Anastasia Brow Wiz vs. Nyx Micro Brow, is it a dupe?

When it comes to brow products, Anastasia is queen. I've tried her powders, pomade, brow gel and pencils. What I've always liked the most is the Brow Wiz. It is such an easy, quick product to use that packs a big punch.

When I saw that NYX came out with a similar product, the Micro Brow Pencil, I knew I had to try it to see how it compared to the Brow Wiz.

When it comes to product design, these two are essentially the same. They're both mechanical pencils with the product rolling up on one side and a spoolie brush for combing and blending on the other. I tend to favor the brush on the Brow Wiz. It's just slightly more dense and pointed at the end. The one design flaw for the Micro Brow is that the caps are two different sizes. If you aren't careful, you'll put the slightly smaller brush cap on the pencil side and end up smashing the product. Can you tell I'm speaking from experience? On the Brow Wiz, both caps are the same size so this can't happen. Smart!

As far as the consistency of the product, the Brow Wiz has more of a creamy consistency while the Micro Brow is a bit dryer. I think the Brow Wiz is easier to work with in that respect, it glides on the skin a bit easier. Both products do a great job at making it easy to use short strokes to fill in your brows, which in turn makes them look more natural. Both products have great staying power. They won't smudge and last all day.

For colors, I use Taupe in the Brow Wiz and Blonde in the Micro Brow.  One thing I've always thought was lacking in the Brow Wiz was the color selection. Taupe is the lightest shade. I have dirty blonde hair and this shade is just a tad dark for me. Micro Brow also comes in a Taupe color but I bought the Blonde. This one is more of a color match for me. Color match is an important part of brow products. If a product is too dark, your brows immediately stand out in a bad way, making them look obviously filled-in, so it's always good to go a shade lighter than you think you need.

Verdict:

I would vote that the NYX Micro Brow is definitely a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz! They aren't exactly the same but the similarities are so close that if you're looking to save a little money, NYX Micro Brow is the way to go. The Micro Brow is a much better value at $10 for 0.003 oz while the Brow Wiz is $21 for the same amount of product.


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Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed Champagne Pop Review & Comparison

This is a collaboration between YouTuber Jaclyn Hill and Becca Cosmetics. Since Jaclyn is responsible for much of the hype about the Shimmering Skin Perfectors it only made sense that she created her own unique color for the brand. It's no secret that Jaclyn is one of my favorite makeup artists on YouTube so when I heard about her latest collab I knew it had to be mine!

Becca describes the color as a soft white, gold shade with pinky peach undertones. It has a warm, almost orange undertone. I'd describe the color as the lovechild of Rose Gold and Peach. This shade has the same creamy texture as the other shimmering skin perfector pressed powders. They are all highly pigmented and easily blendable.

Jaclyn describes this shade as being flattering for all skintones but she created it with fair skin in mind. Sometimes it can be difficult to find that perfect highlight shade that shows up correctly if you have pale skin. Champagne Pop creates a beautiful soft lit glow that doesn't overpower lighter skin tones.

Since the color payoff is so high with a high-shimmer finish, it does take a bit of finesse to apply Champagne Pop without looking like a disco ball. The two brushes I turn to are the Sigma F35 and the MAC 188. The F35 is a tapered highlighting brush. It lets you dust the highlighter lightly over targeted areas for precise application. The MAC 188 is a small duo fibre brush that I reach for when I want a lighter application as it picks up less product and is great for blending.

I thought I'd compare the color of Champagne Pop to the other shades in my collection. This shade is lighter than Opal but darker than Moonstone. Rose Gold is more copper in tone, Opal is more golden and Moonstone is more yellow.

Overall I love this highlighter. Even though I have 3 other varieties of Becca's highlighters, I think I've found my perfect shade. It compliments my fair to medium complexion and does not give me a white cast or look muddy on my skin.

This is a limited edition product that is exclusive to Sephora.

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Summer Foundation Rotation

With every season I like to change up my makeup routine to adjust to the climate changes. Summer is now in full swing and I've definitely been gravitating towards products that control oil and provide a dewy summer glow. Here's whats in my current foundation rotation:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

This is my go-to full coverage foundation for summer. The consistency is thick and almost whipped. I apply it with the Tarte Airbrush Foundation brush. The combination of the two is just magical. It covers all imperfections and discolorations and blends in wonderfully. The finish is definitely matte. You definitely need to add some bronzer, blush and highlight to bring your skin back to life. The wear is also very good. I use this if I'm going to be outside in the heat and don't want to worry about my makeup melting off my face. My shade is Light Neutral.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere 

This is a medium coverage foundation with a dewy glow finish. It feels light on the skin and does not dry me out nor make me oily. The best thing about this foundation is the finish. It does a nice job at camouflaging imperfections while leaving a beautiful subtle glow to my skin. Being Chanel, this is certainly a splurge item. It has a slight floral scent when you apply but the scent does not hang around once it is set. My shade is 20 Beige.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream 

This is a multi-tasking product that provides moisture, sunscreen and full coverage. The finish is slightly dewy, giving your skin a luminous glow. It is also infused with anti-aging properties that IT describes as providing long term brightening and color correcting benefits. The consistency is thick, similar to the Tarte, but more of a cream than a whipped texture. It is an extremely easy product to use. I can skip my moisturizing step when I use this and I can even blend it out with my fingers and it still looks amazing. It is a real time saving product. The only drawback is the staying power. It does break down quicker than a traditional foundation, so make sure to set with a matte powder to extend the wear. My shade is Fair.


All three of these contain an SPF which is a must for the summer. One better, they all contain physical sunscreens rather than chemical ones. Do you change your foundations with the seasons? What are you loving this summer?

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Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick

I've been loving matte lips for a while now and my love has definitely transitioned into the Spring. Lately, I've been lightening up by using mostly rosy pinks, nudes and corals. The trouble with matte lipstick is that it can sometimes be tricky. In order for it to go on smoothly, you need to make sure your lips are exfoliated, hydrated and lined. Sometimes this can be a bear, so when I saw that Charlotte Tilbury had released a line of hydrating matte lipsticks I knew I had to try them!

The new formula is called "Matte Revolution." Charlotte describes them as "the matte lipstick of the future". The formula is long lasting, buildable and hydrating. After trying these, I can safely say that these live up to Charlotte's claims. My major gripe with matte lipsticks is that they are drying and difficult to apply. These lipsticks glide on so smoothly and feel creamy on the lips. The finish is also really special. They are matte but they aren't a totally flat matte. She describes it as "cashmere", which I think is spot on. Its somewhere between matte and satin. There is just a slight hint of healthy luminosity that shines through. 

The lipstick shape is also unique in that it is squared off at an angle, which is supposed to mimic that of a lip brush. Although the different shape took a bit of getting used to, I actually really like it. The cut gives you more precision when applying. It almost looks like you used a lip liner if you decide to skip that step.

As with her K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks, these have the same beautiful art deco inspired rose gold packaging.

I chose three colors: Very Victoria, a brown toned nude, Sexy Sienna, a peachy coral,  and Amazing Grace, a classic rose. All three of these colors have amazing pigmentation. One smooth pass on the lips is all you need to get the true color, but they are buildable and can also be sheered out. I love how versatile they are!

A matte lip, when done right, can be incredibly beautiful and Charlotte has hit the nail on the head with these! These were available exclusively on Charlotte's US website early this year, but will be coming to US retailers in the fall.

Morphe Jaclyn Hill Favorites Palette Review & Swatches

If you are a fan of YouTube's Jaclyn Hill, you are no stranger to her much lusted over collaboration palette with Morphe Brushes. Jaclyn teamed up with Morphe to create a custom palette featuring 28 of her favorite Morphe shadows. This was not a brand that I had ever heard of before I started seeing their brushes pop up in YouTube videos. In addition to brushes they also sell a wide variety of cosmetics including their famous eyeshadows. 

In her videos, Jaclyn gushed about the great quality of the eyeshadows and their unheard of $2/each price point. When she announced that she would be teaming up with them to create a palette of her favorite eyeshadow shades I was definitely interested! I missed the first release last fall but was able to get my hands on one of them during the April re-promote.

The palette consists mostly of warm tones but it does have some jewel-toned pops of color. It has a nice mix of matte, satin, shimmer and frost finishes. You can surely tell that Jaclyn hand picked these shadows as they mirror the shades she uses most in her videos. The quality of these shadows is truly amazing! They are buttery soft and easily blendable. They remind me a lot of the consistency of the Makeup Geek Shadows. The pigmentation is crazy, especially in the more metallic shades.

Row 1 (left to right): ES4, ES54, ES6, ES76, ES64, ES14, ES75

Row 2: ES67, ES13, ES62, ES63, ES20, ES47, ES66

The top two rows are mainly warmer tones. I'm most excited about the burnt orange (ES14) and the vibrant metallic bronze (ES20). Also, the coral color, ES66, love. These are screaming warm summer smokey eyes!

Row 3: ES33, ES68, ES16, ES15, ES61, ES24, ES74

Row 4: ES11, ES59, ES38, ES53, ES48, ES71, ES19

The bottom two rows spotlight some jewel tones and rich browns. I love the look of putting a pop of bright color on the lower lash line, especially during the summertime, so I'm excited to try out these colorful shades!

When I first got this I was skeptical if this palette would be worth the hype and the LONG wait, but it did not disappoint! Each of the different eyeshadow formulations performed wonderfully with smooth application, easy blending and minimal fallout. Right now this is sold out again and the Morphe website says that it will not be restocked. I thought this was still worth a review because you can still buy all these shades in individual form here. They are a steal for only $2 each. You can pick your favorites and then pop them into a Z palette, which Morphe also sells.

Glam Glow Masks, Worth the Hype?

Today I'm talking about the ever-popular Glam Glow Masks. These items are certainly a splurge. Each full size mask costs a whopping $69! Does big money yield big results? Are these worth the hype? I was lucky enough to receive these three in a holiday gift set last Christmas. I've been testing them out for a while now and wanted to share my thoughts.

Supermud Clearing Treatment

This a mud mask that Glam Glow describes as being skin-clearing. It draws out dirt and congestion from the skin with Activated-X Charcoal while brightening and softening the skin with a six-acid blend. In short, I love this stuff. I use it once a week on my whole face for about 20 minutes. As soon as I rinse it off I notice a difference. It minimizes my pores, shrinks blackheads and starts to dry up any active breakouts. My skin also feels slightly tighter after using. Not in an uncomfortable way, but it may be the pore minimizing at work. The final result is my skin is left feeling soft and smooth, which was surprising for me as I'm dry and acne treatments usually leave my skin clearer but leave behind dry patches. This one is a win-win!

Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment

This is an exfoliating mud mask that Glam Glow describes as providing gentle resurfacing exfoliation to smooth and brighten skin as well as providing tighter skin and pores for a more youthful appearance. This one is a 10 minute mask that delivers a tingling effect during application. I did notice that this mask also provided the skin tightening, pore minimizing effect that I got from the Supermud but I'm not the biggest fan of the tingling sensation. My skin is sensitive and the tingle is strong and almost feels a bit burning. My skin wasn't red or irritated when I rinsed it off so it wasn't actually burning me but it made me nervous. I did appreciate the exfoliating aspect while rinsing it off but it was a bit gritty and I prefer a more gentle exfoliant. On the whole, this mask was a miss for me.

Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment

Glam Glow describes this mask as a hydrating mud treatment that moisturizes, restores, replenishes and calms the skin, leaving is silky, soft and supple. It can be applied in a thin layer for daytime use or generously applied as an overnight mask. I like to use this as an overnight hydrating treatment. I apply it before I go to bed and then rinse off any excess in the morning. I've been using this all winter to combat dry, flaky skin. It does wonders for re-hydrating my face and leaves my skin smooth and healthy as if I've just gotten a facial. It also smells amazing with a cocoa-butter, tropical-type smell. It is one of those products that is a joy to apply and actually does what it claims.

Final Thoughts

The standout products for me are the Supermud and Thirstymud masks. In my experience these masks actually perform as described and don't irritate my skin. The biggest drawback to these is the price. While I do love the Supermud and Thirstymud that $69/each price tag is a killer. I'd recommend getting a set like this that has 1 full sized product and two deluxe samples. This one was a holiday set where you got a full sized Thirstymud and a deluxe sample of the Supermud and Youthmud for the $69. This particular set isn't available anymore but Sephora does have a similar set available now. Also, the Youthmud and Thirstymud are sold in travel sizes which are $19 if you are looking to try them out before taking the plunge on the full size.

I hope this was helpful if you are on the fence about purchasing any of these masks. What do you think about the Glam Glow masks?

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Youthmud
Thirstymud
Supermud
Get Glowing Set

MAC Lipstick Collection & Finish Guide

I am always on the hunt for that perfect shade of lipstick and MAC makes some of the best. The quality is amazing, the color selection can't be beat and the price is fairly reasonable for a high end lipstick at $16/tube.

I've accumulated quite a few of them over the years and wanted to share my collection as well as a guide to the nine different lipstick finishes that MAC offers:

Matte

Rich in pigment, long-wearing. No shine, shimmer or sparkle, just pure color with a velvety finish. The downside to mattes is that they don't offer any moisture, they can drag and tug during application and they can cling to dry patches on your lips. It's important to exfoliate and apply a lip balm before reaching for a Matte shade.

Colors: Charmed I'm Sure (Marilyn Monroe), Good Kisser (A Novel Romance), Strange Journey (Rocky Horror)

Retro Matte

Ultra-matte finish, pigment rich, no shine. If you want an even matter finish, enter Retro Matte. I've only tried one Retro Matte and it wasn't my favorite. This is a high-maintenance lipstick that can be very drying and uncomfortable. But, if you are up for the challenge, it can be beautiful when applied correctly.

Color: Relentlessly Red

Satin

Very pigmented with a more comfortable, soft finish. If you are looking for a matte look but don't want the sometimes uncomfortable matte finish, then satin is for you. They still pack a color and long-wear punch, but are much more wearable for everyday.

Colors: Daddy's Little Girl (Archie's Girls), MAC Red, Rebel (Heirloom Mix), Faux, Kelly Yum Yum (Osbournes), Pink Nouveau

Amplified/Amplified Creme

Medium to high pigmentation with a glossy finish. These two are so similar I grouped them together. Amplified packs a color punch while Amplified Creme is still high in pigmentation but has a more creamy finish.

Colors: Impassioned, Oblivion (Rocky Horror), Chatterbox

Lustre

Glossy finish with a wet-look, medium opacity. I find that the color payoff in these is more sheer and they are not very moisturizing, but they aren't drying either. They also contain a decent amount of shimmer. Sometimes the color will wear down and you are left with just sparkles on your lips.

Colors: Spice it up!, Sweetie, Woodrose (Proenza Schouler), Lovelorn, Viva Glam V, Syrup

Cremesheen - Creamy finish with a slight shine, medium opacity. They provide a luminous sheen to the lips and are so creamy and comfortable on the lips. My favorite shade right now is Mystical from the Alluring Aquatics collection. It's a great Rose color that is appropriate year-round.

Colors: Mystical (Alluring Aquatics), Japanese Maple

Frost

Frosted, shimmery finish, medium to sheer opacity. The only frost I own is Angel. This shade has a cult following. It contains micro-shimmer that shows up ever so slightly when applied. Its a great neutral medium to light pink.

Color: Angel

Glaze 

Sheer opacity, low color impact, glossy finish. These are similar to the balm or butter lipsticks that you see a lot of on the market today. They are quick to apply, comfortable to wear and very low maintenance. These are nice for daytime but be ready to reapply often as they don't wear for long.

Color: Hue

Lipsticks are one of those makeup items that I just love to collect. MAC, especially the limited edition items, are almost considered collectors items in the world of makeup. Their limited edition items are often hyped up and then extremely hard to come by when released (well played MAC!) It's become almost like a sport to get your hands them. This can be frustrating at times so I try not get too consumed by this and just curb my limited edition quests to the collections that most interest me.

I hope this post was helpful in breaking down the different lipstick finishes that MAC offers. It can sometimes be intimidating to go to counter and be greeted with endless shades and lipstick finishes to choose from. Knowing a bit more of what MAC has to offer can help you make the right choice.

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MAC Lipstick (Nordstrom)
MAC Lipstick (MAC Store)

Ben Nye Luxury Powder Swatches & Review

Today I'm coming at you with a review of one of my holy grail products, the Ben Nye Luxury Powders!

These are extremely finely-milled setting powders that go on smooth and set to a beautiful matte finish. They come in 5 shades: Beige Suede, Buff, Cameo, Banana, and the newest addition, Rose Petal.

c/o twitter @kimkardashian

These powders have been the secret weapon of makeup artists for years. They gained popularity in the mainstream market when Kim Kardashian tweeted this picture of her contour and highlight. Her highlight shade is Ben Nye Banana Powder. Since then, contouring and highlighting has taken the beauty world by storm with many brands jumping on the bandwagon and releasing similar powders.

At first, I hesitated purchasing these because I was turned off by the packaging. They used to only come in sifter jars. Basically the same idea as a baby powder jar where you sprinkle the product in the tiny cap. It looked like a giant mess to me. If a product isn't easy to use, realistically I know I just won't use it. So when I saw that the Ben Nye Luxury Powders now came in a dome jar, I pulled the trigger and purchased three shades, Banana, Rose Petal and Cameo, from CRC Makeup.

Banana

Lets start with the most famous of the Ben Nye powders, Banana. It's similar to Bare Minerals Well rested, but more yellow in tone. This is marketed as being able to suit any skin tone. It is a color corrector that can fix redness as well as neutralize blue under eye circles. I use this as a finishing powder to set my under eye concealer. Since I have a more fair skin tone this wouldn't work for me as an overall setting powder, but it would be beautiful for more tanned/olive skin tones. Olive and tanned skin tones can also use this as a highlighter, as seen on Kim in the above photo, for a brightening candlelit glow.

Rose Petal

This is the fairest of the Luxury Powders. It is described as being micro-milled to give you that silky smooth finish, as if you were grazing your skin with rose petals. It is also pink in tone, hence the rose name. I use this as an under-eye setting powder when I want to really light up that area. It's pink color makes it an excellent brightener. If you have a very fair skin tone you could use this as an all-over setting powder.

Cameo 

This is a beige toned powder with a slight hint of blush. This powder gives me a slight brightening effect when worn to set my concealer. I can also use it as an all-over setting powder to my foundation. It works on my skin right now because I'm very pale, but it won't work once my skin gets a little more color in the summer months. Like the Rose and Banana powders, it lays beautifully on the skin, especially under the eyes, without giving that dry, powdery look.

Here's a side by side shot of Rose Petal (left) and Cameo (right). As you can see Rose Petal has a more prominent pink tone while Cameo has just a hint of pink.

Final Thoughts

These are amazing powders that can be used for a wide variety of tasks. They lay smoothly on the skin and do a great job in keeping me matte. I apply them with a Real Techniques Setting Brush. It's the perfect size to pat a light dusting of powder exactly where I need it.

Even though the powders are colored, they all have a translucent quality so you don't necessarily see that color on your skin once blended. They produce a natural neutralizing or brightening effect.

Have you tried any of the Ben Nye powders? How do you use them?

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Ben Nye Cameo and Banana Luxury Powders

Ben Nye Rose Petal Luxury Powder

Real Techniques Setting Brush