Review: IT cosmetics CC+ Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation in "Fair"

Product Name: IT cosmetics CC+ Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation in "Fair"
Product Price: $38.00 at Ulta (where I got mine)
Where can I get it?: Ulta/Ulta.com
Pros: Lightweight, opaque, no scent, compact and easy to travel with, versatile, benefits the skin, cool packaging.
Cons: I don't have any!

First Impression:
    I bought this in early 2014. I wasn't at the store for it, I was just at Ulta to buy myself a little something, not with anything in mind. I had previously bought the Celebration Foundation powder foundation, and I really liked it so I went to go see what else IT Cosmetics had to offer. I was browsing and a sales woman asked what I was looking for; I said "New foundation?". She immediately showed me this foundation and, since I don't wear makeup when I shop for makeup (lest I want to try something out on my face), I allowed her to apply it to my face. I was very impressed with what her light application did. She applied a light layer using a dense round-top buffing brush, it took literally 30 seconds to totally cover my face and get it even. I'm all for saving time where I can, so it really got my interested. I bought it along with the IT Cosmetics Feel The Moment Primer Serum (I will review this as well).

Lasting impression:
    This has quickly become one of my top foundations! My very favorite will always be MAC Studio Tech, but this is a close second. It goes on the skin so easily and quickly, and it is very light, almost watery in texture. I was concerned about that at first, but then I saw that it is extremely opaque so you don't need to cake it on to get good coverage. The packaging is so cool too! It's a compact, not a bottle or tube, and all the product is in a loose-grain sponge and it is dispensed onto your tool of choice by pressing it into the sponge. This makes it very neat and compact; it has a mirror too, so you can easily carry it with you if you want to, without having to carry a big, heavy, bulky, useless glass bottle. It comes, as well, with an application sponge, so you don't even need to bring a separate applicator if you don't want to! How awesome is that?!
    I have very dry, sensitive skin as well. This doesn't irritate my skin, cling to dry patches, or dry my face out either. It's just all around great for me!

Verdict:
    I can't say enough positive things about this product. It is just perfect for me!

Would I recommend this to a friend?:
    Yes! I would advise anyone who can match this to their skin to try this product.

Would I repurchase?:
    I plan to, yes.

Score out of 5 cuppy-cakes:
 5 Cuppy-Cakes! Perfect 5!
 

Monthly Favorites July 2014

~ MAC Studio Tech foundation: This is my favorite Summertime foundation because it is so easy to apply and sets to such a strong finish. I don't sweat this off and it doesn't smear either, so it makes for a great foundation to wear on those super hot and humid Summer days! Mine is in the color NW15, and a trick I learned is to keep the foil that covers the product over the product even after you've opened it to keep the product from drying-out quickly.

~ Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer: I have been using MAC Pro Longwear concealer for a long while now, and I found this in my collection and decided to re-try it. I'd forgotten what a great concealer this is! It sets fast but not too fast (gives you enough time to blend it out), stays on the skin through sweat and heat, and doesn't cake up or melt off.

~ MAC SuperSlick Liquid Eyeliner in "On The Hunt": I've been searching for a good liquid eyeliner for the past 3 months. I never thought to try MAC because no one ever talks about their liquid eyeliners. I tried it at the MAC store and absolutely loved it! The applicator is firm but still flexible enough to use easily, and the formula is super black and long-lasting, not to mention waterproof.

~ Physician's Formula Organic Wear Fake-Out mascara: This is one of the only mascaras that doesn't make my eyes itch if I wear it all day. Not only is it an organic formula, but it's a great mascara! It really does make my lashes look big and fake, and also voluminous and defined.

~ MAC Eyelash Curler: I have been looking for a proper eyelash curler for about 6 months. I tried ELF, Revlon, Lacross... they just weren't working for me. They were too big and would always pinch my eyelids when I would try to squeeze my lashes. So I decided to spend a little extra and get a really nice eyelash curler in the hopes that it would work better. It was worth the extra money! This is the best eyelash curler I've ever owned, and it's true what they say: a good eyelash curler will change your life.

~ Smith's Menthol and Eucalyptus Balm: I've been using this as a lip-balm, and it works absolutely beautifully. What's really great about it is you'd think it'd have a really strong, obnoxious smell to it, but it actually has a very light pleasant, fresh smell. It also has a cooling effect on the lips so when they are chapped and sore it soothes them and makes them feel better.

~ Smith's Minted Rose lip-balm: This balm smells akin to black licorice and has a red tint to it. It's very similar to the Menthol and Eucalyptus balm in that it is petroleum based, but instead of a cooling sensation it has a tingly sensation on the lips. It's very pleasant either way.

Monthly Favorites: May, 2014

~ Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips All-in-One Custom Nude Palette for Face and Eyes in "Warm Nude": This is a relatively new product from Physicians Formula. I chose the one in "Warm Nude" because it had such beautiful colors in it. It is very shimmery and makes a beautiful highlight, but I couldn't see it as a contour because it's too shimmery. But the shimmery-ness makes them great as eyeshadow too, so that takes the place of contour.

~ MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in NW15: This is a product I've wanted to try for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally did! This is basically a baked, pressed mineral powder that can be used as either foundation or setting powder. I use it as both depending on the day; it's light, non-cakey, un-scented, just an all-around great powder.

~ BH Cosmetics Pink-a-Dot 12-piece brush set: I got this during the Easter 70% off sale; I LOVE these brushes! I can't wait to get more BH cosmetics brushes! They are super soft and sturdy, come in tons of different shapes and sizes, and these are so cute, they are black with pink polka-dots all over the handles. Very high quality for only $12.95!

~ L'Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in "Highlighter": I mentioned these last month but I have been using this one a lot more than the black one this month. I use it for the lower waterline and the inner corners of the eyes as highlight, and it works great. It won't come off until you take it off, and it is the perfect shimmery rose-gold color for a great highlight that isn't too stark or dramatic.

~ MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15: I heard rave reviews about this product all over youtube and just was dying to try it myself. I have used the Pro Longwear foundation before and it was great (need to get more). This concealer is super opaque, you barely need any to conceal both under-eyes, so that keeps the layer of concealer thin, and prevents caking. Once this stuff is set, it's not going anywhere. It stands up to my profuse sweating and doesn't smear at all. You get a lot of product in the bottle and since you need to use so little at a time, it lasts a LONG time!

~ Wigs: I have been obsessively buying wigs for the past 6 months, I think I have 15-18 now. I'm always looking for new interesting styles and colors; right now my favorite is a mint-green Marie Antoinette-esc style wig, very gorgeous and cute at the same time! I try to get like 2 or 3 per month, to keep things interesting, and I've been lucky, they've all been great-looking on me!

~ Crayola Products: I realize this is not a beauty-related product but they have been such a huge part of this month, I just have to include them. I bought the book "Wreck This Journal" and have been playing with it all month. I didn't want to use my professional art supplies on the book, so I decided to get crayola Twist-Up Crayons (24) and Twist-Up Colored Pencils (30), and a huge special edition box of all different types of Crayola Markers (80). They are all SO fun to use because I remember using them as a kid and it brings that nostalgia into the mind and adds more to the act of drawing and coloring.

~ Milani Baked Blush in "Delizioso Pink": This is such a cool blush! Baked blushes are normally dry as a bone, but still pigmented and beautiful; this one is soft and creamy while still being pigmented and beautiful! It doesn't take any pressure from a brush at all to pick-up tons of product and color. The color is a bright baby-doll pink, and is completely matte. I want to get the other color I saw as well; I don't know the name, but it's a dark fuchsia color.

~ Lip Smacker lip balm in "Strawberry": I decided after watching an adorable video on YouTube about someones Lip Smacker haul to go on a Lip Smacker shopping spree on their official website. I bought 27 lip balms and 2 lip glosses, some great, some disappointing, and my favorite out of the whole haul is the classic flavor "Strawberry". When I smell it, it reminds me of elementary school, being on the playground, using gigantic crayons in art class...just all the good stuff about school when I was a kid. It is a great lip balm too, not the best, of course, but definitely very good!

March 2014 Monthly Favorites!!

~ L'Oreal Silkissime Ultra Silky Eyeliners in "Highlight" and "Black": These are brand new to the makeup scene, they just came out very recently. I saw the color highlight in a "favorites" video on YouTube and it was so pretty and so smooth I just had to go out and get it for myself! It was BOMB! Smoother and creamier than any eyeliner I own, high-end or low-end! In fact it is so creamy I accidentally mushed the tip a bit...whoops...But after trying "Highlight" and loving it, I decided to go out and get a classic black shade and it stays even longer and is even more smudge resistant than Highlight! I can't get enough of these eyeliners!

~ Wet n Wild Fergi Center-stage Collection Shimmer Palette in "Rose Champagne Glow": This is a newer product to the drugstore circuit, but a very good one! The highlighter is very hard pressed, much like the Revlon Mineral Finish one, but it is more powdery so it's easier to get a good amount off of the pan. It is a pearly pink with darker pink veining much like marble running through it. It blends to the perfect highlight!

~ NYX Slim Lip Pencil in "Dolly Pink": This is my first colored lip-liner that I have consistently used. It is so smooth and creamy and non-drying on the lips; it's perfect even to just wear by itself! I've seen girls just fill in their lips with this color and top with a gloss (or not) and go with it! Also, it matches my favorite lipstick of all time, Wet n Wild's "Dollhouse Pink".

~ NYX Round Lipsticks (Marrakesh Pink, Pure Nude, Gala, Tweed, Fortune Cookie, Strawberry Milk, Harmonica, Narcissus, Rose Bud, B52): These lipsticks are super inexpensive, for amazing quality. They are also very opaque, which is a real turn-on for makeup lovers because the colors are so gorgeous no-one wants them to be sheer so everyone can see them! The colors I have range from very pale pink (Marrakesh Pink) to very dark neutral (B52). I would have to say my favorites in my collection are Marrakesh Pink and Tweed, which is a shimmery nude beige.

~ NYX Powder Blushes: I have these in the colors "Peach", "Pinched", "Summer Peach", "Angel", "Rose Garden" and "Pinky"; these are all varying shades of pink and coral, but they have other shades that are more on the neutral to brownish side (these don't work on my skin-tone). These are a bit powdery admittedly, but the color and look is well worth a little bit of fallout! The colors are stunning, I love the way they look on me, and there is a shade for every type of look.

~ ELF Studio Lip Lock: This is basically a big lip liner. It claims to "hold your lipstick in line and prevent smudging and feathering". I have to say, it really does do all that! Plus because it's so thick, it's easy to put it on and fill-in your lips quickly and easily with it.

~ MAC ProLongwear lipglass in "Long Love Love": The Pro Longwear line of products by MAC are made to last a hella-long time. This lipglass in "Long Love Love" is a light, pastel-y, milky pink and I love it to death! Stickiness has never bothered me in glosses, and though this one is majorly sticky, the color is so gorgeous, I couldn't care less! It smells like vanilla cupcakes too, which is a nice bonus as well.

~ W7 "Candy Floss" Brightening Face Powder: I found this product on eBay, saw the packaging and just HAD to have it! W7 is a UK brand, and I knew I'd never be able to get this again, so I bought it right then and there, and I'm so super glad I did! It says it's a brightening face powder, but honestly, it is so pigmented that I use it as a blush. It is a gorgeous shade of pink that is luminous and soft and goes with any look; the texture is super soft and creamy, not powdery at all. I just adore this product!!

~ L'Oreal Power Volume Collagen mascara in "Blackest Black": This has become my most favorite mascara of all time! The brush is really big and the formula, though wet, creates so much volume it is absolutely beautiful! I will never be without this mascara EVER!

~ Blistex Lip Medex Medicated Lip Balm: This lip balm has saved my lips! It's not glamorous or fancy, but it is absolutely wonderful at getting rid of dry, chapped lips. I apply it throughout the day, and it has never failed to give me great results. And it was only $1.50 at my local drugstore! How can you beat that?

Product Review: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW15

Product Name: MAC ProLongwear concealer in "NW15"
Product Price: $19.00
Where can I get it?: MAC Online or the MAC counter
Pros: Lightweight, very opaque, a little goes a long way, lasts for hours, easy to apply, non-drying, non-cakey
Cons: Hefty price, pump dispenses too much product at once

First Impression:
    I heard of the Pro Longwear concealer all over YouTube, it had rave reviews and to my knowledge there are no negative reviews (they may be out there, but I haven't seen them). I was on a shopping trip with my dad and decided it was a good time to try this product after hearing so many wonderful things about it. I have tried the Pro Longwear Foundation before, and it was a great foundation I hope to repurchase soon, so the concealer seemed promising. When I got it home to test it out, after a few pumps to get it going a HUGE dollop of product came out, much more than I needed! It was sad to waste all that product, especially since it's quite pricey. To use this concealer you only need a VERY tiny bit, the pump dispenses WAY too much product at a time. One has to be very precise and very careful when pumping the product out so as not to get too much and waste a ton of expensive concealer.

Lasting impression:
    I really love this concealer! It is of a very thin consistency which is great because it doesn't feel goopey or cakey on the skin; as such, with it being so thin, you'd think it wouldn't be very pigmented, you'd be wrong! It is so opaque you barely need any to do both under-eyes and blemishes, literally a little dab will do 'ya! It also is very brightening, which is great for the under-eye area because the yellow in the concealer cancels-out the purple and blue of undereye circles. I would say this is best for undereye circles and not so much for blemishes, but that's just how I primarily use it. The lasting power of this product is stated in the name, "Longwear"; it has lasted me literally 12 hours or more. This is very impressive because I have a facial sweating issue--my face sweats a LOT--so for it not to come dripping off my face when I am hot is very, very good. I have never had a concealer before that will last through my sweating! The application is very simple, just pump a small drop out on the back of your hand and apply it either with a concealer brush or your fingers; it blends out effortlessly, and in no time your dark circles will be completely invisible. The product is also great because it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. I have had concealers in the past that literally burned my undereye area and left huge bruise-like welts under there that were both ugly and painful. I worried that this concealer might do that, but was pleasantly surprised to see that it didn't hurt me at all. Once set with powder, this concealer will hide my dark-circles for hours and not cake-up, dry-out my skin, cause an allergic reaction, or sweat off. I'm hooked!

Verdict:
    I love this concealer, I think it is a permanent addition to my makeup bag. Yes it is a bit expensive, but like I said it lasts a long time because you barely need to use any each use. It is totally worth the money!

Would I recommend this to a friend?:
    Yes, and I already have; I also recommend it to all you blog readers out there!

Would I repurchase?:
    Of course! I will always have this in my bag!

Score out of 5 cuppy-cakes:

5 out of 5 cuppy-cakes! This product simply ROCKS!!

Product Review: NYX "Hot Singles" Eyeshadows

Product Name: NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadows
Product Price: $4.50
Where can I get it?: NYX Website, Ulta
Pros: Great variety of colors, low price
Cons: Next to no pigmentation, chalky, very hit-or-miss

First Impression:
    My first impression of these was literally "WOW, look at all these colors!!"; I have been wanting to branch out from neutrals into some pastels and brighter colors and since Spring has sprung, what better time to do so? I ordered 5 colors: "Gumdrop, Sex Kitten, Lolita, Rebirth,and Cupcake". When I received them in the mail I was stoked to start swatching and already thinking of how I want to wear them and looks I was going to put together. They look great in the little pots, the colors are vibrant and very pretty!

Lasting impression:
    I was so disappointed in these! There is next to no pigmentation in any one of them except "Sex Kitten"! I found that Sex Kitten was the only one with a creamy, not chalky, texture, not to mention the only one with any shimmer as listed! The others all swatched as white! I should've just bought a matte white shadow, it would've been cheaper and just as effective! The shadows also flaked and fell off of my skin, even with a primer; yes they were inexpensive, but I really wanted these amazing colors to work, and save for SK, they just didn't.

Verdict:
    Don't waste your money on these. 1 out of 5 shadows is REALLY bad. They are so hit-or-miss, it's hard to guess which ones will be good and which ones are crap. Better to get a different brand, or even buy their other single eyeshadows (those rock!!).

Would I recommend this to a friend?:
    Absolutely not.

Would I repurchase?:
    No way!

Score out of 5 cuppy-cakes:  

                      2 out of 5 cuppy-cakes. I gave 1 extra because I did at least get 1 good one.

REVIEW: MAC Studio Tech Foundation (NW15)

~ Product Name: MAC Studio Tech Foundation in NW15
~ Product Price: $31.00 at the MAC counter
~ Where can I get it?: MAC counter, MAC store, or MAC's official website
~ Pros: Medium coverage, non-drying, soft, creamy, great for dry-skin
~ Cons: Expensive, dries out quickly

~ First Impression:
    I first used Studio Tech when I got it for the first time on my 26th birthday (10/16/2012). I had been eye-ing it for a very long while and decided that it was the perfect time to buy it and give it the good ol' college try. My skin is VERY dry and that drew me to this foundation as well, as cream-foundations are known to seal-in moisture while not drying out already dry skin in the process. This particular foundation comes in a compact rather than say, a glass jar or squeeze tube, which I love! Makes touch-ups on-the-go so easy! The compact comes with a sponge that's very high quality, and  perfect for applying the foundation both on-the-go or at home. This stuff goes on the skin so easy, I was shocked. No other foundation has been so easy to apply for me; mess-free, smooth, creamy, and self-contained.

~ Lasting impression:
    After a few days of use, I decided that this is my favorite foundation of all time! I have used Estee Lauder and Chanel (which are both great, don't get me wrong), but this meets all my criteria for being the perfect foundation for my needs.  Though it is expensive, I'm am of the belief that foundation is one of the makeup items you should spend a little extra money on; quality is essential when it comes to the makeup that makes the most contact with your skin. Not only is this foundation easy to apply and the perfect consistency, it lasts a REALLY long time! So long in fact that I forget I'm even wearing it. When I do finally remember that I'm wearing foundation and may need a touch-up, upon checking I see that the only areas that really need anything touched-up are the areas on my face that sweat the most (my under-eye/upper cheek area, and my upper lip and chin).

~ Verdict:
    As far as I am concerned, this will be my primary foundation until the sad day that they stop making it. I recommend it to anyone with dry skin who can afford the somewhat high price.

~ Would I recommend this to a friend?:
    If they have oily skin, no; if they have dry skin like me, then yes.

~ Would I repurchase?:
    Yes, and I already have!

~ Score out of 5 cuppy-cakes: 5 out of 5 cuppy-cakes ...

                            And the 3-tier cake of a Holy Grail product!!