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Sephora Play! Review June 2016

Included products in this month’s Sephora Play! bag:

First Impressions:

Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It: I’m a sucker for hair products, especially those that claim to give a “laid-back, air-dried style (as per The Minimalists booklet included in this month’s bag). So for those of you who have fine hair and are looking for an airy summertime wavy look, I would recommend giving the Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It a try. Just simply work the product into wet hair and then proceed to loosely braid your hair. Once your hair is dry, take it out of the braid/braids and you’re good to go. I added some hairspray to keep the waves in a light hold since this products will not withstand in a high humidity environment.

BareMinerals bare Skin Bronzer: Wow…just WOW!! This bronzer is amazing. As you all may know from a previous post, I’m a big fan of using a bronzer when looking for a summery glow. However, I never entertained the idea of using a serum version of bronzer. Well, I was really surprised with how natural and dewy the BareMinerals bare Skin Bronzer is. And while at first application the serum may look really dark, it actually blends into sheer tint.

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara: This mascara needs no introduction because anyone who is a makeup fanatic will have heard of this gem. In fact, I recommended the Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara in a previous post. So don’t think twice about it the next time you run out of mascara – run and purchase the Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara!

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter: I use a primer on a daily basis because it allows my makeup to stay in place. At the moment, I use Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance ($36/1.7oz) because I love the illuminating effect it gives. I’m happy to announce that the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter is a great addition to my short list of recommended primers. The overall finish of the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter’s finish is very similar to the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance, the only difference I found was that the BECCA product is a bit more watery compared to the thicker consistency of the Laura Mercier. If you’re looking at the bottom line, then the Laura Mercier primer will give you more bang for your buck ($36/1.7 oz vs $38/1 oz). However, at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter which of the two you use because they are that good.

Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Of the group of products in this month’s Sephora Play! bag, the Tarte Tarteguard is the only flop of the bunch. First off, it is extremely expensive for a sunscreen at $32 for 1.7 oz bottle. The price alone puts this product at a severe disadvantage. However, I was willing to put price point aside and focus on the product itself, but it didn’t get any better. The Tarte Tarteguard is greasy in nature – like really greasy. It also has a very heavy scent that many would be turned off to. I mean, sunscreen is meant to be applied liberally. While, in theory, giving a sunscreen a pretty scent is a good idea, in reality it can be just too much and will ultimately keep consumers from using this product. Since most of us will be buying sunscreen this summer, I recommend you by pass the Tarte Tarteguard 30 Suncreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

Bonus Perfume

TOCCA Beauty Florence: Thank you Sephora Play! for helping me stock up on summer inspired scents. The TOCCA Beauty Florence perfume is a lovely mix of violet petals and other scents which give a light and timeless scent. While this is not a perfume, I would buy in full size because I tend to go for musky scents. However, the TOCCA Beauty Florence is a great addition for those days I want something completely different from the norm.

NOTE: Every Sephora Play! bag comes with a Sephora Play! Pass which gives you 50 extra Beauty Insider Points with any purchase.

Final Verdict: MERGE

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

June 25, 2016
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by Makeup Deconstructed

Ready, Set…Glow! Part 2

Highlighters
Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam
Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam (closeup)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam (swatches)
Highlighters (swatches)

Now onto what will give you that luminosity: highlighters. I could live without a bronzer, but not without my highlighter! A great highlighter brightens up the face while simultaneously adding a youthful glow that seems to diminish as we age. For a beginner, I would say to apply your highlighter above the cheekbone where the sun would naturally hit. If you want step it up a notch, you can strategically place some above your cupids bow, the highest point of your brow bone, and on the bridge of your nose. My only advice when it comes to using a highlighter is to use some restraint. If you go overboard, you will look like a disco ball. Let your application be light-handed and soft so you get the desired effect. The overwhelming popularity of highlighters has only benefited consumers because of the array options available. Highlighters can be found in liquid, cream, powder and even in pencil form. Here is a breakdown of some of my favorites in each of these categories (with Sephora.com descriptions):

Liquid Highlighter

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector ($41/five available shades): Achieve a subtle luminosity. This formula features ultrafine light-reflecting pearls that melt into your skin for polished, natural-looking radiance. Water-light and sheer, it has a prismatic effect that allows it to adjust in any light, so your refined glow is never lost.
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Face Highlighter ($26/one shade): A satiny-pink, liquid highlighter to add a subtle glow

Cream Highlighter

Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter ($30/one shade): This particular highlighter seems to be a strobing favorite amongst makeup artists. If an intense highlighted look is your thing, then I suggest you head over to YouTube and check out this strobing technique, using the Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up!, with the great MUA Mario Dedivanovic.

Powder Highlighter

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38/six shades): Buyer Beware…BECCA pressed powder highlighters are very potent. Just a swipe of their highlighters can be noticed from afar and it lasts all day. I highly recommend this highlighter for those who want a more noticeable radiance.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam ($40): This highlighter palette is the best value for your money given the fact that it comes with four unique shades.
theBalm Cosmetics theManizer Sisters ($28/three shades in one palette): In a previous post, I selected theBalm’s theManizer Sisters as my beauty product of the month. I absolutely love this product because the colors are gorgeous and its subtle shimmer will complete any makeup look without looking overdone.

Pencil Highlighter

Benefit Cosmetics High Brow ($22/two shades): This pencil is the best for precision application and for those places you want minimal product placement (i.e. corners of your eyes, lips and along the bridge of your nose). Of all the products mentioned, I use this one almost every day; its that good! The best part is that you don’t need any beauty blender or brushes for its application and it’s the most portable of the bunch. FYI: YouTuber Jordan has an awesome video highlighting (yes…pun intended) his use of the Benefit Cosmetics High Brow Pencil.

Recommended Brushes for Highlighter Application

Smashbox Fan Brush #22 ($18)
Morphe Brush # ($ )
Beauty Blender micro.mini ($18/pack of 2) – I use this specifically with the Benefit Cosmetics Watts Up!
Good old fingers…for the liquid highlighters.

Insider Tip

One neat trick is to place 1 to 2 drops of your preferred liquid highlighter and mix it into your favorite foundation. This gives your whole face a subtle diffused, but amazing radiance that will stay with you all day.