What's in my makeup bag? - Products that I'm currently using!

What's in my makeup bag?

As a beauty blogger, I've tried so many different products over the years. At some points I had about 20 or more foundations at the same time, and was trying so many things and finishing none of them. Since my little break off from blogging, I've cut down on trying so many new things at once, and I'm finding myself repurchasing the same things over again - things that are reliable and that I love!

So, for the past several months (or more), these have been my staples!

MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation - I've gone through around 3-4 tubes of this so far, and I've been re-purchasing this foundation as soon as I run out. It has a solid medium coverage, and it's my go-to when I want my makeup to last on hours on end. It really does last me till the time I want to wash my face, and I don't find that it breaks apart or separates by the end of the night. I do prefer this over MAC's regular Pro Longwear Foundation, but I do like that one as well. ($33)

NARS Tinted Moisturizer - This is my go-to day wear foundation. The formula is creamy and moisturizing and it provides an SPF of 30, which is great for when you're out and about during the day. The coverage is light, but buildable, and evens out the skintone nicely and gives a fresh, clean look. A little expensive for a daily wearing tinted moisturizer, but for now, I'm loving it and I'm getting low on my second tube. ($44)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer - It wasn't love at first sight with this concealer, but after using it regularly, I've grown to love it. As I'm getting older, I find it much more difficult to find a concealer that doesn't age me or give me the "tired eye" look, and I find that this one doesn't accentuate dryness or fine lines. A definite winner in my book, and one that I will repurchase as soon as I run out. ($25)

Urban Decay Naked Concealer - Along with Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer, I like adding a layer of this concealer on top before I blend the two together. These two concealers work really well as a team, and I love how light and blendable this concealer is. It's a great one if you are looking for a pigmented concealer that doesn't have the density or weight of a standard (heavy) concealer. I like using this concealer in a lighter shade to brighten my under eyes. ($28)

Beauty Blender - I can't live without my beauty blender. I use it every day to apply my concealer, and I use a separate one to set my concealer with powder. It works more beautifully than any brush. ($20)

NARS Loose Powder Review, Photos, Swatches!

NARS Loose Powder

NARS Loose Powder ($35) is a silky, triple milled face powder provides light, natural coverage to set makeup, soften color and smooth the texture of the skin. The ultra-smooth formula blends undetectably to absorb excess oils and maintain fresh looking skin with an "imperceptible" finish. It can be used to set foundations or it can be worn alone to even out and soften the complexion.

NARS Loose Powder is available in (7) shades: Snow (for porcelain to fair skin), Flesh (for fair skin), Eden (medium yellow skin), Beach (medium deep yellow skin), Desert (light rose undertones to enhance medium skin) and Mountain (deep medium reddish-brown skin).

For my warm, medium coloring, I chose Beach and it's a perfect match. I think it's a great match for around the MAC NC30-40 coloring.

Pressed and Loose powders have come a long way and more and more companies are launching these magical powders that don't give the illusion of a powder on the skin. I fully believe in setting your liquid foundation with a powder for the best lasting power, but the problem with some powders is that they can take away the glow from your foundation, making your skin look too matte and flat; and real skin isn't truly matte, so it can look unnatural. Sometimes it can even make your makeup look heavier.

Truth be told, I like to skip powdering if I can get away with it because I don't like altering the color and finish of my foundation, but I can't deny the fact that when I do powder my face, by night my makeup always looks better. Guerlain Meteorites is a staple in my makeup collection because it soaks up the oils from my skin so I don't look shiny/oily, and leaves a naturally perfected glowy veil on my skin without adding extra coverage.

When I do want a little extra coverage from a powder, I've really been loving NARS Loose Powder.

The texture of NARS Loose Powder is far silkier than any other loose powder I've tried. It feels absolutely weightless to the touch. When applied, it creates almost a blurred effect to the skin. Pores are less noticeable and my skin looks softer and smoother. I've read a review where someone mentioned that with each additional layer, the more photoshopped your skin looks - which is very true. It has a very soft, natural finish without the powdery appearance.

NARS Loose Powder in Beach swatched and blended

Guerlain Perles D'Azur Meteorites by Emilio Pucci Review, Photos and Swatches!

Guerlain Perles D'Azur Meteorites by Emilio Pucci

Guerlain Perles D'Azur Meteorites ($59) is a illuminating powder that gives the skin a natural, radiant appearance. There are six different colored pearls that come together to create a harmonious veil of light to the skin. The blue and pink pearls counteract yellow toned in tired complexions, beige and orange bring warm to the complexion, and ivory and white reflect light without a white cast. These particular Meteorites were limited edition from the Guerlain Summer Collection.

I find Meteorites something really hard to explain, but something you almost have to experience yourself.

I don't really like setting powders because I feel that many times by adding powder on top of liquid foundation, the powder can have the tendency to mattify the skin too much making the skin appear unnatural. But this powder absorbs the shine from the foundation without erasing the natural glow of the skin. In addition it will balance redness/discolorations in the skin and add a bit of luminosity to the skin.

I don't like much shimmer other than an occasional shimmery blush or highlighter, but I do wear Meteorites on a daily basis and I don't find it to be noticeable. Sometimes I apply a good amount on my face, and sometimes I'll apply a light dusting, but I'll tend to skip any extra shimmer if I'm applying a good coat.

With many shimmery products after several hours and the skin becomes oily, shimmery products tend to be more obvious, but I don't find it to be the case with Meteorites. Shimmery products also tend to make the pores appear enlarged, but with Meteorites, my pores actually appear softened.

MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder Review!

MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder

Formulated to provide a smooth, virtually invisible, fresh-looking finish, this soft, cream-like powder is carefully blended to provide the skin with extra care, nourishment and comfort. (MAC COSMETICS)

"Studio Careblend Pressed Powder provides sheer to medium coverage with perfect skin adhesion that helps to create a more flawless, refined look to skin. Studio Careblend Pressed Powder’s versatility allows users to apply it alone, over moisturized skin, atop foundation to set, or simply to touch up and perfect skin throughout the day." - Nick Gavrelis, Vice President, Global Product Development (read more here)

MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder is available in eight (8) shades: Light (soft pale beige), Light Plus (pale golden beige), Medium (soft creamy beige), Medium Dark (caramel beige), Medium Plus (tan beige), Dark (deep caramel), Medium Deep (rich golden tan) and Dark Deep (rich golden bronze).

What really lured me into wanting Careblend is the claim that it doesn't look powdery and it isn't drying. Not to mention the amazing rating on Makeupalley (4.4/5 with an 86% re-purchase rate based on 79 reviews). I had a little bit of a tough time trying to pick a shade for my current NC30 skintone - I was debating with Light Plus (mainly because it has some good golden tones), Medium or Medium Dark. I figured that since they are sheer, there will be a little room for error, but my favorite MAC Sales Assoc. informed me that they do indeed pack pretty good pigment, so I played it safe and purchased Medium. I purchased this powder to solely use it as a setting powder. Other powders I'm currently using for a quick dusting across my face are Chanel Double Perfection Compact, MAC Studio Fix Powder or Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (I also love MAC Blot Powder, but I'm currently out of it).

MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Medium

Medium is a good match for my skin. It lacks yellow though if you're medium skinned and particular about having the right amount of golden in your foundation or powder. I compared it to my MAC Studio Fix Powder in C3 for reference. Of course, C3 has a stronger yellow tone as all "C" powders do in the SF Powder range.

The consistency of this powder to the touch, feels like your average powder. Studio Fix Powder actually feels softer to the touch. But, once smoothed on the skin, Careblend feels much smoother, whereas Studio Fix feels a bit dryer and powdery (ironic, huh?) The powder isn't completely sheer - it does have some pigment, so if you have relatively clear skin and need little coverage and oil control, this can be worn alone. I like using a large fluffy powder brush such as my Sigma F30 (FAV) and swirling the product all over my face to set my foundation. If I want a little extra coverage, I'll use a more dense brush such as my Sephora Pro Platinum Bronzer Brush or a standard Kabuki. The finish with this powder indeed is not powdery at all. It gives a velvety satin finish that even reminds me a bit of my beloved Chanel Double Perfection Powder.

Here's a little comparison. You can see a big difference in the finish of Studio Fix and Studio Careblend. Studio Fix is much more dull and powdery, whereas Studio Careblend has a bit of luminosity.

Left to Right: MAC Studio Fix Powder in C3, MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Medium and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium/Natural & Shimmer (the medium/natural side) Limited Edition

I don't need all that much oil control, just a little bit in my t-zone, and this keeps my skin from getting shiny throughout the day very well. Based on some reviews I've read, some don't recommend this powder for those with oily skin as it may not control oil well enough, but I've also read that some oily skin found it works great. The reviews are pretty mixed. I think it would work particularly well for those with dry skin as contains moisturizing oils (Safflower, Meadowfoam & Olive) as well as Shea Butter and it doesn't seem to accentuate dryness. I really love this powder and will continue using it for an all over setting powder. I still plan on purchasing MAC Blot Powder as well because I like to have a powder on hand that won't deposit any color (mainly to powder my under-eyes).

MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder is $23 for .35 oz, $4 cheaper than MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish (plus Careblend has a mirrored compact & powder puff, the MSF has neither). It's slightly more expensive than MAC Blot which is $23 for .42 oz (.07 oz more product).

.35 oz really isn't a lot of product, and with the silkiness of this powder, you can probably easily go overboard with it without realizing. When I used my MAC Blot Powder daily, I would hit pan very quickly with it, so I'm going to make sure to use my Careblend sparingly.

What's your favorite setting powder?

E.L.F Studio Complexion Perfection Powder Review!

ELF Studio Complexion Perfection Powder

Product Description: Create a balanced and radiant complexion that is beautiful and healthy. The lightweight formula evens out the skin tone and absorbs excess oil. The sheer formula brightens, mattes and neutralizes the skin. The colors are meant to be blended together as the Blue neutralizes orange, the Green neutralizes red, the Pink neutralizes grey and the Yellow brightens and neutralizes red. (http://eyeslipsface.com)

So whats the theory behind having a powder with four different colors? Well, like mentioned in the product description above, these colors will neutralize certain tones your face may have that you'd like to correct.

Look at the color wheel for instance. Any color you'd like to neutralize, find it on the color wheel & across from it will be the color that it will cancel that certain color out.

E.L.F Studio Translucent Matifying Powder Review with Photos & Swatches!

E.L.F Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

Product Description: Achieve even flawless skin that’s smoother, redefined and shine free. This translucent powder works on a wide variety of skin tones to help set your makeup in so it lasts longer. The silky lightweight formula also miraculously mattes skin to diminish oil and shine for a beautiful and healthy look!

Directions: Use the sponge to blend in the powder over the face, neck and décolletage as a setting powder. Reapply as needed throughout the day for a refreshed look.

(Source: eyeslipsface.com)

Ben Nye Products!

I wanted to do a post today about one of my favorite brands - Ben Nye! I get questions regarding Ben Nye products fairly often as I use my Ben Nye Concealer & Neutral Set Powder in many of my FOTD's.

I don't own many Ben Nye products, and the main reason is because the only way I can get Ben Nye products is by ordering online and there aren't many reviews and swatches out there to really see what many of their products actually look like.

Throughout this post, I'm going to briefly go over the products I have and my thoughts about them.


Ben Nye Neutral Set Colorless Face Powder and Ben Nye Banana Visage Luxury Powder

 Neutral Set Translucent Powder is a great, cheap alternative to MAC Blot Powder. I would go thorough Blot Powder so quick, that I switched to this. I don't even go through a whole shaker bottle in one year. I use it under my eyes to set my concealer and then I use a fluffy powder brush and swipe or buff my face to keep the shine away. By the end of the day, I don't need to touch it up. It doesn't change the color of your makeup, it blends in perfectly. If you apply it too heavy though, you will have a temporary white cast. I like to put it thickly under my eyes to brighten the area up a bit.

Banana Luxury Powder is similar to Neutral Set as it's a setting powder with little pigment. It has a yellow/peach tone so it's great for my warm, yellow skintone. I like using it under my eyes to aid in counteracting my dark circles. The consistency is a little softer/finer milled than Neutral Set. I actually like mixing the two!

*TIP to save a mess and wasting product, put a piece of tape over the holes.. except for one or two of them. I do this with all of my powders!



Swatches of Banana Visage and Neutral Set (not blended)

I love Ben Nye's concealers. They are extremely pigmented and provide full coverage. Apparently, you can even cover tattoos with it. I would say they are comparable to MAC Studio Finish Concealer, but a little more creamy. They smell like Halloween/Costume makeup, which is pretty much expected as it is "theatrical" makeup.



Cover All Wheel in the shade SK-1. This is a concealer wheel that consists of 4 different shades: A medium beige, peach, olive yellow and a ruddy tan. This works really well for under the eyes as well as any blemishes or redness. I've even used it all over my face with a great result. You can make it look flawless, yet natural by applying with a damp sponge. The darkest color is a little useless for me, but I sometimes use it to contour.

Blue Neutralizer in the shade NB-2. This particular shade is almost identical to MAC Studio Finish in NW30. I don't have NW30 at the moment to compare, but below I swatched it next to MAC Studio Finish in NW25.



Cool Pink Blush is a vibrant pink, that surpringly isn't really cool. I would actually consider it a warm pink, as it doesn't pull blue or purple at all. It's a little reminiscent of MAC Dollymix (a matte version). When applied lightly, it gives a nice natural flush to the cheeks. What's a bit annoying with this blush though is the texture. It's very, very dry and any moisture will cause the surface to harden, so I'll have to scrape the top layer with a q-tip after I use it a few times. Very annoying and I'm not sure if I'd purchase any other Ben Nye blushes for that reason. Anyone else experience this?


Ben Nye Cool Pink


Swatch of Cool Pink

One of my favorite products that I always re-purchase is Final Seal. If you ever used Benefit Shelaq, its like Shelaq for your whole face (similar to Model in a Bottle). Once you apply your foundation, spritz this on your face and your makeup will stay put all day long. It will withstand heat and sweat. I will usually spritz it on my face after I applied my foundation and use my 187 brush and stipple the product across my face, then spritz it once more. It is alcohol based, so it smells kind of like hair spray. This will not leave your face sticky or stiff. HG product! I didn't take a picture of this, it goes on clear.



Lastly, another one of my favorite products is the Ben Nye Bronzing Tint. This stuff is amazing! I bought it on a complete whim. I first tried it and didn't like it.. had it sitting in my drawer for months and then I tried it again.. and finally figured out how to use it. This is a product I keep continuing to purchase. What it is, is a liquid bronze body tint. Have you ever applied self tanner to your body and your neck/chest isn't as dark as you wanted it to be? This happens to me a lot, so this stuff is my little bronze savior. If I'm going somewhere and I need to touch up on my tan and don't have time to let a new layer of self tanner develop, I use this. All I do is.. pour a little in the cap and dip a bronzer/blush brush and swipe it all over my neck and chest.. and then buff it. It's exactly like applying self tanner. You can control how dark you want to be. You can put a thin layer.. mix it with water or moisturizer.. or apply it thickly for a darker look. it blends great with no streaks. It looks exactly like vanilla extract and doesn't have much of a scent. Throughout the day, it doesn't budge. Its like a temporary dye for your skin! It washes off easily with soap and water.

Do you have any Ben Nye favorites?