LORAC TANtalizer Deep Body Bronzing Luminizer Review, Photos and Swatches!

LORAC TANtalizer Deep Body Bronzing Luminizer

LORAC TANtalizer Deep Body Bronzing Luminizer ($32) is a shimmering deep-dark bronzing cream for the body. It provides instant, long lasting color to the skin without the sun or the hassle of self-tanning - and it washes off easily by the end of the night.

I've been using self-tanner for years to maintain a dark tan, but I've slowed down a lot in the past couple of years and have been keeping up with a more natural sunkissed glow.

Whenever I feel that I'm lacking color or if I want to enhance my fresh, faux tan, I always go for a tinted body moisturizer.

I always used L'Oreal Sublime Bronze One Day Gel and it worked great, but I'm pretty sure it's been discontinued, as I can't find it anywhere. I've also used Milani Body Bronzer, and it worked fine, but the results were slightly orange. That too was discontinued. So, my quest in finding a new instant bronzing tint led me to LORAC.

LORAC Tantalizer Deep Body Bronzer has the typical creamy water-based moisturizer consistency that you see in most body bronzers. It's a deep bronze shade with loads of ultra-fine golden iridescence.

It smells like vanilla, and although I loathe the smell of artificial vanilla, it's light enough where I can't smell it unless I put it up to my nose.

You can apply it as you would a self tanner or moisturizer (bare hands is fine, it washes off immediately) and the color blends out really well without looking patchy or uneven. I like mixing it with equal parts moisturizer so it smoothes on easier and so the product goes a longer way. Depending on how much you apply, you can get pretty dark, but because of the shimmer, I only use a light coat to keep it looking natural. On my skin, it's a true bronze with brown and slight red undertones. I wouldn't consider it orange.

My main use for this product is applying it on my neck and décolleté to make my skin sunkissed and glowing. It's really useful for the days when I forget to self-tan and need my face makeup to match my neck.

MAC Archie's Girls Betty Bright Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches and Comparisons!

MAC Betty Bright Lipstick

MAC Betty Bright Lipstick ($16.50) is one of the three new limited edition lipsticks that recently launched in the MAC Archie's Girls Collection. Betty Bright is described as a light, vibrant peach, but I don't find it very peach at all. It's more along the lines of a vibrant, coral-pink. I'd almost consider it a lighter, slightly less pink version of Viva Glam Nicki (I'm sure if you mixed Nicki and Myth together, you'd get something very close).

Betty Bright was one of the first Archie's Girls lipsticks that sold out on the MAC website because, well, who doesn't love a good coral?

I was excited to see that it's a MAC Satin, so the coverage is opaque with one swipe. With this particular lipstick, applying less is more. I found that if I apply more than one layer, the color settles in my lip lines when I rub my lips together, the color can look uneven.

Also with light shades like this it can emphasize dryness. I own several bright peach, coral and pink lipsticks from many brands and they all do the same thing. It's almost unavoidable unless you exfoliate your lips regularly and apply a good, hydrating lip balm prior to application. Applying a lip gloss over top always helps mask dryness with shades like these.

One thin layer of MAC Betty Bright Lipstick on my lips.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer Review, Photos and Swatches!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer ($9.99) is a super-concentrated and pigmented liquid concealer combined with goji berry and haloxyl to help erase the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. It has a unique tube design in that when you twist the top, product will be released in the round, squishy applicator sponge.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer is available in (6) shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Honey, Neutralizer and Brightener. Although the neutralizer shade can be used on it's own, it's also recommended for extreme dark circles to apply underneath your regular concealer for maximum coverage. The brightener shade is pink based used to brighten up areas of the eyes and face.

I was conflicted which shade to purchase. For reference, I have medium skin with warm undertones (MAC NC35 coloring currently). Fair and Light looked too light for me, and Medium looked too dark. So, I ended up with Neutralizer.

Neutralizer is a light peachy yellow color. It seems to apply slightly lighter than it looks in the tube, and it's a little too light for me, but works fine if I blend a little foundation on top. (See swatches at the end of this post.) Medium would've probably been a better match for me.

You have to twist the tube several times to get it going at first and thereafter a small amount is dispersed with each twist. You can apply it to your undereyes with the sponge directly, or you can wipe the product off with your finger to apply or wipe the product off with a concealer brush. I like using it directly from the tube, as I think the sponge is the funnest part of using this product!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer Before & After. (my skin is not moisturized prior, so you can see it looks a bit dry and powdery)

Here's how it looks with my skin moisturized applied over my foundation. (you can see it looks much better)

NARS Shanghai Express Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

Nars Shanghai Express Lipstick

Nars Shanghai Express Lipstick ($26) is a warm, brick red with a semi-matte finish. It's applies slightly deep, like a ripened cherry red - It's not what I'd call a Snow White or classic, bright red. It doesn't lean orange on me, which many warm reds have a tendency to do, and it doesn't turn rosy pink which many cool reds tend to do on my lips. Brick red is a really good description for the color as there are some definite brown undertones, which seems to flatter my skin tone very well (medium with warm, yellow undertones).

The finish is mostly matte. If you see any shine on my lips, it's because I prepped them with some lip balm. With any matte finish lipstick, an good exfoliation and layer of lip balm as a base is usually necessary so the lipstick won't dry the lips out or accentuate any dryness.

The lipstick itself isn't crazy opaque with one layer - I'd say it's more of a medium coverage with one layer, but buildable with an additional layer. I found that when I used a lip brush, I didn't get as opaque of coverage, so I prefer applying it directly from the tube and only using a lip brush for the outer edge of my lips. I actually don't own a good red lip liner to pair it with, but I'm definitely going to have to purchase one! Any recommendations?

Nars Shanghai Express Lipstick on my lips.