bareMinerals Bare Naturals READY Eyeshadow Palette

Today I have a palette that I've experienced all the feelings with to discuss today. I'll readily admit to being swayed by some of my favorite YouTubers (the ladies of Beauty News have raved about the formula, and I trust them for being brutally honest) and the pre-Thanksgiving sale on Ulta.com to purchase it.

This palette contains 14 pressed eyeshadows (they weigh in at XXX each) in a hard plastic palette with an exceptionally awesome mirror (I keep using it in general) and retails for $45. I purchased mine for 50% off as a part of the "Cyber Fundays" sale.

I'm going to quote from the product listing on Ulta.com:

The bareMinerals bareNaturals READY Eyeshadow 14.0 Palette gives you ocean views with nature inspired neutrals. READY Eyeshadow is a super-pigmented, blendable formula that stays-put for up to 12 hours while delivering line-fighting, brightening benefits with a proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral Complex. 

Inspired by the rugged California coastline along the shimmering ocean, these shades range from soft matte oyster taupe to rich metallic twilight blue. Curated with a variety of textures - creamy mattes, to rich mineral metallic finishes, these universally harmonizing hues are longwearing up to 12 hours. Three easy eye tutorials plus the perfect tool for creating flawless and foolproof eye looks are included. Get READY to be swept away

I thought it was important to include the palette inspiration when discussing the shades. In reality, it's deliciously cool-toned neutral.

In a plethora of warm palettes, there were equal forces of being attracted to these shades and simultaneously being bored with it. Even though I didn't find it revolutionary, something told me this would be perfect for the work week.

I ended up giving this palette a more thorough test than I anticipated; this is what I've been reaching for on a daily basis since the end of Project Use them ALL- not my Viseart palettes.

There are four new shades in the palette- I've noted them below:

I like that there are both matte (oyster and unearthed) and shimmer (quartz and twilight) new shades. Since this is my first experience with the formula, I went in splendidly unspoiled.

I love them.

Let's dig into the palette.

Row 1: Celebrate, Oyster (new), Quartz (new), Head Over Heels, Pale Silk, Unearthed (new), Mahogany

I really like this row of shades. I can make a whole look out of these shades- and it's light enough for me to use. For some reason, light cream mattes are being left out of palettes recently, and those are the shades I pan first.

Row 2: Creme, Mixologist, Bewilder, Hot Commodity, Couture, Twilight (new), Blackout

These shimmers are mysterious little buggers. They're decidedly more complex than they appear in the pan, and are a stunning all-over lid shade.

I didn't take any photos with this on my eyes simply because I either had family visiting (and truth told, I only revealed the existence of this blog to my family a few weeks ago) or it was pre-dawn. Even though I used many different shades, I did end up with basic neutral looks. There's nothing revolutionary here, but it's good.

These last (with primer) a full 16+ hours on me, which means they'll last my commute and workday. I'm stunned. I wish I hadn't slept on this formula for so long.

In sum, I think this is a thoroughly boring but beautiful neutral palette that will likely be a staple for me. I can see this being a palette that I'd like to pan- and that says something. And please note that when I call it boring, that's not a negative. I work in an exceedingly conservative workplace and this delights me. I can make so many work-appropriate looks, and I find the formula a dream to work with.

I love this so much that I suspect it's about to earn a place of honor in my holographic letter organizer (yes, it's real holo) where I keep my go-to palettes for easy access. And, I ordered a second palette in this line. I swore I was done buying palettes after purchasing the Viseart gems, but I'm making a giant exception for these bareMinerals palettes. Say hello to my new obsession.

bareMinerals You Won't Believe Your Eyes Eyeshadow Kit

Today I have the first of several bareMinerals posts that I'll be featuring over the next couple of weeks. This brand has only caught my eye lately. There's a bit of a story behind this item- the bareMinerals You Won't Believe Your Eyes Eyeshadow "Trio" ($10, Ulta), which was a Black Friday special release.

I'm a sucker for advent calendars, and I've been mulling the bareMinerals advent calendar since it was released. Here's the problem: I've never tried any of their classic loose eyeshadows! So when I spotted this for $10, it seemed like a better way to sample the brand. I figured that if I liked the formula, I'd pick up a full-sized shadow in a color of my choice. This claims to be a $34.50 value, which I seriously doubt. 

In this kit, there are two mini eyeshadows (0.28g/0.01oz each) and an Eye Defining Brush.

Let's jump into the eyeshadows. 

First up, bff. 

I didn't find this on Ulta's website, but I'm also writing this post with a headache- so I may have just missed it. The brand calls this "shimmering pink pearl."

I found this to be a very pale beige with pink undertones- but really frosty and metallic. I wouldn't call this a pearl at all. Take a look at the swatch (dry, with finger):

Very opaque- and straight up metallic. This will be a nice all-over lid shade for subtle glam.

Queen Tiffany is in the normal shimmer range ($15, 0.02oz).

The brand calls this "medium bronzed brown."

I was really impressed by the shimmer and complexity of this shade that's visible even in the loose bits.

I think this could be a lovely, everyday was of color. It's not as metallic or harsh as bff, so I see this being more flattering across a number of complexions.

Here's the two shades, swatched:

I think this duo would find a welcome place in any makeup lover's stocking this holiday season!

I'll also take a moment to talk about the Eye Defining Brush that's included. I would never use it with these shadows, but I'll put it to the test sometime. It looks like it'd be good on the outer V.

I haven't played with these other than swatching, but wanted to post a quickie overview of the kit in case you were wondering about it as a present. I think it's the way to go rather than the advent calendar, personally!  I'll post in the comments as I play with these- I think this is a very affordable into to the brand's classic product line.

For $10, I think this is a great value and I'm glad I picked up this kit. Sometimes you wonder about the Black Friday releases, but I think this is a winner from bareMinerals.

bareMinerals Take Me With You Complexion Rescue Set for Holiday 2017

Today I'd like to share my thoughts on the first true holiday set I picked up this year. I hate myself for purchasing holiday back in September, but that's how it goes. Let's talk about the bareMinerals Take Me With You 3 Pc Complexion Rescue Try-Me Kit.  I purchased mine at Ulta during the 21 Days of Beauty sale for $39. The packaging claims it's a $67.75 value- which I'm not sure about.

The kit is available in six shades. One quick aside- shame on you, bareMinerals, for skewing this so light. Shades 01, 02, 03, 05, 07, and 09 are available. I'm personally thrilled that my Shade (Opal 01) was available since it normally isn't, but four of the first five shades? There are a total of 16 in the line.

You get three items in this kit: a deluxe-sized version of the Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, a mini face Smoothing brush, and a deluxe sample of Golden Gate blush.

Oh, and there's a very soft and shiny makeup bag as well:

It's nice, but I feel like my bag would eat that makeup bag up in about 5 minutes.

Let's start with the Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream.

I haven't formally reviewed it on the blog, but it's been creeping in my monthly favorites. This is by far and away my current favorite tinted moisturizer. I've been using it rather quickly. You receive 20ml/0.68fl oz of product, making it travel friendly. To be honest, that's one of the reasons why I purchased the kit- the full size is 1.18 fl oz, making it not TSA-compliant.

I'm going to swatch Opal 01 on my hand here. On the left is a dot; it's blended out on the rest of my hand.

It's pretty much perfect for my NW13-15 complexion. In case you're wondering, I used my full-sized tube to swatch so I can keep the small travel guy as long as possible.

Now, let's talk about the brush. I'm not sure about this, but I'll continue to work with this.

It's travel-sized and would work in a pinch.

Lastly, let's talk about the blush. I may be the last one on Earth, but I haven't played with bareMinerals' loose blushes before.

Having looked at them at Ulta before, this is the shade I would've selected- so I'm happy to have a small size to experiment with. This is the type of item I am thrilled to get in kits because I'll never use a full size and I'm not sure about the formula.

I know this is bareMinerals' niche, but the closure totally impressed me.

Let's talk about Golden Gate. It's a bit deep for my skintone, but I think it might've been too much to ask for them to customize blushes to complexions.

This is the absolute tiniest bit, blended out. I guess it will be lasting me forever. It's a ruddy orange shimmer that's a summer/fall shade for me. I'll keep playing with it, but loose blush sort of annoys me right now. Am I the only one?

Bottom Line: I think this is a good way to try multiple products from bareMinerals. If any of the kits will match your complexion, I think it might be worth checking out.

July/August 2017 Favorites

One of the things I missed with the timing of my Mac's demise was posting my July favorites. Grab yourself a snack or a drink because I'm going to make this a two-month post, and cover a lot of territory.

Let's start with makeup. I'd planned to review many of these items already, but that's not going to stop me from sharing them in September. Please note that anything with a hyperlink is a direct shopping link.

Primers:

I discovered my current HG priming routine over the past two months. It's rather complicated, but that's ok. Depending on the weather and my skin, I start with a color-correcting primer for my red areas. I'm actually out of my favorite (Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizing Primer- Redness), and I won't repurchase until I finish up all of the green primers in my collection. I'm almost down to my last one. Next, I either go in with CoverFX Mattifying Primer if it's going to be a humid day or an illuminating primer (I've loved the CoverFX Illuminating Primer and Milani Prime Light Strobing Primer over the past two months). Next, for some pore filling, I reach for the  Milk Makeup Blur Stick. Next, onto my problem areas (11s and smile lines) I smooth the tiniest bit of L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base. I finish by spraying the Too Faced Hangover Rx 3-in-1 Spray- which I'll be sharing the good news about with you soon. I also was boring in terms of an eye combination- MAC Painterly Paint Pot, set with Sephora Collection Beauty Amplifier Lid & Liner Primer.


Eyeshadow:

I think the number of palettes I've been through should be an indication that I wouldn't have many shadow favorites. That's true. I purchased the original LORAC Mega Pro palette when it went up on the brand's website. I'm in love. Same with the LORAC Mega Pro 2, which was my July obsession. Although a recent purchase, I keep reaching for lid shades from the MAC Power Hungry Palette.

In terms of items I've been loving that aren't available, it's the Tom Ford Unabashed Palette and Marc Jacobs The Lolita (which I got from the brand as part of a mystery bag). I've also been loving my MAC Double Custom Palette, which I pulled from my hundreds of shades. It lives in my drawer, whereas the Mega Pros live on my vanity. I've also pulled a mini Smashbox CoverShot Trio in Screenshot.


Eyeliner and Mascara:


I've been so basic the past two months. I've been keeping it basic, with the Wet 'n Wild Skinny Tip Eyeliner coming back into my rotation (review coming in September), while still loving Anastasia Beverly Hills Darkside Liner, and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Metallic Luster Liners. I told you I was boring! Again, another place where I've been pretty boring is mascara. I adore using my Urban Decay Subversion Primer, and have been loving a trio of mascaras: It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara, Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, and L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara.


Now, onto the face. Let's talk Concealers and Correctors:

As always, I'm in love with Tarte Shape Tape, but I've also been loving Cle de Peau The Concealer for face concealing when self-tanned. In terms of correctors, I've been trying a few but the only one I've really been loving is my staple Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector.

Foundations and Powders:

I've been keeping it pretty simple these days. On the foundation front, I'm still loving Lancome Teint Idole, La Mer The Foundation (when not self-tanned), Givenchy Teint Couture Balm, and MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour on the weekend. When self-tanned, I also loved the CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream. I've also fallen for It Cosmetics CC Cream and bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Complexion Balm this summer.

Four powders have lived in my drawer for the past two months: MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, RCMA No Color Powder, and Too Faced Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder.

Bronzer:

It must be summer if I'm obsessed with more bronzers than anything else! L'Oreal Glam Bronze is so good and so similar to one of my other favorites- Marc Jacobs Tan-Tastic. Algenist's Color Correcting Bronzer also found its way back into rotation, as well as Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer. My favorite new bronzer is Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Capri Coast.




Contour:

Two contour kits stole my heart these past two months. I've been loving the sadly-discontinued Fiona Stiles Sheer Contour Kit in Light/Medium and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Powder Contour Kit in Light/Medium.


Blush:

I wish I could admit to being more adventurous than I have been. I've been using my Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes the most frequently.

My custom MAC blush quad and Natasha Denona Blush Duo #15 make occasional guest appearances.

In terms of single blushes, there have only been three in rotation. Too Faced Love Flush blushes in Justify My Love and Baby Love (something I adore from last 21 Days of Beauty) and Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso.


Highlighter:

I've also been pretty boring in terms of highlighter. Laura Geller French Vanilla lives in my drawer, along with Essence Be My Highlight these days. When I was self-tanned, I finally discovered the beauty of Becca Opal. I also loved Dose of Colors Highlighter in Milk 'n Honey.

Lipliner:

I kept it simple in terms of lipliner. The most frequently used was Bobbi Brown Lipliner in Beige, combined with Lancome Le Lipstique in Clair.

Lipstick:

I kept things so basic these last couple of months.  MAC Lipstick in Shy Girl (special packaging), Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Ultra Beige (from that Nordstrom set), Hourglass GIRL Stylo in Peacemaker (100pt perk size), Marc Jacobs Sheer Gel Lipstick in Have We Met? , and MAC Lipstick in Love at First Bite.


Liquid Lipstick:

I really only used two most of the summer- bareMinerals Statement Matte Lip Color in Juicy and bareMinerals GenNude Liquid Lipstick in Slay.


Lip Gloss:

I kept it simple here too! I blame this on hot days and playing with lots of different colors. MAC Vamplify Lipgloss in Spanking Haute, MAC Creamsheen Glass in ChaChaCha, Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipglosses in Amber, Caramel, and Saint Tropez.


PHEW!

Now, let's talk Skincare.

I've been loving this combo- Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum, Avene Gentle Toning Lotion, Enlite When it Rains, It Pores Serum, Enlite Face Cardio (I'm so angry that CVS discontinued these), First Aid Beauty Coconut Smoothie Priming Moisturizer, The Ordinary Caffeine Eye Serum, Avene Mattifying Fluid.

You probably know I'm really into sheet masks. I've been loving two main active ingredients this summer- Tea Tree and my beloved Red Wine. Pictured are the TonyMoly I'm Real Tea Tree Mask , 7 Days Tea Tree Mask, and TonyMoly I'm Real Red Wine Pore Care Mask. All of these can either be found at the pharmacy, at TJMaxx, or in multi-packs from the brand around the $2-2.50 range each.

I raved about this earlier in the week, but I'm obsessed with Simple's new Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water.

Other:

I know that it's not exactly fair to include an item I only purchased on the 26th, but I knew immediately that I knew this product. If you're in the market for an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker, I recommend the AmazonBasics Wireless Speaker ($29.99 for the black version I purchased). One of my huge complaints about my new laptop was the horrible audio. This has saved the day for me so nicely. It's not the world's best speaker, but it's an affordable speaker if you're looking to boost your laptop.

Non-makeup, but a total fun lifesaver: MyTagalongs Stargazer Charger & Cord Case ($18, Nordstrom). I've tucked my Michael Kors travel charger, two pairs of headphones (one for my work computer and one for my iPhone), and a couple of other daily necessities into here. I also bought the Headphones case ($10) once I realized how lovely these were.

What have you been loving the second half of summer?

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!