Spring Fresh Makeup

In order to achieve this look:

Products Used:

Primer: Pixi Flawless & Poorless primer. It's a lighter version silicone-type primer. A great smoother/primer that doesn't feel icky. :)

Foundation: I used my Asian BB Cream MISSHA that I received from my Glossybox. If you're wondering why there are two tubes, it's because I have to mix them for the right color. One is too light (#23) and one is too dark (#27)

Concealer: I used Mac Pro longwear Concealer (NW 20-it has a slightly peachy undertone) and added it to my under eye area in a V-shape.
Technique used: Start under the corner of your eye with a small concealer brush and bring it down along-side your nose, stopping just above "nostril area". From that point, finish the V-shape by dragging the brush toward (but not to) your temples and fill. This technique will give you a fresh glow to your under eyes and tops of cheeks. This is also considered to be that Kim Kardashian type highlight. I personally just tone it down. Take it to whatever "level" of fill/highlight that you're comfortable with. I also added a slight strip to the bridge of my nose for highlight.

**I buffed the BB cream and highlight concealer with a jumbo fan brush. Then added a very thin application of Mac's Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Medium. Adding these 2 steps to your everyday look is equivalent to icing on the cake. It's THAT important in my overall look!

Cheeks: I used Model Co. Lip & Cheek stain in Rosy Red (also from my Glossybox) to add to the apples of my cheeks and applied some to my lips for a base coat/slight tint.

Lips: Model Co. Lip tint (obviously) and topped with Revlon Lip Butter in Creme brûlée.

Contour: I then applied Benefit Hoola matte bronzer for contour to the hallows of my cheeks, sides of my nose, and the top of my forehead.

Highlight: I used Mac Mineralized Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. I added to my cheek bones, bridge of nose, and just a dab above my brows (the outer-most part of my brows) for the extra glow.

Eyes: I went very simple for a very refreshed spring-like look. I lined both my top and bottom water-line with a black liner by Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in zero. I added a liquid liner to the top lash line, in a dark brownish-black color called Demolition, also from Urban Decay.
I then added a lengthening mascara by Mac, called Extended Play Gigablack Lash.

Brows: Don't neglect your brows or they'll get lost in your overall look. Brush your brow with a brow brush to tame into place. Using a brow pencil that matches your brows (mine is Jordana 01 Taupe) start at the tail portion of brows in light strokes/swipes and work toward the larger portion focusing more toward the bottom of brow. You'll want to have lighter stokes The higher up you go in your brow (from bottom to top). (That's my best written explanation...haha.) Seal with a clear brow-gel.

Before:

After:

Glossybox- March 2013

Beachy-Wave Hair

How to:
1. After Combing wet/washed hair, spray with a styling gel of your choice. *A curl serum should be used if you have naturally straight hair.
2. Comb products evenly throughout the hair.
3. Flip head upside down and "scrunch" hair from tip to root (squeezing/bundling in your hand and pressing the bundle to scalp)
4. Spray with a styling spritz, pump hair spray, and/or hair salt spritzer. 
5. Use a defuser to slightly dry hair. I like to start by drying my roots. You can do this with head flipped for a more lifted look. 
6. Spray with a light hair spray to finish.

Origins: Clear Improvements Mask

How much: Origins, Clear Improvements.  Active Charcoal mask to clear pores. $21

Product Claim:  Active Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep dwelling pore-cloggers, White China Clay absorbs environmental toxins, Lecithin dissolves impurities.  Without all that “stuff” down there, skin “breathes a sigh of relief.”

Directions: Use once a week or as often as needed. Open pores with warm, moist towel and layer on.  Allow drying.  Rinse well.

Application: A little goes a long way, which is a plus to my “cheap-skate” ways.  If you want to really make it go a long way you can apply to your most-needed/oiliest areas.

Texture/Color: Thick, rich, and creamy. 
Smell: Refreshing, clay-like smell.  It doesn’t smell bad per-say, it just isn’t the best smelling mask I’ve used, but if that means having a more effective outcome then I’m okay with that.

Aftermath: Made my skin look completely refreshed with a healthy glow.  It sucked every piece of dirt, grime, and oil out of my pores like it was latest version of the Dyson vacuum cleaner.   It was non-drying and refreshing.

Cons: the smell
Overall Rating (1-10): 8


**Especially recommended during the HOT humid months.

Phone-A-Friend

About 6 months ago I discovered a phone case that opens like a book and performs (somewhat) like a wallet.  I purchased it on Very Jane for $4.99 +tax!  Since adding my phone and cards to it 6 months ago I've discovered that I can't live without this type of case ever again.  I'm currently looking for a new one and in the mean time I realized..."why have I not blogged about this awesome gadget that I so love!?"...so here it goes.

The top 3 pictures are of the case I currently own and purchased from Very Jane. The rest of the phone cases are from Shop Lately.

I'm a huge fan of Shop Lately and I found a few that were only $13 +tax. If you don't own an iPhone, don't worry, I noticed they also carry these type of cases for the Galaxy phone as well.

Say NO to Acrylics!

I kinda put these on a little sloppy because I decided I'd put them on during my lunch break at work the other day😏.

Ipsy bag- March 2013

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!--Impress!

Glossybox- February 2013

Glossybox- January 2013

Summer/Fall Empty Products. Want to know more about them?...read below

My (summer-fall) "Empties" for 2012.

1. Mac Pro Eye Makeup Remover: Will not repurchase. It didn't remove mascara very well. I had to rub my eyes too hard to get it completely removed and I don't even wear waterproof.
2. Mac Eyeshadows (6): de-potted into a z-palette. -- I think this is a no-brainer. Of course I'll be repurchasing.
3. Mac Lip glosses: Lustreglass (clear shimmer/glitter) and Viva Glam VI Lipglass (pinky-nude shimmer/glitter). Although Mac's lipglosses are very sticky they are still my favorite.
** Can't wait to recycle these 'back to Mac' to receive a new lipstick!
4. Urban Decay Supercurl, curling mascara (black): I have recently repurchased this mascara. Super black, lengthening, separating, volumizing, and curling. It's wonderful.
5. Origins Fringe Benefits, Lash-Loving mascara(black): I really like the wand with this mascara. It gives a beautiful soft and volumized look to your lashes. (2nd one purchased)
6. NYX Stay matte but not Flat powder foundation: I would most definitely repurchase, again. This was actually my second compact that I've purchased.  Flawless matte finish.
7. Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, Brightening Makeup Foundation: This foundation is most definitely in my top 3 favorites. (other 2 in top three are Kat Von D and Urban Decay Naked foundations) It's a light to medium coverage foundation with a flawless, brightening finish, exactly as it states.
8. Ole Henriksen truth serum collagen booster, potent vitamin Complex: This is on my wish list for Christmas. I love it. It brightened and moisturized my skin so well and looked/felt so healthy. Smells wonderful.
9. Neutrogena extra gentle eye makeup remover pads: Will not repurchase. Greasy, thick eye makeup remover pads that you had to work really hard at getting your makeup off with. Terrible. Would not recommend. Plus, the greasiness would seep into your eyes and coat your eyes with a nasty film. Ick.
10. First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream, fab legs daily essentials w/ fab antioxidant booster: I would love to have another bottle/tube of this. I didn't think it would be very different compared to similar products but I was surprised to find that it was dramatically different.  It made my legs so smooth and was super easy to shave with (no nicks/cuts). The best part was actually after the shower. It stayed smoother and softer longer when compared to other shave creams.
11. It's a 10 miracle leave-in Lite, conditioner/detangler: A nice detangler, my 3rd bottle purchased from 'It's a 10'. The Lite it most definitely my favorite.  This detangler would be in my top 3 favorites. My most favorite detangler is Aveda's and 2nd most favorite is Kenra.
12. Global Keratin Pro Line Hair Taming System with Juvexin, Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner: I would love to repurchase these again. They worked so perfectly for my fine hair. It was moisturizing enough without weighing my hair down. I loved it and the smell was so great, a sweet herbal/spa-like scent.
Samples:
1. Peter Thomas Roth, Camu Camu: liked.
2. Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream, Hydra-concentrated facial cream: liked. not sure if I'd repurchase. nice smell.
3. Sephora Super Lisseur ride SPF15, Age Defy Moisture Cream: Not moisturizing enough, smells generic/cheap, and broke my skin out.
4. DHC Extra Concentrate, Collagen Serum: Nice.
5. DHC Eye Bright, Eye moisturizer: Nice. I usually like everything I try from DHC. I have many of their products. Most of my skin care routine is DHC.
6. Urban Decay Naked Skin, Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup: Loved it. Medium foundation coverage. Flawless, brightening and beautiful finish. Light weight. Very nice.
7. Kat Von D lock-it tattoo foundation: my newest foundation. It's a full coverage foundation. Covers most imperfections even tattoos if need be. It's also very light weight which is a plus when it comes to full coverage foundation.
8. Benefit Pore-fection primer: Nice, but not for me.

I love Shoplately.com

Check out my new earrings from #thesourcery I bought them for only $9.99 on #shoplately.com @shoplately I love this website. Totally addicted!!

My Favorite Stores/Sites online:

Name-brand AND Discounted....now that's a sweet deal!
1. www.Hautelook.com (there's also an app available)
2. www.Gilt.com (app available)
3. www.ideeli.com (app available)
4. www.Rulala.com
5.www.bradsdeals.com
**These sites/apps are like TJMaxx or Nordstrom Rack equivalent. They sell name brand clothing, accessories, beauty and hair products, home decor at discounted prices.  Hautelook would be the site/app that i'm on daily/weekly, it's most definitely my favorite.
Other Great Websites I love:
1. www.shoplately.com
2. www.veryjane.com
3. www.zulily.com
4. www.groupon.com

"All my Ex's..." Products I won't be repurchasing.

2012
May-July Ex's:
1. Mac- oil free eye makeup remover . (What a waste. It was damaging my under eyes and skin around my eyes because it was so hard to get off)
2. Almay- eye makeup remover. (so greasy it would seep into my eyes and a coat of grease covered my eyes..lol..I couldn't even see!) Opt for the oil free. They're much better.
3. Lorea'l- Collagen Mascara (didn't separate. It was an extremely wet mascara and looked "cakey" after application.)
August-October Ex's:
1. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation (Normal/Dry Skin)- I know this may come as a shock to many "revlon-colorstay-fans", but I have dry skin and this made my skin look even MORE dry after application. The staying power is wonderful, the medium-full coverage is wonderful, but it was such a let down to see it made my skin look dry and dull. I'll be trying the whipped foundation next to see if it works out better for my skin type.
2. Rimmel Scandal Eyes Curve Alert Mascara- The brush was VERY full and I had a hard time separating the lashes during application. The brush was also too soft. I have long lashes and need more separation rather than plumping.