Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer... a Dupe for MAC MSF????

I am always looking for good dupes in drugstore lines for products, so when I heard that Hard Candy's So Baked Bronzer was a dupe for MSF's I had to give it a try! If you remember Revlon launched a line of Colorstay products last year that were supposed to dupe MAC MSF's as well. (click here to read my thoughts on that product!)

I bought this one a couple of months back and I must say this time I think I really found a winner. When lightly applied this product can be used all over the skin to give a luminous yet natural look! Apply a more intense layer to parts of the face you really want a luminosity and you have a great glowy highlighted look!

This product comes in four shades, so there is something to be found for everyone. Even my pale skin can take the lightest shade (Tiki) without my face looking too dark or muddy! The marbleized product (again much like MSF) also means you can take colour from different area's to achieve different looks.

I really think for the price point you really can't go wrong with Hard Candy's So Baked Bronzer!!

Too Faced Waterproof Bronzer

Too Faced has launched Aqua Bunny... a waterproof bronzer. I haven't used too much from this line in the past but I have always heard great things about their bronzers!

If you are a Too Faced fan you really need to check this one out!

Click on picture to go to the Too Faced website!

Annabelle's Zebra Bronzer in Haute Gold

Yet again I am lucky enough to try an Annabelle product! This time it a bronzer, and the only one that I think I didn't already own from the Annabelle line! The Zebra bronzer  was a limited edition product but is becoming a part of the permanent collection, which is great news for the bronzer collector!

This bronzer is a blending of several colours that create a subtle bonze with a luminous glow. On my pale skin it is a great bronze without being harsh and the glow is nice for the dewy looks that are popular for the season. If you have a darker skin tone I can see it being worn all over to create an amazing luminous look for the skin!

The powder blends onto the skin so nicely that it almost melts into the skin. I always am impressed with annabelle powders and how finely milled they are for a drugstore brand! This means that the glow is just that and not a glittery type mess as I often see from other drugstore brands!

If you like a really deep intense bronzer this one isn't for you, but if you like a subtle look then at $11 this one is definitely worth checking out!

Annabelle Minerals and Lip Plumping Gloss

You all know how much I support the Annabelle cosmetics line. I have been using their products for years now and they have always been a staple for me. I was so excited when I was sent some goodies from the Mineral Collection as well as 2 shades of the Lip Plumping Gloss to try out.

I will start with my thoughts on the mineral collections. I was sent a foundation, blush as well as bronzer to try. I first used the blush and bronzer after getting my package. The blush was a beautiful pink colour which I really think is a tone that suits most of the population. I really liked this blush as it wasn't as shimmery as many mineral blushes can tend to be. It blended into the skin beautifully and such a little goes so far that this blush will last you forever!

The bronzer was a win for me as well. It comes in one shade and it worked beautifully on my pale skin. I have also used it on a client with my darker skin then me and it also worked well on her giving her a radiant glow without a glittery appearance. Again a little goes a long way with this product so the key is really starting with very little product.

The foundation is said to be 'a super light foundation that provides just the right amount of coverage. Its natural and pure formulation lets skin breathe'. This foundation is much lighter then other mineral foundations on the market, but it does still give a reasonable coverage. If you have a lot of skin issues such as acne, this may not be enough coverage for you, but for the average women who's skin has minimal discolouration to cover, I really think this is a great option.

Lastly is the Lip Plumping Gloss, which I received in Cherryoke and Sweet Tweet. Now it did take me a little while to get the knack of getting the gloss to come out of the tube (no idea what my issue was... haha) but once I did I really liked these glosses. Sweet Tweet is my fave as I love light pink shades of gloss and I simply love the way it looks on the lips. This gloss is very moisturizing which really did make my lips appear fuller. My lips are extremely dry so the moisture gives a fuller appearance for sure.

I really liked all of the products so again Annabelle did not disappoint!! If you love this line just as I do, be sure to check out these new additions next time you are shopping!

Cargo blu_ray Hi Definition Cosmetics

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to try several items from Cargo's blu_ray collection and I have been testing them for several weeks now. I have been using The blu_ray High Definition Mattifier, blu_ray Blush/Highlighter and blu_ray Bronzer.

The first product that I started using was the Mattifier. I jumped at the chance to try this product as according to Cargo is a  'Pore refining, line minimizing and mattifying, this product can be used over make-up or underneath as a primer for a camera-ready complexion.' I have fine lines and I am extremely oily so I it really seemed like the perfect product for me. I can honestly say I don't know what I did without this product! My makeup lasts  hours longer without touch up then it ever has before, and unlike other mattifiers also works as the perfect primer as well creating a smooth surface for makeup application.

The blu_ray Blush was the next thing that I tried. This product comes in two shades and I was given the peach tone to try. I really like this blush and think that it does gives a smooth appearance to the skin giving a glow without a real shimmery effect.

My final product to try was the blu_ray Bronzer. I really liked this matte bronzer which comes in one universal shade. It does on so smoothly and really does give a smooth look to the skin that differs from most bronzers on the market. I have used this product on many clients as well and this bronzer looks great on everyone!

I really loved all the products in the line that I have had a chance to try and they have become staples in my makeup routine. I am planning on picking up the other products offered in the line so that I can complete my collection! If you haven't tried Cargo I think blu_ray is a great line to start with!!

Pure Anada Mineral Makeup

I have been using Pure Anada for over a year now and love several products that I wanted to share with you. Pure Anada is a Canadian makeup company who sell mostly though distributors as well as online.  Their blushes along with several eyeshadow shades and mineral veil have become staples in my kit through out the past year.

At first I wasn't sure about the veil as it seemed very dark compared to my skin; however it soon became one of my favorite bronzer shades for the winter. It's golden hue and wonderful luminescence gave me a wonderful glow during the winter months. They do carry bronzers but I find the veil just perfect for my skin tone when I am not tanned!

Their blushes come in a wide variety of shades but my favorites from the ones I have tried are Raspberry Parfait and Spring. Spring is a great brown peach tone that goes on so smoothly and gives a hint of colour perfect for paler skin tones! Raspberry Parfait is a great deep pink shade that still looks like a natural glow. It is great for deeper skin tones but still can be used the lighter skin toned gals with out looking too dark!

For the eye's have one shade that stand out from all the one's that I have tried and that is Gold Dust! It is the perfect shade in my opinion for the brow bone. It gives a great highlight and shimmer that finishes off any look that you are wearing. I use it almost everyday and love how it lifts the eye and accentuates the shape of the brow as well.

So there you have it my favorite products from this line! I know they have come out with new shades and products since my last order so check them out to see what they have to offer!!

Gosh Cosmetics Giant Sun Powder Review

So this week I did a little shopping (hint, hint more reviews to come) and I bought a lot of new goodies! One of these goodies was Gosh cosmetics new Giant Sun Powder. This is a huge bronzing compact that has a very luminescent quality to it. I would say it is trying to be a more subtle version of Illamasqua's Liquid Metal bronzer, this is the closest comparison I can think of... now on to the review.

This bronzer is one of the largest I have seen, the picture just does not do it justice. It has a price tag of $25 which is bad for all the product you get in this powder. I wouldn't use this one as an all over face bronzer at least not for the daytime, it's luminescence is just a little too much. As a gold highlight for the face (tutorial coming soon on great places to use this product) as well as for the body this product is amazing. There is no oranginess to this one, only a wonderful gold colour that is just beautiful even on pale skin tones such as mine.

I think this is a great product and I am so glad that I gave this one a try. There may not be much sun so far the summer but at least it looks like I have a healthy glow!

To Bronze or Not to Bronze That is the Question!

Bronzers...everyone wants to try them but so often you see orange people out there that got the concept completely wrong!! Bronzers are a great tool to create a healthy sun kissed glow all year round, leaving you looking well rested and healthy. So many brands make bronzers that have an almost orangeness to them that let people know that your bronze glow was purchased not placed there by the sun. So I'm reviewing several drug store brands of bronzers that I have tried. Some I love and others I will only use then a shoot calls for orange skin!! As well I will give a couple tips for application so that your glow looks natural and flawless.

Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer was a recent purchase that went back to the store the next day! I had high hopes for this one as the beautician raved and said that it was the best one now available. I love bronzers with a natural illumination but this one sparkled like I was headed out to a dance club not on my daily routine! The colour choice was not the best and I either had to choose sickly almost no bronze or the next shade up. This one went on orange as if I had rust on my face and it's texture was very heavy it was difficult to get a light application. This one got two thumbs way down!!!

Next is Rimmel as a brand they are not my favorite for quality but they are one of the best drug store brands for bronzer I have seen. Their basic bronzer is a great colour with no orangeness and it has a matte finish with is easy to work with. It's application is smooth and not heavy so you can build the look you want. The shades are great so you can find one for most skin tones! Rimmel also does great limited edition bronzers every year that have illuminating qualities, I always take advantage of these to have a selection on hand! I give Rimmel my stamp of approval.

Previously I reviewed Cover Girl's mineral bronzer which I thought was also a good bronzer so please check that post out by clicking the link for more detail on that specific product.

Next is application techniques which is by far the most important part of a great bronzed look. First of all use the biggest brush you have, small brushes just give a streaky look that does not look natural. Next after applying product to the brush create a 3 shape by starting at the forehead going down the temple and out along the cheek bone then back down by your year and along the jaw bone. Do this on both sides and you will create almost a figure eight shape. Next with what is left on your brush brush along your nose and chin as the sun would naturally hit these places as well. Don't forget if you are creating a very bronzed look to as well brush along you neck so that you are not two toned.

Well I hope this helps you get the right product and create the perfect summer bronzed looked. I have several more bronzers I will be testing in the coming weeks and I will add my reviews of those soon!

Happy bronzing!