YSL Touche Eclat: Review

As a beauty junkie, I am always looking to try out new products, and this iconic gold tube had been on my mind as I ran out of Benefit's Erase Paste. Despite some pretty bad reviews, I purchased it anyway. What I love about YSL's Touche Eclat is that it is so smooth. Unlike Erase Paste, it doesn't settle in any lines and it stays put.

Many of the bad reviews I read stated that Touche Eclat does a poor job as a concealer.  It is not a concealer. According to Sephora, "Touche Eclat banishes shadows and tired-looking eyes by adding light and creating an instant lift to the eye area. Touche Eclat widens eyes when used between the eyebrows and along the sides of the nose and created fuller looking lips when used in the hollow of the chin and around the contour of the lips. It's formulated for all skin" 

I use it in number 1, the lightest shade after I've used concealer, foundation, and powder underneath my eyes, in the inner corners, and above my lip because I like to have a light, luminescent look especially  under my eye area and feel as though applying it first, second or third diminishes the effect. 

The bottom line: I absolutely love this product and I would buy it again, however, I've seen lots of rave reviews on the significantly less expensive Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer. I would love to know if any of you have compared the two.

P.S. I don't know how you beauty gurus take such flattering, flawless photos! I struggled like a fool for about 20 minutes to get a decent "up close" shot! I guess practice makes perfect. 

Candy Colored Eyebrows

While at the gym tonight, I read the new issue of Allure and this trend featured really caught my eye. At the Fall 2010 Balenciaga fashion show, the models wore colorful hues on their eyebrows. Pat McGrath was the makeup artist who created the look by bleaching the models' eyebrows and then covered them with grease paints. McGrath's explanation: "I just thought about the playfulness and the fact that it was like children's toys and I was thinking 'where can I put it, the eyes are kind of boring, so do it on the brows."
I wouldn't pull this look except maybe for Halloween, but I do think it's fun and very creative! What do you guys think?

Drugstore Beauty Products I Love

Most of the beauty products I use are "high end" but I have found several drugstore products that work fabulously for me. Below are my favorite items that I re-purchase time and time again...
I use Aquaphor every single day during the winter or any time my skin is dry. No other facial moisturizer has worked as well to hydrate my skin in extremely dry areas. Now, I do not use this all over my face because it is VERY heavy and thick. I only use it on my forehead between my eyebrows and close to my hairline (these areas are EXTREMELY dry on my face). Also, I never put it on in the morning. It takes hours to absorb since it's so heavy, so after I wash my face at night I slather it on and my skin is hydrated and not dry in the morning.
I know I've blogged about Tresemme's Heat Protectant before but it's seriously a miracle worker. My hair loves me for using it because I use heat on my hair almost every day.
If you follow me on Twitter you might know that I tried facial wax for the first time a few weeks ago. I don't know why I didn't try this sooner. My mustache was out of control (IMO)--no, it wasn't a full-on 'stache but it definitely glistened in the sun when I caught myself in the rear view mirror while in my car. I love that the Sally Hansen stripless wax doesn't hurt horribly. I was terrified of using it but coming from a wuss--no pain! I just bought another jar for round 2 of mustache removal.
Love, love Revlon's lip glosses. I own three of them and I've never found another drugstore lipgloss I like more than Revlon's. I just recently bought the lilac color (pictured on the right end) and it is GORGEOUS. If any of you have tried MAC's cremesheen gloss in the lavendar color, it's similar but has more of a color payoff.
I usually do my own nails (can't say the same for my toes--I can't give myself a pedicure to save my life!) and Sally Hansen's Double Duty clear polish is amazing. It's SO shiny, and my nail polish stays on for 5+ days which never happened before I started using Double Duty. I've used OPI and various other topcoat polishes and none have compared.
Too often I am way too lazy to wash my face at the end of the day so I keep these in my night stand drawer. They have probably prevented numerous breakouts and do the job well at removing all traces of makeup.

What are your favorite drugstore beauty items? I'm always looking for new goodies to try!

Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder: A Review

I had been intrigued by Makeup Forever's HD Microfinish Powder for awhile, but when I went into Sephora to check it out about a month ago, the sales lady who was helping me said "it does nothing, to be honest." I didn't take her too seriously because a. she had to ask someone else what it was, and b. her makeup looked awful. On a side note--how can you work at a makeup store and wear blotchy turquoise eyeshadow with bright red lips and the wrong color foundation? Anyway, I didn't buy it then but went home and did some research of my own. The majority of the reviews I read about the HD Powder were good. Back I went to Sephora and purchased the small container to see if I liked it. I don't only like it, I LOVE this stuff. It is A-MA-ZING. First of all, the HD Powder sets your foundation and it does not move all day. I even took a nap with it on and my makeup didn't move. Secondly, it keeps oily-ness under control without drying the skin. I have combination skin and the powder doesn't dry out my dryer areas, and it keeps my oily areas under control with no shine. Thirdly, it disguises my pores. They are invisible once I put it on. It seriously gives the skin a flawless finish.
My one gripe is that it's really messy.

If you're interested in reading more about Makeup Forever's HD Microfinish Powder, here is Sephora's description:

What it is:
A universal translucent finishing powder to be applied over foundation or worn alone.

What it does:
Sets the foundation and slightly mattifies skin without changing its natural contours. This 100% mineral silica powder softens the appearance of imperfections. Completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look. One universal shade for all skin tones.

What else you need to know:
It's completely translucent and goes on any skintone. Its talc-free formula does not dry the skin and is formulated with 100% silica. Dermatologically tested.

Makeup: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good

I'm in a makeup rut right now, so I was looking for some inspiration to switch things up a bit; love all of these looks...
I love this bold, bright pink lipstick on Kim Kardashian. I would only wear this look at night.
I think Megan Fox looks STUNNING here, I love the neutral colors with pops of shimmer and nude lips.

I'm going to try this look out for our engagement photos, I love the black rimmed eyes with a pop of coppery brown shadow right under the lashline.
Not so crazy about the hair, but I love the natural look Leighton Meester is wearing here.

The Bad and Ugly

In my opinion, these models from the Elli Saab Spring 2010 runway show look dead. The combo of pinky-copper eyeshadow and flesh toned lips is a no-no.

Tarina Tarantino for Sephora!

I am sooo excited about Tarina Tarantino's line of cosmetics for Sephora!!! It was just announced on Tarina's website and Sephora's website that Sephora will be carrying Tarina Tarantino cosmetics starting next month. Tarina Tarantino is one of my absolute favorite jewelry designers as she has the ultimate pink princess style, which is 100% me!

Taking Care of Your Makeup Brushes

I'll admit that I can get very lazy with caring for my makeup brushes, but I know that cleaning them is s0 important because doing so helps to keep your complexion clear. I learned from reading an article in Allure magazine that cleaning your makeup brushes with liquid dishwasher detergent keeps them clean and is damage free. What I like so much about using liquid dishwasher detergent on my brushes is that it eliminates oil/grease wonderfully. What I do is squirt a small amount of detergent into a small dish, swirl each of my brushes around in it, then gently massage the brushes under warm water until the water runs clear and then lay them to dry on a paper towel. I've used liquid dishwasher detergent on my brushes 3 times now and my brushes (and face) are still in good condition. In between washes (about once a week), I use Sephora's Daily Brush Cleaner; love this stuff. All you have to do is spray it directly onto your brushes and gently wipe onto a tissue to eliminate excess makeup before applying your makeup for the day. This helps to keep your brushes bacteria free every day.
I hope this helped some of you who are looking into a new formula for washing your brushes!

MAC Studio Talk

I'm finally getting around to filling all of you in on my MAC Studio Talk Class that I went to back in October. I'm so sorry it took me this long. As promised, I am going to share everything I learned at the class with you plus some of my thoughts. As you'll see, MAC products are recommended for use by the artist because of course they want you to go to this class then buy all their products! I added in what I use just so you have an idea of other comparable products.
The Studio Talk Class was taught by a very talented makeup artist who had a model up front to demonstrate on. She went over everything about prepping the skin for makeup, down to applying false lashes. Taken from my notes, here we go...

Skin
-Apply a lip conditioner in the morning before starting your makeup, or the night before to keep the texture of your lips smooth.
-Use Fix + before putting anything else on the face. Fix + makes your moisturizer stick and also sets your powder after your makeup is done.
-After spraying Fix +, incorporate a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 (I usually use Sunscreen as my moisturizer.)
-After applying moisturizer, put an eye cream on under your eyes as well as on your eyelids. Jessica recommended Moisture Lush eye cream for all skin types, and Fast response eye cream only with oily skin. Fast response also minimizes pores. (I use Neutrogena's Ageless Essentials Eye Cream).
-To improve the texture of the skin before applying foundation, use a primer. To apply primer, use the 187 brush. (I just use my fingers.)
-With the 252 brush, apply concealer under the eyes, going down-->up, so up towards your eye from your face. The 252 brush is flat, I use a similar one by Target that's a fraction of the price.
-Apply foundation with the 187 brush. With a matte foundation, use a matte under-eye concealer and vice versa.
-Contouring: I didn't write down the brush that was used for this, but you'd want to use an angle brush. Take a color a couple shades darker than your skin and work into the ear area, not down towards the mouth, but horizontally along the jawline. For contouring the nose to make it look thinner, apply the same shade on either side of your nose and set with powder. Highlight your nose down the center with a lighter color, and on your cheekbones towards the nose.

Brows
-Apply Lingering Brow Liner in sparse areas on your brows.
-Set with a clear mascara.

Eyes
-Apply Paintpot primer in Painterly over the lids to eliminate any redness or veins and to keep the eyeshadow in place. You can stop here for an every day look with no eyeshadow.
-Apply an eyeshadow 1-2 times darker than your skin color on your crease. You want the most intensity of color to be under your eyebrow arch. Soft Brown is the eyeshadow color most use for the crease. (I use MAC's Kid.) I also never thought of applying the crease color before anything else, but it actually works quite well.
-On the outer crease, use a darker color with light pressure, and apply upward in small circular motions.
-Use a liner on your upper waterline to make lash line appear thicker.
-Highlighting under the brow: Use a light colored pencil under the brow, draw it on exactly as the underside of the brow is shaped, then diffuse it down with a brush. After that, put on an iridescent shadow over the pencil, just under the arch.
-Apply Cream Color Base in Pearl on the lid, under the crease.
-For eyelid shadow, hold your brush upside down and move from the lash line up towards the crease when applying.
-Take a color darker than your lid shadow and apply where the crease and lid meet with a flat brush and blend.

Lips
-Apply lipstick with a lip brush
-Apply Lip Liner
-Adjust lip liner with the lip brush
-Apply Gloss

Body
-One of the makeup artist's gripes was that she often sees women wearing beautiful makeup, but it ends there. To keep it streamlined, so to speak, add a little shimmer to your collarbone/neck, and for a night out, apply shimmer on your arms, legs, and chest.

I really hope that was clear and that you picked up some new ideas/tricks! Although I already knew a lot about makeup and application, I did learn some in this class and I was so glad I went. If you're interested in attending a Studio Talk class, check with your local MAC or Macy's MAC counter to see when they offer one. It costs $50 but you get to choose $50 worth of products, or you will be refunded $50 if you choose not to purchase anything. Please let me know if you have any questions for me!!

Extreme Lashes

Before, no makeup. Please excuse the unsightly Duo lash glue leftover from the night before.
After
Today, for the first time I got "Extreme Lashes"!! I wear fake eyelashes very often, but don't like having to rip them off at night and especially don't like how the inner corner pokes me if I don't cut them just right. My fiance's birth mom (he was adopted as a newborn) is a certified Extreme Lash artist and did these for me. She knew I wanted the most "extreme" of the different choices, so she used three different sizes on my lashes, small to large going from the inner corner out. Here's some information on eyelash extensions from Xtreme Lashes:
-Semi-permanent eyelashes that last indefinitely with touch ups every 2-4 weeks
-Weightless, with a natural look and feel (They really are weightless! I can't tell I'm wearing anything)
-Painless, relaxing procedure that takes 90-150 minutes
-Water resistant so you can swim or shower worry free
-Lengthens and thickens without the need for mascara
From what I've heard, Xtreme Lashes is the best company to go with for eyelash extensions. They are a highly reputable company, and a nurse founded the company; they use top grade medical bonding glue, etc. and it does not damage your lashes or eyes. True to the statements above, they are painless and weightless! I don't feel like I'm wearing anything on my eyes. An added bonus is that I don't have to put on mascara!! And I can feel a little less like a scrub going to the gym.
If any of you are interested and live in the Bay Area, feel free to contact me for more info!

*These are fabulous for the holidays and special events, i.e. weddings, parties, etc*

From Our Lips

Lady GaGa and Cyndi Lauper will be teaming up with MAC for a collection called "From Our Lips", which will be for the MAC AIDS fund. 100% of the proceeds will go to the fund. The line is slated to debut on February 25, 2010. I can't wait to see what MAC has in store with this collection! Hopefully pictures will be released soon.

Never Let Them See You Shine: A Review

Let me introduce you to my new favorite beauty product: Philosophy's Never let Them See You Shine Primer. I was very skeptical that this stuff wouldn't work or hold up with my specific problem, but it does and it does it well. I have combination skin that stays pretty much the same year-round. My nose and chin are oil-prone and my forehead/between my brows are very, very dry. Like peely dry. Sorry for the gross visual. I'd heard about Make Up For Ever's All Mat Primer, but didn't want to pay $45 for it, so I opted for this one which is $20.
I was expecting it not to work well for some reason, or that it wouldn't hold up all day. I was very wrong. This stuff is so amazing, I've been using it for a week now and my nose and chin areas are completely matte all day.
Here's Philosophy's description of Never Let Them See You Shine Primer:
shine from the inside, not the outside. never let them see you shine is a lightweight matifying primer that dramatically reduces oil and shine while providing a velvet matte finish. the unique formula contains a powerful anti-irritant cocktail that calms and soothes skin while enhancing skin exfoliating and trans epidermal water loss. you will instantly notice minimized pores and a shine-free canvas. primer can also be mixed with your favorite foundation makeup for instant oil and shine control.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has oily areas! You can purchase Philosophy products at Sephora, Ulta, Philosophy's Website, and select Macy's.

Makeup Review: Barbie Loves Stila Liquid Liner

I don't know how I ever lived without this, seriously. I have used tons of different liquid eyeliners that I like, but this is the BEST. It does not smudge, it's waterproof, very black, and best of all easy to apply! The applicator is long and flexible (that sounds incredibly dirty), making it easy to put on either a thin or thick line. I think it'll also work great on my lower lashline/waterline to make my lashes look thicker.
I give Barbie Loves Stila Liquid Liner a 5/5!

In other news, today while obtaining my free eyeshadow in return for 6 empty MAC containers (which you should all do if you use MAC makeup!) I signed up for a class to learn more/different techniques to apply makeup. I'm so excited to go and learn! I've never taken a class like this before. While purchasing some makeup, I talked to the facilitator of the class and she asked me what I'd like to learn more about, specifically. She was so personable and listened intently to what I told her I wanted to learn more about and said she would definitely put it into the program tomorrow.
I plan on sharing what I learn with all of you either on my blog or youtube (although I'm a huge weenie and am scared to record a video)...
Anyway, I hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

New Beauty Trick

Ok, so maybe it's not "new", but it is to me. I've just started using white eyeliner on my upper and lower waterline to make my eyes look bigger and more awake. It makes a huge difference! It has become a part of my daily makeup routine; I use Sephora's slim pencil. I just looked on their website and the white is sold out, so if you're interested in the slim pencil by Sephora I would recommend stopping by your local store and picking it up but there are tons of other brands that I'm sure will do the trick!

MAC High Def Collection & Jimmy Choo for H&M

Here are the 3 lipsticks from the MAC High Def collection. From left to right: Close To Real, High Def, and Resolutely Red. I am loving each one (although I haven't seen them in person yet). I've heard so many people rave about Close To Real and it looks like a fab peachy nude, which is a color I wear all the time. Has anyone tried the other two?


In June I wrote about Jimmy Choo coming out with a line for H&M and have finally been able to find some pictures for the line. I'm loving the studded details and can't wait to see them in person. H&M will have them in stores November 14, 2009.