An Oily Girl's Dream? A Review of the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation

As excited as I am to see a forecast full of 70 degree weather, there is one definitive downside to the sunny warmth of spring. My skin will begin its transformation from usually-kinda-shiny to uber-mega-greasefest. Yes, oily skin shows signs of aging more slowly than dry skin, so I've got that going for me. But in the meantime, the struggle to keep my makeup from literally melting off my face is real.

If you're in the same boat as I, you've probably tried what feels a million different mattifying foundations, primers, and powders in pursuit of some miracle product that doesn't make you cakey and dry as the Sahara, but that also doesn't break down and turn into a shiny mess after a few hours. While I've certainly encountered my fair share of adequate products, finding something that truly blows my mind is a rarity.

And that's what we're here to discuss today.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette Review

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If you haven't already met the latest addition to the Anastasia Beverly Hills family of eyeshadow palettes, let me take a moment to properly introduce you. The Soft Glam Palette is Anastasia's homage to the season of special occasions - from proms, to cocktail parties, to showers and weddings, this collection of essential neutral shades has everything you need for a classic, elegant look. The overall response to this palette launch has been pretty polarized by the beauty community. Some people are head-over-heels in love with the shade selection, while others find it to be one of the most boring debuts of 2018. Considering the fact that I made the decision to add this palette to my collection you can probably guess which side of the fence I'm on.

To me, Soft Glam is a timeless palette that can just as easily create an everyday, work appropriate look as a sultry, smokey eye. It doesn't have the most earth shattering or unique combination of colors, however that's exactly why I think I was drawn towards it. While there are seemingly countless options of neutral palettes on the market, not all of them deliver on quality the way that ABH does. This particular shade selection, paired with Anastasia's fantastic eyeshadow formula, was all the convincing I needed.

Fresh for Spring: The New Pixi Pretties Collection

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If you were to ask me what beauty brand exudes springtime, I don't think anyone could top Pixi. From their pastel green packaging, to their glow inducing, rose-infused skincare, to their soft, ethereal makeup, Pixi's products are basically the cosmetic equivalent of frolicking in a field of flowers. Sweet, feminine, and effortless, Pixi Beauty is the perfect brand for more minimal makeup lovers, and is one of my go-tos whenever I'm craving a lighter look.

As we're FINALLY starting to see the signs of Spring here in New England, the timing is perfect to start playing with some fresh, new makeup. Earlier this year, Pixi released a new range of products to their Influencer-created Pixi Pretties collection. Last year's offerings, such as the It'sEyeTime Palette and Double Cleanse, were some of my most treasured products of 2017, so I was incredibly excited to see what new collaborations Pixi had in store for us.

Falling In Love All Over Again: New Launches From BareMinerals

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If I was to ask myself which makeup brand I've had the longest relationship with, nothing even comes close to BareMinerals. Their Original Loose Powder Foundation was the first high-end product I ever remember owning, and I treasured that jar like it was filled with powdered gold. The obsession only continued - from warmth and mineral veil, to blushes, eyeshadows, and even brow powder. At one point I'm pretty sure my entire makeup routine (with the exception of mascara and lipstick, perhaps) consisted entirely of BareMinerals loose powders.

Fast forward 15 years (...seriously though, how has it been that long?) and BareMinerals products are still some of my everyday go-tos. Of course, a lot of things have changed since high school. With the addition of skincare and pressed powders, the BareMinerals lineup is way more comprehensive than it was in the early 2000s. And while some brands miss the mark while trying to be trendy or keep up with the times, I feel like BareMinerals has always managed to find that sweet spot of creating classic, effortless, everyday products that can work for women of any age.

All that being said, you can imagine my excitement over having the opportunity to go to New York City for an event promoting the launch of the new BarePro 16 Hour Full Coverage Concealer. I have been obsessed with the BarePro Performance Wear Powder Foundation, which provides beautiful, matte coverage while being incredibly convenient and easy to apply. In addition to the concealer, I also got to take home a few other new goodies from BareMinerals to test and try out for you guys. So let's jump in and take a closer look at the latest additions to the family!

A Lesson in Luxury from Emile Cordon

*PR Sample

As someone that grew up in a coupon-clipping, sale-shopping, extra-frugal household, my relationship with the idea of luxury has been a complicated one. Purchases were all about practicality and purpose. As long as it got the job done, spending any more than the bare minimum was unnecessary. That being said, your girl has also always had expensive tastes. My father used to joke that if you took all the price tags off everything in a store, and asked me to pick one thing to buy, it would still end up being the priciest thing they had to offer.

What can I say? I've got an eye for quality.

It's never been about status or appearances, or wanting to impress people with designer labels. I'm just an incredibly sensory person, and have a strong appreciation for the experience of something. Catching a whiff of a beautiful perfume, indulging in the velvety texture of a lotion, being mesmerized by the sparkle of a glittery shadow. That to me is what luxury is really about.

And of course, a luxurious experience or product doesn't necessarily have to be ridiculously priced. I've found my fair share of budget-friendly indulgences over the years. But when you've always felt a pang of guilt when it comes to treating yourself, or never allowed yourself to believe that spending a little more on a certain product is worth it, there is a certain power in giving yourself permission to just enjoy something seemingly frivolous every once in a while.

That perspective is exactly what has lead me to a place of appreciation for the Emile Cordon Cashmere-On Lip Pots. 10 years ago I would have never been able to conceive how a $42 lip balm could possibly be worth it. And while I still wouldn't call something like this a necessity, I have way less judgment around the idea of wanting to pamper yourself with such a luxurious product. If these magical little pots have the potential to bring a moment of joy and self-care to your day, then maybe they're worth the splurge.

New in For Spring 2018: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector

*PR Sample/Affiliate links used

Spring is officially here, and I am SO ready to start switching up my makeup routine. I always prefer to take things in a lighter, brighter direction as the weather warms up - from glowy blushes, to fresh-faced bases, to glossy lips. So of course, this new launch came to me at the perfect time! Thanks to Influenster I had the opportunity to test out the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector in exchange for an honest review. This lightweight perfecting base is designed to blur the look of imperfections on the skin while still being fairly sheer, natural, and easy to apply. After having a few weeks to put it to the test I'm finally ready to report back and share my thoughts with you!

Add a Touch of Glam with Esqido Lashes

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Over this past year I've become a bit smitten with falsies. It's not that I wear them on the daily (your girl needs to give her eyes a break), but my glam looks feel totally incomplete without them. There's just no denying that a great pair of false lashes can take your makeup to a whole new level, and once you've appreciated the difference it's hard to ever go back. That being said, falsies have an unfortunate reputation of being immensely frustrating to apply and uncomfortable to wear. Having been there myself, I totally understand why. I used to HATE wearing falsies back in my ballroom days, and never understood how someone could enjoy wearing them with any kind of regularity.

And then I realized I was doing so many things wrong. I wasn't trimming my lashes (rookie mistake #1). I was using glue that irritated my eyes and didn't have a lot of staying power (rookie mistake #2). And I had never tried a pair of lashes that cost more than $3 (not necessarily a mistake, but cheap lashes are sort of the equivalent of hotel coffee. It'll get the job done, but if it's your first experience with coffee it's not necessarily the most fair way to judge whether you like it or not).

Needless to say, with a little bit of practice and a better understanding of how to get the most out of your falsie experience, you can quickly come to appreciate how awesome they can be. Lately I've been on a bit of a kick of experimenting with different brands and styles to see how they compare. So when Esqido, a luxury mink lash brand, recently reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try a pair of their lashes I happily took them up on their offer.

New at the Drugstore for Spring 2018: Milani Eyeshadow Palettes

Friends, I've got another ridiculously exciting spring makeup launch to share with you! Milani is releasing not one, but two eyeshadow palettes that may just rival what you're used to seeing from high end brands. Most Loved Mattes is a collection of 12 matte shadows in everyday essential neutral tones, while Bold Obsessions has a mixture of mattes and metallics perfect for creating your next glam look. As soon as they appeared in the displays at my local Walmart I knew I needed to pick them up to review for you. So let's take a closer look!

Major Deal Alert! Sephora Favorites Selfie Kit

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Friends, I've got a nostalgic place in my heart for these Sephora Favorites kits. When I first started out blogging and couldn't afford to drop hundreds of dollars on new makeup to review, they were one of my favorite ways to explore the beauty scene on a budget. From glowy essentials, to the latest in nude lips, Sephora does a great job of curating fun and trendy collections of products to sample.

Admittedly, since those early days my beauty collection has grown to a healthy size, and I find myself being a lot more discerning about whether or not I really need another sampler set. This Selfie Kit, though. This was a deal too good for me to pass up.

New at the Drugstore for Spring 2018: Physician's Formula's Latest Launches

While the temperatures in New England are still below freezing, it appears that Spring has arrived in the beauty world. Over the past couple of weeks, brands all over have been dropping the first of their 2018 launches, gearing up for what will surely be another epic year in beauty. While I'm currently on a no-buy for January, I did manage to pick up a few of Physician's Formula's latest releases to test out at the end of last year. The new Healthy range includes a foundation and a liquid lipstick, both with wider shade selections than any other product I've seen previously from the brand. They've also expanded their insanely popular Butter range with the addition of the Butter Highlighter - a cream-to-powder formula that sports the same heavenly tropic scent. After about a month of playing around with these products, I've got some thoughts to share. 

Winky Lux Kitten Palette Review

Happy New Year, beauties! I know it's been a while since I've posted here, but I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things for 2018. For those of you who aren't already aware, I've been spending a lot of my time as-per-late creating videos for my YouTube Channel. It's been a really fun and refreshing change of pace to sit and chat to the camera, but I don't ever want to completely abandon my blogging roots.

And what better way to get back to blogging than by sharing a good ol' review of one of my favorite things on the planet? I've never been shy about my love for eyeshadow palettes, and this one, friends, is really a gem. The Winky Lux Kitten Palette is something I received a few months back in a Boxycharm (which, on a sidenote, has quickly become my favorite beauty subscription service), and totally blew me away with its quality. Winky Lux is an up-and-coming, Cruelty-Free makeup brand with a super fun, feminine aesthetic, and a very reasonable price point. This palette, for example, is only $25 and contains 9 beautiful, buttery matte and metallic shades that strike a perfect balance between being colorful and neutral.

Jouer Skinny Dip Ultra Foil Shimmer Shadow Palette Review

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If there is one makeup trend that I can't seem to get enough of lately, it's an intense, shimmery eye. Yes, I've always been one of those girls that oohs and ahhs over anything shiny, so it's entirely unsurprising that I'd fall in love with putting sparkles all over my eyelids. But for a while there I had avoided the trend all together. Having grown up in the 90s, I made some pretty strong associations between glitter and looking cheap or tacky (if you ever purchased Claire's makeup as a tween, you might understand what I'm talking about). For years that meant avoiding makeup with anything other than a slight shimmer or sheen.

But then cosmetics companies started doing something wonderful. They began to create stunning, glittery makeup that still managed to look sophisticated. Where glitter was once chunky and unappealing, it has now become micro-fine, brilliant, and elegant. And one absolutely perfect example of this transformation is the Jouer Skinny Dip Ultra Foil Shimmer Shadow Palette. These eyeshadows are an absolute dream to work with, and leave your lids with the most gorgeous, glittery, foiled effect. So if you too are a glitter lover at heart, but have been unsure of whether or not you've outgrown the days of wearing it, perhaps this palette will be a game changer for you as well.

Score Some Serious Savings: The Tarte Good-For-You Glamour 6-Piece Color Collection

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When it comes to my general makeup buying preferences, I'd define myself as a dabbler. I own one or two products from a LOT of different brands, as opposed to having tons from any one in specific. I love to experiment and try new things, but generally only buy the products that really grab my attention. The one exception to all of this? Tarte.

Somehow over the last year I've amassed a giant collection of their products, and it's probably because almost everything I try ends up becoming an absolute necessity in my everyday makeup routine. Their Amazonian Clay Waterproof Brow Pencil quickly took the number one spot over my Brow Wiz, the Double Take Eyeliner is the only one I ever really need, and the Shape Tape...well. I don't even think I need to explain my love of Shape Tape.The long story short of it is, I've probably tried more from Tarte than I have any other single brand, and its rare that I come across a dud.

Which brings us back to today's adventure in beauty. A few weeks ago I was somewhat mindlessly scrolling through my Facebook news feed, when up pops an ad for a set of Tarte products on QVC. Now, I'd never bought anything from QVC before, and I knew I had absolutely no need for any more Tarte makeup.

And yet.

This set was honestly such an amazing value I couldn't pass up the opportunity to review it. And not just that "Limited Edition Set" kind of value where it looks like you're getting a great deal but actually you're paying for a sub-par product that's in no way comparable to the original goods. No, this set contained multiple full-sized permanent products for a ridiculous price. Sounds pretty sweet, am I right? So let's break down exactly what you get and whether or not it was as awesome of a deal as it seemed.

Overcoming the Fear of Falsies: A Battington Lash Starter Kit Review

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Fun little fact about me: back in my college days I used to be a competitive ballroom dancer. No, I don't watch Dancing With the Stars (don't even get me started), but yes, the sport will always have a special place in my heart. While of course improving your dance technique and learning routines is a large part of what it means to be a ballroom dancer, there is also needing to wear elaborate costumes, donning your face in 10 pounds of makeup, and slathering yourself from head to toe in self tanner. Cultivating that perfect appearance of a professional dancer takes a whole lot of trial and error, and unfortunately for my much younger self, there was a lot of error.

If there was one thing I could go back in time and teach a college aged Lauren, having now had years of blogging and developing my beauty expertise, it would be how the heck to properly pick out and apply false eyelashes. Lord knows I had no idea what I was doing, and as a result I was completely turned off to the entire concept up until this last year. Honestly, I think falsies get that bad rep of being uncomfortable, difficult to use, or unnatural looking because a lot of other people are in the same boat as I was ten years ago.

But the truth is, false lashes don't really have to be any of those things. Take, for example, these Battington 3D Silk Lashes. Not only are they super lightweight and comfortable on the eyes, but I also know when I wear them it doesn't look like I'm wearing falsies. Yes my lashes look more full and beautiful, but they aren't obviously fake to the person I might be sitting across the table from. And, if the lashes themselves weren't awesome enough, this Birchbox exclusive starter kit that has everything you need to adventure into the world of falsies in one convenient package. Curious to know more? I thought you might be.

Ten Lip Products to Try for Fall

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As much as it pains me to say goodbye to the long, sunny days of summer, I think I'm finally ready to embrace all things fall. Yes, bring on the blanket scarves, the plaid shirts, and everything pumpkin spice. I'm a New Englander, and when the leaves start to turn its hard to not find yourself getting swept up in that autumnal spirit.

One of the first places I turn to welcome each new season is my everyday lip collection. While it's true that there are no rules in makeup, I personally find it fun to change up shades and textures at different times of the year. Which, for right now, means trading in my peaches, corals, and vibrant pinks for rich reds, warm nudes, bold berries, and rusty hues. After spending a good amount of time swatching and playing with a somewhat ridiculous number of lipsticks, I've got ten gorgeous shades to share with you. From your classic mattes to sheer glosses, I think there's a little something here for everyone!

Juvia's Place The Saharan Eyeshadow Palette Review

Friends, if you haven't yet heard about Juvia's Place, and you consider yourself to be a lover of eyeshadow, I am about to blow your mind.

There have been few makeup brands that have impressed me as much as Juvia's Place has. If you want unique, high quality, cruelty-free eye shadows for an insanely reasonable price tag, and to support a female-owned brand designed with Women of Color in mind, you need, yes NEED to check out their products.

While they have certainly garnered popularity after NikkieTutorials started singing their praises last year, Juvia's Place is still relatively unknown by the average person. As a smaller indie brand you won't find their products on the shelves of Ulta, Sephora, or your local drugstore. Instead you'll have to head on over to their website, or get lucky like I did and manage to snag their products from Hautelook when a sale comes around. Yes, there is something to be said for putting your faith in an online purchase without having the opportunity to swatch and play with it in person. But I promise, this eyeshadow palette does not disappoint.

Bloomingdale's Exclusive: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips

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Guys, I am SO excited to finally have my hands on my very first Charlotte Tilbury products! As a makeup addict/lover of all things rose gold, Charlotte's line seriously speaks to my heart. Truly the only reason I haven't added her products to my collection is that they come with a luxury price tag, and given my current state of budgeting I've had to make some tough calls about what can and cannot be purchased off my wish list. However, the stars apparently aligned, and I was gifted two of her latest lip launches at a recent beauty event. I was over-the-moon thrilled to finally get to experience her makeup first hand, and to let you all know whether or not they are actually worth the splurge!

Motives Mavens Element Color Box Review

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As someone that's tried hundreds upon hundreds of beauty products and that spends an embarrassing amount of time reading reviews and keeping up on the latest launches, it's a bit of a shock to come across a well-established brand that I've never heard of. While my immediate response is to feel like I've been living under a rock, I think it also goes to show that the world of beauty influencers is pretty heavily biased. Everyone always seems to be raving about the same big name brands carried at Sephora and Ulta, to the point that you can forget there's a lot of fantastic stuff going on outside of their doors.

By a matter of happy coincidence I was introduced a few months ago to Motives Cosmetics, which with over 2 million Instagram followers, is certainly not your small indie startup. In fact, they've been around for almost a decade under the umbrella of internet marketing and product brokerage giant Market America. They've got a pretty extensive range of products, have been featured by tons of magazines and websites, and have still managed to totally fly under my radar.

Of course, as is the case with any die-hard beauty fan, my curiosity was immediately piqued. What are their products like? Is there a reason no one is talking about them? Or was I about to stumble upon a beauty gold mine of underrated goodies? The only way to find the answer was to get my hands on some Motives products and find out for myself!

Morphe 35B Color Glam Eyeshadow Palette Review

If there is such a thing as a color bug, I've been bitten by it. Either that or it's just all of the amazing colorful looks that I've seen while scrolling through my Instagram feed. Either way, I've had a hankering for putting bold bright shades on my eyes as per late, and had been looking to add something to my collection to give me a little more variety than what exists in all of my neutral palettes. At first I spent a fair amount of time hemming and hawing over the new Sephora Pro Editorial Palette, but spending $68 on something that I would only use for creating looks to film or photograph seemed like a bit of an unwise investment.

But then, I made a discovery. While prepping my shopping cart to purchase the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill collaboration, I noticed a palette that was EXACTLY what my heart desired. The Morphe 35B Palette had 35 stunning ridiculously colorful shades and retailed for only $19.99. Paying $68 for an artistic palette when you aren't a makeup artist is iffy, but $20? $20 I can justify. Surprisingly, I had never tried anything from Morphe before (the Jaclyn Hill palette was to be my first purchase) and I decided that this was a wonderful opportunity to explore the brand. So I snatched that baby up along with a few eye brushes that I thought would be helpful for getting my inner MUA on, and am here to report back on my thoughts!

Maybelline Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner Review

 *This post was sponsored by Maybelline. All opinions expressed are my own.

In the world of beauty, there are lots of myths and preconceived notions about certain products. Foundation does not, in fact, have to feel like a mask. Those with a natural flush to their cheeks can look beautiful wearing blush. And if the first image that pops into your head when you hear the word "lipliner" is that whole let's-rock-a-liner-10-shades-darker-than-my-lipstick trend, I am about to give you a whole new perspective.

As a self-proclaimed Lazy Girl it's true that applying a liner under my lipstick is not always something I make the time for. However, ever since Maybelline sent me their new range of  Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liners to review, I've been reminded how worth it that extra step can be. A great lipliner will not only give your lip look extra precision and wear time, but it can also open up a ton of artistic possibilities. Whether you want to create a custom lip cocktail, or a perfect ombre illusion, the world of lipliner is your oyster.