BECCA Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème

BECCA Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème is a full coverage water resistant foundation that wears up to 24 hours (ew lol). With the launch of the BECCA Velvet Blurring Primer, I received 5 of the 20 shades of the Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème (quite generous!) to go with.

In my opinion, it gives mainly a natural-to-matte finish to the face when applied (and I applied it with my Artis Brush but with the BeautyBlender you’ll achieve a more natural “my skin is like this with or without foundation” look) I don’t love it applied with my fingers, there’s something about it — doesn’t look good (on me at least). So use a tool!

Consistency wise it’s pretty similar in formula with a thicker foundation like Estee Lauder Double Wear, or the Burberry Cashmere Foundation. But I think the Estee Lauder DW has more coverage from the get-go. When you pump the BECCA foundation onto the back of your hand it’s like a creamy blob and doesn’t move, so I suppose in one way that’s a good thing if you’re clumsy like me in the a.m. it doesn’t go anywhere ha!!! So realistically it’s a slightly heavy, but creamy consistency that blends well with both a brush or a BeautyBlender. For all you full-time folks who wear makeup most of the day, this foundation will last you 9+ hours without further touch up. Then again, I never touch up my makeup. Ever.

To be fair, I do like a good full-coverage foundation but a lot of them don’t pair well with my dry/combo skin as many of you makeup wearers know, certain foundations can accentuate dry spots, or have a finish that is “too” matte, if you will. I actually prefer it applied with my BeautyBlender, to give more of a natural finish, otherwise it can look a bit too heavy on my dry skin. The thing is, although looking full-coverage, it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. I’m pretty used to how my Estee Lauder Double Wear feels, and it’s not like that at all. Here it is, immediately applied using a BeautyBlender sponge. 

Did I photoshop my photos to make me look…. flawless? Heh. No sirree! Just a bit of brightening and the sponge tool (to get rid of that yellow-ish wall behind me). But in all seriousness, it’s finally a primer I can actually see a difference with. Friggen wicked! All others I’ve had given to me via PR have been re-homed to family and friends. I’m just not a primer-person. The BECCA Velvet Blurring Primer Perfecting Base (take my money, please) is a different story — this is probably the only primer I’ll keep around (and technically it’s the only one I have at the moment). It’s a liquid-to-powder blurring primer that instantly gets rid of any visible pores, and makes my 37 year old skin look 5+ years younger. Kinda velvety feeling after application. Pfth! I’ll take it! Bye fine lines. It’s a pretty solid product… recommended by me.

BECCA Soft Light Blurring Powder in Pink Haze call it Millennial Pink if you will. I’ll be honest (like always!), this isn’t my favourite packaging. I’d much rather a pressed powder. I’ve stated before I’m pretty clumsy (dropping expensive makeup in the toilet for instance. ugh) and when I’m getting ready there’s a butt-ton of products laid out on the counter and bound to get this powder knocked over. However, it is in a sifter-like-jar. Although, a bulky jar at that. I tend to set my makeup (when I want to) with the Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim Light, in the travel sized of course because I’m obsessed with travel-sized stuff. So, the Soft Light Blurring Powder in the Pink Haze shade is pretty similar to that, I’ll admit. I know this will last me a lifetime.

Disclaimer: BECCA Cosmetics sent these products for me to try. 

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essie S’il vous play summer 2017 collection

Call me a convert but for the longest time I wasn’t a fan of the regular essie nail polish, only the essie gel couture was on my list. However after trying this new summer 2017 collection called s’il vous play, I have to say the formulation is fantastic. So fantastic that some of the shades were completely opaque in one coat. Okay essie fans out there, I get it now.

essie has come out with 6 new pastels for their summer launch inspired by sweet sugar Parisian confections adorably called s’il vous play. Three of the shades are more of a cream finish, while the other three are more of a shimmery finish.

essie sweet soufflesweet soufflé| a creamy white with a golden glow. An off-white shade that looks completely opaque in 2-3 coats.

baguette me not| a sweet lilac with hints of pink undertones. Looks like in the bottle it’d pull more lilac, but on the nails it has almost a touch of pink to it. It’s such a sweet colour.

blue-la-la| a dreamy sky blue. Surprisingly, this was opaque in one coat – though for the photos I did two.

s’il vous play| a fun, eye-catching metallic pink with a slight purple underneath. Although shimmery looking, still quite easy to apply with no streaking, and needed two coats.

fondant of you| a vibrantly sweet golden orange. This orange wasn’t as shimmery nails as I thought it was going to be. Gorgeous when I was rockin’ a bit of self-tanner ;)éclair my love| a bright berry toned red. This is one coat! Definitely pulls more red on my nails than expected, but it’s a pretty watermelon-red shade.

What do you think of the 6 new essie shades? Are you a fan?

Shop the shades for $9 each below:

Essie s’il vous play collection was sent for review

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BECCA Lush Lip Color Balms

The newest launch from BECCA Cosmetics is all about showing off your natural lip colour in dessert and caffeine themed names. Mmm! These new Lush Lip Color Balms feel gorgeous on the lips, and at $22 USD a pop, you should definitely pick one up.

As for the formula, the best way I can describe them is a lightweight with buildable colour and has this creamy moisturizing finish to it. They don’t feel waxy or weird on the lips, just a hydrating lip shade in a natural tone. You can either wear the shades with one easy coat for a sheer finish, or build it up for a bit more colour. Sounds promising right? See the swatches below to see the pigmentation, and the lip-swatches after that!

Shades include:

  • Café Au Lait (peachy beige)
  • Ginger Vanilla (pink coral) – my fave
  • Almond Fraise (dusty rose)
  • Chai Crème (tawny brown)
  • Milk Chocolate (mauvey brown)
  • Toasted Hazelnut (rich brown)
  • Cherry Ganache (flattering burgundy)
  • Black Violet (sophisticated plum)

All of the BECCA Lush Lip Color Balms swiped on my arm a few times. Now, see the swatches below (of the three lightest shades in the collection) to give you a feel of what one swipe across the skin looks like: 

It gives a natural pigmented look to the lips, and it feels simply like a tinted lip balm; although looking quite like a pigmented lipstick in its tube.

These are the sort of balms you’d carry around with you when you know you want a wash of colour on the lips, that also don’t require a mirror and precise application to apply.

Café au Lait| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Ginger Vanilla| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Almond Fraise| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Chai Crème| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Milk Chocolate| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Toasted Hazelnut| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Cherry Ganache| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

Black Violet| BECCA Lush Lip Color Balm

BECCA Lush Lip Colour Balms are $22 USD and available a Ulta.com (pr sample!)

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