Guest Post

Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion for Lips: How to Make Liquid Lipstick Work…Finally!

March 15th, 2016 by Adia Goss 28 Comments

Matte liquid lipsticks have been super popular lately…because they’re great! They’re intensely pigmented and long-lasting, but my goodness, they can be drying! I’m always experimenting with different lip balms that I can wear underneath them, and I think I’ve finally found the perfect layering product.

Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion for Lips ($24) is basically like a serum for your lips. It has the most unique texture that soaks right in. Five seconds after applying it, it looks like it’s gone, but my lips feel way softer.

I thought I’d tried every lip balm under the sun (and, to be honest, they all seem really similar to me), so I didn’t expect this to be much different. But it is. It creates the perfect base for liquid lipsticks because of how thin it is while still being incredibly moisturizing.

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Feelin’ Fly With the MAC Future Forward Collection

March 15th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 21 Comments

What do you get when you mix exciting, emerging female musicians, a whole lot of creativity and makeup?

Here’s what: you get the MAC Future Forward collection (coming as a series of mini collections starting March 17th, exclusively online)!

Four future forward musicians partnered with the eponymous brand to release a unique collection that will launch in four parts and, you guys, it’s really great! (MAC has been bringing it!)

While all part of one cohesive collection, each of the musician sub-collections will launch as standalone capsules on separate dates.

This is important to note: if one of these unique products appeals to you (or if you’re a huge fan of the recording artist), then be sure to mark your calendar to snag your prize, because these pieces will not be launching simultaneously like in a traditional MAC collection.

R&B and Pop artist Tinashe will release Eyeshadow x 9 Tinashe ($38 each) on March 17th.
Pop musician Halsey brings us a lipstick in Halsey ($17 each) on March 31st.
Rapper extraordinaire Dej Loaf will release Dej Loaf Lipglass ($15 each) on April 14th.
And last, but certainly not least, modern funk artist Lion Babe will release Liquidlast Liner in Lion Babe ($21 each) on April 28th.

I love that each product brings the spirit of its associated artist, while all of the items come together and look quite “spring” while doing so. (At least spring where I live in Wisconsin, which is often grey and punctuated with rich pops of beautifully unexpected color.)

And while some may not seem approachable for day-to-day wear (I’m lookin’ at you, Halsey lipstick), I’ve been loving just how versatile a non-neutral shadow palette and a gold liner can be.

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100% Pure Cosmetics, or Makeup to Feel Like a Jungle Princess

March 15th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 19 Comments

100% Pure is an all-natural and cruelty-free cosmetic brand that’s also free of artificial colors, fragrances, synthetic chemical preservatives, and all other toxins. They were founded in Napa but are now based in Silicon Valley, so we’re basically neighbors (I live in Oakland).

Fruit Pigmented Pomegranate Oil Anti Aging Lipstick in Poppy ($28) is a bright classic red, very similar in color to Sephora’s Cream Lip Stain in Always Red. It makes me feel like I’m a jungle princess who makes her own lipstick from local berries.

I haven’t used it with a liner but have had zero signs of feathering. I don’t remember the last time I wore a lipstick that wasn’t matte, but I’ve been reaching for this one day in and day out because it smells absolutely divine and makes my lips look full. The formula is also moisturizing and fades evenly throughout the day. What more could you ask for?

Honorable mentions: Foxglove ($28) and Fig ($25). Foxglove is a good my-lips-but-better shade, and Fig is a mauve. The formula is consistent across every shade I’ve tried, and each color looks just as lovely as a stain and opaque color.

Big fan, big fan.

Using the Black Tea Long Last Liquid Eye Liner ($28) brings me great satisfaction. Not only is the packaging shiny and eye-catching, but the product itself is really exceptional. It’s pretty pigmented but did benefit from two coats on my eyelids. The pigment comes from crushed black tea leaves, how cool is that? Plus, it doesn’t make my eyes water and smells so wonderful (like tea). It’s marketed as water resistant, but I have a really hard time scrubbing swatches of it off of my arm. The staying power is incredible.

Honorable mention: Maracuja Mascara in Black Tea ($25). The mascara smells just like the eyeliner and doesn’t make my eyes water. I typically go for volumizing formulas over lengthening ones, so while this is a great lengthening mascara, I wouldn’t use it unless I was going to put on some falsies. If you have sensitive eyes and love lengthening mascaras, definitely give this one a go.

Luminating Créme in Starlight ($21) is a cream highlighter with a doe-foot applicator. The shade is a versatile white gold that creates a natural (but buildable) glow. I’ve been enjoying wearing it on its own and setting it with something like Lunch Money by Colourpop. On its own, it lasts on my skin all day long.

Fruit Pigmented Blush in Peach ($35) is a peachy shade that leans terracotta. The formula is silky smooth, blendable, and very pigmented. This shade is a staple, versatile shade that’s great for a healthy flush across a variety of skin tones. It lasts all day on my normal/combination skin, and the tin is totally adorable. A+.
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Conceal, Cover and Correct With Becca’s New Concealers and Correctors

March 14th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 18 Comments

Becca Color Correctors and Ultimate Coverage Concealing Cream — Becca Targeted Color Correctors and Ultimate Coverage Concealing Cream

What is it about winter that makes you look in the rearview mirror of your car and think, “Were those dark circles always that dark, or did I just skip my triple grande this morning?”

I don’t know about you, but where I live, it’s cold and dark — even in March, when spring should be on the way — and to top it off, I get very little adequate sleep as a working mom. Needless to say, makeup application in the morning is all about concealing and brightening!

Building upon the success of their much beloved Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector, a product I’ve used and loved for quite some time, Becca has released four Backlight Targeted Color Correctors for Spring 2016 to be used in tandem with their Ultimate Coverage Concealing Cream.

These products may look like tools only a professional should be applying, but Becca has made it easy and approachable to color-correct on a daily basis, and this busy lady says THANK YOU.

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A Face of the Day With New Products From L’Oréal

March 14th, 2016 by Jen Clark 36 Comments

How’s it going, you guys!? I’ve been having such a blast doing these posts and getting to chat with some of you. I am so glad to put a face to the beautiful people I’m writing to.

Oh, how is my day going, you ask? Well, let me tell ya. I accidentally fell asleep on the couch in the middle of the day while my son Kai was hanging out in the living room with me (I promise, that is a very rare occurrence).

He knows when to take advantage of people, like when his mom is too tired to function, so he found a blue marker somewhere, somehow, and scribbled all over our beige microfiber couch…

Not cool, Kai, not cool.

Get ready, Karen, because Connor will destroy everything you hold dear! 🙂

So, in light of today’s events, I am locking myself in the bedroom while my dear husband takes his turn at scrubbing the couch, and I’m going to chat with you guys about L’Oréal. That should cheer me up!

I have a theory about L’Oréal…

Let me explain. Did you know that they actually own tons of different brands, including a bunch of high end brands like YSL, Lancome, Georgio Armani, and Urban Decay?

Cool huh? But back to my theory.

I think because they’re involved with so many high quality brands, their makeup is actually comparable quality, just at a much cheaper price.

That would make sense, right? Again, just a theory.

Another great thing about the brand is that they do absolutely no testing on animals, and they haven’t since 1989. That is such a cool accomplishment in my eyes.

OK, let’s get to the makeup.

Using (mostly) L’Oréal makeup, I created this look here…

First I tried L’Oréal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation, and if you haven’t heard of these new cushion foundations, they’re basically sponges soaked in foundation and put into a compact.

Weird, right? I’m a little confused by the whole concept myself, but tons of brands have been doing them, so there must be some perk!

I actually thought it was super convenient. It comes with a little puff that you dip into the product, then pat on your face. I like it because you don’t need a separate brush. Everything you need is right there, although you totally could use another brush or sponge if you like the application better. Just make sure anything you dip in there is super clean. It seems like this product could be a playground for nasty bacteria.

The coverage is pretty light but does build up to be about a medium coverage. I don’t think you’d be able to get up to full coverage with this one. As you can see below, it won’t cover any massive creatures chillin’ on your chin.

As the name suggests, it also gives you the most gaw-geous luminous glow, and I’m all about dat glow. This one is a real winner for me!

Next up is this cute little brow kit, the L’Oréal Brow Stylist Prep & Shape Pro Kit. This one here is in shade “medium to dark”.

How great would this be just to chuck in your bag and have for touch-ups?! It comes with a wax, a powder, a little angled brush with a spoolie on the end, and a pair of little tweezers.

I think the product itself is excellent, but it’s just not for me, just like every other powder brow product I’ve tried. I think that powders don’t work for my brows because, let’s be honest, they’re kind of massive.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my full brows, but I feel like powders just make them look too huge and fuzzy. That probably makes no sense, but pencils just work so much better for me.

If you love using powders and waxes on your brows, get this. I really think you’ll love it.

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Some Weekday Glitter Featuring the New Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation

March 14th, 2016 by Anna Oh 23 Comments

anna oh art beauty illustration fashion gold glitter — It’s all about the eyes! Glitter eyes

Hi everyone!

The other day I was having coffee with a few girlfriends — probably the BEST time to get makeup inspiration — and I fell in love with one of my friends’ pretty glittery eyeliner. I tried it out myself and found it to be an awesome way to pull off a little glitter during the day. I call it a “weekday glitter” look, and I hope you’ll be into it as much as I’ve been!

One of the key components to this look is nice and even skin tone. I used the new Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation ($45 for 1oz) in a custom mixture of Golden 2 and Neutral 3. The foundation comes in Golden, Neutral, and Rose undertones ranging between 1 and 5. For some reason, the range isn’t complete, but we will probably find more colors coming with demand.

shiseido synchro skin foundation swatches — Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation in Golden 2 and Neutral 3

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Must-Have Moisturizing Products

March 11th, 2016 by Adia Goss 26 Comments

I have combination skin, and I LOVE pampering it with all kinds of moisturizing serums, potions and masks. I’ve found that keeping my skin moisturized is the best way to keep it happy and avoid minor irritations and redness (my skin is also pretty sensitive, lucky me!).

Even though we don’t really experience severe winter weather in the Bay Area, thanks to indoor heating and cooler temperatures, I still load up on moisturizers, and these are my current favorites for keeping my skin moisturized and soft:

My nighttime skincare routine is sort of long, but I love it. I turn it into a mini pampering session, and I’ll double-cleanse, tone, add a serum, then a moisturizer, then a facial oil…and this is on my “low key” nights!

Lately, I’ve been using Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture at night (you can check out my nighttime skincare routine here). It’s packed with avocado, sunflower and olive oils, and even though it also has shea butter, it somehow manages to feel light. I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks, but my skin feels really soft and plump in the morning after I use it. I’ve noticed no irritation, either, so this is a definite winner. It’s available now at Sephora for $72.

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A High Brow Collection: MAC Brows Are It!

March 11th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 21 Comments

One of my favorite things about being a makeup devotee is watching trends come and go, and I’m sure that fashion lovers feel the same flash of nostalgia when they see ‘90s styles come back in vogue that those of us who love all things makeup feel when brown lips make a comeback and are bigger than ever.

But even though I love following the trends, I’m not one for hopping on bandwagons all too often. Contouring? Only if it’s subtle. Strobing? I thought I was already highlighting — what’s different? I’m confused…

I’ll be honest with you ladies (and gentlemen), that’s why I am SO excited that brows are having their moment again. As a child, my grandmother praised my thick, arched brows and told me never to pluck them. So I didn’t (I listened to her), and though brow fashions have waned and waxed from thin back to thick, my brows have remained my own.

The MAC Brows Are It! collection is the brow collection for those who are proud of their brows, whether bold and defined or soft and natural. Whatever your outlook on brows, this collection has something for everyone!

The MAC Brows Are It! collection includes a wide breadth of products to help you create just about any brow look, in almost any natural shade imaginable. MAC’s website offers product breakdowns on different looks and recommends which of the many products released with the collection would work best for your personal preference.
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