Swatches + Comparisons - Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze + Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream-To-Powder Bronzer

From Top Left Clockwise: Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze ~  Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream-To-Powder Bronzer ~ Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer

From Left: Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze ~  Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream-To-Powder Bronzer

From Left: Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze ~  Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream-To-Powder Bronzer

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in 42 Rich Bronze ($10.99/0.18oz) - It costs $61.06 per ounce, which is actually more expensive compared to the Chanel bronzer ($48/oz), but the quality is well worth the price. Rich Bronze does not look Oompa Loompa orange and has a more yellow undertone compared to the Chanel bronzer. It's extremely buildable and dark enough for medium to tan skin tones, but it's also very blendable and looks natural on lighter skin tones. Because it leaves a matte finish, I love using it as a contour shade to define my cheekbones. I usually use a synthetic brush, such as the ELF Angled Blush Brush because it fits nicely on the hollows of my cheekbones. (A little goes a long way, but don't worry if you over apply the product because it's super easy to blend out.) As for longevity, it lasts at least 10 hours without fading when set with a translucent powder and it also prolongs the wear of my powder bronzers when used as a base. Also, it has a compartment underneath that houses a mirror and sponge, which I find to be very odd and useless. Definitely use a synthetic brush or even your bare fingers to apply the product.

Ingredients List: Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyethylene, Nylon 12, Silica, Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Salycilate, Dextrin Palmitate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, BHT, Fragrance, Caprylyl Methicone; May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Ultramarines, Manganese Violet, Zinc Oxide, Ferric Ferrycyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, Chromium Oxide Greens, Chromium Hydroxide Green, Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake, Red 28 Lake, Red 30 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 5 lake, Yellow 6 Lake

Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream-To-Powder Bronzer ($26.10/0.32oz) - It costs $81.56 per ounce, which is the most expensive out of the bunch. Aqua Bunny is more red based compared to Rich Bronze and Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, but it has the same pigmentation, blendability and longevity as Rich Bronze. The biggest difference besides the undertone is that it has a more satin finish. Under direct sunlight, I notice tiny bits of shimmer, but it's definitely not glittery. Also, it has a mirror on the top compartment and a bottom compartment that houses a synthetic brush, which is convenient for touch-ups.

Ingredients List: Triethylhexanoin, Corn Starch Modified, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyethylene, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Silica, Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cire de carnauba, Hexyldecanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Aroma/Flavor, Centella Asiatica Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Phoenix Dactylifera (Date) Seed Extract, BHT, Limonene, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

Bottom Line: If you found the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel to be too light or too orange, then the Sonia Kashuk one would be a more suitable option, especially as a contour shade since it's completely matte. You can't go wrong with the Too Faced Aqua Bunny bronzer either because it's dark enough for medium to tan skin tones and it also blends out easily. So, it looks very natural on light skin tones as well. Personally, I love all 3 of the bronzers because each of the formula is so easy to work with and they all apply like butter.

Note: The Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base contains 1oz of product and is available on their online store and Nordstrom for $48. The Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze contains 0.18oz/5.2g of product and is available only at Target for $10.99. The Too Faced Aqua Bunny bronzer contains 0.32oz/9g of product and is on clearance on their online store for $26.10.

What product do you use to contour your face?

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Swatches + Comparison: Urban Decay Sephora Inside JCPenney Stores Exclusive Eyeshadows

From Top Left: Naked ~ Buck ~ Faint ~ Secret Service

From Bottom Left: Heartless ~ Sidecar ~ Snare

From Top Left: Buck ~ Faint 

From Bottom Left: Naked ~ Secret service

Naked is a beige brown with a matte finish. When swatched, it looks like it would be a nice transition color or a blending shade, but it's actually too dark for that purpose and too light as a crease color for my NC30/35 skin tone. Kid, Wedge, Cork and Soft Brown work much better as a transition color for me even though they all look darker than Naked because the formula of the MAC eyeshadows are more stiff and they don't pack on as much color when used with a fluffy brush, such as the MAC 217. Moreover, they don't crumble in the pan and I don't experience any fallouts during application. They are also very versatile because when I use a dense crease brush, such as the Inglot 80HP, they provide excellent color payoff. 

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

Buck is a medium beige brown with a matte finish. It's similar to Naked, but just darker. It's too light as an outer v shade, but it's excellent as a crease color.

Faint is a medium brown with a matte finish. Urban Decay describes it as a "warm, dusty brown matte," but it looks more neutral on my eyes. It's a tad bit darker than Buck, but they both look very similar to one another when used as a crease color. 

Secret Service is a dark cool-toned greyish brown with a matte finish. It defines the eyes and works well as an outer v shade. Embark is more intense and more red, while Brown Down is more brown. 

The Urban Decay matte eyeshadows are much softer than the MAC matte eyeshadows; therefore, they get messy in the pan easily and I experience fallouts during application. However, because the formula is softer, they also apply more smoothly, pack on more color even with a fluffy brush and blend like a dream. Also, they last at least 10 hours without fading when used with a primer.

(Direct Sunlight)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

From Top Clockwise: Sidecar ~ Snare ~ Heartless 

Heartless is a pale pink with a satin finish. I find it to be too chalky and light on my skin tone. Moreover, the pigmentation is not as great as SWF, which has a more frosty finish.

Snare is an olive green with gold micro-glitters. When I swatched it by itself, it looked more like a bluish grey shade, but when swatched next to a more blue shade (Gunmetal), I can definitely see the green undertones. Also, it looks more green when applied onto the eyes. However, it's not as pigmented as other urban decay eyeshadows and it fades a bit when blended.

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

From Top Clockwise: Heartless ~ Sidecar ~ Snare

Sidecar is a medium warm brown with a bronzey sheen and silver micro-glitters. Blaze, Suspect and Chase are all lighter and more suitable for my skin tone. I find Sidecar to be a little bit  too dark as a lid color and too light as a crease color. The texture doesn't feel as buttery smooth as other UD eyeshadows, but it doesn't feel gritty either. I did experience some fallouts during application. So, I recommend using a cream base and tapping off the excess before applying the eyeshadow with a dense brush, such as the MAC 239.

(Indoor Natural Lighting)

(Indoor Natural Lighting on a Sunny Day)

(Outdoor Natural Lighting in the shade)

Bottom Line: Each Urban Decay eyeshadow is different in terms of color, finish and formulation. Most are hits, while some are misses. Definitely DON'T dismiss all Urban Decay eyeshadows if you found one that did not work out for you.

Note: Naked, Buck and Secret Service each contain 1.5g and are available for purchase at Nordstrom, Beauty.com, Ulta and Sephora for $18 each. Faint, Heartless, Sidecar and Snare each contain 1.5g and are sold exclusively at  Urban Decay's online store and Sephora Inside JCPenney Stores for $18 each. MAC Wedge, Cork, Soft Brown, Espresso, Corduroy, Embark and Greensmoke each contain 1.5g, while Kid and Brown Down each contain 1.35g. All 9 MAC eyeshadows are permanent and are available at MAC and Nordstrom for $15 (pot) and $12 (refill pan). 

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Swatches + Comparisons - Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick

Pure ~ Inspired ~ Enlightened

I received the Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-hour Lipstick in Fierce in my January 2013 GlossyBox and loved it so much that I purchased 3 other shades.

Pure ~ Inspired ~ Enlightened

Pure ~ Inspired ~ Enlightened

Pure (2g/0.07oz for $26) - The swatches are quite deceiving because it looks like a gorgeous light rosy shade on my arm, but when applied onto my naturally pigmented lips, it looks too nude and corpse-like. Also, the formula is very drying, it emphasizes my extremely chapped lips, and it fades within 15 minutes of application, which is weird because I did not have any issues with Fierce. 

Inspired (2g/0.07oz for $26) - It has a more pinky undertone, but the formula is similar to Pure. Also, it looks too pale when applied onto my lips. 

Enlightened (3.7g/0.13oz for $26) - It translates into a nudish peachy brown shade on my lips and I find it to be very similar to the L'oreal Colour Riche Lip Balm in Caramel Comfort, but Enlightened is more pigmented, lasts longer and is matte, which makes it more versatile because I can put a gloss over it for a shiny finish. I am in love with this color because it's a "my lips but better" shade and it's very office-safe.

It lasts at least 4 hours on my lips without fading even after eating and drinking. This is the best formula that I've experienced. Other lipsticks make my lips peel and fade within minutes of application. (Keep in mind that it's very difficult for me to find a lipstick that works well with my extremely chapped lips.) This one applies like butter and feels hydrating!

Note: The Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipsticks are available at Ulta, Tarte, and Sephora for $26 each.

Did you experience the lack of consistency with the formula of the Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipsticks?

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Swatches + Review - Too Faced Endless Summer 16 Hour Long-Wear Bronzer

Left: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil

Right: Too Faced Endless Summer

Packaging: I don't really care for the packaging. It's not ugly, but it's definitely not something that I'm excited about. I prefer the Chocolate Soleil packaging more.

Endless Summer is lighter, has a more brown undertone, leaves a satin finish to the skin, and is fragrance-free compared to Chocolate Soleil, which is slightly darker, completely matte and smells like cocoa. I'm glad to report that neither are orange! 

Endless Summer works well on most complexions. I have a medium NC30/35 skin tone and I use it as a bronzer to warm up my face. It has regular pigmentation (not too sheer or too pigmented) and applies the right amount of product with the Sonia Kashuk Domed Blusher brush. Be careful though because the formula is easily buildable and can leave a muddy finish if you apply too many layers. Also, I do notice tiny shimmers in the pan and under direct sunlight, but when applied on my cheeks, they are barely noticeable, especially under artificial lighting. 

Chocolate Soleil is more suitable for medium to deep complexions and for contouring (nose, cheekbones, forehead and anywhere else that you want to appear smaller/slimmer/defined) since it leaves a matte finish and creates a more natural effect.

As for the wear time, Endless Summer lasts at least 10 hours without fading when worn over liquid foundation and setting powder (I haven't tried it for 16 hours straight yet, but will update when I do), while Chocolate Soleil fades within 8 hours of application. 

(Natural Lighting)

(Direct Sunlight)

(Natural Lighting)

Bottom Line: Endless Summer is a must-have for those that want to add warmth to skin without looking orange or ridiculously shiny. 

Note: The Endless Summer 16 Hour Long-Wear Bronzer contains 7g/0.25oz of product. It is limited edition and is available at Ulta, TooFaced.com, Beauty.com, and Sephora for $30.

Which bronzer will you be wearing for Summer 2013?

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