Makeup

The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 11: MADINA Milano

May 19th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 17 Comments

MADINA Milano Italian Makeup — Wearing MADINA Exact Color Bronzer all over my face and neck, MADINA Crystal Glass Powder on my forehead and sides of the nose, MADINA Crystal Glass Bronzer in the classic 3 shape, MADINA Chic & Shine Highlighting Stick on my cheekbones, and MADINA Exact Color Lipstick on my lips

You know that feeling when you fall so madly in love with someone that you wonder how you survived for so long without them? Well, it’s the exact same feeling I had when I recently tried MADINA Milano’s makeup for the first time!

The products that have stolen my heart include Pat McGrath’s favorite highlighter and a lipstick that looks good enough to eat…

Are you intrigued?

Just keep reading, then! 😉

MADINA Exact Color Bronzer (€10/$11.37)

OK, I don’t know how it does it, but the MADINA Exact Color Bronzer makes my complexion look so much better without having any actual coverage. When I apply it all over my face and neck, it gives me the most gorgeous sunkissed glow that doesn’t pull orange AT ALL, while it makes my skin look smoother and keeps it shine-free longer.

As if that weren’t enough, it also acts as some sort of tinted primer by making my foundation go on so much more easily.

I’m telling you, gurl, this is Holy Grail status.

MADINA Crystal Glass Powder (€16/$18.20)

The MADINA Crystal Glass Powder is actually not a powder, but I guess it’s called that because you can use it on top of your makeup like you would a finishing powder.

It’s basically just pure silicone that you can either use as a primer or on top of your base to minimize the look of pores and fine lines. I personally like to pat it on after foundation using the flat side of my dry Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I don’t use it on a daily basis, but for special occasions it really works wonders!

MADINA Crystal Glass Bronzer (€16/$18.20)

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Would You Rock Pastel Brows? Introducing the MAC Soft Serve Collection Dare Hue! Brow Pencils

May 18th, 2016 by Adia Goss 29 Comments

mac soft serve brows — Introducing the new MAC Soft Serve Eyebrow Pencils!

Well…this collection is definitely outside my comfort zone. The first time I saw the new Dare Hue! Brow Pencils from the MAC Soft Serve collection ($16.50 each, available online May 26, 2016; in stores June 2 through July 14), I kept asking myself, “Are these definitely brow pencils? Because maybe these are really supposed to be eyeliners.” But, no, these are definitely brow pencils.

These six pastel-hued eyebrow pencils are pretty impossible for me to pull off with my coloring, but I gotta hand it to MAC for totally stepping outside the box. This is the kind of crazy-unique product that I expect from MAC, and I think it’s cool that the brand is still staying true to its non-traditional roots!

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The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 10: puroBIO cosmetics

May 17th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 20 Comments

puroBIO cosmetics Organic Italian Makeup — Wearing the puroBIO Eyeshadow Palette in 002 Fallen Tones on my eyes, and the puroBIO Smoothing Mattifying Primer for Oily Skin, the puroBIO Indissoluble Compact Powder in 01, and the puroBIO Resplendent Matte Bronzing Powder in 01 on my complexion

Organic makeup lovers, this one’s for you: I have a real treat for you today!

I’m talking about an Italian brand called puroBIO cosmetics, a range that features only organic-certified, vegan-approved makeup products that retail for very reasonable prices.

Wanna see my top picks?

puroBIO Indissoluble Compact Powder in 01 (€9.99/$11.40)

If you only get one product from puroBIO, the Indissoluble Compact Powder should be it! Thanks to its extremely finely milled texture and non-powdery finish, it’s earned itself a spot in my everyday makeup bag.

puroBIO Resplendent Matte Bronzing Powder in 01 (€9.99/$11.40)

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The New Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencils Are THE Eyeliners of all Eyeliners

May 16th, 2016 by Jen Clark 17 Comments

Where are my watery-eyed ladies at? (*frantically waves arms above head*)

If you’re raising your hands, listen up!

And even if you aren’t raising your hands, still listen up.

If you’re in need of an uber-pigmented, budge-proof eyeliner, look no further. The Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Waterproof Eye Pencils have arrived, and they are the *BLEEEEEP!*

Make Up For Ever teamed up with Charli XCX to create these 20 amazing $21 shades, and let me tell you about the formula, because I’ve never met another eyeliner that does what these do — and I’ve met a lot of eyeliners.

First, I’m so impressed by how smooth and pigmented they are. When first swatching them, I couldn’t believe how lightly I had to press to get a smooth, opaque line. There is no tugging or skipping here!

I did a look using shade M-26 (a matte pastel blue) on my upper lash lines, and I was able to get a wing with a pencil eyeliner.

I have never been able to do that before!

Because they are so smooth and blend-able, I was able to use a tiny angled brush to pull out the color to get that sharp wing I was looking for, and you do have some time to play and smudge if you’d like. But once they set, giiiirl, they are not moving around!

The new Makeup Forever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliners

Now back to why I think watery-eyed girls will love these: wear time. It is usually so pointless for me to line my waterline and tightline because my eyes just wash away the color within minutes, sometimes seconds, so after hearing about these pencils and their reputation, I had to give them a go.

You guys, this liner stays on my waterline THE. ENTIRE. DAY. I kid you not. I did my makeup and used ME-42 (a metallic bronze), and when I looked in the mirror to take off my makeup that night, ME-42 was still where I put it. That has never happened to me before.

I have found a few of them that only last a couple of hours, which is still great in my book, but many of them, including ME-42, last well over six hours.

Makeup Forever Aqua XL Waterproof Eye Pencil — ME-42 on my waterline; probably my favorite shade!

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What I Wore to Work, ft. Sugarpill’s Loose Eyeshadow in Countess

May 16th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 27 Comments

_MG_2362_web — Eyeliner: Sugarpill Countess loose eyeshadow; Lips: Lumiere by Colourpop; Highlight & Contour: MAC All the Right Angles in Light

Do you ever sit down to get ready for work and just…wing it? Sure, I have a few different go-to looks for different occasions, but sometimes I’m down for a challenge.

It usually goes something like “alright Nic, we’ve got 30 minutes to shower, beat thy mug, and be out the door.” I paw at my makeup till I see something sparkly like the pigment Countess by Sugarpill ($13) and some Eyelure lashes that kind of resemble black caterpillars. Then, I decide there is no way to continue on with my day until I have giant, sparkly cat eyes and dense, fluttery lashes.

Isn’t Countess stunning? It’s a deep maroon with subtle aqua reflects that are pretty difficult to capture on camera, but are definitely apparent in real life.

Sugarpill Countess Loose Eyeshadow (5 grams)

Luckily everything worked out this time, because I had to get to work.

I photographed one of my favorite shows, Baloney! Baloney is San Francisco’s first (and only) gay all-male revue. It’s part theater, dance, peepshow, and pays homage to classic burlesque and pantomime. The show was created and choreographed by some of my favorite artist friends and couple, Rory Davis and Michael Phillis. It is among the most visually stunning shows I’ve seen and is a total dream to photograph, let alone just watch.

What happens at Baloney usually stays there, but here are some of my favorite moments I’ve shot from Baloney shows both past and present:

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara and Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder

May 13th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 10 Comments

Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara in Black — Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara in Black ($12)

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

Price and ease of use: two of the main, biggest things I factor into my makeup buying decisions. If something is way too complicated or doesn’t apply well, I’m not going to use it. And if it’s overly pricey or not worth investing in, I’m not going to buy it, which is why I love both of the two products I’m showing you here.

I first encountered Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara a year (maybe two?) ago when it was the birthday gift at Sephora. It came in a mini version with a nude lipstick, the shade of which I can’t remember now, unfortunately. I’ve since finished the lipstick, and I’m almost done with that particular mascara, but I also have a second one that I keep in my purse.

This mascara has served me SO well. The mini one has been perfect for my purse (and, let’s be honest, I kind of love the mini versions of most things). It’s great daytime and nighttime looks.

The wand is also a perfect shape, in my opinion. Wider at one end, it tapers down to a really nice point that gives me lovely, fanned out lashes every time. It also deposits just the right amount of product.

And the color is another factor for me. It’s a gorgeous inky black. If you like brown mascaras, you’re out of luck, because this one only comes in black, but I wouldn’t mind seeing it released some other colors.

Bonus: It doesn't make my lashes push up against my glasses! — Bonus: It doesn’t make my lashes push up against my glasses!

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The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 9: A Face of the Day with Giorgio Armani Beauty

May 13th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 18 Comments

Armani Lip Maestro 400 The Red Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow 5 Gold Blitz — Wearing Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in 400 The Red on my lips, and Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz on my eyes

Let’s do something a little different today, shall we?

I’ve only ever tried two products from the Giorgio Armani Beauty range, which is definitely not enough to write one of my usual brand spotlight posts. Those two products are so good, though, that I feel like I can’t not somehow tell you about them.

I’m talking about the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in 400 The Red and the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz. They’ve been around for years now, but if you’ve never tried them before, here’s what you’ve been missing out on.

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in 400 The Red ($38)

I think the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestros were the first lipsticks in liquid form I’d ever heard of, but they couldn’t be any more different from the moisture-sucking liquid lipsticks we’re so used to seeing these days.

The Lip Maestros are so creamy, and comfy, and lush…

Applying shade 400 The Red on my lips feels like coating them in the softest velvet drape, if that makes any sense… It really makes me understand what a ‘velvet finish’ truly is. Besides, its amount of sheen and point of red are just right.

Honestly, gurl, I think this lipstick is pure perfection.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz ($35)

Speaking of pure perfection…

Aside from the hefty price tag, there’s nothing less than perfect about the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz. It is the creamiest, most pigmented, easiest to blend eyeshadow I’ve ever tried.

Its gorgeous metallic finish makes your lids look like they’re coated in golden foil – a look they keep for hours, and hours, and hours…

For today’s face I’ve applied 05 Gold Blitz on my mobile lids with my finger and blended it out past the crease with a MAC 217 Blending Brush. Then I’ve applied it along my lower lashlines with a MAC 219 Pencil Brush and diffused the edge with ZOEVA’s 231 Luxe Petit Crease brush.

Other products used for this look include:

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Lipstick Queen Cupid’s Bow Jumbo Lip Pencils: These Pretty and Precise Pencils Hit the Target

May 13th, 2016 by Adia Goss 20 Comments

I love that these $22 Lipstick Queen Cupid’s Bow lipstick/jumbo lip pencil hybrids are so smooth, pigmented and easy to apply, and you can get a nice outline around your lips with them. Lipstick Queen is a new brand to me, but I’m loving the luxe vibe.

I’ve reviewed my share of lipstick/lip pencil hybrids (remember the ones from Glo Minerals?), so I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert on the subject.

DETAILS:
0.07oz

“Inspired by the artful precision of a perfectly applied cupid’s bow, this jumbo pencil is packed with pigment and works just like a lipstick and lip liner together in one. Loaded with hydrating ingredients to keep your pout in perfect condition, these pencils give lips a velvety drama that can be drawn on with one simply stroke. Lips are instantly saturated with rich, plush pigments and a dramatic yet moisture-rich satin matte finish. Naughty, nice and playful, with allow-like precision…just like Cupid himself!”

— lipstickqueen.com

Plush, powerful pigments with intense staying power and a satin matte finish

Contains precious mineral Tourmaline sourced from metamorphic rock in Brazil, known for its energizing and radiance-boosting qualities

Luxurious formulation cushions lips in comfort

Artful precision with one effortless application – glides on with intense color pay-off

Complimentary sharpener included

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