Clinique Beyond Perfecting foundation and concealer in 'Breeze'

My skin began acting crazy after spending a very humid Summer in NYC. My foundation was oiling up by the end of the day and yet my skin was breaking out while looking quite dry in some areas. I decided to splurge on a higher end foundation that would give me the coverage I need for my breakouts but was designed for my combination oily/dry skin. I went to Sephora and picked up the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer.

This foundation is your standard 1 fluid ounce and it is housed in a glass container. One interesting part of this foundation is the gigantic doe foot applicator. Some people think that this doe foot is not 'sanitary' for application directly the face, but I don't mind. I use one dip of the brush and put the foundation on my cheeks like wiskers, a stripe down my nose, and then a few dots on my forehead and chin. I've been using a beauty blender to blend this out which works beautifully. 

L: no makeup on at all!!!**GASP**, R: one coat of Clinique foundation applied with beauty blender

I got shade matched at Sephora to the lightest shade of this foundation which is the color 'Breeze' (0.5 VF-P). I noticed that this shade range is a little limited as far as lighter shades. A lot of the shades had quite a yellow undertone to them which on me makes me look a little sick. This color 'Breeze' was more pinky which is why I selected it. I think it might be a bit light for me but with blush and some bronzer it looks just fine. I find this foundation wears really well over an entire work day and does a beautiful job at evening out my skin tone while my freckles can still peek out to say hello. I find this foundation does well with a powder on top to set it and performs fine with products layered on top without caking up or emphasizing pores or fine lines. The finish of the foundation is quite natural (as in NOT MATTE) and allows for some light dewiness without making me look like an oil slick by day's end. 

This foundation costs $27 which is pricey compared to drugstore, but a very fair or even inexpensive price compared to other brands at Sephora. I am finding this foundation lasts quite a long time as well. I think I am only about 1/3 of the way finished and I have used it daily for 2 months. That is much better value than the L'Oreal cushion foundation (Click HERE for my review on this foundation!) which costs $15 but only lasts for a month...think about it. 

I'm all about this foundation, you guys, and I highly recommend it if you have similar skin to me. It just does what its supposed to do which is so refreshing. 

Check it out from Sephora HERE!

xxSJ

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in 'Double Dare' and 'Lovesick'

 The liquid lipstick trend has hit the beauty world hard and I don't think its going anywhere any time soon. I decided to hop on this trend after thorough research on what I thought the best liquid lipstick formula would be for my dry, depraved lips. I settled on trying out Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks due to their reputation of having a long-lasting and very comfortable formulation.  I settled on picking two neutral colors to try this trend out.

R: Lovesick, L: Double Dare

 I picked out 'Lovesick,' a mauve pinky nude, and 'Double Dare,' a dusty rose mauve. The products come housed in a slender plastic tube with ornate black designs on it. I like the sleek packaging a lot, and the slimness may make it seem like you get less product, you actually get 0.22oz of liquid lipstick which is double what you get in an Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipstick. The applicator is a standard doefoot applicator which I found very easy to use to get a relatively perfect application.

Top: Double Dare, Bottom: Lovesick

I love this product a lot.  I am someone who LOVES lipstick to death but can't be bothered to reapply it through out the day when it fades. I also have a profession that doesn't allow me to look in mirrors often or take frequent restroom breaks for touch ups so I tend to avoid putting on lip products at risk of fading or smearing in an unflattering way. I think this product solves this issue for me as I get a full 8 hours of wear time out of this lipstick with no touch ups needed. This stuff lasts through eating and drinking and best of all, it doesn't make my lips feel uncomfortable. I definitely wouldn't say that this lipstick makes my lips feel moisturized while I wear it, but I'm certainly not bothered by it.

As an added bonus, I noticed in the morning following wearing this product my lips always looked and felt very refreshed. After some light investigating I discovered this product is infused with Vitamin E and sunflower seeds which my lips apparently respond really well to!

I'm in love with these lipsticks and will surely pick up more shades in the future. It's a beautiful product that works and costs the fair price of $20 per tube. Its not cheap, but its not going to break the bank if I hold off on my normal Starbucks purchases for the week!

Find these liquid lipsticks HERE!

xxSJ

Clinique Cheek Pop 'Melon Pop'

The more I delve into Clinique, the more I want to keep delving! The most recent product I've tried from their extensive line is the Clinique Cheek Pop in the color 'Melon'. 

This super cute blush comes packaged in clear acrylic packaging. This means no mirror for application, but I don't miss it! The clear container means I can see the gorgeous blush inside.

The container opens up to reveal a blush in the shape of a daisy....what is this wizardry??? I chose the color 'Melon' as I am typically drawn towards peachy pink colors and this one fits the bill perfectly. I find this blush to be on the sheer side which I prefer. I like that I can build the color up until its to my liking rather than put too much on from the get go and have to blend until my arm falls off. 

I used to think of Clinique as a makeup brand intended for more 'mature' audiences (cough cough **my mom** cough cough) but I think with cute additions to their line such as this blush, they are trying to attract a younger demographic these days. I am interested in trying out more of their products given some of the awesome skin care benefits this line has to offer as well as huge selection of products. 

These cheek pops are $22 for 0.12oz of adorable product. You can find them HERE! or wherever Clinique is sold.

xxSJ

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in 'Fig'

After falling in love with Bite Beauty's lipstick formula from using their dual ended mini lipsticks, I decided to get my hands on one of their full-sized lipsticks!

The packaging is sleek and modern. The design is seamless using a matte, rubbery gray material with the Bite logo printed on the bottom of the tube.  The lipsticks come in 4 different styles of cap which are supposed to look like the different ways lipsticks can get worn down! The style of cap on each lipstick is dependent on color family--reds, neutrals, pinks, and berries.  The brand sets itself apart by only using edible ingredients in their lipsticks and also includes an ingredient called resveratrol, a super antioxidant. Each tube contains as much resveratrol as 5 glasses of wine!

The color I chose is 'Fig,' a gorgeous nude rose.  

Fig is a super warm pink that has peach undertones making it very wearable for my complexion. I like that the color is a bit punchy and more noticeable then a nude lip but still a neutral and professional color. 

The lipsticks are very moisturizing and last quite a while on the lips. They do transfer while eating and drinking but I find they don't smear and instead fade naturally and evenly away. 

Bite Beauty lipsticks cost $24 for 0.15oz of product. To compare with some popular brands, MAC lipsticks are $17 for 0.1oz of product, Kat Von D lipsticks are $21 for 0.1oz of product, and Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks are $22 for 0.1oz of product.

I really like the way this product feels and wears on my lips. Given that I have such a huge problem with dryness and the appearance of my lips, I will probably be repurchasing from this brand in the future. 

Check it out on Sephora's website Here!

xxSJ
Review on the duo Fig/Date
Review on the duo Musk/Lychee

ColourPop Goodies! Birthday Suit, Birthday Girl, and Bill!

This post is looooooong overdue but a while back I got in an order from Colour Pop and wanted to share my thoughts on some of their products!

I got three items from Colourpop, an LA based indie brand that has exploded in the past year. One of the items I got for free with my order to celebrate the brands 1 year birthday: the 'Birthday Girl' eyeshadow which came encased in hot pink plastic with a tiny holographic cupcake on the lid! Adoooooooooorable!  All Colourpop products come in twist off plastic packaging that you have to make sure to close up tight after every use to avoid their unique product from drying up. 

The Birthday Girl eyeshadow is one of the brands' Supershock shadows with a metallic glitter finish. It is a gold color that has some bronze glitters in it. I bought the color 'Bill,' which is my first matte color I've purchased from Colourpop and is a 'muted plum-beige.' I also purchased my first cheek color in this order and chose the color 'Birthday Suit' which is a neutral pink in a satin finish.

All the colors swatch beautifully and completely opaque.  The glitter eyeshadow had the same texture I've come to be familiar with with Colourpop which is a squishy almost wet feeling. The matte eyeshadow and the cheek color were a little bit different in texture; they felt more whipped and softer.  With the glitter shadows from Colourpop I recommend applying them with your finger in order to get the most pigment out of them. With the matte eyeshadow I used a synthetic brush to buff into my crease and it worked beautifully. With the cheek color I got the best result by using my fingers to blend it directly onto my cheeks. None of the brushes I tried could pick up any product successfully but I really liked the results I got by simply blending with my fingers. 

The look above I achieved by buffing 'Bill' into my crease with a synthetic fluffy brush, pressing 'Birthday Girl' all over my lid with my finger, and by blending 'Birthday Suit' onto my cheeks. I think the look the blush gives is a fresh and dewey look which I love for my dry skin.

Colourpop eyeshadows are $5 each and the cheek colors are $8 each. I highly recommend this affordable brand particularly for beginners who may not have a lot of tools or may not want to use many products for one look. I think these shadows and blushes are user friendly and not to mention completely affordable! Colourpop gives you $5 off your first order when you sign up for their email list which will cover your cost of shipping :) Find their products at colourpop.com!

Happy Summer!
xxSJ

NOTD: Formula X for Sephora 'Chaotic'

Today's nail of the day is a glittery top coat by Formula X for Sephora called 'Chaotic.' This top coat is filled with black and white hexagon and square shaped glitters of various sizes. This stuff is so cool! In the picture above I layered two thin coats of this glitter over a plain black Formula X polish and the effect looks like outer space!

This polish lasted for days chip free on my nails and attracted many compliments. As with most glitter polishes, it was tough to remove and I resorted to chipping and peeling off the layers of glitter. I think this polish looks great layered over black or white, but it would look really cool over a red or bright pink so you can see both the black and white glitters easily!

Formula X for Sephora polishes are sold exclusively at Sephora and are $10.50 for 0.4fl oz.

Would you rock this chaotic nail color??
xxSJ

MAC Powder Blush in 'Melba'

When I visit my sister and spend the night at her place, I always look forward to raiding her makeup stash in the morning. She has completely different tastes and products from me so I love exploring her treasure chest of makeup goodies! One of the items I always use and love the look of is this MAC blush. I finally purchased it for myself since I found myself missing it when I wasn't at my sister's place. The blush is Mac Melba, a matte soft coral peach blush that is perfectly neutral on my pale skin.

This blush is far different from the bright pinks, peaches, and glittery blushes I already have in my stash. I was on the prowl for a more professional color to wear on my clinicals and this one definitely fits the bill. It looks a bit brown and neutral in the pan but swatches with a nice warm coral tone to it.

MAC blushes are super soft and easy to work with. They build up really nicely and also blend out if you accidentally apply too much. They create a wonderful effortless look to a full face of makeup. I also found that this blush pairs really nicely with my Becca Pressed Powder in Rose Gold layered on top for when I want some extra shimmer and highlight! 

MAC blushes can be purchased from MAC cosmetics online or at counters nationwide. A blush in the pan costs $22.00 for 6g of product or $17.00 for just the refill pan.  Go check this blush out Here! if you're looking for a neutral blush for day to day! 

xxSJ

NARS Audacious Lipsticks: Claudia and Brigitte

My sister completely spoiled me by giving me 2 of the NARS Audacious lipsticks as a present for receiving my white coat a couple weekends ago! These are the newest lip installments from NARS and they are amazing. 

The lippies come housed in a perfectly rectangular metal package with NARS subtly mattified on the bottom.  The container is magnetic so the cap stays securely attached and multiple lipsticks will also stay nice and lined up. I LOVE how neat and clean this packaging looks. Ultra modern and beautifully chic. 

The bullet is housed inside with NARS delicately stamped into the lipstick. This contains 0.14oz of product, which is a bit more than the standard bullet (MAC lipsticks have 0.1oz of product). 

The Audacious line includes all matte shades packed with vibrant pigmentation. The matte formula is surprisingly silky smooth making for easy application that keeps your lips looking soft and supple rather than dry and chapped.

Claudia is a cool pink that is super vibrant. Brigitte is a nude rose that leans slightly coral and is filled with warmth.

I love this pair of lipsticks that my sister picked out for me. These colors alone completely round out my Spring needs for lip color with a cool and a warm pink option.  These lipsticks wear for hours on end with out needing to reapply through eating and drinking and they don't feather around the edges. I noticed that Claudia does not reapply very well since the color tends to build up in an unflattering way. Its best to blot it off first with a tissue to even out the product and then reapply.

I chose to sport Claudia on my lips during my white coat ceremony to add a punch of color to my otherwise neutral outfit! It was perfect and I received a ton of compliments.

I have my eye on the color 'Anna' as my next big purchase, but at $32 a pop, I think I'll wait for a special occasion. These lipsticks have a hefty price tag but you receive some hefty results. Dramatic and bold color while being comfortable and fuss free? Count me in!

Check these colors out at Sephora here: Sephora Audacious lipsticks
Check out my post on NARS Juliette here!
xxSJ

NOTD: Formula X for Sephora 'Alive'

    Formula X for Sephora has done it... they've given me the color I've been searching for for years. I've always loved peachy coral colored things and have been searching for the perfect peach for my nails. I've thought I'd come close before with Butter London's Trout Pout, or Essie's A Crewed Interest. Both of those colors were a little too orange for my taste and in certain indoor looking just looked... not cute.
   When I saw Formula X's 'Alive' in Sephora, I knew I'd found the one, and when I applied it to my nails, my thoughts were further confirmed. First of all, the formula of these polishes is PERFECT. Completely opaque with a creamy finish in two thin coats with a perfectly sized brush for easy application.  The color lasts a couple days chip free. I notice this polish tends to lift up on the corners and come off in large chips, not staining the nail underneath.
    I love this color so much and I think it will be a staple for Spring and Summer. I've been wearing it non-stop since I bought it and am so happy that I found my perfect Peach!

Formula X polishes are exclusive to Sephora and cost $10.50 a bottle. I think the acryclic and white plastic packaging is modern and beautiful and the formula is well worth the cost.

xxSJ

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar in 'Juicy Strawberry'

Isn't this little guy so cute! I received this Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar in a goodie bag at a Sephora event and I thought I'd share my thoughts since Tony Moly is a newer and growing brand at Sephora! The brand launched from Korea and the name translates to 'nice and trendy.' I feel like Asian beauty brands have the sweetest packaging and are always ahead of the game as far as trends.

This little bunny houses a tinted glossy balm on the inside. Pull the plastic cap off (no twisting, it just pulls right off!) and the stick is revealed inside:

I have the color #1 which is 'juicy strawberry.' It is a light pink with a super glossy feel.  

These little glossy balms are quite sheer but still provide a wash of color on the lips. They're very moisturizing and comfortable to wear.

This color isn't my favorite on me but I don't have any issues with wearing this around my apartment when my lips need some extra moisture. I also love having the adorable bunny on my vanity! It's so cute! If you're interested in this bunny gloss they actually aren't being sold at Sephora quite yet, but you can find them on Amazon.  You can buy one at a time for about $5 each or the entire set HERE!

Check em out if you're interested in adding some cuteness to you lip routine!

xxSJ

NARS Audacious Lipstick in 'Juliette'

audacious: adjective; showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks. 

NARS recently came out with their 'Audacious' line of lipsticks-- a line promising to be a 'modern lipstick that dresses up lips with bold coverage and ultrasoft texture.' With such high claims, I had to try this lippie out for myself! The color I tried is 'Juliette,' a  pinky coral color:

The bright lippie is housed in a super modern and sleek rectangular package. The NARS logo is both printed on the outside of the container in a matte black as well as lasered into the lipstick. The cap closes with a magnetic closure. The seal is strong so you won't have to worry about the cap slipping off in your purse.  This lipstick feels super weighty in your hands which I personally love. This lipstick is $32, so at such a high price point there better be some luxurious packaging!

The lipstick is a matte formula that is quite creamy on the skin. The color doesn't skip at all or apply patchily. On my hand, Juliette swatched as a warm coral with a lot of pink in it. On my lips, however, the color is very vibrant orange: 

natural lighting

This is why we try colors on in the store, people! This color was not what I was expecting it to look like (particularly because my sister wears this shade and it looks stunning on her!). The color certainly packs a punch and I found the wear time to be solid.  The matte formula was surprisingly comfortable (not moisturizing!) and the color was as NARS promised: bold! 

I do enjoy this lipstick and would like to pick out another color. I found it to be comfortable to wear and easy to work with, not to mention the packaging is so sleek and elegant!
The NARS Audacious lipsticks are $32 for 0.14oz of product and are an Allure best of beauty winner.

Check these lippies out at Sephora here!

xxSJ

Lorac 'The Royal Full Face Collection'

The next couple of posts I do are going to basically be a compilation of what I got for christmas this year as Santa was very kind to me in the makeup department! One of the things under the tree for me was this Lorac The Royal Full Face Collection from their holiday collection this year. I hadn't even heard of this particular kit and I was floored when I saw what was inside! But before we get to that, let's talk about the packaging:

The kit comes in a velvety hexagon shaped box with gold writing and decoration. Lorac's theme for their Holiday 2014 collection was Royalty hence the purple, gold, and all around luxurious feeling box. Inside the box are the goodies:

Packed inside the box are 4 eyeshadows, a blush, an eyeliner, a mascara, a lipgloss, and a lipstick. 

The eyeshadows included are 'Cream' from the Pro palette, 'Chai' and 'Espresso' from the Pro to go palette, and 'Honey.'  All the shadows are buttery soft and have awesome pigmentation. They work together to create a perfect brown smokey eye. 

I found 'Honey' to be the weak one from the bunch initially as it felt harder than the other shadows. I found it looked really pretty on the lid, however, and it seemed I just had to get past the first tough layer on top of the shadow to get to the buttery good stuff below. 

The blush included is 'Coral' from the Pro to go palette, a universally flattering peachy pink shade with some shimmer running through out. Use a light hand when using this because it is pigmented!

The lipstick is a a Lorac Alter Ego lipstick in the shade Duchess. It is a matte finish and is so creamy I was concerned about the texture it might have on my lips. However this lipstick is gorgeous on and my boyfriend commented that my lips looked particularly luscious when I wore it. 

The lipgloss included is in the shade 'Rose Lustre' and it is a pretty rose chalk full of glitter. This gloss is pretty sticky so it will last for a while on the lips and pairs well with the Alter Ego lipstick included in the kit. It smells very sweet, so keep that in mind if you don't like scented products.

 The Cobra Mascara is my least favorite item in the kit. This mascara made my eyelashes look really stumpy and clumpy and simply didn't work for me. The wand is an interesting shape that I couldn't quite figure out the best way to use.

The eyeliner included is a mechanical twist up liner in 'Ultra Black.' This liner isn't as black as some either kohl liners I have used but the staying power is pretty impressive. I will be using this for my lower lash line.

This kit is a Kohl's exclusive and was $40 for all these products.  I think that deal is pretty great considering the conglomeration of shadows you get that seem to be favorites from various palettes and the lip products are stellar. Get your hands on this while you can as it is a limited edition and seems to sell out fast!

xxSJ