The Macy’s 10 Days of Glam continues today with the MAC Hyper Real Glow Highlighting Palette in Shimmy Peach on sale for $19.75.
MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette in Shimmy Peach (Swatches)
Author: Nikki
Trying to focus on what I can and will do, instead of what I can't and won't do.
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick (Golden Honey and Golden Swatches)
The Macy’s 10 Days of Glam continues today with the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick on sale for $23.50. This foundation has a beautiful natural satin finish on my dry skin type. I do use heavy oil-based moisturizers, so that may make a difference. It has medium coverage that I’d say is slightly buildable to full. I do have some hyper-pigmentation and acne scars that it doesn’t completely cover. I don’t have an issue with that, but I wanted to mention it since the brand claims it has medium to full coverage.
Lancome Eyeshadow Singles (Gold Lame and Canyon Swatches)
Lancome is a brand that always manages to draw me in. The packaging on some of the products can feel cheap for the price point, but the quality of the products themselves are always top-notch.
Despite being excellent quality, I don’t hear much about these eyeshadows. They are easy to use, they blend well, and no excess powder kicks up when using them. I have never noticed any issues with fallout. They are easy to sheer out if you like a light wash of color or build up if you need or want color intensity. The most comparable formula I can think of is the bareMinerals Gen Nude Eyeshadow formula. They are not hard to pick up on a brush, but they are not dry shadows.
Continue reading “Lancome Eyeshadow Singles (Gold Lame and Canyon Swatches)”The Wanderlust List #1 (Natasha Denona Bronze Palette)
Wanderlust is a universal feeling that is a longing for something. We see new products that we like the look or concept of, but we know they aren’t for us, and still, we consider them anyway. Sometimes we go so far as to buy them, despite having something similar or knowing we won’t use them.
The wanderlust list is my way of enjoying and using items I already own. I hope to encourage myself and others to use some of the products we have rather than being so quick to buy something new. Opting out of new releases can be challenging for a blogger. I mentioned previously that the analytics tell me new releases are what people want. I could continue to cater to that crowd, but I’m personally burned out from new purchases and want to get back to using my favorites.
Disclaimer: As a beauty blogger, I have more makeup than a “regular” consumer. That does mean that I have more options to choose from when I’m opting out of a new purchase, but hopefully, the thought process can still help.
Continue reading “The Wanderlust List #1 (Natasha Denona Bronze Palette)”Mac Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette in Medium-Dark/Dark Swatches (+ Why Isn’t There More Variety in What Products Are Reviewed?)
In a time when inclusivity in the beauty industry is front and center, I am often surprised that some products that have been on the market for years never make it into the conversation. The analytics prove time and time again that new releases are going to get the most attention. I think it would serve everyone better if we also took some time to shine some light on previously released products.
Trust me, I understand feeling left out of what everyone is talking about, but we also need to learn to do what is best for us regardless of the hype. We can not change who we are or how we look to suit a new release, but we can seek out products that already meet our needs. That is what I mean by variety, moving toward a time when you can visit different blogs or YouTube videos and see various featured products.
There used to be a time in the “beauty community” of blogs and YouTube when everyone discussing the same products was the exception, not the rule. Regularly seeing a better variety of products helped people discover new items. This variety also offers a view of different product uses since needs and preferences vary. Of course, you can still find out about new products and techniques. My point is that if a product is not part of a PR blitz, you will be hard-pressed to find information about it.
Continue reading “Mac Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette in Medium-Dark/Dark Swatches (+ Why Isn’t There More Variety in What Products Are Reviewed?)”Setting Powders That Work for My Dry Skin
Setting powders can be tricky for those of us with dry skin. Here are three powders that set my foundation for longevity without accentuating dryness or creating dryness where there was none.
Please check out my 2025 Version of Setting Powders For Dry Skin by clicking here.
DISCONTINUED– Best for Luminosity: Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder
(shades 4 and 5)
I like to pair the Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder with one of my favorite foundations, the Clinique Beyond Perfecting 2-in-1 Foundation. Because the Clinique foundation has a satin finish that feels tacky on the skin, I like to set it without taking away the satin finish. So by using this as a setting powder, I get the longevity and dried down feeling, but the glow of the powder keeps my skin from looking dry or looking matte.
This powder is designed to catch the light, so keep that in mind when you are considering the shades. Shade 4 is the best shade for my skin tone (Estee Lauder 4W4/5W1, MAC C8, NARS Tahoe) and shade 5 is a little dark for me. I mainly use shade 5 when I have a foundation that is a little too light for me. I do know that shade 5 works for people who can wear NARS Macao, MAC NW43, MAC NC47, Lancome 460, Fenty 385, and Fenty 390. This isn’t to say it won’t work for any other deeper or lighter skin tones, this will just hopefully give a reference point.
Overall, this is my preferred setting powder but it can also be used as a finishing powder. If a foundation accentuates my texture, I find that layering this powder on top improves the way it looks. Laura Mercier claims that this powder has a “diffused, soft-focus finish” and I guess that is the benefit that helps with the look of texture.
The Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder retails for $39.00 on the Laura Mercier website.
Update, January 21, 2022: Unfortunately, it seems that the brand has discontinued shades 2, 4, and 6 in this line. Shade 5 is still carried and is in stock. While shades 1 and 3 are currently out of stock they will be restocked at some point. When I contacted the brand in November 2021, they confirmed that shade 4 has been discontinued. So that leads me to believe at least for the time being that the whole line has not been discontinued.
Continue reading “Setting Powders That Work for My Dry Skin”MAC Studio Fix Foundation Swatches (liquid and powder)
Right now at MAC, you can purchase either the Studio Fix Fluid or Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation for $25 until 3:00 am EST on 9/21/2020. Studio Fix Fluid comes in 63 shades and Studio Fix Powder comes in 53 shades, making it one of the best shade ranges on the market. I wanted to share some swatches for anyone who might want to take advantage of this deal.
Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, $35
UPDATE JUNE 12, 2024: This information is based on a discontinued formula. MAC released a reformulated version of Studio Fix Fluid in 2024. If you are looking for reviews, you can spot the difference because the new formula now comes with a pump built into the packaging.
I’m sure I’m one of the last makeup-wearing people to try the iconic MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation. I always avoided trying it out because of the SPF 15 and the promise of a matte finish. My curiosity finally got the best of me, and surprisingly I ended up liking it. C8 is a better color match for me (click this link to see it applied), NC45 is too red-orange when applied all over my face (click this link to see it applied). For reference, other good shade matches for me are Estee Lauder Double Wear shade 4W4 Hazel (click this link to see it applied) and NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation shade Tahoe.
Continue reading “MAC Studio Fix Foundation Swatches (liquid and powder)”Juvia’s Place The Warrior 2 Palette Swatches (40% off sale)
Is there anyone out there who hasn’t tried Juvia’s Place yet? Well, now is the time to check the brand out. Juvia’s Place is currently having a 40% off summer sale (use code SUMMERSALE at checkout). There are some exclusions, like the new lip products.
Continue reading “Juvia’s Place The Warrior 2 Palette Swatches (40% off sale)”
Nikki From HR 