The Spring Edit

April 09, 2016

I've actually had this photo and post idea ready for a couple weeks, but it seems like spring has shown itself and then completely disappeared again. We got an inch of snow early this week and the forecast is calling for it again tonight. It's April 9th, come on now. I didn't want to sit on this post any longer so snow or no snow, I'm talking spring beauty picks today. I'm all about four things: the glowy base, the flushed cheek, the bronze eye, and the pink lip.

THE GLOWY BASE | Let's be real, I reach for glow-giving bases all year long, but the springtime is when I'm most desperate for that fresh dewy skin look. I've really been liking using the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation on days I can get the color to work - it's super lightweight and easy to wear for everyday, and it leaves the loveliest luminous glow on the skin. My other glowy base love is the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. This will always be one of my top favorites - it's so glowy and actually feels moisturizing, and yet it lasts all day long on me. I don't know how my skin doesn't eat it up, but I'm impressed. I always like to add a bit of extra glow - you know me. Cream highlighters become especially important to me in the springtime. My absolute favorites are the rms beauty Living Luminizer - the most stunning product ever - and the Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight.

THE FLUSHED CHEEK | I have to be careful with this one, as I think as I get older I'm developing a bit of rosacea or something. I do still love a nice flushed cheek look though, as long as it's not an actual real-life flush. Again, I love a good cream product. My absolute favorite blush of all time is the Stila Convertible Color in Lilium. It's the nicest soft pink shade, and the formula stays looking fresh and dewy all day. If I want a little more pizzazz I go for the Clinique Cheek Pop in Berry Pop - admittedly this shade is a little too bright for my taste now, but I still love the formula. It adds a lovely bright pink to the cheeks that when blended out gives a believable flush rather than looking clownish.

THE BRONZE EYE | Again, I go for bronze eyes pretty much year-round, but when spring rolls around I love me some shimmery eyeshadow. I haven't been able to stop wearing the Tartelette in Bloom Palette (review), which, as the name suggests, is just perfect for the season. The NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Kalahari is also a perfect pair, with their rosy-bronze hues. If I'm going for a cream, I've been reaching for a really neutral bronze in the form of the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Marie Antoinette or the Wander Beauty Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow in Bronze - I absolutely love them both.

THE PINK LIP | I'm still on that neutral/brown lip train, but with spring coming I've really been feeling adding a bit more pink into my look. For a super natural wash of color I've been in love with the Glossier Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick in Like - it's the nicest pink shade that gives that "bitten" look to the lips. Another sheer pick that I love is the NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita - it's such a pretty rosy nude. The Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Nude Pop is absolutely perfect as well, being quite a pinky nude. It has the nicest formula and sticks around for quite awhile without being drying. If you're more of a gloss-wearer I'd highly recommend the Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses - they're ultra-pigmented and long-lasting but not gloppy or sticky at all, and Kristen is a lovely neutral pink. And my liquid lipstick pick of the season is the Jouer Lip Creme in Petale de Rose (review), again a really pretty neutral pink shade.

What are your top beauty picks for spring? Do you have spring weather yet where you live?

The Birthday Haul

April 07, 2016

I put out a poll on Twitter last week because I knew my boyfriend was taking me shopping to pick out my birthday presents and I wanted to know if anyone would read a post about what I picked out. Every person that answered said yes, so here I am. I also figured since I got all but one thing from Sephora (and that one thing is available online at Sephora anyway), and Sephora's VIB Sale starts today, this would be a good post to publish today, in case you needed any ideas for what to get in the sale.

Upon walking into the store I made a beeline to the NARS display. I knew I wanted the new Blush from the Spring Collection in the shade Impassioned. My sister got it last time we went shopping together, and I've been kicking myself for not getting it ever since. It's the most beautiful muted nude cool-toned pink, which is just right up my alley. It adds the nicest hint of color to the cheeks without making my usually quite rosy cheeks look feverish. I had never tried a NARS blush before, but the formula is just stunningly buttery and pigmented. I also picked up the Yachiyo Brush #27. It's been in the back of my mind for probably about a year now, so I figured it was time. It's the perfect size and shape for blush, and it also works well with highlighter. It's not as soft as I was expecting, but I love it just the same.

I knew I wanted a more dramatic mascara, as my Lancome Hypnose Star is great for every day, but I was finding I had to layer it a lot if I wanted a more dramatic look. I couldn't decide if I wanted to go for the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara, but in the end I went with the YSL Faux Cils Shocking Mascara. My initial reaction upon first applying it was that I hated it - there was way too much product on the brush, so it gave me about four triangular clumps of lashes per eye. But I grabbed a spare spoolie and brushed out the excess product, and I fell in love with the result. The formula is super black and dramatic, and it really beefs up the lashes. It doesn't make them crispy at all though, and it doesn't smudge throughout the day. I really like it now, I just know now to wipe off the excess before applying.

The last bit from Sephora I got was the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pepper. I've had my eye on this dusty rose shade since this new line came out, and I was not disappointed. It's so creamy and comfortable on the lips, but it has quite good lasting power. The color Pepper is absolutely perfect - you know I love my neutrals.

The last thing I got was the new Calvin Klein CK2 Fragrance. It was the beautiful bottle that made me want to even try the fragrance - I love the minimalist vibe it gives. The fragrance is meant to be unisex/genderless, and I think it's just perfect for me. It's quite a fresh scent that almost reminds me of cut grass in a way, and as it settles onto the skin it definitely gives off a more "cologne-y" scent. It's a nice spring fragrance that's different from the typical rose scents I usually go for. I'd definitely recommend giving this one a sniff.

Have you picked up anything fun lately? What are you going to be picking up in the Sephora sale?

Sunday Riley Tidal

April 05, 2016

About a month ago, I had to pinch myself when I came home to a surprise package from Sunday Riley. Inside, it contained a pot of the newly-released Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream.* Overcome with excitement, I immediately cracked into it and began testing it out. After a month of continuous use, I think I've finally got my mind wrapped around it enough to let you know my thoughts.

The product is described on the Sephora website as "an advanced brightening, refining treatment infused into a next-generation water cream formula." It promises to not only plump and hydrate the skin, but also reduce dark spots and improve the overall brightness of the complexion. It totes an impressive ingredients list, including 1% Alpha-arbutin to reduce hyperpigmentation, papain (papaya enzymes) to smooth and exfoliate, two forms of hyaluronic acid to really pull water into the skin and keep it there, and tamarind extract, which improves skin's moisturization.

The cream itself feels lightweight to the touch, similar to other "water creams" that are now coming out. The consistency reminds me of a slightly thicker version of the Belif Aqua Bomb. It has a scent to it, like a combination of cucumber and a floral scent, but it doesn't linger on the skin after the cream has been applied. But it's something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to scent. When applied on the skin, you can immediately feel it getting to work in hydrating and plumping up the skin. It literally feels like a drink of water for your skin. Although it's so hydrating, it sinks in quickly and doesn't feel greasy whatsoever. I think it would be a great one for both oily and dry skins alike. This also makes it great under makeup - there's no residue left on the skin to make your makeup slip and slide around, but its intense hydration and slight exfoliation make makeup apply like a dream. I've typically been using it, though, as the last step of my evening skincare routine, applying it after using the Luna Sleeping Night Oil (review).

After a month of continuous use, I genuinely have noticed an overall improvement in my skin. It looks generally brighter and more glowy when I wake up, and I've noticed that any acne marks I had lingering from old breakouts started fading more quickly than usual. I really think that pairing it with the Luna makes it even more effective, but it's absolutely lovely on its own as well. I also think it's helped with the redness issues I've had with my skin - sometimes I wake up with hot, flushed, and irritated skin, but applying this calms and soothes it right away. I can't even decide if I like it better in the morning or at night, as I've seen benefits of using it both ways.

This product is exclusive to Sephora, so I'd definitely recommend picking it up in their VIB Sale coming this week! Have you tried the Tidal Cream?

*This product was kindly sent to me by Team Sunday Riley (the biggest of thank yous again!), but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.