Although many of you heard before that I've found my Holy Grail mascara in Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Wet Waterproof, I discovered several others worth trying. I visited all the counters at Nordstrom the past few weeks to explore different wand shapes and learn about new formulas, so here is a round up of those that made the cut!
Fall collections have rolled out in perfect timing with my Southeast Asian vacation! A few of my closest girlfriends planned this vacation months ago, but I've actually been stressed out about it because I've been so busy lately! To decompress a little, I swung by Nordstrom to pick up some new color and stock up on essentials. I’m so pleased with everything that I chose that I had to share!
As many of you have known since I first started my YouTube channel, I have been wearing Luminous Silk on and off since I was 18. It has, however, become my go-to foundation for the last year now! There is truly no better formula on the market if you're looking for versatility.
I have normal to dry skin, and adore it more every day because it wears so well. I can go ultra sheer, like a tinted moisturizer effect or layer on bit by bit up to medium coverage. Although I still have acne scarring, Luminous Silk covers them without looking cakey. I also love that it doesn't accentuate any dry patches I might have from using super strength skin care.
Powder is completely optional, and I only ever wear power to set any more unless it's super humid or hot that day. It's funny how our preferences change as we age. My skin and my makeup are so different that when I watch some of my videos from five years ago, I realize how drastically my look has changed. And no, I really haven't had any work done. No surgery, no injectables, no nothing.. just time, weight loss and gravity! LOL
I've always loved powder, but now that my skin has fully transitioned from combination to normal/dry, I have become a lot more picky about which powders I wear. I also wear far less powder than I ever have. Depending on the foundation formula and weather, I can skip powder altogether!
I usually like to dust on a little around parts that get shiny or break down faster — like between my eyes, on my smile lines, and on my chin. I try to wear powder all over my face only when the weather is hot, or if I'm filming or attending an event. After trying hundreds over the years, here are my Top 5 picks and the brushes I use them with!
I tend to stick to my favorites because I know exactly how they perform in varying environmental conditions. None of these powders settle in my fine lines or emphasize pores and other imperfections. Here are some other alternative options, however, if you'd like to branch out and explore some different brands! A lot of these are tried and true favorites that I have played with over the years, even if I cannot wear them any more.
Plenty of women around me, whether they are friends or family, have combination and oily skin. I use them as (very willing) guinea pigs to see what I think performs well on their finicky complexions! I understand how frustrating it can be to spend money on an expensive product that may or may not work well, but makeup is a trial and error process, just like most others. Enjoy the journey and remember to have fun!
When short on time, I recommend focusing on airbrushed skin, full lashes, and a bold lip. Since spring and summer are the perfect seasons for glossy lips, I went with a vibrant pink-red. You can always try something more subdued like a garnet or matte raspberry if high shine isn't your style.
It's really easy to lose track of time and end up late when you're distracted by colorful glittery eyeshadows or perfectly carved brows, so I recommend picking 3 features to highlight. Even applying false lashes can be done on 10-minute mornings with the help of a magnifying mirror and a bit of practice! Keep things simple with 1 brush and use your clean fingertips for eyeshadow application. Plus, try curling your hair the night before to make your AM routine easier! Smooth sailing xo
P.S. The sun was setting (very quickly) while I was filming, so I do apologize for the dim light at the end of the video! Thanks for your understanding ♥
Giorgio Armani makes some of the best designer makeup that money can buy. So despite the fact that Holiday collections (including Armani's) are rolling out in full force, I wanted to share the beauty of the Fall 2014 Fade to Grey collection. Furthermore, I wanted to demonstrate that the new Eye & Brow Maestro can be used on both naturally full and incredibly spare, thin brows like mine!
Now, some of you may have noticed that I did not include the nail polishes or the liquid eyeliners in the video (due to time constraints). Armani's standard formula is super glossy, but these Fall 2014 nail polish shades actually have a matte finish. I loved how effortless the application of the formula was — ultra smooth and self leveling. The color lasted a few days without chipping, which is fairly impressive for matte nails. The mineral tones of the Fall 2014 Eyes to Kill liquid eyeliners provide a "no-makeup" makeup feel due to the subtlety of the colors. The color is long-lasting and semi-transparent with a gel texture that is perfect for everyday wear.
As the year transitions into Fall, my choices in fragrances have also evolved. I've been loving the fruitchouli trend, namely with the Armani Si Eau de Parfum. I generally gravitate toward the same scent profiles, but I love Si despite that it is a departure from what I tend to wear. Si is positively distinctive and memorable. More details after the jump!
Giorgio Armani's Friends and Family Sale is here! Enjoy 20% off on any order of $75 or more with complimentary shipping until June 30, 2014. Sign up to receive your invite and a unique code for the sale if you haven't already! Stock up on all your favorites or take this opportunity to brand out and try something new from the brand! Armani is one of my favorite brands, and I've listed all my must-haves below, so feel free to take a look at my recommendations!
EYES TO KILL Intense Eyeshadow in 29: This exquisite silvery pink is my top pick from the dozen Intense eyeshadows I own. 29 is limited edition, so pick it up now while you. It has long been sold out at department stores like Nordstrom, so I'll be ordering a back-up!
EYES TO KILL EYESHADOW Quads in 7 Blush + 2 Bourdoir: These two eyeshadow palettes are perfect for everyday use, some of the best designer makeup made. Highly pigmented and smooth!
EYES TO KILL SHIMMER Quads in 11 Mystery + 10 Mirage: These shimmery, slightly more metallic versions of the original eyeshadow quads have especially more impact in photos.
CHEEK FABRIC Blushes in 507 + 503: The updated powder blushes are super fine and silky. All the colors are so natural and really adhere to the skin, appearing like a truly natural flush.
FLASH LACQUER Lip Glosses in 107 + 519: I reach for these lip glosses the most! They are non-sticky with a plush gel texture that provides the illusion of fuller lips.
ROUGE ECSTASY Lipsticks in 103 Incognito + 303 Dragee: These opaque lipsticks condition my lips like no other! I adore the red magnetic packaging and pair these with the Flash Lacquer for long-lasting color and shine.
MAESTRO FUSION Foundation: This ultra lightweight, smoothing formula is best for the summer season. I love the natural coverage, and you can pat extra on your imperfections for additional coverage!
LUMINOUS SILK Foundation: This is the foundation everyone should try, especially if you have normal to dry skin. Excellent for photos where flash photography is involved!
Since becoming thoroughly enamored with Giorgio Armani's Flash Lip Lacquer Crystal Shine Gloss in Pink 519 (reviewed HERE), I could not stop thinking about which colors to splurge on next. I had not planned on purchasing anything in San Francisco when I visited last week, but when I spotted the Armani display, I could not resist. It was my first time seeing all the available colors in person, so I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of color and glitter content. I chose a creamy nude pink and a subtly shimmering medium pink. Take a look at the swatches after the jump!
The Summer 2013 Face & Eye Palette by Armani ($88 USD), also called the Bronze All-Over Palette, is a double-decker product housed in an oval black compact with a nifty magnetic closure. Armani is forever chic, so it comes as no surprise that this palette managed to capture my heart. The beauty of the bronzer has caused plenty of palpitations since its launch a couple months ago, but product itself performs well. Check out the swatches and bronzer comparisons after the jump!
Lancome's Spring 2013 Lancome in Love Collection swept me off my feet. It is eyeliner heaven, so I concocted this very bright peacock-themed eye look to show off how worthwhile the products are! I could not resist showing them in action after raving about the chocolate shade in my last several videos. The overall look is still wearable, but I think the whimsy of it is what makes it so fun to apply. Of course, you do not have to use all the colors at once, but my tutorials are really intended to demonstrate products in action. Granted, I love the look and hope you will give it a try!
Makeup Used in Tutorial:
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Liquid Foundation in 320W Bisque with Beauty Blender Sponge
Tom Ford Illuminating Highlighter Pen in Naked Bique [Click to see my full REVIEW HERE]
Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick in 03 as a spot concealer
Lancome Fragrance Free Dual Finish Setting Powder with Sigma Duo Fibre Brush
Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil with 204 Natural Grey cartridge
Armani Silk Eyes to Kill Shadow in 09
Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Dark Sable with MAC 239 Brush
Lancome Kohl in Love in Jade Crush, Chocolate Affair, Deepwater Blue
Lancome Color Design Infinite 24h in Tremendous Turquoise, Boundless Blue
Lancome Hypnose Drama WP Mascara with Red Cherry False Lashes in 747M
Tarte Amazonian Clay WP Bronzer with [D/Ced] Dior Blush brush
Lancome Baume in Love in 100 Rose in Love
OCC Lip Tar in Annika with Chanel Lip Brush
Laura Mercier Lip Shine in Naked Apricot
Nails:
Essie Your Hut Or Mine
Deborah Lippman Candy Shop glitter
Tank:
Theory Len Tubular
And yes, that is the Deepwater Blue liner worn alone.. NO additional products were used to achieve that vibrant peacock blue on my upper lash line!
Lancome in Love Spring '13 Makeup Collection Review -- Product Breakdowns
Now I will take you through the entire collection and share my thoughts!
Lancome Blush in Love ($49) in Peche and Pommettes: I passed on both of these blushes because I have not been wearing much blush at all in the last year. I have plenty of Lancome blushes that I love, but if you like the packaging, then I would definitely recommend the peach shade. It's smooth, soft, and blends better than the pink shade.
Lancome Baume in Love ($25) in Rose in Love 100 has already been reviewed HERE. I also purchased Urban Ballet recently, and I love them both. Rose in Love is perfect for no-makeup days, while Urban Ballet brightens up my lips with a juicy looking bright pink. Urban Ballet requires about three swipes, layered up, for its full color impact. Coral Electric does give my lips a peach tint, but I might go back for Midnight Rose because it had a punch of red. I haven't made up my mind yet, which is why I have yet to review Urban Ballet. The more I wear Urban Ballet, the more I love it! My swatches aren't very good due to the yellow-tinged department store lighting, but these should definitely be tried on because the color seen on your lips will be dependent on how pigmented your bare pucker is.
Lancome Vernis in Love ($15) in Peach Melodie and Midnight Rose were shown in the video. This photo highlights the purple shade, opposite of the video's photo, though both were photographed after three days of wear. I do not have Rose Macaron or Sugar Rose, but they are lovely pinks. I find that the Lancome nail polish brush is one of the best for my narrow nail beds! I always wear my Vernis with Butter London's Hardware top coat and I usually get a week without chips.
Lancome Kohl in Love ($25.50) eye liner pencils are my favorites for the price. The Armani WP Smooth Silk pencils, $28, are more fluid on initial application, and the creaminess of the formula allows for more blending and shaping before they set. The black is super inky, which is great for dramatic looks. These Lancome Kohls, however, are so fun! I have never encountered blue pencil liners done so well (in terms of pigmentation and vibrance) and the chocolate shade works with any daily look. They set within ten seconds, and they last surprisingly just as well as Armani's pencils on the waterlines. I will definitely hunt down back ups of all three.
Lancome Color Design Infinite 24h ($24.50) in Boundless Blue and Tremendous Turquoise were the best of the 6 released this spring, in my opinion. I also liked the look of the Evermore Lilac, but I have done a Lancome tutorial from several Springs ago that had a heavy focus on purple so I wanted to switch things up. As stated in the video review, the formula is not quite as soft or silky as Armani's Silk shadows, but I love the color range. It is more cheery, and the metallic finish makes a statement without being obnoxious. I will try more of these in the future.
Lancome In Love Dewy Mist ($37) is a setting spray with essential oils. It is unfortunately quite expensive, and I can see why, since it is a light spray bottle version of Hourglass' No. 28 primer. Both are great for dry skin, and I love how hydrating it is. Oily skins, stay away from this because it will make you look like a grease ball within an hour. But it is the perfect "refresh" remedy for dry skin woes, so light yet effective! If you have dry skin, do keep in mind the most effective creams and oils are not necessarily the heaviest :)
Recommendations -- The stars of the show are positively the Kohl in Love liners! The Baume in Love lipbalms if you are a lip balm addict. Color Designs for pastel lovers.
Tom Ford released his new Illuminating Highlight Pens last year, but I have only just been able to experiment with these dreamy, versatile products. There are shimmery and matte shades, available at Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman, all swatched and described toward end of the post. Click below to see more photos!
From Harrods.com: Tom Ford believes in balance and symmetry. The illuminating highlight pen allows you to enhance, contour or diminish your features to create the appearance of symmetry. The range includes eight highly micronized shades: four tones that catch the light and bring focus to the cheekbones and eyes to create balance and symmetry (Citrine, Lavender Voile, Peach Blush and Liquid Bronze) and four tones that act as skin-priming concealers to diminish flaws and shadows (Naked Bisque, Dusk Bisque, Amber Éclat and Sable Intense). All eight tones work to soften and diffuse light for a smooth and undetectable finish.
I have been loving the Giorgio Armani Gloss D'Armani, $28, this past month. I had passed on purchasing these Armani glosses when they first launched early last year, but that was a terrible mistake. These glosses are incredibly moisturizing and leave my dry lips healthier and softer. I know it is hard to believe, but these tend to function more as a lip balm for me. The thick, shimmery gloss effect is an added "pretty" bonus!
It's time for another favorites! This month has gone by so quickly, where did all that time go?! Thank you for all the support in my blog absence.. I am doing my best to pick up on reviews again, but I just can't seem to get a spare moment! I have so many product photos and swatches to show you guys, just a couple more days and I'll get them written up. Good news, though! I 'm going to try to add cooking to my blog. Just pictures of what I made and possibly a recipe here and there :) Anyway, hope you enjoy this episode!
Make-up Worn:
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Foundation in 03
Dolce & Gabbana The Powder Foundation in 110 Caramel
Shiseido Natural Brow Pencil in Natural Black
Chanel Ombre D'eau Fluid in 90 Gold
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette in Busted and Foxy
Lancome Artliner in Black & MUFE Aqua Pencil in Black
Armani Eyes to Kill Waterproof Mascara in Black
Guerlain Blush 4 Eclats in 04 Rosee du Printemps
Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick in 08 Flamingo
Products Shown:
Orly Nail Polish in French Tips
OPI Nail Polish in Alpine Snow
Chanel Extreme Shine Nail Lacquer [Top Coat]
Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise and Caicos
Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick in 08 Flamingo
Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in 336 Saint Tropez
Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick in 140 Mitsouku
Armani Gloss D'Armani in Beige 103
Chanel Blush Brush #4 [new] and #7 [old]
ShoeMint Heels in Chloe in Taupe Suede
SUPER Dr. Perricone Brightening Activator
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion
Earrings:
House of Harlow Oval Drop Earrings *I purchased them from GlamHouse.com but they are sold out, sorry!
Please note: The introduction to my video had a yellow cast because of the fluorescent light bulb of my lamp. I was running late and the sun set just as I was about to film the introduction.
Products Used -
GA Luminous Silk Foundations in 4.5 and 5.5, one pump each
*If you are near my coloring, GA just released a few more Luminous Silk Shades. You can try the new 5.25
Guerlain Meteorites Mattifying and Illuminating Pressed Powder in 03 Teint Dore
GA Eyebrow Pencil in #3
By Terry Eye Primer in Neutral
GA Spring 2011 'La Femme Bleue' Eyeshadow Palette
GA Spring 2011 'La Femme Bleue' Waterproof Eye Pencil in Black
GA Eyes To Kill Excess Mascara in Black
Darkness Lashes, XE [Korean synthetic lashes]
GA Spring 2011 Transluminescence Face Palette
GA Rouge D'Armani Lipstick in 515
That's it! I really, really, really love Giorgio Armani cosmetics. I'm saving up some $$ to test their Crema Nera Eye Cream.
These days, my favorite brands go in this order: Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Lancome, YSL, and rounding out my top 5.. Guerlain.
If you really want to know my sixth pick, it would be Dior.
And to all my lovely subscribers and viewers who are graduating today: CONGRATULATIONS! What a milestone to celebrate ^.^
