Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Foundation

Hey guys!

First off, I want to apologize for not posting in over a week! School has been crazy, and unfortunately homework comes before blogging. Just know that I would much rather be blogging for you guys than be doing chemistry homework. :-) Anyway, I finally got around to doing a review for this foundation! It took me a while to decide how I felt about it, so I thought I'd fill you guys in.

At first I really wasn't impressed with this foundation, but after playing around with it for a few weeks I began to change my mind. I don't know why, but for some reason the first few times I tried it it just didn't last very long and I found that I got greasy after 4-5 hours. Disappointed, I decided to take a break from it and come back to it later.

Now I'm really enjoying this foundation. There are a total of 28 shades to choose from, and I have it in shade 140N. I know it looks way too dark on my hand, but once it's blended out it's not too shabby. It is a touch too yellow/dark, but it will be perfect for when I self-tan (or when I hopefully get a real tan, haha). It definitely doesn't last 24 hours- I'd say it lasts a solid 8, and sometimes it lasts for around 12 without sliding off my face or getting patchy. It's medium-full coverage, and it comes with a nifty pump. Out of all the foundations I own (mostly drugstore) I'd say that this gives me the closest to a flawless finish. It's semi-matte and does a good job of blurring imperfections. It takes about two pumps for me to cover my whole face, and it isn't the easiest to blend as it's a little thick. Although it doesn't transfer, which I LOVE. I can touch my face as much as I want and don't have to worry about it coming right off. As for applying it, I like the results best when I apply it with my fingers, but my Real Techniques Expert Face brush also does the job. I still get a little oily with this foundation, but it's not unbearable by any means. I did find that it tends to cling to dry patches, so if your skin is excessively dry I'm not sure this would work for you. It also photographs well, although I haven't tried it with flash.

Overall, it's a nice product. However, considering it's $45, I don't know if would repurchase it. My L'oreal True Match foundation lasts just as long and has similar coverage. I will admit though that the finish of this foundation is much more luxurious than any drugstore foundation I have tried. I usually save this product for days when I want to look extra fancy, or for a night out.

Have you guys tried it before? What are your thoughts? Hope you all are well!

-rachel j

Currently obsessed: flawlessly nude

Hi all!

I've had quite the interesting spring break. We finally moved into our new house! I'll save you guys the boring details, but the move went well even though the drive was long and dramatic. Literally I almost got into a car accident after witnessing one two cars in front of me, and then a bus almost hit me. Thankfully everyone was alright and my car has good brakes. :-)

But anyway, the whole time I was on break I've been wearing the same look and been reaching for the same products, so I wanted to share it with you guys since I love it so much. Sound cool?

First off is my Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra foundation. I plan on doing an in-depth review on this little nugget, but I really like the flawless look it gives me. Keep your eye out for a full review with swatches and such soon :-) Along with Lancôme's foundation, I've been testing out the widely raved about Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in the pink brightening shade. I use this under my beloved Maybelline Fit Me concealer to brighten up my eyes. I've actually been reaching for this instead of my Bobbi Brown corrector, which is crazy since I have religiously relied on that product to help conceal my dark circles ever since I bought it. I'm not sure I would say that it's a dupe for the expensive corrector, but it has been doing the job just fine for under ten dollars. Next is a new find for me, which is Rimmel's Exaggerate Full Color Lip Liner in 032 Innocent. I've never been big on lip liners before, but I love this. It's a small detail that can polish any look. It looks fantastic with my favorite nude lipstick (read about it here), and it's super cheap. Hallelujah. And to pull of my flawless, nude look, I've been absolutely loving the blush elavated from the Tarte Be MATTEnificient palette. It's a very natural yet still noticeable matte color that is unlike any other blush I own. It paired along with my favorite nude lip combo and a subtle smoky eye is a match made in heaven.

What have you been loving lately? Tell me about it!

-rachel j

NARS The Multiple

(above) one layer of NARS the Multiple in undress me, (below) blended out with finger

Hi guys!

A while back before the new NARS Matte Multiples came out, I got this one in undress me, which is a nice light pink with silver glitter. Sephora's website describes them as an "All-in-one, cream-to-powder, multipurpose makeup stick." I hadn't heard much about them, and I love their powder blushes so I thought it would be a cool thing to try. 

Honestly y'all, I'm not blown away.

Whenever I apply this directly to my cheeks and blend it out with my finger, it smears my foundation around. Not what I had in mind. I've read reviews by fellow beauty bloggers who really like this product, and I think it may just be this color, but the pigmentation is barely there. It looks good when you initially put it on or swatch it, but as soon as you blend it out the color is gone. All that's left is a sea of little silver glitter. I like glitter, but I'd like for the color to stay too. I've tried applying it to my fingers first and then dabbing it on my cheeks but to no avail. I've heard some people using a synthetic stippling brush; tried that, same results. I'm aware that this is a light pink, but I am very pale, and if it doesn't show up on my skin I don't know whose it will. It's just so sheer I don't know if it's worth it to me.
I've tried layering it, and it does make it more visible, but at that point the glitter starts to get everywhere. The glitter is by no means obnoxious; in fact I quite like the sheen it gives me, but it still didn't live up to my hopes. You can also use this on your lips, but I find it way too drying for that.

All in all, this shade is disappointing. I'll continue to use it, but I'll definitely be layering other blushes on top to get more color out of it. Hopefully the other shades are more promising, but I think I'll just be sticking with their powder blushes for now. 

What do you think about the multiples? Do you like them? Let me know your thoughts below xx

-rachel j

Spring break: beach makeup must-haves

Hi everyone!

I can't believe it's March already, and that it's getting into spring break season! My spring break started yesterday, which seems so early. Anyway, since I figured some of you might be going on vacation soon, I decided to make a post all about what kind of beauty products I would bring along for a trip to the beach. Let's get into it!

FACE- Simple with spf

Whenever I'm on vacation or hanging out in the sun, I just want to have something on that evens out my skintone while protecting it at the same time. I really like Garnier's BB Cream- it has really nice coverage, a matte finish and spf 20. Best drugstore BB cream I've tried so far.
It's also nice to bring along a multipurpose concealer. Maybelline's Fit Me concealer in shade 15 works for my undereyes and any spots that happen to pop up.

EYES- Quick and waterproof
For eyebrows I chose my Stila waterproof browcolor because it's easy to apply, and it's long lasting which is great if you'll be swimming or even sweating out in the sun. As for my eyes, I would coat my lashes with Maybelline's The Falsies waterproof mascara and be done.

CHEEKS- Long lasting flush
Some powder blushes just don't stay on the skin very long, and when I'm on vacation I don't want to constantly be reapplying my makeup. The Balm's Stainiac cheek and lip tint is a great alternative to powder blush. It comes with a doe-foot applicator that you dot on your cheeks and blend in for a great flush of color that stays all day long. I find it is a little too drying to use on my lips, but I love it regardless. The shade I have is called beauty queen, which may look scary at first, but really is an amazing color.

LIPS- Light and glossy
This is totally optional, as you could just wear your favorite lipbalm and call it a day, but I love a good pinky-nude lipgloss for any occasion; even for hanging out at the beach. NYX's buttergloss in éclair is one of my all time favorites, and finishes off any look perfectly.

I hope you all have an amazing weekend and a great spring break, whenever it may be. What makeup would you bring on a beach trip?

-rachel j