Beauty Favorites

So, because I am a bit of a beauty product fiend, I thought I would make a round up of my favorite products for you guys.

FACE
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15: I've been using this foundation for years now. I love it because a) it comes in a huge range of shades so I actually can find the right one for my skin tone and b) the finish is great (it's not super heavy or dry looking) and doesn't bother my irritable skin.
Nars Illuminator: I use this as a highlighter on top of foundation (on bridge of nose and cheekbones). It's subtle and not too sparkly, which I like. Also, it lasts forever.

CHEEKS
Bobbi Brown Cream Blush in Calypso Coral: Even though I don't find cream blush as easy to apply as powder it's pretty great for a more natural looking finish. This Bobbi Brown one is more opaque than other lines' versions so it shows up on darker complexions more easily.
Nars Blush in Lovejoy: This is one of my favorite powder blushes. It goes on so easily and comes in flattering shades.
Clinique Powder Blush in Aglow: This blush is super subtle in color (it's almost like a bronzer) so I like to use it when I've got other things going on i.e. am wearing lipstick or eye makeup.

EYES
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black: I generally wear eye makeup only a few times a week but I've recently taken to doing winged eyeliner when I have the time. This Stila liner has a thin felt tip brush like applicator and is really easy to use. Here's a pretty good tutorial from Free People for winged liner. What I like to do is hold the pen horizontal to my lash line to apply (it has more control that way and you'll get a straighter line) then run a makeup remover cloth, folded into a point, along the top when you're done to clean it up so that the line is smooth.
Benefit Gilded Highlighting Pencil: This is great to use on the inner corners of eyes to look more awake. Kind of like that white eye pencil trick but I find that this shade blends in better.
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black: This is a super dark mascara that makes your lashes look really full. It definitely gives my favorite look of all the mascaras I've tried although it can be a pain to remove.

LIPS
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment: This is actually my favorite favorite product, it's the perfect texture and the tinted ones have just the right amount of color (plum and rose are the two that I use the most). Also, it smells amazing.
Buxom Lip Polish: I'm not usually a lip gloss person but this is great for when you need to look just a little bit fancy. It's a tiny bit shimmery but not glittery and stays on for a super long time.
Benetint Lip/Cheek Stain: This is nice for when you want some color but don't like the hassles of lipstick (I constantly fear it will get on my teeth or I'll need to keep fixing it, etc. so I pretty much never wear it). The stain lasts for a good amount of time and is fuss free. Just apply and then top with your favorite balm.

TOOLS
Up & Up Foundation Brush: This is a good basic foundation brush, it has softer bristles than other ones that I've tried which give a more even application.
Sonia Kashuk Spoolie: A spoolie is your best friend if you have full brows. That's all.
Ecotools Blush Brush: This brush is nice and full and applies the right amount of product. Also, its pretty affordable so that's a plus.
Tweezerman Eyelash Curler: My little sister swears by eyelash curlers and gave me this one for Christmas. Honestly, in day to day life I rarely remember to use it. But I do find it easy to use and it doesn't pinch my lids like the curler I previously had did (or maybe that was just my lack of skill haha).

EXTRAS
Fresh Sugar Lychee Perfume: I love this. It's really fresh and not too sweet. The brown sugar one from Fresh is also great and good for fall/winter.
Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama: This dark burgundy color is my absolute favorite and it goes on really easily and evenly. I use it all of the time no matter the season.
Butter London Nail Polish in Tea with the Queen: A great neutral and I find Butter polishes to be really easy to use and long lasting.

So that's it! What are your favorite products?

Make Up / Dress Up... The Smokey Cat Eye

Love this smokey eye makeup on Cara Delevingne. It's edgy without being too messy thanks to that sharp cat-eye eyeliner (I've heard this Stila liner is the best!).

Makeup: Anastasia Brow Gel, Stila Stay All Day Eyeliner, Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick, Bite Nude Lipgloss
Outfit: Topshop Dress, Dara Ettinger Earrings, Vena Cava Booties

Make Up / Dress Up... Copper Lids

Now that we're getting a little closer to the holiday season, I think it's okay to bust out the metallics. Copper's a good transitional color that's
both festive and a neutral (kinda).
Make-Up: Illamasqua Liquid Metal Copper Eyeshadow, Buxom Mascara (I've recently become obsessed with Maybelline's Cat Eyes Mascara
as well), Lorac Bronzer/Blush, Nars Nude Lip Laquer.
Clothes: Madewell Shift Dress, Aubin + Wills Tights, Wedge Ankle Boots

Inspiration Image

Make Up / Dress Up... Burgundy Lipstick

I've been pretty obsessed with a dark wine colored lip lately. As my sister says "vamp is in right now".
The key to a perfect dark lip is as follows: make sure lips are smooth and have no flakes, line lips with liner that
matches your lipstick and fill in entire lip with liner, then add a coat of lipstick (a lip brush makes for a more
precise application).
Sometimes if I do not want the full matte, dark effect I will just go with lipstick and a tiny bit of clear (not too shiny)
balm on top.
This look pairs best with simple clothes and maybe a piece of cool jewelry.

Make up: Make Up Forever Waterproof Liner, Lipbrush, Nars Lipstick, Rosebud Salve.
Clothes: Ivory Blouse, Suede Shorts, LuLu Frost Snake earrings. 

Make Up / Dress Up... Plum Eyeshadow

Pretty plums and jewel tones inspire this look...
Make Up: A creamy peach lipstick by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Benefit plum hued mascara, Bobbi Brown shimmering graphite gel eyeliner (I have this stuff in black and it is soo good!), and Nars nude and plum eyeshadow duo.
Clothes: Karen Miller lace applique top, J. Brand aubergine pants in corduroy to add to the luxe feel, and MIA teal scalloped ballet flats with which I have recently become mildly obsessed.

Make Up / Dress Up... Ethereal

Make Up:
1. Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow
2. Laura Mercier Creamy Eye Color Pencil
3. DuWop Lip Venom

Clothes:
Dress, Jacket, Shoes

Image: J. Mendel SS2013 Runway Show

Make Up / Dress Up... The Natural Look

Makeup:
1. Lancome Brow Powder Pencil and Brush
2. Lorac Blush
3. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Mascara

Clothes: Madewell Blouse, J Brand Jeans, J. Crew Tote, Tory Burch Flats

Inspiration Image

Make Up / Dress Up... Retro Eyeliner

Make Up:
1. Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eyeliner
2. Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
3. Bite Beauty Nude Lipgloss
Clothes: Peter Pan Collar Blouse, J.Crew T-strap Ballet Flats, Fallon Jewelry Spike Earrings, J.Crew Minnie Twill Pants

Inspiration Image

Make Up / Dress Up... The Desert Rose

This weeks look consists of full eyebrows, dusty rose hued make up, and a messy bob. Perfect for the (mostly) natural girl. 

Make up: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo (for if ya need to fill in sparse brows),  Nars Rosy All-in-One Make Up Stick for cheeks and lips,  Benefit Highlighter (use in corners of eyes to brighten them up)

Outfit: Dannijo Turquoise Earrings,  Haute Hippie Longhorn Tee,  Maxi Skirt,  Frye Boots

Inspiration Image

Make Up // Dress Up... Classic Red Lip

This week's look is inspired by the classic red lip...
Make up: Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow, YSL Lipstick, Buxom Mascara
Clothes: Polka Dot Sundress, Sunglasses, Bow Earrings, Converse Sneakers

Inspiration Image

Make Up / Dress Up... Smoky Eye

Girly and just a little bit edgy...
Inspiration Image found here.
Beauty look: Urban Decay Eyeshadow, Bobby Brown Lip & Cheek Color, YSL Mascara
Clothes: Wendy Mink Necklace, Renzo and Kai Tank, Rebecca Taylor Leather Skirt (Similar here), Isabel Marant Trainers

A Collection... Bunheads

The prettiest hairs from around the internet...From top to bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 

In the Bag

I purchased this Alphabet Bags tote a few months ago and its been my go to bag all summer. Here's what's inside:
1. Rosebud lip balm  2. Ray Ban aviators  3. A new stack of business cards for my jewelry shop fresh from Moo  4. My iPhone 5. Chimes ginger candies  6. Teen Vogue & Marie Claire magazines (sidenote, how dope is Miley's new hair?)  7. Leah Lerner leather pouch  8. Russell + Hazel tassel key chain

Make Up / Dress Up... Rosy

So, I'm obsessed with beauty products just about as much as I am with clothes and accessories. In this new column I'll be highlighting one beauty look and translating it into an outfit. Enjoy!
Inspiration image here
Make up: NARS Eyeshadow, Stila Lipgloss, Bobbi Brown Eyeliner
Clothes: Helmut Lang Sweater, Kelsey Garrity-Reily Scarf, Mango Bag