Natural Dewy Makeup Look

This post is all about juicy-looking skin. Radiant. Dewy. Healthy.

As always, I begin every look with my eyes. I used Mac Paint Pot in the shade "Painterly" to even out my eyelid's skin tone. Paint Pots are not primers, contrary to what you have heard. They crease easily, so you should use the slightest amount. I applied it with my ring finger. 

I then applied Inglot #77 Gel Liner to my top lashline creating a flick; this creates the illusion of bigger eyes. I followed with three coats of mascara on my top lashes using Lancome Hypnose Drama and one coat on my bottom lashes.

I took my time with my eyebrows; more than usual. Brows is one of those things that may seem easy to "do" but I find it extremely difficult. I brushed my hairs up and filled any gaps with Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in the shade "Granite".

As you can see below, Lancome Hypnose Drama adds a good amount of thickness.

Prepping the complexion is always important. You should never, ever apply foundation to a un-moisturized face. My go-to day serum is Tatcha Deep Hydration Firming Serum which not only quenches the skin, but also adds a believable healthy glow thanks to the 24-karat gold it contains.

Since I wanted minimal foundation on my skin, I blended a bit of concealer under my eyes -- my favorite, Bourjois Happy Light followed by half a pump of Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream. I applied it and blended it with my fingertips. I've talked about this BB Cream before. It is an ACTUAL BB Cream - not a simple tinted moisturizer. My skin always looks a lot better after I've used this. It also provides a good amount of hydration, and if I don't powder it, it will leave a luminous finish. 

The beautiful blush on the picture above is from Anna Sui, a Japanese brand and the shade is 300. 

A highlighter is a must for a dewy appearance to the skin. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade "Opal" on the top of the cheekbones adds the perfect glow while a bit of Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium creates the perfect contour.

As for the tools I used:

1. Spooly to brush my eyebrows up

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills #15 brush to fill in brows

3. Mac 210 to apply gel liner

4. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Blush to apply concealer

5. Real Techniques Contour Brush to apply highlighter

6. Mac 168 Brush to apply blush

7. Artdeco Foundation Brush to apply contour

For lipstick I went with Mac Ablaze which was limited edition. If anyone knows of a good dupe for this lipstick, please let me know! I rarely use it because I love it so much.

This is the only picture I edited on this post (PicsArt for anyone interested) because my bathroom objects were too obvious on the background #selfiefail.

Best of 2014

  I am so happy to be sharing with you my beauty favorites from 2014! It's been an amazing year full of discoveries I'm revealing today. Please keep in mind that every skin is different, so what works for me may not work for you. Also, I am not sponsored by anyone. These are my genuine thoughts and I'm recommending the crème de la crème. 

 

Skincare 

The cleanser: I raved on and on about Nude Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly because it's that good. I even have two backups. I look forward to washing my face every morning and night just to use this. Yes, I use it in the morning. I find it's a great "skin" cleanser as it always leaves my skin feeling comfortable, nourished, cleansed but with a soft-focus glow. Bonus: the jelly-like consistency minimizes the risk of messiness and the plastic packaging makes it excellent for travel.

The skin transformer: Peel pads are a quick way of removing dead skin cells in a non-abrasive way revealing a more youthful appearance. After experimenting with several methods of exfoliation, I fell in love with Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads. They do seem expensive at first, but considering you get sixty pads you only need to exfoliate once of twice a week, it's not a bad deal at all. I absolutely love the ingredient list; the blend of AHA's and BHA plus antioxidants provide visible results in weeks. They're also easy to use: just cleanse, tone and run the pad across your face and neck. Follow up with your eye cream, serum and moisturizer/oil.

Good Genes by Sunday Riley had to make it to the list to. It's a powerful serum (though it has a lotion-like consistency) that contains 40% lactic acid. Talk about glowy skin in a pump, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and minimized pores. I don't use it every single night because I do find it runs fast, but when I do, my skin looks noticeably better.

The skincare splurge: I had always wanted something by La Prairie because I grew up watching my mom use it. This year I graduated as a Psychologist and to reward myself, I decided to get something from the line. I knew I wanted a serum because I love them; they are potent, effective and you only need a small amount. I went for the Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex because it was on the lower end of the spectrum price-wise. I tried it at Bloomingdale's and fell in love with the immediate tightening effect. The best part is that you only need one drop and the packaging comes with a pump, so all you have to do is very lightly press it down - otherwise you'll get too much product and waste it. I reviewed it here.
 

The brightening serum: Tatcha Deep Brightening Serum has an incredible lightweight feel to it, unlike serums that feel more like light lotions. Tatcha uses HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex (a blend of green tea, rice bran and red algae) and licorice to reduce hyperpigmentation and give the skin luminosity and  clarity. Just one pump is sufficient to cover my face and neck, gently pressing it into the skin. 

The moisturizer: Tatcha Moisture Rich Silk Cream has everything I look for in a moisturizer: it has a light, gel-texture that feels amazingly soft, I get a beautiful blend of ingredients, my makeup glides effortlessly over it yet it's nourishing enough for nighttime. It's never oily and never feels heavy. I highly recommend it to those with normal to combination skin.

The SPF: Second time in a row winner, Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free SPF 42. You need to make sure you give it a good shake. This is superbly light and quite mattifying, so it's the perfect final step to your skincare routine. Even though I have normal to dry skin, I've never had any issues with it making my skin feel dry or tight because of all the layers of moisture underneath (toner, serum, moisturizer). If you hate sunscreen because it reminds you of oil, stickiness and the beach in an unpleasant way, give this a shot.

The mask: Another second-time winner! Arcona Tea Tree Mask is the perfect mask, in my opinion, due to its antimicrobial properties and its ability to quickly reduce inflammation while providing an invigorating, relaxing, cooling experience. It doesn't harden on your skin like most acne-fighting masks. And even if you don't have problematic skin: this mask just feels too delicious to pass. 

The brand: I tested a lot of skincare this year and playing with foreign ingredients can lead to unhappy skin. No matter what the problem was, Tatcha was there to solve it. I love it because it is such a balanced skincare line with only a few steps in its routine. Aside from that, the team behind is an incredible family that always makes their customers feel like friends -- they even include handwritten notes in every order, and its lush packaging makes you feel spoiled and pampered. No matter what my skin concern is, all I have to do is go back to Tatcha so my skin goes back to its prime state.

Makeup

The foundation: everyone raved about it but it took me a while to get it. Armani Luminous Silk makes skin look perfected and flawless. It photographs beautifully, making it a must have for special events. I do want to point out that this isn't a good foundation for you if you have oily skin. It's best for those with normal to dry skin.

Me (left) wearing Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for my brother's wedding. It photographs so beautifully!

The concealer - high end: Second time winner, By Terry Touche Veloutee. I am still using the same one, so even though it's pricey, it lasts a long time. One pump is sufficient to dab this full, yet natural coverage concealer under my eyes to illuminate and conceal. I like to use my fingers to blend it out. The texture is absolutely lush.

The concealer - drugstore: I was lucky enough to discover Bourjois Happy Light Concealer this year thanks to my sister-from-another-mother, Anne. It immediately became my favorite after smoothing it under my eyes using my ring finger. It is so creamy, has excellent coverage and wears well. You also get a lot of product and you don't need a lot to do the job. I absolutely LOVE this concealer!

The brow product: Anastasia Beverly Hills has done it again for me this year. Brow Powder Duo features two long-wearing shades that can be used on their own or mixed together to fill in your brows. Another bonus is the variety of shades available -- there is something for everyone.

The blush: My friend Fenny introduced me to Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour. I was so impressed by the texture; despite their powder-formula, these go one so creamy on the cheeks. Just beautiful.

The highlighter: I could never get ahold of Mac Whisper of Gilt, which is such a beautiful gold-toned highlighter. I kept seeing Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in the shade Opal being compared to it so I decided to get it and oh-my-God. It is now my go-to highlighter, I never reach for anything else. It provides the most dewy, glowy highlight while being creamy and easy to blend. Note: be careful with your brush; you don't want to apply too much product as this is highly pigmented. Remember it's easy to add makeup than to remove it.

Wearing Becca "Opal" as my highlighter

The red lip: Now we have second time winner, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the shade "Beso". There's just something about this red that is so perfect. I always feel sexy when I wear it and I think it's a very universal red. I love how long-lasting it is and how pigmented it is.
 

The mascara: My eyelashes are straight and very stubborn. The majority of the mascaras I've used have failed to impress me, but Hypnose Drama by Lancome is awesome. It's buildable, so you can go from natural looking eyes to thick, dramatic lashes. It isn't as volumizing as Too Faced Better Than Sex, but at least Hypnose Drama doesn't flake.

The eyeliner: Most of my eye looks include eyeliner. I feel "weird" without a wing. I found an intense black gel liner this year, but unfortunately, it can have the tendency to smudge a bit. Inglot #77 Gel Liner is an opaque creamy black that goes on smooth.  

Using Inglot # 77 Gel Liner + Mac 210 brush

Contouring and highlighting: When I want to sculpt dramatically, my go-to is the Mac Prep+Prime Radiant Rose Highlighting Pen set with the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light which is lighter than my skin tone. I then bronze my skin with any matte bronzer and then contour with Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium. This combo photographs beautifully, too!  

Heavy sculpting + Stila "Beso" liquid lipstick

Body 

The smoothest legs: 2014 was the year I stopped using shaving gels/cream. Yes, they are cheap, but after using an oil in the shower, I have not looked back. L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil is a thick oil that warms up as you massage it on your skin and makes a great base for shaving. My legs are never irritated afterwards but rather smooth to the touch. I also love the Almond Supple Skin Oil. It's very nourishing and makes my legs glossy and look sexy - great if you're wearing shorts or a dress! If you don't like oils and prefer cream textures, their Almond Milk Concentrate is absolutely lush and has great slip to it providing intense moisture without needing to use too much product.

Hair

Calling all curly-hair gals:

"I cannot even count how many hair products I've gone through in my lifetime trying to find the one product that keeps my curls looking hydrated, soft, bouncy, yet not crunchy or wet looking. Moroccan Oil not only smells divine, their Curl Defining Cream works. It is my HG curl product. I love how much product you get for the price you pay (a whooping 250 ml for $33.60!). All you need is a pump -- massage it between your hands and run it down your towel-dried hair. I personally always let it air dry. I'm left with soft, voluminous, frizz free curls. I have received tons, believe me, tons of compliments on my curly hair. Thank you, Moroccan Oil." (December 2013)

This is my favorite product for curly-hair gals once again. I agree with everything I mentioned last year, only that now I use two pumps instead of one because my hair is a lot longer. Everyone always compliments me on my curls and it's all due to this gem!

I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and New Year's Eve and that 2014. From the bottom of my heart, thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my posts. Your support was one of my biggest highlights of the year. 

Much love,

Patricia

Four Mascaras, Four Opinions

I've had these mini mascaras (which surprisingly last a long time) for a little over three months now. In case you didn't know, you're supposed to toss your mascara every three months, as the brushes are a ground breed for bacteria. 

Today I will share with you its claims vs. my thoughts on them. 

Blinc Mascara $26

Its Claims

If you're looking for a no-hassle, no-smudge mascara that you can take throughout your day with no re-application, blinc mascara is your answer. Instead of painting your lashes like conventional mascaras, blinc mascara forms tiny no-smudge, water-resistant "tubes" around your lashes. Once applied, these mascara tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes.

Whether your daily activities take you from the office, to your sweaty workout or out to dinner, your lashes will look as good in the evening as they did when you first applied blinc in the morning. blinc mascara will add volume and length to give you a radiant natural look that lasts all day.

Only when you are ready for removal, the tubes will effortlessly slide off your lashes into your hand without the use of a harsh makeup remover.

My Thoughts

A good friend of mine actually swears by this mascara. She loves that it deposits little tubes into every lash giving the illusion of thicker lashes. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I felt like it did nothing for my lashes and the formula was very wet. 

Note: if you try this, don't freak out when you're removing it with water at the end of the day. It's not your lashes that are falling off, it's the little "tubes" that coat them. 

Benefit They're Real! Mascara $23

Its Claims

They're real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had! What else you need to know:
94% saw dramatic length & volume* 90% saw base-to-tip curl* 94% saw visible lift* 100% saw long-wearing results*
*Results observed in a consumer panel survey

My Thoughts

This used to be my go-to mascara about a year ago. I loved the way it thickened my stubborn, straight lashes. However I then began noticing that the plastic bristle was hard and hurt my top lashline. On top of that, it's a pain in the ass to remove. There's actually a drugstore mascara that is way better than this one for half the price and better results.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes $23

Its Claims

Take your lashes to the extreme with this ultra-black mascara that lengthens, curls and magnifies for an intensified look proven to increase lash volume by 752% instantly!

Product Performance: Take your sultry, flashy lashes to the extreme with this amped up, ultra-black mascara that lengthens, curls and magnifies lashes for an intensified look proven to increase lash volume by 752% instantly! Powered by tarte’s proprietary triple black complex, this longwear, vitamin-infused formula emphasizes length and volume while conditioning lashes for a dramatic look that won’t dry out, flake or budge. The custom-engineered, dual-molded brush boosts even the skinniest lashes for an exaggerated, voluminous look. First, the shorter, denser side of the brush delivers the optimal amount of mascara to volumize and coat each lash perfectly, then the longer, firmer side of the brush lengthens and separates for maximum volume without clumping.

Powered By: Provitamin B5: vitamin B derivative that helps treat and thicken lashes.
Beeswax: a protective barrier between the skin and the environment that has been known to naturally stimulate collagen production.
Mineral pigments: soothe and soften lashes.

My Thoughts

Yada, yada, yada...some people take marketing to the extreme these days. I don't like to use the word hate, so lets stick to "strongly dislike". I strongly disliked this mascara from the moment I first tried it. It's dry, the brush was uncomfortable and out of all the mascaras I'm reviewing today, this one is the worst, in my experience. 

Lancome Hypnose Drama $27.50

Its Claims 

Get instant lash drama in a single coat, no clumping or flaking.

• Intense black pigments
• Triple coating system delivers a fluid and creamy application to quickly and easily build big, battable lashes that won’t clump or flake throughout the day.

My Thoughts

This is my new holy grail mascara. In spite of it not being waterproof (though they do have a waterproof version I haven't tried), this holds a curl like no other. When I carefully coat each lash, I notice instant volume. I also love that my lashes appear to be longer and ahhh -- the formula. It doesn't flake. I love it!

Yes, it is an expensive mascara. No, your lashes and mine are not the same, so perhaps there is a mascara in here that you love and I disliked. Perhaps some mascaras that I love and you dislike. That's just how it goes! 

Are there any mascaras you love or strongly dislike? If so, do share!

Face of the day (23.01.12) VIDEO!

Oh Lord. Did I just do that? Ok, so some lovely women encouraged me to start YouTubing. I was hesitant, but I gave it a shot.

I don't have a fancy camera, just a simple Sony Cybershot that records HD videos. 

I started filming. Yap, yap, yap, the lense shut. The camera died!

I had to record the video with my phone, so I apologize for the crappy quality even though I apologized like three times in the video. 

I wanted to make this more interactive for all of you. I hope you like it. Maybe I will make a nice YouTube one next time...

Here is a picture regardless, as well as the list of products.

 Face
1. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
2. Dior Airflash Foundation in the shade 300
3. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in the shade 3
4. Vichy Normaderm Concealer
5. Nars Laguna Bronzer
6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Splendor
7. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Highlighter
8. Dior Capture Totale Loose Powder in the shade 001 Bright Light

Eyes
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder in the shade Dark Brown
2. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in the shade 17
3. Mac Cranberry Eyeshadow
4. Lorac Pro Palette
5. Revlon eyelash curler
6. Bourjois Volumizer Ultra Black Mascara
7. Sephora Waterproof Jumbo Crayon in the shade Black

Lips
1. Lancome Lipliner in the shade Mauvelle
2. Lancome lipstick in the shade All Done Up

I hope you liked the post! Have a lovely day! xx

Face of the day (22.01.13): No-Makeup Makeup

Hi everyone!

I have been wanting to do a "no-makeup makeup" look for a while. I love the whole idea of it - wearing makeup that looks natural enough for people to think that you either have perfect skin or you're just glowing from within. Ironically enough, I found it to be quite challenging, and I ended up using a good amount of products. 

I hope you enjoy the post!

Hola a todos!

He tenido ganas de hacer un look de "maquillaje sin maquillaje" desde hace un tiempo. Me encanta la idea - usar maquillaje de una manera tan natural que la gente piense que tienes la piel perfecta o que sencillamente te veas radiante y fresca. Irónicamente, encontré este look un poco difícil y terminé usando bastante productos.

Espero que les guste!

Face/Rostro

Lately, I've been using La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat as a primer. I love the product as it is - it definitely controls oil production even on humid, tropical climates. It also reduces the size of pores. It really creates a smooth canvas for makeup to go glide on easily.

He estado utilizando La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat como un primer. Amo el producto en si - definitivamente controla y reduce la grasa en la piel hasta en climas húmedos y tropicales. También reduce el tamaño de los poros. Crea una superficie lisa y suave para que el maquillaje pueda aplicarse con más facilidad. 

I used Clinique Acne Solutions as my foundation for today. I have some annoying spots on my forehead, which is why I chose to use this one. Why? It covers so flawlessly, I don't even have to conceal my spots. 

The shade I used was "05 Fresh Beige", but it's a wee-bit too dark for me at the moment, so I applied just a thin layer, buffing it gently. 

Utilicé Clinique Acne Solutions como mi base de hoy. Por qué? Tengo unos granitos en mi frente, y esta base cubre tan perfectamente, que no necesito aplicar corrector sobre ellos después. 

El tono es "05 Fresh Beige", el cual es un poco muy oscuro para mi en estos momentos, así que apliqué una capa fina de manera delicada. 

To create an effortless, healthy glow, I used my Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder in the shade "002 Sunlight". 

It is very hard to overdo this, and it looks extremely natural. Very buildable. You can use it all over the face, but I applied it to the areas where the sun would naturally hit. 

Para que la piel se viera radiante, utilicé Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder en el tono "002 Sunlight".

Te puedes poner tantas capas que siempre se verá muy natural. Lo puedes utilizar en todo el rostro, pero yo lo usé donde el sol naturalmente caería.  

If you're looking for a natural-looking color to apply to your cheeks, I strongly suggest to go for a cream blush. For this look, I chose Tarte Cheek Stain in the shade "Flush". It creates a dewy effect on your cheeks, similar to the shade you naturally get after you go out for a run. 

I applied it to my fingertips, and then tapped it onto my cheeks.

Si lo que buscas es conseguir un color muy natural en tus mejillas, te recomiendo que utilices un rubor en crema. Para este look, elegí Tarte Cheek Stain en el tono "Flush". Tiene un acabado radiante y cremoso, mas no grasoso. El color es parecido a ese que se forma naturalmente en tus mejillas luego de haber corrido. 

Lo apliqué en las yemas de mis dedos y luego en mis mejillas.

Mac's Painterly Paint Pot makes a great base for eyeshadows, but it also makes a great color to use on its own to hide any discoloration or veins that show up on the eyelids.

I applied it using my fingertips.

I had some pretty bad circles today, so I first used Benefit Erase Paste in the shade "2 Medium", followed by Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer in the shade "002 Beige". 

El Paint Pot Painterly de Mac es una excelente base para las sombras, pero también es un color excelente para utilizar en los párpados para cubrir cualquier descoloración o venas. 

Para cubrir mis ojeras, empecé utilizando un corrector con tonos naranjas para neutralizar los tonos azules de éstas - Benefit Erase Paste en el color "02 Medium" - seguido por Diorskin Nude Perfecting Hydrating Concealer en el tono "002 Beige". 

Ya explique la diferencia entre "corrector" y "concealer" aquí. 

To seal everything in place, and get rid of unwanted shine, I used my Dior Capture Totale Loose Powder in 001 Bright Light.

Para sellar todo y quitar brillo donde no lo quería, utilicé polvo suelto - Dior Capture Totale Loose Powder en el tono "001 Bright Light". 

Eyes/Ojos

I started off using Stila's Kajal Eyeliner in the shade "Onyx" all over my top waterline only.

I then curled my lashes with a Revlon eyelash curler. 

I applied two coats of Hypnose Drama mascara by Lancome.

I filled my brows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade "Dark Brown". 

Empecé utilizando el delineador Kajal se Stila en el color "Onyx" solamente en la linea de agua superior. 

Usé un rizador de pestañas de Revlon, y como rimel utilicé Hypnose Drama de Lancome. 

Rellené mis cejas con Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo en el tono "Dark Brown".

Lips/Labios

I went for a light rose shade, simiar to my lip's natural color - Bourjois in the shade "08 Rose Délicat".

Elegí este labial de Bourjois en el tono "08 Rose Délicat" porque es un rosa suave similar al color natural de mis labios. 

The final look?

El resultado final?

Face of the Day (10.01.13): 5 Essentials for a More Awake Face

Happy Thursday everyone!

I hope everyone is having a lovely day. Today's post (as I eat M&M's out of a bowl, piggy me) is about using very few products to achieve a "more awake look" in little time. 

I overslept because of yesterday's hardcore yoga and pilates class. My body was extremely sore when I woke up and my mom was rushing me to get ready so we could have lunch with my sister.

With little enthusiasm to get ready - do my hair, all that kind of stuff, I pulled up my frizzy-bed-head-hair onto a ponytail and grabbed my five essentials for a more "awake" look.

So hopefully this post will give you some ideas on what to grab if you're feeling slow and achy in the morning. Fuss-free makeup.

Interested? Read more!