miss whoever you are

benefit roller lash mascara

So Benefit goes hard when it comes to promoting their new releases. Like, they don’t play ANY games. Me being me, I fall for it every. damn. time. I’m a marketer’s wet dream because I will buy (almost) anything for the sake of beauty. Which brings me to their latest launch…
benefit rollerlashRoller Lash ($24) promises to not only lift and curl lashes, but the “instant curve-setting formula holds for 12 hours.” It contains provitamin B5 and serine, known for their lash-conditioning benefits, according to the brand. It has a curved plastic wand which makes applying pretty easy.
benefit rollerlash reviewAs someone with naturally curly lashes I do notice that my lashes look super curled and a bit longer. But only by a smidge. The more I use it, it tends to clump on me. The curls didn’t last long and by mid-morning, I noticed my lashes looking pretty regular.

It’s the basic bitch of mascaras.

I wanted to love this so much. Desperately so after all of the hype and positive reviews from the blogosphere and YouTube universe (YouTubeverse? Not a word). It just didn’t cut it for me, especially when there are so many other mascaras out there that WOW me. It’s okay but not great. I much prefer my mark. Lash Act Build and Define Mascara ($12). Now that’s a mascara.

If you’re keen on trying it, I say pick up a sample at Sephora if you have the chance. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara is available at Sephora and Benefit boutiques.

miss whoever you are

nars all day luminous weightless foundation review

When NARS releases a new foundation, my ears perk up and I start listening. Intently. It’s rare for me to be disappointed so I fully trust them as a brand.
nars all day luminous weightless foundation new orleansThe new(ish) All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation caught my eye because of their promise: an oil-free foundation that delivers full, natural-looking coverage with one drop. If you’re telling me that ONE DROP is going to make me look ***flawless for 16-hours, I will gladly hand you my coins (in this case NARS took ALL of them - $48!)

Now, NARS recommends applying this with your fingers and when I did that, I hated it. Perhaps it’s my hatred of applying anything with my fingers but I did not like the coverage. The one drop thing also didn’t go over well with me. Now when I applied two drops with a flat top kabuki brush- bellissima!
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

See. I told you. Gorgeousness all on your computer/mobile screen.

What I loved most was how lightweight this foundation felt. It glided on and although it gave me a full coverage look, I did not look cakey and my skin didn’t feel like it was trapped under a layer of paint. I purchased the shade New Orleans—after going back and forth between it and Benares— since it’s more of a yellow undertone and meshes well with my undertone. I have oily skin and never did I see this break apart on my skin.

Does it last 16 hours? How the hell would I know! I don’t wear my makeup that long but it did last me a decent 10 hours (from work to play) without looking dull or requiring much touch ups. Since I am oily, I noticed a bit of shine along my forehead by the end of the night but I actually liked it since it was more of a glow than straight up oil factory.

Once again I’ve fallen and I can’t get up because of NARS. I actually am replacing my NARS Sheer Matte with this simply because of the lightweight texture. The All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is available now in stores and online.

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miss whoever you are

deborah lippmann painted desert collection

Perhaps it’s all of the Coachella Instagram pics and snaps that’s making me reach for Deborah Lippmann’s newest collection for Summer 2015. While most brands are releasing neons and brights for the summer, Lippmann’s Painted Desert ($18 each) consists of four earthy, creamy shades that’ll kick your neutral tone mani up a notch.deborah lippman spring 2015Inspired by the beauty of the Sahara Desert, these four shades are full coverage with one to two coats and are consistent with Lippmann’s amazing formula. I get a solid 5-6 days wear before I start noticing any chips (I live and die by Seche Vite). The line includes Shifting Shades, a light khaki; Terra Nova, a warm caramel; Desert Moon, a pebble gray; and Love in the Dunes, a purple mauve.

The collection is available now on Deborahlippmann.com. It’ll be available in May on HSN.com, Nordstrom.com and Sephora.com.

Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration.

miss whoever you are

shopbop friends & family!

Now that Easter has come and gone, I’m actually in a spring state of mind. I’m ready to shed the layers, burn my tights, wear short skirts — you get the idea. The fact that Shopbop is having yet another sale (enter code spring25 for 25% off your order) only means that it’s fate. Time for me to pick out those key pieces that’ll take me from spring to summer.
Shopbop Sale

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I personally love 3.1 Phillip Lim accessories and have had my eye on “Gorge” 31 Second Pouch for quite some time. It’s super small and chic - the perfect evening out clutch to carry the essentials but still love fun. I hate pieces that take themselves too seriously.

Ahh the Pashli. I love mine (so much so that I purchased TWO last year from Shopbop). I’ve put myself on a no bag buying ban and it hurts so much. This color (White Peach) is so precious! Then there’s the Alexander Wang Rockie in Air Force which makes me want to scream inside it’s so beautiful. http://bit.ly/1FhXIh5 I have it in a pretty pale pink hue that’s perfect for spring but if you’re in the market for a small bag that can carry a ton - this is it!

Lastly I’m on a jumpsuit kick and just discovered the label findersKEEPERS. It’s an Australian company that creates feminine pieces that are alluring and sexy without trying too hard. I went back and forth between the three jumpsuits pictured but decided on the Here We Go Jumpsuit in white since I love that color against my skin tone. Who knows - the Shop sale lasts for three days so I have just enough time to snap up another one (as long as they don’t sell out!)

What’s on your wish list? Sale details below (some exclusions apply - check their site for more)
Offer: Friends & Family Event- Take 25% off!
Promotion Code: SPRING25
Dates: April 7 - April 9 @ 11:59pm PST

miss whoever you are

review: tatcha cleansing oil

A last minute lunchtime beauty shopping spree led a coworker and me to Barneys where we browsed the beauty floor and trouble began. I, the kind and gentle beauty soul willing to help a friend in need, offered my assistance when she asked for guidance for a new cleanser. Little did I know that I’d leave the store $48 poorer. Oops.
Tatcha cleansing oil
The Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil is a blend of camellia and rice bran oils designed to melt away your makeup, leaving skin clean and fresh. Unlike other cleansing oils it doesn’t contain mineral oil- which some believe clogs pores although others suggest otherwise.

I’ve been using it now for the better part of two months (maybe more?) and I do like it. Quite simply, I apply this on dry skin at night to remove my makeup. It’s gentle yet effective enough to remove my makeup, even pesky waterproof mascara (okay, not pesky but dang, Benefit Rollerlash!). It starts off as an oil but once you add water, it becomes a silky milk-like texture and easily rinses off. The scent makes it feel like a mini at home spa ritual, which doesn’t hurt.

Although the brand states no double cleansing is required, I still find that I have to go in with something that lathers afterwards (currently I’m using Nubian Heritage Black Soap) to remove stubborn foundation. The best way for me to use this? In the morning when I’m looking for something gentle but don’t want anything harsh like a soap. At night, since I do tend to cake it up (#cakeface) I much prefer going in with my Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water to remove makeup and then the black soap.

Verdict: A-. If you’re looking for a luxury beauty skincare product and don’t wear full coverage foundation, go for it! This product is truly good at its job. If you’re like me and tend to go for a full beat, you may end up using more than one product which sorta defeats the purpose.

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