As someone who loves wearing makeup and hoarding beauty products, I’m ashamed to admit that last month was a beauty disaster for me. Between starting a new job and moving in to another apartment, my once convenient beauty routine had fallen a part. Luckily, my April makeup forecast is looking a lot brighter than March and I’m excited to share with you new makeup and tools I’ve discovered after a much-needed beauty spree at Ulta.
I used to love waking up early in the morning to take my time primping and getting ready… now not so much. I need every minute of sleep possible. Now I tend to rely on a quick and fool proof routine and since the ‘no makeup’ makeup look was a popular trend on the spring runways, I thought I would take that inspiration and incorporate it in to my daily beauty routine. Here’s a look at my spring makeup essentials:
Lately I’ve been obsessing over cream shadow sticks and smudge pots. I’m really lazy when it comes to my eye makeup but if I could live off one-step eyeshadows forever, I would. In the midst of moving I discovered Mally Age Rebel Shadow in Smokey Quartz, a brightening and slightly shimmery shadow stick that’s easy to blend with my finger or brush. For a cohesive look I typically like to smudge some color along my bottom lash line but again, all depending on time. I prefer Japonesque Professional Eye Shadow Fluff Brush because of its flat shape for blending purposes. I also like e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot in Cruisin’ Chic, a pretty shimmery taupe/nude that costs a mere $3. I know I’ve raved about this mascara on my blog before but I really can’t get enough of Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara. My lashes always feel light and feathery and I love that feeling. I like to lightly apply layers upon layers of Glossier Priming Moisturizer (another product that’s still in rotation) on my skin for a fresh and dewy look. This may sound weird and I’m not a fan of this word but dare I say my skin feels ‘plump’ after using this? If I think of a better word to describe that feeling I’ll let you know. In the meantime, take note of this new tinted gel moisturizer from bareMinerals. Complexion Rescue is quite possibly one of the best tinted moisturizers I’ve ever tried. The sales associate at Ulta totally sold me on its counterpart, a Smoothing Face Brush that helps give you that airbrushed look. I’m not sure I’ve gotten quite a perfect finish like that but the brush definitely helps with blending and keeping it natural looking. I’m close to running on empty of my Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener—no dark shadows with this tube! I’ve always been a fan of Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek compacts but when I saw this Beauty in Bloom Convertible Color Trio, I thought these would be perfect to stash in my makeup pouch for work. Right now Tulip, a deep berry, is my go-to cheek color.
What spring beauty products are you loving right now? Drop me a line below!
As much as I love a good cream or gel blush, I’ve always been a powder devotee when it comes to my rouge. With warmer temperatures right around the corner, Le Métier de Beauté The Cheeky Chic Kaleidoscope has me all giddy for spring. I’ve been alternating daily between these two shades in the scope: Velvet Underground, a pure matte salmon-pink; and Dali, a pure matte classic pink. Both of these shades are primed with a base of pure white (which is why it lays on skin with brightness and clarity). Ondine, is a silky matte beige-nude (a pretty bronze for summer) and Electra, is a sheer gold luminizer. When I’m not in a rush to primp, I like to apply Electra on the tops of my cheeks for a shimmery finish. (Side note: I stumbled upon this really helpful guide on Pinterest on how to apply blush according to your face shape.) If you’re unsure how these shades will look on your complexion, I highly recommend visiting the Le Métier de Beauté counter at Neiman Marcus and spending some quality time with their experts. I always leave with a bevy of samples and a Parisian chic makeup look.
The holiday party season is the perfect excuse to wear false lashes for your holiday glam makeup look. I’ve sampled a bevy of drugstore and high-end false lashes but nothing comes close to Esqido mink lashes, known for their genuine mink fur that can be worn up to 30 times. Their lashes are so luxe and I never have any problems or snafus when wearing them!
For this look, I wanted the focus to be on my eyes. I’m still loving my NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Phoebe, which can be applied wet or dry. During the day, I prefer separated and defined lashes and at night, I like to kick it up a notch using Lancôme Grandiose Mascara. The Swan Neck Wand proves for an easy application to lengthen, lift and volumizes lashes. Now it’s time for falsies! If you’re wearing a brand new pair of Esqido mink lashes, make sure you measure the length of the false lash so it fits your eye shape. If it’s too long, cut the outer edge with a pair of scissors. Check out my simple step-by-step tutorial on how to apply false lashes like a pro. For this look, I’m wearing Esqido Little Black Lash. I highly recommend checking out their Holiday Lash Guide to help you find the perfect pair. Finally, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner is my all-time favorite liner and I use it post-application to fill in any gaps or cover up any excess lash glue. It’s amazing how a simple pair of false lashes can make a big difference in a beauty look!
Photography by Kate Ann
Special thanks to Esqido for sponsoring this post!
Crisp fall weather ignites cozy knit sweaters, over the knee boots and my personal favorite, smokey eyes. It was love at first sight when I spotted Bobbi Brown Smokey Nudes Palette at a beauty event at Neiman Marcus. Featuring eight mix-and-match shades in soft matte, sparkle and metallic finishes, this is the best palette for smokey eyes. This is a limited edition palette but it’s by far the most timeless beauty product I’ve purchased in a while. I used to heavily rely on tutorials but there comes a time when you get tired of following directions and just want to dive in. And that’s exactly what I did. If you’re overwhelmed by this palette, here’s a good rule of thumb: start with a light all-over shadow and then layer with a medium lid shadow, dark liner and a sparkle eye shadow on top. Finish your look by adding some all-over color with this Shimmer Brick in Sandstone (this also doubles as an eye palette if you desire but I prefer to swipe this on my cheeks).
Bobbi Brown Smokey Nudes Palette, $65
Bobbi Brown Sandstone Shimmer Brick Compact, $45
You may remember from my summer makeup essentials post that I like to layer a cream blush under my powder formula. I had been using a drugstore brand that wasn’t necessarily disappointing but just not quite a must-have. Benefit Cosmetics recently sent me their latest makeup concoction and I’m super pleased with the results. Majorette Booster Blush is a cream-to-powder compact with a pink-peach shade and a refreshing peach and pomegranate scent. How you wear this blush is simple: twirl with your fingertips or blush brush and blend onto the apples of your cheeks for a peachy glow. Layer with your favorite blush for a long-wearing finish. Benefit never disappoints with their creative packaging and I’m more than impressed with this blush. It’s a little on the pricey side but it’s totally worth every penny if you crave long-wearing flushed cheeks.
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