Amazing Skin…

Hi Ladies!

I’ve been so busy recently with jury duty and everything going on during summer I have barely had any time to even put on makeup! I decided on Tuesday though to treat myself and go to Sephora to pick up a few new products. I went into Sephora with the intention of getting a few foundation but honestly came out with so much more.

If you have yet to try out Sephora’s Colors IQ you are seriously missing out… I was originally going to get a YSL foundation that I have heard wonderful things about but couldn’t find a color that really matched my skin.I asked one of the sales associates to match me and instead she did the Color IQ test. Since forever I have always though that I have very very pink and red undertones but to my surprise I am completely yellow, almost to the end of the yellow scale! I was shocked to say the least because everything that I buy has some kind of pink tone to it…which would explain why sometimes I feel like my skin is just so blah and has no life to it because I have been using the wrong undertone for WAY to long.

When Jennifer (Sephora sales associate) asked me what foundation I was interested in I told her the YSL one but instead she recommend the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation because I told her that I love the way the Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation lays on my face I just wish it actually lasted 12 hours for me. So I decided to try the Double Wear Foundation in a bit darker shade than I would usually get and also in a very yellow tone. Before you even finish reading this you just need to know…this is by far the best foundation I have ever used. I am such a fan of full coverage but I don’t want it to be too full wear it starts to look cakey on my skin and make me look like I am wearing a complete mask. This foundation glided onto my skin and although it is more of a dry foundation and sets to a powder finish it made my skin look so healthy and luminous I can’t even explain how. As you know, I have very dry skin and recently my forehead has been very patchy with dry skin but this foundation did not sink into my dry areas and accentuate them it covered it so well. I noticed that I only needed one layer of foundation and it completely covered every single blemish. I applied this foundation with a Makeup Geek Buffing Brush (which is my new holy grail foundation brush) and it looked airbrush. Another thing I loved was how the rest of my products worked so well on top and underneath the foundation, even though the foundation was thick it wasn’t hard to blend in concealer or bronzer. I put the foundation on at about 7pm and when I came home around 3am my face still looked airbrushed and perfect. I found that this foundation seemed to hold the rest of my makeup in place throughout the night to which I loved.

Will You Love It?
If you have dry skin or oily skin this product will be amazing for you. I think people who have oily skin will really appreciate this because not only is it oil free but it just creates such a nice matte canvas to your skin you really don’t need to worry about touching up because you get oily throughout the day. If you have dry skin honestly this foundation could be a hit or miss, if you prep your skin well with a moisturizer and apply this about 20 min after you won’t have a problem but if your skin is VERY dry I would say to exfoliate and moisturize and then try out this foundation. Also this is very full coverage so I would recommend using this foundation when you will be taking a lot of photos and being out for a long time because it sits very nicely on your skin in photos and in person for a long period of time but if you like a natural finish this won’t be your favorite foundation.

The photos posted have absolutely no edit so you can completely see how perfect my skin looked with the foundation. Also if you would like a complete product list just let me know!

XOXO

Glitter & Gold…

Hi Ladies!

The title of this post seriously explains my two favorite things, glitter and gold. I attended PHAME last weekend which was such a great experience if any of you live in the LA area you need to make a trip to it next year but don’t worry I have an entire post coming about the expo. Anyways while I was there I stopped by Makeup Geek to pick up some new pigments and more importantly ones that are ALWAYS sold out on their site. The first pigment I went for was Utopia (if you have seen this pigment then you understand why) then I got a few other more neutral colors but picked up one called After Glow on a whim. When I first swatched this color onto my hand I thought it was just going to be an everyday beige but this color really surprised me in a good way.

The Look:

Yesterday I decided to experiment with some new goodies like my gel liner from Inglot and my new pigment from Makeup Geek. I started with a neutral base for my eyes and a light crease color using all Makeup Geek shadows then I sprayed a flat concealer brush with Mac Fix + and applied the pigment After Glow onto my lids and let me just tell you…It was beautiful! This pigment has so many different colors packed into it but what really stands out when it is applied wet is the gold shimmer in it. This pigment was very easy to apply and did not flake off at all, I also did not have to put a color underneath it because it was so pigmented. I finished the look off with some dramatic eyeliner and lashes. I’ve really been trying to step out of my comfort zone recently when it comes to makeup so I’ve been forcing myself to use gel liner (I used to just use powder or a pencil). While I think gel liner can be a little too much for my eyes sometimes and I prefer the soft lines that my black shadow creates its been a nice transition from what I usually do. Another new thing that I have been trying if you have yet to notice is instead of cutting my lashes basically in half and applying them that way, I have been applying the entire strip which for me is scary every time I decide to it but I’ve been loving the results of this more right now. I have found that if I let the glue get really tacky and then apply them onto my real lashes (with no mascara on) they glide right on and I have no problems with them.

Let me know if you guys would like an entire product list and step by step also! 

XOXO

Details Details Details…

Hi Ladies!

I received some really positive feedback on my last post about my “bad day” makeup so I wanted to list some of the products used and also tell you guys the steps I took in order to achieve this look because it’s honestly so simple and you can spice it up very easily! 

EYES:

• Base/Primer: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly applied with a concealer brush and blended out with my finger (I put this from my lash line up to my brow bone because I have product on my brow bone later on) 
• Setting Powder for Eyes: I personally like to set the paint pot with a cream shadow one that matches my skin tone because I find that it makes it easier to blend out my crease colors but this set isn’t necessary. I applied this with a domed shadow brush from Real Techniques and used a MAC Skin Finish in Light (you can use these powders for multiple things, not just to set your skin).
• Crease Color#1: I then went in with my first crease color which is Cocoa Bear from Make Up Geek, I personally love this shade but you should swatch it out before you commit to it all over your crease. If you find this color is too orange for you then use a light shade of brown like Brown Script from Mac which has a slightly orange undertone but it is more brown so you might feel more comfortable if you aren’t yet used to shades like Cocoa Bear. I applied Cocoa Bear into my crease with a MAC 217 brush, I started with a very light layer and then started to build up but I always focused the product into the outer edge of my eye and then swept whatever was left onto the brush further into my eye. 
• Liner: I started with Maybelline Gel Liner in Black I used a MAC eyeliner brush that is now discontinued but I recently found out that the MAC 226 Small Angle Brush is an exact replica for the original one so if you are on the hunt for a new liner brush definitely try this one out. I personally love this one because it does all the work for you, it creates a really nice tapered edge at the edge of the wing and because it is small it is so easy to be precise. I just started with small strokes from my inner corner to outer and then I put the brush tip on the edge of my eye facing up from my brow bone and draw the wing then I connect it back to the rest of the liner…Sounds confusing but you just need to practice some wing sizes and lengths to figure out which one works for your eye shape the best. 
• Inner Liner: This part I’m still struggling with my I took some extra gel liner onto my brush (barely any) and drew the point in my inner tear duct area… I don’t have a lot of advice on this yet because it was my first time doing it and I definitely need some more practice with this style liner. 
• Crease#2: I took MAC eye shadow in Embark and used the MAC 217 to apply this right above the outer wing of my liner to darken up the crease. 
• Lashes: I slightly curled my top lashes and applied Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara in Black to my top lash line (I did two coats) then I applied Ardell Lashes in 109 (perfect dupe for House of Lashes Iconic) and used Duo lash glue in black. I wait about 40 seconds to apply my lashes to really let the glue start to dry then I take tweezers with a longer handle and start by adhering them to the center of my lashes and then adhere them to the back and front of my lashes. Then I hold them down with my finger and they should be completely dry and held to your lashes. 
• Bottom Lash Line: (I did this after my foundation). I started with a definer brush and packed on embark from back really close to my lower lash line from inner to outer corner then I took a pencil brush with Cocoa Bear lightly on it and blended from inner to outer corner really well so that my eyes just had a smokey bottom lash line.
• Liner: Then I went in with L’Oreal eye liner kohl in dark brown (amazing drugstore liner) and applied this to my inner lower lash line and also tight lined my upper lash line. 
• Mascara: I finished off the bottom lash line with the same Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara in Black.

FACE: 

• Base: I started with a base about 30 minutes before after I washed my face which was Philosophy Hope In A Jar For Dry Skin.
• Foundation: Once my face was done I went in with Makeup Forever HD Foundation, I applied some Jose Maran Illuminator to the foundation on the back of my hand and then pressed it into my skin with a beauty blender.
• Concealer: I used IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Circles Concealer and blended this in with a beauty blender. 
• Setting Powders: I used MAC Skin Finish in Light to set my under eyes and Ben Nye Powder in Buff for the rest of my face. 
• Contour: I went in with Anastasia Contour Kit using the lightest shade to bronze and then used Benefit Hoola Bronzer to lightly contour my face with a MAC 209 for both products.
• Blush: Then I went in with a coral shade from Ben Nye blush palette and applied this very lightly to the apples of my cheeks with a Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush. 
• Eyebrows: I used Anastasia Dip Brown in Auburn and set it with Anastasia Clear Brow Gel. 

A Little Glamour…

Hi Ladies!

One of my favorite things to do is get all dressed up for a dinner and movie night with my boyfriend. I use these nights to experiment with some new products and styles of makeup. I wanted to show you guys my go to brown smokey eye and heavily contoured face (that seemed to not come up in photos). Products will all be listed below! 🙂 

EYES:

• I like to start with my eyes before the rest of makeup just because I tend to be messy and use tape to get a precise line and I don’t want to pull off any of my foundation and hard work I have already done on my face. 
• Prime: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly ( I put that on with a concealer brush and just blend it out with my finger, I usually put it from my lash line to my eyebrows.) 
• Set: I like to set that cream with just any cream shadow, I used my MAC Skin Finish in Light. 
• Crease: MUG Coco Bear ( I build it up and blend it in with a MAC 217, take your time with this shadow and really build it up). Then I take MUG Creme Brulee with the same brush and build up that color so I have a warm crease, it should be darker at this point and should really define your crease but you really just want to focus the colors in the outer part of your eye so put the brush there first and blend out whatever color you have left on your brush into the inner part of your eye. 
• Lid: Then I go into my Anastasia Lavish Palette and take the darkest brown shade that has shimmer in it and pack it onto my lids with a Sigma E55 brush. When I’m doing a smokey eye I like to use shimmer on the lid because it makes it more flirty and a little more soft, I am personally not a fan of an all matte eye. 
• Touch Up: I then go back in with my MAC 217 brush sometimes I have product on it (left over creme brulee) but this time I went in with it clean and just blended the shimmer color into the crease so there was no harsh lines. 
• Liner: Then I went in with Maybelline gel liner and a thin pencil brush from an art store. 
• Lashes: I started with DUO glue in Black and use the Ardell 419 Curvy lashes. 
• Brows: I used Anastasia Dip Brown in Auburn with her eyebrow brush and set them with her brown gel. 

FACE: 

• Prep: I started by moisturizing my face with the Philosophy Hope In A Jar for Dry Skin and Clinque Eye Cream
• Prime: I added just a tiny bit of the Tarte Flawless Primer to my skin just on my cheeks. 
• Contour & Highlight: I used my RCMA palette taking the white shade to highlight and the second darkest brown shade to contour around my face. I then took my beauty blender and just blender the edges of this into my skin. I applied this to my face using a flat concealer brush from Bare Minerals. 
• Foundation: I took my Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Foundation on my beauty blender and put the foundation lightly onto the areas I highlighted first and then blended it into the contoured area very lightly. 
• Extra Highlight: Since the concealer palette hide any dark circles or imperfections I then took my MAC Prep and Prime pen in Radiant rose and blended this into the areas I put the white concealer area for some extra highlight. 
• Set: I set my under eye with MAC Skin Finish (using the contour brush from real techniques) in Light and contoured area with Hoola Bronzer from Benefit (using a tapered brush from sigma)  and the rest of my face with Buff from BEN NYE (using a large powder brush from real techniques) 
• Contour: Taking a MAC 109 I used the Anastasia Contour Kit to contour my cheeks, forehead, and nose. 
• Blush: I used the tapered brush from Sigma again to apply a coral color from my BEN BYE Cheek Palette. 
• Powder: MAC soft & gentle, I used my finger. 

LIPS: 

• Prime: I started with Vaseline about 30 min before. 
• Liner: Lined my lips with MAC Strip Down and colored them in lightly with the liner also.
• Gloss: Urban Decay Liar 

A little Recognition…

Hi Ladies! 

If you follow makeup channels on YouTube, you most likely are aware of the most popular YouTube faces out there right now. After I found that I ran out of Jacklyn Hill videos to watch I started searching things like contouring and highlighting, after doing this I came across a very talented YouTube face that deserves a lot more publicity and viewers. Her channel is Shonagh Scott on YouTube and she focuses on a lot of cream highlighting as well as cream contouring. After getting my RMCA concealer palette a few months ago I found that it was just sitting in my makeup collection but I was never actually picking it up to use it but after watching Shonagh’s videos the entire highlighting and contouring concept was so much easier to understand… You should be aware though that she is doing more dramatic heavy looks so she is using the concealer to contour and highlight on her face and then she applies foundation over top of that layer and then adds powders. While her channel may not be for the everyday girl looking to do some light bronzing, it is worth checking out because she will teach you some very basic tips about where you should be laying the highlight and bronzer and from there you can modify it to your liking. I love her videos too because unlike a lot of other YouTubers she uses a lot of the same products so if you wanted to invest in what she is using not only is it not very expensive but you know that you would really be putting that product to use over time. If you are not interested in her contouring and highlighting videos then skip to the middle and watch her do her eye shadow because it looks flawless every time. She is so talented and you will really be missing out if you don’t check out her blog. 

 

xoxo

 

Some Great Lashes

Hi Ladies! So recently I told myself that I would start experimenting with some makeup techniques that I’m not used to so that I can just learn the ins and outs of makeup. One of the first things that I made myself start doing was applying false eyelashes. For me, false lashes have always been so complicated and annoying but recently I have been wearing them every day because of the amazing effect that they have on my eyes. A few months ago I bought a pair of the accent lashes from Ardell which are just lashes that you apply to the outside part of your eye (they give you are very cat eye effect). Applying these shorter lashes is so much easier than applying a full lash strip and not to mention faster. Yesterday I took the Ardell 138 lashes which are very dramatic lashes and basically cut each lash in half leaving the outside edge a little longer than the inside (these are full lash strips) then I applied the longer strip to the outside of my eye, let it dry and applied the next stip right on top of that lash but on the very outer corner of my eye. This seriously gave my eyes such a beautiful shape. I added some drama by doing a dark brown cat eye also which is usually covered my the lashes but it still adds to the shape of your eyes. As you can tell, there are no false lashes on the inner corner of my eyes which is something that I like but if you have never tried this kind of false lash it will take some getting used to. This obviously is not your average everyday look but I don’t mind it being dramatic. These kind of lashes are perfect for everyday (you don’t need to double them and you can purchase more natural looking lashes so you only get a slight cat eye look) because they are quick to apply and you don’t need to worry about that inner corner coming up or having the lashes feeling super heavy on your eyes. I definitely recommend this style of lashes to someone who has watery eyes because the inner corner of your eyes are left free of any glue of lashes so the water will not undo the glue. 

It’s totally about how you feel when it comes to the shape of your eyes but I would really recommend try this look. 

XOXO

Foundation Dupe…

Hi Ladies!

I had this notion in my mind for a long time that high-end products work better, last longer, and are better quality than drugstore products (when it comes to makeup). I started to find that while there was a VERY obvious difference between some high-end products and drugstore products there were also a few that were very similar and you would not need to go spend a ton of money for makeup. Let’s be honest, when it comes to putting something on my face like foundation, lotions, and concealers I really don’t mind paying extra for something that I know is… 

1. Not tested on animals
2. Lasts long
3. Designed without sulfates or parabens 
4. Organic
5. Sometimes gluten free

There are some things that you really should not skimp on just because of the price. With this being said I know a lot of people still want the option to spend a less at the drugstore for makeup and I think I have one product that everyone is going to love…

Comparison between the Revlon Color Stay Whipped Foundation & Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Foundation

First off the Revlon Color Stay Whipped Foundation. Revlon states, “Finally, truly decadent makeup offers ultimate performance. The mousse-like texture feels like silk on your skin. And, the time release formula balances skin for a flawless look. All day flexible wear without flaking, caking or feeling heavy.” This foundation is just that. It comes in a small pot (which I think is one of the flaws because of the cleanliness of the item) but you would simply scoop out some of the product with a brush or your finger and go from there. I like to use a foundation brush (any brand or style that I bought to use specifically for this) and scoop the product onto a makeup plate (you could use the back of your hand, back of a clean eye shadow palette, whatever) I then take a flat top Kabuki brush to first lay the product evenly all over my face and then go back in with my damp beauty blender to thin out the foundation and make it look airbrushed. I found that this foundation lasted all day and gave myself a matte finish. Although I don’t mind matte especially in my T-Zone, I would add a little illuminater to the product next time I used it. If you have dry skin (especially in the winter time) it’s a great idea to use a cream foundation because it adds a lot of cushion to your skin and some hydration through the cream. When you apply a liquid foundation sometimes it will settle into any flakey areas of your face whereas a cream will completely camouflage that area. A few good points about the foundation… 

• Did not feel like I was wearing a drugstore foundation at all
• Felt really creamy on the skin
• Easy to blend
• Good color selection at the store
• No fragrance
• Did not look cakey
• Only had to touch-up a little on my cheeks during the day
• Made my blush and bronzer glide on
• Concealer looked great with it.  
•  Powder also glided onto my skin when I set the foundation

   

  **SKINCARE TYPE: This product is apart of their color stay line which means that it is formulated to last a lot longer and to be almost water proof so when you want to remove this product it’s important to remember that you can not use just a basic cleanser, instead you need to double cleanse at least or use an exfoliating cleanser because this product will really sink into your skin. 

   

  Next is the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation: 

  I have been using this foundation for a little over four months now so I have really used it at different points in my skin experience (when I have been more dry or more oily) and I have found that this foundation really withstands a lot. Whether you have dry skin or oily skin this foundation will truly last you all day long. One thing that I really like about this foundation is that it comes in a squeeze bottle so its a lot less messy and you don’t have to worry about spreading germs throughout your makeup products. I usually just squeeze some onto the back of my hand, add some illuminater and buff it onto my face with a flat top kabuki brush, then I go back in with my beauty blender to make sure that everything is seamless. This foundation really glides onto the skin and makes your skin look perfect, its one of those foundations that you would reach for during “that time of the month” because it is full coverage but it does not make your imperfections look cakey, it simply erases them. I have not had any problems when using this with either my MAC Pro Long Wear conceal or also my Tarte Concealer, both really glide onto the skin and do not separate or crease during the day. This is a foundation that I find I barely need to touch up with and I would choose this foundation on a day I know I will be taking photos, moving around a lot, or it will be hot. 

   

  Overall: 
  I think that both foundations are great but you can get away with buying the $15 Revlon Foundation instead of the almost $40 Tarte Foundation. Both are so similar it’s hard to say which one is better. I think that I will continue to use my Tarte Foundation until it runs out and then switch to the Revlon Foundation. You are going to get the same finish, same all day feel, same lasting power, and overall same quality with both products so I say…save your money and go to the drugstore!

   

   

   

   

   

Coverage & Protection All In One…

Hi Ladies! 

Recently I went on the hunt for a good CC cream, one that would not only make my skin look great but also have the vitamins and sunscreen in it to make my skin great without makeup also. When researching the true benefits of CC creams I found this, “Anyone who wants the anti-aging benefits of peptides, niacin, algae, vitamins A, C, B, E, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolyzed collagen and SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, Physical Only, Non-Chemical Sunscreen should be using a CC Cream.” CC creams are literally packed with so much good product for you skin it’s impossible for your skin to not look beautiful and glowing with or without the product. 

I fell in love with the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream which is a full coverage cream with SPF 50+ and packed with the vitamins listed above. The product is amazing, it glides right onto your face with a brush or just using your finger tips, gives you wonderful coverage, and makes your skin appear as if it is glowing from the inside out. The product does not have any shimmer in it but it does give your face a nice dewy sheen. When I first picked this product up my skin was very dry and this acted as a double moisturizer also because of the vitamin C within it (a super hydrating vitamin). If you have oily skin then I would recommend setting this cream with a powder because it will slip and slide if you do not. It blends out very well too making it a perfect cream for everyday or on the run because you don’t need to use a brush for it, you can simply put it on with your fingers. On the back of the packaging it says to reapply this cream every 2 hours because of the sunscreen benefits but I think you would need to reapply it anyways because this will not last you an entire day. I am not very oily but after a few hours I was oily and my skin was peaking through so reapplying this is a must for a long day. This product is perfect for more of a beach day when you aren’t worried about having to reapply this over powders and you are using this as a sunscreen or just for running quick errands. Either way, I felt that this product made my skin look better when I took the cream off, my skin seemed plump and healthy with a glow and it looked like I just had a facial, it did not look like I had been wearing makeup all day. I would recommend this product to everyone! For $38 you are getting a lot of really good product. I think this cream would be great for women who are concerned about aging, sensitive skin, dry skin, and women at the beach or running errands. 

 

How I Use It: I start with a clean face and then apply some of my Benefit Professional to my skin after my moisturizer I let these to products soak into my face for about five minutes while I finish my mascara then I take the CC+ Cream on my fingers and blend it into my skin but not all the way, then I go in with my damp beauty blender and blend everything out one last time (this creates a really nice thin layer of the product and makes it look like my actual skin). Then I finish my concealer and highlight and set everything with my Hourglass Powder. 

XOXO
 

What’s The Deal With Primers?

Hi Ladies!

Recently I started the task of trying to find a perfect primer one that truly did everything it said it would and would live up to the expectations that I had. To start, my initial belief is that I need a primer. My skin is dry but it also gets oily in my T-Zone during the day. For some reason almost every primer that I have used has inevitably broken my makeup in certain parts of my face and made my face look worse with makeup than it does without. I started thinking, do I actually need a primer? Are they worth the extra $40 and time in the morning? If you follow Jacklyn Hill on YouTube you know that she does not use a face primer, just a good moisturizer and goes from there and her makeup looks flawless on and off camera. She said that as long as you treat your skin well then you should have no problem simply applying foundation straight to your face. Thinking back to middle school and early high school years, I never used primer or did I know anything about it, it wasn’t until magazines and make-up counters started saying that women NEED it. Over my hunt for the perfect primer I had a lot more bad skin days then I did good.

I started the hunt a few months ago when I started using Hourglass Veil, the primer seemed to glide onto my face and give me a very airbrushed finish. I started developing some intense blemishes quickly after using the primer (and a few new skincare items) so I changed it immediately. I then started using the Benefit Porefessional Primer which honestly is one I always seem to find myself going back to. If you have yet to try the primer, it gives you the most flawless silky skin and I always found that my skin looked best an hour after my foundation had been sitting on it. It was when it got to the fifth or sixth hour that my skin was almost peeking through, I was oily and blotchy, and extra touch-ups just made my skin look worse. Basically this primer did not last long at all. So I set out to find a primer that gave me the same immediate results as the Benefit Porefessional Primer but just lasted longer. So I tried the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pure primer which was formulated without oil for sensitive skin. This primer to say the least was a waste of money, I was better off with my Benefit primer. Lastly, I rediscovered an old favorite, the Smashbox Photo Finish primer. As I am writing this post I am currently wearing the primer and asking myself why in the world I am. The primer broke up my makeup almost immediately with two different foundations and made my skin look like I literally caked on my makeup. If I could wash it off now without destroying the hard work I’ve done on my liner I would.

So now I am left to return the Smashbox primer and go back to the racks to find a new one… Some of you may say that I am expecting to much from a primer to withstand the wind, sweat, and sun for up to 10 hours but let’s be real I put on my makeup in the morning to last me ALL day… I don’t have time to come home between work or school and wash off my hard work, PLUS thats another four or five pumps of foundation that I am wasting…

If you guys have any suggestions for the next primer I should try just let me know!

XOXO