I’ve been using the Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion for over a year now and I’m down to only a few more drops left . I absolutely love this highlighter — it’s definitely a must-have product for me. I’ve tried some other highlighters (Benefit High/Moonbeam, Josie Maran illuminizer, NARS illuminator) and this Smashbox one is still my favorite.  Sometimes I will use powder highlighters — but because I have dry skin, liquid/cream highlighters work best for me.

The Smashbox Luminizing Lotion is available in 3 different shades: diffuse (light, pearly color), flash (irridescent pink), and glow (a deep, warm, golden bronze). I am around an NC25-30 in MAC foundation shades and the color “flash” suites my skin tone the best.

Read on for some pros/cons and photos:

Pros:

• extremely natural/dewy glow
• not overly frosty or glittery
• instantly brightens my face, making me look more awake/healthy
• works great for all occassions: day, night, flash photography!
• a little bit goes a long way (I just use a small drop to each cheekbone)
• easy to blend (I apply this using my fingertips with clean hands; you can also use a small brush)
• absorbs quickly
• non-greasy
• long-lasting (all day! It even holds up in humid/hot weather)
• may be worn alone or on top of foundation
  The label suggests mixing with foundation, too; however, I personally don’t use it this way because I only want to highlight certain areas of my face. Since the color “flash” has a slight pink tint to it, I only use it on my cheekbones.
• has a pump (more sanitary application)

 

Cons:

• price: 0.7 oz for $26  <– this is totally worth it for me, though!
  However, because you only need a little, this one bottle will last a long time!
  I use mine most days of the week and my 1 bottle lasted me 1.5 years!
• the black coating around the pump starts peeling off after a few months (see photo below)
  this really bothers me because some of the black will flake off and can get on your hands/face.
• the color “flash” has a slight pink tint to it, so it may not be the best for highlighting the bridge of your nose/forehead/cupid’s bow

 

Photos:

This is what a fresh bottle from the box looks like:

This is how much I have left 1.5 years later:

Here is the black flaking off the pump:

Swatch:

Some photos of me when wearing the luminizing lotion on my cheeks:

Overall, the Smashbox Artifical Light Luminizing Lotion is the best highlighter I’ve tried thusfar!
I will definitely be repurchasing another bottle soon!

What is your favorite face highlighter?

This was the most current Sephora V.I.B. bonus gift offered by Sephora. I got this e-mail on Valentine’s Day, made a purchase the next day, and received my goodies in the mail 2 days later (Sephora delivers super fast to me since I’m on the east coast). The e-mail mentioned that this promo is valid for V.I.B.s and until supplies last — so hopefully there are still supplies left if you’re a V.I.B. and didn’t claim your gift yet!

It’s been a while since Sephora has had a decent V.I.B. offer, so I couldn’t turn this one down. I don’t own these NARS products, so I wanted to give them a try. Without further rambling, here are some photos of the goodies:

The travel size products came in a black NARS drawstring bag:

Standard NARS packaging:

I love travel-size products, so cute & convenient:

NARS pro-prime smudge proof eyeshadow base:

NARS Bronzing Powder in “Laguna”:
(I love how it came as a “mini” – so cute)

Swatch:

NARS Illuminator in the color “orgasm”:
(They are also offering “copacabana”, which may be more suitable for fair/light skin tones)

Swatch, unblended:

Illuminator blended:
(my flash kind of washed out the color; I like how the shimmer is subtle)

I definitely think this V.I.B. package was one of the better ones Sephora offered lately!
Did you get a chance to pick it up? Do you own these products already?

Will you be picking up this item? Do you already own this palette — what are your thoughts?

P.S. – Current Sephora Beauty Insider promo going if you’re going to make a purchase:

I wanted to share some photos and my opinion about Sephora’s current beauty insider 500 point perk in hopes to help you decide whether or not you want to use your 500 points from your beauty bank on this prize. After getting this and seeing it in person, I regret spending my points on it and I honestly don’t think it’s worth 500 points.  It’s a lot better than many of the 500-point perks Sephora has been offering lately, but be patient because good ones come around once in a while (the Too Faced Eye Shadow Palette from a while back)!

Main disappointments of this 500-point perk:

• charm bracelet doesn’t seem to be made of good quality material (it honestly feels like cheap metal that is plated with some cheap paint)
• bracelet hangs off my wrist
• the bracelet can almost slip off my wrist when “clasped”
• travel size fragrance is small (5 ml); probably less than $10 in value
• cap of the travel size fragrance is extremely hard to open (pull off cap)

I loved my last 500 point perk — but was unfortunately disappointed with this one. I think I had especially high hopes for it since it is Dior. I think I’ve learned my lesson with this 500-point redemption; next time I’m going to try to see if I can visit a Sephora and see the perk in stores first before I decide to use my points to redeem it. That’s pretty much all I have to say about that. Here are some photos:

 

 

What the prize includes:
White cardboard box with a Dior Ribbon detailing
Dior Addict to life travel size fragrance
Dior charm bracelet

Here is the white box everything came in:

Close-up of the charm bracelet detailing:

 

The charm bracelet hangs off my wrist:

 

 

For those who are not familiar with Sephora’s beauty insider program:
* Free to sign up; earn 1 point for every dollar spent at Sephora.
* When you accumulate 100 points, there are ’100 point products’ you can choose from (usually a travel size item or sample size).
* When you get 500 points, there are larger ’500 point perks they offer’. These prizes are usually larger products or combination kits.

Hope this was a helpful post! Until next time… Have a good one! Happy  Holidays!

 

 

Sephora’s friends & family sale (20% off) is going on until November 3, 2011 — if you haven’t picked anything up yet and want to, go here and enter your e-mail address and a promo code will be generated for you to use on your next Sephora.com purchase.

Sigh, I don’t need anymore makeup — but I still ended up spending quite a lot during this sale. Half of the items I purchased are products I’ve owned in the past and wanted back-ups.  Okay, minimal rambling, more photos for this post.

SUPER Face & Eye Cleanser with Acai  see here 4 oz for $30
I mentioned this in my last skincare routine video and raved about it while complaining about how pricey it is. After I finished that bottle, I tried switching to other cleansers (Philosophy’s Purity, Mario Badescu) and my skin started to break out. I waited 2 months before going back to this cleanser. But a few weeks after switching back to this, my skin cleared up.  I thought… if I’m going to spend a lot of money on any beauty product, it should be for skincare.  Your skin is a canvas for makeup!

OLE HENRIKSEN Nurture Me see here  1.7 oz for $40
This is a very rich formula that smells wonderful! I’ve only used it a few times so far and am still on the fence on whether I will stick with this moisturizer or go back to my SUPER Hyper Hydrator which is 1 oz for $40 (almost double the price of this OLE HENRIKSEN moisturizer!).

OLE HENRIKSEN Ultimate Lift Eye Gel see here 1 oz $38
This is a clear gel with an aqua-colored tint. I’ve only used this a few times as well. I don’t have any major complaints about my under eye area except that I have some fine lines that are more noticeable when my skin is dry. So far this stuff has worked well to quench the dryness around my eye area.

 

MUFE Powder Foundation in 205 see here $32
I’ve heard great things about this powder, so I had to give it a try myself. I’ll let you all know how it works on my usually dry skin.

NARS nail polish in “Pokerface” see here on sale for $8
This is a very pretty lilac-y purple; from NARS’ 2010 Holiday Collection.
I think it’d look better on someone with lighter skin than me. I probably wouldn’t purchase this at retail price ($17), but since it was on sale, I’ll keep it.  Swatch shown below is after 2 coats. Applied wonderfully — not sheer, not streaky.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Primer see here 0.35 oz for $18
I’ve tried UDPP, elf’s primer, LORAC primer, Shiseido’s primer — and while they are all decent eye primers, my favorite is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It never lets me down!

Kat Von D Autograph liquid eyeliner in Puro Amor see here on sale for $16
I bought this as a back up since it was on sale.  Still quite pricey, but this is a great eyeliner. It’s very pigmented and the applicator tip is very soft, but not too soft. It makes application easy, smooth, and quick.  The brush is a bit flat, so you can use the flat side to apply a thicker line, or turn it to the side and apply a thin line.

That’s it for my haul! *Phew*
I think I need a serious break from buying makeup/skincare products!
Then again… I always say that, don’t I?

What did you pick up from the Sephora F&F sale?
What do you plan on picking up?
Please share Hopefully it won’t tempt me to place another purchase O_O

 

This month will be ‘favorites’ rather than a ‘hits & misses’ since I didn’t come across many ‘misses’. I’ve been trying improve my skin so I will have a better ‘canvas’ for makeup application; therefore, I went many days with little to no face makeup to let me skin breathe.

My OCT favorites product list:
* Benefit POREfessional
* Clinique’s Uneven Skin Tone Solutions Kit
* Kracie Hadabisei Tightening Facial Mask
* Super Face & Eye Cleanser with Açaí
* Dariya Hair Grip/Velcro

Benefit POREfessional:
0.75 oz for $29 at Sephora (see here)

I have the mini version and I love it! I will be buying the full-size version when this runs out.
This is a balm that you can wear under or above your makeup to help reduce the appearance of pores.
This product instantly reduces pore size. I don’t have very large pores, but they are visible. I apply this before makeup and it eliminates the appearance of pores and leaves my skin looking so much smoother!

 

Clinique’s Uneven Skin Tone Solutions Kit ($49.50 at Sephora)
Kit comes with:
- Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (1 oz)
- Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 (0.5 oz)
- 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula (1 oz)

This is a great deal because 1 oz of the Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector itself is $49.50. Why not just pick up this entire kit; even if you won’t use the scrub or moisturizer, at least you get a nice bag.

Let me start by talking about the Dark Spot Corrector:

This dark spot corrector does what it claims: visibly reduces hyperpigmentation.  I have only been using this for ~3 weeks and it has significantly reduced my acne scars. The product claims you will see results in as little as 4 weeks and definitely by 12 weeks; however, I noticed my dark spots lightening after just 2 weeks of use. This is a light, serum-like product that does not leave your skin feeling sticky. I’m diligently applying this morning & evening and patiently awaiting the results at week 12.

I did not start using this moisturizer until last week. I wanted to see if the dark spot corrector worked on it’s own first, and then introduce this moisturizer in my skincare routine. This moisturizer is supposed to help further reduce hyperpigmentation because it has ingredients that “breaking apart surface darkening”. It contains SPF 20, which will help protect your skin from any further sun damage. This moisturizer absorbs well, doesn’t break my out or clog pores, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy. I’d give it a 4 out of 5 just because I’ve had experience with other facial moisturizers that absorb/moisturize more amazingly than this.

I’ve only tried this scrub cream a few times. It’s an exfoliating scrub with small exfoliating beads in the scrub that help remove dead skin cells. This scrub brightens your skin instantly.

Overall, the kit itself is a great buy! If you want to try the dark spot corrector, I would definitely recommend purchasing this kit rather than just the dark spot corrector. It’s the same price, anyway!

Kracie Hadabisei Tightening Facial Mask:
I love this mask more than I love the My Beauty Diary masks — and I love those!
I got a variety box of Kracie facial sheet masks on sale from Mitsuwa a while back. You can find these masks on YesStyle and other Asian sites. They can be quite pricey, but since I use them sparingly, it’s well worth it!

I have no idea what this says…
but basically, you leave the mask on for 15 minutes, remove,
then gently pat in the remaining fluid into your skin.

The mask comes generously soaked in fluid. I let one of my masks sit out and dry so I can show you all what it looks like. It is relatively large; some people like to cut their sheet masks to better fit their face… however, I’m too lazy for that. As long as it doesn’t fall off, I let it be!

The mask is black and it makes you look kind of like a ninja… hah:

Super Face & Eye Cleanser with Açaí (from Dr. Perricone)
4 oz. for $30 at Sephora (see here)

I first tried this cleanser a few months back and it did wonders for my skin. I complained that it was “so expensive” and after I finished my first bottle (it lasted for months, btw!), I tried using Philosophy’s Purity cleanser and my skin was not having it! I also tried a Mario Badescu cleanser and my skin was once again breaking out constantly. So I bit the bullet and purchased another bottle. Ever since I started using this again, my skin has cleared up tremendously!  So I took advantage of the Sephora friends & family sale and bought yet a third bottle as a back-up.  While this cleanser is quite pricey, it works for me! So I’m sticking with it. The $30 price tag is well worth it for me.

It comes with a screw-on top and a separate pump screw-on top:

The packaging is a thick frosted glass, so I’m always super careful not to drop this!

 

Dariya Hair Grip/Velcro (pink, set of 2 in 1 package) – $4.59 at Mitsuwa
You can find these at some Asian food markets/cosmetic shops or on Asian websites

.

It’s just a hair velcro that holds your hair/bangs back when you wash your face/do your makeup.
This is so convenient, gentle, and doesn’t leave a crease in your hair like clips do

That’s it for my October favorites!
What are some makeup/beauty products you’ve been loving this month?
Maybe it’ll give me an excuse to buy more stuff in November

Before I show the swatches, I just want to preface the entry by stating that I ended up returning this palette because I felt like I wouldn’t end up using this palette too often. Based on online reviews, it seems like many people have different opinions than mine — well, that’s what YouTube, forums, and blogs are for, right? I’m just going to share my opinion & swatches.

I bought this from Sephora.com without first swatching the shadows. I also had no previous experience with tarte eyeshadows but I love tarte makeup and this had great reviews online. But when I received it and swatched all the shadows, I was slightly disappointed. While these aren’t horrible shadows, I just didn’t feel they suited me well. To me, this is more of a collectors item — however, I don’t even watch True Blood, so I didn’t really feel that big of a need to have this as part of my makeup collection.

This is a good deal — you pay a good price for the amount of product you get.

The tarte for True Blood palette retails for $52 at Sephora (see here)
It can also be found on various different sites (ebay, amazon, HBO site, etc)
This palette comes with seventeen eye shadows (0.07 oz each), as well as eye primer, mascara,  eyeliner, and some suggested eye looks.

The exterior is a faux leather corset design:

There is a pull-out drawer:

Holds:
EmphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in Black (0.003 oz)
Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara in Black (0.1 oz)
Lifted Natural Eye Primer (0.08 oz)

Swatches by row (left to right):

Hope this was helpful : )

HITS:

Philosophy Microdelivery System
I got it as a value-kit for just $32; unfortunately they don’t sell this kit anymore
The kit contained half-sizes of each product.

You now have to purchase the microdelivery exfoliating wash separately from the peel.

Microdelivery Peel ($65) see here
Kit includes:
- 2 oz Vitamin C/Peptide Resurfacing Crystals.
- 2 oz The Microdelivery Peel, Lactic/Salicylic Activating Gel

I use this peel once a week instead of using my Clarisonic Mia. This peel works wonders for my skin! This exfoliates skin gently and nourishes skin with vitamin C and peptides. It removes oil, leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and brighter.  It will remove any flakiness you may be experiencing.

Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash (8 oz $25) see here
This microdelivery wash has very fine grains in it and does a great job deep cleaning pores. This is gentle enough to be used on a daily basis. This helps keep my skin smooth and remove any flaky spots I may have (since I have dry skin). It has also helped prevent blackheads from forming.

 

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (0.1 oz, $19) see here

I have the shade “Medium 02″:

Great coverage! Fully covers my acne-scars, redness around my chin/nose area, dark under-eye circles. The texture is just right–not cakey. This product blends very well and is long-lasting.
The only downside is that it’s only available in 3 shades: light, medium, dark.

 

Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara ($20) see here

This mascara is amazing! It’s one of the very few mascaras which hold a curl for >8 hours (my lashes are stubborn and usually point straight down!). It adds tremendous length and the silicone bristles help separate and coat each lash! One to two coats is sufficient for everyday-wear. This mascara does not clump, flake, or run. I also love the packaging: the exterior is a textured and has a velvety-smooth feel. The only cons are the price (so pricey!) and it’s not waterproof (which I personally don’t mind).

 

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush – Soft Plum (~$7)

I love this product for multiple reasons:
- nice texture
- not dry for my dry skin like other dream mousse products I’ve tried
- compact packaging
- great for on-the-go for touch-ups since you can apply with your fingers
- long lasting
- affordable (look for sales)

 

Downy Wrinkle Releaser
I have the travel version (bought it from Rite Aid)

Spray, tug, and smooth it out. Great for a quick-fix for your wrinkly clothes.
Convenient; quick-drying; smells great

 

MISSES:

Sephora Matifying Compact Foundation ($20)

I am in the shade D25:

This isn’t a bad product; however, I don’t think it’s worth the price. The coverage is sheer/light and this powder brings out any flaky patches I may have on my face. I honestly think the drugstore Maybelline Dream Matte Powder does a better job at a fraction of the price.

 

Stila Coconut Crush Lip & Cheek Stain ($24)

I don’t care for this product at all. Why?
- I hate the packaging — these twisty-pen-type-things are so annoying
- I dislike how the product comes out onto the brush
- I don’t like how this color looks on medium skin tones.
- It also has an odd, sticky consistency.
Overall a huge miss for me. Luckily this was a sample size and I didn’t pay for it.

 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating (1.7 oz $42)

Overall, I would not purchase this product because I think the regular tinted moisturizer works a lot better for me. Some skin tones may benefit more from the illuminating one, but just not me for the following reasons:
- shimmery. Does not work well for all-over application.
- feels more greasy than the normal tinted moisturizer
- only available in five different shades

Mandom Beauty Cleansing Express – Age Care ($13.99)

This makeup remover contains CoQ10, which is supposed to help prevent aging and keep skin more youthful. As a makeup remover, it’s nothing special. I didn’t notice it removing any additional makeup from my skin than what my Neutrogena makeup remover facial cleanser does.  This is, however, a great eye makeup remover (gentle, doesn’t sting, and removes with a few wipes). Still… nothing too special and I would not repurchase it at this price.

 

The Skincare Night Moisture Recharge – Regular (2.54 oz $42)

Claims to be a lightweight moisturizer for normal and combination skin. (My skin is usually dry, but since it was humid this past month, my skin have been more combination). I feel like this moisturizer doesn’t absorb well and sits on top of my skin rather than moisturizing. I used it for a few weeks and didn’t notice a difference in my skin. This isn’t a bad moisturizer but, it’s SO EXPENSIVE and I don’t think it’s worth the $$$.

Whew, now that was a long post. Hope it was helpful Hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

I recently placed an order from sephora.com and thought I’d share what I hauled:

- SUPER by Dr Perricone Acai Face & Eye Cleanser $30
This is my second bottle; I tried going without it but my skin was not okay with that! I use this with my clarisonic mia and it works wonders for my skin.

- Clinique Uneven Skintones Solution $49.50 ($77 value)
Includes:
1 oz Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
0.5 oz Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20
1 oz 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula.
The full-size dark spot corrector itself is already $49, so this kit is a great buy!

 

 

 

- Tarte for True Blood Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palette $52
The palette comes with:
17 eye shadows! (0.07 oz each)
0.003 oz EmphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in Black
0.1 oz Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara in Black
0.08 oz Lifted Natural Eye Primer
I haven’t tried the shadows out yet, so I can’t do a review. I sure hope the eye shadows apply as beautifully as they look in the pan. I’m excited to do a post with swatches of all the colors

 

 

 

 

 

I also got the Smashbox/Studio Must-Haves Set w/ code “VIBSmash3″ available for VIB members.
This deluxe sample kit has:
Smashbox Bionic mascara
Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights
Smashbox O-glow
Smashbox is one of my favorite cosmetic brands, so I’m extremely happy Sephora was offering this to VIBs!

 

Stay tuned for individual posts and reviews for each product!

Have you hauled anything from Sephora lately? What’s on your wish list?  I think the Sephora Friends & Family sale is coming up soon — last year it started the end of October and they offered 20% off.

 

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
* H I T S *
- Sponge Eyeshadow Applicators (NYC – set of 4 for $0.24)
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
(read about why you should buy the travel size and not the regular size tinted moisturizer)
- NYX Roundcase Lipstick in “Orange Soda”
- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in “Milk”
- Sigma E25 Makeup Brush
- F21 Voluminous Fashion False Lashes ($2.80)
- e.l.f. tweezers ($1)
- e.l.f Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter ($3)
- e.l.f. Studio Blush in “Pink Passion” ($3)
- Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara
- Maybelline Falsies Mascara
- Revlon Lash Adhesive

* M I S S E S *
- DUO Lash Adhesive
- Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer in “Tone”
- Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer
- Benefit Erase Paste
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating
- Diorshow Mascara

 What are some of your favorites for this month?