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Makeup purchased with a gift card c/o Sephora

I don’t think I’ve ever had a harder time spending a gift card than I did at Sephora this week. I had such a long list of products and narrowing it down to a few “must haves” was difficult, but I think in the end I made the right decisions. I tried to mostly buy practical things but…of course I ended up with one “fun” purchase that inspired my mermaid makeup look. Let’s dive right into the mini haul, y’all!

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Oh boy. I knew when I walked into the store that I wanted to get color matched. I’m so sick of just grabbing whatever foundation I *think* works for me and then being unhappy. Thankfully getting your Color IQ at Sephora is SO quick and easy, y’all! I couldn’t believe it! I walked in, asked to be matched and Tanner, a Sephora employee, helped me right away. At the Color IQ kiosk, he took three photos of my skin and the computer instantly spit out my Color IQ with a list of foundations that would be a perfect match. After scrolling through the options, MUFE was probably my best bet so Tanner grabbed it for me, and swatched it on my cheek so we could see if it was a match. It was! He offered to apply it to the rest of my face and since I wasn’t wearing any foundation, I happily obliged. Did I mention this whole process was free?! 

Honestly, this foundation really hits all the major points for me – it covers my redness, has a natural finish, it’s buildable (medium coverage with one coat, full coverage with two) and it applies flawlessly with a beauty sponge.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade (Ash Brown)

Honestly…..I don’t even know how old my other Dipbrow Pomade is but it is DRY and has been in need of replacing for quite some time now. Even though my brows are microbladed, honestly they still need some work (don’t even get me started on that), so a brow product is a must for me. Sometimes I’ll use a pencil but this product is still my ride or die – I feel like it gives you a really defined brow without looking too blocky or intense. 

Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder

My foundation moves a LOT if I don’t set it with powder and I’ve never been thrilled with the powders I’ve purchased before so I decided it was time to just splurge. If it can keep my makeup looking great all day, it’s worth it. I’ve worn this powder a few times and so far I’m REALLY happy with it! There’s no scent or color and the finish looks VERY natural. It sets my foundation without making me look too dry and powdery and it doesn’t settle in the dry patches on my cheeks, even after wearing it all day. So far, so good!

Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette

Ohhhhh y’all. This was NOT something I had planned on purchasing and I’ll be the first to admit it was 100% impractical. I already have plenty of highlighters, including the Anastasia Moonchild palette BUT I swatched this on a whim (along with a lot of other similar highlighters) and I couldn’t say no. There’s NO hint of glitter in this palette, people. It’s sooooo beautiful on the skin and honestly, I like it even more than my Moonchild palette! A little goes a LONG way which makes me feel a little better about the pricetag. Also, if I’m being honest, most drugstore powder highlighters I’ve tried don’t look great on my skin so it’s something I’m willing to spend a bit more on. 

For this mermaid inspired makeup look, I am wearing everything I got on this trip (plus a few other things, of course!) The Kat Von D Alchemist Palette was used as a highlighter and I also patted it over black eyeshadow on the middle of my eyelids – GORGEOUS, right?! I seriously just applied black shadow all over lid, blended it out with a medium brown shadow and patted Emerald on top. Super easy! So glad I bought that palette. Don’t forget strong brows, lots of colorful highlight and an iridescent lip.

I just started using the brand new Sephora Community and I’m *really* loving it so far! Don’t get me wrong, I love following my favorite bloggers, but sometimes it’s nice to ask direct questions to people who are active in the beauty community. They have different groups you can join (based on skin concerns, beauty interests, and more), which really helps narrow down where to post and where you’ll want to be active. My favorite part is it’s a place for everyone! You don’t have to be a beauty guru – even if you’re someone who is just starting out with makeup, it’s a perfect place to get active and chat with others about beauty! Next time I need suggestions, I’m definitely heading to the Sephora Community – hope to see you there! Join the community and then follow me here!

• What beauty purchases have you made lately?
• What’s on your Sephora wish list? I still have a few things I want to buy (yikes) but I’m always open to suggestions!

xoxo
Valery