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Too Faced Born This Way Foundation + Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser Review!

September 15, 2015

Hi everyone! How was your weekend?

I have quick reviews on two popular makeup and skincare to share today so let’s get to it. 🙂

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

Described as “an oil-free foundation for natural-looking, full coverage and a beautiful, radiant finish.” It also boasts ingredients like coconut water, hyaluronic acid and alpine rose.

Pros

Feels light-weight on the skin

Easily applies to the skin

Was a good color match

Buildable coverage

Cons

Tends to separate on skin giving a peeling skin illusion

Emphasized my pores/imperfections

No noticeable hydration

Overall I loved this foundation when I first tried it on in store as the color was a perfect match and you couldn’t tell I was wearing makeup; it also felt very light on the face. Fast forward to half an hour later and my face was a patchy, oily mess. Whether I use primer or not, exfoliate the day before or use a setting spray, nothing helps the appearance. It makes my face look like it is peeling. Sadly, this didn’t work out for me but I do think it’s worth a try just to see how it works for you.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser

Described as a “cleanser purifies the skin, tightens pores, and supports natural collagen and circulation with natural essential oils to tone and balance the skin. It detoxifies, minimizes pore size, and helps you achieve a flawless, ‘ceramic-smooth’complexion.”

Pros

Effectively removes oil

Cons

Pricey

Unpleasant scent

Too drying for my skin

Overall I can’t really find anything good to say about this cleanser except that it does effectively remove oil. My face felt extremely dry and sort of prune-like afterwards and I couldn’t stand the smell. This cleanser contains black pepper and that scent is very prominent here. It doesn’t foam but because it contains clay, this helps draw out sebum from the skin. Definitely not an everyday cleanser so in my opinion, skip this one and save your money.

Have you tried these and received different results? Comment below!

Stephanie

Skin Tip: Relax…It's Good For Your Skin!

September 11, 2015

It’s Friday and my how this week zoomed by!

This weekend, spend some time doing something that relaxes you. Most skin conditions are exacerbated by stress so whether it be reading a good book or going out for a walk, find something that works for you and carve a little bit of time to do it. Your mind, body and skin will thank you.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Stephanie

Make Up For Ever Mattifying Primer Review!

September 10, 2015

Hi everyone! How is everyone holding up with this weather? It’s hot and humid in So Cal with no sign of cooler temperatures yet.

Speaking of heat, I have a review on the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Mattifying primer and summer has provided the best weather to put this to the test. Let’s get to it.

Described as, “a makeup primer that assists with balancing the skin’s texture and tone for smoother, more even, and longer-lasting makeup wear. Mattifying Primer reduces shine for oily skin.”

Pros

Travel sized version costing $16 for 0.5 oz

Does have a mattifying effect for a couple of hours

Absorbs quickly into the skin

A little bit goes a long way especially if you only spot treat certain areas

Cons

Pricey with full size costing $36 for 1 oz

It’s best to avoid putting this primer on dry patches

Has a cooling effect that tends to feel tingly when foundation is applied on top

Although it absorbs quickly into skin, I can feel a sort of powdery residue

Didn’t work well with certain foundations/BB creams

Overall: I like the primer but I’m not sure I would purchase it again, mainly because I feel it sensitizes my skin a little bit. When I apply foundation over it, sometimes I feel a tingling/burning sensation. It does help keep oil at bay for a good amount of time, about 4-5 hours when inside and 2-3 hours when I was outside. It won’t leave you completely shine free, especially when you are out in the scorching sun, but I didn’t look as shiny as I normally would. Unless you have very oily skin all over, it’s best to apply a small amount to the T-Zone or wherever you’re oily as it can feel and look drying on the skin. For reference, I have combination skin. I also found that wearing this primer underneath BB creams wasn’t the best choice as my skin looked dry and patchy.

What’s your favorite face primer? Comment below!

Stephanie

Labor Day Fun: TMZ Tour!

September 8, 2015

Happy Tuesday everyone! How was your Labor Day weekend?

Yesterday my cousin and I decided to drive over to Hollywood and take the TMZ Tour. We’ve been to LA a ton of times before but when we read an opportunity to see the hottest spots in Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills we thought why not? It’s always great to see your city from a different perspective. So, armed with a tour guide direct from TMZ, we set out on this adventure.

A quick picture with our tour guide Leila.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel where Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard once resided. It’s also known for hauntings and paranormal activity.

The Chateau Marmont hotel where Sofia Coppola shot her film Somewhere and were Tim Burton and F. Scott Fitzgerald have produced work from inside the hotel.

The music venue on Sunset Blvd, the House of Blues, will be closing its doors and making room for a new luxury hotel.

The Viper Room-a music venue and nightclub that was once partly owned by Johnny Depp and known to be a hangout of the Hollywood elite. This was also the site where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993.

Craig’s on Melrose is one the celebrity restaurant hot spots.

A quick stop in front of The Abbey Food and Bar where a waiter came with a silver patter of chocolate chip cookies.

I didn’t notice it had a TMZ icing scribble until I was looking back at the pictures, haha.

Entering Beverly Hills.

Driving down the luxury shopping, dining and hotel destinations known as Rodeo Drive. You’ll find Brioni, Chanel, Gucci, Harry Winston, Valentino and The House of Bijan (above) to which you need an appointment. Only in Hollywood.

The Gym on Nemo where Channing Tatum works out. Sadly, no sign of Channing yesterday. 🙁

Another celebrity restaurant hot spot, Mr. Chow.

The salon that is home to Jennifer Aniston’s hair stylist. He’s known for creating ‘The Rachel’ haircut and a haircut appointment with him will set you back only $600 plus tip of course.

Sur Lounge, which is owned by Lisa Vanderpump of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, offers a fresh take on European-Mediterranean dining.

Speaking of Lisa Vanderpump, the tour group spotted her having lunch at The Ivy. Unfortunately, when I took the picture she had just turned around but she’s the brunette right under the umbrella.

The Improv Comedy Club where nearly every big name comedian has played including Billy Crystal, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Martin.

Fairfax High School that once saw Steven Adler (Guns N’ Roses), Matt Damon, Chanel Iman, Demi Moore and Slash grace its halls.

The last stop was a glimpse of the Hollywood sign.

There was definitely a lot more places we saw such as the Ago restaurant (co-owned by Robert De Niro), the, Osteria Mozzo restaurant (owned by Joe Bastianich and Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali) , the exclusive Soho House West Hollywood, and 1 Oak Nightclub but we either zoomed by or the pictures came out too blurry. Overall, it was a different and unique experience and I enjoyed it. I just wish we had seen more celebs.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this mini picture tour!

Stephanie

Skin Tip For This Labor Day Weekend!

September 4, 2015

It’s Friday and it brings Labor Day weekend with it! Yay! Any fun plans?

Speaking of Labor Day, if you’re planning on firing up the grill this weekend keep this tip in mind. If you happened to get sunburned, the heat generated from the grill can further aggravate an already irritated complexion. Keep some aloe vera gel (and maybe some ibuprofen) handy if this is the case.

Have a great and safe weekend and don’t forget to catch me on Stephanie’s Beauty Corner on Saturday courtesy of the Peachy Queen Blog! Check out some of the latest fall fashion and accessories while you’re at it too! 🙂

Stephanie

My Top 3 ‘No Foundation’ Foundations!

September 3, 2015

Hi everyone!

I’m constantly asked on a regular basis what foundations are the best at not looking like you’re wearing foundation. Having tested multiple brands and formulations over the years, here are my top picks that give me a ‘my skin but better” look.

*Note: A good skincare routine is paramount to achieving the best results but that will be for another post.

Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Makeup

The first Make Up For Ever foundation that I tried and immediately fell in love with. This one has a very watery consistency (thank goodness they have since incorporated a pump) and you don’t need much to cover your face. It feels very light-weight and isn’t too glowy or matte and can be used to cover up body imperfections. True story: My grandmother loved how this looked on me that she had me go buy her one and she has been an avid user ever since.

Unfortunately, I think this had an ingredient my skin might have not agreed with because over time my nose would start to itch so I stopped using it. Despite this, I highly recommend it.

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Serum

I picked this up when Sephora had their Fall VIB sale last year and after using up a sample. As the name implies, this has a serum-like consistency and gives a nice satin finish. I prefer to apply this using my fingers to pat and roll it in the skin but you can also use a brush and achieve results. Super light-weight as I forget sometimes I have it on and hold up nicely throughout the day. My only complaint is that the shade range is very limited.

Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm

While I know this isn’t a foundation, I do think tinted moisturizers, BB creams and CC creams are some of the best products to use for achieving a natural look. They tend to cover up redness and even out skin tone and work best if you don’t have major imperfections. Since it has the texture of a moisturizer it’s really impossible for it to give a cakey appearance. My favorite way to apply these is with a sponge and stippling it into the skin. Favorites include Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm, Laura Mercier and Marcelle BB Cream.

What are your favorite foundations to use for a natural look?

Stephanie

August Favorites 2015!

September 1, 2015

Happy September 1st everyone! I can’t believe how fast last month zoomed by, which brings me to share with you things I’ve loved this past August.

Let’s get to it!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Potent

My first Estee Lauder lipstick purchase and the credit goes to Cos from The World of Cos. 🙂 I love a great creamy lipstick and this one is perfect for everyday, a night out-virtually any occasion. It’s a light pink coral nude that glides on nicely over exfoliated lips and has good pigmentation. I’m not a fan of the scent, which I’m not sure how to describe, but once you apply it, the smell disappears. Pairing it with a lip pencil underneath extends its wear time.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Lip Pencil in Nude

It’s been a while since I used a lip liner but I am happy I picked this up along with the lipstick. The shade Nude is a MLBB (my lips but better) and pairs well with a lot of neutral/pink lipsticks I own. While I don’t agree with the creamy consistency claim, it applies nicely and really extends the wear of lipstick. A lip brush is included on the opposite side of the pencil which is a nice addition and a magnetic cap.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Flat Iron Smoothing Spray

I’m not a fan of Tresemme hair care products but this keratin infused heat protection spray is the exception. I love using this when I straighten my hair as it facilitates the straightening process and smooths hair without making it feel greasy. The style holds up very well and this product doesn’t make your hair smell burned when heat is used.

Below are swatches of the lipstick, lip liner and CC Cream.

A picture of me wearing the lipstick and lip pencil plus my hair after using the Tresemme spray.

Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35

A sample that came in my August Birchbox, this CC Cream, housed in a convenient squeeze tube, provided good coverage without the heavy feel. It evens out my redness while allowing skin to look like skin.

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

A book that came in June’s PopSugar Must Have Box, In the Unlikely Event was a great summer read that was based one real life events. The book is set in Elizabeth, New Jersey in the 1950s and follows a young woman’s memorable journey in the aftermath of multiple plane crashes in her hometown. I was impressed at how well Judy Blume was able depict the emotions of all the characters who make up and tell the story- her writing manages to convincingly transport you back to the 1950s and experience the tragedy that occurred, offering multiple view points from different age groups and characters that feel so real. It made me feel nostalgic for a time period I didn’t even experience.

What are you favorite August items?

Stephanie

Skin Tip: Sun Sensitivity and Medication!

August 28, 2015

Happy Friday everyone!

If you noticed that lately you’re more prone to getting sunburned all of a sudden, certain medications may be the culprit. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and antihistamines like Benadryl can cause you to be more sensitive to the sun. Always use sunscreen and wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to further protect you from the sun.

Have a great weekend and make sure to stay hydrated and protected.

Stephanie

Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick vs NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil!

August 27, 2015

Happy Thursday everyone!

I was excited when I saw Sephora had a mini Bobbi Brown Shadow Stick as part of their rewards system and with my new found appreciation for shadow sticks, I had to pick one up.

Eyeshadow sticks are a convenient item to have as they are quick and easy to apply, streamlining your makeup routine when you’re in a hurry. You just glide the product on your eyelid and underneath your bottom lash line, with minimal to no blending required. There’s no worry about powdery fallout and you can store these in your purse for on the go.

As you already know, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil was included in my Summer Must Have On the Go Beauty and with great reviews, I wanted to see how it compared to the Bobbi Brown ones. So, let’s get started.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Shadow, $29 (smokey blue grey)

Described as “a long-lasting, waterproof eye shadow that glides on easy like a stroke of genius.” It’s a smokey blue grey color that has a matte texture (i.e. no shimmer)

Pros

Long lasting and won’t crease with a primer

Glides on the eyelid easily

Rich pigmentation

Good variety of shades

Twist up container so you don’t need a sharpener

Cons

Splurge item at $29 each (I have a sample so the actual product is bigger)

It takes a little bit of effort to blend in

Heat mushes up the texture which can affect the application process

Wide rounded tip makes it difficult to apply on the waterline

Overall: I do like this product but I don’t love it. Although the pigmentation is amazing and it doesn’t crease, I found blending out this product was difficult to do, perhaps because of the matte texture. You are required to blend this out since it’s a darker color and if you don’t want harsh lines to show. One thing worth mentioning is that since the weather has been hot, somehow the heat really softened it up and caused a mushy like consistency. While it still retained its shape, when I applied it, it kind of broke off a little.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha

Described as “a radiant eye liner that also doubles as an eye shadow.” It’s a bronzey, gold color that has a little bit of shimmer.

Pros

Budget friendly $4.50

Easy application + formula glides on easy

A wide range of colors

Pencil like tip makes it easy to line the waterline

Cons

Requires a larger sharpener

Does tend to crease after a while even with primer

Takes a few passes to build up the color

Overall: I love everything about the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil except the wear time. I get about 5 hours of wear before it starts to crease, about 3 if it is really hot an humid outside. I then find myself needing to reapply or at least blend in the product so that the crease marks don’t show. Applying a similar shadow underneath does help with this product staying on longer but it adds an extra step. However, this blends easily and I had no problem using it as a liner, thanks to the pencil like tip- perfect for creating a quick smokey eye look.

Have you tried shadow sticks? Which ones are your favorite?

Stephanie

Simple Cleansing Micellar Water Review!

August 25, 2015

Hi everyone! How was your weekend? I have some quick news to share in case you missed it. The lovely Aimee from The Peachy Queen Blog has reserved a spot for me every Saturday on her blog so if you have any questions or concerns about anything beauty related, please feel free to leave a comment there or contact me here. If you love fashion, you’ll love her blog and boutique. That’s all the updates for now, so let’s get started with the review. 🙂

Micellar water is one skincare item that has been trending lately and being a skincare geek, I had to see what all the rave reviews were about. Yes, I know I’m a little late but I’ve been asked by a few people what my opinion on this is so I decided to pick up the Simple Cleansing Micellar Water at my local CVS.

What is Micellar Water?

Micellar water is basically a type of surfactant formulated to be attracted to oil, allowing it to grab oil, dirt and debris while rinsing away clean. A surfactant is an acronym for surface active agent that “reduces surface tension between the skin and the product to increase product spreadability.” Surfactants can be found in facial cleansers, soaps, body washes and shampoos and are what allow oil and water to mix, or emulsify. Surfactant molecules have oil loving tails (lipophilic) and water loving heads (hydrophilic) that make it easy to trap oil, dirt and makeup and allow easy removal.

Below is an image taken from my notes in my UCLA Cosmetic Chemistry class that gives you a visual of what it looks like. (Please forgive my messy handwriting.)

What’s the Appeal?

Since micellar water has a higher water content, it can wiped away with a tissue or cotton pad with little to no residue left behind. It’s also why it’s popular for sensitive skin types as it does not require water to be rinsed off.

Pros

Economic price point, $7.99

No added fragrance

Includes niacinamide which soothes inflammation and panthenol which is used as an emollient/moisturizer.

Good light eye-makeup remover

Cons

May not be enough for oily skin types

Doesn’t remove heavy makeup easily

Can leave a little bit of residue feeling behind

Overall: I do really like this micellar water as a first cleanse when I am wearing minimal makeup. Unless I’m having a lazy skincare day (yes, I do have those days though they aren’t often), I find I need to follow up with my normal cleanser as it seems to leave a little bit of a residue feeling behind. This is excellent for removing light eye makeup and doesn’t irritate my eyes at all. If I’m wearing more makeup, I use an oil based cleanser instead as it breaks down makeup faster and easier versus the micellar water. My skin doesn’t feel stripped but it doesn’t feel very hydrated either-I still have to follow up with my moisturizer. I think this would be a good addition to your skincare routine but I would recommend that you follow up with the serums/moisturizers that work best for your skin type as I feel using only this product alone isn’t enough.

I know the first part is a like a mini chemistry lesson and a bit difficult to take in at first read but hopefully you were able to get a visual picture of how it works. 🙂

Have you tried micellar water or have any questions regarding it? Leave a comment below!

Stephanie