Sparkled Beauty

I Live to Shine

8/07/2013

FOTD: IT Cosmetics Beautiful Skin

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

Here's a quick look I did using IT Cosmetics Beautiful Skin kit. Excuse my dark spots, as I did not go extra miles to conceal them on a lazy day. On top of that, I am struggling through the bad state of skin the stressful move last month left behind.

I used Marcelle BB cream in Medium to Dark with no other concealer on the flaws, as it was just for a quick trip to the grocery store :)

Another quick fix in this look - using a lip product as blush, case in point here is Revlon lip butter in Red Velvet on my cheeks. It actually looks good as a blush. Been doing this a lot lately.

See how beautiful the Vitality Lip Blush gloss stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi is on my lips? Not the pale pink in the tube for sure.

The Bye Bye Under Eyes also helped a lot with my dark circles, and so does the Your Brows But Better pencil with my brows. However, my lighting did not do the Hello Light illuminator any justice, but it is supposed to be subtle, not easy to capture in pics.

Other products on the eyes:
- Eyeshadows and brow bone highlight: Annabelle Hawaian Hues palette
- Eyeliners: Milani Liquid Eye liquid-like eyeliner pencil in Black
- Mascara: Annabelle Le Big Show in Black.

Not many products for a change huh? Most of my makeup is still in boxes, and I'm happy to go with the basics. Hope everyone is having a good start of August so far, life and makeup wise :)

8/06/2013

IT Cosmetics Beautiful Skin kit

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

This is the review of IT Cosmetics Showstopper I posted about last weekend. The kit is still available but without the $20 Showstopper discount and only Light shade option left, unfortunately.

First off is the Hello Light Anti-aging Radiance creme illuminator.

My initial thoughts toward this product stand, it feels hydrating and offers a beautiful sheen of glow without being glittery or heavy, despite the random glitters you see in the pan.

I can't confirm the anti-aging effect, though the ingredients of peptides, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, silk and vitamins A,C & E pack quite a punch. It is a great highlighter, even worth its individual price tag of $24 (0.23oz/ 6.5g) if you don't get it in this kit.

The Bye Bye Under Eyes Full coverage waterproof concealer, with collagen and Vitamin C & K, performs consistently well, covers most of my (bad) dark circles. Though having a thicker consistency than most concealer, it does not feel heavy nor crease or set in fine lines under the eyes. It blends quite easily as well.

As I mentioned in the previous post, the kit offers this tube in super size of 1oz/ 30ml (vs. the regular size of 0.28oz/ 8g that retails $24), a good bargain.

I got Neutral Medium, quite a good match with a hint of brightening effect. Bonus!

The most interesting product in the kit, to me, is the Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating lip gloss stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi.

It is a very pale pink in the tube but darkens into a MLBB pink when it comes into contact with my hand or lips, which is more wearable to my skin tone. This effect is different from other stains in the market, and I am digging it. Turns out, it is infused with 9 butters and oils, collagen, peptides and hydrating hyaluronic acid. No wonder eh?

The colour looks so natural on me, and most of the time, I forget I have a lip colour on. The gloss lasts about 3-4 hours on me, fades with drinking and eating of course. I did not mind a touchup with it. The retail price tag of $24 might be a little steep but in a kit, it is a gem worth getting.

Your Brows But Better Brow Powder skinny pencil in Universal Transforming Taupe, a dark brown, works well on my hair colour. The silver metallic skinny tube makes it look sleek, and automatic pencil means no sharpening. Yes!

Not pictured here but the thin eyebrow brush on the other end of the tube is a great size for my brows and works wonderfully.

Since there is only one shade of this pencil, retails for $24 outside this kit, I would suggest a test to make sure it works for your hair colour. Though like I mentioned in the preview post, the brand suggests to use the pencil with a light hand for lighter colour hair but I can't confirm it would work.

The Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush foundation/ concealer brush (reg. $48) is super soft but quite dense at the same time. I use the concealer end with concealers and cream products, no problem at all. The foundation end is a little small for foundations, but works well with powder highlighters or contour.

The Heavenly Luxe Pointed Precision complexion brush (reg. $38) is more stiff but not scratchy. It is a good brush to blend the creme illuminator or liquid foundations/ concealers around the nose and mouth area, or under the eye thanks to the pointed tip.

I wouldn't recommend getting these brushes by themselves because of the price tag but again, the kit is a good excuse to get them.

Swatches as shown in my initial post, from L-R:
- Hello Light Anti-Aging Radiance creme illuminator using the concealer end of the Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush foundation/ concealer brush
- Bye Bye Under Eyes Full coverage waterproof concealer in Neutral Medium
- Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating lip gloss stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi
- Your Brows But Better Brow Powder skinny pencil in Universal Transforming Taupe.

So as you can tell, I hardly have anything bad to say about these products other than their individual retail prices. I am happy to get to know the brand and will keep an eye on deals on their products to get more.

7/27/2013

IT Cosmetics Showstopper

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

A special weekend post to let you guys know about IT Cosmetics being The Shopping Channel's 24-hour Showstopper right now with the Your Most Beautiful Skin Ever kit (direct link), until 10pm Sunday, July 28. I include a stock pic and my pics to show you the kit the best way I could.

Now I have been curious about IT Cosmetics for a while but didn't get around to actually order anything. For us Canadians, the brand is available on The Shopping Channel - I'm not sure anywhere else since QVC stopped shipping to Canada a while back. A Showstopper deal is a great way to try out the brand's best sellers for a good price.

The kit is on for $59.95 ($20 off, valued $230 if bought separately) includes:
- Hello Light Anti-Aging Radiance creme illuminator (reg. $24 as listed on IT Cosmetics's website) with Heavenly Luxe Pointed Precision complexion brush (reg. $38)
- Bye Bye Under Eyes Full coverage waterproof concealer (supersize of1oz/ 30ml), 4 shades available, mine is in Neutral Medium, the second lightest shade (reg. size of 0.28oz/ 8g for $24), with Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush foundation/ concealer brush (reg. $48)
- Your Brows But Better Brow Powder skinny pencil in Universal Transforming Taupe (reg. $24)
- Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating lip gloss stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi (reg. $24).

I received this kit just a few days ago, can't officially review it just yet, but I do have some quick swatches and initial thoughts for you.

From L-R:

- Hello Light creme illuminator: feels very hydrating and offers beautiful sheen of glow without being glittery or heavy. Swatched with the concealer end of the Dual Airbrush foundation/ concealer brush for product concentration
- Bye Bye Under Eyes concealer in Neutral Medium covers my dark circles well and is also hydrating :) Despite the hint of pink undertone (swatched directly out of the tube, not with a brush), it blends in my skin well surprisingly
- Vitality Lip Blush gloss stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi is a beautiful light pink when swatched. Once it stains the lips, the colour looks like a darker pink. Comfortable to wear, not drying
- MBBB brow pencil in Universal Transforming Taupe is a dark brown. It was suggested to be used with light hand for light colour hair (blond and silver), more pressure for darker hair (medium brown to black) but I can't say that would work for all
 - The Dual brush is super soft but quite dense. The concealer end works well with both the concealer (seen above) and the creme illuminator for quick highlight. The foundation end is normally used with powder highlighter or contour colour because of its smaller size (compared to a powder brush)
- The precision brush is more stiff but still gentle to the face, not scratchy. It is a good brush to blend the creme illuminator upward, flawless application.

All in all, I would say this kit is worth the price, considering how well they perform on me so far. The only downside of it for some of you is the lack of options for the brow pencil shade, though the colour works fine for my skin tone. Easy Pay option is available, shipping & handling is $7.97. The Showstopper price is only for 24 hours though, just a reminder. Product review is coming soon :)