Foundation Frenzy: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10

 So, long time no posting...I won't go too in depth explaining my absence, but the main culprit is my computer is on it's way out. These days I am averaging a blue screen shutdown per day, so it's only when I have access to another computer, or when I can get my computer to stay on for longer than an hour that I can write, so, yeah, that is why posting has been sporadic. I actually have a couple of posts that were written but unable to be posted in the last week and a half, including my part 2 of August faves, and I think I will still post them as soon as I am able to. Anyways, on to another foundation review!

This foundation has fostered a great deal of hype ever since it was released, and since there is already a wealth of information and no shortage of opinions out there on it, I was debating whether to post this review or not. However, I pulled this out of my cupboard last week after months of unwavering devotion to my Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, applied it on my face, and felt a rush of nostalgia for the time when I first tried this last summer, and made the bold proclamation that it was the best liquid foundation ever. Was I wrong on that? I'm not so sure. But I think it certainly warrants a discussion.

Chanel says: "The tiniest drop of this new hybrid fluid creates a fresh, natural complexion. Skin looks refined, dewy, and feels refreshed, creating an exquisite makeup experience. The fluid formula has a soft, water-light texture, and comes in 10 shades that match perfectly to skin’s undertones, whether pink or beige."

Can there possibly be any truth to these claims? Yes and no. I definitely think that this product mimics the look of skin in a very believable way, and falls into the category of "your skin but better," which I think is ultimately what we all strive for to find in a base product. However, I don't agree with the statement that this is a glowy or dewy foundation; I have heard other people say that this is a dewy foundation, but I personally find it to be a semi-matte finish. Like I said earlier, it looks like skin, and that extends to the finish as well. For me, it evens my skin out by providing light to a slight medium coverage. When I was wearing this last weekend to a family friend's function, one of the other guests remarked to me that I had the "most amazing skin," and that it looked like I had never had a zit in my life. Now, I am not repeating this to brag, but rather as a testament to this foundation, as although my skin has improved greatly the past couple months or so, I had a few breakouts a few days prior to this compliment, so was surprised and flattered to hear this.

Top is B10 blended into my forearm, underneath it's unblended, and below is my pasty bare skin. Looks like skin, right?

Are there any drawbacks? So far this sounds like the stuff that dreams are made of! The answer to that is yes, there are. First off, the price is going to put many people off, and at $45, it is on the pricey end of products, but recently I have noticed foundation prices creeping up in "less" high-end brands (for example, the Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation is $39, and the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation is $42), so with that context and considering it is Chanel, I don't think it is too outrageous. Another slight drawback is the shade selection: there are only 10 colors, and the one I was matched to, B10, is slightly too dark and yellow for me. However, the other lightest option, BR12, was extremely pink. I will say though that if I take the time to really blend it in with my fingers, it seems to adapt to my skin tone well, and since it is on the sheer side, it doesn't really matter that it is not my perfect color. I have also heard some people complain about experiencing breakouts from this; personally, I have never broken out from this, and I have sensitive skin, but each person is different, and since this is fragranced and does contain a small amount of alcohol as one of its ingredients, I can see how it might be irritating to some people's skin. The only real problem I face with it is that I do find it to be pretty drying due to the alcohol component. This time of the year, it is fine, but last fall and winter I noticed it would cling to dry patches and make my skin feel tight, so perhaps if you have extremely dry skin, this isn't your best bet. Conversely, if you have oily or combination skin, this might work out well for you.

Since this has hit the market, it seems like there have been an increase of similar lightweight, skin foundations being released, and I have had samples of a few of them. Most notably, Estee Lauder has produced their Invisible Fluid Makeup, which is extremely similar, and comes in more shades at a lower price point. However, I found that the EL made my face look too flat and matte, and I experienced a bad breakout from it, so I was afraid to compare the two further. If you are interested in this type of product, maybe pick up a sample of both the Chanel and the EL, as I don't think you would need both, and you can see which works best for you.

Bottom line--is this my perfect foundation? No, it is not; I would like something more hydrating and with a better color match. However, it is the best foundation I have tried to date, and if you are someone who doesn't like the feel of foundation on your skin, and usually prefers a tinted moisturizer, this might be something up your alley.

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.

Foundation Frenzy: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Review

       
      So I've decided I am going to do an overview series on the different foundations (including tinted moisturizers and bb cremes) that I own, and share my thoughts on them. First up is my recent obsession: Laura Mercier Mineral Powder. Mine is in the shade Tender Rose, the lightest of the pink undertone options. I purchased this last fall at Sephora after hearing a bit of buzz about this being a really nice option for sensitive skin types. This appealed to me after trying many foundations that caused my skin to react negatively, so I went to Sephora to have a look, and I remember the Sales Assistant was really sweet and  applied this on me. When she was finished, I loved the effect, and purchased it on the spot, which is something I rarely do with skin products (I almost always get a sample to test first). Despite our love at first sight affair, the intense feelings fizzled out a bit as it ended up just sitting in my collection for a while collecting dust while I went through a horrendous skin phase from about October to May, suffering from painfully dry skin. I couldn't wear liquid foundation as it just exacerbated the dry patches, so the idea of applying a powder foundation such as this made me very wary indeed. Now that it is summer and my dry skin issues have mostly resolved, I pulled this out a few weeks ago as I thought it would be a nice lightweight option for warm weather. After testing this out for nearly a month now, I can say that I wholeheartedly love this product.
       I apply it with the Sephora Professional Mineral Powder brush, which I think is a perfect accompaniment for this foundation. It dispenses the right amount of powder, and allows you to blend it flawlessly into your skin. I was a little bit hesitant to sport this during the sunny months as sometimes I feel like powder can look so obvious and cakey in direct sunlight, as if it is just sitting on the top of your skin; I usually favor as dewy as possible a finish for the summertime. However, this is not your typical powder, as it imparts a very natural and glowy effect to the skin. It provides good coverage without appearing like you have a lot of makeup on. It also has SPF 15 and is imbued with 15 amino acids, which, according to Laura Mercier, "helps clear the skin of toxins, promotes healthy skin cell growth, and fights the aging process." I'm not sure about those claims, but I have noticed that if I try to build up the coverage a lot, it can start to look a tad cakey, so I usually stick with a light and even application all over my face. Overall, I would say this has light to a buildable medium coverage.  I also like to spray my Skindinavia finishing spray all over my face to counteract any sort of powdery look. I have heard a lot of people like to use this as a finishing powder on top of another base product to provide additional coverage, but personally I enjoy the light coverage for this time of year, and apply concealer in the areas I feel like I need full coverage.
       My one complaint is that I do feel like this oxidizes somewhat on me, going a bit orange.  It's nothing too bad though, and I just make sure to apply bronzer with this to make it appear well-blended. When I run out of this, however, I will most likely purchase the lightest shade in the yellow undertones to prevent this oxidization.  The only other detractor to this foundation would be the price: $36.00 for 0.34 ounces. However, I really do think it's worth it, as it is a versatile product, and I have never come across another mineral foundation that renders your skin so luminous. I personally have never enjoyed loose mineral foundation in the past, as I do have dry skin, but this is certainly an exception. I love it, and can easily see this becoming a staple product for me.  You need this!

PS--Sorry for the sketchy photo quality here, and general lack of photos on this post; currently experiencing some camera issues, but I really wanted to get my thoughts down on this foundation!

Make Up ForEver Products: Review and Swatches

Just wanted to pop in and share an overview on some Make Up For Ever products.

This year, I decided I was going to brave the horrific lines at IMATS and pick up some Make Up Forever products. MUFE is a brand that I do not have a lot of products from, as a lot of times I feel like their products are marketed towards seasoned, full-time makeup artists versus the average beauty junkie/consumer or beginning makeup artist. For example, I own one of their liquid HD blushes, which I find to be a very tricky product for a layperson to work with. I have also tried some other bits and bobs in the past, but do want to delve a bit more into the brand as the whole, as I am frequently reading posts on their high quality products. Selecting which products I wanted to get from the IMATs booth was relatively pain-free, but the waiting in line to get said products was absolutely torturous; it reached a point where I decided that it wasn't worth it to wait in line any longer, and the only reason I persevered was thinking about the time I had already wasted waiting. Anyways, I picked up the four items which follow:

Aqua Cream in 18: The aqua creams were all 50% off, so I had to pick one up. I settled on this lilac shade with a blue duochrome. I actually already owned a couple of aqua cream shadows prior to this purchase (the champagne one and taupe brown one), and while I like them and do get a fair amount of use out of them, they are definitely not my favorite cream eye shadow formulation. I think I am going to do a cream shadow comparison post in the future, so I won't go into a huge amount of detail here, but I just find them to be a little gritty upon application, and on me, they fade throughout the day. Also, I have never heard anyone else mention this, so maybe it's just me, but I think they smell toxic and rife with chemicals (I don't even have that great a sense of smell.) They don't crease, but do fade considerably throughout the day. I am glad I got this color though, as I don't have anything like it, and it's perfect for spring and summer. A sheer wash of it over the lids with some mascara is surprisingly very brightening. It can also be built up to be quite bold in color if that is the look you are going for.

From left to right: 16 and 2

Sculpting Powder Blushes in 2 and 16: This is a product that I never would have tried, had it not been for a random free makeover I had at Sephora a few months back. The artist used the color 10 on me, and I absolutely loved it (so of course it came home with me that day). These are kind of a strange product, as they are not impressive when swatched as they come across dry and chalky, but when applied on the cheeks are really lovely. I really recommend this formulation if you are pale, as they are more on the sheer and buildable side, and it is difficult to overapply. I also adore the packaging of these; they are extremely compact and sleek; mostly black, but with a peekaboo window which lets the color show through. 2 is a pale matte baby pink with mauve undertones. It is similar to Illamasqua Katie, but the mauve is much stronger in this one. 16 is a light peach with a hint of coral. I would say it lies somewhere between Nars Sex Appeal (lighter) and Illamsqua Lover (brighter and darker). I like this line quite a bit, but am not sure how well they would work on someone with a medium or dark skintone as they are on the sheer side.

Rouge Artist Natural lipstick in N36: It's a mid-tone pinky coral lipstick. Not too much that can really be said about this one...I really like the formualtion of this, but don't think I would pay full price for it. I will say that I think the packaging is so sleek and cool. Also, I was a bit concerned when I got this home to discover that it has a little bit of frosty microshimmer to it which I couldn't see in the dim IMATs lighting. I absolutely abhor any sort of frosted lip product, and such products automatically induce a bit of a shudder in me, as it brings me back to my early teenage days of favoring a frosty lip. I had this lip gloss thing by NYC that was like a frosted pink with a green-gold duochorome that I was a particularly big fan of. The added bonus to the obviously stellar look it produced (just so we're clear, that it is some heavy sarcasm) was that it smelled like paint thinner. Anyways, I am pleased to report that the shimmer of this product doesn't show up at all on the lips, and it just serves to add a luminous look to the lips. What a relief. It's turned out to be a really pretty lipstick for summer.

From left to right: lipstick N36, Blush 16, Blush 10, Aqua Cream 18

Overall, I would say I am liking but not loving my MUFE products. Does anyone have any recommendations for products they love from this brand?

Review and Lip Swatches: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

From left to right: Romantic, Sweetheart, Charmed, Darling

       For a while, I hadn't seen these at the main drugstores, but I did spot a nearly empty display at Harmon’s/Bed Bath and Beyond. This is a product along the lines of higher-end Tarte Lipsurgences and Clinique Chubby Sticks. Now, I have not personally tried the Clinique product, but I do have a quite a few of the Tarte ones that I have accumulated in various sets and kits over the years. I happen to be a pretty big fan of the Tarte incarnation, but would have a hard time parting with the $24 cost when they are sold individually. It just strikes me as being quite high for what it is. The display at Bed, Bath, and Beyond looked like it had been positively ransacked, with only a few shades left. I picked up a reddish shade called Romantic, and the lilac one named Darling. I actually ended up picking up two more shades when I finally spotted them at my CVS: Charmed, a peachy nude shade, and Sweetheart, a hot pink.
       First off, I really like the packaging. I love it when companies make the outside packaging match the color inside, as it helps immeasurably when you have a large collection and have to sort through a lot of items to find a specific shade you are seeking. It seems sturdy, with the lid fitting securely on the top, unlike a lot of drugstore lip products. The stick also rolls up without need for a sharpener, just like it’s higher end counterparts. My favorites would have to be Romantic and Sweetheart.  Romantic imparts a sheer red look to the lips on first application, which leaves you looking like you just had a popsicle, but can be built up to a much more opaque and bold level of coverage. I love Sweetheart, which is probably the most pigmented of the bunch. It comes out on my lips as a very vibrant hot pink/fuschia with the first swipe. I like the lilac shade, but wouldn't say it's a must have; on my pigmented lips, it shows up like a subtle baby pink/lilac. Pretty, but I don't think I needed it. The one that gets a big miss from me is Charmed, which really doesn't show up on me. I really should have known better to pick this one up though, as these light shades in sheer lipstick formulations tend to never really work out for me.
       My biggest complaint is the marketing with this product; the name describes it as a “kissable balm stain.” In my opinion, this is neither a balm nor a stain. The product lasts maybe slightly longer than a normal lipstick, so I would not venture to call this a stain or a particularly long-wearing product. I could let Revlon get away with that claim, but I think calling this a balm is a bit of a stretch. I do not find these products more moisturizing than your average sheer lip product; they do have a nice feeling slickness when you first apply them, but after a while my lips feel a little dry. Please keep in mind though that I do have quite dry lips, and products that are often touted as being moisturized in the beauty community, ie Revlon Lip Butters and EOS lip balms, actually dry my lips out. So these might be just fine for you! It is not such a problem that I wouldn’t use them, but I just get a little annoyed with Revlon and drugstore brands in general making outlandish claims about their products that they really have no shot of living up to. In comparison to the higher end brands, I would say these are just as pigmented, and really only fall short with the texture being slightly less creamy, and the application less smooth.

Sweetheart (couldn't capture it as bright as it is in real life for some reason)

Romantic

Charmed (look how washed out and ill it makes me look!)

Darling

       Overall, I really do like this product despite the tirade above, and will be interested in picking up a few more shades when these start showing up in stock everywhere. I think the reasonable price tag of the $7 dollar range makes me much more likely to pick these up over the high end alternatives.

Recent Nail Loves, and Random Pop Culture Ranting

I just wanted to do a quick post on some current nail polish obsessions; pretty self-explanatory, so here goes...
 

From left to right: Butter London Slapper, Illamasqua Jomina, Maybelline Color Show Green With Envy

Butter London Slapper: Now, I am not a huge fan of this brand of polishes across the board; I feel like for the price the quality could be increased a bit, as it is not uniform. I have tried some absolutely amazing shades from this line, but have also regrettably purchased a couple of shades that I found to be amongst the most difficult polish applications I have ever attempted (shout out to Teddy Girl). That being said, this might be my new all-time favorite summer nail polish. Maybe that's too bold a claim for someone who has 5 boxes of nail polish (hangs head in shame), but it is definitely a contender. This is a bold and bright teal color; I personally don't own another teal polish that is so close to being neon. Also, a lot of teals end up looking a bit murky and dark on the nails so that you can't even tell it's a color, which I don't like so much. This is unmistakably teal, and I love it! The application is a dream as well; smooth, with minimal streaking.

Illamasqua Jo'mina: This was previously my undisputed summer fave, and although it is being challenged by Slapper, this will most likely always hold a special place in my mammoth collection. It is a very bright  lilac/lavender with a creme finish; it is not a pastel, and I have never seen another polish quite like it. The application is amazing, which I have heard is true for the majority of the Illamasqua nail polish line. Surprisingly, this is the only polish I own by them, but I have been tempted by a few others in their line. In particular, I have been in lust with Nomad, which is their recently released shade of unusual green. Since unusual green polishes are as much my weakness as taupe eyeshadows and red lipsticks are, this will probably find a way to work itself into my collection. I think this is well worth the $14 price tag.

Maybelline Color Show Green With Envy: This is the surprise sleeper hit for me. I am pretty sure I paid less than 4 bucks for this, and although that shouldn't lead me to expect a lesser quality formulation, I still was blown away when I applied this mint green shade and found it more or less applying itself perfectly, with no streaking, and the need for only two coats. The shade is very dupeable, and I am a little bit afraid to compare it against all the other mint greens in my collection as I will probably find at least one dupe. But if you don't really have a mint shade, this is a definite must have. Did I need this? No, but I am glad I took a chance on it. The only complaint I have is that it does seem to be chipping easily, but I am not sure I can blame the polish for that, as I have been very rough on my hands the past few days.

Julep America: Yes, I am a subscribed Julep Maven, but I usually skip the month as most of the time I either am underwhelmed by the shade selections, or I think the price is a bit steep if I only want one of the polishes, etc. However, when I saw this glitter polish packed with red and blue glitter and sprinkled with silver stars, I let out a little squeal of excitement (yes, I know; I have issues). It didn't disappoint upon arrival, and made a great 4th of July manicure. I put it over a coat of Essie Red Nouveau even though it probably would have gotten opaque on its own, and I loved the effect. I will say that taking this polish off was by far the most difficult removal process I have ever experienced. It took me nearly an HOUR of soaking and vigorous scrubbing to get my nails clean, so in the future I will probably limit myself to using it as an accent polish. I am actually looking forward to doing that for the upcoming Olympics.

Hope everyone is having a nice week so far...I have to say I am still reeling a bit from yesterday's episode of the Bachelorette. Spoiler alert if you haven't seen the episode yet, but I couldn't believe she sent Sean home! He was perfect for her, and definite husband/father material; maybe he is slightly less exciting than the other two, but he is completely dependable, and Arie and Jef come across as so fake to me (sorry Jef with one F fans...and I know there are a lot of you.) Anyways, kind of questioning Emily's judgement now...in other TV news, has anyone been watching Bunheads? Terrible name, but it's actually a quick-witted and well-done show. We are just a few episodes in so far, but the dialogue is great, and the ballet makes me nostalgic for my childhood. Oh, and PLL comes back tonight! I think this season has been solid so far. Okay, enough rambling for now!

Stila In the Know Palette: Review and Swatches

I attended IMATS LA a couple of weeks ago, and it was an amazing experience. It really is heaven for a beauty junkie. I went last year as well, and this year it was even better than before; the shopping and discounts are of course the main draw, and did not disappoint in the least, but I also enjoyed meeting and chatting with bloggers and Youtubers, some of whom I have followed for years. Seriously it is such a fun experience, and if you are ever able to attend one, don't hesitate at the chance! Anyways, I ended up with basically the biggest haul of my life, so have decided it might be best to break down the items I purchased to some standouts and by vendor.  This little gem has to be what I am most excited about from my whole haul.

Now, for anyone who read my 7 deadly sins post, you will recall that I mentioned my serious love/hate relationship with matte eyeshadows. I absolutely love the idea of a matte shadow for definition in the crease, highlighting, blending, etc, but I find that in execution a lot of them are extremely difficult to work with, even from some of the highest end brands. While I was at the Stila booth, I spotted this entirely matte palette; I surprisingly hadn't heard anything about it (I found out later that it hadn't been released yet), but I decided to swatch it on a whim, and more or less expecting to hate it. And I have to tell to you that I was completely blown away. These matte shadows are so creamy and pigmented, I really couldn't believe it, and I knew I had to have it.

June 2012 Favorites

Sorry this post is a little late; the last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind, but I've noticed that I've really switched up my makeup for summer, and I wanted to share some of the products I have incorporated into my  routine to do so.

NYC Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny: This is the real standout product for me. I am not usually a big bronzer fan, as usually I embrace the pale, but I do rely on bronzer in summer when I find I can get away with it a tad bit more. Also, I have really been enjoying sporting a bright lip this season, and sometimes find that it looks a bit too shocking if I don't add some warmth to my face. To do that, I have been loving this bronzer, and I really can't think of a better option that I have tried for fair skintones. It is light, but not orange; matte, but doesn't make me look muddy.I also find that I get an even more natural look if I use my Sigma F50 Duo Fibre Brush (essentially any big stippling brush should do the trick). An added bonus is it is dirt-cheap, but I would be willing to shell out a lot more for this since it really works for me. I cannot rave about it enough!

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder: Face powder is another product I only use in summer, since the rest of the year my skin is so dry that I don't need to use any, plus can't really as it just emphasizes all my dry patches. In Summer though, I do get a little shiny on my forehead, so I pulled this out of my stash, and it really is a high quality powder for setting your t-zone. Finely milled and fairly invisible on the skin, it does an excellent job of keeping shine from creeping through. Another great drugstore find.

Milani Liquif'eye in Brown: I personally think that gel and liquid eye liner can look a little harsh for the softer look I aspire to in the warmer months, so have been loving this pencil liner for smudging into the top lash line for a natural yet defined result. This particular formulation is creamy and gives you a little time to work with it before it sets, but once it does it stays put on me all day.

Bare Escentuals Eye Shadow in Chic Nude: This has been the perfect complement for the statement lip I have been wearing. It is a mostly matte, slightly darker version of my actual lid color. A pretty basic color, but it does a good job of concealing the veins on my eyelid and creating a uniform look.

BE shadow in Chic Nude

Revlon Moondrops lipstick 712 in Hot Coral: This is the epitome of a crazy and bold Summertime lip, IMO. I would describe it as a neon red/coral, and gives off a very retro vibe to me. (This may be because it is one of the Revlon shades that it has been in their line since the 1950's). It has a matte finish, but I don't find that it is too drying. It can look a bit clownish, so sometimes I mute it down a bit with a lipliner like Covergirl Lip Perfection in Passion. This is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you have the courage to wear it, I cannot recommend it more.

Rimmel London Kate in 12: This is from the Kate Moss collection, and is extremely similar to the Revlon one, but is more subdued and a little more coral and orange; it also has a sheen. I personally love the bubblegum scent of these lipsticks, but it might bother some people, so maybe see if you can check out that aspect before you purchase.

Hard Candy Painted Lady Lip Color in Rushhour 120: The packaging it pretty tacky, but the formula on these lipsticks is lovely. I can't believe I never hear anyone talking about them. It is a glossy and somewhat sheer formula, so it isn't the longest lasting, but it is so easy to reapply I don't consider this a detractor at all. This might be my favorite hot pink lipstick. The finish looks really natural, as if your lips are just naturally a bright pink color. Check this line out when you are next at Walmart!

From left to right: Rimmel Kate 12, Revlon Hot Coral, Hard Candy Rush Hour, and Covergirl Passion underneath

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

Review and Swatches: Sephora Pantone Universe Collection

         First, a disclaimer. I usually find it considerably more helpful when bloggers photograph what a product looks like applied to their face, rather than just on their arm. However, as much as I would have liked to do that for the blush in this post, my skin has been fairly atrocious as of late, and I am not comfortable posting pictures of it on the internet. I thought it would be better to post this while still relevant rather than waiting for the scarring on my face to subside, so the arm swatch will have to do for now.

       
       
      On to the review! This collection is a collaboration between Pantone, the color experts who recently declared that the color of the season is Tangerine Tango, and Sephora.  The items in this line incorporate various shades of orange and coral to echo the trend of the season. This new release by Sephora has generated some buzz (although it was rather unheralded when compared to the likes of a MAC collection) but it did successfully pique my interest for the first time ever in the actual Sephora line.  When I walked into my local Sephora to take a perusal, my initial impression was that the collection was quite large.  It is comprised of eyeshadows, brushes, blushes, lipsticks, glosses--really anything you could possibly want.  As this can be a bit overwhelming, I was first tempted to pick up the overview/highlights set, but after swatching some of the products included in it, I concluded that I would not get a great deal of use out of some of them, and found the quality to really vary from product to product.  For example, I had done some virtual drooling over the online promo images of the chroma blush (one of two blushes included in the collection), which is a beautiful metallic apricot, but upon swatching it found it to be rough in texture and not possessing the high level of pigment I usually like my blushes to have.  Therefore, I ended up picking up just two of the products (pat on the back!) and I feel like they are the real standouts of the collection.

       The first item I picked up is the blush duo. First off, I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the expensive looking packaging of both the boxes the products came in and the products themselves.  While not as cheap as say a drugstore product, these are still reasonably cheaper than most comparable products sold in Sephora yet I feel that they blow a lot of the higher-end competition out of the water with their packaging. The actual blush duo itself is nestled in a white compact with a transparent, magnetic lid reminiscent of the Inglot Freedom system; it’s simple, yet chic and modern. The duo comes with a mostly matte coral color, and a highly shimmery coral-red. The product itself is smooth and extremely pigmented.  I would most likely wear either the matte blush on its own, or mix the two together, as I feel sporting the shimmery blush alone could lead you into the dreaded disco-ball territory, as it is just so shimmery. Overall, I am impressed with this duo, and recommend picking it up if you are looking for a versatile blush to wear all summer.

       I also purchased the lipstick, which seems to have been marketed as the cornerstone of the collection.  This is allegedly an exact copy of the patented tangerine tango shade, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.  Let me state again that the packaging is great; the actual lipstick bullet is quite short, yet heavy and expensive feeling.  I cannot rave enough about the lovely texture and pigmentation of this lipstick.  Is it the most wearable color for someone with my skintone (fairest of the fair?) Probably not, but it is such a creamy, high-quality lipstick that I can certainly see myself reaching for this time and time again when I want a bold lip for summer.  My one complaint is that the color does make your teeth look quite yellow, but that it is an attribute shared by all orange-toned lip products I find, alas. I actually do find that this particular shade flatters me more than most orange lipsticks do, since it pulls red-orange on my naturally pigmented lips.

Swatches from left: Tangerine Tango Lipstick, Coral side of duo, Desert Flower side of blush duo

       Overall, I think Sephora really did a great job with this collaboration.  My only complaint is that the quality was not uniform across the board, but otherwise from the packaging to the on-trend colorsm I think this is such a pleasant surprise.  I hope Sephora continues to collaborate with Pantone for each season on!

Product I Regret Buying, Vol 1: Revlon Colorstay Quad in Decadent

Now, I don't usually end up with a multitude of products I strongly dislike, since I tend to do quite a bit of research before I purchase a makeup item; I really am not an impulse shopper for the most part when it comes to cosmetics. However, this Revlon Quad was purchased on a whim, and I have to say, I basically hate it. I was lured in by a few endorsements of this new product in the beauty community, and by the display at Walmart, accompanied by a price tag in the vicinity of $5 dollars. These new quads really do come in a great variety of colors, and there is probably something for everyone's taste in the color selection, as the shades range from neutrals to brights. The packaging is inoffensive, and actually pretty sleek as far as drugstore packaging goes. It is simple, black, and easy to store.

The product itself is where I really find fault. The Decadent quad comes with a glittery creme/pink shade, a tannish gold, a peachy pink, and a warm brown. I was really drawn in by the assortment of desert shades, which screamed summer to me. However, when I reached my car and eagerly swatched the shades, I was pretty much aghast at the poor pigmentation and chalky texture. You can see from the swatches pictured here that the shades hardly show up! The highlight shade on the top left corner actually grosses me out to swatch; it has one of the chalkiest textures I can recall swatching in recent memory. When I do, though, it basically looks like white powder with chunky glitter, and it fares no better when applied on the eye, even as a highlight shade. The shade underneath is actually a good dupe for MAC's Naked Lunch in terms of color, but the finish is so powdery, and the pigmentation, while better than the first shade I discussed, is still fairly lackluster. It is wearable though, which is more than I can say for the first shade. The gold shade reminds me of a less nice version of Stila Oasis; it, unlike the Stila shadow, has the same powdery texture and poor color payoff as the other shades in this Revlon quad. It barely shows up when I swatch it, and I can assure you I do not have a golden tan skin tone. The brown shade is a little better in that it actually shows up, but that might just be because it is the darkest shade in the palette. As to the claim by Revlon that this is a "Colorstay" product that wears 16 hours, I didn't find that these wore any differently than other eyeshadow. I still need a primer to get them to last on me.

This is all four shades heavily swatched, and they hardly show up on my pale skin!

If you couldn't tell from the disparaging comments above, I more or less hate this quad. I don't know if the other shade variations are any better in terms of quality, but I can say with certainty that I won't be finding out, as I will not be wasting any more money on these. I think that drugstore makeup has really stepped up it's game in the past few years, and lately seems to be churning out some innovative products, and legitmate dupes for high end items, which is what really makes this eyeshadow pretty much unacceptable to me. Since you can get amazing eyeshadows for even less money from Wet N Wild, and also some great options with L'oreal, Milani, and even some Maybelline shades, I don't know why Revlon expects to be able to compete with this offering. Sorry to sound so negative, but I really don't like wasting money, even if it is only $5 dollars, and that is what this quad is in my opinion, a waste of money.

Drugstore Gem: Maybelline Expertwear Eyeshadow Palette in Sunbaked Neutrals

       I picked this up after hearing someone include it in their favorite eyeshadow palette selections (sorry, can't remember who!), and as eyeshadow palettes are my main weakness along with blushes, I decided to pick it up when I was at Bed, Bath, and Beyond last weekend, since with my 20% off discount it came to a whopping $5.03 for 8 eyeshadows (!) How could I not?! And I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised! It comes with eight wearable shades, in a variety of textures and finishes. It includes: a shimmery champagne, a matte medium brown, a shimmery orange/copper, a light satin green, a dark brown with gold sparkle, a shimmery bronze, a frosty white, and a deep satin olive green.

        As far as the quality and pigmentation goes, these are, with one notable exception, quite nice shadows. These are creamy, pigmented, and have left me fairly surprised, as I am not a huge fan of Maybelline shadows in general.  I usually stick to Wet N Wild and L'oreal HIP for powder eyeshadows from the drugstore, and while I still think those aforementioned brands do come slightly ahead in terms of quality and pigment, these are still a great option.

       That being said, I do have a couple of disappointments with this product. First being, the copper shade in the top row is basically unusable, in my opinion. Rough texture, poor color payoff, chunky deposits of color, it pretty much embodies what I remember Maybelline shadows to be like back in the day. My other complaint is that I feel like this palette is missing a good all over the lid shade which keeps it from being the perfect travel companion. Most of the colors in this are either what I would use as a highlighter or a crease/outer corner shade. That being said, I think the main advantage to this product is the size; it is absolutely tiny! It fits in the palm of my hand, and is absolutely dwarfed by any other palette containing a comparable amount of colors. I think this is a great palette to travel with, especially if you are going on a weekend trip. I personally don’t like to travel with expensive makeup, because I am always afraid it will either get lost or break, so this is an excellent alternative.

       Overall, I would say definitely pick this up at the drugstore next time you spot it. You probably have similar colors in your collection already, as they are essentially basic neutral shadows, but the size, portability, and price are what make this product standout. I really am impressed, if you couldn't already tell.

Seven Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag

I saw this tag making its way across the blogosphere, and thought I would take a stab at it, as I actually found the questions and the other posts/videos I have watched on this quite interesting.

Here are the questions:

Greed: What is your most inexpensive beauty product? What is your most expensive beauty product?

  My choices for most inexpensive products are Wet N Wild Color Icon Single in Crème Brulee, tied with Jordana Fabuliner in Brown. I am not sure if these are the cheapest products I have ever bought, but I am pretty sure they are both under two dollars, and I use them ALL THE TIME. The eyeshadow is supposedly a dead-on dupe for Mac Brulee, but from what I can tell it is more pigmented. I use this all the time as a highlight shade and to blend out my shadows. Fabuliner is my HG drugstore eyeliner: super cheap, never seems to dry out (I’ve had mine for a year at least), and extremely opaque. As for the opposite end of the spectrum, I might have palettes that are more expensive than this, but I interpreted this to be the most expensive for what it is (if that makes any sense.) This has to be my By Terry Baume de Rose. What this is a $59 lip balm. And no, it is not worth it.  I plead temporary insanity for purchasing this. Moving on, as it is a bit of a sore subject for me.

Wrath: What beauty product do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?

 My love/hate is matte eyeshadows. I love the idea of them, and love to use one as a crease color almost every time I apply eyeshadow, especially as I usually like to wear a shimmery shadow on the lid, and like to use a subdued matte shade to balance the look out. I think they are incredibly versatile, but it is so hard to find ones with great color payoff that blend easily. I find even my high end matte shadows (Nars, I am looking at you) difficult to blend. Let me know if you have any reccs! As for the hardest to find products for me, my answer has to be some of the Wet N Wild limited edition releases. I don’t know why they don’t make them easier to find, since there is always a lot of buzz surrounding the new releases, but yet they are so hard to locate in my area! In my particular, the trio from last summer, The Gilded Age, was impossible to find, but my sister spotted it in her area and sent it my way. Currently, I am having a really hard time tracking down the Loreal Infalliable Summer 2012 shades!

Gluttony: What are your most delicious beauty products?

Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum and Bonne Bell LipLite in Strawberry Parfait are my most delicious products. Not really much to say on this…they both just taste really great. 

Sloth: What beauty product do you neglect due to laziness?

 Highlighter is the step I will skip due to laziness. If I am running late on time, I will definitely skip highlighter, especially an inner corner highlight. I don’t know why, but I often forget this step. I love the effect, just don’t think it is absolutely necessary.

Pride: What beauty product gives you the most self-confidence?

My choice for  what gives me the most confidence is concealer. This was the easiest question for me. If you had asked me this a year ago, I am not sure what I would have said, but since I have been battling acne and scarring since last fall, this is an obvious choice for me. If I can only leave the house with one product, this is it. I feel my confidence buoyed immensely when I cover up my blemishes and scarring.

Lust: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Ummmm, this question is a stretch…next.

Envy: What product would you most like to receive as a gift?

I think I would say nail polish as the item I would most like to receive as a gift. I think this is the easiest beauty gift to buy someone, as you don’t really have to take into account skin tone or any other factors.