Swatch and Review: Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Splits in Prosecco Pop and Amaretto

So it's been over a month since my last post. Oops. Well, I've got a great swatch and review today! Anyone who has been keeping up with the latest makeup releases knows that the Becca x Jaclyn Hill collabs are always big news. I decided not to indulge in the face palette ($52) since I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about it. Super glad I waited because Becca and Jaclyn Hill came out with the Champagne Splits ($38) and I'm totally in love!

 I did a post on Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop highlighter a last year, and I fell in love with that highlighter. When Becca x Jaclyn Hill came out with these new shades, I just about died.

First up, the packaging. Can we just take a moment to admire the beauty of this gold packaging? Sigh.

Review: e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Blending Brush

This review will be pretty brief and self-explanatory. I recently went to the e.l.f. store while I was in NYC and picked up some items, the first being the e.l.f. Beautifully Bare Blending Brush ($6).

I am so in love with this brush! I've been looking for a good blush brush for the past few months, but now I don't even need one since this brush does everything from bronzing to highlighting to everything else in between.

Swatch and Review: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Bahama Mama, Instain Houndstooth, and Instain Swiss Dot

Several weeks ago I ordered some products by theBalm Cosmetics on Hautelook. I kinda love/hate Hautelook because the price for high-end cosmetics is crazy affordable, but the shipping time usually takes about a month and a half. 

Anyway, I decided to get the famous Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter ($24), Bahama Mama bronzer ($20), and the Instain blushes in Houndstooth and Swiss Dot.

I've heard so many great things about theBalm Cosmetics and I've always wanted to order something from them because their packaging is just way too cute!

Swatch and Review: Colourpop Part IV - Super Shock Cheeks in Between the Sheets and Butterfly Beach

Finally, my last Colourpop review (for now, at least). While my previous reviews were about Colourpop's lipsticks, I added a couple of cheek products to test out as well.

I got a blush in Between the Sheets which Colourpop describes as "a mid-tone pink-beige in a matte finish." 

Swatch & Review: Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer

Clearly, my obsession with highlighters has not ended. I've got at least another three highlighter reviews on the way, lord help me.

I got a sample of Josie Maran's Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer ($26) with a Sephora purchase once and I fell in love. This is the holy grail of highlighters if you want a highlight so strong you glow in the dark.

 I have a love-hate relationship with the packaging. The bottle is gorgeous and I love how you can see how much product there is left, but...

Swatch and Review: Kevyn Aucoin Contour Book Volume II

I've been meaning to do this review for ages now, but I kept forgetting. This poor palette was sitting in the back of my drawer for a few weeks before I finally remembered that it was there. And honestly, this kit is just too pretty that I didn't want to swatch it until now, lol.

This is the second contour book by Kevin Aucoin ($65), and I'm so in love with it. I remember seeing the first one in stores and I thought, what the hell is with this overpriced book of eyeshadows??? Seriously, there was such a minuscule amount of product in the first book that I didn't understand how you could use a brush with it, let alone contour a whole face.

The first volume is discontinued (still continued and popular but I don't know why?) and was priced at $59 for 0.36 oz of product while volume 2 is $65 for 0.95 oz. Needless to say, the second volume is infinitely better, and it's an incredible value.

Swatch and Review: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal - Liquid and Poured

I've been obsessed with highlighters lately. Ever since I got Champagne Pop, my makeup has changed dramatically. I used to be all about having my makeup as matte as possible, but now I can see how much dimension and life highlighters can bring to my face.

Some days when I don't feel like putting in any effort, I'll just brush on some highlight on my cheekbones and call it a day. I love how effortless these highlighters are and how much of a difference they can make.

I got the travel size highlighter in Opal ($19) a few weeks back, but I have yet to review it, so I'd thought I'd combine both the poured and liquid highlighters in one review.

I'm seriously obsessed, and I can occasionally go overboard with highlighting. However, Becca products are really versatile with their products and make highlighting super easy.

Swatch and Review: Clinique Cheek Pop in Cola and Fig

I'm so in love with Clinique's range of Cheek Pops ($22). The color selection is absolutely phenomenal and the design of the blushes is so cute. I was especially interested in the color Cola Pop because I've never seen a shade of blush like it before.

Even the outside packaging is beautiful. I love how every box has a different pattern on it.

How gorgeous are these colors? The case is a simple, clear acrylic, which is perfect to showcase the beautiful color and design.

Swatch & Review: Too Faced Most Loved Set

I don't have that many bronzers, and I've been wanting to try some out without too much of a commitment or cost. When Sephora came out with the Too Faced Most Loved Set ($25), I snagged it pretty quick. 

The set comes with sample sizes of face primer, eyeshadow primer, their famous Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer, Melted Lipstick in Melted Fig, and their Better Than Sex Mascara. All this for $25 is a pretty great deal if you're a commitment-phobe like myself when it comes to trying out new makeup.

Swatch and Review: Sephora Double Contouring Cream Blush in Apricot Sheen & Coral Flush

I've been in a bit of a blush craze lately. Recently, I went out and purchased Sephora's cream blushes in Apricot Sheen and Coral Flush that were on clearance for $7 (previously $16). I intended to get Golden Spice, but I couldn't find it and settled on Apricot Sheen, which is gorgeous as well.

Sephora calls these Double Contouring Cream Blushes, but the colors are way too warm to be used as contouring. In any case, the colors are gorgeous and the texture is unique and easy to use.

Swatch and Review: Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer in Carrie & Big

I've been in dire need of blush and bronzer for awhile now, and I stopped by my local Nordstrom Rack since they always have great deals on high end makeup products. While I was there, I was debating between a Smashbox blush and this Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer duo ($34). I ended up getting Too Faced because it is so much more user-friendly than the Smashbox blush I was looking at.

Swatch and Review: #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder

I did it. I finally succumbed to buying a contouring product, even though the trend has pretty much simmered down and has been replaced with dewy highlighting/strobing. Nevertheless, I've been eyeing Marc Jacobs' contouring powder for ages now. And by ages, it's probably only been a few weeks of me pining every time I walked by Sephora. But I finally got it!

Swatch & Review: Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Becca and its highlighting products have been so popular as of late, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about, and I'm pleased that I did.

I purchased the highlighter made in collaboration with Jaclyn Hill in Champagne Pop ($38), which is a pinkish gold shimmer. I've always wanted to try contouring, but I can hardly put on eyeshadow, let alone contour my face. So, I thought I'd try highlighting - or strobing - which been the next 'it' thing after contouring. 

Strobing uses an illuminating highlighter to accent the high planes of the face like the cheekbones, brows, and bridge of the nose. It results in a natural, dewy, and glowing finish and brings dimension into the face without the need of contouring (though you can add contouring if you want). 

I've been trying this product for the past few days, and I love how it makes me look fresh-faced and glowing, even if I'd hardly gotten any sleep.