Sweet Deal Tuesday!

If you read the post about eyeliners, you'll realize that you can change your look with just a different color eyeliner.  Since there's soo many to choose from, I found this value set from Korres that has a lot of the colors I talked about!

Korres Vitamin E 10-Color Pencil Kit is on sale on Sephora's website.  For $32.50 ($160 Value), you get 10 different colors to experiment with.  Check it out!




Image:
Korre Vitamin E 10-Color Pencil Kit http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P268602&categoryId=C17063&shouldPaginate=true

Laura Mercier Primer and Foundation

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

Color: N/A

Cost: $30.00

Where To Find: Nordstrom, Sephora

Laura Mercier SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer Oil-Free

Color: Fawn.  Also comes in Porcelain, Nude, Bisque, Sand, Tan, Almond, Caramel, Walnut, Mocha

Cost: $42.00

Where To Find: Nordstrom, Sephora

During the summer, I switch my foundation (Make Up Forever Matte Foundation) to a SPF tinted moisturizer.  Why?  Well, we're more prone to sweat and more exposed to the sun.  So a thick photo finish foundation probably isn't the best solution.  Because it's so hot and humid (especially in DC), heavier foundations tend to melt with your sweat; and if you've read my bronzer post, you'll see that heavy foundation isn't a good pairing with bronzers.  In the summer, it's best to use "lighter" products or to find 2-in-1 products.

Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer is very light.  I have combination skin, and this primer works well on my skin.  The products has a watery, gel-like formula, so it applies on pretty easily.  With all primers, always wait a minute or two for the primer to set in before applying foundation.  Depending on your skin type, you might want to try out oil-free or hydrating primers.

Laura Mercier's SPF 20 Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer is great for the summer!  Since it's a moisturizer and my skin care line also has a moisturizer, I apply a very small amount of my skin care moisturizer, so that my face isn't over moisturized when I apply the tinted moisturizer.  Laura Mercier's line of tinted moisturizers all contain SPF 20; and they come in three different versions - regular, oil-free, and illuminating.  With one product, I got my moisturizer, my foundation, and my sun protection.  For $42, it's a good deal!

I love the flat tubes because it's easy to store in a makeup bag or purse.

For application of the tinted moisturizer, you can either use a sponge or your finger.

For those of you who still prefer more coverage even in the summer, you can use Laura Mercier's Foundation Powder on top of the tinted moisturizer.  I usually only add this if it's a special occasion (Gotta be ready for photos! lol)

Revlon Liquid Eyeliner Pen

Product: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen 

Color: Blackest Black 001

Cost: $8.00-$9.00

Where to find: local drugstore, Target, Walmart

I have always been an eyeliner pencil girl.  Really, the liquid eyeliner scared me.  With pencils, if I make a mistake, usually I can use the tip of my finger, a Q-tip or a tissue to wipe it off.  Sometimes I just blend for a smoky eye look.  With liquid eyeliner, it seems so final..no room for mistake.  For one, you had to have a really steady hand to apply.  Two, if you made a mistake and you already have your eyeshadow applied, the only way to wipe off the mistake is to use a damp tissue or makeup remover.  You risk messing up your artwork.  Anyway, I used to stay away from those products.  

I bought Revlon's Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in blackest black, after a friend suggested it works really well.  I gave it a shot.  Again, I wasn't a fan.  It took twice as long to apply because I had to be careful not to make a mistake.  And frankly, I didn't have that kind of time with my work/school schedule.  Recently, I took a chance on it again.  Actually, I misplaced my staple black eyeliner pencil, and I was running late that morning for work.

I applied it and took a step back...it looked fabulous!!  In fact, this liquid pen gave me a bold, bright (and precisely outlined) eyes.  Also, it lives up to Revlon's colorstay feature.  One application lasted from about 6:45am to about 3:00pm.  Like the eye pencil, the good thing about the pen versus a liquid eyeliner in a pot is that it's easy to carry around in your purse if you need to reapply.  It took a couple tries before I got the hang of applying it in a timely manner.  Patience...is a virtue.

I've read that eyeliner pens tend to dry up, so you can't get many uses out of it compared to a pencil.  Plan on using a liquid eyeliner on a regular basis, or else it will dry up!

Sunkissed!

It's summertime means beach, pool, vacation, outdoors.  Even if you can't get to the beach or the pool, you can still get that sunkissed look with bronzers!  Bronzers are used to give a sheer sunkissed look, without all the hours out in the sun (as if laying out in the sun is hard work :))

There are some key tips about wearing bronzers.

1.  Pick a shade that's no more than two shades your skin color.  Most cosmetic brands usually have three or four shades of bronzers, so pick the one that's just a little darker than your skin.

2.  Wear minimal foundation.  Any foundation that's geared for coverage or photo finish aren't good, because, if it melts away, your bronzer goes with it, creating streaks on your face.  Sheer powders and tinted SPF moisturizers work best!

3.  Apply only in the places where the sun naturally shines on your face.  Forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin.

4.  Apply LIGHTLY!  This is a good place to use the tap motion.  Once you've got bronzer on the brush, do a "tap-tap" with the brush to remove excess powder.  Whether the bronzer is the matte or shimmer kind, it's always better to start with a light application.  Then, stand by a place with natural light to check if you've got that bronzed shine.  OR,  if it's evening, go to a different room and see how different lighting affects the shine of your bronzer.

5.  To be able to apply lightly, you need the right kind of brush.  The larger blush brushes work well.

6.  Buy a separate brush just for your bronzer.  You shouldn't be using the same brush for your blush.

7.  Wear blush!  You won't be applying as much as you did, without a bronzer, but a little blush adds the finishing touch to a sunkissed look!

Here's what I use...

1. Stila Sun Bronzing Powder - it adds just the perfect subtle shimmer!  Now this one comes in two shades, but this is a sheer shimmer kind, so one or the other should work for your skin tone.  I've used mine (Shade #2) even in the winter for a little glow.  My skin is lighter in the winter, but it still works well.

What I've heard is awesome and can't wait to purchase...

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Mosaic - I recently stopped by their counter to try their tinted moisturizer (amazing, by the way), and I ended up with a quick makeover.  She used this shimmer block on my cheeks and forehead.  I really like the fact that there's two shades on the palette that can be used as bronzer and two shades for blush.  The best part is that you can mix and match!


I used to use Benefit's Hoola for a more matted look.  It comes with a its own brush.  But I don't really like the brush because it doesn't apply the bronzer very well.  Buying a bronzer/blush brush is recommended.


I think the matted look is a little trickier to do, but it's just as effective in producing the natural bronzed look.  It's good to use a matted bronzer if everything else (i.e. eyeshadow, blush, eyeliner) are more on the shimmer/sparkling side.  I don't want you gals looking like a disco ball with all that glimmer-shimmer!




Images:
Stila Sun Bronzing Powder http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P184205&categoryId=C10463

Laura Mercier Mosaic  http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P154303&categoryId=C12210

Benefit Hoola  http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBNYSY/sr=1-4/qid=1277750474/ref=sr_1_4/179-0757761-8667432?ie=UTF8&n=404541011&bcBrand=core