How To Create A Custom Skin Care Routine: Splurge Edition!

Welcome back, Glams and Geeks! In Wednesday’s edition of How To Create A Custom Skin Care Routine, I recommended some brands that are easy to find at almost any drugstore or convenience store near you. Brands such as Burt’s Bees, Olay, Yes To, L’Oreal, etc. are not only affordable, but are so widely available that I knew it would be best to suggest those to start off with. Now, while those brands are great and do offer products that are budget-friendly and effective, today I want to talk about some great skin care products, offered by higher-end brands, that you can find at your nearest mall, or online! As I already went over all of the basics and essentials for your skin care routine in my previous post (click here if you haven’t read it, yet!), I will not go over it again here, as I want to get straight to the products that are intended for your specific skin type and concern!

Makeup Remover

Normal: Mac Cosmetics Makeup Removing Wipes, pack of 30 wipes- $10, pack of 45 wipes- $20, pack of 100 wipes- $29, available at your local Mac store or online at MacCosmetics.com

Dry: Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes, pack of 30 wipes for $12, available at your local Sephora store, online at Sephora.com, and online at JosieMaranCosmetics.com

Sensitive: Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths, Pack of 30 wipes- $15, available at your local Sephora store, Ulta store, or online at Sephora.com and Ulta.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes for Oily and Combination Skin, Pack of 25 wipes- $12, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com

Face Cleanser

Normal: Lush Let The Good Times Roll Face Cleanser, 3.5 oz. for $12.95, 8.8 oz. for $31.95; available at your local Lush store or online at LushUsa.com

Dry: Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil, 1.9 oz. for $12, 6 oz. for $32; available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and JosieMaranCosmetics.com

Sensitive: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, 1.7 oz. for $15, 5.1 oz. for $38; available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Fresh.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash, $12; available at your local Body Shop store or online at TheBodyShop-usa.com and Ulta.com

 Exfoliator

Normal: Mac Cosmetics Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator, $28; available at your local Mac store or online at MacCosmetics.com

Dry: Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish, $32; available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and LauraMercier.com

Sensitive: First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish, $24; available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and FirstAidBeauty.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: Lush Dark Angels Scrub, 3.5 oz. for $12.95, 8.8 oz. for $31.95; available at your local Lush store or online at LushUsa.com

Cleansing Brushes and Tools

Normal: Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge, $18, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Boscia.com

Dry: Dr. Dennis Gross Steamer Solutions, $125, available online at Sephora.com and DGskincare.com

 Sensitive: Foreo Luna for Ultra-Sensitive Skin, $199, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Foreo.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: Clarisonic Mia2 Sonic Skin Cleansing Acne Clarifying Collection, $169, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Carisonic.com

Toner

Normal: Lush Breath of Fresh Air, $9.95 for 3.3 oz., $21.95 for 8.4 oz; available at your local Lush store or online at LushUsa.com

Dry: Nars Multi-Action Hydrating Toner, $32, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and NarsCosmetics.com

Sensitive: Fresh Rose Floral Toner, $38, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Fresh.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic, $22, available at your local Sephora or online at Sephora.com and OleHenriksen.com

 Moisturizer (Day/Night)

 Normal: (Day) Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer with Mangosteen, $35, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Origins.com / (Night) Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night Cream, $50, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Philosophy.com

 

Dry: (Day) Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47, $32 for 2 oz., $54 for 4 oz; available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and JosieMaran.com / (Night) Philosophy Miracle Worker Overnight Moisturizer, $68, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Philosophy.com

Sensitive: (Day) First Aid Beauty 5 in 1 Face Cream with SPF 30, $38, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and FirstAidBeauty.com / (Night) REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil, $45, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and RenSkinCare.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: (Day) Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 PA++, $39.50, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Murad.com / (Night) Boscia Oil-Free Nightly Hydration, $36, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Boscia.com

 Firming/Fine Lines/Wrinkles: (Day) Shisheido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Day Cream with SPF 15 PA++, $53, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Shisheido.com / (Night) Bliss Youth As We Know It Anti-Aging Night Cream, $79, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and BlissWorld.com

 Eye Cream

 Normal: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream, $30, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Origins.com



Dry: Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Cream, $38, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and TarteCosmetics.com

Sensitive: First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy, $36, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and FirstAidBeauty.com

Firming/Fine Lines/Wrinkles: Nude Skincare Advanced Renewal Eye Complex, $58, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and NudeSkincare.com

Puffiness/Dark Circles: The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream, $18, available at your local Body Shop and Ulta stores or online at TheBodyShop-Usa.com and Ulta.com

Facials

  Normal: Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask, $6.95, available only in Lush stores.

Dry: Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial, $45, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and KorresUsa.com

Sensitive: Ole Henriksen Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask, $34, available at your local Sephora store and online at Sephora.com and OleHenriksen.com

Combo/Oily/Acne: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, $24, available at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com and Origins.com

 Thank you so much for stopping by and reading today's post! Please be sure to follow me on Instagram for more on beauty and skin care, as well as to find out about upcoming blog posts! @TheGlamGeekConfessional

Makeup Brush Guide- Eye Brushes

Hello Glams and Geeks! I hope yesterday’s post was very helpful in giving you a good enough description of each brush and their purpose as well as providing some useful tips and affordable brush options. Today’s post will be much like yesterdays, only that today we will be talking about eye brushes. Since the eyes are the focus of the face, it is very important to use tools that will allow you to pat, blend, and shade your eyes in a way that will make them sparkle a little brighter and be noticed in a way like never before. So, without further ado, let us begin!

Brush: Lid Brush

Purpose: A lid brush, which can go by other terms such as an eye shadow brush or a shader brush, is intended for applying shadow directly to the eyelid. This brush contains densely packed bristles, which allows for more product to be picked up on the brush and applied to the lid.

Tip: When working with shimmery/metallic shades, mist your brush with water, and pat the color onto your lid to pack it on. This will guarantee the best color payoff for your shimmering shades and will make them sparkle and shine brilliantly. I suggest not to use swiping motions (left to right swishes) when applying eye shadow, as this actually swipes away the shadow rather than allows it to be placed on the lid, making for a dull, faded color that barely lasts on the lid and seems poorly done.

Recommendation: Real Techniques Shading Brush, $6, can be purchased online at RealTechniques.com or in stores at your nearest Ulta location.

Brush: Crease Brush

Purpose: The crease brush is intended to help you directly apply color to the creased section of your eyes. The purpose of this is to compliment the lid color, as well as define the shape of your eyes.

Tip: Be sure when using a crease brush to lightly pat your brush onto the surface of your shadow, then, before applying it, tap your brush on the edge of the shadow casing to get rid of any excess product. By doing this, you will be able to keep your crease clean and can build up to your desired color. Too much product applied to the crease makes for a messy application and a harsh color.

Recommendation: E.L.F Cosmetics Essential Eye Crease Brush, $1, can be purchased online at Eyeslipsface.com or in stores at your local Target location.

Brush: Blending Brush

Purpose: The blending brush is meant to blend the lid and crease colors together, making them seem as if they are transitioning smoothly along the space of your lid.

Tip: Always go for a neutral color that compliments and balances both the lid and crease colors. Try selecting a color that seems most like the natural color of your crease when your skin is bare and free of any makeup.  

Recommendation: Sonia Kashuk Pointed Blending Brush #109, $3.99, can be purchased online at Target.com or in stores at your local Target location.

Brush: Smudge Brush

Purpose: A smudge brush is great to have on hand as it can be useful in creating any look. You can use it to apply shadow along the upper and lower lash lines, the inner corners, and in the crease. Its pointed tip makes it easy to get into hard-to-reach spots and transform your makeup.

Tip: To achieve a quick and easy smokey-eyed effect, try using whatever color you applied to your crease and apply it to your lower lash line with your smudge brush. Just go along the shape of your eye, and bring it up to the corner, and into your crease, and blend it in evenly. This will give you a sultry look in 2 minutes or less!

Recommendation: Eco Tools Sharpen and Smudge Duo, $3.99, can be purchased online at EcoTools.com or in stores at your local Walmart, Target, or participating Eco Tools retailer.

Brush: Eye Liner brush

Purpose: This brush is pretty self-explanatory, but to put it simply, it is a brush, either pointed or angled, that is meant to line the shape of your eye.

Tip: Since applying eye liner can be such a pain, I recommend starting at the edge of your eye with the wing. Create the slant extending outwards, without bringing it too high up. Then, go to the inner corner of your eye, and keep the brush right on the lash line, connecting it to the end of the wing. Now that you have this line created, go to the top of the wing, and start to bring it inwards towards the inner corner of your eye. Now, fill in the space, and voila! You have mastered the winged-linger!

Recommendation: E.L.F Cosmetics Studio Small Angled Brush, $3, can be purchased online at Eyeslipsface.com or in stores at your local Target location.

Brush: Brow Grooming Brush

Purpose: The brow grooming brush is meant to tame your brows and prepare them to be shaped or filled in. I recommend finding one that contains an angled brush on the end as this can be your go-to tools to prep and dress your brows with!

*Note: Can't find a double-sided brush? No problem! You can always use your angled eye liner brush to shape your brows as well! This is part of the "Knowing your tools" thing I mentioned in yesterday's post and now you see how being familiar with each brush can come in handy!

Tip: To create a great shape when filling in your brows, first start by dipping the brush end into your preference of brow powder, gel, liner, etc. Begin tracing along the bottom part of your brow, all the way from the base of your brow, to the tail. Next, fill in the tail, and use the excess product to trace along the top part of your brow. Now, you want to lightly apply product from bottom to top on the front part of your brow to fill it in without making it look too obvious. Lastly, use your spooley or comb to brush through your brows, and make them look a bit more natural.

Recommendation: Ardell Duo Brow Brush, $4.49, can be purchased online at SallyBeauty.com or at your nearest Sally Beauty location.


As always readers, thank you for reading this post! I hope you enjoyed reading this whether you are a beginning beauty, a curious artist, or just in the market for some great affordable brushes! Check back tomorrow, same time and place for the third and final part of this review focusing on Other Beauty Tools and Brush Maintenance! Also, if you have not done so already, be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up with upcoming blog announcements, quick product reviews and raves, look of the day, beauty tips and inspiration, and much more! Follow me @TheGlamGeekConfessional

Benefit Cosmetics Rockateur Blush Review

Here I am wearing the blush on my cheeks without any bronzer or highlighter

Here I am wearing the blush on my cheeks without any bronzer or highlighter

Hello Glams and Geeks! Today’s post is all about the Rockateur blush from Benefit Cosmetics! So, I was finally able to purchase this gorgeous rose-gold blush, and I am extremely happy that I did. Before I begin, I just want to talk a bit about the brand for those who may not be familiar. Benefit Cosmetics is a brand that started out as a small time boutique that was then called The Face Place in San Francisco, California. Over the years, the brand transformed into what now many people have come to love and know, as Benefit Cosmetics. The brand is sold at various retailers such as Sephora and Ulta, and has boutiques in certain parts of the country. Now that I’ve properly introduced you to this fun-loving brand, let’s get to it!

The Rockateur blush comes in a super cute, edgy little box and contains one applicator brush. This rose-gold blush is perfect for all skin tones as was intended. When applied, the blush goes on opaque, so one swipe is just enough. The rosy hue in the blush creates a gorgeous, flirty flush on the cheeks while the gold in it emphasizes cheek definition and creates a natural radiant glow. The texture is very soft and smooth, bringing a silky color to your cheeks. It lasts all day, so no need to carry it around in your purse for touch ups. This is perfect for day and night, for everyday use such as school or work, and for special events such as a date or a wedding. So, whether you’re in the mood to get glammed up for work or finally going on a date with that special someone, just swipe this on and wait for the compliments! This really is an essential color for your makeup collection as it is perfect for just about any look. This product retails at $28 and can be purchased at a local Benefit retailer near you or online at BenefitCosmetics.com

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you check out the Rockateur blush at a Benefit Cosmetics retailer near you! I promise it’ll be worth it!

Nyx Cosmetics Haul and Review

Hello Glams and Geeks! It’s time for the much awaited Nyx Haul review! I decided to post this review during the weekend so that I could try on the products during the week and give you guys the most accurate reviews on each and every item. So, this past week, I found out that Ulta was having a 40% off sale on Nyx cosmetics. And of course, I went and picked up some goodies that I’ve been wanting to try for a while. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this brand, Nyx Cosmetics is a cruelty-free brand who offer professional make-up at an affordable price. They have a wide range of products and colors, from neutrals to neon’s. Although they do not have any free-standing stores, they are sold at many locations, most popularly at Ulta and CherryCulture.com.

Today, I will be reviewing the following products:

From Top to Bottom: Purple Rain, Prune, Plum, Orange, Nude Pink, Coral, and Bloom

·         Nyx Slim Lip Liner Pencil in the following shades-

o   Bloom (Matte, Deep Fuchsia-Berry Color)

o   Coral (Warm, Creamy Coral color with minimal frost)

o   Nude Pink (Matte, Cool Rose color)

o   Orange (Matte, Hot Orange color)

o   Plum (Matte, Deep Red-Wine color)

o   Prune (Matte, Deep Purple color)

o   Purple Rain (Bright Magenta color with slight sheen)

From Top to Bottom: Addis Ababa, Bueno Aires, Istanbul, Sydney, Tokyo

·         Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in the following shades-

o   Addis Ababa (Hot Fuchsia-Pink)

o    Buenos Aires (Light, Creamy Orange)

o   Istanbul (Light, Creamy, Salmon-Pink)

o   Sydney (Cool tone Bubble-Gum Pink)

o   Tokyo (Light, Lavender-Pink)

Top: Apple Strudel
Bottom: Eclaire

·         Nyx Butter Gloss in the following shades-

o   Apple Strudel (Coral)

o   Eclaire (Blue-based Pink)

Left: Natural
Right: Rose Petal

Powder Blushes on TopLeft Top Swatch: Summer Peach
Right Top Swatch: Pinched
Rouge Cream Blush Swatches on BottomLeft Bottom Swatch: Rose Petal
Right Bottom Swatch: Natural

·         Nyx Rouge Cream Blush in the following shades-

o   Natural (Dusty-Pink)

o   Rose Petal (Blush-Rose)

Left: Pinched
Right: Summer Peach

·         Nyx Powder Blush in the following shades-

o   Pinched (Rosy-Terracotta with minimal Gold shimmer)

o   Summer Peach (Hot Peach with Gold shimmer)

Wonder Pencil in Medium

·         Nyx Wonder Pencil in Medium (For Olive Skintones)

·         Nyx Illuminator in Narcissistic (Light, iridescent Peachy-Nude with Gold gleam and shimmer)

 

Bloom

Purple Rain

Plum

Prune

Orange

Coral

Nude Pink

Let’s begin with the Nyx Slim Lip Liner Pencils. Upon trying these on, the first thing I noticed is that although they apply very smoothly, they can be a bit drying on the lips, settling into the creases and emphasizing dryness. But, if applied over a moisturizing lip balm, this won’t be too troublesome. What I like is that all of the liners are pretty good quality for such a low price. They last a long time and do not require much reapplication, as I went well over 5-6 hours without touch ups. Also, I love that they don’t feather around the edges of your lips like some liners may do if they are in darker colors. For example, Bloom, a deep fuchsia-berry color, went on smooth and settled onto my lips without budging nor fading. This product retails at $3.50.

Sydney

Addis Ababa

Tokyo

Buenos Aires

Istanbul

Next up, we have the Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creams. These gorgeous liquid lipsticks are a perfect choice for long periods of time as they are smudge-proof and do not transfer. When applied, they go on like a gloss, but may feel a little drying as they settle into lips with a nice, matte finish. The colors are very opaque and can be worn alone, or paired with a lip liner to make colors pop. Another plus for these lovely lippies is their delicious vanilla scent. It isn’t a strong smell, nor an obnoxious one, as some lip products may be too sweet smelling. It is a nice, faint scent that is only noticeable when the cream is first applied, so it doesn’t linger all day. One point I wanted to make about the darker colors in this line, they could leave a light stain on your lips if not removed properly. I applied Addis Ababa to my lips and wore it for most of the day, and upon taking off my makeup, I found that my lips had a faint pink stain on them. I used a makeup removing towel and that wiped the remaining color off my lips. This product retails at $6.00.

Butter Gloss in Eclaire

Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel

The Nyx Butter Glosses are like little delectable pastries in a tube! These delicious glosses are the perfect choice for those of you with a sweet tooth and a love for gloss. When applied, you can smell the sweet aroma of a buttercream cake upon your lips. The gloss leaves a sweet, sheer color on your lips that is very buildable. It isn’t sticky at all, as some glosses can be. It is very moisturizing and can last a few hours, requiring touchups throughout the day. These are also perfect to pair with your favorite Soft Matte Lip Creams! This product retails at $5.00.

 

Rouge Blush in Natural

Rouge Blush in Rose Petal

This next product is perfect for those of you who love natural, “Barely There” makeup. The Nyx Rogue Cream Blushes are beautiful, creamy blushes that bring a healthy, natural glow to any makeup look. Before applying, keep in mind that these are very pigmented, so use a light hand to apply to cheeks. When applied, you’ll notice that the color is very buildable and it gives your cheeks a flawless, dewy look. This is a great go-to product for anyone is looking to appear fresh-faced after a restless night or for someone looking to try something new. This can be applied with a stippling brush or with your finger-tips. This product retails at $6.00.

Pinched

Summer Peach

Another awesome product is the lovely Nyx Powder Blushes. These blushes will definitely give you your money’s worth with their long-lasting quality and their great pigmentation. These blushes go on pretty smooth and a little goes a very long way! They aren’t chalky or ashy like some powder blushes may appear. With one swipe, you can see a nice, healthy color on your cheeks, and can be built to the opacity you desire. One thing I wanted to mention is that of the two blushes I purchased, one contained tiny flecks of glitter, which may fall or transfer as they are loose. This was not a problem for me as these blushes are so pretty and the glitter just enhances the color. This product retails at $5.00.

 

Before applying Wonder Pencil

After applying Wonder Pencil

This next product is my personal favorite and now is part of my everyday makeup look, the Nyx Wonder Pencil in Medium. I absolutely love this pencil as it is great for multiple uses. I am someone who, like many, can sleep 8 hours or more and still have dark circles and tired eyes. Apply this pencil to your waterline and see your face brighten instantly! This pencil can be used to brighten your eyes, hide blemishes on your face, line the outer part of your lips to prevent lipstick from feathering, and as a highlight under your brow bone to emphasize your brow shape. Its formula is very creamy and lasts a little while without creasing or smudging. Reapplication to waterline may be required throughout the day. It also comes in two other shades: Light and Dark. This product retails at $4.50. 

Last but not least, the Nyx Illuminator in Narcissistic. This is a little piece of magic in a compact! This is great for emphasizing your cheek bones, highlighting your nose and your cupid’s bow above your lip, giving you a gorgeous, luminous glow. It is a light, iridescent peachy-nude with gold sheen and shimmer. I love that when applied over blush and on the highlight points of your face, you immediately look vibrant and refreshed. It is perfect for anyone trying to obtain a lit-from-within glow. This product retails at $9.00. Swatch available abov

As always, I thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed my review. I do hope you all check out the products from this post and let me know what you think. You can find these at any retailer that carries the brand, or at NyxCosmetics.com.