July 2013 Beauty Favorites

Let's all take a moment of silence for our beloved friend, Summer.

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Does anyone else feel that as soon as August hits, summer is basically out the door? August always flies by and while autumn is my absolute favorite season, I'm sad summer will be gone soon. We've had a really good summer where I live and my summer "want to do" list is far from completed (hardly even started, truth be told). But I've been loving my makeup routine this month because I've found some really great products that make it quick and simple but look "done up" at the same time.

The Products I Can't Get Enough Of Recently:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation and Airbuki Brush

This brand new foundation by Tarte has taken over my makeup routine; I haven't used anything else since I got it. Nothing. Check out my in-depth review of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation here.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Most people love this, a few hate it. The complaints are "it doesn't blend well" or "it's chalky". I find that it is slightly harder to blend than the old Urban Decay matte eyeshadows, but they have WAY better staying power and is really smooth; win. I use this everyday.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Blunt

I like this color for summer because it is a pretty gold color with a little bit of copper to it. Perfect for all over the lid.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara

I've been loving this mascara for everyday use and it has improved the look and feel of my lashes the more I've used it! They seem a little longer and definitely healthier. Check out my review on the Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara. 

Nyx Blush in Summer Peach

I picked up this blush recently and worn it nearly every day. It is very similar to my Nars Deep Throat blush but just ever so slightly more pink than coral.

Calvin Klein Eyeshadow in Artic

This may sound silly to some but I use this eyeshadow as a highlighter. I love it for this purpose because it creates a really natural looking highlight when applied with a light hand. Most other highlighters are too frosty and can accentuate summer oilyness. This has the tiniest of sheen but is mostly a really smooth matte. This works best for a natural everyday look during the summer to bring out the highpoints of my face without adding to my natural grease-glow.

Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion

I reviewed the Banana Boat Self-Tanner here not too long ago because it's become my new favorite drugstore self-tanner. It's ridiculously easy to apply and provides a natural and longer lasting color than any other drugstore product I've tried. At around 7 bucks you can't beat that!

Let me know what your favorites are for July and this summer!

  Hope you all are staying cool and beautiful, 

Banana Boat Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion in Deep Dark Color Review

Let's just all be straight up - most of us have used self-tanners or do on a regular basis! I'll tell you right now that my golden, bronzey glow is 98% FAKE. (It's probably not that drastic, but I am still pretty pale during the summer because I don't find time to do a whole lot of outdoor summer fun things regularly!)

ONE, I don't want skin cancer and TWO: I don't have time for all the slathering things on, laying out for an hour every day all before showering. THREE: I don't wanna be blinding people with my legs when I do want to step outside.

Self-tanning is just the easiest solution. Let's not argue.

I first purchased Banana Boat's Summer Color Self-Tanning Lotion in Deep Dark Color because I had heard it was the best drugstore self-tanner. (I had been using Jergen's Express but the new 3-day thing made me want to try something else.)  When I first used this, I was VERY upset. I like to think that I am pretty good at applying self-tanner. I exfoliate, moisturize, watch out for my knees and bends and elbows and all that, and I rub it in REAL good. So why this self-tanner turned out streaky, patchy, and orangey was beyond me. I had a wedding coming up that I was going to be photographing and was not about to wear pants to an outdoor wedding in June. No stinkin' way.  I could either take a chance and spend more money on something else that may fail me, or just work with it.  So I tried it out again.

I discovered I was just TOO GOOD at applying self-tanner. Yeah, you heard me, too good. Banana Boat Summer Color has a formula that is used to taking care of itself; it doesn't want you doing all the work! (My boyfriend should take notes!) I over-blended the lotion until the color guide balled up on my skin. Now that I've figured out how it works, I love it!

Here's what I do:

1. Exfoliate - use a scrubbie sponge, exfoliating body wash, sugar scrub, whatever you want.

2. Get the shaving out of the way - don't think oh, I'll just shave tomorrow after I put it on... just save product and time and do it before!

3. Apply a lotion or barrier to dry areas (your knees, elbows, wrists, knuckles, bends of your legs and arms, all those places).

4. Smooth it on quickly and evenly. Don't worry about blending the heck out of it for 10 minutes, as I usually do with self-tanners. If the color guide looks good, you're good! (the color that shows when you put it on)

5. Wash your hands (if you're not using a mit or something else) after every section. Finish your legs - wash 'em! Finish your arms - wash 'em!

6. Let it dry - I usually apply this right after getting out of the shower and let it set while I dry my hair and put make up on. While it is not the fastest at drying, it is completely dry within an hour. But you are fine to put clothes on after 10-15 minutes.

7. Keep up with it - I apply about twice a week. But if you don't want to keep applying make sure you use some exfoliation to keep the patchiness away as it fades. I've found it fades rather nicely, but not if you find yourself with dry skin.

Banana Boat Summer Color claims that it is a self adjusting color for a natural-looking and streak free tan. I definitely agree with this since I don't have to blend the crap out of this product, it makes for an extremely quick application. (No more setting aside special time just to make sure my self-tanner gets put on correctly.) It creates a very bronzed and brown color when you use it right and works with my skin tone (cool and neutral undertones; also have heard it works well for warm undertones.) It also leaves my skin feeling smooth and supple; beyond just hydration (It has a lot of good things for your skin it). Made self-tanning affordable AND easy!

Just Remember!

If the color guide looks good, you're good!!!

                                          Happy Bronzing,                             

Heat Proof Makeup for Summer

Let's just be honest - it's getting hot as hell out there.  We all want to look extra cute during the summer, but is it worth being uncomfortable or clogging our pores? Nah. Most of the time when it's this hot you won't catch me wearing much makeup unless it's for something a little more special than the "day-to-day". So, if you ARE going to wear make up this summer (4th of July party, cookout, something you want to look good for) here's my tips to keep you comfortable and keep that make up ON! It took time to get that face on there! Don't let the heat and humidity ruin it in 3 minutes.

Beat The Heat:

Left to Right: Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Neutrogena ion2 Complex Gel Serum

1. MOISTURIZE!

 If you think depriving your face of moisture will make you less oily - YOU'RE WRONG! Please don't neglect moisturizing your skin. Giving your skin the moisture it needs is BEST way to prevent it from producing mega amounts of oil. During the summer I like to use GEL moisturizers instead of lotion based formulas. This Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream is great for summer because it is lightweight and absorbs completely, all while giving you the moisture you really need. Always try to get most of your moisture in before going to bed, but if you moisturize before applying make up make sure you give it a few minutes to fully absorb. Pat it into your skin, don't use too much, give it time until your skin feels like there's nothing on it.

Left to Right: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden, Urban Decay De-Slick in a Tube, Revlon PhotoReady Primer, Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray.

2. Prep For Make Up

Priming is super important. A makeup setting spray, like this one, can make your makeup last substantially longer. I spray it on my face before primer/foundation AND after all of my face make up (foundation, blush, powder).

If you're super oily like me, sometimes you may want a mattifying gel. This Urban Decay one works REALLY well but you must use the TINIEST amount. Seriously, a little itty bitty tiny amount of this goes a long way. Only apply to the places you get most oily. I know NYX has come out with the shine killer and some other brands have cheaper versions of this, but I haven't tried them--I need to! (Oil-absorbing sheets also work for post-application "clean up".)

Or do you want an all-in-one? The best all around product for prepping in the summer is a primer that perfects the skin, doesn't accentuate dry patches, and controls oil; Revlon Photoready is my favorite all-around primer for summer.

Eye area- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden is my favorite eye primer because it lays down a color base and evens out your eyelid, but is the absolute best at keeping oil away or preventing eye make up slip (better staying power than even the original Urban Decay Primer Potion).

Left: Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Foundation, Right: L'oreal Magic Beautifier BB Cream, Front: Physician's Formula Conceal Rx

3. Select Your Foundation Carefully 

When I want lightweight coverage I usually turn to a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream. The L'oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream has the best staying power of lightweight foundations/BB creams that I've tried; love it for this reason! But I will say that the light is a little too pink on me (really sad since I like it so much). If I want really good coverage I will go ahead and use my Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Foundation but sheer it out really well with a damp beautyblender or wet foundation brush.

Whatever concealer you use on your blemishes should also be of a drier consistency; most full-coverage concealers are. Physician's Formula Coneal RX is great; just make sure you blend it out really well.

Left to Right: Burt's Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm, Maybelline Super Stay 10-Hour Stain Gloss, Nyx Cream Blush in Natural

4. Cream Products or Stains!

 I can't get enough of cream products/stains during the summer. If you find one that is pigmented enough, you can use the tiniest amount and wear it underneath powder (which we all know sets and adds better staying power). Nyx Rouge Cream Blush, Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush, all work great!

Lip stains are also wonderful for summer because you don't want to have a sticky gloss or lipstick on - trust me, it's just going to get everywhere. Melt off your face, stick in your hair; all around bad situations. Normal felt tip lip stains can sometimes be too drying and cling to drier areas; not cute. Opt for a moisturizing gel-like formula, blend it real well and top it with some chapstick or balm to keep away the flaky-looking color. {{I need to try the new L'oreal glossy stains, anyone tried those?}}

Left: BH Cosmetics Matte Eyeshadows, Right: Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

5. Powder, POWDER, Powder! 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is the best setting powder to keep your oil at bay. (You can see that my has been used and abused until it broke.)  Set that face! I also like to make sure that I set my undereye concealer and eye makeup. Setting underneath my eyes with a very light powder is helpful because it prevents mascara/liner from traveling down my face. If I have on any kind of liner, (liquid, pencil, pen) I will set it with a powder eyeshadow.

Don't let the heat beat your beauty! Get out there.

I'd love to hear what you all use to keep your summer make up fresh - always looking for new ways to do things! Let me know!

Manicure Monday: 4th of July Nail Tutorial

 

Independence Day is this week! I don't know about you, but I always look for excuses to do something special with my makeup or nails. I obviously had to do a 4th of July themed nail tutorial. I've been liking a clean and polished look on my nails recently, so instead of doing crazy, intricate fireworks I went for a color-blocked look. I used green, gray, and orange poli-- no, you already know I used RED, WHITE, AND BLUE nail polish. Grab some scissors and tape and polish those fingers!

Here I've got (left to right): Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat, Essie Blanc, Essie Scarlett O'hara, Essie Aruba Blue and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat on the end. 
 

I found this As Seen on Tv Saloon Express Nail Art Stamping Kit at Big Lots for around $6; or you can find it here. It works just like the Konad Nail Art Set that many people love, but it comes with 5 plates and is a really affordable buy.
♥ If you don't have this, no worries! I only used it on one nail! ♥

 

On To The Tutorial:

1. Paint 'em all white! I used two coats for opacity.

2. Next I stamped a star pattern onto my ring fingers using my blue (Essie: Aruba Blue) 

{{I can do a review/tutorial on this little gadget if anyone is interested; let me know!}}

3. On to the triangles! Get a piece of tape and stick it on the back of your hand. Leave it there. Wear it around, paint it, show it off. Just kidding; stick it there once and remove to take away a bit of the adhesive so that it doesn't pull off your white polish. You're going to need 6 of these for all of your other fingers. (Excluding ring fingers and thumbs)

4. Cut a triangle into the bottom of the tape in a size that will fit your corresponding nail.

5. Place the tape on your nail with the bottom edges lining up against your cuticle. I painted my middle fingers and pinkies red (Essie: Scarlett O'Hara) and my pointers blue. Paint it! After only 5 seconds peel the tape off quickly and firmly.

6. Thumbs! Cut two small strips of tape and place them just a little bit apart on your thumb horizontally. (Underneath the tape will be the white stripes.) Paint two sections blue and the middle one red. Remove the tape just like before.

 7. BANG! (oooh, ahhh) Paint your fast drying top coat over all of them and these are sure to spark up a conversation this 4th of July (sizzle up some interest, ignite a flame, go out with a bang, sparkle someone's curiousity, dazzle your audience, blow up your ego . . . That was bad.)

Happy 4th of July!

June 2013 Beauty Favorites

This month has been a laid back, let-my-skin-breath, look-fabulous-with-nothing-on, no-makeup-makeup kind of month. It's getting really hot here, and whether I'm outdoors or in for the day I've been opting for a natural bare-minamalist approach to my makeup routine. Light, bronzed, and healthy.

So Here's What I've Been Loving To Create That:

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Foundation 

(20% off right now on drugstore.com)

This is a foundation that was a little too dark a few months ago, now it's perfect! I've been wearing this for days when I want real coverage with a natural finish; but this has great staying power on my oily skin. I like to sheer it out just a bit with a damp beautyblender sponge. Otherwise, I've been just wearing some choice concealers instead of foundation.

E.l.f. Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream

How many times have I mentioned this product already? Too much. I love the staying power of a cream and being able to set it with powder; makes everything last so much longer for summer.

Philosophy Lit From Within Healthy Cream Blush in Feel Warm All Over

I love this for the same reason I love the Bronzer from above. Lightly applied cream underneath powder stays SO WELL in summer. The color is also a light pink coral-y color with a glow to it. Looks like I'm naturally blushing and my complexion is bright. (But I will apologize because I think it's discontinued. Philosophy doesn't seem to want to keep make up products around.)

L'oreal MagicLumi Concealer in Fair

I hadn't gotten much use out of this product in the past because I found that it was too dry to use underneath my eyes (which was my original reason in purchasing this; hoping it would brighten up under there). But this month I have discovered the perfect use for it: days that I don't wear a foundation (which has been about every single day) I apply it in areas where I apply normal highlighters and blend it out with my pointed foundation brush. I love doing this because it highlights but it also adds just a tiny bit of coverage so the higher points of my face look flawless without a bunch of foundation on. Easy. Perfect. Love. Obsession this month.

Revlon ColorStay Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch

Since my makeup has been super simple I want products that are quick and handy. I use this as a base for my eyeshadows. I find that it doesn't need much blending out like my favorite eyeshadow primer; this is quick and easy. It's also a little more moisturizing since I don't have as many products on my face in the summer.

Maybelline Expert Wear 8-pan Eye Shadow in Sunbaked Neutrals

This has everything I need and it's tiny. Maybelline eyeshadows have really stepped up their game since I first started using makeup. (Okay, drugstore makeup in general has really been stepping up it's game.) I have brown matte colors to create a natural but defined eye; I have goldy, coppery, and greeny colors for something special, or a pop underneath the lash line; I have a small compact that is easily stashed in a cosmetic bag; I have it ALL in this!

Hard Candy Stroke of Gorgeous Felt Tip Eyeliner in purple

Since I've been wearing really neutral eyeshadow most of the time, I will sometimes opt for a pop of color on my lash line. This is the perfect purple that doesn't scream hey look at me, but it's flattering.  (I do have to set it with powder because it doesn't have the absolute best staying power.) You can find Hard Candy at Walmart.

Maybelline MasterShape Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Brown

Love this. I've repurchased this a few times but always go back and forth between using this and using good ol' powder to define my brows. I find that powder can be more natural, but since I've been using the minimalist approach I figured a nice strong brow looks really good to bring definition to my eye area. It's like applying wax to hold your brow in place and color to define it in one step. Quick and easy; exactly what my summer makeup has been all about.

L'oreal Color Riche Le Balm in Tender Mauve

Love love love this. It gives the perfect amount of color while looking natural, balmy, shiny but not like a lip-gloss, and healthy. Feels great on the lips; hydrating. This color is just slightly darker than my lips; perfect!

Top 5 Essie Summer Nail Polishes 2013 with Swatches

The Brand:

Essie is one of my favorite brands of nail po--that's a straight up lie. Let's just start over; I'll be real this time. Promise.

Essie IS my favorite brand of nail polish. {{ I have 57 }} You can find it at ulta, you can find it at department stores, you can find it at drugstores. Go get 'cha some.

{{I can do an Essie collection if anyone is interested. Or all time top picks - yeah, that would probably be less crazy-looking on my part.}}

All of their colors are unique, highly pigmented, the formulation evens out on the nail well, wears well without chipping easily, and they have a HUGE selection. Go get 'cha some. Now. Seriously, I'll wait...

Ready?

Colors I'm Loving for This Summer:

1. Peach Daiquiri:

 It's this crazy medium/dark but bright pink that looks great on tanned summer skin. It really pops without being neon. One of my all time favs; been excited to pull this little bottle of love out.

2. First Timer: 

New this year. Came out in the Resort 2013 Collection. It's the perfect blend of sea-foam green, yellow, and blue. Eye-catching without being a classic neon. It's like a bright blend of a neon and pastel.

3. Naughty Nautical: 

Darker/medium teal color like you've never seen! Somehow Essie is making even darker colors seem bright and really pop. This one is part of the Summer 2013 Collection and like some of the other polishes from that collection has a new different glitter in it. Not a glitter that is chunky or hard to take off; subtle, almost unnoticeable but reflects light in a pretty way.

4. Fiji: 

This is a color you've prolly heard a lot of people rave about. Of course, it's the perfect bright, opaque, light pink. You have to love that.

5. In The Cab-Ana:

 Also new in the Resort 2013 Collection; bright, bright, bright blue. Obviously, I'm really likin' bluish colors. Each season, Essie has been coming out with really great blues and each of them keep getting better and better. I thought I had found my 'holy grail blues' with the baby blue color Where's My Chauffeur and the color Turquoise and Caicos, but I love how this is an even brighter color. (again being a bright neon pastel hybrid - lovin' that!)

Keep 'em comin' Essie!