August 2012 Faves Part 1

 So here is the part where I exclaim that I can't believe how fast the month of August has passed by, express disbelief that we are approaching fall, blah blah. Actually, for me, August was a long month; don't the Olympics feel like a lifetime ago? They only ended on August 17. Anyways, let's get on with my favorites, shall we?

Becca Petal and Hard Candy Spicy and Sweet

Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Spicy and Sweet: This summer, this was the blush I reached for anytime I was in a hurry or didn't have a specific look in mind. It can be purchased at Walmart for $6.00, so it is a steal. Why do I reach for this over many of my high-end blushes? Probably because it is so versatile--it has four shades that can be customized to create the flush you desire. There is a light sandy brown, a creamsicle color, a bright bubblegum pink, and a pinky-red which, when swirled together, create a shimmery coral color. Love this.

A rediscovery for me has been the Becca Lip and Cheek Creme in Petal. I picked this up ages and ages ago in a Hautelook sale, and I remember being rather intimidated by the color when it arrived. It is a bright coral peach, and I bought this back when I was first getting really into makeup a couple years ago, and when I was still subscribing to the maxim that pale people have to wear really pale blush (a theory which I abandoned long ago--you just need to use a light hand and you can wear any color!) Anyways, it kind of sat in my drawer for sometime, and I pulled it out recently, dabbed some on my checks, and was in love with the effect! It is very flattering, and the texture just glides across your skin, while it is not sticky or difficult to blend. However, like most products marketed as lip/cheek multipurpose ones, it doesn't really work on the lips, but that's okay. It's gorgeous for summer!

Love this pigment stack from Naked Cosmetics in Naturally Nude that I picked up at IMATs this year; it's comprised of rosy, natural colors which I can just quickly pat on my lid. I know pigments are a polarizing topic, but I am personally a big fan. I might do a post with swatches on all of my Naked Cosmetics pigment stacks.

Bare Minerals Duo in Top Shelf

For anyone who hasn't tried the Ready eyeshadow pressed formulation by Bare Escentuals...what are you waiting for? These are seriously amongst the best eyeshadows on the market, and I particularly love the bronzey-gold shade in this duo (Bare Minerals Top Shelf). I think it is similar to MAC Woodwinked, but less orange and more metallic. I sweep it all over the lid, and it has plenty of dimension to wear on its own.

Bobbi Brown Face Touch-up Palette in Porcelain (you can tell I use this!)

 I picked up this Bobbi Brown Face Touch-Up Palette as part of a QVC Today's Special Value, and while the rest of the kit isn't a necessity, this is great! Super compact, and includes concealer, corrector, foundation stick, and powder all in one. I have especially been loving the foundation "stick" as a lightweight face concealer for the summer.

I really like the L'oreal Caresse Lipsticks in general (totally my type of formula: lightweight, but pigmented) but I found myself reaching for this Pink Cashmere shade over and over again. It is a perfect medium between wearable and statement lip; just another effortless summer product.

Okay, so I have already rambled on for way too long, so expect a part 2 with nail and random faves!

What have been your recent favorites? Hope everyone has a nice, long weekend!

Update!

So, the plans for a blogging marathon this week have been a bit derailed...the past two days I haven't been able to upload any photos to blogger due to some sort of technical glitch. Hopefully this will be resolved by tomorrow, so stay tuned!!!

Alert! BB Cream at...Costco?!!

Imagine my surprise when I was perusing my local Costco this afternoon, (primarily trolling for samples, in all honesty,) and I spotted a display of Hydroxacone BB Creams. The display was nearly empty, so I decided to take the plunge and purchase it without knowing much about this particular iteration, especially as my mom was interested as well, and since it comes with two full-size products for the price of one (which was under $48). I decided to pick it up, do some research when I got home, and decide if it was worth keeping. There actually isn't a wealth of information about this product out there other than from the brand themselves, so I don't know much other than the claims espoused by the company. They claim it contains ingredients that support the natural renewal process of skin, such as:

• Vitamin C: Support optimal skin health by promoting the skin’s own regenerative properties help stimulate collagen used during the skin’s own regenerative process
• PhytoCellTec: Formulated with an ingredient that help skin stem cells maintain their natural renewal capacity
• PhytoCellTec & EMortal: Formulated with ingredients that increase the vitality of the skins’ stem cells.
• SPF 40: SPF 40 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protects the skin from the elements including harmful UV rays and oxidative stress

Certainly sounds interesting! From what I can tell, this is a primarily skincare focused US brand, and they at least get brownie points from me for trying to incorporate a lot of active ingredients in the fashion of a traditional Asian BB cream, which differentiates their version from many of the US ones I have seen.

However, I do have a bit of a dispute with the way this is being marketed at Costco...it clearly states in multiple spots on the Costco packaging that this is a Universal shade product, that will work for all skin tones and skin types. I was already a little wary of the product when I saw this claim, as most shades that are allegedly "universal" tend to turn a fetching shade of Oompa Loompa orange on me. But I became even more suspicious when I did my research on the product and discovered that it actually comes in three shade options (light, medium, and dark) when sold at any other retailer, as well as on their own website, on which it doesn't make any sort of universal claim. So it is my conclusion that this is most likely a medium shade which they are just repackaging as a universal shade in the hopes that the casual consumer doesn't catch on. It really bothers me when companies insult our intelligence like that, yet I am still very intrigued by this product. I am still not sure if I will be keeping this and giving it a try; Costco does have a good return policy though, so I suppose I can test the shade out, and if it is an atrocious match return it. We shall see.

Anyways, just wanted to hop on here and share this find in case anyone else is interested in checking out their Costcos. If nothing else, Costco stocking this product demonstrates just how prevalent BB Creams have become in the Western market; I remember even a few months ago when mentioning the idea to someone not immersed in the latest and greatest in beauty's offerings and they would have no clue what you were talking about. And now they are everywhere, including Costco!
 

My Daily Essentials

As a beauty junkie (cough, hoarder!) there are very few products I turn to every single day. Most eyeshadows, blushes, and eyeliners are more or less interchangeable, mascaras just depend on what I am trying to use up, and the foundations, concealers, and even moisturizers I use changes based on the season and how my skin is behaving. In fact, when I really contemplate this, there are really only two specific products that I use every single makeup application, rain or shine, all-year long. These are:

Physician's Formula Eyeshadow Quad in Canyon Classic--this is what use for my eyebrows even though it is marketed as an eyeshadow quad, and I have never found a better kit for filling them in, and even for highlighting the brow bone. This quad comes with four matte shades: a cream (the one I use for the browbone,) a slightly warm light brown (I use this for blending eyeshadow out as a "best friend" color 99 percent of the time), and a cooler light taupe brown which I mix with a touch of the charcoal to get the perfect match for my ashy eyebrows. Everything else I have tried in the past has been too warm, which even though I have some auburn tones in my hair, is really jarring on my very cool toned eyebrows, rendering them very fake-looking. As you can probably tell from the photo, this little quad is very well-loved, and I will be repurchasing it in a heartbeat as soon as it runs out. It really is an essential for me.

CVS Ultimate Sheer Liquid Daily Sunscreen--this is my favorite facial sunscreen, and I have repurchased it numerous times. I think this is the generic version of a Neutrogena product, but as this is cheaper, I go with this one even though I am sure they perform in much the same way. As its name suggests, it is a light and sheer formula, not sticky or greasy feeling. It dries matte rather than shiny like most sunscreens. It also doesn't make me break out, in addition to being invisible under makeup. I can't really speak to if it gives a white cast, as since I am so pale I tend to not really notice it when I am wearing products that purportedly cause this phenomenon. Basically, this works for me and is very affordable, so I don't have too much of an inclination to try anything new for a while.

What about you? Do you have any products that you use every day, all year round? I would love to hear about them in the comments!

Also, I am going to be blogging every day this week, so be sure that if you are interested to keep checking back; you can also follow the blog by clicking the icon on the right hand side of the page so you are notified when the new posts are published.

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and thanks for reading!

Review and Swatches: Jesse's Girl Palette in Brown Eyed Girl

    Just wanted to hop on and share my excitement for this absolute bargain of a palette...it is a collection of nine warm-toned neutrals which retails at Rite Aid for $3.99. I originally went to Rite Aid to try and snag some of the new Maybelline Color Tattoo shades, which of course my location did not have yet, so I was feeling that itch to buy something. I spotted this and decided to take a gamble on it, as I rationalized to myself that even if I only liked one of the nine shades, for $3.99 that would still be worth it. Of course, I swatched the shades as soon as I got to the car after purchasing, and was really pleased with the pigmentation and quality! My only minor complaint is that the two lightest shades in the palette, a pale white/yellow color and a soft gold, are a bit on the sheerer and more chalky side of the spectrum, but hey, I sometimes find that to be the case with high end light-colored eyeshadows, and the rest of the colors are very nice quality and more than compensate for those two.

    
     The other colors are: a muted tangerine, a minky taupe, an unusual dirty mustard color (reminds me a bit of that shade Outre that came out with a MAC collection last fall), a rusty copper, a brick red-orange (I thought a possible Nars California dupe), a warm brown, and a cool medium brown. The overall color scheme seems quintessential fall to me, echoing the changing leaf colors that those of you in other parts of the world are lucky enough to experience. Personally, there are a few colors included that I do not have anything in my collection similar to, and let's just say my makeup stash falls somewhere between "more than recommended" and "a few items away from the camera crew from hoarders making a surprise appearance," so that is quite a feat. This largely orange and copper-based palette is great for someone like me, as I like the idea of them for bringing out my blue-gray eyes, but tend to be a bit wary of a lot of these types of shades as I find I really have to work to get them to complement my porcelain skin, but for $3.99, or $0.44 a shadow, I can experiment without feeling guilty if I can't get some of the colors to work for me. The finish is basically the same on all of the shades: they have a subtle sheen, and are not matte, but also are not overtly shimmery. The packaging is pretty cheap-looking, but compact and certainly not bulky. The only product I can think of where you get similar bang for your buck is the Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette, but that is usually around $5, although you do get an extra shadow, and I would say the quality is a little better on that one.

  
      But overall, I am pretty thrilled by this drugstore gem: good quality shadows (no one is confusing these for the likes of, say, Burberry Eyeshadows, but I would say only Wet N Wild makes better ones for a comparable price; definitely surpass almost all other drugstore eyeshadows I have tried), some unusual shades (it's not just another neutral palette as I thought at first glance,) accompanied by a $3.99 price tag. I don't really think you can go wrong with this one--low risk, high reward in my opinion.

Love, Like, Loathe of the Week #1

I've been seeing this type of post floating around the blogosphere, and really liked the idea of it, so here goes my picks for the week.

I LOVE: My Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP. This product is not exactly a well-kept secret, and I would say this line of cream shadows has a well-deserved cult like adoration in the beauty community. I have a few of these, but this particular shade of pinky champagne is just so flattering, and so quick and easy for summer.  This with some eyeliner and mascara is an effortless summer look: put together, but not too overdone.

I LIKE: OPI nail polish in Pink Friday.  This is from the Nicki Minaj collection that came out in the Spring, and is a bright bubblegum pink. I am not usually a huge pink nail polish person, but this color is really fun and girly; perfect for the season. The reason it is a like and not a love is that I had some issues with the formula; it didn't self-level, and overall I found it rather difficult to apply. However, I do have the mini bottle of this, so that could be the cause of these issues rather than the formula itself, although I have had other OPI minis in the past that apply well. I do really like the color though.

I LOATHE: This distinction definitely goes to my Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion. This is just a deluxe size sample of 1 fl oz that I received ages ago, and I tried this week to incorporate it into my skincare routine as my day moisturizer since I am almost out of my beloved Bare Minerals one. Now, before I really start disparaging this product, I do have to mention that it is recommended for normal to oily skin types, and my skin does not really fall into that camp. But as the weather here has been very hot lately, my skin has been rather normal to dry instead of it's usual Sahara desert-like state, so I thought this would be fine while the hot weather lasts. I am sad to report that no, my friends; this is not the case. I actually don't think it is just my skin-type that makes this product not work for me; I just don't think it is a great moisturizer. It does not sink into my skin at all, and leaves a shiny film on my face. It exacerbates every pore, with the overall effect of making my skin look super greasy with huge pores, neither of which is usually true. I thought maybe I could use it on days I am just lounging around the house and don't have to go anywhere, but it doesn't moisturize at all, therefore rendering this product completely useless to me. I would be interested to hear from someone who has oily skin on what they think of this product, but until I do, I am just going to assume that this is bad product.

Lust List: August

Burberry cosmetic 
burberry.com   Burberry is out with some new eyeshadows for Fall...drool. I want Gold Trench.

Illamasqua sheer makeup
asos.com        I love Illamasqua blushes, and want to indulge in Naked Rose.

Smashbox eyeshadow
nordstrom.com      Smashbox has been upping their game lately, and I adore these soft cool tone shades in the Muse palette.

Giorgio Armani gold eyeshadow
barneys.com   Hmmm, I can dream right? Don't think this could be worth the price, but still tempting.

Lancôme bright makeup
bergdorfgoodman.com      I've heard amazing things about this formula.

Yves Saint Laurent foundation
barneys.com      I am on such a base product kick lately, and this is very appealing: lightweight, dewy finish...count me in! Once I count my pretty pennies, that is.

Quick (or not so quick) Post About a Boring Topic...Recent Lotion Loves

I know, I know; I really reeled you in with that title, didn't I? Joking aside, I did just want to share some recent favorites in the body lotion realm with you. Now it should be said that I am not too bothered by lotion, usually. I think I can trace this apathy back to circa 5th grade, when my friends and I used to collect countless lotions, sprays, and shower gels from Bath and Body Works, amassing copious amounts of products only to rival our equally impressive Lip Smacker collections. I am not sure what we planned on doing with all of those products, but I guess it just shows that illogical collecting and hoarding tendencies are traits deeply embedded in my bones. Anyways, I had all these super sickly sweet smelling lotions and potions, and it got to the point one day where scented body lotion started making me feel nauseous and triggered some headaches.  I got really turned off of using such products for a long time, preferring unscented lotions and body oils. That being said, even though I basically stopped buying lotions, that doesn't mean people stopped giving them to me as gifts, and or that I stopped receiving them as gifts with purchases, so I have accumulated quite a few different types. In my opinion, the ones I am going to discuss are a cut above the pack, particularly for the warmer months, where my skin is still dry and scaly, but I don't particularly feel like slathering my body in heavy creams.

 Whew, now that I have traced out my tumultuous history with body lotion in a characteristically rambly manner, let's get on to the products, shall we?

First up, Hempz Pomegranate Herbal Body Moisturizer, which is enriched with 100 percent pure organic hemp seed oil (according to the packaging). You get an absolutely massive amount of product in this--17 ounces. What I like about this is the scent is very light and not overwhelming; as I mentioned above, scents that are too fruity sweet or too floral have a tendency to induce a headache in me. It comes with a pump, which is less messy and more hygienic than a pot you have to dig your fingers into. The packaging is pretty cheap looking for the price, and their logo kind of looks like, um, a marijuana leaf. There, I said it. The texture is lightweight, but the effect is still extremely moisturizing--one of the most moisturizing I have ever used. They sell this at Ulta for $23, but it goes on sale a lot; I am pretty sure I picked this up for 50-60 percent off. They also have it on amazon for around $12, so definitely do not shell out the full retail price. The original scent is also amazing; it smells like coconut and bananas, without being too sweet (how many times am I going to use that phrase in this post?)

Next I want to talk about the Julep Pomegranate Body Creme. It's pretty much a coincidence that I have two Pomegranate selections here, as I received this in my Julep Maven box a while back. I remember getting this in my box and letting out a groan, thinking, ugh another body butter? But this is absolutely amazing. The texture is akin to a light whipped mousse, and the scent is subtle. This, unlike Body Shop body butters, absorbs right into my skin and doesn't leave me feeling at all sticky. The effect is incredible; it transforms my rough skin into something approaching soft and smooth. It does have the embarrassing side effect of causing me to endlessly stroke my arms in shock at how soft I feel, making me look like a total freak, haha. The downside to this is that this little pot retails for $18 for a mere 4 ounces, which leaves me uncertain as to whether I will repurchase this when I run out. I do love it though.

Last up is Johnson's Melt Away Stress Lavender and Chamomile Lotion. This can be picked up at any drugstore, and it claims to "help you unwind and feel at ease." I don't really buy into those types of claims, but I will say that I have been using this before bed and it might just be the ritual involved, but whatever the psychology behind it, I do find this pretty relaxing. It isn't particularly moisturizing, and it does contain some cheap ingredients including parabens, but I just love love love this scent! I know lavender isn't everyone's thing, and sometimes it's not mine either, but this is just right my alley.