Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Best in Beauty 2015

Eye Makeup:
  • Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (best palette)
  • L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows (best single shadows)
  • CoverGirl Brow&Eye Makers (for brows)
  • Tarte Skinny SmolderEyes Eyeliners
  • Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eye Primer


Friday, June 5, 2015

Badger Balm Lip Tint & Shimmer in Garnet


Green & Gold (ootd)


We've been having oddly cloudy and cool days in southern california lately. It's given me a rare chance for some layering. Was loving this green and gold combo from last May. A good go-to. Target Bag. Banana Republic Scarf. Caslon tee.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush Audacious Plum & Sensuous Rose


I've had these blushes for years but for some reason never got around to swatching them on this blog! They are great quality blushes and beautiful flattering colors, they are expensive but I think worth it.

Sensuous Rose is a terracotta with a very subtle pink/coral undertone. I got this to replace my old favorite blush for a good 15+ years, CoverGirl Iced Cappucino. They are very similar except the CoverGirl has a sheen to it, different smell, and parabens. I also prefer that the estee lauder version is in a bigger pan which makes it easier to get your whole blush brush into, and that it is more pigmented.

Audacious Plum is a purple/pink mid tone plum color, on me it leans more pink then it looks in the pan. But still has a cool toned mauve-y-ness to it. My olive skin tone tends to warm up all blushes however so it may not happen on you if you are more pink toned naturally.




Saturday, May 16, 2015

Can't quit it


Pastel blue-ish nails, of all sorts that is. Today's is Butter London Poole. Another oldie for me, that hasn't gotten old.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

YSL Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Tint-in-Oil 05 Cherry My Cherie Review & Lip Swatch



The new Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Tint-in-Oil isn't something I was really expecting to be very good, the thought of it reminded me of those roll on candy scented castor oil lip glosses from childhood, in a better packaging that would leave a tint. Nope! This is thicker than those, thicker than burt's bees squeezy tube glosses, but not as thick as buxom and not the tiniest bit sticky. They do have a sheer tint, but the tint is there. I naturally have very little color to my lips, and as the photos show it does give me color. I didn't love any of the colors for my personal taste so I think the clear one (03 Undress Me) would be great for layering with a lip liner. I think they feel great. No harmful ingredients (like parabens, phlalates, mineral oil, ect), and give a beautiful wet appearance to the lips(plus no stickiness!). I'm in!

(natural light)

(flash)

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Cool Blue & Gray (on a hot day) NOTD OOTD


Getting back into minimalist fashion in the past few months has felt like home again. I was all about it 10 years ago. Finding things that are weather appropriate without being too skimpy has been a challenge but I think I've finally got it down. Loving the simplicity (again) of a plain gray t (forever 21) and black pants (vs), and this black metal bag from forever 21. Because I love my grays and blues together, this is Nordstrom Winter Crystal Polish. An old favorite, that's still a favorite.


Thursday, March 26, 2015

Beautiful Skin Secrets

 As someone with super sensitive, dry, and occasionally acne prone skin, finding an entire group of products I can not only use, but also see wonderful results from has been a feat! First in our lineup is an admittedly easier one, eye makeup remover. I've been using Maybelline Clean Express for waterproof eye makeup, it is good, this is my second bottle, but I don't notice a difference between it and other duel phase eye makeup removers if I'm being honest. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, herbs, and rosewater : My face makeup remover. I spray this on my cotton square, and on my face and remove all of my makeup with it with out it drying or irritating my skin, and it smells like roses! I think this is my 3rd bottle, maybe 4th. As a plus it isn't too expensive and has free shipping from nordstrom, if you have a hard time finding it. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser Has saved my face from intense pain problems it was having all of last fall. I tried just about every facial cleanser in existence (no joke) and everything was burning my skin horribly. Then came my love. I washed my face and no pain. I was in shock. 4 months later, after using this twice a day everyday, still no pain. It's a miracle to me. It is a little more expensive for a face wash, but I've used less than half of my bottle in 4 months, because it's very concentrated and you only need a pea sized amount for more than enough lather. It cleanses my skin, makes it soft, my acne has dramatically decreased(almost none), it's not as dry as it was, I couldn't recommend it enough. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate has been my go to moisturizer, always at night, sometimes during the day as well. I was previously using 100% Jojoba oil as my moisturizer (my skin doesn't like many traditional moisturizers). However I was finding my skin was not getting moisturized enough. I decided to try this based on the great reviews and ingredients, and I love it. I do find it moisturizes more than the jojoba oil was, and importantly-with out breaking me out. My only complaint is my skin can sometimes use even more moisture, so it's not a complete miracle for me, but I do plan to repurchase. That leads up to the next product, Trader Joe's Nourish Anti-Oxidant Facial Moisturizer. This isn't a product that I use everyday, but I have been layering on top of the midnight recovery concentrate when my skin needs even more moisture. It is cheap, and has good ingredients so it's an easy one to keep around for when needed. Saving the best for last - Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream. I use the shade fair. This one product has made the biggest difference in the improvement of clarity and evenness to my skin. It makes my skin look younger, and brighter, and healthier, almost instantly. Every day I wear this I see an improvement to my skin, that night. I have already purchased a backup and I'm not running out of my current one for a little while longer. It's that important to me that I have it. It has vitamin c, which is what I'm attributing most of the visible results to. SPF 50, which is effective, I burn easily and have spent hours in direct sunlight in the afternoon with this on, and no sun burn at all. It has light - medium coverage, and can make me shiny depending on what powder I set it with (I've been liking l'oreal with it), but it is worth it. It doesn't burn my sensitive skin, and not only does it not cause acne, but it seems to be helping to keep it away.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my current skincare routine, leave me a comment if you have any questions!


my top 4 loves

Take me away ; and this is what I'll bring. (travel makeup bag ; the inside)


When you have a more extensive makeup collection, it can be hard to stay focused on what's most important. I really enjoyed the challenge of putting together my best face. One product from each category. My true favorites. To know as long as I have these, I'm good. That's peace. Freedom. Or as it is commonly called in the beauty world, My HG face.

  • Kiehl's BB Cream - Fair
  • L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter/Concealer Pen
  • L'Oreal True Match Powder W1
  • VS Makeup Bronzer (discontinued, my next favorite is too faced sun bunny)
  • Milani - Delizioso Pink Blush
  • Wet N Wild - Reserve Your Cabana Bronzer(highlighter)
  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Anti Aging
  • L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow - Amber Rush
  • CoverGirl Brow & Eye Makers - Black (brows)
  • MAC False Lashes Mascara (my new favorite)
  • Tarte Skinny SmolderEyes Black
  • Buxom Lip Cream - Mudslide






Thursday, March 19, 2015

Top 5 Spring : Beauty

  •  BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 The Alter Ego : Wicked : This yellow toned lime green is fresh and bright for spring while also being more subtle and wearable than some brights!
  • Buxom Full On Lip Polish : Julie : Such a beautiful bright and cheerful Pink! But because it is sheer it is also very easy to wear while still brightening up the face! Very even application, and buxom lip glosses are my favorite thing to put on my lips! They hydrate, plump, and feel amazing!
  • L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow : Amber Rush : Rose Gold metallic beauty! Amazing pigmentation, very flattering color, brightening, neutral enough to wear daily but still something a little extra special about it! Can't get enough of it! 
  • OPI Dim Sum Plum : This is the 2nd year of this being my favorite springtime nail polish. There is something so flattering about it when it's on, there's enough color to not look washed out, but it's still bright enough to be springy, while at the same time neutral enough to be completely ladylike! It's the perfect spring polish (especially for toes!)
  • Milani Baked Blush : Delizioso Pink : This product has such a nice formula for a drugstore product, better than some high end blushes! Delizioso Pink is a slightly cool toned bright cheerful pop of color for a fresh spring face! As someone with olive toned skin, cool pinks are a must if I don't want it to turn coral/orange. This one does the job of staying pink and bright!


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Revlon 565 'Wild' Nail Polish Swatches

One of my newest acquisitions is Revlon Wild (565) nail polish. I'm loving it! It is a bit sheer however in my opinion worth it because of how beautiful and unique it is! All Photos are shown with 2 coats, since that is most peoples preferred coat number to use.  Enjoy!

Indoors with flash

(outdoors - indirect sunlight)
 (Direct Sunlight)



Sunday, January 25, 2015

Ciate - Hidden Gem !


This has to be one of my top 10 nail polishes! I don't think it's going to be a color everyone will understand the beauty of, however if you are a chartreuse/olive/pale green lover like myself it might be worth a go! I had a hard time photographing this color with my phone so I had to bust out the big boy camera and it did a much better job! Cameras can easily pick up this color as being a lime green, when it's truly more of a pastel egg yolk/yellow/olive combo. Very unusual indeed!The formula is beautiful Ciate goodness, super shiny and smooth almost gel like look! This is with 2 coats. It has become a new staple polish in my collection. The only set back might be the price, so if you know any drugstore/cheaper dupes please leave me comment!