LUSH Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask

LUSH Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask / $6.95

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with my favorite LUSH face mask. Ever. 

I've tried many a LUSH mask in my day but honestly I have yet to find one I love more than this (sorry BB Seaweed). Something about the fact that this was made with ayurvedic properties just makes me smile a bit as I've really been into reading about things like holistic health so I am quite interested in things of this sort. But, onwards. 

This mask is made of honey, lime oil, ground almonds, a bit of ginger and a bunch of other yummy sounding ingredients. When you pop this on, it does tighten a teeny bit as it dries and you might feel a bit of tingling, but the best part is washing it off. For me this is most definitely an instant gratification type product; once rinsed off, my skin is left feeling so incredibly clean and decongested. Better than that? Not only is my skin feeling cleaner and all around much better, but it looks so much brighter. I know that there are lots of masks out there that probably do the same thing but I love the idea that this was made with a lot of all natural ingredients. Using anything else just feels like a disservice to my skin!

There is ginger root in the mask to help release toxins from your body while the almonds are there to help exfoliate a bit. Kaolin, a white clay, is supposed to get deep into your skin and pores to help remove any nasties and dirt, which is why your face is left with a noticeable glow. I don't use this too often because it is a really deep cleaning mask, but when I do I'm in love. Those with sensitive skin might want to stray from this — my sister-in-law says it's a bit much for her, but it's totally fine for me and my very normal skin!

Have you used tried this mask by LUSH? What do you think?

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light / $45

I spotted it this little baby a few weeks back in our only free-standing Northern California Space NK and as the story goes: I came, I swatched, I lusted. Though because I'm not usually a face powder type of gal, I left empty handed and sat on the idea of purchasing it for a whole three days. Self-control? What is that?

Each Ambient Lighting Powder is supposed to achieve something different; Radiant Light for a summer glow, Diffused light to counteract redness and add clarity, etc. After doing my research on each of the different "shades" that are offered, I popped into Sephora (I wish Space NK was closer) and immediately went looking for Dim Light.

Since then I've been using it daily and honestly never want to go a day without it. I apply the powder all over my face with a big fluffy Sephora blush brush — it leaves me with a super gorgeous soft-focus finish and sets my foundation. Although it has a teensy bit of shimmer, it is incredibly finely milled, meaning it's very delicate and doesn't leave you looking super luminized. While everyone else (except me) thinks the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer blurs imperfections, this stuff actually does, and well.

It only takes one really great product for me to get interested in a brand (Hourglass, I'm coming for you). This is probably the only face powder I've ever bought and honestly genuinely loved and because of that I'm definitely going to be checking out the rest of the collection (and maybe purchasing a few others as well). This is a pretty good little "chart"explaining each of the shades and what they try to accomplish.

For the record, yes. This is holy grail.

Here is a silly hand swatch if you'd like to get a feel of what it looks like on the skin. I'm not a swatch photo fan so that's why I didn't include one. </picky>

NARS Pro-Prime Multi Protect Primer

NARS Pro-Prime Multi Protect Primer · $32

While in England I took a look in Harvey Nichols (so dangerous) and hopped over to the NARS counter. Everyone is always raving about their Sheer Glow foundation so I figured I'd see what all the fuss is about. Because being in England always has this whirlwind effect on me, I find myself being way more susceptible to being talked into things I probably don't need. Primers included.

At first I didn't like this primer at all — I just didn't get on with it and I'm not sure why, but after giving it a few more weeks I actually quite like it. Is it love? Well, I wouldn't go that far but I am enjoying it.

When you first rub this into your skin it leaves a nice sheen (as you can kind of see in the second swatch photo) but it ends up drying matte. I was hoping my skin would stay all luminous and glowy, but alas, it didn't. This stuff is extremely light and leaves your skin super soft while which is a total plus. It also seems to calm my skin ever so slightly, bringing the redness down juuuuust a bit. It does also help with foundation longevity but it's not that much better than the Smashbox primer I was previously using which is why I'm still on the fence. I can definitely see this as something I'll be loving come summer, especially with that added SPF 30 (protection is important, kids). That said, as an every day, all day primer, I'm not convinced that this is the one for me.

Has anyone else tried this primer? If so, what are your thoughts? What are your favorite primers/ones that you would recommend?

LUSH Enzymion Facial Moisturizer

LUSH Enzymion · $39.95

As of late, and especially while I was in England, my face has been anything but cooperative. My fairly normal skin started to feel extremely oily and greasy which is something I'm really not used to. Up until now I still hadn't found a moisturizer that I really loved. Most things are just too thick and sit on my skin. While others actually gave me this weird sweaty feeling. I've tried tons of LUSH ones, some Kiehl's and Origins too, but still, nothing I've found works with my skin! When it comes to moisturizers I need something quite light but still able to do it's job. For me, Enzymion takes the cake.

It smells of fruits and feels sooo nice when slathered onto the face. I take a small bit between my fingers and massage it into my skin. I can literally instantly feel a difference; any greasy spots are now long gone, yet my face feels really moisturized and not overly saturated. Win! Another awesome thing? I've noticed that my makeup stays in place a lot longer than normal.

While the pot is quite small and the price is a bit higher than what I'd like it to be, a little really does go a long way so I'm sure it'll be a long while before I run out.  I've got to admit that I don't see this leaving my skincare routine for a very very long time — this stuff is holy grail to me. Have you guys tried Enzymion before? Do you love it as much as I do? If not, what are your other favorite LUSH moisturizers?

MAC Harmony

MAC Harmony · $20

Now I'm not sure what possessed me to want to buy this — but I think it has a lot to do with my recent MAC haul/obsession. I'll be the first to say it: I know the absolute basics when it comes to contouring and I'm really not all that good at it (yet). That said, I was bored and found myself browsing the MAC counter, swatching Harmony and was basically talked into it. I mean, when you're told you have nice bone structure and that it looks amazing on you, how can you say no? I was sooooo skeptical and still am, but I'm dealing with it.

Harmony is a really nice "muted rose-beige brown" as the MAC website says. Lots of people love to contour with this color but I was afraid it'd be too pink or too brown for me. It still might be, I'm still unsure, but am doing my best to work with it. I think it would be amazing for summer when I'm a bit more tanned but for now I'm just buffing and buffing to make it look as subtle as possible (is it working?). Either way I'm glad to have added this to my collection and hopefully with a bit of practice I'll get better at contouring because to be honest, I'm loving the way it looks!

What do you guys think of Harmony? What are your favorite contouring colors? 

MAC Haul & FOTD

Face: YSL Touché Éclat, Tarte Exposed · Brows: Anastasia Brow Wiz, MAC Mystery · Eyes: MAC Painterly, Malt, Sable, Teddy eyeliner, Maybelline Illegal Lenghts Mascara · Lips: MAC Rebel

This past Saturday, with a list in hand, I took a trip up to San Francisco to the MAC Pro Store and ended up with a bit more than I had planned, but oh well!  I really wanted a Z-Palette but they're so hard to get here (and I'm impatient) so I settled for the new MAC palette. I know some people didn't like the old one, but I've got to admit the new one is beautiful and sturdy.

For shadows, I opted for: Shroom, Patina, Charcoal Brown, Sable, Copperplate, Quarry, Malt, and Satin Taupe.  They seem to complement each other beautifully and also go well with some others I need to de-pot (Naked Lunch, Silver Ring, and Honesty). I think what started this whole thing was me dropping my beloved Satin Taupe and being way-too-sad about it. I originally purchased it to wear when Richard and I got married (and I did) so when it broke, I was feeling a bit nostalgic (lol?).

I really wanted a paint pot but couldn't decide between Bare Study and Painterly — the lovely lady MAC talked me into Painterly and I'm glad she did. It's such a nice nude base for shadows and it makes the colors pop a bit. My only fear is waking up one morning to find a dry paint pot, but hopefully that won't be for quite a while.

I repurchased Teddy, my favorite brown eyeliner of all time. I only wear it on the outer-half of my waterline, but I think it's perfect for that use. I also got the MAC 217 as I was in the market for a new blending/shadow brush. I'm in love! I need more brushes! Help!

Last but definitely not least are Plumful and Rebel. I originally went in for Capricious, but they didn't have it in stock, sigh. I figured I should get Plumful since I wanted it eventually anyway and was then talked into Rebel as well — but hey, I ain't regretting it.

Soooo that's that. Sorry this was ridiculously long! It's stuff like this that makes me seriosuly consider buying a new camera with video capability so I can do videos (so if you have any recommendations please let me know). I think I'm set for a while when it comes to MAC products — what are your favorite things from MAC?

YSL Le Teint Touché Éclat Foundation

YSL Le Teint Touché Éclat in BD10 · $55

Oh yes, I've finally hopped on that bandwagon. After many weeks of contemplation, I gave in and bought the foundation everyone has been talking and blogging about (and yes, this was another Sephora VIB sale purchase!). Because it's normally quite hard for me to find foundations (due to my fair but olive with a dash of pink complexion), I figured this YSL range would have something for me, and oh ho ho, it did does. 

BD10 is literally the most. perfect. match. for me. ever. I love applying and wearing this; it gives you a really natural looking base while illuminating all the right places. I also love that I can wear this lighter or build it up for more coverage. I've worn this all day long — putting it on at 8am and getting home 12 hours later and it still looks soooooo good. Not to mention it feels really luxurious to use, I mean look at that glass bottle! 

But what happened to Laura Mercier Silk Creme, you say? I still love it and use it sometimes but for me personally, it just doesn't compare to Touché Éclat. I've got to admit, this is holy grail for me. There, I said it. 

So what do you guys think of this foundation? Love it as much as I do?

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Caudalie Beauty Elixir · $18

It was only a matter of time 'til I hopped on the Beauty Elixir bandwagon. All my favorite bloggers use it and rave about it, so how could I not try it for myself?

All in all it's just a really gorgeous toner. Everything about it is gorgeous — the bottle, the smell, the way it feels on your skin. I use this in the morning after I shower as my face is usually pretty red and this stuff definitely helps calm my skin a ton. My skin also feels a little more, I don't know, firm? Plump? It just feels amazing as if it's truly ready for me to apply makeup. Seems silly, but I don't know how else to explain it. The fact that it's a mist makes it even better, it's overall so much easier to apply than most other toners. 

Another great use? I love spritzing some on around 1-2pm just to make my face and makeup feel a little more refreshed. The plant-y and minty smell really wakes me up and makes me feel slightly luxurious. Overall I'm really in love with this stuff and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. $18 for a 1oz bottle might seem a little steep — until you use it for yourself and see that it really is worth the price. 

What do you guys think of this product? Do you think it deserves the hype it gets?

Laura Mericer Silk Creme Foundation in Medium Ivory

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation · $43

I get a decent amount of compliments and on my skin — and while yes, I have nice normal skin and am not prone to blemishes or spots, I owe a lot to my trusty foundation.

Before this I wore MAC foundation but could never find the right color or coverage. On a trip to Sephora this past April, I was introduced to the lovely Laura Mericer brand and was immediately interested in the foundations. For a while I was going back and forth between two shades but settled for Medium Ivory.

Laura Mercier's Silk Creme foundation is (for me) medium coverage with a natural and dewy finish. It lasts all day and doesn't leave me oily or dry. I've tried other foundations but nothing else has compared to this so I just can't seem to pry myself away. It blends like a dream and is buildable, so on days where I feel like I need a little extra coverage, I just add another layer. It never looks cakey or fake which is one of the things I love most about this foundation.

What do you guys think of Laura Mercier's foundations? Do you have a fav?

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle · $29

I love a little bit of highlight every now and again — though now and again is more like every other day. As the summer fades, so does my tan and sometimes Benefit's Sunbeam is just a bit too bronze for what I'm looking for. That's when I reach for this gorgeous little highlighter.

MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle is the most perfect, perfect, and did I mention... perfect highlighter. Why? Because it looks good on basically all skin types all year round. Not to mention that it lasts forever. I've had this one for a few months now and it looks like I've barely touched it. It's pretty subtle when applied to the cheeks and cheekbones (hence the swatch I did), but still gives you the most gorgeous natural glow. Every time I use it I'm reminded why it's a product that most bloggers/beauty junkies adore and use on the daily. 

What do you guys think of Soft and Gentle? What are some of your favorite highlighters?

Benefit The POREfessional

Benefit The POREfessional · $30

First things first — you don't have to have issues with your pores to get great use out of this product. My pores are basically invisible and I have normal skin, but this is something that I couldn't really see myself without. On days where I want more of a matte base or have specific areas that I want more matte, I'll use this. I do (mostly) use it in addition to the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm; using the balm around my eyes and this stuff on my forehead, nose, and chin. 

The POREfessional is really great for hot sunny days as it seems to help keep my makeup intact and oiliness to a minimum, no matter how much I sweat. It glides on really silky just like the bottle says and does one hell of a job for being so lightweight. It also helps even skin tone when I have a bit of redness from the heat, which means I end up using less foundation in the long run. All in all it's a pretty awesome little primer/balm and I can't wait to see how it holds up to the East Coast heat and humidity!

Have you used The POREfessional before? What do you think of it?