I’m one of those people who actually enjoy cleaning brushes 80% of the time. I love trying different products overall, especially cleansers made specifically for brushes. I don’t always purchase them because I find most products are safe to use on brushes ( i.e baby soap, Castile soap, dish detergent!). I have always wanted to try a solid cleanser, because iI heard they last pretty long for their small size. It did last 5-6 months which is pretty impressive. The sent was subtle and it gave a pretty good lathers. The small rubber object was pretty good but it would be beneficial to have a loop in the back to place a finger through to have a better hold on it. I would give this a 6/7 because it’s good but not practical if you have a lot of brushes.
Systematic Skincare
I love a good skincare routine, after all your skin is your first foundation. Implementing a routine that fits your skincare needs is essential to having a great base for your makeup. 
Meaning, minimized pores and smooth texture. This Boscia set was from Sephora during the holiday season and it features one of the products I wanted to try the most, the Luminizing Black Mask, which is a peel away mask, FUN! Needless to say, this product pulls the black heads right out of you face, it’s kind of painful but very worth it. Right after peeling it away, your skin is smoother in appearance and to the touch.
I loved the Detoxifying Black Cleanser, it warms up on your skin and leaves your skin squeaky clean. Using the peel and the cleanser I moisturized with the oil. I am not a huge fan, but it did absorb into the skin quite nicely.
The Exfoliating Peel Gel was pointless….
I would Purchase the mask again for sure, it is similar to the Origins charcoal mask but the results are quicker.
For Your EYES Only
Primers in general get the side eye from makeup newbies. Some might view these products as just another add-on someone at Sephora tries to sell you. While that may be true, eyeshadow primers and face primers are an integral part of makeup application. I love primers and I love trying different types. The key is to evenly apply the primer before your shadows and blend it well into the eyes. You will notice your shadows last all day long. 
The first primer I tried was the Elf eyeshadow primer, at the time it was $1. To this day it is still a favorite, and on par with a cult classic, Urban Decay Primer Potion.
UD Primer Potion can be found in Sephora and Ulta but if you have a Nordstrom Rack in your city, check there because it’s on sale all the time. It last a long time as well. I have had mine for years and that is the smaller size.
I picked up the Milani Eye Shadow Primer a while ago as well, it looks exactly like the UD one and works just the same, obviously it is a bit less expensive.
I recently picked up the Cover FX Anti Aging Eye Primer on black Friday. I have placed it in this post because along with priming the eyes so that shadows last longer, you want to primer your eyes so that application is smooth and that you are protecting your eyes. In order to get the most out of your makeup, you really want to make sure your skin is really moisturized. The eyes tend to be the most sensitive area and require lots of moisture, which subsequently prevents wrinkles. So this is a great product to have in conjunction with your other primers.
Battle of the Beauty Blenders
I personally believed that the actual beauty blender was all hype. However I didn’t want to dismiss it without experiencing it for myself. I purchased this blender in a Sephora inside JCPenny set called “Perfect Ten “. I have been purchasing “immitators” for years now, I have many and I have grown accustomed to the feel of them .
I would say that the copycat beauty blenders are harder to clean and sometimes stain, however I was never diligent about cleaning them in a timely fashion. Since these products have been introduced, many other brands have been making them and they are not all the same. I would say the newer ones are very close to the texture of the real deal. I can’t recall the name of the brand of the name I prefer, but I love the feel of them and the fact that its not as spongy as the real beauty blender.
I, in good conscious wouldn’t recommend the $20+ one over a 4 dollar one because the performance is the same. They all get the job done. I actually love the different shapes the other brands have come up with. Real Techniques sponge features a flat horizontal side which is great for applying foundation to the whole face. I purchased one that was oval and oblong, it was great for under eye concealer as well as the bridge of the nose.
My verdict: Save yourself some money and just buy the cheaper alternative! Trust me. Or if you are that pressed on name brands, get a beauty blender and convince yourself it is somehow better than the rest. No shade.
My Top 5: CONCEALERS
Bare Minerals Concealer
Pros – This is a great color correcting concealer for me, it gives a little brightness, but when I am going for a very natural look I reach for this.
Cons – This product is a creaser, set well and set fast. If you are using it to color correct blemishes on the face, you should be ok.
LA Girl Pro Conceal
Pros – This product has many positive attributes, This is the cheapest, highest performing concealer on the market. It doesn’t get shiny or oily like creamier concealers, it comes is a million shades, and it blends really well.
Cons – For some strange reason there is a watery substance that sometimes comes out before the actual product, it could be something in the formulate that settles when you don’t use it for a while but it’s annoying.
Sephora Collection
Pros – Can’t brag about this product enough, it is right up there with Nar creamy radiant concealer but not as thick and does dry really fast. The gel formula is perfect for under eye. There are so many colors to accommodate a variety a skin tones. The price point isn’t bad either.
Cons – The applicator, it’s not a big deal but it’s quite annoying. When I tried this product out, I used a lip wand and it was a great tool because I got enough product out. The applicator only applies very little product, which I guess isn’t that bad.
MAC Prep + Prime (Peach Lustre)
Pros – I love that this is a multi purpose for me, I can use it to correct or to highlight. It gives the perfect highlighted look.
Cons – The packaging. Fix it MAC! I suppose because it is a very liquid product that this is the best way to sell this product or it could be that MAC wanted to copy YSL, who knows!
NYX Conceal and Correct Contour
Pros – This is an affordable alternative to MAC and Anastasia Beverly Hills contour and color correcting pallets. I love the dark brown because it it THE best contour color I have. Of all the contour products I own this one is my favorite because the shade is perfect. This is great for aspiring makeup artist.
Cons – For a “dark” pallette, 3 other the collors arent very useful. I like to get the most use out of everything I buy and I find that I don’t reach for this as much because I only use it for 2-3 of the colors.
Iman Alter Ego Collection + Swatches
I was recently sent some products from Iman Cosmetics to showcase. The collection is pretty cohesive. Each color is complementary to each other and the color pay off is beautiful and rich. The lipsticks are moisurizing and have a subtle sheen.
There is something for everyone because the collection features lipgloss’ and lipsticks. The nudes are perfect for women of color and the red tones are the perfect shade for wearability in almost any setting. This collection definitely captures the essence of every women who loves to switch up her style.
Drama Queen Icon
Baby Doll Debutante
Diva Socialite
Hipster Muse
Iman Nude
Rebel
Winter Skincare Routine
I’m always looking for new skincare products to try. I love a great mask and exfoliant. I do have some staple products that I wouldn’t dare think of parting with. Cetaphil is definitely not going anywhere, it is a pretty good cleanser that gets rid of makeup and gently cleans the skin. Can’t go wrong with Cetaphil. I go between the Green Tea Scrub and the Apricot but overall, I truly love St. Ives. This is a cheaper alternatives to other great scrubs like Modern Friction from Origins (which is AMAZING!).
I am trying out 2 new brands for skincare, Boscia and Sephora Collection. I have never before used a mask that was an….mask, if that makes sense. You actually take this paper mask that is soaked serums and things and let it sit on your face for 15 minutes, then you massage the serum into your skin. It’s quite cool and very spa-like. I love products that contain rose but they do come in various formulas and flavors.
The Boscia Illuminating Black Mask is another innovate product. You apply it, let it dry, then peel it away. It can be a little irritating because the peel away process can pull some of the tiny hairs on your face. However I really LOVE this mask. Once removed, you get instant results. Your skin looks cleaner and clearer.
I rave about this last product so much, but once again, I must include First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads. They are amazingly moisturizing and help you maintain a beautiful complexion. I am prone to blemishes when I have breakouts and this product greatly reduces the appearance of them.
I am on the lookout for new products, let me know what else I should try!
Beauty On The GO
So I’m taking a road trip today, as in a couple of hours and I want to be sure my makeup is on point all day.
Typically I throw a lipstick in my bag and that’s it. I usually don’t have to touch up my makeup because I am usually home in time to just remove it. However, I will be out all day and I know I will need to touch up a couple of times throughout the day.
So here is what I am taking with me starting with the most important; a foundation or setting powder. Always pack a powder or blotting sheets in case you get oily throughout the day. Don’t forget a powder brush or powder puff. Where there is powder there is Fix +, it is a hold grail product for me. I love to carry it to freshen up my face.
Never forget your lipstick or lipgloss or both if you want to switch it up. I love having multiple option on hand. I always carry something to moisture my lips so I keep Carmex in my purse at all times. Travel perfume is one of my favorite items, the one I currently travel with is by Jessica Simpson.
Lastly, a MIRROR (if you powder compact doesn’t have one). The one I have is super cute and it’s from Forever 21.
Am I missing anything? Let me know!
Who’s EXCITED for H&M Beauty?
I AM SO HERE FOR THIS!
When you thought H&M couldn’t get any better, they go and do this!
I am so excited about this collection because I love H&M. I did get a chance to test out some products but as they are still in the process of rolling this out, some stores are not fully stocked. I have not purchased anything YET because everything I want is sold out.
SO with that being said, I tested out some liquid lipsticks (Because you can never have too many liquid lipsticks). The formula needs tweaking but I can work with it. The eyeshadows are so pigmented, I can’t believe it’s H&M. I swatched so many things that I had “#SephoraHand”…you know what your hand looks like after you spend a few minutes in Sephora…yeah, that’s #SephoraHand
The only disappointing thing about H&M Beauty is the foundations and powders…ummm not everyone is BEIGE! I am hoping that they work on this soon or there will be problems. As a WOC who loves makeup this shouldn’t be a thing, WOC spend top dollar on cosmetics so why are we always getting OVERLOOKED?
Budget Friendly Brush Sets
You can never have too many brushes but the cost of maintaining such an expensive habit can be a bit much. I prefer to buy my brushes in sets because it is the most cost efficient. I love Sephora Collection brushes as well as Sonia Kashuk brushes, which are available at Target. Of the 4 sets I own, 2 of them are limited edition which brings me to my next point.
More often than not, limited edition brushed go on sale, right now Sonia Kashuk LE brushes are all on sale as they are gearing up for a new holiday edition. The same goes for Sephora, the pastel set was on sale for about $25 when I purchased it (not sure what the regular price was) and it features unique brushes that the other sets do not include. So if you like saving money, hold out and see if the prices change, because they will (if the brushes aren’t sold out).
The Double Duty set from Sonia Kashuk is a staple item which can be purchased at Target at all times, I love this set because the brushes are high performance and do not shed. The limited edition set (cheetah print) feature the 5 brushes for about $17. You can’t beat that price because a single brush could run you about the same amount or more.
The Sephora Smokey eye set is amazing, high quality, durable, easy to use brushes. If you own 1 set of brushes, it has to be this one. Every brush is essential to doing eye makeup.
Beauty Guide Blog 