Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation Review



After hearing people sing its praises for the longest time, I went into Sephora last week and picked up the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation . . . among a giant slew of other things, whoops!

I've been wearing it pretty consistently since I got it and I figured now that I have a good feel for how it functions it's time for a review.  


The official description of the foundation is that it has "Natural but build-able" coverage and "Natural" finish.  I'm going to have to disagree with that at least in part.

I would say the coverage is medium, which I guess can be interpreted as natural.  Without building it up I can still see some of my freckles through it.  I don't think the finish is natural though, to me it seems more like a dewy finish.  Don't get me wrong, the finish is beautiful but it is a bit more shiny than what I would describe as natural.





The packaging is a funky shaped tube, consistent with the packaging from the rest of the brand, and it functions pretty well.  It sorta looks like a starfruit, but in a very un-fruity shade, hahaha.

I like that the tube is heavy plastic so it still feels high quality, but I wont worry as much throwing it in a bag to travel with it like I might if it were glass.

The one thing I don't love is that it doesn't have a pump which is usually what I prefer in foundation packaging, however the spout at the end is easy to use and dispenses product well, and seems fairly sanitary.  So as far as non pump packaging goes, this one isn't so bad.

As far as how it wore... like I said it is dewy, so if you have even the tiniest bit of oily skin I would suggest setting it with a translucent powder.  But it wore all day on me even in the really humid warm weather we've been having.  

I did touch up with a little powder on the more humid days, but only because I was getting a tiny bit shiny, not because it was beginning to wear off or anything crazy, there's just a fine line between dewy and sweaty, ya know?

I also have to add that it photographs beautifully.  It really diffuses light and gives a healthy looking glow.  With a little strategic powdering I think this could give most people some really flawless photos.

  

Pictured above is approximately the amount I use to get a medium coverage on my entire face.  So a little goes a long way.  Which is nice because you get more for your money that way...or it can help you justify buying a more expensive foundation than you really need, potato potahto.

Another huge plus to this product is the shade range.  They have 25 shades plus a gold shimmer color that you can mix in to give a sun-kissed effect. 

The color range also has a lot of very pale shades, so it's great for those ladies who have a hard time finding foundations that are light enough for them.  They even have a completely white shade which you can mix to get your exact match.  This is also great for MUAs because you can buy a few for your kit and then mix and match etc.

Right now on my fake tanned summer skin (which is NW20 in mac foundation) the shade 5.5 is a nearly perfect match. 


Overall, this foundation is really nice, and I'm glad that I finally tried it.  I might not use it if I am going to be baking in  the hot sun all day, but I will certainly get some use out of it when I'm going for that healthy glowing look. . .and let's be real, how often am I out baking in the sun? 

For people with dry skin I bet it would be pretty glorious.  I'll have to find someone with dry skin to be my guinea pig, mawahahaha!

If you want to try it out yourself you can find it HERE.


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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Neon Lip and Bronze Eye Summer Makeup Tutorial (Featuring OCC Stained Gloss)



Today I really wanted to use my new OCC Stained Gloss in a tutorial, and I really love how neon pink pairs with a bronze eye, so that's what you're getting this week!  I think this is a really fun, easy to wear combination for summer that will flatter most skin tones.



PRODUCTS USED:




Tarte Carried Away Collector Set (This is a sold out LE set, but even the higher price is still a good deal, still you can definitely find other bronze colors that work in a million other palettes too!)






Thursday, May 23, 2013

Glue Things to Things! (DIY Studded Nails and Phone Case Design)



If you are a creative type of person, tell me-  Do you ever wake up and have the urge to just make a whole lot of stuff?  Like just this urge to create tangible things that look nice?

I love makeup, and 90% of the time it satisfies all the creative urges, but sometimes I need to make something I can keep ya know?

Today I woke up and I needed to glue things to other things, plain and simple.  About a year ago I made a pair DIY studded converse, and the whole process was really relaxing and therapeutic.




Even better was the feeling of immense satisfaction when someone asked where I got them and I got to casually respond "...Oh these old things? Yeah I made 'em, no big deal" and then they were all impressed and I just ate that feeling up like num num num num.

So today I woke up and the urge had returned.  I needed to glue stuff to stuff, POST HASTE!

So I went into my drawer of nail art goodies and pulled out the bags of studs and charms I purchased a few months back and I found my these really cool diamond shaped charms, and was all ready to glue them on my nails...but they were too big, womp womp.

But they were super cool, so I wanted to make something with them.  I decided to glue them to my phone case.  I found the E6000 glue that I had used to glue all of the studs onto my converse and got to work.

Oh and in case you were wondering, the glue has held up for almost a year with not one single stud missing and I wore the crap out of those sneakers.




Now I know all you crafty folks out there know how to glue things to other things, duh.  But I figured I would take a few pics along the way to give you tips and make it easier for you if you want to try it, and also so you could see what mine looks like to gain some inspiration!

Before anything else, I laid the charms on the back of the phone to get a loose idea of how I wanted to place them.

To apply the glue I used a mini orange stick that came with a pack of Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips, I just used the package from the charms as a tray for the glue.

Don't forget to take your phone out of the case before you start gluing, sounds silly but I almost forgot.  Whoops.

Once I had them in a pattern that I liked I let them dry for a few minutes, and used cosmetic Q-tips and nail polish remover to get rid of some of the excess glue.

And that was it all done!

But I wasn't done yet, because I still didn't have any fun charms on my nails.  I decided to go with my current favorite Glitter Ombre Manicure combo (which I blogged about here if you want details on how I did that part)


Then I just applied nail glue and a variety of these different size and shape studs which I bought on amazon to the glitter area on two random nails.  Couldn't be simpler!  And I think it looks pretty sweet.  


In case you were wondering, this is how to whole shebang looks together:



So if you feel like you need to glue some stuff to some other stuff, I hope this inspires you.  And if you don't feel like that, then I hope it was at least fun to look at!



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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Summer Makeup Picks That Won't Melt Off


Ahhh, Memorial Day weekend is upon us...well in a few days it will be.  That means the beaches will be open, the weather will be really starting to heat up, and our makeup will be running off our humid sweaty faces in no time!

Not if I have anything to do with it!  There are plenty of makeup items on the market which can prevent this.  And they don't have to be super boring either.



I know I've been singing the praises of the Smashbox CC Cream A LOT lately, and while I really am having a love affair with it, I feel like I may cheat on it a bit in the months to come.  In hot weather even those of us with dry or combination skin need something with a little extra sticking power.  When it's hot and humid I like to reach for my favorite summer tinted moisturizer Jouer Matte Moisture Tint.  

If you've never tried it before, it's like the consistency of a thick, silicone based primer (a la Benefit Porefessional) but it has the SPF pigmentation and coverage of a tinted moisturizer.   The texture is a little weird when you first try it, but I'm pretty sure that's what gives it some staying power so it gets a pass in that department.

So basically it stays on like a beast, even in the heat...yet somehow leaves you slightly moisturized and not dry.  The coverage is light to medium.  The great part is you don't have to use a primer and an SPF with it, so you get to put less product on your skin, which is really nice in the summer.




Summer usually means days on the beach or by the pool (if you're lucky that is) which is awesome.  But I have some serious anxiety about leaving the house without my brows filled, and pools and oceans tend to wash your brows off for obvious reasons.

 I can easily skip everything else, but something about well shaped, neatly groomed brows is like a security blanket to me...they just feel safe. . .OK I'm sounding like a real creep right now.  But they're important to me, I'm just being honest!

Thankfully a few years back I discovered Make Up Forever Aqua Brow.  It's a waterproof brow corrector and I have worn it to many a beach and pool and it has stayed in place...even going under water!  It's also great for a day where you might be out baking in the sun for a long time, like an outdoor party or a music festival.  It withstands brow sweat like no other.

The only downside is it can be tricky to apply.  My recommendation would be to choose a color slightly lighter than your brow hairs, and apply it with a skinny angled brush in short dashing motions (to mimic hairs)  Maybe I will have to film a waterproof brow tutorial soon...

MAC now carries fluidline specifically formulated for brows, which I'm sure is pretty long lasting as well, but I wouldn't go for a swim in it without testing the waters first (cheesy pun totally intended).




Much of the time during the summer I like to skip out on eyeliner all together.  But when my eyes need a little color and definition in their life I reach for Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencils 100% of the time.  They are the longest lasting eye pencils on the market, in my opinion, and I have tried a LOT of eye pencils.  

They also come in over 40 colors now, so you can use them to create basically any colorful summer look you desire.  I have been accused of hoarding these pencils, and I really can't defend myself on the topic.  I own about half of the available colors at this point, and I regret nothing!!



If you just can't stand the thought of wearing eyeliner in the heat, I feel you homie and I've got you covered.

Colored mascara is the business!  There are so so SO many on the market right now, but my hands down favorite is the DiorShow Waterproof Mascara in "Azure".  It's waterproof, long wearing, builds volume, holds a curl and most importantly it's like NEON blue.  It looks so freakin' cool!

It's such a great way to make a statement with very little product, which is perfect for summer.




Sometimes you just hafta have a little eyeshadow.  For the heat and humidity I like to stick with long wearing cream formulas.  My favorite are MAC paint pots, but a GREAT budget friendly version are the Maybelline Color Tattoos.   Cream shadows that set can be used as a simple wash of color, or to create a quick smokey look that wont budge.  

If you are skeptical about using cream shadows please consult  my blog post on why cream eyeshadow is your friend.  (you will also find other brand options and swatches there)



Sometimes even lipstick can feel like it's making you hotter and sweatier.  No need to give up your signature bold lip, just pick a stain instead.  

My favorite of all time is the Smashbox Limitless Lip Stain in Guava because it is an amazing coral-red color, it goes on super even and bold, and the colored balm is great for touchups and keep your lips feeling nice and soft.  If you are on a bit more of a budget, the Revlon Just Bitten Stain in Dawn is also a pretty coral color (though not nearly as vibrant) and also comes with a balm.  The difference is the balm is clear, and I don't feel that the revlon one applies as nicely or wears as long.

I literally lived in the Smashbox stain last summer, and this summer probably won't be any different.






Whatever you choose to put on your face in the summer, it can't hurt to lock it in a little tighter right?  Thats where setting spray comes in.  A few misty sprays of this stuff can seriously extend the life of your look.  

My favorite is the Urban Decay Setting Spray.  The one pictured is the "Chill" version, but I honestly see no difference between that and the original "All Nighter"  Both work wonders...I guess the "Chill" version feels kinda cool on the skin when you apply it, but nothing significant.


So those are my go to "Surviving the heat" makeup items.  If you have any summer must haves, let e know in the comments, I love trying new things!




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Monday, May 20, 2013

Yellow and Pink Color Blocked Makeup Tutorial


Today I wanted some color in my life, and also on my face.  So I did a little ol' tutorial with a yellow eye and bright pink lip.  A little color blocking action is always a fun way to mix it up!

Please feel free to subscribe to my channel and give it a thumbs up if you dig it.  




PRODUCTS:



Sugarpill Burning Hearts Palette  (yellow color- butter cupcake)








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Friday, May 17, 2013

Feelin' Lazy?



I've been having one of those weeks where I'm just feeling super freakin' lazy.  Laziness always results in inner conflict for me because here I am spouting all sorts of beauty advice on the internet so I better do my hair and makeup...but sometimes I just really don't feel like it.

So I got to thinking and I gathered up a few beauty tips that help me fake it on those lazy days.  I'm sure there are a ton that I'm forgetting, but this is what I came up with for now.

Chipped Nails:  My nails chip really fast, so I'm in the habit of re-painting them every few days.  Which is usually fine.  But sometimes I get tired of it and I'm too damn lazy to go through the whole process of re-painting them from scratch. 

My solution?  Glitter ombre tips!  Drag a little glitter polish from the end of the nail up toward the cuticle, fading it in as you go, and top it with a fast drying top coat.  The texture of the glitter helps to hide the uneven layers of polish, and the top coat makes it look fresh as a daisy.  Boom, you're good for another few days.

My favorite polish for this trick is OPI Goldeneye simply because it's really awesome metallic gold glitter and it makes any touched up manicure look ahhhhhhmazing!


No Time/Energy For a Pedicure:  Now I don't know about you, but polish stays on my toe nails for basically an entire millennia.  I'm not sure why it happens, or why it doesn't work the same way on my fingers, but it really stays on there until I decide it's time to take it off.  

The problem is, the skin and cuticles around the toes begins to look ragged long before the polish is grown out or chipped off, forcing me to get a pedicure against my will.  

This is only an issue because I don't always have the time (or let's be honest, the extra cash) to go get a proper pedicure.

The solution here is cuticle oil!

What I like to do is rub a little of my favorite cuticle oil around my toe nails, onto the cuticles and surrounding skin.  It instantly moisturizes and tames the look of any dryness and gives your feet that shiny, fresh from the salon look.

If the polish is not chipped but just a little dull looking, try popping some of that fast dry top coat over the top before you put your oil on.

Obviously you will still need a pedicure eventually, but it definitely helps you hold off for longer.


You Don't Feel Like Doing Your Hair:  Sometimes I just can't bare the thought of styling my hair AGAIN.  I have long, thick hair and quite frankly it can really be a chore. 

So recently I have been noticing that if I throw my hair up into a sock bun and then take it down a few hours later, it basically looks like I took the time to give myself a big bouncy blow out!

So for example I'm in a rush in the morning, and throw my hair into a sock bun, run around for a few hours doing errands and such, and then before I go out for dinner or brunch I just take down the bun and shake out my hair and voila!

Granted this only works if your hair is naturally straight or you have blow dried/straightened it and are working with second or third day hair.  But it's a really good trick!

If you have no idea how to make a sock bun, feel free to have a look at my youtube tutorial...




To really make it work well, make sure you start with dry or ALMOST dry hair.  Wet hair will turn into a mess.  You also want to make sure that you make the top of your hair loose instead of slicked down to your scalp so that the roots fall around your face nicer when you take it down.


You Don't Feel Like Doing Your Skin Routine: When I'm feeling my laziest I really dread the idea of putting on my moisturizer, sunblock, primer AND foundation.  The solution is simply to opt for a BB cream. . .or a CC cream or a Tinted moisturizer because let's be real, they're kinda the same thing with slightly different coverage levels.

The point is you want to moisturize, apply SPF and get some coverage in one step instead of three.  After that it's just a matter of preference.

My absolute favorite at the moment is the Smashbox CC Cream.  Not because I think it's working any miracles on my skin, just because it has a GLORIOUS finish.  I like it better than most foundations!

For a lighter coverage I also really like the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.  It's light as air and provides a natural finish with light coverage.


You Don't Feel Like Doing Your Eye Makeup:  This might be the oldest trick in the book, but if you don't feel like doing your eye makeup, just toss on a pair of super big, super glam sunglasses.

My little personal touch is to pair the sunglasses with a bright lip.  It takes no time at all to apply lip products, and when people see the makeup on your lips, they'll assume you took the time to put it on your eyes too.

Clever huh?  Obviously this only works during the day, but c'mon beggars can't be choosers!

My personal favorite for this trick is the L'oreal  Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Endless Red because it is easy to apply, looks super glam and feels really light and comfortable on your lips.  For a similar formula you could also go for one of the YSL Glossy Stains if you're feelin' fancy.


So those are my lazy girl beauty tips, for now.  I'll be sure to do a part two as I think of more.  And as always feel free to leave your lazy beauty ideas in the comments! I would love to hear them.



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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wowza Wednesday! Sister Edition






So I'm trying to start a new series on here, and I'm going to call it "Wowza Wednesday!" Basically what I want to do is take already beautiful ladies and do some simple hair and makeup on them to enhance their natural beauty. . . and make you say "Wowza!"  get it? (LOL Thank you Jackie for inspiring the name with your Facebook comment <3)

So my first victim...erm...volunteer was my sister Rachael!  She was nice enough to come over yesterday and let me use her as my human barbie doll.  

She had on just some tinted moisturizer and chapstick when we started.



First of all, can we take a moment and appreciate how beautiful my sister is to begin with?  Ridiculous! So naturally I didn't want to cover any of her natural beauty, just enhance it a little.  



For her base I wanted something with a really natural finish and a medium coverage, so I mixed some Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation in "Sand" with Stila "One Step Correct" Brightening Serum .  I really love the finish that these two products create when you mix them.  Really glowy and natural without being shiny.  And under her eyes I used just a touch of Bobbi Brown Corrector in "Porcelain Peach"

I very lightly contoured her nose and cheeks with Benefits Hoola Bronzer,  just  enough to enhance their natural shape and add some dimension to her face.

On her cheeks I dabbed a little of the darker pink cream blush from the Smashbox "Be Discovered" cream cheek trio  to add a natural glow and color to her skin.

I set the skin with the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and to finish the skin I dusted the high points of her face with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle.  

To enhance her beautiful blue eyes I began but applying MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork over her whole lid, into the crease and under her lower lash line and blended it out with a clean brush.  Then I  smudged a mix of Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils in Zero and Corrupt into her lashline and waterline.  A little hint for the blue eyed ladies, a nice warm brown really makes blue eyes stand out!

To brighten the eye area a little I added some of the MAC mineralize skinfinish to her inner corners as well.

I curled her lashes with the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler and applied Maybelline's "The Rocket" mascara which I won't link because it was one of my first times using it and I have to say, I am NOT a fan.  It took a lot of combing and fiddling to get her lashes to look good.

For Rachael's brows she has been following my instructions on how to grow back over-plucked eyebrows, and she has been seeing excellent results so all I really needed to do was set them with MAC Brow set in the color Beguile .

For her lips I just prepped them with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and then added a touch of color and shine with Butter London Lippy in the Color "Snog"

To get those pretty, beachy waves in her hair I curled it with a straightener, just alternating the direction of the curls.  I then just tousled them with my hands and held them in place with a spritz of L'oreal Elnett Satin hairspray.

And that's that!  I think she looks stunning!  Maybe I'm biased because she's my sister...but I don't think so.  She just looks damn good.






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Monday, May 13, 2013

How to ROCK the Bare Eyes and Bold Lip Look (Makeup Tutorial)


If you've ever tried to replicate the "Bold Lip and Bare Eyes" look that we see so often on the runways, you might have come away from the experience wondering why it doesn't look as good when you do it. 

It's NOT because you're not a model, it's because even though their eyes look bare, they actually aren't!  In this weeks tutorial I'll show you how to get the bare eyes and bold lip look, and have it look totally finished and glam.

Don't forget to leave me comments, subscribe and give a thumbs up if you like the video! <3




PRODUCTS:











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Friday, May 10, 2013

Shu Uemura Lash Curler Review


Maybe I'm a little (or a lot) tardy to the party here, but I felt inspired to talk about this.

For a long time I have been very loyal to my Tart Eyelash Curler.  I keep it in my kit because I like that it has flat paddles instead of loops for your fingers, which I find more comfortable. . .maybe that's just me and my big man hands, but whatever it is what it is.  

Just out of habit, I have been loyally using my Tarte curlers for my personal makeup for a long time as well, I just like to use tools that feel familiar in my hands.  

However, with daily use I guess the wear and tear is a bit much, and I have broken two pair of them already.  A few weeks ago when my most recent pair broke I had had enough of repurchasing them, so I decided I was going to purchase the famous Shu Uemura Eyelash curlers and see if they were worth all the hype.

As most of you probably know, they are basically everyone and their momma's holy grail eyelash curler, but I was reluctant for two reasons...

First of all, I was thinking they look like every other eyelash curler on Earth. How different could they be?

Second of all, I usually like curlers that have a spring to increase the tension and these don't have one.

Well, let me tell you these ARE different and they don't need a spring.  I don't know what subtle miracles of engineering the fine folks at Shu Uemura have pulled off, but wow.

These babies manage to get all of my very wonky, super straight, stubborn lashes all perfectly into the curler and curl them beautifully with three squeezes. (While walking the curlers up the lash) They have also worked miraculously on every other person I have used as a guinea pig.  I think they are made by wizards.

The verdict: they have replaced my personal eyelash curlers as well as the ones in my kit.  I'm converted.  Don't get me wrong, the Tarte ones are good and I will keep them around as backup, but Shu has got the lock down on eyelash curlers.

I'm not one to fall in love with a product just because it's hyped up, but this time around, believe the hype, folks.

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Monday, May 6, 2013

Why You Should Be Washing Your Makeup Brushes...


If you are looking at this post and thinking to yourself  "C'mon Nicole, of course I wash my makeup brushes, thats a no brainer!" Then I applaud you for washing them regularly and give you a virtual high five.  But let me tell you, you would be SHOCKED at how many women I see who literally never wash them. (you know who you are...)

If you are in the other group reading this, and you're thinking "Wash shmash! Ain't  nobody got time for that!" then please hear me out.  I swear there are good reasons.

There are two main reasons to wash them.  The first one is superficial, but still important.

Your makeup will look better.

Dirty brushes mean there is residue of old makeup on them (as well as other things, but we'll get to that in a moment)  so you are going to muddy up your colors if your brushes are dirty.  Obviously if you usually use similar colors, or very light colors, this will not happen as quickly, but it's still a factor.

It's a total bummer to dip your brush into a gorgeous eyeshadow and have it look  less than desirable upon application.  Clean brushes mean more "true to pan" colors!

It is also 8,987 times easier to blend out the edges of your makeup with a clean brush (a distinctly factual number proven by science) and we all know blending is of the utmost importance to proper makeup application.

The second, and most important reason is BACTERIA

Makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria!

When you use a brush to apply your makeup, you use it to pick up the product, then it touches your skin where it picks up some dead skin cells and natural oils along with some bacteria that was on your face. Everyone has bacteria on their skin, even if it's clean.

Then the brush sits and basically marinates in old makeup, skin cells and bacteria until the next time you use it.  And the more you use it, the more it collects.

Now when you go to use it again, you are taking that bacteria which has had a chance to grow in the menage of  makeup and skin cells, and putting it back onto your face!

Are you seeing the importance yet?

Washing your brushes regularly can help reduce acne, and also reduce your chance of getting an eye infection and improve the overall health an appearance of your skin.


Some Notes:

-You don't need to go crazy and wash your brushes between every application, for the average makeup wearer once a week is plenty.

- BUT For those with acne prone skin, I would recommend washing the brushes you use on your skin (foundation, blush, concealer etc.)  as often as possible.

-You don't need to buy a fancy brush cleaner.  A gentle shampoo, like baby shampoo or a sulfate free formula will do just fine.  But if you like the idea of using the professional stuff  THIS CLEANER is fabulous and makes your brushes smell like delicious vanilla.

- You can also do daily (or semi daily) spot cleaning with a spray on brush cleaner like THIS ONE by Japonesque.

You basically just spray a little on the brush, wipe the brush off on a paper towel or cloth and let it air dry, which only takes a few minutes.  This is a good way to keep the brushes in check between full on washings, and is also great if you use a bright color and don't want it to mix into your makeup the next day.


And that's that.  Let me know in the comments if you want to see a tutorial of how I wash my brushes, maybe I will make a YouTube tutorial out of it!



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Sunday, May 5, 2013

Graphic Mint Eyeliner and Coral Lips Makeup Tutorial!

This weeks YouTube video is a tutorial on how to do this fun graphic, minty winged liner paired with a really nice coral lip.  It's like graphic liner for beginners!  

Check it out and don't forget to subscribe if you like!  And as always products are listed below.







PRODUCTS:











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