Sephora Chic Week Haul

It's Chic Week at Sephora!  Get a 15% discount by entering code: Chic during check out!

Pictured above is my loot:
1. Benefit's How to Look the Best at Everything Makeup Kit in Medium.  Includes:
    a) the famous POREfessional
    b) Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation
    c) Boi-ing Heavy Duty Concealer
    d) Hello Flawless pressed powder

2. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic's Pro's Pick Lip Tar Set v2.0

3. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in 1.5 (luminizing pen)

4. Dr Jart's Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm

5. Lorac's Pro Palette

6. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

What have you bought or are planning to buy?

First Impression - Smashbox's CC Cream

Smashbox's CC Cream found its way to my inbox yesterday so of course I HAD to try it immediately.

Advertised as follows: "The advanced, lightweight formula neutralizes and brightens skin for a more even complexion.  It's also proven to fade dark spots, sun spots and post acne-marks instantly and over time.  Primes, perfects, protects (with SPF 30!), moisturizes and controls oil...prevents discoloration in the future."

My first impression:

• Creamy formula
• Gives more coverage than Smashbox's BB Cream counterpart but I don't consider this medium/heavy coverage
• Disappears into the skin
• Sets to a satin finish, not dewy
• It's been about 6 hours now and my face has not gotten oily (I'm usually oily in my T Zone area)

This formula differs from Smashbox's BB Cream in that CC Cream is advertised to fade dark spots, sun spots, and discoloration over a period of time.  Smashbox's BB Cream does not advertise these benefits.  

I can't speak to the long lasting skin benefits of this product as I haven't used it long enough.  However, upon first impression, this cream seems to function like a tinted moisturizer with added skin benefits that should become noticeable over time.  

Will I purchase this again?  I'm leaning towards no at this point because my current BB Cream (Miisha M Perfect Cover) offers coverage as well as skin benefits that you immediately see once the cream sets.  I will blog more about BB creams in a future post once I'm done testing out a few different brands so stay tuned, dear readers!

Review: Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette

For years, I've been searching for the perfect neutral eye shadow palette.  Not one single neutral palette out there satisfied me.  As I got older, my search for a matte neutral eye shadow palette increased.  I've been trying to steer clear of shimmery shadows since I've entered my thirties as they draw attention to wrinkles.

Enter Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette: 6 neutral shades.  5 of the 6 are matte and 1 is shimmery.  I can forgive for the 1 shimmery shadow since I use it to highlight the brow bone area and the inner corners of the eyes to brighten them up.  The color pay from the shadows are good since they are well pigmented.  The shadows themselves are smooth and blend very well.

Shadow colors from left to right: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame (W.O.S), Naked 2, Faint, and Crave.

Venus: I use Venus, the shimmery white to the far left of the palette, as a brow bone highlight as well as an inner eye brightener.

Foxy and W.O.S. can be used all over the lid, as a brow bone highlight, or inner eye brightener.

Naked 2 can double function as an all over lid color or as a transitioning/blending shadow.

Faint can be used as an all over lid color or for the outer corner of your eyes to make it more defined.  I personally like to use Faint to define the creases of my eyes.

Crave can be used for the outer corner of your eyes in addition to being a great liner.

If you want to transition from a natural daytime look into an evening look, the eye shadows in this palette can act as a base.  Apply colored shadow over the Naked Basics shadows and, voila, you're ready for a night out.  As with any other eye shadow, I recommend using an eye shadow primer before application to prolong its staying power as well as decrease creasing from oily lids.

Aside from the gorgeous shades and their smooth application, I like that these shadows come in a very compact container.  In fact, the palette itself is smaller than an iPhone and just as sleek.  Thus, this will be a staple in my makeup bag when I travel.

Available at urbandecay.com, Sephora, Ulta, and Macy's for $27.

Verdict: A necessary staple in my makeup bag.