Product Review- e.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzer Duo

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder Review


From the Brand:
Create a healthy and natural glow all year long with the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder. The Blush highlights the cheeks to add a flush of color, while the Bronzer accents and contours cheekbones for beautiful definition. This convenient compact has just what you need to achieve a gorgeous glow anytime, anywhere.

Retails for:  $3.00


Where to Buy:  eyeslipsface.com


My Thoughts:  For only $3, this is a really good buy.  One side is a beautiful bronzer with a very subtle shimmer, and on the other side is a soft peach.  The bronzer is richly pigmented and worth the purchase on its own.  I love it for contouring all fair to medium skin tones.  People with a deeper shade of tan and darker, might not find enough color for them to use as a contouring product.  I don't find it to be orangey at all, which is perfect.  Although, the fact that it does have shimmer in it does eliminate it for my first choice in contouring products.  But during the summer when I don't mind a bit of shimmer, it's a great option to bring on my vacations.

I wish the blush was as pigmented and slightly more flattering on myself.  I'm not as big a fan of the peachy hue.  I personally prefer more pinky tones.  This does have a soft golden shimmer through it that gives a subtle glow to the skin, and those with fair skins should be pretty happy with the overall effect.  People with more tan skin and darker definitely will find it too chalky and light for them.


Final Verdict:  If it's the right shades for your skintone, it's a fantastic way to pare down your makeup bag for travel or touchups!

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  As with all my articles, the opinions expressed herein are fully my own.  For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Review

Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder Review


From the Brand:

What It Is:
Bronzing has never been so delicious. Our chocolate-scented, shimmer-free, matte bronzer is perfect for contouring and creating an all-over deep tan using real antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. It’s all the tan without the twinkle.

More To Love:

• Infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone.
• 100% cruelty-free product.

*Vegan friendly

**Paraben-free 

Retails for:  $30.00

Where to Buy:  TooFaced.com; Sephora.com and stores, Ulta.com and stores


My Thoughts:  If you've seen a single one of my Youtube videos, you're probably already aware that I'm slightly obsessed with this product.  Ok, more than slightly but I'll refrain from making myself sound like a nut job on the internet.  Just watch me sniff it in my videos and you'll see what I'm talking about, because the stuff seriously smells like hot chocolate.  And I have ovaries, therefore I'm a big fan of chocolate.

Besides the smell, it's a really awesome matte bronzer.  I especially love it to contour my face with.  It does come in two shades, the Chocolate Soleil which is the darker of the two and Milk Chocolate Soleil which is the lighter of the two.  I'd use the Milk Chocolate to give a nice bronzed appearance to my skin and then the Chocolate Soleil to go in and contour for more definition to my cheekbones for a naturally sculpted look.  That's if I owned the Milk Chocolate version.  (Christmas is coming... just in case anyone shopping for me happens to be reading this.  Family members- I'm lookin' at you!)  Instead I use my Smashbox Suntan Matte Bronzer, but that's a review for a different time.  Like 30 seconds after you finish this one.  Look, I even provided you with the link! --> http://facesbysam.blogspot.com/2013/08/product-review-smashbox-bronze-lights.html.


Final Verdict:  TooFaced is the king of bronzers, and with one that smells like chocolate, it's a hands down must have my makeup bag every time I apply my "face". 

Product Review- Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings

Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings Review


From the Brand:

Chocolate Soleil Bronzer- 

What It Is:
Bronzing has never been so delicious. Our chocolate-scented, shimmer-free, matte bronzer is perfect for contouring and creating an all-over deep tan using real antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. It’s all the tan without the twinkle.

More To Love:
Infused with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and signature bronzing pigments to create a unique matte bronzer that neutralizes red and evens skin tone.
100% cruelty-free product.


*Vegan friendly
**Paraben-free

Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer-  

What It Is:
Your full coverage insurance policy against all fading, creasing and smudging. Our skin-soothing formula evens out skin tone and smoothes fine lines to create a perfect canvas for shadows. Color is intensified and locked down until you take it off.

More To Love:
Unique Binders: Volatiles lock down eye shadow pigments for amazingly long wear.
Versatility: Use with powder or cream eye shadow products.
Fights Fading: Anti-creasing formula holds eye products in place by securing a barrier between the oils of your skin and your makeup.
Concentrated: The size of a rain drop covers the entire lid.

**Paraben-free

Primed and Poreless Face Primer- 

What It Is:
Our one-of-a-kind makeup primer was scientifically formulated to wear under bronzers and foundation powders or alone to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup. Vitamins A & C, Mulberry Extract and a powerful dose of Retinol virtually banish pores while tired skin is left hydrated, firmer, and detoxified. Primed & Poreless creates the perfect canvas to allow powders, bronzers and foundations to airbrush onto the skin seamlessly and perfectly blended. Skin appears brighter, fresher and younger. Color stays true and in place all day.

More To Love:
Erase Pores and Imperfections: Virtually erases pores, softens lines and perfects your complexion leaving skin ready for bronzer, powder, makeup or nothing at all.
Customized Formula: Provides an airbrushed canvas as it preps skin for bronzers, powder products and liquid foundations. Bronzers glide on without grabbing or looking heavy. Powders float above imperfections. Makeup applies like magic onto skin. Color stays true and in place all day.
Mulberry Extract and Arctostaphylos UVA URSI: Protect, brighten and lighten skin for a renewed freshness and soothing effect.
Retinyl Palmitate and Cyclodextrin with CAVAMAX Retinol: Restores moisture, elasticity and suppleness with a powerful combination of anti-wrinkle, youth enhancing, skincare ingredients.
Camellia Oil and Vitamin A: Essence of the white tea plant and the free radical fighting vitamins are nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Skin looks firmer, brighter and more resilient, even up close.
Colorless: Great on any skin color! The nude tone becomes invisible once applied.

*Vegan-friendly
**Paraben-free

Better Than Sex Mascara-

What It Is:
The Better Than Sex Mascara Hourglass-Shaped Brush was designed after discovering the bust-waist-hip ratio of an iconic silver screen Blonde Bombshell held the secret to the perfect brush silhouette that separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection. One coat of the carbon black, collagen-fueled mascara formula and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coats and lashes are even more luscious, curled and dramatic. Three coats and achieve the most intense black, oversized, multidimensional lashes possible! A mascara so amazing…it’s Better Than Sex!

More To Love:
Better Than Sex mascara includes:

• Film-forming Polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear
• Acacia Senegal Tree Extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place
• Unique Peptides for the deepest, intense black possible

• 1,944% more volume*
• 100% saw longer lashes**
• 100% saw dramatic volume**
• 93% saw base-to-tip curl**
• 8 out of 10 say it’s the best mascara they’ve ever used**

*results observed in a clinical study.
**results observed in a consumer study.


Retails for:  $20.00


Where to Buy:  TooFaced.com, Ulta.com and Ulta stores


My Thoughts:


Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder-  If you've ever watched any of my makeup tutorials on my YouTube channel, you know I'm totally addicted to this stuff.  It's used every time I do my makeup to give my cheeks the perfect matte sculpted look.  And it smells like real chocolate!  I have a few small travel sizes of it, so it's with me wherever I go and one in my makeup kit.  Clients love the way it looks and smells, too, and it's dark enough for even the more tanned skin tones.


Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer-  A MUST every time I do eye makeup.  Again, I have the trial sizes from various kits plus a few full sizes I've picked up along the way, so I have these stashed everywhere.  I absolutely adore when Too Faced comes out with these sets so that I can stock up on this stuff.  It's clear, hydrating, and locks shadows in place like nobody's business.


Primed and Poreless Skin-Smoothing Face Primer-  I waffle back and forth with this face primer between loving it and just not using it often enough.  It comes and goes in spurts where I use it every time I do my makeup and getting pushed to the back of the bin when I discover something new to obsess over.  (The bane of being a beauty blogger I suppose!)  But I always come back to it.  It's my old faithful.  Since my skin is more of the super dry variety the majority of the time, I do tend to skip this more than I should.  But during the summer when I need more pores smoothed and evened out, or if I have photos that are going to be taken of me and need a flawless finish to my face, this is what I know I can depend on.

Better Than Sex Mascara-  This is Too Faced's newest mascara, and honestly it's the reason I bought this kit.  I figured it was an inexpensive way to get travel sizes of my three most-used Too Faced products and also get to try out this mascara at the same time! I've got a  nice in-depth review on this mascara coming soon, so I won't go into too much detail, but it was definitely a good buy on my part with getting this kit!  Check back on the 19th for more info on this mascara!


Final Verdict:  For only $20, you can't go wrong with this set!  There's a reason beauty bloggers love these products- They rock!  Even if there's something in here you aren't a huge fan of, the rest of them in convenient travel sizes make it totally worth it, and it's the perfect introduction to the brand if you've never used Too Faced before.

 

**Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  As with all my articles, the opinions expressed herein are fully my own.  For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

 

Product Review- Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte

Smashbox Bronze Lights Review

 

Smashbox Bronze Lights Review 

 

From the Brand:    This bronzer perfects skin while creating a beautiful warm, matte glow.

Retails for:   $29.00

Where to Buy:    Smashbox.com, Sephora Stores, Sephora.com, Ulta Stores, Ulta.com

My Thoughts:   This is the brand of bronzer I use every time I apply my makeup to give me an even naturally looking tanned look.  Even in winter, I know that I can add a touch of color to my skin without looking orange or shimmery.  I love that it's matte.  It adds color and looks so natural on my skin.  It can also be used to contour, but I prefer the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder instead since it's a bit darker.  I use the two in conjunction to give dimension to my face and sculpt my cheekbones.  My favorite brush to apply is the Bronzer Brush by Clinique, since it's huge and fluffy.  There are two shades, Suntan and Sunkissed.  I believe the Suntan (which is the shade I use) is the cooler of the two.  The website lists the Suntan as a deep bronze with the Sunkissed a soft bronze.  It's been a while since I've seen the two side by side, but I remember that one of them is slightly cooler (pinker) with the other being more warm (golden). 

Final Verdict: I'm a huge fan of this bronzer.  It adds believable color without tons of shimmer that makes it look like "bronzer" has been applied to your skin.

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Product Review- Stila Custom Color Blush in Self-Adjusting Bronze

 

Stila Custom Color Blush - Self Adjusting Bronze 

 

From the Brand: Our newest addition to the Custom Color Blush family, this perceptive one-shade-fits-all powder blush comes in a natural bronze hue, with a hint of subtle shimmer for a customized sun-kissed glow, perfect for you.

An innovative powder blush that reacts to each individual's pH to create a perfect, personalized shade with its unique one-shade-fits-all technology. The ultra-blendable, velvety soft formula magically smoothes the appearance of fine lines and imperfections leaving skin with a luminous, flawless flush.

 

Retails for: $20.00

 

Where to Buy: Stila Cosmetics, Sephora stores and online, Ulta stores and online

 

My Thoughts: I really love the color payout of this bronzer.  While I'm not sure that it really "adjusts", it does definitely look beautiful on a wide range of skin tones.  On the fairest of skins, it can look just a tad bit orangey though, so be sure to build it up in sheer layers if you're worried about how it will look.  It also has a good bit of shimmer to it as well, meaning it's best used with a matte blush to avoid looking shiney- especially if you're going to be taking photos.  I carry this in my bridal kit and like to use it to add a touch of color to the face of my bridal party so that their makeup looks are all nice and cohesive.  It really does look beautiful on just about everybody.

It seems like such a small compact, but it lasts for a very long time.  I'd say I've used it at least 100 times, and you can't even begin to see a dent in the product itself.  I prefer using a large fluffy brush, like the Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush, since the longer white hairs will buff the product out to a beautiful airbrushed finished.  It can also be used for contouring on slightly darker skin tones, although be careful of the shimmer.  For that I like a small angled blush brush, like the Crown Brush Studio Pro Contour Blush Brush (C405).

I don't know about the whole magically smoothing out fine lines portion of their claim, as I don't think any bronzer can really do that.  If you want to minimize the appearance of fine lines, you need to do that prior to your powder color products- with your skincare, primer, and foundation.

 

Final Verdict: Great bronzer that will suit just about anyone's skin tone, and will last a very long time.  Great value!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.  These items were purchased with my own money.  This article contains affiliate links.

Product Review- Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights

I've been using the Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights for a few years now, and I really love them.  I have both options in my kit, although I find that I use the Baked Stardust much more often than the Baked Starburst (pictured below).  They are very versatile products, because you can get a different color blend by rotating the compact so that you are blending three of the triangles of color at a time.  You can customize the color to your skintone, whether it's more fair or more tan.  I use these to highlight the skin, as they have a soft satiny shimmer to them and aren't frosty or glittery.

I had to take a photo with my iPad of the lighter one since I couldn't get an image for you online anywhere.  Sorry it's a bit crappy.  But you get an idea of the lighter tones it includes.

Baked Stardust:  This is the one I use most often since I deal primarily with lighter skinned clients.  Not sure why that is, but it just seems to be the people sitting in my chair aren't big sun worshipers or darker ethnicities.  But the colors on this compact are white, champagne, and pink tones, then a lighter bronze and a darker bronze if I do have a darker client.

Baked Starburst:  This one is best for those with darker skintones.  It's a variety of bronzey shades that really highlight and glow up the skin.  It's also great for a bronzing powder for lighter tones, too.
  
Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Product Review- Benefit Hoola Bronzer

If there's one thing that Benefit does right (and they do a LOT of things right) it's branding for their products.  From the adorable names to the super cute packaging, they make makeup shopping fun and ultra girly.  Their Hoola bronzer is no different.  It comes in a little box with it's own brush, and even the name conjures up images of lounging on a beach- exactly what a bronzer should do!  There's even a little mirror inside the lid so you can see where you're applying.  I like that the box is cardboard, so it's relatively lightweight and "crush" resistant.

For my skin tone, it's too dark to use as an all over bronzer without looking like I was outside making mud pies with my sons, but it does work really really well as a contouring shade.  I haven't had the opportunity to use in a dark skintone to see how well it shows up, but you can find tons of video reviews on YouTube featuring women of all ethnicities.

Copyright Benefit Cosmetics. Image from the Sephora website.

It's a really nice matte finish, which I love.  Bronzers with shimmer used all over the face can come across a bit disco-ball if you're trying for "color".  So as a contour product, it's right up there with my all time favorite- Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.  If it smelled like the tropics, I'd almost rate it a #1 in my book.


Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products.  All the opinions expressed in this article are my own.

When Bad Tans Happen to Good People

I had a bride last week who came to me for a spray tan the Thursday before her Saturday wedding.  She said she's mentioned to her bridesmaids that she was coming in for a tan and did they want to come to?  Well, one of them said she was going to go to an all-night tanning salon that night late after work, around 11.  My bride joked about the kind of person she was likely to run into doing the tanning at that time, and wouldn't you know it was some skeezy old guy.  So at my appointment with the bride I handed her my "When Bad Tans Happen to Good People" handout, a handout I printed out from the supplier of the tanning solution I use (and which I plan to turn into a good article here some time soon!).  She took it home and gave it to her friend who ended up seriously needing it.  Where's the lesson in all of this?  Just because a company has a franchise storefront and flashy ads and "convenient" all night hours doesn't mean that you are going to get quality either.  How many times have you loved a last minute haircut from a Quickie Cuts place?  With some places you pay for quality, some places you pay for convenience.  With my spray tanning, you pay for both.  But in a good way. 

Special offer for my blog readers!  Buy a 5 or 10 tan package and get a FREE "Tanning Day" tote and towel, a $35 value.  Offer expires July 31, 2010.

Check back often for more great deals and steals!  Email me at tan@suzanneminskey.com to book your appointment today or visit my new website http://www.mobilesunlesstans.com/ for more information on my mobile sunless tanning services.