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Haircare Sephora Skincare

Current Favorites for Skin, Body + Hair from Sephora

April 21, 2020

Best Skincare Sephora

By popular request I’m doing another updated roundup for my favorites in skin, body care and hair from Sephora! In putting together my list it I discovered that most of these are tried and true repeats. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to skincare although I love trying new things. I always try to scout out the minis or travel sets to try first. While there are quite a few brands I love that aren’t carried at Sephora (ie Oribe, Chanel, 111skin, etc). Most of what I love can be found at Sephora.

Quick recap on the spring Sephora April sale dates/details (use code SPRINGSAVE):

  • Rouge Members – Save 20% off 4/17 to 05/01
  • VIB Members – Save 15% off 4/21 to 4/29
  • Insider Tier – Save 10% off 4/23 to 4/27

To help give some context on my routine and what I use I have normal/combination skin and in my late 30s. Since moving to Florida I’ve experienced a wider range of climate changes compared to what I experienced in California. The dry season is very dry and then there are humid days where outdoors feels like a wet blanket. And there’s everything n between.

Product rotation and routine changes depending on season and also time of the month as skin oil production changes with climate (ie humidity or lack of) + hormones. I also have different products for morning vs afternoon or evening. Morning routines are pretty much the same. The afternoon/evening routine is different depending on if I have makeup on, if I just worked out, if I just went to the beach and have sunscreen + sweat on etc.

When it comes to finding a good a routine I think it depends on so many factors. If what you’re using works, no need to change it! No need to have a complicated routine but beauty is my job so I don’t mind trying out new launches and products.

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Face Cleansers + Makeup Removers

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Moisturizers + Mists + Essence

Night Treatments

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Scrubs + Exfoliators + Acne

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Hair Care

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Body Care + Fragrance

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Sunscreen

I had such a rough time with sunscreen last year. I really wanted to try a wider range of brands because so many of you asked how it held up in the Florida sunshine. I had so many allergic reactions, I’m scared now to try new brands. My tried and true from Sephora are from Supergoop! and Sol de Janeiro.

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Lip Treatments

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Hope you found this helpful! I’m picking a giveaway winner from my last giveaway today. Also I’ll be hosting another one soon at the end of the week so check back! I’m going to try my best to have the NARS summer picks and Natasha Denona haul swatched before the end of the sale.

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Sephora

Sephora Spring Sale Makeup Recommendations

April 17, 2020

Best Luxury Makeup at Sephora

I have a Sephora Spring Sale makeup recommendations roundup today since the Spring Savings Event is here again! It starts today for Rouge Members and today I have my top makeup picks roundup! I’ve split everything by category for eyes, lips, cheeks, primer and face. The details and dates are as follows for each Beauty Insider Tier:

  • Rouge Members – Save 20% off 4/17 to 05/01
  • VIB Members – Save 15% off 4/21 to 4/29
  • Insider Tier – Save 10% off 4/23 to 4/27

Use code SPRINGSAVE at checkout. Some exclusions and limits on quantities apply. Full details on their Terms and Conditions page. Note this is quite an extensive list but it’s not intended to be a list to persuade you to buy everything. So please don’t feel pressured! It’s simply meant as a resource by category for what I have tried, love and recommend. The most questions I get from readers is, “what’s the best matte lipstick?” or “what’s the best glowy foundation?” or “can you recommend an eyeliner that lasts long but doesn’t tug?” I split the recommendations by category to give you some ideas I hope will help you find what you’re looking for.

Primer

While I don’t think there is a truly one-size fits all primer, here are the ones I’ve tried that I like. My general recommendation is to use the same brand of primer and foundation. Or try to find a formula compatible with your foundation. For example if your foundation is oil-free, look for oil-free primers. Same goes for if it has silicone or is water-based.

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Concealer

Shades I currently use: NARS Ginger, Laura Mercier 3N or 3W, Kosas 5, Armani 6.5, Pat McGrath 13 or 14

Base/Foundation

Setting Powder/Setting Products

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Eye Palettes + Eyeshadow

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Eye Liner/Brows/Mascara

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Cheek Palettes

Highlighter/Blush/Bronzer

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Lip Gloss + Hydrating Balms

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Lip Liner + Lipstick

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Dates are as follows for each Beauty Insider Tier:

  • Rouge Members – Save 20% off 4/17 to 05/01
  • VIB Members – Save 15% off 4/21 to 4/29
  • Insider Tier – Save 10% off 4/23 to 4/27

I hope you found this roundup helpful! I’m doing a giveaway this post for the Sephora sale – one person will be selected to win a $100 eGift Card to Sephora (US site). Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. To enter all you have to do is complete one of the steps in the widget below. The more steps you complete the more entries you get. Not sponsored or affiliated. Giveaway ends on April 20, 2020 11:59 PM EST. I’ll pick a winner within 48 hours after giveaway ends, list on this widget below and email them directly. Selected winner must respond within 48 hours to claim prize or another person will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Haircare Sephora

Healthier Stronger Hair with HUM Nutrition

April 10, 2020

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair

Maintaining healthy and strong hair as I age has been a priority for me and I’m so excited to partner with HUM Nutrition to share a look at one of my favorite hair supplements. After experiencing some hair loss with stress and breakage with color treatments I started trying out some biotin supplements to help with hair growth. I’ve tried several over the years and the one I keep going back to is the HUM Hair Sweet Hair so this collaboration couldn’t be a better match for me!

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair Gummies Morning Routine

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair Biotin Gummies

The HUM Hair Sweet Hair gummies come in two sizes, a 60 count bottle and mini 14 count bottle. As someone with a sensitive stomach I like that these are easy to eat any time of day with or without food. Your mileage may vary depending on what ingredients mesh well with your body.

These contain:

  • Biotin, Folic Acid, B-12 all help with new hair growth by promoting healthy cell growth
  • PABA Para-aminobenzoic Acid helps maintain natural healthy hair color to increase hair pigment production (supposed to help prevent gray)
  • Zinc helps reduce hair loss by repairing the growth tissue, it’s also great to boost immunity
  • Fo-Ti Extract is for scalp health

Morning Heath and Wellness Routine HUM

HUM Hair Sweet Hair

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair results

According to HUM you can expect to see results in 4-8 weeks. I notice stronger healthier hair around week 4 of daily use (take 2 per day). After using these I find I experience less hair loss in the shower or bath, hair grows faster and healthier, my natural shine has returned. I highly recommend giving these a try!

Have you tried any of the HUM Supplements before? If so which ones? What did you think? Several of you have recommended I try the Glow Sweet Glow (just bought the mini of this one) or Daily Cleanse. I have the Beauty zzZz on my list to try to help with sleep. Would love to hear more about what you have in your daily routine!

You can find the HUM Hair Sweet Hair Gummies available at Sephora.

 

Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

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Eye Makeup Sephora

New Gucci Mascara L’Obscur

March 26, 2020

Gucci Beauty Mascara L'Obscur

I’m excited to share a look at the latest from Gucci Beauty with you! They recently started to revamp their entire makeup line and I was able to try their new Mascara L’Obscur available now online at Sephora. I’m partnering with them to share a review with you and after putting it to the test I am really pleased to report that I’ve found a winner. The mascara is a nice way to add luxury to your beauty routine.

The Gucci Mascara is currently available in one shade called Eve Black. It’s a rich deep color that defines and volumizes the lashes beautifully. Packaging is super chic with pink and gold tones which makes it a joy to use! The mascara comes with a rubberized flexible applicator that coats each lash perfectly. The small tip at the end makes it possible to apply product to the corners and bottom of the eyes. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was easy to build, adheres well to my lashes and adds volume and definition. There’s no clumping or smudging with this one which is a huge plus. Even though this isn’t a waterproof formula I found it stayed put and lasted all day on my lashes.

Gucci Beauty Mascara L'Obscur + Sheer Lipstick in The Painted Veil

Gucci Mascara L'Obscur

Gucci Beauty Mascara and Sheer Lipstick The Painted Veil Makeup Look

It gives a clean polished defined look to the eyes. You can build and layer for more drama but I would say this is a really nice everyday kind of mascara. I will definitely repurchase in the future.

A closer look below, also wearing the Rouge à Lèvres Voile Sheer Lipstick in The Painted Veil which I hauled recently and love! It’s a smooth sheer rose and now I want to try the other formulas too!

Gucci Beauty Mascara Eve Black

Gucci Beauty Mascara L'Obscur Review

Gucci Beauty Mascara L'Obscur New

Gucci Mascara Review L'Obscur in Eve Black

Gucci Mascara L'Obscur Sephora

Bottom line, love and highly recommend.

You can find the Gucci Mascara L’Obscur available now at Sephora.

Many thanks to Coty Inc. for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

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Lips Sephora

Best New Hydrating Lip Plumper Discovery

March 2, 2020

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme New Shades

As a lip balm and lip gloss fanatic, I could not be more excited to have found a new favorite with the Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme. I cannot believe it took me so long to try out the formula and I am thrilled to partner with Too Faced to give you a peek at the new colors! The original clear color has been a popular option for years to volumize the lips. They recently added four new shades that give a very natural flush of color while adding moisture and shine.

The Lip Injection Extreme is a plumping gloss that makes the lips look fuller and super lush. They give a hint of color and feel ultra hydrating and smooth. The gloss has the most comfortable cushiony texture that I’ve ever tried and almost acts like a lip oil, but stays put on the lips.

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme review

I recommend applying within the lip line perimeter (avoid getting on the skin outside the lip line). With the plumping ingredients there is a medium tingle factor that only lasts around 5 minutes. As one with sensitive lips, I was thrilled to find the tingle disappears quickly and there is no numbing sensation. Instead, it feels like a hydrating gloss/balm and it lasts for several hours without fading or needing to reapply.

Before and after with the Original shade:

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Before and After

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Original

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme New Shades

Colors include:

  • Original is a clear pearly color, goes on clear, transforms my lips into a soft pink
  • Bubblegum Yum is a soft pink
  • Tangerine Dream is a sheer melon
  • Pink Punch is a soft pink
  • Strawberry Kiss is the most pigmented giving a strawberry pink look

Wearing Tangerine Dream below:

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Tangerine Dream

Below wearing Pink Punch:

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Pink Punch

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Pink Punch

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme new shades

If you’re looking for a good lip plumper, I highly recommend checking out any of the Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme glosses! You can find all five shades at Sephora. The clear one also is available in a mini size.

Have you tried these before? What did you think?

 

 

Many thanks to Too Faced for partnering to sponsor this post!

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Hauls Sephora

New Bite Beauty Launches – Haul Picks + Review

January 30, 2020

Bite Beauty New Launches Revamp

Bite Beauty revamped their entire product lineup and I have a haul review to share today! I’m still very sad they discontinued and reformulated the best lip balm I’ve tried but I’m happy to report the new Agave+ is very good.

In today’s haul post:

Agave+ Intensive Vegan Lip Mask

Bite Beauty Agave+ Lip Mask Buzzed

There are two new Agave+ Lip Masks in Clear and Buzzed (rose gold). I bought the tinted version and was pleasantly surprised. I found it hydrating, lush, smooth and lightly scented just like the original just a little less fruity smelling.

Buzzed is a deeper color vs the original Champagne, but it pretty much applies like a very sheer, almost clear shimmer on my lips. I found both new and original formulas worked pretty much the same on my lips. I did not notice any bad taste or bad smell for Buzzed. The only difference is the color and the newer version seems to be slightly thinner in texture, but it’s very very slight.

I’m surprised at all the overwhelmingly negative reviews online at Sephora for the new formula, although most of them seem to be for the Clear Agave color which I did not try. I was full on prepared to hate the new formula, but I don’t. Still I am upset the original was discontinued and wish they had added a new one to the line rather than pull the cult classic.

Bite Beauty Agave+ Lip Mask Buzzed swatchesBuzzed vs Champagne

Bite Agave Lip Mask Buzzed vs Old Champagne

Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon

Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon review

I really love the new Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayons although they are heavily scented with a fruity scent. They’re described as matte but they still have a slight creamy sheen to the finish on my lips – which is actually a plus since I prefer it that way. These are twist up lip crayons with ultra rich pigment and long lasting power. They’re one swipe wonders pigment-wise although since they’re in crayon form, you do have to swipe multiple times to fill the entire lip. I went for the neutrals. Many of the colors are already sold out online at Sephora, but you can still find them in store (use the zip code locator on their website) and also at Bite Beauty. Colors I bought:

  • Sugarcane – pale creamy pink
  • Amaretto – perfect neutral nude
  • Leche – nude pink
  • Calvados – medium brown nude
  • Glace – mauve
  • Nonino – soft berry mauve
  • Honeycrisp – bright coral pink

Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayons

Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon swatches

Bite Beauty Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon swatches lips

I didn’t have any of the original lipsticks or pencils to compare. I did a major purge the last move we did over the summer and got rid of a lot of older products I had. Off the top of my head the new Glace looks darker/cooler than what I remember it being and on my complexion it makes me look like death. Sugarcane also feels like it’s lighter/more pastel than what I remember the lipstick being. All the other colors are solid wins for me. My top three favorites are Amaretto, Leche and Nonino.

Below looks wearing Leche and Honeycrisp. Foundation + powder are the new Bite formulas listed below.

Bite Powder Move Lip Crayon in Leche

Same products listed above, lip color is Honeycrisp:

Bite Powder Move Lip Crayon in Honeycrisp

Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer Normal to Oily

Bite Beauty Changemaker Skin Optimizing Primer Review

There are two primers in the lineup called the Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer. I opted for the Normal to Oily version and this is my least favorite product I tried. I used it a few different ways: on bare skin, over the Tatcha Water Cream, over the Tatcha Dewy Cream and over the Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Water Cream. The primer was not compatible with any moisturizer I tried. There was tons of separation from the moisturizer and foundation any time I used the primer.

If you are looking for a good mattifying product that doesn’t add any color to the skin this is a great product. As a foundation primer though it didn’t work for me – it caused the foundation on top to separate no matter how I tried. It also had a silicone feel that sat on my skin in an unpleasant way and made my skin feel a little itchy. Luckily I did not get any allergic reactions but this one was a solid miss for me.

Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation and Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder

Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation and Powder

For the bases I swatched a few colors in store and decided on M70 for the foundation and Medium 1 for the powder. I found both compatible with my moisturizers (just did not work well with the Bite Beauty primer).

The Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation has smooth medium coverage and is easy to blend with fingers or a sponge. It looks very natural and has a semi-matte finish. There’s enough pigment to cover my freckles and sun spots. I was torn between M65 and M70, I’m probably in the middle right now. Since I’m at my lightest right now and tan easily I opted for M70 which is just a tad too dark but will be an exact match once the sunshine returns.

I found it lasted a long time on my skin, but depending on the moisturizer I used it did have a tendency to settle around my mouth/smile lines a little. Otherwise it performed really well and held up all day without separating or fading. It does have a silicone-like feel to it but it’s not irritating or heavy. I really liked that there was no darkening or oxidation on my skin. I like it a lot but it’s not my favorite formula.

I found the Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder shades odd as a lot of them looked really peachy. Powders tend to darken a lot on my skin so I went with a color I thought would be a little bit lighter. Medium 1 works perfectly for my skin – it’s semi-sheer and applies smoothly with a brush to set/mattify the entire face. It’s very lightweight and I like it a lot! I haven’t tried it with other foundation formulas but I love it with the Bite Beauty foundation.

Bare skin, applying foundation, foundation all over and then set with powder below, wearing Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation in M70 and Pressed Powder in Medium 1. Sweater by Everlane.

Bite Beauty Foundation and Powder before after bare skin

Overall I found the new Agave+ Lip Mask and Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayons to be hits for me. I really wanted to love the new base products but it’s not 100% love. The primer is a miss. The foundation and powder are good, but not holy grail material for me. I will continue to reach for them and use both, but they’re not must-haves.

Have you checked out the new Bite Beauty launches yet? What did you think of the new lip mask versus the original?

 

 

You can find the new Bite Beauty launches at Sephora and online at Bite Beauty. I hauled my picks from Sephora.

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Patrick TA Sephora

Patrick Ta Beauty Haul Review + Swatches

November 11, 2019

Patrick Ta Beauty Haul Review

I have a Patrick Ta Beauty haul to share today! I’ve accumulated quite a few things I’ve purchased from Sephora over the past few months. As a neutral nude makeup lover I was really interested in his Monochrome Moment collection and so I’ve put together a roundup of everything I’ve tested to date. Overall I think there are some really nice pieces, but I don’t think they’ll appeal to everyone. More thoughts on why for each product below.

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Major Glow Lip Shine

Patrick Ta Major Shine Lip Glosses

Up first are the Patrick Ta Major Glow Lip Shines ($22 each) in three colors. These are smooth non sticky glosses with a minty scent. There’s no tingle sensation as one might expect with the mint and they feel smooth without any gritty texture even with the sparkle. These have a clear base even though they look tinted in the tubes. The sparkles are different colors. These are pretty alone or on top of lipstick, but I wish there was more visible color payoff rather than just sparkle. Lasting power isn’t the best – they feel like they disappear from lips fairly quickly. I prefer Pat McGrath and Hourglass glosses for texture, color and lasting power.

I have two different kinds of applicators: two have a flat sponge tip and one has an angled sponge tip. I’m not sure if they changed it at some point or if there are different applicators for different colors.

Patrick Ta Major Shine Lip Glosses swatches lips

I’ve added swatches of other sparkle glosses below including Pat McGrath LUST Glosses in Pale Fire Nectar, Aliengelic, Earth Angel, Hourglass Unreal Gloss in Cosmic and MAC Dazzleglass in Sugarrimmed.

Glitter Gloss Swatches Patrick Ta, Pat McGrath, Hourglass and MAC

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Monochrome Moment: Silky Lip Creme and Precision Lip Crayon

Patrick Ta Beauty Silky Lip Creme

As a neutral lip lover the Monochrome Moment had me so excited. The colors ended up being a lot different than promotional stock photos and swatches but I still really like the concept and colors. I bought 3 of the Silky Lip Cremes (the lightest one was too light for my skin tone) in She’s Independent, She’s Secure, She’s Confident and they’re all warmer and lighter than I anticipated. To get a better sense of the undertone I included swatches of other colors I thought would in the same color family including Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion in Beige Naturel, Tom Ford Lip Lacquer in Universal Appeal, Lawless Soft Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Leo and George, NARS Velvet Lip Glides in Swing and Xenon, NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman and Fenty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncuffed.

Nude Liquid Lip Swatches

She’s Independent is a neutral pink beige nude, She’s Secure is a warm peachy pink nude, She’s Confident is the darkest option which is a warm nude rose. I anticipated them being more rosy and cool-toned. On me they all pull warm.

Texture wise they’re like liquid cremes that don’t dry down to a matte finish (which I really love). They’re super creamy and opaque and give full coverage with a tiny bit of shine. They will transfer if you touch your lips, in particular I found they stuck to my teeth easily. Lasting power is decent as long as you don’t touch your lips. If you’re looking for a neutral rose I recommend passing on the colors he has out right now.

Patrick Ta Precision Lip Crayon

The Precision Lip Crayons are click-up pencils with an angled flat tip. They’re creamy and easy to apply for full coverage. I recommend feathering as they’re very opaque and have a matte finish. Once they set they are super long wearing. You can definitely pair these with the Silky Lip Creme but the lip cremes are so pigmented and opaque the liners won’t show through. I bought three: She’s Humble is a neutral nude pink and She’s Proud is a slightly deeper rose and She’s Strong is a cool-toned brown.

Swatch comparisons to other neutrals I have: Pat McGrath Permagel Done Undone, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude and Pillow Talk, Marc Jacobs Poutliner in Nudist and Primrose, MAC Lip Pencils in Stripdown, Whirl and Boldly Bare.

Neutral Lip Pencils Patrick Ta, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC

Lip swatches of 2 of the lip pencils and 3 lip cremes:

Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Lip swatches

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Velvet Blush

Patrick Ta Velvet Blush Review

I hauled all four the Monochrome Moment Velvet Blushes and think these will be hit or miss depending on how much color payoff you want in a blush. The texture is stiff/hard but not so hard that it’s impossible to pick up color. The texture makes it so the product is buildable and will give you a natural blushed look without being overdone. Swatching on hand in store won’t give you the true sense of how these apply on the face. Fingers barely pick up any powder or pigment. Using a brush and swatching on hand as well won’t show you much color. Sheer/hard texture doesn’t necessarily mean bad – they do show up on my skin, I just wish it had a softer and easier to apply formula.

Swatches on the arm with a heavy hand and then below applied on the face, She’s Adorable has the best color payoff/pigment:

Patrick Ta Velvet Blush Swatches

For skintone reference I am wearing the Milk Flex Foundation Stick in Golden Sand, equivalent of Armani Luminous Silk in 6.5, MAC NC30-35, Pat McGrath 14 or 15, Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet in Beige 40. I’m starting to lose my tan slightly and I’ve also gone back to 100% dark hair as I’m trying to grow out my highlights. My colorist added a dark toner that almost matches my natural hair color last week.

Blushes are packed on pretty heavily on the face to show the color differences. With regular application of just one or two swipes the color is a lot more sheer.

Patrick Ta Velvet Blush Face Swatches

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Major Glow On the Go Duo

Patrick Ta Major Glow On the Go Set

The last thing I wanted to review was the Major Glow on the Go Duo with the Glitter Body Oil in A Dream and Major Glow Lip Shine in She’s Expensive. I really like the body oil finish and texture – it has a spritzer applicator and the oil itself smells like sweet candy. I’m not the biggest fan of the scent but it’s not a deal breaker and it fades after a few minutes. The Lip Shine isn’t a must for me but if you’re looking for a subtle glitter gloss this is a nice one to try.

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Overall I really love the lip liners for the lasting power, texture and packaging! The lip cremes have a nice texture but the colors weren’t anything like I expected. The ones I bought still work for a nude lip look on my complexion but they’re very warm toned so may not work for all skin tones. I would like them more if they didn’t transfer to my teeth so easily. The blushes are nice for a subtle everyday kind of blush but the stiff texture and sheer color payoff will most likely make it a miss for many. While I don’t think they’re bad I do think other brands and options are better. The lip shines are just ok for me – I had higher expectations and hopes with the pretty sparkle, on my lips they’re so sheer and the lasting power isn’t there.

 

 

Have you tried anything from Patrick Ta Beauty? What did you think?

 

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