Category Archives: tools

taking makeup application beyond your fingertips

pocket vanity

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pocket vanity

every beauty girl knows the importance of keeping a compact mirror handy. an essential for lipstick reapplication, after-meal teeth checks, taxi cab touchups and flyaway taming, they come in so many adorable shapes and sizes. i’ve rounded up six of my very favorites and even if you’re not in the market, they make a pretty great gift, no?

1 – jetty compact mirror, $28
this vintage-inspired hand mirror from anthropologie is generously oversized,
but still super slim. i love the three different nautical print options
that remind me of summers on nantucket!

2 – squared-away pocket mirror, $25
i’m fairly obsessed with this sunny yellow option from kate spade saturday.
for one, the embossed leather slip pocket is too cute and the simple glass mirror
tucked inside is chic and minimalist, but sure to start a conversation.

3 – stephanie johnson snap mirror, $22
quite possibly my first love, this double mirror is always all done up in the coolest
prints and colors. with 18 (!) options currently available, there’s no excuse not to
“snap” one of these up in every single outfit she comes in.

4 – j.crew liberty pocket mirror, $22.50
i cannot get enough of j.crew’s liberty prints! if you’re not up for investing in a button
down or skinny pant, might i recommend this wallet friendly option that will also keep you looking pretty? (note this print is sold out online, but i have seen it in store!)

5 – lattice rose compact mirror, $13.58
cath kidston is known for her vintage-inspired florals and i adore this twin mirror all
done up in lattice roses. if you need something durable, then this bifold metal choice
could be perfect for you. it snaps up securely and can surely take a beating.

6 – rae lipstick case, $38
technically a lipstick case, this all leather beauty has a little mirror on its flat bottom! hobo is constantly coming up with functional and fashionable ways to keep you organized, but this one takes the cake. slip your favorite balm + stick inside for keeping gorgeous on the go.

everyday eye essentials

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everyday eye essentials

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it has taken me a long time to learn how to dress up my eyes each morning, but the little tricks i have learned over the years really make a big difference in brightening my face and polishing off my whole look. my go to eye wardrobe is soft, neutral and sparkly. here are the essentials that help me give the windows to my soul their own special treatment:

simple’s revitalizing eye roll on, $11
this is the first thing i put on my face in the morning and i let it soak in / work its magic while i straighten my hair. the cool rollerball de-puffs as it massages my under eyes while cucumber, b5, and glycerin work to wake up my sleepy peepers.

chanel precision eyelash curler, $34
superior shape and spongy pad have made this my holy grail lash curler for over a year now. combine the perfect curler with these tips that i learned from refinery29′s recent video with james vincent and my lashes have never looked better.

mac paint pot in painterly, $18.50
i put this creamy shadow / lid primer on whether i am wearing shadow or not, because it prevents my foundation from creasing. layering shadow overtop locks things down until you’re ready to remove. (at which point i might recommend these little beauties!)

josie maran argan beautiful nudes, $36
this shadow quad features rich neutrals and one shadow liner. the shadows offer a variety of finishes (matte, iridescent, satin) in beautifully coordinated nudes so i can create endless looks that always look good together. it totally takes the guesswork out of eye makeup!

sephora collection pro visionary lash fan brush, $18
finally! a brush designed to make tightlining easier. dip this mini fan into your favorite black cream liner and stamp it right into your lash line for precise and simple definition. it emphasizes lashes and also doubles as a lash separator. you need this!

clinique instant lift for brows, $16.50
the ultimate in finishing touches, this double-ended product from clinique houses a natural-looking pencil to give fullness and intensity to brows and a pearly highlighter that creates contrast and adds a magic lift to your arches.

old faithful: tweezerman slant

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i take better care of my brows than i do my car. they are a source of pride and i’m obsessed with keeping them in perfect shape. as i hopped out of the shower this morning and plucked a few stray hairs, it dawned on me how long i’ve been relying on my favorite tweezers. i bought them the summer between my freshman and sophomore college years (when i was still flying home for haircuts and brow waxings – dedication, people), meaning our partnership has been going a whopping 11 years strong. i have tested so many other options over the years, thinking that things must have advanced in the tweezer department through the decade, but i keep returning to these. they grab on the first pinch, painlessly pluck the tiniest of hairs, and make it so easy for me to keep my arches under control. i’ll be sad if these suckers ever leave me – because let’s face it, there’s a better chance of me losing them than there is of them wearing out.

grab your own tweezermans here – it’s the best $22 you’ll ever spend.

note: technically the set pictured is the tweezerman professional tweezerette which might still be available at some pro beauty locations if you keep your eyes peeled!

sephora collection pro airbrush #55

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we have much to discuss in terms of this brush.

for starters, it is the highest quality brush i think i’ve ever used – holding it makes me feel like a professional (and we all know that couldn’t be further from the truth!). not a single hair has come loose from use (a miracle) and it comes with a protector cap that makes traveling a cinch.

for a bit of a backstory, before this brush, i was considering buying new foundation because i was having major mid-day breakdown. on a whim, i decided that maybe i should upgrade my old stippling brush and go for something sturdier. perhaps the problem wasn’t with my foundation, but in the application.

well, the purchase saved my routine! the dense bristles of this brush are ultra soft and buff my favorite makeup on for an airbrushed finish. i don’t know how to describe it, but this brush makes my skin look better. it’s glowy, but not greasy. my foundation lasts longer and the results are flawless. if you’re a liquid foundation girl, this brush might just change your world.

the sephora collection pro airbrush #55 is $34.

kate spade florence broadhurst compact

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this little compact mirror has a lot of character. it’s covered in florence broadhurst’s japanese floral wallpaper print in black and cream meaning it will create an impact the second you pull it out of your purse. but pop it open to find the words “hello beautiful” inscribed inside and consider your day permanently brightened.

trust me when i say, if you treat yourself to this treasure, you will fall in love with its vintage sweetness at very first sight.

this small wonder is available at kate spade for $18.

chanel precision eyelash curler

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if i had to choose, i’d say that the three discerning characteristics of my finished face are bold, defined brows, a perfectly sculpted cheek, and lots, and lots of lash. i like a long, luscious fan of fringe that looks home grown but in all reality takes some serious curling and two coats of artfully applied mascara.

my lashes are entirely unfortunate in their natural state, they just don’t live up to my bambi-like expectations. in my efforts to suck every bit out of their wispy length and visor shape, i need big guns in the lash curler department. after the demise of my beloved shu uemura curler (2004 – 2012, rip) and its all but disappearance from the us market, i hunted for the best possible replacement.

my friend karlasugar recommended the chanel precision eyelash curler for its superior shape and spongy pad. the shape allows you to get super close to the lash line so you’re not curling just the tips of your lashes, and the spongy pad means no more “crimping” your lashes into that unnatural L shape. the fit against the eyelid is perfect so you won’t pinch yourself, plus the resulting curl is natural and really holds.

i thought i would have to settle for less than perfection in my next lash curler, but i actually like my chanel better than the shu and found it very easy to use from day one without any need to get used to it or break it in. and it’s kind of sexy in that carbon black finish, no?

at $34, it’s on the very high end of lash curlers, but if it lasts me eight years, i don’t mind the investment. you can find the chanel precision eyelash curler at the beauty counters and online at nordstrom.

pretty gifty: tools + tresses

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tools'n'tresses

1. sonia kashuk holiday kabuki, $12 – perfect for dusting that new translucent powder or for achieving the most natural blush look

2. limited edition paul & joe luxury pouch, $55 – the guys have outdone themselves with this year’s clutch, it’s chic and embroidered, with a golden turn lock – begging to be taken out on the town

3. l. erickson bow barette, $34 – so sweet for dressing up that plain old pony

4. julie hewett cheekie brush, $28 – for use with cream blushes, make a check-mark motion from the apple along the bone for a natural glow

5. bumble and bumble pin tin, $15 – a variety of hair and bobby pins for the holiday hairdo’ista

6. emi-jay hair ties, $6-$11 – the original bracelet/hair tie hybrid

7. bobbi brown party collection mini brush set, $60 – four petite brushes in a sleek carrying case

clarisonic mia

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i held off on this purchase (and this post!) for a long time, but this is getting silly. we *must* discuss the clarisonic mia.

if you’ve been hiding under a beauty rock, the clarisonic is a face brush made by the makers of none other than the sonicare toothbrush. the point being that the brush rotations do a much better job than fingers or a washcloth could ever do, getting your face one million times cleaner and leading to clearer, healthier skin.

after nearly 90 days with mine, my oily, sensitive, acne-prone skin has morphed into a calm and clear version of its former self. truth be told, it showed improvements practically immediately and fully morphed about two weeks in to regular use. i am a big time believer in this little power tool and honestly don’t feel like i have been getting my face even close to clean for the last 29 years before it came into my life.

here’s how me and the mia make the magic happen:

i use it every morning and have started using it twice a day since my skin needs extra exfoliation in the winter. i mia in the morning with a gentle face cleanser like cetaphil or basis and at night, i remove makeup first then use it with just water. i just lay it on top of my skin and move it around for the timed one minute, concentrating on areas that tend to be oily or break out. (note: don’t press too hard! it slows the bristles and keeps them from doing their job.) i use the sensitive brush that it came with and i just replaced it for the first time. just like a makeup brush, if you don’t switch it out, it can deposit bad things back onto your skin and that’s just counterproductive to the whole process.

bottom line: it is worth the splurge and the best $119 i’ve ever spent. it has changed my skin and i think i’m addicted…in fact, i notice an increase in break outs if i skip a day, so i’m fairly certain that my face is addicted, too.

has anyone else added this to their beauty routine this year?

is anyone on the fence and need more convincing? :)

loverdoodles pocket mirrors

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i have loved and lost more pocket mirrors than i can count. they’re a handbag essential for a girl who likes lipstick…or who eats spinach…or whose mascara tends to wander down cheek…or whose hair tends to fly away…

need i go on?

the shortage of cute pocket mirrors on the market is abominable. only second in abominable-ness to the overage of cute pocket mirrors that are way overpriced. in all reality, yes i want it to look cute when i whip it out of my purse, but it lives, well, in my purse. it’s subject to scratches and being left behind when i change bags (as i do every five minutes since joining hobo) so the mirror gods have claimed more than their fair share of my cute mirrors.

if all of this is sounding like quite the dilemma, fear not! for i have discovered loverdoodles on etsy, an endless arsenal of gorgeously adorable pocket mirrors for $3.50 each. you can stock up on a handful and stash them in all of your handbags without guilt of losing something valuable.

you will want to keep your eye on these, though. they’re that good looking and it would be a real pity for one to go missing.

jane iredale roses & lollipops + lovely links

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october is the month when things go pink! the beauty brands are among the best supporters of the pink ribbon which promotes awareness and education about the dangers of breast cancer. products from moisturizer to the beloved clarisonic, perfume and beyond are all dedicating proceeds to this amazing cause. there’s endless pretty to choose from, but my personal favorite is this lip duo from jane iredale.

roses & lollipops features two best selling colors in one little keychain locket. jane’s puremoist lipcolour in roses is hydrating with beautiful color pigment and awesome staying power. her puregloss for lips in lollipops plumps lips slightly and is chock full of botanicals like green tea and pomegranate. both products stay safe and secure inside a sleek compact and 100% of profits goes to living beyond breast cancer.

ps: if you’re looking for a lip brush to apply this gorgeous pair, i’ve been using jane’s retractable lip brush and loving it. the brush head fully retracts inside the case and it’s super small – perfect for throwing in your bag.

{a few lovely links}

happy weekend to you!