I am a HUUUGE fan of summer. I love the snow and winter but I'll take a relaxing day at the beach over the cold of NY any day. I usually buy some cheap cover up from H&M or somewhere that lasts me one season, pills and then I have to toss. Not only is it frustrating it's a huge waste of money!! Plus, I'm usually surrounded by girls in super cute cover ups and I feel like I'm wearing a muumuu. I've tried a variety of different stores from H&M, to Forever 21, even Victoria's Secret but I always find the quality is the same and I have to toss it at the end of the season. Then I stumbled on this gem.... MAAJ Boutique
http://www.maajboutique.com/ Even the homepage of the website makes me want to be on vacation. Every one of the pieces is beautifully hand made which means no one will have the same the piece as you. I recently wore my new cover-up on my trip to the Bahamas and I'm not kidding when I say I had at least 6 people ask me where I got it. I was skeptical of the price because, obviously if it wasn't going to last like the other cover-ups I'd purchased in the past, I didn't want to spend the money. Not only did it last me the entire trip, it still looks brand new. Also, I was nervous about the washing thinking it would be a whole big ordeal but it actually proved just as easy to wash as anything else I own. Being a super huge fan of all things pink I started my collection with the 'Majorca Sequined Ombre Kaftan'. It is literally probably one of the prettiest pieces I own. I would wear it to work if that wouldn't be such a faux pas hahaha.
Now that I have this piece I'm currently lusting after the 'Corfu Zig Zag Beaded Kaftan' and the 'Musha Cay Beadwork Kaftan'.
The best part is I read that they're launching their new collection soon so I can't even imagine what their new line will look like. I could not be more excited about this boutique and now obviously have to plan more vacations so I can wear my new pieces!! My job will totally understand :) What do you guys think? Has anyone purchased any pieces? I'm obsessed! http://www.maajboutique.com/
I've found foundation to be really specific to your skin type. What works for me won't necessarily have the same effect on you and vice-versa. It's important to test out products before you purchase them and Sephora is a great store for purchasing products because their return policy is fairly lenient. This can be useful when you think you love a product only to wear it and change your mind. Also, most makeup counters will let you get a sample, so you can try the product before you make a purchase. Some of the higher end foundations can be really expensive so it's important to make sure you like the product in all lighting before shelling out $40 for it.
My foundation usage has definitely varied throughout the years and I'm currently into experimenting with different foundations based on the occasion. Foundation is a product that can be used at your discretion. If your skin is even and you don't have too much you're worried about covering then you can even skip it for an every day look; but if you're going out or just trying to even your skin tone it can definitely make a difference.
Normal or Combination Skin-
I absolutely LOVE Bare Minerals foundation. It does an amazing job of making your skin look flawless while not being heavy or making your skin feel oily. I like using the loose powder in the summer or for less of a heavy feel/look and the pressed power when I want a little more coverage. This product is not the best if you're trying to cover up a lot of scarring or acne, but if you just want an a simple every day look this is should be your go-to.
I think for dry skin the best product is usually a cream or a mousse foundation. These are usually lighter than a liquid yet still provide more coverage than a powder would; while often being moisturizing as well. I am obsessed with the Nars Radiant Cream Compact. I think the product is great, light weight and moisturizing, while still providing excellent coverage. Also, the case it comes in is easy to throw into your purse for touch-ups. It comes in a variety of different colors so I was able to find a color that matched perfectly with my skin tone.
If the Nars compact is a little pricey a great drug-store alternative is the Maybelline DreamSmooth Mousse. It provides great coverage, is easy to apply and only $10! This was my absolute favorite foundation in high school when my skin was a more broken out and I wanted coverage without looking like I was going on a photo-shoot.
I think mineral foundation is great for oily skin as it's easy to apply to a slicker surface and the powder helps to sop up some of the oil. However, if you have a lot of acne or scars you want to cover up you might prefer a fuller liquid coverage, and that's where the Mac Mineralize Moisture Foundation is perfect. It's a liquid coverage but has the lightweight feel of a mineral product. I've only recently started getting into liquid foundations as I've never liked the feel of foundation on my skin but this doesn't have that oily after-feel that a lot of products too. It goes on as a liquid but stays as a more mineral-powder-esq (did I just coin a term...) finish.
Another great liquid foundation is the Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. This product really lives up to it's name and lasts for hours. It goes on smooth and provides a pretty full coverage while not being too heavy. While I'm a Mac girl at heart I'll definitely reach for this from time-to-time!
So those are my picks for foundation. What do you all think?
