Makeup

Lighting in Sephora

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Lighting in Sephora

Over the weekend, I went to get matched to foundation. As usual, ColorIQ was neat but ultimately useless. I was looking to try the new Makeup Forever Ultra HD; we tried 117, 118, and a third I can’t recall. 117 seemed to be the best in the (fluorescent!) lighting in Sephora.

The sales associate eagerly asked if she could, “go grab one of those off the shelf for (me) today.”

GirlWoman, please. You work here. You should know better than anyone that the lighting in Sephora is god awful for getting an accurate shade match.

I know it isn’t her fault; she can’t control the lighting. The store has metrics to meet. I get it. But it’s worse for the bottom line for a customer to buy a foundation, have it be wrong, return it and then take a hit on the loss.

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Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette

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Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette, $15

If you’re like me, the idea of shelling out for a Sigma Spa Glove is uncomfortable. It isn’t that there’s anything wrong with it as a tool, I just prefer to allocate my beauty budget to other things. Fortunately, the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette that is 1) inexpensive, 2) gets the job done, and 3) does not require a ton of storage space. I thought I published a post about this back in June, but when checking my archives, it was nowhere to be found – so new photos and a rewrite it is!

For I while, I was (ridiculously) using the lid of a Ziploc container lid to help agitate cleanser into my bristles. Did it work? Sure. It’s a frugal solution, and it worked well enough. But then I was misplacing lids (oops)…it was time to get a dedicated tool. I picked the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette on sale at Ulta for $8 (regularly $15) and have gotten a TON of use out of it in the last three months. I use Cinema Secrets for quick-changes, but brushes do require proper washing from time-to-time…so I recommend both methods to keep your brushes clean

Easy to Handle

rt_palette_holder

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Naked Basics vs Naked2 Basics

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I am not a self-proclaimed, “beauty guru.” I’m not here to convince you that I, “totally love,” or that you, “definitely need,” every damn beauty product under the sun. That said, I do enjoy neutrals quite a lot and (probably) own more than I need (insert excuse about variety being the spice of life here). When I was shopping, ages ago, for a small neutrals palette, I was disappointed to find new resources comparing Naked Basics vs Naked2 Basics.

Naked Basics vs Naked2 BasicsNaked Basics vs Naked2 Basics
bottom to top because I make sense

If you’re trying to prioritize Naked Basics vs Naked2 Basics and decide which (if either) to buy, take a look at the swatches from my archives.

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Sephora Play July 2016

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Sephora Play July 2016Sephora Play July 2016
Ouai Wave Spray / NEST Citrine / Smashbox Photo Finish Primer /
Benefit Dew the Hoola / First Aid Beauty Cleanser /
not pictured because I am an ass beautyblender Blotterazzi

Ouai Wave Spray

I’ve been seeing Ouai products buzzed about, but I knew (know, really) nothing about the brand. This wave spray claims to add texture by encouraging the hair to fall into a wave pattern. So far, I have used it twice each on damp and dry hair (four times, total). I’m not impressed, unfortunately; the spray did nothing my hair does not do anyway.

Beyond that, it is quite fragranced; in small doses, its fine. Pleasant, even. As much as my hair requires (read: not a small dose), however, is entirely too much. On top of that, the fragrance isn’t for everyone.

>> Have you tried it? Did you have better luck than I did? I think it could do more for hair that is already prone to waves and curls, but…alas, not me.

NEST Citrine

Again with the fragrances – fragrance is so personal, I have difficulty reviewing it. I wouldn’t purchase Citrine, but I don’t hate it. It will come live in my desk at my office for days I forget fragrance (and want to wear something).

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Who hasn’t tried this primer? I’m not going to wax poetic about it – it’s the standard Photo Finish primer. I’m not bummed by it being here because I can always make use of tiny sample sizes. They’re great for travel, of course, for an emergency desk stash, or to pass along to a friend in need.

That said, I wouldn’t ever buy this full-sized. This anti-chafe gel is a far more affordable dupe (very similar ingredients and feel), even if it is a bit odd to keep in a makeup kit. It’s cheaper at the drugstore, even, than Amazon. The specialty versions, however, with color correction? I would consider those!

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MAC 242 Flat Shader Brush

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MAC 242

Time for a short and sweet review of the MAC 242. After ages of…

  1. Not being able to work with loose shadows or pigments the way I wanted
  2. Reading, watching, hearing that the MAC 242 is the answer to my woes

…I picked up the 242 in my May haul. Lacking time to devote to fun eye makeup I’m only just getting around to working with it.

I don’t have any brushes quite like the MAC 242, so I don’t have much basis for comparison in my own collection. Most of my brushes are synthetic, but I lack a brush with a bristle layout quite like this. The closest in my kit are all from Urban Decay’s Good Karma line – their Shadow brush, and the dual-ended brush that accompanied Naked2. All three of the brush heads are all-synthetic. Frankly, for their price-point, I don’t love how the UD ones perform (glad they came with items I bought rather than buying them myself).

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