Review: Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in "Quickie"

When I buy new blush, I almost always immediately go back to my tried and true "peony" blush by Bobbi Brown.  So you know when I try a new blush and wear it every single day for more than a week---that I really love it.

I'm talking about the Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint. I got the color "Quickie" which is a bright pink color that gives a perfect flush to the cheeks. I apply it with a Sigma blush brush just to the apples of the cheeks over my NARS Laguna bronzer.

I took these photos after work because I wanted to show you how long the blush lasts because upon reading other reviews, a lot of people complained that the blush didn't last long.  I don't find this to be the case at all. I applied this blush at about 6 a.m. (I had an earlier start to my morning this Monday) and this is how it looked when I got home at 6 p.m.:

My cheeks are still pink and pretty, even though my skin is totally oily!  It's getting a lot warmer here now and by the end of the day my skin can be a little oily if I don't blot----but for the sake of this review, I wanted to show photos of how it looks after a day of wear.  I was in and out of the office today filming a video at various locations so I was outside more than usual. I definitely recommend this blush. It's easy to apply and the color is beautiful. I will make a note to take photos of it when I first apply it because it's more of a bright pink in the morning and a little brighter.

Speaking of awesome Urban Decay products---here are my eyelids after an entire day of wear after using the holy grail Urban Decay Primer Potion:

Can you say perfectly matte!?  This product is a must-have. Yes, I know my eyebrows look unruly! Time for a little trim.

Have you tried the UD afterglow cream blushes?  Let me know!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Obsessed With: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Most of you know I'm not a big believer in primers and what they do for the skin.  I have tried many brands of skin primers and I never liked how my makeup looked when I used them (though, to be fair, I use powder foundation and that might be part of the reason.)

I have heard countless raves about Urban Decay Primer Potion (or UDPP) from YouTube beauty gurus and bloggers alike.  No matter what anyone said about how great it was, I put it on my "products not for me" list and went on with my primer-less life.

I do wear eyeshadow daily, but I just lightly sweep MAC's "blanc type" over my lid and that's that. No blending, no multiple colors, no crease definition.  I didn't see myself as a candidate for eyeshadow primer.

Something that's always bothered me is that usually by mid day and definitely towards the end of the day, my eyelids get greasy. Not like disgustingly greasy or anything, but enough to notice creases in my shadow and enough to rob my lids of their once matte look.

I thought oily lids were just something you had to deal with...what I didn't know was that the UDPP eliminates them completely.  Yes, I said eliminates them. Completely.

One morning, I woke up and said to myself "well, I have a sample of this stuff, I might as well try it."  I proceeded to, for the rest of the day, touch my eyelids every few hours and be in awe of how matte they looked AND felt and how there was no grease to be seen. Not even at night before bed when I washed my makeup off. Just no grease, ever.

I just couldn't believe it. I convinced myself it must have been a fluke.  But then, I finished up the sample and had perfectly matte lids for days. 

I finally bought my own tube of this favorite and I'll never look back. Everyone needs this product, especially if you want lasting power and matte lids.  I am thrilled to have discovered its greatness before the summer months where the humidity and heat make shadow practically melt off.

Thank you, Urban Decay, for making this amazing product--- that actually does what it says it will.

You can buy Urban Decay Primer Potion here or here.

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Weekend Shopping: Steve Madden & Sephora

Hello lovely ladies!  Today H and I went on a shopping trip where he lovingly accompanied me braved the malls for a shoe-shopping extravaganza (because after last week's Jessica Simpson shoe saga, you know I needed a new pair of simple black heels.)

It all began at DSW, where I couldn't find one shoe to try on.  We then proceeded to the Galleria where I visited Nordstrom, Macy's, Nine West and Steve Madden.

I found some heels I loved at Steve Madden, but they really hurt my toes and they didn't have a size up.  We were so exhausted by that point that we went to have lunch at Panera (which, btw, has the calories on the menu now, Thank God, I won't be ordering a lot of the stuff I used to anymore)  and after re-fueling, we decided to hit one last store---Dillard's.

I don't shop at Dillard's regularly because it's across the street from the Galleria mall and I hate re-parking, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I finally picked these lovely Steve Maddens up, which were nearly identical to the ones I tried on in the actual store. I really wanted suede heels that were high, but not the kind where you could see the platform and definitely not the kind with the 7 inch heels.

Steve Madden Russhh Black Suede

I also discovered today that my feet are massive.  They really are.  I'm usually a 9 1/2 or a 10, and lately, most store's and brand's tens have been feeling quite snug.

These ones fit great and they are flattering on.  I did feel a pinch on my right pinky toe when I was wearing them, but I have an existing blister there (darn J. Crew jelly flats!)

Back to the Steve Madden store---I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these precious nude-colored bow flip flops and I knew I had to have them.

Hello Lover.

Do they look familiar to you?  If you recognize them, it's probably because you know that they're a replica of the Valentino bow flip flops that retail for $275.  Don't even get me started on that.  These Steve Madden versions can be yours for $40 and they also come in white, though I prefer the nude.

 I know you love my sweatpants and bow flip flops.
No, I did not wear those in public, I changed into sweats when I got home!

I know I'll love wearing these all spring and summer long! If they ever get them in black, I'll probably have to get those too.

The only other items I purchased today were from Sephora.  I finally bought Urban Decay Primer Potion (more on that later, because it deserves its own review, since God Himself must have created it) and I also bought a new cream blush product by UD called Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in the color "Quickie" which in real life looks like a shocking baby pink. I can't wait to try it on my cheeks!  It's supposed to go on sheer.

Did you go shopping today?  What did you buy? I felt encouraged because I saw more color coming into the stores this weekend and it appeared there were more dresses and skirts too.  Thank goodness.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Product Reviews: Urban Decay 24/7 Liner, YSL Touche Eclat, Ole Henriksen Ultimate Eye Lift Gel

I've ordered a lot of products from Sephora lately so I wanted to give a little review to 3 products that I'm really excited about.

For Lining Your Waterline

Number one is Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner in "Zero."  It's actually much better than my Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner for the waterline, specifically.  It goes on smooth (almost creamy) and stays put.  I think UD's liner is overall a better product than MUFE's liner, if you're on the fence.  I only use this on my waterline and that's the purpose I bought it for.

To Brighten Your Eyes

I don't really get dark circles, but I do like to brighten my eye area to really make eyes look awake, rested and overall pretty.  I have wanted to try Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat for quite awhile now but couldn't justify the $40 price tag.  What prompted me to finally buy the full size is when I got a sample of it with my first Sephora F&F order. It was love at first application (I have Number 1- Luminous Radiance, by the way.)

I use a fluffy eyeshadow blending brush to blend the product into my under eye area after I've applied it from the actual clicky brush thing that the product comes in.

Touche Eclat is basically a concealer/highlighter that brightens skin and makes eyes look vibrant.  It's pricey, but a fun splurge if you're looking for a great highlighter/concealer.  Please note that if you have dark circles, you will still need to use a regular concealer as this is a brightening/highlight product. It doesn't have heavy coverage, it's very light, almost translucent. 

To Firm Skin Around Your Eyes/Make Eyes Look Rested

About 3 weeks ago, I got a couple of samples of Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel.  I was a little skeptical at first because it's not an anti-aging product so I thought to myself "why would I need this?" The answer was clear after the first few nights I used it.

Notice how I said NIGHT.  You might read the reviews about this product with people complaining that it's "too sticky" and "you can't wear makeup over it." That, my friends, is because this is a NIGHT TIME ONLY product.  It IS sticky but you just put it on and go to sleep so it doesn't bother me at all.

The moment you put the cooling gel on your eyes you can feel its firming effects.  Basically, the gel is meant to be used at night to firm the eye area and to reduce puffiness so that when you wake up everything is marvelous!

I bought the full size of this eye gel and use it nightly.  I plan to eventually do it every other night, alternating it with an anti-aging eye cream.  I would say this is a MUST for anyone who doesn't get enough sleep.  That's not the case for me, but I just like how smooth my eyes look when I use it.

Do you have an products to rave about?   Did any of your Sephora F&F purchases turn out to be Holy Grail worthy?

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS-  I know it's Monday---and I don't have a MM this week---but I will share this:  tonight, when I got home from work I felt drained and overall like I just wanted to plop down on the couch and watch TV. I forced myself to change into gym clothes as soon as I got home. I went to my gym, did 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of ab and leg work. I was really proud that I pushed myself because overall, I feel a lot better now.

I am going to try to finish up some of my packing for my trip now. Can you believe all I'm taking is a big purse and one carry-on suitcase? I'm really trying to maximize what I bring so it's all versatile---lots of black, of course!