GrandeLips by Grande Cosmetics Review

I received a sample size of this product in a recent #sephoraplay box and quickly fell in love. My go to lip gloss is NYX Butter Gloss but this is by far my favorite plumping lip gloss. 

I was using the sample in the morning as lip prep and then in the evening before bed, and when these popped up on Hautelook I grabbed a full size (Sunbaked Sedona) and a sample set of 4. 

The top 5 ingredients seem to be emollients, and skin conditioning agents, they site their Trademarked “Volulip” and Hyaluronic Acid as the “plumping” effect, but they are both quite far down on the ingredient list so I’m not sure about that claim. There is obviously an ingredient that causes irritation because as you can see in the picture below my arm did become red and irritated where the swatches were located and even an hour after I can tell a difference in skin color and texture on my arm.

The formula is non sticky and hydrating on the lips, there is a slight sweet taste and a barely noticeable “tingle”, and the plumping effect takes a few minutes to develop. I prefer the packaging / applicator of the sample sizes over the “click pen” of the full size. I find the full size releases product a little less consistently, but the product works so I’m ok to overlook that slight flaw. 

Bottom Line: I feel like the Hyaluronic Acid is the stand out ingredient which causes the plumping effect, and while there isn’t a significant difference, I notice it in my upper lip, which is the one I have seen a slight loss of volume in as I have aged. At $21 for the full size definitely pick these up on sale or HauteLook if you can.

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Week 27 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Makeup Revolution Chocolate Vice Palette

Honestly this palette does not bring me joy. This coming week is a short week, makeup wise, for me so I'm going to keep using it to see what else I can do with it. It's not that this is a bad palette and shadow formula it's just I have other palettes that perform better and isn't the whole point of this exercise to get more use out of the makeup I truly love!

Would I Repurchase?
I don't think so, I bought it during my "must have a complete set phase", and now that I have an overage of high end palettes with shadows that I like better I will probably pass this on to someone who would enjoy it more than I do.  

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation "Porcelain"

This foundation was the first High End foundation I ever bought coming in at $39 for 1 oz. of product. It is not thick or runny and it blends easily. As for coverage this is about as full coverage as I'm comfortable wearing.  Others who like more coverage would probably find this medium to full. I felt it covered most of my freckles and my under eye darkness with out the need of using a concealer, which makes me wonder if I could just use it as a concealer! While I don't think I look like I have no foundation on I definitely didn't look cakey, so as for looking as natural as you can with a medium/ full coverage foundation on, this one lives up to it's claims of "Born This Way".

Would I Repurchase? 
Yes! In the vein ofwanting to have a more full coverage option in my collection this is a wonderful choice for me.

Physicians Formula Super BB Bronzer & Blush "Light"

This is a nice bronzer and blush, it's not great but it's not terrible either. I think there are better Bronzer / Blush duo's on the market for a much cheaper price (I'm talking to you e.l.f.). Skip this one and pick up any one of the e.l.f. duo's for $6, the price, product, and packaging is primo! (haha I didn't mean to do that)

Would I Repurchase? 
No, in fact this one is going in my give away drawer

Hard Candy Bronzer "Tiki"

This doesn't look like much and it's one of those that doesn't even swatch very well, but it gives a beautiful highlight. It's not blinding but it is a wonderful natural everyday highlighter. 

Would I Repurchase?
Probably not, but only because I can think of other highlighters I like better in my collection, but if your looking for a natural everyday highlighter with a good price point this is a great one to consider.

Clinique Lash Builder Primer & High Impact Mascara

WOW I really like this Mascara, or at least the duo. I had no problem application wise and it made my lashes look great, it separated wonderfully and it didn't smudge on my lower lashes or transfer to my hood. I also tried the mascara on its own and it ran with just minimal moisture and in our Alabama humidity that's never good, but used in conjunction with the primer I give it 2 thumbs up.

Would I Repurchase?
I'm not sure, but I makes me want to go out and buy a drugstore primer and see how it affects the wear of my mascara that didn't perform too well. 

Well that's it for this weeks picks, I hope you guys found my thoughts and reviews helpful, please comment down below with any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, as I am new at this I welcome them.

Any Links provided are for helpful purposes only, I have NO affiliation with any brands!

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Week 26 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Week 26 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick "Shell"

The lighting makes this look much darker than it actually is.

This foundation was crazy hyped on Youtube and IG and I had been wanting to try it but could not bring myself to pay the $46 price tag, so I was glad to get this in my August Sephora Play Box. This gives medium to full coverage and would be buildable, I feel, if I had tried.  I think this foundation is one that looks great for photo's because when I applied it both days I looked great far away but when I got up close in the mirror I definitely noticed some issues. I used both a damp sponge and a brush to apply and both days it seemed to just sit on my skin. Now I have normal skin with no issues to speak of (no pores, redness, acne, imperfections, texture...), and I experienced so many issues that I have only heard about in You Tube videos.The first day I wore this I made the mistake of getting slightly, and I mean slightly, sweaty at work, and man this foundation separated from my face terribly (so that's what they mean when they say it's separating. As I said it sat on my face but somehow settled into my few lines, accentuated my almost non existent pores and collected around my nose looking cakey. All in all I am glad I got this as a sample and I never paid full price for this product. 

I would not purchase nor would I repurchase!

Too Faced Sweet Peach Line

Let me start by saying the Sweet Peach line and its scent may not be for everyone. It has a strong peach scent that can be detected around a room while its open. If you like the scent of peaches and you don't mind a slightly artificial peach scent then this will likely not bother you. Once the palette is closed the scent does not linger heavily, I do find I may catch a wiff from time to time throughout the day, but its momentary. Another fun fact about all of Too Faced Peach and Chocolate themed products is they taste sweet as well, YES I have had occasion to taste my makeup and there is a sweet taste to it. Which I think might be nice during certain occasions, just use your imagination because I'm not going to spell it out for you. Wink Wink!

Sweet Peach Palette

I really love this palette and I think I can get some very different looks from it. I am a huge fan of the Too Faced eyeshadow formulation, especially for fast makeup application. I can swirl/tap/press/scrape or otherwise abuse the shadows with my brush and don't end up with a mess on myself or my vanity. While I don't mind shadows with a kick up, I do find I need to take more care with placement and that's just not my makeup game on a Monday morning. 
I heard some influencers commenting on how they didn't get the color selection, but if you you have ever cut into a peach you can see that they hit the nail on the head with the colors. The shades "White Peach" and "Peaches 'n Cream" are great as a base and "Nectar" is a beautiful highlight. I enjoy "Just Peachy" and "Candied Peach" as a transition shade when I'm wanting a little more color. My favorite look was "Bless Her Heart" packed all over my mobile lid then blended out with "Candied Peach". On a side note I find that any Too Faced shadow that has visible particles of glitter in it (example "Talk Derby To Me" and "Candied Peach") will ultimately end up being a matte shadow. I don't know where the glitter goes because I never see it on my face, so no worries in that department.

"Papa Don't Peach" Blush

This is a beautiful peachy blush with a slight gold shift. It has enough of a sheen that I didn't find it necessary to apply a highlight for the day. I prefer this to it's counterpart in the Peach Glow Palette. 

Would I Repurchase? Yes

Sweet Peach Glow Palette

So this is a wonderful all in one palette, the blush leans toward a satin finish which pairs nicely with the Highlighter which is a little more subtle. The bronzer is very natural as well, so perfect for an everyday work appropriate look.  If your just getting into higher end makeup, you're into the Too Faced aesthetic and want a Blush, Highlighter, and Bronzer together I think this is a wonderful option. Bottom line they are all beautiful and I'm happy they are in my collection. If you have a favorite highlighter and bronzer and like the Peach color go with the "Papa Don't Peach" blush.

Would I Repurchase? I don't think so, but not because it's a bad product, I just have highlighters I like better, I'm not a huge bronzer wearer and I prefer the "Papa Don't Peach" Blush. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

I do not like this mascara, I don't like the formula or the wand/applicator! The formula causes clumpy lashes for me and the brush is much too big for my small hooded eyes.The "hourglass" shape of the brush seems to pull my lashes in giving more of a "doll eye" effect and I prefer my outer lashes to pull out toward the corner for a more lifted "butterfly" look, which looks better with my hooded eyes and eye shape. My daughter on the other hand LOVES this mascara, so if you have the option to snag a Deluxe Sample during a sale or as an add on in a order give it a try.

Would I Repurchase? NO

Too Faced Le Creme Lipstick 

I really do like these lipsticks, just not for their longevity.  Most of them are opaque  and the formula is creamy and hydrating on the lips, if you are the kind of person who doesn't mind touching up regularly throughout the day then these are wonderful. They do transfer to whatever touches your lips but they fade nicely, I also don't get any feathering or Kool-aid mouth to speak. I like them best with a lip liner and they last longer if you fill in with the liner then apply these over. Also Too Faced gives the best names to their lipsticks, I have several I would never have occasion to wear simply because of the name. That pink on the far left is "Clueless", what Clueless fan wouldn't want to own that.

Would I Repurchase? Honestly, No. I think I would have focused on getting more of the La Matte line I think I like those much better, but I will keep them in my collection.

Well that's it for this weeks picks, I hope you guys found my thoughts and reviews helpful, please comment down below with any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, as I am new at this I welcome them.

Any Links provided are for helpful purposes only, I have NO affiliation with any brands!

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Week 25 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Week 25 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Sorry if this is late I've got some back issues going on and typing/computer use does not help it!

L'Oreal True Match Lumi "N1-2"

This combo was beautiful, two on my favorites together on my face. I've already talked about the L'Oreal Pro Glow concealer so I won't talk about it again. The Lumi foundation has been a favorite for years and I am actually on my second bottle, and for someone who is always buying and trying new foundation that's saying something. This has a thin consistency, has light coverage and blends beautifully with both a sponge and brush. Two pumps is sufficient for my application needs.

Would I Repurchase? 
Yes, this one is almost gone and I will buy another bottle.

Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2

So let me give you a little bit of background about Makeup Revolution they are a relatively new UK based makeup brand that just recently started being sold in Ulta. Not to put too fine a point on it they specialize in "dupes" for high end brands. They are NOT fakes, but "dupes". A lot got stirred up around them recently when Kat Von D discovered they had "duped" her "Shade and Light" Palette with their ever-so-affordable "Light and Shade" Palette. (I think they could have done a better job with the name)
Here is my two cents if your interested. Until recent years American Brands didn't always ship internationally and if they did the shipping and duties were astronomical, so I believe they started "duping" hard to get makeup products and palettes as a way to offer comparable products to UK buyers. Make your own decision if that is right or wrong but that's my opinion of the situation. Now on to the review...
This palette is a not so sublte nod to the Lorac Pro 2 Palette and if you're on a budget and have been wanting the Lorac Pro 2 Palette this palette is for you. I have never used nor do I own any Lorac Pro Palettes but I have played with them in the store and while these may be a great option and give beautiful results, the feel of the product is very different. Lorac shadows are so soft, buttery, and almost creamy to the touch whereas these definitely feel much harder and chalkier. As I said they preform beautifully and I think if one were to do a side-by-side eye look comparison no difference could be detected. 

Would I Repurchase?
I went through a Makeup Revolution buying spree a while back during the darkest days of my shopping addiction and that how this, and many others, ended up in my collection. 
Am I glad this is in my collection....Yes. 
Would I repurchase....probably not. 
Will I purge this....?

NYX Cosmetics Baked Blush "Ignite"

These NYX baked blushes are great for a subtle flush of color and as with many baked products, if you find you aren't getting a good payoff, take a tissue or paper towel and rub it over the baked surface to "break up" the top layer. I may sound weird and I don't know why baked products have this issue but it works. Okay back to the product review, it's interesting how the more makeup you use you discover that items you once loved aren't as great as you thought they were. As I said these give a nice subtle flush and while I once loved this I now find I need a little bit more, maybe it's to buildable if that makes sense. I need a little more color payoff out of the gate than these are giving me. I could see this being a wonderful product for a young girl just starting out in makeup. As a mom you wouldn't want her to have too much makeup on but a youthful flush is just right. So all in all a good product but it's just not for me anymore.

Would I Repurchase? No.
Will I Purge this....probably

 Covergirl The Super Sizer Fibers

I'm not a fan of this mascara mainly because of the wand not the formula! I wanted to like it because Emilynoel83 just gushes about it. The wand is very different and she says there is a bit of a learning curve. I tried to figure that curve out for the week but I never found myself looking forward to applying mascara, on the contrary I almost dreaded it. I believe the proper application (from Covergirl) is to pull the wand from the base of the lashes starting with the "flat" portion then roll the wand at the end of the lashes, or something similar to that, it's not listed on their site. Because of the wand it's difficult to give an assessment of the formula, maybe with a more normal (to me) wand I would have loved it. Don't get me wrong I was able to make it work but it just took too long to get things declumped and blah, blah, blah. I can say it didn't smudge or transfer to my lower lash line which is a problem I have with many mascaras. I may try it with another wand, I save wands from mascaras that I like for just this reason. LOL

Would I Repurchase?
No

MAC Strobe Cream

Okay, so, funny story, I didn't like this on initial application so I put it aside and grabbed a highlighter I know I love, I was like what is this because it didn't seem to do anything. Then I went on MAC's website and apparently its not a liquid highlighter it's "A moisturizer that boosts the look of dull skin and luminizes with iridescent particles." Well no wonder I didn't like it as a highligher, but isn't strobing a form or highlighting so...what gives with the name.

Milani Amore Mattallics Lip Cream

These colors are stunning!

I wanted to love these so much! Upon initial application the formula is wonderful, not too drying, they smell great, apply lovely

but...

Here is the thing about Liquid Matte Lipsticks, they are not very forgiving on older lips and even less forgiving when the finish is metallic. These lipsticks are really for IG / Youtubers to look flawless for an hour while filming and taking pictures then take that shiz off. The draw of this type of formula is for women that don't want to have to touch up every hour or so, they want to apply and still have lipstick on at the end of an 8 hour day. Many formulas give quite long wear time but you better not enjoy a meal with any type of oil in it or your going to need to check that you're not channeling your inner "Chola".  

Now, me personally I'm not asking for 8 hours of wear time, I think that's unreasonable and I don't want my poor lips to pay the price for that long wear. I'm good to make it to lunch then re-apply, I also look for an even fade, which can be difficult with darker more vibrant colors but it's doable.

Back to the Milani Lip Creams at hand, I find that, while these may make it to lunch intact, they wear off unevenly and fade in a very unflattering manner. Then once re-applied the longevity is seriously compromised. Also the metallic finish even more accentuates the lines of my almost 40 something lips, even when I exfoliate and moisturize.

This is at the end of the work day even after post lunch reapplication.

Needless to say as much as I want to love these they just aren't for me. I have several Matte Lipsticks in bullet form that wear better than these and look better on my lips as well.

Makeup Revolution "Iconic Matte Revolution" Lipstick is a wonderful long lasting, non-drying option that I personally love, and has a great price point.

Would I Repurchase...No!

Will I Purge this...Yes!

Well that's it for this weeks picks I hope you guys found my thoughts and reviews helpful, please comment down below with any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, as I am new at this I welcome them.

Any Links provided are for helpful purposes only, I have NO affiliation with any brands!

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Week 24 Makeup Debrief and Would I Repurchase?

Week 24 Makeup Debrief and Would I Repurchase?

Too Faced Peanut Butter and Honey Palette

"Creamed Honey"   "Peanut Butter"   "Going Nuts"

"Bee Sweet"    "Honey Brittle"    "Bee's Knees"

"Queen Bee"    "Honey Buns"    "Feelin Nutty"

As with most Too Faced Palettes I enjoyed this one. What can I saw I really enjoy Too Faced Shadow Formulation and I really enjoy these smaller palettes (except the Rock n Roll one) I find it very easy to do a beautiful, no thought needed eye look with each row shadows. My favorite this week was row 2, I set my primer with "Bee Sweet" all over the lid up to the brow bone, "Bee's Knees" packed on the lid, "Honey Brittle" to blend it out smoothly. I find that any TF shadows that contain individually visible particles of glitter end up being matte, after application any glitter particles have been blended away.

Would I Repurchase?
Yes.

Maybelline Bouncy Blush "Coffee Cake"

This formula is wonderful to give a nice natural flush to the cheeks, I use an ELF Small Stipple Blush to apply. I have about 6 different shades in this line but this color doesn't do much for me.

Would I Repurchase?

No, I'm not really a fan of this color, I enjoy the flush that the formula can give when using the right color.

Mac Face and Body Foundation "C3"

and

L'Oreal Pro Glow Concealer "01 Classic Ivory"

This is my second week using these because I am loving this combo so much. How did it take me so long to find these. Oh, that's right the concealer is a new release and going into a MAC store intimidates me. 😅 I really enjoy lightweight foundations, especially in this Alabama heat and humidity, and this one is so easy to apply with my fingers. It's semi-fluid and once you start smoothing it over the skin you will feel it start to "pull" slightly as it is setting, once it gets to that point gently smooth in a downward motion to lay down any peach fuzz, then let it set. (Check out Wayne Goss for his application process) I use a single ply tissue to lightly press onto my face and absorb any residual moisture and I'm good to go for the day without setting. 
It looks beautiful over the Becca Backlight Priming Filter and I tried mixing it in with CoverFX Custom Cover Drops for a bit more coverage but I just didn't look as beautiful. Same with mixing it with a product like Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector or Sephora Radiant Luminizing Drops.

Would I Repurchase?
Yes!

Mac False Lashes Mascara "False Black"

I was underwhelmed by this mascara, I got it as a sample in an order from Nordstrom. It's more of a dry formula that doesn't really give length or volume, though my lashes were very fluffy and never clumpy, this gave a very your lashes but better natural effect.

Would I Repurchase?

Probably not.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Sundipped Palette "Bronzed"

This is a beautiful palette and product so i completely understand why it's so hyped up. "Bronzed" is too much for me in my pale condition but I think if I was still Tanning during the summer It would be beautiful. I actually ended up using "Summer". These work wonderfully as eye shadow too.

Would I Repurchase?
If I was able to just get "Summer" and "Moonstone" I would probably just get those two as singles.

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Week 23 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

​Week 23  Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase"

NYX Cosmetics Mineral Stick Foundation "Porceline"

This formula went on with ease and blended out nicely with both Beauty Blender and brush. I used my ELF "Foundation Blurring Brush" and buffed it in quickly with no streaks. The coverage was light to medium and seemed buildable. I'm not really the type who likes to set my makeup I prefer a natural glow but I don't want it to just sit on my skin, transfering to everything my face comes in contact with either and this kind of did that. I think this would be worth a try for people who want a little glow but need or like to set their makeup with a powder. These would also be lovely as a contour stick as well especially, as I said, if you like to set your cream contour with a powder.

(See my post regarding my skin type and my qualifications to judge a foundation)

Would I Repurchase? 

Probably not, but that's completely due to my preferred application and wear style and has nothing to do with the product. Once I use up my other contour products I may purchase one for cream contour.

Tarte Dark Circle Defense Corrector "light-medium"

This worked nicely to correct my under eye darkness but it certainly didn't layer well with my new favorite concealer (L'Oreal Pro Glow Concealer). This is very thick which didn't do much to help my under eye dryness. 

Would I Repurchase?  

I was given this by my mother but no i don't think I would.

On a side note regarding concealer, I recently purchased the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Face Powder which contains Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid*) so I will be going back through my "keep' and "maybe" concealers to see how they perform with that powder.

Too Faced Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette

Let me start by saying I love Too Faced shadows and I love their aesthetic, some may think its very cutesy and child like but I think I have a VERY child like soul, so it speaks me. It reminds me of my childhood, in particular Sanrio Surprise  AKA Hello Kitty, which was so my thing when I was a child.

Too Faced shadows are smooth and soft with very little kick up, so if kick up bothers you, go with them all the way. I also think they are a good options for someone who is not completely new to makeup but wants to dip their toe into the higher end makeup pool. They don't have a ton of pigment so I think they are wonderful for someone who likes to build up product as opposed to laying it all down and blending for hours on end. I enjoy the shadow formula, application and colors of many of their products. 

This is the first time I have used this palette for for any length of time.

(yes thats how many palettes I have, and that's why i'm undertaking my #oneweekonepalette challenge)

I am usually very hurried in the morning, about 10-15 minutes late to work everyday, so I went with very comfortable neutral looks, which I hate, but I know they have their place! I want to be able to work that blue in with ease and not have it be a big think fest for me.

All in all this is a great palette, do you need this one and the Chocolate Bar probably not, pick one that speaks to you color wise and you can't go wrong.

Would I Repurchase?

No, I think I like the colors from the Chocolate Bar Palette better, I mainly got this palette to see what all the fuss over the shade "Peanut Butter" was. At this point I pretty much buy Too Faced Palettes to keep my collection as complete as possible and for the aesthetic.

Physician Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush "Natural"

I love these PF blushes, I love the way they look and I love the subtle buildable formula. As with eyeshadow I can be heavy handed so I appreciate a product that helps me out in that regard. They have a slight sheen giving it a nice glow but no individual shinny particles are detectable. Does this do anything to "Boost my Mood"? Maybe not, but seeing it in my drawer and using it makes me happy so I guess it's doing something.

Would I Repurchase?

Yes I would for some reason these make me happy, there is even a third one I have yet to get. I will be keeping these in my collection.

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Finishing Powder "Brighten" (Discontinued)

This may be considered a finishing powder but for me it works better as a highlighter. It's like it's too shimmery as finishing powder but not shimmery enough for a highlight, unless you are going for a very subtle highlight. I guess this would work for an oily skin person using a matte foundation to give a little dimension and glow back but dewy/ glowy foundations have come so far since this was on the market that this is a little overkill as a "finishing" powder.

Would I Repurchase? Duh!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

Disclaimer, this has been in my collection for a LONG ASS TIME, so it is probably nothing like it's original formula. Tarte claims this mascara is Lengthening, Volumizing, and Curls your lashes. The wand is a full fluffy bristle type and the formula goes on easy with little clumping. As usual my test of a mascara is whether I have to use my "fluffer" tool to declump and separate the lashes after the fact. With this I did no need to do that so it's a thumbs up for me. It removed easily and didn't migrate to my lower lash/lid area by the end of the day.

Would I Repurchase? 

I actually already did, I snagged the LE Unicorn packaging off of HauteLook lust last week!

Velvet 59 "Contour Is A Girls Best Friend" Palette

 

I had been wanting to try this indie brand since I first saw them in an IG post a year or two ago. They recently showed up on HauteLook so I figured 'why not" at a reduced price. I had also been wanting a cream contour palette. This palette has two matte highlight colors and one shimmery one, then a light, medium, dark contour offering. I will probably only ever use the shimmer highlighter and the light (and maybe medium) contour shades. I do appreciate that the pans come out and the packaging is beautiful. The cream is soft & smooth, applies and blends out easily, my only issue is they could have been a little more grey toned to create a more natural shadow, but that is color preference on my end.

Would I Repurchase? 

Probably not but this will be in my collection for a while so by then there will be something else worth trying.

I hope you all enjoy my thoughts and reviews, and please comment down below your thoughts on the products I used this past week.

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Week 22 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Week 22 Makeup Debrief and "Would I Repurchase?"

Week 22 Makeup

This week I used the It Cosmetics "Je ne sais qui" Palette for my blush, contour/bronzer, highlight and setting powder. My daughter gave me this for Christmas and I mainly keep it in my travel bag because it is such a compact packaging. The products themselves are buildable which I feel is perfect for someone new too makeup. The final look is very natural and beautiful. All in all an excellent product, with excellent packaging. I'm very happy and thankful to my sweet girl for gifting me this to have as part of my collection. 

Would I repurchase? Most certainly yes!

Foundation this week was the J Cat Beauty Cushion Compact. This is a beautiful product in a in an equally beautiful package. It has light to medium buildable coverage that takes some time to set on its own but leaves a luminous finish. If you are a lover of cushion foundations I would certainly recommend giving it a try. Now for my thoughts on cushion foundation, east vs. west mentality and application. I love the idea of cushion foundations and have owned several, even going as far as making a DIY one, but have come to the conclusion that they are not practical for my hurried makeup routine. They are wonderful to refill with your favorite waterweight type foundation for on the go touch ups, travel, etc. but I feel like I’m defeating the whole concept of the cushion and puff if I find it easier to dab my brush in and go to town.  I think this is the consensus among many other women as well, as I see so many comments in reviews stating "I threw away the puff and just use a brush". The whole aesthetic behind cushion foundations seems to lend itself to a very Zen place of doing makeup. Pressing and rolling the puff over the skin in a very deliberate way, and while I LOVE the idea of that, when I only have 15 minutes to get ready I don’t have time for that. 

Would I repurchase? Probably not, just because of the reasons stated above.

L'Oreal Pro Glow Concealer "01 Classic Ivory" is I think my HOLY GRAIL concealer! The applicator is more of a paddle doe foot which holds enough product to easily do one eye with each side. The consistency is very thin almost runny so it takes some time to set on its own but gives me little to no creasing. I tried a trick Jackie Aina recommended which is letting it sit for a minute or two before blending it out and that worked beautifully. Since I started using this I have not needed to set my under eye, they never look dry and any creasing that may occur is minuscule. 

Would I repurchase? Emphatic YES!!!

This weeks Mascara came in my August Sephora Play box. I was so excited to get the It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara as I kept hearing such great things about it. It Cosmetics claims this gives "super volume, super length and super elastic stretch in just one coat!" Application was SUPER easy with no extra fuss and I loved the way my lashes turned out. It did transfer slighly to my lower lid/skin area, but I just won’t use it for my lower lashes and problem solved. Removal was a little mor difficult as my normal oil cleanser did not remove this fully, and it removes the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof with no problems. All in all one of the top mascaras in my collection.

Would I repurchase? This was a sample, but I would seriously consider buying this for my collection once I work my way through my mascara collection.

I also used the NYX Cosmetics Wonderstick “Light” for contour which I got after watching Stephanie Nicole's KKW Contour review. It applies easily, blends nicely and doesn’t look muddy or too orange on my skintone. I will continue to use it, though I don’t really highlight the way many people do with the light color so that end of the stick may not get used much. 

Would I repurchase? The jury is still out but I will use it up, and maybe test the highlight as a concealer.  

I hope you guys liked this weeks "Makeup Debrief" and let me know if you decide to purchase any of these or if you already have them what are your thoughts.

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Juvia's Place July Palette Review

Well Juvia's Place July is over and I have mixed feelings about these palettes. Let me first say the shadow quality is OUTSTANDING and this review comes down to personal preference. I purchased three palettes from Juvia's Place: The Nubian, The Nubian 2, and The Masquerade Mini. I will post pictures then my thoughts and comments on the palettes.

Notes on swatches: unless otherwise stated I always lay down a primer (Milani this time), the first swatch is always a finger swatch, the second is always a brush swatch (Flat Shader for Matte shadows, MAC 242 for Shimmer shadows), any small third swatch is made with an old school foam eye shadow applicator (*read my notes on that at the end of the post).

The Nubian
Juvia's Place website states "four transition matte and eight shimmery pearl textured colors".

First Row

Second Row

Third Row

In the picture just above I swatched two of, what I consider "satin" shimmer shadows.  
(I use Milani eye primer as my base and a MAC 242 for any shimmer shadow)
First Swatch: Finger 
Second Swatch: Old School foam eyeshadow applicator *
Third Swatch: Dry MAC 242
Fourth Swatch: MAC 242 sprayed with MAC Fix+ before and after shadow

Here you can see just how "textured" some of them are

In the picture just above I swatched two "textured" shimmer shadows.  

(I use Milani eye primer as my base and a MAC 242 for any shimmer shadow)

First Swatch: Finger 

Second Swatch: Old School foam eyeshadow applicator*

Third Swatch: Dry MAC 242

Fourth Swatch: MAC 242 sprayed with MAC Fix+ before and after shadow

You can see above just how chunky the textured shadows are, I personally don't like these because of that. The fall out was INSANE (see the short video below)

The Nubian 2
Juvia's Place website states "four matte colors and eight metallic colors".

 First Row

 Second Row

Third Row

The Masquerade Mini

First Row

Zola Closeup

Second Row

Makeda Closeup

Third Row

Fourth Row

As I said all of the shadows are wonderful quality and pigmentation. The best way for me to describe the shadow finish in these palettes is: matte, "satin" shimmer, and "textured" shimmer.

I enjoyed the matte and "satin" the most and find the "textured" shadows difficult to work with in regards to my hooded eyes, they transfer to my hood and accentuate the crepiness of my eyelids.  The mattes are not hard and chalky, they do have a slight amount of kick up but its not terrible and they blend wonderfully. The "satin" & "textured" shimmers are smooth and "creamy" to the touch but the "textured" ones are difficult for me to use with my hooded eyes, even with a glitter type primer. If I planned on using any of the "textured" shadows I must do my eyes first due to the amount of fall out. I am a creature of habit and find this to be a pain, so sue me.

I think The Nubian is my favorite of the three with The Masquerade Mini being a wonderful companion. I love the orangey/warm tone of all the shadows in these two, the colorful shades really are stunning and I don’t really have anything like it in my collection. Honestly my goal is to be able to work more colors like these into my looks with ease. 

I personally could live with out The Nubian 2.

I had ordered The Saharan Palette and matching Saharan Blush Palette at the same time I ordered these three and there was mess up with Hautelook and I never got those two palettes (I did get a refund) and in retrospect I'm glad that I didn't get them, I'm happy with The Nubian and The Masquerade Mini. They helped get the hype of Juvia's Place out of my system with as little monetary damage as possible. HAHA

Would I repurchase? The Nubian…YES, The Masquerade Mini...Maybe, The Nubian 2...No. Not because they are in any way a bad product, because they are wonderful! It simply comes down to personal preference. 

Notes on use of "Old School" foam eye shadow applicator.

I'm sure I am in the minority but these are wonderful for the application of any shimmer type shadow, especially for those who aren't interested in purchasing an extra product such as MAC Fix+ (or any setting spray) to "foil" the shadows. They pick up the product as a finger would but alternately releases the product much more readily than your finger. Also for those with long nails, using your finger can be difficult. Who cares what those snotty influencers say, give it a try you might be pleasantly surprised!

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