Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet +

Hello everybody! So Im finally back from vacation and out of lazy mode haha. I didn't realize how difficult it would be for me to jump back into the groove of my routine ugh. But today I have a post on a holy grail foundation that helped me looked matte and fresh while on vacation. Its Make Up ForEver Mat Velvet +, this product is genius and I never really understood how much I loved it until now.

Make Up ForEver Mat Velvet + is a full, matte coverage that comes in a huge range of colors. It has a velvet texture, and is easy to blend. A little goes a long way, and you want to be careful with application, because it can come off as cake and heavy. I really enjoy the texture of this foundation, simply because it makes my skin feel so soft and put together. Since its heavier coverage I don't need concealer to cover the black spots on the side of my face, which is what I love most about full coverage foundations, its a one stop shop.

The wear time was amazing, which I was surprised because theres no "long lasting" claim to the product. Even though it goes on matte, after awhile shine does begin to break through. It wasn't a deal breaker, simply because I was in Vegas and walking around all day I expected for some shine to come into play. But even with the shine, my face still looked really fresh and elegant. I just felt pretty with this on!

I love this foundation and I think its a must have.!

XOXO,
Brandee

Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub Review

Now I love a good scrub, and after much success with some product by Ole Henriksen I figured I'd give the Ole Henriksen Walnut Commplexion Scrub a try. It promise to clean out pores, and brighten the skin. So did this make it into my holy grail skincare products?! Lets find out.

Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub is a thick, dirty brown, scrub with a sweet walnut smell. It is seriously thick, and doesn't require much to apply to the face. After wetting my face, I applied a a nice amount to my face. The product applied really nicely and scrub has soft beads, so its not harsh or rough on the skin. The smell did intensify as you continued to scrub, but nothing to over the top. After washing it off my face, my skin felt really fresh and soft. It didn't give a brighter complexion after the 1st use, but my pores were nicely cleaned out. After using this a few more times, I can certainly say that my skin never brighten and texture of my skin never changed.

The deal breaker…it broke me out horribly! My entire chin and skin of my cheek just went into outbreak mode, and it was really hard to clear up. My skin got really dried and rough, it was just weird. I knew it was this product because this was the only thing that had changed in my skincare routine and every time I used it, the breakouts just got worst! This really sucks because its a really nice scrub, that cleans the skin, but I can handle breakout! Thats a NO NO!

Sadly to say this is not going in my holy grail products, and Im disappointed that I found a product by Ole Henriksen that didn't react to my skin well. But if you looking for a nice, sweet, pore cleanser scrub this is really good. Just didn't work for my skin.

XOXO,
Brandee

Sephora Intensive Instant Moisturizer Review

Im always looking for a good moisturizer that won't make my face greasy and to hydrated, so after talking with a sales associate at Sephora she recommended to me the new Sephora Intensive Instant moisturizer. I was hesitate at first because the words intensive, just made me think "overkill greasy", but I figure why not give it a go, whats the worst that could happen?!

I am in LOVE with this moisturizer. It is a lightweight cream that smells very, soft with a slight hint of fruity smell to it. You don't need a lot because the product spreads very nicely across the skin. It dries down to a nice demi matte finish, but after about 5 minutes you can start to feel the moisturize coming to the surface without the greasy effect. The moisturizer made my face feel so soft and very healthy looking. It didn't make my face shiny during the face and my foundation was able to glide over nicely.

Overall I love this moisturizer, even though it says intensive, it doesn't give an overkill of moisturizer that is unbearable. But its just a nice, soft everyday moisturizer that will be perfect all year around, without the greasy look, which no person is after.

XOXO,
Brandee

Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser Review

 I am a lover of skincare products so while standing in the check out line at Sephora this caught my eye. It's Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming cleanser, I have never heard of Ole Henriksen, but I've been on the market for a light cleanser to use in the morning. This product is pretty much flawless to me..lets check it out.

African Red Tea is a very foaming cleanser with a sweet, floral tea smell. It spreads really nice and the pump dispense a nice amount. 2 pumps covers my whole face and neck. Its very gentle and smooth, that it almost feels like it isn't working at all, its just that soft. Once washing it off, you can feel out squeaky clean and refresh the skin feels. My skin felt like a baby bottom! It didn't feel stripped or over cleansed, its just perfect!

This cleanser is everything to me. I've never used a foaming cleanser and I must say I like the formula. Ole Henriksen is becoming one of my favorite skincare brands and this product is certainly on the top of the list!

XOXO,
Brandee

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush: Mood Exposure

Hello everyone! I can't believe its already MARCH! I swear every year goes by faster and faster. Today I just have a quick post on a recent purchase of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure. I haven't had a chance to test it out, but I was so excited about the fact that my Sephora finally got them in stock, I couldn't resist taking pictures and posting them.

This is a mauve shade which is so beautiful that I don't even want to use it! Hourglass has said that these blushes are suppose to be glowing and give you the light from within. I will do a update once I have played around in it. Do you guys own any of these Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes?

XOXO,
Brandee

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Today I have a review on a oldie but goodie Too Face Better Than Sex Mascara. Now I used to be a big drugstore mascara fan and at 1 point refused to ever buy a high end brand mascara, but on a recent trip to Sephora, I decide to change and try it. So do I love it? hate it? Lets see!

This comes in a heavy pink tube. I love the packaging and I really enjoyed that the name of the mascara is faded and isn't to bold. The wand is shaped in an hourglass figure shape. It's extremely different from any other mascaras I've ever seen. The formula is not runny, but not dry it the perfect texture.  It's also a true dark black, no if, and or buts about it, it just perfect!

With 1 coat my lashes look full and long. With 2 coats the intensity and sultry look it gives is just daydreaming. My lashes doesn't clump or feel weighted down. It lengthen and give my lashes the correct amount of volume and darkness. The wand is the perfect size to really get in the inner corner of the eye, and its not so big that it doesn't grip my bottom lashes. 3 coats is a little bit too much for me to use on a daily basis, so I have keep it at 2.

Overall I LOVE this mascara! I would have never thought that a high end mascara would give me wonderful lashes. I already have a back up mascara and I plan on getting another one to keep in my gym bag. If you are on the market for a good lengthening and voluminous mascara this is for you!

XOXO,
Brandee

Sephora Formula X Polish

Hello everyone! Today is my 1st post here on Transcelent Sugar. Ive been wanting to start this blog for so long, and I'm so happy to have the resources and time to finally start. Today I have a fun post featuring some of my favorite Sephora Formula X polishes. Now there will be a part II just because I didn't want to bored you with so many.

I will say the formula on all these polishes is heaven sent. Easy application and reasonable dry. I used a topcoat on all of them because I feel they all dry down to satin matte texture. Each picture is taken in direct sunlight.

First up is Jolt this is an electric pink with sparkling shimmer. Easy application..Summertime friendly

Hyped is another electric purple with hints of blue shimmers. The blue shimmers doesn't show well in the pictures, but this is BEAUTY! I passed it up twice because settling and I love it!

Tnt is a cobalt blue confetti top coat. Can we just stop and drool over this glitter. Its perfect, easy to apply not dense, not to sheer! This is Tnt over Hyped

Engima is a blue green color that has a nice application. Its a simple creme nothing groundbreaking but certainly nice.

Eureka is a hot pink creme. Simply, and very pretty. I can see myself wearing this a lot in the summer.

Mr.Positivity is a green multi color glitter. This is GORGEOUS! This is one of my most used polishes EVER! 

Wham! is a white glitter topcoat. This is a a nice white, I don't have a white glitter so I was excited about at 1st. Crazy part is Ive actually never worn it =(  This is Wham! over Eureka.

Over the Moon is a nice pink and opal color. This should be layered over a color, but I wanted to show the shade own its own. Its very soft and pretty. 

Lastly is Blast Off this is simply a black glitter topcoat. I love black glitter so this was right up my alley.  This is Blast Off over Engima.

Overall the Sephora Formula X polishes are so impressive. The range is huge with so many different textures and effects. Polishes can be found at Sephora stores and sephora.com

Brandee Teresa Nicole