Beauty Bites

Because there's so much going on in my week, beauty-wise, I want to start sharing a weekly round up of my favorite pieces of beauty inspiration, whether industry articles and news, emerging trends, or up-and-coming brands. Beauty Bites will serve as a condensed, bite-sized recap of my week in beauty. And this week was a big one for me - I have tons of items in my queue for review and their arrivals could not have been more perfectly timed because I'm finally feeling like my energetic self again. Here's what been on my mind:

1. Perhaps the BIGGEST beauty news of the week (and in my heart likely the biggest beauty and cultural news of the decade), MAC announced it is officially launching a Selena Quintanilla collection. Selena's story was first of a Mexican-American icon, but now transcends across all Hispanic cultures and well into the non-Hispanic culture. From the moment that Change.org petition was created, I knew this collection would happen. And I can bet my MAC lipstick collection that it will be one of their best-selling. Hispanic women, after all, are the beauty industry's number one consumer.

2. Feeling self-important and more attractive to men, overcompensating for being forced to hide their bodies and seeing opting out of it as unacceptable to society - all reasons the Iranian women photographed by Iranian photojournalist Mona Hoobehfekr give for wearing makeup. There's a big conversation happening online about why women choose to wear makeup - a conversation I'm very interested in. And the answer is repeatedly "for ourselves." Women are choosing to deny makeup is worn as a means to please others. But this photo series is extremely honest and while women in Iran are products of very different circumstances than many of us, at the end of the day, their reasons for wearing makeup are strikingly similar to our own, regardless of upbringing or circumstance. Yes, we choose to put on our best blushed, lipglossed and mascaraed faced for ourselves and because many of us just enjoy the thrill of makeup, but the confidence it gives us really stems from our knowledge that others see us in a certain light, and that we present others our best selves. As comfortable as I feel with myself, even without makeup, I can't help but see myself in these women.

3. I've been receiving lots of products to test, from established and new brands, but I particularly love seeing what up-and-coming brands have to offer. This week I received a package from tréStiQue, a recently launched company whose mission is to simplify our beauty routines through easy, practical and travel friendly products. I'll be testing and writing about these on The LV Guide and here soon, but in the meantime, check out their site. I can definitely say the products made a great first impression.

4. MUJI is one of my favorite places to shop for makeup storage and beauty tools. Their acrylic boxes are the prettiest way to store makeup and an affordable option to the Clear Cube. I have a growing tower of these on my makeup table. Most recently, I fell in love with the cut cotton at their SOHO store in New York and ended up ordering several bags of the stuff online. It's super soft - much softer than anything you can find at your pharmacy, and about the same price - and is unbleached. Check out MUJI's US site for storage options, tools, cotton and other skincare/beauty items. And, though not beauty items, their gel pens and notebooks are also pretty neat.

5. Every Monday, Origins hosts a #MaskMonday contest on their Instagram page. It's one I'm always encouraging my friends to participate in because all you have to do is snap a photo of your Sunday or Monday Origins mask routine (you know you're doing it), share it with @originasusa tagging #MaskMonday and #OriginsSweeps, and you could win three of their best-selling masks. I won this contest a few months back, and received the Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and the GinZing Refreshing Face Mask, all masks I use religiously and continue to purchase. Consider this a friendly reminder to participate this week!

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.

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 »