Sephora Favorites: Draw the Line Eyeliner Sampler Kit

Sephora often releases these 'Sephora Favorites' kits and I thought this one would be worth a try. It is the 'Draw the Line' eyeliner sample kit complete with some great brands and well known eyeliners I already know and love. I thought this kit would be a great way to try some other products out with out fully committing to them!

The kit contains 3 full size eyeliners from Tarte, Stila, and Smashbox. There are 3 sample size liners from Urband Decay, Sephora brand, and Kat Von D.
Included in the kit are:
- 0.007 oz Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in 'Trooper' (deluxe sample)
- 0.028 oz Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear in 'Black Lace' (deluxe sample)- 0.01 oz Smashbox Cosmetics Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in 'Sumatra' (FULL SIZE)- 0.01 oz Stila Cosmetics Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in 'Stingray' (FULL SIZE)- 0.034 oz Tarte lights, camera lashes precision longwear eyeliner in 'Black' (FULL SIZE)- 0.03 oz Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in 'Vice' (deluxe sample)

One thing I really like about this kit is the varied types of eyeliners included. There are 2 liquid pen eyeliners (Kat Von D and Tarte), 2 smudge stick formulas (Stila and Smashbox), and 2 classic pencil liners (Sephora and Urban Decay).

I wish the color selection in this kit was more varied. I appreciate the bright purple and that there was a brown thrown in, but I think a deep navy or forest green would have added a lot to this kit in place of an additional black liner.

The Good:
-I love the Kat Von D pen liner in 'Trooper.' The brush tip gives a very nice and precise wing and I find it really easy to use.
-I really enjoy the Smashbox Always Sharp kohl liner in 'Sumatra.' I find the color flattering and this eyeliner is always sharp meaning its easy to use and apply.
-I like the Stila smudgestick for lining my waterlines as it is very pigmented and doesn't look too harsh since it smudges out a bit. I have to be careful around my outer corner as the color can travel a bit.
-I love Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliners so I will definitely be getting some use out of 'Vice,' though I tend to reach for my eggplant, deeper purples over brighter ones.

The not so good:
-I was not a fan of the Tarte pen eyeliner. I loved it at first because of its ultra sharp tip and the way the pen feels in my hand, however I felt the product dried up very fast!
-The Sephora brand eyeliner was not very pigmented and so I haven't been reaching for it over my other eyeliners.


I really recommend trying kits like this out if you're interested in a brand inside! This kit was $30 for SO MUCH EYELINER. Fall Out Boy couldn't even go through this much eyeliner.

Give these Sephora kits a shot if you're on a budget and want some different brands and products to add to your stash!

xx, SJ

My Blush Picks for Valentine's Day!

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I thought I'd share my blush picks for this romantic holiday! Whether you're spending the day with your significant other, some girlfriends, or with Netflix, I know I always have a good time getting dressed up for the occasion! Here are my recommendations for romantic, feminine colors to rock on Valentine's Day:

MAC Star Wonder is the prettiest blush I own. It is a mineralized skin finish and has the trademark marbling in the powder. It is a mix of light pink, plum, and gold which shows up on the skin as a dewy, gorgeous plummy pink. GAHHHHH so beautiful

NYX Peach is for my drugstore gals. This blush is super easy to work with as it is packed with color and ultra bright! All it takes is some blending out at the edges to give you a just pinched look.

MAC Dame is a muted pink that reminds me a lot of Star Wonder except with out the sparkle and shimmer. It is an effortless color that compliments a lot of different eye looks.

Tarte Dollface is the perfect pink color. With warmer undertones and a super sheer formula, this blush will be perfect to add just a touch of color to your cheeks. Wear this blush if you're going to go for a dark eye or dramatic lip!

Hope you enjoyed my Valentine's Day blush picks!  I love this holiday because whether or not you have a romantic interest in your life, surely you have some loved ones to celebrate because that's what this day is really about--LOVE!

xxSJ

My Top Picks: Springtime Blushes!

Spring is here! Spring is here! Spring is here! Spring is one of my favorite seasons and I thought I'd share my favorite blushes for the Springtime:

I picked blushes from a few different brands. No need to discriminate!

NARS Orgasm is a cult favorite, world-famous blush and is known for its coral color with golden shimmer running through it. There's a reason this is famous! It's phenomenal!
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in 'Dollface' is a 12-hour long-wearing pretty pink. This blush is the perfect pink shade. Read my full review here: Dollface Blush Review!
The Balm 'Frat Boy' is a pure peach. This blush is the easiest way to wear peach on your cheeks as it is so muted and completely matte. Read my full review here: Frat Boy Review here!

Bobbi Brown 'Apricot' is the prettiest, nearly fuschia, bright coral. It looks terrifying in the pan but trust me that it looks amazing when applied with a light hand. Read my full review here: Apricot blush review!
MAC 'Fleur Power' is a tinge lighter than the Bobbi Brown blush but still packs a punch on the cheeks. It is a coral with quite a bit of red in it! This pigmented blush gives you the perfect flushed look.
MAC 'Launch Away!' from the Hey Sailor collection is a muted pastel peachy pink. It kind of looks like nothing in the pan but shows up as a beautiful light pink on the skin. Perfect for those muted kind of days :)

L to R: Orgasm, Dollface, Frat Boy, Launch Away!, Fleur Power, Apricot

So there you have it! 6 blushes that are super different in color but all have one thing in common... they scream SPRING!!!

Stay tuned for some of my other Spring beauty picks :)

xxSJ

Tarte Amazonion Clay 12-Hour Blush in 'Dollface'

I finally broke down and bought a blush I've been lusting after for at least 2 years. It is the award winning Tarte Amazonion Clay 12-hour blush. Tarte claims that this blush is chalk-full of benefits because of the Amazonion clay used in the formula. It is reported to be suitable for all skin types and create an overall smoother appearing skin.  I don't know about those skin benefits, but I do now that this clay blush is certainly long wearing and beautiful. I selected the color 'Dollface:'

The packaging is so great with these blushes. It is a rather heavy plastic that feels durable in your hand and the color of the compact matches the blush inside. This is awesome because if you have multiple blushes you can grab for the color you want easily!

There is a full mirror included in the compact and no wasted space given to a cheap throwaway brush!

Embossed in the packaging is an abstract little picture with a river and some branches to represent the Amazon. So cute!

The formula isn't necessarily super buttery soft or anything but it is pigmented and applies really nicely. My brush picks up and deposits the perfect amount of product onto my skin. I find it easy to blend and to use overall.

This blush has 5.6g of product which is just shy of what you get in a MAC blush (6g). I think that's a fair amount and I think the mirror in this blush trumps the MAC packaging.  Additionally, this packaging is awesome because the blush is incredibly easy to de-pot to add to a Z-palette. You just have to stick a pin into the little hole on the top of the back and the blush will pop right out! That's the power of magnets, son!

Also if it matters to you, Tarte is a cruelty-free makeup brand :) I love bunnies!

Overall I'm so happy I have this blush in my collection now. It's a soft baby doll pink that will be perfect for everyday wear! I want to pick up more blushes from this line, for sure.

xxSJ