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Too Faced/Bite Beauty Review + Swatches!

December 18, 2014

Left to right: Melted Berry, Melted Peony, Melted Fuchsia and Melted Nude

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope all is well. 🙂

Awhile back I purchased the Too Faced Melted Kisses lip set. It included 4 mini versions of Too Faced’s Melted Lipstick and as I had really liked Melted Fuchsia, I thought it was perfect to try out some of their other colors. Plus, this set has a good array of colors for different looks and with a long-lasting formula, it was too good to pass up.

The Melted Lipsticks come in a squeeze tube with a soft angled tip for easy application. They are described as “having the shine of a gloss, lasting power of a stain, and pigment-packed color of a liquid lipstick, all in one high-impact formula.”

While these lipsticks have a creamy texture and are pigment-packed, the shine doesn’t last long as it dries to a matte finish. If you’re not used to the matte finish, it can take you awhile to adjust to this formula. The color payoff however is amazing! I found the brighter/darker colors last longer than the neutral ones but they are all great nevertheless.

The shades included are:

Melted Berry– berry red

Melted Peony-dusty rose

Melted Fuchsia– hot pink

Melted Nude– warm peachy nude

Left to right: Melted Berry, Melted Peony, Melted Fuchsia, and Melted Nude

Overall: If you’re looking for long-lasting lip colors with a great color selection(and cruelty-free), these are worth a look. Sometimes I use a little bit of lip balm underneath them so the formula doesn’t feel super matte. Also, make sure your lips aren’t dry or flaky when using these as I saw it clung on and accentuated these aspects.

Bite Beauty Mix N’ Mingle Lip Minis: Left to right: Retsina and Musk.

With the holiday season, Bite Beauty has released “a limited-edition lip collection with Crème Lipstick Duos, Matte Crème Lip Crayons, and Lush Fruit lip glosses.” These Mix N’ Mingle Lip Minis can be used as cute stocking stuffers or serve as an introduction to the brand. As I own a few bright colors from Bite Beauty, I opted for The Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo.

The shades included are:

Retsina– natural pink

Musk– pink brown.

Left to right: Retsina and Musk

As I wore Musk, I realized the color looked familiar and as I glanced at my lipstick collection, I knew why. Musk is practically a dupe for M.A.C. Viva Glam V!

I was introduced to Viva Glam V in high school by a makeup artist who did my makeup for my senior portrait and since then, I have repurchased this several times- both the lipstick and the lipgloss. I love the versatility of this lipstick as you can use it with any look, be it natural or bold and smokey.

Left to right: MAC Viva Glam V and Musk

Overall: As much as I love Bite Beauty, I wasn’t super thrilled with this color selection as I already have something similar to it. Retsina and Musk are both beautiful natural colors but for $4 more, you can purchase the full-size Viva Glam V lipstick from M.A.C. Plus, every cent goes to the M.A.C. AIDS fund.

Have you tried any of these colors? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading,

Stephanie

Makeup Tip: How to Get a New Lip Shade Without Spending!

December 17, 2014

Left to right: Too Faced La Crème Color Drenched Lip Cream in Naked Dolly; Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Red Amour; Make Up For Ever Aqua Waterproof Lip Liner Pencil 3C

A quick way to save money yet get a new lip shade is to channel your inner cosmetic chemist and mix different colors of lip products you already own!

Create a deeper lip color by combing a bright red and nude lip liner.

Bottom to top: Make Up For Ever + Laura Mercier = darker red

Or, create a pink shade by mixing a nude color with a bright red.

Bottom to top: Too Faced + Laura Mercier = pretty pink

It might take a few tries for you to get an ideal shade but that’s the fun part!

Have a great Wednesday,

Stephanie

Makeup 411: Don't Let Powder Age You!

December 3, 2014

Powder helps in setting make up but it can sometimes accentuate fine lines. Apply powder on your forehead, nose and chin, leaving the under eye area and cheeks alone since powder in these areas tends to settle into fine lines.

*Note: If you have dry/very dry skin, skip this step altogether.

Featured here and my go-to favorite: Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder (mini).

Do you use powder? Which one is your favorite?

Warm Regards,

Stephanie

My Tips and Tricks for a Special Occasion Look!

November 20, 2014

Every so often, I am asked how I prepare my skin for special occasions so with the holiday season here, I decided to share my tips and tricks to achieving a great and lasting look.

Let’s get started!

Skincare Essential Tips

1) Exfoliate! One of the steps to achieve a smooth complexion is to exfoliate and a go-to favorite is Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. In the shower after cleansing, I apply it to my face, wait 2 minutes while the enzymes and lactic acid remove dead skin cells and rinse away to reveal a rosy glow. (For a full review, click here.)

Lips can also use some exfoliating to remove flakiness and allow your lip color a smooth application. I like Fresh Sugar Lip Polish.

2) Moisturize! After exfoliating, it’s crucial to add in moisture to your skin. This step can also help prevent a cakey look. Choose a moisturizer that’s appropriate for your skin type. I use Dermalogica Active Moist when my combination skin feels more on the oily side as it’s light-weight and works well under makeup.

3) Use an Eye Cream! Adding hydration underneath your eyes will give a youthful look and can lessen the appearance of fine lines. A good eye cream I like is PCA Skin EyeXcellence.

Pre and Post Makeup Essentials

1) Face Primer! A face primer creates a barrier between your skin and makeup. It helps make your makeup last longer and depending on the formula you choose, it can minimize the look of pores and ‘fill in’ lines and wrinkles (silicone based). 100% Pure Luminous Primer Vitamins + Antioxidants with Resveratrol has a nice blend of green tea and vitamins C and E for added antioxidant support.

2) Eye Primer! Eye primer is a must to even out any discoloration you may have on your eyelids and keep eyeshadow from creasing/fading. My absolute favorite that I have used for years is Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

3) Lip Balm! Just as it’s key to moisturize your face, your lips also benefit from it too. Swipe on a little bit while you’re getting ready so it has a chance to set. Helpful tip: Mix it with your favorite lipstick to get a sheer look. I love Vintage Sister Lip Balms (featured here: Chai Tea).

4) Finish the look! (optional) To really help set everything, use a finishing/setting spray or a light dusting of powder. I alternate between Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder and Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray.

And there you have it. Whatever makeup colors/brands I choose depends on what I want to achieve, but these steps ensure a polished look.

What are your favorite products or tips for special occasions? Comment below!

Thanks for reading,

Stephanie

Makeup 411- How To Prevent Cakey Foundation!

November 19, 2014

With cold weather starting to set in, your skin’s moisture levels may drop causing your foundation to start to looking a bit cakey. If that’s the case, first make sure you are applying your foundation over a moisturized face. Mixing a small amount of your moisturizer into your foundation should also help your foundation glide on more smoothly.

Featured product I love: Dermalogica’s Active Moist.

Have you tried this trick? How did it work for you? Comment below!

Have a great Wednesday,

Stephanie

Reader Question: The Truth About Those Chemicals in Your Makeup

November 13, 2014

One of my good friends asked me if she should toss out all of her makeup items in lieu for a more natural and chemical free line. I could tell she was very concerned about this and I know this is probably a question many people have. Here is what I told her.

When we think of a chemical, we tend to associate the word with harsh acids that can lead to burns, redness, irritation, etc. But, what is it really?

By definition, a chemical compound is basically two or more atoms of different elements united chemically. The simplest way to illustrate this is by using water as an example. Two atoms of Hydrogen are joined with one Oxygen atom giving you water (H2O) and (gasp!) a chemical compound. So yes, water is a chemical. You can see why it irks me when I hear makeup or skincare companies touting their products as ‘chemical’ free. If that were the case, then they would be selling you nothing. In any case, most companies are phasing or have phased out controversial ingredients such as parabens and phthalates but that is a whole different story.

Second, the molecular structure of a product has a lot to do with how it works on your skin. Makeup products typically have a large molecular structure which means they just ‘sit’ on the skin. The molecule is too big to penetrate through all the layers of your skin and make its way into your bloodstream, and at the end of the day, you wash it off.

Bottom line, after I presented my view, I told my friend that it is ultimately up to her to decide what she feels is best for her. I did tell her to keep in mind that most ‘organic’ products have a shorter shelf-life due to minimal, natural or no preservatives and to always conduct a patch test before trying out a product. Just because something is ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it can’t cause a reaction/problem.

I hope you found this post informative and helpful and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email.

Oh, and don’t forget to enter my ‘thank you’ giveaway by clicking here. Only a few more days before the winner is announced!

Have a great Thursday and thanks for reading,

Stephanie

Weekend Makeup Purchases!

November 11, 2014

Hi readers, I hope you all had a great weekend!

Just wanted to share some of my purchases I made over the weekend.

Since I had the 20% coupon for Sephora, I went ahead and purchased a few foundations. Though I love my Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation, there’s always room for another favorite. 🙂 I picked up Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Illuminating), Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Serum and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. Who knew Sephora now carries Giorgio Armani foundation. I’ve always wanted to try this foundation based on all the great reviews and I’m glad I was able to get it at a discount.

Bite Beauty has individual mini lipsticks and lipglosses that would make great gifts or stocking stuffers. I picked up the Luminous Creme Duo in Musk and Retsina.

I also purchased Sephora Moonshadow Baked Palette In the Tropics. It was on sale online, making this a sale on sale item since I used the additional 20% off. It should be arriving soon and I got it for $13! I think I got one of the last ones too because it’s no longer on the website.

I made a quick stop to Macy’s to see if they still had the Too Faced Melted Kisses Set ($25) and I got the last one there! Which brings me to my next point.

Too Faced is having their Friends and Family Sale online where you get 20% off your purchase now through 11/14. They have the Melted Kisses Set, so if you’re looking to try them out, give them as gifts, etc, head on over to the website and use the code: TAKE20 to receive a discount.

Reviews on these and other products coming soon so stay tuned and thanks for reading.

What are you most interested in purchasing this season?

Stephanie

Halloween Ideas!

October 28, 2014

Halloween is almost here and if you’re still not sure what to wear or are looking for any ideas, check out some of the things I have done in previous years!

Queen of Hearts/Alice in Wonderland

This one was a great fun look for me to try.

Wardrobe

I actually bought the costume for this one but also put in my unique twist. I bought a clip-on top hat and purchased red extensions to put throughout my hair.

Makeup

Red lips, a cat-eye look with gray/black eyeshadow, red blush and extravagant eyelashes were what I used to complete this look.

Evil Queen from Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time is one of my favorite shows so I decided to dress up as the Evil Queen. She is usually shown wearing long dark dresses or corset type tops with fitted pants-I went with the latter wardrobe. I drew some inspiration from this picture.

Wardrobe

I wore black tights, a black/grey corset top, knee high black boots and a black cape. Of course, no evil queen is complete without the red apple. I used a fake prop apple for this pic but for a party, you don’t really want to haul an apple in your hand so I made a necklace using an old necklace and attaching a small apple I found in a teacher’s supply store.

Hair and Makeup

Since my hair was already black I just tied it into a high ponytail. For makeup, I wanted high cheekbones so I contoured my cheeks with Nars blush in Douceur. I opted for red liptsick, a smokey eye and false eyelashes to complete the look.

Homecoming Zombie Queen

As much as I would love to take the credit for the makeup here, only the concept and wardrobe was mine. The makeup was done by my very talented friend and fellow esthetician colleague Martha McCullagh. Blood and veins were key in this look.

Everything put together! I used an old dress I had from Windsor, applied more fake blood and a bit of grey eyeshadow on my legs arms and dress. I teased my hair a little bit more (yes, that is actually my hair!), and for the finishing touch applied the tiara which had fake blood splattered on it as well.

I enjoyed all of these costumes, but the zombie look was by far one of my favorites-so fun! Just an FYI: Blood on the neck/chest area isn’t the best thing if you are driving- be prepared to have sticky blood on the seat belt strap. Also, when you are driving, people will stop and do a double take after they see you. Have fun with it but drive carefully!

As you can see, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on a costume. Just a few staples items here and there and a bit of creativity are needed.

Hope you found this post fun and helpful. Let me know if you try any of them out!

Stephanie

Easy Day To Night Makeup Look!

October 22, 2014

Last week I went to a concert and wanted something I could wear to work yet amp it up (quickly) for nighttime. Here is what I came up with.

Get The Look (Day)

Face

Foundation: Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation in 2

Eyes: I used the Urban Decay Naked Palette but any gray and brown eyeshadow should work

Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla

Lids -Gunmetal

Crease- Buck

Eyeliner (top only)- Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Mascara: Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant

Cheeks: Too Faced Pink Leopard Blushing Bronzer

Lips

Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Blush

Transform from day to night with a few products.

Get The Look (Night)

Eyes

Lid- I applied L.A. Splash Cosmetics SplashProof Sealer Base on top of the existing Gunmetal Shadow before patting on L.A. Splash Cosmetics Body/Face Glitter in Rock Star. The sealer gives the glitter something to grip on to but is optional.

Eyeliner- Line bottom lashes with Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet and trace over it with Gunmetal.

Mascara- Add another coat of mascara Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant

Lips

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Palomino

You can customize this look to your preference. Skip the glitter if you feel it’s too much or stick to a lighter lip color.

Hope you enjoyed this look and thanks for reading,

Stephanie

P.S. I’m also now on Instagram so you can follow me and share with me all your beauty addictions/questions https://instagram.com/stephieestie

Fall Favorites!

September 11, 2014

With fall practically right around the corner, here’s a couple of my favorite things I look forward to this season.

First on the list: pumpkins! With everything pumpkin flavored or scented abound, one of my favorite pumpkin related items are pumpkin peels. With glowing skin as a trend, a pumpkin peel can be a great way to attain this look-more about this in a future post!

Fall makeup trends! Of course you don’t need to adhere to these trends-makeup is after all a representation of your unique style- but here’s a brief overview of what’s ‘in’, this season.

Eyes: Blue shadow seems to be the dominate color followed by metallic silver, bronze and gold liquid shadows and liners. Liner and lashes take inspiration from the 1960’s (think Twiggy).

Lips: Depending on the look you want to exude, lips can range from shades of burgundy, velvet purple or red. Natural lips were also seen everywhere during Fashion Week.

Cheeks: Stick to natural shades of blush (or even bronzer) to balance out the eyes or lips.

Tea! Although any time is a great for tea, I just love the idea of curling up with a cup of hot tea on a cold night to unwind. Yes, I am obsessed with anything lavender 🙂

TV shows: By far one of my favorite shows, Once Upon A Time! Fairy tale stories, villains and awesome makeup. Other shows I am really looking forward to: Revenge, Bones,and Criminal Minds.

Scents: Season scented soaps to envelop your senses with!

Candles! Always a great way to end a day with while sipping tea.

What’s your favorite aspect of fall?