Beauty Product Reviews
I just love the concept and it looks so cute
When I first spotted these on Too Faced newsletter of new items, my eyes lit up and I knew I was getting me these. Originally I wanted the Big & Carrie one as it was better suited for fair skin tones but as I was limited by where I could buy it from I ended up with Ross & Rachel. Side note though, now that Sephora have opened their online doors to international cards I have just acquired the Big & Carrie one so *happy dance* that review will come once I have had time to play.
Anyway onto the product, first of all if you are a fan of Too Faced you already know that this beautiful creation is made with quality and love, from its adorable heart shape in shiny black plastic with its Too Faced logo emblazed on the top in gold font. To the scent once you open it up, huge dose of chocolate aroma coming straight at you. I was shocked when I first got it though as it is quite large, I had expected it to be smaller for some reason. Flip open the heart case, which by the way screams Polly Pocket for those of you who like me had that as a child. Inside you have a swirled pattern of bronzer and insert in the corner is a little pink blusher in the shape of a love heart. Its all very mushy really but I love it.
Like I mentioned the Ross & Rachel blushing bronzer is designed for the medium skin tone but being fair I thought it was going to be too harsh, which the bronzer actually is a little the cocoa brown of the bronzer is a warm tone but its not excessively pigmentated which means you go on light and easy to build up a good contour on your face. The little pink blush is quite sharp in contrast too, again on the warm side it is a little bit more heavy on the pigments so don't do like me on first application and splotch it on heavy handed as you will get overly blushed cheeks that aren't easily blended. But what I do love is when I grab a huge fluffy kabuki brush and swirl it into both the blush and bronzer and dust it as a blush on the cheeks and temples. Oh my its a wonderfully lifting glow that I have never seen in a bronzer before its perfect!! I can see why they were picked to be put together. As I mentioned these colours aren't the easiest to blend so the method is to go light and easy allow the colour to build up as once its on there it isn't going anywhere in a hurry. I do use a setting spray but this hasn't smudged or rubbed off at all and every time I use it, it makes me smile which all my Too Faced products do, they are just so freaking cute and smell amazing!!
Candlelight - Magic fairy dust!!!
This is my baby right now; seriously I have used this powder everyday from the first application. I only brought it about 6-8 weeks ago and I already see the faint circles of the pan from overuse (sobs a little)
The reason I love this so much is because it acts likes a powder to set your foundation or BB cream but it has a shimmer to it, not over the top that you end up a dewy sparkly mess, but in fact it gives a matte glow. Its effect diffuses the light that hits your face to give you an instant in real life filter.
When first applying it use a face powder brush that has some body to it, as you want to load it up and then swirl it all around your face, every bit I include my eyelids, neck, chest, etc... Then go about the rest of your make up routine. Don’t be scared!! It can be daunting as its full of tiny glittering silvers and golds, when you’re putting it on with the mirror up close you can get a shock as to how glittery it looks, but don’t stop keep loading it on, I went lightly first and then had to reapply. As it’s like an illusion you look like a sparkling ball up close but take 2 steps away from the mirror...and Oh My Gawd!! You’re fabulous!!! Really I think its magic, maybe made out of fairy dust?
It works well at brightening your face, hiding dark patches, blemishes and wrinkles and paired with a blur cream under a primer, you end up with an almost flawless look. Night or day it just does its magic, I’ve been compliments by a few people over how clear my makeup looks with this powder on.
The powder compact is cute in its goldy beige casing, with a good solid chunky mirror on the inside and a deep seated powder. The closing catch on the compact is awesome too, normally after a few opening and closings it gives and becomes weaker, but everyday it keeps strong! The powder is light beige colour with tiny golden and silver glittery sparkles running through it. It’s a clear/invisible powder so suits all skin tones and types. Another bonus is it doesn’t rub off, I always finish my makeup with a spritz of spray but sometimes even then powders or foundation can rub off through the day, but I have found that this powder just likes to stay where it is on my face until its time to remove it with remover.
The perfect way to light your face
This is my very first Hourglass product and yes the main reason for buying it was due to the high cult status it has achieved across the blog/vlog world of beauty it seemed like a too good to be true and the packaging is beautiful. So of course I got sucked in to buying it, but it does now take prize position on my table.
The cutest of this palette isn't in your face, it's subtle with its burgundy glossy dark plastic casing that is quite thick, to the really tight closed opening that requires both hands to open it as its sat on the side of the palette and is designed to blend into the shape of the case with its jutted out edge. Inside the hinges make it slightly stiff to open but not in a "oh my god its going to break" way but it is in fact the quality of the hinges and the design which is just a luxurious item. You feel 100% pretty and more important just holding it. The large mirror is almost borderless so you get a decent size if you use the mirror which would be handy when travelling as you won't need to take a handheld one with this. The 3 powders are slighty domed but still squared in their seats, which has them raised in the middle and the colours that are delicated swirled with hints of silvers and gold through them just gives it a one of a kind effect as if it was made by hand for you.
Formula of the powders seem slightly chalky to begin with but after the first application it seems to remove the top layer and reveal a delicate cream/powder softness but not crumbly texture that blends effortlessly on your face. These are not overly pigmented and you won't get a highly intense highlight effect but it creates an almost romantic glow and brightness to your face when used in a way to give you a more healthy, younger appearance.
In the palette you get: Dim Light - which is the first on the left, the slightly soft beige powder works for my skin as a bronze blur, to help me get a slight contour effect on my fair skin
Incandescent Light - The middle glowing pearl white that is the most used and is sinking fast!! it brightens and makes my face appear more youthful and even looking.
Radiant Light - the 3rd powder which is a more golden brown shade, to be honest I barely touch this shade as it can look too murky on my skin, but I have found that it works nice if applied lightly as a blush topper
It is just a luxury feel, elegant edition to my makeup collection and although I don't use all 3 of the powders it is totally worth it for the limited edition incandescent light, as it is only available in this palette at that time.