Tag: powder

Winter Makeup Routine

I know it doesn’t come as a shock that I am always changing things up when it comes to my routine. But this particular combo of goodies has seemed to garner quite the motherload of compliments… if I do say so myself. So here is my step-by-step face makeup routine of late – think glowy and natural but still medium coverage (now if I could just get my hair to look like the above).

1. On top of my unsual moisturizer, add a dose (three drops or so) of Kate Somerville Dilo Oil Restorative Treatment and allow to soak in.

2. Using my new favorite FLOWER Ultimate Liquid Foundation Makeup Brush, I apply two small drops of my long-time favorite, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear shade 4.5).

3. Touch up with another old favorite, Cle De Peau Beaute Concealer in Beige – mostly under eye and on the chin. I like to work in using my fingers mostly because I am lazy but I also love this brush.

4. Longevity is all about layers. So I end with a sweep of bareMinerals Mineral Veil – translucent but adds a glow. And bareMinerals READY Bronzer in High Dive to add some warmth to my summer pallor (just a light touch needed!).

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I have a feeling that some of this routine will (happily) be supplanted when my new Glossier Phase 1 set arrives this week – I have heard rave reviews. I can’t wait to share my thoughts on this new line by my fellow beauty blogger.

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NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation

I might sound like a broken record, but I really don’t care. Because everything NARS puts out lately (and frankly pretty much always) is just so darn good. The latest is a powder foundation which usually doesn’t get me very hot and bothered but this one is different.

Rather than a matte or chalky finish, the All Day Luminous Powder Foundation has their exclusive Light Reflecting Complex, making skin look natural, luminous and with an almost transparent finish. The natural look is likely because of the ultra-fine powder which has an almost creamy feel.

This effect on my normal-to-dry skin is supple and renewed. 17 amino acids, Vitamin C, marine fennel and SPF 24 helps improve fine lines and dark spots – something I always consider a bonus with foundation. After all, our goal is to need less the more we use it, right? It plays especially well with my hyper-pigmentation.

I have been layering it over a very sheer BB cream as a sort of second step foundation. But it also works just as well alone or with a primer. I enjoy the ability to spot treat over areas of redness and where I have sun damage. While both the NARS powder puff and included sponge work well, I like buffing in using a flat foundation brush like this one.

Launched 9/20 at NARS Boutiques and narscosmetics.com. I’ve been wearing Santa Fe and Vallauris – I am thrilled with both but I think Vallauris might be a slightly better match on my light-to-medium autumn skin tone.

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.

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder

This summer I have been reaching for highlighters, dewy foundations and sheer tinted moisturizers. So I was kind of surprised when I fully embraced this matte loose powder, likely attributed to its unique qualities. I certainly have never encountered a powder quite like this one.

Using Micronized Hyaluronic Acid, By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder infuses skin with hydration and fills wrinkles, pores and imperfectiona. But at the same time, oil and shine is kept at bay with silica microbeads and an ultra-light texture. So my dry skin doesn’t show through as it so often does with powders.

Back to the “matte finish”. I don’t find this powder to be overly matte. I use very sparingly on a large powder brush and get a more transparent look. In fact, the powder is white but appears on skin completely colorless. Don’t worry about a dusky finish. Other bloggers have attested to a full on matte look. My best blogging buddy, Maree, encounters a more matte finish on her oily to normal skin. Check out her awesome review here. My takeaway is that the amount of product can really make a different in the finished look.

The packaging is relatively tidy for loose powder. Packaged in the classic tub, the plastic dispenser has ultra-fine holes allowing for a measured amount of product. I pour a couple taps into the lid and swirl with my powder brush. Tap on the side of the sink and apply.

Last but not least, this powder effectively and beautifully sets makeup. Feather-weight on skin, it conceals flaws and can be used to spot treat where you need more staying power or coverage.

Available at Barneys, B-Glowing, Beauty.com, NET-A-PORTER and Space NK.

Eve Lom Sheer Radiance Translucent Powder

Usually during the summer, I am all about bronzer, bronzer, bronzer. But leave it to Eve Lom to convert me to a Translucent Powder. A brand that I have only known for skin care, Eve Lom is known for using technique to reveal luminous and radiant skin. Not surprisingly, their color cosmetics are beautifully simple and natural-looking.

As someone with dry skin, I am a little weary when it comes to powder. But this version is luxurious and velvety. My skin is left incredibly soft and hydrated thanks to the fruit stem cell extracts. The light weight is thanks to its micro-find texture. And each particle is rose-shaped (how glam even if we can’t see it!).

I’ve been wearing Eve Lom Sheer Radiance Translucent Powder in Dawn which is surprisingly transparent on me. A little goes a long way, and it is easy to get over zealous with the included brush. So I sweep across skin quickly and then blend with a bigger brush (or sometimes, actually my hands… shhh). My dry skin soaks up its hydration but I think the formula is balanced enough that it would work for normal to oily skin as well. I’d probably caution those with very oily skin to try out at a counter first. The finish is radiant and the light-diffusing properties conceal fine lines (and even some hyper-pigmentation!).

I love the packaging even if the product comes out quickly. In my opinion, better than the alternative. Perfect to throw into your summer clutch to add a mid-evening glow. Plus, it just looks so pretty.

Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program, but as always, opinions are my own.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

How does Hourglass possibly follow up the widely acclaimed release of Ambient Lighting Powder? Or the incredibly popular Ambient Lighting Palette? Needless to say… this was bound to be a difficult task. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush recently hit shelves and while the reception was mixed, I’ve found the powders to be unique and almost as special as the powders.

The primary hurdle for most bloggers I know who have tried the product is that “blush” might not be the best name. I’ve been testing Ethereal Glow (a cool pink blush with a moonlit luminosity) which, on me, plays much more like a highlighter and not that different than my beloved Ethereal Light Ambient Lighting Powder.

Each blush is a hybrid of an Ambient Lighting Powder and a classic blush shade:

Dim Infusion (Subdued coral blush fused with Dim Light to add warmth)
Diffused Heat (Vibrant poppy blush combined with Diffused Light for a subtle halo effect)
Luminous Flush (Champagne rose blush fused with Luminous Light to evoke a candlelit glimmer)
Radiant Magenta (Golden fuchsia blush combined with Radiant Light for a summer glow)
Mood Exposure (Soft plum blush fused with Mood Light to brighten the complexion)

While I haven’t experienced the other shades in person, I understand that the pigment is can be subtle across the board (although it certainly doesn’t look like it online). The shades are buildable, but I find Ethereal Glow to be perfect with a subtle touch for highlighting and an on-the-go touch up powder. My friend, Maree, has a gorgeous swatch of Radiant Magenta here that can demonstrate potential pigmentation.

The distinctive attribute of this blush is the inclusion of Photoluminescent Technology to enhance and provide depth and dimension. The handcrafted blushes are mixed using the Italian miscelare technique meaning no two blushes will look alike. Designed to be used with Ambient Lighting Powder, the Blush can create “multidimensional luminescence”.

My takeaway is that these blushes do add a natural and dynamic finish. The other shades might work well as a blush given that they are buildable. While Ethereal Glow isn’t necessarily a “blush” in my book and might be a duplicate of Ethereal Light, I appreciate the smaller palette for my clutch and the slight cool pink shimmer that works beautifully as a highlighter.

Fragrance, talc and gluten free. Not tested on animals.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Pressed Powder

Thanks to a lot of hard work, my sun damage and hyper pigmentation has really begun to fade. With that, I am celebrating by wearing slightly less makeup. Some days, I can even get away with just a powder – yay! And what better way to change up the routine than with a fab new product from one of my favorite luxury lines – Koh Gen Do.