Wet N Wild Comfort Zone Palette: REVIEW & SWATCHES

If you ask any beauty junkie about the Wet N Wild Comfort Zone Palette, they would tell you that it's one of the best palettes you can ever pick up. Despite being a drugstore brand, Wet N Wild is known for their quality products at affordable prices. In the past, I've bought a multitude of Wet N Wild products, especially their eye shadows, whether I was a beauty novice or just expanding my makeup collection. Out of all of the Wet N Wild singles, trios, and palettes I have, I can say that the Comfort Zone palette is my hands down favorite.

Price: $4.99 (can vary)

Availability: Permanent, Drugstores

This palette has 8 warmed toned eye shadows which are labeled as guidelines (brow bone, eyelid, crease, definer) but, of course, you don't have to follow them. On the left side, the palette has golden-toned colored, and on the right, the palette has slightly darker, earthy shades. This palette has shades that range from shimmery, satin, and metallic finishes. 

Since the shadows don't have specific names, I'll describe each side of the palette and the shades from top to bottom. All of these swatches were applied dry and without any primer or base. 

Left Side:

Brow bone is a pale, yellow-peach shade, which is ideal for highlighting or blending the brow bone or inner eye corner. This shade is a bit chalky compared to the others in the palette, but since it doesn't bother me personally because it's supposed to be a light, 'barely there' color.

Eyelid is a metallic orange shade, which I personally like to use as a transitioning color in the middle towards the outer part of my crease. This shade would also work well alone all over the eyelid. 

Crease is a metallic gold-brown shade that can be used as either a transitioning shade or for the outer crease for daytime use. 

Definer is a satin chocolate brown shade that is also great for the outer eye crease. Even though this shade is darker than the crease shade, it's also quite wearable for everyday use and would also be perfect for a brown smokey eye.

I like using this side of the palette more than the right side because the colors are easier to work with for a simple, everyday look. The right side, none the less, is still pretty awesome as well.

Right Side:

Brow bone is light, shimmery, champagne shade that can be used for highlighting or as an all over color. This shade is less chalky than the brow bone shade on the left side of the palette.

Eye lid is a light, shimmery yellow-green shade. This may not be everyone's go to color, but this shade provides a nice pop of color without looking strange or gaudy.

Crease is a satin, dark brown shade with flecks of gold shimmer. At first glance, this color may be intimidating because it looks too shimmery in the pan. However, when swatched, the shimmery is not very noticeable and looks more wearable.

Definer is a duo-chrome, dark green-blue shade with flecks of blue shimmer. Personally, I think is the most unique shade in the whole palette. Similar to the other crease and definer shades, this color would be ideal for transitioning or on the outer crease.  

Overall, these shadows, just like the rest of the Wet N Wild line, are amazingly soft and pigmented. Some of the shades have slight fallout, however these eye shadows are smooth, blendable, and generally easy to work with. What makes this palette a winner is the quality, range of wearable, universally flattering colors, and of course, the inexpensive price. I highly recommend this palette and it's a product that I would buy again. 

For more updates and information, follow me on Instagram, @shesadaydream

xoxo, Rachel

How to Save Your Skin This Winter: PRODUCT REVIEWS

Winter is here - which means colder weather, shorter days, and beauty problems. If you're like me, someone with already problematic dry skin, the freezing temperatures and strong winds can make our skin even more dehydrated, flaky, and dull. Here are some of my favorite products to help your makeup look good and your skin looking better during this long winter season.

Mac Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

Price: $29
Availability: Mac, Department Stores

Whether you're about to go to sleep or you're waking up early in the morning, this multipurpose product that is great for cleansing and removing dry skin. This is my HOLY GRAIL exfoliator! I have used others in the past and nothing compares to this! I bought it back in July 2013 and I still have not finished it yet. Just a small amount of this baby packs a punch! A dime size amount is usually sufficient, expect for some days when my face needs a good polish. This exfoliator leaves my face feeling clean, soft, and smooth. In addition, it will help those with sensitive skin, since it's made with all natural ingredients, such as real volcanic ash and sugar crystals. Most importantly, using this gentle exfoliator improved the appearance of my makeup - my foundation and concealer do not look cakey, apply easier, and leave my skin with a more radiant glow!

Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 20 

Price: $34

Availability: Sephora, Ulta, Macy's

      This beauty balm is a multitasking skincare product that has become a fan favorite. Why do so many love this beauty balm? For starters, this product works well after the first use and even better over time. Urban Decay claims that customers rave about seeing a huge difference in their skin after using this product in a matter of eight weeks. I do not know if this is actually true, but I do love the product's soft, silky, velvety consistency that makes my face feel weightless! After application, it leaves my complexion more hydrated and looking and feeling more natural. In addition, this beauty balm has anti-aging properties which is excellent for my dry skin problems (which of course are more severe during the winter time)! With the help of subtle amounts of shimmer, this beauty balm also helps make my skin look more luminous and lively. This product can be worn daily because of its SPF 20 sun protection and I like to use this after my face primer and before my foundation and concealer. 

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation 

Price: $8 (varies)

Availability: Ulta, Drugstores

This foundation is PERFECT for dry skin and is one of my other holy grail products! I started using this foundation back in my junior year of high school and I have been through four or five of these since (and I have several in backups as well)! In my opinion, this is one of the best foundations you can get at the drugstore - trust me I have tried a bunch. This, among the Loreal True Match and Revlon Color Stay are my drugstore favorites, but I always keep coming back to Maybelline! Not only is it affordable, but this foundation is also super moisturizing, creamy, and easy to apply. Since this product is a cream foundation, it is long-lasting and has a lightweight consistency. I have worn this foundation without a primer and a setting spray and it has lasted 6 - 8 hours on its own. It also applies and blends well with a brush or even with your fingers, if you are on the go. I like to use either Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, E.l.f. Small Stippling Brush, or Urban Decay Optical Karma Blending Brush. I do not prefer using a sponge to apply this with, just personal preference, but I do like to use a brush to apply and then using a sponge to blend (either Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge or Beauty Blender). I also love that this product can double up as a foundation or be used as a spot concealer. No matter how much I apply, my face does not feel cakey or heavy. I cannot recommend this foundation enough - I just love it so much!!!

For more updates and information, follow me on Instagram, @shesadaydream

xoxo, Rachel

Milani Rose Powder Blushes: REVIEW

Earlier this year, Milani released limited edition Rose Powder blushes. The entire beauty community was so excited and these beautiful blushes sold out like hotcakes. There are eight different blushes in the collection, but unfortunately I only managed to score two of them. Milani is famous for their quality makeup, inexpensive price, and of course, their luxurious gold packaging. With their engraved rose petal designs, I think these blushes take the prize!

Price: $7.99

             Availibility: milanicosmetics.com

UPDATE: Starting January 2015, 3 of the Rose Powder blushes will be part of Milani's PERMANENT collection (Romantic Rose, Tea Rose, and Coral Cove)

Milani Rose Powder Blushes in Warm Petals and Bella Rose   

 These blushes are soft, pigmented, and provide a natural flush of color. Warm Petals (bronze with subtle shimmer) is a "barely-there" kind of blush, blends well with warm colored skin tones, and serves as a highlight with its tiny specks of shimmer. On the other hand, Bella Rose (matte baby pink) is a fair, rosy pink color that will match perfectly with lighter, cooler skin tones and is completely matte. If I could, I would purchase the remaining six blushes but I'm good with these two for now!

Milani Rose Powder Blush in Warm Petals

Milani Rose Powder Blush in Bella Rose

For more updates and information, follow me on Instagram, @shesadaydream

xoxo, Rachel