Blush has not been part of my makeup routine for quite some time. I was more interested in looking like a freshly glazed donut à la Glossier, using a cream highlighter and bronzer. But when temperatures turn cold, my complexion starts to look ghostly. I was overdue for a bright, pick-me-up.
At first glance Marc Jacobs Air Blush looks heavy in pigment but I’m so glad I gave it a try. This blush is probably one of the few that looks flattering yet natural-looking. More importantly, I look awake when I’m wearing this blush (because there’s nothing worse than looking tired and pale at my 9-to-5).
I’ve always been a huge fan of Stila beauty products. When I covered backstage beauty at New York Fashion Week, Stila was one of the few brands that you could see on the runway and then easily translate to everyday life by recreating that look at home. Whether you are totally new to Stila or looking to add a few extra goodies to your makeup stash, I’ve rounded up my favorite Stila beauty products right now.
Aqua Glow Serum Foundation—If you’ve been reading my blog for a long time then you know I never wear foundation. What I love about this new product for spring is that it doesn’t feel like foundation. Just a couple drops helps eliminate any redness and smoothes my complexion.
One Step Complexion Brush #33—This buffing brush is the ideal shape and size for applying foundation and concealer. Although I’ll admit, I haven’t been wearing concealer lately, I’ve been using the smaller brush when I apply foundation around the sides of my nose.
Convertible Lip & Cheek Color—This dual lip and cheek color comes in six shades and can easily fit in to the tiniest of clutches. I’m a huge fan of cream blushes because they last so much longer than powder finishes. Peony and Sweet Pea are my favorites.
Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick—A formula that applies like a gloss and dries to a matte finish that lasts all day. This tube is magic, I swear! Right now I’ve been wearing Baci, a neutral pinky nude, to work every day and at night Beso, a classic red, is my go-to.
Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette—Eyeshadow palettes can be extremely overwhelming, and if you’re not a master of exquisite eye looks, Stila is a great place to start. Each palette is packed with 12 luxe eyeshadows that can be worn wet or dry and each come with a look book of easy tutorials.
Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner—I’ve tested many liquid liners but this is the only one I keep multiples of—one in my makeup case and another in my purse. Applying is so easy with this felt-tip liner and I never have to worry about unnecessary smudge.
Do you love Stila beauty products like myself? Let me know some of your favorites in the comments section!
Yesterday was my 27th birthday and it felt like any other ordinary day. My evening was special though—my fiancé surprised me with fresh pink roses, dangly gold earrings from BaubleBar and a rollerball of my favorite fragrance—Beach by Bobbi Brown.
My birthday makeup on the other hand, was far from ordinary—I wanted to look fresh faced. I’ve been religiously taking care of my skin (read: consistently applying day/night moisturizer, eye cream and exfoliating) in hopes it would require little effort with everything else. I test drove NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Oaxaca (available July 15th on Nars.com) on my lids. I love how smooth the cream shadow stick is and it lasted the entire day without creasing. I’ve been on a blue mascara kick (read my earlier post) but I decided to opt for a more classic eye look and coat my lashes in Benefit Roller Lashfor defined length and curl.
I’ve been living off my NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30—it’s light, effective and gives me a good amount of coverage that doesn’t leave me feeling bare. I’ve never really been in to contouring but now that strobing is the new makeup technique, I’m all about it! So until I put aside some time to watch a tutorial, I’ve been stroking my cheekbones with NARS Copacabana Illuminator.
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
There’s no denying that false eyelashes add instant glamour to any beauty look. Wearing falsies may seem complicated but it really only takes just a few minutes to prep and apply. Here’s a simple five-step guide on how to apply false lashes featuring one of my favorite brands, Esqido mink lashes, known for their weightless genuine mink fur that can be worn up to 30 times (so you can get more bang for your buck!). Personally, I love wearing false lashes for every day glamour and special occasions. For this tutorial, I’m using Little Black Lash ($34), a light and versatile pair for a natural beauty look. If you want to enhance your eyes without it looking obvious, I highly recommend this pair! Read The Post
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