Swatch Out! Blush Favorites: M.A.C, NYX, Jordana, Nabi, La Femme (WOC)

 Rating

Jordana Blush- Cinnamon Spice (5)

Nabi Blush-Spice (3)

M.A.C Blush-Blunt (4)

M.A.C Blush-Raizin (4)

NYX Blush-Cocoa (5)

La Femme Blush-Russet (3)

La Femme Blush-Sienna (5)

 I naturally gravitate to blushes that will give my cocoa skin a natural glow or add some life to my cheeks. The blushes above each are different but all deliver pleasant results when used with a light hand. All of these blushes deliver serious pigmentation. 

recommendation

Use daylight bulb(s) instead of natural or soft white bulbs at your makeup vanity or in your bathroom so when applying any makeup or foundation, you will know what it will look like outside, this helps you know whether you are applying too much or too little color to the face.

All blushes shown above are on the high and low end, quality and longevity is everything.

Swatch Out! Favorite Highlighters: Sephora, M.A.C, NARS, Too Faced, & E.L.F. (WOC)

Rating
 These are some of my go to products I use for highlighting my cheeks and brows.

Too Faced Candlelight- is a finely milled powder that gives a nice glow to the cheeks. (4)

Sephora Light Beam-is the perfect under eye highlight after applying concealer. (4)

M.A.C Flicker-is great for highlighting the cheeks and under the brow. It has just the right amount of sparkle. (5)

NARS Miss Liberty (5) and E.L.F. Gotta Glow (5)-are both blushes but I use them to highlight my cheekbones.

clockwise

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Illuminating  Translucent Powder (Candlelight) $30.00

Sephora Baked Luminizer (Light Beam) $14.00

Nars Blush (Miss Liberty) $29.00

M.A.C Pressed Pigment (Flicker) $22.00

E.L.F. Blush (Gotta Glow) $3.00

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip: Succulent, More Better, First Base, & Lumiere 2

(top to bottom)

more better

succulent

1st base

lumiere 2

Succulent- is not as opaque as the other colors shown. When it dries it has a chalky residue to it, so be warned, or maybe I got a bad batch. It is a neon cherry red, very pretty. I highly recommend ladies with fair to tan skin tones try this color, you'll love it if you love red lips.

1st base-is a true pink with coral undertones. Very pretty and very opaque. 

Lumiere 2-is a dusty rose with purple undertones, very pretty and pigmented.

More Better- is a true berry wine, it tends to smear, and does not dry completely like the other colors. 

 Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip (1st Base)

Swatch Out! Gold Highlighters (WOC)

 Highlighting the cheekbones and other points of the face are definitely the trend right now. So why be left out, because most products are chalky or look ashy against your deeper skin-tone. Gold may not be everyone's cup of tea on the face, but for those who aren't shy. I have included the illuminators in my collection. Below are one highlighter (colourpop), one blush (lorac), two bronzing powders (ruby kisses) and (sonia kashuk) and one all over pigment (cocoadynasty for baublelux) which are all perfect for highlighting and or adding warmth to the skin.

 clockwise: 

colourpop supershock cheek (avalon)

ruby kisses all over glow bronzing powder (bronze glow)

lorac baked matte satin blush (hollywood)

sonia kashuk illuminating bronzer (goddess) 

cocoadynasty all over pigment (brownie)

Ratings

Colourpop Avalon (5) Long lasting, creamy smooth application. $8.00

Ruby Kisses Bronze Glow (3) Great pigmentation. $5.99

Lorac Hollywood (5) Great pigmentation, smooth coverage. $24.00

Sonia Kashuk (3) Smooth coverage. $12.99

Cocoadynasty (4) Super shimmery, applies wet or dry. $6.50

 Anastasia Beverly Hills Gold Kit (That Glow)

Click Here To Go To Blog Post On This Kit!

Swatch Out! M.A.C Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick! Fashion Legacy

Colourpop Super Shock Cheek (Avalon) Pearlized

 This is a cream highlighter and a little bit goes along way. I chose this color because it looked like it would be the most forgiving on my skin tone and I am glad that I did because it is very pretty. $8.00 @colourpop.com Net WT. 4.2g/ 0.15OZ

 Shown above in original packaging.

 Shown above with camera flash

Shown above without camera flash

Swatch Out! Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit (That Glow)

The Anastasia Glow Kit in That Glow is the Holy grail of highlighter palettes. I must have for any makeup enthusiast. Especially makeup artist kits. I purchased this particular palette because the colors swatched better on my skin than the Gleam Glow Kit. These highlighters are powder with the obtain of applying wet, which I have not tried yet, so stay tuned for an updated blog post along with makeup looks. The powder is fine and applies beautifully. You can layer these colors and wear them on the eyes and body as well.

 Metallic powder highlighters for intense luminosity. Layer shades together or wear them separately on eyes and body. For even more glow, apply with a damp makeup brush.

 Shown above with camera flash

 The Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit palette features large removable powder highlighters.

shown above without camera flash

Essie Nail Polish: Good As Gold

 

This Essie gold polish is opaque in one stroke. It is my go to polish when I want a clean, classy, yet bold color for my stiletto nails.

Extra Long Press On Nails Can Be Purchased Here

 

Love them! NYX Intense Butter Gloss: Spice Cake, Black Cherry Tart, Berry Strudel

 (left to right) Berry Strudel, Black Cherry Tart, & Spice Cake

 (left to right) Berry Strudel, Spice Cake, & Black Cherry Tart

 Black Cherry Tart

 Review

I love these lip glosses where have they been my whole life. Before I graduated to lipsticks I was a lip gloss fiend and collector. And it was always a journey to find drugstore lip glosses with intense pigment and longevity. These darlings have both. NYX I am impressed and astounded. These beat out the Mega Glosses hands down. And those were my original favorites.  These are a spin off of NYX Butter Glosses, which I also love, but have a more sheer application. They are buttery and leave your lips super duper soft. The packaging kind of similar to the NYX matte lip creams. They also have doe foot applicators as well. My only complaint is that the packaging is too small because I want more product of course. But you don't need to use much as these are opaque with one application. Spice Cake is my favorite out of the three reviewed and I plan on purchasing more colors in the future. So you can expect another review and more swatches. The price point is great at $6.00USD each. I give this product a 5 out of 5. Well done.

Where to Purchase

Ulta, Nordtroms Rack & NYXCosmetics.com

 shown above with camera flash 

(from left to right)

Spice Cake 

Black Cherry Tart

Berry Strudel

 shown above without camera flash 

(from left to right)

Spice Cake 

Black Cherry Tart

Berry Strudel

M.A.C Dita Von Teese X Brook Candy Lipsticks

 (left) Brooke Candy-Mind Control (right) Dita Von Teese-Von Teese

 

 Brooke Candy's lipstick (Mind Control) is an amplified finish and comes in a lipstick box with a unique design. However Dita Von Teese's lipstick is matte finish and comes in a specially designed lipstick box, has her signature engraved in the lipstick and glossy lipstick bullet with her signature.

 Dita Von Teese matte lipstick swatch on the lips.

 Review

Von Teese is a vivid tomato red matte and Mind Control is a bright cherry red amplified lipstick. Both lipsticks are very similar in color, with the exception of the finishes. Control is very watery and slippery on the lips. I am not a fan of wet looking lipsticks as they tend to wear off and transfer on everything. Von Teese even though a matte is not as shiny however it reminds me more of a satin finish, than a matte. Both are beautiful colors, but in terms of quality that is debatable. At the price point of $17.00 and $18.00 I would expect more, but M.A.C probably figures it's brand and name can make up for lackluster lipstick quality.  I give both of this lipsticks a 3 out of 5. I do like the packaging I do like the idea, however poorly executed. If you are a fan or both or either of these ladies, buy and support. But if you are looking for a quality red lipstick, save your coins. 

Recommedations:

M.A.C Red Lipstick

M.A.C Ruby Woo Lipstick

Lorac Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder (Radiant) Discontinued!

 This oil-free, velvety powder brightens and evens, helping skin appear naturally radiant. This unique luminizing powder helps diminish the appearance of imperfections by optimizing the effect of light, for a youthful, luminous, glowing complexion.

 Review

I originally bought this with the intent of using it as a highlight for my cheekbones. If your using a liquidation this is excellent. However if you are a Bare minerals original foundation girl, this can come off ashy. If you have large pores steer clear. However pretty this powder appears to be. It may not work for you so please do your research and not just purchase this on a whim. It is quite pricey, although I got it half off on HauteLook. Intermediate to Professional makeup artist and enthusiast my know how to correctly apply this powder. But I do not recommend this for someone just dipping their feet into highlighting techniques. A good brush is key as this powder is fine and smooth. I love how it feels on the skin. It is long lasting, and I experienced no skin irritation. This particular shade has peachy undertones which come off ashy on my skin tone, but I think it maybe because I was using a powder foundation underneath. Skin prep is key. 

The powder comes in a sturdy mirrored compact with a thin application sponge. 

This powder is suitable for fair to tan skin tones.