Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream SPF 20 in Linen: Swatches, Thoughts, and Review

This is my first CC Cream ever! So, naturally, I was so excited to try it when I received the Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream in Linen for testing purposes through Brandbacker.  I am already familiar with and like Studio Gear, and because the weather is starting to warm up in California, a CC Cream would be a nice break from foundation on the weekends.

Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream SPF 20 in Linen retails for $34 (again, my sample was powered by Brandbacker). There are three shades: Linen, Natural, and Wheat. Linen is the lightest and this also has an SPF of 20. Here is a little bit about the product: "Hydrating CC Cream transforms and enhances your complexion in an incredibly light, smooth formula. This foundation simultaneously fights aging, retains moisture, and covers and treats blemishes with a non-oily, perfectly radiant finish".

Key Benefits:

"Prevents fine lines and wrinkles with collagen-building ingredients
Restores skin elasticity by promoting moisture retention
Brightens and illuminates skin with a non-oily, complete coverage application".
Do I agree with these claims made by Studio Gear? Yes...I do...from what I have tested so far.
This CC Cream is very hydrating and my skin feels good, but not oily, when wearing it, which is great because my t-zone is prone to being oily. It is also radiant and has that light, smooth formula . I do feel my skin is illuminated, but the coverage is very very light for me. It does not cover my acne well.
If you have a flawless face, this is all you need, but I needed to set this with a bit of powder to have more coverage, which is fine, because it is still lighter than foundation!
I cannot comment on the treating of acne or the preventing of fine lines and wrinkles because I have not tested it long enough to see long term results. However, I can say it has not aggravated any blemishes of mine further.

This is the first stage of the CC Cream--- (and this is about enough for a full face): Goes on white with little granules in it that produce the color.

Above it is smoothed out and rubbed in half way.

Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, but the tone is accurate. This is the CC Cream on my skin. Matches my skin well (maybe a bit too yellow right now, but will be perfect in summer---keep in mind I am VERY fair) and as you can see it minimizes redness but does not fully cover acne. You can layer on problem areas, but the overall effect is just dewy, healthy skin.

I can be into that...I need to let go of my fear of people seeing my skin anyway. Maybe Studio Gear CC Cream will help me with that!

Overall: Great product...and for my first CC Cream, I am surprised at how much I like it. It does smell like sunscreen, which does not bother me. Also, if you are very fair, like me...this is a good summer product but may be too dark for winter skin. Everyone else...go for it!

Want one for yourself...check it out at Studio Gear's website!

To help you try it out...or anything else from Studio Gear, the brand and Brandbacker has given me a discount code for you guys!

Reader Discount: 10% Off
Reader Discount Code: bloggercc

Happy CC-ing!

Studio Gear Holiday Palette Swatches, Review, and Look

*Sponsored Post: Powered by Studio Gear and Brandbacker*Hey everyone! Can you believe we are right on the cusp of December? With the holiday season looming before us with all of its festivities, parties, and good eats in store, your makeup has to be ready to match the glam of the winter season.I was given the opportunity to test the new Studio Gear Holiday Palette ($25), which includes 4 eye shadows in the perfect holiday colors and one blush (which in my opinion is worth the price of the whole palette).

The palette comes in a slim, small cardboard container with a step by step-how to on the fold out of how to create a holiday smokey eye. The shadows and blush do not have names, but clockwise from top left, I will give you descriptions:A frosty cream white, a little patchy, performs much better on the eyeA dark, sparkly black. Perfect crease colorA beige gold which can also be used as a highlighterA shimmery medium grey, perfect all over lid colorBlush: Bright pink with gold shimmer

The outside sleeve of the palette is festive and looks like holiday lights. Pretty! Got me in the mood to decorate instantly!

This is my first experience with Studio Gear. I like the sturdiness of the packaging and the clean layout of the products. You get a lot of product here and everything coordinates well. There isn't that one color that is 'off'.

The texture of the shadows is buttery and smooth, but they don't swatch well on hands...luckily they perform much better on the eyes, which is where they are meant to be anyway. This gives you an idea of the colors. All are sparkly or shimmery, so if you like mattes, this is not the palette for you. But hey, its the season to be glimmery! 

The blush was my favorite part. Smooth, easy to blend, and this brilliant pinky-orange with a hint of gold. Gorgeous! A great compliment to the smokey eye look that this palette creates. Careful though, a little goes a long way. This is super pigmented!

I created a very simple look with this palette in under five minutes to show you that holiday glamour can be as easy as can be! I took the silver shade and applied it all over the lid, blended the black into the crease very lightly, added the cream on my brow bone, and lit the inner corner with the gold highlighter. You can see a hint of the blush on my cheeks here too!

Here is an up close. Sorry my lashes are so wonky (I took a nap before I did this look and they are a little smushed). A smokey eye doesn't have to be intense and black, and you can use the shades in this palette to create looks ranging from day to night easily!

Get the palette here: HERE

And because Studio Gear is so awesome, they have given my readers 10% off any purchase!

Use discount code: SGHOLIDAY

Do you love studio gear? Have you tried this palette? They are having good Black Friday deals too so go and shop your little heart out!

Studio Gear Holiday Palette Swatches, Review, and Look

*Sponsored Post: Powered by Studio Gear and Brandbacker* Hey everyone! Can you believe we are right on the cusp of December? With the holiday season looming before us with all of its festivities, parties, and good eats in store, your makeup has to be ready to match the glam of the winter season. I was given the opportunity to test the new Studio Gear Holiday Palette ($25), which includes 4 eye shadows in the perfect holiday colors and one blush (which in my opinion is worth the price of the whole palette).

The palette comes in a slim, small cardboard container with a step by step-how to on the fold out of how to create a holiday smokey eye. The shadows and blush do not have names, but clockwise from top left, I will give you descriptions: A frosty cream white, a little patchy, performs much better on the eye A dark, sparkly black. Perfect crease color A beige gold which can also be used as a highlighter A shimmery medium grey, perfect all over lid color Blush: Bright pink with gold shimmer

The outside sleeve of the palette is festive and looks like holiday lights. Pretty! Got me in the mood to decorate instantly!

This is my first experience with Studio Gear. I like the sturdiness of the packaging and the clean layout of the products. You get a lot of product here and everything coordinates well. There isn't that one color that is 'off'.

The texture of the shadows is buttery and smooth, but they don't swatch well on hands...luckily they perform much better on the eyes, which is where they are meant to be anyway. This gives you an idea of the colors. All are sparkly or shimmery, so if you like mattes, this is not the palette for you. But hey, its the season to be glimmery! 

The blush was my favorite part. Smooth, easy to blend, and this brilliant pinky-orange with a hint of gold. Gorgeous! A great compliment to the smokey eye look that this palette creates. Careful though, a little goes a long way. This is super pigmented!

I created a very simple look with this palette in under five minutes to show you that holiday glamour can be as easy as can be! I took the silver shade and applied it all over the lid, blended the black into the crease very lightly, added the cream on my brow bone, and lit the inner corner with the gold highlighter. You can see a hint of the blush on my cheeks here too!

Here is an up close. Sorry my lashes are so wonky (I took a nap before I did this look and they are a little smushed). A smokey eye doesn't have to be intense and black, and you can use the shades in this palette to create looks ranging from day to night easily!

Get the palette here: HERE

And because Studio Gear is so awesome, they have given my readers 10% off any purchase!

Use discount code: SGHOLIDAY

Do you love studio gear? Have you tried this palette? They are having good Black Friday deals too so go and shop your little heart out!