Results: Lorac Self TANtalizer.

I just wanted to post a quick update on my experience with the Lorac Self TANtalizer that I did a first impression on in the last post. Honestly, I woke up yesterday expecting the worst because of the streaky application but once I washed off the color guard (with just water in the morning) the self tan on my face was flawless, so I was very pleasantly surprised! I know a lot of self tanner scents tend to linger even after being washed once but this one didn't (thank god). The only thing I'm bummed about, but expected, is that the color is already gone. I wash my face everyday and last night when I washed it in the shower with a facial cleanser & a cheap Sephora face brush it disappeared (but again I expected that). I know from my tanning salon days that there are soaps better for self tanner that won't strip it so fast but I can't remember them off the top of my head. I was really hoping it could have lasted at least 2 days but that is expactly why I'm on this hunt, to hopefully find one that can!

If you have any questions on the self tanner I tried or even self tanning in general please leave them below & I will help you out to the best of my abilities! <3

First impression: Lorac Self TANtalizer.

I have been on a mission lately trying to find the 'perfect' face self tanner since I haven't tanned my face in at least a year. I figured I'd share my experiences on here to help everyone considering a good amount of my friends were acquired managing tanning salons. Yes I do still tan & no thanks on the lecture. I am simply here providing a glimpse into the world of (facial) self tanners & my experiences. 

So I literally just applied this to my face 15 mins ago & wanted to get this out of the way while everything is still fresh in my mind. I will be updating this tomorrow with the results of how this turned out. 

First Impression: Lorac Self TANtalizer. 

Smell: total thumbs down on this one. It smells worse than skin after a tanning bed, like something died. 

Application: I love the color guard (a pre color that shows up when applying to help aid in an even application) but it still applied streaky (crossing my fingers it's just the guard) & was way too quick to dry during application which I believe is the reason I have streaks. 

Price: 

I used a sample packet, the full tube (2.20 oz.) is $28 as per the Sephora website (can also be found other places like the Lorac site I'm sure). 

All in all I hope this self tanner surprises me (in a good way) & I wake up tomorrow loving the color (& not hating a Monday more than normal). 

If you have a facial self tanner that's worked for you leave it below & I'll most likely give it a try! :)

Illamasqua Powder Blushers.

Last year was the first time the brand Illamasqua caught my eye. It took me a while to start purchasing this brand not only because of the $26 price tag per blush ($3 more and i could have a coveted Nars blush for comparision purposes) but because it took me a while to find the brand here in the US. I come from what I would consider a small town & the Sephora near me does not carry anything but the nail varnish & of course I wanted to see this hyped up product before I spent the money on it. One day I adventured to the King of Prussia mall and to my surprise I was exposed to my new obsession.

Illamasqua powder blushers have a rep for being extremely pigmented & in my opinion that is 110% true. When I switch to them from my trusty Nars blushes I have to remind myself to use an extremely light hand because these guys pack a serious punch (of color). I'll also admit that some of these I own strictly because of their silly names. I currently own 5 pictured above in order are Thrust, Allure, Chased, Nymph & Hussy. Now on to some swatches!

Natural lighting - from top to bottom: Thrust, Allure, Chased, Nymph & Hussy.

Flash - top to bottom: Thrust, Allure, Chased, Nymph & Hussy.

Individuals:

Allure. "Dusky rose pink (shimmer)" This one is by far my favorite. The picture can't even do it justice. There is a gold shimmer (easily tapped off of a brush for you shimmer shy beauties) that just makes this color, it's beyond gorgeous. 

Thrust. "Deep magenta pink (matte)" I'll admit I have yet to actually be daring enough to wear this but it's one of those colors I had to have. One day I will rock it fearlessly! 

Chased. "Bright rose pink (matte)" This color was sold out both at KOP & Sephora.com for what felt like forever. When I finally got the email saying it was back in stock I ordered it right away. This shade is my favorite come winter as I'm a huge fan of bright pinks then. 

Hussy. "Bright candy pink (matte)" Honestly this is one of the 2 I bought because of the name. Lol it's a challenge because it is so bright & pigmented but still a gorgeous color. 

Nymph. "Warm candy pink (matte)" The other one I bought due to the name. The bonus was this gorgeous color. Sadly my nail took a dent out of it one day when I was in a hurry but with the small amount of product needed per application I still don't see it running out anytime soon. 

Hopefully I will add to my collect at some point, S.O.P.H.I.E., Morale & Lover are all on my watch list, but so far I'm loving my collect. Next with out a doubt I will be getting my hands on the brands "blush up brush" & can't wait to see the results vs my normal method of application, the Sedona lace fan brush (mentioned in my "5 products that make my code" post). 

If you've tried Illamasqua what is your favorite product by them? <3 

July Favorites.

My first favorites on my actual blog & I hardly have any new favorites, how sad. Guess that just means I'll have to step up my game for August & buy lots of new things!

I have to say my top favorite of the month goes to the Nars blush in "Oasis" on the far right. I have legit been obsessed with this color, to the point where I actually hid it from myself to try and get some use out of my other 759863 blushes (& failed). On the Nars website it is described as a "sparkling pink champagne". I have never had a bad application with this blush & it's always so flattering on me which is a tad odd because I'm oily so I tend to shy away from anything 'sparkling' but you can hardly tell that they're there. I attempted to get some swatches of it for you guys but considering it's after 8:30 pm here I had to work with what I had :( 

My runner up for top favorite is the NYX butter gloss in "Crème Brulee" & is described as a "natural" shade by the NYX website. This gloss isn't sticky & has a sweet smell that goes away after a few minutes. below are swatches, keep in mind that it is getting dark here so I had to work with what I had. Top picture is with a flash & bottom picture is natural light.

 

Other things I've been using a lot this month have been the Nars Bronzer in "Laguna" to contour with the Sedona Lace FB 05. When I don't feel like having on a lot of makeup but would like an even skin tone I apply the L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream in Medium. When I first got this I didn't really like it & let it sit in my drawer for awhile before finally giving it another try. I think it was the look of it when it dispenses that threw me off, being as it is a white balm with darker color beads. Once rubbed into the skin with looks great, does a great job evening out my skin & wears well for oily skin!

 

Now I'm asking you, what is your favorite beauty product of July & why? <3

Empties!

 

Biosilk Silk Therapy - I never thought I would finish this bottle, I got it for christmas & I am just now finishing it up. I have to say I was a tad bit weird at first about straying from my normal brand (Chi Silk Infusion) but I have to say this is just on the same level & smells amazing. Everyone that asks how I get my hair so soft this is one of my secrets. ;) Even though I have love for this product I think I'll go back to my beloved Chi this time & who knows maybe I'll switch back to this again after!

 

Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White - For all you coffee drinkers out there, this tooth paste is god. As you can tell it's not an empty tube (shhh!), I already finished the first one & silly me threw it out. I obviously went & repurchased it (even got one for my mom). I've had problems with toothpastes breaking me out in the past & I'm happy to report this one hasn't.

 

Oral-B Glide 3D Whitening + Scope Floss - I always have floss on me (previous dental assistant) where ever I go. That being said I think this is the 3rd one of these I've killed off, works great with the toothpaste listed directly above.

 

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture For Eyes - So this was my first venture into eye creams ever & I have to say I'm hooked. It's just so refreshing after you try it you won't want to be without it (addiction warning). It also really did help the dry skin I had under my eyes which made it easier to cover up the lovely undereye area we all dread working with.

 

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner - I'm pretty sure I've used this eyeliner since I was in my high school days & being as I'm 24 I think I'd have to give this the award of most repurchased. It's quick drying so you never mess up your eye makeup when you're in a rush, has a great applicator so you can either get a thin, subtle line or a dramatic bold line & the best part - I have never had a problem with this transferring or getting all over the place through the day it really does stay put. It's also super easy to remove & great for my sensitive eyes.

 

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Hands down my favorite mascara. takes my tiny little eyes & opens them right up with no hassle. No flaking, No transferring or building up on your face through the day, Just super fabulous looking lashes. I've been through one full size & 3 travel size of this mascara & I've got another backup ready to go!

 

Maybelline Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof - If you're on a budget & want something close to Benefit's "They're Real" this really is the next best thing. The only differences for me are that I have to work this one a bit more to really open up my eyes & the wand is curved on this one, where as on the Benefit one it's not.

 

Carmex Soothing Lip Balm - If you read my last post you already know I'm obsessed with these little guys & hide them in every part of my life. Well this little guy is the one that sat next to my bed that I would apply right before I went to sleep so I will have to hunt down another from my stash to replace him!

 

Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub - This is the end of either my 2nd or 3rd tube I can't remember. Anyway this is a real hardcore, take no prisoners exfoliator. I use this 2-3 times a week & it really does get all the dirt & build up off my face. I either use this cheap Sephora face brush I have or just my hands with this. To top it all off it leaves you with this cooling, refreshed feeling after. Already got myself a new bottle!

 

I guess you can say I didn't really have any bad empties. I'm sure there will be some to come in the future. Do you have any empties you would NOT repurchase? If so leave them in the comments below! Thanks for reading <3

5 products that make my code.

"What in the world is a code?!?!" That's probably what you all are thinking right now & why am I basing my blog on it. I have spent months racking my brain to come up with what to name this little project, everytime I came up with a 'genius' idea I would grab my Iphone & goggle the unique name I thought I had & it turns out it wasn't as unique as I had imagined. Watching 'Dexter' the one day I came to a realization, we all have some sort of 'code' (principles or rules we live by as the dear dictionary would phrase it), granted mine might not be about trying to kill bad people while working for the police and trying to get away with it (which btw these last 2 seasons blew in my opinion, I'm sorry), but I think I set up some pretty good rules for myself when it comes to makeup & beauty in general which is why I chose to start this blog. I'm not saying "do everything I do by the book & listen to no one else but me" I'm just trying to lend a hand in helping everyone out there who may struggle with anything from oily skin to acne to even finding the right brush to apply your makeup with or making your eyes look a little bigger. Also, I know that what works for me may not work for everyone but these are my honest opinions on what works for me. The reason I love this industry, besides helping people boost their confidence level, is because I am constantly learning something new. So I hope you enjoy my journey :)

Here are my 5 products I don't think I could ever function without:
(excuse the effects I was having TOO much fun..)

#1- Mascara.

If I had to pick one item for the rest of my life (scary thought right?) it'd be mascara. Anyone that knows me knows I have the smallest eyes ever & I was (& even still am) picked on for it forever. Mascara is a great tool to help not only open up your eyes & make your lashes longer but also to help make you look more awake. This picture isn't even all the mascara I own nor am I a fan of every single one in this picture, but makeup is trial & error, you just have to find what works for you. That being said if I had to name my top 3 favorite mascaras it would go as follows:
1) Benefit - "They're Real"
2) Lancome - "Definicils"
3) Revlon - "Lash Potion"

#2- Carmex.

You're probably like what the hell right about now. I've tried everything from Maybelline Baby lips to Burt's bees to EOS & I am still beyond obsessed with these. I buy like 10 at a time at Walmart & hid them in every little nook & cranny of my life. Why? They have never broken me out, super soothing (I'm talking burt's bees 10x), aren't sticky & have multiple purposes which I will do a bost on at a later date.

#3- Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation.

I was the girl that used to be so tan that I used to wear a bronzer as my foundation (this was before I knew ANYTHING about makeup .... we all have those weird beauty mishaps we did when we were younger don't judge me lol). When I made the decision to stop tanning my face I was horrified when I saw what my acne scarred, damaged skin looked like, granted the normal person would be like 'omg your skin is nearly flawless' being a makeup artist you are trained to pick up imperfections so you can correct them. That being said seeing those imperfections everyday takes a toll on you at first because you see every little thing 10x worse than the average person would. I have finally come to terms with it all after about a year (yes a year), if I run a quick errand or even just don't feel like putting on makeup that day I don't but when I do this is my favorite thing to use!

I've tried probably every drugstore foundation and I'd say atleast 60% of high end foundations and this one kicks all their butts. This is a 3 in 1 foundation which means that it is not just a foundation but it also has a primer and concealer built in which takes so much of the hassle out of doing your makeup. I personally have extremely oily skin and this is the only foundation I've found where my touch ups are extremely minimal if any.

Quick notes on this product:
- I personally do not wear a primer under it, it has one built in.
- conceals blemishs great!
- full coverage
- I had the worst time finding my shade in this because it tends to oxidize like crazy (on me atleast), when a foundation oxidizes it has a reaction to either oils etc. in your skin or air resulting in the foundation changing color, normally to a darker or orange color. My personal tip is to buy a shade lighter than what you think you would wear if this is something that concerns you.

#4- The Original Beauty Blender.

So if you are anything like me you probably thought this product was all hype. I remember thinking to myself '$20 for a pink sponge?idiots'. Well I am now that idiot and completely eating my words because I couldn't live without these little guys now. I first went and purchased the Ulta brand dupe which was like $5 and thought 'if this is what people are raving about I'll pass' because it didn't expand once you wet it, soaked up all the product & you basically felt like you were punching yourself in the face. No Thanks. So I threw that in my junk drawer after about 3 trial runs never to be touched again and waited a good 6 months before even thinking of trying the original little guy everyone raved about. On a whim I ordered the Beauty Blender duo from Sephora.com the one day thinking 110% I was going to be returning it. When it came in the mail I went right up stairs, made one of those little pink beauties all nice and wet, squeezed a towel around it to get out the water & went to town. It was at that point I fell in love. First off you get flawless coverage, no annoying brush streaks, it makes my skin look airbrushed. I swear to you when I say this, I have not picked up a foundation brush to apply my foundation since I got this pink gem on March 26th 2013. There's no comparison between this and the knock off I tried - The Beauty Blender is so soft, gets into every area, doesn't hold in product & creates a flawless face.

#5- Sedona Lace FB 01 Fan Brush.

Yes I own 3 & I'm not even the least bit ashamed. If you gave me this brush along with a Beauty Blender I could almost garantee a full face of makeup from just using these 2 tools (give or take some eye makeup and a possible nose contouring, but even in a pinch I still tihnk I might be able to make it work). My biggest use for this brush is to apply my blush, every typical blush brush I come across I just hate and I ALWAYS go back to this one, always. I also use it for contouring, highlighting, cleaning up eyeshadow fallout, etc. The possibilities are really endless with this brush.

hope you enjoyed the 5 products I couldn't live without, if there's something beauty related you can't live without leave it in the comments so I can check it out!

Have a lovely day & stay beautiful :) <3

Hello Gorgeous!

My name is Brittany but some of you may know me from social networking as "Bsawk". I am a 24 year old certified makeup artist. This blog will have everything from reviews, swatches, hauls, face of the days, advice, beauty mishaps & lessons learned ... everything! Everything on here will be my honest, unbiased opinion and nothing less. If there is something you would like to see/hear about do not hesitate to ask me! I'm here in hopes to inspire & help in anyway I can because let's face it, it's tough being a girl & we all need a little help sometimes! First post coming up soon, Later Beauties <3

Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr: @Bsawk