Makeup

Tarte Energy Skintuitive Cheek Stain

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Tarte Energy Skintuitive Cheek Stain
I received the Tarte Energy Skintuitive Cheek Stain at the same time as I received the Josie Maran Argan Infinity Duo – and I was just as skeptical about this as I was about them. In fact, I may have been moreso.

Rather than a cream formula, Tarte’s cheek stains are gel-based in a stick form. Tarte Energy Skintuitive Cheek Stain, specifically, is a translucent, colorless stick. Once you haphazardly smear it onto your face (well, your skin), a color develops.

You see, Tarte Energy Skintuitive Cheek Stain is kind of one of those, “slap it on and develops into a color that suits you,” type thing. Mood ring voodoo. Novel, yes, but not something I’m slapping on and wearing out without any idea of what I’m getting into. So of course, I swatched it:

Tarte Energy Skintuitive Cheek Stain Forearm Swatch

Going on, it kind of feels like one of those clear sunscreen sticks…or what I imagine a glue stick feels like. But that’s what the color looks like on me. Not really my most flattering shade; cool tones aren’t my best bet for blush.

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Urban Decay Freelove Dupe

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I can never hope to be a massive repository of dupe information like Temptalia is, but if I notice something neat, I’ll point it out.

So, recently, I hosted a giveaway for a single pot of Urban Decay’s Freelove eyeshadow. Freelove is a lovely pinky-peachy-gold with a frosty, satin finish.

Urban Decay Freelove Dupe (Freelove)

I love it.

I was in Ulta redeeming my birthday freebie last month when I came upon a display of the Nyx Prismatic shadows. Nyx Prismatic Golden Peach caught my eye and looked familiar, so I swatched it and found that it was an Urban Decay Freelove Dupe!

It’s SO close to Urban Decay Freelove but only 1/3 of the price ($6 vs $18)! Main difference is that Golden Peach is a tad more shimmer. Temptalia’s reviews of each suggests that Golden Peach lasts a bit longer on the lid than Freelove.

Urban Decay Freelove Dupe - Nyx Prismatic Golden PeachNyx Prismatic Golden Peach – an Urban Decay Freelove Dupe

Unfortunately, my hasty store swatch was not photo-worthy. I didn’t buy one for myself since I already have Freelove (and I’m not a dupe hoarder) BUT if I didn’t already own it and needed to decide between the two, I’d probably go with Golden Peach.

So if you missed my giveaway and can’t justify dropping $18 on a shade (I can’t either – I bought them half off), don’t despair – get this! NYX goes on sale at Ulta fairly regularly, too (40% off or BOGO 50% off are common)!

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip & Cheek Review

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Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo BoxJosie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo Box

I received the Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oil duo set as a gift a few months ago. It wasn’t something that I had, “wish-listed,” so it came as a surprise; as someone who had really only ever used powder blush, I was extremely skeptical about it.

It isn’t the fact that it is oil-based, or even that it is a cream-type blush product. But, you know, it isn’t in a compact like, oh, any other cream blush I had been familiar with. Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oil is packaged in a metal tube. How the hell do I use this?!

Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil Duo Tubes

When I first unboxed them, I unscrewed the small black caps and tried to squeeze them out, not really knowing what to expect. At first, from Timeless Coral, there was a tiny bit of oil, then came the pigment. Everlasting Honey, on the other hand, seemingly wanted to give me only oil until I recapped, randomly squeezed and kneaded the tube around to recombine the product…only then, and after a far-heartier squeeze than it should have needed, did I get pigment. Even today, same thing – I usually have to be a little rough with the Everlasting Honey tube before use to get pigment, whereas Timeless Coral just pops right out with little coaxing.

both

I don’t have a stippling brush so I tried, on several occasions, to apply to my cheeks with my fingers. No offense to the finger-application wizards that may be reading, but there’s a reason why a lot of face products are applied with brushes or sponges; fingers just can’t get it even, ESPECIALLY blush. I resigned myself to using it as a lip product – but it had a strange flavor and escaped my lips too easily.

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June 2015 Favorites

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June 2015 Favorites June 2015 Favorites
1. Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Spray Spf 30, $7 / 2. L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black, $7 /
3. Equate Sensitive Cleansing Wipes, $3 / 4. ORLY GelFX, $9 / 5. Tip2Toe Electric Callus Tool, $45

This past month was super busy and flew by, but I somehow managed to get my June 2015 Favorites together on time!

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Foreo Moda

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Following up Friday’s first look at the Issa is another Foreo post! The makers of the Issa toothbrush and Luna face contraption) emailed me two months ago(ish) about their newest device concept – the Moda. To jam it into a single sentence? The Foreo Moda is 3D printing meets airbrush makeup application in a single, consumer-use device.

Foreo Moda

That’s right. I squealed with delight when I read it because it is really freaking cool. If you’ve been around a while, you know I love the intersection at which beauty and technology meet. ColorIQ is such an amazing idea (even if it does have room for improvement), and it is so cool to see the worlds intermixing.

The Foreo Moda can apply a full face in three stages (primer, foundation, color) in approximately thirty seconds. THIRTY. Mind – blown.

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