Revlon Highlighting Palette in Rose Glow: Review and Swatches

I was gifted this little palette by my mom, who thought it looked just like a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick...but was about $30 less at only $10.99. Score.

I do not buy many Revlon cosmetics, and usually shimmer and pink and highlighter all together make me want to run and hide, but I gave it a shot.

Here are all the shades swatched individually. I like how there is a definite highlight, three blush colors, and a contour if you want to use them separately. This shot was taken without flash.

(With flash) Some are more shimmery than others, and all kick up quite a bit of dust, which I don't mind...they blend smoothly on the cheeks but do pack a lot of pigment if you can get past the shimmer. I also use these as shadows and they work lovely that way.

However, the showstopper for me was blending all of the shades together. You get a true rose gold glow and it is seriously gorgeous!

For this look on my cheeks, I used all the colors swirled together on the apple of my cheek, the darkest shade as a light contour along my cheekbones and a touch of the cream shade on the top of my cheek. Yes, the shimmer does emphasize my already large pores but I am over it. You only notice it if you get close!

Overall, Revlon Highlighting Palette in Rose Glow turned out to be a product I didn't know I needed/could make so many uses out of! If you like a lot of glow and shimmer, this is a three in one product that will lead you into summer.

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush Set

Hello Pandas!

The foundation for all good makeup application is good makeup brushes. It is a known fact, but still, beauty mavens often scrimp because brushes just aren't as appealing as a new blush or lipstick. Or maybe it is just me. In the past year or so I have treated myself to middle-range brushes including Sonia Kashuk, Ecotools, and RealTechniques, all of which I love and highly recommend. But recently, I received the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set, and now I am thoroughly spoiled.

 

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set is a set of 6 essential brushes housed in a travel, black stand-up case for $45. They are made from 100% cruelty free fibers as the company claims. IT Cosmetics has all of the proper cruelty-free labels and stamps on their website and it is amazing how these look and feel like real hair. I am SO happy these are eco-friendly too.

The brushes you get, from left to right: A foundation brush (large, flat and tapered), a powder/blush brush (so soft, perfectly round), a small eye shadow brush, a crease/blender, an eyebrow/eyeliner brush with a spoolie on the other end, and a concealer brush.

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good quality travel set of brushes. The handles are beautiful and have little jewels at the bottom and the brushes do not shed and hold their shape as well as apply makeup flawlessly. If you are willing to shell out the little extra, this really is a great value.

 

This is a close up of the foundation brush. It is so pretty and sturdy and the bristles are packed so tightly!

Close up of blush/powder brush.

The black case closes shut with a velcro tab at the bottom and can be flipped open to stand on a sink or vanity whilst getting ready.

I love this brush set. Good quality, all the essential brushes, and cruelty-free!

 

Panda Approved!

 

Have you tried anything from IT Cosmetics?

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush Set

Hello Pandas!

The foundation for all good makeup application is good makeup brushes. It is a known fact, but still, beauty mavens often scrimp because brushes just aren't as appealing as a new blush or lipstick. Or maybe it is just me. In the past year or so I have treated myself to middle-range brushes including Sonia Kashuk, Ecotools, and RealTechniques, all of which I love and highly recommend. But recently, I received the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set, and now I am thoroughly spoiled.

 

 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Lux Brush set is a set of 6 essential brushes housed in a travel, black stand-up case for $45. They are made from 100% cruelty free fibers as the company claims. IT Cosmetics has all of the proper cruelty-free labels and stamps on their website and it is amazing how these look and feel like real hair. I am SO happy these are eco-friendly too.

The brushes you get, from left to right: A foundation brush (large, flat and tapered), a powder/blush brush (so soft, perfectly round), a small eye shadow brush, a crease/blender, an eyebrow/eyeliner brush with a spoolie on the other end, and a concealer brush.

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good quality travel set of brushes. The handles are beautiful and have little jewels at the bottom and the brushes do not shed and hold their shape as well as apply makeup flawlessly. If you are willing to shell out the little extra, this really is a great value.

 

This is a close up of the foundation brush. It is so pretty and sturdy and the bristles are packed so tightly!

Close up of blush/powder brush.

The black case closes shut with a velcro tab at the bottom and can be flipped open to stand on a sink or vanity whilst getting ready.

I love this brush set. Good quality, all the essential brushes, and cruelty-free!

 

Panda Approved!

 

Have you tried anything from IT Cosmetics?

 

Hello Flawless!

Hola!

I was recently given a sample of Benefit's Hello Flawless Foundation Powder in 'Petal' to try out.

The biggie version retails for $34, which is around the same price as any highish-end foundation these days.

Petal is a light beige color with neutral undertones. It goes well with my very pale skin. This also has an spf of 15 in it, but I would still use a regular sunscreen under it.

I purposefully caked a lot of this on so you could see the color, because when blended in, it really does appear 'flawless'. This is a creamy powder, so it feels more like a traditional foundation on the skin.

Here is the product fully blended onto my hand. For me, this looked cakey on my face. It had great coverage but I wasn't comfortable with how it settled into my tiny lines.

This is a great product and I think many will like it. There is a decent shade range, especially for pale girls (which is a hard thing to find sometimes) but I feel like this just sits on my skin. Not for me. I wish it was because the color match is great.

Final Thoughts: Proceed with caution if you do not like your foundation settling into fine lines after a while.

Price: 8/10
Staying Power: 8/10
Packaging: 10/10
Color/Wearability: 9/10
Quality/Branding: 9/10

Total: 44/50 = B+ = Pleased Panda (Color-wise, but not overall)

Have you tried this? Love it? Hate it?

xo PrettyPanda

Hello Flawless!

Hola!

I was recently given a sample of Benefit's Hello Flawless Foundation Powder in 'Petal' to try out.

The biggie version retails for $34, which is around the same price as any highish-end foundation these days.

Petal is a light beige color with neutral undertones. It goes well with my very pale skin. This also has an spf of 15 in it, but I would still use a regular sunscreen under it.

I purposefully caked a lot of this on so you could see the color, because when blended in, it really does appear 'flawless'. This is a creamy powder, so it feels more like a traditional foundation on the skin.

Here is the product fully blended onto my hand. For me, this looked cakey on my face. It had great coverage but I wasn't comfortable with how it settled into my tiny lines.

This is a great product and I think many will like it. There is a decent shade range, especially for pale girls (which is a hard thing to find sometimes) but I feel like this just sits on my skin. Not for me. I wish it was because the color match is great.

Final Thoughts: Proceed with caution if you do not like your foundation settling into fine lines after a while.

Price: 8/10
Staying Power: 8/10
Packaging: 10/10
Color/Wearability: 9/10
Quality/Branding: 9/10

Total: 44/50 = B+ = Pleased Panda (Color-wise, but not overall)

Have you tried this? Love it? Hate it?

xo PrettyPanda

L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Glistening Garnet: Photos and Review

Sorry for being a little absent. I just got a new job, so I've had to re-arrange my blogging schedule. But today I am really excited to give you my review of the much talked about L'Oreal Infallible shadows.

There are a ton of color choices, and yes, I did in fact choose the most unpractical one. But hey-- it's my prerogative right? And I wanted to show you guys a color that isn't all over the blog world.

This color is called "Glistening Garnet" and it is more of a magenta than a garnet, in my opinion.

Pretty color right? I love the way it sparkles! These retail for about $8 at most beauty stores, and other stores such as Target.

What I found interesting was that the packaging comes with this little handled 'presser' thingie. Ha, I am so articulate right? But I don't really know what to call it. It keeps the shadow nice and pressed, because these guys have an odd texture.

As you can see by the indentation my finger made in the shadow, these have a creamy texture. To me they are like the most finely milled powder mixed with a whipped base and some cream eye shadow elements. I am no help, but these are pretty unique.

 Despite the odd feeling of the shadow itself, when you apply these, they feel weightless and blend like a dream. And they lasted for 8 hours sans primer on my oily lids. Pretty nifty.

The color is nice and saturated in one pass and I love the sheen on this one. It is a wearable pink/magenta. Wearable if you normally don't just wear nudes, that is. I do, however, think that every one can incorporate this color in a crease, or as a liner.

Final Thoughts: Squishy! And pink! And awesome!

Price: 8/10
Staying Power: 10/10
Packaging: 9/10
Color/Wearability: 7/10
Quality/Branding: 9/10

Total: 43/50 = B = Happy Panda

*Keep in mind that the rating for this is lower than what I would normally have given it because of the color*

Would you try out this pink shadow in this fantastic formula? Have you? Tell me!

xoxo PrettyPanda

L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Glistening Garnet: Photos and Review

Sorry for being a little absent. I just got a new job, so I've had to re-arrange my blogging schedule. But today I am really excited to give you my review of the much talked about L'Oreal Infallible shadows.

There are a ton of color choices, and yes, I did in fact choose the most unpractical one. But hey-- it's my prerogative right? And I wanted to show you guys a color that isn't all over the blog world.

This color is called "Glistening Garnet" and it is more of a magenta than a garnet, in my opinion.

Pretty color right? I love the way it sparkles! These retail for about $8 at most beauty stores, and other stores such as Target.

What I found interesting was that the packaging comes with this little handled 'presser' thingie. Ha, I am so articulate right? But I don't really know what to call it. It keeps the shadow nice and pressed, because these guys have an odd texture.

As you can see by the indentation my finger made in the shadow, these have a creamy texture. To me they are like the most finely milled powder mixed with a whipped base and some cream eye shadow elements. I am no help, but these are pretty unique.

 Despite the odd feeling of the shadow itself, when you apply these, they feel weightless and blend like a dream. And they lasted for 8 hours sans primer on my oily lids. Pretty nifty.

The color is nice and saturated in one pass and I love the sheen on this one. It is a wearable pink/magenta. Wearable if you normally don't just wear nudes, that is. I do, however, think that every one can incorporate this color in a crease, or as a liner.

Final Thoughts: Squishy! And pink! And awesome!

Price: 8/10
Staying Power: 10/10
Packaging: 9/10
Color/Wearability: 7/10
Quality/Branding: 9/10

Total: 43/50 = B = Happy Panda

*Keep in mind that the rating for this is lower than what I would normally have given it because of the color*

Would you try out this pink shadow in this fantastic formula? Have you? Tell me!

xoxo PrettyPanda

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Matte is a great look. Keeping shine at bay is my number one priority during the summer, so I decided to give Rimmel London's Stay Matte Pressed Powder a try.

For $7, this is a cheap choice for a finishing/setting/mattifying powder. It is also supposed to minimize the appearance of pores.

This is a pretty large pan. It is very lightweight which I adore. I hate the feeling of something overly powdery. Just make sure to buff this in well and you will see a matte, flawless canvas.

This particular hue, Buff Beige, matches my fair skin so well that it is undetectable on my skin, so this is the best swatch of the actual color I can provide. This lasts half the day before needing a touch up -- but keep in mind I have very oily skin. It does minimize pores and looks natural.

Final Thoughts: A decent choice for a finishing powder, especially for this hot summer!

Price: 9/10
Staying Power: 7/10
Packaging: 7/10
Color/Wearability: 10/10
Quality/Branding: 9/10

Total: 42/50 = B = Pleased Panda

Have you tried this product? What are your favorite mattifying products?

xo PrettyPanda

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Matte is a great look. Keeping shine at bay is my number one priority during the summer, so I decided to give Rimmel London's Stay Matte Pressed Powder a try.

For $7, this is a cheap choice for a finishing/setting/mattifying powder. It is also supposed to minimize the appearance of pores.

This is a pretty large pan. It is very lightweight which I adore. I hate the feeling of something overly powdery. Just make sure to buff this in well and you will see a matte, flawless canvas.

This particular hue, Buff Beige, matches my fair skin so well that it is undetectable on my skin, so this is the best swatch of the actual color I can provide. This lasts half the day before needing a touch up -- but keep in mind I have very oily skin. It does minimize pores and looks natural.

Final Thoughts: A decent choice for a finishing powder, especially for this hot summer!

Price: 9/10
Staying Power: 7/10
Packaging: 7/10
Color/Wearability: 10/10
Quality/Branding: 9/10

Total: 42/50 = B = Pleased Panda

Have you tried this product? What are your favorite mattifying products?

xo PrettyPanda