Target Coupon Code 2016: 20% OFF Beauty (Sonia Kashuk, Real Techniques, Pixi, EcoTools)

Target is offering 20% OFF on sun care, beauty and personal care using code BEAUTY. Brands included are Sonia Kashuk, Real Techniques, Pixi, EcoTools, Revlon, CoverGirl, Maybelline, L'oreal and many more. Deal is only valid today! You also get free shipping on orders over $25. Those who apply for the Redcard or already have it will get free shipping on all orders plus 5% OFF on top of the 20% OFF. You can also order online and pick up your stuff in-store for free!

This post contains affiliate links.

Swatches + Review: MAC Matte, Satin and Cremesheen Lipstick Collection

Scent: All the lipsticks mentioned in this post have a pleasant vanilla scent when I sniff directly from the tube. They don't taste like anything when worn on the lips. 

MAC Matte Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is the least hydrating of the bunch and can cause the lipstick to cling onto dry patches, which is expected, considering that the finish is matte. (Make sure to exfoliate well and wear a lip balm underneath!) They provide buildable, medium to full coverage and last at least 5 hours. (They will also fade alot quicker when eating and drinking as with any other lipstick.)  

MAC Satin Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is slightly more hydrating than the matte version, but not as hydrating as say, the Burberry Kisses (swatches). They're still wearable for someone like me, who has extremely dry, chapped lips, as long as I exfoliate well and prep my lips with a good balm. They also provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 4 hours of staying power. I especially love that they're not frosty or too glossy as my full sausage lips do not need to be accentuated any further. They also leave behind a very pretty stain.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick ($17 for 3g/0.10oz) - This formula is the most hydrating of the bunch. I find that they glide onto the lips smoothly without skipping and provide buildable, medium to full coverage with at least 3 and a half hours of staying power. They are non-drying and very comfortable to wear. They also leave a sheen that's not too glossy (which is very important for me). I'm definitely getting more shades soon!

Dermstore Coupon Code 2016: 30% OFF + Free Shipping (Kevyn Aucoin, Tarte, Sigma, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Becca)

DermStore is offering 30% OFF your entire order with code Just4U30, 25% OFF your entire order with code Just4U25 and 20% OFF your entire order with code Just4U20. Free shipping (no minimum) will be applied automatically on every order. 

Once those codes expires, you can use code July4 for 20% OFF, which is valid until July 4, 2016.

DermStore carries many popular brands, including Ahava, Alterna, Amazing Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Beauty Blender, Becca, Butter London, Cargo, Cover Fx, Dermablend, Drunk Elephant, First Aid Beauty, Japonesque, Jouer Cosmetics, Jurlique, Kevyn Aucoin, Laura Geller, Philosophy, Sigma, St. Tropez, Stila, Tarte, theBalm and Tweezerman, which are all eligible for the promotion.

This post contains affiliate links.

Swatches + Review: Burberry Kisses and Lip Velvet Lipstick Collection

After trying a few shades from Burberry's lipstick line and falling in love with the formula, I decided to purchase more from Saks.

Burberry Kisses Lipstick Hydrating Lip Colour ($33 for 0.11oz/3.3g) - The packaging is very lux and comes with a magnetic closure. The lighter shades provide buildable, sheer to medium coverage, while the darker colors can provide up to full coverage without looking cakey or causing my lips to peel. The formula is very comfortable to wear, feels very hydrating, is fragrance-free & tasteless. They also leave a satin finish without looking too glossy or too matte and don't contain any shimmers. As for longevity, they last about 4 hours on my lips and leave behind a natural looking stain. (I drank through a straw and did not eat while I was wearing the lipstick.) 

Swatches + Review: Collective Haul (MUFE, MAC, Chanel, Urban Decay)

I'm back with another haul! Some of these items are re-purchases, while others have been in my collection for a while now and have been rigorously tested. 

Swatches + Comparison: Luxury and Mid Range Setting Powders (Dior, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury, Mac)

Generally, oil-controlling white powders, such as the Nars Light Reflecting (review) and MAC Prep + Prime (review), work best for those with extremely oily skin. Luminous powders, such as the La Mer one, work best for those with dry and mature skin. I personally love using all types of powders because they serve different purposes and some work better than others depending on the type of foundation that I'm wearing underneath. (For reference, I have an oily t-zone and normal skin on the rest of my face.) 

I find that mattifying powders can emphasize dry patches and can cause the skin to look flakey when paired with a mattifying foundation, such as the Dior Forever (review), while powders with a natural finish are not oil controlling enough when paired with semi-matte foundations, such as the MUFE HD and L'oreal True Match (review). Also, semi-matte foundations can make my skin look too dewy when worn alone, while mattifying foundations can be too drying to wear during the winter time. Therefore, I find that powders with a natural finish pair better with mattifying foundations as it prevents the skin from looking too flat, while still keeping oil at bay. On the other hand, mattifying powders pair better with luminous & semi-matte foundations as it provides oil-control, while still giving life to the skin.