Product Review | Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

It's been a long time since I've done a review.  Too long.  A while ago, I went into Ulta for the first time ever.  It was a magical experience.  One of the products I picked up was the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 110.

I have been in love with this foundation ever since I first put it on!  It is full coverage, but it is not cakey in the least.  It is super pale, which is amazing.  No one ever makes foundations that are quite pale enough for me.  I have been wearing this without a primer to test it, and it has ticked all the boxes--and then some!  Because of my oily skin, I need a foundation that will stay matte.  This one does!  Unlike other foundations I usually use, this one has a dewy finish.  Uh oh.  Usually that means my face looks like one big greasy, shiny mess.  But this foundation (especially when paired with Rimmel Stay Matte powder) does not have that effect.  It's actually kind of nice to have a dewy finish for once.  I have to be careful to not apply too much, because I find that when I apply too much, it tends to get greasy.  It also tends to fill in creases (such as fine lines on the forehead, so I have to blend it out whilst applying.  This stays on all day and it doesn't slide off.  (It even made it through a gym session.)   Also, it's from the drug store, so it's quite cheap.  One thing I don't like about this foundation is that there's no pump dispenser and the bottle doesn't squeeze out.  This means that most of the time I end up pouring out too much foundation and wasting it.  Overall, I think that this foundation will be a staple for quite sometime.

Product Review | Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque

Confession: I've only recently started getting into good skin and hair routines.  I've loved makeup for a long time, but I never really used face or hair masques, scrubs, or anything of that sort.  Only after getting a blog and starting to read other blogs have I started expanding my face/hair routine.  Get ready for a bunch of skin/hair care reviews, because I've been trying out lots of stuff!

I was talking about how I wanted a good face masque, and my friend told me that she loves the one from Kiehl's.  I popped into the store in my mall (which I didn't even know existed--I will be visiting it much more often now!) and got the masque.  My life has been forever changed.

 

This bad boy has made my skin feel so amazing.  I featured it in my June Favorites because I just love the way it has refreshed my skin, especially in the summer heat!  It was $23.00 (graciously paid for by my mother), but it is so worth every cent!  I love that you don't need a whole ton of the product, so it's good value for money.  The pot is pretty big, as well.  It is made from White Amazonian Clay.  It does dry on a little bit cakey, but I guess that's just the nature of face masques.  I love using this when I've been working out after I take a shower.  It feels good to relax a bit after a strenuous workout.  It stings going on, but the stinging goes away quickly, and just confirms that it is opening up my pores. I use it 2-4 times a week, and my face has never felt so great!

Let me know what face masque you use below!

Product Review | Nars Nepal Eyeshadow

Nars is probably my favorite makeup brand.  I mean, I've never purchased a product that I haven't loved.  So, I was in Sephora a while back, and like a moth to a flame, was drawn to the Nars counter.  I was swatching the eyeshadows while my (non-makeup enthusiast) mother was standing by, bored.  I swatched Nepal, and showed her.  She didn't buy it for me, and I decided against buying it for myself.  A few weeks later, I found it tucked away in my Easter basket!  It was such a nice surprise, and I was really glad my mom remembered what I had mentioned in passing to her!

Nepal is a gorgeous bronzy-brown color.  I love that there is enough coppery-bronze in it to make my light blue eyes really pop, but it comes out looking brown.  It is a shimmery shadow.  It stays on all day, which is so nice!  I also love the itty bitty package it comes in.  It just makes me squeal because it's so cute!  This is definitely a shadow I would recommend for making blue eyes pop.

 Just looking at the swatch makes me happy because it's such a pretty color!  I would love to expand my collection of Nars eyeshadows.  Leave me a comment of which ones you love!

Product Review | Bioterra Dry Shampoo

Hello!  I have found a miracle in a can!  My hair is extremely thick and wavy, so washing it can be a bit of a chore.  Also, if I wash my hair everyday, it tends to get dry and frizzy.  So, I only wash my hair about three times a week.  Sometimes, my schedule gets super busy or I get lazy, and I realize that I haven't washed my hair.  This is where dry shampoo come in to play.  I used the Baiste dry shampoos for a long time and loved them, but then I couldn't find them in stores anywhere.  I've tried several others that I didn't like, so I was on the hunt for a new one.  I went to Sally Beauty Supply and picked up one on a whim. I had never heard of the brand or anything, so it was a huge gamble, but it totally paid off!

I have adored using Bioterra's Dry Shampoo!  The directions say to spray it 10-12 inches away from the hair and wait two minutes, then rub in the excess powder.  I tried it, and after two minutes 90% of the powder had worked itself into my hair!  It was actually invisible, which is a claim that lots of dry shampoos make and don't deliver.  Also, it left no gross feeling in my hair!  The one I had been using felt so nasty.  It felt like my hair had turned to straw, and I hated it.  I picked this dry shampoo up for $7.69, and I will definitely be repurchasing it!

Product Review | Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil

Eyeliner has always been one of my favorite types of makeup.  I'm constantly on the quest for the perfect cat eye, and I love the way eyeliner can completely transform a makeup look.  A few months ago, I went into Sephora with the mission of buying a great pencil eyeliner.  I swatched every one in the store, and I decided that I liked Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Bourbon best.

 First off, the texture of these pencils is AH-mazing!  They really do glide on, which is so nice.  I don't think I've ever used a pencil eyeliner that has slid onto my eye so easily.  This makes it really easy to control.  It also stays put very well.  It doesn't transfer to the lid midway through the day.  It's even lasted through a workout in which I got very sweaty.  This eyeliner lives up to its name!

 Take a look at that color!  I love, love, love soft brown eyeliners, as they suit my fair skin and light blue eyes really nicely.  There is some shimmer in the liner, too.  It is so gorgeous paired with a really light eye shadow.  I especially love it with a baby pink.  This eyeliner has been a staple in my makeup recently!  I have been loving a light eye with this liner and lots of mascara, a bright face with a matte pink blush, and pink lips of varying brightness this summer.  That has been my go-to look, and this eyeliner completes it perfectly!

Product Review | Topshop Lipstick in Ooh La La

Hello!  I have a confession.  As much as I love tea, Jack Wills, and One Direction, I am, in fact, not British. As much as I wish I was, I'm just plain old American.  That doesn't stop me from trying to be British, though!  One of my favorite stores to shop at online is Topshop.  I went to the one in New York, and I was in heaven!  I love the clothes so much.  I had also heard so many people rave about their lipsticks.  So, I looked online and picked one that tickled my fancy.

I picked the color Ooh La La, which is an amazing bright pink.  Because of my coloring, I tend to stay away from red lipsticks, so this bold, fun color has been my staple statement lip for the summer.  I love pairing it with light pink eyes and lots of highlighter.

As you can see from the swatch, it is highly pigmented.  It feels nice on the lips, but tends to be a bit drying.  I love the bright color, and it stays on for a good long while.  It has more of a matte finish, but there is some shine to it.  I have loved this lipstick, and I will definitely be purchasing more from Topshop in the future!

This is me wearing the lipstick at the Darren Criss concert this weekend!

Let me know what Topshop lipsticks you love or your staple statement lip color this summer below!

Lip Balm Comparison

Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekends have been as wonderful as mine has been! (I got to see Darren Criss live in concert, yay!)  I noticed the other day that I had three different sticks of ChapStick.  Yep, that's right, three sticks of the exact same chapstick.  I then realized that I had different types of lip balms in my makeup drawer and in my room.  I thought I'd write up a review of all the different types of lip balms I owned, because, crazily enough, I use each one for a different purpose.

First up, your basic ChapStick.  Just the original kind, nothing special.  I find that this lip balm is moisturizing, but because it is designed to literally do nothing but moisturize, there is none of the glossy look that other lip balms tend to have.  Ergo, it is perfect for use before you apply makeup.  I always apply it first thing and by the time I am ready to apply my lipstick (which I apply right before I grab my handbag and jump in the car), it has blended into my lips.  It gives them a great base for lipsticks and lip glosses, especially ones like my lip tar that can really dry my lips out.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Moisturizer (such a long name!) is great!  It is highly moisturizing, and I keep it on my bedside table.  It has an SPF of 15, so I always toss it in my pool bag to keep my lips nice and protected.  It does have a glossy finish, so it looks nice on the lips, making it my poolside essential lip balm.

Sugar Fresh Lip Treatment is amazing!  It (and a tinted balm) were Sephora's birthday gift in 2012.  (If you don't have a Sephora perk's card, get one.  The rewards are amazing, and they always give you a gift on your birthday!)  This lip balm has a slightly grainy texture.  It leaves the lips glossy and has a slick feeling.  It has SPF, so it is a very close comparison of the Neutrogena lip balm.  Because of the grainy texture, I would choose the Neutrogena one over this one any day.  I was glad to try it for free, but I don't think I would ever spend money on this when I could get almost the same thing (minus the grainy feeling!) for much cheaper.

Last up is my Eos lip balm.  I can't remember the exact flavor, but I believe it is something tropical.  I had seen these everywhere, but I had never bought into the hype and purchased one myself.  My theatre teacher gave me this one, and I have really loved it!  I don't think I would repurchase it because I think spending five dollars on a clear lip balm is ridiculous.  I do like the way it taste, though.  And I'm a bit disturbed at how great it tastes.  I keep this on top of my bathroom counter to sweep on right before I go to bed.  It is so easy to apply, so it is perfect for when I'm tired.

So that's all my lip balms.  I'm always in the market for new ones, so leave a comment and let me know your favorites!

Product Review | Illamasqua Blush in Hussy

Hello, lovelies!  A few months ago I took a trip to Sephora, and I was super excited to see that they had an Illamasqua counter.  I had never seen Illamasqua sold anywhere before, and I had heard so many people rave about their blushes that I really wanted to try one.

The color Hussy pulled me in instantly.  It is such a beautiful pink.  I love that you can get a really light coverage that is still extremely pigmented, or you can build it up for a more dramatic look.

The color is so nice for summer.  I also love how extremely pigmented the color is.  It is a matte blush, which I really love.

Here's a swatch.  It is lighter on the swatch, but you can really build it up with no effort!

It pairs so nicely with a lot of highlighter because it doesn't make your cheeks looks super shiny, but allows the highlighter to shimmer while providing a nice pink flush.  I have been loving pairing it with a lot of Benefit's Moon Beam highlighter.  I feel like it gives me a nice, summery, glowy face that really complements light eyes and lips.