I've Gone Mad for NARS Blush in Madly!

Feeling a little tired of my usual peachy-pink cheek picks, I went on the hunt a few weeks ago for a more bronzed, natural-looking alternative. I have heard murmurings here and there about how underrated NARS Blush in Madly was, so I thought I would check it out for myself. Ladies, you need this blush in your collection. If bronzed, glowing and sculpted cheeks are what you after, this is the one-stop wonder for you. Just a few swipes of this sheer, yet buildable rose-bronze shade illuminates my skin and sculpts my round face like nothing I have ever used. The first day I wore this, I not only had a coworker tell me I looked tan but even my boyfriend mentioned that I looked like I had gotten a bit of color. And let me say, that is a feat for my otherwise ghostly complexion!

NARS describes Madly as a "soft-focus seashell pink" which in truth, I just don't see. On my skin tone (neutral, fair) is comes across as a warm bronze with hints of rose. There is a slight silver-toned shimmer running through the powder that once applied is hardly noticeable except for the gorgeous luminosity it adds to the skin.

The wear time on this blush is fantastic as well. I apply it in the morning before running off to work, and it lasts on my combo skin through an entire day in the office with hardly any fading or patchiness. I have found that with other NARS blushes such as peachy-pink Deep Throat, I have to touch up by mid day, but that is not the case with Madly.

Many have compared Madly with Luster, another NARS blush I own and love. As you can see in the photo below Madly (on the left) is a much more neutral rose-toned color, whereas Luster (on the right) is true to its description as a "sheer golden apricot". I prefer to wear Luster in the Summer months, with golden and bronze-toned eye looks. Madly has a neutral, slightly silver sheen to it, while Luster is much warmer with a strong golden sheen.

NARS Madly swatched on the left, Luster swatched on the right. 

Please check out my Cozy Autumn look to see Madly in action!  

What are your thoughts on NARS Madly? Do you have any cheeks products that are a go-to when you want sculpted, natural looking cheeks?

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! xx

Best,
Louise

Today I'm Wearing #14: A Cozy Autumn Look

Products Used

Face

Benefit the Porefessional Primer

tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer in Agent 02

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer in Ivory

MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NC20

Cheeks

NARS Blush in Madly (review coming soon)

Eyes

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige

NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kalahari

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner 

MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara 

Lips

Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm

Thanks for reading!

Lots of Love,

Louise

Sephora VIB Holiday Sale Mini Haul!

 For those of you that may not know, Sephora is having their 20% off Holiday Sale from today through November 12! I decided to take full advantage of the savings and picked up a few items I had been eyeing for some time (but never wanted to shell out the cash for).

 First up, are the hair care products. I have been on the hunt for a soft styling cream that will give my hair smooth, soft definition on days when I air dry it. I am really trying to be better about giving my hair a break from all the heating tools I use! Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme is one of the highest rated hair creams on the Sephora website and promises to "support soft, fine curls that tend to droop- keeps them shapely and resilient without crunchiness". So far, all I know is this cream smells fantastic! I can't wait to see how my wavy, unruly hair reacts to this. Another hair product I have wanted to try for years but just never got around to purchasing is the Bumble and bumble Brilliantine which claims to "give hair polish and a sort of languid, slept-in, sexy look with separation and extra sheen." Sounds like a winner to me! In any case, I will report back to you how my hair gets on with these two!

Lastly, I was in need of a new concealer and seeing as how much I am still loving my tarte Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer, I wanted to try out one of their concealers. The tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer is meant to be long lasting, easily blendable, and boasts beneficial natural ingredients. I'm hoping I love this as much as my other tarte products! 

Please let me know if you are planning on picking anything up at the Sephora VIB Sale! I still have 4 more days to do a bit more damage...

Lots of Love,

Louise

MAC Eyeshadow Collection & Favorite Combinations

My devotion to makeup brands is a fickle one. For weeks I will live for anything from NARS before switching to Benefit or tarte Cosmetics. But recently my un-dying love belongs to MAC Cosmetics. Something about the formula and colors of their eyeshadows, blushes and bronzers have really been tickling my fancy. So, it seemed only appropriate to share with you all the shadows I have been enjoying lately. 

I realize my MAC eyeshadow collection is a humble one when compared to those of many beauty bloggers, and as you can see it is made up entirely of neutrals (not terribly exciting). But as a neutral-lover, these are all colors I use and love on a regular basis. Also, keep reading for a breakdown of my favorite looks to create with these shadows!

 Nylon + All That Glitters + Wedge + Black Tied = Everyday Peachy-Bronze Eye

Without fail a few days of the week (especially during Summer) this is my go-to combination. I dust All That Glitters, one of my all-time favorite MAC eyeshadows, across the lid and add a small amount of Wedge in the outer corner, blended slightly into the crease with a MAC 217. For soft, smokey definition, I  line my upper lash line with Black Tied using a MAC 266 slightly dampened with Urban Decay's All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray. To finish the look off, I apply Nylon to my inner corners for a wide-awake effect. For those of you who watch Tanya Burr (pixi2woo) on youtube, you may recognize this combination from one of her videos, which is where I originally got the inspiration.

Nylon + Naked Lunch + Sable + Black Tied = Soft Plum Perfection

When I am not wearing my Peachy-Bronze Eye look (above) I generally opt for a soft, plum-toned eye combination. For ladies with green or hazel eyes, this is one you must try out! The contrast of golden plum tones in Sable make green eyes glow beautifully. I simply apply MAC's Naked Lunch to the first half of my eye lid with a MAC 239, then flip the brush over and use the opposite side to apply Sable to the outer half of my eye lid. Using my MAC 217 I gently blur the line between the two shadows to create a soft haze of color. I also apply a small amount of Sable to the lower lash line. MAC Nylon and Black Tied are used in the same way as the previous look.

Nylon + Sable + Quarry + Black Tied = A Flirty Night- Out Look

On the rare occasion that I do feel like a smokey eye, I like to pair Sable with Quarry. This look is easily created by taking my daytime Soft Plum look from above,  and adding more drama and definition to the outer V and crease with Quarry eyeshadow, blended with a MAC 217. A touch more Black Tied to the lash line finishes off the look.

What are you favorite MAC Eyeshadow combinations?

Lots of Love,

Louise

Instagram: louise_carolin / hellocotton / Bloglovin / twitter / facebook

Nail Fall's Jewel-Toned Mani Trend with Essie Go Overboard

Ever since I saw the promo pictures for the new Andy Warhol collection from NARS, I knew I had to get my mitts on the gorgeous dark teal cream nail polish named Superstar. I generally go for vampy red nails in the fall, but I felt teal would be low-commitment way to test the waters of jewel-toned Fall nails. So off to my nearest Sephora I ran, only to be disappointed when I arrived and discovered they were sold out. Not a big deal I thought. So the next day I went to the other Sephora a town over. Sold out as well. Ok, I'll order it from Sephora online. Nope, "not in stock" it said on the website above the color. Thinking my love affair with this dark teal cream nail polish was fated to never happen, I gave in and figured if it ever came back in stock I would pick it up.

This was all until this past weekend when I was perusing the ails of my local Target (needed to pick up another Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer) and came across this little gem. Essie's Go Overboard nail polish, in my humble opinion, is a pretty near dupe for the gorgeous NARS Superstar. I honestly was shocked by how similar it looked on my nails compared to photos I have seen of the NARS version online. So ladies, if you are makeup obsessed like me and were saddened to have missed out on Superstar, pick up Go Overboard! Not only is the color almost identical, but it is half the price! And as always, the formula and wear of the polish is tried and true Essie quality. 

It makes me so happy to look down at my fingers and see this color. Depending on the lighting it sometimes can appear more navy or deep jewel-toned teal. Go Overboard is a fun color, but it is still subdued and appropriate enough to wear to the office. Also, it gives a little flair to my standard Fall wardrobe of cozy knits, black leggings and boots. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. I love it when you follow me xx

Instagram: louise_carolin / hellocotton / Bloglovin / twitter / facebook

My Everyday Fall Face: A Minimal Makeup Look

I have a confession to make. I have a bit of a beauty girl crush on the adorable beauty blogger/ youtube guru Vivianna of Vivianna Does Makeup fame. Not only does she seem like such a sweet and genuine girl, but her makeup is spot on! I love that she concentrates more on great skincare and minimal yet effective makeup. So, lately I have been feeling particularly inspired by the lovely Ms. Vivianna and have been embracing a more minimal makeup routine on myself as well. And I have to say I am really enjoying the look!

HG Tinted Moisturizer: Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer

Hello Lovelies! Hope you all are having a great start to the month (hard to believe it is September already)! Today I want to talk to you all about a product that I have spent many a mall trip searching for: the ideal tinted moisturizer. Well, I can say with confidence that that search is finally over for me thanks to the tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer. After using this beautiful product for the past few weeks, I cannot imagine my morning routine without it, and have been gushing about it to just about anyone who will listen!