I ♥ Too Faced the Bronzed & the Beautiful French Riviera Edition

This kit is an old favorite, and I seriously love it. Aside from the 3 Piece Essential Eye Brushes, this is probably my favorite Too Faced product ever! Really, I'm obsessed.

As with all Too Faced kits, this one comes with 3 instruction cards with great how-to's. This is perfect for any bronzer beginner or makeup fan on the lookout for different application techniques - it is a perfect reminder to try different things every once in a while!

This palette includes 3 of Too Faced's regular bronzer line as well as a gold highlighting powder. The shades included are Chocolate Soleil, Sun Bunny, Powdered Sun, and Snow Bunny. As you might know, Chocolate Soleil smells like chocolate and is super smooth and matte (and pretty!) Also included in the set is a mini size of Primed & Poreless Bronze Tint.

Chocolate Soleil - This is one of my favorite bronzers. Definitely in my top 5. The scent is nice, but not overpowering, and it does wear off within an hour or so. The matte shade is brilliant, and the powder is so finely milled. It is great! (And there is a Milk Chocolate shade now for paler ladies.)

Sun Bunny - So pretty! At first I thought the shimmer would be scary, but it isn't! Definitely a pretty bronze/glowy color for summer.

Powdered Sun - A pale gold shimmer highlight that ended up being subtle and nice on my skintone.

Snow Bunny - For me, this was a lighter version of Sun Bunny that would be perfect for lighter skintones or winter time.

Primed & Poreless Bronze Tint with SPF 20 - This is one of the only primers out there that I like. It seems really dark/orangey at first, but once you blend it in, it just gives you a bit of color. I'm not sure if it will work for those of you with very pale skin, but I think it will work for a wide range of light to medium tones. I also loved this last year with Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer - it really added to the coverage and was a winning combination!

What do you think of this bronzer palette? Should I do a post with the looks from the instructions? Have you tried this or any other Too Faced bronzing product? :)

The Search for "Everyday Makeup"

Last week, I happened upon this look and thought it was a nice one for everyday. (Can someone tell me why my skin is so... bumpy/pore-ish? Blah!)

I'm sad to admit that my everyday makeup routine typically consists of nothing. Well, moisturizer and sometimes lip balm, but otherwise nothing. I'm always pressed for time in the mornings, and as I've discovered, VERY very slow at makeup application and even more so in the mornings.

At most, I can manage 5 minutes to throw together some makeup, so it was a few months ago that I decided I should figure out a go-to routine so I can use all the products that I love! (See previous look attempts here and here)

Needless to say, I've figured out nothing and still can't get into the habit of makeup everyday!

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Rich Mahogany - as liner
MAC Charcoal Brown eyeshadow - crease & contour
Fresh Umbrian Clay Concealer #3
Nars Tinted Moisturizer in St Moritz
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige - all over lid
Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Flushed
Dior Diorshow Maximizer
Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

I can never manage to fit in ALL of these products in a morning - last time I tried, I managed to do Nars TM, Fresh concealer, Mac Charcoal Brown, and then a quick smushing (yes, I use this word regularly) of the Maybelline Color Tattoos. I think if I tried to put on mascara and curl my lashes, that just by itself would take me 5 minutes! (And that is one reason I'm not wearing mascara in this photo!)

If I did have a few more minutes, or managed not to be inept... (I can dream, right?) I would also include a liner and do tightlining (Sephora Flashy Liner in Taupe is a current favorite), or replace the Color Tattoos with any number of neutral eyeshadow products, or just a quick swipe of a shadow pencil for speed. I also love my Givenchy Mister Light Corrector Pen, so I'd probably throw that in for the shadows on my face. And LIPS! I wish I could remember to put something on my lips... what do I even have all that nice lipstick for??

... I really don't know how anyone puts on makeup fast, or even at all in the mornings. Kudos to you for having the time and skill to do it quickly! :)

What do you think of this look? Do you have any tips for a quick morning routine? :) Do you think I should try to show you guys more looks?

This Week & Lush Sneak Peek!

This week has been a big week of organizing, unpacking, and cleaning up, which in my world also means quite a lot of lazing about in between. (Haha!) I've discovered that I have more clothes than any reasonable person should... and hardly any storage space left. So, you guys, don't let me buy any clothes!! (Or makeup... haha!)

In case you missed it, I posted a blog sale midweek. I hope you will check it out and find a new home for these things. I can't ever hope to finish anything that I own!

Favorite of the Week:  I've been playing around with an everyday look I figured out a few weekends ago. Now I'm just trying to do it faster! Will have a post  up about the look tomorrow so you can see it and tell me what you think! :)

Limited Buy Status: As you know, I totally blew my limited buy with some Burberry... but aside from a nail file and base coat for not too much money, I haven't bought anything since. Phew!

I was also excited to come home to some products that Lush sent me! Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear! Anywho, I'd love to hear how your week/weekend is going, what your favorites are and what you've been buying! :)

Smooth Your Skin with La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer!

A few months ago, I happened upon this primer from La Roche Posay. I believe it came out for summer, and I'm definitely glad that I got it! Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3% (sunscreen)--Homosalate 10% (suncreen)--Octisalate 5% (sunscreen)--Octocrylene 5% (sunscreen)--Oxybenzone 6% (sunscreen).Inactive Ingredients: Dimethicone, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, talc, diisopropyl sebacate, silica silylate, glycerin, trimethylsiloxysilicate, dimethicone crosspolymer, water, diethylhexyl sryingylidenemalonate, cassia alata leaf extract, maltodextrin.

I know that for some of you, the ingredients may not be appropriate for your needs. (I'm sorry! :() However, I am happy to report that this product didn't cause any adverse reactions for my skin AND prevented sunburn on my face all summer in California.

For reference, I have normal, sometimes combination skin. I don't break out much anymore, but do get the occasional hormonal pimples or ones from (GASP) being too lazy to wash my face at night. I was able to use this primer instead of moisturizer most of the summer, though there were days that I needed just a bit more moisture to really feel like I had moisturized properly.

Here's a look at the texture of the product. I'm not sure how to describe it really - it has a thick, creamy, almost waxy texture, but not in a bad way!

Here's what it looks like once I've started to smooth out that small dot of product. Once blended, I did not experience any whiteness, and it helped to smooth out lines and the texture of my skin.

I don't typically like primers because of how they react to different foundations, and it was really the idea of an Anthelios SPF product that initially drew me in. So, with low expectations of this working with foundations, I decided that I'd be happy using it for the SPF and anti-aging benefits if it didn't work out as a primer! However, I'm really excited to report that I have had no issues with all the foundation products I've used with it so far! (Nars Tinted Moisturizer, Garnier BB Cream, Maybelline BB Cream) YAY! All in all, I love this product - it really is a multipurpose product for me. Unless something better comes along, I will continue to use it and repurchase it!

What I Love: - SPF 50, always a necessity! - Provides some moisture, so if I'm in a rush or don't feel dry, I don't need an additional product - Anti-aging claims are quite intriguing - Perfect with all of the foundation products I've used with it so far!

What do you think? Have you tried La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer? What other La Roche Posay products do you recommend? :)