New [Face] Beat, Who Dis? Part 1

Hello and welcome back!

I have been MIA for a minute due to life obligations but seems like life itself is asking the entire earth to take a break (and it only had to ask once!)

well thanks Rona *insert eyeroll*

So, since all I seem to have now is time, I decided to do something I have always wanted to incorporate into my blog but was never able to (due to the inability of procrastinating self and creative self to agree): I decided to finally post makeup looks (not tutorials- sorry) and review products that I have bought and used. So let's get into it! 

Look #1

Look number one was created using the following products:

Eyes: Filled in my brows using Covergirl easy breezy brow in the color 115 (deep) then used NYX HD Concealer in the shade cappucino to define them as well as for my base to do my eye makeup.

For my transition shade I used the Huda Beauty Warm brown obsessions palette, then dipped into the same palette using a darker brown to add depth to the eyes.

I then used the Too Faced Chocolate Bonbons palette to create the smoky look.

The color is much darker in person. More like a dark shimmery greenish-grey.

I went back to the NYX concealer to do a cut crease then applied a bronzy-shimmery shade from The Nubian palette (Juvia's place) on top of it.

Excuse the appearance of my palette y'all but it's been on the line of duty since 2016

Using the same color from the Too Faced palette,  I blended the smoky and the shimmery color  before going back to the Huda Beauty palette again, using my transition color to blend the edge around the dark color (see respective palettes above for colors)

I then finished the eye look with NYX vynil liquid eyeliner (winged eyelined) and I applied Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes.

Face: For my base I used NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil Moisturizer in the shade Deep Mocha along with its primer: NYX angel veil skin perfecting primer. I have used the Tinted skin veil moisturizer before but it was my first time using it with the primer. It wasn't bad. It is very shimmery so if you do not like shimmer anything, you might want to stay away from it. The tinted skin veil is not bad either, but it is a bit drying hence can look a *little* ashy and cakey. I always make sure that my face is moisturized well prior to applying my makeup and also that I exfoliate to avoid dry patches.

also it is light to medium coverage so if full coverage is your thing this product is not for you.

*Bonus: if you have oily skin, I recommend spraying your face with the Morphe Continous setting spray after you have applied your foundation to your face THEN blend your foundation. It helps with longevity. Don't thank me: thank Auntie Jackie

yes auntiiiiie! yaaaaaasssss

I reverse-contoured using NYX HD Concealer in the shade Cappucino. I applied it under my eyes, on my jaw , forehead and nose then I blended using a damp beauty blender. It pulls a STRONG yellow when dry so I would advise going a shade darker or balancing with a darker foundation or setting powder. 

Once I was done with the contouring, I set my under eye area with a mix of Maybelline Fit Me loose finishing powder in the shade deep 40 and NYX Can't Stop Won't Stop setting powder in the shade banana. I dipped my damp beauty blender into the dark shade, then into the banana powder, tapped off the excess and applied it onto the under eye area. Then I set the rest of my face with the Maybelline Fit Me loose finishing powder.

Note: if you have dry skin, you can omit powdering the rest of your face OR you can find (and invest in) a setting spray more suited for dry skin. But! it might affect the longevity of your makeup. If you find something that doesn't, please share your miracle with a sister. Don't be greedy...

For blush and highlighter, I used NYX Sweet Cheeks glow in the shade Red Riot and Cover FX highlighting powder in the shade Candlelight.

Lips: Dior Addict lacquer plump in the color D-Fancy (926).

Here is the finished look:

Look #2

Look number two was created using all the elements from look #1 (except for the lips)

Lips: Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle plush matte in the color Clapback (navy blue)

Here is the finished look:

My final thoughts on the products

Eyes

Huda Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions: I absolutely LOVE that palette! It has potential for elaborated looks and neutral looks. As a brown skin girl, I can say that it is 100% WOC friendly. The colors are really pigmented. It is probably the palette I reach for the most because it is compact and it has the colors that I tend to gravitate towards to create looks. It retails  for $27 at Sephora. I highly recommend and would most likely buy it again. 

The Nubian by Juvia's: Also another great WOC friendly palette. Unlike the Huda beauty palette this one is strickly brown shades from light to dark with a few shimmery shades. I have had a dual use out of this palette (sometimes using the shimmery shades as  highlighter- don't knock it 'til you've tried it.) so it is absolutely worth it. The palette retails for $20 at Ulta (12 shades. It's a steal y'all!)

Too Faced Chocolate Bonbons: Okay... When I first got this palette I hated how the colors blended. It was patchy and it took me a while to blend. But when I created this look, the colors blended like a dream. SO... I think maybe I didn't have the right base or I wasn't blending properly... I don't know. One thing that I know is that it blends well. HOWEVER... As a brown skin girl, there are only so many colors in this palette that do not look ashy on me. I am sure I can work my way around it but doing my makeup shouldn't be that hard. I like the palette. It smells amazing (chocolate y'all!!!). It applies like a dream but I will say this: you can do without. I was curious so I bought it (years ago) but I would not repurchase. It retailed (back then) for $49 at Macy's.

Covergirl Easy Breezy Brow: I LOVE that stuff! It's my fourth time using it and it says A LOT. It's mascara but for your eyesbrows. It stays put all day (at least for me) and gives a natural look to my brows. It is a more affordable version of the Gimme brows by Benefits Cosmetics and works just as well. I highly recommend! Retails for ~$10 at CVS.

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes: Easily my go-to and my favorite. I discovered that brand circa 2013 thanks to Wayne Goss and when I traveled to study abroad in London got to try it and I have been a fan ever since! I have gotten so many compliments on how beautiful my lashes look when I wear it. It coats the lashes beautifuly and gives them volume, length and using the wand at different angles allows to have a fake lashes effect. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I highly recommend and will be repurchasing soon because I am almost running out. It is a bit on the pricey side ($29) but it is totally worth it!

Face

NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil Moisturizer : As someone who loves to play with makeup but doesn't really like to wear it that much, this comes in very handy because it isn't as heavy as real foundation. It is my skin but better. However, the fact that it makes my skin appear dryer and ashy on occasions, forcing me to walk around with my Pixi spray is a bemol. Would I recommend? Yes. Do I like it? Yes but not enough to repurchase when I'm through with it. And you my friend can get it at Ulta for $9.75 

NYX HD Concealer: If you don't want your concealer to move and if you need it to dry fast that thing is a stuff from the gods and it is yours. However as a girl with dry skin I use it in moderation (mostly to clean my brows after filling them). It is radiant and will absolutely  take your makeup to the next dimension. Will I repurchase? yes. Do I recommend? 1000%! I got it from CVS but I'm sure you can find it pretty anywhere else including Walgreens, Target, Tjmaxx/Marshall or online.

Maybelline Fit Me loose finishing powder/  NYX Can't Stop Won't Stop setting powder: Absolutely STUNNING! when used the right way. They are both affordable for the amount of product you get. Again I don't wear makeup that much so they might very well last me 5 years. Just saying. I don't know if I will ever run out of these two but if I do I will certainly buy them again.

Cover FX highlighter (candlelight)/ NYX Sweet Cheeks glow (Red Riot): probably my favorite combo but also my favorites individually. I have been reaching for the NYX blush a lot more these days though because it has a subtle glow to it so I can use it as both blush and highlighter and it is buttery, blends beautifully: an absolute dream! The Cover FX highlighter delivers a LOT of punch and a little goes A LONG way! I absolutely recommend and will definitely repurchase! The Cover FX retails currently for $24 at Sephora and the NYX Sweet Cheeks glow retails for $7.50 at Ulta. 

Lips

Dior addict lacquer plump in the color D-Fancy (926): I have heard/read mixed reviews on this Dior lip product but I personally love it and I love that color. Now... It is on the pricey side ($37/ unit) But it goes a long way depending on the level of application you desire (lip tint, lipstick or glossy). It does have a weird consistency (thin and a bit liquidy; not your usual liquid lipstick) but it is OPAQUE y'all... No joke. It's very bold and the attitude (and make) should definitely match when wearing it. I do recommend and would repurchase but unfortunately this color is not available anymore (I looked y'all) so I got more reason to be frugal with this lol. 

Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle plush matte in the color clapback (navy blue): You guys... okay... I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS thought that I could pull this look but Fenty made me change my mind... And I am absolutely not disappointed I got this lipstick. The pigment is out of this world and although it is a matte lipstick it is VERY comfortable on the lips. It does fade and if you hate to have a booty-hole situation like it is the case with darker lipsticks then you might want to pass. You might need to reapply especially if you are eating but for $18 (sephora)?! Even if I go through it fast (which I doubt I will), I will repurchase again! 

Well this is where we part ways (for now...). If you have used any of these products let me know what your experience was and also let me know which one of the two was your favorite look :)

Until next time!