2014's Beauty Moments

Twenty fourteen is coming to a close and seeing as this was the year this blog was born, it's only appropriate that I recap my favorite beauty moments of the past 12 months. Some focused on makeup, some on body image, some on inner beauty. All inspired or moved me in some way to experiment, continue to blog, laugh at the hilarious reality of this hobby, or even cry when thinking about the kind of beauty the matters most. In no particular order:

1. Joan Smalls's Purple Met Gala Lips 
I love following coverage of the Met Gala on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for moments like this one. I'm usually girl-crushing on Puerto Rican supermodel Joan Smalls, but when she showed up to the Met Gala with shocking purple lips, I fell in love. Purple lips are probably not the easiest thing to pull off in real life, but Joan paired them perfectly with a nude Vera Wang gown, the most elegant fishtail braid I've ever seen, and glowing skin. I hear the lip color was achieved using navy eyeliner and the Estée Lauder 'Pure Color Envy' Sculpting Lipstick in Insolent Plum. Now, I'm no Joan Smalls, but I may play around with this look solely for a quick selfie op.

2. Bruno Mars's Gold Take on the Doña Florinda Look
Bruno Mars had me at the sparkly, gold, custom Saint Laurent jacket he wore during the Super Bowl Half-Time Show earlier this year. And then came his and Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk performance on The Voice just a few weeks ago. He walked on stage in gold hair curlers that only he has the confidence and style to rock, and I actually screamed at the television. I need these in 1.5 inch diameter, ASAP.

3. Lupita Nyong'o's Essence Black Women in Hollywood Acceptance Speech
This one really struck a chord with me, as I'm sure it did for many women. I spend a large part of my life, outside of my full-time job, talking, writing and reading about beauty; buying and testing out beauty products; worrying about fine lines that are starting to show on my face; putting on lots of makeup to enhance my favorite features and hide my not-so-favorite features. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't vain. But you would also be wrong to think that someone like myself doesn't understand real beauty. The kind that, in Lupita's mother's words, "...doesn't feed you." The kind you can't "acquire or consume," but that you have to be. I'll leave my favorite quote from her speech right here, and hope you watch it in its entirety.

"...that you will feel the validation of your external beauty, but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful on the inside." 




4. Lupita Nyong'o named Lancome's Brand Ambassador
Because there was nobody more graceful or striking in 2014 than Lupita Nyong'o, in my opinion, she takes two spots in my favorite beauty moments for the year. In April, she announced she would be Lancome's newest brand ambassador, joining the likes of Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts. I not only loved this because I adore Lupita for her elegance, but because even in 2014, there really is so little representation in the media of black models or actresses who differ so much from our classic standards of beauty, the most recent being Alek Wek in the late 90s and early 2000s.

5. When Rihanna Tweeted About the Colombian Cutie at the World Cup
During the Colombia vs. Brazil World Cup game this summer, Rihanna Tweeted the below Vine with the caption "Colombian Cutie." I, like Rihanna, can appreciate a gorgeous Latina. Especially one who can seriously rock a red lip. I paid no attention to any of the World Cup events and mostly tuned in for a couple of the Mexico games because watching them is an unspoken requirement at my agency. But this moment was definitely the highlight for me. Can someone please find out what lip color this girl was wearing? Thanks.

6. Kylie Jenner's Lips
I'm not any of the Kardashians' or Jenners' number one fan, but there's no denying their influence on my and just about everyone's beauty (and fashion) choices. Or the fact that following them on Instagram is a favorite guilty pleasure. This year was huge, particularly for the Jenner girls, and it seemed strange to put this list together and not talk about Kylie Jenner's lips and all their glory. I can't lie and say I didn't sit in front of my mirror multiple times to practice the look. And that I didn't try at least once to buy MAC's Whirl lip pencil, only to find out it was out of stock. What was I expecting? In the end, I realized my lips just don't look good over-lined, unless it's with a darker color, but it was fun to at least try and take some absurd selfies which I then blew up (making them even more absurd) to more closely resemble Kylie's lips using FaceTune. And whether Kylie's lips were surgically enhanced or not (but c'mon), this was definitely their year.

7. Jennifer Lawrence's Wob and Beard on Jimmy Fallon
Of all the famous wavy bobs (wobs?) in 2014 (Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lauren Conrad), J Law's was definitely my favorite because it was the most effortless. My favorite J Law wob moment was when she made her appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in a fitted, high-waisted, back-baring Victoria Beckham dress, with her adorable wob and a faux beard that I'm pretty sure was a clip-in hair extension. I've never seen any woman be so hilarious and sexy simultaneously.

8. When Mindy Kaling Kept It Real 

I want a Mindy Kaling quote calendar on my desk. So many things she said, did and wore this year inspired many a beauty moment for me. And of course, the most amazing thing about Mindy is that she just keeps it real. Like when she showed Instagram exactly what happens before we, as women, actually look pretty.

Or when she talked about body image on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I'll leave my favorite bit here, but again, watch the entire thing. I laugh so hard every time.

"It's so refreshing that Mindy feels comfortable to, like, let herself go and be a fat sea monster...and by the way, I, like, run and work out. It takes a lot of effort to look like a normal slash chubby woman."

9. Oprah O Magazine December Issue Lips
Lips were clearly important in 2014 -- purple lips, nude lips, red lips. Oprah's O Magazine December cover was the catalyst for many red-lipped holiday looks for me this year, and you should already know how strongly I feel about them. I detailed the look and shared a couple of my own looks using some bright red not too long ago, here and here.

10. Esther Honig's Before and After

In June, Esther Honig's experiment Before and After went viral on Buzzfeed, and was reported on across 30 countries and many publications. Esther submitted an unaltered image of herself to 40 graphic designers across several countries including India, the United States and the Philippines, among others, and asked them to make her beautiful using Photoshop. The results were interesting and some even shocking. Some artists gave her entirely new hair, bigger eyes, colored eyes, bold makeup. I was most interested to see the Latin-American countries and India and was disappointed to see that Mexico wasn't represented. Some of the most interesting and telling include both versions that came out of the Philippines and Argentina's Barbie-esque look.

Sparkly Holiday Look

It's Christmas Eve so I'm really cutting it close with this post, unless you're looking for a last-minute look for tonight or tomorrow. However, New Year's Eve is still a few days away and we'll all be feeling festive a little while longer, so I wanted to shared details on the holiday makeup look I created this past weekend. It was so fun to do and one of my favorite looks...pretty much ever. I was inspired by one of my current favorite (and adorable) bloggers, Keiko Lynn. She put this beautiful look together featuring soft pinks and rose golds with glitter and a bright red lip. She alone is stunning, but this look was just a dream.

I've been wearing my Mac's Retro Matte lipstick in Ruby Woo quite a bit lately so obviously any opportunity to feature it in a look is one I'm going to jump on, and this one was too perfect. That, and when else is a 28-year-old woman allowed to throw glitter on her lids and sparkle this much? I don't usually need an excuse to put glitter on anything, but it's perfectly appropriate these days.

I'm definitely more olive-toned than Keiko, and my glitter wasn't quite as rosy and silver, but I was really happy with my final look (although I would kill for her fair, porcelain skin).


Here's how I achieved it, in great detail:

Base, Part 1

• I started with moisturized skin - I'm currently using Mario Badescu's Buttermilk Moisturizer, and created my foundation for my base using Benefit's POREFessional as primer.
• I applied Mac's Studio Fix foundation in shade NW30 to my entire face with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (only $6!!). 
• I then added a light layer of Tarte's Maracuja Miracle Foundation in the shade Light to the center of my face (nose, the insides of my cheeks, my forehead, etc.) to add a bit of a dewy finish. Mac's Studio fix is very matte and also a shade darker than the Maracuja Miracle foundation so it also helped add a bit of depth and highlight.
• When applying these I used a patting or bouncing motion, never an actual blending motion, to avoid lines and achieve a really sheer, and soft-focus finish. 

Eyebrows

• After the first part of my base was complete, I lightly filled in my eyebrows using the Flower Beauty Raise Some 'Brows Defining Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Dark Brown. I didn't want my eyebrows to compete with the glitter so I was very gentle with this application.
• I defined my brows by drawing a faint line underneath, and filling in with soft, upward strokes.
• I finished by cleaning up harsh lines, and brushing my eyebrows in place with a spoolie. 

Eyes

• I started with Too Faced's Shadow Insurance Primer all over my lid from lash line to brow bone and even under my eye. 
• I then covered my lid in the shade Dream (an opaque ivory shade) from the Lorac PRO Palette from lash line to brow bone, as a base color, using a wide base eyeshadow brush from Sephora's Smoke Machine Smokey Eye Brush Set. 
• My goal was to make the glitter the focus of the look, so I kept most of the eyeshadow simple. I added a combination of the Taupe and Mauve (both great transition shades) shades, also from the Lorac PRO Palette, to my crease and blended with a fluffy Laura Mercier blending brush. 
• To my lower lid, from lash line to just below my crease, I added the shade Light Bronze (a metallic shade) also from the Lorac PRO Palette. I patted this on with my finger, because I find the color applies bolder and adheres better. 
• I then blended the crease shade into the Light Bronze shade with the Laura Mercier fluffy, blending brush, to make sure the transition between the two was smooth.
• For the glitter, I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue over the Light Bronze and in the inner corner of my eye using my finger. 
• Using my finger, I applied a combination of Too Faced Glamour Dust Glitter Pigment in Light Pink, as well as a layer of translucent and silver glitter I found at Sally Beauty Supply. 
• To add depth to my lids, I finished by applying the shade Sable, also from the Lorac PRO Palette into the outer corner of my lid in a c shape using the from the smudge brush from the Sephora Smoke Machine Smokey Eye Brush Set and blended using the precision smudge brush from the same set. 
• To create the winged liner, I applied Nyx Cosmetics Gel Liner and Smudger with the angled liner burhs from the Sephora Smoke Machine set, and then applied Stila's Stay-All-Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Intense Black over that line to really define it because it can be difficult to draw a line over glitter. 
• For my bottom lash line I applied a combination of the Taupe and Sable shades from the Lorac PRO Palette, with the Sephora smudge brush from the Smoke Machine set and blended using the precision smudge brush. 
• I finished with a combination of Maybelline's Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara (in waterproof formula), followed by a coat of Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes mascara. 

Base, Part 2 

• To finish my foundation, I applied Benefits Lemon-Aid as a highlighter under my eyes and down the center of my nose. 
• I then added Nyx's Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer in Beige and blended everything with the pointed end of the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge in a patting motion. 
• I applied the Balm's Cindy Lou-Manizer to the apples of my cheeks using the Real Techniques tapered blush brush. 
• I contoured my cheeks, forehead and chin using the Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Sculpting Contour Trio in Sophisticated using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. 

Lips

• I started with Too Faced's Lip Insurance Lip Primer in Nude to prime my lips. 
• I outlined my lips using Milani's Easyliner in Sugar Plum.
• I patted Nyx's Matte Lipstick in Pure Red into the center of my lips, top and bottom. 
• Lastly, I applied my Mac Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo all over. 
• I blended the edges with a Laura Mercier lip brush. 

Face Mask Favorites

Like many women consider certain items - a little black dress, a classic trench - staples in their wardrobe, I consider face masks the staples of my skincare regimen. They not only supplement my skincare routine, they pretty much form the foundation for it. Masks keep my skin in-check allowing me to have good days, more beautiful makeup application, and carry me from spa facial to spa facial.

I do 1-2 masks weekly --it's actually alright to do multiple masks weekly, so don't be afraid to incorporate them often into your routine. The week's special occasions, the weekend's feasts, my menstrual cycle (sorry for the men reading this - I know there are few of you, but still), the weather, all determine what mask I'll be using. I have intense moisturizing masks for the winter, masks that do the opposite in the summer, facial-in-a-jar masks for really important events, masks for when I'm seeing a breakout coming on (or worse, when it's already happened), and I'm constantly trying new ones for redness, minimizing pores, you name it. I get many questions about my favorite masks and which I recommend for certain conditions, so I wanted to list a few of my favorites and go-tos. These are my tried-and-true and many I'm very well stocked on at the moment while some are favorites from the past - all have given me great results.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask
Good for clearing pores

I don't think I've rambled on enough about this one. I have a thousand selfies on Instagram wearing this and that I've mentioned it 10,000 more in this very young blog. And I currently have not one, but three bottles in stock - I'm always prepared and not taking risks with this one. I use this weekly, usually on Sundays, as a detox for my skin and to clear all the weekend's bad decisions, which always show. This is great for all skin types. It goes on like mud, with a creamy texture and dries hard. I always apply after cleansing with my Clarisonic, so the the product can get way in there. It always tingles a little, but is never irritating. I rinse off with very warm water and then finish with a splash of cold water to close my pores right back up. After using, my skin just feels clean, and like it can actually breathe.



Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask
Good for quenching dry skin

This is a super-charged version of Origins' Drink-Up mask and is perfect for the dry winter months. In Texas, winter lasts just a few short weeks, but already this year I've had to use this twice during a harsh* early-November cold front. This mask is ideal if you have dry skin or live in a cold climate. My skin isn't typically dry, but for those times that I do encounter a need for added moisture, I turn to this. My skin can actually get into the oily category, so I was worried about breaking out when I used this, as I do anytime I use moisture or oil-rich products. This mask is creamy and rich with avocado oil. I was pleasantly surprised to find this mask doesn't make me break out. The mask applies deliciously, and has a very sweet but subtle scent of apricot from the apricot kernel oil. Immediately after applying, it does feel heavy and almost sticky, but after time your skin actually begins to drink the moisture right up. In the morning, your skin will feel like a dream. I also love to use just a bit of this on my hands and elbows.


*Harsh winters in Texas have 30 to 40-degree days.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask with Red Clay
Good for controlling excess oil

The entire Skin Rescue collection is blemish fighting powerhouse. This mask is not slacking in the oil-control department, and it's my best friend during the summer when my skin is more prone to breakouts. Anytime I see a hint of a breakout or a blemish, I grab this out of my medicine cabinet and nip the problem right in the bud. The mask goes on very sticky, so you really have to work it into your skin and around your face. The color is a bit shocking at first - blood red. Every time I wear it, Andres either screams in terror or gives me a funny new nickname like Oompa Loompa. The mask dries into a film and peels right off, but unlike other masks that peel, the peeling process for this is very gentle and painless. It's very calming, refines pores and makes skin look and feel super smooth. I always get compliments after using this.



Boscia Luminizing Black Mask 
Good for brightening and detoxifying skin

Like the First Aid Beauty Red Clay mask above, the peeling process here is not painless. You've been warned. But it is tolerable. Our bodies were made to birth babies, so you can definitely handle this. This was actually one of my first forays into face mask territory and I have loved it since, despite that one con. It's a mask that does what it says it will do (detoxify, purify and even brighten). This stuff applies similarly to the First Aid Beauty Red Clay mask, except it's even thicker and stickier. It's a jet black color and goes on like paint. You have to layer this well and again, wait for it to dry and peel right off. Be careful near your hairline and eyebrows when using this. It's like pulling a bandaid. But worth the pain because it leaves skin super soft and definitely more radiant.



Glam Glow YouthMud 
Good for just about everything

This is the priciest of my favorites so this mask is definitely reserved for very special occasions. At $70 for 1.7 ounces, this is sadly not a mask I can afford to use weekly. This mask purifies, it clears pores, it makes you glow, glow, glow, it moisturizes, it gently exfoliates with volcanic rock, it tingles and your skin will feel soft for days after you use it. I used it last before my company's holiday party on a Saturday, and the following Wednesday I was still caressing my own cheek. It's meant to function as a facial in a jar, and I can really stand by that claim.



Lush Cosmetics Catastrophe Cosmetics and Brazened Honey//All Lush Masks
Good for whatever your needs may be

I've included these in my favorites because of the variety of recipes, the jar size and the price. These masks are each under $7 for 2.1 ounces, so they're great to buy in multiples to test or for when you're in a bind and need a quick, cost-efficient fix. These masks are all fresh-made and are kept in an in-store refrigerator, which you're also supposed to do when you take them home. I've tried the Catastrophe Cosmetic which comes with blueberries (great antioxidant), and chamomile to calm and cleanse the skin. I've also used the Brazened Honey which is great for tired skin. The honey in it is super moisturizing (leaves your skin oh-so-soft, I know because I just used it) and also a great cleanser. And since you keep them in the fridge, these are cold and extra calming when applied. And as a bonus, if you take 5 empty mask pots back to a Lush store, you'll get one mask free. You have to use these a couple times a week, they have a 3-week shelf life because they're made with fresh ingredients, and the scent is very strong. But if you can get past that, you'll love these.

Red Lip Moment

Red lips are having a major moment right now. I thought it was just me, but a few days ago, Vogue covered Kendall Jenner and Olivia Palermo, among others pairing bright red lips with winter whites for the holiday season. That, and just today, MAC Cosmetics announced the release of the 'Red, Red, Red' collection which includes four new, limited-edition, red shades to add to their repertoire of already perfect scarlet shades.

Red lips are never not having a moment - it doesn't get more classic or iconic than a red lip. It can be the mark a woman from the most daring to the most minimalistic. I grew up seeing red lipstick after red lipstick, and nothing but red lipstick in my mother's makeup drawer. I've owned a few myself and love them, but never thought they suited my personality like they do my mother's. My mom is serious and reserved and reminds me of Maria Felix. I'm rarely serious and hardly reserved and most of the time, I feel like I lack the grace to pull off bold red lips.

But over the past three weeks I've seen an onslaught of red lips and I'm really loving it. It all started over Thanksgiving, when I spotted the O Magazine December issue at my grocery store checkout line and actually squealed. This red and the combination of blue and orange undertones in it just captivated me.



And like any good beauty addict, I stalked tracked down Oprah's makeup artist (@Derrick4mkup), browsed his Instagram feed and begged him to tell me who this perfect red lip is by. On a post talking about the look, he wrote out a detailed description on how he achieved it:

"...now that lip that everyone has been asking about was achieved by using 3 diff red pencils, after applying lip balm. I used a warm brown red to trace along the lip line, a blue red pencil to fill in the lip, and an orange red to fill in the center of the lip. After blending all three colors with a lip brush, I then used a matte red gloss to give the lip richness."

While this was super helpful and actually useful (I created the red lip below using the same process), Derrick - these descriptions are too vague! I'd love to know the exact products used. I'm still waiting on response from him and something tells me I'll be waiting a while. Either way, I did my best to recreate the look.

For my red lip, which I wore this past weekend to my agency's holiday party - masquerade themed - I started with a tiny bit of foundation on the lips and primed with my holy-grail Too Faced Lip Insurance. I traced a line around my lips using Milani's Easyliner Mechanical Lip Pencil in Sugar Plum (great drug-store buy at just under $5). I then applied NYX's Matte Lipstick in Pure Red, which is actually more orange-red than red-red, to the center of my bottom lip and finished by filling in my lips with Ruby Woo (from my 2014 Holiday Gift Guide), which is blue-based red. Ruby Woo is a perfect matte red and almost looks like velvet when applied.





Because I struggle with redness and because Ruby Woo has blue undertones, it's difficult for me to wear it on its own. I tend to prefer orange, neon or crimson shades of red for this very reason. But I love Ruby Woo, and the hint of orange in NYX's Pure Red helped to brighten, as well as warm up my complexion. To really combat any redness that might have been emphasized by the blue tones in the lip color, I went pretty heavy on the Benefit LemonAid under my eyes, around my lips and on my forehead.

This was on a casual Tuesday evening, my first attempt at creating this look, my practice run for the holiday party.

 


Even at 28, I know I'm not nearly as graceful or mature as I should be to properly wear red. But over the winter and well into the spring, I know I'll be on the hunt for every great red I can get my hands on, including the colors from that 'Red, Red Red' collection. And I'll do my absolute best to do them grown-up, lady-like justice.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide

The Holidays are upon us and every year I'm asked for advice from girlfriends, guy friends, colleagues, anyone, on what to gift the special ladies in their lives. I pride myself on giving good recommendations, so to put that to use, I created a gift guide for this holiday season with everything from makeup and skincare to extras and stocking stuffers at different price points. On top of this list being a compilation of things that are on my personal wish list (of course!), I've also put a ton of thought into my selections and did so thinking of many kinds of ladies from the minimalists to those who love a little beauty drama.

MAKEUP: 

1. NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette - $65

One of the top items on my list and the list of several friends. It includes some of Nars' best-selling blushes, highlighters and bronzer, 5 total, to create a number of different looks. Nars blushes are truly iconic and you can't beat the pigmentation. 

2. Too Faced Everything Nice Palette -$56 

This palette really is everything and it's very nice. I have owned this for a couple weeks and am finding it just as easy to use the bright pinks and purples, as I am to use the perfect neutrals. It comes with 20 shades total, 2 blushes, an exclusive and GORGEOUS highlighter, and the perfect Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.

3. Lorac Pro to Go Eye and Cheek Palette - $38
I recently tried and fell in love with the Lorac Pro palette and felt like I'd been living under a rock. The shadow consistency is like butter, they blend effortlessly, and the colors are so rich. The same applies for the Pro to Go palette. This is great size for someone who travels often or has a low-maintenance makeup routine, and includes classic shades that can still create bold looks.

4. The Balm Cindy, Mary, Betty-Lou Manizer - $24
These beautiful highlighters come in three different shades to suit anyone - Mary is a honey shade, Cindy is soft coral shade, and Betty is a bronze shade. These finish off any look with a perfect, subtle and youthful glow. They even do double or triple duty as an eyeshadow and blush.

5. Mac Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo - $16
There's no better time to gift THE classic red lipstick than during the holidays. Ruby Woo is the perfect shade of red, suits just about any skin tone and works just as well dressed up or dressed down. While it's especially perfect for winter, it looks amazing during any season. 

SKINCARE:



1. Glam Glow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment - $69
This face mask does it all, and considering it's not easy to drop $70+ on a 1.7 ounce face mask, this really makes this the best kind of gift. This works for all skin types, gives immediate, incredible and stunning results and is great to use before big events like weddings, vacations, holiday parties, etc.

2. Josie Maran Argan Oil - $48
This miraculous little concoction has received tons of praise and with reason.  It helps even skin tone, is a great moisturizer, has tons of anti-aging properties and can be applied to hair, nails and cuticles. And it's even great as an acne treatment. An oil? I know.

3. Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish - $30
This body polish is the perfect winter-time indulgence. Unlike many body scrubs or polishes that are oil based, this one is creamier and feels and smells delicious. It's a great exfoliator that also quenches dry skin's thirst when it most needs it. And did I mention that smell? I did. But still.

4. First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - $30 
These are great as toner and give skin a beautiful glow. When I use these I instantly see more even skin tone and much brighter complexion. They're great for nightly use and I also love to use prior to applying my face for the day.

5. Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask - $24
This mask has a huge following. I use it almost weekly and have converted even a few male friends into loyal fans. It calms the skin, clears pores and just feels like a really nice facial detox, especially on Sundays before you get your week started.

STOCKING STUFFERS: 

1. Caudalie Beauty Elixir - Travel Size $18

This part toner, part serum feels like luxury. It has bitter orange and peppermint, calms the skin and instantly makes your complexion more radiant. This can be used prior to makeup, after makeup for a dewy glow, or on bare skin that just needs a little freshening.

2. Lush Cosmetics Lip Scrub - $10
These are perfect for the winter when lips are feeling dry and need a little extra exfoliation. They're handmade and their many flavors are super yummy - my personal favorite is the Bubblegum.

3. Essie Nail Polish - $8.50

One of my favorites to give and receive. With so many iconic shades to choose from, you can easily find something to suit anyone. Holiday favorites for me include First Dance, Hors D'Ouvres and Good as Gold.

4. EOS Lip Balms - $3.50
These are just adorable, leave your lips feeling baby soft and come in great colors and flavors. With so many options to choose from and at such a great price, these are great to gift as multiples.

EXTRAS:

1. Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb - $45 - $215
I've never met a woman who didn't love this scent. Aside from it having major sentimental value for me - I wore it when Andres and I first started dating and then again at our wedding, gifted to me then by my best friend - it's a distinct, floral scent that's rich but not overpowering and great for both summer and winter.

2. Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings - $60+
If Dr. Mindy Lahiri loves these, then so do I. I still have yet to pick up a pair for myself, so they're definitely at the top of my wish list. With so many stone and metal combos to choose from, it's easy to find something that works for anyone or any occasion. I love them in green or emerald cat's eye.

3. Capri Blue Volcano Candle - $28
I have several of these in my home and can't get enough. I love a scent that works year-round (like the Flower Bomb above), and this is definitely one of those. I love lighting this when I'm having company or even when the apartment's clean, the laundry's done and I'm just feeling good.

4. West Elm Gilded Dapper Animal Mug - $10 
What could be more fun than having your morning coffee with a dapper, gilded gold accessory-wearing snowy owl? Nothing. There are 4 super cute furry friends to choose from and these regularly go for $10 but are currently $6.99 if you buy online.

Please let me know if you're looking for something for a special someone in a different category or if this list just absolutely did not help. I'm happy to do a little more digging for you. Happy Holidays! 

Return of Sexy Look

Towards the end of October, I treated myself to the Too Faced Return of Sexy palette. I came back from a week-long vacation to a weekend of makeup jobs, followed by another - Halloween. So to prep for the madness, I made a "quick" trip to Sephora for some necessities, and decided to throw in a little something for me (not that I wouldn't eventually use everything else anyway), that had absolutely nothing to do with the makeup jobs. I fell in love with this palette because of the rich, metallic purples that I'd been craving (I love purples). The bronze and gold shades on the left end of the palette also drew me in. I was very intimidated by the greys, however. Greys can look very harsh, especially on olive-toned skin, but I decided that the price ($49) was definitely worth 2/3 of the palette. And the Perfect Eyes eyeliner (which is a really deep jet black, and amazing). And the travel-sized Shadow Insurance.


After wearing purple eyes to work four days in a row (purple can be very neutral, surprisingly), I finally gave the browns their share of face time and have been using both frequently since. I have owned the palette almost a month and had not once touched the greys until I sat down last weekend and forced myself to create a look with this last third of the palette. Greys are so out of my comfort zone, but I can't let any of Too Faced's gorgeous shadows go to waste and I want to be comfortable using shades I'm not used to. I worked for about an hour and ended up with a look I really loved - probably one of my favorites I've ever done on myself to-date. What I think really made it work and made the greys less harsh, was the transition shade I used -- a mixture of Buck from Urban Decay's Naked palette and Innocent from the Return of Sexy palette. The reason I borrowed from the Naked palette is because The Return of Sexy palette doesn't have matte shades, and matte shades are great as transition shades. I applied the combination of those two to my crease and blended with the dark greys which I applied from my crease down to my lash line. Looking back, I think next time I create this look I will use slightly less of the Innocent for a more opaque finish on that transition color. Either way, I went for high drama with this look with winged liner (which I rarely do), and even generously applied the silver (which I'm extra weary of) onto the inner corners of my eyes, which ended up making this a great, festive holiday look. I want to recreate this look with glitter in the inner corner and closer to my lash-line next time and really up the sparkle factor. Details of everything I used below.

FACE:
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer 
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in Light Beige - Medium (applied with a Beauty Blender)
Benefit Lemon-Aid (under eyes, bridge of nose, bottom of forehead in between eyebrows)
Flower Beauty Lighten Up Illuminating Concealer in Shade 2
Too Faced Full Bloom Powder Blush in Sweet Pink (from Everything Nice palette)
Too Faced highlighter in Inner Light (exclusively from Everything Nice palette)
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil (to contour cheekbones, nose and chin)
Flower Beauty Powder Up Loose Powder in L1 

EYES:
Flower Beauty Raise Some 'Brows Defining Brown Pencil in Dark Brown 
Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer (across entire lid and bottom lash line)
Flower Beauty Color Play Creme Eyeshadow in Good as Mari-Gold (as a base across lid)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Buck from Naked palette (on crease as transition shade)
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Innocent from Return of Sexy palette (on crease)
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Hollywood from Return of Sexy palette (lash line to crease)
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Beautymark from Return of Sexy palette (bottom  and top lash-line)
Too Faced Eyeshadow in 7 Year Itch from Return of Sexy palette (under eyebrow)
Too Faced Eyeshadow in Bombshell from Return of Sexy palette (inner corner, top/bottom lashline)
Nyx Cosmetics Gel Liner in Betty
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Intense Black
Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black 
Nyx Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese (water line)

LIPS:
Too Faced Lip Insurance primer in Nude 
Flower Beauty Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Baby Buttercup  

REVIEW: Flower Beauty

One of my favorite things about beauty blogging is seeing the effect that the phenomenon has on the industry. It's creating more demand and competition among brands and women now have more accessibility to higher quality products for their dollar. Not long ago, I received a package from Flower Beauty, most of the products in the fairly new line to review. Drew Barrymore launched Flower Beauty in 2013 with the goal of bringing high-end beauty to the masses. She chose to sell in WalMart stores because she "wanted it to be in people's hands." While Flower Beauty products sell for $4.98 to $13.98, everything about the products is meant to be prestige -  formulas are made at the same price as luxury products, so Flower is paying two to three times what mass beauty lines pay for production. They're able to sell at smaller prices because they don't pay for advertising, among other things, and rely on social media and word of mouth.

My first impression upon opening the giant box of goodies (besides sheer joy) was even better than I expected. I had seen the products online and read reviews about flimsy packaging, but have to say I didn't really experience much of that. The packaging on most of the products (except the eye pencils and lip/cheek chubbies) is pearly white with rose gold accents, and overall really pretty. The majority of the packaging is plastic, with some glass on a few items, but feels durable and high-end. One thing I did notice is that none of the eyeshadow quads, creme foundations or powder compacts have mirrors, but rather a transparent plastic on the lid so the product is entirely visible. I love that the product is visible but think a mirror would be a nice extra. Either way, for the prices, I can't complain - I have 75 other mirrors to choose from in my makeup bag.

I finally sat down this weekend and created a look using some of the many products I received. I used some of my own products as well, mostly primers. Below is a list of everything I used - Flower Beauty products with reviews, and non-Flower Beauty products listed under that. Keep an eye out for Part 2 of this review, coming soon!


FACE



Skincognito Stick Foundation In Shade 2
On a scale of 1 to 10, this foundation gets a 7. This one was tricky because the shade 2 was probably one level too light for my skin. It did glide on smoothly, straight from the stick. I love this because liquid foundations have to go on my hand first and cream foundations you have to stick your fingers or a brush in. This was easy, really just the one step and then you blend. I started blending with my Real Techniques sponge (the Beauty Blender Dupe), and had a difficult time, but I think this has more to do with the sponge than with the actual foundation. I switched the RT sponge for my Beauty Blender after struggling for about a minute and finally was able to blend the foundation to a desired finish. Once my look was finished I was able to appreciate the foundation a bit more. The coverage is good, and while I did noticed in some spots that I was starting to see a little shine come through, the finish isn't heavy at all. I set this with a powder, and hours later it still looked fresh and in its place, and coverage was still as good as when I first applied.

Powder Up Loose Powder in Shade 1
I rarely wear powder, and know that it's great for setting makeup, but sometimes I prefer not to add another layer of product. However, when I did notice that little bit of shine coming through from the foundation, I applied a thin layer of this to my finished look. I was very pleasantly surprised at how nicely this went on. Most powders I've bought at drug stores LOOK like powder when applied. This does not. It's quadruple-milled (something that mass beauty brands don't have), so it's super fine, and very little goes a long way. I was also nervous when I saw the sticker for shade 1 because it looked so light, but when I opened up the packaging, I noticed this was a little bit darker, and with more yellow undertones than the sticker showed. This worked out perfectly for my face. I love face products with yellow undertones to combat my redness, so I will definitely be using this often. The packaging for this is beautiful, it's also the signature white with rose gold. The lid comes off and is pretty deep, so I used this as a bowl to drop a sprinkle of the powder and then sweep it up with a brush. It looks SO pretty at my makeup station too.

Glow Baby Glow in Beachy Keen


The pigmentation in this one really surprised me. I gently applied the bronzer with an angled contour brush and drew a bold line under my cheekbone. I didn't think the color payoff would be so intense. I took a fluffy stippled brush and buffed this out until I got the soft I was looking for under my cheekbones (what little cheekbones I have). There's a slight shimmer in this that became much more noticeable when I began to contour my forehead. While I'm really happy with the pigmentation and the fact that a little goes such a long way, I don't think I'll be using this as a contouring bronzer -- at least not for my forehead. I was able to buff this out again, until I got a result I was happy with. The blush, like the bronzer, has amazing color payoff. A tiny bit went a very long way here, too. There's a little bit of a gold shimmer in here, but this one's more faint -- I was hoping I'd get more of a glow. Either way, the color is intense, and really pretty. I've decided I'm going to get this same duo in Shimmering Goddess because the blush in that duo is the prettiest shade of bright pink.

Kiss Me Twice Lip and Cheek Chubby in Think Pink
I used this on my cheeks, not my lips. Think Pink is a fun, bright pink shade that's so summery, and as I'm finding with many of the Flower products, a little goes a very long way with this. I applied it to the palm of my (clean) hand to warm up the product for easy blending, and applied a dab onto the apples of my cheeks with my finger. Even a dab was more than enough to get a rosy tint. I even removed a little of what I used. This wore well for hours, and since it applies like a stain, it looks like a natural flush. I loved it, but definitely starting with much less and then building up the color next time.

EYES

Color Play Creme Eyeshadow in Good as Mari-Gold
I love this product - everything from the packaging to the color payoff and the texture, this has to be among my favorites. This creme eyeshadow goes on so smoothly, feels weightless like a mousse and is very buildable. I used it as both a highlight on the inner corner of my eye and eyelid, as well as a base for the rest of my bronze eye look. It dried like a powder, made blending smooth and seamless and never creased. Do note that I primed even prior to this base with my Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I never go without shadow primer. Even seven hours after applying the color, it still looked and felt fresh, and all my shadow was perfectly in place. I also adore the packaging for this product. It's a heavy glass container with the signature white and rose gold lid. It looks and feels like a prestige product (for only $8 a shadow!). Definitely keeping this in my top makeup drawer and using on a regular basis. Also, definitely going to run and pick up the Lilac You a Lot (because I love, love, love purple shadows and this one is so fun!).

Shadow Play Eyeshadow Quad in Foxy Browns


I was impressed with how this product applied, they also don't swatch as well as they applied with the Good as Mari-Gold Creme Eyeshadow underneath. This quad includes four shades: a soft shimmery pink, a bronzy, coppery brown, a taupe with a tiny hint of shine and a very dark, matte brown. I used all except the taupe for my look. After applying the Color Play shadow, I covered my lid (except the inner corner) from my lash-line to my crease in the coppery shade. I used the soft pink under my brow, and the dark matte brown on the outer corner of my eye as well as the outer corner of my bottom lash-line. The colors all went on smoothly, weren't chalky (I'd read reviews some of these were chalky), hardly flaked and blended very softly. The color payoff is great, they're all very pigmented. I would definitely recommend these mini palettes - they're a steal for the price ($10) and easy for travel or to just carry in your makeup bag when you can't bring along all your giant palettes. I really want to try the Face the Grey palette because it has three shades of purple! I'll report back on this one.

Raise Some 'Brows Defining Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
At first glance, this dark brown brow pencil scared me a little because the shade was so dark. I have very thick, angled eyebrows and when I fill them in with my actual shade or a shade slightly darker, they can look harsh. I started with tiny, gentle strokes on the bottom brow line and dragged that across then worked my my way upward mimicking my hair. I finished off, brushing generously with my spooly to soften the overall look, which I was happy with. The pencil applied lighter than it looked and actually worked pretty well, and for $6, I could totally see myself buying this again. I did notice the pencil itself felt like it moved around a bit inside the package and felt a little bit flimsy, but not so flimsy I thought it would break. I plan on buying this in the Light Brown shade and trying for a bolder look to see what happens.

Eye 2 Eye Eye Marker and Volumizing Mascara 
Here I only used the Eye Marker, which applied smoothly, in jet black. It applies paint-like and is pretty long-lasting. My only issue with this is that the tip is very thick - I guess they don't call it a marker for nothing. It makes applying difficult if you want to do a thin line, which I often prefer. I stayed close to my lash line and did a teeny tiny wing at the end of my lash line. Seven hours later that wing was still intact. I definitely recommend this for everyday and if you prefer a thicker line. This will have a learning curve, because like I said, the thickness of that tip can make application tricky.

LIPS



Kiss Stick High-Shine Lipstick in Baby Buttercup


(Insert worshipping hands iPhone emoji). This. Is. Amazing. I don't usually use such pastel shades of lip color, and was a bit nervous when I first put this on, but once I finished applying, with my Too Faced Lip Insurance primer, of course, I was SO, SO in love with it. It instantly reminded me of that coral-pastel shade of nude lip that JLo often wears and that I've also seen Desi Perkins wearing quite a bit. It's great for summer, but I'm wearing all winter...the hint of coral made my entire face glow. That and Andres immediately told me he loved it (and he rarely has such strong opinions about my lip color). This one's a keeper! The formula is also super hydrating, and wears for quite some time - again, I primed, and you should, too. The packaging for this is a little different in that it's black and rose gold, but still really beautiful. I'm definitely getting this in a few more colors.

Shine On Lipgloss in Plum Pansy


I used a tiny dot of this on the center of lips for an extra bit of shine, but was scared to use too much because it's darker than the Baby Buttercup and I didn't want to overpower it. I swatched this on my hand and it feels creamy. The pigmentation is great, it's not sheer at all, which I really like. Plum Pansy is a mauve shade that's perfect for fall/winter. I'll definitely be using this often.

Non-Flower Beauty Products Used:

FACE

• Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer 
• Benefit Cosmetics Lemon Aid Highlighter
• NYX Cosmetics Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer 

EYES

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer 
• Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara 
• Laura Mercier Full-Blown Volume Supreme Lash Building Mascara in Black
• Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black

LIPS

• Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer in Nude

Birthday Goodies

Last Friday was my 28th birthday. I usually blow up my birthdays, but this one was a little different - my parents visited and I took it fairly easy. It's been years since I spent a birthday with my parents. We had dinner and drinks at El Naranjo on Rainey Street here in Austin. If you've never been, I recommend it if you're looking for yummy drinks and really fantastic dessert - their tres leches cake made my night.

While celebrations were light (but wonderful), I definitely indulged and let myself be treated to beauty goodies from Andres, from myself, from my mom, from anyone that knows me and knows my sweet spot. Andres treated me to a Sephora shopping spree. He tagged along on my trip, patiently carried my Sephora basket and even got excited over different shades of concealer I had a Sephora color specialist try out on me. He's the best.

There was also a TJ Maxx beauty haul, a Lush Cosmetics Haul and a couple other treats here and there. Those are coming!

For now, a list below of my Sephora haul with mini-reviews and first thoughts.

• Too Faced Everything Nice Holiday 2014 Palette - I had been eyeing this since its debut. I swatched all the colors at the store and knew I had to own it. Funny story - I initially walked out of Sephora on my birthday with the Urban Decay Vice 3 palette because I wanted fun colors. I came back a day later after realizing the Vice shadows weren't as pigmented as I expected. If you own any of the Naked palettes and are expecting the Vice to apply with the same pigmentation or smoothness, you might be disappointed. I went back to Sephora and went with my original plan - I should have listened to my gut. I used this for the first time today and it's incredible. The color payoff is so intense. I applied about half my shadow with my fingers and used the tiniest amount and that alone was enough for really good results. I'll do another post on this later with more details, swatches, a couple looks.
• This palette comes with 20 of Too Faced's best-selling shadows, including a gorgeous, happy purple (Live it Up) that stole my heart. This also comes with the Chocolate Soleil bronzer, an exclusive highlighter that's GORGEOUS (Inner Light) and two blushes. I've always loved Too Faced's blushes. 
• It all comes in an adorable, hot pink, glitter case (you had me at hot pink and glitter), and also includes Too Faced's new (and super coveted) Better-Than-Sex Mascara, which I've yet to use. I'll let you know how that one works out. I'm so excited!  
• Too Faced Lip Insurance - My go-to, holy grail, tried and true, must-have primer. This primer is awesome. It will make any drug store lipstick last hours and hours. I posted about this one in my Top 5 Must-Haves post where you can read a little more about it. I was running low on my current tube, so had to stock up. 
• Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow - This is another one that I went back for after my original trip. I first purchased in Something About Berry. After swatching on my hand in the store, the highlight factor seemed high, but when I used on my cheeks I just wasn't sold. The Candy Glow (again, I should have gone with my original instinct) really gives a dewy, highlighted but still flushed finish. I love it. It looks great on, it looks like candy in the container and makes my makeup station that much cuter.

Read more »

Beauty-Filled Weekend

It's been months since I've updated my blog but seeing as I had such a beauty-filled weekend and just came back from a much-needed and wonderfully refreshing vacation (all that for a later post), I thought now was the perfect time to do so. This weekend was a record for me in terms of makeup jobs. I'm not a professional makeup artist by any means - I'm more of an aficionado - and I don't have tons of opportunities to do makeup on anyone other than myself. The opportunities were definitely there this weekend and I got a taste of what a professional makeup artist's life is truly like. Seriously, to all my makeup artists friends: kudos, props, you go Glenn Coco! What you do is no easy task.

On Friday, our dear friends Mike Garza and Alex Janss whispered their wedding vows to each other at a very sweet ceremony at Union on Eighth in Georgetown, Texas. Mike's sisters, whom I've known a lot of my life, commissioned me to do their makeup - I, of course, was honored to do the job. I did full makeup for four girls, with some hair included. I worked for 6.5 hours straight and followed up with my own hair and makeup which was finished a short two hours later. Frankly, I was beat. But it was so, so fun and the bridesmaids looked beautiful. It was worth every second and all the minor body aches and only reinforced my passion for beauty. The day was rushed (because I'm still developing my craft and very slow), so I didn't have a lot of time for photos, but this was the makeup I did for Mike's sister, Veronica Garza. Vero is actually the owner and creator of Must B Nutty Tortillas. They're gluten-free, grain-free and super yummy. Read more about her story here. Vero has beautiful skin (thanks to her super healthy diet) and shared a few makeup horror stories from her past with me. She was worried too much makeup would make her eyes look small and I promised her I wouldn't let her down. Thanks for trusting me, Vero!



On Vero, I used the Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Foundation. It's an oil-free formula with a very dewy finish that never looked too shiny. Hours later, it still looked fresh. I did her eyes with the Naked 3 palette which worked beautifully with her ivory complexion. I went very soft for her look and loved the results.

And, of course, I can't go without a photo of the gorgeous couple. Alex's dress is one of the most beautiful gowns I've ever seen on a bride. It's a two-piece gown in a blush shade with a lacy, beaded, sweetheart bodice. The skirt was layers and layers of tulle that looked like candy. She wore flowers in her hair and looked stunning. I loved every detail down to her rose gold ballet slippers. She was perfection. Congrats to the two of you. You're like our Austin family and I wish you the very best.



As a treat to myself for my completing my greatest beauty feat thus far, and as prep for the weekend's final makeup job, I invested in a few new tools. I'm slowly growing my brush collection and started with larger brushes, but realized my eye brushes could use an upgrade. I bought Sephora's Smoke Machine Smokey Eye Brush Set , which includes brushes used to create smokey looks, which I love, and also picked up my first ever Beauty Blender. Up until now, I've mostly used Sigma's famous F80 foundation brush for makeup application (it delivers beautiful, smooth results), but Beauty Blender's cult following has had me really curious. And it didn't disappoint.





The weekend's final job was for my friend Celina's maternity shoot (check out House McGraw to follow her entire journey to mommyhood). Celina and I have known each other a decade and she's now expecting her first baby and I can't wait to meet the little guy in December. When Celina asked me to do her hair and makeup for her maternity shoot, I just couldn't say no. It's been a couple years since I've done her makeup, so this was particularly exciting because my skills have come a long way since I last touched her face. As expected, her mama-to-be skin was flawless and glowing.

On Celina, I applied Makeup Forever Invisible Cover HD Foundation with the Beauty Blender. It was my first time using both and while I'm certain the foundation itself is very light and dewy, I know the application with the Beauty Blender accounted for the final flawless finish. I instantly noticed the difference in application from the F80. The finish was truly seamless and I'm hooked. For her eyes, I did a soft smokey eye (told you!) using a combination of the Naked and Naked 3 palettes. This was also her first time ever wearing false lashes. I love first-timers' reactions and she adapted really quickly. She looked radiant. I can't wait to see the final photos.