Chic Week Beauty Haul from Sephora

To say that I am not a sucker for a sale would be an understatement and to say that I made a couple purchases during Sephora’s Chic Week 15% off sale would be an ever bigger understatement.  (To say that my credit card isn’t hurting because of it would be one of the biggest understatements I could currently make at the moment.)

So…I shopped (again and again and again) and this is what I ended up with (reviews to follow as I try these goodies out):

Sephora Nano Lip Liner (02 – Cute Caramel): $4.25

(Orig. $5.00)

Dr. Jart+ The Original BB Cream Set: $28.90

(Orig. $34.00)

Tarte Beauty & The Box and SmolderEYES Duo: $17.85

(Orig. $29.00…on sale for $21.00)

Sephora Collection Nourishing Hand Cream: $2.55

(Orig. $3.00)

Sephora Collection Double-Ended Waterproof Smudge Liner: $2.55

(Orig. $9.00…on sale for $3.00)

Sephora Collection Moisturizing Bronzing Body Lotion: $4.25

(Orig. $16.00…on sale for $5.00)

Sephora Collection Professional Clear Natural Mascara: $4.25

(Orig. $10.00…on sale for $5.00)

Sephora Collection Silk Shadow Quad (Ballroom Romance): $5.95

(Orig. $25.00…on sale for $7.00)

Sephora Collection Urban Luxe All Over Powder Palette: $5.95

(Orig. $14.00…on sale for $7.00)

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer: $8.50

(Orig. $29.00…on sale for $10.00)

Korres Butter to Go Body & Lip Butter Duo: $8.50

(Orig. $15.00…on sale for $10.00)

REN the Fab 4 Kit: $28.90

(Orig. $34.00)

Sephora Collection Perfecting Ultra-Smoothing Primer: $12.75

(Orig. $15.00)

Sephora Favorites In the Glow Set: $38.25

(Orig. $45.00)

Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam Party Sampler: $38.25

(Orig. $45.00)

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation SPF 20: $28.90

(Orig. $34.00)

Jennifer Aniston Perfume (1 oz.): $22.95

(Orig. $39.00…on sale for $27.00)

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix (0.84 oz.) $8.50

(Orig. $10.00)

Sephora Collection Instant Airbrush Foundation: $7.65

(Orig. $20.00…on sale for $9.00)

Too Faced Hot Cocoa Collection: $8.50

(Orig. $10.00)

Make Up Forever Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation: $30.60

(Orig. $36.00)

Too Faced Primed, Poreless & Perfected To Go Duo: $12.75

(Orig. $15.00)

Sephora Collection Perfecting Ultra-Smoothing Primer

I have to say that I was actually surprised by how much I liked this primer.  I normally use Smashbox Photo Finish Primer or Tarte’s Poreless Primer and I decided to give this one a try on a whim when I was placing an order on Sephora.  (The price tag on this was also alluring!)

For $15, I think this product is well worth the money.

The consistency isn’t quite like Tarte’s Poreless Primer.  (If you haven’t ever tried that, it’s a clear thicker consistency, almost wax-like).  It’s not quite as thick and I think it actually applies a little easier than Tarte’s.  Sephora’s primer also has a more luminous glow to it.  In the bottle, it looks almost shimmery, but when I applied it, it wasn’t.  Once it sets, I don’t think it’s really that luminous at all and I feel like Tarte’s primer gave me a little more of a dewy glow.  So I would recommend Sephora’s primer if you are going for a more matte finish.

I used Smashbox BB Cream, Smashbox Bronze Lights and Bare Minerals Powder Foundation over top of it.  (As well as Tarte’s Maracuja Concealer in a couple of areas).  (And by now you are probably thinking: “Wow she really layers the stuff on”-lol!) Surprisingly, after all of that, my face doesn’t look heavy or cakey and it feels very smooth and light.

The primer has been on for about 5 hours now (as well as the other makeup) and I haven’t noticed any changes.  It’s still holding up and hasn’t worn off.

Overall, I would recommend this product.  So far I like it and I think the price tag on it is something that most people would appreciate!

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Extends length of makeup wear
• A little goes a long way
• Creates a smooth canvas

Cons:

• Doesn’t provide thick coverage (this could be a pro for some people)
• Doesn’t provide a luminous glow (this could also be a pro for some people)

BB Creams……Take Your Pick!

There are so many different BB Creams available today that it’s hard to pick one!  Below are some of the most popular and newest BB Creams available today as well as a little bit of information on each one.

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Average Price: $34.00

Size: 1 oz.

Color Choices: fair, light, medium, tan

• Eco-chic tube
• Primer, moisturizer, light foundation, anti-aging treatment and sunscreen in one
• Provides a youthful looking glow
• Oil free
• Creamy, silky formula
• Buildable coverage
• Feels like silk (per reviews)
• Started to flake (per reviews)
• Nice matte finish (per reviews)

Dior Diorskin Nude BB Cream SPF 10

Average Price: $44.00

Size: 1 oz.

Color Choices: fair, light, medium, dark, tan

• SPF 10
• Moisturizes, soothes, protects and corrects
• Fresh and airy formula
• Sheer coverage
• Leaves skin illuminated with a dewy glow
• Looks natural (per reviews)
• Made skin oily after a few hours (per reviews)
• Great for dry skin (per reviews)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 20

Average Price: $34.00

Size: 1.18 oz.

• Minimizes the appearance of fine lines, pores, wrinkles and redness instantly
• Lightweight
• Anti-aging benefits appear in 8 weeks
• Oil free
• Dries to a translucent and flawless finish
• Helps keep makeup on for longer (per reviews)
• Make fair skin look orange when worn alone (per reviews)
• Skin feels good (per reviews)

Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox Beauty Balm

Average Price: $36.00

Size: 1.5 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• SPF 25
• Purifies and calms blemish prone and sensitive skin
• Combats dark spots and pollutants
• Lightweight
• Goes on smooth with amazing coverage (per reviews)
• Covered scarring well (per reviews)
• Too light/ghostly (per reviews)

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35

Average Price: $39.00

Color Choices: fair, light, light/medium, medium, dark

• Oil controlling formula
• Formulated with emollients and optical pearl pigments
• Ultra smoothing finish
• Creates a smooth canvas
• Extends length of makeup wear
• Buildable coverage
• Slightly thicker consistency than other creams (per reviews)
• Can wear it alone and it looks great (per reviews)
• Skin looked cakey (per reviews)

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45

Average Price: $39.00

Size: 1.4 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• Bio-peptide complex infused with white gold provides anti-aging properties and promotes natural collagen
• Moisturizer, sunscreen and treatment serum
• Ideal for under makeup
• Lightweight
• Restores firmness and elasticity
• Feels sticky for a little after applying (per reviews)
• Not greasy, great coverage (per reviews)
• Blends beautifully (per reviews)

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Average Price: $37.00

Size: 1.4 oz.

Color Choices: 01 (very fair to pink undertones), 02 (very fair, moderately fair with golden undertones), 03 (moderately fair to medium with golden undertones)

• Antioxidants to banish and prevent imperfections
• Makes a great primer
• Just enough coverage to banish imperfections
• Causes skin to breakout (per reviews)
• Great for large pores (per reviews)
• Too heavy (per reviews)

Boscia BB Cream SPF 27

Average Price: $38.00

Size: 1.75 oz.

One Universal Lustrous Color Choice

• Oil free
• Botanical formula promotes skin elasticity and reduces the look of fine lines
• Hydrates, firms and soothes
• Self adjusting shade
• Designed to repair damage and protect skin from future damage
• Great in humid climates (per reviews)
• Too sparkly (per reviews)
• Great for sensitive skin (per reviews)

Bobbi Brown BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35

Average Price: $42.00

Size: 1.35 oz.

Color Choices: fair, extra light, light, medium, medium to dark

• Moisturizer, treatment and foundation in one
• Moisturizes, protects and perfects
• Argireline peptide minimizes fine lines and wrinkles
• Botanical extracts and caffeine reduce discoloration and redness
• Smells like sunscreen (per reviews)
• Leaves skin looking natural (per reviews)
• Doesn’t leave skin greasy or oily (per reviews)

Dior Hydralife BB Crème SPF 30

Average Price: $56.00

Size: 1.7 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice (with warm beige undertone)

• Hydrates and plumps with plant extract formulation
• SPF 30
• Moisturizes and protects
• Velvety soft finish
• A little dark for light-olive skin (per reviews)
• Nice scent (per reviews)
• Doesn’t irritate sensitive/delicate skin (per reviews)

Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35

Average Price: $33.00

Size: 1.1 oz.

Color Choices: medium, dark

• SPF 35
• Brightens and evens skins tone
• Provides a healthy glow
• Oil free
• Formulated with thiotaurine and rose apple leaf extract (two antioxidant ingredients)
• Creamy and blends easily (per reviews)
• Doesn’t cause breakouts (per reviews)
• Medium works well for pink undertones (per reviews)

Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Illuminating Beauty Balm with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Average Price: $38.00

Size: 1.3 oz.

• SPF 30
• Adds illumination to skin
• Ideal for all skin types and skin tones
• Contains natural skin-protecting emollients (increases antioxidant activity)
• Reduces skin inflammation
• Improves skin texture
• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles
• Minimal coverage (per reviews)
• Hydrating (per reviews)
• Great on medium/olive skin (per reviews)

Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25

Average Price: $34.00

Size: 1.7 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• Water bead technology helps hydrate skin
• Leaves skin with a fresh dewy look
• Made with 50% water
• SPF 25
• Chalky finish (per reviews)
• Applies smoothly (per reviews)
• Didn’t match undertones well (per reviews)

Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm SPF 20

Average Price: $34.00

Size: 1.5 oz.

Color Choices: cream glow (light beige w/golden undertone), snow glow (porcelain w/pink undertone), vanilla glow (fair w/golden undertone), linen glow (medium beige w/golden undertone), nude glow (warm beige w/golden undertone)

• Tints, primes, nourishes, prevents and protects
• Offers makeup and skincare benefits
• Strengthens skins elasticity
• Enhances luminosity
• SPF 20
• Satiny texture (per reviews)
• Soothes dry/flaky areas (per reviews)
• Gives a soft glow (per reviews)

REN Satin Perfection BB Cream Sunscreen

Average Price: $38.00

Size: 1.7 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• Silicone free
• Non oily satin finish
• Provides full coverage
• Photo-rejuvenation technology reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Great coverage (per reviews)
• Soft matte finish (per reviews)
• Too dark for fair skin (per reviews)

Omorovicza Complexion Perfector BB SPF 20

Average Price: $135.00

Size: 1.7 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• All-in-One moisturizer, foundation, concealer and anti-aging cream
• Leaves skin sheer and even
• SPF 20
• Doesn’t contain silicone
• Glides onto skin (per reviews)
• Good for fair skin (per reviews)
• Better for lighter skin the medium skin (per reviews)

Too Faced Air Buffed BB Crème Complete Coverage Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20

Average Price: $39.00

Size: 0.98 oz.

Color Choices: cream glow (light beige w/golden undertone), snow glow (porcelain w/pink undertone), vanilla glow (fair w/golden undertone), linen glow (medium beige w/golden undertone), nude glow (warm beige w/golden undertone)

• Perfects, mattifies, primes, moisturizes and protects
• SPF 20
• Provides an air-buffed second skin finish
• Cream to powder formula
• Long lasting
• Buildable coverage
• Went on unevenly and looked blotchy (per reviews)
• Not good for skin with acne or scars (per reviews)
• Doesn’t irritate sensitive skin (per reviews)

Dr. Brandt Skincare BB Matte with Signature Shinerase

Average Price: $39.00

Size: 1 oz.

Color Choices: light to medium (light beige with neutral to pink undertones), medium to dark (medium/dark beige with neutral to pink undertones)

• Oil free
• Designed for oily/combination skin types
• Mattifying coverage and oil control
• Doesn’t clog pores
• Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Brightens skin
• Works great for oily skin (per reviews)
• Not greasy or shiny (per reviews)
• Feels pasty (per reviews)

Boscia BB Cream Bronze Broad Spectrum SPF 27

Average Price: $38.00

Size: 1.75 oz.

One Universal Lustrous Color Choice

• Oil-free botanical formula
• Promotes skins elasticity
• Reduces the look of fine lines
• Hydrates, firms and soothes skin
• SPF 27
• Perfect natural bronze (per reviews)
• Lasts all day (per reviews)
• Great for darker skin tones (per reviews)

Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Smart Gel BB

Average Price: $36.00

Size: 1 oz.

Color Choices: light-medium/light beige (for light to medium skin tones), medium-dark/medium-dark beige (for medium/tan to tan/olive skin tones)

• Textured formula (jelly)
• Provides in-depth coverage
• Adds a youthful bounce to skin
• SPF 30
• Jelly texture covers pores (per reviews)
• Drying (per reviews)
• A little goes a long way (per reviews)

Boscia BB Cream Light Broad Spectrum SPF 27

 

Average Price: $38.00

Size: 1.75 oz.

One Universal Lustrous Color Choice

• Oil-free botanical formula
• Promotes skins elasticity
• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• SPF 27
• Long wearing
• Great for porcelain skin (per reviews)

Dr. Jart+ Renewalist BB Beauty Balm

Average Price: $36.00

Size: 1.05 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• SPF 40 sunscreen
• Patented platol white-c complex brightens dull skin
• Exotic oils sooth dryness and boost natural collagen
• Anti-aging
• Evens out skin tones and conceals redness (per reviews)
• Not suitable for dry skin (per reviews)

Dr. Brandt Skincare Flexitone BB Cream

Average Price: $39.00

Size: 1 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• Flexitone color-blending complexion enhancement technology
• SPF 30 sunscreen
• Pearl powder increases skins luminosity
• Perilla oil complex increases skins hydration
• Thick coverage (per reviews)
• Lasts all day (per reviews)
• Didn’t work for olive skin tones (per reviews)
• Evens out skin tones and leaves skin glowing (per reviews)

Dr. Jart+ V7 Beauty Balm

Average Price: $36.00

Size: 1.3 oz.

One Universal Shade/Color Choice

• Brightens, energizes and restores skins elasticity
• SPF 30 sunscreen
• 7 essential vitamins
• Lightweight formula
• Thick consistency (per reviews)
• Drying (per reviews)

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35

This is my favorite BB Cream that I’ve used so far.

I like a little bit of a heavier coverage and this provides that.  I used Too Faced BB Cream prior to this one and I liked this one a lot more.  I feel like it lasts most of the day but I definitely think it starts to wear off mid afternoon.  (Not completely but I notice less coverage.)

For someone who prefers wearing less makeup and a very natural look you could easily getting away with wearing just this.

Pros:

• SPF 35 – sun protection
• Medium coverage
• Natural looking
• Hides blemishes and imperfections

Cons:

• Wears off mid day

Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips

Yup….this product takes it all off all right and with that said, I would NOT recommend using this for touchups in a car.

I know I am probably one of (if not the only one) to say that I do not like this product.  (I’ve had multiple bad experiences with it, which is probably why I can’t seem to bring myself to like it.)

I will give it this; the product definitely can take makeup off….even the toughest most stubborn kinds.

The first time I attempted to use this, I was a passenger in a car, driving to an appointment.  I noticed that some of my eyeliner had moved to the inside corners of my eyes (which I hate).  So I dipped a q-tip into the makeup remover figuring that I would just quick touch up and remove the runaway eyeliner.  Well, I underestimated how much product the q-tip absorbed and when I dabbed it on the inner corner of my eye, it was like a dam broke.

I also underestimated just how greasy this product was!  It definitely got the runaway eyeliner off but it also took off all my makeup around my eye and left my with what looked like tear streaks down my face.  It also left the areas it touched feeling extremely greasy.

On separate occasions, I have had this greasy villain leak in my makeup bag onto some of my brushes.  I now know to always check and make sure my brushes are dry before doing a touchup because after this spill I didn’t and ended up with another lovely greasy makeup disaster after trying to quickly touchup my foundation.

Overall….this product just isn’t for me but I can understand why so many people do like it because it definitely removes makeup….it just tends to remove all of mine when I don’t want it too.

Pros:

• Removes even the most stubborn types of makeup

Cons:

• Leaves a greasy feeling residue

Tarte Awaken Your Complexion 4-Piece Customizable Complexion Kit

Set contains:

• 0.07 oz. Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
• 0.07 oz. Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment
• 0.23 oz. Pure Maracuja Oil
• 0.28 oz. Maracuja Creaseless Concealer
• Bamboo Concealer Brush

As I said before, I’m a fan of Tarte.  I was looking for a new concealer when I stumbled upon this kit.  I know that I would much rather get multiple beauty products rather than just one, so when I have the opportunity to buy a kit like this, I usually take it.  (I was already planning on buying concealer….so the kit just makes sense.)

The kit costs $32….the concealer alone costs $24….5 products versus 1 product….

A lot of people are skeptical of the kits because they aren’t the full-sized product.  The concealer in this kit is 0.28 oz. and a very decent size.  It also helps that the concealers coverage is thick so you don’t need a lot and a little goes a long way.  You also get a bamboo concealer brush with it. (I still often end up applying it with my finger though.)

The C-brighter eye treatment is a small sample sized packet.  Once again, a little goes a long way.  It did seem to make my eyes appear brighter when I used it, however, it wasn’t enough to last over a week and I feel like I don’t see true results in less than a week.

The Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder is just like a mineral veil.  The jar looks tiny but I’ve been using this for a few weeks now and I still have plenty left.  It gives me a nice finished matte look and gets rid of any shine/oil.  However, if you prefer a more dewy glow/look I wouldn’t suggest this.

The Pure Maracuja Oil is great for dry skin!  I also dab a little under my eyes and it seems to brighten them up a little bit.  A word to the wise, the jar has an eyedropper style dispenser.  I thought this was just a wand and it took me a couple of uses to realize that you push the gold button in the center down to fill the dropper and to dispense it on the desired area.  (Trust me, this works MUCH better than just swabbing it across your face like I initially did.)

Overall, this set is well worth the money.

Pros:

• Much cheaper than buying each of these products individually
• 8 different color shades to pick from
• Good for your skin
• A little goes a long way (this kit has lasted me weeks so far and there’s still plenty left-aside from the eye cream)

Cons:

• Wish the eye cream was larger

Tarte Aqua Gel Eyeliner

Color: Black

I’m a pretty big fan of all Tarte products and black eyeliner.  So, I was pretty excited to try this one out.

I like the texture and it really delivers an intense black color.  It even has a neat cooling effect when applied.  The only downside, it seems to be a little too soft because it seems like every time I applied it, a little piece would break off and be just enough to irritate my eyes  and leaving me trying to fish it out of my now very watery eyes.

Overall, I like the product….aside from when a piece breaks off and leaves me looking like I’ve been crying for hours.

Pros:

• Delivers intense color
• Cooling effect when applied

Cons:

• Too soft-breaks easily
• Starts to wear off mid-day

Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Micro Mist

It could be a really great product….if it actually worked for me!

This isn’t my first time trying this product….I’ve actually tried it quite a few times.  I always start out liking it until about the second or third time I use it at which point I decide that I wouldn’t recommend it to my worst enemy (probably because I am so pissed off at it).

I used this product once on Friday night in combination with a different sunless tanner lotion.  (I spray this on after applying the lotion because I feel like it evens out the lotion).  While spraying, the nozzle seemed to clog up a little but I shook it a couple of times and it seemed to work ok again.  I woke up the next day with a pretty golden glow….no streaks or nasty orange color.

I used it again on Sunday afternoon after taking a shower.  This is where it all went downhill.  I put on the other sunless tanner lotion first and started spraying.  Once again, the nozzle seemed to start clogging up because it started spraying less and less.  I shook it multiple times which didn’t do anything.  Then, after I did one half of my left leg, it wouldn’t spray at all.  I shook it, nothing.  I popped the cap off and made sure it wasn’t clogged up (which it wasn’t) and tried to spray it again, nothing.

So, now I have a left thigh that’s darker than the lower half and a right left that didn’t even get sprayed….COOL! (Thanks Neutrogena, that’s exactly the look I was going for….NOT!)  And, I’m also out the 9 bucks it cost me with over 3/4 of the bottle remaining and I can’t get my money back because the product has been used.  (Which I understand…but it still sucks).

This is what happened almost every time I’ve used this product in the past.  Since it’s still selling and out there on the market…I’m going to say it’s me or maybe I just have the luck of getting every “lemon” out there of this product.  Ugh.

Pros:

• Doesn’t leave streaky-orange marks
• Produces a pretty golden glow
• Not the worst smelling sunless tanner out there
• Easy to use (when it works)
• Delivers an even application
• Doesn’t stain hands
• Affordable

Cons:

• Stops working after the 2nd or 3rd use (at least for me it does–deal breaker!)
• Nozzle clogs up
• Doesn’t smell very pleasant when you sweat….and for some reason it seems to make me sweat more easily than normal (gross, I know)
• Cannot get it wet for a while after applying
• Doesn’t dry super quickly
• Can dry out skin