Product MUST HAVES: Benefit, Bobbi Brown, MAC

The products that I will be discussing in today's post are some of my makeup MUST HAVES!

Benefit POREfessional

       My first MUST HAVE item is the POREfessional by Benefit. I've been very negligent about applying face primers for quite some time now. I don't understand why because it does wonders! This specific primer doesn't really need much explanation because it's already known to be AMAZING. After application, my face looks a lot smoothers and my face makeup lasts double the time. It's super lightweight and silky! It leaves a SUPER thin silicone-like layer on your face that makes applying concealer easier -- it blends better and looks smoother... My nose also tends to peel  a lot but after applying the porefessional, my nose looks a lot smoother so it doesn't make the makeup on my nose look cakey. It's around $31-- not cheap but DEFINITELY worth it.  It comes with 0.75 fl. oz of product but a little goes a long way. You don't really need to apply it all over your face. I apply it in the center of my face(nose, t-zone, and inner cheeks). I really recommend you guys buy it! I will be repurchasing.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (in Beige) 

After doing some research on concealers, I decided to purchase the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer. It was recommended for people with dry skin. Because there is a wide color selection, a Bobbi Brown makeup artist helped me choose my shade. This color is seriously PERFECT for my skin color-- especially my under-eye. Before purchasing this, I used the well-known Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, but I did not like it. It just made my under-eye area look dry with no coverage. However after the makeup artist applied this shade on my under-eye, my eyes looked so much brighter. Even my mom commented on how bright my eyes looked.The concealer does transfer so I recommend applying a setting powder over it. When I first bought this product, it looked a lot smaller than it did in pictures-- my mom thought it was a sample they gave me. Because it is a creamy concealer, a small amount goes a long way. For 0.05 fl. oz, it is ~$27. I will be repurchasing this again. Bobbi Brown also has a stick type concealer. The makeup artist recommended the Creamy Concealer for the under-eye and the stick concealer for the face!

MAC Lipsticks

Sheen Supreme Lipstick _Zen Rose (second picture, first swatch) 

This is my favorite lipstick among the four I have swatched above. It's a beautiful mid-toned orchid color (in my opinion). :) Because it is a Sheen Supreme, it requires a bit of layering if you want the whole color payoff. It is not as opaque as the other lipsticks I will be discussing. It applies like a lip butter, so I don't need to moisturize my lip before application. One downfall to this is that the lipstick requires quite a lot of reapplication. It does not stain the lips at all, but the color is beautiful. The Sheen Supreme collection cost a few more dollars than the regular ones-- maybe because the packaging is a bit different from the regular mac lipstick tubes (first picture, fourth tube)? Not sure. It costs $18. I find this color to be perfect even for the fall and winter. 

Amplified_ Impassioned (second picture, second swatch)

I bought this lipstick after seeing several Korean celebrities sporting this lipstick. It's a very bright/ vibrant fuchsia- pink. It's a very different formula from the Sheen Supreme lipsticks, and one layer is enough to get the color payoff--SUPER OPAQUE. I was very impressed with this lipstick because one layer lasted me about 7-8 hours, even after eating and drinking. It has a staining effect and after an hour or so, there is no transfer. It costs $16. For people who are scared of trying bright colors, try doing gradient lips with this lipstick.

Amplified_ Vegas Volt (second picture, third swatch)

Vegas Volt is a orange-pink toned (coral) lipstick. Because it is an amplified formula, it's super vibrant and pigmented. I was looking for an orange lipstick, but didn't want one that was super ORANGE like Mac's Morange. If you're looking for an orange/coral color because straight out orange is too much...   this is the one! However, unlike Impassioned, this color requires reapplication throughout the day. It costs $16.

Cremesheen _Sunny Seoul (second picture, fourth swatch)

Because I've been buying very vibrant and bright lip colors, I wanted something light/ subtle. The name of this lipstick first caught my attention! This lipstick is a beautiful pink lipstick. Because it is Cremesheen formula, it doesn't last that long. Although it gives off a slight glossy finish, I recommend you exfoliate your lips before applying this color but it accentuates dryness/ peeling/ lines. To get the full color payoff, it does require a few layers. If you want a color that's 'your lip but better," one layer will give you a good pinky/sheer color. If you want the full color, apply more layers. It costs $16.

I definitely recommend all four of these lipsticks. I tried my best to portray the lipstick true to color (on the picture), but it's not quite right. Drop by a MAC store and see the colors for yourself! They are beautiful!!

                                                     Thanks for dropping by! <3

PRODUCT REVIEW: BOBBI BROWN, MARIO BADESCU, NARS

Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil

This is literally MY HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT. I never understood people when they called a product their "holy grail" until I bought the Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil. After using the First Aid Beauty Ultra Face Cream and realizing that it wasn't working for my skin, I bought the well-known Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. I thought I was going to LOVE it at first because I heard so many good things about it, but my face started stinging/burning every time I used it. I let the stinging/burning sensation pass the first few days because I thought I had gotten sunburned. This tingly/stinging sensation occurred even when using the First Aid Beauty Face Cream. As stupid as I may sound, I didn't realize that I was allergic to both the moisturizers for months until recently. After realizing that I was allergic to something in the moisturizers, my skin problems (random pimples, red bumps, uneven skin tone) made complete sense. I was very shocked that I was allergic to the Kiehl's moisturizer... After doing research, I came upon this oil. I remembered seeing a couple of Korean celebrities using this oil on television in their skin care routine, which was another reason why I wanted to try it out. I was obviously allergic to something in cream moisturizers so this face oil sounded a lot more appealing. The product description on Sephora states that its a "blend of oils, including sesame, sweet almond, olive, and jojoba" -- basically a bunch of natural oils with vitamin and such.

Okay, now I will discuss my personal review on this product. The first night I applied this oil I loved everything about it--the smell, the light texture, and the quick absorption. The Bobbi Brown makeup artist and many reviews stated that a small amount goes a long way for this product. Therefore, I did not want to apply a heavy amount, especially because it was an oil formula. At first, I was a bit iffy applying such a small amount because I felt it wouldn't be enough to moisturize my face but I didn't apply more because I wanted to see if a small amount was enough as the reviews stated. Before applying this oil, I only applied the Clinique 'Dramatically Different' Moisturizing Lotion.

Morning came around and I really noticed a difference in my skin. My skin tone looked a lot more even and it looked super hydrated. It made my skin look so flawless that I didn't want to wash my face in the morning... The makeup artist said that this product can also be used as a day moisturizer, so before putting on my makeup I applied a small amount and really massaged it into my face. AH! My skin felt and looked SUPER moisturized -- it gave me a dewy finish. I LOVED IT. My face makeup always looked good the moment I applied it, but after thirty minutes, it turned super cakey because my skin always lacked moisture. I finally found my SOLUTION. Also, because the oil worked to even out my skin tone, I found myself using way fewer products on my face because I didn't need to conceal the discoloration as much.

I know there are a lot of people who may be a bit hesitant to apply oil on the face because it can clog pores and bring out the nasty blackheads/ whiteheads. I was a bit worried at first too, but after using the oil I noticed that my whiteheads shrunk a lot.

One con about this product is that the packaging. It comes in a glass jar with a small hole on top, which is a bit inconvenient to use. It does not even come with a dropper. The way I get "a small amount" is by placing the palm of my hands over the hole and quickly flipping the jar upside down. I find the oil left on my palms to be enough. This was the method I saw Korean celebrity Park Soo-Jin use with this product. I then rub the oil to make it warm before massaging it onto my face.

Other than that, it works wonders.  It will definitely be something I will be repurchasing. For 1 oz, it costs me $63 (~68 w/ tax :/). It is a bit pricey, but I think it is really worth it.

**I apologize for this LONG "review." I wanted to share my whole experience with this product. I was SUPER excited to share it! :)

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream 

After running low my Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream, I began to look for a cheaper option. I heard that you don't really need to invest in an eye cream, especially people in their early 20s. I wanted to look for a mid-range, hydrating eye cream because the Kiehl's eye cream, which was ~$45, did absolutely nothing for me. While researching, I came across this eye cream, and it sounded perfect for me. I was excited to try another Mario Badescu product aside from their amazing drying lotion.

Let me first start off my saying that it is SUPER hydrating. I noticed a BIG difference the morning after applying it. My under eyes always looked cakey after applying concealer because it was so dry, but I don't have to worry about it anymore. It works really well for day and night. Remember dryness around the eyes is what causes wrinkles! I will definitely be repurchasing this. The price for this eye cream is $18.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Dragon Girl

I'm starting to really get into lipsticks. I still have a fear for them, but I'm slowly finding a solution. I got this particular color because I saw several Korean celebrities using it --Nana& Lee Sora on Roommate; Gong Hyo Jin; Taeyeon from Girl's Generation (i dont always buy things they use but this color red/pink really stood out). It was also recommended on Korean blogs. I don't have the courage to apply this full out on my lips, but I use it to make a gradient effect. Because it is matte, I always exfoliate and moisturize before applying it. It has a staining effect because it is matte so you don't have to reapply as often. The price is $25.

I hope you guys enjoyed my reviews. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

With love,

Ahra <3