My personal faves! (Part 2)

Hi Beauties!  A few of you have inspired me to start blogging much more often.  (You know who you are.  THANK YOU!).  I hadn't realized how many of you were reading! Definitely inspired, and excited me to put more of these out.  Going to aim for about twice a month :).


I am excited about this blog post, because I get to share with you all some of my own personal make-up faves.  As someone who is surrounded by beauty products ALL the time, you can trust that I've not only tried many of them, but also narrowed it down to the best of the best.  I have a part one of this a few posts back.  Definitely check that one out :)

I'm going to start off with make-up,  and then end with skin care.  I'd love if you all send me some of your faves too, and I'll feature you on this blog.  In the meantime, enjoy!


My favorite mascara of all time is STILL by Benefit Cosmetics. They have a mascara that not only elongates your lashes, but causes them to look fuller without clumping the lashes together at all.  I apply one coat on top of my lashes, followed by two coats underneath in a curling motion.  There isn't one thing negative I can say about this product.  I literally bought four at once.  It's THAT GOOD! Check out the model's lashes before/after (not my work; it was on the company website).  You can find this product at Sephora online, most department stores, and the actual Sephora store.

 

A must have that I also use is my highlighting wand by YSL called, Touche Eclat.  It's not a concealer, but rather a highlight wand that catches light in perfect key places throughout the face.  You apply it sparingly over your foundation/tinted moisturizer/BB cream where the light naturally falls: A couple dots above your eyes (not the bone, but actually above) under your eyes/more on your cheeks, your chin, and down the center of your nose.  This product is a little pricey, but I give you my word- it is well worth the investment.  It's the cost of 4-5 lattes to put it in perspective.  You can find this one online, or at high-end department stores.

Don't know what I would do without my Anastasia Brow Duality chunky pencil found at Sephora, or online.  How it works, is quite simple:  You apply underneath your eyebrow hairs.  The old school way make-up artists used to do it was by applying iridescent shadows, or white eyeliner pencils underneath, at it just would look dated now.  Anastasia's pencil comes in 3 different flesh tones, that look so natural!  It also lifts the brow a bit, and conceals hairs that may have grown back from your last tweeze/eyebrow appointment.  One side has shimmer (which I recommend using as an eye shadow, or on the inner rim of the eye) and the other is matte.  Use the matte either under the brows, or the middle of your lips followed by a gloss to give you more of a pout.  Picture found on the internet. 

 

 

Anastasia also has a pretty awesome eye-brow pencil, and powder I'm pretty loyal too as well.  I LOVE how precise it get's my brows looking.  And---they don't rub off---even if my skin get's oily!

My favorite blush of all time is by MAC: It's called, "Peaches".  And I can honestly say this color looks good on everyone except dark-chocolate hued beauties.  MAC is found online, or at most department stores.

After apply my foundation, and blush, I will put a little highlight on top along my cheek bones to give a nice luminous look.  What I use personally, and also own in my professional kit is the Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Shimmer Brick.  It doesn't look glittery at all, but rather glowy.  You can also find BB at Sephora, or most department stores.  Bronze looks great on mush darker skin tones, Nectar/Nude on fair skin tones, Pink Quartz, Rose, Copper Diamond, on olive skin tones, and Platinum Pink on those that love a pinkier cheek.

For my foundations, I'm a big fan of either Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer, or MAC cosmetic BB Cream.  Laura gives me a nice sheer coverage for everyday, while the BB cream is still sheer, yet great for days that I have a modeling photo shoot.  Mac's also makes my skin feel smooth as butter.  You can find both products online, or department stores :)

Every girl wants to find an under eye concealer that not only lasts all day, but also doesn't crease.  I've searched high, AND low and found what I have been using for years: Smashbox Studios High Definition Concealer.  After I do my eye-make-up, I'll apply this concealer underneath my eyes, and go.  It's AMAZING.  Found online, Sephora, or most department stores.

I'm sure many of you are going to laugh about my lip of choice.  I still (since he 80's) love Bonne Bell's Lip Smackers in strawberry flavor.  Gives me a little bit of color, tastes yummy, and my little girl can borrow it too (smile).  You can get this one at any drug store :)

Now for skin care!  I have four must-haves that you can find at Sephora.  I'm 34, and haven't a wrinkle yet which I contribute partly to maintaining a great skin care regime:


I have washed my skin every day for the last six months (I do switch every six months so that my skin doesn't get so used to the product that it no longer responds as well) with Peter Thomas Roth's Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Cleansing gel.  It hydrates, replenishes, and has no parabens or other harmful agents that would affect my skin.  Plus, the bottle is the size of one that would hold shampoo, so it lasts at least 4-6 months.

I exfoliate my skin 3 times a week after I wash with Origins Cosmetic's, "Never a Dull Moment".  It sloughs away dead skin cells, and makes my skin look so fresh/dewy.  I don't switch up my exfoliators often FYI.  Just everything else.

Once a week after cleansing, and exfoliating, I'll used my Boscia Luminizing Black mask.  It's a peel off one that pull out black heads, and other gook off my skin.  If I have a special event the next day, I won't do it though because sometimes whatever I have pulled out off the top, uncovers what was underneath, and that means break-outs.    I believe that masking is a HUGE part of our regime however.  Definitely encourage you to find one to suit your needs.

Finally, for my moisturizer, I have been using (and loving) Shiseido's Benefiance cream.  It's a heavier cream that gives me plenty of moisture without feeling greasy.  I have more sensitive skin, and have been doing just fine with it.  If you have oily skin though, stick with a gel based moisturizer.  These are just my own personal faves.

Thank you all for reading! I hope Fall is treating you well! Back soon!

XOXO,


Xoxo,

Must Have's that are right under your nose! Your local drugstore!

Hi Lovelies!

I hope everyone is amazing, and well!  I'm sure we all can agree that with Spring being here, there's even more reasons for us to smile! Warmer weather, flowers blooming, puddle jumping, and such. II keep mentioning the fact that warm weather is here---someone is just a little excited, can you tell? SMILE. Love it!

I am so excited to be back again with another post.  As the title says, this month's post is highlighting some of my beauty faves, as well as industry faves that are actually located in your local drugstore.  

Believe me, I can get lost in Sephora all day, but if I am not careful, so can my budget.  That said, I've scoured the internet, as well as done my own research to find products that are comparable, if not better that are located at CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Duane Reade.  Often times, we believe that by spending more money, we must be getting the best of the best.  While this is partly true, it is not necessarily because of the content of the product.  What happens is, we're paying more for the experience, and the packaging.  Let's be honest, there's something about the elegant ambience of a SAKS cosmetics department as opposed to Aisle 9 of Walgreens.  You tend to feel prettier, catered to, and the presentation creates a better experience.

There is NOTHING wrong with this. I get it!  As a free-lance make-up artist, this was one of the major reasons I went into business for myself.  I wanted my clients to have a more calming environment than that of a store, didn't want them to feel pressured to buy, and I wanted them to feel catered to.  I wanted to provide stellar service by way of technique, and most importantly---- experience.  For most of us though, budgets are a factor, and even when they're not, saving is always in season!

That said, below you're going to find a few great beauty deals that not only will keep more money in your fabulous purse, but will also get you high qualities results.  By helping you put together your shopping list before-hand, this will allow you to bypass feeling overwhelmed, and get right to seamless shopping!  Hooray!

Rather than spending an arm, or fabulous leg on expensive beauty creams, don't sleep on this product that has been on the market for years! Aquaphor is absolutely phenomenal! I slather this on my feet at night, and then wear socks while I sleep only to reveal baby soft heel skin in the morning.  Additionally, I apply it all over my body during the day, as I have found my skin to be a lot more dry as I have gotten older.  Let me add that this is a product that is to be used on the body skin rather than the face.  Finally, you'll love the fact that this cream is scentless, so it will not interfere with your favorite fragrance.  Awesome Sauce, right?

I will be honest and tell you that I am an avid fan of Origin's cleanser: "Checks and Balances", but as a back up, I LOVE Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Wash. If you're prone to break-outs here and there, have normal to oily-skin, or just like the feeling of a squeaky clean face, I believe you'll fall in love with this cleanser as well.  Years ago, it came in a bar soap formula, but they've now put it into a bottle form which is much more sanitary :)

I own about four tubes of the Loreal Color Riche Lip Gloss, and it is amazing!  Not only does the color stay in place all day, but it has a plumping agent that keeps my lips pouty, moisturized, and beautiful.  Be careful though, they're addicting! You may end up with over five of these tubes!

Garnier's BB Cream is amazing as well!  BB Creams really help smooth out the skin before you actually apply your base on top.  For some people, (self included) I will often wear it on it's own like a tinted moisturizer.  I LOVE using Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizers, but in effort to save for that vacation to Bora Bora (smile) I've found a product that is equally phenomenal.

Neutrogena made my list again! So, I wasn't a believer in this product until I actually tried it.  I absolutely LOVE there shower gel for several reasons:

*Leaves my skin hydrated, and gorgeous.

*It smells fresh, pretty, and clean.  When showering, I feel as if I'm at a luxury spa

* Ding Ding Ding! It doesn't break my bank account! Yay!

*3-4 pumps in your loofah sponge is all you need, and you'll find that this shower gel will last easily for 3 months! Love it!

There are times when I just don't want my lips to appear too shiny, nor do I want the sticky/heavy feel that lip gloss can often give off.  That said? I LOVE Burt's Bees lip balm.  Organic, hypo-allerginic, and incredibly nourishing for the lips it is easily one of my favorite balms of all times.  Plus, it comes in a variety of hues if you prefer a little bit of color. Fabulous!

Recently, I was on a business trip in Atlanta, and forgot to pack my own favorite mascara (Benefit Cosmetics, "They're Real").  I had to hurry up, and find a solution before I started my day.  Lo and behold I found an amazing replacement, that I still am using after being home 2 months later! Maybelline's, "The Colossal" is incredibly amazing.  Just like with my department store brand mascara, it lengthens, separates, lifts, AND adds volume to my eyelashes without making them look like spider legs. LOVE THIS, and a few of my make-up artist friends do too!

I could go on, and on with this post, but I know you all have some shopping to do! :).  Let me know how you like the products I mentioned, as well as send me your suggestions of products you think should make the list in say, a part 2 post!  Until then, have an amazing month!  I will be back soon!

XOXO, 

Update time!

Hello Beautiful, Beauties! I hope this finds you all in the best spirits ever! Welcome back!


Wellllllll, Spring time is here, and I don't know about you all, but I am SO glad it is! It's been a long, blistery cold Winter, and you can totally tell by my own starving make-up collection.  Honey, I haven't wanted to leave my home to stock up on new beauty products, because it's been THAT cold! Okay, okay..... Maybe not to THAT extreme, but I thought it sounded good for dramatic effort (smile). Plus, I certainly don't expect you to believe that I would go without a well stocked cabinet for ANY reason! Hee Hee! Now then, I have compiled a small list of a few must-haves that will take your Winter, "Hi's", to a fabulous Spring, "Well, hello there Dahhhling!".  Dig in, enjoy, then make a beeline to go update!


First off, we know that our skin changes right along with the seasons.  Over the Winter, a heavier moisturizer with sunscreen is appropriate.  For Spring, you can certainly think about lightening it up a bit. I highly recommend and currently use:

Seaberry face oil by, "Fresh" cosmetics.  You can apply this before a heavier moisturizer (just out of sheer preference) before your foundation/base (no it won't slide off as long as you apply sparingly) or by itself.  You can find this fabulous oil at your local Sephora, or online.

Here are the details:

A precious blend of pure oils packed with omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 that absorb quickly to preserve a youthful appearance and provide 24-hour moisture.

Key ingredients:
- Omega 7 is known to enhance the skin's healing process, 3 helps calm and soothe and omegas 6 and 9 are known to improve elasticity, softness and smoothness.
- Seaberry oil, also known as seabuckthorn oil, a powerful antioxidant rich in all of the moisturizing omegas noted for protecting the skin from aging free radicals.
- Cranberry seed oil, packed with vitamin E to maintain skin's elasticity and smoothness.
- Camellia seed oil to help maintain soft, smooth and supple skin.
- Grapeseed oil to help maintain healthy hydration levels.

Not only do we want to switch up our moisturizers, but I also highly recommend switching to a foundation/base that is either lighter in the way you apply it, or to a tinted moisturizer all together.  As the warmer weather approaches, don't be afraid to let your skin shine through. Even if you have more problematic skin ie; acne scarring, blemishes, etc... Let YOU shine through.  Resist the urge to conceal with heavy cake make-up.... Natural beauty (even with imperfections) is always in season.

If you simply prefer a heavier coverage, go with a nice liquid foundation.  Either mix it with your moisturizer to tone coverage, or apply it with a fluffy kabuki brush in quick circular motions.  This will give you a beautiful, clean airbrushed look... You'll get the coverage you desire, without it being heavy.  No more make-up sponges, or even foundation brushes needed.

Try:

MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid.  GREAT for more problematic skin! My clients tend to respond VERY well when I use this on them! Again, try applying it with your Kabuki brush, and diluting it with a little moisturizer (a cream, or lotion.  Not the Seaberry oil) for a softer finish.


For tinted moisturizers, I am head-over-heels in love with Laura Mercier's brand.  Here are a couple of formulas I think you will love too.  While you totally can create one yourself (by mixing your foundation with moisturizer) sometimes already having it in a tube with moisturizer is much more convenient.

Here is her oil free formula......






She also has one that is more hydrating (not shown), or the illuminating one above (my favorite).  This gives you more of a dewy finish (which is my personal preference for my own self). Again, you can find most of these products at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, or Nordstroms.  I so want to read your feedback as well! If you love it, let me know!

For color, don't be afraid to go lighter in your application (you will read me mentioning this a lot) as well as choosing colors that are brighter, and fresher.  The look this Spring is clean, natural, and much less severe. While a smoky eye is amazing, try going for brighter colors instead that will bring our your features.


Aren't the new Bobbi Brown palettes amaze?! See the trend here? Lighter, natural, and pretty.

For my darker hued Beauties, I can't get enough of the Queen Collection of Cover Girl for Spring! YUM! Bright, fresh, and pretty!



Chanel Cosmetics Spring Collection


Nars Blush...

I HIGHHHHHLY recommend  my FAVORITE mascara of all time?? Brought to you by Benefit Cosmetics... It's called, "They're Real".  I think the name explains itself.





Finally, don't neglect your brows, as they are what frame your face.  Instead of an extremely dark brow, consider going one shade lighter that your hair color to soften the look.  I'm a huge fan of Anastasia Brows.  She has a line of pencils, brow gels, powders, and highlighters specifically for the brow.  Plus, she includes tutorials in her product to take the guesswork out.





Well my Loves, thank you so very much for reading along with me again. I hope you found this post helpful, and that it starts you on your way to an updated, refreshed look!  I will be back soon with a part 2 :).  Until then, shine your light, and stay beautiful!

Xoxo,