April Ipsy Review and A Blog Make Over!!!

Hi! As you can probably tell, I re-did my blog! Yay! I haven't changed it up since early last year, which is a shame. It got to the point where I didn't even want to post anything on it- as you can probably tell again! So yeah I'm pretty excited about it. There are a few finishing touches {like centering my sidebar. I had a code for it awhile back and then one day, the code stopped working for some reason}. So what do you think?! I love it.

Ok, now for the Ipsy review. I literally love the Glam Bag. You get 5 beauty products for only $10 which is a steal. I realize my blog has been taken over by Ipsy things lately. I blog about what I love and Ipsy is just the best.

Urban Decay 
24/7 Velvet Glide On Pencil // Black Velvet

This month, the Urban Decay eye liner alone is worth more than the bag. It has been some time since I have worn black in the inner rim of my eye. I used to all the time then I got comfortable with brown eye liner up top, nude liner on the bottom, and the usual black liquid liner on the lash line. Today, I used this liner in my inner rim and on the upper lash line. I didn't want to over do it, so I used a matte light brown in the crease and a matte creamy white all over the lid (both shadows from the Stila Dancing With The Stars palette) and it looks really simple but also polished and finished. This liner is a velvet finish, which reminds me of a matte finish but once applied, I can't tell any sort of difference of the finish of this and any other black liner I have. The wear is pretty good- you have a few seconds to play with it- weather you want to smudge it or what but once it sets, it pretty much stays. I did have some product collecting underneath my bottom lash line by the middle of the day but it was nothing I couldn't wipe away. Other then that, it is nice and black and easy to use.

Cailyn
Tinted Lip Balm // Apple Pink

I have gotten a Cailyn product in my Ipsy bag before. I would have liked it if it was in a different color but they make pretty good quality stuff. The format is a pot of product, with a lid and attached to the lid is a nice lip brush. I found the lip brush is extremely nice for lining your lips with the product before hand. I ended up filling in the rest of my lips with it too but that can be a little time consuming considering the size of the brush. The product itself is more or less a lipstick in a pot. The consistency is thin and is pigmented even at that. it didn't take much to get pigment and it didn't dry out my lips either. It's neither hydrating nor drying so even though it is labeled as a lip balm, I wouldn't consider it one. I think of a balm as hydrating. The color is a peachy nude. This color would be perfect for a medium skin tone- it looks a little dark (not too dark) on me, but also like nothing I have. Side note: The name Apple Pink is so cute.

edit:
me wearing Apple Pink. It actually looks better than I thought it did.

City Color
Mousse Eyeshadow // White Gold

at first glance, I thought this was a fine micro shimmer powder. Once I touched it, I realized it was mousse. The consistency is weird! Not like other mousse's I have tried in the past- this one is wet and it has that silicone feeling to it like a primer would. Really strange! As you can see in the swatch, it is a very pretty duo chrome shimmer. I have yet to wear it and honestly, I am a little frightened to wear it. Every time I do the swatch-and-rub test I get shimmer everywhere! It doesn't dry down to anything. I think it tries to be a cream-to-powder but it fails. Maybe I am applying too much? All I know is that I need to double up on the primer and use a very thin layer when I finally use this. I will probably just pop this on the center of the lid- anywhere else may just be too messy and unforgiving. But the color is so pretty! 

St. Tropez
Gradual Tan Anti-Ageing // Multi Action Face

This is apparently gradual face tanner with anti-aging properties. I used it once and I am a little intimidated by it. I don't necessarily want my face tanner than my body. I use bronzer and that is usually enough for me. So yah know this isn't something that I would repurchase or recommend. If it was a gradual body tanner it would be a different story. 

Such a Tease

So Seductive // Lashes

I've said it before and I will say it again- I am not one for fake lashes! I wear them for events and that is about it. My cousins wedding is coming up so I am going to try them out then. Ill post a photo of my FOTD on my Instagram! {@MeetMissJackson}

here's the swatches:

Thank you for viewing!
<3
Erica

August Ipsy Products Review

Better late than never, right? Truth is, I wanted to give myself some time before I started writing all about everything. I find that when I give you a first impression type of blog post, I tend to regret what I said about it a week of two later. My opinion is always changing anyhow and I would rather review these things than haul these things. Every blog is hauling the Ipsy stuff. I actually really like to read and watch the Ipsy hauls. They are what made me want to sign up for Ipsy in the first place. However, I thought I would do what I used to do with Birchbox and review everything. It's more helpful, right?  That's a long winded explanation! Let's move on...

Micheal Todd True Organics
Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub {$18}

I always hear different beauty vloggers and bloggers talking about this skin care line. I have always had it on my wishlist, I just never bought it.  I use Proactiv on a daily basis and have a ton of it, so this face wash was just a wish and not on my shopping list.  It is black. Strange. It is for all skin types and is said to draw out impurities. My skin is combination skin. It is oily and dry and it tends to break out a lot. Even though it is a scrub, it is very gentle on the skin. Gentler than Proactiv. My face feels soft after I use it. Along with the exfoliator in with it, the rest of the formula turns into a foam, not like Proactiv. It is a really good face wash/scrub. I would consider buying this the next time I am out of my Proactiv face wash. I wouldn't normally say something like that so soon in regards to skin care, but this stuff is pretty awesome. It has also been keeping my spots at bay pretty well. All of those things combined, I am sold.

Pacifica
Alight BB Cream {$16}

 I talked about the Coola Tinted Moisturizer that Ipsy sent out last month. I mentioned how I liked it and was the best tinted moisturizer/BB cream I have ever tried, but doesn't wow me. This one on the other hand is great. It has a nice cream finish and doesn't feel too liquidy and like it is sliding off of my face. It has a nice finish to it. It really does blur imperfections and makes my face and skin tone look even. It doesn't cover up my freckles. Honestly, it gives a glow to my face without it being all sparkly. You know those BB creams I am talking about with that sheen to them. {I'm looking at you, Tarte!} Ugh, I hate that finish. To me, this is the perfect BB cream. Being light and airy, and actually covering up imperfections while making my face look fresh. This BB cream has that special something that I didn't even know was possible. Ok, that sounds so dumb. But it's true. Spring of 2014, this will be on my list.

Urban Decay Lipstick
Anarchy {$22}

 If you know me, you know I love bright lipsticks and pink lipsticks. This was right up my alley. It's a very pigmented bright pink that doesn't dry out my lips. That quality is hard to find in a bright lipstick. Because of that, it is the best bright lipstick I have tried. I have never gave a second look to any Urban Decay lipsticks. I have a gloss from UD that I love and now Anarchy is joining my collection of UD lip products. I have yet to meet one I don't like. Even though I like it, I probably won't purchase it. I do not have 1 high end lipstick and if I ever bought one, I would buy one that is more or less wearable for any day, any season, and for any look. I have so many bright pink lipsticks and you can find some really good ones at the drugstore. Maybelline's Fuchsia Flash is almost the exact color of Anarchy. Anarchy is a little deeper in color. The only thing that separates this from the rest is the fact that it stays creamy. 

Mica Beauty
Shimmer Powder in Bronze {$10}

Wow. This is so pretty. Since I got it, I have been using it everyday on my lid. I just tap my finger on the cap and then press it onto my eye lid. I get a nice, rich, duo chrome bronze every single time using that simple method. Sometimes metallic duo chrome eye shadows can be deceiving. They look really pretty in the pan but don't deliver that color onto the eye. This one does not have that problem at all. Granted, I have yet to use a brush with it but my finger works so well with it. I also never get that much fall out, if any fall out. I love this stuff.

Pixi
Lash Boosting Mascara {$17}

I have always wanted to try Pixi. All of their stuff is so cute! This is a deluxe sized sample of mascara. Because of that, the wand is smaller. If I were able to try it with a bigger, normal sized wand I might like this a lot better. Or maybe not, actually, considering that the mascara tends to transfer onto my lid- big time. I have been liking it my for bottom lashes because of those things. Comparing it to my all time favorite mascara, Mally's Volumizing Mascara, Pixi's doesn't make my lashes as full or as long as they would be if I was using my Mally favorite. Pixi's Lash Boosting Mascara makes my lashes longer and volumized, yes. But only to a certain degree. It makes my lashes more long than voluminous. Maybe I am spoiled with my Mally mascara. If it didn't transfer onto my lid so much I might really love it. It's good but not great.

Whoopsie! Almost forgot to include the swatches.

From left to right: 
Pacifica BB Cream, Urban Decay Anarchy, and Mica Shimmer Powder in Bronze. 

I wanted to give you a "swatch" of the BB cream blended out. So where the swatch used to be of the BB cream, it is now a blended out swatch. Not the greatest blending job but you can kind get the idea. From here, it looks shimmery but there is no shimmer in it. I swear! lol

I have really been loving getting the Ipsy bags each month. Birch Box was great because after building up points, you got to get free full sized products. I also miss trying out all the skin care. But, as you can see I got a really nice Micheal Todd face scrub to try out. I find myself actually using these Ipsy products on a daily basis. Not to mention the company was founded my Michelle Phan, debatably, the original beauty blogger.

thank you 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.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

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.

 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

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

Urban Decay's Roller Girl Palette

Thank you to Linh over at Blushology. She had her 100 follower give away and I actually won! I was so stoked! Her blog is really good too, guys. She currently has a couple of Nars blog post's up on her blog right now. Thank you again Linh! I won a few things: Winter Candy Apple Hand Cream {Im saving for winter} Einstein Lip Therapy Lip Balm, Some really adorable shabby chic cards {I have already sent some of those out!}, Physician's Formula Cream Liner {I love those + they made it into my March favorites} + a few samples. The big win was the Urban Decay Roller Girl Palette. It came with a gloss, eye liner, and obviously the palette. That's what I am going to talk about.

I already knew I loved Urban Decay's eyeshadows. I have the Naked palette and my mom and I use it to death. When I seen Naked 2 come out, I realized I would rather have that one. But, I would rather buy some Mac shadows and try those or anything else before I spend the money on an oh so similar Naked palette that I already felt like I had. The colors are different but whatever. That's my reasoning.  

Luckily for me, the Roller Girl Palette came with 2 colors that are in Naked 2. Suspect and Verve. It also has Dark Horse {which is in the original Naked palette}and Woodstock {a bright pink}. 

A looonnggg time ago, I did a FOTD that I wore on my birthday. I followed the Michelle Phan "Birthday Look" tutorial and that look required pink and purple.  I have yet to try Woodstock, but when I do I shall do a FOTD to show you that it is actually wearable. For now, check out my birthday look from 2011

I doubt I have to tell you how blendable and pigmented these shadows are. You probably already know how bomb Urban Decay is, right? The 2 middle colors are the cooler nude colors which I happen to really like. However, I am noticing that those 2 lightest colors are much more pigmented than the lighter 2 colors from Urban Decay's Naked palette {Virgin and Sin} I always preferred using Stila's Kitten in place of Virgin or Sin on my lid because it was so much more pigmented and easy to use. With the Roller Girl palette, I don't have to break out Kitten if I don't want to. Suspect and Verve are just as pigmented and awesome.You will see swatches at the end.

Along with the eyeshadow's, the palette also came with the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey. Whiskey is a very true brown. It is a creamy consistency and so far, I haven't had any problems with it migrating out of my waterline. I have only worn it once thru a workout and it didn't budge. After the shower and washing my face, there was a little smudging but I am surprised at how little. I will need a makeup remover for it. {I love Avon's} I am prone to eye liner's running. I have very watery eyes. Here's a color comparison. The other liner's are pretty good in the waterline too, but I think Urban Decay's Glide-On Pencil is giving these others a run for their money. I have full review's on each of them. Mally's Ever Color Waterproof Eye Liner- Mally's Favorite Things Kit. Physician's Formula's Shimmer Strips "For Blue Eyes"

Lastly, this little Urban Decay Roller Girl kit came with a Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Crush. The color couldn't have been any more perfect for me. I love bright pink lip glosses. This lip gloss cools and plumps. It has a minty taste. I wouldn't say it is the plumpiest of plumpers but it does plump. And cools. I really do like it. It has been in my bag ever since I got it.

ok now for the swatches from the actual palette and the Lip Junkie Lip Gloss. The swatches are in this order from left to right: Crush {lip gloss}, Darkhorse, Suspect, Verve, Woodstock

 

Don't forget to check out Linh's blog Blushology. I know you will love it.

till next time,

Erica

Empty Products/ A Couple Holy Grails {Skin Care Edition}

I have been collecting trash for like months. I just never got around to posting this for whatever reason. It has gotten out of hand so let me get started on this. I have makeup from all catergories, and skin care. let's just start with skin care, then cross the other bridge when we get there. shall we?

One thing you should know is that I have acne prone, combination skin. It used to be oily but I am not sure what happened. Read about that more in the Kiehl's part of this blog post.

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser.
 I knew this was good for acne prone, oily skin. At the time I bought it, my skin was really oily. It is amazonian clay mixed with really tiny exfoliants, which makes for a really thorough, deep clean. The very first time I used it, I remember being so impressed. My skin was the softest, cleanest it has ever been. As the months went on, my skin started to become more dry- not as oily. I am not sure if this is because of the face wash itself but all I know is that right after I would use this, my skin would be really, really dry. So dry, I felt the need {and never forgot!} to use a moisturizer. If you have oily skin, give it a shot but don't pay for it! Yep- get it for FREE! I got mine from Birchbox just racking up points months after months. Here's everything else I got for free from Birchbox.

Urban Decay All Nighter. 
Once you don't have a setting spray, you notice a difference in how long your makeup lasts. At least I did! Think of it as a hair spray for your face. There is a slight stickiness to it once it is starting to dry you can feel it if you touch your face, but it's not so sticky you can't stand it. It is weightless, as promised. I really liked this. It did the job.

Urban Decay De-Slick. 
Another setting spray. I LOVED this one. It is on my Holy Grail Page. This setting spray is for oily skin as the name would suggest. Like I mentioned my skin is more combination. What I really remember this for was keeping my makeup on for the whole day in the hot, humid summer last summer: 2012. If you live in a humid climate, I would recommend De-Slick over All Nighter. Or if you have oily skin. Or if it's hot where you live. 

Borghese Cureforte Moisture Intensifier.  
I got this in my Birchbox a while back. This is a thin serum. It is supposed to moisturize but to really get the benefits of it, you are supposed to use it before your moisturizer, along with whatever else you use. I didn't notice it giving me any moisture but I did notice it making my skin just all around better. When I read up on this product, I read that this is an activator for all of your skin care that goes on after it. So for example, if you use a moisturizer, it's going to make your moisturizer work even harder. I liked it. It was something different and fun to try.

{A rule of thumb for layering skin care goes like this: Cleanser, Toner, Thinnest Serum-Thickest Serum, Thinnest Cream-Thickest Cream. Think of it as thin to thick}

Dr. Hauschka Rejuvenating Mask. 
I got this in this kit from Birchbox.com along with the Kiehl's face wash- again, I racked up my points and bought it with those. I really wished I would have used this correctly because I would have loved it even more I am sure. Just like we have hair mask's that are like conditioners only 10x moisturizing, we have a skin mask moisturizer. Why I washed it off is beyond me because it was so comfortable to use and was seeping into my skin- in a good way. It's a green mask that is a thick lotiony consistency. When I washed it off, I noticed how soft it made my skin. This mask was like nothing I have ever used. It was my favorite mask to date. I am giving this a Holy Grail Award.

Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer. 
I am an avid Proactiv user {have been using it on and off for years} and I always get a little trial size in every Proactiv purchase I make. It is a great basic moisturizer to use and have on hand. I have never had any problems with it. It gets it's job done. I like it better than any of the other moisturizers I receive from Proactiv. I go through these little things all the time.

Juice Beauty Oil Free Mositurizer.
If I was comparing this to the previous moisturizer I talked about, I would say this one is much thicker and better all around. It is really soothing and moisturizes better than any other one I have tried yet. I really noticed a difference in my skin when I used it. Another Birchbox sample. Another Holy Grail Award.

So as you can tell, all of this stuff was pretty good or really awesome. I like when that happens.

hey. I know im annoying but don't forget to vote in the poll in the sidebar for the give away! 

ok!
xoxo
Erica

2012 Besties Awards

 I came up with this catchy name for this short little series I am doing on my favorite products from 2012. There may not be something from every category, but each one of these things I have used and loved all last year. A lot of times, I get swept up in brand new products and love them to death for the first couple weeks {honeymoon phase} then they seem to fall by the wayside. Everything in the Besties Awards have been long lasting romances throughout the whole year. These are things I go back to time and time again.

Best Setting Spray

Urban Decay De-Slick: 

I have tried the All Nighter Setting Spray from Urban Decay and ELF's Setting Spray and this one was my favorite. Surprisingly, I have dry and oily skin. I found that De-Slick made my makeup last longer than any of them and gave my face a nice matte finish. I used this during the summer too and it was a life saver! Here's the full review.

Best Concealer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment:

Maybelline's concealers are a long time favorite. This concealer is perfect for underneath the eyes. It is really thin but gives full coverage and seriously brightens underneath my eyes. The only down side is that the packaging on mine is broken so I have to work at it to twist up more product. If your looking for a good concealer for both under the eyes and on dark spots/pimples, try Maybelline's 24/7 Concealer.

Best Foundation

Revlon Color Stay:

I have tried so many foundations in the past couple of years and I always end up going back to this. Nothing is as full coverage as Color Stay. When they say color stay, they mean it! It dries rather quickly so blending it right away is a must. Once it is actually set, it makes my skin look flawless and gorgeous and covers everything and will stay put all day long.

Best Highlight

ELF Radiance Enhancer in Spotlight: 

Another thing from the Holy Grail page. This is one of those highlighters that have a duo-chrome finish. I wouldn't say this is glittery, instead shimmery. When it hits the light, it really does radiate. For $3, it really doesn't get any better. The packaging is sleek, it has a brush tip applicator, and is really creamy and extremely easy to blend. Any beginner wanting to dive into the whole contour/highlight process, this would be a perfect place to start. I want to do an updated review and demo using both colors ELF has to offer on the Radiance Enhancer range. Coming Soon (: For now, grab yourself a Radiance Enhancer. You won't regret it!

Best Bronzer/Contour Powder

Laura Gellar Baked Blush n Brighten in Honey Dipped: 

I got this in my Birch Box in June of 2011 and it was the sole best thing I have ever received in any box. Even though it has shimmer in it, I find it to be the perfect contour powder for me. Any matte contour powder or bronzer I have tried just looks really tacky and muddy next to my fair skin. In the summer time, this is the perfect all over bronzer because I am a little bit darker. The powder is really nice and is easy to blend. After the 2 years I have had it, it is still my absolute favorite bronzer and I use it more than any other one I have. I have yet to even think about hitting the pan. Talk to me in 2015. Maybe I will hit pan then. Probably not. I have swatched this before here

Best Blush

YBF Golden Gleam Bronzer & Baby Pink Blush Duo: 

The bronzer side is nice, yes, but I want to pay tribute to the blush side. This is the blush I kept on going back to all year last year and will most likely continue to do so in 2013. When ever I can't make my mind up, this is my go to blush. It is such a pretty shimmery baby pink color that creates this beautiful flush on my cheeks. The phrase "lit from within" was made for this blush. I don't hear much about YBF Beauty but the company is a diamond in the rough! Check out HSN. They sell YBF (which is where I purchased it) value kits for a really good prices. Here's everything I got in my value kit when I ordered along with swatches of this duo. It's a really good blog post.

left: ybf blush/bronze duo. right: laura gellar baked blush n brighten

Best Eyeshadow

 Stila Eyeshadows

Yes, I own the Naked Palette and it's great and all, but not as great as the Stila eye shadows I own. The lighter shades in the Naked Palette aren't as pigmented as Kitten from Stila . Same thing goes for the matte shades. Stila's Kitten is my absolute favorite eye shadow in the world and thats because it doesn't take much to get pigment on my eyes. All of the Stila eye shadows I own are always so velvety, creamy and pigmented and I almost always use at least 1 of them on a daily basis. Here's a swatch I did of Kitten, Terracotta + Jezebel.  I would gladly do a blog post on my full Stila eye shadow collection. Those swatches are old. I can do a better job! Let me know if your interested.

Best Eye Liners
Any of the Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips

I picked these because they are the only drug store eye liner I used in 2012 that stayed in my water line the whole day and kept the pigment and didn't run down my face. I actually had a lot to say about these, so check out the review I did for them a couple days ago. You can also find swatches there too.

Best Mascara
Physician's Formula Organic Wear

I did a full review complete with pictures of the brush and it on my lashes. Check it out.

Top 10 Nail Polishes and Favorite Lip Products deserve their own separate blog post. Otherwise this blog post would be way too long! It might be labeled "Bestie's Award's" and it might not be. It depends on how long it takes me to get them up (: Don't worry! It will only take a couple weeks, tops.

What was your favorite product from last year?
Would you be interested in a Stila eyeshadow collection blog post?

till next time,
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

Serious Holy Grail + New Holy Grail Page!

Wow. I have no clue how my makeup braved the summer months without this puppy. In all honestly, it really never did. Sure I used a primer thinking that that was as good as it gets: there's no "perfect fix" for in-tact makeup on summer days. Until now!

I find when I use the De-Slick I don't even need a primer to make my makeup lasts. (If I wanna fill in my pores, that's a different story! I will need a primer!) This seems to hold up on even the hottest, humid days. I got ready, ran errands, came back 5 hours later only to look in the mirror and notice my flawless skin. But wait! That's not my skin! It's my foundation still in the same place I put it hours ago! I knew right then I was hooked on this! 

As for the powder(s) on my face holding up, it was 50/50. All in all, the blush lasted longer than usual but not as long as the bronzer and foundation. Let's just say it will be there until you wash it off!

My mom has even been using it. Every time she walks out the door for 5 minutes, her makeup melts immediately. Since she's been using this, she mentions that nothing else has ever had this effect. Her makeup stays put!

The De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray is the oily skin version! FYI: My face can get oily sometimes so I grabbed this one! My mom's face is not very oily at all and it worked for her! They do have other setting spray's for other types of skin so check your local Ulta! 

Urban Decay teamed up with Skindinavia to create these setting sprays. If you can't find a good setting spray for your skin type with Urban Decay, Google Skindinavia and find their website to see if they have another version of a Setting Spray that may work better for you.

One more product to put on the Holy Grail Page!

Have you guys checked out my Holy Grail Page?! It has been under construction for a while and I just recently put the finishing touches on it for a great list of great products! Check it out! Let me know what you think!

What is your holy grail must have?

p.s.: I will be back before Sunday night for a really fun Kardashian workout! If your watching the new one on Sunday, spice it up with a corresponding workout! I also have a Teen Mom workout too! Oh yeah! Get exited!

xoxo

Erica