Clinique Cheek Pop in Pansy Pop: Swatches and Review

Things are hectic right now here at Panda Headquarters, but I wanted to share this review before the weekend got underway, especially because I love this blush so much that it will be on my face tomorrow at my Master's graduation. That is high honors for a blush, I tell ya!

But before I begin, there is a bit of a story with this one. My momma and I have been looking for these new colors forever. When they first launched, even our Clinique SA's had no idea there were new colors! (Does this ever happen to you?). My Ulta has had an empty display where they are supposed to go for a month. Sephora was picked over/sold out. What was a girl to do?

Finally my momma and I begged the Clinique SA's to go check the stock at Nordstroms to see if they were in. Hmm...they were! The SA's were going gaga over these blushes like they'd never even heard of 'em! Case in point, I got to be the first to swatch the brand new testers and left with the color Pansy, a gorgeous lavendar pink. Patience is a virtue!

 

Pansy Pop (15) retails for $21 and should be able to be found at Sephora/Ulta/Clinique. After swatching some of the colors and seeing dismal pigmentation, Pansy blew me away and I snatched it up!

Pansy Pop is unlike any other blushes I own. I may not have a big stash of blush, but I have mostly pinks, corals, and reds, but nothing cool-toned like this. I've been wearing it non-stop! It lasts for 8 hours on my combo skin and has the dewiest glow to it. I feel that this shade works best applied in layers with a stippling brush for the perfect finish!

 I love the unique hue, the wear, and the finish so much I will be wearing it tomorrow, on one of the most momentous days of my life to date! Yay Clinique Cheek Pops!

Do you have one (or all?) of these?

It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush in Je Ne Sais Quoi: Swatches and Review

I am not always a fan of everything It Cosmetics releases, but more and more, I find myself becoming an 'It' girl, and the product I have been reviewing the last few weeks, the It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush in Je Ne Sais Quoi has been constantly on my cheeks.

 

This blush retails for $24 and with the amount I have been using it, worth every penny! There is currently only one color selection, which is a pink. But according to It Cosmetics, it is supposed to self-adjust to give you your own unique glow! It turns rather peachy pink on my skin!

It is also has collagen and peptides, which is where (I am assuming) the CC+ comes into play.

 

Isn't this just the prettiest? You can use the top section as a highlight, which I like to do, although swirling all the colors together will not get rid of the ombre´. I love this because it really does give a lit from within glow that is just so easy, which is why I keep reaching for it. 

 

The swatches show the individual sections of the blush and then what it looks like blended together. The texture is easy to work with: not too dense or powdery.

This gives me a healthy glow that I am addicted to. Keep in mind that it has a luminous finish but is neither sparkly or matte. I love it!

Have you tried this CC+ Radiance Blush?

Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette: Swatches, Review, and Looks

Hey Pandas!   I finally caved and bought something I have been eying since the press releases. I have a thing for snakes. I really like what they stand for in regards to change and rebirth...and I think of myself as a Slytherin at heart, so naturally the packaging alone intrigued me.

The palette is circular and made to look like wood with a gold, curled-up snake embossed on the top with a purple jewel. The embossed snake was already slightly scratched, which dissapointed me, but all of the ones in store (I bought this at Ulta) were slightly scratched in some way.

The box itself is rather pretty and embossed with a snakeskin pattern. The palette retails for $38 and comes with a blush, bronzer, highlighter, and six eyeshadows, all in Tarte's signature colored clay formula.

 There is a large mirror, bit it has a bit of trouble staying up at some angles by itself, but that isn't a big issue for me. Overall, the packaging is sturdy.

This palette is purples, plums, golds, and browns, making it a great fall palette. For swatches, keep reading!

NYX Powder Blushes in Bourgeois Pig and Terra Cotta Swatches and Review

NYX Cosmetics Powder Blush ($5.99) is always a good deal when you can get them on sale. I recently picked up the last two colors I wanted in my collection: Terra Cotta and Bourgeois Pig.

These are smooth, but not the most pigmented blushes I own. I do like the sheen to them that make your skin look fresh and not overdone.

Terra Cotta is a great brown/bronze that makes a subtle contour on lighter skin tones. I wouldn't recommend this for tan or darker skin tones because the pigmentation is just not there. 

Bourgeois Pig is a bright rosy pink that is much more pigmented than Terra Cotta and gives a nice flush to cheeks.

Excuse my slightly derpy picture (no idea why I always look up in pictures) but Bourgeois Pig is on my left cheek and Terra Cotta is on my right.

If you are looking for some cheap blushes, I would definitely recommend Bourgeois Pig and Terra Cotta, but for lighter skin tones. Both wear well before fading at about hour 7.

Do you have a favorite drugstore blush shade?

Jason Wu for Lancome Pre-Fall 2014 Blush Subtil in Pressed Rose: Review and Swatches

I can't believe it is only June and there is such a thing as 'Pre-Fall', but for me, right now, that only means joy as I have my hands on an amazing item from Jason Wu's second collaboration with Lancôme.

Can we just talk about how I have the most awesome Mom? She picked this up for me at Nordstrom (they were still in the shipping boxes when she spotted them) so they were brand brand new. A purchase of a blush or eye shadow palette gets you a limited edition floral print bag as well, so hop on that!

She picked up the other color (Sheer Macaroon Pink) and mine is Pressed Rose, which is the pinker of the two and retails for $30 for a powder blush and cream highlighter. There is a plastic insert that keeps the blush and cream separate between uses. 

This collection is supposed to be inspired by romanticism and dark glamour, and I can see that in the pretty pinks of the collection, the slightly gothic-victorian flower print adorning the packaging and the deep jewel tones of the eye shadow palette. This is the Blush Subtil formula which is silky smooth and oil free.

Here is an up close shot of the blush. I find that this doesn't swatch well with a finger as you will see in the following pictures, but it is easy to overdo it with a brush because it is so silky and powdery, so be careful. It builds to a pretty luminous finish and lasts about 8 hours on my skin.

The highlighter looks shimmery, but translates into more of a glow on the cheeks. It has a nice slip to it and is easy to apply, but wears well. On my slightly oily skin it sticks around for about 6-7 hours, but I only like to apply a small amount. You can easily build this for a more glowy effect.

The pink is a bit dusty, which I like, and the highlighter runs pinkish as well. They are very easy to blend, but you can still make them very subtle (hence the name, Blush Subtil). I am not one for trying to look like I am wearing blush, so this is perfect for me. 

My momma is really knocking it out of the park lately (thanks Momma!).

Overall, the packaging is simply stunning...the bag as a gift with purchase is to die for, and the colors are wearable and soft. I am definitely picking up the lipstick in Hibiscus when I get back into a Nordstrom (she got the Rose Royce (love that name!!) lipstick and it is gorgeous as well). 

Anyone else loving this new Jason Wu for Lancôme collection? I will be doing a look with this duo soon!

Clinique Cheek Pop in Peach Pop: Swatches and Review

Spring is in the air, and I had to pick up one of the most talked about blushes---Clinique Cheek Pop in Peach Pop!

 I picked up 02 Peach Pop ($21) because it is more unique to my stash than the other colors. I only have a few peach blushes and this is different from all of them. I seriously have nothing like it and I love it!

And how can we ignore the awesome embossed flower and adorable clear casing? So fresh! Love it Clinique. 

The color is pigmented, but still buildable. What I mean by this is that you aren't going to dip into this and then have instant clown cheeks. The luminosity to these blushes keep them fresh but don't emphasize pores either.

The peach in this blush isn't too apparent, but it balances out the pink hues just enough to brighten up your complexion in a new way without looking too editorial.

I am wearing one dip into the pan on both of my cheeks above. I just wanted a light wash of color, but Clinique Cheek Pops can provide this and more of a full opacity look. I am so in love with this blush!

Do you own it? Love it? Need it? Do tell!

bareMinerals Glamour Now

Let me preface this by saying that parts of this kit aren't available...but I love this set so much, that I want to introduce you to some of these products if you haven't tried them before!the bareMinerals Glamour Now set is a gorgeous kit that retailed for $61 and a new iteration of this will be available on QVC in the coming months (with different colors).

I love the rose gold packaging, which is so in right now...but the products really steal the show here.First off...I can't rave enough about the Marvelous Moxie formula lip gloss. They taste like Andes mints! If you do not know what those are...please find them and eat a whole bag, okay?Plus, the staying power is amazing. Dazzler, included in this set, is not currently available, but Party Starter is a really close alternative!

This is a sheer peach with lots of sparkle; it doesn't come off as immature, but rather plumps up lips. 

I love the bareMinerals Ready 4.0 palettes, and the one included here is called The Main Event.

Celebrate is a matte cream, but not much pigmentation.

Ball Gown is a pretty rose gold and is super buttery.

Cheers is a gilded grey with a bit of olive. Really unique!

Stiletto is a show stopper. A shimmery reddened plum.

There was also a really cool double-sided liner with a brown pencil and a black felt tip, called Smoke and Define, which makes lining your eyes really easy. I hope this comes out as part of the permanent line!

A full size Lash Domination was also included. I have not previously tried this. The brush is almost helix-like and very big. The formula is very black, but to me, its just an average mascara.

There are three face colors in this set, which I loved. One is a Ready Luminizer called The Magic Moment, which is very close in color to the Ready Luminizer Duo bareMinerals has in their permanent line.

I love this rose gold color and the luminosity of it! Totally in love!

The other two face colors are the loose powder formula bareMinerals became famous for.

Brightening Pearl is a Mineral Veil and Glamour is a traditional blush. Both are very pretty. I love the highlighting Mineral Veil and the staying power of the blushes...these colors aren't available but I highly recommend the formula. They are just sheer enough so you never look overdone.

I used to be a full-fledged bareMinerals girl but then I got bored and moved onto other things. With kits like these, the brand has recaptured my attention!

Here's a look I created with everything in the kit!

My recommendations? Pick up a Ready 4.0 shadow palette, they are all so pretty! And definitely pick yourself up a Marvelous Moxie gloss!

bareMinerals Glamour Now

Let me preface this by saying that parts of this kit aren't available...but I love this set so much, that I want to introduce you to some of these products if you haven't tried them before! the bareMinerals Glamour Now set is a gorgeous kit that retailed for $61 and a new iteration of this will be available on QVC in the coming months (with different colors).

I love the rose gold packaging, which is so in right now...but the products really steal the show here. First off...I can't rave enough about the Marvelous Moxie formula lip gloss. They taste like Andes mints! If you do not know what those are...please find them and eat a whole bag, okay? Plus, the staying power is amazing. Dazzler, included in this set, is not currently available, but Party Starter is a really close alternative!

This is a sheer peach with lots of sparkle; it doesn't come off as immature, but rather plumps up lips. 

I love the bareMinerals Ready 4.0 palettes, and the one included here is called The Main Event.

Celebrate is a matte cream, but not much pigmentation.

Ball Gown is a pretty rose gold and is super buttery.

Cheers is a gilded grey with a bit of olive. Really unique!

Stiletto is a show stopper. A shimmery reddened plum.

There was also a really cool double-sided liner with a brown pencil and a black felt tip, called Smoke and Define, which makes lining your eyes really easy. I hope this comes out as part of the permanent line!

A full size Lash Domination was also included. I have not previously tried this. The brush is almost helix-like and very big. The formula is very black, but to me, its just an average mascara.

There are three face colors in this set, which I loved. One is a Ready Luminizer called The Magic Moment, which is very close in color to the Ready Luminizer Duo bareMinerals has in their permanent line.

I love this rose gold color and the luminosity of it! Totally in love!

The other two face colors are the loose powder formula bareMinerals became famous for.

Brightening Pearl is a Mineral Veil and Glamour is a traditional blush. Both are very pretty. I love the highlighting Mineral Veil and the staying power of the blushes...these colors aren't available but I highly recommend the formula. They are just sheer enough so you never look overdone.

I used to be a full-fledged bareMinerals girl but then I got bored and moved onto other things. With kits like these, the brand has recaptured my attention!

Here's a look I created with everything in the kit!

My recommendations? Pick up a Ready 4.0 shadow palette, they are all so pretty! And definitely pick yourself up a Marvelous Moxie gloss!