2015 Favorites | Base: Foundations, Powders, Concealers | Blogmas Day 7

It's that time of year again! 2015 is almost over and 2016 will be here before we know it. Christmas is so close!! Last year, everyone seemed to enjoy my yearly favorite so I'm going to take a few posts to celebrate my 2015 favorites, breaking them up into separate categories. So many awesome products have been released this year that I've come to love, as well as a few old favorites and I can't wait to share them with you. 

First with base products. A flawless base makes the perfect canvas for your makeup, and these products have been my ride or dies this past year.

Primers

Too Faced HangoveRx

This stuff is a godsend for my skin when it's dry or irritated. It's a lotion consistency and just melts into my skin making it supple and super hydrated. It creates a perfect base for my foundation and really makes my makeup last throughout the day without fading or getting patchy. 

Maybelline Master Prime Blur and Smooth

This is basically the same as the Too Faced primer only more budget friendly. Again, it leaves my skin smooth and hydrated and the lasting power of my makeup is decent throughout the day. 

Smashbox Primer Water

This was a game changer for me. It's a spray that leaves my skin a bit tacky helping my foundation really stay in place. It's so refreshing and lightweight and so worth the money. 

Foundations

NARS Sheer glow

With my face really clearing up this year I was really enjoying more sheer dewy foundations and this one was a must. It has medium buildable coverage with a healthy luminous glow without being too shiny. 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

This one is hands down one of my top 5 foundations ever. It's so lightweight yet delivers awesome coverage. It has a satin finish so it doesn't leave me looking dry or oily, just that perfect dewy look. 

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous

I've mentioned this foundation in a few posts and its still one of my everyday favorites. It's a lightweight foundation that builds to a full coverage without looking cakey or too "made up." I love how it sets on my skin without using powder, making it even more lightweight.

Concealers

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer

I've only been using this for a month or so now but I am HOOKED. It's said to be a dupe for the NARS creamy concealer, but I actually like this better. its full coverage without being too thick and it blends out seamlessly without creasing under my eyes.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer

this baby paired with the UD foundation is a match made in heaven. under the eyes it gives a bright glow without looking too cakey or over highlighted. for a lightweight concealer the coverage is amazing as well.

NYX HD Concealer

This was in my 2014 favorites and its been a staple this year as well. I am still blown away by the coverage, the consistency, no creasing, just everything about this concealer is amazing.

Powders

L'oreal Infallible Matte powder

this is just a basic pressed powder but for some reason I've really been loving it. its very light and doesn't add any coverage and just like it states, it keeps any shine at bay.

ELF HD Undereye Setting Powder

Another repeat favorite, this baby will always be a staple in my daily makeup routine. a little of this stuff left to "bake" my concealer and my under eyes remain crease-free all day.

BareMinerals Well Rested Concealer

although this is a concealer, I typically use a tiny bit to set my cream concealers and it works like a charm. it also gives off a nice highlighted under eye without looking heavy or cakey.

Setting Sprays

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

This stuff does exactly what the name suggests. A few spritzes of this and your makeup is good to go literally all day. It's one of the few setting sprays that doesn't make my skin feel tight and dry and it was my go-to this summer when I didn't want my makeup melting off of my face.

Smashbox Primer Water

I know this says primer, but this is also great for a setting spray. It's very lightweight and just gives that extra assurance that my makeup won't budge throughout the day.

MAC Prep and Prime Fix+

Even though this isn't advertised as a setting spray, it's been a favorite of mine for years. It's just so refreshing and I love how a few sprays of this really rejuvenates my makeup, or settles the powders. its also bomb for really making your highlight pop.

That's a wrap for this post! It's so crazy to think that we are almost done with 2015, but I can't wait to see what the new year brings. stay tuned for my next 2015 favorites post, all about  highlighters, bronzers and contour powders!

Thanks so much for reading and have an amazing day!

xoxo

LivforLashes

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

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Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

Affordable Dupes for High-End Favorites!

The Internet is full of dupe lists of our favorite makeup products, and thanks to Temptalia, you can find a dupe for almost anything. Well, I wanted to share a little list of some of my own personal favorite products and some affordable options as alternatives to their high end counterparts. 

1. Revlon Colorstay ($8.99) vs. Este Lauder Doublewear ($38)

Both of these foundations boast a full coverage and both are long wearing. The Revlon foundation is slightly less coverage with a not quite as matte finish, but for a fraction of the cost, it's super comparable to Doublewear. 

2. L'oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Neutral  ($11.99) vs. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade ($32)

When the four powders in the L'oreal neutral highlighter are swirled together, it creates a glow almost exactly it like Lightscapade. It is slightly less fine milled, and takes a little more blending, but the outcome is identical. 

3. Essence Metallic Effect Eyeshadow in Sandy Says Hello ($2.99) vs. Stila Kitten single eyeshadow ($18)

Kitten is my all time favorite eyeshadow, so when I found SSH by Essence, I immediately snagged a few up. Kitten is slightly more glittery, and SSH slightly more beige, but on the lid and blended out, they both give a gorgeous champagne shimmer.

 

4. Elf Blush in Gotta Glow ($3) vs. Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Illuminizer in Star Dust ($14)

Both of these are great products for that light golden highlight. The Elf one is a little more powdery, but a little extra blending helps that. Plus these are both great dupes for NARS Albatross!

5. Revlon blush in Mauvelous ($8.49) vs. Kat Von D Everlasting Face Shaper Blush in Truth ($25)

These blushes are seriously identical on the skin. The KVD one is slightly creamier and more pigmented, but for a drugstore blush, this Revlon one is a good pick. 

6. L'oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer ($9.79) vs. MAC Strobe Cream ($33)

Both of these lotions give your face a luminous glow underneath foundation. The L'oreal one feels slightly thicker with more of a silver glow while Strobe Cream is a little more pink, but these are pretty darn good matches for each other. 

7. Elf Mineral Infused Face Primer ($6) vs. Bare Minerals Prime Time ($24) vs. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer ($36)

These three are literally identical. They are all a slippery silicone base that helps fill pores and smooth out your foundation. They glide on smooth and dry fast too. The elf one feels slightly thicker, but I kind of prefer that. 

8. Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia ($6) vs. NARS Orgasm blush ($30) and Laguna Bronzer ($39)

While the Elf duo is a lower quality than the NARS Powders, it's a great alternative for only a few bucks. The elf blush is a little chunkier with bigger shimmer particles, but with a few extra swipes of your brush, it gives that same peachy golden glow as Orgasm. Laguna is slightly lighter than the Elf bronzer, but again, once blended out, the bronzers are identical on the skin.

 

9. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($5.99) vs. Beauty Blender ($20)

If you can't quite bring yourself to spend $20 on a makeup sponge, the Real Techniques sponge is an awesome alternative. I even prefer it to my Beauty Blenders. Both are a super dense but smooth sponge that applies foundation and blends concealer flawlessly. I like how the Real Techniques one has that flat side though, making it a little more versatile for using different products than the Beauty Blender. 

What are some of your favorite dupes? I would love to hear and find some newer alternatives to other products. I hope you found this post helpful and let me know if you enjoyed it! 

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

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Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

August Favorites | Anastasia Beverly Hills, NYX, Urban Decay + More!

What happened to summer? Summer flew by and we're fast approaching fall. I can't believe its already mid-September, but better late than never i have today my August favorites! I had a few new things last month that I was using pretty much daily so please keep reading and enjoy! 

It was hotter than heck last month here in San Diego, so for foundation I've been using the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous foundation. It's a natural medium coverage and it sets really nice without feeling greasy. It lasts on me all day without getting patchy or streaky, even in the heat so this has been a must have. 

For brows I've set aside the NYX Brow Gel and went back to my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe. It lasts in the heat and I find it's a little easier to work with to get more natural looking brows, which I've really been digging again lately. 

Another ABH product I've been loving is the Shadow Couture World Traveler palette. I wrote a review on it here, but in short, it's amazing. It has a nice blend of neutrals and pops of colors, and Morocco and Soft Peach are the perfect matte transition shades for everyday wear. I haven't set this down since I got it and I'm still not tired of it.

 

For my lips, I've been wearing traditional lipsticks instead of liquid lipsticks lately and two that I've been obsessed with is MAC Tropic Tonic and Urban Decay Native. Tropic Tonic is a fun orange while native is a nude, but I've really been liking them these last few weeks. Native is just a good everyday nude so I've had it in my purse when I need something throw on. 

I've also fallen back in love with my Smashbox Be Legendary lip lacquers. I wrote a post on a few of the shades ages ago, and I'd just kind of forgotten about them in my drawer. The two I've been wearing are Keepsake and Coral. They're super long wearing and leave a pretty "Popsicle lips" stain as they fade off and I can't get enough on days that I've been doing lighter makeup. 

Last month I needed a new mascara so I picked up the Rimmel Lift Me Up Wonder Lash mascara and it just might be my new HG drugstore mascara. It has a nice full wand and gives me long fluffy lashes. Plus it has vitamins and Moroccan Argan oil in so it conditions your lashes while you wear it. My lashes don't feel dry and clumpy with it on and it washes off pretty easily too.

 

For my highlight, I've been going more toned down and MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Lightscapade has been my go-to. It's so subtle and leaves a soft glow without being too much. I picked this up on a recent trip to my local Cosmetic Company Outlet and it's been well-loved since I purchased it. 

I also picked up the NYX HD blush in the shade Intuition last month and it's literally been the only blush I've worn all month. It's a pretty Dusty Rose shade with subtle shimmer and though it's a little more fall appropriate, a light dusting gives my cheeks a nice natural flush. It lasted all day without wearing off so I'm definitely impressed since many drugstore blushes tend to fall flat after a few hours.  

Recently while digging around in my drawers I came across my NARS Kuala Lampur eyeshadow duo and fell back in love with this baby. This has been a favorite of mine for years and this is actually my second one. The two shades go so well together with the plum blended with the more gold shade, and it's been perfect for days when I just want a little eyeshadow in without putting a whole lot of time or effort into my makeup.

 

Last up is a perfume. I bought this Giorgio Armani Sí perfume about a month or so ago and omg you guys... It smells sooo good. It's deeper and more sultry than I would normally prefer but it's the perfect scent for going out or when I want to feel a little more chic and sophisticated. It's such a good fall scent and I know I'll be wearing this a ton in the coming months. 

Well that does it for my August favorites! Not a whole lot of new products but definitely some good ones in the bunch. What were some of your favorite or most used beauty products last month? 

xoxo

LivforLashes

Products:

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation

ABH Dipbrow Pomade

ABH Shadow Couture palette

MAC Tropic Tonic lipstick

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick

Smashbox Be Lengendary Lip Lacquers

Rimmel Wonderful Wonderlash Lift Me Up mascara

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skin Finish

NYX HD Powder Blush

NARS Eyeshadow Duo

Giorgio Armani Si Perfume

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

Find me on Instagram @livforlashes

Email: liv_2008@icloud.com