daydreaming beauty

escape into my world of beauty!

Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish | Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

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I just received a sample of the newest foundation from Hourglass Cosmetics, the Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick. Today is my first day giving it a test, and I wanted to share my first impressions with you. Here’s a little info about the new foundation.

The Hourglass Vanish foundation stick comes in an impressive range of 26 shades, and is a waterproof, long wearing 12 hour formula. Vanish combines the coverage of a concealer, fluidity of a liquid foundation, and weightlessness of powder foundation. The formula is free from parabens, fragrance, gluten, sulfates, nano particles, phthalates, synthetic dyes, GMOs, and as always Hourglass is cruelty free.

The shade I have is Ivory, which is a light-medium shade with a cool undertone. The color is a perfect match with my summer skin shade. It’s got enough yellow that it works well to correct the red tones of my skin. The packaging is a sleek triangle twist up stick. The product itself is quite soft and smooth. It’s extremely pigmented and I only needed a few dabs on my face to get full coverage.

I’ll be honest now, I had some concerns about the stick foundation formula. My skin has been really oily lately, and I was worried this would be too emollient of a formula for my acne prone skin. I usually reach for liquid or powder foundations. I blended the foundation easily with the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush, which is a densely packed super soft, angled, PETA approved brush. I love that this brush is dense enough to blend well, but it’s flexible so that it doesn’t just move the foundation around too much. (I’m picky about my blending brushes, can you tell??)

I’m pleasantly surprised by the velvety powder finish of this foundation. It doesn’t look dewy or shiny on me all, but it’s not too flat either. For testing purposes, I have not used a powder or setting spray like I normally would. I want to get an idea of how the foundation holds up alone on oily skin. I felt like the formula covered my redness, acne scars and imperfections very well and I didn’t use an additional concealer.

The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation stick will be available at Sephora this month for $46 for .25oz of product. The Vanish Foundation Brush is also $46.

Sephora Bright Future Color Corrector + Concealer

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In my quest to find the best concealers and color correctors for my acne scars, I had to test the great range of shades in the Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum concealer line. There are currently 20 shades in the concealer line, and 5 in the color corrector line. I love the lightweight texture of these concealers and correctors. They seem to blend really easily into the skin. In my case, perhaps they blend a little too well. I can’t for the life of me get these to cover dark circles, redness, acne or scars. I want to love these concealers, I really do. They just don’t work with my skin. I have a similar problem with the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealers. My skin just seems to “eat” the pigment with these lightweight silicone based concealers. While they don’t work for my skin, they are a solid choice if you are looking for a good concealer with a fairly good range of shade options. This concealer is my top pick.

 

Find the Color Correctors and Concealers for $14 at Sephora. You can find the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer at ULTA Beauty for $24. I’m a big fan of this color corrector palette from NYX which you can purchase at ULTA for under $12. I’d love to hear your concealer and corrector brand favorites. Leave me a comment below with your top picks.

IT Cosmetics | it’s your customer favorites 4 piece collection

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IT Cosmetics is back on QVC 6/25 with another fabulous TSV!

This collection includes a super size CC+ Illumination, a new Heavenly Skin CC+ Skin Perfecting Brush, new Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment, and Tightline 3-in-1 Black Primer/Eyeliner/Mascara. The TSV and QVC shows begin at 12am on June 25th, and last all day.

 

The IT Cosmetics CC Cream is my HG foundation. The Illumination version is beautiful, but a bit too glowy on my oily skin. I’m excited about the new Je Ne Sais Quoi lip treatment. I can already tell it will be my go-to lip color this Summer. It feels a lot like the Lip Flush, but doesn’t have as much slip and has a different scent.

I love the new white brushes from IT. This is a bit smaller than the one from the March TSV (Pics here), and meant for foundation application. I usually apply the CC cream with my fingers, but will give this brush a try. It’s SOOOOO soft.

The regular price of the IT’s All About You Customer Favorites Collection is $72.50 regularly, and the TSV is $59.94.

I am giving away my super size CC+ Cream Illumination in the shade “medium” over on Snapchat. Add me - HERE or enter on my Instagram page.

Will you be picking up this fabulous IT Cosmetics TSV today?

GA-DE Cosmetics

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I have a new to me brand to share with you today, that you might not be familiar with either. GA-DE Cosmetics has been in business since the mid 80s, focusing on luxury color cosmetics, skin care, and fragrance. GA-DE is an Israeli brand, and I expect to see them more and more in the US. I feel like the products I tested out on are on par with Chanel.

GA-DE Cosmetics have nailed the sweet spot between product performance, aesthetic, and on trend shades and formulas. They are constantly trying new shades, formulas, and techniques to bring their customers new and beautiful products. The GA-DE brand is environmentally friendly, does not test on animals, and supports the community by donating and sponsoring local non-profit organizations.

I tried the Crystallic Luminous Silky Blush, Crystal Lights Lip Gloss, and Designer Lashes mascara. I couldn’t have been happier with the shades I was sent for review. I have the shade Sensual Blush in the Luminous Silky Blush, which is a beautiful neutral tone of plummy bronze. It doesn’t have shimmer, but it’s got a beautiful lit from within glow. It’s smooth, pigmented and lasts all day. Bonus points for the beautiful quilted texture pattern. I also love the large clear window, so I can see exactly what shade it is when I grab it from my makeup stash.

I have the Crystal Lights gloss in Sunstone, which is a beautiful nude loaded with shimmer. It has a moisturizing creamy feel with a scent of vanilla. It performs more like a balm, leaving my lips feeling soft and smooth. This is such a perfect nude shade, and I love the fun shimmer. The Designer Lashes mascara is a great choice if you like to add length and definition to your lashes. It has a large bristle brush that I would compare to the CoverGirl Lash Blast line. I feel like it’s a solid mascara formula for its lasting power. It doesn’t irritate my eyes, and there is no flaking or smudging.

 

The mascara retails for $18, the gloss is $20, and the blush is $30. They also have some gorgeous looking eye shadow palettes that are worth a look at. If you’d like to try out GA-DE Cosmetics, click the banner below to receive 25% off, through the end of June. I’d love to hear if you have tried the brand, or if you plan to!


Find GA-DE on Instagram and Facebook.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush Collection

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Remember the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous blushes in Tigerlily and Snapdragon I shared here? I’m back with the rest of the collection and a giveaway! Since receiving these blushes, I’ve used nothing else. I guarantee you there is a shade (or two) for all skin tones and types in this collection of six luminous blushes.

 

They are super pigmented, and thanks to BECCA Style Director Kerry Cole’s Instagram videos I’ve figured out the best application method for these blushes is with a fluffy brush and light hand. I typically like a small precise brush for blush, but the best way to apply the BECCA Luminous blushes is with a light hand, and fluffy brush that you can blend well with. I like this brush from IT Cosmetics.

 

 

The blushes last all day on my combo skin, even when I’m having an oily day. I never worry about the luminosity of BECCA’s products, because they are so finely milled, the shimmer never sits on top of your skin. Depending on your skin tone, you may be able to use the lighter shades as a highlight. My go to shades have been Camellia and Foxglove.

 

Camellia - ballerina pink

Foxglove - orchid

Dahlia - cabernet

Snapdragon - coral

Tigerlily - tangerine

Blushed Copper - copper

 

I have an extra two blushes that I’d like to giveaway. Enter to win either Tigerlily or Snapdragon. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Studio Gear True Whipped Stain Lip Gloss

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*sponsored by BrandBacker and Studio Gear Cosmetics*

Long wearing matte lip stains are all the rage right now. I have to tell you, I don’t like an uncomfortable liquid lipstick. The Studio Gear True Whipped Stain Lip Glosses are right up my alley. These lightweight whipped glosses have an easy to apply, and wear texture. The color doesn’t set for about 10 minutes so you have time to clean up the edges if you need to. I like the contoured doe foot applicator quite a bit. I get a solid 4 hour wear time before the matte gloss starts to wear off. There’s no patchiness when it starts to wear off,  which is a huge plus for a long wearing lip stain. The gloss leaves a nice stain on your lips, the darker and brighter the shade, the more of a stain you are left with.

Studio Gear Cosmetics started the True collection after its desire to create the perfect (not too orange, not too blue) red shade that would flatter all skin tones. The True collection now includes 3 eyeshadow palettes, True Matte lipsticks, and even makeup brushes. The shades are on trend, but wearable for all skin tones.

The lightest shade of the Studio Gear True Whipped Stain is a gorgeous my lips but better nude shade. There’s also a Fuchsia, Red, Wine, and Burgundy. I’ve even had good luck mixing the shades for a custom color.

Find the Studio Gear True Whipped gloss stain online. Studio Gear Cosmetics is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Use the code daydreaming16 for 10% off your order.

Tarte Double Duty Beauty: Eye & Cheek palette in Classic Courage

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I’m back with another beauty from Tarte Cosmetics Double Duty Beauty collection. The Classic Courage Eye & Cheek palette contains 6 warm eyeshadow shades and one neutral rosy blush. This palette is cute, compact, and comes with an inspirational message on the outside of the packaging. At $28, these palettes are a must have. I admit, I have a soft spot for Tarte palettes, and usually end up with most of them. One thing I love about my Tarte palettes is how useful they are. Typically, you might only use a few shades in most palettes but Tarte has a knack for putting great wearable colors together for everyday. I’ve used my Tartelette in Bloom palette almost daily since I got it. I’m beginning to wonder why I don’t have the original Tartelette. (Do I need it??)

While I absolutely love the Classic Courage palette, I’ve used it 3 times and I hate to say but the shades are a bit to warm for my skin tone. I don’t have Star Power, but it looks to be more of a neutral/cool toned palette. I have used the Classic Courage palette on my Mom, who is warm toned and the colors are stunning on her. The stand outs from the palette are Rosy Outlook, and Lucky Penny. Honestly, if you love rose gold and rosy copper shades, you need this palette! I don’t have anything like either of these shades in my eyeshadow collection.

Here’s what Tarte says about the Classic Courage and Star Power palettes:

Take your full face of fabulous from day to night with this full face eye & cheek palette. With two separate versions for neutral and smokey looks, each palette includes a full size blush and five shadows in mattes and lusters to create a range of looks to flatter any complexion. The pigment-packed formulas are powered by Amazonian clay to help balance skin so your makeup stays put, and each travel friendly palette includes a special message to inspire you to take on the day or night with confidence.

Classic Courage shades include:

  • Rise & Shine Eye Shadow (beige)
  • Lucky Penny Eye Shadow (rosy copper)
  • Trailblazer Eye Shadow (brown)
  • Rosy Outlook Eye Shadow (rose gold)
  • Smile On Eye Shadow (dark brown)
  • Courage Blush (nude pink)

 Star Power shades include:

  • Glimmer Eye Shadow (pearl)
  • Twilight Eye Shadow (grey)
  • Stiletto Eye Shadow (black)
  • Ladies Night Eye Shadow (light grey)
  • Sparks Fly Eye Shadow
  • Star Power Blush (rose)

Do you have either of these palettes? What do you think about all the new Tarte releases?

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Complexion Perfectors

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Tarte has so many new Spring products lately, I can barely keep up! I’ll be sharing a few of the products with you from the Double Duty Beauty and Rainforest of the Sea collections. I admit I have a foundation problem. I’m always searching for a great new foundation. I can’t help it. I don’t have perfect skin, and foundation formulas are changing and becoming lighter weight, and more pigmented. It’s a wonderful thing for this foundation obsessed gal with acne prone, red and textured skin. I need all the help I can get!

I had to try the Double Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel foundation, after seeing the incredible full coverage look online. Everyone on YouTube was saying this feels lightweight, but has full coverage. Music to my ears! I tested out light-neutral in the gel foundation, and light beige in the Confidence Creamy Powder foundation. The colors worked ok for me. A little on the peachy side for my neutral toned skin, but wasn’t overly light or dark. The Empowered Gel foundation has a strong fragrance, which dissipated in several minutes. The texture is nice, and the foundation does in fact provide a luminous full coverage look with a lightweight feel, as promised. That’s when things started to go downhill for me. The foundation doesn’t set. It stays tacky and quite dewy. I had to set it with powder to continue with the rest of my makeup. I was hoping for a medium-full coverage look from the Confidence Creamy powder but it provided a light setting powder and that’s it. I like that the powder foundation is enriched with skin care ingredients, and moisture. I can attest to the fact that it doesn’t get overly dry or cakey at all throughout the day.

Best makeup brushes to apply this foundation from:

Tarte, IT Cosmetics, and Beauty Junkees

My face was still fairly luminous after setting the Double Duty Beauty foundation with the Confidence Creamy Powder. Over the course of the day, my face began looking oily after two hours, and after six hours (without blotting or touching up) my makeup was broken up and looked quite patchy. At this point it also felt heavy, oily, and just plain gross.

The next day I applied a mattifying primer, the Empowered Gel foundation set with the Confidence Creamy powder, and set with a setting spray. I still had a luminous finish to start, and had to blot at the two hour mark. I blotted throughout the day and touched up with the powder twice. I had better results, but it was still a bit dewy for my taste and I found the constant blotting and touching up to be honestly more high maintenance than I like my foundation to be.

While this duo didn’t work out for me, if you have dry skin and like full coverage, give it a try. I think you might really love it. It does give a beautiful look if you like a luminous finish. Have you tried either of these foundations? I will be reviewing the other new foundation from Tarte, Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation, which I happened to LOVE!

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