Beauty Blog

Right now, Sephora is having a major discount on selected Smashbox eyeshadow. This is a top of the line product and the dual colored eyeshadow is typically worth $25, but Sephora’s offering a mark down for only $5. Amazing. It’s a dark brown and light brown complimentary duo that’s perfect to create darker eyes.

The best way to apply this eyeshadow is  to first apply the lighter shade to the corners of your eyes as well as the area right below your eyebrow. This will accentuate the darkness of the rest of your eyes and make them look bigger as well. Next, apply the darker shade in the creases of your eyelids, but make sure you blend the outer corners of your eyes so that there’s not dark brown line visible. This method will create a dramatic, smokey eye effect.

If this isn’t a color that you prefer–there’s also this eye shadow quad by PlantLove you can get that’s originally priced at $25, but is now on sale for only $5. You can choose from four fun colors, which are all a little earthy-toned so it won’t look to overdone. These colors won’t exactly work for smokey eyes, but you can sweep one of the four colors across your lids for extra shimmer to light up your eyes. These deals are great!

Image sources: sephora.com

It all depends on your skin type. Primers come in a cream formula that is meant to act a as a buffer between your skin and your foundation and is suppose to fill in any scars or lines on your face to create the maximum matte finish for your face.

But is it really worth it? Good primers usually go for roughly $20-$40, but you may not need it.

One great benefit from primers is that some contain brightening agents to give you a glow, while others provide a slight color tone for pale skin. If you’re looking to add brightness to your face, you’ve got to try “That Gal:” Brightening Face Primer from Benefit. It’s around $30, but definitely works in adding a bright hue to your face underneath your foundation. If there’s a lot of redness to your skin, you should definitely try the Pur Color Correcting Foundation Primer, which has a green undertone that really works.

Primer is also essential for people with really oily skin because it mattes your skin and acts as a perfect pallet for your foundation, which ultimately makes your makeup last longer.  If you have oily skin, your makeup probably melts off otherwise.

But unless you’ve got scars, lines, redness, or oily skin –a primer’s not an essential part of your daily makeup regiment. If your skin is naturally healthy…don’t waste your money.

However, if you feel like going the extra mile and you maybe want something for special occasions that will make you look completely finished and flawless, even though your skin’s doesn’t need extra help–go for my favorite: the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.  It’s great for a special night out because your skin will look virtually perfect and your skin will become a little more photogenic.

Image sources: smarter.com, sephora.com 

Lancome recently introduced its new Juicy Tubes Pure for all you gloss gurus out there.  Inspired by Elettra Wiedemann, a socialite, environmentalist, and Lancome spokesperson–not to mention she is a model as well as the daughter of actress Isabella Rosselini–Lancome has launched Juicy Tubes Pure Premium Unique Raw Elements, a ten piece collection that includes a new formula of the gloss made with ninety five percent natural ingredients and one hundred percent natural flavors certified by EcoCert without sacrificing one bit of the original sparkle and high intensity shine.  The new formula includes natural oils and shea butter emollient, it is also paraben free.  Being a Lancome first, the carton the glosses come in is 100% recyclable.  Okay, these are all great baby steps for the French company!  Unfortunately the eco-friendly glosses are only temporary since they are limited edition.  Shades include Sweet Soy, Ginger Root, Bare Honey, Lavendar Zen, and Rose Water…names to make Mother Nature proud.

Limited Edition Juicy Tubes PURE: $18, lancome-usa.com

Since we’re on the topic of green glosses, here are few others that may tickle your fancy:

Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss ($6.29) is made with almond oil, simultaneously making your lips luscious, juicy and really moisturized.  Burt’s Bees are pros at this stuff.  They’ve been making natural, eco-conscious personal care products since 1984. The Super Shiny gloss is flavored with natural citrus oils and comes in four different colors including Pucker Berry, Sweet Pink, Zesty Red, and Nectar Nude.

Smashbox has created O-GLOSS, lipgloss with Goji Berry-C Complex ($22).  The naturally pink hued lip gloss is made with ginkgo biloba, pomegranate seed antioxidants, marine botanicals, moisturizing avocado oil and an exclusive formula of Goji Berry-C Complex.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more Lancome lip gloss and Burt’s Bees lip gloss.
Discounts on Smashbox lip gloss.

The other day a friend told me she could live without any cosmetics but her lipgloss, which I found funny since I almost never sport the stuff. It did get me thinking, though, about my makeup drawer, which is over-stuffed despite the fact that I only use a fraction of its contents. I would, of course, never throw any of it out because who knows when the perfect occasion for teal eyeshadow might arise? It could happen.

At the same time, I don’t think I could narrow it down to any one product–I have a few major makeup loves/dependencies. I’m sure I’ve mentioned all of them at one time or another. Here’s the rundown:

Lorac aquaPrime ($30) is, hands down, my favorite primer because it’s very light and super effective. I am about to get hooked up with the new liquid primer from Smashbox, though, so we’ll see if I stay devoted to Lorac. I’ll keep you posted.

I’ve been a satisfied user of Revlon ColorStay foundation for a long time now, and I don’t see myself giving up on it any time soon.  I really love the new Soft Flex line in the dry skin formula, since the older I get the dryer my skin gets.

Oh, Lorac Sheer Wash ($17.50), how do I love thee.  Honestly, I don’t think any other cheek stain even sort of compares in terms of color or endurance. It’s like instant pretty.

I feel like I’ve done a thousand posts about Clinique True Bronze Bronzer.  I guess I just can’t say enough about it.  I ran out recently and started using some free junk I had in that stuffed up drawer, and that mistake has made me love my Clinique even more. If that’s possible.

I am of the opinion that loose powder is loose powder, and you shouldn’t blow a lot of money on it. I’m using Cover Girl ($10.27) right now because it was on sale at CVS, so it’s more the category of translucent powder that I can’t live without more than any brand.

Oh Almay ($13.65), my friend, what would I do without you (when did this post turn into an ode?!)?  Like I said in my recent “how to” post about liquid eyeliner, Almay makes the grade.  My only advice is to break in the wand on your hand before your first use because it’s just too pointy to be affective right out of the package.

I’ve been a staunch devotee of Lorac’s aquaPrime for some time now, but I have to admit I’ve strayed recently.  Yes, it’s true, I’ve been cheating on my primer, and though I still adore the Lorac, I think I might have a new love/obsession: Smashbox’s Photo Finish Bronzing Primer($38).

It all started when, one morning, I ran out of the auquaPrime.  I’ve become so addicted to the way primer makes my makeup go the extra mile, that I feverishly rummaged through my makeup drawer in search of an alternative.  I get lots of free samples, so I knew there had to be something in that overstuffed drawer. Suddenly I saw it, shining like a beacon in a storm: the Smashbox Bronzing Primer. 

I must say, I really, really love it. It creates the perfect canvas for makeup–it smooths my skin so much I only need to use half the foundation I normally do.  And it makes my eyeliner and cheek stain go the extra mile, too.  Plus, it’s bronzer so it doesn’t pale me out.

Yes, I’m smitten.