Recent Favorites/Catch Up

Hey Everybody! I've spent the last 4 days sick in bed. Literally, can't get out of bed for more than 30 minutes. I planned on filming a video this week regarding some of my favorite beauty products recently because I haven't done a monthly favorites video in a while. Well, that clearly cannot happen now because I cannot muster up enough energy to film unfortunately! I haven't been buying many new things and haven't had many consistent favorites, but lately, I do find myself using some products that I have really been enjoying and thought I would share with you!

BioOil- I think I have mentioned BioOil before but I've just recently gone back to using it after finishing up some other oils I had opened. BioOil is my favorite oil to use on my face as I think it helps the most with preventing and managing Acne Scars, plus the scent is incredible! I only use it at night as it is very thick and very oily and would never hold up underneath make up.

Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturizer- I LOVE this line from origins. I have tried every product and each one has been a winner. I love using this moisturizer during the day because my skin has been extra dry so the thicker cream-like consistency makes it very comfortable to wear during the day. Though it is creamier, it is not heavy and is actually very light and wears well under make up.

Origins VitaZing Moisturizer- This moisturizer also has energy boosting qualities like the other one that I mentioned, but this one has a slight tint to it that helps even out skin tone. I wear this a lot to work because it is super quick and easy and does not need any other maintenance. The coverage it gives is very natural and I do find it to be very brightening. NOTE: I do NOT like wearing this under foundation. I do not find that it holds up well at all. Seriously guys, there is nothing like this on the market that I have found yet. 

Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua Foundation- I use this foundation every summer because it is so light and breathable. It makes your skin look super lit-from-within and luminous. The best way to apply this is just with finger tips because it blends out and melts in just perfectly. I don't find it necessary to always powder this foundation. The coverage is light-to-medium and it smells fantastic. 

Benefit Gimme Brow- Okay, seriously?! This stuff is incredible. If I want a bold brow, I pair this with my Anastasia DipBrow, but it is also perfect for days when you just use the "Fabulous 4" (Foundation, Blush, Mascara, Brows). I don't think I'll ever stop using this product because it is absolute perfection for any and all brow types. 

Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint- This is a cream-like product this is used to bring a lightness to the complexion. It appears an opalescent color and remains on the skin with a glow. A little bit of this goes a looongg way. I use this under foundation just under the eye area and on the bridge of nose and also the forehead. It looks a little intense, even just swatched, but once it is blended in with the foundation it looks so luminous. I think this product is so unique. 

MORE EMPTIES!!! REGRETS AND REPURCHASES

Hey guys, take a look at my trash ;-)

REVIEW: Bare Minerals BAREskin Foundations

Here with a review! Finally.

So, I've never really gotten into the Bare Minerals makeup, but now I'm sort of trying to get into it. Lately I've been more concerned about ingredients and things that could potentially be bad for your skin. I've always been cautious of skin cancer and have never ever been one to tan, and I'm trying to keep away from ingredients that may cause premature aging or pose a threat to my skin long term. Anyways...that was a tangent.

I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about bare minerals powder foundations except that one time my old co-worker was trying to put it on in the car and it fell and her car was COVERED in foundation. Also, I know that it can stain carpet, just a little warning. When I saw that they were launching a liquid make up, I was immediately intrigued. Then, they mentioned how the formula is a skin brightening serum foundation. Um, hello?!?! Do you know who you are talking to? I love serums, I love brightening, this seems perfect. 

I bought mine at Ulta and even bought the skin perfecting brush with the "foundation reservoir", but ended up returning that. I never apply foundation with a brush because I feel like it clings to dry patches and looks cakey and not blended. Also, I found the brush to dense and uncomfortable on the skin and honestly, a little gimmicky. 

As far as the foundation, the bottle is 30ml; which is the same as my Make Up Forever HD Foundation and my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. I am in the shade "Bare Natural 07". The color match is pretty good as long as I do not use too much. This is the trick you guys. This foundation is highly pigmented and not mixed with much liquid therefore it is very bold and will not match your skin tone unless you start with literally 2 drops of foundation and work it in. I like to apply it with my beauty blender. The finish is extremely glow-y on my skin and really enhances the center areas of my face naturally. It will stay fresh-looking for maybe 3 hours until I wish I had used a powder over top. I am still working with it to find the best form of application. The bottom line for me is that  for $28 a bottle that is the same size as my nearly $50 Chanel foundation, and you only need a few drops to cover your face, this is a great high end value. 

Ulta is great about returns. My recommendation? Try this out for yourself and see how you like it for a few days of applying it in different ways. If you don't like it, return it! But I will say, the way it makes my skin look, I'm extremely happy that I found it. 

My Go-To Spring Make Up Look! Ft. Orange Lips

Hey everybody! This is my go to spring make up look. I incorporated a diluted version of an orange lip as that is a huge trend this spring. I hope you guys enjoy!!

Review: Dior Glow Maximizer Primer

Ain't that the best picture you've ever seen (not!). I bought this luxurious Dior primer in hopes that I could use it with some of my heavy/matte/satin/long-wear foundations to give them a more luminous finish. Sadly, this was not the case.

I bought this and really wanted to love it. I reallllllly really did. I gave it several chances; in fact, I gave it 2 months of trial to get a fair opinion. What it comes down to is that for $42, it simply is not worth it. It sets up REALLY quickly so you must work fast to get it all over your face. Sadly I don't think The Flash could work fast enough to get this stuff spread evenly. It looked patchy and uneven every. single. time. 

On top of that, it was extremely iridescent. It was gorgeous swatched and honestly I didn't mind it on my skin, but be warned, if you have pores that you try desperately to conceal, this primer will most likely be your worst enemy. 

I'm very partial to the Hourglass Veil Primer, it is my favorite high end and I would spend money on that without thinking twice. As far as this Dior primer, I held onto it for so long but something much better has recently stepped into my life. the Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer is incredible. It does not have a silicony feel (which I actually like when they do, but I know some people do not). It spreads well and gives the face a beautiful glow that looks luminous and not sparkly. It is much less expensive and, in my opinion, far better than the Dior Glow Maximizer. 

Hope this was helpful!! 

Tanya Burr Lipgloss Review!

It is no secret that I am obsessed with YouTube. One of my favorite YouTubers is Tanya Burr who's channel focuses on beauty and fashion. She is absolutely fabulous, adorable, knowledgable, and so sweet. Seriously, you watch her and you feel like she really does want to come out of the computer screen and give you a hug. I just love her.
Tanya recently released what hopefully is just the beginning of a gorgeous make up line. She has a collection of nail polishes and lip glosses. Of course I couldn't resist and HAD to buy some of her glosses.

After seeing how gorgeous and modern she looked at her release party, I knew I had to get the shade "Picnic in the Park" because that is what she was wearing. I would describe it as a corally-hot pink shade. It is really unique because it isn't too peachy or pink and though it is worn beautifully on it's own, you could pair it over a pink or peach lipliner and it would really conform to whichever shade you want it to be. Kind of like a chameleon.

I also got the shade First Date; your quintessential soft, baby pink. This one is really pigmented and is a great gloss to have. It's one of those shades that you just need in your collection because it is great on it's own, to layer, or to throw in your bag for an easy, elegant lip look.

I have to say, I am really impressed with these. I bought them because I love and support Tanya and she deserves all the success in the world for her hard work and loyalty to fans. Her humility and humbleness is contagious.  The packaging is durable and not cheapy, they aren't too sticky but do last a while, they are pigmented, and very versatile. I love to layer mine over lipliners to create a glossy bold look but also love to just carry the glosses for touch ups through out the day. They are very pigmented but not like an opaque cream formula. They smell sweet and delicious and come in a beautiful range of colors. You can grab them here!

My First Unboxing! Ipsy, Birchbox, and Bauble Bar!

Hey Folks, I forgot to blog once I got this last video up. I came home to a slew of boxes and decided to film an unboxing of them and give a "first thoughts" type impression to you guys. I hope you enjoy it (and will subscribe...and give me a thumbs up! Please??)

As a look into the future, I have a blog post written up that will hopefully get posted very very soon. In the meantime, be sure you're following my other blog dakotasdailydoses.blogspot.com for life updates, random thoughts, photo journals, and other stuff!!

Maybelline Color Elixirs Review || Glossy Gloss Goodness

I have been trying out lots of new products this week and trying to get a couple of reviews up. So, here we are with the first review of the week.

Maybelline has released a new line of lip-laquering goodness that is supposed to be a combination of pigment, comfort, and gloss all rolled into one pout-pursing punch. 

I've personally heard really mixed reviews on these. Some say it's too thick, others don't like that it isn't as full coverage as the Rimmel Show Off Lip Creams, and some think they're the bomb. Time for my two cents...

I think that these Color Elixirs are incredible. I think they are easier to wear than the Rimmel Show Offs because they are thicker and do not bleed outside the lip lines. I love the vast color range--though I have found that they differ from other displays at different locations (Target only has about half the collection). These are not full of color coverage, it can be sheer or it can build up color but it is not how it is portrayed in the add as a liquid lipstick. 

My favorite way to wear these are over a lip liner. The Color Elixir stays on for ages and just to ensure I won't have to touch up for hours and hours, I lay it over a lip liner. This also makes the pigment much bolder. Also, depending on which color you line and fill in your lips with, the Color Elixir will bounce off of that color and change with different shades of liner. 

I have been using my Mac Magenta Lip Liner so my Color Elixirs take on a bit more of a purple hue. Anyways, I'm totally and completely obsessed with these!

The first color I picked up is Dashing Orchid which is a shimmering Orchid-Purple color. It's totally my type of color.

Next up is Hibiscus Haven, a true hot pink color which layers gorgeous over that Mac Magenta liner I was talking about. This is like a liquid "Candy Yum-Yum" (by Mac) shade.

The fact that these a a gloss make them a little more wearable than a lipstick for those of you who are a little intimidated by bright colors. 

I think these look best if you apply them and kiss the back of your hand to blot off some of the excess. These are also the type of product you don't want to apply before eating as it is a thick consistency. But I'm telling you guys, I am COMPLETELY OBSESSED! I expect to pick up a lot more of these. 

My First BirchBox!

Anyone out there love subscription services?! I really, really, really, love free samples. Like, a lot. I've always thought about Subscription boxes but never really signed up for one. They're pretty inexpensive in theory for what it is that you are getting. I refused to pay more than $10 for my first round of Subscription boxes just because I wasn't sure how much I was going to be into it.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with subscription boxes, it is basically a company that you can sign up to and pay X amount of dollars a month and they send you your monthly subscription of beauty products (well in my case beauty products, but they even have these things for your dog!). Some popular Beauty Subscription Services include Ipsy, Beauty Army, and Birchbox.
I am subscribed to two different services and want to see how the first 2-3 months go and then I will ultimately pick just one to stay subscribed to. The first box to come in was Birchbox and I was apprehensive.
After reading several reviews comparing all the different companies to pick from, I've heard my fair share of positives and negatives for all of them. As far as I'm concerned, I am totally impressed with my first box!

Upon subscribing to Birchbox, I had to fill out a quiz that vaguely asked what kind of products I was interested in. I mentioned hair, skin care, and of course, make up. I was a little surprised to see they gave me a nail product because I know that I didn't pick that on my quiz but oh well! 

The best product I got was a pretty substatial sized Shampoo and Conditioner by Fredrick Fekkai from his "Glossing" line. I have been dying to try this duo out for a really long time and so I was ecstatic to find it in my preciously wrapped box. 

The next product I got was a Nail Rock glitter set that gives you a really intense glittery accent nail. I'm not sure I will get a lot of use out of this product as I really loath glittery nail polish and the whole process of removing it. But it's definitely worth a shot! And it is a full size kit, which is really impressive.

I also got a Mineral Eyeshadow in a gorgeous blueish-silver duo chrome. I will definitely get some good use out of this and I think it will be perfect for layering over black eyeshadow or worn alone. Gotta love duo chromes!

The "extra" gift was this really interesting deodorizing wipe that you can use to make your clothes smell fresher on a long day, for example if you were flying and needed to smell nice when you landed. Interesting concept...we will see.

Over all I am totally excited about my new subscription service! I'm already excited to see what I get next month!!

Hope you guys are having a nice week! XOXO

I've Got A Lipstick Fever!

Things are getting very serious, guys. I am in the process of saving up money (well, trying to! Anyone have any good tips to staying motivated at saving money?? I could really use them!) and try not spending as much on cosmetics at the moment because I'm buying a new computer soon and apparently need new tires in the near future. Do you ever feel like, really? New tires? Didn't I just get those?

Anyways, since it has been a while since I've posted here on Beauty and Blogging I thought I would share with you a few lipsticks I have my eyeballs set on that are on my wish list. I hope you all are doing well and feeling beautiful; I hope you had an awesome holiday season and are really enjoying 2014! 

Elizabeth Arden "Red Door Red"

Inspired by my life idol, Tanya Burr, she rocked this color several times during Vlogmas and mentioned how much she loved it. Now, I know many will argue that I probably don't need another Red Lipstick (in which case, I would agree), but come on, it's gorgeous! The packaging, and color, the shade. So beautiful!

Chanel "L'Adoree" Lipstick

My reason for really needing this lipstick is that it is only seasonal and part of a collection AKA get yours while you can. I would have never known about this gorgeous shade but while hanging out with some girl friends the other day, my friend showed me this gorgeous shade and it was love at first sight. Chanel Lipsticks are super ultra pricey and I've never owned one, but, if I were to own one, this would be the one at the top of my list! Also, being as I'm the biggest promoter of purple-hued lipsticks it's only fitting I pick this up, right? 

Elizabeth Arden "Neoclassical Coral" 

The fact that I would even consider this shade is insane. I've bought so many peach and coral lipshades and never seem to like them BUT the red tones and bright pink hue in this is what is really convincing me I need it. Again, Tanya Burr wore this while in Dubai in a Vlogmas video and I was dying to know which shade it was. Once she mentioned it I knew I had to pick it up. Though I haven't bought it (yet?), it seems really unique and very beautiful. It's really like nothing else I own. 

October♥Favorites 2013

Hey Everyone!! This is my first monthly favorites video, I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to give it a thumbs up and subscribe (it would mean SO much to me!)

PS tomorrow is Friday, Hooray!

Youtube.com/beautyandblogging

Shimmering Amber Eye Tutorial

Be sure to subscribe to my Beauty and Blogging YouTube channel to stay current on all my videos
=)

Get Ready With Me! Radiant Skin For Fall

Hey Everyone! Sooooooo, this happened! I uploaded my first Youtube Video! It's just a simple get ready with me, but it took a lot of time and it's reallly out of my comfort zone, but I'm also really excited about it! I hope you enjoy it =]


PS A HUGE shout out to Casey Abrams, I love this song so much, you guys should totally check out the rest of his album =]

Beauty Blender Thoughts...

First off, let me begin by saying I want to cry because I let eleven days slip out from underneath me without blogging about anything. I'm at this point where I have so much to post about that I'm having a hard time narrowing down what to talk about first. On top of that, I'm working on getting a YouTube channel up (soon, like, soon soon) and everything is just all so crazy! Also, quick note, how is September almost over?! I literally just wrote a post about how hectic August is and now it is nearly November. Oh my goodness, time is just going too fast and pretty soon Sephora, Ulta, and the drugstores are going to start releasing Holiday collections and then the reviews and blog posts are REALLY going to be flowing.
But until then, let me tell you my thoughts on the extremely popular and well known Beauty Blender.

This little pink egg of squishy goodness is like nothing I've ever experienced. I've never been a fan of using a brush or a sponge to apply my foundation. I'm more of a blend-with-my-fingers kind of gal. I have never found a brush or sponge that I found to do an amazing job that was worth ditching my extremely convenient hands behind, until now!
What I really love about the Beauty Blender is that it is small and compact and really precious and pink...until you squeeze some water into it and it expands to nearly twice it's size. At that point, it has no more room to absorb any liquid, so when you dip it into your foundation, it doesn't all get sucked up and end up being a huge waste of money. It truly does blend foundation like a dream, and it doesn't end there! I then go in with my concealer and brightener (down my nose, under my eyes) and blend it in quite quickly with the pointed tip of my Beauty Blender. Within seconds my face is covered with a natural finish that I absolutely love. It's unreal.
I also love that after I use all my powder products like bronzer and blush and highlighter, I can take the large rounded side and just go around the outline of all my contouring/blushing/highlighting and make all my lines look totally seamless. I even take the extra time to contour my bridged nose because the Beauty Blender can quickly fix the extra product that I've applied to heavily or darkly.
Cons to the beloved Beauty Blender would definitely include cleaning. OH MY GOSH, it's like having a child or a pet, you cannot just ignore it and hope it gets cleaner or you'll get used to it because it does not happen. It just keeps getting grosser and dirtier and soon I'm sure the stains are probably irreversible and then you have to go out and buy a whole new $20 sponge. 
Also, truly think about it...you are putting a sponge all over your face, getting it wet, putting it all over your face, getting it wet, and repeating over and over again without cleaning. Um, talk about a breading ground for bacteria. No Thank You. So you really do have to clean your Beauty Blender every single day, which is quite the responsibility, especially if you are anything like me and absolutely dread the thought of even cleaning one cosmetic brush.
Also, another obvious con is the $20 price tag...yikes! I had a really difficult time coping with the price issue of the Beauty Blender because breaking it down you really are spending a whole Andrew Jackson on a sponge that is neon pink. I figured "it can't be worth it". For me, my Beauty Blender was worth it. It gives me something to look forward to each morning when I apply my make up and I use it every single day. I also did not let it be an impulse purchase. It sounds silly to say I saved my money to buy a $20 Beauty Blender, but I really kind of did. I actually returned something I had sitting in my collection for a few months that I never used and exchanged it at Sephora for my Beauty Blender.
Final Thoughts it you are looking for a refreshing change to your make up routine, I would highly recommend looking into the Beauty Blender. I could live without it, but at this point, I wouldn't want to. It blend out foundation so nicely and comes in handy all through out my make up application process. It really is unique and quite useful, but not an immediate necessity.


Quick Tip: I clean my Beauty Blender with the Mac Brush Cleanser (thats what I use and have laying around, when I run out I may look for a cheaper alternative). The greatest Beauty Blender tip that I can give is to clean it when it is dry. I clean mine in the morning before I apply my make up, not after. The reason this works better is because the sponge is not full of liquid, so all the foundation in it is pushed towards the surface thus making getting it out of the surface much easier than if the sponge was already filled with water. I pour some cleanser on it and massage the whole Beauty Blender in my hands and then run the water. I continue squeezing and drenching the BB in cleanser/water until the squeezed out liquid is not the color of my foundation and is clear water instead. I do this process every single morning before I take my shower. 

Fun Walmart Finds (on vacation)

Hey Everyone! This is just a quick post about two really awesome things I found at Walmart while I'm on vacation. Honestly, is there anything better than finding awesome, cheap things while on vacation?

This is called a Beauty Spoon, you can use it to scrape out all the pesky reminence left over in your make-up and body care products. This is something that I'm super excited about!

#science (haha) 

Brush Guards that can be used for travel or for after you finish cleaning the brushes and want to shape them while they dry. These are an AMAZING idea, I'm very excited to try these out.

#morescience 

Both these items were about $5, which is totally affordable. Gotta love random, good finds at Walmart!

Long Lasting, Disney-Proof Make-Up Secret Weapons

Thursday I was lucky enough to spend my day at my most favorite place on earth, Disneyland!! It is so magical there, I simply cannot get enough.
I never like touching up my make-up. Besides lipstick, I literally never carry make-up in my purse. I just don't like doing touch ups and fussing with my face. I guess I really just don't care enough to keep my make-up perfect all day.
I ESPECIALLY don't like touching up my face at Disneyland. In fact, I literally was watching a group of three girls in the bathroom touching up their face, actually full on putting mascara on, and was feeling bad that they were wasting precious Disney hours.
Today I thought I would share my three favorite  items for keeping my face from melting off even under the most high-energy activities.

The Hourglass Veil Primer is my holy grail. I will never use a different primer, this one works so well I literally cannot bare the idea of using anything else. I can go run in the heat and my make-up will not budge. This is perfect for long, hot day spent at Disneyland parks. 

Any long lasting, photo ready foundation is great. My personal favorite (and another holy grail for me) is Make Up Forever HD Foundation. I keep this in my collection at all times, and even when I switch up my foundations, I always come back to this one. It photographs beautifully and is not matte so it does not get cakey looking. It has a satin finish that keeps the face fresh all day. 

Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Make Up Sealer is a summer time essential. It keeps my make-up on for hours and it smells minty (which I love). It matteifies the face but does not make my make-up a matte finish. I use this in the morning and will use my Mac Fix Plus throughout the day when I feel like I need to refresh my face. 

I hope this was helpful...here was my final Disney look!

Face is looking fresh and ready for action!! 

Also, I was lucky enough to meet Tyler Oakley while I was there (this was a HUGE deal). He is so funny on YouTube, check out his channel at Tyleroakley

Bronze, Baby, Bronze!

It is no secret I have an obsession with bronzer, I love to bronze my face and create a luminous look that is also flattering because it helps shape the face. 

For the Fourth of July, I wanted to do a really bronzy-tan face with red lips. I knew I would be outside all day and I wanted my face to look golden and sun-kissed. Many of my friends were asking how I made myself look so tan so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite products with you!

 

(that's my boyfriend Chad, we like to match).  

I didn't even think to take pictures that really captured the look, but this is one that we took together, and I like it and look for any excuse to post pictures to my blog.

• Mac Pigment in "Tan",  I love mixing a little bit of this pigment into my foundation. I find it looks amazing in my Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua, which gives the skin luminosity without being heavy at all. 
• Nars Bronzer in "Laguna", this is absolutely no surprise if you've read any of my previous posts. It is not completely matte, but it's most definitely not shimmery. It looks fabulous all over the face and I love that I don't have to be extra cautious when applying it.
• Tarte Mineral Bronzer in "Hotel Heiress", I like this bronzer a lot. I always have one in stock in my collection (I actually snagged one up on my Hautelook app for only $10!). It is a little bit more orange, but certainly not like, ORANGE! It looks really great all over the face, especially on days when you want to skip on blush. 
• Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in "Aruba". This is a shimmery bronzer, but it looks especially great on the cheek bones. I like to wear it with tinted moisturizers as a blush. This is a product that anytime I wear it (especially if I haven't worn it in a while), I get several compliments and people want to know what I'm wearing on my cheeks. I think it would also look great over a more matte bronzer.
• Mac Sheertone Shimmer Blush in "Trace Gold",  this would look AWESOME on people with a darker skin tone than me. If I don't want any color on my cheeks, I wear this instead because I like the glow that it gives the apples of my cheeks. It's also wonderful for layering over other blushes. This is a really great blush for any collection because I do feel that it is very versatile. 
• Mac Lustre Drops in "Sun Rush",  this is a new product for me, but when I saw it, I knew I needed it. It's like liquid gold, for your face! I apply it with a thick dome top Kabuki brush from the back of my hand and apply it as a highlight around the apple of my cheeks. It also looks nice under the brow bone instead of using a white highlight. I'm still playing around with this product so, stay tuned ;-)

I find that just as important as bronzing the face is, it is equally important to highlight! My absolute favorite highlight is by The Balm Cosmetics called "Mary-Lou Manizer". I've never loved a highlight or felt the need to use one, but after using this one, I cannot leave the house without highlighting my face. It really is flattering, especially if you do it correctly (and lightly!) I really recommend this product, and it is another item that can sometimes be ordered for discount on Hautelook. 

Favorite Nars products & MOTD (make-up of the day)

Today while getting ready and putting my face on, I realized that many of my everyday products are from my absolute favorite make-up brand, Nars.

Nars is a high end make-up line that has fantastically pigmented products that are very high quality. Anytime I walk into Sephora, the Nars counter is the first place I stop.

Many Nars products have cult followings. I'm sure most of you have heard of their blush "Orgasm" or their "Laguna Bronzer" or maybe ever their eyeshadow single in "Ashes to Ashes". An anyone who is a Kim Kardashian fan (which I'll admit, I most definitely am not), would know that she wears the Nars lipgloss in Turkish Delight when she wants to wear a nude lip look.

I obviously have not tried every product that Nars has to offer (but I hope to one day!), but I have tried many of their products and have definitely come up with a list of favorites. Through this process, I also have compiled a hand full of products that I do not think are that great, and some that are certainly not worth the hype. 

Favorites:

• Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (i'm shade Punjab). I especially love this foundation in the winter. I love to wear glowing skin all year round and the thicker consistency of this highly radiant foundation is perfect for winter time. 
• Nars Powder Eyeshadows. I have several of these in duos and trios, my favorite was from their Spring 2012 collection (I'm almost sure) called "Ramatuelle", which is a trio that includes a Silver, Icy Peach, and Apricot color. It looks stunning with black eyeliner, and the apricot shade is especially flattering in the crease. I also love the Trio in "Cap Ferrat" which is an assortment of bluish-green tones, which are fun to play with for a more colorful look. My favorite duo is "Cordura", which has a shimmering warm rich brown and a shimmering sooty dark brown. Anytime I go out and want to do a dark brown smokey eye, I always use this duo. 
• Nars "Laguna" Bronzer. Yes. Yes. Yes. this is DEFINITELY worth the hype. I have used this every single day since I bought it (as you can tell from the above picture, this product has gotten much love). I use it every day to warm up my face. It is not great for achieving a sharp contour, so if I am going to contour, I use a different product and dust "Laguna" over it. I am a bronzer freak, and I will continue to repurchase this one and will keep one in my collection forever. 
• Nars Cream Blush in "Penny Lane". I don't see nearly enough hype on the internet for this product. I use it if I want a neutral cheek look or if I am getting ready in a rush and don't have time to contour. This cream blush looks gorgeous placed in between the cheek bone and where one would usually apply blush. It also has a wonderful consistency, it is not sticky and it looks very radiant on the cheek. It's a very, very, soft peach color. 
• Nars Powder Blushes. I have many favorites of these, they just seem to be the best formula for blush on the Market. "Lovejoy" is my favorite winter shade, it is a shimmering bronzed rose shade and it looks amazing with a plum or deep red lip. I don't know how I survived the winter before I had this blush. "Gaiety" is another favorite, which is a bright candy pink color. I like this because it is very wearable and many people could get away with wearing this shade. Bright pinks like this look great in the summer with a tan and bronzed complexion. Also, this blush is perfect for a soft look, or to build up for a brighter pink. Plus, who doesn't love the sound of "bright candy pink"??
• Nars Pressed Powder (I wear the shade "Beach"). This is simply the best setting powder I have ever used. It makes my face look so flawless and keeps oil at bay. 

UnFavorites:

• (brace yourself) Nars Pressed Blush in "Orgasm". I know right? "Orgasm" is described as a peachy pink with golden shimmer. Everyone loves this blush and I don't like it. It's not even like "it isn't worth the hype" (which it isn't), I just simply do not like the color. The formula is fine, as with all Nars blushes, it's just the color is not great and I cannot get it to work on me, not with a tan, not pale. Just not at all. I would return this if I was able to and pick up a different blush in a second. I just simply do not like it. 
• Nars Eyeshadow Duo in "Kalahari". I like these shades and I use this palette often, I am just disappointed that the colors do not have more of a contrast with each other. Swatched, they look great, but on the lid they look like the same color. 
• Nars Multiple in "Maldives". This is a shimmering pink champagne multiple. A multiple implies that you can use it on your cheeks, as highlight, lip stick, eyeshadow, pretty much anything. I would only wear this as a highlight, and even as that I do not think it is very good, and certainly not for $40. I would say skip the multiples and buy yourself a nice Nars blush or bronzer instead. There are plenty of better highlight/multiple products out there. This just did not do it for me. 

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope this was helpful! It's always a hugh bummer picking up products that are expensive and high end and being less than enthused with the results you get from them. Also, just because a cosmetic brand is your favorite, does not mean that everything they make is great. And just because a bunch of people love a certain product and it basically has a cult following, doesn't mean that the product is the best. There are always other options that should be considered before making a purchase.

DUPE ALERT: Mac vs Maybelline

The new, hot buzz in the drug store are the Maybelline Color Tattoo Pigments. Everyone loves the beautiful Color Tattoo cream shadows that Maybelline released a few years ago so of course these new pigments are going to cause quite a commotion. Also, lets be honest, who doesn't love a good pigment?

For those of you who may not be familiar, Pigments are a highly opaque color powders that can be used for multiple purposes. I mainly use pigments as eyeshadows, but they can also be used as a highlight, bronzer, blush, and in some cases, maybe even a lip color. The other awesome thing about pigments is you can use them wet or dry; each of these techniques give a unique look to the pigment. When it is dry, it is beautiful and shimmery, but when it is wet it looks more seamless and foiled...Gorgeous!
I cannot resist a good pigment, in any way, shape, or form. I got hooked on the Mac Pressed Pigments for awhile and semi-recently got addicted to their loose pigments. Up until now, I haven't seen a true Pigment product in the drug store.
Then came Maybelline...
I love that they released a line of 12 shades, that is a fairly large selection and it is bound to grow in due time. I only picked up one shade because as soon as I saw it, I immediately thought it could be a dupe for Mac's much loved "Melon" pigment.
"Melon" pigment by Mac is a true fan-fav. It has a very unique shift to it that is very golden, while it is a peach shade. It's absolutely gorgeous and would look fabulous on any skin tone.
I saw the packaging of the Maybelline Pigment in "Breaking Bronze" and it had the same golden-peach color that is found in "Melon" so I started to wonder if someone finally made an affordable dupe for the beloved shade.

The color on the outer packaging make the products look like a very similar color, so I had to dig in deeper. (Also, please excuse the shadows in this picture, I was so eager to get this post up that I did not have the patients to work for better lighting).

                                                
Once I opened the containers, I realized that "Breaking Bronze" by Maybelline was not the same color as the packaging had lead on. It appeared to be a Golden Bronze color, while "Melon" is a Golden Peach color. So these products are NOT an exact dupe for each other.
Continuing on to swatching...
I did a swatch of both of these pigments dry and wet. Both performed the same way in both cases, they are both fantastic pigments. Both are highly shimmery, so if you are planning to use them in other places than just your eyes, be very, very, sparing.

While the shades are different, they are still very similar so if you cannot afford to spend over $20 on a pigment, these are the first one's I would send you to

(Photo of both pigments dry: Left is Mac "Melon", Right is Maybelline "Breaking Bronze")

                                                                           

I was definitely skeptical to see if the Maybelline Pigment would preform as nicely as Mac pigments do when applied wet, and I was very impressed! Both apply so smoothly and have a gorgeous shimmering effect. I don't think there is anything more beautiful than a wet pigment on the lids, I really don't.
(Photo of both pigments wet: Left is Mac "Melon", Right is "Maybelline "Breaking Bronze")

Over all I give this product a perfect 10! I cannot wait to go a try out more of these Maybelline Pigments in more colors. I would love to try the pink shade they have in "Pink Rebel" on the lips with a clear gloss over top. I've never used a pigment as a lip color but have always been curious. 

I also plan on picking up the shade "Barely Brazen" and trying to mix in the tiniest amount with my foundation for a highlighted glow. Often times, I mix my Mac "Tan" pigment into my foundation if I want to look bronzed and glowing.

And the very last color I plan on picking up (which, I'll admit, I totally overlooked at the store and thought "why would anyone buy a plain black pigment?" is "Black Mystery". The mystery is apparently that the packaging does not reveal that there is a teal shade mixed into the black; how gorgeous does that sound?! I think any of these pigments could be combined with one another to come up with your very own, unique shade. 

I found my Maybelline Color Tattoo Pigment at target for $5.95

Mac Pigments retail for $21.00

Has anyone tried any of the other shades? What do you think about them? What colors would you recommend?