RealTechniques Sponge First Impression.

"Foundation should unify tone, but it shouldn't take away from the individuality of the skin." -François Nars

I've been wanting to try the beauty blender for ages now but can't bring myself to spend $20+ shipping and handling and taxes just for a sponge! Our local drugstore finally got the Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge in stock and I snatched one up!

Upon first glance the sponge was nothing special what so ever. I was so afraid that I had wasted $10.99! Once I wet the sponge it became really soft and bouncy. It felt like a cloud when I was using it to pat my foundation into my skin.

I love the finish of the foundation on my skin from using the sponge! It left a natural look to my skin without any streaks or cakiness. 

Upon first impression I would highly rate this sponge! It blended my foundation beautifully, left a natural finish and provided great coverage. I would recommend this sponge to everyone and anyone!

All the Colours of the Rainbow | e.l.f Palette Review

"When I die press my ashes into a smoky eyeshadow palette." 

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you'll know that my ride or die eyeshadow has always been the Smashbox Full Exposure palette. It was the first palette I ever bought and I used it (conservatively) 90% of the time over the last three years. 

About a week before Christmas I was walking through Wal-Mart when I spotted this e.l.f. palette and immediately had to have it. It was only $19.99 for 64 amazing shades. I had heard so many positive things about e.l.f. as a brand that there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would be going home with a new palette. 

This has become my new go-to palette, sorry Smashbox. 

I'm obsessed with the shade selection to start- there is every colour I could ever want and then some. Beyond that I love how many options there are when it comes to shimmer vs. matte. 

The colour payoff is pretty good for such a modestly priced eyeshadow palette. The shimmers tend to be more pigmented than the mattes but both are easily build able. Fallout definitely occurs with the majority of the colours in this palette (tapping off the brush helps significantly) so I would recommend waiting to do face makeup until your eyes are finished. 

The rose gold shade (with the deep indent in it) is probably my favourite out of the whole palette. It does a great job of making my blue eyes look extra blue!

If you can get your hands on this palette I would highly recommend it! It's a drugstore standout for sure. If you have any other drugstore palettes to recommend please do let me know!

Her Face for Less | Edit: Anna Saccone

I love watching makeup tutorials on YouTube and using them for inspiration in my own makeup routine. I've decided that I am going to practice a spending ban for the month of November, buying only things I need. The problem with this is that when I watch the makeup looks and see the products they use I tend to want to buy them straight away! For the month of November I've decided to try something new and recreate the makeup looks I love using only drugstore products I already own! 

For the first post in this 'her face for less' series I chose Anna Saccone's newest everyday makeup tutorial. I love this look, I think it's super pretty and simple while still being shimmery and glowing.

I'm pretty sure these are going to be the products I use for the majority of these makeup looks as they are my favourite products from my makeup collection. 

1. Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless in 120 Natural Ivory

2. Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up in 125 Very Fair

3. Powder: NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat in 02 Nude 

4. Bronzer: Revlon Bronzer in 012 Bronzilla

5. Blush: Revlon Powder Blush in 003 Mauvelous 

6. Brows: e.l.f. Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit in Medium

7. Eyeshadow: Smashbox Full Exposure Palette; S4 inner corner and under brow bone, S5 all over lid, M1 in crease and lower lash line, M7 tight line and 1/3 lower lash line 

8. Eyeliner: NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black (used scotch tape to create precise line)

9. Lips: NYX retractable lip liner in 10 Nude with 06 Nude Pink over top 

10. Mascara: Covergirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof in Very Black 

  I'm really happy with the finished look! I think it's one that I would wear on a regular basis. 

Anna's Products

Bare Minerals Concealer in Summer Bisque (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Medium Beige (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Miracle Veil (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Bronzer Warmth ($21)

Laura Geller Bronze & Brighten in Fair($33)

Benefit Browzings in Medium ($42)
Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Eyeshadow Palette ($64)
YSL Shocking Eyeliner in Black ($39)
Makeup Forever Waterproof Eye Pencil ($25)
YSL Luxurious Mascara for False Lash Effect ($37)
Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Cocoa ($25)
Mac Lipstick in Blankety ($21)
total: $356

My Products
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 112 ($8)
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 125 Very Fair ($8.50) 
NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat in Nude ($9.50)
Revlon Bronzer in 012 Bronzilla ($9)
Revlon Blush in 003 Mauvelous ($9)
e.l.f Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit in Medium ($3)
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette ($62)
NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black ($9.50)
NYX Retractable Lip Liner in 10 Nude ($5)
NYX Retractable Lip Liner in 06 Nude Pink ($5)
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black ($9)
total: $137.50

Saving $218.50 for this look, I mean I can't complain what so ever! I definitely could have used a L'Oreal or Maybelline nudes palette to make this look even cheaper, but alas I'm still very obsessed with my Smashbox palette haha. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know in a comment if there's another look you'd like me to recreate for less!

Thanks for reading & stay beautiful*