Not Quite Strobing: Marc Jacobs Glow Stick in 700 Spotlight Review

It seems that thanks to Influenster, this year will be all about discovering Marc Jacobs Beauty range for me - and I'm not mad at it. This time we've received a very trendy product to review: the Marc Jacobs Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator in the shade Spotlight 700* ($42 for 0.49 oz/ 14g). I'd only tried two other cream/ liquid highlighters in the past - Benefit Watt's Up and MAC Strobe Cream - so I was excited to give the MJ version a go.

The highlighter stick is packaged in a minimalist short but fat tube; at first I thought the price of this product to be rather high, but you really do get A LOT of product here - I can't really see how you'd be able to use the entire thing up in a reasonable amount of time, unless you were using it all over the face under foundation and/or on your body - which you absolutely can. That's definitely one area where I believe cream highlighters have a leg up over the powders; they can be layered with other products and multitasked more easily.

The shape of the stick is oval, which may look like it would come in handy to apply directly on the cheekbones; however, for my face at least, the size is too big, and with its impressive pigmentation, I find the Glow Stick more user-friendly when applied with my fingers, a beautyblender, or a smaller brush.

It's quite an emollient formula; I don't own the Watt's Up anymore so I can't compare there, but it is definitely thicker/ more viscous than the liquidy MAC Strobe Cream. Nevertheless, the Glow Stick's formula is very blendable, both under and over foundation. I don't think it sets necessarily, but when sheered out in a thin layer, it doesn't move anywhere on the face and wears beautifully for the entire day. I would recommend this formula to anyone in the combination-normal-dry skintype spectrum; if your cheeks are oily, it may migrate more for you.

On Sephora's website, the shade Spotlight (which is the only shade available) is described as 'universal glow'. I don't believe that's really the case. As you can hopefully see from my close-up shots and swatches, this highlighter is a very, very pale white gold - I can't pick up much of the golden tones once it's blended out on the skin, so you could also describe it as a very light ivory shade. It's fantastic on my fair skintone, and I think it would suit a variety of undertones as the shade is quite neutral; but if you're medium to dark skintone, I believe this shade would look quite stark and maybe even ashy.

The finish of Marc Jacobs' Glow Stick is a fine pearl, no large shimmer or glitter particles in sight. It packs quite a punch though so you can definitely get a more dramatic strobing/ mirrored effect if you want - that's not really my style, so I'm glad that it can be sheered out more easily too. In my experience, it doesn't accentuate my pores or fine lines on top of my cheeks, and layers just fine over both powder and cream blush, although I like the finish better when worn with creams - just looks a bit more natural.

Highlighters are definitely one of the more challenging products to photograph but I hope you can see the tone of Spotlight quite well compared to some of my other highlighters. In my review of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator in Starlight, I called that shade a 'pale white gold' too, but as you can see, compared to the Marc Jacobs Glow Stick, it's definitely more peachy pink. Surratt Eyeshadow in Scintillante has a less dramatic pearl finish, and the base shade leans more grey (but somehow nearly identically matches my skintone).

L-R: Marc Jacobs Glow Stick in Spotlight, ABH Illuminator in Starlight, Surratt Scintillante. I'm sorry you can't see these shades more clearly in the arm swatch, but that's just the consequence of swatching products which are incredibly close to my skintone.

In the face shot, I'm wearing the Marc Glow Stick on tops of my cheeks, tip of my nose, Cupid's Bow and a tiny bit under my brows. My base is Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in 31, applied with a damp blender sponge and lightly set with MAC Blot Powder on the T-zone. I think the Glow Stick looks lovely and fresh - I applied a bit more than I would usually do for the photo, but I still think the overall effect is not too overdone. Even though I've been a lot more into highlighters these past two years, I'm still not convinced by the strobing trend, and I'm glad the Marc Jacobs product can be made to look more natural for every day wear.

Are you into strobing? I know a lot of us beauty fanatics just love shopping for and collecting different highlighters - and I can definitely see why, so many of the limited edition highlighting powders are just too pretty to pass up! Do you prefer highlighters in the cream, liquid or powder texture?

Disclaimer: Item marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received from Influenster for testing purposes. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

My Current Evening Skincare Routine

Compared to my morning skincare routine, evenings are always a bit more complex, mostly because I like switching products around and I also aim for a face mask about 2 times a week. Originally, I intended to include the three different face masks I rotate through in this post, but now I'm thinking I may discuss them separately, mostly because they're all new products that I haven't reviewed on the blog before - so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Again, my skin type profile: I'm combination, sensitive as well as acne and dehydration-prone. I'm also currently 21 weeks pregnant.

I wear make-up and sunscreen most days, so I always do a first cleanse to get the bulk of those products off with an oil cleanser. I'm still using the Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Cleansing Oil (mentioned here) - I think I've been using it for about a year and a half now and I'm only now coming to the end of this giant bottle. It's a decent product, but I definitely wouldn't pay the full price now that there are so many cleansing oils to choose from even at the drugstore.

I then second cleanse my face using the same cleanser as in the morning, the NUDE Omega Cleansing Jelly (reviewed here). About 3 times a week, I also like to manually exfoliate my face using the TATCHA Classic Rice Enzyme Powder* (click!); before getting pregnant, I found my stronger salicylic acid-based toners to be sufficiently exfoliating on their own, but now that I'm using gentler AHAs, I like the added boost from a physical scrub like the TATCHA. Also, to be perfectly honest, I sometimes skip the NUDE cleansing balm and go straight to the TATCHA powder after using my cleansing oil - I find that the TATCHA has some impressive cleansing properties as well.

Now that my face is all clean and fresh, I like spritzing it with my rock rose (Cistus) hydrosol again, either before or after applying the Nuxe Nuxuriance Ultra Eye & Lip Contour* (recently reviewed here) to my eye and lip areas. I then proceed by smoothing two pumps of Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA* (featured here) over my face and a little bit on the neck and chest. I've been using this product every night for about 6 months now and I've come to really appreciate it for how gentle (non-drying) but effective it is - also, I'm still on my first bottle, so even though the price seems a bit higher compared to Paula's other exfoliants, it lasts significantly longer than her liquids for example. I found that the AHA treatment helps to keep my skin clearer and smoother, on top of the more long-term anti-aging and hyperpigmentation-fighting benefits.

I do all of these steps in my bathroom, and then I give my skin at least a 20-minute break before completing my routine with the products I keep at my bedside in a little basket. I go one of two ways here: I either apply a thin layer of my favorite Laneige Water Sleeping Mask* (reviewed here) if I feel like my skin just needs some lightweight hydration, or I layer a serum first - I've just started using the new TATCHA Luminous Overnight Memory Serum Concentrate*, so no thoughts on it quite yet - and then press in about 3 drops of TATCHA Gold Camellia Beauty Oil* (reviewed here) over the top. This is my second bottle of the TATCHA oil and it remains one of my favorite facial oils I've tried to date. The very last step of my evening routine is to apply a generous amount of Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm to my lips and a nice blob of hand cream - my favorite is the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fragrance-Free (I'm maybe on my third tube now...? Seriously, every time I try a new hand cream now, I just end up going straight back to the Neutrogena).

As you can see, my routine is a bit heavy on the TATCHA at the moment, and my sensitive and somewhat drier than usual skin is loving it - but man, it's going to be painful to repurchase these beautiful but pricey products. Stay on the lookout for my mask wardrobe post and the review of the TATCHA Overnight serum. What are your tried and true evening skincare routine workhorses?

Disclaimer: Products marked with an asterix (*) were press samples I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. I purchased all the other products myself. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the product featured were purchased with my own money or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading! 

The Original Torture Ball: Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara Review

Do you guys remember the golden days when the 'torture ball' mascara wands were all the rage? I even recall some drugstore brands jumping on the bandwagon, and then companies moved on to incorporating that little spiky ball into a classic mascara brush design, like the Benefit They're Real or IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes. Anyway, back to the present - I have a review of the cult classic torture ball for you today, the Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara in Deep Black ($32 for the full size, I have a deluxe sample).

Judging from my experience with Benefit They're Real, I was a little apprehensive of the Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes. The 'iconic spherical brush' (lol) is slightly larger than I expected, and comes out of the tube coated in a generous amount of mascara; however, like with nearly every other mascara on the market, most of the product is concentrated on the very tip of the brush, and there's not that much on the sides.

I think Phenomen'Eyes is definitely one of those mascara wands that you need to get a good feel for before you start enjoying it. At first, I found the ball design quite frustrating and difficult to use, but after two weeks of use, it's gotten easier. However, I still have some qualms about this shape - for one, it takes me more time to evenly coat my lashes in mascara than with a traditional brush, because I need to work in sections as opposed to the whole lash line all at once. Secondly, I have yet to avoid smearing some mascara onto my lid in the process - which again, takes additional time to remove.

Now for the good aspects of the ball shape: it does allow me to control the amount of mascara more easily, and it helps to direct and fan out lashes exactly how I want. It also works really well on the lower lashes, defining every single one without clumps (provided that you don't overload your brush). Overall, I find this formula quite volumizing and defining, but not very lenghtening - and I could use some length at the moment as my lashes are currently in their shorter, growing phase. The shade is indeed a deep, rich black, and the mascara doesn't flake throughout the day; although on my almond eye shape, it does transfer quite a bit under the brow bone in a relatively short amount of time (which is always a struggle for me).

Top: bare uncurled lashes, bottom: two layers of Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes

I can definitely understand why this mascara reached a cult status back in the day and I'm glad to have tried it, but to be honest, I wouldn't shell out for a full size tube. It's a perfectly decent mascara, but for me personally, traditional wands are much easier and quicker to use. I also don't find the Phenomen'Eyes to be any better at reaching those longer outer corner lashes; I still have trouble getting every single one without smearing mascara all over my eye, just like with any other mascara brush. Have you ever tried any of those torture ball mascaras? What were your thoughts?

Peaches & Taupe: Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con Eyeshadow Trio in 102 The Ingénue

Today I have another piece from the Marc Beauty line to show you, namely the Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No. 3 Plush Shadow in 102 The Ingénue ($39 for 0.14 oz; this color way may be exclusive to marcjacobs.com and MJ boutiques), a luxe eyeshadow trio of peaches and taupe. After completing all of my Influenster tasks from the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir mascara I reviewed earlier this year, I was entered into a raffle to win an additional product from the brand, and this is it!

To be honest, I rather expected a smaller/ less expensive item to be chosen as a giveaway prize, like maybe an eyeliner or lipgloss at the most, so I was pleasantly surprised to receive not only a beautiful eyeshadow trio, but a trio of neutral shades that are light enough to be worn for everyday. You can definitely tell from the packaging that it's a high-end item; from the black pouch (which contains a sponge tip applicator) to the sturdy and sleek plastic compact opened by a push of a button. I'm rather partial to their more minimalist, black and silver aesthetic, and I think a shadow trio like this is a pleasure to take out of your drawer/ make-up bag in the morning.

The Ingénue, in case you didn't know, is 'the part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman', especially in a play. And I can definitely see why this colorway was named that - all the shades are soft and light in depth, giving sort of an airy, romantic feel to the trio. That being said, there is little difference in depth between the shades, as you can probably tell from my photos.

I can't fault the quality of these eyeshadows: all three are soft, smooth, creamy to touch, pigmented and blendable. The lightest peach on the left is a satin/ a very soft pearl finish, the middle golden taupe is metallic, and the darker peach on the right is slightly more shimmery than the light peach shade, but still not quite a pearl finish.

The shade selection reminds me somewhat of another very pale eyeshadow trio from Shiseido in BE 213 Nude, reviewed here. The Shiseido shades are a bit different, and despite the lack of variety in finishes, it's still one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes for a barely there, softly luminous look. Which brings me to why I'd consider the Shiseido Nude superior to the MJ Ingénue AS A TRIO; while I am absolutely able to do a complete, if simple, eye look with the Nude, The Ingénue just lacks at least one more, slightly deeper shadow, that could be used to define the outer V/ crease of the eye.

I think you can see that quite well in the look I attempted with the Ingénue trio; I did try to use the darkest metallic taupe at the outer corner (and along the lower lashline), but not only are metallic finishes somewhat tricky as deepening/ contouring shades, the middle taupe shade is also not dark enough to serve that purpose. I did end up reaching for the NYX Powder Blush in Taupe to further define and blend out the crease; I also used the lightest peach from the Ingénue on the inner corners, and the darker peach on the lid - to be honest, there's not that much difference between these two once they're blended out on the eyes.

So while I appreciate the beautiful packaging and premium quality of the eyeshadows in The Ingénue, I don't think these shades actually work as a cohesive trio; it's more like three singles thrown together in one compact. I mostly just enjoy pairing one of the shades from The Ingénue on the lid with other shades from a different palette in the inner corner and crease. I feel that this lack of cohesion maybe wouldn't be a problem for someone who goes for a one eyeshadow look anyway, and just wants more options in one convenient package - but let's be honest, this beauty junkie rarely stops at just one eyeshadow :)

Have you tried eyeshadows from the Marc Beauty line? I remember when everyone was going gaga over their larger palettes, especially the neutral Lolita. If I weren't banning myself from purchasing any more palettes, I would definitely be interested in giving it a go, having now tested the quality of their shadows first-hand - and again, the packaging is SO PRETTEH.

Am I A Mascara Snob? Guerlain Maxi Lash Review

I won't deny I'm pretty snobbish in a number of different areas: I'm a declared coffee snob. I'm a dessert snob. I'm a perfume snob. Truly, the list could go on. But until recently, I hadn't really considered myself a mascara snob.

I've never been one to claim the superiority of high-end mascaras versus the drugstore ones. In fact, I don't think I have ever purchased a high-end mascara with my own money - but I've tried plenty of gift with purchase minis and received generous gifts from friends and such. However, when I attempt to shortlist my Holy Grail mascaras, the following come to mind easily: Buxom Buxom Lash, Laura Geller GlamLASH, and most recently, Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir... Am I really so easily swayed by luxe packaging, or is there in fact something better about the formula of high-end mascaras? I've been pondering this question for a couple weeks now while re-testing a mini of Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara in 01 Noir ($32 for 0.28 oz).

I've had another sample of this rather expensive mascara about three years ago, and I remember REALLY liking it then. But you know what, a couple things have changed since then. For one, I used to have much longer and fuller lashes back then thanks to religious use of a lash-growing serum, and I know some of you would groan 'All mascaras look good on your lashes!', making mascara reviews somewhat superfluous. However, I haven't touched a lash serum in three months, and while my lashes aren't bad by any means, they're not extraordinary either. So how does Maxi Lash perform on my perfectly normal lashes?

It performs well. As you can see in the close-up, it has that rubber brush with lots of not-too-long bristles that I tend to prefer, and a drier formula - again, my preference. As you can expect from these two factors, it defines the lashes beautifully, grabbing every single one and coating with an even layer of mascara from roots to tips; I only have some issues at the outer corners, where my longer lashes need some extra product (this wand doesn't have any bristles at the tip which are ideal for that task). I don't get many clumps, I don't get any flaking throughout the day, and only minimal transfer onto my brow bone, which as you may know is my personal ongoing struggle with mascara.

However, would I pay $32 for a gold tube of this lightly perfumed luxe mascara? Uhm, I don't think so. Sure, I like it, but perhaps not as much as the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir, which is a couple dollars cheapers and gives more volume in a single coat. And the other thing is that while what I've been testing is only a deluxe sample, the Maxi Lash dries out fast - I mean, I've only been using it for two weeks and I don't think it'll last more than another two. So for now, while I may have a PREFERENCE for high-end mascaras, I don't think I'm a die hard convert. I really enjoy trying out minis of expensive formulas, but it's more than likely that when I run out, I'll just head back straight to the drugstore.

What are some of your all-time Holy Grail mascara formulas? Do you purchase high-end mascaras regularly, and if so, which ones are your favorite?

Easy Hair Styling Favorites from AVEDA feat. Dry Shampure, Thickening Tonic and Air Control

I'm not a hair person, as discussed in detail in this post. On a typical day, I'll wash and condition my hair, brush out the tangles, and wait for it to air dry. I may use some hair spray to tame down fly aways if I'm feeling fancy. And that's it. The reason I don't style my hair is that in my experience, it requires a lot of time and energy but gives minimal results - any volume that I manage to create in my fine hair deflates an hour later, and my curling iron curls fall out even faster *shrugs*.

Which is why I was interested, if a little skeptical, when a gorgeously wrapped box from AVEDA landed on my doorstep. First thing that I zeroed in on was obviously their Shampure Dry Shampoo* ($30 for 2 fl oz/ 56 g, same size refill available for $26 at aveda.com and Nordstrom), given that my oily roots usually need some help by second day.

You may remember that so far, my Holy Grail dry shampoo has been Batiste, but it comes with its own set of issues: a) a can doesn't last very long, b) it's rather strongly scented. Right off the bat, Aveda's Dry Shampure beats Batiste in this respect; from my understanding, the non-aerosol dispense mechanism (it's a soft plastic bottle which releases a cloud of powder when squeezed - and the cool thing is that you could totally pack this anywhere in your carry-on bag since it's not an aerosol nor a liquid) makes the product last incredibly long before you have to repurchase, and the scent is... Yeah, I can understand the hashtag #SmellsLikeAveda. It's a sweet lemon verbena fragrance with a hint of vanilla that makes you feel refreshed and uplifted, and I don't have to hold my breath and then run out of the bathroom when I spray into my hair. I've never come across a dry shampoo that smelled better than this.

Yeah yeah, it smells good, we get it, but does it even work? Yes, yes it does. While the dispenser isn't as directional or continuous as an aerosol spray, I still find it quite easy to get exactly how much I need exactly where I need it. It does have a white cast straight out of the bottle, but in my light brown hair, it only takes a couple brush strokes/ some massaging with my fingertips for it to disappear entirely. This dry shampoo has some interesting natural ingredients: corn and tapioca starch, oat flour, silica... and montmorillonite clay. The combination is very effective at soaking up the oils but also giving my roots some nice volume and texture. The Shampure is definitely more texturizing than Batiste, and for this reason, it doesn't work as well if you want to apply it again on third day hair - which I can sometimes get away with when I use Batiste. But on the other hand, sometimes on the third day with Shampure, I don't even need a top up because my hair still looks fresh and clean (so fresh and so clean clean... LOL). I really enjoy this, and I can see a refill purchase in my future.

On the days when I shampoo my hair, I've been reaching for Aveda's Thickening Tonic* ($28 for 3.4 fl oz/ 100ml) to give some lift to my fine tresses. I have a love hate relationship with volumizing and root lifting sprays - I've tried many from both drugstore and salon brands and they've all felt stiff and sticky in my hair while giving almost no results. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the Thickening Tonic: it feels lightweight in the hair, has a pleasant herbal scent (mint? eucalyptus?), and conditions the hair lightly (thanks to aloe vera, wheat amino acids and brazil nut & soy proteins) while definitely adding some fullness from roots to ends. I've tried it both blow drying my hair and letting it air dry, and I've had good results both times. I also feel like it extends the freshness of my hair so that it looks better the second day after washing. If you've been let down by volumizing sprays in the past, I'd definitely give this one a go.

Lastly, I've also been playing around with setting my dry hair with the Air Control Hair Spray* ($9 for 1.4 oz travel size or $28 for 9.1 oz full size can). Aveda describes Air Control as having lightweight, workable hold, but I guess their lightweight hold packs enough of a punch for my everyday needs (I'd even compare it to MorrocanOil's Strong Hold hairspray - but not anywhere near the shellacked results of Kenra's Platinum 26 Spray). It's a dry spray with a similarly pleasant aroma to the Dry Shampure - maybe a bit more lemongrass. What I like about it is that with a couple sprays, I can pat down all the annoying baby hair at my part, smooth down the frizzies throughout the lenghts, and set my style (or lack thereof) for the rest of the day. In my salon-working days, I tried A LOT of different high-end hair sprays (the two I mentioned above, Big Sexy Hair, TIGI, Sebastian, Enjoy etc.), and the Air Control is among the best of them.

My favorite thing about these three AVEDA styling products is the fact that they require next to no additional time and energy to incorporate into my routine. They're quick, they're easy, they're effective. I also fully commend AVEDA's environmental efforts - they aim for zero impact to the Earth's climate by using renewable wind power in their primary facility, more than 85% of their PET bottles and jars contain post consumer recycled materials, they strive to use sustainable, fair trade natural ingredients and participate in many more iniatives to promote the green message. This month, for Earth Month 2016, you can purchase Aveda's Light The Way Candle (here), of which 100% proceeds support Global Greengrants Fund water-related projects.

Have you used any hair products from Aveda? What are your effortless hair styling favorites? I've also heard good things about their Kinetics skincare line - I may look into those products some time. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: Products featured in this post are press samples I received from the brand's PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own money or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

A Fine Romance with ILIA Beauty Multi-Stick*

Even though I'm a big fan of natural skincare, I have to admit that I haven't dwelved too much into green make-up products - the less expensive brands often get lukewarm reviews, and as for the more high-end of the spectrum... Well, there aren't that many reviews in the first place, and then there's the price to consider.

ILIA Beauty, a Canadian brand focused on organic and ethically-sourced ingredients, has always drawn my attention on BeautyHabit with its sleek packaging and luxurious lip products, so I was more than happy to receive their Multi-Purpose Stick in A Fine Romance* ($34 for 0.176 oz/ 5g, available on ILIA's website here, Beautylish & The Detox Market in the US and Net-A-Porter worldwide) to try and review.

ILIA's Multi-Purpose Sticks come in 6 flattering colors, contain nourishing shea butter and Vitamin E, and can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes. I'm forever skeptical when it comes to products meant for both lips & cheeks; most of the ones I've tried in the past have been either too dry to use on the lips, or too emollient to use on the cheeks, or both at the same time. However, I'm happy to report that ILIA's Stick is the first multi-use product I've ever used that actually does what it claims!

The Stick has quite a firm texture in the bullet but applies and blends easily - for my cheeks, I use a small stippling brush, and for my lips, I just apply directly from the bullet. It's not greasy or oily in any shape or form - it has a somewhat translucent, gel/ cream feel, and applies very lightweight on the face. It has a beautiful satin finish that gives a natural glow to my cheeks and a stained look to my lips - no obvious shine, no settling into lines or pores, just a fresh 'my skin but better' appearance. Even as a stand-alone cream blush, this formula rivals my favorite Canmake Cream Cheeks - except it wears nicer and more comfortably on the lips as well. There's a faint natural nutty scent to the product that's only discernible on application, but otherwise the product is completely fragrance-free.

The shade I received, A Fine Romance, is described as a berry on ILIA's website - I'd say it's somewhere between a deep rose or a light wine shade with a cool undertone, a bit more muted than a true berry shade. I often have to be careful with shades like this because they can look too dark on my fair skintone, or make me look somewhat bruised - but A Fine Romance is pure perfection. Sheered out on the cheeks, it gives me a healthy flushed look, built up on the lips, it's an everyday 'bitten' wine - and even when the product wears off (it's not very long-wearing on my lips but stays put on the cheeks all day without sliding off or fading), it leaves a nice pink stain behind.

I'm a little bit in love with ILIA's A Fine Romance - you guys, it's so, so effortlessly pretty. For me, it's the epitome of what most green make-up brands strive for in their products: something quick and easy to use that enhances your features without covering them up, while nourishing your skin at the same time. Even on my parched lips, the Multi-Purpose Stick looks even the entire wear time and actually manages to moisturize and soften dry patches. I can't wait to try more products from ILIA - I'm seriously impressed, and I have been rather critical lately when it comes to roadtesting new products. Have you tried anything from ILIA? What are your favorite green beauty make-up brands?

Disclaimer: The product featured in this post is a press sample I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. All links are non-affiliate. Thank you for reading!

Make-up Bag Essential: Surratt Beauty Surreal Skin Concealer in 02

If I were to take one make-up product to a desert island with me, it would be concealer. For me, it's always been an essential, ever since I first started breaking out in middle school - and I continue to use at least one on an everyday basis, even when I choose to forgo the rest of my make-up. It simply gives my face the biggest impact: conceals tired under eyes, stubborn freckles, redness around my nose, dark marks from old zits as well as those angry red bumps that decided to put in an appearance at the last moment. Ugh. Which is why I'm always on the lookout for the best concealer out there, and I love trying new ones, like this Surratt Beauty Surreal Skin Concealer in the shade 02 ($50 for 0.6 oz).

This is without a doubt the most expensive concealer I've ever had (especially considering the small volume of the stick) - to be honest, I would have never opted for it if it weren't a generous gift with purchase from the Surratt counter at Barney's. So far, I have really enjoyed everything I've tried from Surratt, so I was curious to see how their complexion product would perform on me.

There are 8 shades in the range, spanning very, very fair skin to deeper skintones. I'm saying 'very, very fair skin' because I own the second lightest shade, which you'll see in the moment is quite comparable to NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly (especially once blended out on the skin - Chantilly oxidizes on me just a touch darker than in my arm swatch), which I consider to be really rather pale. I'd think that shade 01 would probably suit those who are in the N5 range (Bobbi Brown Alabaster, Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral and so on).

Surratt Surreal Skin Concealer in 02, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, Laneige Cushion Concealer in Light*

I quite enjoy the minimalist black packaging with a sparkling ombre detail, and the entire product is small, sleek and lightweight - perfect for touch-ups on the go. But again, you are paying quite a hefty price tag for such a small product. The bullet itself is also quite slim, and cut at an angle; nice size for applying directly under the eyes or on areas of redness, but obviously too large for precise spot concealing.

I've tested the Surreal Skin Concealer both under my eyes as well as on marks, redness and blemishes. The product promises to 'erase dark circles and offer surreal coverage', and right off the bat, I have to disagree. If you're looking high coverage, the Surratt concealer doesn't have it. I would say that blended out, it offers a light coverage, built up in layers or really concentrated (on blemishes, for example), it's medium. On most days, I don't have very dark under eye circles and currently no monster zits to cover, so it's alright for me, but I think if you need some serious concealing action, you'd be very dissapointed.

I was however quite pleasantly surprised with the texture of this product. Stick concealers tend to be quite dry and heavy, and accentuate any dryness on the skin. The Surratt concealer doesn't do that - it's quite creamy (but obviously less so than a liquid concealer) and sits lightweight on the skin. As you'll see in my face shot, it doesn't exacerbate dry flakes around my nostrils, and it doesn't make my under eye area look too crepey (I prepped with a hydrating eye cream beforehand). It also wears well throughout the day on me and doesn't slide off bumps or blemishes.

Left side: no concealer under the eyes, right side: Surratt Surreal Skin. I've also used it around my nose and on any blemishes. Foundation is Koh Gen Do Aqua in PK-1. Feel free to click on the photo to enlarge.

All in all, I think it's a decent multipurpose concealer - like I said in the beginning, it would make a great make-up bag essential if you like touching up your concealer throughout the day, or perhaps to take on a trip in lieu of two separate products, one for under the eyes and one for spots. I like either picking up some product from the stick on my brush and then buffing it into the skin, or applying with my fingers - I find that using the stick directly on the skin doesn't work as well, probably because like most stick products, this benefits from being warmed up first. However, I will not be repurchasing once mine runs out - I do prefer to have something with a higher coverage so that I don't have to spend as much time layering the concealer on blemishes.

What was the most expensive concealer you've ever tried? Do you use a separate concealer for your under eyes and for spot concealing, or do you prefer to have one multitasker?

Volume & Definition: Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

For whatever reason, I had previously never tried anything from Marc Jacobs Beauty. I think I'm quite biased against newer beauty brands; I tend to see them as trendy and fun but not very invested in making quality products. So I wasn't really expecting much when Influenster selected me for yet another of their VoxBoxes (you can sign up for a chance to review products, too! Here's my invite link), this time in collaboration with Marc Jacobs - apart from being excited to try out new high-end make-up for free, duh.

The Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara* ($26 for 0.32 oz, comes in just the black shade - Noir) is the third mascara to join the brand's line-up, forth if you're counting their Lamé Noir Ultra-Glittering Mascara (see what I mean by trendy and fun?). When I ripped open the box, I was immediately pleasantly surprised by the simple but weighty packaging; they used some really luxurious feeling plastic for the tube, lol. I actually like most of the brand's packaging - what can I say, I really appreciate black with silver accents.

Velvet Noir claims to 'create instant, smudge-proof length and volume in three strokes or less' with super-concentrated black pigment and a lash-maximizing curvy brush (from Sephora). The hourglass-shaped brush is quite large, which is usually not my preference, but I'm actually very impressed with the design. The rounded tip allows me to reach both inner and outer corner lashes and build up layers just where I need it, while the densely packed bristles grab every single lash and comb out any clumps. It's a combination of two things that I like the most in a mascara: volume and definition. I like.

Despite the size of the brush, I don't really have problems with smudging the mascara on my lids, although it is a bit difficult to maneuver on the lower lash line. The mascara layers easily, although I never really feel the need to dip back into the tube - one coat is perfectly enough for me. The pigment is a very nice matte black, and even without curling my lashes, they appear lifted and fanned out.

As for longevity, I'm pleased to say that this relatively dry formula doesn't crumble or flake throughout the day. On me, it does transfer ever so slightly onto the browbone - but that's a common problem if your lashes happen to touch the skin under your brows when looking up. It's not as bad as other non-waterproof mascaras though, and can be minimized with an eye primer and some powder.

All in all, I'm very impressed with this mascara; maybe it's because of all the mascara duds I've been trying lately, but I would actually consider repurchasing the Velvet Noir. You know you don't want to be without a product when you start thinking things like '$26 is not so bad for a high-end mascara, right?'. Uhm, right. What are your favorite products from Marc Jacobs? What was the last mascara you were really impressed by?

Disclaimer: Item marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received from Influenster for testing purposes. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. Thank you for reading!

The Only Lip Gloss I've Ever Repurchased: Buxom Dolly

How often do you guys happen to repurchase the exact same lip product? I have to admit that I'm usually very fickle with my make-up; by the time I actually manage to use something completely up, which is not very often, I'm usually ready to move on to something different. But Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Dolly ($19 for 0.14 oz) is my first exception to the rule - I just couldn't get enough of it.

Well, okay, I guess I'm stretching the truth a tiny bit here - I had a mini of the Lip Shine in Dolly (reviewed here) that I somewhat recently finished as part of my Project 10 Pan; Buxom's Lip Shines have varying degrees of subtle shimmer to full-on glitter, but forunately the Dolly shade had just a whisper of tiny gold dust. I also own a different Lip Cream in the shade Cherry Flip, reviewed here, which is a favorite in the summer. So I sort of combined the two favorites when I decided to purchase the Lip Cream in Dolly, which has the same gorgeous hue as the one I used up but without the shimmer.

I've discussed my feelings about the Lip Cream formula in detail in my review of Cherry Flip, and some more when I reviewed the Lip Shine in Dolly - I think both the cream and the shimmer finishes on these Buxom glosses are the same formula, albeit if you chose to purchase a Lip Shine with chunkier glitter, your experience may vary. And while regrettably I don't have anything left in my tube of the shimmery Dolly to compare with the creamy Dolly, from memory it's the exact same shade but with one tiny difference: the Lip Shine in Dolly had also a bit more of a translucent jelly finish, the Lip Cream is slightly more milky. However, once on the lips, I can't really tell a difference.

Dolly is my perfect lip perfecting gloss: the cushiony texture softens the look of vertical lip lines and dryness, while the subtle mauve shade evens out my lips' pigmentation. It's very close to my natural lip color, which makes it ideal for effortless daytime looks. It's also one of few lip gloss formulas that stay on my lips for a reasonable time, all the while feeling comfortable and moisturizing. In general, I'm not a fan of tingly plumping formulas, but I would say that Buxom glosses are more cooling than anything else, which I certainly appreciate more in the summer than in the winter, but overall don't mind all that much.

I don't have another lip gloss shade that's close to Dolly - as you can see, NYX Mega Shine in Beige is positively baby pink next to it. Out of my lipsticks, Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist in no. 3 Fuyuzakura is quite similar, but a little lighter once on the lips. Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up is darker and warmer.

L-R: Buxom Lip Cream in Cherry Flip, Buxom Lip Cream in Dolly, NYX Mega Shine in Beige, Maybelline Warm Me Up, Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist no. 3

I will be honest with you and admit that it took a lot of my willpower not to purchase one of those larger sets of Buxom's mini glosses that Sephora releases every Holiday season. I've contemplated their smaller set with two glosses and a Bold Gel lipstick, but upon swatching it in store, I decided that the Lip Shine in Gabby was way too glittery for me. I'm quite happy that I settled on Dolly in the end, because I know for sure I'll reach for it again and again, and I'm glad to have a tried and true gloss I can rely on. What is your favorite everyday lip gloss? Do you wear the same one again and again, or do you frequently rotate the ones in your stash?