On my wishlist... (part 1)

Hello everyone! 

I have currently noticed I have my Notes app full of little ideas of things I really want to get. Even so, there are many more that I haven't listed on my phone, and I wanted to collect all of these beauty products I am DYING to try!


I hope you enjoy my wishlist, and maybe it will give you some inspiration on what new products to purchase (if you have the budget to do so, because I haven't)!


1. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

Since my conversion to the "au naturel" makeup routine, I have started thinking that a tinted moisturizer with SPF (such as this one, which has SPF 30) might be the wisest pick for my skin. And the fact that this tinted moisturizer is by NARS (my makeup brand crush) and is supposed to be an illuminating product, makes this all the more alluring. Oh, and it's oil-free! 

1 Finland, 2 Alaska, 3 St. Moritz, 4 Annapurna, 5 Cuba, 6 Malaga, 7 Seychelles, 8 Martinique, 9 Polynesia

It comes in 9 shades, and I have heard some (very few, I assure you) complaints because of the fact that the lightest shade (Finland) is not light enough for some people. But apparently, it does cover a really large range of colors, which is always a great thing for the darkest skins and lightest skins (I should know).

I will be trying out this product, to see if I am able to find the perfect shade for me, although I will pick a shade one step darker than my winter skin color, because I want to be able to use this in summer too, and since it's sheer, I think I might be able to use it all year round! (HOPEFULLY)

This product costs: 38€/42$

(Doesn't their skin look amazzzzzing?)

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

I admit I have been dying to try this foundation too, since it's sheer too, and maybe, for the same reasons (illuminating, my-skin-but-better...etc.) although it doesn't contain any SPF (bummer) but, on the other hand, it's WAY CHEAPER (hey, I CAN afford this one right now!)

I've heard it has a very strong fruity scent WHILE applying, but once it's on your skin, it fades away. I must say, I love fruity scents, and scented makeup doesn't bother me the slightest, but I know some people really hate/can't cope with scented things. But, if it smells really well, I can't say no! (My skin is not very delicate and doesn't get irritated by these kind of things, but if you want to try this product and have these issues, you may want to try this out before you purchase it!) 

It apparently treats your skin too, making it luminous and such, but I can't believe this until it WORKS for me. There are 5 shades available, and they all tend to look quite yellowy, which for me is a plus because I have a pale-but-warm skin color. 

Definitely, will be trying this one out in little to no time (and I will post a review!)

Price: 18€ (approximately)/£10.99 (I haven't been able to find the price in $, but I don't even know if it's available in the US, actually. It is available in Canada, though.)

3. NARS Blushes

I am not known for my love of blushes, that is true, I'm more of a eyeshadow girl (now turned into a lipstick girl). I don't know how these changes come and go, but right now, I just want BLUSHES. Really beautiful blushes that I can use when having no other makeup product on, or with a very light foundation (such as the ones listed before). This is what the natural makeup look is doing to me! 

And, what brand is really well-known for its beautiful blushes? Well, of course, my beloved NARS.

I am currently crushing on a couple of shades, but I have to go to the NARS counter and SWATCH THEM ALL to really decide what I want to buy. 

Price: 29€ (D'OH!)/$28.00

Right now I am in love with:

A) GAIETY

(Picture by Temptalia)

I have been hearing all these amazing reviews about this color, and the fact that it's such a beautiful pink, has made me REALLY WANT this blush! 

B) EXHIBIT A

(Picture by Temptalia)

I know I might probably NOT be able to pull this off at all, but a girl can dream, right? 

Actually, worn lightly, it gives a beautiful glow (as seen on pictures), although you have to be very careful and be sure to tap off the excess from the brush you use to apply this with!

C) TAJ MAHAL

(Picture by Temptalia)

With this blush, I don't know. I have seen this on some medium skintoned people and it looks amazing! But will I be able to pull this one off? Hopefully! (If applied lightly, maybe?)

D) DESIRE

This blush looks a little warmer than Gaiety, but from the swatches I've seen, they don't differ that much! (Maybe I'm terribly wrong, because I haven't actually been able to swatch the real thing!) In the European NARS site, this color is NOT available. 

4. Highlighter

I actually haven't got an item that I really really want in this category, but I really really want a beautiful highlighter! I have heard a lot about NARS Albatross, but I want to look for cheaper alternatives. Any ideas, anyone? 

5. Illamasqua blushes

Since my love story with their nail polish in 'Rare', I just can't believe I haven't owned anything from this brand YET! And since I'm in a blush rage right now, I checked out their blush color range. And believe me if I tell you that...: WOW-ZA. THESE are really pigmented and bright blushes, which is something I adore, and it really makes NARS dull blushes (most of them, except for the ones I mentioned before) look bad. (Am I really criticizing NARS? Who am I?)

Prices: 19.73€/$26.19/£16.50

All of these blushes are matte, unless stated otherwise (in blushes like Morale, etc.)

As I will have to purchase these online, I want to really check out a LOT of reviews and swatches before I decide. But these are the ones I'm already sold on:

A) PANIC

It's described as a bright cherry red, which makes me fall in love with it. Here is a comparison between NARS Exhibit A and Illamasqua Panic.

(Picture by Lilllgoddess)

B) HUSSY

(Picture by The Beauty Codes)

This is a bright watermelon blush color, and as you will be able to see in the swatch underneath, it is bbbbeautiful. I can see myself wearing this one on a summer night! But, on the other hand, maybe when I'm tanned this can be too light? Hopefully not, but buying online is full of risks.

(Picture by KarlaSugar)

C) TWEAK

I hate the fact that these blushes are pictured unrealistically and dully on the Illamasqua website, because they don't look that alluring on these pictures.

Tweak is describes as a Hot Pink, but from the swatches I've seen (next picture) it looks more of a pinkish-orangey red, which is exactly what I'm looking for! I think it looks a little like Exhibit A from NARS, so maybe I will purchase that one first, just in case!

(Picture by KarlaSugar)

___________________________________________________________________________________

I hope I didn't overwhelm you with products, but I assure you there are MANY more on my list! So I will be doing a second part related to eyeshadows, liners, etc. so that eyeshadow girls won't feel left out! (I know how you feel, I used to be one of you! Still am at heart!)

If you have any of these products, would you be so kind as to tell me what you think about them? Total fail or really worth the splurge? It will be really appreciated!

Love,

Maria.

My NARS collection

Hello ladies!

I have been loving NARS products since I discovered them some years ago. I own the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (in Montblanc) which is my favorite foundation ever, a couple of Velvet Matte Lip pencils (you can see swatches in previous entries), a lipstick (in Funny Face), a lip lacquer (in Baby Doll), a blush (in Orgasm, of course, it's an essential!), a nail polish (in Purple Rain) and some eyeshadow duos.

EYESHADOW DUOS

NARS eyeshadows are quite varied and there is an amazing range of colors available. You can buy them in singles or in duos. Since the price of duos and singles isn't very different, I have bought some duos instead of singles (although I have some written on my Christmas list for Santa). 

I have only one cream eyeshadow duo, which is Burn It Blue, and I don't like cream eyeshadow very much because it tends to crease, but the colors are just AMAZING, and in my local store they had run out of the eyeshadow duo called Persepolis (which has similar intense turquoise and blue colors).

My favorite of all three would be Jolie Poupee, because it has a matte light lavender color and a shimmery beautiful purple, and both of them work really well and look beautiful. I think these pictures don't do justice to how pretty this duo is, but the close-up might give you a better idea.

My less favorite (although I don't dislike it) is Demon Lover, because it's a toned down color, which, if you look at the picture just below, looks like a muted version of Jolie Poupee. In this case, the purplish color is matte and the bluish gray is shimmery. This duo works very well for everyday looks and darker smokey eyes if combined with black eyeshadows or darker versions of blue and purple.

 (Burn It Blue, Jolie Poupee, Demon Lover)

(Burn It Blue; cream eyeshadow duo)

 (Jolie Poupee)

(Demon Lover)

BLUSH

I am afraid I'm not quite a person who loves having different blushes, because since I found my perfect color, Orgasm, I haven't needed any other color just yet. Orgasm is a beautiful pink coral with some fine shimmer which doesn't show up but looks amazing under every light.

(Orgasm)

You can see the goldish shimmer under the light, but it disappears once applied on the cheeks.

LIPSTICK

I love love love lipsticks, but I have quite a collection so I only buy a new one when I think its color is too attractive not to have. NARS lipsticks are quite expensive (the same as eyeshadows, etc.) so I only own one lipstick, but it has soon become one of my favorites, due to the fact that the color is so BEAUTIFUL. I can't wear it on a daily basis, but I do use it when I go out with my friends or when I want to look especially nice.

(Funny Face)

It's a bright fuchsia, but I think these pictures don't do justice to how beautiful it really looks.

LIP LACQUER

As you already know, I love lip products, but in this case, I raved about this product for some time. The problem is, it didn't look as good on me as I would've liked but the finish is beautiful and I think any other person might've loved it for more than I did. My problem is the color is too light for my pigmented lips.

 (Baby Doll)

Ok, looks at THIS! It looks so beautiful. I am definitely going to try it again, 

because I just feel bad not giving it another chance!

NAIL POLISH

I am a downright nail polish junkie. I know, my family knows, my friends know. And that's okay. But I am a cheap nail polish junkie. I mean, I don't like to spend too much on nail polish, even if my collection is outrageously large. I haven't got any China Glaze, or Essie, etc. products because they're not sold in Spain. But most of my collection is Kiko Milano, and I have them in every color, every finish, etc. (I LOVE THEM) and they are quite cheap.

So, when I bought my NARS nail polish, I just did it because it was the most amazing color I had ever seen and I HAD to have it. Since my favorite color is purple, and I had no purple nail polishes, I think it was just fair that it was way more expensive than the rest of my nail polishes. You do pay for quality at NARS, that's what I always tell my mother when she says I buy too many expensive NARS products.

(Purple Rain)

The flash picture didn't pick up the pinkish undertones and shimmer of the purple nail polish. 

Isn't it just BEAUTIFUL?

P.S. I'm wearing Kiko Milano's black nail polish on my nails.

(Last but not least)

FOUNDATION (SHEER GLOW)

(Montblanc)

I had never found my perfect match, because I have quite a pale skin but I have yellow undertones, and many brands haven't got a wide range of colors in the foundation department. When I tried out this foundation, I just jumped with excitement! It's my perfect color match and it looks amazing on my skin! 

The only problem I have with this foundation is that my skin is combination, so some hours after applying it, my T-zone starts getting greasy and the foundation starts moving around, with the result of having rubbed off after 4 or 5 hours after application.

CONCLUSION

I will not review the Nars V.M. Lip pencils because I have already done this in a previous post. About NARS, oh.. what to say? I am in love with all of their products. This Christmas, my wishlist will be full of single eyeshadows from this brand (for my Christmas list, check out my next post) and some duos I haven't been able to get before. 

NARS love to you all,

Maria.