It’s favorites time! Check out my November faves- lots of perfume!! I’ve been rediscovering some old favorites while finding new ones in the process.
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november 2014 favorites!
Valentine’s Day for the Single Gal
It’s Monday evening on Valentine’s Day and just about every girl I know if touching up her makeup and changing into date clothes. They’re headed out to meet their boo/ boyfriend/fiance/husband. I am - not pouting or shouting - but touching up MY makeup for the epicness that could be.
I find myself single EVERY Valentine’s Day and this year, rather than pout (or shout), I’m hanging in their with the best of ‘em. So if you find yourself alone not held down this year, smile girl — tonight’s your night. As I fully believe in the power of beautiful lips, here’s my breakdown on how to shine tonight, tomorrow and everyday after.
Before the puckering can begin it’s IMPERATIVE you exfoliate and hydrate your lips. Nothing’s worst than seeing dry and chappy lips. Grab a toothbrush and slap on some Vaseline to slough off dead skin. Afterward, apply a moisturizing lip balm before you apply your lip color — your lips will thank you.
1. Mario Badescu Lip Wax SPF 15 ($7)
Contains a blend of Rose Hips, Palm Oil and Vitamin E Oil for an emollient, creamy lip treatment all while protecting lips against UVA and UVB rays.
2. SUPER by Dr. Perricone Lush Lips ($20)
With coconut oil to nourish lips and shea butter to soothe skin, I’ve been using this all weekend before my lipstick. Great for use in the winter and summer (although there isn’t sunscreen so double up in the summer!).
3. KORRES Lip and Cheek Tint ($10)
This little guy hydrates and provides lips with a juicy pop of color.
After prepping your lips, line them with a lip liner in the color of your choice.
1. Stila long wear lip liner (18) goes on smoothly and provides lips with enough pigment to actually skip the lipstick (but what fun is that?)
2. Make Up For Ever. ($17) Enough said.
3. Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Lip Liner ($2) if you’re looking for something that provides color but doesn’t break the bank, wet n’ wild is definitely your drug of choice.
1. Lancôme Color Design Lipstick ($22) This lipstick is infused with soothing ingredients, so lips are left feeling soft all day without worrying about reapplication.
2. Bobbi Brown Heart Truth Creamy Lip Color Trio ($59): This limited-edition Creamy Lip Color Trio was created to support The Heart Truth’s efforts to raise awareness about women and heart disease. Featuring Creamy Lip Color lipsticks in three universally flattering shades – Nectar, Blue Raspberry and Uber Pink – it offers long-lasting wear and a soft, creamy shine.
3. LipSurgence™ Natural Matte Lip Tint ($24): I am OBSESSED with this peppermint-infused matte lip stain. It glides on effortlessly and provides coverage for up to five hours (if not more).
4. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24): Other than tarte’s lip stain, NARS is the only matte lip pencil I ever apply on my lips due to it’s coverage and ability to NOT dry out my lips. WIN!
Happy Valentine’s Day dolls!!
Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.
May 2009 Favorites
As an avid and passionate YouTube makeup channel geek, I’ve taken it upon myself to do the same thing some of my fave YT gurus do at the end of each month. From now on, at the end of each month, I will let you in on my favorite products of the month. I would do a video but I get camera shy…and my camera sucks. So here goes…
May was really about skincare for me. I had a serious breakout situation starting at the end of March and I was getting really frustrated. I did use Kiss My Face Potent & Pure Start Up Exfoliating Face Wash for a bit and it did work. But I was still having breakouts and the Start Up Exfoliating face wash had a slight fragrance to it that made me really uneasy. If there’s one thing I know about skin care is that products that contain fragrance in it is normally a no go.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing SoapMario Badescu has been around for years and if you remember correctly, this brand changed my life last summer. After getting a couple of products from them at The Makeup Show, I decided to give it a go once more. Seriously glad I did. The Seaweed Cleansing Soap is super gentle and creamy. It’s definitely a mild and gentle exfoliator that contains mineral-rich, anti-inflammatory seaweed. Since it’s a non-soap product (which is weird ‘cuz the name has “soap” in it), it doesn’t produce a mega lather and is easy to rinse off rinsing. No greasy after effect. Loves it.
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30
Dermalogica has been a favorite brand for me ever since I first discovered the brand last September during Fashion Week. The Dynamic Skin Recovery moisturizer with SPF 30 is honestly, not meant for me. But that’s only according to the label. This product is geared towards women with “mature or prematurely- aging skin” and at the age of 21, I don’t think that would be me. But I used it anyway and I am loving it. L-O-V-I-N-G! It’s non-greasy and doesn’t contain any fragrances. I love it because unlike most moisturizers with SPF, it doesn’t make me look ashy or make my already oily skin seem oilier. I don’t care how old I am, I am sticking to this moisturizer.
Mario Badescu Vitamin E Body Lotion (Wheat Germ)
Since the weather in NYC has been acting really funky lately my skin is majorly confused. One minute it’s cold and I’m wearing layers and the next minute I’m cursing my sweater and crying for some cold water. And my skin is taking notice because it would get really dry and ashy. This lotion is lightweight AND moisturizing. Most lightweight lotions do absolutely nothing for dry skin but somehow this has manage to take care of both of my needs. Vitamin E Body Lotion is formulated with antioxidant Wheat Germ Oil and Peanut Oil to moisturize dry, scaly and rough skin. It also contains Honey Extract which locks in skins moisture and gives the lotion a light, fresh fragrance.
Boots Skin Balm
This product has actually been in my purse for several months so I have no idea why am just now sharing it with you. Pure selfishness on my part really. This skin balm is an intensive skin softening balm designed to soften areas of dry skin. So on days I forget hand lotion when I’m out of the house I use this. I also use it as a lip balm. And hair pomade. It’s like the 2009 version of Vaseline (you know you had a tube of Vaseline in your house growing up that was used for just about everything BUT the original purpose). Boots is a British brand that came stateside and is available at Target. This giant tub of product is $9.99. Doesn’t get any better.
Pretty by Elizabeth Arden
I first introduced you ladies to Pretty by Elizabeth Arden in February. I haven’t seriously started wearing until now only because Pretty is such the perfect fragrance for warmer weather. It’s light enough to just sit on my skin without choking me yet powerful enough to deliver a beautiful floral scent throughout the day.
So there you have it, my favorite products during the month of May. What have been some of yours??
Behind the Scenes at The Makeup Show NYC
Yesterday, myself and a couple of other fab beauty bloggers had the honor and pleasure of getting the behind the scenes look at The Makeup Show NYC presented by The Powder Group and Metropolitan Pavilion.
The Makeup Show NYC officially starts today (May 17) and goes until tomorrow (May 18) and brings the beauty industry together like no other trade event. I’ve posted about it before and to see what goes on before the actual day of was pretty exciting.
The event started with an intro by The Powder Group founder Michael DeVellis (which I missed…sad face…stupid NYC transit) but I came just in time to listen to makeup artist super genius James Vincent and receive a walk through of the venue. While walking through the entire space, James introduced us to many of the participating brands.
In attendance were, of course, some of my all time favorite brands…Becca Cosmetics, Stila (holla…they’re back!!), MAC, Make Up For Ever and Mario Badescu (check out my life changing experience with Mario Badescu skincare).
There were also brands that I’ve heard of due to my late night YouTube obsession including Mehron and Kryolan- two brands that YouTube fave xsparkage have used in the past.
But, I was also introduced to some new brands that I just can’t wait to get my hands on- I’m talking to you Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics!!! Apparently their Lip Tar is grabbing major attention and ya’ll know, where there’s a lipgloss, there’s MissWhoever You Are! (hmm…catchy…that should be my new slogan..haha)
Pigments from Naked Cosmetics…another brand I’m dying after!I also got to meet some of my absolute favorite bloggers- Brit from Clumps of Mascara and Kia from Yummy 411. These girls are, like, major so I was super excited (kinda nervous) to meet them in “real” life.
The Makeup Show is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the makeup industry. It’s two whole days of inspiration, education and community building. Tickets are still available at the door:
One Day Ticket $65 - Tax is not included
Two Day Ticket $85 - Tax is not included
The Makeup Show New York 2009
Sunday May 17 & Monday May 18
9:00am - 6:00pm Daily
125 West 18 street, Bet 6th-7th Avenue, New York City
For more exciting and up to the minute info on the Makeup Show NY, follow me on Twitter and stay tuned for more posts!
Women’s Health orders your Product Prescription
In their beauty flip issue Women’s Health dishes the top 10 products that’ll deliver a great complexion.
Since I’m CONSTANTLY looking for ways to clear my skin, I am definitely going to check these products out!
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30: Packed with glucosamine (an amino acid sugar that has been proven to have anti aging properties) prevents blotchiness
($60 for 1.7 oz, dermalogica.com)
—I love Dermalogica. I’ve used and fell in love with their Dermal Clay Cleanser. When my bottle finished, I nearly cried and for the sake of testing new products I moved on. I currently use the Skin Purifying wipes (when I’m too lazy to wash my face at night to remove my makeup..hehe). So to know that this is being touted as one of the top products, I am definitely going to check out Dynamic Skin Recovery. The fact that it contains SPF 30 is incentive enough!
DiorSkin Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10: Flax aids in in UV blockers ($45 for 1 oz, sephora.com)
-I’m actually excited about this foundation! Dior’s foundation and face products don’t normally carry a wide color range for women with darker skin tones. Mostly their “darkest” shade is Honey which is pretty much a no go for any woman who is an NW$% (in MAC terms) or darker. With DiorSkin Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup, their dark is, well, dark. I’m happy.
Aubrey Organics Lumessence Lift Cream: Contains watermelon extract to fight sun damage ($26, aubrey-organics.com)
Body Shop Body Shop Pure Detox Clarifying Clay Mask: The wasabi-infused product cleanses your pores ($24, thebodyshop.com)
Mario Badescu Vitamin E Body Lotion: Wheat germ helps repair skin cells ($10 for 6 oz, mariobadescu.com)
—ahhh, Mario Badescu. I have tried and reviewed their products before. The results were glorious. Seriously one of my top 5 in skin care. LOVE. I’m definitely giving this product a shot.
Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Serum: Gingko biloba helps with circulation and inflammation($48 for 1 oz, olehenriksen.com)
-I’ve recently started using this product and I can definitely vouch for the lightness of the product. It doesn’t feel like it’s clogging my pores or anything. It’s amazing. I agree with Women’s Health on this one!!
Eucerin Calming Body Wash: Seals in moisture with omega-3 fatty acids. ($8 for 8.4 oz, drugstore.com)
-$8 a bottle…why not!
RAWColor Perfect Balance Concealer and Highlighter Trio: Caper berry extract for vibrant color
($38, rawnaturalbeauty.com)
Yes to Cucumbers Calming Facial Cleansing Gel ($10 for 3.4 oz, walgreens.com)
Visit Women’s Health for details on these products…(click here)
