L'Oreal Youth Code BB Cream

Today I thought I'd share an oldie but a goodie. Because well I think this BB cream is super underrated and deserves so much more attention than it gets. Since I first wrote a review on this back in 2013 (woahza!) I have tried a number of bb creams and my opinion of these just being glorified tinted moisturizers still hold true.  I feel like I'm constantly trying new bases but once the warm weather hits I just can't stay away from this bb cream. This relationship has been going strong for three years now!

However this is the closest one that I think resembles that of an eastern bb creams, especially for the drugstore. This one stood out to me because it was in the skin care not the makeup aisle. Here are the clams that I got of the L'Oreal website "Youth Code™ BB Cream Illuminator instantly evens, illuminates, perfects, moisturizes, and protects skin. In one week, tone and texture are improved and skin is healthier looking".  I totally think this bb cream lives up to its claims, besides the tone correcting properties. I leave that up to my skin care, and I think this would have to be worn daily to see the results and well I like to go days without makeup as well as use different products. I can however say that my skin loves this stuff. It is super moisturizing and give this beautiful glow to the skin. I've worn this out to the bars and every time I do some guy is telling me I have beautiful skin. Guys don't normally compliment skin, so I'm going to assume they weren't just hitting on me. I love using this on its own or under a foundation, because whenever I do use this, the next day my skin looks amazing. I usually reach for this most often when I'm experiencing a breakout because its light and evens out my complexion. I think this bb cream is great for all skin types, however it would do wonders for those with dry to normal skin. If you have oily skin I would recommend you set this with a powder. My only issue with this bb cream is that it comes in two shade light and medium. I have it in medium and it only matches me when I'm tan, however at the moment I am not so it's a bit dark for me. I wish L'Oreal would come out with more shades!  

All in all if you can wear one of the two shades, I totally recommend this product. It has worked great for me and hope it does for you too. If you've tried this bb cream, what are your thoughts on it? 

Have a great weekend!

Powder, Pomade or Crayon?

Remember when there was only two methods of eyebrow products? Oh the simple days... Today it seems like theres a new innovated eyebrow products every month but the trend tends to stay the same one moth pencils or crayons are all the age the next pomades are the new thing and then you get right back to keeping it old school with a powder.

So in a world where there are SO many options, where do you start? Well today I'm going to share with you my thoughts on where these belong in your life.

So you like a natural brow or you want something super quick, then definitely go for a crayon. These formulas allow you to imitate small brow hairs for a super natural look and the tend to be quickest method.

Maybe you want to define your brow a bit and fill in some spare areas but still keep it natural then go for a powder, a little bit more effort but totally worth it. Just make sure you have a good angles brush to get clean lines.

Now here is where the lines can get a bit blurred POMADE. For me I reach for my pomade on a night out or when I know I'm going to having a long day and I need my brows to stay put. Now there are some magicians out there that can make a pomade look natural. Sadly, I'm just not one of them. For me pomade means bold makeup.

Do you guys have different formulas for different occasions? I know we tend to do this with foundation but I'm curious if others do it with eyebrows as well.

Non Intimidating Color Correcting

I have always had dark circles and I always will. Unfortunately my undereye problems are genetic (my mother would beg to differ). However, ever since becoming a mom and running on broken sleep for the past seven months I have become full raccoon. Concealer on its own is not sufficient coverage for me anymore. That is when I shopped my stash a found the Tarte CC undereye corrector. I had picked this up last summer and honestly forgot about it (no real time for makeup anymore). I had heard Amelia Liana rave about this for sometime and thought I'd give it a go considering I have always suffered from dark circles and her recommendations haven't steered me wrong yet.

The Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector runs for $24 USD which is a good price but only comes in two really similar shades. I honestly could've gone with either one but in the end went with medium-tan. I found it really interesting that this corrector is said to improve the appearance of skin tone and texture over time. Now I'm not to sure about the science behind this, but if it wants to do all that awesome if not I wouldn't expect it to.

The texture of this is creamy, so initially I was scared this would crease on me. However you only need the tiniest bit to get a thin layer and I love that because it doesn't interfere with the performance of my concealer.

Kat Von D Double Dare Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

Back in August I picked up the Kat Von D Liquid lipstick in Double Dare after hearing so much about the range. The shade is a great everyday color it is described as a "cocoa blush" but I find it to be a bit of a MLBB and darker.

This was not the first liquid lipstick I have used however it is the first high-end liquid lipstick. I have tried the NYX liquid lipsticks and really liked them, though I didn't find the lasting power of them to be anything more than a matte lipstick.

When I tried on the Kat Von D formula I noticed it set a lot quicker than the NYX formula and was a bit more drying, however definitely not uncomfortable. I managed to wear this for 11 hours with the application at noon and removed around ten. I was very pleased with how well this formula held up throughout the day, from lunch to dinner and baby kisses in between this did not budge! I only applied once and it lasted all day. Though through out the day it did begin to get a bit uncomfortable.

I think the formulation of these are phenomenal, especially for long days and for when you can't be bothered to reapply lipstick. Like I said above these are totally kiss proof so absolutely great for date nights. There are 28 shade in the range so there is a shade for everyone.

Have you all tried this range before? What shade should I try out next?

xoxo Franchesca

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

I'm not the biggest fan of powders, I don't like them to mattify too much. However, I absolutely HAVE to use a powder to set my under eyes. No matter how good the concealer, they will always crease.

Back in may I picked Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder. It is a loose, finely milled translucent powder with light reflecting shimmer. This powder is absolutely perfect for setting under the eyes, and blurring out any fine lines like smile lines. Now the shimmer is not noticeable to the naked eye once applied, but if applied to much you can look sparkly in photos.

What I love about this powder is how light weight it is and how it doesn't get cakey after a couple touch ups. I will say though that you only need a tiny bit with this product. A little goes a long way!
However, though there are many great things about this product I will warn you that there is an issue of flashback.

Have you tried this powder, what were your thoughts?

xoxo Franchesca

Summer Lippies

Summer is all about bold pops of color and my favorite way to do so is with a great lipstick. I have four that have been in rotation these past couple weeks.

Wet n' Wild matte lipstick in Think Pink: this is a baby doll pink, but with a tan look stunning.

NYX Matte lipstick in Steet Cred: this is a brighter pink that looks amazing with a bronzed faced.

Milani lipstick in Fruit Punch: probably the most comfortable color to wear out of the bunch. This shade has sheen to it so it makes your lips look nice and plump.

Revlon Matte Balm in Audacious: this is a bright orange shade thats great for day time wear.

NYX Matte lipstick in Indie Flick: this what I tend to reach for night time looks. It is an orangey-red shade so it gives a different look than a regular red would and still gives you that pop of color.


What shades have you reached for this summer?

xoxo Franchesca

My Top Concealers

Concealer has become my best friend ever since discovering it. I've tried my fair share and have come to find one to cover any need I may have, such as dark circles, blemishes, and redness. So today I rounded out my top four concealers. These are the ones I know work and can cover as little or as much as I need. So lets get started... with lightest coverage to full coverage.

Revlon Age Defying DNA Concealer: This has light to medium coverage with the ability to be built up. I noticed that the shades tend to run a bit more pink and I think that works great at covering dark circles. This is a super creamy formula that's easy to blend. Though I have found that although this is marketed towards mature skin it can sink into fine lines, so definitely set this concealer.  

Maybelline Master Conceal by FaceStudio: This is a medium coverage concealer that could be built up to a high coverage, but you can run the chance of looking cakey. I love using this concealer under the eyes and down the center of my face to highlight. But if you need coverage this one has you covered and it has really great lasting power.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer:  This is a solid medium to full coverage concealer, that can do just about anything. I like it under the eyes and it doesn't crease, love down the center of my face to brighten, and works great on blemishes. This is my lazy girl concealer because I just need one product to cover up my concerns. This is typically the one I reach for when I go with just concealer for the day because it does it all and looks flawless.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer: If you need full coverage this one has you covered. I only use this when I have some pesky blemishes or I'm going for a full on flawless look. I would not recommend this for under the eyes as it will crease. If you have severe hyper pigmentation this one will get you covered. This is a cream to powder formulation so its lasting power is pretty awesome!

What are some of your go to concealer?

xoxo Franchesca



February Favorites

I know, I know I've been MIA again recently, but I'm going to try to get back at this in this month. So to start this month off on a good start it's monthly favorites time. I tried a bunch of new products in February and many of them made it into my favorites.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Anastasia Beverly Hill Brow Wiz in Chocolate

Maybelline Face Studio Master Conceal in Medium Light

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in Medium Golden

Beauty Blender Pro

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Serum

Organix Kukui Oil Frizz Defying Curl Cream

*Note: The Organix line is not organic, but are sulfate free.

Get Ready With Me: The Night Out

Here is the one where I share my go to night time look, a heavy eye and glowy skin. 

PRODUCTS USED:

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer

NYX Proof It Waterproof Eye Shadow Primer

L'Oreal True Match Magic Lumi Foundation (N3 Natural Buff)

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NC30)

Anastasia Brow Wiz (Chocolate)

MAC Mineralizer Skin Finish Natural (Medium Golden)

Lorac Pro Palette

BareMinerals Big & Bright Eyeliner (Charcoal)

Rimmel Retro Glam Mascara (Extreme Black)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Day Dream)

MAC Draw Me Close Lip Liner

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rose Velvet

NYX Lip Gloss in Natural Beauty (La Fleur Set)

Benefit High Beam

The Five Product Face

I was a little skeptical that I could get a full face look with just five products, but as it turns out I can.

For this look it was between a base or concealer, not both. I opted for the concealer as I needed more coverage due to recent breakouts. I used the Benefit Boi-ing concealer all over pretty much. I used it to cover up active spots as well as hyperpigmentation, under the eyes and on the lids. I then filled in my brows using the Maybelline Brow powder. I not only used this powder on the brows, but also to contour and deepen up my crease to give my eyes some definition. Blush was a given, my skin has been so dull lately I don't know what I would do without blush. I used the shade Blissful from Tarte. I then used the Maybelline Rocket mascara (of course!) and finished off the look with a gloss, I used the NYX butter gloss in Apple Strudel.

My Favorite Affordable Brushes

For years my fingers and the little applicators that come with makeup were my only means for applying it. I noticed a huge difference in my makeup application once I started using brushes. They have become such a vital part of my routine, that I want quality brushes. However, those can be expensive. Recently the number of affordable, quality brushes has risen.

The first brand I tried was Eco Tools, they have a variety of brushes at a great price. I have their Essential Eye Set, that I use almost every time I do my eye makeup up. I especially love the highlighter brush in that set. They say its for highlighter, but I love it for blending. I also really love their Custom Coverage Buffing brush. I saw Lauren Curtis use it a bunch in her videos. It applies liquid foundation beautifully I love using it with the L'Oreal True Match foundation.

The next brand of affordable brushes I tried were the loved Real Technique brushes. Just about everyone loves these brushes. I picked up both the Core Collection and the Starter Kit both sets I've used ever brush in them and love them all. I seriously don't know what I would do if I didn't have my RT buffing brush.

Lastly comes ELF, the super affordable brand that we have heard tons about. It was till last Spring that I tried my first elf product and that was the Small Stipple Brush. This is great for blending out concealer, I wouldn't use it to blend out cream blush as its too small and dense. But concealer that's its calling.

And as an honorable mention goes to the no name brushes. You know those brushes you had for years and just can't remember where they came from. Well, I have some of those still lurking around, but one I will cherish forever is this angle brush. I use it for my brows and no other brush works quite the same.

What are some of your favorite affordable brush brands?


xoxo Franchesca

The Wonky Liner...

The drugstore has so many eyeliners, its hard to pick one that's going to suit your needs. The MasterPrecise liner from Maybelline just didn't meet my needs. Here's what Maybelline claims are about this liner;
Its an exclusive felt tip, that never dries and never skips. Its ultra-thin 0.4mm brush supplies smooth, even lines. No mess or excess. 

Now here's what I think about this product, the first time I used this I like that I was able to get a thin line. However, the tip was really flimsy and I couldn't get a good flick. The formula is very black, but it smudged on me by the end of the day, and started to get patchy mid day. After a couple uses the tip was basically un-usable. I've been using the side of felt tip to get a line which I do most of the time, just now I use another product to get a flick.

I'm typically a fan of Maybelline's products, but this one just didn't make the cut. Maybe I just got a defected. Have any of you had this experience?

Honey Dew Me Up

Me and primers have a love hate relationship. I'm always looking for a primer that will make my application smoother, wear longer and blur imperfections. So when the NYX Honey Dew Me Up primer made its way to my vanity I was very intrigued. First thoughts about this product was that it looked quite gimmicky, but before I tell you how it holds up heres a little background.

Honey Dew Me Up is gel primer infused with honey for its natural antiseptic. The gold flecks are used to increase radiance and collagen to strengthen skin.

When I first tried this I was scared that I would have gold flakes on my face, but they blend out so they're not a problem. The consistency was not what I was expecting at all. It's a very thin gel that absorbs easily, I was expecting a thicker honey consistency. The applicator was a bit odd, I get what they were trying to go for its hygienic, but it would prefer a pump or squeeze tube.

What I did notice when I applied this was how smooth my skin felt, makeup application was smooth. However, I just was not a fan of how makeup looked on top of this primer. I tried it with a number of bases and I just did not like the way the base sat on top of the primer. The sections around my nose and smile lines were emphasized, more than any of my other primers.

I may not like how this looks under makeup, but I did really like the look I got when I wore this alone. It added a natural glow from within look, that's perfect for just running some errands.

Have you all tried this before?

xoxo Franchesca

January Favorites

So I originally filmed my favorites, but some how I was not in focus at all! So a post it shall be, lol.

This most I was all about a natural, minimal glowy base. For my primer I have been loving the L'Oreal magic lumi primer, I don't believe I have spoken about this here, but it is definitely my favorite primer from the drugstore. Because I have such dull skin this brings life back to my face.

Lately I have not been reaching for a full on base and just been using concealer where needed. I have been reaching for the Revlon Age Defying concealer in 03 medium. It's a very thin consistency, but has great coverage. To set the concealer I have been using the MAC mineralized skin finish natural in the shade medium golden. I love this powder because it doesn't mattify, but just set everything allowing for a natural glow to come through.

The Holla Bronzer from benefit has been used daily, I love it. It lives up to all the hype  I have a full post on it [here].  For my cheeks I have been loving the shade prim form Tarte. This shade was in their cheek to chic collection from around the holidays. It's a nude peachy shade that goes with everything, its just enough color to give life to the cheeks.

For lips I think I may have found my signature lip combo. Its Revlon's lipstick in Velvet Rose and NYX lip gloss in natural beauty. They're both a darker nude that borders a mauve, I have been wearing them together since Christmas. I absolutely love this combo.

I have two hair products and hair is something I don't really talk about much because I find hair to be so different that I find it very rare that a product that works for someone else will work for me. But the first one is the Oscar Blandi lacca Hairspray. I originally got this for those days where I straighten my hair and I need to add some texture and volume, but this surprisingly works great for my curly hair. It holds and control my frizz.  The second is the Batiste dry shampoo, I have heard everyone rave about this, but never really thought to pick it up. But after trying so many dry shampoos from the drugstore,  this is definitely the bell of the ball. It gets rid of the greasy look without making your hair crunchy and the mist is super fine that product distributes evenly.

What were some of your favorites this past month?

xoxo Franchesca

NYX Suede Shadow Palette

This is my first ever NYX eye shadow product I have tried and I have heard so many great things about NYX as a brand I was so excited to try this out. I have only tried some of their lip glosses and I have to say I really do enjoy them. I received this palette from Teni Panosian from missmaven.com in a package I received way back in August. However, by the time this packaged arrived I had moved and the package just stayed at my parents till I was able to go home for Christmas. I have been able to play around with this palette a bit a decided to share one of the looks I have been going for lately.

The NYX Suede Shadow Palette consist of eight jewel toned inspired shadows. The colors are beautiful but, they are all shimmers. Though the shade aren't overly shimmery you can still create a full eye look with this without looking like a disco ball.

For this eye look I took the shade Beige Pearl (second top left) all over the lid, focusing it on the inner half the lid. I then took Olive Pearl (first bottom left) on the outer half of the lid, bringing it up into the crease a but.  I bought Bronze Pearl (second bottom left) into the outer v and a bit in the upper crease to deepen the look. Lastly I used Nude Peal (first top left) as the eyebrow highlight and to brighten up the under corner. I then added some winged liner and my favorite mascara to finish off the eyes.

My only complaint about this palette is that the shadows are not very pigmented. However, that can easily be changed with a little primer. Beside the pigmentation they blend nicely and are lovely to work with. I think this is a bargain for $12. On the site they say its limited edition, but like I said Teni sent this to me back in August and its still available.. not to sure how limited it actually is.

Have you all tried this palette or any other NYX eye shadows? If so give me some recommendation on some other ones to try.

xoxo Franchesca

Winter Nudes

I have said it time and time again that I'm a nude girl. I love me a good nude. Don't get me wrong, I still love a good bold lip, but on most days nude is my go to, my safety blanket. As the seasons change, so does the hue of my nudes. Warmer months I tend to go for more pinky nudes where as during the cooler months my nudes are more brown or mauve toned.

For the past couple months I have had four nude in rotation some old, some new. The first one and my most go to is the Revlon Lustrous Lipstick in Rose Velvet, this is a more brown-pink nude, perfect for the 90s lip trend going on. It can go on shiny, however, I love to wear it matte and I do this my pressing the product into my lips with my fingers. Next comes my beloved NARS satin lip pencil in Isola Bella this is more of a peachy nude, so this would typically fall under my warmer nudes category, but its such a stunning shade that I have to wear it year round. Following comes NYX soft matte lip cream in Zurich, this is a darker nude that has some warmed to it. Lastly, is my all time favorite shade during any season, the Clé de Peau lipstick in 23. I have spoken about this shade a number of times on this blog and that's because it is just an amazing shade and formula. Now this shade is dark nude/mauve depending on your skin tone. During the cooler months it does fall more under the mauve shade, however, during the warmer months when I have a decent tan going on it can be a dark nude.

What shades do you all gravitate towards during the cooler month?

xoxo Franchesca

Top 14 Discoveries of 2014

Throughout a year one tries a number of different products. So I decided to round out my top fourteen discoveries of 2014. These are not new launches that I tried, though some may be but just products I tried in 2014.

1. Lorac Pro Palette: I have talked about this palette a number of times on this blog. I absolutely love it. Its just perfect. I have a full review [here]
2. NARS Lip Pencils: 2014 was definitely a year of the lip pencils and I have to say out of all the ones I tried the formula of the NARS lip pencils is just the best. 
3. MAC Pro Longwear  Concealer: I've heard about this for the past two years, and I finally gave it a go and I love it. It's really thin, but has really high coverage. It's been my go to under eye concealer since I've picked it up. Read my review [here]
4. MAC Painterly Paint Pot: The beast eye neutralizer that is great as a primer or to cover up the veins on the lid. 
5. Seche Vite: Since picking this up my mani time has been cut in literally half. A great base worth all the hype.
6. L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer: I love a dewy look and this does that for you, and I love that its a drugstore product. A little goes a long way with this.
7. NARS Tinted Moisturizer: This has been my everyday base for the past year. I could see this being a cult favorite. 
8. NARS Radient Creamy Concealer: My go to concealer for the past year. Its the perfect all round concealer, for spots and under eyes.
9. Hoola Bronzer: Just an all round good bronzer. It's perfect for contouring and warming up the face. I rave all about it [here]
10. Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade: 2014 was definitely the year of the brows. This product was just so spot on with what I wanted in a brow product that it had to be mentioned. Check out my post on it [here].
11. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes: This is one of those products where you try one and somehow you end up with every shade they have. The formula of these blushes is just amazing, they last for hours which I've very impressed by. Many times I feel my blush is the first thing to go at the office, but with these my blush last well past lunchtime.
12. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray:  This came in real handy during the warmer months, especially when I was riding the subway everyday. However, it also came in real handy for evenings out. I share my subway sauna story [here].
13. Tea Tree Oil: For years I've heard the wonders of tea tree oil, but had never given it a go myself. So early in 2014 I picked up a bottle and I don't know how I did without. There are so many uses for this product, my favorite is for spot treating. I share how I use this product in [this] post.
14. Real Technique Brushes: In 2014 I finally got around to trying these brushes and I love them I use my buffing brush almost daily, if I remember to clean it. They are just great brushes at a low price point, and with a low price they did not jeopardized quality. So over all win win!

I could probably make a list of twenty products that's I really enjoyed in 2014. However, these were my stand outs throughout the year and the products I kept coming back to. I can't wait to see what products I will love in 2015.

What were your favorite products of 2014?
Hope you all had an amazing year, and an amazing 2015!

xoxo Franchesca

Benefit's Hoola Bronzer Yah or Nah?

We have all heard about the cult favorite Hoola Bronzer from Benefit, how it's THE bronzer for contouring. For years I've heard so many great things about this bronzer I would always swatch it every time I was in Sephora and NEVER did I think YUP this is amazing. For one reason alone it looked way to light for my complexion.

So when I found myself in the market for a new bronzer I shopped around. Now my other option was the Kevin Aucoin Sculpting powder but at $44 I thought I rather give the less expensive alternative a chance. I went into my Sephora grabbed the hoola bronzer and walked out before I had a chance to even think about putting it back on the shelf, and I'm so glad I did!

The Hoola bronzer lives up to all the hype. Yes, it looks way to light for someone with medium/olive complexion but its not. It gives a natural shadow to the face allowing me to fake the super high cheekbones. It is not too ashy that it looks muddy, it has just the right amount of warmth that allows you to use it all over. It has amazing lasting power for a bronzer, most bronzers are gone by lunch time for me and this makes it way well past lunch. All in all, I am super impressed and kind of disappointed I waited so long to finally give it a try. This definitely gets a Yah from me!

What products do you think are worth the hype?

xoxo Franchesca

Tarte Chic to Cheek Blush Set

I'm back with another holiday collection, this time from Tarte. Tarte is a brand I really don't know much about. However, I have owned one of their blushes and I love it. So when I saw this super cute collection of their blushes I just had to get it!

In this collection you get four limited edition blushes for $35

Amour (candy pink)
Classic (soft apricot pink)
Prim(plum nude)
Daydream (rosy pink)

The shades are gorgeous and nicely pigmented, with Daydream you only need a light hand. Tarte is know for their blush formulation, as they last forever it feels like. The blushes are on the miniture side but they have the cutest packaging ever and they are so practical for traveling (again)!

xoxo Franchesca

Lorac Royal Eyeshadow Collection

Holiday collections are out in full bloom and this season I picked up a few. The first one I'm going to share with you all is the LORAC Royal Eyeshadow Collection which is sold exclusively at Ulta. You get four quads all with a a color theme. Such as the Queen palette is more red based, the Princess palette is more golden based, and the Duchess palette is is more grey and blue. The only palette that really doesn't have a theme is the Countess palette which is a neutral palette that is my personal favorite.

One thing I noticed with these shadows are that they are not as buttery as the Lorac Pro shadows, however the Navy in the Duchess palette is smoother. However, they are still very pigmented and blend out like you would expect from Lorac. I also found that some of these shadows are very similar with just the slightest undertone differences. The two of the four that I think are unique are the Queen and Countess palettes.

These palettes are great for traveling as they are so compact, and they also look super cute on your vanity.

What do you all this of this collection?
You can get this collection over at Ulta for $38

xoxo Franchesca