Edit| Best Setting Powders for Normal to Dry Skin

If you're normal to dry, it's usually an option rather than a necessity to set your liquid foundation. After all, you don't want to mattify or accentuate dry patches and flaking skin. However, a lot of dewy or dry skin foundations can be very fluid, tacky, or prone to migrating throughout the day. 

So what do?

Enter setting powders that are meant to impart a glow on the skin. Yes, they exist. I haven't been having too much trouble with dry patches or flakes this winter, so these work perfectly in conjunction with any "dewy" liquid foundations that I wear. (If you do have dry spots, you might want to look into a setting spray such as MAC Fix+ or Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray.)

Clockwise: NARS Light Reflecting Loose Powder, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused, BareMinerals MineralVeil, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder, Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Dore, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus. 

For every day setting, I usually reach for the Hourglass Diffused powder. It's yellow toned and gives my skin a more satin finish with no visible sparkles. I'm already half way through the pan which is a first for me. The NARS LRP is also a great option of setting my foundation down without mattifying it, but I don't reach for it often since it is loose, messy, and so finely milled that it becomes a deadly dust vapor of lung cancer. (Yet, don't buy the pressed version, It's very dry and does not perform the same.)

If I'm feeling like giving my face some warmth or a more obvious highlight (think ultra natural contouring) I will reach for the Ambient Palette instead. I like Radiant Light (right) for the edges of my face and Incandescent Light (middle) to softly highlight. Dim Light (left) is too beige/peach for my olive skin, so I don't reach for it.

The BareMinerals Mineral Veil is the most matte out of all of these powders. I set only my T-zone, focusing on the sides of my nose, in order to prevent oils from seeping through. I also only use this loose powder if I'm wearing a very dewy foundation such as Benefit Hello Flawless, where things can slip and slide by lunchtime at work if not set properly.

Now, here's the shocker of the bunch: Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder. Yes, I believe it's for brightening the undereye area, but it's absolutely gorgeous on top of a matte and full coverage foundation. It brings back some dimension to your skin without obvious glitter, just a hint of shimmer. 

For a more subtle glow, Guerlain Meteorites are perfect. I love the fancy packaging but don't care for the violet scent (it's strong!) However, it's still very much a magic product (this is the old formula and packaging). My skin never looks "done" when I use this powder to set since it blurs any fine lines and makes my skin look healthy. Teint Dore is more flattering to warmer skintones.

Finally, my ride or die MAC MSFN in Light Plus. I can use it as a very lightweight powder foundation on very good skin days because it has sheer to light coverage and doesn't dry out the skin at all. In fact, it can get super glowy after a few hours of wear if you're on the combo side. I also love using this powder on top of any satin to matte foundations that need a tad more coverage.

Don't be afraid of setting powders! They can give you even more glow, longer wear time for your foundation, and be gentle to your drier skin.

xo Be

Edit| Makeup and the Office

Most mornings, I can get ready and do my makeup in 15 minutes flat. On days where I can't roll out of bed I rely on my trusty pouch at work to finish up my face. 

The Laneige BB Cushion currently houses #23 Sand Beige and a mirror. I also have my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer in "Neutralizer" to conceal any dark circles that's still showing after foundation.

As a constant hand washer, I rely on my L'Occitane Hand Cream in Subtle Violet to moisturize. I'm almost done with this tube and ready to move on to my Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater hand lotion. 

I tend to hoard lip products at work so that I can reapply after tea and lunch. My MLBB shade is Too Faced Spice Spice Baby. I keep a NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee for frequent touch ups, and the Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss in Berry Allure as a "just in case." 

For brows, I use Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark since it requires virtually no effort. 

As for eyes, I make sure to have eye liner (this NARS Via Veneto sample size from Sephora is perfect for tightlining) and mascara (YSL Babydoll Faux Cils sample) on hand so that I can "complete" any eye looks I've started at home.

If I need a simple wash of color, the Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 20e gives a perfect wash of peachy shimmer all over the lids. For really desperate situations, I use my L'oreal quad in "Because I Am Worth It!", sponge applicator and all. 

In all, these products don't require more than 5 minutes to apply and can freshen up my face completely. It's not a complete routine, but this bag can complete any look I've started at home and want to perfect by the time the boss comes downstairs in the morning. 

xo Be

First Look| NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Cassiopeia

There comes a point in every woman's life where she has to question her sanity for buying a SINGLE eye shadow for $29 bucks.

I have not reached that point.

Well, when NARS released twelve new singles called Dual Intensity Eyeshadows boasting its ability to be worn wet or dry. I mean, you can do the same with any shadow and it usually works out well, but I won't ruin NARS' marketing scheme here.


It's not that I was particularly interested in the sharp division of muted lights (think beige, taupe, cream) and intense darks (bruised plums, purples, and reds.) NARS was playing it too safe or too fast in my eyes and I have plenty of dupes and similar shades in my collection, even if they don't look as stunning wet. Until I saw....Cassiopeia.

An unassuming white with tiny flecks of purple in pan this beauty becomes a unique purple sheen that reminds me of unicorns and rainbows and all things magical in this world.

When you swatch in stores oblivious to the fact that the pigmentation skyrockets when worn wet you'll be sorely disappointed. The majority of the colors swatched dry are...well...dry. They weren't ultra smooth, buttery, pigmented and were definitely unworthy of the price.

As you can see, it's rather meh and dare I say patchy on the right side when dry. These were both swatched with one swipe and under natural lighting.

When you take it home and use a wet brush or finger ( with Fix+, water, whatever bodily fluid suits your fancy...) the shadow transforms itself from a peasant to prince. The pigmentation is fantastic, the dual-chrome nature of the color comes out, the texture becomes buttery smooth, and you're left wondering why you didn't pick up a few more when you were at Sephora.

Here you can really see the change in texture and even color.

The reason I chose Cassiopeia is its absolute uniqueness, in both my collection and in the general sense of the eyeshadow world we consume daily. I can say that Urban Decay's Vice 2 palette has a somewhat similar shade but this one is much more wearable for every day, perhaps as an inner corner highlight or an accent on the mobile lid.

You can't find it on my lids? That's because it's been used wet and has transformed into a glimmering purple, at least in this lighting. I love the ethereal quality of the Shiseido Eye Bar palette and thought it would pair beautifully with this shadow. 

Psst, you like those spider legs on my eyes? Miss Manga. I find that the moment the tube has time to dry down... the clump is inevitable. I rather like it in real life and you can judge away.

This particular shade wore for a solid 10-12 hours. I didn't see any creasing but very slight fading by the end of the night.

Himalia looks to be a great every day wash of color for the lids (brown, not boring) and Dione is the first gold that I've seen that is so cool (I meant cool toned, but cool is also appropriate) that it leans silvery taupe. Very interesting.

I also had my eyes on Subra, an insanely pigmented when wet shade that leans reddish purple and would complete any super smokey eye look for warm toned gals.

I may or may not come back to repurchase a few more....Call me crazy, but eyeshadows haven't excited me this much in a long time.

xo Be

Haul| A Few Sephora Treats

After a hectic weekend of house hunting, dealing with in law's, and frantic preparations for our new jobs...I finally found some ever so cliche "me time" to go get my nails done. Afterwards, I stopped by the Sephora to pick up my 500 Point Perk and two curiosities I've been eyeing for quite some time.

Clockwise: NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien, NARS Orgasm Blush, Elizabeth and James Nirvana (for Men), sample of NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil in Syrah, NARS Larger than Life Eyeliner. 

I don't often spend my perk points but when I do, I prefer larger sized products that would take me time to use up. The NARS set is happenin' right now so you may want to run to your local Sephora if you're interested. 

The Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black ($22) smells divine as does its white counterpart. Although its notes of "violet, sandalwood, and vanilla" are meant for men I found it musky but not exclusive to men. It's just as warm as the White version but more subdued and relaxing. I mixed both Black and White together and found it too overpowering. Whatever the Olsen twins were thinking, it fell short of my expectations. 

Finally, I caved in and picked up the Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil in Syrah ($22.) It's a beautiful nude and I trust Bite to make very pigmented products that don't irritate my sensitive lips. Syrah is a lovely beige-peach that doesn't wash me out but is definitely a nude. 

I'm so glad that everything is finally settling down and I'm here to stay in San Jose. 

xo Be

Haul| A Few Curiosities: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Diva, NARS Matte Multiple in Vientiane, Tarte Airbuki, etc.

For strictly "research" purposes, I trekked to the mall today to find new and interesting items to review for you guys, especially products that were released for Spring 2014. That being said, expect to see reviews on most of these products in the future! In the meantime you'll have to make do with my first impression of each product. 

 From left to right: NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Cordura, MAC lipstick in Syrup, Benefit Porefessional, Shiseido Dual Balancing Foundation in O40. Tarte Airbuki Brush, NARS Matte Multiple in Vientiane, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Diva, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Granite. 

NARS Cordura duo ($35)- Pigmentation and texture is on point with this duo, and I'm really looking forward to simplifying my eye makeup routine even further with this baby in my makeup bag. I'm a sucker for warm browns, but this duo comes off more neutral and darker than the pan suggests. 

MAC Syrup ($16)- This shade is lovely, but what surprised me is how flattering it is on my lips. I always thought that Syrup would only work as a MLBB shade if I was cool-toned and pale, but it's flattering as is on my NC35 skintone. It's also really moisturizing for a MAC formulation, but I'm sad that these lipsticks are getting more and more expensive ($16 retail?? What happened to 15??)

Benefit Porefessional primer ($30)- As I slowly age and wither away, my pores have become much more apparent if I don't prime prior to applying my base. I use this only in the center of my face, but I'm stocking up since it's been a repeat offender in my stash for every morning.

Shiseido Dual Balancing Foundation ($38.50)- I didn't mean to purchase this, but the sales assistant at the Shiseido counter had on such a flawless face that I couldn't help but to stop by. I originally wanted to get color matched to the Sheer and Perfect formulation, but this version is more appropriate for the upcoming warm weather. It's a semi-matte formulation with medium coverage and feels literally weightless on the face. O40 is a tad light for me, hovering between NC30 to NC35. 

Tarte Airbuki brush ($26)- Meant for use with their Airbrush foundation, I find this to be just as great for liquid formulations and super convenient for traveling or touch ups. 

NARS Matte Multiple ($39 retail)- I wasn't intrigued by the blush-like shades, but the two bronzer-like colors caught my eye and made me dream of a perfect contouring routine. Vientiane is a tad darker and more red than Altai meaning it will be perfect for my summer skin. 

Chanel La Diva ($35)- Fancy packaging? Check. Beautiful pigmentation? Check. Ludicrous price point? Check. I'm so excited to wear this for spring but I'm also scared to even touch the bullet to my lips. I'm hoping this will be a lovely fuchsia that rivals NARS lip pencil in Yu or MAC Candy Yum Yum. 

Brow Wiz in Granite ($21)- I picked up two of these after seeing a recommendation from Rae (of the Raeviewer.) Her brows are always perfected and complements her dark hair. While I have several backups of several colors, I wanted to match Granite to my newly dyed black-brown hair; it seems even ashier than Ebony and a tad lighter.  

That's all, folks! I'm very happy to have these items in my collection and get started on reviews for you!

xo Be

Haul| Sephora VIB Sale (Guerlain, Bulgari, Dolce and Gabbana, Hourglass, YSL, etc)

This is the culmination of my shame. And guess what? My Guerlain Meteorites hasn't even arrived!

While I shell out here and there for mid-range items throughout the year, Sephora's VIB sale presented itself as an opportunity to haul massively overpriced and high end items. Why not? 20% off really counts when the item is over 50 bucks, and you best believe others thought the same. I had a little help from a few gift cards and store credit cards. Also, I made VIB Rouge status (so shameful) and won't be buying until next January when the hype around Naked 3 has died down.

 I went in stores for my first batch and the store was swarming with women buying Christmas gifts early and others grabbing limited edition items like it was a Walmart food aisle during a zombie apocalypse. It was embarrassing, and I partook in it, snatching the last Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette and hurriedly stuffing it into my cart. I do regret not buying the Laura Mercier's Artist Palette for 2013, but that's another sob story involving my complete undecided-ness and lack of passion for purple.

Warning, this post is heavily heavy with heavy swatches and pictures. 

I picked up the last Bulgari Jasmin Noir EDP for her and Dolce and Gabbana The One cologne for him. Lovely for the upcoming winter, as both smell musky and work well fireside and cuddling.

Next, I hauled Koh Gen Do Aqua foundation in OC-2 (perfect for NC25-NC30), a full sized Hourglass No.28 Serum primer (not pictured, but I do have the sample), D&G Blush in Tan, and an Illamasqua Blush Brush for contouring.

From left to right: NARS Gypsy, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Violet Incognito, and UD Revolution in Native.

Sorry for the blurry picture, I wanted to zoom in some more.

Under natural lighting. It's rather overcast at the moment.

Under fluorescent lighting. 

Below, the amazingly overpriced Guerlain Ecrin Couleurs in Les Fumes, Shiseido eyelash curler, and Lancome Cils Booster XL lash booster.

The first four are swatches of the Les Fumes. The color on the outer right is D&G blush in Tan.

And finally, the piece de resistance, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette and single in Ethereal Light.

From left to right: Ethereal, Radiant, Incandescent, and Dim Light. All under unflattering fluorescent lighting.

Another view. Notice how Ethereal looks rather pale and matte, perfect for a setting powder. These are built up at 3 passes.

 That's all for today, I want to do a very in depth review for most of the individual items in my haul, because I happened to pick up a lot of great finds. I'm very impressed with a lot of the things in my find, especially since they have to live up to the expectation of their pricetags. I'm expecting Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Beige this Monday, and that will be another post for you to see. It's pretty exciting to own so many shiny, sparkly, velvet wrapped things with a brand name like Guerlain!

 I'm also looking to do a review of the Vice 2 palette, if that horse hasn't already been beaten to death with a blunt cudgel. Have a lovely day!

Be

First Look| L'oreal Le Matte and La Laque.

I finally have ventured outside of my 10 mile zone to another Target in search of these mystical lipsticks. And they are indeed mystical. I hadn't been able to find them for the past few weeks, even though it's been out for at least two months now. Such is the life of limited edition items; they get clamored over by crazy makeup enthusiasts and disappear, never to come back.

Ah, but I've finally found them. Here are some swatches and pictures for your enjoyment. You may live vicariously through me.

From left to right: 414 I Lacque You A Lot, 413 Lacque-onic, 409 Matte for Me. Below, the order is reversed.

 

Matte for me is a blue based pink, in the same family as MAC's Girl About Town/Crosswires/Impassioned.

Lacque-onic is my favorite, a true red with a shine. 

I Lacque You A Lot is an orange-red that seems similar to MAC's Lady Danger with a shine. 

None of the colors are particularly wearable for every day (work/school) unless you're the adventurous type, but they are beautiful nonetheless. They remind me of NARS' matte and satin lip pencils with a much lower price point, and dare I say they are much less drying? I'd love to pick up even more, but I received the matte shade in a swap and only found the other two at Target. Also, I believe they retail for about 8 to 10 dollars (if you can find them, try to buy a few just in case!)

All three shades are very opaque and pigmented, long wearing, and not prone to bleeding or drying. The matte shade applies like a satin and dries down to a matte and wore down to a light stain after three hours. The La Laques are a little more prone to feathering if not laid on top of a liner, but they do not slide around.

The only downside is that they smell rather outdated and "drugstore", which is a given. I really hope that these are just L'oreal's way of testing the waters before jumping in with a more extensive collection.

Have you been able to find these at your local drugstore or Target? I think most people are having good luck with Target. Let me know what you think!

Be

Swap Haul| Priorities, Be. [Part One]

With a new-found interest in swapping my makeup for "essential items", I've neglected the voices in my head telling me to go shopping. With the post office a block away and the Internet at my disposal, I've picked up so much good stuff by swapping away makeup that's been sitting at the back of my drawer (or fridge) for ages.See? Told you I'm on a low-buy. Just a high swap :D I also have to validate it by deluding myself that post office stamps are not worth real money.

This post covers the first half of swap items that's arrived within this past two weeks. Most of these items are lemmings, rather than essentials. A lot of these items are those I've always wanted to try but don't have the funds to do so.

Ready for some serious eye candy?



 



In no particular order: NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Sandra and Wicked, Becca Loose Pigment in Odette, Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Taupe, Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzer, Buxom lipgloss in Samantha, Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl and Watt's Up samples, Urban Decay Revolution lipstick sample in Catfight, NARS Albatross/Orgasm duo, Stila It Girl palette (for the iconic Kitten!), Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Perversion (backup number 4), Clinique Moisture Surge, The Balm's Frat Boy blush.

I don't mean to brag, but that is some seriously savvy swapping *pats self on back* At the same time I've managed to clear out all extra samples, try out new ones, hoard up on high end items, and stock up on skincare. I would have never been able to afford Kevyn Aucoin, but with a little fancy fingerwork and shameless swap list browsing, I've been able to find quite a few gems.

The only downside is that swapping isn't open to completely everybody on MakeupAlley.com I think you have to had been a member of their site prior to a certain date? Ah well. Exclusive makeup illuminati circle is exclusive. It does frighten me when someone asks to swap and I have to look through 30 pages of items. Crazy makeup lady, is that you??

Ah well, time to get back to job hunting. That's all for today, folks!

Be

First Look | MAC MUFE NARS

Summer is here! I do have a few items from a recent haul to show you, and since these are mostly new to me, I'd like to also give you my first impressions of the products.



This is my small after-vacation haul. I planned to pick up a few thicker opaque concealers for dark spots, as I don't have dark circles unless I have been up for 2 days straight. Even then, I am fortunate enough to not deal with severe raccoon eyes. I do have Maybelline's Age Rewind concealer in Medium, but I suspect it is for undereyes as the formulation is not as creamy and stay put as I like for acne scars and blemishes. I also picked up Makeup Forever's Aqua Rouge out of curiosity and their iconic HD Foundation in my summer shade. Lastly, thanks to recs from essiebutton, I decided to give MAC'S Crosswires a chance.





This is MAC's Studio Finish concealer in NC30. I like that it's in a pot, but this could get unhygienic very quickly. The color match is spot on, the formulation is thicker than cake batter, and it seems to cover everything with ease. This retails for 18 dollars.





Next is NARS's Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. The lighter choice seems like a perfect match for NC25, but I already have a concealer for the winter. This color is also a great match for NC30-NC35, and I believe it can be used as both an undereye or blemish concealer. The formulation is a creamy liquid that is not too thick and spreads easily on the face. The doe foot applicator is precise, and the packaging is very purse friendly. This retails for 28 dollars. Yikes!





This is Crosswires from MAC. Yowza, it's a bright watermelon pink! I expected much less pigmentation from a Cremesheen formula, but it's a pleasant surprise. This color fares better alone on the face, being much more pigmented and brighter than I thought. It retails for 15 dollars.





This needs no further introduction; it is Makeup Forever's HD Foundation in N123. I am usually N120 in the wintertime (for NC20 to NC25) but I needed a much darker shade for my new tan. 123 actually looks much darker and more golden than 127 while they are the same shade. I would say this fits an NC30 to NC35. I have had a great experience with this foundation especially for photography. It is a thin formula with medium coverage and long lasting capabilies. Sadly, it retails for 42 dollars.







Lastly, this is MUFE's Aqua Rouge in 18. I would say that this is the high end equivalent of the drugstore color/gloss duo pens. However, the gloss is very hydrating and essentially seals in the color for hours. My one gripe is that the product smells like artificial lychee glue. Nasty. On the positive side, 18 is a wonderful coral-orange that is lovely for summer. This sucker lasted through a meal at a burger joint. And if you know me, I don't eat my burgers like a lady. If you want long lasting shine and color that won't dry out your lips, this is absolutely wonderful if you can stand the smell. This retails for 24 dollars.

That is it for my first look post, I hope you found it helpful. If you would like an in depth review on any of the products above, please leave a comment and let me know!
I also have made a recent, mind BLASTING discovery and would love to share that with you if you're interested. It involves a very inexpensive brush...

Anyway, have a nice days guys! I'm back to packing my things for a move to LA and donating old clothes/shoes to Goodwill. I'm not sure if anyone wants to take my makeup, but I could have a blog sale if that's a way to get rid of the clutter.

Bye!