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.

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.

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.

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer Review

Hi everyone!

This product really doesn’t need another review online because it’s been talked about so much, but I still like doing reviews because it reminds us of what we may already have in our makeup collection. There are so many new products coming out all the time that the good older ones seem to get lost or forgotten about.

I purchased this product a while ago, after all the hype because you can only purchase this through the Tarte website, since in Canada it is not sold in any stores. Also, I thought that the price is a little up there – $35 for a concealer is a bit more than I’d like to spend. So when there was a 20% off sale I thought that it’s about time I tried it out to see what the fuss is about.

This concealer has a huge doe foot applicator which is really nice; it picks up a good amount of product and you can easily dot/swipe it under the eyes or where you’d like to highlight/conceal. The packaging as a whole is nice but the stopper did tear a bit as I closed and opened the wand after a few times.

This is a full coverage, creamy texture concealer which dries down but it does leave some time to blend it out. I never have to build this up as it keeps it’s coverage even after blending and you really don’t need much to fully cover the under eyes. I have heard many complain that it is too drying but I haven’t experienced it looking dry under the eyes but that could be because of my oily skin and using an eye cream every day/night. This is also super long-lasting; it will easily last the entire day with minimal creasing which is very important for me because I tend to get lots of creases with creamy-textured concealers.

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer in the shade ‘Fair’

Overall, I’d have to say that this is a nice concealer. Is it my favourite? Well, no; but it is in my top favourites for sure as it is reliable and will cover anything you want covered.

What do you think of the Tarte Shape Tape – Are you a fan, have you tried it? Let me know in the comments section!

Click here to purchase.

Benefit Blush Bar ‘Cheeks on Pointe’ Blush & Bronzer Palette Review + Swatches

Happy Friday Everyone!

I’m super excited for this long weekend – great weather in Canada and lots of fun plans! Hope you all have an amazing long weekend!

I’ve decided to review this palette today because I’ve been reaching for it non-stop! This is the first cheek product that I have used from Benefit and I’m blown away! I’ve heard lots of good reviews on the famous Hoola bronzer and their boxed blushes but they are up there price-wise and I didn’t want to spend $40 on one blush. This palette is almost $80 however, it is an amazing value as you get FULL SIZE products; so technically your paying for two blushes and getting 3 free! My sister gifted this to me and I’m so happy she did because I had my eye on it a while back at Sephora!

The packaging is gorgeous! It makes me happy to use it every time, it also contains a nice large mirror and once you open the lid you get a whiff of this pleasant scent that is incredibly hard to describe but it reminds me of summer time. There is an empty space on the bottom right corner so that the brush can fit in there which is good if your planning on travelling with it.

The blush textures are really nice; not too soft nor stiff, not too pigmented but pigmented enough. It’s a nice formula for light to medium skintones as the shades are all pretty light and I have to build it up on my cheeks – all except the Galifornia shade which looks good with just one layer. However, I love blushes that are buildable – it allows me to apply and blend it without having any harsh lines or too much color all at once. These are fairly long lasting as well – they last an entire work/school day.

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The picture you see above is after a few weeks of using it so it no longer has the gold overspray. I don’t see the point of it anyway because it comes off after using it once and I don’t like chunky gold glitter on my blushes anyway.

Left to right: Galifornia, Gold Rush, Dandelion and Rockateur

Left to right: Galifornia, Gold Rush, Dandelion and Rockateur

The Hoola bronzer is a nice shade that can be built up as well if you want a stronger bronzer. It is neutral in tone so it can be used as a contour shade as well which is nice. I was worried this was going to be too dark on me but it’s perfect once blended out.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

This specific palette is a little hard to find now as it was limited edition but I went ahead and reviewed it anyway because Benefit has come out with the Cheekleaders palettes which include the same products but they have added a highlighter to each palette which is amazing! A highlight just completes this palette as it contains all three products that you use on the cheeks!

I highly recommend this palette and if I didn’t already have this I would definitely purchase the new ones!

What do you think of the Benefit face palettes? Let me know in the comments!

Click here to view product.

Click here to view the new Cheekleader palettes!