Drugstore Find

Sometimes it feels good to purchase an expensive lip gloss, but there's a definite thrill when you find a drugstore product that's more than half the cost! Right now I'm loving L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Gloss. I recommend this gloss as a fun, flirty option that won't break the bank. Check out these little lip gloss gems!

My favorite shades are Baby Blossom 151 and Watermelon crush 154. The Baby Blossom is a light pink shade. If you are going for a Brigitte Bardot look, you could do darker eye makeup and then apply this gloss over whatever light pink lipstick shade you prefer. The Watermelon crush is a brighter pink color. If you wanted to go less heavy on eye makeup, you could apply this gloss to create a more finished, fresh-faced look. These glosses aren’t shimmery/glittery, so they produce a more natural shine. Also, both colors give your lips a nice shiny, glossy appearance. You could even mix the two shades together and make a whole different color! If you were ever a fan of the Lancome Juicy Tubes or MAC Tinted Lipglass, the L’Oreal lip gloss is worth a try as a less expensive alternative. They also smell divine. 

Pore Perfection

Exfoliation is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Once the dead skin cells are removed, your skin just looks more glowing and luminous. Not to mention your makeup will go on better and look fabulous. Dry, flaky skin just isn’t a good canvas for any kind of foundation. Also, if you exfoliate on a regular basis your pores will look smaller and more refined. There are different ways to exfoliate your delicate facial tissue. For example, you can simply manually exfoliate your skin with a washcloth and face wash. This will help you out if you don’t have any special products on hand. If you need a little more help and really want to see results, there are plenty of chemical options to do the trick. I’ve tried many exfoliators and definitely have a few favorites to tell you about. When you get in your thirties many dermatologists recommend using a retinoid to improve the appearance of your skin. Essentially retinoids exfoliate and speed up cell turnover. The result is brighter looking, more supple skin. Yes please!

Exfoliating miracle workers:

• Clarisonic
• Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

These little miracle workers will get your skin in tip-top shape. The Clarisonic is amazing. If you use it on a regular basis, you will see the difference over time.

Peter Thomas Roth is a great product. It uses glycolic acid to chemically remove those dead skin cells. It also has soothing ingredients like Aloe Vera and Green Tea. If you have any blemishes this product will help heal them after one application.

Kate Somerville also makes a great exfoliation product. It uses natural papaya, pineapple and pumpkin enzymes to get your skin glowing in no time. There’s also an ExfoliKate Gentle if your skin is very sensitive.

Both of these products are great exfoliators and the Clarisonic is a nice addition to any skin care routine. After you find an exfoliator you like, it’s important to use it at least weekly or even twice a week. You don’t want to over exfoliate your skin either. After you see how your skin reacts to the product, you will know how often you need to use it. Exfoliating really makes such a huge difference, but people often neglect this step. Either of these exfoliators will polish your skin to perfection! Hurray for exfoliators!

Pretty in Pink

Happy V-DAY from Beauty Blackout!

Essie nail polish in lovie dovie is the perfect pink color to get you in the holiday spirit!

How to Frame Your Face with Beautiful Brows

Product Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brows Wiz

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a fantastic eyebrow pencil. I love it because you never have to sharpen it, and that makes everything easier! This mechanical pencil is one of my favorite tools to define and shape your eyebrows. In makeup terms, your eyebrows essentially frame your face. The brow wiz is the perfect tool to create naturally beautiful and perfectly arched eyebrows. The goal is to focus on the outer edges of your eyebrows after your arch and also fill in any sparse areas you see. Then use the spooley on the other end of the pencil to blend everything together and create the perfect shape.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

You can use this product alone or in conjunction with a brow powder. For example, I use the brow wiz in ash blonde to fill in and sparse areas and accentuate the outer brow. After that I further define the brow with a light colored eye shadow. I apply the powder/eye shadow with a small angled eye brush. I use this process if I want a really finished look and perfect brows. But if you are in a rush, the pencil alone will do wonders. You can also set the brows in place with a clear/colorless eyebrow gel, but for everyday use, I don't think it's a necessity. That's all you need to create beautiful brows! Check out the video below on how to use the Anastasia Brow Wiz: 

From Anastasia Beverly Hills:
Ideal for filling in sparse brows with the ultimate natural look, Anastasia’s ultra-fine pencil tip mimics the appearance of tiny hairs. The dual-ended mechanical pencil and essential Spooley Brush make creating a fuller brow look not only easy, but convenient too. The mechanical lead saves product and never needs sharpening, and the built-in spooley brush on the opposite end brushes and blends in Brow Wiz to natural brows seamlessly. 

Available in 6 shades: 
Ash Blonde – Suggested for light to dark blonde hair.
Caramel – Suggested for light brown hair with warm undertones, auburn, and strawberry blonde hair. Great for highlights.
Medium Ash – Suggested for light to medium brown and silver hair.
Soft Brown – Suggested for medium brown hair.
Brunette – Suggested for medium brown to black hair.
Ebony – Suggested for dark brown to black hair.

Create the Perfect Canvas ~ Foundation Favorites

The ultimate goal of any foundation is to achieve flawless coverage. Beauty gurus and aficionados apply foundation so it is not extremely noticeable. Therefore, getting a color match close to your skin tone is important. Skilled makeup artists can apply makeup so it looks like you aren't wearing any. Your skin just looks perfectly airbrushed. Voilá!

Right now, my two favorite foundations that I've been using are Chanel Vitalumière Aqua fresh and hydrating cream compact and Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H. 

Chanel Vitalumière Aqua

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H

I apply the Chanel foundation with a foundation brush instead of the included sponge applicator. The key is to start at the center of your face and work the foundation outward. I use the color 32 beige rosè and it really looks stunning. This foundation is fabulous but I go through it like crazy!
The Lancôme foundation is amazing too, especially if you have combination skin. The company also offers a large range of colors for many skin tones. Both foundations have SPF 15, which is an added bonus. I set both foundations with Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in translucent. I use the Laura Mercier velour puff to apply the powder, gently pressing it into the skin. After applying the velvety powder, your foundation will be set and good to go! Below are the company product descriptions.

From Chanel: This water-based formula blends effortlessly and offers the lightness and radiance of a fluid with the ease and convenience of a compact format. The complexion is immediately hydrated and smoothed, with a look of natural, flawless radiance and a comfortable feel that lasts all day.

From Lancôme: The full coverage you need – flaws, pores, redness and all imperfections visibly disappear. The velvety finish you love for 24-hour lasting perfection and comfort. Full coverage. Velvety matte finish with no powdery effect.

To tan, or not to tan? That is the question.

Self tanning is an essential part of my beauty routine especially during the winter months. Sometimes your skin just needs a little pick me up. Many self tanners are not the right consistency, or worse make you look orange! Oompa Loompa! Who wants that? With the right product, you will look glowing and fabulous. 

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel is my "go to" tanner because it requires very little dry time and gives you a natural sun kissed look. 

You can apply it, get ready, and go on with your day. The consistency is very viscous, so you really can feel where you are applying it. To get a deeper bronze, you will have to apply it several nights in a row, but one application will give you some color. This self tanner is always in my makeup bag. Sometimes I apply it just to the face and decolletage if your skin is looking a little pale. Also, it acts almost like a primer and provides a canvas for your foundation. Love it!

Recently, I have been trying to go more au naturel, so I started using Tarte's Brazilliance. It is a great self tanner as well, but the application isn't as seamless. Basically, it just takes a little more time for the application process. After you apply it, you will see a gorgeous bronze glow immediately. If you apply this self tanner the night before, you will be a bronze goddess in the morning. Below is a video on how to apply the Brazilliance self tanner: