Haul| Sephora VIB Sale and Ulta Haul

I was a little disappointed in my memory this year and expected a 20% off coupon for being Rouge. Alas, it was only 15% and I was in no rush to stock up on basics or try out new products on the market. 

I don't think I'll be making Rouge (on purpose) for the next year especially with so little benefits for spending literally ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. In fact, I've turned my energy to keeping my Platinum status at Ulta and accumulating points to redeem for cash rewards.

Nevertheless, there were so many new and exciting releases from Sephora that I had to try for myself.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX06- Review here. I've purged my SSE in SX08 simply because I'm only that tan for three months out of the year living in Northern CA. I know this stuff clings well to hyper-pigmented skin and angry zits and SX06 will be the most universal shade for me. I can also use it as a flawless full coverage foundation when mixed with my Hourglass No. 28 Serum Primer.

Origins Clay Mask- I've tried my fair share of purifying masks, but this tried and true favorite has been with me since my pre-teen hormonal blackheads and acne. It doesn't dry out my skin as much as LUSH's Mask of Magnaminty, so I can use it twice a week with no issues.

Cover FX Drops- Review coming soon. This stuff is such fun! It's definitely a game-changer product, simply because it makes mixing foundations a lot more efficient and easy to do. It mixes into every viscosity you want: liquid, cream, or even oils.....

Clinique Cheek Pop in Pansy Pop- I expected a hot flash of lavender on my cheeks, but Pansy Pop is more of a baby pink on my olive skin. Thanks to the almost chalky cool hue, it doesn't translate to "orange!" or coral on my face after a day of wear.

Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette- Review coming soon. I waffled on this one but pulled the trigger in the end because of how they swatch (so buttery, much pigment, woah.) There's a shade for contouring and two for bronzing, and the peach powder is really flattering under my eyes and covers up dark circles like a dream.

Not pictured are...

MUFE Artist Palette 2015- This was my last minute haul because I had perused my eyeshadow collection and found zero "pops of color" shades. Ungodly. Plus, MUFE eyeshadows are to die for and one of the best, if not the best, formulation in the market. I didn't want to re-haul the Urban Decay Electric palette since it's too much for every day, but the blue and peacock green shade in this one is a good venture into color.


BB Full Coverage Foundation Brush- I don't technically *need* another foundation brush but I hate having to constantly wash my brushes every weekend. I've heard nothing but raves from British beauty vloggers about this brush and...it lives up to the hype. Review to come soon.

Ulta released their 20% coupon prior to the sale, so I took advantage of the reward system and hauled everything I wanted to from Sephora and more...

BareMinerals Complexion Gel Rescue Cream in Ginger 6- Review here. I picked up Ginger 6 for my summer shade, as Buttercream seems to match NC20-25 and I will definitely be needing a tinted moisturizer for the summer. It may be a little too hydrating by itself for the heat but it should be perfect underneath a powder foundation.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Pen in Medium- Karima from Shameless Fripperies gave me this lem. It's a grey toned felt tip marker for your brows...sounds goofproof if you ask me! Review coming soon.

Hada Labo Hydrating Cream- I had a sample of this and refused to use it up...it was so plumping! Since I have their Hyaluronic Acid Toner I think this will be the perfect complement to hydrate my skin. I'm almost finished with my Clinique Moisture Surge creams. Review coming soon.

Urban Decay Naked 2 - I had used up half of this palette, purged it, and then regretted the purge instantly. It's strange to think that I would love and use the cool toned Naked palette the most, but these colors are great with my cool yellow skintone and can make light colored eyes (thank you colored contact lenses) pop like crazy. Plus, my eyeshadow collection is looking awfully full of warm and neutral browns lately. Yawn...

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Rose Gold- Okay, I have a highlighter problem now. My tastes have veered from a semi-matte skin finish to a matte but selectively (strategically?) glowy finish. These highlighters are not chunky or glittery and with a light hand they light up my cheekbones without having to contour.

Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick in Slowburn- I know I told myself that I need to use up some lipsticks before buying new ones...but what about the ones that live in my purse? I always need a balmy hint of color and Slowburn is the perfect orange-red for the spring and summer months.

Yep, it was a larger haul than expected and some items may be going back...For the most part, however, I feel like I made good choices that I'll reach for on the daily. I've begun to wake up earlier to apply makeup in order to find the joy in application. Yes, it's mind blowing that I've put sleep on the back burner, but I can't exactly do a full face look in the office without somebody walking by and feeling awkward as hell. 

What did you haul from the sales? I was so excited for the new product launches!

xo Be

First Look| Haul from Ulta, HABA, and Drugstore!

I wanted to share with you my picks for the upcoming summer. Some of these products are "necessary", some are impulse buys, and some are just favorites I want to add to my collection. Read on if you'd like to know my thoughts on these items!

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash (x2)- Love this pencil. I ventured briefly into the drugstore and tried Maybelline's Define a Brow, but its color was too warm and its texture too stiff. 

NYX Butter Lipsticks in Juju, Lollies, and Candy Buttons- These were the impulse buy products. I was a little hesistant at first because NYX round lipsticks taste and smell like death, but these have no discernable scent or flavor to them. I'll have a review up for them soon!

Red Cherry lashes in #66- I wanted some dramatic falsies, and these were only 2 bucks at my beauty supply store!

Too Faced La Creme lipstick in Naughty Nude- I was looking for a peachy nude and this seemed to fit the bill. It leans a little brown but doesn't wash me out and looks great with a smokey eye.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation ($36 retail)- After seeing so many rave reviews on YouTube and loving their liquid version, I knew I had to try this. I actually started my makeup journey with loose powder foundations, so I'm excited to get back into it and go light for the upcoming summer. Granted, the color selection is poor but Medium-Tan Sand should fit me from NC35 to NC40. There is no match for NC25-30 but I don't reach for powders in the winter.

Smashbox BB Cream in Light/Medium ($39 retail)- It's super expensive for such a tiny tube, but I've already been using my Light shade (which I received in a swap) so religiously due to its amazing texture and finish. I had to get a darker shade for summer, since I think it's the perfect weight for heat and humidity. 

HABA Fair Lady ($66 with tax online)- This tiny bottle of VitC serum came with a lot of samples, and I'm really looking forward to this improving my skin's hyper-pigmentation and broken capillaries. The results on Kate from Drivelaboutfrivol is undeniable and her skin is angelic! I tried the little sample packet included in my parcel and within three days I'm already noticing my darkest spots turning pinker and lighter. It's really too bad the price is exorbitant but I barely need a single drop for my entire face, meaning it will most likely last for more than the 3 month shelf life. I will definitely do a review after I use up my first bottle and let you know if I will repurchase or find a cheaper alternative. 

 That's all folks! I hope you enjoyed seeing this haul. 

xo Be

Review | Urban Decay's Revolution Lipsticks

This seriously sounds like a recipe for love. Twenty two shades, 22 dollars, 22 reasons why I will be broke very very soon. I've seen beauty bloggers rave and obsess over this for the past month, and for some reason, I just wasn't that interested. Bright shades? Pass, I've seen brighter. Creamy and moisturizing? Lies, no such thing. In all honesty, I don't need another lipstick, even if it blows everything I own out of the water. Even if it cooks breakfast every morning, or does my laundry, or please me better than ice cream.

I resisted, I really did try.

Then I went to Sephora and the display case captured and enraptured me. "Swatch F-bomb, doooo it!" a voice whispered. I shivered with hesitation. Oh, it was the makeup consultant. Yes, yes, I swatched quite a few until my hands were crazy with colors. How creamy it is indeed, I thought. Look at all of these beautiful nudes and brights, I thought. Slowly, against my very will, I picked out Anarchy and made my way to the checkout. Then the rest happened in due time.

Sigh.

I've always been a fan of UD's makeup, from their primer to eyeliners and eyeshadow palettes, but I never knew they even had a lipstick line to revamp. Apparently, the Revolution lipsticks are part of their Fall 2013 collection and will be a permanent addition. Let's get right into the review!

Color: With such a great range, you are sure to find a couple shades to love and covet. Check out Phyrra's swatches here. Even before hitting the store, I was eyeing most of them with the dedication of a sex offender. Pigmentation is opaque and strong. I picked out four colors:

• Anarchy, a hot pink/true fuchsia


• Streak, a slight coral pink (it's a pity that there were no other true corals in the line)


• F-Bomb, a true classic red with no discernible undertones


• Shame, a deep berry (looks disgusting in the picture right? It's actually the shade on the UD's model's lips...perfect for fall!)

Pricing: At 22 per lipstick, this is definitely smack dab in the mid-range of lip products. Now, if only they were a little cheaper to facilitate my hoarding obsession....I wouldn't say this is a strange price point, especially for UD products. There isn't too much product for the price but this is never a problem as I've never been able to finish any lipstick. I got mine at Sephora and Ulta.

Packaging: A lovely silver bullet, big enough to kill vampire-werewolf mutants with style. The inside is UD's iconic purple, and the tube slides shut with no click but a tight feeling. I'm a huge fan of how the lipstick bullet itself is a little more slender than others with no pointed tip. It makes application a breeze! A clear label adorns the bottom for you to identify.

Wear: It is indeed creamy without having too much slip to bleed. Wear time is about 4 hours, typical of most lipsticks. However, the best part of this lipstick is how it doesn't flake! It almost feels like YSL's Rouge Voluptes without the pricepoint. For the most part, many of my fuchsias and hot pinks tend to dry out my lips no matter how much I scrub my lips raw or layer lip balm. These wear comfortably for about 4 hours and start to stain/fade after that time mark. There is no ugly ring around your lips even after a meal. My favorite thing about these is that they do not crack or chap your lips! I have encountered many a high end lipstick that do so (ahem, NARS...)

Swatches: Now for the good part. These are all two coats, with Anarchy being one single swipe, and indoors.

This is in natural but dim lighting.

This is under yellow lighting from a fluorescent light. Sorry for the carpet, seems like I love hoarding dog hair more than I think. Gross.

And these are in direct natural sunlight from the window. You can see that Anarchy has very intense pigmentation, and Streak is much more pink than online pictures suggest.

Overall, I am really pleasantly surprised by the quality of these newly launched lipsticks and would love to collect a few more. I'm eyeing 69, Bang, Liar, and Naked 2. Forgot to tell you they have rather naughty names!

Are you thinking of trying out a few? I've seen quite a few bloggers hoard up on these, and I mean HOARD. As in, 10 shades and counting sort of irresponsible. UD is doing another thing right.

Be