Feeling Like Fall! {FOTD}

Berry lips & scarves! It's raining in So. Cal!! 

Lipstick is MAC Party Line.

xoxo Shauna

Clinique High Impact Mascara

Thank you bloggers!! Just picked up the High Impact Mascara from Clinique! Can't wait to try it!

 

xoxo Shauna

Ps. Review to come!

Mascara Review

For years, around 11 actually, the only mascara I would use was L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara.  If it's not broken don't fix it, right?

Well... Then in broke {ugh}.  L'Oreal must have changed the formula in their mascara slightly (I'm not crazy, others I've talked to have experienced the same thing) because for the last couple of bottles purchased, the mascara is just not the same!  It smears everywhere, so 1/2 way through the day I have mascara eyelash prints on my upper lid & what looks like dark circles under my lower lashes (the mascara was smudging under my eyes).  Not a good look.

What to do?  Be pissed!  Haha, and then turn to the blogging world of course!  I purchased 2 mascaras highly recommended by bloggers, the first being Benefit's They're Real Mascara.

I loved the way that this mascara made my lashes look, but it's impossible to get off!  I felt like I was ripping out my lashes at the end of the day, which is kind of counterproductive, right?  I threw the hole tube away.

 

I'm currently using NXY Doll Eye Mascara & I really like it!  Even better, it's a lot less expensive than Benefit ($9 compared to $23).  It gives me great length, doesn't clump, dries quickly, and doesn't smudge throughout the day.  Winner! 

What mascaras do you ladies use?  

Has anyone experienced the same L'Oreal dilemma?

xoxo Shauna

Video Blogging!

My first attempt at video blogging.

Talking to yourself is harder than I thought!

My first attempt was aimed at talking about my makeup routine... 

Haha... Here goes nothin!

xoxo Shauna

Makeup Necessities

In the morning, I don't have a lot of time to fuss around with makeup.  I work long hours, too, so I'm not about to paint my face with tons of makeup, only to clog my pours & look like a oil slick by 5pm.

   

Here are my everyday go-to products starting from the top left:

1. Nars Bronzer/Blush combo in Laguna/Orgasm.  A necessity for EVERY girl.  I love both of these colors endlessly & love that they come together!

2. Laura Mercier Matte Translucent.  For blotting/setting my makeup & touch-ups throughout the day.

3. Supper BB Cream.  For those of you who don't know what BB Cream is, it's like an Asian version of tinted moisturizer with anti-aging, anti-wrinkling, & anti-acne agents... So it's actually SO much better than tinted moisturizer!  I've blogged about it in the past & have gotten a lot of my friends & family members hooked.  LOVE LOVE LOVE.

4. Ulta Lip Liner in FLESH & Blistex.  This is my go-to combo for everyday.  Looks natural, but gives your lip a nice full, moisturized look.  

5.  Benifit Brow Kit.  Comes with a little angled brush, 2 shaping colors for your eyebrows & a mini tweezers.  Compact & perfect for on the go!

6.  MAC Palliate.  The lower corner shadow (the one I use mostly, obviously) is SHROOM.  I use it on my brow-bone & in my tear ducts for that "refreshed" look.  I also LOVE the brownish color above it called Corduroy.  Other colors are Cranberry (honestly, I don't use this one much at the moment) & All That Glitters (good for the lid).

7.  L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black.  I've been using the same mascara since I was about 4.  No seriously, since the beginning of time.  I don't think I'll ever change, either.

8. L'oreal Le Grand Line & Define Pencil in Cafe.  I use this eyeliner on my lids by lining my upper eye-lash area with a SUPER thick line & then smudge it up to my eye-crease.  Then I use Corduroy over the top to "set" it & Shroom to finish.  

Vuala!

xoxo Shauna 

Everyday Hair & Makeup

Like most of us out there, I don't have a lot of time to get all "dolled up" in the morning.  I also don't have the patience.  I've managed to shorten my morning routine to under 30 minutes & thought I'd share my tricks....

HAIR

I try to shower at night, but if I go to morning spin, I shower after & put my hair in a bun (parted so my hair dries laying the the direction I want it to) & let it dry while I eat breakfast, do my makeup, & get dressed.  I do the same thing when I shower at night so when I wake up in the morning my hair is a little damp, but frizz free & easy to style.  I paddle brush the moisture out of my hair quickly & then take a large barrel curling iron & separate my hair into 6 sections.  I find curling rather than straightening takes less time because your hair can be a bit messy & more natural looking.

(10 minutes TOPS)

FACE

I've been using kiehl's abyssine cream for my moisturizer every day (AMAZING stuff) & then use MAC's tinted moisturizer for a bit of coverage.  I reduce shine & add a glow with Laura Mercier's Mineral Illuminating Powder, use Laura Mercier bronzer & NARS Orgasm blush on my apples.  I touch up my eyes with L'oreal Voluminous mascara & Benifit's eyebrow kit.  I finish it with a lasting lipstick, today I wore Twig by MAC. 

(5 minutes TOPS)

xoxo Shauna

Foundation Hunt

Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation

So, i've basically used the same foundation since I started wearing make-up (lets just say forever ago).  I love love love Prescriptives skin products because they're completely customizable & designed for sensitive skin.  You make an appointment with a Prescriptives "Custom Blend" specialist, & they match your skin tone while you specify coverage (light, medium or full), finish (matte or dewy), iridescence (adds a shimmer to your foundation), skin type (oily, dry, normal or combination), SPF, etc. etc.   

You can imagine my HOROR when Prescriptives announced that they were going out of business & would no longer be offering their custom blend line.  My foundation, powder, blush, concealer, & bronzer are ALL Prescriptives so as my supply runs low, i'll be testing out different brands & products reporting on my new favorites.   

The first product needing replacement was my Perscriptives Custom Blend Foundation.  I still have almost a half a bottle left, but since my skin hasn't seen sunlight in a while, it was necessary for me to get a new "winter" foundation.  

MAC Mineralize Foundation

The first foundation that I decided to try was MAC's new mineral line.  In the past, I've steered clear of MAC face make-up (although their eyeshadows are the best hands down) because they were full of oil & pore-clogging ingredients.  Their new mineral line is oil-free & more natural so this seemed like a good pick.  

The first thing that threw me off about this foundation was the smell.  I guess it's the minerals in the foundation, but I was put off by it.  The coverage was on the light side, and seemed a little too liquidy for my liking.   One of my requirements of face make-up is lastability because I work long hours & need my makeup to stay put.  By 5 o'clock, my make-up seemed non-exsistant.  

On to the next pick… 

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation has been getting a lot of hype lately, so I thought i'd give it a try.  The price is A LOT less for drugstore make-up, so why not, right?  

One plus to this foundation is that there are a ton of shades to choose from, but the minus is that you can't try them on in the store.  Matching was kind of a guessing game & I definitely went a little too dark with my pick.  Not starting off good.  I also didn't really like how this foundation blended with my primer & bronzer.  My bronzer seemed a bit splotchy on top of the Revlon Foundation.  Also, again by 5 o'clock, my make-up was non-exsistant.  

Ugh.  Next pick… 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Next, I tried Laura Mercier Sick Creme Foundation.  The guy at the counter recommended this option for me because I like a matte, fuller coverage look.  I absolutely loved how natural yet silky my skin looked when he applied it at the counter.  The test was how this puppy held up throughout the day and how it looked when I applied it at home with my other skincare products…

This foundation lasts all day & keeps my skin looking shine-free.  It doesn't make me brake-out & blends really well with my brozer & blush.  It also matches my skin-tone perfectly!  

Winner.  

Prescriptives Custom Blend Loose Powder

Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer

Some key products to help your make-up last longer & stay shine free is a setting loose powder (still using my Prescriptives Custom Blend) & a good foundation primer.  I use Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer (the light is oil free).  The Smashbox primer glides on super smooth & makes my skin super soft.  

xoxo Shauna

Merry Christmas!!

While you're returning all your unwanted gifts from the holidays… Pick up MAC's new line out tomorrow!  I'm obsessed with ANYTHING lavender & the entire line is infused with it!  


I'm picking up the Lip Tint tomorrow :)

Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15+ Lavender - $17.50 Lip Conditioner SPF 15+ Lavender- $17.50

Complete Comfort Creme - $38.50 - an ultra-rich facial moisturizer that relieves visible redness immediately

Fix+ Lavender - $21.50