February 2014 Favorites [Hits & Misses] feat. Eyeshadow Palettes, Brushes, Skin, etc.!

February was such a busy month, and March will only be more hectic! I had to whittle this video down and leave out some skin care products, but I will be sure to cover them individually here on the blog later this month. Instead, I chose to discuss some of the hottest new makeup releases from Smashbox and NARS here in this episode, as well as the Hakuhodo face brushes I have been enjoying for the past few weeks. I hope you enjoy the video! xo

PRODUCTS REVIEWED:

Smashbox Full Exposure Eyeshadow Palette 

Too Faced Glitter Glue Eyeshadow Primer 

NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette 

Tom Ford Eyeshadow Palettes in Cocoa Mirage and Seductive Rose 

Chanel Ombres Contraste Eyeshadow Duo in 70 Rose Majeur
Tom Ford Lip Sheer Lipstick in Summer Fling 

Stila Lip Glazes in Fairy Dust & Apricot 

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Granite 

Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in Granite

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Ebony 

Hakuhodo S5557 Angled Foundation Brush 

Hakuhodo S103 Pointed Powder Brush 

Hakuhodo S106 Angled Powder Brush   

EM Michelle Phan All Over Face Brush
Make Up Forever 112 Foundation Brush
Sigma Beauty F69 Angled Pixel Concealer Brush 

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay 

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask with Red Clay 

GlamGlow Brightmud Eye Treatment

     *Get 30% Off ALL GlamGlow HERE with Promo Code: RRBM
     **Unfortunately this code was discontinued by the manufacturer. Sorry for any troubles!** 

ENJOY Conditioning Spray & Luxury Conditioner 

     *Get 20% Off ALL Enjoy HERE with Promo Code: RREJ

Orly Won't Chip Top Coat 

Makeup Worn:

Chanel Le Blanc Sheer Illuminating Base 

Chanel Vitalumiere Liquid Foundation in B30 

EM Michelle Phan Concealer Palette in Light 

Koh Gen Do Triple Lighting Powder Foundation in OC-1 

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Terra 

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil Cartridge in 204 and Holder 

NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette [All About Eve I, Nepal, Ashes to Ashes, Mekon] 

EM Michelle Phan Scribble Eyeliner in Tattoo Black   

Giorgio Armani Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Black 

Hourglass Film Noir Mascara 

Tom Ford Lip Sheer Lipstick in In The Buff 

Velour Lashes in Guilty, Lashaholic 

     *Use promo code RAEVELOUR to receive 15% off your purchase!

Earrings:
House of Harlow White Sunburst Studs

Nails:
Chanel Spring 2014 Tapage

Sweater:
DailyLook

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Bright-Eyed, Natural 'Everyday' Makeup for Spring 2014 + Tutorial

As much as I love dramatic eye looks, I rarely wear smoky eyes or even dark eyeshadows these days. I like to keep things natural and simple, especially when the weather is gloomy, so I have found that the easiest way to perk up my look is to focus on brightening the eyes. A little bit of highlighter in the tear duct area and perfectly curled lashes with a hint of elongating eyeliner is really all it takes to add some polish to any outfit. I like to think of this as a template tutorial, so feel free to layer on more blush and add some half lashes to the outer corners of the eyes! Have fun with it xo

Products Used:
Panasonic Heated Eyelash Curler
-- Discount Code: CURLIT / Click here to purchase
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Granite
MAC 266 Angled Brush
By Terry Hyaluronic Eye Primer in Neutral
Bobbi Brown Spring 2014 Nude Glow 'Bronze' Eyeshadow Palette
Hakuhodo Kokutan Eye Brush ML
Sigma Exact Blend E32 Eye Brush
MAC 239 Flat Shader Eye Brush
EM Cosmetics Waterliner in Chocolate Dream
Dior Eyeliner Brush
Eyeko Black Magic Mascara
Clinique Spring 2014 Cheek Pop 'Plum Pop' Blush
Bobbi Brown Blush Brush
Dior Crème de Rose SPF 10 Lip Balm
ALSO WORN:
Burberry Sheer Cover Fluid Foundation in 4
Dior Nude Powder Compact Foundation in 20
Tom Ford Matte Bronzer in Terra

Nails:
Glitzy Nail Bar

Blouse:
Black Twisted Draped Blouse

Earrings:
House of Harlow White Sunburst Studs

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REVIEW: My Top 5 Brow Products + Eyebrow Tutorial

I love brow products. Though I am constantly testing new releases like the Hourglass Arch pencil, I am a creature of habit. I prefer to stick to what I know works best with my features. That is why I have been wearing the Cle de Peau brow pencil in natural black so often. Now that I am growing out my natural hair color, the 204 shade is the perfect fit.. not too warm, not too cool taupe-tinged gray. It does help that my brows have also grown out over the last six months, since the shading process is not nearly as tedious as it once was. Moral of this story: let your eyebrows grow out!

In the past year, I experimented with all sorts of brow trends. I went really thick, then really dark, then really thin. I tried to embrace the increasingly popular cream brow trend. Though it looked better some days than others, it just doesn't work well for fine eyebrows like mine. Pencil is the easiest to master, but it also looks the most natural. Some also love powder for precision, but trying to find the perfect grey eyeshadow is another headache I would rather not chronicle. I managed to find a couple that are wearable, but none are as ideal in color as Cle de Peau or Shu Uemura's pencils.

Brows are all preference, though, so wear them however and with whatever you think suits your face best. These five pencils just happen to work well for me.. all tried and true!

Brow Pencils Reviewed:
1. Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil Cartridge in 204 + Eyebrow Pencil Holder 
                [Review HERE]
2. Shu Uemura Hard 9 Formula Pencil in Stone Grey
3. Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso
                [Review HERE]
4. Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil in Soft Brunette
5. Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette or Medium Ash
*NOTE: The swatches for the majority of these products are within the reviews I have already written, so please reference the linked posts for more information.
**NOTE: I no longer use the Shiseido brow pencil. It is still worth trying if the CdP is out of your budget and if you do not want to order the SU online. I just happen to find the CdP is much more versatile and easier to use on my fine brow hairs.

PRODUCTS USED

Makeup Worn:
Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Linen
Koh Gen Do Triple Lighting Powder in OC-2
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder Compact in Natural 1
Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Concealer in Shade 1
Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in Natural Black 204
Giorgio Armani Summer 2013 Palette - Eyeshadows
Inglot Gel Liner in Brown with Red Cherry 747M Lashes
Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Hibiscus

Shirt:
James Perse

Nails:
Dior Destin [Review HERE]

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