Spring Makeup - YSL Spring 2014 Beauty

I cannot believe we're already thinking Spring, but it's pretty much the end of January so it's time! I have to admit though that I've been eyeing the YSL Spring 2014 makeup collection since December. I saw promo images of it and practically fainted. OK, slight exaggeration there, but you catch my drift. It's beautiful!! The limited edition compacts are these pretty pinks with gold cutting through it like marble. It almost reminds me of branches. So gorgeous. And the colors are perfect for spring. Vibrant pinks and coral reds with soft lavender pink and peachy oranges. It's mere perfection. The Pivoine eyeshadow palette is great for a soft or punchy eye look. The pink may throw a few of you off, but theres a soft dusty pink in there that's beautiful on the lids as well as that soft peachy orange color with the perfect champagne color in the center to highlight and a deep brown for definition. It's definitely a feminine palette with all shimmery shades. I love it so much I almost didn't want to touch it! Below are the promo images and some swatches from the palette. 

Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette - Rosey Neutrals

Hey everyone! So this is the big one. The one everyone is waiting for and talking about and obsessing over. I'm right there in the middle of that crowd, no doubt. I've been lusting after this palette since I heard the first rumor of it's possible existence. I was lucky enough to spot that the palette was available when at the very first launch date on UrbanDecay.com and snatched it up before it sold out. It is crazy how quickly it sold through and that it sold through again when it came back in stock. Insanity! It's finally popping up at other retailers online so you can go to Urban Decay, Sephora or Ulta to try to get your hands on one of these if you so choose. In store launch is still scheduled for December 12th. So, let's go over my thoughts as well as some nice swatches and hopefully this can help you decide if this palette is right for you or not.

My Favorite Pink Blushes

I have a thing for pink blushes. Seriously. I just love those pale baby doll pink blushes that look soft and sweet on your cheeks. They're the kind of pinks that are universally flattering and I'm obsessed with buying them. There's something about a perfect pink blush that if I find a good one, I have to buy it. Even if I have five others at home. They do have slight variations though. I promise you, they do. So, I went though my collection the other day and pulled out my top five favorites. The ones I keep going back to and the ones that have deemed good enough to be repurchased. Here we go!

Clarins Splendours Color Quartet & Liner Eye Palette - Review

So technically this palette was released for Summer (I know I know, I'm a little late. It happens). I had seen it online and it was one of those things that I kept looking at over and over again, but it somehow kept getting pushed aside. I've never tried anything from Clarins. I've heard a lot about some of their skincare products, but not much about their makeup. This palette was just so gorgeous though, I kept going back to look at it! It has this intriguing embossed aztec looking pattern on the lid of the compact that has a reddish bronze overlay on top of it that gives it this beautiful casing and reflection. Then I looked at the shadow colors and those are just so my colors. As you can see, this purchase may have come a little late, but I went ahead and finally purchased this and I'm so excited.

Stila Stay All day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners

OK, so I'm not the biggest liquid eye liner fan. I tend to avoid it as much as possible. It's just so much work, you know? Of course, it's really all about practice practice practice. It's true. Really, it is. I'm pretty good at applying it now, but I really only reach for it on evenings out for dramatic looks. If you've kept up with me lately, you'll have heard me talking about the Lancome Artliners. They're amazing and my absolute favorite when I need a foolproof option. Easy application with a flexible felt tip. Recently though, I was gifted a set of the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners. I have to admit, they're pretty damn good. The liner comes to an extremely fine tip so you can get an extremely precise application. The felt tip, unlike the Lancome, is stiffer so it won't move. I don't consider that a good or bad thing. It's more about personal preference. I find that I'm able to work with it without a hassle. It also applies smoothly. It doesn't skip and I never have worry about it running out of ink half way through application which is really annoying when you're on a roll with a line. Honestly, you know what I mean, right?! It also does stay on. It won't fade or move once it's dried and set. I've tested it wearing it in the shower and it doesn't budge. I think this is a really great one to try. They come in a few colors. A black, a brown, a dark blue and a dark green from what I know. I got them all in the set and I think all the colors look and work great. I would say that applying liner quickly or everyday, I'd probably still reach for my Lancome ones, but for a precise special occasion look, these are definitely a fantastic option.

Have any of you tried these liners? How did you get on with them?

Talk soon. Kisses, J

NARS | Guy Bourdin - Review

Hey hey hey. So many brands release holiday collections it's sensory overload. Seriously. But when I saw that NARS was doing a collection inspired by Guy Bourdin, I was so excited. I love art and photography and Guy Bourdin has some amazing photography. Known for his bold imagery with vibrant colors, his work is a perfect pairing with NARS. Not to mention his work is very provocative and sexy. It's seriously a match made in heaven and I really think NARS did this one justice. Very rich and vibrant colors. Ugh, I just can't even describe. It's so nice for the edgy girl that's not afraid to be bold and out there.

Winter Skin Care - Body

Living in LA I'm so out of the loop when it comes to weather. I swear living here is like living in a protective bubble sometimes. It's the land where the seasons never change - as they say. It is, however, getting slightly colder. 50 - 60 degree weather. And yes, I complain. lol. It's freezing! With the change in temperature, I also see a change in my skin. Even worse when I travel to the east coast. I swear to you that if I do nothing, my skin will start looking like a 100 year old turtle. It's scary shit, I tell you. So, I make sure to keep tabs on things and spend the time to keep things in check! Thus, bringing us here to this post. I want to share with you how I keep my skin from being dry and dehydrated with certain steps and products. Let's get started, eh?

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - Review

Hey there. So, as you are all surely aware, the weather is getting colder. Duh! Now, I personally have the driest lips all year round. Oily/Combo skin and dry chapped lips. Go figure. I do, however, notice that it hits harder in the winter time. I had mentioned in my post all about lips that I usually use the medicated Blistex in the blue pot to cure and dry, cracked or chapped lips..... until now. I finally took the plunge and picked up a tube of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and it is quickly becoming a staple must have. To start, it comes in a tube. Like a big tube. Like the size of a hand cream. The reason for this is that it's really more of an all purpose product. You can use it on chapped lips, minor scrapes or burns, dry cuticles or anything that looks like it could use some serious moisture and protection. The product comes out of the tube in a pinkish tone as a creamy gel like consistency. Similar to vaseline but not as thick feeling. You will need literally the tiniest amount to cover an area. I barely use a hair of it to cover my entire lips. It goes on feeling smooth and moisturizing. I have found that if you take the time to massage it into the lips (or skin), it will really hydrate and smooth over any dry or flakey areas. You can also feel that it coats the area a bit and gives protection which is great for being out on a cold winter day. It really feels amazing as you apply it and is very comfortable. It does have a slight medicated type scent to it. It doesn't bother me, but if you're really picky with that kind of thing, maybe take a sniff before you take the plunge. I honestly just cannot praise this enough because I can feel it help my lips so so so much. It has both immediate and long term effects. It's the best thing I've used to really help my lips from feeling like they're going to fall off! I've been carrying this in my bag and my mom had a burn that was starting to scab and peel a bit on her hand. I pulled this out and she smoothed it onto her burn. It was crazy how it just smoothed over the dry flakiness and looked completely moisturized. It is really good stuff! I really only use it for my lips, but its pretty handy how all purpose a product like this can be. It can really come in handy. It's seriously my new favorite thing! Have any of you tried this?

Talk soon. Kisses, J

I found mine at Ulta, but you can also pick one up at any Elizabeth Arden counter.

Loving This Look - Tantalizing Eyes

Lately I've been obsessing over purples and cranberry colors. I think it's a combination of Fall and the Halloween spirit in the air. But then I saw these ridiculously cool flowers called Fritillaria and have been obsessed. For one, they have this really amazing checkerboard like pattern on the petals. Yes, that's legit. It looks straight up out of a Tim Burton film or something. Aside from that, I just loved the dramatic eggplant color that they had. Some even had this cranberry reddish purple color as well. And from that stemmed this look. A deep tantalizing purple/aubergine makeup look. I started with M.A.C's Plum Dressing (A reddish purple color) on the base of the eyelid. Focusing the color in the inner and center part of the lower lid. I also applied a small amount to the inner part of my lower lash line. I then took M.A.C's Nocturnelle (love that name!) and placed the color in a sideways 'V' shape at the outer corner of the lid and then took a fluffy blending brush to blend it into Plum Dressing as well as to soften any harsh lines around the edges. And of course, used it along the outer 1/3 of the lower lash line. I then took a little bit of Blackberry which is a deep matte smokey purple and applied it to the outer edge of my eyes along the top and bottom lash line just to give it some definition. To finish it all off, I applied NARS Via Veneto to the inner rim of the eye which always makes the eyes pop in a sexy sultry way. And you can't forget mascara! Armani Eyes to Kill in black is perfect for full lashes that won't get lost in the deep colors of the shadows. Moving onto the face, I skipped blush and just used the Dior Bronzer to warm up the complexion. Using a large powder brush, I dusted it lightly on the top of the forehead, cheeks and a small amount just under the lip to give it that pouty look. And finally, my favorite nude pink lipstick, Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby, went onto the lips. It's a beautiful creamy nude pink that is perfect for all complexions. I always have difficulty finding good nude type colors for my lips as they are naturally a deep mauve/berry color and this color is just perfect! I'm loving this look for Fall/Autumn. It would be perfect for an evening out.

Talk soon. Kisses, J

Click through for product list

Loving this look - Dark Eyes for Fall

Just between yesterday and today I finally feel like Fall is somewhere in sight here in LA. I love makeup in the colder months. I feel like with all the layers we wear and more buttoned up we are, we can get away with bolder makeup looks. Summer is really all about quick and easy with pops of color. Fall, on the other hand, is about the bold and sultry makeup. I personally love doing a messy dark smokey eye. I think to keep it modern and edgy, the less perfect you do it, the better. And not using false lashes, winged liner or going overboard on the face keeps it focused and not fussy. I started out here with Burberry's Midnight Brown all over the eyelid blended up into the crease of the eye and they smudged down underneath the eye from the outer corner all the way into the tear duct area. Midnight Brown is one of my all time favorite eyeshadows. It's the perfect cool toned brown with really subtle fine silver shimmer running through. You can get a soft sheer wash by using a fluffy blending brush (like the MAC 217) or a more intense application with a flat shader brush. I like to use the flat shader and then blend the edges with the 217 to get rid of the harsh edges. I then went in with Midnight Black eyeshadow and applied it to the outer corner of the eye and a little on the inner corner leaving the center of the lids untouched. I did the same pattern underneath the eye and then blended the black and brown just a bit so that there are no harsh lines. Next I took M.A.C's Coffee eye pencil and applied that into my waterline and smudged it into my top lash line. And to finish off the eyes, I applied Diorshow Blackout mascara which is perfect because it's volumizing and really really black!

To keep the face effortless and light, I used Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation and then applied the Clarins Graphic Expression Face & Blush Powder to my cheeks and slightly up into the temples just to warm up the face. And last, but never least, I used Tom Ford's Pink Dusk lipstick which is the perfect subtle nude pink color.

This is a really bold look, but easy. The less you try to perfect the eye, the more modern (I think) it will look. Great for a night out!

Click through for Product List

Alpha H Liquid Gold - Review

When I decided to change up my skincare routine a few months ago, I really wanted something that would help smooth my skin texture and help get rid of some scars and dark spots. I scar really easily on my face. Even if I never touch a break out, even if it's teeny tiny, it always leaves a mark. So annoying. And it's really hard to find good products to help get rid of them. It takes forever and some of them don't even really do much. So, I had heard about Alpha H Liquid Gold and thought, why not? It's had so many amazing reviews that I figured I might as well give it a go. I'm so happy that I did, because this will forever be a part of my skincare routine. It's seriously as good as you might have heard. It has helped even out my skin tone and has done so much more that I wasn't even thinking about when I purchased.

This product targets to resurface the texture of your skin, brighten it, tighten/firm it, even out tone, help with wrinkles and helps keep your skin clear of breakouts. Wow! Really?! Sounds like such a gimmick. I swear it's not. It's really helped me personally with all of those things. Aside from wrinkles as I'm too young to have any I can't attest to that yet. Ask me again in 10 yrs (or 30, if I'm lucky!). To give you a little background, Glycolic acid is a natural acid. It comes from sugar cane. What it does is loosens dead cells on the surface of your skin. Basically, exfoliating your skin with a concentrated dose. Getting rid of those dead/old skin cells will allow cleaner, newer skin cells to show at the surface giving the appearance of brighter and more renewed skin. I did notice the first few times of using it that I don't look much different when I first wake up, but as soon as I wash my face I can see what it did for me. It's sort of like you need to wash off all those loose skin cells and then you'll see the difference. I find that my face looks more radiant, pores look tightened and less noticeable, skin tone looks more even and texture is more smoothed. I think that this has evened out my skin tone more than any other product. I've been using this for three months and it's made a significant difference. I actually started noticing results with that after the first week or two of using. It works fast!

Ok, onto how to use this. It's important to apply this in the evening before going to sleep. It suggests using every other night which has worked well for me. You apply it to clean, dry skin. Dry skin is important. Dry your face after washing and do not use any serums or creams when you use this product. It needs to go onto your dry skin so that it can penetrate and work it's magic. So, for liquid gold night, use this and only this so you get proper and maximum results. I just pour out some of the liquid onto a cotton pad and apply it over my entire face and down onto my neck. It tingles very slightly. I almost don't notice it personally. I do, however, like to use my jade roller beforehand to get the blood flowing in my face and I tend to feel the liquid penetrate better and tingle a bit more. I feel like it works better that way. It's not at all uncomfortable to me. Then I go to sleep! I do want to note that it's important to use sunscreen the following morning. Because you've just done this exfoliation, your skin is likely to burn more easily. So, be sure to protect it and use SPF.

Overall, I think this is a brilliant product. It is a bit more difficult to locate in the U.S. so I order it online from CultBeauty.com. I pretty much would recommend this to anybody. It's really good!

Quick Tip: Understanding Color Undertones for Lip Colors

Ever worn a certain color and noticed it changes the cast of your skin tone or teeth, etc? Not all pinks are created equal and that goes for all colors. A cooler (blue toned) color, for example, can make your teeth appear more white where as a warmer (yellow toned) color can make your teeth look more yellow.

This is why I love cooler toned lip colors and when I do go for a warmer tone, I try not to go too orangey or I look for warmer toned colors with blue shimmer so that you can get the best of both worlds. That's not to say that warmer tones aren't good or pretty, but when you're looking to brighten your smile, try shades with cooler undertones to make it pop! Hope that's a bit helpful! Talk soon.

Concealer

I've recently had so many people ask me about concealer. What is it? How do you use it? Do I need it? First and foremost - yes, you need it! Mostly everyone (unless you're perfect in which case I am no longer friends with you. jk) will need some type of concealer at some point. You're foundation can't do everything by itself. Once you discover what concealer can do, you will never leave it out of your routine. It's really a secret weapon and let me tell you why...

Quick tip - Keep it Clean

It's so important to keep your face as clean as possible to avoid dirt and grime clogging up your skin. This goes for anyone, but especially for those with sensitive skin that find that you break out easily. Here are a few things to keep in mind!

Pillowcases: Wash them often! I rotate through pillowcases at least once a week, sometimes twice a week. You're sleeping against them all night so you want them to be as clean as possible.

Makeup brushes: So many of us get lazy and don't wash them as often as we should. I tend to wait longer to clean eye brushes, but any brush that gets used on my face gets cleaned at least twice a week, if not more. You don't want that bacteria collecting in your brush and just continuing to use it!

Wash cloths: For those of you that use wash cloths to wash your face, be sure to wash these as well. Of course, you're probably rinsing after each use, but be sure to throw it in the wash and just keep a few to rotate through.

Phones!: I've seen this happen to so many people where they start breaking out on the sides of their cheeks and don't know why. Phones are placed in purses, on tables, in pockets and they're touched by our fingers all day long. Try to clean your phone off before touching it to your face. Or better yet, just use a headset and avoid it altogether!

Hands off: Stop touching your face! As much as we wash our hands, they're still constantly touching things and collecting bacteria all day long. Try to avoid touching your face unless you've just washed your hands to avoid transferring any bacteria.

Hope that helps everyone and especially those that find themselves breaking out and can't figure out why! Keep all of these things in mind and it might help alleviate some of that!
Talk soon.

My Must Have Brushes & Makeup Tools

Brushes and tools are incremental to creating the perfect makeup look. Below are my absolute must haves for my every makeup bag. Of course, it is quite a personal thing so your picks may vary slightly. Especially considering what you do as part of your makeup look. Not everyone uses eyeshadow or applies foundation so you can definitely pick and choose the brushes you'd need for the look you want to create. I'm featuring quite a few brushes from M.A.C and Real Techniques. They are the two brands that seem to constantly dominate my makeup bag. 

M.A.C brushes have wooden handles with nickel plated brass ferrules (that's the metal part between the brush and the handle). The brushes themselves are hand sculpted. I find that a few of them shed upon the first couple of uses, but after one or two washes, I usually don't have an issue. I think M.A.C is quite well priced for the quality, but if you are looking for similar brushes at a lower cost, Sigma brushes are great alternatives. They have competitive pricing and the quality is still good. I'm representing my M.A.C brushes here though because I've literally had mine for about 8 years and they are still in excellent condition which is a true test to their quality.

Real Techniques Brushes are a more recent acquisition, but I am obsessed. They have seriously changed my make up application world! They are cruelty free so they are all synthetic which is quite lovely. They wash so well, never shed and I find that each brush is great for multiple uses. So versatile. My only annoyance with these it that the handles for the larger face brushes (Buffing and Expert) are so fat! Really nice to hold in your hand when applying, but they take up so much space in smaller makeup bags. I still carry them everywhere though because they're brilliant and are essential to my everyday routine. 

OK, let's get started with the Face!

FACE

RT Contour Brush: I find this great for contouring as it is named. It's shaped so that you place the product on the tip of the brush and then when you swirl and blend, the shorter bristles around the point will help blend out the product you placed on the top center. I like that this is a smaller sized face brush so you can be precise with application. I actually own two of these because I love using it for setting powders as well. I only like to powder my T-zone instead of my entire face so this brush is perfect for applying powder in those specific areas and not getting it everywhere.

RT Buffing Brush: This is one of my favorites for liquid foundation. I tend to swap between this and the Expert Face Brush (below) depending. With this brush, you just keep swirling it around your face and it literally buffs the foundation into your skin so beautifully and seamlessly. Because the bristles are a bit long, they are flexible. So, I find this works best with the more liquidy liquid foundations that are easier to move around. I have to say though that my favorite thing to use this brush with is cream blushes. I just tap it into the blush and pat it onto my cheeks. Then swirl around lightly to blend it in. 

RT Expert Face Brush: This is my all time favorite because you can use it for everything! It's perfect for any liquid or cream foundation. I even use this to blend and buff in concealer. I find you can either swirl to blend or even pat it around to get a heavier coverage in certain areas where you might need. Concealer, for instance, I pat it in with the tip of the brush so that it concentrates the product in that one spot and covers without moving the product. The shape is perfect for fitting into all the nooks and crannies of the face. I'll even use it sometimes with powder products to contour my face. Literally, anything you need to use on your face can be applied with this brush. It's the most versatile. Love it!

M.A.C 129 Short Handle Powder Brush: I enjoy this brush for powder or bronzer. It's big, but not too big. This is actually a short handle brush which I love because it's good to carry in your bag for any 

large angled brush: perfect for blush

M.A.C 168 Large Angle Contour Brush: I like using this brush to apply powder blush. It's soft, fluffy and blends the product well.

RT Domed Shadow Brush: I know a lot of people use a flat synthetic brush for concealer, but this is so much better! It just flawlessly buffs the concealer into your skin. And if you need a heavier coverage on spots, just tap/pat it over the blemish. I also love their other eyeshadow brush for this that's a bit fluffier. They're both amazing for concealing.

Beauty Blender: I generally hate makeup sponges. They absorb all of your product and they don't blend seamlessly. This, however, is unlike any other makeup sponge out there. And although many brands that have come out with knock offs, none have come anywhere close to this. You have to run it under water and then squeeze out the excess. It will double in size and stay damp. This makes it super soft and because it is retaining water, it won't absorb as much of your product. The shape fits perfectly into every part of your face to apply foundation and concealer. The bottom for larger areas and the smaller top for smaller areas like around your eyes or nose. And because it's rounded, it won't leave any marks of the edge of a sponge like others do. You just apply your foundation and bounce this all over your face for an almost airbrushed look. Brilliant!

I know it seems like a lot of brushes for your face products. To be honest, I swap between them daily depending on my mood and products. But, if I had to slim it down, (you know, like if someone was twisting my arm) I would have the RT Expert Face Brush for foundation and concealer, RT Contour Brush for setting powder and the M.A.C 168 for blush and/or bronzer. Done and done!

EYES

M.A.C 266 Angled Brush: This is fantastic to use for filling in your eyebrows if you use a powder. I also use this to apply eyeshadow along my lashline like eyeliner. I find that this angled brush from M.A.C is really really perfect. It's long enough, quite thin and soft, but still firm enough to get precise application. I have brushes like this one from other brands and none of them get it right like this.

M.A.C 213 Fluff Brush: This is the perfect brush to apply concentrated shadow in a flat area like the entire eyelid. It's soft and simple. Gets the job done.

M.A.C 224 Tapered Blending: Everyone has to have one of these. Even two! It's just the essential fluffy brush that you need to take an eyeshadow into the crease of the eye and to blend everything out. It's soft and fluffy so it buffs and blends perfectly. The reason I say you could own two is because if you like doing smokey eyes, once your brush gets too dirty with one color, you'll need a clean one to keep blending so that it doesn't make your eyeshadow all muddy. I also like the M.A.C 217. They're quite similar so it's a bit of personal preference. I have one of each. Yes, I'm obsessed with brushes!

M.A.C 228 Mini Shader Brush: I don't hear that many people talk about this brush, but it's one of my favorites. It's like a miniature version of the 213. I love doing smokey eyes and applying eyeshadow underneath my eyes. This is the perfect size to do that. It just smudges the shadow down there and places the perfect amount of product. It's also good for applying color to the inner corner of your eyes where most people like to highlight. 

M.A.C 204 Lash Brush: I call this a spooly. I use it for my eyebrows, not my lashes. I fill in my eyebrows with either a shadow or pencil and this is the pefect thing to brush through your brows afterwards. It will comb them into place and help blend the color you put on. A lot of eyebrow pencils come with one of these on the opposite end though so you might be able to skip this one.

Tweezerman Tweezers: Every girl should own a pair of good tweezers. You never know when you'll need to pluck the odd hair here or there. I find tweezerman's to be my favorite. They just work great and last forever. 

LIPS

M.A.C 318 Lip Brush: This is the retractable lip brush which I like because most of the time, if you're going to use a lip brush, you'll probably need to take it out with you in case you'll need to touch up. I rarely use lip brushes or lipstick, but when you want a precise lipstick application, there's no way around this. You'll need one!

Fingers!: Never forget the cheapest makeup tool that exists. Your fingers! I love love love brushes, but I also don't always have the time to put on makeup let alone pull out my brushes. And sometimes, fingers just work better. I sometimes apply foundation that way. Always use them for cream shadows. Often use them to apply concealer. They're so versatile and usually the warmth of your fingers will blend the products into your skin seamlessly. Never underestimate what you already have!

Last piece of advice I have is to always care for your brushes. Keep them clean. Clean them properly and store them appropriately. Even a good brush will be short lived if it isn't cared for. Wash them often. Use baby shampoo or a proper brush cleaner. Never ever let water go near the ferrules or handles. It will break down the glue and wood which will make your brush fall apart. Not cool. And always be sure to reshape the brush before allowing them to lay flat to dry. If the bristles aren't shaped, it will dry in a funky shape and never really go back to being the same. 

Hope this helps some of you get some ideas on what brushes you might need for your own collection. There are tons of brands out there that make brushes so you can always experiment and find what works for you. Until next time!

p.s. You can find M.A.C brushes at any M.A.C store, counter or maccosmetics.com. And you can find Real Techniques at Ulta stores or Ulta.com.

Boy Proof Your Makeup

Oh boy. Date night. Hmmm... what to wear? What to do with my hair? Damn, I forgot to paint my nails. Should I shave my legs? Uh, maybe I'll just wear pants. So many things to think about! 

I wanted to share with all of you a few tips on how to make your makeup "boy proof". And just making sure you're paying attention to the right things when it comes to your beauty routine. I personally always find it's best to keep yourself looking as natural as possible. Less is more. You want your date to be looking at you, not your makeup. But, at the end of the day; if you're the girl that wears liquid liner and red lips everyday, just go for it. I think it's more important to be yourself and if that's how you feel comfortable looking, then who cares about anyone else! Anyways, I'm no expert, but these are the things that I've come to learn:

Lipgloss. As much as I love lip gloss and want my lips to be shiny and lustrous, too much of anything aint a good thing. Like when it looks like you're melting. Yuck! If you're going to wear it, be sure not to over apply. If I'm going to wear a lipgloss, I also won't reapply after that first initial wear off. Why? Because if you want to reach in for a kiss or even a peck on the cheek at the end of the night, that is not the feeling you want to give off. Sticky! Avoid the gloss and your boy with be thankful. 

Contouring v. Bronzing

So.... my cousin has been asking me to show her how to contour for months now. And because I'm awesome, here it is! I thought I'd combine it with how to bronze your face as well. I've noticed that a lot of people seem to get confused with the difference between bronzing and contouring. Probably because many people use bronzers to contour and so it all gets a little mixed up. I'm going to try to take you through the difference between the two, what products you can use and how to place the product in the right spot. Here we go!

Contouring is all about creating dimension to your face. It's literally using color to shade your face and give the appearance of shadows. When something is darker/shadowed, it will appear to recede. You can use this illusion to make it seem as though your face is slimmer, more chiseled, etc, etc. Although you can use some similar products to bronze your face, this is a completely different concept. Bronzing up the face is all about looking like you've been in the sun. As though you've been sun-kissed and you're all bronzy and glowy like a Victoria's Secret model. Hopefully that clears up a few things. Let's get into products and the nitty gritty. Contouring up first!

Review - Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigments

Recently, Maybelline released pigments as part of their Color Tattoo line. As a huge fan of their Color Tattoo Cream Shadows, I knew I definitely wanted to give these a try. I picked these up from Ulta a couple of weeks ago. Luckily, they actually had one of every color at the Ulta I visited. But, by one of every color, I literally mean just one of each color. Only a few shades had multiples left! My first instinct was to buy all the neutral shades, but I decided to venture out and picked up an assortment of colors. They're priced around $6-$7 depending on where you buy. Maybelline was on sale that day so I got mine for around five bucks. Woohoo!

OK, onto what you're really wanting to know. How does the quality compare? I have to say that I have mixed feelings about these. Below are dry swatches of the colors I picked up. My first thought upon opening was that the powder is very very fine. These are quite messy and you have to be careful when working with them. The second thing I noticed is that the pigmentation varies from shade to shade.

Quick Tip - expiration dates

Am I the only one who didn't know this? I'm always wondering when it's time to throw out makeup and skincare products. Who knew the answer was right in front of me the whole time?! Ever seen that symbol (left)? It's printed on most cream/liquid products indicating the amount of months the product is good for from the time it is opened. Duh!

HALL OF FAME - Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil (& Skincare talk)

Amazing! That's what I would say if I had to sum this up in one word. And to be frank, I never, ever, ever thought I would say that about an oil that goes on my face! My skin is definitely on the oily side. I will get shiny throughout the day, but I had come to a point where I found myself using a lot of products geared towards oily skin that would strip my skin. I would be left with skin that was tight and didn't look supple or hydrated. What was I doing wrong?!

So, I'm definitely not a skincare expert. I actually have little understanding of how it all works. Recently though, I've been reading and reading up on the subject because I want to have gorgeous skin (who doesn't?!). Let's face it. The better your skin is, the less makeup you need and the better the makeup you do use will look. Anyhow, one of the things I've come to find in my research is that oily skin can also be dehydrated. Wait, what?! How is that possible? It made so much sense though. I would see that my skin didn't have radiance and it didn't have that supple/plump look of super healthy skin. It kind of looked sad and dull, with oil on top (ew, that sounded worse that I thought it would). I've now found that the more you dry and strip oily skin, the more oil it will produce to compensate. Not good.