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Review: Garnier BB Cream
Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates lately, I’ve been traveling and very busy with work this past month. I’ve had a chance to try a few new products though so I want to get back in the habit of posting everyday!
The first thing I wanted to talk about was the Garnier BB Cream I recently tried. I know I’m late on this bandwagon but I’ve been pinching pennies lately and trying to keep my makeup spending to a minimum. This was my first experience with BB Creams and while I still want to try some of the more expensive ones out there I figured I’d start with the drugstore version first. I bought mine at Wal-Mart for 11 dollars and chose the lightest shade available since I was pretty pale earlier this month. I believe it was the LIGHT/MEDIUM option. Since it’s a BB Cream it’s a multi-benefit product, providing many skin-care ingredients and an SPF.
The reason I don’t have pictures of this product is because I HATED it and promptly gave it to my younger sister Olivia. If you have oily skin I do NOT recommend this cream ( Olivia has normal skin so she liked it). My face felt so greasy just a few minutes after applying this and even after I set it with a powder I could not keep the shine or greasy feeling down. I hate makeup that I can feel on my face and this felt so heavy to me, like it was just settling into every pore and crease. Worse was the smell, it had a floral type scent that never faded. I don’t mind if a product has an initial fragrance if it fades throughout the day but this smelled strong the entire time I wore it. It was a constant reminder that I was wearing something on my face which was the exact opposite of what I was looking for. I had to apply powder almost every hour and was miserable the whole time ( I really hate when I can feel foundation on my face).
Besides the fact that I hated it, the actual coverage of this was what I expected, light. It covered minor redness and flaws and blended easily. I did need to go back with concealer around my jaw area where I have some old acne scarring.
If you have oily skin or hate foundations that are overly fragrant I do not recommend this!
On a side note something about the packaging of this product just really bugged me. I feel like the font they chose seemed really outdated, like from the 90′s or something.
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Review: SmashBox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk
I’ve been liking Smashbox more and more lately and this bronzer I received in a value set from Sephora has not disappointed. The Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights bronzers are supposed to give you a lit from within glow with a soft shimmer that doesn’t look overly glittery or shiny. I think these come in a few different shades but the one I have (Dusk) works beautifully on my skin tone. The texture of this powder is smooth and silky and blends easily.
At first glance I thought this might look too orange, but the color payoff is subtle but still gives me a noticeable warmth and glow. I wouldn’t recommend this for contouring because of the slight golden shimmer but the sparkle is barely noticeable when blended out.
I’ve also been loving this for eyeshadow. The powder is so soft and blends with zero effort. This product is awesome in the morning when I’m in a rush because I can use it all over my face and on my eyes. Depending on my mood I use my eyeshadow brush in all or just one or two of the shades and then I finish with my Tarte SmolderEYES liner in bronze and black mascara. Literally takes 1 minute!
The top shade is all the colors blended together
Things To Know:
1. For all over the face I like applying this with a fluffy Kabuki Brush
2. This has super fine golden sparkles in it. It won’t make you look like a disco ball though. The shimmer is very subtle
3. This product is a little pricey at $30.00 but you can use it as a bronzer and an eyeshadow so it won’t go to waste!
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Review: Smashbox Photo Set Finishing Powder
This is one of those products I wish I had never tried because it’s pricey but now that I’ve used it I can’t live without it. This retails for around 30 dollars and can be purchased anywhere that sells Smashbox.
This is a micro-fine translucent powder that I use after I’ve applied my foundation. I was kind of skeptical of its “airbrushing” capabililities but this really softens the appearance of pores and lines. It blurs any imperfections you might have without looking like you’ve added anything extra to your skin. It also drastically reduces the amount I have to powder throughout the day, even more than my Urban Decay setting spray, this keeps my t-zone shine free for hours. I’ve read that if you have decent skin you could apply this without needing foundation to give yourself a glowy flawless face. I have tried this without foundation and while it does eliminate shine, minimize my pores and soften any imperfections it’s translucent so it provides no coverage over scarring or red spots.
I like applying this with a big soft kabuki brush after my foundation has dried. It also helps tame down blush if you apply to much. You definitely don’t need a lot of this product, just a quick swirl in the lid of the jar and I have enough to cover my face.
This product also contains SPF 15.
I love using this with my Makeup Forever HD foundation. Those 2 products combined probably give me the best looking skin I’ve ever had.
So while this is a pricier item I think it’s worth the splurge. Setting your makeup with regular powder is fine, but this gives you a much smoother, polished finish and literally eliminates shine for me the entire day. I’ve never had a product do that for me before. This is definitely a HG product!
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Updated Skin Care On A Budget: Skin Care Products I’m currently using and loving
My goal is to have picture perfect skin by summer so I’ve been experimenting with all sorts of cleansers, toners and moisturizers to even out my skin tone and texture and in the past few week I’ve noticed a huge improvement. My hyper-pigmentation is finally starting to fade and the texture of my skin is improving tremendously. I know their are a lot of high-end products you can use nowadays that probably give quicker results and as my budget allows I’m sure I’ll be testing some out. However, it’s good to know that you can still see major improvements in your skin even on a budget if you stick to a good routine and pay close attention to your skin’s needs. Everyone’s skin is different so it’s important to find products that work for you!
Cleansers I have been loving:
L’oreal Go Clean 360 Deep Exfoliating Scrub: This is the wash I’ve been using in the shower. This has been doing a good job at buffing away dead skin cells and leaving my skin looking more polished. I actually really like the little scrublet thingy that this comes with and I use it with other face washes as well. I’m not sure how well this works at unclogging pores but I have been seeing almost zero breakouts in recent weeks.
Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Daily Scrub: This is the cleanser I love using in the morning. I feel like it really works at controlling excess oil on my face throughout the day, therefore helping my makeup last longer! This is also supposed to be a deep-pore cleanser and I do notice my pores seem less visible since I started using this stuff. This contains very small exfoliating beads to help improve skin texture. Most days I use the L’oreal Go Clean scrublet to buff this onto my face before rinsing with warm water.
Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser: One of my main skin concerns is hyper-pigmentation from old acne scars so I wanted to introduce a brightening wash into my routine. This is a really creamy cleanser that is great to use when my skin needs a break from exfoliating. I use this on nights I don’t shower and just use my fingers to massage it onto my face. This is supposed to help improve skin tone and texture and is really gentle.
Toner:
Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Triple Action Toner: I use this day and night after washing my face. This is the only actual Acne Control product I’ve been using and it seems to be doing the trick at keeping breakouts at bay. This contains Salicylic Acid which I find works best on my type of breakouts. My skin feels super refreshed and clean after I use this without that tight feeling some toners seem to leave me with. My only complaint is I’m not crazy about the smell, it’s super sweet but still kind of medicinal smelling.
Makeup Remover:
shu uemura White Recovery Ex brightening cleansing oil: This stuff works so well at removing makeup. I just rub a little onto my face and eyes and the makeup just melts off. After you’ve massaged it into your skin add a little warm water to create a lather and then rinse off. I like to leave this on a minute or two to really work on my skin. My skin feels soft, smooth and balanced when I wash this off. Not oily or tight or sticky. It’s amazing.
Twice Weekly Mask:
Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant 2.5 oz.
Moisturizer:
Pond’s Ponds Clarant B3 Anti-Dark Moisturizing Cream, For Normal to Dry Skin, 7oz Jars (Pack of 2)
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My Go to Drugstore Concealer With Swatches: Rimmel Match Perfection Skin Tone Adapting Concealer
I’m pretty sure I’ve written about these before but I’ve been reaching for them so often lately I thought I’d type up a more in-depth review.
I purchased all three shades available at the store, Fair/Light 230, Light 245, Medium 430. These really do change to better match your skin when applied so you can play around with the colors for different areas of your face and customize the use of these. I like to use Fair/Light under my eyes, and Light over hyper-pigmenation, and when I’m tan Medium works well for me. I can also use these to contour and highlight in a pinch.
From Top to Bottom: Medium, Light, Fair/Light
The applicator is a squeeze tube/brush which works pretty well. I usually squeeze the product onto my finger and then dab onto my face where needed.
The thing I like most about this product is how easily it blends into my skin. I apply where needed and then just tap it in with my beauty blender sponge and it’s practically invisible. It works great under my eyes but can also be used all over my face so it’s super vesatile and quick to use.
The texture of these is very creamy. It’s not dry or waxy at all so it doesn’t look cakey or too thick but it still covers well. These can be hard to find in stores, I was excited when I saw these at CVS but if you can find them I highly recommend trying them out.
The biggest con of these is I go through them kind of quickly. A tube of the Light which I use most often (almost everyday) lasts me about a month and a half.
Things To Know:
1. This is one of the most versatile concealers I own. It works all over the face and under the eyes and I can use these to contour and highlight when I need to.
2. This concealer has a creamy texture but doesn’t slip or slide too much. It won’t settle in fine lines either and it doesn’t break down my mascara.
3. I wouldn’t say this is particularly long-lasting or water-proof but if you set your face with a powder these should wear as long as your foundation.
4. I prefer blending these out with my beauty blender or fingers.
5. I do notice that the colors of these adjusts slightly when I apply it to my face. The back of each concealer also lists which Rimmel foundation it matches best with.
If you can’t find these in store you can purchase on-line using the link below!
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Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Warm
Gorgeous, amazing, and must-have are all adjectives I’d use for this Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Blush in the shade Warm. This is by far my favorite new blush for spring and probably one of my favorite purchases in the past few months.
This blush ranges in shade from peachy coral to orangey coral depending how much you apply. This isn’t a matte blush but provides a soft glowy sheen because of the micro pearls added in the powder. I love that it doesn’t have glitter or sparkle but still makes my cheeks look dewy and illuminated. The formula is very long-wearing and soft and not too powdery. This is perfect if you’re in search of a wearable orange for cheeks this spring and would look so pretty on bronzey tan skin in the summer as well.
I love using this when I’m wearing a brown smokey eye and nude lip. Bottom line this is a great drugstore blush and I like this as much as any of my tarte blushes.
What You Should Know:
1. This is a super-soft blush that isn’t powdery and will last all day
2. This can be applied sheer but also can easily be built up to a full flush depending on how much you apply.
3. This is has no actual glitter or shimmer flakes in it but does have barely there micro-pearls that give is a glowing finish
4. I love swirling my brush in the orange heart to get a true orangey flush to my cheeks.
5. This is great quality at an affordable price
Shop Physicians Formula Below:
Read MoreReview: Sephora COLOR OF THE YEAR PRISMA CHROME BLUSH APRICOT BRANDY
I recently purchased this from Sephora for 16 dollars while on my hunt for some gorgeous tangerine, orange and coral blushes for summer. I was so excited to get it and I really want to gush about how amazing and beautiful it is but despite my high hopes I’m actually not that crazy about this product 
What Sephora Says:
This revolutionary blush combines all the best features of baked, powder, and cream formulas, releasing perfect color and a texture that lays on cheeks like a second skin. Easily blendable and buildable without being powdery, this unique blush leaves an unbelievably polished finish. The warm shade, Apricot Brandy (PANTONE #17-1540), was inspired by the Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango, and will light up the apples of your cheeks with a spirited glow.
What I Say:
I’ll start with the packaging which is actually really gorgeous and fun. I love the pattern and how high-end it feels and looks but unfortunately the large box it comes in disguises how small the actual product is. You only get .12 oz of product which isn’t that much considering it cost $16. It looks more like a full-size eyeshadow then a blush when you get it out of the box. So that was my first disappointment.
Second, this is REALLY glittery on me. The color itself is pretty but very sheer and in natural sun I mostly just see gold sparkles all over my cheeks which I detest. I was hoping this would be more pigmented and less shimmery so that was a let down as well. It did go on smoothly but from the description I was hoping for a formula that would blow me away. I would choose my tarte blush formula over this any day. I’m pretty pale right now so I’m hoping maybe when I have a bit more of a tan I’ll like it better and could try it as more of a cheek highlighter.
I read some reviews that said this makes a nice eyeshadow so I am going to try that since I don’t mind glitter flecks on my eye since it cost 16 dollars I want to get some use out of it!
Things To Know:
1. This is a sheer blush that can be built up to a more intense color
2. This has gold flecks in it that are very apparent in sunlight. If you don’t like glitter steer clear of this blush.
3. This can be worn as an eyeshadow, I haven’t tried it yet but I saw in quite a few reviews that ladies preferred wearing it that way
4. The packaging is deceiving! You do not get very much product once you get this out of the box
5. This wears as a orangey apricot on my cheeks
For the price I would not recommend this
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Review: shu uemura white recovery EX brightening cleansing oil
Hey friends 
So if you’ve been reading my blog you know I ordered and received a shu uemura eyelash curler a few weeks ago. The eyelash curler is wonderful and it came with a 50 ml bottle of the shu uemura white recovery EX brightening cleansing oil. I was really excited when I got this oil because I’ve been reading so many articles that rave about how great they are at removing makeup. I’ve been somewhat hesitant to try any though because my skin is oily and I can’t wrap my head around the fact that using an oil won’t turn me into a grease ball. Obviously this is a great brand though so the second I got it I was in the bathroom taking my make up off.
This is honestly the best makeup remover I’ve ever used. My makeup literally melts off the second I rub this onto my face. I just put a few drops on my fingers and then on dry skin rub this in gently. After I’ve massaged the oil into my skin and over my eyes I use a little bit of warm water on my face and the oil turns into a soft lather. A few seconds later I use a wash cloth to rinse everything off. It takes off mascara and foundation so easily. It doesn’t bother my eyes at all either.
My fear of feeling greasy after was overcome. My skin just feels soft and balanced when I’m done. Not tight and not greasy.
This is supposed to help with skin brightening as well but since I’ve been using it less than a month I can’t make any definitive statements on that aspect. I do feel like my skin has been looking brighter and smoother but I’ve been avoiding greasy food lately and been religious about washing my face and using a moisturizer. So it could be a combination of all those things.
The only con to this product is a full size bottle costs about 80 dollars. Luckily, you need such a small amount that I think my mini-bottle will last me a decent amount of time. If I do see a marked improvement in my skin’s discoloration though it might be worth the 80 dollars when I run out. I’m always hesitant to invest in these pricey skin care items but as I get older I’m beginning to see that value in buying products that actually work. I still love my drugstore brands though too!
Overall I really love this stuff and I’m so glad I at least got a chance to try it. If I don’t end up buying a full-size bottle I’m at least glad I got a chance to overcome my fear of using oil products on my face! I’ll keep you updated on whether or not I buy the full-size product as well
Click box below to get Free Gift With Purchase when you shop at Shu uemura
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Lorac: Naked Lace Eye, Lip, Cheek Collection
Just a quick review on another value set I purchased recently. This one is from Lorac and I mainly purchased it to try out the mini lip glosses that it came with. I’ve been hit or miss with Lorac eye shadows but the ones that came with this set are amazing! The baked Lorac eyeshadows that I tried were super chalky and the ones that I had in a palette broke right away. However, this set came with little shadow pots and I can’t say enough good things about them.
First, the lace clutch this came with is so pretty. I love anything with black lace and nude color so I instantly liked this. This doesn’t feel low quality at all and I could see myself using this as an actual clutch for a night out. Packaging gets an A+
Next, the lip glosses!!! I’m obsessed! The colors this came with are Vintage, which is a true nude shade, Trend setter which is a peachy pink with a slightly shimmery look but no actual glitter, and last Muse which is a great nudey pink. These are available to purchase in full-size outside of the set and I have to buy them. The smell of these are amazing. It’s like a cinnamon marshmallow? Haha I don’t know it’s hard to describe, but if you’ve used the Lorac Tantalizer Bronzing lotion it is the exact same smell. These are very creamy and do have some opaqueness to them. While they are thick enough to be pigmented they don’t feel sticky. I need to buy Vintage and Muse, they are so pretty and perfect colors on me. I’ve been wearing these alone and over lipsticks and they work great either way.
From Left: Vintage, Trendsetter, Muse, Negligee, Boudouir, Rendezvous
These eyeshadows are great everyday shades. The texture is very creamy and they blend like butter. If you aren’t very good with eyeshadows these would be very easy for you to use. While these colors are not available outside of this set I believe these are the same formula and packaging as Lorac’s normal single eyeshadows. Boudouir is actually a more taupey plum than in this swatch and it makes a perfect crease color. Negligee is a champage cream color and makes a great highlight because it isn’t overly shimmery but I also have been wearing this all over my lid or in my inner eye. They are just great, easy to use shades.
The blush is a great classic peachy pink called Rendezvous. It works really well with the other items in this collection and just gives my cheeks a nice natural flush. It’s not matte but the shimmer in it is still wearable everyday.
Overall I think everything in this set is great quality and it’s a great neutral collection to have. You can wear everything and look super natural but you can also use boudoir to smoke out your eye and easily transition to an evening look. I think this is an excellent group of items to keep in your purse for fast touch-ups at work and to take you from a day to night look. I’m really pleased I didn’t miss out on this ( I got it during a sale on hautelook) so if you see it for sale online or at a store grab it!
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Favorite Face Wash: Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Daily Scrub
So recently I’ve really been focusing on skin care and improving my skin’s texture so that I can wear less foundation this summer. I’ve been trying out lots of products and diligently sticking to a skin care routine. As I’ve mentioned before I have very oily skin so when I saw this Neutrogena Long Last Shine Control Scrub I though I would give it a try.
What The Bottle Says It Does:
Combat oil and control shine with Neutrogena Deep Clean® Long-Last Shine Control Daily Scrub. This scrub gently exfoliates and goes deep down to pores to clear out impurities and built-up oil at the source. It’s so effective, it instantly absorbs 85% of built up oil that can lead to excess shine. Plus, patent-pending rice protein technology acts like a microsponge to continue absorbing excess oil for long-lasting, fresh, breathable skin.
What I Say It Does:
This wash has been working amazingly for me. I use it before bed (on the nights I don’t shower) and in the morning when I first wash my face. This leaves my skin feeling super clean, moisturized but with literally no trace of oil or shine. A lot of oil-control face washes I have tried leave my skin feeling really tight but my face feels great when I wash this off. When I use it before bed I notice a considerable difference in the way my skin feels in the morning as well. Before this I always woke up feeling greasy but with this my skin feels just as clean when I wake up as it did when I went to bed. This does have exfoliating beads in it but on days I shower I still have been using my L’oreal Go Clean 360 Clean Deep Exfoliating Scrub ( I use that product in the shower)
I definitely recommend this to anyone who has a problem combating oil and shine and I will repurchase this when I run out.
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