First Impression: Royal Care Cosmetics Brushes

Estee Lauder x Lilly Pulitzer

Hi guys! So recently Macy's reached out to me about sharing the amazing GWP Estee Lauder at Macy's has going on right now! With any $35 purchase, you receive a free Lily Pulitzer makeup bag as well as a bunch of samples, well worth it! The samples you choose are customizable to your liking as well, always an added bonus, and this bag is adorable. The gift with purchase includes a moisturizer, I got the Day Wear version, a lipstick/eyeshadow combo with a cute little Lilly eyeshadow compact (in either bronze shades or pinks, the lipstick I got was in shade Sugar Honey), a sample of Advanced Night Repair, (which if you don't own this product already this WILL convince you to purchase it immediately...literally like your face took a bath in sea of collagen and angel's tears), a travel size Take It Away makeup remover, and a sample size of their Sumptuous mascara.

Intimate

I am so so so so so  so so so so in love with the concept of this video and their genuine, innocent and honest reactions they are so brazen and natural and transparent and can we talk about the pairing, hello perfect real life couples? Le sigh. IN LOVE. EDIT: apparently it's a marketing campaign for Wren clothing? Although no one was paid, it was their first time meeting and kissing, but they were actors and models who perhaps this would come more naturally to them. I knew these couples were too good to be true!!!! I still am obsessed with this though, its beautiful.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/03/first-kiss-the-story-behind-tuesdays-real-viral-hit/

Devendra Banhart and Ana Kras. The story goes that she was assigned to photograph him and upon their meeting, within the first five minutes, he proposed. They’ve been together ever since.

 

The Rum Diary

 

 

and i dig this song

I woke up like dis

Adèle Exarchopoulos and Chloë Sevigny front row at Louis Vuitton FW 14

Isabel Marant FW14

Calvin Klein FW14

Time Magazine

The Last Supper

Oscars: My Best Dressed List

Last night was the 2014 Oscars and obviously the best night for swooning over gorgeous gowns and beauty moments among some of our favorite celebs. You know this post will clearly have a huge Lupita moment, because she was by-far the best dressed I have seen in ages, with a gorgeous powder blue Prada dress which complimented her skin like a dream. Scroll through to see some more of my favorite choices and perhaps some you had missed.

 First up are my favorite ladies in red! Khloe Kardashian had one of my favorite makeup moments with a dark cranberry lip and a touch of old school glam. She looked amazing in her crushed-velvet burgundy wrap gown and definitely had that vintage Hollywood vibe working for her.
I am searching for more photos of Crystal Renn wearing Zac Posen because I just LOVE the dress but all I can find is a video interview of the two together. And finally, Sienna Miller channeling a Khaleesi style with a gorgeous bohemian cut McQueen gown and amazing gold hardware up and down each arm. Very Cleopatra.

Crystal Renn in Zac Posen

Sienna Miller in Alexander McQueen

Kate Hudson in Versace

Kate Hudson in Zuhair Murad at the Vanity Fair afterparty. This is a perfect silhouette for her... I really want to illustrate this dress.

Cate Blanchett in Armani

Some claimed that this flowered Armani gown washed Cate out, but I absolutely adore her and how she stays true to her style, and I think she looked elegant and stunning nonetheless. I really need to see Blue Jasmine now, which I have been neglecting in my queue. Would you guys perhaps like some movie/book/tv show reviews? I think I'd enjoy writing or filming videos about that sort of thing. And how killer was that fashion dedication moment to the Hermes bag? I die.

 A natural, glowing look with a sultry, smokey eye and those gorgeous pouty lips. You could achieve this look with Buxom Full Bodied in Yow and perhaps Nars Mekong on the eyes.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Cushnie Et Ochs and Chanel jewlery. I love the sheer side panels.

Miranda Kerr was also looking like a knockout in this plunging metallic gown (designer, anyone?) And how cute yet awkward was that interruption hello from her ex, Orlando? Anyway I really like her beachy hair and coral lips with this, very Bond Girl... I'd try Burberry's Lip Cover in Golden Peach.

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

 Last, but certainly not least, my favorite, as well as the rest of the world's I'm sure, was Lupita in this powder blue, Cinderella-esque Prada gown with the most stunning Swarovski detailing and just a gorgeous silhouette. Wedding gown inspiration anyone? And, can I just mention how truly touching her speech was, and how refreshing it was to see her genuine excitement and joy for winning? Truly deserved. Does anyone else think that her accessories might contribute to the come back of the headband? Loved it!

Let me know your favorites! I didn't do a worst dressed list because everyone has their days, and I'm trying to be all about the positivity lately! Xo

Beauty Blunders: Volume 1 - Primers

After having drinks with a friend the other night and hearing her say "what's a primer?", I realized this is not the first time I've heard the question, and definitely won't be the last. But to me, I nearly choked on my drink. "HOW ARE YOU LIVING?!" Came to mind... A primer can change the whole base of your face while you apply your makeup, and how your shit's gonna last throughout your day (or night). So here, my beauty blundresses, is your guide to everything you need to know about primers. And also, some of my shameless recommendations of course.

In painting, a house or a canvas, a primer is considered a base coat for the paint you're about to apply. Picture that same mentality for your makeup. Primers can even out, prepare and even blur imperfections on your skin before you apply foundation or bb cream or whatever you use. They can come in many forms, either a gel or cream or liquid substance, and honestly, I apply mine with CLEAN fingers, but you can use a brush as well. Primers can be water-based, mineral-based or silicon-based, which you can choose what works for you. Most primers also have the added bonus of SPF in them, which you should be rocking daily people! There are also different finishes in various primers, skin color adjusting, mattefying, etc. and I switch mine up depending on the look I am going for.

An illuminating primer, such as That Gal by Benefit or Magic Lumi will brighten and infuse your makeup with a good type of shine and luminosity. I really like That Gal, but it is pinky toned, as brightening primers tend to be, so you might have to try out a few to see what works with your skin. I enjoy illuminating primers when I'm aiming for a dewy and bright look to my makeup.

A poreless or sometimes mattefying primer is my usual go-to option. A popular choice is Benefit's Porefessional, which is a flesh-toned cream, but I tend to go between my two favorites, high-end being Tarte's Clean Slate Poreless Primer and the (newer) Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. Each of these are a clear, gel like consistency and feel like pearls when rubbed on the skin. They really give the effect of that "photoshopped" blurred skin look, minimizing pores and evening out and inconsistencies. These mattefying primers seem to work best with oily-to normal skin, so as not to cling to patchy areas of dry skin, but I do have dry skin episodes myself at times, and I can just use the primer in the areas I need to blur out, rather than over my entire face.

For dry skin, I've enjoyed the Laura Geller Spackle Primer on my winter days, but I don't find this to have the greatest longevity. I also have tried a sample of the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer which I think is a great option, definitely lighter weight, as are all Smashbox primers (love!). I am obsessing over the Laura Mercier Radience Bronze Primer currently, which is really smooth and hydrating, with a bronzing tone to it, which really gives you a nice amount of color to your base, which is readily welcomed in this bleak season!

Guess what people, it doesn't stop with the skin. There's also the best thing since sliced bread, EYESHADOW primer. If you are wearing any form of eye makeup beyond mascara, liquid or gel liner, eyeshadow, matte or shimmer or smoky or neutral, you can not achieve optimum results without the holy grail item of eyeshadow primer. They can even out your eyelid color, reduce oilyness (which often leads to creasing or smudging eyeshadow) and even intensify the color of your product. There are two extremely popular eyeshadow primers starting with the Urban Decay Primer Potion, which comes in four finishes, I use Eden, a nude matte finish, and there's also Sin, a champagne shimmer, Greed, a yellow-gold, and Original, a clear drying nude. Second is Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which is lightweight and crease proof. If you're on a budget.... too bad, these are literally the be-all, end-all. Just kidding, but they're really the best. Perhaps try out the Elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer, which I find to work pretty well and is only $1.00!! I also occasionally use eyeshadow bases, such as MAC Paint Pots or Maybelline Color Tattoos, but that's a whole other post. Prime on, ladies!