I'll be back soon!

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to post a quick message to let you all know that I'm going to be on break this week, therefore I won't have any blog updates until either later this week or at the beginning of next week.

If you have any requests, please post in my comments!

I'll talk to you all soon!

XOXO
Natty

MAC Blushbaby Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Blushbaby Blush 

MAC Blushbaby Blush ($20) is described as a beige-pink powder blush in the MAC Sheertone family. I purchased Blushbaby after looking for a neutral blush that I can wear every day, and was recommended to try Blushbaby. Blushbaby is the second most reviewed MAC blush on Makeupalley, and it's one of MAC's top sellers.

Blushbaby is a no-fuss shade that pairs well with just about anything. And as much as I wanted to love Blushbaby, because so many seem to favor it - but the first handful of times wearing it, I wasn't impressed. I typically apply my blush right after my foundation, and I think because Blushbaby is super-finely milled and matte, it wasn't applying evenly, thus looking dull and muddy on my face. Now when I wear Blushbaby, I always make sure to apply a setting powder to my cheeks before application and apply the blush with a fluffy powder brush for a natural wash of color. I buff the color in a bit, and the results are so much better.

On my NC30 cheeks, it gives off a natural rosy-pink nude hue. Liked I hoped, It's a really great ever-day shade that gives my cheeks the right amount of color.

For those with naturally rosy cheeks, I can see this blush to possibly enhance ruddiness. Those with strong yellow undertones, it can pull slightly orange. It can also look "dirty" if too much is applied, and because it's sheer, you may feel the need to pack on the color. But be careful, and apply a little at a time because it builds quickly.

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24) is a vivid coral pink (described on Sephora as pink cantaloupe) lipstick pencil with a matte finish.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils combine the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick in a jumbo-sized crayon design. These pigment-rich sticks provide a matte, creamy finish enriched with emollients, vitamin E, and silicone.

After seeing Bolero featured on Temptalia, I knew it would be a shade I was going to love. Although, it did look super dry on her lips.

I'm not sure if the formula differs shade to shade, but Boleo is pretty drying, as are most matte finish lipsticks. To keep my lips from drying out, I'll apply a layer of lip balm on my lips prior to application of the lip pencil and it keeps my lips from drying out and the lip pencil from looking uneven.

My favorite way of wearing Bolero, is with a warm lip liner (such as MAC Stripdown, Hover, Spice, etc) and clear gloss on top. It also looks great when mixed with a baby pink lipstick/gloss.

The color seemed all too familiar, and when I swatched it next to some of my other favorties.. well, I realized why I liked it so much in the first place. Haha! It resembles Illamasqua Obey the most, just with a touch more pink. It's a color that I find very flattering on my skintone, as it really brightens up my face.

Swatches from left to right: YSL #26 Tender Peach Rouge Volupte Lipstick, MAC Everhip Lipstick, Illamasqua Obey Lipstick and Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.

If the pencil wasn't so drying, it would probably be one of my favorite lip products. But, because I have to prime my lips, it is a little inconvenient when applied on the go, or for touch-ups. Still, I really like it and I'm happy with it!

Have you tried any of the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils? What did you think?

MAC Freckletone Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Freckletone Lipstick

MAC Freckletone Lipstick ($14.50) is a warm, sheer, nude peach with a shiny finish. It's a lustre formula, so if you're familiar with the MAC lustre family - it's smooth, creamy and feels great on the lips. I usually have to layer a lipgloss over most of my lipsticks because I love shine, but I don't need anything extra over Freckletone. The pigmentation is sheer, but buildable to medium coverage. It never quite reaches full coverage, but it can get two-thirds it's way there.

Freckletone was one of my first MAC lipstick purchases, and I've used it off and on for years. It's one of my favorites to wear when I'm tan (MAC NC30-NC40 range). It doesn't seem to look right on me when I'm lighter. When I'm around NC15-20, it looks a bit orange/brown on my lips. I think it's best geared toward medium to tan skin tones. I love pairing it with an equally warm lip liner, such as MAC Spice or Stripdown Lip Liner. It also looks great paired with warm-toned blush and earthy-toned eyeshadows.

MAC Freckletone on my lips