Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix 2014 Holiday Set: REVIEW & SWATCHES

If you've been keeping up with the newest beauty products like myself, then you must know there is a MASSIVE amount of limited edition holiday sets and value kits this year! This season, the Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix is one of the most talked about sets because of its great value. 

Price: $25

Availability: Limited Edition, Sephora stores ONLY

The set includes 4 mini sized samples of Bite Beauty's High Pigment Lip Pencil which come inside a red, travel sized, metal, 'mint container' with a mirror for application. Each pencil is 0.05 oz, which may not sound like much, but since one full sized High Pigment Lip Pencil is $24 for 0.09 oz, you're getting the equivalent of TWO FULL SIZED pencils for only $1 more!

Swatches from left to right 

Pomegranate, Rhubarb, Sable, Winterberry

Pomegranate is a cool toned, bright red with blue undertones. Since I have warm toned skin, this would not be my go-to red lipstick. However, this color is still flattering and does not wash out my makeup. (Permanent shade)

Rhubarb is a warm toned, muted, dusty pink color. This color is not too bright, like Pomegranate and Winterberry, and can be nicely worn for an everyday use to give your lips a pop of color. (Permanent shade)

Sable is a warm toned, beige color and would definitely be a great everyday nude lipstick. Out of the entire set, I think this shade would have to be my favorite since it is very wearable and versatile. In my opinion, Sable will look great on fair to light skin, but would look more washed out on darker counterparts. (Limited edition shade)

Winterberry is a pinkish-red color with blue undertones. In comparison to Pomegranate, this shade can have varying degrees of redness or pinkness depending your skin tone. For example, in my swatch, this shade appears to be very similar to Pomegranate, a rich red color, but may appear more pink on others. (Limited edition shade) 

Unlike some holiday sets from other brands, these Bite lipsticks have very similar quality to their permanent collection. Bite is known to have super soft and pigmented lipsticks. All these lipsticks applied evenly and have an easy glide application. In addition, they have a creamy, glossy finish and do not dry out your lips. These can last about 5 to 6 hours, but can be applied with a lip liner or lip primer underneath to ensure staying power. While some may look better than others, I also like that the range of shades in this set are generally wearable and try to accommodate both warm and cool skin tones. Overall, I would highly recommend this product, especially at this value, for a gift or to keep for yourself!

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