Review: e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia

I purchased this ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St. Lucia ($3) back in March when I went to Wal-Mart with my friends to buy some beads to make Kandi with for Ultra. I picked it up while we were waiting on line at the register so I didn't take a very good look at it. Everyone always has good things to say about this blush and bronzer duo and I figured since it's only $3 I wouldn't lose much if it didn't work out for me.

Packaging: The product comes in a plain black case that kind of imitates NARS blush/bronzer packaging. Unlike the NARS packaging however, the case is made of plastic instead of rubber, which is a definite plus since the rubber packaging can get dirty quickly. When you open it up there is a huge mirror on one side and the blush and bronzer duo on the other.

Formula: The blush and bronzer are both very powdery and contain a lot of gold glitter. I sometimes like to have glitter in my blushes but in my bronzer is a big no-no; because of this I would highly suggest not using it as an all over bronzing shade.

Application: The bronzer is definitely very pigmented but the blush is somewhat sheer and leaves much to be desired. I believe it's possible to build up more color on the blush but because of all the glitter I'm afraid I'd look like a disco ball. Also beware of the glitter spreading to other parts of your face and possibly your clothes (or your boyfriends!) if you brush against it.

Longevity: Since it's already very hard to see the blush color on my cheeks I couldn't really tell how long it lasted, but the glitter was definitely there all day. The bronzer shade did fade throughout the day and by night time I could hardly tell I contoured. Overall I'm definitely not repurchasing this product. Although the packaging makes it very convenient for traveling, the actual quality of the product is definitely not up to my standards. What's the point of having a convenient duo if it does absolutely nothing for you? ♥
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Review: NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

I hope everyone on the East Coast is safe, dry, and staying indoors. I've been stuck inside all day today because of Hurricane Sandy but I've been using this time to sort through my Summer/Spring clothes and take out my Fall/Winter ones. There have been reports on the news that my power might go out at any second so I better move straight on to this post before I get cut off.

This NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny ($2.99) has been a drugstore favorite for a while in the beauty community but I never got around to trying it out until now. I'm not a huge fan of drugstore makeup but I'm slowly being converted by all these amazing new products I've found, such as this bronzer and the L'Oreal Voluminous Full Definition Mascara.

Packaging: It's $2.99 and from the drugstore so what can you really expect. The packaging is extremely cheap, coming in a flimsy plastic compact. There's a mirror on the inside and it came with a little pouf for application but I threw it out because it was practically useless.

Quality: Once again, since it was only $2.99, I didn't expect much but this bronzer seriously surprised me; I can see why so many people are raving about it. The shade is perfect for lighter skin tones, adding a hint of warmth to your skin. You also get a lot of product and I can see this bronzer lasting me for quite a while. I'd also say it's comparable to Benefit's Hoola Bronzer, which is $28!

Application: I like to apply this all over my face using a Sigma F30 and it applies easily and evenly. But be careful not to apply too much because it can make you look sunburnt or rub off on your clothes!

Longevity: It stays put for most of the day but it does start to fade towards the end of it.

Overall: This product is amazing for its price and I can definitely see why people love this product. I would recommend this to people with lighter skin tones because it's just a hint of warmth. But definitely be careful when you apply it because if you apply too much you can end up looking burnt. This hasn't become my favorite bronzer yet, at the moment it's Benefit's Hoola Bronzer, but it's getting there!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (Give Me Sun!)

I can't tan, try as I might I stay pretty fair throughout the summer. I blame most of it on the fact that I live in NYC and a nice beach, that isn't littered with cigarette ash and broken glass, is a pretty far drive away. To make up for the lack of sunshine in my life I like to use a bronzer in my makeup routine every day in the summer.

I actually bought this MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural ($29) in the shade Give Me Sun! to use as a contour for my friend's wedding. Since the shade is a lot darker than my skin it worked great as a contour for the winter but with my slightly darker skin tone I was able to use it as an all over face bronzer throughout this whole summer.

It comes in the classic black MAC packaging with the clear top. You get a lot of product, 0.35 oz to be exact, so it can last you for quite a while.

I like to use my Sigma F30 Large Powder brush to lightly dust this all over my face during the summer, when it comes to my paler seasons I like to use the Sigma F05 Small Contour to contour my face. As for the product itself I feel it looks very natural on the skin, it blends extremely well and looks as if you're not wearing any powder, but the shade is sort of orange-y. I've noticed that in certain lights it makes my face look somewhat orange and it gives off a fake-tan glow. I want my bronzer to look natural in terms of color and finish.

The shade itself is a bit too dark for my skin tone, especially in the winter, but in the summer as long as I have a decent enough tan I can pull it off. I would probably repurchase a MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural but I don't think I'd repurchase this shade.