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 + Review - Too Faced Endless Summer 16 Hour Long-Wear Bronzer

Left: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil

Right: Too Faced Endless Summer

Packaging: I don't really care for the packaging. It's not ugly, but it's definitely not something that I'm excited about. I prefer the Chocolate Soleil packaging more.

Endless Summer is lighter, has a more brown undertone, leaves a satin finish to the skin, and is fragrance-free compared to Chocolate Soleil, which is slightly darker, completely matte and smells like cocoa. I'm glad to report that neither are orange! 

Endless Summer works well on most complexions. I have a medium NC30/35 skin tone and I use it as a bronzer to warm up my face. It has regular pigmentation (not too sheer or too pigmented) and applies the right amount of product with the Sonia Kashuk Domed Blusher brush. Be careful though because the formula is easily buildable and can leave a muddy finish if you apply too many layers. Also, I do notice tiny shimmers in the pan and under direct sunlight, but when applied on my cheeks, they are barely noticeable, especially under artificial lighting. 

Chocolate Soleil is more suitable for medium to deep complexions and for contouring (nose, cheekbones, forehead and anywhere else that you want to appear smaller/slimmer/defined) since it leaves a matte finish and creates a more natural effect.

As for the wear time, Endless Summer lasts at least 10 hours without fading when worn over liquid foundation and setting powder (I haven't tried it for 16 hours straight yet, but will update when I do), while Chocolate Soleil fades within 8 hours of application. 

(Natural Lighting)

(Direct Sunlight)

(Natural Lighting)

Bottom Line: Endless Summer is a must-have for those that want to add warmth to skin without looking orange or ridiculously shiny. 

Note: The Endless Summer 16 Hour Long-Wear Bronzer contains 7g/0.25oz of product. It is limited edition and is available at Ulta, TooFaced.com, Beauty.com, and Sephora for $30.

Which bronzer will you be wearing for Summer 2013?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Swatches: Benefit Fakeup Hydrating Crease-Control Concealer + Coupon Code 2013

I recently placed a Sephora order and received a free sample of the Benefit Fakeup Hydrating Crease-Control Concealer in all 3 shades. For reference, I'm a MAC NC30/35 all over my face, but prefer to use a concealer that's a shade lighter than my skintone because it brightens up my under eye area. I currently mix my MAC Pro Longwear concealer in shades NW20 and NW25 to get a perfect shade for underneath my eyes. I find that the Benefit Fakeup concealer in Medium works perfectly with my skintone. It's not too dark or too light and still brightens up my under eye area. The consistency is thick, but not as thick as the MAC one and it does not feel heavy at all. When I use my Royal & Langnickel BX-45 brush in a tapping motion, it applies the product smoothly and blends effortlessly. Also, the Benefit concealer is so much more moisturizing and doesn't leave a cakey finish. I have very dark circles and I'm glad to report that it covered them up very well. I just bought the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder (review coming up soon) and used it to set the Benefit concealer. It faded within 4 hours, but I'm not sure if it's due to the formula of the concealer or the setting powder that I used. Whenever I use my MAC concealer, I set it with my MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder and it lasts all day.

By the way, Benefit is offering free shipping + a FULL-SIZE Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner in your choice of color when you spend $60. Enter coupon code NOCREASE at checkout. Offer expires April 30, 2013 at 11:59pm Pacific. 

Have you tried the Benefit Fakeup Concealer, yet?

*This post contains affiliate links. Like I mentioned above, the Benefit concealer was a free sample that Sephora provided when I placed an online order with them, using my own funds.

Swatches: DHC Kakonjuka Collection + DHC Olive Body Butter

The DHC Kakonjuka Collection is formulated with 6 Asian botanicals (Maitake Mushroom, Platycara Strobilacea, Licorice Leaf, Great Burnet, Purslane, Reishi Mushroom), that are suppose to hydrate and promote collagen for plumper, more youthful looking skin. All 3 products are free of added colorants and fragrance. Also, they have a natural brownish tint to them due to the botanicals, but they all blend out to a clear finish and do not change the color of your skin.

DHC Kakonjuka Lotion

• available in one size, 3.3oz ($32)
• prepares your skin for your moisturizer

A product that prepares the skin for a moisturizer is generally known as a lotion in Asia. In the US, it is generally known as a toner. The consistency of the Kakonjuka Lotion is thicker than most toners, but thinner than most serums. It was difficult to apply with a cotton pad because the cotton pad absorbed most of the product and would not transfer the product onto my skin. (I used Swisspers Cotton Squares.) The opening of the bottle looks big, but it actually only pours out 1 drop of product at a time. (Refer to the swatch picture below.) I have to shake the bottle a few times to get enough product into my palm and then I rub it onto my face. It turns very watery as I'm blending it, but it leaves a very hydrating and smooth feeling on my skin. When I applied it on the back of my hand and placed my nose very close to the product, it smelled earthy. However, I can't detect any scent when I'm applying it on my face, which is a major plus.

I wish the product came in a spray bottle because it'll be quicker to apply and it'll save more product. I ended up pouring the entire bottle into an empty spray bottle that I bought from Target. I love using it to spritz my face after I cleanse and after I apply my makeup in the morning because it makes my skin feel so refreshed and it removes any powderiness or cakiness from my face without disrupting my foundation.

Ingredients: water/aqua/eau, dipropylene glycol, glycerin, propanediol, pentylene glycol, butylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, glycosyl trehalose, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, arginine, grifola frondosa fruiting body extract, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, aureobasidium pullulans ferment, hydrolyzed platycarya strobilacea fruit extract, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, polyquaternium-51, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) leaf extract, sodium hyaluronate, ziyu glycoside, portulaca oleracea extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, ganoderma lucidum (mushroom) stem extract, ethylhexyl glycerin

DHC Kakonjuka Essence

• available in one size, 1oz ($32)
• concentrated, wrinkle-fighting treatment

The consistency of the Kakonjuka Essence is thicker than most serums, but thinner than a cream moisturizer. I use it in the morning after I apply the Lotion and that combination is moisturizing enough to prepare for my foundation application. It thins out easily as I'm blending it and it feels very lightweight. Although it makes my skin feel very hydrated, it never leaves a greasy finish. Also, I love that it comes with a pump! It dispenses the right amount of product and it's very sanitary.

Ingredients: water/aqua/eau, dipropylene glycol, glycerin, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, propanediol, ethylhexyl palmitate, pentylene glycol, dimethicone, glycosyl trehalose, glyceryl stearate, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, butylene glycol, bisabolol, behenyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, PEG-75 stearate, phenoxyethanol, carbomer, arginine, grifola frondosa fruiting body extract, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed platycarya strobilacea fruit extract, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, tocopherol, polyquaternium-51, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, glyccyrrhiza glabra (licorice) leaf extract, ziyu glycoside, portulaca olearacea extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, ganoderma lucidum (mushroom) stem extract

(Photo taken from a previous post. I'm lazy trying to save space in my online photo album. ^_^)

DHC Kakonjuka Cream

• available in one size, 1.4oz ($32)
• intensive moisturizer that fights fine lines & wrinkles

I've already mentioned about the Kakonjuka Cream in a previous post and my opinion still hasn't changed. The only thing that did change is the amount of product that is left in the jar. I am more than half way done!

I sometimes get dry patches and flaky skin after I cleanse my face at night. So, I mainly use the Cream as my night time moisturizer after I apply the Essence. I just love how easily it spreads onto my skin. Also, it leaves my skin feeling very soft and hydrated and my dry patches & flaky spots are no where to be seen the next morning. (If you are only looking for a hydrating effect, then the Cream will suffice. I also want an "anti-aging" effect, so I use the Cream with the Essence, which is a more potent and concentrated, wrinkle-fighting treatment.)

Ingredients: water/aqua/eau, dimethicone, ethylhexyl palmitate, propanediol, behenyl alcohol, beeswax, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, glycerin, cylcopentasiloxane, glyceryl stearate, pentylene glycol, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, octyldodecyl myristate, PEG-75 stearate, polysorbate 60, butylene glycol, bisabolol, glycosyl trehalose, phenoxyethanol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, grifola frondosa fruiting body extract, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed platycarya strobilacea fruit extract, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin, tocopherol, polyquaternium-51, arginine, sodium hyaluronate, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) leaf extract, ziyu glycoside, portulaca oleracea extract, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, ganoderma lucidum (mushroom) stem extract

DHC Olive Body Butter

• available in one size, 3.5oz ($19) on July 1, 2013
• super-hydrating moisturizer for the body 
• contains emollient cocoa butter, shea butter, conditioning olive oil and avocado oil

The consistency of the Olive Body Butter is thick, but it melts into the skin like actual butter and feels very lightweight. I've tried other body butters like the Korres one and it is very moisturizing, but it takes a little bit of effort to blend well into the skin. The DHC one spreads onto the skin effortlessly and immediately sinks into the skin, leaving a hydrating, grease-less and non-sticky finish. A little bit goes a long way!

It has a nice scent to it, but I can't pin-point exactly what it is. It's not flowery or citrus-y, but it reminds me of Asian fruits, the ones that smell fragrant and sweet, but not citrus-y.

As for the packaging, I find that it has a vintage look to it. I wish the color was more fun and brighter or more classy looking. The Kakonjuka Collection has a much cuter and elegant look to it. I just love how the pink and brown pair so well with each other.

Note: The DHC Kakonjuka Collection can be purchased individually or you can save $17 and purchase it in a set for $79.00. The DHC Olive Body Butter will be available on their online store on July 1, 2013.

Have you tried the Kakonjuka Collection, yet?

*This post contains affiliate links and the products mentioned were provided by DHC 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.

Tarte Cosmetics Coupon Code 2013: $10 OFF $50 Order + Free Shipping

Tarte Cosmetics is offering $10 OFF $50 Order + free shipping. 

This coupon code can be used on their new Aqualillies Summer 2013 Collection.

Enter coupon code BUNNY at checkout. 

Offer expires March 31, 2013.

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