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MY 7 MOST USED HIGH-END MAKEUP ITEMS | JANUARY-JUNE 2017

June 28, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

We have made it to the middle of the week! I hope that you enjoyed my post on Monday (if you missed it, you can read it here) where I shared the seven drugstore makeup products I’ve reached for the most so far this year. Today I want to share the seven high-end, more costly, makeup products that I have been using the most so far in 2017. If you like this post, please be sure to share it : ) I have share links at the bottom of every blog post.

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer in White Out

I love this concealer for brightening my under eye area, and often use this mixed with a light colored concealer so it isn’t quite so harsh. This is a great choice for others with very fair skin like mine who often can’t find a concealer lighter than their skin for brightening the under eye area. You can read my review on this here and see how I brighten my dark circles.

Benefit Cosmetics Boxed Blush in Galifornia

This is a gorgeous blush! I did an entire review on it (read that here) and can’t stop using it! But, why would I?! It is PERFECT for summer!

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette in 20

I don’t always contour, but when I want a beautiful cream contour that looks natural, I reach for this! Read this to see how-to do a cream contour.

Becca Cosmetics Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

This is an item I have been using for a long time (I first spoke about it in 2015 here)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe

This is my hands-down favorite eyebrow pencil, and it is always a repurchase for me.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

This is a pricy powder, but I really think it is worth it! This is super finely milled, doesn’t look cakey, and keeps my oily t-zone in check!

Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Nude

I absolutely love to rock a nude lip, and this lip liner works with any nude lipstick or gloss! You can read my tips for wearing a nude lip here.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to read my blog! It means so much to me!! xx

Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette Review

December 26, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend, and if you celebrate, a very Merry Christmas! I had a wonderful Christmas with my family, and ate WAY too many cookies ; ) Today I am so excited to be sharing the *highly* anticipated Alchemist Holographic Palette from Kat Von D.

Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette

Without Flash:

With Flash:

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What It Is:

This palette is being called a “transformer” palette because it can be worn as a highlighter, or as a topper for eye shadows and even lipsticks. Each of the four shades are formulated with “Double Dimension Technology” which catches the light from every angle, given a holographic effect.

My Thoughts:

I was intrigued by this palette because I have been watching Kat Von D slowly share sneaks on her Instagram account. Kat Von D has spent years working on these formulas and has called this palette one of her passion projects. Being a beauty lover, I knew that this was something I wanted to try for myself right away! I have worn two of the shades so far as a cheekbone highlight and it is stunning! A little bit goes a LONG way, but I absolutely loved the way it caught the light. I am excited to try this as an eye shadow topper, and think it would be a gorgeous look over a simple look to amp it up to something a lot more special.

Do I Need It?

I think that this is a must have for the makeup junkie who loves to try new things, play with makeup, and collect makeup. I think that this is beautiful for those looking for something new. I have noticed the similarities between this and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild highlighters, and after comparing swatches online they do look similar though not exactly the same. I think that if you have Moonchild you don’t need the Alchemist, but Alchemist seems more holographic and Moonchild seems to be more metallic or duochrome to me.

Do you have this? Are you planning to get it? I was able to pick it up on Sephora.com during the VIB pre-launch, but it is now available to everyone. Thank you, as always, for reading! I hope that you have a fantastic rest of your day : )

TOO FACED MELTED MATTE LIPSTICK IN CANDY CANE REVIEW

November 30, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Christmas is fast approaching and there are plenty of beautiful holiday makeup kits, but today I wanted to focus on a small but equally as adorably packaged item that would be perfect as a stocking stuffer or as a nice finishing touch to go with a larger gift.

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquid Lipstick in Limited Edition Candy Cane

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Why I Love It:

This color is the perfect color for holiday season! And the Peppermint Mocha sent is amazing but not overpowering and I only notice it while I’m applying it and before it dries. This lipstick has a no-sting plumping filler and I find that it helps my lips look full and while matte they never look cracked or dry. I love the Too Faced Melted Matte Lipsticks because they are super pigmented, and while dry like most matte lipsticks, they aren’t so dry that they are uncomfortable to wear.

How I Wear It:

I find that these wear a very long time, and what works the best for me is to apply a lip liner and then apply a very thin layer of the lipstick and allow to dry for a minute before putting my lips together. I then re-apply the lipstick around lunch time, especially if I’ve eaten salad dressing or anything with oil in it that breaks down lipstick. I like to wear the Too Faced Borderline Anti-Feathering but any close color matched red liner will work.

Me Wearing It AFTER Eating and 5 Hours of Wear:

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I hope that you enjoyed this post! If you did please share and subscribe to really make my day : ) xx

STILA STAY ALL DAY SPARKLE ALL NIGHT LIQUID LIPSTICK SET HOLIDAY YAY OR NAY

November 21, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend! With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holiday sales approaching, I thought that it would be a great time to mention one of my favorite holiday sets of 2016 which is the Stila Stay All Day Sparkle All Night liquid lipstick set. If you have any holiday sets that you would like to see reviewed here on my blog or on my LeahTackles YouTube channel let me know in the comments : )

Stila Stay All Day Sparkle All Night

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If you also watch my YouTube channel you know that I also uploaded a video (which I will link at the bottom of this post) but wanted to include a blog post to show more detailed product shots with you.

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“Baci” is a beautiful pinky mauve nude. This shade is available in full size.

“Rubino” is a beautiful limited edition shade of rich red that is perfect for the holiday season!

“Fresco” is a more brown-y nude color that is also limited edition.

“Patina” is an absolutely stunning shade! It is similar to the often-sold-out Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in “Lolita”.

“Bacca” is a deep raspberry shade that I think is a great one to have in a liquid lipstick.

“Transcend” is the Glitterati Lip Top Coat and it is so much fun! I am loving it in the center of my lip for a fun full pout that is perfect for a holiday event!

Overall I really love these liquid lipsticks! These are deluxe sample size at .05 fl. oz. which is about half the size of a full size Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick. The Glitterati Lip Top Coat is such a fun addition & perfect for a little extra sparkle! I do worry that it will run out quickly, but we will see! It is .04 fl. oz. but seems to be running out far faster than a liquid lipstick or lipgloss would. That said, this “lip top coat” is so unique and unlike anything I’ve tried before. You can see more details in the video below.

I hope that you have a wonderful week! Talk to you on Wednesday : ) xx

KAT VON D LOCK-IT CONCEALER IN WHITE OUT | CONCEALING FAIR SKIN! PART 2

October 31, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And, Happy Halloween!

Today I want to do the follow up to my Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Part 1 first impression review. I have now been wearing this concealer for about a week, and I feel like I’ve worn it enough to give my full (spoiler alert) stamp of approval. I do have to say the fact that I am posting a white concealer review on Halloween is making me a laugh a bit ; ) You could totally use this for a Halloween look too ; ) If you have tried this concealer, or a white concealer let me know in the comments : )

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer in White Out

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Cost $26

Review

As I talked about in Part 1, I really love how much this can brighten my fair skin! Until trying this white concealer I was never able to conceal my under eyes with a concealer that was lighter than my fair complexion, and I was so surprised to see how much I could brighten the under eye area! That may sound silly, but if you have very fair skin then you may understand! I have now used this over mineral foundation like the Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Powder Matte Foundation, medium to full coverage foundation like Covergirl Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation, and lighter BB creams and have found this to work well with all of them. I have used both a Beauty Blender and the Sigma F86 Tapered Kabuki and while both work I prefer to use a damp Beauty Blender sponge. I have not had any issues with dryness, but do keep in mind that I have combo/oily skin. I have not found this to settle into fine lines, but I do set this with a translucent setting powder like the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder. Overall, I really love the Kat Von D Lock-It White Out Concealer! It has become my go-to for my under eye concealing!

Thank you, as always, for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please “Pin” it to your Pinterest, or share! xx

HOLIDAY MAKEUP SETS AND GIFT IDEAS!

October 10, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of your are having a fantastic start to your week! I know that it isn’t even Halloween yet, but the holiday makeup sets are out so I want to mention a few that I think are a great value because they do tend to sell out early.

HOLIDAY 2016 MAKEUP SETS:

I love so many of the holiday makeup sets that have come out, but these I think are fantastic because you can give the set as a whole to one person, or you can split the sets up to have smaller gifts, stocking stuffers, or even make your own gift sets! I think it would be so cute to split these up and put a few goodies from each set into a stocking for a unique and personal gift.

STILA STAY ALL DAY, SPARKLE ALL NIGHT SET

SEPHORA LASHSTASH

TOO FACED GRANDE HOTEL CAFE

TARTE KISS BLISS TARTEIST MATTE LIP PAINT & CRAYON SET

BENEFIT 1ST PRIZE HIGHLIGHTERS

I hope you have a great week! Be sure to let me know in the comments any holiday makeup that you are excited about : ) Thank you for reading!

HOLIDAY BEAUTY RELEASES! BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDARS!

October 5, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I have been excited about the holiday makeup releases since mid summer which seems crazy, but that is when some of the sneak peeks come out! I absolutely love the holiday season and I, obviously, love makeup so putting the two together makes me giddy. Today I wanted to share three beauty and makeup related advent countdown calendars incase you’d like to treat yourself or a friend to a little beauty cheer this holiday season ; ) Speaking of advent calendars, our Elf On the Shelf will be delivering fun ones to each of the kids this year and I am *so* excited about them! Stay tuned to our Daily Vlogs to see those later this season!

L’Occtiane Advent Calendar:

Price: $55

I was excited to see this as an option for those who would like to try a higher end skincare brand. I do wonder if the sizes will be large enough to get a good feel for if you like some of the products, but others like the hand cream and soaps I would think you could definitely get enough of an idea of whether or not you’d like to purchase the full size items. These would also be awesome for traveling if you have an upcoming trip!

Ciaté London Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Set:

Price: $59

I am SWOONING over this one! If you know me then you know that I do not need any more nail polish, but this set is gorgeous! I am swooning over the packaging as well as the colors! I love that you get a great variety of polish colors.

Benefit Cosmetics Girl O’Clock Rock Mini Set:

Price $45

This isn’t quite an advent calendar this year, but you could do “12 Days of Christmas” or just open it the 12 days before Christmas instead of 24. I think this is a great set if you don’t have a lot of Benefit Cosmetics items or maybe for someone who is just starting out with makeup. And Benefit does such adorable holiday packaging!

Have a wonderful weekend loves! Please comment below what you would like to see for the holiday season! Reviews? Gift Guides? Both? Let me know ; ) xx

URBAN DECAY ULTIMATE BASICS PALETTE PREVIEW! HOT OR NOT?

September 12, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend! We had a busy but productive weekend, and I woke up feeling ready to tackle this week! There are so many exciting makeup launches happening soon, and I am so excited to share my thoughts on some of the holiday 2016 collections in the very near future, but today I want to dedicate a post to what could be a GAME CHANGER for a lot of you! Urban Decay Cosmetics is known for their neutral eye shadow palettes, and their Naked Basics and Naked Basics 2 have been incredibly popular, and now they are launching Naked Ultimate Basics. Do you need it?

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics:

(*Photo Credit to Bustle.com)

The packaging is really pretty, and I love that it is a rose gold color. This palette features 12 brand new matte shades, a mirror, and a dual ended brush. There is one highlight shade that is slightly shimmery, but the rest is matte. The palette does feature both cool tone and warm tone shades.

When Can I Get It?

This palette launches on UrbanDecay.com on September 18th, online on Sephora.com on September 20th, and September 22nd in-stores at Sephora. I have heard that some stores have already put them out, but *officially* they aren’t out yet ; )

Do I Need It?

I won’t lie, I am *really* tempted to pick this up because I think it looks perfect for traveling and for when I want to create looks from just one palette without having to grab from other shadows or palettes in my collection. I love that these shadows allow you to do a neutral lip all the way to a vampy lip. I also have one of the original Urban Decay Naked Basics palettes before they switched the packaging, and it doesn’t open well so the black got ruined so that could be an excuse for me…right?! However, that said, I think if you have a lot of neutral palettes already, especially matte palettes, then no you probably do not need this. The Naked Ultimate Basics palette will retail for $55, and the Naked Basics and Naked Basics 2 retail for $29 each, so if you don’t have those already then it might be a great option! I think this is a great palette for beginners, too. It is beautiful packaging, and the eye shadows look gorgeous, and I can’t wait until I can get my hands on one in person to see if it’s a “must” for me. I would call this “hot” but I don’t think it is a must for everyone.

Naked Basics and Naked Basics 2:

(*Note: pictured left to right)

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What are your thoughts? Is this on your list? Let me know in the comments! And please subscribe and make my day!! xx

BECCA x JACLYN HILL SHIMMERING SKIN PERFECTOR HIGHLIGHT IN CHAMPAGNE POP-WORTH THE HYPE?

September 30, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you’re having a great week! Thank you for stopping by my blog today : )

I watch more YouTube than I do T.V, and I also have two YouTube channels, so I was really excited when I heard that Jaclyn Hill (a hugely popular beauty guru on YouTube) was collabing with Becca cosmetics to make her very own highlight. The Becca highlights have been popular for awhile now, but I just wasn’t sure I could justify the price. And even though I was excited that Jaclyn was making her own shade, I’ll admit I wasn’t sure it would be worth it. I’m just going to throw out the mystery right now…this highlight is the perfect highlight! I am absolutely adoring it.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

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I have had highlighters that I’ve loved, and I’ve had highlighters that I’ve liked, but oh my goodness this highlight! I have never had a highlight that is so, “Bam!”. It looks incredible on the skin, incredible on camera, incredible in natural lighting, and I get compliments on my makeup whenever I wear it. I also have very fair skin, and was worried that the “champagne” shade wouldn’t work on my skin, but it’s absolutely stunning. I’ve seen this swatched on so many people and it’s beautiful every time. My only word of warning would be to use a very light hand, a very very little goes a long way. I sweep this on my cheekbones but not too terribly close to my eye so that it doesn’t bring attention to any lines. Go get this before they are gone!! I really want to try another Becca highlight now, so if you have any suggestions please let me know!

Have a fun weekend with those who you love!! xx

How To Take Advantage of Ulta’s Ultamate Rewards! 5 Tips!

August 19, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

A couple of weeks ago I did a post on how to get the most out of your Sephora Beauty Insider Membership, and today I want to share how I take advantage of Ulta’s points system. First things first, I *LOVE* Ulta’s points system because there are so many ways to get free $$, and who doesn’t want that? But I will say that it took me a lot longer to understand Ulta’s point system because they do offer so many promotions so how many points you can earn in always changing, so you really have to pay attention. With that said, you can get such amazing deals!!!

1. SIGN UP FOR ULTAMATE REWARDS!

You have to sign up to earn points. Even if you don’t get into shopping when you’ll get the most points or special extras, you’ll still earn points that can be redeemed in products. Once you earn 100 points, you can start redeeming them. You earn 1 point for ever dollar spent in their store, INCLUDING the salon (this is a huuuge bonus for me!) and sometimes they offer additional points. You reach platinum status when you spend $400 which is very easy to do, especially if you use the Ulta salon, and once you’re a platinum member your points never expire.

2. SIGN UP FOR THE EMAILS, DON’T IGNORE THEM, AND CHECK THE WEBSITE

You get offers like 2x the points or 3x the points for platinum members! Sometimes you have to activate the promotion by logging into your account and clicking “activate” when you’re looking at your rewards page.

3. BUY STUFF DURING YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH

You get 2x the points for the entire month of your birthday, so this is an awesome time to treat yourself while earning extra points.

4. CHECK THE MAILERS, EMAILS, AND WEBSITE FOR SPECIAL PROMOTIONS

Sometimes they will offer 2, 3,4 or even 5x the points on a certain product or brand! So, if it’s something you would use this is amazing! If you wouldn’t, it may be a great time to get someone a gift if you can think of someone in your life who would use it.

5. BUY STUFF WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING EXTRA. PERIOD.

It sounds so simple, but spend money when you’re getting extra points to get the most bang for your buck. Also keep an eye out for gifts with purchase. I am not perfect about this, but if I have my eye on an expensive item I wait until I’m going to be getting extra points before buying it whenever possible. Also, if you have a holy grail foundation or eye liner, stock up when you’ll be getting extra points! Points at Ulta are awesome becasue that is money towards new products!! I have even been able to get items completely free by saving my points up!! I don’t ever use the points for a small amount like $5 (unless I’m extra broke that month, hah) because I am a points collector!! I love being able to get things like high-end makeup free.

If you would like more information on the Ulta Ultamate Rewards Program you can find it here.

Ulta is offering 2x the points and 3x for platinum members until 8/22/15…happy shopping ; )

I hope that you found this helpful! If you did, please subscribe, and share! Let me know how you like to use your Ulta points in the comments. Don’t forget to stop by my LeahTackles YouTube Channel and my Daily Vlog Channel : ) I hope you have a great weekend!!