Tag: blush

bareMinerals The Power Neutrals

I’m going to apologize in advance for my enthusiasm and euphoria because this new collection from bareMinerals has me quite excited. I’m a huge fan of neutrals – it is how I wear my makeup every day. And this five piece collection captured neutrals in the most perfect and modern way.

I’ve long been a fan of the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow formula packed with minerals, cold-pressed borage oil, caffeine, and cucumber to improve the look of your eye area while you wear color – genius! But it is with this eight shade palette that I’ve really fallen. The balance between matte and shimmer is just about perfect. The matte green, Moneymaker, is a surprising new favorite with lots of pigment. And the peachy shimmer top left, Boss Lady, is the perfect brow bone highlighter. I’ve been blending and mixing it up with all shades and have found so much variety in looks!

The READY Color Boost The Adrenaline Rush is also packed with nourishing ingredients to make for a flawless wear. I’ve been swirling all three colors together for a subtle flush. You can use a smaller brush if you’d like to use the shades for contouring, but I prefer the natural blending of a brush swirl. Lara had another fabulous idea – use this palette on your eyes!

I’ve been wearing Marvelous Moxie Lipstick In Take Charge kind of like a lip balm – it is that easy to wear and amazing nourishing. The Nude Rose color gives just enough color while still finishing with that creamy satin. A moisture-loaded complex is keeping my “always dry lips” looking better with every wear. And vitamin A, C and E provide that oh so important in the summer antioxidant defense.

While I love Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Game Changer for my on air segments, Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Super Power is the one I am turning to for every day. The soft peachy nude has just enough shine with a super smooth finish and minty fragrance. Naturally-derived Shea, Avocado and Murumuru butters help to deeply hydrate. PS – it looks amazing over Marvelous Moxie Lipstick In Take Charge.

I keep grabbing for my Lash Domination 10-In-1 Volumizing Mascara. While I have lots of voluminizing mascaras in my arsenal, I love the way this wand has unique spiraled bristles that curve around the wand, covering each lash at all angles with color. It is easy to use and doesn’t take a lot of maneuvering to get great and even coverage. I’ve been locking in the mascara with Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Topcoat, making it slightly harder to remove. But I’ll take it with its super powered lasting ability even during long days at the pool. What a brilliant idea! Mascara topcoat!

Honestly, all five items in this collection are on my list of winners for the season. If I had to pick one, I’d go for the eyeshadow. While it looks similar to Urban Decay NAKED2, I like the slightly more adventurous shades. Plus, the size is a little more nimble for me. If you are a nude lip fan, don’t miss this Marvelous Moxie duo.

Available at bareMinerals.com, Sephora, and Nordstrom

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Brand Spotlight: it Cosmetics

For a while there, my love for it Cosmetics was limited to their concealer (and man… do I love that concealer). But after having a chance to try out some of their other goodies, let’s just say I am hooked on the brand.

Hello Lashes! 5-In-1 Treatment Mascara in Black (first mentioned here) is not only a mascara, but a four other products that all work together for killer lashes. Working as volumizing mascara, conditioning lash primer, lash-enhancing serum, lash tint, and a lash comb/curler, this gives blackest black, full lashes. Developed with plastic surgeons, the formula contains peptides, collagen, proteins, acai, jojoba, green tea, and vitamins A, C, E, and B5. The brush goes after every single lash and I love the Magic Wand detailer tip to get lower and corner lashes.

Vitality Cheek Flush Anti-Aging Powder Blush Stain is also a hybrid product. It is actually a cheek stain in powder formula. As a dry skin sufferer, I love having the hydration of a stain. But powder formulas can be slightly easier to blend. The Radiant in Rose shade has the perfect balance of pink and brown to look sunkissed with a little flush. Goodness like plum oil, cherry oil, hyaluronic acid, pomegranate, seaweed extract, grapeseed, aloe and jojoba work to nourish and improve skin. And it doesn’t stop there. Anti-oxidants (so important in these sunny summer months) like Vitamins A, C, E, Acai, Green Tea and White Tea ward off free-radicals. Did I mention this stuff stays on all day!?

And what’s really got me jazzed is the new IT-O2 Oxygen Liquid Foundation. The formula has that dewy, glowy finish I love and is totally buildable. At the same time, it remains weightless and undetectable on my skin. Drops of Light reflecting pigments to help optically blur away the appearance of imperfections. While you wear it, the active ingredients basically work like they are giving you a facial. Peptides, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen work to provide anti-aging benefits. I’ve been wearing the medium shade lightly applied and I get a tinted moisturizer effect – just enough to even but without covering my summer freckles.

And I can’t resist mentioning that, while I haven’t used them, a makeup artist at a photo shoot was singing praises of it Cosmetics brushes last week. Can’t wait to try them out. Anyone had experience with their tools?

Pierre Hardy for NARS

A couple weeks back, I filled you guys in on the entire collection created by Pierre Hardy for NARS. Now that I’ve had a chance to try out some of the products, I wanted to share my thoughts.

Rotonde is a unqiue and vibrant blush palette. At first, I thought the coral/apricot color was to vivid for my skin tone. But after a blending session, my skin looked enlivened and summer-like. And of course it has that iconic silky texture like all of the NARS blushes. Pierre Hardy’s iconic avant-garde print is only a gold overlay, so I will be sad to see it go. But for now, it is oh so pretty.

The nail duo I snatched up was Sharks. I was plesantly surprised how flattering the lavender was on my skin tone. And the accent of the yellow gave a cheerful spring look. The duos are packaged in an adorable “shoebox” including even a dust bag for storage.

Like other NARS polishes, I get a shiny finish. It isn’t as long wear as other brands but I got a decent run out of this manicure. NARS polishes also include UV protection to prevent polish discoloration and are 3-FREE (Toluene, formaldehyde and DBP free).

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

New: Pierre Hardy for NARS and Pro-Prime Light Optimizing Primer

Can it ever get better than shoes and makeup? I think not. Again NARS brings us a unique coupling with such style. Inspired by his Summer 2013 shoe collection, Hardy’s collection has six polishes pairings (two polishes designed to compliment each other) and two blushes. The polishes come in a small shoebox with dust bag (a nod to Hardy’s own footwear packaging). The blushes feature Hardy’s signature cubic print with a gold overspray. Look for the collection May 1st at narscosmetics.com.

ETHNO RUN: orange, navy

SHARPLINES: peach, burgundy

VERTEBRA: coral, dusty rose

EASY WALKING: rose gold, camel

SHARKS: yellow, lavender

VENOMOUS: gunmetal, black

Blushes ROTONDE: tiger lily and BOYS DON’T CRY: pink grapefruit

Also, NARS is releasing a new primer: Pro-Prime Light Optimizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 15. The lightweight formula is packed with Light Reflecting Complex and red algae extract to keep skin looking luminous and fresh all day. The formula absorbs quickly and fights dullness and fatigue while Vitamins A, C and E help ward off free radical damage. Available April 15, 2013 at NARS boutiques and narscosmetics.com.

mark. Just Blushing Powder Blush

I’ve been on a blush bender lately. With my fair skin at the height of its winter paleness, a little shock of pink can transform me from sallow to glowing. It has been especially frosty here lately, so I’ve been channeling that doll-like sweet pink cheeks rather than my old trusty nude. The effect is kind of windblown chic (just trust me on this one).

While I have my old blush standby, a girl always wants options, right? My dear friend, Lara, was raving about these powder blushes from mark (naturally, I had to see what the fuss was about). And a bonus: with this price point ($9), you can pick up and experiment with a new look, guilt free.

But here’s what’s so special – Just Blushing Powder Blush wears and acts like the most luxe of products. I’m so impressed by their feather-light feel. And at the same time, the powder applies so creamy. The best is the glowing finish and full day of wear the formula gives.

There are eight shades and I’ve swatched four below. From top to bottom: Dollhouse, Lovespell, Cameo and Charmed.

I thought I would fall hard for the nude-y peach Cameo but it is the sweet, cool pink Lovespell that has really captured my heart. I love Dollhouse for a more dramatic look or for darker skin tones. Charmed is a balanced pinky nude with ultimate wearability.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Chantecaille Limited-Edition Save The Sharks Palette

Time after time, Chantecaille stuns with their palettes benefiting wildlife. They honor their cause while still being beautiful and wearable. This season’s is no different. The Save the Sharks Palette is graphic and fresh that translates into either a neutral or bold look but both very feminine.

I’ve been wearing the palette out and about for a couple weeks. First, I love that the artwork of the palette is not disturbed by use (this isn’t always the case). The dual shades of each pot blend beautifully, and with a smaller brush you can use the individual shades.

Great White – a creamy, iridescent beige inspired by the apex of our oceans’ ecosystems, the Great White shark. I use this on the brow bone and in the corner of my eyes for a highlight.
Gray Reef- a true, shimmering taupe with a touch of grey inspired by the Indian and Pacific Oceans’ Grey Reefs sharks. I swipe this on on my lids, just to the crease. This is perfect for a quick everyday look.
Black Tip – a deep ocean blue in the pan, this shade is closer to navy/black and inspired by the inky fin of Black tip sharks. While I reach for this only occasionally, I like using an eyeliner brush to apply right at the lash line. I think setting a liquid liner with a powder like this improves staying power.
Sea Anemone – a iridescent and sheer pink shade inspired by the underwater gardens of the tropical seas. This makes for a great highlighting blush, but don’t be afraid to use it on your lids too. Pastels on the lids are a thing this spring, ya know.

I love a look good, feel good product. For each purchase of this palette, a portion of all proceeds will be donated to BLOOM Association. BLOOM works towards banning shark fining. Several shark species have been decimated by 95% largely because of Asia’s growing and unregulated shark fin trade. The fins are used in a soup and the practice of harvesting is done in barbaric ways. The decimation of the shark population also hurts our ecosystems.