Becca Nefertiti Pressed Shimmer Powder Review!

Becca Nefertiti Pressed Shimmer Powder

I have another Becca product to talk about today! Boy, the month of May seems like a Becca Extravaganza. I apologize for those that haven’t found much interest in the brand.

I’ve been very curious lately in exploring the different products the brand has to offer, and stumbled upon the Becca Pressed Shimmer Powders ($38).

The Becca Pressed Shimmer Powders are available in eight (8) shades: Hyawatha (silvery beige), Athena (golden bronze), Angel (pale silvery pink), Gypsy (bright golden pink), Odette (golden peach pink), Nymph (porcelain white), Princess (golden rose) and Nefertiti (golden pink).

Is it a Blush or a Highlighter?

These finely milled, shimmering powders are actually considered a “multi-use” product that can be used as either one – depending on the shade, that is. Some are better suited as a highlight shade for the cheeks, brow-bone and eyes, whilst the colorful ones would work great as a light blush. If you don’t want to wear them alone, you can lightly layer them on top of your blush for added dimension, color and glow.

I have Nefertiti, which is described as a golden pink. It’s an accurate description, as the base appears to be a neutral, dusty pink cascading with golden shimmer that provides a candlelit glow, rather than a tasteless inclusion of gritty glitter or abundance of metallic frost. When pink and gold collide, typically in a blush with a pink base and gold shimmer, it gives the illusion of a vibrant peach with pink undertones. But because the pink is so neutral, it doesn’t have the bright pink-coral effect of Nars Orgasm (or similar shades). I'd say it's a bit similar to MAC Honey Rose Magically Cool Liquid Powder, but less shimmery with a slightly deeper pink tone.

A Powder that’s sure to give your Skin a Natural Glow

The consistency is velvety soft, and because it’s so soft, the brush can pick up a lot of product at once, so use sparingly at first, and go back and apply more if needed. It's pigmented, but I don't find the shimmer/frost to be as heavy as a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish or a Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick. For those who want lots of shimmer, or noticeable shimmer, these aren’t for you. If you enjoy the subtleness of a product like Dior Amber Diamond (my favorite highlighter), you may enjoy these.

To apply, I use a small stippling brush, such as the MAC #131 Duo-Fibre Brush, or similar. It can be layered over just about anything. I’ve paired with it with neutral blushes to add “a little something extra” as well as over vibrant pinks and peaches. It's a little too light for my liking to be worn alone.

The packaging is standard Becca – a rubberized mirrored compact with their signature metal detailing on the front.

*I’ve heard that Becca powders are sometimes prone to breaking (My Becca Bronzer shattered in transit) and others informed me that they’ve had a Becca powder break here and there. For that reason, I’m careful with my compacts and will not travel with them.

The Round-up

Pros:

• Very soft texture
• Blends easily
• Provides a natural glow for those fearful of frost/glitter
• Although it’s a common color mix (pink with gold shimmer), its unique and different from the other highlighters I own.

Cons:

• Those looking for noticeable shimmer may find that it’s almost “too” natural
• Packaging – some love it, some hate it. Regardless the rubber catches every speck of dirt, causing me to wipe it down after every few uses.
• Expensive – It’s definitely up there with other high end brands (MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes are $29 for the same amount of product) but less expensive than Dior.
• Availability – There are limited locations where it can be purchased, so purchasing online is usually the main option. You can check the retail locations in your area here. 

Price: $38, Becca.

Becca Nefertiti Pressed Shimmer Powder Review!

Becca Nefertiti Pressed Shimmer Powder

I have another Becca product to talk about today! Boy, the month of May seems like a Becca Extravaganza. I apologize for those that haven�t found much interest in the brand.

I�ve been very curious lately in exploring the different products the brand has to offer, and stumbled upon the Becca Pressed Shimmer Powders ($38).

The Becca Pressed Shimmer Powders are available in eight (8) shades: Hyawatha (silvery beige), Athena (golden bronze), Angel (pale silvery pink), Gypsy (bright golden pink), Odette (golden peach pink), Nymph (porcelain white), Princess (golden rose) and Nefertiti (golden pink).

Is it a Blush or a Highlighter?

These finely milled, shimmering powders are actually considered a �multi-use� product that can be used as either one � depending on the shade, that is. Some are better suited as a highlight shade for the cheeks, brow-bone and eyes, whilst the colorful ones would work great as a light blush. If you don�t want to wear them alone, you can lightly layer them on top of your blush for added dimension, color and glow.

I have Nefertiti, which is described as a golden pink. It�s an accurate description, as the base appears to be a neutral, dusty pink cascading with golden shimmer that provides a candlelit glow, rather than a tasteless inclusion of gritty glitter or abundance of metallic frost. When pink and gold collide, typically in a blush with a pink base and gold shimmer, it gives the illusion of a vibrant peach with pink undertones. But because the pink is so neutral, it doesn�t have the bright pink-coral effect of Nars Orgasm (or similar shades). I'd say it's a bit similar to MAC Honey Rose Magically Cool Liquid Powder, but less shimmery with a slightly deeper pink tone.

A Powder that�s sure to give your Skin a Natural Glow

The consistency is velvety soft, and because it�s so soft, the brush can pick up a lot of product at once, so use sparingly at first, and go back and apply more if needed. It's pigmented, but I don't find the shimmer/frost to be as heavy as a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish or a Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick. For those who want lots of shimmer, or noticeable shimmer, these aren�t for you. If you enjoy the subtleness of a product like Dior Amber Diamond (my favorite highlighter), you may enjoy these.

To apply, I use a small stippling brush, such as the MAC #131 Duo-Fibre Brush, or similar. It can be layered over just about anything. I�ve paired with it with neutral blushes to add �a little something extra� as well as over vibrant pinks and peaches. It's a little too light for my liking to be worn alone.

The packaging is standard Becca � a rubberized mirrored compact with their signature metal detailing on the front.

*I�ve heard that Becca powders are sometimes prone to breaking (My Becca Bronzer shattered in transit) and others informed me that they�ve had a Becca powder break here and there. For that reason, I�m careful with my compacts and will not travel with them.

The Round-up

Pros:

• Very soft texture
• Blends easily
• Provides a natural glow for those fearful of frost/glitter
• Although it�s a common color mix (pink with gold shimmer), its unique and different from the other highlighters I own.

Cons:

• Those looking for noticeable shimmer may find that it�s almost �too� natural
• Packaging � some love it, some hate it. Regardless the rubber catches every speck of dirt, causing me to wipe it down after every few uses.
• Expensive � It�s definitely up there with other high end brands (MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes are $29 for the same amount of product) but less expensive than Dior.
• Availability � There are limited locations where it can be purchased, so purchasing online is usually the main option. You can check the retail locations in your area here. 

Price: $38, Becca.

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!

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.

Becca Compact Concealer Review (With before & after photos)!

Becca Compact Concealer

I'm the prowl for a new concealer! As of lately I've been stuck mostly on my MAC Prolongwear Concealer, MAC Studio Finish Concealer and Coastal Scents Camo Quad. But, you all know me by now, and I get bored quickly with the same ol' products every day, and love switching it up and discovering new products.

I've been wearing MUFE Full Cover Concealer every once in a while, but the more I use it, the more I kinda realize I'm not a huge fan. Any lovers of Make Up Forever Full Cover out there? After a few hours I notice it settles kinda funny and it causes my eye makeup to transfer.

Anyways, Since my complexion has been resembling Snow White lately, I needed to find a concealer light enough to match my skintone that offers heavy coverage and is also long lasting.

So, I was recommended to try out Becca's concealer. I've never tried anything from Becca before, so I excited to give it a go. It turns out Becca Compact Concealer is everything I was looking for. 

Becca Compact Concealer consists of two concealers - one is called the "extra cover" and one is called the "medium cover". The idea is to create the amount of coverage you'd like - by layering or using each of them on different areas of the face.

The "medium cover" works great for the under-eyes and the "extra-cover" works great for spots on the face, as they often need more coverage. The consistency of the "extra-cover" concealer is slightly drier, so it's very ideal for spots, as it's not going to budge/fade.

Becca Compact Concealer comes in a huge variety of shades (34 to be exact) to match all skintones - from very fair to deep dark. I've never seen so many shades - especially for a concealer, so there shouldn't be too many problems finding your perfect shade.

I have the shade Sherbet, which is a duo of two fair shades. They're almost identical, except one of them is slightly peachier. It's a pretty nice match if you're around the MAC NC15 coloring.

 Becca Compact Concealer in Sherbet

Here are both shades swatched on my hand. My hands are a little darker than my face, but on my face, it's a spot on match.

READ MORE!

This is definitely a drier consistency concealer, so to avoid any accentuation of dryness, it's a good idea to moisturize your skin prior or after it's applied, lightly go over the area with a slightly damp cosmetic sponge in light "press and roll" motions.

The coverage is great. I usually always apply a thin layer of the medium coverage side and then go over any extra darkness with the extra-cover side.

It has a fairly matte finish, and although it's matte, I always make sure to set my under-eyes with a powder to avoid creasing. I have worn this without setting it with powder and experienced product settling in my fine lines (it will happen with any cream concealer). When I set with a powder, I have no problems at all. *For reference, most of the time I use Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder. I've been using it for years and it's still my favorite.

For spots: I like using a small pointed liner brush for precise application (and to lessen waste of any product). I'll lightly apply the concealer to the blemish completely covering it, and then with a fluffier eyeshadow brush (such as a blending brush) I'll lightly (with no pressure) blend out the edges so the concealer blends in with my skin.
For under-eyes: I sometimes use a brush, and sometimes use my finger. To lessen waste of product, I'll more often use a small brush, then apply it to my under-eyes and blend with my finger with light tapping motions (no rubbing). Using my finger works well as the heat from my finger also helps soften the product so it spreads easier on my skin. Sometimes I'll go over the area with a blending brush to pick up any excess product that may be "chillaxin" in my fine lines.

Here are some photos applying the medium-cover concealer to my under-eyes.

As you can see, the coverage is quite good. It covers my darkness and sun spots and and brightens up the area very well.

I don't have too many blemishes at the moment (thank goodness all of my L'oreal Infallible Foundation caused blemishes all went away), but I wanted to show the coverage for spot concealing. 

It completely covered my freckle and few red spots. 

I find that the lasting power is very good. By the end of the day it's all still in tact.

Now, the only downside about this stuff is the price-tag and the availability. There's really nowhere near me that I can find this product other than a couple of spas/salons which I will not be going to in order to purchase Becca products. Depending on your location, you may be lucky enough to find a counter near you. Otherwise, you can purchase products directly off their website, Apothica.com (there are often coupon codes available, so check Google first!) and Dermstore.com.

As for the price, I'll go into more details about it below.

PROS: I really like the idea of having two different coverage concealers in one compact. It's very handy that you can have your product for under-eyes and spots all-in-one. A full coverage is hard to find, and this product provides a full coverage that doesn't feel or look heavy and lasts all day.
CONS: The only real con is the price. It's (are you ready?) $38 for 0.1 oz! That is 3 dinky grams of product for a mere $40. That adds up to almost $360 an ounce. For comparison, MAC Studio Finish Concealer costs $17 for 0.24 oz/7grams of product and around $69 an ounce. Mac Studio Finish is a really good less-expensive option that works almost as good.
PACKAGING: The packaging is nothing spectacular. It's made of that same rubberized material that Nars packaging comes in - so it gets dirty very easily (but cleans just as easily with a makeup remover wipe). The plus side with it is it's small and very compact, so it's ideal for travel, and it has a mirror for application and/or touch-ups.
OVERALL: I can't say that this product is a good value for the amount of money you pay, but it really is a fantastic product. We all kind of have our "set price" we're willing to pay for certain cosmetics, so it really depends on you and your budget!

If you've tried this product, let me know how you liked it in the comments!

In other news, I've been a little absent these past couple of days because my aunt is in town - permanently! She's lived in another state all my life, and finally decided to pack her bags and move close to us in Chicago. I don't really have a big family and I'm only close with two of my aunts, so it's really nice to be even closer now, especially since it's been really hard on my family since my Dad's passing (it still feels weird to say this as I'm still in denial of it all). Family really is everything and I'm so grateful to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

 (At the airport last winter!)

Hope you all had a great weekend!