Skin Solutions: Pore Minimizing & Full Coverage Makeup

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimizer - I'm not 100% sold on this product being an effective pore minimizer but I love the tingly and refreshing feeling of tea tree on my face so I use this more of a night cream as opposed to a pore primer.

Smashbox High Definition Liquid Concealer - This is the best full coverage concealer in my opinion and that small, skinny tube surprisingly goes a long way! I'm not prone to acne but I do get an irritable bastard here and there, which is when this concealer comes to the rescue. I also use it to even out my skin tone since I tend to get redness in certain areas of my face so I place a tiny amount on a sponge and blend it well into my skin.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation -  If you're looking for full coverage on your face, Tarte Amazonian foundation has you covered, literally! I use it sparingly and it still provides full coverage that will last all day. Once again, I use foundation to even out my skin color and mask any redness.

Benefit the POREfessional Pore Minimizing Makeup Primer - This is the pore minimizer that I recommend over Body Shop's tea tree one mentioned above. It applies smoothly and creates a very light layer on your skin to cover up yout pores. I apply after using moisturizer and before applying concealer and/or foundation.  I mainly use on my cheeks and T-zone and haven't found anything that does the trick better.

Benefit the POREfessional Zero Agent Shine - Other than Clean & Clear blotting paper, this sheer powder works great to control shiny skin. I don't use it daily but when I do, I apply it after moisturizer and before foundation. The powder is very light so won't leave any residue on your face. You can also apply later in the day as your facial oils build up to reduce shine.

Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palettes

I used to be a big MAC eyeshadow girl until I bought the original Urban Decay Naked palette. I love shimmery colors and the quality of the brush. I've never seen a brush that's so easy to clean (by wiping with a tissue) which makes it easy to apply multiple colors with the same brush.

I recently bought the Naked 3 palette so here's a comparison of the colors side by side.

Urban Decay's Naked Eyeshadow Palette

As I mentioned the brush is awesome and I love pretty much all of the 12 colors, except the 11th color is a bit too dark for me. I chose this palette over Naked 2 as I think the colors were a good blend to create a neutral daytime look to a more bold nighttime look. I especially love the 12th color, Gunmetal, the more I experiment with it to get a slightly dark blue smokey yet sparkly look for evening or nighttime.

Favorite colors:

1. Sin

2. Sidecar

3. Half baked

4. Toasted

5. Gunmetal

Urban Decay's Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette

I love the double-sided brush and the neutral yet shimmery colors that come with the Naked 3 palette. The right side of the palette also has a few colors to create a smokey eye look so you can get the best of both worlds.

Favorite colors:

1. Dust

2. Buzz

3. Trick

4. Mugshot

Do you own any of the Naked eyeshadow palettes or something better/comparable?

What colors or color-combinations are your favorite?

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Hair Products

I've tried almost all major hair product brands out there but I had never heard of or ran across the Frederic Fekkai hair care brand before Influenster sent me the above sample products to try out. 

The Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Starter Kit runs for about $15 at ULTA just so you know the retail value. 

My Thoughts

My hair was noticeably shiny and healthier-looking after I washed with Fekkai's brilliant glossing sample shampoo and conditioner. I have thick hair and was only able to get one wash out the sample size, however the glossing creme will last me a while, which I'm excited about!

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo:

 I really liked how well this shampoo lathered up and went a long way, which I need for my thick hair. It deep cleans very well and my hair looked great for several days after. I will purchase this shampoo once I'm done with the 5 or so bottles of various types of shampoo I already own.

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Conditioner: 

The conditioner was slightly opposite as there wasn't quite enough in the sample packet for me to do a complete detangle and moisturize but I made it work. (My thick hair is a conditioner gulper.) The results were exaclty as advertised: it did improve shine and make my hair feel super silky smooth. I don't think there's anything particularly special about the smell but, other than that, I thought these were quality products.

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Styling Creme: 

I liked the glossing creme the best out of the bundle and glad I have a big enough tube for several more washes/styles. I applied a small amount throughout my damp hair after washing and before blow drying to provide a layer of protection from the heat. It's infused with olive oil to help with texture and shine. Once again, it did live up to it's standards by decreasing frizz (which I have a lot of) and making my hair look healthy and shiny.

The Fekkai line of hair products gets a thumbs up in my opinion!

I received these haircare products complimentary from Influenster to test. The above review is my honest opinion and experience with these products.

Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

This mascara works wonders on your eyes. A friend of mine was selling the Younique line of products and I decided to purchase the mascara after I saw her before and after photos on Facebook. After testing it out and seeing it for myself, I decided to share my experience because it seriously works miracles on your eyelashes. You can check out the website for yourself here.

It's applied exactly the same way mascara is done so takes only about a minute or so to apply.

I wasn't blessed with thick eyelashes. In fact, they are slightly blonde and almost invisible. This is the results of my first try. I only applied a small amount because I generally only wear a light amount of mascara unless I'm going out somewhere fancy. I could have applied a lot more for a more dramatic look.

Here's a video that shows how it works.

My eyes again this morning leaving for work with light amount of fiber mascara:

I seriously haven't found any other products that can thicken your eyelashes like this one. Other than actually applying false eyelashes. I'm just a beginner and no expert so you can check out Younique's website to find out exactly how the fiber mascara works to thicken your lashes. 

I can't wait to use my 3D mascara to the full potential for some upcoming weddings and charity events when I actually get to dress up and wear bolder eye makeup. 

Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

 

The two cleaning tools I use for makeup brushes are a professional liquid cleaner and a scrubbing glove specifically made for makeup brushes.

I've been using this ULTA professional brush and sponge cleaner. It's not the most high-tech cleaner on the market but I like it and it leaves my brushes feeling clean and soft. You can literally see the "dirty" water washing away all the makeup.

 

Sigma Brush Cleaning Glove

I use this to deep clean my brushes to make sure all makeup and bacteria are removed.

How do you clean your makeup brushes?

Dry Shampoo: Favorite Picks

Batiste remains my favorite dry shampoo after trying a variety of other brands to see if there was anything better out there. Nothing has compared to Batiste in terms of effectiveness, texture and smell. Why do I currently have 3 bottles of dry shampoo? For $8.50 a bottle you really can't go wrong, however you can get it even cheaper at Marshall's for about $5.99 so I stocked up on a couple bottles while I was there over the weekend.

I liked all of the scents I've tried so far so I don't have a favorite in mind but you can find a ton of different ones including fresh, fruity and floral scents to match your preference. They also have dry shampoos specifically for blondes, brunettes or red heads.

Some other dry shampoo brands that I've used (and not liked) are Herbal Essences Naked, Not Your Mother's Clean Freak and Suave's dry shampoo. They are either too sticky, do not provide enough body or just smell bad.  The Herbal Essences dry shampoo is my most recent purchase. I tried it only once and liked the smell but didn't like the texture it made my hair feel and look so will never use it again. It's a shame to waste a full bottle so I'll probably give it away to a friend or anyone that wants to try it and see if it works better for them.

Any any other dry shampoos out there known for working really well?

Summer Ulta Haul & Free Beauty Bag

I recently posted my beauty and skincare wishlist on the blog and finally took the plunge to purchase several items for my mid-year/summer Ulta haul.

Batiste XXL Plumping Powder - I'm still experimenting with this powder but so far so good. It gives your roots that extra boost but I think the XXL title might be a slight exaggeration. I'm not one that teases my hair but this powder would probably work really well for those that do.

Benefit's Agent Zero Shine - Love this so far! I apply a small amount on my T-zone half way through the day. It applies evenly over makeup or you can apply before makeup to prevent shine later in the day.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs - I used this over the weekend before I headed out to a party and it gave my legs a hint of extra color and some added glow. It was my first time using it so I was afraid of applying too much or making a huge mess. It's actually quite natural looking and I really like that it dries in a matter of seconds.

NYX Butter Lipstick - I really love the moisturizing texture of this lipstick and for $6 it's well worth the price. I wish I bought a slightly brighter color but it's cheap enough to purchase additional colors. 

 

China Glaze Nail polish - This nail polish is very comparable to Essie and OPI at a slightly cheaper price. I painted my toes with the turquoise color I purchased called "too yacht to handle". I love their vibrant colors for summer and so far it's lasted about a week with no chips. 

Philosophy's Pure & Wrinkle Free - I lucked out with the price of this set being the same price as an individual bottle of the Purity cleanser so I basically got the Miracle Worker moisturizer for free. I've started using the moisturizer every night after I shower. It's quite expensive to re-purchase so I'm curious to see if there's a noticeable difference in a couple months. I've been using the Purity cleanser for about 6 months now with my Clarisonic Mia and I love how gentle it is on my skin so I've kept it in my long-term skin regimen.

I also received this beauty bag stuffed full of goodies for spending over $60 at Ulta.com. So many great samples to try.

From the beauty bag, I think I was most excited about trying out Too Faced's Better Than Sex mascara and the Mally's waterproof eyeliner in "Caribbean sea" color which is like an emerald green.

I tried out the eyeliner yesterday for work and really liked how smoothly it applied to my lower and upper eyes and the emerald green is a great compliment for my hazel eyes.

What makeup and beauty products are on your wishlist?

Do you recommend any products that are better or comparable to my picks?

Beauty & Skincare Wishlist

Naked 3 Palette  |  XXL Plumping Powder  |   Too Faced Lip Cream

Agent Zero Shine  |  Miracle Worker Overnight  |  Airbrush Legs

Patent-Gel Top & Tails  |  Smashbox Liquid Halo  |  Girls Summer Bath Gels

I've had my eye on the Naked 3 palette for a while now but only recently ran across most of the other products and would love to take them for a whirl. Butter London's at-home gel nails to save money instead of going to the salon, Batiste's plumping hair powder for more hair volume and Benefit's zero shine agent to prevent a shiny face all sound pretty amazing!

Also, having recently hit 30, I think it's time to try out a good nighttime face moisturizer to start firming and avoiding wrinkles from now. Lastly, bright lips, tanned legs and sweet smelling scents are a must for the summer.

Have you tried any of these products and would you recommend any of them?

Go-To Facial Products & Skincare Regimen

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my skincare regimen. Although I love trying new products, I have go-to products I've been using for years. These products work well for my skin, which isn't overly sensitive but still prone to random acne breakouts if I neglect to take care of it. I've also added a few new products to my long-term regimen.

I've never had a professional skin evaluation but I'd say I have a combination of oil & dry skin depending on the weather.

The Body Shop Face Toners · L'Oreal Face Scrubs & Exfoliants · Cetaphil Face Cleansers

Clarisonic Mia:
 I use it once per day in the night to fully clean my skin and remove any extra dirt/oil or makeup. I'm not sure if there's any other product on the market that can clean this well and, according to the website, "Clarisonic has the power to clean 30x more age-accelerating pollutants than manual cleansing". I believe it.

Philosophy's Purity Cleanser:
This cleanser is somewhat new to me but it's a keeper! I've been using it for about 3-4 months and I love how it makes my face feel super soft. I use a small amount with my Clarisonic to clean and purify every night. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a gentle cleanser!

L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Exfoliating Scrub:
For an inexpensive facial scrub, I really like this one. I use it a few times a week to clean and exfoliate my skin. I like that the scrubbing beads are very gentle on your skin.

Olay Makeup Remover Towelettes: 
I don't use these too often but towelettes are always handy to remove makeup after a long day or night out instead of getting in the shower. I typically use towelettes and then still wash my face with a cleanser to fully remove all makeup and oil/dirt. I also take these towelettes with me when traveling.

Body Shop Camomile Eye Makeup Remover: 
I've been using this makeup remover for over 10 years and it's my absolute favorite. I've tried so many others and hate how messy or oily some removers can be. This one is fragrance free, removes eyeliner & mascara instantly and very gentle on your eyes. Definitely recommend it!

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar:
 I use this bar of soap every morning to wash my face and K has also hoped on the bandwagon. It's a gentle face cleanser so great for dry or sensitive skin and leaves my face feeling clean and hydrated before I start the day and apply makeup.

Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion: 
This is an at-home Microdermabrasion treatment that's meant to smooth dry & dull skin away to brighten your complexion. The instructions say to use only once a week but the results haven't been incredible so I'll probably discontinue use altogether when it runs out.

Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimizer:
Helps makes your pores look smaller and the tea tree ingredient is also very soothing. It's advertised as having a matte finish to prevent shiny skin but since I ran across Benefit's POREfessional, I've stopped using this product. The texture just doesn't compare or do the job as well as POREfessional

Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel:
Not sure how well this works by itself but definitely helps with acne when used in combination of the other Body Shop tea tree products. It provides a soothing feeling for acne without drying out your skin and you can use it on the go.

Body Shop Vitamin E Summer Face Lotion: 
I bought this several years ago and rarely use it because I prefer my Olay daily hydrating moisturizer. I bought this product because it's supposed to provide a gradual tan for your face but I don't like the slightly shiny texture for everyday use so probably won't purchase again and looks like it's been discontinued by The Body Shop.

Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Toner: 
Love this toner. I only use it once or twice a week but I like the tingly and refreshing feeling that tea tree products give off. I use it to remove dirt, oil and any last remains of makeup. It's also great for oilier skin types to remove shine and help prevent acne without drying out your skin.


What are your favorite skincare products to clean and keep your face looking rejuvenated?

Get The Look: Eyeliner Tips

I typically go for the soft or precise looks but I've really wanted to master the winged look without looking too cray cray. I have to admit I have a pretty shaky hand so I tend to keep things simple but these tips are a big help.

Sigma Beauty has every type of makeup brush for the face, eyes, brows, lips, etc. I love their eye brush collection and the E75 angled brow brush to experiment with different looks.

Happy hump day everyone!

Glam Series: Benefit Cosmetics

Benefit has become one of my favorite cosmetic brands. I was always more a MAC & Clinique girl but I'm beginning to love more brands sold at Sephora & Ulta. Benefit offers a few unique (and great quality) products such as the POREfessional and High Beam Highlighter that help create that celebrity look every girl wants to achieve.

How do you BENEFIT? by martinis-bikinis featuring benefit makeup

 POREfessional Pore Minimizer:
Works great to minimize your pores and prime your skin before applying foundation. It's an oil-free formula that has vitamin E so it also helps to add another layer of protection. This is a fairly new product to me (that I was convinced to buy after reading great reviews from other bloggers) but I'm really loving how it works because I have bigger pores on my cheeks and forehead.

High Beam Complexion Enhancer:
This is a shimmery pink liquid highlighter that helps to create a nice glow. It's often called "supermodel in a bottle" and great for all skin tones. I use my fingers to lightly dab and blend it onto my cheekbones to contour and create a shimmery glow.

I got 2 sample size Benefit products: the Watt's Up Highlighter and They're Real Mascara free for my birthday for being a Sephora Beauty Insider so I've been using these two since December.

 

  

Watt's Up Highlighter:

This a cream-to-powder highlighter that helps create a champagne glow. I mainly use it on my browbones but you can also use it on your cheekbones to get that "wow" factor.

They're Real! Mascara:
This silky mascara lengthens, curls, and volumizes your lashes and lasts all throughout the day. I love the brush head which has staggered bristles to boost volume and separate lashes which helps to prevent clumping.

Hoola Bronzing Powder:

This is a great contouring powder bronzer that can also be used to highlight features on your face. I use a light amount on my cheeks, chin and forehead and it helps give you a natural-looking tan. I hate looking pasty white in the colder months.

Joining Jordan today for the Glam Series. 

Fashion Friday: Statement Necklaces

Happy Friday lovelies! 

Any big plans for the weekend? I have a charity event tonight for work and hoping to get started on my master bedroom redecorating that I posted about yesterday. 

Other than purses and shoes, one of my favorite accessories are statement necklaces. They help to dress up any outfit and make a statement like the name implies. My collection has been growing recently but these are the top 5 that made it out the house recently.

One: White Faux stone necklace from a local boutique (similar)
Two: Lavender necklace from Forever 21 (similar)
Three: Pink bubble necklace from Macy's (similar)
Four: Black & silver necklace from Charlotte Russe
Five: Turquoise stone necklace from the KOJewelry shop

Where do you shop for fashion jewelery and pretty statement necklaces?

Joining Lauren for H54F and Darcie for Five on Friday. 

Have a great weekend!

The Glam Series: Hair

Current hair color: blonde highlights and low-lights

Natural hair color: dirty blonde/light brown 

Hair type: thick/wavy

Preferred hair style: blow-dried straight

My blow-drying process typically looks like this: I clip my hair up and blow-dry in sections. It gets quite frizzy at first and slowly the heat tames the frizz and waves. It takes me about 15-20 minutes to go from wet & wavy to dry & straight.

I can usually get my hair about 95% straight from blow-drying and then use the flat-iron to straighten out any extra frizz which takes a minute or two. 

Hair secret: Keratin treatments approx every 6 months to tame frizz and waves.

Since I started getting Keratin treatments about 2 years ago, I use Keratin products to prolong it's effects. Most Keratin products can be a bit pricey but you can find the Organix product line at any drug store for half the price. I use both Keratin Complex by Coppola and Organix Keratin Therapy shampoo and conditioners. (Organix smells better and is cheaper).

Redken Hair & Scalp Treatments · Keratin Complex Hair Care · Chi Blow Dryers & Irons

Keratin Replenishing Treatment: I use this as a
blow-drying treatment. I rub a penny size amount throughout my wet hair before blow-drying. It's supposed to open cuticles and infuse keratin proteins and emollients into the hair

Ionic blow dryer: I recommend any Ionic or Tourmaline blow dryer. Mine works great and has cut blow-drying time in half since I upgraded from a cheap hair dryer.

Chi Hair straightener: This is my baby and wouldn't recommend a better flat iron. They are also becoming more reasonable in price from places like Ulta & Sephora.

Hair serum: I own a number of different brand hair serums. These are the perfect final touch after styling/flat-ironing to calm any fly-aways or frizzies.

I've got straightening my hair down pat but still totally suck at curling my hair. I just bought a new curling iron and really need advice on how to get some nice, loose curls.

Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

    What's your hair secrets?

What I'm Loving Now: Accessories

I've been on a serious kick browsing online for cute accessories. I really need a new wallet and there's so many things I'm drooling over like that gorgeous Marc Jacobs watch & the Kate Spade thong sandals. If only money wasn't a thing :-/

The good news is I've convinced K to go to the mall with me this weekend as part of my Valentine's gift (not for him to buy me anything, but just to actually go with me which is a huge "chore" for him).

Marc by Marc Jacobs Watches · Kate Spade Sandals · Kate Spade Earrings

Any steals of the week on your wishlist?

Happy hump day everyone!

The Glam Series: Lips

Before I get started, I'm excited to be featured today on Lisa @ Showered with Design's blog for her new Wedding Q & A Series.  Feel free to hop over to read more about my Lakeside wedding in Orlando.

Now onto one of my favorite topics ~ Makeup ~ more specifically Lips.

I'm not a huge lipstick person so my collection isn't very big but I do use lip balm fanatically and lip gloss when I remember. Lipstick is more of a special occasion thing for me but I do have my favorites lip products and brands.

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm: ($3.49)  I carry this in my purse and use as an everyday lip moisturizer.

NYX Butter Gloss: ($4.99) This lip gloss is a recent find of mine and I love it especially for the very affordable price. I'm very picky when it comes to textures of lip gloss and lipstick and can't stand anything that's too sticky. This butter gloss applies very smoothly with some shine and I love the soft pink color (Eclair) I chose.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss: ($9.00) I've been using this gloss for about 2 years now. I like that they offer over 20 different shades so you're bound to find a color that suits you. However, I must admit, I prefer the NYX gloss which is almost half the price, mainly because the VS Beauty Rush glosses are bit more on the sticky side.

Stila Color Balm Lipstick: ($22) This is my latest find and I love the range of colors that they offer. I searched high and low in Sephora and Ulta for a bright purple lipstick and Stila was the only brand that offered exactly what I was looking for (color: Gemma). I don't wear lipstick everyday but it's always good to own a pretty colors to go with different outfits & occasions.

Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick: ($18) I received this lipstick in a VoxBox about a year ago from Influenster to test and it has remained one of my favorites. I keep it in my purse and use it more often than any lipstick. This lipstick has a smooth and creamy texture, very similar to lip balm so I love using it just to moisturize my lips and add a hint of color.

Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

Makeup Products & Brands I Live By

I used to mainly buy Mac makeup & cheaper pharmacy brands, but I've been testing out different makeup brands from Ulta and Sephora and now I have a variety of go-to products that I love and use on a daily basis.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow · Tarte Face Makeup · Stila Lipstick

Smashbox High Definition Concealer: ($22) This concealer works great for covering up blemishes and dark spots before applying foundation. The consistency of it is long-lasting throughout the day and the tube also lasts a long time making it worth the price.

Tarte 12-hour Coverage Foundation: ($38) I've tried a number of foundations and this one (made with amazonian clay) by far provides the most coverage which I like since I tend to apply makeup in the morning and do not have the time to re-apply during the day.

Gel Eyeliner Pencil: ($8 Avon or Ulta brand) I like how gel eyeliners apply smoothly and thicker/bolder than regular pencil liners. Even better, the cheap Ulta brand works just great for me.

The Original Naked Palette: ($52) If you're not already familiar with Urban Decay's Naked Palettes, they are the bomb! These palettes are great because they offer a great variety colors to get a casual daytime look or a more bold nighttime look.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara: ($6.99) I've tried mascaras that are 10 times this price and I always come back to this one. I use Falsies on a daily basis but I also have some Mac mascaras that I use for more bold/nighttime looks.

Stila Color Balm Lipstick: ($22) This is my most recent makeup purchase and I love the colors that they offer if you're looking for a rich, moisturizing lipstick that is long-lasting.

Clinique "True Bronze" Powder Bronzer: ($26) I LOVE this bronzer and use it every day... I literally don't leave home without it! After applying foundation, I dust a light amount all over my face to get rid of the pale/flat look that foundations can cause especially on lighter skin. This bronzer gives your face a nice refreshed glow to start the day (or night).

Mac Eyeshadow Pigments: ($15) I own a variety of these power shadows and use the lighter/neutral colors on a daily basis for work and the bolder colors for going out with friends. You can find pretty much any color you're looking for and they last quite a long time so it's definitely worth the price. 

Urban Decay Primer Potion: ($20) I don't always remember to apply primer, especially when I'm rushing in the mornings but I definitely love how it works and it really helps to prolong your eye makeup and prevent creases.


Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

    What face makeup do you live by?

Every Girl Needs Some Lipstick, Nail Polish & Wine

One: I finally got a new case for my iPhone 5S from VS Pink for $14.50. I love the mint/turquoise color although it looks more white in the photo.

Two: I managed to paint my own nails without making a huge disaster. I really need to start doing more at-home manicures instead of paying someone every couple of weeks for pretty nails. The color (Play Koi) is quite bright for winter but I really liked how easy it was to apply.

* I received this Sally Hansen Triple Shine nail polish complimentary from Influenster to test.

Three: New Stila Color balm lipstick from Sephora. I have been looking around for a bright purple lipstick for a while now and finally found this color (Gemma) while browsing the Sephora in Vegas a couple weeks ago. It gives my lips that "pop" I was looking for.

Four: I'm loving the Cranberry Chutney Yankee Candle. It makes my house smell so good.

Five: Pinot Grigio and comfy socks last night for a chilly night at home.

Have a great weekend!

Joining Lauren for H54F and Darcie for Five on Friday.