beauty blogger

April 2015 Favorites

It feels so good to be back in the blogging world! I am finally back from Cancun and getting back into the groove of things. I decided to show you some of my favorites from April. I have been using most of these products everyday especially while in Cancun!

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Hourglass Ambient Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light– I am a sucker for bronzers and this guy is one of my favorites! It’s the perfect bronze color and gives a beautiful glow. I also love it because it is very finely milled and super easy to blend.

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo in 2 Golden-I have been using this only for the highlight.  The bronzer is a little too orange for me. You can check out the swatch here. This product and the Hourglass bronzer are the perfect pair.

NARS Blush in Madly-I’m not that much of a blush person and I tend to go towards more neutral ones. This one is a neutral peachy pink.

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown– I gave up on finding a cheaper alternative and decided to go back to the Brow Wiz. I used to purchase the Dark Brown but since I’m more into a natural brow, I purchased Medium Brown.

Dose of Colors Kiss of Fire– I mentioned this in my favorite lipsticks for spring post. You can check it out here. When I first purchased these lipsticks I wasn’t a very big fan, but that changed after a few uses.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream– I have calluses on my hands from weightlifting and this is the best lotion to moisturize my hands.

Stay tuned for my next post. It will include OOTD’s and MOTD’s from my trip in Cancun! All of these products will be included.

-Diana

Sephora VIB Sale Haul

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You did it again Sephora… You got me again! I think I am good for spring and summer. I am going to “try” not to make any purchases until the next VIB sale. I also purchased the Marc Jacobs eyeliner and NARS lipstick in Greta. Check out my wish list here.

  1. Kat Von D | Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette– Impulse purchase, I just couldn’t say no!
  2. Hourglass | Ambient Bronzer in Radiant Light–  I purchased this guy instead of the Dim Light Powder. It’s BEAUTIFUL!
  3. Smashbox | Photo Finish Primer Water– Loving it so far and it’s so easy to use.

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    Kat Von D is a genius!

  4. Supergoop! | Sun-Defying Sunscreen Oil– I got a sample of this last year and I loved it. I am going on vacation to Cancun this weekend so this was a must have.
  5.  Anastasia Beverly Hills | Brow Wiz in Medium Brown– I went back to using this last month so I decided to purchase a back up.
  6. Urban Decay | Naked Skin Concealer in Medium Neutral– The consistency of this reminds me of the Mac Pro longwear. I will keep you updated on how I like it! The color range does suck.

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    I just can’t… I ‘m so excited to use this while I’m in Mexico!

  7. Dr. Jart+ | Dermaclear Micro Water– I’ve been doing a horrible job at washing my face after using a makeup remover wipe. This claims to remove makeup as well as tone and brighten skin.
  8. Cover FX | Custom Cover Drops in G40- I was very intrigued when I came across this online. It’s basically pigments that can be mixed with a moisturizer, primer, or a foundation. The more drops you add the more coverage you will get. I have used this once with my moisturizer and I liked it!
  9. Make Up For Ever | Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner in 8C– I have MAC’s Cherry Liner but I wanted a true red without a blue undertone and this one was the winner.
  10. NARS | Audacious Lipstick in Greta – Not pictured.
  11. Marc Jacobs | Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Black– Not pictured, repurchase.

I purchased the NAR Ita brush a while back and ended up returning it. I don’t think it was worth the money for the amount of contouring I do. I have other brushes that are just as good or even better to contour with.

I also wanted to mention I will be returning the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks I mentioned in my previous post. Like I mentioned in my post I prefer the NARS Audacious. It takes at least three coats for the CT lipsticks to be opaque and I’m not about that life so they are going back.

Thank you for reading! I would love to know what purchases you made!

-Diana

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks- First Impression

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Charlotte Tilbury is a well known British makeup artist. She is known to work on celebrities and supermodels like Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham. Her makeup collection launched in the US last fall. The only item I have from her collection so far is the Filmstar Bronze & Glow (which I love). I was very upset when her matte lipsticks didn’t launch in the US. After patiently waiting, these lipsticks finally became available! They are only available for a couple more weeks on her website. It took me a couple of days to decide which ones to buy because I really wanted all of them. I ended up purchasing Red Carpet Red and Lost Cherry. She claims these lipsticks can create a fuller looking lip with a “long-lasting, buildable, and hydrating formula.” They are available for $32.

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Left-Lost Cherry, Right- Red Carpet Red

The rose gold packaging is simple yet elegant. I also love how the shape of the lipstick is square. It actually made it a lot easier to apply. The lipsticks are very smooth, creamy, and easy to apply. You can wear these with a light layer as a stain or you can build it up for a richer color.

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Left- Lost Cherry, Right- Red Carpet Red

Lost Cherry

IMG_1216This one is definitely the brightest of the bunch (perfect for spring and summer). It’s described as a “pastel fuchsia.”

Red Carpet Red

IMG_1188This is your typical Hollywood red carpet color. It’s described as a “true ruby red.”

The formula of these lipsticks remind me of the NARS Audacious except the NARS are a lot more pigmented. However, I think these lipsticks were meant be buildable. I think I prefer NARS Audacious lipsticks. I haven’t worn these for over 2 hours so I can’t give you a full review. I don’t want to say I’m disappointed in these lipsticks but I’m not amazed by any means. I prefer more of a matte finish and these feel like a satin/matte. If you love creamy somewhat matte lipsticks then I would pick one of these up! Overall, I am happy I made the purchase. I’m thinking about purchasing Love Liberty. We’ll see how they wear for a full day soon!

Diana

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Collection & Swatches

I have compiled a pretty good collection of Makeup Geek eyeshadows.  To be honest I’m not really that much of an eyeshadow person. I do go through phases of obsessing with a particular eyeshadow. Right now its Satin Taupe by MAC. But normally on a day to day basis I just wear mascara. Don’t get me wrong I love doing eyeshadow looks but I prefer to do them for special events or a night out.

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Makeup Geek was founded by an amazing Youtuber, Marlena. They offer products like eyeshadows, blushes, and brushes. I own 23 eyeshadows, six of them are the foiled eyeshadows. Almost all of the eyeshadows I have are neutral colors. These eyeshadows are awesome. They are creamy, easy to blend, and the pigmentation is great. The regular eyeshadows are $6 each and the foiled eyeshadows are $10. You do have to pay for shipping but it’s super affordable (less than $5). The only negative is having to purchase a Z-palette (if you don’t already have one) because the eyeshadows are sold in individual pans. I purchased my Z-palette at Sephora during last year’s VIB sale. The larger size is $28 and the smaller size is $18. Makeup Geek also sells a variety of Z-palettes. Check them out here.

Enjoy the swatches!

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Foiled EyeshadowsIMG_1116

IMG_1118Some of my favorites are Burlesque, Bitten, Gold Digger, Peach Smoothie, Chickadee, and Cocoa Bear. Even though I love Bitten, I do find it a bit chalky. I personally think it’s really hard to find perfect matte eyeshadows. That is why BLENDING is always crucial. My favorite matte eyeshadows are from Urban Decay and I’m dying to try Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadows.  I LOVE all of the foiled eyeshadows! I cannot get over how amazing the pigmentation is. I totally recommend checking those out!

www.makeupgeek.com

What’s your favorite eyeshadow brand?

Happy Hump Day!

-Diana

Sephora Wish List- April 2015

Word on the street is the Sephora VIB Spring Sale is near. According to @trendmood1 on instagram the sale dates are 4/16-4/20 (4/12-4/21 for VIB Rouge). Depending on your VIB status, the discount will either be ten or fifteen percent off. I wasn’t able to find the sale info anywhere else so we’ll see if it’s true! I created a wish list of things I need to repurchase and a few things I want to try out. I always like to take advantage and purchase more expensive products like skin care, foundation, or perfume. Sephora only has sales a couple times a year so it is definitely worth making some purchases. Hopefully this gives you some ideas as well!

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Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Cream

This is my favorite moisturizer. I purchased this one during the VIB sale last November. I ran out about a month ago so it’s time to repurchase.

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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

I own the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette which includes Dim Light. Out of all three colors this is the one I use the most. I love using this to set my concealer. It’s very lightweight and not shimmery at all but there is something about it that makes my face look flawless. Dim Light is described as a “neutral peach beige powder.” These are pretty pricey at $45 so I would personally only buy it at a discounted price.

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Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water

This is a product I am very curious to try out. I love using my UD All Nighter setting spray as primer so this totally makes sense to me. It has great reviews online. I will definitely be purchasing this item!

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Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon

It’s time to repurchase my favorite eyeliner. This is the only pencil that actually stays on my waterline. I highly recommend trying this guy out!

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Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer 

That is the longest name ever… Any who, I have been using the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ever since it came out. I am almost out of my third one so I am thinking about trying this one. I love the NARS because I can use it for everyday or build it up for more coverage. This one claims to do the same thing so we’ll just have to see about that!

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NARS Audacious Lipstick in Greta

I love these lipsticks. This color looks beautiful. It’s perfect for spring and summer. That is all!

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Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Crème in So Rouge

Do I really need another red lipstick? Maybe? Do I need a limited edition Marc Jacobs lipstick in beautiful red packaging? DUH! (Do you like how I did that?) I do not own any Marc Jacobs lipsticks so this may just be my first one. These lipsticks have wonderful reviews so I am actually really excited to try this out. This lipstick is sadly only available to VIB Rouge but there are 20 shades available in the regular collection.

Well that concludes my wish list. For now anyway… I hope I have given you some ideas. My advice is to take advantage and purchase the more expensive items you have been wanting to try out. If you are looking for a new foundation, right now would be a great time to get some samples. You have enough time before the sale starts to find one you like.

Let me know what’s on your wish list or any items you think I should try out! Check out @Trendmood1 on Instagram for the latest beauty releases!

Happy Friday!

-Diana

Shade of the Day- Dragon Girl

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend so far. I was finally able to relax and get some much needed sleep. I dragged my husband to the movies today to watch Cinderella. Best movie ever!!! I didn’t have much time to get ready this morning so I did a simple look with a pop of color (my go-to look).

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Today is a very special shade of the day because it features my FAVORITE lipstick of all time! Every time I can’t decide on a lipstick to wear I ALWAYS reach for this one. It’s the perfect shade of red with a tint of pink and a blue undertone.

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The NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are one of my favorite lipsticks. They are very easy to apply, perfect when you’re on the go. The only negative is having to sharpen them. Dragon Girl is my favorite color but I also recommend Damned, Mysterious Red, and Train Bleu.

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Products used:

Face: Dior Skin Nude Air Foundation, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, Charlotte Tillbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow

Eyes: Buxom Lash, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, Rimmel ScandalEyes Nude Eyeliner, ABH Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

Here’s my comfy outfit of the day for ya!

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#OOTD: Sweater- Nike, T-shirt- Zara, Jeans- F21, Shoes- Nike, Bag- Tory Burch

-Diana

Vegas OOTD’s

Since I went to Vegas last weekend I thought I would show you guys some of my outfits. Our flight departed at 8:45pm from Seattle on Thursday and arrived in Las Vegas around 10:30pm. I wanted to be comfortable on the flight so I wore a loose shirt and comfy shoes. When we arrived to the hotel all I did was touch up my makeup, add red lipstick, and put some sandals on. Plaids are my favorite because they are so versatile. You can go from the baggy boyfriend look to a tucked in chic casual look. This outfit would have also been cute with converse or booties.

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Top- American Eagle (Similar), Jeans- American Eagle, Shoes- Nike, Bag- Tory Burch

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Top- AE, Jeans- AE, Sandals- Ross (old), Bag- Marc Jacobs

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Blouse- Forever 21, Pants- Forever 21, Necklace- F21, Watch- Kate Spade, ABH liquid lipstick in Electric Coral

I’m so disappointed for not taking a pic of my outfit the second night because I loved it! So here is a cropped up version of it. I wore ankle strap pumps from Just Fab but here are some similar ones. And can I just say I am OBSESSED with antique colored jewelry!

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Top- F21 (similar), Jeans- F21 (similar), Flats- Nordstrom Rack (old), Bag- Marc Jacobs

You can probably already tell most of my clothes are from Forever 21. I like to stay in the affordable range when it comes to purchasing trendy clothes. I’d rather splurge on a handbag, jacket, or a nice pair of jeans.

I apologize for the poor quality, I promise OOTD pictures will get better… Eventually!

-Diana

My Travel Beauty Bag

 

Since I am leaving to Las Vegas tonight, I figured it would be a good idea to show you what makeup I’m traveling with. I did pack a little bit more than usual, but I mean c’mon, its Vegas! The bag I use is from the Sephora Collection and it’s called “The Weekender.” I like it because it has several compartments so it is very easy to keep everything organized.

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Lets start from the top left and work our way to the right:

  • Marc Jacobs Gel Eye Crayon (favorite black eyeliner)
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
  • Becca Highlight in Opal
  • Becca Mineral Blush in Wild Honey
  • Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow
  • Tarte CC Undereye Corrector
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
  • Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
  • MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NW20 & NW30)
  • MAC Soft Ocre Paint Pot
  • Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Bottom Row:

  • ABH DipBrow Pomade
  • ABH Brow Powder Duo
  • Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
  • Buxom Lash Mascara
  • Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
  • ABH Brow Gel
  • Tarteiest Clay Paint Liner
  • Origins Ginzing Eye Cream (Beauty Insider Rewards)
  • Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (Beauty Insider Rewards)
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion
  • Philosophy Back to Nurture Cream
  • First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
  • Too Faced Glitter Glue

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In the second big compartment I have my Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette and my brushes (eyeshadow brushes not pictured).

  • Tarte Brush (for setting concealer)
  • Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush (my favorite)
  • Real Techniques Contour Brush (for applying concealer)
  • Sigma Beauty F35 Tapered Highlighter Brush
  • Sigma Beauty F25 Tapered Face Brush (for bronzing)
  • NARS Ita Brush (for contouring)

I will be taking my Sephora Z-Palette that carries all of my Makeup Geek Eyeshadows. If you are interested I can do a full review with swatches, just let me know! In the bottom of the palette I have two highlights and one contour shade from ABH Contour Kit. I will also be taking the MAC Cinderella Glitter Pigment.

Last but not least are my lipsticks. This is always the toughest thing to decide when packing. They are usually the first and last thing I pack. And please tell me I’m not the only one that chooses an outfit based on what lipstick you really want to wear. I still don’t know which ones I will be using so I have to take plenty of options. Duh!

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  •  NARS Velvet Lip Liner in Costa Smeralda
  • MAC Lip Pencils in Cherry and Whirl
  • Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Underage Red
  • ABH Liquid Lipsticks in Sweet Talker, Pure Hollywood, Carina, and Electric Coral
  • Dose of Colors Liquid Lipstick in Pinky Promise
  • Burberry Lip Velvet Lipstick in Fuchsia Pink

 

Thank you for reading!

Happy Thursday!

-Diana