BEAUTY

Morphe x Jaclyn Hill eyeshadow palette : Hit or Miss?

Well as we all anticipated the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill palette  ($38) sold out in less than an hour during its June 21 launch. Lucky for me however, I was able to get my order in minutes before the palette, that Youtuber Jaclyn Hill says took two years to create; sold out. 

I'll admit it, when Jaclyn first released a photo of the palette, I was not extremely pleased. All I saw were a bunch of neutrals, and only a couple of pops of colors, which I already had in my collection. However, after watching dozens (and I mean dozens) of reviews on Youtube and seeing different looks makeup gurus created, it began to pique my interest. 

Thus, I knew I had to add this to my collection. Mind you, I only own one other Morphe palette - the 35U multi-color shimmer palette, which I barely (meaning maybe once or twice) use. 

Once I received my package, I was stunned at how pretty the 35- color arrangement was, better than I imagined. I heard that this palette has better pigmentation and a smoother formula than other Morphe palettes, so I put it to the test for over a week. 

(Jaclyn Hill liked my swatch pics I posted to the @thebeautyradar Instagram page ( I know fan moment!) 

For the first look, I knew I had to use the gorgeous royal blue shade, called twerk. I applied matte shades Butter and Silk creme (which blended amazing) first as my transition and then applied twerk, which to my surprise applied evenly and buttery. I did use some fix plus to kick the color up a notch and was really pleased at the end result. 

The next day, I wanted to do a fiery reddish goldish look, so I stuck with shades on the right side of the palette. I used the reddish browns for the transition this time and had an easy time getting the color payoff I wanted. I chose Queen as the star of the show and loved how it looked. As I mentioned in my instastory, that part of the palette is so similar to the new Urban Decay Heat, which I realize I don't need. 

The next look I created was a purple duo chrome look. This look was one of the toughest to get to work. To my surprise the Royalty purple shade just did not work for me at all. It was patchy and not working well on the lid, so I had to pull out my Colourpop light purple cakewalk shade to save the day. Overall, I was satisfied with how it looked, given how challenging it was to get the purple shade to work. 

As you'll notice I didn't use any false lashes with any of these looks, as I don't normally wear them on a daily basis. (only for an evening out, etc). 

For the last look I thought I was going to go neutral, however the green shades (Diva and Enchanted) were calling my name. I applied these shades to the crease and then applied Sissy in the middle part of the lid for an unexpected pop. (I call it watermelon- esque.)

One thing I will add is the bright colors, such as the purple, green and blue,  for some reason stained my makeup brushes, which I was not happy about. Even after washing them over and over, the color still has not come off. It's just a warning, that maybe you want to use your less expensive brushes over your Mac ones in case they get stained. 

While this palette is currently sold out, the Morphe site has an email sign up area to get notified when it is back in stock. Also, you can use an affiliate code to save money even further, once it is for sale. (I actually used the code checkout15 for 15% off.) I did purchase two however, one was for the giveaway.   

Overall, this is probably the most versatile palette I own. I love the fact that I can create so many different looks, from a basic everyday look to glam, summer and fall ones. 

I did enjoy the palette very much, however as I noted earlier some of the shades are hit or miss. 

Kylie Cosmetics Take Me On Vacation Kyshadow - Review  

Camo packaging, polka dots and lots of bright colors- that's what you'll find in the new Kylie Cosmetics Take Me on a Vacation Kyshadow eyeshadow palette -- but what about the quality?

I put the palette to the test this past week, to see whether or not the sold out product is worth the hype. 

This is the first time I've ever used Kylie (ky)shadows, so I didn't really know what to expect. 

The palette has a great selection of 16 colors, from neutrals that can be used for an easy everyday look, to brighter hues such as the gorgeous turquoise shade (Island Girl), everyone can't get enough of, to sultry shades like the green shimmery color named surfboard. 

While swatching the shadows, I noticed they felt very buttery and creamy, especially the shimmers. The mattes surprisingly also felt very smooth, which is hard to come by. 

I decided to do different looks for four days, to see how versatile the product can be. The result can be seen below. 

For the first day, I knew I had to incorporate Island girl in the look, so I chose to use this as my lid color. I began by using spray tan and sea breeze as my transition shades. They blend extremely well. I then darkened the crease by applying palm tree before putting island girl on my lid. Like many shimmers, I noticed the color needed a little Mac fix plus to amp up the color. I was satisfied with the overall look. I used Mac soft ochre as a primer and then set that with Sea Breeze. The eyeshadow literally lasted from day to night and did not have much fallout if any.

For the second day, I knew I wanted a bronzy eye look to match the 90 degree temps outside, so I knew I had to use sail away, a pretty bronzy shimmer on the lid, mixed with alittle summer 17. I used the same transition shades and added luxury, a deep brown, to deepen the crease. I used surfboard on my lower lash line to add a pop of color, and really like the way it turned out. 

The next look I did was a matte look, which I don't normally do, since I'm a shimmer and sparkle kind of gal. I used Starfish all over the lid and applied first class, sea breeze and on the rocks, as my transition. In my inner corner, I used pina colada, to add an unexpected touch. I also used a purple eyeliner from Urban Decay on the lash line to make the look more eye catching. 

The fourth day was all about glam and sultry. I used Surfboard on my lid and palm tree and luxury as transition shades. On the lower lash line, I applied sail away. I really love the way it came out and got so many compliments. 

Overall, I was really pleased with the Kyshadow palette and the overall quality. To me, this was a "good palette." I think the mattes are comparable to the Tarte Cosmetics quality. The shimmers on the other hand, need some help to really get the color payoff you see in the palette.  

I think it's perfect for summer and can be a staple for everyday looks. The palette will be back in stock shortly on the Kylie Cosmetics site, so if you're a makeup junkie, I recommend you purchase it.

Some of these shadow shades are very similar to Colourpop pressed shadows, and can maybe be found elsewhere. I personally like collecting different makeup, so I really wanted to give this a try and I'm glad I did. 

Product Review: From bronzy vibes and glossy lips to clear skin 

This week, I reviewed five items I've been using for quite some time. (One of which I hadn't plan to review but it "sort of" happened, you'll find out later.)

Here in New Jersey, the weather has been in the upper 90's, which also put these products up to a major wear test. 

The first product I found myself visiting over and over is the Too Faced Hangover RX replenishing face primer. ($15) This primer, is a deluxe size, which I purchased at Sephora to give a try. I have to say, I think I'm going to purchase the full size product. I really was surprised at the wearability and the way my makeup looked and lasted all day. With my skin being oily, I did not feel any sticky action or see much shine. 

Even though this size has 20mL inside, I have plenty of product left. This deluxe size will take you a long way. 

The primer has coconut water, probiotic-based ingredients and skin revivers. In addition, it is silicone-free. I'm looking forward to trying the hangover rx setting spray which I recently received a deluxe sample of. 

On to the face, we have a "coconut dream," the Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer Murmur. ($14.99- I would wait for it to go on sale) I have the shade light bronze. I was super excited to try this after hearing about all of the hype. I mean have you smelled the product, it's a coconut lover's paradise. When I first used this I was in love, I thought I had found my holy grail product, I mean the shade was amazing for my skin tone, and the color lasted for hours-- but, I'm sad to say that after using this I noticed my skin getting breakouts wherever I would apply the bronzer. Thus, I stopped using the product, and noticed my skin was not breaking out as much in those areas. 

The product is creamy, has a soft texture and is infused with Murumuru Butter, Cupuacu Butter and Tucuma Butter, according to the product claims. I REALLY wanted to love this, but it must be the scent inside the bronzer that broke my skin out. I know plenty of people that love this, so I would try it in case your skin may act differently. 

So moving on to treat this breakout began using the Proactiv Deep Cleansing Wash. ($35) I purchased this during the Ulta 21 days of beauty sale since it was half off. I was pleasantly surprised at the results. My skin immediately began to clear within a matter of days. 

The product has 2% Salicylic Acid and has smooth exfoliating beads. On some days, I applied this with my hands and rubbed it in just like any other cleanser, while other days I used my Clarisonic brush to deep clean and get into the pores. This can also be used on the body, in case there are breakouts on the arms, back, neck, etc. I highly recommend this product. 

Moving on to the eyes: I gave yet another mascara a try- the COVERGIRL Total Tease. ($7.99) Believe it or not, this is the first ever COVERGIRL mascara I own and even tried. I had seen many great reviews on the product, so when I was at Target one day and spotted it, I decided to give it a go. Let me just tell you, I was NOT expecting the results I received -which was lash volume, lift and separation - and thicker lashes. 

The mascara wand is double sided, with one side with a traditional brush and just opposite is a smaller spike-like shorter end. I personally liked to use both sides. I found the smaller side was great for the lower lash line and separating individual lashes. 

This is definitely up there as one of my current favorites- which includes the Maybelline Big Shot, the YSL The Shock mascara and the Lancome Defencils. 

Last but not least, during that same Target trip, I ran into the new Maybelline Vivid Hot Lacquer colorsensational lip gloss. ($6.99). This is an extension to their vivid matte line, which I have not tried, as I heard the products do not dry all the way matte. However, nonetheless, I picked up the shade 66/ too cute (I know neutral pink, my weakness). 

The gloss is incredibly pigmented, I'm talking Anastasia Beverly Hills status. I was not prepared for all of that pigmentation in just one swipe. The color lasts for hours. If you eat, some does wear off, however there is a stain that is left. Also, I think it's important to add that it is NOT transfer proof. See the "kiss" test below. As you can see, the color transfers, but let's be real, don't almost all glosses. I did not find this product to be super sticky either and it was rather comfortable. I especially liked it paired with a nude lip liner, which created an ombre type effect. 

Overall, I really did enjoy this product and may look into the other shades as well. I highly recommend it, if you're looking for an on the go glossy product. 

First Impressions: Hit or Misses?

It's that time of year- when nearly every brand releases new products for the season, from eyes, to face, to lip to cheek products, there's always something new and fresh.

In today's post, I'm reviewing three products I've been testing out for all of you for some time, to help you decide whether or not you would like to purchase them. 

First up we have the L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow concealer ($9.99). Can I just say how excited I was when I heard they were going to release this product. I really enjoy the foundation version in both the pro-glow and pro-matte line, so I had high hopes for this. 

I ordered this off of the Ulta website, in the shade creamy natural, which to my surprise is a bit darker than I wanted. I like my concealers to be lighter than my skin tone, to brighten the undereye area. However, nonetheless, I gave it a shot, as I can always repurchase a lighter shade at another time. 

I applied this as I would any concealer, in an upside down triangle under both eyes, down the bridge of the nose and in the middle of the forehead. The consistency is lightweight and thinner than I am used to (which is the Tarte Shape Tape concealer). The applicator is super thin and delicate, I almost felt I was going to break it by applying it on my face. I want to say this concealer will work well for an everyday natural look, but not a full coverage look. It does have a glowy and luminous appearance, hence the name. I set the product with my Laura Mercier translucent powder and it stayed pretty well. After some time, I did notice some creasing under the eye, but I buffed out those areas with a beauty blender. As an oily skin gal, I feel like this product will work nicely on those with dry skin. This product claims to provide 16 hours of glowing coverage, I am not sure if this is true since I do not wear makeup for 16 hours, however I do agree with the glowing coverage for the time I wore the product. 

Overall, I would rate this product a B+. I still enjoy my Tarte concealer and Maybelline Age Rewind concealer in the shade brightener over this product. I will use this however, for my no makeup, makeup look, or when I want to look dewy. Also, I hope L'Oreal comes out with a pro-matte version of the concealer, which hopefully will provide a little more coverage. 

The second product I've been testing out is the Marc Jacobs Genius Gel SuperCharged Oil free foundation ($48).  I was lucky to find this at my local T.J. Max for $19.99. I purchased the shade ivory medium, which is perfect for my skin tone. This foundation is thin and provides medium coverage, however it is buildable. The finishing result is very natural and satin like. I applied this product with a damp beauty blender and found it blends well. 

The lasting power was average. I did like that my face did not feel sticky at all using this product. I dislike when my face is sticky when I use other foundations. I can see myself wearing this for a natural look and I do recommend this. I'm glad I found this at a fraction of the Sephora price. 

Overall, I would rate this foundation an A-. 

Last up, we have the eyes. 

When I saw that L'Oreal was also releasing the new Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara, ($9.99) I added it to my cart as soon as I saw it online. I really enjoy the Voluminous line, so I was sure this would be a hit. 

Upon using this mascara, I noticed it was dry, compared to other mascaras I own. If you know me, you know that I love the Tarte Camera Lashes and the YSL Shock mascara. So, this was different than I was used to. The wand is similar to the Too Faced Better Than Sex and upon applying this to my eyes, I did notice lengthening, however it does lack volume. I almost wish my lashes looked thicker with this, instead of longer. I also feel that the mascara does not evenly coat all of my lashes and I noticed some sparse areas. 

The product did last all day, and I did not notice any flaking, however it is not my favorite. I still prefer the Maybelline Big Shot over this. I really wanted to love this, especially after seeing Tati rave about this on her Youtube channel. 

According to the Ulta website, "200+ bristles catch every lash for a full fringe effect, and 98% of women saw a lengthening effect." 

Again, I do agree with the lengthening portion but it lacked the volume I look for in a mascara. 

I would rate this product a B-. I think this will be fantastic for those seeking length. 

May Favorites: Palette crazy for the month of May

It's June and summer is here...finally. It's felt fall like for most of May, as the weather here was rainy and cold nearly everyday (except for those couple of heat wave/ oven like days). May was filled with tons of new products I finally began using. 

See what usually happens is when I purchase a new product I literally let it sit pretty for weeks, maybe even months until I put it to use. However, this month, I finally broke into products I purchased, some of which were from the Sephora VIB sale, while others were purchased elsewhere. 

As you can see from the picture above, May was all about palettes. I had been putting off purchasing the Huda Beauty Rose Gold palette and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette for over a year, due to mixed reviews and me telling myself I owned similar colors. However, enough was enough, once a sale is on, there's no stopping me. 

Needless to say, I regret not getting my hands on them sooner. The pigmentation and shadow formulas in both are indescribable.  I am amazed by the textured shadows in the Huda palette as they stay on my eyes all day. I like to apply it with my finger by sweeping the color across the lid. The matte formulas are smooth, which is not easy to come by. 

Likewise, in the Modern Renaissance palette, I love the shimmer shades (Vermeer and Primavera have to be my fav) and the pops of orange and pink. I enjoy putting those colors in my crease for an unexpected transition color. It blends in like a dream and is my all time favorite Anastasia palette. 

The third palette I couldn't stop using in May was the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe edition eyeshadow and highlighter palette. (I just love neutrals, can you tell). I did a review on this palette a couple of posts back, however there's not much to add, except for the word- perfection. 

Since May was cloudy almost all month, I had to make sure by bronze game was on point, thus I fell in love with the Marc Jacobs O! Mega tan-tastic bronzer. First of all, can we talk about the large pan, I don't think I'll finish this in years. Oh, and also the smell-- coconut dream. The color is a cool tone and slightly warm tone, and is not too orange on my skin, not to mention this has great staying power. 

For blush, I enjoyed using the Wet N' Wild pearlescent pink blush. I believe this is a new formula, because I owned this color before in the previous packaging and wasn't as thrilled as I am now. The peachy pink color is perfect for everyday and complements any skin tone.   

For highlighter this month, I visited my favorite, Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator Laura Geller gilded honey. I forgot how long this product lasts on my face, I found myself checking out "that glow" as late as 10 p.m. 

For skincare this month, I tried out (and am addicted) to the Julep Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil. I'll be honest I didn't think I would like this at all. Funny thing about this product is I never intended on purchasing it. It was during the Ulta 20 days of beauty sale, when one of the Tarte oils were sold out and an Ulta sales rep recommend I try this. I have to say I really enjoy it, I apply a few drops to my face, right before going to bed and it feels very moisturizing. I wake up with my skin feeling replenished. I never thought applying oil to a face would work for me, as I have oily skin, however I was wrong. According to the Ulta site, the Rosehip Seed Oil reduces the appearance of fine lines, scars, and hyperpigmentation. It also regulates oil production while moisturizing.

To bat my lashes this month, I tried out the YSL The Shock mascara. I used some Sephora points last month to get a deluxe size of this. If you know me, I love samples (and have a drawer full to prove it). I enjoy trying out smaller sizes before purchasing larger ones. I have to say I was very pleased with this results of this product. I've never tried YSL mascara before, but this really lengthens the lash and provides so much volume, making them look super full. I didn't even use my holy grail Tarte Camera Light Lashes this month, due to this product. I may have to purchase the larger size once this runs out. 

Last but not least, on the lips this month, I found myself frequently reaching for the Tarte Color splash hydrating lipstick in Pink Lemonade and the Jouer Skinny Dip lip topper.  I truly believe that Tarte Cosmetics is my favorite for lip products. They are just so moisturizing and last for hours and hours. The Jouer lip topper is a metallic shimmery golden nude shade that looks just stunning in the middle of the lips on top of any lip color. I really have to try out the rest of the Skinny Dip collection, the highlights look amazing. 

Makeup Brushes 101: Tools of the Trade

Having good makeup brushes is essential to getting the perfect look. Without the correct bristles and/or quality, the end product could be a streaky mess.

Here are my current favorites to achieving my everyday makeup look. 

Morphe S13: Deluxe angle brush 

This angled shape brush is perfect for accentuating cheek bones and applying blush or even bronzer. This brush is almost always sold out, I was lucky to find it on Hautelook last summer. Morphe is very affordable and has great quality whether in their brushes or their shadows. 

Real Techniques: Sculpting brush

This is my go to brush for gently wiping away powder under my eyes, right after setting my concealer. The shape fits perfectly under the eye and this brush can also be used for contouring and highlighting.

I prefer purchasing Real Techniques at Ulta, because they almost always offers have $3.50 off a purchase or 20% off an item coupons. This brand is also frequently buy one, get one half off; so be on the lookout for those savings. I also highly recommend signing up for the Ultimate program, where points add up to credit, that can be used towards purchasing anything in the store. (yes, even the high end brands). 

Also side note, make sure you are signed up for Ebates. Ulta, Sephora, Sigma Beauty and hundreds of other brands and stores offer cash back. You are welcome to use this link if you choose. https://www.ebates.com/r/HKUKAJ?eeid=28187

Real Techniques: Setting brush

I absolutely LOVE, did I say L O V E, this micro setting brush for highlighting. It is the perfect shape and has the best soft shaped bristles to apply product. I find that with other highlighting brushes I use, the color looks streaky, however that is not that case with this beauty. 

Real Techniques: Blush brush

I use this for everything except applying blush…and it works amazing. This brush is my absolute favorite for blending my work as I go along. If I apply bronzer, I will use this to blend it out. If I apply blush, I will use this to blend it out, etc. I also love to use this apply my overall face powder to set the entire look. For example, I will dab the brush lightly into the  Tarte Creamy powder foundation to set my face and make sure it stays put all day. 

Eyes:

Sigma Beauty: E25 Blending

This brush is absolutely perfect for blending out your work as you go along. The slightly firm bristles soften harsh lines. One tip I like to do is make sure it is clean each time and slowly blend out my crease color with my lid color, which will prevent the eye work from looking too harsh.

The one I have is a travel size which came complimentary with a purchase years ago. These brushes last forever and are a great choice.

Sigma Beauty: E40 Tapered blending

This dome shape brush fits perfectly into the crease of the eye to apply transition color. I like to use windshield wiper movements back and forth and blend out evenly. The brush is soft and fluffy and also works to apply highlight to the brow bone.

Sigma Beauty: E55 Eye shading

This brush, seen second from right (hence no wording left on the handle) works well to apply color to the lid. It is very soft and dense and applies product evenly. I also like to spray this brush with Mac fix plus, or another setting spray to intensify the color. I’ve had this brush for over four years easily and it is still in tact.

Sigma Beauty: Pencil E30

This pencil brush is spectacular for applying color to the lower lash line. I was so glad when I found this because I had such a hard time applying color with other brushes, as they were too thick for the lower lash line. This smudges the lines out perfectly. It is also my go to when applying highlight to the inner corner of the eyes.

Morphe: E14 Oval shadow brush

This brush is great for applying color to the lid. It is a bit stiffer and thicker than the Sigma E55. However, it is great for packing on extra color. 

Mac Cosmetics: 217 Blending brush

I only recently purchased this brush during the Macy’s beauty sale and I found it works great to really carve out the transition shade for a cut crease, etc. It also works for the lid or crease, it's a cult favorite and I’m glad I purchased it.

Brows: Ardell duo brow brush grooming tool

This is fantastic for applying eyebrow powder, pomade, etc to the brows. It is very comparable to the Anastasia Beverly Hills one, however only comes at a fraction of that price. (Score!).

Review: Carli Bybel x BH Cosmetics Deluxe Edition 21- Color Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette

Worth the hype?

Back in March, when Youtube megastar and New Jersey native Carli Bybel released a first look and swatch video of her Deluxe Edition 21- Color Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette, I'll have to admit, I was kind of looking for more.

Of course the palette was stunning with neutral, mauve and brown shades, but I couldn't stop thinking how similar it was to the first 14-color palette released in September 2015 (which is now half pan).

The $19.50 price tag also persuaded me and so I decided to take the plunge and support one of my favorite Youtube gurus. 

And boy am I glad I did - Carli's done it again!

After receiving my order, I tested the product out for a week, and experimented with colors and different looks. I was pleased each time at the result and am obsessed with the new palette; more than I thought I would be. 

The palette features 15 eyeshadows and six highlighters ranging from neutrals to mattes, to shimmers and pops of color, (which I love). I would highly recommend this palette to anyone, as it's perfect for any skin tone and age. 

Although there are 11 original shades, there is much more pigmentation and the formula is much creamier. Not to mention the marble interior is everything. 

The new palette also features many more shades that can be used as a transition one, which I felt the first palette lacked. The two almost duochrome- like orange and pinkish shadows located in the first row are my favorite and are perfect for spring.

I personally found that applying the shimmer colors with my finger works better than with a brush. However, this is usually how I apply almost all my shadows.  

The six (yes, six) highlighters are on point too. Carli brought back the fan fave pink pearl shade and new stunning gold and bronzy hues. Not to mention there's also a stunning icey white highlighter, which is amazing as an inner corner highlight.

So overall, I'm sure you can tell that this will probably be a cult favorite to many and is definitely worth the hype. 

For more information or to purchase the palette, visit BH Cosmetics website and pranavabeauty.com

What's coming in hot this season : 

It's Tarte's world, we're just living in it... 

Thanks to Tarte Cosmetics, unicorns are no longer just a five-year-old girl's dream. They're becoming a reality in our adult world, and are making their way into our makeup stash. 

From highly pigmented hues of blue, purple, green and gold, Tarte's Make Believe in Yourself eye and cheek palette is sure to transform any plain jane into a colorful goddess. The soft buttery texture blends like a (unicorn) dream and stays put for hours. Although vibrant, the colors are stunning for the daytime and can even work for the office. 

The palette features ten stunning shadows including 8 shimmers, one matte (which can be used for a transition shade) and a (show-stopping) highlight. The collection is limited edition, and yes, the items even ship in unicorn wrapping (brb screaming).

The palette is one of several products included in Tarte's unicorn collection. Other items include spellbound glow rainbow highlighter, face and body glitter, limited-edition Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in- 1 mascara, a liquid highlighter and limited-edition magic wands brush set. Visit tartecosmetics.com, for more details. 

Here's a breakdown of all colors included, as seen on the tartecosmetics website: 

• myth (matte nude), magic (bronze), wings (copper), marvel (metallic sage), trance (taupe slate), fairy (metallic lavender), mystic (blue pearl), dream (turquoise), crystal (iridescent champagne), pixie (golden pink), believe (pearl highlight)                                                                                                                                                                                                           
• Swatches below with no flash vs. flash, as you can see both are buttery and apply super pigmented.

 Visit tartecosmetics.com, for more details. 

Makeup 101: High end vs. drugstore holy grail beauty products

In this ever changing world of beauty, it seems new cosmetic companies are being released faster than it takes us to wait for our favorite matte lippie to dry. 

I don't know about you, but the struggle is certainly real, whenever I visit Ulta, Sephora or even the drugstore and am faced with dozens of brands. Through trial and error, I feel like I've finally figured out what works best for me.

Here are some of my current holy grail high end and affordable products, to help make your life easier.

Primer

As we all know primer is an essential step to ensuring your makeup stays put from your morning commute to your late night meeting or party. It helps provide a perfected canvas whether you’re planning a natural, glowy or matte look.

High end: The high-end primer that I find myself always going back to is Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36). This primer keeps my oily skin at bay and smoothes, blurs and perfects skin. There is a blend of vitamins A&E, grape seed extract and green tea.

Drugstore: NYX Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer ($12.99) is a great drugstore alternative and also helps reduce large pores and fine lines. 

Foundation

Foundation varies with each skin type. What may work for my skin, may not be your cup of tea, however after several fails, I think I have finally determined my favorites.

High end: Dior Airflash Spray foundation, ($62 at Sephora and other department stores), MAC Studio Fix Fluid ($28) and Smashbox Studio Skin 15-hour Wear Hydrating Foundation ($42, at Macy’s), are my holy grails.

The Dior product provides an airbrushed finish and is my ultimate go-to for a special event/occasion. To use the product, I like to spray the foundation on my face and use a makeup brush to disperse the product. Then I like to buff the foundation in with a damp beauty blender for a flawless look. 

The Smashbox foundation is great for everyday, providing medium coverage and the MAC product is full coverage.   

My favorite drugstore foundation is a toss-up between L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte 24-hour demi-matte finish ($12.99 at Ulta) and Maybelline Fit-Me Matte +Poreless ($7.99 at Ulta). Both products perform similarly, however I sometimes find I look too matte (if there's such thing, with my oily skin), with the L’Oreal product, depending on the season.

Concealer

If you asked me years ago, what concealer I was wearing, I would most likely tell you I didn't even own one. Today a makeup look feels empty without concealer under the eyes, as the product helps highlight and brighten the face, not to mention hide any undereye dark circles.  

The best method for really opening up the eye is to apply the product in an upside down triangle under the eye, down the nose and above the lip and chin. Following this step, use a damp beauty blender or a makeup brush to blend. A great tip is to look up, while blending under the eye to prevent creasing.

Without waiting too long, you will need to set the areas, to ensure the concealer stays put, and to further prevent under eye creasing. (see next step)

High end: Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Concealer in the shade light medium honey. ($24 at Tarte Cosmetics or Ulta), is my ultimate go-to. This concealer is full coverage, blends like a dream and lasts all day. Warning however, this concealer is almost always out of stock, as it is an Ulta exclusive. If you see it available, snatch it as soon as you can. 

Drugstore: Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in the shade  brightener is great for brightening. I can’t tell you how many tubes I have gone through. 

Setting Powder

Using a setting powder in your makeup routine, will set your concealer all day. 

Tip: Apply setting powder with a damp, (yes damp) beauty blender in areas you concealed, and let it sit for a minute or more depending on the look you're going for. This is called baking. While waiting, you can work on the rest of the face, i.e. bronzer, contour, etc. Next, go back to the areas you applied setting powder and lightly brush it off.  

High end: To set the concealer, my current go to is Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($38 at Sephora). The powder is silky, so light on the skin and will not cake up your makeup.  

Drugstore: a drugstore alternative is Coty Airspun loose face translucent powder which can be found at Walmart for $5.47.  This powder also works well to set concealer in place, however many have complained about the scent. I on the other hand, do not have an issue with it and the container lasts forever.  

Bronzer

To give your skin a sun-kissed glow even though you haven't seen much all fall and winter, bronzer is a must and can also double as a contour shade. To apply, use a kabuki brush and sweep over the cheeks, forehead and nose, (think of the areas the sun naturally hits.)

High end: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer ($29 at Sephora), is a matte powder that provides a natural-looking bronze, that won’t give off Oompa Loompa vibes.

Drugstore: N.Y.C. New York Color Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in the shade “Sunny” provides a sheer bronze glow without any shimmer. The product retails for $3.62 at Target.

Blush

Blush can help provide warmth and radiance to the cheeks.

High end: Current favorite is Urban Decay Afterglow 8-hour powder blush ($26 Sephora) in the shade “Score.” The color is described as a medium pink peach with a hint of shimmer and is finely-milled and extremely blendable, for that cheeky pop of color. There are ten shades available, perfect for any skin tone.

Drugstore: Milani baked powder blushes offer incredible pigment and ultra smooth color. I can’t begin to tell you how many blushes in the shade “Luminoso” that I have gone through. My current favorite shade is Rose D’oro, ($9.99 CVS) which is a pretty peach shimmery hue. The color can be sheered out or layered on. The shimmer in the product can even be used to highlight above the cheeks.

  Highlighter

While we’re on the topic of highlighter, let’s just say… I’m a fan—because who doesn’t want to glow. Highlighter can really make any look pop (literally).

High end: Favorites are Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop, ($38 Sephora), TheBalm Mary- Lou Manizer ($24, Kohl’s, TheBalm website), and MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Oh Darling. 

Drugstore: Wet n Wild megaglo highlight in Precious Petals ($4.99) and the highlighters in the Carli Bybel palette by BH Cosmetics ($14.50) are stunning. Note, this palette is limited edition as a deluxe edition will soon be released. (Check back for an upcoming review on that palette).

Tip: Apply highlight to the top of the cheekbones in a c-shape, on the inner corner of the eye, top of the cheekbones, tip of the nose and on the cupid’s bow (think of the where the light usually hits). 

Eye Shadow

Eye shadow is a great way to play up your eyes. The opportunities are endless in the looks that can be created from natural, matte, shimmery, smoky or glittery.

High end: The palettes that are my go-to’s for everyday looks, from matte to shimmer are the Anastasia Beverly Hills World Traveler Palette (which was limited edition), the Tarte Color Vibes Amazonian Clay eye shadow palette ($46 on the Tarte website) and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario, (limited edition, $45 Sephora).

Tarte’s palette has 20 full size matte and shimmer shades, which range from warm colors to plums and hints of blue. There are perfect transition shades and the shimmers are even more intensely pigmented by spraying a brush with setting spray before dipping into them.

The highly anticipated Mario palette (created with celebrity makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic) offers warm tone neutral and jewel-toned shades perfect for the fall. There is amazing color payoff in the shadows and the shimmers range from rose gold to metallic gold to olives and champagne.

Drugstore: The Carli Bybel (BH Cosmetics) palette is a show-stopper, especially at the $14.50 price tag. (BH Cosmetics website and available at Ulta- see above). There’s a great selection of 10 matte and shimmer shadows and four face highlighters that are perfect for day to night looks. 

Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone palette are highly pigmented and lasts all day ($4.79, Walgreens) The 8-color palette features earthy tones, to neutral and duo chrome hues. The shadows are even comparable, to dare I say...Urban Decay Cosmetics.

Tip: to make shadow last all day, use an eye primer or even concealer and set with powder. This will also allow shadows to blend easier and will prevent colors from looking muddy.

Mascara

Mascara can make all the world’s difference in really opening up the eye.

High end: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes, 4-in-1 mascara ($21 on the Tarte site), provides  unbelievable length and volume to lashes and separates beautifully.  Another great product is Lancôme Defencils High- Definition Mascara ($27.50 at Sephora).

Drugstore: L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara in carbon black is a cult favorite, and there's a reason why-- it's incredible. ($9.99 at Ulta). The wand is clump-free and lengthens lashes, providing volume.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner in general, whether in the waterline or on the lash line, has become a staple in the everyday makeup routine. 

High end: The Balm Cosmetics Schwing eyeliner ($17) has a great felt tip providing for easy application. Inglot Cosmetics liner in the shade #77, ($15) has high intensity pigment which will last all day.  

Drugstore: A great liquid eyeliner at the drugstore is NYC liquid eyeliner, ($2.77, Walmart) which has a matte formula and is a favorite among many.  

Lipstick

When it comes to lips, Tarte Cosmetics is one of my favorites. 

High end: The Rainforest of the Sea color splash hydrating lipstick ($21, Tartecosmetics.com)is extremely comfortable on the lips (not to mention the blue marble container is amaze). The creamy formula comes in 24 shades, so there's something for everyone. I also really enjoy the Tarte lip sculptor and lip gloss in the shade basic, which is a white nude (see picture above). I use this almost on the daily and have an extra in my purse. The full coverage is perfect for the office or outing, and the gloss is shiny and not sticky. There are 16 colors.

Drugstore: Milani Cosmetics has great lipsticks at an affordable price. The color statement line ($4.99, Target) has a range of mattes, pearls and satin finishes which work well with any look. The color matte innocence is a great everyday go-to.

Setting Spray

Now, that we've got the full face on, you'll have to set it with a spray. Setting sprays have gotten extremely popular today more than ever.

High end: I really enjoy using Smashbox photo finish primer water ($32, Ulta) to set my makeup and remove any powder residue, etc. that may make my face look cakey. Another favorite is the coveted Mac Prep and Prime Fix +, ($24) however this does not necessarily make your makeup last all day, it acts more like a refresher. 

Drugstore: A great alternative is Pixi by Petra Glow Mist ($15, Target). The spray is enriched with natural oils, aloe vera and fruit extracts. 

Let me know what your holy grail items are down below and drop a line at thebeautyradar@gmail.com or on my social media sites.