beauty review: e.l.f. Mineral Booster Powder + Kabuki Face Brush

it's always a good day when my e.l.f. beauty bundle arrives in the mail, and for good reason: new beauty goodies!

this current bundle was themed "Birthday Best Sellers" to celebrate the brand's tenth anniversary. after going through the products, the Mineral Booster Powder {the large size, in Sheer} and Kabuki Face Brush were the two items i decided to try first…

 being a huge fan of e.l.f. brushes and the Translucent Mattifying Powder, i was beyond thrilled when i used and felt the uber-soft, fluffy brush and saw the beautiful finish the loose powder gave my skin.

the Sheer Mineral Booster can be used alone or as a setting powder to keep oil under control and leave your skin looking flawless. infused with key vitamins A, B and E, it's also free of paragons, preservatives and chemical dyes. the kabuki brush is a synthetic haired Taklon brush that can be used to apply all your favorite powders, bronzers and highlighters. use it with wet or dry products, for sheer to full coverage. :)

if you have $15 {plus tax} i highly recommend you purchase these beauties for your personal makeup collection.  

and by the way, if you're unfamiliar with the e.l.f. Beauty Bundle, i suggest you take a look {it's fabulous!} and discover it for yourself. :)

i bought this; pics taken by me :)

beauty review: Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation

when a foundation acts as skincare, it can obviously be put into the much-appreciated category of multi-tasker {and we all love multi-taskers, right?}. so since Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation, the high-tech foundation from Hourglass, acts as such, it easily falls into this category...

not only is this buildable fluid great for creating a flawless finish on the skin, but it incorporates cashmere kaolinite clay, an exceptional, skin-loving oil absorber {shine, be gone!}. Immaculate is also oil-free, humidity-proof, water-resistant, and treats acne-prone skin so well that {over time, with continued use} it improves its appearance.

but wait, there's more...

 i've already mentioned the buildability {wow, is that a word? ha!}, but you should also know that it dries to a powder finish {love that}, feels like wearing nothing, and really lasts, making my skin look amazing all day.

it sounds too good to be true, right?

sure, but trust me, it's true! i really, really think this is a fabulous foundation.

oh! and do you see that gorgeous, fluffy brush? it's the brush No. 2 and a multi-tasker, too. its soft {so luxuriously soft!!} bristles {made from taklon, a perfect alternative for those sensitive to animal hair} can be used wet or dry, meaning it applies and blend liquids {like Immaculate foundation} beautifully, as well as powders {like your favorite blush}!

the only issue i had with Immaculate was the color {full disclosure: it was sent to me by the brand's rep, so i didn't choose it}; it was just slightly too dark. fortunately, i was still able to wear it, and like i said, it is fabulous.

you can find Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation in stores {like Sephora} and online; for more info, visit hourglasscosmetics.com.

product featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: John Frieda Hair Setter + Conical Heat Styler

my hair is naturally curly, but i still use my flat iron to style it. since i love bouncy waves and curls, it doesn't get used to make my hair pin straight. this is fine, as you may already know: the current season calls for voluminous waves and well-defined curls. if you don't use a flat iron for creating your curls, or are looking for other options to give your hair a new style, consider {i'm definitely considering} these new John Frieda Styling Tools by Conair.

 offering professional-grade, heat styling options to deliver flawless and fabulous hairstyles, the following tools promise to make it easy to recreate perfectly tousled waves and captivating curls...

John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Setter by Conair features five 2-inch titanium ceramic-coated jumbo rollers; this breakthrough hair setter is best for creating silky waves for a fabulous, bombshell look. the design uses a true ionic generator to safely distribute heat throughout hair, so frizz or dull strands will stay away. hair wraps easily around the generously-sized 2” jumbo rollers, which use an extreme heat feature to heat up in seconds, delivering perfectly smooth, voluminous waves in a flash.

for well-defined, frizz-free curls, the John Frieda 1 1/2 Inch Frizz Ease Conical by Conair is suitable for all hair types and boasts 11 digital settings {up to  400ºF} to ensure the appropriate temp for your tresses. the clamp-free barrel has a pro power handle and uses ionic technology to minimize frizz for shiny, healthy-looking results. also includes a protective heat mat for safe storage and an auto-off feature just in case you leave it on. 

tell me: are you planning to rock a more voluminous hairstyle this season?

you can find John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Setter by Conair at amazon.com and Ulta. John Frieda 1 ½ Inch Frizz Ease Conical by Conair is available at Target stores.

info and images courtesy of PR representing featured brand

hair therapy: TS-2 Detailer Mini Flat Iron

if you use a flat iron and have bangs or short hair, the TS-2 Detailer just might be the tool you've been looking for. this ultra-mini flat iron (it's 6 inches!) works just as well as its larger counterparts, but is travel and super-short hair friendly.

the TS2 heats to 400 degrees, features tourmaline/ceramic/ionic- nano technology- utilizes wet-to-dry straightening, and is also fabulous for touch-ups, roots, finishing, and travel (i really like this for getting the hairs close to my scalp around my face).

p.s.-- this little thing gets really hot, so it comes with a heat-resistant mit to protect your hand-- cool, huh?

find the TS-2 Detailer at ts2products.com

xo