Fabs & Flops

It's been a little long while since my last post. This has been a crazy busy summer and blogging about make-up, or wearing make-up in general has not been a priority. I will try to get better about posting, but with the school yer starting and me being back in school chances are I won't be posting as much as I'd like to. Alright, I have picked up a few new products over the summer that I wanted to share with you. Some are fabulous and others I wish I wouldn't have purchased. 

Here we go . . . 

Fabs ♥

Mally Beauty - Poreless Face Defender
I purchased this after hearing such great things about it, but it's expensive - $40 (at Ulta) to be exact. It was a splurge for me, but I am glad I did. My face tends to get really shiney around 2pm each day and it's a pain to apply powder in the middle of the day to combat the shine. It doesn't leave me powdery or cakey either, it's just perfect. I have never used a silicone product on my face, so I was really unsure about how I would like this. If you have oily skin and the extra money to spend, I say give this stuff a try!

Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo & Conditioner
Once I started coloring my hair on the regular, I needed to find a much better shampoo and conditioner that would combat the dry frizzy ends. This shampoo/conditioner combo has worked a miracle on my hair. I am not coloring it anymore, but this is still helping to repair the damage all the bleach caused over all those months. It's a little pricey- about $15 a bottle at Ulta, but so worth it! I can get away with washing my hair about 3 times a week and using dry shampoo in between washes. It smells great and makes my hair look healthy and gives it shine 

Rimmel Stay Matte Presses Powder
I picked up this powder at Ulta (shocker!) along with it's matching foundation (you will hear about that on the flop section). As I am still transitioning out of Mary Kay I am looking for replacement items. I actually really like this as a finishing powder to combat shine. It gives a great finished looked and the price ($4.99) is hard to beat!  

Urban Decay Chill Make-up Setting Spray
This stuff is amazing!! I needed a new finishing spray since my Mary Kay setting spray ran out. I had heard great things about this Urban Decay spray, so I thought I would give it a try. It's a little pricey ($30 for 4oz), but SO worth it. This spray keeps my face looking so fresh and my make-up still looks good at bedtime with absolutely no touch ups during the day. This is my new must have!   

Benefit Hoola Bronzer
This has to be the best bronzer I have ever used! This works so perfect for contouring or just all around bronzer. It is the perfect shade of brown and the brush that comes with it is awesome for contouring! Also, it lasts all day and blends very easily. It has no shimmer, which is important since I often contour with it. A little bit of product goes a long way- I am not even half way through my box and I bought it in early spring. I picked this up at Ulta for $28! This is a hold grail, FOR SURE! 

L'Oreal True Match Foundation
This is BY FAR the best drugstore make-up I have ever used. I have used some really cheap and some really expensive foundations and nothing compares to this. This foundation is $9.99 at Ulta and is usually on sale by one get one free or 50% off, so it's really cheap. The formula blends into your skin so easily. It doesn't matter if I am tan or more on the white side because this foundation blends into every skin tone effortlessly. This is a MUST have!

Flops 

Boots No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation
I was given this foundation from a sales rep at Target after overhearing that I had my own beauty blog. She compared this foundation to the likes of Giorgio Armani foundation which is about $62 at Nordstrom. I have to strongly disagree. This foundation is awful. It slips and slides on your skin and has no lasting power. I believe the price on this is about $15 at Target- exclusively. Maybe if you're someone with dry skin this foundation might suite you better. I just couldn't get over the fact of it sliding around on my face.
  

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation
Okay, for $4.99 (Ulta) I just had to give this a try. Unknowingly, this is a mousse foundation- the first I have ever tried and I am not impressed. I absolutely hate the texture. This foundation is very thick, I feel like I am wearing a pound of make-up on my face when I am wearing it and I do not like that feeling. Also, it is not very matte, or at least it's not matte for long. I was getting breakthrough shine after about two hours.   

Miss Jessie's Pilloe Soft Curls
I picked this up after seeing a review for it online. I got it at Target and it was around $22. It's kind of a blue'ish cream that smells like Downey laundry softener. Everywhere you look you'll find great reviews on this product. Here is the key . . . I think it's meant for people with naturally curly hair, not straight hair like myself. IF, I curl my hair one day and then put this in it at night and sleep with it, I will wake up with great curls on day two. For me it's kinda fabulous (on day two), but kind of a flop overall since it's not made for someone with stick straight heavy hair.

  

Benefit Lollitint
I got this as a free sample with the purchase of my Hoola bronzer. It's a liquid lip and/or cheek stain.I still do not know how to actually use this product. I can not put it on without looking like a clown. It's just an interesting product. I think I will stick to normal lip and cheek products from now on. This product is $30 at Ulta and Sephora and soooo not worth it in my opinion.