Current Beauty Favorites + Mini Reviews

Face Products

 IT Cosmetics CC + Cream Illumination SPF 50+

(My Shade: Medium)

I recently finished up my CoverGirl BB cream (will post a review later) and wanted to pick up another foundation within the lines of a BB or CC cream. During school and work days I rarely wear heavy foundation due to the humidity of Florida and the dryness of my skin (I know this sounds odd). I find that BB and CC creams provide just enough coverage for day to day use without that heavy feeling that foundation has. 

IT Cosmetics has some of the best CC creams, They have the coverage of a liquid foundation but feel like a feather has touched your skin. They are also incredibly easy to blend (I prefer to use a beauty blender sponge with this). The Illumination is the newest in their collection and what makes it different from their original formula is that this one adds a little glow to your skin as well as some hydration. It lasts very well and I have not had any trouble with it caking on my face. 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish

in the shade Medium Plus

This is an oldie but a goodie. I was cleaning out my makeup (much needed) and found that I had some backups still in their packaging (#lifeofamakeupaddict). I remember loving and using this powder religiously in high school. It not only sets my makeup but gives it a natural finish to my skin (not too matte but still controls any shiny problem areas). Plus it also adds a little extra coverage. Sometimes I just wear concealer and this powder alone without any foundation. 

Lip Products

Bare Minerals Gen Nude Under Over Lip Liner 

in the shade On Point

I have never been a huge fan of lip liner until I found this product. For a pencil lip liner I was shocked at how creamy and smooth it is. It glided on my lips so effortlessly. The color is also pretty great. There are 5 colors in this collection and out of all of them On Point is my favorite. It is a nude terracotta with some pink undertones. I actually like to wear it all on its own. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was how difficult it was to sharpen. If you are not careful it will melt down inside the sharpener. I suggest putting it into the freezer for a little bit before sharpening. 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick

in the shade Naturally Chic

This has been my go 2 nude lip color for the past 2 months. The lipstick itself is creamy and feels nice on the lips. It doesn't over dry or flake. I find that you can wear this with or without a lip liner underneath. 

Favorite Fall Lipsticks High-End BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 8, 2014

A couple posts back I talked about my favorite fall drugstore lipsticks. Today I am going to show you guys my favorite fall High-End Lipsticks. These are all a great investment if you guys do choose to go for a more pricer lip color.

From Left to Right:

MAC Rebel:

I love love love this color!!! This is a lipstick that will always be on trend for the fall season. It is the perfect plum color and goes well with any skin tone. The texture is super creamy and glides on smoothly. The wear time with MAC lipsticks isn't the best but for this color it is totally worth every penny!!!

MAC Violetta:

For those of you who want to be a little funky try this one on for size. This pretty violet color is great paired with winged eyeliner and full lashes. Another bonus it makes your teeth look whiter :D

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie in Raise the Bar:

This is for those of you who don't really feel comfortable with dark and funky colors this fall. While it is a bit on the nude side the coppery undertone definitely screams fall. This color reminds me of the leaves changing colors.

YSL Rouge Volupte in #12:

This is one of more pricer lipsticks but totally worth it. Rich, creamy and not to mention the GORGEOUS color you can't go wrong with it! 

From Left to Right:

MAC Rebel- Medium plum (Satin)

MAC Violetta- Bright Violet (Amplified)

Raise the Bar- Coppery nude (Satin)

YSL #12- Bright raspberry plum (Satin/matte)

Swatches below

Drugstore Dupes Part 2

Hey y'all! Back again for another drugstore dupes on some favorite high-end beauty products. If you guys want to save some money while still looking fabulous at the same time look no further. 

1.) MAC Girl About Town (Amplified) Lipstick
DRUGSTORE DUPE: Revlon Color Burst Lipstick in Fuchsia (030): BRIGHT FUCHSIA (Cool-toned) This is a pretty dead on dupe. Both have very similar textures (the MAC one is a bit thinner) and great pigmentation (the Revlon one actually is more pigmented). The only major difference is that MAC Girl About Town has a vanilla scent to it like most MAC lipsticks. FUN FACT: MAC Girl About Town is actually one of Katy Perry's favorite lipsticks. 

PRICE BREAKDOWN:
MAC Girl About Town: $16.00 http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/168/310/Products/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick/index.tmpl
Revlon Fuchsia: $5-$7: http://www.amazon.com/Revlon-ColorBurst-Lipstick-Fuchsia-Ounces/dp/B003FBMFSG

Right: Revlon Fuchsia

Left: MAC Girl About Town

Right: MAC Girl About Town

Left: Revlon Fuchsia 

(Excuse the stain I was swatching the products and didn't realize it got on the background)

Right: MAC Girl About Town

Left: Revlon Fuchsia 

2.) Kevyn Aucoin The Solid Foundation

Drugstore Dupe: Maybelline FIT Shine-Free Foundation: The texture on both products are very similar. Both are light-weight and blends easily into the skin. The Kevyn Aucoin one has a light fresh scent to it. In terms of wear time both are pretty close lasting around 6-8 hours and great for both oily and dry skin. Maybelline has a bigger color range. 

PRICE BREAKDOWN:

Kevyn Aucoin The Solid Foundation: $36.00 http://www.beautybar.com/p/kevyn-aucoin-beauty-the-radiant-reflection-solid-foundation-176546?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_BB&utm_term=KAC-021&utm_campaign=Google&CAWELAID=1337588467&utm_content=pla&ci_sku=KAC-021&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}

Maybelline FIT Shine-Free Foundation: $6-$8: http://www.walmart.com/ip/24241702?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227018392462&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=35519248956&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=51049332276&veh=sem

Right: Maybelline FIT Shine-Free

Left: Kevyn Aucoin The Solid Foundation 

Right: Maybelline FIT Shine-Free

Left: Kevyn Aucoin The Solid Foundation 

3.) NARS Blush in Desire

Drugstore Dupe: Milani Delizioso Pink: Both are very pigmented and soft in texture. I did find the Milani blush a bit easier to blend than the NARS blush. In the pictures the Milani looks a lighter however on the skin you can't really tell the difference. The perfect pink blush for everyday every season. 

PRICE BREAKDOWN: NARS Blush in Desire: $26.00 http://www.sephora.com/blush-P2855?SKUID=221358&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=221358&om_mmc=ppc-gg-pla&om_mmc=ppc-GG&mkwid=IPeJMj1r&pcrid=24089849057&pdv=c&site=us_search&country_switch=us&lang=en

Milani Blush: $7-8 http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=346946&catid=183545&cmbProdBrandFilter=81869&aid=338666&aparam=18283950120All_products&device=c&network=g&matchtype=

Right: NARS Desire

Left: Milani Delizioso Pink

Right: Milani Delizioso Pink

Left: NARS Desire 

4.) MAC Eyeshadow in Sushi Flower

Drugstore Dupe: (BASIC PINK COLOR) Wet n Wild Palette in Poster Child: Pretty Dead on dupe with the color, pigmentation and texture. The MAC is a bit sheer compared to the Wet n Wild one. 

PRICE BREAKDOWN: MAC Eyeshadow: $15.00 in pot form $11.00 in pro pan  http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/154/363/Products/Eyes/Shadow/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl

Wet n Wild Palette in Poster Child: $4.99 for 8 Eyeshadows!!! (Available at drugstores nationwide)  

Right: Wet n Wild

Left: MAC

Right: Wet n Wild

Left: MAC

SPRING 2014 BEAUTY TRENDS

Need an update on your look for the new year? Well look no further. Here are 5 popular spring beauty trends fresh off the runway guaranteed to liven up your beauty wardrobe for the upcoming year.

1.) Violet Eyeliner: During the spring a lot of pastels and pinks come out from lip sticks to lip glosses to even eyeshadows. However no matter how much we may want to rock that pink eyeshadow if not applied correctly your eyes can look bloodshot like you haven't slept in 1,000 years. This year though it is actually possible to rock that pink. Instead of the boring black and brown eyeliner try to freshen things up by pairing your pink eye look with a violet eyeliner. The violet eyeliner is very flattering paired with pink eyeshadows and will make your eyes appear fresher and bolder.

Suggestions: Try MAC Fluid line in Phlox Garden ($16 @ www.maccosmetics.com)

2.) Two-Toned Nails: Let's get real nail art is sooo 2013. So let's get rid of the chunky glitter and nail art pens and try something new like two-toned nails. Basically choose any color to your liking and paint your nails. Then take a second color and paint only half of your nail sort of like a french manicure but bigger. To make that perfect moon crest use a tiny eyeliner brush or paint brush.

3.) Blue Eyes: No I'm not going back to the 70s/80s where our moms and grandmothers were still wearing that ugly hooker blue eyeshadow. It is actually possible to pull off blue eyeshadow and you won't believe how easy it is. Instead of a royal blue try a pastel blue or an icy blue. Just apply all over the lid and blend it up to the crease. Add a highlight to your brow bone something one to two shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Finish off with a thin line of black liquid eyeliner and pile on that mascara and you are good to go! This works best with cream eyeshadows and make sure to keep the rest of your face makeup simple you want all the attention on the eyes.

Suggestions: Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Ice ($25 @www.shiseido.com) Or Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tenacious Teal ($7 @ Drugstores nationwide)

4.) Look at Me Lips: Forget about the reds and nudes this spring it is all about the oranges and pepto bismol pinks. Bright, flirty and fun!

Suggestions: Maybelline Color Whisper in Petal Rebel ($8 @ Drugstores nationwide)

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren ($8 at Drugstores nationwide)

5.) Last but not least CORAL CHEEKS- Once again we are moving away from the pinks and kicking it up a notch. Coral gives us that nice springy glow without looking too overdone. Plus it looks amazing on tan skin. Keep it simple with a pinky/nude lip gloss and some mascara and you are good to go.

Suggestions: NARS Super Orgasm ($26 @ www.sephora.com)

Dolce & Gabbana Luminous Cheek Color in Rosebud ($45 @ www.sephora.com)

Favorite Red Lipsticks

There is nothing like a good red lipstick. Every girl needs that perfect red lip. Here are a few of my favorites.

1.) RAVISHING ROUGE (MAYBELLINE SUPER STAY 14HR LIPSTICK)- A cool tone bright matte red. Super pigmented and does last 14hrs. You might need to use a makeup remover to get it off. Because of its ability to last a long time it can get drying to definitely wear a lip balm under this.

RAVISHING ROUGE

2.)MOULIN ROUGE (MAKEUP FOREVER ROUGE ARTIST INTENSE LIPSTICK)- A vibrant red with a satin finish. This is my perfect red lipstick. It doesn't look too overwhelming and there is a hint of elegance when wearing it. Very saturated in color and doesn't feel overly dry on the lips. 

MOULIN ROUGE

3.) F-BOMB (URBAN DECAY REVOLUTION LIPSTICK)- Classic "bad girl" red. This is basically the classic red lipstick our grandmothers wear but with a kick. A very sexy and edgy red perfect paired with a motorcycle jacket, dark jeans and combat boots. Very hydrating, long-lasting and super creamy. 

F-BOMB

4.) SAIL LA VIE (MAC COSMETICS)- An orangey red with a satin finish. This is a very unique red with a twist. This is for those of you out there who want to be different and a bit bolder. 

SAIL LA VIE

5.) RUBY WOO (MAC COSMETICS)- Vivid red with a blue undertone and a matte finish. Probably one of the best red lipsticks ever out there. This is what you would call a "little red riding hood" red. Really great for those of you will fair and light skin tones. 

RUBY WOO

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RAVISHING ROUGE, MOULIN ROUGE, F-BOMB, SAIL LA VIE, RUBY WOO

Favorite Dark Lipsticks

1.) REBEL By MAC- A mid-tone creamy plum color with a satin finish. This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE LIPSTICKS hands down. It looks great on pretty much all skin tones. It is not as dark as it looks in the tube so it is very wearable.

REBEL

REBEL

2.) DIVA By MAC- Intense reddish-burgundy with a matte finish. This lipstick reminds me of the 1920s Flapper girls. A very classic and classy color. And the best part is unlike other matte lipsticks this one isn't drying at all and feels really nice on the lips. 

DIVA

3.) FAULTLESSLY By MAC- Yes yes I know another MAC Lipstick. But they really have a great variety of dark lip colors compared to any other brands out there. Faultlessly is an amplified (very pigmented) dark purple. It has a semi-matte finish. This definitely isn't a lipstick most people would go for including myself. It is incredibly goth like dark. However if you just wear it on its own without any heavy eye makeup it can look pretty great. If you have either a really fair complexion or a really dark complexion I wouldn't recommend this one for you. 

FAULTLESSLY

4.) VIOLETTA By MAC- A clean vibrant violent purple. This is for those of you out there who would like to be bolder by not super dark with their lips this fall. This is a really pretty purple that looks great on light to medium-tan skin tones. It has a cooler undertone and can give you the appearance of whiter teeth. Super fun lipstick overall. It doesn't go as dark as it looks in the tube but it is bright.

VIOLETTA

5.) THE QUEEN'S KISS By L'Oreal - A light satin finish burgundy, cranberry purple. This was a limited edition lipstick awhile back but can still be purchased online. It is super moisturizing and feels great on the lips. The color pigmentation is very nice but not to overwhelming. This is perfect for those of you who want to experiment with darker lip colors but not go overboard. 

THE QUEEN'S KISS

6.) RAISE THE BAR By Bare Minerals- A pearl plum color. This lipstick is part of Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Line. This line of lipsticks are incredibly moisturizing and also contains Vitamins A, C, and E that help deliver antioxidants. So not only you will look good but will also do good for your lips.

RAISE THE BAR

7.) SUGAR PLUM FAIRY By Wet n Wild- A semi matte fuchsia with a dark burgundy undertone. Again this is a great color for those who want to experiment with dark colors but not super dark. Wet n Wild lipsticks are very affordable and great quality. They are EXTREMELY pigmented so a little goes a long way. They can get a bit drying on your lips but as long as you have a lip balm under it you will be fine.

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: THE QUEEN'S KISS, RAISE THE BAR, SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Eyeshadow Dupes

Don't you ever wish that there could be a dupe for the products that we most desire in life. Something similar yet more affordable and easier to access. Well unfortunately life doesn't really work that way however in the cosmetics world there is hope. Over the years I been looking into some high end products to see if there are any alternatives to that product. So far here is what I found. Most of these dupes are pretty dead on even though they may not all look like it at first, but I assure you on the eyes you can't tell the difference. Not only you will be happier but so will your wallet.

DISCLAIMER: ALL PRODUCTS ARE MY OWN AND PURCHASED WITH MY OWN MONEY. I'M NOT PRESENTLY AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THESE COMPANIES MENTIONED.

MAC eyeshadows are probably one the most lusted products however they are also one of the most priciest. While the general masses of people love to purchase MAC products do keep in mind the prices are high because MAC is a makeup artistry company which means its products are usually used on a professional basis like on movie sets, commercials, magazines etc...  Here are some alternatives that are not only cheaper but maybe even a little better.


MAC Eyeshadows retail for $15 in the pot packaging, $11 for their depotted version, or $5-10 for pro card holders. All Wet n Wild Trios retail for $2.99 and a plus side they also do not test on animals.

1.) MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe- Dupe Wet n Wild Silent Treatment Trio Palette (Last color in palette)

Right swatch: Wet n Wild Silent Treatment

Left swatch: MAC Satin Taupe

2.) MAC Eyeshadow in Amber Lights- Dupe Wet n Wild I Got Sunburned Trio Palette (Last color in palette) 

Right swatch: Wet n Wild I Got Sunburned

Left swatch: MAC Amber Lights

3.) MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch- Dupe Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio Palette (Last color in palette) 

Right swatch: Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells

Left swatch: MAC Naked Lunch

4.) MAC Eyeshadow in Shroom- Dupe Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio Palette (First color in palette)

Right swatch: Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells

Left swatch: MAC Shroom

5.) MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked- Dupe Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette (3rd color down on left side of palette) 

Right swatch: Wet n Wild Comfort Zone

Left swatch: MAC Woodwinked 

6.) MAC PaintPot (cream eyeshadow) in Bare Study ($20)- Dupe Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige ($6-7)

Right swatch: Color Tattoo

Left swatch: MAC

7.) Makeup Forever Aqua Cream Eyeshadow in #15 ($23)- Dupe Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze ($6-7): Not a MAC dupe however Makeup Forever is another very expensive makeup artistry brand.

Right swatch: Color Tattoo

Left swatch: Makeup Forever

The Makeup Forever one is slightly darker here however once you put it on the eye and blend it out it is very similar to the Color Tattoo one. 

You can purchase all the products mentioned above down below at the sites. Wet n Wild is also available in all drugstores nationwide.  

www.maccosmetics.com 

http://wnwbeauty.com/

Hope y'all enjoyed this post I will be posting more dupes to high end/makeup artistry brands later on. :D xoxo