Haul: Bloomingdale's Bonus Box

Hey beauties!! I just wanted to share some goodies that I received from Bloomingdale's with you all. =)

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum Spray (1oz/30ml for $68) is a new fragrance from Tory Burch. It has a warm and sensual woody scent with a hint of sweetness. This is the type of perfume that I tend to gravitate towards. (For reference, I also use Dior J'adore and  Narciso Rodriguez For Her.) The perfume also comes in additional sizes, 1.7oz/50ml for $86 and 3.4oz/100ml for $115. The rollerball is 0.2oz/6ml for $28.

Notes: Pink Pepper, Pink Grapefruit, Sicilian Lemon, Sparkling Pear, Raspberry, Lychee, Rose Essential, Orris, Jasmine Sambac, Patchouli Heart, Ambertonic, Australian Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cedarwood Heart, Tonka Bean Absolute

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Swatches + Comparison: MAC It's a Strike 2016 Collection (300 Game, Bowl Out and Join My League Eyeshadows)

MAC It's A Strike Eyeshadows (Limited Edition) - Each eyeshadow retails $16 and contains 1.5g/0.05oz of product. They're also very easy to depot and can be stored in an empty palette, such as the 12 Piece Interchangeable Palette, which can be purchased from Coastal Scents for $5.95.

• 300 Game is a blackened cherry with a matte finish. Mac's I'm Into It and Makeup Geek's Cherry Cola are more of a reddish brown. I'm Into It and Cherry Cola look very similar to one another, except I'm Into It is slightly darker than Cherry Cola and looks more brown when heavily swatched. Deep Damson looks alot like 300 Game as both colors are more of a purplish burgundy. The only difference is that Deep Damson is slightly lighter, but when applied onto the eyes, they look essentially the same. Makeup Geek's Bitten is lighter, not as matte and pulls more red compared to 300 Game. 

I use all of these shades the same way and as a pop of color in my crease when I want to spice up a neutral eye look.

• Bowl Out is a midtone grey with a matte finish. It's not as light & grey as Copperplate and not as dark & brown as Join My League? and Concrete (review). Also, Coquette is definitely not a dupe as it looks more like a khaki shade compared to Bowl Out.

• Join My League? is a dark espresso with a matte finish. It's not as warm as Espresso and looks most similar to Concrete, except Concrete is slightly lighter and pulls more grey. When blended into the crease, they look practically the same.

I use Bowl Out, Join My League?, Coquette, Concrete and Espresso interchangeably. They are all great shades for defining the crease and creating depth.  

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Swatches + Review: MAC Good Luck Trolls Glow Rida, I'm Into It Eyeshadow, Cremesheen Lipsticks + Pro Longwear Lip Pencils

MAC Good Luck Trolls Beauty Powder in Glow Rida
(Limited Edition, $28 for 10g/0.35oz)

Color: It's a warm peachy beige that leaves a subtle glow to the skin. 

Formula + Application: The pigmentation is very sheer and works best as a highlighter for my NC30/35 skin tone. I recommend using a dense natural brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk #17 (comparison pictures), because dense natural hair tends to pick up and pack on powder products much easier.

I love pairing Glow Rida with matte blushes when I want a subtle sheen on my cheeks. It gives me just enough luminosity without looking too dewy or frosty for day-time office wear. 

Longevity: It lasts at least 8 hours without fading when worn over foundation + setting powder. (I don't have issues with products lasting on my cheeks in general. I also have cheeks that are neither dry nor oily.)

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Swatches + Review: MAC Matte, Satin and Cremesheen Lipstick Collection

Scent: All the lipsticks mentioned in this post have a pleasant vanilla scent when I sniff directly from the tube. They don't taste like anything when worn on the lips. 

MAC Matte Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is the least hydrating of the bunch and can cause the lipstick to cling onto dry patches, which is expected, considering that the finish is matte. (Make sure to exfoliate well and wear a lip balm underneath!) They provide buildable, medium to full coverage and last at least 5 hours. (They will also fade alot quicker when eating and drinking as with any other lipstick.)  

MAC Satin Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is slightly more hydrating than the matte version, but not as hydrating as say, the Burberry Kisses (swatches). They're still wearable for someone like me, who has extremely dry, chapped lips, as long as I exfoliate well and prep my lips with a good balm. They also provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 4 hours of staying power. I especially love that they're not frosty or too glossy as my full sausage lips do not need to be accentuated any further. They also leave behind a very pretty stain.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is the most hydrating of the bunch. I find that they glide onto the lips smoothly without skipping and provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 3 and a half hours of staying power. They are non-drying and very comfortable to wear. They also leave a sheen that's not too glossy (which is very important for me). I'm definitely getting more shades soon!

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Swatches + Review: Collective Haul (MUFE, MAC, Chanel, Urban Decay)

I'm back with another haul! Some of these items are re-purchases, while others have been in my collection for a while now and have been rigorously tested. 

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Swatches + Comparison: Luxury and Mid Range Setting Powders (Dior, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury, Mac)

Generally, oil-controlling white powders, such as the Nars Light Reflecting (review) and MAC Prep + Prime (review), work best for those with extremely oily skin. Luminous powders, such as the La Mer one, work best for those with dry and mature skin. I personally love using all types of powders because they serve different purposes and some work better than others depending on the type of foundation that I'm wearing underneath. (For reference, I have an oily t-zone and normal skin on the rest of my face.) 

I find that mattifying powders can emphasize dry patches and can cause the skin to look flakey when paired with a mattifying foundation, such as the Dior Forever (review), while powders with a natural finish are not oil controlling enough when paired with semi-matte foundations, such as the MUFE HD and L'oreal True Match (review). Also, semi-matte foundations can make my skin look too dewy when worn alone, while mattifying foundations can be too drying to wear during the winter time. Therefore, I find that powders with a natural finish pair better with mattifying foundations as it prevents the skin from looking too flat, while still keeping oil at bay. On the other hand, mattifying powders pair better with luminous & semi-matte foundations as it provides oil-control, while still giving life to the skin.

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Swatches: MAC Vibe Tribe, Brooke Candy, Simpsons, Style Warriors and Indulge Collection (Limited Edition)

I recently purchased a few goodies from MAC's Vibe Tribe 2016 Summer Collection and plan on picking up the Adobe Brick blush as well, which I will review in a later post.

When I was going through my stash to check for possible dupes, I realized that there were a few limited edition MAC products that I never reviewed on my blog. I decided to include them in this post because maybe you guys have forgotten about them too and this may remind you to use them again? You can also call your nearest CCO (The Cosmetics Company Store) to see if they still have them in stock. (The CCO carries products from Estee Lauder-owned companies, including MAC, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Origins, Smashbox and Lab Series, and sells them for around 30% off retail price.)

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Review + Comparisons: MAC Prep + Prime, Pro Longwear and Becca Blotting Powder Perfector

Powders work well for setting your makeup and prevent your foundation, concealer & cream blushers/bronzers from fading throughout the day. The ones that layer well not only locks your makeup in place, but they are also suitable for mid-day touchups. The ones that go on sheer work best as a finishing powder and for those who don't want additional coverage as they can make your foundation look separated the more you pack on the product. There are also some powders that mattify the skin, while others provide a more natural finish. Continue reading to find out which one works best for your needs!

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Swatches + Comparisons: Matte Contouring and Bronzing Powders

All of the products mentioned in this post have a matte finish. Some shades are more suitable for contouring, while others work better for bronzing. Even though I have a warm NC30/35 skintone, I prefer to use cooler shades to contour my face because it creates a more natural looking shadow. When bronzing my face, I prefer to use warmer shades because cooler shades can make me look dirty or sick.

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Swatches + Review: MAC Haul (Blush, Eyeshadows, Paint Pot & Foundation)

This is really a collective haul of items that I purchased over the past few months. 

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Swatches + Comparison - Collective Haul of Cheek Products

I've been really enjoying products that leave a nice sheen to my skin without the glittery mess. 

The ones mentioned in this post have been great at perking up my dull winter skin.

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Swatches + Comparisons - Collective Haul (Guerlain, Nars, Urban Decay, MUFE)

I had some of these products for a few months and others for a few years. -_-
I decided to group them together in one big post with mini reviews instead of making separate posts.

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MAC RiRi Hearts Collection Giveaway

Hey Beauties! I know alot of you guys missed out on MAC's RiRi Hearts collection when it was released last Fall. No worries because I'm hosting a giveaway for all of my lovely readers. There will be 7 lucky winners!

Prize List: The 1st winner chooses 1 prize from the list. The 2nd winner chooses 1 prize from the remaining 6 prizes. The 3rd winner chooses 1 prize from the remaining 5 prizes and so forth. 

• Bad Girl Gone Good Blush (x2)
• Diamonds Cream Colour Base
• Talk That Talk Lipstick (x2)
• Nude Lipstick (x2)

Rules:

• You must be 18+ or have parental consent to enter.
• You must fill out the required questions in the form here.
• You may enter only once.
• This giveaway is open worldwide.

Additional Entries: optional

• Make a post about my giveaway on your blog, using the prize picture above. {+2 entries} 
• Post my giveaway on your blog's sidebar, using the prize picture above. {+2 entries}
• Go to my Google Plus page, add me to your Google+ Circle and click on the red "+1" button {+1 entries} 
• Like my Facebook page and make a post about my giveaway on your Facebook page {+2 entries} 
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about my giveaway {+2 entries} 
• Follow me on Pinterest and pin about my giveaway {+2 entries} 

Shipping Costs: I will pay for the shipping costs!

• United States - Winners in the US will get tracking information.
• Outside the United States -  Unfortunately, tracking is not available if I ship the package through First Class mail and I can't be responsible for any lost packages. If you don't mind taking the risk of the package being lost during shipping, then I will pay for First Class mail. 

Deadline:

• This giveaway will end at 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2014.

Winner Information:

• 7 winners will be chosen randomly using random.org. The one with the most entries (out of the 7 winners) will be considered the 1st prize winner and will get to choose the item that he/she wants first. The 2nd one with the most entries (out of the 7 winners) will be considered the 2nd prize winner and will get to choose 1 prize from the remaining 6 prizes and so forth.
• I will announce the winners on my blog, Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. 
• I will contact the winners via email. Winners must respond within 7 days.
• I will then ship the package within 24 hours.

Good luck, everyone! ^_^

Swatches + Comparison: Urban Decay Sephora Inside JCPenney Stores Exclusive Eyeshadows

From Top Left: Naked ~ Buck ~ Faint ~ Secret Service

From Bottom Left: Heartless ~ Sidecar ~ Snare

From Top Left: Buck ~ Faint 

From Bottom Left: Naked ~ Secret service

Naked is a beige brown with a matte finish. When swatched, it looks like it would be a nice transition color or a blending shade, but it's actually too dark for that purpose and too light as a crease color for my NC30/35 skin tone. Kid, Wedge, Cork and Soft Brown work much better as a transition color for me even though they all look darker than Naked because the formula of the MAC eyeshadows are more stiff and they don't pack on as much color when used with a fluffy brush, such as the MAC 217. Moreover, they don't crumble in the pan and I don't experience any fallouts during application. They are also very versatile because when I use a dense crease brush, such as the Inglot 80HP, they provide excellent color payoff. 

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

Buck is a medium beige brown with a matte finish. It's similar to Naked, but just darker. It's too light as an outer v shade, but it's excellent as a crease color.

Faint is a medium brown with a matte finish. Urban Decay describes it as a "warm, dusty brown matte," but it looks more neutral on my eyes. It's a tad bit darker than Buck, but they both look very similar to one another when used as a crease color. 

Secret Service is a dark cool-toned greyish brown with a matte finish. It defines the eyes and works well as an outer v shade. Embark is more intense and more red, while Brown Down is more brown. 

The Urban Decay matte eyeshadows are much softer than the MAC matte eyeshadows; therefore, they get messy in the pan easily and I experience fallouts during application. However, because the formula is softer, they also apply more smoothly, pack on more color even with a fluffy brush and blend like a dream. Also, they last at least 10 hours without fading when used with a primer.

(Direct Sunlight)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

From Top Clockwise: Sidecar ~ Snare ~ Heartless 

Heartless is a pale pink with a satin finish. I find it to be too chalky and light on my skin tone. Moreover, the pigmentation is not as great as SWF, which has a more frosty finish.

Snare is an olive green with gold micro-glitters. When I swatched it by itself, it looked more like a bluish grey shade, but when swatched next to a more blue shade (Gunmetal), I can definitely see the green undertones. Also, it looks more green when applied onto the eyes. However, it's not as pigmented as other urban decay eyeshadows and it fades a bit when blended.

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

From Top Clockwise: Heartless ~ Sidecar ~ Snare

Sidecar is a medium warm brown with a bronzey sheen and silver micro-glitters. Blaze, Suspect and Chase are all lighter and more suitable for my skin tone. I find Sidecar to be a little bit  too dark as a lid color and too light as a crease color. The texture doesn't feel as buttery smooth as other UD eyeshadows, but it doesn't feel gritty either. I did experience some fallouts during application. So, I recommend using a cream base and tapping off the excess before applying the eyeshadow with a dense brush, such as the MAC 239.

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

(Indoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

Bottom Line: Each Urban Decay eyeshadow is different in terms of color, finish and formulation. Most are hits, while some are misses. Definitely DON'T dismiss all Urban Decay eyeshadows if you found one that did not work out for you.

Note: Naked, Buck and Secret Service each contain 1.5g and are available for purchase at Nordstrom, Beauty.com, Ulta and Sephora for $18 each. Faint, Heartless, Sidecar and Snare each contain 1.5g and are sold exclusively at  Urban Decay's online store and Sephora Inside JCPenney Stores for $18 each. MAC Wedge, Cork, Soft Brown, Espresso, Corduroy, Embark and Greensmoke each contain 1.5g, while Kid and Brown Down each contain 1.35g. All 9 MAC eyeshadows are permanent and are available at MAC and Nordstrom for $15 (pot) and $12 (refill pan). 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review + Comparison - Crown Brush C442 Duo Fiber Buffer Brush + C439 Round Buffer Brush

I placed an order with Crown Brush last year when they had a 10% OFF sale. The company requires a minimum order amount of $25 and they charge a flat rate shipping fee of $7 to east coast residents. I bought the C442 Duo Fiber Buffer brush, C439 Round Buffer brush, and SS003 Deluxe Medium Foundation brush, which totaled to $33.85. The SS003 was too flimsy for me, so I gave it away. Continue reading to find out what I think about the other brushes!

Crown Brush C442 Duo Fiber Buffer Brush ($9.99) - The white bristles are made of synthetic material, while the black bristles are made of natural hair. It is super dense and much firmer than my other duo fiber brushes, which is not necessarily a good thing. I actually find it to be too dense for stippling liquid foundation because it places a concentrated amount of product on one area and takes longer to blend out. I prefer the MAC 187 to stipple liquid foundation because it's not as dense as the C442, but it is by no means flimsy. So, it disperses product evenly and it provides better coverage without absorbing and wasting alot of product. Also, it leaves an airbrushed finish.

When used in a buffing motion to apply liquid foundation, the C442 does not shed because the white synthetic bristles are so densely packed that it prevents the product from reaching the black bristles. (If you press the brush firmly onto your skin and use a heavy hand when you're buffing in the product, then the product will reach the black bristles and it will start shedding. Just use a lighter hand when you're using the brush in a buffing motion and it won't shed.) Because the bristles are so densely packed, it absorbs alot of product and doesn't provide as much coverage as my MAC 187. (Keep in mind, I only use my MAC 187 in a stippling motion.) Also, the head of the C442 brush is wide and can be a little difficult to reach the small crevices of the face. However, it blends out product really well and makes applying foundation much quicker when used in a buffing motion. The Sigma F80 has a smaller head and the bristles are made of solely synthetic material. I prefer the C442 over the Sigma F80 because it doesn't tug my skin as much when used in a buffing motion. 

The C442 feels very soft and doesn't feel prickly or uncomfortable when used in a stippling or buffing motion. I did experience dye bleeding during its initial wash and it stained the white bristles grey, which I had to remove by using olive oil. It hasn't bled since then, but it sheds 1 hair from time to time when I'm cleaning it. (I clean it with baby shampoo and olive oil.) However, it doesn't shed or leave hairs all over my face when I'm using it. It takes about 13 hours to dry, but if you use a paper towel to absorb the excess water, then it'll take about 8.5 hours to dry. Also, the head is full size, but the handle is travel size. The full length of the brush measures 4.75 inches. 

Crown Brush C439 Round Buffer Brush ($13.95) - The bristles are made of solely synthetic material and is much denser than the Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Buffing brush, but a teeny tiny bit less denser than the Sigma F82. The head of the C439 brush is bigger, so it can cover a greater portion of the face and buff in product quicker, while the Sigma F82 is smaller and can reach the small crevices of the face better. However, both tug my skin when I use them to buff liquid foundation because they are very dense and don't glide product onto the skin as easily or blend product as effortlessly as my Real Techniques Buffing brush.

The Sonia Kashuk brush has longer bristles and it is not as dense as the C439 and Sigma F82, so it doesn't tug the skin. Also, the size of the head allows it to buff in liquid foundation quickly. I prefer to use it to apply my Chanel cream bronzer. The top of the brush is too wide to fit on the cheek area, so I like to hold the brush at an angle and use the side of the brush to tap the product onto my cheeks.

The main issue with the Sonia Kashuk, C439 and Sigma F82 is that they all waste and absorb alot of product and don't provide as much coverage as my MAC 187 when used for applying liquid foundation. Also, I don't recommend any of them for buffing in mineral/powder foundation because synthetic bristles do not lay down powder products as well as natural bristles. For applying mineral/powder foundation, I recommend using the Sonia Kashuk Dense Blush Powder brush or the Sephora #43 because they provide better coverage. However, I don't recommend using brushes made of natural bristles for applying liquid products because that will cause your brushes to shed.

The C439 brush feels very soft and I haven't experienced any shedding. Also, the head is full size, but the handle is travel size. The full length of the brush measures 5.75 inches. It takes about 12 hours to dry.

Bottom Line: If you don't mind wasting product and are always rushing out the door, then the C442 and C439 will suit your needs because they buff in product quickly. The size of the short handles also make it excellent for travel.

Note: The Crown C442 and C439 are sold individually on their online store. The Sigma F80 and F82 are available at Nordstrom. The Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Buffing brush is available only at Target. 

Which Crown brushes do you recommend?

* This post contains affiliate links. 

The Sigma brushes were given to me by one of my lovely friends. 

All of the other brushes that are mentioned above were purchased by me using my own funds,