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Review: Mary Kay Translucent Loose Powder

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My client kit is pretty much complete in the loose powder category. My personal kit, to my horror, is the opposite. The only setting powder I had was my Guerlain Météorites, everything else was some form of mineral powder that's too pigmented to set foundation. So I was pretty stoked when the folks at Mary Kay sent me the newly formulated Translucent Loose Powder.

At first, I thought (and I don't know why) that this would have a matte finish. When I opened the box, I noticed that the powder looked shimmery. It turns out, this contains light-diffusing particles to soften lines and other imperfections. Upon application, I noticed that it imparted a radiant finish, no trace of shimmer or micro-glitters. Just beautiful radiance.

It claims to be a perfect match to any skin tone although I've only had the chance to try it on myself. In order for this to work as it says, you will only need to dust a thin layer. If you decide to use a powder puff and press the powder in, there is a possibility that it will lighten your skin color because too much product was used. To fix this, simply take a clean fluffy brush and work that across your face to get rid of the excess powder.  

Since the beginning of summer, the oil glands in my t-zone have gone wild. I've been using this for roughly a month and the oil control is pretty solid. Normally I need to blot within 2 hours, 4 if I'm lucky. With this powder, I can go without blotting for approximately another 3 hours.


One thing I really love is the sifter which can be twist shut. Truly no mess packaging! I wish all sifter jars had this!

Overall, I am very happy with this product. It exceeded all my expectations and the fact that its very affordable makes it even more attractive.


Another thing I wanted to share is this mirror compact that Mary Kay also sent. Isn't it adorable?

A press sample was provided for editorial consideration.


Review: Jane Iredale Quad Bronzer in Rose Dawn (Before Summer Ends, Part 3)

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For those who love mineral makeup, Jane Iredale is one the best brands in the market. I've had the chance to try a few of their products and all of them are stellar, in my book. Today, let's take a look at Rose Dawn from their Quad Bronzer range.

As with most mineral makeup products, a little goes a long way. I gently dab my blush brush on this and I pick up more than enough color. No difficulties in blending this as it goes on evenly and when there's too much product on the face, its easy to diffuse with a clean brush.


Rose Dawn imparts a gorgeous pinkish bronze glow to the cheeks. The photo below shows each section swatched. The rightmost swatch shows what it looks like after blending all four sections.

I don't really use this as a bronzer. Instead, it works as a blush for me. It has just the right amount of shimmer (no glitter) that looks stunning especially when light hits the high points of my cheeks.


For those sensitive to fragrance, this has no noticeable scent.

Wear time is excellent, it lasts all day, no noticeable fading.

This is NOT a limited edition product. YAY! It's nice to have something that you can purchase any time of the year. Its is a good thing because I think this looks gorgeous any season. I imagine this will also work as a highlight during the fall.

Have you tried other Jane Iredale products? What's your fave?

A press sample was provided for editorial consideration.

Review: Chanel Illusion D' Ombre in Convoitise (Before Summer Ends, Part 4)

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Being that Illusion D'Ombre are my favorite Chanel products, it's no surprise that I jumped at the chance to grab Convoitise. The gel texture is something I love because it is comfortable to wear and in most cases, easy to apply. The finish is always lovely, regardless of the shade, and long lasting.

However, that being said, not all shades in this line are created equal. You can read more about that in my reviews of: Illusoire, Mirifique, Abstraction & Vision.



Convoitise is a muted-gold metallic shade, much more tame compared to Vision. It works great as an everyday color, if you want your eyes to subtly stand-out. No micro-glitters here.

It is one of the Illusion D'Ombre shades that's easy to work with, as it is not flaky and there isn't any fall-out either. The color is buildable - the swatches below show what it looks like when applied lightly and heavily.


I think this would look good as a sheer wash if you want a solo-eyeshadow look. Or if you prefer something more dramatic, this would work great in the inner corner of the eye combined with black or chocolate brown eyeshadow on the outer eyelid. 
 
I also have the other summer Illusion D'Ombre, Apparition, but having a difficult time photographing it. Hopefully I can capture a good photo so I can post it next week!

Beauty Blog Coalition Round-up - August 9, 2013

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Catch up on this week's beauty reads courtesy of the Beauty Blog Coalition!

  • Fun Fierce Fabulous Beauty Over 50!: Find out why Sephora's $16 Black Magic Palette is getting rave reviews!

  • Mama Fashionista: Quinn shares her latest and greatest favorites from Smashbox Cosmetics!
  • Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: The Organic Pharmacy Rose Plus Marine Collagen Complexis a potent and highly effective anti-aging product that REALLY beats the competition!
  • BeautyTidbits: A super-hydrating lip gloss and an anti-aging lip serum all in one? Say hello to the new Vitality Lip Flush Butter Glosses from It Cosmetics!
  • Painted Ladies: Find out how Summer's Eve makes it easy to be fabulously fresh and enter to win a $100 Spa Finder gift card.
  • Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: MAC Impassioned Lipstick Review, Dupe & Swatches!
  • TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla officially ends her summer posts as she looks forward to fall. Check out what made it to her top 10 most loved products this summer!
  • Luminous Lacquer: Borrow and wear Designer Jewelry? Very awesome! Check out her review of RocksBox!
  • Midnight Manicures: Do you subscribe to monthly beauty boxes? Jeanie shows you her favorite, Wantable.com, and why she ended up with 2 boxes this month.
  • Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L did a purple & golden manicure.
  • Geniabeme: The ladies of Makeup Wars are having a Color War! See what products I picked for the color purple!
  • D.G.S.Beauty: D.G.S.Beauty shares her customized wristbands. Learn where you could a wristband of your own.
  • Advice Sisters Beauty?Fashion/Lifestyle Website: Alison of the Advice Sisters explores a bunch of beauty tools to DRY For!
  • The Stepford Witch: Looking for a radiant setting powder that doesn't break the bank? Check out this week's review of Mary Kay's Translucent Loose Powder.
  • Beauty 101: Looking for the best products to create the perfect nude lip? Casey from Beauty 101 has you covered!
  • Review: Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner

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    Laura Mercier is a pretty solid brand. Most of their products are great and well-loved by beauty connoisseurs. Personally, I am a huge fan of their Tightline Cake Eye Liner having been introduced to them via 2011's Luxe Color Portfolio. It's a product I constantly use on my clients due to its ease of use - I even bought one for myself.

    When the brand released the Crème Eye Liner, I was eager to try it out because my MAC Blacktrack Fuildline had dried out and needed a replacement.


    There are 6 colors in this line ranging from the bare basics (Noir and Espresso) to edgy yet wearable colors. All of these are beautiful and I chose Noir, Violet and Canard for myself. The only color I find confusing is Indigo. Shouldn't it be something in between blue and purple? Their version looks more like a combination of Canard and Cobalt.

    Other than that one confusing color, everything else about this product is praise-worthy. It feels very creamy, easy to apply and when it dries, it is truly smudge-proof until the end of the day. The swatches below were swiped twice, each. As you can see, its quite pigmented. Perfect for the graphic liner look, yes?


    When I run out of MAC Dipdown, I will consider getting Espresso. Maybe even Cobalt when I'm ready to sport a bright blue accent. That's how pleased I am with this Crème Eye Liner.

    I would love to see them release a burgundy color. That would so pretty!

    Now tell me... which shade is calling out your name?

    Review: Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Apparition

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    Summer is definitely over! It's been raining quite a bit and the weather, gloomy on most mornings. It made swatching this shade of Illusion D'Ombre particularly challenging. I was able to take a product photo last week but I had to keep trying for several days before I could capture it on my skin. I could not give up on because it is gorgeous. GORGEOUS!


    I find that Apparition applies the same way as Convoitise - easily buildable without any flakiness or fallout. The main difference, in my opinion, is that Convoitise looks better applied as a sheer wash. Apparition, on the other hand, looks better layered in order for its beautiful navy color and metallic finish to come out.


    The above photo shows Apparition lightly and heavily swatched. It has a charcoal grey (almost black) base. I had to find the brightest spot by the window to get the true color to show up!

    I would use this on my entire lid for a smoky eye look or on the outer V of my eyelid to add definition. If its the latter, I usually use a satin beige on the lid and Apparition serves as a lovely contrast. I know that blue eyeshadow may seem a bit intimidating but this shade specifically, is easy to pull off and will suit anyone.

    Beauty Diary: August 2013 Favorites

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    Last month involved testing various products which resulted to my having only three items in constant rotation. 

    The first one was Mary Kay Translucent Loose Powder which I reviewed at the beginning of August. I will repeat myself in saying that this did a wonderful job in keeping oil at bay without making my skin look dry or cakey. Instead, the result is a radiant, soft-focus finish.

    I put a lot on emphasis in making my brows look clean, defined but soft and my Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil was the perfect product for the job. The shade I use is Seal Brown in Hard 6.



    The final product in my August Favorites is a Lunasol eyeshadow palette is EX01 Shiny Gold Brown. It was part of a Holiday 2012 Coffret that I purchased but never got to review.

    On the pan it looks like a glitter bomb but once applied with a brush, it has a subtle shimmer that does not take away from the palette's neutral nature.  I used my fingers to swatch the colors in the photo below in order to show how all the colors look in comparison. Keep in mind that this needs to be applied with a brush and looks much more soft and sheer that way. This also ensures a foolproof gradation of color.
     

    Everything else... lip products, eye liners, etc. changed almost everyday. Even with foundation, I tried various formula and brands although I'm still on the fence on how I feel about what I've used. 

    What products were you constantly reaching out for last month? Share in the comments section below!

    Review: Etude House Bling in the Sea Proof 10 Color Eye Stick

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    So... Etude House released a summer collection called Bling in the Sea... and I only found out about it last month because I live under a rock. When I did see the release, I immediately checked out whatever was left and picked up a few items - mostly eye color sticks.

    If you're familiar with the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick Colour and Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow, you'll find that these are similar.


    What sets these apart from its western counterparts is that it contains a tad bit more micro-glitter. But even with the high amount of glitter present, these still feel smooth upon application... not the least bit gritty. I also like that I don't get a glitter bomb finish - its gorgeous, head-turning... nothing obnoxious.

    Each one that I own are pigmented and can easily be sheered out whether you use the sponge tip applicator that's part of the packaging or your fingers or a fluffy brush. I still use a primer underneath but I skip setting it with powder eyeshadow because it stays put amazingly.

    For professional artists, you will love these for underwater photo shoots or videos because it will not budge! I tried washing off the swatches below with soap and water (thrice) - nothing happened. I had to use the NARS Gentle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover to remove the pigment and followed with Bioderma Micellar Water to remove any leftover glitter.


    Above are the colors in order, from left to right: OR202 (Sunrise Orange), PK003 (Bubbling Pink), BR401 (Tanning Brown) and BL602 (Ocean Wave Blue). With the exception of the last color, none were dupes of Chanel or Laura Mercier sticks. Whew! 

    Of the four, I been reaching out for PK003 (Bubbling Pink) the most as a sheer wash over my lids.

    Within the next few days, I'll try to post some comparison swatches on Instagram for reference, so please make sure to follow if you would like to see those. :)

    photo credit: kpoptown

    I'm still trying to hunt down BL603, PK002, OR203 and BR402 because they look gorgeous too!

    Tell me, which colors appeal to you from this collection?

    Beauty Blog Coalition Round-up - September 13, 2013

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    In case you missed out on some great beauty posts from this week...

  • Mama Fashionista: Summer's end is no reason to let your tan fade away! Quinn shares her fave products to keep that glow year round.
  • Blushing Noir: GIVEAWAY! September 2013 Fall Into Beauty & win an amazing prize pack! Open Internationally!
  • Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Aftelier Perfumes Wild Orange Face Elixir with Cedarwood and Patchouli is the most unique and sumptuous luxury face oil that will soothe your skin and soul!
  • TheFabZilla: Love or leave? TheFabZilla reviews Marc Jacobs Highliner in Ro(cocoa). Come check it out.
  • My Highest Self: Tina reviews Viva La Juicy Noir Eau de Parfum, the bold side of Viva La Juicy!
  • Beauty by Krystal: New York Fashion Week is here; all the gorgeous Spring 2014 collections are hitting the runway. Check out these Zimmermann inspired nails, easy to DIY in just minutes!
  • Painted Ladies: Sheila's newest favorite budget buy isThe Natural Eyeshadow Palette by NYX Cosmetics - silky smooth and utterly blend able.
  • The Dark Side of Beauty: Nancy from The Dark Side of Beauty creates another look inspired by House Ravenclaw from Harry Potter.
  • D.G.S.Beauty: Love MAC products? Hurry and enter my MAC Lightscapade Giveaway!
  • Beauty by Miss L: Do you know how looks antique bronze & turquoise glitter combo?
  • The Stepford Witch: This week's feature is Etude House Bling in the Sea Proof 10 Color Eye Stick collection. A definite must-read for eyeshadow junkies!
  • In Her Makeup Bag: Stephanie shares how to get the "oxblood" lip trend for fall in two easy steps!
  • BeautyTidbits: Had too much fun in the sun? Check out 7 Easy Ways to Fix Sun Damaged Skin & Hair over at BeautyTidbits!
  • Lipgloss Break: Swatches from Zoya's Cashmere Collection - Just in time for Fall!
  • Slashed Beauty: Miranda determines if Stila's Lip Glaze is worth splurging on!
  • A Little Polish: Looking for the perfect shade of polish for the Fall season? Check out thesetwo great fall shades from Seche Nail Color!
  • Review: Mary Kay TimeWise Plus Skincare Range

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    TimeWise Plus+ Regena-Firm or Repair Volu-Firm (depending on which region the product originated from), is an advanced anti-aging line from Mary Kay which is designed to bring back the skin's youthful appearance by lifting the skin and reducing the appearance of lines. There are four products that I tried in this line: the day and night treatments, serum and eye cream. I'd like to share with you my thoughts and experience after using these for over a month.

    The Day Treatment contains sun protection in the form of SPF30/PA+++. It is "medium-weight" meaning the formula isn't too thick or runny and has a moderate perfume scent which dissipates after a while. I always tend to put too much product and have to blot the excess after I let my skin absorb what it needs first. I like how it provides moisture throughout the day and gets rid of the dry patches.


    To complement the Day Treatment, Mary Kay has a Night Treatment which contains time-released retinol. This ingredient is encapsulated to make it stable and increase its efficacy in renewing skin cells and reducing the appearance of lines. It feels drier and gritty compared to the Day Treatment but whenever I wake up, my skin feels soft & full of moisture. Unlike the Day Treatment, the Night Treatment seems unscented.

    Three weeks into using both  products, I noticed that the middle of my forehead improved in appearance - the fine lines were less noticeable, it looked smooth. The visible difference made me continue in using both products. I think they work well together! They both come in an air-tight pump dispenser which ensures that the products and its ingredients are well-protected from the elements. It's a bonus for those who like their skincare products kept clean and germ-free!


    I was able to use the Regena-firm Intensive Serum last year, independent of the moisturizers. That's a good thing because it allowed me to test if it made a real difference. This serum contains plant-derived ingredients which are designed to provide a lift specifically in the chin area. In my case, my cheek area felt more firm and lifted throughout the time I used this product. I suppose it would have done the same thing to the other parts of my face, had I used it for a longer period of time. How much did I love it? I used up the entire bottle. It's something I would purchase again.

    Lastly, we have the Eye Cream. Sorry about the picture above. I used it so many times that the Mary Kay logo rubbed off in the tube! Now, this product is supposed to improve the appearance of deep lines, target crepiness and dry skin, reduce puffiness, and improve dark circles. While it did provide all the moisture I needed and reduced puffiness, I also wish it did something about the deep lines and dark circles. After over three months of use, day and night, I expected more. Then again, finding the best eye treatment is difficult, in my experience.

    Overall, this is a great line to use if you did not pay much attention to skin care in your younger years and want to make up for it now.

    Have you tried any Mary Kay skincare products? How did that work for you?

    Review: Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Gri-Gri

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    The Chanel Fall 2013 collection made my eyes go wide... Seriously, everything appealed to me but I only purchased the items I knew I absolutely had to have! Gri-Gri was on my list because taupe eyes are incredibly easy to pull off.

    It reminds me of NARS Ashes to Ashes, which I love. Gri-Gri is a shade lighter and contains more shimmer (the photo below was not able to capture it, unfortunately).


    It goes on sheer without a primer but my Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer made such a difference - I was able to intensify and build on the color. It's easy to blend this eyeshadow since the texture is smooth, as expected. However, its powdery - there's a bit of a mess when my brush picks up the product from the pan and there's also some minor fall out.

    With the help of my primer, I was able to wear this the entire day. By the 12th hour, there was fading but it was even which made it less noticeable.


    I've tried wearing this shadow on its own and find that its too shimmery for its own good. That's a bit of a let-down since I was hoping this could be one of my go-to lazy day eye products. It looks best when combined with a darker shade on the outer corner of the eye - chocolate brown or black works well with it.

    While I'm not loving this, I don't hate it either. I had higher hopes for this but I know that a lot of people will or are loving Gri-Gri.

    Review: L'Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Milk

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    My dermatologist told me I should only be using shower/bath gel on my body since I have really dry skin everywhere. Everywhere! Bar soap tends to be harsh and strips my skin of moisture.

    I tried, for many months, to follow her advice but the entire process of lathering a bath lily or sponge and rinsing afterward seems to take longer than I care. Although in reality I'm pretty sure it only lasts for a few seconds. Maybe I'm a bar soap kind of girl.

    It was while reading an online article a few years back that I came across someone commenting on how the Extra Gentle Soap from L'Occitane did wonders for her skin.


    I immediately picked up a bar and one year later, I still alternate between this and my bath gel. Its the only bar soap I use regularly because my skin never feels dry after use. And there's always an extra bar I keep in stock. As a bonus, it also helps heal body acne - which commonly occurs when I'm about to surf the crimson wave (Clueless reference, yo).

    Milk is my preferred scent since it's so mild. You can also find the Lavender, Verbena and Cinnamon Orange variety. Maybe one day I'll try out Verbena since I am in love with the L'Occitane Verbena Bath Gel and Shampoo.

    You might overlook this when you're out to buy your favorite L'Occitane product, but this is something should check out next time.

    Review: Le Blush Creme De Chanel in Presage, Revelation & Fantastic

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    Someone just asked on a forum for makeup artists what our favorite products are. One of my answers: cream blush. It gives a "from within" glow that's just breathtaking and I love how it looks on my clients. 

    When Chanel announced that this would be part of their fall line-up, I was excited!

    There are six shades in this range and I decided on the three which I felt would cover all bases. Presage is a coral shade, Revelation is warm light rose, and Fantastic is a reddish pink with cool tones. I think I'm going to go get Destiny next just so I have tan in the mix too.


    Le Blush Creme De Chanel turned out to be more pigmented than I had expected. I had to be careful with the amount that I applied. The good news is, its easy to sheer down and build up. 

    My favorite way to apply this is to use my MAC 109 brush. I dip the brush a couple of times and whatever I pick up is usually more than enough for both cheeks. I just dab the product onto my cheek, wipe the excess off the brush with a tissue, and use that same brush to blend the blush on my cheeks.

    There is no need to apply powder blush to set it. Since its so pigmented, I set it with translucent powder.


    Above are the products heavily swatched. Eye candy, right?

    Finally, let's talk about wear time. Now this is where I'm on the fence. On some days, it lasts up to eight hours. On other days, it fades within four. Weather and humidity has something to do with it, I'm certain. But I wish it wasn't so. Even then, I still like this very much.

    Unlike other Chanel products which tend to be scented, I did not detect any fragrance on this.

    Have you tried this? How do you like it? Let's talk blush! :)

    Review: Laura Mercier Spellbound Face Illuminator

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    One of the many things Laura Mercier does right would be Illuminators. Remember Rose Rendezvous from her Fall 2011 collection? That was so gorgeous. This year, she offers us Spellbound and I love it just as much.

    The nice thing about her Illuminators is it can be used not just to highlight points where light hits, it also looks great as an eyeshadow. A tiny amount is all you need to get a lovely, balanced (non-glittery) glow. It enhances, never overpowers.


    Spellbound is rose gold in shade. Below, I swatched it heavily so you can see what the true color looks like. For a sheer application, I lightly dip my powder or blush brush on the product and tap softly on the high points of my cheeks - I repeat this process when I want to build color.


    Rose Rendezvous was deeper and more on the pink side compared to Spellbound. Between the two, I prefer Spellbound based on color alone. Otherwise, the quality is great and it stays on for 6-8 hours before any noticeable fading occurs.

    If you want to see comparison swatches of the two Illuminators, please follow me on Instagram. I'll be posting it there this week!

    Review: Artdeco High Precision Mascara

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    It's pretty easy to find a good eyeshadow, blush or lipstick... but mascara, that's something I find tricky. The ones that are wet don't do me any good since I'm a blinker. If its too dry, it might flake, fall into my eye and irritate it. Mascara with fiber (in most cases) tends to flake too. It's just really complicated for contact lens wearers.

    The High Precision Mascara's formula is my ideal - dry enough that it won't smudge but it also does not flake.


    My main issue with this is the applicator. Its too tiny that it won't grab my upper eyelashes, even with multiple coats. Major bummer!

    There's a silver lining here. I did figure out what this is perfect for - my lower eyelashes. It coats each lash without clumping and I no longer get mascara on my face (something that happens a lot with a big mascara wand). Did I mention it does not smudge? I can wear this all day and not worry about looking like a racoon.

    Bottomline, it's not too bad after all. I found a good use for this and the pros outweigh the con. Will I repurchase? Most likely.

    Review: Mary Kay @Play Baked Eye Trio

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    Baked eyeshadow is the way to go if you love intense, metallic colors. I'd like to share with you today the ones I got to try from Mary Kay.

    Let me say right off the bat that these are the one of best baked eyeshadows out there. The color payoff is excellent whether applied dry or wet. You'll see that in the look I created toward the end of this post. Other similar products I've tried were unimpressive when applied dry... that's a big no-no for me because its my preferred method.

    Tuxedo is a combination of silver frost white, gumetal grey and black. Ocean view, on the otherhand, includes the lightest silver, teal and blue.
     
     

    Unfortunately, I had a miniscule amount of the black shade from Tuxedo left to swatch - one of our cats jumped on the table which caused the palette to shatter and there was hardly anything left from the black one. If there's one downside to this product, it's too delicate.

    Thankfully, I was able to wear Tuxedo before that incident happened. Below, I used all three shades. The frosty white and gunmetal colors were applied dry. I chose to apply the black shade wet on my upper eyelid and dry on the lower. The day I wore this look, I met up with some friends who are also makeup artists. I had about three or four people ask what eyeshadow I was wearing because the colors are gorgeous.



    Rewind to when I was in the process of applying this: I always expect fall-out when working with colors this dark and prepared for the mess that was about to happen. Imagine my shock when there was hardly any clean up. Very unusual for baked eyeshadow or dark colors in general.

    Another thing going for the product is the price - it's very affordable. That's a big plus because the quality is excellent. Even better than some other high-end brands I've tried.

     I'll be reviewing the Jelly Lip Gloss from the marykayatplay line soon. Stay tuned! :)

    *Press sample was provided for editorial consideration.

    Review: Clean: Brush Shampoo

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    Ah, the task of cleaning makeup brushes... some love it because it falls under the category of "quiet time" and there are those who hate it because it makes their back ache. Whichever camp you belong to, we all know it's something we cannot, must not, skip lest we end up with acne or some other form of bacterial infection. 

    I belong to the latter group, especially after working on a fashion show - I'm tired, my feet hurt, I still need to sanitize my makeup and wash all those brushes! In the past, I used the Beauty Blender Cleanser because it easily removed any product from my brushes. However, it took a long time to rinse.

    I kept hearing people from various makeup artist circles sing praises about Clean. And I'm all for anything that makes washing brushes easier.
     
     

    The process is simple:
    1. Wet the brush or sponge well. 
    2. Wet the tub of clean a bit.
    3. Swoosh the brush or sponge around the tub.
    4. Optional: if washing a bigger and dense brush, you may need to massage it a bit to get the shampoo into the bristles.
    5. Rinse.

    Although the process may be typical of other cleansers, the beauty of Clean is that is rinses off so easily. In fact, using this product has cut my brush cleaning time in half... on a good day, a third of my usual time.

    I also noticed that my brushes seem softer (I no longer need to condition) and it dries faster. I can see myself bringing Clean to jobs that require me to stay the entire day - I can wash my smaller brushes during down time and have them dry by the time I need to pack up my kit.

    Here's a demo on how to use Clean, courtesy of Sonia Roselli (Glossible.com) and Rachel Lisa. It also answers the question how many brushes a tub of Clean can wash.


    Clean comes in two varieties - Olive Oil is great for conditioning and Goat's Milk works well to whiten brushes that have a lot of pigment stuck in them. To be honest, there's not much of a difference because even the Olive Oil washes pigments off so well and the Goat's Milk still keeps my brushes soft.

    There are three regular scents as of now - Unscented, Lavender and Lemon. Limited edition scents such as Rose and Vanilla were also released in the past.

    Do you need this in your life? Most definitely. You're most welcome :)

    Beauty Blog Coalition Round-up - November 1, 2013

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    More beauty reads from last week!


  • Mama Fashionista: Quinn shares her Fab Five Favorite blushes for Fall!
  • Blushing Noir: Introducing ART ON IT Makeup! The beauty line ready to take the world by storm!
  • Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Fetishizing the Bullet: A Nearly Irrational Obsession with Tom Ford Lip Colors (Swatches and Review)
  • Painted Ladies: Wet n Wild's has some new palettes for Holiday 2013 - Sheila shows you the glory ofLights, Camera, Attraction.
  • TheFabZilla: Check out TheFabZilla's review and comparison of the new shu uemura s lash curler. Love or leave?
  • Slashed Beauty: Miranda takes you through her 5 Minute Makeup Routine for rainy (or lazy) days!
  • D.G.S.Beauty: Super Playboy For Her & Him Fragrances Reviews
  • Glamorable!: Try state of the art beauty products before they hit the market with From The Lab monthly subscription!
  • Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & LIfestyle WebSite: What is the finest facial brush? One has reached cult status
  • BeautyTidbits: Enter to win a full-sized bottle of Arganesse Hair Treatment worth $120. Open internationally!
  • Fabulous Awesomeness: Mina Slater shows offL'Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Makeup. Is this foundation really magic?
  • Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor shares her updated skincare routine in the form of a video!
  • Lipgloss Break: Duplicates found! Jessica nail polish Opening Night and Zoya Mason swatches.
  • daydreaming beauty: daydreaming beauty tests out It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation. Come see why it's not like normal powder foundation!
  • Review: Mary Kay @Play Jelly Lip Gloss

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    The Mary Kay @Play range includes the high-shine Jelly Lip Gloss in their line up. Its described by the company as providing a sheer wash of color. On the tube and when initially applied, these seem highly pigmented for a gloss but once it settles after 10 minutes or so, it sheers down. However, the shine lasts for as long as you have this on the lips. In my case, it looks just as shiny even after 4 hours on and only wears off after having a meal or a large drink.

    This gloss feels heavy and a tad sticky for the first couple of minutes but settles into a more comfortable state - somewhat balmy. Its keeps my lips well-moisturized all throughout and even after removing the product, my lips still feel soft.

     

    Other good stuff about Jelly Lip Gloss: it does not travel and does not have an overpowering scent.

    I noticed that between the two colors I was sent, Teddy Bare looked a lot more uneven compared to Berry Me. The photo below shows how the pigment tends to settle in the lines on my lips.

     

    Right now, I am really liking Berry Me and I have it in my purse... you know, for those times when I forget to apply lip color and I suddenly remember. Its a great color to have handy at all times since it can quickly transform your look. There's a photo of me wearing Berry Me in a previous post.

    While not all shades in this range are stellar (ahem, Teddy Bare) the others are good. If you love shiny lips, don't miss out on this!

    *Press sample was provided for editorial consideration.

    Review: Etude House &Rose Flowering Eyes

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    Etude House's &Rose is one of the fall collections I've been looking forward to since photos surfaced online. Although I'm not generally a fan of pink, they incorporated this color into their eye products (shadow & pencils) and that got me excited and intrigued.

    &Rose Flowering Eyes palette is one of my favorites this year! It has a good balance of matte and satin/glittery finishes. The soft neutrals work well to complement the darker berries.

     

    Although these look and feel somewhat powdery, they stick well with an eyeshadow base or primer. Each color feels smooth to the touch except for Blossom. However, once applied to the eyelid with a brush, Blossom's texture is just like the rest. Every single eye shadow blends well and I had no issues with fall-out.

    All colors in this palette translate a shade lighter from pan to skin - which is something generally not desirable but I think its still a great palette because I love the way these colors go well together.

    Falling, Delight, Pure, Romance and Poison have microglitters but the only one that's obvious when applied is Pure. I initially thought that shade would be a disaster but the formula is executed beautifully that it manages to look classy and festive at the same time.

     

    Some of the colors remind me of NARS Douce France, Cordura, and All About Eve. What do you think?

    With regard to longevity, I can wear these out during the day or night without any noticeable fading although I haven't had the chance to stay out for over 12 hours as of late.

    Do you need this? Yes, you do! Its a really good basic and then some palette. The price is reasonable, the color choices are genius and the quality is good. Even if you don't have an Etude House store locally, there are some reputable online shops that sell Korean cosmetics.
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