Rescue Beauty Lounge Locavore Review, Photos, Swatches

I'm not one to buy nail polish sight unseen. I just don't do it! But I recently took the plunge for Zoya so I figured I should take the plunge for the brand I've really been coveting, Rescue Beauty Lounge [only available online here]. I don't mind paying shipping from RBL because they package their nail polishes well, neatly and efficiently in boxes and bubble wrap. Zoya, on the other hand, charges for shipping but sends out my order hastily wrapped in linty cushion, covered several times over in clear packing tape that made the lint difficult to cut through. If you're going to overcharge me for USPS shipping, I expect bubble wrap - nothing that causes a mess or a hassle.

Anyway, that's my little packaging rant. I'm sorry if you think I'm being harsh but I like to get my money's worth at all times, even when it comes to shipping. I'd buy Zoya again if I see any covetable colors at Ulta but I will avoid Zoya's subpar shipping and handling from now on.

Thankfully, this review writes itself. Locavore is a limited edition nail polish from Rescue Beauty Lounge and it's drop-dead gorgeous. It wears terribly without a base coat, one day tops before chipping occurs, but when paired with Deborah Lippmann's Ridge Filler, it lasts one week. Not bad! Just try to avoid very hot showers, as that makes the polish peel off completely. Glitters can be difficult and as unique and beautiful as this color is, Locavore suffers from the usual downfalls of glitter nail polish. 

More on the color: Green, fuchsia, and turquoise glitters are suspended in a clear base but this festive color is opaque in two coats. The formula is thicker than any of my other glitter polishes but that's due to the number of microshimmers in the polish. Believe me, that's a good thing. [The only formula that comes close is Butter London's newest Holiday polish, The Black Knight, which is also gorgeous and memorable, but it chips within hours of application!]

In front of my window 

In sunlight, to show the facets of the polish

Bottom Line: I don't have anything else like it so make sure you buy it before it sells out again!

Shiseido 'Perfect' Foundation Brush Review, Photos

I know, I know.. how could I not have tried this brush sooner? It was a smashing success with beauty editors even before its public launch and I see can why! It's definitely among my top 5 favorite foundation brushes and yields very similar results to Sigma's famous F80. Both boast densely-packed brush heads with carefully placed, soft synthetic bristles. The F80 gives me more of an airbrushed finish with rarely any streaking so I do prefer it, but the Shiseido Perfection Foundation brush comes pretty darn close. I dab a pea-sized amount of the liquid foundation over the center of my face, most carefully around the orbital bone and around my nose, and then smooth the foundation outward to my forehead and sides of the face. I also go back and dab a smidge extra on the tops of my cheeks to cover my redness since I don't use concealer regularly.

You really can use this brush with all foundation formulas - just make sure you wash and dry between powder, liquid, or cream foundations. I personally prefer using this brush with liquid foundations because I use a MAC 187 for powders and the CoverFX 160 for creams.

The angled slant of the bristles makes it easy to maneuver through the contours of the nose, eyes, and mouth and I actually prefer the shorter handle! Some have complained at how small the brush is but I find that it offers more control and it's much easier to store in my travel bag.

I wish I had taken more photos for size comparison but this Sigma travel/short-handled brush from the London kit was the only one I had on hand. Still, the Shiseido brush is much smaller!

Bottom Line: This may be the best affordable, most versatile foundation brush on the market right now and it's a must-have in my book!

Butter London Blagger Review, Photos, Swatches

There are few Butter London polishes that I think are worthy of the $14 price tag but Blagger has captured my heart. I had been looking for an opaque, bright blue cream that wouldn't darken against my currently medium skin tone yet all the similar colors I had tried previously from other brands were shimmers, not creams. When I saw Ingrid tweeting about it, however, I knew I had to try it!

Blagger is perfect in two coats, and unlike some of my other BL polishes, it doesn't chip! There was some minor tip wear but that's normal. I didn't use a base coat and only added BL's Hardwear topcoat in the photos seen here in this post. I love how rich and vivid the blue hue is, don't you?

Bottom Line: I love it and it's one of my Top 3 Butter London nail polishes!


P.S. I'm sorry I haven't reviewed the BL Holiday colors yet. Soon, I promise!

Neutral Cut Crease Tutorial Product List and Video Details

My first cut crease eye tutorial! This technique is best for hooded eyes that need some lift and it's also great for those looking for a way to dramatize and spice up their make-up routine. I admit I am a little rusty at it since it has been years, literally, since I last donned this look but I still hope you enjoy the tutorial! I also didn't blend out the sketch line, though I generally would, so you could better gage the effect of the cut crease technique. The more you darken the area where you cut the crease, the more impact the look will have!



*Note: I had already applied my D&G Powder Foundation and Shu Uemura Brow Pencil earlier so that is why the foundation and brow footage is not included.

Products Used in the Tutorial:
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Laura Mercier Eyeshadow in Vanilla Nuts with LM Angled Eye Color Brush
Urban Decay Naked Palette - Virgin, Smog, Darkhorse with dual-ended Zero & Whiskey 24/7 Pencil
Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eyeliner in Ebony from Sephora
Lancome Hypnose Drama Waterproof Mascara in Black
[Unknown brand of false lashes, 10-pack style]
D& G The Blush in Tan and Peach with Sigma F25 and F40
Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bellini

Nails:
Rescue Beauty Lounge Bikini Bottom

Lenses:
Geo Tri Color Grey from Pinky Paradise