Review & Swatches: Too Faced Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer

I was at Sephora the other day and was checking out Too Faced's whole line of bronzers. Sun Bunny, Snow Bunny, Beach Bunny and Pink Leopard all looked too shimmery when I swatched them on the back of my hand. Also, Pink Leopard was more of a highlighter for my skintone. I couldn't even use it as a blush because it was too light. Peach Leopard looks shimmery in the pan, and it looks a little bit shimmery when the natural sunlight hits my face. However, when I'm inside under artificial lighting, it looks semi-matte with a gorgeous sheen.

                                                                          

Natural Lighting

Bathroom Lighting

I definitely can't use this to contour because it's too peachy, but it looks amazing on my cheeks alone and acts as a blush and bronzer for me.

The product is sheerer than my Dior Bronze Original Tan (review & swatches) and Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder (review & swatches), which is a good thing for me personally because I can control the intensity of the color, and adjust accordingly. Also, I recommend using a dense brush to apply because if you use a fluffy brush, it won't pick up any color.

Direct Sunlight

I think lighter beauties can pull this off as a bronzer because Peach Leopard is not Oompa Loompa orange. It's a more natural tone that can bring out the warmth in fair and lighter complexions.

For reference, I have a medium skintone and I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

Natural Sunlight

The case packaging is not as nice as the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder, but the leopard print is cute.

It costs $28 for 9 grams at TooFaced's online store and Sephora.

Do you use Peach Leopard as a blush/bronzer or to contour?

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review & Swatches: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder

The Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder is perfect for contouring because it's matte. I can definitely apply it all over the face without worrying about it looking orange. It enhances my warm, golden complexion and gives me a natural bronzed look.

Direct Sunlight

It is made from real cocoa and if you sniff the pan, it has a cocoa scent. When I applied the product on my face the first few times, the scent was not as strong, but it was still there, which I was not too ecstatic about. However, after 2 weeks or so of using it, I can no longer smell the chocolaty scent when I apply it. The scent is only there when I sniff the pan. Also, it's good to know that it hasn't broken me out.

Natural Lighting

The product can be applied sheer or intense, depending on your technique. I heard that some people had trouble blending it, which tends to happen when you swirl your brush in the product and apply a heavy amount of product all at once on your face. It's going to look blotchy when you do that. I have no problem applying it evenly when I dip my brush and then blend it out on my cheekbones. The key is to dip and blend. If you swirl your brush in the product, it'll pick up too much product, especially if you're using a dense brush. I suggest using a fluffy brush like the Sonia Kashuk Blusher brush (review) or else it'll end up looking blotchy.

Natural Lighting

Too Faced's bronzer suits me very well because it adds the right amount of color that I need to contour my face. This has become my favorite bronzer for contouring. However, on lighter complexions, it might look muddy or dirty.

For reference, I have a medium skintone and I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

Indoor Lighting

It costs $28 for 10 grams at Sephora, Beauty.com, Ulta and TooFaced's online store

What is your favorite bronzer for contouring?

 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review & Swatches: Dior Bronze Original Tan in Amber Tan 03

There are so many bronzers out in the market right now. I narrow down my choices by choosing the one with the prettiest packaging. LOL. Dior sold me with its classy rectangular case and its pretty imprint on the actual product.

When I was at Sephora, I swatched all of the shades of the Dior Bronze Original Tan. Healthy Tan 01 looked too peachy pink and light, while Spicy Tan 04 was also too peachy pink, but dark. The shades and undertones of Honey Tan 02 and Amber Tan 03 looked very similar, except Honey Tan was a teeny tiny bit lighter and was shimmery. I do not like shimmery bronzers at all, so I chose Amber Tan 03.

It looks orange when I swatch it on the back of my hand; however, it doesn't make me look like Oompa Loompa when I apply it on my face. It goes on light, but not as sheer as my Too Faced Peach Leopard Bronzer (review & swatches), and you can build up the intensity of the color. I apply the Dior bronzer only on my cheeks. The results are amazing because it enhances my warm, golden skintone. It looks shimmery in the pan, and you can see little specks of shimmer when the natural sunlight hits your face. However, when I'm inside under artificial lighting, it looks matte.

Natural Sunlight

I didn't like how it looked when I used it to contour my forehead or when I applied it all over my forehead. It looked fine when I used it to contour my cheekbones, but I still prefer my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder (review & swatches) for contouring because it's completely matte.

I do not recommend Honey Tan 02 or Amber Tan 03 for lighter beauties because you will look dead orange; however, these two shades will complement medium complexions very well. For reference, I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

Indoor Lighting

It costs $44 at Sephora and Nordstrom. On Sephora's website, it says there are 0.42 ounces of product; however, on the packaging, it says there are 10 grams/0.35 ounces.

Have you tried any of Dior's bronzers? Do you love it or hate it?

 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

West Elm Narrow Leg Vanity

I've had my eye on the West Elm Narrow Leg Vanity for months and months, and now I finally got it in the color chocolate! (The picture looks lighter on West Elm's website. In person, it's actually an espresso finish. Too bad my stupid camera is picking it up as black.) I am not disappointed at all. It has enough room to store all my makeup. However, I don't recommend this vanity to store for makeup collectors, especially those who have tons and tons of makeup and those who are beauty hoarders because the space is limited. However, this would be great if you plan on using it to do your makeup.

I adore this vanity. It's convenient when I do my makeup because I have everything laid out in the middle storage area. When I'm not doing my makeup, I can fold the the mirror down and it becomes a completely flat table, which I can place my laptop on and do some more blogging for you lovely readers! Also, it looks deliciously gorgeous. =) 

Just in case you're wondering, I have my Caboodles traincase, Nail Polish Case, Mac Carry All bag, and a wicker basket of hair products stored underneath the table.

The price was ridiculously expensive, but well worth it. I bought it in January and the total came up to $314.59 including shipping, processing, delivery surcharge, and tax. Good thing I had a $100 gift card from West Elm and the final price was $214.59. WhoooHooo =D

Deal Alert! West Elm is having a 15% off sale on all furniture items and is selling the vanity for $254. With shipping, processing fee, delivery surcharge and tax, the total will be around $341.76 if you buy it now. I think the sale ends Sunday, so get it soon if you really want it.

How do you store your makeup and do you prefer to sit or stand while doing your makeup?

Swatches: Urban Decay YDK vs Stray Dog vs Mac Satin Taupe

With Flash

YDK is perfect for the lids as a wash of color. It's frosty and has a metallic sheen that's super gorgeous. It looks so brown in the first picture, but it's actually a light taupey shade with a hint of a plummy undertone. Just be careful with fallouts because it has microglitters.

Natural Lighting

Stray Dog and Satin Taupe are almost exactly the same, except Stray Dog has a prettier metallic sheen finish. I like to use both on the crease. Stars Makeup Haven (SMH) Frenzy is darker and has a stronger brown undertone. SMH Breathless is also in the same Taupe family, but it is lighter and better suited for the lids. It is too light for my crease.

I love all of these colors, but YDK and Stray Dog are my favorite.

Note: Urban Decay Eyeshadows cost $17.00 for 1.5 grams at Nordstrom, Beauty.com, and Sephora. Mac Eyeshadows in pan form cost $11.00 for 1.5 grams (some of the eyeshadows have 1.3 grams) and cost $16 in pots. Stars Makeup Haven (SMH) raised their price from $4.95 to $6.00 for 1.3 grams.

The formula of Urban Decay eyeshadows is different than Mac, with the exception of some Mac eyeshadows. Urban Decay eyeshadows are much smoother and buttery, and the shimmery eyeshadows look much prettier than the Mac shimmery eyeshadows. However, I do get some fallouts when I apply certain Urban Decay eyeshadows (the ones with the microglitters), but I don't get as much fallouts as I do with my SMH eyeshadows.

*Update* I posted new swatches of these eyeshadows here.

Which taupe eyeshadow is your favorite?

 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.