Guest Post

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation and Aquacealer Concealer: For a Complexion as Smooth as the Smoothest Seashell

March 29th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 23 Comments

If there’s one piece of mythical holy grail makeup that I’m basically always on a mission to find, it’s The Perfect Foundation. Although I’m not one to buy several different foundations at once, I do delight in testing new formulas whenever I finish one (you’ll almost never catch me using the same foundation twice).

Formulas are always described as being “out of this world,” and in many cases I think they actually are quite innovative. That’s one of the things that excites me about foundation. On top of that, a great foundation and concealer can make all the difference in the world to really set off your makeup.

The new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea collection includes two fabulous, unique base makeup formulas with their Water Foundation and Aquacelaer concealer.

First, Tarte Water Foundation ($39 for 1 fl oz. bottle) will have you ready for summer fun in the sun because it contains SPF 15.

I tend to apply additional sunblock products beneath my foundations, even the ones that have SPF, because you can never be too careful with your skin, but it’s also a relief to know that my base products also have me covered (ha, see what I did there?) when.

Although the formula is full coverage, Water Foundation contains as much as 20% water, which is meant to hydrate skin while also covering redness, blemishes, unevenness and dark spots. The applicator (shown down below on the left) is a pipette-style dropper that picks up a fair amount of product from the bottle. One “pump” of the dropper sufficiently covers my full face, but I find that it works best when I put one full pump on the back of my hand first, and then pick the product up with a brush from there to blend on my face.

As for Tarte Aquacealer Concealer ($26 for a 0.34 fl oz. bottle), the luminous and creamy formula is like a serum in that it feels emollient while blending and sets to an incredibly hydrating, refreshing finish, particularly around my under-eye area.

Formulated to conceal and brighten under the eyes, as well as cover blemishes and a whole gamut of other skin concerns, Aquacealer is a high-coverage workhorse when it comes to hiding skin unmentionables.

And I love the GIANT doe-foot applicator! I mean, seriously, it’s like Tarte took a growth ray to one of your favorite lip gloss applicators and grew it threefold! Why aren’t all concealers equipped with this kind of doe foot?!

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Make These Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Palettes “Part of Your World!”

March 29th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 32 Comments

Whenever I think of constantly craving gorgeous makeup products…I always picture that meme of Ariel singing about adding cosmetics to her collection instead of “whoozits and whatzits.”

It’s even more on my mind when I look at the totally gorgeous palettes Tarte released with their new Rainforest of the Sea collection. Each one has its own style and comes with a mirror. They’re marine chic done eau, so right.

Along with the three Rainforest of the Sea palettes — a color-correcting complexion perfector, a classic nude shadow palette and a gorgeous highlighting palette — Tarte also released a waterproof eyeliner (because of course it has to be waterproof in this collection).

Diving into the first luxurious golden palette, Tarte’s limited edition Wipeout Color Correcting Palette ($45) contains six pans of color corrector and concealer. The hues in Wipeout approach color correcting differently than Becca’s Color Correctors. Tarte’s take on the trend is yellow and green based, which seems more approachable for a wider array of skin tones.

I love that Tarte thought ahead and included a handy how-to guide (showm below) with suggestions on where to place each shade. Orange shade #1 is intended to counteract the darkest places on the face, while green shade #2 neutralizes redness, deep shade #3 defines and sculpts, #5 conceals, and the yellow shade in the center brightens.

The consistency of these concealers is similar to Laura Mercier’s much-beloved Secret Camouflage formula (a favorite of mine that I’ve repurchased time and time again). They’re waxy but emollient and easy to blend, and I love the mix and match capabilities that this palette provides.

Unfortunately, though, the lone concealer shade is intended to be “one size fits all,” and it may not suit all skin tones equally.

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With the MAC Versicolour Stain Collection for Spring 2016, It’s About Popsicle Pouts!

March 28th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 45 Comments

MAC Versicolour Stain Collection Spring 2016 — The MAC Versicolour Stain Collection for Spring 2016 ($24 each)

It’s officially spring! And it seems like El Niño (and Karl the Fog) got the memo here in the Bay, because we’ve had nothing but sunshine for the past few days.

Also, now that it’s warming up, I’m busting out the lip stains, which might be my favorite beauty items for the spring/summer months.

They’re crucial! They’re great for naked face days, no-makeup-makeup days, and basically all days that ends in “-day.” I like them because they’re low maintenance, and they last. One of my all-time favorite lip stains is the one I get from a cherry Popsicle.

But today I’m bringing you one of the latest launches from MAC, the MAC Versicolour Stain Collection, which is a gloss/stain fusion formula available in 16 shades ranging from nudes to peaches, oranges to fiery reds, and magentas to deep purples. There’s a shade (if not, like, three of them) for everyone, and they’re going to be permanent!

The formula is smooth and feels quite nourishing. These are also hella pigmented, with the exception of Long Live the Night, which is a nude. I wore Preserving Passion (a deep wine) one day last weekend, and it lasted all. day. long.

I started the day wearing it as a gloss, and the shine started to wear down about an hour or so later, but my lips retained a satin finish for most of the day after, progressively fading to a matte stain over the course of many hours.

Lip stains can be intimidating because if you mess up, well…you’re done for, but the Versicolour tube and applicator makes application a lot easier than usual. The applicator is a pointy doe foot that doesn’t pick up too much product (for me, anyway). The stopper is also a lot lower than the lip of the actual tube, which makes wiping excess product off of the applicator a breeze.

While I love the convenience of doe-foot applicators, they sure do load on the product sometimes, and that always gets me into trouble, so, needless to say, I’m a fan of lip stain reservoirs.

The collection has a flirty, summer-lovin’ color story that is only enhanced by the shade names. I wouldn’t call the collection groundbreaking…but I do think that these really are quite exquisite lip stains.

First, they’re very pigmented. Every swatch below is just one coat, and I blotted all of the excess away in the bottom rows to give you an idea of how each shade looks as a stain. I have a good feeling that these will perform well on a wide variety of skin tones.

Long Live the Night – Pale warm nude
Constant Craving – Mid-tone blue pink
Tattoo My Heart – Bright pinky coral
Let’s Stay Together – Mid-tone warm pink
Ceaseless Energy – Bright raspberry pink

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The Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 28 in Purple Blue: The Guiltiest Pleasure!

March 28th, 2016 by Anna Oh 25 Comments

alexa chung illustration anna oh ao beauty — Illustration of Alexa Chung and her signature smokey eye, by Anna Oh

Yes.

That’s right.

I’ll give you a minute…

If your body is ready now, this is THE Natasha Denona 28 Eyeshadow Palette in Purple Blue ($239), and it’s about to sell out on Beautylish as we speak!

The hype around this product is very real for many reasons, the first one being the price (!), the second being the colors, and the third being the formula.

First…

The price

For $239, this single item is one of the most expensive eyeshadow palettes on the market. The pans work out to roughly $8.50, and you’re getting 28 of them. If you only collect Natasha Denona eyeshadows, this is a great value.

But if you’re like me and collect eyeshadows from almost every brand, this is a question mark (?) for sure. Buying 28 Makeup Geek or MAC eyeshadows (like the $6 refill pans) would actually save you money!

These are presented as “pro-quality” and “ultra-pigmented,” and they’re packaged in a VERY smartly designed, sleek, and surprisingly small palette. I really appreciate the wide variety of different colors and finishes.

The colors

The colors speak for themselves. Beautiful and subtle, but loud and incredibly nuanced at the same time. As the “Purple-Blue” palette, you get an incredible range with some added pinks, silvers, and taupes. I would say that I’m a neutral lover with an appreciation for color, and I find that this palette is very wearable, save for three or four of the colors. I think the range of colors rounds out the palette for color lovers and neutral lovers alike.

natasha denona 28 eye palette purple blue swatches — Swatches: all 28 eyeshadows of the Natasha Denona Purple Blue Palette

The Purple Blue palette contains:
28V electric violet, 82V nina’s orchid, 51M rosewood, 80M piggy, 40M lavender gray, 11M metallic steel blue, 11V steel blue, 38M gray-brown, 24V aubergine, 22M maroon, 60M golden rose, 63M oxide, 84V powder blue, 09M quick silver, 32P deep slate gray, 75P satin skin, 52M golden beige, 70P cool plum, 92M petroleum blue, 89V koh tao, 03V deep pacific, 12M glaze, 23P smoky plum, 49M vintage, 05M calypso blue, 65V smoke, 04M chromatic, 01V navy

Paraben-free.

70 g / 2.5 oz.

natasha denona 28 eye palette purple blue — My favorite row in the palette!

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Too Faced La Crème Color Drenched Lipstick Swatches

March 28th, 2016 by Jen Clark 32 Comments

We live in a world filled with uncomfortably drying matte lipsticks.

They are EVERYWHERE!

But I took a much-needed break from the discomfort with the Cruelty Free Lipsticks by Too Faced this week, and let me tell ya, it felt gooood.

These lipsticks are smooth and balmy with a surprising color payoff. Normally, when I go for moisture and comfort, the appearance takes a hit, but not this time! Even with nasty, cracked lips with dry patches (I have notoriously dry lips, mm yummy), these smooth over the top and make them look a lot better than they did, and I appreciate the heck out of that.

There are 22 gorgeous shades to choose from, 10 of them being brand-spankin’ new! There are a couple of perfect nudes, some amazing pinks, and even some stunning darker vamp-y shades.

I just have to gush over the packaging for a sec… Ugh, it feels so luxurious! There’s something about a heavily weighted golden lipstick tube that just makes you feel a little bit better about life, and I love to wear these partly for the experience of putting them on.

I doubt that I’m the only one who feels that way, or at least, I hope I’m not the only one who gets that excited about lipstick. 🙂

Now, I’m just going to warn you, but beware of the shades with glitter/shimmer in them, and there are quite a few, because this is not a subtle glitter. I’m talking, I felt like I could have been the sixth member of the Spice Girls. You may now call me Shimmer Spice.

I’m not saying I hate them. In fact, part of me loves them! Just make sure you’re aware that they pack a punch if you plan to order online. Take a peek at the swatches down below if you want to see what I’m talking about, although it’s not as obvious as it is in real life.

Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick in Unicorn Tears — “Unicorn Tears” — an iridescent shimmer

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4 Lipsticks I Love That No One Ever Talks About

March 25th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 31 Comments

Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery on my lips

Well, I’m sure that some people did talk about them back when they were first released, but they seem to have fallen into oblivion in favor of more recent launches…

We beauty lovers are a little like spoiled children sometimes, don’t you think? We like our brand new toys for about 10 seconds, and then we want newer, shinier things to keep ourselves entertained. 🙂

But today is a different day, and I’m bringing back the love for four these not-so-recent lipsticks I absolutely adore!

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Carthage Maybelline Superstay 14H Fuchsia Forever Tarte Matte Lip Tint Fiery Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick Rebellious Rose — Clockwise from the top left corner: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Rebellious Rose, Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery, Maybelline SuperStay 14HR in Fuchsia Forever, and NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage

Swatches NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Carthage Maybelline Superstay 14H Fuchsia Forever Tarte Matte Lip Tint Fiery Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick Rebellious Rose — L-R: NARS Carthage, Maybelline Fuchsia Forever, Tarte Fiery, Estée Lauder Rebellious Rose

1. NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Carthage ($28)

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Clinique Lid Pop Long-Wearing Eyeshadow: Clinique’s Latest “Pop” Sensation

March 25th, 2016 by Anna Oh 16 Comments

clinique spring 2016 lid pops — The Clinique Lid Pop long-wearing eyeshadows for spring 2016 ($17 each, available now)

Hi everyone!

Clinique is back for spring with eyeshadows based on their uber-popular long-wearing, buildable Cheek Pop line.

Also known as “the prettiest eyeshadows ever!” the new Clinique Lid Pops ($17 each) come in eight satiny and shimmery shades, and here’s a look at four of them.

This powder gelee formula is downright PRETTY on the skin. Petal Pop and Cream Pop reflect nicely on the lids, and the matte color — Cocoa Pop — has a beautiful satin sheen.

Unfortunately, Surf Pop doesn’t fare so well in swatches or on the lids. Blue is an unforgiving color to start with, and this one needs better pigmentation to prevent patchy application.

I wonder what Clinique plans to release next into their “Pop” product line!

The Clinique Lid Pops

Vanilla Pop
Cream Pop
Petal Pop
Grape Pop
Surf Pop
Aqua Pop
Willow Pop (I really want to get this one!)
Cocoa Pop

Clinique Lid Pops (L-R) Petal Pop, Surf Pop, Cocoa Pop, Cream Pop

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AmorePacific Sheet Mask Makes for A Perfect Skin Day

March 25th, 2016 by Jen Clark 16 Comments

You know the old saying, “beauty is pain”? Well, in this case, you get all of the beauty while your loved ones endure the pain of looking at your terrifying face in this sheet mask!

The AmorePacific Moisture Bound Intensive Serum Masque is such a luxurious treat. Infused with 100% pure Bamboo sap and a blend of Asian botanicals, it moisturizes, plumps and firms.

If you’ve got an event where you need your skin to look its best, or your skin is just dull, dry and tired and you need a pick-me-up, look no further than right here.

The package comes with two treatments for $32, so this will definitely be a once in a while luxury for me. I’ll always keep a pack on hand, though, because they are THAT good. They’re one of those things that just make your skin look better.

It’s hard to find the words to exactly describe what happens between the time when you put one on and you take it off, but whatever it is, it’s magic.

This one is a little different than other sheet masks I’ve tried, because rather than the mask being pre-soaked in a solution, you get a little vial of the serum and a dry, gel textured mask. All you have to do is dump the serum on your face and spread it around.

There’s quite a lot of it, so be warned — things get a little slippery.

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