Rae Morris Collection Set: First Impressions

April 18, 2015April 18, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 8 Comments

it’s been more than a month since i’ve owned these brushes, and i was hoping to be able to review a good number by now. sadly, my asia trip was more taxing than expected, and i ended up not using makeup all that much. i’ve played with a majority of them at least a few times though, so here’s a first impressions look into the set, to tide you over.

Rae Morris Collection Set (two brush holders in front not included in set)

first, let’s talk bristles. most of the brushes in the set are made of blue squirrel (all the dark brown ones), with a few others being made of goat, synthetic, or a mix of goat/synthetic. it is advertised as cruelty free. if you own any Hakuhodo or Wayne Goss brushes, the first thing you’re going to notice is that the Rae Morris brushes are not as soft! in fact, the blue squirrel brushes in the Rae Morris line are not as soft as the Hakuhodo goat brushes. when i pointed this out to the Beautylish customer service rep, she told me that they’re not as soft because they’re not the same type of squirrel hair. i’m not exactly sure what that means. different breed? hair from different part of the blue squirrel? they are, however, softer than the Tom Ford brushes! also, be prepared for a little shedding. new and unwashed brushes will shed a few hairs during usage. supposedly these are floater hairs stuck into the brush, after it’s been tempted into the ferrule, so that the brush can be even more densely packed. some of these floater hairs don’t actually make it into the ferrule, so they fall out during application. i apologize for the packed/crowded picture, but i wanted you to get an idea of what it might be like if you just went with one plate. it’s crowded but doable.

why magnets at the bottom of the brushes? Rae Morris sells frames and plates made of steel so that the brushes can stand on a flat surface, allowing you to see your brushes easier than you would be able to in a canister. if you’re ocd, you’ll be happy to know that another virtue of this set up is that brushes do not touch each other and cross contaminate. it also saves the hairs from getting kinked and bent out of shape accidentally in storage. for example, you accidentally packed them too tightly and the bristles of two brushes are pushed into each other. it can be more space saving than a bunch of brushes in a brush roll or lying spread out across your desk. i purchased the Rae Frame separately, and it’s been really easy to cart the brushes into the bathroom for cleaning. afterwards, i hang them upside-down from the frame to dry. now i don’t have to waste paper towels or disinfect my countertop before washing my brushes!

the set costs $785; if you were to buy them individually, the total cost would be $1072, netting you $287 in savings. i love the aesthetics of the brushes. it’s hard to resist the gleaming wood with the dark grain striations, gun metal ferrules, and chrome magnet bottom. it looks very sleek with all the magnetized brushes free standing on the plate. you’ll either have to spring extra for 2 holders for the other 4 brushes (#26 Radiance, #5 Flawless Shader, #4 Square Kabuki and #3 Ultimate Cheekbone), store them in their boxes, or find some other way to display them. the brushes feel well balanced in your hand during use.

now onto the brushes! usually, i’d order them according to the brush number so it is easier to reference, but i thought i’d order them by how much i like them at this time. after all, it’s an impressions post, so you want to hear about the good stuff first, right?

#5 Flawless Shader, #4 Square Kabuki, #3 Ultimate Cheekbone

#5: Flawless Shader. without a doubt, this is my favorite brush in the collection. it is a versatile brush that gives you fast application and well blended results every time! this is now my go-to contouring brush. one pass will give you a natural contour. 2-3 passes and you have nicely chiseled bone structure. (an essential, to diminish the effects of my gluttony in asia!) it even doubles well as a blush and highlighting brush. in a pinch, i’ve also used it for finishing powders. its small footprint makes it perfect for travel.

# 4: Square Kabuki. another versatile brush! it cleans up fall out well. i’ve also used this for precise placement of blush and in conjunction with the Flawless Shader to deepen my contour. after my face contour, i drag the brush from the outer corner of my eye towards my temples. this is a tip from Rae Morris to give the eyes an extra lift. she uses Brush 3: Ultimate Cheekbone for this purpose, but i prefer to use this smaller brush or the #5 Flawless Shader. i also like this brush for contouring my nose area when i bother to do that.

#3: Ultimate Cheekbone. this brush is not high on my list, but since it serves a similar purpose to the other two brushes above, there’s no point in making you scroll all the way to the bottom for the comparison. the brush is well constructed and fool proof to use. however, the bristles are less dense than #5 Flawless Shader, so the effect is much more subtle. this brush is for you if you want a very subtle contour or if you’re a new/intimidated by contouring. it’s also good at applying intensely pigmented blush lightly, so now i reach for this brush instead of a dual fiber blush brush.

#26 Radiance

#26: Radiance: this brush is unique in my collection. a while ago i was hoping to pick up Becca’s The One Perfecting Brush but decided against it after running my hand through the bristles. Radiance, i’m happy to report, feels much softer to the touch. it’s not marketed to be the one-brush-does-all brush the way Becca’s One is, but the shape is similar. Radiance is about 3 inches wide to One Perfecting’s 3.5 inches. so far i’ve been very pleased with the way it buffs my liquid foundation into the skin. the application is fast, and the foundation melds into my skin much better than anything, other than my Beauty Blender. if pressed for time, i’ll use it for my whole face, even the under eye area, but i generally prefer to pull out something a little softer for the delicate undereye area. it’s also great for diffusing an overly pigmented blush in a hurry!

#23 Liquid Foundation, #21 Mineral Buffer, #24 Foundation Contour, #1 Deluxe Kabuki, #2 Mini Kabuki

#1 Deluxe Kabuki. not to sound like a broken record, but another versatile brush. (but that’s the mark of a great brush right?) mostly, i use this brush for blush, but i’ve also used it for highlighting and finishing powders. i particularly like it for blending out cream blushes. it gives a really nice melded into the skin look that i haven’t been able to achieve with my other brushes or fingers. it does a really good job of picking up just the right of pigment no matter how intense or natural the blush (of course i help it a little by varying the pressure when i run it through the blush). it’s also supposed to be able to contour, but i haven’t been able bring myself to use something other than the #5 Flawless Shader for that.

#2: Mini Kabuki. a more precise version of the above. it can be used for everything the above is used for, but i tend to use it for setting my under eye concealer. if i were to use one of these taper point kabukis to contour, it’d probably be this one, since the smaller head will give me a thinner line for my smaller face.

#13 Deluxe Eyeliner, #8.5 Créme Shadow Shader, #7.5 Deluxe Round Shader, #7 Deluxe Point Shader, #8 Medium Point Shader, #9 Detail Point Shader, #6 Deluxe Pro Blender, #10 Deluxe Oval Shadow, #11 Medium Oval Shadow, #12 Lash Line Smudger

i feel the repetitiveness of the eye brushes in the collection are overkill, unless the point is to give you doubles to work with. i would have preferred to see a bit more size variance or different shapes within the eye brushes.

#13 Deluxe Eye Liner. the thickest brush head of the 3 eyeliners in the collection. this is a really awesome liner brush. it’s thick enough to lay down a thick line but can also do thinner lines with light pressure. the point does not splay, and i don’t have to constantly dip my brush back into the pot for more product. it makes using gel liner quick and painless.

#10 Deluxe Oval Shadow & #11 Medium Oval Shadow. there is approximately a 4mm size difference, in both height and width, between the two. the Medium Oval is a bit larger than my preferred all over shadow brushes (Hakuhodo J5523 or Sigma Blending E25). however, if i’m careful and angle the brush carefully, i can do the same things with it as i do my favorites. like my favorites, this is a functional brush that can do everything in a pinch. you can lay down a couple of colors and do some general blending for some quick looks. there’s a tiny bit more eyeshadow fallout with the Rae Morris brushes, but it’s not a huge difference. i don’t tend to use the Deluxe Oval Shadow since the Medium Oval is already bigger than my preferred size. you can use it to lay down an all over shade, but i prefer a denser brush for that purpose (so more pigment is laid down to neutralize lid discoloration). occasionally, i’ll use it as a clean blending brush for a finishing touch, but it’s really not necessary. most of the eye brushes in this collection are very good at laying down color without harsh edges.

#12 Lash Line Smudger. this is the brush i end up using most as a shadow brush. because it’s smaller, i can lay down color with more precision. it also works better with the more metallic shades, as the Oval Shadow brushes tend to diffuse the metallic effect a little as the color is being laid down. it’s small and fine enough to use as a liner brush.

#6 Deluxe Pro Blender. Rae Morris suggests this as a blending finishing brush for the eyes or powder contouring. it’s a bit large for my eye area and, like i’ve mentioned before, Rae Morris brushes blend and diffuse so well, you don’t really need a finisher. i use this mostly for blush or patting setting powder under my eyes.

is 4 point blenders in a collection excessive? especially since one of them doesn’t warrant a separate number of its own? i guess if the size works for you, you might be happy to have an extra one on hand to use as a clean blending brush. sadly, #7 Deluxe Point Shader is already too big for my lids, so i definitely do not need #7.5 Deluxe Round Shader. while #7.5 Round Shader is rounder than its sibling #7, it does still have a mild point. i haven’t played with these two much since the bigger size requires more experimentation on my part. i do really enjoy #8 Medium Point Shader and #9 Detail Point Shader though! while i lament the fact that they’re not as soft as my Hakuhodo or Wayne Goss brushes, they are easier to use! crease color are placed exactly where it needs to go, and blending is achieved faster without diffusing too far. it’s great at pulling out your eyeshadow to a point instead of a blob. definitely the easiest crease shadow brush to use in my collection. i’d definitely recommend these two brushes for makeup newbies or those who feel frustrated that they’re shadows never quite blend to the shape they’d like.

#8.5 Créme Shadow Shader. why 8.5? why not a different number since it’s not a point shader? purely synthetic, this brush functions well. it’s one of the few in my collection that actually does a decent job of picking up and applying my Makeup Forever Aqua Creams. if you’re looking for a cream eyeshadow brush, this one would be high in my consider list.

#23 Liquid Foundation, #21 Mineral Buffer, #24 Foundation Contour, #1 Deluxe Kabuki, #2 Mini Kabuki

#24 Foundation Contour. a synthetic brush that works very well for blending out under eye concealer. this is the brush i reach for if i’m not using my Beauty Blender.

#23 Liquid Foundation. a duo fiber brush made of synthetic and goat hair. it gets the job done but not as fast nor as well as #26 Radiance Brush.

#20 Concealer. i don’t use concealer brushes like this, but this one performed better than the same types in my collection. if you like this type of brush, i’d definitely recommend it. it places concealer and blends very well. though it doesn’t come to a fine point, it places small dots of concealer pretty precisely.

#21 Mineral Buffer. how you like this brush will depend on what kind of coverage you want from your mineral foundation. if you want medium to full coverage, this brush is not dense enough. if you’re looking for light to medium coverage, it does it well.

these are all the brushes i’ve tried more than twice so far. so far, i’m loving #5 Flawless Shader and #26 Radiance brushes. i’d buy these again in a heartbeat. in fact, i’m already contemplating the purchase of another #5 Flawless Shader for a loved one. i’m also very happy to own #8 Medium Point Shader and #9 Detailed Point Shader. these are the easiest crease/blending brushes i own to date, but i’ll be keeping an eye out to see if there’s any close Hakuhodo matches. in general, i’d say that i prefer Hakuhodo brushes because they’re softer and perform just as well if not better.

it is difficult to say which has the better economic value because which is the more apples to apples comparison? do i compare the Rae Morris brushes that are made from blue squirrel with the Hakuhodo goat brushes which are just as soft, if not softer? Or is it more fair to compare them with the Hakuhodo blue squirrel line? obviously, if you compare them with the Hakuhodo goat line, Hakuhodo will come off as the more budget friendly option. however, the beauty and utility of Rae Morris brushes can not be denied. it would be even better if she had magnetized the whole collection, instead of leaving 4 brushes unmagnetized and forcing you to buy 2 extra holders for them. in retrospect, i probably would have been better off with the Rae Morris Personal Set and picking up Radiance and Flawless Shader separately, but i wanted to review the whole set for the blog. if you’re new to makeup or are considering gifting brushes to someone new to makeup, i would definitely consider some of these brushes. the way they’re shaped help correct color placement and lessens the need for skill in blending. if you’re an avid collector, you’ll have to decide whether aesthetics and magnet functionality is worth giving up some bristle softness for.

Readers, what do you think of the Rae Morris Brush Collection? do you think the magnet is functional or gimmicky? what’s your preferred method of brush storage? please share your thoughts with me in the comments!

a Cheaper Alternative to Making Your Brushes Stand like Rae Morris Brushes

March 2, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 3 Comments

so i got an email from Beautylish the other day notifying me that they are starting to carry Rae Morris’s line of makeup brushes. one of the selling points of these brushes was that they’ve got magnets at the bottom of the brush, so they can stand on anything a magnet can stick to. the point of this? Rae Morris sells frames and plates made of steel so that the brushes can stand on a flat surface, allowing you to see your brushes easier than you would be able to in a canister. if you’re ocd, you’ll be happy to know that another virtue of this set up is that brushes do not touch each other and cross contaminate. this is also more space saving than a bunch of brushes in a brush roll or lying spread out across your desk. i wash my brushes often so dust is not an issue. if you rarely wash your brushes, you may want to consider the dust issue.

so what if you want the benefits of your brushes standing, but you don’t want to shell out the money for a new line of brushes? meet Makeup Organizer by Zen Cosmetics.

Makeup Organizer in green by Zen Cosmetics

this cute little guy is made of plastic and silicone. it’s dimensions are 8.3″ L x 2″ W x 1.3″ H (210mm x 52mm X 34mm). the silicone top, with the circular and diamond patterns, allows for all different sizes of brushes to be held securely. i can even hold this upside down and not have brushes fall out. the boyfriend suggested that if we put velcro to the bottom of it, it could possibly allow you to dry brushes upside down. since i live in la, brushes generally dry for me overnight while lying flat, so i haven’t needed to test this. if you guys are interested in me testing this for you, leave me a comment down below. the silicone returns to its original shape without any problems after you take the brush out. i was a bit concerned that thicker brush handles, such as the powder brush on the right, would overstretch the silicone over time. it turned out to be a needless worry because that brush sat there for a month without being used, and when i finally found a different home for it, the silicone easily returned to its original shape! phew! /big sigh of relief!

i like this for several reasons. it’s cheap! i got it on sale for $5! you can buy an orange one on sale right now for $7 on quirky.com, or you can find it on amazon.com for $12.99 in grey, pink, or green (pictured). i like it better than filling a glass container with marbles because brushes come in and out of the holder easier. i had problems finding something other than marbles that wouldn’t scratch the handle of my brushes. (if you have an alternative suggestion to marbles, please leave me a comment down below). i like two rows of these organizers, one for my eye brushes and one for my face. like Rae Morris points out, this set up lets you find the brush you need easier. you’ll also be less likely to pull out your brushes by the bristles, thus avoiding extra wear and tear on your expensive brushes. i also think it’s really cute and adds a nice pop of color to my vanity. i’ve seen other bloggers use this to hold their eye primer, eye liners, and tweezers too, so the possibilities are unless! last but not least, the silicone part detaches for easy cleaning!

Readers, how do you like to store your brushes? do you own or lust after any of the Rae Morris brushes?

Nars Dual Intensity Eye Shadow Palette!

February 28, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 10 Comments

i know what you’re thinking! another palette? does this girl ever buy anything else?!? i assure you i do, and this will be the last palette for a while. i don’t make any promises for singles and quads though. eyeshadows are my weakness, especially if they come in palettes. i just love the huge range of pretty colors available. after all, green is my favorite, and i’m not adventurous enough to wear it anywhere other than on my eyes.

i’ve been coveting the Nars Dual Intensity Shadows for quite a while now but always passed them over in preference for the reformulated MUFE Artist Shadows. i figured i had to draw the line somewhere in order to not go bankrupt. i’m so glad i waited instead of splurging during the Friends & Family Sales madness. now instead of buying singles for $29 each (.05oz), i can try 8 colors for $79 (.03oz/color). i’m especially thrilled to see that a lot of the colors i was eyeing individually were selected for the palette – Subra, Giove, Andromeda, and Himalia. there is one exclusive shade, Ursa Major. the palette also includes a synthetic brush, but i don’t care much for it. it’s softer than most brushes included in palettes (ie. UD Naked 2 or Smashbox Double Exposure), but it’s not as easy to use as my Sigma or Hakuhodo brushes. i found that my own brushes gave a more pigmented look, when used dry, than the included brush. when damp, the included brush would sometimes splay a little and affect color placement. maybe it’s my technique though, as i have heard other bloggers liking the brush. be warned that the compact’s exterior is a mirrored surface, which attracts finger prints and smudges easily. since i store mine away in a drawer after use, i don’t really mind it looking smudged. the hinge is stiff enough that you can adjust the mirror to any angle you wish, and it will stay put.

Nars Dual Intensity Eye Palette

(L to R) Europa, Himalia, Ursa Major and Subra swatched dry then wet

as you can see, Europa is a bit sheer when used dry, but everything else is well pigmented.

Europa is a pale peach with pink. when used dry it looks more peachy and is somewhat sheer. when used wet, the pink becomes more prominent and pigmentation more opaque.
Himalia is a golden brown topaz shade. dry or wet it had nice pigmentation. when wet, the finish becomes much more metallic.
Ursa Major is a medium chocolate brown. the color is lighter and warmer when applied dry and becomes more shimmery and cool toned when applied wet. this color is exclusive to the palette.
Subra is a burgundy brown/purple. when used dry, it looks more brown. when used wet, the purple tones intensify.

(L to R) Andromeda, Lysithea, Giove, Sycorax

Andromeda is a pale beige that borders on white. like Europa, the pigmentation is sheer when used dry but becomes opaque when wet.
Lysithea is a medium shark grey with a hint of warm olive. the olive is not really so much a color as it affects the tone of the silver. when dry, it’s a duller darker shade. used wet, it becomes much more metallic and lighter in color.
Giove is a dark navy blue. when dry, it looks blackened and dull. when used wet, it becomes more metallic and blue.
Syocrax is black. used dry, it’s a soft black that works well for giving the other shades a bit more dimension and drama. used wet, it comes a full, pigmented black.

now let’s see them in action!

Europa, Subra and Andromeda

here you see Europa used wet with Subra used dry and Andromeda as a brow highlight and used wet in the inner corner.

Europa, Sycorax

here you see Europa used dry on the lid with Sycorax used dry in the outer third and Sycorax used wet as a liner and Europa wet on the inner corner. notice how Europa shifts between peach and pink depending on whether or not it’s used wet. side note, if you tear easily, do not use Sycorax wet as a liner. it bleeds into a hot mess 😛 now i totally remember why my go-to is a waterproof liquid eyeliner!

Europa, Subra and Andromeda

here i’ve applied Europa and Subra wet with Andromeda used dry as brow highlight. see how Subra intensifies and shifts more towards the purple spectrum? it does look a bit more purple in reality, but my camera is really uncooperative with brownish purple shades 😦

Himalia, Lysithea and Ursa Major

here you see Himalia used wet on lid with Lysithea used wet in the center of lid and Ursa Major used dry in the outer third. Ursa Major was also used wet as liner.

Lysithea, Giove, Andromeda and Ursa Major

i used all the shadows dry in this look. Lysithea and Giove with Andromeda on the inner corner and Ursa Major on the lower lashline. see how much darker Lysithea looks when used dry?

Himalia, Giove, Lysithea

here you see Himalia used dry, Giove used wet, and Lysithea used dry on the lower lashline. i love how wetting Giove really intensifies the blue!

Andromeda and Ursa Major

here you see both Andromeda and Ursa Major used wet.

you can see how when used wet, it really makes a difference in the context pictures. the lighter shades brighten the eye more and the darker shades become more pigmented and dramatic.

overall, i’m definitely happy with my purchase. the palette is gorgeous to stare at and pretty on the eyes as well. most of the shadows were pigmented and easy to work with. the ones that gave me the most trouble were Europa and Andromeda, but that’s to be expected since they’re close to my skin tone to begin with. if you like just 3 of the colors, you’ve more than broken even with the singles price. however, if the vibrancy staying true for 7+ hours is important to you, i’m saddened to report these shadows don’t do as well compared to MUFE Artist Shadows, Lorac, or Urban Decay. they do fade a little, and i’m wearing them over Nars’ own primer. i do love how Nars has given us a large range of colors that work well together, and i think the colors themselves are very sophisticated.

if you’re interested in seeing some of these looks under more daylight conditions, please hop over to my instagram. you’ll also be able to see looks that will eventually make their way into future posts!

Readers, yay or nay on using shadows wet? are you still loving the dark jewel tones of winter or are you ready to move into spring pastels?

Shu Uemura Metal:Ink Liquid Eye Liner

February 14, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 4 Comments

happy valentine’s day! in lieu of flowers, please accept this peek into Shu Uemura’s Spring/Summer 2015 Metallic Bouquet Collection!

so i think anyone who has read my blog on a regular basis can tell i have a thing for shimmer and glitter. one of my favorite ways of creating a quick look when i’m short on time is to do a lid brightening or a medium smokey shade with a glittery metallic liner and some mascara. usually, this is accomplished quickly via a pencil liner, as a lot of liquid ones need several passes to achieve opacity and even spread of glitter. Shu Uemura Metal: Ink Liquid Eye Liner, however, is a happy exception. they’re so fantastic i’m not sure whether i should consider buying more colors, backups, or just pray they make it permanent…

Shu Uemura Metal:Ink Liquid Eye Liners in ME Purple, ME Red, ME Brown

Metal: Ink Liquid Eye Liner comes with a sponge tip applicator. usually, i dislike these as they can be too hard and sharp and create an uneven swatch of pigment. however, Metal: Ink Liner’s applicator is soft and very flexible. it’s very comfortable to use and can create either a very fine line or a thicker line by varying the pressure during application. pigmentation and glitter goes on very evenly. you’re not going to get a lot of glitter on one end and two specks on the other. in two swipes, i have a pigmented line that i’m very happy with. Shu Uemura really hit it out of the park with these liners both in formulation and in color offerings. the packaging makes it easy to tell which color is which too. there is a color band at the bottom of the liner and a matching colored top on the applicator. today, i have ME Purple, ME Brown, and ME Red to show you.

ME Purple, ME Red, ME Brown

Clinique Eyes To Go Purple Context-02430

Shu Uemura Metal:Ink ME Purple

Metal:Ink ME Purple is a nice blue toned purple with light blue glitter running through it. it works well to add interest to a soft, casual look but works equally well with a dark smokey look.

Shu Uemura Metal:Ink ME Brown

Metal: Ink ME Brown is a great way to amp up your neutral look. it’s a warm chocolate brown with gold sparkles running through.

the last color i have to show you is a very unusual choice for me. i figured my stash needed a little shaking up, so my third choice was ME RED. it’s a true red glitter liner that’s surprisingly easy to wear. i was afraid that it’d make me look bruised or pink-eyed, but it’s actually fun to wear.

ME Red

here it is over a light orange shadow, so you can see it pretty much true to color. below, i worked it into a smokey look.

Me Red with MUFE D826 Fig over black base

so i hope you enjoyed this look at the Shu Uemura Metal:Ink liners. although they’re a bit pricy at $29, i love how they perform and look. if you’re looking to splurge on a seasonal collection, i think these liners are very worthy of your consideration. most of the colors offered are colors that will work any season, so you’ll be adding a workhorse into your collection, rather than something that will be put away after a season or two.

i’ve also started an instagram account. i’ll be posting pics of looks you see in posts taken outside in case you want to see them in a different lighting. you can see the look for ME Purple and ME Brown there now. i’ll also start posting looks for post as i do them so check it out if you want a sneak peek at what’s coming up!

Readers, what’s your go to romantic look? do you like neutral or colorful liners?

Lorac Party Palette

February 7, 2015February 7, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 2 Comments

Lorac Party Palette

so it seems like i’m on a roll with eye palettes lately. this is the second one i’ve picked up that’s become an instant favorite! the flaws are very few and the range of colors are my personal favorite combinations. even more unusual for me, the pinks in this palette are ones that both visually appeal to me and actually work with my skintones!

let’s go over the flaws first, as that’s a short list. first off, it’s all shimmer, no mattes. this is actually not a huge problem for me as i love my shimmers and the only time i want a matte color is for my brow highlight. i don’t mind digging out a matte single to pair with this palette. however, if you like your palettes to be able to stand on their own, this may not be the one for you unless you don’t mind a shimmery brow bone. second, the pigmentation to the white shade is a little weak. it’s visible, but it goes on a bit sheer. last, the vibrancy of the purple shade is not as good as the rest of the colors and sheers out when blending, so you’ll want to do a little bit of layering. the quality of the rest of the shadows are typical Lorac quality. the shadows are buttery and blend out easily. i didn’t experience much, if any, fall out (except with the It Cosmetics brushes i was testing)

Lorac Party Palette

Party Palette under the sun

Lorac didn’t see fit to name these shades (i hate that). the two shades furthest to the left are the bigger highlighter shades from the bottom of the palette. the colors are as follows:

White Highlight
Pink Highlight
Light Peach with golden tones
Light Pink. what this looks like depends on your lighting. i’ve seen it go from a cool frosty pink to a more mute pink with beige tones.
Brown. this is a medium dark shade that’s not too warm.
Dark Pink. this is a more intense pink that’s sparklier and has a bit of brown in it, lending it a warmer tone.
Purple. upon first application, this is a satisfying shade of cool toned purple. sadly, it’s not as pigmented as other shades and has a tendency to sheer out when blended. it is a serviceable shade though.
Sage Green. of course, no favorite palette of mine can be without a green. the shade they’ve chosen here works well both as a single color smokey look or as a crease/outer v color for the lighter colors, for a natural day look.
Turquoise. a bright medium shade turquoise.
Hunter Green. this is a dark smokey hunter green with green sparkles running through it.

now let’s see it in action!

Light Peach and Hunter Green

Sage all over lid

Light Pink on lid, Pink in crease and White Highlight on brow bone

Light Pink on lid, Dark Pink in crease and White Highlight on brow bone

Pink Highlight on lid, Brown in outer v

Turquoise on lid, Sage in Crease, Purple in lower lash line and Pink Highlight on inner corners

overall, i really love this palette. i can create the rosy neutral looks that i’ve always lusted over in Urban Decay’s Naked 3 palette. i have colorful pops of color. there are two fairly neutral greens, which is my favorite way of creating a neutral look. the only thing i would change about it is switching out that white highlighter for a matte highlighter shade. it’s small and compact but has a good size mirror. the mirror has a stiff hinge, so you can angle it however you need. this might be my favorite travel palette to date. all i’d need is to pack a matte single for highlight, and i’m set for shadows. it’s a palette i constantly reach for. i like how the shadows work well together in different combinations or how most shades can double as an all over shade if i just want a quick look. for just $24, this palette may be the best bargain in my stash!

Readers, what do you think of Lorac’s Party Palette? how do you like to wear your favorite neutral look?

Clinique Eyes To Go, Duty-Free Exclusive

February 2, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 4 Comments

Clinique Eyes To Go Palette

today, i’d like to share with you a palette i’ve had in my possession for quite a while. i picked this up last year, probably in my july trip to asia. it’s a duty free exclusive. why am i only sharing it with you now? well to be honest, it sat neglected in my stash for a while. they’re not the sort of eye catching colors that i’m drawn to, but i picked this up because i wanted to test Clinique’s eye shadow formula and thought the palette had a good range of colors. it’s something i could be happy with on a short trip (5 days or less). i liked how compact and light it was, as i am currently trying to shrink my travel makeup bag down to a more acceptable size.

as i began to work with the palette more, i slowly began to realize how great it was. while the colors don’t make you scream “OMG, gotta have it!!”, they turn out to be colors that look soft and elegant and work well together in a variety of different combinations. i also like that these are colors work in any season, and i often reach for this palette when i need something to go with the single eyeshadows in my collection. it’s rare that i own a palette where i enjoy every single color, but i can honestly say that there really isn’t a dud in the palette. it’s not surprising, as Clinique combined a few of their popular duos and quads to make this palette.

Clinique Eyes To Go, duty free exclusive

from left to right: in All About Shadow Soft Shimmer formulation, light pink from Going Steady Quad (10), both shades from Cocktail Duo (23), dark shade from Jammin Duo (20), white shade from Jenna’s Essentials Quad (02). in All About Shadow Super Shimmer, dark shade from Wave After Wave Duo (08), light shade from Jeans And Heels Duo (22), Graphite Single (33). the dark shade from Jammin Duo looks way off in this picture. it’s a lot more blue than pictured.

here’s a better picture of the Super Shimmer formulation. the white shade from Jenna’s Essentials Quad is kind of an in between in shimmer power. it’s more shimmery than the rest of its Soft Shimmer siblings but not quite shimmery as the Super Shimmers.

all the shades are easy to blend and have decent to good pigmentation. the lighter colors are a bit sheer, but they don’t apply patchy. they can kick up a little bit of powder, but they’re not as bad as the Kat Von D eye shadows. my only real complaint is that the shimmers are a bit much to act as brow highlight. i wish the white had been a matte shade instead. now to the good part, seeing them in action!

here you see Clinique Going Steady 10 light pink in the inner corners, Cocktail Duo 23 light shade on the lid, and Jammin Duo 20 dark shade in the outer v.

like i said before, my camera pulled out the reds of the purple so here’s another pic of the look taken with my iphone 6 in the shade of a building.

here you’re seeing Jenna’s Essentials 02 white shade as brow highlight, Wave After Wave 08 dark shade on the lid, Jeans and Heels 22 light shade as a transition in the crease, Graphite Single 33 in the outer v. here’s the look look in context.

below you’ll see Clinique both shades of Cocktail Duo 23, and Jenna’s Essentials 02 white as inner corner highlight.

here’s that same look in natural light.

looking at these photo’s, i’m sad to report that they really don’t do the shadows justice. in real life they look a bit more pigmented and vibrant. clearly i need a bit more research and practice with photography, but i hope they’re enough to pique your interest. i particularly love the dark purple, green and grey shades in this palette. Graphite in particular is a nice shade in the evening when you want an elegant smokey look, without it looking over the top.

Readers, what do you think of Clinique’s Eyes To Go? do you like to travel with singles, quads or palettes when you go away for a week or more?

IMATS LA 2015

January 23, 2015 / truecolorjoy / 11 Comments

so i just got back from a quick trip to taiwan and dragged my jet lagged self to my first IMATS! wow, was it crazy. lines everywhere to purchase stuff! because of the crazy lines, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to learn about brands and products. i did pick up a few things that caught my eye from brands that i’ve been wanting to check out, so it wasn’t a total loss. here’s a quick peek at the things i got. i also hauled some makeup while i was in taiwan (some Etude House Play 101 pencils and nail polishes, Shu Uemura Metal: Ink Liquid Eye Liner, Burberry Complete Eye Palettes in Nude Blush and Sage Green, and Bourjois nail polishes), so the things you see here may not come up for review asap. if you see something you’re particularly interested in, leave a comment down below, so i can streamline it!

some Hakuhodo brushes and the new Sigma 3DHD brushes

Hakuhodo and Sigma Brushes

from left to right: Hakuhodo brushes J5523, J242G, J146, G5528 and J5521. Sigma 3DHD Precision and Kabuki. i’ve been wanting to try some good quality natural hair makeup brushes to compare with my favorites in synthetic versions. i’m most excited about J5523 since it seems very similar to my beloved Sigma E25. the Sigma 3DHDs i’ve always been wanting to try for a while due to the unique shape. they almost made the cut during Black Friday, but i decided my spending was too excessive and decided to wait. i’m so glad i did, since i scored them at 30%off!

CosmoCube Brush Holder

though it’s labelled as a brush holder, i was thinking of putting my mascaras, eyeliners, brow pencils, and concealers in here. things that i reach for every day that are not as accessible in drawers. this holder costs $40 on the website, but i saved $10 with the show discount and no tax.

Lise Watier

i was hoping to try one of their eye palettes, but they didn’t bring any to the show. they were, however, offering a generous discount of 40% off all products! i picked up the Ombre Soufflé Supréme in Magie Blanche and Verte Enchante. i no longer see this product on their website. i think they’ve replaced it with Duo Shadow & Glitter regularly priced at $26. i also picked up Dramatique Intense 3D Volume Mascara, usually priced at $24.

Inglot

Freedom System Rainbow Eyeshadows 109 and 133, AMC Eyeliner Gel, and Freedom System Cream Concealer in Green. Inglot also offered a discount during the show. i saved on average about $2/item.

your skin is actually the largest organ in your body. it absorbs about 60% of whatever you put on it. with this fact in mind, i’ve been trying to find more natural alternatives for my skincare. the bigger the surface area it covers, the more i scrutinize the ingredients. thus, i was happy to bring home the two products below home for testing.

Naked Advanced Skin Cream

while i don’t understand the whole ingredient list, i saw enough healing ingredients to pique my interest. manuka honey, shea butter, MSM, oat amino protein and frangipany extract have great soothing, healing and moisturizing properties that work well across most skin types. i like that the pump bottle is refillable so the product can stay more hygienic.

BTS Skin Assistant HD Foundation

i want a natural base but i didn’t want it in powder form. this was the only natural liquid base i saw at the show. maybe there were others, if there were, they weren’t advertising the fact with enough visibility to catch my attention.

Lit Cosmetics

lastly, what’s a makeup show without some glitter, right? a kit with choice of 3 colors, 2 liner brushes, and 1 fl oz of the glitter fixative is usually sold for $69. i scored the above for $40, and they threw in a free color!

i’m not gonna bombard you with swatches today. instead, the photo bomb will consist of the cool things i saw during the show. hope you enjoy!

Readers, see anything show you want to see first? you can choose from the asia haul too. which was your favorite IMATS picture? leave me a comment down below!

Smashbox Double Exposure Palette

December 31, 2014 / truecolorjoy / Leave a comment

so after delaying finishing up this review for a month, i realized i had to go about it a different way. i’m not going to give you a full review with a detailed breakdown of colors. i’m going to give up a pros and cons breakdown of what i think of the palette and who i think it’s good for.

first, let’s play a game! in each of the photos below, i’ve applied the eyeshadows in the new Smashbox Double Exposure Palette. each look sports one side with the eyeshadow applied dry and the other side wet. Wetting the eyeshadow will either intensify, metallicize, or sparklify. can you tell which side is dry and which is wet?

Veiled and Expresso

Flushed and Copper with Veiled as highlight and inner corner

Mauve and Fig

Quartz and Midnight. Veiled as highlight

Mauve, Silver and Haze

so can you tell the difference? it’s not much of one, if any, right? for the record, all on the left was applied dry and the right side wet. this flaw leads to my lackluster response to this palette. after all, if you’re going to advertise that you’re really getting 28 shades instead of 14, it should be more than a subtle difference on at least more than half the shades. i’ve swatched them all in a previous post, click here to check them out. in reality, a lot of the shades just look like you’ve built it up a bit more when wet. some of the shades are more difficult to work with when wet too. Copper, especially, will get muddy and splotchy on you if you try to blend it when wet. for best results, lay down a layer of dry shadow and use the wet on a small area for intensity.

the quality of the shadows is above average and easy to use (when dry). i’d say it’s almost comparable to my Urban Decay shadows. i do like the color selection. although, i wish we could have had a green instead of Haze, a medium/dark grey toned mauve. however, that’s a personal preference. i like my palettes to have a wider range of colors.

i’d recommend this palette for someone just starting out their collection. the balance of color is nice and the Full Exposure Mascara sample is also pretty good. i think anyone with a large collection of makeup would be better served passing on this palette as the colors of the palette are not that unique.

Readers, how much change do you expect in a shadow that can be used wet/dry? do you think i was expecting too much? what is your favorite palette?

Holiday Looks

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 10 Comments

i wanted to share some of the looks i’ve been wearing lately in case you need something different for a holiday party. they’re all fairly simple looks that can executed around 30mins, less if you’re speedy/skilled, more if you’re a perfectionist! i hope you enjoy them!

during the holidays, you want to look your best. to give your makeup a good base, take some extra steps in your skincare routine and make sure you stay properly hydrated! i like to do a sheet mask (i like Karuna Luxe Skin Restoring Treatment Mask) or a gel sleeping mask such as Laneige Water Sleeping Mask which i talk about here. the sheet mask gives better results, but the sleeping mask is easier to fit in. also i like to up the number of times i exfoliate during this time, since i’m usually wearing heavier or more products than usual.

this look has been featured recently in my Lorac The Royals 3D Liquid Lustre Set post. there’s a few more glitter looks in that post if that’s the kind of look you want during the holiday festivities. in this eye look, i’ve used MUFE M530 Eggshell as base all over my eyelid all the way up to the brows. this serves to neutralize any discoloration on my eyelids and doubles as a highlight shade for the brow bone. then i used Urban Decay’s West in the outer v and crease. West is a limited edition shade from the Theodora palette, but you can just use your favorite rich brown from your own stash. i went back in and deepened the outer v in the crease to give it a little extra dimension. then i applied Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre in 24K onto my eyelids. you can use any kind of gold in your collection, but i prefer the paler shades with less yellow. take a blending brush and blur out the edges between the the gold and the brown. apply a thin line of liquid eyeliner. apply a dramatic mascara. conceal any redness or under eye circles with your concealer of choice (Tarte’s Maracuja Creaseless Concealer was used for this look). then apply your med/full coverage foundation of choice (Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation in Shade 2). i set the concealer under the eyes with a soft focus finishing powder (Hourglass Incandescent Light). then i complete the eye look by applying West on my lower lash line in the outer half and a gold pencil (Sigma Enlighten) on the inner half and corner. i chose the pencil because i think it’s faster, but you can use a gold shadow too. i like a soft pale pink blush that leans just a touch cool with this look to balance the warmness of the eye look. i’m wearing Hourglass’ Luminous Flush. pick a lipstick shade that you’re comfortable with. this look can support any lip look. i took this picture when i was about to go out in the day time so i chose a more subdued lip. at night, i switched to a medium red to amp it up and received many compliments from the bf. i did do some subtle contouring too with Too Faced Chocolate Soleil.

blue is not the most traditional holiday color, but why not? this look is my take on the winter wonderland theme. i used a white shimmering base, MUFE Aqua Cream 4 Snow, all over my eyelid up to the eye socket. i used a cobalt blue, Sleek Simbad’s Seas, in the outer v and the outer half of the crease. then i put a transparent gold glitter top coat, Shu Uemura G311, on top of the white shimmer base to mimic the the sun sparkling across the snow.

this is a smokey neutral look using a technique popular with asians with monolids. basically you ombre 3 colors together going from light to dark. here i’ve chosen my favorite go to colors: MUFE ME512 Golden Beige, D320 Golden Khaki, and ME624 Black Gold. khaki/olive greens are my go to neutral color category because they seem to go with every color outfit in my closet, whether they’re warm or cool toned. i happen to think they’re more interesting than the normal brown/taupe/purple based neutrals, but that could be just because green happens to be my favorite color. i applied Golden Khaki, an olive with golden shimmer on my eyelid up to the eye socket bone. then i used a dense small domed brush, or a pencil brush, to overlay Black Gold (a dark brown that’s almost black with gold sparkles) on the bottom third of Golden Khaki. take a pencil brush and gently blur the line between the two shades. take a brush that can give you a light wash of color, like the Sigma E25, and sweep Golden Beige (a pale beige with golden shimmer) on top of the socket bone overlapping Golden Khaki, the middle shade, just a bit. blend out the edges of the two. pair with a bold, red lip.

how about a food inspired look? pick a shade from your stash that’s plummy or cranberryish. you can also do it with a burgundy color. here i chose MUFE D826 Fig for the crease and outer v. i placed a white shimmery shadow, Urban Decay’s Polyester Bride, on the eyelid. pair this look with a berry lip to complete the food inspired theme!

here i paired a silver and smokey green eye look, Urban Decay Shellshock and Damaged, using the same techniques i used above. to bring a little more drama to the look, i did bring my black liquid liner all the way to out the top inner corner of my eyes. i paired it with a bright fuschia lipstick with red tones, Estee Lauder Turnmultuous Pink. in this picture, i purposely left out doing my brows so you can see the difference framing your brows makes. it’s a quick extra step you don’t want to skip!

if all else fails and you’re short on time, creating a flawless complexion and filling in your eyebrows (which i failed to do here) to frame your face. a colored liquid liner on top of a black liquid liner is a quick way to add interest to your eye look. here i’ve used gold, but i like it with green too. by the way, please excuse the unnatural, soft focus look. this was an old picture. i misplaced my gold liner so i couldn’t recreate the look for you.

lastly, if you like to keep the makeup to a minium or only have a couple of minutes, go with a statement red lip!

Readers, what are your favorite go-to holiday looks? please share them with me down below!

Easy Glitter: Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre, The Royal Set

December 18, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 8 Comments

Lorac The Royal 3D Liquid Lustre Set

this wonderful holiday set from Lorac is still available on Amazon.com! it’s a nice bargain considering the set is 4 full sized products for $28 when one full sized is $16. they’re 4 limited edition colors: Opal, Rose Quartz, 24K, and Amethyst.

Opal, 24K, Rose Quartz and Amethyst

it’s a fast and easy way to execute a glittery look that opens up the eyes but not too over the top. though i’ve seen video tutorials with this product where it’s applied using a synthetic brush, i find that it applies most evenly for me when i use my finger. there is a little bit of glitter fall out during application but not much as it wears throughout the day. ready to see them in action?

(L to R) Opal, 24K, Rose Quartz, Amethyst

Opal looks like its namesake in the vial, but on me, it always looks opalescent blue. it’s a little bit sheer but not sparse. i think its sheerness helps prevent it from looking like a glitter bomb.

Opal on the lid and Rouge Bunny Rouge Aubergine Gunmetal

here’s the look in context.

Rose Quartz is a lovely pastel pink that looks a bit peachy on me. i’ve seen it look true to bottle on other people though. i think it pulls peach on me because it’s interacting with the yellow of my skin.

Rose Quartz on lid and Rouge Bunny Rouge Whispering Ibis

you can get it to show more true to bottle if you put a white base under it.

Rose Quartz over NYX Eye Shadow Base in White and MUFE I550 Olive Grey

24K is my favorite. it’s also the most opaque out of the 4 colors. there is another gold in the permanent collection called Gold, but i’m assuming 24K is slightly paler, less yellow to continue the pastel theme of the Royal Set. i don’t own Gold, so i can’t compare the two for you. this is my definition of gold perfection. i find the paler golds work with a wider range of colors and brings a certain understated elegance to the table than the bolder yellower golds.

24K on lid and Urban Decay West

lastly, there’s Amethyst. Amethyst looks like a smokey lavender in the vial, but in actuality, it looks like a glittery steel grey with a tinge of lavender. the formula has a little bit more fixation liquid than the rest in the set making it slightly harder to work with. Cora of Vintageortacky suggests running a q-tip along the edge of the drop of product before using to help absorb some of the excess liquid, but i never remember this tip until it’s already half on my eyes.

Amethyst and Urban Decay Tornado

Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre can be used in other places too. some suggestions were as a highlight for cheeks or collarbone. i’m thinking Opal will make a great fairy look next halloween! if i were a normal makeup user, i’d being snatching up a backup of this. i love how quick and easy it is, and i’m always getting compliments or people asking me what the product i’m wearing.

Readers, yay or nay on glitter? how do you like to incorporate it into your look?

YSL Tint-in-Oil: Low on Tint, High in Moisture

December 11, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 7 Comments

today, i want to give you a quick look at Yves Saint Laurent’s newest lip product, Volupté Tint-in-Oil.

YSL Tint-in-Oil I Rose You and Drive Me Copper

a description of what the product is from YSL’s website:

“The unique colour tint – parcelled within the oils – awakens on contact with the lips and interacts with the lip tone, creating your own bespoke colour finish. The tint evolves and the colour becomes even more vibrant after application. The natural shade of the lip is enhanced with a universally flattering glow.”

elsewhere, you might see descriptions that include key words such as “pop of color” or “full color”, but you should ignore those misleading words and concentrate on what YSL says on their own website. the key to whether or not you’re going to like this product is whether you’re willing to pay $32 for enhancing and conditioning your natural lip shade. if the answer is yes, throw the appropriate color into your cart and have it shipped to you asap! if you feel iffy, continue reading. those that like strongly pigmented lips need not apply. this is not a product for pigment lovers!

YSL’s Tint-in-Oil is infused with apricot kernel oil, coriander fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, and possiflora edulis seed oil to provide deep hydration to lips. it reminds me of Kiehl’s Lip Balm but lighter and thinner in texture. it is not tacky nor does it have the slight cushion feel of a lip gloss. i’ve only used it for 3 days, but i’ve been very impressed with the results. usually i need to reapply some sort of hydration (lip balm or lip gloss) to my lips a few times a day to keep them comfortably hydrated. with Tint-in-Oil, if i don’t care about color, i don’t feel the need to reapply after the first application. my lips still feel comfortably hydrated after 7 hours and a full meal. that’s quite impressive performance for me, especially considering the product has no waxes to help lock in the hydration. it is usually something my dehydrated skin particularly needs. it also has YSL signature fruity scent. it has is a thin ointment feel that’s pleasant on the lips. the wand comes with a doe foot applicator and is easy to apply.

in terms of pigmentation, it’s a gives a light to medium translucent layer of color with varying amounts of glitter. i have I Rose You and Drive Me Copper to show you today!

I Rose You and Drive Me Copper

I Rose You is a light petal pink that translates into a juicy rose color in my lips.

bare lip on top. I Rose You on bottom

as you can see, it’s not a lot of color but it does add a nice shine to the lips as well as a MLBB (my lips but better) effect. i’m thinking this would be a nice product to keep in my purse for touch ups and keeping my lips hydrated. because it’s so lightly tinted, i won’t have to worry about it clashing with my eye makeup.

Drives Me Copper amps up the pigmentation and sparkles department. it’s a medium copper with good dose of orange glitter.

top lip bare. Drive Me Copper on bottom lip.

as you can see, Drive Me Copper is much more pigmented so the final effect is an orangey coral. it’s a bit orange for my taste, but the sparkles mesmerize me! solution? put it on top of a red lipstick for a festive look!

Drive Me Copper over my Bite Beauty VIB Rouge lipstick

i’m also happy to report that after the oil absorbs and the pigment wears off, there’s no weird lingering bits of glitter. the glitter particles are also very fine and do not have any sort of gritty feel.

Readers, what do you think of YSL’s latest? are you intrigued or is it a pass? how do you feel about orange lips?

Smashbox Double Exposure Palette: Swatches & First Impressions

November 14, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 3 Comments

today i wanted to share my swatches and first impressions of Smashbox’s Double Exposure Palette. it’s current available to Sephora VIB Rouge members only. it’s a palette featuring 14 colors in shimmer, satin, and matte formulas that can be used wet or dry for a total of 28 colors. adding water can either intensify, change to metallic, or add sparkles to the colors. there’s a variety of warm and cool tones. while i haven’t played with them enough to justify a review yet, i thought i’d let you see the swatches and a couple of experimental looks first. just in case this palette is something you want to add to your holiday wish list.

Smashbox Double Exposure Palette

the palette also comes with a sample of Full Exposure Mascara and an insert featuring tips on how to enhance your look according to eye shape. props to smashbox for not leaving out us asian monolidders! i also appreciate how the color index card tells me what the effect will be when i use the shadows wet. i did use the domed end of the brush for all the wet swatches. it performed ok. the bristles are not super rough but they’re not soft either!

(L to R) Silver, Mauve, Peony, Blanc dry/wet

(L to R) Midnight, Temper, Haze, Noir dry/wet

(L to R) Quartz, Flushed, Veiled, Quartz dry/wet

i swatched Quartz twice because in the first wet swatch, i must not have cleaned off the brush properly and so there’s a tiny bit of a darker shade mixed in. in the second set of Quartz swatches, i swatched the wet first then the dry. sorry about that!

(L to R) Copper, Fig, Expresso dry/wet

i experimented a little with a few of the shadows. here’s a few pictures of how they turned out.

i did one look for each eye. on the left, i used Peony on the lid and Noir in the outer v. i used Noir wet as a liner. i also used Noir and Peony wet on the lower lash line. on the right i used Blanc on the lid and Temper in the outer v. i used Temper wet as a liner. on the lower lash line i used Hazed on the outer half and Blanc wet on the inner half as highlight.

a close up of the look

here you can see Peony and Blanc both used wet on the lower lashline. as you can see, although both are supposed to metallic when wet, Peony is really lacking the intensity of a metallic shade.

Peony and Noir

Blanc and Temper

i must say, so far i’m a little disappointed with the palette. i was hoping the wet version of the shades would be more drastically different. instead they seem just a little more intense. one less purple (3 seems too repetitive?) for a green would have been nice too.

Readers, what do you think of the new Smashbox Palette? do you prefer it to the original Full Exposure Palette?

Iope Air Cushion XP is a total game changer

October 13, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 3 Comments

i hadn’t really paid attention to the whole cushion bb cream craze that’s been going on because usually the complaint is that there’s not much coverage. however, when i was gifted with Iope Air Cushion Compact, i figured it was a sign to give it a shot. i’m so glad i did. it’s a total game changer.

Iope Air Cushion XP

foundation soaked sponge

as you can see from the pictures, Iope Air Cushion Xp is a somewhat thick compact where the foundation is soaked into a sponge.

a nonabsorbent sponge is included for application

you press the included blue applicator sponge into the foundation soaked sponge and apply it to your skin. if you dislike the thought of using the included applicator, i’ve also had good results using my beauty blender, both damp and dry. however, if you use your own sponge, there will probably be a bit of wastage as the included applicator is nonabsorbent. the coverage is about medium. i’ve lightened the coverage by using a damp beauty blender, and the coverage is somewhat buildable to a medium+. on my good days, i can skip undereye concealer. it’s very easy and fast to apply and almost impossible to streak. the only thing faster in my arsenal is if i just slapped on some powder. the finish is very natural. i get compliments on my good skin all the time when i’m wearing this, and the complimenter is always shocked when i tell them i’m actually wearing bb cream.

Iope Air Cushion on half my face

you can see how my skintone is evened out and my age spots somewhat hidden.

here’s how it looks outside in natural light.

just to show you how good the coverage is, the picture below is half Iope Air Cushion and half Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

can you tell which side is Iope Air Cushion and which side is MUFE HD? are you ready for the answer? left side is MUFE and right side is Iope. MUFE is a little better looking but i think the effect is pretty close.

though the spf protection is provided by physical blockers zinc and titanium dioxide, it photographs well. it goes on like a second skin, and soon you’ll forget it’s there. in addition to the spf protection, it also offers some vitamins for the skin in a somewhat moisturizing formula. most days, i mix a serum with 1-2 drops of facial oil instead of my usual cream when i’m wearing Iope Air Cushion. in asia, i can even do without the facial oil. it does very well in hot and humid weather. if you’re careful not to touch your face and wipe away the bb cream along with your sweat, the coverage will meld back with your skin after you cool back down. the coverage doesn’t evaporate away or break down like some foundations. the compact is also purse friendly so you can take it along and reapply as needed. i apologize in advance for the poor quality of pictures below, only my iphone was available that day.

the left is a picture of me sweating under the heat of the afternoon sun at farmer’s market. my nose is looking extra red because my sunglasses have pushed aside some of the Iope Air Cushion. the right side is what the coverage returns to after i’ve cooled down. i think how the coverage reforms is pretty magical!

Iope Air Cushion actually comes in 3 finishes: N for natural, C for Coverage, and S for shimmer. i’m wearing C21 Cover Vanilla. unfortunately, the natural and coverage finishes only come in two shades. however, Iope is a brand under Amore Pacific. Amore Pacific has brought these cushion compacts over to the states in a slightly larger color range (4 shades). here in la, i’ve seen Iope carried in asian beauty stores. the price ranges from $40-45 for the compact and includes 1 refill. i’ve been using mine almost daily since mid-july and i haven’t needed to pop in my refill yet.

Readers, what do you think of the air cushion compact trend? is it something you’re interested in?

Foreo Luna Cleans More Than Your Face

June 8, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 3 Comments

i’ve been lusting after the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove for a while now. it’s this glove with raised ridges and bumps to help clean your makeup brushes more efficiently. i balked, however, at paying $35 for it. then one day, as i was brushing my teeth and contemplating whether the glove would be a worthy investment for my brushes, my eyes landed on my Foreo Luna, and a light bulb went off in my head! it also has raised bumps similar to the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove!

Foreo Luna Sensitive/Normal

i immediate whipped out my solid brush cleanser and gave it a test! the result? faster foaming and pigment release from the brushes and a more effective rinsing. how do i know it rinsed more effectively? my brush cleanser also conditions my brushes, and sometimes the conditioning can be a little too much for my synthetic brushes, leaving excess residue on the bristles you can feel. with the Foreo Luna, those problem brushes came out perfect. i simply wet my brush, swirled it once or twice around the solid soap, swiped it along the wider band of more compacted silicone bumps on my Foreo Luna 3-6 times (depends on how dirty the brush was), then rinsed while continuing to swipe along the Foreo Luna. the device is not on, you’re just swiping along the textured surface. since the Foreo Luna is completely waterproof, this does not pose any harm to the device or myself. lastly, i squeeze out the water from the bristles with my fingers and lay them down to dry. now, i’m more inclined to clean my brushes the recommended once a week, since the process is faster and more efficient.

i’ve always championed that the Foreo Luna is way better than the Clarisonic. the Foreo is more gentle, since it uses silicone touch points (the raised bumps) instead of bristle filaments, but it is just as effective. i couldn’t use the Clarisonic, at the gentlest setting with the delicate brush head, more than once every 10 days, i can use the Foreo Luna every other day. it’s also more hygienic and economical since you don’t need to deal with the brush head. it needs less charging and is easier to travel with. it may even double as a Clarisonic Opal while allowing you to use your own products. the logic seems the same (using sonic pulse to help products penetrate deeper). i’ve loved my Foreo Luna ever since i bought it last winter, but now that i realize it cleans both my face and my brushes, i can safely say that this is probably one of the best beauty investments you can make!

i have the Foreo Luna in Sensitive/Normal but it also comes Ultra Sensitive and Combination. it retails for $199 and can be found at Sephora and other retailers.

Readers, how do you feel about electronic face cleaning devices? gimmick or more efficient? would you invest in one? please leave me a comment down below!

Disappointed by bareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

June 5, 2014June 5, 2014 / truecolorjoy / 2 Comments

i was really excited when i heard about bareMineral’s new multitasking foundation promising a lightweight foundation with adjustable coverage, pigmentation correction, and physical spf. i eagerly awaited its arrival at my door, but sadly it didn’t live up to expectations. the finish and coverage is beautiful when first applied (as long as you weren’t using the sold separately Bareskin Perfecing Face Brush which streaked the foundation no matter how much you buffed). unfortunately no matter how hard i tried, i could not get it to last past 6 hours. i’ve tried different applicators (brush, fingers, beauty blender), primers, setting sprays, and powders in various different combinations for 3 weeks trying to get it to last, but no luck. no matter what i did, the beautiful coverage and finish (it really did look skin-like) started breaking down in a very patchy manner on the cheek area and collecting in my pores around the nose area. since a picture is worth a thousand words, i’ll just let the picture below tell you why this product should have never made out of testing phase. 6 hours is not even a full work day. if it broke down more naturally, i might have been willing to keep it around, but who wants a polka dotted nose?

see how it pools inside pores as it breaks down. this starts happening around 4 hour mark

see how it pools inside pores as it breaks down around 4 hours in

Readers, how long do you need your foundation to last? what qualities do you look for in your foundation? leave me a comment down below?