Clinique Almost Powder Makeup

Today, let me introduce you to my HG powder foundation, Clinique Almost Powder Makeup, in Light (03). 

I've had difficulties with powder foundations in the past, as they tend to emphasize any dry patch on my combination skin. I've never had such an issue with Almost Powder, not even in the middle of the winter. 

A day at the mall - small haul

I don't go to the mall very often, because I know that when I do, I can't come back with empty hands... This time, I was just planning to buy a new shade of Clinique's famous Chubby Stick. Well, I didn't buy it... but got other stuff instead! I guess you can call that unplanned, impulsive purchase. 

My Beauty Diary Arbutin Mask

After the fantastic Black Pearl Mask, I was full of expectations when I tested My Beauty Diary Arbutin Mask, from my Top7 box. I had never heard of arbutin before, and I discovered that it's a molecule found in wheat and pear skin, among others, which prevents the formation of melanin and is thus commonly used for its skin-lightening properties. 

Wet n Wild Nutty Color Icon Eyeshadow

If you have 2 bucks in your pocket, this is probably the best thing you could buy, at least makeup-wise. The range of Wet n Wild Color Icon shadows is frustrating because it's very inconsistent: some shades are total boo-boo, while others are fantastic. Nutty definitely falls into the latter category! 

It's something between a light brown and a taupe, shimmery, with warm undertones. Let's start with the downsides: I hate the pan. I broke my nails TWICE trying to open the freaking lid. I do not recommend the use of a chainsaw to gain access to the securely enclosed shadow, but that's about as far as you need to go to open that bloody little box... 

EOTD: soft aqua

A light aqua makeup today, perfect for summer! 

I used: 

Lime Crime Promo Code!

Lime Crime loose powder eyeshadows, the Magic Dusts, are going to be discontinued soon. 

To catch them before they go, you can use the code MAGIC40 to get 40% off. Code is to be used at checkout on Lime Crime website.


Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link.

Sephora Golden Spice Double Contouring Cream Blush

The first time I visited a Sephora store after moving to the US, I got all excited about the Double Contouring Cream Blushes by Sephora and their gorgeous colors! This product is not sold in France, and I can't think of a single good reason for them to deprive French beauties of this... I mean, they have their own makeup range, why sell almost everything else, but not this particular cream blush?? It doesn't make any sense. 

Anyway, I ignored its existence until I saw it in the store, and I think my heart skipped a beat... Most of the shades are litterally stunning and swatch extremely well, but as a good girl, I knew I should choose only one. It was hard, but I decided to go out of my peach/coral comfort zone and opted for Golden Spice, a beautiful pinky brown with fine golden shimmer. 

Drugstore haul + swatches

I think I'm started to get addicted to drugstores... You see, we don't really have that concept in France. Pharmacies sell skincare, but not so much makeup, and they don't do sales every week like here in the US. Every Friday, I'm anxious to receive the new circulars from CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens and discover the 40% off or Buy one Get on free sales! 

This week, I caught 40% off NYC and Revlon, and I also (finally) received a package from drugstore.com. NYC is not available in France as far as I know, so this is my first contact with the brand. 

EOTD: Purple & orange

I love to associate purple and orange on my lids, especially in the summer, it's such a happy color combo! Today, I made it in a soft, lightly smoky makeup that compliments green eyes particularly well. 

I used: 

Geology 101 with Stila new palette

With their new palette for fall, In The Know Eyeshadow Palette, Stila is catching the matte train. The 10 matte eyeshadows are all earth-inspired, named after the 4 elements, and they remind me of stone and soil samples. 

MAC Solar Ray Blush

I haven't been able to keep up with MAC's new collection launches lately, but the pictures of the beautiful, shimmery swirls of color from Heavenly Creature drew me into the store, and I fell for Solar Ray Mineralize Blush (and Meteoric Cremesheen Glass), a light shimmery pinky peach with a swirl of coppery golden sparkles. 

Essie All Tied Up

Part of this summer's "Bikini so Teeny" collection from Essie, All Tied Up is not your typical summery polish. This color is rather unexpected in a bikini-themed collection, it screams FALL to me amidst all the sky blue, margarita green, punchy orange and neon pink shades everyone is wearing these days. 

Essie describes it as a "rustic bronze with subtle golden shimmer", although I don't see much bronze here, more of a caramel tinted dusty pink. The fine golden shimmer is divine in the bottle, but it faints once applied to the nails, so much that it's only visible in direct sunlight (and with a microscope...). The polish also dries surprisingly darker than you would think, so it's definitely not true to the bottle and I was really disappointed. 

Tips & Tricks, the new Benefit Beauty Kits!

Run! They're only available for 2 days on the brand's official website! But wait, they should then be launched by Sephora in August. Still, if you want to be one of the happy fews who'll get these before the crowd, it's now, tomorrow, or never. They contain "deluxe sample" sized products, the Box O' powder ones are sold for $28 and the Hello Flawless ones for $30.

Feelin'Dandy contains: Dandelion powder and gloss,
Posietint and High Beam

MAC Meteoric Cremesheen Glass

I'm in love with Cremesheen Glasses from MAC, for they're non-sticky, creamy, comfortable, and super shiny . This is definitely one of my favorite lipgloss formula. I'm always excited when new, limited edition shades are released, and picking only one from Heavenly Creature collection was tough! (I would've bought them all if my pockets were fuller...). 

I eventually chose Meteoric, because this coral, slightly shimmery color is right up my alley. Heading back home, I remembered I already got another Cremesheen called Geo-Pink from a previous collection, and I was afraid they would look very similar. Good news: they're completely different! 

My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Mask

The other day, I was shopping at 99 Ranch Market (a chain of markets specializing in Asian products, not sure they're anywhere but on the West Coast), and I was thrilled to discover that they have a small beauty and personal care aisle. Cosmetics from Asia have been big on the blogosphere for a while and I was really excited to try some new products! 

Most of the items didn't have any description in latin alphabet (frustrating for me :( ) but I immediately recognized the box of My Beauty Diary masks. There's been such a buzz around these masks that I was already familiar with their packaging! I got the Top 7 kit, a selection of the brand's most popular sheet masks. 

Dior les Rouges Ors holiday collection

I was tempted by pretty much everything in this collection but I managed to buy only one nail polish and one lipstick... yet. 

For the polish I chose the flamboyant Merveille, a much warmer and happier shade than Apparat, which fans seem to favour.