Beauties in Bloom

I'm going to assume if you're reading this blog that you all know about Samantha Chapman's Real Techniques makeup brushes by now! Since they came out, the brushes have pretty much taken the makeup/beauty community by storm. They are budget friendly and excellent quality and I use at least one or two real techniques brushes every time I sit down to do my makeup. I was very excited when I heard that a new limited edition set of brushes came out--of course I had to find them! The set is, as you can see, all duofiber--these types of brushes are typically used to give a lighter application of products. In this case though, they're not completely since both bristles are synthetic. It comes with a face brush, contour brush, and eye brush. I think the limited edition design is nice and simple, just like the rest of the Real Techniques line. All three brushes are extremely soft. Face brush: not densely packed at all so it's not great for packing on product. It is ...

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder has been one of my favorite face products for such a longggg time. It's probably been over three years.  It is a product that I use literally every single day. The texture is wonderfully silky, fine milled, and smooth. It feels very natural on the skin. Although it says translucent I do believe it might be a little too light for darker skin tones; the color of "translucent" is a light yellow toned cream. For light to medium skin tones it is brightening and won't leave a white cast. It controls shine on my t-zone without looking cakey and it sets my makeup beautifully for the day, making sure my oily skin does not peak through. It has a semi-matte finish which is perfect if you like your makeup to look glowy. To apply I take a nice, big fluffy brush, dip it in the cap and then concentrate most of the powder on my nose, chin, and forehead-- then do a light dusting on my cheeks. This sets my makeup but does not over...

Hey guys! Today I wanted to do a quick review on a product I was pretty disappointed in. I am one of those people who does a lot of research before making any type of purchase. It's pretty much an obsession--I spend a ton of time looking up reviews, videos, swatches, and always get samples when I can (especially if it's a high end product). It might be over the top but on the whole I almost always end up with products I don't regret buying. This one slipped through the cracks! My disappointing product for today is the Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss. The Nivea lip butters have been very hyped by bloggers and vloggers alike since they came out two or three months ago. What first intrigued me was the fact that they are called lip butters. With that title I would assume they are super moisturizing. Also, the tins look so irresistibly cute and the flavors sound delicious. Plus, they are easy to find at the drugstore and cheap! The best thing about the li...

Today I wanted to show you another Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner that I have been a fan of for a few months now. I previously talked about how much I love the Black Ink color HERE . I think Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliners are such a fantastic product--I wish I could collect them all! Forest Shimmer Ink is a sooty dark olivey green with subtle gold shimmer. It is such a stunning color! I personally love wearing it with green, brown, gold, and cream eyeshadows or just on it's own. It's very versatile for a green eyeliner because the brown/olive undertones helps make it more neutral and wearable. Pigmentation is excellent--it's completely opaque and the shimmer stays on to give a lovely effect on the eyes. Texture is creamy and smooth so it applies very easily with all types of eyeliner brushes. I personally have extremely good wear time with Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners both on the lid and on the waterline. They last all day on me until I remove it at night. Another pl...

Estee Lauder has certainly been making a comeback in the makeup world ever since makeup artist Tom Pecheux became the creative genius behind Estee Lauder's pure color lines. They have come out with a number of exciting products--more pigmented eyeshadows, new lipsticks, colored mascaras, etc. Last year, Estee Lauder's blush line was completely revamped into the Pure Color Blush line we know now. Their blushes are definitely giving blush frontrunners like Nars, Mac, & Illamasqua a run for their money! I've been using the shade "Lover's Blush" a lot recently. They're housed in a large gold compact and contain a mini brush for touchups. I personally don't like when companies include mini brushes--I usually find the quality to be quite useless and it just takes up space in the compact. I've just kept mine in there unused. The blush size is quite generous, you get .25oz. For the exact same price of $28, you only get .16oz in a Nars blush. Somet...

Guys, I finally hit pan on a bronzer I've had for a few years now! I've been using Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer for a long time now!! See the tiny bit of metal pan in the middle!? Since I took this picture it's even bigger! :) Firstly, I have to say this is the best smelling makeup product I own. It smells delicious, just like chocolate! I think it contains actual cocoa powder too. The scent is initially strong but the smell doesn't linger on the skin (therefore you can wear perfume and it won't interfere and you won't smell like a chocolate bar all day).  Chocolate Soleil is such a fantastic bronzer. It's matte and is not so warm toned that it turns orange on the skin--making it very easy to bronze up your skin in a natural way. Because there's no sparkle or shimmer it's easy to use as a contour or all over the face. For my skin tone I think the color is great, though I would definitely recommend more pale skin tones try their ...

Hey everyone! So I've been accumulating a bunch of empty products lately that I thought I'd share with you. These are all products that I've finished in the past few months, probably since January. A bunch of these products are favorites of mine that I have most likely mentioned on my blog before, so I'll be brief. I also had a couple products that I was happy to get rid of--I'll let you know why! Lots of Skincare Empties! Cerave PM Moisturizer: This has been my favorite face moisturizer for about 8 or 9 months now. I started using Cerave PM because my combo/oily skin felt very dehydrated (even in the warmer months). I've tried a handful of expensive moisturizers from Sephora and this one is definitely my favorite and it's affordable at the drugstore. This moisturizer really keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day without making me look greasy. I use it every day and night. I've gone through 3 of these already and will continue to buy it! ...

Ever since Real Techniques brushes came out they have taken the cosmetic world by storm. Real Techniques has managed to make great quality makeup brushes available at super affordable prices. They're also 100% cruelty free! I have a couple of her brushes and I love them all. The Expert Face Brush just may be my favorite of the bunch--it has become my go-to for applying foundation! I've tried all types of foundation brushes--flat ones, stippling brushes, fluffy ones, etc. This one is the best. It is a sort of paddle shape but instead of being flat like a typical foundation brush, it's rounded and thick--making it perfect for buffing in foundation too. The bristles are incredibly soft, but because of the density it is also very firm. It blends my tinted moisturizers and liquid foundations like a dream and leaves my skin with an airbrushed finish. I usually dot my foundation all over my skin with my fingers and then I use the expert face brush to blend. It's just fanta...

Hi everyone! You may know from my post about YSL Glossy stains ( HERE ) that they are my absolute favorite lip product. I love everything about them--the staying power, the formula, the colors...The only thing I hate is the high price point. At $32 per glossy stain, they don't come cheap. So I was completely ecstatic when it was rumored that the new L'oreal Colour Caresse Shine Stains were a possible dupe for them! I picked up 4 for way less than the price of one glossy stain. I thought I'd share some swatches and my thoughts on them with you! L-R: Endless Red, Coral Tattoo, Pink Resistance, Berry Persistant The gold packaging is really nice--obviously not as luxurious looking as the YSL glossy stains, but I do like the packaging. I really like that you can see the color on the side as well. In the photo below you can see that the applicator is quite similar too. They both have a slightly pointed padded doefoot applicator. The YSL ones is a bit more angular so it does...

Ever since I got my first Maybelline Color Tattoos back in February of last year (see my initial review HERE !) I have added a few more to my collection. I love using them alone as a wash of color or as a colored base for my powder eyeshadows. One of my favorite colors I have gotten is one I'm showing you today-- Bad to the Bronze! It is such a nice shimmery neutral, I find myself using it all the time! As I mentioned before, these don't quite last like tattoos on my eyelids. They crease awfully on their own but work amazing over an eyeshadow primer! Keep in mind they may not crease for you--I just have annoyingly oily eyelids :) The texture on this one is creamy and very blendable---I actually find it to be the best texture (the creamiest!) of all the tattoos I own. The color is a taupey-bronze. It is not like a traditional bronze with warm, golden undertones. It is more of a taupe with a hint of bronze. I love the color and think it would be flattering on sooo many...

Hey guys!! So I played around with my blog background and layout--what do you think? New year new design :) Today I thought I'd talk about one of my favorite lip products of all time, the YSL Glossy Stains. Literally, of all time. They are magical. I'm sure you beauty lovers have either tried or heard all about them, but I thought I would my two cents on an amazing product! The ysl glossy stains are an innovative lip product that combines that pigmentation of a rich lipstick with the shine of a gloss and the longevity of a stain. Basically, it is a super lip product and delivers beautifully on all three aspects. One coat gives you a lovely tint, a second yields even more color and shine, and a third (my ideal) delivers the ultimate opaque, glossy lip! The glossy stains last longer than any lip product I have ever tried--and they look better for longer. I get really amazing wear from them--they last about 5-6 hours on my lips with the bulk of the time staying shiny. S...

It's funny--I start getting back into blogging and already in one month I have two posts about glasses lol! A little while ago I was contacted by Antonio from an online glasses company called Firmoo to see if I would like to try out a complimentary pair of glasses or sunglasses. He told me their goal was to spread the word on buying glasses online--something that many people have never tried or even considered trying (myself included!). They want to offer glasses that are fashionable yet affordable. They said I could give an honest review, so I jumped at the opportunity (how could I say no to a free pair of prescription glasses?). I am definitely a newbie to the world of glasses. I have a pretty light prescription and don't need to wear them all the time--in the past 4 or 5 years since I got a prescription I have only owned two pairs of glasses. Initially I was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of choices. They had a lot of different types--full framed, rimless, plastic, meta...

I know I know---it's halfway through January and I'm only now touching on some holiday stuff. I've had these Anastasia Beverly Hills Holiday sets for about two months and I've really enjoyed playing with them. I didn't have time to do much blogging before the holidays so unfortunately I couldn't get this post up when they first came out. I have seen them on the Anastasia website though ( here ) so you may still be able to get ahold of them! First up is the "Kisses On My List" lipgloss set. L-R: Jolene, Sharona, Roxanne, Lola, Maggie May, Moi These are the 6 closses included in the kit. It contains three Hyperfull Glosses, Sharona, Maggie May, & Moi. These are supposed to be hydrating and on the sheer side. I however found that all of the lipglosses were pretty pigmented and could easily be worn alone. The other three, Jolene, Roxanne, & Lola are the Hypercolor glosses---they are supposed to "react with your skin's chemistr...

Hi everyone! I wanted to do a post on my Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush today! I've had this brush for at least four or five years and it's still going strong! It is such a fantastic multitasker for face products! Too Faced calls the bristles on this brush "teddy bear hair" meaning it's cruelty free and easy to clean. The bristles are ridiculously soft and easily blend every product I've used with it. My main reason for getting this brush was to use with my mineral makeup--especially for  those lazy days where I don't feel like putting on my makeup but want my skin to look presentable. I love using it all over with my Laura Mercier mineral makeup and it also works amazingly well with Mac's Mineralized Skinfinish Natural. The kabuki is extremely dense and the bristles are really packed together--which makes it really ideal for blending and covering with mineral makeup (or powder foundation) all over the face. Because of this, I don't th...

Hi everyone! I wanted to do a post on some products I've finished the last few months. Most of the products mentioned are definitely some of my favorite items and it's no surprise I've repurchased a few of them already! I love the feeling you get from using up a product--it really feels like I got my money's worth!! :) Sorry about the camera phone quality!  Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua : This is definitely my "holy grail" foundation! I seriously love it so much. For such a lightweight, glowy foundation, it covers amazingly well and evens my skintone out flawlessly. It looks so natural. I have oily/combination skin--I set my tzone with a powder and lately have been setting it with an Urban Decay setting spray and it helps it last all day. I just love it and would recommend everyone give it a try--especially those who like natural looking coverage and a dewy finish. It's wonderful. My bottle lasted a good four and a half months---definitely repurchasing as s...

Although my skin can be on the oiler side most days, I have never favored a matte look. I LOVE the look of dewy skin and because of that I have always loved using highlighters. I've always been a lover of powder highlighters and hadn't really delved into the world of liquid highlighters. When I saw makeup artist Lisa Eldridge use the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in one of her youtube videos, it immediately caught my attention. The glow it gave was so beautiful and ethereal--I had to get my hands on it!  Firstly, the packaging is great--you get 50ml of highlighter and because you only need the tiniest amount, this bottle is basically going to last forever. It has a pump applicator. I find half a pump is more than enough product for both cheeks! Now for the product, I am in love. It blends so effortlessly into the skin and imparts such a beautiful, healthy glow. It is not glittery at all--it has a beautiful pearly sheen that manages to be glowy & dewy without look...

So today's post isn't makeup related at all, but I couldn't resist showing you some candles I bought at Bath and Body works. Autumn is my absolute favorite season--when I saw that the new Fall candle collection had debuted at B&BW, I had to go check everything out! I hope you are candle fans as well--I love the coziness they bring to a room and the fall scents they have are to die for! I included the description of each candle as described by Bath and Body Works on their website...here we go! Apologies for the iphone quality--I need to buy new batteries for my camera! Leaves 3 Wick Candle :  Like an afternoon spent playing in a pile of freshly fallen leaves, this fragrance embodies all the richness of the season and features a medley of ripe delicious apples, red berries and golden nectar.  If you could get just one candle to sum up the smell of fall, get this one. Unlike the name, it doesn't smell likes leaves; it smells like a blend of spices, berries, vanill...

Today I wanted to show you a palette I've been playing around with a lot the past month! It's the Anastasia Beverly Hills She Wears It Well Palette. If you are a lover of neutrals like I am, definitely keep reading!  The packaging sturdy black faux alligator skin design. I love that it isn't bulky like some other palettes I've seen--it's thin and simple! There is also a decent sized mirror on the inside of the lid! Also included were some large flash carsds with all sorts of looks you can create from the palette. The cards aren't included with the palette but I may do some looks from them in some future posts if you're interested. I think it would have been nice if they included smaller versions of these cards with the palette! Neutral loveliness! As you can see a majority of the colors are on the shimmery side while the colors on the right are a matte formula (with the exception of the pink which has a bit of shimmer!) The palette also includes a ...

Here's a short but sweet review on the Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter! I've had this product for a few years now and have been using it a lot lately for a sheer, comfortable lip color! The Korres lip butters are tinted lip balms that have a really nice, glossy finish. They are a really nice formula and according to Sephora.com, they are formulated without: - Parabens - Sulfates - Synthetic Fragrances - Petrochemicals - Phthalates - GMOs - Triclosan They also contain shea butter and rice wax, along with other natural oils to hydrate and smooth your lips. I LOVE the way they feel when you first apply it to your lips, but personally, I don't feel any long term moisturizing effects--your lips feel nice and smooth when the lip butter is on your lips, but once it wears off, that feeling doesn't linger. Thus, lots of reapplications are needed or I wear a heavier lip balm underneath! I do still love it because the sheer color it gives is so pretty--and they DO feel ...