Makeup

Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Chrome Mascara in Sapphire Makes Lashes Twinkle Like Little Gemstones!

May 12th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 9 Comments

I can’t lie, I’m a little “vanilla” when it comes to mascara. When I was getting a new one a few weeks back, I accidentally picked up one in “brown/black” and recoiled the instant I recognized my gaffe. I’ve just always been more of a “blackest black” kind of chick when it comes to these lashes, and I don’t deviate that often.

Not long ago NYX released an immense range of vibrant, affordable colorful mascaras that seem lovely, and the world of glittery mascaras is vast, but I just haven’t been able to part with my precious carbon black hues…

Enter Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Chrome Mascara (about $6 at Walmart), a different, also affordable take on the brand’s already popular glitter mascaras.

Graphite, a metallic aluminum silver, and Sapphire, a deep, luminous gemstone blue, have me changing my tune about shimmery, colorful mascara.

They’re both new shade additions to the existing range, all of which are about $6 each.

“Create futuristic chrome lashes that are fun and flirty with Lash Tinsel Chrome Mascara. The pearl packed formula evenly coats lashes and the comb-like applicator removes any clumps for a professional look every time! Layer over black or a tonal mascara for a more vivid, multi-dimensional look.”

— hardcandy.com

Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Mascara in Sapphire

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The Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints by Tarte: Nine Shades From Sweet to Sexy

May 12th, 2016 by Anna Oh 17 Comments

There’s a lot to love about these Tarte Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints ($20), and the best way I can describe them is “trend-in-a-good-way.” The nine shades are hydrating, vegan-friendly, and so pigmented that they’re really just upgraded lipglosses. Every shade rocks. The color palette inspired me to create one of my most colorful illustrations yet!

beauty illustration tarte anna oh tarteist glossy lip paint — A beauty illustration inspired by the Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints

As a range, they’re neutral…with an edge. Among the shades are plenty of rosy nudes, plus a few really, really fun shades. I love how Tarte totally went there with the one called Poison. It’s a black plum that stains my lips a deep purple.

The deep shades look incredible on the lips and also work when patted down to a stain, which helps them last much longer (and there’s also less to worry about when they’re applied that way, for anyone wondering).

Here are pics and thoughts on the colors.

Tarte Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint: swatches

tarteist glossy lip paint hella — Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Hella

Hella, a “white nude,” is the only color that’s a little too pale for me. It will settle into my fine lines if I don’t layer it, so I recommend using this one with a nude lip liner.

tarteist glossy lip paint obvi — Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Obvi

Obvi, a “warm nude,” is the only Lip Paint with shimmer. It’s a nice flattering color that isn’t too bright or pink.

tarteist glossy lip paint goals — Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Goals

Goals! Love that name. This one is a “rosy nude,” and I think it brightens up the face more than the others.

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Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Colour in Fig and Shine Luxe Lip Colour in Sheer Delicate Nude, New for Spring 2016

May 11th, 2016 by Adia Goss 20 Comments

new sonia kashuk lipstick — New lipstick shades from Sonia Kashuk and another gorgeous Sonia K makeup bag!

Sonia Kashuk’s Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colour and Satin Luxe Lip Colour lipsticks are sooo good!

I’d never tried Sonia Kashuk lipsticks before, and now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. They’re super pigmented and beyond comfortable (which is actually a hard combo to come by, and from a drugstore brand, no less). After trying these shades, both of which are new for spring, now I want the rest of the range!

The first new shade here is called Sheer Delicate Nude, and it’s part of the Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colour collection. It’s soft, creamy and has a really pretty gloss to it, and even though it’s semi-sheer, it has a heavier finish, almost like a lip balm, so it’s also highly hydrating.

The texture reminds me a lot of the Palladio lip balms that I mentioned in my post about my makeup bag essentials.

It’s just a really pretty nude. Plus, it’s incredibly comfortable. When I wear it I feel like I’m pampering my lips.

Sometimes with lipsticks I have to layer a lip balm under them (like the Murad lip treatment I reviewed a while ago) to add extra moisture, and I don’t mind doing that, but it is an extra step… With the Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colours, though, they’re so moisturizing that I can happily wear them alone, which is really impressive. I’m always down for anything that will save me a little time in the morning.

Sheer Delicate Nude and the other eight Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colours are available now at Target for $11 each.

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With the Benefit Cheekathon Blush & Bronzer Palette, Your Cheeks Will Cross the Fabulous Line

May 11th, 2016 by Jen Clark 11 Comments

Benefit Cheekathon Blush and Bronzer Palette — The CUTEST packaging!

Benefit, Benefit, Benefit…oh, how I love you! You really nailed it with the Cheekathon Blush & Bronzer Palette.

What do you think of first when you think of Benefit? Do you think of their boxed powders? They’re so iconic to the brand, and for good reason. Every single one of them is uh-may-zing! And now, rather than having to go out and buy them all individually, you can get five of Benefit’s best blushes and bronzers at once with the $58 Cheekathon palette.

Normally in kits like this the actual pans are usually smaller than usual, but listen to this: all of these powders are FULL SIZED!

What?!

That is so impressive to me. You don’t see palettes like that every day, and normally a single full-sized blush or bronzer would run you $29, so for the price of two of them you’re getting five!

The blushes you get with Cheekathon are Rockateur (a shimmery rose gold), Dallas (a dirty rose), Coralista (a shimmery bright coral), and Dandelion (a bright baby pink). And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Benefit release without Hoola bronzer (a perfect matte). You get such a variety of colors and finishes with this palette that you could probably get away with never using another blush in your life.

You also get a little brush with the palette, which is actually pretty nice for contouring using Hoola.

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It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Essentials Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette: Mastering the Matte Eye With It Cosmetics

May 10th, 2016 by Anna Oh 5 Comments

If you find matte eyeshadows to be a tricky thing, you are not alone. The blending is more crucial, and the texture is less forgiving. And it really separates the pros from the amateurs. But despite any level of makeup skill, a solid matte eyeshadow formula can do wonders.

I’ve been using a new palette by It Cosmetics called the Naturally Pretty Essentials Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette ($28), and it has an easy, soft formula that may agree with you.

itcosmetics-4 — A pretty pink palette. The top of the outer packaging has a pillowed cushion feel.

itcosmetics-5 — It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Essentials Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette

itcosmetics-face — Wearing the collection along with Too Faced Le Matte Lipstick in Hey Gurrl with a clear gloss on top

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Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30 Is a Primer Triple Threat

May 10th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

Believe it or not, despite being a lifelong member of the Super Pale Club, I only recently realized how important it is to use cosmetics and moisturizers and other products with SPF in them. It wasn’t until an awful sunburn a few years ago that I even really started wearing sunscreen at the beach. (I know, so bad!)

What can I say? Bad teenage habits…

Now, though, I’m serious about it — serious about sunscreen and moisturizer with SPF.

But I’d never really thought about primers with SPF, not until I tried Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($65).

murad, spf, primer, — Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30

This little potion/primer couples makeup priming powers with potent sun protection.

“Flawless and fabulous in just one step. This invisible skin perfecting shield blends together advanced treatment, primer, and SPF technologies to immediately blur and protect while combating the signs of aging.”

—murad.com

I’d used other Murad products before, but only briefly. Not long ago, before consulting a dermatologist for my acne, while I was trying everything under the sun in the hopes that I’d find something that would help, I’d tried the Murad Acne Starter Kit, and some of the things in the kit helped, a little, but I think I just needed something stronger.

Before giving Invisiblur Perfecting Shield a try, I wondered if it would be as good as or better than e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer, my current favorite primer, and, well, it is. As a primer under makeup, Invisiblur Perfecting Shield works like magic.

I apply it after my regular moisturizer, which also contains SPF, and for the record, when I do it, there’s no clumping, which happens sometimes when I mix products that contain SPF.

murad, primer, SPF — The smooth, clear gel makes application a breeze

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By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur Luxe Tinted Lip Balm in Mauve Moon and Corail Stellar

May 9th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 14 Comments

Wearing By Terry Baume de Rose in Corail Stellar ($58)

To me, few brands are more chic than By Terry. I’ve adored the unquestionably luxe line since the first time I spotted the brand while living in Paris. I still remember the thrill I got from splurging on my very first tub of Baume de Rose lip balm… How decadent it was! The rich, soothing cream never left my college purse until I’d used every last bit on my dry patches, cuticles and, of course, lips.

Later a good friend sent me Or de Rose, a golden shimmering take on the original, except with rose gold packaging, and I am still scraping to get out every last drop.

I jumped for joy and nostalgic excitement when, this past year, By Terry released Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur, a tinted version of her precious cult classic in a range of shades from berries to classic cherry reds and deep maroons.

For spring 2016, By Terry has added two new shades — Mauve Moon and Corail Stellar ($56 each) — the first in the line to contain subtle shimmer, and they’re just as stunning as their predecessors.

By Terry Baume de Rose Spring 2016 — By Terry Baume de Rose in Mauve Moon and Corail Stellar

As a dry-lipped lass, I really appreciate the tinted take on By Terry’s classic lip balm formula, which I clearly love, as I’ve nearly demolished two pots of the original and two pots of the golden shimmering version, and Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur easily lives up to the classic’s standard.

“The much-loved lip balm has now been given the Rose Infernale full-color treatment. This eye-popping palette ranges from chic and cheerful to innocent hushed hues and whimsical high-drama. The ever-luxurious formula pampers and soothes with softening rose flower essential wax, lipo-regenerating shea butter, free radical fighting vitamin E, restructuring ceramides, hydrating and smoothing filling spheres. Lips will lap up this deep-down long-lasting cure.”

—spacenk.com

Just as rich and moisturizing as the untinted version, the tinted rendition also has a wonderful rosy garden scent, which smells like real life roses and green stems.

I adore it but, as a word to the wise, if you’re sensitive to scented lip products, you may want to reconsider, as the rosy scent lingers on lips for a while.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

May 9th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 33 Comments

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

Blush was the last, most recent category of makeup I got into, because I’m really fair, and while I’d say that my skin tone is generally more neutral, I do still get rosy. Since I thought that the point of foundation was to even out your skin tone, and getting rosy plays into that, I guess I just figured that blush was sort of a contradiction and would work against my efforts.

So I rocked a pale face for a long time. Then, well, I found Luminoso.

I’m pretty sure it was the first blush I ever tried, too, and what a good choice it was. It’s not just pink, and it’s not just peach. I feel like it’s the color that was meant to be there, like its found a home on my face.

Milani’s baked blushes are wonderful, and they’re not just good for the price (around 7 bucks). They’re good across the board.

I feel like Luminoso, especially, is kind of a one-stop shop. It isn’t matte, and it isn’t overly sparkly. It’s just a healthy peachy glow with a slight and very fine white/gold glow.

I think it looks phenomenal with, like, a really flawless base down, a strong brow, loads of mascara, and a classic red lip. Luminoso just like brings it all together.

Bolder lipstick shades wash you out pretty instantly, and Luminoso brings the life back into my cheeks.

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