Must Have Make-Up

I have been chomping at the bit for Hourglass Cosmetics to launch their Femme Nude Lip Stylo Collection since I featured it in a fashion week look in February! Finally it's arrived Beauties!

 Hourglass products are always the best dressed girls at the party.  Their packaging is to die for!

They're in a niche all their own with their sleek, luxe metals & innovative housing. There are a few jumbo size lipstick crayons out on the market- none of them look like this! When touching up my lips throughout the day, this product garners notice.

Shade No. 4 is featured on my pucker, it's a peach based nude. ($30)

This collection is great for girls who love a nude lip, whether paired with a strong smokey eye or as a building block for the perfect glossy nude. The collection offers 6 hues to flatter all skintones & is creamy, but not a completely flat matte. It's pure indulgence.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.
*Product gifted for review

Tarte Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation

Thanks to Maureen Kelly, creator of Tarte Beauty,  I now have some more free time in the morning! There are a group of products that I call Lazy Day Beauty Essentials. This term is reserved for products in my mind that require minimal effort to use, but deliver a lot of results. They are great for when you're running late in the morning (which is every morning for me) or lazy Sundays when you still want to look pulled together.  

The fact that Tarte's Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation is one, also makes it a perfect summer beauty pick with it being so simple. This powder is a win win. Because let's face the fact that every one of us usually has something they want to hide, in terms of imperfections that frustrate us with our complexions. I know I initially doubted the ability for a powder foundation to offer true full coverage- but this one does.

Even as a skincare expert, there are still things that I'd love to improve with my skin- hyperpigmentation being my main issue. More & more female clients of mine struggle with this same frustration- got to love those hormones!

 Because I'm self conscious of it, I like a fuller coverage foundation around my upper cheeks- but want completely natural looking coverage. I don't even need to use a separate concealer with this product. Buff it on, build the coverage to where you want it & off you go. The Amazonian Clay helps regulate oil production as we head into muggy summer weather. The added Tourmaline & Camilla Leaf Extract boost a surge of moisture for the skin. Just a dollop of pearl powder prevents the powder from looking chalky. This is definitely a Must Have Make-Up Monday product for me!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.
*Gifted for review

Manicure Mondays

I tend to stay with colors most of the time a)because I feel slightly naughty when wearing them b)with my hands in latex gloves for most of my days at work it sometimes discolors light polish c)my dark denim also always stains my light polish, too- for the lovely "I just dug myself out of a grave look." All bets were off though, when I spotted Zoya's Blu polish. It screamed Spring time & I'm so ready for it. I did my accent pinky nail in Zoya's Pixie Dust polish in Nyx, which is matte- but I topped with my Seche Vite.

I adore this color. It works very well with my pale skin tone, is very opaque & creamy in texture- so there's no streaking when applying. When filling up Baliey's water bowl this morning I noticed I perfectly matched it & thought this truly is the perfect baby blue. How cute would this be as a favor at a baby boy shower?!?

Peace. Love. Polish.

Must Have Make-Up Monday: It Cosmetics

With the weather being all over the place, the bracing winds & my allergy medication have left my lips a chapped, hot mess.  Always a fan of multi-tasking beauty products, I've been reaching for It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Butters a lot. The butters feel just like you guessed it, absolute butter on the lips. They're packed with nourishing ingredients like plum oil, argan oil, jojoba, cherry oil & antioxidants to help actually heal your lips- not just 'gloss' over the problem.  There are 3 shade options & all of them are sheer wearable offerings.

 Pillow is the most neutral & the one I reach for every morning. It's that soft pinky nude lip I adore.

 Darling is a pretty pop of pink- the perfect pick me up during these long winter months when you're feeling so pale you could have been an extra in the Twilight series.

 In Love, the deepest shade- the one I thought would be too far out side of my comfort zone has been a pleasant surprise.  Here it is with a soft application, though you can easily build the intensity. It's lovely & again ever so sheer, so that even the fairest of complexions will feel comfortable wearing it. Another plus worth mentioning is the slimline tube- they will fit in the tiniest of pockets or purses! They retail for $20 a tube or you can scoop them up over at QVC, where you can get all 3 tubes for under $36.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

*Items gifted for review

Must Have Monday

Oh happy day Beauties- starting today through Sunday, you can scoop up 3 polishes from Zoya & pay only for the shipping & handling charges of $10. Enter coupon code: ZOYA2013 at checkout. Such a bright way to start off the week!

A few of my favorite picks for this time of year? From left Sloane, Edyta & Delilah.

Peace. Love. Polish

Make-Up Must Have Monday: Make Up For Ever Black Tango

I first spotted Make Up For Ever's Black Tango Palette when I was in Italy a few weeks ago. They were sold out of it & I panicked that it wouldn't be available in the U.S.  Luckily it is. The palette includes 4 Aqua Cream shadows- which is are so creamy & delicious they easily apply as liners. Here I sport the emerald hue on my top lash line & the navy on my bottom lash line.

I was a bit apprehensive of the reddish hue- since I feel pinks & reds near the eye can make them appear bloodshot.  But the shade is a deep black plum that's very wearable.  I covered my entire lid with it while playing with Halloween looks. Make-Up For Ever is such a great brand in that they offer truly theatrical grade coverage & colors without the heavy feel. This shade reminds me a bit of my beloved go to nail color- OPI's Midnight In Moscow.  I used the white shade in the palette as a highlighter.

All of the shades sparkle like jewels on the skin.  Since the deeper shades are all blended with black- it's a great palette to step out of your comfort zone a bit from basic blacks & browns.

The compact itself is a work of art, like a Japanese paint box.  It states on the compact to close each pot tightly, which I make sure to do since I noticed the tester on display at Sephora had dried out a little.  The textures & intensity make this palette a must have. It's also a great value at $45, when individual Aqua Creams (though larger) retail for $23 each.  I say put it on your holiday wish list!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Must Have Make-Up Monday:Tarte Holiday

The holiday make-up collections release such a lovely giddiness in me, it almost squelches the panic that then follows due to the fact that the holidays are indeed under 8 weeks away. Cue the Cathy comics, 'Ahhhh!!!" After a particularly crazy work week last week, coming home to some Tarte treats had a more stress relieving effect than a large glass of vino! 

I've been using Tarte's LipSurgence Stick in Exposed almost every morning this past year. It is the perfect lazy woman's beauty tool for those of us time crunched in the a.m. It's a gorgeous matte nude that's a great building block for any lip look.  A lip pencil, lip stick, lip stain & hydrator is shoved into one jumbo pencil!

  So imagine my delight at Tarte's holiday collection Statement Lips ($34) boasting 5 shades! There are 2 lip tints, 2 lip lusters & my beloved Exposed matte lip tint included. One for every mood & day of the work week to help us cope! 

Tarte's other fabulous lip kit- Girl Meets Gloss ($34.50 exclusively at QVC) has 5 delicious coordinating Maracuja Divine Shine Lipglosses. 

 To die for packaging aside, the easy push button applicator dispenses that nourishing maracuja goodness in such pretty shades.

  My trick for easy & affordable gift giving for all those great gals in your life? Buy both kits & break them up. Pair the coordinating gloss & LipSurgence together with cute ribbon + a candy cane. Voila! You have 5 fabulous gifts (ones that your girlfriends actually want) coming in at under $15 a piece- that is, if you can part with any!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Dalton Nude Lip Wardrobe

I need to stop watching QVC Beauty shows. Who am I kidding thinking I can just watch to keep informed on the latest launches? Nope, one mention of a nude lip anything & I'm hurrying in from the kitchen to buy it. If you're a regular reader of mine you know my obsession with the perfect nude lip goes way back. It all started with Sarah Michelle Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer- her gloss on that show was sheer perfection. Many years later, I'm still always trying to find the perfect concoction.

This is the Dalton Nude Lip Wardrobe which is available only on QVC (& it's on sale at the moment- um I didn't get it on sale!) From top to bottom: Baby Doll Lipstick, French Beige Lipstick, Bella Lipgloss & Buff Lipgloss.

Hyaluronic Spheres & Collagen Peptides in the formulas provide both moisturizing & anti-aging benefits. Added features are the clear tops on the lipsticks to see which lipstick shade you're reaching for & break apart connectors. That comes in handy since these pieces are just a smidge bulky- but that means you get a lot of product. The doe foot lipgloss applicator also is large & dispenses quite a bit of product on the first swipe.

I always say you can never have enough wine, chocolate or lipgloss in your life. This quad offers some lovely options to build different creations with.  It's hard to see how lovely these glosses look both in the container & on. I thought this collection was a steal of a deal at $25, now with it being on sale- I say it's a no brainer!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Must Have Make-Up Monday: Naked Princess

 

Who doesn't love exquisitely packaged confections? It doesn't matter whether said confection is a cupcake or lipgloss, presentation matters. Unwrapping lip treats from Naked Princess is a swoon worthy experience. Insert ohhhs and ahhhhs here.

 

  I immediately thought of the gifting potential.  With the tag line "And she lived lovely ever after" imprinted on all of their lip products...I thought this would be perfect gift to send to girlfriends for a number of occasions.  For my newly engaged neighbor, I'd attach a note with "sealed with a kiss." For another friend going through a rough break-up, I'd go with a note saying "Kiss that sucker good bye!"

The presentation makes you feel like a princess.  I bet the company is called Naked Princess, not just because they craft artisan lingerie- but also because their beauty products are free of parabens, phthalates or GMOs.

Their Objet D'Love Luxurious Lip Treatment ($26), which comes in 2 flavors & its very own carrying pouch, calls on Matcha Green Tea and shea butter to pamper your lips.  A collagen stimulating peptide rounds out the mix to ensure your lips look fuller & smoother. Another bonus? The compact is refillable!

The Naked Shine Luscious Lip Glosses ($26) also feel like lip treatments on, I could tell that they were packed with beneficial ingredients like shea butter and sweet almond oil to hydrate my pucker.  The Moroccan Vanilla lends a delicious scent.

Shades listed from top: Barely Blush, Barely Naked, Barely Nude. These colors are just 3 of the gorgeous sheer options in Naked Princess' 8 color nude collection and you know I can never get enough nude glosses!  My entire sensory experience was pure luxury from beginning to end. This cruelty free line gets my seal & kiss of approval!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.
*Gifted for Review

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Must Have Make-Up Monday: Bergdorf Beauty Event

Oh how I love my Gifts with Purchase! It's embarrassing that with some lines I'll buy things I don't even need to get the gift! Well it's Bergdorf Goodman's Beauty Event my friends. Yes, $200 is pretty steep- however Bergdorf's is known for launching & carrying incredibly exclusive brands like Edward Bess, Le Metier de Beaute & the entire Tom Ford make-up collection. Plus other lines are offering additional gifts with purchase, so it's a win win in my opinion. Let's also acknowledge the size of just the Orlane sample alone- it looks full sized! I think I'll finally be picking up the much coveted Clea de Peau concealer & (I know- shock) a few more lipglosses! Whatever samples don't fit my skin type are saved for stocking stuffers! Happy shopping.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Must Have Make-Up Monday: Hourglass

I am powerless to resist anything involving a nude, glossy lip. Lord knows- my vanity is covered with all shades of nudes. I'm on an endless quest. When I was in NYC, I popped into Bergdorf's to investigate any new must haves. The make-up artist there from Hourglass was sporting a fabulous opaque nude lip. So we set about creating one to suit my coloring. I had already wanted to buy the Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick in Grace, since I knew it was used to create some fabulous Oscars beauty looks. Always on the lookout for the perfect lip liner, Hourglass' Trace Lip Liner in Bare also made its way home with me.Oh, did I mention I also scooped up this trio of glosses. I was totally torn between buying Child (top) or Ignite(bottom) initially, then we stumbled upon these minis- which had both shades + Imagine (center)= perfect solution!Here is the Trace Lip Liner in Bare, all on its own. It's a great your-lips-but-better shade with which to build any lip look.This look is the liner topped with the lipstick Grace. Grace is a delicious creamy, matte- but not in an extreme way. Your lips won't fall off from dryness. Plus, it's hard finding an opaque nude that doesn't wash you out. Grace is a hands down winner.Here I finished off my pucker with Ignite (top) & Child (bottom.) The glosses create 2 beautiful versions, one with some sheer shimmer & one in a milkier finish. I've been loving the multiple options I can create texture wise. The Hourglass line is quite luxe {meaning it's not cheap}, but I like the fact that I can buy refills for both the lipstick & liner. Plus, aren't we worth the splurge?

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Must Have Make-Up Monday

Usually after a long day at work giving my clients facials, I look like I am trying out for a football team! All the steam during the exfoliation portion of the facial puts my mascara through the ringer. That being said I tend to loathe waterproof versions. Their formulas don't allow me to build the product like I like to, plus it's a bugger to get off. The last thing I want to lose are my actual lashes when removing my mascara!

Enter Anastasia of Beverly Hill's Lash Genius- it's like a raincoat for your mascara! Use whatever mascara brand you adore & finish with a clear coat of this sealant. While I wouldn't submerge myself in a tank of water- Lash Genius really helps seal in the mascara without being super brittle, crunchy or difficult to remove afterwards. In fact, it helps separate your lashes a bit if you're prone to clumping. Its arrival is perfect timing as we head into warmer, humid months & the summer wedding season. It is, I must say genius!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
*product gifted for review

Must Have Make-Up Monday

So this is the first time I've ever heard of Bling Tone eyeshadow from MyFace Cosmetics. It came in the first installment from a new monthly beauty sampler I've subscribed to called Beauty Army. I do love getting a monthly pick me up, though I need more products like a hole in the head;)

I received Sp"ice"y, which in the compact looked like a cool toned, shimmery brown shade. It's a much richer coppery shade when laid on the skin, though not very intense pigment wise.

I decided to smoke my eyes out with it when I went to the Matt Nathanson concert last night. I primped in hopes of A) Matt would see my smokey eyes & decide to leave his wife for me or B)He would single me out of the crowd & pull me up on stage a la Courtney Cox in that Bruce Springsteen video. Alas neither happened, but the concert was amazing none the less! I smudged the shadow in a winged shape on the lid, into the crease & along the lower lash line. I then lined my upper lash line & bottom waterline with jet black liner. I added mascara & was good to go!

Here it is on the lid, for a softer day time look. I must say, I feared fall out with the shimmer when I first opened the compact. Nothing annoys me more than when sparkles drop from my shadow onto my cheeks. I'm happy to report that this shadow cooperated beautifully, with little if any fallout when I used my standard prevention methods. When I read up about the shadow, I also noticed in its description that it can almost look 'wet' on. I had definitely thought the same thing. It's not a cheap eyeshadow at $20, but I liked it enough I might add another color to my beauty arsenal!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Must Have Make-Up Monday: Mally

I'm not proud of this, but often during my holiday shopping I did a little of 'one for me, one for you.' Does that ever happen to you? You find the perfect little something for someone & realize you have to have one yourself? Of course that was the case when I was flipping through Henri Bendel's Holiday Catalog & spotted this Mally collection. How could I resist all of that perfection in pink that is known as the More Perfect Palette?

I will be the first to admit I lose all rational when it comes to make-up, so cost isn't always the top factor in my acquisitions- unless it's way out of my league. However, I must say I was floored at what a great value this kit was at only $65!

This palette has already traveled with me to NYC in 2012 & is now in Florida with me at this very moment. Due to its versatility, it's perfect for travel. Two blushes complete your needs as to cool undertones & warm undertones. Six shadows have you covered from day to night, as well. An eyeshadow primer-you know I can't be without one, an all over luminizer, 3 brushes & a petal soft gloss round out the mix. I say run, don't walk to make it yours!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M