Sigma Haul

Hey everybody! I recently placed an order with Sigma and my box just came in the mail. I wanted to share with you guys what I got and my first thoughts, as well as some pictures of the brushes so you can get a good idea of what they look like.

As you can see, I bought ten brushes. Ten brushes is a heck of a lot of money, even though Sigma is supposed to be an affordable brand. I guess compared to MAC it is, but I spent slightly over $150 and I did not get free shipping. I am so irked by that. I think if I spend over $50, I should get free shipping, period. Oh well, I digress.

First up is the F55, Small Duo Fiber Brush.

I bought this for applying cream products like blush, highlight, or bronzer. I don't own another duo fiber brush, so I'm excited about this and this one has been on my list for a very long time.


This next one is the F25, Tapered Face brush.

I think this will be great for a light application of powder in the t-zone or all over bronzer. It is smaller than I expected, But I like it.

Next is the famous F80, Flat Kabuki brush.

I couldn't place a Sigma order without putting this brush in the basket. Everybody and their mother loves this brush, and it's all the hype on YouTube. I thought I would give it a go.

Next I have the F35, Tapered Highlight Brush.

I have been wanting this brush for ages. I don't have a proper brush to highlight with in my collection, so this is a much needed addition. I'm really excited about it.

Next I have the P88, Precision Flat Angled Brush.

I thought this would be great for under eye concealer. I already have a round top brush like this from Real Techniques, so I thought I would try out one that was angled.

Next is the E05 Eye Liner Brush.

I have a lot of trouble with gel eyeliner, and I think it's partly because of lack of practice, and partly because I lack a good eyeliner brush. This one is very small and has a pointed tip. I'm hoping it well help me get comfortable with gel eyeliner.

Next I have the E25, Blending Brush.

I have heard that this is the closest thing out there to the MAC 117. I just like the shape of it, and I think it's very versatile.


Then I have the P86, Precision Tapered brush.

This is just the tapered version if the P88 listed above. They have different shapes of the same brush, so I thought getting a tapered one would be good for concealer in little corners of the face, like around the nose and in the corner of the eye. Perhaps this brush wasn't completely necessary, but I don't have anything like it and I'm excited to use it.

Next is the E40, Tapered Blending Brush.

I already have one of these in my collection. But I wanted another, because I think having two big fluffy brushes to switch between while I'm doing a smokey eye look is important. One for blending, one for placing color in the crease. It just makes sense.

Last but not least I have the E30, Pencil brush.

I don't have a pencil brush in my collection, so I got one. I'm pretty sure this will come in handy.


Overall, I'm pleased with what I see. The brushes are super soft and sturdy. I'm excited to use them and I think they will perform great. However, I am displeased with the fact that I didn't get free shipping on such a big order. I also think that Sigma is on the whole rather expensive.

I would (and will) probably order from Sigma again. But I think next time I will probably order from Sedona Lace first, just to see what their brushes are like. I think when it comes to face brushes, I will stick with Sigma because I am more picky. But when it comes to brushes for the eyes, I may turn elsewhere.

Much love!

Gianna

How To Co-Wash

Hey everybody! It's been nearly seven weeks into the Curly Girl Method, and I've had some ups and downs. Co-washing is pretty much the center of the Curly Girl Method, so I thought I would devote a post to this topic.

Co-Washing is short for Conditioner Washing. Instead of using shampoo, Curly Girls use conditioner that is free of silicones to wash their hair on a daily basis. It is okay to use sulfate-free shampoo, but co-washing is more gentle on our hair. Popular conditioners that are Curly Girl Approved from the drugstore are the Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner and the V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner in Strawberries and Cream, which both usually retail for under three dollars at most drugstores. It doesn't have to be these specific scents- any Suave Naturals Conditioner or V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner will do.

When you co-wash, it is important to start off with a good amount of product. I have pretty long hair- past mid-back but not quite to my waist yet. I use half a palm-full of conditioner, or about the size of two quarters. I distribute it everywhere on my scalp, at the forehead, the nape of the neck, sides of the face, behind the ears, crown of my head...everywhere. And then I start to scrub. I use my fingers and really work the product in. I notice that if I neglect one section of hair, my hair is oily the next day in that section. So I pay attention to really scrub every part of my scalp. Don't hurt yourself or scratch your scalp or anything, just get down in there and scrub. Remember that there are no sulfates to do the job for you. You have to manually remove the dirt and product from your hair. Even though I've used a significant amount of conditioner already, sometimes I'll come back and add more to the places I feel need it. As a curly girl, you go through a lot of conditioner. Luckily we can use ultra cheap ones that aren't a hassle to repurchase.

After I have scrubbed my scalp thoroughly, I rinse out the co-wash. When I rinse it out, I scrub some more. Work the water into each section and thoroughly rinse out your co-wash. By the end of my shower, my arms are a little tired from scrubbing. But that's what gets my hair clean, so that's what I do. Make sure to use your fingers as you rinse it out. Using your fingers is the key to this whole process.


After I have rinsed everything out, I put in my rinse-out conditioner, which is a separate, heavier conditioner that replenishes moisture. I use the Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner. This is a popular drugstore rinse-out. I use this product on about 3/4 the length of my hair. I don't put it on my roots, because I just spent so much time scrubbing my scalp clean.

I let it sit as I finish my shower, rinse it out, and then I'm done.

I am learning that being thorough is really the only way to get my hair feeling clean enough (for my liking) with co-washing.


What about you guys? Any curly girl tips out there?

Much love!

Gianna

Review: NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

Hey everybody! I recently hauled some stuff from my trip to Vegas, and the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder was one of the things I bought. I think I have mentioned a few times in previous posts that I do not like powder much at all, even though I am oily. I feel that it makes me look cakey and doesn't usually do much for prolonging my makeup or keeping oil at bay. I usually skip powder entirely, to be honest. But I picked this up at Sephora because I had heard good things. I bought it for $34.00, which isn't too bad for a high end powder. It is comparable in price to many other setting powders at Sephora.

It comes in a nice little soft pouch. I guess this is good if you want to keep the packaging clean, or use the product with a sponge. I personally don't use a sponge, but there is one included in the kit. I think I would have preferred a lower price tag and no pouch, but whatever. Because I don't use a sponge, it's pretty useless to me.

As you can see, the product appears white in the pan. When I swatch it, you can see some of the product on my finger, but on my face it is completely transparent. I think this powder would be fine on any skin tone, honestly. When I swatch it, I can see a very slight sheen that the powder gives off. On the face, it is not that obvious. I wouldn't say it's entirely matte, but it's not glowy, glittery, or shiny in any way. It's just nice.

There is one downside to this powder that is annoying. There is a hard layer that covers the top of this powder that you have to break through in order to get any product on your brush. If the layer is not broken, you're not going to be picking up any product. You'll know that you've completely broken the top layer when you start seeing the powder look shiny. I used a really rough brush that I have just sitting around in my stash to break through the top layer. It didn't take much work at all, but I just want you guys to be forewarned. If I didn't have a really scratchy brush, I don't know that I would have been able to reach the product as easily.

Once you get to the actual product, it is velvety smooth to the touch. Seriously, it is so luxurious.

As far as what it does to my skin- I love it. It sets my makeup really well without looking like powder at all. It's amazing. It is also really blurring. When I swipe this stuff over my pores, they become way less noticeable. It just makes everything flawless without changing the color of your foundation. Like I said- it's not too matte, nor too shiny. "Light reflecting" is a good name for it, because it certainly does that.

I don't know that it prolongs the wear of my foundation. It does an alright job of keeping oil under control, but I don't rely on it to keep me shine free all day. I choose foundations that are good for oily skin (or, at least, my oily skin), and top it with this. I have used it over three of my favorite foundations- Revlon Colorstay Whipped, Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation, and NARS Sheer Glow. It was great over all three.

Overall, I love this powder. It's exactly what I want in a powder, because it doesn't look like a powder on the skin at all.

What do you guys think? Have you tried it, or the loose version? Let me know!


Much love!

Gianna

Quick Review: Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow

Hey everybody! For quite a while I have been wanting an eyeshadow that is very close to my skin color but with lots of sparkle and shine. I wanted something that wouldn't necessarily add color to my lid, but would catch the light and make it look shimmery and kind of wet, in a sense. Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow has provided me with exactly what I have been wishing for. This eyeshadow line offers seven shades with very finely milled sparkle. They can be used wet or dry. The shade I love is Space Cowboy, which is basically a flesh colored base with lots of sparkle in it. I bought it for $20 at my local Sephora, which is pretty steep. But I love it a lot, and I would buy it again.

You're probably looking at this and thinking, okay, this is going to be fallout central. But, seriously guys, I did not have any fallout when I applied this wet over Urban Decay Primer Potion. Not one little bit. I was amazed. Not sure what would happen if I applied it dry. But I probably wouldn't even attempt to apply it without my beloved UDPP. Also, be sure when you apply this to pat, not swipe, it on.

Top: Dry Swatch, Bottom: Wet Swatch

Left: Dry Swatch, Right: Wet Swatch

I tried really hard to capture the gorgeousness that is this eyeshadow, but I don't know that the camera really does it justice. Take my word for it- it's lovely.


Much love, as always.

Gianna

Curly Hair Update: Week Six

Hey everybody!

It's been a long time since I've done a curly hair update. I was on vacation and my hair routine was a little off, so now I'm back and in the groove of things again.

Honestly, in the past few weeks, I haven't noticed a whole lot of difference in my hair. It is definitely softer than before I started the Curly Girl Method. I am finding new ways to style my hair that I am really liking. Rather than rake gel through my hair, I simply coat my hair with gel so that my curls are not separated by my fingers. I like plopping, and I leave my hair plopped as long as I can. I find that this makes my curls more defined and voluminous as they dry. I also scrunch the gel into my hair after I do an initial coat of gel, which helps my hair form curls from root to tip, rather than just half way down the length of my hair.


I am noticing that my hair is feeling like it really needs a cleansing every day. I cowash, but the gel I use seems to leave behind a stickyness that I don't like. I also think that my scalp is somewhat oily. It makes sense- I have oily skin in general. When it comes to co-washing, I think the trick is to really scrub. Get down deep and use your fingers to really work the product in. When you rinse it out, do the same thing. Use your fingers to lift up the dirt and conditioner so that you're left with clean hair. Cowashing takes work. Sometimes I am not willing to put in that extra work to get my hair clean. It's a bit of a hassle. However, I am learning slowly but surely. I am going to have to do some experimentation with cowashes and gels to find a combination that really works for me. Because as of now, I'm not really loving how my hair feels at the end of the day.

Overall, I think my hair has completely adjusted to the new system. I didn't really have any major issues during the transition. I like how my hair looks now, and I like the new techniques I have found for styling my hair. My hair is softer, for sure.

Here is what my hair looked like before CG:

And here it is today, six weeks later:

So yeah, definitely more definition.

That's all for now.

Much love!

Gianna

First Impression/Review: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Hey everybody!

Lately I've been getting the itch to try out some new foundations. I've been stuck on my Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation for about a year now, so I think it's time to branch out a little bit. Part of my foundation itch is due to a recent change in my skin- I've been noticing a lot more dryness. Before now, I would definitely classify myself as having oily/combo skin. But as of late, I've been sort of normal/dry. At first I thought it was a problem, but then I realized I should just take advantage of the change and try something I was hesitant about before! I'm not sure how long my newly dry skin will last, but I'm not worried about it. Anyway, I took a trip to Sephora hoping to find something light, slightly glowy, and medium coverage. NARS Sheer Glow seems to fit these three stipulations, so I went with it. I got myself a sample in the color Ceylan, and went along my merry way.

I tested out my sample today, and boy was I surprised with what I found out. Let's get to it.


NARS Sheer Glow Foundation retails for a whopping $44.00. Yeah, it's a lot. It comes in a really classy glass bottle with the notorious velvety-black cap. It looks nice, but the black material gets so darn dirty. I know from experience with my other NARS products. There is one huge downside- it doesn't come with a pump. Honestly, I think this is just so unacceptable. You can buy a pump separately at Nordstrom, but seriously? For $44.00 I expect a freaking pump.

The foundation comes in 20 shades according to the NARS website, although on the Sephora website I am only counting 16. Like I said, I chose the shade Ceylan, which is a really nice match for my summer color (NC 30 or so).

NARS claims this foundation gives a "glowing, satin finish" with sheer, buildable coverage. It also is supposed to be best for normal to dry skin.


On to my own experience...

This is my skin without makeup on. This picture was actually taken after I took the foundation off because I forgot to take one this morning. But it's all the same. I want you to see what kind of coverage the foundation offers.

Okay so, as you can see, I have a few issues that I want to cover, but nothing major. Some redness, a few blemishes, you know the drill.

This is me with my finished makeup using NARS Sheer Glow. Just letting you guys know- I did set my makeup today with NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder. It didn't add any coverage at all. I just wanted to set it because I was going to a family member's graduation and it was important that my makeup held up.

So, I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice is the not-so-glowy finish. Don't be deceived by the name "glow." I think this foundation offers a really beautiful, satin finish (as NARS says it does) that is super natural and flattering. I think my skin looks perfected, but not cakey. The first thing I thought when I applied it was "matte, but not flat." I think that's a great way to describe this foundation. There is a natural glow, but nothing like the full on dewey-ness I got from Make Up For Ever HD or anything like that. Also, this foundation did not sit in my pores very badly. By the end of the day, it had sunken into them a little bit, but nothing major. It's a huge plus in my book.

I had to build up to this level of coverage with two layers of foundation. But it still felt very light on the skin. I think NARS is right- it has a light, buildable coverage.
As far as consistency, the foundation is thin and somewhat runny, but not like straight up water. It's nice. It's easy to blend (I applied it with my beauty blender) and it doesn't dry too fast.


As far as how it wore throughout the day, I don't have too many issues. I never had to blot, not even once. It seems to really keep it's finish- I didn't get too oily or anything like that. It sunk in to my smile line a little bit, but every foundation does that to me. That's what you get for smiling so much!

I noticed a small amount of fading on my chin, but that is another thing that always happens to me. I think with a little setting spray it wouldn't have been an issue. I didn't notice an issue with transferring. I hate foundations that transfer, so I was happy about that.

I know this is strange to remark on, but it was pretty easy to remove too. For a foundation that lasts pretty decently on the skin without a primer or setting spray, I was able to wash it off easily. I don't like it when I feel like I can't get my foundation off my face without using a makeup wipe.


The bottom line.

Who would I recommend it to?
I would recommend this foundation to someone with dry, normal, or even combo skin. It probably wouldn't be good with someone super oily. I would also recommend this to someone looking for something with light-medium coverage who wants something light and natural on the skin,. If you want super dewey or super matte, this probably isn't for you.


Am I going to purchase the full size?
Honestly... yes, I think I might. This is just beautiful stuff. The color match is great, and I think it will be great in the winter when I am less tan. I like the finish and the way it holds up on my skin. So, yes, I might be purchasing this stuff really soon.


That's all for now. Hope this was helpful!

So much love!


Gianna

Urban Decay Primer Potion vs. Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Hey everybody. I recently picked up my first Too Faced Palette, and with it came a sample of Too Faced Shadow Insurance. As you can probably tell from some of my previous posts, I am a die hard Urban Decay Primer Potion fan. However, I thought I might get them head-to-head and see which one performs better than the other. I applied UDPP to one eye and TFSI to the other to get the bottom of it. What I found was pretty awesome. Let's get to it...


Urban Decay Primer Potion is $20, and comes in a number of different shades/finishes and formulas. There is the original (which is what I use), Greed (gold shimmer), Sin (champagne shimmer), and Eden (nude matte). The newest edition to the line in an anti-aging formula, which claims to offer the same anti-crease benefits as the original as it lessens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The anti-aging formula is slightly more pricey at $24.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance is also $20. It comes in one shade/finish/formula.

When I applied them to my eyes, I found that both had basically the same exact consistency and color. They were equal in texture and sticky-ness.I topped the primers with Urban Decay Shadows, not to give UDPP an advantage, but because that's what I wear mostly on a daily basis. When first applied, my eyeshadow looked the same over top of both primers. UDPP did not make the eyeshadows look better than TFSI.
I wore them for ten solid hours as I ran errands, went shopping, and spent the evening at home. When I went to take my makeup off, both my eyes looked exactly the same. No creasing, no fading, no anything. I was pleasantly surprised.

Generally I wear UDPP to work because I know it will withstand the conditions. I work fast food, so I am often hot and sweaty, running around getting stuff done. It isn't uncommon for shakes to splash in my face as I blend them. I wore TFSI to work yesterday just to see what would happen, and it held up just as well as UDPP.

So, over all, I say they are the exact same. I know that some people have better luck with one over the other, but I found them to be equally effective. The only thing Urban Decay might have over Too Faced is the option to buy different finishes/formulas.

I will probably stick with UDPP next time I'm due to buy another primer, but that is only because it has been my long time favorite. It was probably my first high end product I owned and fell in love with. But props to Too Faced for challenging my obsession with Urban Decay Primer Potion.

What do you guys think? Do you have a favorite of the two?

Much love!

Gianna