Becca Frangipani Creme Blush Review - My Favorite blush right now!

Becca Frangipani Creme Blush

Alright, so I've been using this blush for the past month, which explains why it looks like shimmery slop in a compact. You can quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that if the makeup police confiscated all of my blushes and told me I can only have one, I'd either be kicking and screaming or sitting there dumbfounded at which blush I'd pick. AHA! That is, before I discovered this beauty.

One makeup product that I enjoy most of all is blush. I don't know why, but I find a pretty blush hard to resist. Needless to say, I have loads of options in the morning for which cheek rouge I want to wear for the day. Because I'm full of love, I like to give each blush special attention, trying not to neglect past favorites and devote all of my attention to my new loves. So it's very (and I really mean very) rare for me to find a blush that I can wear for weeks straight without switching it up. That's why I think Becca Frangipani is extra special. 

I'm pretty new to Becca, but I have to say that they sure know what they're doing when it comes to creating quality cosmetics. It seems that I'm knocking out trying each of their best sellers one by one (Compact Concealer, Mineral Bronzing Powder, Beach Tint) - and now the Creme Blush.

Becca Creme Blush is described as being highly pigmented, yet because of the smooth texture, it diffuses into the skin for a natural and healthy "glow from within" appearance. There are no parabens or preservatives. It's recommended for most skin types except very oily or blemished skin - that is because cream blush can make oily skin appear oilier, and it won't last as long, and for very blemished skin, it can emphasize blemishes. 

There are eight (8) shades available: Turkish Rose (rosy nude), Terracotta (neutral apricot), Byzantine (peach gold shimmer), Wild Orchid (violet pink), Hayacinth (bright watermelon pink), Dahlia (rich burnt red/orange), Amaryllis (dusty pink), Geranium (muted red) and Frangipani (tropical pink shimmer). 

From the way Frangipani looks in the compact, tropical pink shimmer isn't exactly how I'd describe it. It looks more like a metallic/shimmery silvery red. Depending on the lighting, it can also look plum (the red tone really only shows through in the sunlight). The name 'Rose Bronze', or maybe 'Rose-Berry' seems more appropriate, but, don't let the looks of it scare you away. It looks like it has a rosy-red base, but with the silver metallic hybrid, it creates a beautiful rosy-pink hue. It's not a shade only warm skinned gals can benefit from, but a shade that's flattering to many. Possibly a highlight for some? The color definitely isn't one-dimensional and leaves the skin flushed and glowing in any light. 

The texture isn't anything short of amazing. I'm not purposely trying to hype this product up, but the formula is the easiest to work with out of any cream blush I've used (MAC, Illamasqua, Bobbi Brown, etc). It's not sticky or tacky and it doesn't leave my skin feeling "damp" after it's been applied.

The product itself isn't very condensed, so you don't have to be afraid of botching up your cheeks by applying too much in one spot. Once your brush hits your cheeks, the product moves around and blends easily without much effort. I know that if I accidentally dipped too much product on my brush that I'm not doomed to look like a clown. 

My favorite application method is using a duo-fiber stippling brush (usually my MAC 187) and stipple (think sponge painting) the product on my cheeks in short, quick motions until it's all blended.

The product is incased in Becca's standard rubberized deep brown packaging with their signature metal detail on the front. It's actually very small (can you see in comparison to my fingers?) and only houses three grams (0.1 oz) of product. It's lightweight, non-bulky and has a mirror, so it's very travel-friendly.

Capturing this color swatched was much harder than I thought because of the duo-chrome. As you can see, despite it looking dark and scary in the pan, it's incredibly subtle. The left swatch illustrates the blush swatched with my finger, and on the right, swatched with a brush.

I also apologize for this nerdy car photo, but it's the only photo I have wearing this blush.

Now, because I have only tried one creme blush from their line, I'm not sure if they all perform the same way (pigmentation and lasting power), but the only downfall about this blush is that it wears off by mid-day. If my blush wears off, I'm not one to touch-up - I usually count it as an "oh well", unless I'm going somewhere nice. But, this blush is so fab that I do actually pull it out mid-day and re-apply it. It just instantly makes my skin look better and more radiant.

Overall, I'm very happy with this product and would recommend their Creme Blush if they all preform as nicely as Frangipani. They are quite expensive, so my urgency to have them all won't be happening any time soon, but hopefully at some point in the future I'll be able to get my hands on a couple more.

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax), Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax), Kaolin, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Tocopherol, Parfum (Fragrance) and may contain: [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Carmine CI 75470, Red 21 Lake CI 45380, Yellow 5 Lake CI 19140, Red 7 CI 15850, Ultramarines CI 77007, Red 40 CI 16035, Yellow 6 Lake CI 15985, Bismuth Oxychloride CI 77163, Blue 1 Lake CI 42090, Red 36 CI 12085, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Mica]

Price: $30, Becca. For a list of retail locations that sells Becca, click here.

Have you tried Becca's Creme Blushes? Let me know how you like them, and if you have any other recommendations of Becca products. Also, if you're a blog owner and have a review for a Becca Creme Blush, leave the link below so I can check it out!

Chanel 'In Love' Joues Contraste Blush - A Lovely Summer Peach.

 Chanel In Love Joues Contraste Blush

Chanel In Love Joues Contraste Blush ($43) is a medium peachy-coral with very fine golden shimmer. It applies sheer (but buildable) and gives off a soft, peachy-coral glow. The shimmer is tasteful and isn't chunky or frosty. It gives the illusion of very fresh, healthy, glowing cheeks. It has a slight vibrancy to the color, which makes it a really nice pick for the summer. It's almost like a peach version of Nars Orgasm Blush.

Chanel Joues Contraste Blushes are finely milled, super soft textured, pressed powder blushes - that when you touch them, you almost feel like because of the texture, they will apply powdery, like some of the softer textured budget brand blushes. But they apply such a soft, sheer veil of color to the cheeks that never looks blotchy or overdone. It's buildable, so with a couple of layers, you can really achieve intense color (if that's what you're looking for), otherwise, one layer deposits the perfect amount of blush.

Chanel Joues Contraste Blush is available in eleven (11) shades: Imprevu, Orchid Rose, Rose Bronze, Rose Petale, In Love, Espiegle, Rose Ecrin, Pink Explosion, Plum Attraction, Malice and Tumulte. (You can correct me if I'm mistaken, but there are 11 currently listed on the website)

Here are a couple swatches on my hand (my skintone is around MAC NC25 coloring). The swatch on the left is the blush applied heavy with a cotton swab, and the swatch on the right is the blush applied with a brush. The right swatch accurately shows what it would look like on my face.

I tried to capture the way it looks on my face, but unfortunately, the lighting was awful, and it didn't photograph very well. If you'd like to see it on my cheeks, I will update this post later with an additional photo.

I really like this shade, and think it'd be great for Summer paired with flamingo-pink and coral lipsticks! If you already have a few similar shades in your blush collection, it's probably not a must-have, but if you're a Chanel fanatic (or a peach blush fanatic), I'm sure you'll enjoy using this blush.

Side Note: *Countries outside of the USA have a baked version of Chanel Joues Contraste Blushes rather than a pressed powder. There may be inconsistencies with both versions - the color may or may not be spot on and the texture and pigmentation differs. Everyone has their own preference, but I like the US version blushes better.


Price: $43, Chanel.

Becca Peach Beach Tint Review, Photos and Swatches!

Becca Peach Beach Tint for the Cheeks and Lips

I've been a fan of Becca products as of lately, and although they aren't talked about much because 1)They're expensive and 2)They aren't widely available, I have loved everything I've tried.

I can't really say I'm a pro when it comes to cheek stains - to be honest, I've only tried one in the past, and it was a deluxe sample of Benefit Posietint. I was interested in giving cheek stains another try since Summer is just around the corner and when it's hot and muggy, there's nothing I love more than wearing a product that I can't feel on my face, and one that I won't have to worry about budging throughout the day.

I know Tarte is a very popular choice for cheek stains, but I felt like stepping into the world of Becca once again.

Becca Beach Tint is a cream stain that can be used on the cheeks and lips. It's "kiss-proof" and water-resistant and blends seamlessly (streak-free) into a non-greasy finish (it's oil-free!)

Becca Beach Tints are available in seven (7) shades: Strawberry (warm orange red), Watermelon (bright pink), Peach (warm orange pink), Raspberry (deep berry pink), Grapefruit (pale coral pink), Fig (tea rose pink) and Guava (bright coral pink).

The packaging is just a small, standard squeeze tube. Nothing very pretty, but very practical for travel as it's small and lightweight.

Upon application, it's important to give the tube a little shake, or roll it between your hands to make sure the product is mixed because it can come out watery otherwise.

The tube should dispense creamy product that won't run off your hand. Although it looks like a cream, don't let the looks of it deceive you - once touched with your finger, it has an extremely thin, liquid texture.

Depending on the color, a tiny drop of color may be all you need. This also depends on how much color you want on your cheeks. I'm a big blush fanatic, so I usually apply a little notch up from what's considered "natural". I use a little drop for each cheek.

 Becca Peach Beach Tint

I know many like to use their fingers for this product, but I've never been a fan of using my fingers for cheek products. It just never seems to work out for me. My favorite tool to use is actually a standard paddle foundation brush. In the photo below I'm using a MAC #192 Cheek/Face Brush, which is discontinued, but is comparable to a small foundation brush or large concealer brush.

 I apply a small dab on the back of my hand, and with my brush, start dabbing it across my cheek.

Then, I take my brush and start pulling the color down. It does dry quickly, but it doesn't dry quick enough to the point where it will stain one area if you don't work fast enough. It's very easy to work with. To make sure it's all blended, I tap the brush along the edges. If I happened to apply too much, I'll lightly sweep over the edges with a separate foundation brush.

This product layers really well without looking patchy, so if you're unsure of how much to use, it's always a good idea to start with less, and add more later.

On my cheeks, Peach is a vibrant, orangy-peach. Somewhat reminiscent of what MAC Peaches Blush or Illamasqua Lover Blush would look like on my cheeks.

The finish is a very natural matte. It's completely seamless and blends in with my foundation without a trace.

I've tested it out on my lips and although I didn't keep it on very long, it didn't seem to dry out my lips. It was a little uncomfortable though, it felt a little tacky and somewhat powdery, so I did end up wiping it off. If you're going to wear it on your lips, a lipgloss or moisturizing lip balm layered over top should do the trick.

On the cheeks, the color lasts pretty well throughout the day, but I do notice fading by the end of the day. I usually dust a highlighter or no color translucent powder over top to pro-long the wear.
 
I really do like this product, but it's really expensive for the amount of product you get. It's $25 for a measly 7ml/0.24 oz of product. Not really the best value, but if liquid blush is something you're looking to invest your money in, you might enjoy using these.

I think they're fun and easy - and I'll continue using it as a base for powder blush (to pro-long the wear and intensify the color) or worn alone! I think it's an especially nice shade for the summer.

Price: $25, Becca. Check here for a list of retailer locations that sells Becca.

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara Review + Before and After!

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara

I'm sure the majority of us, regardless of age, have owned this little pink tube of mascara with the green cap at some point in our life. When I pass by the the makeup aisles and catch a glance at Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, it instantly reminds me of when I was about twelve or thirteen, when I first developed my love for makeup. Sure, it wasn't "all that", but it was cheap and at the time, it got the job done.

Needless to say, I have never repurchased it since because I like a little (or a lot) more oomph in my lashes, which the very natural, smudgy results of Maybelline Great Lash didn't prevail. So, Maybelline came out with a little something called Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes, a new spin on the classic original. 

This new mascara claims to provide "lots of impact", while the unique brush design grabs each lash for maximum separation and volume.

*Note: The directions state to not let this mascara dry between coats. For the best results, apply the mascara until you are satisfied with the achieved look. (more about this later)

It's available in three shades: Blackest Black, Very Black and Brown Black. I chose Blackest Black, as I always do.

The wand is a small cone shape, which can be a bit awkward to apply (especially if you have long lashes), but it's very handy for those with average to short lashes (less mess on the lids). Because it's small, you can really get down to the base of the lashes and reach the little corners that often get missed with larger brushes. Nevertheless, I find it a bit tedious to apply and wouldn't choose to wear this mascara if I had to apply it in a hurry. 

I completely agree with the claims of not letting this mascara dry between coats. When I let the first coat dry, and went back to apply another coat, the wand literally removed the mascara off the tips of my lashes, making my lashes look short and clumpy. A total mess. To achieve the best results, start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand upward. Continue brushing your lashes until you are satisfied with the results. 

This mascara builds volume and length pretty quickly. I usually apply enough on my top lashes to where it looks like I've got on around 2-3 coats with a standard volume mascara, so my lashes look long and dark even from a few feet away. I noticed this mascara works especially well for my bottom lashes. It really does a great job at lengthening and separating them. 

I notice a couple of clumps here and there, but I think if you want very volumious lashes, it's hard to avoid any clumping. The clumping was very minimal with several coats and can be avoided by making sure there isn't a lot of excess product on the wand. 

Left: Before; no mascara, Right: After; application was equivalent to two coats on my top lashes, and one coat on the bottom lashes. No lash comb was used.

I also found this mascara doesn't weigh down my lashes and holds a curl pretty well throughout the day. 

I actually found this mascara to deliver like I thought it would, blowing all of the other Maybelline Great Lash Mascaras out of the water. 

Now the sad news, after a couple of hours, I end up with black smudges under my eyes. Let me tell you though, I am very prone to under-eye smudging and there are very few mascaras on the market that don't smudge under my eyes.

I didn't experience any flaking, and I found that it held up perfectly well by the end of the night (with the exception of the smudging). It's also easy to remove without leaving residue on the lashes.  

PROS: The small brush design makes applying the mascara to short lashes as well as bottom lashes much easier, builds volume well with additional coats, adds length, holds a curl, didn't experience flaking, dark pigment, easy to remove.

CONS: The small brush design makes applying the mascara tedious and a bit awkward, especially for those with longer lashes. The biggest con for me was that under-eye smudging was completely unavoidable with this mascara after a couple of hours, causing me to constantly check my makeup in the mirror, and powder my under-eyes - disrupting my concealer, etc. 

PACKAGING: Standard packaging, no complaints.

OVERALL: I was really satisfied with this mascara, especially for the price. I was able to achieve deep dark lashes with added volume and a little extra length with minor clumping. This mascara worked exceptionally well for my bottom lashes. Because I couldn't avoid the under-eye smudges, I won't be re-purchasing this mascara. Individual results will vary, and I've read a handful of reviews where the reviewer didn't experience smudging.

If you've tried this mascara, let me know what you thought about it!

Sigma Tapered Highlighter and Face Brushes Review!

Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush & F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush

You might remember me talking recently about wanting a domed shaped powder brush, and how I've had my eye on the Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush. I'm not sure if it's the unique shape of the brush head, or the fact that you don't see them around too often and I wanted something different (you mostly see the regular, standard, boring brush shapes) - All I knew was that I needed one (or two) in my collection even if I don't really need it.

So, I went ahead and ordered both brushes after not being able to choose one over the other.

F25 Tapered Face Brush - Designed for precise product placement of powder, blush and contour shades to the face. ($22)
F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush -Designed for precise product placement of highlighter to the face. ($16)

Upon waiting for my order, I was a little nervous that the brushes wouldn't be soft. I own a few sets of Sigma brushes and they are for the most part very soft, but I also have a couple duds that aren't very soft at all (F50 Duo Fiber and F05 Small Contour).

I was really excited to see that these brushes are ultra soft and luxurious.

As with all of my other Sigma Brushes, they are of great quality. You can tell just by holding the brush in your hand that it's a well made brush. They feel very sturdy and are comparable to higher end brushes.

The handles are a shiny black, and the lettering has changed from their previous plain silver to holographic silver lettering - a nice touch that makes the brush look additionally attractive.

A few people told me that they don't find much use for the F25 Tapered Face Brush because they find it too large, so I was expecting an awkwardly large brush - but it's actually the perfect size for a powder brush.

I've been using the F25 mostly for applying bronzer all over my face, as well as using it for setting powder. It works wonderful for both, especially since it's not too dense where it's going to deposit too much color in one spot, and it's super soft so it glides like a feather across the face. The pointed tip is great because it allows me to reach small areas (under my eyes, corners of my nose, etc) and around the frame of my face. I can see how some think it's too large to work as a contour brush for the cheeks - if you want really precise application of your contour powder or bronzer, you may want to opt for the smaller option - the F30 Brush.

The F30 works great for very precise application of contour powder in the hollows of the cheeks. The size is absolutely perfect for it - it's not too small or too big. It also works wonderfully for powder highlighter for applying the product precisely across the highest point of the cheeks. Lastly, it's also very useful for setting the under-eyes with powder as it can reach small areas with it's domed tip.

As with many brushes, with daily use, they can start to lose their shape, and expand outward. Of course it hasn't happened to mine yet, but to keep the bristles together, I like storing them in Coastal Scents Brush Guards. Sigma also has something called the "Dry'N Shape" that is also used to keep the bristles together once they're washed.

As far as shedding goes, they both shed a few bristles during washing, but I haven't noticed any since. Also, neither brush released dye when washed which really surprised me - till this day the water still runs gray when washing my F30 and F50 and I've had them for one year.

Here's a photo of the brushes against my face for scale.

Overall, I'm really happy with these brushes and I'm sure I'll be using both on a regular basis. If you're in a rut and don't know which one to choose, I'd recommend the F35 as I think due to it's smaller shape, it applies product more precise and is a little more versatile than the F25.

Sigma Brushes are sold exclusively on their website, at http://www.sigmabeauty.com.

A simple & pretty eyeshadow tutorial, using one eyeshadow and an eyeliner!

Here's the look we're going to achieve...

I wanted to do this really simple, but really pretty tutorial today using only one eyeshadow and a few basic tools. You can do the same look using any color you want - it definitely doesn't have to be the same color I chose and you can make any substitutions you'd like!

Products Used:
Urban Decay Primer Potion *not pictured (used in step 1)
MAC 'Bronze' Eyeshadow (used in step 6 and 8)
MAC 'Feline' Kohl Eye Pencil (used in step 2 and 4)
Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara (used in step 10)

Brushes/Tools Used:
Sponge applicator (to pack on the color, used in step 6)
Precision Tip Cotton Swabs (for smudging the eye liner, you can use any brush or pointed sponge applicator if you'd like - used in step 3 and 5)
Sigma Small Angle Brush (used in step 8)
Coastal Scents Tapered Blending Brush (used in step 7)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara Review + Before and After!

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara

Ever since Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara launched, I've been wanting to try it because of the appealing packaging. Revlon products in general have better product packaging than most of the other drugstore brands, but I think it was the shape of the brush along with the sleek black and silver tube that did it for me. Although the reviews for this mascara are pretty mixed, I couldn't wait to try it once my Maybelline Falsie's Mascara was finished.

The rubber brush has loads of thin bristles with a rounded tip, to easily reach every single lash for "maximum dimension". There aren't any claims that this mascara lengthens, but it's suppose to deliver lots of volume with two coats.

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara is available in three (3) shades: Blackest Black, Blackened Brown and Black. I purchased Blackest Black, of course.

In my opinion, the brush is well executed for separating the lashes. It's large with loads of very thin bristles, so it combs through each of your lashes while coating them in product. With one coat, this mascara adds a good amount of volume and a tiny bit of length. The result is still natural for those who don't like too much volume.

Here's a closer look at the brush..

I find that you have to work quickly with this mascara and letting your lashes dry between coats will only result in thick, "spider" lashes. For the best results, starting at the base of your lashes, and slowly wiggle the brush upward. Continue brushing your lashes until you're satisfied with the amount of product that's on your lashes. Volume is built fairly quick.

Two coats is more than enough with this mascara. When I attempted to apply three, my lashes looked super thick, yet still separated, but it looked incredibly unnatural. Also, with additional coats, I noticed product would gather at the very tip of my lashes, so a lash comb would be necessary.

I find that it's best not to touch your eyes or lashes for a couple of minutes after you've applied this mascara because your lashes will still be tacky, and can stick together.

Once dry, my lashes still feel semi-soft - yay, for non-crunchy lashes!

I don't find that it weighs down my lashes, and it keeps them mildly curled throughout the day without having to curl my lashes prior.

I've read some complaints about this mascara flaking, but I've had no experience of flaking. I do notice faint smudges under my eyes after a few hours, so usually, I'll have to touch up with powder every once in a while. The smudging is very minor though, and hasn't stopped me from wearing this mascara.

Price: Around $8 at your local drugstore, but the price will vary by location.

PROS: A good brush design, separates the lashes well - isn't clumpy, builds volume easily, adds a little length, but nothing to brag about, holds a curl well, lasts all day.
CONS: You have to be careful not to apply too much of this mascara - in my experience of applying too much, it actually made my lashes look shorter, stubbier and unnatural. Also, I noticed minor smudges after a while.
PACKAGING: The packaging is nice. Revlon always does good with their packaging. The tube is a little bulky though.
OVERALL: I think this is a pretty good mascara, for those looking for volume without the clumps. I like this mascara overall, but I prefer something that adds a little more length. I'll let you know if my opinion changes as I continue wearing it!

Have you tried this mascara? What'd ya think?