Make Me Up: Mo's Beauty Picks

Revlon Nearly Naked- Finishing Powder

Velvet, matte finish, finely milled, reminds me of MAC’s Select Sheer Pressed Powder and is only $9.99 at your local drugstore, but lookout for BOGO’s at Walgreen’s etc. for a cheaper price. 

Personally, I would only use this as a finishing powder and not as a full foundation, but I prefer liquid foundation!

MAC Archie’s Girls Collection

Betty: Girl Next Door Lipstick- Lustre Finish

The other item I purchased from the Archie’s Girl collection was from the Betty component with this lipstick entitled Girl Next Door. This is a lustre finish so it glides on a little more sheer. The color is a pale pink that has blue undertones. I was a little concerned with that because for my skin tone, blue toned pinks can make my teeth look yellow. Which it kind of did. However when I mixed it with a lavender lip gloss/hot pink drug store lipstick, it took the blue out and made my teeth look pearly again. It’s not extremely long wearing, but I wasn’t too worried about that because I don’t mind re-applying throughout the day. I like it! I wish I would have tried a different color however. 

Price: $16.50

MAC Archie’s Girls Collection

Veronica- Blush in Prom Princess

Recently MAC’s new collection was released based on the classic comic book series, Betty & Veronica. I decided to purchase two items from the collection, and this blush called my name. Entitled Prom Princess, it’s from the Veronica component of the collection and is a pungent combination of plum and pink. It swatches with some shimmer but not glittery. I think it would look really great on darker skin tones as well. Also, hello- the packaging? Gorg. 
Price: $22 Buckaroos. Expensive, but I love MAC’s blush formula and I’ve used this every day for about a week and there hasn’t been a dent in the product.

New MAC Products I’m trying:

Fix+ - Some say this is just glorified water, or that it’s bad for the skin due to some of the agents in this setting spray. However, I find it much more hydrating than my Urban Decay All Nighter Spray. Listen, I’m not going to abandon UD All Nighter! It’s just very drying for the winter months, and is giving my foundation more of a talc-y appearance right now. Remember, I’m from MN- this place right now is cold, dry, and skin’s worst enemy. So Fix+ is working well! I’m also using it by spraying it on eye brushes before applying shadows with more fallout/glitter to help it stay longer. Plus- this shiz is $10 bucks compared to the very expensive All Nighter.

Studio Fix Fluid in NC15- I didn’t even need a new foundation, I was just so curious about MAC’s foundation that I had to try, I was in search of full coverage- and I mean make my skin look like a velvet Juicy sweatsuit, full coverage. So this does the trick. It’s ultra creamy, and great coverage which actually is leaving me with less of a need for concealer under my eyes which is awesome. I get the hype. I get it.

Cleanse Off Oil/ Tranquil- What exactly is a cleanse off oil? Well it’s used for removing makeup, but a much more gentle approach than wipes which can tug at the face, or cleansing the skin all together, which can be very drying. This oil is oil free- I know, sounds goofy. It literally melts the makeup off of your face, and gets all the tough stuff too. It smells nice, and moisturizers my skin. All I could ask for, really.

Now just to see if these will become a staple in my makeup routine!

Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion with SPF 15 PA++
                                                                                   
I recently purchased this product (the full size) from Ulta for $28.00. I’ve read/watched reviews of these products and really never gravitated towards them until I received a sample in my Sephora Mystery Bag that I got after purchasing Christmas gifts. The samples I received were for the It’s Potent Eye Cream, this moisturizer, and the heavier, Total Moisture, moisturizer.

Personally, I didn’t find the need for the eye cream, however I do have a lot of that sample left so I think I’ll keep trying it. The Total Moisture moisturizer was really great for nighttime use, however I’m partial to Maracuja Oil from Tarte for night moisturizing.

Zis Producked-

Is great. I FRIGGIN’ LOVE THE SMELL. I know, haters gon’ hate- people hate scented face stuff because it’s bad for you blah blah blah. I like it. It smells clean, and I think people should want their face to smell clean! It’s a really light weight moisturizer that I use in the morning after I shower and cleanse my face with the Clarisonic system. It puts the moisture back into my skin that my cleanser can sometimes take out, and for me it serves as a primer to my foundation, because it dries semi-matte. The other property of this product is that it has brightening agents in it, which so far I have seen! My face looks luminous. 

The only bummer about this product is the price. I’m used to buying a daytime moisturizer for much less at Target, etc. But hey- I have two jobs and some Christmas money so I bought it, k? Lol we’ll see if I can afford it again…

What Paula (Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me) Says:  

 http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/benefit/_/Triple-Performing-Facial-Emulsion-SPF-15 

That it’s an average product, too pricey- bad bad bad. To each their own!

OKAY I’VE RAVED ABOUT TARTE AND QVC’S PARTNERSHIP- HAVE YOU LISTENED?

This needed caps, okay? I received these installments on automated order, and this was the last installment. They saved the best for last!

What it includes:

A shadow quad, which I would love to do a separate review on soon, they blend amazingly and have great pigmentation.

A full size creme blush

Full size Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara (my favorite)

Full size Maracuja Oil which has saved my skin from acne, given it moisture and a glow and has preventative wrinkle protection.

Full size eyeliner, Maracuja Concealer, and lip gloss, AND A GREAT FOUNDATION BRUSH!

All of this? 45 dollars folks. Need I say more? I will be doing some more detailed reviews of these products, but please check out QVC’s Tarte page by clicking on the my picture to see some amazing package deals that I personally haven’t found at another retailer. 
*personal note- I love QVC, those who don’t Q simply don’t understand. They do not sell low quality items! 

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Palette Review

I recently purchased this item when Urban Decay was giving 100% of their proceeds to the Red Cross to help Hurricane Sandy victims. It’s rare that a company will give all of their proceeds so I jumped at this great cause! 

Packaging:
This palette is compact and much smaller than their Naked packaging, so it’s great for travel. It’s purple and gold and very cute!

Product:
The shadows were not what I expected from Urban Decay, however I think this has to do with the fact that they all contain glitter. I found that applying these wet is what works the best, for they are highly pigmented wet and with some layering.

The liner in the color whiskey is GREAT. I’ve used this every day since I received the product in the mail, a great dark brown that I’ve used on my eyebrows as well.

It also came with a gloss (not pictured) in Midnight Cowboy. It’s a sheer nude that has extreme wearing power, but slightly stickier than I like.

A fun purchase for a good cause, just slightly disappointed in the shadows themselves. 

Halloween Look:

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline for the Cateye

False lashes from the ELF Maleficent Palette

Red Alert Lipstick by Rimmell

Cherry Lipliner by MAC

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner for the whiskers and nose.

Finished with All Nighter setting spray :) Happy belated Halloween!

Feeling nerdy today! (Yes, these are my actual glasses)

Face:
Tarte BB Cream
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hr Foundation in Light
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Tarte 12 Hour Blush 
NYC Translucent Setting Powder

Eyes:
Cork from MAC in crease
Fig from MAC in outer corner
Copper color from MAC Call me Bubbles Palette
Blacktrack Fluidline from MAC
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara 

Lips:
OCC Liptar in Strumpet 

Nails:
On the tips: Essie’s Bahama Mama
Bottom half: Essie’s Penny Talk 

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