Probably my absolute favorite find of the month is the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal. I’d been loving the Pressed version and had a mini tube (that will still last nearly a lifetime!) of this highlighter for ages, but I never actually tried it. Well August was its moment and this liquid highlighter is just so stunningly beautiful and surprisingly natural. I’ve been tapping just a small dot over my blush and powder and it looks like a completely natural glow on the cheeks. It’s not overly wet or shiny. It doesn’t look greasy and there’s no glitter whatsoever. It doesn’t disturb the products underneath. It’s just perfect! It can be built up to be more intense as well, but I prefer it to look relatively natural. Compared to the pressed version, I would say that the liquid is a bit more customizable both in how you can use it and the end appearance, and it’s not as intense if you use it sparingly. I didn’t want to believe the hype about the liquid version of the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector, but all you have heard is true!
Something strange occurred in August. I actually wore the same blush pretty much every day! That never happens! J It is the new Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Blush in Fetish. I’m not sure I would say there is anything spectacular about the formula of this blush, but the color is perfect with everything! Whether my eyes are a bit bold or completely neutral, this blush works. It’s pigmented, smooth, and kind of that just right product that doesn’t require too much building, but still adds something. I actually first tried the Urban Decay blush in the shade “Crush” which is an intense pink, but it is almost overly pigmented and very soft in the pan. It kicks up a lot of product whenever a brush just barely touches it and requires a very light hand…even for me who already has a featherweight hand! Given that, I was hesitant to try another shade, but obviously I did and I’m so happy with my find! J Love, love, love the Urban Decay Blush in Fetish.
Another product I’ve used an awful lot in August is the Build-A-Brow from IT Cosmetics. It’s a pretty standard brow pomade, but somehow I feel like this one actually is better than the others that I’ve tried. It’s creamy, but not overly so and it’s pigmented enough that I don’t feel like it takes a lot of work to fill in my sparse brows. It doesn’t seem like the consistency is changing over time either, which I find to be the case with a lot of the others. Apparently the Build-A-Brow has a special cap that keeps it air tight. I’m not sure I buy that, but it does make a bit of a noise when you unscrew the cap and, as I said it isn’t changing in consistency. As with pretty much all IT products, the Build-A-Brow does not budge either! J Your brows are locked into place and the pomade provides a bit of non-sticky hold to the brow hairs as well. I still have some crazy bits sticking out here and there, but compared to everything else I’ve used, this definitely has the best hold. As always, spectacular work IT Cosmetics on the Build-A-Brow!
I have a confession to make that I feel makes me a terrible cruelty free blogger. I had never tried Makeup Geek Eyeshadows before August! Well, August showed me the error of my ways because I have had at least one Makeup Geek Shadow on my eyes the entire month! There is a specific combo that I kept going back to as well – Prom Night, Unexpected and Drama Queen. They combine to make a rather cool-toned look, which is unexpected (see what I did there? Annoying, I know!) for me because I tend to think they don’t look great on my skin tone, but I absolutely love these three shadows! I have used Corrupt (the insanely intense black) and Crème Brulee a whole lot as well. I definitely want to acquire more shades. Another product where the hype is true! Makeup Geek Eye Shadows are spectacular!
Sticking with eye shadow, pretty much the only other shadows I’ve used are the new Kat von D Metal Crush Eye Shadows in Raw Power and Synergy. These shadows are intense! Very pigmented, easy to blend and just beautiful! They’re also huge (as well as kind of pricey!). I’m not the biggest fan of Kat von D herself, though I don’t know a whole lot about her, but her makeup is definitely superb! The colors of these shadows don’t seem that out of the ordinary, but then when you swatch them there’s just something that makes them stand out from other similar colors. They're not really shimmery and not quite metallic, but definitely not matte. It's a really gorgeous finish. I will add that if you’re looking for a dupe to “Synergy,” check out “Bedroom Eyes” from the NYX Prismatic Shadow line. They are practically identical both in color, texture and finish. In fact, I think the NYX might have slightly better staying power (and a much lower price tag)! When I want a warmer eye look (thanks mainly to the red of Raw Power), I definitely love using the new Metal Crush Eye Shadows from Kat von D. So pretty! J
For lip colors, I have been hooked on ColourPop…still. J Their lip products are just fantastic! This month I have been grabbing the Lippie Stix in Juicy, which is a bright pink with a hyper-glossy finish. I find this color is great for Summer and, though it’s their hyper-glossy finish, I don’t find that it’s all that shiny. It has amazing staying power and it definitely stains, though the shine that is there fades kind of quickly (totally fine by me!). Juicy is really fun without being too over-the-top in the Summer. I have also been reaching for their new Sheer Lippie Stix in Whip, which is basically a purple. Since it’s sheer, it doesn’t come across as a true purple, but almost as more of a brightened pink berry. I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s an unusual subtle hue that I absolutely love! The sheer formula is also so comfortable and “Whip” definitely stains as well! When it comes to Lippie Stix, ColourPop has definitely nailed it! J
I think I’m going to stop here for my August Favorites. I have a couple more that could fit here, but I’m going to include them with a few Random Favorites this month. It’s been a fantastic month makeup-wise! It’s unusual that all of my favorites are makeup. In fact, I’m almost certain that this is the first month it’s occurred!!! I hope you found a few intriguing suggestions and I would love to hear something you haven’t been able to put down this past month! Here’s to a great September…if all goes as planned, I should have a good schedule of posts heading your way! Brainstorming has been strong in August too! J Thanks so much for stopping by and I should be back again Friday with some more goodies to share. J
Wearing Kat von D Metal Crush Shadows &
ColourPop Lippie Stix in Whip (heavily blotted)
