livingvisual - Tumblr blog

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

REVIEW: LAURA GELLER BAKED FOUNDATION

Laura Geller Baked Balance-N-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation in Medium

THE DETAILS

I love light to medium coverage foundations. I'm not looking for anything that's too heavy because I don't have a lot of things to cover. I really love the light, natural coverage that this foundation gives. It doesn’t look heavy, cakey, or overly matte. Even though it's a powder, it has a natural, luminous finish. Don't worry, the foundation doesn't have glitter or shimmer in it. It just makes the skin look healthy. I think it's important to point out the texture of this foundation. This is a very dry, hard powder. On occassion, I have worn this foundation by itself, just adding a little blush, brows, and some mascara. That's not something that I normally do, but I have done that and liked the look. I usually wear it with concealer to boost the coverage. I've even worn it with another powder foundation, and have used it as a setting powder. I don't have any issues with wear time. It's a foundation that wears gracefully. Because it's a powder, it doesn't break down or get oily throughout the day.

LAURA GELLER'S DESCRIPTION:

"Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation is a unique Baked powder that can be used on its own or combined with your favorite base for a flawless finish. This newly formulated foundation is mineral oil and paraben free. It is also loaded with the age-fighting, anti-oxidant protection of Centella Asiatica and White Tea. Designed with swirls of soft tan and cream, its luxuriously smooth and silky texture helps offset ruddiness, brightens sallow tones, and balances most complexions."

I can't speak on the anti-aging claims of this powder. I haven't noticed anything particuarly different about this foundation in terms of anti-aging or skin benefits. I also wouldn't say that it has a "luxuriously smooth and silky texture." Like I said, this foundation is very dry and hard. At the same time, it can be a bit powdery. That's not something that deters me from the foundation. I don't think the texture is hard to work with, but I wouldn't say it's smooth and silky, by any means. The foundation is swirled with different tones. I think that the different tones are the downfall of the foundation. It makes the foundation shades unpredictable and dynamic. I'll talk about my shade issues in a bit. I also can't speak on the foundations color correcting tones or whether it balances complexions. I don't have an uneven skintone or any tones that need to be balanced.

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients vary from shade to shade, and differ depending if you buy this in America or Europe. Ingredients for Medium - America:

Talc, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Polysorbate 20, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), BHT, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Click here to see the ingredients for the other shades and locations.

THE LOOK

This is my naked face.

Overall, my skin is pretty clear. I don't have any problems with uneven skintone and I don't have a whole lot that I need to cover. I don't have any active breakouts right now. I have a little darkness around my eyes, and I have some acne scars on my chin. I have freckles on the tops of my cheeks, nose, and around my eyes. I have two moles/beauty marks on my face: on my right cheek, and one under my nose. I don't want to cover my freckles or my moles. Like I said, I like light to medium coverage foundations because I want my freckles and moles to show.

This is my face with just foundation.

Wearing just foundation gives an overall even look to the skin. The foundation covers my acne scars pretty well, but not completely. It does lessen the appearance of my freckles and moles, but I think that can be attributed to the shade of the foundation. The foundation is darker than my skintone, and closer to the tone of my freckles. I don't mind wearing the foundation on its own for a casual, "no makeup" look. It doesn't look heavy and it doesn't leave the skin looking flat matte, like some powder foundations.

This is my face with concealer and foundation.

I've applied a skintone concealer on my chin and cheeks to achieve more coverage. I also applied a brightening concealer under my eyes to help lessen the darkness. I topped everything with the foundation. I've achieved a flawless look, without it looking or feeling heavy. My acne scars are almost completely covered, and my eyes are a lot brighter. This is a great example of why I love powder foundations. Spot concealing and powder foundation can result in a flawless look, and feel more comfortable than other types of foundation. Even though my skin is covered in makeup, it doesn't look heavy, cakey, or too matte. Everything looks very natural. It looks like my skin.

THE SHADE ISSUE

I have a couple issues with Laura Geller's shade selection. First of all, I don't like that the foundation color is constantly changing. Secondly, I think there needs to be a "Light" shade introduced into the line. Let's get into some shade details. The foundation is swirled with light/medium beige, dark tan, and some color correcting tones. When I first started using this foundation, there were a lot of the light beige tones. When I ran my brush over all the colors, I got a color close to my skintone. Now that I’ve used the foundation for several months, more of the dark tan tones are showing. A lot of the lighter tones have been used up, leaving the darker tones behind. Basically, the color of the foundation is constantly changing. Each time you use it, new tones and swirls appear. The color of the foundation is drastically different compared to when I first purchased it. It was a great match for me in the beginning. Now, this foundation looks like a bronzer on my skin, and I can’t use it until I get more of a tan. I don't understand why it's useful to have swirls of dark and light tones. To me, it makes more sense to have one constant foundation color swirled with color correcting tones. I understand that the color correcting tones help to balance an uneven skintone. I think they have their place. I just don't get why this foundation has uneven amounts of dark and light tones, especially because the overall foundation color is subject to change. By the way, this is the color that Laura Geller is marketing to fit most skintones. This shade is also known as "Regular." To put things into perspective for you, Medium to Medium/Deep shades usually work for me. This Medium has become way too dark for me. I don't think this Medium would work for the majority of skintones. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Liv, stop being so frigid and just go buy a lighter color.” Here’s the thing: the lighter color option is Fair and that looks stark white on my skin. I’ve never been Fair in my life. So now you're thinking, "So what, Liv? The foundation range runs dark." It may run dark, but I think there's also shade inconsistencies due to the swirled colors and the labeling of the shades themselves.

THE FOUNDATION COMES IN THE FOLLOWING SHADES:

Porcelain: Very fair skin, burns easily, with pink undertones

Fair: Fair skin with neutral undertones

Medium: Medium skin with cool undertones

Tan: Mediterranean skin tones, olive to tan skin with yellow under tones

Deep: Olive to deep skinned women of color with yellow undertones

According to these shade descriptions, I would select Tan as my best match. I have olive skin with yellow undertones. I wouldn't select Medium for myself because I don't have cool undertones. I would never think that Medium would be too dark for me. I think that these shade descriptions are off, and I think that the shade selection is lacking a "Light" between Fair and Medium. I'm a perfect example that this color swirl concept doesn't work for every skintone.

In this lighting, you can see the difference between my face and my neck and chest. My face is significantly darker than my neck. This photograph really shows that this foundation is unwearable at this point.

Now can you see the shade difference? One half of my face is bare, while the other half has foundation. Look at that line down my forehead. Obviously, this shade does not match my skintone.

THE CONCLUSION

I wanted to include this photo, with my makeup completely done, to show that this really is a beautiful powder foundation. I love the look that it gives me because it's very natural. It's something that I enjoy wearing, but unfortunately, I can't wear it again until I get a tan. This whole shade issue is really frustrating. Overall, I don’t think the foundation is worth $33. If you want to try it, get it in a kit. Laura Geller kits are a really great value. From what I've seen, most of the kits that include the foundation start at $39. Why pay $33 for the foundation, when you can pay a few dollars more and get a six piece kit? Most of the kits include full sized products. Priced on its own, this foundation is too expensive to change colors throughout use. I want something that’s a constant color and isn’t going to change or shift colors with continued use. Since this is a baked swirled product, I think the shade selection is unpredictable and lacking. There are only 5 shades, and I’m a prime example that their shade selection doesn’t fit everyone. Other than the shade drama, I do really like this product and I’ll continue to use it once it matches me again. Would I buy this foundation again? I'm honestly not sure.

#makeup #foundation #laura geller #beauty blog #review #baked #balance-n-brighten #powder

2 notes · View notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

PRODUCTS I REGRET BUYING: SPRING 2015

THE BAD, HORRIBLE, HIDEOUS, & QUESTIONABLE

EYES

Laura Geller Eye Calligraphy Classic Tip Liquid Liner in Black

I got this liner in a Laura Geller kit that I bought on Black Friday. Truly, this liner wasn't making or breaking the kit for me. I'm just using it because I have it. I hate felt tip liners. I can never get my wings sharp enough, and they tend to skip on me. They're a mess. I consider myself an eyeliner pro, but I just can't get felt tips to work. Maybe it's my eye shape, but I've never been happy with one. On the flip side, I have to give this eyeliner some respect because it's super black. I think this is the blackest felt tip eyeliner that I've ever used. If you like felt tip liners, this one is probably a good one. I just hate them.

Jane Water-Resistant Liquid Eye Liner in White Pearl

I bought this liner expecting something totally different. I wanted an opaque, white-out style eyeliner. This is a flaky, white glitter liner. I could have done without this. It's nothing spectacular. The staying power isn't great, and the look is pretty subtle, except in direct light. I didn't want just white glitter! I wanted to create an alien-like, all white eye look, and now I just look like I put glitter on for the club. I don't even go to the club!

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer Liner in Precioud Gold

I wanted a gold eyeliner for my lower lash line, but I don't know why I bought this one. I should have bought a better gold eyeliner. I was probably trying to save a couple bucks. Anyway, it's orange-toned gold, and for some reason, it doesn't show up on my eyes. Obviously, it shows up on my hand for swatches. Maybe the skin on my face is too orange? I just can't get it to work. I wanted a neutral or antique gold. This liner is the exact same color as the packaging, so I'm not sure why this came as a surprise to me.

Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush

I live and die by Real Techniques, but this is the worst eyeliner brush I've ever used. Why does it get thicker at the tip? I can't create a wing with this brush. The brush doesn't pick up product well, so it doesn't draw an even line. The bristles aren't soft whatsoever. They're really plastic-y and stiff. It really reminds me of a paint brush that you get in a cheap craftstore kit. I wish that I would have returned it.

Tarte Best In Faux Lash Extending Fibers

I just look at this weird fuzzy brush, and I think to myself "What am I even supposed to do with this?" I don't want these fibers anywhere near my eyes. What if they fall off my lashes and get into my eyes? What are these fibers made of? Why is this a thing? I'm just weirded out by all of this. This, whatever this is, came in a Tarte kit that I bought on Black Friday. To be honest with you, I wasted money on that kit. I'm just glad that this isn't a full size. Really though, what am I supposed to do with this? Maybe I can use it on my eyebrows? I don't know. Anyway.

LIPS

STORY TIME

When these Revlon Color Burst Balms came out, I went on a mad hunt for Demure & Shameless. I NEEDED them. After playing around with them, I was pretty disasppointed because I was super hyped for them. For anyone wondering, no, they're not moisturizing. They may say Balm in the name, but they're thick and a litle drying like average lipsticks. They're basically a lip crayon. Now you know.

Revlon Color Burst Lacquer Balm in Demure

Just because this doesn't work for me, doesn't mean it's not going to work for you. If you have fair skin, and you don't mind some glitter in lip products, pick this up! It's a really beautiful color, but it doesn't flatter me. I have to be super careful with pinks on my skintone. My skin doesn't naturally have any pink to it, so light pink lipsticks and blushes can look a little crazy on me. This is right on that crazy cusp, so I can work with it, but I have to top it with a gloss or mix it with another lipstick. I'm not really into lip products that have glitter in them, but that's something I can deal with. Really, the color is just all kinds of wrong for me.

Revlon Color Burst Matte Balm Shameless

I've got a purple lip problem, so I know a thing or two about purple lip products from the drugstore. The color on this Matte Balm is too gorgeous, but it's hard to work with. This is my most stubborn purple lip product. This is a super high maintence purple lip. If your lips have ANY dry or uneven patches, this WILL highlight that. It builds up a lot darker on those dry patches. Unfortunately, exfoliating doesn't always solve that problem. It's super creamy and pigmented, so it glides on well, but it's so creamy that it melts and bleeds on the lips. I've never been able to wear this lip color out of the house because it wears lot a hot mess. I wish I could love this Matte Balm, but I just can't.

L'Oreal Infallible 2-Step Lip Color in Passionate Petal

I'm sorry that I don't have a proper photo of Passionate Petal, but I returned it just about a quick as I bought it. The color dries a lot brighter on the lips than it looks in the tube. It dries to a weird, sticky matte finish. You can't put your lips together. It immediately cracked. It didn't look good, even with the balm on top. As soon as I put it on, I wanted to take it off. I couldn't get this off of my mouth! I had to scrub. There's something in it that's flamable. It comes with a fire warning on it. What's that about? I think this was around $13 when I purchased it. That's ridiculously expensive for garbage. These are horrible. To put it into perspective for you, these are already on clearance at my local Target. They're a newer release, on clearance. Sucks to suck, right?

FACE

Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Foundation in Medium

I was on the fence about including this foundation, but I think it has to be talked about. I'll describe my issues with this foundation in a full in-depth review, so keep an eye out for that. For now, I want to keep things brief. I got this foundation in a Laura Geller kit, and I wasn't super excited about it, but I definitely wanted to give it a fair chance. Even though I do enjoy this foundation, I'm having some issues with the color match. I'll go more into detail about the color drama in my full review. This is a nice powder foundation, but it's not ground breaking and it doesn't provide a completely flawless look on its own. When I want a flawless look, I have to wear it with, concealer, use another powder foundation with it, or just use it as a setting powder. Overall, I don't think it's worth $33. If you want to try it, get it in a kit.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin 3-in-1 Concealer for Eyes in Medium

If you've been with me for any amount of time, you know that I have dry, busted up, cracked, chipping off lower eyelids. I admit it and I own it. I'm always on the hunt for a moisturizing concealer. I haven't found one that I'm pleased with, so if you have something in mind, let me know. I don't hate this concealer, but it's not great, even for the drugstore price. It has a really thick texture, and I don't like that. It covers alright, but goes through some creasing, and it doesn't provide me with the moisture that I need. Also, this straight up smells like SPF, and I hate that smell. I don't really understand what's going on with the color range here. There's four shades total: basically three versions of fair and this weird orange color. What? Why do compaies do this? This shade works for me in the summer, but it's too dark and orange for me now. Right now, I'm in my pale winter state, but I'm still way too dark for the other three shades. Bogus. I'm going to work my through it in the summer, but I wouldn't repurchase it.

SKINCARE & BODY CARE

Clarisonic Mia2

This could be a full review. I should have done a Clarisonic review when I first purchased it. I wish I would have taken before/after photos for you guys. I've had my Clarisonic for a while now, and I rarely use it. I should have returned it because it wasn't cheap. I never had acne until I started using the Clarisonic, and I don't consider my skin to be sensitive. I started off by using the Sensitive brush head. I had heard there was a purging stage, so I thought that's what I was experiencing. I had large, deep, painful breakouts all over my face. I thought they would improve with use, but they didn't. My face was covered in painful acne and my skin was dried out for a couple months. I looked into, and nobody had experienced this. I ended up replacing the brush head with the Delicate brush, and my acne starting going away, but not completely. To this day, I have a reoccuring acne situation happening on my chin. Like I said, I never had acne until I started using the Clarisonic. I like my skin better when I'm not using my Clarisonic, compared to when I am using it.

The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Gel

The fact that I even bought this makes me feel stupid. I paid $9 for 1oz of Aloe Vera gel, and I got that on sale! They Body Shop is charging $19 for this! That's a joke! You can pay like $5 for 32 oz. at the drugstore. What is this? How are they even getting away with this? I was under the impression that it was a gel cream moisturizer for the face, like an actual skincare product. This is just clear aloe vera gel. I can't even believe I wasted my money on this. I'll use it, but damn. I screwed up on this one.

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream in Medium-Deep

I was under the impression that this lotion had some pigmentation to it. At first, I thought it was a light coverage makeup-for-legs kind of deal. No. It's not. Then I thought, "Oh, maybe it's supposed to be a light gradual self tanner." No, it doesn't tan either. Why does it come in shades? There's no pigmentation to it. I don't understand what all the hype was about. It's just a lotion, and not a great one at that. It doesn't have any pigmentation, color, tint, glitter, shimmer, or anything in it. It doesn't make my skin look any different after I put it on. What is this? I'm glad that I didn't buy an entire bottle of this. I was able to score an inexpensive travel size at Target.

FRAGRANCE

If you want to smell like water, these Ulta perfumes are for you, chica! Bergamot? I don't think so.

Don't get me wrong, I like Ulta Sheer Fragrance Mists. I think they have some nice fragrances. Unfortunately, Simply Clean and Water Blossom don't really smell like anything. They're not even like "fresh laundry cotton" kind of scents either. The scents, which are basically nothing, just dissappear when they touch my skin. They don't make my clothing smell good. They just kind of smell like fresh air... I guess? I probably got these on sale, so I'm not out too much. I'll use them, probably just around the house.

Ulta Sheer Fragrance Mist in Simply Clean

Simply Clean is described as "a refreshingly sheer blend of bergamot, water florals and light musk." I don't smell any beramot in this. Bergamot is one of my favorite scents, and this isn't it. I don't smell any musk. Maybe, if I really think about it, I smell some light floral. Do you know what cosmetic silicon smells like? I know that's weird, but that what it smells like. It's not offensive or anything. It just kind of smells like plastic-y nothingness.

Ulta Sheer Fragrance Mist in Water Blossom

Water Blossom is described as "a serene blend of water florals, citrus and light musk." This kind of smells like someone in the far distance ate an orange, and the breeze brought some of that citrus smell over. But like far distance. I don't know what a water floral is, but I don't think this is it. There's definitely a citrus element there, but it's nothing really noteable. Once again, there's no musk. I don't know what they keep talking about musk. There's none.

Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette

I didn't actually buy this one, but I asked for it as a Christmas gift. I don't know why I wanted this. You guys know that I don't do sweet, dessert scents. That's exactly what this is. The notes include: Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Licorice, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Cotton Candy, Vanilla, Caramel, Musk, Wood, Powder. Once again, I don't smell any bergamot. I don't know what they're talking about with the citrus, florals, and fruits. That's not here. I can definitely smell cotton candy and caramel in this. It's super sweet. It's not a bad fragrance, but it's just not something that I like to wear. I'm going to keep it around and try to get some use out of it. Maybe I need to layer it with something.

NAILS

I haven't actually worn any of these polishes, so I can't comment on their wear time.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Salon Nail Color in On The 101

I don't like red nail polish, so why would I like a red glitter top coat? I don't know what I was thinking. I played with this a couple times, and I've never gotten a nail look that I was happy with. I just don't like chunky glitter like this. I don't know what I'm going to do with this. I'm pretty sure this shade was a Dollar General exclusive.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Salon Nail Color in Sunspot

I love orange for spring and summer, and this neon orange is crazy. It's too gorgeous and it would look great with a tan. The camera is not doing it justice. The color is absolutely beautiful for summer, but I don't understand why Wet n Wild would do this color in a matte finish. Who wants to wear neon matte orange nails? No thank you. I don't like that I'll have to put a top coat on it for shine. I think this may have been a limited edition shade, or possibly a Dollar General exclusive. I'm not too sure on that.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Salon Nail Color in Distressed to Impress

I'm a big fan of taupe and cement nails. I really like colors like this, but this polish looks hideous on me because it's matte. Matte brown-toned colors just look nasty on my nails. I knew this color was matte when I bought it and I don't like matte nails. Why did I buy this? I'll have to put a top coat on it. Maybe I'll pass this onto a friend. I don't know. This was a limited edition shade from their fall collection, but I'm still seeing it in stores.

THE WORST OF THE WORST

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Yet again, I bought this because of all the hype surrounding it. Some people love it and say it's as good as the Beauty Blender. Let's get real here. I'm not spending $20+ on a sponge, so I opted for this one. When I apply my foundation with this sponge, it looks worse than if I applied it with a brush or my fingers. I don't have large pores, but when I use this sponge, I have a crazy pore situation happening. It's as if the sponge pressed the foundation into my pores. It looks like I have holes in my face. I could throw this sponge away and feel nothing. This sponge is just nasty. My dark, summertime foundation stained it pretty badly. I should have returned it. What a waste.

EOS Tangerine Medicated Lip Balm

Let me put this out there: I'm not one of those people that's all frigid and sensitive about the texture of lip products. I can usually deal with it, but this feels thick and suffocating on the lips. I don't know what's up with this. It goes on thick and dry. This is a lip balm. Why is it dry? This is the only EOS lip balm that I've tried that has this texture. I don't know what makes this is "medicated." It doesn't improve the texture of my lips. I don't like anything orange or tangerine, so I'm definitely not into this. I don't really know why I bought this.

#makeup #beauty blog #regrets #Laura Geller #rimmel #revlon #l'oreal #the body shop #wet n wild #real techniques #fails

1 note · View note

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

FEBRUARY 2015 FAVORITES

A WEIRD MONTH OF UNEXPECTED FAVORITES

BEAUTY FAVORITES

Simple Cleansing Micellar Water

So, I didn't realize that finding a cleansing water in America would be nearly impossible. I was on the hunt for a cleansing water for about three years. I finally found one that's easily accessible and in stores! Bless. It's not one of those products that I'm totally amazed with, but it's a product that I continuously reach for. It removes all traces of my makeup, including dark eye makeup. I can use it on my eyes, and it doesn't burn or irriate them. Basically, it's what I'd expect from a good cleansing water. I mean it's not working any miracles, but it is helping me out. It's picking up the slack of my other makeup removing products, so I'm good with that.

Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve

I bought this blush for only a couple dollars, on major clearance. At first, I was a little afraid to wear it. I was a little unsure why I even bought it in the first place. It looks super purple in the pan, and purple/mauve cheeks don't really suit my skintone. I decided to give it a try in February, and I was pretty please. Duh Liv, it's in your Favorites. It's actually very neutral and natural looking. I think the gold helps neutralize the purple in it. I just really like Milani's Baked Blushes. Looking back, I bet I got it on clearance because it's discontinued. Yeah, I can't find it on Milani's website. If you can find this on clearance somewhere, I think it's worth picking up.

Tarte Smolder Eyes Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liners in Violet & Golden Beige

Story time! My Grandma bought a set of Tarte Smolder Eyes with the intention of breaking up the set, and giving them to her three oldest granddaughters for Christmas. A year later, meaning January 2015, she found the set in her drawer and gave them to me. She had completely forgotten about them. Now I have a set of 5 or 6 Smolder Eyes. I probably wouldn't have tried these on my own, but I'm glad that I have the set. I've been using them as shadow sticks and bases for powder eyeshadow. They're really pigmented and creamy. They don't crease on me at all. Violet and Golden Beige have been the bases for a most of my recent eye looks. I don't use them as liners because they're a bit chunky. The only downside to these liners is that they have to be sharpened constantly!

Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton

I know what you're thinking: "Liv, are you 12? Why are you wearing Paris Hilton?" Let me tell you something. I love Paris Hilton's fragrances. I've never really been into celebrity fragrances, but I think Paris is doing something right. In my lifetime, I've owned more Paris Hilton perfumes than any other brand or designer, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. I've loved this perfume since it first came out 10 years ago, and I've owned this perfume a couple times before. I'm not really sure why I randomly repurchased it, but I'm glad I did. It smells great and the scent lasts for days on my clothes. It lasts nicely on the skin. It just really works with my chemistry. It smells sweet, fruity, and fresh without smelling childish. Here are the notes: Frozen Apple, Peach Nectar, Freesia, Mimosa, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang and Oakmoss. I love this perfume.

NON-BEAUTY FAVORITES

KOREAN TRAP MUSIC

youtube

Yuk Jidam - 밤샜지: I've been watching Unpretty Rapstar. It's basically a competition show about female Korean rappers. I've really enjoyed the show, even though it's hella sexist. I'm over the sexism in that show and the sleaze happening with the male rappers, hosts, and guests. My favorite rappers so far are Yuk Jidam, Cheetah, and Jessie. Anyway, I like Yuk Jidam, Trap music, and Zico. Simply put, this is Trap by Yuk Jidam, produced by Zico. Keith Ape - 잊지마 (It G Ma) ft. JayAllday, loota, Okasian, Kohh: I really like that Korean and Japanese came together to make Trap. In my world, this is great. But let me be candid with you for a second. I liked the Japanese rappers more than the Korean rappers. I loved Loota on the song. I've known about Kohh for a minute now, and I think he absolutely killed it. He's royalty. Can I meet him? Seriously? JayAllDay actually favorited one of my tweets, and I just about died.

#favorites #february #makeup #beauty blog #milani #tarte #kohh #jayallday #it g ma #yuk jidam #unpretty rapstar

1 note · View note

livingvisual · 9 years

Photo

TOP LOOKS: THE OSCARS 2015

I wasn't able to watch majority of the Oscars, but I did love what I was able to watch. So let me be honest with you. The Lady Gaga Sound of Music tribute brought my to tears. Some of the acceptance speeches were beautiful. I even clapped a couple times from my couch. Let's get on to these beautiful looks: Zoe Saldana in Atelier Versace / Jamie Chung in Yanina Couture Emma Stone in Elie Saab Couture / Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Zuhair Murad Rita Ora in Marchesa / Kelly Osbourne in Rita Vinieris ♡ Liv W.

#toplooks #fashion #oscars #academy awards #beauty blog #zoe saldana #emma stone #rita ora #kelly osbourne

9 notes · View notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

FEBRUARY 2015 EMPTIES

Hey, so let's talk about my trash.

I'm now realizing that I barely have any makeup to talk about. There's a lot of hand soap and skincare to discuss. I have like 10+ things that are on the verge of being finished, but you'll see those in a few months. Also, I had to borrow my Grandma's camera and I don't know how to run it. A couple of these photos aren't exactly up to my standards, but we're working with what we have.

MAKEUP, HAIRCARE, BODY CARE, & SKINCARE

Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo: I bought this shampoo because of the scent. Bergamot is the last fragrance ingredient, but that's all I can smell. This shampoo definitely does it for my Bergamot fetish, which is alive and strong. I was expecting this to be a clarifying shampoo. It's not. I don't know why I thought it was. It didn't do much for volume, but it wasn't bad. My only complaint was that it didn't give me that intense cleanse that I'm looking for. I have an oily scalp and hair, so I like to get my cleanse on. If you're just like a normal person with a normal scalp, I think this shampoo would be great for you. Honestly, I think I would repurchase it even though it wasn't living up to my expectations. Dove Hair Therapy Refresh + Care Volume Dry Shampoo: I'm kind of on the fence about this dry shampoo. I think it does a good job of making my hair look less oily, but it doesn't make my hair look or feel clean. It gives me hair a really gritty, stiff texture. Sometimes I'm looking for that, but sometimes I just want my hair to look fresh and clean. I think I would buy it again, but as of right now, I've moved onto something else. Dial Kids Body + Hair Wash in Peachy Clean: I've talked about this body wash before, and I do like it. It's inexpensive and I really like peach sceneted things, so it works for me. This isn't my favorite body wash, but it definitely isn't bad. It's nothing amazing or life changing, but it's something that I'd buy again.

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub in Coconut Lime: Let me just give it to you up front. This is the best body scrub that I've ever used. It does a really good job at exfoliating my skin. It doesn't leave weird plastic-y bits in my bathtub. I love the Coconut Lime scent because it smells like a summer vacation. This particular tub was the jumbo size. It took me a long time to work through it. Right now, I'm working through other scrubs that I have. Once I run out of those, I'll defintiely repurchase this.

Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant Deodorant in Skin Renew: These days, I'm trying to stay away from antiperspirants. I'm only using them when I'm in a situation that really requires it. So this deodorant is supposed to help with fading dark armpits. I did see results within a couple weeks of use, but I don't think it made dramatic difference. Even though my results were slight, I don't think I'd use another antiperspirant. Most deodorants feel really dry and powdery, but this is very creamy. I'll stick with this one for now, but if you have any reccommendations that would fade dark armpits, let me know. Victoria's Secret Ever Tempt Fragrance Mist in Wild One - Midnight Raspberry & Sexy Lily: This is probably too old, irrelevant, and discontinued for me to even discuss. Anyway, I actually bought this online without ever smelling it. I don't reccommend doing that because you could get stuck with some rancid fragrance. Lucky for me, this wasn't that bad. I like raspberry and lily. This is heavy on the lily, but also has something strange in it. It smells like salty flowers. I don't even think salt has a fragrance. It smells like lilies, coarse salt, and spoiled apples, but like not in a bad way. The Nightmare Before Christmas Rag Doll Perfume: Let me start off by saying that I purchased this perfume more than any other fragrance. The notes include: Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Black Currant, Strawberry, Sandalwood and Almond. I'd say it's heavy on the almond. It's just a perfect frgrance. I don't know if it's just a nostolgic thing, but I love this fragrance. I started wearing it in 5th grade, and I wore it throughout junior high, high school, and finished it up, now in my 20's. I can't get anything out of the bottle, but I wish I had more of it. It's not like anything else that I've ever owned. I kept it around, using it sparingly for years. I can't find it anywhere, but if I could, I would definitely repurchase it. According to my research, this was an exact dupe of Butterfly by Hanae Mori. The notes for Butterfly are: Strawberries, Bilberries, Black Currant, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Sandalwood, Almond, Praline. I'll just have to buy Butterfly. It's expensive. Hopefully it smells just like Rag Doll.

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap in Sweet Shop Plum Berry Sorbet: I love plums, but this really doesn't smell like plum. It just has a clean, berry, bathroom air-freshener smell. In a weird way, this kind of smell like freshly brewed tea. This scent isn't super great, but it's not bad. I guess I'd buy it again. Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap in Vanilla Berry Sorbet: I like this scent because it doesn't smell like vanilla. Just like Plum Berry Sorbet, it has a clean, berry, bathroom smell. I don't know how to describe it. It's light and not over-powering. I've used up a few of these in my life, and I'd buy this again. Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap in Black Raspberry Vanilla: I usually really like Black Raspberry from B&BW, but I think this one was more vanilla than it was raspberry. I don't like vanilla. I used to like this scent, but I don't think I'll purchase it again.

Why does my family go through so much hand soap? Are they drinking it?

Ulta Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Sparkling Lemon: So when you smell this soap from the bottle, it smells like straight up Lemon Pledge. I don't mind that smell, but that's not what we're working with here. It doesn't smell like that when you're using it or leave that smell on the hands. It smells like chamomile when you use it. I love the smell of chamomile, so I'm good with this soap. Ulta Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Mandarin Mint: I don't really think this smells like orange. It smells like grapefruit. I'm okay with that. I barely smell the mint in this, but it's there. This wasn't my favorite scent of soap, but it wasn't bad. It's just alright. Ulta Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Vanilla Sugar: So, I don't like vanilla. This is straight up sweet, vanilla, bakery scent. And it hangs around on your hands. I'm not into that. No thank you. Bye. Ulta Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Coconut Cream: I liked this scent because it's a summer scent. It's not super sweet or bakery. It's not vanilla. It's like summertime coconut tanning products and ice cream. Like that sounds disgusting, but think about it. You want that smell. This one hangs around on the hands, but I didn't mind it. I'm into this. I'd buy it again.

Neutrogena Wave Deep Clean Foaming Pads in Original + Wave Original Vibrating Power-Cleanser: I used the Wave for years and I liked the results that it gave me. It made my skin feel clean, and I never had any problems with the pads or the tool itself. I'm not sure if they've developed different types of pads, but at the time that I was using it, they only had one type. Basically, the Wave lightly vibrates to help the cleanser from the pads work into the skin. I think if you're young and you're thinking about buying an expensive skin tool, definitely try the Wave first. Let me tell you this. I bought the Clarisonic Mia 2 a couple years back. I regret buying the Clarisonic, but I never regretted buying the Wave. I'm getting rid of it because mine is very old and I don't use it anymore, and I'm sure that the pads are expired.

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel: So, let me start off by saying that I only used this on my face a few times. I don't understand how this is considered "anti-aging." I don't have dry skin, but this dried my skin out pretty badly. It gave me that tight, uncomfortable feeling. You know the one. In my thinking and logic, anti-aging products should be hydrating and gentle. I ended up using this as clarifying shampoo and to wash my brushes. Really, the only thing this had going for it was the peach scent. This was a gift with purchase, but I would never buy this. Obviously. Maybelline Clean Express! Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover: So, I'm just about positive that this is being discontinued. Everything that I relatively like gets discontinued. Why? I don't know what I'm going to do from now on. I really like this eye makeup remover. It doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy, even though it's a duo-phase formula. It doesn't get everything off, like really stubborn dark mascara and eyeliner. For me, it works for everyday makeup looks. I guess I'll just have to find something else. If you have any reccomendations for me, let me know!

Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleansing Towelettes: Everyone knows that I love the Yes To Grapefruit wipes more than any other cleansing wipe I've tried. That still stands true. I enjoyed these Burt's Bees grapefruit wipes, but I don't think they're as good as my Yes To's. They just weren't as saturated. The texture was different too. They weren't bad by any means, I just don't prefer them over my Yes To's. Of course, I do like the pop top packaging. Even though these are scented, I was able to use them on my eyes without any stinging. That's the only thing they had over my Yes To's. I would purchase these again if I had to, but I'm going to stay with my Yes To's. Dermal Pomegranate Collagen Essence Mask: This was my first sheet mask, and I really enjoyed it. It was a little bit too big for my face, especially in my nose, but I worked with it. It really hydrated my skin and made it feel smooth. If you were wondering, there are English and Korean instructions on the back. I buy Korean sheet masks from H-Mart, a Korean grocery store. Each mask is only $1. I've never seen Dermal anywhere else. The last time I went to H-Mart, they weren't selling Dermal masks. I'm not exactly sure where else to get these. Dermal has a website, but basically everything is in Korean, and it doesn't look like they have ordering options. If you can find Dermal masks, I would definitely give them a try. Try a sheet mask! I think you'll enjoy it.

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Normal/Combo Skin: This moisturizer used to be my life. I've been using this stuff since I was about 17. I've loved it for many years, but recently they repackaged it. Garnier doesn't claim that they reformulated it, but I think they did. The old moisturizer used to smell very fresh and was very cooling. The new version smells slightlty fishy and metallic, and doesn't have that same cooling effect. The old version was perfect. I don't know why they changed it. Maybe I'll give it another chance someday, but as of right now, I'm onto something new. Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Regenerator Moisturizing Gel-Cream: I think this stuff is really weird. I thought I would really like it because I love gel-creams. But no, I wasn't into this. The product itself was red and left a tint on the skin. There's no way I could have worn this during the day. I had to use it at night, before bed. It mattified the skin, and left my face feeling powdery, but when I woke up in the morning, my skin was really oily. I'm sure there are people that like this, but I just don't understand what's going on. This was just a gift with purchase, but I would never spend my money on this. L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base Face Primer: Let's get real for a second. I hated this primer at first. I thought it was a waste of my time and money. I don't know what happened, but with time, I began to like it. It smoothed everything over and helped with the look of my pores. It mattified the skin too. I'm not sure that it made my makeup last longer, but it did improve the look of my makeup. Even though I learned to like this primer and worked through it, I've moved onto something else. I didn't like the fact that the product was in a pot. I have long nails, so when I went to scoop it out, it would get under my nails. That's just gross. I've moved onto something better suited to my preferences.

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray: I've talked De-Slick to death. You guys know that I love it. This is just an absolute must have for me. I think it does a great job at keeping my makeup fresh and it helps me with the whole oily face situation. The only thing that I dislike about De-Slick is the price tag. I wish there was a cheaper option, but from what I've tried, nothing compares. Also, should I feel embarrassed that my bottle is all filthy with my makeup? No regrets. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater: I've already confessed my love for this spray. I can't get enough of it. I use it almost everyay. It's just become one of my must haves. I actually did a full review of it. Click here to read that review!

Oxy Acne Medication Daily Defense Cleansing Pads: I swore by salicylic acid for years. I thought it was the only thing that worked for me. Recently, I've gotten it into my head that salicylic acid is really bad for my skin. I think my skin looks better when I stay away from it. These pads definitely remove every little bit of dirt and makeup from the skin, but I think they're too harsh for me right now. Maybe I'll come back to them someday, but I won't revist them for a while. Honestly, I couldn't even finish the pack. I had 15-20 pads left, but I decided to just toss them. They dried out because I wasn't reaching for them. The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner: I've been using this toner for a while now, and it's a product that I really enjoy. It's pretty much taken the place of salyclic acid for me. I did a full in-depth review of this toner. Click here to read that review!

Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream Moisturizer: I couldn't really tell much from this sample. This was a one-time use sample, so of course I didn't see any effects in tone perfecting. This was a thin cream, and it was slightly scented, but it wasn't anything that I could put my finger on. It just smells like skincare products. I don't think I would purchase this, but I wouldn't be against trying a larger size. Philosophy Hope in a Jar: Let me give it to you straight. This smelled like eggs and lavendar. The smell of this literally made me gag several times throughout the day. I finally had to take off my makeup and take a shower, because I could still smell it on my own face, hours after applying it. I don't care how good of a moisturizer this is. And I don't care if this sounds dramatic, because this product was straight up offensive. Glam Glow Super Mud Clearing Treatment: I had incredibly high hopes for this mask. I used it when I had the worst pimple of my life. I'm not exaggerating about this. I wish I was. I have the acne scar to prove it. Anyway, I was able to get about 3 uses out of this packet. The first time, I applied it all throughout my T-Zone and slept in it. I don't know if you're supposed to sleep in it, but I wanted to see the full effects. It really didn't do anything spectacular. The second and third uses had the same results. I don't think it did enough, purged, or purified like I expected, especially for the price. So no, I won't be purchasing the ridiculously expensive full size any time soon. I think I get better results from my Freeman masks.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream: I have dry lower eyelids. It can get bad if I don't use a daily eye cream. I thought this would be super hydrating and very nourishing. It just wasn't. It did provide a bit of moisture, but it wasn't enough for me. If you have normal eyelids, this would probably work for you. If your eyelids are busted up and chipping off like mine, this isn't going to be enough for you. I think this is very expensive for what it does. I definitely got mine on offer. I would never pay full price for this. At $18, it just doesn't do enough. Also, I used mine for about 9 months, but toward the end, it started to smell weird. Tums Smoothies in Assorted Fruit: Now that I'm thinking about it, why did I even keep this as an Empty? I guess I'll just share a couple words of advice. If you know that you've got stomach issues, keep Tums or Pepto on you. Keep something on you. If you have to take Tums, take the Smoothies. They're not as gross and chalky. There's my advice. Take it or leave it. Venus Sensitive Disposables: There's nothing wrong with the performance of these razors. They do a fine job. I'm just tired of paying double the price for half the razors. Women's razors are a rip off. I've officially switched to men's razors.

Equaline Premium Cotton Rounds: These are cotton rounds. I buy them at my local Chicagoland grocery store, Jewel. They don't shed and they don't have weird plastic bits in them. They're double sided. How much longer can I talk about cotton rounds?

Schiff Digestive Advantage Probiotic Gummies: Lord, I've been through so many bottles of these gummies. I don't think I'll keep them with my Empties anymore. I know most of you guys are very young and don't really need digestive advice. Basically, if you have digestive or stomach issues, you should probably look into probiotics. Considering that most of you don't care about probiotics, I'll just cut them from future Empties.

#empties #makeup #beauty blog #skincare #maybelline #dove #nightmare before christmas #ragdoll #bath & body works #ulta #peter thomas roth #the body shop

1 note · View note

livingvisual · 9 years

Photo

TOP LOOKS: 2015 GRAMMY AWARDS

So, I actually watched the Grammys and enjoyed it! Unfortunately, I missed the red carpet, but I saw the entire award ceremony. I liked most of the performances and the unexpected collaborations that happened. I'm not really "with it" when it comes to American music, but regardless, I thought it was a good show. Anyway, before this gets awkward, let's get to the clothes! Taylor Swift in Elie Saab / Nicki Minaj in Tom Ford Kat Graham in Yanina / Ciara in Alexandre Vauthier ♡ Liv W.

#grammys #grammy awards #taylor shift #nicki minaj #ciara #anna kendrick #fashion #toplooks #beauty blog

6 notes · View notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

A MINI ULTA HAUL + SAVINGS

I went to Ulta a few days ago and I wanted to share my savings with you. I had a 20% off coupon from Ulta and I scored some major deals along th way. You better believe that I worked the coupons and the clearance prices for amazing savings. Remeber to pay attention to sales, clearance items, store coupons, and vendor's coupons! Let's look at what I got. Makeup doesn't have to be expensive and you can treat yourself without breaking the bank.

MY PURCHASES

THE DEAL BREAKDOWN

Pixel Party Proof Liquid Eyeliner in Wine & Dark Green

Original Price: $2.99 Clearance Price: $1.49 Price with Coupon: $1.19 The entire Pixel line is on clearance both in store and on the Ulta website. The line was already affordable, but now, everything is less than $1.50. I already own Wine and I showed it in my 2014 Favorites. I just wanted a back up.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti & Raspberry Pie

Original Price:$8.49 Clearance Price: $4.29 Price with Coupon: $3.43 Select colors of the Lip Butters were on clearance at my Ulta. I've been into that lip tint look, so I decided to pick these up. I've seen them on clearance at Bed Bath & Beyond too!

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel in Up the Ante

Original Price: $7.99 Price with Coupon: $6.40 #essiebuttoneffect

Physicians Formula Super BB All In 1 Cheek Lip Blam in Natural Peach

Original Price: $6.99 Price with Vendor Coupon: $3.99 Price with Ulta Coupon: $3.19 I found a $3 off coupon on the box which I combined with the Ulta coupon, making this about 55% off. I wanted to try this out because I thought it could be a dupe for Majorette by Benefit.

FULL PRICE TOTAL: $37.94

MY TOTAL BEFORE TAX: $18.83

#ulta #haul #makeup #beauty blog #revlon #physician's formula #cosmetics #coupons #deals #savings

0 notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

January 2015 Favorites

January was a really weird month for me. The biggest "beauty" thing that happened in January was my Mulan moment. I cut six inches of my hair off with kid's safety scissors. No regrets. Short hair just makes me feel like myself. My long hair was pretty, but I wasn't feeling it. Anyway, I barely wore any makeup this month. Let's face it. For me, January was basically an entire month of sitting around and watching documentaries. When I did wear makeup, I wanted something easy and natural. In personal news, I started school a couple weeks ago. So that's a thing. I'm just glad January is almost over, because I'm over it.

Let's just get to the favorites before this gets more awkward.

BEAUTY FAVORITES

You probably can't tell, but I have the foundation blended out to the right of the swatch. That's a good thing, right?

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup in 250 Medium Beige

I'm so late to this foundation. A couple months ago, I found this foundation on clearance for around $2 at my local grocery store. So duh, I bought 250 Medium Beige and 370 Natural Tan. Like the name suggests, it's a creme. It's matte but it doesn't look dry. There's something about the finish and formula that makes my skin look really beautiful. I've never said that about a foundation before. It looks natural and like it's my skin, just better. It covers and blends really well. It wears gracefully. It's just a good foundation and I'm about it. After doing my 2014 Favorites, I realized that every foundation that I was actively using was too dark or too orange. To avoid looking like a straight up hot mess, I switched to my super light foundations. I think Medium Beige is a little bit too light for me, but I'd rather my face look too light than too orange. I think 320 Warm Golden would be my right shade.

Laura Geller Baked Highlighter in French Vanilla

So, if you've been with me for any length of time, you'll know that I love my highlight. I love that dramatic highlight: your cheek bone catches the light and it looks wet. Maybe there's some shimmer involved. I'm about that life when I'm wearing full makeup. Even when I'm wearing natural makeup, I still need some glow. So, this past month, French Vanilla did me well. I reached for French Vanilla all month because it doesn't have any shimmer in it, but it still has some radiance to it. It gives me a nice, natural highlight without being overdone. I also used it as an eyeshadow from time to time.

Well, that isn't my best angle. My face and brows look busted, but look at that highlight. Well no. Actually, you're supposed to look at my crease color and lashes.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Nooner

I officially picked one of the most boring colors in the Naked 3 palette as my favorite. I've never talked about my Naked 3 palette. I've had it since December 2013 and I never really used it. I have this whole "I don't want to ruin my nice things" complex. I finally decided to start using this palette in January and Nooner quickly became my most used shade. It's just a really easy crease color. I don't usually like matte eyeshadow, but the neutral mauve color of Nooner just does it for me. Most of the time, I wear Nooner in the crease, and that was it.

Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara

Let me start off by saying that this mascara isn't for everyone. I think most people are looking for something that's much more dramatic than this mascara. It's a very natural looking mascara. It doesn't give me any crazy length or volume, but I'm okay with that. That's the look I was going for. It's the kind of mascara that looks like you're not wearing mascara. They look like natural lashes, just better: a little volumized and lengthened. It just gives me a little something extra. Like I said, I was into the natural makeup look, and I think this did a good job and didn't overdo my lashes. It didn't flake, it doesn't clump, and it's easy to remove.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

I know that super matte lips are on trend right now, but I'm all about that glossy lip tint. Black Honey isn't a lipstick. It's more like a tinted lip balm. I pretty much wore Black Honey every day that I wore makeup in January. There's not a ton of pigmentation to it. It's a sheer "your lips but better" color, but it makes your lips look healthy. Even though I like it, I don't think I'm going to buy the full size of Black Honey because I've heard that the Revlon Lip Butter in Fig Jam is a dupe, and it's a fraction of the price. You should let me know what some of your favorite lip tints and tinted lip balms are!

JANUARY'S LOOK

I'm wearing all of the Favorites. So, this is basically what I looked like every time I work makeup in January. This is my face.

NON-BEAUTY FAVORITES

My baby turned six today! #sisters

A photo posted by Liv W. (@livingvisual) on Jan 15, 2015 at 8:52pm PST

Instagram: I'm literally the last blogger on the planet to get an Instagram. I finally got an Instagram because I thought it would be a nice way to stay connected to you guys. This way, you know when my newest posts are up and we can interact more. Plus, I want you guys to get to know me better, so follow me! This was the first photo I posted. My little sister turned six and we went out for her birthday. Vice Japan: Remember when I said I've been watching documentaries recently? So yeah, I've been watching Vice Japan. Yes, I watch the American Vice channel too, but Vice Japan has different content. It's basically like weirdo journalism. They're talking about stuff that nobody else it talking about. Just watch the trailer.

youtube

#favorites #january #beauty blog #makeup #revlon #covergirl #clinique #urban decay #naked3 #nooner #black honey #colorstay whipped

2 notes · View notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Photo

TOP LOOKS: 2015 SAG AWARDS

You guys know that I love the full glitz and sophisticated looks. I want sparkle, glamour, drama, and an incredible fit. If you've been with me for a minute, you know what I like and you know who usually appears in my Top Looks. Camila Alves and Sofia Vergara are usually involved in some way when it comes to Top Looks. Julie Bowen, Sarah Paulson, and Rosamund Pike: from me, they probably seem like unexpected Top Looks. Julie Bowen's dress is just feminine, light, and beautiful. I don't know how to describe it, but Sarah Paulson is such a queen, and she does the short hair and simplistic look right. And Rosamund Pike just looks so chic and that hemline is gorgeous. So, here's who they're wearing: Camila Alves in Donna Karan / Julie Bowen in Georges Hobeika Maria Menounos in Romona Keveza / Alysia Reiner In Christian Siriano Reese Witherspoon in Armani / Emmy Rossum in Armani Privé Sofia Vergara in Donna Karan / Sarah Paulson in Armani Privé Rosamund Pike in Dior / Ariel Winter in Zac Posen ♡ Liv W.

#SAG Awards #sag #fashion #red carpet #beauty blog #julie bowen #sofia vergara #sarah paulson #ariel winter #camila alves #toplooks #top looks

2 notes · View notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE TONER

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

This review is long overdue. One of you guys actually requested an in-depth review of this toner. Hey girl! Here's a shout out if that's you! I've been using this toner for ages. I've talked about it in Empties and Favorites. I've even given it to a friend as a Christmas gift. And I'm not going to give garbage to the people that I love. If you're new to my reviews, you'll figure out that I'm little reckless. I'm going to give it to you straight. We do real talk here. I definitely enjoy this toner, but it's not for the weak or the sensitive. Let's talk about it.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION FROM THE BODY SHOP:

This refreshing toner freshens and removes the last traces of make-up, dirt and oil, leaving skin feeling soft, fresh and ready for moisturising. The shake to activate formula allows skin to benefit from mattifying powders, while ingredients including Community Trade organic tea tree oil, tamanu oil and white willow bark extracts ensure skin looks matte, without drying.

Removes traces of make-up, cleanser and impurities

Mattifying powders leave skin shine-free

Clinically proven to give clearer-looking skin

INGREDIENTS:

Water, Alcohol Denat., Corn Starch Modified, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Allantoin, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Limonene, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, t-Butyl Alcohol, Citral, Leptospermum Petersonii (Lemon Tea Tree) Oil, Denatonium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Caramel, Yellow 5, Blue 1.

So let's talk about these claims.

I'm not really sure that this toner leaves my face feeling soft. It leaves my face feeling fresh and clean, but it doesn't make my skin feel dry or tight. I think it does help my skin look clearer. I don't really see the need for mattifying powders. I'm not really concerned about looking matte in the middle of the night. So these ingredients aren't exactly natural and gentle, but they are a lot better than the ingredients of salicylic acid treatments. At least this has some natural ingredients in it.

We're in an exclusive relationship.

If you've been with me for a minute, you'll remember that I was completely hooked on salicylic acid. I thought it was the best option when it came to oil control and keeping my skin clean. I can honestly say, now that I've pretty much stopped using salicylic acid, my skin looks better than ever. I've replaced my beloved salicylic acid pads with this toner. I just put it on a cotton round and wipe down my face after I take my makeup off. It helps remove the last traces of my makeup. I don't use this toner everyday. I don't really have a concrete skincare routine. I use it when my skin starts feeling unbalanced. I've never struggled with acne, but I do get spots now and again, and my skin can be oily. I think that this toner does a good job at removing excess oil, makeup, dirt, and whatever else clogs pores and causes breakouts.

Let's get real for a minute.

I have said this since the beginning. And I will quote myself, circa June 2014 Empties: This smells "like chlorinated, chemically treated water in a water park, on a humid summer's day in Florida. It’s not a pleasant fragrance." I have never said anything more true or accurate in my life. This isn't one of those skincare products that smells natural or even medicinal. This just smells like straight up humid swamp water. I can't say that it makes me like this product less. I'm going to assume there's a valid and essential reason that it smells like swamp. I think it's also important to mention that this toner can be a little sting-y. If you have an active breakout or cut on your face, this will burn you. It's not painful or anything, but you'll feel it. The burn is basically the same as a salicylic astringent. As long as you don't have sensitive areas on your face, you're going to be fine. I think it's pretty obvious, but please don't use this around your eyes. Even thinking about your little eyes burning breaks my heart. This toner is regularly priced at $12 from The Body Shop and $11.50 at Ulta. I usually buy mine from Ulta because you can use their coupons on The Body Shop products. I've also noticed that Ulta does good sales on The Body Shop range. I have purchased this toner from The Body Shop a couple times, during some of their better sales. The Body Shop's sales can be kind of tricky sometimes. A lot of things are excluded and compromise free shipping codes. If you are placing an order with The Body Shop, make sure and read the coupon and sale exclusions. I've been bummed out a couple of times, after realizing the products I wanted weren't included in the sale. Overall, I recommend buying this from Ulta because you can get your reward points.

Honestly, when I first bought this toner, I thought it was expired.Then I realized that it said "Shake well to activate."

This toner has off-white paste stuff that settles at the bottom of the bottle. I'm not really sure what that is, you need to shake it up so it's completely mixed with the rest of the liquid. When I say shake it, I mean shake it with every fiber of your being. Shake it like you're serious. Maybe I'm just a whiny baby, but I've never had to shake anything so hard to mix it. It gets easier to mix as the bottle becomes emptier. I don't think I've ever used the word "emptier" before. Anyway, it's not like the intense shaking makes me dislike this toner. It's nothing like that. I'm just being honest and picky. Basically, if you're feeling weak or have an injury that affects your hand/arm/shoulder, you may not be able to shake this up. I'm just being real with you. I just shook up my full bottle, and my arm got tired. I had to switch hands half way.

#the body shop #tea tree #beauty blog #makeup #skincare #review #reviews

0 notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Photo

TOP LOOKS: 2015 CRITICS' CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS

Once again, I didn't know that the Critics' Choice Awards were even on. Once again, I didn't really understand what was happening with the fashion. It's just like last year. But it's not like I'm fit to judge anyone. I'm currently in sweatpants, slippers, and an Ozzy Osbourne t-shirt. When I do a Top Looks, I usually look at 1000+ arrival photographs. Why were the same 8 people in all 1000+ photos from the Critics' Choice Awards? What is even going on? Anyway... Angelina Jolie in Versace / Brooke Anderson in Theia Jessica Chastain in Antonio Berardi / The seemingly nameless guest of Jeremy Dawson ♡ Liv W.

#critics choice awards #fashion #beauty blog #angelina jolie #brooke anderson #jessica chastain #toplooks #top looks

0 notes

livingvisual · 9 years

Text

MY FAVORITE BEAUTY PRODUCTS OF 2014

Better late than never.

Actually, I've been working on my 2014 favorites for a couple of weeks now. And I just want to say hallelujah that this is finally finished! I've put so much time and effort into this Favorites. Of course, these are products that I've absolutely loved in 2014. I had a lot of products that I enjoyed in 2014, but these are the products that I would purchase again, have purchased again, gifted to friends, and products that I've recommended to people that I personally know and love.

Let's unleash this monster.

EYES

e.l.f. Studio Baked Eyeshadows in Pixie / Burnt Plum / Toasted

The e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadows are such a good drugstore find! These eyeshadows perform like a high end product. They're beautiful dry, which is how I usually wear them, and they become even richer and more intensely pigmented when they're applied wet. Pixie is a color that I love wearing during the summer and when I have a tan. Sometimes I'll even wear it as a light blush. Burnt Plum is that beautiful maroon color that's super on trend right now. Toasted is my everyday go to shadow because it's a pink-toned beige. I've used it as a cheek highlight too. I would love to get more of these baked shadows. I also wanted to mention that I got all of my shades from Target, but I can't find them in stores anymore, but they're definitely online.

Dry swatches of Pixie / Toasted / Burnt Plum

Wet swatches of Pixie / Toasted / Burnt Plum

e.l.f. Studio Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Toast

This eyeshadow creates such a quick and easy everyday eye look. I always get complements whenever I wear Toast by itself. It's a really beautiful neutral gold color. But really, let's talk about the formula. It's not a powder and it's not a cream. It has a mousse consistency and I've never seen another eyeshadow like it. It's super light yet super pigmented. It lasts all day and it doesn't crease on me. Seriously, I'm so impressed with this eyeshadow. I've had Toast for a while, and it hasn't dried out at all. After I use up my other cream shadows, I'm definitely going to purchase more of these.

Pixel Party Proof Liner in Wine

I finally found a drugstore eyeliner pen with a brush!! Bless. If you've been around for a while, you'll know that I hate felt tip eyeliners. They just don't work for me. I bought this eyeliner on a whim. I didn't even know it had a brush tip. I was willing to suffer through another felt tip for maroon liquid liner. The color is something that's unique and unexpected, but still very pretty. I always get tons of compliments when I wear this, even from strangers. This liner doesn't smudge, run, or fade throughout the day. It's as if you drew on yourself with a marker. It sets and stays. I bought this liner in the early fall, and it's still going strong. It hasn't dried up and the brush has kept its shape. My only complaint about this liner is that it dries super matte, and I like a vinyl finish, but I'll do anything for maroon liner.

LIPS

NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee

2014 was the year of Creme Brulee. This gloss lived in my purse, and that's not something that I usually do. I took it everywhere with me. It's just a super simple, wearable color that looks great with everything. I'm going to let you in on something. It looks streaky when you first apply it. Here's a tip: remember that it's like butter and you need to let it melt into your lips. I'll apply it, and then I'll tap it into my lips and rub my lips together to really let it melt. You have to do both steps to make the gloss look its best. I don't find this gloss sticky at all, and it's really comfortable to wear.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea & Blackberry

This is the best lip balm that I've ever used. I'm kind of sad to admit it because it's so stupid expensive compared to my drugstore lip balms. I'm sorry, but it's $7.50 at Ulta and Sephora. I'm not someone who has severely chapped lips, but I am someone who lives in a place with six months of dangerously freezing winter. That means six months of super dry air, so my lips don't always look their best. This is a balm that lasts on my lips. It's thick, but it's comfortable to wear. When I use this balm at night, I wake up with completely hydrated lips. If you're having problems with dry, cracked lips, this may be able to help you.

e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator

I never even knew I needed a lip exfoliator, but I can honestly say that it makes a huge difference. When I exfoliate, I get immediate results. Let's get nasty and real for a second. I can see the dead skin coming off of my lips when I use this, but I'm left with super smooth lips. My lip colors apply better, especially my long-wear colors and stains. I like that it's in a stick form instead of in a little pot or tub, which makes it super easy to use. It's like a thin lip balm with little sugar granules in it. It's only $3, and I got mine at Target.

FACE

Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin in Medium/Deep

I was really surprised by this BB cream. I didn't think I was going to like it as much as I do. I reached for it a lot in 2014. Even though it's a BB cream, it gives medium coverage like a foundation. It's got a thin watery consistency, but it still covers. That's my favorite thing about this product. I don't like anything thick on my skin and I like lighter coverage foundations. Even though it's for oily skin, it doesn't leave my skin super matte. It has more of a demi-matte, skin-like finish. I like applying it with my fingers to get the best coverage. The Medium/Deep shade is obviously too dark and orange for me now. I've retired this until I get a bit of a tan.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup

This is my favorite liquid foundation of all time. Everything about it is so perfect. I know that tons of people like the concealer from this range, but I never hear anyone talk about the foundation. I don't think it gets enough love. It gives light to medium coverage and it has a light serum consistency. It's so strange because I feel like it covers everything that I need covered like hyper-pigmentation and scars, but it leaves things that I don't want covered, like my moles and freckles. It borders on a natural and dewy finish. The shade Buff is swatched above. It's obviously a little too dark for me right now. I also wear the shade Honey during most summer, but that gets a bit light for me when I'm at my tannest. Unfortunately, I don't have a bottle of Honey to swatch for you at the moment. Since I love this foundation so much, I'd like to do a full review in the future and show you all of my shades.

Palladio Herbal Dual Wet & Dry Foundation

In 2014, I discovered powder foundation. Where have I been? I love this stuff. This was my most reached for foundation of 2014. It's so quick and easy for everyday wear. This is a true powder. It's not soft and creamy in texture like some other powder foundations. It's not heavy whatsoever and there's no way to look cakey. It has great coverage, but it still looks natural. I wear it by itself, as a foundation. I don't use this as a setting powder. I have the shade Cypress Beige (left) and Natural Clary (right). By the way, I only wear this foundation dry. I have never tried it wet.

Laura Geller Baked Blush in Bali

In 2014, I discovered Laura Geller, and I'm really into the brand. I think Laura Geller does beautiful baked products and it's no secret that I'm in love with baked blushes. Baked blushes never look powdery or heavy. This blush is too gorgeous for real life. Laura Geller's website describes it as "the perfect, warm apricot blush/a warm pop of toasted apricot that leaves you with a perfect, natural-looking glow." And I have to say yes, I agree. It just works really well with my skin tone and it wears really nicely. Let me tell you though, buy a kit from Laura Geller. They usually come with several full sized products, and they're like $10 more than buying one product individually. They're a really good deal.

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural

This is just an everyday, non-fussy blush. It's the kind of blush that I wear when I have natural makeup on. To be honest with you, it's not very pigmented, but I'm fine with that because it looks good with everything. It's not one of those blushes that you can overdo. It just looks natural and pretty. I don't know why it's called Happy Booster. Maybe the cute heart design? Anyway, there's a super light fragrance to this blush, so if you're hyper sensitive to scented face products, this may not be for you.

BRUSHES

Sorry that my brushes are dirty, but this is real life.

e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush

As you guys know, I've been really into wearing powder foundation, and this is my favorite brush to apply it. I think I get the best coverage from my powder foundations when I use this brush. I also really like using it with liquid and cream foundations. I own three of this exact brush. I prefer synthetic brushes because I think they're easier to clean. I've never had a problem with these brushes shedding or bleeding. This brush is only $3, and they sell them at Target. If you pick this brush up, I don't think you'll regret it.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I don't think I've talked about Real Techniques brushes before, but I absolutely love them. This is my favorite Real Techniques brush that I've tried, and it's also my favorite for applying liquid foundation. I actually own two of these brushes. I wouldn't feel out of line if I purchased a third brush. I get my Real Techniques brushes at Ulta, but I know they're being sold in a lot of different places now. I've even seen them in my local grocery store.

Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Eye Brush

This brush came from the Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo Fiber Collection. I got this brush set almost a year ago, and they're still being sold in stores and online. I'm not sure if they're being turned into a permanent product, but they're definitely still available for purchase. Anyway, this is my favorite brush to apply my highlight. And girl, I love my highlight and sometimes I overdo it. This brush applies my highlight very lightly. I can't have a heavy hand when I use this brush because the bristles are so light and just pick up the right amount of product.

Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Face Brush

This brush also came in the Limited Edition Duo Fiber Collection. I use this brush for a super light application of loose powder. Unfortunately, I don't think this brush has any other purpose beside loose powder. The bristles are really light and flimsy, but the brush works well for my purpose. In 2014, I started using loose setting powders again. The foundations that I used in 2014 didn't require much setting, so a light loose powder just did it for me. And this brush did it for me.

HAIR

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Conditioner

I was completely against conditioning my hair until I found this product. I have virgin hair that tends to be a little oily, so I wasn't trying to weigh my hair down. A little baby travel size was actually sent to me last spring from Influenster, and I'm so glad that I got to try it out. My hair is naturally wavy, but sometimes my hair can be a little flat. I never thought a conditioner would give me the volume that I was looking for. Honestly, my hair looks so big, bouncy, and nice when I use this conditioner. The baby travel size is long gone, and I've almost used up an entire full size. By the way, the shampoo from this range isn't anything that great, just so you know.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

I love messy looking hair. That's just my style, and this spray just does it for me. Like I said above, my hair can look flat. I have the waves, but they don't look messy and big. They look like precise little sleek waves. I don't use any hot tools on my hair. This makes my hair look like it's been styled with hot tools and teased. I want big, messy hair. This gives me the look that I want. It doesn't make my hair feel dirty and it doesn't make it look crunchy either.

FRAGRANCE

The Body Shop Honeymania Eau de Toilette

Let's get this straight. I don't like food fragrances. I don't want to smell sweet like dessert. Honeymania is not sweet like a honey pastry. It's very floral and it smells like raw honey, but it's still very fresh. I wish The Body Shop would post all of the notes in this fragrance. I feel like it's more complex than just honey. This fragrance lasts all day on me. I just want my entire life to smell like Honeymania. Because I love this scent so much, I have the shower gel. And I will buy the new jumbo 750 ml size when I run out of my little 250 ml. I never thought I'd have a "signature fragrance" because I love to have different perfumes for different occasions and seasons. Honestly, if I had to choose just one fragrance to wear for the rest of my life, I think I'd pick Honeymania. Is that crazy for me to say? I swear to God, if they ever discontinue Honeymania, they're in trouble with me!

SKINCARE

Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herb and Rosewater

If you read my review of this spray, you'll know that I'm absolutely in love with it. This spray has definitely become an essential everyday skincare product for me. It's one of those products that I never want to be without. It's just so multi-purpose for me. It gives me the moisture that I need, under and over makeup. I just love this product. You should probably click here to read my full review of the Mario Badescu Rosewater.

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Facial Polishing Mask in Charcoal & Black Sugar

I love this mask so much, that I gave it to a friend for Christmas. I use this mask two different ways. Of course, I use it as a regular face mask. I leave it on for a bit, and then wash it off. I also use this mask in the shower. I apply it all over my face, and then the steam from the shower melts the mask and it liquifies onto my skin. I think that's my favorite way to use it. Either way, it leaves my skin feeling clean without making it feel dry. My only complaint about this product is that I can't get the cap to go back on! It's not like I travel or anything, but this is just not travel friendly.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

Now, I have a full review of this product in the works, so I don't want to go too deep into analyzing. I feel like you've seen me write about this toner a lot, but we'll go into more depth in the full-length review. A review was actually requested by one of my readers! So watch out for that. Anyway, I think it's a great final step to get rid of any last traces of makeup, and I think that it does help clean active break outs. I feel better about using this compared to salicylic acid acne products because it's more gentle on the skin. Like I said, I'll discuss more in the full review.

NAILS

I'm looking at these nail swatches, and I'm just like "Wow, this is my life in five colors."

Ulta Salon Formula Nail Lacquer in Envy

I never thought I'd be into green nail polish, but this green is so perfect! I can't get over it. I feel like a have beautiful beetle shells on my fingers. I'm sorry, that's sounds odd. The Ulta Salon Formula Nail Lacquers are some of my favorite nail polishes. I think it goes on nicely and it lasts on my nails. If you're an Ulta shopper, you'll know that this is the nail polish old packaging, from a few years back. I'm not seeing it online, but I have seen photos of it in their new bottles. Hopefully, they still have it in store.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Shoot the Moon

I've talked about this polish a few times before, and for good reason. This is my favorite Complete Salon Manicure that I own. This can last two weeks on my nails. I never have to use a top coat with it either. I've never experienced that kind of wear with another nail polish. I don't own another color that's anything like this. It's somewhere between a silver and gold with hints of green in it. It's really unique, and if you love metallic polishes, you definitely should try this out.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Salon Nail Color in Under Your Spell

In 2014, this was the polish that was always on my toes. If you've kept up with me, you'll know that I don't like red nail polish. I just feel very uncomfortable wearing red polish, but this polish is dark enough for me to pull off. It's a blackened red, and I'm all about it. I also think the MegaLast polishes are some of the best at the drugstore. Overall, this is a gorgeous polish and it's super affordable. Remember to work this Wet n Wild coupons too.

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Pacific Blue

I have such a thing for thing for this nail polish. For years, I saw other bloggers wearing this and it looked so nice on them, but I could never find it in stores! After years of wanting it, I finally found it and picked it up. I always get so many compliments when I wear Pacific Blue. It's really just the perfect summer color. It just looks so nice on the nails. It's a lot brighter than what I usually wear, but it just works with everything that I wear. Strangely enough, it doesn't clash or look weird paired colorful clothing. I really don't know how to describe it. It's just works.

Revlon Nail Enamel in Dreamer

I love wearing this color on my nails during the wintertime. I have this whole strange winter wonderland meets kawaii Anime concept formed round this nail polish. Even though it's blue, it's still very soft and demure. It's not in your face like Pacific Blue. I really like waring this with a glitter top coat to up the kawaii look. I actually think I'm going to paint my nails this color next.

#makeup #beauty blog #2014 favorites #mario badescu #MAYBELLINE #cosmetics #skincare #palladio #laura geller #real techniques #Sally Hansen #favorites

2 notes · View notes