March 2012 Favorites

I *almost* wasn't going to do a favorites post this month.  So many of my looks have been uncreative, the products I've reached for have been repetetive... but there are a few things I've been peppering my rotation with that I'm loving and may affect my buys in the future:

Giorgio Armani Fluid Master Primer - $57 for the full-size
With the record high temperatures this month, my well-loved Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer just wasn't going the distance.  This primer is also not infallible, but it does eek out a couple more hours from my base makeup than the Hourglass does.  It smooths on with ease, and though it is silicone-y like MUFE and Smashbox Primers, it feels loads lighter.  I only have the sample size (I got sent when I bought Lust Red and Khaki Pulse Eyes to Kill Intense shadows) and it's been lasting as well as can be expected, used here and there.  The next primer I buy will definitely be this one!

no mascara

Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara

Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara - $8
After reading this glowing review by the Muse (who never muses me wrong, lol), I bought this back in January but didn't crack into it until this month. This mascara is wonderful for length and volume alike (though it does clump a lil bit).  It is also great for layering with any other mascara on the planet.  I think this over Covergirl Lashblast Volume could be my HG, but of course I have heaps of other mascaras still to test (thank you, Sephora Lash Stash) so I hope I will remember how well that combo works when the dust settles :-P

MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural Medium Plus - $29
Unfortunately I finally got around to trying this out after they bumped the price up by $2, but I can definitely see why this pressed mineral powder is so popular. It gives a beautiful finish to skin, just like loose mineral foundations do, but without the mess.  It doesn't control my greasies whatsoever, but I have read enough reviews to expect that.  It's not perfect, but I like it!

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Ravishing - $14.50
A permanent shade in the moisturizing Cremesheen range, this is a gorgeous color that reminds me of LE Ever Hip in its corally-ness, though it's not neon at all and much more subdued. I've seen this described as a peach but I think it's more of a melon shade.  Either way, perfect for warm Spring days!

Majolica Majorca Puff de Cheek in Peach Macaron - ???
I can't remember what I paid for this adorable little blusher in its tin reminiscent of a French Macaron, but I got it last year off iMomoko.com.  I don't believe it is available from there anymore, sadly, but this is a total packaging win.  It's just so cute, I could coo at it (but I will restrain myself).  The product itself is an easy-to-wear sheer peach that is great for everyday. I wouldn't go for it if I were much darker, though, because I'm sure it'd look chalky.  Still, it's one I can reach for and pop on really quickly, no-brainer style, without fearing clowncheeks.  And did I mention it's ADORABLE?

Dior Amber Diamond - $44
Finally, FINALLY I was able to get this last Fall.  I can't even remember if I got the Friends & Family discount at Sephora or not (I think so, though).  My beauty-blogging mind has gone so twisted that the $44 price tag that originally put me off from trying the widely HG-lauded highlighter doesn't really seem that bad now... I wouldn't hesitate to spend that now >_< What a nasty addiction we have, girls!
That said, I finally brought myself to touch it and, again, I can see why this is such a cult product (like the MSFN).  The highlight is subtle, natural, glowy... like a daytime version of my favorite cream highlighter (Twilight Beauty Mortal Glow Blushing Creme in Swoon).  I prefer this to also-popular Mary Lou Manizer from theBalm, too.

MAC Ravishing, Majolica Majorca Peach Macaron, Dior Amber Diamond

Vampire Academy Series
I don't even know where to start. FAVORITE.VAMPIRE.SERIES.EVER.
Read it. Just do it.
Happy Spring, Loves!
<3
Sarah S.

DUPE SMACKDOWN #5: DIOR AURORA

Dior Aurora (Full name: Diorskin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder in Aurora 001) is a gorgeous, sold-out, limited-edition satin-finish peachy bronzer from Dior's Spring 2011 collection.  Many of my favorite beauty bloggers have expressed that they've hit pan on theirs recently.  I often wind up disappointed when I spend more than $40 on a product, but I don't regret a thing about Dior Aurora (it was one of my September Favorites!).  It's the perfect no-brainer cheek color. 
I'm not sure if there are any readers out there who missed their chance to get this one, but just in case you were hoping for an affordable dupe, it just so happens I've lucked into TWO of them!
Honorable mentions: NYX Blush in Terra Cotta is a very similar peachy bronze, except it is an absolute shimmer bomb.  NYC Bronzing Powder in Sunny $2.99, is a matte bronzer of a similar intensity, but completely lacks the peach of Aurora.

Dupe Contestant #1 is Gold Coast, a blush in the Stila Loves Roxy Palette $14, LE but still available.  It's the top blush in the palette.

Dupe Contestant #2 is Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in 60 Coffee Cake (cute name, right?).  This is being discontinued, which is how I happened upon it; I saw it on clearance and when I got it home and tried it on my cheeks I found its glow really familiar! Retail price is about $7.49, but check your local drugstore to see if they've got it on clearance (I got mine for $4.40 at Meijer).

Both of these look more shimmery than Aurora in the swatches, but their shimmer blends away to leave more of a satin finish that more closely resembles Aurora.

In natural light (shade), left to right: Dior Aurora, Maybelline Coffee Cake, Stila Gold Coast

In natural light/artificial light mix

In warm artificial light

This Dupe Smackdown is a little different from the previous four.  I'm not really seeking a "Winner" this time.  Dior Aurora is a long-gone limited-edition product that I think is just fantastic enough to make me want to hunt down a similar color to get the same glowy-effect on days I can't be bothered to apply several different products.  Both Stila Gold Coast Blush and Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Coffee Cake satisfy this desire!  I did the classic test of applying Dior Aurora to one cheek, and it's potential dupe to the other, and found that both of these look and wear just as well.

Dior Aurora is on my right cheek, and Stila Gold Coast is on my left

FOTD: Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer in Medium, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 4.75 (a little too light), Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in 60 Brightener (the pink one), Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Silk Eyeshadow in 6 Khaki Pulse, Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black, MAC Hue Lipstick
Betsey Johnson Earrings
Express Sweater

Someone wanted to see how this top looks on me, so here you go!

Haha, obligatory office bathroom picture!

DUPE SMACKDOWN #4: CRIMSON BLUSH

Red blush is one of those products that can make even the most color-lovin' cosmetics fans shy away, but with a delicate hand (and a duo-fiber or perhaps fan brush) it can give one of the most natural-looking flushes that makeup can offer.  These aren't really dupes, but they are all blushes most people would call red.

Clockwise from top left: NYX Red (new) available here for $4.50

Maybelline Limited Edition Baked Blush in Ravishing Rouge (I've still seen this in some drugstores) for about $7

Sleek Blush in Scandalous $6.50

Tarte for True Blood Limited Edition Natural Cheek Stain $30

Sorry, I don't have that limited-edition Byzance de Chanel Joues Contrast powder blush in Rouge or NARS Exhibit A to compare.

Left to right: Maybelline Ravishing Rouge, NYX Red, Sleek Scandalous, and Tarte for True Blood Cheek Stain.  All red, all really different!  Edit: please note these were swatched lightly, then heavily, and all over Boscia BB Cream.

Smell: Maybe you wouldn't normally consider this aspect of a blush, but some out there (such as Benefit's boxed powders) smell sugary-delicious! In this case, the Maybelline smells like paint (however you have to sniff it intentionally and with gusto; it doesn't reek).  Inhale powerfully as I might, I couldn't smell anything from the NYX blush.  The Sleek blush has a slight floral scent, and the Tarte cheek stain smells like a citrus gummy candy.  To me Maybelline is the loser, but none of these smells strongly enough to be disliked for it.  I think NYX wins because no detectable fragrance increases the odds of this not irritating sensitive skin or noses.

Texture: Maybelline is the velvetiest, much to my surprise! I believe it is a baked blush and in my experience baked blushes and eyeshadows are hard and difficult to blend.  This Maybelline blush is far, FAR smoother than any other baked blush OR Maybelline powder blush I've ever tried (i.e. Fit Me didn't fit me :-P).  The Nyx is only slightly chalky, but the Sleek feels quite like chalk to the touch but blends out just fine somehow.  I don't really like the texture of Tarte cheek stains (kinda sticky), but they also blend nicely with fingers and don't dry as fast as other stains which gives you ample time to apply them properly.  The texture winner is Maybelline!

Color:  This is going to depend on your undertones.  NYX Red leans cool, Maybelline Ravishing Rouge is almost brown/plum/wine, Sleek Scandalous is a warm or orange-red, and Tarte is a sheer true-red likely to suit the largest variety of skintones.  Tarte is the sparkliest, but not a glitterbomb at all.  The sparkles don't translate to the cheeks on me.  It feels unfair to crown Tarte the winner in the color category because swatched it is clearly the least-scary red blush. I think for universiality it wins, but for my warm skintone the Sleek Scandalous is the winner.  You can see it will make the most natural flush on me because it almost looks like a rash (gross, but that means it's matching colors from my own skin). NYX Red and Maybelline Ravishing Rouge are likely to look the least natural, but blush doesn't always have to look like it came from a jog!

Pigmentaton: Tarte is the loser because the other three reds are super-pigmented (so much so that you have to be extremely careful applying them and be sure to blend!  Luckily, all these blushes blend very easily).

Wear:  All of these have fantastic lasting power even on my oily skin.  I would expect as much from powder or gel blush.  To be honest, though, the Sleek and NYX are drier and possibly more pigmented than the others so they hold up at full intensity for longer.  So, our lot is split!

Winner: Marketing considered, (I am absolutely in LOVE with the fact that Tarte did a True Blood tie-in.  I get a kick out of the "Glamour Me" on the side of the tube) I would want to crown Tarte for True Blood the winner, but without factoring that in I would personally get the most use out of Sleek Scandalous.  It doesn't feel dreamy to my fingertips like the Maybelline, but I apply it with a duo-fiber brush anyway... and I just don't want the Tarte blush to win since it's turned out to be completely unintimidating once you swatch it because it's so sheer.
NYX Red is a bit too cool on me, so even sheerly applied it just isn't as flattering as the Sleek.  It might be the winner for a cool-skintoned person.  Maybelline Ravishing Rouge is a great statement color for Fall and would probably look incredible on a dark-skinned girl and/or with a plum gloss like MAC Plum Fun (I am adoring it right now, too bad it's LE). 

Which red do you think looks the best?

August 2011 Favorites: My First Monthly Favorites Post!

Ooh, boy, it was hard to narrow down my favorites this month... because it's my first favorites post ever!  I had to really limit myself to stuff that got crazy love within the month of August, which was kind of difficult to separate from my favorites of the year.  At any rate, after much deliberation (and a consolation swatching of my faves that didn't make this list):

Boscia BB Cream: I'm sure I've said it before, but this has been my go-to foundation this summer.  I only need to blot once all day (not too shabby for a greasy girl), the SPF is pretty great for a U.S. color base product (SPF 27), the price isn't too high to stomach, and best of all I didn't have to buy it once because I kept using a code on Sephora.com to get a generous sample size!  If you're curious, the code is "bb cream" and I've used it three times (3x .35 oz = 1.05 oz.  Retail cost is $38 for 1.75 oz and each sample is a $7.60 value!).  It isn't moisturizing so I use Stila or Origins tinted moisturizers underneath (both work great).  It cooperates just perfectly for a flawless finish with my Beauty Blender and covers up most of my acne/post acne marks.  I'll probably wind up buying this if they stop running that code and my winter skin likes it.

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Born With It $8.49: It's worth at least $14.50 because it's my dupe of MAC Creme Cup that I actually prefer to Creme Cup! Comparison is here. I've been wearing this a lot with the Maybelline Color Explosion Palettes to the office, but to be honest it's most gorgeous with a matte smokey eye. Now that August is over I'll probably do that look more often (If I can grudgingly surrender my colorful Summer brights!).

Orly Oh Cabana Boy $8: Again, I already mentioned it but besides the Axxium Gel Lacquer by OPI, it's the only nail color I've used this month that I couldn't stop ooohing and ahhhing over.  It also lasted over 3 days each time, which is pretty great on me. I know it's probably going to be put away until next summer, but I look forward to busting it out again!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Eye Quints $10.99 each:  I was really impressed by these. I don't like Maybelline's regular eye shadow line as it's not pigmented and chalky (bleh).  But these pack a color punch and you know I love color.  After I bought Forest Fury, I went back to the store during a sale and snapped up the rest (at least, what they had left!).  I was stopped twice by strangers the day I wore Forest Fury and asked if I was a makeup artist (yay!).  The price is not amazing but of course you can always find coupons and BOGO 1/2-off.  The shimmer topcoats really make these stand out and I'll continue to use them into Fall.  I love Too Faced's Matte Palette but I must admit I've been reaching for these more... even for office work days... now where is that promotion? Oops!

CVS Makeup Remover Wipes $5.49 for 25: This is my first month as a beauty blogger and I don't know what I would have done without these!  They do the best job at scraping off all those pigmented swatches and FOTDs!  Their price is not too far off from a pack of MAC Wipes at $28 for 100 ct., but I find those sting my skin a little. I also tried the much-raved Yes to Cucumbers makeup remover wipes (more expensive per wipe) but the fragrance was too strong and they didn't do as good a job at quickly removing makeup completely as the MAC or CVS wipes.  CVS wipes often go on sale, too. I just bought three two-pack boxes because they are on sale BOGO 1/2-off this week, in fact.  I also like that when I can't be bothered to really take care of my skin (kryptonite for the acne-prone, but I am a flawed human being!), if all I do is wipe off my makeup with one of these the damage is limited.  Best wipes I've tried!

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara $10: Now an essential, as it really drives home the entire point of my pixie hair cut; Channeling Twiggy! Full review here.

Jewelmint Trinity Bracelets $29.99: I am NOT a bracelets person. I have delicate (try skinny and bony) wrists that I like to look at when I'm feeling bloated/fat.  Reminds me that I'm only fat in the brain!  On top of that, my desk job has me typing up documents all the time and wearing bracelets is usually annoying, if not painful.  These do emboss my skin a little but I hardly notice it. They make my wedding set (white gold) look just fine with any other metal colors I could be wearing on any given day.  In fact, my wedding set is the only other jewelry I wear without fail every day.  I always want to change my jewelry to complement an outfit and these complement everything! I've worn them fancy and casual and never feel the itch to take them off.  Above and beyond my favorite Jewelmint item thus far (I have eleven pieces currently). I can see myself wearing these less often when I'm wearing a coat or long sleeves on a daily basis, but I never give this much love to a piece of jewelry that isn't a gift from DH/Mom & Dad.  They're a part of my body now :-P

Wow, it was so hard to narrow these down!  This Summer has been full of beautiful makeup and I'm just starting to love what I've hoarded for Fall.  I hope I turned you onto a product or two you might have easily dismissed.  Let me know your favorites if you don't put them up in your blog!

Maybelline Limited Edition Fashion Week Fall 2011 Collection, swatches and photos

Hi guys! I'm so excited because my CVS never has LE collections, but today when I stopped in to get a Cherry Coke Zero, I saw their Maybelline Limited Edition Fashion Week Fall 2011 Collection display!
I had to pick up a few bits'n bobs:

-Lasting Drama by Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner in Forest, a deep green $9.99 (I want to get navy blue Sapphire as well)
-Eye Studio Quad in Makeover Mocha $10.49 (appears to have UD Naked and Buck dupes, plus a sheer highlight shade similar to their LE baked highlighter on the same display, and what I thought might be a duochrome gunmetal shadow but it's just subtly sparkly, not duochrome)
-ColourSensational Lipsticks, $7.49 each, in Designer Pink (wanted it to be a Viva Glam Gaga 1 dupe, but it's just a chalky pink I'll probably return) and Beige Bombshell (which is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Better than Viva Glam Gaga 2!)

I wish they were having a Maybelline sale on.

Makeover Mocha Eye Studio Quad

Designer Pink

Beige Bombshell

Eye Quad on the left, Lipsticks on the Right

Sorry no eyeliner swatches, I'm saving it :P

DUPE SMACKDOWN #2: MAC CREME CUP VS. MAYBELLINE BORN WITH IT VS. NYX SKY PINK

I love finding dupes even though it doesn't seem to save me any money... how's it going to, when I buy both anyway?  Just when I thought I'd never get a satisfying dupe of MAC Creme Cup, an opaque MLBPP (my lips but pale pink), I bit the bullet (not the lipstick bullet, but I digress) and decided to give Maybelline Colorsensational Lipsticks a fair shot.  I knew a lot of people liked Born With It and Pink & Proper, so I bought them BOGO 50% off.  Pink & Proper is okay, though it's a fuchsia quite similar to Cover Girl LipPerfection in Siren minus the staining effect.  I like to wear fuchsias sometimes despite that I think they're kind of unflattering on me... I'll wear purples to the same effect, but I just love color.

Sorry, digressions are my M.O. today, apparently.

I had tried one Coral Lustre a couple months ago, and didn't care for its pigmentation level and texture, so I had written Maybelline's Colorsensational Lipsticks off... but I'm glad I gave them another chance!  When I slicked on Born With It, I got super-excited - the look was definitely Creme-Cup-esque!  So pretty with a darker eye look.  I whipped out Creme Cup to compare, as well as NYX Sky Pink that I had picked up months ago because somebody had said it was a dupe of MAC Angel, which is a shimmery version of Creme Cup... phew!
Here is what I saw:

Left to right in all pics: MAC Creme Cup, Maybelline Born With It, NYX Sky Pink

Here the shimmer (slight in Born With It, heavier in Sky Pink) is apparent

This picture really shows how Born With It is slightly warmer/less blue, and Sky Pink is slightly more mauve

The textures seem the same on lips, but the tonal differences show even on my pigmented lips

Smell: MAC wins for smell, as usual, but only if you want to be tempted to eat your lipstick.  The Maybelline doesn't really have a noticable fragrance to me (huge plus!), and the NYX like all the other Round Lipsticks by NYX smells of soap.

Taste: None of these have a taste, really, except the NYX so rather than a winner we have a loser.

Texture: All of these are reasonably creamy and opaque.  NYX is the creamiest, but NYX round lipsticks are so creamy that they don't last long.  The Maybelline is a harder bullet but it feels a lot like balm on the lips and wears for longer than four hours, like the MAC.  MAC Creme Cup is a little bit dryer/chalkier than some other MAC lipsticks, so Maybelline's balm-like glide wins for Texture.

Color: As stated above, Creme cup is almost purely pale pink, Sky Pink is a tad more mauve-toned (which would be great on a cool skin-toned person), and Born With It has the most warmth.  But the tone differences aren't major and the shimmer differences don't translate the way they do in my arm swatches, either.

Price: MAC is around $15, NYX lipsticks run about $4, and the Maybelline is priced $8.49 for one at CVS in my area but you can almost always find a BOGO 50% off or better.

Winner: Maybelline Born With It has dethroned my MAC Creme Cup!  The slightly warmer tone flatters my coloring, the balm-texture and lack of taste/smell is a nice change of pace, you can buy it at nearly any drugstore, and the price isn't bad at all.  I'm surprised it was Maybelline FTW because their makeup is often hit and miss (mostly miss).  I can see why so many bloggers love Born With It!

Pink Monday

I know it's "Pink Friday," according to Nicki Minaj (I love her out-there looks!), but the whole Rebecca Black thing made Friday such an uncool day (to me, anyway).  Blame the nails-across-a-chalkboard refrain of "Friday, Friday," that starts going in my head whenever it's that day of the week (curse you, Rebecca Black! You can't unhear that song!).  Mondays are notoriously uncool (see: Mondays, Case of the), but I tried to cheer up myself up this Monday by wearing loads of pink.

TFSI, Maybelling Color Explosion in Pink Punch, Kat Von D Autograph Eyeliner in Turbo Lover (Aubergine)

Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Pink & Proper

I'm wearing so much raspberry, I took it easy on my cheeks and just dusted on some Dior Aurora.  The eyeshadows are actually a bit more vivid IRL, but the flourescents at my office are to blame for the washout in these pics.  Do you wear a particular color to put yourself in a good mood?

Ulta and Pacsun Micro-haul

Today I went shopping for a short time with DH, and I thought I'd share my tiny haul with you guys because I only spent $17.99, total, including tax! I had Ulta rewards to cash in :)

Benefit So Hooked on Carmella, Macadamia Oil, Maybelline Colorsensational Lipsticks in Pink & Proper, Warm Me Up, and Born With It

The perfume was suggested by The Persian Babe from youtube, and it's so sweet and vanilla-y.  Definitely have to like foodie scents to like this one.  I have a miniature of this same scent I'm currently using, but I got this full-size free with the Ulta rewards.  I'm enjoying my sample of Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum, but I have such short hair and I don't really want to spend a lot of money on styling products.  Why not try this Macadamia Oil for free with Ulta rewards?  Then, I had a $5 off $10 coupon I used on buy-2-get-1 free Maybelline lipsticks.  Born With It is just a back-up, but I thought Warm Me Up looked like a good MLBB nude candidate and various gurus have professed a love for Pink & Proper, so I checked nobody had made a tester out of them and snatched 'em up.

I had wanted floral-print shorts all summer, but I tend to wear dresses more often.  At $7, it was definitely time to indulge.

Do any shopping this weekend? 

Maybelline Color Explosion in Forest Fury FOTD

Eyes - Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Maybelline Color Explosion in Forest Fury

Cheeks - Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
Lips - MAC Ever Hip Lipstick, Strange Potion Lipglass

Sorry about my hair... These new Maybelline Quints apply really smoothly and pigmented.  The sparkle overcoat is a bit much so you have to use a light hand.  They need a primer to last, but that's kind of par for the course.  They are excellent for drugstore eyeshadows, like much of Maybelline's Eye Studio line.  I have used Amethyst Ablazed as well and found it to blend muddily, unfortunately. Blue Blowout is as nice as Forest Fury, though, and quite wearable for blues! 

I know these have been extensively reviewed online already (hence, why I bought them), but I'm trying to ease into this blogging thing. I hope that's okay!  I plan to devise more unique posts in the future.