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: Matte Contouring and Bronzing Powders

All of the products mentioned in this post have a matte finish. Some shades are more suitable for contouring, while others work better for bronzing. Even though I have a warm NC30/35 skintone, I prefer to use cooler shades to contour my face because it creates a more natural looking shadow. When bronzing my face, I prefer to use warmer shades because cooler shades can make me look dirty or sick.

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Overview: Pointed Tapered Brushes for Contouring & Highlighting

1. Sephora Pro Contour #79 Brush

2. Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt Brush

3. Sigma Tapered Highlighter F35 Brush

4. Hakuhodo G5521BkSL Brush

5. Hakuhodo G5518BkSL Brush

6. Trish McEvoy 86 Petite Kabuki

Tapered brushes are one of the most important tools in my arsenal. They are designed to fit perfectly in areas of the face that are not too big or too small, including the under eye, top of the cheeks, hollows of the cheeks and border of the face. They're suppose to offer control, while still being flexible enough to blend out product effortlessly. Also, the ideal one would allow you to apply & blend product on the same area without having to reach for another brush. Continue reading to find out how the following six brushes stack up to the "ideal" tapered brush.

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