Saturday, August 27, 2011

Fall makeup look, my entry for makeupgeek's weekly challange

So ladies, I found my camera, just in time to enter makeupgeek's weekly challange. There is one winner for best look and another random selected winner. This is my first makeup contest entry ever...and I'm so happy with how it turned out. I used a combination of makeup I had on and and
Cm Minerals products. Full list of the products used are bellow the photos. Enjoy ladies!





Face:
Monistat anti chaffing gel for primer
nyx concealer in a jar in porcelene
revlon colorstay in nude
cm minerals blur primer/ finishing powder on top
cm minerals matte bronzer in coffee bean for bronzer
cm minerals blush in peachy sheen

Eyes:
nyx concealer in a jar for lid primer
nyx green eyeliner in moss
cm minerals eyeshadow in lemon peel all over lid
cm minerals eyeshadow in prowl (green) in inner corner
cm minerals blush peachy sheen in crease (eye safe)
tkb trading mica in blush beige on lid and sally beauty supply gold glitter (.99) also on lid
cover girl eyeshadow quad dynamite drama, green in inner corner and burgandy color on outter v
nyx cream eyeliner in black
merle norman luxiva xtra length mascara

Lips:
palladio lipgloss in champagne
nyx eyeliner pencil in 24 karat

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

My Favorite skincare products to date!

So I promised another eye look the other day, and I actually did it, and now I have misplaced my camera! So in the meantime, I've decided to go ahead and give you guys my new favorites this summer, as I have been wanting to share with you guys anyway!

I've tried alot of products this year alone, just trying to get my skin to stop breaking out or freaking out, whatever it was doing! This summer I finally was able to stick with a solid routine that works, while finding some great favorites along the way. As you all know, I've suffered with moderate cystic acne for years, and while my skin was oily in high school, it is now more combo these days. Oily in the summer, and more dry in the winter. These are not listed in any particular order, as I love all of these and they work for me!





1. Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Gel Cream

Why I love this: Over and Over I read blogs of ladies who are oily in the summer, and my skin is always back and forth, too oily, too dry, my skin doesn't know what it wants. This stuff is water based, so ladies with oily skin and combo skin will love this. It sinks right in, is lightly scented, and leaves the skin feeling silky, not oily. I've also recently done a review of this product, love love how it locks in moisture in my dry areas and doesn't leave my skin greasy in the summer heat.

2. Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Moisturizer

Why I love this: So when I started the acne.org regimen (yes, post on that experience in the works as well) My acne was drying up so well, but other non breakout areas were peeling, itching, and red. I was determined to stick to the regimen while not destroying the moisture content of my skin. I know a lot of people rave about Cetaphil products, but I saw this was new and was also formulated especially for people with eczema and really dry irritated skin, so I thought, what the heck, if its great for eczema its gotta help my skin! I never had another itchy, flakey day on the regimen with this stuff. Its so rich and creamy, yet doesn't take long to sink in. I even used this during the day before the weather was too hot, and I was not oily at all. It really did help my skin restore itself back to normal.

3. Lypsyl Lip Balm

Why I love this: My all time favorite lip balms, Carmex and Blistex, stopped working on my this year! I have always been able to switch between the two, but my lips peeled and peeled, nothing I tried helped. I found this at Walmart and had never seen it before, and the ingredients really grabbed my attention. It contains Coconut Oil, beeswax, shea butter, vitamin e, and
vitamin a! I love this stuff, and my lips do too, they are so soft and don't peel since I've found this, and it has a slight minty feel, almost like carmex, but less medicine like, and more pleasant.

4. Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive skin

Why I am in love: This product has two uses! I was on the look for a cleanser that was gentle, not over drying, and good at taking off makeup. It sounded like too tall of an order when I found good reviews for this stuff, I decided to buy it. I'm so glad I did! The cleanser I was using before this ( Clean & Clear foaming face wash) was not foaming up enough for me, and was slightly drying. I like it, but decided to try something else. The Olay cleanser is oil free, fragrance free, and contains aloe, which I love, it is also soap free and claims to lather well. It really does lather so much, I love how it feels, takes off makeup well, leaves slight hydration from the aloe, and doesn't leave a film feeling on your face. But wait!! There is another reason why I love this. I use it to wash my makeup brushes. The aloe and lather softens up the most rough bristles. I had a kabuki brush that I hated to use, but this cleanser softened it right up, and now I am in love with my kabuki! If anything, spend the 5 bucks on this cleanser for your brushes!

5. Witch hazel

I have been using this on my skin off and on for years, but started using it again to help in the healing of my damaged skin from picking! Its a natural astringent, so it gently cleans and without removing moisture. Its really good for oily skin, blemished skin, damaged, irritated, or red skin. It helped heal my old acne sores before my face cleared up, and now that my skin is clear, I use this as a toner day and night to soothe redness and refresh my skin. This really helps on days when my face feels a little oily as well, but this is not over drying either. Balances my skin just right!

6. Benzoyl Peroxide (BP): AcneFree All Day Acne Control 5% BP and Acne.org 2.5% BP Treatment

I love both of these products and here's why: After not being able to find a high quality BP, I decided to order the Acne.org BP. I was following Dan's (owner of acne.org) regimen anyway so why not try his BP treatment? I fell in love with how smooth this product was, and it was a gel instead of a cream, so no white residue left on the skin at all! The low 2.5% was amazing at clearing up the acne while my skin was still getting used to the BP, it was also the most gentle I had found. I had tried products with bp before, but I never used them long enough to treat my acne because all the bp in the market I had tried was not of good quality and not gentle at all, and I would end up giving up. Then I saw AcneFree had come out with a leave on foam bp, and I didn't have time to order the acne.org bp online. I love that its just slightly a higher percent, great for those who's skin is already used to the 2.5% bp. The foam dries so fast!! Even faster than the acne.or gel version! I was so surprised at the quality of this, because I hated Acnefree's starter kit they first came out with. I use less product of the foam as well. One small palm full day and night is enough to cover a thin layer all over my face and neck. When it liquefies onto your skin its so smooth and just works into your skin so gently and soaks right up. I think both of these products clear up acne so so well, I will be buying both versions of bp for life, both as treatments and preventatives.

* Just as a side note, AcneFree is coming out with alot of new products that I want to try, and I think this company will give Proactive a run for its money! AcneFree also came out with a green tea moisturizer AND a sulfur mask, and I can't wait to try both!

7. Mario Badescu Strawberry Tonic Mask

So I do not have a HG face mask, but I do love this and will buy it until I find an HG. I have been wanting to try the Mario Badescu's whitening mask, but my store never carries it, and told me that this would also be great for my skin. I love the ingredients in this: Balsam Peru, Kaolin Clay, and Strawberry Extract. The balsam peru is supposed to calm irritated skin, the Kaolin Clay is great for cleansing pores and drawing out impurities, and the Strawberry extract is lightly astringent and soothing, and also aids in skin brightening and healing. (All this info is from MarioBadescu.com) I haven't used it long enough to see brightening of my acne scars yet, but I think it really does help. My skin is nice and tight feeling after this mask, but the soothing ingredients help the skin to not dry out too much. I think combo and oily skin types will both love this! (According to MarioBadescu, it is for oily, combo, and sensitive skin) My pores are really clean and the redness in my face calms down so much after I've done this mask. I do think if the balsam peru and strawberry extract continue to reduce my redness and acne scars, this may turn into an hg mask for me, and besides that, IT SMELLS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!

8. Olive Oil

I always have some of this on hand for cooking, so I use this to remove my makeup on really heavy eye makeup days! I just don't see myself buying a separate makeup remover when I always have this, and besides, you can warm this up a bit and soak your hands and nails for a diy manicure, and slather this on any extra dry skin, like feet, elbows, knees, lips. I use this to soak my hands to soften cuticles and at night on my lips when they are extra dry. You can also combine this with Castor Oil (another really great multi use beauty product) for oil cleansing. Many beauty guru's mix olive oil and sugar for a yummy diy lip scrub! Don't spend extra money when you probably already have this! If you search olive oil you will see so many uses for this stuff, don't you just love multi use products!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Review Time! Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream Clinique Moisture Surge Dupe




So I have been desperately been looking everywhere for a dupe of my fav Clinique moisturizer, when a wonderful person on Makeupally.com suggested I try Garnier's Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream. I's so much more affordable. I got mine at my local Walmart for under $7, and not only that, I actually love the stuff! It works so well for me, as I have combo skin, more oily skin in the summer time and dry in the winter.

It's a light gel formula, I don't really know why they call it a gel cream? because its a gel. First of, the product has a light scent, very pleasant, and fades fairly quickly. The gel feels cool on the skin, and sinks in quite nicely, and like the Moisture Surge, it gives a silky feel to the skin, almost like a super light makeup primer! The refreshing feeling it gives feels so good in the mornings, like a mini pick me up. The packaging is very nice, its in a glass jar, it's clear tho so you may want to store it in a dark makeup cabinet to help preserve the antioxidants and such.

Garnier claims this product 'instantly penetrates', which I really think it does, sinks into my skin in about a minute, and I apply my makeup after about 5 mins, so its helps make my mornings go faster. It also says it is 'oil free' and 'blocks out dryness' Which I also think it really does balance out my combo/ oily skin, not giving too much moisture. Instead of oils it contains 'antioxidant fruit water extract' and I love the refreshing feel it gives, not oily or greasy at all!! I don't know how much moisture this actually has for dryer skin, so I will have to try it out in the winter, because I have combo skin and have to switch up moisturizers all the time! It also claimes to 'lock in moisture' and I do have to say I haven't gotten dry patches on my combo skin at all, so I'm really hoping to be able to use this in the cooler weather as well.

So if you love light moisturizers, have oily or combo skin, or just need light moisture in the warmer months, I say give this a go! What do you have to lose for under 10 bucks, its a great price for a drugstore product it really delivers, and I have to say I'm sold, and so glad I don't have to pay so much for Moisture Surge anymore!

I know I haven't posted a new eye look in a while, so I will get that going tomorrow for you guys!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Bronze and green look with our new bronzers

So I posted our new bronzers on etsy this weekend, and I'm so excited to show you the look I wore today using these.

On the eyes I am wearing Lemon peel on the inner corner of the eye, then I took grasshopper and patted onto the lid, just up to the crease and to the outter corner. I darkened my crease with Prowl, and defined the outter v with Coco Bean. To highlight the very inner corners of my eyes and under my brows, I used Beach Babe. I also used beach babe as a highlighter on my cheek bones.

Onto the face: I prepped my face with my fav daytime moisturizer (Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, I love this stuff, reviews of all my current favs coming soon!) and let it soak in. I then dusted Mineral blur to get an even surface, and applied our foundation in Light. For the bronzer I used Glowing Bronze. It's good for light skintones like mine and has a beautiful glow to it, and can be slowly built up to the level of sun kissed look that you want. I dusted on my forehead, nose and chin. I used it as a contour under my cheekbones and lightly dusted some onto the apples of my cheeks. To complete my summer glow, I loaded up my fluffy brush again and dusted all over my neck and under my jaw bone, and feathered the color down onto my chest. You can really see on the photos how natural this look is, and compare the wonderful color that I got from the Glowing bronze to the white shoulders I have!



And here is a peak of all five colors with swatches of each


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Sea Urchin Mineral eyeshadow trio




Sizes









Sandy golden yellow and vibrant greens with soft blue undertones, these colors complement both warm and cool skintones. Colors go on vibrant, as shown in swatches, and a little goes a long way. Applying these colors wet bring out the soft blue tones.

Lemon peel: Low, shimmer, that goes on almost matte. A golden yellow, very bright yet not quit a true yellow, like the golden peel of a lemon.

Grasshopper: A lime green yet very slightly subdued by blue tones. Medium shimmer, not too much, to compliment both shimmery and matte looks.

Prowl: A olive green with slight blue shimmer, bring out the cool tones by applying wet. Works great as an eyeliner as well.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Midnight Summer Blues eyeshadow trio






Sizes





Summer is smokin hot this year, so why not get this smokey blue look to go with it! Three unique colors that can be worn together as in photo, or worn alone. Wear Aquatic by itself for a really bright daytime look, or smoke it out for a night time look with Midnight and Coco Bean in the mix. Super pigmented, these colors can also be used wet as eye liners and won't dissapoint!

Aquatic: A bright turquoise blue with gorgeous blue shimmer. Too bright for all over? Use it to line your bottom lid for just a pop of color for neutral and smokey looks.

Midnight: A navy blue with a slight purple undertone. Would also make a great eye liner.

Coco Bean: A super 'cool' chocolate, with a very unique purple sheen and shimmer. Would make an awesome liner for those days when black liner is too much. A great color for the office or any neutral look when plain brown just feels too boring.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

New Item, Mineral Foundation, 10g jars




Sizes






Expect your mineral foundation to give coverage like a liquid? Perfecting Coverage gives you medium to full coverage, never looking powdery, but giving you a healthy, inner glow. Customize your coverage by applying wet or dry. No need to buy a separate concealer, spot apply wet for trouble spots that need a little extra coverage.

Silk powder contains 18 amino acids which can absorb into the skin, it reflects light to give a flawless face look, it absorbs oil, so it works well with oily skin, and it can also self adjust moisture, pulling or absorbing moisture when needed. Allantoin is a skin protectant, is very soothing to cuts, sunburn, etc, and can stimulate new cell growth. The more research you do on these two ingredients, the more you will fall in love as I did!

You will receive our foundation in our signature shiny black sifter jars in the 10g size. Swatches are applied wet over blur primer/ finisher.

Fair: for the lightest skin tones, which tend to burn, and more often have peachy/ pink undertones

Light: Slightly darker and more neutral tones than fair.

Creamy Beige: for those who fall inbetween light and medium, and find most foundations orange, our creamy beige has more neutral undertones.

Medium Olive: For hard to match medium tones who find makeup to be too orange, we have added a touch of olive tones to this blend to match neutral and olive ladies.

Tan: For medium tan skin with warm/ honey undertones.

Almond: For tan/ darker skintones with balanced undertones, not too warm, not too cool. Can also be used as a contour color for most skintones