Friday, March 28, 2014

Newly Purchased


I've made quite a few trips to the drugstore this month and have picked a good handful of products.  Some I've been able to test out and some are too recent to tell, but here are my thoughts so far. 

Biore has come out with a new charcoal infused line consisting of a facial scrub and mask.  Since I'm not in the market for a new cleanser (read about my beloved cleansers here) I decided to pick up the Self Heating One Minute Mask ($6.49).  It seems reminiscent of the famous Glam Glow masks that have a pretty hefty price tag ($69 a pot!).  The charcoal is supposed to naturally pull out impurities in the skin.  I haven't been able to give it a try yet, but I can't wait to have a little spa weekend. 


I was so excited to stumble upon this Revlon Colorstay polish in Trade Winds ($7.99).  It is the absolute perfect nude, almost identical to my skin tone.  Nude polish looks fresh for spring and it's the perfect way to make your fingers look longer.  

Out of all the things I have picked up recently this Sally Hansen Dry Kwik ($5.29) did not hold up to its claims.  It has a very oily consistency that leaves a residue all over you nails.  Most importantly, it chipped instantly even after it had dried completely for fifteen plus minutes.


I haven't yet tried out the Maybelline Elixirs ($8.99), but I've only heard rave reviews.  I instantly gravitated to this limited edition shade, Polished Petal.  These lip glosses are smooth, a lot like the NYX Butter Glosses, but a little more sheer.  The doe-foot applicator is super plush and the perfect size for any lip.  This pale pink has very subtle sparkles that leave a beautiful sheen on the lips and make them appear plumper.  I suggest you go out and pick this one up quick before they are all gone!

The e.l.f. Eyelid Primer ($1) is my favorite primer of all time, and at a whopping one buck it's quite a steal.  I have never quite understood why people spend twenty bucks plus on eyeshadow primers.  Also, having a drier eye area, most other primers accentuate this, but this holds the shadow while still moisturizing my lids. 


The quality of your makeup brushes is just as important to the application of makeup itself.  The bristles density and texture help blend and move the makeup flawlessly.  The drugstore in the recent years have come out with great quality brushes that don't cost an arm and a leg.  Real Techniques ($5.99 - $17.99), created by Samantha Chapman of Pixiwoo, are my favorite drugstore brushes.  They are incredibly soft and blend my makeup better than my MAC brushes.  The blush brush (left) is perfectly tapered.  I like to use it for bronzer to blend it out in the hollows of my cheeks.  The stippling brush (right) is short and dense, great for cream blush. If you are in need of some new brushes these are a must. 

Have you tried anything new at the drugstore recently?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Review: Benefit Big Easy


The BB Cream hype is still in full swing and Benefit just came out with it's take on it. Benefit's Big Easy claims to be light to medium coverage, helps balance moisture, control oil, and has a liquid to powder finish.  It also has ingredients that "soothe & comfort the skin and fight free radicals." All of these claims seemed really promising, so this weekend I decided to give it a go. 

Pros:
- SPF 35, no need for extra products with SPF 
- VERY blendable and creamy, fingers are all you need for a flawless application
- Controlled oil all day; my T-Zone stayed matte without powder!

Cons: 
- VERY light coverage and not buildable; if you are looking for coverage look elsewhere, I put two layers on and saw little difference 
- Color selection leans toward lighter complexions; I am not tan by any means and the light-medium was the color for me, so darker complexions will not find a suitable shade
- Small amount of product; the advertisements make it look like you get a lot of product but you only receive 1.18 fl.oz, I was literally shocked when I took the bottle of the box
- Price, $38 is a lot of money for not a lot of product!

Do you need this in your life? No. The cons outweigh the pros for me, especially when it comes to the price and the almost invisible coverage. The drugstore has great BB creams that do the same and more. I still stand by my beloved Garnier BB Cream till the end. 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Skincare Refresh


I love makeup for the purpose of enhancing not hiding.  
Because of this I think skincare is the most important part of any beauty routine. 

I've never had any skin issues (thank you Nana) but I have dealt with dehydrated skin.  After years of reading magazines and looking up skin care for dry skin. Unfortunately that made me believe I needed to exfoliate on the regular.  This caused red uneven skin tone and often little bumps around my nose and forehead.  I decided to make my skin care simpler.  The past six months I've started to exfoliate once a week and only use a cleanser at night.  This has revolutionized my skin.  No more bumps and my skin tone has become more even dramatically.  Here are my new favorite skin care items. 

  Juice Beauty is a certified organic brand.  I use the cleansing milk every night, it is light and gentle but still leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh.  The fruit extracts keep my skin looking radiant.    Tip: If you have an oily complexion you should also try washing only once a day.  Over washing dries out your skin which causes you to produce oil in more often and in heavier volumes.  In the morning just splash warm water all over. 

  I am obsessed with the Exfoliating Cleanser!  I use this once a week to slough away the dead skin cells from through the week.  The exfoliating beads aren't rough and abrasive but makes my skin SUPER smooth. 

  Because I don't have problematic skin I didn't feel the need to shell out hundreds for the Clarisonic.  This Olay version still lets me get the deep clean my skin needs.  I highly recommend it for those who are on a budget, but if you do have problematic skin I think a Clarisonic would be a great investment tool for your skin care routine. 

Have you found your skin care greats?
I'll have to share my favorite toners, serums, and masks in a future post.  

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Orange Obsession


A huge spring trend seen on the runways of DKNY, Dsquared2, and Prabal Gurung is bright orange lips. I'll be honest when I saw this trend I was very intimidated.  I feel very comfortable in my nude and pink comfort zone, so I went on the hunt to find the best wearable products.  Orange has officially been apart of my daily beauty routine and I love it. 

  To work your way into more bold orange tones start with pinky and coral-y tones.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coralberry ($6.99)
  This lipstick has a coral undertone but still an obvious orange hue.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous ($8.99)
  Those who are ready to take this orange trend seriously should try this balm stain.  It is a true orange with a neutral base so it will work with all skin tones.

Urban Decay Ultra Nourishing Gloss in Streak ($20)
  This gloss is the newest addition to my orange arsenal.  Its perfect for orange newbies.  Its a sheer coverage but it can be added on top of any of the previous products for a shinier and vibrant pout.

NXY Rouge Cream Blush in Tickled ($6.99)
  I added a blush for those want a more subtle take on the trend.  NYX cream blushes are amazing! They are super creamy and very easy to blend.  I love cream blush in the spring for the dewy look. This tickled blush is orange with a  coral undertone.  Tip: Use a short stipple brush to perfectly blend the product.

Don't forget to 'like' Zeal's Facebook page for updates on your news feed!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Best of the Week


  This has quickly become one of my favorite lip treatments.  The texture is incredibly smooth and nourishing.  To get the perfect amount of tint I like to apply it with my finger to really press and blend it in. The Fresh Sugar line comes in a variety of colors, Sugar Petal is my favorite pink shade. 

  I am huge believer in cuticle oils.  I don't think they are talked about enough.  If you want to really extend the length of a manicure, smooth oil liberally every night.  You'll not only see immediate relief to cracked cuticles but it will also prevent future hangnails and chapped skin in general. 

  After years of straightening, blow drying, and other forms of heat styling my naturally curly hair is a little more than just damaged.  It's more like sucked of all forms of hair life.  In hopes of restoration,  the past two weeks I have put myself on a heat styling hiatus and started to embrace the curls.  I have been adding a nickel sized amount of this oil with my curling product to help keep the frizz at bay and do a little bit of healing.  Even better, its super affordable and smells heavenly!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Everyday Face

Although I am not one to wear the same makeup everyday, I do believe every woman should have an "everyday face" that can put on in less than 5 minutes. 
It's perfect for those days where you might have hit the alarm a few more times than you should have or just a lazy day around the house and running a few errands. 


F A C E

   Sometimes I skip foundation all together, but when I want a little coverage to even out my skin tone this is what I turn to.  Creamy, easy to blend, and has SPF!  For those with oiler complexions there is a formula for that too. 

   This is my new favorite concealer! It has a very full coverage and thick consistency.  My eye area is drier than the rest of my skin so this has the perfect amount of moisture to keep my under eyes looking smooth.  I wouldn't use this for blemishes though because it takes while to set up even with a powder. 

   My dull winter skin is still in full swing, so bronzer is a must to warm it up.  This bronzer is very pigmented, so a light hand is advised.  Using a duo fiber or stippling brush will help give a lighter application.  Though, I would tell fairer ladies to look elsewhere.  The Body Shop Honey Bronzer is a good alternative. 

  This light pink blush with gold flecks adds a natural glow to the skin.  Though the price seems favorable, the blush can be a bit chunky and fades quicker than most.  But that's to be expected for the price. 

   This is will probably be the only highlighter I will ever ned in my life.  The pigmentation, the consistency, the color....everything is just perfect. I like to apply mine on the tops of the cheekbones and on the bridge of my nose with a fan brush.

E Y E S 

   If you haven't tried the Color Tattoos you are definitely missing out.  They are the quickest eyeshadow look you can get and all you need is your fingers to blend it out.  My favorite shade is Bad to the Bronze but for lighter days Barely Branded is great for opening up the eyes.  If you have oily eyelids that easily crease I suggest using a eyeshadow primer when using the "metal" shades. 

   Lightly lining the upper lid will add major definition to your eyes.  Black is a little too harsh for this fresh faced look so stick to brown.  It will look more natural. 

   This mascara can seem daunting at first.  The first couple times I used it it was a clumpy mess.  Some mascara you really have to work at the lash line to get it to build volume, but this one doesn't require that at all.  Gently and evenly work your way up the lash, and one coat is usually enough unlike most mascara. 

   Filling in your eyebrows can change your whole face, for the better! The hard part is finding a color.  This product stops the guessing game because this universal shades works for everyone. 

L I P S 

   For an easy look all you need is a light color and moisture.  Baby Lips are a great combo of this. 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Keaton Row: Spring Trends

Recently I was accepted to be a personal stylist at Keaton Row.
Keaton Row is online base personal styling company.  It was designed for the on the go gal who doesn't have time or money to get a wardrobe refresh from a hired personal stylist.
The styling service is free! 
The only thing you pay for is the items you like from top online retailers like ASOS, Nordstrom, Les Nouvelles, and new stores every day! 
Bonus: free shipping and returns!

Here are 3 looks I put together that show off spring's trends. 

Graphic Coat


Graphics are a huge trend this spring.  
This trend often intimidates people but keeping the rest of the outfit simple doesn't over style the look, but instead looks fresh. 

Shop the look here.

Pleats


Pleats are feminine and sophisticated.  
This full skirt is perfect for brunch with the girls, and even for the office.

Shop the look here.

Sporty


Yep, your gym shorts are now acceptable for every day wear outside the gym!
Adding a graphic sweatshirt and sleek sneakers and sunnies are perfect for running around doing errands while looking like you still put thought in your outfit. 

Shop the look here.


If you liked these looks and want to see more and be styled by me come take a look at my Keaton Row profile.
And if you feel like you have the passion for styling click here to start your application today!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Spring Nail Trends

Spring Nail Trends 2014

Clothes aren't the only thing that sport the spring color trends.
Here are seven colors that will keep your nails and toes on point this season.

Creamsicle
  One of my favorites for the season!  This creamsicle color is a nice fresh change from the coral craze from last year.  

Deep Coral
  Coral is still in full swing for spring but this season it goes to deeper tones.  Look for corals with a fuchsia base, this will add great depth.  

"Nairobi Blue"
  Thank you Lupita Nyong'o for making this my new favorite color...for life.  

Hello Yellow!
  Since I'm sure you all are less than likely to wear taxi cab yellow, wearing it on your nails is an easy way to play with this color.  It's fun and definitely a statement.  Tip: For cooler and lighter skin tones, play with the pale yellows to avoid too much of a sharp contrast. 

Bubblegum
  There are so many different shades of pinks and this spring its all about that true bubblegum color.  Not too bright but not too pale.  Look for pinks with neutral undertones. 

Radiant Orchid
  If you are finding it hard to wear Pantone's Color of the Year, the nails are a perfect way to experiment with it. 

Mint
 Mint is a spring classic and I hope it never goes away.  To go with this classic style, this fan favorite polish is perfect!

What color are you most looking forward to?

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Best and Worst of Oscars 2014

It's my favorite day of the year
the OSCARS!
All though I love movies, my biggest reason to watch tonight is for the fashion. 
Armani Prive, Dior Haute Couture, Galliano, and many more hard to pronounce designers' gowns float, or fall if you are Jennifer Lawrence, down the slightly wet red carpet this year. 

Best


Lupita Nyong'o in Prada
Not only is she now an Oscar winning actress but she has risen to the top of the best dressed celebrities in Hollywood in her debut year. 


Emma Watson in Vera Wang
Metallics were a repeating trend on the red carpet this year and Emma chose the darker side and rocked it.


Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive
Nude was another trend and Cate's perfectly embellished gown looked like second skin. 


Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab Couture
On the lighter side of metallics, Angelina's gown made her look glowing.


Jennifer Lawrence in Christian Dior
Though she may not be the most graceful of celebs (which makes me love her even more), she sure hides it well in her gowns.

Worst


Anne Hathaway in Gucci
Anne wowed us last year in her pale pink Prada dress.  This dress shared a similar silhouette but was a miss in comparison.


Penelope Cruz in Giambattista Valli
Penelope usually can do no wrong, but this dress looked a little too cutesy and also a bit disheveled for this glamorous lady.


Anna Kendrick in J. Mendel
The high low bottom ruined what could have been such a great dress.


How did you feel about this year's fashion?