Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish

Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish

I really like the Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polishes that I purchased from Walmart back in April.  I’ve had the chance to wear them both a couple times, so I can review them.  What I liked about them is that the Candied Color Nail Polish line reminds me a lot of the Nails Inc Special Effects Sprinkles Collection that came out last summer.  You may remember from this post that I splurged on two bottles for my birthday last year, but they were a bit pricey for my taste.  For less that half the cost, and nine shades to chose from, these Candied Color Nail Polishes are a good alternative.

Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish in Gummy Green

The first Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish shade that I chose was Gummy Green.  Gummy Green is a blue tinged minty green jelly base with black, white, and silver glitter “sprinkles”.  It’s a really cute shade.  The glitter is small, but plentiful, so it goes on evenly without having to place it.  The polish applies smoothly with no streaks.  If you want a “jelly” look, you can leave it at one thick coat, but know that you will be able to see your nail line through it.  Two coats will make it pretty opaque.  The photo below is two thin coats topped with Seche Vite.

Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish in Gummy Green

I was not thrilled with the wear time that Gummy Green gave me.  I used my Seche Vite base coat underneath, and despite the top coat it chipped after two days.  And I don’t mean little chips.  Gummy Green is a great polish if you paint your nails often and only need a couple days of wear time.

Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish in Cocoa Smore

The second shade that I chose from the Candied Color line was Cocoa Smore.  One of the shades that I didn’t get in last year’s Nails Inc Special Effects Sprinkles Collection was Sugar House Lane, a monochrome polish with black and white glitters suspended in a taupey gray base.  Cocoa Smore is extremely similar, so I definitely wanted to pick it up.  Cocoa Smore has the same small black, white, and silver glitter as Gummy Green.  (Other shades in the line have different colored glitter.  It’s just coincidence that the two shades that I chose have the same glitters in them.)  Also like Gummy Green, Cocoa Smore is really pretty with one thick coat.  The swatch below is two coats, though.

Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polish in Cocoa Smore

Cocoa Smore wore a little better than Gummy Green.  It wasn’t until day four that it chipped on me.  The weird part about both of these polishes is that when they did start to chip, they completely fell apart.  They would be going strong, and after the first little nick it would suddenly be chips ahoy.  I haven’t used other Hard Candy polishes before, so I don’t know if that is common for Hard Candy, or unique to the Candies Color line.

Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polishes are $4.00 at Walmart.  They aren’t as cheap as Sinful Colors, for example, but they are a lot cheaper than brands like Illamasqua or Nails Inc that have been doing these candy sprinkle or robin’s egg speckled lines.  I am personally glad that I got both of the shades that I did, but I am not compelled to buy any more.  Then again, I do have two of the Nails Inc polishes from last year, so I now have four of this type of polishes.  If you are interested in this look, I definitely think that it’s worth it to pick up one or two shades of the Hard Candy Candied Color Nail Polishes.  Just be sure to top with a really good top coat.

NOTD: Gummy Green

Hard Candy Gummy Green

It’s been ages since my last nail of the day post.  Last week in my “Spotted” post, I showed you the huge collection of Hard Candy polishes that came out this year.  The polishes that really caught my eye were the Candy Sprinkles line.  Today I am wearing two coats of Hard Candy Gummy Green topped with a coat of Seche Vite.  I bought two shades in the line, so stay tuned for a review.  In the meantime, enjoy this NOTD post.

Spotted: New Spring/Summer 2013 Displays

It has been a really long time since I did a “Spotted” post to show you what new displays have been popping up.  I’ve still been snapping pics, though, so this is going to be a huge photo fest of what I’ve captured on my cell phone while I’ve been out and about, mostly Walgreens and Ulta.

Revlon Pacific Coast Collection by Gucci Westman

First up, let’s talk about the Revlon Pacific Coast Collection by Gucci Westman.  This collection includes 2 shades of Colorstay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quads, Colorstay Cream Gel Liner, 4 shades of Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel, 4 brand new shades of Lip Butters, and introducing Revlon Baby Sticks for Lips and Cheeks in 3 shades.

Revlon Baby Sticks for Lips and Cheeks

Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzers

Maybelline has some fun items out for Summer 2013.  First is the three new shades of Dream Sun Bronzing Powder as well as a Dream Sun Illuminator in gel form.

New Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

Also, possibly more exciting, are the new colors of Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow.  One word: Duochrome.  Though the full Summer 2013 collection is not pictured here in this display, there are eight new shades.  Shady Shores, Lavish Lavender, Seashore Frost, Icy Mint, Cool Crush, Waves of White, Blue Paradise, and Precious Pearl.  I don’t know if all eight new shades are duochromes, but I believe the majority of them are.

Nivea Lip Butters

You have probably already heard of the Nivea Lip Butters by now, but If you have not, here is what the display looks like.  These have become very popular, for their creamy formula and killer scents.  So if you are looking for a lip balm, you may want to give one of these butters a try.

Wet N Wild Fergie Nail Color Sets

At Walgreens, I spotted some Wet N Wild  Fergie Nail Color Sets that contain six polishes from the Fergie polish line. There are two sets: The Flossy Flossy (pictured) and the Fergalicious Definition including a variety of glitters, shimmers, and creme polishes.

L’Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream

Another item that’s been popping up on my radar is L’Oreal’s new Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream.  From what I can tell, this is a super thick (and rather pricey) primer that fills in lines and pores to give a perfectly smooth canvas for an airbrushed look.  Full size is $24.99, but Walgreens has this display of trial size tubes for $6.99.  This is a love it or hate it kind of product, so the reviews will vary pretty widely.  A trial size is perfect for this kind of product.  If you hate it, you haven’t sunk the full $25 (what!) into it.

Finally, I went to Walmart for the first time in months and snapped some shots of the Hard Candy Spring line.  My local Walmart is seriously lacking in the beauty department, so they didn’t have all of the new releases, but they did have a few.

Hard Candy Nail Lacquers

Hard Candy Nail Lacquers

Hard Candy came out with a ton (45) of new nail lacquers for 2013.  The five collection are: Crushed Chromes, Itsy Glitzy, Crystal Confetti, Glitteratzi, and Candy Sprinkles.

Hard Candy Shadowholic Eye Crayons

Shadowholic Eye Crayons: 12 hour waterproof eye pencils with a vibrant color pay off.

Hard Candy Poppin’ Pigments

Poppin’ Pigments: High-intensity loose pigment shimmering eyeshadows available in duos.

Hard Candy All Lid Up Illuminating Cream Shadows

All Lid Up Illuminating Cream Shadows: Vibrant, long lasting cream eyeshadows with a crease-proof formula.

Wow, that was a lot to throw at you in one post, but like I said, it’s been a while.  In case you were wondering, I completely blew my “no-buy” this month (more on that in my favorites post) so I will be reviewing some of the items you see here.  I hope that you saw something that you like.  I’m especially interested to know if anyone has used the L’Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream.  I’d love to know your thoughts if you have.

Spotted at Ulta and Walmart

Happy December everyone!  I really can’t believe that it’s already December.  November just flew by for me.  I am completely losing track of time.  Anyway, I have some new displays to show you from Ulta and Walmart.  Actually I’ve had these photos over a week, but I haven’t had the chance to post ’em until now.  I’ll start with my Walmart finds.

Hard Candy Top Ten palettes

I was really tempted to pick up a couple of these Hard Candy Top Ten palettes.  They come in five different shade families: purple, green, nude, pink, and blue.  What really grabbed my attention was the nude palette called Naturally Gorgeous.

Hard Candy Top Ten palette in Naturally Gorgeous

Looks like Hard Candy has a Naked Palette dupe out now.  I haven’t tried Hard Candy shadows before, so I don’t know how this palette will perform, but if you are in the market for a palette like this, it may be worth a shot.  Hard Candy Top Ten palettes are $6.00 at Walmart.

Maybelline Total Eye Look kits

I also spotted these Maybelline Total Eye Look kits at Walmart.  Each kit contains a different Maybelline mascara, eyeshadow quad, and eyeliner pencil.  These sets are $10 each.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Quads

At Ulta I found the first Spring 2013 release, the L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Quads.  The six quads seem to be a good mix of neutrals and bold shades to satisfy a wide variety of users.  These quads launched in Europe in October, I believe, so if you are not in the US you may have already seen these around.  They are around $5-$6.

Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Longlasting Lipstick

I also spotted the Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Longlasting Lipstick at Ulta.  I am not really a fan of Longlasting Lipsticks because I find them to be really drying and uncomfortable.  However, if they are your bag, Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Longlasting Lipsticks may be just right for you.

Ulta also had a couple interesting palettes out.

NYX Box of Smokey Look Collection

This is the NYX Box of Smokey Look Collection.  (Awkward name.)  According to NYX: “If you’re addicted to smokey eyes, this kit is custom-made for you. It contains a palette of pigmented eye shadows to create gray smokey eyes, purple smokey eyes, bronze smokey eyes and natural smokey eyes. Kit also contains 3 blushes, face powders,concealers, lip colors, 12 glitter creams and 1 black eye liner.”  Here’s a closer look of the shadows and creams.

NYX Box of Smokey Look Collection

The top trays of shadow slide open to reveal the face products.  Ulta had the palette available for $24.99, but it is currently priced at $22 over at nyxcosmetics.com.

Ulta Film Noir 12-piece Collection

The other palette that caught my attention at Ulta was the Film Noir 12-piece Collection.  Ulta has had this palette out for awhile now, but every time I see it, I want to get it.  The deep jewel tones are gorgeous in real life.

Ulta Film Noir 12-piece Collection

I’ve swatched some of the shadows in the store, and they seem really pigmented.  The nine shadows also come with a cheek color, a lip color, and a mini eyeliner.  At only $12.99, I really should just bite the bullet and buy the palette.

That’s all I have for today.  There will be many new displays popping up as Spring 2013 launches here in the States.  2012 brought us some really great products, so I can’t wait to see what 2013 has for us.

Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum

Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum

As I’ve mentioned before in this blog, I have really bad allergies in the late spring, early summer.  One of the unfortunate side-effects is that my eyes get really swollen and puffy.  Thankfully, I discovered the Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum.  This handy little item is a mere $5 and actually works really well.  (Click photos to enlarge.)

Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum

Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum is a tube of clear gel serum.  It dispenses through an applicator with a trio of roller balls that “massage” your under-eye area.  The serum is lightweight and not sticky.  It absorbs into skin rather quickly, though you should allow a few minutes before applying makeup just to be on the safe side.  Application is a breeze and I feel that the roller balls deliver just the right amount of serum for my needs without me having to squeeze out any extra.  This tube is going to last for a very long time.

Hard Candy Eye’m Tired Eye Serum rollerball applicator

Here is what Hard Candy has to say about the Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum: “Depuffs, brightens, firms. Lightweight de-puffing eye serum cools and calms tired eyes. Gently roll under eyes to instantly rejuvenate and de-puff those bags! Trio rollerball massages away bags as it refreshes the eye area.”   Eye’m Tired really lives up to these claims.  I don’t usually have a problem with bags under my eyes, but the puffiness on my bad allergy days pretty much disappears with Eye’m Tired.  The serum is cooling and the roller balls feel nice on the sensitive skin under the eyes.  I find it refreshing and a great wake-me-up.

Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum back of the box including ingredients list

If you do have an issue with bags or puffiness under the eyes, then I encourage you to give Hard Candy Eye’m Tired De-puffing Eye Serum a try.  Hard Candy is sold exclusively at Wal-mart (which is the only down-side).  It is available at Walmart.com if you do not have a Wal-mart near you.

Quick Haul

I wanted to show you a quick haul with some items that I will be reviewing in the future.

• You may recognize the Wet n Wild Summer Getaway set that I mentioned from Walgreens.
• I picked up Maybelline Color Tattoo in Fierce & Tangy to really make my orange shadows pop.
• I grabbed a travel size of Tresemme Tres Two Extra Hold hairspray.  I rarely use hairspray, so a travel size is great for me.
• I found this adorable blue and white scarf from the Dollar Tree.  I was really surprised to find it, but it’s lightweight and pretty, perfect for the summer.  And only a dollar!
• I snagged an EOS hand lotion for review.  I really do not understand the hype over EOS lip balms, because I hate them.  But I wanted to give EOS another chance, so I’ll be trying the hand lotion to see if it’s just the lip balm I can’t stand, or if I should forget about EOS entirely.
• I am very excited to try the Soho Beauty Sponge.  I have read several positive reviews that, unlike other knockoffs, it’s as good as the Beauty Blender, though much cheaper.  I can’t wait to try it out.
• The other item that I can’t wait to try is the new Hard Candy Eye’m Tired.  It’s a roller ball with a serum that is supposed to de-puff, brighten, and firm the under-eye area.  Again, I’ve seen some very good reviews of this product, so I’m anxious to try it out.

Not a large haul, but I think there are some interesting items.  You will definitely be seeing the EOS lotion, Soho Beauty Sponge and the Hard Candy Eye’m Tired again, once I’ve had a chance to play with them a bit.

March 2012 Favorites

It’s the first week of April, so that means that it’s time for my Monthly favorites for March.  Last month, I mentioned that February was hard on me, and expressed a wish that March would be better.  That did not happen, in fact it got worse.  My posting schedule was a bit spotty this month, and some of you know that it was due to a family health issue and the loss of a loved one.  I’ve been really struggling.  I wore makeup a lot more this month than I usually do, but it was different than usual.  I didn’t wear much mascara or eyeliner because I had a lot of days when I knew that I’d most likely be crying and didn’t want raccoon eyes.  I had to go out and buy a waterproof mascara for the memorial service because I don’t normally wear waterproof.  I did end up with several products that I reached for over and over again, so there are a lot of items to mention in this post.

Freeman masks

I was under a great deal of stress this month and, consequently, I’ve been experiencing some skin problems.  I’ve had breakouts and such, so I decided to treat myself to a few masks.  I really enjoy Freeman masks, because there are inexpensive and I can experiment with several different kinds.  You can, of course, get the full size bottle of your favorite Freeman mask, but I like the variety of these “travel” sizes.  For $1.37 each (at Walmart), I can try the whole line if I want to without having to commit, and I usually get two masks out of each pouch.  They have helped clear my skin up, and have given me a chance to pamper myself during a tough time.  My favorites (so far) are the Avocado & Oatmeal Facial Clay Mask, the Chocolate & Strawberry Facial Clay Mask, and the Goji Berry Facial Hydration Mask.  Freeman has several other masks to choose from for a variety of skin types.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge (top) and Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer (bottom)

Because my skin has been such crap this month, I’ve been relying on concealer.  Both of these concealers were my top choices for my 2011 favorites for face post, so check it out here for more details on the products.  I use the Hard Candy Glamoflauge to cover any breakout issues because it’s heavy duty and covers anything, but it’s too thick for under the eye.  I’ve had major dark circles due to lack of sleep, so I’ve been using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer under the eyes and it’s been really helping.

e.l.f. Complexion Perfection

To set my under eye concealer, I’ve been turning to the e.l.f. Complexion Perfection Powder.  Actually, I just checked e.l.f.’s website, and they have changed the name to the Studio Tone Correcting Powder, but it’s the same product.  It is $3.00 from the Studio line.  I rediscovered this little gem in my collection this month after not using it since the summer.  I especially like the yellow tone for under eye, and blending the yellow and green over my cheeks where I have a lot of redness.

Revlon Photoready Color-Correcting Primer

You may remember my full review here of the Revlon Photoready Color Correcting Primer.  In my review I mentioned that, although this primer doesn’t live up to it’s color-correcting or brightening claims, it’s nonetheless a fantastic primer.  I’ve been using it almost every day under a variety of foundations.  I love the soft-focus finish that it gives, and it makes my foundation look great.  I think it’s a keeper, even though it doesn’t actually color-correct.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation

I have been pleasantly surprised by the e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation.  I wasn’t sure if e.l.f.’s foundation would be that great because of the extremely low price.  I really like the Flawless Finish Foundation, though.  It gives my skin a beautiful smooth semi-matte finish with pretty good coverage.  It doesn’t dry me out, and my skin looks great hours into wear.  And check out that glass bottle!  E.l.f. really stepped it up with the packaging for the Flawless Finish Foundation.  The packaging looks expensive, but it is still only $6.00, which is pricey for e.l.f., but lower than anything else you can find in the drugstore.  I totally recommend checking it out.  I have seen limited shades of the e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation at Target.

NYC Bronzer in Sunny

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny is a cult favorite in the beauty community.  Chances are you own it, or have at least heard of it.  I’ve been loving it this month to give my face some life and dimension and a natural-looking glow.  Sunny is a sheer matte bronzer, not too dark, so it’s great for this time of year when I don’t have any tan.  It warms my face up without looking too fake or muddy.  Sunny is smooth and blends easily, and retails for about $3.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadows in Tough as Taupe and Pomegranate Punk

I’ve been doing really fast and easy eye looks this month, so I’ve been using the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadows a lot, especially the shades Tough as Taupe and Pomegranate Punk .  You can read my full review of these shadows here.  I’ve mentioned them several times here on BiBB, so you already know that I think they are awesome.  The Color Tattoos are so easy peasy.  I’ve been using them alone on the lid, just dabbing some on with my fingers and blending up a bit into the crease.  Then I finish off with my next two items.

Wet n Wild Brulee and Sonia Kashuk Small Multipurpose Powder Brush

This is the second month in a row that Brulee has been a favorite, so there’s not much more that I can say about it.  It is a universal highlight shade, and I use it all the time.  I’ve been sweeping it on with almost every single eye look I’ve done in March.  The Sonia Kashuk Small Multipurpose Powder Brush is a fantastic brush to sweep on and blend out Brulee.  I got this brush for Christmas and L-O-V-E it!  It’s perfect.  It’s so soft and fluffy, and is the best blending brush that I own.  You can find the Sonia Kashuk Small Multipurpose Powder Brush at Target for around $10-$12.

That’s it for my March favorites.  I hope that you saw something you like.  If you try any of these products, I’d love to hear what you thought of them.  Leave me a comment below and let me know.

2011 Favorites: Face

I am staring my “2011 Favorites” series.  There are just too many categories to fit everything into one post, so I decided to break them up.  In this post I’m going to talk about my makeup favorites for the face, everything from primer to blush.  (I’ll do skin care separately.)  When I say “favorites of 2011,” it doesn’t necessarily mean that the product came out in 2011, but that it has been a favorite of mine this last year.  I chose one favorite and one honorable mention in each category.  My favorites are all drugstore items (I’m including e.l.f., NYX, and Coastal Scents in that description) and I’ve included the retail price, but my honorable mentions may include high-end items.  I also limited my selection to items that I had time to enjoy during the year, so anything I got in November or December is not going to be included (with one exception).  Just because a product isn’t listed, doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it.  These products are the ones that really stood out to me this last year.  I’ve reviewed many of these products, so be sure to click the provided links for more info and swatches.  So, let’s get on with it.

Here are my Favorites for 2011: the face edition.

Primer:

Favorite– Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer.  I featured both of these in my Battle of the Drugstore Primers post, so check it out for the full review.  Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer is a clear silicone based gel primer.  It feels smooth and silky to the touch, dries down fast with no wait time, and locks in moisture without making my face oily or too wet for foundation.  It’s fantastic for normal to dry skin, as most silicone gels are.  I’ve noticed that prices really vary on this one so shop around.

Honorable mention- Hard Candy Sheer Envy primer.  Though I sounded a bit critical in my “battle” post, I do really like Sheer Envy.  It’s a very good option to try.

Foundation:

Favorite- Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse.  Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse was one of my October favorites.  I am a liquid foundation girl, so both of my choices fit into that category.  It’s a great formula for my dry skin and doesn’t flake up on me at all.  It is a medium coverage foundation and I get a beautiful, almost air brushed finish when I apply it.  I do not have a problem with staying power, but then again I usually only need 6-8 hours worth of coverage.  It retails for around $9.00.

Honorable mention- Revlon Photoready Liquid Foundation.  This was my go-to foundation at the beginning of the year, until I found Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse.  Overall, I really like Revlon Photoready and it came in at a very close second.

Concealer:

Favorite- Hard Candy Glamoflauge.  I covered Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in my October favorites post, but here is the run down.  This heavy coverage concealer has a thick and creamy consistency that is best applied with a flat concealer brush and set with powder.  I would never recommend that you use Glamoflauge under the eye because it’s too thick, but for trouble spots it’s awesome and lasts all day.  A little goes a very long way, and this tube is going to last me forever. Hard Candy is sold exclusively at Walmart, and Glamoflauge retails for $6.00.

Honorable mention- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer.  Because Glamoflauge isn’t good for under the yes, I wanted to include one that is.  As you read in my review, this is the only concealer that I have found that works well for me under the eyes, so I had to include it in my favorites even though I’ve only had it since early December.  (This is my one exception.)

Powder:

Favorite- E.l.f. Pressed Powder.  E.l.f. Studio Pressed Powder is another product featured in my October favorites.  This replaced my L’Oreal True Match powder.  It’s just as good for a fraction of the cost.  I am not a huge fan of translucent powders, and like a powder to have some coverage of it’s own. E.l.f. designed the studio pressed powder to be used wet or dry for more coverage and I have seen reviews that this makes a great powder foundation.  Despite it’s great coverage, e.l.f. Studio Pressed Powder doesn’t come on too strong or look chalky, and is a great setting powder on top of foundation for a natural look.  I find it best to press the powder on with the sponge it comes with and then lightly buff with a kabuki, or a large blush brush.  This is one of the e.l.f. products available at Target, and of course it’s available at e.l.f.’s website for $3.00.

Honorable mention- L’Oreal True Match.  I used L’Oreal True Match for my pressed powder for years, including the front half of 2011, and it’s a really great powder.  I switched because I wanted to try to find something that cost less since L’Oreal is kind of pricey for drugstore.

Bronzer:

Favorite- Milani Baked Bronzer, and my favorite shade in the line is 05 Soleil.  Click here to read my full review of Soleil with swatches.  I really like this bronzer.  It’s a medium bronze with veins of milk chocolate and shimmery gold running through it that gives a warm golden glow.  It’s the perfect golden sheen to brighten up your cheeks.  All of the products in Milani’s baked line have been a huge hit this year and the bronzers are no exception.  These retail for around $8-9.

Honorable mention- NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny.  What makes Sunny worth noting is that it is one of the few matte bronzers available in the drugstore.  If shimmer isn’t your thing, especially in the winter, give Sunny a try.

Highlight:

Favorite- E.l.f. Golden Bronzer, the lightest shade in the quad.  I don’t use a highlight too often, so I don’t have many products to choose from as a favorite in this category.  I do really like the e.l.f. Golden Bronzer, which is a quad of four blendable shades for an all-over sheer wash of color, or you can use each shade separately.  The lightest shade is a very soft peachy gold, which is a fantastic powder highlight for a subtle sheen.  Like all e.l.f. Studio products, this retails for $3.00.

Honorable mention– None in this category

Blush:

Favorite- Milani Baked Blush, and my favorite shade in the line is 02 Rose D’Oro.  Milani Baked Blushes may be my favorite product of all of 2011.  They are certainly in the top three.  Click here for my full review and swatches of the three shades I own. The product is soft, not chalky at all, and blends like a dream.  These super pigmented blushes provide a luminous healthy glow on the cheeks that is simply ravishing.  Rose D’Oro is a universally flattering rosy peach shade with golden shimmer, and probably the prettiest of all nine shades.  Milani Baked Blushes retail for $6-7.

Honorable mention- E.l.f. Studio Cream Blush, and my favorite shade in the line is Tease.  Click here to read my review of the original “bouncy” blush.

That’s it for my Favorites for 2011: the face edition.  I hope that you found some good options to try, and stay tuned for more posts in this series very soon.

October 2011Favorites

Can you believe another month has come and gone?  All of a sudden it’s November.  That means it’s time again for another monthly favorites post.  A couple of these items should come as no surprise, if you’ve been reading along this month, but hopefully the others are new to you.  So let’s get started.  If you are interested in last month’s favorites, click here.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer has been a life saver this month.  A combination of allergic reactions and hormones gave me some skin issues that needed serious coverage, and this concealer is definitely serious coverage.  It has a thick and creamy consistency that is best applied with a flat concealer brush and set with powder.  I would never recommend that you use Glamoflauge under the eye because it’s too thick, but for trouble spots it’s awesome.  A little goes a very long way, and this tube is going to last me forever.  Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer comes in three shades, Light, Medium, and Tan.  I have it in Medium, and it matches my light-medium skin really well.  Hard Candy is sold exclusively at Walmart, and Glamoflauge retails for $6.00.

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation

Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse is the foundation that I have been reaching for over and over again this month.  It’s a great formula for my dry skin and doesn’t flake up on me at all.  It is a medium coverage foundation and has a very natural finish.  There is the tiniest bit of scent when the foundation is first out of the bottle, but it’s hardly noticeable unless you are specifically looking for it and dissipates quickly.  I find that I get an almost air brushed finish when I apply Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse with my favorite foundation brush (which is actually the e.l.f. flat top powder brush).  I stipple it on and then blend it out with the brush and it looks gorgeous.  There are only two flaws that I can find with Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse foundation.  The most glaring issue that I have with it is that it doesn’t have a cap.  I love that it has a pump, but I would really prefer it if it had a cap to go over the pump.  I haven’t had any issues with mess after months of use, but I am still paranoid that I’m going to find foundation spilled out everywhere.  The other issue is that the color that I have, Nude Light 4, can have a slightly orange cast.  It still manages to look fantastic on my skin, but I may try a different shade next time.  I will definitely be repurchasing when I run out.

e.l.f. Studio Pressed Powder

I have been really impressed with my e.l.f. Studio Pressed Powder.  I’ve been using Loreal True Match for my pressed powder for years, but I wanted to try to find something that cost less because Loreal is kind of pricey for drugstore.  I didn’t expect much from e.l.f., but I figured that for $3.00 what could it hurt to try.  I really need to stop underestimating e.l.f. just because it’s cheap.  I was shocked by how good the powder actually is.  I am not a huge fan of translucent powders, and like a powder to have some coverage of it’s own.  This ceratinly fits that bill.  E.l.f. designed the studio pressed powder to be used wet or dry for more coverage and I have seen reviews that this makes a great powder foundation.  Despite it’s great coverage, e.l.f. Studio Pressed Powder doesn’t come on too strong and is a great setting powder on top of foundation for a natural look.  I find it best to press the powder on with the sponge it comes with and then lightly buff with a kabuki, or a large blush brush.  This is one of the e.l.f. products available at Target, and of course it’s available at e.l.f.’s website.

e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Metallic Olive

Another e.l.f. product that I’ve been loving is the Studio Cream Eyeliner in Metallic Olive.  Usually I’m a pencil liner girl, but this eyeliner is fantastic.  It is so creamy and smooth!  The swatch above is one smooth swipe with the brush it comes with.  It couldn’t be easier to apply, even for someone who isn’t used to applying eyeliner with a brush.  There is no dragging or pulling, just a smooth solid line.  E.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner is smudgeable when first applied, but once set, won’t budge.  I really like Metallic Olive for fall.  I’m wearing a lot of browns and greens on my eyes, so this is a great color to go with that.  Again, despite the low $3.00 price tag, e.l.f has put out a really great product.

Rose D'Oro and Red Velvet

I’m going to mention these next two products together because I have covered them here already.  I’m loving the Milani Baked Blush in Rose D’Oro which you can read about here, and the Revlon Colorbust Lip Butter in red velvet, covered here.  They are fabulous, fantastic, wonderful.  Buy them now.  Do it.  Really.

Coastal Scents Fall Festival Palette

My last favorite is my Coastal Scents Fall Festival Palette.  This eyeshadow palette has some fantastic shades for a ton of fall looks.  I especially love the coppery orange shade in the middle row.  According to Coastal Scents, “Transition into autumn with our Fall Festival Palette, including twelve season appropriate metallic, matte, and shimmery shadows for a variety of looks. The shadows can be applied dry or wet for a longer lasting effect with any eye shadow brush in your collection. All twelve eye shadow pots are held magnetically into our matte black palette imprinted with the Coastal Scents logo and palette name. These shadows can also be purchased separately as individual Hot Pots.”  The Hot Pots seem to be the same size as MAC shadows.  Coastal Scents shadows are soft, highly pigmented, and really well priced.  Because they are so soft, there is a certain amount of fallout, but it’s worth it.  Primer always helps the fallout issue.  They blend really well together and, over primer, will last all day.  The palette has a full sized mirror, which is awesome, and retails for $21.95.  The Fall Festival Palette can be found here.

I hope that you enjoyed this month’s favorites, and that you saw some products that you want to try for yourself.

Battle of the Drugstore Primers

Update: Be sure to check out my more recent Battle of the Drugstore Primers here.

This is the battle of the drugstore primers, where we see how some popular foundation primers compare with each other.  The three covered here are all meant to smooth skin and extend the life of your makeup.  I am not choosing to cover color-correcting primers in this post because they are designed to do a completely different thing.  If you have never used a foundation primer, you apply it over your moisturizer and under your foundation and concealer.  A foundation primer is supposed to help your makeup apply more smoothly, and evenly.  It’s also supposed to lengthen the wear time of your foundation so that it looks good all day.  My opinion of these primers is based solely on my experience with them as someone who has dry skin and who likes to use a variety of foundations day to day.  The three primers that I am covering today are: Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer, Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, and Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer.  Let the battle begin.

Rimmel (L), Hard Candy (C), Revlon (R)

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer is the consistency of liquid foundation and is a salmon orange color out of the tube.  The color does blend out, though fair skin may still see a peachy tinge.  I do not find this primer very moisturizing, but it does make my skin feel slightly smoother when first applied.  It dries down immediately, so you do not have to wait to apply foundation.  Fix & Perfect is best for normal to oily skin because it leaves a matte, almost powdery finish.  I don’t think that it is a good primer for dry skin at all.  I find that it clings to dry patches, making them even more evident.  The performance of Fix & Perfect varies wildly depending on what foundation I use.  Some foundations apply decently, but many foundations apply unevenly and get “stuck” in some spots (Revlon Colostay, for example).  Again, I believe that if I had oily skin I would have better luck with this primer, but as someone with dry skin, all I can say is that I hate Fix & Perfect.  It smells like baby wipes to me, and makes my makeup look patchy.  It does extend the life of my foundation a little bit, but when it does fade, it fades unevenly.  I know many people really like this primer, so if you have oily skin and don’t mind fragrance, go ahead and check it out for yourself.  I’d love to hear if someone uses it and likes it, but it’s not for me.  I will not repurchase Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer.

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer is a milky silicone based primer.  It is prone to separating, so it needs to be shaken well before use.  It is extremely moisturizing and smooth, and literally feels like silk when rubbed between your fingers.  Perhaps it’s a bit too silky.  A little goes a really long way, and it’s easy to use too much.  The primer still feels “wet” even when it’s fully blended and it takes several minutes before it feels like it’s drying down at all.  I love how moisturizing it is, but I feel like it has too much slip.  If I don’t wait for it to dry down completely, my foundation glides too much and doesn’t blend in properly.  However, if I am patient and wait for it to do it’s thing, Sheer Envy is a great primer.  It locks moisture in fantastically, and keeps my foundation looking good for hours.  There is no noticeable scent, which is a blessed relief.  I would warn those with oily skin to be cautious because I could see this primer making the skin feel even more oily and may cause breakouts.  Those with normal to dry skin will probably have better luck.  Another issue is that Hard Candy is exclusive to Walmart, so if you do not live near a Walmart, or think it’s the devil, you are out of luck.  I am not sure if I will repurchase. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer has substantial pros and cons.  I definitely think it is worth checking out, as long as you are prepared to put up with its’ flaws.

Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer is a clear silicone based gel primer.  This is my favorite of the three.  It feels smooth and silky to the touch, without too much slip.  It dries down faster than the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, so I don’t feel like I have to wait on my primer before I can continue on with my routine.  I feel that it locks in moisture without making my face oily or too wet for foundation.  My foundation glides on easily and blends like a dream.  Revlon’s primer definitely extends the life of my foundation and if it does fade, it fades much more evenly than it otherwise would.  It works equally well under a variety of foundations.  The only complaint I have is that it does have a strong scent.  I personally like the scent, but it would be better without it because it can smell a bit perfume-y.  I do think that those with oily skin should proceed with caution since this primer is so moisture locking.  It’s fantastic for normal to dry skin, though.  I will absolutely repurchase Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer when I run out.

I hope this post helps you if you are wondering what drugstore primer to try.  For me, the winner is Revlon Beyond Natural, but Hard Candy Sheer Envy is also pretty good.  The best part is that all three of these primers are available for under ten dollars, which is wonderful.

Speed Read: Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer is my favorite foundation primer and wins the battle of the drugstore primers, IMO.

Best for: Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer is best for normal to dry skin.

Keep walking: Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer was an epic fail for me.  Those with dry skin will want to stay away.