Tag Archives: sephora

essie spring + lovely links

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21

happy friday, beauties!

how about this awesome nail candy to send you into the weekend? essie has done it again with one incredible sixsome for spring. yes, the colors are killer, but the inspiration behind the collection is what i really love. dubbed “navigate her” these beautiful brights and powerful pastels represent essie’s tribute to the woman of action – the one who dreams big and puts her best self forward.

these colors mean business! and they represent some of the best and most important nail trends for 2012, including pistachio, blush, and tangerine. top row, from left to right: navigate her (subtle sorbet green), a crewed interest (delicate peach), to buy or not to buy (lilac shimmer). bottom row: tour de finance (rich iridescent fuchsia – so spring right!), ole caliente (bright red), orange, it’s obvious! (pretty much the best orange ever).

look for them in stores next month!

{a few lovely links}

clinique redness solutions targeted corrector

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we all suffer from the occasional spot(s) – whether they’re active pimples, acne scars, or pesky pink bumps in the process of healing and disappearing. because i’m fair, any pigmentation on my skin is so red and pronounced that it almost makes my spots look worse than they are. i’ve been feeling for a while like my current concealer wasn’t concealing a darn thing and just calling attention to the dreaded spots, so it’s off to the makeup counters i went.

the best spot concealers are sticks, by far. formulas are typically creamy to apply but then dry really nicely, disappearing into skin. like their coordinating foundations, though, most of them have a pink tint which is why they do nothing to conceal acne. this redness solutions targeted corrector from clinique is designed to truly target redness and zap it away (at least for the day).

i like to dot this on while i straighten my hair or do my eye makeup and then emulsify with my finger to blend spots away. sometimes i use it before foundation, sometimes after, depending on how my skin looks that day and how forgetful i am. it works great in both cases and it is the only thing i found that covers and counteracts the redness around my scars and pimples. it goes on soft and silky so it doesn’t aggravate my flare ups and it just kind of…cancels out my acne. it’s basically the closest thing i can find to a pimple eraser and it makes me feel flawless even though i’m hiding something.

clinique’s redness solutions targeted corrector is part of their larger redness solutions line (fantastic for people who suffer from rosacea or other facial redness) and is available online, at sephora, and at the counters for $19.50.

tarte maracuja divine shine lip gloss

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2

let’s get right to the point: the new maracuja divine shine lip gloss from tarte is wearing the most fabulous outfit i’ve seen on a product in a long while.

if you’re not one to judge a book by its cover alone, let me assure you that beyond all the pretty packaging, you get lots of color, lots of shine, and none of that dried out weirdness some other glosses leave behind.

the hydrating and nourishing gloss comes in ten shades named for the current line of amazonian clay blushes. (if you’re a fan of the blushes, the gloss shades are complimentary without being matchy and, needless to say, they are beautiful.) the shade range is spot on with a red, a hot pink, a nude, a baby pink, a berry, and a coral, along with a few other options. the gloss itself is great for your lips and feels really moisturizing thanks to a little sunflower seed oil, but it’s also highly pigmented and is tacky enough to stick around for more than one drink.

besides, just imagine how great you’ll look whipping all of this floral print and click-pen goodness out of your clutch this spring!

tarte maracuja divine shine lip gloss is available at sephora for $21.

urban decay dew me moisturizing makeup setting spray

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9

do you change up your makeup dependent on the time of year? i’m all about the light freshness of a tinted moisturizer in the summer and fall, but winter calls for more coverage as that tan starts to fade slowly away. (i also don’t like the way tinted moisturizer sits on my skin when it gets drier in the frigid temps, but i digress.) i’ve switched my foundation from this bobbi tm to my favorite hydrating powder foundation from smashbox and while i’m loving the familiar and flawless coverage, i miss the dewy glow from my tinted moisturizer.

dew me is a moisturizing setting spray from urban decay. it’s super light (we’re talking micro-fine) and instantly takes away the powdery look that blushes and other things can leave behind. it gives a soft glow and locks things in place for the days when you need a little extra mileage from your makeup. even for those of us who aren’t too concerned with long wear will find that it’s a little boost of moisture and defense against the whipping wind and freezing cold. overall, it’s a love for me.

if you work in a dry office environment, you’re a bare minerals or other powder gal, or if you top your foundation with powder but don’t like the dusty look, give this a whirl. i think you’ll be pretty pleased with the oomph it gives your whole visage and the natural glow you’ll be sporting ’til spring.

urban decay’s dew me moisturizing makeup setting spray is $29 at sephora and beauty.com.

tan-talizing: guerlain terracotta mosaic tan enhancing bronzer

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4

happy monday, beauties! is it gloomy where you are today? cloud cover in dc has me craving a little sun-kissed shimmer so i went out on the hunt for something to enhance the teensy bit of color i’ve acquired this month (thank you, multiple looooong highschool graduations on shade-less football fields) without channeling snooki.

so i returned to an old favorite.

guerlain’s terracotta bronzer marks the arrival of summer each year and this season’s version is an absolute stunner. amazingly chic golden tones make up  a mosaic pattern that makes me feel like i’m back in the mediterranean. this is the most high quality, luxurious bronzer on the market and a dusting over your existing tan will have you looking so south beach.

guerlain’s terracotta mosaic tan enhancing bronzer is a limited edition, available at sephora for $69.

sephora microfiber hair turban

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5

i am terrible at sitting still and even worse at waiting. so it may be no surprise to you that the one part of my beauty routine that causes near agony, has always been waiting for my hair to dry the perfect right amount before i can blow dry. we’re talking 10, maybe 12 minutes in the morning, and it’s misery.

it’s mostly misery because when i make a post-shower hair wrap with our bath towels: a) it hurts my neck whilst i attempt to read email; b) it is almost always guaranteed to prematurely fall apart whilst i make my morning latte and c) it is so heavy that i can literally feel it pulling out the hairs around my forehead whilst i pack my gym bag, make my lunch, etc.

no. bueno.

so off i went looking for a solution and what i found was this microfiber hair turban from sephora. i’m probably the last person on earth to discover this little gem (and i think there are probably about 100 other versions out there), but it is a wonder! you just flip your wet head, twist your hair up in its ultra light microfiber softness, button it at the nape of your neck and multitask AWAY.

after a month of use, the turban has literally changed my hair. i swear that it’s smoother, with less frizz and damage plus those 10-12 minutes of waiting are practically cut in half thanks to some kind of microfiber magic. i’m back to my manic multitasking without neck pain, hair rippage, or balancing act to prevent premature breakdown.

i will use it until forever!

do others suffer my towel-wrap woes? is anyone else a fan of the turban? do tell!

fringe benefits: hourglass film noir mascara

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4

last weekend, i marched myself into sephora with bare lashes looking to end my search for the ultimate mascara once and for all. i tapped an unsuspecting beauty consultant on the shoulder and described my perfect match: shiny and jet black in color, smudge-proof but removable with soap and water only (i detest makeup remover), must deliver volume, length, lift and separation.

now let this be a lesson to you, beauties. the sephora consultants are full of more makeup wisdom than any of us could ever know. i thought i would certainly get a recommendation for a product or products that i had already tested twice over, but in response to what i thought was a tall order and only one i’ve been looking to fill for, oh i don’t know, eons, the lovely kayleigh says, “sure. definitely hourglass film noir.”

it was love at first swipe, right there in the store – glossy, thick, intensely dark, lustrous lashes that were long and defined. the cool hourglass shaped wand applies the formula cleanly and without a clump. after a couple of weeks as my go-to lash lengthener, i’ve found that it wears all day and washes off nicely (hallelujah!).

simply put, it’s not overdone and enhances lashes without looking fake. so if i never feature another mascara on this here blog, you know why. (totally kidding. of course i’ll feature other mascaras, but if there’s ever any question as to what’s on my lashes, it’s this guy, forever and ever, amen.)

hourglass film noir full spectrum mascara is available at sephora for $28.

shades of spring

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4

i am obsessing over victoria justice’s gorgeous spring hair and makeup here. her lavender lids are so on trend and i love that she paired a poppy pink cheek with a bright pink lip without looking clownish. her natural, pretty arches and what i can only pray are false lashes (no one is that lucky, right?) are completely stunning and that soft, slightly messy updo is the perfect finishing touch.

want to recreate victoria’s pretty on your own? see my list of suggested products below.

pixi lip twin vs. korres lip butter glaze

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3

in stark contrast to last weekend’s peek inside the glamorous life, this weekend holds hours of schoolwork and babysitting while the husband hosts a bachelor party in atlantic city. to add a little shine to this humdrum weekend of mine, i’m thinking about picking up a new wallet-friendly gloss and i’ve narrowed it down to two:

pixi succulent lip twin cheek and lip color duo
$18 at target and online

a multitasker! the tube houses a fruity, satin-y balm with light pigment. the dome is a semimatte cheek / lip tint in a matching shade.

korres lip butter glaze
$14 at sephora

vanilla scented, crazy moisturizing, nonsticky, sheer, shiny goodness in an application-friendly tube.

i love how clever and cutesy the pixi is but i’m also a longtime fan of korres and love to see the famous butter in shinier, more vibrant hues. decisions! your votes and opinions are much appreciated. here’s hoping a new gloss makes my weekend! and now, a few things that have already made my week:

happy friday!

urban decay supercurl curling mascara

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i am so tough to impress when it comes to mascara. i have decided that my lashes need more than length and volume. they need sculpting. i want a mascara that holds steady and fast, giving me statue-like perfection that stays all day. no smudges, not a flake, oh and also some definition and thickening, please.

is that so much to ask?

i used to think that it was, but one cosmetic company has answered the call and no one is more surprised than me to find that my new mascara favorite comes from urban decay. i truthfully have not been a fan of previous mascara releases from UD, but i am sitting up and paying attention to this pretty gunmetal tube with swirling lash-like scrolls because what lives inside is changing the mascara game.

it meets all of my criteria for the ultimate mascara with a rich, thick formula and a brush designed to fit the contour of your lash line. i will note that you *should* curl your lashes before applying because it just seems to work a bit better when you do. the results are dramatic and doll-like and what i have been longing for – one of the best overall mascaras to be released in the longest time.

are your lashes as high maintenance as mine? go get your own! urban decay supercurl curling mascara is available for $20 at sephora, urban decay, and ulta.