BECCA x Chrissy Teigen Lip Icing Glow Gloss Kit

Now Halloween is over I can finally talk about Holiday collections. Christmas collections! These BECCA Cosmetics lip glosses are a limited edition set, collaborated with the glowy (and hilarious) beauty herself, Chrissy Teigen. They’re minis, keep that in mind. Clutch-sized, even. You know, for all those holiday parties coming up. I personally love the pigment payoff, some more sheer than others. But they’re easy to wear, for folks like me who can’t figure out where their lip line ends or create a crisp line for those deep forever lasting lipsticks. It’s something you can’t mess up, these glosses. And I love’em.

Here’s the lowdown.

The formula isn’t sticky. Great!

These glosses are 4 brand new shades.

The cost? $29USD / $35CDN.

They are lightly scented of vanilla. I couldn’t tell, really. But I’m not looking for smelly glosses.

Creme Brulee is a sheer shade, the sheerest of them all. A pinky nude with an iridescent pearl.

Cinnamon Bun is more of a bronzey shade with a golden pearl.

Sugar Plum is a mauve with a golden pearl.

Candy Cane a gorgeous red with a white pearl.

Who will buy a set? You?

 

 

Continue Reading

My first Artis Brush: the Elite Mirror Palm Brush

It’s hard to really gauge how a foundation applies in photos. At least I can’t seem to photograph it for the life of me. I wasn’t sponsored or asked to do this review on the Artis Brushes, because I already posted a review for Octoly on my Instagram feed about it (and that’s all they “require”). But because I was interested in using them before I asked to review them, I thought it’d be helpful for you guys to hear my thoughts about how they work — especially if you’re considering purchasing one. They’re none too inexpensive either, this Elite Mirror Palm brush will run you $65 USD.

The first day I used it (actually it was the day I posted the photo, so August 24), I ended up using my regular eye cream, the Aveda Tulasāra eye masque, and the BECCA Velvet Blurring Primer. I skipped moisturizer altogether (my fault) and went straight into foundation. My skin needs moisturizer; it’s dry as a friggen bone. I guess I was too excited to use the three new products (Artis Brush, and 2 Becca products).

Common sense had me thinking that the Artis Brush would suck up too much of the foundation if I squirted it on the brush, or the back of my hand and dipping in with said brush. So I pumped out a bit of foundation and dabbed it onto my face and blended it in with the big ol’ palm brush. Artis commented on my Instagram post saying something similar to my thoughts that I wrote to a friend:

that’s the best technique with liquids and creams! Powders can be picked up directly with the tips of the fibres. Each fibre comes to a microscopic tip that the product rests on, so the brushes will never soak up a ton of product.

The Artis Brush spreads out the foundation easily and streak-free, but gives full coverage, at least with the foundations I’m using it in conjunction with; and you only need 1 dab. I did 2 dabs not thinking, and it was too much foundation making me look cakey and dry (my fault). Literally it glides on making the foundation look flawless (lol how). But the first try, like I said I didn’t use moisturizer (just a primer) which was a mistake — I looked really dry. So I had to go back in with a beautyblender to make it less full coverage/dry.

So far I’ve used the Artis Brush with the following foundations: BECCA Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème, Estee Lauder Double Wear + Burberry Cashmere foundation combo, then Estee Lauder DW + Dior Hydra Life BB Cream (can you tell I like to mix and match my foundation combos?). I haven’t tried it with something like a regular BB cream on its own, because when I wear foundation I want to wear foundation. Not wear something lightweight, at least not now in this past little while.

My face (duh who elses? lol..) after applying moisturizer + BECCA foundation, using the fancy-pants Artis Brush. Then a somewhat up-close shot. Eehhh….

I didn’t use the palm brush to just apply my foundation, I went back in with the other end of ‘er, and dipped the bristles into my bronzer. This is where I noticed that the brush applied the bronzer with more of a lighter hand. Usually with my Dior Kabuki Brush #17 it packs on colour quickly and easily. Not to say that the Artis brush doesn’t — it’s just like you’re using a lighter hand. I guess it’s a good thing it didn’t pile on the bronzer (but I do love a heavy hand with bronzer).

The brush itself is easy to hold, soft on the skin, and non-irritant. It doesn’t scratch my sensitive face at all. I’m surprised at how diverse it is between liquid and powder products. The only qualm I have with it, is the size. I often reach for tools that will easily fit into my mini makeup bag and leave tons of room for my other ‘travel sized’ items. I don’t know why I’m so obsessed with having everything zipped up in a tiny bag, but I am. Either way, I’ll still keep it into my rotation of brushes for daily use. It’s good!

There ya have it! My somewhat mini-review of the $65 Artis Elite Mirror Palm Brush. Hope this was somewhat helpful for you guys!

Shop the products listed in the blog post:

Continue Reading

Dior Lip Launches Rouge Dior Liquid & Rouge Dior Double Rouge Lipstick

Dior has some new beauty launches coming out in September and they’re both lip launches. The Rouge Dior Liquid & Rouge Dior Double Rouge Lipstick.

Dior Rouge Dior Liquid Lip Stain, and as you can tell, I have three of the 29 shades available. Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, Peter Philips created 29 shades in 3 textures in Rock Mattes, Pop Satins, and Electric Metallics, for the Liquid Lip Stain.

The Liquid Lip Stain wand has a doe foot applicator with I suppose you could call a pocket where extra products sits until you want to use it, making the product a one-swipe application.

Here’s the swatches on my lips (swatches on my hand, above!):

Dior Rouge Dior Liquid| 334 Vibrant Metal

Dior Rouge Dior Liquid| 585 Shock Matte. Despite the matte liquid lip it doesn’t feel drying on the lips at all, in fact it feels quite similar in formulation to the other Rouge Dior Liquid with different finishes.

Dior Rouge Dior Liquid| 788 Frentic Satin.

Next up are the Rouge Dior Double Rouge Lipstick which will also retail for the same price as the Dior Rouge Dior Liquid ($43 CDN/$35 USD) coming September 2017. I have two shades of the Rouge Dior Double Rouge Lipstick Matte Metal Colour and Couture Contour Lipsticks (say that one more time). It’s the first matte metallic lipstick, and seriously, in one single swipe will give you full colour coverage.

Peter Philips fused two trends that’s going on right now, matte and metallic’s. The metallic core is to give the lips an ombre effect creating volume making the lips appear fuller. They’ll be available in four colour families:

  • fun and sophisticated red’s
  • cheerful corals
  • electric purple pinks
  • nudes that flatter every style of beauty

The combo consists of a darker matte outer ring and a lighter, iridescent metallic core, which highlights the curve of the lip and therefore simulates volume.

Rouge Dior Double Rouge Lipstick| 590 Dressed To Kill

Rouge Dior Double Rouge Lipstick| 999 Matte Metal. Ugh! I love a good orange-red on my skintone. This is definitely my favourite out of the bunch that I received. Isn’t it perfect for this time of year? I suppose it’d also be pretty ideal wearing it at Christmas time, too. It just stands out against black/neutral clothing too I think.

Shop the products listed in this post:

Continue Reading