Becca is a newer brand on the beauty scene.. if 2001 is newer to you, but it really flourished back in 2014/2015 if I do say so myself.

It was a brand that was known for their highlighters, most noteworthy Opal. They've since branched out with other products but in their heart of hearts, I think they always stay true to their heritage as a highlight brand. They are always releasing new highlighters in limited edition colors and designs, and combining different highlighter colors to make a new one.

What I'm saying is that Becca Cosmetics has a lot of highlighters and pretty much have something for everyone, but they do have other great non highlighter products too.

I've been using Becca since 2015 and have used a lot of their products so I figured it was time for a Brand Buzz and time to give you my favorite products.



1. Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop: Opal is no longer the most famous highlighter in the universe; it was overtaken when Jaclyn Hill teamed up with Becca and released this gorgeous golden Champagne highlighter. It is by far my favorite highlighter and I have it in 4 separate forms (the original compact, the Jaclyn Hill Face Palette, the poured version, and the Slimlight. It is a gorgeous champagne gold that looks good on everyone. The formula is creamy and smooth but applies really nicely. It's just a great shade and I recommend everyone buying it.

2. Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Champagne Pop: I love cream products so when my favorite Becca shade was released in their cream formula, I jumped on it. It's the best cream highlighter formula I've ever tried because it's not too powerful in pigment but still packs a punch. It's also very easy to apply whether with a duo-fiber brush or your fingers. I love, love, LOVE this shade in the cream highlighter version.

3. Mineral Blush in Wild Honey: I love nothing more than a warm, neutral blush and Wild Honey is THAT perfect color. The formula is super soft, pigmented but not too pigmented so it doesn't get messy. It applies perfectly and smoothly on the skin and blends out really well too. This is a blush that I go with whenever I don't know which blush to wear and it always comes through.

4. Aqua Luminous Foundation: This is the only foundation I've ever really finished and I was just reminded at how much I loved it when I sat down to write this post. It's a very watery, liquid based foundation so it feels so good and light on the skin. From what I remember it's a medium coverage and blended out really well with a beautyblender. I also liked that it was a luminous foundation because my dry skin responded very well to it.

5. First Light Priming Filter: I don't know if I've ever loved a primer this much. I used it a lot when I first got it but then like most of us, I got bored but rediscovered it recently. I've been religiously using it for the past month and my goodness, I forgot why I loved it so much. It is one of the few primers that makes my makeup look really good all day long. Everything blends out really smoothly and evenly over it and I just LOVE IT. I highly recommend getting this over the original primer and Sephora has it in a mini size.




Honorable Mention: I LOVE my Jaclyn Hill face palette & eyeshadow palette (I was one of the few that had a good batch of shadow palettes and opted to keep it) but you can't get either of them anymore but I wanted to mention!




Also, I've been loving the Apres Ski Glow palette they just released for the holidays! I highly recommend getting this palette this season.

Below are the items on my Becca wishlist!






What do you love from Becca Cosmetics? 
xoxo
B

In replacement on the weekly wrap up post, I'll be *trying* to add a regular post weekly. This was originally on my calendar for yesterday but Wednesday kicked my butt so no post Thursday... and here we are! I think a little behind the scenes is always good; blogging is not glamorous, ladies and gentlemen!

*PS: I talked last week about how I wanted to move weekly wrap up to email only content so sign up for my email newsletter here.

Just as I talked this week about fragrances, something I never talked about in 5 years, I rarely have talked about makeup brushes.

They say if you don't have good skin even the most expensive makeup won't look good on your face; the same goes with brushes. You could be using all Charlotte Tilbury & Tom Ford makeup but if you're using the wrong or really crappy brushes, it won't apply as well. You can do magic with makeup brushes, I've seen it happen.

Over the years I've accumulated a nice amount of brushes, two candle holders filled, to be exact, and I love most of them. I do have my favorites, as I'm sure we all do; I have my go-to brushes that I simply cannot live without.



1. PUR Cosmetics Skin Perfecting Foundation Brush: Ever since I've seen the Artis brushes come to play I wanted one. I bought a cheapy knock off from Amazon and it was garbage. I almost pulled the trigger on an Artis brush more than once but then I saw one of my favorite brands, PUR, release a similar looking foundation brush. It has the same shape and even feels the same (I've touched Artis). This brush is super densely packed and really smooths out your foundation. My foundation glides on my skin when I use this and it gets the job down fast. I HIGHLY recommend this, especially if you don't like foundation brushes. I religiously use a beautyblender but this changes the game.

2.  Morphe E8: I love this brush so much I bought two! Jaclyn Hill said this is one of her favorite brushes so when I heard that, I ran to the Morphe website to purchase one. I use it solely for concealer and it's basically replaced my beautyblender in that retrospect. It's soft, blends perfectly, and is the best concealer brush out there.

3. ELF Small Stipple Brush: ELF has some of the best brushes on the market and I have a few of them in my collection. This is by far my favorite for blending out cream products. I've gone through two of them and another one just appeared in my collection -- it's very nice to have it back. It's small enough to not blend the cream product all over your face, and is really soft on the skin. Go get it, it's only $6!

4. Too Faced Mr Right: This brush was released last year and I knew I needed it because it was so cute and I've never had a Too Faced brush. This has become my go-to for powdering my face whether it's with a loose or pressed powder. It's big enough to add a fluffy, airbrushed look to the skin but not so big that you feel like you aren't adding any product to your face. It's a little pricey but it's SO GOOD.

5. Anastasia #23 Brush: This was originally released when Anastiasa Beverly Hills released her glow kits and I was really drawn to it. I felt like this brush was a unique shape and size; the slim dome shape and soft bristles make it ideal for applying highlight. It's basically the only brush I use to apply my highlight and I love it! *This does have some shedding but it doesn't bother me that much.

Below are some of my other favorite brushes but the ones above are my top 5!




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Jaclyn Hill is QUEEN. I love her so much and I think she is the best beauty guru on Youtube. That being said, this post may be SLIGHTLY biased, but to each his own.

Last summer, Jaclyn released, in collaboration, with Becca Cosmetics, a highlighter called Champagne Pop. It took over the beauty industry and put Becca on the map. It's a gorgeous Champagne, beige color that works on so many skin tones. I am confident in saying that Champagne Pop is my favorite highlight to date.

The texture of Becca's highlights are super smooth, easy to apply & blend, and just make your cheekbones pop. I am obsessed.

Champagne Pop was supposed to be limited edition but because it made such a splash, Becca made it permanent and I am so relieved to hear that, because I was so nervous I'd run out or my compact would break and I would never be able to get it again.

Back in December, Becca also released a limited edition holiday palette that had Champagne Pop, Pearl, and Blushed Copper -- all highlighters that soon became permanent. I got my hands on that too, because I can never have too much Champagne Pop.

That's why, when I heard that Jaclyn & Becca were teaming up AGAIN for a release this spring, I nearly lost it.

You can imagine my excitement when I found out it was a whole collection being released, which included a face palette, eye palette *which is no longer being sold due to quality issues*, and the poured creme & liquid versions of Champagne Pop.

I have yet to purchase the liquid & poured versions of the highlight but rest assured that I 100% will at some point. Both of these items are permanent so there is no rush!

However, there is a rush for the Limited Edition Face Palette which hits all Sephora stores on June 16th and should be back online that day as well.




I got my Face Palette when it was released in limited quantities during the Becca release party back in May and my goodness, I am in love.

Even though I've been addicted to cream products, I make an exception for this palette. It comes in this gorgeous gold & white packaging that feels light & heavy at the same time, but always feels luxurious & expensive.

It comes with 5 products; Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop, Rose Spritz, Amaretto, and Pamplemousse.



Jaclyn created ALL of these shades and if you know her, and watch her videos, you can tell that this palette is HER. Prosecco Pop is a new highlighter shade that is a little more golden that Champagne Pop and it's utterly gorgeous.

There are three blushes with three different finishes: Rose Spritz is a Luminous Blush that has a lot of shimmer to it but is beautiful blended out on the cheeks. Amaretto is a neutral, bronzed colored blush that will look fabulous on everyone. Oh and it's also matte!

Pamplemousse is a very pink, bright satin blush that you can certainly make work, whether you like bright colors or not.

I've used all the colors in this palette and I do think that Amaretto is my favorite. Prosecco Pop is also a close second to my favorite highlight.

Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse, Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop

I'm really excited to get my hands on the liquid & poured versions because, well, this post speaks for itself.

I did plan to talk about the eyeshadow palette that was released with this collection because it's beautiful & I love it, but it was taken off the shelves last week. There were some quality issues with the palette and apparently Becca used a different lab to produce this palette, and there were complaints about the dryness of the shadows. Jaclyn asked for it to be removed and Becca agreed.

Being in the cosmetics industry, I know how difficult it is to get a product right & I respect Becca & Jaclyn for their decision.

Anywho... I HIGHLY recommend heading to your local Sephora to grab this LIMITED EDITON palette. Try it out, see if it's something you love & if not, return it. Do not let this moment pass you by because you will regret it. It will be in stores on June 16th!

GO GO GO!

Another week has come & gone. I'm getting ready to head to my cousin's wedding today (it's raining and just not good wedding weather) and I haven't been to a wedding in over 10 years. I'm pretty excited to eat & drink... Millennial complex, ladies & gents.



I hate feeling rushed & hectic but that's what this morning is: I went to the Drybar for the 1st time last night and it was epic. More on that later... but this morning I need to paint my nails, shower, pack up and get out of the house by 2 PM.

The good news is that next week is Memorial Day Weekend which means the start of summer fridays at work so I'll have off every other Friday. I am SO HYPED.

This was also a week of highs & lows. I got published on Elite Daily again but was also passed over for a freelance position and another Elite Daily article got rejected. You win some, you lose some but I'm getting used to rejection...as all writers & everyone else should. Take it with stride!



Also -- the Champagne Glow Collection by Becca & Jaclyn Hill releases next week (I already have the face palette that was released in limited quantities this week) and I'm planning on buying everything because JH is QUEEN and I'm so excited.



That being said, here's what I loved this week:

• 50 couples who made us believe in love
• Twitter is making links & photos NOT part of the 140 character limit! #Rejoice 
• Gilmore Girls is coming back & you may want to refresh your memory 
• Baking a cake? Follow some of these tips
• Student loans are the bane of my existence 
• Interesting article on why we don't enjoy our free time
• Got anxiety? These apps can help

I've been trying to buy less and spend less money on make-up but it doesn't seem to be working. I've definitely cut back, but I still like to treat myself to something new every so often.

These items have been collected over the course of two months and I've been loving & using all of them religiously.

There's always new things at the drugstore, and obviously those are more affordable but I do love myself a good high end make-up splurge!




Here are some of the beauty items I've been LOVING lately.

//Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation: I've been lusting after this drugstore foundation since it came out last year. It's definitely on the pricey side of the drugstore, rounding out anywhere from $10-$13. I finally splurged on it and it's been life changing. It's a very liquid, water like foundation that has medium-full(ish) coverage. I apply it with a Beauty Blender and it gives me the most beautiful demi matte, powder finish. It wears pretty well throughout the day and I've been wearing it almost everyday. It's well worth the price.




//Maybelline Lip Studio Color Blur: I have been obsessed with lip products lately and I cannot get enough. When I saw that Maybelline released a new line of matte lip colors, I went searching for them and couldn't find them for weeks at my local CVS or Duane Reade. I finally went to Rite Aid in my neighborhood and they had ALL the new beauty products. I picked up this one in "I Like to Mauve It" and love it! It's a little on the pinker side of mauve but it's a great "Kylie Jenner" type of color. It's really comfortable on the lips and the perfect everyday color.

//Loreal Colour Riche Le Matte Lipcolour Stick: In the same breath, L'Oreal released their own line of matte lip colors. They also had ones called "Le Lacquer" and I may want to try those too. I got one in the shade "She's So Matte" and it's a little darker than the Maybelline one. Still, it's very comfortable and a little more matte than the Maybelline. Once again, a perfect every day color!



//Too Faced Sole Mates Blushing Bronzer: These are $34 and 'limited edition' and were released around Valentine's Day. There's only two shades, named after two of the best TV couples ever "Carrie & Big" and "Rachel and Ross." I wasn't going to spend $34 on it so I never got it. That was, until I was in my local Nordstrom Rack and they had a whole bin full of both shades, for $8!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I picked up "Carrie & Big" immediately and haven't used another bronzer since. It's really hard to use the bronzer and blush separately, so I just take a kabuki brush and swirl them together for a luminous, bronzy glow. Ugh, I cannot get enough!





//Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Love Hangover: When I saw that Too Faced was releasing new blushes, I knew I needed one. I didn't know when they were being released, until I woke up one morning and saw that they were up for grabs on Home Shopping Network. I immediately ordered it while I was walking to the train station (I have an addiction) and within a week, this adorable little blush was at my door. It's the perfect everyday, warm pink color that looks very natural on the cheeks. They are 16 hour blushes and honestly, they are very long wearing. They're smooth and perfect and I want more!





//Becca Cosmetics + Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector: I watch a lot of Youtube videos, and love a lot of Youtube v-loggers. All of them talk about Becca's highlighters, and all of them love Jaclyn Hill. With good reason too, as she is one of the OG's of Youtube Beauty Blogging and she is funny, beautiful, down to earth, and relatable. I want to be her! Anyways, Becca & Jaclyn collaborated on a new highlighter called "Champagne Pop". It's $38 but I needed it because it's limited edition and I was in need of a new powder highlight. It was worth it because it's the most intense, beautiful highlight. I've been wearing it every day and I can't stop. You can build up the intensity as much as you want and it looks good on pretty much everyone. I'm obsessed and may never wear another highlight again.

What beauty products have you picked up lately? Tell me in the comments!




Shop my picks below!