Elf Powder Brush

 Alrighty, here is a powder brush that I purchased a couple weeks ago at Walmart surprisingly  I looked all over Target for this brush and could not find it for some reason. The thing is that I even looked on the Target website to see if they had specifically this brush, which they did, and they had in stock at my Target, but no brush. I was so frustrated so I drove home from Target and walked to Walmart, which is in a walking distance from my house and found that they sold Elf. Tricky bit is the Elf cosmetics are not in the beauty/cosmetics isle they were by the jewelry/watches/accessories section of Walmart for $3.

Claims on the back of the plastic packaging state: "This Taklon brush can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! Creates a professional sculpted look. Full coverage color. Use with powder or blush for perfect contouring. 
Directions: Dip the brush into powder and then tap off excess. Start near the hairline and work inward as to not over apply the color.
Care Instructions: Cleanse regularly with the e.l.f. Studio Daily Brush Cleanser and e.l.f. Studio Brush Shampoo to maintain perfect color application and to increase the longevity of your brush. Absorb excess moisture with a towel, reshape your hair and lay flat to dry."

  Anywho, the powder kabuki brush which I use for my foundation or you could use for of course powder, blush and any of that sort. It is a nice and condensed brush so you get an even amount of product distributed on your skin. Handle grip is easy to use. E.L.F. donates to charity, products are recyclable and they do not test on animals! Love how my foundation looks on my skin when applied. The foundation that I use is either Benefit's Playsticks or the new CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation. Another great pro is the brush is only $3! Con of the product that does not bother me as much is that the bristles shed from time to time. Not a major problem because again, it is only $3! Love this brush, rather have this handy dandy that works well, is affordable and is easy to find in drugstores or their website.


What brush do you guys' use for your foundation or blush?

-XO PattyCakes

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder

The drugstore bronzer that everyone and their mom have and talk about, it is the NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder (bronzer..). Long name right? This product is favorited by so many beauty gurus so I had to pick it up for myself and give it a go! I purchased this at Target but you can find this at most drugstores, the problem is finding this specific one.. For $2.99 you get 0.33oz/9.4g and the shade I purchased is 720A Sunny.

I never have used bronzer except for the Victoria Secret bronzer which was years and years ago.

If you are looking for an affordable drugstore bronzer that is nice, not orange, formulation is not crumbly, good quality that does not make you look muddy. It is buildable but I believe it works best on light skinned. It is matte so no shimmers YAY, it does not look too dark or too light. Not cakey. Great to use on a regular basis. Great for contouring. Look sunkissed without damaging your skin but go all natural with this bronzer. Not much else I could say. If I were to use this instead of blush I would but I like the rosey look blushes give me!

I heard that this is discontinued but it is very hard to find, but for some reason I found it at Target. Odd enough I hope you guys give this bronzer a try.

-XO PattyCakes

Haul Exchange

With the haul that I purchased at Walgreens I traded in my Revlon Colorstay Foundation and the L'oreal BB Cream. What I traded was for the Maybelline SuperStay Concealer and the L'oreal Magic Lumi Concealer/Corrector.
The L'oreal Magic Lumi Concealer/Corrector is $12.99 for 0.05oz in the shade in Fair and the Maybelline SuperStay Concealer for $7.99 0.18oz for Ivory.

The Maybelline SuperStay 24 hour Concealer has a odd smell sort of like paint. Smells weird. When you apply this concealer do not use a lot because a little can go a long way. It has a sponge applicator inside. I heard great things with the foundation so I got this. It claims to not transfer, natural-looking coverage, doesn't settle into creases or lines, conceals imperfections, flaws, under eye darkness and circles. Non comedogenic, hypoallergenic, oil-free, dermatologists tested, ophthalmologist tested and fragrance-free. So I do believe this lasts 24 hours a day, but it does get cakey but if you smooth over it it will be fine. Cream texture. I usually put this under my eye instead of my acne but I feel like it might irritate my skin more and cause a reaction. Pretty good concealer so far.

The L'oreal Magic Lumi Concealer/Corrector, I intended to get the Maybelline one I believe but got this by mistake. It comes in a pen version with a brush like applicator. Has a paint smell but not as strong as the Maybelline SuperStay. You twist the bottom of the pen applicator to get more product out to the brush on top. It is sheer and light coverage so I apply rhis over my foundation routine. This product is okay but I would not repurchase. Cream texture as well but more sheer and light coverage than the SuperStay.

- XO PattyCakes

Clarisonic Mia 2

One of the most expensive skin care products that I purchased throughout my whole life, which I recently bought at Macy's for $159.00 about a month ago is the Clarisonic Mia 2. I've heard so many great reviews from blogs, videos from Youtube and from friends so I wanted to give it a try. Ever since I started college I started breaking out like I started puberty all over again. But instead of my forehead, where I would normally hide my breakouts with my bangs/hair, now I'm breaking out on my cheeks..which is out in the open. So, from the beginning of college which was about 3 years ago, I would get small zits here and there. It accumulated to 2-4 every few weeks to cystic acne, where it would scar. Cystic acne for those who don't know are more severe than regular zits because they can really hurt, be inflamed and have pus (yellow fluid). 

Solving my acne was a different problem. I do not have health insurance currently, just giving that out now. But when I did I should have listened to my mom and went to dermatologist when my younger siblings went for their acne. Guess it runs in the family. Anywho, I've tried many things to cure and treat my acne such as, medication, washes, scrubs, masks, toners, and so forth. Medication did not work out for me as well as I thought. For one, it was not my prescription for acne, it was my sister's. Two, it interfered with my birth control and decreased the effectiveness. Scrubs and washes that I purchased, which I learned were making my face more sensitive so I broke out more from the salicylic acid and the benzol peroxide. All which were great, but it only works for so long. Toners did some help, but majority of acne treatment depends and varies on your own skin. Everyone has different skin. Though some may have similar, everyone is different. 

It is all trial and error.

Fair warning, description of the Clarisonic Mia is very descriptive and long!

On to the description on the front: 

Two speeds, two-year warranty, one-minute pulsing timer, and comes with a protective travel case. It includes The product itself, my Pink Polka Dot Mia 2, which is special edition, Universal Voltage pLink Charger, a Sensitive Brush Head, Trial-size Cleanser, and a Travel Case. 

On the side of the box it says: 

"FEEL AND SEE GUARANTEE. We're so sure you'll love the Mia 2 that we offer a 90-day money-back guarantee, along with a two-year warranty. To learn more, visit clarisonic.com"

On the back of the box:

"It's times to think beyond the washcloth and elevate cleansing to a sonic level. Traditional methods of cleansing don't get your skin as clean as you'd think. Fortunately, the lead inventor of Sonicare discovered a break through in how we cleanse. Using sonic technology, the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System works with skin's natural elasticity to gently remove the impurities traditional methods leave behind - leaving your skin softer, smoother and more beautiful.While skin is flexible  it's not meant to be pulled or stretched. Clarisonic's patented micro-massage motion works with skin, not against it, oscillating at more than 300 movements per second to gently massage away impurities trapped within pores. Gets rid of the bad to let in the good. In just one minute a day, the sonic action removes impurities from skin and pores so creams, serums and moisturizers are absorbed better. Cleanses 6X better than your hands alone. Without proper cleansing, makeup, dirt and oil can build up on skin, causing blackheads blemishes and dullness. With Clarisonic, you can removed the impurities that come between you and healthier looking, more radiant skin. Powerful, yet incredibly gentle. Unlike cleansing methods that use harsh chemicals or rely on friction alone, the Mia 2 is gentle enough to use twice a day - even on skin affected by complicated conditions like rosacea or acne. Cleaner skin is healthier skin and healthier skin is more radiant and more beautiful.

& then the flap from the front of the box:

Clarisonic is the skin cleansing system sold, recommended and used by skin care professionals  Thousands of dermatologists, aestheticians and spa professionals recommend Clarisonic sonic cleansing to their patients. Cleaning the skin more thoroughly removes impurities trapped in pores. Once those obstructions are removed, skin care products can absorb better - making skin much more receptive to moisturizers, lotions and serums. Works with skin's natural elasticity, not against it. Skin is made to bend and bounce back - up to a point. Collagen fibers in our skin help give it that resilience,. When cleansing, we should do what we can to keep those collagen fibers from becoming stretched or fatigues. The frequency and motion of Clarisonic's patented technology are specifically designed to work within the safe zone of skin's elasticity, where skin is able to spring back and recover easily - keeping it healthier and younger looking. Cleanses 6X better than your hands alone. Clarisonic Skin Cleansing Systems remove more impurities than traditional cleansing methods - so skin is softer, smoother, healthier looking and more radiant each day. 

The benefit is beautiful skin. Here are features that make it happen.

Two speeds - Both speeds are effective. It's just a matter of preference  An indicator light will let you know your speed setting.

Revive and recharge - The Mia 2 is rechargeable, so you never have to worry about batteries. When it's time to recharge, the indicator light will flash quickly.

The T-Timer will guide you - To cleanse, move the Mia 2 in gentle circles around your face - 20 seconds on the forehead, 20 on the nose and chin and 10 on each cheek. A pulsing indicator will let you know when it's time to move on.

Because not all skin is the same, neither are our brush heads. The Sensitive Brush Head included is an easy introduction to sonic cleansing. But Clarisonic also makes a variety of interchangeable brush heads for specific facial skin types and conditions.

It feels good to refresh your skin and your brush head - To ensure they work their best, we recommend that all brush heads be replaced every 3 months.

Cleansing on the go - Included is a protective travel case that makes it easy to toss the Mia 2 in your bag without worry.

Okay so here is what my skin looks like after the first week of usage of the Clarisonic Mia 2:

Here is the second week how my skin looks:

The thing is what people don't know about certain regimes is that when they start breaking out when their skin should be clearing up is that the layers of skin underneath need to be sloughed to come to the surface so you are left with beautiful clean skin underneath. It takes awhile and is a long process. Most regimes you will not see a difference in your skin for about 3 months or so.

Hope this helps and I will continue updating on how my skin looks!

-XO PattyCakes

NYX Cream Rouge Blush

Back again with the Ulta Haul which I purchased the items online. NYX Cosmetics Rouge Cream Blush are $6.00 each unless you purchase with deals such as BOGOs or coupons. Each product has 0.12oz  (3.5g) which come in 12 different shades listed here: http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/p-25-rouge-cream-blush.aspx

Since I did buy these two products online from the Ulta website I did get a Buy One Get One 50% off. The two shades that I have are: on the left, CB01 Rose Petal, and on the right, CB09 Orange. Rose Petal is more of a natural soft pink that will be perfect for your cheeks any season of the year while Orange is more of a orange, coral color.

A fun fact about NYX Cosmetics are that they are cruelty free :) (They have a cute icon of a bunny with its' ears in a form of a heart!)

Product claims on the product from NYX Cosmetics website says, "More delicious than peaches and cream? We like to think so. Our velvety smooth mineral Rouge Cream Blush offers a sheer wash of radiant color. The glorious payoff is dewy, sultry and long-lasting. Available in 12 shades."

 If you can see from the swatch below these cream blushes are more liquidy and moisturizing then most products. Others can be more dry and solid. This is my second cream blush, the first being Maybelline Bouncy Blush in 20 Peach Satin. Being a creamy consistency cream blush, they do not last as long, about 4-6 hours fading but still visible on your cheeks. Packaging is cute, looks similar to Mac's. Color quality is very pigmented so DO BE CAREFUL! I insist on using a stippling brush to even distribute the product just so you don't look like a clown. This product has no smell, at least that I can't pick up. Compared to the Stick Blush, I think I the Rouge Cream Blushes are much more pigmented and are more worth the money than the Stick Blush. They last longer than the Stick Blush as well. Although if placed in extreme heat the product may show slight bubbling, but it is fine to use.

Blendability is awesome but remember to be careful with this blush. I love this blush and will repurchasing along with the Stick Blush!

Let me know your comments if you have tried this product!

-XO PattyCakes

Benefit Play Sticks

I believe this is the third item in my entire life that I have purchased that is not drugstore. The first item was Mac Matte Eye Shadow in Typographic. The second high end product is Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, which did not work out for me and ended up making me break out more when I intended to buy it to cover up blemishes.. & the third item that I recently purchased is this Benefit's Play Sticks. The reasoning for purchasing this product was I wanted to a try a full-coverage foundation that is high-end but will not break me out. My intention of going to Macy's was just to purchase the Clarisonic Mia 2 but  the Benefit counter was right next to the Clarisonic so I got sucked in!

I purchased my Play Sticks from Macy's for $34.00 for 8.5 g Net wt. 0.3 oz

It comes in 4 shades, which were all had cute names for their shade. I never knew the name of my shade unless I looked online because I thought the top sticker label was just for looks. Anywho, I got the shade Spin the Bottle with help from a worker who matched me with a shade.

The back of the packing is cute but a little bit bulky. The actual product is inside of this, which you have to open and take apart to get to the product. The product itself is in a similar packaging but instead of paper it is made of aluminum with plastic inside of it. The product claims: "It's fun to be flawless with this ultra-light foundation stick! Containing green tea, chamomile and ginkgo biloba, Play Sticks help promote a healthy complexion while giving natural-looking coverage."
How to use: Apply to your face and blend evenly with fingertips or foundation brush.

This product is retractable but I feel that when I'm near the end of the product I will have to dig out the rest of the product with a Q-Tip or a tool instead of wasting it. It has a pretty floral scent to it, which I enjoy. The cap slides on and off like a lipstick. The product itself is a cream-to-powder foundation. You can use this for a foundation, a concealer, and powder! Wohoo! Although for being pricey I really love this product. It does not make me break out. It is not cakey whatsoever. It blends very easily, great coverage and evens out my skin. It hides blemishes fairly easily giving a silky finish yet natural but the downside is that it transfers easily even though I do apply powder over the application. On-the-go, it is great to stick inside your purse or bag and travel. I also heard a rumor that this product is being discontinued :(
I would be so sad if Benefit did discontinue this product. I have combination skin so my oils does seep through within about 6 hours, but it is also moisturizing. I also wish that they offered this product in more shades and skin tones for others.

I haven't heard a lot of people talk about this product, even on Youtube. If you have tried this, let me know your opinions and comments below!

-XO PattyCakes

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Reviewing the Real Techniques Stippling  Brush that I purchased along with the beauty products online from Ulta Beauty.

The Real Technique brushes are made by Samantha Chapman, who is a Pro Makeup Artist and also a Beauty Blogger.

This brush was bought online for $9.99

It claims to have high definition results, offering online tutorials making you the expert. The final step is a perfect finish. The dual-fiber stippling brush is the trade secret for creating airbrushed, high definition results with all types of makeup: look pixel perfect even in harsh light and ultra plush taklon bristles 100% cruelty free.

What I use this brush for is my cream blushes, such as the NYX Stick Blush, NYX Rogue Cream Blush, and also my Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush. It is self standing and use for storage and with its extended aluminum handle for easy light application. It works very well with creamy liquids but I also feel like sometimes the little black bristles transfer onto the product itself on my cheeks. It happens every once in a while but I do think this is a good brush, even for foundation. Many do say that it does not shed for them, but who knows I might have gotten a defective brush.. Quality is nice and a fair price. I was looking for something inexpensive and great quality for cream blushes or foundation and this is it. I never used any brushes or other techniques of applying my makeup other than my fingers so branching out and trying this brush made me realize it is so much easier! Love the brush and will purchase more.

-XO PattyCakes

NYX Stick Blush

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been posting as much as I would like. I have been very busy with school and time has been flying by so quicky! Here is a review on NYX's Stick Blush

NYX Cosmetics - Stick Blush in SB 06 Orchid

This product is available in 8 different shades in 0.013 ounces which is tad bit more offered than the cream blush. The company claims, "Add a touch of color with our creamy and extremely pigmented Stick Blush! Available in eight rich shades! Apply and receive the perfect glow every day!"

As seen I purchased this item with others on the Ulta website. When I opened this package I thought it was so adorable! The packaging came in a cute chubby looking plastic tube that shows the similar shade on the package to represent the shade inside. It snaps on and off and slides shut. It is retractable! It is very convinent for on-the-go to stick in your purse and apply as you please. With it being for on-the-go, the packaging is not flimsy so it will keep the product safe and from your bag. I recommend applying this product with a stippling brush because you can disperse the product evenly and not mess up the products underneath prior to applying blush.

This product transfers onto the skin very well and looks natural, it does not look shimmery on the cheeks. Guess looks can be deceiving. It is a pretty pinkish peach shade with some gold shimmers. I noticed it has a odd scent to it. I can't describe the scent but it is nothing annoying or overwhelming. It can be a sheer coverage but build able as well. The product is a creamy consistency but nothing too drying or too liquidy. Being a creamy consistency the product does fade over time, roughly 4-6 hours of wear. They blend very easily and does not look drying at all. I love this blush and I've been really wanting to buy more and more shades!

This product being compared to the rogue cream blushes, which I have yet to review are both different. The cream blush is more thicker, creamier, and more pigmented than the stick blushes. Although the stick blush have more product offered. Sucks right? In my opinion I would repurchase both and use them depending on my mood and how I want the finish to look. I am happy with my purchase and am glad I finally decided to purchase this product. 

Tip: If you want to make this product last longer, apply a powder blush on top!

Have you tried the NYX Stick Blushes or would like to? Comment down below your thoughts!

-XO PattyCakes

L'oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB

Welcome back!

Majority of all cosmetic lines are now creating what we call beauty balms, or BB creams for short. L'oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB cream is one of the products that I will be reviewing today. The BB cream is offered in   4 shades: Light, Fair, Medium and Dark. The shade I purchased at Walgreens is Light. The product claims have 4 beautifying actions in 1: primes to smooth skin's texture, perfects to hide imperfections, hydrates for all day moisture, and corrects giving the skin a healthy looking, even flawless bare skin finish complexion.

The application comes out white in a liquid formula due to the encapsulated pigments that are infused from a ultra-light lotion of Vitamin C & E. Once blending in the BB cream the beads burst and the color forms. It has a soft silky texture, sheer coverage, and does not offer SPF. I use my fingers because I like to feels the beads and since it is more liquid-y. This BB cream is okay, it gives me a light coverage and evens out my skin tone and gives me a light tan but I would probably use this when my skin clears up and looks decent. If I were to use this I would add one or two different concealers to hide my blemishes.

-XO Pattycakes

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 2 in 1 Foundation

The new CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation in drugstores today are offered in 15 shades! The foundation claims to have an all in one formula that primes, conceals and foundation in one foundation. The formula also has an SPF of 20, which is really great but may have a small white cast with flash photography. All day wear long, smooth and flawless shine-free finish. The foundation I purchased was at Walgreen for $11.99, and occasionally they will have the CoverGirl line for buy one get one 50% off so check for that!

The packaging is great, in glass container with a pump! WOHOO! It seems to have pretty good coverage from light to medium, feeling creamy and not too liquidy or not too dry but feels like a powder. It has an airbrush look to it and is build-able the more you put on. But it evens out my skin and did not break me out for having acne prone, combination skin. In my opinion this foundation makes me feel a tiny bit oily so I absolutely apply powder on after the application of foundation. The formula oxidizes over time, meaning it will turn darker. The color does transfer because it has transferred on the collar of my shirt. I never liked CoverGirl even younger, but this foundation is awesome. It feels nice on the skin and evens out my skin. It gives me skin a flawless look and has an amazing lasting power. I hope you liked this review and that it gave you enough information on the product!

Here is the swatch on the forehand. This is the shade 810 in Classic Ivory

-XO Pattycakes

NYX Hi Defintion Photo Concealer

I have always wanted to try NYX Cosmetics and now I have the chance. I have heard good things about this brand, although some consider NYX Cosmetics are considered "drugstore" because they are offered at various drugstores. They are on the cheaper end. If you did not already know I purchased this product online at the Ulta website. This was purchased with a deal for buy one get one 50%. The original price of this product is $4.99 but I got it for $2.50.

On the package it says it is high definition, mineral-enriched, talc-free and paraben free. All very great in such a cheap product! It comes in this little tube of 0.11oz or 3g. I purchased this in the shade CW03 Light. It claims that is it is, "Good for all skin types and softens lines. Its light diffusing effect is perfect for photos in the studio or for taking fun pix with your pals!"

It does not show up very well but the shade I purchased looks more of a pink undertone than yellow. Oh well, from the picture the shade looks like it matches my skin perfect and when it blends out, you can not see the product as well as hiding my vein a little. The product is a little more of a creamy consistency. I do not recommend putting this for your under eyes because it does settle into your fine lines. If i were to use this under my eyes I would use less product. It covers up redness pretty well and is easy to blend but I tend to use this when I have acne/zits.

-XO PattyCakes