Talk about procrastination. I was supposed to do this post way over a month ago, but I just got extremely busy with school and all of that good stuff. But, now I finally have some time to share with you some beauty products I purchased, and give you all a little first impression on each of them. The following products were purchased over the span of about a month, and I have purchased quite some more goodies since this haul so expect to see a few more hauls coming your way soon!
First up, mascara. I had never tried Eyeko’s Deluxe Mascara Duo before and I saw this little beauty in the checkout line at Sephora– that’s how they get you! The blue colored mascara really intrigued me so I picked it up to try it out.
First Impression: I like both mascaras, but I would not say they are magical or anything. The package claims that these mascaras are dramatic, but I feel like they look natural. The blue mascara is one of my favorites because of the color. It isn’t obnoxiously blue, and it is really only noticeable in the sunlight.
NARS products are quickly becoming my favorite, and I literally cannot stop buying their blushes because they are just so darn amazing. The latest beauty I have added to my collection is Oasis, which is a dusty rose color with a slight golden/champagne shimmer running through it. I used to hate shimmery blushes, but now I’m obsessed mostly because I started using my NARS Super Orgasm blush again after I rediscovered it in my collection. Ever since then, I have been addicted to NARS blushes.
First Impression: I really love this color. It is the perfect dusty rose color because it gives the cheeks a natural flush and the shimmer adds just the right amount of glow. Some blushes can be chalky and powdery, but this is very smooth and goes on evenly.
The NARS eyeshadow in Persia is my first NARS eyeshadow and I love it. Don’t even get me started on the packaging; it’s so miniature and adorable!
First Impression: This eyeshadow is a super pigmented burnt orange color, and a little bit goes a long way. It is also very easy to build up if you want a more dramatic color, but it blends out beautifully. Personally, I like to use a light hand and to use it as a transition shade, but it is beautiful all over the lids as well. This shade looks gorgeous on medium to dark skin tones. If you have more fair skin, I feel like this could be a bit too much unless applied with a very soft hand and blended out really well.
MAC’s Prep + Prime Highlighter Pen in Bright Forecast has been a staple in my makeup collection for years now and I just can’t get enough. The second I run out, I have to run to MAC and get some more.
Mini Review: Since I have used this product for a long time now I can’t really do a first impression, but I can do a mini review. To cut to the chase, this is amazing, and if you love cream highlighting then this product is for you! (I am currently working on a full review so I don’t want to give too much away!) MAC has more colors depending on your skin tone, but this particular one has a peach undertone so it is great for medium tan skin.
MAC’s Face and Body Foundation has a cult following in the beauty world, and I have to say that I am now drinking the cult Koolaid.
First Impression: If you are looking for a full coverage foundation, this is not what you want because this foundation is very light. Although it is slightly buildable, don’t expect to get much coverage. The reason this foundation is so great is because it is so light on the skin. It is very blendable and leaves your skin looking very luminous and healthy, which is probably why so many people adore this foundation. So far, I am definitely a fan.
Tarte’s Maracuja Creaseless Concealer. I heard really great things about this concealer so I decided to pick it up one day while I was at Ulta.
First Impression: It is very thick, which makes it a little hard to blend out. Also, it is really hard to squeeze the concealer out of this tube. I’m not completely sure how I feel about this concealer as I haven’t played around with it too much. Once I use it a bit more, I will report back!
MAC’s Pro Longwear Concealer is another product loved by beauty junkies because it does not crease. This is my second time purchasing this concealer, and this time around I opted for one a few shades lighter than my skin so I could use it to highlight under my eyes.
Mini Review: If you want a full coverage concealer, this is your man! When I first swatched this on my hand I thought it would feel heavy on the skin because it is very opaque, but that’s not the case at all. Once you blend the product out, it looks extremely flawless. *Insert typical Beyonce “I woke up like dis” quote here.*
I love a good pop of color on the eyes using colored liner so when I saw these babies, I had to pick them up. Stila has been killing it lately with their colored eyeliners. Not only are they really pigmented, they are really easy to use and last a long time. I love Stila’s eyeliner pen in black so I had to pick this one up in Teal. I may or may not want to buy every color they own.
First Impression: The color is gorgeous. I haven’t worn this eyeliner yet, but I have swatched it a few times on my hand, and if it is anything like their black eyeliner pen, it will last all day. The brush on this pen makes it glide on beautifully and it helps with creating a gorgeous winged liner look.
Another Stila product I purchased is their retractable eyeliner in the color Julep, which is a gorgeous mint color. Perfect for the summer!
First Impression: The color is stunning and really pops on tan to dark skin. The formula is extremely creamy and glides on smoothly. The only problem I had with this product is the packaging because even though this looks like a retractable mechanical eyeliner, it isn’t! Sure, you can twist the bottom and the product comes out, but it doesn’t retract back, which is extremely irritating. Still, I can handle the annoyance because I love this color so so much.
Yes, I do buy a lot of MAC products, but it’s because they (for the most part), are extremely reliable. They aren’t too expensive and the products are pigmented and very blendable. MAC also carries a lot of extreme crazy colors when you go to a pro store, and that’s what I love about it. So you know I had to pick up their Chromaline in Marine.
First Impression: The consistency of this product can be a bit difficult to work with because it is slightly dry, but once you get the hang of it, it is stunning. This blue color is a very deep cobalt color and looks amazing on its own without any eyeshadow. I will most likely be picking up some more of these as well.. don’t judge!
Since we are on the subject of eyes, I purchased two MAC eyeshadows in Nylon and Saddle. Nylon is a very pale gold with a slight shimmer running through it and it has a frost finish. Saddle on the other hand is a matte orangey brown. In this photo it looks a lot darker than it is. In actuality, it is a medium-ish brown.
First Impression: Both of these are extremely pigmented and gorgeous. Nylon is a perfect inner corner highlight and Saddle is a great crease color. They aren’t powdery or chalky at all; they go on smoothly!
Sephora products are beginning to really impress me and their new Cream Lip Stains are amazing. This one in 02, Classic Beige, is a brown-nude color. Honeylove by MAC is a beige-nude and Yash is a deeper nude. Sephora’s lipstick in 01, Oh my Beige is just that.. very beige, and last is their Rouge Infusion Lip Stain in Beige Extract. I may be having a love affair with beige lip colors.
First Impressions: Sephora’s Cream Lip Stain in Classic Beige is very pigmented and, as the name states, creamy. I haven’t used this much, but so far I like the formulation. I don’t know if it leaves a stain on the lips, but I do want to try out more colors. Honeylove and Yash are gorgeous nude lipsticks, and they are perfect for medium skin tones that don’t want to look dehydrated when rocking a nude lipstick. Since these lipsticks are more brown or rosy toned, it doesn’t wash you out or make you look like you’re dying. Sephora’s lipstick in Oh my Beige does wash me out, but it is extremely creamy, smooth, and moisturizing. Their Rouge Infusion Lip Stain in Beige Extract is very sheer. I didn’t think it would be this sheer, and it doesn’t really stain the lips so I don’t know if I would repurchase this again. It does leave the lips feeling soft, but it feels slightly greasy, which isn’t a very favorable characteristic.
Lastly, I went to Lush and purchased the ever popular Mask of Magnaminty, which is supposed to help those who suffer with blemish prone skin because it deep cleans your pores and helps get rid of all the dirt that may be trapped inside.
First Impression: This mask is very very thick and since it has peppermint, it is very cooling and tingly. But, I find that it is a little too cooling on the skin so if you have sensitive skin, and mine can be sensitive at times, the cooling sensation could be a little painful. I haven’t used this regularly so I don’t know if it really works, but it did make my skin look a little brighter and it left my skin feeling soft so I will continue to use it and let you all know what I really think!
I also purchased the Love & Toast perfume in Gin Blossom, which has a very fresh citrus scent with a floral undertone. I really love this scent because it is light and airy, which is perfect for the hot summer seasons. On top of that, I also purchased the Shiseido Eyelash Curler, which curls your lashes beautifully! I previously used a random eyelash curler from Forever 21, and I must say spending the extra money for a good eyelash curler is a good investment.
Have you tried any of these products?
xx