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Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix are Now Available!

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The Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix were supposed to launch tomorrow but they're already available on the site
So if you've been wanting to try them, don't wait...the liquid mattes sold out really fast last time...I totally missed out! Happy shopping! I'd love to hear what colors you chose in the comments below! I got them all to review here on the blog, but I'm most excited about Crunch, Kiddo, and Juice Bar! 

You can grab these now at Colourpop.com!

Becca & Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Arrives in Stores PLUS a Coupon Code for a free Becca Highlighter

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($38) launches in store at Sephora today, and if you plan to go, good luck finding it! This was the display at my local Sephora (sorry for the crappy photo) and when I asked a former co-worker what happened, she said that the employees bought up all but one of them and a customer bought the remaining one shortly after the store opened. Mind you, I showed up about an hour after opening. 
Sigh.

But wait, if your store is sold out too, there's a light at the end of the tunnel! It's still available online, and if you order it (or anything over $25) instead of buying it in store, you can get a free mini Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal in either pressed, poured, or liquid form using the code PERFECTOR. I didn't want to have to order it...I hate waiting! But the free mini makes up for that, especially now that I have Flash 2 day shipping.

Here's a screenshot of my order so you can see the options:




So tell me, have you already ordered Champagne Pop? Or were you able to find it at your local Sephora (or not)?

New: Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift V-Shaping Serum

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Today I was in CVS and spotted the new Lumene Time Freeze V-Shaping serum. Since I'm really into Korean skincare products, I recognized the term "V-shaping" right away and was pretty impressed to see it in a drugstore in the US. 
V-Shape refers to a perfect oval-shaped face with a slim, firm jawline. Basically, the "V" refers to the shape of the jawline when pictured from the front and it tends to give a more feminine, youthful appearance. If you do a quick Google search, you can see photos of women who have had their faces altered through plastic surgery to achieve a V-shaped face, as well as tips on how to create the illusion through contouring and facial exercises.  If you're interested, this site illustrates what I'm talking about.


But if you're looking to create a slim, lifted jawline without surgery, the new Lumene Instant Lift V-Shaping Serum claims to actually "shape the contours of the face visibly so that the skin around the jawline is tightened, firmed and lifted". The lifting effect is supposed to be visible instantly as well as long-term, plus this formula also reduces wrinkles. 

Call me curious, but I just had to grab a bottle for myself and see if this actually works! 

I found it at CVS for $31.99 but it's on sale at Walgreens right now for $22.49, or you can also find it at Ulta for $29.99

J. Cat Beauty is Now at Ulta

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I remember how excited I was when I found the J. Cat Wonder Lip Paints at my local Harmon this past Winter. It was so unexpected to see a brand that I've only known to be online in an actual store where I could see the shades up close and personal and not have to wait for (or pay for) shipping. Since then, I've been meaning to place an order to try some more J. Cat products but now it looks like I don't have to! 
I just saw on their Instagram page that the whole line is now in Ulta stores (not online). I can finally go and see the Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stains and the MOTD pencils without having to guess at online color swatches. Yup, I'm one happy camper right now! 

You can see my previous posts about J. Cat here.

Pretty On The Inside

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I just rediscovered my 7th grade diary at my parents' house, and while I had a lot of fun reading it, there were certain parts that made me cringe and even more parts that made me sad...like this quote for example: 
What I would like to change about myself this year: "Get prettier and have more people like me".
My goal for that year wasn't to get better at a sport, or try something new, or do something good. It was to "get prettier" so that more people would like me. Seeing this just makes me want to cry and hug my 13 year old self. I was such an awkward pre-teen... not just physically but socially as well. I was a little on the shy side and once the mean girls were through having fun at my expense, I became more withdrawn, burying my nose in my Sweet Valley High books after school. I had one best friend that I could talk to and hang out with but looking back, I think I took her for granted a lot of the time. I was so focused on being part of that popular crowd and I can't for the life of me understand why because they weren't nice to me. 

Later, in high school the bullying stopped but it changed into something that's almost as bad but isn't talked about as often...being ignored completely. I remember being at Field Hockey practice during summer break in August, a few weeks before school started. It was brutally hot outside and during our lunch break, this popular girl invited the whole team (except for me and one other girl) over to her house to swim in her pool. All I wanted to do was call my Mom and ask her to come and get me but I didn't want to leave the other girl by herself. So I stayed and had lunch with her and we ended up becoming good friends.

I sometimes wonder if my love of beauty products started with my desire to "get prettier", but I honestly don't know. Probably.
I guess when you feel like you're ugly, you become more focused on looks than most people. Lord knows I was! Of course, I don't feel that way anymore and now makeup is just a fun hobby. I leave the house without it all the time and couldn't care less what people think. But years ago, I would spend entire dates with a guy or time at a party worrying about how I looked rather than letting loose and having a good time, all the while I was afraid that if I didn't look good, people wouldn't like me.

My wish is that girls will learn to be kind to each other and support one another so that we can focus on our actual lives, our true passions, and who we want to become, rather than trying to make other people like us on the outside.
It has taken me until my 30's to feel confident about myself and in many ways, I feel like I missed out on life in my teens and twenties because I was too afraid to meet new people, try new things, or to speak my mind for fear of being mocked or ridiculed. 
So please, remember to be kind to others. Bullying has more of an impact on a person's soul than anyone realizes...the effects go way beyond just that moment or that day.

My Mission: Get Organized! MelodySusie Large Capacity Cosmetic Organizer Review

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I am so disorganized when it comes to my makeup. I have stuff scattered everywhere...some in the master bathroom, a few things in the guest bathroom where I can do makeup and still keep an eye on my son, a bunch more in the guest bedroom waiting to be reviewed, and some in my bag just in case I need to touch up while I'm out. So yeah...it's been a little bit of a sore spot with the hubs...he's been asking me to get it organized for a while now (like, what if we want to have guests over?!). So when I was approached by a representative from MelodySusie to review their Large Capacity Cosmetic Organizer ($49), I jumped at the chance. Time to get organized! 

This is a crystal clear acrylic organizer that holds a TON of products. Granted, my beauty blogger stash is bigger than what I can fit in here, but I decided I'm going to use this for the products I use most often. Then I'll put the rest into organized bins until I can get a storage desk with drawers to keep everything in one place (but that's a project for another day). 

This organizer comes with a removeable top section and four drawers...two on top, one large open drawer in the middle, and another large drawer on the bottom with a removeable insert. 

What really impressed me about this is the thickness of the acrylic...it's actually quite heavy and very sturdy, not like the typical lightweight ones you find out in the stores. It also comes with removeable mesh drawer liners which gives your makeup a little bit of cushion and keeps things from sliding around. 

Here, I'll show you an example of what this baby can hold, but you don't have to put things the same way I have...this organizer is really versatile and there are many different ways you can choose to use it. You can even fill it with jewelry or anything else you want.
makeup organization tips
Melody Susie Large Capacity Cosmetic Organzier

I decided to put taller items like foundation bottles, brushes, primers, and nail polishes in the top removeable section. I was able to fit five foundations, five primers, eight brushes, and four nail polishes on one side.
makeup organizer

On the other side of the top section, I fit 8 lipsticks/glosses, six blushes and four highlighters.
makeup organization

The first row of drawers has two side-by-side. I put some concealers in one drawer and lipsticks in the other.
cosmetic organizer

melodysusie organizer review

makeup organizer

The second drawer is an open space with no dividers, so I decided to use it for larger items like blushes.
makeup organization tips

I was able to fit seven blushes in this drawer, plus my Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter and the Naked Flushed palette.
organize makeup

The bottom drawer can be used one of two ways...here, I'm showing it with the insert. It has lots of smaller dividers, so I used it to hold single eyeshadows.
melodysusie cosmetic organizer
I was able to fit 22 eyeshadows in here! Depending on the type of packaging, you may be able to fit more or less. The Colourpop shadows and Maybelline Color Tattoos have chunky packaging so I couldn't fit as many of those in here. 


Here's an example of what you can put in the bottom drawer without the dividers...I have four eyeshadow palettes in here, and there's room for even more if you stack them. 

In total, I was able to fit approximately 85 pieces of makeup in this one organizer...incredible right? Depending on where you decide to put different items, you can really maximize the space. I'm going to switch this up a little bit so that I can fit some of my eyeliner pencils and mascaras in here as well. Again, this was just an example of what you can fit in this organizer. 

How do you stay organized? Any tips you'd like to share? 


**Disclosure- The product featured in this review was provided to me by a company or PR firm and all opinions are my own. I was not paid to write this review.**

PINCHme.com Review

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Would you be excited if I told you that there was a subscription box that comes with deluxe samples that you could get delivered right to your door for FREE each and every month?  Well guess what...there is! It's calledPINCHme.com. I recently got the opportunity to try one of their boxes filled with products to try and I'm so excited to share it with you. Let's take a look...
pinchme review

Here's how it works:

1. Sign up for free at PINCHme.com.
2. Fill out your profile and let them know what your interests are...from beauty to food to household products. It's super important to fill this out because PINCHme will match you with samples each month based on your answers so if you leave part of it blank, you won't have as many samples available to you.
3. A few times a month on Tuesdays at 12:00pm Eastern Time, samples become available. There's a countdown on the PINCHme homepage that you can check to see when new samples will be coming out (currently, the next samples will arrive on July 14 at 12pm EST).  At this time, login to the PINCHme site and claim your samples. You'll want to set a reminder on your phone and login right at noon because samples sell out extremely fast...they are freebies after all!

The box I got was for June and I was so impressed with the sizes of the samples. I was picturing a bunch of little packets but these are mostly all deluxe samples and in some cases, full sizes!
pinchme.com review
First, I got some food samples...yum! The Kraft Seasoned Grated Parmesan Cheese is actually a full size item and it is sooo good. I've used it a few times so far and I've been wondering why someone didn't think of it sooner. This has a classic Italian blend of garlic and spices...I sprinkled it over grilled zucchini the other night...oh man, it was kind of amazing. 
I also got a bag of Nut Exactly almond popcorn dipped in milk chocolate. My husband Eric, who loves that salty-sweet combo devoured these in about a minute. I also made him the Luzianne Sweet Tea (this packet makes a whole 1/2 gallon!) and he loved that as well. 
I wasn't able to try the Starbucks Iced Coffee pod because we got rid of our Keurig machine, but this is an example of where filling out your profile comes in handy. There's a question that asks if you have a Keurig machine, so you can answer no if you don't have one and then you won't get this type of sample. 
pinchme review
Kraft Seasoned Grated Parmesan Cheese, Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites,
Luzianne Pour -n- Stir Sweet Tea, Starbucks Iced Coffee Pod.
PINCHme also has vitamins and supplements and I got a box of Berocca to try! I have never heard of this but it claims to boost mental sharpness and energy. It contains a bunch of essential vitamins plus a little caffeine (about 1/2 a cup of coffee).
pinch me review

I also got several personal care products, including a box of Playtex tampons and liners (always need these), New Summer's Eve Night-Time Cleansing cloths in a full size package of 32. These are lavender scented wipes for your, ahem, personal areas in case you're in need of freshening up. I also got a pack of Nexcare waterproof bandages...such a great idea! I use bandages from time to time on my hands when they split (dry skin problems) and I hate how they get all soggy when I wash my hands. I can't wait to try these next time I need one! Finally, I got some packets of kids Mr. Bubble and Sesame Street 3-in-1 Body Wash, Shampoo, and Conditioner. My 2-year old is Elmo obsessed so he'll love using this in his next bath. They also give you a coupon for .75 off if you want to purchase the full size.
pinchme.com review
Playtex Sport Combo Tampons & Liners, Summer's Eve Night-Time Cleansing Cloths,
Nexcare Waterproof Bandages, Mr. Bubble/Sesame Street 3-in-1 Body Wash, Shampoo, and Conditioner.

Last but not least...beauty products! I've been dying to try the new Skinfix Hand Repair Cream. I've seen it at Target, but it's a bit pricey at $17.99 so I haven't taken the plunge yet. I have super dry skin so I'm excited to try this one! I also got a full size Sinful Colors nail polish in Aquamarine, a bold bright blue. Next I got an Olay Fresh Outlast Body Wash in Cooling White Strawberry & Mint (smells so good!), and two Gold Bond lotions...one is for Strength and Resilience for aging and mature skin and the other is Healing with aloe (great for after sun).
pinchme review
Skinfix Hand Repair Cream, Sinful Colors Nail Polish, Olay Fresh Outlast Body Wash,
Gold Bond Strength & Resilience and Healing body lotions.
So you might wonder why companies would be willing to send you deluxe samples for nothing... well, besides hoping that you'll like them and buy the full size, you'll also be giving them your feedback through PINCHme. Once you get your samples, login to PINCHme.com and fill out a short multiple choice survey about how you liked (or didn't like) your samples. This is really valuable information to companies because rather than just blindly sending out samples, they have an opportunity to learn what works and what doesn't. 

So what do you think...will you sign up for PINCHme? Or, have you already tried them...if so I'd love to hear about your experience with them. 

Nars Audacious Mascara Coming Soon!

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A new mascara from Nars is not something we see very often, but I just got the news that we will be seeing a new one this fall and it's got a crazy hook..actually a bunch of them! It's called Audacious Mascara ($26), and the brush actually has over 200 molded bristles and lengthening hooks to catch every lash and grip them as it coats.  It claims to separate, lengthen, and amplify while the tapered tip grabs the inner and outermost lashes and bottom fringe.
I have to say though...I'm having a little deja vu here because the whole "lash catching hook" thing sounds a lot like the claims on Benefit's Roller Lash that came out earlier this year (one of my faves, btw).  This brush looks totally different though, so I expect the results will be different too! 

Nars Audacious Mascara will be coming to Nars Boutiques and Nordstrom online on August 1, and at Sephora and Nars counters September 1. 


IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum Review & Swatches

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MLBB is a little abbreviation us beauty bloggers love to use when we find that My-Lips-But-Better product. Usually, we're referring to a color, but I recently got to try out a lip product that takes MLBB to a whole new level. I'm talking about the IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum ($24 at Ulta)...a hydrating, anti-aging, color correcting creme gloss. Not only is the color subtly gorgeous, this gloss actually improves your lips every time you wear it. Let's take a look...
it cosmetics cc+ lip serum review
IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum in Live
CC+ Lip Serum comes in three shades that are all universally flattering and I really like the names: Live, Laugh and Love. The shade I received, Live is a beautiful rosy pink. It comes with a flat paddle shaped applicator that's tapered at the end which makes it very easy to apply without going outside your lip line.
IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum Review & Swatches

The texture is very smooth and soft and not in the least bit sticky. It has a slight vanilla scent to it, which I love but I wanted to mention it in case you're sensitive to scents. The formula contains 9 essential butters and oils including jojoba, shea butter and argan oil to intensely moisturize as soon as you apply it.  It also contains hyaluronic acid, collagen and peptides to provide anti-aging benefits over time! It has a creme finish with no shimmer...sort of like a liquid lipstick but more sheer like a gloss.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum Review & Swatches
IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum Swatch

So I've talked about the hydration and anti-aging claims, but the third claim that the CC+ serum is color correcting threw me at first. My first thought was that it was sort of gimmicky...a lot of products have a BB or CC (or DD) in their names so I figured it was just a marketing thing. Then I read the packaging and saw that it claimed to be color correcting and I immediately thought of color correcting face products such as powders, concealers and foundations. How can a lip product be color correcting? Doesn't it just cover your lips rather than "correct" them?
But when I used it for the first time, I understood exactly what they meant. See, I have two different colored lips...my bottom one is a shade or two darker than my top one (see this post where I review the MUA Lip Primer to see what I'm talking about). So unless I'm wearing a full coverage lipstick, you can usually still see the color difference through my lip color...but not with this product!
It does have some coverage, but I still feel like it's on the sheer side. Yet when I wear this, my lips are both the same color! So it gives enough coverage to even out my lip tone, yet still manages to feel sheer and light like a gloss. Amazing.
IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum Review & Swatches
Wearing It Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum in Live

Overall, this was another win for me from IT Cosmetics. I love the fact that the CC+ Lip Serum hydrates like a balm, has anti-aging ingredients that will help my lips look younger over time, gives beautiful glossy shine and color corrects. 

You can purchase IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum at Ulta and Ulta.com

I Need Your Help Please!

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*UPDATE- A few of you said you were having trouble with the voting system so I think I fixed it...it works on my end, but let me know if it's not allowing you to vote! :)*

Some of my recently acquired makeup (this isn't even skincare/hair products!). 
I am putting myself on a mandatory no-buy for a while because over the past two months I've just gone bat-s*$# crazy buying a ton of stuff to review and haven't gotten around to it yet. That's where you come in! I'd love it if you could please fill out the survey below and let me know which products you'd like to see me review...I did something similar back in January and it really helped me to figure out which reviews should take priority over others. That way, I can be sure that I'm reviewing what you guys want to see. You can check off as many products as you'd like in the survey and I'll start working on reviews for the most popular requests and work my way down the list. Thank you guys so much!! XO

What makeup products would you like to see me review (check as many as you'd like).

Maybelline Baby Lips Gloss (all shades)
Lorac Pro Fiber Mascara
Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector
Becca/Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector
Profusion Glamour Bar Palette
Pixi Natural Brow Duo
IT Cosmetics Brow Power
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
The Balm Mr. Write Now Eyeliners (3 shades)
The Balm Nude 'Tude Palette
Kiko Modern Tribes Bronzer
Kiko Eyeshadow (3 shades)
Kiko Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick (1 shade)
Hourglass Primers (Mineral and Serum)
ELF Foundation Serum
Bare Minerals 5 in 1 Cream Eyeshadows (3 shades)
BH Cosmetics new Studio Pro Foundation
BH Cosmetics Color Lock Lipstick (2 shades)
Sephora Collection Colorful Cheek Ink Gel
Sephora Collection Radiant Luminizing Drops
Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup
Coastal Scents Revealed 1 and 2 Palettes
Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix
Other
Please Specify:
Quiz Maker

Review Update

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Ok guys, as promised I wanted to update you on the status of the poll I posted earlier today (I'll post regular updates as the results grow and change). So far, you're all about the foundations! Here's the rankings so far...

So I'm gonna get to work on a review of the Stila Poreless Putty Perfector and the Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup and then go from there. If the Elf foundation and TF Born This Way are still high on the list tomorrow, then I'll work on those next, and so on. 

Thank you so much for your input...it really helps me to focus on what you guys really want to see. You're the best! :) 

Savannah Bee Company Southern Flavors Natural Beeswax Balm Review

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The Savannah Bee Company's Natural Beeswax Lip Balms ($6.50 each) now come in delicious & refreshing Southern-inspired flavors that are so perfect on a hot summer day! Plus, a review of their Honey Body Lotion.
I was first introduced to the Savannah Bee Company on a trip to Charleston, SC a few years ago. It was a beautiful shop right on King St. in the heart of the city, and we wandered in after seeing the beautiful displays of gourmet honey through the windows. But as my husband and in-laws checked out the selection of edible goods, I wandered over to the beauty section (of course!) and discovered some wonderful products that are made right here in the USA with natural ingredients. 


So needless to say, I was really excited when I was contacted by the Savannah Bee Company to try out a few of their new Southern Flavors lip balms. I had purchased a few of their Natural Beeswax Lip Balms in Charleston so I already knew that the formula was fabulous. They go on so super smooth and feel really silky with no stickiness. It melts on contact with your lips and feels very lightweight, yet intensely moisturizing at the same time. If I use it in the winter, my lips don't get chapped at all!

They contain a blend of beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa seed butter, propolis extract, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, grape seed oil, hemp seed oil, honey extract and royal jelly extract...just an incredible list of ingredients, most of which are organic (full ingredient details on their website).

They come in seven flavors I believe, including Earl Gray, Wild Blackberry and Mint Julep to name a few. But they recently released a Southern Flavors collection, with three new flavors...Sweet Tea, Key Lime, and Peach. You can purchase them for $6.50 each or get all three Southern flavors for $9.75 which is a much better deal!


savannah bee lip balm review

Here's the funny part...in real life, I'm not a fan of any of those things.  I don't like tea...at all, in any form whether it's hot, cold or sweet. I also don't usually like anything lime or peach flavored. But if you ask my husband...these are probably his absolute favorite things. He might just have sweet tea running through his veins since he drinks so much of it, and Key Lime and Peach pies are his favorite desserts on the planet. I'm more of a chocolate/vanilla/caramel/coconut person, but I have to say, these balms smell amazing. They're really refreshing and the perfect alternative to minty scented products, which I try to avoid whenever possible. Plus, they all smell exactly like the real thing...not a synthetic version of it. 

Peach smells exactly like a ripe juicy peach with the perfect balance of sweetness. 
Key Lime reminds me of a tall glass of limeade...super refreshing and citrusy with a hint of sugar.
Sweet Tea has a very subtle earthy tea scent with a hint of lemon sugar.

savannah bee lip balm review

In addition to the lip balms, the Savannah Bee Company also were nice enough to send me their Honey Body Lotion ($12) in the Tupelo Honey scent. It also comes in Wild Blackberry, Lemongrass Spearmint, Orange Blossom, but as a lover of sweet scents, I think the Tupelo Honey is perfect for me! There is also an Unscented version if you're sensitive.

The Tupelo Honey fragrance smells different to me than their Tupelo Honey lip balm which I actually wasn't too keen on. It wasn't that it smelled bad, but I bought it hoping for a sweet, honey-like scent and it was more floral to my nose. I prefer sweeter scents on my lips so it just wasn't for me.

This lotion, on the other hand, has the sweet scent of honey but also remains fresh at the same time. It's hard for me to put my finger on what is blended in with the honey...maybe berries and lemon? Again, not in a sticky-sweet, teen perfume sort of way...it's more grown up. It's not at all cloying or sticky, and it's subtle. I really enjoy it, it's not like anything I've ever owned.
savannah bee tupelo honey body lotion review
Like the lip balms, this body lotion is packed full of good-for-you, natural ingredients (I've included a shot of the label below). It's free of parabens and petroleum-derived ingredients and is not tested on animals. It's also not your average watery lotion...it's a thicker consistency that takes a minute to sink in but once it does, you're not left with a greasy feel at all, just soft hydrated skin.
savannah Bee honey body lotion review



Overall, I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to try more products from the Savannah Bee Company. I always love using all natural products when I can and the formulas in these products are top-notch. 
Have you tried anything from the Savannah Bee Company? I'd love to hear about it! 

You can purchase these products at any of their store locations or at Savannahbee.com (they also ship to Canada). 

**Disclosure- I received the products featured in this review from the Savannah Bee Company free of charge. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to write this review.**

Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector Review & Swatches

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Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector ($39 at Sephora) is a hybrid cream foundation and pressed powder in one that gives flawless coverage with minimal effort. Keep on reading for my review and swatches.
I review a lot of products every month and sometimes it seems like the same old, same old. It's rare to get a product that's just really cool and different but when I do, it's really exciting! That's how I felt as soon as I tried Stila's new Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector (try saying that three times fast)!

I couldn't decide between shades (there are five of them) so I bought Light and Medium to try. I decided that Fair looked too light, and besides I'm almost never the lightest shade. Tan and Deep were definitely too dark for me and normally I would have just grabbed Light but I have a bit of a tan so I thought I might be closer to Medium when I swatched it on my arm in the store. Turns out, my face is lighter than my body right now so Medium was too dark and Light was just perfect.
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector Review & Swatches


The Claims: 

  • Weightless, invisible formula with natural looking coverage. 
  • A cream foundation/pressed powder hybrid.
  • Smoothes skin and blurs imperfections
  • Smudge-proof, waterproof and long-lasting
  • Can be worn alone, on top of foundation, or for touch-ups.
  • Works for all skin types
Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector comes in a compact that's a bit thicker than a typical pressed powder or blush container. It has a plastic hinged cover that keeps the putty from drying out and it includes a sponge to apply it with. Stila came out with a Wonder Brush that they suggest using with this but it definitely was not in my budget at $58. I've heard from other people who have tried this that the Wonder Brush gives sheerer coverage than the sponge and truthfully, the sponge works great for me, so I'm happy to just use that!

Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector Review & Swatches
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector in Medium

The texture of this product is very similar to the Colourpop Super Shock shadows and blushes. It's like a moldable putty that feels very soft and bouncy.
This photo is of the Light shade and is what it looks like before it's been touched.
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector in Light

This photo is the medium shade and I had to bring it outside into natural light so you could see it a little bit better. See how it's kind of mushed down in the middle where I dipped the sponge in? You can move it all around but it stays together like one solid piece.
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector Review
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector in Medium

On the underside of my arm, the Light matches my natural skin tone really well...you almost can't see it (these swatches also aren't blended yet). In the store, I swatched in on the top of my arm which has a bit of a tan so the medium seemed a better fit at the time.
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector Swatches

Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector picks up very easily on the sponge and blends right into your skin flawlessly and becomes virtually undetectable, like a second skin. It dries to a powdery matte finish which oily skin types will love, but as a person with dry skin, I have to admit, I was a little concerned when I swatched it on my hand in the store. That all changed once I tried it on my face- I was blown away! Stila says you can use this on top of foundation, but honestly I use this as my foundation...it covers everything. I don't have a ton of imperfections to conceal, but I typically wear it under my eyes and on the sun damage on my cheeks, but this covers all that. You can also layer this and build up the coverage without it getting cakey or looking un-natural.

Not to mention, it's super lightweight, lasts all day, doesn't sink into lines and pores and makes your skin look velvety and airbrushed. I'm pretty sure I just ticked off all of the claims in that one sentence, and that's why I'm so impressed with this...because it actually does what it claims to do.

I decided to wear very minimal makeup in my face shot so that this foundation could be front and center and really, it just proves that if your skin looks good, you don't need to wear a lot of makeup.

All I have on here is the Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector, Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara, IT Cosmetics Brow Powder on my brows, and Colourpop's Sheer Lippie Stix in Kiddo. NO concealer, NO powder, not even blush or highlighter. It's literally a four product face and it feels like I'm wearing nothing because it feels so much like natural skin once it sets.
Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector Review & Swatches
Wearing Stila Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector, IT Cosmetics Brow Power,
Benefit Roller Lash Mascara and Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix in Kiddo.
Overall, this is one of those products that I already can't live without! It's totally worth the money because it lives up to it's claims and takes the place of so many other products (not having to wear concealer or any type of setting product is priceless). I love that I can build it up to heavier coverage without it getting cakey too! The only thing I'm a little worried about is what will happen in the winter when my skin starts to flake. Right now, this works amazingly well on my dry skin, but in the winter, I usually have to pull out the most dewy foundations I have (and even then they can still accentuate the dryness). But for now, I'm loving this...major props to Stila on this one! 

To purchase the Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector ($39), head on over to Sephora or Ulta.  

Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Review & Swatches

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Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup ($9.97 exclusively at Walmart) is a lightweight spray foundation that gives a sheer, natural finish. 
Years ago, I was borderline obsessed with the Sally Hansen Airbrush Makeup by What Not To Wear makeup artist Carmindy (love that show) and couldn't believe that it had been discontinued. Fast forward a few years and it's BACK...well sort of. It's not under Carmindy's name anymore and it's sold exclusively at Walmart, rather than CVS.  Needless to say, I bought one immediately with the hope that this is Carmindy's version repackaged. 
Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Review & Swatches

Airbrush Face Makeup comes in 6 shades, and as I do with most foundations I chose the second to lightest shade, Natural Beige. When I got home and tried it, I was questioning my shade choice because I looked the perfect shade of oompa loompa orange. Now maybe it's a bit exaggerated on me because I have cool-toned skin (anything that's not cool and pink looks orange on me), but it was also really dark and not what I was expecting from the second to lightest shade. I have a "tan" right now so I'm closer to medium than light and it was still too dark. So if you plan to buy this, definitely prepare to go at least a shade down from what you would normally get. I'm guessing that the lightest shade is probably good for "light" skintones like mine but that means there's no shade for fairer skin.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Review & Swatches

Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Review & Swatches

One of my biggest gripes about this product is that even though it's an "airbrush" mist foundation, you're not supposed to spray it directly on your face, per the instructions and I totally understand why. It doesn't come out like a light mist, it's a really strong stream that puts a lot of product into a very small area. So how do you use this? Sally Hansen recommends spraying it directly into your hand, then applying it with your fingertips (or a brush, Beauty Blender, etc). I can't remember if the Carmindy one was the same way or if you could spray that directly on your face (if you remember, please leave a comment below and let me know!).

I've owned Dior's Airflash in the past and currently have Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation and both are meant to be sprayed directly on your face (which is kinda the point of an airbrush foundation, yes?). I find that both of those spray an even, fine mist that makes it easy to apply...unfortunately, I can't see that with the Sally Hansen version. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I believe the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs is the same way...I remember using it in the past and the can says to spray it into your hand first.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Review & Swatches

So here's what it looks like when you first spray it. As you can see, it's concentrated into a small area because it came out very fast before I had the chance to move the can back and forth.
Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Swatches
Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup in Natural Beige

Coverage-wise, this is very, very sheer. It gives a barely-there hint of tint, similar to the level of a tinted moisturizer. I wish it covered a little more, since I actually really love the finish on this! It dries to a beautiful satin finish that looks like skin and is pretty much undetectable. I suppose you can build it up a bit...maybe to medium but if you're looking for any more than that, you may not like this one.
Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup Swatches
Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup in Natural Beige

Overall, while I really love the finish of this foundation and it could be a great option for days when I don't want a lot of coverage, I feel like the shades are pretty limited, it doesn't give that much coverage, and it's just messy to use. I was hoping for a way to just mist, blend and go, but the whole process of spraying it into my hand and then applying it to my face isn't too appealing. I know that I do the same thing with other foundations (pump them into my hand first) but the difference here is when you spray this one, it kind of splatters a little and I worry about getting it on my clothing. It's also hard to control how much comes out of the nozzle. 

Well, I was essentially looking for a less expensive alternative to my Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush, but I think I'll just stick to that one for now. Have you tried the new Sally Hansen Airbrush Face Makeup? What do you think? 

You can purchase it at Walmart stores and Walmart.com

My Favorite: Powder Blushes

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Wondering what the best powder blushes are? Here are three of my personal favorites!

A lot of you have asked me over the years what the best products are whether it's mascaras, eyeshadows, foundations, etc. and while it's hard to say what the "best" products are, I can definitely tell you my personal favorites and the reasons why I love them. 

Today, I wanted to talk about blushes because I am such a blush hoarder...I don't know why, I can't stop buying them and probably have more than I can use. But at the end of the day, there are certain ones I use most often, and they're at all different price points...more expensive isn't necessarily better! 
So I decided for this post, I would choose a favorite from each of the three price ranges I use on blog...Under $10, $11-24, and over $25.

Under $10
In this category, my all-time favorite blush is Be Matte by City Color Cosmetics. They're only $4.99 and come in twelve gorgeous shades. The pans are huge so they'll last a long time and they have an amazingly soft texture and amazing pigmentation. They're also long-lasting on your cheeks. See my review and swatches of these blushes here.

$11-$24
The Balm's Instain ($22) is a powder blush that's actually a stain. Talk about long-lasting...even on my dry skin, this stays put until bedtime and has great pigmentation. I keep meaning to pick up more shades in this because it's that good. I feel like it lasts even longer on me than the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes, which is pretty incredible. I also love the packaging...it comes in a really slim cardboard case with a magnetic closure and is really travel-friendly. You can see my review on it here (sorry for the bad pics and lighting, it's an older review).

Over $25
Too Faced Love Flush blush ($26) was just launched this summer, and I instantly fell in love with the formula, which is soft and pigmented and also very long lasting. Not to mention, it's worth picking one up for the packaging alone  It's like a giant conversation heart and if Barbie were a real person, this would totally be her blush. See my review and swatches here.
Of course, there are many blushes that I didn't mention here that I love and use regularly, but these are just my absolute favorites. What are your favorite blushes? Drop me a comment below! 

25% Off Lip Products at Stila Today Only (With This Code)

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Today only, get 25% off Stila Cosmetics Lip Products PLUS free shipping (on any amount) using code LIP25 at checkout. I might finally grab the Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in one of the new summer colors...I have Patina and love it! This code brings them from $24 to $18 shipped free! 
Happy shopping!

Savannah Bee Company Giveaway!

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I've teamed up with the Savannah Bee Company to host a giveaway this week! They've generously offered to send one lucky reader a Southern Flavors Natural Lip Balm trio and Tupelo Honey body lotion (if you missed my review of these products, you can see that here). You can enter below...the contest will run from today (7/26) to Sunday 8/2 at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be notified by email. Good Luck to everyone who enters!



Savannah Bee Giveaway

Kiko Cosmetics US Online Store Open Now!

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Kiko Cosmetics has taken social media by storm the past few months...it's an Italian brand that has gained a loyal following all over the world for their high-quality, yet affordable makeup and skincare. Recently, they've been opening stores in the US and if you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the photo I posted of the store the day it opened and later, my haul. Unfortunately, they're only on the east coast, so I've been hesitant to post reviews of the products I bought because the majority of you don't live near a Kiko store and I didn't even have an online site to send you guys to if you were interested in something. But today, their US store is open online and a lot of their items are 50% off for a limited time!
This is great news because it's the same sale they had when my local store opened, and I got some of their single eyeshadows for only $1.90 each (regularly $6 each), so if you want to try them, now's the time! 
There are two other products I bought that I've been in love with, in case you're looking for some inspiration right away and don't want to wait for my reviews: 

The Limited Edition Modern Tribes Bronzer $12.90 (reg. $27)- I had seen this reviewed on YouTube and Instagram and it was the one thing I knew for sure I wanted when I went to the Kiko store for the first time. It comes in a huge wooden box with a magnetic closure and it is the most gorgeous color (I got Warm Melange). It blends beautfully and smells delicious...like vanilla and chocolate swirled together. If you're interested in this one, be sure to get it now while the sale is going on, because it's much cheaper!



The other thing I got that I'm loving is the Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick ($8). It's pigmented like a lipstick but feels moisturizing going on and has a really shiny finish like a gloss! Since I'm not a matte lipstick fan, this was right up my alley. I got the shade 813 Apple Blossom, which is a really pretty mauve pink (it looks different online for some reason).


I'll be reviewing both of these products very soon now that I know that everyone has the opportunity to order them! :) 

Have you tried Kiko yet? If so, let us know what your favorite products are! It'll really help out other readers who are ordering for the first time. 

NEW Victoria's Secret Body Care all

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Victoria's Secret has just launched a new Body Care line and it's on sale for a limited time...all full size products are only $8 each (regularly $18). Let's take a look!

There are four different products in the line that are meant to be used together for maximum benefits. They're all infused with their patent-pending Cotton Moisture Complex for head-to-toe hydration and are paraben free. 
The first step is the Smoothing Scrub Wash to exfoliate and smooth your skin. Next is the UltraRich Cream Wash to cleanse and soften. The third step is the Hydrating Body Lotion to smooth and soften your skin, then finally, lock in the moisture for 24 hours with the Weightless Body Oil.



There are four scents in the line as well...Acai, Verbena, Shea, and Coconut Milk (you guys know I am all over that coconut one!). 


I'm definitely going to go there this week and sniff these in person. If I love one of the scents, I'll pick some up to try and review for you guys. Everything I mentioned here also comes in travel sizes for $5 each, but if the full sizes are only $8 right now, it makes sense to just spring for the full sizes while we can, right?! 
You can check out all the new Body Care products at Victoriassecret.com.

ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum Foundation Review & Swatches

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ELF Foundation Serum ($8 at eyeslipsface.com) is part of the new Beautifully Bare collection and promises to give a weightless no-makeup look while minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines. Let's take a look!
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum Foundation Review
Elf Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum in Fair

Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum contains broad spectrum SPF 25 and comes in three shades: Fair/Light, Light/Medium, and Medium/Dark. I wish that it came in a broader range of shades but the coverage is lightweight enough that it will blend easily enough with most skin tones, even if it's not an exact color match.

This does contain mineral oil, for those of you who are trying to avoid products that contain it. It's not a problem for me, but I definitely wanted to mention it!

It comes in a clear plastic pump bottle that looks sleek and pretty (love the silver accents!) but feels a little flimsy and cheap in your hand. I definitely appreciate the pump though...I still don't understand why every foundation doesn't have a pump, but that's a discussion for another day.
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum Foundation Review
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum in Fair/Light

ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum Foundation Review
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum in Fair/Light
The formula is very lightweight and runny...similar to L'oreal's Magic Nude/Maybelline Dream Wonder which are also serum-like foundations. But rather than feeling watery on the skin like those do, this one feels a teeny bit thicker and more silicone-y...almost like a very lightweight primer. It does have silicones at the top of the ingredient list, so that makes sense.
When you pump it onto your skin, the lightweight formula will start to drip if you turn your hand down, so it's a lot more runny than a regular foundation.
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum Foundation Swatches
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum swatch in Fair/Light

Coverage-wise, this is very sheer and doesn't cover many flaws, just evens out your skin a little bit .I would say the coverage is equivalent to a tinted moisturizer. It doesn't appear to have any shimmer in it, but it does give my skin a nice glow, making it look fresh and hydrated with a satiny finish that's not matte or flat. It also looks just like skin once it sets, so it's great for an "I woke up like this" sort of look where no one can really tell that you're wearing makeup. As I mentioned above, it has a slight silicone primer-like feel so it doesn't settle into lines, pores, or cling to dry patches.
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum Foundation Swatches
ELF Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum swatch in Fair/Light

For me, Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum doesn't give enough coverage on it's own but I've found that I can use it as a base and it works great for that! It basically acts as a tinted primer, giving an extra boost of coverage under my foundation. But for those who are just looking to even out their skin tone and aren't looking to cover too many imperfections will love this as a lightweight foundation that has a thin texture that melts right into your skin for a no-makeup look!

You can purchase Elf's Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum at eyeslipsface.com.
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