Most Wanted - Spring 2014 - Beauty Wishlist

Hello again everyone!

Hope you are all doing well and that you had a great weekend. I cannot believe how fast weekend has gone by :(. Can it be friday again...? *I wish*

Well, I am writing to you today because I wanted to discuss some of the makeup products I have been lusting after for quite a while now. I want to dabble in every brand offered at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. I'm an addict, I must admit. Though I think you all know that I have an obsession with makeup. ;)

Since I started working full time, I have extra funds to play with and that means "Go Buy Tom Ford Stuff" haha. My collection of Tom Ford products has grown and I'm IN LOVE with the line. So you can imagine I am eyeing more TF to add to my collection. 

Two things from Tom Ford have been on my mind, the Shade and Illuminate (unsure of what intensity shade I want and would look good on me) and the Titanium Smoke (this was influenced by MonsiieurAlex (check his post on this quad HERE). I think this quad would create THE most amazing classic smokey eye of life!! 

Also, the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer... everyone and their mom is talking about how amazing this product is! But I cannot bring myself to take the plunge on it without playing with it first. I simply cannot guess my correct shade based on the sh*tty "swatch" pictures websites have for Kevin Aucoin stuff. So until I get to be hands-on with this line...I shall be lusting after it and seeing how amazing it looks when applied in YouTube videos *sigh*. 

The Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer...the packaging in itself is enough for me to just pick it up haha. But aside from the super luxe packaging of all Guerlain products, I have seen amazing reviews in several beauty blogs :). So once I finish up one of my bronzers that I have hit pan on...you can expect me to pick this one up ;).

Another Guerlain product...Les Fumes quad. A beautiful grey palette with a slight touch of mauve-y taupe. I saw ttsandra (link to video is HERE) use it in a GRWM...I knew I had to have it. She definitely uses it more lightly, but I like more dramatic looks so I'm sure this palette can create some amazing smokey eyes (which as you can tell by this post...I'm obsessed haha) Such an amazing every day smokey eye, day time appropriate palette for many, especially those with a cool and neutral undertones :).

Last two things, new Dior Glow Maximizer primer. I think would be amazing during the summer for that "glow" and sun kissed-ness :) and Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks (specifically Manic) but I wouldn't mind picking up a few.

Phew! I wrote a lot haha. If you made it this far, I thank you and love you haha.

What's on your wishlist? Or any recommendations? I'd looove to know.

Thanks for stopping by and reading :),
Bianca

NARS Matte Multiples! - Advice, Ramblings, and are they worth it?

Hi everyone!

I just came home from Sephora after doing a little damage at Sephora and Nordstrom and I wanted to talk to you about the NEW NARS Matte Multiples that have been released recently.

I picked up one of the ones that were released in Exumas (but I'm not going to lie, I wanted ALL of them!) which I will review tomorrow! :) Soo keep a look out for that!!

So I wanted to write up a post on the advice given to me by the NARS artists that came into my Sephora today. Which today was a good day to go since I got to play with all the multiples and had a couple tested on me.

I'll try to keep this short and sweet :)

Price: $39 for 0.26 oz

1. You can use them wet or dry.
--wet meaning you can apply some of your hand and when place a few drops of water onto where you applied the multiple and it sheers it out and gives a dewier appearance if desired.
--dry: it goes on INCREDIBLY pigmented and smooth. Keep in mind that it is easy to go overboard with the product. A little definitely goes a lot way.

2. Like the name says, it has multiple uses.
--you can use it as a lip product
--or you can use it as a blush
--the artist told me that she did not recommend them for the eyes since they are sticky and can crease if you use a lot. But if you wanted you use it on your eyes, she would recommend the bronzier shades!
--They blend out like BUTTAH on the skin. Whether it be wet or dry. Sooo easy to work with :)

3. There are 3 bronzer/contour shades.
-Altai, Vientiane, and Cappadoce
--She told me that Altai is closest to NARS Laguna bronzer. So if you love Laguna, check out Altai!
--Vientiane is closest to Casino Bronzer from NARS. So if you are of a medium to tan to deeper skintones that this is a great bronzer and contour shade!
--Cappadoce is aimed for those with deeper skin tones and/or can be used for an intense contour :)

4. You do get less product for the same price as the other multiples from NARS
--The artist told me that the original multiples are more sheer in application and you end up using a lot to try to get an opaque application
--With the MATTE Multiples, you do not need a lot and can last you a long time. Again, a little goes a long way...so it might be worth the price. Depends if it's in your budget or not.

5. Availability:
--Sephora has it in store and online!
--Nordstrom said they would release them during their Trend Event so check your local Nordstrom to see if they have it or when it will be released. If you wait for the Trend Event, there is a Gift With Purchase! :) Check online as well.
--NARS.com <- obvii haha

So the million dollar question, DO YOU NEED IT and IS IT WORTH IT?

--It depends on you and whether you want to venture into the cream product world.

-It doesn't bother me that I paid $39 because it is soooo pigmented and multi-purpose...it's worth it to me. And the fact that I have never used or owned a Multiple before.

-You should consider that these products are creams, they are pigmented, blendable, and it's NARS. The price is relatively reasonable considering that it's NARS. It could be more expensive...

If you are not ready to take the plunge on a NARS multiple, there are other options (like the FitMe foundation sticks by Maybelline) for contouring purposes. :)


So are you picking up any of the new multiples?! Which ones do you have your eyes on?

I definitely want to pick up Laos, Vientiane, and Siam (I shouldn't want them but I do!!). Maybe during the Friends and Family sale :)

Talk to you all soon!!
Bianca

GlamGlow SuperMud Face Mask - First Impressions!

Hello everyone,

So I found the GlamGlow Super Mud (full size!!) at my local Costco and I freaked out in my head about seeing GlamGlow on sale for 50% off. It normally retails for $69 at Sephora and other retailers that sell GlamGlow so when I saw that it was $34.99 at Costco...you bet I picked one of these bad boys. And I'm tempted to get one more back up ;).

Currently, my face is reacting to something within my skincare routine. I'm currently in the process of trying out sample packets of skincare I have received as free samples when I order online. So I don't know what is making my skin freak out. I have little red bumps/breakouts on my forehead and on my cheeks. It's annoying. So I thought if I did a heavy duty cleansing mask that things would get better for my skin (we shall see tomorrow morning and I shall update you :)).

 It works like the YouthMud mask, the one in the black packaging. You can see all the oil and dirt from your pores come out when it starts to dry. I would have taken pictures of what that looks like but it's weird to do a close up of my nose and face overall to show you haha. Anyways, it is less intense than the YouthMud mask which I personally enjoyed. It didn't sting, burn, or irritate my eyes like the YouthMud does and after I washed it off...my skin felt soft and not tight! Ahh...it was sooo nice. It's definitely something I can see myself using more often than I did with the YouthMud.

 This container holds 1.2 fl. oz of the mask. It claims that you can get 17-20 masks out of it or 1000 spot treatments. So even for the full price of $69, this isn't a bad deal at all (though it's definitely better at $35 haha).

I am a believer when it comes to this mask. I am not gonna be like "OMG GUYZ DIS MASK IS AMAZEBALLS" haha.

It truly feels like it gets the gunk out of my pores and clears things up. I'm a visual person so when I can SEE that when the mask dries up thatI see the oiliness and dirt come out, I know I'm getting my moneys worth. :)

So have you tried any GlamGlow products? If so, what are your thoughts about it? Let me know in the comments :)

I shall update you on my skin after work tomorrow so expect an update on how my skin reacted to the SuperMud mask.

Talk to you all soon,
Bianca xo

What I Wore This Week #1 (2/10-2/14)

Happy friday/weekend! ~yasss!~

I'm excited to share with you my first "What I Wore This Week" post. Where I share with you what makeup I wore during the week :). Since this is my first, I welcome any and all constructive criticism on how to improve these posts. My goal with posting my weekly makeup stash is to vary my makeup products so I don't get stuck in a rut or just use one thing for weeks.

First group of products I'm going to share with you are LIPS: 

 I've been using two regularly over the past week, left: YSL Rouge Volupte in #9 Caress Pink (muted raspberry pink) and original Dior Lip Glow. They are the kind of lip products that require no mirror to apply and since I'm SUPER forgetful when it comes to reapplying my lip products so these two have been my go to (and not just for this past week). I love these two! :)

Next: EYES

I have my stand by's when it comes to eyeliners and liquid liners. I rarely steer away from what I use unless I run out of it and buy something else.

 Top to Bottom: Maybelline Full n Soft Waterproof mascara, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, Kat Von D Autograph pencil in Puro Amor, Urban Decay 24/7 Slide On eyeliner in Crave, and Maybelline Define a Brow in Medium Brown.

 Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Orchid Haze *drools*. It's a stunning palette to work with. I think it can be a great every day palette for a variety of people :).

Finally: FACE

For foundation, I have been using and loving the sample of Tom Ford Traceless Foundation in #7 Tawny. It's the most perfect match I have found in my time of trying out foundation from drugstore to high end. But just my luck, my perfect match is the most expensive one I've ever tried haha :(. I'll definitely keep trying to snag samples though if I can :p.

Blush: Tom Ford Ravish. ALL TIME favorite blush that I own. I've been using it like 90% of the time since I purchased it. It's gorgeous!!

Concealer: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard ~Review of this concealer on my blog!~

Setting Powder: Guerlain Meteorites (old formulation) in Teinte Dore #3. I'm in loooove with this setting powder. It really makes my skin look glowing but not sparkly or icky. It's subtle but noticeable. It livens up my complexion and without it...my foundations and concealers don't look the same by the end of the day. I have yet to try the new formulation so I can't give my thoughts on that...yet... ;).

What did you wear this week? Let me know in the comments :)

Hope you all are doing well. Talk to you all soon,
Bianca xo

Marc Jacobs Starlet Eyeshadow Palette - swatch and review

Hey there everyone,

I'm here to talk about the only and probably only thing I'll own from the Marc Jacobs line at Sephora. I got this back in November/early December when I got my VIB gift card and to be honest...I have only used that less than a hand full of times. 

There is nothing wrong with the palette, don't get me wrong, but it's not a palette I reach for as often as other palettes in my collection. 

 As you can see the box and packaging of Marc Jacobs products are black, sleek, and compact. Seems like all of his makeup products are not bulky whatsoever. So this is a positive note for MJ products.

 Here is the Starlet palette all opened up. You can see that there is an array of colors to choose from and they are beautiful. My only issue with this palette is...there are no mattes shades. At all.

They are all shimmery, bordering on metallic. Which is a good and a bad thing. I have to reach for another palette or shadow to use in the crease unless I'm going for a one shadow look (which isn't often haha). I'm all about having that definition in the crease with a matte shadow.

 The variety of shades are very much appreciated and they are all cool toned. On my warm skin tone, they really stand out and can sometimes clash if I only use this palette for my eye look.

Here are the swatches. You can see that they are all very pigmented and stand out against my arm. They apply and blend like a dream.

Final thoughts: this is a nice palette but it's not a stand alone, everything you need, palette. The shadows are beautiful and pigmented. I just hate that I do not reach for this palette as often as I should. It just gets overlooked. In my opinion, I think you can get a different palette for the retail price ($59 USD). But if you want to add shimmery/metallic shades to your collection, this could be a great addition. Just depends on what you are looking for. If you want a "go to" status palette from MJ, check out the MJ Lolita palette. I do not own it but I have heard many beauty bloggers rave about it :). 

What are your thoughts about this palette if you own it? What are your favorite items from Marc Jacobs? I'd love to know your thoughts down below.

Have a good day/night,

Bianca xo

YSL Gloss Volupte lipgloss - #15 Grenade Pépite

Back to back to back lip products to review...? I need to get my sh*t together haha. If you knew me in real life, you would know I'm not that much of a lip product person. In my head, I told myself that if I invested in nice lip products that I would get into the habit of wearing them regularly and match them appropriately with my makeup looks. Not gonna lie, so far so good! I have been touching up my lip products and making sure I keep them in my makeup bag (speaking of, I might do a blog post on "what's in my makeup bag") :).

Anyways, lets get back on track and get with the product review haha.

YSL Gloss Volupte in #15 Grenade Pepite - described as hot pink with golden shimmer.

In the line, there are 22 shades at retailers that sell YSL products. I purchased mine at Nordstrom.

First off, look at this packaging! It's nothing like YSL has on their permanent range. Mixed metals and that clear vile where you can see the actual gloss shade. It's stunning to put it simply.

Secondly, I think this gloss leans a little coral rather than a straight up hot pink. It might look different on your lips, depends on the pigmentation and your skin tone. Either way, it's a gorgeous color especially heading into spring and summer. I can definitely see this as something I will reach for a lot in the coming months.

Next, the applicator wand is very unique! For me, it's the first time I've ever seen a wand like this. Though I have seen other beauty bloggers mention a similar wand has been used for another gloss. The brand escapes me right now haha. But you can seen in the pictures how cool it looks. It looks and is made to fit the contours and shape of your lips. Makes for easy application :) which I'm all about haha. 

Swatch: 

As you can see from the different angles, it leans a little coral and/or pink. I love that about this gloss.

The golden shimmer is noticeable but it's subtle on the lips. It doesn't bother me when I was wearing it.

Thoughts: it was a delight to wear, very comfortable, and long lasting :). It is not sticky and wore a solid 5 hours on me. I am definitely one to shop around and run errands with a drink in hand and it wore well. It did transfer, it's a gloss duh haha, but that's expected. I definitely would not mind reapplying this gloss as needed being I love the texture and feel of this gloss on my lips.

I think that the range of these glosses come in an array of shades from pinks, nudes, reds, plums, shimmery top coats (gold/iridescent and a black [crazy I know]). I wanted to get them all, not going to lie haha. The display is beautiful and worth checking them out.

I might pick up one or two more... :) But I love trying out new things so we shall see if I come back to this line or try something else from YSL :).

In my lip product escapades, I have not come across a dud in the brands I've branched out in. So whatever your preference is (gloss, lipstick, stain, etc), you can find what you are looking for in the different brands offered at several department stores and drugstores.

What are some of your favorite lip products? Have you pick one up from this line? Let me know in the comments.

I hope that I have touched on all the necessary details and that my review is to your liking. If you have any questions, I'm answer them to the best of my ability :).

Have a good night/day,
Bianca xo

Tom Ford Spring 2014 Lip Color in Paradiso

Hello hello everyone :) Hope you are all well!

This blog post will talk about my veryyy first Tom Ford lip product and OMG I can't even. It's gorgeous.

The brand and the packaging of ALL Tom Ford products scream luxury. If you have seen any of the Tom Ford products, you know that the normal packaging is a dark chocolate-y brown and gold. For the Spring 2014 collection, they brought back the 'original' packaging when Tom Ford first released his makeup line a few years ago. With that being said, this collection is LIMITED EDITION. I know some websites are sold out of certain colors: Paradiso, Sweet Spot, and Incorrigible have been the most popular of the eight lip color release.

Okay, onto the juicy deets about Paradiso. This is the one shade I picked up from the release. And believe me I want more...they are just too beautiful. *must resist* ~ kind of easy to resist since Sweet Spot is sold out in many retailers :( and the price haha ~

The color is described as a bring watermelon pink creme. Which in my opinion is a perfect shade for the spring :).

And can we just talk about that TF embossing on the lipstick? Yes? Ok. IT'S SO FANCY! I'm not going to lie, when I swatched it I used the underside of the lip stick so I wouldn't ruin the TF :P.

The packaging is far from cheap feeling and looking. There is some weight to it which, for me, is nice. It feels good in the hand and it's not too heavy either. To put it simply, it feels very luxe. And with the hefty price of $48, you would hope it would feel, look, and apply like a dream. *which is does :)*

I took two pictures of the swatch to show how it reflect the shine. It's not overly shiny, it is a creme but it's not satin nor sheer. It can be built up to full opacity. 

I have heard some people say that this whole line is really sheer and doesn't last well on the lips. I would have to disagree with that. I swatched the lipsticks at my local Tom Ford counter and my experience is that some were sheer, some were super bright (Paradiso and Fire Cracker), and some were more subtle. I think if you are looking into this line, you can probably find something that you'll like. It depends on your preference.

My one Tom Ford Lipstick on display *drools*

Review: this product is super creamy and buildable in opacity and lasts about 4-5 hours on me with no weird fading. I have zero complaints really. At the end of the day, you are buying Tom frickin' Ford and it's up to you if it's worth it. I justify my purchase as it is limited edition, the color is something I would wear, and YOLO haha (I apologize for using YOLO in my review hahaha).

Do you need it? Probably not. If it's within your means to splurge almost $50 on a Tom Ford lipstick, go for it. They are phenomenal. But it's not in your budget, don't worry about it :). It's not a "YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE" kind of product, it's just a nice present for yourself :).

According to Temptalia, Elegant Accent from MAC's Mineralize lipsticks is a dupe for this and it costs around $22 ish. So that is an option for you if you really like the color :).

I hope this was helpful. If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments below.

Did you pick up anything from the TF Spring collection? Or what is your favorite TF product? I'd love to know in the comments down below :).

Have an amazing day/night,
Bianca xo

Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine lipgloss - 465 Bubble Gum - Review and Swatch

Well hello hello :)

I went to the Guerlain counter at my local Nordstrom and I had an amazing time talking to the sales associate about Guerlain and trying a few things out from them. This was the first time even touching the products. I have heard so much about them and walked by the counter that I did not give them a chance. And now I must admit, now I'm obsessed! - not a brand I wanted to fall in love with...but I did. ;)

I purchased two items and got a sample of a foundation too. I got to say... I made wise choices that day. The lipgloss I'm about to talk about is one of them and the other was the (old version) of the Meteorites in 03 Teinte Dore (which is AMAZEBALLS; though I have yet to compare it with the new formulation).

Okay, let's get back on track haha. The Guerlain Maxi Shine lip gloss in 465 Bubble Gum.

The color description: warm mid-tone pink with golden shimmer. It's a lipgloss that looks great all year round. It's bright but not too bright that it looks weird on the lips. And this lipgloss goes with many different eye looks since you can build up the intensity :).

First off, the packaging is gorgeous, very sleek, and luxurious. The packaging gets an A from me. It definitely looks beautiful on my vanity/makeup desk.

The applicator is a flat doe foot applicator kind of thing. 

It does not feel awkward or stiff when applying this product to the lips. You can layer on the color or apply a sheer coat on your lips. 

Review: It does not feel sticky on the lips. It feels very light weight and is very opaque. What I like about this gloss is that the pigmentation is buildable. So depending on your eye makeup, you can customize the intensity of the bubble gum pink color on your lips. It wore on my lips for about 4 solid hours without any fading or sliding off my lips. When a lip product is long wearing and looks good after a few hours, I do not mind splurging a little more (for example: YSL Glossy Stains - those last 6-7 hours on me :O). 

Where you can find this - I purchased this at Nordstrom and I believe it is sold at other department stores that sell Guerlain. Checking Sephora just now, it is not available on their website but they do offer other shades in the Maxi Shine line of lipglosses. 

I hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions or if I forgot to cover something, please let me know. I'll gladly answer any and all questions to the best of my ability :). I'm a Guerlain newbie though, keep that in mind.

Talk to you all soon,

Bianca xo