Hello everyone! I'm a bit behind on my blogging schedule so you're getting a triple feature today--yay! I know you can't get enough of me, ha ha. Joking aside, I know we're well into August now but since I have no wishes to combine three months into one post, you'll get one now and another at the end of the month! If you're unfamiliar with my Beauty Reviews, I basically talk about most of the products I've been using in the past month--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some are new discoveries, some are old so yeah, it's one big ol' review since I don't always have a lot to say about certain products (shocker, I know). So with that intro, let's get on with the show!
This is in their special limited edition summer 2015 compact which is mainly why I picked it up. I bought mine in shade 23 True Beige. It's a bit light for me at the moment but I think it'll fit me in the winter. True to it's name, it's quite dewy looking. If you have oily skin, you'll definitely need to set this cushion and bring oil blotting sheets. I being it with me to touch up throughout the day. I've been using it all month as it's quick, covers redness and lessens hyperpigmentation spots, has spf 34, and is hydrating. I'm feeling a bit meh about it but maybe I'll like it more when the cold weather comes. I also have the Water Glow Cushion so I'll probably review them both later on this month.
Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Hawaiian Smoulder -- $8.99usd for 0.11oz
I first heard about this from Youtube (surprise, surprise) and picked up a couple of colors. This one has been my most used lippie in July because it's convenient. The smell is reminiscent of old-school lipsticks and not in the good kind of smell. Formula is on the drier, matte side and it drags on my lips as I apply it. Smushing my lips together to distribute the color does make the lip color slip and look uneven, so don't smoosh! I layer a thin lip balm underneath before I go in with this crayon to aid the glide. Color though, is right up my alley. Perks up my complexion even without any other makeup. This one wears off evenly so no awkward lip lines. Not going to call it a complete miss but not a hit with me either.
e.l.f. Studio Flawless Concealer Brush -- $3usd
I'm sure it does work flawlessly as a concealer brush but I use it mainly to set my concealer or apply a wash of powder eyeshadow across my lids. In those capacities, it performs amazingly. The bristles, though not the softest, pick up just the right amount of powder and deposits it flawlessly where I need it. I have used it to apply and blend out my Skinfood Dark Circle Salmon Concealer (review) and it does that well too. I'm keen on picking up more so I don't have to constantly wash this one but I'm waiting for their 50%off sale to splurge. Highly recommend!
My cheeks are on the smaller side so most brushes are a bit too big for me. This tiny brush is dense so I only use it with my less pigmented blushes. It applies blush evenly and sheers them out where I need it to. Since it is angled and tiny, I sometimes use it for a defined contour. It fits nicely into the hollows of my cheeks but is a good size for my large forehead too! Definitely a multi-purpose brush that many will like. Did I mention that it hasn't shed once yet??
Real Techniques Powder Brush -- $9.99usd
I picked it up to replace a scratchy old brush I had been using but went back to said scratchy brush because I couldn't handle the white-tipped bristles looking dirty. Now, I regularly clean my brushes and try my best to keep my makeup clean but the look of dirty brushes in between washings bothered me like an itch I couldn't scratch. Eventually, I had enough of scratchy brush and put this one back in the rotation. I'm liking it much more this time around as I'm using loose powder more than pressed ones these days and this doesn't make the powder go flying everywhere. Since the brush head is so large, I can cover a lot of my face without having to dip for more product multiple times. It doesn't cake on the powder due to the fluffiness so that's another win. Since the bristles are white, I can see exactly how much product I've picked up and when I need a cleanse. For the price, I'm in love!
Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer + Brightener -- $10.99usd for 0.08oz
This one is a rediscovery for me. I've had this since the beginning of my makeup adventure but tossed it aside because it didn't perform well as an eye primer for my very oily eyelids. My eyeshadow would crease and bunch up while this made my eyelids look dry and crepey. I pulled it out again because I couldn't find my beloved UDPP and while I still don't like it as eye primer, it works wonders as a brightener. I stayed away from pink tone things for my under eyes as I like yellow toned products more but this doesn't look out of place at all on my very yellow toned, light medium complexion. In fact, my under eyes have never looked better and the darkness is covered up without the need for me to cake on my concealer. On my good days, I use just this to lift the darkness but on my no-sleep days, I'll use this then add a skin tone concealer over the top for good measure. Since this is a drier texture, I don't think fine lines and dryness will work well with this brightener but for my younger eyes, this is a great product.
It's been awhile since I've used a drugstore foundation and it's been a welcome change. I love Maybelline and haven't been steered wrong by any of their products (except their eyeshadows...but that's a whole 'nother story). 9 dollars seems like a lot for a drugstore foundation but as many creep past 10 dollars or even 15 dollars, this one is great, despite the price. The color doesn't oxidize on my skin, thankfully, but is a hair too dark for me, even with my summer tan. The color down from this is too pink and the next one is Classic Ivory and I doubt that will be dark enough. I remedy that by adding in a dollop of my Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly Starter (unboxing) and while that does change the finish of the foundation, I don't mind because a little glow doesn't hurt. Anyway, it does an amazing job of keeping my oil at bay so I wear this when I know I'll be in hot temperatures but I need to look good for a long time. It covers pretty much all of my imperfections in one layer and I'm not tempted to add concealer afterwards. I add a little bit of powder over the top because I'm a powder freak but I don't need to cake on powder like I used to with other foundations to ensure it doesn't slide off my face before I'm ready. Definitely a summer staple!
Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara -- $28.50usd for 0.33oz
Why, oh why do I keep falling in love with expensive, a** mascara?! I don't believe in "getting what you pay for" but with my sparse and short lashes, nothing makes them look as good as this one and the Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara (review) do. At first, I thought it was too wet but as the formula dried down, I got great separation, length and volume. The most important things to me in a mascara are separation and length because I dislike spidery lashes on me so this one is great! The only thing that I don't like is that it tends to smudge on me if I don't set my concealer or have particularly watery eyes that day but I just...I just love this and can see why so many other people love it too. Might just hold onto the wand and use it with other mascaras.
bareMinerals Ready Bronzer in Skinny Dip (unboxing) -- $24usd for 0.3oz
In my unboxing post, I had only used it a couple of times and promptly forgot about it. I pulled it out again this summer because I couldn't find my Hoola or Park Avenue Princess. Lo and behold, I immediately fell hard and fast for this one. I didn't like it at first because I was a bit paler but now, it complements my summer tan beautifully. It leans a bit on the red side so it imitates my tan well. I used it in a FOTD that I'll be posting soon but sadly, it doesn't show up that much. There's no visible shimmer in this but it adds a nice luminosity to my skin, adding to the healthy glow. Totally felt like J-Lo with this bronzer. This is one of those bronzers that look good all over the face without going muddy so I'll be doing my best to use it as much as I can before the summer's over.
bareMinerals Mineral Veil -- $21usd for 0.3oz
I'm not sure which version I have but I think it's the Original one. The slight pink tone scared me off at first but eventually, I've come to like this powder for everything eye-related. It is denser compared to my other loose powders, like MUFE HD Powder and Tarte Smooth Operator Powder but that's why I love it; it doesn't fly everywhere and make a mess. It doesn't look cakey under the eyes but sets to a matte finish. A little goes a long way which means this sample size will probably last me forever. Despite the swatch photo below, it is creamy, soft and finely milled. When I used it over certain concealers, I noticed a darkening effect but with my Benefit Cover Up concealer, everything looks fine. I don't notice any additional brightness from this product but I still like it all the same.
I haven't used this for my face as I've heard bar soaps are drying but I love this for cleaning my makeup brushes. It foams up nicely but washes out easily, leaving no residue behind. Washing my makeup brushes used to be my least favorite chore but has now become something I look forward to. There's just something about seeing foundation bleed out of a dirty brush and having a clean brush as if by magic again.There are gritty bits in the soap but it doesn't get stuck to the bristles. There's a herbally, tea tree scent to it that does linger in the bristles but isn't overpowering or anything. Since I use synthetic brushes exclusively, I tend to use whatever I can find to clean my brushes. I haven't noticed increased shedding or rough bristles from using this brush, so all is right in the world. No need for fancy makeup soaps--this one will do since it's meant for the face anyway.
Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer in Blemish Control -- $42usd for 1oz
Wow, didn't realize that this primer is just as expensive as foundation...But anyway, I like this primer enough. It keeps my foundation looking better throughout the day and keeps the oil at bay, at least for a while. I find that it makes the most difference when I pair it with my Innisfree Ampoule Cushion but for the rest of my currently used foundations, I don't really notice a major difference (which probably speaks to how well the other foundations perform and not negatively on this primer). I like that it has 2% salicylic acid but it hasn't made much of a difference on my skin. I don't use it everyday so that's to blame. For a blemish control primer, it is on the hydrating side so it does make foundation look nicer over those pesky buggers. I just realized that I featured it in my April Favorites as well so this must be doing a good thing if I keep using it, eh?
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| Swatches of products featured from left to right: Innisfree Ampoule Intense Cushion, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer + Brightener, Smashbox Blemish Control Primer, Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Hawaiian Smoulder, BareMinerals Ready Bronzer in Skinny Dip, and bareMinerals Mineral Veil |
And now, we move onto the products that had me shaking my head in defeat all month...
I was in need of a brow pencil when I thought I lost my beloved Etude House pencil. This one was just a disaster right from the beginning. The pointed tip was nice--until it dulled to a broader tip in two uses. It's too creamy so I get Sharpie brows if I'm not careful. In a panic, I tried to use the spoolie end to smooth things out but the bristles are too sparse in between and scratchy so I pulled out two hairs accidentally. The color is too red for my dark brown hair so it looks off even if I use it lightly. Once you twist the pencil up, it stays put so only wind up how much you need. A plus is that it didn't migrate anywhere throughout the day so at least it has that going for it.
Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 24Hr Auto Eyebrow in 02 Dark Brown-- $3usd
Since I had good luck with Korean eyebrow stuff before, I decided to try another one. This one was just like my Etude House one but--and this is a big BUT--the color is still too red for my eyebrows. The spoolie side also seems flimsy so it didn't seem to brush out the color as well. At least the caps on both ends seem to stay more secure than the EH ones.
Since I had good luck with Korean eyebrow stuff before, I decided to try another one. This one was just like my Etude House one but--and this is a big BUT--the color is still too red for my eyebrows. The spoolie side also seems flimsy so it didn't seem to brush out the color as well. At least the caps on both ends seem to stay more secure than the EH ones.
Prada Candy EDP -- $66usd for 1 oz
I know that this is probably a popular scent for many but boy, was it a disaster on me! I'm not a fan of sweet scents on me. Caramel, musk, vanilla, and benzoin turned into sweaty, gym locker on my skin. I smelled horrible and the worst part is, that this particular scent seems to latch onto my skin for hours. Our body's chemistry does affect how fragrances smell on us and my chemistry just blew this one up in an unpleasant way.
Estee Lauder Beautiful EDP -- $55usd for 1oz
While I love Estee Lauder's eyeshadows, I cannot say the same about this fragrance. Rose, lily, and jasmine are all some of my most favorite scents so I thought I'd like this one too. Upon initial spray, I got a strong dose of a sickly sweet, artificial rose that settles into something like playdoh. It might just be my body's chemistry or that this fragrance sample has been sitting here for too long, but this is one I won't be purchasing until I get a whiff of it in an actual store.
When I saw that this wasn't a duo-phase type of remover, I was a bit hesitant. Still, the pump-style packaging seemed intriguing so in the cart it went. I broke it out recently because my Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (empties) just sang her swan song last month and since then, have been sorely disappointed. This doesn't take off waterproof mascara or eyeliner very well so I have to use a lot of rubbing motions to get them off. Most people don't like an oily residue but I do since it acts as eye cream for lazy, ol' me. This one left my eye area red and dry so I had to go in with my Benefit Eye Cream (review) afterwards. I'm probably going to use this as a swatch remover going forward and have already repurchased my Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover for now.
I'm probably in the minority about this, but I do not like essie polish. don't get me wrong, the colors are gorgeous and unique. However, the formula does not agree with my nails. I get chipping and peeling within the day, even with a base & top coat. I use my standard Sally Hansen duo that I use with every other polish so it's the polish that's the problem. If they do manage to stay on my nails, I'll find bubbling that annoys the hell out of me because I hate small dots. They look dull without a topcoat so you might need a touch up midweek if they last that long. In the Cab-ana doesn't stain my nails thankfully, but the More the Merrier does and that's a sin I cannot forgive. I know I mentioned it as a favorite a long time ago in my March 2014 favorites but I must've overlooked the staining before. It's hard for me to find a green I like but this just doesn't cut it. I've been using them on my toes because nail polish chips less there but I wish they performed better on my hands.
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