Becca "Champagne Glow" Shimmering Skin Perfector Palette

Hey everyone!

Very exciting post today, because the Becca X Jaclyn Hill products have been so, so overwhelmingly popular with really positive reviews. I never bought the full-size Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop, so I was really thrilled to have the palette set which includes a small size of the product. I'm a big fan of Becca's highlighters, I used Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector (powder version) for a long time, and more recently the Moonstone liquid version which is incredible.

The packaging is bigger than you imagine it would be, but very thin. It's quite simple for a Becca product, and doesn't really have any of the same design elements of their other products. I do think the packaging is nice for size and shape, but I think there could have been more effort put into the overall design, especially since it was a sell-out and limited edition.

The palette comes with three shades, each powder is under 2.5g. The shades included are Pearl (first time in powder form- now available full size), Champagne Pop (the original Jaclyn Hill colab product), and Blushed Copper, which is more of a pigmented blush than a highlight.

For a palette with only three shades, I think they chose some really great options. Pearl is fabulous on pale skinned gals, Champagne Pop is perfect for basically anybody, and Blushed Copper makes a great blush on paler girls and a wonderful highlight for those of your with deeper skins.

This is a terrible picture, but I had to show how amazing the mirror is! It's full size in the lid and is really great for travelling. The palette itself is sturdy, so I find I can apply all of my makeup with this products mirror because it's so large. The product size looks quite small in the packaging, but all three shades are so pigmented that a little goes a very long way. I think this palette will last a very long time.

These swatches are quite heavy-handed, but I only used a single swipe of my finger. When applied with a brush these shades look incredible on the skin. They certainly aren't subtle- so I would keep that in mind if you prefer something less sparkly or shimmery. They blend wonderfully and are very creamy in texture. I'm loving Pearl for the inner corner of my eyes and on the bridge of my nose, and Champagne Pop on my cheekbones. I was nervous for Brushed Copper, as a girl with very fair skin I tend to choose cooler toned blushes, but I was immediately surprised at how much I loved this as a blush. This palette got a lot of love from me over the holiday season- especially at New Years, but I think it will be in my makeup bag all year long.

Thanks for reading!

Megan

Hourglass 'Diffused Light' Ambient Lighting Powder

Hey everyone! Happy New Year!

So as I mentioned in early December, I've decided 2016 will be another blogging year for me. Rather than attempting to post 3 times every week (and failing by the Summer months), I'd rather put much more time and effort into each post to make it higher-quality and also to ensure that these posts are actually going up on time. I hope you all had a wonderful year, enjoyed time with loved ones over the holiday season and are looking forward to an amazing 2016!

Today, I'm reviewing the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in the shade Diffused Light. It is one of the paler shades and has a more yellow toned finish. I had previously owned the Hourglass powder in Dim Light, and although it was more neutral/pink in tone (more suited to my skin) it was far too dark and never really suited my skin.

I purchased Diffused Light because I loved the Incandescent Light shade that was exclusive to the Ambient Lighting Palette, I used it both as an under eye setting powder and also to subtly highlight areas of my face. I'm still hoping they will make this shade permanent one day- but until then I thought I would try to find the next best thing. Diffused Light appeared to be the palest of the available shades although it does have the yellow colouring, however I realize there is also a shade named Ethereal Light which is more opalescent- this wasn't at the Sephora I visited however. I find that Diffused Light does match my face, but it still doesn't compare to Incandescent Light for me, personally.

Here you can really see how yellow the powder is. Colour aside- the texture and finish is wonderful. It is a very fine powder and has a sheer, subtle glow which I find makes it perfect both as a subtle everyday highlight, or as a setting powder if you prefer a more glowy finish to your makeup (I do!).

I prefer to use the Sephora 79 brush to apply this powder under my eyes and for a more precise application to my face. The brush is called the "Pro Contour 79" and fits really well under the eyes. I find it works with the powder really nicely, and because the powders are so soft and finely milled, I find that a larger brush disturbs the powder and quickly leaves messy powder all over the dressing table, my legs and in the compact itself. I would definitely recommend using a smaller brush in such a soft powder.

I hope you enjoyed this post- I love writing about makeup, particularly when I can be more in-depth and honest in my reviews.

Thanks for reading,

Megan

New Years Eve Makeup!

Hey everyone,

Happy New Year! 

I hope you had a great start to 2016, I'm writing this before I leave so I hope I did too! Remember that January 1st is reserved for face masks, bubble baths and lots and lots of H2O!

Here's a cheesy little makeup New Year's sign I made, probably posted to my Instagram (follow @megan.thomas22) and if I didn't, then this is just a plug for my Instagram account! In all seriousness though, I hope you're 2016 is off to an awesome start. I feel really good about blogging again, and it makes me really happy knowing that my posts will be more detailed and meaningful!

Okay, so onto the products. I'm just going to list them from left to right, full reviews for these products will be up ASAP!

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer 

- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone 

- Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + foundation in #20 

- Too Faced HangoveRx Face Primer

- Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette 

- Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray 

- Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

- Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette in #1 

- Becca Champagne Glow Palette 

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel 

- Smashbox Brow Tech Gloss Stick in Taupe 

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe

- MAC Cosmetics Pigment in Gold 

- Benefit Cream Shadow in RSVP 

- Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette

(Top to Bottom) - Bobbi Brown Intensifying Longwear Mascara for my lower lashes 

- Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara for my upper lashes 

- L'Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner

- Ardell Individual Multipack Lashes, Short Black 

- DUO Eyelash Adhesive in Clear 

- Bourjois Paris Rouge Edition Aqua Laque in 02 Rose on the Rocks 

- Bourjois Paris Rouge Edition Velvet in 10 Don't Pink of it

So now for the ridiculous part- I was getting ready and totally didn't take a picture! This is the only picture I have from the night (Thanks Erik) and although you can't see my makeup close-up, you can see my face and I was having an awesome time with some of my best friends!

I really hope you all had a great night and a good start to 2016! Drink lots of water, get lots of sleep and I will see you next week for another post!

Megan

Update

Hey everyone,

Bit of an update. It's been a very long time as I'm sure you know. I've been pretty busy with school and a job, (I also got a cat!) but basically I had no inspiration to write about beauty. I love reviewing products and I love makeup, but I got a bit bored of writing about it. I think it might be something that's coming back to me. I can't promise 3 posts a week, but I think I'm going to aim for one good post each week. More if I feel like it. I hope that's okay with everyone. I better get writing.

Thanks for continuing to read- even though I've been away for so long.

Have an awesome day, whatever you're doing.

Megan

Halloween Series #4: Queen of Hearts

Hey everyone!

Today's look is a Queen of Hearts inspired one and I did it on my lovely friend, Sara. I hope you enjoy!

To begin I used a white face paint to outline the heart and filled it in. I then outlined it with a black liner and coloured the outside of her face in with a charcoal grey shadow. If I had black facepaint, I would have used that instead.

For the eyes I used some grey in the crease of the eye and a little bit of winged liner. I piled loads of mascara on and made her brows much darker and fuller.

For the lips I used a red liquid lipstick and drew a heart shape onto the lips, making sure the rest of the lip was white.

Finally, I added a black beauty spot in a heart shape on her left cheek.

I hope you enjoyed this look! It's really quick and easy and can be done with most makeup you have at home, or with very limited Halloween face paint!

Thanks for reading,

Megan