MAC Brush Cleanser

$14     7.9 oz/ 235 ml

Ingredients: water, alcohol denat., sodium trideceth sulfate, disodium lauroamphodiacetate, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hexylene glycol, cetrimonium chloride, triclosan, isopropyl alcohol, blue 1, red 3

Availability: Macy's, MAC, Nordstrom

It's really important to clean your brushes between makeup applications because the product left on the brushes can feed bacteria and you don't want to put them on your face because doing so could cause breakouts, and even worse, infections.

I don't deep clean my brushes every time because it would just take too much time and trouble. So I rely on brush cleansers. They clean off the products on the surface of the brushes and disinfect them.

I used to use Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner. It works very well and gets the brushes very clean. It's a little bit more expensive than MAC Brush Cleanser in terms of dollars per fluid ounce. I know MAC Brush Cleanser is used by a lot of makeup artists so I decided to try it.

It smells like alcohol but you won't smell it when you apply makeup with a freshly cleaned brush. It cleans well. It takes off powder products easily once. But cream products or anything wet takes two times of cleaning to get the brush clean.

dirty brush with liquid foundation residues

cleaned once - still some product left

cleaned twice - still a tiny bit of pigments left, but overall very clean

It doesn't come with an atomizer so I pour it into a spray bottle so this way I don't use too much product every time.

Overall, it's an okay brush cleanser. Even though it takes twice of cleaning to get some products off, it's not too much trouble and it gets the job done. For makeup artists it's worth it because it's a good value and it's eligible for back-to-MAC. I still like the Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner better because it takes everything off at once.

Brush cleaners isn't something I'm so picky about. As long as it gets the job done without too much trouble and at a reasonable price, I'll go for it. In short, MAC Brush Cleanser is not the best, but decent.

Today's Makeup : Tamsin Egerton Inspired

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Worth the Hype? Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Tipsy

$26     0.20 oz/ 5.6 g

Ingredients: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Tricaprylin, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Alba, PEG-150 Distearate, Lanolin, Laureth-4, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Tin Oxide, Mica, Carmine (CI 75470). (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 6 And Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090)

Availability: Sephora, Beauty.com

Color

The pictures above aren't really good representation of the color. The product appears more pink in the pictures for some reason. Tipsy is described as coral, which it really is. Looking at the packaging and the pan in person it looks straight up orange. When swatched and applied it's much pinker than you think. I would say this coral is half pink and half orange. So depending on your skin tone (cool/pink or warm/yellow), it may look pinkish coral or orangish coral. It has some shimmer in it. There is no chunky glitters. The shimmer provides very subtle sheen on the cheese, almost unnoticeable.

heavy swatch | blended out

e.l.f. Candid Coral | NARS Deep Throat | tarte Tipsy | NARS Luster

Formula

It's a little dry and stiff. I can't pick up much product with just one swipe with the brush. However, it doesn't apply chalky. The formula is pretty easy to work with. It blends out smoothly on the skin.

Pigmentation

This color isn't as pigmented as the deeper shades like Exposed (reviewed in this POST). In the pictures I actually applied quite a lot of layers. I would say the pigmentation of this blush is below average. If you have medium skin, you really have to pack it on and layer it. But when applied not as heavily, it gives a natural sun-kissed flush on the cheeks.

Wear

This is definitely will not pass the 12-hour mark. I noticed that some color has faded away after 5 hours. If you have a long-wearing foundation underneath (like Estee Lauder Double Wear), it might stay on longer, but I doubt that it would last 12 hours.

How I Wear It

I like to wear it with some neutral eye looks or night-out looks. It looks very nice with a warm tone pink lip because they complement each other beautifully.

Overall, I'm not in love with this product, but I like it a lot, mainly because of the color. It's pretty and unique but at the same time very wearable. I find the pigmentation and the formula a little hard to work with. It just takes more effort to get some decent color payoff. I don't think this product is worth the hype. It doesn't completely suck; it just suits particular complexions. If your complexion is deeper than medium-tan, this won't do much good for you. If you have very fair skin, this will be your dream come true.

Today's Makeup: Aqua Eyes

Eyes

• Eyelids: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Edgy Emerald
• Outer Corners & Crease: MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist
• Liner: L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Midnight Blue
• Lashes: Cover Girl Lash Blast 24 HR Mascara in Very Black
• Brows: Urban Decay Naked Basics - Crave

Face

• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC20

Cheeks

• NARS Blush in Luster
• Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer in Rich Bronze

Lips

• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Mauve It Over

Sonia Kashuk Rich Bronze | NARS Luster | L'Oreal Midnight Blue | MAC Constructivist | Maybelline Edgy Emerald | Revlon Mauve It Over

Worth the Hype? Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Exposed

$26     0.20 oz/ 5.6 g

Ingredients: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Tricaprylin, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Alba, PEG-150 Distearate, Lanolin, Laureth-4, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Tin Oxide, Mica, Carmine (CI 75470). (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 6 And Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090)

Availability: Sephora, Beauty.com

Color
Exposed is described as nude. To me it looks like a red tone mauve. It's a very pretty color. It has matte finish. I've seen some people using it as a contour and blush hybrid. I personally wouldn't because of the red tone in it doesn't really look natural as contour. But if you have very fair skin, it might work for you as a 2 in 1 product. This color will be visible on pale to medium complexions.

heavy swatch | blended

Formula
I find the powder a little stiffer than Illamasqua and NARS blush formulas. But it's not hard to work with at all. It goes on smoothly and evenly and it's easy to blend.

Pigmentation
I've heard a lot of people saying that these blushes are very pigmented. However, I don't really agree. To me, very pigmented means you have to be careful and you only dab the brush in the product, tap off the excess, and apply to your cheeks with a very light hand. I did exact that at first. But with this blush I find doing that doesn't give me much color pay-off. I would say you don't have to be that careful and just use it like how you would with other medium pigmented blushes.

I applied it heavily as contour and blended it upward to the apples of my cheeks.

Wear
I wore this blush for 10 hours and the color looked the same as I first applied it. This is no joke a long-wearing product. I don't typically wear my makeup for that long but I'm sure it will easily last 12 hours. After my mascara has smudged all over the place, my eyeshadows have creased, and my foundation has worn off, this blush is the only thing perfectly staying on my face. They ain't playing with the 12-HR claim!

How I Wear It
I really like packing on the color and blend it out and keep the rest of my face, eye, and lip makeup super clean and simple. If I don't use this to contour, I would contour the cheeks with neutral/ grey tone matte bronzer. This way the focus is on the cheek color.

Overall, it's a really nice blush. The color is beautiful and the formula and pigmentation make it very easy to work with. I'm super pleased with the staying power and I'm glad Tarte delivers on their claim, which is pretty rare in cosmetics industry. Tarte Exposed is definitely worth the hype and I highly recommend this product!

NARS Blush/ Bronzer Duo in Deep Throat & Laguna

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Worth the Hype? Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer (aka Apocalips)

 $4.99-$5.49     0.18 oz/ 5.5 ml

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Trisostearyl Citrate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ozokerite, Kaolin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Parfum/Fragrance, Ascorbyl Phosphate, Serica (Silk Powder), Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Propylparben, Tocopherol, Ethylparben, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, May Contain (+/-):, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (CI 15850), D&C Red No. 6 Barium Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FD&C Yellow No 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), D&C Red 27 Aluminum Lake (CI 45410), D&C Red No. 33 Aluminum Lake (CI 17200), FD&C BLUE NO. 1 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 42090), FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake (CI 15985), Carmine (CI 75470)

Shades: Solstice, Out of this World, Light Year, Galaxy, Stargazer, Apocaliptic, Comet, Nude Eclipse, Nova, Stellar, Celestial, Luna, Aurora, Big Bang

Availability: Walgreens, Drugstore.com

These lip lacquers came out in the UK before they came here to the US and there was a huge hype around it in the UK beauty community. Most people seem to love it. Let's see if it's worth the hype!

There are 14 colors available. I only have Aurora and Stellar. A lot of the colors seem very similar to each other on the lips. I have to say that's sort of the case with Aurora and Stellar.

Aurora

Stellar

Aurora (normal/blotted) | Stellar (normal/blotted)

Color
Aurora and Stellar are both pinkish red with warm undertone. Stellar is more neon than Aurora. The colors are similar on the lips. Stellar is just a bit brighter and not as "natural" as Aurora since it has a neon tone.

Finish
They are semi-glossy when you first apply it. The glossiness goes away throughout the day. It's more glossy than NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, but it's less glossy than regular lipglosses in the sense that it doesn't provide you any 3D or plumped looks on the lips. You can also blot it to take off some of the glossiness, which is the way I prefer to wear it. Blotting will take off some color but it's still pretty opaque.

Pigmentation
They go on very opaque in one swipe. I never found the need to dip the wand back in the tube to get more product. Even the lighter shades are very opaque. I had Luna, which is a peachy nude shade. I returned it because it's not a color I would normally wear. But it was just as pigmented as the darker shades.

Formula
The formula goes on just like NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. It's like a very thin cream. It's not sticky at all. Actually it's a little slippery. But not as slippery as MAC Kissable Lipcolour, making it easier to apply because it's less prone to getting streaky. However, compared to a lipgloss, it's more prone to making a mistake because the formula doesn't provide much resistance. You definitely need a mirror to apply it.

Wear
Because of its thin and slippery formula, it wears off pretty easily. It will definitely come off when you eat and drink. If you talk a lot, it will wear off gradually and leave a ring around the lips, which to me is not attractive at all. It doesn't leave much of a stain since the pigment doesn't really stick to the lips. It will stain just a tiny bit but if you're looking for staining lip products, this is not for you. It will last you a few hours (without talking or eating) but you would definitely need to touch up throughout the day.

Overall, I don't think it's worth the hype. I think it's a nice product but it's nothing glorious. There's a really good color range. But a lot of them are similar. The colors are beautiful but I don't find any of them different or hard to find from other brands. I like lips products that leave a tint so that I have some sort of a "safety net." Unfortunately it does not do that. The formula is a little too slippery for me to have good control. However, it's comfortable to wear and it has good color pay-off. If you're looking for a good lip product, this is a good one to get. If you're looking for an amazing lip product, I wouldn't recommend it.

Aurora

Aurora (blotted)

Aurora (wiped off)

Stellar

Stellar (blotted)

Stellar (wiped off)

Melvita Huile d'Argan (Argan Oil)

$24-35     1.69 oz/ 50 ml

Ingredients: 100%  organic argan oil

Availability: Beauty.com, Melvita

I got this argan oil because I was running out Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil very quickly (reviewed in this POST) and it is very pricey. I got mine at Beauty.com for $24 and I would recommend purchasing it there instead of Melvita website because for some reason, the exact same one in the same quantity costs $35 on their official website. But before you check out the website, here's some review that may help you decide whether or not you should buy it.

I've been using Josie Maran and Melvita argan oils for a few months and I wanted to have a full experience before I review them and I think it's about time! I'm going to compare Melvita Argain Oil to the Josie Maran Argan Oil because they, in theory, should be the same thing and does the same job because they're both 100% organic cold-pressed argan oils.

In terms of consistency, Melvita is thinner than Josie Maran, which makes it more runny. However, interestingly the thinner consistency doesn't necessarily means it's absorbed better. Melvita tends to sit on top of the skin and makes my face really oily and slippery, whereas Josie Maran feels less slippery and more comfortable on the skin.

In terms of the anti-inflammatory property, Melvita doesn't do much at calming any breakouts. With Josie Maran, my acne's redness reduces the next morning.

So far, it seems like Josie Maran is better than Melvita. It's true, but Melvita isn't a totally crappy product, either. I actually prefer Melvita argan oil over other rich moisturizers made of synthetic chemical compounds. When it comes to skincare, I personally think that the simpler the better. There's only one ingredient so my skin only needs to work with one ingredient and there's no other inactive ingredients that doesn't do any good.

If prices weren't an issue, I would stick with Josie Maran. But in reality it is for me, and probably for many people out there. I've been using Melvita for the nights that my skin doesn't have many problems, and Josie Maran when my skin is irritated and needs something to calm it down.

The only obvious con of Melvita argan oil is its packaging. The pump makes it really messy and wastes a lot of product because it pumps up the product and the oil would leak inside the pump, so whenever you tilt it for move it in any way, the oil drips down the bottle. Instead of using it out of the original packaging, I just put the oil in a dropper bottle, which is absolutely mess-free.

Overall, as a face product, Melvita Argan Oil didn't amaze me, but it wasn't disappointing, either. I thought this product was mediocre. However, I've found that it's a good hand moisturizer. When my hands get super dry and none of my hand creams work, I use a few drops of this oil. It definitely feels richer than hand creams but since argan oil is a dry oil, it doesn't feel overly greasy. I would not repurchase it as a face product but as a body product, it is a definite yes.

I would recommend this product to people who are looking for a nice night-time moisturizer at a good value, or people who need rich moisture on their body. This bottle will probably last you at least a year as a face product. I would NOT recommend it to people with oily skin. It would feel too uncomfortable on oily skin types.

Best Travel Makeup Products

I've been travelling almost every week since May. It's essential to pack my makeup very smartly and lightly.
Travel sizes or samples are definitely good choices. But sometimes I would be out of town for longer than just a weekend so it's equally important for me to bring products that will work no matter how my skin condition is.

Base Products

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream for Face SPF 36 PA+++
I've been using Shiseido sunscreens since I was a little girl. It provides fantastic protection without making your skin greasy. It's also very gentle and never breaks out my sensitive skin. The formula is very light, making it perfect under makeup. I got this a while back. Now the closest they do is SPF 38, but everything in the blue packaging line has similar formula and works nicely. Available at Sephora and Nordstrom.
Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift BB Cream in Medium Beige (Mentioned in this POST)
I can use it when my face is either combination or dry. The color also suits me all year around. I can get a light coverage with this, or layer it to get medium coverage when I have spots. It sets to a natural finish, looking like your skin. I usually don't have to set it with powder. It's very gentle and doesn't feel heavy at all even if you layer it on. It's comfortable to wear no matter what type of weather it is.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard (Mentioned in this POST)
It has very good coverage without feeling cakey. It can be used for under-eye dark circles and all over the face. It sets to a natural finish that looks like real skin. It doesn't last as well as MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, but it lasts better any other concealers I've tried. I love taking with me for travels because I don't have to take an under-eye concealer with me. I can get away without setting it most of the time.

Shiseido Sunscreen | Kanebo BB Cream | Nars Concealer

Setting Powders


I don't always set my makeup, but I always bring a powder with me just in case of hot weather or night-outs.
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder (Mentioned in this POST)
I got a deluxe sample size of this amazing setting powder. It's a extremely finely milled powder. It sets and mattifies the makeup instantly. The size is perfect for travel.
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC20
This powder is perfect over light foundations or BB creams because it provides great coverage. It will take the light coverage to medium-full coverage. I also use it over moisturizer. I love this product for travel because it's very versatile in coverage and application. It also wears off beautifully, no cakey patches or bumps. I don't take both of these powders but either one works fantastically. Available at Nordstrom, Macy's, and MAC.

Tarte Powder | MAC Powder

Blush and Bronzer

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Naked Rose (Mentioned in this POST)
It's a matte dusty rose blush. It's super wearable and fool proof. It's almost impossible to mess up with this blush. I use it for everyday looks as well as evening looks. It's very versatile in terms of the opacity and intensity of the color.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
It's my all time favorite bronzer. It's matte and neutral tone, making it perfect for contouring. It applies smoothly and blends out easily. It's also very versatile so it can be used both day time and night time. Available at Sephora and Macy's.
Nars Deep Throat Blush and Laguna Bronzing Powder Duo
I've been taking it with me instead of a blush and a separate bronzer. It's super convenient, a beautiful shimmery blush, a semi-matte bronzer, and a big mirror. Deep Throat is such a beautiful peachy rosey blush that doesn't overload shimmer. Laguna is a nice shade for contour. I still love Hoola more because Hoola is smoother and more neutral. But Laguna is still a lovely product. Available at Sephora.

Illamasqua Naked Rose | Benefit Hoola | Nars Deep Throat | Nars Laguna

Highlighter

I don't always bring highlighters. It's something I can skip over. But for the times I'm into highlighting, I would bring just one highlighting product.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle
It's a champagne highlighter. It's noticeable without making you look shiny or like a disco ball. The only thing I don't like about this while travelling is that it takes up a lot of space in the makeup bag. But other than that, it's a beautiful highlight that's very easy to work with. Available at Nordstrom, Macy's, and MAC.
Benefit Moon Beam
I like to take it with me mainly because it's smaller compared to powder packagings and I don't need a brush to apply this. It gives an iridescent glow. However, it has some pink shimmers so i don't find it as natural as Soft and Gentle on the cheekbones. Available at Sephora.
Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter
I got this little cute sample size in my Sephora birthday gift combo. I think even the full size would be travel friendly. I'm so in love with this cream highlighter. It's like Soft and Gentle but gives a more iridescent finish because the pigments are finer. It's very easy to apply. It's not sticky and it's super easy to blend. I also love that you don't need a brush to apply this. Available at Sephora and Macy's.

MAC Soft & Gentle | Benefit Moon Beam | Benefit Watt's Up

Eyeshadows

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (Reviewed in this POST)
I take this with me when there's not important occasions that I have to go to during the travel. It's easy to apply and doesn't require a brush. I put it all over my lid and put on a second layer at the outer corner of my lid to create some dimensions. It last long and wears off well.
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (Reviewed in this POST)
I can get a day time look and a night time look with this. It has all the shades that I need for highlight, contour, and eyeliner. The formula is very smooth and creamy. I always bring Nars eyeshadow primer with me if I'm taking this palette.

Maybelline Bad to the Bronze | Urban Decay Venus | Foxy | W.O.S | Naked 2 | Faint | Crave

Mascara


I'm not a mascara "layerer" when I'm travelling. I like to take just one mascara that does the job. These two mascaras both do a pretty good job in lengthening and volumizing and they are both transfer free and mostly smudge-free.
Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara (Mentioned in this POST)
This is not the waterproof formula. However, it doesn't transfer on me while a lot of other waterproof mascara does. It smudges on the bottom lashes a little bit after long hours, but nothing terrible. I really like that I can get a false lashes look just with this mascara. It's a little hard to take off but it comes off with my DHC Cleansing Oil.
Cover Girl Lash Blast 24HR Mascara
It's a very volumizing mascara, more so than lengthening. It has a rubber wand. It's very waterproof, doesn't transfer on me but like Rimmel Day 2 Night it smudges a little after long hours. It's much more difficult to remove than Rimmel Day 2 Night. I really have to allow some time and give my lashes some massaging for the cleansing oil to dissolve the mascara. Overall I like Rimmel Day 2 Night more than Lash Blast, but Lash Blast is still a really nice one. Available at drugstores and Drugstore.com.