My Foundation Collection

I take foundations pretty seriously - I don't buy them impulsively because I am very meticulous about what I look for. So this isn't your ordinary collection post. I love all these foundations for various reasons and on this post I am sharing with you why. Hope you enjoy. 

Empties #3

Products Mentioned

- Flents Quiet Time NRR 33 (40 pair - earplugs) 

- Veet Facial Wax Strips 

- L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes

- O.B. Pro Comfort Silk Touch Tampons

- Up & Up Floss (Target brand)

- Serge Norman Meta Shampoo Silk / Conditoner

- 100% Pure Coconut Nourishing Body Cream

- Elf Shine Eraser

- Kerastase Specifique Dermo Calm Shampoo

- Tresemme Nourishing Rituals Liquid Gold Shine Therapy

- Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum

- Caudalie Vinosource Moisture Recovery Cream

- Dior Dissolvant (nail polish remover)

- Aura Cacia Relaxing Lavender Shower Tablets

PS: I'll be blogging again soon!

The Princess Tag

About a month ago, Tati created the "Princess Tag" which featured all her favorite high-end products that make her feel like a princess. I selected six products in my collection that, well, make me feel like a princess. 

Hope you enjoy.

Empties #1 (Video)

Hi everyone!

I decided to make my empties into a video this time. Enjoy!

Foundation Series: Dior Hydralife BB Cream

Continuing with the series, I present to you my absolute favorite BB Cream. Enjoy!

Foundation Series: Dior Airflash Foundation

The Dior Airflash Foundation is a beautiful foundation, excellent for special events. I hope you enjoy this review!

Foundation Series: Dior Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup Review

Phew! My apologies for the long title. That's the entire name of this foundation. Fancy pants. Have you heard about this foundation before? Are you interested in learning more about it? If so, continue reading!

Summer Blushes

The sun seems to be shining a bit stronger these days as summer is just around the corner. I was tagged by Gorkem on Instagram to show my favorite Summer Blushes. I then decided to share it with my blogger followers. 

1. Illamasqua Excite: a beautiful matte peach powder blusher which I've reviewed here. The sweet Argentine beauty blogger, Flo, has also reviewed it here, in case you want to see more of it. 

2. Nars Orgasm: not much to say about this. It's gorgeous. It suits all skin tones. It never fails. 

3. Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder in 002 Sunlight: an "all-over" powder which I personally use as a bronzer. It's beautiful, and it does give you that "healthy summer glow." 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Splendor: a very pretty rosy-pink with shimmer. Yes, it has shimmer, so I would stick to using this product when you know you'll be indoors or at night. It's beautiful, regardless. 

Which are your favorite summer blushes? Share! xoxo

Illamasqua Excite Powder Blush Review + FOTD

For those looking for a beautiful matte, peach blush, this post is for you. Illamasqua's blushes are well known for their sleek, modern packaging and incredibly pigmented formulas. This blush is no exception. If you're interested in pictures and a quick review, continue reading.

Face of the Day (03.05.13)

Hola muñecas! (That means "hi dolls" in Spanish).

So my instagram seems to have a bug because whenever I try to upload a picture, it comes out as a gray 

box. I've read online several users experiencing the same thing-- so I'm guessing it is a bug. 

Anyway, just a quick post today to show you my "face of the Early Morning". I got up at six am and quickly got ready for some errands I had to do this morning.

I kept my look soft, subtle and simple. It was raining really hard when I woke up (which is the worst weather to get up in-- I find the rain so relaxing). The skies were gray, there was a lot of thunder and the day was...blah. So I went with a quickie.

On my eyes I used Chanel Illusion D'ombre in the shade Emerville because it is so fast to put on... you just literally dab some with your fingers. After curling my lashes, I applied two coats of Benefit They're Real Mascara. I used Rimmel London Scandal Eyes in the shade Nude to get rid of any redness on my waterline. I groomed my brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade Brunette. 

Anytime I'm looking for great coverage and a luminous finish in little time, I pick my trusty Dior Hydralife BB Cream. The formula melts into my skin and matches me perfectly. Another plus is the high (30) SPF. I buffed that in with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush (my favorite brush to apply foundation with) and then I applied some under-eye concealer-- Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in the shade 3. I set everything in place with some loose powder-- L'oreal Translucide Luminous Loose Powder in the shade Translucent. For dewy cheeks, I went with Stila Convertible Color in the shade Lillium, followed by Benefit Girl Meets Peal lightly patted on the top of my cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. 

To finish of the look, I went for a shimmery rosy lip color-- Bourjois Lipstick in Rose Pare. 

April Favorites

Products Mentioned
- Illamasqua Cream Blusher shade Brazen
- Dior Creme De Rose
- Urban Decay Naked Palette
- Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick shade Beso
- Pureology Serious Colour Hair Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
- Desert Essence Coconut Soft Curls Hair Cream
- Kate Somerville Eradikate
- Lush Mint Julips
- Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil
- Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough
- Deep Steep Rosemary Mint Dry Oil
- Aura Cacia Peppermint Harvest Refreshing Aromatherapy Mist

2AM Face of the Day

Hi beauties!

I'm currently stuck at the airport in Maracaibo because our flight to Miami is delayed. I had to get up at 2am this morning. I have been suffering from insomnia on and off my whole life, and it's currently back, so I was able to sleep thanks to some meds until my sleep cycle normalizes. 

Anyway! Thank God I brought my laptop with me. I did bring my little Sony camera with me to take shots and share them with you. Nothing too exciting to see here at this airport. It's tiny...and boring. 

But I want to share with you the makeup I chose this morning to look less...zombie-ish. 

The Product List 

1. Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer shade Sand: I wanted something lightweight, yet glowy, and I find that this tinted moisturizer has a dewy finish despite being oil-free. 

2. Dior Diorskin Nude Concealer shade 2 Beige: it doesn't have the best coverage for dark circles, but it  goes on very natural.

3. Clinique Airbrush Illuminating Concealer shade Fair: I dabbed some of this over the Dior concealer for extra highlighting. 

4. Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush shade Natural: I wanted a little glow to my cheeks. 

5. High Beam by Benefit (Not included in the picture): Instant dewiness to the skin!

6. L'oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner: A true black. I believe this is blacker than Mac's Fluidline in Blacktrack or my favorite Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Gel-Liner. It also stays on for a long, long time (+10 hours) without smudging. Travel-friendly!

7. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream shade 16 Plum: Cream shadows are excellent to wear when you're in a rush, and since this product is 100% waterproof, it won't budge, smudge or fade. I love this.

PS: I wear contact lenses, so I have to put on eyedrops everytime I travel because my lenses get very dry. My eyeshadow ain't going nowhere with this Aqua Cream!

8. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in Black: My mom gave me this as a gift a couple of months ago and I love it. You can build up volume and length without spider-looking lashes.

9. Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Tarnish shade Busted: a moisturizing, cherry red lip stain that has a glossy finish. It feels minty when you first put it on... and it does plum quite a bit. Remember, a pop of color on the lips instantly gives light to the skin!

I actually tried taking a picture to show you my look, but I am surrounded by strangers and it just got a little awkward. I hope you all have a lovely day! xoxo

Don't Be Afraid of Red Blushers

I posted this picture on Instagram about a month ago when I found the Real Techniques Stippling Brush at my local drugstore. 

I have an obvious adoration for my Illamasqua Cream Blusher in the shade Brazen because you see it in almost every post. It is such a great product. First of all, it does look scary in the pan! It is a bright red and it is extremely, I mean extremely pigmented, which can be hard to work with. 

Many women stick to traditional pink-toned blushers, not knowing that red can look absolutely fabulous when applied the right way - a color similar to the natural shade on your cheeks after a long run our after a day out during winter. 

I'm sharing this post with you today because the Real Techniques Stippling Brush works amazingly well when paired with the Illamasqua Cream Blush. The bristles need to barely touch the product, and simply tap the brush onto your cheeks, then blend. Trust me, you need the tiniest amount. This product will last you ages, making it a product of good value. 

Here is a picture of today's Face of the Day where I'm wearing the blusher. 

Full List of Products

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Light/Medium

2. Illamasqua Cream Blush in the shade Brazen

3. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer shade 3

4. Dior Amber Diamond 

5. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerville

6. Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows shade Soft Brown

7. Bourjois Ultra Black Volumizer Mascara

8. Tarte LipSurgence in the shade Envy

PS: The Tarte Lip stain is amazing. It has a matte finish and it is definitely plumping...as you can see!

I'm off to the US tomorrow to visit my family. But I will take my laptop with me to continue blogging. Have a great day everyone!

Get Ready With Me!: Bronzy Eyes + Announcements

Hi my loves!

I worked hard for today's post because I wanted to deliver something helpful since I will be away for a few weeks. I'm going to the US for vacation before I start school in May. Oh, and my youngest brother is getting married in Puerto Rico! I'm so excited! I will take lots of pictures, so you are all coming with me! 

I also might... Well, I'm bad at surprises! I will have a giveaway when I'm in the US. Everything in Venezuela is ridiculously expensive because we have really high inflation, which is why I hardly buy anything here and I would not be able to afford a giveaway. But let's not get political here, because I hate politics and this is a beauty blog. In conclusion, I will work on getting goodies for a good giveaway to thank all of you for supporting me though I'm a "newbie". I have a lot of things I would like to get off my chest by writing a post about it but I worry I might get corny and you might get bored... but I really am thankful to all of you. 

If you want to see my Pictorial, keep reading!

Easy, Simple Romantic Look

I was asked to do a "romantic look" and when I think "romantic", I think: a better you. 

If you're going on a date, you don't want to be wearing too much, otherwise, it will be obvious that you're trying too hard. 

Keep it natural and keep it simple. Focus on the areas on your face you like the most. Your eyes? Lips? Cheekbones? Whichever the area is, let it be the main focus. 

If you're interested in seeing what I came up with, continue reading!

Face of the Day (20.03.13)

Hi everyone!

Today's Face of the Day features elongated eyes with brown tones on the lids and some light gold glitter. 

Continue reading to find out which products I used!

Makeup Products for Busy Moms

There are plenty of women out there I admire, and a lot of them are busy moms. Wonder-women who suddenly develop an amazing way of multi-tasking and keeping home in order. 

I wanted to help those busy moms out there by suggesting specific makeup products to look feel more confident and look presentable in little time. NO brushes are needed to apply these products.

Interested? Keep reading!

Video: Faking A Good Night's Sleep

I don't do YouTube very often, but I slept terribly last night, woke up with a zombie face and reached for specific products to make my face look more...awake.

I also mentioned my favorite dry shampoo. It's fantastic.

As you can tell, I have 0 editing skills. I cut the intro a bit too much. Whoops!

Sweat-Proof Makeup

I typed that title and then I was like ugh.. eek...gross.. why throw in sweat in there? Here's the thing, I'm about to go to a little cousin's birthday party/pool party and it is currently:

Thank you, Wunderground.com. Yes, it's that hot here. We have no seasons in Maracaibo. It is simply, always ridiculous hot. Although I dislike the snow... so.

I'm not getting in the water by the way, I'm just attending. I would not wear any makeup if I was getting in the water. I don't understand why some people do that. 

Anyway! Onto what this post is really about. I want to show you which products I used to guarantee my makeup is not smudging/moving/caking.

I suggest you use as little makeup as possible. Just use it where you really need it. Luckily my skin is pretty clear right now, so I skipped foundation and just applied some concealer where I needed it (undereye, redness around my face).

1. Sunscreen: the most important product of all. I used a two-in-one for this. A moisturizer with SPF. My Vichy Aqualia Thermal Moisturizer which I've reviewed here.

2. Mac Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 in NC30: I picked this because it's not only great for covering my under-eye discoloration, but it's also water resistant and it has SPF.

3. Benefit Boiing Concealer: I dabbed this anywhere else on my face where I needed a bit of coverage. I like it because it's a cream-to-powder formula. 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush shade blissful: it lasts a long time. Great for people with oily skin, or people that are going to be out in the sun. 

5. Make Up For Ever HD Powder: to set everything in place and get rid of shine.

6. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Powder shade 15 Taupe: a beautiful wash of color. I've swatched it here. 

I took a quick pic to show you how it looks on the lids:

7. Rimmel London Lash Lycra Extender Mascara: not a fan of it, meh. Just grabbed it because I didn't want anything too special.

8. Mac eyeshadow shade Blanc Type: I applied this below my brows.

9. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Shade Brunette: doesn't smudge! And it's a powder.

10. Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray: a setting spray for combination/oily skin that reduces shine and makes makeup last longer. 

11. Dior Creme De Rose Lip Balm: I forgot to include this in the picture, but I like it because it's very moisturizing and creamy and it has SPF10. 

Time to go! I hope this was helpful x

Aqualia Thermal 24Hr Hydrating Fortifying Lotion SPF 25 Review

Hi everyone!

I had been in the hunt for a simple sunscreen that wouldn't leave me with a white cast. Finding no good options anywhere around me, I went for a two in one product. Vichy's Aqualia range is one that I had tried before - I love their eye gel - so I figured I would try their moisturizer with SPF 30.

What is it?

A moisturizer with SPF 25.

Why is a sunscreen necessary? 
For a long time I used to hate the thought of sunscreen. It would remind me of funky scents and a white, greasy face. Not flattering. But wearing sunscreen daily is, in my opinion, the most important beauty advice. Not only are you protecting your skin against harmful UV rays which can lead to skin cancer, but you're also shielding it against premature aging. Yes, sun damage causes early wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation.

Use sunscreen on sunny days AND cloudy days as well. Everyday, all-year round.

Packaging
You get a good 50ml in a small, portable light blue plastic bottle. It comes with a pump which makes this a very hygienic product.

What is the texture like?
Creamy, but easy to blend. It doesn't leave any white streaks behind. The product does have a light fragrance to it - to me it smells like regular sunscreen, but it is not overpowering.

It's good to know that...

- It's oil-free and paraben-free.

- It contains Vichy Thermal Water and hyaluronic acid.

- It's allergy tested, so it's good for people with sensitive skin.

- It's non-comedogenic. 

What type of skin is this recommended for?

For those that are new to the blog, I have combination skin. My T-zone tends to get oily while the rest of my face is normal. I would say this would be good for people with dry, normal and combination skin. 

My thoughts?

I think this is an extraordinary daily moisturizer. It's very moisturizing, yet not greasy. It leaves my skin soft and plump and my favorite part of all: it doesn't leave any white streaks on the face. It's easy to blend across the face and it works great under makeup. It does not make my face shiny nor oily. Love!

What I'm wearing today

Vichy Aqualia Thermal UV Lotion

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Bourjois Voluminizer Mascara Ultra Black

Dior Creme de Rose