Browsing Category: Make-Up

Make-Up Brushes I Need RIGHT NOW

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For the past couple of months, I’ve been playing around and using more of my make-up, which is what I usually tend to do in the colder months thanks to the decline in heat created sweat and oily skin. PLUS, Ive been trying to use up some items in my makeup collection, which has made me realize that I need some new makeup brushes and brushes that I don’t have at all. However, I’m more concerned with the latter.

Aside from the Shishiedo foundation brush I included in my December 2014 Lust-Have List, here are the other brushes that I feel deep in my heart and makeup boxes that I need to add into my life.

  • Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Brush – All the concealer brushes I have are a built for more coverage, but I need one that can help with small spot concealing and this one by Laura Mercier seems perfect.
  • tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush – I’m a sucker for an airbrush foundation brush, because they give you the most flawless foundation application.
  • Marc Jacobs The Bronze Bronzer Brush – Like I said, airbrush brushes are the ish. So, an airbrush bronzing brush seems like a necessity, especially since my bronze hasn’t really been blending the way I would like to and I blame my current boring bronzing brush.
  • MUFE Precision Powder Brush – I need a new powder brush and this one from Make Up For Ever is super soft and luxe.
  • tarte The Slenderizer Bamboo Contour Brush – I’m always into a good 2-fer and tarte’s Slenderizer brush is duo brush with a airbrush brush on one end, which is good for applying and buffing in foundation and a slanted brush on the other that will make contouring a breeze.
  • NARS Kabuki Ita Brush – This brush from NARS is a holy grail and must-have brush for all make-up enthusiasts. The handle and bristles makes it perfect for contouring and blending.

Is there a brush that you think I’m missing. Please let me know below!

Stay Stylish!

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More Empty Products I’ve Used Up

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I’m so proud of myself, because I’ve been using up products left and right including, makeup, hair care, and skincare products. I will admit that I’m a little torn, because I hate that I had to use up some of these products. Actually, I truly loved all of these products.

I’ve been doing really good on not buying any more foundation and this Lift Blur from L’Oreal was the last foundation I bought a few months ago and I used it up, because this foundation is pretty awesome. However, I probably won’t buy this product again, because $14 is a little too pricey for a drugstore foundation for me. Still, this one is great.

L’Oreal Voluminous mascara is my favorite mascara, drugstore or high end. It does everything that I need it to do and I plan to buy it again. It’s my holy grail mascara.

It has been hard for me to find the “perfect bronzer” for me and my skintone, which has lead me to collect quite a few bronzers in my makeup stash. So, I’ve been trying to use them up and I finally used up my last MAC bronzing powder. This one is a little too shimmery for me, especially for my combo/oily skin. I’m glad I finally got rid of this one.

OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco penetrating oil is almost one my new holy grails, which explains why I used it up so fast, because I used it twice a day, everyday. No matter if my hair was straight or curly. Morning and night and I will be repurchase this one, too.

Stay Stylish!

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Products To Help Minimize Pores

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I love my mom, God rest her soul, but I inherited her bad skin from the huge pores, blackheads to the excessive facial hair. It’s been pretty easy for me to combat the latter two thanks to waxing appointments and blackhead strips, but the large pores? Yes, large pores are hereditary and they are some difficult somethings to tame. Aside from acne, huge pores have been a consistent part of my skin profile that I’ve had deal with all my life, but I only found out that they were a “thing” back when I was in high school.

Now, let me be, as the kids say “100 with you”…no matter what the soft spoken and smooth complexion having lady behind the luxurious beauty counter tells you, there isn’t a product that can remove your large pores. Those products are the unicorns of beauty, they sound lovely, but just don’t exist.

However, there are pore minimizers! Now, the term “pore minimizer” can be little tricky. You might think that they help shrink your pores. Actually, they just help to temporarily shrink your pores and/or shrink them over time, but never remove them.

Like I’ve said, I’ve been dealing with my large pores for awhile now and have tried way too many products over the years to help visually shrink them and trust me, there are plenty of products out there and I feel like I’ve tried about a clean 92% of them. That’s a lot of money spent and shoes rejected for these products. Girl, I mean some fierce boots have been placed back on displays, because I felted I needed a certain product more than I needed a pair of new boots that would have had me strutting a’la Beyonce while walking to my desk.

So, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite pore minimizing products that I have the chance to use and fall in love with over the years.

  • Philosophy Total Matteness Pore Mattifying Pore Eraaser – This is a great serum to apply to you clean skin in the morning to help minimize large pores for flawless foundation application.
  • Perricone MD Enlarged Pores Kit – This is kit contains a duo that treats and minimizes large pores. You use it in the morning and evening and will definitely, over time, notice the size of your pores shrink. It’s very magical and it’s reminded me that I might need to pick this up next time I realize I could eat soup out of my pores.
  • Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfecting Foundation – If you are a fan of a 1-2 punch when it comes to foundation and treating while concealing your large pores, look no further than this foundation from Clinique. This buildable foundation helps to you get a flawless and smooth application, while using built in ingredients that will help downsize the appearance of pores over time. This is a win-win in a bottle, ladies!
  • Dr. Jart+ PORE MEDIC Pore Minish Mist – Can you believe that this mist contains powder and toner to to mattyify your skin? Well, it does! Perfect to use under and over; with or without makeup. It’s a keeper.

Stay Stylish!

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Recent Empties…October 2014

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As I’ve recently said, I’m starting to get out of my “lazy” phase and starting to doll up more. So, I’ve been using up products that have been lurking in the shadows of the cabinet in my bathroom. So, here are some of the items I recently emptied and ran out.

  • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector – I’m a huge fan of Maybelline’s Instage Age Rewind line, especially the under eye concealer and powders. However, this one was just “alright”. This product has been discontinued, but there are still some online retailers with a few left in stock, if you are interested. It was just too creamy for my needs and the highlighter was cool.
  • Lash Potion by Grow Luscious Volume + Length Mascara – I really loved this mascara. It lengthened and made my lashes a little more voluminous. I will buy this one again.
  • L’Oreal Ever Sleek Humidity Defying Leave-In Creme – I can’t tell how long I’ve had this, but I was sent this a couple of years ago and it’s pretty decent. I used it while air-drying my hair before flat-ironing it and it helped combat frizz, even in the humid, southern heat of the summer. I would buy this again.
  • B&BW Forever Midnight Body Cream – I found this half-full bottle in a purse I was using last winter and fell in love with this rich vanilla and floral scent. A nice scent for fall and winter.
  • Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream – I’ve been wearing my hair straight for the past few months, but my hair has been a extremely dry and kind of thin after the heat from tools and the sun, not to mention the constant efforts to lighten my hair.  So, I’m donning my natural curly hair and going heat-free for at least a month.  I’ve been dusting off pieces from my arsenal of curly hair products and this cream was the first victim to run out. I already bought another jar, because my curls love it and the smell of coconuts is lovely in breezy fall day.

Stay Stylish!

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BEAUTY BASICS: When to You Throw Out Your Makeup?

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Nothing lasts forever, at least that’s what they say, and makeup is not an exception. Like food and most items, all forms of makeup and skincare has an expiration date, which can be found on the container.

However, to better assist you, here is a cheat sheet for you to know when is the right time to dispose of your makeup…by item.

MASCARA: 2-6 Months

FOUNDATION: 6-12 Months

LIQUID CONCEALER: 1-2 Years

FACE POWDER: 2 Years

BLUSH: 2 Years

EYE SHADOW: 3 Months – 2 Years (single pots)

EYELINER: 1 Year

LIPSTICK and LIP GLOSS: 1 Year

Stay Stylish!

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