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.

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Metal Moon & Universal Gloss in Fenty Glow

Today I'm happy to share my initial purchases- and thoughts- about Fenty Beauty. This was clearly the largest, most buzzed-about line to launch in 2017. I found myself walking after work to the nearest Sephora to check it out. At that time, I picked up one item. Several days later, I came back for a second. I'll be back for more.

I picked up two items from this first launch- the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Metal Moon and the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. If you're curious, the gloss came first.

Let's start with the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter.

Highlighters are one of the key products in the line. I have one of the two single-pan highlighters- Metal Moon.

It's almost impossible to capture in a photo, but the hexagonal packaging has a blue pearl. It's truly beautiful.

For $34, you get 8g/0.28oz of product. It's about the same as a Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, but for $4 less.

Metal Moon is described as "mega fine white gold." In the pan, it looks straight up white.

This shade hasn't gotten the best reviews, but I think this shade was meant for me. It's suited best for someone who is very fair, and who prefers a subtle highlight. It's the anti-Trophy Wife.  Know anyone that meets that description? Yeah, I thought so too.

Here's a swatch of Metal Moon- with the lights turned down so that the natural sheen is visible.

I love it. I know I've mentioned working in a conservative workplace; I can use this safely for work. There aren't that many recent releases I can say that about!

Here's an iphone photo of my highlighter popping. Sorry for the side eye (literally).

See how it glistens? Now, let's deal with that texture. That's 100% the foundation and not the highlighter.

This won't be my last highlighter purchase from the line. Gloriously golden Trophy Wife continues to haunt me. I went back and forth when I picked up Metal Moon. Don't think that I have any intentions on wearing it as a highlighter- it has no business on my fair skin. However, it needs to get on my eyes. Now. (But I did find an Inglot shadow that helped to curb that lemming right now.)  I also want to grab one of the duos eventually.


Now, onto the Gloss Bomb.

There's only one lip product at the moment- a $18, 9ml Gloss that's touted to be a universal shade.

This was actually the first thing that caught my eye from the collection. The applicator's actually interesting as well, It's a hexagonal tube with an oversized wand:

I'm not the only one to make this comparison, but it does remind me of Shape Tape.

Let's go to the swatch:

I tried to show this on my lips, but have had mishaps the five times I've reshot. So let's just talk about this instead. It's a hydrating formula that rides comfortably all day on my lips. It's gorgeously natural- but you feel it on your lips for sure. I'm so happy to have this in my collection and actually recommend it above all other products.


As a bonus, here's my $0.02 on the primer and foundation. I got a sample from Sephora of each because I can't justify purchasing another foundation right now- but I was curious. I got samples of the two lightest cool-undertoned shades (110 &170). I made sure my face was extra moisturized in advance, having watched various reviews on YouTube.

I really, really love the primer. So much that I kind of want to purchase it during the VIB sale in November. I'm honestly hammering on the size of my primer collection right now so I don't want to compound what I perceive to be an issue. But this felt like a hydrating moisturizer. It didn't feel sticky but I know it did good things for me because I didn't look overly dried out with the foundation.

Ah, the foundation. I didn't have to set it because it self-set (love that), but I just wasn't in love with how my skin looked. The oddest thing happened during the day. I felt oily in my T-Zone, but didn't look it when I checked. I was really wierded out by that. I think it's a nice foundation that photographs well, but it's not something I feel the need to race out and purchase to replace one of my overflowing drawer's staples.

Extra bonus: I won't be purchasing any of the Match Stix ever. I think they're nicely pigmented and blend well, but I don't use cream contour or highlight. If you're fair, avoid the pre-made trios. I'm NW13-15 and need the lightest "conceal" shade. At my age (mid-30s), stick concealers have no business anywhere near my eye area. I'll leave that to you 20-somethings. In short- they're nice and appear to be great quality for what they are, but it's not a product that works in my life.

It's All About That Catrice Base: HD Liquid Coverage & All Matt Plus Foundations, Liquid Camouflage Liquid Coverage Concealer, and Prime & Fine Primers

Today's post started out in my head as a first impressions of a new foundation from Catrice Cosmetics (HD Liquid Coverage Foundation), and evolved into a review of all of the base products I own from the brand. Sometimes that just happens.

For those who aren't familiar, Catrice Cosmetics is a European drugstore band. It was introduced into the US market late in 2016 via the brand's website, Ulta.com, and select Ulta stores. Luckily, one of the stores that has a full Catrice setup is only a 15 min detour between my home and my childhood home. As a result, I've been able to grab a few items.

I will preface my review with this caveat: the shade selection is terrible. It's pale girl friendly but not WOC-friendly. So, I'm sorry to those who can't find a shade match.

The HD Liquid Coverage Foundation ($10.99, Ulta.com) is a new release from Catrice. It's more expensive than the other foundation I have. But since I've had such a great experience with the All Matt Plus foundation, it was worth splurging on in a recent Ulta order.

It's quite a thin formula, as I accurately predicted given the packaging. It took quite a few dots but it did give me a nice, airbrushed look.

Here's a swatch of the lightest shade, 010 Light Beige:

For reference, I was about a NW13-15 when I took this photo.

Here's a glimpse of just the foundation, before setting with some Laura Mercier translucent powder. Yes, it did oxidize a bit- but this is also just how pale I am.

Overall, good coverage. I would either pull down my neck or use a very light powder.

It wore pretty well over the course of the day and didn't break up, using the Catrice primers.

Bottom Line: If you can find a shade to match you, I recommend trying this foundation. It feels lux for a budget price.

I only purchased the HD Liquid Coverage foundation based upon my experience with the All Matt Plus foundation ($8.99, Catricecosmetics.com)

This is such amazing packaging- it's a glass bottle with... a PUMP.

I have shade 010 Light Beige, and this has become one of my go-to foundations on the weekend. It does stand up to my summer combo skin and doesn't break down. I will admit that it's quite light though. Here's a swatch:

It doesn't oxidize, either. I'd put it in my use up pile when it disappeared from Ulta's website, but now that I know it's on Catrice's site... I really do like this a lot.

Bottom Line: I highly recommend trying this out. It's a true matte, light drugstore foundation that stands up to all-day wear.

I also have one of Catrice's concealers- the Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer ($5.99).

It's supposed to be a full coverage concealer. The wand is flat, and the formula is similar to Urban Decay's Naked Skin concealer.

The shade's a bit dark for me (005 Light Natural) and it requires a couple of layers. Here's a swatch:

It has a formula that would work well under the eyes, so I tested it (again) when I tried the HD Liquid Foundation.

Clearly my dark circles were out to play. I took this before I set- and yes, it creased because I didn't set right away. I hate putting this photo up, but I'm being real.

Bottom Line: proceed with caution; I know of plenty of others who like the concealer as-is.

Just to wrap up this part of the post- here's a comparison swatch of the HD Liquid Coverage, All Matt Plus, and the Liquid Camouflage Concealer.

Now, let's talk some primer.

The Catrice Prime & Fine Pore Refining Anti-Shine Base is a white, water-based fluid primer. It gives a soft finish but has no silicone in it. I find that it holds onto my makeup for a full day. It's oil free, and works for a full day even in the summer.

It blends out beautifully:

I also pair it in my trouble areas with the Catrice Prime and Fine Smoothing Primer.

It's a potted primer similar to the Winky Lux, Tarte, and L'Oreal versions.

It's a silicone primer that is lighter weight and feels more emollient than any of the others that I mentioned. I like it, but it's not my favorite in this category.

I have to be careful when I blend it out. This swatch is rather heavy:

Bottom Line: Catrice makes some awesome primers, and I look forward to trying some of the others.

I advertised this post as base products only, but I'll give you a peek at one of the other amazing product I've tried- the Liquid Metal eyeshadow.

That doesn't look like a $4.99 shadow, does it?

Bottom Line: I think Catrice is a value brand worth exploring. Its shade range for base products is limited, but the products punched well above their weight. Although it's mostly an online-only brand here in the US, it's worth checking out.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Shade Extensions for Summer 2017: 102 Fair Porcelain & 105 Fair Ivory

Let me start today's review with a rave for Maybelline.  They've added additional shades in their Fit Me Matte & Poreless line, and by far it's the most comprehensive at the drugstore. The shade lineup now clocks in at a truly impressive 32 shades- and they're really working at covering all skintones from the palest of the pale to the deep ebony. So bravo, Maybelline!

Initially, I planned to pass this release because this isn't a formula that particularly wears well on me. Still, the addition of two new pale shades lured me back in, and I'm glad I kept two other bottles (at one point I had five) in my stash for reference.

The basics:
Full Product Name: Fit Me Foundation Matte & Poreless
Targeted: Oily to Normal Skin
Number of shades: 32
Price: $5.99/1oz (Walmart), $7.99 (Maybelline.com, Ulta.com), $8.49 (CVS)
Packaging: Glass bottle, no pump

There are two new pale shades- 102 Fair Porcelain and 105 Fair Ivory. Here they are swatched:

Before I get into the full comparison, let's talk about why I'm not a huge fan of this foundation. I've tried it with so many different primers because it's such a popular line, but it's such a long-term fail for me.

Here's a huge smile line after 5 hours:

And look at my chin after that same 5 hours:

EWWWWWW.

The color match is on point, though. It's 102 Fair Porcelain. This is a foundation that looks great for 3-4 hours tops, and then breaks down on me.

I have the lightest 4 shades in my collection right now:

OK, let's swatch. Although the formula just doesn't do it for me, it is the most pale-girl friendly line in US drugstores at the moment.

Let's talk about the shades for a moment. I think 102 is a great match for me. In the past, I found 110 to be way too yellow but 112 to be too dark. So, I'd blend, use mixers, and tweak. I can wear 102 straight up and like it a lot, shade-wise. 105 is still a little too dark but I bet it'll work well when I'm self-tanned (yeah, I know. Self-tanned and needing a lightest shade extension.). I think 102 is more neutral than 110.

Bottom Line: I think this is a great foundation in terms of shade offerings, and I pray other drugstore brands follow Maybelline's lead in embracing all complexions. I'm going to keep playing with it, but the formula isn't long-wearing for me. I wanted to show my support for lighter foundation shades and share them with you.