Guerlain Meteorites Birthday Candle Pearls

I have a dirty little (expensive) secret I've been keeping from you, dear readers.

I'm a ball-a-holic.

No, wait, that came out wrong. Unless you were a frequenter of that thread in the old school Specktra forums. Then, welcome!

What I meant to say is that I've been honest about my nail polish hoarding, my taste for pricey lipsticks and makeup... but somehow even though I've blogged on and off for four years I've never mentioned that I'm obsessed with Guerlain Meteorites.

Part of my Meteorites collection PART.

Perhaps it's because I'm slightly embarassed to collect hand-rolled balls of powder that retail for $62 each? I'll explain why I love these after I talk about the latest LE release- the Meteorites Birthday Candle Pearls. As of writing this review, they're still available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Dillard's.

For your $62, you get the latest limited edition release that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Meteorites- and whose case reportedly is similar to the original.

Let me take a minute to talk about why I love this product. It's a lovely finishing powder, but more than anything else, it just makes you feel good using it. There's something reminiscent of a forgotten era when you swirl your brush into one of these tins.

I like the effect that these finishing powders produce, but I also love the way they make me feel. And that's worth every penny.

According to the brand, this iteration contains "gold pearls to fight dullness, pink pearls to reveal glow, and champagne and white pearls to reflect the light."

It's almost impossible to show a real impact on the face, so I'll just show you how shiny my hand is. These are glowy.

When these are blended out, they don't look powdery on the face.

Still I kept thinking that these reminded me of some other versions in my collection. I pulled a few close comparisons;

They're the closest to a glowier version of the old Teint Beige (which was reformulated into Medium and lavender added).

Bottom Line: I love these but I'm also a collector. They're close to a product likely in your collection, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend one of the glowier versions for the first set of Meteorites in your collection. The collector in me feels so happy to have these, and I've been enjoying them.

Pur Bronze Your Selfie

I have to share a total impulse purchase when browsing Ulta recently: Pur Cosmetics' Bronze Your Selfie Skin Perfecting Face and Body Liquid Bronzer ($26, 1.7fl oz)

2016 QBB would be screaming at 2017 QBB for purchasing this because I hate liquid bronzers. But here's the truth: this isn't your average liquid bronzer.

I love the squeeze tube, since it keeps it clean and nice. One of the things I hate about liquid products is when they're messy. I'm also a powder person. Still, I love this product.

Here's the liquid bronzer, dotted. I know it looks a little scary.

Let me take a moment to address the blue line. That's what Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Violet Vixen did to me after 3 cleansing oils, 3 cleansers, 2 exfoliators, and scrubbing my hand until I cried. I have repeatedly reached out to Stila and Sephora but they have not responded. To say I'm upset and disappointed is an understatement. Please excuse the staining and let Stila know about it if it bothers you.

Here's what the Pur liquid bronzer looks like, spread out but unblended. It still looks really scary here:

But trust me on this.

Here's a couple of shots of this, blended out. It's so natural!

So it's totally wearable, even for my natural NW13-15 skintone. The trick that I've learned is simply just to keep blending.

My favorite way to use this is to blend down neck and chest if I want to use a foundation that's a little too dark (I technically need to mix one of my favorite foundations and can't always be bothered). I find it looks healthy and beautiful.

I got mine on sale at Ulta, so I don't know if it's being discontinued. I do recommend this, even for my pale friends. It's a product that works well on face or body, so those are relatively hard to find. It's very worth it for me.

On second search, it's a LE product but still available on Pur's website. GO! You'll thank me later.

Laura Geller Filter Corrector Color Perfecting Balm

Quick side note: remember how I didn't plan to post daily? I started reshooting and pulling products I wanted to feature and noticed I have enough for daily posts through September at least. Don't get used to it long-term though!

This is one of those products that it makes me so sad to have to reshoot photos because of the damage done by regular usage!

For a hot minute over the past couple of years, we all got obsessed with color correcting. As someone who struggles with redness, I've always been down with green correctors. Like most trends, I feel like it had to reach its peak before getting back under control. I've been focused on working down my ridiculously large corrector stash lately and it really takes something different for me to part with my money. The newish Laura Geller Filter Corrector Color Perfecting Balm ($32) qualifies.

Can I take a quick moment to say how much I even appreciate the box? It's the little details that make this a standout product.

I picked mine up online from Ulta and purchased sight unseen. The design is really interesting- it's a vertical stack of three potted corrector balms. Overall, it feels really well put together.

I'll be honest- I really don't like potted products. They tend to be drier, and since you correct before foundation they tend to be difficult to work with. However, these are very emollient. Well done, Laura Geller!

Before I get into the products, let's talk quantity and price. For that $32, you get a total of 4g/0.14oz of product that was made in the USA.

That's exceptionally expensive. The Maybelline Master Camo palettes with 6 products contain 0.21oz and retail for $12.99, the Stila Correct & Perfect Palette has 0.46oz for $45, it's the size of 3 Bobbi Brown correctors (which retail for $27 each), the Sephora-exclusive Tarte palette has 6 x0.11 oz correctors for $45 ($36 on sale), and the individual Becca correctors are $2 less and contain 0.16 of product.

I'll be honest, that math just changed my entire opinion of this product. More on that later.


The top layer has a hidden mirror (nice touch) and a peachy corrector.

There's also a little booklet in the package that shows you how they suggest using the product. Spoiler alert: put peach under the eyes.

Here's a swatch of the peach corrector.

I'll be honest, it's too dark for me except when I'm self-tanned, or if I work it incredibly carefully and in a tiny amount.


The second layer is a blue corrector.

This is the most white-based corrector of the three, and easiest to wear with my complexion. Here's a swatch.

I don't own any other blue correctors. According to the little booklet, it's supposed to eliminate yellow undertones and provide brightening.

The third and bottom layer is a traditional green corrector.

Here's a swatch. In terms of green correctors in my collection, it's dark.

And here's the little booklet:

OK, now that I've tried to objectively show you the product, let's get into my real opinion.

Who is this product really meant for?

Not me. This is marketed as a universal corrector and I strongly, violently disagree. It's only because I'm incredibly comfortable with correctors that I can make the green or peach work.

Let's look at a group swatch, and then I'll explain:

First off, the peach would make my dark circles darker without any self-tanner. This is a medium-to-deep shade. I can make the blue work-but I wonder if skintones darker than medium can pull it off because it's so white-based. The green is way too deep for fair-skinned people like myself- this is more of a medium-deep green, based on my experience.

In short, this is really meant for medium skintones, otherwise it's really difficult to work with.

I kept it for the blue, to be honest.

What about the formula?

It's certainly balmy. You'll note in the photos how torn up it looks. Here's what one light dab of my finger looks like:

Yikes! It's nice and emollient, but a little goes a long way. I think it would be easy to blow through this product extremely quickly, but it does a nice job on the face and doesn't appear to interfere with foundation.

I do like the performance, but it's not summer-shipment friendly. This is a melty product.

Is this a good value? Nope, nope, nope. It's nice and compact and travel-friendly. That said, I was onboard with the product until I did the math earlier. It's really, really expensive for what you get- especially for non-medium skintones.

It's in-store at Ulta now- if this interests you (I do like the blue), I recommend checking it out in-person before buying.

Maybelline's Bringing the Metallic Back: Master Precise Ink Metallic for Summer 2017

Along with their multitude of metallic releases, Maybelline quietly launched a new liner formula- Master Precise Ink Metallic.

I started out with 540 Violet to test the formula and applicator. Normally I'd purchase at least two shades in a line to test but given my worries about the applicator... I wanted to wait.

Because the writing on it is metallic, it was hard to photograph!

Here's the good/bad news (depending on your perspective): It's a brush applicator.

For me, it's a deal breaker. I'm glad I didn't purchase more than one.

Here's a swatch:

I love the shade, and think it would be awesome for someone that could actually work with a brush tip applicator.

I tried a graphic look with it. I don't think I like this look, but hey... I'm trying.

FYI, I used Sephora tape on my eye to form the shape. See what I mean about the shade? It's lovely.

I tested this for about eight hours and it remained the same level of metallic and beautiful the whole time. A+ on the formula. If you can handle the applicator, you'll probably adore this new liner.

Bottom Line: I really need to get with it when it comes to brush applicators, because this really made my eyes pop. it's a really cool new offering and I'll keep playing with it. I highly recommend picking one of these up (I found mine cheapest at Walmart) at your local retailer.

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

There has been a new mascara taking the internet by storm, causing a stir and resulting in a crazed quest to find it.

It makes your lashes dark, long, and beautiful.

Oh, and it's drugstore.

Have you met the L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara? Sorry about the wonky packaging, but that's how it arrived from Amazon.

This mascara retails for $9.99 and comes in two formulas: regular and waterproof. There are also a number of shades- two of the waterproof (Black and Blackest Black) and four of the regular (Black, Mystic Black, Blackest Black, and Black Brown).

I've been testing Blackest Black in both the regular and waterproof versions (because Summer). Please note the wear on the tube- that tells you I've been playing for weeks.

Yes, the packaging looks familiar. But let's look at the wand.

It's a large, full wand that reminds me of something... let's take a look.

Yep, that's it. On the top is the L'Oreal mascara and on the bottom is a deluxe sample of Too Faced Better than Sex mascara. That used to be my HG; I'm more of an Urban Decay Perversion girl these days.

That said, this mascara is incredible. Take a look at this layered volume:

And I have exactly one coat here:

I've found my new favorite. It doesn't flake and it's beautiful. I'm blessed to have decent lashes, and when I layer this my lashes are so long. I can't believe that this is drugstore!

Bottom Line: Buy into the hype; it's real. Run, don't walk to your nearest retailer and scoop this up. I've already gotten a backup. It's a beautiful mascara.

bareMinerals Statement Matte Liquid Lipcolor

Today I'm so thrilled to finally be bringing you this post. This is one of those releases that was on my "I really need to review this" list, but kept getting bumped by other releases.

Someday I also plan to share with you my collection of the bareMinerals Gen Nude Liquid Lips, but today it's all about Statement Mattes!

Somewhat surprisingly (because I don't talk about this brand often), bareMinerals makes my favorite liquid lipstick. It's been my go-to in terms of nudes for months, but for Summer 2017, bareMinerals made a Statement!

Each of these Statement Matte Liquid Lips contain 4ml/0.13fl oz of product, and retail for $18 each. There are ten shades in the initial launch, and I have three to share with you: Luxe, VIP, and Juicy.

Let's start with Luxe.

Luxe, described as "dirty pastel pink," is probably the least bold of the shades. I'd been looking for a brighter light pink, so it seemed like a good place to try.

These have a lovely buttercream scent, and the bold shades have the same applicator as the nudes:

This honestly seems like an "anytime but middle of summer" shade for me. I tend to reach for warmer shades this time of year, but it's good to have this in my collection. These wear beautifully on my lips, even without a primer.

These colors- bright pink with a cool undertone- look great against my complexion.

I'll be pulling this back out as soon as the inferno subsides for certain.

Next up, VIP. 

This is described as "bold crimson," and I totally agree. It's a cooler-toned classic red.

I know that classic reds are a dime a dozen when it comes to matte liquid lips, but I wanted to nab one in my favorite formula.

I think these are universally flattering, even if it took me years to understand that.

I waffled between this shade and Fire, an orange red. I'm so glad that I picked VIP. It's stunning.

Last, I have my favorite of the bunch- Juicy.

It might look similar in the tube, but it's described as "poppy red." It's the color of my current obsession.

This just adds a punch to any outfit, and it's a chic and seasonally-appropriate pop of color.

I'm not sure if swatches do it justice. That final photo is actually in natural light one of the many, many times I've worn it.

This is a totally unexpected love of mine, and the lippie that started my obsession with these type of colors. It hasn't left my lip product holder that's a part of my everyday makeup drawer!

Let's wrap up with a group swatch:

Bottom Line: These are a mousse-like liquid lipstick that's comfortable even for sensitive lips. These are truly fantastic and last all day on me. I'm eyeing 2 or 3 more shades in the line to add to my collection right now! Don't sleep on these... they're awesome.

I also have picked up a few of the regular Statement Lipsticks- I'm in the midst of testing them at the moment!