All posts filed under: Features

MAC Blush Palette 2016 Update

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About two years and a few odd months ago, I hauled a sizable MAC purchase, which was kindly arranged for me by my friend Laura, who works there. I purchased the large/double palette with eyeshadow and blush inserts, along with three powder blushes that I never got around to adding to. Over the holidays, Laura sent me three more—out of the goodness of her heart—and it made me want to do a MAC Blush Palette update. Here’s what she picked out for me! MAC Powder Blush in Peachykeen, Breath of Plum & Breezy Swatched, L-R: Peachykeen, Breath of Plum, Breezy Peachykeen is a “very baby peach” sheertone shimmer blush. Breath of Plum is a “light plum” sheertone blush. Breezy is a “plum with pearl” sheertone shimmer blush. Not an expert on MAC blushes, but here’s a helpful guide I found at Nordstrom: FROST (F): Iridescent, lightly shimmering color. Adds highlights: provides a frosted ‘bloom’ to the cheeks. MATTE (M): Flat matte finish. Goes on lightly. Builds well. Blends with the skin. SATIN (S): Light-refractive sheen-style …

Give Me Lip: A Melt Cosmetics Lipstick Review

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I’d been looking at Melt Cosmetics for a while now, especially after they released their eyeshadow stacks, a very celebrated product that I felt like I currently had no room for, considering my already overgrown makeup collection. Melt Cosmetics’ lipsticks, however, were always some of the favored mattes by true blue makeup fans. Around Black Friday, Melt Cosmetics had a 30% off sale, and I snagged a code from someone I followed on Tumblr, who was kind enough to share tips re: application and who also let me know which shades he favored. Luckily, I had picked 3 of his 4 favorites! Swatched, L-R: Laced, Catsuit, Space Cake Laced Laced is part of Melt Cosmetics’ Nood Collection, and is a greige-y type of color. It’s often compared to Lime Crime’s Cashmere, which I love the look of but refuse to buy. After looking at swatches, I don’t think they’re all that similar, but I do think Laced is a beautiful color regardless. Unfortunately, my tube of Laced arrived damaged. Melt Cosmetics has a decent return …

Updated Skin Care Routine, December 2015

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Okay, I’m about to look like a crazy, and honestly, you don’t need this much shit in your life, probably. I started getting into skin care when I started getting into makeup. My skin wasn’t doing worse necessarily, but I was made more acutely aware of what my skin type was and what it needed. I’ve mainly had pretty good skin for most of my life. I had like a disgusting rash on my cheek in grade 5, but other than that, no acne or very much breakouts except for hormonal ones like when I get my period. My skin got a little more high maintenance as I grew older, though. I honestly used to just let the water run down my face in the shower (lol), didn’t even use soap or any kind of moisturizer. But I think that wearing makeup and probably the stress of like adult life or whatever took a toll. I can’t really say for sure. All I know is that I want to take care of my skin, and …

Coming Out of the Woodwork (plus, a giveaway)

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Before I discovered rings and lapel pins, my main accessories of choice were necklaces and some kind of wristwatch. I love how watches look, especially if they’re either a touch masculine or somewhat minimal. I’ve mainly been wearing a simple watch with a white face, tortoiseshell frame and leather strap from AÃRK Collective for the past few months, but I received a cute watch from JORD a few months ago. JORD creates unique wood watches, with sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living in mind. Their website is pretty cool, too, where they share a lot of information about their watches, in case you’d like to get into the nitty gritty of the types of wood, movements, and glass they use to craft their watches. I currently have the JORD Ely in Green Sandalwood and Maple* which was named after a bunch of historic brick buildings in St. Louis called the Ely Walker Warehouse. I love the sort of patina-toned stain on my wood watch, although of course it’s not a stain, but a natural coloring. It’s …

FOTD: Thick Liner

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Just checking in: I’m still alive. So, last Friday, I was doing my makeup in the car and overdrew the liner on my left eye. If you’ve been around a while, you’d know that my lids aren’t exactly the same, in that the fold on them is different. This means that I either have to wear my eyeliner really, really thinly (and compensate with an outrageous wing) or go on full-thick liner, which I like to call “The Point of No Return.” Anyway, despite what I thought was a disaster, I ended up liking how it looked. So here are the selfies. Products Used: — Becca Resurfacing Primer — Ellis Faas Concealer (S204)* — Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Pressed Powder (Shade 2) — K-Palette 24H Real Lasting 2Way Eyebrow Pencil (103)* — ColourPop Blush (Aphrodisiac): used on eyes and cheeks — K-Palette Essence in ShadowLiner (02 brown black x camel brown)* — Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder (Medium) — NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (Bahama) Guess what? My bangs were helpful, too! * …

Burt’s Bees Holiday 2015 Sets

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My go-to gifts for people whose wishlists I’m not privy to are books and holiday sets. I’m such a sucker for these, so imagine my delight when I came home to a bunch of Burt’s Bees Holiday Sets for 2015*. These didn’t come with any PR information, so I don’t even think they were expecting me to post anything—i.e. this post may or may not be helpful—but like I said. I’m a sucker for efficiency and gift sets—especially when they come so cutely packaged! Beeswax Lip Balm and Moisturizing Lip Balm in Wild Cherry The beeswax lip balm (Php 325) is perhaps what Burt’s Bees is most well-known for. I’m a fan of these myself, as are the rest of my family, even my brother who is kind of wary of most “beauty” products. Everyone could use a bit of lip balm, though, right? The beeswax lip balm comes in a tin, too, which contains more product, but although this incarnation is not as physically appealing, I do prefer not having to dip my fingers …

Softly Sometimes and the Holy Grail: October 2015 Update

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It’s been a while since my last Holy Grail post (July 2013). Although the point of a Holy Grail list is finding the best products for you—which means there shouldn’t be another Holy Grail list—I think I’ve found and whittled down my own list to reflect my very best finds. There are some categories that lack a product, but that just means that I a) like to play around when it comes to that part of my makeup, b) don’t wear it all that much (e.g. mascara), c) have many favorites, but no ULTIMATE. About Base Primer — always and forever the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. I’ve tried a shit ton and while I enjoy them all, this is my favorite, go-to, most reliable one. Bases — for foundation, my favorite is the Ellis Faas Skin Veil* which I have in S104L. I think it makes me skin look great, but I rarely wear it to the office because I prefer a lighter base for stress-heavy days. That’s where the Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint comes …