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 + Comparisons: Benefit Cheekathon vs Tarte Tarteist Blush Palette

Benefit Cheekathon Blush & Bronzer Palette ($58, Limited Edition) 

Packaging: It comes with 4 full-size blushes, including Dandelion (0.25oz), Rockateur (0.17oz), Dallas (0.32oz) and Coralista (0.28oz), a full-size Hoola matte bronzer (0.28oz), a brush made of natural bristles and a sizable mirror. Each shade retails $29, which makes the value of the palette to be $145!

I never bought Benefit's individual blushes because I find the cardboard packaging to be too bulky. The palette is actually not as thick and is a huge space saver compared to buying the blushes/bronzer individually. (It measures 7 inches x 0.85 inches x 5 inches.) It may not be as travel-friendly as the Tarte Tarteist palette, but I would still take this with me on trips, especially if I'm going to be out of town for more than a week and want to create various looks. I just love that all the shades are conveniently laid out in one palette. 

The insert is removable and pops out easily. So, you can use the box for storing little trinkets when you finish the palette. You can also depot the pans and pop them into an empty Z Palette. 

The brush reminds me of the NARS Ita (review), except the Benefit one is a little bit wider and denser. It works really well for contouring because it's narrow enough to fit nicely on the hollows of the cheeks and fluffy enough to blend out any harsh lines with ease. For blush application, I prefer a domed-shaped brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk #29 (review) because it covers the entire cheek area more evenly and lightly. I also love that the pans are wide enough to fit any type of brush easily.  

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Coupon Code 2016: 30% OFF Sigma at Beauty.com + Free Gift with Purchase ($140 value)

Get 30% OFF Sigma products through this link. You can also get a free Sample-Filled Ulla Johnson Aurora Bag ($140 value) if you spend $100 or more at beauty.com. (You can fill your cart with any products on Beauty.com's website.)

Gift with Purchase includes:

• Ulla Johnson Aurora Bag
• Laura Geller New York Spackle Treatment, Even Tone 
• Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask 
• Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar 
• Decleor Harmonie Calm Soothing Milky Cream 
• L'Occitane Divine Cream 
• Eprouvage Thickening and Plumping Spray 
• Tocca Eau de Parfum, Liliana 
• DevaCurl Low Poo Delight Weightless Waves 
• Beachwaver Co. Half Up, Blonde 
• Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Eye Serum 
• Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream, Sun-Kissed Glow 
• Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 
• Savvy Traveler Take Offz 
• Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner 
• Biobelle I Woke Up Like This Mask 
• Tarte Tarteguard SPF 30 
• Beauty.com Offer Card $10 off $50

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B-Glowing Coupon Code 2016: 20% OFF By Terry, Beauty Blender, Becca, Kevyn Aucoin, Tatcha

B-Glowing is having a 20% off sale on most brands, including Sigma, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Anna Sui, Becca, Beauty Blender, Butter London, By Terry,  Cargo, Dr. Dennis Gross, Deborah Lippmann, First Aid Beauty, Glam Glow, Illamasqua, It Cosmetics, Jack Black, Japonesque, Jouer Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin, Koh Gen Do, La Roche-Posay, Makeup Eraser, Paul & Joe Beaute, Rouge Bunny Rouge, St. Tropez, Stila, Tatcha, Tocca, Tweezerman, Z Palette, and many more!

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July 4th Coupon Code 2016: Ole Henriksen Surprise Gift Bag, ELF $10 OFF + Saks 10% OFF Beauty

Ole Henriksen is offering a Free Surprise Gift Bag ($100 value) plus free shipping with $50 purchase. Use coupon code 100GIFT at checkout. This is their best gift of the year! Offer starts now and expires on July 4, 2016. You can also stack the coupon with a Free 3-Piece Welcome Gift ($28 value) using code WELCOMEGIFT.

ELF is offering $10 OFF $40 purchase from now until July 5, 2016. Use coupon code 10OFFWEEKEND at checkout.

Saks is offering extra 10% OFF sitewide, including beauty & fragrance. Use coupon code SAKS5TH at checkout. Offer valid from now until  July 4, 2016.

This post contains affiliate links.