Top 5 Summer Blushes

I get into these moods- I know I have mentioned it here on MBB before- where I am obsessed with outfits, lipsticks, brushes, fruit, home decor, candles, photography, whatever the obsession is for the week- I get into it. Like for reals. Lately I have been obsessed with blushes. Here are my top picks for this summer!

Milani

Corallina

I think the reason for my obsession has been my latest edition in my blush collection. This baby! Oh me gosh- this is just gorgeous! Baked blushes/bronzers are always pretty in the pan, but this is just on another level. When you swatch this it looks a little lighter and brighter of a shade of coral with tiny flex of shimmer. Once applied, it brings a beautiful color to the cheeks along with a highlighting quality because of the shimmer in it- you do not need a highlight when using this blush. This is not one of those blushes that you need to apply twice. The tiniest bit will make your cheeks pop- I gotta be careful with this one, it packs pigment! Not to mention the packaging looks like it should be on the right side of Ulta {are all Ulta's set up with the higher end products on the right side of the store?} but you can find it in CVS for under $10. If you have never tried any Milani baked blushes, I can honestly say you must!

Wet n Wild Color Icon

Heather Silk

This is another banger at the drugstore. One of those blushes that you cannot swirl your brush in over and over. Lightly tap the brush into the blush then tap off the excess- I repeat, tap off the excess! This baby is pigmented and it is only like 2 or 3 bucks! If your not into the shimmer, then this is the perfect blush for you. It is a matte medium pink. It is the darkest color of the bunch. This is an all year round blush for sure. Love this one.

Physician's Formula

Rose

The packaging is adorable. It even comes with a legit brush that I can actually use {I like to use it for contouring my nose because of the shape- it reminds me of a smaller version of the Nars Ita brush} If your new to makeup I think this is a great pick for you. It's not one of those blushes that is so pigmented that it's hard to use but it is surely buildable. Once applied it looks so beautiful on the cheeks. This is a blush that has some shimmer in it {not as much as Corallina}. This blush is magical- It has a highlighting quality without being crazy shimmery. It does have a little bit of shimmer in the pan but on the cheeks it doesn't look shimmery. It just looks brightening. On top of that it brings a nice pink flush to the cheeks. You will see in the swatch photo, it looks almost identical to Dollface. However, if you swatch more of that brighter pink color as opposed to the baby pink (which is how I usually wear it/how its swatched in the photo) you will get a different color. Thinking back I wished I would have swatched it that way. I need to start wearing more of the brighter color because it is so pretty on the back of my hand right now!

ELF Studio Blush

Pink Passion

I am in love with ELF's Studio Blushes. If I could have, I would have put them all in this blog post but because half of them have broken and have the pan showing, I decided it wouldn't be a very cute photo. So here is a review on the line. Anyways, this blush is the brightest of the bunch: a hot bubble gum pink. It is also a matte blush. It is also extremely chalky, which also makes it very pigmented. Tap off the excess, please! With all of these pros and cons, it is a great blush in my collection and it is well loved- I have been using it more than ever this summer. A great pick for any skin tone!

Tarte Amazonian Clay

Dollface
Another matte pink blush. It swatches just like PF's Rose but without the shimmer. It's hard to swatch! It isn't all that pigmented but again, I kinda like that quality in a blush because you can build it up without having to worry about looking like a clown. This one just does something for me. It is that blush that I go to when I don't know what else to wear.

This blog post goes along with The Summer Edit Pt II. I mentiond some of these in that video and also a couple more. The other one's I mention in the video are some of my favorites but they just do not photograph that well because they look used and worn down, to be frank. So check it out!




Thanx for reading!
<3
Erica

Ulta Haul and Mini Review's

When Ulta was having their %20 off everything in the store, I decided to try some higher end stuff. There was some stuff I needed, a setting spray and primers, but the other stuff it came with were perks! Here's the stuff I got.

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Tarte Prime Shine and Define Kit: $12

It came with 3 mini products. 

The Clean Slate Poreless Perfecting Primer

This was a product I needed. I bought the ELF face primer and found it did nothing. This primer is much thicker and really does cover up my pores. I apply it to my cheek area where I have large pores, and it seems to really smooth them out, especially after I add foundation on top of it. You can tell the places you put the primer and the places you didn't. It looks flawless.

Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer

 I have never tried another BB cream before. I like coverage. The summer is coming and I sometimes don't even wear foundation at all in the summer. It's too heavy. I have tried this once, and I find it more or less evens out my face, but doesn't give me coverage. It does have an illuminating factor to it. There is a slight pearlesent finish. If you have ever tried the Nuxe Dry Oil, I would say the sheen of both of them are similar. The Nuxe Dry Oil is a little more shimmering. This BB Cream is less noticeable. I will not need any highlighter when I use this either. I think this will be perfect for the summer months. Or when I don't feel like wearing makeup.

Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

If you are looking for a natural mascara, you have found it. It's more of a wet mascara and the brush is the old school type of brush, which doesn't bother me. I just wish I got a little more volume and length with it. The good side of that is that it doesn't get all clumpy. It separates more than anything and if I am giving it some credit, it does lengthen, a little bit. Nothing compares to my Mally's Volumizing Mascara these days and this didn't hold a candle to it.

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Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray $14

This was already a Holy Grail. {p.s., I need to update my Holy Grail page bad} Even though my skin is combination. Sometimes dry, other times oily, acne prone skin. I like De-Slick better than All-Nighter because it keeps my makeup in place in the summer humidity and heat. It's really a miracle worker. It has a slight tackiness to it when it dries, almost like a hair spray. But not as severe and sticky as a hair spray. They changed the packaging of this. I like it quite well. I just bought the travel size because it was cheaper. It will probably last me all through the summer. Check Hautelook because they sometimes have these setting sprays on sale. That's what I'm waiting for.

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Too Faced Ready. Set. Prime.

This set came with 2 eye primers. I was all out of my ELF Eye Primer, which I really do love.

Shadow Insurance

Catchy name. I like it. I hear people compare this one to Urban Decay's eye primer and I would say they are similar. How different can an eye shadow primer really get though? This is the thickest eye primer I have ever used. Not that it's too thick and hard to work with. It has a silky feeling to it. It applies nicely and works well. I apply this under my eyes too before I use concealer. I like an eye shadow primer as long as it keeps my shadow {and concealer} in place and also gives vibrancy to my eye shadow. This one is great for that. As is Urban Decay's. And ELF's.

Candlelight

Another eyeshadow primer but it has a pearlesent finish. It has the same consistency as Shadow Insurance. I have yet to really use this in full but I have dreams of using this alone for a simple wash of sheen, under a matte eye shadow to play with a unique finish, using it under my eyes before concealer to brighten without using anything like an illuminating concealer.

xoxo
Erica

Current Beauty Faves

I have not done a favorites blog post in so long! I have had lots of different favorite products in the past few months, but I never did get around to talking about them. Here we go:

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam Foundation:  
After using it a time or 2, I wanted to take it back! I couldn't get used to the peculiar packaging. After using it a while, I started to really love it. I already love the Dream Mousse Foundation in a jar. That one is much more creamy and keeps my face really matte and gives really great coverage. This 1 is really much more airy although it doesn't give as good coverage as the the original Dream Mousse foundation does, it give nice coverage and dries to a nice velvet, almost matte, smooth finish. 

how to find your color

The actual product is hidden in the jar and the color they paint the actual can isn't the color of foundation that comes out. I ended up picking the perfect color match. I knew I am cool toned and I am also on the fair to the light side of the spectrum, so I chose the lightest shade with red/cool undertones. The color on the can looked nothing like my skin tone but the product inside did. Happy camper

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer:
I am a little bummed that mine keeps coming apart from the base because the product gets twisted up to the shaft, not the sponge tip, and there's a bunch wasted! Maybe I got a dud but concerning the actual product, I have been really loving it! You need only a very thin amount and because of the sponge applicator, it dictates how much is being applied to the face which in turn makes it pretty much fool proof. A really thin layer really covers a lot of ground and even outs and blends in nicely. I really love this. I may even love it better then Maybelline's 24/7 concealer!

Maybelline Mega Plush Volume Express Mascara:
I must be loving Maybelline! I am always looking for a mascara that will volumize, but more importantly a mascara that will lengthen. This one, will volumize more and I am not impressed with the length it gives. It gives some, but the ultimate is Revlon's Growlucious. The reason I love this is because of the formula. Once it dries, it doesn't make your lashes brittle or dry. It actually makes them smooth and "bouncy" would be I guess a good way to describe them. I am convinced, because of these points, that it is healthier for your lashes. Take that last comment with a grain of salt as I have no evidence of this. Purely speculation.

Tarte Blush in Dollface:
I wont go too much into detail because I did a whole blog post about this blush. I just love the color and I haven't found a blush yet that lasts as long as this one does on the skin. I love it.

Suave Dry Shampoo:
In the past, I have tried Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo. It was a huge disappointment! I tried and re-tried Oscar Blandi's version reading and re-reading every single word in the directions, convinced that a) I was obviously not doing it right or b) that dry shampoo just wasn't for me. Oscar Blandi's made my hair even more greasy than before. Suaves actually works well! It sucks up all of my oil and keeps me going for another day with gorgeous hair. It even adds volume to it! It say's it's for fine and straight hair, but I have thick, curly hair and it works great for me.

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Eye Liner's for Brown Eyes:
A great deal. You get 3 eye liners for $10. They really are great eye liners too. I have been into the purple and brown ones a lot lately! Nicely pigmented and they last on my eyes. The swatch you see lasted on my hand all night. I tried washing it off with just water and my rubbing it with my hand and it still stayed. I would have swatched the black one, but it was down to almost nothing, then the liner fell out of the tube so, yeah.

ELF Eyeshadow:
This is totally random and I feel a little bad because this eyeshadow duo doesn't even have a name. I got it in a Christmas Pack from last year and also gave one of them away too. Life as a Southern Girl won so maybe she will be the one to benefit from this being added to my faves for inspiration for herself-lol. The eyeshadows are ok quality but with a primer, I have been loving the bronzed color on the lid with the brown color in the crease. Particularly, the bronzed color is actually a pretty good dupe for Urban Decays Smog. Next to Smog, The ELF one is much prettier with more silvery taupe finish, actually. It has more depth. I like it. If you can find it this coming Christmas season, they are really cheap! I found it at Target last year.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray:
I bought this mega size at Sephora when it was on sale for $17. I really love the De-Slick (a Holy Grail) but I ran out and since this was so cheap, I figured I would try this one out! This 1 only keeps your makeup lasting and doesn't keep your face from getting oily like De-Slick does. De-Slick to me is better because of that but this one really does make your makeup last which was my favorite part about De-Slick anyhow. It's one of those products that I can't believe I have been living without it and now a good setting spray is a must. I have only tried Urban Decay setting sprays so far but you have tried another good brand that's a better price, let me know!

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion:
I got this last year for Christmas with my Naked palette. I have never had a high end primer until this one and it keeps my makeup lasting longer then any other drug store brand. It also keeps it from creasing better than any other drug store one too. It creases slightly if I have too many layers but I have really oily eyes lids and I have hooded eyes so that may be why. It also really makes any eye shadow color look that much more distinguished and vibrant.

There you have my beauty favorites! 

If you have Monthly Favorites up on your blog, please link us so we can check them out too! 

as always,
thank you so much for reading
xoxo
Erica

Tarte Blush & Bronze on the Go

Something I almost never indulge in is higher end blush. In fact, this will be only my 2nd high blush. But I seriously love blush. I was just always completely happy with my drugstore blushes. Until, I heard that Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes actually have real staying power. My blush is always the first thing to go on my face. So, thank goodness for Ulta's check out counter. They always have higher end mini products for a fair price. Ulta's checkout counter is how I found out about another holy grail, anyways. So I figured why not?

You get 1 Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface (.11 oz) + 1 Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess (.11 oz) for $15. To be completely honest, I don't see a reason to buy a full size (.20 oz). I feel as if I will not be hitting pan on these for a long time.

You already know how I feel about amazonian clay. I use it in my face wash (Kiehl's) and it is amazing. I like to fact that my blush is all natural, and actually good for you.  This blush has vitamin c, e & beeswax in it as well.

Because it is made with Amazonian clay, not only does it stay in place longer than any other blush, but it also "minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place", as said by TarteCosmetics.com. I can say that statement is completely true. It's funny because I will get oily everywhere else besides where I have applied my blush and bronzer. It is good for other skin types too, see the benefits for your skin type on the site: Blush & Bronzer.

 

Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush

I was happy to find out Dollface was included in this deal. I have wanted it for ages. My skin is fair/light with warm undertones & I think it looks nice on my skin color. However, this is a pretty universal color. It is also fool-proof. Swipe your blush brush into the product. No need to even tap off the excess. It isn't chalky in the least bit (better not be!) And it is very buildable. There is no such thing as over doing it with this blush. I think part of this is because it blends like a dream. Can't say it lasts for 12 hours but I will say it lasts 3-4 hours. That's pretty good for a blush! It is described as a light pink.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess

This bronzer, like the blush has the same staying power & consistency (see above) It does have shimmer in it, but personally it doesn't bother me too much as long as it isn't chunky. I use it for contouring and I think it is the perfect shade for my skin tone/color. Unlike it's counter part Dollface, I think people with light/medium skin tones could pull this off as a contour. Any darker, and it would be nice for a sun kissed highlight, maybe? It can also be worn as an eyeshadow too! So if you want to try this duo out, it's not a complete miss if the bronzer is too light for your skin tone/color. The color is described as a shimmery gold.

Swatches:

*funny story*

While I was at work the other day, the owner had her niece and nephew come in, who are 2 & 4 years old. They are such sweet little babies! (The little boy got mad at his younger sister for calling him a bow. LOL!) Anyhow, the little girl came up to me and asked "whats on your cheek?". Hmmm....I was wondering myself what was on my cheek. When I looked in the mirror, there was nothing there but my blush! ha! That was 2 hours into my day so there you have proof it lasts!

I have always wanted to dive into the Tarte brand. I knew if I ever tried Tarte, it would automatically become 1 of my favorite high end brands. I still have yet to try the Amazonian Clay Foundation! That will be my next purchase from Tarte!

xoxo

Erica