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:

.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, $8

.

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

.

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

.Sweetheart

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?

The Lowdown on BB Creams

You’ve probably been hearing about BB creams every time you turn on the TV or open a beauty magazine these days. There has been a lot of hype about them, but also some confusion about what exactly a BB cream is and what they do. I thought I would break it all down for you and answer some of the most common questions people have about this new beauty phenomenon.

What exactly is a BB cream?

BB cream stands for “beauty balm” or “blemish balm”. These creams originated in Germany, where they were used by German dermatologists to help conceal and heal the skin after laser treatments.  Then, they gained huge popularity in the Asian market, where they have been used by women for years. Finally, they’ve made their way to the states. A BB cream is similar to a tinted moisturizer, but on steroids. It does all of the things a tinted moisturizer does, but it also has added benefits for the skin. This product is an all-in-one.  It’s a moisturizer, primer, SPF and foundation.  If you choose, this product can eliminate 3 steps from your beauty routine!

How will my skin benefit from using a BB cream?

BB creams contain anti-aging ingredients and soothing botanicals that moisturize and soothe the skin. They have SPF with UVA and UVB protection, so they block your skin from harmful rays that cause premature aging. They also contain antioxidants which help to protect the skin from free radicals. Brightening agents are also thrown in, which help to give the skin a luminous appearance. Some BB creams actually can help to treat acne and heal past scarring.

What type of coverage will I get from a BB cream?

BB creams give you slightly more coverage than you would achieve from a tinted moisturizer. You can apply a bit more in problem areas for more coverage. They are perfect for that easy-going summertime look because they give you natural, luminous coverage.

What skin types can wear BB creams?

Most BB creams are formulated for all skin types. It really is dependent upon how much coverage you want to achieve. Personally, I need and also prefer a bit more coverage, so this would be something I would wear to the pool or a casual day when I’m running errands. It would be perfect for someone who has minor skin imperfections. It really evens out the skin tone making the skin look absolutely flawless.

What are some BB creams you recommend?

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, $39

.

Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm, $32

.

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, $39

.

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream, $13

Have you tried any BB creams? What did you think about them?

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:

Think .

Bright lips

.

Metallic eyes

.

Winged eyeliner

.

Luminous skin

.

.

Aquatic colored eyes– Sea foam green & light blue

.

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

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:

.

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

..

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?

I Wanna Look Like Emma

When I saw Emma Stone Sunday at the MTV Movie Awards, her makeup caught my eye immediately. In my eyes, the look she’s wearing is the epitome of what summer makeup should look like. Her makeup looks simple except for the pop of color on her lips. Like I have said in my past post, summer makeup should be simple with one focus point. Choose either the eyes or the lips, make them stand out, and the rest should stay simple. With only 4 easy steps, I’m going to show you the products that you can use to recreate this fun, summery look.

1. Foundation:

First off, her skin isn’t shouting ‘luminous’ to me. Her foundation looks semi-matte. A great foundation to recreate this look would be Laura Mercier Oil Free Suprême Foundation. This foundation gives medium, buildable coverage with a semi-matte finish.

$42 at Sephora.com

2.  Blush:

She is wearing a very subtle, peachy-pink blush. The perfect blush would be NARS Blush in Sex Appeal. It’s the perfect mix of a soft pink and pale peach. Since she is wearing a coral lip, you want to make sure your blush has a tint of coral or peach in it too.

$28 at Sephora

3. Eye Liner

Emma is wearing a black, sleek liner. Keep your eyeshadow very neutral, almost bare, and put the focus on the liner. A great liner to create this look is MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. This liner is seriously awesome (I swear) and it’s perfect to recreate this look.

$15 at Nordstrom

4. Lips

And the grand finale…the lips! She is wearing a coral lip that looks like it has a tint of pink to it. The actual lip product she is wearing is Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous. Her makeup artist, Rachel Goodwin, actually confirmed that this is the color she is wearing! When you look at the product it looks like a red-orange shade. I’m sure you can work with the color and achieve the color that best suits you depending upon how much you apply. I love to mix colors, so if this looked a little too orange-ish on myself, I will just add a dab of pink! I will definitely be picking this color up on my next drugstore visit because I’m certain it will be selling out soon.

$7.69 at Target

.

Voilà! You look like a movie star!

What do you think of this look? Would you wear it?

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!