Purchased & Reviewed: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush in Tigerlily

It’s been a while since I’ve published a purchase post but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been making them 24/7 all around town. What better way to get back to it than by reviewing a Becca product? They’re hotter than me running around a mall with 13 different shopping bags. Shall we?

Packaging: Compact, snap to close circular shell, akin to most Becca powders & blushes. I was a little surprised at the smaller size of this particular product (I guess I’m used to the larger highlighters. The only aspect I can’t get comfortable with is the outer shell of Becca compacts – the material picks up a lot of makeup transfer and are hard to keep clean unless you’re Lysol wiping on the daily. Minor.

Product: Ever since Champagne Pop and the Champagne Glow palette – I have been sold on all things Becca. I had no idea who Jaclyn Hill was nor do I watch her videos but I knew that the highlighter palette she conjured up with the brand was straight out of the golden gates and the rest is history. Anyway, back to the product – it’s sublime, perfect, the ideal blush, the holy grail if you must. The pigment, the shimmer, the multi-dimensional matte/glow effect and the staying power – 10’s across the board. I have not one complaint.

Colour: This is my favourite shade out of all the Shimmering Skin Perfectors. I love me a nice orange especially for my skin tone. This particular shade is a medium orange with red undertones. The gold flecked finish is what’s making makeup hoarders lose their shit. The colour is build-able but I find that a little goes a long way (also depends on which kind of brush you’re using). The end result for me is semi opaque, medium orange and gold glow that’s the focal point of my face. I blend in a little highlighter and add a nude-y lip and have pretty much secured my go-to face for the rest of the summer.

Wearability: All over town. If you use a light hand you can wear it alone for a little pop of colour or if you got your Go – Go – Gadget Sephora hands on you can add it to a matte blush of your choice and up the force shield. I myself wear it as a blush alone over my contour and the colour pay off is more than enough…intense even. I find that I like this particular shade better with a nude/light lip because the orange/red undertones are a little too #ootn for a daytime look.

Verdict: You have to have at least one Becca product to experience what the hype is all about. Whether it’s the blush, the highlighter, or the new eyeshadow palette – the hype is legitimate. These blushes have staying power, nice pigmentation and allows you to build it up to create either a flushed peach look or one that mimics the Snapchat filter of that cute trans. You hold the power.

(Photo above was taken au natural).

Try it for yourself here.

Friday Favorites: Weekend Edition

Favorite Purchase

Along with the rest of the fashion obsessed world – I’m in love with the mini bag. The nano. The tiny tote. Whatever. I want to pinch it’s leathery cheeks and kiss it’s little handles. I recently added to this collection of little midget bags with a Balenciaga Giant 12 Red Mini City bag. Or Lil Red, as I like to call it. Hand stitched handles, a removable strap, top zip closure with gold metal hardware. This is my favorite style Balenciaga handbag – the leather is durable and insanely soft but it still retains its shape because of the firm outer frame. And it’s red. I didn’t match it to the season whatsoever.

Favorite Product

I recently went browsing for a good leave – in conditioner type styling product. Sideways rain, misty rain, fat droplets of rain…neither are welcome but they invite themselves up anyway. The girls @ Obadiah Salon in Bellevue have instilled in me, a love for Oribe’. This leave-in conditioner is luxe (for the price and the brand – I’d expect nothing less). It’s light and moisturizing yet dissolves quickly – almost like a serum. I find that creams feel a little heavier but this stuff is airy and smooth. It really tamed my dry curls and although I’m a little stingy on the application, a little is all you need to make it happen. The added heat protection, and glossy shine is awesome so I can now justify the price. I went with the smaller tube as a trial but will definitely upgrade to a larger size now that I know the benefits are legit.

Favorite Scent

Jo Malone’s Mimosa & Cardamom is a little cloud of mimosa, spicy, warm cardamom, sandalwood, and Damask rose. Really, there’s not one Jo Malone fragrance that I have turned away from, so I’m not surprised at my love affair with this new scent. It actually reminds me of talcum powder, it’s a soft scent – perfect for the winter months.

Favorite Read

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson – this book actually left me perplexed but it didn’t keep me from putting it down. It follows the parallel life of a young Denver woman in 1960’s who co-owns a bookshop with her girlfriend. While she’s a simple, single, independent girl in one life, she’s a glam housewife in the other – caring for her husband and triplets. It goes back and forth between each world until she comes to a realization as to which world she actually inhabits. It infiltrated my sleep so it will yours.

Favorite Photo

Anyone who has a relationship with their bed linens can appreciate this photo by Alyssa Monks. Paintings to be exact. The perfect rumple, the creases in fresh linen, silly sheets and a light, fluffy down duvet. zzzzz.

Favorite Look

My style muse Maja Wyh is yet to fail me. Even the most ridiculous looking pieces look perfectly paired on this little sprite. Full fauxs, layers, and a Kate Moss/Jagger edge.

Here are the links to the products/purchases:

Balenciaga

Oribe‘

Jo Malone

Happy Weekend

xo

Purchased: VIB Rouge Pre Access Sale

Somebody call the po-lice because I have been victimized by this here mega retailer. They’re a repeat offender with a track record to rival Bill Cosby’s. I went there. They’re that twisted. The fact that I allow myself time and time again to experience such lascivious turmoil doesn’t say a whole lot about my character either so. No relationship is perfect right?

Anyways, the VIB Rouge and VIB annual holiday shopping event has arrived in a flurry of overly made up artiste faces and a cloud of Bobbi Brown’s beach scent. Both of which I am highly titillated by. The VIB Rouge sale was from the 5th to the 9th and VIB members have access from the 13th to the 16th. Here’s hoping there are some remnants left over for y’all.

Here are the items I scored but didn’t need. HAHAHAHA. Just kidding. I need everything.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette

Ugh. Why. So much unnecessary goodness Jaclyn Hill? You already had us like crack addicts with your Becca highlighter – now there’s 3?! You bitch. You beautiful talented money making bitch. Take all my pennies. Take them all. This little palette contains three highlighters – Pearl (a pale shimmering white), Champagne Pop (soft white gold with pink undertones) and Blushed Copper (warm copper with rose gold shimmer). I love the colour range here – a bright highlight, a shimmery natural highlight and a darker tone to really add some depth to your usual blush application. Each shade is limited edition and exclusive to Sephora – more importantly they’re inspired by the holiday season so unless you’re one of those types offended by snowflakes and christmas trees, and the christmas season or just the word season or just every letter in the word season – how can you not?

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer 

This is my new favorite concealer. I’m a fan and avid user of NARS creamy concealer, Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able full coverage concealer, and the tried and true MAC Studio Fix – but this? This is Lindsay Lohan in mean girls. She comes in awkward, runs shit, and then emerges as an accepted, respected leader. The lightweight gel base is what really has me sprung. It’s easy to blend, doesn’t cake (even after an 8 hour day) and is easy to build on. I use it mainly underneath my eyes because that’s the only area I feel needs brightening – and it’s truly effective. No lines, no build up, no heavy feeling. It’s infused with pineapple ceramide which brightens and helps improve the skin texture. Pineapple ceramide – you bad. Also – biggest shade range in a concealer – there’s no way you won’t find something to match your skin color.

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix 

I wish I had started using this product this past summer when my makeup was melting into my collarbone and not have waiting until the crisp autumn months – but clearly I felt I needed more highlighters and nude lipsticks to diffuse into a liquid rather than stay put on my face. Oh well. I spritz my masterpiece once after everything is applied and really – I’m not sure if it does the job because my makeup tends not to budge (professional artiste here) but I do feel like my skin is more refreshed and not screaming for fresh air. It does create a sweat proof, rub proof shield – which I have noticed, as well as keeping your makeup fresh looking for 12 plus hours, all the while increasing hydration, keeping it looking phresh, and silky, and not dry AF. Definitely good to have around if you don’t want to melt into a puddle of $2379489 worth of makeup.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Velvet

This is my third go with Bite Beauty’s lip products and I am not disappointed. The Matte Creme lip crayon and the Luminous Creme lipstick are flawless – so I decided to try this one here. I like to get myself acquainted with all products – unless they’re from a drugstore. (Kidding, kidding, so rude). I totally use Sally Hansen‘s Hard as nails and cotton pads hair products. I digress. This pencil is described as a matte but it has more of a creme’/glossy look to it. I’m not complaining – I’m simply correcting Sephora’s description. Not matte. Has matte qualities, but more a glossier application. Micronized pigments, shit ton of antioxidants, and apparently it contains the amount of resveratrol found in 5 glasses of wine. My advice – try the lipstick, but don’t forgo the wine. That’s just preposterous.  *resveratrol -member of a group of plant compounds called polyphenols. These compounds are thought to have antioxidant properties – AKA Drink lots of wine  – it’s good for fending off heart disease and cancer, it also makes you feel happy.

Diptyque Tam Dao

I haven’t tried this scent until now. One of my recent trips to Nordstrom – my favorite connoisseur of fragrance @ the Bellevue location gifted me with a little eau du toilette. Sandalwood is the most poignant note (I love warm, musky scents) and it’s unisex so you can share. Diptyque is my absolute favorite family of fragrance – so you can’t go wrong with any one of their exotic scents.

Shop the products:

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer 

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix

Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil 

Diptyque Tam Dao 

xo

Purchased & Reviewed: Laura Mercier Matte to Metal Caviar Stick Collection

I haven’t done in a review in a while and there’s no better review than a rave one where I drool onto the keyboard and foam at the mouth.

I picked up these Laura Mercier caviar shadow sticks a month ago and took the obligatory photos for this post specifically. Before these I was proud owner to one single shadow stick (my Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pops have accepted that they’re not the only bad bitches in the room) – obvs 1 is never enough, especially when they’re ideal for quick, effortless makeup application.

Here are all the feels:

Packaging: These minis are not so mini – so you get the most out of your cold hard cash. I love the twist pop shadows because they allow for you to choose just how much you want at a time. Everything else is sleek and minimalist – it’s how Mercier rolls. Oh, and the color swatch at the bottom tip of each stick is nice when you have hoards of makeup to go through and little time.

Formula: Just f*cking amazing. Glide on, creaseless, stay put shadow that’s easy to blend and apply. The colors are earthy neutrals and are include matte and semi metallic finishes.  If you’re looking for something easier than that you’re insufferable and unsatisfied with life whereas I recommend you should be on the receiving end of a reality check.

Price: For this little package – $58 is a steal – especially when each pen will cost you approx. $28 each. Keep in mind these last forever if you don’t go all Jenner/Kardashian on your face.

Verdict: Yes. If you’re a newbie to the brand then this set is made for you – it lets you experience the range of colors offered in the sticks and gives you bragging rights when it comes to having the newest and most noteworthy makeup around town. Is that just a junkie thing? Anyway, awesome for toting around in a makeup bag, really versatile color range for a variety of different looks and it’s cost effective. Go get.

I picked this set up at Nordstrom – currently the only home to it. Don’t blame me for the 1789 other items you end up purchasing from there. That’s the type of behavior I encourage so you’re SOL.

Make the purchase here.

xoxo

Friday Favorites: Weekend Edition

I’ve been good lately but I had to share my weak moments, it’s a step by step process that I don’t see me accomplishing in the near future – but at least I can admit it.

I’ve compiled my favourites from the past few weeks…

Favourite Beauty Purchase

Becca Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Highlighter 

I was finally able to secure this lusted after highlighter. You’d think it was sealed into it’s pan with Channing Tatum’s saliva or something. I mean, I’m not going to act coy – this sh*t seriously lives up to the boy band level hype. Ahhh Jaclyn I’d die for you! OMG Touch my hand! I’m working on a full review in the meantime but I’m sure you’re picking up what I’m putting down. The soft white gold is bright enough to highlight and the pearlized pinkish undertone is flattering for pretty much every skin tone. It’s a limited edition exclusive so it tends to sell out – make sure you secure one before it’s gone again.

Get it here

Favourite Wardrobe Purchase

Nasty Gal Trench 

Behind every selfie is 3570 others that didn’t quite make the cut right? In this case they were all pretty fyne so naturally – this was going to happen. Anyway – showcasing my new Nasty Gal lightweight trench. I was hounding around for one that wasn’t so structured or heavy and I came across this one. I’ve worn it twice in one week and I’m such a jerk I don’t recycle wardrobe items for months. It’s the perfect topper, or 3rd piece, plus it keeps you warm when your skirt is the size of a crop top.

Favourite Treat

Soft Peaks Soft Serve

Weekends are my favorite. This soft serve is the creamiest, most organic, most hipster, most fat free, most sugarless soft serve you  will ever taste. But it’s delicious and doesn’t make you feel like a cow afterwards. If you ever get a chance to try it – do, all jokes aside it’s so yummy and it makes for an Instapic curated to perfection.

Check them out here.

Favourite Scent

Wildfox Fragrance

My absolute favorite brand of comfy, effortless, airy clothing has come out with a fragrance in case you weren’t aware. I lost my shit when I found out it was being conjured. It’s like finding out wine is coming out with a eau de toilette. How can you not? It’s made with equal parts warm summer nights, clean sheets, girlie nights and candlelit rainy days. Honest. There’s a concoction of apricot, absinthe, jasmine, honey, musk, ambrox, incense, white camellia, and honeysuckle dew that transposes onto the skin in the most intoxicating scent. You’ll have to try it for yourself but it’s warm and musky yet fresh at the same time. Perfect for the upcoming Fall/Winter months…

Get it here

Favourite Skin Care Product

Lush’s Cup O Coffee Mask

I like my coffee strong, dark and dirty and I’ve found the equivalent in a face mask. If there’s anything you purchase this month make sure it’s this Lush face/body mask. It’s now a key part of my morning makeup routine because I can’t wake up without it. It’s the caffeine addiction that’s taken hold of me in the form of a beauty product. I can’t. It’s akin to slapping a cup of cold coffee onto your face – invigorating, freshening, cleansing – but instead of leaving behind a sense of shock and confusion, it leaves soft skin free of dryness and sleep deprivation. I honestly don’t want to start my day without it – colour me a victim but I feel like I can decrease my morning coffee intake from 7303 to 2 cups nowadays.

Get it here

Favourite Photo

The cusp of Autumn 

Took this on a recent girls night at dusk and the arrangement of fallen leaves was too good an Instapic to pass up. Fall and Winter are my favorite times of year – the basics go nuts for pumpkin, the air is crisp, the decor is rustic and cozy and Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are ready to suit up and assault your senses. Can’t wait.

Favourite Decorative Piece

Mirrored Side Table

I have a penchant for acquiring a ton of furniture that I don’t really need but seem to think I can’t live without. This mirrored side table is a prime example. I thought $180 was obscene but I just couldn’t leave it behind – it adds so much to this corner of my bedroom that I felt needed something to fill it. It’s the piece de resistance for the area and I love it. I lengthened it by adding a taller vase and a pedestal for my endless Diptyque candles. The mirror behind it was purchased during the same trip and I love the contrast between the darker frame and mirrored dresser. Pleased. I got them both from Homesense – treasure trove for gems like these – it’d hard not to lose your sh*t in that place – I bring home pretty much everything but the employees.

Happy Weekend

xo