July Favorites

I have really been itching for July to end. Of course, every month I'm like, "Oh wow, this month went by so fast!" But I feel like July has really dragged on. I probably feel that way because I'm moving across the country in about three weeks! Anyways, I kicked off  July with some amazing purchases at PHAMExpo, and I've had an awesome month for beauty products because of it.

Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser. This stuff is freaking amazing. I am notorious for being really lazy about cleaning my brushes. That's why I kind of hoard brushes, so I don't have to clean them so often! However, between deep cleans, I use the Solid Cleanser to keep everything sanitary, so that when I do finally deep clean my brushes, I don't have as many to clean! It also dries super quickly, so you don't have to wait a few days for your brushes to dry.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. This contour palette has changed the way I contour my face! The center taupe color is the perfect contour shade for me, and I love using the banana color to highlight under my eyes, while using the shimmering pink color to highlight the tops of my cheekbones. When I had my wisdom teeth removed earlier this month, this contour kit really helped to make my chipmunk cheeks look a lot more normal! As you can see in the photo, this palette is already being very well loved.

Matrix Biolage Fortetherapie Strengthening Conditioner. I have had an amazing hair month, and I completely attribute it to this conditioner. I started using this conditioner early in the month and my hair as been completely transformed! It is so much stronger and healthier than it was before. I use it every other wash in conjunction with my Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Color because it is a bit pricey, but it is seriously worth every penny to have my color-damaged hair feel this soft and healthy!

Aussie Sprunch Mousse + Leave-in Conditioner. Supposedly this mousse is meant for curly hair, but I like using it to give me a little bit more control over my hair. Like I said, I've had an awesome hair month, and this is another product I've tried that I really believe has helped my hair! The leave-in conditioner that is built into this mousse is not heavy at all, and the mousse really helps to hold texture, which my hair has very little of. When I get out of the shower, I will run this through my hair and twist sections of my hair, and it just gives me a really effortless look! And when I curl my hair, this mousse gives me such a defined, piecey look!

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep. I always talk about how much I hate my brows, but this product has seriously changed the way I look at them. I still fill my brows lightly, but this tinted brow gel has a fiber formula that makes my brows look like they grow that way naturally! It gives just enough volume to my brows to make them seem natural without looking at all overdone, and the tiny little wand is perfect for keeping your application precise!

I always try to keep my favorites narrowed down so that you don't have a huge wall-of-text to read, but I found so many incredible products this month! Let me know your favorite products in the comments below!

- D.

The Interrogation Beauty Tag

I've been wanting to do some looks for you lately, but it has been so hot and humid in San Diego that I can barely put on a small amount of makeup to even go out! So instead, you guys get a fun beauty tag. My good friend Sarah from Diary of a Beauty Padawan did this tag about a week ago and I've decided to do it as well! So grab a nice refreshing glass of lemonade and let's get started.

1. What is the one product you'd grab if your house was on fire?

• Moisturizer. Definitely moisturizer. My absolute favorite is the First Aid Beauty Ulta Repair Face Moisturizer. I have dry-combo skin, so without this stuff, my skin turns into a total desert, and what's the point of putting on makeup if your skin is dried out?

2. Which beauty blogger would you want to do your makeup?

• I have to say Leesha from xSparkage. She is a beauty blogger/vlogger and is the reason I started blogging in the first place! I absolutely love both her YouTube channel and her blog, and her makeup looks are always amazing!

3. Which celeb do people think you look like?

• I've always been told that I look a lot like Audrey Hepburn, which to me is a total compliment! It must run in my family or something, because my little niece gets it all the time as well. I've also been told Jena Malone when she has her dark hair (like in Catching Fire), which again, is a total compliment. I think it's a bit more evident when I have bangs, so here are some older photos for comparison!

4. What beauty product do you save for a date night?

• I can't really think of anything in particular that I save for date nights. Maybe perfume? I don't usually wear much in the way of perfume, and I kind of just wear whatever makeup I feel like wearing regardless of occasion. 

5. Which of your guy friends takes longer than you to get ready?

• Honestly, it would be my boyfriend. He takes an eternity in the shower, so if we consider the entire from shower to out-the-door getting ready process, he probably takes about as long as me if not longer. The only thing he really has on me is that he doesn't have to blow dry his hair. 

6. If you could create your own miracle beauty product, what would it be?

• A foolproof, full coverage foundation that never cakes. I know those exist, but sometimes even the best foundations will get cakey if not applied correctly! Or a one-step tattoo cover up. As someone who lives in the world of theatre, few things are harder than covering up tattoos! Or, the perfect lipstick formula that never needs touch ups, doesn't feather, and doesn't stain (see also: question #11). 

7. What's your best beauty tip?

• Take care of your skin. Hydrate it. Drink lots of water. Splurge on skincare. I am a firm believer that beauty starts from the inside, so eat healthy so that your inner health will radiate outward. Your makeup will apply so much more easily if you take care of yourself first.

8. What beauty products do you love to splurge on?

• Um, how about everything? I don't even know. If I think it's worth it, I'll splurge on it. End of story.

9. Which beauty bloggers would you bring on a shopping spree?

• It's funny that she mentioned me as well, but I would definitely take Sarah. I think we would have so much fun shopping together, and we're both pretty bad about the whole "It's okay, just get it!" thing ;)

10. What is your signature scent?

• I don't really tend to wear perfume. I really love deep, musky scents though, so I guess that is what I would have to say.

11. I'm on an endless quest for the perfect...

• Red lipstick. I want the perfect blue-toned, blood red lipstick that doesn't feather, fade, or stain. I want a red lipstick that I never have to touch up and stays vibrant all day. I know, I'm asking for a lot, but I have yet to find it!

12. How many beauty products does it take to get your ready? 

• Depends on the day, but if I include skincare and haircare, I totaled up 15 products that I use on a normal day.

13. What lipstick/lip gloss do you have in purse right now?

• I think the only lip product I actually have in my purse (considering I just cleaned it out) is the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, which isn't actually my favorite of the Fresh collection, but it's the only one I have at the moment.

14. Who is your celebrity beauty icon?

• Alexa Chung, Dena Kaplan, and of course, Audrey Hepburn.

15. Name the beauty brand you'd most love to be a spokesperson for.

• Wow, this one is actually really hard. Considering my collection, the answer would be Too Faced, since I have a lot of products from them. However, I absolutely love the vintagey vibe that brands like Soap & Glory and The Balm have! 

16. What's your current nail polish?

• Currently my nails are bare! But the color I recently removed was actually a limited edition version of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips. I can't quite remember what they were called, but they looked like fish scales!

17. Favorite mascara right now? 

• Always the Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara, although recently I've been loving the waterproof version.

18. The last thing you bought at Boots?

• We don't have Boots here in the US, unless you count the little Boots section at Target, in which I'd have to say the last item I bought was the Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream.

19. I try to never be seen without wearing...

• Some kind of eyebrows. I hate my brows. It's no secret. I always try to at least even them out with a little bit of powder before I head out the door!

20. What's one beauty product you'd always recommend? 

• Ooooh, this is a hard one because there's a lot of stuff I absolutely love. But I would have to say I always go back to the original L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I picked this foundation because, with more than 30 shades, you can pretty much find something for everyone!

If you are a blogger and you read this post, then I tag you! Leave a link to your blog in the comments below and I'll be sure to check it out! 

- D. 

Battle of the Blenders

This post has taken a little longer than expected getting out for two reasons:

1. I had my wisdom teeth removed this past Monday and the painkillers they gave me pretty much made me hibernate; and
2. I've been incredibly lazy and didn't feel like typing up my thoughts despite knowing exactly what I wanted to say.

And now, I'm probably just procrastinating packing for my big college move, but hey, what better way to procrastinate than by actually doing something productive, right?

Before I get started, I do want to make note that I now have a Facebook page! Please check it out, and it would mean so much to me if you could like it. Check it out here, or click on the little Facebook icon on the right sidebar. 

Anyways, onto today's topic. The Beauty Blender has been a pretty big thing for a couple of years now, and now it seems like every brand is making a point to come out with a dupe of their own. I haven't had my Beauty Blender for very long, but it has already changed the way I apply my foundation. However, the original Beauty Blender usually runs for about $20. I was lucky enough to get a fantastic deal at PHAMExpo, but I know not everyone has the opportunity to go to a beauty show and get one. 

Not too long ago, Real Techniques came out with their own Beauty Blender dupe: the Miracle Complexion Sponge. I had been eyeing this sponge for a while since I already love the Real Techniques brushes (especially the Expert Face Brush), and after falling in love with the original Beauty Blender, I decided to give this dupe a shot! At only $6, I figured, what do I have to lose?

Purchasing: This one is easy. The Beauty Blender runs for $19.95 and can be bought online, or you can find a store near you that carries them by clicking here. The Miracle Complexion Sponge is $6, and can be bought online or in many different drugstores, or at Ulta. You can also find local retailers that carry it by clicking here.

First Look: At first glance, to me, the Beauty Blender simply appears more expensive. I don't think it really appears to be worth $20, but it does look more high-end than the Miracle Complexion Sponge. I think this may be because the Miracle Complexion Sponge appears to be more porous than the Beauty Blender, making me kind of think of a cheap makeup sponge wedge that you can buy in packs of 100 at Walmart.

I placed both sponges next to a mini Bath & Body Works candle as a sizing reference.

Shape: The Beauty Blender has the classic egg-shaped design that almost doubles in size when wet. The Miracle Complexion Sponge also gets somewhat larger when wet, and has a similar design to the Beauty Blender, with an added flat side that is meant to be used around the contours of the eyes and nose. I think I prefer the shape of the Miracle Complexion Sponge because it is bigger, and I love the flat side for general application of foundation. The Beauty Blender's size tends to make everything a little bit tedious, and the rounded shape limits the application. 

Texture: The difference in the porosity of the two sponges is very apparent just by looking at them. When you look at the original Beauty Blender, it looks very firm, and you are almost surprised at how bouncy and spongy it actually is. With the Miracle Complexion Sponge, it's very obvious that it is, in fact, a sponge, and it is much less dense than the Beauty Blender. It doesn't bounce off the skin quite like the Beauty Blender does. That being said, both the Beauty Blender and the Miracle Complexion Sponge are very soft, yet dense, and feel comfortable on the skin.

Application: Of course, application is the most important topic! With both sponges, you will want to dampen them for a few reasons. If you don't, you will have a very small tool to work with, and it'll take significantly longer to apply your makeup, and it'll probably feel pretty tedious. If you wet either sponge, they will almost double in size. Also, if you don't wet these sponges, they will absorb pretty much any liquidy product you try to use, which will only waste product and make your application sloppy. Point of this little ramble is to wet your sponges. All you have to do is run it under the tap and squeeze out the excess water.

When the Beauty Blender is dampened, it gets much larger, but retains its firmness. I felt that it also got a bit softer when wet. The Beauty Blender isn't as porous as the Miracle Complexion Sponge, so it retains much less water while still getting bigger. With the Miracle Complexion Sponge, I found that even after squeezing and squeezing, it still remained pretty wet, and it only expands a little bit. Strangely enough, I actually found that I got more coverage out of my foundation using the Miracle Complexion Sponge than I did the Beauty Blender. I'm not entirely sure how that makes sense, given the way both sponges responded to water, but that's what happened consistently as I was trying both of these sponges out.

My biggest problem is that the way the Miracle Complexion Sponge retained water actually seemed to dry out my skin. My skin responds pretty dramatically to water (due to the pH balance, yada yada), so the excess water in the Miracle Complexion Sponge seemed to end up on my face, which made my skin feel a little bit stripped. I didn't have this problem with the Beauty Blender.

Cleaning: Both sponges are incredibly easy to clean. I love using the Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser because it's just so easy, however, you can use a gentle facial cleanser or a gentle shampoo to clean both the Beauty Blender and the Miracle Complexion Sponge. If your sponge starts to smell a bit, or you're worried about bacteria, simply throw it into the microwave in a bowl with about an inch of water in it, let it cool, wash it as normal, and you're good to go!

Final Smackdown: All in all, both sponges are fantastic. I feel like my analysis of these sponges seems very...cold? But I really do love both of these sponges and I think they both have their pros and cons. Of course, the Beauty Blender is more expensive. However, I feel like it gives you better control in terms of coverage, and it holds just the right amount of water. The Miracle Complexion Sponge is better for someone who prefers a higher coverage and likes a super quick, flawless application, who isn't bothered by the water thing. I also think that the Beauty Blender is best for concealing and blending out other products that you may have gone a bit overboard on, while the Miracle Complexion Sponge is better for a general foundation application. I think that if I could take the material of the Beauty Blender and mix it with the design of the Miracle Complexion Sponge, I would have my perfect foundation tool.

If I had to pick one, I'd probably lean toward the original Beauty Blender, simply because of the water problem. However, I do not in any way think the Miracle Complexion Sponge is a bad product! I will definitely use both sponges depending on my needs. For $6, you definitely can't go wrong with the Miracle Complexion Sponge. However, if you don't mind spending the $20, the original Beauty Blender is a cult classic!

Which sponge do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below!

- D.

p.s. There is still time to enter my Lorac Pro Palette 2 giveaway! Use the widget below to enter.


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