Well ladies, it’s about mid spring already and I’ve been trying out lots and LOTS of new beauty products! Here are some of my favs and why:
1. Dermstore Lip Quench Lip Treatment: I received this lip moisturizer in my April GlamBag. I love it because it’s not super sticky, or too shiny and it doesn’t cake. Its also really long lasting and leaves your lips nice and smooth. It also has a lip plumper without that tingly cinnamon feel I hate. Apply this lip moisturizer before bed and wake up with super smooth lips!
2. Maybelline Baby Lips SPF20 Lip Balm: I was shopping for mascara when I saw this super cute lip balm and decided to give it a try. Not only is this packaging adorable, but this lip balm smells and tastes great. I have this balm in pink punch and with SPF 20 it’s my new favorite beach balm. It goes on silky smooth and leaves just a hint of tint. Don’t forget wearing lip balms with SPF over the summer helps to keep your lips looking younger longer. Did I mention I got this for 3$?!
3. Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser: I received this product in my March Birchbox, and I loved it! This gel cleanser is made with certified organic ingredients- “An organic juice base of sweet cherry, lemon, and aloe, which are all rich in healing nutrients and antioxidants. Coconut and sugar extracts remove blemish-causing gunk and oil while respecting your skin’s moisture barrier. Finally, an alphabet’s worth of vitamins—including A, B, C, and E—brighten and even out skin tone.” Need I say more?!
4. Chi Silk Infusion: Ok, Ok I know I’m late to the whole “CHI” phenomenon but in my defense I’ve had really short hair for a long time and I just started regularly blow drying and using my straightener. I came across this at my cousin’s place, and I left with the bottle. THIS STUFF ROCKS. Seriously. Magical. Use a dime sized amount on wet hair and blow-dry, or air-dry and your locks will feel magnificently smooth, sleek and soft. This will leave you with shiny sleek healthy feeling hair and it smells amazing. If there’s one product you use on your hair it’s this one.
5. Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42: I’ve been hearing a lot about BB Creams (short for Blemish Balm Cream ) and I decided to give it a try. BB cream was first created by dermatologists to treat and protect skin after skin surgery while providing light coverage. Celebrities in Asia started to use it for natural-flawless-glowing look and it’s now the hottest beauty product in Asia. BB cream is an “all-in-one” cream-moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. I love this Missha BB cream, it goes on silky smooth like a tinted moisturizer but with better coverage. It doesn’t leave your skin cakey or feel thick. I like to set it with loose powder and it lasts all day! With SPF 42 I will be using this all spring and summer!
6. Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Pressed Powder: All of my friend’s know that my favorite concealer is from Amazing Cosmetics. I decided to try their pressed powder and I LOVE IT! This powder can be used alone as a powder foundation or as a “setting” powder to use over your foundation [or BB cream!]. The mineral powder is super silky soft and super fine, easy to build coverage or keep it light. The finer the powder the more flawless your face looks and this is the perfect formula!
7. Willa Lavender Facial Towelettes: I received this in April’s Birchbox and immediately said “oooOOooo Lavender!”. I’m a big fan of these towelettes… especially on days I get home late from a fun night out. These super soft towelettes are pre-soaked with a “botanic cleansing formula…Aloe hydrates and heals irritation, lavender calms, and antioxidant-rich green tea helps skin look fresh and glowing”. These towelettes are my new favorites and the smell is so calming after a fun night out or a stressful day.
Know about some great Springtime beauty products I don’t… Tweet me!
What are some products you’ve been loving?!
Spring/Summer 11’ is going to be full of color! Its all about super saturated color blocking! Color blocking creates a graphic effect and transforms your look to something fresh and put together. With the right usage and placement of color, almost any silhouette can achieve visual balance… So why not bring color blocking into a beauty look as well as a fashion look?!!
For this look start with a beige neutral eye shadow base. Then blend in a high pigmented shimmery yellow eye shadow starting at the corner crease of the eye blending down to the lash line. Blend in a shimmery orange eye shadow on your crease. [it should flow from yellow to orange nicely on the crease, if not keep blending!] Use a pink shimmery eye shadow on the outside of your water line blending from the tear duct outwards. BLEND BLEND BLEND. Line the top lash line, bottom lash line and water line with black eye shadow or eye liner to create depth. Here I used these amazing eye lashes from Japan! They are so big and full that I cut them and used half on the top lashes and half on the bottom, and they still look super full. Apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes so that your natural eye lashes will hold to the false lashes. Finish the face with your favorite blush on the cheek bones and your favorite hot pink lipstick! BTW I LOVEEEE this Makeup Forever lipstick, I’ve been using it for 2 weeks straight!!
Products used:
Face: Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium Beige, MAC Studio Tech in NC30, MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Plus
Eyes: TIGI Bed Head Cyberoptics Vanilla Eye Shadow [base color], Shimmer eye shadows from Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer Palette, Black shadow [used as liner] from TIGI Bed Head Eye Shadow Palatte, DiorShow Unlimited Mascara in Black 090 , Eye lashes from Pretty and Cute
Cheeks: MAC Powder Blush in “BREEZY”
Lips: Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in 36 (satin fuchsia)
Brushes: SIGMA’S COMPLETE BRUSH KIT
Oh and my bow headband is from forever 21!
So I’ve been on a brief hiatus from blogging. However, I have been diligently following each of the fashion houses spring collections. My favorite show by far was Christian Dior’s Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 by John Galliano. Not only were the designs amazing but the hair and makeup was absolutely AMAZING. Those dress, those eyes, those lips! One word to describe the show: purrrrfection.
Click here to see images of the full collection, OR watch the full runway show: PART 1, PART 2
As far as the makeup goes, this look is not difficult to recreate and it looks amazing! The burst of bright colors on the eye adds a graphic pop to the traditional red lips and eyeliner look.
For this look dark full eyebrows are a must! Pencil or powder the eyebrows in to create more drama [use a color a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color]. Pick a pastel eyeshadow of your choice, cover the lid and pack on the winged black eyeliner. Draw the shape of the eyeliner in black pencil then fill it in with a matte black eyeshadow. Using the pencil draw a line under the bottom lashes from the center of the eye to just past the lid. Here I also used a shimmery white loose powder as a highlighter on the tear ducts, down the nose, and above the cupids bow. Finish with your favorite red lipstick and a bit of bronzer to the cheeks. For added lip drama, line the outside of the lips with concealer first, then add the red lipstick; this will make your lips more defined. Check out my recreation of the look!
Products used:
Brushes: SIGMA’S COMPLETE BRUSH KIT
Face: Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium Beige, MAC Studio Tech in NC30, MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Plus, white loose powder- MATTESE ELITE STAR DUST POWDER in Virgin
Eyes: Blue, black and brown [brows] eyeshadow- Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer Palette, MAC Eye Kohl in Smoulder, DiorShow Unlimited Mascara in Black 090
Cheeks: MAC Powder Blush in Sweet As Cocoa
Lips: Lipstick from Jerome Alexander Lip Palette [discontinued]
It might be cold outside, but that doesn’t mean it cant be hot inside ;) Check out my three favorite smokey eye techniques, all made with my favorite, SIGMA Makeup Brushes.
The Silver Shimmer:
For this look start with a beige neutral eye shadow base, then apply black shimmery eye shadow starting at the crease toward the lash line blending it well, then add a light coating of shimmery white eye shadow all over the lid, under the eye brow and tear duct for added eye definition. Next add mascara to both the top and bottom lashes and finish with a pretty pink blush and nude shimmery lipstick.
Products used:
Face: Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium Beige, MAC Studio Tech in NC30, MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Plus
Eyes: TIGI Bed Head Cyberoptics Vanilla Eye Shadow, Black shimmer eye shadow from Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer Palette, White shimmer eye shadow from TIGI Bed Head Drama Queen 4-Play Eyeshadow, DiorShow Unlimited Mascara in Black 090
Cheeks: MAC Powder Blush in DollyMix
Lips: Paul and Joe Beaute Lipstick in Brick Proof 13
Brushes: SIGMA’S COMPLETE BRUSH KIT
The Smokey Plum:
For this look start with a beige neutral eye shadow base, then blend in a high pigmented purple eye shadow starting at the corner crease of the eye blending down to the lash line creating a “V” at the end of the eye. I used two different purple eye shadows blended together, then add a bit of matte black eyeshadow with a pencil brush from the creases and blend together with the purple eye shadow, add a shimmering white eye shadow in the tear duct and below the brow bone to add definition. Finish the eye by lining the top lash line with a black eye shadow using an eyeliner brush, also add white eye liner to the water line to make your eyes appear larger. Next add mascara to the top ad bottom lashes and add bottom falsies to the corner of the eye for added drama. Finish the face with pink eye shadow only to the apples of the cheeks and a hot pink lipstick.
Products used:
Face: Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium Beige, MAC Studio Tech in NC30, MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Plus
Eyes: TIGI Bed Head Cyberoptics Vanilla Eye Shadow, Shimmer eye shadows from Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer Palette, White shimmer eye shadow from TIGI Bed Head Drama Queen 4-Play Eyeshadow, MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating, DiorShow Unlimited Mascara in Black 090, Forever 21 falsies cut in half
Cheeks: MAC Powder Blush in DollyMix
Lips: Lipstick from Jerome Alexander Lip Palette [discontinued]
Brushes: SIGMA’S COMPLETE BRUSH KIT
The Classic Smokey Eye
For this look start with a beige neutral eye shadow base, then blend in a high pigmented matte black eye shadow starting at the corner crease of the eye blending down to the lash line creating a “V” at the end of the eye. The key to this look is BLENDING! Start heavy and blend out the eye shadow. Use your fingers if you’d like. Sweep eye shadow on the lower lash line and use a q-tip to create a “smokey” look. Add a bit of shimmery white eye shadow on the tear duct and brow bone for added definition. Next, line the top lash line and water line with black eye shadow or eye liner. Apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes and add bottom falsies to the corner of the eye for added drama. Finish the face with blush on the cheek bones and red lipstick for classic look.
Products used:
Face: Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium Beige, MAC Studio Tech in NC30, MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Medium Plus
Eyes: TIGI Bed Head Cyberoptics Vanilla Eye Shadow, Black matte shadow from TIGI Bed Head Eye Shadow Palatte, White shimmer eye shadow from TIGI Bed Head Drama Queen 4-Play Eyeshadow, DiorShow Unlimited Mascara in Black 090, Forever 21 falsies cut in half
Cheeks: MAC Powder Blush in DollyMix
Lips: Lipstick from Jerome Alexander Lip Palette [discontinued]
Brushes: SIGMA’S COMPLETE BRUSH KIT
Which is your favorite smokey eye?
XX,
-Amanda.
1. Sigma F70 Concealer Brush-available at Sigma.com 2. Amazing Cosmetics Concealer- available at Sephora
Using a concealer will camouflage dark under eye circles. It’s important to use a concealer that matches your undertone (yellow, peach, pink). Apply the concealer with a concealer brush as close to the lash line as possible and then blend with your fingers to warm the product. After applying the concealer, set it with a light dusting of translucent powder. Voila! Bye Bye dark circles. My favorite concealer is Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium-Beige which has a peach undertone. I love this concealer! It really is Amazing! It is a full coverage concealer so with pin dot size amounts it covers: dark circles, broken capillaries, sun damage, blemishes, and redness.
LEFT eye no makeup, RIGHT eye Amazing Cosmetics concealer
What causes dark circles?
- Thinning skin: The skin under the eyes is thin and delicate to begin with. As we age, skin and the fat pad under the eyes becomes thinner, causing blood vessels to become noticeable. This gives the appearance of dark circles. Sun damage can make it worse because it weakens skin.
- Allergies: Dark circles under the eyes can be the result of allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen, dust, and pet dander, because people rub their itchy eyes.
- Genetics: Dark circles under the eyes runs in families. They tend to be more noticeable in people with fair skin or deep-set eyes.
- Fluid Retention: Blood vessels under the eyes can become dilated and engorged, which can contribute to dark circles. Excess dietary salt and smoking are common causes.
- Lack of sleep: A lack of sleep can make skin appear more pale, which allows blood vessels to be more visible through the skin, giving the appearance of bluish or dark circles.
- Dehydration: Dark circles under the eyes can be a sign of dehydration.
5 Things you can do to diminish your dark circles:
1. Drink WATER and stay hydrated!
2. Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 under the eyes to prevent skin weakening caused by sun damage. [And of course, don’t forget your sunglasses; squinting because of the sun only leads to more eye wrinkles and crow’s feet.. ew!]
3. Get your beauty sleep. Lack of sleep tends to cause the skin to become paler (thus increasing the appearance of darkness under the eyes), and reduces circulation.
4. Apply plain cool teabags over closed eyes. Works best in the morning, this helps to reduce eye puffiness too.
5. Apply cool cucumber slices over closed eyes for 15 minutes, rinse and moisturize.
XX,
-Amanda.
