TOP 5 | My Holy Grail Powders + Recommendations for All Skin Types

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!

Guerlain Meteorites Pearls (classic silver tin)

Guerlain Holiday 2015 Pearls (more expensive due to packaging)

Wayne Goss Face Brush

Chikuhodo Z Brush

Guerlain Meteorites Pressed in 03

Tom Ford Bronzer Brush

Burberry Fresh Glow Powder Foundation
Chikuhodo Takumi Brush
Wayne Goss Round Brush

Burberry Nude Pressed Powder

Chikuhodo Takumi Angled Brush

Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation

Chikuhodo GSN Brush

Chikuhodo Makie Brush

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. 

Dry Skin:

Smashbox Halo Loose Powder Foundation // La Mer Loose Powder // Cle de Peau Loose Powder // Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation // NARS Light Reflecting Loose

Normal to Combination Skin:

Chantecaille Loose Powder // Laura Mercier Loose Powder // Hourglass Ambient Lighting // Benefit Hello Flawless // Bobbi Brown Retouching Loose Powder // BECCA Mineral Powder Foundation

Oily Skin:

Lancome Dual Finish Powder // Dolce and Gabbana Matte Powder Foundation // Gucci Finishing Powder // Makeup Forever Super Matte Loose // Urban Decay De-slick Mattifying Powder

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!

___________________________________________________________________________

TAG | Sister Does My Makeup + Review of Her Favorite Products

A few years ago (maybe more), I filmed a monolid makeup tutorial video with my sister as the model for the look! This time around, we decided to feature her favorite makeup products and she put them on my face. Even though we are genetically the same person, it is fascinating how different our styles and preferences in application are. This was such a funny and enlightening experience for us, so we hope you'll enjoy watching our antics!
Although I have introduced her to the fantastic worlds of Tom Ford Beauty and Clé de Peau Beauté, she taught me how valuable the itty bitty BeautyBlender Micro.Mini sponge could be. I always wrote it off as unnecessary, but if you have small(er) eyes, this neon green sponge could be your next beauty essential! I can no longer blend my concealer without it. The edges look seamless! My sister also reminded me how much I loved the La Mer Loose Powder when she started working for La Mer. Though she has moved on to a new (and non-beauty related) opportunity, we are both very dedicated to the translucent power because of its supremely creamy texture and soft-focus finish. There were rumors that La Mer planned to discontinue to the powder a couple years ago, and that is why I stopped using it for a while, but it seems that The Loose Powder is here to stay!
Of course we cannot forget to mention the lashes, which always complete our looks. We are both huge fans of Velour Lashes! There's simply no comparison. Velour makes the best lashes for photography and videography, and they are reusable for an average of 6 to 8 outings. My sister and I both enjoy wearing Dollywink on low-key days, Velour Lashes (silk) for a little extra flair, and Velour Lashes (mink) for glamorous drama. Pair with a glossy lip and you'll be set to go!

Makeup Worn:

NARS Radiant Concealer in Vanilla

BeautyBlender Micro.Mini Sponge

La Mer Loose Powder

Tom Ford Blush in Frantic Pink

MUFE Pro Bronze Fusion in 20M

Cle de Peau Highlighter in Sand Beige

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 204

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sugar Frost

Tom Ford Eye Palette in Silvered Topaz

Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

YSL Glossy Stain in 203

(On me) Velour Silk Lashes in Full of It

(On her) Velour Lashes in Whispie Me Away

*Get 20% OFF with code RAEVELOUR

Brushes:

Chikuhodo x Beautylish Sakura

Chikuhodo GSN-10 Eye

Our Hair:

T3 Twirl 360

Sister's Top:

Cameo from DailyLook

My Nails:

Louboutin Scarabee

___________________________________________________________________________

June 2015 Beauty Favorites + Moving Chit Chat!

Keep in touch on Instagram 

I can hardly believe we are halfway through 2015!! June was a very stressful month because of the move, but I am glad we survived with all body parts intact. I will look back fondly on that first apartment, because living on my own was my first big girl step and I learned too many things to count! Now, I hope this new apartment will allow me to grow creatively and share with you more beautiful lifestyle inspirations, such as home decor and beauty organization. Plus, expect more pictures of Beau since my new place has more space and light!

I'm still in the process of unpacking and waiting for my furniture orders to arrive, but in the meantime, I wanted to share my latest skin care display. I thought more of you would be curious about the products, but I got an overwhelming response for the tray! It's actually a kitchen server from Crate and Barrel. I loved it immediately because I have a weakness for marble, but I knew it would be perfect for skin care because of the height between the shelves. I had used acrylic organizers from The Container Store for years, but they are too high maintenance and cannot accommodate larger bottles and jars. Now my bathroom (and yours, too) can be clutter-free!

Note: I did not feature any skin care in this episode because I plan to do another skin care video later this month. Would you prefer a current skin care favorites or morning/evening skin care routine? Let me know!

Products:

Louboutin Scarabee Nail Polish

Diptyque Florabellio Eau de Toilette

Chikuhodo x Beautylish Sakura Collection

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Copper

Makeup Forever Artist Palette in 2 (LE)

Makeup Forever Artist Plexi Glosses

T3 Micro Featherweight Folding Dryer

TUMI Voyageur Collection Monaco Kit in Peony

Makeup Worn:

NARS Weightless Foundation in Fiji

La Mer Loose Powder in Translucent

Marc Jacobs #Instamarc Contour in Mirage

Tom Ford Cheek Color in Flush

Cle de Peau Highlighter in Sand Beige

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 204

Laura Mercier Extra Lash Mascara

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Copper

Makeup Forever Shadows in I-872 + ME-700

Makeup Forever Gloss in 201 (not 202)

Velour Lashes in Oops Naughty Me

Nails:

Louboutin Scarabee II and III

Review HERE

Hair:

T3 Micro Featherweight 2i

Bag in Background:

Proenza Schouler PS1

Necklace:

Gjenmi Asymmetrical Letter

Sweater:

Madewell (ON SALE)

___________________________________________________________________________

BREAKING NEWS | The Summer 2015 BEAUTYLISH X CHIKUHODO Sakura Collection

"Beautylish has partnered with Japan's legendary brushmaker Chikuhodo to release the first ever Beautylish collaboration project called The Sakura Collection.

The Sakura Collection is a five piece brush set designed by Beautylish and handcrafted by Cikuhodo's team of artisans in Japan. Each brush is made of the softest natural hair and constructed with a makie handle featuring cherry blossom design inspired by the Japanese tradition of sakura. The set includes two face brushes and three smaller brushes for eye and detail work with everything you need to complete an entire look.

This limited edition brush set will launch on July 2nd, exclusively on Beautylish.com. Due to significant interest, Beautylish is also providing the opportunity to waitlist for early access here."

I plan to purchase a back-up for travel and a few extra sets to gift to special friends and family members! All the other short-handled Chikuhodo brush sets have sold out within minutes on Beautylish, so be prepared and sign up!

UPDATE | Beautylish is now accepting pre-orders for their next shipment, scheduled to be delivered July 30th. The first shipment sold out before they could even put it up on the website, so do not miss this opportunity to grab a set! CLICK HERE to order now!

___________________________________________________________________________

April 2015 Beauty Favorites feat. a Special Guest + La Mer, Chikuhodo, and more!

This Favorites episode is launching a little earlier than usual because my twin sister is making a surprise reappearance! We filmed a monolid makeup tutorial a few years ago, but she is finally back and chatting about products instead of sitting in as my model. If you'd like to order the La Mer Skin Tint — which is not widely available online yet — from her Neiman Marcus store in Newport Beach, you can have one shipped to you! It is such a phenomenal tinted sunscreen, smooth and creamy without feeling greasy. Do call her at (949.220.3366) if you'd like to get shade matched. We may film some other hair and beauty tutorials together soon, so please feel free to share any video suggestions! Now, this April lineup is fairly simple and straightforward, covering most of my daily essentials. I'm turning 26 this week, and the older I get, the more I like to keep it simple when I'm not in front of the camera. Beauty is more about grooming and enjoyment v. makeup and glamour as you age (in my experience). Still, there's nothing more exciting than sparkly Tom Ford newness! Hope you enjoy the bloopers xo

Products Reviewed:

Tom Ford Eye Duos in Golden Peach & Naked Bronze

Tom Ford Eye & Cheek Palette in Pink Glow

Swatches HERE

Simplehuman 8" Sensor Mirror

YSL Lip Gloss in 5 Cherry & 4 Rose

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation

La Mer Reparative Skin Tint in 2 Light

La Mer Lifting Contour Serum

Chikuhodo MK-1 Powder Brush

Chikuhodo MK-2 Powder Brush

MAC Nordstrom Naturals Eyeshadow Palette

Makeup on Me:

Bobbi Brown Serum Foundation in 3 Beige

D&G Powder in 100 Warm

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronzer

Cle de Peau Highlighter in Sand

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 202

Tom Ford Eye Duo in Golden Peach

MAC Nordstrom Naturals Eye Palette

Burberry Waterproof Kohl Pencil

EM Lengthening Mascara in Black

YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil in 5 Cherry

Velour Lashes in Oops Naughty Me

*Get 15% OFF with code RAEVELOUR

Makeup on My Sis:

Cle de Peau Cream Foundation in O20

YSL Finishing Veil Loose Powder 03

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 201

Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim

Tom Ford Blush in Frantic Pink

LORAC Liquid Liner in Black

YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil in 5 Rose

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Terra

Tom Ford Eye Duo in Naked Bronze

Shu Uemura Brown Eye Palette

MAC 4 False Lashes

Nails:

Tom Ford Scarlet Chinois & Toasted Sugar

Hair:

T3 Micro Bodywaver Curling Iron

___________________________________________________________________________

GET READY WITH ME | Polished 10 Minute Sping/Summer Makeup Tutorial

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 ♥

Makeup Worn:

simplehuman 8" Sensor Mirror 

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation

Burberry Nude Powder in 12 Ochre Nude

Chikuhodo Takumi T-1 Powder Brush

Burberry Brow Pencil in Ash Brown

Armani Eye Tint in 12

Armani Runway Face and Eye Palette

Burberry Waterproof Kohl in Black

Cle de Peau Perfect Lash Mascara

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

MAC Beauty Powder in Pearl Blossom

MAC Philip Treacy High-Light Powder in Nude-Pink

YSL Pop Water Glossy Stain in 201

Velour Lashes in Custom RCF 15mm

*Get 15% OFF with code RAEVELOUR

Hair:

T3 Twirl 360 Curling Iron

Sweater:

Burberry Brit Check Elbow Patch

Nails:

Christian Louboutin Vulcano Python Coffret

Check out my CUSHION 101 REVIEW here!
___________________________________________________________________________

REVIEW: Makeup Brush Guide + My Holy Grail Brushes by Chikuhodo, Wayne Goss, Hakuhodo, Tom Ford, and more

I can hardly believe it has been almost two years since my last favorite brushes video! I have garnered so much knowledge and experience since then, and my skin has been through hell and back, so my brush preferences are rather different. Since discovering the beauty of artisan brushes, I have not looked back. The craftsmanship and attention to detail oftentimes astound me, even if I've owned the brush for a year or two. Each brush is shaped by hand and the natural tips of the fibers are much finer, which ultimately lead to a much softer feel on the skin as opposed to laser-cut hairs. More details after the jump!

FAVORITES: December 2014 Beauty HITS & MISSES (Lipsticks, Foundation, Acne + Skin Care)

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you've all had a wonderful start to 2015. I am very much looking forward to this new year, but December was a long and memorable month. I leaned on excuses like stress and work, and as happy as my taste buds and tummy were, I was definitely paying for it with my poor health. I weighed in at 117 pounds and officially decided it was time to turn my life back around. I have been eating very healthy (no Christmas gorging) and trying to get exercise whenever possible. Unfortunately, I was very sick for nearly a week due to the insane bug that's going around, which derailed all my video plans, but I am back and feeling more motivated than ever! I experienced an adrenaline rush while filming, though sadly, I totally crashed with exhaustion after filming this episode. Still, I hope you enjoy the last Favorites episode of 2014 and hope you look forward to the Best of 2014 reviews! xo

Products Reviewed

Theory Cashmere Sweater (On sale now, a super steal!)

BB Dakota Leather Jacket in Taupe

Wayne Goss Powder Brush (LE)

Tom Ford Lips&Boys in Beau and Julian

Bakel Cool Eyes Eye Cream

Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel

Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Masks

Dolce & Gabbana The Blush in Tan

Chikuhodo Z-2 Brush (NOT Z-4, sorry!)

NARS The Multiple in St. Lucia

NARS Irresistible Eye Palette

*Best of NARS Review HERE

Clé de Peau Cream Foundation

Clé de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation

NARS Reflecting Pressed Powder

NARS Powder Foundation in Deauville

Makeup Worn

Clé de Peau Concealer in Beige

NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska

Clé de Peau Foundation in O20

NARS Reflecting Pressed Powder

Dolce & Gabbana Blush in Tan

Clé de Peau Highlighter in Pink

NARS The Multiple in St. Lucia

NARS Irresistible Eye Palette

em cosmetics liquid eyeliner in Black

Clé de Peau Perfect Lash Mascara

Burberry Holiday '14 Lip Glow in Oxblood
Velour Lashes in Whispie Me Away
*receive 15% OFF with code RAEVELOUR

Earrings:

Prudence C Crystals

Nails:

Chanel Spring 2015 Tenderly

___________________________________________________________________________

August 2014 Favorites + Tom Ford Fall 2014 Preview

I feel as though I say this constantly, but I cannot believe another four weeks has flown by. It is true what they say — that your early twenties seem to drag on, but that your mid-twenties will pass in the blink of an eye. I wish I could stop time to enjoy the little things! Still, August was a great month dedicated to growth and change and finally, some weight loss! My first juice cleanse was one of the most eye-opening experiences, but I have been doing my best to eat healthier overall, despite my hectic schedule and late night cravings. Though I'm struggling with some hormonal blemishes this week, I feel completely like myself again! I hope you'll enjoy this month's selection of Hits & Misses, as there are some very highly requested product reviews and updates here. Thanks always for stopping by and hope you have a wonderful start to the Fall season! xo 

PRODUCTS REVIEWED:

Remington iLight Face and Body [promo code: ilightBM2 for 15% off]

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation in Fawn 

Koh Gen Do Powder in OC-2 and Case 

Dior Fall 2014 Eyeshadow Palette in Pied de Poule [swatches HERE]

Kevyn Aucoin Loose Shadow in Candlelight [swatches HERE]

Charlotte Tilbury 'Full Fat Lashes' 5 Star Mascara

Sonia Kashuk 'Make a Face' Brushes

Chikuhodo GSN 6-Piece Brush Set

Kerastase Chroma Thermique Hair Milk

Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash 

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lotion 

Makeup Worn:

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation in Fawn 

Tom Ford Concealer in Light 

Tom Ford Bronzer in Terra 

Tom Ford Illuminating Powder 

Tom Ford Fall 2014 Cheek Duos 

Tom Ford Fall 2014 Lipsticks 

Tom Ford Fall 2014 Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip 

Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen in Deeper 

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 204 and Holder 

Koh Gen Do Powder in OC-2 and Case 

Guerlain Maxi Lash WP Mascara 

Velour Lashes in Hey Shawty 

*Use promo code RAEVELOUR to receive 15% OFF

Blouse:

Joie Matte Silk XS 

Nails:

Tom Ford Fall 2014 

Giorgio Armani Fall 2014 

Hair:

Hot Tools Curling Iron in 1.5" (White) 

___________________________________________________________________________