Sunday, June 25, 2017

Sunscreen Formulas 101

Hey everyone!!
How's everyone's summer so far?
I can't believe it's already summer though.
It's so damn hot here it's indescribable, it was 117 yesterday and it's sucks because we're pretty much trapped indoors when it gets like this here.
My A/C went out last week which was pretty brutal but luckily we had it fixed within a few days.
I thought with the kickoff of summer that now would be the perfect time to talk about sunscreen formulas which btw you should be using sunscreen year round.


I think that most people are unaware of just how many different sunscreen formulas are available and just like with any skincare products each formula is best suited for different skin types and can range from drugstore to high end although drugstore options might be more limited in their options.
Most people associate sunscreen with greasy white goop that's hard to blend into the skin and if using on your face then flashback.
Choosing the right formula for your skin type or needs could make wearing sunscreen a happy addition to your routine instead of the horrid childhood memories of white thick goop all over your skin.

 If you're into skincare check out part one of my Month of Sheet Masks.

 *Tip:
Applying a separate sunscreen directly on your skin under your foundation rather than using a foundation with SPF can help to prevent white cast and flash back if that's a concern but any sunscreen is better than none.

 Cream Sunscreen
So first we're going to talk about probably the most common formula of sunscreen which is a cream formula and can be found literally everywhere even grocery stores.
Cream formulas work best for dry skin types and they tend to be more moisturizing and some can be slightly greasy.
Cream sunscreens are more of a barrier type sunscreen and usually don't fully absorb into the skin which is great for going to the pool or beach but if choosing this option for daily use is better suited for those who wear minimal or no makeup.

 Gel Sunscreen
Gel formulas are best suited for my oily & combo skinned girls.
Gels are usually clear and undetectable once blended, they're more lightweight and fully absorb into the skin without leaving a residue like creams do, which make these also great for daily use and layering under makeup even full cake.

 Milks / Sun Milks
Milks are the perfect in between for normal to combo girls.
They are lightweight and lightly moisturizing, they also fully absorb into the skin which makes this another great option for daily use and layering under makeup even full cake.
Milks or Sun Milks are usually found in K Beauty or at least the only ones I've seen, with a texture similar to an essence (I love essences btw). It's almost a sunscreen essence in my opinion.

 Stick Sunscreen
Sticks tend to be more targeted at those on the go and all skin types and the formulation varies depending on the brand.
Although most tend to be similar to a cream whereas they don't fully absorb and some can even be quite balmy leaving a similar barrier effect (residue).
These are super convenient for quick and mess free application and travel although maybe not the best option for daily use and would be better suited for minimal to no makeup.

 Powder Sunscreen
Powders can be very diverse and a great option for all skin types depending on the brand.
You can find powders in matte formulas for combo & oily skin types and even tinted powders that can be used as foundation or setting powder making these capable of being used both under and over makeup as well as for touch ups.
The most common powders are marketed as foundations but are a good option for those who want the full makeup effect without the extra layers.
These would be good for daily use for pretty much everyone from no makeup to full cake.

 Spray Sunscreen
I saved the best for last in my opinion obviously.
Spray formulas are just as common as creams now and come in so many different formulas for all skin types and some brands can even be found at drugstores and grocery stores.
Spray are super quick to apply, it literally takes only seconds.
There are full body formulas which are great to apply obviously everywhere even over makeup, as well as sprays designed specifically for the face which make great primer and setting sprays.
These are great for daily use, especially if you're lazy about sunscreen or just short on time.
These work for pretty much everyone, every skin type, and for no makeup to full cake.
These are also good for spraying on your scalp if you do any kind of part in your hair.
Bonus they're great for small children who can't stay still for very long, seriously takes a few seconds.

 I hope this helps you out in some way, there's literally so many options probably even more than I mentioned, these are just the ones that I am personally aware of or have tried.
Let me know your favorite sunscreen formulas and skin type in the comments or hit me up on social media.
Products Mentioned:





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Friday, June 16, 2017

Sheet Masks Part One

Hey everyone!!

I basically kept my entire day and night skin care routines the same and just added in a sheet mask every night.
Before I started using these everyday I used sheet masks 1-2 times a week.
I like sheet masks so much because I have combo skin and when parts of my skin do get dry these add in that much needed extra boost of hydration without being too heavy or clogging for my oily tzone.

Oh damn I almost forget to mention that I ordered a silicone sheet mask cover since it's hot as balls here and it really keeps my sheet mask from drying out due to the weather, not just that but I always have the ceiling fans going in my house year round which can make these dry out rather than absorb.
(TIP: Use sheet mask after your cleanser & toner.
Then after removal allow any remaining serum to absorb into your skin before continuing your regular skincare routine.)

 With the first ten days down since adding this to my night time routine I have to say, “wow”.
Around day five I noticed my skin was starting to feel more hydrated throughout the day and not just for a few hours after application.
By day ten my face feels so hydrated that I can use a light hydrating mist in place of moisturizer without my skin feeling dry later in the day.
As a combo skinned chick I'm kinda shocked because I really can't say one bad thing at this point, I haven't had any irritation, break outs, or clogged pores.
I also expected to get some product buildup or whiteheads in my tzone which tends to happen when I over moisturize but I haven't had any.
So far so good.
Let's check out the masks we used plus any notes.

(pictured below L to R)



(pictured below L to R)
This red ginseng mask reeked so bad the entire time I had it on my face.


(pictured below L to R)



(pictured below L to R)
Day seven: Collagen 3-GO Mask Sheet by Urban Dollkiss
I couldn't find a link for this one and was actually given this sheet mask from a friend so not sure at the moment where to get it.
I love this brand so much and these sheet masks did not disappoint.
The mask itself was great quality and more of a lightweight cloth texture which clung really well to the face and didn't dry out before it absorbed.




(pictured below L to R)
The eye holes on this mask were way too close together and it made it hard to avoid getting serum in my eyes.

 I'm still in the middle of my Month of Sheet Masks so there will be more sheet masks.
Lots and lots more.
Let me know your favorite sheet masks in the comments below or hit me up on social media.
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Monday, June 5, 2017

Blog: Month of Sheet Masks

Hey everyone!!
The past few months my skincare routine has been pretty damn good, everything has been working together in perfect harmony, I swear I even heard birds singing the other day (oh wait, maybe that's because it's almost summer).
Well my bubble was burst because along with the beautiful weather came heat and dryness, it is hot as balls here and the past few days I've noticed the tiniest bit of dryness starting around my chin area. I have combo skin and I fluctuate between normal to dry on the outer parts of my face so I'm used to switching out products.
I figured this time instead of switching something out that I would add a nightly sheet mask into the mix for the added hydration.
How crazy that it ended up being the perfect timing because it was around the 30th and I knew it'd be a shit ton easier to track with a fresh new month.
So June is officially my month of sheet masks.
I love skincare and I'm excited to see how this affects my skin and if it's as bomb ass as I'm imagining it's gonna be.
I'll be updating weekly with the sheet masks used and which ones sucked, that way it's not super long at the end.

Have you done a month of sheet masks?
Let me know in the comments below or on social media.

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Sunday, May 28, 2017

May BoxyCharm Unboxing

Hey everyone!!

It's BoxyCharm time!
So this month's theme is Makeup is Art, I absolutely love the idea of that theme but yeah (*crickets *) doesn't exactly fit the box.
Makeup is Art makes me think of a more unconventional beauty, bright or bold colors maybe, metallics, I don't know but it'd definitely more ballsy and creative than this.
This box screams basic bitches (maybe that's why I love it so much hahaha).
You all know how good BoxyCharm drama is, this months controversy is about how some are getting a cream contour palette versus a powder contour palette.

Catch up on last month's April BoxyCharm Unboxing.

Watch my May BoxyCharm Unboxing


As usual let's jump right in..


1) Convertible Brow by The BrowGal $35
2) Brow Brush by The BrowGal $12
I received the shade 02.
I was so damn excited when I saw there was going to be a brow powder in this month's box because I was going to buy the Brow Powder Duo by ABH, I mean it was already in my basket and everything but I decided to wait otherwise I might not  have given this one an actual shot.
The brow palette contains one of each 3 shades/undertones: Warm, Neutral, Ash.
I really like this powder but I found that the darkest shade (cool) was still a little warm IMO but the formula is very pigmented and creamy so a little goes a long way.
I used it to set my brow pencil and pomade (tried both) although I did have a little powder fallout when I set my brow hairs with brow gel.
When used wet this powder triesto take on a more pomade style although it's still dry. It did make it easier to draw the shape and fill in individual hairs in the front of my brows but because the formula was so dry it didn't layer well and became patchy if layered or blended out.
I will probably only use this dry because it was as hassle to keep trying to fix the patchiness when wet and I usually just use powders to set anyway.
The brow brush on the angled end isn't the greatest, it's a little more of a fluffier brush which is great for powder and worked good for setting my brow product on my arch and ends but was just not dense and stiff enough for drawing brow hairs or making clean lines when outlining so it also didn't go well when used wet either.
The spoolie end is fucking amazing though.
The bristles are stiff enough to really grab my sparse ass brows but not too firm that it scratches.
I'd suggest you use your favorite brow brush (I used the #12 Duo Brush by ABH) with this powder because the palette is actually bomb but the brush not so much.




3) Round Contour Brush by Crown Pro ($24.99)
I really wanted to like this brush simply because I didn't have a paddle brush yet but after trying it multiple times with different consistency foundations all it does is soak up my foundation and what's left on my face is a streaky mess. I wasted so much product trying to make this work but it's just not worth the hassle or product wasted.




4) Liquid Glow by Temptu ($29.50)
I couldn't find a color on this so I'm guessing everyone got the same shade from BoxyCharm, the shade is a gorgeous champagne slightly rose goldish.
When applied under foundation as a primer or on highlight points, it was very hydrating but the illumination was lost after I applied my makeup.
When mixed into my foundation, once again the glowing factor was non existent and I used equal parts foundation & liquid glow the second time to see if increasing the amount would help but it didn't but still it was super hydrating.
When applied on my cheekbones over my makeup it looked nice but not blinding more of a natural glow and it didn't make my powder underneath get patchy or chunky. The problem with applying over top was that the liquid never fully sets down and remains slightly greasy so it must be set with a powder highlighter which then makes the liquid glow a pretty unnecessary step.
I would suggest that you use this either as a hydrating primer for dry skin or as a mix in to soften any overly matte foundation because it works really well when used in both those ways.





5) Contour & Highlight by IBY Beauty ($40)
This has to be my favorite thing in the box this month.
The top row are all matte highlighting powders and the bottom row are all matte contour/bronze powders. Each row seems to have a warm, a cool, and a neutral shade which is awesome to cater to more skin tones and makes for good mixing as well.
The shades give me Kat Von D vibes and I fucking love the Shade & Light Contour Palette.
The powders layered amaze balls over my makeup, I didn't have any patchiness or muddiness, and they blended out so easily.
The formula was light and buttery with medium pigmentation which is why it blended out so easily. The medium pigmentation keeps you from going zero to crazy and is perfect for building up and looks really natural.


Let me know in the comments below or on social media which contour palette you wanted, which you got, and if you're bitter about it (lol).
Products Mentioned:

Convertible Brow by The BrowGal

Brow Brush by The BrowGal

Brow Powder Duo by ABH

#12 Duo Brush by ABH

Round Contour Brush by Crown Pro

Liquid Glow by Temptu

Contour & Highlight by IBY Beauty

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Sunday, May 21, 2017

MAC Cosmetics First Impressions

Hey everyone!!
In case you didn't know Ulta is fucking killing it lately with all the new brands they're adding to their lineup.
The latest one was MAC Cosmetics, I was so fucking pumped when I found this out because I have never used any MAC makeup before, although I do use the Mac Fix + I've never even tried any of their makeup.
I had been hoarding all my Ulta points ever since the first time I heard MAC was coming to Ulta and it was fucking hard man, so many new things were coming out left and right but I did it and so here it is my first ever MAC Haul & First Impressions.
Since it's a first impressions all these opinions and reviews are based on only having used these products once.


You can also watch my MAC Cosmetics First Impressions and see these products in action.






MAC Studio Finish Concealer ($20)
I purchased shade NC15.
I bought this pot concealer specifically to use for my eyebrows and as a lid primer.
I've never really heard anyone talk about this but I use pot concealers everyday for my brows so it was a must try for me.
The formula was creamy and applied super smooth with a brush yet it wasn't overly creamy. Overly creamy concealers can tend to be more emollient which causes brows to smear, smudge, or run (similar to using a creamy lipstick without liner). This one on the other hand was creamy but not emollient and seemed to be more of a soft matte/demi matte. It carved the fuck out of my brows and left clean and crisp lines that started to softly set after a few minutes.
I also used this as my lid primer instead of purchasing the MAC Paint Pot because I tend to use concealers on my lids anyway due to my pale ass having veins and discoloration on my lids and also because it was cheaper and I could multi purpose this one. This worked just as well for my lids, was very full coverage, and didn't crease at all once set. The shadows blended perfectly over this and even though I originally planned on getting the MAC Paint Pot later but I honestly don't think I will now that I've tried this MAC Studio Finish Concealer. I see this becoming my daily go to for my brows and lids.





MAC Strobe Cream ($33)
I purchased the shade Goldlite.
This one was kind of an impulse buy. When I first squirted a tiny bit on my fingers it was white and looked exactly like lotion, the texture, the color, the viscosity, everything just screamed lotion (probably why it's called cream) but as soon as I blended it over my face (HOLY CRAP) it was magical. It instantly transformed into a sheer yellow gold and left a wet looking sheen all over my skin, you could see the radiant glow every time I moved my head and caught even the tiniest bit of light. Even after applying my foundation and concealer you could see the golden sheen coming through which made it look as though I just had some bomb ass naturally radiant skin, it was fucking crazy. I usually steer away from illuminating primers and bases but I layered this over my primers and had no issues with becoming oily. I will say that this did not react well with my Too Faced Hangover Primer which I used on the lower (drier) parts of my face, it kinda caused a little bit of balling up which I've never had happen with this primer before but I stopped rubbing asap and kinda patted it on over the Too Faced Primer and it didn't seem to cause any problems later on just be careful while applying over thicker primers.
I'm completely obsessed with this and think it would look so damn good on a "no makeup" makeup day showcasing your skin which is all the rage in the upcoming summer months.




MAC Studio Fix Fluid ($28)
I purchased shade NC20.
When I color matched myself it suggested the shade NC15 but since I always tend to end up buying shades that are slightly too light so I chose this one instead and it might now be the slightest bit too dark now lol, maybe I should have listened. The good thing is I have a bunch of lighter shades I can mix so it's not a problem but I chose to not mix it for this so I could get a feel for the formula. So yes, the picture below I look a bit crazy hahaha. I really liked this foundation but I will say it was more of a medium coverage in my opinion than the full coverage I expected because I could still see the two beauty marks on my face and one small dark spot on my cheek although it didn't look bad it should be noted. The formula was a little thick but in no way a mousse-y thick texture, it blended out really well and easily with a damp beauty blender, didn't set too fast to blend, and worked well with everything layered both underneath and over top. I will say that even though it's a medium coverage I wouldn't recommend layering this up because it will get cake-y and thick. One layer did not look cake-y but I did have the wearing foundation feeling though not too heavy that it was uncomfortable or anything. It also didn't cling to the drier parts of my face or accentuate the dryness at all.




MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($22)
I purchased shade NC15.
This was the perfect shade for me and was super brightening due to the full coverage of this concealer, it covered all the dark circles and hollowness of my eyes. Holy crap this stuff is no joke the tiniest bit went a long way and I had went super light because I already had heard that and it still went further than I expected. Once set this didn't crease or look dry at all on me but I don't think it's something I'd use everyday because although it didn't look cake-y or heavy it did feel kinda heavy.




MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural ($33)
I purchased shade Natural Light.
When I first opened this powder I was like fuck this looks literally white in the pan but it did not look like that once I put it on. It is color pigmented but it's more of a sheer wash of color which would work for a few shades both lighter and slightly darker than me, which makes sense now as to why they only have six shades. This powder definitely gave me some extra coverage when layered over the MAC Studio Fix Fluid and my face looked so good and felt silky soft after applying the powder but it also enhanced the heavy feeling on my skin which is weird because it looked fucking beautiful and did not look heavy at all. I think this looked amazing with the MAC Studio Fix Fluid but would be more comfortable with a lighter weight foundation or even a BB Cream which I plan on trying out because this powder was really beautiful and natural on the skin.


(L to R: Warm Soul, Margin)
(L to R: Warm Soul, Margin)

MAC Mineralize Blush ($28)
I purchased the shade Warm Soul.
(blush on the left in all pictures above)
I love this blush so fucking much it seemed to be lightly warmed up peachy nude. I always apply a super light layer of blush for just a touch of color, that's just my personal preference and this blush is so fucking perfect for doing just that. The formula was light and smooth while applying and went on as a sheer wash of color that also left a sheen with the slightest touchof gold on the cheeks, it was in no way shimmery or glittery it was a sheen that looked as though I was just naturally glowing and of course for those who prefer more color it builds up really well and even if you pack it on it never feels heavy or powdery. I am so blown away by this mineralize blush and it's not to be confused with highlighter-y blush toppers.

MAC Powder Blush ($23)
I purchased the shade Margin.
This blush was equally stunning when swatched and appeared as a slightly peachy rose gold with a super fine golden shimmer (not glitter). This was the only thing I purchased that I did not get to try because I chose to try out the other blush for the first impressions. The swatch was beautiful and didn't feel powdery at all and it seems to be a classic blush completely different from the previous blush but I'll have to update on this one later as I didn't get to wear it yet.





MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33)
I purchased the shade Double Gleam.
Dude why the fuck did I wait so long to try MAC makeup. The formula on this highlighter was fucking stunning and left a wet looking glowing sheen on my face. The sheer buttery formula reminded me of my current favorite highlighter the Banc de Sable Palette by NARS. The color was kind of a silvery champagne and it worked perfectly in unison with all the other face products and they blended into to each other and left no lines. It was sheer perfection (get it? hahaha). I clearly have a type and love when products leave a radiant glowing sheen, it's almost like you don't even have to try with these and you'll still love bomb.



MAC Fix + ($24)
Repurchase.
This is the only MAC Cosmetics product I had ever used and obviously I love this stuff. I use it probably just as everyone else does: to add extra hydration before makeup, to foil shadows and highlighters, to take away the powdery-ness after makeup, to touch up makeup, and just throughout the day when I want a hydration boost.
The mist on this is super fine perfection. This is a cult classic for good reason.

(wearing all the MAC products except Margin blush as mentioned before)

Shockingly there wasn't anything I tried that I didn't like although the foundation and pro longwear concealer felt a little heavy they didn't appear to actually look heavy on the skin. I feel like many of the MAC products I chose really enhanced the look my skin and almost made it appear more natural and I mean who doesn't wanna look as though their skin is naturally awesome.
None of these products caused me to breakout, clogged my pores, or irritated my skin at all.


Catch up on last weeks post featuring SugarPill Pressed Shadows.

What are your favorite MAC products or things I must try?
Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on social media.


Products Mentioned:
MAC Studio Finish Concealer
MAC Strobe Cream
MAC Studio Fix Fluid
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
MAC Powder Blush
MAC Mineralize Blush
MAC Extra Dimension Skin Finish
MAC Fix +

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Sunday, May 14, 2017

SugarPill First Impressions

Hey everyone!!

So today's post has been a long time coming.
A few weeks ago (okay more like 8-10 lol) I made my first ever SugarPill purchase, it was beyond exciting because I've been dying to buy and build my own pro palette for months but finally all the colors I wanted were in stock at the same time.
Damn their shade Love Plus is almost always sold out and that was one of my must haves.
I knew I wanted to buy their actual Pro Palette for my pans (pictured below) which holds 12 shadows and I was happy to find out upon ordering that when you purchase 12 pro pans they give you the palette free (score!).
The palette purchased separately is $20, $10 with 6 pans, free with 12 pans.
Just make sure you add it to your basket because it's not automatically added.
It also took so long to write this because I wanted to give myself lots of time to really play with these before I formed my opinion.
Not only was this a first impressions of the brand but I've only recently (past couple months) gotten more in depth with color play and stepping out of my neutral comfort zone.


I was shocked how much I loved all the packaging on everything because you know how I love simple, sleek, clean packaging.
What I loved so much was the attention to detail.
Not only was the palette beautiful but the packaging of the pans was unexpected, as even the inside of the cardboard was really cutesy and printed, you can really tell that they put a lot of time and attention on things that most overlook.
It was so pretty I almost didn't wanna throw them away but I got over that hahaha.


SugarPill's Pro Pans are quite large at .12 oz for $10 bucks each while a majority of standard eyeshadow pans usually weigh in around .05 oz.
Not only are these an amazing fucking deal at more than double the product for less money, the size of the pans make it super easy to really get even your fluffiest blending brush into the product.
While larger pans aren't deal breakers for me by any means they are definitely appreciated and easy to work with plus they really showcase the colors so well.


The eyeshadow shades (holy fuck) they're freaking stunning just sitting there in the palette, the colors are so vibrant it's almost impossible to not be inspired and intimidated at the same time.
The formula is everything I had hoped it'd be and more, these shades really do have an amazing color payoff and they still blend out flawlessly and easily.
One thing I did notice about the formula right away is that they did not swatch the greatest which I did before ever playing with them.
(The swatches below are 2 swatches each shade.)
After playing with them multiple times I understand now why they are this way and it's genius.
The formula is drier than I expected but not in a powdery or chalky way at all, the drier formula allows for the super pigmented shades to be built up to their potential rather than being overly pigmented from the start which makes blending them easier and building them up leaves you with a seamless finish without looking muddy.
I didn't have much kick up at all any of the the times I used these and the only color that gave me any kind of difficulty was Castle on the Hill (dark brown) and it wasn't actually difficult at all it just wasn't as dark of a brown as I thought it'd be from looking at the pan but other than that all the colors are super pigmented and true to the colors in the pan.
I was actually fucking shook at how white and opaque the shade Tako was, it really is crazy good and super pigmented. 
I even shocked myself with this palette as a neutral whore by becoming obsessed with the shade Acidberry.
(Tip: To make these and other bold shadows stand out better you can put down a white base or pencil liner under the shadows or just under the specific shade you want to pop.)

(colors below from L to R: Velocity, Poison Plum, Dollipop, Love Plus, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Midori, Acidberry, Tako, Heart Shaped Cookie, Castle on a Hill, Bulletproof)


I think that these shadows are perfect for daily wear yet so damn vibrant they make the most beautiful art medium, it's hard not to be happy when working with such fun and bold colors.

(colors used below: Acidberry (crease), Midori (lower crease & outer lid), Heart Shaped Cookie (inner & mid lid).)

(colors used below: Love Plus, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Tako, Heart Shaped Cookie, Castle on the Hill.)



Overall I fucking love my pro palette and as you can see it brings out my crazy.
The colors have the perfect amount of pigmentation for easy blending and layering with minimal fallout although I would still suggest doing your eyes first when using such bright colors as accidents can happen.
I'm already planning my next SugarPill Pro Palette but as usual so many are sold out but at least now I understand why.

Catch up on last weeks post featuring an underrated high end face palette.


What do you think of SugarPill's Pro Pans and formula?
Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on social media.
Products Mentioned:

SugarPill Pro Palette

SugarPill Pro Pans:
Velocity, Poison Plum, Dollipop, Love Plus, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Midori, Acidberry, Tako, Heart Shaped Cookie, Castle on a Hill, Bulletproof










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Sunday, May 7, 2017

Smashbox LA Lights Palette

Hey everyone!!

Okay so today is a going to be a little different, today I'm going to be talking about this Smashbox L.A. Lights Palette.
This palette originally launched in the holiday 2016 season and was an Ulta exclusive and that is when I snatched it up and first reviewed the Smashbox L.A. Lights Palette.
I noticed this past week that this is back up on their website as a new arrival and is still an Ulta exclusive.
So I don't know if they found a stash in their warehouse or it's just back for the hell of it but whatever the reason I thought I'd reintroduce you guys to this bad bitch.
Everything I said about this palette about five months ago is still true, the only difference is that I fucking love this palette even more now and it is something I grab for quite often even when I just need a mirror (lol).


Today we're talking about the
Smashbox Light It Up L.A. Lights Palette: Contour. Blush. Highlight.
(damn, that's a mouthful).


When I first saw this (staring me in the face on my phone at 3am) I knew I had to have it, even after I discovered that I already owned the top row in the L.A. Lights Blush & Highlight Palette in Culver City Coral.
The Smashbox L.A. Lights Palettes rings in at $35 for 3 pans (2 blush, 1 highlighter) and comes in 3 different color options: Culver City Coral, Pacific Coast Pink, and Malibu Berry.
This here Smashbox Light It Up Palette is $39 for 9 pans (6 blush, 3 highlighters).
Clearly this was a deal and I figured it was still more than worth it for the 6 shades I didn't have.

I absolutely love the packaging (all black matte with shiny black logo and red trim) I really dig simple, clean, and especially black packaging which Smashbox does well. Something about it makes me just wanna touch it all over. Plus the mirror is to die for, it's huge, it's the entire freaking lid.
(Quick Note: I bought this online at Ulta and although it didn't say Ulta exclusive, I was unable to find it on Sephora or even the Smashbox website.)

The Blushes:
The blushes in this palette are gorgeous even just to look at and in person the bright, rich, and highly saturated colors almost scared me, they seemed quite bold for everyday colors. Yet I couldn't wait to ruin them with finger smudges.
Exactly as you'd expect they're very pigmented but they're also smooth and almost creamy that they blended nicely with little effort. I'm the kind of girl who goes light on blush so literally one or two tiny taps were more than enough, these will last a long time for you if you're like that too.
These were not powdery whatsoever even after a bit of swirling (since they're quite pigmented you don't have to swirl, I just did it for testing purposes and because I couldn't stop touching them).

This palette includes the Culver City Coral & the Malibu Berry options from the L.A. Lights Palettes, which make up the first and second horizontal rows.
The first row of corals seem like they would be “summery” colors, super bright, and not very functional for everyday use but once blended out they're really not scary at all and actually wearable on the daily even as the colder months approach (makeup has no season in my opinion, it's all personal preference). I was shocked how much I loved these coral shades because I tend to choose more neutral shades and although I do have coral blushes mine are all very muted shades.

The second row of berry shades is probably the prettiest row in the palette, (I actually wanted this one when I bought my L.A. Lights Palette but I'm a chicken shit).
The deep berry vibes of this row practically laughed in my face and scared the crap out of me at the same time, even when I saw it online. My skin is pretty light (which is why I passed on it before) and I was sure the first purplish pink hue (rich berry) wasn't going to work for me but somehow it actually does.
The berries even played well on my “no makeup” makeup days, and will be a perfect winter color. I'm telling you this formula allows these super pigmented colors whether bright or dark to work for even pale and light skin tones without coming off harsh, I found them to be quite natural and seamless with a light hand yet also still pigmented and rich for those who prefer more color or have deeper skin tones than myself.

The third row (this is where things start to go kinda south) consists of 3 shades not available in their L.A. Lights collection. The blushes in this row actually consist of a bronzer and a pinky nude blush.
A bronzer is a great addition to this palette in my opinion, you can definitely get a lot of use out of this palette with the addition of the bronzer in there. The bronzer shade itself is quite neutral, a cool tone with some warmth but not too warm or ashy. They did a good job picking a shade that was useable by both parties (ashies vs. warmies hahaha).
It'd work great for light to medium skin tones and could even be used as a contour depending on your contour undertone preference. If you're darker than a medium skin tone I don't think this will show up on you. As I was swatching this bronzer I thought to myself I kinda like this bronzer which is not common for me (I do not wear bronzer daily FYI) which led me to bust out my Smashbox Step By Step Contour Kit in Light/Medium ($45) and just as I suspected that two timing tramp was the same bronzer from my contour kit (tells myself it's still a good deal).

On to the nude blush, it's probably my favorite in the palette (I can't help it) and they've named it True Flush which is right on because it reminds me of that natural flush of color when someone blushes.
It's more of a pink-y nude and would look good on everyone, any day, with any style of makeup.
This one although a more toned down color is also super pigmented so don't be fooled and go at it like a maniac. With so many bold choices in this palette I think adding some daily staples in this third row was a wise choice on their part.
Rich Bronze, True Flush, Highlight Gold)

The Highlighters:
There are 3 highlighters in this palette.
The first two rows are from the Smashbox L.A. Lights Palettes therefore they match perfectly with their matching blush colors. The coral and berry highlighters are also nicely pigmented, buttery smooth, not powdery, and they both have a slight golden shimmer (not glitter) to them that reflects in the light beautifully. These definitely give you that wow factor in glow and pigmentation.
They're so pigmented and bold though that I can only use them as blush toppers and blush (I knew this when I bought it because I already owned the coral one) but the colors are so beautiful as blush that it's still worth it for me.

The third row highlighter (remember when I said that things went south on this row when I found out my bronzer was sleeping with my contour kit) at first glance it had me giddy like a school boy, I mean who doesn't love a golden highlight am I right?
Well her flirty advances definitely had me fooled. When I swatched this it I immediately noticed the formula was different from the others. This one was powdery when I swirled around in it but in a weird chunky and flaky kind of way (dun dun dun) it still felt creamy though. The swatch was glittery, very glittery, I figured maybe that was just because it was a holiday palette (you know people go ape shit for glitter around the holidays) and had still not given up on it yet. When I applied this to my face though, most of the powder just fell off and all you could see were the glitter and shimmer specks. There was a very sheer hint of gold but mostly just glitter. For some reason this also didn't apply well with a highlighting brush or a fan brush but when I used my fingers it just left flakes of the powder on my face that kind of looked cakey and lumpy. As you can see below the berry and coral look smooth while the gold has texture.
(L to R: Highlight Gold, Highlight Berry, Highlight Coral)


When it comes down to it, there was only 1 pan that sucked in this palette which still makes this a great deal. If you happen to love glittery highlighters then that one won't be a problem for you, although the formula still seemed a little off on that one.
The colors are all so versatile and pigmented that you can easily go from daytime, to glam, to clown. They blend out so effortlessly even a beginner could easily work with this palette.
If I had to do it over again knowing what I know now, I'd still buy it.
If you don't like all the colors in this palette or you're reading this when it's no longer available, then I'd still recommend their L.A. Lights Blush Palettes and their Step by Step Contour Kit.

Let me know in the comments below or on social media if you have this palette and your opinions, especially on that gold highlight (*lol*).
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