February Favorites

 February was a pretty minimal month in terms of makeup, I was really focusing more on my skin and venturing into contouring/highlighting!

Revlon ColorStay for Combination/Oily Skin in 180 Sand Beige

Ahh, my trusty foundation that I've been using since September! I actually ran out of this in early January and tried using Almay Truly Lasting Color Liquid Makeup in Buff, which was the absolute perfect color match for me, but its such crap. It claims to last 16 hours, but no, it slid off my face in 2. So I hurried my butt back to the drugstore and grabbed what I initially should've gotten in the first place! You know when you use something for a really long time and you just itch to try something else? I think that's what happened with my Revlon ColorStay, but it really made me appreciate how good this actually is. The coverage is great (very buildable without being cake-y) and most importantly is really lasts on my super oily skin, I only need to blot once or twice throughout the day. The only downsides are the color selection (they really need more yellow shades!) and the fact that THERE IS NO FREAKIN' PUMP! Like come on, I don't even mind paying more for the foundation just GIVE ME A PUMP REVLON!

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Medium Sand

My beloved MAC Blot Powder in Medium has recently died (sad blog post on that soon!) so I needed something to replace it and picked out an old favorite. I used to think this powder was the bee's knees until I tried the MAC one, now its just hard to use anything else but I'm not quite ready to shell out another $23 for it. Compared to eachother, this isn't as good but gets the job done. The Maybelline Dream Matte is much more cake-y so I have to be careful when putting it on, but it does keep the oil at bay for a good 2 or 3 hours. Not too sure why Maybelline decided to put shimmers in this powder, they don't transfer on your face, but still, I would prefer my face makeup to be completely shimmer free unless I'm deliberately highlighting! all in all, this is a great drugstore alternative to the more expensive oil controlling powders.

theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer

Now if you know me, I'm not a bronzer person at all. But recently I've been wanting to venture into the world of contouring so I ventured to find the perfect matte bronzer. Initially I didn't like theBalm Bahama Mama because I thought it came across quite muddy in swatches, but when its on your face its a different story! It really works well with my skin tone to just create that "shadowed" look under my cheekbones so I look like I actually have them. It is quite pigmented though, so I have to fight that urge to just swirl my brush in it!

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in "Beige Pearl"

 I love when the weather starts getting warmer because that's when I like my skin to look nice and glowy! I'm usually not one for highlighting just because I have acne and my skin gets a lot of shine throughout the day so its just best not to bring attention to that, but I make an exception in the spring and summer. I've tried other liquid type highlighters and they just really don't work for me because I find them harder to control (I end up getting shimmer everywhere...) so having a powder is just so much easier! This one isn't so much glittery, it just gives a really nice sheen to your skin without being like oh did you cruise the glitter section of a craft store? Plus, this compact looks stunning sitting on my vanity ;)

One Mascara, Two Mascara, Three Mascara

Left to Right: Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies, Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume, Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender

Left to Right: Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous, COVERGIRL Lash Blast, Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash

Recently I've been super frustrated because I just cannot find a mascara that gives me what I want!

 My ideal lashes would be super black, really long, and have lots of volume without clumping. Is that too much to ask? Apparently so since I've been buying/trying them like crazy and just can't find one that completes my wish list!

By no means do I have naturally bad lashes, mine are dark (natural brunette), fairly long, and I have a lot of them so I can actually go out with no mascara and look fine. I do hate that they are pretty stick straight, but I've been pretty blessed in the eyelash department so I wont complain! But my absolute favorite thing to do is play up my eyes, so on an everyday basis I want that really long and volumized look!

COVERGIRL Lash Blast

This has been a favorite mascara as of recently. I love the rubber bristles on the brush, it gives me a lot of volume, but its so freakin' big that a lot of the time I end up poking myself in the eye (which results in me getting mascara ALL over my eyeshadow)! The formula is really nice because its so black but it does nothing to hold any sort of curl.

Maybelline Lash Stilleto Voluptuous

I like the separation I get with this mascara, but the formula really sucks! I cannot wear this without it completely flaking off and leaving black rings underneath my eyes. The brush is pretty funky too, I don't see the point to the wavy shape, how is that going to help my lashes do anything?

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash

I find this one to be really similar to the COVERGIRL Lash Blast. The brushes are pretty similar except this one has bigger plastic bristles, but the formula is a bit lacking. I don't get much length and this mascara also tends to leave black rings underneath my eyes throughout the day.

Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender

I really can't use this mascara on its own, it really doesn't do much of anything for my lashes. Its really nice and dark with good separation, but this mascara is too natural looking for me. I don't know why it claims that you'll get "50% more curve" and "80% more length" because that sure isn't true! There's next to no lengthening, I mean it looks like I'm not even wearing mascara, doesn't hold a curl, and no volume. Definitely not a winner!

Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies

This is one of those over-hyped products. You get great volume, but its so not worth it with the clumping! By the time I get the amount of volume I want, I need to go back through my lashes with a comb to get rid of the clumps! The formula is super wet, which I think adds to the clumping issue (loosely leave the cap on, it gets better as it dries out). Its also not good in terms of staying power, it will leave black rings under my eyes a few hours after I apply it. This mascara is okay in terms of holding a curl, it does well at first but after a few hours my lashes end up going back to their normal straight selves.

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume

Like the Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender, I can't really use this mascara on its own, its too natural looking. The formula isn't very black, so it requires a couple coats to get the deep color. I love how separated my lashes look when I use this, I just wish they had volume (completely misleading calling this mascara "volume"). The brush on this mascara is SO flimsy, I've broken the actual brush off the wand when I've owned this mascara in the past! Like all the others, it doesn't hold a curl (I'm starting to think there's more of a problem with my lashes since nothing is working)!

If you guys have any recommendations for mascaras you think I might like, please tell me!

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in "Blushing Peach"

Description

• A beautiful mosaic of complementary hues to contour and accentuate cheekbones with soft color and discreet shimmer.
• It’s the perfect combination of colors that blend together to naturally enhance your cheekbones.
• The finest Italian talc provides a silky-smooth application that blends easily without streaking or irritating sensitive skin. 

Hypoallergenic. Fragrance-Free. Dermatologist Approved. Oil-Free.

Net Wt. 0.17 Oz/5g
Price :  $10.95

Directions

• Using a soft powder brush, sweep over entire palette to evenly blend colors.
• Tap excess powder from brush before applying.
• Brush over cheekbones to define and contour or apply right below cheekbones for a more defined and dramatic look.

Ingredients 

TALC, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, ZINC STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, BHT, TETRASODIUM EDTA, SORBIC ACID, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN. MAY CONTAIN: MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, IRON OXIDES, CARMINE, ULTRAMARINES, MANGANESE VIOLET, FERRIC FERROCYANIDE, BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE, CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS, CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN, YELLOW 5 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, RED 6, RED 7 LAKE, RED 30 LAKE, BLUE 1.  

Pros:

-There's minimal shimmer in this blush, it translates to more of a glow on your cheeks so you look very fresh

-This blush is very travel friendly since it has a large mirror and a little brush

-I absolutely love the shade of peach this blush turns out to be, I usually find some peach blushes to lean too brown, but this one is a very true peach that will flatter many skin tones!

-The texture of "Blushing Peach" is super smooth, not at all chalky

-Because its so smooth, this blush blends like a dream

-Though the chunky plastic packaging isn't the prettiest thing to look at, it definitely protects the product really well (mine has hit the floor a few time and hasn't shattered or even chipped once)!

Cons:

-This blush usually retails for $10.95 (I got mine during a sale) which in my opinion is just WAY too much for something from the drugstore
-I think the silver and plastic packaging is pretty darn ugly, it just doesn't look cute when sitting on your vanity
-I don't like that you have to push the little button to get the blush to open, sometimes it gets stuck and its just a hassle
-The blush itself has a very old school "cosmetic-y" smell to it (can't smell anything when its actually on your cheeks)

-The way Physicians Formula packages their products in stores is really flawed, there's a little window cut out on the box that has no barrier between it and the actual blush, so the likelihood that you're going to be able to find one that's not already all banged up is very slim

-The packaging is pretty deceiving, it looks like you're getting a ton of product, but all that extra room is actually just the little compartment for the brush

-The "Blushing Peach" shade is fairly sheer, you really need to swirl your brush around to grab enough color and even then it still requires some building on the cheeks

-The lasting power isn't that great, you'll get a solid 4-5 hours of wear before things start to fade

-I personally don't care for the packaging, silver products always look cheap/show wear and tear a lot faster (go for something classic like black Physicians Formula!)

-The little brush that comes in the compartment is quite scratchy, but I guess it could work if you were in a pinch

-There's little holes in the bottom of the compartment, if you use the brush that comes with the blush and put it back in the compartment some product will go through the holes (not the best if you keep this in your purse or makeup bag)

Overall:

The Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in "Blushing Peach" has become a daily staple for me, it goes with pretty much every look and gives my face a nice glow! I would say pick this blush up only if you can grab it during a sale (I'm talking like 40% off Physicians Formula) otherwise I think you're getting ripped off by a drugstore product. I only paid $1.00 for this blush back when there was a big Physicians Formula sale going on at CVS and I had a bunch of coupons, but if you're even thinking about shelling out at least $10.95 on a drugstore product, you mine as well spend another $10.00 and just grab something high end like a MAC blush since they're much more pigmented and long lasting!