Dupe alert! L'oreal Revitalift wet cleansing towelettes vs. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths

I know I was JUST raving about the Koh Gen Do Cleansing wipes and how I wouldn't go back to drugstore... So my hopes weren't high when I picked up the L'oreal Revitalift wipes from Ulta because of a Buy 2 Get 1 Free Deal.

What I love about these wipes are how moisturizing and wet they are. They are soothing and effective. The one con is that they leave a film on your skin. That is probably to promote the anti-aging benefits of the product and I don't mind too much because I always follow up with a toner anyway...

The price difference is another factor to take into consideration. The Cleansing Spa Water cloths can run you between $13-$39. While the L'oreal costs around $7.

I think that the formula is worth a try. Even though I will be mainly buying my Koh Gen Do because my skin is so sensitive. One night I had to really rub my eyes with the L'oreal to get some tough mascara and liner off and the next morning my eyes were a bit irritated.

That doesn't really mean the product is bad because I have suuuper sensitive skin. 

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Push-Up Liner

I am a gel liner novice. I don't know why, but I just never trusted the stuff. However, when my beloved benefit came out with this product, my curiosity help set aside my reservations.

I've been using this product for a couple of months and I LOVE it. I personally think its great for beginners (because obviously I wasn't that familiar with gel liner and I can use this product easily enough). I have heard of some bloggers not loving this though...

So it is marketed as a long wearing, easy to use gel eyeliner. They are even pushing the specialty eye makeup remover because it is soooooo long wearing. Girl, bye... Don't waste your money on that. It is long wearing but not so tough to get rid of that I have to buy a specialty remover for it. These are probably the same people that buy the specialty beautyblender solid soap.

You can purchase it at Sephora, Ulta or Benefit.com. You can always buy the mini sample (I'm such a commitment-phobe when it comes to high end makeup that I almost ALWAYS take advantage of mini/travel/sample size before buying the full size). Sephora even has a deal where you can try the liner and mascara for $22.

Hourglass Ambient Powder (Pictures and Application)

If you haven't been pounded by the incessant hype surrounding these Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, there is a slight chance you have been living under a rock (that or you're just not that into makeup and you've stumbled on to the post by accident)

I was so excited when I got mine from Sephora earlier on in the year- yeah the blog post is YEARS late... at least you know it will be a through review. I love the sleek packaging but with the $45 price tag, I wouldn't be surprised if it was dipped in gold

The appeal of these setting powders is that they are supposed to diffuse a light onto your skin, giving you a gorgeous airbrushed finish.

I got mine in Radiant Light. I figured it was a nice way to dip my toe in it because I wasn't 100% sure how it would look on dark skin. If the tone was too harsh, I would just use it as a highlight.

Believe it or not but there are actually TWO swatches on my hand. On the top is a heavy concentrated swatch, unblended. On the bottom, I blended it in with my skin, it melts into my deep skin tone. On my face, I do like that highlight it gives me (I keep in concentrated on the center of my face) because it does give it a natural radiant glow. But as far as actually SETTING my makeup, it kind of fails. I have to layer it on top of another powder, especially when it comes to setting creamy concealers.

All in all, I don't think it was a fail... I HAVE had better though.

Face of the Day: The day after Xmas

Now this has got to be my longest blog post. But I wanted to do a really in-depth FOTD(face of the day) post. You know, thought it would be fun.

So lets start with the eyes.

 I started off with a VERY old tube of my Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin. It is so old that all the writing has rubbed off on it. I really hate the primer, I am just trying to use it up. Although it does hold your shadow in place all day, it also provides every shade you put on top of it with a shimmering champagne cast. That can be really pretty for some people, but on my dark skin it can really look ashy.

For the lid color I took the matte taupe shade from the Kardashian palette. I know what you are thinking. Yes, I was suckered into the hype and shelled out the $13 it cost to buy this palette that everybody seems to be bashing. And even though the packaging is impossibly cheap (it broke after a few weeks of me using it) I actually like the eyeshadow shades. As you can see, I seriously hit pan on the matte taupe color and the ashy brown color next to it, I seriously devoured (I used every last bit on my eye.) And don't get me started on the gorgeous shimmers on the bottom. They are so pigmented and metallic, I feel like it wasn't a complete waste of money.

This palette is the brands best selling item and it is called Kim's Kardazzle Face Palette. From what I see on the website, it looks like the updated the palette a little, new packaging, different blush but the shades seem really similar.

Okay, so for my transition color I used my limited edition Lorac palette (its from the set that is supposed to look like chocolate bars.) I have been straight ABUSING the matte ashy brown color.

Now to talk about my baby: The Lorac Pro palette. I used the shimmery deep purple shade to deepen up my liner. I wanted to try something different that day.

I combined that Deep purple shade with this electric blue liquid liner color by NYX in the color Extreme Blue. I remember what first caused me to buy this liner. I was reading an article in Essence magazine that dark skin girls shouldn't be afraid to take more risks with their makeup. I've worn this liner alone and deepened with a dark shadow. I don't regret my purchase (especially because NYX is sooooo affordable)

 Now on to the face.

 I am not a fan of this bareMinerals Prime Time primer. This is just a sample and I think the full size comes in a spray bottle. It is too oily for me. But if you are the type that doesn't love the silicone feel of other primers or if you have a bit of dry skin then this might be for you. And when I say oily, it doesn't leave my face oily... just when I apply it, oil comes out before the product does. like bad lip gloss.

Everybody says that the Maybelline FitMe concealer is a dupe for the Nars Creamy Concealer. I don't believe it. Even though I have never tried the Nars one... it can't possibly be like the Maybelline. The color selection for the Maybelline is wack and the coverage is lack luster. I got it in the deepest shade they offer and I still feel like it is to shades too light. This is definitely not the kind of concealer you can wear on its own.

 This Bobbi Brown foundation was a graduation gift from my best and I absolutely loved it when I first got it but I don't know what happened but after using half the bottle I am not impressed and more. I feel like it is not that long lasting and when it does wear down it breaks down patchy and in a super unflattering way. Something has changed, I don't know if it is me or the makeup.

  This is actually my second Maybelline FitMe powder in 355 Coconut. Unlike the unimpressive concealer, I quite enjoy the powder. Yes, the powder is too light for me but it is blendable enough for it to not matter. It kind of acts as a highlighting powder.

 My camera didn't pick it up but the powder has a little sparkle in it. (kind of like a highlighting powder)

During my makeup collecting journey I have come to realize one thing. They always say deep plums and raspberries look good on dark skin but I find them a little overpowering for me. This blush is from the Mac Liberty of London collection (I got it from a CCO) it is called Dirty Plum. it is super pigmented so I try to concentrate it on the backs of my cheekbones.

I am just as boring with my lips. I try to stay clear from deep colors that people always say look good on deep skin (like the Mac Viva Glam III I have here.) I lightened up the deep burgundy red color by

putting the CoverGirl Gloss Balm in 210 Blush Twist as a base then topped it with one of my favorite lip glosses, Nars in Belize.

Using two samples as my mascaras, I first used the BareMinerals Flawless Definition to define and lengthen (it is really good at separating, I am definitely buying the full size)

Then I used the Smashbox FULL Exposure to thicken in. (I know I should have switched the order). Honestly, I hate the smashbox mascara. I think it actually makes my lashes shorter.

My tried and true method of putting on my brows.

I use the Jane Iredale Deluxe Spoolie. It is an ordinary spoolie, nothing special.

Then I sue my Mac 208 brush to apply the product to my brows

The powder I love is actually an eyeshadow. Deep Mocha by L'Oreal is my fave.

I hit pan hard body.

Do I look like Beyonce wearing this Nails Inc. Baker Street color?

 

If you don't know, I'm the type of person that is SLIGHTLY obsessed with King Bey. When I heard her favorite nail polish color was this vibrant cobalt blue shade from the brand Nails Inc., I made it my mission to track it down and add it to my collection.

Honestly, the color and formula are OKAY. Yes, it is an opaque color and it goes on nicely... doesn't chip excessively... but this was nothing special really. It reminds me a lot of the Essie color, Butler Please.... (Beyoncé Please!)

YSL CRÈME DE BLUSH Soft Blush

Hey guys, I know it has been quite a while since I have done a post. I wanted to come at you with this new blush I have been using by Yves Saint Laurent. It is their creme de blush, I bought it at Sephora and it was $38. Yes, it is a bit of a splurge for just a cheek product but I just had to have it. I think it was this pretty gold packaging. All in all, for dark skin sister like me I think I would have to say pass on this product (or at least this color, I got the velvety peach).

As you can see, it comes in this gorgeous gold plated package that looks really good on your vanity.

The texture was a soft almost moussy feel. When you applied it, it reminded me of the Maybelline bouncy blushes. They both rub to a powder finish.

 For $38 you get .19 oz. The product is surrounded with an acrlic casing making it appear like a lot of product.

 So this is what the color looks like. For anybody lighter, it will look like a more natural flush of color. On me however, I just use it as a base to layer other cheek colors on top of.

 

 The color is 1 Velvety Peach - peachy pink. I thought it was going to be sort of like a Nars Orgasm but it is less pigmented than that.

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter

The swatch on the bottom is one swipe of the highlighter. The swatch on the top is what it looks like blended out. As you can see it is a champagne shimmery highlighter (I think I see a pinky shade in it). I can't lie... it is not the most flattering thing on my skin tone

There is a sponge applicator attached to it but I don't really like using it. (That can't be sanitary right?) I just blend it out with either my fingers or my beautyblender.

This is how much product you get for $30. (I bought mine from sephora)

I usually apply it to the tops of my cheek bones (this is it un-blended of course), my inner tearduct, and as a brow bone highlight.

This is it blended out. I'm not crazy about it. I won't be buying it again but I WILL be using it up because I spent a pretty penny on it.