APRIL BEAUTY SHOWERS

Holy Moly!

Have you seen this month’s Boxycharm? Once I opened mine up, I immediately gravitated towards the 3-Piece beauty sponge set by PÜR Cosmetics. I can’t remember the last time I tried any sponge that wasn’t a Beauty Blender so I was excited to put something new to the test. I tried all 3 to see if they had anything different about them but they were all the same and I’m glad since I really enjoyed using them. They are a LOT denser then a Beauty Blender and have a smoother surface which I really enjoyed. The heavy sponge gives off a very cooling effect when dabbing it against your face and best of all, it applies my makeup fabulously.

Then we also got Rodeo Drive Highlighter by Ofra Cosmetics! Like, WHAT?! I never tried any of their highlighters before but had heard amazing things about them and now I see why. First of all, I’ve never known such good formula before and it took this highlighter for me to see that. I still love all my other highlighters for the shades and the glow but this is the smoothest one for an airbrushed look. Best of all, it also happens to smell super expensive, just like if it were Chanel or YSL.

We have another HAIRGURT product in the same scent as the last, Strawberry Banana. This time it’s a shampoo instead of a hair mask, which btw, I didn’t really end up liking. However,  I feel like this is going to be different & I can imagine it now. I’m not sure how I feel about the scent yet, it’s sweet and I don’t hate it but it's also not my favorite.

Next we have a Lipgloss by Cargo Cosmetics in the shade Umbria which is a shimmery bronze gold color. I didn’t want to open it and swatch it because I already knew I was giving that product away. I don’t really use that shade often so I rather give this one away to someone who will enjoy this gloss that I’m sure is amazing.

Lastly, we received this 16 Color Pro Concealer Palette by Measurable Difference. The formula is very creamy with light coverage. This palette will suit more medium to deep skin tones and includes some correcting shades for blue undertones. I’ve only swatched a few shades but haven’t really tested it out on my face yet to give a better review. Overall I’m very pleased with this month’s box and was put on to a few new things!

Total value of these products, $117.

By Miryam | NYC Makeup Tonight Instructor

In Control

The moment I tested out the NYX Total Control Drop Foundation, I knew I had to have it. It’s super lightweight almost like water and the coverage can be anything you want it to be! Anything from sheer to FULL coverage, you’re in control. As a make-up artist, I always tell people that I either don’t do my make-up or I go all in and prefer my full coverage.

Last week though I had a cold, like all of New York did, so my skin wasn’t looking lively. I decided to try a tiny bit of this foundation for a rare sheer coverage just to make me look healthy again and was literally in shock at how natural I looked. Up until then I was using this foundation for full coverage only and was still obsessed. Now I can say this is the only foundation I would also ever wear on it’s own without setting, without concealer, without blush, without anything else. The price point for this foundation is reasonable at $14 and there are 24 shades available which is amazing! I was able to get my hands on most shades so I’ve also added this to my kit to share with my clients. NYX does recommend using this with the Total Control Drop Foundation Brush but really any good buffing brush will do the job just as effectively. 

By Miryam | NYC Makeup Tonight Instructor

Swirl & Sparkle

Kudos to our LA Instructor Greta who collaborated with one of our fabulous Make-Up Tonight sponsors, Swirl & Sparkle, on this gorgeous Limited Edition Brush Cleaner! The molded design was just too fancy and gorgeous that it was hard to actually bring myself to use it. I wanted everything to stay perfect! It has a fresh melon scent to it that is subtle and not overbearing at all. It’s 4oz, making it 3oz more then that of Beauty Blender which also offers a solid brush cleaner as well. The best part is those beautiful gems that become more exposed with every use. Not only are they pretty but it also creates a grit that better helps clean your brushes. On the inside of the lid there are 3 bigger gems for when you are rinsing which works really well although I don’t think they’ll stay on for a long time but I’m really hoping they do! All in all, it was definitely worth the wait. It was the most fun to use, the most practical and definitely did the job while keeping my bristles soft. A must for every makeup lover!

By Miryam | NYC Makeup Tonight Instructor

BLINKING GOOD BLINC BLACK LASH PRIMER!

I have previously received a Blinc Mascara in a past Boxycharm and loved the tube packaging. However, I was never able to really try it before my mom decided she wanted to keep it for herself! Snooze you lose right?! For this month’s Boxycharm, I received another Blinc product and this time it was a Black Lash Primer for Jet Black Volume! My first impression was that I loved the fact that it was a BLACK primer. The white ones never really caught my eye because I always thought a white base would dull my black mascara. The wand is like a narrow comb so its easy to get to the base of your lashes. After letting the primer dry, I used my Doucce Punk Volumizing mascara and I instantly noticed that my lashes looked longer then they would if I used my mascara on its own. However, aside from the length it really did make my mascara JET black color wise. Although I didn’t notice any extra volume I can’t complain about the extra length! 

By Miryam | NYC Makeup Tonight Instructor

NYX FACE AWARDS

This weekend I was lucky enough to attend the NYX Face Awards Launch Party & received a GENEROUS goody bag. The very first thing to catch my eye were the new Colored Felt Tip Liners. I swatched them last night to test how pigmented they are and the different strokes that I would be able to do. Let me tell you,  they passed with flying colors….literally!  I also decided to sleep with the swatches on to test their durability and woke up with them only slightly faded, but the lines were still in tact! They are available in six gorgeous shades; white, royal blue, cobalt blue, teal, grey and chocolate brown. They are all dry and semi matte, which is my personal preference. They retail for $10 each, so they are a great price for what you are getting, including the sleek packaging. However, I do recommend storing these face down to avoid the felt tip applicator from drying out. Happy lining ladies!

By Miryam | NYC Makeup Tonight Instructor