Lunch: Sushi Time

With Flash

I had the best lunch ever today! If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine, then you know that sushi ain't cheap. The place that I ordered from has one of the best sushi lunch specials. You get a choice of 2 rolls with either Miso soup or a salad for $9. So, I got a Spicy Tuna and a Spicy Salmon roll with a salad. I also ordered another lunch special because I had a craving for something crunchy. So, I got a Spider roll (crunchy soft crab) and a Shrimp Tempura roll with Miso Soup for also $9. It was super yummy and the portions were regular size. Some places give you a mini portion, while still charging you regular rate.

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Have you tried sushi? If so, then what is your favorite?

Review & Swatches: Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star Amber Diamond

 
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Dior's Diorskin Shimmer Star comes in two shades; Amber Diamond is a peachy gold, while Rose Diamond is a pinky rose. Since I already have a highlighter with a pink undertone to it, I decided to get Amber Diamond. The packaging is to die for. I love to open the compact and just stare at it because it's so pretty. It has 5 strips of colors, which Sephora describes as ivory, champagne, tan, bronze and peach. 

                                              

The texture of this is definitely better than Mac's MSF in Soft and Gentle (review & swatches). It's not gritty and it smooths onto the skin. I don't have any issues with fallouts and it's not messy when I apply it on top of my cheekbones. It gives me a radiant sheen, but be careful because it looks shimmery when the natural sunlight hits your face. If you don't like shimmery products on your face, then I recommend wearing this highlighter indoors or during the night time.

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I've tried using the darkest shade in the compact as a bronzer/blush, but it didn't give me enough color. The darkest shade still worked better as a highlighter. Actually, all of the 5 shades work the best as highlighters because they don't add any color onto your skin. To apply it, I sweep my Mac 109 or Sonia Kashuk Black Small Multi Purpose brush (review) across the compact to pick up all of the 5 colors, tap off any excess, and then apply it on top of my cheekbones.

If you are looking for an absolutely great highlighter that exceeds in packaging and product quality, then I recommend grabbing Dior's Shimmer Star. It costs $44 at Sephora* for 10g/0.35 oz. The price might not be in most people's range, but it is well worth it especially for me because now I don't have to waste time or more money looking for my holy grail highlighter, since I already found mine. =) 

What is your holy grail highlighter?

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review & Swatches: Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

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I bought the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle with the intent of using it as a highlighter. It looks gritty and so shimmery when I swatch it with my finger. In the pan, it looks peachy bronze; however, when I swatch it in the back of my hand, it looks more pink. The major issue I have with this MSF is that when I blend it, the color is gone and I'm left with glitter and a colorless shine. 

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I do know that most face products, when swatched on the back of the hand, look different than when applied to the face. So, I decided to try it out again. This time, I dipped a brush into the pan and lightly picked up the least amount of product that I can, and applied it on top of my cheekbones. It did not blend out as smoothly as I would have liked it to and it made my face looked glittery. There was a ton of fallout. However, I was determined to make this MSF work because it just looks so gorgeous in the pan.

The next day, I applied Soft and Gentle on top of a matte blush and it made my cheeks look glowy and pretty under artificial indoor lighting. However, when the natural sunlight hits my face, it looks really shimmery. I would only recommend wearing this highlighter when you're going out at night or when you're indoors. During daytime, when you're outside in the bright sunlight, you'll look like a glittery mess.

It costs $28 for 10 grams at Nordstrom.

Have you tried Soft and Gentle?

 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review & Swatches: Too Faced Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer

I was at Sephora the other day and was checking out Too Faced's whole line of bronzers. Sun Bunny, Snow Bunny, Beach Bunny and Pink Leopard all looked too shimmery when I swatched them on the back of my hand. Also, Pink Leopard was more of a highlighter for my skintone. I couldn't even use it as a blush because it was too light. Peach Leopard looks shimmery in the pan, and it looks a little bit shimmery when the natural sunlight hits my face. However, when I'm inside under artificial lighting, it looks semi-matte with a gorgeous sheen.

                                                                          

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I definitely can't use this to contour because it's too peachy, but it looks amazing on my cheeks alone and acts as a blush and bronzer for me.

The product is sheerer than my Dior Bronze Original Tan (review & swatches) and Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder (review & swatches), which is a good thing for me personally because I can control the intensity of the color, and adjust accordingly. Also, I recommend using a dense brush to apply because if you use a fluffy brush, it won't pick up any color.

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I think lighter beauties can pull this off as a bronzer because Peach Leopard is not Oompa Loompa orange. It's a more natural tone that can bring out the warmth in fair and lighter complexions.

For reference, I have a medium skintone and I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

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The case packaging is not as nice as the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder, but the leopard print is cute.

It costs $28 for 9 grams at TooFaced's online store and Sephora.

Do you use Peach Leopard as a blush/bronzer or to contour?

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review & Swatches: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder

The Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder is perfect for contouring because it's matte. I can definitely apply it all over the face without worrying about it looking orange. It enhances my warm, golden complexion and gives me a natural bronzed look.

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It is made from real cocoa and if you sniff the pan, it has a cocoa scent. When I applied the product on my face the first few times, the scent was not as strong, but it was still there, which I was not too ecstatic about. However, after 2 weeks or so of using it, I can no longer smell the chocolaty scent when I apply it. The scent is only there when I sniff the pan. Also, it's good to know that it hasn't broken me out.

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The product can be applied sheer or intense, depending on your technique. I heard that some people had trouble blending it, which tends to happen when you swirl your brush in the product and apply a heavy amount of product all at once on your face. It's going to look blotchy when you do that. I have no problem applying it evenly when I dip my brush and then blend it out on my cheekbones. The key is to dip and blend. If you swirl your brush in the product, it'll pick up too much product, especially if you're using a dense brush. I suggest using a fluffy brush like the Sonia Kashuk Blusher brush (review) or else it'll end up looking blotchy.

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Too Faced's bronzer suits me very well because it adds the right amount of color that I need to contour my face. This has become my favorite bronzer for contouring. However, on lighter complexions, it might look muddy or dirty.

For reference, I have a medium skintone and I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

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It costs $28 for 10 grams at Sephora, Beauty.com, Ulta and TooFaced's online store

What is your favorite bronzer for contouring?

 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

Review & Swatches: Dior Bronze Original Tan in Amber Tan 03

There are so many bronzers out in the market right now. I narrow down my choices by choosing the one with the prettiest packaging. LOL. Dior sold me with its classy rectangular case and its pretty imprint on the actual product.

When I was at Sephora, I swatched all of the shades of the Dior Bronze Original Tan. Healthy Tan 01 looked too peachy pink and light, while Spicy Tan 04 was also too peachy pink, but dark. The shades and undertones of Honey Tan 02 and Amber Tan 03 looked very similar, except Honey Tan was a teeny tiny bit lighter and was shimmery. I do not like shimmery bronzers at all, so I chose Amber Tan 03.

It looks orange when I swatch it on the back of my hand; however, it doesn't make me look like Oompa Loompa when I apply it on my face. It goes on light, but not as sheer as my Too Faced Peach Leopard Bronzer (review & swatches), and you can build up the intensity of the color. I apply the Dior bronzer only on my cheeks. The results are amazing because it enhances my warm, golden skintone. It looks shimmery in the pan, and you can see little specks of shimmer when the natural sunlight hits your face. However, when I'm inside under artificial lighting, it looks matte.

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I didn't like how it looked when I used it to contour my forehead or when I applied it all over my forehead. It looked fine when I used it to contour my cheekbones, but I still prefer my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder (review & swatches) for contouring because it's completely matte.

I do not recommend Honey Tan 02 or Amber Tan 03 for lighter beauties because you will look dead orange; however, these two shades will complement medium complexions very well. For reference, I'm a Mac NC30/35, Dior Forever 021 mixed with 031, MUFE HD 127 and L'oreal True Match W4.

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It costs $44 at Sephora and Nordstrom. On Sephora's website, it says there are 0.42 ounces of product; however, on the packaging, it says there are 10 grams/0.35 ounces.

Have you tried any of Dior's bronzers? Do you love it or hate it?

 

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.