Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish vs. MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder

I really like the texture, feel, and finish of Bobbi Brown's Sheer Finish Pressed Powder as a setting powder and I like having it in my purse for touch ups. However, I hate the packaging. The square shape of the compact makes it larger than I would like and takes up a lot of space in my purse. So, I went to MAC and decided to try out the Select Sheer Powder to see if would be as good of a product as the BB powder, in better packaging.

As you can see, the BB compact is larger, pointier, and bulkier than the MAC compact. Also, the numbering of the BB powder is funky. I use the third darkest shade Soft Sand, or number 5. This throws me off because in the foundation range my number is 3.5, Warm Beige. The MAC powder uses the same numbering as the foundation and in both I am an NC25. 

Both compacts have a mirror and come with a powder puff. 

Both powders are very sheer and don't deposit a lot of color, which is what I wanted. Both powders are very silky, blend in to the skin, are great for setting my face makeup, and control my minimal shine. I really couldn't tell much difference between the two when worn on my face. Considering that I like the MAC packaging and numbering system better, I am now going to stick to the MAC Select Sheer powder. Oh, and the MAC powder costs $23 for 12g of product and the Bobbi Brown powder costs $34 for 11g of product, so clearly MAC wins this battle.

Alternatives to Black Eyeliner

Although black is the most commonly used eyeliner shade, there are 2 great alternatives that provide a dark line, but aren't as dramatic as black.

Clockwise from top: Smashbox Jet Set Eyeliner in Intrigue*, MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy, MAC Technakohl Eyeliner in Steelpoint (LE), Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink

Brown Eyeliner: Brown eyeliner is great for fair to medium skined beauties because it is more natural looking than black. However, that doesn't mean dark skin tones can't rock brown. I like medium to dark shades of brown because it provides the intensity of dark eyeliner, without looking black. Personally, I wear a lot of brown eyeliner, both during the day and at night, most frequently when doing a brown smokey eye or when wearing natural or no shadow. My two favorites are Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink and MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy (both are permanent products)

Grey Eyeliner: In the same vein, I LOVE grey eyeliner because it is much softer than black, and really complements brown and green eyes. Again, I like using grey eyeliner with little to no shadow on the eyes. I love using colored eyeliner and grey gives me the feel of using a colored liner, but is still very natural looking. The trick here is to use a grey that is dark, not silvery, like most grey liners are. My two favorites are Smashbox Jet Set Eyeliner in Intrigue (currently part of Smashbox's spring 2012 release and it comes with a mini liner brush) and MAC Technakohl Eyeliner in Steelpoint (a limited edition liner that came out a couple summers ago and I wish they would re-promote).

L-R in Natural Light: Smashbox Intrigue, MAC Steelpoint, BB Chocolate Shimmer Ink, MAC Teddy

L-R w/ Flash: Smashbox Intrigue, MAC Steelpoint, BB Chocolate Shimmer Ink, MAC Teddy

Other colors like dark navy and aubergine are also great alternatives to black, but are also a bit more adventurous than brown and grey. 

*Disclaimer: This product was provided by PR for consideration. As always, my thoughts and review reflect my honest opinions. 

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara Review

With a name like Extreme Party Mascara, I expected Bobbi Brown's latest mascara formulation to give me that va-va-voom that I always crave.

The brush seemed promising: large, full, lots of bristles, and easy to use. Even the application was a breeze, and there was no smudging or clumping.

So are you ready to see my extreme party lashes?

Lashes with no mascara

Lashes with Extreme Party Mascara

Wah. Wah. Waah. 

You might be thinking they look pretty good, but that isn't the mascara as much as the fact that I curled my lashes. The mascara didn't add any drama or length....there was nothing extreme or party-like about it. I thought maybe this would be decent to use up for day-today use for casual outings. But, this mascara didn't hold the curl for more than 3-4 hours. After that time my lashes looked like their naked selves again. 

Thanks Bobbi, but I will pass on this one. 

Two Cream Shadows Perfect for the Holidays: Bobbi Brown Beach Bronze and Galaxy

It's beginning to feel like the Holidays and that makes me sooo excited! I love the spirit in the air, the decorations, holiday parties, not to mention all the delicious sweet and savory foods that are a part of this season. The holidays are usually associated with sparkly gold and silver makeup looks, and I wanted to share two of my favorite cream shadows that follow suit: Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear Cream Shadows in Beach Bronze and Galaxy:

Ok, so Beach Bronze isn't gold, but I think it is an easier shade to work with than gold, and is perfect for the holidays and year round.

L-R: Beach Bronze and Galaxy

These cream shadows are so easy to work with and they really are long-wearing. I went through a phase when the only shadow I was wearing was Beach Bronze on the lid and nothing else. Both shadows are pigmented, but can be blended for a more sheer look. I usually wear these on their own, but they also make good bases in lieu of a primer.

Bobbi Brown Instant Long Wear Makeup Remover Review

Lately I have been on a fall-cleaning spree and am trying to use up all my half-used products and trial sizes so that I can make space and get better organized. I just finished up using a trial size Bobbi Brown Instant Long Wear Makeup Remover and wanted to share my thoughts on it:

This is a duo-phase (oil phase and water phase) makeup remover that you have to shake to mix up the phases before getting on a cotton pad. I prefer duo-phase removers because I think oil is necessary in removing long wear eyeliner and mascara. 

Although I used this up, I don't like it enough to repurchase. It does remove long wear makeup, but it kind of smears it around as I rub it on my eye area. I often felt like I had to get some of the makeup off, then use a new cotton pad with more makeup remover in order to remove the makeup that was smeared around. It might work better for those who simply wear regular eyeliner and a bit of shadow and mascara, but I like to use long wear liners and lots of mascara, so this isn't powerful enough for me. 

Do you ever try using up products or do you simply toss them?

July Favorites

Last month was all about quick and easy-to-use products because I was so busy and most frequently opted for a simple look rather than a complicated, full face of makeup. Here are the products I kept reaching for:

1. MAC Lipstick in See Sheer - This is the perfect wearable coral lipstick for me. I can wear it with neutral eye looks for a subtle pop of color, or with a smoky eye because it adds a bit of fun to the lips without being in-your-face.

2. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation - I have talked about this a lot before but I continue to love it because it is so easy to wear! It provides medium coverage, blends easily, has a bit of SPF and lasts ALL day long! Who really wants to reapply foundation in the summeritme? Not me. 

3. MAC 130 brush - I have been using this brush every single day. I use it with all formula foundations, even the Pro Long Wear mentioned above. It blends foundation so easily and buffs it in to the skin so your skin looks clean and neat...not cakey. This can also be used with cream blushes and concealers. 

4. Sephora Airbrush Concealer Brush - Another brush I have been using every day. I got this in the Sephora Airbrush Set, which I like, but this is my favorite of the bunch. It does seem kind of big but it so perfect for blending concealer under the eyes. 

5. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Shadow in Beach Bronze - This is just so perfect for summer! I wear it alone as a sheer wash on the lid. It has a bit of sparkle in it so it has some dimension when the light/sun hits it. And not to mention it is just so easy to dab a bit on my finger, swipe it over my lid, and go! 

L-R: Beach Bronze swiped and blended

What are you easy go-to items for summertime?

Bobbi Brown Sale and Favorites

I have been a bit discombobulated the past few days. I have been super busy and the days are all running together. Thus, you can imagine why I forgot to tell you that the Bobbi Brown website is currently having their Friends and Family 20% discount. In fact, today is the last day, so hopefully if you wanted something you are reading this in time!

There is no code necessary to get the 20% off discount. 

If your order is $65 PRE-discount, you qualify for free shipping and can use one of the following codes to get a freebie: 

Free full-size Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Mahogany Ink with code GEL44

Free full-size Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Cobalt Ink with code BEST55

 Free full-size Naked Rich Color Lip Gloss with code RICH44

 Free full-size Soft Peach Eyeshadow with code PEACH44

In the spirit of the sale, here are a few of my personal Bobbi Brown favorites:

1. Eyeshadow Brush

I like this brush because it is fluffy, and lays down a lot of color. I use this primarily to pack on my eye lid color either when using pressed shadows or pigments. Bobbi Brown brushes are made really well, and I have used this particular one a gazillion times and wash after wash, it is still perfect. Here is is compared to the infamous MAC 239 brush, which I rarely use now:

You can see here how the Bobbi Brown brush picks up more color so it is easier and faster to pack on color using this brush as opposed to the MAC 239:

2. Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink

The Bobbi Brown gel liners are soft in texture and a dream to apply. Although it says this shade is a "shimmer ink," when applied to the skin there really isn't much shimmer to it. All the shades are beautiful and wearable, but most importantly, they are extremely long lasting, won't smudge or budge, and can even be used as shadow bases or smudged to create a smoky eye. 

3. Creamy Concealer

Everyone talks about how great the concealer kits are (the ones with concealer and powder), but the individual pots are better suited for my needs. The concealer itself is very blendable, creamy (just like the name says), and last all day without creasing. I like this formula because it can be sheered out or applied opaquely so it works well to cover up both dark circles under the eye and discoloration or scars on the skin.

Left Swatch: Chocolate Shimmer Ink Gel Liner smudged with a finger, applied with a liner brush

Right Swatch: Creamy Color applied heavily 

I have been wanting the Nectar Shimmer Block for a looooong time now, so maybe this summer I might pick that up. What are your Bobbi Brown favorites?

Twist Up A Little Rosy-ness! Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint Review

Bobbi Brown is known for creating products that give a natural and pretty look. The Sheer Color Cheek Tint fits this mold exactly.

This is a twist up blusher that is a cross between a gel and a cream. It applies very easily on the skin and is VERY easy to blend. When I first got this blush, I thought it was really small and would run out after just a few uses, but you really need just a tiny swipe on each cheek to get some color, so I know this will last me awhile.....several months if I were to use it daily. 

Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Raspberry

I got what I thought was the darkest shade, knowing that all the shades are sheer. Sheer Raspberry seemed to be the darkest, but when swatched, it is still lighter than I expected:

Left: Swiped straight from the stick, Right: Blended out

I like this product because it gives a natural lit from within glow. It is a bit on the dewy side, which is more natural looking and looks like skin. I also like this it is so portable and takes up very little space. It makes blush application super easy and quick. I get the best results when I blend with my fingers, so if you like to touch up blush, you can carry just this and you won't even need a brush. This can also be used to add a tint to the lips. 

Kajal Couture Rating: A-

You might like this if:

• You like a natural flush to your cheeks
• You like products that are easy
• You are new to using blush
• You like carrying blush with you in your handbag

Skip this if:

• You prefer a matte look to your entire face
• You prefer a bold cheek

Continuous Quest For THE Tinted Moisturizer

Remember that Brady Bunch song: "we're gonna keep on keep on keep on dancing all through the night...?"

Yes, dorky, I know, but it kinda sounds like my tinted moisturizer anthem: I'm gonna keep on keep on keep on searching for the perfect tinted moisturizer.

I have tried a bajillion tinted moisturizers, since I prefer lightweight makeup for day to day wear, but I can never seem to find the right one. Im my never-ending search I recently tried one more...Bobbi Brown's SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer.

This might just top my list of tinted moisturizers. Why? Let me count thy ways:

1. Has SPF
2. Provides a good amount of coverage while still being light
3. Is very moisturizing
4. Blends very smoothly
5. Looks natural, not cakey 
6. Is very comfortable on the skin (non-sticky, non-greasy)
7. Provides a natural finish, not dewy or matte

I really like the coverage this gives my skin and while wearing this, whenever I saw my face in the mirror, I kept thinking, "Wow! My skin looks gooooood!"

Swatch of Medium Shade

The only drawback for me is that I am between the Light To Medium and Medium shades. I think this would be perfect if the shade range were to be expanded. And one more thing...I have dry skin. Since this product is for normal-dry skin, the texture and consistency is perfect for me. This product is probably not going to be suitable for those with oily skin.

Kajal Couture Rating: A- 

Kajal's Eye Makeup Breakdown

My mom sent me this pic of Bollywood actress Kajal and told me I HAVE to try this eye makeup on myself. How cute is that? Over the past year or two, I have slowly gotten my mom to love makeup, and her fave product, like most Indian gals, is eyeliner. 

I know I have talked a lot about eyeliner in the past (remember Eyeliner Week?) but I can't seem to get enough of it. But really, can I get enough of any makeup product? Ok, enough talking, here's how to get Kajal's piercing eyes:

Eyeliner Week at Kajal Couture!! Kareena Kapoor Makeup Breakdown

I have been wanting to share with you a few looks, tips, and tricks regarding eyeliner, and what better way than to spend a week talking about this one product that so many of us can't live without!

I am going to kick off with a makeup breakdown that focuses on eyeliner. I received this photograph from one of my readers and was requested to breakdown the products and method to achieve this look. This is a photo of actress Kareena Kapoor from the Bollywood movie Kurbaan. Since it is a rather natural look, I am going to keep the number of products minimal. 

FACE: 

1. Apply concealer to scars, under eye circles, and any other trouble spots. I like the Bobbi Brown creamy concealer.
2. Next, apply a loose powder that provides light coverage but also helps even out skin imperfections. A great one that helps minimize the appearance of fine lines is the Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder. If you have rosacea or other skin concern and want more coverage, you can apply your favorite foundation before applying powder.
3. Kareena's cheeks are pretty natural, so you can either skip the blush, or apply a very neutral blush like MAC Powder Blush in Harmony. 

EYES:

1. If your natural brows are pretty well defined, I recommend leaving them alone and not adding any color. However, if you have barely-there brows or sparse spots, then I recommend filling them in using a shadow that matches your brow hair color. 
2. Apply a neutral color eye primer on the upper lid and lower lid. I like MAC Paint Pot in Painterly since it matches my skin tone. Lighter skin tones should try Bare Study and darker skin tones should try Groundwork. 
3. This is the focus of the look. Kareena is wearing a couple neutral tone shadows on her lids, but you can easily skip the shadow if you want. With a heavy liner look like this, the emphasis will be on the thick liner, so the shadow will just add a bit of depth, but is not necessary, especially if you don't have much time to do your makeup. The shadows I recommend are: a satin shadow in a color that matches your skin tone on your lid - my favorite is MAC Arena, and a warm shade a couple shades darker than your skin tone in your crease - I would use MAC Kid on myself.  
4. Draw a thick line on the top lid using a cream eyeliner and an angled liner brush. I like the Smashbox Cream Eye Liner in Lava, and the MAC 208 brush. You can start off drawing a thin line and add more to thicken the line, instead of drawing it on too thick, and having to remove it all in case you mess up. When you get to the outer corner, flick out the liner just a tad. Pretend you are tracing your lower lash line (without actually tracing it) and if you were to keep tracing 4-5 mm upwards past your eye, that is the direction and shape you want to flick your eyeliner. 
5. Kareena's lower lash liner is more subtle and not as crisp as the top liner. Thus, instead of using the cream liner, use a shadow to line the lower lash line. You can still use the same angled liner brush. The shadow I recommend is MAC Knight Divine. Again, draw a thin line with the shadow using small, feathery strokes, and thicken the line as you go along. When you get to the outer corner, make sure the lower liner meets the outer flick to create a smooth line all around the eye. If you want, you can smudge the lower lash line just a tad using a smudger brush or even your finger. 

LIPS:

1. Keep the lips simple and apply your favorite nude lipstick, that suits your skin tone but does not look so nude that your lips blend in with your face. My favorite is MAC Lipstick in Half 'n Half. 

What do you think? Will you be trying this look at home? 

Stay tuned for more eye liner posts coming soon!!!

New Bobbi Brown Book to be Released This Month!

I love Bobbi Brown. I love her philosophy on beauty, I love her recent use of real people insted of models (anyone catch her Pretty Powerful campaign?), I love her products, and I love her books! So it's not surprising to know that when I found out she is releasing another book, I felt a bit giddy inside.

Her latest book will be released August 25th, and is titled "Beauty Rules." It is Bobbi's second book on teenage beauty. All the girls featured in the book are real girls, not models, and the book also discusses other self-image issues that teens are facing, such as nutrition and fitness.

For more details and to read a Q&A with Bobbi about the latest addition to her publishing success, click here.

Bobbi Brown Brush Set - 68% off!! Nordstrom Exclusive

UPDATE!! I did indeed get the brush set I talked about below, and I took a quick pic for you my lovely readers. The brushes are (top to bottom):

• Eye Shader 
• Eye Shadow
• Face Blender
• Ultra Fine Eye Liner
• Eye Brow
• Concealer

I am really loving the quality of these brushes as they work really well and the bristles are incredibly soft! Check them out for yourself.

I saw this an amazing deal and just had to tell you guys!! Right now Nordstrom is having an exclusive deal on a Bobbi Brown brush set. The set includes 6 (yes, 6!!) Bobbi Brown Full Size brushes for $75!! If you were to buy these brushes individually it would cost you $178!!! That is 68% off!!

The set includes Bobbi's famous Face Blender brush, Eye Shader Brush, and several other very useful brushes. I don't have a pic or anything, but the set is not being advertised or sold online, only in stores. The stores will ship to you if you don't have a Nordstrom store, but call now if you are interested. The set is part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale that started last Friday, and I am sure these will sell out fast, if they haven't already!

Oh and I know I haven't done a review yet (hopefully soon), but Bobbi's brushes are AMAZING quality! They are super soft (among the softest bristles of any brand I've tried), work wonderfully, and they are made so well they last and last, no matter how often you wash them!

Exclusives - Nordstrom, MAC Dazzle Lipsticks, and More!!!

As of late everyone has been talking about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that starts in July, and I have already seen a couple of the beauty exclusives and I can tell you....if makeup was a food, my mouth would be watering!

All I can say is if you have a few favorite beauty brands, I recommend stopping by your local Nordies to ask the counters what specials they have for the Anniversary Sale or checking out the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives online . They are taking pre-sales right now and there are limited supplies of some of the best ones. Hello Bobbi Brown Full-Size Brush Set that is $75 (retail price $175) and my store said they are only getting 30 of them! There is another Bobbi makeup set, the Chocolate & Navy Set,  that is a great value, some fantastic Laura Mercier deals, good deals on Philosophy, including a large Purity Made Simple (with a pump!!), and of course, the ever popular MAC deals.

In addition to the usual MAC color and brush sets, Nordstrom is also releasing limited edition MAC Dazzle Lipsticks, which are creamy lipsticks that have high-shine and tons of sparkle. I was able to swatch these and although I like the sparkle effect,  I wasn't too impressed by the shades.

Here are the colors (I only swatched 9 of the 13, since 4 of them were missing from the display):

Top Row Colors: Naughty You, Win-Win, Troublemaker, Snazzy, Hot Sass

Bottom Row Colors: Baby's On Fire, Infused with Glam, Wham, Smash Hit

In the second pic you can get a better idea of the sparkle and shine factor. The colors are decent but they are very bright and I wanted a bit more variety. Since sparkle is hard to wear, most people might not want to do both sparkle and a bright color lip. In any case, I picked up Wham since I thought it would pair well with Indian clothes. I have enough dazzleglasses and the color variety of the new ones didn't do anything for me so I didn't even bother swatching them.

Another deal I wanted to tell you about is the MAC Lash & Lined Set from Nordstrom. This is a special set that Nordies created for their cosmetic trend show events, and some stores have extras so you may be able to find them, or you can purchase it online. It has full sizes of Zoom Lash Black, Prep + Prime Lash, Technakohl Liner in Graph Black and a travel-size Pro Eye Makeup Remover (1 oz.). Everything comes packed in a clear zip-around makeup bag that is perfect for the purse or travel.

Speaking of, have you been to a Nordstrom Cosmetic Trend Show? I am going to my first one this weekend and I will let you know how it is! BTW you can call your local Nordies to inquire about the trend shows at the stores near you.