Favorite Products…

I recently received a request on Instagram to make a video sharing my favorite products. I tried and tried (and tried) to make a decent talk-through video answering this request, but I found them to be a bit too boring! So, I’ve made a video literally showing all my favorite products, kind of like a teaser, and this blog post goes with it to explain why each product made my favorites list. 🙂

First of all, narrowing all my goodies down was tough! There are a lot of products I love equally that didn’t make it in the video either because I don’t use them as regularly or they’re not as versatile.

Let’s go!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

I’ve talked about this product before, and I’m sure I will again because it really is that amazing. When I first tried this, it was the most expensive foundation I’d purchased so I had high expectations. The formula is so smooth and lightweight it almost feels more like a light serum or even water, which I love – I don’t like feeling my makeup on my face. The coverage this provides is light to medium, but it’s completely buildable. Another great thing is the range of shades. I have a hard time finding a foundation that matches because I’m so pale but with neutral/yellow undertones. This is available in either pink or yellow undertones and goes from very fair to dark. There really isn’t anything I don’t like about this foundation…it feels great, leaves a natural finish, covers well, and even smells great. This is spendy, but totally worth the money for me, not only because of the quality but also for how long it lasts (years). If you’re able to get a higher-end product, this is definitely my recommendation. (If you do, make sure to use your fingers to apply as this is too watery to be used with brushes or sponges.)

L’Oreal True Match Foundation

This comes in literally ever shade possible for every undertone imaginable. Mine is in “Soft Ivory N1” which is the lightest of the neutral undertones, and it matches me perfectly. This is a medium to full-coverage foundation so it definitely covers well, but it’s also very blendable and can be thinned out if desired. For the price, I’m not sure there’s a better foundation out there. This would be great for beginners because it’s easy to work with and the store display makes it easy to find your perfect shade. This is also great because it can be applied with whatever you like, be it brushes, sponges, or fingers. I like to use mine with my BeautyBlender (which probably should’ve been included on this list…) because it gives just enough coverage while still thinning out the product and blending it in really flawlessly. Another thing that’s great about this is the finish. A lot of foundations are too matte or too greasy for me, but this is right in between. It looks like real, healthy, hydrated skin – perfect.

Cover FX Cream Concealer (MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer; Laura Mercier Undercover Pot)

As far as concealers go, I’m only going to cover (ha!) what I use on blemishes, not undereyes. I showed the Cover FX Concealer in the video, but there are really three that are tied now that I think a bit more about it. I really love the Cover FX one because you only need a little, teeny, tiny bit to cover well, and it’s really easy to blend, but I also feel like I should talk about two others because they’re also just as good. The MAC concealer is really great and I’ve been using it for a long time now, and the Laura Mercier one is also great. What I love about all of them is that they’re full-coverage, which is key when covering things like pimples and dark marks (my top concerns), and they’re all available in a wide range of shades, particularly the MAC one. I alternate between the MAC one and the Cover FX one currently, depending on my mood. The Cover FX one is really easy to blend which makes it easier to work with, but it then has to be set with powder to make sure it doesn’t slide around. The MAC one on the other hand has an almost tacky texture and dries quickly so it’s hard to blend, but it stays put without the help of a powder. The Laura Mercier one has two chambers, one with a face concealer similar to her Secret Camouflage, the other has an undereye concealer. The face concealer is really dry, so you have to swipe the brush in there a few times to get enough product, but, once you do, it only takes a dab on blemishes to make them disappear and it stays put. I like to set it with a little powder anyway because it is a cream, but that’s just preference. (I won’t talk about the other side of the pot because this is about face concealers, but I will say that it’s great too!) The only reason I don’t use the Laura Mercier one as often is because I bought it as part of a kit and the shade is one shade too dark… 😦 But! I plan on buying one that matches as soon as I can. Anyway, as you can tell, this was a tough call for me… I love them all and recommend all of them to beginners and makeup-mavens alike. 🙂

Nars Blush – “Orgasm”

I don’t even know where to begin with this little baby…! I should probably just make the shade itself the favorite…haha. I’d wanted this for years before I was actually able to afford it a few years ago, and boy was it worth the wait. By some magic that only NARS knows, this really does look good on every skintone and gives the perfect just-did-something-naughty 😉 flush! It’s that perfect blend of pink and peach that I dream about because it flatters, looks natural, and complements just about any look. I’ve had this for about four years now, and this is still going strong because you truly only need a little. The shimmer also isn’t very noticible and comes across as more of a glow than shimmer. I will use this forever! (I also love the other “Orgasm” products – The Multiple, the lipgloss, the nail polish… can’t. get. enough.)

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Because I’m so fair, I usually have to use an incredibly light hand with bronzer because I can look like an Oompa Loompa real quick, but with this one, I’m good to go! This is a lighter version of their original Chocolate Soleil Bronzer that’s specifically made for fairer gals. It’s got warmer undertones, is completely matte, and smells amazing…like cocoa (with which it’s actually made)! If I want more of a warmth to my face, I’ll apply this lightly around the perimeter of my face just to toast things up, but for times like now, when I’m self-tanning and wanting that bronzed look, I can load this on without it ever looking unnatural.

Benefit Majorette

This is a true love of mine because there’s literally nothing I don’t love about it. Just the packaging is great because it’s a good size, sturdy, scalloped (!), and has that beloved magnetic closure. Then there’s the product, which is, again, that beautiful pink-peach shade that flatters everyone and looks so sweet and natural. It’s also completely fool-proof because all you need is a clean finger to dab in the product and seamlessly blend into cheeks. This really does the work for you…and it even smells like peaches too!

MAC “Omega” Eyeshadow

Before I talk about this, let me just start by saying I had a heck of a time finding a contour shade that worked for not only fair skin, but someone with neutral undertones. Everything I tried was either grey or orange or way too dark. Finally, I emailed a MAC makeup artist through their website asking for a suggestion, and she recommended this. “Omega” is a matte eyeshadow, so that’s a plus right there because no one wants to contour with anything shimmery. Then there’s the shade… this is a light shade of taupe, so it’s the perfect mix of brown and grey. Your contour color should be the shade a shadow actually leaves on your face, and this is spot on for me. I can carve out cheekbones for days with this little thing without it ever looking unnatural! It’s the only thing that works for me. 🙂

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Something you should know about me: I LOVE highlighters. I always have. I don’t think there’s anything prettier than a beautiful complexion when it comes to makeup, and highlighter is key in my opinion. Having said that, I have a lot of highlighters – powders, creams, gels, you name it! This one is a stand out. I love the formula of this because it’s a liquid, so it’s so easy to apply and blend and it’s very natural. The shimmer in this is also realtively low, which I also love because it’s subtle, yet still makes an impact. I add this on the high-points of my face and suddenly my skin looks dewy and hydrated and healthy. What more could you want? 🙂

Revlon Lash Curler

Pretty self-explanatory, right? 😉 I have really straight lashes so this is a necessity.

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray and Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer

This next one is a tie. I can’t use eyeshadow without a primer because it creases and disappears. Both of these are included because both work terrifically, are easy to work with, and add a little coverage to the lid which makes shadow stand out more and masks little imperfections like veins and discoloration. Love them both!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

For mascara, I had a tough time. I have so many that I use all the time and that I love for different reasons. However, when it comes down to it, I have to go with this one by Too Faced! This truly does it all – lengthens, thickens, and lifts – without being heavy or hard to remove. I love the packaging as well because it’s really sturdy, and the brush is really big!

IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil

I don’t really like to shape my brows as much as fill them in, and this is great for that. It goes on lighter (more of a taupe color) with a light hand, but comes out more brunette if you press a little firmer, so it’s great for beginners because it takes the guess work out of finding the right shade. The effect is really natural, and this truly doesn’t come off until I take it off. I also love that it comes with the spoolie on the opposite end.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

I just love this because every single color is beautiful, fun, and flattering. This was great during the holidays because it’s got that glitzy vibe to it, but I’m surprisingly able to use it just as much now for beautiful bronze-y looks and neutral, everyday looks. One of my favorite shades in this palette is “Cherry Cordial” because it warms up and adds depth to any look and looks great with my eye color – I’ve never found anything like it. I also love the packaging on this because it’s adorable, and I even love the names of each shade (maybe I’m just a chocoholic?). Not to mention, this smells like the cocoa powder with which it’s made. Basically, I just want to eat the palette too!

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

This is my little baby…it’s the first big palette I’ve ever owned and I got it as a gift from someone I love on a special day. Next thing you should know about me: I have an obsession with rose-gold. I get my hands on as much of it as I can, and this palette is no exception. I think every color in this is so flattering and beautiful, and they all work together perfectly – there’s no bad combination. I would wear this every day if I could, and for every occasion. I love the brush it comes with too.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I love this because it’s great for everyday. I usually take this with me when I travel because it’s so small and the shades are neutral and can take you from breakfast to going out at night. I particularly love the highlight shade in this kit because it’s not too shimmery or too white.

What’s great about all of these palettes is that each one is highly pigmented so only a little goes a long way, and each one is completely unique. I love love love them!

Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Balm

For lips, I have about a million products I love, but, once again, I had to whittle it down! This is a favorite because it’s a tinted lip balm, which is my favorite and go-to, and it’s also a perfect shade of pink that just gives life to my lips but isn’t flashy or too bright. It’s also intensely hydrating and smells really pretty.

“Royal Ball” and “Happily Ever After” from the Cinderella Collection for MAC

I’ve done a whole post about just these two and I really do love them. They’re so pretty together, and on their own. For more information, check out my previous post, “Cinderella, Cinderella…“.

Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer – “179 Murmure”

The associate in Macy’s put this on me, and I fell in love! It’s a really flattering pinky-melon shade and I can’t stop wearing it. It’s not sticky, more hydrating, and lasts forever. Definitely worth the money. 🙂

Lorac Alter Ego Lipgloss – “Southern Belle”

Last but not least! I’ve talked about this in previous posts, so all I’ll say is I still can’t get enough of this gloss because the shade is SO beautiful…!

And there you have it! My favorite favorites. 🙂 Please let me know what you think! I’d LOVE to hear from you. 🙂

XO

Bronzed Makeup Tutorial!

As much as I would like to, I haven’t been filming many videos for my YouTube channel lately. I’m frustrated because I have the vision in my mind of what I want, then I’m unable to do it with the technology I have (a phone and natural lighting…). I’m glad I’m able to do at least something, but it’s still a wee bit annoying. However, I recently received a video request on Instagram and it’s inspired me to make not only that one, but another as well! I’m back in it! Haha

This one is a look I did last week that I thought turned out really pretty. I’ve been self-tanning lately, so my face and body aren’t matching up anymore and I used bronzer to compensate. This is also partly inspired by a look one of my favorite makeup artists, Lisa Eldridge, has on her YouTube channel. It’s a very natural, laid-back, summer look. Let’s get started!

As usual, I started with washed and moisturized skin and clean hands. I skipped primer and applied L’Oreal True Match Foundation in “Soft Ivory N1” all over my face with a BeautyBlender. Then I did some spot concealing with my Cover FX Cream Concealer in “N X-LIGHT”, using fingers to pat the product onto blemishes.  Using a fluffy brush, I set that all with a pressed powder that matches my skintone (Maybelline Fit Me in “115 Ivory”) to prevent fading and add a bit of extra coverage. Going back in with a lighter concealer, Maybelline Dream Lumi in “Ivory”, and a flat Crown Concealer brush, I concealed dark circles, then set that with the same powder and a Lancome Blending Shadow Brush to prevent creasing.

With a BareEscentuals Flawless Face brush, I swept Too Faced’s Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer onto temples, my forehead, cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, jawline, and neck, making sure to blend fully. These are the areas that get touched by the sun naturally, so applying bronzer to them makes the look believable and flattering. This was the most important step for the look because it would help my face match my body and add that summer feel to my look! (Unfortunately…because of the lighting, I feel like you can’t really see the color too well on my face even though I added quite a bit. I’m definitely gonna have to find some different lighting for these videos…!) After bronzing and blending, I used an ELF Blush Brush to apply Covergirl Cheekers Blush in “Rose Silk” to the apples of my cheeks, blending it into the bronzer. This step isn’t necessary, just something I like to do to add a little more color to my face and make the bronzer a little less stark. Then, using a RealTechniques Setting Brush, I applied MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish highlighter in “Soft & Gentle” to the high points of my face to add a bit of a glow and enhance the slight contour of the bronzer.

For eyes, I first set my lids with Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance Primer. Using the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, I used the soft, shimmery peach shade “Marzipan” all over lids, applying with a MAC 217 Brush. Then, using the same brush, I went in with “Triple Fudge”, a matte dark brown, from the same palette and emphasized the crease and the Outer-V. With the same color, I used an ELF Smudge Brush to dot the lower lashline for subtle emphasis, then used a Tarte liner brush to smooth the color onto the upper lashlines. With everything blended well, I moved on to lashes by first curling them with my Revlon curler, then applying a light coat of L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Black Brown”. I chose a lighter mascara than usual because I didn’t want anything to look too obvious, and a mascara with brown in it is more naturally enhancing than just straight black. I also only applied enough to create a little definition so the whole look would come across as more effortless than “done”.

For the finishing touches, I applied IT Cosmetics Brow Power to brows using short, feathery strokes to fill them in and subtly shape them. For this look, I think just about any lip color would look great from a bright red to a cool melon, however, for the surfer-girl-just-back-from-the-beach vibe I was going for, I didn’t want to stray too far from my natural lip color. I chose Tarte’s LipSurgence gloss in “Exposed” to just lightly add a little shine and hydration as well as enhance the color that was already in my lips. Feel free to alter this to your own color of course, or try something completely different!

And that’s the look!

I think this works well for just about any summer occasion, and can be easily dramatized by either changing the lip color, adding a cat eye, or even just adding more mascara!

I hope you enjoyed 🙂

XO

April’s Ipsy!

Good morning!

I know it’s a little late coming, but here’s a look at this month’s Ipsy bag – “Beautifully Bohemian”!

Why is it late, you might ask? Well. I had a bit of a problem with a few items in this bag…

This is how my blush first showed up a few weeks ago. Yikes! What was supposed to be a pressed powder could’ve been mistaken for a loose one. It was a mess. I tried to solidify it again with rubbing alcohol, and it worked, but it still just isn’t quite the same.

My perfume was also completely empty! Nothing smelled like it had leaked out, so I don’t know what in the world happened but it was bone-dry.

The good news: Ipsy’s customer service team was great. When I told them the problem, they were sincerely nice and sent me replacements for the damaged products – no questions asked.

The new products are completely in tact and we can now properly review! 😉

The first item we’ll do will be the infamous blush:

By the brand Hikari, and in the shade “Tango”, this blush is a very bright rose pink. The formula is pretty pigmented, AKA, a little goes a long way, and the color is pretty true to how it looks in the container. That being said, it’s a great way to make cheeks pop and I’m loving this with doe eyes and a matching rose lip. Perfect for Spring!

Next is the Nude Dude eyeshadow from The Balm in “Fit”.

I’ve always wanted to try The Balm’s products ever since seeing the cheeky (get it?) highlighter Mary Lou-Manizer. I love the cute humor in their products and have heard nothing but great things about the actual formulas. First of all, the packaging is adorable. It opens like a little book (about tall, dark, and handsome men apparently), and has a magnetic closure so it stays secure. The shade is a shimmery copper brown that has a bit of a rose gold tint once it’s on. The formula has nice color payoff, and wore all day through errands and dinner!

Next is the Hey Honey Good Morning honey silk facial serum:

This says it can be worn alone, under day and night creams, or as a primer and that it’s fine for all skin types. I still get a bit apprehensive about new facial products however, because I’m so acne-prone. But, I’ve thrown caution to the wind and used it as a primer! So far, I haven’t noticed any break-outs (knock on wood!), and it wears very well. It’s a very thin, silky formula that’s the color of honey and smells like flowers! I have a hard time with primers because they either don’t work like I want or they break me out, but this one is pretty hydrating and smooth so I know I at least don’t dislike it. I’ll have to keep wearing it to reach a final verdict!

Next up: Starlooks lip gloss in “Cuddle”.

This lipgloss really closely resembles the eyeshadow in my opinion, so they work really well together. It’s a copper rose-brown shade with a silver sheen, which makes it stand out among the millions of other coppers with gold shimmer. It’s a bit sticky, but applies well and lasts for quite a while. I think this is going to look even better with a tan, and will be appropriate for any occasion this summer. 🙂

Last but not least, the perfume!

This is “Femina” by Jor’el Parker, and it smells realllllly pretty. It’s definitely floral (my favorite), but it smells like it has touches of vanilla and musk, which really anchor it. While I normally don’t like musk, this one doesn’t seem too heady. Thr scent reminds me of going on a walk during Spring, when there’s still the smell of rain and heavy winter in the air but the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining. 🙂 I’d say this is a daytime scent, but the heavier notes make it perfect for nighttime as well. I plan to wear this to the movies during the day through to dinner at night!

Alright! That’s the bag finally!

Happy Tuesday! 🙂

XO

Benefit Look!

Benefit is one of my absolute favorite brands, as you can tell by the picture above, so I’m excited to share this look! This look is very easy, natural, and a bit similar to the Victoria’s Secret inspired look I shared – this one is just a bit more “daytime”.

For foundation, I used my new L’Oreal True Match foundation which is great. I applied it with a foundation brush over my Smashbox primer and followed it with my MAC Pro Longwear concealer for blemishes. I then powdered my face with my Make Up For Ever HD Powder (which I think I’ll stop using considering what happens to it when flash is on… Google it!). You may be wondering why I didn’t use Benefit products for this. I would’ve used my Porefessional, my Big Easy BB Cream, Boi-ing to conceal, and the Hello Flawless powder to set, but I struggle with those products. 😦 The Porefessional is my favorite primer – I love the texture, the scent, and how it really does smooth out my pores – but I think it breaks me out! I know it’s oil-free, so I don’t know why it would break me out, but I feel every time I use it, I get a handful of pimples in the places I’ve put it. Then there’s the Big Easy… I loved this when I first bought it, but now I feel like it’s a tacky consistency that just seems to settle into my pores and dry skin and look horrible! It’s almost drying for me now, no matter how I apply it or what primer I use. I don’t know what happened! It’s all very frustrating because I love Benefit…! Lastly, I don’t have Boi-ing or the Hello Flawless powder, but I’d use them if I did! Haha

Once my non-Benefit complexion was done, I moved on to my under-eyes where I used FakeUp Concealer. I have this in the sample size, and it’s lasted me for months. I used the shade “light” and just swipe some product onto a concealer brush and dab it under my eyes. You can apply this directly from the tube, but this is a hydrating concealer, so I keep it to just my immediate under-eye area to avoid breakouts. It leaves a very natural finish which I really like.

I then applied Stay Don’t Stray to my eyelids and blended it out with a clean finger. I love this eyeshadow primer because it really keeps your shadow on all day while also providing sheer coverage and acting like a concealer. Sometimes I’ll put this on even when I don’t plan on wearing shadow just to conceal slightly without having any annoying creasing later in the day (or night!).

I then moved on to cheeks, and applied Hoola Bronzer to just under cheekbones, temples, forehead, jawline, and neck with the brush it comes with. Hoola is a great bronzer because it’s matte and a little goes a long way. I use this contour sometimes, though it is a bronzer, because it turns out pretty natural looking thanks to the matte formula and universally flattering shade. I blended all this out with my Mally powder brush, making sure there weren’t any harsh lines, and applied Dandelion blush to the apples of my cheeks, and a little to my forehead with an E.l.f. Blush Brush. Dandelion is a new favorite – it’s the perfect pink blush. It always looks natural and isn’t as harsh as some other pinks. I blend some onto my forehead just to help it look more like a natural flush than a swipe of makeup. (Benefit had a similar product called Georgia Peach a while back that did the same thing but with a gorgeous peach color – I wish they’d bring it back! Mine’s pretty old…lol)

Next, I swiped a line of High Beam highlighter across my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and on my Cupid’s Bow and blended it out with a clean finger. Normally, I am opposed to liquid highlighters on top of powders, but I didn’t have enough powder on my cheekbones to mess with the consistency, so, in this instance, it’s okay – just be mindful of layering! This highlighter is one of my all-time favorites. It’s easy to apply, blends well, and gives just enough silver-y sheen to catch the light without looking obvious. I love it. It’s especially beautiful on fair skin, and/or anyone with cool or neutral toned skin.

Turning to my She’s So Jetset! Kit, I applied the shadow “Champagne Please” from lashlines to browbones with a flat eyeshadow brush from Target (I don’t remember the brand!). I then blended “Pretty in Mink” from the same kit into creases with a MAC 217 Brush for subtle definition. I love these shadows for their high-level of shimmer and velvety texture, but the whole kit is just as great. If you can find it (eBay maybe?), I recommend it highly, especially if you’re new to Benefit because it gives you a lot to work with for a reasonable price. I’ve had mine forever, and it’s still going strong!

After shadow, it was time for lashes! I curled mine with my Revlon curler and then applied one coat of They’re Real! Mascara. This mascara really is as great as everyone and their moms say. The only problem I ever had with it was how difficult it was to remove, but now I use the They’re Real! Remover and it works great. The mascara lengthens, curls, and really gets every lash, and has a jet-black, almost leather, look to the formula that stays that way on lashes for hours.

Next, I filled in my brows with my Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown (I know, not Benefit 😦 ) using my angled liner brush from Ulta. Though this is what I use, Benefit is known for really great brow products. I highly recommend checking out their selection of pencils, gels, and compacts – I’ve been wanting a pencil and setting gel from them for a little while now. I just fill in sparse areas on my brows, and define their shape a bit more. Then I run a spoolie (mine’s from Mally) through my brows to comb out any splotches and make them neat.

I then sprayed my face with my MAC Charged Water to set everything and melt any noticeable powder into my skin, and applied a layer of Sugarbomb gloss onto my lips to finish the look.

And there you have it! A naturally pretty look from Benefit! There will be more to come 😉

XO

Products Used:

Fake Up Concealer in “Light”
Stay Don’t Stray shadow primer
Hoola Bronzer
Dandelion blush
High Beam highlighter
“Champagne Please” and “Pretty in Mink” eyeshadows from the “She’s So Jetset!” kit
They’re Real! Mascara
Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss
(All by Benefit)
+
Hard Candy Shadow Brush
Mally Powder Brush
E.l.f. Blush Brush
Shadow Brush from Target
MAC 217 Brush
Revlon Lash Curler
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown
Ulta Angled Brush
Mally Angled/Spoolie Brush
MAC Charged Water Setting Spray