Month: January 2016

Best in Class 2015: My Top Beauty Picks

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Hi guys! I’m finally posting my Best of Beauty 2015! Today was the perfect day to filter through all my favorites as New Jersey is getting lots and lots of snow, so thank you Jonas. Below I’ll have all my favorite products listed; I was able to photograph most, but the ones I couldn’t I’ll still list 🙂 Hope you guys enjoy and get a shopping cart ready, you’re gonna want these!

Primer

  1. Becca Backlight Primer Filter $38
  2. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer $36
  3. L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer $12.99

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  1. Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Porcelain $39
  2. Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation $10.99 *This was a very late 2015 addition, but it was still one of my favorites.

Concealer

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  1. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Coverage Concealer Fair Neutral $28
  2. NYX Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Porcelain $4.99 *I honestly like this just as much as the Naked Skin, but the Naked Skin applies a bit easier and last longer as far as product.

Powder

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  1. Revlon Colorstay Aqua Finishing Powder in Translucent *So I believe this is discontinued (eternal crying face). I’ve only found it on a few sites but they aren’t any I feel comfortable recommending as I’ve never bought from them. This was hands down my favorite powder though. You could try Revlon’s Colorstay Mineral Makeup in Light which is what I’ll try after I run out of this. I’ve also been liking Maybelline’s new finishing powder, I just think this has a hydrating quality that is hard to replicate.

Brows

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  1. Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown $18 *This was a recent try for me because I heard it was hard to work with, but I think if you use a little bit of this and blend out with a spoolie you’re set! I love how dark this makes me brows, and they also don’t look powdery.
  2. NYX Micro Brow Pencil Brunette $9.99
  3. Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Define and Fill Duo Deep Brown $7.99
  4. Maybelline Brow Drama Pro Palette Deep Brown $12.99
  5. NYX Tinted Brow Mascara Brunette $6.99

Eyeshadows

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  1. LORAC Pro Palette 1 $42
  2. LORAC Pro Palette 2 $42
  3. LORAC Mega Pro 1  *This was the 1st Mega Pro and was limited edition; I don’t have the second because I love the warm colors in this. I want Lorac to bring it back 😦
  4. BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette $12.50
  5. Morphe 35O Palette $22.99 *This product is always in and out of stock, but Jaclyn Hill and Amanda Ensing always have discount codes and update their followers when it’s back in stock. Also, I know I didn’t give this product an A+ review, but that’s more for quality of some of the shades. Overall though if you love warm oranges this is where it’s at, and a lot of the matte shades are great affordable crease options.
  6. NYX Nude Matte Shadows in Dance the Tides and Maybe Later $4.99 each *The best affordable crease colors on the market in my opinion.

Eye Liner

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  1. Jordana Cat Eye Liner $2.99 *I loved this more than any eye liner I’ve used in years- it stays through naps (not that you should sleep in makeup) and is so easy to apply! Black Leather and Black Brown were my favorites. I buy mine at Walgreens.
  2. L’Oreal Silkissime Eye Liner $8.99 *The best waterline eye liner’s ever. These do not smudge and last hours, I’m begging L’Oreal to make a brown shade. My favorites were Black, Charcoal and Gold.

Mascara

  1. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara $23
  2. L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara $9.99

Blush

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  1. Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso, Rose D’Oro and Bella Amore $7.79 each
  2. Tarte Holiday Palettes *The ones shown were LE. Any of Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blushes are the same formula and amazing. These palettes have lasted me so long I haven’t need to buy and individual shades!
  3. Milani Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose and Tea Rose $7.99
  4. Colourpop Blush Bonus $8 *It looks like this shade is discontinued but Fox and Between the Sheets look similar.

Highlighters

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  1. theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer Higlighter $24 *I find this to be the best option for super pale skin tones like mine. I’ve tried Becca Moonstone because Nikki Tutorials loves it, but I still think Mary Lou shows up the best on fair skin.
  2. BECCA Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Pop $38 *This just became permanent, ultimate squeals over here!
  3. BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette Highlighters $12.50- I’m obsessed with the second highlighter, but they’re all stunning and work for so many different skin tones. I hope BH makes singles of this highlighter formula, it’s the best drugstore priced highlight I’ve used.
  4. Colourpop Super Shock Highlighter Butterfly Beach $8 *I apply this with my fingers, and it’s my go-to summer highlight.

Lip Liners

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  1. NYX Slim Lip Pencil Ever $3.49
  2. Colourpop Grunge Pencil $5
  3. Jordana Easyliner For Lips in Tawny and Plush Plum $2.49 each *I buy mine at Walgreens

Lipstick

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From left to right: Miami Fever, LAX, LBB, Poison, Grunge, Fancy, Brink, Lolita, Euro Trash, Lacque-y Charm, Nude Flush, Divine Wine, Pepper, Glace

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  1. OFRA Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick w/Kathleen Lights Miami Fever $19.90 *My favorite liquid lipstick formula; also, Kathleen Lights normally has a coupon code on her Youtube videos for 40% off.
  2. Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipstick LAX $6
  3. Colourpop Lippie Stix LBB $5 *This is like MAC’s Rebel but cheaper and I personally like the wear of LBB better.
  4. Colourpop Lippie Stix Poison $5
  5. Colourpop Lippie Stix Grunge $5
  6. Colourpop Lippie Stix Fancy $5 *My go-to spring and summer lip color.
  7. Colourpop Lippie Stix Brink $5
  8. Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick Lolita $21 *Note this is not the same shade as Kat Von D’s liquid lipstick in Lolita. This is a traditional formula and a lighter rose color.
  9. NYX Matte Lipstick Euro Trash $5.99
  10. L’Oreal Colour Riche La Lacque Lipcolour Stick Lacque-y Charm $9.99 *I also wore the Le Matte formula in She’s so Matte a ton, but I couldn’t find mine to photograph.
  11. Maybelline Vivid Matte Lip Color Nude Flush $7.99
  12. Maybelline Creamy Matte Lip Color Divine Wine $7.99
  13. Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Pepper $24 *The most perfect everyday shade.
  14. Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon Glace $24

Brushes

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Dreaming in the Drugstore: New Maybelline Product Reviews

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Hi loves! Sorry I haven’t gotten a Best of 2015 up yet, I was away last week and had a ton to catch up on, but you will know my must-haves very soon! Today I’m reviewing some new Maybelline drugstore products I’ve been testing for about 3 weeks. January brought a slew of new products, I’m also on the hunt for the new L’Oreal Cushion foundation in my shade, but today I have Maybelline’s new Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation, the Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color, Brow Define and Fill Duo and FaceStudio Master Fix and Setting Powder. Boy, was that a mouthful. I also have a full drugstore glam makeup look below. Read on makeup mavens!

 

Reviews

Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation: I found this foundation in the drugstore about 3 weeks ago, and as I mentioned in a post in December I’ve been on the hunt for a new drugstore foundation. I used to use Maybelline’s Dream Mousse and Fit Me Dewy and Smooth foundations, but while I loved the coverage, I always got dry patches on my nose. Anyway, I decided to give this a go. At first it was difficult for me to pick a shade: the two lightest are Warm Porcelain and Porcelain Ivory. I went with Warm Porcelain as it didn’t look as pink on the packaging. I will say putting this on my hand it looked way too warm at first, but it blends right into my skin color once it dries down. The consistency of this is thick and very much like a squeezed mousse, and unlike any foundation I’ve ever tried. It truly is what the name says though: it’s a hydrating matte foundation. I’ve had no issues with this drying my skin out and the coverage is medium to full and it last about 8 hours without a primer. I think I’ve found my new favorite drugstore foundation! 9.5/10

  • Best tool for this foundation: It Brushes for Ulta Airbrush Buffing Foundation Brush #110  (I definitely prefer a buffing brush to a Beauty Blender with this product)
  • Price: $10.99
  • Ounces: 1 oz
  • Okay to set with powder: Yes
  • Staying powder: 8-10 hours
  • Coverage: Medium to full
  • Color selection: 12 colors (only one truly dark shade though)

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors: So like many other makeup lovers who see this, you probably think these are Maybelline’s versions of liquid lipsticks, like Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks or Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks, they are not a true liquid lipstick. These lipsticks are a creamy consistency hat have a satin-matte finish. They never dry down, so they do transfer. I bought the colors 5 Nude Thrill and 50 Possessed Plum. I have to say I love love love Nude Thrill. I think the color is stunning, and I personally like the creaminess, it’s like a matte lipgloss. The coverage for Nude Thrill is medium-full and it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to build. Possessed Plum on the other hand is a different story. This colors moves on your lips as you swipe so you can never get a full coverage without seeing your lip color come through. It takes about 4-5 swipes to get a mostly opaque color but as this product transfers it’s hard to wear. It may be okay if you wear it over a lipstick.These are also extremely perfumey. I am curious to try another deeper shade, just to see if the Possessed Plum is an exception, but overall I’d give these a 6.5/10.

  • Shades: 10
  • Price: $7.99
  • Coverage: Medium
  • Size: .26 oz
  • Perfumey scent
  • Cream consistency

Maybelline Brow and Fill Duo: This product is a hybrid of a brow pencil similar to Anastasia’s Brow Wiz and a powder. This is the only product I’ve ever found like it on the market. At first, I didn’t love the powder, as it seems like it doesn’t really come out, and I also don’t love this doesn’t have a spooley but really they have no where to put one. The pencil end runs out pretty quick and starts out longer than it should meaning it will probably break off. The thing is, I love the actually product. I think the powder gives my brows a natural finish unlike any other powder. It’s probably because of the domed end it comes out of, it’s not as harsh as using a angled brush. I also really like the pencil end, it defines nicely and creates natural strokes. So I’m torn, I really like this product but the pencil end mechanically causes a lot of problems that may make this a product that’s frustrating and you’ll have to replace often. 7/10

  • Shades: 4
  • Price: $7.99
  • Pencil and domed end which distributes powder

Maybelline FaceStudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder: I haven’t used this product too long, and as you have probably realized I’m pretty married to Revlon’s Aqua Ready translucent powder, but this is a close second. I think this powder is very similar to more high-end powders like the Make Up Forever Translucent powder. It’s very finely milled and doesn’t leave a white residue. I think this powder is perfect for all skin types but especially someone with oily/combo skin. If you have been on the hunt for a good drugstore translucent powder, I think this is it! 9.5/10

  • Shades: 1 (Translucent)
  • Price: $9.99
  • Size: .21 oz

Makeup Look

  • Primer: I ran out of my usual drugstore primer, but would use Loreal Magic Lumi Primer normally
  • Foundation: Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation in 05 Warm Porcelain
  • Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair (I also love NYX HD concealer but I ran out of that too)
  • Powder: Maybelline FaceStudio Powder
  • Brows: Maybelline Brow and Fill Duo in Deep Brown with NYX Brow Mascara in Brunette to set
  • Eyeshadows:  
    • Crease- NYX Matte Shadow in Maybe Later.
    • Lid- L’Oreal Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Sunset Seine (this look a lot more orange online, it’s like a golden color in person)
    • Outer Lid- Colourpop Supershock shadow in Lectra, which I also used on the lower lashline and outer crease. (It looks like this is sold out but you can use Porter or Leopard for a similar effect).
    • Browbone and inner corner: Morphe 35O shimmer beige shade. You can use any shimmering highlight shade for the same effect.
  • Eyeliners:
    • Liquid liner: Jordana Cat Eye Liner in Black Leather (I buy mine at Walgreens)
    • Waterline liner: L’Oreal Silkissime in Black
  • Lashes: Ardell Wispies (I believe these are a new style, they’re not the Natural or Glamour, the packaging says Wispies in red. Got at Walgreens)
  • Mascara: L’Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic
  • Blush: Mixed Milani Baked Blushes in Berry Amore and Dolce Pink
  • Highlighter: BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette second highlight in. I also love Phyiscians Formula highlighters and Maybelline MasterStudio highlighters.
  • Lips: 

Bringing the Wham GLAM Thank You Ma’am: New Year’s Look and What’s Coming in 2016

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IMG_3103Hello loves! I hope everyone had  a splendid and spectacular New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I didn’t have enough time to post my makeup look before I went out in good ol’ Atlantic City (a resolution for next year is to celebrate somewhere else) but I decided I’d post this snazzy glitter-bombed eye look incase any of you want to wear it to work Monday; I kid, I kid. I also wanted to share with you what I have planned for 2016. I’d really like to get a handle on my Sony A5100 (if anyone has tips, please leave below) and up the quality on my photos and start shooting videos! I also plan to create my own website, and deliver more reviews and fashion photos. Any other suggestions you guys would like for 2016 are encouraged! Below I’m going to leave my favorites of 2015, and of course this makeup look. P.S. A year review of my favorite products will hopefully be up next week, I’ll be in Florida at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (insert heart eyed emoji here) so I hope to get it up before Wednesday. Happy 2016!

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Primer: BECCA Backlight Priming Filter 

Foundation: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation-Porcelain

Concealer: Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer- Fair Neutral

Powder: Makeup Forever Translucent Setting Powder

Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade- Dark Brown with NYX Brow Mascara- Brunette

Eyeshadows: 

Eyeliner: 

Lashes: L’oreal Telescopic- Carbon Black. Velour Lashes for Sephora– Fluff n’ Dolled Up.

Blush: Milani Baked Blush– Rose D’Oro

Highlighter: BECCA Cosmetics Jaclyn Hill x Champagne Pop (used on cheeks, nose, cupid’s bow, above brows)

Lips: NYX Slim Lip Pencil- Ever. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick– Dolce.

Extras: Top- Missguided. Necklace: BaubleBar 

2015 Favorite Life Things!