Wedding Guest Makeup

Hello, I wanted to preface by saying I love weddings!  I thoroughly enjoyed planning my own wedding back in the day.  When I attend weddings, I pay attention to the details because I understand and appreciate the effort that went into creating this once in a life time event.

In September, I attended an intimate evening wedding on the first day of Fall.  As a wedding guest, I decided to go with a demure and classy makeup look with soft neutral eyes and red lips.  I wore a cobalt blue cocktail dress, so I did not want my makeup to overpower the strong color of the dress.

Face:

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup in 2CN2
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10 in Intensity 2.0
Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit - also mentioned here
MAC Pro Longwear Blush in Stay Pretty
Kevin Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight
Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup Powder Foundation in 021 Linen - not pictured

Eyes:

Nars Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - a cult classic must have!
Givenchy Magic Kohl Eye Liner Pencil in 1
Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Appia
Inglot Freedom System Eye Shadow Squares
Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Shadow Duo in #202
YSL Shocking Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils in 1

Lips:

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain in 20 - also mention here

I was inspired to mix two Estee Lauder foundations together from this bridal makeup look video:


Finally some snap shots from the beautiful wedding in September:

Have a great weekend!  Until next post......

Best of May Roundup - CeraVe, Nars, RMK, Victoria's Secret

Hello,  May was definitely a transitional month slowly rolling from Spring to Summer.  I thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine throughout the month.  I find myself switching up my skincare and makeup routine a lot as I adjust to changing of the seasons.  


Skin Care - CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM

As I mentioned in the last post, I suffered from dry patches recently.  The most challenging part was foundation application because I did not have a smooth canvas to work with.


I took the matters into my own hands, did some research, and concluded that I needed to go back to basics in my routine. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM is an amazing fragrance-free moisturizer made with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid as the key ingredients.  It is intensely moisturizing, but you would not expect it because the texture is super light.  It was the first product I picked up to work on the dry patches and it literally got rid of most of them after one use overnight!  Yes, one use! 


The claims and benefits right from the box:

Ingredients:

I highly recommend this moisturizer for dry skin.  It can be found in most drugstores near you.


Makeup - NARS 'Pure Radiant' Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 PA+++ and RMK Powder Foundation EX SPF 24 PA ++


I have been reaching for NARS 'Pure Radiant' Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska a lot in May, especially on the warmer days.  This is the BEST Nars base makeup I have ever tried so far!  Here is my earlier post on this tinted moisturizer and my thoughts have not changed.  I like it more and more with each use.  This is a must for summer!

A good companion to the tinted moisturizer is RMK Powder Foundation EX SPF 24 PA ++.  It is a sheer coverage powder foundation which I tend to use as a pressed powder over foundation or tinted moisturizer.  It works well with many different brands of base makeup.

Pouch for compact and brush

This is not a new product on the market.  I ordered this powder foundation in 102 from iMomoko.com last year, but it does not appear that they carry this item anymore.  There are other sites that sell it, you can search for them by the product name.  I am such a big fan of the RMK Liquid Foundation, so I had to try this powder foundation.  The powder comes in two textures in the compact, matte and shimmer.  The shimmer is meant to be used as a highlighter.  I like to blend the two textures together sometime when I feel like an all over radiant look.  The shimmer is very subtle and almost undetectable on the skin.  


Body Care - Victoria's Secret Gorgeous Fragrance Lotion

Via Google images

Lately, I have been obsessed with the scent of Victoria's Secret Gorgeous Fragrance Lotion.  I find most of the scents at VS to be very similar and overly sweet. Gorgeous stands out to me for being a little different from the other VS fragrances. It is a fruity and floral scent that also smells fresh.  The notes are strawberries, jasmine, and sandalwood.  I could not stop sniffing myself when I have this lotion on.  The entire line of VS Gorgeous fragrance products are currently on sale because the line is being discontinued.  I also got the fragrance mist which is perfect as a light summer scent.


What were your favorite products in May?  Until next post......

Nars Cosmetics Runway to Reality Event

Hello, This is a long over due post about the Nars Cosmetics Runway to Reality Event that I attended at the beginning of May.  It was held at Nordstrom in San Francisco from May 1-5, 2012.  The Nars National Makeup Stylist team worked at this event, so it was an excellent opportunity for me to learn from the pros and to brush up on my own makeup skills.


I remember attending my first Nars National Team Event at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco over ten years ago.  The brand was smaller back then, but I was already intrigued by the range of colors Nars had to offer.  Francois Nars made a personal appearance at this particular event and I remember having a star struck moment when I met him.  He was a soft spoken man and he was nice enough to autograph my face chart.  Of course, the face chart is now long gone after all these years.  At the event, he looked at each client and he hand picked the colors for his team of artists to put on our faces.  For me, I recall he picked out:


Eyes - Nepal eyeshadow and there was a brown eyeshadow and a highlighter used which I do not remember the names.  They could be Bali and Biarritz? 
Eyeliner - Mambo?
Cheeks -  Orgasm blush 
Lips - Cabaret lipstick (I believe this color is no longer available) with Papua lip liner?


I do not recall what was used on my face, but most likely a powder foundation and not liquid.  The finished look was a classic and polished everyday look.  

Via Google images

Now fast forward to the event in May 2012, I learned some new tips and tricks from my makeup artist, Kelly and Jenny Smith, Nars Lead Makeup Stylist.  These tips may not be new to some of you, but they are good ones to remember:


1)  Concealer - Use two shades lighter than your skin tone for concealing under eye area and for highlighting the face.  Kelly used Nars concealer in Vanilla on me and my true match is Custard.


2)  Crease - Use a matte color to define the crease for everyday looks, it gives a more subtle and natural look.  Kelly likes to define the crease first before adding colors to the lid and brow bone.  For my well defined almond-shaped eyes and they are not deep set, Jenny said I do not need to over extend the crease color too high because it creates a more dramatic look and it does not work for the office or everyday look.  The crease color should be placed to show slightly over my own crease and that should be enough.  You can always check whether the crease color is in the right place by looking straight ahead at the mirror with your eyes open.

And I got my nails painted with the limited edition Thakoon for Nars nail polishes in Kutki and Koliary.

The Nars Summer 2012 Collection is now available, check it out!  Thanks for reading!


Until next post......

NARS 'Pure Radiant' Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 PA+++

Hello, Nars launched its first tinted moisturizer recently and I spotted it at my local Nordstrom at the end of January.  It is called NARS 'Pure Radiant' Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 PA+++.  There are 9 colors in the range and I was matched to Alaska, I believe it is the second lightest color.  For reference,  I have worn Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Fiji.  The coverage is sheer to light which is typical for most tinted moisturizers.  It has a natural finish and it evens out the skin nicely.

Here is the claim on the box.  I haven't tried this product long enough to see the improvements.  This sounds a bit like the functionalities of a BB cream, doesn't it?

Light 2 Alaska - light color with yellow undertone

Overall, my first impression of this product is good.  I love that it has at least SPF 30 PA+++ and it claims to have skin care benefits.  I did the ultimate test several times wearing it while I jogged and worked out at the gym.  It held its own through the sun and the sweat, not bad.  This will be great for the warmer weather and casual days.

Have you tried this?  Until next post......

Tom Ford Beauty - Foundation Stick, Translucent Finishing Powder, Cheek Color, and Brow Sculptor

Hello, Tom Ford Beauty was probably the hottest release of any new brands in cosmetics in 2011. Tom Ford Beauty is a high end line of cosmetics and skincare that exudes the image of luxury and glamour.  I was very curious about the line after reading about it on different blogs and websites while anticipating its launch.  After the launch, it did not take long before I got reeled in to Neiman Marcus and it did not take much before I picked out the products I wanted when I saw the entire display at the counter.  I realized the prices of the products are certainly not cheap, but the quality did come through for me.  The products that I picked up and currently loving are:


Traceless Foundation Stick in Natural 05

Coverage - Medium to high and very buildable

Color - I wear 05 Natural which has yellow undertone.  I also tried 04 Bisque, it has pink undertone and actually darker than 05 Natural

Finish - Polished and dewy.  It gives the skin a nice glow without being greasy.  It is never masky looking even after I built up or touched up with more product

Scent - Light scent
Skin type - Normal to Dry

Price - $78 for 0.5oz.

Lasting Power - It is very long lasting even without finishing powder.  I prefer to wear this foundation by itself because I like glowy and dewier looks in the cooler months
Repurchase? Yes.  I compared it other foundation sticks that I currently own or have owned such as Bobbi Brown, Becca, and Shu Uemura and I really think this is the best one.  It works the best for me because it is very hydrating for dry skin and I love the coverage and finish.  It is easy to carry and great for touch up and concealing

Top:  Traceless Foundation Stick in 05 Natural may look darker on my arm, but it is the perfect match when it is  blended out on my face
Bottom:  Cheek Color in 01 Love Lust light swatch

Cheek Color in 01 Love Lust

Color - Pink coral, probably one of the more natural and more wearable colors in the selection of cheek colors.  It is very pigmented

Texture - The powder is creamy which is great for those with drier cheeks

Finish - Has shimmers, but not overdone.  In my opinion, it is suitable for daytime if you use a light hand with it

Skin type - All
Price - $55
Repurchase? - Maybe. Although I like the creamy texture and pigmentation, I find that there is a lack of color choices for me.  The other colors are too vibrant or too dark for my skin tone.  They would be great for those who have darker skin tones or those who are not afraid to experiment with strong colors

I compared Love Lust to Nars Deep Throat.  Both blushes are similar in color, but the texture of Love Lust is creamier.  It also has more shimmers than Deep Throat, I am not sure if you could pick that up in the photo here:

Top:  Tom Ford Beauty Love Lust
Bottom:  Nars Deep Throat

Translucent Finishing Powder in 02 Ivory Fawn

Color - Even though it is called a translucent finishing powder, it does have a hint of color.  It is a neutral color good for light to light-medium skin tone

Texture - Fine and smooth powder, not chalky

Finish - Natural finish that controls shine on the T Zone.  I can't use it all over because I have dry skin

Skin type - All.  It would be ok for oily skin too because it does help control shine, but without being too mattifying
Price - $75
Repurchase? No.  I like that it came with a mini brush and not a face puff.  But for finishing powder, I think I can find cheaper alternatives that can do the job just as well

Brow Sculptor in 02 Taupe

Color - Grayish brown.  Very natural looking for darker brows

Formula - Goes on easily and long lasting

Price - $42

Repurchase ? - Maybe.  I like the flat shaped tip that makes it easy to fill in the brow following the shape of the brow

Brown and gold signature packaging

Overall,  despite of the price point, I feel very positive about my purchases.  If you are looking for good quality makeup and do not mind spending more, then give Tom Ford Beauty a try.  You will not be disappointed.  


Have you tried any of these products or other products from Tom Ford Beauty?  Until next post......

1/24/12 Edit:  I got re-matched on the Foundation Stick in 03 Fawn.  05 Natural is too orange and 04 Bisque is too pink and both colors are too dark for my skin.  03 Fawn is more neutral in tone and lighter than both 04 Bisque and 05 Natural.  I am happy that the Tom Ford Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus was able to help me find the right color.  I also picked up their Traceless Foundation in 03 Fawn, it is very glowy and beautiful on the skin!