Smashbox Cream blush Dupe! | Beauty

It’s not often that I have high-end make up, but when I do, I think it’s interesting to compare the dupe-ability to the drugstore/ affordable options I might also have. Funny enough, I got this Smashbox Cream Cheek Color in the same gift set as the eyeshadow reviewed here, then when I received my e.l.f order, I realised this colour looks awfully familiar.  So I put them side by side. Looking like a dupe.. yip! It’s close! (Sadly I think the Smashbox is unavailable now.)

In the packaging they look almost the same, but when swatched they appear a bit different. Captivate (Smashbox) is a lighter peachy pink colour, but with similar undertones to Superstar (e.l.f.).

Both are a warm rose, although superstar is a bit brighter but blended out, each give a nice flushed look. They also contain some reflects, to give a bit of a glow to the skin without looking like a glittery mess.they’re also a semi-matte finish. I love that both of them are so long wearing too (4+ hours).

You would probably end up wasting more of Superstar because of the packaging, and just how pigmented even a half pump of this blush is. Like the tiniest of amounts still seems like too much. While Captivate is a bit more forgiving as it is a bit sheerer.

I like the packaging on both of these products, and couldn’t say I’d change either of them as it wouldn’t make much of a difference to the product. I use both of interchangeably, but to be brutal, I’d pick the Captivate because it’s so much easier to apply without overdosing on colour.

Disclaimer: These products were bought with my money. Opinions are my own.

Smashbox Cream Cheek Color in Captivate | Swatches

Hey all! Today I’m showing you swatches of this gorgeous cream blush from Smashbox in the colour Captivate. It definitely has to my heart…I’m in love with is. Such as easy wearing blush, especially on my skin tone I think, it gives they prettiest glow and flush of colour.

I was going to do a more in depth review of this, but since this product is no longer available I’ll just be just showing swatches and also posting a dupe I found of this blush in the following post.

I did happen to find this blush available here though.

Disclaimer: This was bought with my money. Opinions are my own. 

College Makeup look | Beauty

Hey all! I was getting ready to take some pics for my Back to School outfits post (hopefully going up tomorrow) and I quickly created this make up look using the Smashbox eye shadow trio I talked about here. I loved how it came out. It’s so simple, yet pretty. Or so I think, you tell me.

Also let’s not forget the WWBH, click the button below!

I think this is college appropriate especially for the first day, or if you’re going out after classes. Very subtle make up. I love it.

What I used:
Smashbox Photo Finish PrimerNYX Stay Matte Not Flat Foundation in Chestnut
NYC Smooth Face Loose Powder in Translucent
Maybelline MasterShape by Eyestudio brow pencil- deep brown

e.l.f. clear mascara and brow gel
Smashbox Photo Op Eyeshadow Trio in Proof Sheet
Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes mascara in Blackest Black
Smashbox Cream Cheek Color in Captivate
e.l.f Blush and Bronzing kit- Turks and Caicos

MAC Lipstick in Daddy’s Little Girl

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Back to School post!

Smashbox Photo Op Eye shadow Trio in Proof Sheet | Swatches & Review

Hey all! I’m sure this is actually a pretty old trio, as I got it as part of a giftset from a CCO back in New York, but these eye shadows are timeless. I’m not even sure if this was limited edition, or if it’s still available =/. BUT these are the perfect easy neutrals to carry in your purse. The Proof Sheet eyeshadow trio is a real gem, something about this trio encourages me to wear it every chance I get.

The shadows are smooth, especially the shimmery shades Crisp and Bittersweet, while Vanilla is a bit more chalky as it is matte, but still looks great and blends well. Vanilla is an off-white matte shade that is great for a brow highlight. It’s very nice on my skin tone surprisingly!

Crisp reminds me of Sin from Urban Decay, but I can’t be completely sure about it being a dupe as I don’t own any UD. It’s a subtle peachy nude colour that is very flattering on my lids. I could just wear it alone to look more wake. While Bittersweet is an interesting dark taupe shimmer, that works well in the outer corner.

These shadows have a good last time with primer on, I really didn’t try them without primer. They didn’t crease on me when I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish primer under my foundation, or the e.l.f. Mineral eyeshadow primer.

Pros:

• Buttery soft shadows, except for Vanilla
• Neutral colors great for everyday
• Convenient packaging, but wish there was a mirror
• Blendable shadows

Cons: 

• Most likely limited edition
• Unavailable in Barbados and even on Smashbox website. =/

The Raw Sugar:

I love these eyeshadows and would repurchase them in a heartbeat. I can’t belive I underestmated that I would like them so much. The texture is soft, there is a bit of fallout expected, but these are nice shadow. Too bad this particular colour combination seems to be limited edition. You can still find other great trios on the Smashbox website. 

Where you can get this: Ebay for this trio specifically, Smashbox for other trios

Disclaimer: This product was bought with my own money. Opinions are my own.

SmashBox Photo Finish Primer | Review

I got a mini size to the SmashBox Photo Finish foundation primer in the Camera Ready set I picked up from the CCO while in New York. I typically don’t wear foundation as it always gets so oily on my skin, especially in this Barbados heat, so I was really intrigued by this (and other primers really).  This is the colourless version of this product (the original).

I tried to film a first impressions on this product and it just needs to be edited, but from that experience I thought I might not have liked the primer actually. On trying it out more, I think it actually does a good job against this Barbados heat. This primer is a clear silicone based product which applies clear and makes the skin feel silky smooth. I love that about it. It comes in a squeeze tube so you can also control how much product comes out.

Since I don’t have large pores,  I can’t speak for it reducing the appearance of my pores,  but there’s no flashback from photography, which is good. You can see that here in the picture of a make up look I should be posting this Wednesday.

I don’t think this is the best primer for oily skin types. I have normal skin and it started to look a bit dewy, bordering  oily around the 4th hour of wear, and I had also set my foundation with a powder. I tried this primer with 2 different foundations, so it know it’s not the foundation. You’d probably have to blot by midday with this, but your foundation doesn’t wear off that quickly. Since I wear glasses that was the only areas where I really saw the foundation wearing off, but that’s expected, and it was a hot day out.

Pros:

• Feels silky on skin
• Doesn’t cause ghostly look in flash photos
• Very little product is needed
• Dewy finish
• Convenient packaging

Cons: 

• Can start looking oily from around 4-6 hours of wear
• Needs blotting still
• Pricey
• Unavailable in Barbados

The Raw Sugar:
I would say this primer is good, but it’s nothing to rave about. I love how silky it feels going on, but would I repurchase it? Probably not. I’d go for something more mattifying. This is great for photos though!

Where you can purchase: Sephora (USA), ULTA (USA)

 

Disclaimer: This product was purchased with my own money, opinions are my own.

New York Haulin’ | Beauty

Hey guys, sorry this post wasn’t up earlier today, had to do some errands before work this morning, threw off my schedule a bit. Anyway this is  a quick post on the beauty products I picked up while in New York. I got a few things for my girl friends as well, but I won’t show them here and risk ruining the surprise haha.

On the first few days in Brooklyn, I explored some of the streets and came across a number of beauty stores and while perusing I decided to pick up some false lashes. These some from Kiss are quite a bargain. There are TWO sets in this box and it was just $2.99USD, way cheaper than home!
I picked up the medium length Classic flares, I can’t wait to try them.

I also passed by a Walgreens, seriously every block seems to have a drugstore or 4. I got a few Maybelline  and L’Oreal items, they had some really good deals along with a few coupons that I had, I saved quite a bit on them :).

Pictured is the L’Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Lilac Ever After, Maybelline Master shape Brow pencil, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bold Gold and a new Maybelline Falsies mascara called Big Eyes. I tried out the bottom lash mascara and love how effortless it is to apply (no smudges yay!). I’m still playing with the lip colour, as I tried it on then scuffed down a bunch of food haha.

We went to the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets on Memorial day (I think) and I found a Cosmetics Company Outlet, yay! I always hear people talk about how you can find the limited edition, discounted and sometimes discontinued make up products there and I was so happy to stumble across this one. I picked up a value set from Smashbox Cosmetics. There were also so MAC, Clinique, Estee Lauder and Bobbi Brown products, but none of them really tickled my fancy. I’ll be doing a separate post on the Smashbox set.

Finally, because I promised myself from earlier this year to buy more nail polish and pamper myself, I picked up these pretties from Bed, Bath and Beyond. (Yeah, they have a beauty section, it shocked me too). Anyway, a few of the Nicole by O.P.I. were on clearance so I searched the bin and came across “Listen to Your Momager” from the Kardashian Kolors collection, and “You Can!”. I currently have on the blue polish and I’m in love! Also I picked up a Sinful Colors polish in “Innocent”, a nice bright chartreuse. my sister had this colour and I just had to get it!

Anyway that’s my haul, not too much. Definitely not everything I wanted, but I’m still happy I got something. There should be some reviews and swatches of these products coming up really soon, so just keep watching this space!