4 of My Favorite Highlighters... that you might not have tried

I do love a glow... even when I'm wearing a shimmery blush, the temptation to add a sweep of highlighter is too strong to resist - it just seems to make my whole look pop and really wake up my face. Quite frankly, I own a shameful amount of highlighting products (more than any face needs, and more than I care to admit!) but I thought I'd put together a little post, sharing a few of my favorites that aren't necessarily "cult favorites" and that maybe some of you fellow beauty junkies might have never tried, or even seen.

 

 

ELF "Blush" - Gotta Glow

 

And then in swatch form....

 

This is truly a beautiful highlight, I suggest a light hand to avoid any chalkiness.... but for $3.00 it's nearly perfect, if you need a High End comparison - think Nars Albatross (white gold).

 

 

Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer

 

And swatched...

Now this isn't marketed as a highlighting product at all, but rather as a bronzer, but on my skin tone this is a lovely golden highlight.... not too much shimmer, just enough gleam. If you have any experience with the dream mousse range, you know the texture is lovely, and blending is a breeze!

 

 

 

Benefit - Girl Meets Pearl

Swatched...

 

This is such a nice highlighter, almost to the point that if I wasn't wearing any makeup at all, I'd consider (perhaps not try - but definitely consider) applying it all over my face! It's pink toned, but really does leave a "pearlescent" finish.

 

 

 

Tarte Celebutante

It doesn't show up so well in swatch, but...

 

This is totally different than all the other's, the main difference being that this is an oil-based, moisturizing highlighter, meant for use on the body. It has no real color, but features the prettiest micro-shimmer. No matter what it's intended use - I love this blended onto my cheekbones, it's natural and glowy and shimmery perfection.

 

 

 

 

Let me know if you've tried any of these.... and if you have the same love affair I do! Happy highlighting my dears!













 

 

 

 

Lipstick Love

So.... as you can tell from the very clever title, this post is dedicated to one of my favorite cosmetic obsessions... LIPSTICK! And one lipstick in particular, "Rimmel Moisture Renew", the title alone brings me glee :)

 

 

This lipstick is not new on the market and it's not even new to my collection, but while rummaging through my lipstick drawer last night, I thought to myself, "self... these beauties are worth sharing." I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like these lipsticks, but if you're like me and are prone to very dry lips... you will LOVE them. Everything from the shiny purple packaging, to the creamy, luxurious formula is perfection. This is by far the best drugstore lipstick I've ever purchased!

 

Without further ado.... here are my 4 beauties.

 

 

 

 

DREAMY

CORAL SHIMMER

CRYSTAL MAUVE

BURGUNDY SHINE

 

And last but not least, here's a completely gratuitous midnight "selfie" just to say hi!

 (still wearing Burgundy Shine, which is quite a bit darker than it looks)

 

 

Hope every one's well... let me know if you love these lipsticks as much as I do!

 

 



 



 

 

Absent-Minded Blogger..... FOTD

I swear sometimes I forget about this blog all together.... strange considering I read beauty blogs pretty much on a daily basis - but mine I neglect and forget. Go figure.

Anyhow, the weather in New York has been lovely this week and the sunshine and blooming flowers are getting me excited for all the spring/summer makeup to come! (EVERYTHING looks better with a little tan!) Here's my Face of today... just an ordinary Wednesday at work.

On The Mug: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup, Covergirl Professional Loose Powder, Bronzer from ELF bronzer & blush duo (HG BRONZER!), ELF Candid Coral Blush.

On The Eyes: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP (allllways!), Stila - Kitten on the lid, Two random browns from ULTA in the crease, NYC liquid liner on the top, Revlon Colorstay liner on the waterliner, Stila Smudgestick - Lionfish, smudged on the lower lash line, Maybelline the Falsies Flared mascara..... sheesh that's a lot, for such a basic and neutral look!

And for your final viewing pleasure (sarcasm, indeed).... here's a shot with some natural light. The other two are taken at my desk. The lipstick I'm wearing is from Essence.... called "Creamy Nude" it's amazing.... pink based, my lips but better, non drying perfection.

Hope anyone reading in this is doing well.... happy & healthy and loving life.



Spring 2012 Makeup Trends: Fab or Fail?

I did a post very similar (or perhaps completely identical) last year around this time.... so who am I to mess with tradition. This year I pretty much liked all the spring trends spotted on the runways... my only complaints are really about seasonality and personal preference. Anyway... on with the show.

FAB

Red Lips

I never was the biggest fan of red lips (at least on me).... but lately I have become obsessed. I am happy to be seeing this look carry over into spring.

Winged / Cat Eyeliner

Personally, my liner always needs a little flick.... so this is just a staple. An oldie but a goodie!

Bronzed "Sun-Kissed" Cheeks



Bronzer as blush is lovely in the sunny seasons.... gives you a healthy and effortless look.

Gorgeous Glowy Skin

To achieve this lovely and fresh-faced look you need lots of sleep.... a flawless foundation.... and a damn good highlighter!

FAIL

Super Bold Brows

This is the one trend that I noticed more than any other on the runway models... and while I am a fan (I've been sporting bolder brows myself for the last few months), it doesn't scream FRESH and SPRING when I see it.

Silver / Super Metallic Eyes

I love silver shadow as much as the next girl... maybe more. But, I find the look a little too ice queen.

Big Doll-Like Lashes

I do love me some lashes! Pile on the mascara and the falsies as far as I'm concerned... but it just feels slightly heavy and un-spring like compared to bronze glowy skin.

Dark Smokey Eyes

This one is the hardest to label a fail because I love my smokey eyes year round... especially for evening. But when the sun starts shining and the weather starts warming up, I think less becomes more.

That's my roundup... any other spring trends you've seen that you love or hate?

*P.S. I take no credit for these images... they were acquired by a simple google image search and absolutely no copyright infringement is intended*

Getting in the spirit....

Technically it's still winter, I mean it's only February, but here in NY the last few days have felt like an early spring (such a thrill!) and in keeping with the lovely weather, my makeup today (even my outfit actually) is "monochromatic with a pop of pink" not exactly a new concept, but it feels springy and fresh to me!

I wore grey wide leg trousers, with my favorite studded walmart flats....

A bright pink ruffled tank and a simple black cardigan.....

(pardon the blur as well as the odd face... I've been at work ALL day)

My eye makeup is a blend of shimmery neutrals and grey

MAC "Dazzlelight" on the lid, MAC "Print" in the crease, a charcoal almost black Tarte shadow in the "outer V", and more dazzelight on the browbone. Liquid liner and Maybelline "Falsies Flared"

Gotta have the signature glow... even if we're keeping it neutral!

That is ELF bronzer (from the duo), Benefit "Dallas", and MAC "Soft and Gentle"

The pop came with the perfect barbie pink lips, to match my shirt and my mood...

ELF (ONE FREAKIN DOLLAR) lipstick in "Flirtatious"

How is everyone else showing their excitement for spring?



Could it be....

...Have I been wrong all along, is less really more when it comes to makeup?!? Last night before bed (okay not bed... another 2 hours on the phone), I was just about to take off my makeup and I thought to myself "Self... I kinda like the smudged out/faded way my makeup looks now better than I liked it this morning when it was all neat and precise" Strange.... anyway, here's my makeup after about 17 hours of wear!

And here's what was left of my eye makeup...

This used to be.... "Print" (MAC) on the lid and outer corner, blended into "Satin Taupe" (MAC) in the crease, and "Kitten" (Stila) on the brow bone... with some winged liquid liner and maybelline "Falsies Flared" mascara.

So.... is understated the way of the future?





Milani LOVE...

Run don't walk to your local CVS (at least that's where I went).

I'm not someone who really follows the new drugstore makeup collections, or any makeup collections actually... But while dangerously browsing the cosmetic aisle at CVS this past weekend, I found the loveliest new stuff from Milani. Milani has been developing quite the buzz over the last year or so, and personally all of the products I've bought have been winners. The new collection of eye shadows seems to be no different. I bought two (which took great restraint!) And one is my current obsession!

Meet ''Copper Excess'' the baked beauty, that's stolen my heart (dramatic but true)

This is a combination of bronze, copper, peach, and amber... It's so gorgeous.

Dry on left, wet on right (natural light)

Dry on left, wet on right (artificial light)

 Here's a look at the other two Milani shadows I own... On the left is ''bronze doll'' which I've had for years... And adore, its a super warm bronzey gold. On the right is ''Antigua'' which is a part of this new collection... Its a hunter green with a gorgeous gold duo-chrome.

The only thing wrong with ''Antigua'' is that all the fabulous gold glitter is merely an over spray.

 I highly recommend ''Copper Excess'' its unique and lovely. Check out the whole collection for yourself here: http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-101-baked-eyeshadow-marble.aspx

Any must-haves... Or already-haves?

Long time no see...

It has literally been forever and a day (or two) since I've posted here... life has really gotten in the way of my cosmetic addiction! I figured to get my feet wet (or fingers really) I would kick off with a good old Face Of The Day post... which incidentally are my favorite types to read. It's just a typical Friday morning.... this may seem like an excessive amount of makeup to use for work, but I don't believe there is such a thing as an excessive amount of makeup!

On my face I used...

(left to right)

Covergirl Natureluxe Silk Foundation (suede), Revlon Photoready Translucent Finishing Powder, ELF Bronzer (from blush and bronzer duo), Benefit Dallas, MAC Mineralized Skin Finish (Soft&Gentle)

*favorite cheek combo, by the way*

And here's the outcome...

gotta have the glow!

On my eyes I used...

"Swish" from MAC all over the lid, "Texture" all over the crease, a random Avon dark brown in the "outer v" and under the lower lash line, and the lightest shade in my Physicians Formula highlighter on the brow bone, Almay Liquid liner on top, Mally pencil in "espresso" on the water line, and my new favorite mascara "Falsies Flared"

All that became this....

I truly LOVE pink eye shadows

My lip combo...

The cult favorite "Airy Fairy" lipstick from Rimmel, and my favorite nude lip gloss Sally Hansen 12-hour diamond lip treatment "Princess"

And voila... the finished product...

I make strrrrrange faces in photos :)

On a side note - I am over the winter, although New York has been spared awful weather and storms, I am still craving spring/summer. So I ditched my usual winter Black or Blackened Plum nail polishes and busted out the neon pink (glitter on top OF COURSE)... instant mood lifter

Happy 2012 since I haven't posted since... hope it's fabulous for all!