Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treament Concealer Dark Circles Eraser

$9.99 for 0.2fl oz/8ml

 This morning was a coffee and tea type of morning; you know, one of those mornings where you got okay sleep, still need a double shot to wake up, and crave the soothing comfort of some warm tea with honey and in the chill of the morning. Yeah, that was my morning.

I've been trying to go through my clothes methodically and separate all those that I can wear to work from those that I can't wear at all now (thanks, weight-gain), and it is a pretty slow process that will take a few more loads of washing and more patience than originally anticipated. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to work, but all the clutter around my living space makes me feel mentally unorganized for the task. My goal this weekend has therefore been to unpack, wash, dust, organize, and shove odds-and-ends into closets for later; I'm not quite succeeding, truth be told.

In terms of beauty during these long days staying completely inside, I know I shouldn't be wearing makeup just for myself (love thyself and all), but I can't help but walk by a mirror and think, "you look really tired." That does nothing to boost my moral--enter Maybelline Age Rewind Brightener Treatment Concealer.

e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach

$1.00 for approx. 0.3oz

I'm not a shimmer queen ...just making sure that is out there, on the table, before this review starts, so let's begin by acknowledging that shimmery products are far less appealing to me than matte and natural/dewy finish products. Now that that is out of the way, I'm a sucker for peaches, apricots, and corals; it was only natural that I would pick up e.l.f. Essentials All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach from the shelves of my neighborhood Target and dance home with high hopes! I had forgotten I basically already had it, whoops.

Golden Peach is one of the colors I have in the Shimmering Facial Whip formula, but compared to the other All Over Color Stick I have (Spotlight), Golden Peach seems a little less useful. The Whip formula is a little easier to work with because the thinner, fluid consistency means I don't have to rub to get pigment to show up. Golden Peach Stick is a sheer, shimmery version comparable to the Bobbi Brown Sheer Cheek Tint but not as moisture rich, hence the 'rubbing' in order to apply. Like Spotlight, I find this stick on the drier side of spreadable, and this characteristic may be partially to blame for its difficulty of use.

Perhaps it is because I have so much yellow (and pink from my natural flush) in my skin that Golden Peach Stick tends to have a hard time showing up (so much so that a face shot is worthless and after about 4 attempts, I've given up). Either way, I can't successfully layer enough on to have it show up and not be one breath away from smearing across my whole face. I'll have to endure just using this as a layer underneath powder blushes, which is fine because I have so many but sucks in terms of having a product that is relatively useless on its own. Tear... :*(

A previous review of a different color of e.l.f.'s All Over Color Stick: click here for Spotlight!
Beauty Newb Rating:✪✩✩✩✩
Available at Target and eyeslipsface.com

Aveda Petal Essence Face Accent in 181 Apricot Whisper

$24.00 for 0.3oz/8.5g

This blush from Aveda features three separate strips of powder that can be used separately or in unison. While apart the colors could be a highlighter (the golden yellow), a blush (the peach), and a contour (the rosy pink), I prefer the simple glow that comes from sweeping over all of the powder and blending along the cheekbones. "Whisper" was a  good addition to the name because, while there is very buildable coverage from this product, it goes on quite sheer at first. Knowing me though, you understand why this is a bonus. Control in color placement and depth is crucial for pale skin--when you over-do it even slightly, it is WAY over-done and extremely distracting to anyone trying to focus on what you are saying or doing.

Aveda Petal Essence Cheek Color in Apricot Whisper (left to right: contour, blush, and highlight)

The staying power of Petal Essence Apricot Whisper is on the higher end for such a sheer product, or application in my case, with mine usually lasting until mid afternoon (so 6-7 hours) before I notice that I am looking a little sallow and need a bit of color to wake my face back up. Sometimes I don't reapply this color in the afternoon and instead go for something a little rosier; however, now that I write about the product, I realize I could just focus the brush more on that darkest strip of color for a richer, afternoon pop on the cheeks. It's amazing what you think of when you just pause to think something through, duh!

e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer and Highlighter- 2 products for 3 bucks and a "meh"!

$3.00 USD for 0.34oz/10g

As many of my other posts on e.l.f. products have shown, I'm not sure whether I rate and review products differently all together because of its price/brand. Knowing that eyeslipsface products are meant to be held to the 'higher standard' (or the standard of a higher price range) but cost a lower price, I can imagine, that while not entirely without bias, I am giving a pretty accurate description of how well the product works and what it is worth to me.

I mention all this because e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter is one of those products that I want to describe correctly to show it's real worth. Does this product work? Yes, in many ways it does, but does it work better or as good as more expensive alternatives? No, I don't really think so.

First, the formula of both of these products is a little thinner than I expected. If you haven't noticed, a good rule of thumb with concealers are two things need to be present: thickness and pigment. Even if a formula is really pigmented, too thin of a consistency will mean that blending moves coverage away from areas you want; if a concealer is thick but lacks pigment, you have to layer and layer to get coverage and end up with patches of your face or body looking like you slapped a wax sticker on them. This concealer/highlighter is the former: it has decent and tone-correct pigment but too thin a consistency to concentrate the coverage. If I put this concealer all over my face, I would call it a good foundation, but this whole tube would only cover my face twice before being empty.

e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter; Concealer above, Highlighter below

NewsFlash: Dior Skinflash Could Double As A Highlighter and Concealer!

$36.00 Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen

Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen could be described as something I was extremely skeptical about purchasing; truth be told I was ready to return this is an instant should it not meet my every expectation. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't in terms of my original hopes, but it's proved to be quite useful in other ways too.

I purchased Candlelight (I have no idea why because the colors are so vague on every site) first with the intention of finding an easy highlighter for the brow and cheek bones. Instead, I found something infinitely better that I hadn't really noticed I was looking for: undereye brightener and concealer.

Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen in Candlelight

A Glowing Spotlight and Standing Ovation for e.l.f.'s All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

This I prefer to the Shimmering Facial Whip in Spotlight. The All Over Color Stick ($1) is much thicker and creamier than the Whip formula, but I would say both are easily blended and useful in their own way. This stick form is simply easier to use in small amounts with big pay off since blending out a liquid means thinning out the pigment too.

e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

I use this strictly as a highlight, usually around the top of the cheek bone, sometimes on the nose bridge and brow bone, but always this blends out to a subtle pop of light at all the right points. My first thought when I handled the packaging was that it seemed inconvenient, though I now find it useful. An artist could easily use this by swiping some onto the back of the hand, but us normal appliers could just as quickly use a finger to warm up some product directly from the tube and dab it onto the desired areas. I use both methods; universally, I need to warm the product by rubbing my finger in it for a few seconds.

Shimmer Me Timbers- e.l.f.'s Shimmering Facial Whips are Super Versatile and only $1!

As a relative 'noob' to the cosmetic world, I have been struggling to find my place on the grand scale of how much shimmer I actually like on my face and skin. To be honest, big glitter and super shine are NOT my cup of tea, and drama make-up is a very rare occurrence outside of my front door (for me, but shh, I do it in secret...for practice...yes, practice only). Though I also have found a deep and passionate love for Chanel and Dior (Me <3 Dior and the Diva Points Program), I have to share my new favorite and go-to product for highlight, blush, definition (I'm also thinking bronze glow), and all-day care free one-time application: eight shades of pure creativity in these Shimmering Facial Whips from e.l.f.!

e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whips in Spotlight, Lilac Petal, Golden Peach, Citrus, and Pink Lemonade

First, the beauty of these is a great range that can be applied sheerly to quite opaque. I personally own and use five shades: (from left) Spotlight, Lilac Petal, Golden Peach, Citrus, Pink Lemonade; and there are three others: Camilia, Persimmon, Toasted. Their consistency is rich and creamy, which at first made me nervous for blending out the richer colors.

Mood Boost: MAC Play It Proper Beauty Powder

$22.00 for 0.35 oz

As far as I know, this is a limited edition product from MACs Stylishly Yours collection (which had a lot of eye and lip colors I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole). This was one of the only highlights of my day (no pun intended) and is possibly one of the only products I could every see myself being able to use as a highlighter, blush, and all over powder depending on the time of year or occasion. The powder is smooth and finely milled and doesn't dust up at the slightest stroke. This is gonna last me quite a while, so I'm really happy with the purchase and price. Play It Proper is a very pale pink in the pan with a frosty finish but swatches far more neutral nude (or pale beige) than pink. The under tone is there but it's quite subtle.