sephora – Page 3 – Napalm Kitty

I ran out of my go-to lip color, Cute Pink, the other day so I had to pick up another from Sephora. I ended up spending almost $100 on a few glosses but they last for so long (a year to two years per tube) that it’s not really a big deal. I’m super excited and content with the colors at the moment and I will pick up some more when I get the chance in the future. I have a lot of pinks and I think a few violets and nudes would be good, too. They’re only $14 a tube so they’re pretty affordable. I like that they’re not overly pigmented so that they are noticeable yet not harsh. I’ll do a swatch test later on but I just wanted to show you all my new glosses for now. Sorry for the image quality. I’m still waiting for the Note 3 to be released and I refuse to get a new phone until I get to play with it. Note: The colors are slightly darker than the photo depicts.

Here are the list of colors (from top to bottom) and my names for them:

#10 Baby Doll Pink (shiny): I actually wanted a gloss that was a very pretty and light pink for the days when I’m wearing a dramatic eye look. Baby Doll Pink is perfect for that because it stands out without taking the spotlight from any other features you may want to be showcased. For the strong eye and ballet pink lips, I’ll call this one my Angelina Jolie.

#11 Pin Up Pink (shiny): I LOVE THIS LIP GLOSS! The color is a very hot pink and it is so flattering, fun, and youthful in my opinion. I honestly think every girl and woman should have this shade in her make up stash. The color is highly pigmented and it’s quite opaque. I think my Cute PInk will have some competition because I wouldn’t mind wearing this one every day (I actually plan on wearing this to work today lol!) I feel like Nicki Minaj when I wear this because I feel so vivacious and fierce.

#15 Cute Pink (shimmery): I’ve had this shade for just about a year or two and I really love it. It’s wearable and great for an every day look. You can amp it up with a second coat and it’s actually quite natural looking unless you’re very light or very dark complexion-wise. It’s has light-reflecting particles in it so it gives off a three-dimensional effects when light hits it. This is a must-have for the minimalist and even the professional woman. Believe it or not, but this shade exudes Drew Barrymore to me. I know she wears a lot of reds and plums but she has also worn a lot of sheer pinks and mauves. This shade is just like her – fresh, subdued and approachable.

#18 The Red (shiny): I know the photo doesn’t do this shade any justice (will post new ones soon), but this is actually a fire-engine red “red”. I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first but I can definitely tell you that the color is semi-opaque and it’s not as harsh as it would seem. It’s such a sexy color that I think everyone should have. Red is empowering, seductive, and mysterious. I see people everyday at work but the ones with a strong and beautiful lip color always stand out in my mind, and typically, those ladies are wearing a red. This is my Marilyn Monroe because Marilyn Monroe really knew what she was doing! Like I said, this red is sheer but you can really layer it on with second coat.

#09 Love Me Pink (shimmery): This pink feels like a sheerer version of #11 Pin Up Pink with some hot pink and blue light-reflecting elements incorporated in it. You’d think that blue and hot pink particles in a pink lip gloss wouldn’t look good but it actually does. If #15 Cute Pink is three-dimensional, this really takes it up a few notches, super holographic. I’m not saying you’ll look like a disco ball but it’s sheer enough that you won’t. This is possibly the sheerest shade of all the lip glosses named here. I’d say this is for the days when you don’t want a strong lip color but you still want your lips to look finished. This shade really reminds me of Ke$ha who loves glitter so much and it’s afraid of a dewy, experimental look.

Before I sign off, I just wanted to answer the question of why Sephora when there are so many better brands out there such as NARS and MAC? I am a NARS die hard and I agree that their lip glosses are so highly pigmented as with all of their products. However, for over $25 a tube, I’m a little reluctant to spend. I like variety in my lip color so it is more important for me that whatever collection or brand I went with that it had a large color selection and that is was slightly more affordable than $25. I have no issue with $12-14 a tube. NARS is extremely pigmented as is with MAC lip glosses and I think the NARS glosses and Larger Than Life glosses tend to be stickier and tackier than I like. I typically never wear lip gloss because I absolutely hate the tacky, sticky feeling that always seems to draw my hair to my lips.

From my experience, I think the Sephora Collection lip glosses are very light in texture and they hydrate and smooth out my lips which are always dry. Your lips are actually in better shape after using them. They don’t have any strong fragrances or tastes to them and the consistency has stayed the same throughout a one to two year period of usage. You get 0.11 oz. per lip gloss and like I said, my #15 Cute Pink has lasted me for nearly two years. The applicator wand is one of my favorites because it looks lips a spongy cotton swap with a pinched waist, very hourglass like. At first, I didn’t like it but then I understood why the design was like that. The pinched waist is for your bottom lip so that the product glides on effortlessly. The flat portion of the wand can be used for your upper lip and to “pat” on product to fill in spots, etc. I think the wand makes it a lot easier to put on your lip color even without a mirror or if you are in a rush because of it’s organic shape and design.

Here is the link to the Sephora lip glosses and you can even get them at your local Sephora:

http://www.sephora.com/ultra-shine-lip-gloss-P266811?skuId=1254929

I hope you enjoyed reading this review and I will post more photos later. There are so many other shades I want to get but that’ll come with time. I have to get ready for work that I start in a couple of hours so it’s time to get glammed up.

Hey all. I hope you’re all having a great new year so far! As requested, I will be reviewing Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream.

I’ve been getting into BB creams lately, and I’ve been trying different brands and experimenting with different methods of application to see how well they work with me. I didn’t like Smashbox’s BB cream much and it was hard for me to try another BB cream that felt too much like a foundation.

I was looking for the “in-between” of a foundation and a tinted moisturizer because I needed a product I could easily apply if I was in a rush. And, I also needed more coverage than what a tinted moisturizer was offering.

Standard Bobbi Brown packaging and design. Very clean and professional.

Here is the back portion of the BB cream.

Packaging: I’ve always been a fan of very professional-looking cosmetics. It’s either extremely ornate or simplistic for me. I’m not sure how serious you can be taken if you pull out your lipstick and it has a cartoon monkey plastered on it. Bobbi Brown sticks to her blacks and whites and the result is a universal packaging design that doesn’t exactly embarrass the user. The only thing I do not like about this particular packaging is that it has a shiny finish to the tube and it does tend to look dirty or used because it catches all of the smears and fingerprints. NARS packaging would be ideal with the black satiny container decorated with white lettering although it does get dirty at times as well but not as much.

Shades: Bobbi Brown’s BB Cream comes in five shades: Extra Light, Light, Fair, Medium, and Medium to Dark. I fall between Fair and Medium but I find Medium suits me best at the moment (until I get my broken capillaries zapped off!). Even though there are only five shades to choose from, I think the shades blend in seamlessly and are quite versatile when it comes to catering clients of different ethnicities. Bobbi Brown’s BB cream does not include any “whitening” ingredients that Asian BB cream manufacturers use. However, I have been told that this is the same formulation that is sold in Asian countries.

This is Bobbi Brown's BB cream in Medium. The BB cream comes in five shades. — This is Bobbi Brown’s BB cream in Medium. The BB cream comes in five shades.

Formulation/Consistency: I really like this particular BB cream because it’s easy to work with. It is slightly thicker than her tinted moisturizer and it doesn’t have a paste-like texture that is found with Smashbox’s version of a BB cream. It’s not runny like a liquid foundation although you should be cautious when squeezing this BB cream out of the tube; you can easily squeeze out too much. It’s perfect for on-the-go application (your hands!) and it goes on smoothly. Although I use brushes most of the time, I prefer to use my fingers with this product. Bobbi Brown’s BB cream is a lot more moisturizing than the other BB creams I’ve tried and having dry skin, I find that it doesn’t particularly emphasize my fine lines and dry patches although you should moisturize well before application.

If you have normal skin, combination skin, or oily skin, I think this BB cream holds up well because it controls oil (where needed) while keeping your skin looking “fresh” and hydrated. This BB cream sets but when it does, it is hardly noticeable. Your complexion should mattify just a little bit, but you’ll still retain a pleasant sheen. With this BB cream, I’d say less is more. You can see how far the tiny swatch of the BB cream went in the following photos.

Worked in with flash — Worked in without flash

This actually looks great with flash. With flash, final

Coverage: This BB cream provides medium coverage. I have “problem” skin and even though I do not suffer from acne, I have an uneven skintone, redness, sensitive skin, dry skin, broken capillaries, and some scarring. I think this BB cream does a great job at tackling all of these issues with a one-layer application with one or two spot applications where needed. I didn’t have to layer on multiple layers so one was enough. If you have normal or great skin, I can’t imagine the wonders this product will do for you! You get a combination finish with this BB cream … something along the lines of being luminous and natural at once. This BB cream does look VERY NATURAL despite being pretty pigmented. I think that there is some flashback but nothing a little powder can’t fix if you’re into the matte look.

Another thing about coverage is if you want fuller coverage, I’d recommend using a sponge, layering the product on, or using this before your applying your foundation. Using the BB cream first will conceal most of your problem areas and a good foundation can finish the job if you want a flawless complexion.

I have super transparent skin so I’m probably not the best hand model, lol. Natural lighting, final.

Note: I didn’t apply the BB cream to all of my hand so wherever the product was in the earlier photos, is where the product is in the latter. Sorry for the lighting, I just wanted to get this review out as soon as possible and I ended up taking these photos in the late afternoon.

Last thoughts: At $42 a 1.35 fl. oz. tube, this is well worth the money. When it comes to making natural and simple face make up, I think Bobbi Brown is one of the top brands to consider. With an SPF 35 protecting you from UVA and UVB rays, your skin will thank you when you’re fifty. You essentially skip the step of applying sunscreen separately, and you can still have a polished look of a foundation without sparing any extra time.

I carry it in my purse wherever I go and it has easily become one of my “must carry faves”. You can purchase it at a variety of places but I do recommend purchasing from the Bobbi Brown website or at Sephora. I hope you’ve enjoyed this review and that this product works for you, too!

Napalm Kitty

Tag: sephora

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Review: Bobbi Brown BB Cream

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