[may contain affiliate links]
Hello, all! I am excited to talk to you today about what has possibly been the most controversial cosmetic product released this summer: the Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Eye Shadow Palette.

The Drama

If you are very much up-to-date on the Subculture Palette rants and raves, skip this paragraph as I am going to review the drama. The Subculture Palette is meant to be a muted-color companion to the beloved Modern Renaissance palette. However, reviewers pointed out that this new palette in particular tends to have extraordinary amounts of kick-up, is difficult to blend well and was, in general, disappointing.

My Thoughts

Now that we have that out of the way, let me get to my thoughts on the Subculture Palette. First of all, I love the colors. This palette, with its tones ranging from deep teal to bright mustard, is a beautiful addition to one’s autumn makeup routine. Next, as expected, the shades are all pigmented and soft.

Speaking of soft, let’s talk about the main issue everyone is having: the kick-up. I will not deny that the majority of this palette is powdery as hell if you swirl your brush in it. I find that it helps to think about this palette as containing pressed pigments, rather than shadows. In other words, a little goes a long way. The exception to this rule are the two duo-chromes: Cube and Electric. These are not nearly as pigmented as the others and are best to use on top of other shades.

As for blending, yeah some of the shades will look muddy if you mix them together. What do you expect to happen if you combine dirt brown and moss green? I have had no issues with my color combinations, but I go in with the expectation that my look will be fairly grungy.

So, do I think you need the Subculture Palette? No, not if finicky shadows are going to frustrate you. It’s not worth it. However, if you can deal with a learning curve and care for the overall vibe of the palette, take a chance!

Shop Anastasia Beverly Hills:

The post Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Palette appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

[may contain affiliate links]
Hello, class! You’ll have noticed that I never posted a September Favorites list. Please forgive me! I was distracted by my wedding. But, we’re back on track now!

It was actually pretty easy to come up with this month’s favorites round-up. These are products I’ve been using non-stop and love. Let’s get started!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario
So… this is one of my favorite palettes of all time. I swatched it here for you. It is a brilliant collection of colors for Autumn and is currently back in stock at Ulta, but may not last long so if you want it, go get it!

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
I know I’m so late to the game on this one. This cult favorite really does allow for an impeccable foundation application. I was worries it wouldn’t play nice with my more watery foundations, but I was pleasantly mistaken. This is totally worth getting if you need a new primer.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation
I’ve been using this a while now, and have really come to love it. I find it helpful to apply just a touch of serum or oil on a brush to help blend it out. When I do that, the finish is flawless. The stick foundation is available at Sephora. I use the shade “Porcelain.”

Laura Mercier Mineral Illuminating Powder in “Candlelight”
This was gifted to me by my makeup partner-in-crime and is the most ethereal and wonderful highlighting powder. It’s slightly rosy in tone, which allows for a beautiful, natural sheen.

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush
Need an amazing undereye concealer? This is it. It basically melts into the area and blends perfectly with the makeup surrounding your eye. I got mine at Saks 5th Avenue; not because I’m fancy but because I pass through it frequently on my way to Starbucks…

Mary Kay Lash Intensity Mascara
OK, so if you haven’t tried Mary Kay products, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for. This mascara is one of the best I’ve ever used (and I’ve used approximately a billion). You can pick one up here or shoot me a message and I’ll hook you up with a Mary Kay consultant!

Those are my favorites! But I want to know yours! Link to them below—

Shop my favorites:

The post October Favorites 2016 appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

[may contain affiliate links]
Hello, friends! Today’s swatchfest will be brief, but exciting! We are looking at the new Anastasia Beverly Hills palette, titled the Master Palette By Mario. This palette is:

A special-edition eye shadow collection created with celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic. –Sephora.com

The Master Palette By Mario contains 12 buttery smooth eyeshadows of varying shades ranging from neutral to mossy green (every palette needs a weird green shade, amiright?)

A lot of reviews are mixed on this palette. Some are not a fan of the pricepoint ($45) while others cite a lack of good brow bone shade. I would agree that these are factors to consider, however, if you happen to already have the Modern Renaissance palette then you really have all the shades you will ever need (minus a purple, if you like purple.)

The Master Palette By Mario is currently available at Sephora  and Ulta. This is a limited edition item, so if you want it, now is the time!

All of the shades are pigmented, with the shimmers performing just slightly better than the mattes.

I’m sure you can see that this is a beautiful palette for the fall season. Yes, many of the shades are dupe-able, but there’s something wonderful about having them all in one pre-made palette.

The Master Palette By Mario can take you from classic to grunge, and is a worthy investment if you’re in the market for a new palette. I’d love to hear your thoughts- leave them in the comments!

more Fall palettes to love:

The post Swatches: Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Master Palette By Mario appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

[affiliate links in post]
The July Favorites time is always an upsetting time because it means Summer is half over. Or, I suppose you could look at it as “half started.” I guess most teachers go with the former. Life is hard.

July was full of fun new releases, for sure. The warmer months also bring us back to past favorites meant to withstand crazy humidity and heat. So, without further ado, here are my July beauty favorites.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit “Moonchild” – When I first started planning for this post, I had no doubt that Moonchild would be among my favorites for the month. Boasting unique and ethereal colors, this palette is a must-have for the highlight enthusiast. It is currently out-of-stock but I bet it will make a brief comeback, so keep your eyes peeled!

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow Palette – This extremely versatile glitter bomb is a fantastic way to add some sparkle in your life. I especially enjoy using the many shades to add just a hint of sheen on top of other matte shadows.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation – This is a rediscovery for me. My older Born This Way foundation was just a touch too dark, so when I finally repurchased in the correct shade it was like finding love all over again. This is a full coverage foundation that will last through your sweatiest days.

ColourPop Ultra Satin Lipstick “Alyssa” – This neutral dusty pink is basically my lip color but somehow better. And you know  absolutely love ColourPop’s Ultra Satin formula. This shade is a part of KathleenLight’s collaboration so be sure to get your hands on it before it is gone.

Too Faced Sketch Markers – The liquid eye liners are just so fun. They come in many colors (I have Smoky Emerald and Papaya Peach). They have a felt marker tip that allows for easy line and wing drawing.

BeautyBlender Blotterazzi – I was in the habit of continually applying powder to my face until I found this guy. The Blotterazzi is like the sponge version of blotting papers. The product comes with two sponges in a cute case that has a giant mirror. The Blotterazzi does not remove makeup when pressed to your face, just excess oil. I highly recommend it.

Well, those are my July favorites. What were yours? Please link to them in the comments for everyone to see!

Shop the favorites:

The post July Favorites 2016 appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

Hello class! Based on some Instagram conversations, it seems like some people may be holding off on purchasing the Moonchild Glow Kit (discussed here) because they are not sure if it differs enough from the Gleam Glow Kit (swatched here). I created a brief swatch comparison for your viewing pleasure, and to help you decide if you happen to also be in this predicament.

Below you will see Moonchild Glow Kit on the left and Gleam Glow Kit on the right.

As you can see, Moonchild is significantly cooler-toned than Gleam, as well as lighter in general. In fact, two of the Gleam shades are too dark for me to use as a classic highlight.

Here is a little video, which I think helps show the true colors:

So, my unprofessional opinion is that yes, it is worth getting Moonchild even if you have Gleam. But, I would love to hear your opinion, too!

Shop Anastasia Beverly Hills [affiliate links]:

The post Glow Kit Comparison: Moonchild vs. Gleam appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

[may contain affiliate links]
Hello, my name is Rachel and today I’m here to tell you about what is possibly the most beautiful highlight palette ever created. Yes, class, I am obviously talking about Anastasia Beverly Hills’ new Moonchild Glow Kit. My understanding is that this palette is only available online. Don’t let that deter you if you’re someone that likes to touch before buying. Let me share some info and photos with you to help you decide if you need it.

According to Anastasia Beverly Hills, this palette contains:

Magically-Metallic highlighters that offer a celestial skin finish. Layer shades of Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit, together or sweep them separately on face, eyes and body for a kaleidoscopic, shimmering effect.

The Moonchild Glow Kit has 6 shades, which is two more than the previous Glow Kits.

Blue Ice – Diamond white with an icy blue reflect
Star – A moonstone fusion of mint, platinum and silver reflect
Purple Horseshoe – A glittering lavender with an arctic blue reflect
Pink Heart – Pearl white with a pink opal reflect
Lucky Clover – A shamrock-infused gold with canary yellow diamond reflect
Blue Moon – Frozen blue with a silver reflect

I haven’t had a chance to play much yet, but I did have an opportunity to take some photos for you!

As you can see, many of these colors are fairly unique to the highlighter world.

I will update you on the performance of these powders after I’ve had a chance to work with them!

The post Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild Glow Kit appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

[contains affiliate links]
So… I may have neglected to do my “favorites” post for three months. Sorry about that! Let’s get back on track with this year’s June Favorites.

I would like to start with what is possibly one of the most amazing eyeshadow palettes of all time. We talked about the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette here, but its beauty warranted its making it into our monthly favorites list. It is obviously a very warm-leaning palette, but there are also some amazing neutrals that are perfect for everyday wear.

As for foundation, the Urban Decay One and Done Hybrid Complexion Perfector is the most perfect base for the warm weather. It offers medium coverage with a natural finish and does not break down throughout the day. I like to apply it with a buffing foundation brush but it also works nicely with a Beauty Blender. I use the shade “Light.”

One of my favorite blushes has been the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush in Camellia. It’s a beautiful medium pink with shimmer that you can use alone or as a blush “topper.” It just gives such a lovely flush that I find myself reaching for it very frequently.

I’ve also been going for a more natural brow aesthetic, which is where Glossier’s Boy Brow comes in. I use the lightest shade for days when I desire a bit of brown emphasis but don’t need the crazy definition of a pencil or pomade.

Finally, you know I began drooling over Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick line as soon as it released. One of my favorites so far from this collection has been the shade Wildfire, which has a metallized finish. It is the most perfect orange-red for summer, and because it has a sheerer, shimmery finish, it is not too bright for everyday use. I have swatches here.

Well, those were some of my favorites! I hope you will link to your own in the comments – I would love to see!

Shop this month’s favorites:

The post June Favorites 2016 appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

may contain affiliate links
Yes, it did take me five tries to spell “Renaissance” correctly in the title, why do you ask…?
Anastasia Beverly Hills recently added a new palette to their permanent line-up of fantastic products. The Modern Renaissance Palette (3 tries to spell it that time…) is

A present-day take on Renaissance colors, this eye palette features 14 shades that let you create stylish, day to night looks. From the earthy yellow and ultra-matte finish of Golden Ochre to Primavera’s shimmer gold with a metallic finish, this palette’s high-pigment shadows are crease and fade-resistant and are sure to bring modern elegance to your eye looks.

So it’s basically a 14 pan palette of warm shadowy goodness. For those of you who might not remember, the last palette that I felt truly reflected my soul was the Lime Crime Venus Palette (that link is about the 2nd one, but the original is in a photo for you to see). This Modern Renaissance Palette has a similar vibe to me, but with many more options. I guess that makes sense because Botticelli did paint Venus in the early Renaissance. Look at us getting all educational and everything!

I’ve worked with the shadows for some time now and I find them easy to blend. They do kick up a bit of powder, but it’s nothing alarming.

Let’s do some swatches.

As you can probably see, there is a nice variety of reds, browns, and everything in between. I truly think this is one of the most exciting eye shadow releases of the year. So, if you’re in the market for something new, check out the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette (three tries that time…).

In conclusion, I believe I can spell “Renaissance” correctly, but my fingers do not enjoy putting the letters in the correct order.

Also, if you have swatches, please link them in the comments!

The post Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

“Gleam”

[may contain affiliate links]
Hello, class! Imagine my surprise this morning when I passed by Sephora and found that one of the shelves had been converted into a shrine of all things Anastasia Beverly Hills. Now, I had no intention of ever even touching this powder highlighter palette, however, I was immediately impressed by the size of the pans. I guess all the photos on Instagram made the palettes seem so small to me – but they are not! You basically get your hands on four full size highlighter shades. There are two Glow Kits available – “Gleam” and “That Glow.” I thought the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam suited my fairer skin better, though I do think “That Glow” would be great for a bronze-y look.

Sephora describes the four shades in the Gleam palette:

Hard Candy: A mood-changing golden peach with a pink pearl reflective finish.
Starburst: A rush of cool pink with an iridescent finish.
Crushed Pearl: A glimmering pink and silver with a crystalized chrome finish.
Mimosa: A radiant golden peach with a metallic finish.

swatches

top to bottom: Crushed Pearl, Mimosa, Hard Candy, Starburst

indoor light

indirect sunlight

As you can see, the shades have a nice variety to them. They also feel buttery smooth!

Please share in the comments if you have any experience with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit!

shop Anastasia Beverly Hills-

The post Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..

Class, as I write this my most-read post ever is the one where I compared the LORAC Pro Contour to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette. It must be a popular search or something!Today, I want to add another product to that comparison. This product, however, is just a contour powder. Just one shade, no highlighters. I still think it’s worth it. I present “The Sculpting Powder” by Kevyn Aucoin:

The post Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder appeared first on This teacher wears makeup..