Beauty Products Haul & Review

Every year when the weather warms up it’s like my overall mood changes dramatically- I guess wearing 17 layers of your warmest clothing during the cold Michigan winter can do that to a person. So when springtime hits I generally tend to spend a little bit more on clothes and beauty products to make up for my winter slump. Sounds logical, right?

Over the last month or so I have accumulated quite a few new beauty products. I figured I would share some of the things I have picked up, as well as a quick review/thought on the product.

One of the first things I picked up is the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation. I am a big fan of Revlon in generally, especially their foundations. I have used Revlon Colorstay in the combination/oily skin formula for years. It is one of my go to foundations when I want my skin to look flawless. However, in the warmer months it can be a little to heavy to be an everyday foundation. Needless to say, I had very high expectations for the Nearly Naked foundation and it managed to live up to my expectations. Initially I was hesitant to purchase this because I tend to gravitate more towards full coverage and this is more light coverage; however, it is very buildable without looking cakey. The foundation also has pretty good lasting power throughout the day, even on my oily skin. I do set it with a powder, but then again I set every foundation with a powder. Another plus for the foundation, is it doesn’t really have a smell. Some foundations smell terrible but this one it practically odorless in my opinion. Overall, great A+ product!

I also picked up the NYX mineral “Set it & don’t fret it” matte finishing powder. NYX is another brand that I love. Some products tend to be hit or miss, but for the price you can’t go wrong. I have used other finishing powders, such as the Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder and the e.l.f High Definition Powder, but I actually prefer this. I find that the e.lf. one tends to settle into fine lines, and since it is a white powder it leaves my skin looking a little bit dull… if that makes sense. I find the NYX powder is a pretty close dupe for the Make Up For Ever powder, but at a third of the cost. I find the NYX powder does a great job controlling shine, has a nice silky finish, but doesn’t seem to settle into creases like the e.l.f. one does. Overall, for the cost this is a great product and something I will most likely repurchase over and over.

I also picked up a Skindinavia setting spray in the Bridal Makeup Finish. I have used the Skindinavia No More Shine Finish and Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray in the past, and they are both decent products. However, I like the Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finish the best. While I doesn’t last 16 hours on my skin like it claims, but it does help to keep my makeup fresh for at least 8 hours or so. I like to spray a few pumps on my face after my moisturizer and once again after my makeup is done. This is a must have product for me in the summer to keep my makeup from sliding all over my face. While it is a bit on the pricier side, in my opinion, I think it lasts a while and is worth the price.

Recently I have been really into bright, fun lipsticks. I use to never venture out beyond the “my lips but better” shades but I have been on a bright lipstick binge lately. I think bright lipsticks are a great, easy way to spruce up simple makeup in the spring and summer. Some of the lipsticks I have really been loving are Revlon Love This Pink, Maybelline Coral Crush, and MAC Ravishing. All of them are pretty bright and definitely not a “my lips but better” shade. I just purchased my first Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) Lip Tar and I am obsessed! The shade I got is Cha Cha, which is like a pale sherbet orange. Sounds scary, but I saw some swatches and I think it looks beautiful with light or tanned skin. As far as the Lip Tar formula, it is amazing- it is so pigmented and the tiniest amount goes a long way! Typically I would never spend $18 on a lip product but I think I could wear this everyday for the rest of my live and I would never use the whole thing. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but you get my point- it will last a long time!

A non-makeup product I recently purchased is the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Touchable Weightless Hairspray. I decided to pick this up because lately my hair has been feeling a little bit dry and my normal hairspray, Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play, seemed to be adding to that dryness. In addition, the Spray & Play tends to leave my hair a bit crunchy, which I cannot stand. The Healthy Sexy Hair hairspray is the answer to my prayers! The hairspray is extremely lightweight, has a decent hold, and leaves my hair feeling nourished instead of crunchy. I love that I can run my fingers through my hair without them getting stuck and without actually feeling the hairspray. I have tried dozens and dozens of hairsprays, but I think this is going to be my holy grail!

I decided to try out the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner on a whim. I’ve been using the Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner for a few months and I am happy with it, so I don’t know why I decided to purchase this. I think my original thought was the felt tip pen on the Master Precise would allow you to apply a thinner, more precise line, hence the name. Well that was not the case at all. I hate to end this post on a bad note, but this was a really terrible product in my opinion. Maybe I just got a bad one? My biggest issue with this eyeliner is the top of the tip is so dry it doesn’t even distribute product. So I tried to use the side of it but I didn’t have much luck with that either; I found I didn’t have much control this way and the outcome was anything but precise. Let me know if you have tried this and how you like it because I cannot find one good thing about this product.

These are just a few of the products I have bought recently that I either really liked or disliked. If you have tried any awesome products recently, or even any terrible products I should stay far away from, let me know in the comments. I really love hearing about other people’s holy grails and holy fails (is that a saying or did I make it up?).