Review + Comparisons: Sephora Mara Hoffman Kaleidescape Charcoal Brush Set, Pro Flawless Airbrush 56 + Kat Von D Lock-It Edge Foundation Brush

Sephora x Mara Hoffman Kaleidescape Charcoal Brush Set ($64, Limited Edition) - This set contains 5 brushes and a reusable gift box. Each brush features a rose gold ferrule and a wooden handle in a custom Mara Hoffman print. They also feel very lightweight in the hand. As for the bristles, they're all made of cruelty-free synthetic fibers that are infused with bamboo charcoal and feel very soft. (Bamboo charcoal supposedly keeps bacteria at bay and are environmentally friendly.)

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Swatches + Comparisons: Guerlain, Lancome and Illamasqua Lip Liners

Packaging: The Guerlain Lasting Color High Precision lip liners have a built-in sharpener that's removable and is handy for those who want a super sharp point every time. However, all of the lip liners mentioned in this post, including the Guerlain one, the Lancome Le Crayon Lip Contour, and the Illamasqua Lip Slick Stick, do not require a sharpener because they all twist up and have a tip that's small enough for lining the lips with precision. It's also important to mention that the caps on these are all very secure and prevent product from drying out as quickly. They also require some muscle strength to pop open!

Guerlain Lasting Color High Precision Lip Liner ($32 for 0.35g/0.01oz) - The formula is very creamy, pigmented and glides onto the lips easily. It can last all day if I drink through a straw and don't eat. (Ha, like that's going to happen!). Once I start stuffing my face with food, the lip liner fades. 

• Bois De Santal 44 is a mauvey rose with a satin finish. It looks really pretty when paired with Burberry's English Rose lipstick (review). 
• Rose De Mai 63 is a warm rose with a satin finish. (It's mislabeled as Rose De Bulgarie on other retailers' websites.) I love pairing this one with Burberry's Tulip Pink. Under direct lighting, I can tell that there are some shimmers in both lip liners, but when applied onto my lips, they look nearly matte. 

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Tarte Coupon Code 2016: 30% OFF Entire Purchase (including sale and new items)

Tarte is having a Friends and Family Sale right now. Get 30% OFF your entire purchase, including sale items and products from their new collection, using coupon code FRIENDS. The promotion ends July 27, 2016. You can also get free shipping on orders of $40 or more. Make sure to check out their brushes (review #1 and review #2) as well! 

This post contains affiliate links.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2016 - Beauty Deals

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale is open to the public now and ends August 7, 2016. 

I'm definitely getting the NARS Best Cheek Palette $65 ($124 value)
and the Dior Intemporalle Blush Palette $65. For more beauty deals, click here.

They also have super sale prices on clothes, shoes and home items!

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

Swatches + Review: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighters and Sephora x Disney Minnie's Inner Glow

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Opal

(retails $38 for 8g/0.28oz)

Packaging: I got the travel size (2.4g/0.085oz) as a free gift with purchase. The compact is made of plastic instead of Becca's typical rubber packaging. It's also perfect for travel! 

Color: Opal is a champagne shade with gold shimmers. This shade works best as a highlighter for my warm NC30/35 skin tone as it does not add any color to my skin. 

Formula: The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors have a very soft, delicate, and creamy texture. They're also very pigmented and a little goes a long way. In terms of performance, they all apply smoothly, blend with ease and just "melt" right into the skin.

They're not as metallic as say, the Mac Extra Dimension Skinfinishes (review), but they're by no means subtle and still provide a high sheen finish. To apply, I recommend using the Inglot 4SS brush (comparison pictures) because it's dense enough to provide a concentrated finish, but it also has enough flexibility to blend product well. The shape also fits nicely on the bridge of the nose and on top of the cheekbones without covering too much area. For a more subtle glow, use a light hand and a fluffy synthetic brush, such as the MUFE #140 or check out the highlighter in the poured version. 

Longevity: All the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors last at least 10 hours when worn over foundation + setting powder. (For reference, I have cheeks that are neither dry nor oily.)

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Swatches + Review: Nars Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette, Orgasm Blush, Audacious Lipsticks and Velvet Lip Liners

(Direct Sunlight)

Nars Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette ($45, Limited Edition) - The palette is about three-fourth the size of my hand and measures approximately 3.80 inches x 0.25 inches x 2.20 inches. It's very sleek and travel-friendly. Each shade contains 0.03oz/1g of product. Nars' individual eyeshadows retail $25 (with compact) for 0.07oz/2.2g and $18 in pan form.

• Long Hot Summer I is a shimmering cream.
• Long Hot Summer II is a bronze taupe with a shimmery finish.
• Bellissima II is a matte gray-brown. This shade is also available in the duo compact. 
• Long Hot Summer III is a shimmering copper.
• Long Hot Summer IV is a shimmering warm brown.
• Bengali is a matte rich chocolate brown. Out of all the shades in this palette, Bengali is the only one that's available individually. 

Formula: The eyeshadows have great pigmentation, layer well and blend easily. Just make sure to tap off any excess before applying so you don't experience major fallout. I usually apply my eye makeup before foundation so I can easily wipe away any shimmers that have fallen down my cheeks or underneath my eyes. 

Longevity: They last at least 8 hours without fading or creasing. (For reference, I have extremely oily lids and always wear a primer underneath as a base.)

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Swatches + Comparisons: Benefit Cheekathon vs Tarte Tarteist Blush Palette

Benefit Cheekathon Blush & Bronzer Palette ($58, Limited Edition) 

Packaging: It comes with 4 full-size blushes, including Dandelion (0.25oz), Rockateur (0.17oz), Dallas (0.32oz) and Coralista (0.28oz), a full-size Hoola matte bronzer (0.28oz), a brush made of natural bristles and a sizable mirror. Each shade retails $29, which makes the value of the palette to be $145!

I never bought Benefit's individual blushes because I find the cardboard packaging to be too bulky. The palette is actually not as thick and is a huge space saver compared to buying the blushes/bronzer individually. (It measures 7 inches x 0.85 inches x 5 inches.) It may not be as travel-friendly as the Tarte Tarteist palette, but I would still take this with me on trips, especially if I'm going to be out of town for more than a week and want to create various looks. I just love that all the shades are conveniently laid out in one palette. 

The insert is removable and pops out easily. So, you can use the box for storing little trinkets when you finish the palette. You can also depot the pans and pop them into an empty Z Palette. 

The brush reminds me of the NARS Ita (review), except the Benefit one is a little bit wider and denser. It works really well for contouring because it's narrow enough to fit nicely on the hollows of the cheeks and fluffy enough to blend out any harsh lines with ease. For blush application, I prefer a domed-shaped brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk #29 (review) because it covers the entire cheek area more evenly and lightly. I also love that the pans are wide enough to fit any type of brush easily.  

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Coupon Code 2016: 30% OFF Sigma at Beauty.com + Free Gift with Purchase ($140 value)

Get 30% OFF Sigma products through this link. You can also get a free Sample-Filled Ulla Johnson Aurora Bag ($140 value) if you spend $100 or more at beauty.com. (You can fill your cart with any products on Beauty.com's website.)

Gift with Purchase includes:

• Ulla Johnson Aurora Bag
• Laura Geller New York Spackle Treatment, Even Tone 
• Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask 
• Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar 
• Decleor Harmonie Calm Soothing Milky Cream 
• L'Occitane Divine Cream 
• Eprouvage Thickening and Plumping Spray 
• Tocca Eau de Parfum, Liliana 
• DevaCurl Low Poo Delight Weightless Waves 
• Beachwaver Co. Half Up, Blonde 
• Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Eye Serum 
• Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream, Sun-Kissed Glow 
• Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 
• Savvy Traveler Take Offz 
• Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner 
• Biobelle I Woke Up Like This Mask 
• Tarte Tarteguard SPF 30 
• Beauty.com Offer Card $10 off $50

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B-Glowing Coupon Code 2016: 20% OFF By Terry, Beauty Blender, Becca, Kevyn Aucoin, Tatcha

B-Glowing is having a 20% off sale on most brands, including Sigma, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Anna Sui, Becca, Beauty Blender, Butter London, By Terry,  Cargo, Dr. Dennis Gross, Deborah Lippmann, First Aid Beauty, Glam Glow, Illamasqua, It Cosmetics, Jack Black, Japonesque, Jouer Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin, Koh Gen Do, La Roche-Posay, Makeup Eraser, Paul & Joe Beaute, Rouge Bunny Rouge, St. Tropez, Stila, Tatcha, Tocca, Tweezerman, Z Palette, and many more!

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July 4th Coupon Code 2016: Ole Henriksen Surprise Gift Bag, ELF $10 OFF + Saks 10% OFF Beauty

Ole Henriksen is offering a Free Surprise Gift Bag ($100 value) plus free shipping with $50 purchase. Use coupon code 100GIFT at checkout. This is their best gift of the year! Offer starts now and expires on July 4, 2016. You can also stack the coupon with a Free 3-Piece Welcome Gift ($28 value) using code WELCOMEGIFT.

ELF is offering $10 OFF $40 purchase from now until July 5, 2016. Use coupon code 10OFFWEEKEND at checkout.

Saks is offering extra 10% OFF sitewide, including beauty & fragrance. Use coupon code SAKS5TH at checkout. Offer valid from now until  July 4, 2016.

This post contains affiliate links.