Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Primer

Great primer for summer months and those with oily skin. Your makeup literally won't move and your face won't shine. You could also wear it alone just to stay matte throughout the day or night (lasts for 8 hours). It kind of reminds me of the Smashbox anti-shine. If it is too oil-controlling, just dab it on your T-zone and your good to go ;). 

Purchase here Sephora

Dior Hydra Life BB Creme

Dior's Hydra Life BB Creme is simply amazing. It gives really good coverage especially for a bb cream and is super hydrating without making your face greasy. I also love the scent when you first apply it, smells like fresh cucumber. I think it's the perfect product for summer because it's lightweight, easy to apply, lasts throughout the day and has SPF 30. 

Kiehl's Rosa Artica Eye

Instantly saw results with this product. Gets rid of any darkness, puffiness and is super hydrating. It looks great under concealer too! It is comprised of shea butters, cocoa and rosa artica which is often called a "regeneration flower." On the skin it stimulates collagen and elastin production. The results are comparable to La Mer's eye balm & is nearly a quarter of the price.

Bronzed & Beautiful

From Left to Right: Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel, Quicktan Spray & St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse 

Clarins Gel is nice for an extra glow. It doesn't have a self-tan odor to it, non oily, doesn't get on your bedsheets/clothes, dries quickly and gives a nice bronzy color to your skin. There's a reason it constantly gets awarded!

Quicktan is like instant gratification tan. When you don't have the time to wait around for the color to develop and you just want to be super dark for a night out.

St. Tropez smells sooo yummy! More importantly I love the color it produces. Definitely recommend getting the glove so you can buff it into your skin better so you avoid looking like a zebra. After exfoliating apply the mousse (a little goes a long way) next day or 4 hours later wash off.


Purchase Clarins: Sephora
Purchase Quicktan: Salon Supply Store
Purchase St Tropez: Skin Dimensions Online

Food For Thought

Coconut Oil has so many uses beyond just cooking! It's a natural and affordable product that you can use to remove eye makeup, treat cuticles, deep condition your hair, moisturize your face & body... the list goes on. 

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD MICROFINISH POWDER

Makeup Forever's HD Powder is the best setting powder I have ever tried. I love how the new one has a net so the powder doesn't get everywhere. It also makes it easier to travel with or carry in your makeup bag. You can wear it alone or set your foundation with it for a flawless finish. 

Purchase: Sephora 

Clarisonic Mia 2

I just made the switch from the Olay Spinbrush to the Clarisonic Mia 2 about a week ago and I am so happy I did! The results really don't compare between the two. The Clarisonic Mia 2 comes with the brush, charger, two speeds and a case for the Clarisonic. It removes 6x more makeup, dirt and oil than washing with your hands. It also preps your skin to have serums and moisturizers better absorb.

Purchase: Nordstroms or Amazon (for less)

Tea Tree Oil

After hearing so many good reviews on tea tree oil on makeupalley.com. I knew I had to try it for myself. It's basically used for skin infections, burns, cuts, insect bites and spots. After cleansing rub the oil all over your whole face or on just a specific spot, you can follow with moisturizer after it dries. It definitely has a strong smell to it, but it works so who cares. You can order it online or get it at Trader Joe's.

Amazon

High/Low Long Lasting Lip Color

From Left to Right: Mac's Pro Long-Wear Lip Color $23 & Covergirl Outlast Double LipShine $9.29

I have to say I am in love with Covergirl's Outlast Double Lipshine! The results are very similar to Mac's Pro Long-wear Lip Color and it's less than half the price ;) You apply the color, wait for it to fully dry which takes about a minute or so and then add the clear gloss over it. It works better than a typical lip stain which can end up drying out your lips and cracking. You just have to make sure you wait for the color to dry because it'll start to peel and look like a big ol' mess. 

Purchase: COVERGIRL

Purchase: MAC Lipcolour

Grammy's Beauty Winner

Hands down Rihanna takes the #1 trophy for best in beauty for the 2013 Grammy's. I love her red lips and so glad she went back to long brown ombre wavy hair. If you wanted to re-create this look try Nar's Dragon Girl Velvet Matte Lip Color or YSL's Glossy Lip Stain in 9 Rouge Laque. Her eyes are neutral shadows with a black liquid liner. Try a lighter color on your brow bone and inner corners of your eye follow with a taupe brown color starting from the outside corners blending into the crease. Add black pencil eyeliner in your bottom waterline and mascara. As for her face it really seems like all she has on is foundation, some concealer under her eyes, powder and bronzer. So use your favorite foundation, set your T-zone with some powder, add concealer under your eyes, contour your cheekbones, jawline, nose and forehead with some bronzer like Nar's Laguna and your all set. ;)


Purchase: Nar's Dragon Girl Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Nar's Laguna Bronzer YSL Rouge Laque

Avene Gel Cleanser

Literally, I am obsessed with this cleanser. It's very gentle, fragrance-free and completely gets rid of all makeup, dirt & oil without drying out your skin. I've been using this for the past few weeks and already see & feel a difference in my skin. Also love this line's moisturizer and treatment products.

La Mer Eye Balm

I really do notice a big difference whenever I use this eye cream compared to some of the other eye creams I use. One of my favorite things about this product is the silver tip applicator it really gets rid of any puffiness and helps the balm penetrate better while creating microcirculation. It sort of reminds me of the old trick of freezing two spoons and putting them on your eyes when you haven't gotten enough sleep the night before. The balm is super hydrating and gets rid of dark circles and fine lines.


Purchase here Neiman Marcus

Bright Eyed

 Top Left to Right: Laura Mercier Repair Eye Serum, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot Concealer, Mac 217 Brush

These three products will help you achieve that bright and awake eye even if you only got a few hours of sleep. I absolutely love this eye serum! It contains arnica, which plastic surgeons use on their patients to reduce swelling. It also has caffeine in it too to get rid of under eye puffiness. It has an illuminating, irredescant glow to it so you can even dab some on your cheekbones for an extra glow. The undercover pot is amazing, you only need a little bit with this product to go a long way. The one side is the secret camouflage formula which covers up blemishes and scars & the other side is the secret concealer for under your eyes. The Mac 217 brush is intended for blending eyeshadow, but it also works really nicely to blend and set your powder under the eye too.


Purchase: Cosmetic America (on sale!) MAC & Sephora

Golden Globes 2013 Beauty Favs

Everyone looked so beautiful last night, but these are some of the women that stood out to me the most! I think my ultimate beauty top favorite is a close call between Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez (decisions aren't my strong point). Jessica Alba's bright orange lipstick looked amazing with her glowing tan skin and peachy dress. Jennifer Lopez always has the best makeup usually being glowy skin, nude lips and a gorgeous smokey eye. I thought she looked absolutely beautiful. Hayden Panettiere definitely looks best with less, lucky. I thought her light makeup and natural hair looked perfect. Isla Fisher looked gorgeous with her bold dark lips and side swept bouncy curls. Kerry Washington always looks amazing, but this was such a cool and different look for her that I'm not used to seeing. Her blunt bangs, pin straight hair and smokey blue eyeshadow looked so modern - I love it! Adele always has that cool, retro 60's style makeup going on, dark black winged out eye liner, nude pink lips and lots of lashes and mascara. I think this looks amazing on her, she's one of the few that can totally pull this look off. Last but certainly not least is Megan Fox. I love her style when it comes to her hair and makeup; always classy and elegant. I thought she looked incredible last night and she just had a baby, wow!

High/Low: Brush Cleaner

    

1. Clinique Makeup Brush Cleaner: 8 oz $14.00; according to the Clinique website this product cleans brushes, removes makeup, helps your brushes last longer. 

2. Johnson's Baby Shampoo: 15.0 oz. $3.99; obviously the first thing that comes to mind is a baby, not a makeup brush cleaner. However, this gentle shampoo makes the perfect cleanser to remove stubborn makeup, bacteria and build-up on your brushes & you can't argue with the price ;) 

Makeup For Ever HD Foundation

This has quickly become my new all-time favorite foundation for both day & night. I kept hearing amazing things about this product, but I just never got around to trying it up until recently. It has a flawless finish, oil-free and lasts all day. It doesn't look or feel like you're wearing a lot of makeup either, which I love. P.S. it photographs really nicely too!

Purchase here: Sephora

High/Low: Face Toner

Top Left: YSL Toning and Cleansing Micellar Water, $40.00 for 6.7 oz. I love the packaging of this bottle! I also love that is free of parabens, sulfates and other harsh ingredients. However $40.00 for a toner seems a little pricey to me especially when you can buy T.N. Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel for a fraction of the price from your local drugstore.

Top Right: T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel, $5.99 for 8 oz. I've been using this product as a toner for about 6 months now and I love it; it's inexpensive, lasts me a long time and it cleans my skin without drying it out. I don't really see the point anymore in spending so much money on a toner when you can use this great product for less than six dollars.


Purchase T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Walgreens

Contour Like A Pro

Smashbox's Contouring kit makes it easier to add great definition to your face. It has three shades to highlight, contour and bronze it also includes an angled brush. I think this is a great kit to start off with if your just beginning to try contouring. Shown above is an image from the late and great makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin's book "Making Faces." 

Purchase: Nordstrom's 

Get Glowing

Gorgeous glowing skin is the best accessory any woman can have. Laura Mercier's Radiance primer is a great base to start off your makeup with and will illuminate your whole face. Laura also makes an illuminating tinted moisturizer which I love, but I wouldn't use it with the Radiance primer because it may be a little too much glow. MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle is also a really pretty highlight. Lastly Smashbox's Artificial Light; you can apply it with your fingers, brush or sponge on your cheekbones, inner corners of your eyes, bridge of your nose or even mix it with your foundation! P.S. I also hear great things about RMS Living Luminizer, haven't tried it but I hope to soon!


Purchase Laura Mercier Radiance Primer: Laura Mercier
Purchase Smashbox Artificial Light: Smashbox
Purchase Mac Soft & Gentle Powder: MAC

Obagi

Aaaahhh I could rave about this cleansing system all day, but I'll spare you that and just tell you that it's amazing!!!! If you have problematic, combination or oily skin these three products will save and transform your skin. I was using all three for awhile but now I just use the cleanser and follow with my own toner. The cleanser alone works great for me, but depending on your skin type you may need to use all three. The Foaming Cleanser exfoliates and deeply cleans your skin with the use of it's salicylic acid. The Pore Therapy toner also has salicylic acid and preps your skin for the Therapeutic Lotion which has 5% benzoyl peroxide. The whole medical skincare line carries wonderful products targeted for all types of different concerns.

Obagi

photo credit: Obagi website 

Spot On!

This product is a total lifesaver! Before bedtime after washing your face, dip a Q-tip into this baby and apply on any blemishes that you may have. It doesn't always totally get rid of every problem area, but it always helps ... a lot. Great stuff.

Purchase Nordstrom or Mario Badescu


photo credit: Nordstrom.com