Favorite Friday: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

I’ve been borderline stalking the Ulta across from my house waiting on them to receive these lip colors. As I previously wrote in a post, Emma Stone actually wore one of these balms at the MTV Movie Awards. I knew it was just a matter of time before all of the good colors sold out. After interrogating the girls at Ulta about why they didn’t have this product in stock, I gave up and went to Target. Somehow, I lucked out and got the last two they had. Here are my favorite products this Friday:

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Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, $8

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These balms are great because they’re long-wearing. I wore one of these to the recent Dave Matthews Concert and it stayed on all night! The glossiness does wear off, but the pigment doesn’t. They are very similar (basically identical) to the Clinique Chubby Stick, but half the cost. I will say that the Chubby Stick is a bit more moisturizing. To solve this problem, I simply applied one coat of lip balm underneath the Revlon Balm Stain to add a little moisture. Problem solved! Here is the Clinique and Revlon side by side:

Fraternal Twins

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I bought two colors, Rendezvous and Sweetheart. Rendezvous is the color Emma Stone recently wore. I bought Sweetheart at the recommendation of my good friend, Caiti. I’m glad I did because this one is my favorite. The pigment in these are incredible and they are perfect for summertime. Both of these colors are so trendy and hot for this season. Here is an idea of what my lips look like wearing each color:

Rendezvous

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The perfect look to pair this with is my, “How To Wear Makeup Without Looking Like it.” Pop one of these colors on with a minimal makeup look and you’re ready for summertime fun!

Wishing everyone a fabulous, fun weekend!

What do you think of these colors? What’s your favorite thing this Friday?

How To Wear Makeup Without Looking Like It

As a makeup artist, you might think that I wear a ton of makeup. The answer is no. I love to wear my makeup so that it covers my flaws, but I still look like myself. The best way to describe it is, I like to look like the best version of myself. I think creating the perfect makeup look all starts with the skin. Use a good skincare routine and become diligent about taking good care of your skin and you’ll be on your way to your best makeup days ever. In order to achieve the, “I’m wearing makeup, but don’t look like it” look, you have to start with the basics of skincare. You can find out all about my skin routine here.

There are certain products you need to use to look like you have effortless, impeccable skin. If you’re wondering about the type of look I’m talking about, here it is:

I’m absolutely obsessed with Lauren Conrad’s makeup style. She is such a minimalist when it comes to her makeup. She looks casual, chic and cool. If you think for one second though that she just isn’t wearing makeup and is blessed with naturally radiant, flawless skin, you’re wrong. She is absolutely wearing makeup. She has just mastered how to apply it without looking like pancake face.

I’m going to show you the necessities to master this look. Even though it may look like Lauren just has a little lip gloss and eyeliner on, there is actually quite a bit more that goes into achieving this look. Here are the things you will need:

1. Foundation:

You have to achieve an even skin tone and hide your imperfections. Start with a foundation that gives you the amount of coverage you need. You don’t want to choose one too heavy, otherwise you risk losing the all-natural look we’re going for. Try a few samples from Sephora to see what works for you and what you feel comfortable with. Recently I’ve been on a foundation sampling frenzy and I’m currently loving this foundation from Lorac. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage for my skin.

Lorac Natural Performance Foundation, $36 at Ulta

2. Bronzer:

Lauren has a bronzed look to her skin, but it’s not too over the top. You need to create a little contour to your skin. Sweep some bronzer on your forehead, cheeks and jawline. I’m in love with this bronzer from NARS:

NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Sephora

3. Highlighter:

Highlighting is the key to giving your skin back the radiance it naturally emits. Dust a highlighter on top of your cheekbones to give your skin the radiance you see celebrities with in pictures. Everyone wants this look. I call it the J. Lo glow:

Who wouldn’t want to look like this?

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, $34 at MAC stores

4. Eyeliner:

Eyeliner is something I have mixed feelings about. Everyone always thinks it’s strange that I NEVER line my bottom lash line. This is actually my secret to looking like I’m not wearing a lot of makeup. I love the definition that lining my top lid gives me, but once I put it on the bottom I feel like the whole look of my makeup changes. It looks like voilà, I’m definitely wearing makeup. If I’m doing a smokey eye though, I’ll definitely line underneath. If you notice in the picture, Lauren only has liner on the top. They have applied a bronze shadow underneath to give it a glowy feel. I love powder eyeliners because they tend to look a little more natural and you can get them really close to the lash line. Here is one of my favorites from Bare Escentuals:

Bare Minerals Powder Liner Shadow in Onyx, $14

5. Groomed Brows:

Groomed brows help to make you look polished. Make sure you remove any stray hairs. You can do this in form of waxing, tweezing or threading. My absolute favorite brow gurus are Anastasia of Beverly Hills. They have this counter at your local Nordstrom. They shape your brows into the perfect shape for your face. They’re wonder women! Unless you are blessed with perfectly full, shapely brows, you may need to fill them in a bit. I prefer a powder, over a pencil,  to fill in my brows because I think it looks more natural.

Anastasia Brow Powder, $22 at Nordstrom

6. Lips:

Lips are the finishing touch for this look. Unless you put something on your lips, you don’t look completely finished. Apply a gloss, or a nude lipstick. Here is one of my favorite nude lipsticks. You can also find it featured in this post:

MAC Lipstick in Honeylove, $15 at MAC stores

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What do you think about the minimal makeup look? What celebrity do you think wears this look the best?

Favorite Friday: Revlon PhotoReady Foundation

This Friday, I decided to feature one of my favorite products that you can find at the drugstore. I typically never buy drugstore foundation because I find it extremely difficult to just guess what shade I should buy, hoping it gives me the coverage I want. I love being able to test a shade on my skin before I buy it. A few months ago, I completely ran out of foundation and was unable to run to Nordstrom to get the brand I typically use. I went to the drugstore and picked up this foundation. (My Mom had told me she had used it before and it was really great, so of course I trusted her opinion!) I was reluctant to buy it because I couldn’t try it on and also because it was from the drugstore. I’m not going to lie, I have been known to be somewhat of a foundation snob. I will use mounds of anything else from the drugstore but when it comes to what I’m actually putting on my face, I’ve always been a little skeptical. I have always believed you probably need to pay a little more to get good coverage, good ingredients and something that won’t break you out. You can probably credit that to the fact that I worked around high-end cosmetics for years and this is how I was trained. Trying to get me to convert to a drugstore foundation from my Laura Mercier foundation was kind of like trying to convince a man who drives a Mercedes that he needs to go test drive a Pontiac Aztec. Ok, that was a little drastic. Here is my favorite thing this Friday:

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Revlon PhotoReady Foundation, $10 at drugstores

This foundation converted me. Ok, I’ll admit it: Good foundation really can come in small, wrapped up packages, that you can’t open until you get home. This product gives a medium coverage that is also buildable. What I like most about this foundation is that my skin still looks like skin after I apply it. I don’t look shiny, but I also don’t look matte. It blends easily, goes on smoothly and leaves my skin with an enhanced radiance. It has yet to break me out and it looks great in photos. The shade I am currently using is called Natural Beige. Revlon also just came out with a NEW PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse and I cannot wait to try it. Not only is PhotoReady a great product, it’s only $10. This is department store quality at a drugstore price. You can’t beat that!

Have you ever tried PhotoReady? What’s your favorite drugstore foundation?

Beauty #Trending Now

The official start of summer is only days away. That means summer concerts, BBQs, dinner on the patio at your favorite restaurant, pool parties, etc. Here are the current trends to keep you looking fun & fashionable this summer:

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Bright lips

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Metallic eyes

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Winged eyeliner

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Luminous skin

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Aquatic colored eyes– Sea foam green & light blue

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What looks are you loving? Will you wear any of these this summer?

5 Makeup Essentials For Brides

There are certain items that every bride needs to make sure she keeps close-by on her wedding day. Give them to your Mom, your Maid of Honor, or anyone who might be carrying a clutch you can stow them in. If you have your makeup professionally done, your makeup should last the entire day. There are still some items you will need so you can touch up before pictures, after eating, or after all the lip-locking. Remember, a calm bride is a happy bride. Be prepared with these tools just in case you happen to need them. It’s your wedding day which means it should be a joyful, stress-free day! Enjoy it & pack these essentials:

1. Concealer:

If you well up and shed a tear or two, you should be fine. If the tears are going to flow like a waterfall it’s another story. You want to bring a concealer just in case you have an emotional moment and need to high-tail it off to the bathroom for a quick touch-up. Even if you think you aren’t the type to get emotional it’s still best to be prepared. I’m not usually overly emotional but all it takes is for me is to hear “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross. I’ll probably be crying like a tween who just found out Justin Beiber isn’t single. That song gets me every time.

L’oreal True Match Concealer, $9 at lorealparisusa.com

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2. Lipstick or gloss

You want to bring a lipstick, lipgloss or both to reapply before pictures. Remember that photos can sometimes wash you out a bit, so you just want to keep your lip color looking fresh. Just dab a little on before photos and maybe again after your done eating. You shouldn’t need it more than that. If you prefer, you can ask your makeup artist to buy the color she will be using on you. You can find one of my favorite lipstick shades by clicking here.

MAC lipstick in Honeylove, $17.50 and MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink, $22.50 at MACCosmetics.com

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3. Oil blotting sheets

A makeup artist preps and primes your skin and uses products that are formulated for your skin type, so you will not have to worry about your makeup coming off. If you have a problem with excessive oiliness, or you’re getting married in the summer on a hot and humid day, I suggest picking up a few oil blotting sheets. These will allow you to remove the excess shine on your face without ruining your makeup.

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, $5 at drugstores

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4. Makeup remover cloths:

These are great if you happen to get really emotional & need to dab under your eyes to remove excess makeup that might have fallen. I would say this item is definitely optional, but you can never come too prepared.

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, $6 at drugstores

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5. Compact Mirror

You’re going to be the star of the show and in high demand at your reception. You may not have time to sneak off to the bathroom to reapply your lipstick, so a compact mirror is perfect for quick touch ups.

Sephora Collection Compact Mirror, $15 at Sephora

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Remember that weeks before your wedding you want to make sure you take care of your skin like it’s your second job. If your skin is in optimum condition, your makeup will be too. You can find my 3 steps I recommend for flawless makeup in my past post here. Most of all, enjoy your day & relax. Everything will go smoothly. Remember to keep in mind, a calm bride is a happy bride!

What essentials will you be sure to have?

Favorite Friday: NARS Roman Holiday Lipstick

Instead of using my time wisely this week, when I had a moment of free time, I made a pit stop two hour trip to Sephora. The good news is that I found my new favorite lip color. It’s my favorite thing this Friday. Here it is:

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.NARS Sheer Lipstick in Roman Holiday, $24 at narscosmetics.com

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I’m pretty finicky when it comes to lipstick. The best way to describe what I’m looking for is, “natural, light pink with blue undertones, not too pink, but kinda pink, hint of color, somewhat sheer but not too sheer, visible in photos but not overly visible, non-metallic, moisturizing, must feel good on the lips, lipstick.” What, is that too much to ask? Tell that to the cosmetic salesperson and you will forever be labeled as the “crazy lipstick lady” and everyone will run for cover when they see you coming. True story. I worked at a cosmetic counter for years, I know how it goes down.  I usually just keep my crazy demands to myself and quietly roam around the store for two hours searching, wandering aimlessly and hoping it falls into my lap. That pretty much never happens, but this time it actually did! I love this color because it meets my seemingly unattainable list & I don’t even know how that’s possible. It feels great on my lips and it’s infused with lip conditioning ingredients and antioxidants that keep my lips feeling nourished.  It gives me that little hint of color I was searching for. It also goes with everything. It looks pretty pink in the above photo but it has a buildable coverage, so you can obtain a very sheer coverage to a very pigmented baby pink lip if you keep reapplying. I usually just apply one coat for a more sheer application. Here is what my lips look like after two coats:

.I hope everyone enjoys this color as much as I did. Have a great weekend!

What are you loving this Friday?

How Often Do You Clean Your Makeup Brushes?

** UPDATE: **

A pin is going around on Pinterest that says to soak your brushes for 20 minutes in vinegar. I do NOT suggest this. Unfortunately someone pinned this with the wrong information that came from a readers comment on this post. This could potentially damage your brushes. You do not want to use anything besides shampoo that is formulated for makeup brushes. I hope none of you have been misinformed. Please read and follow my method below. This is the best and safest route to clean those brushes of yours! The best of luck and happy cleaning!

Cleaning your makeup brushes is one of the most crucial, yet overlooked, tasks that should be done regularly. Cleaning your brushes is important for multiple reasons. First of all, brushes are an investment. It has taken me years to build up my brush collection and we all know they aren’t cheap. Quality makeup brushes can range in price from $5 to above $50. It’s important to take care of them because they should last you years, maybe even a lifetime if you take care of them properly. Another important reason your brushes need cleaned regularly is because they collect bacteria. If you’re prone to acne this is especially true. If you don’t clean your brushes you are only continuing to spread bad bacteria that can cause breakouts. And finally, if you’re not cleaning your brushes you will not get the optimum results from them. A brush packed full of makeup isn’t going to do the job it was designed to do. Here are the steps to take when cleaning your brushes.

1. Find a makeup brush shampoo. I’m currently using Well-Cared For Brush Conditioning Shampoo by Bare Escentuals. I absolutely love this product because it conditions your bristles and is free of skin-irritants. It also removes every last bit of makeup from your brush. For a budget-friendly option, use a mild baby shampoo such as Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Next, add a quarter size amount of your shampoo to a cup of lukewarm water and swirl your brush around in the water for a few seconds. Be careful not to submerge the metal part (ferrule) of your brush into the water, which can loosen the glue of the brush.

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2. Rinse out your brushes with lukewarm water, squeeze out the excess water, and make sure they are smoothed out into their original form. Lay your brushes on a towel flat to dry overnight.

For some brushes, such as lip and eyeliner brushes, I will also clean them with alcohol and then shampoo them for extra cleanliness. Some people would tell you not to do this, but I like to make sure my brushes are extra clean. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to shampoo your brushes, another great product to use is Quick Change also by Bare Escentuals. This is a very quick-drying cleansing spray that removes the pigment out of your brushes and sanitizes them. It leaves your brushes smelling great too! If you’re a makeup artist, it’s a great product to use in between clients.

Makeup brushes that are used for personal use should be cleaned every 2 to 4 weeks. Make sure to follow these steps and you’re on your way to clean, better performing brushes that will give you optimum application results. You might even see a difference in your skin too!

Do you clean your makeup brushes regularly?

Favorite Friday: Benefit Hervana Blush

It’s Friday (woot!)  and there’s not a better time to dedicate this post to my favorite product of the week. Here is my fav for this Friday…

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.Benefit Cosmetics Blush in Hervana

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I was recently given this product to try from one of my best friends who happens to work for Benefit Cosmetics. I don’t get to visit her often, but when I do she usually has a few goodies for me! She told me I would love this product & it would look great with my skin tone. I knew she was right from the moment I saw the colors. I have a naturally pink undertone to my skin, so using a pink blush isn’t flattering on me. This happens to be a cool-toned blush and it has all the right colors to complement my fair to medium skin tone. It consists of four separate shades–Lucky Shell, Heavenly Rose, Divine Peach and Berry Delight. The best way to describe it would be a rose-berry swirl with subtle, light shimmer.  This blush works great when I’m at my fairest and even when I have a bit more color than usual.  I love that Benefit has included a brush inside the packaging as well. Typically I don’t use the brushes that already come with a product (I tend to prefer my own brushes), but this brush actually works so well that I don’t even have to use my own blush brush. If you’re looking for a subtle blush with a wonderful flush of color, I think you would really enjoy Hervana.  You can check it out here. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

What’s your favorite thing this Friday?

My Favorite Bridal Looks of Spring & Summer 2012

In your wedding photos you want to look classically beautiful. Following the seasons trend might be for some, but for most brides when it comes to wedding photos you want to look timeless. Looking back in 20 years at bright purple eyeshadow or neon lips might make you wish you had chosen more of a classic look rather than living in the moment.  Whatever look you choose, my goal is to help make you look picture-perfect on your wedding day. Here is a compilation of some of my favorite bridal looks this season:

Kim Kardashian opted for  neutral eyes, luminous skin, muted lip, and wispy lashes.

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For a little more color; this is a romantic, whimsical look that incorporates pastels on the lips & eyes.

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This look on Keira Knightley looks stunning with gold shadow, black liner, and a nude apricot lip.

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This elegant look has  smokey liner on top and bottom, bold lashes, peach cheeks, and a pinky-peach lip.

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This look focuses on luminous skin with a smokey, neutral eye.

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Carrie Underwood’s focus is on the eyes with big bold lashes and a neutral lip.

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Emma Stone has a metallic eye with sleek, black liner and a pink lip.

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.Which bridal look would you choose?

Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2

I have so many favorite summer makeup products that one post just wouldn’t cut it. Here are the rest of my essentials for long-lasting and flawless summer makeup:

1. Tinted Moisturizer:

A tinted moisturizer can completely replace your foundation if you’re comfortable with a sheer coverage. I, on the other hand, still use a light coverage foundation on top of my tinted moisturizer because I have minor skin imperfections. If you are blessed with great skin, a tinted moisturizer is all you will need in the summertime. Tinted moisturizers do exactly what they sound like they do. They tint the skin, covering discolorations slightly, and moisturize. If you decide to strictly use a tinted moisturizer, make sure it has a high SPF of 30+.  A  great money-saving trick I love is to use your daily foundation and your daily moisturizer and mix equal parts together to make your own version of a tinted moisturizer. It works just as well. I have finally found the ultimate tinted moisturizer I’ve been searching for:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $42 at Nordstrom

This moisturizer gives great coverage, while still letting your natural skin show through. I absolutely love the texture and feel of it. It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and not tacky, like some tinted moisturizers tend to. It has a long list of luxurious ingredients that actually help to improve your pigmentation after 4 weeks of use. I’ve tried a lot of tinted moisturizers and this one exceeded all of my expectations, so it will stand alone on my list of favorites. In fact, this product is so good that it’s what Gwyneth Paltrow wore at the Golden Globes this year.

2. Bronzer:

It wouldn’t be summer without bronzer. Summer is the only time of the year you can get by with looking like a bronzed goddess without being questioned if you just came back from an exotic vacay. With that being said, bronze away! While the sun is one of my favorite things, I prefer not to lay out in it because of its harmful effects, so I definitely put my bronzers and self-tanning creams to good use in the summertime. One of my least favorite things in a bronzer is one with an underlying orange tint. If you’re trying to be cast as the latest Jersey Shore housemate these bronzers are NOT for you:

NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Department Stores

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder with Real Cocoa, $29 at Sephora 

Bare Escentuals Warmth, $19 at BareEscentuals.com 

3. Bright Pink Lips:

Bright pink and fuchsia lips happen to look amazing with muted down makeup and luminous summer skin. In the summer, keep it easy and choose one focus point or just keep everything simply neutral. My lovely cousin Arantha, author of the blog Gourmet Beauty, recently did a post on fuchsia lips. You can view her favorite colors here. One of the colors she has recently recommended on her blog has become one of my new daily favorites!  These colors are very stylish and fun this season, so give them a try!

Nicki Minaj for MAC Viva Glam, $14.50 at MAC stores

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Candy Pink, $8.99 at drugstores

4. Finishing Mists

I am in love with finishing mists. One of my favorite things about them is they feel refreshing, like you’re giving thirsty skin a drink of water.  They  set your makeup and give it staying power. It’s Indy 500 week here in Indianapolis and for those of you that don’t know, that means a long, 90 something degree day in the direct sunlight. My makeup has to withstand the heat and also last for hours. These products will help it to do just that:

Urban Decay All Nighter, $29 at Sephora

MAC Fix+, $20 at MACCosmetics.com

Are there any essentials you must have for summertime? Everyone have a safe & happy Memorial Day!