I have naturally light/thin eyebrows so I've never been a fan of heavily doing them on myself. In fact, for a long time I avoided doing them at all. Then, as I got more into makeup and became better at it I realized something was missing. The second I started filling in my brows it completely finished my face. You don't realize what a difference this makes until you really see yourself before and after. I stumbled upon this great BuzzFeed article today about brows and what a difference they make and it's really incredible! http://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/power-brows-can-change-your-entire-face I did a post back in April with a video showing the different methods for doing your eyebrows. It's definitely worth checking out if you're not sure what products to use or you're never happy with the look you get. Eyebrows are the key to framing the face so don't neglect them!
Everyone knows that makeup in the summer can be a nightmare. It's hot out, your face is glistening (or full on sweating if you're me), you might even be going into water at some point. A lot of people make the common mistake of using the same makeup for winter that they do for summer. This is never a good idea and can lead to breakouts and other skin problems. It's important to notice the difference in your skin in between seasons so that you can adjust your routine accordingly. For me, I like to apply a lighter moisturizer in the summer, something with an SPF so that my face has coverage throughout the day. I also like to switch from liquid or cream foundation to powder. For my eyes I find that the tanner I get the less my winter eye shadow looks quite as stunning, so I like to switch to warmer, bronzier browns and golds. My lips I'll play around with but I try to avoid very dark colors in the summer, and often look for brighter pinks, corals and even nudes that will make my lips pop. My favorite foundation for summer, hands-down, is the bareMinerals loose foundation. It's so light weight it barely looks as though I'm wearing any makeup and it doesn't feel heavy or thick on your skin. Also, it's easy to reapply throughout the day if need be. In the winter I like to rely on my Kiehl's moisturizer as it is extra moisturizing and I find that my skin gets dry in the cold. In the summer it's all about my Garnier Skin Renew Moisturizer. This is the least greasy feeling moisturizer I've ever used so it's amazing in the summer. It also has SPF 28 so it protects your skin. For mascara I find it's really difficult to find a good waterproof formula. Some of them get really flakey, others don't stay in place and others look like you've just clumped a bunch of black stuff on your eyes. I personally really love the Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara. It stays in place incredibly well, even in the pool and it doesn't cake up or give you spider lashes. Well worth the $25 investment. If you'd prefer not to spend as much, the Maybelline Volum'Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara is phenomenal! It's only $7 but it stays in place just as well as the Bobbi Brown formula. It also gives your eyelashes a very full, voluminous look. Lastly, my secret trick for keeping my makeup in place all summer long is applying the Neat 3B Face Saver Gel before applying anything else to my skin. Using this as a base even before my foundation reduces perspiration and oiliness which helps to keep my makeup in place all day long. I stumbled upon this stuff a few years ago and I absolutely love it! It works so well for reducing sweat on your face/neck and is gentle enough that it doesn't sting or affect your skin negatively. Definitely worth the investment if your skin tends to get extra oily in the summer. These are just a few of my favorite summer makeup products...what are yours? xo Kelly
Hey! So my laptop is DOA sadly and I've been super busy at work so my blogging has taken a bit of a beating. I'm back though and I promise to update the blog more regularly, and hopefully one day soon, have a new laptop. I recently received an email from Sephora inviting me to preview the Marc Jacobs Beauty new releases, hitting stores July 24th. I just got my shipment in and I have to say I am impressed! All of his products are a little on the pricey side which I'm never a big fan of, but I think there are some staple pieces here that are worth the investment. Their new collection features 4 new brushes, ranging in price from $30-$78. While I loved the look of the $78 brush there are a lot of things I'd spend $78 on before I'd ever waste money like that on a brush. There are so many great brushes out there that offer comparable quality for way less of a cost. I did however purchase the 'Face 1- Liquid Foundation Brush No. 1' and I hate to admit that I love it. It gives a very light, airy finish that's perfect for both liquid foundations and powders. It's $48 though, so not worth the investment unless you're a makeup junkie or are going to religiously use this brush, then I would say ok. You can definitely tell the quality from the handle, to the hairs, it's a great brush. The other brush I purchased was the 'Conceal- Full Cover Correcting Brush No. 14'. This brush is PERFECT. If you have spots or are constantly trying to cover little patches on your face then you need this brush. It's as precise as applying with your finger but with better coverage. This is the one piece from the collection that I think is just sheer perfection, and it's only $30. The next thing I purchased was the O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara and I LOVE it! It's super voluminous and makes your lashes appear thick, curled and just awesome. I would definitely recommend getting this as it's one of the better mascaras I've tried! I purchased the Lovemarc- Matte Lip Gel (which is actually a lipstick?) in watermelon and I'm obsessed! It's a gorgeous, super fun for summer color and it's incredibly moisturizing. It comes in a really pretty case and you get way more product than with a Nars lipstick. Lastly, I purchased the Smart Wand Tinted Face Stick. I found this was actually pretty cool. It comes in a great little package that's super convenient for throwing in your purse and provides just enough coverage for days when you don't want to mess around with heavy foundations. I found this made my skin really soft and almost diffused looking, I was really impressed by this product. The only thing I purchased that I wasn't impressed with was the 'Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick'. I have a lot of these lip crayons from various brands and I didn't find that this one offered anything special. It was a nice product and came in some really pretty colors but it was nothing special that you couldn't get elsewhere for less. All in all I was really impressed with the collection. I think the quality is phenomenal, exactly what you'd expect from Marc Jacobs. I think however, it's definitely pricey and not a necessary investment for people just starting out or building their collections. The products were all great but there are definitely products that are just as good for way less that you can find. The collection comes out in stores July 24th! Has anyone else tried any of the products yet? What do you think? xo Kelly (The Face I - Liquid Foundation Brush No. 1 $48) (The Conceal - Full Cover Correcting Brush No. 14 $30) (O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara $26) (Lovemarc - Matte Lip Gel $30) (Smart Wand Tinted Face Stick $42) (Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick $28)
So I know I've done a bunch of these brown eyed looks and I promise to do more blue, but here's another great look for us brown eyes. It's nothing too complicated and it's a very natural, every day look that is easily replicated. Let me know what you think!
Today I wanted to do a fun gold/coral look. I love these colors for summer especially when you have a bit of a tan going on. Check out my look, let me know what you think!!
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(Kiss Pop Lip Color Stick $28)