Collective Haul| A Little Retail Therapy

I have an unspoken rule with the husband that I get to spend my weekend mornings at the mall while he catches up on sleep. This last month, after all my bills had been paid, it was time to celebrate.

My local CVS is pretty paltry, but they finally restocked on some Milani items I've been interested in. Their Baked Powder Blush in Delizioso Pink ($7.99) is the second matte blue-based light pink blush in my collection.  I am a huge peach and coral blush lover, but I wanted something that would complement cooler toned looks like silver eyeshadow or baby pink lips. 

Milani Baked Bronzer Glow in Soleil ($9.99): MelisaMichelle on YT uses this religiously to bronze and warm up her complexion, and with so many raves online, I had to pick one up to see. It looks very glittery, so I'm sure it's not for contouring. I also picked up two more Bella Eyeshadows ($7.99) from them, in Caffe and Sand, as quick throw ons for rushed mornings. They are nicely pigmented and apply best with fingers.

A skincare repurchase for me (rare!) is the Neutrogena Anti Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum ($22-24.) It smells like teriyaki sauce, but it really does help to soften fine lines and even my deep laugh line. It's a light serum that can be used under a thicker night moisturizer.

Finally, I repurchased the Revlon Age Defying Firming and Lifting Foundation in Tender Beige ($14.99.) I had purged this when I moved from Orange County, but it's a really great medium coverage foundation for yellow and dry skin. 

I know that the Sephora Friends and Family, VIB, VIB Rouge, etc... sales and discounts are coming up so do note the slight attempt at restraint here. It was Labor Day, my judgment was clouded, and I couldn't help but to get some things I wanted right away. 

First, a repurchase of Too Faced La Creme in Spice Spice Baby ($22). My tube is already halfway done since I keep it for touch ups at work. Second, I was strangely drawn to Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($24). It looks portable, flattering for the undereye area, and wasn't too expensive. It reminded me of a more shimmery version of NARS Translucent Setting Powder. 

Third, I got the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Medium Sand ($24.) A lot of people rave about this for dry undereyes with dark circles. I was about to purchase Light Medium Sand, but upon swatching it was way too light for me at NC30. It feels very creamy and yet tacky, so I'm hoping for the best.

I also finally bit the bullet on the MAC 217 brush ($24) upon seeing how versatile it could be for my work makeup bag. I don't mind that it's synthetic since I would feel horrible breaking the handle or splaying out natural hairs. Finally, I made a quick visit to CVS again for Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. My old one is halfway finished and completely dried out. 

The worst part? I still have more things arriving in the mail! After this, it's a strict no-buy until Sephora's F&F.

xo Be

First Look| High End Complexion and Palette Haulabration

As a shopaholic, it takes a certain self-awareness to know your own demons. After receiving a job offer, I couldn't help but to celebrate with a haul. When I'm sad, I usually head to the mall. When I'm happy, I usually head to the mall and come back with a long receipt and the guilt of ten mass murderers.

As the weather is now definitely cold, harsh, rainy, windy, and generally gloomy, I wanted something to perk up my complexion. In specific, I wanted to add a glow without a bronze, if that makes sense. Enter Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Dore ($58 retail), charmingly known as Ballz to the makeup blog world. These add a very subtle hint of radiance to my skin and works as a finishing powder. 

For a base, I decided to bite the bullet and finally try out the infamous Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand 1W2 ($36 retail). It's been a week of constant use, and I really enjoy the formula. It's a medium coverage foundation that glides on effortlessly and is indeed long-wearing as it claims. Its also a natural finish rather than a dreaded matte as I was expecting. 

And of course, for skincare, I got my hands on REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Mask ($55 retail). It smells and feels like marmalade, but it tightened my pores and got rid of flakes in just one use. It's also a complete b*tch to take off, but they give you a handy muslin for that purpose.

You can find my first look and review of the Laura Mercier Artist Palette for Eyes in the post below. I also picked up another Lancome Cils Booster, because this shiz is the shiz. It's doing work on my lashes, especially in the length deparment. I will do a review of the YSL Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry shadow palette in #9 ($55 retail) in another post since I have loads to rant about that one. I'll also be posting an in depth review of the Stila In the Light palette ($39 retail) for you in the upcoming week. 

Oh, and I shamefully made VIB Rouge. Tsk tsk.

Work has been great, I think I would enjoy it more if I wasn't working on the holiday weekend after Thanksgiving. Oh well, c'est la vie. 

XO, Be

First Look| Laura Mercier Artist Palette 2013

Okay, it isn't always fair when bloggers show limited edition and rare items, but I swear, Sephora has just conveniently "restocked" the Laura Mercier Artist Palette for Eyes ($48 retail.) When it sold out online (permanently...?), EBay prices shot up and my heart sank simultaneously. I swear, Sephora does this to entice consumers and make them buy things no one in their right mind would look at twice.

I showed up at South Coast Plaza and the sales assistant told me she had to unpack it from a few boxes, but it was really here. I picked it up immediately, because I had been wafflin' on about it for a few weeks. If you see it in stores, don't hesitate to pick it up! It is limited edition after all.

This is the size of the palette. It's almost like a wallet, with a nice faux-snakeskin cover and magnetic closure. I really enjoy it, because most of my palette are hard acrylic or cardboard. There is a quality heft to it without weighing it down. I don't know about traveling with this, since it doesn't "snap" shut, but it's great on my vanity. I also love the huge and clear mirror inside, but its tendency to want to close on its own annoys me.

Isn't it pretty? I'm not a huge fan of purples, but this one has a large variation of it so that I can go from neutral to glam with a swipe. These shadows are very soft, buttery, and pigmented. Sounds great right? However, you need a very gentle hand and calm restraint when using it. Do not overblend. 

In fact, your life would probably be easier if you only used one or two shades from this palette rather than trying to make a complicated look out of all 12 shades. Honestly, it makes a great beginner's palette, especially for those who like rocking only a wash of color or two.

This is the palette in natural, indirect sunlight. Looks pretty unimposing, but in person, Bamboo, African Violet, and Kir Royal are all ravishing shades with multi-dimensionality. Also, I laugh every time I use Vanilla Nuts as an inner corner highlight. There is a balance of matte and shimmers, though the shimmer is very sophisticated rather than chunky or glaringly obvious.

The wear time is a full day with no creasing, fall out, or general harassment. The quality is top notch, just a tad drier than LORAC but more finely milled than Urban Decay. 

Here are swatches of the entire palette on my arm, over the UD primer potion. Its drier texture also makes blending harder (which is want you want, trust me!) I wanted to include several different lighting situations. You can see that on my NC30 inner arm, the two lightest shades barely show up. As for the darker shades, they stained my arms even after wiping them down with a makeup remover wipe.

Indirect yellow light.

Direct yellow light.

Under sunlight.

Under dim fluorescent lighting.

Would I say that you're missing out on the palette of the Gods? Not really. Is it nice? Yes! With so many other palettes, gift offers, and holiday themed palettes at Sephora, it's easy to forego this one. Not to mention, Urban Decay is coming out with Naked 3 very soon within this next month. Of course I'm getting it. 

I'll do a few eye looks with this palette for those of you who picked it up during F&F or the VIB sale. 

In other great news, I finally got a job offer! *dances* After three months of looking, I feel relieved to heck. 

XO, Be

Review| Laura Mercier Silk Creme

This is Bamboo Beige on the skin, one layer buffed in with a dense kabuki. 

I've been on a foundation binge lately (can you tell?), and rotating foundations out for better shade matches is on my agenda. Out is the need for sheer, lightweight, and mattifying. In fact, I want cakeface for the winter; something thick, hydrating, full coverage, and long lasting will do just fine. I decided that I needed  to consult Laura Mercier Silk Creme and see if it could take HG status.

The LM Silk Creme Foundation ($48 for 1.18 fl. oz.) is a cult favorite because it offers a long-wearing full coverage AND satin finish for skin that isn't oily. I would compare it to MAC's Studio Sculpt, except a little denser in formulation. This means that it doesn't transfer as much yet still feels comfortable on dry and tight skin. It's also not cakey and photographs beautifully, as it is a true full coverage foundation. It doesn't hide flakes, but it doesn't make them obvious either.

Now, the only con for this foundation is as always, color match. 

This is Medium Ivory stippled on with a BeautyBlender.

Cream Ivory is an exact match for NC20, or light with very yellow undertones. Rose Ivory is for NW20 and reads very pink. Bamboo Beige is an exact match for NC30 and has golden rather than peachy undertones. For NC25 I had to decide whether Beige Ivory or Medium Ivory (neither of which are true "ivories") had more yellow undertones. I finally settled on Medium Ivory and while it is still rather neutral on me, it's as yellow as it could get for the 10 shade range. I also have it in Bamboo Beige. I can pull off both, but Bamboo is more golden and a smidgen darker, for NC30 perhaps.

A pea sized amount works best with a BeautyBlender. DO NOT apply liberally with a brush or fingers, as you will get a terribly thick amount of coverage that reads as cakey. It's really the best full coverage a girl can get and it does not emphasize my laugh lines or pores. The wear time is phenomenal and lasts 12 hours if you powder lightly on top. 

From left to right: NARS TM in St. Moritz, MAC Studio Sculpt NC30, Tarte Full Cover 12 Hour Foundation in Light, Laura Mercier Silk Creme in Medium Ivory and Bamboo Beige. This is under yellow fluorescent lighting. 

This is under indirect sunlight. You can see that Bamboo Beige looks more olive rather than golden like MAC and NARS. 

I think a true normal skin type with acne scarring or dark spots would do well with this foundation. Drier types will also benefit if they use a moisturizer underneath. Oilier and acne-prone skin types should look elsewhere, but I've heard good reviews for Silk Creme from oily gals. 

I really like incorporating this foundation into my routine for a flawless look, especially on camera. It acts as an Instagram filter and really blurs out any imperfection, even huge zits. It's definitely your best bet if you suffer from dry skin yet still love a full coverage look.

Love,
Be