Bare Skin... Hello Flawless

A few months ago I ordered a shit ton of stuff from ulta. Like obscene quantities of make up... and what do they send me in return as a thank you this microscopic barbie doll sized bottle sample bottle of Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW concealer by Benefit. Surprisingly enough there was enough in there to do my face  more than once... even though it was a shade too light... I made it work. I liked it so much I decided to go back to Ulta and buy a full size bottle. In the right shade of course.

I give my self a silent pep talk in the car. We are only going for foundation. That is all we need. Nothing else. You can do it. Go in. Get the foundation. Get out. Don't even stop to look at anything else. JUST FOUNDATION.

I walk in and WTF they have rearranged the entire store. What?! Why is bareminerals right in front of me?! There should be perfume here! I must have looked like a child that just lost their mom. I stood lost and afraid (for my wallet). Knowing it was all down hill from there.

ulta girl: Can I help you?

me: yes. ummmmm. what is that? bare skin starter set? I mean no... i came to get the benefit foundation.

ulta girl: We just changed everything around let me find and I'll come back for you.

Don't leave me. Don't leave me here alone. On my own. With all this make up. I walk over and pick up the bare skin starter set. And just like the store policy if you break it you buy it... If i put it in that little mesh bag it is not coming out until we get to the counter. I don't even know where the bag came from but it is on my shoulder and if this girl doesn't get back in the next 5 seconds this starter set is... yup its in the bag.

ulta girl: right this way.

Two seconds too late lady! Too late! I already have bare skin! But I do love the Benefit one and that is what I came for. I negotiate with myself and decide I will just buy both. Until I get to the Benefit stand. Let me just say whoever does their marketing should get a raise because their packaging is so cute and clever... I want it all. The hello flawless, the stay flawless, oh and what is this fake up stick. My logical side is saying... you dont need it. You have primer at home. You have never needed a fake up stick before. Nothing has changed. Get the foundation and get out! But it says right there on the box hello flawless and stay flawless are the perfect pair! The PERFECT PAIR! I need both. I mean you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes and just get one. And the fake up sounds amazing. And it probably is cause Benefit makes good stuff and its only another $28. That is really all I am getting... except a beauty blender. I do need one of those. OMG Butter has the best nail colors. I haven't gotten my nails done in 2 weeks so buying  a polish will be in place of going. DONE! nothing else. Maybe a face mask. I love those things and they always have them right at the counter.... $189 later I am leaving Ulta. Broke and confused. With only one face and 2 different types of foundation. nail polish and beauty blenders. fake up stick for dark circles that I dont have in the first place... aaaand i can not wait to get home to try it all!

First Stay Flawless 15 hour primer in a stick. Had the package not told me it was the perfect pair to Hello flawless I would have passed on it. And I should have. I don't hate it but feel it would work better on oily skin.. which I don't have. It is very dry and give you almost a matte finish. I like it on hot days but for everyday it is just too dry for me.

Fake up. I don't have dark circles or bags which is what it is for buuut I do have dark blue veins and it covers them well with out creasing! All in all I like it and am glad I bought it.

Hello flawless. Love it. Good coverage. Feels light. Blends well. Need I say more?

Bare skin. First let me say I am a lover of bareminerals and have been for years! and they did not disappoint with bare skin. Bare skin reminds me of the consistency and the coverage that you would get with air brush...with out the hassle. It came with a brush specifically made for that product which is unique and just really perfect. Another thing I also like about the bare skin is that you can adjust the amount of coverage by layering and the product it self is so thin it doesn't look caked on. I find myself using this just about everyday.

have you used these products? thoughts? have something you love more? tell me about it :)

Brush Snob

I have tried so many brushes. Too many brushes. I totally admit I am a bit of a brush snob. They have to have the right look, shape, and utmost important... the right feel. A good brush has to be soft... something you want to rub all over your face. Nothing worse than using a brush that feels like sandpaper being dragged across your skin.

I normally hate buying brush sets. I like to pick and choose what I like from each company with out making the commitment of going all in. For example I bought the set from younique. Best value was the set. I love their shadow brush, crease brush and angled liner brush. However the set also came with a foundation brush, a blush brush, and I forget but some other brush for your face... I can't remember cause I dont use them. They aren't awful but they are far from soft and worse they shed! Nothing worse than picking black brush hairs from your face when you are done applying your make up.

If you are looking to be super selective and very specific Morphe Brushes have a just about every brush you can think of and in every price range. For the most part all of their products are geared towards make up artists and are reasonable. Of the brushes I have tried from Morphe I have no complaints. All good quality and I love that they offer a variety of brushes that are perfect for detailing.

BareMinerals has some of favorite brushes when it comes to applying product to the face. I also love that there is no guess work. All of their brushes pair perfectly with their products. Their brushes are soft and amazing quality. They hold up wonderfully even after many washes. They never shed which is a plus. Three of my personal favorites for a flawless face are their smoothing face brush, perfection face brush, and their precision face brush which is perfect for contouring.

Last but certainly not least my newest addition to my handpicked brush collection... the Elite Mirror Collection Brushes from Artis. Pricey... yes! Worth it? HELL YES! These brushes are like no other... starting with their shape. They look more like little tools than brushes which I kinda dig. The handles are thin... somewhat flexible, and have a texturized grip. The brush itself it so incredibly soft and smoothe they feel amazing and make blending cake! I find myself using less product with this set which is always a good thing. And while I usually dislike sets cause I never like all the brushes I have to say not the case with these. I have actually put away all the rest of brushes because I love every brush in this set. The brushes are multifunctional and precise I find I am not reaching for anything else! Only thing that stinks... I am dying to get their display stand and just can't afford it at the moment!

Have a favorite brush? Tell me about. Think there is something I should give a try? Comment below!

Anastasia Beverly Hills: Artist Palette

The new Anastasia Beverly Hills Artist Palette was just released last week. I got mine last night. I could not wait to get my hands on this after reading all rave reviews on Instagram. It retails for $30 and has 12 different colors ranging from navy blue (blue velvet) to a bright mustard yellow (phresh).

 

After getting is home and taking a good look at it one thing came to mind... 6 out of the 12 colors are very close to those in the Urban Decay Vice 3 palette. Which only really stood out because I use Vice 3 on the regular.

Ok pros: 12 is a decent amount of colors. Within that selection there is a big range of shades which allow you to come up with some creative looks with out dipping into another palette. There is an even mix of shimmer and matte. The colors are highly pigmented yet easily bendable.

Cons. First thing that stood out to me was the case it comes in looks cheap. Does that affect the shadows... of course not I just prefer a pretty plastic case that snaps close. As I mentioned before half of the colors are very similar to those in Vice 3 by Urban Decay.  Normally when I buy a new palette I know what I want to do with it before I even get it home. I remember when UPS brought my Kat Von D Chrysalis insanely late but I still needed to try it that night... I didn't feel that way about this one. Instead of the possibilities feeling endless it took me awhile to figure out what I would do with it.

Here is what I came up with...

The colors written in purple are UD the colors written in white are ABH 

IMATS NYC 2015

I unexpectedly was given the opportunity to attend IMATS. Excited... doesn't cover it! The Internation Make up Artists Trade Show... Every make up lover, make junkie, make up addicts dream. More make up in one place than I have ever seen... not to mention the place is jam packed with incredibly talented make up artist showing off their skills.

I am always one to say I feel like I don't fit it anywhere... and I am okay with that... however walking into IMATS was liking coming home! Hundreds (or more) creative souls. Expressing themselves in ways only a true artist can. And not that anyone can't appreciate it but this stuff is what other artists thrive on... the creativity and pure inspiration that comes from others that are so outwardly passionate about what they do.

I thoroughly enjoyed just walking around and taking in the whole scene. So many beautifully painted faces and bodies. Exquisite make up. Catching glimpses of those I admire and follow on IG.

And then of course there is the make up. So much make up. Everywhere you turn. Every 5 steps you take more and more make up. It was like I took the ferry from New Jersey and docked in make up heaven.

But alas the reality of a high profile event in NYC... the lines for most of the booths that I wanted to visit were unreal! Morphe which I desperately wanted to get to had a 2 and a half hour wait. Yes... 2 and a half hours! Even Lime Crime despite the current boycott had a 30 minute wait. While an almost 3 hour wait for Morphe just didn't feel doable (today I found out they had the Jaclyn Hill favorites... that's a game changer totally would have stood on line for that) I did decide to hop on line for the Anastasia Beverly Hills booth. In total I wasted about 40 minutes. Which would have been fine... if they were not sold out of pretty much everything that I wanted! Aside from the wait to get to the booth I spent a good 20 minutes if not more deciding on 8 colors for a custom eye pallet only to find out they were out of 5 of them. And the girls working the booth were... lets just say not the friendliest... it was a huge disappointment. Not to mention the cream contour kit costs $4.00 more at the trade show than it does on their website.

Other than that I got some great stuff at amazing prices including lots and lots of glitter. NYX Cosmetics which I am a huge fan of had some real steals.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the day... the talent... the art... the make up... all of it!

To highlight and contour or not

To high light and contour or not... these days that is the question. Well if your into make up it is... and you probably are if you are reading this. I'll be honest before I started doing it I really could not understand how it worked. Using colors shades lighter and darker than you are to get the perfect look just didn't make any sense to me considering the years yes years I have spent trying to find the perfect foundation. Because foundation as we know must be spot on for it to look decent. And lets face it... its really friggin hard to find that one matching shade of perfection that gives flawless looking skin.... so hard some never find it. So how could it be that you can throw on all these different colors... blend the shit out of them and come out looking not just decent but amazing. I really don't know I will chalk it up to make up magic and when it comes right down to it that what make up is all about... using colors and shades to create optical illusions. Minimizing your least favorite features and giving life to what you love the most.

So how does it what work and what is worth your time and money? Here are a few that I have used and what I think of them.... (there are a ton out there) I will start with Anastasia Beverly Hills because I consider that one to be the best and lets face it... what does she put out that isn't perfection.

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS

Anastasia Beverly Hills puts out 2 contour kits. One cream. One powder. I got the powder first. To use the powder one I started my make as usual. Moisturizer. Bareminerals brightening primer. Bareminerals complexion rescue ( I use suede 4). Bareminerals loose powder to set the everything. And then finally the contour kit in medium. The powder kit is probably the most subtle. I found the difference in appearance after using it to be minimal... which is enough for a beginner until you get a good grasp on where you are placing the different colors. If you have never tried the whole highlight contour thing this is definitely the place to start.

Just recently the cream contour kit came out and quickly became my favorite. For a number of reasons. The number one reason is it has such good coverage concealer and foundation are not even necessary considering you don't have any issues or major discoloring. To use this I start with moisturizer. Bareminerals brightening primer. Then go right into the cream contour kit. I use the lightest color which is banana on my t zone. under my eyes. bridge of my nose. and my chin. I use cinnamon just under my cheekbones and to outline my nose. A little bit of cinnamon on my forehead just by the hair line.  And finally chocolate which is the darkest shade just under the cinnamon I used on my cheeks. A lot of what you see in tutorials is that they put all of the colors on at one time and then blend.I find it easier to do one color at a time. Place them. And then pat them  to blend before I add the next color. When I am done with the cream contour kit I find the powder contour kit the perfect compliment to really finish and define the look. You need powder on top to set any cream and being able to use the pretty much the same colors to set really makes a difference. When I am done using the powder I like to go back into the cream contour kit and use the warm coral on the apple of my cheeks it is the perfect color to brighten and warm up your face.

Another thing that I love about the cream contour kit is that there are so many ways you can apply it. You can use a moist blending bud for a more dewy look or add a drop of oil to it. You can also use it as is with a brush which is the way I like to do it most days.

Basically you can use one or the other or both together for the perfect look. Each kit retails for $40.00 which is a great price considering you get 6 colors.

top picture was using just the powder kit to h/c

bottom pic was using the cream kit with powder kit to set the h/c


YOUNIQUE HIGHLIGHT CONTOUR SET

Younique recently came out with their highlight contour set. It includes 2 shades of their bb flawless cream which you already know I am a fan of and two blending buds. If you are not familiar with younique or how to highlight and contour it may be a little tricky to pick out colors. I went with cream which is their lightest shade and caramel which is one of their darker shades but not the darkest. To do the highlight and contour with these products  I used the blending buds that they came with which is probably the only way that I would do it using them. They are very creamy tinted moisturizers so they go on very smooth. They are super easy to blend. They leave your skin with a nice dewy look if that is what you like this is perfect for you... if you have oily skin maybe not so much. Your are only getting two colors with this so this a very basic highlight contour which again is great for a beginner. The only set back... the price. This set retails for $90.00 Is it worth it? Hard to say. You are getting two full tubes of cream that will last you a very long time because you really don't need much product. But $90.00 is $90.00 and you still need a powder to set this look. Which just like Anastasia you can purchase complimenting colors to do so from the younique line which also retail for $32.00. So when all is said and done you are looking at $90 for the set and then another $64 for powder.

Using younique cream and caramel to h/c



BAREMINERALS

This is not a true contour kit and not marketed as one BUT.... you can get away with using it as one and for a great price. It is called the complexion perfection palette and it is just that. It comes with everything you need for the perfect face on the go. It has foundation, the mineral veil, bronzer, luminizer, a correcting concealer, the brushes you need, and the best part it comes in a make up clutch that fits perfectly in your bag. For an everyday natural but somewhat contoured look this is PERFECT and it only costs $49. I use again the moisturizer and brightening primer. The concealer just under my eyes. The foundation on my entire face. The bronzer just in the hollow part of my cheek where I would use the contouring colors from the other kits and the luminizer just on my cheek bones, bridge of my nose and cupids bow... it really is a very quick and easy every day look that gives you that little extra with out much effort. This set is perfect for on the go and anyone that doesn't really want to be bothered with lots of different brushes techniques or hesitant about their blending skills.

using bareminerals

Did I leave anything out? Tell me what. Something you want me to review? Leave a comment. Have something to add... I love feedback. Hope you enjoyed. As always thanks for reading :)

(All products reviewed were bought on my own and are actually what I use.)

My final younique review

You already know what I think about everything that younique has to offer for the eye and lips... on to the face.

ILLUMINATE CLEAN/CLEAR FACIAL CLEANSER:

I haven't tried them. So as you can imagine not much to review. I would assume that they work just fine have heard a mix of good reviews about both. They retail for $39... which is about average when you are talking about good skin care products. I personally use philosophy which I love and is the reasons I haven't tried younique. Despite the rave reviews from others... I know what works for me and wont chance it because there is no make up that compares to good skin.

TOUCH MINERAL FOUNDATION CREAM

I will start off by saying I am not a fan of this type of product. Younique is the only one like it I have ever owned so I don't really have anything to compare it to. That being said... I find that this cream foundation that comes in a compact is well... I am not really sure how to describe the texture. I would not quite say creamy. It give good coverage but after trying 3 different shades I just can not find the one that best matches my skin tone so none of them have really looked good on me. Aside from the color match issue that I have with this I feel like while it gives good coverage its not quite enough so I would still wear powder over it. Retail price is $32.

MOODSTRUCK MINERAL CONCEALERS

Love this one! But I have been wearing Bareminerals for years and in comparison they are very similar. Lightweight. Easy even coverage. I find it is enough that on days that I am not really feeling the make up thing this is enough in and of itself with nothing added. It cost $29 and is well worth it. As with all powders but loose powder in particular you want to remember that less it more. You can always add to what you have done but if you put too much it is not so easy to go back and even out for lighter coverage.

TOUCH MINERAL PRESSED POWDER

I feel like I have a love hate relationship with the pressed powder by younique. I use this mostly for just light touching up through out the day which it is perfect for if you use it sparingly. The finish on it is just a little too matte for me. Although I imagine if you have oily skin or oily patches the pressed powder would be perfect for you. When I have used it on my entire face no matter how little I use it always looks caked on. I like that it is convenient and is definitely one of the items I keep in my bag when I will be out for the day but not something I would use as part of my regular make up routine.

BB FLAWLESS
I can not say enough about how much I live the BB Flawless complexion enhancer! It is perfect for Highlight and contour. Perfect for everyday use. It is light. Goes on smooth and seamless. Most days it is all I wear. BB Flawless gives flawless coverage! And the best part is you cant really even tell you have it on that is how light it is. This product costs $39... and is well worth it! It is probably my favorite product put out by younique other than of course the mascara. Younique also just came out with all new blending buds which really work like a dream for applying and blending the BB Flawless. Even better they come in a bundle which allows you to save and is really all you need for a perfectly contoured face!

ROSE WATER

"Spray this natural wonder on clean skin to add hydration and subtract redness and oil. Apply before make up to prep or after to help set your fabulous face for the whole day."

Hmmmm... I have the rose water. Tried it in everyway described and have to say... I can not see a difference when I use this product. It does however work really well with the eye pigments if you want to wet them for more vibrant or as liner to get a precise line. But plain old tap water works just as well so for this one I have to say save your $29.

Younique Review PART 2: LIPS

So the magic mascara got your attention but now you see Younique has so much more to offer. Is the rest of it magical? Well maybe not quite magical but there are few things that are definitely worth a try.

LUCRATIVE LIP GLOSS

Lucrative? Not sure why they chose this as the name of their gloss nonetheless it is a good product with a reasonable price tag. They are $15 each or 3 for $40. Really not a bad price. The glosses come in 10 colors. While I have to say I do like all of them my favorites are Lavish, Lethal, and Lovesick. They all give a decent amount of  color with high shine just like you would expect from a gloss. They are not sticky or gooey which is always a plus and they compliment most of the liners Younique has to offer. They are also great worn alone. Glosses in general are not my personal favorite cause I like the dense color that lipstick gives but these are definitely my go to on days that I feel like wearing less or just want some extra shine.

Using just Luxe Lucrative Lip Gloss

MOODSTRUCK PRECSION LIP LINER

Liners go for the the same price as the gloss which I think is a good deal. You can also save and bundle on these too. First the good about the liners. The colors are vibrant. They go on smooth. Can be worn as matte lipstick (LOVE) or liner.They LAST all day and then some. Primal is my personal favorite. It is almost like a hot pink with a red undertone. I absolutely love to pair Primal with the Pristine Liner from the eye collection for the ombre look. The only thing that you have be careful about is making sure that your lips are not dry or cracked if you are gonna use the white liner... it will show... and make your lips look chunky and flaky which is not ever sexy or cute or ok... so if you have chapped lips do not fill them in with Pristine. The bad or just not so good... the lip liners come in a very limited selection and there are not many colors that suit me. But if there were... I'd probably buy them all.

Using Primal Liner with Pristine 

STIFF UPPER LIP LIP STAIN

"Smudge-proof. Smooch-proof. Worry-free." Quite the claim! And also makes this product sound AMAZING! Which unfortunately I find that it is not.  Although I have seen fantastic results on others it just doesn't work for me. I applied the first coat. Sultry was the color I used. It is stain so you have to expect that it will be watery... and it is. I found it hard to get it on evenly. More than that I found it hard to keep it contained and looking precise. But once I got it on... it looked GOOD! For a few minutes. In less than three minutes my lips had almost absorbed all of it and something about that just doesn't sit right with me. I mean all the color was gone... so the claim is half true. I didn't have to worry about kissing it off or smudging it because there was simply nothing there. Huge disappointment! So I put a second coat on... and had the same result. Third coat... slightly more color stayed. But lets be honest who wants to keep applying the same thing for mediocre results... oh and it costs $22 and for that price I expect it do a little more. Don't worry it is not a total waste. Urban Decay makes a fantastic lip liner called Ozone. It is a clear sort of base liner that goes great with a product like this. Apply Ozone first and you don't have to worry about feathering, it also lets you maintain a precise defined lip. I find with using Ozone first the color also lasts a little longer. 

If you use any of these products let me know what you think... love em'? Hate em'? Gotten different results? Let me know :) 

My results using Sultry Lip Stain