June 2014 Favorites

Happy July! My June favorites post is here! Keep reading to see what I loved in June!

June 2014 Favorites

1. Benefit’s They’re Real! Liner: I have been obsessing over this for the last two weeks because it is an amazing product that will forever change how I apply my gel liner. Go try it for yourself, seriously.
2. YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in no. 9: I have loved this lipstick for a long time, it is pigmented and long-lasting but moisturizing too!
3. Caudalie makeup Removing Cleansing Water: This is so refreshing and I love to use it before and after I work out or when run out of time to wash my face in the morning.
4. Diorshow Iocnic Overcurl Macara: This is the best mascara ever, I don’t even need to curl my lashes before I use it. It keeps the shape nicely and removes well too.
5. Too Faced Shadow Insurance: I have been using this in place of my beloved paint pots and it works as well, if not better. You only need a small amount because too much can cause creasing. The only thing I don’t like is that it doesn’t cancel out any discoloration on your lids.
6. blendercleanser Solid: I tried this on the suggestion of one of the women I work with because she said it was so much easier to wet your brush, swirl it on the solid cleanser disk, then clean my brush with my 2x Spa Glove from Sigma and she was right. It gets deeper into my bristles than baby shampoo ever could.
7. Sephora Rouge Infusion in Tangerine Ink: This is almost an exact dupe for my favorite YSL Glossy Stain but it is a fraction of the cost. It requires two coats while the YSL one only needs one but I don’t care because it costs so much less.
8. Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Black Velvet: I got this in an Ipsy bag and I can’t stop using it. It doesn’t transfer or move around like the other 24/7 liners do so I reached for it a lot in June.
9. MAC Prep and Prime Natural Radiance Base: Normally I don’t go for ‘radiance’ products because I’m oily but this doesn’t emphasize it, it keeps me looking dewy but not like a grease ball all day.
10. St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse: Self tanning can be gross and streaky but when I use this mousse with a mitt, it goes on so seamlessly and doesn’t look orange at all. Best feature: no smell!
11. Sigma Lip Gloss in Tint: This was a lip-heavy month! I am not the biggest fan of glosses but this gloss is the perfect mixture of pigmented, long-wearing, and not sticky. The only thing I don’t like is the brush, I’m a doe-foot applicator girl.

That’s it! This was a lengthy post but there were a lot of really awesome products I fell in love with during June. What were you all loving last month?

–Sam

My favorite eye cream: It’s Potent!

I may seem a little young to be using an eye cream but hey, I’m a sucker for products that promise big things, and deliver. I received a sample of the Benefit It’s Potent! eye cream earlier this summer and just ran out, so I bit the bullet and paid $34.00 for the full size (since I don’t have a backup and I consider it a necessity, it was okay to do this during Project 10 Pan). This eye cream as advertised to help smooth minor fine lines and brighten dark circles. I don’t have any fine lines yet but I struggle with dark under-eye bags. I have been using this stuff for almost two months and at first, I didn’t really notice a difference but looking back, my eyes have gotten brighter over time, it was just a very gradual change. But hey, as long as it’s working right? I also want to add that I use such a small amount, the sample lasted for two months and I just opened this new jar. As shown in the photo below, it is also super thick, it didn’t move at all when it was flipped upside down for photos. So do I like this stuff? A giant yes! I would suggest this to younger people who don’t necessarily want to get rid of wrinkles, but want to brighten the under-eye area.

–Sam

Benefit’s It’s Potent! Eye Cream

Benefit’s It’s Potent! Eye Cream is super thick!

Everyday Essentials: Face

Keeping with the theme of routines that has occurred this week, today I’m going to share the first part of my everyday makeup look. Again, I am a self-proclaimed makeup junkie so there are a lot of products here but I’ve got it down to a science now and it only takes me about fifteen minutes for both my face and my eyes in the morning. Fifteen minutes you say?! That seems like a lot of time but I love makeup so for me, those fifteen minutes fly by! Brace yourselves, here we go!

Sigma, MAC, and Real Techniques brushes

These are the brushes I use everyday. Side note, I keep my brushes in an empty candle jar with coffee beans to keep them standing up straight and they smell like coffee! From right to left we have a Sigma P82 – Precision Round top brush for blending my concealer under my eyes (I use my ring finger to blend concealer onto spots). I like this brush because it is small enough to fit under my eyes perfectly and the bristles are densely packed and cover beautifully. It’s synthetic too so the bristles don’t absorb any of my concealer. The white angled brush is the MAC 168 brush. I use this one for applying blush to the apples and backs of my cheeks. The angle fits with the angle I apply it with on my cheeks and its just a lot easier than a traditional blush brush (I think so anyways). Next  is the Real Techniques Powder Brush. This brush line is made by a YouTuber named Samantha Chapman. I like this HUGE brush for applying setting powder all over my face. The next brush is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. This is hands down the best foundation brush I have ever tried. I find myself using less product because the bristles are synthetic so they don’t absorb any foundation. The bristles are also tightly packed that it blends foundation flawlessly too. Next is my contour brush: the MAC 109. The first thing I will say about this brush is that it sheds a ton! I do love it though so they little hairs left on my face don’t bother me too much but some might not like it. Last, I use the Real Techniques Setting brush to set concealer under my eyes to make sure it stays all day.

Products I use every day

Now let’s move on to the products. First, I use the POREfessional primer by benefit before I do anything else. Next, I go in with the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + foundation in the color 30. I have really come around to like this foundation and notice that it makes my face look healthy while still mattifying throughout the day. Concealer time! The benefit Erase Paste in fair is perfect for under my eyes while the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 is perfect for spots and problem areas. Setting time! I use MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Meduim. I use the big fluffy brush for all over my face, then get a little more on the smaller, pink fluffy brush to set the concealer under my eyes so I don’t get any weird lines under my eyes. Remember my friend Hoola? I use this with the small dome brush to apply it under my cheekbones, along the sides of my nose, and under my chin to slim down my face. Then comes blush. I use Pink Swoon by MAC with the angled brush an apply it to the backs of my cheekbones and a little to the apples of my cheekes. Finally, most days, I use a simple gloss like NYX Beige (which is not beige at all but rather a nice pink).

Phew! That’s all! It took a lot of practice to be able to apply these items without looking like I am wearing a mask. What are your everyday essentials? Comment below and don’t forget to subscribe!

–Sam