Showing posts with label Makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Makeup. Show all posts

BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT: REINVENTED FAVORITES

Monday, August 10, 2015
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When I started this blog, my hope was to connect with like minded people and start a dialogue about clothes and fashion. That being said, as you may have noticed, I've started to incorporate more beauty posts into my blog content recently. I have always been a Sephora junkie, constantly trying out new products and experimenting with anything I could get my hands on. I am by no means an expert (I watch Kylie Jenner lip liner tutorials just like everyone else), so have been hesistant to make beauty a regular feature. However, some of the most consistent questions I get have to do with my makeup & skincare routine, so I feel this a content addition that only makes sense. Y'alls opinions mean so much to me (I wouldn't have a blog without you), so I would love as much feedback as possible! Ok, now that I've rambled on, let's talk War Paint. This week I wanted to shine the Beauty Spotlight on some new products recently released by a few of my longtime favorite brands.

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I remember the first time I got my makeup professionally done like it was yesterday. I had just gotten my braces off and to celebrate my mom took me to the Clinique counter. I remember hanging on every word that came out of the Clinique Girl's (aka Sarah) mouth like it was gospel. She made me feel so grown up and important, like Elle Woods, an experience which has kept me loyal to the brand to this day. I was still recording the EXACT shade of blush, until a little Clinique care package crossed my desk and inspired me to shake things up a bit. While I love a more natural look there is nothing wrong with a little pop every once and a while. These new pop lipstick & blush shades infused some much needed life into my makeup routine. There is something about a bold lipstick that just makes you feel like Woman with a capital W.

dallas blogger
dallas blogger
When you go a school with a uniform dress code, the options for self expression are limited. I had my Nike shocks, Juicy Couture tube socks, and most importantly a MAC lipglass in my oxford shirt pocket. My level of care concerning which lipgloss was worthy to be squired around in my shirt pocket was aggressive and in my middle school mind there was nothing cooler than MAC. I had graduated a little from my Clinique phase and fell into the waiting arms of the makeup brand that boasted Paris Hilton as a fan. I mean what more did I need to know...beside her favorite shade of course(which is Underage duh)! These days I continue my love affair with the brand for much different reasons. MAC's breadth and depth of product is almost unparalleled especially in their eyeshadow pallettes, there is a reason most makeup artists swear by them. Not only is the quantity there, but the quality is as well. There aren't any of those step-child shades that stay pristine while the others have metal peeking through. My current favorite is this limited edition Nordstrom Naturals palette. I got it about six months ago and haven't picked anything else up since.

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I first tried bareMinerals at my first blogging conference a few years ago. I was a tad hesitant to even sit down in the makeup chair. Just like in love you always remember your first, and after 'Clinique Counter Sarah' I was pretty spoiled. I thought that the makeup artist was going to force some complex routine of tapping and buffing or whatever, like in those late night infomercials. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a lot more to the brand, including solid compacts! Since then I have sampled pretty much their entire repertoire, but the true standout product is their Complexion Rescue. I have sensitive combination skin, sometimes all I have to do is look at a foundation and I breakout. It's such a tricky balance between decent coverage but not heavy and dewy but not oily. It's light like a BB cream, but I still feel like it fully evens out my skin tone. I don't really care for the brush that it comes with, I prefer to use a wet Beauty Blender instead. I can wear this stuff all day and maybe have to touch up with some translucent power once (which is a huge feat for me). The only other foundation I use is Chanel's Vitalumiere, but it is a lot more expensive so I try to only use it when I have an occasion. Complexion Rescue is definitely a better bargain for the day to day in my opinion.





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BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT: STEP-BY-STEP CONTOUR STICKS

Monday, August 3, 2015
dallas blogger
dallas blogger
dallas blogger
dallas blogger
dallas blogger
dallas blogger
dallas blogger

I definitely try to err on the more natural side when it comes to makeup, so for my first foray into contouring I decided to try out the step-by-step contour stick trio by Smashbox. The sticks come with a reference sheet detailing instructions for five different face shapes. Once I determined my face shape, I followed the pattern to draw the contouring lines on my face. I went ahead and just used my fingers to blend everything together (*always using upward motions) starting with the highlight,  then the contour, and finally the bronzing. I added a translucent powder to set everything, and just like that I was ready for a night out in one of my favorite LBDs (see full outfit post here). I think from beginning to end it only took me about 5 minutes total, which is surprising because even my liquid eye liner takes longer than that!

See more of my Beauty Spotlight posts HERE

c/o SMASHBOX step-by-step contour stick trio | MILLY ciao bella tee SILENCE + NOISE body con tank dress | TOPSHOP eagle necklace (old.) | BAUBLE BAR double dipper ear crawler set VITA FEDE titan bracelets




Photography by Mary Summers


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BEAT THE SWIM WEEK HEAT - PART TWO

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

When planning my looks for Swim Week in Miami I not only wanted hairstyles (see my 'heidi braids' post here) that would beat the heat, but also a makeup routine that would be melt proof and stay flawless. Let's just call it out - I am a sweaty person, and the Florida humidity in July does not help matters...the struggle gets real people. So, short of Scotchgarding my entire face, I require make up with some serious staying power preferably of the straight up waterproof variety. The whole Bobbi Brown long wear collection is perfect for me, I especially love the perfectly definitely brow pencil (gotta keep those brows on fleek), & cream shadow stick in Surf & Sand (which never get that gross crease half way through the day like other shadows praise hands emoji). 







In general I try to keep it light by skipping heavy creams or foundations, and wearing a tinted moisturizer like this one from bareMinerals. Don't forget there are also products that actually benefit from the heat like this cream blush & highlighting 'on the glow' stick by Wander Beauty (a new cult favorite). I like to buff all three into my face with my trusty beauty blender, and then add some waterproof bronzer. I set my make up with a few spritz of Caudalie beauty elixer and make sure to keep the travel size in my purse to keep my skin refreshed and hydrated throughout the day (*pro tip - leave in the refrigerator for an extra cooling effect). At the end of each day I used CLEANSE by Lauren Napier cloths combined with this Bobbi Brown instant long-wear makeup remover to make sure that my canvas was fresh and ready for the next day of Swim Week :)





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