Foundation Review: Dior 1CR Forever Skin Glow

Today's review is for the Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation in 1CR

Availability: This is retails at just around $52 for 30 mL (1 fl. oz.) and can be purchased at sephora.com, macys.com, nordstrom.com, bloomingdales.com along with their respective physical store locations along with dior.com.

Would I buy this? No.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?

Let's quote from sephora.com, shall we?
What it is: A medium-to-full-coverage foundation that remains flawless for up to 24 hours, in a radiant finish with SPF 35.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Formulation: Liquid
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily
SPF: SPF 35
What Else You Need to Know: The iconic, long-wearing Forever foundation, now in a radiant finish, creates a complexion that appears flawless and even, with tighter-looking pores. From morning to night, the skin-perfecting formula delivers a naturally-vibrant, shine-free glow. The skin is protected against exterior aggressors, including UVA and UVB rays with SPF 35 broad spectrum sunscreen. This foundation is also available in a velvet-matte finish.
Clinical Results: In a test on 55 women:
- 84% found their complexion fresh and natural
- 80% found that the product was gentle on the skin, leaving it smooth and supple

Does this come in any other shade than the one pictured above?

This comes in 24 shades.

What's the coverage/consistency like?

I would say this has a medium-full, very buildable coverage with a natural-looking finish.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?

According to sephora.com:

- Pansy Extract Hydration Booster: Helps protect the skin from drying, leaving it soothed, and looking smoother and more radiant.
- Rose Hip Extract: The star ingredient of Dior Forever, helps protect skin from external aggressors and reduce the appearance of pores.
Other than the botanical extracts listed above:

Glycerin which is a humectant and draws moisture in from the environment
Octinoxate 3%, Titanium Dioxide 1.75% as sunscreen

Is this scented?

This has a faint floral scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?

Pros:

-Consistency is really smooth, easy to blend and apply
-Lightweight

-Good coverage
- Natural finish looks like skin, not makeup
Cons:

- shade is a bit too dark for me - it also appears that the shade range/names have been altered so if I wanted to replenish I'm really unsure what shade to get.
I'm going to start by saying that Influenster sent this to me last year and I'm unsure if I got something that was part of a prototype batch because the colors on sephora.com aren't undertone coded like this one is - I'd assume CR stood for "cool red" whereas the ones on sephora.com are simply 0-9 with half numbers included. I will say I received a lot of compliments on my skin when wearing this foundation but overall I'm not moved enough by its quality to think that it's worth its hefty price tag. Perhaps if I had a shade that better matched my skin I'd have a different opinion.

What do I use to apply the product?

I apply this with  my Crown brush beauty blender knockoff.

I feel as though this review is pretty thorough but please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: This was sent to me for testing purposes. I am under no obligation, nor am I receiving compensation, to mention it on this blog. 

Candle Review: NEST Birchwood Pine

Hi folks, so I have another home fragrance post for you. 

Candle: NEST Birchwood Pine

Availability:  This can be purchased at $18 for a 2 oz. votive,  $46 for a 8.1 oz.  candle, or at $74 for a 21.1 oz. 3-wick and can be purchased at bluemercury.com, bloomingdales.com, and nordstrom.com along with their physical store locations - these are in the process of being pulled off the shelves because they are from holiday, so if you'd like one now's your last chance until late October. Unfortunately it doesn't look like they're being discounted in any way. 

Would I buy this again?: No.

Notes: The scent description white pine, fir balsam, and Birchwood over a base of rich musk and amber they say; I didn't buy this from the description, I had smelled the candle and found its wonderful Christmas tree scent intoxicating - it smells like wintertime and like pine trees.
As the wax warms and burns, the scent intensifies, though ever so slightly. 

I purchased the 3-wick candle, and while it melted fairly evenly, you'd think a gigantic candle would have a gigantic throw, I could only smell it when I was near my little candle-burning nook in the corner of my room. I was highly disappointed and heartbroken because I wanted my whole room to smell like a forest and frankly, this candle is expensive, I've gotten far superior throws off smaller candles and even the NEST mini votives I've had had better throws, I'm unsure if I got a dud but I won't be purchasing this scent again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased this myself.

Lip Balm Review: NARS Clean Cut Afterglow Lip Balm

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Clean Cut

Availability: This is available at  bluemercury.com, nordstrom.com, narscosmetics.com, selfridges  and ulta.com.com as well as their respective physical store/boutique locations. The retail pricing is $28 for 0.1 oz (3g).

Would I buy this again?: No.

Notes: Color-wise this particular shade is clear and just gives a sheen to the lips. It doesn't have a particularly discernible scent or flavoring.  What I personally really dislike about this balm is that it goes on in a way that makes the lips feel AMAZING - I'm talking silky and super hydrated - which would be fantastic except for the part where it wears off in about two hours. Now, I don't expect balm to sit on the mouth for long but I expect the hydration to last, which it didn't. I mean, do what makes you happy, but paying $28 for a balm that I'd have to reapply every two hours does not spark joy for me.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes, I am under no obligation, nor am I being compensated, to mention it on this blog. 

Moisturizer Review: m-61 PowerSpot Moisturizer

Today's review will be for the m-61 PowerSpot Moisturizer

Availability: This retails at $76 for 1.7 fl. oz. (50 mL) is exclusive to  bluemercury.com and macys.com along with their physical store locations.

Would I buy this?: No.

What is this product designed to address?

According to bluemercury.com:

WHAT IT IS
This clarifying moisturizer provides lightweight hydration and helps to keep blemish-prone skin balanced. Salicylic acid, glycolic acid and witch hazel help to reduce the appearance of blemishes by naturally unclogging pores, while tea tree helps keep overactive skin under control.
BENEFITS
• Clarifies and calms skin.
• Helps to keep blemish-prone skin balanced.
• Provides lightweight, oil-free hydration.
Gluten-free & vegan.
Dermatologist & allergy tested.
Paraben & phthalate free.
Synthetic fragrance-free.
Sulfate-free.
Free of synthetic dyes.
No animal testing.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Again, according to bluemercury.com:
KEY INGREDIENTS
Glycolic and salicylic acid help reduce pore size, reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve the skin’s tone, texture and clarity.
Witch hazel helps to shrink pores and soothe skin.
Licorice root helps control oil production while calming and soothing skin.
Aloe, cucumber and camphor help soothe and cool the skin.
Tea tree helps calm redness and swelling.

This also contains:

Shea Butter: Hydrates the skin and reduces inflammation

Blue Lotus Extract, Lotus Extract: Helps hydrate the skin

Bilberry Extract: Has anti-inflammatory properties

What is the texture like?

This feels super lightweight and refreshing.

Is it scented?

This has an earthy, camphor-like scent to it mixed with tea tree and cucumber. It isn't awful but I don't love it.

My overall experience/comments on the product:

  Honestly I feel like I'd really like this moisturizer for the summertime as that's the only time of year I tend to get a bit oily. I like that it actually hydrates quite nicely despite being super lightweight, another aspect that I'd really like in the summertime as anything that feels lightweight, cooling, and refreshing is quite welcome. That said, I think this doesn't do enough for me being that it's cold, it hydrates nicely, but I prefer something a bit thicker and richer.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation, nor am I getting compensated, to post it on this blog. 

Urban Decay Oz The Great and Powerful Glinda Palette Look

Hey folks, today I bring you a soft purple-y smoky eye.

Enough blabbering, tutorial time!

I  applied the blush from the Lune+Aster Desert Moon Palette as a base for Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Nude Glow with my Sephora Collection Pro Mini Airbrush 55.5. I also applied Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in High Tide as a base for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Metallic Strobe Powder in Champagne Strobe Light using my Sephora Collection #74 PRO Small Blush and Contour brush.  

As a base for my eyeshadow I applied MAC Bare Study Pro Longwear Paint Pot  with and blended it out with my Crown Pro C511 brush.

For the crease I applied Magic along with Tornado with the Sonia Kashuk Blending Crease and Crown Pro C511 Brush, respectively.

For the lid  I applied Illusion using  my  Crown Pro C510 brush.

To highlight the brow-bone and the inner corner of the eye I applied the pink half and blue half of Aura using my no-name gigantic paddle brush from Crown and Crown Deluxe Precision Crease brush, respectively. 

For eyeliner, I went with the Physician's Formula Eye Booster Waterproof Ultra Fine Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black with a wing this time. For the waterline I applied Colourpop Creme Gel Liner in Honeydude.

For the lower lash line, I applied the silver half of Oz  using my Bubbi Detail brush.

The look sans lashes. 

For lashes I used Eylure x Jasmine Brown Lashes in Jaybee along with the Callas Eyelash Adhesive in Clear.

For lips, I applied the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Clean Cut.

Hope that you liked this! :D It was super fun for me to put together! Feel free to request particular songs, animals/nature scenes (I don't do insects of any kind though, sorry, little insect feet and wings creep the bejesus outta me), Pokemon, or Pokemon towns. :P

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions. 

Disclaimer: The  Sephora 55.5 brush, Hourglass, NARS, and Lune+Aster products were provided for testing purposes. The palette used for this look was given to me by a friend. I paid for everything else you see here myself.