Too Faced Trio REVIEW

If you are in need of some new products to enhance your complexion, then look no further. I have wanted to test out some more of Too Faced’s products – they are one of my favourite brands to date but I was yet to try face and skin makeup that they have on offer. I sought out a Sephora when I was in Bordeaux and decided to test three products together – the Hangover Primer and the Born This Way foundation and concealer. In this blog post I will be reviewing these both separately and as a trio.

First off, the Hangover primer is lovely and creamy, and not what I was expecting having only tried silicone-feeling primers in the past such as Smashbox’s photo finish and Benefit’s porefessional (before I went cruelty free). That being said the creamy texture feels more like a moisturiser and I was pleasantly surprised by this. I use my fingers to rub the product out and then dot it around my bare face, blending it into my skin with gentle circular motions. The primer feels lightweight and cooling on your skin – it does not feel tacky but you should leave it to sink into the skin for a few minutes before applying any foundation. After testing this primer I have come to the conclusion that although I did not feel it particularly blurred any imperfections, the Hangover serves as a lovely, moisturising base for your makeup and prevents it from moving around or looking blotchy.

Dotting a pump of the Born This Way foundation was easy and mess-free, and I was really grateful for this. Searching for a new holy grail foundation after retiring from using NARS’ Sheer Glow since their latest reversal of their cruelty free status, I enjoyed the fact that I could buy the Born this Way foundation without having to purchase a separate pump as I used to have to do with Sheer Glow. I purchased the shade “Pearl” which turned out to be a good match. It is certainly buildable coverage as it states “medium to full” on the front of the bottle – you can definitely go for two layers without it looking patchy. I was pleased with the blendability of the foundation and the glowy full coverage that came with the end result. Can I also just say that I adore the packaging – but that comes as no surprise to me since Too Faced always outdo themselves on this front.

The consistency of the Born This Way concealer, on the other hand, is full coverage from the outset. I found the formula to be very thick which may disagree with some people, but this being said the thickness does not constitute a cakey finish – almost the opposite is achieved, in fact. I bought the shade “Very Fair”, and despite it being a little bit light for me I found that a damp beauty blender could leave the skin looking flawless and the lightness of the shade blended out fully. I think this also has something to do with the combination of all three of these products – my skin looks glowy and beautiful every time I use all three together, while also maintaining a full coverage which is how I like my makeup. This proves the three do make a lovely trio to use together. If that wasn’t good enough reason to buy them, then it should also be said that there are so many shades in the range, making them truly versatile for anybody to use and enjoy as much as I did.

Love,

Sio

xoxo

HUDA Rose Gold Palette Review

The first thing that I will say about this palette is that it is so versatile. You can create a flirtatious, fun pink look, a dark smoky one or an earthy orange all from one palette, and that is what I usually search for when investing in more pricey eyeshadows. Because this one is more on the expensive side at £56 from Cult Beauty and, if you’re in the States, $65 from Sephora. The colours are lovely, and set out in the packaging with enough surface area each that gives them their own space, allowing the user to dip and swirl their brush to get as much pigment as they please. Despite this freedom, the eyeshadows themselves are pigmented enough that you don’t need to swirl your brush in any way.

Comparing it to my favourite eyeshadow palette, ABH’s Modern Renaissance, the shadows are less creamy but there is less fallout. The matte shades are mostly natural but I love the way the bright pink shade “Flamingo” and the sultry red “Maneater” are included into these, making the palette itself both unique and suitable for every taste. Of course, accompanying the mattes are what really makes the palette stand out and what has given it its hype status – the eight textured shades. Two of these, a baby pink with gold glitter (“Angelic”) and pale gold-white “Moon Dust” are labelled ‘press pearls’ on the back of the packaging, which sets them apart from the other 3D shadows but they are still gorgeously glittery and pigmented.

The variety of colours given in the 3D Textured formula are another reason for the versatility of the palette as a whole – see the look I created with a combination of the mattes and “24K” on my Instagram. The same could be done with the pinks and oranges – there are just so many opportunities to be creative and that is one of the things I love the most about it. One negative I will mention is the texture of the 3D shimmers is a little on the patchy side. The formula could be a little more creamy which would solve the issue. What I do if this shows up on the lids is add water to a small flat brush – this enables you to create a cut crease that is pigmented and structured, whilst hiding any patchiness where the glitter has built up. For a palette worth over 50 quid, I would maybe have expected exceptionality in the shades – however, I still think it is worth the money due to the versatility of the shades. Still, it would be even better if the formulations were flawless.

Stay tuned!

Love,
Sio

xoxo

NARS reaction

Hello the internet. It has been a while since my last post. But here I am again ready to give you regular beauty bests and blows.

This week an issue has to be addressed, and I suppose this is a good way to kick start my blogging career because it is an issue I feel strongly about within the beauty industry. From the title, you probably guessed it, that’s right – it’s animal testing.

Now, I have been cruelty free for a year. And let me start off by saying I still get as much enjoyment out of using makeup as I did a year ago without using products that test on animals. Kat Von Dee stated accurately in her Instagram reaction post – find that here – that it is a CHOICE for a brand to sell their produce in China, which by law requires cosmetics to be tested on animals. I really enjoy NARS makeup, and I would even go as far to say that their ‘Sheer Glow’ foundation trumps any other for me.

That is why I was so utterly disappointed and heartbroken when I saw they have decided to revert their status as a cruelty-free brand. Their excuse? They want to share a ‘vision of beauty and artistry’ to other parts of the world, this meaning China. I find this appalling to be used as any form of excuse – after years of not selling to China, why now? Why is this necessary? For profit, and profit alone. In short, NARS are choosing to inflict pain and suffering on innocent creatures in order to boost their bank accounts. I am utterly disgusted with the brand, and will no longer be recommending their products to anybody, nor will I be repurchasing anything from their brand – not even ‘Sheer Glow’.

Because the facts are in front of your greedy little eyes, NARS. There are so many brands that are just as good as you – Hourglass, BECCA, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Charlotte Tilbury, Too Faced… and that is only to name a few. Do you honestly think that we will continue to buy your product when brands such as these, on the same level, are cruelty-free and against the unnecessary suffering of animals?

Friends, we must take a stand against those who continue to exploit innocent lives for their own financial gains, we must fight for what we believe in. The greed on our planet is not limited to the beauty world, but we can make a difference where we can and speak  out when instances such as these occur. Send emails of complaint, comment on NARS’ ‘explanatory’ post displaying your outrage, spread the word. This is wrong, and it must end.

Look out for the symbols above to certify your makeup is cruelty free.

Love,

Sio
xoxo