ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream Review

ELF's Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder has been a longstanding favorite among those who look for the feel of NARS without the hefty NARS price tag.  Seeing that the company came out with a cream version of the top product I couldn't wait to try it.

Sonia Kashuk Bare Illuminating Bronzer Review

Can Summer get here fast so I can wear this thing?  Sonia Kashuk's Bare Illuminating Bronzer is a stunning show stopper!  Looking at it puts me in the mind of an Ancient Egyptian princess, draped in gold glamour.  I have to admit though, I was nervous that it may be a little over the top as it looked so metallic in the pan, so I wasn't sure which way this review would end up.  Find out after the jump!

Just Enjoy the Show!: Bare Minerals Light Show Palette

The Bare Minerals Light Show palette is probably the best set I've seen from the company if you're looking to sample several Bare Mineral Ready products at the same time.  They've gone past just the pressed shadows and have also expanded into blushes, bronzers, foundations, highlighters yada yada yada.  The Light Show Palette includes several of these products, plus some other goodies.  Check it out!

Last Minute Xmas Must: Sephora Favorites In the Glow Set

Procrastinators!  Gather around.  If you have a person in your life that's beauty crazed (or if you're looking for an awesome present for yourself) Sephora Favorites In the Glow set is the way to go to make anyone happy.  It's a great set of blushes, bronzers, and highlighters in travel size that anybody will find at least something they love in it.  Unfortunately, this set is no longer available on the Sephora website, but you may be still be able to pick it up in store.  Check out the swatches!

Benefit's Cabana Glama is on Sale at Sephora, and You Should Probably Get It...

This summer season of 2012, Benefit put out a cute little kit called Cabana Glama.  When I first saw it I really wasn't all that interested but when it recently went on sale at Sephora for $19 (down from it's original price of $36) I figured, "Eh, what the hell, I'll add it to my cart".  Now, after using it for the past couple weeks, I'm here to tell you that you might want to grab it too because I'm in love with it and I know some of you will be too!

Pan Sighting #1: E.L.F. Essential Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze

It is moments like these when I'm reminded why I love beauty blogging.  Knowing that I can come on here and fully express my excitement at hitting pan on a bronzer and, not only will my readers not judge me, they will also understand and share my joy.....that's something you can't put a price on.  


Telling my family or friends that aren't into makeup like me (aka all of them) that I just hit pan on my bronzer is a complete buzzkill.  They just don't comprehend why this is such a big deal and therefore are incapable of appreciating the situation like I know you guys can :)


The flash of pan you are seeing belongs to E.L.F.'s Essential Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze.  I've had this for forever it seems.  I actually don't use this as a bronzer, but as a contour.  It has a very neutral, almost cool, undertone to it that's perfect for properly mimicking a shadow.  You just can't do that with a typical bronzer with a warmer undertone as naturally-occurring shadows aren't orange or red.  


This technically isn't the first time I've hit pan.  I've gone through 2 shadows in my 120-palette from BH Cosmetics.  But I haven't used that palette in ages and the last time I used it was way before I had even planned on starting this blog, so I'm not counting those.


If you've been with me and Amber Likes Beauty!, you may recognize this bronzer from an old post I did about contouring.  You can check that out here.

Wet N' Wild Coloricon Bronzers Review!

You guys know how much I love oversized makeup don't you?  So I was bound to get my hands on the new  Wet n' Wild Coloricon Bronzers sooner or later.  It took me a while to find them as they seem to only be able at Walgreens, but I'm so glad to have them now, whether or not I actually needed more bronzers.

Sephora Hot Hues Bronzers: So it's You I've Been Looking For?

If you've read my review of Avon's Super Shock Liquid Lip Shines, you know that I LOVE oversized cosmetics!  Sephora has been another company popping these giants out as well, and I picked up the 2 shades of their Hot Hues Bronzers from the sales section at my local store.  I was really excited that both the shades turned out to be 2 of the exact kind of shades I've been looking for for a long time.  Take the jump for more!

Doesn't this look TO DIE FOR? Milani Illuminating Powder Review

So I finally got it!  Ever since I first laid eyes on Milani's Illuminating Powder I've been obsessed with getting it (I first mentioned the product here). It looked so darn precious, I couldn't resist!  But once I got past the cutesy packaging, the awesome train derailed for a second when I stopped to consider the product's claims of being a bronzer, illuminator, and blush all at once  Those are some big pants to have yourself fill, and I find that most products that claim to be "all-in-one" don't deliver as promised.  Find out if Milani's Illuminating Powder in Hermosa Rose came through for me after the jump!

Buzzkill: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Season to Season Bronzer Review

I've been dragging major ass on this review.  As you may or may not recall, I was hella excited for the release of the Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Season to Season Bronzer!  I thought it looked like a possible alternative to the out-of-this-world expensive Guerlain 4 Seasons Bronzing Powder.  I have to say though, whether or not it is comparable to Guerlain, I had to take this sad puppy back to the pound (the pound in this case being Rite Aid).  After experiencing what is the awesomeness of their regular Bronze Booster (review here) this was the complete opposite.  Get the full tale after the jump!

Gettin' My Glow On Early: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Review

I can't begin to tell you how many good things I've heard about the Physicians Formula Bronze Booster.  To bring a little more perspective, it has a 4.6 rating on Makeup Alley which is kind of rare.  I'm not what I would consider a veteran fan of Physicians Formula, having just recently discovered such gems as the Gel Liner Strips and Mineral Wear Correcting Pebbles, but my interest with them is quickly growing, especially after using this bronzer.  Check it out after the jump!

Fas'Swatch: ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Warm Tan

Today's Fas'Swatch is brought to you by e.l.f.'s Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Warm Tan.  It truly is a tan color with little to no trace of orange or red undertones.  It's a bit too shimmery for my tastes though.

Milani Baked Bronzers Review & Swatches!

Like the Milani Baked Blushes I raved about a little bit ago, the Baked Bronzers are of superb quality as well.  They all have a beautiful peachy undertone that imparts a very natural bronze glow.  You won't have to worry about that muddy or oompa loompa look that some bronzers give you.  The Baked Bronzer line includes three shades but today I'm sharing the ones in Glow and Golden.  Read on for more info and swatches!

Quick TIP: Not really feeling your contour color? TRY THIS!

As with the average person, most of the time that I contour I choose to use my bronzer.  Not because I necessarily prefer to use my bronzer, it just always happens to be a bit more handy than other products at the time.  However, most bronzers tend to have a golden, red, or orange undertone since, after all, bronze is typically a warm color.  So when I use the usual bronzer, (say NYC Sunny for example that I find to lean a bit red on my skin), as a contour I find that it doesn't really accomplish the shadow look that I'm going for.  Remember, contouring  is pretty much enhancing the different features of your face by creating shadows on the parts that you want to recede.  And if you look at your face, the natural shadows that form on you do not have a strong warm undertone to them:  they're shadows, so they're pretty neutral.  Therefore, if you're looking for a more accurate color to apply in the contour, try going for bronzers/contour products that have more neutral tones to them.  This is no easy feat, as I find that even some products made specifically for contouring lean warm.  But I do love E.L.F.'s Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Matte Bronze for contouring since it's a lot more neutral than the average bronzer.  Benefit Hoola is also a bit more neutral than normal, although it's a bit light for me, but it is buildable so I can get a contour out of it if I work a little.  


Do you know of any other neutral bronzers/contour products?  They're kind of like needles in a haystack.