Sephora

My Favorite Products From Sephora Collection

June 23rd, 2016 by Carolina Braina 31 Comments

Sephora Collection Best Products — Wearing the Sephora Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream in 04 Wonderful Fuchsia on my lips and the Sephora Retractable Brow Pencil in 06 Soft Charcoal through my brows

Poor Sephora Collection!

I feel like it’s the Cinderella of all the brands you can find at Sephora.

I mean, I don’t know about you, but 99% of the times I go to Sephora, I don’t even look at their own brand.

1% of a bajillion times is still quite a few times, though, so over the years I’ve actually managed to find some real gems.

So get ready, Sephora Collection. Polish your glass slippers because today’s your day to shine!

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red & 03 Strawberry Kissed ($14 each)

Sephora Cream Lip Stain 01 Always Red Swatch — The Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red is my go-to for holiday dinner parties as it remains pretty much intact even if I end up eating my own body weight in one meal

Sephora Cream Lip Stain 03 Strawberry Kissed — 03 Strawberry Kissed is a shade I prefer using in the summer months, and I included it among my five bright pink lipsticks to try this summer

Sephora definitely knows how to make liquid lipsticks, that’s for sure! I’ve tried three different types, and they all rock.

I’ll start with the one I think is the most popular, which is the Sephora Cream Lip Stain.

I have it in two shades, 01 Always Red and 03 Strawberry Kissed, and they’re both equally good.

Even though they’re completely matte and transfer-proof, they’re not overly drying or uncomfortable.

[Continue reading…]

My Current Favorite Liquid Lipsticks

June 9th, 2016 by Adia Goss 26 Comments

I’ve definitely tried my fair share of liquid lipsticks (most recently, the NARS Lip Covers), and I love the look of matte liquid lipsticks in general. It’s interesting to me how each brand handles them a little differently.

I first got into them when Colourpop exploded onto the scene with their “Ultra Matte” liquid lipsticks last summer (here are some of my favorites from Colourpop, by the way), but I’ve slowly but surely moved to some more forgiving formulas from other brands.

Here’s a quick roundup of my current faves…

Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Centerfold ($21)

I just love it when a product lives up to its name! Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Centerfold feels super comfortable and lightweight, and the applicator makes it a breeze to neatly apply. The formula doesn’t dry down to 100% matte, but it still stays put through moderate eating and snacking.

The best part, though, is that my lips don’t feel dry at all after wearing this one all day long. If you’re looking for a long-lasting formula that feels good on your lips, definitely check it out. You can find it at Sephora for $21.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II ($20)

The original Kat Von D Lolita was wildly popular and sold out right away, but when KVD made more, the color was different, which led to Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II.

I bought a set last fall that had mini sizes of the original Lolita, as well as Lolita II, and I prefer the sequel because the warm terra-cotta tones make it so easy to wear.

The formula dries all the way down to 100% matte, and it’s more resistant to transferring than Buxom Centerfold. But it’s still pretty comfortable on the lips (available now at Sephora for $20).

matte liquid lipsticks — Wearing Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II

[Continue reading…]

The Disney Minnie Beauty By Sephora Collection: Gorgeous Gold and Black Packaging Makes Minnie a Luxe Lass

May 31st, 2016 by Adia Goss 13 Comments

I’m not even a huge Minnie fan!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Disneyland, and the Disney movies from the early 1990s are seriously a part of my soul, but I’ve just never been one to collect Disney paraphernalia.

My goodness, though, the limited edition Disney Minnie Beauty By Sephora Collection is blowing me away. Now I want to start hoarding all things Minnie.

I’ve been playing with the Minnie’s World in Color Eyeshadow Palette ($45), Minnie’s Black & White Felt Eyeliner Duo ($20), Reflection of Minnie Compact Mirror ($26), Brush up on Glamour – Minnie’s Beauty Tools ($58), Minnie’s Inner Glow Luminizing Blush ($22) and the Perfect Red Lipstick ($15) this month, and I have to say that I’ve been so impressed, both with the quality of the products and, of course, the super cute packaging.

Minnie’s World in Color Eyeshadow Palette comes in a sturdy black clutch with gold polka dots, and both the mirror and the eyeshadows are removable, making the clutch totally usable!

There are 20 eyeshadows of varying sizes, and I like the arrangement, like how the middle of the palette has the larger sized eyeshadows in more neutral colors, while the outer rows have smaller sizes for the bolder colors.

[Continue reading…]

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Sephora Radiant Luminizing Drops

April 20th, 2016 by Adia Goss 23 Comments

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

Like Jen, a lot of the beauty products I end up buying are things I’ve heard good things about from other bloggers and makeup lovers, and so they aren’t necessarily “unsung.” But I do find myself coming back over and over again to the Sephora brand products, because I feel like, in general, Sephora brand products are super underrated. Like, everything is really good, but it’s just like when you go to Sephora, you’re overwhelmed by everything else, so I feel like the Sephora brand stuff just gets overlooked.

There’s actually a Sephora right across the street from my job, which is both awesome and horrible, LOL. So, one day on my lunch break, I was just going to the mall to walk around, and I go into Sephora like I usually do to pass the time and see what they have, and I see this little display of the Sephora brand Radiant Luminizing Drops. There’s a pink one, a gold one and maybe a bronzey-colored one ($14 each), and I did a little sample of the light pink one, Starlight, right then on my hand.

Wow! It was super pretty! It’s this liquid highlighter that’s pink…but it’s, like, warm enough that it actually shows up as pink, and I love pink. It’s my favorite color, especially when it comes to makeup. Like, I’m drawn to anything pink and shimmery, but a lot of times on dark skin, pink, shimmery products appear white and super harsh, so even though I love the color, when it comes to liquid or even powder highlighter, when I see pink, I steer clear, because I think, “This is gonna look super chalky and just crazy on my face.”

So when I tested this on my hand and saw a really pretty soft glowing pink, I thought, “You know what? I’mma just buy this!” And I did! And I love it!

[Continue reading…]

My Foundation Routine (A Collaboration With Marcella)

April 18th, 2016 by Adia Goss 23 Comments

When it comes to applying my foundation, I’ve had a bit of trial and error over the years. When I first started wearing foundation, I just used my fingers. That was back when the heaviest base I’d wear was a super sheer tinted moisturizer, so anything more than my hands seemed like overkill. Then I played around with flat synthetic foundation brushes but couldn’t avoid a streaky finish. My foundation game really stepped up when I started using the Real Techniques buffing brush.

I got it last year, and it changed my life. I don’t even know what I was doing before I started using it, and I swore I’d found “the one.”

But then the makeup sponge hit the scene, and once I tried the Real Techniques makeup sponge…wow. I put down that buffing brush and haven’t used it a single time since. The makeup sponge was PERFECT. I got a flawless finish and, once again, swore I’d never use anything else.

And I didn’t…for about a month.

But when I started using the Diorskin Nude Air Healthy Glow Serum Foundation (that I wore in this post and reviewed in this post), the makeup sponge didn’t quite work. The Dior foundation was just as thin as the L’oreal one I’ve been using lately, but for some reason, the makeup sponge just didn’t produce the finish I was looking for.

I tried the Real Techniques buffing brush, but I couldn’t get a great finish with that either. Since I’d recently gotten a set of Zoeva brushes, I also tried the Silk Finish brush that came in the Luxe Complete Set, and it worked better, but I felt like it took too much work to blend everything in.

Enter the Sephora Collection #53 brush, which turned out to be PERFECT. It’s a wide, flat brush, so it covers a lot of surface area pretty quickly.

foundation brush — Sephora Collection #53 Pro Full Coverage Airbrush.

I love that it only takes a few swipes to cover my face, and it applies my foundation with no streaks. I’d bought it last summer, but for some reason (probably something newer caught my eye), I used it like crazy for about a month, then put it aside.

This just reminded me that sometimes there’s a bit of trial and error in makeup… One tool may work perfectly with one foundation but be totally wrong with another. So, now when someone asks why I have so many makeup brushes, I’ll have an answer ready! 🙂

Because Marcella described her foundation routine earlier today, here’s how I apply my foundation:

Prime my face. To be totally honest, I don’t always apply a separate primer, although I 100% believe that it can make my makeup look better, longer. I’m just lazy and/or in a hurry most mornings. Plus, I’ve been using the new Giorgio Armani UV Skin Primer SPF 50 lately (which I LOVE). When I have the time, I really like to add the Becca Backlight Priming Filter before my foundation. It has a lightly glowy finish, but it’s not over the top (a similar effect to the MAC Strobe Cream).
Mist my makeup brush. I used my Glossier Soothing Face Mist because I am obsessed with rosewater, but a makeup primer or setting spray, or even water will work. I think misting my makeup brush helps it spread my foundation easier.
Apply my foundation starting at my nose and blending out. I just use a couple of drops of the Diorskin Nude Air Healthy Glow Serum Foundation.
I set this foundation using shade ND020 from the Zoeva Nude Spectrum Blush Palette. Like I mentioned in my first impressions video, since this blush is close to my skin color, it totally works as a setting powder!
After applying blush and highlighter, spray the Glossier Soothing Face Mist all over my face. I’m obsessed with facial mists, and spraying them on my face feels so luxurious!

*A note about this foundation: I really like it but had a couple of hiccups before I finally got it to work for me. I initially bought shade 5 (which I was wearing in this post), and when I first wore it at the store, it looked fine. But wearing it out and about during the day, it felt too orange. I actually think this foundation may oxidize slightly, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re interested in it. So, I exchanged it for shade 4, which I felt was too light at first, but when I asked my brother if my foundation was too light, he was like, “You’re wearing makeup?” (LOL…men!). And, looking at these pictures, it looks fine. The finish is very natural. I was expecting a more glowy finish due to the name, but it’s really a satin finish, which makes sense given that it’s called “healthy glow”. I like that it’s so lightweight, and considering that I only need 3-4 drops to cover my face, this 1-oz. bottle will last a very long time.

[Continue reading…]

The Sephora Formula X #ColorCurators Edition Nail Polishes for 2016

January 13th, 2016 by Karen 13 Comments

How fun would it be to get a call from someone at MAC, Benefit, Urban Decay or Sephora today saying, “Hi, [insert your name here]! We love what you’ve been doing on your blog and YouTube channel, and we want, in the paraphrased words of Queen Madge, to help you express yo’self!”?

Beauty collaborations. Talk about fun! Seriously, who wouldn’t want to work with one of their fave brands to create their very own lipstick (Lipglass), quad or color?

Sephora’s new Formula X #ColorCurators program is Sephora’s latest beauty collaboration. Each month Sephora will release three limited edition nail polish shades either created or curated by a different mover/shaker in the online beauty, lifestyle or fashion space.

To get the program off to a good start are three people you may have heard of before — fashion blogger Aimee Song of Song of Style, beauty vlogger Patrick Starrr (I watch him on the ‘Tube, and all I have to say is “Slaaaaaaay!” LOL! Patrick cracks me up.) and blogger and author Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere.

Aimee’s shades just launched for January, Patrick’s colors arrive in February, and Emily’s shades debut in March.

sephora formula x nude for you — Nude For You, by Aimee Song of Song of Style

sephora formula x sephora formula x patrick she better werk — She Better Werk, by Patrick Starrr

sephora formula x girls best friend — Girl’s Best Friend, by Aimee Song of Song of Style

So, Formula X. Let’s talk about that. First, the line has been around a while and, if you’ve spent any time at Sephora in the recent past (which, I imagine you have, if you’re on MBB, LOL!), chances are their display of jaw-dropping nail colors and nail doodads has caught your eye. It may have also distracted you from buying dry shampoo, mascara or whatever else you originally intended to buy when you entered the store…

It’s OK. It happens to me too. 🙂

sephora formula x latte run — Latte Run, by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere

I’ve tried quite a few of these and other Formula X colors, and I like them, particularly their levels of pigment, their drying time (about 10-15 minutes, which is reasonably quick) and wear time, but that last one comes with a catch… I think you really have to pair them with the Formula X accoutrements, namely their base and top coats, to get the most wear time out of them.

sephora formula x peach tea — Peach Tea, by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere

[Continue reading…]

Look Out! There’s a Leopard in the Brush…as in the New Brushes in the Sephora Collection Holiday 2015 Brush Sets

December 7th, 2015 by Karen 13 Comments

Leopard print, rose gold and glitter.

All fantastic elements by themselves, but together? Easy to go waaay over the top.

Weirdly, though, they don’t in these new holiday Sephora Collection brush sets.

It’s that time of year again — time for Sephora’s limited edition brush sets — and these are some of the prettiest I’ve seen from them.

They range in price from about $54 to $130 per set, depending on the number of brushes, which varies from six up to 12.

[Continue reading…]

Another Look at Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer

November 6th, 2015 by Karen 22 Comments

Love this so much that I’m talking about it again! — because I will not stop until the whole world knows how awesome Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer is (it’s only $14) and, coincidentally, this is just in time for the VIB sale.

I’m just sayin’. 🙂

I’m wearing it right now, and these are great because they’re not just for concealing. You can also use them as a full-coverage foundation, which I also like to do.

This is just a video to go with my review and swatches the other day.

As always, thank you for watching. I hope you’re having a great Friday so far.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen