A Tinted Moisturizer For All

Enjoying the outdoors during the summer months will give you some kind of tan whether it was intentional or not.  And a tan creates a slight or a dramatic mismatch with your mainstay foundation.  I found the perfect solution - Origins' VitaZing SPF 15 energy boosting moisturizer.  It's a tinted moisturizer that adjusts to your current skin tone. Whether you got a little tanned or 10 shades darker, this moisturizer will blend right in with your tan of the moment.  It will carry you through the summer months until you can go back to your original foundation.  Perfect for summer because it also has SPF 15!
   

I've used VitaZing right after an afternoon at the pool, when I was in a rush to get to another place afterwards.  It provides a light coverage, which is fine because you don't want to mask your awesome tan, right?  But if you're worried about concealing some imperfections, I'd follow with a finishing powder or a bronzer.  If I need more of a matte finish, I use Origins' Brighter By Nature SPF 30, which is a skin tone correcting foundation!  Pairs well with VitaZing!  So take the worry and extra spending on several foundations during the summer and purchase Origins VitaZing!

P.S. I tried my best to capture myself with the VitaZing on my face with my little Canon digital powershot.  It may not be the most accurate, but, hopefully you can get an idea of the coverage VitaZing provides!

Tarte's Park Ave Princess

Tarte's Park Ave Princess is a must have for your summer makeup collection.  It's a light yellow golden brown matte bronzer.  Wait, it gets better...It's waterproof!  And when you add the finishing touch of Urban Decay's De-Slick setting spray, the bronzer is practically unmovable!  I apply it with my Sonia Kashuk's Couture Multipurpose Blush/Powder Brush (read my post here!  Again, I love tarte because of all the organic ingredients that they use in their products.  Because of its matte finish, this is great to use if you're going for a no-make-up look.  And how cute is the compact?!

Applying bronzer

-Using a a fairly fanned out brush or a Kabuki brush, apply upwards between your eyebrows and fan out around the edge of your face.
-Continue around the edge of your face.
-Lightly apply underneath your blush. and continue to outline your face.
-The icing on the cake: Brush some bronzer in the area underneath your chin/jaw, basically where your face ends and neck starts. You'll look great in photos, especially those photos when your head is turned at different/awkward angles.  The bronzer slims the chin/jaw area.
-Any excess of bronzer on the brush, apply lightly on the nose and chin :)

JewelMint - my new obsession!

Photo credit: JewelMint http://www.jewelmint.com/

I actually came across this website in one of my Lucky magazines.  I signed up but hadn't made my first purchase until this month!  I think it's an ingenious idea from Kate Bosworth and her stylist Cher Coulter.  As a member, you pay $29.99 for any jewelry on their website - earrings, necklaces, bracelets!  Your showroom is personalized to your taste based on a quiz/survey that you take when you sign up.  Every month, JewelMint will send you an e-mail to inform you that your showroom is ready.  As a member, the membership is $29.99 per month (basically one piece of jewelry); but, if you don't find anything you like in your showroom, you can skip that month for no charge!  The membership doesn't start until you make your first purchase.  What I like most about JewelMint is the "personalized showroom" of unique pieces.  So your showroom this month might not be the same next month.

Ok, you might think, "I don't need to buy jewelry every month. Why should I pay for this exclusive membership that obligates me to buy jewelry?"  Again, JewelMint allows you to skip a month if you don't find anything in your showroom.  Membership includes FREE shipping and simple returns.  I'm still trying to find out if there's a max number of times you can skip.  Another way of looking at it is to think of your circle of relatives (mothers, daughters, niece) and friends.  And then, think of the the special occasions that you buy them a little something - birthdays, graduations, holidays (i.e. Christmas).  I, myself, can think of a handful of people and a handful of occasions I could buy a piece of jewelry.  Not to mention, the times I want to give myself a gift *wink*.

As a member, I'm personally inviting all of you to give it a try!  Here's my personal invite link http://jmnt.me/kUSNXq and if you're not sure today, you can find the same link under the Links section to the right :)

I just ordered the Supernova Earrings a day and a half ago, and I even had a discount code!  I can't wait to get them!

Urban Decay's De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray

Last year, I reviewed Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray, and I still love the product, but I thought I'd try another one in their line of setting sprays.  UD's De-Slick Oil Control Setting Spray is targeted for those who have oily skin (that's me!).  The product has a fresh scent, like a very light hairspray scent.  It absorbs and dries very quickly that you only feel the product for maybe two to three seconds!  After that, I don't feel like I added another layer of product.  Very lightweight!  My makeup stays put quite well with this product on, and in the summer months, I think this is a must-have!

I also tried De-Slick as a primer; it works pretty well!  I applied it in a small area on my face to see if there would be a difference between using an actual primer or the setting spray.  A 2-in-1 product!  If you're going to use it as your main primer, I recommend using a sponge to spread the product evenly.  Because the mist dries up really quickly, you have to have that sponge ready to gently spread/blot the product evenly on your face!  I'm definitely a primer user, so I won't be using this De-Slick on a regular basis, but if I'm trying to consolidate my makeup for traveling or if I'm in a hurry and had to grab just a few items to apply while commuting, I'd definitely consider making this my primer/setting spray!

Application:
1. Spray about 6 inches away from face in a 'T' or 'X' motion.
2. Spray about 2-3 times.
3. If you feel like you sprayed too much mist in one area, grab a sponge and blot excess product around face.
4. If using as a primer, spray product and spread product using a sponge.  A Kabuki brush would work too, but it should clean of other products; thus, you would need to buy at least one Kabuki brush.  Sponges are way cheaper!  It's up to you :)

Enter to WIN a Melie Bianco Handbag!

Looking for a fabulous handbag?  Here's your chance to win one Melie Bianco Madison Lock + Key MINI Bag!  Visit my friend's fashion blog, My Fashion Juice to get the details (look at the photos!) and to enter (sponsored by Silvia's Shop!).  It's super easy!  There's even the chance to submit additional entries!

My Fashion Juice Melie Bianco Giveaway


Giveaway ends July 12, 2011.  US Residents only.

Benefit's CORALista

Photo credits: http://bit.ly/qOFP8X

Before becoming a a fan of tarte's Amazonian clay blush, I was a loyal fan of NARS and Benefit blushes.  I figured I'd backtrack and give you a review of Benefit's CORALista, before I toss it in the trash (It's about three years old and haven't used it in months).  I'm a huge fan of anything peachy-pink or pinky-peach, mainly because it works well with my light brown (yellow undertone) skin.  I was attracted to Benefit's CORALista because, like their Hoopla, I loved the box!  Yes, I fall for anything that looks pretty on the outside.  As much as the box is so pretty, its design isn't the most efficient.  One too many parts.  I like things to be simple like a compact with a hidden brush tucked underneath the powder.  Now if you look at the photo, they've made two new adjustment - adding a hinge to the cover so there's less separate parts and a mirror!

But more on what it's inside.  The color is amazing!  Not only is the color amazing, but it was a fresh scent to it.  I loved using it in the spring and summer months.  One of its flaws is that it's not a long-wear type of blush, especially once I was outside in the heat.  Makeup is never really perfect once you're in the heat, but somehow we are always hopeful, lol.  I do like that the box comes with it's own brush, so it's perfect to carry with you for a quick touch-up; but, the second flaw is that the brush is quite stiff.  Also, I find that when applied, it looks like its own separate layer; it doesn't blend well with the foundation.

For the budget-minded beauty junkies, CORALista is $28 and comes in a box, albeit a very cute box (with a brush).  My new blush, tarte's 24-hour Amazonian clay costs $25 and comes in a compact with a mirror (no brush).  Not a huge difference in price.

I'm still a huge fan of Benefit cosmetics, and their boxed powders are good - for example, Hoola is one of my favorite matte bronzers!  I just happened to find something better for an everyday blush.  I hope Benefit can find a way to make their blushes last longer and blend better with the other face makeup.