Guest Post

I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Tried Dior ‘Diorshow Mono’ Eyeshadow

June 7th, 2016 by Adia Goss 14 Comments

dior eyeshadows and mascaras — Kicking myself for not trying these Dior eyeshadows sooner!

As much as I love Dior, I can’t believe I never tried the Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows before now!

I mean, I haven’t been totally living under a rock, because I do have an eyeshadow palette or two, and I LOVE the sparkly Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadows. And I’m also a fan of Dior foundations and brow products, and these nail polishes look amazing, so I really have no excuse for not trying them sooner.

This spring Dior released nine new shades of their $29.50 Diorshow eyeshadow, and here are four of my favorites from the line: Gallery, a soft champagne gold with a satin/shimmer finish; Minimalism, a grayish taupe with a satin finish; Atmosphere, a cool-toned purple with a satin finish; and Power, a rich plum with a satin finish.

Here are two sets of swatches in different lighting:

These eyeshadows look pretty standard in their pans, but get them on your skin in the sun? Wow! They’re more complex than they seem, and there’s a really pretty (but subtle) shimmer running throughout. I think they’re great if you like matte shadows but want ones that won’t look so flat. I’m really surprised by how beautiful these eyeshadows are. If you’ve wondered about them, definitely take a look in a store! I don’t think that pictures online can do them justice.

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Have a Peek Inside My Handbag!

June 6th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 16 Comments

My everyday essentials can easily fit into this tiny Dampaì Bernarda Handbag!

The beauty bits that accompany me on my daily journey could easily fit even into the smallest of my purses. I like to think that it’s because I’m so low-maintenance (HA! — I can’t even keep a straight face while saying that!), but more likely that’s because I have a bad back and the less weight I carry around, the better.

Besides my wallet, phone and keys, very few are the products that you can usually find in my purse. Let’s have a look!

Handbag Beauty Essentials — My handbag beauty essentials: KIKO Blotting Papers, BIODERMA Hydrabio Moisturizing Anti-UV Mist SPF 30, Merci Handy Hand Sanitizer, Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry (mini-size), Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Sun-Kissed

Let’s start with my most essential essential – that is, lip balm. My favorites are the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments ($24 for the full size), because not only are they nicely moisturizing, but also add a pretty tint to my otherwise corpse-like lips.

If I’m wearing lipstick, I’ll usually pop it in my bag for any touch-ups, but lip balm is most definitely a permanent resident in there.

Coming in a close second on a scale of on-the-go essentialness are blotting papers (I use KIKO’s — $10). Being cursed with oily skin, I love how they turn me from ‘grease ball’ to ‘freshly made up’ in an instant — and no, regular tissue doesn’t work the same!

Unless it’s a special occasion, I don’t keep very much makeup in my handbag at all. Most of the time, I’m happy with just a bronzer, which I can use throughout the day to liven up my complexion. For the longest time, I used the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder ($58 at Nordstrom) in shade 50 because of the pretty decent brush it contains, but now that I’ve almost finished it up, I’ve replaced it with the slim Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Sun-Kissed ($28 at Sephora), paired with the Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush ($9.99).

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A Drugstore Jamboree! My Weekend With the Almay Smart Shade Products

June 6th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 10 Comments

Wearing Almay Clear Complexion Makeup in Ivory 100, the 140 Trio for Greens on my eyes, Smart Shade Blush in 30 Coral on my cheeks and Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick in 40 Red-Light on my lips

Do you ever want to go to the drugstore and fill your basket with new makeup to try out a whole new look?

That’s something I could never do at a high-end makeup counter, but sometimes it’s fun to take maybe $25 of fun money to buy drugstore colors I’d NEVER even think to purchase from a department store line — you know, just to play. It’s like what I used to do when I first started wearing makeup (at home only, I promise mom!) as a young teenager.

That’s kind of like what I did with these Almay products a couple weekends ago — have frivolous fun and experiment — and I found some things that definitely deserve more attention than they get in the blogosphere!

For starters, I can’t believe I’ve never noticed Almay’s Smart Shade Blushes (about $12). The stars sculpted into the powder are all-American (the brand’s slogan is “the American look”) but also classic Sailor Jerry style nautical stars…so you know that this tattooed makeup lover is all about the way these look.

With these pans, like with regular ombré blushes, you can vary the depth of the shade you want for your cheeks, and the pans also have a shimmery strip that you can glide your brush over when you want to.

I love the look of Coral blended out on the apples of my cheeks with a pop of the lightest shimmering peachy pink on the tops of my cheekbones.

Almay Smart Shade Blush 20 Nude and 30 Coral (about $12 each)

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How to Choose the Perfect Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Formula to Be a Glowing Goddess This Summer

June 3rd, 2016 by Jen Clark 8 Comments

Becca Opal collection — The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors come in liquid, cream, and powder form!

My nightly routine consists of getting into some comfy jammies, snuggling my boys in bed and, as soon as they fall asleep, that’s my YouTube time. From the time I discovered YouTube beauty videos in college all those years ago, I can’t sleep until I watch the newest videos from my favorite beauty gurus.

And a lot of the time when they’re talking about highlighters, Becca’s in the conversation! Now after finally using them, I see what all the fuss is about.

Opal is my favorite Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector shade. It’s the perfect champagne, and I think it looks stunning on everyone. They’ve got some other shades as well that are more cool toned, and some that are more golden, so there’s something for every skin tone out there.They also come in three formulas — Liquid (the O.G. Skin Perfector), Poured (which is a cream), and Pressed (which is a powder).

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Opal ($41 for 1.7 oz.)

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Opal — Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Opal

I love how versatile the liquid version is. There are at least three different ways you can use it, like you can use it as a primer and apply it all over your face before your foundation for a really subtle lit-from-within glow.

Probably my favorite way to use it is to mix it in with my foundation. I just put my foundation on the back of my hand and mix in about half a pump, and it makes your foundation gorgeously dewy! Be warned, though — it’s suuuuper glowy, and if you’re already oily, it may be a little too much for your skin.

The last way I like to use it is as my highlighter. After my makeup is all done, I tap just a little bit on the top of my cheekbones and blend it out with my beautyblender.

But I usually only use it that way on lighter makeup days, because I don’t like to put liquids on top of powder. It can kind of chunk up, so I only use it when I haven’t set my makeup with a powder.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured Crème in Opal ($38 for 0.17 oz.)

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The Classic, Now in a Value Size: Limited Edition Value-Sized NARS Orgasm Blush

June 3rd, 2016 by Anna Oh 10 Comments

So…#whatmakesyoublush?

For me? Spicy food, walking around on a cold day, and a little swirl of this Limited Edition Value-Sized NARS Orgasm Blush ($39, 0.28-oz).

I can’t open a magazine without seeing pictures of this iconic pinky peach blush in a shoot or reading an inspiring woman casually mention that it’s one of her go-to’s. I think it has to be one of the most famous blushes in the world.

And now it’s SUPERSIZED. This limited edition $39 value size has the same amount of product as a full-sized 0.28-oz. NARS Bronzer (compared to a regular 0.16-oz. $30 NARS Blush, which is about 40% smaller).

Why Orgasm? Because it’s a chameleon…

NARS Orgasm is sort of like a chameleon, and if you don’t already have one (or more) pans in your collection, it’s a classic. It can be subtle or dramatic; warm or cool. I’ve tried Orgasm dupes in the past, but most of them run peachier/pinker/darker/more metallic, and none of them hit the mark like NARS Orgasm does (hmm…).

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With Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30, Be a Sporty Sugar, Not a Sporty Spice

June 2nd, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 7 Comments

Fresh Sugar Sport SPF 30 — Popping on Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30 ($25 for a 0.2-oz. stick) pre-jog!

Who here loved the Spice Girls?

“Ooh! Me!” *Raises hand!*

And who here LURVES Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatments?

“Oooh! Me! Me! Me! Me!”

Put ’em together, and what do you get? Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30, brand-spankin’ new for summer 2016 and available now for $25 wherever Fresh is sold!

As a runner, a sun-lover (PSA: I never leave the house without sunscreen, and you shouldn’t either) and a park/beach-going mom, I could not be more excited about this new oversized sunscreen-style take on Fresh’s classic Sugar Lip Treatment.

This bad-@ss moisturizing balm for the lips, face, and eye area has the same Sugar scent we know and love, but it comes jam-packed with skin-friendly ingredients, waterproof sun protection (for up to two hours), and a thicker, long-lasting formula. Plus, it’s safe for ages three and up and fab for the whole family.

So tell me what ya want, what ya really, really want. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want… It’s this convenient purse stowaway!

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A Subtle, Less Scary Way to Wear the Ombre Lip Trend

June 2nd, 2016 by Jen Clark 16 Comments

I can’t even tell you how often I’ll be scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram and see all these really cool chicks wearing the coolest makeup trends, then get super bummed because I don’t think I can actually pull them off! But even for makeup trends that are super scary, there’s usually a more wearable way to wear them, although we should all just be brave enough to wear whatever we want, whenevever we want. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

One of those trends I always “pin” but never wear is an ombre lip. I decided to grow a pair and just try it, and it turns out, I love it! And it turned out to be pretty wearable too! I could walk around wearing this and not feel like a crazy person, even though that’s sometimes a liberating feeling. 😉

I love how customizable ombre lips are; you can literally do whatever colors you want, and make them as dramatic as you want. For my lips here I decided to go with red and coral and fairly subtle.

1. Blank out the color of your lips

The first step is to use the leftover product of whatever you used for your foundation to blank out the color of your lips. This will make the lip colors you use more vibrant and longer lasting.

ombre lip tutorial — Using my leftover foundation on my beautyblender to pat over my lips

2. Line your lips, and bring in the color slightly at the inner corners

Next, use a lip liner in the darkest shade that you want to use for your ombre (gradient) effect. I used an ancient Sephora Collection Lip Liner in a deepish raspberry that I didn’t realize wasn’t available anymore (sorry about that!). Line your lips, and bring in the color slightly at the inner corners.

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The Forum: Answer My Beauty Questions and Ask Your Own!

June 2nd, 2016 by Carolina Braina 61 Comments

KIKO Wanderlust Free Spirit Lips & Cheek Free Flamingo Swatch — Let’s chat!

Are you down to mix things up a little?

Yeah?

Well, that’s just awesome, because today I’d like to open up a forum! My idea is that you can all ask for product recommendations or general beauty advice down in the comments. At the same time, it would be great if you could answer any questions from the other readers — and obviously, I’ll do the same!

Let me go first!

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder Universal — I need alternatives to these products!

False lashes for long lashlines?

Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of falsies and only like those natural styles that basically just make you look like you were born with great lashes.

Individuals work quite well for that, but I’d also like to get a few full-strip styles that give the same effect. The problem is that in Italy it’s pretty hard to find any falsies other than MAC’s and MUFE’s, and I don’t really want to spend that much on lashes.

I can get other brands online, but it’s not easy to choose the right ones, you know? Like, I got a pair of Ardell Demi Wispies, but the strip is too short for my big eyes… Do you think I should get the Wispies, then?

Do you have any other recommendations? What I need is affordable, natural-looking lashes with a pretty long, clear strip.

Setting powder for a dry under-eye area?

I’ve already told you numerous times that I have oily skin, but I don’t think I told you that my eye area isn’t. It’s actually more normal to dry, and I find that most setting powders tend to emphasize the dryness.

So, what’s your favorite setting powder for a dry under-eye area?

A brush for cream blush/bronzer?

I’ve mentioned here and there that lately I’ve been all about cream blushes and bronzers. I normally use my fingers to apply blushes and my Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush for bronzers, but that’s the brush I usually keep in my handbag, so I’d like to get another one.

What do you think of the Real Techniques Stippling Brush? Any other recommendations?

Now it’s your turn, ladies! Shoot any beauty-related questions you may have, and answer mine or those of the other readers if you can.

C’mon, don’t be shy. It’ll be fun! 😉

Carolina Braina

Hey, ladies (and gents), it’s Carolina here, reporting live from Bologna, Italy, to bring you the latest and greatest in beauty from the good ol’ continent! For an extra dose of that timeless Italian glam with a touch of humor and self-irony (because, you know, laughter is the best makeup), come say hi at carolinapage.eu and Instagram.