Looking Good & Doing Good Just Got Easier - With Kayla

Written by @oohkayla

I think it is safe to say SUMMER IS HERE! Well at least not blistering freezing weather is here. Summer is not only time for fun but also time to protect yourself from head to toe, at this point almost everyone is aware that we need to take care of our skin and possibly go about using more natural products. But what about our hair?

Enter Love Beauty & Planet stage left! According to the brand’s site the company was founded on the idea that “looking good and doing good should go hand in hand.” Each product is made with the mentality of making you and the planet better. Love Beauty & Planet is currently available in drugstores making it very accessible to the average person selling body and hair products.

I received the opportunity to try their Murumuru Butter & Rose Blooming Strength & Shine. The mask comes in a simple 100% recycled material pouch with 1.5oz. I have used the mask multiple times and still have a lot of product left. The directions suggest using after shampooing, leave on for 2 minutes and rinse. You are also advised to avoid your roots- why? Because including your roots could lead to your scalp getting greasy and dirty sooner than it needs to- & nobody got time for that.

Personally, I haven’t been able to find a lot of “natural products” that work for my hair. This mask is cruelty free, vegan, no parabens & more- which led me to believe that it wasn’t going to work at all! However, after several uses I do like this hair mask. The subtle rose sent is amazing and although I don’t know a lot about Murumuru Butter I do believe it is helping to hydrate my hair. I am currently in the process of helping my hair get back on track- years of coloring and heat has done some real damage to my strands. 

After using this mask, I do find my hair is drying with less frizz and just overall looks healthier. I have a dry scalp and so most if my shampoos do an excellent job cleaning my scalp but then drying for the rest of it. I would recommend giving this brand a try. 

If you are considering trying natural hair products this is a great place to start, it won’t break the bank and you are still doing good even if you don’t wind up liking the product. I stand behind looking good and doing good at the same time. Having my hair look great while reducing my carbon footprint sounds like a win win to me.

Lazy Girl Body-care with Kayla!

Written By Kayla M

I am lazy! There I said it…. Admitting you have a problem is the first step right? As much as I love lathering my face in every moisturizer and mask I can get my hands on I have a hard time-doing that with the rest of my body. All the lotion commercials make it seem so glamorous and therapeutic to apply lotion after a shower-I however disagree completely.  But then the universe heard my dry skin prayers & I found the perfect lazy girl body product and my world changed. I came to possess the Moroccan Oil Shower Milk and Lush Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner.

The Morroccan Oil Shower Milk appeared, and I thought yass!! However, that feeling was extremely short lived. The product is described as “an argan oil infused milk that gently cleanses and hydrates.” The shower milk is essentially a creamier body wash than what is usually found in store, but it didn’t hydrate to the point where lotion isn’t needed. I truthfully didn’t find it to do much of anything. Although I find 6.7oz of product for $32 reasonable, I can’t justify any amount if the product doesn’t work for me.

I was disappointed and desperate for a lazy girl remedy. I remembered a sample of a Lush product from a couple of years ago. I was told to rub it on my skin while in the shower and rinse- then the heavens opened, and I cried joyous tears. It wasn’t until recently that I gave in and decided to just purchase the product for myself and I regret not having it in my life sooner. Lush’s Ro’s Argan was the answer, the jar contains 7.9oz of glorious rose scented body conditioner for $35.95. Besides being lazy I am also beyond paranoid about “smelling good” and up until Ro’s Argan appeared I was use to body washes and lotions having a great scent but not a lasting scent and most definitely not a scent that I could personally smell on myself.

I can smell Ro’s Argan on my skin all day!! But mostly importantly almost immediately after you rinse the product off you can feel how smooth, silky and hydrated your skin feels. The simplicity of the ingredients, the ease of the process and the effectiveness of the product makes me believe in miracles.Lush’s product is truly amazing-. A natural, animal friendly, good smelling, reasonably priced, product that actually works! Who knew that could exist.

I recommend anyone and everyone to try this, it is a terrific addition to your skincare routine. Remember your skin is your largest organ, I often find myself thinking it is okay to go H.A.M. with my facial skincare and then ignore the rest of my body’s skincare needs. Lush Cosmetic’s Ro’s Argan body conditioner has allowed me to begin a serious selfcare affair from head to toe.

Easy Hairstyles For Spring 2018 Using A Rotating Curling Iron

@bufferingbetty

Hair so cute. Air so Breezy. Vibes so Spring.

Put a little Spring in your hair by adding
bouncy curls to your locks all season long. 

It's time to pack away all of your Winter hats so that your hair can breathe in fresh looks. I'll tell you how I created these four easy Spring hairstyles. Read to the end of this post for a review of the Spinstyle Pro rotating curling iron from Salon Tech. 

Lazy Blow Out

This one is for all my frizzy-haired-beauties trying to thrive in the humid seasons. It's my saving grace for when I haven't spent time prepping my hair. Or, I've spent too much time on my makeup and left myself only 5 minutes for hair. The heat from the curling iron smooths the frizz while giving my hair some shape and body so I don't look like Rubeus Hagrid. After tying my hair into a high ponytail, working from left to right, I grabbed a section of hair to begin curling it. I made sure that the sections weren't too thin because it would have made the curls too defined giving a completely different look. Once all of the section of my ponytail had been curled, I let down my hair and delicately ran the tips of my fingers through my hair to break up the curls. 

Video Tutorial Here

As a final touch, I sometimes like to smooth some of the frizziness framing my face. I sprayed a soft touch hairspray on to a comb. Instead of pushing the teeth through my hair, I flipped the comb to face the teeth upward so they would glide down my hair shaft. For some added va-va-volume, you can use dry shampoo or any texture powder to the roots of your hair. 

Essential Tool: Hair Bungee

If you were to use a regular hair tie, you run the risk of ruining the curls you just spent time creating. The hair bungee is better because it just wraps around the base of your ponytail without having to slide down your hair shaft. 

BinaryABC Ponytail Hooks Holder Bungee Bands

Amped Up Waves

To get these mod-70s  frizzy waves, I began by dividing my hair in two. I pinned up the left side and curled the right in rows working from the nape of my neck to my hairline. Each row consisted of 3-4 curls depending on my hair density in each row. For more volume, I alternated the direction of the curls by row. That’s to say that if the row by my neck was curled to the right, that I would then curl the next row going to the left. That was easy with the Spinstyle Pro because it automatically curls in both directions.

Video Tutorial Here
 

To allow the curl to set properly, after curling each individual section, I rolled the curl in on itself by following the curl shape while my hair was still warm.  I pinned each warm, rolled curl to my head then covered my hair with a hefty amount of hair spray and let them set for about 15 minutes, After I removed the pins, I gently brushed through my hair to begin styling it. I also teased the roots and some of the waves for volume.Adding funky pins to each wave dip can be a really cute way to make this look feel more fashionable.

Essential Tool: Soft Touch, Lasting Hold Hair Spray

My hair tends to not hold styling very well. Still, I never use a strong hold hairspray because crunchy hair is gross. For my hair to have that fluffy, wavey look, a light hairspray is best. My hair won’t fall flat under the weight of the spray. Plus, you can still run your fingers through my hair -but *sings* ‘don’t touch my hair.’

Amika Touchable Hair Spray

Top Knot

Yup. They’re still in and aren’t leaving any time soon. I first sectioned off the part of my hair that I wanted in the top knot. I have thin hair on top of my head. So my bun isn’t a little bun-lette or oddly wide, I section off hair starting  from my hairline to a little past my crown. Then I curled my hair with the same alternating pattern as I did with the frizzy waves. To keep most of the bounce towards the ends of my hair, I curled the ends slightly tighter than I did the rest of the hair shaft. To do this, just wrap your hair more tightly around the curling iron on the ends, about 4 times. Then more loosely as you get towards the middle of your hair shaft. It adds body without giving a tight curl. This added wide dimension towards the ends. Exactly what I wanted! This made the whole look more interesting rather than just the knot atop of my head.

Video Tutorial Here

For the top knot itself, once I tied off the ponytail. I sectioned the hair in two, vertically. The right section of my hair was curled to the right. And the left side went left. Rather than just gathering up all the hair into a cute messy bun or a classic sock bun, I wanted the bun to look more styled. I warped the right curl going to the right side beginning behind the base of the ponytail unraveling the curl with each loop around my head without incorporating the left curl at all. After the right curl was pinned in place, I grabbed the left curl and wrapped it going to the left beginning behind the base of the ponytail while unraveling the curl. This created a neat, swirling bun with dimension and volume. 

Essential Tool: Decor

The last touch was my chic diy hair pin. I placed it in a way that it felt like it was peeking out from one of the swirls in the bun. The reflective gold pin was exactly what this look needed. 

ASOS Pack of 4 Mixed Floral Hair Clips

Deep Side Part + Curls

Edgy. Girly, Attention getting. Check, check, check; sign me up! The most time consuming look but totally worth it. The key to this look is how you section your hair. I began by giving myself a deep side part. So that the hair behind my part could give volume to my crown, I sectioned off the hair framing my face to curl later and pinned the two section of my part. I began curling my hair behind the part working from the back of my head up to the crown. I sprayed each section of my hair with a soft touch hairspray before I curled it. I sectioned my in small parts and tightly wrapped my hair around the barrel of the curling iron as many times as I could. This would make my curls very tight and thin.

Video Tutorial Here

The smaller section of my part was going to be slicked back above my ear and have cute pins so the curls did not need to be as tight as the rest of them. I curled that hair in the same way that I curled my hair in the top knot: tight on the ends and looser as you went up the shaft. For the hair on the other side of my part, I began by sectioning the hair into much smaller, vertical sections working from my ear to the parting line. This gave me more control of how the curls would frame my face. As the sections got closer to the parting line, the more lax I was with the hair closest to the roots. If the roots of the curls in the center my face on my hairline were as tight as the rest of them, I would have had hair falling in my face all. damn. day. Annoying! 

Goody Folding Brush & Comb

Essential Tool: Teasing and Sectioning Comb

This hair goes from child star, Shirley Temple, curls to, Broad City star, Ilana Wexler, doesn’t go to prom because of the aggressive amounts of teasing. A dual ended brush + comb is your bow and arrow in the Quarter Quell. You don’t want to waste time looking for this or that brush. 

source

Once all of my hair was curled, I had a snack because I needed to recharge after all of the curling. I'm so glad the Spinstyle Pro does most of the curling for you otherwise this blog post would be ‘1 Easy Spring Hairstyle.’ Then I ran my fingers through all of the tightly wound curls to break them up. I also individually separated some of the curls to make sure there weren’t any super clumpy ones. I wanted VO-L-UME in my hair so I then teased my crown and fluffed all of the curls to max capacity without destroy in the shape. Finally I add some more diy pins to my hair and felt oh-so-divine!

Spinstyle Pro Review

My hair is so frizzy that it could take me 10 minutes to locate a bobby pin I might've used in an attempt to tame the mane. Because of the frizz factor, just the idea of testing a rotating curling iron in my hair gave me heart palpitations. What if it snapped my hair? What if it got stuck? Would I then be forced to get a pixie cut? I don't have the head for hair that short!

Related: Smooth n' Shine Hair Polisher Review

The Real Question is: Am I Bald Now?

The obvious pro to the Spinstyle Pro is the rotating barrel. Just slide your hair through the prongs that guide your hair on to curly, swirly, precious-ness. The fact that it spins in both directions amazes me. The temperature settings are easy to see and the on-off-switch isn’t hidden or placed where you might accidentally turn it off mid-curl.

One con that I immediately noted was that the barrel is kind of short. I felt like I didn’t have enough play space on the barrel to get what I needed.

I don’t believe that the Spinstyle Pro is beginner friendly. I could see, for example, a parent buying this for their child thinking that this could help teach their young one to learn to curl their hair. The kid is going to have curls but the hardest part in learning to do your hair is learning to style your hair. Because of the shape of the barrel and the prongs that guide the hair onto it, what you get with each curl is just a barrel curl. However loose or tight it’s a barrel curl. You can do a million different things with barrel curls but if you’re new to doing your hair, that can be hard to figure out. Barrel curls are also kind of dated so if you don’t know how to manipulated the curls to get what you want, your look might also turn out kind of dated. This may not necessarily be a downside but it will take more practice then I think people will initially realize.

That being said, I still think that the Spinstyle Pro is a nifty hair gadget. If you know your hair and you know how to style it, this rotating curling iron make doing your hair go faster and easier.

Answer: I still have all of my hair. Plus, I'm extra-extra cute.

I Tried Oil Pulling For The First Time

@bufferingbetty

Gross mouthfeel. Sparkling Results?

Oil pulling is an old healthcare remedy from India where you take a tablespoon of oil and swish it around in your mouth for about 20 minutes and then spit it out. It is believed to be useful for things line whitening teeth to helping fix all of your health woes. The practice became trendy a few years ago when some celebs began to swear this 'new' thing had changed their life. There are articles pro and against oil pulling. Some argue it is a waste of time that does no harm or good, while others say it improves overall mouth health thus improving overall health. What I'm here to tell you is my results were!

Maple Holistics specializes in providing products for those who want to know what exactly what ingredients they are using. Their fractionated coconut oil seemed perfect for trying out oil pulling. Fractionated means that the coconut oil will remain an oil. 

I brushed my teeth before oil pulling. Ok, let's be real, the thought swishing around oil in my mouth for 20 minutes sounded like it would the most horrible way to start any day. From everything I had found, you should oil pull on an empty stomach. My guess is just in case the mouthfeel really gets to you. Truthfully, it might. There isn't a taste to the oil but it's the texture that'll get ya, Thick and heavy. UGH!!!

Moving the oil around on my gums was easy to get used to after a few minutes. I always have a dry tongue. I thought that if I swirled *blech* the oil on my tongue *blech* it would help. But the second I felt the oil on my tongue, I was ready to cut the 20 minutes short and move on. 

The worst part about oil pulling is that as you swish the oil around your mouth, the thicker the oil gets. As the minutes crawl by, you feel a thick and foamy slug forming in your mouth. All you can focus on is not letting the oil get too close to the back of your mouth so you accidentally swallow anything. Ugh, the thought of that makes my whole body clench in disgust. 

Oh the moment of release. So soothing it was to know that it is finally over. The once clear oil is now a vulgar shade of milky white. I followed up with brushing my teeth. I noticed that my mouth didn't feel as dry as usual that day. I was pleased with that. 

Would I try oil pulling again? 

Yes, and I have! It took me about a week to give it another try remembering the nauseating slug that formed in my mouth, but I did do it but this time in the shower. If you occupy your mind, you won't focus so much on the feeling in your mouth. I don't know if I would make this a permanent addition to my oral care. When I have oil pulled, maybe it is just in my head, but I feel like the spit in my mouth is super thick and I end up spitting all day. 

And, of course, there are more satisfying ways to use coconut oil. 

The lipstick I am wearing is from Beauty Bakerie. If you've worn one, you know how hard they are to remove without attacking your lips. This oil broke it down quickly and easily. 

How do you use natural ingredients in your beauty routine? 

As Is: The MPB Team Celebrates Women's History Month

These are not Before and After photos
Because I am myself regardless of the presence of lipstick
These are here and now photos
Because my mind is always present

These are not Natural versus Glam looks
Because there is nothing more glamorous than my bare smile
And applying mascara  comes naturally
I have got bigger battles started for me

I am told that I don’t need to wear makeup
While a woman next to me is told that with some blush, her eyes will really pop
The woman next to her is told she wears too much makeup
Neither of us is enough

We always seem to be too much
Yet never enough

Painted lips
Flushed cheeks
Contoured Jaw
Have never made me

I still look cute, tho.
And
I never asked you. 

-Danyelle Valentin (@bufferingbetty)
 

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Pepper B. 
Believes that she "came out for the womb" with a smokey eye. Leo with an Excessive Smoky Eye.

Pepper on Instagram

Source

My name is Pepper B! Beauty is like an accessory for me. I use makeup as an outlet to spice up the day but it doesn’t make my day. I thrive on having good skin so my favorite part of the day is taking my accessory off and wearing Bare Skin. I work in the beauty industry and it is very visual so I use makeup to polish up my look. I do believe that taking care of your skin allows you to have a better makeup application. I love myself with makeup but I love myself without makeup even more.  

“Without us there is no universe. People are drawn to chaos and controversy. They are afraid to put us in power because everything we touch we set on fire! We are resilient, trailblazers and life creators. The true definition of beauty & the beast. There is no recipe we just serve! I can try to define what it feels like to be a women but there aren’t enough words” 
- Pepper B 

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Deanna
Mantra: Follow your passion as this will make your dreams become reality! Giving you the most informational product review you'd ever want.

Deanna on Instagram

"Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it"

"The things you wear don't make you beautiful: they accentuate the beauty that is already there"

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Kayla
If it's skincare, she cares. Teaching all of the skincare DIYs

Kayla on Instagram

“Phenomenal woman, that’s me”- Maya Angelou

“I am a woman. I am clothes in strength & dignity & pride.” I first began to like “beauty” when I saw photos of my mom and aunts with amazing bright colors on their eyes- what I then learned was called eyeshadow lol. I loved how I had these beautiful women in my life & they could use these products to emphasize that and tell a whole new story of themselves. 

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Amanda
Awkward Tomboy Glow Queen Channeling Brooke Shields Circa Blue Lagoon

Amanda on Instagram

Red lipstick is my secret super power. It will help me conquer the world one day.I am very passionate about body confidence. 'Magic Makeover' is something I would do with my Mother (who I would call my Warrior Queen) who lost her battle 4 years ago [to cancer]. Making her feel beautiful would lighten up her day and I would love to make all of the warrior queens feel that way.

Source

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Danyelle
Doesn't send nudes. Lives in fuchsia lipstick + blush. Loves how her makeup looks but probably can't recreate it.

Danyelle on Instagram

After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough,' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought I am enough" - Anna Quindlen

"If you retain nothing else, always remember the most important rule of beauty, which is: who cares?" - Tina Fey

The beauty industry has given more than I could ask for from lipstick. It has nothing to do with actually wearing makeup, though, of course, I love to indulge. I have found a side of myself that I knew was there but never gave room to flourish. If you ever have looked at a beauty blog and thought of it as vapid -first, of all, goodbye. But truly you don't understand the time and effort that went into a product  reveiw. The amount of research that goes into an informative post. Beneath it all is passion and a vulnerability that must be admired. To end Women's History Month, just remember that everyone watching you will have an opinion. None of them will matter more than your own. 

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Taylor
Boho Chic, Party Girl, + Sparkle. Knows what formula is definitely an all-nighter.

Taylor on Instagram

The Scrub That Polishes My Past

Written by Twist_It_Tea

Photo by Taylor Adami

When I’m stressed, it’s literally written across my face.  I see the isolated blemishes on my cheeks as the previous week’s battle wounds.  I don’t stress that often, so when I do get a few blemishes popping up I swear I can almost pinpoint them to the exact reason why.  Instead of recounting my stressful moments, I’ve been recounting all that I’m grateful for, which definitely includes Cane + Austin Retexture Scrub.  As advertised it has 10% Glycolic Acid, which helps with removing dead skin cells and the reducing inflammation.  It also has 0.5% Salicylic Acid to help prevent new acne and removes black and white heads. I personally love how well rounded this product is and that I can depend on it to not only prevent more blemishes, to clear up current ones, but also reduce the hyper pigmentation that lingers like the ghosts of my stressful past. This scrub polishes my past clean and turns my face into a fresh canvas.  I use this product sparingly in the colder season, meaning less than 10 times a month and my skin is still noticeably softer and brighter.  My pores have gone down in size and I am keeping my blemishes under control while helping with the discoloration.

Cane + Austin also created a lovely and easy to use formula, if you read the directions.  There were far too many reviews mentioning this product as a face wash and it led me to believe that they had no idea how to properly use the scrub.  I have made the mistake of applying the formula to a wet face and realized how lack luster the results were. I apply the milky and grainy gel formula on a dry face/body, and massage the exfoliants into my skin and then I let it sit for 5-10 minutes.  I like the light scent of citrus and the tingly feeling I get when I know it’s time to rinse it off.  There are so many tiny exfoliants that it get’s hard to rinse it all completely from your face but the end result is totally worth the extra effort. My skin is so smooth and feels crispy clean and refreshed. The chemical peel gives it the perfect boost to really shake off the old to make room for the new.  The natural glow is beaming when I wake up the next morning. You would think the opposite but my skin feels and looks nourished. A little extra moisturizer never hurt anyone, espeically if you have dry skin.

Every day I am making the effort to be content with my flaws (and repeat the above mantra) and each day is a new lesson and challenge. I love being able to rely on Cane + Austin’s Retexture Scrub to give me the extra confidence when I’m having a bad skin week (or month).  When I see my skin flare up, I know it's time to slow it down and become centered again - self care helps in that department. 

Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend

Written by Twist.It.Tea

Ok, two best friends because I have this lip in two shades: Grrrl and O.G. Red.  Finally, I feel like I may have found my soulmates.  Not only are these shades my fave but they’re everything I want and need in a matte lip.  It doesn’t require a base because it has shea butter, coconut oils and grapefruit peel oils in it to soften your lips and provide extra moisture (MAJOR KEY). 

Courtesy of Milk Makeup (Sephora)

Milk uses a special technology called Milk Melt that matches your body temp for an “instant glide and a second skin feel”.  This formula feels so good on your lips from application through the whole night.  When I use matte lips I almost feel like they’re a little gritty and ‘skip’ on the application, but because of all of those amazing oils and the shea butter, it was a smooth transition from stick to lip.  It’s important to me that my matte formula doesn’t dry out my lips, especially during the winter months.

O.G. Red by Milk Makeup Demi Matte Lipstick

This formula is very pigmented and is definitely an all-nighter.  Even when it did start to fade, my lips were still held a subtle tint.  I love that about this line, it fades with grace so I still feel confident throughout the night that I don’t have to constantly be reapplying. 

Grrrl by Milk Makeup Demi  Matte Lipstick. 

I am always carrying the shade, Grrrl around with me because I think it goes with everything.  It gives me a little bit of a 90’s vibe but I’m into it. It’s described as a ‘Deep Plum’ but to be honest I find it more in the mauve family with a hint of grey.  I love it because I’m a huge fan of this shade I’ve been wearing it all winter and fall.  And like the OG Red it stays on all night and the subtle tint is reliable until I can get into a mirror to reapply. 

Grrrl by Milk Makeup Demi  Matte Lipstick

O.G. Red is super pigmented and is now my go-to for when I want a fire engine red.  It’s a litttttle messy, but what best friend isn’t? I’m always so careful when I apply this shade because it somehow gets on my chin and teeth (unfortunately) but I don’t really care to be honest because the shade is that dope.  I wear some lipliner with this shade and it won’t feather around my lips, and even though it’s a little finicky to apply I really love this formula and shade overall. 

Beach Waves in March ! IGK Beach Club Texture Spray

Written by Deanna P 

I recently tried IGK Beach Club Texture Spray.  It comes in a 1.7 oz trial size and 5 oz for $29.00.  I tried the 5 oz. size. IGK launched in 2016 by 4 hair stylists from NY, LA, & Miami.  The stylists include Chase Kusero from LA.  His clients include Jared Leto, Paris Hilton, Robbie Williams, and Mena Suvari.  Franck Izquierdo, from Miami, whose claim to fame is styling models on fashion runways  from Milan to Paris and has worked for many designers including Givenchy.   Leo Izquierdo, also from Miami, who also works the catwalk and the red carpet.  Mercedes Benz Fashion week has partnered with him and he has worked with Oscar De La Renta and Chloe’.

The NYC stylist, Aaron Grenia, from NY who has a deep passion for styling and has a list of his own fashionable clients and also works the runway with famous designers.  The group together resembles a men’s rock band and give off a cool laid back vibe.  Their single vision is to create products designed to fit the lives and needs of the client. For those of you who do not know, I am not a huge fan of most hair sprays.  That is until I tried IGK Beach Club Texture Spray.  Texture Sprays are different from hair sprays as they add texture to the hair without the stiffness, & stillness a lot of hairsprays do. This texture spray can be used on Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coiled or Tightly Coiled hair.  It has no added Parabens, Sulfates or.Phthalates It can also be used on color or keratin treated hair.  Lastly, it is salt free. It claims to add texture and volume to the hair and give you that beach wind blown look. 

I tried IGK spray not expecting much and I fell in love.   I though the packaging was brilliant.  The beach picture that covers the canister speaks for itself and really displays what the product   is supposed to do.   The fragrance is a mix of vibrant notes of guava, coconut water, pink lotus, midnight violet, and vanilla.  The smell is intoxicating.   The best news is the product works briliantly.  It gave my hair a great beachy texture while adding a great smell and the ability to still run my fingers through it. I would definitely recommend and think it is priced fairly.   The good news is you can buy the mini size for $14.00 so you can try it before you invest in it.  

You can purchase it at sephora.com.

Should you do what the Dr. orders & use what he suggests for your skin?

Written by Deanna. P

Dr. Perricone MD High Potency Face Firming Activator

59 mL  2 Fl Oz retails for $125.00

I was so excited to try another product by Dr. Perricone MD.  I had tried and was still using Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum.   I loved the way it worked on my skin and made it look.  The addition of the firm activator to my skin routine could only help to make my skin look even better.  The product was first only available through a dermatologist’s office.  The ingredients, which include alpha lipoic acid & DMAE are proprietary to Dr. Perricone, which to me made it more of an exclusive product.  Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone is a world-renowned healthy-aging expert. He's also an award-winning inventor, a certified nutrition specialist, an educator, and a philanthropist, in addition to being a board-certified dermatologist.

As I had written before, On his website it says, “Dr. Nicholas Perricone believes we can control the way we age (wrinkles and all) by simply following an anti-inflammatory diet backed with nutritional supplements and anti-aging topical skincare. Think of it as a prescription for beauty that comes from the inside out—as well as the outside in.”  This is sheer brilliance & as well as being a fan of his skincare, I am a fan of his philosophy.  

I used the product for a week and noticed the difference.  My skin did appear to have less lines and did look younger to me.  With continued use, I feel the results will be even more profound.  The product is a serum so it was light and easy to apply and did have a pleasant  natural healthy scent. I also liked the fact that the consumer results were not perfect. They were very good , but only showed that around 80+% of people saw improvements.  The product is pricey, but it is definitely something to try as it is a potent product that has some great proven results. 

You can buy it at ulta.com

4 out of 5 stars

4 Beauty Sprays Dry Skin Sufferers Need

@bufferingbetty

Moisturize me!

There are two outrageously terrible symptoms of untreated dry skin. The first is how your skin feels. Your skin can feel so tight that you fear any facial expression you make could force your skin to crack wide open. If it ever reaches the itchy stage, your mind can focus on nothing else until you get that heavy duty moisturizer on your skin. The second symptom is how your skin can look. It's worse because it adds insult to injury. Not only are you physically uncomfortable but now you're self-conscious of all the little flaky patches on your face.

Sometimes, your skin can look as if the outer most layer is
about to shed right off your face like a snake's skin.

For us makeup wearers, untreated dry skin is a nightmare. Your makeup can't look good if your skin ain't right. 

Here are four sprays that make dry skin look and feel JUICY!

For Skin Care:

The time between when you cleanse your skin and apply a moisturizer is very fragile for dry skin survivors. If your skin is still too wet, the moisturizer will slip off your face but you won't even know it. That is until 10 minutes later when you sneeze and you could swear the skin on your forehead must've broken off. I've literally touched my forehead to see if I was bleeding because it hurt so badly. If you wait even a little bit too long to apply moisturizer, well you already know. Itchy. Cracky. Terribleness. 

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist 

The Luminous Dewy Skin Mist by Tatcha was an instant hit for me. When the serum spray sunk into my skin, I was amazed by how supple my skin felt. I've bought it a few times and I'll buy it again. Tatcha claims you can use this on top of make up but I don't like to use it that way. Dewy becomes greasy really fast. Take the less is more approach with this spray. 

Related:
Tatcha: The Luxury Skin Care Line Social Media Gurus Go Crazy For: Is It Worth The Hype?

My skin was juicy like a peach!

The mist is fine as hell and so am I. 

Makeup Prep:

If your skin is crusty + dusty, your makeup is dusty + crusty. It's all about that skin prep. The best primer I have used is the Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer. OMG is it good. When Too Faced came out with the spray version of the creamy primer, I could not wait to get my chubby little hands on it. 

Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray

I don't know if my bottle was just a dud but the nozzel is pura trash. TBH, I didn't even realize it leaked until I filmed this gif. The mist is FAR from fine. It spits in your face. So spray it in the air and let it fall on your face. However, truth be told, the spray works as well as the original primer. What makes this formula so bomb is the ability it has to keep your skin feeling like it has been freshly moisturized without feeling like you have moisturizer on your face. It's a liquid Houdini! 

Related:
From Hang Over To Hydrated: This Primer Is Top Knotch
Too Faced Product Review

So the real tea is that Too Faced calls this a 3-in-1 product.
Nah. It's just a 1-in-1.

I only use this product as a primer because both formulations leave your skin feeling so sticky. You feel hydrated and look radiant but if you touch your face, there is an undeniable tackiness.  Using this as a setting spray is a hell no. Unless you want to feel like you're a piece of double sided tape all day. It also doesn't help with fine lines or pores but I'll take both over crusty looking skin any day. But probably because I don't have a ton of either. 

OOO, also the scent soothes all of your woes. 

Makeup Set:

Foundation, concealer, powder, highlight, blush, bronzer -layer after layer, babes with dry skin know how we can look after all that powder. I'm not putting in all this effort to look like I have been rolling in the sand. My makeup skill level is intermediate, so I also need a setting spray that brings it all together for me with just a touch of glow.

Related:
Find Your Makeup Skill Level

Milani Make It Last Setting Spray

In the past 6 months, I have bought this product 3 times. While you're reading this, I'm probably on my way to buy another one. It's affordable, it smells good, I look great. Milani is a brand you shouldn't sleep on. This setting spray is an amazing product.

What I like about this setting spray, is that it does not
alter the finish of my makeup.

I picked a foundation for a reason. I chose a powder for a reason. I like how it looks. I just need a little extra help not a totally different look. I like a 'natural glow' over a dewy-sweaty look. I had always used the Make Up For Ever Mist + Fix but I hated how sweaty I looked. This Milani spray gives me the same longevity of the MUFE spray without the 'she's just wet' look. What is tragic about this setting spray is the amount of alcohol in it. I haven't noticed any changes in my skin since using this product but I am always cautious with my dry skin. Take care of your skin especially after wearing makeup. 

Move over, big hair! My radiant goddess dreams achieved. 

On The Go:

Dry skin doesn't care who you are, where you're at, or what you are doing. It chooses when you can look juicy and when you will look stale. The best thing you can do is be prepared. You need moisture with you at all times! This is not a drill. All the time. 

Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Mist

The contents of my purse include these essential items. Not pictured: 8 lip products in shades of fuchsia berries and my long yellow wallet stuffed with old receipts and about $6 worth of assorted coins. 

Tony Moly has the most adorably packaged products. The Pocket Bunny Moist Mist is no different. This little guy has saved my skin on numerous occasions. It is the only reason I was able to turn on the heat in my car without fear this past winter. Heating and air cooling systems alike make my skin feel like a piece of toast that has been left out overnight. I drive a lot. I love that I can just pop this spray out of my bag, give myself a little spritz and feel so comfortable.

It doesn't disrupt my makeup.

Everyone that rides with me, in the winter months particularly, has had me spray them in the face with my little bunny. Yes! They did like it!

No ashy hands over here!

Tell me how you tackle your dry skin!! What spray should I try next?

Source

SFX in a bottle! Find out How!

Written By Kayla M @oohkayla

The bottle read “Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum”, I thought it was going to be a world wind affair with this new product. I WAS WRONG. According to their site, REN is “a smarter skincare which delivers high performance visible results.” The serum is my first REN product and I was excited to try a primer that would “smooth, lift and reduce pore size, dryness and redness.”

Excitement doesn’t begin to express the feeling I had when I first saw this product. The packaging was simple but for some reason I felt it holding the secret to all the universe. The only secret this product held is how to look like an extra from The Walking Dead. I have dry skin and this product accentuated my every dry spot I had, it then made my makeup cakey and hard to blend and to top it off it made my eye shadow crease and somehow disappear into the unknown. The first time I applied the serum I thought my face felt soft and smooth and was eager to apply my face afterwards. Initially I thought it was the bitter NY winter that caused the creasing and cakey-ness but the more I used it the more I noticed my face was literally falling apart.  I was devastated and decided to go to the review section of Sephora to see if I was crazy or not. On the Sephora website I realized the product had almost 5 stars however the con list was a long one for dry skin people. The reviews were amazing for anyone who had oily or even combination skin, which leads me to believe there is hope for this product. Based on the reviews I read I would recommend this serum to anyone with oily skin but advise someone with dry skin to only use this product during Halloween as part of your SFX makeup kit aka the only time zombie realness is applauded. 

How To Glow Like A Real Life Snapchat Filter

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

I love the face filters and flower headbands just as much as the next girl, but I know I’m not the only one who has wished their makeup was as flawless in real life as it it behind a cute sparkly filter.  Well, luckily I’ve unlocked the secrets, and I'm willing to share with you all today the easy steps to recreating flawless skin.  I found that this step may be the most important. and It starts with, WHEN Glamour Base Sheet Mask. This sheet mask is made from coconut and a bio cellulose fiber, which is very different than a paper sheet mask made from wood or cotton. Bio cellulose fibers have an incredible ability to hold and absorb moisture, making it a perfect component for a face mask made for skin firming, nourishment and hydration. 

Courtesy of WHEN Beauty

When I opened the sheet mask it came sandwiched in between two paper-like masks and at first touch, had a latex feel and I was a little turned off.  I was surprised it smelled like citrus when I first put the mask on, because I read it was made from coconut (I got my hopes up to say that least).  But it was lovely, refreshing and not over powering. I left the mask on for the recommended 30 minutes, and it definitely had a suction feeling upon removal.  I also noticed while I was wearing the mask it felt like the sheet was clinging to my skin, which is all thanks to the super hydration (FACT: bio cellulose masks hold 10 times more moisture than a paper mask thanks to its nano sized fibers) that helped open up my pores to sink in all the good stuff, like ginseng extracts to help with the glow, and adenosine, hydrolyzed collagen and peptides to maximize skin elasticity.  I’m always weary of using a face mask before my makeup application because I’m never sure how the serum is going to sink into my skin or if it’s going to leave a sticky mess behind.  Luckily this sheet mask is made for a makeup prep and it fully absorbed into my skin within 10 minutes.  The serum is supposed to increase collagen production, and make my skin look more firm and smooth, which I can sincerely say is true. 

Photo by Taylor Adami 

Step two is Becca Velvet Blurring Primer, and this stuff is looking like the golden ticket in order to be a real life, walking, talking Snapchat filter.  This primer is going to brighten your complexion, and blur your pores to give you an airbrushed finish.  It’s perfect for my oily/combo skin because it goes from liquid to powder right before my eyes (I'm convinced it's magic).  I apply this after my moisturizer has set in *completely*, or else you’ll get little dried up pilling of lotion when you try to apply the primer.  The formula is a gorgeous light shade of pink that comes out rather aggressively, so be careful.  I don't want to over complicate things, so I will tell you that Sephora said it best, “the formula is infused with pore-blurring powders that float over your skin to diffuse light for a velvety smooth, soft focus finish”, which also helps control oil (huge plus).  I was truly amazed when I applied this over my face, because I was not expecting such a luxe feeling.  It kept my skin hydrated due to the sodium hyaluronate, and brightened up my skin which gave me the confidence to wear this alone on my face because it made such a difference (it also provides slight color correction).  A primer that blurs imperfections and keeps my skin oil free all day is sure to be a keeper, but the fact that it does ALL of that and keeps my makeup in place all day is a home run. 

Photo by Taylor Adami

The grand finale is Too Faced Peach Blur Translucent Powder.  I can’t say enough good things about this product, but I can start with the fact that it has opal-correcting spheres that work to smooth out harsh lines and blur imperfections to give you that near perfect skin filter. The packaging is adorable, and the pressed powder smells AMAZING (like peaches and sweet fig cream to get specific), and you don’t need a lot to get your desired filter. It really looks like there’s no powder on your brush but when you swipe your face, it looks amazing.  I use my Guerlain brushes and although they are a little rough, they pick up the perfect amount of powder.

Photo by Taylor Adami

The formula makes my face buttery smooth, while simultaneously controlling my oil.  This is the last and final step on How To Become A Real Life Snapchat Filter, I even apply over my setting spray because I love the lit from within vibe it gives me.  I feel so pretty with this on! 

The MIlk Makeup Mascara That's Doing Too Much While Doing Nothing At All

Written By @Twist.It.Tea

Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara. By Taylor Adami

I was so intrigued by Milk Makeup’s Ubame Mascara that I couldn’t wait to put it to the test.  As we all know, Milk Makeup is eco-conscious, paraben free and all around very innovative when it comes to ingredients and from first glance, this mascara didn’t fall short in those categories.  But I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is Milk Makeup just one big gimmick?”  (I know a few of you are scoffing at this!!) I will say it has it’s up and downs but part way through writing this article I had made up my mind about which category Ubame Mascara fell in to.  I want to mention first, the notable ingredients, and then with how it applied to my lashes.

Kishu Binchotan Charcoal courtesy of Free People

 One of the first unusual ingredients is right in the name, Ubame.  Ubame is naturally derived from oak trees in the Kishu region of Japan, which is then activated into charcoal. People use ubame for so many different things; mostly to purify water, absorb oils and grilling.  I won’t lie, I had no idea what this stuff was but it seemed magical and at the end of my research I was happy to take the time able to educate myself on all of its amazing uses.

The way Milk Makeup utilizes this organic ingredient is by promising a shade of black that is ‘blacker than black’.  I’ve personally never had problems with mascara not being a true black but I was willing to let them sucker me in over this ubame oak charcoal.  I noticed my lashes were dark, but nothing I’d say stood out to be much of a difference than my normal lashes just a bit more stuck together.   I was kind of disappointed, I was expecting a thicker, fuller lash but instead got a clumpy, haphazard mess.  My eye lashes were separated and weak.  I love when a mascara gives me a full lash starting at the base, and gradually separating.

Not actual sapphire dust, shown is Glitter Dust In Sapphire Blue by Shopo.

Next on the list of “Interesting Ingredient, But What Does It Do?” was the highly proclaimed, sapphire dust.  Well, I couldn’t have rolled my eyes harder at this one. After Googling plenty of different variations of, “what is sapphire dust?”, “what does sapphire dust do?”, none of my questions were answered especially in regard to what Milk Makeup claims to provide, “dimension and depth”.  At this point I’m a little skeptical because I’m getting the feeling Milk Makeup is marketing to a consumer who will buy anything that sounds ‘natural’ or ‘better for you’.  Honestly, I don’t see any need for sapphire dust in a mascara, but Milk seems to think it’s an important enough ingredient. I won’t lie, it does sound pretty cool to say you’re mascara is made out of activated charcoal and sapphire dust.  But, it doesn’t change the fact that this mascara really fell short.  I would have loved if the dust provided a reflective property to make the lashes seem fuller or longer.  Anything to make them seem less unenthused. With  Milk boasting about their Ubame mascara being 75% natural ingredients, I was convinced at this point they’re just throwing shit in there to sound cool. And the reason why I’m saying that is because ,they got me.  I thought these two ingredients were both interesting enough, to have high hopes for the mascara.   I was hoping the notable ingredients were more than a shock factor, but functional ingredients.  Unfortunately for me, this formula caused my eyes to it itch shortly into the day.  It is highlighted to be a buildable mascara and I found myself applying it close to four times before seeing some drama.  I think the excessive coats, mixed with a drier formula caused the mascara to flake under and into my eyes resulting in my eyes becoming extremely itchy.  So not only were my eyes itchy but black flecks were sticking under my eyes, and it looked like I haven’t been getting much sleep.  I didn’t put all of this together until I started reading some reviews claiming the same reaction. 

Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara Wand. By Taylor Adami

Apart from the non memorable formula,  the 3 part  wand was possibly the most unnecessary thing about this whole mascara.  The directions claim  that curling your eyelash prior isn’t needed.  I beg to differ.  In order to achieve any noticeable effect I had to curl my lashes prior or else they would stick straight out. It was annoying having to apply 4-5 coats per eye to only get a fraction of what BlackUp Volumizing Lengthening Mascara gives me in 1-2 strokes.  I don’t think this brush does anything for me at all, it was even difficult to apply in some areas of my eye because of the shape.   

 I will say one positive thing about Milk Makeups Ubame Mascara is their genius concept of the squeeze tube.  I loved feeling like I had more control over how much formula I was putting on the comb, and I wish every company would implement this packaging into their mascara lines. Unfortunately this packaging wasn’t enough to make up for the overall underwhelming results. 

Which Matte Palette Should You Get Based On Your Skill Level

@bufferingbetty

If you've ever gotten discouraged when applying your makeup, there is a possibility you are using a product that just is out of your skill range. Especially when it comes to eyeshadow. Your eyelid is such a small canvas that learning to apply eyeshadow can be pretty tricky! Matte shadows are not the easiest to work with either. If your blending needs some work, it can be very obvious without the shimmers and glitter to soften it. Here is a guide to helping you find the right matte palette for you. 

Remember:
 Makeup is fun.
Practice makes you better.
Makeup never has to be anything more than you want it to be. 

Match your skill level + find your perfect palette!

The Newbie:

Your go-to-look usually consists of mascara and a nude lipstick. You probably just bought your very first concealer and never knew you could look so wide awake. Now, you're ready to embark on the journey to blended creases and smokey lash lines.

Kiss New York Professionals
Hexa Eyeshadow Palette in Matte Nude; $9

This Hexa Matte Nude Palette from Kiss New York Professionals is a great product to practice with. The shadows have a buildable pigmentation. This allows you to learn how to control the shadow while not being overwhelmed with color. When you're new to wearing eye makeup, even the smallest amount of color can feel like you have a 2004-emo-kid smokey eye. Think Gerard Way in Helena. The Hexa palette gets you accustomed to seeing some depth being added to your eyes. These shadows blend easily for a beginner. If you find yourself having trouble, soften the amount of pressure you are applying with. The bristle of your brush shouldn't be fanned out and flat against your skin but gently grazing the skin to softly blend the shadows. Be careful not to over blend -yeah that happens sometimes and you eye shadow look just ends up being brushed away. 

This  palette is available in 4 color choices here ⇀

Easy:

You know what the 'outer v' is but you're still learning the proper eyeshadow placement that will be the most flattering to your eye shape. You also just realized that eye shapes are a thing. You're ready to start trying your hand at new eyeshadow styles, add some color, and figured out what do people mean by a halo eye. 

Morphe
12NB Natural Beauty Eyeshadow Palette; $12-15

This 12 pan eyeshadow palette from Morphe (pronounced more-fee) is an affordable and super user-friendly palette anyone can master. The quality is very similar to the Kiss palette but just tiny bit more pigmented. There is more color deposited on your eyelid when you apply these shadows, however, it doesn't stay that pigmented when you blend them so creating gradients are more simple. The shades in the palette help you learn how to build depth to a look. Practice your cut-crease, the halo eye (personal fave for puffy-hooded eyes), or a classic rounded smokey eye. Incorporate new brush techniques for application. If you find you have trouble getting a seamless blend, try a patting blending motion instead of windshield wiper motions. I find that it creates a more beautiful gradient that won't make all of the colors indecipherable from one another that still doesn't look like color blocking. 

Morphe has about 4 of these 12 pan eye shadow palette here ⇀  

There are some shimmers in this palette, however, they BARELY shimmer. There is a slight sheen. If you're not used to seeing reflects on your eyelids, this a good starting point. Try these on the inner corner or just on the center of your lid. It plays up the shape of your eye just a bit. 

This IS called the natural palette so don't hold the slight sheen against them too much.

Intermediate:

You are comfortable with just about anything on your eyes but you are still trying to identify your style. You often like how your eye makeup looks but you are trying to figure out how to get it to the next level. You know a ton of makeup techniques, but you just need more practice. My favorite time to practice is before I go to bed. I'll take off any eye makeup I have on and try something new or just build on to what is already on my eyelid. 

Urban Decay
Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette, $54

This palette is basic only in name. Stunning packaging and beautiful colors. The Urban Decay Ultimate Basics Palette carries a range of cool and warm toned shadows. For lesser experienced users, the pigmentation of this palette can be daunting. A little bit of product goes a long way. If you made a mistake while creating your smokey eye, the lighter shades in the top row of this palette are great for correcting it. Look at them as a softener. How many times have your looks gotten away from you and you ended up with eyeshadow half a centimeter away from your brow? Yeah, me too. Choose a shade that matches the tone of your look. Using a fluffy blending brush, pat the shadow over the edges of your look. You won't ever have to start over again.  

Urban Decay also carries 2 smaller Naked Basics palettes that have less color in them.  Here ⇀

Experienced:

Honey, you got this. You can find an eyeshadow look on your Instagram feed and mentally break down the steps to recreate it. You're so versed in makeup that you recognize the shade on the lid is actually a blush from that limited edition palette that came out last year. Winged eyeliner can be done while having a conversation and you can cut a crease without using the concealer trick. 

Kat Von D
Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette; $48

The Kat Von D eyeshadow formula is not for the faint of heart. If you have never applied eyeshadow, this is not the palette for you. You don't have to be a pro, but you should at the very least have a few blending techniques and a light hand. These eyeshadows are so richly pigmented that building the color carefully and slowly is not a suggestion; it is a necessity. The benefit of this level of pigmentation is that you won't have to worry about your eye makeup expiring before your night is up.  The shadows create such depth. The black is the darkest you could imagine. The white shade is so bright, it confuses your iPhone camera.  If you find that you are having some trouble blending these shadows, adjust where your hand is holding the brush. The closer your hand is to the bristles, the more pressure you are applying. Slide your hand away from the ferrule (usually the metal part of the brush) and cradle the brush more delicately in your hand. It's a small difference that can really improve your makeup. 

Kat Von D has a shimmer version of this palette!!! Here ⇀

Pro

You're an artist. Bridal, runway, film, lighting, skin type - you know all of the things that have an effect on makeup and you know how to work around them to still get exactly what you want. Eye shape? Irrelevant. You make eye shapes. Not only does your makeup look effortless, you can do the same for any client. 

Mehron
iNtense Pro™ Pressed Pigment Palette; $54

Just for reference, the Mehron palette is a professional palette and the Kat Von D palette is STILL more pigmented. 

This is a very easy palette to work with. The colors are pigmented but not so much that you have to be super careful. The reason it is a pro product is because it goes beyond eye makeup. "iNtense PRO™ Pressed Powder Pigments are also versatile enough to be used in multiple ways on the hair or body for that theatrical and dramatic effect" (Mehron). A great way to use this palette is by gently scrapping some product out of the pan. Use a mixing medium that will spark your creativity. I blended the reddish shade with a lip balm for a beautiful lip shade. I have used these powers on my face for a fun contour - GRL! how these colors blended!!! I once mixed some of the green shadow into a fair - light foundation for a cool Halloween costume. The possibilities only end where you creativity does. 

This palette is available in 3 shades Here ⇀

What is your skill level and what are you challenging yourself to do?

Get The Look: Lady Gaga Grammy's Look!

@bufferingbety

Gaga was giving us a million reasons to go to beauty school.

Source

Sarah Tanno was the artist behind the Lady Gaga's gorgeous makeup. She gave Gaga a black, winged-out smokey eye with a meteorite-like sparkle.

Tanno has also been the hands behind the makeup for
Gaga's Grammy appearances since 2015! 

Gaga's 2015 Grammy Look
Source

Gaga's 2016 Grammy Look
Source

Gaga's 2017 Grammy Look
Source

Sarah Tanno was looking out for her fellow man when she posted a photo of Gaga's Grammy look with a caption that gave her 137k Instagram followers all of the deets on how Tanno created Gaga's captivating look and what she used to do so.

"Gaga’s eyes were inspired by a dark starry night. Romantic and striking to compliment the gorgeous #ArmaniPrivé creation."

Source

"I rimmed her eyes heavily with @marcbeauty #Blaquer
Highliner Gel Crayon and blended all over the lid."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Blacquer 42

"I winged the shape to a sharp point using Magic Marc’er in Blaquer."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Magic Marc'er Precision Pen Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Blacquer

"I next blended A soft shimmery peach all the way to the
brow bone using Glambition Eyeconic palette."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Glambition

"I next added the sparky back from the Edgitorial palette to
blend the transition together."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Edgitorial

She then applied "[c]oats of [her] favorite #VelvetNoir mascara"

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

She finished with "sparsely [applying] loose
silver glitter from Lit [Cosmetics]."

Lit Cosmetics
Liquid Metal in Magnetic (Silver)

For Gaga's snatched face Tanno used "the newest #marcjacobsbeauty foundation called #Shameless... This foundation is luminous but self setting, so no need to use a ton of powder. 
 

My dream come true. - Tanno about Marc Jacobs Beauty's new foundation launching in February

Source

"I put a soft veil of pink blush on her cheeks using
Airblush in Kink & Kisses."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 504 Kink & Kisses

"I tapped a bit of dew drops in high points
of skin for a sheer elegant glow."

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter

"For the lips I used Prim(rose) lipliner and
Le Marc Lipstick in Cream & Sugar"

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil in Prim(rose) 304

Marc Jacobs Beauty
Le Marc Lip Crème in Cream and Sugar (available in Nude Lip Trio Set)

So now you know the steps + the tools. But it's up to you to practice
so you can create this glam look all for yourself! Good Luck!

Which 2018 Grammy's do you want to recreate?

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Find Out How I Achieve A Subtle Glow For An Out Of This World Gleam

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

I am sadly not solely convinced that Milk Makeup’s Holographic Stick in Mars will give me the highlight I truly want and deserve.  I was planning on turning Mars into my everyday luminizer, especially because there’s enough in the full-size container to highlight an entire army for like 3 years.  If you don't know about Milk Makeup's Holographic Stick Family, Mars is the sister shade to the infamous, Supernova, but in a more “down-to-earth” rose gold/peachy shimmer.  This is a very beautiful and cool-toned luminizer that is universal to all skin shades which is amazing and also why I LOVE Milk Makeup products. 

Credit: Milk Makeup

Anyway, I was very much in love with Supernova over the summer, which you can read about here. I was ready to fall head over heels all over again with Mars, but I was sadly mistaken.  Going into trying the new addition to the family, I knew exactly what to expect from these highlighters – especially due to the lovely and (very) prominent ingredient, Avocado Oil which gives it a super smooth application.  They’re notoriously difficult to apply to your skin straight from the stick – it WILL shift your BB cream or foundation, and end up on the stick which is not fun.  It’s best to apply the highlight to your preferred areas by tapping the formula on with your fingers.  It’s honestly not my favorite way to apply highlighter but since I loved the way Supernova looked on me I was willing to put my differences aside and try this baby out.  Well, Mars is a beautiful shade in concept, but once it’s on my skin it doesn’t really wow me at all, and that is definitely a personal preference. A LOT of people love this shade and formula, but it’s too subtle for my taste! For me, it falls very flat and forces me to continually apply it to my skin until it’s pretty greasy.  So, on the plus side – it is buildable but it doesn’t have the most pleasant ending.  It is very sheer compared to Supernova and that made me sad because I love an intentional glow, but since I do appreciate it as a base I love to sweep some Anastasia Sugar Glow Kit over the top.  At this point, I am definitely wearing an ‘out-of-this-world’ type of highlight, but there are pretty light peach undertones that come through when sunlight hits.  I like to use Gumdrop because it compliments Mars so well with the rose gold flakes. 

When I would wear the formula alone, it would eventually leave very fine lines on my cheekbones which I did not appreciate having to buff out in the middle of the day, and also didn’t give me that “ethereal glow” I was hoping for.  Instead, I think I would really benefit from this if I used it as a body highlighter during the summer.  I can only imagine how sexy and effortless this would gleam on collarbones and with a bronzey tan.  I won’t give up on Mars just yet, because I truly want to love it as much as it’s big sister, Supernova.  So, since summer is still a few months away, I am going to try a cool suggestion I received in the meantime; apply the highlighter under my BB Cream.  I am not truly convinced here, mostly because of the oily feeling it gives me sometimes, but I am definitely going to test it out because I’m willing to make this relationship work!  If anyone has any other suggestions please reach out!

"They're Real & They're Spectacular"

Written by @oohkayla

One of the first “high end” mascaras I remember purchasing was Benefit’s They’re Real mascara. Benefit was actually one of the first brands I ever purchased from in Sephora, in truth they really are the brand that led to my obsession. Fast forward to also 10 years later and I have come to the conclusion that They’re Real mascara may be my makeup soulmate.

Dear They’re Real, I am sorry for the years I spend neglecting you, I was young and foolish and trust me it won’t happen again. Will you forgive me? Yours Forever, Kayla M

Like most people I am a real sucker for numbers and statistics, I can tell through the computer screen you are staring at this saying, “What does that mean?” You know when 3 out of 4 dentists recommend a gum? Or when 9 out of 10 vets agree on a cat food? And you go out and buy it just because almost 100% think it is good, that is being a sucker for numbers and statistics. Benefit’s website has them all over their site and after being reunited with my love, I have to agree with them. I apply 1-2 coats to my top lashes using the wiggle through technique. The wiggle through is when you move your brush from side to side as you are moving it up through your lash, I find it gives me the maximum effect and rids me of any small clumps that may have occur not that clumps happen often.

1 out of 1 Kayla’s recommend this to her entire tribe. The brush this mascara has seems pretty standard but it isn’t! Think Harry Potter wand and then add a little spiked ball at end that helps with those really tiny lashes as well as helping to separate overall. I personally have very small, scattered, “are they even there?” lashes and this works wonders. The mascara lengthens, separates and adds volume. But be warned this won’t provide the look of falsies but it will help the makeup lovers out there that need a good staple mascara, who have a hard time finding something that makes the smallest of lashes step into their power and you take home to meet your parents!

If They’re Real Mascara was a person they would be the best man and maid of honor at your wedding, the aunt who always makes the best mac n’ cheese, the little black dress that hugs you in all the right places.

My Ride or Die Beauty Products of 2017!

By: @acevallee

Hey guys, it's your friendly neighborhood glow queen! Happy 2018! Better late than never, I'm posting my top standout products from last year that is sure to remain in heavy rotation this year. Come to the celebration that is obviously on my Top Shelf as you can see. Some brands are repetitive but I honestly can't apologize for it because it is truly the products that got me through the past year and I refuse to eliminate them because of repetition. There are some dry skin warriors on this list so make sure to take notes if you're a fellow parched gal. Also theres a product that I forgot to take a photo of because it has been lost for 3 days but I MUST mention it. OLEHENRIKSEN BANANA BRIGHT EYE CREAM. LIFE CHANGER!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even going to talk about it, just go run out and get it... NOW. It's my top recommendation. Thank me later. 

FOREO LUNA PLAY has been a crucial addition to my skincare routine. It helped me deep cleanse in the most gentle way possible. Unlike a Clarisonic this gentle silicone, vibrating tool doesn't need carry and bacterial residue which is a plus for those like me who fear germs. The battery on the brand's tiniest cleansing device does run out but it did reassure me to upgrading to the Luna Mini 2 which can be recharged. 

SUNDAY RILEY JUNO face oil has been my ace this season. I double dose before bed after cleansing and before my moisturizer. I put enough to make me look like a greasy strip of bacon. My parched skin needs all of this goodness to drink up during the hours that I'm asleep. 

FLOSS GLOSS nail polishes are hands down the best. "Disco Dust", a nude-ish rose gold holo compliments my skintone perfectly and I'm sure my manicurist is tired of me using the same polish. The shade "Lipliner" is basically MAC's classic lipliner "Whirl" for your nails... enough said. Universally flattering, The go-to for my pedicure. 

Of course I had to include FENTY BEAUTY on my list. That KILLAWATT HIGHLIGHTER in "TROPHY WIFE" is bold as F*CK and it is the standout product of the brand's entirety. The effect is like shattered purely gold glass and can be used as an eyeshadow as well. The richest glow of all time. GLOSS BOMB is also one of the best glosses on the market and is truly universally flattering on each and every single skin tone. When in Doubt with what lip to wear, pairing with a smokey or neutral lid, Gloss Bomb will come in clutch.  

BUNNY MOON JELLY MASK Move over Oatafix, This is now LUSH's most hydrating face mask that I have ever used. It is such a treat, perfect for boosting hydration in this harsh NYC winter weather. With calming ingredients like rose and chamomile to sooth and honey to generously moisturize dry, sensitive skin, this newbie is a winner! 

In 2017 I turned 30 and started using sunscreen on a daily basis. GLOSSIER INVISIBLE SHIELD doesn't irritate my skin or make me breakout like just about every other sunscreen on the planet, and it's more like a serum and its super light and soaks in seamlessly. Also works well under makeup which is a plus. (Glossier, please make a waterproof version). This was my got to protection after using exfoliants and products like Drunk Elephant's Babyfacial to protect my freshly renewed skin from the sun. 

COLOURPOP was one of my top 3 brands this year. Most of my money went to ordering highlighters and also Face Products. I was addicted to their SUPER SHOCK CHEEK HIGHLIGHTER "Flexitarian" which became my signature glow a while back (here's my past review on this formula)  as well as "Off Tropic:" which is the warmer version of my signature. Their Powder Bronzers and Blushes were also some of my most used products as they go on silkily with no skipping or patchiness. BTW, Not one product in this photo cost more than $8!!

This is the greatest product from Glossier since Haloscope. GLOSSIER CLOUD PAINTS are a great multi-use product for eyes, cheeks and lips. I was using this for a majority of the year mixed with highlighter to get a pretty glow. (which is now called "draping"). They're insanely pigmented so very little goes an extremely long way. The shade "Dusk" is my favorite. 

Drunk Elephant's T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is worth every ounce of hype it is given. After using it once a week for a month, I've noticed a difference in texture and clarity of my skin, leaving it renewed, radiant and subtle after each use as if I went and got an actual professional facial done. 

HERBIVORE COCO ROSE has become a staple in my bedtime shower routine! It makes my skin baby soft and heavily moisturized with a pretty sheen. The scent is subtle and divine! This is like my 4th jar because I'm truly obsessed. This Dry Skin's Bff. I actually have a review on this here. 

My top 3 brow products that are in heavy rotation are GLOSSIER BOY BROW in clear for everyday grooming. COLOURPOP BROW BOSS pencil in light brown to define. CHARLOTTE TILBURY LEGENDARY BROWS in Supermodel because of its tiniest most precise brush that applies the perfect amount of pigment to tint your brows and make them feathery.

You will always find a GLOSSIER BALM DOTCOM somewhere around my room, bag or coat/jacket. I have every single flavor but the standout this year was the BIRTHDAY BALM DOTCOM. The pretty glittery sheen is an adult version of the Vanilla Frosting  Lip Smackers that I was obsessed with as a kid. Thanks to the brand's collab with MILK BAR and you can actually use this as a fun glossy, glittery highlighter. I always say these are great multi use products. from lips to cheeks to cuticles.

EXFOLIKATE GLOW MOISTURIZER has been my go-to moisturizer all season to give my skin the hydration and radiance it needs, especially since I mostly skip makeup for work. it gives me a healthy glow and mimics a good night's sleep. 

GLOSSIER YOU fragrance has become my signature scent of the season, which is odd because I prefer more masculine scents. This warm, comfortable, crisp, peppery concoction captivated me each and every time I wore it. It sinks into my skin to give me a scent that adapts and belongs solely to me. It doesn't smell the same on me than it does on anyone else. I am the base note! It amplifies my natural scent in the best way possible. it lingers on my clothing as well which I love. 

My palette of the year is COLOURPOP YES PLEASE! As you can see, this beloved palette was my ride or die for a pretty, neutral warm lid with that beautiful pop of yellow that I entered my 30s with. YES, I said yellow! This palette helped me be a little less boring with my eye looks. For $16, you can't go wrong. 

Another COLOURPOP obsession came late this year with their LUSTER DUST LOOSE HIGHLIGHTERS. The effect they give alone or on top of their Super Shock Highlighters is to die for!!!

Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipstick ... Friend or Faux?

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

First and fore most, the “latex” part in this products name should not be taken lightly. Seriously, after being mesmerized by the shine, I realized my lips couldn’t breathe and I didn’t even know that was a thing until I felt them suffocating underneath this gloss.  I did not want to hate this gloss, especially seeing Rihanna don a similar shade a few weeks ago, I was ready to test it out on myself.  I tried Twilight Zone, which is a gorgeous periwinkle.  Although out of my comfort zone, I absolutely loved it. The light purple mixed with the gloss was so sexy, and it was meeting all of my expectations until a few minutes in. 

@badgalriri

The only reason I’m giving Too Faced Melted Latex a little bit of love is because it does give you a beautiful glossy look, and the color is gorgeous.  This stuff is great for photos but I wouldn't recommend depending on amazingness all night. Eventually this gloss went from super glossy to a faded out light purple and made you look kind of crazy if it wasn't all the way filled in.  I am willing to try Girl On Top (clear coat) as a topper since it’s on sale right now, but otherwise I wouldn’t waste my money.  I waited for the gloss to set for quite some time but there were no solutions to make this formula less heavy and sticky.  When I wold smack my lips together in hopes of smoothing the formula because it applies in patches, I was left with my lips sticking together like honey.  It doesn't apply smoothly which was uncomfortable af because it felt like Elmers Glue being painted on.  With that being said, there is no drinking, eating, smoking, kissing, or talking while wearing Melted Latex unless you want to be committed to reapplying it every few minutes.  It transfers sooo easily, and will eventually bleed off of your lips if you aren't careful.  I think this is where the latex part comes in because it was extremely difficult to take off.  The pigment is so strong, and the formula so thick and gooey that the residue left on your lips is so stubborn it’s nearly impossible to remove.  It took me two face wipes and a cotton round soaked in micelle water to ‘somewhat’ remove the melted plastic that was coating my lips and surrounding mouth area.  Not cute at all.  I wish this lived up to the love I have for the Too Faced Melted Matte. 

Too Faced has created the perfect formula for a comfortable, long lasting matte that doesn't dry out your lips.  I love applying this liquid lipstick because of how creamy the application feels on my lips.  I am always looking for a matte that doesn't require a lot of maintenance and I have found my answer.  I tried Too Faced's 1998 which is a fun bubble gum pink, which is also kind of out there for me, since I usually stick to dark shades and mauves but Too Faced really does have a great range of shades for these two lines.  I stand by my opinion that Melted Matte is exceedingly better than the Latex line.  I would buy every single color for the matte line just because I know I can depend on it to last all day or night. I hate when liquid mattes pill on my lips after a while but this shade stayed true to it's color and silky smooth formula for hours (thank you, avocado oil & vitamin E).  I really love how low maintenance this lip is, because I usually don't notice I need a reapply until after I take the picture.  I hate when I go to the bathroom to check my makeup and realize that the color has sunken into the lines of my lips, turning me into a dehydrated looking mess.  Too Faced adds hyaluronic filling spheres to smooth the look of lip lines, which is genius for a matte.  They also added a no-sting lip plumper in there that the Melted Latex line does not have.  I know they are two completely different style of liquid lips but I will stick to the amazing Melted Matte no matter what the situation. 

How I Hydrate and Accelerate Problem Areas On My Skin During Harsh Winter Months

Written by @Twist.It.Tea

Thanks to the severe change in weather these last few weeks, and much love to the bomb cyclone this past weekend, my face has really needed all the attention it can get.  In the beginning of the winter season, I was washing my face with BAD SKIN Milk Bomb Eraser and then following up with a hydrating face mask.  But since my face has needed an extra boost of hydration these last few weeks, post face wash I follow up with this amazing little piece of luxury by Eau Thermale Avène, aka my secret weapon.  I use their  Thermal Spring Water Spray  to soothe my skin after a cleanse when my face is feeling very tight.  Not only is it soothing my skin, it eases the redness, irritation and whatever else it feels like doing that evening.  This is my go to when my skin needs some TLC ASAP!  At first I was like, “Ummm, do I really need a face water spray for $18.50??”, and the answer was – yes, yes I do.  This magic water has a low mineral content meaning it doesn’t dry out the skin, which is perfect for these winter months when all my skin needs is some surge of moisture especially before bed when I know my heater will kick on and ruin my skin’s life.  It also has a neutral pH of 7.5 which helps with restoring balance and reducing sensitivity.  I’ve been taking notice of painful little dry spots on my cheek bones and this spray really helped with the burning and inflammation I was experiencing.  Also, side note, before you call me crazy, Avène has been in the skin care game for over 270 YEARS, so I’m going to go ahead and personally decide they know what they’re talkin’ about. I know women who have travelled to NYC to pick this product up when they’ve run out (luckily Amazon has your back if you don’t feel like being extra). 

I wish I could control my skin 24/7, but instead I have been finding new and interesting ways to relieve my skin when problems do pop up. Which leads me to my favorite winter time clay mask from Glossier, the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack.  This lovely piece of skin care is described as a juice cleanse for your face.  This cleansing clay mask is jammed packed with all this natural stuff (that I didn’t even know you could put in a clay mask) that particularly helps protect my skin from the nasty NYC pollutants.  The formula is a rich and creamy form of kaolin clay, with various extracts like parsley, spinach, and cress sprout extract. There is also a nice orange peel exfoliant that helps with oil balance, which is good for my combo skin. I noticed in a lot of other reviews that it’s recommended to test this out on a small patch of skin before hand because of a sensitivity issue.  I enjoy the bits of orange peel, it’s not rough at all, but it gives you a nice, clean feeling after rinsing off your face.  For me, this mask has been nothing but positive experiences.  Because you need a moist face to apply this mask, the thermal spray is the perfect face prep.  My only issue with this formula is that I personally need to use more than the recommended dosage of a thin layer.  I prefer a nice thick, green coating, so I know it’s working.  It does give me a little bit of a burning/tingling sensation when I first apply it, but it doesn’t bother me at all and eventually subsides after a few minutes.  I’ve heard of people using this mask as an over night spot treatment, but I usually just lather my whole face and let it sit for 20-30 minutes depending on my mood. If you’re familiar with clay masks you are prepared for the tightness while the clay dries on your face.  By the end of this mask I’m hoping my skin has been thoroughly detoxified with the cleanest of pores and the softest of skin.  Although my skin does feel tight, after using this mask three times a week for the last two weeks I have been able to rely on it to keep my skin hydrated during the winter.  The conditioning element after I rinse off my face is huge for me because I don’t want to take a clay mask off and feel like my skin needs to be shocked back to life. I do need a cooling property after I remove the mask and I immediately tone with my Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner, which has aloe Vera, rose and sea water *heart eyes*.  The final step of achieving the glow up from dull, tired and dehydrated skin is ….

I need a trusted moisturizer.   So I am either reaching for Dr. Jart’s Tiger Grass, or my new friend – Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream.  First of all, before I move into the formula, I love love love this little container.  It keeps the formula sanitary as opposed to dipping your fingers in a jar, and it’s fun to use.  I wouldn’t take it traveling with me that is the only downside.  But the lid does come off so maybe I can repackage it because I do love to use it AM and PM.  I love when I can find a deep moisturizer that keeps my skin balanced and is versatile enough to be used day and night.  There's no real reason for this besides that fact that I'm cheap, and also running out of room on the surfaces in my room to hold all of my different creams.  But seriously after two weeks of using this moisturizer I’ve noticed a difference in my skin. Thanks to the plantain extract my skin is brighter, and firmer. And also sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer for effortlessly soaking into my pores to release long-lasting hydration.  It contains 6 rare African oils that do everything from nourishing, brightening, soothing and combating against environmental aggressors.  This facial cream is whipped into silky, goodness that feels luxurious on your skin.  I just want to keep applying it over and over again, but the best thing about this product is a little goes a long way. This formula is the perfect balance between powerful and breathable which is what I look for in a moisturizer during this harsh winter season.  This skin routine is heavily geared towards hydration, brightening, factoring in environmental issues and repairing of the skin which is desperately what my skin needs to survive these next few months in NYC.