Get That (Subtle) Glow!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

We're officially approaching that deep part of summer where there becomes a fine line between looking 'glowy' and looking like you are about to melt into a pile of sweat (that's never happened to us right?). Trust me there are some summer days here in Nebraska where 'hot mess' isn't just a phrase, but an actual lifestyle. So how then do we get just that right amount of glow?! Well L'Oréal  might have just the thing: the True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator.

I ran across a display of these during a trip to ULTA the other day. They come in three shades and each shade also has a powder version, but I've always been a sucker for a good liquid highlighter especially during the summer time. I just don't like to put a ton of powder on my face when it's really hot. The three shades are Golden, Ice, and Rose. I went for Rose.

I was already sold when I thought this was just a liquid illuminator, but when I got it home and started actually reading the package I realized that it was being marketed as either an illuminator or can be mixed with foundation for an overall glow boost. Naturally, my little multitasking heart was overjoyed.

The first thing I noticed when I squeezed some of the product onto my finger was that the color was not exactly what I was expecting. I guess I was thinking that it wouldn't be quite so bronzy? I don't know. But it is a nice rose-gold color. Here's a color swatch:

As you can see, it blends into the skin easily which is nice. And it does create a nice little glow. I wasn't sold at first, but I think it just wasn't exactly what I was expecting. But now that I've been wearing it regularly for about a week I've been really loving it. Sometimes I use it as more of a spot illuminator on my cheeks and on the bridge of my nose, and other times I just go all out and wear it all over. It's subtle enough that you can wear it on your entire face or mixed with foundation. If you're feeling like a light makeup day I think you could even wear this on its own for just a little extra glow. It lasts well and applies easily. Just make sure you blend it in well so you don't get any streaks or harsh lines.

As far as drugstore makeup goes this is a little on the pricier side at $12.99 a bottle, but I do think it's a nice product to have in your arsenal. Especially in the summer when it's nice to have a little extra glow!

How do you like to get that subtle summer glow? Let me know!

XO- Brittney

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Urban Decay Naked Smoky is Here!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

I don't know about you but whenever an exciting new palette lands in the beauty world I usually end up thinking to myself "you definitely don't need a new eyeshadow palette you lunatic," and then I inevitably buy said palette because I have no willpower (I think we've established that haven't we?). This week Urban Decay launched something I could just not pass up, the highly anticipated Naked Smoky Eyeshadow Palette.

I should probably let you know that I own the original Naked palette, but have managed to keep myself from buying the Naked2 and Naked3 (see, I can control myself sometimes). But this new one looked like it had some colors that I could really get some use out of from day to day. It's easier to justify the $54 price tag when you feel that you can get a lot of versatile use out of a palette.

Let's start as always with the packaging. The outside packaging has a smoky/marbly (is that a word?) look to it. It just so happens to look gorgeous on my marble tiled table. Would it be weird if I displayed my eyeshadow in my entryway? Nevermind, don't answer that. The packaging is plastic and seems sturdy. My only complaint here is that it does seem a little heavy, and almost clunky. I also fear what might happen if I were to drop it on my bathroom floor with my butterfingers. But with that being said, I love that you get a very large mirror on the inside. It kind of annoys me when some palettes use what could be extra mirror space to add some more useless plastic (rant over).

Another handy feature? The palette comes with a double ended brush. To be honest I usually prefer to use my own everyday makeup brushes, but the brush is helpful if you're going to just grab the palette and go. One end of the brush is your standard eyeshadow shape and the other side is a standard crease shape. Good job Urban Decay!

Now let's get to the main event: colors! Even though this palette is marketed as the perfect tool to make any smoky eye look, I still think it can easily be used for day time. If you take the shades from left to right, you will notice that it starts out with shimmers and then gradually transitions into mattes. I personally gravitate towards shimmers so those are the ones that I noticed first.

Let's start with the shimmers first. I am obsessed with the first four in particular. I could wear the combination of High and Dirtysweet every single day. High reminds me a little of Sidecar from the original palette, except that the specks of glitter aren't so large making it more suitable for every day. Dirtysweet is your typical gold shimmer, and Radar is a nice brown shimmer. Armor is a lovely gray metallic with a lot of dimension, I feel like you could do some really cool things with that one! Slanted and Dagger have less shimmer, but both have great color payoff.

Black Market is a nice black matte to have in your collection, but it does have a hint of glitter. I wish that Smolder came off a little more purple when you swatch it, but I think it might look really cool on the lower lashline. Password is a very nice grey matte, while Whiskey is an equally nice brown matte. I haven't made up my mind on Combust and Thirteen. The color payoff is almost nonexistent on my fair skin, I'm just not sure that I can make them work. However, Thirteen could possibly be used as a highlighter if I cake it on. They would probably work if you have a darker complexion though.

All in all, the quality of these shadows is exactly what you would expect from an Urban Decay Naked palette at this point. Very creamy and lovely. The staying power is also good (I always use a shadow primer), but I have yet to see any creasing or rub off. At the end of the day did I need this palette? No I didn't, but I am very happy with it. Treat yo self right? Let me know if you plan on splurging on this one (or if you already have)!

XO- Brittney

P.S. I'd love to see you on Twitter!

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Stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Primer

Hello Beautiful Ones!

We are definitely in the middle of summer, it's a sunny 91 degrees here in nebraska, and I couldn't be happier! There is something about summer heat that just makes me feel so weightless and happy, but you know what else the summer heat does? Melt off your makeup (ugh). This is of course unless you have a great makeup primer! So today I'm telling you about a new one: the Stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Primer.

Stila is marketing this product as a primer stick that is cooling, hydrating, and reduces pores and redness. That all sounds pretty good to me, so I was pretty excited to try this. In fact I was basically stalking it in Sephora for a couple of weeks until I finally convinced myself to buy it (My curiosity won out against my frugal side this time). I also found it interesting that it comes in a stick form, most of my favorite primers come in tubes but this seemed like it would be especially handy for traveling. 

The first thing that I noticed when I popped open the lid was that it, is a solid but it has the consistency of a gel when you touch it. Then I actually put it on my face... oh my goodness, it really is cooling. It kind of reminds me of an aloe vera gel that you would use to calm sunburned skin, except it doesn't have all that sticky mess that comes with an aloe gel. It feels so good to apply on a hot and sticky summer morning. 

When it comes to application you can either rub some onto your finger and apply it that way or just go for your face with the stick (which is usually what I do). It feels very light on the skin which I love. It isn't a miracle on pores or redness, but I do think it helps. The big plus is that it is very hydrating, and possibly most importantly it makes my makeup stay on my face even in the heat (hallelujah). My favorite moisturizing primer for a long time has been the Too Faced Hangover, but I have to say that this one gives it a run for its money. I just love the cooling properties of this Stila primer. 

Bottom line? This is a MUST HAVE for the summer or someone who lives in a warm climate. Definitely worth the $28 price tag. 

Have you tried this one? Let me know! As always thanks for reading and make sure you go out and enjoy the sunshine if you're lucky enough to have it (she says from inside an air conditioned coffee shop)! 

XO- Brittney 

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Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Gloss Review

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Long time no blog! I took a little break last week, but now I'm back with a review of a product I've been excited about ever since I heard whispers about it in the good ol' blogosphere. Maybelline has just released a gloss version of their coveted Baby Lips line! Today I'm reviewing the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Gloss in the shades Fab & Fuchsia, A Wink of Pink, and Pink-A-Boo.

I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Baby Lips balms so I had VERY high expectations for these. The collection is made up of three different finishes: gel, shimmer, and cream. I grabbed a shade in each finish (and then I happy danced out of Target, but that's besides the point).

First off, I will say that the color payoff on these is not very bright. So if you are going solely for a bright colored gloss, then these probably aren't the glosses for you. Here's a swatch of all three:

From left to right: Pink-A-Boo, A Wink of Pink, and Fab & Fuschia.

The first gloss I grabbed was the gel finish in the shade Fab and Fuscia. As I said, none of these have a heavy color payoff so don't let the bright pink scare you off! This is mostly a clear gloss with a little bit of a pink tint. This is the type of finish I had in mind when I heard that Maybelline was doing a Baby Lips gloss. It feels very hydrating on the lips. None of these are sticky and all feel very comfortable to wear. It's not super long wearing, but the lasting power is pretty standard for a gloss.

The next gloss is the shimmer finish in the shade A Wink of Pink. When I picked this one up in the store, I was honestly expecting to like it the least. I just felt like the pink glitter might not look very mature, but I am happy to tell you that this is the one I keep finding myself reaching for. Once again the color is very subtle, and so is the glitter. It really just looks like a little extra shimmer, not a heap of glitter on your lips. I can easily wear this to work without feeling weird about it. This one is a little less hydrating than the gel, but still comfortable to wear. 

Finally, I grabbed the cream finish in the shade Pink-A-Boo. I really thought I was going to love this one the most, but it actually turned out to be my least favorite (I guess that old line that you can't judge a book by its cover applies to gloss too!). The color here comes off more as a little bit of a pearl shine and I felt it made my lips a little white looking. But the more I started to wear it, the more it grew on me. I think I was just a little taken by surprise initially. Again, it feels hydrating and nice on the lips.

I think the major thing to keep in mind here is that all of these are only going to give you a hint of color. Overall I was really impressed with these. The applicator makes them easy to apply and they are small enough to throw in your purse or bag. Plus, the packaging is adorable in true Baby Lips fashion! I love the way these feel on the lips and at $3.49 they are super affordable. I'm probably going to pick up a few more, not going to lie!

Have you tried these yet? Let me know!

XO- Brittney

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