bailey bee

beauty, home and lifestyle blog

NABLA Cosmetics Secret Palette Review + Swatches

It has been a VERY long time since I have been excited about an eyeshadow palette release AND actually purchased upon debut. The Italian makeup brand NABLA is fairly well-received and once I saw the swatches for this palette I had myself creating a calendar reminder to buy it ASAP. The Secret palette is full of color and allows you to utilize different color stories for endless amounts of looks. This assortment of shades paired with the solid formulas NABLA is known for has made this palette a surefire winner in my book.

Just look at those shades! Each horizontal row complements itself well but I really like the funky combos that the vertical columns make, too.

Let’s get into the most important aspect of this palette— the formula and wearability of each shade.

All shades swatched well on the arm except for Hypersensual and Nablack. To be honest, I’m not sure why Hypersensual performed so lackluster-ly. It’s a seemingly easy shade to make. As for Nablack, I bet we all have better black eyeshadows that we’re loyal to anyway so it’s not a huge deal to me. It still performed just fine on the lashline to create a smokey vibe.

The standout shades in terms of formula were Giulietta, Fantasize and Ghibli. You barely have to even touch these shades to get them to provide pigment and all blend out effortlessly.

As for my sleeper pick, I Promise ended up being REALLY pretty on the lid. It wasn’t a strong swatcher but is a very dimensional shade that works well paired with a crease color blended out as well as on its own across the lid.

Just serving a warning– Rosemary is a stainer. I’m not really that surprised as that has been my experience with pigmented teal shades in the past and it’s not necessarily even a negative thing. But still a thing to mention.

Again, I have not been this excited over a palette release in freaking years. I’m so excited to dive deeper with these shades and get so much more use out of them! If you’re wary of purchasing from an international seller (if you’re from the US, of course) then fret not. NABLA is the real deal and they shipped this palette to me within a week! If you’re as into this as I was then there is absolutely no reason not to pick it up. Enjoy!

If you wanna see some other palettes I have reviewed, check ’em out here.

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Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Juicy Satin Lipstick in ‘Sun Snatched’

Fenty Beauty 'Sun Snatched' Poutsicle lipstick

Fenty Beauty has released another seasonal collection! I am tempted to buy almost every new release from Fenty– eSPeCiALLY the seasonal collections. They are usually even more whimsical and bright than their regular line of products (which are already tons of fun!) This Getting Hotter release was no different.

Y’all know I am a sucker for an orange lip and Fenty Beauty always seems to do them right. Once I saw these Poutsicle lipsticks announced, I knew I was gonna need this shade: Sun Snatched. The formula and finish of these Poutsicle lipsticks are satin as opposed to the line’s main lippie, the Mattemoiselles, which are very matte. This makes for comfortable wear with an approachable sheen– the perfect combo for summer.

“Sun Drenched” is a red-leaning orange that wears evenly and for a good handful of hours. If you’re drinking or eating while wearing these lipsticks, be warned they won’t last as long but that’s to be expected with any non-matte lip product.

before/after on-lip swatch of Fenty Beauty 'Sun Snatched' Poutsicle lipstick

I like this shade because although it definitely leans red, it is still most definitely an orange. I love, LOVE orange lips and this rounds out my collection very nicely. When Fenty released the second grouping of their Mattemoiselle lipsticks, I compared two of them alongside another favorite orange lippie of mine. If you want to read that post, click here. Those two Fenty shades were ‘Pumpkin Rose’ and ‘Saw-C’. I swatched them below to compare to ‘Sun Snatched’.

Fenty Beauty Orange Lipsticks in 'Sun Snatched', 'Pumpkin Rose' and 'Saw-C'

Almost every time Fenty drops a seasonal collection I try to tell myself to hold back and almost every time I have regretted not picking up the items that initially caught my eye. Unlike other brands that fake you out with limited edition releases, Fenty don’t play. These products won’t return once they have left. If you have your eyes on any of the super poppy Poutsicle Juicy Satin lipsticks, I recommend grabbing ’em now. The formula is ideal for warmer weather and I’m sure you won’t regret it!

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Light Bronzer Faceoff: Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer vs. Fenty Sun Stalk’r vs. Benefit Hoola

Fenty just released a new line of Sun Stalk’r bronzers and I was keen to get my hands on the lightest shade, Inda Sun. I wanted to compare it to two other popular “light” bronzers on the market– the Physician’s Formula Butter bronzer in ‘Light’ and Benefit’s Hoola bronzer in ‘Lite’

Keep on reading to see how it compared and to see some swatches.

three light bronzers: physican's formula butter bronzer in 'light'. fenty beauty sun stalk'r bronzer in 'inda sun' and benefit hoola bronzer in 'lite'

Upon first look, you can see that Hoola Lite is significantly lighter than these other two. I almost never wear it for that reason. It’s too light for me and that is saying something because I am on the fairer end of the spectrum (NW15, Fenty 110/120). That being said, I really commend Benefit for releasing a product that works for the fairest of fair complexions.

on-arm swatches of three light bronzers: physican's formula butter bronzer in 'light'. fenty beauty sun stalk'r bronzer in 'inda sun' and benefit hoola bronzer in 'lite'

I didn’t have any expectations going into this comparison so I don’t feel anything in particular when I notice that ‘Inda Sun’ is the darkest of the three. In addition to being the darkest, it is also the reddest. I like this because both Hoola Lite and the Butter bronzer both seem to disappear into my skin. They do a proper job of adding warmth to the face but I like my bronzer to add a bit of depth as well so I see myself reaching for Inda Sun over the others quite often.

The formulas are important to consider as well. As per its name, the Butter bronzer is smoother than the others and almost feels a bit wet. Both Inda Sun and Hoola Lite are your traditional powder products with Inda Sun being a finer powder than Hoola. The finer the powder for a bronzer, the smoother the transition on the face. I have found all three apply really nicely with little to no patchiness.

I am really excited to continue using this Sun Stalk’r bronzer. The formula and shade are perfect for my intended uses. Each of these bronzers have nice formulas and apply well. Their main differences are the shades and depth of color.

I’ve done some other “faceoffs” in the mascara, eyeliner and eyebrow gel departments. Check ’em out!

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My 2019 Sephora VIB Sale Picks

I rarely do these kinds of round-ups simply because I am never ahead of the curve enough to get your attention before or as the sales begin. This time, however, I am! I wanted to share my favorite products from Sephora as their VIB sale kicks off today for VIB level members as well as Beauty Insiders. Read below for a short blurb about each product shown above.

From top to bottom, left to right…

I rarely wear foundation but when I do, it is the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation. I wear 120 but really am more likely a match for 110. This is a matte, semi-sheer coverage foundation that dries down quickly and stays put throughout the day. This works wonders for my combination skin and I love that my freckles can still shine through when I’m wearing this.

In the same vein of Fenty, my favorite eyeliner currently is the Fenty Beauty Flyliner. It is a deep, dark black that doesn’t flake off and the pointed tip of the applicator actually stays pointy (unlike my old favorite, the Stila Stay All Day liquid liner). Even with a bit of age, it continues to be super saturated and applies beautifully.

One of my favorite lipstick formulas at Sephora are the NARS Velvet Matte lipstick pencils. They are opaque, super comfortable on the lips and are very easy to control the placement of with the pencil-like applicator.

The YSL Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening pen is a very bougie option, I understand, but it is incredible. This pen provides the right amount of coverage while not making the application area look cakey at ALL. I use this under the eyes to cover darkness, around the nose to cover redness and on blemishes as well. I feel really fancy when I click the bottom of the pen to dispense the product. It’s worth the splurge for that alone.. heh. But really, you have 15% off, why not?!

I have begun using the Anastasia Beverly Hills clear brow gel for things other than my eyebrows. This stuff is liquid concrete for your brows and lately I have been utilizing it as a hardcore gel for my baby hairs whenever I wear a power pony. It slicks them back and they do. not. move. Love this stuff 4ever.

If you aren’t a gloss person, you’ll enjoy the Bite Beauty French Press lip glosses because they are the perfect formula for us “non-glossers”. The formula is really slick and plush so you won’t feel like your hair is getting stuck all over your lips. The French Press range has a great nude for every skin tone, too. It’s hard to go wrong with a nude gloss.

Next up is my tried and true Tarte Amazonian Clay highlighter in ‘Exposed’. This is the ideal powder highlight because it contains no base pigment and gives a perfectly natural, glossy glow. I use this every single time that I do my makeup and somehow I haven’t hit pan. Talk about a good value!

The mascara that unseated my favorite of MANY years (the Maybelline Colossal) is the Hourglass Caution mascara. This stuff is a rich, dark black and separates the lashes while simultaneously lengthening. It doesn’t flake off during the day but comes off easily with remover at night.

Lastly, we have a new favorite of mine in the Velour Lashes Effortless lashes in ‘Would I Lie?’. I love me some falsies but I don’t love when they are too long or super thick. Velour’s ‘Effortless’ line is what my dreams were made of and this style in ‘Would I Lie?’ is the wispy star of said dreams. They look so natural and have a very comfortable band that blends into your natural lash line easily but are not too finicky to apply.

I hope I persuaded you to try out at least one of my favorite products! There’s no other time than the present with your 15% off coupon code (HEYVIB) to try out some new makeup!

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MAC Powder Kiss Lipsticks in ‘Shocking Revelation’, ‘Influentially It’ + ‘Sultriness’

MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in 'Shocking Revelation', 'Influentially It' and 'Sultriness'

Ah, yes. More MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks coming at you on this fine morning. I liked the first two I tried so much that I wanted three more! I forsee myself adding even more to my collection because MAC released even MORE colors that just arrived in-stores at Ulta.

My three newest shades of these MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks are ‘Shocking Revelation’, ‘Influentially It’ and ‘Sultriness’. As with the others, these retail for $19 and are what MAC proudly proclaims are a matte, yet moisturizing formula. I’m gonna just come out and say that although I wouldn’t say these lippies are “moisturizing” per se, they definitely are not drying and that is a win for a matte lipstick.

on-arm swatches of MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in 'Shocking Revelation', 'Influentially It' and 'Sultriness'

Shocking Revelation is marketed as a “clean blue red”.

Influentially It as a “nude beige”.

Sultriness as a “baby blue pink”.

I naturally lean towards colors like ‘Shocking Revelation’ but was hoping to find a solid nude (for me) in ‘Influentially It’. Initially, I was scared away by promo pictures but when I swatched in-store I really liked it. Unfortunately, it is a biiiiiiit questionable on the lips as you can see in the on-lip swatch below. As for ‘Sultriness’, it is everything I wanted ‘Scattered Petals’ to be. A soft, neutral-leaning-cool pink.

on-lip swatches of MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in 'Influentially It', 'Sultriness' and 'Shocking Revelation'

All three colors wear pretty decently and that wear time ranges from around 4-5 hours, depending on the shade. The lighter the shade, the shorter the wear time is for these guys. I think my next pick up from this range is going to be a pretty wine shade. Which do you want us to review next? All of the shades can be found here.

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MAC Powder Kiss Lipsticks in ‘Scattered Petals’ + ‘Style Shocked!’

Hey there! Happy Friday.

I recently picked up two of the new”ish” MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in the shades ‘Scattered Petals’ and ‘Style Shocked!’. Although I had found myself going back and forth on Ulta’s website and Temptalia‘s swatches on her site for a few weeks, I really don’t know what initially stemmed my interest in these lippies.

I concur; here ya go. A review of the MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks with swatches

MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in 'Scattered Petals' and 'Style Shocked!'

Seeing this formula in the bullet is so interesting because the lipsticks themselves give off a powdery appearance, as the names would suggest. They’re matte looking– almost as if they’ve been sprayed with a butter spray. They’re definitely different looking than your usual MAC lipsticks.

MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in 'Scattered Petals' and 'Style Shocked!' applied as on-arm swatches

I was fully introduced to the powdery formula of these lipsticks upon swatching. Although that may sound like a negative attribute, it really is not. These lipsticks apply sheer and matte but are comfortable and give a very effortless feel. You could absolutely swipe this on without looking in a mirror and have a perfect application every time.

As I prefer a less sheer application, I was pleased to find that these do layer up very nicely and build to opaque coverage while still giving a chic “blotted” look to the lips.

As for the shades themselves, ‘Style Shocked!’ is my winner of the two. This comes as no surprise to me because that is the exact shade I’ve been itching to buy for Spring/Summer and it’s hard to go wrong with a nice, warm red! As for ‘Scattered Petals’, I enjoy it a teeny bit. It’s much warmer than I had expected it to be and it’s kinda giving me Makeup Geek ‘Foxtrot’ vibes (which was one of the worst lip products I have ever tried). If I lived closer to an Ulta I would probably return it but since I don’t, I’m going to try to actually wear it a bit sheerer than I would normally and embrace the warm tone.

MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks in 'Scattered Petals' and 'Style Shocked!' applied on the lips against bare lips

I definitely want to try some more shades from this collection but the fact that they are online only at Ulta keeps getting in my way! Sigh. I guess I’ll have to actually go to a MAC and forgo my precious Ulta points. *sarcasm*

Any of you have other shades from this range? I’d love to hear which you like on your own complexion! and if anyone is similar in tone to me, I need recommendations. I haven’t found many on-lip swatches from people with my skin tone.

If you would like to shop these lippies, check them out below:

CHARLOTTE TILBURY FLAWLESS FILTER WORN TWO WAYS

Hello there! I am back again with another Charlotte Tilbury review and man, has this one been in the works for awhile.

By ‘works’ I guess I mean it’s just been sitting in my head for awhile. That is because this product, Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter (for a superstar youth glow) has been so difficult for me to get my hands on. That being said, I have it. It is mine. and I really, really enjoy using it.

When I first determined that I wanted to buy this product, I wasn’t even sure what it did. It wasn’t until I physically put it on my face for the first time when I finally learned. It’s advertised as a product that filters away imperfections and that can be used as a subtle highlight or all-over glow. Those claims made me think of either a 1. liquid highlighter and/or a 2. tinted base product. I can now claim that this is a luminosity product that you can, indeed, use in spots or everywhere on the face. I purchased the lightest shade in the range, 1-Fair but I feel that the shade is very forgiving and if you choose the “wrong” one for you, you won’t be able to tell. Thankfully that is the case because there are only seven shades and the darkest ain’t very dark.

Below you will see me use this product in two ways. First, I used it as a focused highlight on the high points of my face. This is my preferred method of use and you get an outrageously healthy, natural glow this way.

Second, I applied it all over the face. This was the method I had planned on using before I purchased the product but I have to say that you walk a thin line between “dewy” and “sweaty” looking. This Flawless Filter is just so healthy looking that you truly can come across looking like you just left the gym. That being said, if that’s the look you are going for them you’ll love this application method.

For being a product that I didn’t understand and for being priced at $44, I am genuinely very pleased. A little goes a long way so in my mind, the price is justified. There are no other liquid illuminators on the market that come across in the way that this does. It gives the face such a beautiful glow and I can see myself using this entiiiiiire (decently sized 1oz!) bottle.

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PIXI BEAUTY EYE REFLECTIONS PALETTES IN ‘NATURAL BEAUTY’ AND ‘REFLEX LIGHT’

Overview of Pixi Beauty's Eye Reflections eyeshadow palettes in 'Reflex Light' and 'Natural Beauty'

Before we begin, I must state that I received these palettes courtesy of Pixi Beauty. That being said, as always, the below opinions are entirely unbiased and my own!

I’m pretty stoked to write this review because I have truly fallen in love with the Pixi brand in the past couple of years. I swear by their Glow Tonic and the highlights they released with Aspyn Ovard were UNREAL. Soooo smooth! I knew I was in for a treat when I got these palettes in the mail.

They sent me their two newest Eye Reflections eyeshadow palettes in ‘Reflex Light’ and ‘Natural Beauty’. ‘Reflex Light’ is made up entirely of shimmers while ‘Natural Beauty’ has five shimmers and seven mattes. Pixi really knows how to do shimmer powder products and the formula of every shimmer shade here is on point. They blend beautifully, apply well wet and most importantly don’t blend or fall away throughout wear. The matte powders were a new experience for me, though. They are just as good. They blend well and hold pigment through blending and don’t apply patchily. Even the darker shades!

 
Opened-up view of Pixi Beauty's Eye Reflections eyeshadow palette in 'Reflex Light'
The palettes are housed in plastic and one of the shimmers ‘Bronze Gleam’ was slightly damaged when I received it. It has thankfully held up since arriving. I’d say the only downside to these is the packaging!
 
If you’re looking for a palette that you can solely take with you despite the fragile packaging, ‘Natural Beauty’ will be your winner because of the shimmer and matte combo. If you just want to add to your collection and will be applying your makeup at home with other products at hand, having the range of shimmers in ‘Reflex Light’ is a must. They work wonderfully as inner corner highlights and as a pop of light in the center of a halo eye.
 
Below are some on-arm swatches of each palette:
 
On-arm swatches of Pixi Beauty's Eye Reflections eyeshadow palette in 'Reflex Light'

There is one other Eye Reflections palette called ‘Mixed Metals’ that I have yet to try but it leans berry and is mostly shimmers with two or three matte shades. After loving these two palettes, I’m certain I’d like that one as well.

Each Eye Reflections eyeshadow palette is $24 and you can buy Pixi products on their website, www.pixibeauty.com or at Target.

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