Category Archives: BEAUTY

ESSENTIALS: EVERYDAY MAKEUP

November 10, 2014

Filed Under : BEAUTY

For as many beauty products as I hoard (like an entire hall linen closet, I’m not proud), you’d think I’d be using all sorts of different makeup everyday, but in reality, I stick to only a few essentials. I don’t wear a lot of makeup in general (but again, still pretty hoardy about it) and I tend to prefer a natural look for everyday wear. I’ve found a select few products that help me achieve this look and here they are:

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, Olio E Sasso Lip Balm, Laura Mercier Eye Pencil, RMS Living Luminizer, Tarte Cheek Stain, Chanel Inimitable Mascara

Before I delve into each product, don’t forget to check out all of my other life essentials here, including the last one I did about the best lotion ever IMO.

And now onto some serious rambling about these products:

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-1 // I’ve had this concealer for years but only learned how to use it properly last September, thanks to a very good makeup artist. That peach color goes over my dark age spots and the lighter color brightens all the shadowed places on my face, like the inside corners of my eye, the cupid’s bow, around the nose, and anywhere else that’s feeling particularly sullen.

Olio E Sasso Lip Balm in #3 Crimson // This balm only looks dark. In reality, it goes on super sheer, with just a hint of berry to it. The balm itself feels so amazing and keeps my lips hydrated. The little bit of color is just an added bonus. I switch off with this Dior balm all the time.

Laura Mercier Longwear Eye Pencil in Slate // I don’t wear a ton of eyeliner, only a smudge on the top, usually on the lash line. But even so, I’ve tried every eyeliner in the book and none stay on my eyes like this one. I never have to worry about it moving or smearing over time. THANK G.

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer // This product is a secret of the pros. Multiple makeup artists that I know swear by it. It acts as an illuminator, brightening and making everything look happier and more jolly. I use this on the inside corner of my eyes (along with the Secret Camouflage for an extra juj), a little on my eyelids, in a C-shape from my temple to my upper cheek bone (under the eye), and anywhere else that needs a little brightening on any given day. This is the STUFF man. If I could endorse any candidate on this roster, it would be this one.

Tarte Cheek Stain in Natural Beauty // To go along with my theme of looking as natural as possible, I stick to this cheek blush, which is a sheer berry rose color. It makes your cheeks look just slightly flush, in the most natural way possible. Plus, I tend to prefer a cream blush over a powder for that general dewy look.

Chanel Inimitable Mascara // Mascara is the only product that I’m never married to. I love Chanel mascara, but I also equally love the Buxom Lash Mascara. I switch it up all the time depending on what I have in the back stock. I was also using Benefit They’re Real for a long time and while it looks good, it would weigh down my lashes too much. The Chanel is much lighter and more natural looking, but still packs a punch.

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ESSENTIALS: KIEHL’S CREME DE CORPS

August 18, 2014

Filed Under : BEAUTY

This essential is a no-brainer for me. I’ve been using Kiehl’s Creme De Corps lotion for about 10 years now and I have no plans of swapping it any time soon. In fact, I stock UP on this stuff. I’m talking Costco-sized bottles every time Nordstrom has their Anniversary Sale (aka the best time to buy Kiehl’s IMO). I also make sure I have a few travel bottles on hand for when I go anywhere.

Every morning I lather the heck up. The best part about it? It doesn’t sting my legs after I shave!! That is so key, am I right? The consistency is super thick and slightly greasy, but it soaks in almost immediately and leaves my skin feeling 100% hydrated. At this point, I can’t live without it. Mom, thanks for putting it in my Christmas stocking every year or else I’d probably be broke from buying too many bottles.

I get it here and here.

More essentials: French things, candle, ankle boots, intuitive lip balm, egyptian magic

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BEACH HAIR ALL SUMMER LONG

July 7, 2014

Filed Under : BEAUTY

I like my hair to be at it’s absolute messiest in the summer time. A good messy though – not like too messy, who do you think I am? Just kidding, it’s probably too messy like 4 out of 5 days, but we can’t all be perfect. Anyway, beach messy is what I aim for. Lots of texture, extra volume, and most importantly: not a strand in place, thank you very much. To achieve said look, I’ve pretty much tried every combo of salt spray and dry shampoo and thickening spray and oils on this planet. Sometimes it worked, but mostly it just looked even more tangled than normal. So at my last hair cut, I expressed my concerns of not reaching peak beach hair to this fine lady, and here’s what she told me to use:

Unite Beach Day Texturizing + Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Y’all, I think I get it now. This combo = beach hair. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. The Unite beach spray adds a good amount of grit and wave, while the Oribe spray amps up the texture and volume like no other. Also the Oribe smells like heaven and is totally replacing my perfume usage as of now.

Here’s how I do it: I spray Unite on damp, towel-dried hair and tousle with my hands. Once my hair is air dried, I’ll spray the Oribe on the ends and use my hands to twist strands and mess it up a bit. That’s it. On second-day hair (or third), I just spray Unite a little on the ends and then do a good long spray of Oribe once around my head. Beach hair from now until September (or probably forever, let’s be real).

Wearing:
Vintage Levi’s 501s
Zara blazer, old (similar here)
Zara tee, old (similar here)
Clare Vivier Clutch

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ESSENTIALS: ALL THE FRENCH THINGS

April 3, 2014

Filed Under : BEAUTY

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this lifetime, it’s that French women know what’s up. They’ve always got the best hairstyles, wear the coolest outfits, eat lots of croissants, drink good wine, and have really lovely, buoyant skin. What the f? Anyway, on my quest to becoming a French woman, I’ve discovered a few French beauty products that have changed my life for the better. I love them so much that they’ve become essentials (see past essentials here!). I’m serious, if Amazon stopped carrying this stuff, I’d be forced to move to France.

Details below, but first, disclaimer alert: I’m NOT a beauty expert, I just know what works for me and I like to overshare.

Embryolisse: This is a moisturizer that I use at night, after I’ve washed my face. I won’t get into all the details of my nightly routine right now, but holy heck, this stuff is good. It’s super lightweight, but somehow makes my skin feel totally moisturized and happy. I suffer from dry skin AND oily skin (really, universe?) and Embryolisse seems to balance everything out really evenly, thank the heavens. You can find it here, here, or here.

Bioderma Crealine: In it’s heart-of-hearts, Bioderma is a simple makeup remover. You soak a cotton pad and wipe all the crap off your face. BUT OMG IT’S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. I use it every night and it works so effortlessly. It’s also super gentle, doesn’t sting my eyes, and makes my face feel truly clean. I still wash my face afterwards with soap and water, but some people just use Bioderma to wash their face and it’s a totally OK thing to do. Also, I’ve met many makeup artists who swear by the stuff. It’s the real deal. You can find it here or here.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir: I’m so addicted to this stuff that I keep a backstock of at least 3, in case I need them on the fly. Literally, they’re also good flying companions. Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir is a face spray that’s part toner and part serum and it’s loaded with essential oils. Not only does it smell amazing, but it also smoothes out my skin and tightens everything up. It’s like a spritz of goodness. I always spray it on my face in the morning, usually right after I’ve washed it. But lately, I’ve been switching it up and spraying it after I’ve put my foundation on (but before powder) and it sets everything in place. What doesn’t this stuff do? Can’t live without it. You can find it here.

Also, my essential candle, shoe, lip balm, and body salve.

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LEARNING ABOUT GOOD SMELLING THINGS

November 25, 2013

Filed Under : BEAUTY

If there’s one thing I know nothing about, it’s perfume. Here’s what I do know though: everyone in LA wears the same scent. I’m not even kidding right now. Go to any bar, restaurant, event, The Grove, everyone is wearing the same perfume. It’s like Pinesol meets an uncharted forest meets an ashtray meets high-quality leather. Clearly I’m not privy to scent descriptives, but that’s pretty much it. And it’s like everyone else is in on this secret scent except for me because I have no idea what it is. I’m guessing it’s Tom Ford, because everyone in this town WOULD wear Tom Ford.

Anyway, I like my perfumes to smell like foods, instead of the real floral scents, because I can’t do that strong stuff. I’d rather get wiffs of something delicious tasting than something super rosey. Also, those potent fragrances make my boyfriend nauseous and we wouldn’t want that. On a daily basis, I wear Trish McEvoy’s Blackberry & Vanilla Musk. It’s SUPER light and makes me kind of hungry, but I love it.

But I’ve been looking for a new perfume with a little more depth and lasting power for when I go out on the town or go to work events (ya know, more fancy things), but sweet mercy is it hard to find a new fragrance. Luckily, I saw the Surrender to Chance site on Kate’s blog and it totally blew my mind and changed my scent game forever. It’s basically just sample-sized perfumes of the more obscure and indie fragrances that aren’t as easy to find. My only requirement for a scent is that it’s obscure and indie sooooooo score? But seriously, what better way to find a new signature scent than with tiny little samples! These are the ones I picked: Byredo 1996 Inez & Vinoodh, Byredo Gypsy Water, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, and Diptique Eau Duelle. I also picked a bunch of sample perfumes in my last Sephora order so I have those too (the bigger bottles). So far, the Diptique one is winning over my heart. Go figure, it kind of smells like vanilla extract.

I’ve placed another Surrender to Chance order and I’ll report back when a signature scent is found. What’s yours? I’m new in the scent game and I know nothing.

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