Review -- Sigma Creme de Couture Collection

 Disclaimer: I am a Sigma affiliate, but I paid for all of these products with my own money. The post contains affiliate links.

I have been a big fan of Sigma's brushes for several years now.

I own the Essential Kit, the Premium Kit, the Mr. Bunny Essential Kit, several of the Sigmax brushes, and a few other singles, and I'm happy with all of them.

I hadn't tried any of their makeup products, though.

I'd been curious about some of the palettes that they put out and some of the shadow bases and eye liners totally caught my eye, but I never pulled the trigger for whatever reason.

When I saw the Creme de Couture Collection that came out recently, though, I finally caved and made my first Sigma makeup purchase.

The packaging alone, designed to look something like candy or pastry boxes, totally sucked me in.

That's how easy I am.

Sigma Mr. Bunny Essential Kit

(In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Sigma affiliate.  However, this kit was actually a gift from my sister and I certainly want her to get her money's worth when she's treating her little sis.)

I'm pretty easy going when it comes makeup mishaps.

If a product isn't exactly what I hoped for, I try to find some way to make it work. If I make a mistake when I'm applying my eyeliner, I just smudge it out until it looks smooth.

No big deal.

There is one makeup related issue, though, that drive me absolutely bonkers.

Loose hairs from my brushes getting stuck on my face.

I kind of flip whenever that happens.

And I've had it happen with brushes that I've shelled out big bucks for like my $35 MAC 109 and brushes that were on the cheaper side like $7 powder brush I bought from Coastal Scents.

Over the years, though, I've noticed that it doesn't seem to happen as often (if ever) with synthetic brushes as it does with natural bristle brushes, which spurred me to pick up more and more synthetic options. 

Favorite Foundation Brushes

I couldn't do my foundation without these babies.

Finding the right foundation can seem like mission impossible sometimes what with all the options for coverage, formula and finish (Don't even get me started about picking a color...), but I really think that finding the right tool to apply it is just as important.

While there are some foundations that I like to use my fingers to apply and some days when my skin is so dry that a Beauty Blender sponge is the only thing that can make my foundation look halfway decent, I am totally a foundation brush kind of girl.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer & Sigma Sigmax F80 Giveaway (CLOSED)

Since I never heard from the winner of my Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation, Maracuja Creaseless Concealer & Sigma Sigmax F80 brush in March - and I realize that not everyone knew I was having a giveaway in the first place - I'm going to re-do the entire thing.

And this time around, I'm make sure to post reminders about the giveaway so everyone has a chance to enter before the deadline.

March Favorites

March goodies

I'm having a really difficult time believing that March is essentially over.

It feels like February just ended.  Now, I'm not really complaining - warmer weather should be coming, baseball season's starting, and it seems like some work-related things are picking up in the coming months - but it seriously freaks me out how quickly times passes as you get older.  Way, way too fast.

But at least there's still time for fun things like monthly favorite lists...

Tarte Foundation & Concealer/Sigma Brush Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to katehaven, the winner of the Tarte Foundation & Concealer and Sigma Flat Top Kabuki brush! 

I tried to send a message through blogger and Google's Friend Connect, but it won't seem to go through, so katehaven, please email me with your contact information and I'll send you the goodies ASAP.

Turn out for the giveaway was pretty dismal - I guess there really aren't that many fair skinned folks in the world. But don't worry - the next giveaway will be something virtually anyone can use.  And it's a great item for spring/summer.  Look out for the giveaway in about a month or so.

Thanks for reading!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation/Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer/Sigma F80 Giveaway

Update May 6, 2012: Since I never heard from the winner of this contest, I am holding it again.  Please see the updated post here.


Today is kind of a special day - this blog is just about a month old and this is my 30^th post.

Not exactly prolific yet, but it’s kind of a milestone.

In honor of a month of blogging and as a thank you to everyone that’s been kind enough to read along, leave a comment, or send me an email, I thought it would be a good time for my first giveaway.

Products I Wouldn't Want to Live Without

It would be impossible to give these goodies up!

I'm a serious beauty junkie, so there are tons of products that I love.

However, there are a select few that stand out as being so good that I don't have anything else in my collection that performs the same way or gives me the same results. 

These are the products I wouldn't want to live without.

(Obviously, I could... if I had to... but I really hope that I never have to try.)

Contouring Basics

I have chubby cheeks.

I’ve had them since I was a cute little kid with pigtails and a standing appointment with Scooby Doo (I wouldn’t go to play dates unless my mother made it clear to my friend’s mom that Scooby Doo had to go on the TV at the prescribed time).  I used to think that I’d outgrow them, lose that mythical baby fat and suddenly have gorgeous, model-worthy cheekbones.

But here I am, 20 plus years later, and I’ve still got these ridiculous chipmunk cheeks.

Thank goodness for makeup, right?  A couple of swipes under the cheekbones and you can have sculpted, catwalk ready cheeks.