Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Name: Taylor Leigh
Location: New York, NY
Day job/current gig: Full-time dog mom

Hangouts online: mylucitedreams.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Current favorite product: RMS Beauty Oil. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is a very close second.
Beauty inspirations: ’60s mod, late ’60s and ’70s rock and roll, the ocean and the runway
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Natural

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

I cannot live without an antioxidant-rich, natural and organic facial oil and serum. I am currently obsessed with RMS’ Beauty Oil. Other absolute musts are the Shiseido Eyelash Curler paired with L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara, the only two products that add definition on my otherwise invisible lashes. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer is the absolute best at concealing my dark under-eye circles with a natural finish. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Liner in Mat Black for my signature cat-eye.

When did you start getting into makeup?

I have always loved makeup, along with painting, and I found a similarity between the two. I didn’t start wearing makeup until I was 14, and it was just mascara. At 16, I discovered black liquid liner and started to draw a cat-eye, which later evolved into the one I wear today.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Tinted moisturizers and BB Creams are huge time savors for the ease in which they apply, but I never use either as a substitute for skin care or SPF. Also, a multi-use cream blush for both lips and cheeks and everything applied using your fingertips. I recommend spending the most time defining the eye area with mascara and liner.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

The Shiseido Eyelash Curler.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

Wear your SPF. I have diligently worn sunscreen and kept my face out of the sun since I was 18. I am thankful that I did so.

What’s your skincare routine?

I have a natural approach to skin care, using only products with natural and organic ingredients. For me, a natural skin care routine has been the most effective. I never, ever fall asleep with makeup on and always properly cleanse and hydrate my skin, no matter what.

In the mornings, I cleanse with Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Argan & African Wild Honey Cleansing Elixir. I use One Love Organics Active Moisture Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover twice in the evenings, one time to remove makeup and again to thoroughly cleanse. I use a Clarisonic 2-3 times a week with the Honey cleanser. After cleansing, I tone with the Toning Mist from Kahina or Sanita’s Moisture Mist. I keep both toners cool in the refrigerator. I then apply RMS Beauty Oil both day and night. For a serum, I use One Love Organics Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum, and if I need additional moisture I use Kahina Argan Oil in the evenings. For weekly treatments, I alternate several different masks and exfoliating treatments. I adore the Detox Mask and Protein Masks from Osmia Organics. I also use Kahina’s Antioxidant Mask, May Lindstrom’s Clean Dirt, and Origins Plantscription mask.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

I’ve done some strange DIY beauty treatments when I was younger, like mayonaisse in my hair, egg white facials, and I added some very colorful streaks to my hair using Kool-aid.

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

I like to play around with new looks and trends but I definitely maintain a defining ‘look’. My look is long straight hair, side-parted to the right, black winged-liner, a nude lip and a dewy complexion.

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

There aren’t too many, but there certainly are a few. I once cut my hair very short, my inspiration being Gwyneth Paltrow in ‘Great Expectations’. It wasn’t a look that worked well for my naturally curly, frizzy hair. I thought I could somehow maintain the look but you can’t really straighten really short hair well. That was the year of the bandana. I also wore the shade Bubbles from MAC for a good amount of years that gave me that “white lip” look.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For beauty, I love Sephora, Barneys, Neiman Marcus, spiritbeautylounge.com and beautyhabit.com. For clothing and accessories I frequent Century 21 Department Store, Bloomingdales, a number of small boutiques in Soho, and online at asos, shopbop, and revolveclothing.com.

Anything else you want to share?

I have many hobbies, including making jewelry, playing guitar, drawing and painting. I also have a great passion for alternative medicine, aromatherapy, and herbs. I believe that dogs are people too and this includes my 9 y/o Maltese Blu, whom I love to spoil.

Name: Tiffany Nguyen
Location: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Day job/current gig: Pharmacy student
Hangouts online: willworkformakeup.blogspot.com, Twitter and Instagram
Current favorite product: Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in 04 Sun Blondes. Instantly believable sun-kissed skin? Yes, please.
Beauty inspirations: My best friends, clear blue skies, tropical beaches
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Ever-changing

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

Armani Master Corrector in 1 to neutralize under-eye darkness, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Dior Matte Bronzer in 002 Honey Matte (bring it back, Dior…or else!), Shu Uemura eyelash curler, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara, and C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm, for the softest lips ever come morning.

When did you start getting into makeup?

I’ve been enamored with makeup for as long as I can remember, and I think my mom not allowing me to wear it during my teens just made me obsess over it even more. It had become a full-blown addiction probably by the time I turned 16.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Skip the foundation. Instead, I like to dab liquid concealer liberally on any spots and hyperpigmentation, and blend it out using a big buffing brush, so that it kind of spreads the concealer all over like a foundation, while still being concentrated in the areas where I need the most coverage. In a time crunch, a good full-coverage liquid concealer like NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer can serve as a foundation, spot concealer and under-eye concealer, all in one. I like to think of it as a one-stop shop for all of my complexion perfecting needs.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Hands down, my Shu Uemura eyelash curler. My lashes are nothing without them, regardless of what mascara I use.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

Makeup comes off. For this reason, I don’t really care if in 30 years I look back and think I looked ridiculous with neon pink lips or glitter on my cheeks. To me, makeup is a form of self-expression that requires little to no commitment. 


What’s your skincare routine?

In the morning, I just wash my face with the Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser and moisturize with Embryolisse.

At night, I remove my makeup with Shu Uemura Fresh Cleansing Oil (it takes off waterproof mascara like nobody’s business!) and cleanse with Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm. Then, I followup with a chemical exfoliant like DDF Glycolic Toning Complex and a hydrating serum (I love Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Serum) before topping it all off again with a healthy dose of Embryolisse.

Once a week, I’ll use my Clarisonic with some Cetaphil cleanser and maybe throw on a mask or two.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

Surprisingly, nothing I can think of off the top of my head! Makes me feel like I need to venture out more.

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

Not really. I’m not particularly attached to my hair, and I’ve had it short, long, and every length in between, one day loving it and the next day hating it. I’m pretty boring when it comes to hair — I usually wear it straight, down and unstyled….due to laziness, not preference!

As for my makeup, it really all depends on how much time I have. If I’m not running against the clock, I like wearing winged liner and making sure my lower lash line is defined with some shadow or soft liner. I just think it makes my eyes stand out more. There are, however, three things that are non-negotiable: 1) under-eye concealer, 2) blush, and 3) something on my lips, although it doesn’t necessarily have to be the three specific products pictured below.

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

For my 8th grade Awards Night, my best friend and I wore turquoise eyeshadow with matching turquoise loose glitter patted on top…from lash line to eyebrow. Let me just tell you, there is no amount of blending in the whole world that could’ve made that not look cray cray. But, you know what? We had fun and loved how we looked that night. Though I don’t regret it necessarily, I wish I could’ve told my 13-year-old self that loose glitter is not eye safe!

Oh, the horror.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For makeup: Sephora. If I’m buying products from a luxury brand not available at Sephora, I’d rather just buy online. I hate makeup counters. Too much pressure. For clothes: H&M and Nordstrom Rack. For anything and everything: Target.