Mini Sephora Haul #1

Hi guys, this is my very first HAUL blogpost which I am really excited about. You are gonna see me doing a lot more haul posts in the next a couple of weeks because I have been shopping quite a lot. I know I know what can I say I love shopping.

Watching haul videos on YouTube is something I really enjoy doing and I thought it might be a good idea to do a haul blogpost so let's do this. I hope you will like it! 

I live in Italy as you all probably know by now and to be quite honest the Italian Sephora stores aren't as fully stocked as the Sephora stores in America but still we have fairly good range of products that I can choose from. SephoraItalia recently had a 20% off of everything and I just had to take this opportunity and get something that I have been wanting to try in a long time. So I did. I got some bits and bobs in the store and online as well. This haul is the stuff that I got off online. So let's start! 

There we go, as you can see I didn't go too crazy just a couple of things that I have been wanting to try. 

First up is the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder. I know I have a lot of setting powders so I really don't need another one, but I have heard so many good things about this powder and I just had to get it, especially when one of my favorite YouTubers Claire Marshall featured this power in one her favorites videos. She is a very talented makeup artist if you don't know. I love watching her videos. I'll link her video right  so you can check it out.

I love the cute pink packaging, it's very pretty. It contains 10g (0.35 Oz) of product and I think it'll last me a VERY LONG time. It comes with a puff which it's very handy for touchup on the go. 

I haven't tried it yet so I can't tell you if I like it or not but I will do a in depth review on this powder once I try it long enough. But basically this is a silicone based translucent setting powder to diminish fine lines, wrinkles and large pores. I swatched it on my hand and it feels very velvety. I normally I don't like the silicone based products but I'll let you know how I get on with this one. 

Next up is a volumizing hair spray from Bumble n bumble called Thickening Hairspray. I have heard so many beauty gurus talking about this product and the feedback are pretty much all positive. So I thought you know what let's give it a try since my Phyto volume spray is finished.

I used it today actually and it feels pretty light on the hair and it doesn't have the gross tacky feeling which I hate. First impression? Not bad. I will give a more in depth review later on when I try it a bit more. But so far so good. 

It smells light nothing irritating which is cool. This hairspray is not cheap to be honest but it does contain 250ml ( 8 fl Oz) of product so I guess it will last me quite a while. It claims to thicken the root of the hair to give volume and it can also be used as a setting hair spray to hold the style in place. I will definitely report back if it does what it says and worth all that hype. Stay tuned guys... ... 

When shop in SephoraItalia online you get to choose 2 complementary samples when you spend certain amount of money, and I get to choose a free mini MUFE Smokey Lash Mascara and a sample of the Youth Liberator Serum from YSL, both which I have heard some good things about. I will try them and report back. I hope I won't like the YSL serum because it's crazy expensive. Fingers crossed. Lol 

That's it guys that's my mini Sephora haul. I told you I didn't go too crazy. Good on you Elaine. Good on you. Normally I go crazy as soon as I step into Sephora. I am proud of myself this time. Yeah!!!  

Please follow me on twitter guys @eflicciardello and until next time, bye! Muahh! 

Ps. For UK readers who loves Sephora. Good news, Sephora America is now shipping internationally, so take your chance and happy shopping! 

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My summer essentials (Full Face Routine) + a little Giveaway (CLOSED)

Hi beauties. Happy Thursday! Are you ready for today's post? I think you'll like it! Let's do it. 

Summer is here well for some of us. Here in Sicily is rather cold which is really strange considering we are fairly close to Africa! But I am sure it'll arrive real soon for us as well so it would be interesting to know some of my summer must haves don't you think? I hope so. Now I have a mixture of skincare and makeup items to show you and please make sure to stay with me till the end of this post because I have a little giveaway for you beauties just as a thank you for supporting my blog. 

In the summer I try to use less products on my face because I hate heavy looking makeup, I wanna be as "fresh" as possible. 

When I wake up in the morning I wash my face as usual then I put on my Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator Serum as it is extremely light, gives me the summer glow and it dries matte so that I don't even need a primer. 

Then I go straight in with my SPF. The one I am currently enjoying is the Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 Sun Cream. I like that it is light but also very moisturizing at the same time so I can skip my moisturizer, and it's SPF 50 so maximum protection which is much needed for where I live.

Eye cream is a must no matter where you live and which time of the year. However for summer it is important to have an eye cream with SPF in it, and that is one of the reasons why I like this Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream with SPF 25. It is light, moisturizing, and it brightens my under eye area as well which is awesome. 

I am not gonna go into too much detail of these products as I have mentioned in my previous posts so make sure to check them out if you would like a more in depth reviews. Just . 

I try not to use foundations in the summer as they can get quite greasy throughout the day so I stick with my Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer as my base. It is high in coverage, light, stays on all day and kinda water proof. Ideal for summer time when I go out and about. 

As for powder I use the bareMinerals Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 to set my concealer and touchup during the day for an extra protection. I know I had mentioned this in my Disappointing Makeup Products blogpost but I gave it another try and now it lives in my bag. It's funny that I didn't care for it before and now it's my summer essential. So guys I suggest you go through your "disappointing stash" and you might get yourselves a surprise. 

This product is just so convenient for touching up when you are out. If you think about it, SPFs do wear off after a couple of hours and we can't really take off our makeup and apply sun cream again when we are outside so it would be handy to have this powder SPF for added protection. I still don't care for the brush it comes with as it is just too stiff for my like but I hear that some people actually like the brush because apparently it's easier to buff the powder to get some coverage. Ohh yes it does have a very light coverage which is pretty cool. 

Next step is to give myself some colour on the face, and for that I use my all time favorite Guerlain Terracotta Sheer Bronzing Powder. This is without a doubt a must have product for the summer as it is a bronzer, blusher and a highlighter all in one. It's sheer but buildable and the colour is simply gorgeous. I am not gonna ramble too much because I have featured this in many of my blogposts in the past so have a look at my older ones for details. 

For eyes I keep it very simple in the summer just a wash of colour and fabulous lashes. I really have been enjoying my Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze. It stays and gives me this nice bronzy colour with some gorgeous sparkles, great for summer time.

I don't use mascara that often in the summer because it transfers and smudges on me. I don't like to wear water proof ones either because they can be quite hard to take off, and quietly frankly I just can't be bothered. That being said I still want fabulous and full on lashes because let's face it who doesn't fancy long thick sexy lashes. Am I right?! So I use these "RichEyelash" false eyelashes because they are simply gorgeous and real looking. I had to order them from eBay because these are from Japan. Really really good quality lashes!  

For my brow it has to be my MUFE Aqua Brow because it's water proof. It colours and sets really well. Great brow product. Definitely a must have for summer. Click  for details. 

Now for lips I like to keep it very simple in the summer especially in the day time. I mean I still wear a full on bold lip if I go out in the evening but during the day I just use theBalm lip stain as a base and top it up with a lip balm. Non sticky, non heavy. 

This Kiehl's lip balm is quite nice for using it over lip stains and lipsticks but I don't like it as an actual lip balm just FYI. It's just not moisturizing enough for me. I also like this Lancôme L'absolu Rouge Lipstick in 008 Rose Reflect because of the colour. It's a sheer pink shade with some white pearl sheen to it, gorgeous for when I have a tan! Also the texture is light as air! Perfect for summer.

Last step is to make my legs glow before I step out because I will not tolerant dry and dull legs for the summer time. And to avoid that I use my Benefit "Take a picture it lasts longer" glimmering body balm. What a name ehh! It gives my legs this amazing glow but not over the top. It's silky smooth and I just love it. It smells good too. for more info. 

That's it guys those products are my absolute summer essentials and now onto the fun part. I have a little giveaway for you because there are so many of you support my blog and follow me on Twitter and Instagram which I am so thankful for. I know I ramble a lot so thank you for staying with me. I choose this bareMinerals powder SPF because it is so importantly to touch up your SPF in order to be protected fully. Also these RichEyelash lashes are truly amazing and very rare to find so I hope you like them and I will do another giveaway soon stay tuned for that! 

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Herborist Color Control Skintone Perfecter Mask

Hey beauties, happy Thursday! Today I am going to review the Color Control Skintone Perfecter Mask by the brand called Herborist. 

I don't think a lot of you have heard about this particular skincare brand. It is a Chinese skincare brand that is so popular and it's now sold worldwide. The good thing about this brand is that the ingredients are pretty much all natural and all of their products are infused with Chinese herbs that are beneficial to our skin. Now a little disclaimer: this is a PR sample that was provided by the lovely sales representative of Herborist Europe Davide at my local Sephora so thank you Davide. But as usual all my opinions are 100% honest and I will not review anything if I don't like it. That's for sure! 

Ok now onto the actual mask. It comes in this beautiful glass jar that I think it will look absolutely stunning in your skincare cabinet. Ohh and don't throw away the jar after you have done with the mask because you can definitely put stuff in there such as cotton pads right?! It cost €39 for 260g of product which I think it's a pretty good deal considering you only need a euro size amount for each use. NOTE: It is called the Whitening Revitalizing Mask for the rest of the world only in Europe it's called Color Control Skintone Perfecter Mask. They are same with different names just FYI. 

I like the fact that this is a cream, a white cream. It's almost like you putting on a night cream rather than a mask you know. 

I have used this mask every night for the past a couple of weeks and I really do like it for only one reason. It brightens my skin like nobody else's business. If you are after a brightening mask then look no further. This is the one for you. 

(Top: washed off the mask after 15mins; Bottom: without the mask. I hope you can see the difference) 

I like using this mask after I spend a day at the beach because it just brightens my complexion so that I don't look too dark and dull. My skin is nice and even without the redness from the sun. Apparently it contains 7 different herbs that are really good for keeping our skin hydrated and looking youthful. It also contains pearl powders which are extremely effective in terms of brightening and evening out skintones. Ohh that explains it then!! It smells lovely too like some kind of herbs but not strong at all. Very pleasant. 

The only downside for me is that I have to dig my fingers in which is not very hygienic so I suggest getting a spoon or some sort of wooden stick to take out the product. Also do not put it too close to the eye area as it does make the eyes watery a bit. 

The sales representative Davide told me to use it twice a week and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes but I use it every night because who doesn't love a bright face?! It doesn't irritate my skin at all so why not?! My tip to use this mask is that apply it 2 or 3 times a week but if you spend a day under the sun then it would be a good idea to use it every night. You'll see a big difference. No darkness, dullness or redness caused by the sun.

All in all this is a pretty good mask in my opinion especially for brightening and evening out my skintone. I would love to check out other products from Herborist in the future. I heard the Tai Chi Mask is really really good. I might have to try that. 

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My Current Everyday Makeup Routine/Favorites Vol.2 (eyes and Lips)

(Full face makeup products. Please refer to Vol.1 from yesterday's post for details of face products)

Now let's move on to eyes. For eyes I've been keeping it very simple just stick to my Urban Decay Smoked Palette which is my HG eyeshadow palette. I gave the full deets in my Z Palette blogpost so make sure to check it out . 

I've been using Barlust which is a copper bronzy shade on my lids and Freestyle which is the perfect blending shade to blend out the shape edges. I told you, pretty simple right?! Urban Decay does the best eyeshadows in my opinion, buttery soft, pigmented and easy to blend. Can't go wrong with it!

FYI: I do use Mac Paint Pot in Groundwork as my eyeshadow primer before applying the Urban Decay shadows. It just lasts longer and Groundwork is very flattering under Barlust, and my eyeshadows stick to my eyes better. Have a look at my Top 5 Fav Cream Eyeshadows post for details of this paint pot. 

Eyeliner: I've been loving dark blue eyeliner for the past month and I am still enjoying it. It makes my dark brown eyes pop. I am sick of black and need a pop of colour. The one I am currently using is the 24 Hour Waterproof Eye Pencil from Deborah which is an Italian drug store makeup brand. I gotta say I am pretty impressed with it. It's the twist up pencil so no sharpener required.

It's easy to smudge thanks to the smudger sponge it comes with, and it lasts pretty well on me. I can't say 24 hours but it lasts decent amount of hours. I just apply it on my waterline, and both upper and lower lash lines then smudge it with the sponge. That's it. Easy breezy! 

As far as Mascara goes I don't use it on a daily basis because I have stubborn straight eye lashes it takes me ages to apply mascara then curl them so can't be bothered to be honest with ya. I would if I go out in the evening or on a special occasion. 

Eye brows: on a day to day basis I just use this Gimme Brow from Benefit Cosmetics. It's quick and easy great for when I'm in a rush. It tints my brow, sets them in place and it lasts all day. Definitely a must have. I have the shade in light/medium. Have a look at my HG Brow Products and Tools blogpost for my brow routine if you are interested. 

Last step to complete my daily look is lipstick. I don't wear bright lip colours on a daily basis. I go for nude, and by "nude" I mean nude lipstick colours not that I go out NUDE. Lol! Sorry about the cold joke. Moving on... ... 

As I was saying... I love nude lipsticks. They're very low-key, comfortable and flattering for daily use. My fav nude lipstick at the moment is the Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo in No.5 Nude. Beautiful on me and would be beautiful on you as well if you and I have the same or similar skintone. It's so smooth on the lip and the golden shimmer is gorg. It's matte so lasts pretty well during the day. Full detail of this lipstick is featured on my Perfect Nudes and My All Time Fav Lipsticks blogposts, give them a read! 

Ok so there you have it, my current everyday eye and lip routine/favs and I hope you have enjoyed it as well as the Vol.1 from yesterday's post. Let me know your makeup favs at the moment and as always please follow me on tweeter @eflicciardello that would make me fly... High... Lol

(Completed everyday look. Please refer to Vol.1 for Foundation Routine)

Thank you for your time and until next time. Stay gorgeous girls! Muahh! 

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Battle of Sunscreens

Sunscreens. How so important for protecting our skin from the harsh sun light which will give us rough skin texture, wrinkles, skin pigmentation and possibly the worst: skin cancer. 

Sunscreens are essential when it comes to skincare and it should be the last step of your skincare routine and before your makeup. You should wear it every single day even it's not sunny outside, because the UV rays can still get through the clouds get you eventually. 

If you are someone, and by someone I mean myself who uses chemical exfoliating mask/treatment or toner at night then it is a crucial in terms of putting on sunscreen everyday before stepping out the door because chemical exfoliating treatments e.g Alpha H Liquid Gold can make our skin super sensitive to the sun. 

Now let's talk about my choice of sunscreens. I have 6 here to show you today, 5 of them I like and 1 disappointment. I should let you know that all of my face and body sunscreens are above SPF 30 because of where I live. I live in Sicily Italy, and for those of who doesn't know it gets super duper hot here in the summer, if I leave the house without sunscreens on then I. AM. SCREWED! I mean I get burnt here, literally! And I never burn even when I went to Hawaii. Let's just say the Sicilian sun is poison. Ok that might be over exaggerated but the sun here is pretty harsh. 

Ok ok enough rambling, the first one I am going to show you today is the Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA+++ UVA. Wow that's a long name. I bought it after reading the blogpost of Anna from Viviannadoesmakeup which I'll link it here so do give it a read. Seriously she is fabulous and you all know how much I love her by the times of her name showing up on my blog. 

Anyway... I love this sunscreen. It's SPF 50 which is really high in terms of protecting the skin. By the way SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor in case you are wondering. This sunscreen helps protect against pigmentation, irregularities and premature skin aging, which is why this one is more of an UVA protection sunscreen. However the the Kiehl's website says it has UVB protection as well so I guess I am covered. Ohh just so you know, UVA rays can age us and UVB rays can burn us so make sure to chose one that can protect your skin against both rays. 

This is a creamy physical sunscreen but very light in texture. It's not sticky, doesn't give you a nasty white-cast like some other high SPFs can do. It has no smell to it, also dermatologist tested so suitable for sensitive skin. It's very moisturizing but not thick so it feels very comfortable to wear it even under makeup. Ohh I should tell you that it's also a great base before my foundation because once it dries it sets so my foundation don't slide around which it's just what I need for summer. 

It comes in a tube (60ml 2.0 fl. Oz) which is very hygienic as I don't have to dip my fingers in a pot you know, and the packaging is very clean and sleek in my opinion. 

Just a little pointer: I don't suggest you tan too much under the sun although I know some of you are addict to tanning, just remember NEVER EVER go tanning between 11am and 3pm. It's really bad for your skin and you'll look older faster, sorry but it's true! 

Moving on to the next sunscreen which I also really really like. It's the Clarins UV PLUS HP Multi-Protection SPF 40 UVA-UVB/PA+++/Oil-Free/Anti-Pollution. OK now this name is even longer than the Kiehl's one. Mann! 

Unlike the Kiehl's one this is a fluid sunscreen. It's fairly watery and you do need to shake it up before applying to your face. It's a physical sunscreen same as the Kiehl's one which I like. Don't buy chemical sunscreens guys because they are never good for your skin. It is very light and it sinks into my skin very quickly and it's a matte finish so great base before foundation. It does have a smell to it but nothing crazy. It doesn't leave the unattractive white-cast same as the Kiehl's one. It comes in a little squeezable bottle (30ml 1 fl. Oz) and I really like the dispeanser as you can easily control how much you wanna squeeze out. All in all I really do like it.

If you have oily skin then I recommend the clarins one but if you have drier skin the Kiehl's one is the way to go. Price wise they are both around 37€ but with the Kiehl's one you do get doubled the size, so you do the math! 

Next up is the Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF 30 from Shiseido. Shiseido does some really good sunscreens. They have a huge range of sunscreens and the one I have here it's a sun protection lotion for both face and body. It contains 100ml of product and it costs around 27€. 

Now I don't use this one on a daily basis only when I go to the beach. You should also know that I rarely use it on my face, it's more of a body sun lotion for me. I'll tell why. It's very rich so feels kinda greasy but not too much. It does leave a white-cast but once dries you can't really tell. I think this one is a bit too rich for face but nice and moisturizing for body. It's water resistant which makes it perfect for the beach. Just remember shake well before use. 

Moving on... Let's talk about this bareMinerals Natural Sunscreen UVA/UVB Protection for Face and Body. This is a powder sunscreen and apparently it's beneficial for our skin because it's made of natural minerals. I featured it in my Disappointing Products blogpost and if you are interested in what I had to say just .  

I like the concept of this sunscreen, you know how you can take it on the go, great for touchup which is the main reason why I got it. Honestly guys sunscreens do wear off as the day progresses and we can't take our makeup off when we are out and about so this is ideal for applying on the go for the loss of sunscreen without taking off our makeup. Am I right? 

It's a cool product but I don't like the brush that it comes with. It's too dense, it doesn't distribute the powder evenly and it looks kinda cakey sometimes. I tried it with my own brush which is rather lovely but the bad news is I have to depot the powder so makes it impossible to take it on the go. The powder is itself is quite soft and finely milled but i guess I just wish it came with a softer fluffy brush. What can I say, we can't have everything I guess! 

The skin around the eye area are most delicate, it needs special care, and I am not just talking about our normal eye creams also sunscreens for eyes. That's right. You heard me, which brings you my next product. It is the Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream SPF 25. 

This is a lovely product that you use around the eyes before going out in the sun. It protects against sun damage around the delicate eye area and moisturizes at the same time. I also found it brightens my under eye area which I am really happy about. It's moisturizing like I said before but light enough so my concealer don't slide around. I'm almost done with this tube (15ml) and really need to get myself another one. I like the fact that it's SPF 25 which is quite a high protection as far as eye cream goes. I really do like it. I recommend! 

Last but not least is the Shiseido Sun Protection Lip Treatment SPF 20. I swear I am not being paid to make this post, just a little disclaimer here for ya. I know I have quite a few of the Shiseido products, that's because they are really that good, and they do have a lot of choices when it comes to sunblocks. 

As I was saying, this is an average stick lip balm that moisturizes like normal lip balms do, but the difference is that it also protects our lips from the effects of UVA and UVB rays. It is SPF 20 which is awesome for protecting against the sun so that our lips won't feel dry, rough nor darken from the sun. I should mention that this is not a replacement for your normal lip balm because all sunblock products contain Zinc Oxide or/and Titanium Dioxide which make them ultimately drying. It does leave a little white-cast on the lip but I honestly don't mind because I do put lipstick on top. It smells pretty good too. I finished mine ages ago so really need to get another one. 

There you have it. I hope this is helpful. I know it's kinda boring and common sense but someone has to do it, and I can't stress enough how important sunscreens are to us especially when summer's coming. So guys again do wear sunscreens not just for the face but wherever it's exposed to the sun when you are out and about. A few tips for you: avoid going out from 11am to 3pm unless you have to; wear sunglasses and hats; apply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours especially on the beach; and lastly avoid walking around near cars too often as car windows can reflect the sun then UV rays could land on your face, seriously. I know you might think it's ridiculous but it's true.

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Living proof Hair Styling Products

Living proof is a highend haircare brand and a lot of beauty gurus are talking their products and loving them apparently. I bought 2 of their star products because I've read so many wonderful reviews and also I just wanna see if they are really worth all that hype. 

"Friends" star Jennifer Aniston is now the co-owner of Living proof and she did a whole series on how to achieve the perfect hair day by using some of the Living proof hair products which made me really wanna try this brand because I love Jennifer Aniston and "Friends" of course. So I did. I bought a couple of their hair styling products and I am going to tell you now how I get on with them. 

I purchased the ever so famous Prime Style Extender which is a hair primer (interesting) and also the amp2 Instant Texture Volumizer, both are from spacenk. 

Let's talk about the hair primer first. I thought it was quite interesting that there's also a primer for our hair, and that made me buy it really. I mean I've tried primers for face and eyes and never even heard of hair primers before. But basically this primer will extend your hair style, Living proof claims that it will keep your hair clean for a lot longer than it would do without it. Now, I am not really sure about this one because I haven't seen anything on keeping my hair clean longer nor extend the wear of my hair style to be honest. I mean I've had it for like a month already and I seriously can't tell if it's working. But that being said I do like it in terms of applying it after shampooing because it makes my hair silky smooth and very soft. It's more like a non-rinse-off hair conditioner for me. 

It says it's weightless which I totally agree. I can't feel a thing after applying it. I also like the fact that it is non sticky and it doesn't weigh down my hair. Just remember apply this product when your hair's  still damp, never on dry hair.

I will keep using it until this finishes but I am not sure if I would buy it again. There are other nice hair conditioners out there in the market, and to be honest this is not a cheap product and as far as primer goes it just doesn't deliver. 

Moving on to the Texture Volumizer. Now this one I do like. It does what it says on the tin which is super. It gives a nice texture, like a second day hair which I like. It doesn't feel tacky on the hair although it does feel quite sticky on my hands, but that's not problem as I can wash it right off afterwards. 

I think this is a great styling product for short or medium length hair as it really does give this nice texture and volume. All you have to do is dry your hair first then scoop out a penny size amount on your hands (a little goes a long way with this product), warm the product between your hands till it turns clear (very important) then just rub it on the roots of your hair and whatever it's left apply on the ends of the hair.  

I actually got this Volumizer after watching the video from Amelia Liana where she talked about this product and how she liked it. I'll link it  if you fancy watching it. 

(With both products on but really like the Texture Volumizer. It gives volume and the texture of second-day hair and non sticky)

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Brand Review on theBalm Cosmetics

Well hello my lovely beauty junkies. How are we?! I am SO excited about today's post. I am going to talk about the brand called theBalm Cosmetics. I don't have ALL of their products but I do have some of their classics, so let's get to work!

theBalm and I go way back. I got my first theBalm product like 2 or maybe 3 years ago and I am still using and loving their makeup products. theBalm cosmetics does not only makeup but skincare and haircare products as well. Founder/CEO Marissa Shipman started theBalm in 2004 and it has been very successful since. theBalm cosmetics are known of their cute and sweet packaging, and their makeup are highly pigmented, nice colour range and most importantly for us is that their makeup are inexpensive. I'll link their website right  so you can check it out for more details.

You can purchase theBalm products on their official website if you are from the US, just click the link above or you can buy them from feelunique.com if you are based in the UK and the rest of the world.

I am now gonna show you some of theBalm makeup that I have and love. I guess I'll start with this beautiful eyeshadow palette called Meet Matt(e). I mean how cute is the name?!, and look at this packaging, so cute and sweet!

This is a matte eyeshadow palette and it contains 9 different colored eyeshadows. They are all pretty wearable. There's no shimmers or glitters, they're all matte, which I think are perfect for matte eyeshadow lovers like myself, suitable for older women because matte colors will not bring the eyelids down and forward like shimmery shadows do. And they are definitely office appropriate. I mean I do like shimmery eyeshadows as well but I tend to go for matte shades a bit more. I go through phases, sometimes I wear matte shades more and sometimes I tend to reach for shimmery ones. You know, women! We need our choices. Hah!

There we go, the swatches. Sorry about the dirty palette, I've used it quite a lot. It is well loved. One thing I like about this palette is that the names of the shadows. They are all guys' names. How cool is that! The eyeshadows themselves are very soft (not like Urban Decay buttery soft but very easy to apply), last pretty long on my lids with a primer underneath of course cuz I have the world oiliest eyelids. They are not very patchy like some of the matte eyeshadows. Very pleasant to use. Small and compact, also comes with a decent sized mirror so great for travel.

I tend to go for some of the darker shades in here and let me tell ya, they are very pigmented. Ohh and by the way, Matt Gallagher is a great crease/blending shade. I love it. It comes with a little double-ended brush but I threw it away like always because let's face it brushes that come with palettes are never good even with the most highend makeup brand.

Next up is this blusher that I have from theBalm, and it's called CabanaBoy. Ahh I just love the name and the packaging. So cute. I know I say that a lot, but come on. Isn't that cute?!

It contains 8.5g (0.3 Oz) of product and let me tell you, it lasts AGES. I mean I've used it quite a lot but it looks like I barely made a dent. This is a pinky mauve shade which I think is good on any skintones. However pale skins have to use a very light hand with this, because it is very, I repeat, very pigmented. It doesn't have any shimmers or sparkles but it leaves a nice luminous sheen on the cheeks. If you don't like shimmery blushes but still want a little glow then this one is for you.

Bahama Mama Bronzer is the first bronzer that I've bought. Unfortunately it doesn't work for my skintone.

It looks very muddy and dirty on me , I guess this shade is too dark for me and that's why. But that being said the bronzer itself is rather lovely. It has no smell to it and it's buttery soft. It's matte so great for contouring. Have a look at my Disappointing Products blogpost if you wanna know more.

I picked up this little blush/contour kabuki brush from theBalm whilst I bought the blusher and bronzer. Like the BahamaMama Bronzer this brush is kinda disappointing as well.

The bristles are very dense so it doesn't distribute the blusher nice and evenly on the cheek. It's rather odd looking afterwards. However I do like the small packaging, it will be ideal for traveling I supposed. I, in fact tried this brush with my other bronzers to contour my face and it surprisingly is quite good for that purpose because of the dense bristles. So I guess it's up to you what you want to use it for, but don't apply your blusher with it. Believe me!

This May-Lou Manizer aka The Luminizer is by far the best highlighter I have ever tried. Full stop. It is so gorgeous on the cheekbone. Very soft in texture and you do get a lot of product which is awesome, great value for money.

Please do check out my Top Rated Highlighters blogpost for details of this one by clicking . I love it, love it, love it!

Lastly I have 2 of theBalm lip and cheek stains called Stainiac. One is in the shade Beauty Queen which is a cherry colour, and the other is called Homecoming Queen which is a straight up orange colour. I like them both, they remind me of the Benefit Benetint but a lot cheaper.

As you can see here they do stain which is awesome. If you want your blusher to last the whole day without touching up, apply this stain on the cheek first then your blusher. Trust me, the Stainiac is a great base. I of course also use it as a lip stain, and it works pretty well, but like other lip stains they do tend to dry the lips out so make sure you apply a lip balm or a moisturizing lip stick afterwards so your lips feel more comfortable. These 2 stains are more gel like in texture unlike the Benetint from Benefit which is more watery. I prefer the Stainiac to be honest because of the packaging which is like a lip gloss packaging with a normal doe foot applicator, really easy to use, and it takes no effort to blend out. 

All in all I give a 4 out of 5 on theBalm products that I have tried. They are inexpensive, pigmented and love the beautiful packaging. I can't speak for other products of theBalm because I haven't tried them all, but I will be picking up more of their makeup in the future and report back to you guys of course.

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