Product Review -- ColourPop Pressed Powder Highlighter and Bronzer

Ever since ColourPop came out with their pressed powder eye shadows a while back, they've been expanding more and more into that realm.

They've had several small palettes on the market over the past few months with pressed blushes, highlighters, and bronzers, but I hadn't picked any of them up because there was always one or two shades that wouldn't work with my skin tone and I've been trying to get better about not buying makeup items that I won't really get a lot of use out of.

So I was pretty excited when ColourPop released individual pressed powder highlighters and bronzers.  I wanted a bunch, but I was good and just picked up a couple of the highlighters and one of the bronzers. 

You can purchase both the highlighters and bronzers in compacts, which are $8, or just the pans, which are $7 and can be placed in any magnetic palette.

Product 411: ColourPop Yes, Please! and She Pressed Powder Shadow Palettes

I've already expressed my affection for the ColourPop Pressed Powder Shadows so I was pretty excited when they came out with larger shadow palettes that contained 12 shadows.

There's not much point in a doing a full blown review of these palettes, though, because the shadow formula is essentially the same as the single shadows, but I did think it might help folks who are on the fence about them to do a quick little rundown with some swatches.

At the moment, both the Yes, Please! and She Palettes are out of stock, but ColourPop has been restocking them pretty regularly, so if you're interested, keep an eye out.

Product Review -- ColourPop No Filter Concealer

From the moment that I first tried ColourPop's Super Shock Shadows a couple of years back, I've been a pretty big fan of nearly all of their products.

There are a couple that I haven't gotten around to trying -- I haven't tried any of the brow products, for example, mainly because I just don't get very excited about brow stuff in general and I'd rather spend my money on other things -- but I am pretty much always waiting with bated breath to see what they're coming out with next.

So I was pretty giddy when I heard that the brand was finally venturing into complexion products with a line of concealers. The No Filter Concealer is described as a lightweight, creamy concealer with soft blurring pigments -- um, okay, sign me the hell up!

The concealers are available in 16 shades, and because I'm pale as a ghost, I purchased it in the two lightest shades, Fair 5 and Fair Neutral 10.

Product Review -- Sephora PRO Cool Palette

I don't have a ton of experience with makeup from Sephora's own line, but I've usually had good luck with their eyeshadow palettes.

I absolutely love the Sephora + Pantone Universe Palette I got a few years back when Marsala was the color of the year and am still using the Ariel Storybook Palette from the Sephora Disney Collection that came out even before that.

More recently, I've really enjoyed the Mixology Eyeshadow Palette I purchased this spring (and is still available at the moment).

So when I saw the PRO Palettes that were coming out in the Sephora Collection line last month (maybe two at this point? I'm not sure), I was definitely intrigued.

When they were released, there were three options: Warm, Cool, and Editorial.

The Warm was totally calling my name, but I've purchased so many warm eye shadow palettes and shades lately that I decided the Cool would be a better fit for my collection.

Product Review -- BECCA X Christy Teigen Glow Face Palette

I am a big fan of Christy Teigen.

I follow her on all social media, bought her cookbook when it came out, and generally just think she's pretty cool.

So I was pretty excited when I heard that she was coming out with a palette with BECCA.

But then I heard it was going to be a face palette and I was a little bummed.

Because my skin tone is pretty different from Christy's so I figured that shades that would work well for her probably wouldn't be the best for me.

Which is why I told myself I shouldn't buy the palette -- and I held strong for about two months.

And then I decided the shades were just too pretty to overlook and I would just find a way to make them work somehow.

Product Review -- Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Eye Shadow Palette

I've been debating whether or not I should write this review because God knows this is one makeup product that's been dissected in every way imaginable, so what could another review possibly add to all the noise?

But I felt like maybe I could offer a another point of view that might have some value in it, so I figured why not?

(If you're tired of all the Subculture drama, I totally get it and you can feel free to  move onto my reviews of other products.)

So right off the bat, let me say that I probably know more about makeup than the average person who walks into Sephora to pick up the Urban Decay Naked Palette or wanders into CVS to choose a new Revlon lipstick. If you read this blog, you know that I am obsessed with makeup, play with it pretty much daily, and know precisely when every new product is coming out.

With all that said, I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination. My makeup skills are probably pretty good for an average person, but that's only because I've been putting the stuff on for years and I practice, practice, practice. I don't really have an innate talent  -- or imagination, really -- for it. My usual looks aren't the most creative in the world.

I also have extremely fair skin, pale eyes, and red hair, so I don't like the way that I look in a lot of brighter or darker colors. That's simply a matter of personal preference, but I'm just not comfortable working with those types of shades and my blending game with them is probably pretty poor, if I'm being honest.

So that's the background and experience I approach the Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Palette with.

Product Review -- Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer and Ethereal Setting Powder

Since I bought the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, it's gone into my rotation of go-to foundations.

Meaning, it's one of those foundations that I can easily throw on and I know it'll always look good -- never cakey or greasy or patchy.

So I was interested in trying the Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer as soon as it came out -- I figured the formula would be good and I'm on board for anything that's described as radiant.

When it  first came out, though, the reviews I read made it clear that the lightest shade at the time was pretty dark so I knew it wouldn't be a good match for my super fair skin.

Fortunately, Too Faced recently added some new shades to the line, along with the Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder, so I figured it was the perfect time to try the other products in the Born This Way line.

Product Review -- Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette

I am a huge fan of the original Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette.

It's all matte palette that still allows for a variety of looks -- and they're pretty much no-brainer so you can always put together an easy but polished eye.

But as much as I love the palette, I have to admit that matte shadows are never going to excite me the way that shimmery shadows do.

Which is why I was pretty excited to try the Kat Von D Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette.

It is pretty much a redo of the original palette but with all shimmery and glittery shadows.

Product Review -- Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops

When it comes to makeup products, all they have to do is promise me radiant skin and I am sold.

So it's probably not a surprise that I was hooked by the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Radiance Drops.

These multipurpose drops are meant to add a pretty radiance to the skin -- to both your face and anywhere else on your body that you might like, such as your shoulders or collarbones.

They come in a heavy 1 ounce bottle with pretty purple and gold packaging. It features a medicine dropper dispenser, which is perfect for allowing you to get just the right amount of the product.

Product Review -- NYX HD Photogenic Concealer

I'm beginning to get a little low on my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, which is one of my favorite concealers of all-time.

While I've been debating whether or not to buy another tube -- if you're thinking "Why would you ever debate that when you love it so much?" it's just that it's a pretty pricey concealer ($30) and it's not that I object to spending that much on makeup, but there are always so many new products that I want to try that sometimes I'd rather budget my makeup funds toward something new rather something tried and true. Probably silly, but that's just me -- I have been on the hunt for a more budget-friendly concealer that could fill in for the Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Enter the NYX HD Photogenic Concealer.