Review & Photos: Too Faced Cocoa Contour Kit

With contour kits popping up everywhere like weeds, it can be hard to know which one to buy. I have been contemplating one which one I should pick up. Like most sugar deprived woman I lust after anything that smells like cocoa. When Too Faced released their Cocoa Contour kit I literally purchased it that day in hopes of getting my fix of chocolatey goodness... But of course in the form of makeup (hello, it's Too Faced!). So it's a win win situation,  right? 

Too Faced Product details

Cocoa Contour gives you the power to enhance your most beautiful features and minimize the ones you want to hide in a few simple steps. This curated kit comes with the two essential sculpting shades, the perfect matte highlighter, and a luminous pop of light for a contoured look that never looks flat. Infused with our antioxidant-rich Exclusive Cocoa Complex, the powders blend seamlessly and indulge you with a decadent chocolate scent. Features our Contour Buki Brush for the most professional sculpting effect.

MORE TO LOVE:

• Universal set contains all the shades needed to take the guesswork out of contouring, sculpting and highlighting.
• Exclusive Cocoa Complex is a proprietary blend of antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and moisturizing cocoa butter that work together to hydrate and smooth skin and boost your mood.
• Achieve lifted cheekbones, look instantly slimmer or sculpt like an A-list celebrity. 
• Includes our signature Glamour Guide with three contour looks to get you started. 
• Too Faced Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer Jerrod Blandino was inspired to infuse antioxidant-rich cocoa in makeup while getting a chocolate facial at a Hawaiian spa. He learned of chocolate’s benefits to the skin and included the ingredient in Too Faced’s best-selling products.

Click here to purchase.

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Packaging 

The packaging is very similar to other Too Faced products. The powders are housed in a square card board box with a magnetic closure. It is a little bulky but manageable. A decent sized mirror is also included for on the go. The four powders that are included inside are: Light Cocoa, Medium Cocoa, Dark Cocoa and Pop of Light. A small teddy bear bristle brush is also included. Unlike other palettes, I really like this brush. It's soft, small and it gets the job done right. 

Consistency 

The consistency is definitely smooth and creamy. I did notice some powder flying around in the pan but it'sjust because the product is really smooth. The only powder I'm not too crazy about is Pop Of Light but we will talk about that later in this post. 

Application

Every powder included in this kit blends out so smoothly. Sometimes I have a hard time getting powders to blend easily over my acne but I didn't encounter that problem with this kit. Another problem with problematic skin like mine is patchiness, fortunately, the powders applied evenly. 

Longevity 

Light, Medium and Dark Cocoa lasted on my combination skin for about 7-8 hours before fading away. Pop of light stayed on my checks for a couple hours before navigating somewhere else on my cheeks.

Is this a good kit for contouring?

I think this kit is good for contouring if you have a light to medium complexion with neutral/ yellow undertones. Medium  Cocoa is the shade that I prefer for contouring. It's not as warm and acts more as a shadow than Dark Cocoa. Dark Cocoa is a little warmer and its best used as an overall bronzer to warm up my complexion. Light Cocoa is my favorite shade. It really helps brighten up my face, while still looking natural. 

Light Cocoa

Best used for a matte highlight under the eyes, on the chin, forehead, and the bridge of the nose. It won't add any sheen but it does leave a flawless bright complexion behind. I also enjoy using it to set my under eye concealer. It keeps it from creasing and fills in my fine lines. 

Medium Cocoa

Medium Cocoa is certainly the contouring powder of the kit. It's great for chiseling out the cheek bones for a nice lift. Of course it can be used anywhere for instant shadows. I enjoy contouring my nose, forehead and jawline with it as well. I'm really loving this shade because I can get a natural contoured look that blends out seamlessly, which is hard for me to do with my acne. 

Dark Cocoa

Some people might beable to use this shade for contouring. Maybe if you have a medium to dark complexion and your typical shade for contouring is warm. But as a person with light skin I find it best as an overall bronzer. 

To be honest, I was a little disappointed about how warm this powder was but I actually really enjoy it as a bronzer. It's great for a flawless bronzey glow. It doesn't look muddy whatsoever and it buffs into my skin so effortlessly. This could perhaps be my new favorite bronzer. 

Pop Of Light

I'm really disappointed with this shade. Instead of having a nice glow like everyone is expecting, it has chunks of glitter. Not only is Specks of glitter migrating all over the face unattractive but the glitter enhances my acne. That's definitely not a look I want! I'm after the kind of highlighter that catches light on he high points of my face. Not specks of gold glitter that have moved down to my contour line. However, if you like chunky highlights, then you'll love Pop Of Light! 

Overall

I really love this kit despite of the disappointing shimmery highlight. I get a beautiful matte highlight, contour and bronzer shade that smells like delicious cocoa. It's a little pricey but I feel like I can get my money's worth. I really enjoy having a highlight, contour and bronzer in one box. That makes it great for traveling and fast forwards my makeup routine by a few minutes.... It works really well if your complexion is fair but if your medium to dark+, then skip on it unless you think Dark Cocoa will work for you (some darker people have mentioned it working on their skin tone). Too Faced should really provide more options for people with darker skin tones(maybe a future release?). This kit truly is beautiful and I hate how a lot of people won't be able to use it. It's tradgic. But as a whole, this kit is certainly a hot product worth checking out! 

Photos and Swatches

Light Cocoa

Medium Cocoa

Dark Cocoa 

Pop Of Light

Swatches in artificial lighting.

Left to right: Light Cocoa, Medium Cocoa, Dark Cocoa Light Cocoa.

Swatches in natural lighting.

Left to right: Light Cocoa, Medium Cocoa, Dark Cocoa Light Cocoa.

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Are you going to purchase this kit?

Do you enjoy the cocoa scent from Too Faced?

What's your favorite product for contouring?

Let me know in the comments below!

Deal or Dud: City Color Cosmetics Intense Blush Quad

It's time for Deal or Dud! No one likes wasting money on products that are not worth your time or money. That's why I created this new series called Deal or Dud. If it's a Deal, then you and your wallet will be happy. If it's a Dud, well, now you can avoid another disappointment . Will the City Color Blush Quad be worth your money or should you skip it? Find out now! 

Blush palettes are life. Their cute, colorful, useful and fun. Its not a rare thing to see a high end blush palette but when the drugstore comes out with a promising blush palette its like topping on a cake. In this case the pretty cupcake is City Color Cosmetics Intense Blush quad in "Collection 2".

I found this 4 pan City Color blush quad at my local 5 Below for $4. If a 5 Below isn't in your area, then you will have to make an order online (buy here). Unfortunately, City Color is not available in stores and its also more expensive online ($7.99). There are 3 different quads available and each one has a different color theme. The quad I found has a warm bronzy theme with a bright coral pink and burnt red. 

I wasn't crazy about the picture above but I had a hard time getting my camera to capture the color of the blushes. However, I wanted to upload atleast one picture, bad or good, that shows the true color of each blush. So yeah, here it is. 

This blush does have Talc in it. Some blushes with Talc break me out, others don't. If your skin is sensitive to Talc, skip this blush and explore other brands like Makeup Geek or Physicians Formula. Also keep in mind that this palette does have parabens as well. 

I actually really like the packaging of this palette. Some people have trouble opening it up. I don't but I do have longer nails. Each blush is in a pot (great for depotting), which keeps them from shattering so easily if you drop it. Right now I am secretly clapping my hands because I only dropped it twice.

This quad also comes with two small brushes for application. Just throw them out. They're cheap and too small to accomplish anything with. I wouldn't even dare to use them on my eyes. We'll just call them a dud.

I wouldn't call the texture creamy but its not dry either. They have that classic blush texture that is soft and smooth. When I first swatched it the indentation made the product feel stiff but after the first layer the blush softened. It doesn't have a gritty texture or a chalky consistency, which can be a problem with cheaper blushes. But I'm quite surprised by how much I like the texture of this blush formula. It's similar to some high end blushes I own. 

The only problem with the blush formula is how easily the powder kicks up. When I dip my brush into the product a lot of excess powder gets all over the pan. Which I guess that's not a huge problem. I'm not usually discouraged by a product when it has that simple flaw. In the end it all depends on how it applies and wears. I personally don't mind if I have to blow the excess powder off when I'm done. 

The pigmentation is just incredible. Really the blushes might be too pigmented for some people. It would be easy to go into clown mode in an instant without meaning to. When I first used this palette I went ham with the bronze shade(first swatch on left) and ended up looking like an oompa loompa. So I definitely recommend tapping your brush a few times before applying blush to your face.

Despite being highly pigmented, they do blend out beautifully. As you can see in the picture above they sheer out to wearable colors that appear semi matte on the skin. I particularly like the bronzey shades for warming up my face or their great for days when I cant wear obvious pink blush because of breakouts. The other two shades are definitely more bright but from experience they can be sheered out for a wearable and desirable look. By the way, If you have darker skin this palette would suite you very well.

The wear time is a lot longer than I expected. I figured with a cheap palette like this I wold only get maybe around 4 hours. To my surprise, every blush lasted for around 7-8 hours, which is the average wear time of my makeup before I wash it off. Even better, I think a couple of the darker blushes might have slightly stained my cheek, but I guess with any shade that bright it's not that surprising. 

Deal or Dud? 

Overall, I really like this quad.. It's affordable, and the blushes are pigmented, blendable, & soft. This would be a great buy for beginners who are building a collection or even makeup hoarders like myself. The packaging might seem bulky to some people but I love it. I would feel confident packing it into my suitcase without worrying if it's going to break.

 This drugstore find is definitely a deal!

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Are you going to purchase this palette?

Do you own any of the other palettes?

Let me know in the comments below! 

Review and photos: Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme

Hello!

Cake-y appearance, breakouts, too drying, not drying enough, you name it and I have experienced it. We all have. Foundation is the most important part of your makeup routine. Bad base=bad makeup day. What's a girl to do? Well, I have the answer. (For the majority of people) 

Now I'm not saying if you use this foundation it will give you the PERFECT look but it's the closest to it. You can't get rid of a bump or remove the texture from a scar but you can temporarily camouflage it. How you ask? Becca Cosmetics Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme is the key. 

Product Details 

You can find it at Sephora, Ulta or Beccas website. It sells for $44 and you get 30ml. There are 25 amazing shades. 

Ideal for any skin type, this formula contains a balance of 21 percent pure pigment and 22 percent water, which work in synergy to completely conceal imperfections, redness, hyperpigmentation, and uneven texture in a weightless cream.

• For a beautifully seamless application, ensure that your face is well hydrated and allow your moisturizer or primer to fully absorb into the skin before applying the crème.
• This foundation is designed to be used with a brush.
• The average foundation formula usually contains 10 to 15 percent pigment and 5 to 10 percent water, whereas this product contains 21 percent pure pigment and 22 percent water.
• Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, alcohol and fragrance.

Pigmentation

The pigmentation in this foundation is one of the best I have discovered. I have a hard time finding a foundation that covers my hyper pigmentation but this foundation covers like 80% of it! And keep in mind that I only apply one thin layer and use concealer for extra coverage. So the pigmentation is pretty awesome! A

Lasting Power

On the days that I wore this foundation, I kept my makeup on for about 8 hours. The whole time it continued to look perfect. I even wore it in the rain and my makeup still looked freshly applied. 

Does it cause breakouts

Ah, the most important part of this review. Thankfully, the answer is no. My sensitive skin reacted very well to this foundation. 

Application/ Consistency 

There is one thing that I must point out about this foundation! If you have dry patches, then I strongly suggest mixing it with a luminizer. I have to do this because of my dry acne and if I skip this step the foundation clings to those spots. But if you thin it out a little, it's the bomb.com! It's really easy to buff into the skin and it layers beautifully. The finish is matte but you can make it dewy with a luminizer mixed in(my favorite method). Once applied, it sets very quickly and doesn't feel tacky what so ever. You could probably even get away without setting it if you have normal to dry skin but I can't back that theory up for people with oily skin. Though, if you do set it, I think you will be just fine! 

Obviously, the consistency is a creme. Which is great for an array of different skin types. 

Amazingly, you can get FULL coverage from this foundation or keep it light. Either way it's actually breathable. Which is super super hard to find in full coverage foundations. 

Packaging 

The packaging is very sleek! The bottle itself looks high end and features an advanced pump. I have to say I'm really impressed with the quality of the bottle. Other companies need to take note! 

Overall  

This foundation doesn't get enough hype in the beauty world. The formula is truly unique and I know if everyone tried, they would rave about it. It's so Buildable and breathable. You can wear it as light coverage if you apply it lightly or you can apply two layers and have full coverage. The end result is always going to be the same, a base that looks like skin. I know the price is a little steep but it's worth every single penny. The Becca Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme is one of those items that you need to save up for. If for some rare reason you don't like it, you can always get a full refund. However, I bet you'll love, love, love it. 

Photos and Swatches 

Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars

TaylorPie approved? Yes!

Have you tired this foundation? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!

Want me to review a product? Just ask!

Thanks for reading, TaylorPie. 

Dermablend Professional Smooth Indulgence Concealer-review, photos

Hello!

Today's post is about a concealer made by Dermablend Professional. The Smooth Indulgence Concealer can be bought for $22. There are 6 different shades ranging from fair to dark. With each tube you get .3 fl oz. You can purchase it on dermblend.com or Ulta. 

After seeing Casandra Bankson's camo confession I was very eager to get my hands on a Dermablend product. For my first experience with Dermablend I decided to go with a concealer. I didn't want to spend a lot on a product before I know what color I am and how my skin reacts to their ingredients. So far I'm impressed! However, I do wish the color range had more options. I got the Smooth Indeulgence Concealer in the lightest color and I fear it's too dark for me. Hopefully, the rest of their cosmetic line isn't like this. That'll be very disappointing! BUT let's not be negative here. I think Dermablend is an outstanding brand.

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Details

Provides twice the coverage of a classic concealer for up to 12 hours of wear (16 hours of wear with Setting Powder). A soft touch to skin, Smooth Indulgence Concealer evens complexion and won't enhance fine lines or surface imperfections. Provides all day hydration with SPF 20 Sunscreen.The main ingredient is water not oil.   

 For full coverage of:

• Rosacea
• Redness
• Uneven skin tone
• Minor acne scars
• Dark under-eye circles
• Isolated facial skin flaws

Price

$22 for a 9 mL-.3 fl. Oz. Tube. 

Color range 

Nude, Sand, Sable, Honey, Carmel and Mocha. (I have the shade Nude)

As I mentioned before, the concealers are lacking in the shade department. The lightest shade isn't suitable for fair skintones and the dark shade doesn't look deep enough for those with darker skin. 

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The packaging

The concealer comes in a small, white .3 fl. Oz. Squeeze tube. I like this a lot better because it keep bacteria from getting into the concealer. Concealers that come with wands/sponges are transferred back and froth to your face, which is unsanitary. It's the same for pots. Your finger is constantly going back and forth from the jar to your face and it's hard telling what other germs you have picked up from everything else. 

The tube itself is very sturdy. The lid hasn't cracked and it easily screws on tightly. 

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The consistency

It has a thin consistency. A little goes a very long way and I just dab a small dot on the areas that I need more coverage. Personally, I think using your fingers to blend it out looks more natural on the face. While, a concealer brush works best under the eyes. BUT any application method should look fine if you apply it properly. 

How does it wear/apply

I haven't noticed any blotchiness, creasing, fading, it doesn't oxidize or dry out my skin. It applies smoothly and I'm able to get a even, lightweight finish. If I set with a powder I can get around 10-12 hours wear from the concealer without it fading or starting to crease(hardly noticeable). It you don't like powders then just take a hour or two away from the wear time.

Luckily, it doesn't oxidize. Otherwise, it would be too dark for me. 

I'm happy to say it doesn't dry out the under eyes or face. I always apply a moisturizer anyways but I still don't think it would dry the under eyes. 

How well does it cover?

Acne

I would say the coverage is medium. I can't get it to cover my acne completely but I still feel confident enough to go out in public. You might beable to get a full coverage if you wear a full coverage foundation but I like to keep my foundation light to prevent a cake-y look. That's up to you though! Whatever works best for you.

Here's a picture of my acne

Pigmentation/dark marks

This concealer covers ALL of my pigmentation! It looks really natural and it doesn't take a lot in the process. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover my dark acne scars. I can still see a purple shade from the scar when I wear my makeup. BUT that's to be expected when you wear a concealer that claims to be medium coverage(covers minor scars). If you need a full coverage concealer I would suggest MAC's Pro Long wear concealer or Makeup Forevers full Coverage concealer. A lot of people say the Hard Candy Glamoflouge works great for acne/scarring but I have the same problem with that concealer as I do with the Smooth Indulgence concealer(let me know if you want a quick review of the Hard Candy concealer).

Redness

It completely covers redness around my nose all day!

Final thoughts

Overall, this seems like a great everyday concealer. I prefer something with more coverage for formal events but I have a lot of acne. I think this concealer would be just enough for the average person. Some might even beable to get a full coverage from it. I just can't because that would be pretty much my whole face caked up with concealer(no joke). 

I also wish the shade choices were better. I feel like the lightest shade is too dark and yellow for me. Do y'all feel the same way? BUT with that aside it really is a great concealer. I definitely recommend it to anyone on the market for a new concealer. 

Pros

Covers most of my acne, dark under eyes and redness

Blends smoothly

Wear time is long

Doesn't crease

A little goes long way

Looks natural

Doesn't dry out my skin

It's not blotchy

It's doesn't oxidize

Solid medium coverage(full for some areas)

Lightweight 

Covers minor scars

Cons

Poor shade selection

Doesn't cover dark acne scars

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Have you tried the Smooth Indulgence concealer or any other Dermablend product?

What are your thoughts?

Are you thinking about purchasing it?

Do you have any questions?

Leave a comment below and let me know! 

Thanks for reading, TaylorPie. 

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream with acne treatment- review for acne prone skin

Hello!

If you followTaylorpiebeauty on Istagram, then you probably know I have been working on review for this product. For some reason I have a love/ hate relationship with this BB cream. If you're not familiar with this BB cream let me tell you a little bit about it. 

This BB cream is made by Maybelline and it sells for $8 at most drugstores. There are 5-6 shades in 1fl oz squeeze tubes.  It's made for combination/ or blemish-prone skin. This BB Cream features 8 great skin benefits(listed below) that create healthy looking skin. 

It has 2% Salicylic Acid , which is one of the highest amount that you can get without a prescription. 

Uses

for the treatment of acne

helps clear up acne blemishes and allows skin to heal

8 Benefits

1. Clears acne ✔️✖️

2. Conceals imperfections✖️

3.Minimizes the looks of pores✔️✖️

4. Reduces the appearance of redness✔️

5. Adjusts to skin tone✔️

6. Hydrates and Smoothes✖️

7. Enhances and clarifies ✖️

8. 0% oils and lightweight feel✔️✖️

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How does it perform

Does it clear acne?

Personally, I didn't notice a difference in the appearance of my skin. I already have Saliciylic Acid in my daily treatments and believe the BB Cream just over did it. Everytime I wear it my skin gets really dry and feels irritated. BUT with that put aside, I haven't experienced clearer skin.

Does it conceal imperfections?

No, it's too sheer to conceal major imperfections and it's not buildable. When I have more than one layer on it looks cake-y and feels heavy. 

Does it minimize the appearance of pores?

Somewhat. It hides some pores but if you have large pores, then the BB cream accentuates them. Also, as the BB Cream fades your pores start to show through.

Does it reduce the appearance of redness? 

Yes, it evens out your skintone just fine. So if you have redness anywhere on your face you may like this BB Cream.

Does it adjust to your skin tone? 

Yes, I picked the color that was within my shade range and it matched perfectly to my skin.

Does it hydrate and smooth?

No! It leaves my skin feeling dry and makes my acne peel even worse. My skin also didn't look or feel smooth.

Does it enhance and clarify?

No! It made my skin dry and cake-y.

Does it have a lightweight feel?

Yes and no. If you apply a very thin layer it will feel fine for a couple hours. However, it starts to feel heavy throughout the day. 

If your like me and want more coverage then I'm sure you'll want more than one layer. BUT.. If you do that then you're left with a mask feeling and I gotta say it's not too comfortable. 

I gave it a check mark above because on the directions it does say " for best results apply a thin layer of Dream Pure BB cream on skin. Can be used with or without a moisturizer". So keep that in mind if you are worried about it feeling too heavy. I'm sure some people love it and others hate it. 

Just for a reference here is a picture of my acne

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The packaging

The packaging is nice.

 It comes in a squeeze tube. Which is good for sanitary reasons. 

The lid stays on tight and it's easy to remove.  

The packaging itself is very slim and easy to travel with.

Overall, I love the feel, look and colors of the tube this BB Cream comes in.

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The consistency and finish

The consistency is just right. It's neither too thin or thick. Which surprises me because it feels so mask like on my face.

I feel that its best if you set it with a powder in the tzone. Otherwise, I feel as if it truly never sets and feels tacky.

It dries to slightly dewy finish. If you have oily skin I don't think you will enjoy it. Oil can easily break through in the tzone.

The coverage is sheer. It's not buildable(if you don't want cake-y skin). 

I can wear it for two hours before it starts to crease and fade. 

Final thoughts

The concept of this BB Cream is genius. I know anyone with acne would love to have a BB Cream that looks gorgeous on the skin. Unfortunately, this BB Cream didn't work out for me. It didn't treat my acne or conceal it. It looks unnatural on my face. It makes my skin dry. It doesn't improve the appearance of my large pores. The wear time isn't very long. I do like the packaging, price, the consistency and how it adjusts to my skintone. I don't hate this BB Cream to the point that I need to throw it away. I will probably finish it but I'm not going to repurchase it.

2 of the 8 benefits worked. 3 of the 8 benefits sort of worked. The rest(3) did not.

(all of the benefits are listed above)

Pros

Packaging

Price

Consistency

Adjusts to skintone

Doesn't clog pores

Reduces redness

Minimizes small pores

Cons

Minor scent

Cake-y

Causes dry skin/accentuates dry patches  

Loses the battle against acne

Sheer coverage

Doesn't minimize large pores

Wear time is short

Oil shines through after awhile

I'm sad to say this BB Cream is NOT TaylorPie approved.

Have you tried this BB Cream? What are your thoughts?

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Here is a before and after picture. My model said she thought it felt light weight. However, she doesn't need as much coverage on her face. She has mild acne on her forehead and clear skin everywhere else. I did notice a difference on clear skin. It looks very natural and makes the skin look flawless. That still doesn't change my mind about my review, though. I based my review on skin that is very problematic, such as mine. You might enjoy this if you have periodic breakouts but if your skin is like mine then I say stick to foundation.

Thanks for reading, TaylorPie.