Frugal Friday: My Favorite New(-ish) E.L.F. Blush/Bronzer Duos



Left to Right: Turks & Caicos, Cream #24601...I mean, #83606. Oops.



A little while back, ELF had a sale on their Studio line, and I took the opportunity to try out a couple of products that I'd been eyeing since they came out a few months ago. For some reason, a buck-fifty each was perfectly reasonable, but three whole dollars (Seriously? Three whole dollars?) was absolutely ree-darn-diculous.

In any case, I picked up the Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Turks & Caicos, and the Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream in...um...Item #83606. That's all I got, folks.

Holy Guacamole, Batman! These suckers are fantastic! Talk about pigmentation! Just look below:



Left to Right: Turks & Caicos Blush, Bronzer, #8675309...sorry, #83606 Blush, Bronzer. One swipe each. Crikey!

 But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start with the packaging. Each duo comes housed in a smooth, black, hard plastic compact, with the ELF logo and product name printed on the lid in white. Inside, you'll find the product, itself, along with a large, fully-functional mirror--not one of those cheapo, fun-house-looking pieces of garbage. All in all, the packaging reminds me (a lot) of NARS, except that the NARS has more heft to it, and the outside is rubberized.

Okay, now for the products. The cream blush is a warm, rosy peach, and the bronzer is a golden medium brown. Neither has any shimmer or sheen, but by nature of the cream, they do impart a nice glow. As we've seen, they're HIGHLY pigmented, so only the teeny-tiniest amount is needed. By that, I mean, don't use your fingers! Obviously, you can, if you want. I won't stand there behind you screaming, or anything like that. That would be creepy, and a little bit illegal, most likely. Grab a stipple brush and barely tap it onto the product. You can always add more, but taking it away's a pain. It's not impossible (said the girl who went to town with concealer and powder after tapping her brush too hard this morning), but it's better to avoid having to.

The shades, themselves, are lovely. The blush is pretty much universal, as far as working with different skintones; the bronzer, less so. This would work on light to medium skintones, but no darker. I also would not recommend this as a contour shade, since it is so warm. It borders on orange-y, and that's just not a good look for a contour. It is wonderful, however, for warming up the skin. Once you've tapped your stipple brush onto (not into, onto) the bronzer, apply the product to the areas of your face where sunlight would naturally hit--just as you would a powder bronzer. The end effect is very natural and sunkissed.

Now, I purchased Turks & Caicos because I'd heard from several places that the blush side was actually more of a highlight shade, and I thought that a travel-friendly highlight/bronzer combo would be awesome to have for out-of-town trips. Apparently, I had gone temporarily insane, and totally forgot that I'm so white, I'm day-glo. My skin lights up on the dark rides at Disney. The only highlighters I can wear are either white, gold, or translucent shimmer. Almost nothing that could be classified as a blush is going to work as a highlighter on me. But I digress...

Anyhoo, the blush is gorgeous, even if it isn't a viable highlighter for me, personally. The shade is a very tawney...I hate to call it pink, because it's just barely pink, but it's not really brown, either. This is a hard shade to describe, but applied lightly, it gives just enough color to wake up the skin, but not enough to compete with, say, a bold lip or a smokey eye. Unfortunately, it's not a universal color, in the slightest. If you're often confused for Casper the Friendly Ghost, then this is gorgeous, and I highly recommend rushing out to pick one up. Medium skintones and up might consider using it as a highlighter, but, sadly, I'd just say skip it.

The bronzer is scary. It looks brown; like chocolate brownie brown. However, if you use a super fluffy brush and an extremely light hand, you can use this as a bronzer (not a contour. Neither of these bronzers are contour shades. I don't know what ELF was thinking calling them "contouring".) even if you're lily-white. This shade could probably work on medium skin, as well, but again, if you're darker, you might want to pass on this. There are tiny flecks of gold shimmer in both the blush and bronzer, but they don't transfer to the skin in an obvious way. You end up with a little glow. Again, the end result is very natural and just downright pretty. I probably don't need to say it, but I will, anyway: these puppies are crazy pigmented! If you use a heavy hand, you're going to look like you've been playing in the dirt. Go easy, and add more as you need to.

The staying power for both duos is top-notch. I've been using them both for a couple of weeks, pretty much exclusively, and haven't had to touch-up at all. I repeat: at all. ELF, as a brand, may be hit or miss, but these are a homerun.

Pros
Cream: gorgeous blush, gorgeous bronzer, highly pigmented, beautiful packaging, fantastic price, natural finish blush, natural finish bronzer, universal blush, glow without glitter
Powder: gorgeous blush, workable bronzer, highly pigmented, beautiful packaging, fantastic price, natural finish blush, natural finish bronzer, slight shimmer without glitter

Cons
Cream: bronzer not universal
Powder: blush not universal, bronzer not universal

Final Verdict: Cream--9 out of 10, Powder--7.5 out of 10. I'd say that these were amazing for three bucks, but they'd still be amazing for a lot more than that.

Bohemian Rhapsody: Flower Beauty Haul and Review UPDATED!

For a week or so, now, I've been hearing about Drew Barrymore's new line of Walmart-exclusive, cruelty-free cosmetics, Flower Beauty. The website claims that it's supposed to be as good as high-end, but at a drugstore price. I thought that seemed a little too good to be true, but decided to give it a shot. I needed a travel-friendly foundation, and saw a stick formula that looked promising, so Thomas and I made the trek to the nearest Walmart that carried the line...and were sorely disappointed. Not only did they not have the full line (just a measly endcap), but what was carried was almost entirely out of stock, save for a few opened products that had been tossed back on the shelves. At this point, Thomas proved just how much he loved me, and suggested we go all the way out to the other Walmart--out in the boonies, technically in the next town--to see if we fared better. Luckily, that Walmart had the entire line (in a beautiful display that I wish I'd taken a picture of), and I was able to get not only my foundation, but a few other items that caught my eye. The prices are incredible, and I figured that I needed to grab more than one thing to justify the trip. Yeah...that's it...justify the trip...

I picked up the Skincognito Stick Foundation in SF3, which is a dead-on match to my MAC NW15 skin. This is a freaking miracle, because there is absolutely no way to colormatch from the packaging or the little swatch photo on the display.

I'm a fan of the concept, and I love the dewy, but not greasy, finish that it leaves on my skin. The foundation doesn't feel heavy, and it doesn't fall into my pores. I've tried this with and without a primer, and have been happy with both results. However...

...it doesn't cover a darn thing. This is definitely a light coverage foundation. It also has a tendency to go on a little patchy. It also has a penchant for wearing off in patches, as well, but only after several hours. I don't recommend this for oily skin. That said, if you are looking for light coverage (like I was, thankfully), and have dry to normal skin, this might be an option for you. There's also no SPF, so it's fine for photography. 

Here's a shot once I'd added some concealer (Maybelline Age Rewind) and powdered down (Rimmel Stay Matte). I also threw on some eye shadow, but that's irrelevant. Again, I really like the texture and slightly luminous quality this gives. The packaging makes it perfect for travel, as well. All in all, I'm giving it a 5 out of 10. I'm happy with it because it looks nice on and I needed something light for an upcoming trip. This fit the bill. There are better choices for daily foundations, though.

***UPDATE! Application is the key to this working well. I originally used a brush, and that was a mistake. It led to patchiness and uneven coverage. This foundation really needs to be applied with clean and sanitized hands. That way, your body heat helps melt the product into your skin, and also allows for a much more even application. Since switching to this method, the foundation has given me none of the above problems, and has become an everyday favorite of mine. I do suggest using it over a primer, though.

I don't know why I even bother buying blush anymore. I always gravitate to the same darn color! I now have NARS Orgasm, NARS Super Orgasm, a NYX peachy-pink with no name, Benefit Coralista (more peach, but still), Wet 'N' Wild Pearlescent Pink, and now, the Ready, Set, Glow Blush/Bronze Duo from Flower Beauty in Beachy Keen. (I don't have a big blush collection, either. What I listed is about 90% of it. I need a peachy-pink blush intervention!) I really love this blush, though. It gives a soft, ethereal glow, and looks totally natural.

The bronzer is a winner, too. It's very pigmented, so you need a light hand, but it's not too orange and not too dark. It is shimmery, but the shimmer doesn't really show on the skin, so you can use it as contour or as an all-over bronzer. Here, I'm only using it for contour, and the blush is applied to the apples and swept toward the hairline.

The packaging is precious, and I love the rose gold accent. I honestly have no major complaints with this product, and am giving it a 9 out of 10.

This Shine On Lip Gloss is the shining star of the products I've tried. I chose Pretty In Petunia, which is showing up red in this picture, but is really a gorgeous peachy-coral cream with micro-shimmer. Oh, Pretty In Petunia, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

1. The packaging. Oh, the packaging! It looks high-end. I adore carrying this around in my purse. It's just so pretty!
2. The color. Oh, I wish these pictures did this color justice! It's juicy and shiny and opaque and pigmented and just plain delicious-looking! It brightens up my face for Spring, but doesn't look clownishly, crazy bright. It's very natural and totally gorgeous.
3. The scent. The Scent. That's probably my favorite thing about this gloss. It's not sickly sweet or candy-like. It's actually floral, but not in a grandma way. It smells exactly like fresh cut flowers. You put this on, and are transported to a lovely English garden on a breezy Summer day. It's glorious, and just adds to the high-end traits of this product.

Additional Makeup: Urban Decay Half-Baked, Smog, and W.O.S. eye shadows, Urban Decay Rehab 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil, Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Glide-On Pencil, Buxom Lash Mascara, Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter, Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette

4. The feel. It's like buttah. This is super-moisturizing (I swear, it's so super, it needs a cape), comfortable, and non-sticky.
5. The wear time. For a non-sticky lippie, it sure doesn't go anywhere! Hours of talking, singing, eating, drinking, and it's still there!

I'm probably going to shock a lot of folks by saying this, but this gloss looks wears, and just all out performs like a MAC Lipglass. It's just got the added bonus of being non-sticky and a fraction of the price. 10 out of 10. Heck, I'll give it an 11. I can't stop wearing it, and I want to buy more shades.

The last item I picked up was this Nail'd It cream nail polish in What's The Dafodilly-O. Again, this product did remind me of a high-end counterpart. In fact, I would wager to say that this formula is spot-on the same formula as Illamasqua (at least, the one Illamasqua polish I own, Purity). The application is identical, and the finish is the same shiny, slightly rubberized finish. The problem is: I really hate the application of the Illamasqua, and my hatred of Flower's is also identical. It's streaky and patchy, and takes three and a half (yes, a half) coats to cover the nail. That said, once it's on and even, the color is incredible, and it wears really well. I've had minimal, easily covered chipping after two days, which is better than normal for me.

So, yeah, it's identical to Illamasqua. The difference is: I'm not buying another Illamasqua. For fourteen dollars I expect better application. I will buy another Flower, though, because the finished product is amazing, and the less-than-five-dollar pricetag is a lot more wallet-friendly. 6 out of 10.

To sum up: If you're in the market for some makeup, and want high-quality on a budget, this is definitely a brand to try. I'm really excited to see what Drew comes up with next!

E.L.F. Cyber Monday Haul and First Impressions

E.L.F. ran a 50% off plus free shipping sale on Cyber Monday, so I took the opportunity to pick up a few things. They just came in yesterday, and I thought you might be interested in some of the newer items on the site
.

I picked up two of the HD Blushes, two Baked Blushes, one Baked Bronzer, the Eye Refresh, one Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick, and the Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Natural.

St. Lucia, Passion Pink, Pinktastic

Here are swatches of the St. Lucia Baked Bronzer, Passion Pink Baked Blush, and Pinktastic Baked Blush. St. Lucia is a very light, warm bronzer with a subtle hint of sparkle. I used it all over today, much the way I would a MAC Mineral Skin Finish, and it just helped knock the chill off of my uber-pale face. I had to use different products to contour and add color. The Passion Pink blush is also very light and warm, with more of a peach tone than I had expected from the online photos. I thought this would be more of a plummy color, but this looks like it could dupe NARS Orgasm. I haven't checked them against each other, yet, but this is definitely a peachy pink. The Pinktastic blush is actually a very pretty gold highlighter. Again, not what I was expecting, but not a disappointment. I bought this thinking that it would be a good dupe for one of my favorite MAC highlighters, Moon River, that is now discontinued. They're actually not even close to similar, but I think I'll get a lot of use out of this one, anyway. It's just lovely. It's just not pink.

Left: Moon River. Right: Pinktastic.

Left. Moon River. Right: Pinktastic. Um...it's not pink. Nope. Not pink at all.

I started to swatch the entire eyeshadow palette, but decided that a few representative shades would probably be just as informative. If you want, I can do an entire, in-depth review on the palette, though. Let me know in the comments. I realized right off the bat that these shadows were E.L.F.'s standard hit-or-miss grade, unfortunately. Believe it or not, there are five swatches in the above photo. The very first one barely showed up, and it was a mid-tone brown. The second swatch is super powdery. The third is supposed to be a glittery blackened gray, but very little glitter transferred to my skin. The last two are actually very nice, and they're demi-mattes. Honestly, I expected the least from them, and they ended up being the best out of the bunch. Originally, I purchased this to use for film makeup, and I intend to keep playing around with it. Maybe it will surprise me. Something tells me I'm probably going to end up having to break down and get the Coastal Scents 28 neutral Palette, though. I am wearing two shades from the palette on my eyes today: a soft gold and the demi-matte ecru shown above. So far, they're doing pretty well.

Here are swatches of the HD Blushes in Showstopper and Encore, and the Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Movie Star. Showstopper is a gorgeous berry with shimmer, and Encore is a shocking pink with shimmer. These blushes are scarily pigmented--a little dab'll do ya! I've not tried wearing them on my cheeks, yet, but they didn't want to come off of my hand. The formula is creamy, and I prefer the consistency to that of my Make Up For Ever HD Blush, honestly. Be prepared to work quickly, though, because they dry almost instantly.

Movie Star looks like a blood red in the stick, but comes off as a very natural red. Sort of like the color you'd get after kissing for a few minutes. I am surprised by how much I like this product. It's sheer upon first application, but the color can be built up by layering over time. The color starts out glossy, but dries down to a stain-like finish. It's long-lasting, but non-drying, and there's no taste or scent. Seriously, I really like this product.

Movie Star upon first application. It's not red, but it's the perfect flush.

The Eye Refresh is a clear liquid that you apply with a rollerball applicator. The packaging is nifty, but I couldn't tell where any liquid came out. I just felt the cool metal ball rolling under my eyes. It's pleasant, but I think you get a similar effect with an ice cube for free. I'll keep playing with it and report back if anything miraculous occurs.

Packaging-wise, I have no complaints. The HD Blushes are dead ringers for MUFE's packaging. The baked items are housed in functional, if not flashy, compacts. The palette is sleek, sturdy plastic with a usable mirror. As I said before, the Eye Refresh looks cool (even if it does feel a little cheap). The only thing I'm not thrilled over is the Lip Gloss Stick. I love how it's made--especially the twist up design--but the white coloring is killing me. The first time I used it, red product smeared all over the top portion, and it just looks messy. Making the package color match the lip color would look much cleaner.

Have any of you tried these products? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Pour Some Sugar On Me: Too Faced Spun Sugar Glamour To Go Review

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I'm a church musician. My life is no longer my own. Folks, I haven't had time to swatch and photograph this palette properly, but I was so excited about it that I had to go ahead and post! I picked up the Too Faced Limited Edition Spun Sugar Glamour to Go during the Sephora V.I.B. sale, and I really want to share it with you. I think it would make a fantastic stocking stuffer for any makeup maven on your list--but especially the younger, teenaged set.




Photo Credit: Too Faced

 Now, if you don't like sparkle, stay away, 'cause there's not a matte shade in the bunch. When they called it spun sugar, they meant it. Everything is shimery and glittery, including the bronzer--but that has both pros and cons, and we'll get to them in just a bit.

As an all-encompassing palette, this doesn't work. It's not a full-face look, by any stretch of the imagination, and the fact that it's completely glitzy doesn't help matters. You're not going to toss this in your travel bag or purse and be glamourously good "to go". However, much like spun sugar, this makes a beautiful topping to your usual makeup routine. The shadow colors are all neutrals, and the bronzer and highlighter are very natural-looking shades, even if they are loaded with shimmer. The gloss can be worn alone or on top of another lip color, and is long-lasting and slightly sweet.

So, here's the good, the bad, and the ugly:

The Good:
This is the first Glamour To Go palette that seems to have honest-to-goodness quads. Past palettes have had coordinating shades, but these are clearly grouped into golds and silvers, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous. I'm also completely in love with the highlighter. It's crazy-sparkly, and makes me think of sugar cookies and snowflakes, but is an easy and grown-up way to get away with a little glitter, even during the day. It really lights up my face, and I adore it. The bronzer can be used to add a little flush to the face, or as a contour, as the shimmer is minimal compared to the rest of the palette. The gloss is an almost clear gold, and is packed with sparkle. Basically, all of the colors are fabulous, wintery, and wearable.

The packaging is another plus. Like all other Glamour To Go palettes, it's constructed of a durable hard plastic, and is about the size of a credit card holder. Unlike other Glamour To Go palettes, the face is a pretty gold. It looks beautiful in my makeup drawer. There's also a mirror that spans the length of the lid, and is pefectly functional for touch-ups. The $22 price makes this a great value, and just right for gift-giving.

The Bad:
The shadows. Unfortunately, as wonderful as Too Faced shadows normally are, the ones in the Glamour To Go palettes tend to pale by comparison. They're not terrible! Not by a long shot! But they're not nearly as great as the singles or duos. The pigmentation is a little lacking in some, and others are a bit chalky. As soon as I get a free moment, I'll swatch them and update the post. Again, they're not bad shadows--they're just not as good as I know they could be. I've used them for a few days with very little trouble. Here's how the golds look together:

Hey! I finally did my brows!

The Ugly:
Nothing. It's just a really good palette.

Earlier, I suggested this might make a nice gift for the teenager in your life. While a lovely palette, some with fine lines may find that the shimmer enhances them, and that's not necessarily flattering. Teens and younger folks tend to love the pretty-shinies, and can wear them more easily. Plus, the shades are perfect for those just beginning to wear to makeup, making this a terrific learning tool.

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10, and only because Too Faced can do, and has done, better shadows.

Sitting Pretty In Express Check-In

Summer Vacation! Sign me up! Right now, all I want to do is put on a swimsuit (and a cover up! Dear God!), slather on some sunscreen, grab a margarita and listen to crashing waves. Honestly, I can't think of anything in the world I'd rather do than just that. Lucky for me, I live 45 minutes from a gorgeous beach, so all I have to do is toss a cooler and towel in the trunk of my car and drive off into the sunshine. However, I know that's not the case for everyone. Some of you might even have to *gasp* brave air travel to get your beach on. Since Memorial Day is around the corner, and no one wants to have to check a bag if they can avoid it, here are my top purse-sized makeup palette choices to get you through the long weekend with no muss, no fuss, and hopefully, no strip searches*.

Okay, I picked five palettes that will not only take care of all of your color needs, but will also fit neatly inside your purse or beach bag for touch-ups. The only other things you might want to toss in your quart-sized Ziploc are a Garnier BB Cream (super-cheap and works great!), a waterproof mascara (, and maybe a liner (I like Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Rehab for a natural, beachy look. Milani also has a drugstore dupe that's almost spot on). I don't even think I'd bother with powder, considering the humidity. Seriously, what would even be the point? But, of course, that's up to you. To keep your money handy for souveniers and mai tais, these are all under $30.
 

Photo Credit: Twilight Beauty



The teeniest of the bunch is the itty-bitty Luna Twilight (yes, that Twilight) Color Palette in Rosalie. It's, literally, the size of a credit card. Ultra-thin and lightweight, you'd never guess that it has two shadows (peachy champagne and a soft almost-tangerine), a peach lipstick, apricot gloss, and a good-sized blusher that rivals Benefit Coralista. I haven't reviewed this palette, for some odd reason, but I've played with it for a little while now, and think it makes one of the most beautiful, natural-looking makeups I've ever worn. The colors melt into your skin, making it seem as if you just naturally look this gorgeous. I'll be 32 in about three weeks, and, I swear, this makes me look more like I'll be 22. Can't say enough good about it. My only complaint: I wish you could buy the colors in larger sizes, as well. $28, and other characters are available. If that's a little steep for you, click this link to go to a discount site. It's only $12.99 there, and not a knock-off or anything shady like that. 

Photo Credit: Kaboodle



The next one is also $12.99, but that's its regular price. NYX Natural Look Kit in Nude On Nude contains nine neutral shadows and two pink-toned glosses, which could also double for cheek color (that's me talking, not NYX). I have not had the opportunity to test the kit out, but from my experience and research, this is a great deal on some quality products. There are several variations of this kit out there, but this bronzey-brown kit is my pick to look like a golden goddess over Memorial weekend.

Photo Credit: Musings of a Muse

Stila puts out some fantastic travel kits, and they're all very reasonably priced. Not So Nude may be the best-looking one they've had, to date. I say best-looking because I (again) haven't gotten to personally play with it, but if it's anything like their other kits, it's a winner. For only $20, you get six shadows (and I adore Stila shadows. They're like shimmery butter), an all-over highlight in cult-fave Kitten, and a convertible color for cheeks and lips in Lily. Again, it's perfect for a natural, carefree look.

Photo Credit: Sephora

This Sephora Collection Mini-Bag Makeup Palette is too adorable for words! I have seen this little $15 wonder up-close, and it's just darling. You get nine high-quality shadows in a range similar to the original UD Naked palette, four pretty glosses that range from nude to deep berry, and a lovely blush that reminds me of Avon Classic Aura (one of my favorites). When closed, the kit resembles a Sephora shopping bag, complete with logo and a little red handle.

Photo Credit: TooFaced

Lastly, and my favorite of the group, the TooFaced Glamour To Go Palette. This $22 pack of awesomeness comes with eight creamy shadows, a good-sized bronzer and blush duo, and a lovely transluscent pink gloss. The kit is also just as cute as can be, and closes down to about the size of a smartphone, give or take. Out of the five, this would be my pick, if only because of the included bronzer. You can do a lot with a good bronzer, and TooFaced makes some of the best, in my opinion.

Happy Trails, and bring me back a daiquiri!

*Please check all TSA Rules before packing any liquids or gels in your carry-on. Rules can change, and I don't want anyone to get in trouble. Thanks!

Cheap Tricks: E.L.F. Beauty School

Photo Credit: E.L.F. Cosmetics

This just appeared in my inbox this morning, and I have to say, I love the concept. E.L.F. Cosmetics (you know, the nice company that sells decent makeup for really cheap) now has what they refer to as "Beauty School". For about five bucks, you get either a face or eye palette, and step-by-step instructions that show you what goes where. There's even a place for you to record your favorite looks, so you don't forget which products worked the best together--not that I'd ever forget...no, sir. I have a mind like a steel...what were we talking about again?

As these have just come out, I've not had a chance to try the sets. I have, however, used E.L.F. for quite some time, and am familiar enough with the products involved to give you a fair analysis, especially since these are not new products. These are existing products, repackaged with how-to guides.

The eyeshadow collections (there are four: Bright, Everyday, Natural, and Smoky) each come with twelve shades, one eyeliner pencil, one shadow applicator, and instructions, and comes housed in a mirrored palette. For five bucks, it's not a bad deal. In fact, for a makeup novice, I'd say it's worth the five bucks for the instructions alone. E.L.F. eyeshadows can be a little hit or miss with pigmentation, but for normal, everyday wear (or for younger makeup lovers), they're workable. The same can be said for the eyeliner pencil. It's not super creamy, but it'll do. Again, remember that this whole thing is only five dollars.

The face collection (there's only one) consists of four shimmer creams, four concealers, one blush, one bronzer, and one face brush, plus instructions. There's no mirror with this palette. Again, the instructions are worth the money. They're practically paint-by-number. The shimmer creams are lovely, and make your skin look dewy. E.L.F. blushes tend to be pigmented enough for a nice, natural finish, and the bronzer's not bad in moderation. I've never been a huge fan of their concealers, but only because they're too dark for my fish-belly white skin. The brush can be chucked, though. E.L.F. makes some fantastic brushes, but this isn't one of them.

These are great to learn with. I highly recommend them for young teens, as they're instructive and a great--inexpensive--way to experiment with color. I've got to say, there's nothing more irritating than spending fifteen or twenty bucks on an cool looking eyeshadow, only to get home and realize that amazing green looks way better in the container than it does on your face. I would suggest, though, adding a few nice brushes, an eyeshadow primer,  mascara, and an eyeliner pen into the mix--all of which are conveniently listed under the Beauty School collection. Gee, I wonder how that happened...

Bottom line, for practice or experimentation, you can't beat this collection. Think of them as training wheels; learn on them, then use those skills with your favorite products.
 

Boredom Buster: Design Your Own Makeup Palette

I know; I promised pictures and stories from my Disney World trip...I lied. Well, only partially. I have, like, a grand total of two decent pictures on my phone, and one of them is Thomas in a fez ('cause fezzes are cool). The rest of the pictures are on my mom's camera, and it's at her house, patiently awaiting download onto my computer tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have stuff for you then. Key word: hopefully.

In the meantime, I ran across this little deal yesterday, and it's too good to pass up. Too Faced Cosmetics has an online exclusive: you can get one of their custom palettes (regular price, $35) for $17.50 right now, plus there's free shipping with the code travel until July 25th (which I totally missed, and am now kicking myself over).

Photo Credit: Too Faced Cosmetics

I love this palette. You get to pick a blush (pink, peach, or Sun Bunny bronzer), an eye shadow duo, and either a lip gloss, mascara, glitter eyeliner, or eye shadow primer. Then you get to customize the cover and add an optional gift message. I've been searching for some pretty pinks to break up my usual peach/bronze routine, so I opted for Pinch My Petals pink blush, Totally Toasted eye shadow duo (milk chocolate and toasted almond), and I Love Myself pink Mirror Mirror lip gloss. The cover is customized with a pink fishnet stocking background and black chandeliers, and inscribed with "Erin's Pink Palette". It's uber-girly, and completely awesome. Plus, the eye shadow alone would have run $17, so for fifty cents more, I got the blush and gloss to go with. Oh--they're also sending lipstick and lip plumper samples. It's a can't lose deal.

By the way, if you're stumped for what to put in your palette, I'd suggest Sun Bunny bronzer (it's my all-time favorite, and works great on all skin tones), George & Wheezy eye shadow (icy gold and bronze pearl), and a Lash Injection mascara. Those are great shimmery but natural colors for a glowy, polished look, and you can have it all in one place.

One more awesome thing, and then I promise to quit gushing. After I placed my order, I received a phone call from a rep at Too Faced. Seems they'd run out of the lip gloss I'd originally chosen, and rather than just randomly toss in a replacement (as so many other companies would), they called to see what I'd like in its place. That really says a lot about how they value their customers, and it's very much appreciated. $17.50, Too Faced.

**UPDATE! It appears that Too Faced has discontinued this palette. The items are still available, though, so stay tuned for a review of individual pieces. Thanks!

Let The Sunshine In: VS Beach Sexy Instant Self Tan Lotion with Tint

Photo Credit: Kimber's Beauty Corner

As I mentioned yesterday, Monday was my birthday (yes, I'm a D-Day baby, just several decades after the fact). To celebrate, I spent Sunday hanging around my Mom's gorgeous pool, enjoying the fact that my diet seems to be working and I could wear a cute two piece with no real shame. My brother didn't even make fun of me. That, right there, was a fabulous birthday gift.

Of course, as I've explained numerous times, I am black-light friendly white. Recently, I reviewed the airbrush bronzer from Victoria's Secret, but, amazing as it is, it washes off. I didn't know if pool water would take it off (and didn't really want to find out the hard way), so I opted to use their Beach Sexy Instant Self Tan Lotion with Tint. I normally use another drugstore brand, but was so impressed with the VS airbrush that I had to give this a whirl.

I am so glad I did.

This is, hands down, the best self-tanner I have ever used, and I'm an old pageant girl, so I've been around the tanning block. Normally, self-tanners smell atrocious, transfer on clothing (especially in this god-forsaken humidity), and tend to streak, so you need a shower and a possible second coat to even things out. Since I had an event on Friday, I thought it best to apply the product on Thursday, so I could worry about damage control on Friday. In the event of disaster, I had a spare bottle of airbrush tan to get me through, and I could use the old standby for my birthday bash.

So, Thursday morning, before work, I showered, shaved, exfoliated, and did all those other fun things you have to do before you self-tan. After I slathered on some moisturizer to make sure the tanner went on smoothly, I grabbed the bottle and set to work.

The first thing I noticed what actually what I didn't notice. There was almost zero tanner smell. In fact, the fragrance was actually quite pleasant. There also weren't chunks of glitter peppering my skin; just a soft gleam. Already, I was impressed.

The tanner applied almost effortlessly, and left a light tint so I could see where the product was, and catch any missed spots easily. I think the entire application process took about five minutes, then I let it dry for about ten (the instructions say five, but why chance it?) while I put on makeup and fixed my hair. So far, so good.

The heat and humidity were excruciatingly high that day. By the time I got home from work, I was terrified that I was going to have bronzed clothing and underwear from all the transfer that had surely occurred. Um...no. The only transfer I noted was on the inside of my bra, where the underwires come together in the center. That was it, and even that was minimal.

Friday morning, I did do a second coat, just to darken up a bit, since I didn't have to worry about the smell. There were no streaks on either attempt, and the color was a gorgeous, natural bronze. No oompa-loompas here! Sunday morning, I slapped on one more coat, since the original application had started to fade slightly. I didn't have time to moisturize first, but the application was still very even with no streaks.

I can't recommend this enough. Plus, at only $12, it's one of the least expensive tanners on the market. Give it a shot. You won't be sorry. $12, Victoria's Secret.

Final Verdict: 10 out of 10. There's nothing I'd change about this, if I could. Utterly amazing.

Instant Island Goddess: VS Beach Sexy Flawless Airbrush Instant Bronze Body Spray

Tonight (well, okay, last night, technically, since I'm writing this a day before it posts. It's all timey-wimey and confusing...anyhoo, tonight...) is my choir's annual dinner. It's nothing fancy. We meet at one of the nice, but mostly casual restaurants in the Downtown area for a few drinks (we're Catholic) and good meal. We try to hold the dinner at a local eatery each year, and this year, the pick is my absolute favorite: La Pizzeria.

Yeah, I know, it sounds like a pizza joint. I assure you, it's not.

La Pizzeria is a beautiful little Italian place. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is beautiful, and they even have an adorable little cottage in the back for private parties. This is the main reason for my excitement. We'll be in the little cottage tonight. I've only been back there once before, and that was the night Thomas proposed. It is now my favorite little place on this Earth.

(For those of you who don't know the story, Thomas rented the little cottage, took off from work, filled it with candles, rose petals, flowers, and a tuxedo-clad teddy bear. I didn't realize the cottage was a separate building, and it wasn't till I walked in and saw it only held one table that I caught on to his plan. He got down on one knee, asked if I might want to marry him, then promptly lost his balance and fell over. Best night of my life. Moving on...)

Because this is a special place, and I'm going with a special person, and it's one of those rare special nights that I get to dress a little snazzier, I pulled a precious kelly green vintage-inspired sundress out of the closet...and immediately realized that I was too day-glo white to wear it. I mean, I looked like Casper the Friendly Ghost's identical cousin. I didn't have time for a gradual tanning lotion, and my usual sunless tanner reeks. What's a girl to do?

Thank God for Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Flawless Airbrush Instant Bronze Body Spray (that's a mouthful)! I picked some of this up a couple of weeks ago, because I have to wear a pale turquoise strapless dress tomorrow night (tonight? Oh, I give up!!) at my voice recital. Since it was in the house and I was a little bit desperate, I thought I'd give it a shot a day early.

Please note: this is not a self-tanner. This is body makeup. It will wash off with soap and water, but will not transfer onto your clothes. This stuff is awesome. The product comes in a spray applicator, very similar to spray sunscreen. You spray a body part, rub in, then move onto the next section. After about a minute's drying time, you can get dressed and show off your gorgeous, healthy, natural glow. Seriously, it's really that easy! I'm tanned, but not tangerine, and the best part is that there's no tanner smell! Instead, there's a very pleasant, Summery fragrance that I'm quite enjoying.

I have never used a spray bronzer or tanner before, so I really took my time. Even so, the whole application took about ten minutes. I used a good moisturizer first, to aid in blending, then stood in the shower to apply the spray to my feet and legs, just to make sure I wouldn't bronze my bathroom along with my body. It was an unnecessary precaution, turns out. The spray works best if you hold the can at least 6 inches away from your body and spray lightly. You can always apply more coats, but spraying too close can cause splotches. They blend easily, but it adds to the application time. One really cool thing about the airbrush applicator: you can use it to sculpt your abs and thighs, too, for at least the illusion of being a little more cut.

Right now, I am glowing from my head to my toes, and it's absolutely beautiful. I'll definitely want to get a "real" tanner before I go on vacation, but this is perfect for those days when you need your natural coloring needs a quick perking up.

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. This is quickly earning its place on my counter.

Going For the Bronze

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am blindingly white. In fact, hey, Chlorox! If you need a spokesperson, I'm perfect and available!! Call me!! Now, normally, I'm quite proud of my "Southern Belle" complexion (Why, yes, I have been under a parasol all day. Why do you ask?), but "fishbelly white", as my Daddy used to call it, is not a good look for legs in shorts and sundresses. Then again, neither is "Oompa Loompa orange". I can tell you that from experience. *shudder*

Tanning beds scare the crud out of me. Laying out in the sun only makes me burn, and it's not exactly "healthy". (oh, I am big on quotation marks today!) I'm not quite up for sunless tanner, yet, and finding a good one is like finding the Holy Grail. Basically, what I needed was something that would give me just a little color, so you could tell where my white tanks and light khaki capris stopped and I started. Was that asking too much?

Photo Credit: Walgreens

Thankfully, the folks at Jergen's didn't think so. This year, I snapped up a bottle of the perennially popular Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer ($8.99, Walgreens) and the companion Face Moisturizer ($8.19, Amazon) before they sold out. There are pros and cons to these; the pros being that they deposit just enough buildable, streak-free color to give you a little glow, but not scream, "I'VE USED A TANNER!!!!!" They dry quickly, don't transfer to clothing easily, are long-lasting, and the body lotion really does firm well. You can actually feel it working as you apply the lotion. The cons are a little rough, though: there is a definite fragrance, and not one I find particularly pleasant. It's a far cry better than the original fragrance from when the products launched a few years ago, but it's still fairly awful and doesn't fade. They're a little sticky, too, but the worst thing about the products is the packaging. They only come in tube form, which means that you'll be picking up the tubes and trying to squeeze out lotion with greasy, slippery hands. The tanner gets all over the outsides of the bottles, which leaves streaks on your counters. A pump would be greatly appreciated, at least by this user. Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. Fantastic product with just a couple of kinks to work out.

Photo Credit: Sephora

Now, I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice after I use a tanner of any sort, even one this light and natural-looking, is that my makeup is too light. Not much, but enough to look a little chalky. I recently had the opportunity to sample Too Faced's new Primed & Poreless SPF 20 Bronze Tint Skin Smoothing Face Primer ($30, Sephora), and I have to say, it helps.

At first, I was really concerned over how dark and sparkly the product was coming out of the tube. It honestly looked like metallic copper fabric paint. In fact, the first thing I thought (okay, said out loud. To myself. Because I'm crazy like that) was, "Oh, my God, I can't put that on my face." However, for the sake of you guys, I went through with it. Almost as if by magic, the primer disappeared into my skin, leaving only a very subtle glow and an evened skin-tone. My pores do appear smaller, and my skin looked radiant. The primer is silicone-based, which gives it a silky texture, but it's also very lightweight. I don't feel bogged down under a mask, and that's fantastic in this humidity. When I put my usual foundation over it (lightly, I must add), the color came through just a bit, which aided in making my light foundation work on my darker skin. Best of all, it's SPF 20, which alleviates the extra step (and cost) of sunscreen. I also noticed that my makeup stayed fresh throughout the day, including my eyeshadow, and I had forgotten to use my eye primer. I wish the price was a little lower, but it's a large tube, so you do get what you pay for. Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. This is a Summertime life-saver, and a winner all around.

Photo Credit: Sephora

Lastly, for those of you who like a little extra oomph around the cheekbones, I can not recommend enough the (again) Too Faced The Bronze and the Beautiful Bronzing Powder palette ($38, Sephora). This palette gives you three increasingly potent bronzers in a beautiful mirrored package, complete with the softest, most wonderful bronzing brush I've ever encountered. It delivers the precise amount of product and blends effortlessly. The bronzers begin with Snow Bunny, the lightest, that deposits a minimal amount of color, but a maximum amount of highlighting shimmer. Next in line is Sun Bunny, a medium shade that works for even the lightest complexion. Lastly, we have Pink Leopard, which looks fabulous over a tan, and also works for sculpting. I like to brush a little Snow Bunny over the other shades for a little extra shimmer. The price may seem a bit much, but each bronzer runs $28 individually, and this way you get all three, plus brush. The sizes are marginally smaller than if bought individually, but after months of daily use, I've barely made in a dent in my set, and have the option of blending shades for a custom look. This stuff, to put it bluntly, rocks. Final Verdict: 10 out of 10. It's on my list of products I can't live without.

Sampler Platter: Too Faced Sun Bunny Carribbean In a Compact

Photo by Sephora

Hello, my name is Casper, and I am white as a ghost. 

"Hello, Casper!"

Alright, so maybe I'm not that white, but I'm pretty fair.  The very first scene we filmed for The Night Shift required that Claire, my character, have a tan.  The makeup designer and I put together this elaborate design with darker foundation, powder bronzer, and that Sally Hansen airbrush leg makeup stuff (on my face!), all on top of sunless tanner.  I got out to the set, and Thomas took one look at me:



Thomas:  Where's your tan makeup?  Aren't you tan for this scene?
Me:  I'm wearing it.
Thomas:  Really?!
Me:  A lot of it.
Thomas:  Okay.  Um...well, it looks really good.  Just do that for all the scenes from now on, and we'll just change the "nice tan" line from sincere to sarcastic.  Okay, places!

I've seen the footage.  I am only slightly darker than the lead character, Rue, who is wearing super pale makeup because he's dead. 

I figured out a long time ago that I am pale, and there's nothing to be done about it.  I've tried sunless tanners, spray tans, real tans (mistake--I was young and stupid)...I eventually just gave up.  I have green eyes, freckles, and an Irish name.  I dyed my hair red and went with it. 

Unfortunately, sometimes I find myself looking a little too pale.  Like, "I want to drink your blood", sparkles in the sunlight pale.  That is unacceptable.  I wear makeup to keep from scaring small children, not to send them screaming to their mothers.  Basically, most days, a little bronzer is necessary.  It's just not always easy to find a good one.

Today, I pulled from my magic bag o' samples Too Faced's Sun Bunny Carribbean In a Compact, retail price $28, Sephora.com.  Here's what Too Faced has to say about it:

Dust yourself with this naturally naughty, perfectly tan-like bronzer. Enjoy year round bronzed perfection with the most natural and skin perfecting glow this side of the Caribbean. The silky golden warmth combined with a pink under toned bronze mimics a natural tan with out any of the orangey ick! So save you skin and stop harassing your travel agent, and fake your bake like a Hollywood Starlet!

Now, I have used many bronzers in my day, and nearly all have made similar claims.  They all say they look natural and won't turn you orange ('cause really, who's going to admit, "use me and you might as well stamp Sunkist on your forehead"?), so I was skeptical.

I peeled off the card's plastic overlay and swirled my brush over the two shades, as directed.  Then I applied to cheekbones, bridge of nose, forehead, and chin (the places that naturally receive the most sunlight).  Wow.  This bronzer actually lives up to its claims!  It's the most natural-looking color I've ever used.  It also went on lightly, so I could build to whatever intensity I preferred.  Best of all, I didn't look like I was wearing bronzer.  It just looked like I had a healthy glow.  There is some sparkle to it, but it isn't much, and it isn't obnoxious.  No glitter chunks, just a little shimmer, and not enough to make you look oily.  You just look healthy.  That's really the best word for it.  Healthy.

For a brief period of time, I used to mix E.L.F.'s mineral bronzer with it's mineral shimmer.  That ran about $16 for the two colors together.  I have used my Physicians Formula bronzer ($11.99) for so long that I have actually formed a sentimental attachment to it.  Neither one can hold a candle to this.  I'm using up the rest of the card, adding it to my Sephora shopping list, and as soon as I possibly can, I'm getting it and tossing my other bronzers.  I might hang on to the Physicians Formula for old-time's sake, but it's so old, I probably (definitely) shouldn't be wearing it, anyway.

Too Faced is more expensive than drugstore brands, but in this particular case, you get what you pay for.  I'm a convert, and I can honestly say I did not expect to be.