Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Zodiac and Diamond Dog - Swatches and Thoughts

Well aren't these a thing of beauty? 

I absolutely love these kind of shadows because it amps up any look. They have small particles of glitter through the main base color. It's not as chunky as other glittery eyeshadows but sure packs a punch.

These Urban Decay Moondust shadows are beautiful and retail for $20 each for 1.5 g of product at Macys, UrbanDecay.com, Sephora, and other places that sell UD.

Out of the range of seven, I purchased two that I think I would use the most. I mean you can't exactly use these every day haha but they can add to any look if you want to achieve that glittery effect.

Zodiac - smokey black with a blue-green shift and 3D sparkle. SUPER gorgeous!

Diamond Dog - deep brown with white gold sparkle. Amazing with a brown smokey eye!

Left is Diamond Dog, Right is Zodiac.

I think that the best way to apply these is with your finger. I have tried with different kind of eyeshadow brushes and it does not compare to how it looks when it is applied with your finger. You really get the base shadow to show up, especially if you are applying to the naked (and primed?) lid.

Since I purchased these, I will be honest with you, that I have used these a hand full of times in the last year haha. But these are handy to have when you want to have that glittery effect to the look you have on.

I love the formula on these, not too much fall out and applies well to the lid with a finger. :)

Hope you found this helpful! Look out for my next post with MAC's Pressed Pigments :D

Bianca

MAC Prep & Prep BB Compact in Refined Golden - Swatch and Review

Last week, I went to a MAC event at my local Nordstrom and I was able to learn a few things about different ways on how to apply face products that help with highlight and contouring and this was one of the MAC artist's favorite new products released by MAC.

This is the MAC Prep and Prime BB Beauty Balm Compact SPF 30 in Refined Golden.

First off, this is incredibly easy to apply. I feel like you cannot overdo this product because of the texture and how little product my brush picks up. I use the Zoeva 126 - Luxe Cheek Finish brush (post coming soon!) and it's AMAZING for this product.

According to MAC, there are 12 shades in this range and they are meant for actual foundation or, in this case, for bronzing up the skin. The cost is $30 for 8 g of product which I think is pretty solid bang for your buck.

In the picture above, the color of the Refined Golden in the pan seems more red than it really is. The natural sunlight messed with the lighting in room but the picture below is a more accurate representation of what the Refined Golden actually looks like; which MAC describes as "finely spun golden bronze with a soft pearl finish".

Do not be alarmed with the "pearl finish" aspect of it. Once applied to the skin, it is more of a satin finish and can become matte if layered on top with a matte contour or bronzer powder.

What is truly cool about this product is how buildable it is and you don't end up looking like an oompa-loompa. On my skin, which is a light golden tan -ish, and this doesn't disappear once I apply it on my skin!! :D.

I definitely recommend checking this out! Go to a store or counter and ask for a demo. That way you get to see how they would apply it on you and you can decide whether you like it or not. It's crazy easy to apply if you have a brush that helps apply and blend at the same time :).

What do you think about this product? Or used anything like it?

I'd love to know your thoughts :),

Bianca

MAC Tan Pigment vs MAC Melon Pigment vs L'Oreal Amber Rush Infallible

So I think I found a dupe for MAC's pigment in Tan...?

I do not usual come across dupes within my own collection but today was the exception. I was going to make this post comparing Tan and Melon pigment because they are so popular in the beauty community. While I was organizing my collection, I picked up this pressed pigment eyeshadow from L'Oreal and I knew I had to compare them! 

And as you can see they are very VERY close. The only real difference is the intensity of the pigment. Granted that the MAC Tan pigment was swatched dry but if you were to apply it from a damp brush, it would give you the same effect as the Infallible eyeshadow in Amber Rush. 

The pigments cost about $21 (approximately?) at MAC and roughly $8.99 at drugstores. Though, whichever one you go for, you will get a lot of bang for your buck.

MAC Tan Pigment on the left and L'Oreal Infallible shadow in Amber Rush

So now, comparing all three shades: MAC Melon, MAC Tan, and L'Oreal Infallible in Amber Rush.

MAC Melon, MAC Tan, L'Oreal Amber Rush - swatched DRY and NO primer

I knew right away that Melon would not really fit into this dupe/product alternative post, but I still wanted to swatch them all side by side so you all can see the differences with the products.

The Melon pigment is more of a gold with the slightest hint of peach running through it. It is definitely not as rose gold as Tan or Amber Rush.

Overall, I love these products. I would not return one just because they are dupes. It's fun to keep in your collection and compare for beauty research purposes ;).

Also, LOVE that MAC has been rolling out these mini/travel sizes of some of their products! I mean, does anyone ever go through a pigment from MAC? Not many people I'm guessing haha they are a perfect size for $10 :)

Alright, what you are thoughts about this? Do you agree with me?
And, did you accidentally find products that ended up dupes of each other? Let know what you have found in your collection!

Take care,
Bianca :)

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige - Swatches and Review

Seems like I cannot get enough highlighters in my life so I added another one to my collection haha. Seems so logical I know :P.

I have been a makeup "junkie" for a few years now and I have never given any of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks a chance and I have no idea why. But better late than never right!?

A couple of days ago, I purchased this beautiful thang from my local Nordstrom and I knew I would love it! 

The golden/beige toned highlighters work best on my skin because of my olive/tan complexion. When I saw this in a recent YouTube video by Amanda Ensing, I knew I needed it in my life. 

When I approached the counter, the SA asked me if I wanted to swatch it or bite the bullet. In my mind I was thinking, "GUUURL I knew I loved it, it's just coming home with me tonight" hahaha. I'm crazy I know ;).

What I love about this Beige Shimmer Brick is that all the shades in the compact are neutral toned so they would look good on a variety of skin tones. And there is a gradient of a very pale golden beige to a bronze. The shades are not too dark so a mixture of all of them would compliment someone in the medium skin tone range. I would stick with the top two for the paler girls and the bottom three for everyone else :).

The compact is elegant and pretty. I must admit that there is excessive packaging but nothing that would stop me from buying it ;).

*Mine came a little crooked haha but it opens and closes fine so I don't have any issues with it (yet).

Here, above, I have the swatches for you. Bottom of my arm is the palest of the shades and working up to the top with the darker, bronze shades.

The swatch at the very bottom is a mixture of all the shades.

All the shimmer bricks are intense. If you want a subtle highlight, I do not think this will be the product for you. But if you want to be glowing and getting your J Lo "on", consider the Shimmer Bricks!

Recently I have been all about that noticeably intense highlight, thanks a lot Amrezy. So this is right up my alley :). For me personally, I LOVE this product and I can see myself reaching for this product a lot during this summer months for that glow :).

What are some of your favorite highlighters? Let me know in the comments.

Hope you are all well,
Bianca :)

Update:
I thought sun light would help my photos but I didn't realize how greenish it looked until after I posted my initial review so here is another pic of the swatches!

The swatch all the way to the right is all the shades combined :)

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 46 Liberté - Review and Swatch

I purchased this Chanel Rouge Coco Shine sort of recently from my local Nordstrom and I was swatching colors that were "calling my name" and I fell in love with this one immediately. Like, I did not think twice about it.

What I love about this Rouge Coco Shine is that it is like a tinted balm; depends what shade you get, the pigment is more opaque than others. 

This one I have here to share with you is #46 - Liberté shade and I want to describe this is a very wearable nude with hints of pink, coral, and peach. Sounds like a mish-mash of colors but that's what comes to mind haha. 

 As you can see from the bullet, it looks like it would be a slightly bright coral red but it is extremely sheer.

When you apply it to your lips, it's a no brainer. I never look in the mirror because it's sheer enough to just slap it on but pigmented enough to pull your look together.

As you can see from the swatches, the top one is three swipes of the Liberté and the bottom one is a single swipe.

It can be built up in opacity but don't expect it to eventually layer up to match the color from the bullet.

The wear time of Liberté is not as great as other lip products I own but it's so easy that I do not mind reapplying when I need to. I want to see I get a solid 2-3 hours without eating or drinking anything. But if you do either of those things, it will disappear quite quickly.

I would recommend it if you don't mind reapplying relatively often, don't mind it being a glorified tinted lip balm, and don't mind the price tag of $32-34 (?) of a Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

Do any of you own others from this range or any Chanel lipstick that is your favorite or must have? Leave them in the comment down below. I'd love to hear from you all :)

Hope you are well,
Bianca :)

Tom Ford Lip Color Shine in #10 Willful - Review and Swatch

I was itching to get another Tom Ford lip product but I wanted to test out the Lip Color Shine range (that kind of reminds me of Chanel Rouge Coco Shines but slightly more pigmented). 

I was swatching up a storm at my local Tom Ford counter and I was torn between Nubile and Willful. I was on the verge of playing it safe and going with Nubile since it was a nude, every day kind of shade but right as I was about to make my decision, I sprung for Willful instead. I'm crazy haha and indecisive. But I'm so glad I went with Willful.

Willful is this bright strawberry red that is PERFECT for this time of year. It really lights up your face in a way I couldn't believe. It gives your complexion this healthy look. Crazy, I know, since it is a lip product but it's the right kind of shade for the spring and summer months.

With the Lip Color Shine range, these retail for $48 (instead of the $49 of the Lip Color range). These line is more hydrating as it has a special blend of oils that conditions and moisturizes your lips.

The packaging on these Shines is thinner and sleeker than the normal Lip Color range. I like both packaging but the Shines actually fit in the little hole/space in my lipstick holder! haha

As you can see, it has that classic mahogany and gold casing. It is quite heavy (for a lipstick) despite the sleeker packaging.

It does not have TF embossed like all the other TF lip sticks which bums me out slightly but you'd wear it down with use anyways :P.

Here is the swatch of that beauty. This is two swipes of Willful and it's pigmented enough to warrant buying or looking at it. It is not a glorified, slightly tinted, lip balm. A lot of the shades in the TF lip range pack a real punch when it comes to pigmentation.

Due to the fact that it is a lip shine, the wear time is not as long. Through drinking and snacking on some munchies, I got a solid 4 hours of wear (compared to almost 7 hours with the Lip Color range).

What do you think of Tom Ford's line? Over hyped? Or do you love it? Let me know your favorites or what you have on your wishlist in the comments :)

Hope you enjoyed this quick review,
Bianca :)