The Budget Beauty Blog

Sephora Collection Pore Perfecting Primer Mist ($22) is a brand new release on Sephora.com and in Sephora stores. It's a pore primer in an aerosol spray that features a weightless, non-sticky mattifying formula for up to 8 hours of wear. How cool is that?!

This spray claims to prime, set, control shine, and reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines for up to 8 hours. It can also be used as a setting mist over makeup!

You can spray it directly over a clean face and let it air dry, or you can buff it into your skin with a brush.

What do you think? Are you interested in trying this? You can pick it up at your local Sephora or Sephora.com.

I recently saw photos of the new, not yet released Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom Universal Skin Salve floating around Instagram and Glossier is rewarding everyone who helps to spread the word about it by giving away free full-sized tubes! Glossier is the creation of Into The Gloss blogger Emily Weiss and her products are loved by beauty editors everywhere. Here's how to get some to try for free...

1. Sign up with your email here.

2. You'll get your own unique link to share on social media.

3. Get 5 friends to sign up with their email and you get a free tube of Coconut Balm Dotcom!

4. Sign up more people and get more free products, it's as easy as that! All they need to do is enter their email...no additional signup required.

The original Glossier Balm Dotcom has a cult following as it can be used anywhere on the skin...lips, cuticles, elbows, etc. I personally can't wait to try the Coconut version...word is it smells like vacation!

City Color Be Matte Blush ($4.99 at CityColorCosmetics.com) has been around for a while now and I've heard so much about them over the past year or so from other bloggers that I had to grab some when I saw them recently at Five Below. There are twelve shades in all, but my local Five Below only had 7, so I bought them all. Let's take a look...

I've come to appreciate matte blushes as I've gotten older because shimmery formulas can accentuate the pores on my cheeks. It's not something I even thought about when I was younger because back then my pores were invisible, but the older I get, the more noticeable they've become. These blushes are formulated with ultra-fine pressed powder that picks up so easily with a brush and blends like a dream. They're super pigmented as well, so you can get a dramatic look pretty easily, or for a more subtle look, just use a lighter hand.

The shades are absolutely gorgeous! I love almost every one I purchased with the exception of the last one, Blood Orange. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful color, but it's just too dark and bold for my fair skin. The rest of them, however, are just perfect and I'm happy I bought them all because I now have a matte blush to go with whatever look I'm going for that day.

Papaya is a beautiful peachy nude shade.

Guava is the perfect nude pink.

Toasted Coconut is actually an amazing bronzer/contour shade for lighter skintones!

Blackberry is probably my favorite shade of the bunch. It's a cool-toned mauve-pink that reminds me a bit of Colourpop's Prenup.

Pink Grapefruit is a subtle cotton candy pink.

Dragonfruit is a cool-toned bright pink.

Blood Orange is a bright orange-red that would be amazing on darker skintones.

These swatches are one swipe after swirling my finger around in the pan two or three times. As you can see, it would be pretty easy to overdo it with these shades, so a little bit really goes a long way.

Overall, I'm super impressed with City Color Be Matte Blush and I can definitely see what all the hype is about when it comes to these! Not only are they super soft and highly pigmented, but the pans are a huge size that will last forever, especially since you only need a tiny bit.

From now until June 20th, 2015, you can get 15% off at City Color Cosmetics using my coupon code BBBSAVE15. (Please note that I purchased these blushes with my own money and this is not an affiliate code and using it does not earn me anything if you make a purchase).

Have you tried Be Matte Blushes yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner ($29 at Pixibeauty.com) is an oil-free, alcohol-free toner that promises to exfoliate, smooth, and brighten the look of your skin. It has a cult following around the world and I finally broke down and ordered some...unfortunately it's not sold at Target with the rest of the line, it's only available from Pixibeauty.com. So is it worth the hype? Read on to find out!

In the past, I never had much of a need for toners since I have dry skin. Back in the day, they were full of alcohol that just made my dry skin feel even drier and tighter. These days, toners are much more gentle and I've been using alcohol-free versions after cleansing as a way to clean up any makeup residue that's left behind. Pixi's Glow Tonic goes beyond regular toners, as it contains 5% Glycolic Acid to exfoliate the skin, Witch Hazel for reducing inflammation and oil, and aloe to calm and soothe.

You may have heard the term "acid toning" and that's exactly what this does...glycolic acid exfoliates the skin without the need for scrubbing so it's a gentler way to get rid of flakes on dry skin and also reduce oil and prevent pores from getting clogged in oily skin. So this is one of those products that miraculously works for both dry and oily skin types!
The majority of reviews I've read on this were written by people with oily skin, but as a person with dry skin, I can honestly say that this works wonders for keeping my flakes at bay for a smooth complexion. Removing that dead layer of skin cells on top helps your serums and creams to penetrate better and your makeup to go on smoother. It also rids your skin of that dull top layer, revealing the brighter skin underneath.
I've been using this every night (and some mornings too) and I haven't had the need for a scrub because my face feels as smooth as a baby's bottom.
I do want to mention that this has a pretty strong floral fragrance, in case you're sensitive to them. It disappears once I add my serum or moisturizer but you definitely smell it while you're using it.

Overall, I'm really impressed with Pixi's Glow Tonic and for me, it's definitely been worth the hype. I love that I can tone and exfoliate in one step...it couldn't be easier or faster, I just put a little on a cotton pad and sweep it over my face after cleansing. I've noticed a big difference in my skin these past few weeks. Before, I would exfoliate twice a week or so and my skin would look great at first but a few days later it would start to look dull and feel rough again. Since this is gentler than a scrub I can use it every day and my skin never starts to look dull and my makeup applies flawlessly.

No matter what your skin type, you can likely benefit from Pixi Glow Tonic! It's a little pricey but the bottle is pretty large (8.5 oz) and will last quite a while.

You can order it online at Pixibeauty.com.

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer + Corrector ($8.99 at Ulta and drugstores) is a brand new offering for Summer/Fall 2015 and claims to provide all-day flawless correction and visibly reduce the appearance of dark circles, spots and imperfections in just three weeks. So does it live up to its claims? Let's take a look...

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer Review

Better Skin Concealer comes in a tube with a doe foot applicator, similar to many other concealers you see at the drugstore. What's interesting is that in the UK where this was released last year, this concealer is in a squeeze tube. It makes me wonder if the formula is different or if it's just the packaging?
It comes in five shades: Ivory, Light, Light Medium, Medium Deep and Deep.

For me, this is just your average, everyday concealer with sheer to medium coverage. It has a smooth, creamy consistency that's very lightweight and blends nicely. But it just didn't provide enough coverage for me...and I don't have major dark circles or anything. I do have a little darkness under my eyes, along with some freckling and sun damage so I prefer at least a medium coverage and this doesn't even give me that. I'm also not sure about the correcting claims because the color doesn't seem to be the peachy tone that correctors normally have...unless they're talking about correction over time. One of this concealer's claims is that it contains Actyl-C, which is a durable form of Vitamin C, that has been shown to brighten the skin over time. Unfortunately, I haven't used this long enough to see any benefit from it because the formula is just not for me.
Despite the creamy texture, it dries to a more powdery finish that doesn't agree with my dry skin and seems to accentuate fine lines.
Here's a swatch of the lightest shade, Ivory swiped and then blended. Even though it's yellow based and I have pink undertones, it matches pretty well once blended.

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer swatches

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer in Ivory

Overall, a no-go for me. It's possible that oily skin types may like this thinner, less moisturizing formula, but if you have anything you really want to cover you'll probably want to skip this one.

Maybelline Better Skin Concealer can be found at drugstores or at Ulta.com

IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Reviver Lipstick Stain ($20) is my latest lip product obsession that I find myself reaching for every day. This is a lipstick, lip stain, gloss, and anti-aging lip balm all in one and words cannot describe how much I love it...but I'm going to try. Let's take a look...

it cosmetics vitality lip stain je ne sais quoi review

IT Cosmetics recently sent me some of their lip products to try, including this Vitality Lip Flush in Je Ne Sais Quoi. I was really excited because I've been wanting to try these for a while after seeing them demo'd on QVC a bunch of times. I have dry lips that always look lined and I feel like they age me, especially when I wear a lip product that exaggerates the dryness (I'm talking about you, lip stains!), so the prospect of a lipstick that lasts yet feels like a balm sounds like heaven to me.
The packaging is really pretty, it comes in a silver tube with the words "Live, Love, Laugh with Vitality" inside which I thought was a nice touch.
Je Ne Sais Quoi appears clear in the tube but on my lips it turns into a beautiful pink flush that looks incredibly natural and gives my paler lips that coveted "my lips but better" look.

it cosmetics vitality lip flush stain review swatches

In terms of formula, this lipstick is a rockstar- I have nothing bad to say about it at all. It feels like an incredibly hydrating lip balm- it glides onto the lips with a buttery richness that instantly quenches my dry lips. It contains plum oil, cherry oil, shea butter, aloe, and jojoba to hydrate and minimize lines instantly plus antioxidants like acai, green tea, white tea, and Vitamins A, C, & E to fight free radicals and protect your lips from further aging.
About 30 seconds after application, Je Ne Sais Quoi develops into a light pink on my fair skin, but it can appear differently on different people, depending on the pigmentation of your lips and your own body chemistry.

It cosmetics vitality lip flush je ne sais quoi swatches

Here, you can see in my before photo (left) that my lips don't have a lot of natural pigment. In the after photo (right), Je Ne Sais Quoi gives me a subtle boost of color that helps to brighten my face and keep me from looking washed out, yet it looks really natural. Also, the really cool thing about this lipstick is that the color almost seems like it's coming out from within my lips, rather than sitting on top or covering them...that's why it looks so natural. It may be due to the fact that this goes on clear (the other shades that start out with color may be different).

This does, in fact, stain my lips for several hours and the color is still there even after I don't feel the product on my lips anymore. Once it does fade, it's very even and not patchy like some other stains I've tried in the past.
Overall, this has been my go-to lip product for the past week since I got it and I know I'll be wearing it all summer long- it's just so easy and effortless to wear.

You can purchase Vitality Lip Flush at Ulta or on QVC.com. (Currently, QVC has a deal on these...for $29 you can get two in either pink shades or berry shades).

**Disclosure- The product featured in this review was provided to me by IT Cosmetics, however all opinions are my own. I was not paid to write this review.**

Hey Guys! I just wanted to let you know that I'll be heading to the Jersey Shore for my family's annual vacation tomorrow, and Sunday is my son's 2nd birthday, so I won't be posting this weekend...but I am bringing products with me to review so you'll be seeing some posts during the week as usual, after we get settled plus I'll be posting some vacation pics on Instagram.

See you all Monday! :)

As soon as the warm weather hits, I put away my blow dryer, round brush and flat iron and I'm all about rocking beachy, textured, waves in my hair. Recently, Suave Professionals launched a new collection called Sea Mineral Infusion at Walmart that has been proven to work as well as Bumble and Bumble Surf* products! (*Bumble and bumble and Surf® are registered trademarks of Bumble and Bumble LLC).

This collection includes Moisturizing Body Shampoo and Conditioner, which contain rich sea minerals to give your hair an airy bounce without compromising on moisture as well as a Sea Salt Spray to give your hair all-over body with loose textured waves that last up to 24 hours! So far, I've been really impressed with the Suave Professionals line- I'm a huge fan of the Keratin Infusion line- so I can't wait to try Sea Mineral Infusion. As someone with fine hair that's also damaged, I often have to choose between moisturizing formulas that weigh my hair down, or volumizing formulas that leave it looking dry. So the fact that this promises both moisture and volume means that I have to try this! Also, when you visit the Suave page on the Walmart website, you can create and send a free, fun summer e-card with an inspirational message on it.

Here's the one I made!

To create your own card and check out the new Suave Sea Minerals line, please visit Walmart.com.*Disclosure- This post is sponsored by Lunchbox*

I've been a member of Gilt.com for years and they have some of the best deals on designer clothing and beauty products. Tonight, I saw a deal is just too good to pass up! You can get a $100 Tarte.com gift card for $25!! Yes, you read that right.

Here's how:

1. Sign up for a new account at Gilt City using my link here. By using my invite link, you'll get $25 off your first purchase.
2. When you choose your city, choose Atlanta, and that's where you'll see the Tarte deal.
3. Choose the deal that's $50 for a $100 gift card. When you checkout, you'll get $25 off for using my code. That's it! Happy shopping!

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator ($12.99 at drugstores and Ulta.com) is brand new for Summer/Fall 2015. It comes in three shades: Golden (to flatter warm skintones), Ice (to flatter cool skintones), and Rose which is neutral and flatters both warm and cool skintones. I recently posted about the powder version of these and I felt that they were too glittery for my taste...let's see if these are any better!

loreal true match lumi liquid highlighter review

L'oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminators
in Ice and Rose.

The packaging claims that these are "multi use" including defining the face, opening the eyes, and even priming all over. They include a diagram on the back of the tube with suggestions on where to dot this, such as around the eye area, the bridge of the nose, and cupid's bow.

The tubes themselves are kind of small for the price (0.67oz.), especially if you're using this to prime all over. I think that the Hard Candy Sheer Glow All the Way highlighters I reviewed back in September are a much better deal at $8 for 2.7oz., especially because I like the finish of those better.

The True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminators are frosty and full of shimmer, I'm sorry to say. I don't like them any better than the powders, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong, they're beautiful to look at, but I feel like they're way too much *sparkle sparkle* for me personally.
Ice is a bright white while Rose is a really pretty rose gold.

loreal true match lumi liquid glow illuminator swatches

L'oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminators in Ice and Rose.

Even blended out, you can see a lot of sparkle on my skin. These photos were taken indoors in natural light, so you can imagine how much more glittery they'd look in sunlight!

L'oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow
Illuminators in Ice and Rose.

I decided to try and test these as primer instead, as the packaging suggests. I added a layer of Urban Decay's Naked Skin Foundation on top of my two blended-out swatches from above. It definitely toned down the shimmer, but I could still see little sparkles here and there. With other Illuminating primers I've tried, such as the Hard Candy ones I mentioned above the shimmer was much finer and less chunky, so it translated to a "glow" vs. shimmer under foundation.

Overall, I don't really see myself reaching for these on a regular basis. The amount of sparkle in them is just too much for me, and the price is steep for a drugstore product. I would recommend the Hard Candy Sheer Glow All The Way versions of you're looking for a similar product. They're $8 for almost triple the amount of product and they don't have as much shimmer, yet still give a glow finish. I haven't tried the original Glow All The Way, but the sheer versions are great!

Have you tried the new L'oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminators yet? What do you think of them?

Too Faced Love Flush Blush ($26) is brand new for Fall 2015 and comes in packaging that is too cute to resist! I purchased mine at HSN using a $20 off coupon code when you open a new account (152616) that dropped the price down to $16 each. Still not cheap but I'd much rather spend $32 than $52. Let's take a closer look!

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Review and Swatches

Love Flush blush is supposed to be longwearing, fade-proof, smudge-proof, and pigment rich and comes in shades that last for up to 16 hours. I don't know about you, but my cheeks like to eat my blush and make it disappear very shortly after application so I am always interested in a long-wearing formula!

I purchased two of the six shades...Justify My Love and Love Hangover.

The packaging is to-die-for cute. They're a little smaller than I thought they would be based on the photos online and they're thinner and more compact than the Too Faced Sweethearts blush that comes in a heart shaped cardboard container.
These little plastic compacts remind me of conversation hearts and have a magnetic closure that's very tight. In fact, the one and only complaint I have about the packaging is that it's a little hard to open. I sort of have to stick my nail in the crack where the the top lid meets the bottom to pry it open, so that tells you just how strong the magnet is!

Love Hangover and Justify My Love

Inside, they're just as cute, with a heart shaped mirror and bunny design imprinted in the blush itself. As much as I love when companies do that, I also hate it because it makes me not want to use it!

Justify My Love is a bright pink with fine gold sparkle. Thankfully, the sparkle is very subtle...I don't even notice it once it's on my cheeks, but you can make it out a little in the compact. It's just enough to keep it from looking too flat.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Justify My Love

Here are the swatches, applied first with my finger and then with a brush. The formula is a soft, dense powder that almost feels like a cream. It applies beautifully and is so easy to blend with great pigmentation. My only complaint is that there was a lot of powdery fallout when using a brush, but other than that, I have no complaints about the formula.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Justify My Love Swatches

Love Hangover is a warm pink with a hint of peach. This is probably my favorite of the two shades...it compliments my fair skin really well!

Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Love Hangover

This one also appears to have a teeny tiny bit of shimmer but only if you look closely. On my skin, I couldn't detect the shimmer at all.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Love Hangover

So do they really last 16 hours? I can't say for sure since I'm not awake for 16 hours a day...ever! I have a toddler and go to bed pretty early nowadays. But I will say, these lasted at least 8 hours on me which is a record for most powder blushes.
Overall, these have a beautiful, pigmented, creamy formula that really lasts! They're a bit pricey at $26 each, but I definitely recommend setting up a new HSN account and using code 152616 to get $20 off!
Have you tried these yet, or are you planning to?

I meant to do this post before I left on vacation, but I got too wrapped up with packing and it totally slipped my mind. But I still wanted to post it because these are my must-have can't-leave-home-without-it products and this is an opportunity to share them all with you in one place. So let's take a look....

The largest item I brought is my Urban Decay Naked Palette, and although it takes up the most room, there's a shade combo in here for practically every outfit, so in a way, it saves room because it's so versatile. Also, no Naked Palette would be complete without the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Enigma.

Also for eyes, I brought along a Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick in Taupe. This is a universally flattering shade and this is a totally bulletproof (as Mally likes to call it) cream shadow that doesn't budge or crease. It was perfect to swipe on quickly during the day so that I could look put together without a lot of effort, plus it stood up to the summer heat.

I also packed my Tarte Skinny SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof eyeliner in Bronze Agate. This also has excellent staying power when you're out in the heat all day and this color is a lighter, more vacation friendly option than black or gray. It goes with everything.

Finally for eyes I brought a travel sized They're Real! mascara by Benefit. This is one of my favorites and I like that you can buy it in a mini version for $12.

For my skin, I recently purchased a mini version of Tarte's BB Tinted Treatment Primer after reading great reviews online. I'm super impressed with it...it has medium coverage like a foundation, which is crazy for a tinted primer! I will most likely buy the full size of this one because you can layer it under another foundation for more coverage or use it alone!

I also brought two of my holy grail face products with me...IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ in a cute travel size and IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer. Using these two products together gives me a totally flawless complexion that also stands up to humidity and lasts all day without melting off my face or creasing.

I also couldn't forget one of my favorite highlighters...Benefit Watts Up! I have a really cute mini size that was perfect for travel.

I brought three blushes with me...a powder and two creams, and all three are very long-wearing. I wasn't sure what the weather was going to be like or how each type would hold up so I brought both. My powder option was City Color Be Matte Blush in BlackBerry and for the creams I brought Colourpop Prenup and Between The Sheets (not pictured).

For my brows, I decided to bring a 2-in-1 product I've been using a lot lately...Pixi Natural Brow Duo. It has an angled pencil on one end and tinted brow gel on the other, so it makes doing my brows super easy and quick.

Finally, for lips I brought my Nuxe Honey Lip Balm..I wear it to bed every night and the matte finish makes it the perfect balm to wear under lip products!

I also brought my IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum in Live because it's the perfect YLBB shade and this gloss packs a major punch when it comes to hydration and anti-aging ingredients. I decided to leave my lipsticks at home and go for an easy and simple approach to my lips. It is vacation, after all!

So there it is! My ultimate vacation makeup bag! What products can you not leave home without?

Maybelline Brow Define + Fill Duo ($7.99) is a brand new brow product that just landed at my local Walgreens. First, everyone was coming out with tinted brow gels for Spring and now the trend seems to be heading towards filling in and creating a bolder, stronger brow for fall. Let's take a look...

Brow Define + Fill comes in four shades: Blonde, Soft Brown, Deep Brown, and Auburn. It has a defining wax pencil on one end to shape your brows, and a filling powder on the other side to fill them in. It also claims to have 12-hour wear!

I purchased one in Soft Brown and can't wait to try it. I've been waiting for someone to come out with a tinted wax pencil since Revlon discontinued their Colorstay Brow Enhancer, which I used for years.

You can find Maybelline Brow Define + Fill Duo at Walgreens stores or online at Ulta.com

Yesterday, I spotted some new Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blushes and Blends at CVS and Walgreens. I rarely post about Neutrogena because it's not the most exciting makeup line, if I'm being totally honest. I keep wishing that they'll create some more interesting products because some of their formulas are good quality and great for sensitive skin. Unfortunately, they tend to get lost in the shuffle amidst more exciting launches from L'oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel and CoverGirl. But I have to say...these new blushes caught my attention. Maybe it's because I'm a blush junkie but it could also be due to the clean, sleek new packaging and beautiful shades. So let's take a look...

First of all, the prices are on the high side for drugstore blushes, but again, certain Neutrogena products I've tried were high quality (and a few were duds) so if these are nicely pigmented, they might be worth it. Also the prices here are from CVS...I didn't look at the prices when I was at Walgreens but I'm willing to bet that they're a dollar or two cheaper there since CVS is almost always the most expensive of the drugstores. Also, I'm sure these will be on sale at some point, if you're willing to wait.

First, they have re-released their Healthy Skin Blends ($15.29) with a new formula and packaging. The first one is called Clean and it's a translucent oil-control powder.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Translucent Oil Control Powder in Clean

Next up is a sheer highlighting blush called Pure. This looks so beautiful...I can't wait to try this one!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting Blush in Pure

There's also a bronzer called Sunkissed. I'm hoping this will work for my fair skin because it seems to be matte and from the packaging, it doesn't appear to be too orange. I guess we'll see!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer in Sunkissed

Next up are the single Healthy Skin Blushes ($11.49). These three shades from front to back are Rosy (#10), Vibrant (#20) and Flushed (#30). They just look like beautful, natural shades that anyone can wear. I'm curious to see what the formula is like!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blush in Rosy, Vibrant, and Flushed.

The last two shades of Healthy Skin Blush are more bronzy in color than pink...Bronzed (#40) and Luminous (#50).

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blush in Bronzed and Luminous.

So what do you think of this new collection? Are you planning to try any of these or have you tried them already?

L'oreal Colour Riche Le Matte Lipcolour Stick ($9.99 at drugstores) is a recently re-released matte lipstick in a twist-up pencil form. These originally came out back in 2013 and they were limited edition, so I never got the chance to try them. Now that they're back, I was a little disappointed that they only released five shades! Also, they're pretty expensive for a drugstore lip product, so I only purchased one to try before I commit to more. Let's take a closer look!

loreal le matte lip pencil review swatches

L'oreal Le Matte Lipcolour in She's So Matte

I purchased the shade She's So Matte, which is a medium nude pink. These have an oval shaped tip that makes it really easy to stay inside your lip line...it's like the best of a lip pencil and lipstick in one.

L'oreal Le Matte Lipcolour review swatches

L'oreal Le Matte Lipcolour in She's So Matte

The formula is almost identical to the Maybelline ColorBlur Lip Pencils, except this one has a rose perfume-like scent that I'm not a fan of at all. The ColorBlur pencils were unscented, so I'm not sure why L'oreal chose to add perfume to these. Still, I can't complain about the formula as it glides easily on my dry lips without tugging and allows me to wear a matte lip without clinging to dry patches or looking cakey. Also, compared to the ColorBlur pencils, these come in more conservative shades so if you had a hard time finding a shade you liked out of all of the bright, bold ColorBlur pencils, you may find one you like here (although there aren't many shades to choose from).

L'oreal Le Matte Lipcolour in She's So Matte

This formula is also really long-lasting and my lips never felt dry during wear time. I'm really liking this shade, as it's an MLBB-type shade that's really natural-looking.

Overall, if you like the Maybelline ColorBlur shades, you may want to just stick with those as they're less expensive and also unscented. The formula is pretty much identical as far as I can tell. But if like me, you were looking for some more natural-looking shades, you may want to check these out...as long as you don't mind the heavy floral scent!

Have you tried these yet? What do you think of them?

You can find these at drugstores, Target, and Ulta.com (currently $5.99 at the time of this post).

IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer ($48 at Ulta) is a hydrating primer and anti-aging serum in one that contains over 50 good-for-your-skin ingredients. I'm a primer junkie and I have yet to see one that has this many fantastic ingredients inside...actually, I don't even think some of my high-priced skincare serums have this much anti-aging technology inside. Let's take a closer look and I'll get into the ingredients more in-depth.

IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer

No. 50 Primer comes in a pump bottle, but there is also a dropper included if you prefer. Also, a little bit goes a long way, so this bottle should last a while.

IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer

Take a look at the ingredient list...it's so long! Like most primers, silicones are at the top of the list, but after that is where No. 50 starts to set itself apart from the rest. The first thing that jumped out at me were all the hydrating, skin-loving ingredients like grape seed oil, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, mango seed butter, argan oil and hyaluronic acid. It's also full of vitamins, niacin and collagen as well as coffee seed extract, an antioxidant.
Finally, I was surprised and delighted to see some ingredients that have been really popular in Korean skincare, such as snail secretion filtrate and lactobacillus fermented with honeysuckle, licorice root, morus alba root, Pueraria Lobata Root, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root and Sophora Japonica Flower extracts. This is the exact same complex that's in Missha's Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail BB Cream.
Fermented skincare is gaining popularity in the US, but it's been used in Korean products for a while now to help whiten and regenerate the skin.

IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer Ingredients

No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Primer comes out of the bottle white like a lotion, but turns clear as you rub it into the skin. To me, it feels like a more hydrating version of the Hourglass Veil Mineral primer, so if you like the way that one sinks into the skin with no greasy feel, you'll love this one even more if you have drier or mature skin.
This absorbs quickly and creates a perfect barrier that allows makeup to go on flawlessly and diffusing the look of pores, lines and wrinkles. When I wear this primer, my skin is as smooth as my 2 year old son's!
When I saw this presented on QVC Jamie Kern Lima (IT Cosmetics' founder) suggested that you can also layer this on top of your skincare before bed to lock in the benefits of your skincare products and also add some additional anti-aging benefits while you sleep. I've been doing that for about 2 weeks and I always wake up to baby soft skin that looks brighter and smoother.

IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer Swatch

Overall, if you're looking for a non-greasy primer that will help your makeup to go on smoothly and will also feed your skin with a ton of beneficial ingredients, then look no further! Those with normal-to dry skin types will really love this as it's a truly hydrating primer. When you combine that with all of the anti-aging ingredients that are in this bottle you have one powerful combo! Can your primer do all that?

Have you tried IT Cosmetics No. 50 primer yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

**Disclosure- I received the product mentioned in this review from a brand or PR Agency, and all opinions are my own. I was not paid to write this review.**

The Amope Pedi Perfect ($49.95 at drugstores) is the ultimate tool to get your feet super smooth this summer and I have 2 of them to give away to my Instagram followers!

So head on over to my Instagram page to find out how to enter. I'll choose two winners at random on July 4th at 11:59pm EST. Good luck to everyone who enters!

L'Oreal La Lacque Lip Pen ($9.99 at drugstores) is a re-release for Summer 2015 (it was originally released in a limited edition back in 2013) along with the Le Matte Lip Pens, which I reviewed the other day- see that post here). There are five shades of each and while they are a bit on the pricier side for a drugstore lip product, they have been going on sale for 50% off lately, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

L'Oreal La Lacque Lip Pen Review & Swatches

L'Oreal La Lacque Lip Pen in Choco-lacque

La Lacque is described as a "sleek sophisticated pen that glides on effortlessly in one stroke" with "irresistibly glossy pigment-riche color". Just like the Le Matte pens, this has an oval shaped tip for precise application- it's the perfect blend of a liner and a lipstick in one. But I have to say, when I saw that this was a "gloss pen" I expected it to be a little, well... glossier!
Unlike the Le Matte lipsticks, this one doesn't glide easily on the lips...it actually drags a bit as you apply it and has a tacky feel. It's weird but when applying these, La Lacque feels like a drier matte lipstick and Le Matte feels smooth and glossy- but then the finishes are completely opposite of how they feel!
It does have a glossy finish but not in the way a lip gloss does. It's shiny but it doesn't feel smooth and soft like a gloss. It's sticky and clings to your lips, so in that regard it actually has better staying power than a gloss would. I'm just not sure I like the feel of it.
La Lacque is nicely pigmented but just like the Le Matte's it has that rose perfume scent to it, which I am definitely not a fan of.

L'Oreal La Lacque Lip Pen in Choco-lacque

I purchased the shade Choco-Lacque which is a beautiful dusty pink nude. I really love this shade!

L'Oreal La Lacque Lip Pen in Choco-lacque swatches

Overall, just like the Le Matte Lip Pens, I'm conflicted by this. On the positive side, this color is gorgeous, it has a shiny finish, is easy to control, and it's nicely pigmented. But on the negative side, it's expensive, drags during application, feels sticky, and has a strong rose fragrance. Basically, I don't think I'm in a rush to buy any more of these. I'm left wishing that Maybelline had come out with a "glossy" version of their ColorBlur pencils because they're very similar to L'Oreal's Le Mattes with no fragrance.

Have you tried these? What do you think of them?

OMG, I am so excited to let you guys know that Ulta is now carrying my favorite UK brand, Makeup Revolution! When I started writing this, there were a couple of products but they're adding more and more as we speak so hopefully they'll all be available soon. So if you haven't ordered yet because you don't want to pay the $12 overseas shipping, well, now you don't have to! Thank you so much to reader Amanda D. on Twitter for letting me know!

Here's a few of my favorites:

The Iconic 1 Redemption Palette ($9.99)

Iconic 2 Palette ($9.99)- An Urban Decay Naked 2 Dupe- see my review of this palette here!

Ultra Blush & Contour Palette ($9.99)- See my review of the Golden Sugar shade here (it's not available on Ulta yet but I'm hoping they'll add it. So far, Hot Spice and Sugar & Spice are available).

Salvation Velvet Lip Lacquer ($4.99)

To see all of the available Makeup Revolution Products at Ulta, click here! To see all of my Makeup Revolution reviews, please click here.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't let my hair air dry unless it's in a bun or braid or something. Letting it air dry when it's down is just a bad, bad idea. I've watched countless YouTube videos on ways to let your hair air dry into "sexy beachy waves" or "effortless tousled texture"...yeah, ok. Each and every time, my hair turns into a limp, lifeless, rumpled thing that just hangs there and doesn't just look frizzy, it looks fuzzy. So unless I want to wear a bun/ponytail/braid every single day for the next few months, I have to blowdry my hair which is the last thing I want to do when it's 90 degrees.

But maybe not, according to Bumble & Bumble, who have just introduced a brand new hair styling creme called Don't Blow It ($14 for 2 oz. or $30 for 5oz.at Sephora). Let's take a look at the claims!

According to Sephora.com, Don't Blow Itis "a first-of-it's-kind hair cream that enhances texture and body for the perfect air dried style" and promises to give you a great air-dried hair day without the heat or hassle. It contains lightweight polymers to boost your hair's natural texture and add bounce, while a plant-based conditioning blend keeps your hair hydrated and soft.

Considering that my husband has been teasing me lately about my "librarian hair", I may have to give my bun a rest and pick up a bottle of this to try.

Do you ever struggle with air drying your hair or do you have any secrets you'd like to share? Do tell!

Don't Blow It can be found at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.

New Sephora Pore Perfecting Primer Mist

Get a Free Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom.

City Color Be Matte Blush Review and Swatches

Pixi Glow Tonic Review

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer Review

IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Reviver Lipstick Stain Review & Swatches

Vacation

New Suave Sea Mineral Infusion Hair Products at Walmart

Get a $100 Tarte.com Gift Card for $25!

L'Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator Review & Swatches

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Review and SwatchesLove

My Vacation Makeup Bag

New Maybelline Brow Define + Fill Duo at Walgreens

New Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blushes and Healthy Skin Blends at CVS and Walgreens

L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte Lipcolour Stick Review & Swatches

IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer Review

Win an Amope Pedi Perfect!

L'Oreal La Lacque Lip Pen Review & Swatches

Makeup Revolution is now at Ulta!!

New Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It- Air Dried Hair, Don't Care?