January Favorites!

Assalamu wa Alaykum/Hi,

It's been a while! I'm in my second week of my last semester in college. I can't wait to graduate! My mind is not for school work anymore. Anyway, this post is going to be my January Favorites. I'm only included things I haven't talked about in a previous favorites post/video. So, this post isn't going to be a long one.

1. Bobbi Brown Bronze Glow Highlighter
Okay, I lied. This highlighter was in my last favorites video on my channel. I love it that much. Everyone, on YouTube especially, raves about it. It's more gold than bronze on my skin tone. But, it's still beautiful.

2. MAC Conceal and Correct Palette in Medium/Deep
I've been using the Burnt Orange shade in this palette the most to conceal the darkness under my eyes and around my mouth. I mix NC 40 and NC 42, the two top concealers to conceal and highlight under my eyes.

3. Tarte Tartelette Palette
If you watch my latest tutorials you would know of my love for this palette. It's my first completely matte palette and I love shimmer. It's also my first Tarte palette. The shadows don't seem to swatch nicely but they apply well. I did a separate review video with swatches on my channel. That video should be in the video player on the right side of my blog. If it's not there already it will be there soon.

4. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Kelly
All the hype surrounding the NARS lipsticks made me want to get one bad. I picked this one up at the NARS boutique on Madison avenue. I was going to get a more natural color but my friend convinced to get something bright for spring. I guess when the makeup artist that was helping us heard spring she went all out because this color is so bright. It's not even the first one she tried on me! That one was even brighter! When I saw this on my first reaction was to take it off right away. But, that had more to do with me than the lipstick. However the more I looked at myself with it on, the more I came to like it.

This shade is exclusive to NARS boutiques. (and possibly Barney's? I'm not 100 percent sure.) That makes it even more special to me because it can't be found everywhere. It's a bright pink/coral color. I wore this lipstick in my December Ipsy video. The formula of these lipsticks are amazing! It's so creamy! I intend to get more very soon

5. Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
I received this powder in one of my previous Ipsy bags. I use this powder to set my under eye concealer/highlight and anywhere else that I've cream highlighted, such as the bridge of my nose, my forehead, and my cupids bow. Although it's invisible it brightens my under eye in a way that doesn't look unnatural.

6. L'oreal True Match Foundation in W8
I don't have that many drugstore foundations for winter. Most of the ones I have are for my summer shade. So, I decided to pick this one up and I'm so glad that I did. Since the weather is much colder and dryer now, my skin has gotten significantly dryer. This foundation isn't completely matte. It has more luminosity to it than say my BECCA Ultimate Coverage Creme foundation which I also love. I prefer to apply this foundation with my Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush and it's perfect for every day. The coverage is medium and that's perfect for every day. However, I usually don't use it when I'm filming. My camera shows everything which is a good and a bad thing.

7. ELF Complete Coverage Concealer Palette
I bought this concealer palette mainly to cream contour with. It also has a shade that is perfect for me to spot conceal imperfections with. The concealers are creamy and pigmented. For only $3 that is a steal!

So, That's it.

What have you been loving in the month of January?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

June Favorites!

Assalamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

June has ended therefore it's time for me to share my favorites. Also, Ramadan Kareem to everyone that will be observing the holy month. There are some things from my previous favorites post that I'm still using such as my Chocolate Bar palette, the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, and my Beauty Blender. They won't be mentioned in this favorites but you can read my May favorites here.

1) Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Pandore

This one is a new love of mine. It's long lasting and very pigmented! You can read my review here.

2) Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer

This my go to when I don't want to wear foundation but I want some kind of coverage. It's a little pricey but it does what it needs to do. You can read my review of it here.

3) MAC Lipstick in Mystical + Jordana Lip liner in Sliver Lilac

The MAC lipstick is from the Alluring Aquatic Collection.This combination gives me a very natural looking lip color. When I wear the lipstick alone I don't like the way it looks on my lips. So, I wear the lip liner under it to give it more of a purple undertone.

 I'm wearing this lip duo in the picture below.

 

4)Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

This foundation is another new love. It doesn't keep me matte all day, but it keeps me matte longer than most foundations that I've tried. I recently reviewed this foundation. I'm in the shade 6W1 Sandalwood.

5) Orange is the New Black

I haven't done a miscellaneous post about one of my favorite TV shows in a while so I decided to add one to this month's favorites. I surprisingly became hooked on this show. I've heard the hype but  didn't expect it to get drawn in. I watched all two seasons on Netflix in a week. That's how bad it was. I expected the main character Piper to be in the fashion industry because of the title of the show. But, she wasn't. Despite that the show is well written and addictive. I recommend it if you a lot of free time you need to fill. This show is for mature viewers so make sure you're of age and there are no children in the room with you.

So, That's it.

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

May Favorites!

Asslamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

I'm hoping I get this out at a relatively decent time. I missed a few of these but I didn't really have any new favorites to put up. So, here's May's list:

1) Too Faced's Better than Sex mascara

I got a sample of this mascara in Sephora's Lash Stash to go. I plan to review all five of the mascaras I received in that set separately. This one will be the first. I will probably review it in my next blog post. Sneak peak: I love it. Obviously, it is in my favorites.

2) Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette*

My love for this palette has yet to fade. I'm not go talk about it much more detail. But, you can read my review on it here.

3) Too Faced's Chocolate Bar palette*

I've worn these two palettes non-stop since I bought them. You can read my review on this palette here.

4) Beauty Blender

I probably won't review this one but it is a definite favorite! It's worth the $20. It has become my preferred way blending out my tinted moisturizer, my foundation, and my concealer. It gives a very natural look. I remember the first time I used it with my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. A few hours later I thought that my face was getting oily but it wasn't. It was just the finish that I got with the beauty blender. Don't take that the wrong way! I didn't mean it negatively but it gave me a natural glow. It looked very much like my skin...just a better version.

5) Mac lipstick in Flat Out Fabulous

This was a wonderful find! One of the makeup artists at the MAC counter in Macy's suggested this color to me because I wanted a pink but nothing too bright and nothing that I already have. She showed me this and when I tried it on I knew I was buying it. It's a beautiful bright fuchsia perfect for spring and summer. The only thing I don't like about this lipstick is that at times it can make your teeth look a little yellow.

This a picture of me with it on:

6) Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer*

This is another favorite that I did a review on and you can read it here.
I've worn this tinted moisturizer most days when I don't want to go with full foundation.

7)NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer*

Clearly, once I find something I like I'm all about it. This concealer is just beautiful. Yes, I am raving. You can read my review on this concealer here.

8) Real Techniques Powder Brush

I was desperately in need of a new powder brush and have been eyeing the Real Techniques line for the longest. Finally, I was able to pick it up at a local drugstore near my university at a discount. I'm glad I bought it. It does what it needs to do. It's so soft and fluffy. The bottom of the handle is flat so it can stand by itself. It was little over $6 but I got a dollar off so around $5.

So, That's it.

Are any of these your favorites? What have you been loving this past month?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

Review: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

Hi/ Assalamu wa Alaykum,

It's been a while. This semester is so draining. So, I didn't really buy/ wear a lot of makeup. Plus my skin was acting up. Now, I'm starting to get back into the swing of things again.

So, I've seen the hype surrounding the Laura Mercier foundations and tinted moisturizer. I decided to see if it was worth it. I chose the tinted moisturizer because the weather is going to be getting much warmer soon ( or so they say!) and I want something lighter than a normal liquid foundation.

I purchased the tinted moisturizer that is oil free and has a broad spectrum of spf 20. I bought this from Sephora for a whopping $43! Which is really expensive!

This is what the packaging looks like. I didn't take a picture of the back but there is a strip that shows you what the foundation color is supposed to look like and the name. Mine is in the color Walnut.

Here is a swatch:

The claims:

What it is: A perfect blend of skincare and makeup that helps control oil breakthrough and gives skin a sheer hint of colour for a healthy, natural glow..

What it is formulated to do: Laura Mercier created this product to give skin a healthy ‘no-makeup’ look with a soft hint of colour that evens and enhances without hiding the skin. This oil-free lightweight formula provides ideal protection from the sun’s harmful, damaging rays with broad spectrum SPF 20 UVB/UVA sunscreen. Perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive or oily skin.

This product has light to medium coverage. It evens out the skin nicely.You can layer it for more coverage. I wouldn't advise doing more than two layers. Otherwise it will be noticeable and defeat the purpose of a tinted moisturizer. 

I can't say whether or not this helps control oil. Normally, my skin is really oily, but ever since I returned from Dubai my skin has become so dry. It's getting back to normal though. So, when I was wearing this yesterday I did see myself get a little shiny about 4 hours after I applied it.

I've heard that the oil free version is more watery than the normal version. I don't know if that makes a difference with regard to coverage. 

Here is what it looks like on:

You can still see my skin showing through. So, it does give a very natural finish.

So far I've been pleased with it. It matches me well and blends in nicely. Would I repurchase it? Hmm, I'm leaning more towards a no on that one. Before I bought this product I made my own tinted moisturizers by mixing a foundation and a moisturizer in my hands and then applying it to my face. I recommend doing that. If you prefer to buy one and don't mind paying $43, then go for it. I am, however, interested in trying there foundations now.

Have you tried this tinted moisturizer before? What did you think?

P.S. I've been thinking of starting a schedule. Perhaps a review every Thursday that way I have a post up at least once a week. I'm not sure yet.

Until Next Time

Aleema :)