Product Review -- elf Cream Blush Palette

I used to really dislike cream blush.

I think that had a lot to do with the fact that my skin was super oily and cream products seemed to slip right off.

Application had something to do with it too -- I was applying the blush with my fingers back then and I had a tough time getting it to apply evenly.

Over the past 5 or so years, though, I've kind of fallen in love with cream blushes.

Now, during that time period, my skin has become increasingly drier so cream products have become a much better fit. I've also learned that it's best to apply cream blushes (and highlighter, bronzers, and contour products) with a brush to get the look that I want.

With all of that in mind, I was pretty excited to try the elf Cream Blush Palettes that came out a year or so ago.

Product Alert -- The Balm In theBalm of Your Hand Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Palette and the Manizer Sisters AKA The Luminizers Palette

Since I tried my first Shady Lady Palette more than five years ago, I've been in love with The Balm.

Not only is their packaging adorable, their products are almost always fantastic, so an obsession was borne.

That means whenever the brand comes out with a new palette, I buy it, no questions asked. Their holiday palettes, in particular, are my weakness.

This year, though, I was prepared to skip them -- not because they didn't look great, but because they were "greatest hits" type palettes and I already had all of the products in them. 

I have a modicum of self-control and common sense.

But then, The Balm had a 50% off sale on Black Friday, and for half price, I couldn't resist completing my palette collection so I bought In theBalm of Your Hand Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Palette and The Manizer Sisters AKA The Luminizers Palette.

I'm only human, after all.

Product Review -- Clinique Whole Lotta Chubby Set

With the holidays right around the corner, there are so many value sets and collections available that make trying new products a little more budget-friendly.

I'd been wanting to try the Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balms for a while now, and I've been curious about the Chubby Stick Shadow Tint For Eyes too, so when I saw the Clinique Whole Lotta Chubby Set on Sephora's website, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Because for $25, you get 5 products from the Chubby Stick line that are approximately half the size of full-size items.

Product Review -- L'Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation and Blush

Even though I know better, I can be a sucker for marketing hype.

Tell me that a product is going to blur my imperfections and make my skin look flawless, and even though I know that it's not true, I'm dying to try it.

That's what happened with the L'Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation.  

I didn't believe it could work miracles like blurring fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture as the product label claimed, but I was curious about what it could do so I picked it up. 

And because L'Oreal was BOGO-half off at Ulta, I decided to try the Visible Lift Blur Blush as well.

'Tis The Season: Favorite Products For Fall

I'm a firm believer that you should wear whatever makeup shades that you like no matter what time of year it is.

I mean, if bright orange lipstick is your favorite, you should rock it year round, not just in warm weather.

But I'll admit that there are certain colors that I associate with specific seasons, so I tend to wear them more regularly at those times of the year.

And I'll also confess that traditional fall colors tend to be my absolute favorites -- all the rich, warm shades of plum, burgundy, rust, copper, and bronze totally float my boat.

So I thought I'd share some of my favorite products for the fall (I'm kind of jumping the gun a bit, given that it's still in the 80s here in NY and fall doesn't officially start for another week or so, but like I said, it's my favorite season for makeup colors so I couldn't wait.) in case you're in the market for some cool weather-ready shades:

Review -- Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oils

If you had asked me what I thought of cream blushes back when I first started wearing makeup, I probably would have told you I hated them.

They just seemed so much harder to use that good old powder blushes and I didn't have any patience for it at all.

Fast forward several years when my skin started becoming drier and I may not be cream blush's biggest fan.

It can give the skin such a nice, healthy, dewy glow and in most cases, it looks so very natural on your cheeks.

(And even if you've got oily skin and don't feel like you can wear cream blush, try using it as a base for your favorite powder blush. You'll get more color and better staying power, I promise!)

As big a fan as I am of cream blush, I'm an equally big fan of Josie Maran's cosmetics. Now, I know they're probably not for everyone because they tend to offer a more natural, softer look, but I am hooked.

That's why I couldn't wait to try the Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oils.

Review -- The Balm Balm Voyage Vol. II Palette

I'm a sucker for pretty much every palette that The Balm puts out.

The packaging is just always too adorable and I've developed something of a collection over the years so I can never let one pass me by.

The good news is that the products in the palettes are always top-notch too, so I never regret picking them up.

The Balm Voyage Vol. II Palette is no exception.

Product 411 -- ColourPop In Bloom and Where The Light Is Collections

(Note: So I'm trying out a new title for this post: Product 411. It's not a full review for reasons I explain below, but I didn't want to call it a Product Alert because I'm sure most people are aware of these two items. So this is really just a brief overview. If you've got a better name for these kinds of posts, feel free to share below.)

Lately, ColourPop seems to be putting out a new collection or kit every day.

Now, I'm not complaining because they're all pretty fabulous, but it's just not possible (or reasonable) to pick up all of them.

I couldn't resist buying the In Bloom Collection, which was a collaboration with celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, and Where The Light Is Foursome, which is a collaboration with YouTuber Kathleen Lights, though.

My will power is only so strong, you know.

Review -- Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee

I absolutely love cream blush.

Especially in the winter when my skin starts to look seriously dry and dull -- because instead of just sitting on your cheeks like powder blush, the cream variety blends into your skin for a really natural, glowy look.

I just always think that it provides such a fresh, healthy look.

My cream blush obsession has gotten pretty out of control this year, actually, so I've tried a bunch.

I was particularly intrigued by the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelees because their consistency is somewhat unique -- it's kind of a cross between a cream and a gel, which makes for an interesting texture. It also contains 50 percent pure coconut water, so it's hydrating too.

Review -- elf Studio HD Blushes

Over the past year or so, I've gotten really into cream blushes.

I suppose that it makes sense because they have such a fresh, dewy look on the cheeks that I really appreciate now that my skin has become drier.

Of course, some days, I use a cream blush as a base and layer a powder blush on top of it to really make the color last all day.

However I'm using them, cream blushes really rock my world these days.

But I was still a little reluctant to try the elf Studio HD Blushes, which have been around for a while now. That's because a few years back, Makeup Forever had a similar type product and I got a deluxe sample with purchase at Sephora and just wasn't particularly impressed.

Review -- Rimmel London Stay Blushed! Liquid Cheek Tints

I've been a big fan of cream and liquid blush products over the past few years.

They tend to be a little sheerer than powder blushes and they blend a little more seamlessly with the skin, so they can look seriously natural -- which is why I especially love them for my minimal makeup days.

But they're not just for no-makeup makeup days -- you can build them up for a more intense look or layer a powder blush over them for a flush that lasts all day.

I haven't found too many cream blushes at the drugstore that I like all that much, though, which is disappointing because I'd like to find a budget-friendly option so I could have cream blushes in a wider range of shades without seriously breaking the bank.

Enter the Rimmel London Stay Blushed! Liquid Cheek Tints.

Review -- The Balm How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream Palette

I'm a pretty big fan of cream blush.

In the fall and winter, I'll wear it all by itself for a fresh, dewy look.

In the spring and summer, I'll use it as a base for powdered blush so my cheek color stays in place all day.

And it can be pretty versatile too, because when I'm in a rush and just want a simple look, I'll rub a little on my lips and call it day.

But finding a cream blush with the right formula can be tricky.

If it's too dry, it's impossible to blend into the skin and goes on all streaky.

If it's too creamy, it blends in a little too easily, isn't very pigmented, and doesn't last all that long.

You need something that falls right in between the two extremes to find a really good cream blush.

The Balm pretty much nails it with their How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream Palette.

Product Alert/Mini Review -- Maybelline Dare to Go Nude Spring 2014 Collection

Note -- I have to apologize yet again for the recent lack of posts. These days, I'm having photo issues. I usually take my photos outside because the lighting in my house is atrocious for photography (if anyone is into photography and can recommend some good lights or light bulbs for pictures, I am all ears!). But our backyard and deck is still covered with some snow, so that's not an option right now. 

The areas inside the house that seem to get good light are all areas where a certain naughty puppy can get to easily and Charlie has run off with a tube or two of lipstick the past couple of days when I tried to take some photos. (Fortunately, no lipsticks were harmed.) I was able to take some pictures today while the little guy was in the yard -- I must apologize, though, because they're probably not the best quality. I still wanted to get this post up while the products mentioned are still in stores so hopefully they'll suffice. 

Hopefully, we've seen the last of snow around these parts, so I should be back to my usual photo set-up shortly. 

Oh, and I haven't forgotten about the two year anniversary giveaway that I mentioned a few weeks ago. I'm waiting for an item to come in the mail, but I think it should be here sometime next week, which means the giveaway post could be up as soon as then.  Keep an eye out!

 

I’ve really started to hate the limited edition collections and products that so many makeup companies put out these days.

Because there just seem to be so many of them, one released right after another, so it’s really just nothing but a way to sucker people into buying items that they might not necessarily purchase just because you’re telling them that they can only get it for a limited time.

It’s good marketing, I guess, but seriously manipulative.

Now, I say all this and I’m pretty much the biggest sucker going because I always seem to fall for it.

Which is why I’ve been stalking drugstores in my area for the new Maybelline Dare to Go Nude Limited Edition Spring 2014 collection.

Review -- Best of BECCA Kit from Sephora

(In my last review of the Tarte Amazonian Eye & Cheek Palette, I mentioned that I had come across a couple of items that I'd forgotten to review when I got them at the beginning of the year. This is the second of those items.)

I've always been curious about the BECCA brand.

Maybe it's because Lisa Eldridge is always using products from the line in her tutorials and she makes them all look amazing.

(Of course, she makes everything look amazing, right?)

That's probably the main reason, actually.

But when you've never tried a brand and don't know that much about, it can be difficult to figure out where to start.

Fortunately for me, my aunt gave me the fabulous Best of BECCA Kit from Sephora for my birthday so I got to try a bunch of products at once.

It's a terrific way to introduce yourself to any brand, I think.

Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in Pinched

Even though my skin has gotten drier over the years, I still have a problem with keeping makeup on my face all day.

It's usually foundation that winds up magically disappearing from my face, but blush is the #2 culprit.

When I really want to ensure that my cheeks look perfectly flushed all day, I'll layer a powder blush over a cream blush -- that combo seems to give few extra hours of wear that either product alone.

I've wanted to try the Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blushes for a while, but they're somewhat pricey (normally $12.99 at Ulta) so I waited until Revlon was on sale and I had a coupon for 20% off at Ulta. I have quite a few drugstore cream blushes that I really like, but I could always use one more.

November Favorites

November Favorites

Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to enter my holiday giveaway for the Too Faced Sweet Indulgences Palette.  You can find all the info here. Thanks to everyone who's already entered!

Last month, I missed out on doing a monthly favorites post because of Hurricane Sandy and losing power for almost two weeks.

That totally bummed me out.

So I'm back on track this month with my November favorites - however, this month has a slight disclaimer. Because I didn't have power for the first 10 days or so of the month, I wasn't wearing a lot of makeup.  The rest of the month, I've been playing with some of the new products that I'd gotten in mid-October but didn't really get a chance to try before the storm.

That's a long, roundabout way of saying my favorites list is pretty short this month.  

Tarte Miracle of Maracuja AD Shipment #3

Tarte Miracle of Maracuja AD Shipment #3

(Note - this post was meant to go up last night, but I had trouble with our internet connection. I apologize for the delay and keep an eye out later today for another post - it's a giveaway!)

Another day, another Tarte TSV AD shipment.

Seriously, as big of a makeup junkie as I am, even I'm somewhat overwhelmed by having two entire new kits from Tarte to play with this week.

But I'm also excited.  New makeup always makes just a little bit happier.

Along with the What Has Your Makeup Done for You Lately? kit that I wrote about yesterday, I received the third and final installment of the Miracle of Maracuja TSV AD program from QVC this week. I haven't had much time to play with it, but my first impressions are definitely positive.

The Balm Balm Jovi Rockstar Face Palette

The Balm Balm Jovi Rockstar Face Palette, $39.50
Available on The Balm website

 Obviously, I'm a total makeup junkie.

This blog is clear proof of that.

But I do have some self control when it comes to buying new makeup products - or at least, I've developed some over the years.

I don't necessarily have an automatic reflex to buy every new palette that comes out.  I am a sucker for cute packaging, but I have learned how to talk myself out of purchases no matter how pretty they might be based on things like already having similiar colors in my collection ... or just not having enough room in my drawers for another huge honking palette.

August Favorites

So it's that time again ... monthly favorites.

This month, I don't have quite as many as usual mainly because I played with my eye makeup so much in August that I didn't really wear any particular shadows regularly. Still, I have some goodies to share - a few I've mentioned before and some I haven't.

Tarte Miracle of Maracuja TSV A/D Shipment #2

New Tarte goodies!

So not only did my Tarte Miracle of Maracuja TSV A/D shipment show up on my doorstep todayas promised, the UPS man actually arrived before I'd put my makeup on so I was able to actually use the products so I have a pretty informed opinion about the shades and formulas.