The Birthday Face

April 02, 2016

I'm like a 5-year-old when it comes to my birthday. Tomorrow (April 3rd) I'll turn 24, and you'd think I'd be nearing the age where you kind of dread your birthday, but to me it's still always a day I look forward to. Except for my senior year of college - I had a killer physical chemistry exam the day after my birthday that year so I couldn't enjoy it. But generally, it's one of my favorite days of the year. I'm not a huge outgoing center-of-attention person, so it's nice to get a day when I am, you know?

Being my birthday, I've already been thinking about what makeup I'll be wearing - I'll want to go for products that make me feel the most special. Today I'm going shopping with my boyfriend to pick out my birthday presents (the consensus on Twitter was that you guys wanted to see a post on what I pick out, so stay tuned for that next week), and tomorrow my parents and grandparents are coming down for dinner. I picked through my collection and found a few old favorites that lend themselves well to the occasion.

I'm going to start by priming my face with the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. I haven't used this is ages, but I absolutely love it - it's the only primer I own. On top of that I'll put the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. I've barely been wearing any base products lately, so I thought I'd ease myself back into it with this. It feels super light on the skin but still packs a good whack of coverage and gives a nice, healthy glow to the skin. I've been breaking out quite a bit lately (from overindulging in Easter chocolate), so I'll also be using the Glossier Stretch Concealer - it doesn't get cakey and dry, even on spots. I've mostly been reaching for bronzer over blush lately, but I thought I'd go back to my beloved Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed - the tawny pink shade really helps to both warm up and slightly sculpt the face. And you can't have a birthday without piling on the highlighter, right? I'll be dousing myself in the Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator in Starlight.

For the brows, I'll be going for my everyday combination of the Glossier Boy Brow in Brown and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown. I've been gushing about the Tartelette in Bloom Palette so much lately, but I thought I'd go for the original Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette. That middle row of shades will always have my heart. I'll finish off the eyes with my usual Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara.

Since the eyes will have a little bit of a plum vibe going on, I thought I'd go for the Jouer Long Wear Lip Creme Liquid Lipstick in Cassis. It's still pretty neutral and wearable for everyday, but it just has a bit of a cool violet tone to it that makes it something a little more special. I'm absolutely in love with the formula of these - you can read my full review of the four shades I've got here.

What makeup do you reach for on special days? And when's your birthday? I always like knowing other people's birthdays.

March Favorites

March 31, 2016

March has probably been the best month this year so far for me. Work is good, the apartment is good; everything's good. In a way I'm sad to see it go, but I'm excited for April, particularly because my birthday is on Sunday (I'm already predicting my April Favorites to be a bit packed, FYI). I tried a few new things this month that I fell for, along with a couple older loves I rediscovered.

If you saw my Kiehl's post earlier in the month, you'll know I really fell hard for the brand this month. I've been slapping on the Ultra Facial Cream just about every morning this month, and it's really been a savior for my skin. It instantly soothes it and keeps it hydrated and plumped all day long, but it's not too heavy to wear underneath makeup. I've also been using the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado day and night - I don't think I've ever been this diligent with an eye cream. I love that it is super thick at first, but it changes to a thinner, more watery consistency as you pat it in. It's so hydrating and really perks up my undereyes.

I've been using a facial oil every night this month as part of my skincare routine, and the one I've been reaching for the most is the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil.* It feels so incredibly hydrating and yet isn't heavy at all. It does have a bit of a strong scent because of the patchouli oil it contains, but I've come to associate it with relaxing in the evenings, so I really like it now.

The last skin bit is the Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream.* I've been trying to keep my hands from drying out and cracking (I work with cement and stones in the lab I work in, and the dust makes my hands super dry - even through gloves!), and this has really been doing the trick. It's a luxuriously thick cream, but it doesn't leave that super greasy feeling after applying. It also doesn't have a scent, which I like for something I reapply throughout the day.

The one makeup bit I've been most excited about is the Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette (review). It's the perfect palette for spring (and year-round, actually), filled with warmer nude shades. When I've worn eyeshadow this month, it's always been from this palette.

My last favorites of the month are all lip products. I've kept my makeup pretty minimal for most of the month, but I can't go without throwing on a lip product. My everyday go-to nude has been the combination of the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk and the Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Nude Pop. It creates the prettiest nude pink shade on the lips that looks perfect with any look. When I'm wanting something darker, I've been loving the Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Androgyny. I said in my Liquid Lipstick Roundup that I put up quite a fight to get this one, and I'm sure glad I did. It's the coolest mauve-y brown neutral that's right up my alley. The formula is one of the best I've tried as well - I'm thinking I need to try a few more shades.

Not included in the picture, but a favorite all the same, is the book 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I had never read a Stephen King book before because I'm the biggest wimp ever when it comes to scary things, but this book wasn't scary. It's about a man that goes back in time in order to try and stop the Kennedy assassination, and the way King mixes the historical facts into the fictional story is just stunning. It was one of the first times I actually felt sad about finishing a book - I feel like nothing I ever read will be this good again.

What were your favorites this month?

First Impression: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drench Lip Splash Lipstick

March 29, 2016 in Guest Post, Makeup

-This post was written by my sister, Taylor-

Living in Boston means I have constant, easy access to the wonder that is the Prudential Center Sephora, which is newly-renovated. To bribe myself into grocery shopping like a functioning adult a few Sundays ago, I first took a quick stop into the new setup for the first time. And let me just say, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I almost teared up.

As almost anyone that has been in Sephora with unlimited time and a fresh paycheck in their bank account, I almost felt like I had to get something. And of course I did get more than just something; I got all lipsticks, all mauve-y nudes. God, I am turning into Kelsey. However, there was one standout in the pack, and that is what I'm here to talk about today. The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drench Lip Splash Lipstick appears to be a gift from heaven on paper. A lightweight, matte, long-lasting lipstick in beautiful shades in the prettiest packaging. So I decided to test out just how much of a gift this was and bought the shade Cabana Boy. The following are my thoughts on my first day of wearing it. For reference, I work full-time teaching children, so this day included a lot of talking, a lot of eating quickly, and not a lot of time to reapply.

7:30am: Rushing to get ready for work and to catch the T, and I was worried the hydrating formula would be slippery and hard to apply precisely. Fortunately I was proven wrong. It went on smoothly, but I could barely feel the product on my lips.

9:00am: Anything this hydrating must have worn off by now. Plus I can't feel it on my lips at all. Plus I drank a big mug of coffee without being careful.

9:05am: Okay it has not worn off at all, how is this possible?

11:45am: After talking for almost three hours straight, I went to check on my lipstick again. I had to lightly reapply at the center of my lips, but I honestly probably didn't have to. The product still hasn't creased or run and has barely faded.

1:15pm: Ate a big bowl of mac and cheese, did not try to avoid lips (may have licked extra cheese off lips). Quick check shows product somehow completely intact. I'm practically giddy.

4:00pm: Getting ready to leave work, still cannot believe I would have gotten away with not bringing the lipstick with me. And it's still as comfortable as when I put it on (as in I can't feel it on at all).

6:35pm: After eating dinner, the lipstick is still nearly totally intact, not even smudged at the corners. God why did I only buy one color.

So, long story short, I found my new favorite lipstick. My lips are usually so dry, but they never felt dehydrated with this - the complete opposite actually. I thought I loved Tarte before, but honestly now I feel like I owe them my life; this is unreal.

Have you tried anything from the new Rainforest of the Sea collection?

You can find Taylor on Twitter and Instagram.