current obsessions

A new feature on the blog: a quick roundup of everything I'm currently loving. 

I didn't mean for it to be so makeup-centric, but I guess I've just been inspired by the beautiful weather around here lately to play around with makeup. 

This blush looks scary and intense in the pan, but with the right brush and a light touch, it blends beautifully to the perfect peachy cheek. Now that I know it's blendable, I'm tempted to get the other color in the NARS x Pierre Hardy collection: Boys Don't Cry, a beautiful flushed pink. If you've been eyeing it, keep in mind that it's much bigger than the regular NARS blushes (0.45 oz. vs. 0.28 oz.), which explains the much bigger price ($41 vs. $29). It originally came with a gold overlay in a geometric pattern all over the pan, but I've already wiped some of it away with use.

I've been looking forever for a bronzer that would give me enough of an effect on my relatively dark skin. This one from D&G was a splurge during the Sephora friends and family sale, and it's given me just the right amount of contouring and color. I don't think it will work for me when I get darker as the weather gets warmer (I get about 4 shades darker than what I am now), but until then, this has been wonderful. I got it in the shade "bronze 40". The packaging is beautiful and luxurious, coming with its own velvet pouch and gold-handled compact brush that fits in the pouch's front pocket.

 I'm really digging this cobalt blue and silvery/gold glitter mani combo. I used these colors this weekend, and I can't stop looking at my nails.

This lipgloss is a recently re-discovered oldie but goodie. It's the perfect coral (#165 volupte), and the formula is not too sticky. I got this mascara as a sample, and it's become a fast favorite. It really extends my lashes and gives me an open-eyed look for when I'm looking half-asleep, either by itself or layered with my other favorite mascara. While I don't have really bad undereye circles, this concealer has been great for some touch-ups on my face after a particularly hard week when I need a little help. It's creamy and blends seamlessly, and I like that it comes in an easy-to-transport tube.

Lastly, I've been wearing this necklace nonstop. It's delicate while still giving enough of a sparkle. It's no fuss glam, which is what I've been needing as the past few weeks at work have been grueling.

What are your current obsessions? Do share!

all you need

It's sunny and warm (almost 80!) in Chicago today, and it could not be any more beautiful. I'm starting the day off with a little iced coffee. With a day as beautiful as today, that's really all you need. That, and a pair of sunnies.

Happy Wednesday!

rings: forever 21 .:. shirt: j.crew .:. nail polish: nars x pierre hardy vertebra

gifts

James and I celebrated Valentine's Day the weekend before at a lovely restaurant, but some presents from my lovely fiance came this weekend.

I love a neutral eye with a little bit of a "wow" factor, and once I saw this palette , I was sold. I own two eyeshadow duos and two eyeshadow singles from NARS, and I've always had great color payoff. The texture of my shadows are so buttery and easy to blend, and with NARS' eyeshadow base (the set comes with a mini travel version as well as a short-handled eyeshadow brush), they don't budge for the entire day. The compact is great for travel with its slim size, and the palette is so versatile for day or night that I can see me just bringing this for eyeshadow on a trip and being completely satisfied. Total LOVE.

This nail polish has become a quirky new fave: the pink base is quite classic, but the micro glitters and the bigger pieces make it really fun. It comes in 5 perfect-for-Spring shades.

My nails look like mini Cadbury eggs. How fun is that?!

This lipstick is so creamy and glossy, I loved it at first swipe. I was strolling through Sephora with gift card in hand and was drawn to the sleek packaging and a rainbow of colors. After swatching a couple of colors, I went with #12. I think it will be great for spring, and I have nothing like it. I haven't always been a fan of YSL beauty products - they were and are a bit pricey for me. But with a gift card and James pronouncing it "a great color" (this is high praise from him), it came home with me. As did this mascara, which has become a new favorite. I wanted a mascara that gave me some drama and volume without clumping. This does that for me, and then some. Plus, it smells good. YSL's beauty products all have a little bit of fragrance - nothing overpowering and the scent goes away after awhile, if you're sensitive about scents. I'm all about how something smells, so it's a bonus for me for the mascara. It comes in several colors, in addition to a true black. I went with the sea black, a blackened navy.

#12 is a lovely coral (its name is Corail Incandescent). The color payoff is wonderful - rich color with a sheen of gloss. After a few hours on me, the gloss goes away but the color remains and ultimately fades over time. I find myself touching up sometime in the early afternoon if I put it on around 8:30 a.m.  and then another touch-up in the early evening.

I didn't spend all of my gift card, but a good chunk of the remainder went to these two powders: the one on the left is loose, and the one on the right is pressed. I had been unsatisfied with my previous powder: there was always some discoloration no matter how little I used. I decided to give this one a try when I heard good things about it - some have called it "photoshop in a pan". If that's the case, then that will be a bonus - I just want a powder that sets my foundation without leaving a chalky residue. I prefer loose powders, but I bought the pressed one as well for ease of travel.

The compact is very generously sized, and although it looks a ghastly white in the pan, it goes on sheer on your skin.

It's so nice to receive gifts, especially from someone you love. Thanks, baby!

I hope all of you had a lovely Valentine's Day.

Here's to a great week and Happy Monday!

routine

here

One of my goals at the start of the year was to develop a routine to take care of my face and stick to it. After spending some time in Sephora trying out an entire range of products, I think I've found a set of products that work for me. I use this cleanser day and night; it's super gentle and has a very mild scent. When I want extra cleaning, I use this 2-3 times a week. I've used these makeup remover wipes for years and buy them in bulk at Costco (good for a quick or heavy-duty clean, or when you're traveling), and I recently discovered this toner (this cleansing water is great, too). This moisturizer with SPF from Sephora's line has become a favorite  for day- it keeps my skin moisturized without feeling like I put a ton of stuff on it. For night, I turn to this night masque for ultimate hydration. I wake up in the morning and my skin feels so soft. It's definitely a splurge, but a little goes a long way.

I also wanted to develop a "fail-safe" makeup routine that was easy to do yet still pretty, for those days when I've hit the snooze button too many times and I've only got 5 minutes. I have to say, taking care of your skin goes a long way to making 5-minute makeup effortless. In addition to products just applying more easily, adding all the extra stuff is just not necessary since your skin is lovely the way it is. For the most part, the only makeup I use throughout the week is five things: eyeliner (brown for day, purple or black for night), mascara (a favorite since high school; this is an equal favorite), neutral eyeshadow, lip balm/lipgloss/lipstick (always/often/sometimes), and a blush if I want more color. I leave the heavy stuff for the weekends for dates or nights on the town when I want a little bit more oomph and drama than my M-F look. 

* The specific shades in the collage are MAC lipstick in lickable, NARS eyeshadow in cordura, and NARS blush in orgasm.

What's your daily beauty routine? I'd love to hear some beauty product recommendations!

give (beauty)

 polyvore set here

lips: Clinique Chubby Sticks Set, Fresh Sugar Duo

lips&tips: Lancome 'In Love' Duo, Butter LONDON Holiday 2012 Collection

skin: Clarins 'Seven Wonders' Set, Fresh 'Skin Savers' Set 

eyes: NARS 'Express Yourself' Set, Laura Mercier Artists' Palette (appears to be sold-out online, but check in-store at Sephora)

coverage: Urban Decay Naked liquid foundation and Good Karma brush

brushes: Eco Tools eye brush set

Some quick confessions: 
1) For the price and quality, Eco Tools are my most-purchased, go-to brushes.

2)  I just bought the UD Naked liquid foundation and brush, and it has been a revelation. I get amazing coverage, but it feels like I'm wearing nothing. And the brush! Blending has never been easier.

3) Laura Mercier's Artist's Palette is amazing. It's UD's Naked palette's more grown-up, subtle sister, yet just as versatile. The packaging is discreet, functional, and sturdy; the shadows apply like butter, have good color payout, and last a long a time once applied. Hands-down the best palette I've tried.

daily makeup

I am not the most consistent makeup person, probably because unless I'm going out with my boyfriend for a date or dinner with friends, I'm perfectly okay with going au naturel or as close to it as possible on a daily basis. But lately, as the weather has gotten colder and as my skin begins to start its annual metamorphosis of going 3 shades lighter than I normally am in the summer, I find that I start getting pasty, and so daily makeup is a must to infuse some color on my face.

It's pretty basic. I put on some face primer (I'm a recent convert and am trying out different kinds...right now, I'm testing out Smashbox's original photo finish primer, but I've heard good things about NARS' pro-prime so will try that one next) and some tinted moisturizer with SPF. I like tinted moisturizer over foundation because I like how light it is as compared to foundation, especially in the summer. When I want a little more coverage, I use tinted moisturizer and some concealer ( I use Make Up For Ever) or opt for a true foundation.

Next, I work on my eyes, which I happen to think are my best feature. I tend to focus heavily on my eyes and just go fairly neutral on my lips. My go-to every day eyeshadow is NARS duo eyeshadow in "cordura" - the bronze shade is neutral yet interesting, and the dark, cocoa shade amps up the color for night or for more intensity. I use NARS eye primer for longevity. (I promise I'm not sponsored by NARS...I just find their products to work well for me, and I appreciate that they have a full range of shades for women of color). Lastly, I use chocolate brown eyeliner (softer than black for day) and black mascara (my favorite is a drugstore brand - L'Oreal Voluminous mascara; I've tried many, many mascaras at all different price points, and I keep coming back to this one). 

Other extras: a little highlighting blush (my shade is "Luster"), a little highlighting shadow for when I want my eyes to look bigger (I like "Cyprus"), and a Shu Uemura eyelash curler to give my stubbornly straight lashes some curl. I top it all off with Laura Mercier invisible loose-setting powder.

My favorite brushes are by eco tools. The eye set above was around $8. The brush hairs are soft, easy to clean, don't fall out, and I love that each brush in the eye set is labeled for its purpose since I'm not the most makeup savvy person. I think they're a great set of quality brushes for a reasonable amount of money. 

I know this seems like a lot, but I get this done in less than 10 minutes if I'm taking my time and less than 5 minutes when I'm rushing to get out of the door. 

What's your daily makeup routine?

beauty buys

from top left going clockwise: NARS nail polish in "Storm Bird", Smashbox Full Exposure mascara sample, Givenchy Rouge Interdit lipstick in black plum, Smashbox lipgloss sample, Estee Lauder nail polish in "Viper", Estee Lauder Pure Color High Gloss lipgloss sample in "Coral Chic", NARS lipstick in "Autumn Leaves", Smashbox Bronze Light sample, Estee Lauder nail polish in "Blue Blood", Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light sample

Updated my make-up collection with some fall-friendly pieces: vampy nail polish from Estee Lauder (as lusted after here) and NARS, a serious moody berry lipstick from Givenchy and a burnt orange one from NARS that really does look like autumn leaves, and a handful of Smashbox samples courtesy of my Sephora points, including the brand's famous primer. I also asked for a sample of NARS' primer with SPF and am eager to compare the two to see which I like more. 

Any primer recommendations? I'd love to know!

currently crushing (happy friday)

Old Navy "Rock Star" legging jeans. Butter London nail polish in "Macbeth". NARS semi-matte lipstick in "Heat Wave".  Zara asymmetrical skirt. J. Crew Tillary Bucket Bag. Aldo Broudel sandals. Jason Wu for Target dress.