Product Review -- bareMineral Gen Nude Powder Blushes

I love blush -- I am so pale that if I don't add at least a hint of color to my cheeks, I can look sick or my eye makeup can look a little too harsh -- but in recent years, I find that it's not a makeup product that I tend to buy all that frequently.

Which is weird.

So recently I decided I needed to introduce a few new blush options to my collection and I came across the bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blushes.

I've been a big bareMinerals fan since I first tried their Original Loose Foundation back in college, and I've enjoyed their foray into pressed powder and liquid foundation products in recent years.

Which is why it was kind of a no-brainer to try their new blushes.

Product Review -- bareMinerals Bare Pro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation

bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation was one of the first "high end" foundations that I ever bought for myself.

I was in college, and after seeing a few too many presentations of it on QVC, I ordered it, and for a few years, I wore it pretty much exclusively.

So a few years ago when they came out with their first liquid foundation, Bare Skin Serum Foundation, I couldn't wait to try -- and it's a pretty good foundation. I still wear it quite a bit, though the coverage is more natural to light, so there are times when it isn't quite enough.

Which is why I was super excited to hear that they were coming out with another liquid foundation, the bareMinerals Bare Pro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation.

Product Review -- bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Every makeup brand seems determined to throw their hat in the matte liquid lipstick ring, and bareMinerals is no exception.

As part of the Gen Nude line, which is compromised of a wide range of nude shades to fit virtually any skin tone, bareMinerals released their Matte Liquid Lipsticks several months back.

I've been curious about the entire Gen Nude lineup, which also includes the Buttercream Lipglosses, Radiant Lipsticks, and Under Over Lipliners, so I decided to give the Matte Liquid Lipsticks a try when I saw a set of 4 full size shades on QVC.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Divine Decadence 8-Piece Collection TSV on QVC

With the holidays right around the corner, there are so many amazing kits and sets available that deliver serious bang for your buck.

In particular, QVC usually has some really great TSV kits at the holidays -- and I'm always sure to pick up the bareMinerals set because I'm a big fan of the brand and there are usually new products included that I can't wait to try.

Tomorrow, November 9, the bareMinrals Divine Decadence 8-Piece Collection will be available as the TSV on QVC for just $49.98 (+$3 s/h). 

I ordered the kit early, so here's a quick rundown in case you're trying to decide whether or not to pick it up.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Pop Collection Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Modern Icon

A couple of months back, when all the cosmetics brands were starting to release their spring and summer collections, I told myself that I was going to be a good girl and not pick anything up.

I got quite a few fun new items to play with due to some holiday and birthday gift cards in the first few months of 2015, so it's not like I've been depriving myself  -- but how many bright or pastel makeup products (doesn't it seem like all spring/summer collections feature those kinds of shades?) does one person need?

But they're been so many good sales lately (I got the 20% off coupon from Ulta and the VIB sale is going on at Sephora this week) and I had an Ulta gift card and well, I've kind of wound up with a bunch of spring/summer makeup that I swore I wouldn't.

I'm very weak.

One of the items that I had my eye on from the start and talked myself out of a half dozen times was the bareMinerals Pop Collection Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Modern Icon.

Review -- bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

I love playing with makeup, so on an given day, I'm probably wearing more than the average person.

And I'm fine with that.

But when it comes to face products like foundation, concealer, and powder, I do like to wear as little as I need to so my skin get a chance to breathe.

I'd say that light to medium coverage foundation, whether powder, liquid, or cream, is probably the most-used option in my makeup drawer, but I do love a good BB cream for a lighter look -- and when my skin is really behaving, a tinted moisturizer.

But despite the relatively simple concept, a good tinted moisturizer is pretty hard to find -- at least in my experience.

Too often, they offer way too little color so you're almost left wondering if you've applied anything to your face at all.  My favorite up until now has been the Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer, which I find has just the right amount of coverage and hydration.

When I heard that bareMinerals was coming out with their own tinted moisturizer, I knew that I had to give it a try. Their first liquid foundation, Bare Skin, has become a favorite of mine, so I was curious to see what they'd do with a lighter face product.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Fresh Forward 8-Piece TSV from QVC

By now, it's probably pretty clear I have a problem when it comes to QVC's beauty TSVs.

I just cannot resist them.

Mainly because they're usually such good values and they're usually from brands that I love like Tarte and IT Cosmetics.

So this month, when I saw that the latest offering was from bareMinerals, it didn't take me long to place an order.

The Fresh Foward 8-Piece Collection will be QVC's TSV starting midnight on March 9th, but I ordered early so if you're curious about the kit, here's a rundown of what's included:

• Original SPF15 Foundation
• Ready Face Color Palette in The State of Bliss
• Soft Focus Face Brush
• Ready Eye Shadow Palette in The Fresh Beginning
• Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Steadfast Slate
• Eye Defining Brush
• Pop of Passion Lip Oil Balm in Sorbet Passion
• Makeup Organizer

You get all 8 pieces for $69.95 plus $3 s/h.

Product Alert -- Upcoming bareMinerals Candlelight Glow TSV from QVC

I've been trying to cut back on the beauty TSVs that I purchase from QVC.

That's because I almost always wind up purchasing them on the auto-delivery plan, which means there's another two or three kits coming in the future so the makeup can really start piling up.

And you know me -- I don't really need any help accumulating the beauty products.

But at the holidays, the beauty TSVs from QVC are just always so tempting and I couldn't resist the bareMinerals Candlelight Glow 8-Piece Holiday Collection.

The TSV will be available on November 24th for $49.98 plus s&h, but I ordered early and just got my kit so I thought I'd give a rundown in case anyone is trying to decide whether to purchase this one or not.

Fall Eyeshadow Picks -- bareMinerals Ready 4.0 in The Bronze Age and Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection Photo Focus Eyeshadow in Desert Festival

I am a firm believer that you should wear whatever makeup shades you like no matter what your skin tone or what season it is.

Wear what makes you happy on any given day is basically my philosophy.

But I will admit that I do tend to gravitate toward certain shades depending on the time of year -- I love pastel eye shadow and nail polish in the spring, for example, and cobalt blue eyeliner in the summer.

For the fall, I love warm bronze, brown, and orange shades that remind me of falling leaves -- they also bring out my blue eyes like nobody's business, so that doesn't hurt either.

If you're  a fan of autumnal shades when the weather starts to cool down like me, I thought I would share a couple of eye shadow quads/quints that I think are perfect for the fall -- and I've got one high end and one drugstore option, so there should be something to fit any budget.

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.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Nude Beach

Another month, another new Ready Eyeshadow palette from bareMinerals.

If it seems like just yesterday that I was talking about the bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 in An Affair to Remember, it's because it kind of was.

And despite the fact that I need another eyeshadow palette like I need a hole in the head, when I saw the new Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Nude Beach, I knew I had to have it.

I'm not going to do a full review on it because I've gone on and on about how fabulous the Ready eyeshadow formula is -- and the quality is right there with the shades in this palette -- so you know I'd recommend them based on that criteria alone.

But I will discuss the shades a little, so you can decide if it's a must-have for your collection or not.

Review -- bareMinerals Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Affair To Remember and Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Glass Beach

I've been a big fan of bareMineral's Ready line of pressed products ever since it was introduced a few years back.

My favorite group of items in the line, though, is definitely the Ready eyeshadows, and the formula has actually become one of my all-time favorites when it comes to shadows.

That means whenever a new palette or quad or duo comes out, especially limited edition shades, I always have to pick them up... like a sucker.

Well, not really.  Because I've never been disappointed yet.

My most recent purchases were the Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Affair To Remember and the Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Glass Beach.

(I'm combining them in a single review because I'm not going to spend too much time discussing the formula considering I've rambled on and on about it countless times before.)

Review -- bareMinerals Bare Skin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

When it comes to trying new products, I always get the most excited over foundation.

That's because even if you find a fabulous eye shadow, lipstick, blush, etc. that performs amazingly well, it isn't really going to look substantially different on the skin than other good shadows, lipsticks, blushes, etc.

With foundation, though, the right formula can dramatically change the way your skin looks, and while I don't have a ton of issues that I'm trying to hide on my face, I always like to look as flawless as I can get.

That's why I was super excited to try the new bareMinerals Bare Skin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation. It is noteworthy because it's the brand's first ever liquid foundation after years of putting loose mineral powder foundation the map.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Glamour Now TSV A/D Installment #2 Destination Gorgeous

Back in November, I ordered the bareMinerals holiday TSV from QVC, Glamour Now, and it was a a really good one.

This week, my UPS guy brought me the second installment in the auto-delivery series, Destination Gorgeous, and I'm loving it just as much as the first kit. 

The second collection includes:

• Brightening Pearl Perfect Light Mineral Veil Finishing Powder
• Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Exotic Escape
• Smoke & Define Double-Ended Kohl & Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black and Teal
• Tropical Sunset Blush
• mini Ready Luminizer in The Five Star Treatment
• Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara
• Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Glamorista
• Soft Sweet Cheek Brush
• Full Tapered Shadow Brush

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! 

Product Alert -- upcoming bareMinerals More Than Meets The Eye TSV on QVC

In just a few days (March 22nd), bareMinerals has yet another TSV coming up on QVC.

And while this is more of "basics" kit in my mind, I had to go ahead and order it early because there were a couple of new products in it that had me intrigued.

You know it doesn't take all that much to get me excited about makeup.

The More Than Meets The Eye Collection contains 8 pieces:

• Prime Time Daily Defense Neutralizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
• Ready All-Over Face Color in Elation
• 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Mineral Veil Finishing Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 20
• 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Blushing Apricot
• Hydrating Lip Stain in Elation
• Angled Foundation Brush
• Flawless Complexion Brush

Review -- bareMinerals True Romantic Trend Collection Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The True Romantic and Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Feel The Love

It's that time of year when all the makeup brands seem to be coming out with their spring collections.

I don't know about you, but I always find it a little overwhelming, considering the fact that we've just made it through the holiday season and all the craziness that entails. Depending on the day -- we've gone from 10 degrees one day to nearly 50 degrees the next -- it still feels like winter here in the NY-metro area too, so it seems even crazier to be thinking about spring makeup.

That hasn't stopped me from picking up a few things from spring collections, though -- I'm a makeup fiend; would you expect anything less?

My first purchases were from the bareMinerals True Romantic Trend Collection.

The collection contains an eyeshadow quad, a lipstick, a lipgloss, and a loose blush.

They all look lovely, but I held myself back from purchasing all of it.

Instead, I settled on the Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The True Romantic and the Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Feel The Love.

Deal Alert -- bareMinerals Degrees of Dazzling & Too Faced All I Want For Christmas

I got a couple of really fun items as Christmas gifts, and when I was checking to see if they were still available, I saw that they're both marked down now that the holidays have passed.

Instead of spending a while testing them out for a review, I thought I would do a quick overview while you can still get both in case anyone is interested in picking them up at a discount.

You know, a little post-holiday gift for yourself.

Considering how crazy the holidays always are, I think we all deserve to treat ourselves.

Product Alert -- bareMinerals Crystallized Full Face Collection

I was a really good girl during Sephora's recent VIB sale.

Well, by my standards anyway.

I only purchased two items -- one that shall remain a secret for the time being as it's intended for the holiday giveaway I'll be doing in a couple of weeks and one treat for me, the bareMinerals Crystallized Full Face Collection.

I hadn't known about this kit until I happened to stumble upon it while I was browsing the Sephora website.  It looked promising so I bought it on a complete whim.

While I haven't played with it enough to do a full review, I think it's safe to say that it's a real winner so you might want to check it out for the makeup lovers on your holiday shopping list ... or for yourself if you've been extra good this year.

Product Alert -- Upcoming bareMinerals Glamour Now Holiday TSV from QVC

As I mentioned yesterday, QVC always has the best beauty TSVs right around the holidays.

It makes sense, of course -- they make ideal gifts for all those makeup lovers on your list... or yourself.

There's nothing wrong with treating yourself, I always say.

The upcoming bareMinerals Glamour Now TSV that will air on November 25th is definitely a treat in my book.