Benefit Gimme Brow and Essence Make Me Brow-Is It A Dupe?

Hey Everyone!

In a Birchbox months and months ago, I got a deluxe sample size of the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow, and fell in love. Then a few months ago, I saw the Essence Make Me Brow at Target and snatched it up to compare. Keep in mind with my pictures that the Benefit is a deluxe sample size, not full size, and they have recently changed packaging. The Essence is full sized, though.

 Gimme Brow is described as a "Volumizing Fiber Gel" and Make Me Brow is described as an "Eyebrow Gel Mascara". However, the Essence packaging itself lists it as having fibers as well. The Benefit will cost you $24 for .1 oz and Essence will only set you back $2.99 for .13 oz. Gimme Brow comes in three shades (1 Light, 3 Medium, and 5 Deep), while Make Me Brow only has two colors (Blondy Brows and Browny Brows). Since I have the older Benefit version, I have the shade "Medium/Deep" which I think is closest to the new shade 5 Deep. I have the shade Browny Brows in Essence.

While the wands of each are similar, they're not exactly the same. The Essence version is the same width from the top to the bottom of the wand, and the Benefit one tapers to a smaller point at the top. While that doesn't seem like a big deal, it is huge when it comes to application.

Even though my Gimme Brow is a small size, I believe the applicator size is the same as the full size. Gimme Brow goes on a lot easier and cleaner with the tapered tip, while Make Me Brow is messier. These two colors look like they would be identical by looking at them, but the Essence one is darker. I can still make both of them work for me, though, since my natural brow hairs are pretty dark. If you read my brow tutorial post (here) that I did last year, you know I have sparse, patchy brows. While they have grown in a little more since then, they still need some help. These type of brow products have been a life saver on days when I have no time to do a full routine.

For these photos, the only makeup I have on is the Gimme Brow or Make Me Brow. I apologize for the fright. As you can see above, this is the Gimme Brow side. It does a great job of making my brow look fuller, and it fills in the baldish spot towards the tail extremely well. The tapered tip is amazing for getting right in the front of the brow and not making a mess.

This is the Make Me Brow side, and it doesn't quite look as nice. While it did make the existing hairs look fuller, it didn't do the best job of creating fullness where there were sparse areas. This one still looks a little patchy. The applicator of the Essence one makes a mess, even when you're careful. I didn't photograph it, but I had to go in with a cotton swab and clean up around the edges. Make Me Brow deposits a lot of product when you first lay the wand down, so I suggest you first apply to the thickest part of your brow, and not to the front. You'll need to get the excess off before you apply to any sparse areas. The formula of this one is a little thinner, so that contributes to the messiness of the application.

If you have naturally full brows, and are only looking for a tinted brow gel, or just a little bit of brow help, you could use the Essence one and be completely happy. If you have sparser brows, which need a lot of help, and you don't want to use any other brow product, then the Benefit one might be best for you. If you want to use a pencil/powder/or gel first and then just set your brows, the Essence one will be great. I don't experience any fading or flaking with either one. They both last the same amount of time on my brows. I really do enjoy both of these, but I don't think they are complete dupes. for a $21 difference, though, you can definitely make it work!

Have you tried either one of these? What did you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

*Some of the links above are affiliates.
*All products mentioned were purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation-A Review for DRY skin!

Hey Everyone!

I picked up the new Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation two weeks ago, and have worn it every day since. I definitely have an opinion on it, so I wanted to share it with you! I tried the original Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Foundation when it was first released years ago, and I did use the entire bottle, even though I wasn't blown away by it. The new All Nighter foundation, though, wow. This foundation promises to be a "full coverage foundation with a modern matte finish, with three times the pigment of the Naked Skin foundation". It's oil-free, paraben-free, and waterproof.

  

The packaging on this foundation is beautiful. And, quite frankly, pretty badass! It feels lightweight, and not at all heavy. It looks metal, but is actually plastic. Due to the shiny packaging, it does hold onto fingerprints. You get the standard 1.0 oz and it retails for $44, which is four dollars more than the original formula. There are currently 24 shades, ranging from .5 to 12.0. It also has an airless pump, so that you can get as much out as possible by the end, Even though the All Nighter has a more elaborate packaging, there is still a clear portion where you can see the shade color and how much you have. 

With Urban Decay, shades ending in .5 have cool undertones, and those ending in .0 have warm undertones. With the launch of the All Nighter foundation, they also released four shades ending in .25 and .75, which are considered neutral undertones. I am cool-toned all the way, with no warm undertones. Sometimes foundations that have even the slightest yellow tint pull very yellow on me. I was originally matched as a 6.0 (ummm...that's a warm undertone), so I picked up a 5.5 since it's supposed to be cool toned.  WARNING!! This foundation oxidizes!! I had to make sure to blend this all the way down my neck so that I didn't look crazy. I did wear this shade for almost two weeks, but always felt like it was slightly too dark. I certainly couldn't wear bronzer with it; I didn't need it! Which was a bummer, since I love to use bronzer. Like most people, my body is darker than my face and neck, so I wanted to match my body, but once this oxidized I felt it was too dark. It didn't translate that way in photos, and no one ever said "girl, you look like an oompa loompa", so it may have just been me. However, I did exchange it for the 4.5 shade on Friday, and I wore that one today. I feel much better about this shade because like I said, it oxidizes. 

First pumped out

Oxidization after it dries down

4.5 looks like it has a yellow undertone when I pump it out, but once blended, it has a very peach undertone. Not pink; peach. While extremely unflattering on my hand, it doesn't translate that weird on my face. Thankfully. I did get a sample of the 5.0 from Sephora and it was so yellow on my face, I immediately washed it off. It may be because of the extreme pigmentation in this foundation, but the undertones are extreme, as well. If they had the 4 shade range with a .25 or .75, I would try that one as well. I'm not unhappy with the 4.5, but it's not an exact undertone match. 

Now, let's get on to why I LOVE the All Nighter foundation. I originally would pump one and a half pumps out to use, but quickly realized that it was way too much. It is so pigmented, that you only need one pump. I have hyperpigmentation on my face, and most things usually just end up giving those areas an ashy appearance. Not the All Nighter. It actually covers it! It is definitely a full coverage foundation, but never looks cakey or feels heavy. It feels like I have nothing on my face, which is wonderful. I've used it with the Becca Backlight Priming Filter, Mac Strobe Cream, and Mac Prep and Prime. I also used it today without any primer. For application, I've used both brushes and a Beauty Blender. Personally, I prefer to use a brush and then use my Beauty Blender to go over it to remove any excess. The brush gets it done quicker, and is easier to take down my neck. With the Beauty Blender, I have to be very careful with application because if I miss a spot, it is very noticeable. Once it dries down, you can't move it. If you notice that you missed a spot, you can't go back and blend it. Once it sets, it sets. Last weekend, I got caught out in the pouring rain (if you saw my Instagram Story, you saw this) and while my mascara was completely destroyed, my foundation still looked pretty great! I've worn the All Nighter for 17 hours, and while some fading is noticeable, my face still looks almost flawless at the end of the night. But, again, I have dry skin. As the day goes on, it does lose some of it's matte-ness, and start to look a little more natural on the skin. I would imagine if you have oily skin, this may happen quicker for you. It never looks bad, though. My other face makeup is still in place at the end of  the day when worn over this foundation. It doesn't settle into my (large) pores, and only slightly settles into my smile lines. Everything settles into my smile lines, though, so that's nothing new to me. 

I do want to mention that my mom bought the All Nighter foundation the same day I did, and she ended up returning it. She has more mature skin (I won't say her age, because I don't want her to kill me lol), but it was not flattering on her skin. She has more of a combo/oily skin type, with fine lines (I'm not stupid enough to say wrinkles!), and this settled into every one of those lines and made her face look dry. She has the most lines around her eyes, and it made them look ten times worse. She ended up exchanging this one for the original formula, and is much happier! So if you have more mature skin, you may want to get a sample before splurging for the full size or you may risk returning it. Regardless of you skin type or age, I do highly recommend you swatch this color at Ulta or Sephora and let is dry down due to the oxidization before you purchase it. It may be due to the intense pigmentation of the formula, but I think it's hard to get matched for the All Nighter. My mom was matched at a 7.75, my sister as a 3, and I was matched at a 6. My mom's was too dark, as was mine, and my sister's is too light. If you are near a Sephora, I'd suggest getting a few samples of potential colors. If you only have an Ulta, I'd recommend swatching and letting it oxidize before deciding. If you can only order online without trying any of the colors first, I highly suggest you google the heck out of all the colors you think will match! 

All in all, I truly love this foundation. I've worn it every day for two weeks, without alternating, which is a huge deal when you're a makeup lover! 

Have you tried the All Nighter foundation? If so, I'd love to know what you thought! 

*None of the links above are affiliates.

*None of the items mentioned were sent to me. All opinions are my own. 

A New Bdellium Tools Review!

Hey everyone!

Last November, I did my first review of Bdellium Tools (you can read that here). While that one consisted of all face brushes, this one is mostly eye brushes. Bdellium Tools was nice enough to send me four new brushes to review, and I want to share my opinion of them with you!

The only face brush in this review is the Maestro 945 Contour Brush. The online picture gave me hope that it would be comparable to the Sigma F64, but it's closer to the F05. These two brushes are extremely similar, but the Bdellium ones are less expensive. I did find this brush to be a little too flimsy to contour with, and it did shed and leave little black hairs on my cheeks. I think it may work better as a setting brush under the eyes, but that doesn't stop the shedding. 

Next is the 783 Small Tapered Blending Brush. The girly part of me loves that all of the eye brushes I received are pink! If you are familiar with the Sigma E45, then this one will look familiar to you. It's great for getting right in the eye socket and giving a concentrated amount of color. It will not, however, give you a diffused, blown out look. 

The 766 Angled Shadow brush is similar to the Sigma E70, but not as fluffy. the Bdellium brush is a little more stiff. I found this brush fine for placing eyeshadow, but not good for blending it out. This was my least favorite brush of the four that I received. It is a good brush to highlight the brow bone area, though. 

The last brush is the 778 Large Shadow brush. This is my favorite out of these four. I've been using this daily for the past week to apply a cream colored shadow from lashline to brow bone as a base for all of my other shadows. It picks up the perfect amount of shadow and packs it on nicely.You could find similar brushes in most brush lines, but I really like this one. 

I experienced no shedding with any of the eye brushes, and they washed well. They also held their shape really well after washing. Bdellium has a lot of good brushes in their line, and I would recommend looking into them. They have a new brush in the Studio Line called the 950 Oval Multipurpose that I really want to try! 

Have you tried any Bdellium Tools brushes? They offer free shipping on $20+! I'd love to hear what you think!

Thanks for stopping by and reading!

*Links above are affiliates. While the products were sent to me for review, all opinions are my own. 

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation-A Review!

Hey Everyone!

By now, I'm sure you've heard of the new L'Oreal foundation; Infallible Pro-Glow. I purchased it as soon as I was able to find my shade in stock, and I picked up shade 201 Classic Ivory. I got mine from Ulta, where it's Buy One Get One 50% off right now, Don't forget to use the $3.50 off $15 in-store coupon or the $3.50 off $10 online coupon!

I reviewed the Infallible Pro-Matte foundation last year (find it here), so I was excited to see a new, glowy version released! As a recap, I have dry/dehydrated skin. I love the Matte version, but have really loved glowy looks this year.

The Pro-Glow comes in the same type of squeeze bottle as the original Pro-Matte, but it has a smoother, shinier plastic instead of the frosted looking one. It makes it easy to tell the Pro-Glow from the Pro-Matte if you have both sitting in your drawer! You get the standard 1.0 fl oz, and the price will vary depending on where you buy it.

I love how L'Oreal adds these charts to the back of the foundations! It gives you the finish, wear time, coverage, and texture. 

Three cheers for safety seals! 

Now, for what you're here for: the actual review! I love this one just as much as the matte version. It applies evenly, and very smooth. I will say it is not as full coverage as the matte version, but glowy foundations tend to be on the lower coverage spectrum. I can get a great medium coverage out of it, though. It gives a very healthy looking glow to the skin, without any glitter or shimmer in the foundation (that I can detect). It has a runnier consistency to it, compared to the mousse like texture of the Pro-Matte. It doesn't settle into my pores or fine lines, and it does last me a good 10-12 hours before visible fading. I am, obviously, not planning on testing it for the full 24 hours it claims to last, but I would hazard a guess and say you could probably still see a trace of it after that time. It just wouldn't look as nice! ;-)  I can set it with powder if I want, but it's not necessary. It doesn't leave a wet or tacky feeling on my skin (thank goodness!)

Overall, I am a huge fan! Shade 201 is currently too light for me (I've had it for a month and have since gotten a tan), so I'm going to need a new shade or I'll need to  mix it with something so that I can use it again!

Tell me, have you tried it? Did you like it? Why or why not? Leave me your comments below!

Thanks for taking the time to visit!


*None of the links above are affiliates.
*All items mentioned were purchased by me and all opinions are honest and my own.

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation-A Review!

Hello, Everyone! 

Today, I want to give you my opinion on the Tarte Double Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel foundation. Such a long name!! This foundation is exclusive to Ulta Beauty and is $39 USD for 1.0oz. Here is what Ulta's website has to say about this product: "Smooth skin is in with this radiant, full coverage foundation with skin-loving ingredients wrapped in a luxurious, creamy gel. The unique oil-free blend of smoothing, plumping and pore refining ingredients help brighten skin while moisturizing and blurring the look of fine lines and pores. The cooling, hypoallergenic gel feels like a drink of water for your skin, while masking any redness, dark spots, acne and uneven skin tone for 12-hour wear across skin types. It's available in a range of shades to match any skin tone with a soft, rose scent and natural, radiant finish."  The Tarte Double Duty foundation only comes in ten shades, and it is supposed to cater to different undertones, as well. This can make it difficult to find your perfect shade if you're very light or very dark. 

Fair-Light is the lightest shade in the range, and it was a tad too dark for me. I could make it work, but it wasn't a perfect match. This foundation has a wonderful texture, and it feels really nice while applying it. The description says it has a rose scent, but I don't smell it. Tarte Double Duty is a thicker foundation, as you would expect in a pot. Speaking of the pot container, I don't love it. It is extremely messy and unhygienic. There is one of those inserts that go in between the lid and the foundation, and every time you put the insert back on, foundation seeps out over the sides. 

It does feel cooling when you apply it, and it is hydrating (which my dehydrated skin loves). it looks amazing when I first apply it, especially in photos, but unfortunately that's where my love for this product ends, Ulta and Tarte claim this is a 12 hour foundation, but on my dry/dehydrated skin, it's not even close. It's supposed to be a full coverage, that blurs the look of fine lines and pores, but I don't agree. I can get a true medium coverage with one layer, but the freckles I have on the side of my cheek still peak through, and some hyperpigmentation. If you apply more than one layer, it could get cakey. I have large pores on the sides of my nose, and this does nothing to blur or hide them. This is a rather dewy finish foundation, which seems to actually highlight my pores, I use a setting powder on top, which helps a little, but they're still visible. As for the 12 hour claim, I don't get that result. This looks fantastic when it's first applied, but after 6-8 hours, it's faded away and just looks terrible. It also settles into my small laugh lines. I did try applying this with a Beauty Blender and with different foundation brushes, and the results were the same. Tarte did release a foundation brush specifically for the Double Duty Beauty Gel, but I didn't pick it up. 

This is what the Double Duty Gel foundation looks like an hour after application. A beautiful, natural finish, but not full coverage.

This is at the end of the day, so please excuse my messy eye makeup. You can see that it looks like the foundation has worn off. Freckles, hyperpigmentation, and pores are all making their appearance. And scaring off small children. Ulta and Tarte also claim this foundation is suitable for all skin types, but I think if you have combination or oily skin, you're going to want to use a setting powder and setting spray. I used both, even with my dry skin, and you can see my results above. 

My final thoughts: I love the concept of this foundation, and I was really excited to try it out. I don't love the packaging, the wear time, or how it accentuated my pores. I used it on and off for almost two months, so I did give it a fair shot. However, these are just my opinions, and it doesn't mean this can't work for you! 

Have you tried this foundation? I'd love to know what you thought!


*None of the links above are affiliates
*All opinions are my own, and all items mentioned were purchased by me. 

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipsticks-A Review

Hello, Everyone!

I received three out of thirty-four of the new Amuse Bouche lipsticks by Bite Beauty from Influenster to review! Bite Beauty replaced their Luminous Creme line with the Amuse Bouche line in February. I only have one lipstick from the Luminous Creme line, so I'll be able to tell you the difference (if any) between them.

If you're not familiar with Bite Beauty, they focus only on lip products, and everything is made with food-grade ingredients. You could actually eat your lipstick, if you wanted! I don't recommend it, but to each their own. ;) Considering studies say we eat four to seven pounds of lipstick throughout our lifetime, I'd say having a lipstick made with food-grade ingredients is a good thing! The three colors I received were Beetroot (bold berry), Gazpacho (true blue-based red), and Pepper (dusty rose). I think Influenster did a great job choosing the colors for this box, because even if you don't love all of the colors, you're bound to like at least one. The Amuse Bouche line is made with "12 edible oils and triple milled pigments, providing saturated lip color with weightless coverage and a citrus flavor made from fresh pressed fruit." These do have a citrusy scent and flavor, which the Luminous line didn't have (to me), but it's not unpleasant. All three colors are extremely pigmented, so a lipliner and a light hand will be your friend. I don't think I own any other bullet lipsticks that are this pigmented. I find all three to be very moisturizing and, even though they aren't marketed as such, long-wearing.

(Top to Bottom: Pepper, Beetroot, Gazpacho)

The above swatches are two swipes of each color. Beetroot gets a lot darker with each layer.

The above is Beetroot applied with a light hand and even then, I blotted some off. 

The above is Pepper, my favorite of the three. It's a perfect neutral, and I love it. I couldn't get a decent picture of me wearing Gazpacho (it was rainy the day I wore it), but it is as described, a true blue-based red. 

The Luminous Creme lipstick I have is in the color Vouvray, which is a light pink color. I love that lipstick, but it doesn't have the opacity that the new line does. Weirdly, that's one of the things I like about it. My lips are naturally pigmented, so sometimes I like a lipstick that isn't full coverage so my natural lip color can peak through. Super opaque lipsticks can sometimes look strange on me. The Luminous Creme line was also $24 a lipstick, and the Amuse Bouche line is $26.

To sum it up, the Amuse Bouche line is creamy, moisturizing, long-wearing, and highly pigmented. If you want a quality lipstick and don't mind spending $26 on it, these are a great pick! 

Which colors are you looking forward to picking up on your next trip to Sephora?

 Thanks for stopping by and reading!

*Some links above are affiliates. 

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. 

*All opinions are always my own. 

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation-A Review!

Hello Everyone!

Two reviews back-to-back! Are you as excited as I am?! If you read my December Favorites, you know I picked up the Makeup Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation, and (obviously) have been loving it. 

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara-A Review!

Hello, Everyone!

If you've been reading my posts, you know that I'm a part of Influenster, and sometimes they send me products to try and review. I am NEVER paid for these reviews, though. I just get to try out new products and let you know my thoughts!

My most recent box contained a full size Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara to try out. I received this before it even hit shelves!

The full size is .32oz and retails for $26. If you haven't heard about this mascara, it was inspired by Marc Jacob's first beauty memory of his mother shaving fibers from a velvet ribbon to create her own faux lashes. That is lash dedication! The wand has a traditional, bristle brush that looks similar to the hourglass wand of the Too Faced Better than Sex mascara, but not quite as large. I actually prefer the brush in the Velvet Noir mascara.

Due to Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's Disease, my eyelashes have thinned over the last four years, so large mascara wands tend to deposit mascara onto my eyelids during application. I experience a negligent amount, sometimes, with this wand. Tip: if you ever get mascara anywhere besides your lashes, wait until it dries before trying to remove it. Once dried, it will come right off. trying to remove it while wet will just cause a mess!

There are some crazy statistics with this mascara, such as 1800% more volume in three strokes and 300% more volume in one stroke. I don't know what kind of nifty gadget they have that calculates those claims, but I don't have one. What I do have, is my experience with this mascara for the last 22 days.

My lashes are blonde, so I always need mascara if I want my lashes to be visible. It is one thing I CANNOT skip. Velvet Noir is supposed to have  "super-concentrated black pigment" and the "Flash Volume Complex" that creates "instant, smudge-proof length and volume in three strokes or less". I agree that this is a super black mascara, which I love. The darker the better. I have experienced no flaking or smudging with this mascara, but I have NOT used it on my lower lashes; I use a specific mascara there. I love the Too Faced mascara, but because it is such a dry formula, it flakes. The "three strokes or less" I also find accurate. 1=Good, 2=Better, and 3=Best, in my opinion. My preference in my lashes is the more dramatic, the better! I don't mess with falsies, so I expect my mascara to really deliver a punch. The formula in the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir is more on the wet spectrum, but it doesn't weigh my lashes down, or cause the curl to fall. I've used this mascara with and without primer, and I love it either way. I love this mascara so much, I used 100 points at Sephora to pick up a deluxe sample as a back up!

(My full size tube next to the deluxe sample from Sephora)

My final thoughts on this mascara are this: I adore it! The formula isn't too wet or too dry, which makes it pretty much perfect. It holds my curl, gives amazing volume, and doesn't flake or smudge. Mascara is one of the most fickle things to recommend to someone. What works for me may certainly not work for you! However, if you have the opportunity, I recommend trying it! As of right now, it is still available as a 100 point perk here. This is my absolute current favorite mascara, and I fully intend on finishing this tube and diving into my small one! I wanted to include it in my December Favorites post, but I didn't receive it until 12/22/2015, so I didn't think it was fair. I bet it shows up in my January Favorites, though! ;)

This was my favorite Influenster box, and I couldn't wait to share how much I love this mascara! 

Have you tried the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir? Will you give it a shot? Let me know what you think!

*Some links above are affiliates.

*The above mentioned product was sent to me complimentary by Influenster, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Bdellium Tools-A Review!

Hello, Everyone!

Today I wanted to bring you a review that I'm very excited to write! I applied to the Bdellium Tools Review Program, and was accepted, so they sent me some brushes to try out! I've had them for a week and a half, but I wanted to test them thoroughly before reviewing them. I received these five brushes to review:

 While these were sent to me, I have purchased from Bdellium Tools in the past. I originally purchased the Studio 787 Duet Fiber Large Tapered Blending brush, the Studio 785 Tapered Blending brush, and the Studio 776 Blending brush. Yes, I have a blending obsession! I was looking to dupe some of my Sigma eye brushes with those three. Sadly, I was disappointed! The 787 is a mix of soft natural and synthetic mixed fibers and the 785 and 776 are all natural fibers. The 787 is very soft, but the other two were rough on my delicate eye area! I felt like they were scratching me! When I received this package from Bdellium, I was curious to try the natural fiber brushes the most to see if they were as scratchy as the eye brushes. Let's start from the top.

 Here we have the Studio 957 Precision Kabuki Brush ($16.50). This is said to be good for applying powder products, cream to powder, or mineral powders. It is a two tones synthetic hair brush, and is extremely soft. Personally, I have been using this for liquid foundations. I've tried it with light coverage to full coverage foundations, and it's wonderful! I usually use the Sigma F80 or the It Cosmetics Flat Top Kabuki for foundation, but I've been reaching for this one since I received it. It is smaller in diameter than the other two mentioned, and not quite as dense, but that's not a bad thing. I can get into trickier areas like the sides of my nose with this brush, and since it's not as dense, it's less likely to leave streaks. It's also easier to clean! I experienced no shedding with this brush.

 A close up of the 957 at a side view

A closeup of the 957 from a top view

 Next, we have the Studio 990 Angled Face brush ($19.00).

 I was really excited for this brush! MakeupbyTiffanyD is always raving about a Chanel brush that she loves, and (to me) this one's shape looks similar. It's said to be good for "whisking powder over the face" or to brush off excess product. To me? This is great to soften my contour, bronze up my face quickly, and (my favorite) to run my bronzer down my neck. This brush is so wide that it covers a large area in no time. You could also use it on your chest or shoulders if you wanted to. I do get a very small amount of shedding when I use the 990, and when I say "small" I mean one hair found on my face. It's usually a tiny hair, not even a full size bristle. Considering my less than stellar experience with the natural eye brushes, I expected this to be scratchy on my face or even irritate my skin. Thankfully, I can say that this is not the case! It's very soft against my skin and I've used it daily since I received it.

A close up of the 990 at a side view

Third in my line up is the Slanted 962 Slanted Blusher brush ($17.00). 

I have a few brushes that are shaped this way, but this one is amazing. If you have any Nars blushes, you are aware that the colors are sometimes sheer but buildable. I used this brush with Nars Doucer the day after receiving it and it picked up so much product that I had to buff out my blush! Doucer has never been that pigmented on my light skin, but this brush made it happen! I haven't used this as a a contour brush yet (and I'll explain why in a few minutes), but it has been my go-to blush brush! I do not experience any shedding with this brush. 

A close up of the 962 at a side view

Then there is the Studio 958 Duet Fiber Powder Blending brush ($17.00). This is, obviously, a great brush to lightly apply powder or blend out powder products. I've been using this to apply setting powder, and it never applies too much. It also doesn't pick up my liquid foundation on the brush, which I do notice with other powder brushes I own. I have had zero shedding with this brush. It's also the only duo fiber brush I received from Bdellium, but I can compare the quality to the duet fiber eye brush I purchased myself. These fibers are extremely soft, which makes using it a pleasure.

A close up of the 958 at a side view 

A close up of the 958 at a top angle

Last, but certainly not least, is the Studio 942 Slanted Contour brush ($11.00). 

 This brush is why I haven't tried the Slanted Blusher brush as a contour brush. This brush is amazing. It looks similar to the Sigma F40, but it's smaller and more dense. I have plenty of other contour brushes such as the Sigma F40 and F05, the Nars Ita brush, the small brushes that come in Benefit's Box O' Powders, and such. I can lightly dip this brush into whichever powder I'm using to contour and achieve perfect cheekbones immediately. My Ita brush doesn't even do that! Out of all five of these brushes, this one is my favorite! I've used it every day and I want a backup! I have a rounder face, and this brush helps me fake a slimmer, more angular face shape! I cannot stress how much I LOVE the 942! It also happens to be the least expensive out of the five reviewed here. ;) I do experience a tiny amount of shedding with this brush, but not every time that I use it. I'll find one or two hairs occasionally. My original Sigma F05 left black hairs everywhere when I used it and when I washed it. I quit using it because of that.

A close up of the 942 at a side view

I hope you enjoyed the review!! Even though these brushes were provided to me by Bdellium Tools to review on my blog, all of these opinions were my honest opinions. I was not paid to write the review; I only received the brushes. I do not have an affiliate link or a coupon code for you guys, but Bdellium does offer free domestic and international shipping on orders over $20! 

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read my review!! If you've tried Bdellium Tools, let me know what you think in the comments below!

*None of the links above are affiliate links.

*The brushes were provided for review from Bdellium tools, but all opinions are my own. 

YSL Black Opium Perfume-A Review

Hello, Everyone!

I’ve really dragged behind in the last month, haven’t I?! It was a busy time; I had some doctor appointments, and just didn’t feel well. There was one week where I didn’t even feel like wearing makeup!! The horror!!

As you may have seen in previous posts, or on my social media, I receive VoxBoxes from Influenster from time to time of products to review. I recently received two boxes, and this is the first one that I would like to share with you!

 Influenster sent out the YSL Black Opium Fragrance (0.25 oz) to be tested, so let’s see what I think!

 First, let’s look at that packaging! It is stunning! It’s a blackened-gray color, with a textured bottle, and the cap pops off to use it. I believe the bigger sizes are sprays. I leave it sitting on top of my vanity so that I can look at it. The bottle I received is an adorable miniature size of the 1-3 oz bottles that you can purchase. Sephora and Nordstrom also carry a .33oz spray fragrance. The price on this ranges from $25 USD (.33oz) to $115 USD (3 oz) at Sephora and Nordstrom. Sephora describes this as “Fascinating and seductively intoxicating, the opening notes of adrenaline-rich coffee and the sweet sensuality of vanilla recline into the softness of white flowers for a modern, young, and vibrant interpretation of addiction” with notes of “Coffee Accord, Orange Blossom, Cedar Wood Essence, and Patchouli Essence”. I am not someone who is really into fragrance. I also do NOT like typical “female” scents that are candy sweet, or scents that are very florally. I actually prefer men’s scents, because I prefer that musky, masculine scent. For the longest time, I only wore a vanilla body spray, and I was happy with that. In all of the notes Sephora describes Black Opium to have; the most noticeable one, to me, is the Cedar Wood Essence. This smells very musky and woodsy to me, with hints of vanilla, which puts it right up my alley! If I had a full size, I would probably spray it a few places, but since this is one that I have to put my finger on the top and tip it over, I’ve been enjoying putting it behind my ears. I have put it on my wrists and the inside of my elbows, but when I put it behind my ears, I catch the scent every time I turn my head! On the bright side, I can make the bottle last longer by only applying it behind my ears! 

This scent doesn’t give me headaches, which is so nice. I’m not extremely sensitive to scents, but I have been known to hang my head out a window for fresh air when a guy at work had on too much cologne. 

I think if you have a chance to get this perfume, even if it’s just the .33oz spray, go for it! It is perfect for fall and winter (although I’m going to wear it until it runs out!). 

*None of the links above are affiliate links.

*I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes, but all opinions are my own.

A Review on ESalon!

Hey, Everyone!

A few months ago, ThatGirlShaexo did a video featuring ESalon, and since she had a coupon code, I wanted to try it! Unless I'm going to do something drastic with my color, I usually color my own hair. I took Cosmetology for three years, so I'm pretty confident I won't totally screw it up. 😜 I had been coloring my hair a dark red for a while, but that is such a hard color to maintain. My natural color (which I haven't seen in YEARS) is a level 6, which is an ashy light brown. Personally, I prefer my hair dark, so when I decided to get rid of the red, I wanted to go to a level 2-3. When you sign on to ESalon, you take a quiz detailing the hair color you have and the color you want, as well as other details of your hair such as texture and condition. They also give you the option to email them a picture of the exact color you want. I emailed them a picture of the color I currently had, as well as a picture of the color I wanted. The next day, ESalon emailed me to say the color I picked was (in their opinion) too dark for me, and they adjusted it to what they thought was more flattering. ESalon did say that if I tried the suggested color, and didn't like it, they would send me my preferred color for FREE. Here was my package:

At checkout, you can add extras to your order such as gloves, hair clips, and a mixing bowl. I didn't order any of those since I already had the necessities, but you do have the option. This kit came with my personalized color, coloring brush, gloves, packets of shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, and two color applications. Depending on your hair length you'll use one or both during application. I was able to get two separate coloring applications out of this kit. If you've ever colored hair, this will look familiar to you, since it's the standard "mix the color with the developer" solution. I followed the directions (even though I usually do it my own way) because I wanted to be able to give a complete and honest review. Since I was coloring all of my hair a new color, I followed the directions for a full head. A few weeks ago, I re-colored and followed the directions for root touch-up only. I didn't have a good before picture, but here's the after:

Please excuse the makeup free face. 😉

My hair usually grabs color extremely fast, and if I'm not careful, I can end up with "hot" roots and darker ends. I was afraid that would happen since I was following directions to a T, but it didn't! I had even color from roots to ends! With the full head and the root touch-up, everything was even! No hot roots, no darker ends, and no patchiness! With the coupon Shae had (which I can't find anymore) I got the kit for around $15 after shipping, but without the coupon its $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping. It is a subscription, but you can choose your delivery schedule (three months, six months, etc), and you can skip whenever you'd like. If you're used to going to a salon, but don't like paying the salon price, this is a great alternative to try. If you usually buy boxed color, you may find this more expensive, but the quality is great. Plus, you have the advantage of customized color. You also get your own color consultant that you can talk with. I really think it's a great hair color option! 

If you've tried it, what did you think? 

*this item was purchased by me and all opinions are my own. 

*this is not a sponsored post. ESalon has no idea I'm reviewing their product. :)

Anastasia Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette-A Review

Hey, Everyone!

There's a whole lot of buzz going around right now over the ABH Shadow Couture Palette, so I thought I would put my opinion out there as well! I purchased mine from Ulta the day it released, but it's available at other retailers as well.

The packaging is really pretty, with a standard flip top and a black and gold design. There are twelve shadows, a decent size mirror, and a double ended brush on the inside.

There are four mattes, five satin/shimmery shades, and three metallic shades. I've been eyeing the color "Pink Champagne" ever since ABH released it, so I was thrilled that it was in this palette. I have the Amrezy palette, and Morocco is a repeat, but a beautiful color to have. There are some great shades in here, but there are some that aren't so great. 

The swatches above are in the same order as they appear in the palette. 

Let's start with the great shades. Pink Champagne is just as beautiful as I hoped it would be. It's a beautiful metallic that you don't even need to foil to get maximum color payoff. Soft Peach could either be a matte highlight or a transition shade, depending on your skin tone. Intense Gaze is beautiful and opaque, and Noir is the blackest black I've seen. Metallic is an opaque gold that has a hint of green to it. Fudge is not a bad color; it's a matte dark brown. Azure is an okay color, but not what I expected or hoped for. It doesn't translate as pretty on the eyes as it does in the palette. It seems to lose some of its "blueness" once you blend it out. Heirloom is the most disappointing, with a horrible color payoff, as you can see above. I was also disappointed in Bellini, Chic, and Spoiled. Those three had poor color payoff, as well. I know I could apply more layers, wet my brush with Mac Fix +, etc, but I don't always have the time to do that. 

For me, personally, there aren't enough colors in this palette to justify it, I already have Moracco, I have matte blacks, and I could just buy Pink Champagne as a single. There's just too many misses in this one for me! 

Thank you for reading, and I'd love if you'd subscribe!

*None of the links above are affiliates.

*All items mentioned were purchased by me and all opinions are my own. 

YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer and Perfector Review!

Hi, Everyone!

I recently received my first VoxBox from Influenster, and they included two new products from YSL to review!

 Inside my box were the new YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer and the Touche Eclat Blur Perfector. I was sent a deluxe mini (.33 oz) of the primer, and a full-size Blur Perfector (.33 oz). The full-size primer is one ounce and retails for $52, while the full size of the Blur Perfector retails for $55.

Let's start with the packaging. The pale pink and gold is absolutely beautiful! It has such a classy and elegant look and feel to it. I've never purchased anything from YSL, due to the price, but I have had a few items on my wish list for a while! I obviously cannot comment on the packaging of the Primer since I only have a deluxe sample size, but the packaging of the Blur Perfector feels very sturdy, and has a great closure. It snaps closed tightly, so I'm not afraid of it coming open and being damaged in my purse.

First, let's talk about the Touche Eclat Blur Primer.

 The full-size primer comes with a pump, but because this is a sample size, it has a spatula applicator. It is described as being an "illuminating primer that blurs imperfections and boosts the radiance of foundation". 

 As you can see in the picture above, there are tiny flecks of gold glitter in this primer to provide the luminous finish. If you do not like glitter on your face, you may not like this. Indoors, this provides me with a pretty glowy finish, but in direct sunlight I can see the gold flecks on my skin. The consistency is the best part about this primer, though! It has a silicone feel to it, similar to the Smashbox Photo Finish primer, but it dries down to a velvety feel as opposed to remaining "slippery" feeling. I always feel like my makeup is sliding around on top of the Photo Finish, and the YSL Blur Primer doesn't make me feel that way. As the name suggests, I do feel like it does a great job of blurring my pores and the small lines under my eyes. It's also a great one to put in the areas where your foundation can tend to crease, such as your laugh lines or in between your eyebrows. I am enjoying it right now during the summer, but I may not use it as much come winter time when I'll be more into matte skin.

Next, is the YSL Touche Eclat Blur Perfector.

Once again, look at that packaging! Even the boxes are beautiful! The Touche Eclat Blur Perfector is a balm-to-powder product that is used to "soften the skins imperfections, while creating a subtle rosy glow effect". You can use it in different ways, such as alone to soften and blur the skin, to set your makeup, or later in the day to remove any oiliness. As I've mentioned before, I have dry skin, so this product idea is genius for someone like me! If you're familiar with the Mally Face Defender, this is a similar concept. It has a silicone, balmy feel to it, that when applied to your face with the sponge, reduces shine and the visibility of pores. One of the things I like better about the YSL Perfector over the Mally one is that once I apply the YSL, it dries down and I can't see or feel it. The Mally is supposed to be the same way, but I don't find that to be true on my skin. Mally's product has a slick, greasy feel to it, and even though it is invisible, I can still see a residue left behind, The Blur Perfector comes with its own small sponge and a velvety black pouch, with two pockets, so that you can carry it around with you, I love the way this performs, but I do have a few complaints. First, when I apply the Perfector over my makeup (to reduce shine or blur pores) it lifts my face makeup off onto the sponge. Which in turn, transfers my makeup from my face into the compact. I can imagine that in the long run, the compact will end up very dirty looking on the inside and could start to harbor bacteria.

All in all, I do think both of these products have some great qualities to them, and I will definitely continue to use them! I haven't experienced any reaction or breakouts from using either one of these, and I have used them both on a daily basis since receiving them.

If you've tried these, I would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave me a comment below and subscribe! Thank you for stopping by and reading!


*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes, but all opinions are my own.

*None of the links above are affiliates.