40% Off Smashbox Cali Contour Palette (Product Update and Smashbox Bestsellers Sale)

The Smashbox website is currently having a sale for UP TO 50% off Bestsellers and the Cali Contour Palette is one of the featured items. I reviewed this palette back in May of 2021 and while I still think that it would be best for normal, combination, and oily skin types, I figured that this was an excellent occasion to share how I get it to work for my dry skin. I can use the top right and top left shade on my dry skin throughout the year without any issues. However, the yellow setting powder, two highlighters, and the bottom right bronzer shade are the ones that give some trouble.

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Offer valid until 8/23/2022 at 11:59pm ET at smashbox.com while supplies last. No code needed.**

It’s really not difficult to work with if you have dry skin, it is just that, in my opinion, these powders need to absorb some moisture to look their best. I find that when worn over dewy foundations (the more moisture the better), they melt into the skin and do not appear dry. When I wear some of the powders in this palette with my top foundations (Estee Lauder Double Wear, NARS Natural Radiant Longwear) they can look dry and powdery. However, over dewy bases like the Smashbox Halo Tinted Moisturizer and the Urban Decay Hydromaniac, they melt into my skin nicely with no dryness.

Smashbox Cali Contour Medium-Dark (Deep) Palette swatches Medium dark skin
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Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Make Me Blush (Swatch)

If you’re you not new here, you have probably already seen my review of the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks from April 2021. Although I didn’t review them until last year, this formula has been one of my favorites since about 2012 and I continue to sing its praises. In that post, I swatched the shades Rum Raisin, Raisin Rage, and Desert Escape (click here to see that post). I have now posted 202 blog posts on this website and to this day, that Revlon Lipstick review is still my most viewed blog post. Since there is still clearly interest in these lipsticks and I couldn’t find anyone else with this shade (Make Me Blush), I figured it was a great occasion to share it with you.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Make Me Blush 763 Swatch

If you aren’t familiar with the Revlon Super Lustrous line, it is a traditional cream lipstick. They are comfortable, provide decent pigmentation, don’t accentuate lip lines, and are fragrance-free.

Continue reading “Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Make Me Blush (Swatch)”

Bobbi Brown Chocolate Lip Liner and Rose Lipstick (Swatches and Review)

While I’m still disappointed that Bobbi Brown, the actual makeup artist, is no longer affiliated with the brand, I’m happy to say that I haven’t experienced any quality changes with the products. I have a decent amount of Bobbi Brown content, so I’ll be brief and just shout out a few of the products from the brand that I’ve been using lately.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Peach, Lip Liner in Chocolate, and Lipstick in Rose Swatches
Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Peach, Lip Liner in Chocolate, and Lipstick in Rose

If you are interested in knowing more or seeing past posts on the brand you can check out these links:

Continue reading “Bobbi Brown Chocolate Lip Liner and Rose Lipstick (Swatches and Review)”

Makeup Fails and Just OKs (NARS, bareMinerals, Armani, Urban Decay, and Covergirl)

NARS Copper Mini Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette, bareMinerals Bare Pro 16HR Powder Foundation in Medium 35 Warm, Armani Lip Power Long Lasting Satin Lipstick in 400, Urban Decay Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator in 60 Medium Dark, and Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Red Maple Bloom Swatches

Sometimes products just don’t work out and it can be important to share those items even if I don’t want to do a dedicated review for them. These are just some quick thoughts on these products since I won’t be continuing to test them out for more in-depth reviews. Today I’m talking about the NARS Copper Mini Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette, the bareMinerals Bare Pro 16HR Powder Foundation in Medium 35 Warm, the Armani Lip Power Long Lasting Satin Lipstick in 400, the Urban Decay Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator in 60 Medium Dark, and the Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Red Maple Bloom (limited edition shade, but permanent formula).

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Makeup I’ve Been Using Lately (Shop My Stash)

Sephora Microsmooth Captivate Face Palette, Pat McGrath x Bridgerton Belle of the Ball Eyeshadow Palette, Colour Pop 100 Aker Wood, Colour Pop Parasol, and Coloured Raine Cinna-Bae Bronzer Swatches
Sephora Microsmooth Captivate Face Palette, Pat McGrath x Bridgerton Belle of the Ball Eyeshadow Palette, Colour Pop 100 Aker Wood, Colour Pop Parasol, and Coloured Raine Cinna-Bae Bronzer

It’s been hard to figure out what to write about lately. When I have brand new products to talk about it is easier to feel like people would be interested to hear about them. However, when they are items that people have already moved on from, it can feel like it isn’t worth posting about. Lately, I just find myself hesitating to talk about older releases or even new releases that are no longer being buzzed about. Well, today I have products that I wanted to talk about so I’m going to do it before I talk myself out of it ๐Ÿ˜‚. A few of them are older products but 2 of them are still fairly new.

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MAC x Stranger Things He Likes It Cold Blush (Swatch and Comparisons)

MAC x Stranger Things Blush in He Likes It Cold (LE) Swatch on Medium Dark Skin
MAC x Stranger Things Blush in He Likes It Cold (LE)

The MAC x Stranger Things collection is nearly a month old at this point (I know that’s practically ancient in the makeup world ๐Ÿ˜‚) but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to share the blush that I bought. I’m very happy to see MAC release a deeper blush option in a limited edition collection. Hopefully, sharing the He Likes It Cold blush swatch with comparisons to Flirting with Danger and Frankly Scarlet will help those with darker skin tones who may have been hesitant to try it out.

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