Everyday ‘Casual Friday’ Makeup

Very rarely, more like never ever, will you catch me in public without some form of makeup on. It might be something very minimal, but unfortunately I was not blessed with flawless skin. I have skin concerns, just like the other 90% of women out there.  I would say most days, when I’m running around doing errands, I’ll just slap some tinted moisturizer on. There’s no reason to get glam to go to the post office. While most errand days only call for tinted moisturizer, there are some days where you want to look a bit more polished. For example, lunch with a friend or Casual Friday at the office.

When you’re meeting your friend for lunch, you don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed, but maybe you’re in a time crunch and don’t have much time to spend getting ready. The two things that are very important when you want to look finished, but not overdone, are blush and lipstick. These two items pack a lot of punch when it comes to the finishing touches on your look.

My routine lately has been very low-key. The weather here has been sucky (to put it nicely), so things have been pretty easy-going. I’ve been sticking to using my NARS Chelsea Girls as a lip color because it gives you the perfect hint of color. You can read more about that here too. I highly recommend this color to everyone looking for a natural lip. Recently, a company called Charleston Naturally, a wonderful site that carries only organic beauty products, was kind enough to send me a gorgeous blush from 100% Pure. I only write about things I love, and this has quickly became one of my all-time favorite blushes. The blush is called 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blush in Strawberry. I would describe it as a dusty rose color with a hint of plum. It’s the perfect blush if you’re wanting to achieve the perfectly polished look. It doesn’t give you too much color, just enough to enhance your cheekbones and give you a pretty, subtle wash of color. Here is a picture I snapped the other day when I was wearing this lip and blush combo:

I think I’ll call this look “Lunch in Laguna.” Wishful thinking

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NARS Chelsea Girls

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100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blush in Strawberry

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What are your favorite everyday lip and blush colors?

xo,

Festive Valentine’s Day Lips

Valentine’s Day couldn’t be a more perfect day to wear all shades of pink and red. Even if you don’t have a Valentine, there’s no better time to treat yourself to a little mall run. First off, head to Sephora and pick out a pretty pink lipstick, and then make a pit stop at Godiva for some chocolate, duh. So, get in the V-day spirit and sport some fancy lips! These colors are perfect to wear to your romantic dinner, or really any other day of the year. To make sure your lips are kissable, be sure you use my DIY Brown Sugar Lip Scrub before applying your favorite color.

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(Clockwise from top left) MAC Viva Glam Nicki, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart, Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust For Blush, NARS Afghan Red

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Happy Valentine’s Day, All! Kisses!

Say Buh-Bye To Your Dry Winter Skin

Dry skin really stinks. I’ve realized I would rather have oily skin any day over dry, cracking, flaky skin. In the wintertime, my skin completely changes. My face gets a bit more dry, but my body and hands look like a dry, cracked desert. It can be painful and sometimes seems impossible to soothe. Here are some wonderful products and tips that help you get through the season:

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1. Exfoliate:

Dry skin still needs sloughed off so your moisturizer can absorb into your skin. Make sure you don’t over exfoliate because it can lead to redness and be especially harsh on those with very sensitive skin. I love Clinique 7 Day Scrub. It’s gentle enough to use everyday.

2. Hydrate:

Everyone says, “Drink H20 in summertime! Stay hydrated!” It needs to be equally important in the winter. Our bodies hydrate from the inside out. Chug your water and your flaky body will thank you.

3. Shorten your shower and baths:

Hot water dries out your skin. Keep your showers and baths under 15 minutes. Your water bill and bank account will thank you.

4. Moisturize

This one is obvious. Make sure you’re using something more emollient on your face and body. Be sure you moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower– while your skin is still damp and absorbing moisture. These products have been my lifesavers this winter:

 

Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter:

This stuff is aaamazing. It’s feels so rich and luxurious. My favorite body butter is Kiehl’s Creme De Corps Whipped Body Butter and this stuff is a fraction of the price and almost as good. It’s only $4.99 and packed full of soothing ingredients. If you can find it at your local TJ’s, make sure to stock up!

Trader Joe’s Nourish Shea Butter Hand Cream:

For $1.99, this stuff rocks! It doesn’t have a scent, so it won’t compete with the fragrance you’re wearing. Men love this too because they don’t smell like roses. It also doesn’t feel like it washes off when you wash your hands. It absorbs into your skin immediately, which I love.

LUSH Ultrabalm:

This is an all-purpose salve. I would call it a LUSH version of vaseline. I use it on my cracked knuckles and wherever else I need some moisture. I’ve also been using it on my toddler’s dry skin and it has done wonders for her. I also raved about this product here.

Josie Maran Argan Luscious Lips:

This product is called “Liquid Gold” for a reason. I fell in love with this when a Josie Maran rep insisted that I try it on. I’m not kidding when I say my lips have not been chapped an entire day this winter. It’s made of pure Argan and nourishing Jojoba oil. It feels almost like vitamin E on your lips, but not quite as thick. It leaves a gorgeous, shiny glaze to your lips. It’s my absolute must-have product for the lips.

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Do you have any winter skin tips? Please share them in the comments! Have a wonderful weekend!

xo,

My Latest Beauty Obsessions

1. LUSH Ultrabalm

Omg. This product has become my lifesaver during these winter months. It’s an all-purpose balm that you can literally use on everything. My knuckles and lips get extremely dry and will crack. I keep this on my nightstand and apply it before I go to bed. I’ve also heard people with Eczema and Psoriasis swear by this product!

2. Safflower Oil

I’ve always preferred using natural products on my skin. I’m like a kid in a candy store in the health food store beauty aisle. Safflower Oil has amazing benefits for the skin. It’s full of linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid that your body uses to make ceramides–a key part of a healthy skin barrier that promotes elasticity and moisture retention. This product is one of the best (and most inexpensive) forms of linoleic acid. It helps to retain moisture, but isn’t harmful like some of it’s competitors (mineral oil and lanolin). This can be used on all skin types and research has shown it can be great on acneic skin. Not only do I use this on my face, I put some on my oatmeal in the morning, or use it for cooking. It can actually help get rid of extra inches because it attacks stubborn belly fat.  This stuff is the whole shebang!

3. L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer

This mascara is a sister to my favorite mascara, L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black. It’s not quite as thick as Carbon Black and the brush is quite different. It really lengthens and separates, while Carbon black is great at thickening. I use this mascara and then add a coat of Carbon Black and my lashes are out of this world. It would be a challenge to beat this winning combo.

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What’s even better about these products?! They’re all under $15!

I’d love to hear what you’re loving at the moment! What are your current beauty obsessions?

xo,

A Yummy Little Giveaway: Long Winter Farm Lip Balm

Hello lovely followers! Yes, I know I’ve been on a little hiatus. I promise I’ll be making it up to you with some wonderful posts to follow House hunting consumed a chunk of my life. I’m trying to mentally block out the hours I’ve wasted on Zillow. Anyhow! The good news, I’m back and giving you one of my favorite lip balms! These balms are from a charming company called Long Winter Farm Soap Co. They are the perfect amount of moisturization paired with delectable scents. There are 5 of these yummy balms to choose from. This is a very easy contest. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Make sure you ‘Like’ Beauty Anywhere Makeup Artistry on Facebook. Here’s the link to my fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beauty-Anywhere-Makeup-Artistry/147504855281842

2. ‘Like’ the picture of the lip balms.

3. Comment saying which one you would like to win!

*One entry per person. Comments will be numbered in order & winner will be chosen by random number generator.

The contest ends at midnight tonight and the winner will be announced tomorrow. I love these lip balms so much that I just can’t keep them all to myself. Maybe I’ll just have to make this giveaway a habit!

xo,

The Best Self-Tanners On The Block

In my previous post, How To NOT Look Like Tan Mom, I talked about the steps to take to achieve the perfect sunless tan. Now, I’m going to show you my favorite self tanners. There is a perfect mix for every budget. Here they are:

Hawaiian Tropic Island Radiance, $8 at Target

This product is great for being the lowest in price. It is easy to distribute and it gives me a very natural looking tan. It does seem to have a waxy scent to it, but I can live with that for the price.

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Bare Escentuals Faux Tan, $22 at stores

This one is very tinted, so you can tell where you’ve put it. A lot of self-tanners give you a golden tan, but this seems to gives me a more brownish looking tan. I usually use this one only on my face because I’ve discovered that it doesn’t seem to break me out.

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St. Tropez Self Tan, $40 at Sephora

I remember using this when I was in high school. I remember liking it, but that was many moons ago. Nonetheless, this is the one Emily Maynard uses as seen in this post. So, you know it has to be good!

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Victoria’s Secret Beach Sexy Tinted Self-Tan Lotion, $12 at stores

This is my favorite self-tanner by far. It gives me a golden, beachy glow. It’s also tinted so it’s easy to see where you’ve put it. It seems that my faux tan seems to last the longest with this product. You definitely need to wait at least 10-20 min before dressing because this takes a bit to dry. I seriously love this product!

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Have you used any of these? Are there any sunless tanners you love that aren’t on this list?

Favorite Friday: MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast

Dark circles are something that have haunted me for years. Last Friday I told you about my favorite new eye cream to help combat dark circles. This week I’m going to show you one of my favorite products I use to help conceal and brighten under my eyes. Here is my favorite thing this Friday:

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter

This product has a very peachy undertone to it, so it helps to neutralize the dark, bluish tint we get with dark circles. Sometimes people suggest using a yellow concealer, topped with a flesh-toned concealer, to diminish the dark appearance. I’ve found that this can actually make you look gray or green. Yucky. The peach color actually works wonderfully to overcome this common problem. I do not necessarily suggest this color, Bright Forecast, for everyone. This product comes in 3 different shades. Based upon your skin tone there might be another color that works best for you. I am moderately fair with pink undertones, so this is perfect for me.

Bright Forecast color swatch

I use this product under my eyes to help conceal, but it also has many other uses. It’s a highlighter pen, so you can use it anywhere you want to brighten up your face. Common areas would be where we start to see shadowing– around the  nose, forehead, cheeks, etc. If you are familiar with the very popular YSL Touche Eclat, this is actually quite similar, but much less expensive. This product works as an eye primer too. When I’m in a hurry, I use it on my lids before I apply my eyeshadow and it keeps it from creasing. I usually use my finger to apply this product because I feel like it works the product into my skin nicely.

With a multitude of uses, this product can be a great investment. It retails for $23 and you can find it at Nordstrom or your local MAC store. I hope everyone enjoys this product as much as I do. Have a fabulous, safe weekend!

Have you ever used this product? What’s your favorite thing this Friday?

Beauty Inspiration: Emily Maynard’s Beauty Secrets

Everyone who knows me knows that I’m obsessed with The Bachelorette, The Bachelor, The Kardashians, the list goes on. You’ll  hardly ever catch me watching anything that isn’t reality television. In my house, Monday nights are like the new-age Saturday. They’re filled with excitement! As my fellow Bachelorette fans know, the season finale was on last night. I felt very ambivalent about who I wanted to win because I loved both Arie & Jef! I’m sure the women of America are not complaining that she chose Jef because Arie is now fair game. (Indianapolis ladies, he’s in town often for racing. I hear you can find him out and about in Broadripple!)

This season of The Bachelorette has been my favorite by far because I absolutely love Emily Maynard! Not only is she drop dead gorgeous with her southern flair, she seems to be genuinely sweet with a good heart. She has fabulous fashion sense and her makeup always looks flawless. After much internet research from various sources such as Emily’s Twitter and the fashion blog, Possessionista, I saved you all some time and did the stalking research for you. Here is a list I’ve compiled of some of Emily’s favorite beauty items and secrets. Now we can all emulate away. Enjoy!

Haircare:

Sultra Beauty Hair Straightener, Sultra Beauty Bombshell Curling Wand, Sultra Beauty Hair Dryer at Sultra.com

Wen Haircare, $29.95 at wenhaircare.com

Fragrance:

Kai Eau De Parfum, $76 at Kaifragrance.com

Nails:

Essie Fiji, $4 at drugstores

Essie Ballet Slippers, $4 at drugstores

CND Shellac Nails in Romantique, $16 on Amazon

Skincare:

St. Tropez Self Tanner, $30 at drugstore.com

Obagi Gentle Cleanser, $32 at drugstore.com

Obagi C-Exfoliating Day Lotion, $54 at beautybar.com

Sothys First Wrinkles Revitalizing Serum, $59 on Amazon.com

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser (she uses this at night), $15 on Amazon.com

Makeup:

Temptu Airbrush Foundation System, $225 at Temptu.com

MAC Powder (unsure of the exact formula), $22-$28 at maccosmetics.com

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy #4, $30 at Sephora.com

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I hope I’ve provided you with all of the tools you can use to sweep Arie off his feet . Finally, my favorite piece of beauty advice from Emily is, “Always be a lady.”

Will you be buying any of these products, or do you already use some of these? What were your thoughts on The Bachelorette?

Favorite Friday: 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

Eye cream is something that we all should be using. I always say, “If you’re old enough to drive, you should start using an eye cream.” I started using an eye cream around the age of 21, when I started working in cosmetics. Some of us probably won’t start this crucial step until we’re getting all salt and peppery, but it’s never too late to start. Our eye area is our most delicate area and it needs lots of special treatment. This eye cream was recommended to me by my beautiful cousin and author of Gourmet Beauty. Whenever she tells me I have to try something I always listen because I have yet to dislike anything Arantha recommends. She introduced me to the brand 100% Pure and I’m so glad because I’m in love. Here is my favorite thing this Friday:

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100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

I purchased this product in the 1 oz size. It’s huge! For the $19 price tag, you can’t beat it. This eye cream is extremely emollient and feels wonderful when applied. I can still feel the moisture for at least an hour after using it. It was also featured on Dr. Oz as a breakthrough wrinkle-fighter! Everyone knows I’m a total sucker for Dr. Oz.

This cream is infused with potent antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming. It also helps to diffuse the lines we’ve already developed.  It contains caffeine and green tea to help treat dark circles and puffiness. I have never had a problem with puffiness, but I have always suffered with dark circles. I have dark circles so bad that some days I actually grab my eye makeup remover thinking I have excess mascara under my eyes. I quickly realize that no eye makeup remover is capable of removing those black holes dark circles. Sad, but true. I have only been using this eye cream for a few weeks and have noticed a huge difference in the darkness under my eyes.

Make sure you’re using eye cream morning and night. Use your ring finger to apply it because this finger has the lightest touch. You only need to use the size of a rice grain for each eye. If you would like to try this eye cream, you can order it here. I’m so happy I was introduced to this product and can’t wait to try more from this great brand!

Are you currently using an eye cream? What is your favorite thing this Friday?

Are You Stuck in A Makeup Rut? How To Update Your Look

It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut with your makeup. We’re all guilty of too much continuity in our daily look. When you have the same makeup look for months, or even years, you begin to feel lifeless and bored. Well, at least I do. If you’re fine with your repetitive look, more power to you. If you’re feeling too much monotony and want to change it up a bit, I’m going to tell you how.

When changing up your look, you may not want to change everything overnight. Do what you feel comfortable with. It’s best to start off by changing one or two things, and you may find that’s all you need to update your look.  Here are the 3 main items that I suggest you can change to give you a renewed look:

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1. Eyeliner

Switching up your look could be as simple as changing your eyeliner. If you always use a dark brown, try black. If you always use black, try a deep, navy blue. More color options are deep plums, bronze, or white eyeliner for your lower waterline. A color I recommend everyone to try is navy blue. While this may frighten some, it actually looks gorgeous when applied. Navy blue helps to brighten the whites of your eyes, making your eyes appear whiter and more awake. This color looks good on every skin tone and all ages. Here are two of my favorite navy eyeliners:

Chanel Marine Long-lasting Eyeliner

MAC Fluidline in Waveline

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2. Lipcolor

Lipcolor is the easiest thing to get stuck in a rut with. In my years at the cosmetic counter, I cannot count the times women would come in and tell me they had been using the same lipstick for over 10 years! Oh, and heaven forbid you tell them their favorite color was discontinued, you might get verbally assaulted! The bottom line is, your favorite lip colors will not be around forever. If every cosmetic company kept every lipcolor they had ever made, they would have to have a Clinique store the size of Central Park.

My advice is to go to a makeup counter and try on 3 different shades every year. Everyone needs a summer color, fall color and everyday color. Trying a shade on is the best way to see what looks good on you. Also, don’t be afraid of color! If you would love to wear deep red lipstick, but are too afraid or think it doesn’t look good on your skin tone, then experiment with a deep plum color. Everyone has a shade that looks great on them. You just have to find it. Here is a gorgeous shade I will be wearing to update my look this fall:

NARS Afghan Red

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3. Foundation

Foundation comes in all different finishes: Matte, sheer, satin, luminous, full coverage, etc. Play with different finishes or coverages. For example, I used Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation for years. I started to feel like I wasn’t getting the coverage I wanted anymore and I was looking dull. I switched back to a liquid foundation and my skin looks renewed and rejuvenated. I don’t know if it’s proven or just in my head, but I feel like my skin adjusts to my foundation, just like what happens with skincare or shampoo. I’ve noticed my skin looks best if I switch up my products from time to time. With that being said, a simple switch of your foundation can give you a whole new look. The current foundation I’m wearing and loving is:

LORAC Natural Performance Foundation

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If you’re stuck in a makeup rut, you don’t have to have a complete makeover and spend hundreds to update your look. A simple change of a key product in your routine can do the trick!

Do you ever get stuck in a rut? What are you going to change in order to update your look?