Covering Your Bases // The Body Shop Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation

Packaging// Design : The packaging is nice and minimal, it is a squeeze tube which might be a turn off for some of us who are loyal to pumps but the little nozzle is pretty small making it easier to control the amount of product that comes out. You do get 1fl ounce which is industry standard for foundations.

Color Range // There are a total of nine shades currently on the website. The range does lean a little bit more on the light to medium skin tone range not providing too much variety for deeper skin tones. The range also leans towards rose and neutral undertones over golden undertones. As someone with golden undertones I worried that I wouldn’t find a good shade match for me. The palest shade called Peruvian Lily 010 was too light and pink so I had to go two shades deeper and went for the shade Railay Beach 014 which was a pretty good match I would say.

Coverage // Wear // Texture // Details  This foundation does contain community trade tea tree which can do wonders for acne and problematic skin, upon application the smell of the tea tree is noticable so if you don’t like that smell of if tea tree doesn’t agree with your skin this isn’t the foundation for you. The product does deliver on its promise for a matte finish, I was a little worried that this foundation would grab onto dry patches on my skin or simply not work out for me in general because this product I know is more marketed towards oily problematic skin. To my delight, this foundation looked just fine on my skin. It gave me medium/full coverage that I could build up where I needed in more problematic areas on my face. It feels extremely lightweight on the skin like you are barely wearing anything and it wears pretty well. I didn’t notice it get super patchy throughout the day and I found that the rest of my makeup on top looked pretty good.

Final Thoughts // I think this was a solid addition to the Bodyshop’s ever expanding and growing 100% cruelty free makeup range. I have also done a review previously on their Fresh Nude foundation which you can read here x. To be honest, I was a little skeptical that I would like this foundation because I have pretty dry skin and I also tend to prefer a more dewy finish rather than a matte finish. However, I did really like this foundation. Do I prefer other foundations over this one? Sure I do, I have other foundations that match me a bit better and have the glowy dewy finish that I like. That being said, I think this foundation is really great for a couple of reasons. I love how lightweight it feels on the skin. For people who suffer with problematic skin like I do a lot of foundations that have higher coverage you will very much feel on the skin and it can feel like a lot of makeup. And, of course that can be tolerable, but it sure is nice when you come across a foundation that literally feels like nothing on your face. Second, the community trade tea tree could be an added bonus for those with problem skin. Sometimes, depending on the product makeup can clog pores and breed a space that is perfect for acne to spread. When dealing with tea tree it is a all natural ingridient that is anti baterial which clarifys the skin and help to unblock sabaceous glands and disinfect pores. Thirdly, the price for this foundation is $16 USD which is right in the middle of highend and drugstore. I mean its practically a drugstore price because lets face it, drugstore makeup is getting pretty up there in prices these days. I think this foundation could be the answer for someone who is oily or has acne prone skin and is looking for an all natural cruelty free/ vegan option for foundation. Like I said above, this foundation surprised me with how well it performed on my skin. I think the biggest cons for me personally is its shade range and just a personal preference towards a dewy finishes over matte.
Overall, do I think this foundation is worth trying? Yes, I do. I am excited for The Bodyshop and its future launches because this product was a promising one.



Have you guys tried out this foundation? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below! 
Other than that I hope you guys are having a great week! 

Some Summer Essentials

A short one for today, thought I would share a small selection of things that are preparing me for the summer!

1. Sun Bum Sunscreen SPF 30, always an essential when you are out and about during the summertime. Sun Bum is one of my favorite brands for Sun Screen because there is something unique about the smell that I really enjoy. Plus the packaging is pretty cute.

2. Sun Bum SPF Coconut Lip Balm, not only should you protect your body but you also have to protect your lips as well. I love the smell of Coconut so this comes with me in my bag on the go.

3. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, This has been a go to favorite of mine for that summery bronze. I love the packaging and the formula is so fantastic. Added bonus- it smells like a beachy vacation

4, Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Facial Mist, As the weather gets hotter its nice to spritz your face with a little moisture. Not only to cool you down but to help makeup look freshened after a long day. This one from Tony Moly smells really nice and its SUPER ADORABLE!

5. Hourglass Illusion Tint Foundation, My go to foundation as of late ( full review here X) it feels so light on the skin and gives a great amount of coverage and dewiness.

6. Polka Dot Sunglasses, kind of a no brainer that when it gets sunnier out you would need sunglasses. These are my favorite ones. They were pretty cheap from Target from a couple years ago. I still love them to bits. I have an affinity for anything polka dotted.

7. Pistachio Brûlée Eau De Parfum, I picked this little perfume up from Urban Outfitters. It wasn't pricey at all and it smells freaking delicious on the skin.


HAPPY JUNE 1st!!

What are some of your favorite summer essentials?
Let me know in the comments below!



- A

Covering Your Bases // The Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation

Hello lovelies, I have yet another Covering Your Bases post to share with you all today. Today I will be covering The Bodyshops new(ish) which is their Fresh Nude Foundation. If you want to know my thoughts on this foundation just keep on reading! 




Packaging//Design: The packaging for this product is nice and simple, minimalistic which I do enjoy quite a bit. It is glass so its something that you might have to be careful with when traveling but it isn't so huge and bulky. It has a pump dispenser which is always an added bonus and it dispenses nicely. 


Color Range//

This range comes with 16 shades. All of which have nature inspired names which is pretty neat and represents The Body Shop brand quite well. From the lightest shade, which I have with me today Chelsea Porcelain to the darkest shade which seems to be Tuscany Chesnut ( listed on the website). I really like that the shade range is nice and large to try and accommodate all skin tones. I always appreciate that. For me, miss pale princess the shade Chelsea Porcelain does me just fine. Normally, I like match best with a foundation that has a slightly more golden undertone however the next shade up in this particular range wasn't exactly cutting it for my skin so I stuck with the fairest shade which is a little more pink toned but so subtly so you can't really tell. I am pretty certain that one could find a pretty good match with this range due to its size and varying undertones. 

Application//

This is a very lightweight and refreshing feeling foundation. I think this must be due to some of its ingredients like aloevera and English rosewater. I think even though I love using my trusty beauty blender I would say this particular formulation is best applied with a brush due to the fact that it is a more sheer foundation you will get more coverage with a brush and also a sponge will suck up a lot of the product. 

Coverage//

On The Bodyshop website they describe the Fresh Nude foundation as having a semi-matte finish. I kindly disagree with that description and standby that this foundation gives more of a dewy finish when applied but, it does have an extremely natural look to it. Its not airbrushed or caked on it really mimics the look of freshly moisturized skin. On my dry skin that is a winning situation. On more oily skin this would have to be set with at least a little bit of powder. This foundation can be built up a little bit but know that you won't get it to a full coverage look on its own. At the most this product can get to is a semi medium coverage. It is meant to be light coverage. If your looking for heavy duty coverage I would either mix this with something or look to another foundation. 


Overall Thoughts//

Normally, I like a more full coverage, perfected skin look. I adore my Too Faced Born This Way foundation for that kind of look. However, for a day where I am not doing much, one where I really have to rush out the door and have little time for makeup this foundation is perfect. Its very quick to blend into the skin and because of the aloe-vera and rosewater it calms down any redness I may have making it not a priority to have a fuller coverage foundation anyways. It feels extremely fresh which makes it perfect for spring and summertime wear ( as long as you have a good facial SPF to go underneath for summertime). I think this foundation would be ideal for the minimal and natural makeup lover and also good for sensitive skin types. 

The price on this foundation is $25.00 which isn't too bad ( you are getting around 1 fluid ounce which is typical of a lot of foundations) plus, The Bodyshop offers good discounts from time to time especially if you are a member of the Love Your Body Card which will give you 10% off. 

Have you tried this foundation? what are your thoughts? let me know in the comments section I would really love to hear from you. 

That about wraps it up for my thoughts today!  
Hope you are all having a great week! 
See you soon 
- A 

Beauty Haul 2016

So I thought since traditionally it has taken me quite a bit of time to post something I would share some of the pretty beauty bits that I have picked up. Some a little while ago, some much more recently (as in this afternoon kind of recently). The Sephora VIB sale just started today. It will be going on until the 13th and then it there will be 10% off available to Beauty Insiders. GO GET YOUR SHOPPING ON! 

So anyways lets get into the haul!.. 

I want to start off with the bits I have gotten from the drugstore because I really love them its like finding a real hidden gem. The first I wanted to mention is the Loreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer. I think that this aside from the NYX Micro Brow is the BEST dupe out there for the Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil. The Loreal one I am liking even better than the Micro Brow because its a little bit more pigmented and less scratchy. The spoolie at the end is also very nice as well. I highly recommend this if you were thinking about the Anastasia Brow Wiz because this is only $8.00!! (BARGIN!) and the two are so incredibly similar. 

The next item from the drugstore I am really kind of obsessed with. The Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer is gorgeous. The packaging is adorable and the formulation is soo unbelievably creamy. Sometimes even when I am not putting on makeup I will open this up just to touch it because it is that buttery and smooth. Its a very subtle color that is mistake proof, very good for natural makeup. It adds a little bit of warmth to the skin. Also, I need to mention that this smells SO GOOD! Like pina colada coconut bliss (if you don't love scented makeup I would steer clear of this product because it is pretty strong in the compact), but I love this product so much. Two thumbs up. 

Next up I have a new primer to play with. It is the Sephora Collection Beauty Amplifier Afterglow Primer I just got this so I have not had much chance to play around with it yet but when I swatched it on my hand it looked very pretty and luminous which was what I was after because I have been in a summery makeup mood lately and I want all that glow. So, if I end up really loving this I am sure it will land itself in a favorites post. 

Next I have two Too Faced Products that I have purchased recently. I have been wanting one of their Love Flush Blushes for forever and a half and I finally decided to pick one up. The one I got is in the shade "I Will Always Love You" (which is great because that is a lyric to one of my all time favorite songs. I will leave you to guess what that is...If you can we are best friends), but aside from the name and the ADORABLE Polly Pocketesque + Bunny PACKAGING I loved the color of this shade which is a beautiful peach shade which I thought was perfect for spring and summer time. 

Too Faced always has the cutest packaging which goes the same with this next exciting purchase The Peanut Butter Jelly Palette I finally got my hands on it. I wanted to pick it up in store and every time I checked my local Ulta it was sold completely out until this afternoon! I saw only one left and practically leaped for it. I am a sucker for warm shades in a palette and this palette has them galore plus some fun purple shades which I don't use often but now that I have this palette I definitely want to try them because they are beautiful. The pigmentation is really wonderful in this palette and the palette itself is very lightweight and slim which makes it really perfect for travel. Also, again this smells wonderfully of cocoa and peanut butter I am so happy to finally own this palette! 

Speaking of palettes I also wanted to show my support for youtuber MannyMUA who brought out his own palette in collaboration with MakeupGeek. It was very difficult to get a hold of which is kind of why I wanted to showcase it here at least once in this haul (it might still be available but I am not sure). I really love this palette a lot. Especially that deep red shade called "Mars" which is RIDICULOUSLY PIGMENTED it's insane! you barely you have to touch it with a brush to get that intense pigmentation. I love to support the creators I watch when they come out with products that capture my interest and this palette is no exception. Congrats to MannyMUA (if you are not subscribed to him already I highly suggest you do so) and may he continue to bless us with more beautiful work just like this palette. 

Only three more to go! I recently got to visit the Sephora in Boston, MA in the Prudential Center and it was literally breathtaking! It was so huge with tons of brands I had only seen online it was amazing. Makeup Nirvana~ I saw that they had the full line of Anastasia Beverley Hills which got me very excited. I of course wanted to try one of their famed liquid lipsticks I chose Pure Hollywood which is one of their lighter nudes. I am really liking this formula a lot. Its not too drying at all which is the winning ticket in my book when it comes to liquid lipsticks and it does not crumble or anything. Very pleased with that one as I am with Anastasia's gloss formula. If you know me personally and my makeup preferences you would know I am not big on gloss at ALL. I hate that sticky feeling and since I have long hair it can spell disaster. However, this gloss that I picked up in the shade Tara really impressed me. Its not a extremely sticky gloss it gives that shiny look which I am starting to like now, also smells like vanilla cake. These glosses are very pigmented, the color I have here is a warm terra-cotta brown which I think is very pretty. I think the price of their glosses is also very agreeable at $16, not bad.. not bad at all. Really, really liking that one lately. 

Lastly, I picked up some new brush cleaner. Again, from Sephora Collection. I used up the Solid Brush cleanser from the Beauty Blender brand and I was going to pick up another when I saw this little one that was only $8 and decided I would try it out and see how it compared. I will let you know how that fares soon in the future. 

And there is my little haul. I feel as though there was a strong theme of scented makeup in this haul. What can I say I am being lead with my nose this year when it comes to cosmetics. Be sure to take advantage of the sale while its still going on! 15% off your entire purchase! I hope that you enjoyed this post! Let me know in the comments below if you did and if you have made any fun beauty purchases lately! 
See you all (hopefully!) really soon! I have been busy getting prepared for my older sister's wedding happening later on this month! Craziness!! 

Hope you all are having a great week (happy shopping!) 

-A 

2015 Beauty Favorites

It's the new year! Hello 2016! It's nice to see you. Now 2015 might have been a pretty tough year but I have come to respect the challenges given to me even if they were difficult. Of course there were challenges to face but alongside challenges are also glorious triumphs. 

Also, I made lots of new beauty discoveries this past year and I would like to go ahead and share them even though it might be a bit late. Well here we go a 2015 beauty favorites round-up!

The Top Nude Lip : 2015 was the year I discovered the magic of nude lipstick and became increasingly obsessed. I have a post of a collection of nude products I discovered this year ( which you can read here x). However, my top pick by far was MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick. I think in general 2015 was the year of MAC lipstick for me. My collection grew from 0 to now 5 in the past year. However, the winner by far is Velvet Teddy. Its just such a wearable everyday  color for me. I adore MAC's matte formula because it is so comfortable to wear and not overly drying and of course the vanilla scent makes it that much more of a winner. 

The New Holy Grail Concealer : The Urban Decay Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer. Replacing 2014's NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer, ( which is still very good in my book) The one from Urban Decay is just fantastic and is formulated beautifully with a full coverage look but completely weightless feel. Light the name would suggest. The other reason this product is great in my book is its wand applicator, it is designed like a doe-foot but it is actually flat sided and very flexible so you can easily use it on both sides. Simply genius. 

Best Beauty Tools: 1. The Original Beauty Blender. I think if I went around telling people that a little pink sponge changed my life there would be some big raised eyebrows but, I can tell you guys that a little pink sponge changed my life and you would understand. I was initially unsure if I would like it when I bought it but I must have horribly misunderstood this products magic. The Beauty Blender makes putting on base products a complete joy. It blends everything so seamlessly, so effortlessly I honestly don't know how I went so long before trying this product out. I use this tool everyday multi purposely without fail. I know there are many dupes out there on the market. I just don't think the original can be beat in this case and in my opinion. 

2. Morphe 505 Eyeshadow Brush

Now, I love my MAC 217 brush its really great at blending and even some packing too. It's a really nice multipurpose brush. One problem I find with it though, its kinda scratchy. Its not as soft as I think it should be. Thus, the Morphe 505 brush has taken its place for the primary multipurpose blending brush. Its quite a bit fluffier than the 217 but, it is also that much softer as well. I absolutely love this brush and will continue to love it throughout the new year. 

3. Sephora Classic Multitasker Blush Brush #54

For the brush that really helps me do so many things I have loved this Sephora Classic Multitasker Brush all year long. The brush hairs are so so soft and make blending product a dream. Because of the nice angled shape to it I use it for bronzer, blush and the edge of the brush for highlight too. I think its always handy to have a brush like this around that can accomplish multiple tasks. 

Best Base Products : For the year 2015 I continued a series of blog posts I titled "Covering Your Bases" which are essentially in depth reviews of foundations I put to the test. This year was a very successful year for base products, therefore I have a couple to share starting with the Hourglass Hyaluronic Skin Tint which came into my life at a time when none of my foundations that I had before were working correctly anymore. My skin had severe dry patches and was in general very sad looking when I put foundation on. This product made my skin look healthy and luminous again and I was so grateful for it. The next foundation isn't technically a foundation, its a CC Cream but boy does it give a good whopping bit of coverage. I am talking about the IT Cosmetics CC Cream + Illumination. I really loved how this stuff felt on my skin. It felt light and fresh and perfect for summertime especially since it has SPF, definitely worth checking out. My favorite base innovation was the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops. Not a foundation precisely but it can become one. I think this product was so incredibly innovative and something the beauty world needed to see. It feels like such a simple idea because this product is pretty much just pigment. But, its so genius because of its multiple uses. You can adjust the shade of a foundation, add extra coverage to an already existing base, use it directly as a concealer, turn your favorite moisturizer into a tinted foundation. The only downside is that I seem to run out of it so quickly. The last foundation I will "cover" here is the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation which I discovered this fall. I think this foundation fully meets the traditional standard. All the rest of the bases I have mentioned don't formally call themselves a "foundation". But, this one does and it does a damn good job. Flawless coverage, great packaging with a pump, not too dewy or matte, long lasting, hydrating for the skin, etc. Really loving this one and I am still loving it now in 2016. 

Read the full "Covering Your Bases" posts here! ( 1, 2, 3) 

Best Glow Factor: In 2015 the whole world blew up for highlighter. Everyone wanted that glow, #dathighlighttho. It quickly became my favorite part of putting on my makeup. Now, to achieve that glow I think the easiest brand go to is Becca Cosmetics. They are well renowned for their Shimmering Skin Perfectors in Liquid, Pressed and Cream form. I have loved the Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal for a while but 2015 had in store a special collaboration that would strike the hearts of many. Makeup Artist/Youtuber Jaclyn Hill's collaboration with Becca to create the limited edition Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade Champagne Pop. I personally went on a frenzy to get this because not only do I love Jaclyn I also was in love with the color. Which is a white gold with peachy undertones. This product is just freaking gorgeous on the cheekbones, on the eyes, all over the body.. ( just kidding) if you are interested please pick Champagne Pop up because it isn't going to be around forever. The other highlight I wanted to mention came late in the game this year and it is Laura Geller's Baked Gelato Highlight in Gilded Honey. This is a straight up gold highlight and if you have been on here for any length of time you might have gathered that I LOVE gold. To the touch it does not feel as creamy as a Becca Highlight might, but it melts into the skin just as beautifully if not better. 

Best Blushes: I have two favorite blushes for this year and a honerable mention as well. More towards the beginning of the year I bought MAC's Ambering Rose Blush which I feel is more of a fall shade but I wore it anyways for a good majority of the year. Its such a pretty rosy shade. Then I discovered Becca's Mineral Blush in Wild Honey, a peachy nude, which won my heart for the remainder of the year. I also wanted to mention The Body Shop's All in One Blush in the shade Amber, another beautiful warm mauve shade, which I also really liked this year. 

Best Bronzer: The Bodyshop's Honey Bronzer ( not pictured - lost it :( ). Loved the Honey Bronzer this year. Its great for those who have fair skin because its not too dark or muddy and its also very build-able so its also good for those who may be novice to bronzer. I will mention even though its very new to me, the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer has been really speaking my language so far. Definitely will land a place in another future favorites post I am sure. 

Best Drugstore Buys: I stuck to a lot of higher end products this year but I don't want to leave out the drugstore faves because there were a few. The first is the NYX Glide On Eyeliner in Golden Bronze which is a beautiful cinnamon color with a hint of gold. This was a staple for the waterline in the autumn to amp up the fall looks. Next, is Maybelline's Creamy Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine. This formula and color blew my mind its so unbelievably gorgeous. Such a rich oxblood color. If you are someone who likes a vampy lip you need this. Go buy it. You're welcome. The last drugstore buy is another NYX product and it is their Liquid Suede ( liquid lipstick) in the shade Sandstorm. I really love the formula of these liquid lipsticks because they do not make my lips feel like the Sahara Desert and they are non patchy upon application. The color Sandstorm is a browny nude,( another thing that I loved in 2015) that just looks cool, it may not be for everyone but I really love it. I really want to try more from this collection because they have such a beautiful range of color. 

Best Eyeshadow Palettes: So...Hi. My name is Allegra and I may be addicted to eyeshadows. Nice to meet you. Whether its a full blown palette or a single eyeshadow I just love to collect them and play around with colors and formulas. It brings so much joy into my life. I wanted to start off with some palettes that I loved a lot in 2015 and then move on to some singles as well. The Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Palette was probably the most surprising favorite in 2015. I never liked mattes before, I thought they were boring and they just didn't interest me until this palette came along. I was going to resist it, but as I drove home one fateful day with swatches from it on the back of my hand I just kept looking at them. They were so pigmented, so smooth. I needed it. Since then I used this palette SO much, more than I ever thought I would. I love the way the colors are laid out and as I already mentioned the formula of these shadows are just incredible. I learned in 2015 that mattes are good and actually essential to put looks together. Thanks Kat Von D! I also have to give a brief mention to the OG original Naked Palette from Urban Decay because I became a cult follower to this palette. I think this is mostly due to the shade Half Baked ( can you guess?..its a gold shade) because it makes my life feel that much more complete. I can feel the eye-rolls because this palette has been to talked about to death and back but hey, there is a definite reason for it okay! Lastly, I wanted to mention the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette which I got as a lovely birthday gift from my best friend. This palette has a lot of amazing neutrals again, ( I am aware all the palettes I am mentioning are neutral. I'm sorry!) another reason I love this palette is the heavenly scent of cocoa that comes from it. I think that little added touch makes this palette that more special. 

Best Single Eyeshadows: Now, onto single eyeshadows! Probably my most used and best singles are my Makeup Geek foiled eyeshadows. I have talked about these shadows to death I feel so I won't go on and on, but they are amazing. Probably my top shade is Magic Act ( a pale white gold) and I think I will be expanding my collection of Makeup Geek shadows in 2016 because I love them so much. MAC Cranberry (not pictured) eyeshadow still remained a solid favorite in 2015. I also had a brief but strong moment with Burberry's Pale Barely which is a unique but easy to wear taupe color. Kat Von D's Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Doce ( a rich copper) blew my mind. I tried Makeup Forever Artist Shadow's (not pictured) and they were also so amazing. And lastly, Charlotte Tillbury's Eyes To Mesmerize Cream Eyeshadow ( not pictured) in the shade Bette ( a burnished amber gold), swooped in at the last second and stole my heart for the last remainder of the year. Seriously, so many great eyeshadow formulas out there I cannot wait to try out more in 2016! 

Best Brow Products: Alright, we are almost there! I promise! I only have two brow favorites both from Anastasia. The Anastasia Dip Brow being the main favorite. I had no idea how long this stuff would last. I still have half a container and its still going strong. Also, I feel it gives me very "on fleek" brows which is also awesome. The other favorite is the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel. This product helped me when I was in more of a rush and needed to do quicker brows. It keeps the hairs in place while also giving them a hint of color and fullness. I do think the wand is a little too big but, I still like it and used it a bunch. 

Best Mascara: Benefits Roller Lash. I loved Roller Lash so much this year. It gives really nice length and separation and doesn't flake. I also really liked Tarte's Gifted Mascara as well.  

Best Finishing Spray: To finish this post all off I wanted to mention lastly a setting spray. The original MAC Fix + is almost like a makeup godsend. Again, its one of those products that has multiple uses. However, its best use is to mist the face down after all the makeup has been applied to help even more to blend things together, make your face look less powdery and give your face a radiant glow before you head out the door. I also like to use Fix + before makeup to help hydrate and also wake me up if I am just getting out of bed. 

Yay! Made it to the end! ( whew!) A whole year wrapped up in makeup favorites. I really hoped you enjoyed it and also I really hope you all had a wonderful year, holiday and new year as well. I know this post is going up later than I wanted it to but I definitely wanted to put this one up in order to give some closure to 2015. It deserved a send off. Now, you and I can continue on together in 2016 and all it may have to offer us. Blogging is very fun and I am so excited to create more content this year, grow, and hopefully connect with more of you. Please, in the comments tell me : What were some of your favorites of 2015? it doesn't have to be makeup either it can be anything! Favorite memory, accomplishment, etc. Let me know! 

Have a great week guys! I will see you all soon!

- A 

Covering Your Bases // Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

Hello all! 

As you might have seen in my previous post, I mentioned a new foundation that has entered my life that I have been quite enjoying. The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation ( trying desperately not to break out into the song with the same title while typing this..). This foundation has become a great little base for the autumn/fall season. The focus of very dewy and glowing sun kissed skin becomes a little more subdued in the Fall and Winter. Interests shift to more dramatic and glam looks for the eyes and lips. This is one of those foundations that is getting quite a bit of hype on the internet. I can't help it but be curious and really put it to the test to see if it lives up to the standard that has been created for it. After using it for two and a half months now I have a few thoughts to share about this product.

Lets get down the nitty gritty rundown shall we.. 


Packaging// Design 

Too Faced went with a slightly more traditional approach with their packaging for Born This Way with glass packaging and pump applicator. However, that never goes unappreciated. The pump is easy to use and does not dispense too much product. The frosted glass packaging is cute but may be difficult to travel with. The gold lettering used on the product is also a nice touch. Aside from it being glass I think Too Faced made great choices with its packaging by keeping it practical but also sticking to their cute branding which they are partly known for. 

Color Range// 

When first released there were12 shades starting from Porcelain described to suit fair skin with pink-neutral undertones to the shade Caramel described to suit deep/tan skin with neutral to golden undertones. There were quite a lot of people to be left out of the initial release who had very fair skin ( since the lightest shade still ran a bit dark) and also to those who have much deeper skin. Cries were heard and Too Faced answered by recently releasing two new paler shades; Snow and Pearl, and four new deeper shades; Mocha, Maple, Chestnut and Mahogany. I really appreciate that Too Faced brought out more shades so that more people are able to try and use this foundation. Just as I was typing up this review I was aware that you could only purchase new shades on Too Faced.com but I am pleased to inform that now all 17 shades are up on Sephora's website. I am still unsure if they have hit the brick and mortar stores but still ( hooray!). Personally,  I find the shade Porcelain to be pretty satisfactory for me, though I am curious how the shade Pearl would suit me since I do fall slightly into the category of the "ghost skin" club. 

Application//
When pumped out into the hand this foundation appears to be on the thicker side, meaning it does not slip and slide quickly on the hand. When actually applied to the face you can already get a feel for the coverage but it applies very smoothly. As always when it comes to foundation I cannot stop using my trusty beauty blender. I barely remember the last time I used a brush for applying foundation. Not that a brush is bad, I just love the refreshing feeling of the beauty blender. When dampened with cool water and just pouncing the sponge onto the skin feels so nice. I do like to take my time to really blend this foundation in since it is a full coverage foundation but as I said before I find this foundation to apply really smoothly and easily onto the skin. On a second note this foundation also has no scent which may be good for more sensitive skin types. 

Coverage//

Now, as I have mentioned this foundation is a full coverage foundation so for those who prefer really light coverage will not suit this foundation. I do find that it can be build-able without looking too heavy. I have some acne scarring on my cheeks that are a bugger to cover up and one of the reasons I prefer a higher coverage foundation so I can smooth out the redness and texture that remains on my skin. After creating one layer I get pretty great coverage but I usually add a light second layer to those troubled areas. All of that only requires about a pump and a half of product.  


Overall Thoughts// 

My overall thoughts on this foundation. I think it has become a great staple for the fall and winter months. I would call the finish mostly matte ( but not flat and dry looking) and normally I prefer a more dewy finish, but thats when I pick up my powder highlighter and go to town. Of which anyone could certainly add a more glowy primer beforehand or liquid highlighter into the mix to also achieve a more glowing appearance ( like the new Becca Backlight Primer or one of their liquid illuminators for example). That aside my conclusions to this foundation are as follows : Its long lasting on the skin which is probably one of the bigger pros to this product with me and battling against winter skin. Scarves, environmental elements like wind and snow and cold make wearing certain foundations difficult as it tends to break down a lot more ( at least that is what I notice I am not quite sure why that is.) I have not yet seen how this will last during a blizzardy day but that day I am sure is quickly approaching being from New England. However, I have given it the "really long day at work test" and it passes with relatively high marks. When I get back in my car to go home or when I am on break I usually check to make sure I don't look like a hot mess with foundation breakage and or any other makeup mishaps. Foundation wise at least this one passes the grade by lasting on the skin without moving around too much at all. Second conclusion is that I think this foundation suits a nice and large audience. Its a crowd pleaser from its packaging to its performance  People want something that is going to look great/flawless without feeling heavy or mask like on the skin but  they want something that will last through a very long day without major touch ups. People want something with skin benefits and that isn't going to break them out. And they want something that can fit most skin types. I think that this foundation fits a lot of that. Because is is lighter weight on the skin, it is a great full coverage, it does last long throughout the day, it has coconut water infused in the formula to help hydrate the skin but is oil free which makes it less likely to cause breakouts. And I lastly I think with its edits in color selection and the formula it would suit a lot of skin types. If you are severely dry I might use a hydrating primer or mist. If you are severely oily I would use perhaps a bit of a mattifying primer where you find yourself most oily. 
The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation gets a high mark in my book I would recommend it if you happen to be in the market for a new foundation. Remember, you can always ask for a sample if you are close to a Sephora location. You can test out pretty much any foundation you may be slightly on the fence about before buying it full size.    
That about wraps it up for this review. I hope it was enjoyable/educational. If you have tried this foundation or have any other foundation recommendations  I would love to hear your thoughts down in the comments below, it would really make my day. 
I hope you all are having a great week and I will see you all soon! 
- A 

Some Beauty Picks For Autumn

Every year I become enraptured by the beauty of autumn. The swirling colorful leaves, the smells, the textures all around. There is a mood that autumn brings that is purely reflective. Nature makes us stop to look at it. How brilliant it can present itself before it all takes a rest for the winter. I love it all. 

Today, I thought I would share some of the beauty essentials I have used and loved so far this season. 

First of all I have a new foundation in rotation for the fall and winter months; The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation. A full review will be coming very soon! Stay tuned for that however, since it is in a favorites post I am sure you can guess that I like it quite a bit. 
 I have not been able to put down this MAC blush in the shade Ambering Rose. I used it in the last bit of summer as well, but this blush's time to shine is definitely in the fall/winter. It is this beautiful burnished rosy brown shade that just looks beautiful for this season. Moving on to eyeshadows I really had to narrow it down because not only do I love eyeshadow, I am a fiend for warm colors that really look great for this time of year. I am talking warm chocolate browns, burnished reds and coppers, brilliant and bright gold..etc. Two palettes that I have to share with you today is the good ol' Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette and the Morphe 35O palette. The Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette is a really great classic that is chalk full of neutral, gorgeous shades with some fun shades thrown in there too that really make for a great fall look. Plus it smells heavenly! The other palette I wanted to mention has been immensely popular on the beauty community. And for good reason. For someone who loves warm shades this palette is absolute perfection, the colors are really pigmented and smooth and its also pretty affordable ( when it is available again). Morphe is a wonderfully affordable brand and if this palette is calling your name I would follow them on their social media because they do update when this palette comes back in stock. The other shadows I wanted to mention come from Makeup Geek Cosmetics, this is SUCH a lovely brand and if you haven't checked out their shadows I would highly encourage you to do so. All the shadows I have to mention today are from their foiled collection which are all a unique metallic finish. The first shade I have to share is probably my most favorite and it is called Magic Act and it is the most beautiful, bright white gold shade. This shade looks great in the inner corners of the eyes and as a center color as well. The next shade is called Untamed. I was drawn to it originally because the color reminded me of a jack o lanterns glowing smile. Its described as a bright coppery orange. I think this shade is really great for the fall time because of its warmth and orangey glow. The last shade I have to mention is Flamethrower which is a bright warm copper shade which I have loved throwing into the outer corner of the eyes to spice things up. 
The last product I have to mention for the eyes is a eyeliner pencil from NYX cosmetics, the Slide On Glide On Stay On And Definitely A Turn On Eye Pencil in Golden Bronze that name is sure a mouthful isn't it? but this pencil is a beauty. Stays on the waterline brilliantly and has vivid color. If you have blue eyes especially  you NEED to try out this color in Golden Bronze its beautiful! 
Next, lets move on to two lip favorites, the first being another NYX product. Their recently released Liquid Suede liquid lipsticks have a beautiful range of colors ( even a prussian gray color!) and the formula of these are great. They last a really long time and don't dry out the lips too much. I have the color Sandstorm to share with you which is the ever so popular browny nude color that I can't stay away from no matter what the season. I know not everyone is a fan of this kind of color but it is quite pretty. And the very last product I have to share is a lipstick from Maybelline in their Color Sensational Creamy Matte range. The color Divine Wine is perfect for the fall and also the winter. A true deepened dark vampy red that feels pretty comfortable on the lips and won't break the bank. The Maybelleine Matte range is definitely one to check out if you are into matte lipsticks and want something affordable. 

And thats it! a little variety of favorites that I have been enjoying this fall and will continue to enjoy throughout the winter season. I hope you enjoyed! Let me know of any of your autumn/winter beauty picks down in the comments below I would love to read them. Hope you all are having a great week so far! See you next time! 
- A 

Covering Your Bases // It Cosmetics Illuminating CC Cream Review

Hello everyone! 
 Today I am reviewing It Cosmetics Illuminating CC cream
There are a few of you who remember my last "Covering Your Bases" post which was all about the Hourglass Hyaluronic Skin Tint which I stills holds a top shelf space for foundations. I feel the need to disclaim that even though I might find a foundation that is amazing I am always searching to discover new products. That is what we are set out to do here in these Covering Your Bases posts. 


Disclaimers & Intros aside lets get down to reviewing the foundation/CC cream.. 

There is quite a bit of hype surrounding the original IT Cosmetics CC Cream and I thought about picking up that one. However, the Illumination version was a more recent release and caught my attention just a little bit more. 

Packaging// Design 

I really like the packaging of this product. It looks like just a normal tube but when you take the cap off there is a pump at the end. ( Hooray for pumps!!) Tube packaging can be annoying as you reach the end of the product much like toothpaste you can never seem to get that last drop out!. Why can't toothpaste have pump like packaging? ( Wouldn't that be convenient?) 
The tube has a slightly pink/holographic tinge to it making it look pretty cute and distinguishable from the original CC cream and the type face they used for "illumination" is quite cute, makes it quite appealing to look at.

Color Range // 

I think one of the cons for this product is its color range. Its not very large, only five shades. I had a tough time picking out my ideal shade. Between Fair and Light I ended up going with Light because Fair seemed too pale at the time ( even though I have a complexion of a ghost).
Overall, I find the shade Light to be an okay match for me however I do not know if I am alone on this, but the color almost has a dull/grayish tone to it and not as bright as I would like it.  To remedy this I tend to mix it in with a drop or two of the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops ( I am in the shade G20)  to brighten and make the color suit my skin more which seems to do the trick.

Application // 

This CC cream applies very smoothly onto the skin. You do not need to pump out a lot for the entire face since it spreads out very nicely. 
Much like the Hourglass Skin Tint I am fond of this has a thicker looking consistency but feels very light and weightless on skin. I still prefer using the Beauty Blender ( as my weapon of choice) which blends this product seamlessly into skin and does not take great amounts of effort either. 

Coverage // 

The selling point for me personally for this product is its contrast of "type" and "result". Typically, a CC cream or a BB cream type of base will only provide a sheer amount of coverage rarely reaching a medium coverage. This CC cream stands out from whats on the market because it touts its truthful CC cream name by having a weightlessness texture and improving skin tone, but provides medium to full coverage. Which is amazing to me and I really do appreciate that from this foundation. I really like having a full coverage base when I wear makeup, but its nice to have it not feel like I have a very full coverage sitting on top of my skin. 

Overall Thoughts// 

I am really happy I tried out this CC cream. As I watch all my favorite British youtubers in my subscription feed lately I have been seeing all their US beauty hauls all containing the original It Cosmetics CC cream. Its a very hot item right now and its always exciting to me to actually see what all the hype is about. To recap I really love the packaging for this product. I think the way it was designed makes it really easy to travel with and use daily without much fuss. I also really like the very light lemon scent it has which some people may not like but it does not last once it sets down. I appreciate the high coverage and the very dewy finish that is unique to the "Illumination" version of this product. I have read some complaints of there being glitter in this product but I personally haven't really noticed any excess of glitter and even so I would still like it anyway ( bring on the glitter!). Also, the high SPF factor of 50 ( with UVA and UVB) protection is pretty fantastic of them provide. My only beef with this product is the color selection. I think its pretty slim and difficult because the shades differ very dramatically from each other. I thought the shade Fair would be the one for me but it was so extremely pale and stark. The shade Light, the one I chose, although pretty good has this weird gray/dull tone to it that leads me to mix it with another product to make it match perfectly. Overall, I give this product a B+ it would have gotten an A if not for the color selection. Other than that, I am very pleased with everything about this product and I would recommend it to those who were possibly thinking about giving it a try. 

You can find It Cosmetics at Ulta ( Stores & Online) and also at QVC online. 

It Cosmetics Illumination CC Cream SPF 50++ $38 

I hope you all enjoyed your summer. It has been a very long time since I last posted which I will address more in my next post. I just really wanted to share this review with you all, it has been in my drafted posts for so long ( it was starting to collect dust and cobwebs). I would love to hear what products you are trying/and or loving at the moment in the comments below. 
 I hope you are all having a great week. I will be returning soon with more content. 
Until then! 
- A 

( This post is in no shape or form sponsored. If a post is sponsored or a product is sent to me links to the product will be marked with an *. I strive to always give my most genuine and honest opinion when reviewing products no matter what.)