Huda Beauty The New Nude Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

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Hi everyone!

I’ve haven’t posted in a couple of weeks and have purchased a bunch of new products that I really want to review for you guys! Starting off with this gorgeous palette – I sometimes find myself just opening it to stare at it because it’s so beautiful.

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I purchased this palette a while ago and at first I didn’t want to spend $85 CAD on an eyeshadow palette but everytime I walked into Sephora it grabbed my attention so I finally purchased it. I don’t have anything like it – it’s an all pink/purple, fairly cool-toned eyeshadow palette.

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The different textures really drew me in as well; there are 10 mattes, 4 multi-reflective shadows, 1 pressed pearl and a concealer base. The mattes are really nice; they don’t have any fallout and are pressed pretty firmly so you don’t have to be careful of picking up too much product at once. They are very buildable and have a grip to the skin which means that my eyeshadow looks about the same by the end of the day.

Huda Beauty The New Nude – mattes

The multi-reflective shadows intrigued me the most – they are very unique and I have never seen a formula quite like this. There are pockets of pearlized shadow mixed with the shade so you get a gorgeous and extremely reflective finish. They are buttery soft and extremely pigmented.

Huda Beauty The New Nude – multi-reflectives

The pressed pearl formula is beautiful as well, extremely pigmented and buttery. It just glides on the eyelid and is packed with pigment! As you can slightly see in the picture below that the this shade pulls rust, pink, and purple when swatched – it’s very unique!

Huda Beauty The New Nude – pressed pearl

And if you think the swatches above are impressive – the glitters are absolutely gorgeous and can be used without a base because they are mixed in a medium that allows it to stick pretty well to the skin.

Huda Beauty The New Nude – glitters

There is also a concealer base which isn’t very impressive nor is it necessary in this palette in my opinion; I much rather have had another pearl or glitter.

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Overall, I absolutely love this palette and am very glad that I ended up buying it! I used it a lot during summer and fall and will continue to use it into winter, the glitters will look amazing for holiday looks!

Have you guys tried this palette out? I heard that there is a dupe for it – is it comparable? Comment below!

Click here to purchase on Sephora!

e.l.f. 16Hr Camo Concealer Review + Swatch

Hello everyone!

I recently posted my review of the Tarte Shape Tape concealer and I had to quickly review this one as well to let you know that they are very close dupes! Read my review on the Shape Tape here.

Starting off with the packaging; they are very similar as they both have a large doe foot applicator which picks up a good amount of product. I really like doe foot applicators because you can apply the product without getting your fingers/hands dirty.

The consistency is very similar as well; they are both full-coverage, creamy, a little dry (not moisturizing) because they dry to a matte finish, and are very long wearing. If I was going to be very picky I would say that the e.l.f. dries down quicker and is slightly more matte. If I apply too much of either concealer they do tend to look a bit cakey and dry and settle in my fine lines.

e.l.f. 16Hr Camo Concealer in Light Sand

Both concealers come in a good variety of shades. I chose the light sand because it is described to be light with neutral undertones. I would say that it leans more yellow (warm) and is very brightening.

I definitely recommend that you try this concealer out if you love the Tarte Shape Tape or if you wanted to try the Shape Tape – as this is much more affordable!

What is your current favourite concealer? Let me know down below!

Click here to purchase.

MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick Review + Swatch

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Hello everyone!

I’ve been wanting to try the new Powder Kiss formula for a while now and finally picked one up a few weeks ago.

I really like the look of matte lipsticks but it can be difficult to wear when you have dry lips. Matte formulas tend to stick to and emphasize dry patches, really dehydrate your lips after an hour or two of wear however, this formula does neither! It feels surprisingly moisturizing and the formula is a bit hard to describe if you haven’t swatched or applied it. It feels like a moisturizing powder that is extremely lightweight and glides on seamlessly.

MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick 021 Sultry Move. One swatch on bottom and built up on top.

You can apply a bit and blend it out for a subtle look or build it up to full coverage on the lips. There is a slight drawback; the formula is not as long wearing as Mac’s usual matte formulas. It does wear away after a while and especially if you eat. The formula is so forgiving on dry lips that I can easily reapply after eating and not worry about using a lip balm first.

I also wish that they would come out with more shades because I want a nice nude shade but haven’t liked any that they have; it’s either too white-based nude or too cool toned. I would definitely purchase more when/if they do come out with more shades. For now, I really like this warm rose color that I currently own.

Have you guys tried the powder kiss formula? Let me know down below!

Click here to purchase.

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting Review + Swatch

Hi everyone!

Today I will be reviewing a higher-end makeup product that I have been putting to the test for some time now!

This product is a liquid highlighter that promises to give a nice glow to the skin rather than shimmer or glitter. It claims to sink into the skin and give a nice, smooth, radiant look. It also contains vitamin E, which I love in skincare, so that was a bonus. It is a fusion of skincare/makeup which I’m always intrigued by.

I have a very oily skin type and tend to want a more matte look. However, there are days where my matte foundations look really dry and strange on me and when I apply this product all over my face and then apply a matte foundation on top; it looks much more flattering and more skin-like. The claims I mentioned above have all been met in my opinion, because this product just gives a nice fresh, healthy sheen to the skin that really looks like skin and not like you applied a moisturizer with glitter in it. It dries down yet makes my skin super soft like I applied an extra layer of moisture.

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting in the shade ‘Candlelight’. Pumped out onto the back of my hand on the bottom and blended out on top.

I don’t really like how the first ingredient is mineral oil, because I have read that mineral oil is not the best ingredient to use daily. However, the strange thing is that the mineral oil in this doesn’t affect the wear of my foundation throughout the day. Also, you must shake this up a lot before pumping the product out so that the oil doesn’t separate.

I really enjoy having this product in my collection and like to use it every now-and-then when I want to apply a super matte foundation. However, I don’t think this is worth the $69 CAD price tag.

What do you think about this product? What Kevyn Aucoin product do you recommend I try next? Let me know below!

Click here to purchase.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

I know that this palette is definitely not a “new” item but I like reviewing “older” items as well – it reminds me and hopefully you guys to pull it out of your collection and remember why you purchased it in the first place!

I love the sleek packaging of this palette; it isn’t bulky or heavy – perfect for travelling with. It has a magnetic closure so you don’t have to worry about breaking the clasp. The pans are removable as well; if you want to put it in a Z-palette.

The formula differs slightly for each pan; the top left shade (Vanilla) is a sheer matte powder whereas the middle top shade (Banana) is much more pigmented and buttery in texture. The right pan (Sand) has tiny shimmers in it and is very buttery and pigmented. The bottom middle shade (Fawn) is also more sheer in comparison to the other two contour shades.

These powders are very blendable and look smooth on the skin without looking cakey or heavy. I like how they included a shimmery shade in there so you have a subtle shimmery highlighter instead of the usual all-matte contour kits. However, I feel that two of the contour shades are extremely similar and wish they had a different shade that would pull more bronze rather than red. I really enjoy the middle contour shade; it is perfect for nose contouring!

Left to right: Vanilla, Banana, and Sand.

Left to right: Java, Fawn, and Havana

In conclusion, I really like this palette and find myself using the top and bottom middle shades the most. I don’t think there is anything specifically special about this product but I do enjoy it and would recommend to someone who wants a nice contour kit to travel with.

Have you guys tried this contour kit? Comment below!

Click here to purchase.

Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation Review

Hi everyone!

I’ve always loved the Smashbox primers but never thought about giving their foundations a try, until a few months ago when I picked this up.

The two things that really stood out to me were that this foundation has hyaluronic acid and vitamin E in the ingredients, which is amazing! This allows the foundation to look fresh and not dried out and gross by the end of the day. It barely settles in my laugh lines and looks great after a whole day of wear. It contains no fragrance, which is great because fragrance can sometimes irritate my skin and it is also free of parabens and phthalates.

This has a nice pump and the product is housed in a thick glass bottle. The product itself is a thick liquid consistency and gives a medium to full coverage; it is buildable. Once it has dried down you get a matte finish but it’s not a flat matte; it is almost satin. I love how fresh it looks on the skin and how it remains looking nice throughout the day; I do get oily after a few hours which is normal for me but when I blot the foundation barely transfers onto the blotting sheet. It does not separate, cake, or exaggerate my pores after about 8 hours of wear; it really is long wearing (however I do not know about the 15 hours claim).

Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation in the shade 1.05

I love the shade range because they have many different undertones and I was able to find a very close match to my skin color. The shade range makes it super easy to find your shade online because it gives a skintone shade name and an undertone description below it.

I’am really enjoying this foundation and would recommend for oily skin types; I’ve also read reviews on how great this foundation is for dry skin types as well!

What do you think about this foundation? Let me know down below!

Click here to purchase.

MAC Mineralize Charged Water Skin Hydrating Mist Review

Happy Friday!

I’m back with another MAC review and not to mention a SPOT-ON dupe for the Smashbox Primer Water – read my review of that here. The ingredients are almost identical; they smell the same, they perform the same, I would say that it is pretty much the same thing.

I love using charged water as a primer because it gives me a little bit of moisture and tackiness without a layer of unnecessary product under my foundation. I do go in with a pore filler on my cheeks but I love spraying this all over my face – it’s quick and easy.

I prefer this packaging to the Smashbox one because the spray locks – it is the same packaging as the Fix +.This product is about $10 CAD cheaper than the Smashbox Primer Water however, the Smashbox contains 115ml, where as this contains 100ml. They both perform the same and have a really pleasant mild scent which quickly absorbs and disappears. I like using this over makeup as well – it settles down the powders that I layer over foundation.

Overall, I highly recommend this and I’m glad I found such a close dupe! Seriously couldn’t believe that they are essentially the same product almost!

Have you tried this or the Smashbox Primer Water? Let me know down below!

Click here to purchase the Charcoal one (couldn’t find the regular online for some reason).

MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette Review + Swatches

Hello everyone!

I was on the hunt for a nice highlight palette to add to my collection and I really like the MAC Extra Dimension one – read my review here. So I thought I would give this one a go, I purchased the Flash + Awe palette which has lighter tones; they have another palette with gold tones as well.

I really like the sleek packaging, the three shades are separated which allows you to use them separately or mix the shades together. It contains a nice sized mirror and has a magnetic closure. The shades are fairly close in shade but each has a different undertone – champagne, pink, and gold.

MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette in Flash + Awe Swatched once per shade.

The formula is not exactly the same as the Extra Dimension ones. I would have to say that I like the Extra Dimension formula more than this because it’s more intense, where as this palette has a more toned down shine. I do like this for everyday use because it’s not too sparkly but rather glowy and healthy looking on the skin.

I don’t think that this is a must-have palette and do prefer the Extra Dimension highlighters by MAC over this however, this is a nice palette if you want to glow and not look over-the-top.

What is your current favourite highlighter?

Click here to purchase.

Too Faced Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer Review + Swatch

Hi everyone!

I’m back with another Too Faced bronzer review, if you haven’t seen my review of the Chocolate Soleil bronzer click here. These Too Faced bronzers have been revamped with new packaging however, the actual product is the same for the most part. I also purchased this from Winners (T.J Maxx) for about half off!

I tend to reach for more shimmery bronzers during the summer time because it gives a nice glow on a sunny day out. I actually like the old packaging better then the revamped ones as they are very sturdy but very lightweight and have a pretty gold finish. They contain a nice sized mirror which is great. The Chocolate Soleil bronzer had a nice chocolate cocoa scent but this one does not have a scent at all – which I don’t mind. This bronzer has two shades side-by-side which you can use separately but I always mix the two, hence the blurred division between them.

I really enjoy this formula because it isn’t too pigmented; which I actually prefer for bronzers. I want to be able to gradually build it up and not worry about applying too much and then try to blend it out. It also blends out very easily without becoming patchy. This bronzer lasts the entire day with very minimal fading.

The lighter shade on the left, deeper shade in the middle, and a mix of both on the right.

The swatches have probably freaked you out and honestly I do not know why they swatch so orange and scary looking. This bronzer is slightly warm toned but it looks very natural on my fair neutral skin tone.

I really enjoy these Too Faced bronzers and would definitely pick up the Milk Chocolate Soleil next time.

Let me know which Too Faced bronzers are your favourite!

Click here to purchase.

My Clarins Re-Fresh & Re-Boost Review

Hello everyone!

My Clarins is a fairly new line that Clarins has come out with – the amazing thing about it is that the products in this range are up to 95% natural and vegan and I also have to mention that the price point of these products are very reasonable!

The products in this range all include good-for-you ingredients and they specifically state that they are free from sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, formaldehydes, and so on. They also mention that even though the products smell amazing there is less than 1% of synthetic fragrances; which I really enjoy because my skin tends to become textured when I use heavily fragranced skincare.

Starting off with the Re-Fresh beauty mist – it comes housed in a very luxurious-feeling glass bottle which is rather heavy. It contains 100ml of product which is a good amount for a facial spray and it is meant to be used during skincare application or after makeup. I have used this both ways and I love setting my face with this after makeup application – it settles down the powder and gives a skin-like sheen without disturbing my makeup. The scent is amazing; it is fruity and floral and is fairly strong but does not linger. This contains coconut water, robina flower water, and extracts of alpenrose, fog and acerola seed. I really enjoy the finish that it gives my skin after heavily powdering it (I have a very oily skin type).

This moisturizer also comes housed in a glass jar which is very pretty and I do like it however, I wish it came with a pump as I wouldn’t have to stick my fingers into the product every time I want to apply it. This also has a beautiful fruity/floral scent that makes me happy every time I apply it on my skin. This also contains the same ingredients as the facial mist with the exception of goji berry instead of robina flower. I would describe the texture of this as being a light-weight cream because it feels very moisturizing but soaks in quickly and does not leave me with a greasy film. It doesn’t shorten the longevity of my makeup, which is very important to me, as I’ve liked moisturizers in the past but they ended up acting strange under makeup (balling up, making me more oily than usual over time). This has become my everyday moisturizer for weeks now!

My Clarins Re-Boost Refreshing Hydrating Cream

I absolutely love these skincare products and would purchase once these run out because I use them daily in my skincare/makeup routine. I highly recommend both.

Let me know if you have heard of/tried this skincare line in the comments section below!

Click here to purchase the hydrating beauty mist.

Click here to purchase the refreshing hydrating cream.

Disclaimer: I received these products from ChickAdvisor for reviewing purposes. All of my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.