Birthday Haul- Part I

Well hello Dolls, long time no see!
It has been 3 weeks since my last post. Unacceptable, I know... but my birthday was this month and I took the opportunity to indulge in a few mini beauty hauls for you guys (who am I kidding, I love testing out products!). This is one of my favorite times of the year, not just because I like to celebrate my birthday all month long, but also because cosmetic companies roll out new products. This year was especially eventful with the release of innovative skin care products and  makeup that was just way too pretty to resist. Since I purchased quite a few things this month at Ulta, CVS, and Rite Aid, I will be splitting my collective haul into 3 parts: face products, eye & lip products, and hair, skin & nail products. Yes, I purchased THAT. MUCH. I hope the beauty product porn that I will be supplying over the week will make up for my neglectful ways this month.

This post will be devoted to the following face products I picked up this month.

Benefit The POREfessional & That Girl

I snatched up this mini primer combo while checking out at Ulta and am so happy I did. I had tried The POREfessional long ago and did not remember how much I liked this nude tinted perfecting primer. I have tried countless primers and generally always go back to Smashbox or Hourglass... but I'm really liking The POREfessional this go around and it may have moved its way right back into regular rotation on my vanity. That Gal is a pearly pink brightening primer that may be applied prior to or after makeup application to enhance a skin's radiance. I like using this product on clients with darker skin tones than my own, due to the luminous pinky glow it gives. Lighter skin tones may not see much difference or it may overly enhance rosy complexions (this would be my case). I highly suggest picking up this little trial kit next time you're unloading your overflowing basket at the Ulta counter.
 Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

This was my first foray into Rimmel products since the brand first came out years ago. I was sold on the promise of "all day shine control" and "natural matte finish." The best way for me to describe the consistency and coverage of this formula is a lightweight version of Revlon Colorstay Whipped. The finish is very matte (appropriately titled) and will be a great foundation for summer. At the moment, this foundation is a bit too drying for even my oily skin. I love the full coverage and long wear this product gives, but beware, this formula will break up on you after about 8 hours. The shade range was quite limited at the CVS where I picked it up but Rimmel.com lists 8 shades. I purchased shade 103 "True Ivory" and I am not 100% sold on the color. It is not too light or dark, just maybe too pink. I feel like Goldie Locks, something is just not right. When I apply my bronzer and other products it looks fine but I am hoping that by summer I will have a little more color and the shade will match up better. I would recommend this product this spring and summer to oily girls because I think this formula will do battle with the humidity and keep you matte. I believe that this foundation will be way too drying on ladies with combination or dry skin. If you love Revlon's whipped foundation but feel that it may be too heavy at times, check this product out!

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder
When I picked up the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation I also decided to check out the iconic powder that was on the same display. I have always heard great things about this product but for some crazy reason I have never tried it out. I purchased the translucent shade and the hype is on target. This product is drugstore gold! If you are looking for a finely milled setting powder or just need to dull down a shiny t-zone... this is the one and you can snag it for under $5.

Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation
Everyone and their mother has been telling me for months to try this foundation but I have resisted due to a particulary traumatic experience with Covergirl cream to powder foundation as a teenager (let's just say my skin hated it and decided to punish me for such a poor choice in foundation). I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon this month after going through my standby Revlon Colorstay. Covergirl claims that this product performs as three products: primer, foundation, and concealer. I skipped primer the first time I wore the foundation and found that the silky texture does remind me of a silicone-based primer but lacks the pore minimizing properties of a primer. Though the coverage is pretty good, it was not opaque enough to be used as a concealer. I'm not sure I agree with the 3-in-1 claim, but this product got one of the three right... it is a great foundation! The finish is natural (not too matte, maybe closer to a satin) and the formula blends out really nicely. There are 14 shades to choose from and this product cost me under $10. The only issues I have with this product are the following: 1.) I had a difficult time finding my shade. The numbering system did not seem to match the progression from light to dark shades, for example, I was torn between two shades and selected the shade 820 Creamy Natural which is a bit darker than 825 Buff Beige. 2.) The color becomes a tad darker when the foundation "sets." Overall I recommend this foundation to anyone looking

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Bronzer
This would be my favorite face product pick up of the month! This product was actually an impulse buy

 (which I rarely do!) when I saw that my local CVS had all Physicians Formula products 40% off  I flocked to the items with "New" splashed across the packaging. This talc-free long-wearing powder claims to "deliver sun-kissed color and definition" with an "airbrushed finish," while also "minimizing the appearance of fine lines and pores." Though I am not completely convinced that this product does anything to minimize my large pores, the soft matte finish is very believable.Though I still love my Hoola bronzer for contouring, I have been itching  to try out something new and I believe I have come across a winner! I have always loved Physicians Formula bronzers in the past and I have rekindled that love.The best way to describe this beautiful warm bronze powder is creamy and pigmented! The swatch to the right is one swipe across the powder! I was shocked at the smoothness of this powder and the incredible depth of pigmentation. This bronzer feels and looks like a high-end product but I am loving that $13 price tag!

Have you tried out any new face products?! What should I try next?

xoxo,
Alicia

Top 14 New Products of 2014

Hi Dolls!
I hope you all are having a great start to the new year! There are some amazing new products coming out this month and I am so pumped about several innovative products I have read about recently. January is also my birthday month so I will be doing a special haul this month and share with you all of my finds, so stay tuned!

Top 14
Benefit The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine-Vanishing Pro Powder ($30)
Claim: "Benefit's invisible-finish PRO powder helps shrink the look of pores and minimize shine."
I NEED this. NOW. This product has a built-in brush for spill-proof application.

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser ($6.99)
Claim: "One second to smooth, poreless skin. Get mistake- proof, poreless smooth skin with Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer."
Some are claiming it is a dupe for Benefit The POREfessional, others say it is a dupe for Smashbox Photo Finish Primer... either way, this product retails for 50% less than the other two brands!
Maybelline Master Hi-Light Powdered Blush/Bronzer ($9.99)
Claim: "Light diffusing Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Hi-Light Blush and Face Studio Master Hi-Light Bronzer formulas have an expert balance of color and shimmer illuminator for a natural glow."
I am intrigued by these! It's a multi-tonal illuminator/bronzer (or blush) combo.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade ($18)
Claim: "Waterproof brow color ideal for sculpting, defining, and carving perfectly precise brows that won't fade."
This oily girl is super pumped about the idea of a waterproof brow product. I love the idea of being able to skip using brow wax and still get the definition and staying power.

Cover Girl TruMagic Skin Perfector Mattifier ($10)
Claim: "Cover Girl's innovative clear formula gives your skin instant matte perfection. Use under, over, or instead of makeup."
There is alot of buzz that this product is a dupe for Mally Face Defender. The formula is very interesting, it not a cream nor a powder. A bronzing and luminizer shade is also available.
L'Oreal Visible Lift CC Eye Concealer ($9.99)
Claim: "The innovative cooling roller ball applicator instantly depuffs under eye bags. Color correcting pigments instantly cover dark circles and brighten the eye area. Caffeine formula corrects all signs of fatigue, including dark circles, bags, puffiness, and fine lines."
This is one of the products I am most excited about! In my skin care regimen, I have been trying to pay special attention to my under eye area, so I cannot wait to test this one out... and (depending on coverage) add this to my routine.
L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinary Lip Color ($9.99)
Claim: " Colour Riche Extraordinaire contains five precious micro-oils to create the perfect lip result in one luxuriously comfortable step: resurfaces and smooths lips like a balm, provides colour impact of a lipstick, and gives a varnished 3-d shine effect of a gloss."
Reading about this product, it sounds like it may be a possible dupe for Shiseido Rouge Lacquer, which would be great because I love that product!
Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights ($12.99)
Claim: "Get a healthy glow in any light. Banish dullness and even out skin with light-capturing crystals and photochromatic pigments."
I like that this product comes in several shades. The four shades include: pink light, peach light, bare light, and bronze light. This could be a great product for those who have had a hard time finding a flattering highlighter to compliment their skintone.
                                                                               Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream ($11.99)

Claim: "Contains emollients & hydrators + proprietary skin tone eveners to deliver visible results both immediately and in 5 days. Natural Shea butter blend, emollients, and Firm Perfecting™ Complex enhance texture and luminosity."
I am freaking out about this product! I feel like self-tanner looks way too fake this time of year, but I get super pasty and would love luminous glowy skin. This product comes in 2 shades: light and medium-dark.
NYX Blotting Powder (TBA)
No claims yet! This product is too new! I found out about this through the grapevine, and it is already being compared to MAC Blot Powder for half the price. Yesssss.
NYX Butter Lipsticks ($6.00)
Claim: "The unique texture seems to melt onto the lips, giving full, yet lightweight coverage with a luxurious satin finish."
I love NYX Butter Gloss so I am super stoked to try these lipsticks! A friend snatched some up in her local Ulta in North Carolina and I so jelly. They have yet to show up at my local store so I am considering ordering through the NYX site.

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ ($38)
Claim: "Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ is truly a multi-tasking beauty miracle. It's your SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Physical only sunscreen that protects against the rays that both burn your skin and age your skin. It's also your Full Coverage Color Correcting Cream and Anti-Aging Serum all in one!"
Those are some pretty intense claims there! I have been loving my L'Oreal BB Cream but I did not like that there is no SPF and the coverage is sheer to light. I have been hearing some amazing testimonials about this products's full coverage/anti-aging/super SPF qualities!
Philosophy Total Matteness Pore Minimizing & Mattifying Cleanser + Mask ($25)
Claim: "The innovative formula absorbs oil and minimizes shine for a totally matte, smooth-touch finish. Glacial clay helps unclog enlarged, dark pores to reduce their appearance. The formula deeply cleanses daily and multitasks as a weekly purifying mask for enhanced results. The result is purified, refined, totally matte skin."
I feel like 2014 is the year for oily girls! I am so happy to have come across a plethora of products devoted to those of us with large pores and shiny noses :)

What new products are you most excited about in 2014? Let me know!

xoxo,

Alicia