Review -- Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil

I don't mind having to use multiple makeup products.

I like to take my time when I'm doing my makeup -- most days, it's the only time I have to sort of shut off my brain and just relax -- so it doesn't really matter if it takes 3 or 13 steps.

But there are definitely times when I'm in a rush or just not feeling all that great and I want to get through my makeup as quickly as possible.

One step that always seems to trip me up on those days is concealing.

That's because when I find a concealer that's hydrating, brightening, and lightweight enough for under the eyes, it doesn't cover acne, scars, and other discolorations on the rest of my face.

Or I find a heavy duty concealer that's got enough coverage to hide my breakouts, but it's way too cakey to put under my eyes without worries of it creasing withing minutes.

So that's why I usually wind up using two different concealers -- one under the eyes and one on the rest of my face.

Now, it's certainly not a big deal but it would be really nice to have one concealer that I could throw on everywhere and be done with it.

It seems like Urban Decay has answered my prayers because their 24/7 Concealer Pencil is just the kind of versatile concealer that I've been looking for.

As its name implies, it comes in a pencil form, but it's a thicker pencil so a couple of quick swipes beneath the eyes and dots on redness or dark spots and you're covered.

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in CIA

I've tried pencil concealers before and I always found them to be either too creamy (so they disappear as soon as you try to blend them in) or too dry (so you can't blend them in at all).

As Goldilocks would say, the 24/7 is just right.

It's creamy enough to easily blend under the eyes, but it doesn't disappear when I blend into other spots on my face. The consistency is great too -- it's lightweight so it doesn't crease under the eyes, but there's still enough coverage to hide most blemishes.

It comes in 8 shades, and if you're super fair like I am, you'll be happy to hear that the lightest shade, CIA, works perfectly with my pale skin.

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in CIA

The one thing I don't love about the 24/7 Concealer Pencil is that it has to be sharpened -- and you need a sharpener that can handle thicker type pencils. The Urban Decay Grindhouse is perfect for it, but if you don't have that sharpener, you might have to purchase a new one to accommodate the pencil.

Otherwise, I wholeheartedly recommend the concealer -- to pretty much all skin types too.

The pencil retails for $19 at the Urban Decay website, Sephora, Ulta, and anywhere else where you can buy Urban Decay.

Have you tried the Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil? Are you a fan? What's your favorite concealer for using under your eyes *and* on the rest of your face?

Review -- LORAC Pro Eye Shadow Palette 2

I'm a makeup fiend -- anyone who reads this blog knows that is the truth.

But my self-control and will power are especially low when it comes to eye shadow palettes.

Which is really silly when you think about it because powdered products last so long and when you've got a ton of shadows, you're not likely to hit pan on very many of them and really how many completely unique shades show up in a single palette.

But still, every time new palettes comes out, I'm practically throwing my money at the company and begging them to take it.

I've been a little better lately -- I've loved the looks of the new Too Faced palettes like the Nashville Nudes and Rock n Roll collections, but I resisted because I know I probably have more than a few dupes for those shadows in my collection already.

When it came to the LORAC Pro Eye Shadow Palette 2, I went back and forth a few times.

Initially, I was certain that I had to have it. Then I thought that maybe it wasn't a necessity. Then I went back to needing it desperately before being certain I could live without it.

Review -- The Balm How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream Palette

I'm a pretty big fan of cream blush.

In the fall and winter, I'll wear it all by itself for a fresh, dewy look.

In the spring and summer, I'll use it as a base for powdered blush so my cheek color stays in place all day.

And it can be pretty versatile too, because when I'm in a rush and just want a simple look, I'll rub a little on my lips and call it day.

But finding a cream blush with the right formula can be tricky.

If it's too dry, it's impossible to blend into the skin and goes on all streaky.

If it's too creamy, it blends in a little too easily, isn't very pigmented, and doesn't last all that long.

You need something that falls right in between the two extremes to find a really good cream blush.

The Balm pretty much nails it with their How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream Palette.

Review -- Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

Note: My apologies for disappearing for the past week. Charlie was neutered last week, so I was all about making sure he took it easy during his recovery (which didn't really happen because he is constantly jumping, playing or getting into some type of trouble or other). He's pretty much back to normal now, though, so I should be back on schedule this week. I've got a ton of reviews coming up for products that I'm really excited about -- this one included. 

When you're a beauty junkie like I am, you don't have too many qualms about spending a little extra for a quality product.

But there's always something seriously satisfying when you find an inexpensive product that delivers just as well as its high end counterparts.

Particularly when it's a foundation.

Because let's face, finding a good foundation is always tricky business.

Now, my skin is usually normal to dry so it doesn't get on too well with matte foundations. They can look cakey, cling to dry patches, and just make my face look too flat. That's why, as a rule, I prefer foundations with a dewy or luminous finish.

In the summer, though, the rules change a bit. My skin gets a little more oily and I sweat at the drop of a hat, so a foundation with a matte finish works much better for me -- and can usually last a little longer than my usual moisturizing foundations.

Review -- LORAC Alter Ego Lipsticks

Over the past year or so, I feel like so many major makeup brands have come out with a new lipstick formula.

Two of my personal favorites have been the Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks and the Too Faced La Creme Lipsticks.

They feels super smooth and comfortable on the lips and are available in a wide range of colors, so there's plenty to like about them.

When I heard that LORAC had come out with a new line of lipsticks, the Alter Ego Lipsticks, I initially resisted the urge to try them -- I have plenty of lipsticks and don't really need any new ones -- but then I saw a set of 3 of the lipsticks on sale at HSN.com for $24 and free shipping when a single lipstick goes for $16 so I bit the bullet and ordered a set.

Review -- Sonia Kashuk Eye Couture Eye on Neutral Shimmer Palette

Several months back, I reviewed the Sonia Kashuk Eye Couture Eye on Neutral Matte Palette  and pretty much declared that everyone should have it.

The palette includes just about every natural/neutral eye shadow shade that you could ever need in an amazing matte formula that makes them super versatile.

It's rare that a day goes by that I don't use at least one shadow in the palette in my eye look.

Because I loved that palette so much, I decided that I had to give the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Couture Eye on Neutral Shimmer Palette a try -- because it's pretty much the same concept at the matte palette except all the shadows have a shimmery finish.

And I love me some shimmer.

Besides, because the matte formula was so good, I figured the shimmer shadows would be just as good -- because it always seems to be easier to get shimmery, metallic or satin finish shadows right than matte, doesn't it?

Review -- Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes

Last year, I fell in love with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders.

They're kind of a difficult product to describe -- I use them mainly as finishing powders, but depending on the shade that you use, they can also function as highlighters or even light bronzers.

My favorite Ambient Lighting Powder is the Ethereal. It is the perfect fit for my pale skin and just seems to create this amazing soft focus effect on my face that makes my skin look far better than just about any other powder in my collection.

It's a must-have for me now.

So when I heard that Hourglass was coming out with Ambient Lighting Blushes, I knew that I would have to give them a try.

Recent Favorites

It has ages since I last did a favorites post.

I get so caught up in reviewing new products that I sometimes forget that sharing what "older" products I'm loving can be just as helpful.

(I'm going to try not to go so long between favorites posts in the future -- and maybe mix in a few other non-review posts here and there to keep things interesting.)

But since it's been so long since my last Favorites, I'm going to share some things that I've been loving for the past few months or so.  To keep it simple and quick, I'll break them down by category so if you're not interested in a particular type of product, you can just skip over it.