Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette Review

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I come to you today with a review of a very popular palette! I am talking about the Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) Modern Renaissance palette. This is the first permanent palette added to the very popular ABH collection. Today I’m going to give you a quick run down of this product!

The Specs

This palette retails for $42 and features 14 shades in neutral to berry tones. There are basically 12 mattes and 2 shimmery shades, although a few of the shades have some sheen but its negligible. There is a decent sized mirror and it comes with a double ended brush which isn’t totally horrible, but I would probably only reach for in emergency situations. It feels pretty sturdy, and the size is great for travel.

The Pros

The shadows themselves have amazing color payoff. They feel like butter when you dip your finger in, and they blend very very easily. If you put too much on, simply swipe your brush back and forth a few extra times and you will see it diminish quickly. The shades in the palette go together very well and you can easily put many full eye looks together in this one palette. The mattes as well as the shimmers have great color payoff, which is surprising because I do feel like shimmer shades in palettes tend to come off glittery and lacking an opaque color. This is not the case with this palette. The quality is most definitely there in this product.

The Cons

These eyeshadows have A LOT of fallout, meaning when you put your brush in the shadow, little bits of shadow fly everywhere, and the same can happen on your eyes as well. This can be prevented on your eyes by tapping off your brush many times to shake off excess product. Even so, I would still recommend doing your eye makeup before your face makeup especially with this palette. It will avoid a mess, possibly ruining your makeup and having to (gasp!) start all over. That being said I always do my eyes first, it’s just what I would typically recommend anyway.

Also, what some may see as a negative is the berry shades. They are not the neutrals we are all used to seeing, and they may end up unworn. It’s safe to say you can do an entirely neutral look with this palette easily, but when spending your hard earned money on something, you want to be able to use everything. Now this isn’t really a negative for me, I see it as more of a challenge to change up my go to looks a little bit. If you do dive in with the berry’s start slow, sometimes you can look a little sick if you do it wrong. Either way, it’s just makeup and it wipes off!

To sum it all up, I give this palette two thumbs up. Fallout is just what happens when making buttery, easy to blend shadows. You can take only this palette to travel and get a lot of great looks. These shadows are beginner friendly, as long as you do your eye makeup first. So if you were thinking about it, give it a shot!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tayler

 

 

 

Biggest Tip for Acne Prone Skin

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We are back today with a short and sweet post about acne. I have acne prone skin, basically meaning my pores get clogged REALLY easily.  Some people’s pores do not clog easily and some people’s pores clog if the weather changes 2 degrees. I fall into that second category. Now I tend to have am extensive skincare routine, but what I really feel is important and applicable to anyone who suffers from acne is salicylic acid.

This is a very popular ingredient that is featured in many products at the drugstore. As a long time acne sufferer I am just going to explain why this is important to me and my routine and what I use.

After working out, or at least once a day typically at night, I use a salicylic acid based toner. This is just going to really ensure that your pores are open and empty of junk that shouldn’t be in there.

This is a strong toner and it works well for me but USE SPARINGLY! You will dry out your face, and dry patches just re-clog your pores, which is no good. I use this once a day or after working out if I don’t have the ability to shower immediately after. This has 5% salicylic acid and tea tree oil. A great use for this too is on your chest or back if you find yourself getting a few break outs there. I see results in decreased size of break outs the next day, and in between break outs it keeps my skin clear.

Another salicylic acid product I use is simply Clean and Clear Acne Triple Exfoliating scrub. This is a great drugstore option with 2% salicylic acid I use whenever I am in the shower to scrub my face and body. It also has micro-beads for an extra level of exfoliation.

The most important thing you can do with this ingredient in your routine is to use it consistently. Do not wait until you have break outs, just use it every day or every other day. The consistency of use is what will continue to keep your pores clean and reduce breakouts. These are just some products that I have found work great for me, and an ingredient that I have found makes a big difference in my skin care routine. Thanks for stopping by!

Tayler

February Favorites!

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Ok after a brief intermission we are back with some favorites!

L’Oreal Infallible Makeup Setting Spray

I know I have mentioned this, but this favorites is going to roll a little differently. I am going to be telling you reasons I like this besides what you already know. Obviously a cheaper alternative to the Urban Decay All Nighter, it will set your makeup, and keep it tight. ALSO though, it will take away the powdery look that happens after we (shocker) apply powder. This helps melt the makeup into the skin, similar to Mac Fix Plus but with more staying power. This is also great for dampening your beauty blender if it’s a little dry, and you can use this with metallic eye shadows to make them pop more.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless

This foundation has come on strong with me. We did not like each other at first, and it feels like a winter romance because come summer I know this won’t last. With my typically oily skin slightly drier, this matte gives just enough life to my skin to make it look almost luminous. This is not a flat matte foundation, this is more along the lines of a satin, but once applied it stays all day just the way it looked originally. No extra oil or slippery feelings. This line has so many shades, it’s very easy to find one that matches you and your undertones.

L’Oreal infallible Lip Paints in 314 Spiced Blush

Really not much to say here, it’s just the perfect ‘my lips but better’ color. It lasts a long time (not liquid lip long) and the doe foot applicator hugs the lips nicely. They have a ton of colors, and are reasonably priced. This is something that when you see it in the drugstore, and you are wanting to buy something, won’t let you down.

Coty Airspun Powder

Ok you’ve seen this from me a million times I know! BUT this is for a different reason. I have recently been playing with day to day very light looks. Think just some concealer under eyes and on blemishes, no foundation. When I do that (and I have tried many times and it almost never works) and I set it with this powder I find my pores blurred, redness dulled, and an overall even complexion. This powder makes the biggest difference on no foundation days. If you are that type of person, I really recommend giving it a shot. Also great for making your face full coverage bullet proof but that’s a post for another day!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Until next time!

Tayler

Perfecting the Undereyes

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I am here today to talk about those pesky undereyes. The delicate skin under your eyes are often the first to age, and poor makeup application can also easily make you look much older then you are. I have a few things to discuss that I have found really help!

Eye Cream

I am not kidding when I say START NOW. You are never too young to start moisturizing the skin around your eyes. This is what I use, which is the iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex. It’s considered medical grade skincare which I have been dabbling in, and thoroughly hydrates the under eye area as well has helps diminish those tiny wrinkles and even crows feet. The most important thing is just to add this step in your skincare routine regardless of the product. For those of us in the younger ages, you may even consider starting with drugstore options, such as this or this which will do a solid job of hydrating. Start using once a day, then possibly move to twice if your eyes aren’t too sensitive.

Eye Masks

These have been increasing in popularity which is great for us because it makes them easier to find! The masks above are from Sephora, and can be found for about $5 a mask. I use these a few times a week at night, and they are very relaxing, great for your own little spa moment at home. They will give you extra hydration and can help depuff or brighten the undereye with repeat wear. Quick Tip: store these guys in the fridge, the cold will provide extra help in the depuffing and invigorating department!

Use the right powder

You have conealed your undereye darkness, and you go to set that concealer to help it stay all day. This is where mistakes can easily be made. First, you should never be using a foundation powder to set your undereye. Anything that says it provides coverage is a no no. Your best bet is a loose translucent powder, and when it comes to which one  to use it’s all about preference. Many popular options include the Kodi Airspun Powder (above), RCMA no color powder (above), Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, and a new product I want to try the Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder which contains no talc. You can read reviews, but this seems to be something for me that I have to try myself. If you don’t like the way your eyes look throughout the day, try changing your powder.

And most importantly with this step is, DO NOT use too much powder. Baking is very popular right now, which is putting a lot of powder over your concealer and letting your body temperature help melt some of it into your skin, then you dust off the excess. It has it’s benefits, but for everyday use I find it can really be too much. Always remember less is more.

I hope these tips help!

Tayler

 

 

 

 

 

3 Quick Face Tips!

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Today I am bringing you 3 quick tips to fix common problems when applying your face products! These have all dramatically helped my makeup, so I figured I would share.

Using a damp beauty sponge to set concealer

This trick is great for addressing concealer under your eyes that seems to slip around a lot. You may set it with some loose translucent powder (my personal favorite way to set it) and a brush, but it just isn’t staying put. Dampen your beauty sponge, squeeze out excess water, and LIGHTLY dab it into your loose powder. It is very important not to pick up too much powder, this can cake up very quickly under your eyes. Tap the powder in back and forth motions under your eye, making sure to never drag the sponge. If you drag, you will move or remove product, which is not what we want. I find this trick thoroughly sets the under eye, while giving it a bit of hydration from the damp sponge.

Setting your whole face with powder

Do you have a problem with your bronzer or blush blending in smoothly? Sometimes it may skip on the skin, or it just seems impossible to blend out harsh lines of color. This is the tip to help with that! After you have applied foundation and concealer as well as any other cream product you want to use on your face, set your entire face with a light layer of powder. It is very important you do this AFTER all cream products are on, because cream products cannot go on over powder, this will cause your makeup to breakdown. You will find it much easier to blend a powder blush and bronzer over the powder you put all over your face, plus it helps your makeup stay put all day!

A favorite powder of mine shown above is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder, for those of us with oily skin.

Blending harsh lines with a dense synthetic brush

Sometimes we accidentally put a little too much of something on. Maybe it was a very pigmented blush, or a new bronzer that is just way too much, but now it’s on our face. What do we do? This trick involves a synthetic bristled brush that is densely packed. Use this brush with either nothing on it or a light layer of translucent powder and blend in small circular motions over the excess product. The synthetic bristles are softer and I have found they move the product better without moving my whole face around. The density also helps make sure the color gets diminished.

The one shown above that I love is the Morphe E1 face brush.

I hope these tips are as helpful to you as they were to me, see you back here on Friday! Have a great week!

Tayler

January 2017 Favorites

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Today we have a short and sweet favorites post for the month of January!

I have not been using a ton of new products religiously, nothing has been shouting my name, but I am always down for change in the future!

Skinceuticals Daily Moisture

I have oily, acne prone skin. However, it is winter and my skin is dehydrated but it seems that EVERY moisturizer clogs my pores. Until this fabulous moisturizer. You can pile this on heavy, and it sinks into your pores within minutes leaving your skin plumped and hydrated all day and night. I use this for both my daytime and nighttime moisturizer. The Skinceuticals brand falls under “medical grade skincare” and I have been trying out a few of their products and loving the results!

Mac Fix +

I mentioned this in my last post reviewing the L’Oreal total cover foundation, and I have been using this with all other foundations as well. I spray it underneath my foundation on bare skin, just for some quick hydration and a nice barrier layer between my skin and the makeup. And when it’s SUPER dry outside, I even spray it over my makeup, giving me a nice JLo glow, which in any other condition would make me look like a greasy hot dog. TMI? Maybe!

Maybelline Big Shot Mascara

This is all over the internet so you know I had to give it a shot. A BIG shot, get it? Sometimes I am too much even for me. Anyway this is an addition to the Maybelline Colossal line of mascaras and I have to say it is a great one. If you buy the blackest shade, you get great dark lashes, good volume, and not bad length as well. I have been using it all month and it is a great mascara available at any drugstore.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick

I have a difficult time picking out lipstick shades that are not nudes, so naturally my mom picked this out for me. It is a little brighter then a baby pink and I love it. I have blue eyes, and I find it really brings out my eye color nicely. Her liquid lip formula is very matte, but it is not the worst I have tried by a long shot. This is coming from someone who doesn’t like liquid lips all that much.

That’s all I have for you! See you here Tuesday, I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Tayler

 

 

L’Oreal Infallible Total Cover Foundation Review!

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Welcome back to a fun filled foundation review! I actually have no idea if foundation reviews can be fun to anyone but me, but we are going to shoot for that today. I am bringing to you the L’Oreal Infallible Total Cover foundation, which is the newest foundation to the much loved Infallible line.

The Main Attraction

The Claims

This foundation is said to be a natural finish, full coverage foundation that is good for all skin types. A natural finish is directly in between a matte finish for oily skin, and a glowy finish for dry skin. All of the foundations from this line advertise 24 hour wear but honestly, who is wearing their foundation for 24 hours? I went with the shade 302, which was much too light for me. I have an absolutely horrid time choosing foundation at the drugstore with no tester available. Moving forward, I have made a mental note to always chose at least one shade deeper then the one I think is right, ya live and ya learn right?

The Pros

This foundation is most definitely on the full coverage side. It is equivalent to any other full coverage foundation I have used, although not mask like which is a plus. It also layers on itself really well for added coverage when needed. The wear time is very long, I would say easily 8-12 hours with minimal blotting or powdering. This foundation is definitely more matte then natural, although it doesn’t suck the life out of my face which I can appreciate. I don’t find at all that it exaggerates any fine lines, pores, or blemishes. Due to a recent excess toner mishap my skin has been excessively dry which is not typically the case. Even with my flaky patches I was sporting, this did it’s best to not over emphasize anything on my already crumbling face.

The Cons

This foundation will look like you have makeup on your face. If you look closely around my chin where I want more coverage especially, you will be able to see a layer of makeup. Now this personally does not bother me I like the way it looks, but if you are worried about that then this isn’t for you. Also, this foundation is very thick almost paint feeling, and it dries very quickly. You have to move fast with it, or it will be stuck like glue maybe where you don’t want it. Although above I said it did not over emphasize any dry patches I was having, it definitely did not beautifully erase them like a filter.

My final vote

If you are in the market for a full coverage foundation from the drugstore I would definitely look to this. I would avoid if you have dry or generally dehydrated skin because I don’t think it’s going to do you any favors.

I have also found some application tricks that work for me with this foundation specifically. First, we are in winter, the air is dry, I would wash your face, use your moisturizer, and wait no more then 10 minutes before applying foundation. That really helps lock in moisture. An extra step I take is applying some Mac Fix + immediately before application. It adds more moisture, and it gives me some extra blend time with this fast drying foundation.

See ya back here Friday, thanks for stopping by!

Tayler

Drugstore Haul!

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Today we have a fun little drugstore haul! I did a little bit of damage at Walgreens and have some fun new/new to me products to try out.

The Goods

Some of these products I simply repurchased, like the L’Oreal Brown Stylist Plumber in light to medium (top middle) and the L’Oreal Infallible Pro Spray & Set. These have both proven to be great products that I continue to repurchase.

Foundations

I am desperately trying to get away from my Hourglass Vanish Stick foundation after being obsessed for months. The L’Oreal Infallible Total Coverage is a newer foundation on the market, added to the already well known Infallible line. It is advertised to be a natural finish foundation (somewhere between matte and dewy) with a ton of coverage. The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte was an old love of mine I am picking up again after a few years. It is a matte finish foundation with great coverage.

Powder

Next we have the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder, a cult classic powder I have just never really had the opportunity to try. This is a basic setting powder, which is used to set your under eye concealer or your whole face.

Lashes

As a lash lover  I had to pick a few of these up. Eyelure lashes came out with a ‘Vlogger Series’ of lashes where popular beauty vloggers created their own styles of lashes. As a long time Nicole Guerriero fan, I had to pick up her #onefourthree pair, and the #Krazyglam pair from KrazyRayRay were calling my name as well. I have always loved Eyelure’s lash quality for the price.

Lipsticks

My lipstick game has been off lately. I am not really a fan liquid lipsticks, and I feel I really get stuck in ruts with the same nude lipstick. So I picked up a new formula (still nudes) that looked interesting, the L’Oreal Infallible Paints (literally could I pick up anything else from the L’Oreal Infallible line? I did not notice this until I went to make this post!) These are not liquid lips, I find them more similar to a melted lipstick. The color on the left is 314 Spicy Blush and on the right is 312 Nude Star.

Finally we have another lipstick in, what else, a nude! This is part of the new releases from Maybelline, a new selection of matte nudes. This color is 545 Beige Babe.

Reviews will follow once everything has been sufficiently tested! I hope everyone has a great weekend, thanks for stopping by!

 

Tayler

elf Cosmetics Mad for Matte Palette Review

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Today will be a review of a drugstore palette, the elf Cosmetics Mad for Matte Palette! This palette costs $10 and is available where most elf products are sold (Target, Walgreens, Cvs etc.)

The facts: This palette contains 10 shades, ranging from a very light lid/ brow highlight shade to a deep cool toned brown, great for adding depth to the crease. It does contain a mix of warm and cool tones. As the name suggests this palette is all matte, however the second shade in from the left does have a bit of sheen to it. This sheen barely shows up when applied to the eyes.

The good: The price is obviously a good thing. At only $10 it is very affordable. The shades blend pretty well and there is a good color range to easily complete multiple full eye looks. The packaging is sleek and sturdy which is great for travel.

The not so good: The pigmentation of each shadow leaves something to be desired. You really have to build up each color to get decent intensity. This palette requires a lot more work to get the best look.

Final thoughts: If you are a beginner to eye shadow and want a neutral basics palette that you can run to the store to get now for $10 (I am impatient so this is basically me) then grab this palette. It’s great to play with, and with extra work even someone more experienced and on a budget can get the look you want with this.

Perhaps if you want to wait a month or two and save your pretty pennies for something really good, I recommend:

The Kat Von D Shade and Light eye palette, a true love of mine. An all matte basics palette for $48 that includes a black (always a bonus) with great color payoff in durable packaging. The shadows are very easy to apply without much work to create foolproof looks. Just a nice alternative!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tayler

The BEST Drugstore Mascaras

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With the hundreds (idk maybe it just feels that way) of mascaras in the drugstore, you can get overwhelmed very easily looking for ‘the one’. Lets make that a little bit less likely to happen. I have created a list of four that I think are the best of the best!

 

From left to right:

L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black: This is the one it seems everyone has heard about and for good reason. This coats the lashes and is very black and has tons of volume. The formula can get clumpy (I really could not think of a better word) depending on the number of layers you put on, but even with the clump I think it looks great. A tip with this is to make sure you let this dry a little between coats. This mascara especially gets very wet and can get everywhere if you don’t let it dry.

Covergirl the Super Sizer: This wand is definitely different. Not the typical wand you see on a volume mascara, it is very thin and plastic. Think of it like a comb but mini. It does a great job at coating the lashes, and you can really wiggle this wand at the base of the lashes (a technique called tight lining) probably better then any of the other mascaras listed. This is great for someone that likes there eyelashes a bit less clumpy but still with volume. I get slightly more length with this then with the L’Oreal Voluminous.

L’Oreal Voluminous Feline Noir: I feel that this formula is exactly the same as the original formula listed above, but the wand is very different. It is more plastic, similar to the Super Sizer. This mascara is a mix of the first and second mentioned, and a great option to get volume without the clump.

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express: This is the newest mascara I have purchased and I instantly loved it. This is great for volume AND length, and not a ton of clumping. This also goes great on the lower lashes, as sometimes volumizing mascaras are just a mess on the lower lash line. I have not heard a ton about this, so I would definitely encourage going and picking this one up if you haven’t tried!

It kind of goes without saying none of these mascaras flake off or irritate my eyes, as they probably wouldn’t be on this list if they did 🙂 I like mascaras that give a mix of volume and length and I do not use waterproof on the daily. Seriously how do anyone’s lashes survive everyday removal of waterproof mascara! I hope this post was helpful, and have a great holiday !!

Tayler

 

 

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