A few weeks ago the folks at POP Beauty sent me a few items for review and I decided to dive in first with the Face Magnet Primer. I’ve talked about primer a lot on this blog and I think it is the most essential item in your beauty bag. Because I think so highly of primer I was excited to try a new one, I only knew POP Beauty from their fantastic nail polish so I didn’t realize the line really extended as far as it does.

The primer retails for $26 and you get a very decent sized tube for that price. It claims that it will, “firm, de-puff, and brighten skin while also creating an anti-shine velvety finish.” So I decided I’d put it to the test during DC’s hot and humid week.

I worry about some primers since I’m brown and that they’ll create an ashy look to my skin. The primer is the consistency of a light lotion and smooths onto the skin easily and absorbed in nicely so that I didn’t have that blue tint like I slathered on sunscreen. I don’t tend to be puffy but I did feel like there was a firmness to my skin once I applied it and let it settle in before applying my foundation. My foundation did stay on all day and wore beautifully. I felt like my face had a nice canvas to apply my makeup too and I’d definitely purchase this primer next time I’m in Ulta or even on their website.

I’d definitely give this primer  high marks and suggest you try it if you’re in the market for a primer. Seriously, primer is the best thing you can do for your skin next to sunscreen.

So do you use primer in your daily beauty routine? Have you tried any other POP Beauty products?

I’m back with another blush for the Blushing Series because blush really can make or break a makeup look. For today’s Blushing post, I’m trying something that I’ve been interested and skeptical about but had yet to try, so when the folks behind Per-fekt Beauty asked if I wanted to test their Cheek Perfection Gel for the series I said sure.

So first, what is Cheek Perfection Gel? It’s an alternative to powder or cream blush in that it’s a gel with Smart Color Technology™ that assures a “perfect color match for every skin tone.” When something gives you a promise like that I’m always curious. I’ve tried mood lipstick before but blush that will adapt to my skin tone? Hmm…I have to see it to believe it.

It dispenses pretty cleanly in a very small bead of a light weight gel that is very bright in color. So at first I thought…whoa this is about to be a lot of color. But when applied, it melted into my skin and created this very natural and lovely flushed look to my cheeks. I was surprised. I also applied multiple layers when testing it different times to see how well the color would build up. If you want a really strong color, just add another layer to get the look you want. I also liked that it didn’t stain my fingers, you could wash the color off or just wipe you fingers with a tissue and the red was gone. I had intentions to test Cheek Perfection Gel out on multiple skin tones but that didn’t happen, I just didn’t have the time.

It’s a soft warm pink tone on my skin that has a very subtle sheen to it that really seems to highlight my cheeks. This is like nothing else I’ve ever owned in all the blushes I’ve had in my blush drawer. Cheek Perfection Gel retails for $28, which is on the higher end of the blush spectrum, but I think if you’re unsure about blush or how much is too much this might be a great way to dip your toe into the blush tool. The fact that it adjusts the color to the person makes it almost fool proof and despite the bright red color of the gel, it really is a wearable and natural looking color. It also comes in bronze, which I’d be curious about how that looks on brown skin as well and how that would look for summer. I would definitely recommend this kind of blush to a blush newbie or a pro who is looking for something new and innovative.

Have you tried any other Per-Fekt Beauty products? Let me know what you think.

I need to start a new feature about blush because 1. I think blush should be a staple in EVERY woman’s beauty routine 2. it instantly brightens up your face. It’s a brilliant product.

So brilliant that I currently have about 30 different blushes in my beauty drawers. I actually have a drawer just for blush and bronzer. True story. I even convinced my Mom to go for bronzer and a brighter blush last month while we were at the beauty counter together. Blush really is wonderful and transformative to me, so I thought I should start sharing my blush picks because so many people neglect their cheeks!

Up first, Physicians Formula Happy Booster. I was intrigued because of Twitter and all the tweets from my fellow beauty addicts who were at the Physicians Formula beauty preview. I’ve also seen it in every magazine I’ve opened for spring. And then I read this on their website:

Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.

Hmm…intriguing. Plus the violet scent, the iridescent swirls to highlight cheeks and the hearts on the blush (adorable) – I’ll buy it. I picked it up yesterday from my CVS and it had a $3 coupon on the package AND I got $7 in CVS extra care bucks just for buying $10 worth of Physicians Formula products, I practically got it for free!

And this is me with it on this morning. Slightly flushed pink, just enough color to make me happy. Not too harsh or ashy either with the pearly shimmer to it. The violet scent was subtle and not too overwhelming, so this is definitely a spring blush for me (the browner I get the brighter the color I go). If you’re looking for something new or you’re delving into blush for the first time, I’d suggest trying this one.

I’ve definitely got a few blushes stacked in my drawer for review, so definitely see more coming. And let me know if there’s a blush that you’ve heard/seen and want to know if I’ve tried it too.

Before I left for my vacation, I got a package in the mail from the folks at Pixi Beauty. You probably know Pixi Beauty because their products are sold at Target in the cute green packaging with flowers all over. I’ve walked by their items as I’ve browsed the beauty isles but never picked anything up, sometimes I just don’t even know where to begin with a brand that is new to me.

Well the kind folks at Pixi sent over the Endless Silky Eye Pen in black blue, the Succulent Lip Twin in red poppy and the very beautifully packaged Lumi Lux Radiance Powder. Over the last few weeks I’ve had the chance to test out all three, and I have to say I’m pretty impressed.

My favorite in the bunch?

The Lip Twin! It’s a 2 part product, a gorgeous lip and cheek stain is the little ball on the top and in the tube is a great non-sticky tinted balm. The stain is absolute perfect. Truly. It is a soft balm that places the most gorgeous flush of color on your lips without drying them out. And the balm in the tube adds a bit more gloss to it but really, you can choose either or, or combine them both.

LOVE IT!

The Silky Eye Pen lives up to it’s name and is a great silky eye liner that doesn’t drag across the lid, glides smoothly over your waterline and didn’t smudge or fade. I loved the black and blue, it had such a great deep pigment to it and wasn’t as harsh as deep black liner. I wore it almost daily while in San Francisco. Once I put it on, I couldn’t stop pulling it out of my beauty bag. I also thought the black blue against my brown eyes really made them POP!

And last but not least, the Lumi Lux Radiance Powder is a treat to add to your makeup kit. I thought it added a soft glow to my skin and I used it as a highlighter on my cheeks and brow bone.

Now that I’ve tested out a few of their products, I find myself browsing their website thinking about what I need to purchase! Their primers and eye brighteners are calling my name…as well as a few more eyeliners. You can definitely follow Pixi Beauty on Twitter and check out their website for more information on products.

Have any of you guys picked up any Pixi products?

I’ve got a few Bare Escentuals goodies to talk about today, YAY!

I was originally taking this picture with my Lip Service feature in mind but my eyes are really the stand out here. Which is a good thing because I’ve been meaning to talk to you about a few Bare Escentuals products I’ve had for a while and I used all of them when I did my makeup for this photo (I’m also working on lighting and portrait photographs and this is part of a self-portrait series I’m working on for myself). I waited to talk about these products until they were available or about to be available in stores because who wants to hear about something great that they can’t buy? Not I!

First let’s talk about primers. I’m wearing Bare Escentuals Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer and I have on Bare Escentuals Brightening Prime Time Eyelid Primer on my lids. I’ve been obsessed with primers for the last year or so and truly believe that if you want your makeup to look fresh and stay fresh all day, you have to start with a great primer. Bare Escentuals Brightening Foundation Primer glides on smoothly and gives my skin a light glow before I even put on my foundation. It’s a definite must if you really like that dewy look to your makeup, it’s not going to leave you matte but it will give you a soft light to your skin.

The Brightening Prime Time Eyelid Primer is now at the top of my list for eyelid primers. Why? Because you could really wear it alone and still have soft gorgeously glowing lids AND because it lasts all day long. Seriously. This primer will add a sheen to any shadow you put on top of it that is so beautiful when you apply it straight from the tube you might not even want to wear eyeshadow! I also feel like once you put this primer on, your eye makeup is not going to budge. I wore it with Bare Escentuals loose shadows and every other brand I have in my makeup drawers (and I’ve got a lot) and it had my eye makeup looking fresh from sun up to sun down.

Here’s what the eyelid primer (left) and the foundation primer (right) look like on my skin. I put a heavier portion on my hand just so you could really get a sense of how shimmery they are on the skin without any makeup or eye makeup applied.

The soft glow of the eyelid primer really is a great base or just beautiful on its own. LOVE IT!

Now the second product I want to talk about is a Sephora Exclusive, the Buxom Waterproof  Smoky Eye Sticks. When I got these in the mail it was just after I had a conversation with a girlfriend about how we love a smoky eye but sometimes that black shadow gets everywhere and you spend more time cleaning up the smoky aftermath than you do applying it to your face!
There have been other smoky eye “sticks” that I’ve tried and hated in the past but seriously, this is everything you need. This neat little stick can line your eyes, act as an all over shadow or become the smoky layer in your beauty routine. There’s also a neat little blending brush that is perfect to blend the color into your crease or help to blend the color across the lid. I’ve been hooked on this product for the  last month creating different looks in every color they have and for the picture above I used Bow & Arrow, a gorgeous mossy green over Envy glimmer.
This stick is a beauty powerhouse and if you’re ready to take your eye makeup to the next level, I think you need this in your makeup arsenal. Seriously. Oh and did I mention it really, really lasts?

It’s not a secret that I love Bare Escentuals and their Buxom line but with products that are this fantastic, would you really blame me?

So have any of you seen these products yet? Who is going to give them a try?!