Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara Review

I was interested to try this mascara. I had heard from many youtube beauty gurus in the past that department store mascara was just as good, if not better than high end mascara. One even said that she thought the high end companies spent to much time making great foundations and eyeshadow products that they didn't put enough effort into mascara. I don't know if this is a coincidence or not, but after that video posted, all of the popular makeup companies started coming out with new mascara. That very same makeup guru started raving about mascaras from several makeup companies. "Eyes to kill", "They're Real!"...etc. I did not actively seek out to try this mascara, it just sorta happened. My last Sephora purchase was $10 away from qualifying for free shipping. I thought there was no way I could find something for $10, but after searching, I found the Benefit Cosmetics, They're Real! Mascara Mini for $10. I thought, why not? If it isn't any good, I didn't pay $23 for the full size.

The first time I tried the mascara, I was very surprised. The wand frightened me lol. It's made of rubber and very spikey. I put on two coats, let it dry a little, then combed through with a lash comb. Let me tell you, the results were awesome! I had many comments on my lashes.

*picture obtained from www.sephora.com

This picture is from the first time I ever applied this mascara!
















The next few pictures are of just mascara, no eye liner or shadow.

This mascara lengthens, separates, curls...it does everything that I look for in a mascara! I will be repurchasing the full size next time! :)

Tarte 5-Piece LipSurgence Collection!

Hey all! Sorry it's been so long since I blogged last. Been pretty busy in my household and I just really haven't been very motivated to blog. But no worries, I'm back! :)

So my birthday was earlier this month, and what better present to get a girl who loves makeup than to take her to Sephora?

I knew that I wanted a Matte Lipstick. I've been wanting one for a while. So I found Tarte's LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint and I purchased the color Hope. It is described as a warm rose color but honestly looks more plum or berry on me.

This lip tint sells for about $24 at Sephora. I really like it :)

When I got home, I had an awaiting email from Sephora with new products launching and one was the Tarte 5-Piece LipSurgence Collector's Set. It was listed for $34. If I would have known that I could pretty much get 5 for the price of 1 I would have done it!
So my hubby, being the sweet guy he is, told me to order it. And I did!

This set includes a mixture of 5 different LipSurgence types, tints and colors. There are 2 Lip Lusters in the colors Escape and Sweet. There are 2 Lip Tints in the colors Enchanted and Elite. And 1 Matte Lip Tint in Exposed.
And now for the pictures!




                                                                                       *Image obtained from www.sephora.com






                                                             Lip Luster Escape:

 

This color goes on smoothly, it is a sheer shimmery light pink shade.

 

 

 

Lip Luster Sweet

 

This color is also shimmery but not as much as the other. It is a shade or so darker as well. A very pretty rose color.

 

 

Lip Tint Enchanted

 

This is a glossy berry color.

Lip Tint Elite

This is a glossy pink almost coral color. Very pretty

Matte Lip Tint Exposed

 

To be honest, I was a little afraid of this one. The tube makes it look like it is more brown than it actually is. I try to stay away from brown toned lip colors because I am a tea drinker and my teeth aren't perfectly white. And lipstick with brown hues tend to bring out yellow stained teeth. Aside from that, this one is my favorite out of the bunch! It looks more mauve than brown. Looks nice with my pale skin, and its matte!

Overall, I am really happy with this purchase. I think the colors are diverse enough for many different looks. I hope you all find this helpful and enjoy my pics. If you have any comments or questions or suggestions please feel free to post below!

Thanks for stopping by!
BrandyMichele

 

 

 



Celebrity Inspired: Carrie Underwood Makeup Look (light)

First off, let me say, I know that I do not look anything like Carrie Underwood. I'm just trying to recreate her makeup :)

While searching for pictures of her I noticed her makeup is usually the same. She either has on light eye shadow or dark eye shadow. This look is based on her makeup with light eye shadow. Seems that she wears light lids with the main focus on her lashes and eyeliner.

Here is a picture of her with her light eye makeup:

And here is my recreation:

How I did it:

After applying a primer find a matte shadow that matches your skin tone. Apply that all over the lid. Then find a matte shadow one to two shades darker than your skin tone and apply that in the crease. Take a matte white shade for your brow highlight. Take a soft kohl black eyeliner and line your upper and lower waterline -not recommended if you have sensitive eyes (also known as tight lining) Take a black cream or gel liner and line your upper lash line then take whats left on the brush and line your lower lash line. It doesn't have to be perfect, smudge it out. Curl your lashes and apply your favorite lengthening mascara. Define your brows.

Products I used:

Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette

Rimmel London Kohl Liner in Black

Coastal Scents Gel Liner in True Black

Great Lash Big

Maybelline Define a Brow in Medium

Hope you guys find this helpful and try this look out :)

On a side note, my daughter and I got to meet Carrie Underwood in 2008 when she performed at NSU, the college in our hometown (She also attended and graduated there)

And yes, she looks flawless in person too

Sigma Complete Kit: Review

Every makeup artist's dream, a full set of makeup brushes. This kit was the first thing I ever purchased from Sigma Makeup. All of the brushes are soft and made with amazing quality. Each brush has its own purpose, some more uses than others.

The kit is $79 without the brush roll (not including tax or S&H)
All of the brushes are available for individual purchase now but if you purchase the full kit as opposed to each brush individually you will save $53

Here is a description of  this kit:

12 professional quality brushes for a complete makeover! Everything you need to apply makeup to eyes and face.



Brushes in this kit:





Small Angle - E65 - Essential for the application of gel or cream eyeliner on the upper and lower lash line. This brush is also excellent for filling out the eyebrows. Synthetic bristles.

Medium Angled Shading - E70 - Angled, tapered, flat top. Ideal to apply highlight shades underneath the eyebrow and on the inner corners. It can also be used for a precise application of darker shades on the crease area. Natural bristles.

Large Shader - E60 - Flat shape is ideal for application of cream formulas and eye shadow primers. It also works great with loose eye shadows or pigments. Can be used to apply color all over the lid or precisely on the lash line. Natural bristles.

Pencil - E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles.

Large Angled Contour - F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles.

Large Powder - F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.

Duo Fibre - F50 - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

Foundation - F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles.

Concealer - F70 - The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.

Tapered Blending - E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.

Eye Shading - E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles.

Eyeliner - E05 - An extra-fine tipped synthetic fiber brush that delivers a precise, firm, even stroke to line the eyes.

Sigma Makeup offers a free travel size E25 brush with this kit!

This kit is perfect for anyone who is starting out in makeup or even a professional who wants the basics.

They are professional quality brushes at a fraction of the cost.

If you don't want to spring for the full kit they offer individual brushes or you can even just purchase the Face Kit (includes all the face brushes) for $45 (without tax or S&H) and then at a later date the Eyes Kit (includes all the eye brushes) for $45 (without tax or S&H)

Check them out!

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=803

Sigma Travel Kit: Nice In Pink Review

I've had the Nice in Pink Sigma Travel Kit since Valentine's Day 2010. It is so cute and PINK :)

The brushes are made with the same quality as their full sized counterpart. Here is a description of this kit:

The Sigma Makeup travel kit Nice in Pink retails for $49.99 (plus tax and S&H) It contains 7 essential brushes to achieve a flawless look on the go. Take Nice in Pink to your favorite travel destination or keep it in your purse for a quick touch-up during the day or a night out. All brushes are individually stored in a stylish metallic pink clutch equipped with a convenient pouch to carry all your must-have makeup items.




Clutch Dimensions (closed): 7 x 4 inches.

Face Brushes: 5 inches total

Eyes/Concealer Brushes: 4 inches total

Brushes in this kit:





Large Powder - F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.

Duo Fibre - F50 - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

Large Angled Contour - F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles.

Eye Shading - E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles.

Concealer - F70 - The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.

Tapered Blending - E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.

Pencil - E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles.

Sigma Makeup offers a free travel size F60 brush with this kit!

I also received the travel size E25 as a free gift with this kit

As I said before, these brushes are made with the same quality as their full sized counterpart....don't let their tiny size fool you :)
I was able to create a full makeup look with just these brushes while on the go.

Now the I must tell you that although the quality is exactly the same, their actual sizes and shapes of the brushes are not all identical.

As you can see here with the F40 the travel size is on the left, full size on the right. A slight difference but it still gets the job done.

Here the F60 (travel size on left, full size on right) These are pretty much identical

And the biggest size difference is the F50 (travel size on left, full size on right)

But really, how can you expect that they make the travel brushes identical to the full sized? It would be awkward in a travel sized clutch with short handles and full sized heads on them. It may be a big difference but I still find that it gets the job done while on the go.

The eye brushes on the other hand ARE identical to their full sized counterparts.

Here is the E40 (travel size on left, full size on right) The travel sized one was in a brush guard so its not a fluffy as the full sized. But you can tell, its the same

Here is the E55 (travel size on left, full size on right) again, the travel one was in a brush guard so the shape is a little more narrow.

And last but not least for size comparison is the E30 (travel size on left, full size on right) Exactly the same

Overall, the brushes are the same, sure some aren't the exact size but this is meant to be a travel kit. They fit nicely in a large purse or carry on bag. I will definitely be taking them with me when I travel. And for the price they make great gifts!

So there you have it, my thoughts/review on the Sigma Makeup Travel Kit: Nice in Pink.
 (They also have a Naughty in Black Travel Kit by the way)