Archive for the ‘Product Reviews’ Category

My Fav’s Right Now

December 12, 2010

My skin is much more dry and dull in the winter.  I thought I would share my favs right now for the winter season!

The Tarte ReCreate anti-aging foundation is creamy and moisturizing.  The coverage is great to cover up my dull skin and brighten it up.  The holding power is awesome, it doesn’t come off throughout the day.  Definitely a MUST for winter!!  Even though I am still in my twenties (at least for another  few weeks!), it is never too soon to use anti-aging products.  I have been using eye cream since I was 20!  Tarte is available at Ulta or Sephora and it costs $37 – but it’ll last you a while.

This foundation brush from Eco Tools is a STEAL.  I have spent $70+ dollars for a good foundation brush and I got this one for a whopping $6.99!!  I wasn’t expecting to like it – I was traveling and wanted to take a cheap foundation brush with me so I didn’t lose one of my expensive ones.  Glad I bought it because now I am using this everyday.  It doesn’t soak up product so you won’t waste any and it blends foundation very nicely with no streaking.  I give it an A+!  Available at Ulta.

The limited edition Urban Decay 24/7 Jackpot liners are available at Sephora.  I actually bought this for my kit but it’s found it’s way to my personal stash (guess I have to buy another one – oops!).  They are fantastic for a little punch of color on the lids when in a hurry or to bump up your everyday look into an evening look.  These liners don’t budge at all, are easy to apply and the colors are fabulous.  My fav is Ransom, a bright purple that isn’t too overbearing when on the lids.  They are also great liners for the waterline.  A+++ $39 at Sephora.

I got a sample of this Lip Fusion lipgloss in Bare.  It has plumping technology and I actually noticed it a little bit.  The color is awesome for a little bit of a nude shimmer with a punch of peach.  Looks great with the purple Ransom eyeliner from Urban Decay.  It gives my lips moisture, doesn’t feel sticky, and stays on quite well.  This color reminds me of cold rosy cheeks! Available at Sephora.

This mascara is awesome!  I totally love it.  The brush is like a way better version of Covergirls Lash Blast mascara brush.  The brush grabs my lashes, separates them and adds volume at the same time – it does what a mascara SHOULD do.  The smudge factor is excellent, especially on my oily eyelids.  I barely had any sign of product under my eyes at the end of the day. I give it a solid A.

I recently bought this LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler from Sephora.  At 40 bucks, its an awesome deal that I just couldn’t pass up.  I have the hardest time finding mascaras that work for me because I have oily eyelids so most of them smudge except for the waterproof ones but I try to stay away from those.  You’ll see reviews for most of these mascaras as I try them out…although we all know I am a total fan of BadGal lash so I won’t bother doing a review for that one!! :)

The first mascara I tried today was Laura Mercier’s Full Blown Volume Mascara.  I had high hopes for this one because I have heard great things about the Laura Mercier line, although I have never used it.

I liked the way the mascara went on, not too clumpy but not too natural either.  I wouldn’t say my lashes were near “full blown volume” so that was a let down.  It lasted from 8am until about 11am when I looked in the mirror and had smudges of mascara under my eyes.  I even primed my eyelids this morning!  So this mascara is a big FAIL.  Thumbs down (both of them!)

Fall is here in Chicago,  that sun kissed skin will slowly fade away.  Luckily, Urban Decay has released a new set of highlighters that will brighten up your face called Urbanglow Cream Highlight.

These creams come in 4 different colors. Brown Sugar (a warm taupey brown – finally a highlighter for darker skin tones!), Moonshine (an iridescent shimmer), Sin (the color famous in their eye primer, a shimmering champagne) and Wicked (a radiant pinky shimmer).  Urban Decays website claims that they are subtle enough to work with any skin tone but usually Urban Decay’s products are so full of pigment that those with a heavy hand may use too much.  Make sure you use a little and build the color up slowly so you don’t over apply.

These highlighters can be used in a multitude of ways.  They are great as a highlighter for your cheek bones,  apply right above the cheek bone along the bottom of the eye area to create a natural glow.  Dab a little in the inner corner of your eyes for a pop of shine, use right under the brow bone to lift your eyes up or even use them as a shimmery blush.

They are compact enough to store in your purse for when you need a quick pick me up.

Urban Decay’s Urbanglow Cream Highlighters are now available on Sephora.com.

Awesome Stila Deal!

September 24, 2010

 

I love Stila Convertible Colors – they are great for cheek color and if you are in a hurry – you can put some on your lips as well.  I use convertible colors on nearly all of my brides for blush because the staying power is fantastic and it gives a natural dewy look.  For a convertible color by itself, it’s $25 – these travel palettes are 10 bucks!  And they are full size convertible colors PLUS you get 4 eyeshadows as well…talk about a deal!!  They are selling out fast but they are available at Sephora.com (only online) and I also picked up a few at Ulta today!