Contour-tastic!

Since I'm a little on the thicker side, only makes sense I'd want to make my face look a little thinner, so I've totally gotten on this contour train.

Left: no foundation! no contour! Right: Eve Lom foundation, contour using UD Naked Skin concealer and Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette. Same Lighting, Same day, just before face makeup and after.

I figured I'd go over a few palettes I've tried as well as go into other options I've used.

I typically use a variety of things, starting with a primer (i use several different ones), followed by foundation base (either Eve Lom or Lancome Ultra Teint which i review in another post), then 2 shades lighter UD Naked Skin Weightless Concealer as a base highlight, my contour color Lancome stick, then the Shade and Light palette, followed by a couple different UD Afterglow Blushes (darker/lighter to build depth), the finish with a translucent light diffusing powder. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour (Light):

After hearing so many good things about Anastasia contour palettes, I gave this one a go cuz it has so many good attributes. The colors are customized to fair skin, each color can be replaced when out, and cream is great for beauty blender use (my bff). This however fell short of my hopes as after putting on my foundation and everything, not using foundation, using foundations and concealers, nothing could get these colors to show up on my skin. I might as well have not bothered putting it on. Also I truly couldn't tell the difference between any of the contour colors themselves, along with the fact that when scraping the surface, they turned out to be much darker colors than they appeared. Although that didn't make them show up any better. It was just hard to figure out what I was getting here.

Kat Von D's Shade and Light powder palette:

This is totally worth some hype. I will say this is definitely buildable color though, so it's not a dramatic difference with one sweep, but it does look super seamless over liquid foundation. I really love this, the colors work super well for my skin tone and the ability to build is really great to avoid super dark or light areas. It looks so much better than the Anastasia cream palette, and it lasts over the day better as well. I am so happy i traded in my cream palette for this.

Since I've discussed primers, foundation, and blushes in other posts, I'm gonna skip on to concealer. I've used a few over the years, but nothing is really worth mentioning except the UD Naked Skin Weightless Coverage Concealer. It's liquid as opposed to a stick, and I am in love. It blends so well!! I use this for my cream highlight before putting the powder on, and it really brightens things up without looking out of place. I personally don't use the darker colors for my contour as I prefer other options, but I do love the texture and blendability of these. Seriously though, make sure you're going two shades off your color, as most brands alternate warm and cool undertones. So if you're warm, stick with warm contour and highlights, same for if you're cool (or neutral). 

Dat Contour Tho

Lancôme foundation, Kat Von D palette, Matt Blackmail lipstick from UD layered over Blackmail liner, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer and Brow Dip in Graphite and Ash Brown respectively, UD 24/7 Concealer Stick to help define brow edges, Afterglow Blushes in Video, Rapture, and Fetish, Benefit High Brow, Melt Cosmetics Love Sick Eyeshadow stack, MUG eyeshadows in Creme Brûlée and Bitten, UD Super Saturated Cream Eyeliner, and Lancôme Grandiose mascara over UD Subversion Lash Primer. Whew!

Whole look inspired by an Ahitsrosa tutorial here. 

E V E L O M & other fun things

So I've been eyeing this brand for a bit after I tried out a sample and totally needed it in my life, so I finally bit the bullet and bought some of this cream cleanser I've heard so many good things about from Eve Lom. First off, this shit is expensive. Like, it's a cleanser and sizes range from $50-135, but it's also been the number one selling cleanser in the UK for the past 17 years straight. So ok, I'll give it a shot... And look at all the swag I got with it! I also joined the Space.NK shindig at bloomies for all the rewards, cuz i'm obviously a sucker who is easily duped by shiny things and rewards.

So many freaking samples!!! (One of those is even a foundation, which I'll talk about in another post cuz I've been going foundation crazy lately)

So first things first, I'm going to start with the eye cream that I got as a sample. I normally use Lancôme Absolue Eye Premium cream every night before bed (not the actual night cream, just regular type) and it's pretty magnificent. No complaints and my eyes have been better for it. So comparing this to that is a no brainier, cuz unfortunately this Eve Lom stuff burned the shit out of my eyes. Like firey beacons of pain that won't stop watering holy shit it is hellfire. So no. This is so a no for me. I know this brand is esthetician tested for sensitive skin and the cleanser totally didn't do this, but damn. The eye cream is Not my jam. 

This cleanser is where it's at though. Like holy crap dude, my skin felt like angels. The heavens opened up and there was a choir of songs kind of soft. I woke up, and it wasn't greasy, just moisturized, amazing skin. I had to remind myself constantly not to touch it, cuz that's all I wanted to do. It's kind of interesting stuff, cuz you rub it into your skin really well, get it all melty, then slowly work it into the eyes, getting all the makeup. My eyes didn't burn even a little. It was heaven. Then you take your Muslin cloth with warm water and pat your face, letting it steam up a little, repeat that three times, then wipe off all the cleanser and makeup, finishing by wiping with cold water to close your nice clean pores. 

So far so good, I'll keep posted on it cuz my skin is so sensitive, I could see this as being an overstimulant and my face breaking out as a result. But it's already decently broken out cuz stress. So we shall see!

Next up- moisturizer! The Radiance Lift Cream is reallyreally nice man. So I always moisturized after a shower to restore pH balance as if I don't, my skin over-compensates and produces WAY too much oil. I typically use Benefits moisturizer, and it really is wonderful...but this might actually be better. It smells like rose oil, absorbs into the skin almost instantly, and isn't oily At All. Ugh, my skin feels So Good. I can't even get over it. It's like how good my skin feels after the cleanser (which I just use at night to take off makeup, it's not my shower face cleanser. So complicated) and I might wind up buying this shit too. My skin just feels so ridiculously hydrated. It's unbelievable. 

There's even Sunscreen! Now, I am really into sunscreen, especially for my face cuz I am pale as death. Buuuut this made me break out! No idea why, it's supposed to be non-comedogenic, but I was not totally broken out before I put on the sunscreen, didn't wear anything else on my face, and by the end of the day and the next day I was totally pimply like All Over. I don't even understand. But will not be doing that again cuz now I have to like hardcore cold turkey detox on my skin before I can go back to the regular regimen. So bummed, cuz the texture is so nice and absorbs so well, totally not greasy at all. if it doesn't break you out, get on this shiz.

And finally, the moisture mask. So this is pretty intense. I waited to use it til after a shower and my skin had been dry for a bit, so this was also post-using the Cure cleaner (discussed in my past skincare post) which runs off all the dead skin. So my face really could use a serious drink of water. 

That being said, it's pretty interesting and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. It comes out in a viscous cloudy gel, and you smear it on pretty thick. It's not really a run in kind of material. So my skin was pretty sticky. You're supposed to leave it on 10-15 mins and then wipe off excess, so after doing that my face still felt a little tacky. But after waking up in the morning, I haven't broken out, my skin is soft, and it doesn't feel oily. So overall, this might actually be a pretty solid product when Serious moisturizing is needed, especially cuz my skin started to get a bit greasy around 4pm. Otherwise I'm still all about that other Eve Lom moisturizer.

I'd also love to try the blemish cream, but that'll be another day.

My first group of other brand samples is something called Goldfaden MD. 

Energizing Eye Cream:

So this doesn't burn or anything, but I feel like it didn't do anything either and definitely didn't absorb into the skin. If I'm supposed to put this on in the morning I don't really understand how I'm also supposed to wear eyeshadow. It's got a texture that's super watery so a teeny bit goes a super long way, but I'm also not seeing the point to it. The most painful part of this for me, if I don't mind spending money on skin care, but it's gotta wow me, and this really didn't :(

Night cream:

This absorbs really quickly and goes on super smoothly, also doesn't irritate, but I did wake up with like way more crusties in my eyes than normal. So this is fine and all, but I still don't feel like it trumps my Lancôme Absolue. Another painfully expensive one i just wish would do a lot for me.

On to a new brand R+Co! Oh hai color shampoo and conditioner. Go to the link and look at that packaging! It's so pretty 😍😍😍 (I might buy it on packaging alone)

This stuff smells delicious. I love it. I don't feel like it stripped my color, and I feel like the conditioner was nice and thick, but I think I'd be ok with just the shampoo, as I prefer Overtone12 color conditioners. But this wouldn't be bad to do occasionally. And the shampoo even helped my hair be super duper soft (i tried my nomal conditioner with another shampoo and then with this one and there was clearly a winner in the softness category).

Something else I tried was their Death Valley Dry Shampoo, which while successful, still didn't blow me away. It is however a nice substitute until i get the real dry shampoo mate to my heart, Kevin Murphy, shipped to me. Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair dry shampoo is everything. It smells like heaven, coats my hair evenly so i don't need to spray a ton on, doesn't build up so i can really go a while in between washings, and you can even get every little bit out of it–you're not left shaking the bottle and feeling product that won't spray out. It. Is. Everything.

ok last brand of samples– Miriam Quevedo:

I only used a couple things here, but first up Caviar Intense Anti-Aging Luxe Masque! I definitely enjoyed this. it gave me a nice boost of moisture without having to use my Olaplex treatment, and it's not greasy! which i feel like is the hardest thing for me to find. I really want to use this all the time. It just feels like it's giving my hair a happy little hug of softness.

Other thing i tried, the Platinum & Diamonds Luxurious Serum:
uggghhhhhh why do i like this so much. my hair felt like magic. almost as soft as coming straight from the salon WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU'RE NOT AN ACTUAL HAIRSTYLIST. omg omg. i know it's pricey ($65) and i just bought a car, but i might have to figure out a way to swing it. my over-treated, heat-damaged, fine, crazy, curly, hair thanks me for this magic.

So moral of the story, go to your local bloomies, find a Space.NK boutique portion of the beauty department, join, and get allll the samples and try ALL the things. you never know, you might find your unicorn of skin care.

It's a foundation party!!

Since I've been getting all the Sephora stuff lately (thank you ebates) and I totally take advantage of all the samples, I've been trying a ridiculous amount of new foundations lately! As this isn't something I normally wear, it's been a work in progress, but I have definitely found some winners.

I typically prefer something really lightweight with a little sun protection, honestly a tinted moisturizer with SPF is about right, but all I'm looking for is evening out my skin tone, and my primers tend to take care of my gigantic pores. 

But first things first, here's what I've tried so far!

Kat Von D's Lock It Liquid foundation:

As much as it looks fab on others and the rave reviews it gets, I'm not a fan. It's definitely a Full Coverage type, and on me it looked super cakey- not a look I'm going for. But it matched super well, which I have a real hard time finding. 

Urban Decay Naked Liquid Foundation:

This has been my go-to for a handful of years now, but I don't love it. It's not a great match even though it's the closest to my actual skin tone. I do however really like how well it blends into the skin, almost looks airbrushed. It's a little heavier than I personally prefer as well, but it Is a great lightweight foundation for medium coverage and it looks so good on so many people. 

Tarte BB Cream:

This I am So not a fan of. My mom tried it, I tried it, I will never go near it again. It's everything wrong with BB creams. Way too thick, like I'm spreading crisco on my face, it's too dark, cakey is an understatement, it shows Every pore in my face and accentuated every blemish. I just can't with this stuff. I truly don't know how people enjoy it. Just my two cents. 

Lancôme teint idole longwear stick foundation:

This is heaven. Definitely my new obsession with nuisance coverage, it can be totally sheer and just even things out or cover what you don't like. It's seriously amazing, and so So light. It's like a mousse that is so soft it almost doesn't exist. It became one with my skin instantly. I bought two- one for my skin tone and one contouring color. I have no regrets. It's everything I've been looking for. The heavens opened and angels sung. This is The One. 

La Roche Posay BB Blur:

I love this skincare brand, I could write sonnets to it. But I do not love this product. The color didn't match well and it looked cakey despite the light mousse texture. I have it to someone who did however enjoy it, who felt it was a nice summer coverage option when they use a more full coverage product in general. 

La Roche Posay Anthelios Tinted sunscreen:

No. Too heavy and dark, it was again a BB cream type heavy thick product that didn't have any of the things I love about this brand. Also gave to someone who appreciates full coverage products. It also totally smelled like sunscreen, which I never enjoy in products. 

Eve Lom foundation:

So... I actually love this. Definitely for special occasion my-skin-needs-to-be-flawless type things, not every day. It's fuller coverage than I'm used to, but it's so Smooth! You barely have to use any to look amazeballs. It blended so well too! Like omg I don't even understand. It's Great. Ugghhh now I have to buy more foundation. Cuz I think I need this in my life. 

Armani Maestro Foundation:

This is a really nice foundation. It really is. It's not a Perfect match for my skin, but it's lightweight, not cakey at all, and blends in So well. My only issue with it is the color and I feel like it emphasized the lines on my forehead a little too much. Like it's almost noticeable that I'm wearing something. But if it matches you, it is Super nice. It's light for a full coverage, and it just sinks into your skin. One more thing I don't love though, is it kind of disappears over the course of the day. Like its there in the morning, and by the time I'm cleaning my fave at night it's gone. So not amazingly long-lasting.

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation:
This is pretty interesting in that it's definitely the lightest foundation i've experienced– it kind of almost has a watery consistency. It goes on super sheer, so it can definitely be built upon, my qualm with it is that it didn't seem to do much with one go. I would have to actually build it in order for it to even things out, and then it does have color, but i would compare it more to like the 'multiply' setting in photoshop- the areas that are darker show up, but anything lighter than it's going on doesn't show. This in theory might be nice, but the color would have to be an exact match. i don't know, it didn't work for me. In a comparison of light foundations, Eve Lom wins.

Cover | FX Custom Cover drops:

This is something I was super looking forward to trying since it's a buildable coverage that you can blend into anything without changing the texture. But i haven't found a shade that works for my skin tone! so i feel like i can't really speak to their efficacy yet.

Dr. Jart + Premium BB Cream:
Of all the BB Creams I've tried, i think this is the only one I can really get behind. I love the high SPF, it's surprisingly lightweight for a BB cream, and it really does even things out nicely. The nay drawback is how there are only 2 shades, so it isn't a perfect match for skin tone. I also think as far as a real foundation goes, I prefer the Eve Lom option, but this sunscreen can't be beat. so i think if you're going to be in the sun, this could be a really solid option; i definitely feel like when getting hot and a little sweaty, the Lancome stick foundation doesn't hold up as well, but it is still fantastic. so it's kind of one of those things where it's once to have an option for every situation.

I didn't want to include pix with these, cuz how it looks on one person isn't how the texture will look on another, so i figure just descriptions of the products themselves along with what i found with each would work best for reviewing.

This is kind of how my collection is looking right about now, but I swear I always need more!