makeup

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

 

 

 

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

November Favorites!

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So we have a couple of favorites from the past few months! These guys have been in steady rotation for a while now, and I feel like they need to be talked about.

Ok to start us off, we have the Morphe M551 brush

This brush I use mostly for bronzer, but I could see l using it for any face powder! The thing about this is it is one of the softest brushes I have ever used, which  I find very helpful to reduce skipping. My skin just doesn’t get along with a ton of brushes for bronzer, and I end up with kind of splotchy product all over which is no good. This helps product go on very smooth, and it is actually kind of flat which you can’t see in the picture and can be used for a very natural contour which I love as well.

Next we have the Hourglass Vanish foundation stick in Bisque

When I first bought this it was warmer and I do feel that it turned a little too shiny on my oily skin after a few hours. I am completely fine with touching up, but this was probably a little too much touch up for my liking. Now that it has cooled off, I have really grown to love this! Full coverage, very easy application (no mess thank youuuu) and lasting power are all in this guy. It is quite pricey, but as I have said I have used it almost exclusively for a few months and I haven’t run out yet. This is a definite for dry to normal skin, as well as oily skin in the not so hot months.

The Tarte Shape Tape concealer in Light

This concealer comes with a lot of hype so obviously I had to give it a shot! It definitely has some positives and negatives, although most of the negatives involve application tips and not the product itself. Positive: FULLLL coverage! My dark circles greatly appreciate the coverage. It also has a relatively thin consistency and blends easily with a Beauty Blender/ beauty sponge of your choosing. The only negative really is watch how much you use. This is true for any full coverage concealer, but the applicator is a large doe foot applicator so it makes you want to slather on this product but DO NOT. I use literally two dots per eye. Too much and it looks cakey really fast.

The L’Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper in Light to Medium

This is just a great everyday drugstore product. Truth be told I have halfway decent brows, they have some volume and some shape. On the day to day I usually just use this. It fills in the sparse areas quickly and holds my brows in place, though it does not feel quite like the glue that is the Anastasia Clear Brow Gel. I still feel it does a great job for a great price, and that is all there is to say about that!

Finally we have the Urban Decay Moondust liquid eye shadow in Spacetime

Ok when I saw these shadows I kid you not I went and bought three. I must’ve been having a weak moment, I have no idea, anyway three is way too many. The thing about these liquid glitter shadows is the lighter shades aren’t opaque. Which is find, except that wasn’t what I was expecting. The glitter you need to work with a lot, and they are not as metallic as I would like. Definitely just an ‘eh’ in my book, except this shade. A deep brown with pretty gold glitter, very opaque and metallic it definitely draws attention. I have been using it make dark brown smokey eyes and it has quickly become one of my favorite looks. Brown and gold make so many eye colors pop, I can see a lot of people using this.

And that’s it! I hope everyone’s December is cruising along smoothly, and I will be back in soon!

 

Target Haul

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So we have a wee bit of a Target haul coming up today! Went in for trash bags, came out with:

haul

I know I am not the only one. Ok starting from the top left and moving clockwise:

Maybelline Color Jolt in Stripped Down: I bought the lighter pinkier shade and loved it so I had to buy another one. On my light skin it looks like a nice brown and I love it. Great formula!

Caress body wash in Mystique Forever: I needed a new body wash, this was $3.99 and smelled amazing so there ya go.

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Brighton Beach Peach: I just love lip glosses. This is so shiny and light and not sticky and was like $1.99 I can see this being used a ton in my future.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser: I bought this to keep in my shower. I like to have a more aggressive cleanser for my chest and back after a really sweaty workout. TMI I know but also important!

Neutrogena Ultra Light Cleansing Oil: Cleansing oils are all the rage now, and to be honest I have never felt that makeup wipes did a whole lot of anything to take off makeup pre cleanse. I gave this a shot and have really been loving it. It was the cheapest cleansing oil I could find, but if I continue to really like it a more expensive one may be coming up!

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Shampoo: I have to wash my hair twice when I wash it. Even though that isn’t everyday I feel like I burn through my high end shampoo so so so quickly so I am on the hunt for a good one from the drugstore.

Shea Moisture Clarifying Mud Mask: I love mud masks and charcoal masks, and after hearing about this brand being great I decided to try this guy out. At around $15 it is much much cheaper then the GlamGlow Super Mud that I love and I am hoping he might turn out to be a cheaper alternative.

Maybelline Better Skin Foundation in 15 Ivory: This was straight impulse. I saw Casey Holmes talk about it and I love love love foundations so in my cart it went. I tried it last night for the first time and thought it was pretty good but I will report back!

I think Target hauls are my favorite because I feel like we are all in the same boat, just stopping in for two items, casually perusing the beauty isles and bam, exiting the store with no less then 10 items!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tayler

 

 

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer Review

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Foundations have to be the most important makeup product for me. I am constantly on the hunt for that life changing foundation! A little about my skin, I have had acne for years and have oily skin. I have acne marks and uneven skin tone that I have been able to straighten out in the past few months, but still you can probably understand why foundation would be so important.

Today I am bringing you one of my new favorite foundations! The Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer.

clinique

The Sephora website description says; “This lightweight, moisturizing foundation and concealer provides full coverage without clogging pores. This 12-hour wear, breathable formula is ideal for very dry to combination oily skin types, its special polymer formula forms a flexible film that moves with the skin for lasting wear, and it dries slowly for easy blending. Get lasting coverage and give skin a perfected look that stays put, even through sweat and humidity. 

”

I do see how it could be for almost all skin types, all though it does list it as a natural finish foundation which could worry very oily people. I have had no problem with oil but I do set my whole face whenever I wear foundation and because of the summer heat I bake the bridge of my nose, forehead, and chin for added shine blocking. It has a beautiful finish on me and I do definitely see what they mean by flexibility for increased wear. It seems to move well with my skin and not slide around or lift off when applying powder products or baking. I have not noticed it settling into pores or lines.

clinique color

I have been wearing shade 2 alabaster, which meets my neutral to yellow undertone very well.They have 20 shades in a variety of undertones and very light to very deep colors. Let’s get to down to the nitty gritty and really simplify this review.

Reasons I love this foundation: The coverage and blendability. This is listed as a foundation + concealer because the formula is definitely thick enough to cover spots and pimples. I really really enjoy it because there isn’t a spot that looks slightly dark if you look closely, just even coverage all over the face. And even though it is opaque (I have been looking for that word since I started this review and it just came to me SUCCESS)  it is not overly thick and goopy. Like where I feel I have major cake face, ya know? It doesn’t dry super fast and blends on my skin very easily.

Things I don’t like so much: This.

clinique with wand

The applicator. It is a little weird for me. For one thing, I don’t find it gets a lot of product out. I am kind of dabbing this guy all over my face for like 100 tiny swatches. Good thing the formula doesn’t dry too fast. Another thing, I feel like it is kind of unsanitary to have this thing touching my face then going back in the tube. I know many concealers do that, but I don’t apply those to parts of my face that break out a ton. I don’t know maybe that’s just me being weird. I feel like it might be a little gimmicky, like look it’s like a concealer but bigger.

Regardless, the product inside the packaging is pretty darn great.

See you next time!

Tayler

June Favorites!

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Here we go on my first favorites post!

June all

We have some really great products here so we can just get started!

NYC

NYC Liquid Liner in Black

First up is one that I have heard talk of but never really felt connected to until this month. True story: I have the shakiest hands known to man. That coupled with my hooded eyes, and you can bet winged liner is always a chore for me. I never really have been that great at it beyond a baby wing. I have had the most success with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, but still only a tiny bit of success. This for some strange reason glides on the easiest and makes the best point even though the tip isn’t the smallest. It’s like wizardry, and is now added to my semi-weekly wing practice.

 

Murad

Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum

More information about me: I break out. Around my mouth and jawline typically, which I have in recent months found out was due to a lovely dairy allergy. But even since stopping a lot of dairy, and greatly improving my skincare routine, I have spots. Many many many spots that don’t seem to go away. I thought the only solution was time, until I tried this. I used it twice a day for a week, and my more recent spots disappeared. I bought it on a whim and was not expecting anything near that rapid of result. I cannot wait to see after a few months how it will lighten my more deep set spots! Stay tuned for updates!

gilded honey

Laura Geller Gilded Honey Highlighter

Something I am so sure everyone who loves makeup even a little has heard about. After spending many a trip to Ulta holding it my hand as I walked around the store and then setting it down because I just couldn’t spend the money (does anyone else do that?) for some reason in June it found its way up to the cash register with me. Let me tell you: everything that has been said is true. It looks like liquid gold on your face. Love love love love. That’s all there is to say about it.

E4

Morphe E4 Brush

I had heard about this for a long time as a great blush brush. And to tell you the truth, I have such a love hate relationship with blush. For my fair skin I love a little natural flush, but either it’s too strong and doesn’t blend or it disappears in 2.5 seconds. What’s even the point? Enter this brush. It was sent to me in my monthly Morphe Me subscription service (are you doing this yet? $19.99 for at least $30 in brushes every month and it’s ALL THE GREAT ONES do itttt) any who and after seeing our Queen Jaclyn Hill rave about it as her go to blush brush I was super duper excited. And for good reason. It applies all my blushes perfectlyyyyy and blends like a dream. I am now allowed to love blushes.

BB

Beauty Blender Cleansing Solid

Finally we have this guy. I had heard about it for oh so long. “It’s a miracle worker, cleaning the ever difficult beauty blender in seconds!” I truthfully never believed it to be worth $16 when I could buy many other things. And wandering through Sephora, there it was somehow in my hand as if by magic. And truth be told, everyone was right. It cleaned my Beauty Blenders and foundation brushes in SECONDS. It smells amazing and comes with that lovely pink scrubby thingy (technical term obviously) to swirl your brushes on when cleaning. The once awful task of cleaning brushes has now been made less awful.

And there we are my June Favorites! If you were thinking of purchasing any of the products, I say go for it! I would love to hear any new favorites, and I am sure no matter how hard I fight they will end up miraculously in my hand at checkout. Here’s to a great July!

Tayler

Violet Voss X Laura Lee Palette Review!

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Ok so after some time away I am back with something really exciting!

There is a well known YouTuber Laura Lee who came out with a collaboration with the beauty company Violet Voss. Violet Voss has been known for their amazing glitters, and with the release of their Drenched Metal and Holy Grail eye shadow palettes they are becoming quite well known for their eye shadow palettes as well. Laura Lee is a beautiful and fun Youtuber, originally from Alabama but now in LA.

I ordered this palette during the second pre sale on June 10th, and received it June 20th. And here she is!

LL front

Please forgive my kind of dirty palette, but that just proves that I have been putting it through the ringer.

Inside view:

LL open

Ah… look at that beauty.

After viewing a few videos and many snaps from Laura,  I could tell you the main goal of the palette was for it to be the one palette you could pack for traveling. And I would definitely say she succeeded. This palette features 10 mattes, and 10 shimmers. Some of the shimmers are duo chrome (larlee) and the others are just plain awesome foil shimmer. Lets talk mattes first. It’s pretty obvious that they have a great variety of mostly warm mattes to blend into your crease.Some standout colors I have found are Fried and Alabama, which add great dimension and warmth without being your typical brown. You can create almost any look with these mattes and the color payoff is there and the blendability is there. They also have a matte black which to me is always a big plus to deepen up a crease when going from day to night.

But the true stars are the shimmers. These are by far the most buttery, smooth, creamy shimmers I have ever worked with. Violet Voss clearly has a way with shimmers.

LL 3 swatch

The swatches are mostly just to show color pay off. I have swatched (left to right) Bitty, Hissy Fit, and Tickled Pink. They literally look like liquid. They require not much packing at all and they stay all day with a primer underneath (I use either Mac 24 Hour extended eye base or just concealer). I just can’t say enough about the shimmer colors. Larlee is a beautiful duo chrome that appears to almost have a little green or blue reflecting in it, and is so fun as a powerful inner corner highlight.

LL 1 swatch

You cannot look at this palette without eyeing what some say is the star of the show, Smashlee. It is almost a forest green that reflects gold and yellow and in some lights blue. It is the pop of something really different and fun in this palette, and the formula is just the same as the other shimmers.

I only have two complaints regarding this palette, and they are small and would NOT stop me from purchasing it. One is the packaging. It feels almost like flimsy cardboard, and I am concerned about the shadows getting smashed when I throw it in a bag to travel. I am not asking for 5 star packaging here, just something that makes these beautiful colors inside a little more protected. Two is that some of the colors specifically the shimmers Bitty and 1988 are pretty similar. It is just a bit of an odd color to have so similar. But will I use both colors? Absolutely.

Overall, this palette is very much a winner. It is really a great palette for makeup beginners looking to improve but needing one place to start. This is truly a great all in one palette, great work Violet Voss and Laura Lee!

See you soon 🙂

Tayler

Favorite Drugstore/ Affordable lashes

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It’s officially time for my first post!

And for my first topic we have one of my favorite beauty items to really just take up any look. Before lashes was a sad time for my makeup. I just could not figure out why all these beauty guru’s just seemed to have their eyes on another level! When I thought fake lashes, I thought dance recitals, and I couldn’t see why I would even need them with my decently long lashes. Mascara should do the trick right? Wrong.

So when I finally tried them out I quickly realized the error of my previous ways. They were game changing! And while there are many many different kinds of lashes (very high end mink, very low end shiny) I feel I have found some very affordable options for all needs. Here we go!

All Lash 2

There they are! From the top going clockwise we have:

  • Eylure Exaggerate No 143
  • Ardell Natural Babies in Black
  • Ardell Natural Beauties in Black
  • Eylure and Vegas Nay Grand Glamor
  • Ardell Wispies

So we will go from the biggest most glam to the most natural. I bet you can guess what we are starting with. That lovely blue box, the Eylure and Vegas Nay Grand Glamor lashes! If you are looking for a big lash that is somehow still really wearable, you will find it with these. Fluffy and slightly wispy with some great volume.

Everyday Glam Lash

 

Next in the slightly more natural/ everyday lash department we have these guys. The Ardell Wispies are classics. They look like your lashes just longer. Much longer. That is the only thing I will say, be aware that they may reach up to those eyebrows, but they definitely still have a natural look. The Eylure Exaggerate 143’s are a great find. I typically can only grab them at Ulta, and every time I go if I see them I snag them. They have slightly more volume then the Wispies but are definitely shorter. They just really give me the finished eyes I am looking for. Both of these guys are my go to lashes, night or day, just to bring my eyes to the next level.

Natural Lash

 

Finally we have the natural guys. For the lash beginner, I definitely recommend starting here! The Babies are literally for those who just want some slight “umph” to their lashes. No length really, just slight volume. But they are great when you are first starting just to throw on to practice applying lashes. The Beauties are a step up, with slight length and slight volume, but really nothing crazy by any means. The natural line by Ardell has many options for the lash newbie, and I recommend any really, the more wispy the better.

Both of these brands are available to drugstores (CVS, Walgreens), Target, and Ulta. They are very affordable (around $5 a pair) and can be worn a few times before tossing.

Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you soon 🙂

Tayler