Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks

Hi Makeup Lovers!

I'm here today to share my thoughts on the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks.  A few years ago, I had one of her Long Wear Cream Shadows in a pot.  I thought that product was just ok--it tended to crease on me about halfway through the day.  The long-wear shadow sticks are a different story.  The formula seems to be improved over the pot form--these stay on all day and do not crease on me.  Plus, there's just something so easy and convenient about using products in stick form (even though I always use my fingers to blend after drawing it on).

Over the last few months, I've acquired three and a half (three full size and one sample size) of these and have been wearing them a ton!  Below, you'll find my thoughts on the shades I own.

Vanilla
Vanilla is a light matte vanilla (duh) color.  Though it's one of the more boring shades, it's one of my favorites, and it's the one I reach for the most.  It's great to use from lashline all the way up to the brow and makes the perfect base for layering underneath other long wear shadow sticks or powders.  Whether or not you buy this particular product, everyone needs to own some type of shadow or base in this color.  For a very simple eye, I'll use Vanilla all over with a light, neutral shade in the crease, mascara, sometimes liner, and that's it!  On days when I don't want to wear any eyeshadow, I'll just use this under the brow.  It makes the perfect brow highlight.

Sand Dune
Sand Dune is a beautiful warm nude shade.  This is great to apply from the lashline into the crease.  For the simplest eye, this can be worn alone.  It's a great warm neutral base underneath shadows.

Nude Beach
Nude Beach has a mauve shift and is more of a cool-toned neutral.  This one is similar to Sand Dune in that it makes a nice shadow from lashline into the crease either on its own or underneath shadows--it's just a more cool-toned option.  I do like this one, but I probably wear it the last out of all the cream shadow sticks I own because I'm typically more drawn to warmer shades.  However, I will be experimenting more to find a combo of shadows I enjoy wearing over this.

Golden Bronze
Golden Bronze is just that--it's a golden bronze.  This shade is stunning.  I said Vanilla was one of my favorites.  Golden Bronze is absolutely my other favorite.  I like to put this on my lid and into the crease, and I also love putting this on my lower lashline.  It looks beautiful on its own, and you can layer it under shadow for even more dimension.  Usually though, this is my one-stop shop if I'm wearing it.

L-R: Vanilla, Sand Dune, Nude Beach, Golden Bronze

Overall, I think these cream shadow sticks are phenomenal and have become go-to eye products for me.  Give them a try--you won't be disappointed!

xoxo,

Reference for Product Reviews

I often get asked for product recommendations.  When I do recommend something, the next question is usually about who recommended it to me or how I found it.  The answer is usually pretty simple--I heard about it on YouTube.  Often times, I will listen to product reviews from beauty bloggers.  If something peaks my interest, I'll immediately begin doing my own internet research to see what I can find out about it to make an informed decision before purchasing.  If you're a beauty product junkie like me, you learn to do this quickly.  Why?  Well because if you don't, your makeup collection gets out of control!  Well, friends, I have some good news.  I've recently heard about a site that makes researching products much easier.

The site is called reviews.com.  It is just what it sounds like--it's a site completely dedicated to reviews.  It reviews products by category, but it's not even just about products.  They also review insurance, health and fitness, job sites, and other services.  For the purposes of the content on my blog, we'll stick to some beauty product reviews today.  The categories that caught my eye included eye cream, BB cream, and dry shampoo.  I'll use the eye cream category as a reference, which can be accessed here: https://www.reviews.com/best-eye-cream/

This site has to be one of the most comprehensive review sites I've ever seen.  They've broken it into best eye creams for wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness, and they even included some runners up and finalists.  They explain why other products were disqualified and why they picked certain products for each issue.  They include summary tables, photos, pricing, and a link to purchase the products.  Another interesting feature is the "Contenders Out" heading.  When you click on that, it shows you all the eye creams that got disqualified based on a certain standard.  They eliminated 119 eye creams on the basis of parabens, fragrances, and mineral oils.

I hope you'll check this site out next time you're searching for the perfect product.  Typically when I used to research something, I'd have to visit multiple sites and read several reviews to decide if I wanted to buy it.  Reviews.com makes it so much easier and is a one stop shop with their comprehensive and detailed site.  I'm so impressed with their guides and will definitely be referencing them going forward.  You can access their site here: https://www.reviews.com/homepage_/

I hope this post was helpful!  I'd love to hear your experience and thoughts if you visit their site.

xoxo,

Foundation Stick Comparison: Bobbi Brown vs. Hourglass

I love the convenience and the idea of a stick foundation.  It's easy to travel with, you don't have to worry about it spilling and making a mess, and it can easily double as a concealer.  I currently have the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in my collection in the shade 4.5 Warm Natural.  Last week, I received a sample of the Hourglass Seamless Foundation Stick in my Play by Sephora subscription box in the shade Beige.  I was intrigued to see how the two compared since Bobbi's was the only one I had ever tried.

No face makeup

Left (bangs side): BB Skin Foundation Stick in 4.5
Right: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Beige

Foundation with loose setting powder, bronzer, and blush because I don't like to look dead

Top: BB
Bottom: Hourglass 

Here is what I noticed:

Shade
As you can see from the last picture, the shades 4.5 in BB and Beige in Hourglass are almost identical.  I also did half of my face with BB and half with Hourglass, and I couldn't tell any difference in either indoor or outdoor lighting.

Texture/Staying Power/Blendability
While the Bobbi Brown stick has a nice texture, the Hourglass variety is noticeably creamier and easier to blend.  The finish it provides is a bit more dewy versus what I get with the Bobbi Brown.  They both provided great coverage.  They both hold up well throughout the day, and neither of them seem to make my skin greasy after all day wear (keep in mind, however, that my skin is normal to dry).  Speaking of having normal to dry skin, neither of these foundations cling to dry patches or accentuate any dryness.  My preferred method of blending stick foundations is to use my fingers.  I think the warmth from my skin helps to blend stick foundations better than a brush or damp sponge.  When using a stick foundation, I don't typically use a concealer--I just blend the foundation under my eyes.  That is what I did in these photos.  I've mentioned before that the light and bright under eyes is not a good look for me, so I like to use something that matches my skin for that area.

Price
Perhaps the only drawback I can think of for both of these is the price.  Bobbi Brown's is $46 for 0.31 oz, and Hourglass's is $46 for 0.25 oz.  They are both high end brands, so a high price tag on these items is to be expected, but $46 is still more than I care to pay for a foundation (I purchased Bobbi Brown's during her friends and family sale in November when it was 20% off).

Final Thoughts
These stick foundations are very similar, and I love them both.  When looking at purchasing one over the other, Bobbi Brown's is a very slightly better value when you look at it from a mathematical perspective.  However, the difference in the amounts of product in each stick is so minimal that value is not a make it or break it point for me.  If I could only choose one, I would probably opt for the Hourglass stick.  I was impressed by its creaminess and blendability.  That being said, Bobbi Brown's is pretty great too.  One determining factor between the two may be shade selection if you're still unsure which one to buy.

That's all for today--please let me know if you've tried either of these, or if there are other stick foundations you prefer!

xoxo,

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

If you know me, you know that I love mascara.  The vast majority of mascaras I have tried are from the drugstore.  I think it's hard to justify the price of a higher end mascara when there are so many great ones at the drugstore.  My all-time favorite is L'Oreal Voluminous.  The original and carbon black are my favorite varieties.

I've read over and over that a cult favorite (and a top pick for makeup artists) is Maybelline Great Lash.  This stuff has been around forever.  It's likely that if you're reading this blog, you've tried Great Lash at some point in your life.  If you haven't tried it, you've most certainly seen it in stores.  It's impossible to miss with its iconic pink and green packaging.  I think I owned this back in middle school or high school when I was just getting into makeup, but it's been so long that I didn't remember anything about it.  I decided to try it again to see if it was really worth the hype.

 

Now, there are a few varieties falling under the Great Lash umbrella.  I ended up purchasing the original in dark brown (this was a mistake--I meant to buy black), but I decided to keep it and try it out anyway.  The first time I tried it, it didn't really do anything for me.  It's been my experience that mascaras usually need some time to dry out in order for them to do what I want them to, so I never judge a mascara on its first use.  I've now used it about four times, and I've decided that I am a fan of this stuff!

Three coats of Maybelline Great Lash mascara in dark brown (two coats on the bottom lashes)

I love the way it fluffs my eyelashes out.  Some of my lashes (especially on my left eye) tend to clump together with this mascara, but I am not someone who minds that because I can work with it to create volume.  I think it still gives decent separation, and I probably could have separated the lashes a little more if I spent more time here.  I did three coats on the top lashes and two on the bottom.  After having used it a few times, it's building pretty well as I layer it on.  I like to do one coat on my right eye, one on my left, a second on my right, a second on my left, etc in order to give it a little time to dry.  This technique works pretty well for me with any mascara.  Also, I love how soft my lashes feel with this stuff!  I'm really not surprised by that, though.  After all, one of its claims is that it "conditions while it thickens."

While L'Oreal Voluminous remains my favorite, I'm really happy I tried Maybelline Great Lash.  It exceeded my expectations; I didn't have high hopes for it.  I will definitely continue to use it and will likely purchase it again in the future (but in black).  I also love how inexpensive it is!  Ulta sells it for $5.99, but I was able to find it at Target for $4.49.

If you've used Great Lash, I would love to hear about your experience with it!

xoxo,

Accutane - Is it Worth it? (Guest Post!)

Hope everyone enjoys this post about Accutane from my awesome sister-in-law, Heather!  If you have any questions for Heather, please leave them in the comments below!

XOXO,





Accutane - Is it Worth it?

As a teenager and all throughout adulthood, I always had acne breakouts. They were mostly located on my chin and under my nose. When I went to college, I always assumed that acne breakouts were a “teenage” thing and they would eventually go away. But they didn’t.

Fast forward 10 years, and at age 28, I was still dealing with the same breakouts. I felt like I had tried everything - special lotions, face wash, ProActiv, Retin-A -you name it. Everything under the sun that had promised clear skin never worked for me. Like clockwork, every week or so I would find another huge pimple on my chin or under my nose. I always tried to cover these up with concealer, but it always ended up making my face look even more greasy.

In the summer of 2016, I finally decided to see a dermatologist. After hearing about everything I had already tried, my dermatologist recommended Accutane. I felt like I had heard a lot of bad things about Accutane, but he promised me that Accutane would be successful, and he had over 1,000 happy Accutane patients. So I decided to give it a shot.

Accutane is a more serious commitment than any medicine I’ve ever taken. You cannot take Accutane if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant - it will cause birth defects. As a result, you have to take a pregnancy test 1 month before you start, each month you’re on Accutane, and 1 month after you complete Accutane. You also need to take a monthly blood test, commit to a monthly dermatologist appointment, and fill out an online questionnaire about birth control every 30 days before you are able to refill your next 30 day prescription. I was on Accutane for 5 months, so the entire experience was about 7 months in all.

The number one thing you will experience on Accutane is the DRYNESS. I never imagined my skin could be SO dry. The inside of my nose was so dry, it was constantly clogged with boogers. I quickly learned that applying Aquaphor to the inside of your nose helped alleviate the dryness. My scalp was so dry that I only needed to wash my hair about once every 8-9 days. This was probably the one nice thing about Accutane, because who likes washing their hair everyday anyway? The rest of my skin was dry too - particularly my hands, face, and lips. Having lipstick stay on was a challenge. I developed a couple dry skin patches/rashes on my face and hands which was very unpleasant as well. I wasn’t happy about my skin’s dry appearance, but I was hoping it would be worth it in the end.

However, after about 2 months on Accutane, I noticed that I was no longer experiencing my routine breakouts. The skin on my face was dry and almost scaly, but the pimples were gone! I didn’t want to get my hopes up, and of course completed the 20 week cycle of pills. But when it was over, I still did not have a single pimple. My skin was completely clear for the first time in years - maybe ever. It was an amazing feeling.

I have now been off of Accutane for 4 months. The side effects of the drug linger for about a month, and then your skin returns to normal - except for the breakouts. At 4 months post-Accutane, I still have not had a breakout! I never thought I could actually be free of the constant pimples and redness.

If you feel like you’ve tried everything to clear up your skin, I would highly recommend Accutane. It was definitely a commitment, and the side effects were not always pleasant, but the end result was everything I had hoped for.

Left: One month before starting Accutane
Right: One month after completing Accutane

100% Cream Product Look

Today was one of those days where I sat at my vanity to do my makeup with no planned look in mind.  Maybe it was the dreary weather that had me longing for that summertime glow, or maybe I just wanted to play with makeup I haven't used in a little while.  Whatever the reason was, I went for all cream products.  I love the look of creams--they can often look more natural than powders, and they leave a fresh, dewy, beautifully glowy, youthful finish.

I used the following products for today's look:

*It Cosmetics CC Cream in Tan mixed with Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 4.5 
I mixed them to get the perfect color match for my skin right now.  I also like the texture of the two when combined--the Charlotte foundation is more satin, and the It CC provides more moisture.  By the way, I did apply moisturizer underneath.  In the summer, I can usually get away with using the It CC as both my moisturizer and foundation.

*Maybelline Fit Me Concealers in Medium and Deep
These shades on their own don't quite work for me, but they're great mixed together.  I may be the only person in the makeup world who doesn't like a super bright under eye area.  Maybe I'm not doing it right, or maybe I haven't found the right products, but that trend does not work for me at all.  It makes my under eye area look grey.  Gross.  I prefer to match my concealer to my skin as opposed to some YouTubers who like to go 22 shades lighter.  In summary, do what works for you!

The formula of this concealer is great, and for whatever reason, I like it a lot more now than when I first tried it a while back.  It's the only concealer I've used recently that doesn't make my under eye area look like alligator skin.

*ELF Aqua Beauty Blush and Bronzer in Bronzed Pink Beige (I only used the bronzer)
This is a wonderful cream duo that will cost you a whopping $6.  I believe it comes in two other colors.  The bronzer and blush are great (use a light hand with the blush!).  The bronzer is a really nice shade for me.  And, according to Jambeauty89 (one of my favorite YouTubers), it's similar to the Chanel Tan de Soleil cream bronzer.  This is one I've wanted to try for ages, but when it comes down to it, I can't bring myself to shell out $50 for it.  So, at least for now, I'm happy with my ELF version.

*Pixi MultiBalm in Wild Rose (used as a blush)
This is a great drugstore cream blush!  It's a nice texture and color, and it seems to last a while on my skin.  I like that it dries down and doesn't stay tacky like some cream blushes, which can be annoying.  It comes in a few other colors as well.

*NYX Away We Glow Highlighter in Moonbeam
I used this stuff on the tops of my cheekbones.  It took me a few tries to get the hang of it.  The best way I've found to apply it is to use 3-4 dots where I want it and blend it in with a brush right away before moving to the other side of my face.  It sets pretty quickly and needs to be blended right away.  It's a beautiful highlighter, and I'm glad I tried it several times before giving up on it.

*Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Dark Pearl
I talked about this pretty recently.  It's a beautiful cream eyeshadow that stays put all day!

Add some mascara and brow product, and that's today's look!  I didn't put any color on my lips--I just used my trusty Jack Black lip balm.

If you're intimidated by cream products (and many people are), I hope this inspires you to venture out and try some!  They're not nearly as scary as they seem.

XOXO,

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup

I've been hearing more and more about Charlotte Tilbury makeup through the YouTube beauty community.  A couple months ago, my mom and I stumbled across a Charlotte Tilbury counter in Nordstrom.  We just happened to catch it on the day it opened, and they were offering free makeovers, which I of course had to take advantage of!  Don't you just love getting your makeup done??  It's so soothing, almost like a spa experience.  Anyway, the artist tried a few products on me.  If you're interested to see what I've since purchased from the line, read on.

 Wonder Glow
This is an illuminating primer.  You can use it as a traditional primer underneath foundation.  You can also mix it in with your foundation or use it alone.  This stuff is pricey (honestly, that's pretty consistent across her line), but this is one product that is absolutely worth the splurge.  It gives you such a beautiful lit-from-within glow without looking glittery.  It's subtle and makes your skin look healthy.  The artist who put it on me called it "Gisele in a bottle."  I love wearing it alone or underneath the foundation I'll mention next.  It retails for $55 and can be found here.

Magic Foundation
This foundation is really great.  It comes in a beautiful glass bottle with a pump, which is always a bonus.  It blends in really easily with a Beauty Blender (my favorite), a brush, or even your fingers.  Once blended in, it leaves a beautiful, flawless satin finish on the face.  It holds up pretty well throughout the day.  I think most skin types could use this, although it can cling to dry patches, so be sure to moisturize well before applying this.  It looks even better with Wonder Glow underneath.  It also hasn't irritated my skin or broken me out.  I am in the shade 4.5.  Check it out here.

Color Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil
This may be the most impressive product I've tried so far from her line.  I love cream eyeshadow sticks.  It doesn't get any easier than drawing some on and smudging it out.  The problem is that they almost always crease on me or wear off throughout the day.  This stuff is so easy to use, and it stays put all day (and it has been tested through a workout!).  I have the color Dark Pearl.  It's absolutely stunning on its own but also looks great layered underneath the eyeshadow quad I'll mention below.  It's perfect for the lower lashline, too.  Possibly the only downside to this pencil is that it's not retractable and does need to be sharpened.  However, it's something I'm willing to put up with because I love this product so much!  Check it out here.

Side note: please excuse the line on my wrist from my hair tie :)

Luxury Eyeshadow Palette
This was the item I needed the least out of the bunch--I needed another eyeshadow palette like I need a hole in my head.  But it was something I kept thinking about for quite a while after the artist used it on me, so I finally decided to bite the bullet.  I own the one called The Sophisticate.  I am so happy with this purchase.  The shadows blend really nicely, and the colors are beautiful.  It's small and is great for travel.  On a day-to-day basis, I use the lightest two shades to just give my eyes a little definition.  If I'm going out, I love dolling up the look with the two darker shades.  And, as I mentioned above, it looks awesome layered on top of the Color Chameleon pencil.  If you have a lot of eyeshadow in your collection, this is probably not a necessity.  It is, however, a nice splurge.  I have used it almost every day since I bought it and am happy to have it.  It's become my new go-to palette.  If this is something you're interested in, you can find it here.

Overall Thoughts
So far, I'm very impressed with this line.  I think my collection will only grow from here.  It also doesn't hurt that her products are beautifully packaged!  Who doesn't love a little rose gold?

Thank you so much for reading!  Please comment and let me know what your favorite Charlotte Tilbury products are!


XOXO,