Beautylish Haul! Featuring Too Faced & Armour

I am completely addicted to Beautylish.  If you haven't explored their site yet, I suggest you do. Beautylish.com is a must see site for makeup lovers. It features amazing beauty articles, inspirational photos, and a "talk" section for people to ask questions about makeup and skincare.

They also have specialty boutiques set up for certain makeup brands where you can shop to your heart's content. In fact, it is this shop where I first purchased eyeshadow from the cruelty-free beauty brand Sugarpill Cosmetics.  I've e-mailed with Beautylish, requesting to see more cruelty-free products in their shop, and they have certainly come through!  They plan on having many more cruelty-free brands in the future, so please support their shop if you want to see more cruelty-free choices! 

Today's haul from the Beautylish shop features the much loved brand Too Faced. I'm sure all of you are familiar with this popular brand. I've used many products from them and even gifted their Love Sweet Love gift set this holiday season. Too Faced is a cruelty-free brand, meaning none of their products are tested on animals. In addition to this, they offer many vegan options.

The three products I purchased from Beautylish are Too faced Beauty Balm in Vanilla Glow, Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate and Candlelight Illuminating Translucent Powder.

To date, I have not been much impressed with the American versions of BB Cream on the market. The Asian versions offer much fuller coverage than many I've seen here in the United States. However, the Asian BB creams are not cruelty-free. Luckily, Too Faced has made me extremely happy, by offering a cruelty-free BB Cream that offers great coverage! FINALLY! If you are a busy woman like me, products that multitask can be a life saver.

My shade is Vanilla Glow. However, I happened to have a sample of Nude Glow as well, so I swatched them both for you in the above picture. Nude Glow is the swatch on the left and Vanilla Glow is on the right. I also want to thank Too Faced for offering their BB Cream in 4 shades. I've seen many companies put out BB Creams without considering those with a darker skin tone. Although I am pale, I like to see companies that include something for everyone in their cosmetic lines.

I already had Too Faced Candlelight Glow, which is a lovely two sided highlighter (pictured below).  Too Faced Candlelight Illuminating Translucent Powder, can be used allover the face, or strategically in areas you want to highlight.

 Pictured Above: Too Faced Candlelight Glow (2 sided highlighter)

Swatch of Too Faced Candlelight Illuminating Translucent Powder (above)

I also had a mini version of Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.  I believe everyone should own a good matte bronzer.  Milk Chocolate is the perfect shade for those with fair skin.  This bronzer is made from real cocoa powder and smells so good, you'll want to eat it! I swatched both the regular version and the Milk Chocolate version so you could see a side by side comparison.

 Milk Chocolate is on the left (above) and a mini version of Chocolate on the right

Beautylish was kind enough to include a complimentary tube of Armour Lip Gloss in Diana for me to try as well. With it, they wrote me a note that it's not tested on animals and paraben free. I am absolutely in love with this gloss, and intend to go buy more colors!  It has the most unbelievable shine, and looks like your lips are wet, yet it feels like I have nothing on. This gloss is not sticky at all and their package clearly states, "NO ANIMAL TESTING EVER." 

The gloss comes in many different colors.  It comes with a traditional doe foot applicator and a clear tube so you can see the color of the gloss.

Thank you Beautylish for sending me the Armour gloss. Thank you for keeping your word to carry more cruelty-free products in your shop. I really appreciate it!

To shop any of the items seen here, please visit www.beautylish.com 


*Some of the products seen here were sent to me for consideration. I do not get paid to write reviews, and only write them in hopes of helping my readers make informed purchasing decisions. All of my reviews are 100% honest.

Mineral Foundation

When most people think about foundation, we think about traditional liquid foundation. However, foundation comes in many forms. One of those forms is mineral foundation. 

What is it? Mineral foundation, is foundation in a powder format. It's available loose or pressed, and offers more coverage than traditional pressed or setting powder.This is a great choice for those who don't like the feel of makeup on their skin.  These powders blend into the skin creating a natural flawless look. If you do wear liquid or cream foundation, mineral powder can be used as a setting powder for additional coverage.

Who should try it? Mineral foundation is a great pick for those with oily skin. Certain brands are also good for those with sensitive skin. This is my foundation of choice for men.  If you have dry skin, I recommend prepping the skin with a good moisturizer, moisturizing primer or serum and/or finishing with a moisturizing setting spray

Which brand is best? 

Like all makeup products, there are a ton of brands to try. I've tested quite a few, and here are a few of my favorites. All brands listed here are cruelty-free (not tested on animals).

E.L.F. which stands for Eyes, Lips, Face is the most affordable of the bunch. This mineral foundation comes in light, medium or dark.  Each container has four shades within it, so that you can custom mix your shade. For example, the Dark foundation pictured below comes with Almond, Toffee, Dark and Deep.  You simply move the dial to open up your desired color, and dispense it into the lid or a separate palette.  You can mix different shades from the container in your palette or lid to create the best match for your skin color.

Another affordable brand is Nuance by Salma Hayek. This mineral powder comes in a pressed format, making it ideal for carrying with you in your bag. This powder comes in Light, Light/Medium, Medium/Deep and Deep. This powder is extremely pigmented as you can see by the below pictured swatch. You can purchase this mineral powder at CVS Pharmacy or cvs.com.

For those with sensitive skin, or looking for a vegan alternative, I highly recommend the mineral foundation from Christopher Drummond Beauty. Unlike the two previous products mentioned, this one does not contain any Bismuth, an ingredient that is irritating to many people. This makeup line was created by a makeup artist and each jar is fitted with a sifter making it easy to dispense the perfect amount of product. This is available for purchase on its own, or in a set at christopherdrummond.com

 brush not included

Another great mineral foundation to try if you prefer a pressed version is CoverFx. This high-end brand comes in a large variety of shades and is also Bismuth free.

How do I apply Mineral Makeup?
The absolute best way that I have found to apply mineral foundation is with a flat top brush. I recommend picking up an even amount of product on the bristles and buffing it into your skin. With all of these products, you should start with a tiny amount, and add more to build coverage as needed.  Mineral makeup can also be applied with a damp sponge for a more opaque finish. Many of the compact versions come with a traditional powder puff ideal for touch ups.


Here are some of the brushes that I recommend:

From top to bottom (above): Real Techniques Buffing Brush (budget friendly), E.L.F. Powder Brush (budget friendly), Sigma F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki (pro)

Christopher Drummond Beauty also sells their mineral foundation in a kit that comes with a vegan flat top brush that works wonderfully.

If you want to try mineral foundation before purchasing it Everyday Minerals offers a "Try Me" section on their website, where you can choose 7 samples of various shades to have shipped to your home, you only have to pay for shipping. These samples are available at www.everydayminerals.com

Makeup For Men

When we think about makeup application, we typically only think about makeup for women. However, makeup for men is increasing in popularity. Everyone has a camera built into their smartphone, and with the photo posting frenzy on various social media sites, men are starting to wonder what they can do to help them look their best.  While the idea of wearing makeup everyday may not appeal to all men, guys can still benefit from a little touch up for special events such as weddings, or anytime where they will likely be photographed.

My good friend Tomer stopped by the other day, and let me apply a very natural looking makeup to his face. The picture seen here, is post application. As you can see, he doesn't look like he is wearing any makeup, which is exactly the point.

Here are some of the products I used on him, and a few suggestions for brands to try:

Since men don't wear as much makeup as women, skin prep is really important. You want to make sure the skin is properly moisturized prior to application. If the skin is particularly oily, you may want to try a mattifying gel or primer.

Some primers to try are Nuance By Salma Hayek (pictured below), which is available at CVS Pharmacy. By smoothing this on after moisturizer, you can be sure your face will stay matte all day.

If your skin tends to be on the drier side, I recommend a moisturizing primer or serum such as this one from Hourglass Cosmetics:

Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, is both a primer and skin care product in one. For those with combination skin, try mixing a traditional silicone based primer with the Hourglass Serum.

To begin Tomer's no-makeup look, I reached for a concealer which I applied to the under eye area to mask any darkness. He didn't have any blemishes, but if you do, simply use a concealer that matches your exact skin color, and apply with your finger or a small brush. Next, I chose a mineral powder foundation that matched his skin color.  Liquid foundation can be a bit tricky to work with for some, while mineral powder is light, easy to apply and creates a natural finish on the skin.

For a loose mineral powder, I recommend one from Christopher Drummond Beauty called Veludo Velvet Foundation. It feels light on the skin, like you aren't wearing anything at all. This is available for purchase on it's own, or in a kit that comes with a brush for easy application. You can purchase the kit here:


http://www.christopherdrummond.com/Face/Veludo-Velvet-Foundation.html


Christopher Drummond cosmetics are not only cruelty-free, but they are also vegan, including their amazing brushes.

If you prefer a drugstore version, try this pressed mineral powder from Nuance By Salma Hayek:

Regardless of which product you try, I recommend applying the mineral foundation with a flat topped brush. Simply pick up some of the product onto the brush and apply to the face in downward strokes. Because many men, like Tomer have facial hair, using a brush with downward strokes, will make sure the minerals don't get caked up or caught in the hairs.

Next, I applied a generous helping of bronzer along the high points of Tomer's face to give the look of a naturally sunkissed glow. For men, you want to make sure you are using a bronzer that is matte, meaning no shimmer or sparkle. This will give you the most natural looking finish.

Because Tomer has naturally dark lashes, I chose to use a black mascara on his top lashes only. The one that worked well for him is by Physician's Formula.  Pictured below is their Lash Boosting formula in Black .

If you have brown hair, you can try a brown mascara.  Clear mascara is a good option for all hair colors.  The best brown mascara I've found is by Ecco Bella (pictured below).

For lips, I chose a nude colored gloss, free from any sparkle or shimmer. This added a plumping effect to the lip, without looking too feminine.

Because Tomer tends to get oily throughout the day, I used an oil control setting spray, misted lightly over the entire face. 

For men, there are options available online, in high-end stores, or at your local pharmacy. If you are struggling to figure out which colors work best for you, ask a female friend or family member for help.

Another great option is Rocco Bruzzi Cosmenics http://www.roccobruzzi.com
This cosmetic line was created with men in mind.  Their products are cruelty-free and made in the U.S.A. They sell products individually or you can buy a set through their online store which carries everything a man needs for a full face. Shopping online is easy and their Cover Wheel takes the guess work out of choosing a concealer shade.

I want to give a special "thank you" to Tomer for stopping by and sharing this look with my readers! xoxo

Makeup for Teens

Everyone has different makeup needs depending on your age and lifestyle. Today's post focuses on makeup for teenagers.  The first look is a daytime look that can be worn to school, and the second is more glam, perfect for a school dance or prom.

I had a lot of fun creating these looks on my two 17-year old guests.  I'm not going to mention every product I used, because I think the steps are more important here. However, I did use a lot of drugstore items for these looks in case the girls wanted to purchase anything I used.

Here is how I created the looks:





Natural Everyday Look:

For Nikky's look I wanted to keep it simple, and just enhance her natural beauty. This look is something any teen can wear to school, or anytime she wants a daytime look.

1. To begin, I prepped the skin with a rosewater toner, smoothing allover her face on a cotton round.  Rosewater toner is inexpensive, and helps smooth and hydrate the skin. 
2. I then applied a tinted moisturizer allover the face, for this look I used one by E.L.F. which is a very affordable brand. 
3. I used a little bit of concealer under the eyes and anywhere else she needed it. 
4. To reduce shine, I applied just a touch of mineral powder on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin).  I used Nuance By Salma Hayek in Light. 
5. For the eyes, I chose 2 shadows from the NYX Nude on Nude palette. This palette is a great inexpensive alternative to the Urban Decay Naked palette, and even includes several lip colors in a slide out drawer.  I first used a matte cream color shadow from the lash line to brow applied with a flat shader brush. Nikky said that she likes shimmery shadow, so I chose a shimmery gold from the palette and applied it as a light wash of color allover the lid using a fluffy shadow brush from 100% Pure Cosmetics. 
6. While Nikky doesn't normally wear blush, I wanted to add back a little color that the tinted moisturizer and mineral powder may have removed, so I applied just a touch to the apples of her cheeks. 
7. I applied my favorite drugstore mascara to her lashes; Physicians Formula 100% Natural Origin Lash Boosting Mascara 
8. For lips, I chose Tarte Lip Surgence in Moody, a perfect shade for fall/winter. It's light and moisturizing formula feels more like a lip balm than a lipstick, making it easy to apply and wear.  I brushed her brows into place, completing the look.

Evening Look:

For Michelle's look I wanted to create a look perfect for a school dance or prom. Michelle told me she liked purple eyeshadow, so that's what I used here. Purple shadows look great on just about any eye color. 

1. Since I was using dark shimmery shadows, I decided to do the eyes first so that I could easily clean up any fallout. I first primed the lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. If you are going to a prom, or dance, you really want to make sure your shadow lasts all night. The primer will help brighten up the colors, as well as prevent creasing. 
2. I then used a creamy purple eyeliner allover the lid, blending it out with a stiff domed brush. 
3. To create a purple smokey eye, I topped the liner with a shimmery purple powder shadow allover the lid and blended it up into the crease, pulling the color out slightly to create a smokey look.
4. To better define the crease, I used a matte bronzer on a fluffy brush and swept it into and just over the socket of the eye.
5. I chose a matte pale peach powder shadow as an under brow highlight, but used a shimmery shadow on the inner corner of the eyes to brighten up the look.
6. I then took the purple eyeliner from step 2 and smudged it along the lower lash line with a smudge brush. 
7. We decided it would be fun to do a cat-eye with this look, so I drew one on using an angled eyeliner brush and Makeup Geek Gel Liner in Immortal (black). 
8. For the lashes, I used a heated eyelash curler, then applied lash primer to Michelle's lashes.  I followed that with generous amounts of black mascara to help pull together this dramatic look.
9. Using a little primer on a sponge, I cleaned up any fallout
10. Once the eyes were done, we moved on to the face. I chose a wax based foundation free from any SPF.  When you are going to prom, you typically take a lot of pictures. If you use a foundation with too high an SPF, it will create an unflattering flashback from the camera. 
11. I applied concealer under the eyes
12. I then applied a Nuance by Salma Hayek Mineral powder in Medium
13. When you are getting pictures taken, its nice to have your face contoured. I applied a pressed powder from Milani in the deepest shade they make to the hollows of the cheeks, sides of the forehead, underneath the jaw line, and sides of the nose to contour. 
14. I swept Cinnamon blush by NYX on her cheekbones for color. 
15. Since we used dark colors on the eyes, I wanted to keep the lips nude. I chose NYX lipstick in Nude, topping it off with NYX gloss in the color Pink Frost.
16. I used a clear brow gel, to groom her brows into shape.
17. I set the look with a setting spray to make sure it stayed put all night. 

Here is the final look:

I want to give a big thanks to Michelle & Nikky for stopping by. I had so much fun creating these makeup looks. If you have any questions on the products I used, feel free to drop me a comment in the box below.

Spotlight: Royal & Langnickel Revolution Brushes

Pro artists get ready for a game changer.  For anyone who ever used a synthetic brush and found it didn't pick up, mix or blend powder products the way they wanted it to, I introduce you to Royal & Langnickel Revolution Brushes.

These brushes are the most technologically advanced brushes in my collection. They were recommended to me by a fellow artist on Beautylish.com.

What makes these brushes so special?  

 One of the reason synthetic brushes of the past weren't as good at picking up powder products is because the hair was smooth. These brushes have a textured bristle that mimics real animal hair, minus the cruelty.  The handle has a matte texture, so the brush won't slip out of your hand if it's wet.

My favorite brush in the collection is the BX-66 which is very similar in style to the M.A.C. 217 brush, only made with synthetic, cruelty-free bristles.

Here is a closer look at some of the brushes in this collection:

 Above is the BX-66 brush, a stiff domed brush ideal for eyeshadow blending. This brush is a must for makeup artists and I suggest purchasing multiples to have in your kit.

The next brush (pictured above) is the BX-10, which is ideal for blush, powder or bronzer. The textured bristles pick up powder with ease, but because they are synthetics they can also be used with cream and liquid products. This brush, like all the brushes in this line fit very comfortably in the hand and are a professional grade of brush.

 Pictured above is the BX-105, I love this fine liner brush for applying gel liner.

 Note that each brush is clearly labeled with the number of the brush, on it's no-slip handle.

 BX-55 (above) is a pointed foundation brush, ideal for foundation touch ups. The handle is a medium length in comparison to my other brushes.

 BX-95 is a pencil brush, ideal for smudging shadow along the lower lash line.

 BX-90 (above) is a slimmer smaller version of the BX-55. I like this for blending eyeshadow, or applying under eye concealer. I've pictured them side by side above for comparison.

BX-110 & BX-125 (above) are push liner brushes ideal for pushing shadow or gel liner onto the upper lash line.

Above is a final look at the brushes including large and small traditional flat shader brushes. The Revolution line offers brushes available for purchase individually or in sets.There is a pro artist discount for qualified individuals.

Here is a video explanation by the designer of the brushes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng--p9Jplo0 


All of the brushes seen in this review were purchased by me. You can purchase them at http://www.royalbrush.com/welcome/intro.php

I truly found these brushes revolutionary, and think Revolution is a very appropriate name for the line. I hope you enjoyed this look at some of my pro brushes.

Giveaway - For Members Only

Hello everyone. I will be hosting a very special giveaway for one of my members. All you have to do to become a member is click the little box that says "join this site" in the upper left hand corner of my blog's home page.  Once you are a member, you will automatically be entered into the drawing.

Rules:

1. Contest only open to members in the United States.
2. You must be 18 years, or have a parent's permission to collect prize.
3. Prize will be mailed out within 2-3 weeks of winner being announced.

Winner will be chosen on 12/1/2012.  Best of luck!

If you are a member, you can get an additional entry by following me on Twitter @MakeupMatters1

Retweets about this contest will also earn you an additonal entry and extra chance to win!

*** GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

How to Fake Awake - Beyond White Liner

I don't always get a good night's sleep, but I always like to look like I did. There are a handful of products in my kit that I've been using recently that really help me to fake a more awake look, regardless of how many hours of sleep I actually got.

Many women like to put a swipe of white eyeliner on the lower water line to hide the redness that's naturally there. While this can be a great look to help open up the eye, I prefer using a nude liner for everyday.

Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener is a pinky nude liner that wears all day on the waterline, helping to create a more wide-eyed look. Unlike white eyeliner, it's less harsh, and works well for all skin tones.

Another tip, to help fake a more bright-eyed look is to highlight the inner corners of the eyes. Try applying a bit of Champagne cream shadow or shimmery liner around the inner tear duct area, and blend under the lower lash line.  I like Tarte's SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Champagne which comes with a built in smudging tool to help blend the product.

Here are swatches of both products:

Pictured Above: The top swatch is Tarte EmphasEYES Inner Rim Brightener, and below it is Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Champagne

Never underestimate the power of a good full coverage concealer, especially if you naturally have dark under eye circles. I like Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer applied with a fluffy brush, or patted on with my ring finger.It's dewy finish helps lighten the under eye area.

For eyeshadow, go with a shade that mimics your own skin tone, but has a slight satin finish. The satin finish will catch the light when you move your face, creating a brightening effect on the eye. I took Makeup Geek's Vanilla Bean eyeshadow from lash line to just under my brow, applying it with a flat shader brush.

Another tried and true trick for opening the eye, is applying a lengthening mascara.  I used Tarte Gifted Mascara from their Amazonian Clay line.

Here is a final look at a more wide awake looking eye:

What are your fake awake secrets? Share in the comment box below.


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Spotlight: Makeup Geek

One of the struggles many makeup lovers face is that good quality makeup can often be quite costly. Sometimes we are torn between saving up and buying a few good quality items we like, or buying a lot of makeup that's not so great, and hoping our technique alone will compensate for what the product itself is lacking.

A woman by the name of Marlena (aka Makeup Geek) saw a need in the market for high quality affordable cosmetics and decided to create her own line. Enter Makeup Geek (MUG for short). She has educational YouTube videos, and a website for makeup lovers like her to share and explore.  For more about Makeup Geek you can visit this link:  http://www.makeupgeek.com/about/ 

As an avid viewer of Marlena's tutorials, I've been curious about her makeup line for quite some time. After learning they are cruelty free (not tested on animals), and a friend on Twitter recommending I try the gel liner (Thanks Sara!), I finally decided to give Makeup Geek a try. I started with the Makeup Geek 9-eyeshadow starter kit, a single compact eyeshadow (Vanilla Bean) and a gel liner (Immortal) as my intro to the brand. As someone who has used cosmetics from various brands across all price points, I can tell you that Marlena is being completely truthful when she claims her products are the same quality as many high end brands. The good news, is that she's made her line completely affordable so that makeup lovers everywhere can have smooth, pigmented eyeshadow without breaking the bank. For example her pan eyeshadow sells for $5.99, and gel liners sell for $7.99, about half the price of brands that are of similar quality.


Here is a look at some of the products I purchased from http://www.makeupgeek.com/store/ 

 Pictured Above: Top Row - Corrupt (many call this the blackest eyeshadow on the market-matte with a tiny bit of sparkle), Prom Night (pale purple with hints of gray, shimmer finish), Drama Queen (very dark purple with shimmer finish)
Second Row- Mocha (matte warm medium brown), Cocoa Bear (matte golden brown, almost terracotta), Shimma Shimma (shimmery highlight great for inner corner of the eye)
Third Row- Unexpected (light matte pinky purple), Glamorous (bronzey gold-shimmer finish), Creme Brulee (medium sand-matte)

 The starter kit is made up of refill pans that pop nicely into a magnetic Z-palette, which is also available for purchase on her site.

 Pictured Above: Individual shadow in compact in Vanilla Bean, for me this is the perfect down-blending color. I love it as an under brow highlight, or allover base color. It's pretty close to my skin color, with a matte to satin finish.

 Pictured Above & Below: Makeup Geek Gel Liner in Immortal (intense black, matte finish)

 The shadows were very pigmented, smooth and easy to blend. I didn't experience any fallout with the glitter shades at all. The liner is one that will last all day. In fact, I couldn't remove the gel liner swatch from my arm with a makeup wipe, I had to use eye makeup remover to get it off!

Here are some swatches of the shadows I purchased*, and the gel liner (below):

 
 Pictured Above bottom right photo (from left to right): Corrupt, Mocha, Cocoa Bear, Glamorous, Shimma Shimma, Creme Brulee, Drama Queen, Prom Night, Unexpected, Immortal gel liner

A swatch wouldn't do Vanilla Bean any justice because it's basically an exact match to my skin tone, but I used it in the look below as a brow highlight. It's not a completely matte shade, but the shimmer is ever so slight, which is why I called it a matte to satin finish.

 In this look: Vanilla Bean, Drama Queen, Prom Night, Unexpected and Immortal Gel Liner.

 I hope you enjoyed this look at Makeup Geek eyeshadow and gel liner. You can purchase the products seen here at http://www.makeupgeek.com/store/

Makeup Geek is having some great sales now for Black Friday, so it's a great time to try these products.

Thank you for reading, and don't forget to subscribe!

*All products were purchased by me. I do not get paid to do reviews. All opinions are my own, and I only share my views in hopes of helping you make informed purchasing decisions.