Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink

I rarely review luxury products on my blog but occasionally I do get a chance to try something out of the ordinary. I got this beauty as a gift and it's no doubt one of the standouts in my makeup arsenal. I am referring to the Dior Glowing Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink, from the Dior's limited edition collection for Spring 2016. Since it's Dior it's pricy, very pricy. Therefore, I wanted to get this review out for those of you that have been thinking if this is worth a splurge or not.

Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink

First things first, the beautiful embossment speaks for itself, so no need to ponder too much on that. I do appreciate the fact that the product feels luxurious without weighing a ton, so it's easy to carry around in your makeup bag. Though when going on a holiday I am sure to take with me less precious pieces of makeup since if they break in transit it's not the end of the world. Just for your information these highlighters come in two shades: Glowing Pink (the one I have) and Glowing Nude. Glowing Nude is more of a golden champagne and is equally stunning, however I felt like Glowing Pink was more unique with the pinkish iridescent shift to it.

Also worth mentioning that the product comes with a mini Kabuki brush made out of white goat hair. When I went to ask about the brush the sales lady assured me that it was cruelty-free since the hairs are taken from the goat's beard which is trimmed. I just want to throw this piece of information out there, so you can draw your own conclusions. In my opinion the mini Kabuki brush is totally unnecessary as there is no way I can decently apply a highlighter with it, it's too dense and big for a precise and flawless application. 

Now let's talk a little bit about the product itself.  It's finely milled and doesn't have chunks of glitter, which is a big big plus. The texture is very soft and buttery, I would perhaps even describe it as a gel-powder. If you want your highlighter to be seen from outer space this product is not for you. This provides more of a sophisticated glow if you know what I mean. There is nothing wrong with an intense highlight but for someone with texture or mature skin that might not be the best look. I personally didn't own any highlighters until I received this one, simply because I have texture and scarring which made me stay away from anything that can potentially emphasise it. If you like you can for sure make this highlighter more "in your face" by simply building it up until the desired intensity is achieved. From my experience using this product it hasn't emphasised any texture or imperfections. I just lightly sweep it over the tops of my cheeks with the Real Techniques Setting Brush. The Dior Glowing Pink illuminator doesn't contain talc as do for instance Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors Pressed.

Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink

Would I recommend it? This is where it gets tricky. I think the product is beautiful, it does a great job at highlighting and providing a fresh glow to the cheeks. Glowing Pink is quite an interesting shade compared to your typical champagne, gold and white highlighters. That being said Dior is not cruelty-free, as it tests on animals when required by law, e.g China. If you are not concerned with that this product will deliver what it promises and you would enjoy using it time after time. However, if you are looking for a cruelty-free alternative I'd recommend checking out recently launched Hourglass Ambient Lighting Strobe Powders. Unfortunately here in Finland Hourglass is not sold so it's impossible to see for yourself what these powders are like, but reviews seem to be pretty positive. Here again remember that as with the Dior Glowing Pink illuminator these powders would give you a subtle glow, nothing crazy. 

I hope you found this review useful and it helps you decide if this is something to add to your shopping list or not. If you have any recommendations for cruelty-free subtle everyday highlighters please let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

YSL Eyeshadow #4 Facon and A Possible Dupe

I am a sucker for neutral matte eyeshadows. In my mind there is no such thing as too many neutral matte eyeshadows. Recently I was visiting my friend who kindly let me look through her makeup stash, since she is downsizing. I could not help but notice a YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon, which had to be mine based on the earlier statement. As soon as I got home I went through my collection and surprise surprise managed to find a dupe for it. To find out what it is, keep on reading!

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon and Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Barcelona Beach

Let's start with addressing the fact that the YSL single eyeshadow in #4 Facon featured here is a tester, just so you know. When you do buy this eyeshadow, it comes in a nice sleek golden packaging with a YSL logo. This particular colour can be found in the permanent YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow line, so there is no need to rush out and buy it. The shade itself can appear boring to some people but to me this is perfection. It's that ideal medium sand shade with taupe undertones which is perfect for mimicking the natural shadow of your crease. Is it a unique colour? Anything new that we haven't seen before? Of course not. But it's sophisticated, timeless and versatile. Simply something you can't go wrong with. 

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon

In terms of pigmentation it's alright. It's not the best I have tried compared to for example Urban Decay and Makeup Geek, but you can work with it. It's not patchy nor chalky, but needs building up. That could be a good thing especially for those that are intimidated by highly pigmented shadows or have a heavy hand. The texture I would describe as satin. It's not completely matte but not shimmery either and feels very smooth to the touch. Now, as with all YSL products you can expect this little guy to be pretty pricy. As such if you want a more budget alternative with an added bonus of being talc and cruelty free I suggest you take a closer look at Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach single eyeshadow.

L-R: YSL #4 Facon and Makeup Geek Barcelona Beach

When compared side by side you can see that YSL single eyeshadow in Facon has a slight sheen, whereas Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach is matte and a tad bit richer. However, when you put them on your eyes you can't tell the difference (but as said earlier you need to build up Facon to get the same colour payoff). 

I will continue using both eyeshadows. That being said if you are on a budget (or not) and looking for a great crease colour that has fantastic pigmentation and great ingredients I say look no further then Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach. I think YSL makes some of the best nail polishes on the market but the single eyeshadows are yet to impress me. 

I hope you found this comparison helpful and if you have any suggestions for must-have matte crease shadows, let me know!

Until next time,
Muffy

P.S Did you know that Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach can also double up as a contour shade for your cheeks.   

Blushing with Makeup Geek

I have a confession to make: I love blush. It is one of my favourite parts in a makeup routine. A normal person doesn't need a blush of every single rainbow colour, unless you are obsessed with it like me. In order to satisfy my craving but not spend a fortune on it I looked to Makeup Geek. I say if you are a blush addict you need to stop whatever you are doing and check out Makeup Geek blushes now!

I have already reviewed Makeup Geek eyeshadows and pigments, so if you are interested you can give them a read here and here. All Makeup Geek products are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in the USA. I have a total of 6 blushes in my collection and I believe the range consists of 13 shades. These blushes come in pan format and as compacts. I prefer the pan simply because it is easier to store and I can have all my blushes in one place. I keep them usually in a Z palette, which you can purchase from Makeup Geek website or Beautybay. Now let's take a closer look at the blushes. I have the following shades:

Bliss - light peachy coral

Summer Fling - soft burnt orange

Infatuation - medium matte terracotta 

Secret Admirer - light orchid purple

Randezvous - rosey to medium pink with purple undertones

Love Affair - intense pink - coral

L-R: Bliss, Summer Fling, Infatuation

L-R: Bliss, Summer Fling, Infatuation

L-R: Secret Admirer, Randezvous, Love Affair

L-R: Secret Admirer, Randezvous, Love Affair

Makeup Geek blushes are a dream to work with. They are very smooth and highly pigmented. With shades like Love Affair it is enough to just dab your brush a little bit, otherwise you can overdo it. They blend seamlessly on your cheeks without leaving streaks. In terms of longevity they are the best blushes I have tried hands down. Usually when I put blush in the morning by lunch time it is almost gone. When I use these blushes they do not budge. That is the one quality I appreciate most about these blushes. The shade selection is also very good; you have warm and cool tones. However, I would have liked to see a natural rosy shade along the lines of Tarte Exposed, Mac Cubic, NARS Douceur and Urban Decay Video. 

In my opinion Makeup Geek blushes are comparable to Mac. I don't own any Mac blushes and the main reason is because I am very satisfied with these. Mac blushes are of the same size, can be bought in a pan or compact and have a wide range of colours. However, Mac blushes retail for 22,00$ per compact and 17,00$ per pan, while Makeup Geek for 12,99$ and 9,99$ respectively. Makeup Geek ships internationally.

If you are looking for new blushes that are cruelty, paraben and talc free, affordable, and have some fun colours, Makeup Geek is where it is at. You can't go wrong with Bliss or Infatuation: those are flattering on anyone if you ask me. If you fancy unique colours or a potential dupe for Mac's Full of Joy that was discontinued - Secret Admirer is worth checking out!

What is your all-time favourite blush? Let me know!

Cheers,

Muffy

No Fuss Pigments

We all shiver at the thought of using pigments as it tends to get messy, troublesome and at the end of the day you end up looking like a disco ball. But let me assure you not all are like that. I came across pigments that stay true to colour, offer minimal fall out and do not melt off your lids. These are Makeup Geek pigments - shock horror! 

L-R: Utopia, Afterglow, Sweet Dreams

As with all Makeup Geek products, these pigments are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in USA. You get 2,0g of product in a jar (even though it says 1,5g due to the regulations). Makeup Geek has recently repackaged their pigments, which now contain proper sifters preventing it from flying around everywhere. I went ahead and purchased three colours.

Utopia (an antique gold glitter)
Afterglow (a soft shimmery champagne with peachy undertones) 
Sweet Dreams(a beige nude with slight shimmer)

L-R: Utopia, Afterglow, Sweet Dreams

I use Sweet Dreams and Afterglow pigments on a daily basis. Sweet Dreams is the more subtle of the two, although both of them are wearable for everyday use. Utopia is more of a special occasion pick. It would be great for a night out or New Years or if you want to rock it during the day, You go girl or boy! Utopia does have a little bit more fall out since it is a glitter.

Tip: Prior to application, if you dip your brush into an eye drop solution, it will help the glitter to adhere and give you an even better colour payoff. 

I would suggest applying these pigments with a small synthetic flat brush. For example something along the lines of Morphe Brushes G15 the one featured in the picture below. It doesn't have to be this exact brush but anything similar will work.

Small Oval Brush G15 by Morphe Brushes

If you are trying out the brand for the first time and not sure which pigment to pick, I say go with Afterglow. It is quite versatile; you can sheer it out or you can make it really intense. It goes with any makeup and looks stunning on its own. Makeup Geek pigments retail for $7,99. You can purchase them directly from the Makeup Geek website. 

Which pigment should I try next? I have been eyeing Birthday Wish.

Cheers,

Muffy

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows - Worth the Hype?

I decided to dedicate this post to something that I have had in my collection for some time now, and it has become a staple in my everyday makeup routine. As the title may suggest, I am referring to Makeup Geek eyeshadows. I know that there's a lot of reviews out there as is, however, I would like to share my humble opinion and experience. Makeup Geek has appealed to me mainly due to its ethical values, but more on that further on. 

In a nutshell Makeup Geek is a US based company that was established by a beauty Youtuber, Marlena. Her products are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in USA. Some people, including myself, can be sensitive to talc and break out, therefore it is fantastic to know that there are products out there for us folks. But wait - there is more - they are also very affordable! Eyeshadows retail for $5,99 per pan. Since they do come in a pan format, you would need to have a palette or something along those lines on hand to store your eyeshadows. I have been using a large Z palette (they come in a variety of sizes) and you can get it directly from Makeup Geek website. Z palettes serve well for making your storage space more compact, although they are not the best for traveling.

L-R : White Lies, Baby Face, Bling, Peach Smoothie, Crème Brulee, Preppy, Chickadee,
 Glamorous, Grandstand, Cosmopolitan, Flame Thrower, Cocoa Bear, Pretentious, Homecoming,
 Barcelona Beach, Unexpected, Cupcake, Bitten, High Tea,  Moondust, Shimmermint, Rockstar

In my collection I have 22 Makeup Geek eyeshadows to choose from. Each pan contains 1,8g of product, while for instance MAC single pan eyeshadow contains only 1,5g of product. In terms of pan size Makeup Geek and MAC eyeshadows are identical. 

L-R: White Lies, Baby Face, Bling, Peach Smoothie, Crème Brulee, Preppy, Chickadee

L-R: Glamorous, Grandstand, Cosmopolitan, Flame Thrower, Cocoa Bear, Pretentious,
Homecoming

L-R: Barcelona Beach, Unexpected, Cupcake, Bitten, High Tea, Moondust, Shimmermint
Rockstar

Makeup Geek eyeshadows are highly pigmented, easy to blend and come in a variety of colours and finishes (e.g matte, shimmery, foiled). The only downside is that they are not readily available and you would need to purchase these babies online and have them shipped over to you. In my opinion, Makeup Geek offers quite reasonable shipping rates: I have paid between $6,00 - $12,00 depending on the amount I ordered. The shipping rate is usually determined by the weight of the package.

Tip : If you are placing an order from Finland (or another place outside the USA for that matter), on top of shipping costs you will be charged customs fees if the value of your order exceeds a certain amount. In Finland that amount is 22,00€, but please check your local country's regulations, as the threshold may vary from country to country. As such, I suggest you go with a few smaller orders instead of one big one.

I have not experienced any problems with ordering from Makeup Geek. They provide very good quality swatches online so you can see how different eyeshadows compare within the same colour family. It takes about two weeks for an order to arrive to Finland. Makeup Geek notifies you when you order has shipped and provides you with a tracking number. My products have always arrived and they were never damaged or different from what had been ordered.

If I were to recommend a "starters kit" it would depend on if you prefer warmer or cooler tones. If you are more of a warmer tone lover, your safest bet would be the shades below:

L-R: Peach Smoothie, Cème Brulee, Cocoa Bear,
Chickadee, Cosmopolitan

However, if you fancy more cooler tones, I would go with the following shadows:

L-R: Baby Face, Barcelona Beach, Unexpected,
Moondust, High Tea

Regardless of what colours you pick, the quality is consistent. I have not encountered a single dud. And as for the final verdict, hell YES, they are worth the hype!

Makeup Geek's Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupGeekTV

Where else to buy Z pallets (worldwide shipping incl. Finland): 

http://www.beautybay.com/zpalette/ 

I hope you found this post useful. Let me know which of the colours are your favourite. If you want a more detailed review of each colour in my collection let me know and I shall conquer!

Cheers, 
Muffy 


Disclaimer: I was not sponsored by Makeup Geek. I purchased the reviewed products for my personal use.