Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color SPF 12 in Sweet Nectar

$22.00 for 0.13oz/3.8g

I had been lusting after this lip color for about a month before it ever hit shelves. What I like in particular is that you can have the full coverage of a lipstick with the sun protection of an SPF balm. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color stands out to me because of how thick and pigmented it is while still being smooth and non-drying to lips. Granted, this will show lines on thin or non-plump lippies, but give your lips a good exfoliation with your toothbrush and watch the color smother you in luxury!

Bobbi Brown Sweet Nectar on lips, Sonia Kashuk Sweet Nothings Palette on eyes, and e.l.f. Flushed on cheeks

I have several photos wearing this Sweet Nectar color, described as a peach coral on BobbiBrowncosmetics.com, because as gorgeous as it is, and regardless of how much I love it, I have a lot of trouble trying to make this look appropriate without overdoing the rest of the look. If I wear much eyeshadow at all, or a color slightly off, the whole thing makes me look drag queen-y. My solution has been to wear more of a heavy eyeliner, cat-eye look in order to look polished and balanced.

e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips

$1.00 for 0.05 oz/1.5g

Yet again, EyesLipsFace shocks me with a value I really didn't expect from $1.  It's as if I literally forget how much I love a lot of e.l.f. products and sit in Target (or at the computer) thinking "oh, I don't need to be spending a dollar, or three, on ____" when it should be clear to me now that, um, yeah, it's totally worth it!

e.l.f. Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips in daylight

My initial worry was mainly the applicator at the tip of this lipstick. It is a little difficult to put my finger on why I thought the applicator would be tricky, but I think it's about the same reason I hesitate in getting too many Hypershine Glosses at the same time--hygiene and germs. The applicator does sit relatively exposed underneath the cap instead of being a pull-out wand (I have no source to say that either is more hygienic). This mostly poses problems for makeup artists and the use of this on more than one person; for personal use, I see nothing wrong.

Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer in 1 Green

$32 for 1.01 oz (sample shown)

Make Up For Ever, or MUFE, is one of the brands I have been *super* interested is getting to know better over the last few months. Since I saw their non-retouched ad campaign for HD foundation, I have really looked at my budget in terms of "what MUFE can I buy" rather than making sure I get enough products to review for a while. Problem solved: SAMPLES!

As I've delved into the realm of using green to counteract red, in the form of concealer so far, it was no great leap forward to ask for the "redness reducing" Green Microperfecting Primer. (This next part may seem like a "duh" story, but here goes.)  At the MUFE counter in Sephora, the SA pumped a little green onto the back of my hand and said that this would reduce specific spots of red only a little while it would minimize pink/redness over the whole face more. So on the back of my hand, the blended primer definitely brought out the yellow/gold of my skin and I saw absolutely no red or pink. "This is so perfect," I thought, "now I can finally see the actual color of products on my face rather than everything slightly pinker!" Alas, totally not how the hand translated to the face...

LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation

$38 for 1.0 oz

This particular review has been a long time coming; I've had this foundation for over six months, and it is what I would like to call my "winter" color (of course, my "summer" color is eluding me this month so no matter). First, I'm going to apologize for the photo quality right now. I can't find the right room with the right light for good photos, and my camera seems to not focus on anything at all without its insanely bright flash going off....I'm working on it.

Since I seem to need to force myself back into the habit of writing a post a day (or one every two/three days), I can't wait too long for my photo issues to be resolved before giving in to just posting the best ones I can get. So moving on, LORAC foundation!

Breakthrough Performance has been hit and miss with me since I bought it, but I never returned it. Supposedly it is oil-free and anti-aging, but you've heard this before--I have no way of validating any anti-aging claims! I can tell you that the formula is somewhere between lightweight and heavy, and the coverage is sheer to medium. It feels thicker when I put it on, but especially with this product I can't find the patience to put it on in thinner layers. When I try to build up the coverage through layers, I can not see any difference between the first and fourth layer other than all of it is starting to smear and there is still sheer coverage.

What's Sour with Sonia Kashuk Sweet Nothings Eye Palette?

$14.99 for 0.31 oz or 8.8g (includes 6 powder shadows, 1 cream base, and a double-ended applicator)

I'm actually blown away by the cream base in this palette. My shadow lasts about 12 hours with ne'er  a crease in sight...of course after that it's pretty quickly downhill, but that's expected with oily lids. This palette won't give you any show-stopping looks because it lacks significant--okay okay, mediocre pigmentation--but you will be able to but a nice shine and hint of hue on your lids in quite a few shades.

Sweet Nothings 16 Eye Palette

The quality of the shadows themselves, minus pigmentation, is really good. They aren't creamy, butter-like powders, but there really isn't any fallout that I've been able to find. These don't crumble or start dusting the whole palette when you take a brush to them (like some, if not most, e.l.f. eyeshadows do), so the extra price is a definite leap from super-cheap quality, too.

I Hit Pan! But will I buy again...?

Well, folks, besides being silent for about three months, I have been doing something with makeup; using it! And what I have to show for it is three products that I am officially running low on: Dior Gel-Creme Foundation, Burberry Powder Foundation, and the Dior Brow Styler.

First, if you haven't read the whole review for any of these products, I recommend it not just for the sake of reading my blog (wink wink) but also so that you know what I'm talking about.

Second, am I going to be reinvesting in these three rather high-end and high-priced products? Two yeses, one no.

Aveda's "Earth Jam" Fashion Show and three days of makeup!

I hate to do this yet again after being silent for about three and half weeks, but guys, I'm tired! So I am just going to throw up some pictures of the stuff I've been doing recently, such as the following looks for the Earth Jam Fashion Show where I was a makeup artist for Team Jean Paul Gaultier. Believe me, this is really dark for my personal tastes, but it was fun to push myself out of the 'sheers and neutrals' comfort zone that I've been in the last several months.

At the very least, I know I can do it now, if the appropriate time arises...if, that is...because I won't do it otherwise!

Steph in what she dubbed "a dangerous Bo-Peep" do--I still think the top could have been a pillbox hat--and high eyes to reshape her face.

Erin rocking a KISS-inspired eye and a blue and gold pop on her lids.