Darling Girl Cosmetics | Indie Company

 Darling Girl Cosmetics is an indie cosmetics company I was first introduced to via a fellow blogger at a meeting. She wiped out her newly arrived goodies and started swatching. The one that blew our mind, and made me check out the store, was this gorgeous pigment called Jeweled Taupe. I'm all for indie companies especially when they have a good variety and has great communication with its clients. The store has so many awesome colors like vibrant reds and duo-chrome pink blushes. 

When buying from the store you have two choices, purchasing a sample size or a full side. This is brilliant since it's always good to try out something before committing to buying it whole... I know I've had my fair share of disappointments. Plus, you need such a small amount of product to cover the intended area. I found that all of the samples I got were very easy to apply and get a good pigmentation from the get go. Some of the blushes, like She-Bop and Neon Trees, are kind of patchy but easily blended out. Aloha, the bronzer, isn't so dark on my fair/olive skin, it's more of a sandy color that works very nice for a very subtle glow. And the prize of the day, Jeweled Taupe, is everything I wanted it to be. It gives such a lovely natural shine. I love how it compliments my eye instead of over powering it. This is one of those products that are inexpensive but look so glamorous and expensive. 

I've definitely learned to check out more indie cosmetics companies. You never know what you could find that is better and cheaper than a lot of other brands. DGC is always posting on their Facebook page, showing new colors and taking suggestions for future projects. This is something that is sometimes lost in more big companies. You could also always find dupes for more expensive products and that is always welcomed in my books. I do suggest you check them out, genuinely. And no, I was not sent nor contacted to review any products. This is a genuine review of the products I got. If you want more in depth specific swatches and reviews just let me know!

Jeweled Taupe, Aloha, She-Bop, Boy Crazy & Neon Trees

NARS | Laguna

I'm back! After a horrible week and some of getting my wisdom teeth taken out and having some complications, I'm finally back to my old blogging self. And what better way to come back than to tell you I finally committed? Yes, I finally took the plunge and got NARS Laguna bronzer after staring at it for roughly (2) years. Let me tell you, I almost didn't get it. I don't know whats wrong with me but I could never make myself buy it. Anyway, I got it after forcing myself and I'm so glad that it didn't disappoint.

I first was introduced to this bronzer while I was working my first internship. I needed a bronzer, since we were getting ready for an event that evening, and one of my then co-workers lent me this bronzer. I fell in love at how effortless this bronzer is. What really struck me was how the me back then didn't know how to apply bronzer all that well but this bronzer made me look like a million bucks. Why it took me so long to get, I'll never understand. I'm just super glad that it is as amazing as I remembered it. Keep in mind that this is a pricey bronzer ($34) which is partly why I could never commit. My advice is you go try it out in the store before you buy it so you don't regret it.

The Laguna bronzer is a more fair to olive skin tone bronzer. It has a subtle gold shimmer to help give that glow tanning effect without having to actually sit under the sun and burn. I don't find you can do much contouring with this, but to each it's own. It has a very smooth application and it's easy to blend out. A little goes a long way, but I don't feel you need a light hand either. I don't fear I look like a clown when I go a bit "over board". This just gives that effortless glow look, like JLo is famous for. It has a very good color pay off and it does last a nice amount of time on. You may have to retouch it during the day but I don't mind it since by the time I'd have to retouch it I'm already home. This is hands down my favorite bronzer so far.

Swatch + Swatch blended with a brush.

Summer Favorites!

Since I always forget to do a monthly favorite, I decided to redeem myself with doing a Summer favorite! These are the products I've gravitated towards more during this very hot and humid summer. It's safe to say this has not been the summer to cake on make up. The heat here is unbearable and I've been having a lot of skin problems all summer that have me even more stressed. So, I've kept is light. Since there's quite a bit I decided to separate them into categories: Fragrance, Eyes, Face, Cheeks & Lips. Enjoy!

Fragrance:

 Dove Go Fresh Body Mist in Cucumber and Green Tea Scent- This is a product I always have with me. It has a unique scent that dries on very sweet and lovely. This is something I spray on during the day to make sure I don't stick up the place. Hah!

Eyes:

 MAC Bare Study- Although this is a fairly new product, I couldn't help but add it. This is something I reach for easily 4 or 5 days a week. It's just gives an effortless look and shine to the eyes that I can't get with my eyeshadows. Plus, it has a very good lasting power.

Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara Sample- I got this from a friend who sells Mary Kay. I've been really enjoying the finish this has on my lashes. I have very long natural lashes so I get annoyed when the mascaras elongate them, but this does a great job and getting them nice and dark without making the stupidly long and for a sample it's lasted me a good amount of time.

Face:

 Tarte Smoothing Operator- This is by far a holy grail product. I cannot wait to get my hands on a full size of this. This makes my pores small and keeps me matte throughout the day. This little guy is amazing and I cannot comprehend how I didn't know about it sooner. The best part is you only need a pea size amount to cover the WHOLE face!

Clinique Perfectly Real Make Up Foundation- I can definitely say I had neglected this foundation for a long time and fell in love with it all over again. The application is smooth and light, easy to blend in. It gives a nice light-medium coverage that's perfect for this weather. 

Cheeks:

 MAC Refined Golden Bronzer- I stole this guy from one of my best friend who has a tendency to be a kleptomaniac (hi, brenda!) and needless to say she did not like a taste of her own medicine. Anyway, this bronzer just gives such a delicate glow to the skin with the right amount of gold shimmer. I can cheat and say I went to the beach now!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed- This is such an amazing blush that I always carry with me wherever I go. The flush of color it gives looks very natural and soft. The lasting power on this is amazing and goes so well with the bronzer. I couldn't help but reach for it.

Lips:

 Korres Wild Rose Lip Balm- It's no secret I'm a fan of matte lipsticks, but with this heat it's also no secret that I've had to drop my lipsticks and go for lip balms to keep my lips moisturized. The Korres lip balm gives me much needed moisture with a lovely hint of color that is greatly appreciated.

Reve de Miel Lip Balm- This guy is the one I use every morning and every night before I go to sleep. This is definitely what has been keeping my lips from cracking too much. It keeps my lips in check and leaves the soft.

Hot Pink Lip Balm- I got this guy at Sephora for $2 on a sale! It gives a lovely shade of sheer pink on the lips when applied and it looks like you ate a lolli pop. It's lovely.

Sephora | Mineral Brush 45

  I first saw this brush on Essiebutton's blog and youtube channel. To me it looked so soft that I had to see it for myself. After checking it out a couple of times I decided to get it at Sephora. The brush is $26, which is pricey but it's hands down my favorite brush and I swear by it (as the girls from BBPR know). The feel of this brush is to die for! It's so soft and spreads the product so evenly. I personally use this for foundation, but it can be used for blush, bronzer or highlighter. I cannot express enough how I love this brush. The application is superb. You don't need to apply any amount of pressure to be able to buff the product in, the brush just works amazing. This is a brush I will re-purchase again and again and again. I know this was a short review but if it were up to me I'd just write "BEST BRUSH EVER" and be done with it, but you deserve at lest a paragraph, right? BEST BRUSH EVAR!