Best Tools for Applying Foundation

Best Tools for Applying Foundation

Having a flawless makeup application has just as much if not more to do with the tools you are using than the products themselves. It wasn’t until the end of my college years that I realized how important a quality set of brushes are. They really elevates any look you are trying to create and in most cases makes applying makeup that much easier (you don’t have to be a professional to learn to use these). I thought I would share my thoughts on these tools in a series of post called “Best Tools For”. The first in the series will be an overview of the best tools for applying foundation and the type of coverage you can achieve with each. Be sure to leave me a comment on what your favorite brush is!

2. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics foundation brush / 3. Tarte airbuki foundation brush / 4.Sigma flat top Kabuki Brush / 1. Real Techniques stippling brush / 6. Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge

1. Stippling Brush – This type of brush is usually made of duo fibers and allows for product to apply and buff out easily. Usually this type of brush gives a lighter application. I have recently fallen in love with this one from real techniques that is incredibly popular in the beauty world (it’s affordable too!)

2. Flat Foundation Brush - I like to think of this as the classic foundation brush. If you were to go into a store and ask for a normal foundation brush this is most likely the type you would be shown. Bobbi Brown makes a wonderful version of this brush that gives flawless coverage. This type of brush works well with liquid and cream formulas.

3. Kabuki brush – The first time this style really became popular was with the rise of bareminerals and the loose mineral foundations. These are great at applying this type of product. They buff out powder foundation to give a flawless airbrush finish. I love using this one from Tarte, it is dense kabuki style brush that is supper user friendly. I even like to use it with my liquid and cream foundations too!

4. Flat Top Kabuki – This is a spin off from the regular kabuki brush. It has a flatter top as opposed to the more domed shape of its original sister. This one by sigma is their number 1 selling brush and there’s a reason why. It blends mineral, liquid, and cream foundations in flawlessly leaving you with perfectly natural looking skin.

5. Angled foundation brush - This type of brush is great for getting into every nook of your face. It will really help blend out the area around your nose. I highly recommend trying out a brush like this one from Japanesque.

6. Sponge – These have come a long way from the triangle squares your mom used to use. The new trend is using sponges like the beauty blender that you use damp to blend out your foundation seamlessly. While the beauty blender is a great tool a cheaper alternative is this one from Real Techniques. I think I even like it better. These sponges are great for blending the areas around your eyes and nose!

**Fingers – Of course you have your fingers to use as well, these can be the best tool in your arsenal to be honest (to be used with liquid and cream formulas). The heat from your body helps to warm the product making it easier to spread and blend. Always be sure you have washed your hand though as you don’t want to spread bacteria to your face.

Remember good quality brushes don’t have to be expensive! Lines like Sigma, Real Techniques, and Eco Tools have amazing products at an affordable price!

Tarte BB Tinted 12 Hour Primer & BB Under Eye Corrector

Tarte BB 12 Hour Primer & BB Under Eye Corrector

Last week I posted about a Tarte value set I purchased off of QVC. (you can see that here) I really wanted to dedicate an entire post to my favorite item from this set. The bb tinted 12 hour primer treatment. I figured I would also give a quick review of the accompanying BB under eye corrector.

BB creams have sort of been a worldwide phenom for the last couple of years. But I often I find they don’t really do much of anything for my skin. I like full coverage make up and these tend to be more medium coverage and heavy on the moisturizer leaving my skin very oily by mid-day. That is until I discovered the Tarte BB 12 Hour primer.

Tarte Tinted BB 12 Hour Primer Treatment (buy here for $35) – This is a BB treatment that has multiple skincare and makeup benefits. These include being a primer, moisturizer, foundation, anti-aging treatment and a sunscreen with SPF 30. It is an oil-free formula that offers light to medium coverage. It has an amazing creamy smooth formula that blends out easily and feel like silk.

Having oily skin I always use a primer and over the years have tested many out. This has been by far my favorite and has been in my beauty cabinet for almost a year and I have gone through almost 4 tubes of this stuff. If this doesn’t tell you how much I like it let me give you all the reasons why. I like to use this everyday underneath my normal foundation (a plus if you have a lighter coverage foundation that you want to make more full coverage!), it makes a great base for the rest of my makeup. Since it is tinted I find myself using less of my regular foundation.

On its own it gives a medium coverage with a velvet matte finish that feels light as air and not the least bit cakey (Perfect for this oily skinned girl). I find myself reaching for solely this on the weekends and just setting it with a little powder. As for the longevity factor this works wonders. I have always been the type of person who seeks out long wearing formulas only wanting to apply my makeup once. I notice using this helps my makeup stay all day!

My only concern with this is the color does have a more yellow undertone and is a bit darker than you would think. I find with a lot of Tarte products the color range is inconsistent. Light in one product can be a completely different color than light in another. So be sure to try Tarte products out to find your best shade.

Tarte BB Tinted Undereye Corrector (buy here for $29) - This is an under eye corrector that is designed to mask dark circles. It claims to hydrate and smooth the delicate under eye skin while improving the appearance of dark circles. These are all good things to have in an under eye product. The problem is that you are to use this before your regular makeup. For me that means putting a concealer on top of this corrector, something that just seems like way to much make up on an area that can easily look cakey. I think that this could be a great product for the right person (someone who suffers from bad dark circles and has a darker skin tone than me).

I got this in the matching shade as the primer and I find that this is just way to dark to use under my eyes. I tend to use under eye concealers that are lighter than my foundation. The formulation is a bit on the thicker side and I find it settles into my fine lines under my eyes. I actually gave one of these away to a friend who seems to love it. It matches her skin tone much better than mine. In a pinch I did use this as a concealer on a blemish and it covered quite nicely. If I had this in the right color I would probably like it better but unfortunately the color I have is the lightest available. So with that I would say if you have golden/medium to dark skin complexion this could be something to try out. All my fair skinned girls should probably stay away from this one.

Have you ever tried these products? I would love to hear if you have!

Mothers Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is just around the corner ( here in the US at least) so I figured it’s probably time to get this year’s gift guide together. Below are some of my favorites that would make perfect gifts for every well deserving mom, young or more mature (I hate using the word old...). You can check out my 2013 gift guide here too!

1. Treats book by April Carter: I love to bake and so does my mom. This is the perfect gift for the baker loving mom. Beautiful photographs and delicious recipes makes this an ideal inexpensive mothers day gift. It retails for $19.95 and you can pick it up here.

2. Diptyque Rosa Mundi candle: I love candles but rarely am willing to spend a lot of money on one for myself. Diptyque is known for their amazingly luxurious candles. This would be the perfect gift for a candle obsessed mom. This is a limited edition scent that has notes of damask rose, blackcurrant, lychee, Centifolia rose and honey. This candle has a 60 Hour burning time and cost 65 dollars (purchase here).

3. Clarisonic Pedi Sonic Foot Transformation: If your mom is a pedicure lover than this will be the ultimate gift! This comes from the same company that created the cult classic face cleansing tool the clarisonic so you know the quality is top notch! This retails for 199 dollars and is designed to smooth and soften dull and rough feet at home. The set includes Pedi-handle, Pedi buffing brush head, Pedi-disc, Pedi-Buff 6 oz., Pedi-Balm 3.5 oz. and Pedi-Boost 1 oz.(Purchase here)

4. Bobbi Brown Navy & Nude Eye Palette: This is a perfect gift for the make-up loving mom. Every woman should have a pallete of perfectly nude colors in their makeup collection. Bobbi Brown’s shadows are perfectly pigmented and apply beautifully so rest assured they would look great on young or more mature skin. Not to mention her packaging feels very sturdy and luxurious. This navy and nude pallet is a great update to a traditional nude eye. I kind of want to snag one just for myself. You can purchase this eye pallet here for 60 dollars

5. Aerin Evening Rose Fragrance: There is something so feminine about Aerin Laudeers perfume collection. Really any of the scents from her collection would be a lust worthy addition to your mom’s perfume collection. The scent Evening Rose has notes of Juicy Blackberry and rich Cognac along Rose Centifolia and Bulgarian Rose. You can get you’re your hands on this here for 110 dollars.

6. Body & Bath Luxe Quartet Almond Coconut Milk: Maybe you are the husband of a new mom who could use some much needed R&R time. Then this is the perfect gift for you. The set includes Honey Bath (with mini wooden dipper), 6 oz. glass jar Body Scrub, 6 oz. glass jar Soufflé Body Crème, 6 oz. glass jar Candle, 4 oz. frosted glass tumbler. This really is the ultimate set for pampering ones self. You can get this for 80 dollars here.

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It is finally Friday... this week seemed so long probably since last week was so short. It’s always the worst going back to work after a long weekend. My trip to New York is officially 2 weeks away! I am beyond thrilled to be spending 10 days on vacation with lots of great friends celebrating a dear friend’s wedding. Enjoy this week’s links!

I am such a sucker for adorable animals and this list of 22 animals that are so adorable they will make you mad really doesn’t make me mad at all it actually melts my heart.

Have you ever wondered where companies come up with product names? There is a lot more that goes into the process than you would think. Check out this article on what it is really like to name products for a living.

I am dying to get my hands on this striped shopper from Tory Burch. They are having a 25% off friends and fans sale right now (with code FRIENDLY) so obviously my need has increased.

Are you a social media pro? I like to think I am versed in the subject but after reading these tips I realized I was missing out on a lot of cool things.

Who doesn’t love great food and an amazing view? These restaurants offer both and subsequently I will be adding them to my bucket list.

Deborah Lippmann Almost Paradise

Deborah Lippmann Almost Paradise

 

 

a while back I posted about a Deborah Lippmann nail polish called spring buds(check it out here) that just came out in her spring line. After lusting after that polish for a few days I realized I already had a polish from her that was pretty similar. Obviously I had to break it out and do my nails. Its in the color almost paradise and I picked this up on major discount a few years back on HSN (you can see my original post here). Its such a fun bright color I am really loving it! It definitely helped to subdue the urge to buy spring bud .

 

 

These polishes are a bit on the expensive side but are so dreamy to use. They apply beautifully, are shiny and long lasting; hands down the best brand I have ever used. I really only buy her polishes if they are on sale or I feel like splurging on my self. Have you ever tried this line before? Let me know what you think of this color!

 

 

Tarte Beauty Without Boundaries

Tarte Beauty Without Boundaries Set

I know what you are thinking... Didn't you just get a different Tarte set from QVC? Why yes I did. If we haven't met yet I'm Jennifer and I have an addiction.  I really couldn't help myself, I seriously love Tarte products and these value sets are a great way to try out some new ones.

This kit includes the following.

BB tinted treatment Primer SPF30 - I love this primer, this is probably my 4th bottle of it! I plan on doing a full review of this and the under eye corrector next week. Be sure to comeback and check it out!
BB Tinted Undereye Corrector
Tarte Lipsurgence - This is in the color blushing bride. Lipsurgence is a lip tint infused with peppermint and helps to hydrate lips while delivering long lasting color.

Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara black- This mascara is perfect for building length
Lights, Camera Lashes inner rim liner black - A great liner that is super dark. I love using this and smudging it out with a brush to get a more smokey look.
NeutralEYES II palette (10 shadows, eyeliner, shadow brush)- This is a great neutral eye palette with shimmer and matte shades. I have been using this palette everyday since getting it!
Makeup Bag - This is possibly the cutest makeup bag I have seen! it is huge so their is plenty of room for all my makeup and the outside has a coated finish so it's extremely easy to keep clean!

{top row: matte soft beige, matte pebble, matte espresso, matte pink cashmere, matte soft peach} {bottom row: shimmering golden peach, shimmering whisper pink, shimmering plum smoke, shimmering cinnamon, shimmering hazel} 

Have you ever tried any of these product before? If you have I would love to hear what you think of them! Leave me a comment!

All About Brows

All About Brows

This post has been a long time coming; I have had several friends continually requesting a post about eyebrows. The thing is brows are one of the most important features on your face . I never knew how important brows were in framing the face until I started filling mine in a couple years ago. With that I decided to share some tips and products that are great for creating the perfect brows.

1.Picking the right shade is one of the most important parts of insuring you will have beautiful natural looking brows. If you have fair brows you should choose a pencil shade about two shades darker than your hair and if you have dark hair then you should go two shades lighter.

2.Softly outline your brow shape and fill in with feathery short strokes. Just think you are mimicking hair. You will want to start from the inner corner working your way out.

3.Always Use a spooley . Make sure to comb through your brows, doing this will keep them from looking harshly drawn on and that the color is evenly distributed throughout the brow.

4. Highlight your brows. Using I highlight shade under your brows helps to give the illusion of a more lifted brow.

5. Be sure to set your master piece. Whether you decide to use a wax or a clear gel it is important to set your brows. This insures that your brows stay perfectly in place all day long.

Tarte Brow Architect – This is a great all-in-one product that allows you to fill in, shape, and highlight using one product. The pencil is conveniently angled allowing for precision in creating thin hair like strokes.

NYX Eyebrow Pencil - This is a great inexpensive option for an eyebrow pencil. The formulation is not too soft or hard so you can ensure you are getting a great application every time. I don’t really enjoy the brush on this one but for this price I can use other spoolies I already have.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz- Pretty much the holy grail of eyebrow products. This is Ideal for filling in sparse brows giving them a natural look. The pencil is ultra-fine, enabling it to mimic tiny hairs. The spooley works wonders in blending out the color leaving you with full natural looking brows.

Benefit Gimme Brow - This is a more recent release, but if you are a girl who has sparse eyebrows this will be your new best friend. A brush on fiber gel will adhere to the skin to create thick and lush brows. It is water-resistant and long wearing so no worries of this budging through the day.

Bobbi Brown Brow Kit - I go through phases of using a pencil or a powder to fill in my brows. Really either option works well. This kit from bobbi brown is the best. It is perfect for travel since it contains a tweezer, brush and magnified mirror! A cheaper alternative is to create your own powder combo using matte shadow shades that work with your hair color.

Make Up For Ever Brow Seal - This is a great brow gel; it dries transparent with a natural finish. It won’t leave your brows looking shiny and doesn’t flake off during the day. What more could you ask for?

Japonesque Color Velvet Touch Blush

Japonesque Color Velvet Touch Blush

a couple weeks ago Ulta had their 21 days of beauty where each day for 21 days a product is on special. So when I saw these blushes for half price I could resist snatching up a couple. I decided on shade 1 and 3. These blushes are a refined powder formula that allow for color to build up with a natural look. Because of this they are very soft but don't worry you won't experience tons of dreaded fall out that goes along with a soft powder formulation. These blushes have great pigmentation and staying power!

Shade 1 - Is a matte baby pink. I went with this shade since I really don't have anything in my collection like this. I typically prefer matte blushes but sometimes it can be hard to find one that doesn't come off to chalky. This ones gives off the perfect pop of pink for summer.

Shade 3 - Is a peachy toned pink blush that has the slightest bit of shimmer to it. Just enough to give the cheek area a nice glow. I am really loving this color and it actually reminds me a lot of this Julep blush.

I was pleasantly surprised with these blushes, I had never tried anything from this brand before and haven't seen many reviews on the brand either. I always see the line when I go into Ulta and the packaging is just darling. Their are only a few shades in the range but I think they are some good ones. These can only be purchased at Ulta and they retail for $22.  

I'm curios, have any of you tried this brand before? Leave me a comment I'd love to hear from you!
 

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I did a terrible thing yesterday. I completely forgot to schedule a blog.... OOPS! Anyways I have today off of work for the Easter weekend.  Do you have any special Easter plans? We aren't doing anything really just a relaxing long weekend. Enjoy this weeks links!

 Word on the web is that there will be a Mrs Doubtfire 2. I am pretty excited this original was one of my favorites growing up. In honor of this take a look back at the Mrs. Doubtfire house.

Everyone has been rejected at one point in there life, even famous people. Its pretty cool to see persevered even against rejection. 

Placing a love lock on bridges in Paris have been a tradition for tourist but locals are trying to ban the act. See why here.

These meyer lemon pudding cakes would be perfect to make for Easter dessert. http://lakynandjudah.blogspot.ch/2014/02/meyer-lemon-pudding-cakes.html

I think I may try Pilates after reading this article. Have you ever tried Pilates ?

Shopping for Vacation

Recent Purchases

I mentioned last Friday I will be going on vacation soon. So today I thought I would tell you a little more about it and somethings I have picked up for the trip. In a few weeks I will be going to New York for a friends wedding. I will be up there for 9 days!! I am so excited, we start the trip out in upstate New York and then traveling to New Jersey for the wedding. There is a whole group of us going so we will be doing all kinds of sight seeing. I am probably most excited for visiting New York City. I have never been before so if you have suggestions of things I need to check out leave me a comment!

1. Loft Sheer Plaid Blouse- I always love a neutral shirt and this plaid pattern is subtle but adds the perfect element of interest.

2. Loft Skinny Jeans in Black- I was in dire need of new black pants, I mean a girl can't go to New York with out a staple pair of black jeans?

3.Hidden Button Blouse-   I mean I probably own this shirt in a million different colors but it fits perfectly and is a great piece to wear day or night, work or play. This coral shade is perfect to update my spring wardrobe.

4. Gianni Bini Eden Cowl-Back Dress- This is the perfect dress to wear to a summer wedding. The fit is very flattering and the cowl in the back adds a little something extra and I just can't get enough of this citrus orange color!

5. Gianni Bini Lisa Dress- I haven't actually bought this dress yet but I desperately want it. Perfect for summer events and is on sale for 34 dollars. I couldn't find it when I was shopping in stores so I will most likely be placing an order ASAP.

6. Gianni Bini Button Front High-Low-  This is a high - low top, the picture doesn't really show it but the back is pretty long. This style is a bit out of my comfort zone but I think it will look great with my black jeans for one of our days out sight seeing.

7. GB Faux-Leather Moto Vest- I have been dying for a moto vest and although I found this in the juniors department it is perfect.(do you ever shop in the junior section?) the light color will be nice for summer and I think this will up the cool factor of any of my outfits I bring with me.

8. Loft Tab Collar Utility Blouse- Oh man I had to buy this shirt as soon as I set my eyes on it! The muted neon yellow is spot on trend for this spring. You know this will be packed in my suitcase.


This is the longest vacation I will have gone on and I feel like I have a million things I will need to pack. I am seriously already stressing out about it!

Updated Skin Care Routine with Michael Todd

Michael Todd True Organics

Last week I mentioned in this post that I purchased some Michael Todd True Organics products. I was out of all my skincare products and decided to give this line a go. Michael Todd's products are all organic and have tons of reviews online and on YouTube. I have previously tried this night treatment from them, so I figured it can't hurt to try out the whole line. I picked up the oily skin set along with a daily Moisturizer. I figured I would split this up between my day and night time routine with these products so keep reading if you want to hear more about these products. As usual everything is linked!

Day Time

Charcoal Detox Face Cleanser- you can see my full review here. I use this to wash my face morning and night. all I can say is I love it!

Organic Lemon Toner-  This toner is made with citrus like lemon and orange along with cranberries, the formula promises to tighten pores, clear skin and reduce dark spots. It contains AHA and DMAE to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. This toner smells so fresh and clean, I use this morning and night after cleansing my face. Not so harsh that my skin feels dried out (that's because there is no alcohol in it) it really just leaves my skin feeling perfectly balanced.

Moisture Lite Non Oily Lotion - This is the one product that didn't come with the Oily/Acne skin care kit. I needed a daily moisturizer and I was looking for something that was light enough to not leave my skin feeling heavy while still keeping my skin moisturized during the day. This has been the perfect addition to the other products I have been using. I only use this in the morning after washing and toning, the formula soaks into the skin nicely and makes my skin perfectly prepped for my foundation.


Night Time - I wash my face with the Charcoal Detox cleanser then use the Organic Lemon Toner just like my morning routine.

JoJoba Charcoal Facial Scrub - Not my favorite facial scrub but is still a great option especially if you are looking for an organic option. I think I just prefer a more intense scrub like philosophy's microdelivery exfoliating wash ( I mentioned it last here). I use this about once or twice a week to help get rid of dirt and skin cells that clog pores.

Kaolin Clay Detoxifying Facial Mask - This mask is seriously my new best friend. it's meant to tighten pores and deep clean the pores of dirt and bacteria. I will have to warn that this mask is not meant for sensitive skin. When you put this on and it starts to dry your face will tingle and sort of feel like its heating up. I personally love that about this because I feel like it is really doing its job. I like to use this after I use the facial scrub to get the best results. After washing this mask off my skin is left feeling so soft and clean.

Antioxidant Carrot Serum - This product is formulated to help control those with acne prone skin. Over the years I would always look for benzoyl peroxide products to try and dry up my acne but really I was destroying my skin by drying it out so much it started to become oilier. This serum uses natural ingredients like licorice extract to treat acne. I have noticed such a difference in my skin tone since using this product. I use this every night after washing and toning my face. If I do a mask or scrub this one goes on after those. In the last month I have seen my acne clear up and skin tone improved. I will definitely be keeping this one in my routine.

 {The Oily skin set, you can purchase here for $70}

I couldn't be happier with my current skincare routine! I have always battled with my oily acne prone skin and I feel this line has really helped balance that out and reduce my breakouts. You can check out all of Michael Todd's products at Michaeltoddtrueorganics.com

REVLON PARFUMERIE SCENTED NAIL ENAMEL

REVLON PARFUMERIE SCENTED NAIL ENAMEL

These adorable nail polishes debuted a little while back and every time I am at the grocery store I am tempted to pick a couple up. Finally last week these were on special, that combined with the adorable packaging was too hard to resist. I scooped these up in two colors Ginger Melon and Apricot Nectar.

If you haven’t heard about these yet they are scented nail polishes from Revlon. I must admit I usually stick to the same couple of brands for polish ( Essie, Deborah Lippmann, Sally Hansen, and OPI) but the sweet apothecary style packaging on these drew me in and the fact they were scented was an interesting concept too.

Revlon has a full line of 24 shades to choose from ranging in scents from sweet and fruity to flowery and spicy. I really love both shades I picked up and think they are perfect for spring and summer. They apply nicely in thin even coats you can get away with two coats but they will look best if you apply three. These smell like regular polishes when wet but once dry are very fragranced. Ginger Melon is a very girly tropical pink (perfect with a summer tan) and smells like cotton candy when dry. It is super sweet so if that is your thing I would recommend this. Personally it is a little too sweet but I really love the color.

Apricot Nectar is a lovely coral cantaloupe shade that I think is very similar to Essie’s Tarte Deco (a total favorite of mine!) Apricot Nectar is scented much lighter and with more floral notes and I actually quite like it a lot. The scent lasts for a few days and I definitely catch myself sniffing my nails while at work (which I am sure looks very strange to my co-workers!). In all I really like these polishes, the color range is great and I don’t mind them being scented one bit. I would buy the whole line just to display these cuties on my counter! These should be readily available at your drugstore or Ulta if not you can buy online from Revlon.com.

 

 

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Are you a big book reader? I am! I love finding new books to read and currently need to fill the void since finishing my last one ( I talked about it in my march favorites). On top of that I am going on a long vacation in a month and will need reading material (more on that to come!). Any book suggestions are welcome! Have a great weekend!

I am loving this lady like flowie dress for spring and summer.

Five of hollywoods sexiest men reading childrens book classics…need I say more.

Have you seen smirnoffs new commercials with Adam Scott? They are pretty funny but my favorite has to be the mixologist.

Have you ever been so angry with someone that you want to write a hate letter but not send it…. I used to do this all the time as way of releasing pent up aggression it really Is quite therapeutic. Check out this article about the lost art of the unsent angry letter

This article about the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon is pretty interesting. Apparently when this game first started Kevin Bacon despised it. Check it out here.

Sephora Beauty Insider Sale

Currently Sephora is running their Beauty Insider Sale. If you are a beauty insider then you are able to get 15% off your order (if you aren’t an insider it’s easy to sign up here). I always think these sales are the best time to scoop up some products that may be more expensive than you would normally spend but since on sale they are more attainable. Sadly this sale doesn’t fit into my budget ( I don’t think I can handle another disappointed face from the bf as I return from the mail with boxes) but I wanted to share some products I have had my eye on. If you want to pick up any beauty goodies on discount use code TICKET at check out. Be sure to hurry though, this sale ends tonight at midnight.

Fresh body moisturizer / Deborah Lippmann nail polish / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics blush / Yves Saint Laurent makeup / Clinique blush / Sephora NARS Matte Multiple

1. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar – Shimmer bricks aren’t anything new and they have been quite popular in the beauty world for a while now but I just haven’t been able justify purchasing one. They are meant to be used on the eyes and cheeks, honestly though I think I would gravitate towards mostly using them on my cheeks. I think the Shimmer Brick in Nectar would be a beautiful color to wear through the summer.

2. Nars Matte Multiples Vientiane – These are new to the Nars Multiples line, I did a post about this a while back (here). I am still dying to get my hands on one and at a discounted price these are pulling at my purse strings.

3. YSL Glossy Stain in 19 Beige Aquarelle – These Glossy Stains have a bit of a cult following but I have yet to jump on the band wagon. I just can’t get over paying so much for a lip gloss especially since I tend to stick with wearing a balm 90% of the time.

4. Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop – I die over these blushes, the packaging has me completely sold. These are new to Clinique for spring and I’m not sure if they are in the permanent line or not. I look at these at least once a week online… it’s pretty much an obsession and I just need to go ahead and purchase one … who am I kidding it would be more like two.

5. Deborah Lippmann Spring Buds – The Deborah Lippmann line of nail polishes is one of my favorites, it’s probably the best overall brand I have ever tried. Nice brush size, applies smoothly, dries quick and lasts for days longer than the average polish. What else could a nail lover want? She just launched her spring colors and I wouldn’t mind adding Spring Buds to my collection.

6. Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Radiance – I have only tried a few bits from fresh and really enjoyed all of them. I love skincare that works to brighten your skin especially in summer when everyone has a bronzed radiant glow. This product drew me in with all the great reviews and will definitely be making it on to my next to buy list.

Michael Todd True Organics: Charcoal Detox Cleanser

Charcoal Detox Cleanser

I recently purchased a whole slew of Michael Todd products to add into my skin care routine. I have been loving all the products but today I just want to focus on one of them. The Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Gel Cleanser. I know that was a mouthful but I love this face wash so much I had to dedicate an entire post to it.

 

Michael Todd's website says this charcoal face wash penetrates deep into your pores to draw out impurities leaving your skin clean and refreshed. All of his products are organic so you know what you are using is good for you and it's a sulfate free formula so it won't irritate eyes. To use the product wet your hands and face with warm water, apply cleanser in palm of hands and gently massage on the face then rinse clean.

Before I was using this face wash my go-to was Philosophy's Purity Made Simple. Which is an all in one cleanser that removes make-up, cleanses and tones the face. I seriously loved this face wash and thought it was the best thing out there. That is until I tried Michael Todd's Charcoal cleanser. OMG this literally takes off every last stitch of makeup, leaving no mascara residue are anything else for that matter. It does such an amazing job cleaning with out leaving my face feeling dried out. This cleanser has done wonders at keeping my skin clear and break outs at bay. I honestly don't think I will ever use a different cleanser again. You can buy this Here for 23 dollars. Not the cheapest face wash but you get a generous size bottle that should last 3-4 months.

April Julep Maven Box

April Julep Maven: The Vivid Collection

April's box was all about bright fun colors for spring and summer. I decided to take a break from nail polish and chose the all make up box (Modern Beauty). My box came in last week and as usual I was a kid in a candy store when opening it. My box came with the light diffusing pore minimizing blush and bronzer. I saw a preview of these two on Instagram (yes I follow Julep on Instagram @julepmaven)before the monthly selection window opened and I knew I had to get them! My blush came in the color Peach Bellini and the bronzer in Medium tan.

So what's all the hoopla about these babies? Well according to Julep they are part of the new jewel dusted line which are enhanced with diamond powder ( diamonds, real diamonds!) They claim this diamond powder helps give a dewy sparkle that minimizes the appearance of pores among other things.

{P.S. the nail polish I am wearing is also from Julep it's called Elisa. I mentioned it in my March favorites here}

Glow Blush in Peach Bellini: I was really excited to get this color in my box. (The other color was a much brighter pink which I have many similar colors in my collection already.) Peach Bellini is the perfect peach pink that has the slightest shimmer that gives just enough radiance to the cheeks. I am always straddling the line between too glittery and too matte, this one is the perfect compromise! The formulation is amazingly soft and pigmented. It does have some fall out from the powder being extremely soft but that is fine with me because the texture is smooth as butter. You only need the slightest tap of this on your brush to achieve the perfect blushed cheeks. This is definitely my new favorite blush.

 

 Glow Bronzer in Medium Tan: A girl can never have too many bronzers, so I was more than excited to receive this in my April box. I was pleasantly surprised with the texture of this bronzer. It is just as soft and buttery as the blush. The color is a bit lighter than I thought it would be so this might not be the best color option for those with darker skin tones. With that being said it is a great color for my fairer complexion. I barely have to use any to achieve color pay off and it blends like a dream. This bronzer give a nice lit-from within glow that this girl loves.

 

Both of these were a total steal in this months maven box at 19.99. The blush retails for  $24.00 and the Bronzer for $28.00.  If you are interested in either of these beauties you can go here and use code GLOW25 and receive 25% off. As always if you are interested in signing up for the monthly box you can go HERE and take the intro survey (if you end up signing up I do get points) use code FREEBOX to get your first box free!

 

 

Tarte Colored Clay Liquid Foundation

Tarte Colored Clay Liquid Foundation 

 

 



 

A couple of weeks ago I talked about the Tarte colored clay set I bought off QVC (here). I have really loved all the products that came in the set and you might have seen my post on the colored clay primer from last week (here) which was one reason I wanted to purchase this set. The other product that motivated me to hit the check out button was this Colored Clay liquid foundation. According to Tarte's website Colored Clay is used to help with several different skin issues. These include brightening dull skin, neautralizing redness, diffuses dark circles and hyperpigmentation, and nourishes skin to help with signs of aging.

 

I have been so happy with this foundation for multiple reasons. First off the formulation is lightweight and gives a beautiful full coverage. The brush that comes with this foundation works really well at blending the foundation out and making the skin texture even and brightened. This lasts all through the work day and keeps its matte finish  Secondly I have received several comments about how good my makeup looks since I have been wearing this foundation ( I mean who doesn't love a compliment).
 

When I first opened the packaging I thought it was sort of a weird design but after using it for a few weeks I find it is actually more practical than most other foundation packaging. There are no messy spills and you can go straight from container to brush to face. No worries about getting foundation on the back of your hands. This retails for 69 dollars on Tarte but when purchased in the set on QVC you are getting so much more for that same price!



  

 

Around the Web

Around the Web

All my favorite shows are starting back up! This week marked the return of The Mindy Project which is my all time favorite show and this weeks episode didn't disappoint. It also saw the end of How I Met Your Mother another favorite of mine. Now I'm just ready for the new season of Mad Men next week! I hope you all had a great week and have something fun planned for this weekend! Enjoy this weeks links.

{Photo from Fox. I seriously loved this weeks 2 episode premiere of The Mindy Project}

Check out these crazy pictures with real animals.

Every time I hear someone mention the ugly cry I automatically think of Kim Kardashian and her awful cry faces. So when I saw this article on the anatomy of an ugly cry I got a pretty good chuckle. 

Growing up we had a vegetable garden and I always dream of having one now. Unfortunately living in an apartment makes that impossible but I am thinking about starting an indoor herb garden.

In honor of The Mindy Project coming back on I thought I would share this hilarious interview she recently did.

These heels are red hot and perfect for summer. At a super affordable 60 dollars you can't pass them up.

March Favorites

March Favorites

Julep Nail Polish in Elisa - (disclaimer I totally forgot to put this in my photos. )I received this polish in my March julep box and have been wearing it throughout the month. Is this not the perfect spring color?! I just can’t get enough of it.

Tarte Clay Blush Bronzer in Pink Bronze - I purchased this towards the end of March but knew I would be wearing it all the time as soon as I swatched it. The perfect combination of pink and bronze.

Million Dollar Tan – I just did a post on this self-tanner (here) and can’t get enough of it. The warmer it gets and the shorter the hem lines the more I realize what a life saver self-tanner is!

Hope in a Jar Night – An amazing night cream. My face always looks so revived the morning after using this one!

Bare Minerals Lash Domination Mascara- I mentioned this miracle worker in my mascara handbook post (here). This mascara gives amazing length and volume. I am always awestruck how good my lashes look after using this!

 

Jane.com - I know this is a bit random putting a website on this list but I have placed a crazy amount of orders through them in March. I always find great deals that are too good to pass up.

Mindy Kaling is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me- I got this book for Christmas but just starting reading it this past month. I seriously love Mindy Kaling. If you want some fun light reading I suggest picking this one up.

 

Straight Sexy Hair Smooth and Seal- This always makes my hair so shiny and manageable. I will spray this on the ends of my hair before blow drying. The result is pure perfection.

 

Dior Addict Lip Glow - I reviewed this product a while back (here) and have mentioned it in my February favorites (here) but honestly deserves all the recognition! This lip balm is the best I have ever used.

Top Five Dry Shampoo

Top 5 Dry Shampoos

I Feel like Dry shampoo although not a recent invention has only recently become popular in the last few years. It used to be only a few random brands carried a dry shampoo in their lines but now just about every hair care line offers something to the effect of a dry shampoo. The days of only washing my bangs in the bathroom sink (yes I used to do this and don’t lie you probably resorted to this a time or two) or using the old school trick of baby powder are now long gone. I’m not sure why this wasn’t a popular product sooner! It’s literally something I reach for just about every day. I try to only wash my hair every other day so I use dry shampoo on my in-between days. Sometimes if I feel my hair is lacking volume and texture I will use my dry shampoo to give it back some oomph. Dry shampoo really has become a life saver for me over the last few years. With my excessive use of dry shampoo in mind I thought I would share the best ones I have tried!

Top 5: Dry Shampoo by jenniferrbates featuring a waterless shampoo

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo Ulta.com - Cosmetics,... / Batiste Hint of Color Dry Shampoo Light & Blonde Ulta.com - Cosmetics,... / Tigi Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo Ulta.com -...

1.Not Your Mothers: Clean Freak Dry Shampoo $5.99 - This has been a recent discovery for me and I am so glad my local grocery store has started to carry this line because they can basically do no wrong. This product does the perfect job of drying up excess oils without completely drying out my hair and scalp. The scent is pleasant and the formula leaves no trace of the dreaded white residue. What more could a girl need, did I mention it’s also extremely affordable?!

2.Sauve - If you are extremely oily prone then this will be your go to product. This by far is the best at oil absorbing but be warned if you are heavy handed with the spraying you will have overly dried out hair and scalp. The scent is a bit strong but it isn’t something that would keep me from purchasing. overall this dry shampoo is my trusty stand by. I always have a bottle of this in my cabinet. This retails for around 3 dollars and is always readily available at grocery stores.

3.Herbal Essence Color Me Happy Dry Shampoo: Out of all the dry shampoos I have ever used this is by far the best smelling. If you get moderately oily hair this would be a great product to try. Also if you color your hair this product is part of the color safe line by Herbal Essence. This one is a bit harder to find in stores but still comes in affordably around the 6 dollar mark.

4.TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo $21.99: This one is in the higher end price range for dry shampoos but is completely worth the price. It works wonders on cleaning your hair and gives great volume at the same time. If you have the extra money to spend I would check this one out.

5.Batiste A Hint of Color Dry Shampoo $8.99: This is a great option for the dark haired girls! It’s tinted so no worries of white residue here! This comes in a blonde, brunette, and red formula. Again this one does a great job of leaving your feeling clean and fresh.

Are you a dry shampoo addict like me? Leave me a comment, I would love to hear your favorite brands!