NARSissist Blush, Contour, and Lip palette review + swatches

           Today I'm enjoying an unexpected day off! I can't tell you have wonderful it feels to be at home, wearing my new pink UGG slippers (thanks Mom!), and putting in some quality time into my blog. It's been a whirlwind past several months for me, with a new job and new responsibilities. It's going to be a work in progress, but I hope I'll continue to find ways to find ways to incorporate Cute and Mundane into my schedule!

         I'm excited to share my newest beauty acquisition, the NARSissist Blush, Contour, and Lip palette. I'd actually been eyeing this set for some time,  including on my most recent trip to Sephora. One of my dearest friends must have read my mind, as she sent this my way! I can only begin to express my delight...

Both the top and inside of the palette are mirrored!

           The top 'shelf' of the NARSissist Blush, Contour, and Lip palette contains three blushes. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that Enrapture, Enthralled, and Roman Holiday are all limited edition blush shades. I prefer this to  other blush palettes that contain shades that I already own, as I'd rather not have repeats. I found that all three formulas were quite pigmented. Because the pans are smaller, I have to experiment with which brush to use. Ideally I'd like a fluffier loose brush due to pigmentation of the shades, however, a small head would be idea to fit the pans. Hm.

One can never have too much pink...

          I really love the selection of shades, as they're ones I'd actually use! NARS Roman Holiday blush (better known in lipstick form) is a gorgeous shade of cool pink. Cool pinks are my favorite, and I'm looking forward to using this as an alternative to my everyday pink, NARS Gaiety (click for review). I'm also loving NARS Enthralled blush, as it's a deeper pink that would make a nice contour color for me. I've been using blush as opposed to bronzer for contour, as it seems to better suit my coloring. (My usual as of late has been NARS Oasis). I'll have to experiment with NARS Enrapture blush, it seems like another great contour shade for warmer toned makeup - perfect for the fall season.

         The palette top flips up to reveal the contour and highlight shades below. Unlike the limited edition upper shades, the bottom shades are classics: NARS Albatross highlighter and NARS Laguna bronzer.  Believe it or not, I actually did not yet own NARS Albatross! (I've been more of a NARS Copacabana girl). Albatross is a pretty pale yellow-gold highlight. It's also pretty pigmented. NARS Laguna bronzer is a shade I do own (swatched here), though haven't reached for as often as I'd like because it does tend to run quite warm. That said, I noticed while swatching this palette that Laguna was relatively sheer, which makes it potentially usable for me.

          Finally, the palette comes with the cutest little NARS Lip gloss in Istria. It's a really pretty light pink. Because my lips are fuller, I usually don't use an all over gloss; however a dab of this shade would add just the right touch to finish off my usually light pink lip colors. It's nice to have a mini, portable version as I don't consume enough gloss to justify a full size!

           Here are swatches of the NARSissist Blush, Contour, and Lip palette! I'm really loving NARS Roman Holiday blush, NARS Enthralled blush, and NARS Istria Lip Gloss. My skin still has some of it's summer warmth here, but as usual, my mildly pink undertone makes these swatches pull slightly warmer than they might look otherwise!

       
         I'm really excited to add this little NARSissist beauty to my collection! Not only do I love it's cute packaging, it's a practical, compact set that I can pack for the gym or on short trips. As I haven't had much time to shop for beauty as of late, I'm thankful to my friend for this thoughtful gift! It's nice to receive a much needed new infusion into my beauty routine.

         Thanks for reading! What palettes have you been loving lately? What NARS shades are you reaching for this fall?

Love, Dovey.

Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset collection review + swatches

         There's something so mesmerizing about Sonia Kashuk's Sahara Sunset collection. The reflective gold, terracotta, and onyx drew me in like a desert mirage! However, unlike the aforementioned, this collection does not disappoint; inside the pretty packaging, I found that this spring collection to be a neutral lover's dream.

         Thanks to Sonia Kashuk, I have three pieces from the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset collection to share with you today. If you love warm neutrals, I have a feeling you'll be in for a treat!

           First up is Sahara Sunset Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Nirvana ($11.99). I'm kind of obsessed with the glowy gold packaging! The lipstick is a sheer warm peachy-beige, which I've swatched for you below. The formula is smooth and has nice shine.

           Next, I have the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick in Marrakesh ($11.99).

            I wasn't sure what to expect from the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick in Marrakesh,  however I was pleased to find a glowy bronze shade within! I think this product reminds me somewhat of my NARS Multiples. When applied, it can deposit an intense, pigmented bronzy glow. However, it can easily be blended out to any amount of sheerness. I found that the formula tends to be softer and blendable for longer than my multiples. I'd use this for adding bronze highlights to the face or perhaps collarbones.

           The stunner of the Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset collection has to be the Sahara Sunset Eyeshadow Palette in Desert Escape ($19.99). The palette contains bronzed nude, sand, shell, pink, and terracotta paired with matte deep eggplant. (I think the eggplant tinted matte shade is such a great pairing with the warm sandy glow of the shimmers). The formula is smooth and quite soft. I noticed that each brush swipe left a small depression in the palette.

          I've swatched my pieces from the Sonia Kashuks Sahara Sunset collection for you below! The Sahara Sunset Eyeshadow Palette in Desert Escape ($19.99) has five sandy / earthy shimmers and one matte eggplant brown. I've compared Sahara Sunset Bronzing Blush Stick in Marrakesh ($11.99) to my NARS Multiple in South Beach. The former is more bronze and less orange tinted than the latter. Sahara Sunset Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Nirvana ($11.99) is a sheer peachy beige nude. I'd say it swatches similarly to NARS Love Devotion. However, I think Love devotion is sheerer and wears much more coral, while Nirvana is more pigmented and beige-leaning.

          This glowy desert-inspired collection is perfect for those who love warm neutrals. My favorite piece has to be the Sonia Kashuk Lip Color in Nirvana. It's an easy to-wear nude, and it has the prettiest packaging! I wouldn't be surprised if the Sonia Kashuk Desert Escape eyeshadow palette gets the most love, though. It's a great set of glowy shades perfect for the warm months ahead. The Sonia Kashuk Sahara Sunset is now available at Target (both in store and online!)

         Thanks for reading! Have you had a chance to play with Sonia Kashuk Spring? What pieces are you loving most?

Love, Dovey.

Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own. As usual, no ads or affiliate links!

NARS Contour Blush in Paloma review + swatches

         I love the idea of strategic contouring. After all, who doesn't want their cheekbones to appear a little sharper or features a bit slimmer? Typically, bronzers are used for the job. However, finding the right contouring product for cool-toned skin can be tricky, as the vast majority of bronzing products are warm, warm, warm. (After all, that's kind of their point.)

         You can imagine how happy I was to see the NARS Countouring Blush lineup, with three palettes that tended to be more neutral/cool than the average bronzer! I finally picked NARS Paloma, the medium shade of the bunch, as it has slight rosy undertones that work well for my skin.

NARS Paloma, compared to a couple of NARS bronzing / highlighting classics

        I was concerned that NARS Paloma might be too intense for me, as I have light skin (usually CHANEL B20 / NARS Deauville) and delicate features. The color is quite dark, however, I can get around it only the lightest tap of my Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush. I think NARS Olympia, which is lighter, may have been an easier shade for me to use, however I preferred the rose undertones in Paloma.

        I've compared NARS Paloma Contour Blush to a couple classics in my NARS collection, so you have an idea of what to expect. You can see that NARS Laguna Bronzer (which reminds me, I yet to review this piece) is significantly more golden and shimmery. You may be able to better appreciate how Paloma is 'pinker' via my swatches below. When compared to the highlight in NARS Paloma, NARS Copacabana Multiple (click for review), you can see that it's less shimmery, lighter, and less beige. I love how the highlight of NARS Paloma blends so seamlessly into my skintone!

         I hope the simple swatches below show you how NARS Paloma is quite specifically a contour product to add light and shadow, as opposed to shimmer or warmth. As someone who believes in the importance of undertone, I should mention that Paloma can look quite different depending on the individual. The shades in NARS Paloma swatch as a fairly neutral cream and tan on my skin, as a I have some pink undertones. On bloggers with more warmth / yellow tones in their skin, I've noticed that the rosy tones in Paloma become quite prominent.

Comparison swatches of NARS Paloma taken in full Chicago sunlight!

        Overall, it's love! If I were comfortable with wearing blush/bronzer on my sensitive skin, NARS Paloma would be an every-day kind of palette for me - in small doses of course. I think it's a great shade for those with neutral to cool skin who have trouble finding a good contour shade. For warm skintones, I'd recommend a try-before-buy to avoid a potential ashy effect. While it is awesome for contouring, I wouldn't recommend it as a substitute for all-over bronzer or shimmery highlighter, as not really geared towards providing a healthy glow.

         Thanks for reading! Have you tried the NARS Contour blushes? Which shades (Olympia, Paloma, or Gienah) stood out to you? What are your favorite contouring colors?

Love, Dovey.

Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy and Sexy Escape collection review + photos

          I can't tell you how wonderful summer is here in Chicago. It's a long-awaited season (this year especially) in this winter wonderland --- and a reason for celebration, if you ask me! To this end, I've been spoiled with a package full of tropical scents and bronze reflections, courtesy of Victoria's Secret Beauty. Let's take a tour through Victoria's Secret Summer 2014, shall we?

         First up, I have the Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy collection. I'm a little obsessed with the metallic bronze packaging. They add color to one's counter-top, as well as complexion! The Victoria's Secret  Beach Sexy Self-Tanning tinted lotion ($15) is a self-tanning lotion with avocado oil. It's meant to provide an instant glow, as well as a lasting one that develops within hours. (I tend to tan naturally, so I haven't yet given this one a go!) I have, however, been enjoying the Victoria's Secret  Beach Sexy Body Prep smoothing scrub ($18). The sugar crystals give a gentle scrub, while the floral coconut scented oils leave a moisturized finish.

          Victoria's Secret  Beach Sexy All-Over Bronzing stick ($15) is a generously sized bronzing stick. The gel-based formula is designed to dry quickly and leave a mica-based glow. I found that when applied sheer, you might appreciate a few gold / glittery sparkles. When applied heavily, it can be built up to a warm glitzy bronze (that reminded loosely of the NARS South Beach multiple). The color does conveniently wash off with water, but might not function best if you're hoping for a pool-friendly product!

From left to right.... Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mists in Ocean, Sunset, and Island

          The limited edition Victoria's Secret Sexy Escape Fragrance Mists for Summer 2014 have a wonderful island-like feel (and gorgeous ombré bottles). Victoria's Secret Sexy Escape Fragrance mist in Ocean ($35) is a fresh scent with pink currant, fresh peach, and island peony. Victoria's Secret Sexy Escape Fragrance mist in Sunset ($35) is a fruity floral with passion fruit, pink tiare, and coconut water. Victoria's Secret Sexy Escape Fragrance mist in Island ($35) is fruity floral with star fruit, jasmine petals, and white amber.

        I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite, but I suppose I'd most likely be a 'Sunset' as I do love tiare and coconut. (That said the watery peach and peony combination of Ocean do tickle my fancy as well).

          I'm feeling a bit less Chicago and a bit more Caribbean after playing with this collection! The summery scents in the Victoria's Sexy Escape Fragrance mist collection and the bronze shades in the Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy collection have added a fun summer twist to my beauty wardrobe. These gorgeously packaged products can be found at your local VS. (I've noticed a 2 for $40 deal on the fragrance mists online - might be worth checking out if you're a fragrance fan).

         Thanks for reading! Have you had the chance to try any beauty from VS Summer? Are you a self-tanner? Which of the three fragrance mists (Island, Ocean, Sunset) featured here would be your go-to?

Love, Dovey.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Aruba review + swatches

         It's that time of year when the sun's rays fall obliquely and the pressing warmth of summer has since faded. Soon complexions will lose their summer glow in favor of a winter pallor. Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Aruba is beautiful transition piece from my collection that helps hold onto that healthy glow for just a little bit longer.

         Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Aruba is packaged in shiny circular black packaging with medium weight. The package is opened by pressing the mechanical release button. While this is fancy, it does run the risk of breaking, leaving you with a product that won't close. This happened to me soon after purchase; fortunately customer service replaced my item, and it has been ok since. That said, I hope Bobbi will consider changing the packaging to either a magnetic or regular closure.

          Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Aruba is the lightest of the illuminating bronzers. It's finely milled light golden bronze that applies smoothly as you would expect of Bobbi's powder products. You can see it's lighter than a traditional bronzer such as NARS Laguna. Bobbi Brown Aruba is lighter and less orange than Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Buff. It's a similar color to Laura Geller Baked Body FrostingTahitian Glow (reviewed here), but significantly less frosty.

         Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Aruba adds a gentle warmth to the face. It's a sunlit caress, not an over-baked scorch. Aruba is like an illuminator / bronzer hybrid; it would show up best on fair skin tones and may disappear on medium ones. It's just the type of color that would help hold onto the remnants of a summer glow. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzers or Bronzers? What is your favorite fall bronzer?

Love, Dovey. 

Illamasqua powder blusher in Disobey review + swatches

           With a name like 'Disobey', Illamasqua powder blusher in Disobey sounds like it's up to some mischief. And indeed, it is. If you take a look at the pan, you might wonder what a bronzer is doing in a blush lineup! That said, I'm not one to judge a box by its cover, so I gladly picked up this bronzer blush for use in face contouring.

         The Illamasqua blush is packaged in the typical black plastic warped square packaging. If you hold your Illamasqua blush in the sun, you can see a cool prismatic effect.

      
         Illamasqua powder blusher in Disobey has the smooth texture that I've come to expect from Illamasqua products. Another draw for me is that Illamasqua's powder blusher has a different ingredient formula from typical blushes. Most powder blush and bronzer formulas cause me to break out, and I'm always searching for one that won't. If you're interested in the ingredient list, Illamasqua is one of the few companies that openly lists them on their website (thank you).

         As I mentioned before, Illamasqua powder blusher in Disobey looks much like a bronzer. It's a soft matte golden brown as you can see from the swatch below. It looks quite similar to NARS Bronzer in Laguna from the swatch below, though you can see that Laguna has shimmer and is a bit more yellow and less peach than Illamasqua Disobey. Tarte 12-Hour Amazonian Clay Shimmer Blush in Buff is another blush that looks quite brown  and bronzer-like in the pan. However, you can see it looks more orange and less tan than Illamasqua Disobey.

          I'm looking forward to incorporating Illamasqua powder blusher in Disobey into my routine. It is a bit lighter than a traditional bronzer (maybe that's why it classifies as a blush), however it has some contouring capacity. It would show up best on lighter skin tones and I think it will be more evident on my winter skin. Other than wishing Disobey was a tad darker, I have no complaints. It's a great product. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Illamasqua Disobey? Do you think it's a blush or a bronzer? What are your favorite contouring products?

Love, Dovey.

Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow review

           This is big. Literally. Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow is the  largest piece of makeup own. Tahitian glow is used to give a glowy look for both face and body. (Due to the behemoth amount of product, I'm guessing the folks at Laura Geller were taking the use for body seriously). However, what exactly is a baked body frosting? Is it a bronzer? Highlighter? Both? Read on to see what I made of Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow.

         First, I'll cover the stats. Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting weighs in at 0.85 oz. (compare with 0.28 oz. for NARS Laguna bronzer). It's good for liberal use on the body. Not only is there a lot of product, it's encased in plastic packaging that makes it look even larger. You can see above that the lid is at least an inch thick. The product doesn't dome much above the pan, but the cap is huge. The extra room is to hold the puff that is meant to apply the product on your body. There's also a disposable quality plastic tray that holds the puff. To be honest, it's a bit impractical. I'd rather have a puff-less product with a smaller lid, or a built-in-shelf for the puff to give it a more luxe feel. I received Tahitian Glow as a part of Laura Geller's Glow and Behold Set (QVC exclusive), however it is sold individually for $45. While the quality of the product inside is nice, it could use sleeker packaging.

           The swirling tan, cream, and pearly pink are beautiful in the pan. They remind me of MAC's mineralize products. I think these swirls are a fun aspect to the product; each individual product will look a little bit different. Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting formula can be used both wet and dry. It's well pigmented and has a smooth but slightly thick and powdery texture which seems to be characteristic of baked products. The ingredient list isn't too long and it doesn't contain mineral oil or parabens.

Ingredients: Mica, Talc, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retynyl Palmitate, BHT, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

Clockwise from left: NARS Laguna Bronzer, Laura Geller

           Now I'll get back to the question of what exactly a baked body frosting is. Laura Geller refers to it as a 'glow'. A number of online reviews refer to this as a bronzer. I would say it's more like a bronzer and higlighter hybrid: an illuminator if you will. It has more frosted shine and slightly less pigment than your typical bronzer. In this sense, it is made with body in mind. For body use, you don't want too much color; faking a tan with a powder product isn't practical and might end up looking a bit dirty. A slightly bronzed shine will go further to contour the body with strategic glow. You can see from my swatches below that Laura Geller Tahitian glow is frostier than my other bronzers. It falls somewhere in between the golden brown of NARS Laguna bronzer and the peachy tan of Dior Aurora bronzer (reviewed here). When swatched, Tahitian glow is a natural light tan glow on my light-medium skin. When worn, I can't see much tan color unless I start to layer it on. I prefer to use a fluffy brush and not the puff to achieve a more natural effect.

          Overall, Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow is a fun addition to my summer makeup collection. The swirled product looks beautiful in the pan, though the packaging is a bit bulky. It's a less messy alternative to liquid illuminators for the body, and if used lightly can provide a strategic J.Lo glow to the body. Due to Tahitian glow's frosted nature, I'd be hesitant to layer this on heavily for an actual color change of your skin. The color looks nice on the face as well, though I would purpose this more towards illuminating purposes as opposed to bronzing or contouring. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Laura Geller's baked body frosting? Do you have products in your collection designated for body use?

Love, Dovey.

Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration by PR. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own. 

Eleven of 'eleven

        It's the 11th hour here in the U.S. and I'm posting my top eleven of 2011 before the clock strikes twelve! So without further ado, here are eleven beauty products that merit recognition. I've included links to my past posts for your reference.

1. Dior Aurora bronzer was my favorite cheek product of the year. It gives just the perfect amount of glow and functions as a blush and bronzer. I use cheek products sparingly since I found out this year that they cause my skin to react. However, when I do, Dior Aurora is something that I will reach for.

2. NARS multiple in Luxor is my favorite highlighter. I like it slightly more than Copacabana because I favored cooler tones this year.

3. NARS nail polish in Vestale is the pale ballerina pink that led me down a pale pink road this year. The finish of Vestale is so glossy that you don't need a top coat. I think there was in improvement made when compared to previous NARS nail polish formulations.

4. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is my favorite foundation. I love the naturally glowy finish that occurs over time. I also like that it has good oil control and looks great in photographs. It's my favorite because it's the best all-around.

5. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation is another great foundation. It's what I like to use in lieu of tinted moisturizers. Vitalumiere aqua is so weightless and comfortable.

6. Chanel Rouge Coco in Peregrina was the object of my obsession ever since the promotional photos emerged. This was very well loved.

7. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Bare Pink was my most-used lipstick this year. It's a very wearable pinky nude. If you read Cute and Mundane regularly, you know this is my kind of color! The Rich lip color formulation is so creamy, pigmented, and comfortable.

8. NARS Larger than Life eyeliner in Via Veneto convinced me that there are awesome pencil eyeliners out there. This stays really black and barely smudges (over primer). I was gel eyeliner only girl until this came along. Recently I've reached for this almost every day!

9.  My custom MAC quad (Soot, Yogurt, Scene, and Vex) was my first foray into MAC eyeshadows. I used this quad so often. Scene (light blue-grey) is my most worn grey this year. I love combining it with Vex (beige sheen).

10. NARS Dogon eyeshadow duo is my vote for the best NARS duo this year. I think that says a lot!

11. NARS Coconut Grove is such a versatile color. It's such a rich cool brown that's great for deepening any look. I used it every day to shade in my brows as well.

          Thanks for reading my last post of the year! I'm off to watch the Time's square countdown in a few minutes. See you in the New Year!

Love, Dovey.

July Favorites

          July was a month of excitement and experimentation. Companies let loose their Fall 2011 floodgates and the Nordstrom Anniversary sale went into full swing. I scoured the web and scurried to stores to pick up my precious new goodies. It was an enjoyable, but hectic time. I'm looking forward to the slower pace in the coming couple of months. My purchases this month are all NARS. Because there were too many NARS products I had to have, I had to pass on my other interests. Some products I thought were great but passed on were: Chanel Fall 2011 lip colors, Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell  Sand palette, and the Urban Decay 15th anniversary palette. Sigh. There's always next season!

         My favorites this month are a mix of new and old things. I've gone back to my smokey eye and nude lip standby. It's a very happy (makeup) state of mind for me.


1. NARS Grand Palais eyeshadow duo - (Reviewed here) This had me playing with my crease colors this month.
2. NARS Bright Lights, Big City eyeshadow palette - (Photos here) I love this palette. The colors are perfect for a smokey eye. I can use all six colors at once!
3. NARS Vestale Nail Polish - (Reviewed here) This is going to be a favorite of mine for a very long time. I'm wearing it one my toes as we speak.
4. NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara - This is really waterproof, doesn't flake, and provides good volume. It's not my all-time favorite mascara, but I like it.
5. NARS Smudge Proof eyeshadow base - I'm favoring this over my UDPP lately.
6. NARS Pago Pago Lipstick - I haven't reviewed this yet, but it's a beautiful light lippie from NARS Fall 2011.
7. NARS Greek Holiday Lip Gloss - I use this to add a dab of shine on my otherwise flat nude lips.
8. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencil in Zero/Whiskey - This came with the Naked palette and got little use. I rediscovered it this month. Because I've been wearing smokier eyes, a thick smudgy black line is ideal. Zero does the trick. I think NARS Smudgeproof holds on to pencils better than UDPP, and I don't have to worry as much about the thick line creasing.
9. Bobbi Brown Bare Pink Rich Lip Color - This is one of my favorite lipsticks ever. The formula is awesome.
10. Bobbi Brown Blondie Pink lipstick -  The color is a slightly darker nude than my other two lipsticks this month. I'll use this when I don't want to look as washed out.


          Next up are my face products. This month I finally came to the realization that I'm allergic or sensitive to blush. I've had small bumps / breakouts on my upper cheeks for a long while now. I finally realized that the big culprits were sunscreen and blush. It took me so long to figure out the sunscreen part. Sunscreen is marketed in such a positive light that I never suspected it until recently. It's also quite hard to avoid since it's present in almost all lotions and foundations.  I stopped using blush and cheek products and there has been improvement. It's frustrating because I really enjoyed using blush. Without it, my face looks drained of color. I've tried adding in a little bronzer for color. I think I'm slightly  less sensitive to bronzer than blush. Perhaps it has something to do with the red pigment. Because of this, you won't see any blush products below.

Face products

11. Dior Aurora bronzer - (Reviewed here) I love this bronzer. It has a little color so I've tried brushing some at the apples of my cheeks and avoiding the more sensitive areas that are nearer to the hairline.
12. NARS Laguna bronzer - (Swatch here) This is another favorite bronzer of mine. I'm too nervous about my sensitivity so I try not to use it everyday. I have, however, discovered that it makes a nice crease color on the eyes.
13. Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow Pressed Powder - I shopped this out of my stash. I use it to set my Sheer Glow Foundation. It's very finely milled and works well.
14. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Ceylan - My everyday foundation. I love the color and the coverage. It doesn't have sunscreen which is probably why it agrees well with me. It also photographs quite well.
15. NARS Luxor Multiple - I've become interested in multiples as an alternative to normal blush. This is more of a highlighter than a blush, but it helps give some dimension to my face.

There you have it: my favorites for July. The no-blush situation is kind of sad, but I always liked eye makeup better anyway =). Thanks for reading!

Love, Dovey.

Dior Aurora bronzer

Finally, I'm getting around to reviewing the Dior Aurora Bronzer that's been flying off shelves everywhere. Somehow I had the foresight to order this early on, which is surprising for me, since I like to mull over things too long before buying them! I'll refer to this as Dior Aurora bronzer because the official name Dior DiorSkin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder in Aurora is just too much to handle. What is it with Dior and ridiculously long unmemorable names?

I'll try to keep this short, since I plan on catching some Z's.

Dior Aurora's been getting lots of love on the net, unsurprisingly, because of the beautiful basket-weave pattern. The bronzer comes with a dark blue velvet pouch and a flat soft brush for application (see above). The brush is actually quite nice, and I've used it exclusively for my application. However Aurora's beauty is more than skin-deep. It also applies beautifully, which I'll discuss later. It's the lighter of two bronzers, the other shade being Sunset (for darker skin).

The casing is a reflective silver. It matches the summer theme, although I secretly was wishing for Dior's holographic blue packaging.

And the bottom.

And more gratuitous shots of the beautiful pan.

When I first saw photos circulating online, I was concerned that Aurora might be a little too peachy and look odd on my skin. I was imagining what I'd look like with NARS Deep Throat applied all over! Not good. I must have been delusional, and took the plunge anyway. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. I applied it, brushing downwards in locations that the sun would normally hit the skin, such as cheek bones, forehead, bridge of nose, chin, etc. The effect is a just-come-from-the-sun glow as opposed to a deeper golden bronze glow which would suggest a tan that's already settled in.

You can see the swatches of Dior Aurora bronzer below. I've swatched the individual colors, as well as all of them blended together. There's no way you'll ever use the colors individually, unlike Chanel's bronzer, since they're too small, so this is for interest only. The colors are swatched over UDPP, however they're still quite light on my NC20 (?) skin. I suppose that's why this is named a "Summer Powder" as opposed to a bronzer. It's quite subtle, but buildable for sure.  The pigment is very smooth and finely milled and doesn't look or feel powdery at all. There are micro-sparkles mixed in so your skin does shimmer if you look really really up close. However you don't notice any shine from afar. 

Overall, a definite thumbs up. The idea is different from your typical golden bronzer, perhaps more along the lines of a terracotta bronzer such as NARS Irresistiblement.  It can be used as an all over bronzer to tan skin, or it can be used to contour. One plus is that Aurora also works as a stand-in for blush.

I hope you enjoyed the review! I have more bronzers than I can handle, so now I'm on an official no-bronzer-buy for the rest of the year. I wasn't planning on posting tonight, but I found out about a personal issue today which put me off kilter. Doing something artistic or creative (blogging included) always helps me feel better when I'm feeling a little down!

Thanks for reading, and hope all is well with you guys!

Love, Dovey.