Product Review -- It Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

One of my favorite face products of all time is the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream.

I love how lightweight it feels and how natural it looks on the skin -- and I love that unlike most CC creams, it really does deliver some pretty impressive coverage.

Now, I know it's not for everyone -- it has a pretty dewy finish, so if you have oily skin, it's not the best option -- but for me, it's a face product that does pretty much everything I want and need.

So I was curious when I saw that It Cosmetics was coming out with a new product, the Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer -- because it seemed like it would be pretty similar to the CC+ Cream and I couldn't really figure out why both would be necessary.

Product Review -- It Cosmetics It Girl Palette

Usually, It Cosmetics puts out some type of eyeshadow palette for the holiday season -- and I buy them just as soon as they come out.

It Cosmetics' shadows may not be as fun, bright, or bold as those from other brands, but they always perform well and work really well for everyday, so it's a no-brainer for me.

This year, though, It Cosmetics took a different route and came out with the It Girl Palette, an eye and cheek palette.

I still picked this one up without hesitation because I also happen to be a pretty big fan of It Cosmetics blushes, and I'm always looking for palettes that are easy to travel with.

The It Girl Palette comes in a plastic compact that features a pretty sparkly rhinestone-like lid. I think the design is perfect for the holidays, but I have noticed that it has a very plasticky smell that I'm not a big fan of.  Though that's mostly worn off at this point, so I only smell it now if I press my nose up to it ... which, honestly, I have no reason to do.

Product Review -- IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Foundation

I've had mostly good luck with IT Cosmetic's face products.

Their Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream is one of my favorite foundations, particularly for everyday, I love the Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder for setting foundation, and the Bye Bye Under Eye Eyelift in a Tube is a go-to under eye concealer for me.

So I'm always willing to take a chance on a new product from the brand.

(Even if I occasionally get burned, as I sort of did with the Bye Bye Pores Illumination Pressed Powder.)

The Bye Bye Lines Foundation was especially appealing to me because I like the idea of my face products having skin care ingredients.

Don't get me wrong -- I don't expect a foundation to have the same effects on my skin as a serum or other treatment product (especially considering I switch my foundation up almost daily), but I figure it's always better to have ingredients that are actually good for my skin in it than those that aren't.

Product Review -- It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Illumination Poreless Finish Airbrush Pressed Powder

The Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder was one of the first products that I ever tried from It Cosmetics.

It does a pretty good job of living up to its name -- it really does make the enlarged pores on my cheeks so much less visible -- but it doesn't really offer the finish that I'm looking for.

It has a pretty noticeable matte finish, and with my normal to dry skin, that usually only works in warmer weather when my skin gets a little more oily.

I've never tried the pressed version of Bye Bye Pores because I figured the effect would be the same.

That's why I was really excited to see It Cosmetics add the Bye Bye Pores Illumination Poreless Finish Airbrush Pressed Powder to the line.

A poreless, glowy finish?

That sounds pretty much like heaven to me.

Product Review -- IT Cosmetics Superhero Eye Transforming Anti-Aging Super Palette

I've always had really good luck with the IT Cosmetics products that I've tried.

Their Your Skin But Better CC Cream is one of my favorite foundation type products on the market, few concealers offer better coverage than their Bye Bye Under Eye, and their Airbush Silk Illuminizer provides the most amazing glow ever.

So it's safe to say that I think IT Cosmetics hits a lot of homeruns.

I've been really happy with all of their shadow palettes that I've tried too, which is why I was intrigued when I saw the Superhero Eye Transforming Anti-Aging Super Palette. I was particularly interested because unlike their most recent palettes, which contained almost entirely matte shades, this palette offers a mix of shimmery and matte shadows.

Product Review -- It Cosmetics Hello Light Creme Illuminator

In the past few years, I've really gotten into cream face products.

That's probably because I've gotten older and my skin's gotten drier and cream products tend to add back a little of that missing glow.

As a result, I've tried a wide range of cream blushes and found many that I like -- but I've wanted a nice cream highlighter product to pair with them (or to layer under powder highlighters for lasting power or a more intense effect) and have had a tough time finding one that I like.

The main issue has been color -- so many of the cream highlighters that I've tried have a strong gold undertone, which gives them a warm look that doesn't work with cool-toned makeup looks.

I decided to try the It Cosmetics Hello Light Creme Illuminator because I'm a big fan of so many other It Cosmetics products, but also because this cream highlighter actually looked like it might lean a little bit pink.

Product Review -- It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Matte Vol. 2 Romantics Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette

Almost two years ago, I bought the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Matte Vol. 1 Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette and instantly fell in love.

The palette contains 14 matte shadows that boast a fabulous creamy, smooth, blendable formula and one shimmery "transforming" shade that gives you the option of changing the finish of the matte shadows if the mood strikes.

It is a completely wearable, easy-to-use, fabulous palette.

So when I heard that It Cosmetics was coming out with another palette in the line, I was ready to hand over my money without a second thought.

The Naturally Pretty Matte Vol. 2 Romantics Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette follows the same format at the Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 to a tee.

Product Review -- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Illumination

For the most part, I feel like American BB and CC creams are gimmick-y.

Because for whatever "skin care" ingredients they might contain, they really just perform like tinted moisturizers, which is hardly an earth-shattering development in the beauty world.

Of course, there are a couple of exceptions to the rule -- the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream is not only one of my favorite BB/CC creams; it's one of my favorite face products period.

It provides medium to full coverage, is hydrating, feels lightweight, contains SPF50, and applies flawlessly with your hands -- what's not to love?

So when I heard that IT Cosmetics was coming out with an illuminating version of the CC cream, I had to give it a try.

Because I'm all about illumination -- I like looking dewy and glowy and all those things.

To be honest, though, I think the original YSBB CC+ Cream has a nice dewy finish so I really wasn't sure what to expect from the Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Illumination.

Review -- It Cosmetics CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder

When you have dry-ish skin, it can be pretty difficult to find a face powder.

That's because they tend to cling to dry patches and become seriously cake-y even if you apply the lightest layer possible.

Sometimes, though, I need a little powder -- whether it's because I want a little extra coverage or I want to make sure that my makeup lasts all day or I don't like the finish of my foundation -- and I need to have a product in my makeup drawer that I can count on.

As a brand, It Cosmetics is dedicated to creating products that provide anti-aging benefits so it stands to reason that their powder products would be a good match for dry skin. I love their Bye Bye Pores Powder in the summer when I want a matte look (and it does really make your pores disappear!), and their Celebration Powder Foundation and Celebration Illumination Foundation are nice as well, but they're a little heavy if you just want a powder to set a foundation.

That's why I was excited to see their new CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder.

While it offers more coverage than a basic translucent powder, it isn't a powder foundation so it's ideal for setting everything from a BB cream to a full coverage foundation.

Review -- It Cosmetics CC+ Eye Color Correcting Concealer

I am a big fan of pretty much every It Cosmetics product that I've tried.

In particular, I find the face products to be particularly impressive. The Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream is one of my favorite everyday foundation products. I love the Bye Bye Pores Micro Powder is my go-to finishing powder for warmer weather, and when I really need to hide dark circles or other imperfections, the Bye Bye Under Eyes Concealer never fails me.

That's why I was so excited to try the CC+ Eye Color Correcting Concealer. While Bye Bye Under Eye delivers serious coverage, I don't necessarily need that everyday -- CC+ Eye is a terrific alternative for days when you want something lighter.

Review -- IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Celebration Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette

About a year ago, I bought the  IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette and promptly fell in love.

The palette offers 14 of the most beautiful, soft, easy-to-use matte shadows I've ever come across, plus a  transforming pearl shade that you can layer over the mattes to give them a shimmery finish.

I'm not really sold on that somewhat gimmicky aspect of the palette (because you could use any shimmery shade to give mattes more dimension and the pearl shade does slightly alter the actual color of the shadows), but it is a lovely palette -- it's been one of my favorites this year for sure.

So when I heard that IT Cosmetics was coming out with another palette in the line -- the IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Celebration Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette -- there was no doubt I would give it a try. 

Recent Favorites

It has ages since I last did a favorites post.

I get so caught up in reviewing new products that I sometimes forget that sharing what "older" products I'm loving can be just as helpful.

(I'm going to try not to go so long between favorites posts in the future -- and maybe mix in a few other non-review posts here and there to keep things interesting.)

But since it's been so long since my last Favorites, I'm going to share some things that I've been loving for the past few months or so.  To keep it simple and quick, I'll break them down by category so if you're not interested in a particular type of product, you can just skip over it.

Review -- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream

When the BB cream craze started a few years back, I totally jumped all over that bandwagon.

I tried a bunch of them, and in general, I found the offerings from U.S. companies to be pretty disappointing.

They didn't seem like anything but glorified tinted moisturizers.

(The one exception being the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, which remains my favorite American BB cream due to its impressive coverage. My all-around favorite BB cream, though, is the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, in case you're curious.)

When CC creams became the next big thing, I decided to sit the trend out because I figured it would be just like the BB cream thing.

I made an exception for IT Cosmetics' Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50 -- mainly because IT Cosmetics always impresses me and I figured it was worth taking a chance on.

I've had this product for nearly a year now and I can safely say it's pretty darn fabulous.

Review -- IT Cosmetics Eyelift in a Tube

One of the first products that I ever tried from IT Cosmetics was the Bye Bye Under Eyes Concealer.

This was probably three or four years ago when I decided to give the brand a try after watching them on QVC for so long. I picked up the concealer and the Bye Bye Pores Powder and came away impressed with both products -- which is why I've tried more and more of the brand's products and become a seriously big fan of IT Cosmetics.

In fact, they're probably up there with Tarte and bareMinerals as my favorite makeup brands at the moment.

But while I love IT Cosmetics and the Bye Bye Under Eyes Concealer, I have to admit that it probably isn't the easiest concealer to use. It offers a ton of coverage, is pretty thick, and can sometimes feel a little sticky, so it's definitely one of those 'a little goes a long way' products.

But Bye Bye Under Eyes comes in a squeeze tube and it can be a little difficult to get out the right amount, which can sometimes lead to applying a little too much.

When that happens, it can definitely look a little cakey.

That's why I was really intrigued when IT Cosmetics came out with the Eyelift in a Tube, a double-ended product that contains Bye Bye Under Eyes on one end and Hello Light Liquid Brightener on the other end.

Blogiversary Giveaway (Finally)!

 So back in February, the blog turned two years old.

Crazy, right?

Well, as a way of saying thanks to all of you who've been reading along during that time, I thought that a giveaway was in order.

And it's a pretty big one, so hopefully you're all pretty excited. 

The winner will receive:

(1) Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
(1) stila in the moment eye shadow palette
(1) tarte Amazon Escape Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette
(1) The Balm Nude'Tude Eyeshadow Palette
(1) The Balm Balm Voyage Palette
(1) Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV
(1) bareMinerals Passionate for Pastels 4 Piece Color Collection (includes Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Sweetest Thing, Flawless Definition Mascara, Sorbet Blush, and Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Go Getter)
(1) bareMinerals Enchanting Eyes Duo (includes Mini Prime Time Eyelid Primer and Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Flashback)
(1) stila artful eye collector's edition palette vol 1 (includes eye shadows in oasis, glee, starlight, shell, and grace)
(1) stila artful eye collector's edition palette vol 3 (includes eye shadows in light apricot, umber, aquamarine, soft violet, and ocean)
(1) Make Up Forever Aqua Shadow Duo (includes Aqua Shadow Pencils in 28E and 20E)
(1) The Balm Instain Long Wearing Staining Powder Blush in Houndstooth
(1) tarte lights, camera, lashes! inner rim liner 
(1) Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner in Sailor
(1) Mally Volumizing Mascara
(1) Maybelline Limited Edition Color Tattoo in Nude Compliment
(1) Maybelline Limited Edition Color Tattoo in Sleek & Spice
(1) IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes! Mascara
(1) IT Cosmetics Vitality Flush Anti-Aging Color Reviver Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi
(1) IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush

There are a ton of fun goodies in this prize pack that I absolutely love, so I hope the winner enjoys them just as much I do.

To enter, just leave a comment below sharing what the best new makeup or beauty item that you've tried recently is.

Here are the rest of the rules:

No anonymous comments are eligible since I have to be able to identify each entry and I’ll need a way to get in touch with you if you win - and you must follow the blog (through Google, Bloglovin or the email list) to enter.

I'm using Rafflecopter to make the giveaway a little easier on myself, so while the blog comment is mandatory for entry, you can get additional entries by following me on Twitter, tweeting about the giveaway, and liking the Facebook page.

The giveaway is open to both U.S. and international readers. If you’re under 18, please get your parents’ permission to enter since you’ll have to give me your mailing address if you win. The giveaway will be open until 11:59 PM EST on Saturday, March 29, 2014.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and thanks again for reading the blog! 

Review -- IT Cosmetics Luxe Eyeshadow Palette

Over the past year, I've become a serious fan of IT Cosmetics.

Last month, I reviewed the fabulous the IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette and after trying it and loving those matte shadows like nobody's business, I decided that I wanted to test out some of IT Cosmetics' other shadows.

So I picked up the brand's other large palette, the Luxe Eyeshadow Palette.

This one contains 12 shadows, which are actually a blend of matte and shimmery shades.

Review -- IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette

Recently, I did a post about an IT Cosmetics TSV that was available on QVC.

I mentioned that in the past year or so, I've tried quite of a few products from the brand and have come away super impressed.

I'm kind of backed up in terms of reviews, though, so I haven't posted much about IT Cosmetics -- that's going to change in the next couple of months because I'm such a fan of the items I've tried that I'm bumping them up to the top of my review list.

And that starts with one of my more recent purchases -- the IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Vol. 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette.

On first glance, it's just your standard matte shadow palette, but IT Cosmetics tries to make theirs a little more versatile by including what they call a Transforming Pearl Shade that can be layered over the matte shadows to give them a pearl or satin finish.

Product Alert -- IT Cosmetics "New Year, Your Most Beautiful You!" 5-Piece TSV

Starting tonight at midnight (technically 12/28), QVC will be offering a new Today's Special Value (TSV) from IT Cosmetics that's pretty fabulous for the dry-skinned folks out there.

Over the past year, I've become a big fan of IT Cosmetics -- I actually have quite a few products that I've been meaning to review for a while now and just haven't gotten around to yet.  That's one of my New Year's resolutions, I swear. -- so this kit was calling my name right from the start, particularly since most of the products are a good fit if you have dry or mature skin.

It's winter so my skin is kind of like the Sahara at the moment, which means I need all the extra moisture that I can get.

The kit contains 5 items:

• Heavenly Luxe Sensory Sweeping Fan Brush
• Feel the Moment Anti-Aging Primer Serum
• Bye Bye Under Eye/Hello Light Liquid Brightener Dual Concealer
• Heavenly Luxe Double Airbrush Foundation Brush
• Celebration Foundation Ilumination

June 2013 Favorites

For many people, I'm sure what I'm about to say sounds like crazy talk but I've always traveled to the beat of my own drum so...

I'm not really a summer person.

There, I said it.

I hate the heat.  I hate the humidity.  I hate sweating.

I actually prefer the winter, if you can believe that.

So I'm happy that June's over.  It means the summer is like a quarter over (well, according to my admittedly screwy calculations...).

(Of course, July and August promise to be even hotter and sticker but ...)

But despite my distaste for months like June, I still had a few favorites that got me through.

It Cosmetics Airbrush Illuminizer & Brush

It Cosmetics Airbrush Illuminizer & Luxe wand bell brush

Just as I am a total blush addict, I have a slight problem when it comes to highlighters.

I simply cannot resist them.

Maybe it's because I've been on the hunt for the perfect highlighter for years and I just couldn't seem to find one that gave me the look I was going for.  I've found plenty that I like - some that I might even say I loved - but none that delivered that perfect lit-from-within glow without a hint of glitter or obvious shimmer to be seen.

Until I found the It Cosmetics Airbrush Illuminizer, that is.