Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick Pink

More subtle than our Shimmer Brick but with the same overall brightening effect of our finishing powder, this formula creates a lit-from-within glow plus a hint of pretty pink. Use it just on the cheeks for a soft blush or all over the face for veil-like luminosity. The best part: this pink pairs perfectly with the season's nude and navy shades.



Brightening brick in Pink was limited edition and part of the Navy and Nude collection. It is on the same page as legendary BB shimmer brick but was supposed to be more subtle. I noticed it while walking by the Bobbi Brown counter and I had to turn around go back and swatch it. It was so beautiful under the store lights. Shimmer shimmer bling bling! This is a glitter bomb. I have no problem with glitter and shimmer- the more the better but in this case I have to disagree with description that this is more subtle than popular Shimmer brick. Shimmer brick does have more shimmer and is more opaque in color, while Brightening  brick is more sheer , more like a setting powder but it has large glitter particles. It does brighten nicely and you can dust off the glitter if it bothers you. This is more your "night out" product. Can't really say it's office friendly.

It comes in a standard black plastic square packaging. Honestly I do not like BB packaging it's bulky and plastic feels cheap. It also includes decent size mirror.

Size comparison - left brightening brick right shimmer brick

In a daylight, without a flash or direct sunlight it actually doesn't look that shimmery/glittery. Whenever I use it I mix all the 4 shades together. I am to lazy to try to use certain squares more than the other ones. If there is too much glitter on the skin I tried to dust it off with a fan brush.

Heavy swatches of the each separate color

Lightly dusted with MAC 188 brush. Taken indoors with a flash

 Same thing but taken in natural daylight

Overall it's nice product for shimmer lovers. I am not too crazy about it and most of the time I will reach for some other highlighter. I loved the idea of brightening and this does that especially over pink blushes it gives nice look, but I think I would be better of I picked some other brightening brick from their line . I think they had a Nude one that would work better for me.

NARS 413 BLKR and Hot Sand Illuminators

What it is:

A multifunctional face product that gives skin a refreshed luminosity.

What it does:

This light-reflecting liquid glides on to refresh and enhance the complexion, creating a shimmering incandescence. Wear it alone, or pair it with makeup to transform your skin from ordinary to extraordinary.

 

Today I wanted to show you two new additions to my ever growing NARS collection. NARS is a dangerous addiction. I have purchased  Hot sand illuminator as well as 413 BLKR illuminator. 

413 BLKR is described as shimmering champagne. It is on the similar page as Copacabana illuminator but it's more subtle not so shimmery. It is subtle enough to be mixed with the tinted moisturizer, moisturizer only or a foundation for the nice glow. I can see this one working on any skin tone and year around. Such a great addition to NARS line, although it's exclusive to their BLKR boutique and online shop.

Hot sand is part of their summer 2014 Adult swim collection. Described as peach champagne. When I hear anything peach and anything champagne and especially these two combined together I am sold right away. NARS you can take all of my money.  Hot sand is next to Orgasm illuminator probably the lightest one. It is VERY sheer. I assumed it will give some color like the rest but it barely shows up on my ghostly white NC15/20 skin. Good thing is that color is buildable. In my swatches I did couple of layers, pretty heavy to show you the color. There is no visible shimmer just nice warm glow. This could be great for those with light skin that are scared of color and shimmer on their cheeks. You can really overdo Hot sand. For the medium or darker skin tones this could work well mixed with foundation to give all over warmth or as a subtle hilighter. My friend who is about MAC NC35 uses this as a base underneath her blushes, bronzers etc... To give some glow and make the color pop.

 Warning - heavy swatches. The amount you see here could probably cover your whole face. 

NARS Illuminators are easy to work with. You can apply and blend them with your fingers or with a synthetic face brush. They have light texture that dries fast and does not leave any wet sticky feeling on skin. They stay on longer than Multiples. And I feel they look better on skin and they set better than Multiples.

I have previously reviewed NARS Copacabana, Orgasm and Super orgasm illuminators here

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmer shimmering powder for face and body

Our smooth, silky powder contains a sophisticated, microfine shimmer. Dust it on wherever you want to create an instant Naked glow!

Get Naked from head to toe. This smooth, silky powder contains a sophisticated, microfine shimmer and light-reflecting particles that give skin a luminous, radiant look. You really have to see it to appreciate how insanely beautiful it is! This lightweight, shimmering powder is baked on a terra cotta disc for 24 hours and then hand-finished, just like our popular Baked Bronzer. Baking the formula gives Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder a high level of just-perfect shimmer (without the metallic look of cheaper formulas). It also provides the color payoff of a loose powder, with the convenience of a pressed powder. The perfect way to get (or give) Naked, this shimmering powder comes in a gorgeous rose-gold box and makes the perfect gift for any Naked fan. Includes a generous mirror and a brush (housed in a separate compartment underneath the powder).

Fill Weight: 6 g NET WT. 0.2 oz

Naked Illuminated is super sparkly powder, or better call it it's a shimmer bomb. It is not for all over your face, some would actually question is it for the face at all? I do not mind using it on my face since I love  any kind of shimmer - the more the better. But if  you do not like big very noticable shimmer this is not for you. It looks so beautiful on top of cheekbones just underneath the outer corner of the eyes. 

Texture is pretty dry and kind of gritty. It does not surprise me since this is baked powder. 

Compact is lightweight but very bulky, since it has separate compartment for the brush. Brush is actually not bad and I noticed it applies the product much nicer than some other brushes I've tried. It picks up a lot of product. In my first two swatches I applied product on dry skin with heavy finger swatch. In the second photo I wanted to show staying power which is poor. Product is gone with the slightest touch on the skin. It just flies everywhere. I wore it for couple of days in a row over liquid foundation but even though it had something underneath to "hold" the product better it would not last longer than 2 hours on me (btw I never have problem with staying power). I think main issue is that product is so dry and glitter is large so there is nothing smooth ,soft and "creamy" to hold the product together on skin. Good thing is that product does not migrate all over the face. In 6-7 hours time I think I reapplied it 3 times. It looks so beautiful in artificial light, just looks unreal and very eye catching.
This could be such a beautiful body shimmer. I think maybe applied over thick and creamy/ sticky body lotion or butter it would stay on better. 

Second pair of swatches I applied product on dry skin with brush that comes in a compact. You can see it packs a lot of product. Second photo shows what happens with powder when dusted off with a brush. Again a lot of product is gone.

Overall I do like the way it looks. I like shimmer and fortunately I can wear this to work and for a night out, but of course it depends what kind of job you have. This is not office friendly. 

Amount is decent and it's not overpriced. I wish texture is smoother and softer without large dry chunky glitter. 

MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion Golden Elixir review, photos, swatches

MAC Strobe Liquid lotion in Golden elixir is a limited edition product and part of the MAC Temperature rising collection for summer 2013. It is warm toned, bronzed liquid with a golden shimmer. I am a huge fan of original Strobe liquid lotion so you can imagine how excited I was when I saw sneak peak photo of Golden elixir. Anything bronzing I am up for it! This pale girl needs all the help she can get to achieve fake sunkissed look!

When the first swatches started coming out I was a little bit disappointed. It looked sheer and too shimmery. And I may even say too orange. I decided to skip. But since I was near MAC counter on the day of the release I decided to give it a try on my hand. By itself is nothing special honestly. But when I applied
Prolongwear bronzing powder in Sundipped over it I loved it! It enhances bronze color in it, gives it a little bit more of a shimmer.

It comes in a sleek long bottle with a nice twist open-close system. It's a nice touch from MAC and they should make this kind of a top on all of their foundations (currently Prolongwear and Mineralize have the same thing but they should add it to Studio fix too).

Product looks pretty dark brown in the bottle I have to admit. But when applied it goes on pretty sheer. Texture is very thin, almost watery , lightweight and absorbs quickly. So if you want to blend it you will have no problem with it. It does not leave any kind of heavy feel on the skin. Since the texture is so lightweight this could work on any skin type. When it comes to skin tones I have a feeling this would look nicer on medium and darker skin tones. It would look more natural. On lighter skin tones it might pull a little bit orange.

My plan on using it was either over blush or a bronzer for a highlight or under bronzer for an enhanced bronzed look or mixed with a liquid foundation and applied all over. This would be great used on body too mixed with a body lotion or on it's own .

I wish the bottle was smaller. 1.7oz or 50ml will never run out.  Even regular strobe liquid I've had for a while and I almost always use it all over meaning I use more product than it would be used just for a highlight and still I have a feeling it will never run out.

Chanel has a similar product that I unfortunately like more than Golden elixir :( It is just what I was hoping Golden elixir will be. It has no shimmer or barely any but it has very soft bronze color and it's more pigmented. It gives perfect summer glow to the skin. And the bummer is I discovered it after I bought golden elixir :( So how can I justify getting Chanel too?

Swatches both in daylight and with flash on MAC NC15/20 skin

Left unblended right blended