Bye bye redness! I love this product.

Recently I've seen a lot of youtubers talking about It Cosmetics' product Bye Bye Redness, giving it rave reviews. Since I've got lots of red in my skin that can make it look blotchy and mottled, and since Bye Bye Redness is supposed to be lightweight and either a replacement or base for face makeup, I thought I'd go check it out at my local Ulta.

Here's what it looks like:

                               

It's a lightweight cream with a matte texture that melts into the skin. Basically, it does exactly what it says it will do. Here's the description from Ulta's website:

"Bye Bye Redness Correcting Creme is a red neutralizing and correcting creme that completely cancels redness in your skin...Rich in peptides, hydrolyzed collagen and anti-aging technology, Bye Bye Redness camouflages redness and any red-toned skin dis colorations from rosacea, broken capillaries, blemished skin, irritated skin, sun damage, scars, age spots, physician procedures, and more! It will give perfect coverage that will never crease or crack and is designed to not only cover, but to make your skin appear supple and flawless!" 

From what I've seen on Youtube (you can search for demos there), and how the creme has been working for me for the past two days, I'd say this thing is miracle in a jar. Check it out on my hands, which are red and blotchy:

Before--look at that angry knuckle grrrrrr! 

                               

After---ahhhh much less fearsome

                               

I had my hand in the same spot on the bed and the pictures were taken within one minute of each other. Can you see how less red the second picture is, and how more even my skin looks? That is a thin layer. 

I put this creme on after my moisturizer and before my tinted moisturizer, but today I just wore it after moisturizer with nothing on top of it. It definitely mattifies so if you like things more glowy or dewy you'll need to add some highlighter creme or powder. It's great for around your nose and mouth, where lots of people get red, and on your cheeks if you want to wear blush and don't want your natural cheek color to mess with the color of your blush. 

Overall this stuff has me pretty impressed so far. I don't like the way foundation looks on my skin and this stuff is almost undetectable. 

It's available at Ulta for $32 and at QVC (it comes with a brush if you get it from QVC!). It's a small pot, but it will last you a loooonnnnnggggg time. 

If you're like me and have any red you'd like to say see ya to, this product is worth checking out!

A summer glow in the doldrums of winter

One year ago at this time I still had never used bronzer. !!!!! I KNOW !!!

That just about blows my mind, because bronzer is one of those must-have products for me now and I can't imagine how I ever lived without it. I think I thought it made you look like a desperate cast member of Jersey Shore, that you put it all over your face like fake tanner. I didn't realize that with a light hand and a little subtle contouring that you could make your face look more alive, slimmer, and as if you had slept a good ten hours under a gentle sun. 

Currently, I own five bronzers: four "higher end" and one from the drugstore. My first bronzer was NARS Laguna, a holy grail of almost everyone in the beauty world. It's a great bronzy color without being sparkly, and it doesn't make you look muddy or dirty. I've already got a fair amount of red in my skin, so I don't need to add orange or yellow; Laguna is good to warm things up a bit without making me look like an overtanned St. Tropez beach broad. After buying Laguna I got a few more bronzers--a red one by Bobbi Brown that is really only for the height of summer as it's so dark on me, a Dior bronzer-blush limited edition that barely shows up (a bummer, but it's pretty and pricey so I do use it) and a cream bronzer by Revlon that is pretty dark. All of these I got almost a year ago in a bronzer-buying spate. The best was still Laguna, and if you haven't tried it, you should. 

                           

Laguna by NARS--apart from MAC, NARS is my favorite brand. I pretty much love everything they do. See the shimmer? It's so subtle but gives the skin such a nice sheen. I was so psyched when I hit pan--it was such a geeky moment for me! 

Recently, I started to feel that maybe Laguna was a bit too dark for my pasty winter skin. I had heard really good things about Two Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer, which apparently smells LIKE CHOCOLATE (they also have an eyeshadow palette that smells like chocolate. They infuse their products with cocoa powder). The color is lighter than Laguna and a bit more matte, but it's very finely milled, and if you smell my face you may end up craving a snack. 

                  

                                

Two Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. Also comes in darker shades! Loooove the packaging.

                                       

Swatched--the Laguna is on the bottom, Two Faced on the top. Both products available at Sephora and both are in the 30$ range. Sidenote: See how red my skin is? 

So to put on bronzer I use a cheap Real Techniques brush that looks like this:

                                 

And I sweep it under my jawline to create a shadow there, on my temple near my hairline, and in my cheekbones. Sometimes I try to sculpt my nose but I'm still learning how to best do that without looking like I've been sticking my face in a mud pile. The bronzer instantly wakes me up and gives me a subtle glow. I follow with blush on the apples of the cheeks--the overall effect is healthy and natural. Add highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones and you'll look like a beach bunny babe, not a shriveled up raisin. 

If you haven't tried bronzer yet I highly recommend either the NARS or Two Faced, especially for Spring. Both will last you forever and will give you a yeah, I just spent a few hours in the sunlight, so what of it? sheen that will have everyone asking where you managed to find some sunshine in this endless winter. No self tanner or sun damage required!

Love it, hate it, review and rate it!

Starting today, this will be a new weekly feature here! I'll be reviewing products and rating them thumbs up (painted, of course) or down (chipped!)

Our first two products: Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara and Maybelline lipstick in Nude Embrace, both available at the drugstore.

In my recent bout with eye issues I had to dump all of my mascaras, SOB, so I've been trying out a new drugstore kind. My eyelashes are horrible. They are about the size of ant legs, and they're blonde at the tip, so mascara is a must-use. When I don't have it on my children ask me if I'm very tired.

These are my lashes normally. I have about seven, and they are short, skimpy, blonde, and straight. This is an actual picture of my actual eye. 

But help is nigh! Meet my new mascara:

Maybelline Big Eyes mascara: it's double ended, baby

The wand for the upper lashes. Please note my awesomely painted thumb nail! It stayed that way for point two seconds, and then it chipped. 
(not pictured: the wand for the lower lashes, because I'm lazy.) 

This mascara is good. It's not clumpy, can be built up pretty well, and I like that it includes both a wand for your lower lashes and upper lashes. It's not overly wet (so it doesn't give me the dreaded four lashes). I don't love the packaging, because I keep on opening it at the wrong end, and I suspect that you get less product since there are two wands, but overall it's a good mascara and I was even asked what mascara I was wearing on a recent trip to Sephora. So, I'd have to give this mascara (duh duh DUH)

a nicely painted thumbs up! 

Now for my second product--Maybelline's new lipstick, Nude Embrace. (Hey Maybelline, FYI. That name, Nude Embrace, is pretty racy. Is Maybelline suddenly getting all NARS on us? Yikes.) 

Anyway, CAPITAL UGH. I had some high hopes for this color. A nudey mauve? A smidge dusty? Maybelline's formulas, which I generally love? Yes! Yes please! I thought this color would work so well on my compexion (pink tones, fair, blue veins). I thought it would embrace my lips with its nudey wonder. Here it is: 

Looks good, no??? Inviting, appealing, embrace worthy. 

Here it is swatched:

It's a little more purplish gray-mauve then it's showing up here. See how pasty it looks, also? 

When I put this on, it instantly makes me look like my lips are made of dirty silly putty. They take on that same plasticky look, the same color, the same rubbery-yet-not texture. I do not want to be embraced by this lipstick, or by anyone wearing this lipstick, for that matter. Look:

Not a good nude. It creates insta-sad face. And look how every dry patch is emphasized. YUCK. 

Even in softer lighting the color just washes me out. I love a good nude, but this veers towards a gray nude--the pictures don't show just how gray this actually is. I don't know many people this would work on. So unfortunately this one is a dumperooni for me and I have to give it a (wait for it!) 

big ole chipped sad thumbs down.

I hope this was helpful the next time you venture out to the drugstore and are looking for a new mascara or lippie. Stay tuned for more product reviews weekly!

Turn the winter blahs into winter hurrahs

I've always loved playing with makeup--it's art for your face--and I've always loved before and afters in magazines or on blogs. One blog in particular, maskcara.com, has amazing pictures of before and afters. Maybe it's the weather, but when you've got another gray day on the horizon and fifteen feet of iced up snow outside it's hard not to feel like the before picture in a makeup tutorial.

This is why when I get a bad case of the winter BLEARGHSSS I turn to these products to make me happy and turn me into somewhat of an after: 

1. Pretty sparkly nail polishes: Oh god I have about a thousand nail polishes. These are some of my favorites:

These are all Formula X by Sephora. The one on the left is gold with purple sparkles and is the prettiest color on. Unfortunately I have the worst skills at applying polish ever, so this will never be one of those blogs where you will get to see my perfectly manicured hands clutching a bottle of polish. I won't subject you to the horror that is my application technique. 

2. GlamGlow Youthmud face mask: This one is Tingle-rific and has chunks of stuff in a grayish base that make me feel like I've been hanging out in a mud pit with The Lord of the Flies boys. The packaging is pink because 25% of the proceeds go to Breast Cancer research which is pretty cool as I am one of those people who will be 100% more likely to buy something if it is pink--despite my knowing the sorcery behind the marketing (and despite my being all hypocritically "why does everything have to be pink for girls, rah rah other colors rock rah rah"). This mask makes my face feel tight and fresh and clean. My husband (Random) remarked that I looked "fresh faced" after using it, and he rarely remarks on my skin except (of course) to crow gleefully whenever I have a blemish.  

I mean it's mud + youth and that clearly equals yes please. 

3. Bright lippie: I'm obsessed with bright lips--they just instantly perk up my face, even with no eye makeup. My current faves: Dior Pink Caprice, a buildable blue-based pink with a slight shimmer, and MAC's Girl About Town, a bright fuschia that is not too blue based. I've also been loving MAC Snob, a creamy blue based pink. All of these lippies look great with some neutral eye shadow and black winged liner. 

Top to bottom: MAC Snob, MAC Girl About Town, Dior Pink Caprice 

Left to right: Dior Pink Caprice, MAC Girl About Town, MAC Snob (Swatches in natural light on NW 20 skin) 

4. NARS eye shadow duo in Kauai: this sucker is highly pigmented and the colors just work. You don't think they will because purple and gold on the eyes seems overly dramatic and rockstar-y, but they apply like a dream and blend beautifully. I like the gold washed over the lid and the purple in the crease. The purple is deeper on the skin than it appears in the pan and the gold wakes up tired eyelids. Wear with a neutral lip (MAC Angel or Creme Cup are good choices). I wore this combo the other day and felt ten years younger and put together all day. 

NARS eyeshadow duo in Kauai. Like gilded butter for your lids. 

Swatched on NW 20 skin. 

Well that's it for my winter blah perk me ups.

What products do you turn to when you are feeling BLAH? 

Be shiny on the inside, not the outside: glowy skin in the winter

Everybody needs a good powder, especially when you're all greezed up from using lots of face oils and moisturizer. I've tried a lot of powders; I like a light powder that doesn't cling to dry spots and that keeps me shine free on the t-zone for a few hours at least before needing a touch up. There are a few higher end powders I've tried that work well. I don't mind spending a little more money when it's my skin--as I've entered my forties I think skin needs even more attention and care to continue to look good. There are two powders I like: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, which you can find in different shades at Sephora and read countless reviews about on the Internet (try temptalia.com), and Make Up For Ever's (MUFE) pressed powder. I have head great things about NARS and their powder also. 

MUFE's powder is called HD (high definition) Pressed Powder and it's like their cult favorite loose powder, only in a compact form. It doesn't have any color, but it somehow smooths and blurs out your skin so you instantly look more put together. Because it doesn't have color, it's suitable for any skin tone. I don't love loose powder because I feel like it gets everywhere and then I can't take it with me, so this is perfect. I use my big fluffy Real Techniques powder brush (awesome and available at Kohl's and some Bed, Bath and Beyonds) to put it on and set my tinted moisturizer:

So soft, it blurs away all of life's hardships 

After that I sweep some new MAC Azalea in the Afternoon mineralized blush on my cheeks--it's limited edition, a beautiful pinky-peach-gold color that needs no highlighter. Or if I want less color I'll use my Becca blush in Gypsy, a cool light pink with a slight gold shimmer--it's amazing. Or sometimes, when I am feeling particularly nutty and want super duper glowing flushed cheeks I will wear both--the MAC on the bottom and the Becca on the top. 

Becca Gypsy, a cool-toned light pink with light gold shimmer, and MAC Azalea in the Afternoon, a pinky-peach blush a bit like NARS Orgasm

Swatched on my finger--see the subtle glow? So purty. 

The trick to glowing skin in the winter is to moisturize and then lightly control shine, adding highlight strategically to the cheekbones. With these products in colors that suit your skin tone you can shine in all the right ways! 

Yikes! An eye emergency! Never fear, Pretty Primp is here.

Hello my sweet sparkly unicorns, 

This week has been a bit tough for me makeup-and-beauty-wise as I have been battling some eyeball problems. My eye was scratched by an overeager kitten when I was but a wee lass and since then I have to open it in the morning exactly so otherwise......well let's just say bad things happen and I morph into a pirate for the day. Arrrrrrrrrr. Anyway, this morning after just getting my eyeballs back in shape I woke up with a lovely case of pink eye, which is one of my most least favorite things in the world. In both eyes. As I obviously had to visit the doctor, which would require being in public, I needed a plan of action. This is a handy plan whether you are like me--you have wonky eyeballs--or whether you've got allergies, stayed up way too late and have puffy, tired eyes, or if you have some other need to appear mysterious yet put together when you venture out. Nobody wants to look infected, tired, or beaten down by life. So here's my go-to look for when life squirts lemons in your eye:

1. After doing your face makeup (whatever you do) apply a light blush to make your cheeks glow. 

2. Apply an awesome lip color, something bright and noticeable. This will draw attention away from your eyeballs, should you need to remove your glasses. I like pink; try red if that's your thang. 

3. Apply large sunglasses. 

4. Stick your hair on top of your head, if it's long enough, in some type of bun thing. If it's not long enough, put it in a neat pony tail. Or just leave it down, but go for simple. 

5. Sashay your way around the house singing Katy Perry songs about how a) you are a firework and b) you roar. (Last part optional.) 

Here's some inspiration, courtesy of Bite Beauty (they have awesome bright lippies; they are creamy, long lasting, and--major plus--you can eat them. Great for a midday snack. I'm joking, don't eat your expensive lipstick, but they do have good stuff in them). 

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Velvet 

Bite Beauty Matte Cream Lip Crayon in Grape 

Bite Beauty Luminous Cream Lipstick in Violet 

From left to right: Velvet, Grape, Violet 

Velvet, Grape, Violet (bottom to top) --They have a rubberized feel that I really like. They are twist up. 

The my-eyes-are-skerry-but-I-can-still-look-somewhat-glam look (I'm wearing Becca blush in Gypsy here, but no other face makeup except for a teensy bit of concealer on my blue face veins, haha; excuse my smirk ;)) 

I hope these ideas help you look smashing even when your eyes aren't up to their usual sparkle and shine. Here's to big sunglasses, buns, and bright lips!

Wrinkles begone part two! I dream of a good face cream.

Hello my shiny pretties,

Today we are going to talk about face creams and magic potions that will help you stop feeling like your face skin is stretched out on a torture device! You probably have at least one face cream that you already use, but why not use more than just that one and switch it up a bit? There are so many new things to try out and the more you slather on, the more hydrated you can look. Here is what I do every morning, afternoon/ early evening, and night:

Morning--

1. Apply Josie Maran infinity argan oil creme after shower; let it sink in a minute or two. 

2. Apply MAC strobe cream (this is a pearly cream, but it doesn't leave much of a pearly effect at all. Actually, it's packed with antioxidants). This "sets" my face and preps it--it actually makes it less oily. OR, apply Josie Maran Milk, which is a new hydrating treatment that feels oddly cool when you put it on your face and instantly makes your skin relaxed. 

Got Josie Maran milk? Just don't put it on your cereal. This stuff is awesome. 

MAC Strobe Cream (love this stuff) and another good one, Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation which also lightens pesky sun spots; I like it for when my skin's not so dry. 

I used to have really dry, scratchy, tight skin in the winter when getting out of the shower. I don't anymore, and I think it's all because of the Josie Maran. 

3. After MAC strobe cream I might apply my Dr. Brandt ruby glow retinol for face if I'm feeling a bit wrinkly. Often though I skip this step as I do retinol at night. 

The beloved Retinol twins. This is a set, which doesn't cost as much as the full size. I find it lasts a few months for me, as you only need a smidge. 

4. After that I'm ready for my primer and my tinted moisturizer. Because it's been super dry I'm loving Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown BB cream (both of these were free perks at Sephora):

You are both so creamy and you sink into my skin, leaving the cakey part for inside of my mouth, where all cakey things belong. 

A quick note on BB creams, CC creams, tinted moisturizers, and foundations:

I don't wear typical foundation. I actually prefer my skin without it; it looks masky on me. I like light coverage, skin breathing; even though I have some light freckles (okay probably age or sunspots) and wrinkles here and there I find foundation immediately makes you look made up. Plus my skin gets claustrophobic, haha. So instead I usually wear tinted moisturizer, BB or CC cream and spot conceal if I need it. 

BB cream: Stands for Beauty Balm. Originated in Asia and is supposed to be an all-in-one product--treats, primes, covers, protects. I have had meh experience with most brands I've tried. The best ones in my opinion are from Bobbi Brown and Dior. I just got the Bobbi Brown and I really like it. I'll do a more in-depth review of these at some point. 

CC cream: Stands for Color Correcting. Supposed to be BB but a bit more pigmented. Helps fade spots (apparently). Many times has higher SPF than BB. I've tried Clinique, IT cosmetics, and a few others. 

Tinted Moisturizer: The original "BB" type cream. Moisturizer with a tint that provides light coverage and often has SPF. The best best best one is by Laura Mercier. I lurve it. Very dewy. 

5. Then I powder up (face powder, blush, bronzer, highlighter) and I'm done. Woohee! That took about two seconds. I wish. 

Throughout the day--

After I'm done with going out I'll slather my skin up in whatever oily moisture is lying around. The afternoon and early evening is when I try samples and wallow in creams and unctious lotions. One of my new favorites is available at the drugstore, and it's affordable and awesome--L'Oreal Age Perfect Glow Renewal oil. It comes in a glass bottle with a dropper top and is really luxe looking and feeling for the price. A great oil if you have none and want to try one out. It melts into your skin. 

You can't cook with it, but it does make me crave french fries. Then again, when do I not crave french fries? The answer is never. 

Evening--

After barely washing my face (I use a baby wipe and that's it--I hate washing my face and I don't know why--I do wash it in the shower, though) I apply a peel. The one I use is by Perricone MD and it is called Blue Plasma. It looks like a melted slurpee and for that reason alone I kind of love it. 

See how majestic it is? 

It's supposed to be equivalent to a mini-peel and I've been using it a few weeks and like it a lot. I got it in a skincare kit by Perricone MD that also had a neck cream, an eye cream, and a face cream (pictured above) so I use all of those also. If I'm not feeling the sublime blue slurpee or feel especially wrinkled up I use a good dose of Retinol (the Dr. Brandt above) and if I need a ton of moisture I use a sample of the Glam Glow hydrating mud treatment (I can't stress enough how awesome samples are. I have a ton). 

I used to have flaky, patchy skin in the winter; it got pretty bad at times and my face and skin itched and felt super tight. After using these products my skin feels soft and hydrated. I also drink a ton of water (really important for good skin!)

Well there you have it, my favorite skin products besides oils. If you are bemoaning your winter skin, maybe one of these will help. I hope that you find something you want to try and if you do, let me know! Here's to happy skin :)