First Impressions: elf

I love trying out elf products because they are so inexpensive and you can really find some gems in their collections sometimes. And they are cruelty free which is something I am trying to focus on with my purchases.

The first thing I picked up was the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia. I think this is the bronzer that is supposed to be a dupe of Nars' Laguna. I don't have Laguna so I can't say how similar it is but it does have good pigmentation and is a flat, no-shimmer bronzer. The blush seemed lighter than what I thought and I am not sure if it will show up on my skin or not. The packaging is very similar to Nars and is very compact.
Update: Over the last few months I have enjoyed using the product but I have to say the bronzer is a tad dark and is best when used with a soft hand. The blush is not as pigmented as I would like but I do use it when I'm going for a more natural look.

The second, and one of my favorite things is the Essential Nail Polish in Bubble Gum Pink. I have never tried elf nail polish before so I didn't know what to expect but I am pleasantly surprised! The consistency is so smooth and the brush is the perfect size for a neat application. I would say it takes about 2-3 coats for a really nice opacity but the color is so beautiful! It is the perfect pink. Its not  too fuchsia nor too light and looks really nice on my skin tone which not a lot of pinks do. It is the perfect color for summer.
Update: This has been my favorite purchase from this lot. Love this nail paint and I'm sad that now we're heading into autumn/winter I won't be able to use this color as much. But I am very impressed with elf nail paints.

My other favorite purchase from this time is the Lip Exfoliator. I love products that give instant results and this is definitely one of them. I have already incorporated it into my nightly routine. It smells amazing is really moisturizing.
Update: I have loved using this product as well, it does a good job and I love that it is in a lipstick form which makes it so easy to use.

Next I picked up some brow products - the Eyebrow Kit in light and the Eyebrow Treat and Tame in dark. The Eyebrow kit has a dark gel on one side and a powder on the other and the Treat and Tame has a clear "treat" gel on one end and a dark color on the other. The Eyebrow kit seems okay so far, I do like the idea of adding texture using gel and powder. On the other hand, the color part on the Treat and Tame is really dry when it comes out on the brush so I have found it difficult to use.
Update: I ended up throwing out the Eyebrow Treat and Tame because I just couldn't get any use out of it. I still use the Eyebrow Kit though, but I use the gel more than I use the powder because I feel it looks more natural. 

Finally, I picked up some tweezers because you can never have too many tweezers!

How I Clean My Makeup Brushes

I try to keep my makeup brushes as clean as possible because it is something that goes on my face so I want to take preemptive measures and not cause any problems with my skin. However, I don't really use any cleaning sprays between washes so to make up for it I try and wash my brushes more frequently.

You will need - 

Lukewarm water

Gentle soap 

Dirty brushes

Washboard or other surface to scrub brushes against

Process - 

Lukewarm water is best for dissolving any dirt or product residue from the brushes. If you are using your tap then let the hot water run for a little bit and then turn on the cold water until it is the right temperature. 

Wet the bristles of the brush under the lukewarm water until they are damp. Angle the brush so that it points downward, you don't want the water to run up the brush and cause any damage.

I usually use Johnson's Baby Soap for cleaning my brushes because it is gentle enough to get the job done without causing any harm to the bristles. Today, I used my Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner mainly because I'm trying to use it all up so I can get something new. Since it is a conditioner, I am hoping it will leave the bristles with a nice, soft texture afterwards.

I poured some of the conditioner on to the palm of my hand and swirled the damp brush in it, using it as a washboard for scrubbing the bristles gently. I usually swirl it around in the shampoo until it lathers and you will see the product come off on to your hand. I then rinse off the brush until there is no more soap residue left on the brush. It is important to be thorough in getting off the soap from the brush because left over shampoo can damage the brush. I usually separate the bristles and really get the water in there when rinsing.

Then I lay it flat on a towel to dry. I leave it overnight and the brush is all clean in the morning. 

I try to clean the bigger brushes first because they take up more time and I have more patience in the beginning. Towards the end when I get to the smaller brushes I clean two at a time. Brushes used for gel eyeliner might take more than one turn to clean completely.

I love how soft and fresh the brushes feel after a deep clean.

Haul: Sephora, MAC, Victoria's Secret

I might have gone a little crazy this weekend with make up shopping but I got some really good deals and couldn't resist snapping up these things.

1. Sephora

I've had my eye on the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette for a while because I use neutral colors a lot for everyday wear. Even out of my Naked 1 palette, the most used colors were the two neutrals. So I figured it would be a good investment to get this. I was, however, really surprised by how tiny this palette is. It is smaller than my hand which makes it perfect to travel with. The packaging is really sturdy with a nice big mirror inside.

The 6 colors inside are Venus which is a shimmery off-white, Foxy which is a matte egg shell color, W.O.S which is a really really pale pink matte color that I used as a highlight, Naked 2 which is a matte light greyish taupe that I used all over the lid, Faint which is a matte brown taupe that is great for the crease, and Crave which is a slightly shimmery black perfect for using as a liner. I love the consistency of the colors, the powder is so soft that it just melts onto your brush. 

I got some smaller items from Sephora, like a mini size of the Dr. Brandt BB cream. It was a special offer for the Beauty Insiders and I thought I would give it a try even though I love my Smashbox BB Cream. I also got a sample of the Buxom Lip Polish in Katie which is a shimmery light pink and a sample of Jimmy Choo's Eau De Parfum called Jimmy Choo. I haven't tried the Buxom lip gloss yet but I tried the perfume this morning and its alright. It is not too overpowering and has a light floral scent to it. I like having different perfumes to use on different days.

The main reason this shopping spree at Sephora even started was that this Nail protector was on sale on their website. It is supposed to help prevent smudging and get you that perfect nail salon look. There is even a bigger grove on the bottom that you can use for your toes, and wipe the surface clean with nail polish remover when done. I am excited to try this out.

I really do love the Beauty Insiders program at Sephora because you can get stuff that you will actually use instead of having points accumulate for nothing or a few dollars off here and there on purchases. And I love that they offer birthday gifts to their members. Sephora really doesn't have to do it but I love that they do. Makes you feel so special! As it was my birthday last month, I was eligible for a gift, and I chose the Benefit Real Birthday Turn-Ons set which includes mini sizes of their They're Real mascara and Watt's Up brow highlighter. I've used the mascara before so I know it is good and I was happy to see that the consistency of the highlighter is soft and blendable so you can achieve a good highlight without looking fake.

2. MAC

I ran into a MAC store while I was out today and remembered that I needed to buy some new concealer. I picked up the Studio Finish concealer in NW35 and gave in and also bought Patina eyeshadow because I have heard such good things about it. It actually looks darker than I thought but blends out to leave a faint gold neutral color.

3. Victoria's Secret

Finally,  I stopped by Victoria's Secret because their Semi Annual Sale was on and I was glad to see a store that had a decently stocked beauty section. I love VS makeup but it is so hard to get a look at the products from the line because most stores have a horrible selection of products.

However, today I picked up their Glossy Tint Lip Sheen in Manic Pink which is most beautiful cream sheen lip product I have seen. The formulation is so nice and creamy but sheer that it glides on and leaves the most beautiful color. 

They had a 2 for $15 deal so I got the Sparkle Gloss Lip Shine in a gold shimmer which is just clear gloss with subtle gold shimmer. It will be great to use in the center of the lip to add a little shine.

Then I got Mini Nail Files which came in a set of 6. They have the Victoria's Secret stripe pattern on them and are a great travel size.

And lastly, I got their Fresh Body Dry Shampoo. The last dry shampoo I used wasn't the best and I wanted something to freshen up my hair between washes. I have a lot of faith in VS products, so I hope it works.

Until next time,

XXX

Haul: Ulta

I usually prefer going to Sephora for my makeup but I went in to Ulta a few weeks ago to pick up some hair products and thought that I would keep them in mind the next time I wanted to replenish some drug store make up. I like that they have a combination of drug store and more expensive brands so you can get both in one go. Also, they carry Real Techniques brushes which I love so I knew I had to pay them a visit soon.

As I have been painting my nails more summery, brighter colors recently I really wanted to get a base coat for my nails so I can avoid staining them. I picked up Sally Hansen's Base Coat. I thought it would be a milky/creamy color but it is clear just like a top coat. So what is the difference really? Either way, I hope it works.

I also got the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush that I've wanted to get for a while. I don't really like applying my foundation with a brush because I find it to be too streaky and the brush usually ends up buffing the foundation out too much. But I've heard good reviews about this brush and I love the Real Techniques line so I decided to get this. The brushes are so soft and such a great price.

I also had to replenish my mascara and after using Maybelline's The Rocket for the last two months, I decided to switch back to The Falsies. I do like the The Rocket but The Falsies just add more curl which I like. I also picked up Maybelline's Color Show Nail Laquer in Green with Envy which is minty green.

Another product that I had been wanting to get was NYX's Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Natural. It is a really pretty pinky nude color and the consistency of the gloss is really shiny but not sticky at all. I can't decide if I like the smell or not, it smells like cough medicine candy to me but its not too overpowering so I can live with it.