Gluten Free Glamour Girl

Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes

2014-12-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes is like your favorite mascara on steroids. A friend sent this to me and it is seriously amazing. For all the girls who don't know how to apply fake lashes or who do but don't like to take the time to do it, this product is for you. It is so easy to use and you get the false lash effect without the hassle of applying fake lashes. You apply your regular mascara, let it dry, apply the gel, and while still wet apply the fibers and the gel again to set. The formula is also water resistant, which is exactly how I like my mascara to be, because it can withstand a lot but is easy to wash off with warm water. You get long, thick lashes without clumping, which I absolutely love. I use this for special occasions or just when I want to give my lashes extra oomph. The gel and fiber tubes come in a nice hard case, which is perfect for travel. For $29, you get the gel tube and the fiber tube and they last for three months. I will be purchasing this item on my own once I run out.

Younique has a full line of products, including skincare, makeup, and tools. You can host Facebook parties for your friends to shop through representatives of Younique. Hosting a party is a really great way to share the love with your friends if you like certain products, and as a host you can earn points which will lead up to discounts on Younique products.

**Please note a friend sent this to me for consideration. I will only give you my honest opinion on a product. If you would like to shop through my friend directly, here is a link to her store: www.naturaldivadolls.com. She is very helpful if you have any questions about products!

Have you tried any Younique products?

Natural Fibers (above)

Transplanting Gel (above)

Doing Your Own Wedding Makeup

2014-06-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

With wedding season here, I wanted to do a post on wedding makeup. I did my own makeup for my wedding. I was indecisive for the longest time on what look to go with. I got married in the evening which allowed me to go heavier on eye makeup as opposed to a day wedding. If you're doing your own makeup, it's best to not try any new products once you hit the one month countdown. You don't want anything to irritate your skin! You want your skin in the best shape for your special day. I also recommend consulting your dermatologist to see if they can give you a cortisone shot for acne. I got a cortisone shot a few days before my wedding and this prevented any acne from surfacing. I was also very worried about my makeup running because I knew I would cry. In order to make sure my makeup would not budge, I primed and set everything. Remember, you want to look and feel like yourself on your special day!

First, avoid SPF. SPF can leave a white cast on your face with flash photography so this is really important. Moisturize and make sure you use a primer. I used the Smashbox 'Photo Finish' Light Foundation Primer. This is an oil free primer. Makeup primer creates a beautiful, smooth canvas by filling in any lines or unevenness. It helps fill in pores and blur imperfections. It will help your makeup not only last longer, but look more vibrant.

Use a good coverage foundation that fits your needs. Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation or Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation are two of my favorite foundations that leave a beautiful finish. The Laura Mercier foundation has amazing coverage and leaves a radiant finish. It is a bit heavier and may be too much for an outdoor day wedding. The Giorgio Armani foundation is lighter but buildable. It lets your real skin shine through a bit more. It's very flattering.

Pick a good concealer for the face to cover blemishes, discoloration, etc. that matches your skin tone. Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer is super pigmented and blends into the skin beautifully. I also suggest getting a concealer designated for the under eye area to brighten any shadows. I used Yves Saint Laurent 'Touche Éclat' Radiant Touch for a light under eye brightener and did not have to worry one bit about it creasing.

Choose a long lasting blush in the formula you love the most. You want to pick a shade that you're comfortable with. I chose to go with Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in 'Dollface', a matte pink blush. It’s not too bright or too dark. I chose to go with a matte powder so I could use a bit of a highlighting powder over the top.

If you decide to use a bronzer or contour your face, you’ll want it to look natural. I did a light contour using Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil powder. It buffs into the skin nicely and is matte so you don’t have to worry about shimmer.

Highlighting is a beautiful way to make certain features pop. I love the way it looks when the light catches it. I used the Yves Saint Laurent 'Touche Éclat' Radiant Touch to highlight down the nose, under the eyes and above my cheekbones. After using my setting powder, I applied the Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites powder over the top part of my blush. This was limited edition from a while back; it's a really gorgeous silvery pink.

Setting powder is important to keep the shine away, especially for oily skin. I used a powder foundation (A Laura Mercier one that was discontinued) for setting. I have used it for setting my makeup for years and I like the extra coverage.

Brows can be tricky. I recommend using brow powder to fill in your brows. I love using a brow pencil for every day, but used a brow powder for my wedding. Using powder to fill in your brows will look more natural. I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills® Brow Powder Duo, which helps you customize to make your perfect shade. To set your brows, MAC Clear Brow Set is a great formula that doesn't get crispy or hard.

Eyes: Prime, Prime, Prime. You’ll definitely want to use primer if you are a crier, and you want your eyeshadow to last and really pop. MAC Paint Pots in Soft Ochre or Painterly are both great neutrals that have a nice, thicker consistency. You will want something a little more liquid if you have dry eyes, Too Faced Shadow Insuranceis a better alternative. Next, eyeshadow. You want to pick a formula you're really familiar with and a color scheme. I went with gold and brown. My husband does not realize it, but he always compliments me when I am wearing MAC Patina eyeshadow. It took some consistency with that for me to realize that's his favorite eyeshadow on me. For that reason, I wore MAC Patina over the lid and blended MAC Espresso into the crease and slightly smoked it out at the corners. To highlight under the brow, I used Anastasia Beverly Hills® Eye Lights Matte Highlighter in 'Matte Camille'. This blends beautifully under the brow and ties up the eyeshadow look.

Eyeliner: If you have experience with gel eye liner, I think this is the best way to go. Small strokes with the brush allow you to be very precise and if you mess up, it's an easier fix than liquid liner. MAC Fluidline gel liner is a spectacular, long lasting formula.

False lashes: False lashes are tough. If you decide to get them, you're going to want to practice as much as possible. I knew I was going to be nervous on my wedding day and an unsteady hand and lash glue would make or break my finished makeup look. I practiced with cheaper lashes and saved MAC lashes for the big day. I also bought a back up pair of lashes in case anything went wrong with the first pair and I ended up needing one of the back up lashes. Everyone has a different way of doing false lashes, but here's how I do it. First, if the false lashes are longer than the length of your eye, use facial hair scissors to cut them to the right length. Run a thin layer of DUO Eyelash Adhesive on the false lash and wait a few seconds for it to get slightly tacky and not be too wet. Using tweezers or your fingers to grab the lash, apply as close to the lash line as possible and press along the top. I use the tweezers or a Q-tip to set the lashes, then follow up with mascara.

Mascara: I used Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum as a mascara base and Clinique 'High Impact' Waterproof Mascara. Clinique ‘High Impact’ Mascara has a plush wand and really packs a punch. I love the way it makes the lashes stand out.

Before applying lipstick, use a lip balm that your lip color can easily go over. I used the Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment followed by Dior Addict Lipstick in #554 ‘It Pink’, a pretty medium bright pink that is unfortunately discontinued.

I set my makeup using Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray to make sure everything stayed put. My bridesmaids and friends used this too!

May Favorites

2014-06-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite eyeshadows ever, Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in shade No. 22 Pale Barley, is making it to the list this month. I purchased this gorgeous color almost 2 years ago and hit pan recently. (My previous review is here). Since this is one of my must have colors, I went to repurchase it last month only to find out it was long term out of stock at Burberry and Nordstrom. I panicked and started stalking the websites and couldn't believe not long after my search it was back in stock. No. 22 Pale Barley is the perfect every day shade for a wash of color. It has a certain dimension to it and it is one of the most gorgeous eyeshadows I have ever come across. Period.

Anastasia Beverly Hills® Eye Lights Matte Highlighter in 'Matte Camille'. I have loved this product for a while now, but I have been using it a ton this month. What a difference this pencil makes! This cream-to-powder formula blends so beautifully and really enhances the brows and the eyes. I love using it to emphasize my brows by highlighting underneath. It's like an instant brow lift. It also looks beautiful on the brow bones when you have a smoky eye. I used this on my wedding day, need I say more?

Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette. I really love this palette and wish it wasn't limited edition. The rich brown eyeshadows in this compact palette are gorgeous. Most days, I use one shimmer all over the lid and one in the crease and I'm good to go! Full review is here.

MAC Russian Red Lipstick. I cannot rave enough about this. I love this creamy red. If my makeup looks too boring, this color instantly dresses it up. Full review on this will be coming soon.

MAC Alluring Aquatic Extra Dimension Eyeshadows in 'Lorelei' and 'Fathoms Deep'

2014-05-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

The MAC Alluring Aquatic collection has some really beautiful products, many of which sold out super-fast. I purchased the Extra Dimension mini eyeshadows in 'Lorelei' and 'Fathoms Deep'. I was really happy to be able to get these, they are really, really gorgeous. The packaging is cute and fun, it’s teal with fake water droplets. MAC Extra Dimension eyeshadows are liquid-powder with shimmer.

I love to use a shimmery golden eyeshadow all over the lid during the week and 'Lorelei' is the perfect shade for me to use now for that. 'Fathoms Deep' is a rich shimmering purple that you can use as an allover lid color or for a smoky eye look. ‘Fathoms Deep’ has a bit more sparkle than ‘Lorelei’. Both are soft and creamy. A regular MAC eyeshadow has .05 oz. and these Extra Dimension eyeshadows (mini) have .04 oz. If you're able to track down these eyeshadows, you won't regret it!

Unite® Eurotherapy LAZER Straight™ Relaxing Fluid

2014-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

My hair pretty much has a mind of its own. I have wavy, thick hair and a ton of it, plus I highlight it. The awesome Unite® Eurotherapy LAZER Straight™ Relaxing Fluid is a life saver. I use this when my hair is damp, most of the time creating a little hair styling concoction by mixing it with my Moroccanoil® Hair Treatment Light.

This relaxing fluid helps tame my hair and fight frizz. The fact that it also protects it with heat styling is a huge bonus. I try to air dry my hair as much as I can, and on those days I’ll only run a straightener through the front pieces to style it (unless my hair decides to please me by framing my face in a flattering way so I don’t have to hit it with any heat tool). On those days I have been able to obtain a natural, slightly wavy hairstyle using this product. On days when I blow dry and/or straighten my hair using this miracle fluid, it makes styling and straightening my hair cake. When I straighten my hair using this, it extends the length of time that my hair stays straight.

I absolutely love the consistency of this product. It is semi-thick but never sticky. It is easy to dispense throughout your hair and comb through. It also smells amazing, like a sugar cookie. Other styling products I have tried are either too thick, too sticky, or too thin.

A little bit about Unite® Eurotherapy: it’s a luxurious brand with some really nice quality hair products. Unite® has had a lot of press featuring celebrities. They have a really helpful ‘Product Knowledge’ page on their website that can help you find the right product to fit your hair care needs. Unite® Eurotherapy products are available online and in select salons. You can visit their salon locator page here.

Enhance Your Look With MAC Disney Maleficent Beauty and Sculpting Powders

2014-05-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

The name 'Maleficent' brings to mind several things: Disney, Sleeping Beauty, villain, and sculpted cheekbones. Seriously, the Maleficent character has cheekbones for days. I am a huge fan of Disney, MAC, and accentuating cheekbones. So naturally, when MAC released their new limited edition MAC x Disney Maleficent collection, I had to get the Sculpting Powder in 'Sculpt' and Beauty Powder in this collection. The Sculpting Powder in 'Sculpt' is a re-promote, the Beauty Powder in 'Natural' is limited edition.

When I first received my powders, I was really excited about the packaging. Being a huge Disney fan and looking forward to the movie, I'm in love with the title and wings on the packaging. My second thought after taking a look at the powders was "Why have I never owned this beautiful MAC Sculpting Powder in my life before?!" This beautiful, matte grayish brown color is something I definitely needed in my life. It is a pigmented and unique sculpting powder compared to all the bronzers I use to contour with. It surprisingly creates a natural contour that can be built up.

The Beauty Powder is a pale pinky peach color with a very fine shimmer. I was hoping to use this as a highlighting powder, but it is more of an overall face powder for me. It's a bit powdery and kicks up a little bit of product, but leaves a nice sheen and is slightly glowy. This seems to go with the look of Maleficent's pale face.

The Sculpting Powder is $23 for .21 oz. and the Beauty Powder is $30 for .35 oz. The Sculpting Powder is normally only available in a pan to put in a Pro Palette and is $16.50 for .21 oz. The MAC Disney Maleficent Collection is available exclusively at Macy's, maccosmetics.com, and some MAC stores. The Beauty Powder is still available at MAC and Macy's. The Sculpting Powder is no longer available online but may still be available in stores.

For those who avoid gluten in their makeup products or have dermatitis herpetiformis, please be aware the MAC Sculpting Powder lists "Wheat Germ Extract" and Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract in the ingredients. To view more information on my personal choice not to avoid gluten in cosmetics, please read my Disclaimer Regarding Beauty Products.

MAC Beauty Powder in 'Natural' (Left) and MAC Sculpting Powder in 'Sculpt' (Right)

Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation

2014-05-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation is a foundation I have been using for years. This was the first Laura Mercier product I ever tried and made me become a fan of the brand. This foundation has a luminous finish and makes your skin look beautiful. I highly recommend this foundation for anyone who wants to conceal acne because it is quite heavy and thick and provides really great coverage. I really love the finish of it and how this makes my skin look. It hides imperfections and conceals beauitfully. On days you want lighter coverage, you can mix it in with moisturizer. I like to wear this if I have a breakout, for special events, or want my foundation to last all day. I wore this daily for years but now I like to switch up my bases for lighter coverage on other days. A tube of this lasts a long time because you don’t need to use that much product.

I have sensitive, oily skin and this has never irritated my skin. The foundation does not contain oil or fragrance. It is non-comodegenic and dermatologist-tested.

MAC 'Feline' Kohl Power Eye Pencil

2014-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by my mom to get the MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in 'Feline'. I noticed her eye liner always lasts all day and looks perfect. She's been using it for years and with daily use it seems to last her a long time. I'm very particular about eye liner (ever since I was in middle school) so I tried it out.

The MAC 'Feline' Eye Kohl is a gorgeous black that is soft and creamy but still stiff. The stiffness of it makes it so you don't have to sharpen after every use, which is great. It's easy to apply. I love that you can apply it and let it set or smudge it out to your heart's desire. The size of the pencil is great; you get a lot of product for the price ($16 for 1.5 g). I find MAC Eye Kohl pencils to be great multi-use products that are perfect for low key day looks and more intense night looks. I like to carry one in my makeup bag at all times. It smudges a bit if I wear this on my bottom lash line, but it lasts all day on my top lash line.

Have you tried the MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in 'Feline'?

Maybelline® One by One Volum' Express® Mascara

2014-05-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Maybelline® One by One Volum' Express® Mascara is the mascara I have used on a daily basis for years. I rotate my mascaras but this is the one I use the most often. I love the formula and wand of this mascara. Other mascaras always takes a long time for me to apply (I unfortunately was not blessed with full, long lashes), but this one I can apply the quickest with little hassle. The shape of the bristles makes it easier. It gives great volume, I only wished it lengthened too. Although I do not have the waterproof version of this, it does not run if I get teary eyed or cry (I always make sure I'm wearing this if I go to the movies!). I have not had issues with it clumping, except when it's time for a new tube. The price point is great (around $7) and it's easy to find in stores. The packaging is a cute medium sized watermelon colored tube that can easily fit in your purse (Unlike some huge mascara tubes on the market these days). I love the smell of this mascara too!

Have you tried the Maybelline® One by One Volum' Express®Mascara?

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15

2014-05-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer in makeup primer for days you want your makeup to last into the late hours. I don't use primer every day but I normally use it on the weekends and always for special events or parties. I used a primer and finishing spray for my college graduation and my makeup unbelievably survived 100+ degree weather and my pictures turned out fine. Makeup primer helps you create a smooth canvas and fill in any lines or unevenness.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF15 is my primer of choice. This primer is really great to work with. It's silky smooth and absorbs into the skin well. It makes my makeup blend in easier and keeps it looking fresh all day. It also makes your makeup more vibrant. It is great for neutralizing my oily skin. It does not contain gluten, fragrance, or oil.

The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer comes in a glass bottle with a pump and is available in 2 different sizes. I have the .33 oz. size ($18) and they also make a 1 oz. size ($52) and there is a limited edition 2 oz. size ($72) in a tube. The pump works great and never dispenses too much product. I wish the bottle wasn't glass as I worry about it breaking but it is luxurious packaging. This is an expensive product, but worth the splurge.

Have you tried the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer? What's your favorite makeup primer?

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour 'Sand Glow'

2014-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Laura Mercier makes some truly beautiful products. The Caviar Stick Eye Colour in 'Sand Glow' is no exception. It's a cream eyeshadow in stick form. Sand Glow is a complex golden bronze shimmery color that truly glows. It's stunning, even when worn by itself. When the light hits, it shimmers beautifully. I love eyeshadows that can be worn alone during the day, and this one makes a beautiful daytime smoky eye.

You can apply the Caviar Sticks in a couple different ways. My favorite way is to swipe it straight on to the lid and blend it out with my finger. You can also blend it out with a brush or apply it to the lid with a brush and blend. Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks can be used as an eyeshadow base or eyeshadow and are perfect for creating a smoky look. I love how versatile it is (I love my multitasking products!). I'm looking forward to wearing this in the warmer months. It's so easy to use and has great color payoff even without an eye primer. I was shocked that when I first swatched this, I could not get it off, even with soap and water. It would not come off until I used makeup remover. That really impressed me. I've been eyeing the Caviar Stick color "Rosegold" and may get that next.

Have you tried Laura Mercier's Caviar Stick Eye Colours? What's your favorite color?

LORAC Pro Palette

2014-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have been using the LORAC Pro Palette I purchased during the recent Ulta sale and really love it. It has 7 matte eyeshadows and 7 shimmer eyeshadows. The names of the shadows are simple and no fuss, which I like because the colors represent their names. The colors are all true to pan, which I love, because you know what you’re getting before you apply. All the colors are very pigmented, rich colors and blend nicely. They are all smooth and I have experienced zero fallout. The broad range of colors all go well together and I have been really pleased with the different looks I have been able to create. You can apply these wet or dry, but I have only applied these dry. The pans are pretty small, but this is still a great value ($42 for a total of 8.8 g of eyeshadow and 5.5 g of primer) for the set. The packaging is thin, it hardly takes up any room, with a mirror inside and a magnetic close. This is definitely a must-have for girls who love eyeshadow. The palette is easy to use and will be great for travel. It’s nice that it has neutrals plus ‘Garnet’, ‘Deep Purple’, and ‘Slate’ to change it up. This is my first LORAC purchase and it's been a great one!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

2014-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is a dream for the under eye area. It not only will help you conceal, it is hydrating and skincare benefits. The name truly fits the product, as it is very creamy and radiant. I have the shade 'Vanilla'. With under eye concealer, you always want to use a lighter shade than your base makeup.

The concealer comes in a tube with a doe foot applicator. I appreciate the convenience of concealer in a tube, as it makes it easy to tap under the eye and then proceed to use your finger or brush to blend. The formula is pigmented and slightly thick, so it's best to blend this in very well or it will settle into fine lines. Due to the concealer being so creamy, it blends easily without tugging. It dries down quickly and once it does, it won't budge. It covers up dark circles and veins nicely. This product lightens and brightens beautifully. This is something I really like in an under eye concealer. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is Dermatologist-tested, Non-comedogenic, and free of parabens, alcohol, and synthetic fragrance.

Have you tried NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer? What are your thoughts on it?

April Favorites

2014-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you my favorite, most used products during the month of April. I didn’t even realize this until I started taking pictures, but it apparently was also the month of Too Faced products!

UrbanDecay Naked 3 Palette. This has gotten a lot of love this month. I have been using a single shimmery shadow at a time, over the lid, for day looks. I have reviewed this palette here.

Too Faced The Chocolate Bar Eye Palette. I have had this since it first came out and I have found myself using it a lot this month. It really is a treat to use! The packaging is so cute and when you open it you get a huge whiff of cocoa. I love the assortment and amount of colors this palette has to offer. There are 16 shades; including 2 highlight shades, neutral browns and gold, purples, and a pink shade. This palette has a good balance of mattes and shimmers. The shadows are pigmented, blend easily, and have minimal fallout. This would be a great palette for beginners or people who don’t have a lot of eyeshadow.

MAC Teddy Eye Kohl. This pencil liner is one of my favorite brown eyeliners. It’s a rich brown with gold glitter. I have been using this by itself with just mascara. It has a bit of depth to it and is also perfect to use for a smoky eye. It’s very flattering no matter how you wear it.

Clinique ‘Peach Pop’ Blush Pop. I have been using this blush a ton, it’s absolutely gorgeous and so pigmented. I love the way it brightens up my face and sculpts my cheekbones. I have used my Lancôme Cheek Brush and Sephora Pro Airbrush Blush Brush # 54 (reviewed here) to apply it. I reviewed the blush here.

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. This is the lighter version of the original Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. This bronzer is a light brown matte made with real cocoa powder. It is soft and easy to blend. You can use it for contouring, to add warmth all over the face, and I also like to use this as an eyeshadow. It does not pull orange at all and looks very natural. If you’ve never used bronzer before, this would be great to use because it’s subtle and easy to work with.

Benefit Rockateur Cheek Powder. This gorgeous rose gold cheek color doubles as a blush and a highlighter. It has a fine shimmer and is just so pretty when the light hits. It gives you such a beautiful glow. This is a pretty complex color; it has a bit of peachiness to it. I love to use this as a blush when I use my Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette and as a highlighter at night. They tie in together well. It also smells really good!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer. This primer is easy to swipe over the lid and makes my eyeshadow last all day long. It’s thin and glides easily. I love that it also makes eyeshadow colors more intense.

Stila Stay All Day™ Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner 'Intense Black'

2014-04-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Stila Stay All Day™ Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in ‘Intense Black’ is a staple in my makeup bag. Liquid eye pens are my favorite form of liquid eye liner. They're easy to use, portable and great for touch ups in the evening. I’ve been using this liquid eye liner for years. The color of this pen is a very pigmented black that dries to a nice sheen. The thin felt tip allows you to create a beautiful line over your top lashes. I love to create a thicker line with this. You can create a beautiful cat eye with the Stila pen. The pen is quite wet and it glides on easily without pulling on the lid. This sets pretty quickly and will last all day. It really is waterproof, at the end of the day it takes quite a bit of effort to remove this using my Neutrogena® Makeup Remover wipes. The pen itself lasts for ages, I have never experienced this drying out quickly like other liquid eye pens I have tried.

Stila Stay All Day™ Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($20 for .016 oz.) comes in 4 other colors and they currently have an additional 10 for spring.

Clinique 'Peach Pop' Cheek Pop Blush

2014-04-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

I decided to get one of Clinique's new Cheek Pop blushes after hearing so much about them. They come in really cute clear acrylic packaging with a daisy design imprinted in the powder. The compact size is really convenient for travel and it doesn’t take too much space in your makeup bag. The clear packaging is nice because you can see how much product you have left. I decided to get the shade 'Peach Pop'.

'Peach Pop' is a beautiful bright peach that is just what I wanted for spring and summer. The formula is like butter and very pigmented so you have to apply it with a light hand and build. This blush gives your cheeks a perfect flush of color. There are four shades: 'Peach Pop', 'Ginger Pop', 'Plum Pop', and 'Berry Pop'. The colors are simple, bright, and gorgeous, which makes it easy to pick your perfect shade. They all look very flattering. The price is also not bad for a blush, it's $21 for .12 oz. of product.

I highly recommend this blush, even for those with sensitive skin, as Clinique's products are allergy tested and fragrance free.

Have you picked up a Clinique Cheek Pop Blush? What shades do you recommend?

Sephora Pro Airbrush Blush Brush #54

2014-04-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

I ordered the Sephora Pro Airbrush Blush Brush #54 during the Sephora VIB sale and I am so glad I did. I only owned one Sephora brush until now but it is one of my favorite brushes and is really great quality. The brush has domed synthetic bristles which are quite small. The size of the brush allows for precise application, which is exactly what I was looking for. You can easily apply to the hollows or apples of the cheeks and blend. It also picks up the right amount of product you want, whether you want to go light or heavier on your blush. It's so easy to go overboard with blush, but this brush allows you to apply and build to make your cheekbones pop. The size of the brush will work great with smaller blushes, such as different colors in a blush palette or Clinique's Cheek Pop. Because this brush is made of synthetic bristles, you can use it with cream or powder blushes and won’t have to worry about shedding.

This brush is sturdy, dense, and great quality. The only thing I wish was different about it is the handle, which is longer than all of my other brushes. Sephora's brushes aren't cheap, but will last a long time.

Have you tried the Sephora Pro Airbrush Blush Brush #54? What are your favorite Sephora brushes?

SkinCeuticals® Blemish + Age Defense Serum

2014-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to get a serum for a long time but wasn't sure what formula would be best for my skin. I saw the SkinCeuticals® Blemish + Age Defense serum and decided to try it. I was really worried this would dry out my skin, and cautiously started out using it once every other day or sometimes once every three days. I have been using this for a few months and I am very happy that this has really helped my skin and has not dried it out at all. I love that you can feel this settle in your skin, and it only takes 2-3 drops to cover your whole face. This has really helped my breakouts and any bumps I could feel potentially surfacing as acne. The anti-aging benefits plus the salicylic acid makes this a great multi-tasking serum. I always leave my products where my husband can see them so he can use them too, and he told me he’s been using this and has really seen the benefits as well. With the two of us using this, we have only made a small dent in the bottle.

SkinCeuticals® Blemish + Age Defense ($86 for 1 fl. oz.) is available at SkinCeuticals and Dermstore.com.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

2014-04-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

I purchased the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette back in December and I fell in love with it so much I bought my sister one for Christmas. I really love shimmery eyeshadows and use them on a daily basis. I do occasional matte looks but I normally like to incorporate shimmer. These palettes have such nice pigment and the shimmery and satin shadows have a fine shimmer so they don’t look like glitter. The Naked 3 has gorgeous pink toned neutral colors that you can create beautiful day or night looks with. There are actually quite a few pinky taupe colors which I really love. During the week I normally like to use just one or two colors over my lids and I love the looks you can achieve doing just that with this palette. The pigment is crazy good and the shadows are easy to blend.

What I love most about this palette is it is very unique. I love the pink and taupe hues and since this palette has such usable shades, it’s hard to decide which ones to use once you open it up.

The case is a pretty rose gold tin with a wavy design and a big mirror inside. The tin is like the Naked 2 palette. I really like it and it’s easy to keep clean as opposed to the Naked 1 palette. It holds a dual ended brush that I find you can easily apply a shadow over the lid with.

As with all the Naked palettes, the price point is not bad because you get 12 shadows, a dual ended brush, and this palette comes with Eyeshadow Primer Potion samples. The Naked palettes used to be $52 each, they are now $54 each.

You can purchase the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette ($54 for 12 eyeshadows, each are .05 oz.) at Urban Decay, Sephora, Ulta, and Beauty.com.

My Nightly Skincare Routine

2014-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of years, I have been very into skincare. Since I just got married last year and with wedding season coming up, I thought I would share some tips. It's really essential to have a nightly skincare routine and to stick to it. It's especially hard to follow this on the weekends, but my skin will suffer if I don't. I wanted to share my routine with you and the current products I am using. I was inspired to write this post after HSN brought their "4 Overnight Beauty Products You Should be Using" blog post to my attention. The author, Carly, makes some great points and breaks it down nicely. My routine closely follows Carly’s post; I use a base (serum), moisturizer, and eye cream.

Here is a link to the article.
http://community.hsn.com/t5/HSN-Blogs/4-Overnight-Beauty-Products-You-Should-be-Using/ba-p/539738

My Nightly Skincare Routine

First, I remove my makeup. This is extremely important at the end of the day so your pores don’t get clogged and to remove any dirt and oil buildup. I like to start off by using Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. These gently remove makeup, even waterproof eye makeup. Then I follow up with my current favorite cleanser, Exuviance Moisturizing Antibacterial Facial Cleanser, which is gentle enough to use daily. I use my Clarisonic Mia 2 brush (not pictured) as often as I can, I recommend using a cleansing brush every other day to exfoliate.

I follow up with my SkinCeuticals® Blemish + Age Defense serum. I like that this has anti-aging benefits and contains salicylic acid to prevent and treat breakouts. Using a serum can really help improve your skin's surface.

Next, I apply moisturizer. I like to let the serum sink in for a few minutes before doing this. My current top pick for a night time moisturizer is dermalogica® Active Moist. It leaves your skin feeling silky smooth and is lightweight, not greasy like many formulas.

Then, I apply eye cream. The eye area is so delicate, it's essential to have a cream specifically for this. I have sensitive eyes, so I use the Neocutis LUMIÈRE Bio-Restorative Eye Cream, which is a gentle, creamy formula that sinks into the skin nicely. It’s anti-aging and helps with dark circles among many other benefits.

Lastly, I moisturize my lips. I always choose a lip treatment that will last through the night. Sara Happ® The Lip Slip® One Luxe Lip Glossand C.O. Bigelow® My Favorite Night Balmare both long lasting lip treatments that are so rich they will last until morning.

What is your nightly skincare routine? What are your favorite products to use at night?

Makeup Tools: Travel Edition (Part 2 of 2)

2014-04-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here are the makeup brushes I brought on my trip. I always seem to bring different brushes. It always depends on what products I'm bringing and what brushes I currently have in my rotation.

1.Estee Lauder case. I believe this was a gift with purchase bag.

2. MAC Duo Lash Comb/Brow Brush. I use this for the lash comb, I love how compact it is.

3. Lancôme Cheek Brush. I bought this years ago, I believe this has been improved now.

4. MAC 109 Small Contour Brush. I used this for contouring with my Laguna bronzer.

5. Sigma® Tapered Highlighter F35 Brush.I use this for highlighting my cheekbones.

6. Real Techniques® Buffing Brush. I use this for my powder products.

7.Sephora Pro Flawless Light Powder Brush #50. This now has a new look, this is years old. I love using this brush for my finishing powder.

8. Real Techniques® Domed Shadow Brush. This has the right amount of fluffiness to apply color all over the lid or to blend shadow in the crease.

9. MAC 217 Blending Brush. This blend my shadows in the crease perfectly.

10. Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep Brush. The size of the brush makes it easy to put a wash of color all over your lids.

11. MAC 263 Small Angle Brush. This works beautifully with my MAC fluidline gel liner.

12. Shiseido Eyelash Curler. My all-time favorite eyelash curler.

Makeup Products: Travel Edition (Part 1 of 2)

2014-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I went on a ski resort trip and I thought I would post about the makeup products I brought. I packed my favorite products that I knew would last throughout long days and hanging out at night, plus a couple new lip colors. I also brought a couple multi-tasking items which are my favorite to travel with. I knew I would have to get ready quickly, so I also kept that in mind when packing. I used my Henri Bendel Brown & White Stripe Large Hanging Weekender Bag and had plenty of room. This is great for travel because it is easy to clean and has two large clear zipper compartments and a smaller zipper compartment with a hook as an option for hanging the bag.

1.Diorskin Forever Compact Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup SPF 25 in 020 Light Beige. This is my go-to powder, it provides great coverage and a beautiful finish. It always lasts all day on me and required only one touch up before going out at night.

2.Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade #4. I love the buildable coverage of this foundation and it never looks cakey. Since it is very fluid and easy to apply, I was able to apply it quickly over moisturizer and sunscreen.

3.Giorgio Armani Flash Lip Lacquer in #519. I wanted a bright lip color to use during the day and night that was comfortable. This was perfect, and it fit nicely in my Marc by Marc Jacobs Percy bag so I could touch up throughout the day.

4.Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Pretty. This is a great little multi-tasker. It’s a pretty coral, strawberry pink with very fine glitter that’s also moisturizing.

5. MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy. I am obsessed with this shimmery chocolate pencil. I love using it for a smoldering eye look at night. I also wore this alone with mascara for the car ride home.

6. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black. My first favorite liquid eye pen liner. This really is an intense black and I love using this for my top lash line. I love that you can do as fine or thick of a line as you want.

7. Chanel Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Blond Clair. One side has a pencil and the other side has a spool brush. This pencil is soft but not too soft and blends nicely. I love that the spool brush is attached.

8. Revlon® Colorstay ™ Liquid Eye Pen. I always bring two liquid eye liners, just in case I lose one or it runs out. Eyeliner is my must have makeup item. I absolutely love this pen, I get the precise line I want for my top lash line. I have repurchased this and I believe it has been reformulated though.

9. NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo in Deep Throat/Laguna. I wish this was permanent, it was so great to travel with my go-to blush and bronzer in one sleek compact!

10. MAC Eyeshadow Quad. Top Left: Era, Top Right: Wedge, Bottom Left: Patina, Bottom Right: Espresso. Some of my favorite MAC eyeshadows, all are very long lasting finishes.

11. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. It’s a beautiful champagne highlight with shimmer. This is great to use day or night.

12. Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer in Beige. The best concealer I’ve ever used for blemishes or dark spots. I used it as a touch up later in the day.

13. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly. I used this as a base for my eye makeup, this made all of the items I used, last until I took my makeup off at night. The consistency of this is very easy to apply.

14. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. This gel liner doesn’t budge and I like to use it on my bottom and top lash lines.

15. Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Pale Barley No. 22. This is one of my go-to colors for a quick wash of color and it is beautiful when worn alone or with other eyeshadows. It’s so buttery!

16. Maybelline®Volum' Express® One-by-One™ Mascara in Blackest Black. You can build this up nicely and still have clump-free lashes.

17. bareMinerals® Stroke of Light™ Eye Brightener inLuminous 2. I wasn’t feeling well for a couple nights on the trip, so I was really glad I had this for circles.

18. MAC Brow Set in Clear. This sets my brows really well and does not leave a hard finish like some.

Please check back tomorrow to see the makeup brushes and tools I brought!

Giorgio Armani Flash Lip Lacquer #519

2014-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to find a bright, punchy pigmented lip gloss. I've been surprised that this is not easy to find. I tried the Giorgio Armani Flash Lip Lacquer Crystal Shine Gloss in #519 ($30 for .22 oz). Shade #519 is a warm pinky coral color that's like watermelon and it has no glitter. This is not only a beautiful watermelon color, it is incredibly comfortable to wear. It feels like a gel and glides on easily. It's not at all sticky, which is very rare to find in a lip gloss! I am normally not good about reapplying lip gloss, but I am constantly applying this now. The gloss comes in a larger sized tube with a long doe foot applicator. Giorgio Armani packaging is always nice and feels luxurious. This is a really gorgeous color and is perfect for spring. My local mall sadly does not carry Giorgio Armani products, so I either have to travel a little farther or go online to purchase. Every Giorgio Armani product I have tried I love, so I wish my local mall did carry this brand.

Giorgio Armani Flash Lip Lacquer is available at Giorgio Armani, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's.

Have you tried Giorgio Armani Flash Lip Lacquer?

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

2014-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

I received the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette as a Christmas gift and I have absolutely been loving it. I have admired it forever and am so excited to finally own it. For $52, you get 12 shadows in nice-sized pans. This palette really is worth all the hype. It has a beautiful array of colors; light neutrals, taupe, gray, and black. I get excited every time I open it. I am especially enjoying the taupe shades. The colors and finishes of these eyeshadows really make your eyes sparkle and you can create gorgeous smoky eyes. The shades are very pigmented and flattering. You can achieve so many day or night looks with this palette. The matte black works great as an eyeliner and shadow. The double-sided crease and shadow brush, that comes with this, also works pretty well and is easy to use with the shadows. I have experienced only a minimum amount of fallout.

The palette comes with a Lip Junkie lip gloss in 'Naked' which Urban Decay describes as a 'pinky neutral'. It's a nice nude lip gloss with a refreshing mint feel and scent that is pretty sticky.

I wish there were a couple more mattes in this palette (it only contains three), but that's what happens with pre-made palettes. Overall, this palette has a beautiful assortment of good quality eyeshadows. The hard case is great for travel and I love the mirror inside.

You can purchase the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette at Sephora and Ulta.

Have you tried the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette or any of the Naked palettes? Which one is your favorite?

Tinted Moisturizer: Achieve the Beautiful, Natural Glow

2014-03-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

I had never tried tinted moisturizer until just recently. I, of course, had to try out Laura Mercier's. Not only does she have four different versions but hers are always raved about. I chose the oil-free version because I have oily, sensitive skin. I've been wanting light coverage for a more natural look and this tinted moisturizer is beautiful.

The tinted moisturizer feels similar to a light foundation in terms of texture, just a little more wet. It has a thin consistency and is very easy to blend. This works as a light moisturizer, I can definitely skip my normal moisturizer and I'm fine using this, but I still prefer to put it on before. During the summer I think it will be fine to use by itself, during the winter it does not seem to moisturize enough. It has a sheer coverage, but is slightly buildable. It definitely gives you the "your skin but better" look. I finish off with my Diorskin Forever compact, a foundation powder, and I find this provides the perfect amount of coverage for a light makeup look. I love that it gives you a natural glow. As for wear time, on a warmer day it lasted for about 9 hours before it started to shift.

I was surprised to find these seem to run a little on the darker side in terms of shades. The color 'Nude' was too tan for me and I ended up getting the shade 'Porcelain.' For reference, I use the shade 'Cream Ivory' in the Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation. I recommend you try them out in person to find the shade that fits you best.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free SPF 20 ($43 for 1.7 oz.) is available at Laura Mercier, Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and other department stores.