beauty review: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Eyes

as i grow older more fabulous, i've found myself using concealer under my eyes on a more frequent basis. the use of eye creams, anti-aging serums, gels and the like are not new to me, and i'm a huge fan of highlighting/illuminating products. so, as one might expect, when i was introduced to Smashbox BB Camera Ready for Eyes, i was obviously very curious and excited to try the new multitasker. 

 and it is a multitasker!

not just a concealer, this beauty is also a treatment, a primer, an illuminator and offers spf 15 sun protection. 

love it!

and just when you think it can't do any more, it does. BB for Eyes can also be used to highlight your brow bones, giving your face a more lifted appearance, and you can use it when contouring around the cheeks, creating a more defined look.

have you tried Smashbox BB for Eyes yet? visit smashbox.com for more info. 

product featured sent to me for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

summer beauty: Shiseido Makeup Face Color Enhancing Trio

summer always brings new, beautiful products, and the latest from Shiseido is no exception. the Shiseido Makeup Face Color Enhancing Trio is an all-in-one compact that creates a beautiful complexion, replicating the glow that naturally appears when you smile from sheer joy ~ blushing rosy cheeks, increased brightness and elevated facial features.

each trio features a Blushing Color, the warm top shade is soft and rosy, the middle Sculpting Color creates dimension for contouring and shading, and the bottom Highlighting Color matches natural skin tones and blends seamlessly with the other two shades.

the brush in this palette is uber soft and it applies the powders beautifully {thought i also like to use a fan brush to apply it, keeping the color applied more on the sheer side}. swiping all the shades together {vertically} creates a nice color, and the fact that this beauty is shimmer-free is just another reason i know i'll continue to use it, even beyond summer. :)

Shiseido Face Color Enhancing Trio is available in 4 shades:

Apple {RD1} ~ sun-kissed shades of pink, gentle fawn and light peach

Lychee {PK1} ~ pale shades of pink, ivory and cream

Peach {OR1} ~ soft hint of coral, subtle beige, and delicate gold shades

*Plum {RS1, the one i've been using, pictured} ~ vivid rose, rich bronze, and golden beige shades

i love the versatility of this palette, and while i wish each shade were wider {for easier application of the individual shades}, i think this is a product any beauty girl can appreciate.

visit shiseido.com for more info.

product featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

beauty review: Sheer Glo by Purely Pro Cosmetics

looking for a gorgeous glow, beauties? for me, a really good highlighting product has just enough shimmer to catch the light, makes you look lit from within and treats skin beautifully...

it just so happens {as you already know from the title} for this moment, i'm referring to Sheer Glo shimmer lotions. offering three gorgeous color options, these shimmer lotions deliver on their promise to give skin the perfect look of incandescence and luminosity {not glittery in the slightest!}. each mixes beautifully with your favorite foundation, tinted moisturizer or can be worn alone. i have an oilier skin type, but they work for all skin types. i also have to mention that i love that they comes with a pump that dispenses the product to keep any yucky dirt or bacteria out of the product, thus off of your skin!

movie star

 paradse

glow pink

formulated with vitamin E to rejuvenate skin, glow pink {mid-tone rose}, movie star {pale pink} and paradise {bronze pink champagne} each delivers a luminosity in such a small amount. one bottle will last for a long time...

oh, and by the way, you should be happy to note that Purely Pro Cosmetics does not test on animals. :)

have you tried any of the Sheer Glo shimmer lotions? visit purelyprocosmetics.com for more info!

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken my me :)

summer beauty: natural-looking skin with Mary Kay

summer is all about scaling back, taking it easy, and, with regard to makeup, the opportunity for me go with a more natural look, putting less is more into practice. to do this, i enlist the help of a trio of Mary Kay products that you yourself might like to try...

to start, i use Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 20. one thing i wear daily {and year-round} is sunscreen, but i love this skincare beauty because it eliminates a step in my routine. the coverage is quite sheer {i use bronze 1}, but the subtle dewy finish makes my skin look really pretty.

to cover up flaws the moisturizer doesn't hide, MK's Concealer is amazing. a heavyweight in the coverage department, its creamy texture feels incredibly lightweight once applied, creating a smooth and flawless finish.

finally, i use MK's Facial Highlighting Pen {shade 3}. this formula can be used to brighten up dark areas of the face {under the eyes, around the mouth, corners of the nose}, but i like to use a bit blended in the corners of my eyes and over my cheekbones, so the sunlight will catch the reflective pigments, creating a lit from within appearance.

with my skin finished, i typically complete my natural, less is more look with a little blush, a light dusting of powder or finishing spray to set everything in place, and i'm good to go!

well, i also have to apply mascara...lipgloss...fill in my brows...

hey, i said i'm practicing... ;)

tell me: do you wear less makeup in the summer? what are your go-to products?

get more info about these products by visiting marykay.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

Get Glowing with NARS Orgasm Illuminator

NARS Orgasm Illuminator is the latest in the family of Orgasm-colored products and probably my most favorite.

if you don't already know, in the world of beauty NARS Orgasm Blush is a "must-have", "perfect for all skintones" blush. sadly, this isn't quite true. i myself am not a fan of the blush on its own, but find it to be a much better highlighting shade on my darker complexion.


stars like Molly Sims, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Zoe Saldana have been wearing NARS Illuminator to various events this year.

the Illuminator, thankfully, is much more flattering. as described by the brand, it's a sheer wash of gold, peach and pink fluid. i like to refer to the finish as being more of a pretty sheen than a shimmer. it's uber-wearable and perfect for the upcoming season. it's versatile enough to be worn on bare skin or with makeup. as a highlighter over blush, it creates a gorgeous finish-- it makes cheekbones really pop!-- and can also be blended with foundation to give skin a little extra something. it's also great applied on your decolletage or shoulders.



me wearing NARS Illuminator :)

a word of caution when you use this-- begin with a tiny bit and build to get the effect you need. and note that the finish is sheer and will not reflect the same indoors as it does out. :)

find NARS Orgasm Illuminator at your local NARS beauty counter, at Sephora and online at narscosmetics.com

xo

Summer Beauty 2009: Laura Mercier Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc

ahhh summer...not exactly my favorite time of year in terms of weather, but i can fully appreciate the fabulous beauty goodies that begin to pop up in beauty departments. i spotted the Laura Mercier Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc on my recent trip to Sephora, and had to share.

part of the Gilded Garden Collection, this Shimmer Bloc is a fresh, floral design that applies effortlessly while brightening the eyes, cheeks & body with a hint of natural color & light. i played a bit with the colors and can see how this gorgeous palette would add a youthful, natural glow to the face for a fabulous look to carry you through the season. bonus: it's oil-free and suitable for all skin types.

xo

what i'm loving now: Skinn Dimitri James Mineral Eye Lighter

Dimitri James created his Skinn Mineral Eye Lighter with a special combination of eye brightening mineral pigments to be applied over, under or instead of eyeshadow. it's in a roller ball style, which, in addition to being easy to use, makes it travel-friendly-- no brush required. i love this product for its versatility-- it can be applied anywhere!

i'm all about a bright-eyed look, and more often than not, use eyeshadows that contain a hint of shimmer. i especially love to apply them on the inner corners of my eyes because it really keeps them looking bright and pretty. sometimes i use this Eye Lighter there, on my brow bone, and even right on my cheek bone over my blush so when it catches the light, a fabulous lit-from-within look is created.

this is a seriously popular product, and is currently out of stock on the Skinn website, but i'll keep checking back and update you when it becomes available.

xo

NARS Video: How to Create a Beautiful Cheek

while i was in LA, i received an email from NARS announcing their new video series! these videos focus on teaching women makeup techniques in an easy, step-by-step manner.

a total of four videos will be put out, and the first two are available to view now; these foolproof beauty videos provide a fabulous guide on achieving flawless skin, rosy cheeks, pouty lips and sultry eyes.

the following video provides a detailed guide on achieving gorgeous, contoured cheeks by NARS International Senior Stylist Uzo.


enjoy!



be sure to click here to read the step-by-step details!

xo

Get Vanessa Hudgen's Glowing Look

summer may be over, but that doesn't mean you have to give up your bronzed look. chances are you still have a tan (real or fake), so your makeup should compliment it accordingly.

makeup artist Brett Freeman created a fabulous look for Vanessa Hudgens for her appearance at Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood Party last month, and the makeup was flawless. as you can see, he kept the High School Musical star's look fabulously radiant.

"Vanessa was still bronzed from touring in mexico, so we wanted to play up her glow with make-up and hair that would suit her luminous skin,” said Freedman.

foundation: Neutrogena Visibly Even liquid makeup in True Beige blended to even her skin tone

bronzer: Stila Sun in shade 2 used to set the foundation

blush: to warm up her cheeks, Freedman lightly blended Rosie Jane Cheek Gloss in Peony and swept Benefit 10 all over as a highlighter.

eyeshadow: M.A.C. Spiced Chocolate Eye Shadow X4 was swept all over her lid to create a pale, matte eye.

eye liner: Freedman lined her lashes with Kat Von D Autograph Eyeliner in Love Metal after applying eye shadow.

brows: “i cleaned up her brows with Vanitymark Ultra-Brow Dual Sided Tweezer, then added a bit of drama and definition with Vanitymark Ultra-Brow Powder in Milk Choco,” said Freedman.
mascara: the makeup artist coated her lashes four times with Vanitymark the LASH Mascara

lips: Benefit Her Glossiness in Who Are You Wearing

highlights/countour: after applying all the make-up, Freedman misted Vanitymark SHIMMERSKIN Body Glisten “on her arms, chest and back to really amp up her natural glow.”

you can easily mimic this look with most of these products, regardless of your skintone. for the other products, like blush and foundation, be sure to choose what suits you.

xo
photo: Jason Merritt/FilmMagic via instyle.com

review: Stila All Over Shimmer

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer is a fabulous product to use when you want to give yourself a pretty touch of luminosity.

with just the right amount of glimmer, this little wonder helps you to glow without trying too hard. i think it adds the perfect hint of sheen, and highlights the places you want to bring attention to.

by applying it to the corners of my eyes, i look instantly refreshed, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (not sure about the bushy-tailed part, but i just have go with it...). on my cheeck bones, it adds a nice look of lit-from-within softness. i sometimes apply it over my foundation to give my face a natural, but a little more enhanced, radiance.

this fabulous little wonder can do so many things! i love the applicator brush; it makes applying so easy, but using fingertips works just as well.

available in two colors, #1 (a silvery off-white) and #3 (a luminous gold), you will find yourself falling in love with this oh-so-fabulous highlighter.

xo

plan a spa getaway, and help me win a spa experience and professionally edited review!!

photo: sephora

create a lit-from-within glow

each month ELLE magazine publishes their "Top 5" must haves. i love highlighters for summer as they help to create such a beautiful appearance on the skin without having to use alot of makeup. check out the "Top 5" highlighters:




Origins Halo Effect-- this lightweight pearly potion, gentle enough even for sensitive skin, casts a subtle shine over skin to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.










Benefit High Beam-- the celeb makeup artist's secret weapon creates beautiful illumination with just a hint of shimmer.








Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact-- sweep on cheeks just on top of the cheekbones, after blush, to give yourself the most flattering, natural look.









Yves Saint Laurent Touche Elcat-- like a touch of magic, this take-anywhere pen adds a touch of light, banishes shadows and eliminates signs of fatigue.










Stila All Over Shimmer-- allows for added application control and will last longer than traditional powder or cream shimmers. use alone or mixed into your favorite foundation for an all-over glow.











choose any of these or find your own highlighter to create a sensational glow any time of year!




xo



source: ELLE