Lorac Sweet Luxuries

So, I haven't been blogging for about a month and it's been because of a few problems I've had with my Google Account. Then the holidays came storming in and I just didn't have time. I am back and will be blogging on a regular schedule.

This product was a really cute steal. I hoard neutral eye shadows and when I saw this, I couldn't say no. It comes in a pretty case and has five full sized eye shadows.

The product itself is great. Pigmentation is nice and I personally love the dark brown and the highlighter shade; I use them every day. They are soft, blendable and easy to work with. I would compare them to Urban Decay shadows because they have that buttery type of feel. There is no problem with fall out even with the glittery shades and they last all day.

Overall, I would recommend this product. Unfortunately, I think this was a limited edition palette, but I do believe you can buy the colours separately.

Been Busy!

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been posting. It's been a busy week because everyone is getting ready for midterms. I should be back soon and will post when I can!

Glow Getters Part Three: bareMinerals Pure Radiance All-Over Face Color

This is the final part of the Glow Getters. This is by far my favorite product in the set. It's a highlighter that can be used to set your make-up but I wouldn't advise it to be used that way.

I really like that this gives a shimmer, not a glitter. I've had a few highlighters that gave a chunky glitter, but this gives a natural glow. It's a warm gold colour, so it can be used in the summer and I like to use it in the winter because it warms up my pale skin. It lasts all day and the only problem I've had with it is the container for the product. Whenever I put my brush in the pot, it goes in the holes and brings up too much powder. The easy way to stop this is to just swirl it around in the lid.

Glow Getters Part Two: bareMinerals SPF 25 Mineral Veil Finishing Powder

This is the finishing powder offered by bareMinerals. I use this after I apply foundation to set it. It sets it extremely well, especially my Clinique Even Better Concealer - it doesn't move at all anymore. It controls the oil on my face very well, and I'm not having to reapply powder by lunch. It's great that this has SPF 25 in it because I hate having to apply sunscreen because of how oily it is and the way it smells.

The shade "original" matches my skin tone and is what is pictured below. This product is offered in "original" and "tinted" which match most skin tones. This powder conceals redness, as well. If you don't use anything except a powder base, this would be a good investment because it is a more opaque powder. This powder leaves a matte, flawless finish and application is extremely easy. It's finely milled and very comfortable to wear. 

And for those of us concerned with the ingredients, it's free of Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, and Phthalates.

Glow Getters Part One: bareMinerals Natural Lip Gloss

I got this on Black Friday! The whole package was $10. Although this was a one day type of deal, I know that my Ulta got a late truck and they will be selling this set and another one with eye products for a few more days. You can also buy these products alone.

BareMinerals has been really on their game. I've seen reviews for all their products and they have been very good and very praiseworthy. This is no exception. This lip gloss is great, and I don't even wear glasses that often. I find them to be too sticky and my hair gets caught in them. This one has a really nice colour. It's a coral, which has been very popular. It stays on very well and has a nice glitter to it. You can feel the glitter a little, but overall it is a very smooth and comfortable finish.

It's not drying and it has a really pleasant scent. It tastes nice, but it doesn't have a flavour that makes me want to eat it. If you want a coral lip gloss with a nice shimmer, I'd buy this.

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L'Oreal Magic Smooth Soufflé Foundation

This is a really neat alternative to liquid or powder foundation. It's a mousse and is light and fluffy. When you apply, it leaves a silky texture to your skin. So, this foundation goes on really smooth and leaves a matte finish. You do not need to set it with a powder either. It covers up blemishes as well as your liquid or powder foundation and is classified as a light to medium foundation. This foundation is very buildable.

You can skip this product if you have very dry skin. It does show dry patches and is best on oily or combination skin. I would also advise you to use a flat top kabuki brush whenever you apply this foundations because it looks so much better than with a sponge or your hands. It stops the makeup from forming little balls as you put it on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving guys! I hope your holiday goes really well, you visit family and friends, and you eat lots of food! But don't forget about Black Friday... I plan on buying loads of new beauty products and reviewing them on here. Be safe, snatch good deals, and have a good time!

-Grace

Clinique High Impact Mascara

I got a trial size of this mascara and it has lasted me around the same time as a full size. This mascara is my go-to. It's a wet mascara, but it doesn't clump. You're supposed to apply several coats, wait and let dry, then repeat. However, if you don't have time, it's not a big deal. You can still get the effect.

I like the wand on this mascara. Normally, I go for the rubbery wands, like the Maybeline One By One mascara, but this separates the lashes just as well. It gives a fuller and more defined look to your eyelashes. 

The pigmentation is very black and there is no flaking. I have no problems or quells with this product and I would advise it to anyone who wants a decent mascara. 

And a side by side comparison.

China Glaze: Ghoulish Glow Nail Polish

This was a neat little find that I got after Halloween. It's a glow-in-the-dark top coat! It's made by China Glaze and I'm pretty sure it's limited edition, but if you look in the clearance racks of stores like Ulta, it'll be there.

It's pretty much stays on like any other top coat. It doesn't mess up your design or make it look murky. This nail polish does glow in the dark though and not like some of those dinky, cheap polishes. It has a nice green tint. You have to shake the bottle and hold the polish up to a light at first, but you will get an almost immediate effect. It's really neat.

These were the best pictures I got. It's hard to have a clear photograph of the glow and the bottle in a dark background. My camera had a hard time focusing.

Maybelline Master Precise By Eyestudio

This is my everyday go-to liquid eyeliner. I really like it and I always keep coming back to it. It's so easy to use, the colour is great, is long lasting, and has no mess. It's a felt tip which is so much easier to use than a brush. The tip is smaller than a lot of other liquid eyeliners, so you can get a winged effect every time. It's not hard either which is a problem I've had before.

The colour is a matte black once it has dried and is opaque. I only need to draw the line once and I'm ready to go. However, you will know when you need to throw out the liner because the colour will be lighter and will leave a slightly lighter center of a line.

I've never had one of these dry out. Ever. And I don't follow the rule of throwing eyeliner out every three months (Ew! I know, but I like to use my products up.) I've slept in this, worn it at school, and showered with it on. It stays on, especially well for the showering one. There is no mess either. The only problems I have with this eyeliner are that when I hit the second to third month mark, the felt tip kind of sags and this only comes in one colour. You do get a full use out of your liner and it's worth the $7-8. I highly advise it.

Color Club Polish: Part One

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I've been super busy preparing for a competition and starting up a club. Things are getting pretty hectic but Veterans' Day is around the corner and that means sales! Be expecting more products!

I haven't tried out this brand, Color Club, till now. I was browsing around TJ Maxx and just happened to see this set. It came with the colours, Editorial and Electronica. The colour I'll be reviewing here is Editorial.

Right off the bat, you'll probably notice that this colour is a dupe for Chanel's Peridot. Editorial has a little bit more of a blue hue to it. It is a duo-chrome and at some angles it's a light green or golden yellow with a little bit of royal blue.

 I was surprised to find that the colour pay off is really nice. I only needed two coats and it is not streaky, despite what I've heard of  Colour Club's formulas. There is no chipping and almost no tip wear; I've been wearing this on my toes for a full week. I'm very happy with this polish and can't wait to review Electronica!

BEWARE! If you don't like toes, look away!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I'm really excited to post this review. Whenever I get really lazy and want a really nice manicure, I use Sally Hansen's Salon Effects. I always get compliments and people ask me how I painted my nails.

The strips are very easy to use. You take the plastic cover off, take the strip off the paper, and apply it to the nail. When you put the design on the nail, pull it out and down so that you are left with a clean edge. If you do it like this, it wraps the design under the nail a little and makes it harder to chip. It only takes about ten minutes to prep and do your nails.

The designs always look nice and clean. There are extras provided, so you can afford to make a mistake. The strip comes off just like regular nail polish, just use nail polish remover. It isn't any harder to take it off either. And they do last the 10 days that is promised on the box - even without a base coat.

The design here is 607 Good Morning Glory.

Tips:

• You can buy these at any store that carries nail polish, but if you look in the clearance bin at Target, CVS, Rite Aid, or at TJ Maxx, you can almost ALWAYS buy a set for $2-3.
• Leave your thumbs for last! It makes things so much easier!
• Do NOT put a topcoat over the design. It will blur the design. If you want it to stay longer, use a base coat.
• If a strip is a little smaller than your nail, go up a size. It is a lot easier to trim the sides down than stretch the strip and ruin the design.
• Keep your extras and put them in an air tight bag. You can use them later (See photo.)