February 2014 | Products of the Month

February is coming to a close and spring is right around the corner (hopefully!), and in this post I am going to share a few of the products that I have been loving this month that will transition nicely into spring products 😎

1. Almay: Clear Complexion Makeup ( Shade 100 Ivory)

Brand: Almay

Product: Foundation

Name of Shade: 100 Ivory

Finish: Natural Matte

Formula: Liquid

Coverage: Medium

Lasts for: 8+ Hours

Pros: A terrific liquid foundation that gives light to medium coverage. The formula is buildable, so it  can go on sheer to light, but can easily be built up to medium coverage.

 I have used this foundation as my "everyday" for a few years and it never disappoints!

Cons: I can't really say whether or not it heals blemishes because I use a different acne treatment at night, so I'm not sure if this foundation works on its own for blemishes. 

However, it has never caused me to breakout and it covers blemishes beautifully.

Note for those with fair skin: This shade (Ivory) is amazing for fair skin with pink undertones (like mine). It's usually hard to find a shade light enough but this totally delivers. 

 2019 Update: It now comes in Porcelain! Even closer to my skin color, yay! 

M.A.C.: Pro Longwear Paint Pot (Shade: Vintage Selection)

Brand: M.A.C.

Name of Shade: Vintage Selection

Color: Deep Peach

Finish: Frost

Formula: Cream

Lasts for: 8 Hours

Pros: This cream eyeshadow is gorgeous! It can be used like a primer on lids 

(I use it under almost all my shimmer shadows) or you can wear it on it's own for a beautiful shimmery look.

It goes on super smooth and soft with a frosty finish. It is buildable, so you can get a sheer or more intense shade, depending on your mood!

Cons: There is no denying that M.A.C. can be a bit pricy. But, I bought this one at the Cosmetic Company Outlet and it was quite a bit cheaper. 

But either way it a very nice product and a little goes a long way, so you will get a lot of use out of this paint pot.

3. Proactiv Solutions: Oil Free Moisturizer

Brand: Proactiv Solutions

Product: Moisturizer

Formula: Cream

Pros: Since it's been freezing here since November, the quest for the perfect moisturizer (that wouldn't make me breakout) was on. And this moisturizer won, hands down. 

Even though I have oily skin I still use this everyday. 

It never causes me to breakout and it takes care of every bit of dryness.

Cons: I'm not 100% sure if Proactiv still makes this product (I hope so!) because they recently revamped their product line.

Pro Tip: Take a quarter sized amount of this moisturizer (or your favorite moisturizer) and add a couple of pumps of the foundation mentioned above, mix it together, and bam! 

You have your own tinted moisturizer! 

Just in time for spring & summer 😉

4. Almay: Intense i-Color Eyeliner (Shade: Black Pearl)

Brand: Almay

Product: Eyeliner

Name of Shade: Black Pearl

Color: Black

Formula: Pencil/Crayon

Lasts for: 10 Hours

Pros:  This liner goes on soft and true-black. The application is so smooth, it even stays put in the waterline on the eye. 

Funny Me Fact: When I first started to wear makeup (at the old age of 14) I couldn't wear many eyeliners because they irritated my eyes. That's when my mother introduced me to Almay. 

Their makeup is hypoallergenic and made for sensitive skin. Now I can wear other eyeliners with no problem but I still keep this liner in my makeup bag.

It definitely gets an honorable mention.

 

Cons: None.

5. Real Techniques: Base Shadow Brush

Brand: Real Techniques

Product: Makeup Brush

Name of Brush: Base Shadow Brush

Feature Brush is Used for: Eyes

Works Best With: Powders

Bristle Splay: Never

Pros: This brush line was created by makeup artists and YouTubers Sam & Nic Chapman AKA Pixiwoo (I'm a big fan!). 

Their brush is soft, it picks up powder eyeshadow like a dream, and is the perfect shape for applying shadow on the lids or blending in the crease.

It is great for smoking out eyeliner for an intense dramatic look or it could be used as a concealer brush, as it is the perfect shape for blending under the eyes. 

This brush is the ultimate multitasker!

It comes in a set with four other brushes that are just as spectacular.

Another wonderful advantage to this brush is that it maintains its shape after washing, no bristle splaying. I just can't say enough good things about this brush! 

BTW, this brush is super reasonably priced!😍

Cons: Not sure this is really a con, but I have used this brush so much that the name printed on the brush has worn off 😆 

Those are my picks for this chill February.

What makeup/beauty products did you love during this frosty month?

Drop you picks in the comments.

And don't forget to subscribe via email so you won't miss a post!

Thanks for reading,

Catch my last post reviewing Urban Decay's Eyeshadow & Naked Lip Gloss

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

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Urban Decay | Naked Lip Gloss & Eyeshadow Duo | Review

Since my Urban Decay order finally came last week (yay!), I wanted to do a little review of some of their latest products!

So, here's what I bought!

Eyeshadow

Brand: Urban Decay

Name of Shade: Mushroom & Sin

Color: Gray & Nude Pink

Finish: Shimmer

Formula: Pressed Shadow

Fall Out: Minimal

Blendable: Yes

Lasts for: 6 hours without primer, 8+ with primer

(Without flash)

(With flash)

Pros: 

 Both shadows are very pigmented and glide on super smooth. They are easy to blend and the shimmer finish adds a little extra sparkle.  

These shadows are so pigmented, they apply exactly the same shade as they appear in the container, virtually no layering required (hello, time saver!)

Cons:

The container is a little small (1.5 g/0.05 oz.) and since the colors are spilt down the middle you really only get half of the already small container. 

However, it is a great way to try two shades for the price of one, and because they are so pigmented I can see them lasting for a while.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⋆ (4 out of 5)

Repurchase: Yes. 

(2019 Update: UD currently does not sell duo shadows, but both Mushroom and Sin are available in single eyeshadows 😉)

Overall:

I am a fan of both shades. I could definitely see myself buying a full size of Mushroom (grayish shade). It is perfect for smoky eye looks and even dramatic, sophisticated looks.

I do like the shade Sin (pinky-champagne color). It works well as a highlighter and I use it mainly to highlight my browbone. 

So, in my opinion, Mushroom is the more versatile shade, but both are lovely. 

Lip Gloss

Brand: Urban Decay

Name of Shade: Beso

Color: Plumy Mauve

Finish: Gloss

True Pigment: Very sheer, needs layers

Sticky/Drying/Smudges: Sticky

Moisturizing: Yes

Pros:

After dealing with several cons (see below) and wearing this gloss for several days, I noticed it provides nice hydration and moisture. 

So, I read some of the statistics on its box: "76% [of participants] had a significant improvement in volume and hydration." and "86% said their lips felt nourished". 

I have to agree, this gloss does the job of an intense lip balm with a nice sheer shade of color.

Cons:

So I jumped on the band wagon and joined the hype of "Naked" lip gloss. "Find your perfect nude".

I figured since the palettes are great, the lip gloss must be too, right? Not exactly.

As I applied it for the first time I looked in the mirror and thought 'Really? That's it?' 

The shade was nice, but nothing spectacular. It was a sheer gloss.

I was not super impressed. It is a nice gloss, but there are so many dupes for this color at cheaper prices. 

It is super sticky (like most glosses) and because it has no fragrance it has a strong chemical smell when first applied (which later goes away).

Honestly, I was feeling kind of ripped off for what I paid for this lip gloss ($20, yes, I'm sucker for a cosmetic hype), so I kept wearing it, everyday -- for some reason I thought this would somehow give me my money's worth, I don't know why. 

But then, after wearing it so much, I noticed how much softer my lips were feeling and more hydrated. 

Seeing as how it has been freezing and windy here in NY since November this seemed like an odd occurrence. 

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⋆⋆⋆ (2 out of 5)

Repurchase: No. A nice gloss, but not for the price.

Overall:

 It is not a bad lip gloss by any means, but it isn't anything special either.

If you really like the moisturizing and hydrating benefits, and have the cash, this is a lovely tinted gloss. 

But, you can get a gloss, in a similar shade for less.

That's my review, the good, the bad, and the ugly - okay there's no ugly with Urban Decay, but you get it 😁

Thanks for checking out my review.

What Urban Decay products have you tried and what are your feelings on them?

Let me know in the comments!

Don't forget to subscribe by email to stay connected 😃

Catch my last post on my Top 5 Celebrity Makeup Inspirations here

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

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