyes on the 8th hour. These Crease Proof Eye Shadows would last longer on those with normal and non-oily lids because when I tested them on the back of my hands, they were a beast to remove.

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting)

Bottom Line: I like the price point of these products. They're all under $10 bucks and are very affordable. Also, the quality is good for the price, but I wish they came out with a waterproof version of the mascara and that the eyeshadows lasted a little bit longer for those with oily lids.

Note: The Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick (3.1g), Healthy Lengths Mascara and Crease Proof Eyeshadows (2.8g) are available at Ulta, drugstore.com, and Target, .

Which products are you excited about?

*This post contains affiliate links and the products mentioned were provided by BzzAgent for review consideration. BzzAgent is currently open to all US, Canadian and UK residents. This does not affect my opinion about the products. I don't do paid or guaranteed reviews. My reviews are based on my own honest opinion.  

Swatches: GlossyBox USA August September 2012 + Giveaway

I've never purchased any beauty box subscriptions because they usually send out only samples and mostly skincare products. I do like trying a sample of a product before buying the full size, but It's difficult to assess a skincare product when you only get one or two uses out of it. Moreover, I can get samples at Sephora or a department store for free.

GlossyBox costs $21 each month (with free shipping) and it's more expensive compared to other beauty box subscriptions, but they provide 5 travel-size products from well-known beauty brands, including Burberry, Illamasqua, Ole Henriksen, Zoya, Missha, and many more. You are actually getting more bang for your buck. I've calculated the value of the August and September box and each of them was worth more than $21.

GlossyBox USA August 2012 

GlossyBox USA August 2012 ($92.90 Total Value):

1. Touch In Sol Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base 1.06oz ($18.76) - The full size costs $20/1.13oz. It's a primer that preps the skin before the application of foundation. It has a gel texture that feels super lightweight and thins out to a watery texture once I start blending it. Also, it quickly absorbs into my skin. It doesn't leave a sticky finish at all, even though it looks thick and sticky in the tube. 
2. Ellis Faas Milky Lips in Burnt Orange L204 0.095oz ($35.00) - I received the full size! It has a creamy texture and excellent pigmentation without any scent or flavor to it.
3. Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Taint 0.5oz ($14.00) - I received the full size! It's a dark greyish brown with a matte finish and it has an opaque finish with 2 coats. This is definitely one of my go-to colors for the fall.
4. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum 0.5oz ($24.00) - The full size costs $48/1oz. There's actually enough product in the travel size for me to decide if I like it enough to buy the full size. It has a citrus scent to it and quickly absorbs into my skin without feeling sticky. I have been using this as a serum right before applying my moisturizer. I've noticed that I have gotten less dry patches on my skin when I wake up the next morning.
5. Biolage Exquisite Oil Replenishing Treatment 0.16oz ($1.14) -  The full size costs $22/3.1oz. I have been using this on the ends of my hair because they're a little bit dry. The serum makes my ends look more healthy.

GlossyBox USA September 2012 

GlossyBox USA September 2012 (at least a $56.99 value):

1. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water 3.38oz ($13.00) - I received the full size! I use this to clean the fallouts underneath my eye. It makes my skin feel refreshed and it doesn't leave an oily residue.
2. GKHair Balancing Conditioner - The GlossyBox card says that the GKHair Moisturizing Conditioner is $20/10.1oz. I received the Balancing Conditioner and couldn't find the retail price on GK's website. On Drugstore.com, it says that the product is $18/10.1oz. I also don't know the value of the travel size because it doesn't say how much product it contains. The conditioner leaves my hair non-greasy and manageable. Keep in mind, I only use conditioner on the middle part and the end of my hair. Also, I haven't chemically processed my hair for about 2 years, so it's pretty healthy. However, my scalp gets greasy if I don't wash it every other day and my ends are a little bit dry. Moisturizing conditioners usually leave my hair greasy, while the deep cleansing ones leave my hair unmanageable. The GK one leaves my hair "balanced." 
3. Kryolan for Glossybox Moisture Rich Lipstick in Glossy Pink 0.14oz ($14.00) - I received the full size! This is a midtone rosy pink shade that's neither too bright nor too dark.
4. GKHair Balancing Shampoo - The GlossyBox card says that the GKHair Moisturizing Shampoo is $20/10.1oz. I received the Balancing Shampoo and couldn't find the retail price on GK's website. On Drugstore.com, it says that the product is $18/10.1oz. I also don't know the value of the travel size because it doesn't say how much product it contains. The shampoo is too moisturizing for my hair, but this would be more ideal for those with damaged, fried and overly processed hair.
5. Missha M Perfect BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++ in No.31 Golden Beige 1.69oz ($29.99) -  I received the full size! I'm about an NC35/37, MUFE HD 128 and Dior Forever 31 right now and unfortunately, Golden Beige is too dark for me. I'm going to have to mix this with a lighter foundation.

GlossyBox Giveaway

Prize:

• 1 Month Subscription of Glossybox

Deadline:

• This giveaway will end at 11:59pm EST on October 21, 2012.

Good Luck, everyone! ^_^

*This post contains affiliate links and the products mentioned were provided by GlossyBox for consideration. This does not affect my opinion about the products. I don't do paid or guaranteed reviews. My reviews are based on my own honest opinion. Also, the giveaway is sponsored by GlossyBox.