Collection| Bronzers and Contour Powders

I'm a huge fan of bronzing and contouring, especially when the summer comes around and a tanned face doesn't look out of place. On the other hand, contouring is reserved for night time affairs. I can't be walking around in broad daylight with two stripes down my nose!

I have a pretty sizeable collection that I want to share with you, just to show you that not all bronzers and contour powders are shimmery, matte, red toned, or yellow toned, or anything in specific. It really depends on what purpose you're trying to achieve and what flatters you best. 

Let's go from right to left, bottom to top, left to right (mindf*cked yet?) and see what I have. 

Benefit Hoola bronzer: Perfect for NC20-30s who want to contour or bronze up the face. Either way it's a matte brown that's neutral enough for all over or in the hollows of your cheeks.

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light: This kit comes with a champagne highlighter and is PERFECT for contouring. It's very cheap but not too accessible (I got mine only in a swap...) 

Urban Decay Naked Flushed palette: I always get compliments wearing this palette on my cheeks, and the contour color is very light and can't look harsh. However, the highlighter and blush requires a light hand. 

Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Natural: This is a very red toned bronzer that I find perfect for when I'm NC35-NC45. It looks great all over as it mimics how my skin reacts to being sunburnt. It also looks great as a contour shade as it is on the cooler side. 

Bobbi Brown Blush Palette in Pale Pink and Tawny: Next to Pale Pink, Tawny seems to be a bronzer, at least with my terrible eyesight and lighting in the bedroom. In broad daylight, it's actually a lovely ...tawny color blush. FML. Do NOT use this to contour. 

Dolce and Gabbana blush in Tan: Now this is what you use to contour. It's like a grown up version of NYX Taupe (which I didn't care for and swapped away) but much more flattering and cool. It's almost grey, very subtle, and could probably work for NC/W15 to NC30. I always choose this one to contour my nose. 

Too Faced Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil (Medium/Deep): I used to own its sister Milk Chocolate but found the smell too sweet for my taste and gave it to my mom for a contour. It really does work for a contour, but the scent was diabetic... This one works great for NC30-NC40 me all over or in the hollows of the cheek. Love!

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Bronzing Veil Tropical Nights (what in the actual hell) bronzer: I like this one, but I haven't had a chance to play with it. I will definitely have to pull it out for this summer. It gives off a "reddish burnt sparkly summer beach babe" vibe. 

Guerlain Terracotta La Selection de L'Ete (another rech betch name eh?): This one is a little too light for my liking, and honestly it looks too fancy for using. I tried it once and it reminded me of a profesh summer cocktail party look or something O_O ...sort of pretty but nothing wild. 

AND LET THE SWATCHES BEGIN: 

From left to right: Hoola, BB Natural, Choco Soleil, KA Celestial, Guerlain, BB Tawny blush (silence! lol), Naked Flushed, D&G Tan, Sleek in Light.

The following pictures were taken in either direct or indirect sunlight. I think it does matter to see how a bronzer will look in dimmer lighting, but it's also a false representation that won't help you choose a good color that looks "non-insane" in sunlight. 

All colors were swatched twice. You can always build color up as desired. No primer. My inner forearm is about...NC25 (the back part is crispy at NC45.) 

This is indoors, with the sunlight behind my arm. Everything is actually hazy to the point where it would work as either bronzer or contour, but the red toned shades are looking cray cray.

This is indirect sunlight, I'm standing right in the doorway under a patio. 

This is another view. I'm indoors, but there's more sunlight. I just wanted you to see the various texture and tones of the bronzers just to get a feel of what could work for you.

Final one, this is outside. See how natural the D&G looks, like a shadow? It's definitely very faint in pigmentation but for good reason imo. Everything else looks absolutely orange in comparison.

I'm pretty happy with my collection at the moment; I don't think it's necessary to expand. After all, I don't even do bronzer on a daily basis especially now in the throes of winter. Well there is sunlight but come on, bronzer in the office doesn't sound right to me. 

My favorite at the moment for contouring is TF Chocolate Soleil, since I think they've taken the scent down a notch since I've last purchased. I also really enjoy Benefit's Hoola at the moment for an all over color, since I find that the new Garnier BB cream I'm trying (while great for oil control) is a tad too light ...so I've been liberal with the bronzers.  

Can't wait for summer when it's appropriate to just be dark. I love both the pale princess and beach babe look on myself. Plus, being tan for me definitely gets more attention from men. Interesting right?

xo Be.  

First Look| Year of the Haul 2014

Happy Year of the Horse! I had a great weekend full of eating, drinking, and general debauchery. Of course, I went home with zero "li xi" money....ain't nobody gonna give a grown ass working woman money for good luck.

I did, however, find the time to go shopping over the holiday weekend. And with a hangover! I give mad props to myself for even getting out of bed, much less drag myself to the mall to do some exchanges. (Shopping online for button up shirts when you're busty? Never a good idea.) I stopped inside the JCP to see if I could pick up some staples for the summer and did indeed find what I needed.

Make Up For Ever's Duo Mat Powder Foundation ($34 retail) was an out of the blue find, since I've heard rumors that it was being discontinued long ago. Like their Pro Finish powder, you can use it as a foundation with a sponge or set another product with it using a brush. Based on rave reviews claiming it sucks more oil up from the face than frying eggs after bacon, I knew I had to have it. 207 Golden Beige looked perfectly yellow under store lighting, but I quickly discovered it was a tad too dark for my current skintone (more for NC40.) It's nbd, since I'm not too oily now.

I also picked up another Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Ro(cocoa) ($25 retail) since I love the formulation and want an alternative to black when tightlining all around the eyes. Needless to say, the staying power is phenomenal. The color itself seems like a drab brown but flashes metallic in the right light.

Then, I bit the bullet and committed to the full size of Benefit's They're Real mascara ($23 retail.) The trick with this one is:
 a. have already long lashes (thanks to Latisse, not mom)
b. use a sweeping motion rather than wiggling the wand and
c. layer the second coat almost immediately after the first and curl. 

It makes my lashes pack a punch without being crunchy, flakey, or clumpy. I especially love it for my bottom lashes as well. The best part is that it's not waterproof even though it holds up so well during the day, so you can remove it with ease.I'm hoping it won't dry out on me too quickly, as the formula is on the drier side.

As for me, summer is practically here, so a new bronzer was a "must have." Enter Too Faced's Chocolate Soleil bronzer ($30 retail).  Yup, the chocolate scent didn't win me over the first time I purchased Milk Chocolate, but this time the scent is much lighter and the medium/deep color will work for NC35. I gave my first Soleil to my mom to help her contour since these have no shimmer or glitter. The powder kicks slightly, but I use the least dense brush I have when working with this one.

Speaking of Too Faced, their La Crème lipsticks ($22 retail) have converted me! I picked up Taffy (pink marshmallow nude) and Juicy Melons (pink coral) this time to be Muji drawer buddies with my current Spice Spice Baby (pinky brown MLBB). The formulation is the least drying I have ever tried (and dare I say moisturizing) and doesn't feather or smudge. The color collection is also very cute yet professional, making these perfect for work.

As for the Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Wear Makeup ($49 retail) and Bare Minerals Matte Foundation ($27 retail), watch out for separate reviews coming later. I actually purchased these two online a few weeks ago rather than in person. They are both contending to be the top spot for my summer base routine, and I want to see how they both perform over a week to have a resolute opinion.

I'm coming down with the flu (again...) so I may be MIA for the weekend, but I will work on getting a FOTD/review/application up for the Diorskin foundation. Keep your eyes peeled!

XO, Be

Favorites | September 2013

Oh my gosh, it completely slipped my mind that September is over! I've been on a mini-vacay with the husband for this past week and haven't been on the computer 24/7. Speaking of ideal husband situations, he got me the new Vice 2 palette! I would do swatches but it hurts just looking at it. I told him that I would get a lot of usage out of it and "it would last for 10 decades", but I honestly just want to encase it in bulletproof glass and only purvey from the outside. 

September weather in the OC has been temperamental. My nose is beginning to flake from the drier weather, and with cooler temperatures comes the return of full fledged makeup. I'm talking medium to full coverage foundation, dolly cheeks, and long lashes since my hair is short (I recently gave myself an undercut, but that's another horror story) and my clothes are modest. Take a look at my favorites for the past month.

From left to right: Covergirl Outlast 3 in 1 foundation in 832 Nude Beige, Urban Decay Lip Primer, Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer in 002, Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Sandstorm, Benefit Watt's Up sample, NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, TheBalm's FratBoy blush, Benefit's Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark, NYX Cream shadow in Suede , NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee, YSL's Rouge Volupte Nude Beige 001, L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara

Covergirl Outlast 3 in 1 foundation in 832 Nude Beige is like Revlon Colorstay's better looking sister. It's a very full coverage and long lasting foundation that will photoshop your face upon contact into flawlessness with no tell-tale caking. The only downside is the lack of strong yellow tones, and 832 is rather pale on me at the moment. The next yellow toned color is 842 Medium Beige, which is much too dark now that my tan is faded. I have to use a bronzer on the perimeter of my face, but this foundation is comparable to MAC's Studio Fix at a fraction of the price. 

Urban Decay Lip Primer is my new holy grail lip product. I have a review on the blog already, but it makes even the most dull and sheer lipsticks come to life and gain much opacity without drying out my lips. I put MAC's Sunny Seoul on top and it was much brighter and opaque than I was used to!

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer in 002 is a recent drugstore find that has encouraged me to use primer before foundation on a daily basis. For summer, a primer seems to suffocate my skin. In the wintertime however, this primer seems to provide a much smoother surface and blurs away any pores or expression lines on my face. The 002 shade is clear and doesn't feel particularly "silicone-y" and sets any base product I put on for the entire day. It isn't hydrating, but pairs well with any moisturizer underneath. I can also smear it onto my lids if I'm feeling too lazy for a separate eyeshadow primer. 

Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Sandstorm sets any makeup perfectly without imparting color and kept my T-zone mattified all day in the hot days of September. I dropped it the other day (mind you, I had been using for 6 months and hadn't even made a dent) and had to run out to the drugstore to pick up more. It's only 3 bucks and does an even better job than my MAC Studio Fix powder. Amazing drugstore product. 

Benefit Watt's Up sample is the perfect size for my everyday makeup bin, and its smaller bullet means I can glide it directly onto my cheekbones. It's absolutely beautiful and natural. 

NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder is a new item I received in a swap, and it's the best setting powder for undereye concealer (I've been experimenting with the Kardashian triangle of light) and gives my face a very healthy glow with no sheen or glimmer. It's really lovely for dry skinned gals who want a glow but still want their foundation to last. 

TheBalm's FratBoy blush has been my go-to blush for everyday looks. It has a tiny bit of sheen and gives my cheeks a healthy look, and I always get compliments from the husband when I wear it. Something about it is very understated and works with every type of makeup look, but it also stands out in its own way. The packaging is also adorable.

Benefit's Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark, in conjunction with my Anastasia Brow Wiz in ebony, has become my holy grail brow routine. My brows have never looked more defined yet natural and they last all day.  

NYX Cream shadow in Suede, another daily favorite, acts as a base and primer in one and is a lovely metallic sheen of gold that isn't overpowering or unnatural. I use it with a light wash of matte brown in the crease and outer V along with some black eyeliner and it completes an eye look. 

NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee is a nude gloss that's very moisturizing and thick without being sticky. It's nude, but won't wash out your lips and layers well with any lip look. It acts as a moisturizing balm in my book when I can't find a true lip balm. 

YSL's Rouge Volupte Nude Beige 001 is the high end equivalent of MAC's Creme Cup and is much more moisturizing while maintaining a high level of opacity. I love it with a simple cat-eye. Often I will put on Creme Cup in the morning and touch up with YSL. 

L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara is the product of my drugstore mascara vice. I love the packaging, and I've been meaning to try out some volumizing mascaras for that thick, almost spidery lashes look for winter. It really does thicken up my sad lashes, but I can't say much for its lengthening abilities. I like layering it over Definicils or another tubing mascara. 

That's all for my September items, and I've been using most of them into October. I love a full face of makeup for colder months, and now it seems like every YT tutorial is for plum/burgundy/dark lips. As much as I love the trend, I'm more excited to try the other fall trends out there, like a light grey wash of color on the lids and matte skin with no blush. So tell me, are you one to go for makeup trends or do you think trends are best left for fashion? Let me know :)

Be