January Favorites

The transition into the new year was such a crazy time! Sadly, I didn’t get to post near as often as I wanted.  Work, school, and the holidays completely took over my life. I won't even spend time talking about how fast January went by. As far as beauty products, I had a really hard time finding new things that worked for me. A huge reason for this is my finicky skin. My beloved Laura Mercier Foundation Powder even started accentuating my dry skin. I tried at least three new foundations. One in particular I thought I loved (will mention later in the post), and about a week later dry patches around my mouth and nose appeared. So frustrating! The rest of my face gets oily, but the skin around my nose and mouth is very difficult to keep from getting dry and flaky. Anyone else have this problem? Despite my foundation woes, I still managed to find a few products that are new staples in my every day makeup bag.

 

 

 

1. Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto $24- I have Christina to thank for this one. Best. Eyeliner. Ever. I have had issues with eyeliner smearing at the outer corner of my eyes for as long as I can remember. Nars completely solved that problem. This twist-up eyeliner is the longest lasting pencil I have ever used…I highly recommend this one if you have a problem with straying eyeliner. One thing to note however (Christina you were right about this!): the staying power is so amazing that it’s not very easy to smudge or smoke out. I don’t normally smudge my eyeliner for my everyday makeup, so this wasn’t a problem for me. I will be using this as long as it’s around!

 

2. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (I wear the shade Vanilla) $29- I am extremely picky when it comes to concealers. The formula is light, but it provides great coverage. I use this for under eye circles as well as any spots I may have. Never looks cakey. Great all around concealer.

 

3. Nars Blush in Deep Throat $30- Continuing the Nars trend, Nars Blush in Deep Throat is a new staple for me. My senior year of high school, I purchased the legendary shade Orgasm and used it until I couldn’t scrape any more color out of the pan. I’m not sure why I didn’t repurchase or try another shade from the line, because these blushes may be the best out there. Deep Throat is a light pinky peach shade (swatch below) with a little shimmer. This is the perfect natural shade for my skin tone. I'm not quite as adventurous with blushes and tend to stick to more natural pinks, peaches, and corals. You know how you always read that you’re supposed to pick a shade of blush that looks like you just finished exercising? Well this is it. The color makes me look so awake, fresh, and healthy.

 

4. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent $4- This really isn’t a new item to me, but I have discovered a new way to use this powder. After several failed attempts at finding a foundation that doesn't exaggerate my dry skin, I quit wearing foundation altogether. For several days, I either didn’t wear any foundation or concealer, or just wore a little concealer under my eyes, and dusted this powder over my whole face. It does an awesome job at keeping my oily T-zone under control, but doesn't dry out my skin. Even though the color is translucent, somehow it still made my skin look a little more even. I also use this powder to set any liquid foundation I use. At only $4, you really can’t beat this deal.

 

5. Milani Shadow Eyez 12 HR Wear Eyeshadow in Champagne Toast $6- After hearing Missglamorazzi talk about this shadow pencil, I was itching to try it myself. She was right about this one! The shade looks like it sounds…a light pink champagne. It is super easy to swipe across the lid, blend it out a little and either wear alone or with another shade in the crease. And it WILL NOT budge! The twelve hour part is serious.

 

Nars Deep Throat on the left, Miliani Champagne Toast on the right. Champagne toast looks way more bronze in the picture than it does in person! I could not get the color to show up accurately on camera.

Honorable Mention- Jouer Matte Moisture Tint $38- I was absolutely crazy about this stuff for about five days. Sadly, after about a week, I started noticing flaky skin around my nose and mouth. I tried different moisturizers, and to my disappointment, nothing helped, and I had to return it. However, if you have normal to oily skin, I highly suggest giving this a try. It has a mousse-like texture, but it covers like a light to medium foundation. I couldn’t believe how much this tinted moisturizer covered. You can wear with a little concealer, but I doubt you’ll need it!

 

Have you discovered any new favorites? Do you have any foundation suggestions for my difficult skin? I’d love to hear any suggestions!

Why Every Woman Should Wear Red Lipstick at Least Once

Even though I've worn hot pink, deep plum, and bright coral lipsticks, there was something about red that was intimidating to me. When perusing the makeup aisles, I always admired the ruby shades,  but shied away every time. Luckily, a beautiful red lip color made its way to me in my Birchbox last year. I immediately tried it on in the privacy of my bathroom. BAM. I was taken aback by the way it transformed me. No. I'm not being dramatic. Red lipstick will transform you. I fell in love with the way it instantly made me feel glamorous, elegant, and fierce. Red lipstick gives you a confidence you won't understand until you try it for yourself. Even after my moment of discovery, I was still hesitant to wear this beautiful color outside my own home. It was just so...red. Christmas came around, and I figured it was the perfect time to try it out.

Christmas Day! Finally brave enough to wear red lips out of the house :)

 



If you are like me and are reluctant to attempt red lips, try out these tips:

Essentials:

 

• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso (or your favorite red lipstick)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil (or your favorite concealer)

 

What to do:
1. Outline your lips with concealer.
2. Blend this line out very well. This helps keep the color from bleeding and makes a cleaner line for the color.
3. Fill it in! Take your time and do your best to follow your natural lip lines. If you get a little out of the lines, use a Qtip to clean it up, and add a tiny bit more concealer where it was rubbed off.
4. Finish the look. Here, I only wore mascara and a natural blush. It's super important to keep blush and other makeup fairly neutral so that the lips don't compete with your other features. Check out the other suggestions below if you want to do a little more than mascara.

Other options:

(Click the image to make it larger!)

 Far left: Use a liquid liner to create a subtle winged out line a la Marilyn Monroe.
Middle: Create a little definition. I used MAC's Naked Lunch all over the lid and Scene only on the outer corner and blended this out. Again, a subtle winged line works well with the shadows. This is how I did my eyes in the picture from Christmas.
Far right: Use a creamy pencil liner such as Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner pencil in black to draw a line along the upper lash line and smudge it out with your finger or Qtip. You can also use the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky Longwearing Shadow-Pencil I talked about here.

A word about the Stila Liquid Lipstick: I was very happy with this product! It didn't fade or bleed outside the lines. It looks glossy when first applied, but it dries to a matte finish. Despite the matte quality, it didn't make my lips feel dry or uncomfortable. Only downside: it will wear off when you eat or drink, so you will have to reapply a couple times to keep the color true. I definitely recommend giving these a try! I will be trying more colors from this line soon.

I hope this has been helpful for those of you who have been waiting to try it out for yourself! Now go pick up a red lipstick and see what you've been missing!

Things I Never Leave Home Without

Over the years I have found that there are a few things that are absolutely necessary to have with me at all times. You never know when you will have last minute dinner plans with friends (or someone more than a friend...), when you will wake up late and have to rush out the door, or when you'll have a day that just feels less than amazing. These are my weapons to combat any of these situations, and then some!

1. Bobby pins. Duh. Some days I just want to get my hair out of my face. It's super easy to twist my "bangs" out of my face and pin them back, pull my hair half up, or create a side waterfall braid and pin it in place.

2. Travel brush. I have had this thing for years. I can't stand my hair feeling tangley after walking outside. Last minute updos and ponytails can be a little easier after working out any knots. And sometimes it just feels nice to brush out my hair. Am I the only one that thinks this?

3. Hair elastics. Self explanatory. Some days just require a ponytail. Or a topknot. Or a braid.

4. Hand lotion. For someone who obsessively washes her hands, lotion is a must have. Dry, cracked skin feels awful. I discovered this lotion at a hospital where I had a rotation, and it has been my new favorite ever since. It just works. No greasiness, no fragrance, it absorbs quickly, and the moisture lasts forever. What else can you ask for? You can find 3M Cavilon Moisturizing Hand Lotion here on amazon.com.

5. Oil Absorbing Sheets. I prefer to use blotting paper instead of piling on more powder during the day. A ton of companies make these now, but I've always used the ones from Clean & Clear.

6. Powder. Yes, I know I just said I don't like using powder. I keep this on hand for the times when I find out about last minute plans. This powder adds just a tiny bit of coverage to make up for any foundation that may have worn off during the day. Plus it gets rid of any shine without looking overly matte. Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder has been a favorite of mine since high school.

7. Hand Sanitizer. I love the Target hand sanitizer with aloe. It has such a clean, fresh scent. Always important to keep your hands clean! Especially now that flu season is in full swing! (Get your flu shot!)

8. Eye Liner. I like to keep an eyeliner pencil in my bag in case the liner has faded on the outer corners or on days I am pressed for time. This Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in black is very creamy and easy to smudge along the lash line for a fast makeup look. Also great for creating a smokey eye for dinner or late night plans when you don't have time to go home and freshen up!

9. Lip Products. Four lip products may seem excessive to carry in your bag to some (I usually have about three or four more options), but hear me out. Covergirl's LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist is a beautiful color in a crayon-like form. I don't believe I've mentioned this one before. I love using this color on days when I only had time to swipe on mascara. It instantly makes me look more put together. The "gloss balm" formula is moisturizing, and the color payoff is pretty impressive. I feel like this shade can be worn year round, but I think it's especially pretty for spring/summer time.  Maybelline's Color Elixirs are always in my bag. I like to have a neutral option I can wear for every day, like Petal Plush. Raspberry Rhapsody has been hanging out in my bag lately too (not pictured). Revlon's Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie has been my favorite bolder option to keep on hand. Last but not least, a great basic lip balm is a no brainer. Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit is my favorite lip balm of the moment. Smells amazing, very moisturizing. It's all about options.

EXTRAS: I'm always prepared for any dilemma. My friends have jokingly (or maybe not jokingly) called my purse a "memaw bag". Other things I like to have that always come in handy:

• Safety pins- You never know when you'll lose a button and need to keep your pants up!
• Nail clippers- Get rid of hang nails fast or snip off tags on new clothes.
• Medicine/First Aid- I like to keep at least ibuprofen and bandaids with me. Sometimes those new shoes are killer.

What are your must-have items you can't leave home without? Thanks for reading!

Save vs. Splurge: Top 5 Dupes Collab with the Pursuit of Novelty

For our second collab, Christina from Pursuit of Novelty and I decided to choose our top 5 dupes. Some products are impossible to replicate. Others you can totally get a way with a drugstore dupe and have the same results. These options may not be EXACTLY the same in the tubes, pans, or packaging, but the finish and overall look are difficult to differentiate.

The left side (my left side) of my face is all drugstore products, and the right side is all high end products. The dupe I chose for lips is a color I didn't like pairing with the other makeup, so I included an additional picture below.

 



What I used:
Eyeshadow
Save: L'Oreal HIP Concentrated Shadow Duo in Sassy (the taupe shade) $8- True to the name, the shadows in this line are packed with pigments. This option is very slightly deeper than the high end counter part, but it has the same silvery shimmer. When applied, you really can't tell a difference!
Splurge: MAC eyes shadow in Satin Taupe $15- This classic must-have eye shadow from MAC is one of my all time favorite shadows. It is an awesome crease color and looks amazing on every eye color. The silver shimmer gives this taupe shade gorgeous depth and dimension.

Liquid Liner
Save: L'Oreal Infalliable The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner $8- This one is truly a steal! The felt tip is identical to the Stila Stay All Day liner, but at a much lower price. The finish is impossible to tell apart (see picture), and it makes applying liquid liner a breeze.
Splurge: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black $20- I'm sure you're tired of reading about this liner! The ONLY benefit of this liner over the L'Oreal version is that is does have a bit more staying power. It's never been a problem, but I do notice it takes a little bit more to get this liner off at the end of the day!

Mascara
Save: L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess $9- I found this gem when I did our $20 challenge. The original Voluminous formula is a cult favorite, but I really love the brush on this version. It makes it easy to separate my lashes while building up the volume. Awesome alternative to my true all time favorite mascara.
Splurge: Benefit They're Real! Mascara $23- My holy grail mascara. I never thought I would find a high end mascara that I would love enough to spend the money on. The formula is amazing. Lush, full, but separated lashes every time. Can't. Get. Enough. I highly recommend trying this out. Get the trial size if you don't want to commit to a full size tube.

Blush
Save: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso $8- All of the shades in this line are highly pigmented and have a gorgeous finish. Compared to Coralista, this option does have a little more of an apricot tone, but is still very similar to the Benefit blush. Because it is so pigmented, you have to be easy handed on the application. Start with a small amount on your brush and add more if  needed.
Splurge: Benefit CORALista blush $28- A favorite of mine for several years, this blush is the perfect coral. The pigment is not as intense as the Milani blush, which is good and bad. I usually have to work a little more to get this to show up on my skin tone. It also has more shimmer which gives the cheekbones a beautiful sheen without using highlighter.

Lips
Save: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Blissful Berry $5- I love the formula of these lipsticks. They feel moisturizing, but still have great color payoff. Berry Blissful has more of a satin finish than the MAC option, and has a slightly more blue tone. It is also more sheer, but buildable. Can't go wrong!
Splurge: MAC lipstick in Diva $15- Diva is a matte lipstick, so the finish is obviously different. As most matte lipsticks, it is a little bit on the dry side, but the color is gorgeous. It is described as an "intense red-burgundy", so I realize the shades between these two options are classified completely differently. However, when you compare the two, I don't think they look much different! Even in the tubes, the colors look very similar.

The drugstore dupes are on the left, and the high end products are on the right.

 

 

If you've been eyeing any of these high end products but are trying to save money, give these dupes a try! Let me know what you think! What are your favorite dupes I'm missing out on?