It's called "Barbados in a box" and it's just that. This is my everyday bronzer, and when I try to use something else, I just don't like it as much as this one. The packaging is very different. It's in a neat little box. It's actually the only thing that bugs me about it because the bronzer is located pretty far down in the box, so there is not a lot of room for your brush to move around, but I make it work just fine. The original brush that is included in the bronzer is a flat contour brush that gets into the hollow of your cheek great, but it sheds a lot, so I quit using it. The color may look too dark for fair skin, but it is actually a very buildable bronzer. I think the color is gorgeous on just about anyone. It is incredible on slightly tan to really tan skin. I would advise if you are really fair, to use just enough to see slightly, but too much will make fair skin look muddy. I mainly use this bronzer to contour my cheekbones. I use a little bit to bronze my forehead, chin, nose and jawline.
The brush I use is my e.l.f. Blush Brush. I like to have an angle in my brush, and the tip gets right into the hollow of my cheek. In the hollow of my cheek, I will do a straight pass, than go over it with very small circles so it blends in. I do the bronzer first before I put blush on the top of my cheek. If you want your face to lose a few pounds, this is definitely the way to do it! You can purchase the Hoola by Benefit bronzer for $28 HERE You can purchase the e.l.f. blush brush for a couple of bucks at Target or anywhere where e.l.f is sold *** I am not affiliated in any way with other people mentioned or products
mentioned. This is my own personal opinion on this purchased item and how I apply it***
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I was in my Nordstrom training yesterday with a gorgeous Polynesian girl that wore an outfit similiar to this one (hence the name of the outfit... inspiration). The outfit I put together is slightly different, but with the concept, patterns and colors she wore. It was so stylish and cute!!! Blazer: Boohoo Lyla Striped Peplum Blazer $40. Purchase HERE
Tee: Dorothy Perkins Love Tee $21. Purchase HERE Pants: Abercrombie Jeggings $24.50 On Sale. Purchase HERE Earrings: Piperlime Round Cabachon Stud Earrings $16. Purchase HERE Handbag: Jack Wills Ebley Bag $59.50. Purchase HERE Shoes: Boohoo Dolly Western Peeptoe $90. Purchase HERE Necklace: (Similiar) Sayuri Statement Necklace $37. Purchase HERE I have used many hair tools over the years, and I have definitely found my favorites in the hair straightener and blowdryer categories. As for the straightener........ The Sedu Revolution Straightener I have owned the Chi straightener, and liked it. It was the best straightener I had used. I had owned several kinds that were less expensive, and they did not work well and created "hot spots" on my hair. My Chi decided to quit working one day, so I was in the market for a straightener. I had heard really good things about Sedu, but they are more expensive than Chi, and I didn't know if I was willing to pull out the dough for a more expensive straightener. I decided to research straighteners for about 2 hours one night; read all the reviews, weighed out the benefits, and the Sedu seemed to be a favorite of others and sounded like a really well-built tool. I will tell you that I don't regret shelling out the cash for this straightener! I have owned it for 3 years (My Chi died after 2 years) and it just keeps doing what it needs to do. I love the Sedu, because the heat spreads evenly through the plates, and does not give those "hot spots" that destroy your hair. My hair is super shiny after I use it, and the best part about it that my Chi did not have, was an adjustable temperature dial! I don't want my flat iron at 450° on my hair! I like to use the minimum amount of heat possible to straighten, or curl my hair (which I keep mine at about 280°-300°). It goes all the way down to 170°. I also used to get my hair caught in the folding part of the Chi and it would rip my hair out. I have never had that happen with my Sedu! There is a light that indicates when the iron is hot enough. It changes from orange to green. It is a really quick process to heat up. I have also dropped it many times and it has not broken yet. In my opinion, this flat iron is the best quality I have ever used, and the least damaging with the nano tourmaline ionic plates. On folica.com (which is where I purchased mine) the flat iron received a 4.5 out of 5 in the reviews ratings with 1,000 reviews. That is a good product! You can read the reviews yourself if you would like. It gets rave reviews for sure. The flat iron is normally $200, but it's on sale and has free shipping right now for $159.99 HERE Moving on to my favorite blowdryer........ The Bed Head Tigi Ionic 1875W Blowdryer I have also owned many blowdryers and used many blowdryers from friends, my mom, etc.... over the years, and nothing has compared to this blowdryer. The reason it is so good, is because it literally dries my hair in half the time of other blowdryers I had used, and seemed less damaging. I have probably owned this blowdryer for just about 10 years, and it is still going super strong! It comes with your standard Hot/Warm and High/Low buttons. It also has a cold burst button in the front you can push with your thumb if it is getting too hot that will blow out cooler air. It also has a removeable piece in the back where the intake air flow is, and you can clean out the hair and gunk that gets trapped on the intake. Super easy! The blowdryer also has ionic technology that is less damaging for your hair. I love the texture of my hair right after I blowdry it with this blowdryer. If you are in the market for a new blowdryer, I suggest this one! It is about $28 at Target, or wherever Bed Head hair tools are sold. They will look different since this one is so old. They are pink and grey now. Just as sleek, with the same wattage and ionic technology. *** I am not affiliated in any way with other people mentioned or products
mentioned. This is my own personal opinion on this purchased item*** Sorry my posts are so spontaneous with the times I post them. I started a new job, in addition to my current job at Pottery Barn. I am now the Counter Brand Manager/Makeup Artist for Shiseido Cosmetics and Skincare at Nordstrom. I start my job shadow tomorrow, but I am in a lot of training, so I don't have a whole lot of time lately to post, but I try to almost every day. I am sure I will be featuring some Shiseido, along with some other new brands pretty soon. Ok... back to my current blush and blush brush: My current blush I am using just about everyday is this Jordana Coral Sandy Beach 38 Blush Powder. I do own NARS Super Orgasm, but it has some serious gold flaking that is better for a night look. This Jordana powder is the perfect shade of coral for any skin type! Literally! You can layer it on as dark or light as you want. It gives the perfect shade for looking healthy and fresh. The downside to this blush is the short life it has. The color is so pretty, but you have to layer on more than you think you want for it to last longer since it fades throughout the day (even with a primer and foundation). It is extremely inexpensive at $2.49 HERE Moving on to my current blush brush: The Bobbi Brown Blush Brush..... this brush is fantastic! I don't regret buying it at all, but I am sure that a cheaper blush brush would do the trick as well. I like that the bristles on this brush are soft but compact so I have control where the blush is going. I am always spot on with my blush application because this brush blends the blush onto the cheeks so well. The brush is not too long or short. It's the perfect length for application, and it does not shed. It can also be used as a contour brush as well. I started to use it as such, but I like to use a smaller brush to get right into the hollow of my face. It is a good quality brush but a little expensive at $50 HERE *** I am not affiliated in any way with other people mentioned or products
mentioned. This is my own personal opinion on this purchased item*** Jacket: Hollister Point Mugu Denim Jacket $59.50 HERE
Tank: Just use any white tank Skirt: Gray/Black Striped Foldover Waist Maxi Skirt $16.50 HERE Handbag: Michael Kors Hamilton Satchel $298 HERE (You can find one similiar at Ross or TJMaxx) Bracelets: Similiar - 2b San Diego Spiked Bangle Set $15.95 HERE Earrings: Blue Bijoux Onyx Chandelier Earrings $26 HERE Shoes: Similiar - Guess Rana Sandals $48.30 HERE My sister wrote me a text today asking "I want an eyeshadow palette with fun summer colors. I like more of a neutral eye, what do you suggest?" I thought instantly of the BH Cosmetics Day & Night Eyeshadow Palette because of it's wide variety of fun colors mixed with a ton of neutral ones without paying a boatload for a lot of different choices. This is one of those things I ordered that I did not have the highest expectations about because of how cheap this palette was! I was pleasantly surprised as to how things really turned out. The palette has 60 colors total with the left side of the colors being a "day look" side and the right side is a "night look", hence the name of the palette; BH Day & Night. When I first got the palette in the mail, I took it out and opened it. I smelled a really strong plastic smell, and thought that I couldn't possibly put that on my face! It confirmed my idea of it being really cheaply made with eyeshadows that might end up burning my eyelids off with chemicals. I soon found out that it is the plastic casing that smells that way. The eyeshadows don't have a smell at all. To add to my skepticism, the shadows looked like they could possibly be super sheer with low quality, since that is the way they looked at first. I decided to try it....... and I completely changed my thoughts! The eyeshadows are actually really pigmented and a really smooth and creamy consistency. They are really nice on, and blend really well. There are so many colors to choose from, and it seems as though a few colors are duplicated, but for the price, who cares! The intense chemically plastic smell goes away quickly so that you can stand to use it without smelling the casing. BH Cosmetics also has some really good brushes for extremely cheap! You can buy a whole brush set for under $30. I would recommend using these eyeshadows with an eyelid primer such as the Lime Crime one I suggested in my first post, because it keeps the color from fading and creasing throughout the day. You can purchase this 60 color Day & Night Eyeshadow Palette on sale for $12.50 HERE You can also purchase the Lime Crime Eyeshadow Helper Primer for $16.99 HERE (This stuff sounds expensive, but it actually lasts a long time!) *** I am not affiliated in any way with other people mentioned or products
mentioned. This is my own personal opinion on this purchased item*** Pants: 2b Color Punch Jeggings $19.99 HERE
Top: Star Wars Graphic Tee $14.94 HERE Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor $50 HERE Bracelets: Monochrome Plastic Bangle Bracelet $17 HERE Beaded Blue Chain Bracelet $6 HERE Nail Polish: Find at most beauty stores and grocery stores. OPI Shatter in Black Earrings: Large Hoop silver earrings can be bought anywhere You never know how a piece of makeup is going to look until you get it home and try it on. There are always going to be those pieces where you regret buying them. Certain things don't always work for everyone's skin type, color or preference. While these may work for others, they certainly didn't work for me!!! Sunday Riley Modern Lip Color in French Nude 108 The color is gorgeous! The packaging is high-quality. Really nice and solid. The problem with this lipstick is the texture. I felt as though I was trying to apply dried up wall spackle to my lips. You have to push really hard to get anything to transfer to your lips, and the formula was soooo DRY! No moisture at all! Because of that, the color hardly shows up. It was almost a chalky texture. This lip color was a total bummer for me since it costs just as much as a Giorgio Armani lipstick (which I LOVE). I tried it, and decided to give it another go..... it did not change my mind. Super disappointing since this lipstick cost $32!!! Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Fuschia Fever 140 I decided to go out of my box, and try a really fun and bright lip color. I have seen other bloggers with my same skin tone and hair color use a really bright shade such as this one. The color has way too many blue tones in it to look good on me. The color is way too much of a contrast on my fair skin tone, and platinum blonde hair. I felt as though I had stepped into the eighties full of big frizzy hair and neon. It did not help that my parents saw me and told me that it had looked like I had just stepped out of the circus. Yeah, not good. Makeup sure is a trial and error. Good thing this was only a few dollars. Maybe I will save it for costume makeup..... M.A.C. Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation 30ml This was the foundation I owned before I got really into learning all about makeup. I just figured all foundation was equal, and since mineral makeup was good, I just bought it. As you can see in the picture, the formula separates dry pieces. That is about how it is on the skin. The formula is very dry and once again, like the Sunday Riley lipstick, you are basically just applying spackle. It is actually probably a really good foundation for people with super oily skin, but I have combination skin that is more dry than oily, so it just caked on the dry parts of my face. It has been discontinued through MAC and they have come out with a new formula into a mineralize foundation compact for $33. I will continue buying my Makeup Forever HD Foundation since I know and love the formula. Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara This has a dual purpose. One purpose works great and one doesn't. It is great as a lash gel, especially for people with eyelash extensions, because it is water-based, and holds in those pesky strays all day. It also extends the life of your extensions by at least 2 weeks longer than usual. The bad side is for use as a brow gel. Once I stopped getting extensions, I decided to use it as a brow gel ( I would never use it for both at the same time for hygienic purposes) but it just feels like you stuck water on your eyebrows. It just sits on them in super wet clumps and does nothing to shape your eyebrows. At $2.99 it served it's purpose for eyelashes. NARS Night Series Eyeshadow Palette The colors are so pretty and look like they would be fantastic. NARS is usually one of my favorites when it comes to cosmetics. This palette failed miserably. The two middle colors are like big sparkly flakes that do not transfer to your brush to apply at all! I had to dig my brush in hard, and it still did not coat my brush. I tried the really pretty burgundy color in the top right corner, and it just looks black on the skin. No red tones whatsoever. The green in the bottom left corner also show up more charcoal than green. I dislike this palette the most out of any other ones I have owned. I believe I bought this at a super bargain. I don't remember how much, but definitely will NOT be buying this again! Revlon PhotoReady Concealer Stick in Pale 002 I bought this to use as an under-eye and nose highlighter, and as a concealer for my neck and chest (since they tend to naturally be lighter than my face and the rest of my body for some reason). The color is nice. Kind of sheer and not full-coverage like I think it is supposed to be. After a little while, the formula gets stuck in the wrinkles under my eyes, the pores on my upper cheeks, and the bumps on my nose. It is not an attractive look at all! I have tried it several times hoping that I can make it work, and it never will. I can say that I almost hate this product. I hear the foundation is pretty good, but I definitely will not be purchasing this concealer again, and it was a bit expensive for drugstore concealer if I remember correctly. Pür Minerals Blush in Roselite 0.14oz I had purchased this blush when I decided I was going to start applying and learning the art of makeup. I had purchased the 4-in-1 compact, and LOVED the way it made my face look, so I got the blush and bronzer. The bronzer is ok. Not the best, but not the worst. The blush comes in a pretty small compact. The color is a really pretty soft pink tone. The color is pretty sheer, but still gives a really minimal pretty look. The main problem with this blush is the smell!!! It started not too long after I purchased it. I researched it, and it wasn't just mine. It was a huge complaint of this blush! It's a super strong moldy rotting makeup talc smell. I used a brush I didn't care about, because it made the brush smell rancid. I could smell it during and after application. It's not a smell you want to have on you and in your brushes. I thought I could handle it, but I just can't because of how strong the smell is. It is a shame since this little tiny compact cost a huge $16! So there you have it! Hopefully this will help if you are thinking of purchasing any of these products, so you can make an informed decision. Like I said before, some of these might work for you, but I just listed the reasons why they didn't work for me.
The next post like this (I am not sure when I will do it) will involve hair products I regret buying........ Let me know if you have any suggestions for posts for me. I am going to be doing tutorials in the future sometime, but suggestions or ideas for posts are always fun to get. When I say I have literally owned about 50 different kinds of hairspray, I am telling the truth. I have owned just about every kind you can buy at the store whether really high-end (Pureology, Sebastian) and very low end (Suave, White Rain). No matter what kind I buy, I always keep coming back to these two. Nothing I have tried comes close to rivaling them in my opinion. I love these two kinds for very different reasons....... and it all depends on what kind of hairstyle you would like to achieve.
*** I am not affiliated in any way with other people mentioned or products
mentioned. This is my own personal opinion on this purchased item*** |
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