Review: Sephora Color Flip Palette

SEPHORA COLOR FLIP PALETTE
A travel-sized, colorful, layered palette. It has three layers: eyeshadow, lip color, and cheek color.

EYESHADOWS Range from purples to neutrals to blues and greens. Unfortunately, the quality is uneven. I found the two matte shades on the far left to have the strongest pigmentation and the purples to have the weakest. With a base and a firm hand, I was able to "make them work!"

LIP COLORS A fun range of mostly fall-themed shades; there are neutrals, berries and even bubblegum pinks. My favorites are pictured in the second row from the top; a sheer, shimmery neutral brown and a vamp deep berry.

CHEEK COLORS Supposedly one is a bronzer, but I find the two shades to be more of a highlighter (left) and a blush. The highlight is pink-toned with shimmer; the blush is a lovely deep rosey color, but is unfortunately a total glitterbomb. I don't mind it so much, but some might.

OVERALL The quality is lacking in places, but it's a cute idea and encourages me to try new color combinations. It's compact and easy to toss into a purse.

TO BUY Sephora, $15.

What do you think of the Color Flip palette?
Love, Val

PS - Sorry for the long, long break - school has gotten really overwhelming. I've missed blogging so much and am glad to be back!

Review: e.l.f. Blush & Bronzing Powder

This blush/bronzer duo was my first e.l.f. product ever, and well - it's responsible for my obsession today!

Color: The blush is a light, neutral pink; the bronzer is a warm brown.
Finish: The blush has large, visible shimmer - this is the only downfall to either product. The bronzer has small gold reflects, but I don't notice them on the face.
Texture: Really nice for the drugstore! Smooth and well pressed.
Payoff: Decent color payoff; just enough without being difficult to work with.
Wear: All day, as most cheek powders are for me.

Overall: If you don't mind a little glitter, this duo is wonderful for any makeup collection and definitely worth the price. The bronzer is my absolute favorite for summer, and the blush adds a pretty light pink glow!
To buy: The e.l.f. website or Target stores, $3.

**I've heard that the blush is a good dupe for Nars "Deep Throat" blush, and the bronzer for Nars "Laguna" bronzer. I don't own either, so I can't compare, but keep it in mind!

Hope you enjoyed the review!
Love, Val

Rave: NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick + Blush

Today I have for you a review and some swatches on two wonderful NARS products: Dolce Vita lipstick and corresponding Dolce Vita blush. I absolutely love each of them, worn separately or together - so let's get into the rave review!

Sorry for the dim lighting, it made the picture more true to color.

Swatches: lipstick on top, blush below

Me wearing both products!

The Lipstick

Finish: Glossy, but not overly so - sort of like a lip balm.

Consistency: Weightless and super moisturizing!

Color: Nars describes it as a "dusty rose," and I couldn't phrase it any better. :) It's definitely the perfect "my lips but better" color for me.

Payoff: Sheer, but buildable.

Wear: Unfortunately this does not last very long for me, probably only 2 hours. But it's quick to reapply!

The Blush

Finish: Matte texture. If you look really closely, there are a few tiny sparkles, but nothing visible when on the cheeks.

Color: Same as the lipstick when swatched or worn; in the pan it looks a tad more purple toned.

Payoff: Super, super pigmented! Have caution when applying this, only take a tiny amount to start.

Wear: Lasts all day, as most powder blushes do for me.

Overall: Each product has a gorgeous, flattering color to it and excellent quality. If you're willing to make the investment, these will become staples in your makeup collection.

To buy: Lipstick, $24 and blush, $27; at NARS or Sephora.

All for now! Hope you enjoyed this review, and have a great Sunday.

Love, Val

How To: Highlight, Blush, and Contour

Enter my giveaway if you haven't already!

  Hello readers! I hope your summer is going well. So today I have a bit of a tutorial for you all on cheek makeup - highlight, blush, and contour. You can do all three things with an angled blush brush; I use the MAC 168, but Sigma, Essence of Beauty, and Sephora carry angled blush brushes too. I only got the brush in the first place because I knew if I was going to invest in a MAC brush, it needed to be multifunctional, and the 168 seemed like the best choice. (If you don't own an angled blush brush, any ordinary blush brush will do.) So without further ado - the tutorial!

1) Contour. Find the hollow of your cheek (the slightly concave area next to your ear) and follow it for about two inches. (If you have no hollow just follow the line from the top of your ear to your mouth.) This is the line you'll want to contour along. Dip your angled brush into a matte bronzer a few shades darker than your skintone - I used Benefit Hoola - and contour along that line. Use your fingers to blend until the line appears natural when in full view. Your face will now appear slimmer and better structured - the contour gives the illusion that your cheekbone is casting a shadow. Cool, huh?

2) Blush. Clean your brush on a paper towel and this time dip it into the blush of your choice (I used Benefit Coralista). Smile to find the apples of your cheeks, and using short downward strokes apply the blush all along your apples and up to your temples. Be sure not to put the blush too high and blend with your fingers if necessary. This will bring a dose of color to your cheeks.

3) Highlight. Clean your brush again, but now select a highlight color. For light skin tones, I'd recommend a pink-toned highlight; for medium skin, more of a champagne color; and for darker skin, a golden highlight. I like Naked Lunch eyeshadow by MAC. Pick up some product again and sweep it across your cheekbones at a 45 degree angle, right on top of the blush. This will add a healthy glow to your face.

Done!

Hope you liked the tutorial! I've been loving putting emphasis on cheek makeup lately and hope you try it out.

Love, Val

Sephora Haul!

Hi girls! Oh, my, goodness, I LOVE SEPHORA!! The last time I went I was 10 and only interested in their nail polish. I went Saturday, and I had to restrict myself to three things. I probably spent a half hour in there trying out everything, and I mean everything! So without further ado, here it all is. (And I am 110% satisfied with my purchases!)

First, I'll talk about the Urban Decay Summer of Love kit. I knew I wanted something from Urban Decay, as I'd never tried the brand before, and I was about to buy the single eyeshadow in 'Chopper' for $17. However, then I saw the Summer of Love kit! For $24, it includes four eyeshadows, an eyeliner, and their famous primer potion in Sin. The pigmentation of everything is AMAZING! The eyeshows are fabulous, the eyeliner glides on beautifully, and the primer potion intensifies any eyeshadow times ten.... needless to say, I love it all. :) And FYI, none are full sized, but hey I can repurchase if I run out!

Eyeshadows in Flash, Maui Wowie, Chopper, and Smog; 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner in Bourbon; Primer Potion in Sin.

Next, a bronzer! It's almost summer, and bronzer is definitely a must. I've heard great things about this Hoola bronzer by Benefit. First, let me just say the packaging is adorable, and it comes with a cute little brush... which I will probably not use, and it sheds, but it's convenient if I'm going to throw this into my purse. I tried it out, and I love it! Not orange, not muddy, but the perfect matte brown that will make you look beautifully sunkissed. It applied wonderfully, and this bronzer will become a part of my daily routine.

Finally, my first Nars purchase ever! It's their blush in... you guessed it, Orgasm. It's probably the most highly acclaimed blush ever, though I've heard all of the Nars  blushes are great. The reviews are correct, this peachy pink blush gives me the perfect flush, that 'I just woke up like this' glow. Finely milled gold shimmer adds a subtle sheen. This is also a new part of my daily routine! :)

The color is actually a bit darker than it appears in this picture.

  Can you tell I'm super excited?? Anyways, I've learned that Sephora is my new heaven, and now I know what to ask for for my birthday... Sephora gift card! Next time I will have to get Benefit's primer and High Beam, as well as more Nars blushes, a multiple, and a lip gloss. *Guilty smile*
  Anyways, I'll stop rambling now! Talk to you all later!
  Love, Val
  P.S. You want it, I'll do it! Help me out and comment me with requests!