I have to admit, my make-up stash consist mainly of high end brands since the color payoff and pigmentation is usually not up to par in my experience. Lately however, drugstore make-up has really impressed me. I've been searching for a good brown gel eyeliner for awhile now and I haven't been able to find one that I like. They are either too flat of a color, too light or too dark. Amazingly, I found the perfect shade and consistancy from the drugstore! I think it just came out since it was in those display cases. It's called the Loreal Infallible Lacquer 24hr Liner and I got the color Bronze Bronze. It also comes with a really good USEABLE brush. The consistancy reminds me of Bobbi Brown's Gel eyeliner and it actually seems to be more smudge proof. I find that the Bobbi Brown Gel eyeliner dries up too quickly and ends up flaking on me. The retail price for the Loreal Infallible gel eyeliner is $9.95 but there are always sales happening. I got mine at Rite Aid for Buy One get One Half Off.
Packaging is a sturdy glass jar and comparable to Bobbi Brown and MAC Fluidline. The opening is not too small like the Clinque gel liner so it's easy to get the product out.
Most brushes that come with liners are rough and basically not useable. This one is actually really good and comes with a cap!! It also reminds me of the Bobbi Brown's eyeliner brush that retails for $25. It has a flat and fine tip but the BB tip is a bit shorter. I really love the short handle which makes it easier to use. I personally use an angled eyeliner brush but for people who like this shape it's a great added bonus.
Left: Loreal in Bronze Bronze, Right: Bobbi Brown Chocolate Shimmer Ink
As you can see the Loreal eyeliner is darker compared to Bobbi Brown's Chocolate Shimmer Ink. They both have shimmer to it but Loreal's is less intense. Loreal Infallible Lacquer liner was also harder to wash off than Bobbi Brown's Gel eyeliner so it will last all day and will not smudge. I think this color is perfect for everyday since black eyeliner can be too harsh. However, if you want a darker liner there are 4 other shades available: Blackest Black, Dark Slate, Espresso, and Navy. I'm pretty excited about this product and I think this is a must have for gel liner users!
There has been many rave reviews on the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains and I've been loving these as well so I wanted to share my thoughts on them. I have Beige Aquarelle # 19 and Encre Rose # 17. Both of these are gorgeous colors and the formula is unlike anything in the market. They give you a glossy shiny finish on the lips and they last about 4-5 hrs for me and the darker colors leaves a noticeable stain after all the product has disappeared. The stains I've tried stung and are really dry on the lips but this is hydrating and does not accentuate any dry flakes.
The tube is a sleek black and of course their trademark gold packaging as like most of their makeup products . It is shorter and thicker than a regular lip gloss packaging and there is a window that shows the stain color. The applicator is pretty unique as it's flat with a pointed tip which helps with outlining the lips. It is also very flexible which makes it easier to press the stain into the lips. The stopper allows a small amount of product so I do apply two coats for a full opaque color.
I'm wearing YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Beige Aquarelle #19 which is an online Sephora exclusive and also available at Barney's. It is a nude pink color which is perfect for everyday. It is really pigmented so it covers the mauve tone in my lips. It is not too cool toned so it doesn't make you look dead. For those who have tried Rose Pastelle #18 and thought it was too light than you should give this one a try. It does take a bit more effort to apply than #17 but I simply smooth it over with my fingers for an even application.
Here I have on YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Beige Aquarelle #17 which is a bright blue toned pink, almost Fuchsia. The color is gorgeous when you initially put this on but I do find that after some time of wear it changes and becomes a bit darker. It might be because it is staining the undertone of your lips.
Both of these have a strange cooling sensation when first applied on the lips, almost like if you quickly swiped an alcohol pad over them. It then turns into a creamy consistency that isn't sticky and feels very hydrating. You also don't get the goop that gathers in the center of your lip which you have to take off with your finger, know what I mean?! I think the product is perfect for those who are lazy at reapplying lip color like me. It wears off really nicely and just leaves a stain. Have you gave these a try?
I wear loafers or flats basically everyday during the spring and even the summer. I prefer loafers over ballet flats since I do not find ballet flats all that comfortable. I'm specifically talking about the ones that are more rounded and less coverage in front so it's not fitted on your foot. Actually, I don't even really like the "toe cleavage". Anyways, I do not walk around in flat sandals when I commute to Manhattan for work because the streets are so dirty, it makes your heel cracked and dry too. I've been looking around for new shoes since I've been wearing the heck out out my Ugg Sightsee loafers. They have some really great colorful loafers available now and I'm pretty impressed with the selection. Here are some of my picks.
If anyone lives in NYC, there is a discount store called Jack's World which is categorized as a 99 cents store. There is one right up the block from my work and I drop by occasionally during lunch time. I've found many great steeply discounted makeup items that are still currently at Sephora. Most of these items however are either about to be discontinued or no longer available at Sephora. There was a bunch of items from the FusionBeauty line and I came across their SculptDivaContouring & Sculpting Blush which they were selling for $2.99!! The original cost is $29 which they still sell at beauty.com which I linked below. That's an amazing deal so definitely run to your nearest Jack's store to see if they have it.
On to why this blush is so amazing besides the steal of the price....
This blush is a cream to powder finish with is very smooth and easy to blend. It is not at all sticky on the skin which is why I like this so much. It doesn't go on patchy and takes little effort to apply. I simply swirl one or two fingers into the product and dab it onto the cheeks until it is blended out. On me it last through a full work day which is about 8 hrs but keep in mind I have dry skin.
Some of the claims are:
Rose bud extracts help refine skin's texture as hydrating conditioners nourish.
A concentrated dose of Amplifat™ complex plumps up the skin for visibly firmer cheeks.
Over time, this ingenious formula works to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
I'm not reading too much into these claims since all I really want is a blush that's easy to apply and gives me a nice healthy color to my cheeks. But hey, if it does help with firming, wrinkles, and approving the appearance that's just an added bonus.
The colors I purchased are: Haute (mid-toned rosey pink), Crave (shimmery peach apricot), Gossip (nude mauve) They are all very wearable colors. Crave is the only color with noticeable golden shimmer to it.
Haute
Crave
Gossip
From Top to Bottom: Gossip, Crave, Haute
With Flash from Left to Right: Gossip, Crave, Haute
I initially only purchased Haute but I was so impressed that I went back to get the other colors too. Again, it was only 3 bucks so that is an amazing steal!! I'm sure you can find this discounted online as well. If I had to choose one of them out of the three it would be Haute. It's just the perfect natural looking pink glow. I've been using these everyday for over a week and I have to say the formula is probably the best out of the cream blushes that I've tried.
I was looking through my stash of nail polish for a neutral spring color and I came upon this one which I bought and never worn before. In the bottle it doesn't look like much but I was surprised to see how good it looked on my nails. It is a muted mauve with purple specks of shimmer in it. The shimmer is hardly noticeable unless in bright light or sunlight but it just adds something extra to this color.
It works really well with my skin tone and it's a subtle color. This came out for the Summer 2010 collection but you should still be able to find it online. The formula is like a lot of the Essie polishes, just easy to apply, thin but opaque consistency. The only thing is it does require three coats to get the color in the bottle. Most of my other polishes only require two coats. The pictures don't do this color justice but you get the idea. I just think this color would work for any occasion, work, wedding, etc.
I've been having so many camera and uploading issues. My files are too big and are not uploading onto youtube for editing. Maybe it's the setting on my camera?? I don't really know but I was finally able to put these two videos up. I'm trying to get a tutorial up but there has been no success. I use natural daylight to try to film a tutorial but the sunlight is just too bright and washes me out. The colors I use do not show up well on the camera so I'm still working on that. I filmed my MAC eyeshadow collection two weeks back but I'm still unable to upload since the file is so large. Stay tuned. :)
First video is a review of the products I've been using recently and some products I've used up or about to finish.
Second is the outfit I wore that day. Spring is here!!
I'm not a big fan of lipgloss. I hate how my hair sticks to it and when you pull the hair off your face, it just leaves some product on the side of your face too. I do own several lipglosses but I only wear it on occasion for certain looks and I definitely don't use one everyday. Overall, I'm just not into the super shiny gloss appeal to lipglosses. I heard rave reviews about the Clarins Natural Lip Perfector last year and it wasn't a product I was dying to try but I did keep it in the back of my head. I was at Bloomingdales this weekend and I was right next to the Clarins counter so I decided to give it a try. I've mostly seen people talk about color #01 which is called Rose Shimmer and it was mentioned as a milky pink so of course that's the one I wanted to try. Turns out it is more of a medium pink than a light milky pink and on my lips it is not pigmented enough to cover my natural lip color so it just makes my natural lip color even brighter. All three of the colors don't have much pigment to them really but I did end up getting #03 Beige Shimmer and the color is just enough to tone down my natural lip color which is exactly what I want. It's more of a nude peach color than a beige as the name implies. The texture of these is what makes these so popular. It's basically a glossier balm and feels really comfortable on the lips. It is not sticky at all and doesn't cause my lips to flake when it dries which most lip glosses tend to do.
The ingredients contain Shea Butter, wild Mango and Plant extracts which hydrate the lips. It has a sugary smell to it, maybe creme brulee? It also doesn't leave a taste in your mouth which I appreciate. I really like the sponge applicator instead of a wand which is easier to apply and you do not need a mirror with this. I use this as I would a lipbalm during the day and the nude color goes with all my makeup looks. It makes my lips look plump and fuller so I definitely recommend if you are a day time balm wearer like me. Ohh and it's $21. :)
Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup- 021 Linen
-Long lasting, luminous finish. Medium to full coverage. Consistency is a bit thicker and heavier than I like but the finish is nice.
YSL Teint Resist- 05 Peach
-Long lasting, quite powdery finish when you first apply but after an hour or so it gives a satin finish. Color selection could be better. If you can find the perfect color match then this would be the perfect foundation.
Bourjois Healthy Mix- 52 Vanilla
-Long lasting, but heavily scented which could aggitate sensitive skins. Gives a satin finish to the skin. Color is a bit too light and yellow for me.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation- 5.5 beige
-Color is good for me when I self tan. Gives a luminous glowy finish and feels really light on the skin. Medium coverage. Probably best for people with dry skin.
Chanel Perfection Lumiere- 30 Beige
-Semi-matte finish, medium to full coverage. Long lasting but you have to work really quickly with application cause it dries fast. Good for photos.
Chanel Teint Innocence Cream Compact- 2.5 Soft Bisque
-Dewy luminous finish with medium coverage that's buildable. Heavier feel since its a cream compact but good for on the go.
Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Foundation- 3.25 Cool Beige
-Natural Finish. Coverage is light but buildable. This one looks better throughout the day.
Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free- Light Tint
-sheer to light coverage with Semi matte finish.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- Nude
-sheer coverage
I saw a picture of Keira Knightly at the premiere of "A Dangerous Method" at MayFair Hotel in London and I thought she looked gorgeous. I tried to re-create that look but the products she used were all Chanel. I tried to match colors I had to the Chanel Eclosion Eyeshadow Quad which was used on her eyes. I do not have her eye shape so I couldn't bring the eyeliner along the outside of my inner tear duct, mine hoods over that area. She also has full bottom lashes which mine are pretty much undetectible but I used the same color scheme. Here's what I used.
Face: Chanel perfection lumiere 30 Beige, Estee Lauder double wear concealer in light Eyes: Chanel illusion de Ombre Ebloui as a base, Inglot eyeshadow #423 on the lash line, lower lashline and outer v, Shu Uemura eyeshadow M Brown 810 crease, Lorac Cocoa eyeshadow inner crease bone, MAC Nylon eyeshadow inner corner highlight, Clinique gel eyeliner in True Black, Urban Decay 24hr eyeliner in Zero Cheeks: NARS Laguna Bronzer, Urban Decay Score blush Lips: Chanel Coco Rouge in Chintz
These water solution makeup removers are gentle on the skin and effective in removing all traces of makeup. I have tried Neutrogena makeup removing wipes, Neutrogena oil-free eye-makeup remover, and Almay's eye makeup remover pads and none of these work as well as the water makeup removers. I find the Neutrogena makeup removing wipes break me out and does not leave my skin feeling clean. The eye makeup removers always leave a film of grease even though it says oil-free and stings my eye if I get any inside. This was especially true with Almay's eye makeup remover pads.
The first water solution remover I've tried was Bioderma Crealine (Sensibio) H20 and I've been using this for about a year now but it's not readily available in the US. You can buy it online for about $22-$25 for a 250ml bottle. (picture is the 100ml bottle)
NARS Makeup Removing Water just came to US counters last month and it retails for $28 for a 200ml bottle. The cost of NARS is a bit higher and it comes with less product than BIODERMA.
They both are gentle on my face and do not cause any breakouts. Both products contain water and cucumber. It leaves my skin feeling clean and soft. I've used them both as eye makeup removers and they take off all my gel eye liner, mascara, and eyeshadow without stinging my eyes. I just soak the cotton pad and rest it on my eyelids for a few seconds and wipe off the residual. I've used both to take off my face make-up on days I do not use my Clarisonic and I follow up with a cleanser.
There are slight differences between the two products. First is of course the price. Let's say I take the higher price spectrum for BIODERMA of $25 for 250ml. It cost .10 per ml vs. NARS .112 per ml. BIODERMA also comes in 3 sizes that I know of. They have a small travel size of 100ml, a regular size of 250ml and a bigger size which has 500ml of solution. NARS only comes in one size for now, so it's not convenient for travelling. However, NARS is available in the US and you can only purchase BIODERMA online if you live in the US so you probably have to factor in shipping cost (unless you get free shipping :)). Second is the packaging. NARS removing water is more luxurious and sleeker but has a twist on cap whereas BIODERMA has an attached flip-up cap. Not a deal breaker but I like the flip cap of BIODERMA since I don't have to use two hands to open it. Lastly, I do find NARS makeup removing water has a slight scent to it whereas BIODERMA does not. It's almost like an alcohol scent which it does not contain but that's the best way I can describe it.
Based on price for amount of prodcut and they both do pretty much the same thing, I would probably go back to BIODERMA when I run out of the NARS makeup removing water. I do however feel NARS is a bit more gentle to the skin which leaves it slightly softer and less red after cleansing, it might be because it contains Chamomilla. That being said, BIODERMA removes makeup a bit cleaner the first time around. I guess it just depends on your preference. Hope this helps!
I've been busy with the holidays and haven't had a chance to post anything in awhile. The cold weather makes me want to stay in and not put any effort into getting dressed in the morning. Most days I simply throw on a sweater, leggings, and a knee high boots to keep me warm. I still want to look like I made a bit of an effort and to keep me from looking polished, bright red nails is the perfect solution. The one I have on is from Essie called Rose Bowl and it's a bright tomato reddish pink. It's one of their sheer gel like formulas that apply so easy and smooth. It's hard to mess this one up. Two coats and it is opaque with no streaks.
Face: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk in 5.5 and Bourjois Healthy Mix in 52 vanilla (favorite foundation combo at the moment)
Cheeks: Nars Deep Throat blush, Nars Laguna bronzer
Eyes: Urban Decay Naked Palette- Naked (lids), Buck (crease), Sin and Virgin mixed (inner corner), Smog (lower lash), Clinique Cream liner in Black
