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?

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!