E.L.F Golden Bronzer - Review

When I finally got to go to Target for myself! (I live in South Africa and we do not have this luxury here, I had to take advantage on my recent trip to Los Angeles) One of the brands I was most excited about was ELF. I picked up a few things that was on my list and the Golden Bronzer was one of them. As much as I now love this product when I opened it I was totally disappointed. Let me explain, on the ELF and Target website this product is listed as a bronzer one of the only reason I picked it up, but this is the furthest thing from a bronzer ever. Honestly this leans more toward being an illuminator and that's what I have been using it as. If they marketed it as an illuminator I would fully understand and I would still love it but the fact that it is supposed to be a bronzer and was not what I bought has me a little bummed out. On the upside however it has become one of my go to highlighters and I find myself reaching for it on a daily basis. So from now on its referred to as a golden highlighter and not a bronzer

What Elf Says: Create a healthy looking glow all year round! The sheer soft powders provide the perfect hue of color. Blend all 4 colors together to achieve a blend of perfection or choose your favorite color or colors to mix, match and blend. 

There are 3 shades available:

Warm Bronzer: The warm shimmer that will bring a glow to your face. Ideal for summer or year-round.

Cool Bronzer: The ideal selection of matte colors to achieve a natural looking tan. Ideal for winter or year-round.

Golden Bronzer: An illuminating shimmer that is subtle and radiant. Ideal for summer or year-round.

I went with the Golden bronzer because I have somewhat of a natural tan all year round and I thought this would be a better fit to just brighten what was already there. Unfortunately this highlighter does not bring out any natural highlight, its exactly what it says a really golden color so if your going for a tanned golden look then this highlighter will work perfect for that. I apply it along my cheek bone, done the ridge on my nose and on my cupids bow and it does an amazing job of reflecting the light in those areas. When I say its more on the golden side what I mean is that it leans more toward a golden sheen its not shimmery at all and does help to give a more natural golden highlight. I love this as a everyday highlighter to help maintain the natural golden tanned look.

It comes in a black plastic compact like most of the Elf products and has a fairly large mirror on the inside which is always handy. I picked this up at Target for $3 before tax.

Chanel Mirror Duo

The first product I ever bought from Chanel was a double sided compact mirror which was about 5 or 6 years back now. I remember the first time I saw one in the City Center and a foreign lady took it out her bag in the middle of the crowd and I stopped dead in my tracks she had so much attitude haha and I was like THAT IS WHAT I NEED IN MY LIFE and I hunted it down! And its really sad to say that my first one is really scratched up and the black isn't as gorgeous and glossy as it was when I first got it. Even the dust pouch looks almost grey now, so needless to say I was in dire need of replacing it. Luckily Chanel had one left and I was able to snatch it up!

Honestly there isn't much reviewing that can be done here its a mirror after all but Ill tell you what I love and hate about it. Yes even thought I've replaced it there is still stuff I hate about it!

It comes in a black glossy compact pretty much the same as the blush with the CC logo in the center and the black dust pouch. There are two mirrors, one side has a magnifying effect for precise makeup application while the other is a normal mirror pretty much for retouching. Its basically classic Chanel. I don't really carry my blush around with me allot so I have never really noticed it but the little velvet pouch is like a magnet for dust and fluff so it doesn't stay so pretty but I do understand that its meant to protect the compact. I cant help but think it would be so much nicer in a leather pouch though. And lets not get to the amount of finger prints you handle it way more than you would the blush so keeping it clean and glossy is a night mare. That being said its still the most gorgeous compact I own. 

I picked this one up for R485.00 at the Chanel counter

MAC Fix Plus Spray

The fix+ spray has had really mixed reviews from bloggers, the only two conclusions I could find were people either absolutely loved it or they hated everything about it. So the only conclusion I could come up with is to try it out for myself. I think one of the major problems is that people don't quite understand what it is and what it's actually supposed to be used for. Allot of people seem to think that it's a setting spray that's supposed to make your makeup last longer but in actual fact it's just a misting spray that is supposed to take away the powder effect and mattify and blend your makeup. I would blame the confusion on the lack of training that the MAC girls have because even when trying to sell it to me it was described as a setting spray and a makeup pro longer.

"A soothing moisture mist that refreshes the skin and finishes makeup. Hold bottle 12"away from face and spray evenly. Use before or after makeup."

I've been using it for the past couple of weeks and I have to say I absolutely love it, I think this will probably be on my repurchase this for some time to come. I don't really wear a full face of makeup but I do find that some of my highlighters and blushes even the bronzers do have a tendency to look powdery and also although some products apply and blend pretty well when adding allot together blending them seamlessly can be some what of a tedious job and I find a few sprays of this mist blends it perfectly and melts it into you skin leaving you with a dewy luminous look. If you ask me this does some what work as a setting spray and has added a few extra hours of wear to my makeup so I do get why it is described as this but if your buying it purely for this then it's not the product your looking for.

"An aqua spritz of vitamin and minerals infused with calm the skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh natural, energizing scent of sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup. Spray on skin drinks it up"

The first thing that caught my attention was the scent its a really strong fresh scent but it isn't over powering and fades away really quickly. The design of the nozzle allows for a really even application you only need two or three sprays to cover your whole face. The nozzle sprays out in a really fin mist so you don't have to worry about it destroying your freshly painted face with big drops. The nozzle also twists to lock it so traveling with it is much easier and you don't have to worry about it leaking. It comes in a 100ml bottle for R210 and I do believe there are travel size bottles available.

Uses for Fix+ 

As a prep or finishing spray - it can be used before you apply foundation or primers as a skin hydrater or after as a blender and finisher. 

To dilute and thin out thick or waxy foundations and creams. 

Spray on your eyeshadow brush to apply baked or loose pigmented eyeshadow.

Spritz on your face with or with out makeup as a refresher on hot days (you can also put it in the fridge on hot days to add a cooler spritz to your face) 

MAC Sandy B Lipstick

A couple of weeks ago I was on a crazy hunt for a bronzed lipgloss or lipstick and discovered the MAC Nymphette Lipgloss you can read my review here. I have been obsessing over this lipgloss ever since I got it and have been wanting to find a lipstick like it, but as usual the MAC girls have been no help (they are to busy layering on makeup to help you find something) Then the other day I stood testing out almost all the shades at the lipstick stand to find something even remotely similar! At first I found two lipsticks that if you layered them are almost exactly the colour but I don't want all that work. Then I found it the lipstick that is almost the exact same on!

I present to you Sandy B! My new best friend and lipstick that I don't leave the house with out. If you ask me Sandy B is the lipstick version of the Nymphette lipgloss, it has the same peach undertone with prominent gold sheen more than a shimmer. I also found that if you use the lipstick as a base and then top it with the lipgloss it makes the peach and gold pop even more! This is my first MAC lipstick and I must say I can't believe I took so long to get one. It is really creamy and moisturizing on you lips and you get a good couple of hours wear out of it. The lipstick is more of the matte version to the super shiny lipgloss.