Caudalie, Lancome & Smashbox Cosmetics Haul

Hello Lovelies! Today I have a little haul to share with you! I went a bit skin care crazy last time I was in Sephora & picked up a few items from Caudalie. Caudalie is a French skin care brand that has recently become exceptionally popular in the beauty community. I have been especially interested in trying their products as I am particularly drawn to skin care lines that contain mainly natural or plant derived ingredients. I was incredibly lucky that at this time Sephora was offering a Caudalie sample set as their 500 point perk, so I have the opportunity to try out more of the line and see what suits my skin! I also found myself oohing and ahhing at the Smashbox Cosmetics stand & all of their beautiful new eye shadow trios and palettes. I ended up coming home with one of their gorgeous Photo Op Eyeshadow Trios and a coordinating Limitless Eyeliner Pencil. Lastly, I picked up some eye makeup remover, Lancome's famous Bi-Facil. Hope you enjoy!

Benefit Watt's Up! Highlighter

Hello Lovelies! I can't help but feel as though I have been neglecting the blogging world lately! Life has just been so busy for me the past few weeks. I am in the process of searching for a new job & as we all know that can be quite time consuming! Fingers crossed though, I think all my hard work might finally have paid off! 

I've been wanting to talk to you about a product that I recently rediscovered & has taken up permanent residence in my makeup bag: Benefit's Watt's Up! Highlighter. Benefit describes this highlighter as a "soft focus highlighter for the face" & I think this description is completely accurate. Benefit Watt's Up! makes your skin look naturally radiant like no other highlighter I have used before.

Top 4 Essie Pink Polish Picks

Hello Lovelies! I wanted to do a quick post to share with you my favorite pink Essie nail polishes! Essie is my my go-to brand for affordable, gorgeous seasonal colors. I love a pop of pink on the nails in the Spring & Summer months & have been reaching for these four without fail the last few weeks. A girl can never have too many pink polishes right?

Nail Polishes Left to Right:

Cascade Cool

 Bubblegum pink with a hint of lilac. This color is part of the Bikini So 

Teeny Collection for Summer 2012. 

Off the Shoulder- 

Beautiful strawberry pink. This color is also part of the Bikini So Teeny 

Collection for Summer 2012. 

Cute As A Button

Vibrant pink- coral

Mod Square

 Blue-toned hot pink. This color is my go-to pedicure shade. I do not 

normally wear this for a manicure b/c I find cool toned pinks do not suit the skin tone on 

my hands. 

On my nails I am wearing from pointer finger to pinky- Off the Shoulder, Mod Square, Cute As A Button, and Cascade Cool. I am holding Essie Mod Square nail polish.

What are your favorite pink polishes?

Thanks for reading!

Lots of Love,

Louise

Today I'm Wearing #13: An Effortless, Glowing Summer Makeup Look

Hello Lovelies! Today I want to give you a quick rundown of the makeup I've been using lately. My main focus when doing this look is to brighten & enhance my skin, while subtly drawing attention to my eyes. The entire process takes 10 mins tops & gives a natural, sunkissed look, perfect for a warm summer day. 

Step 1: I mix a little Soleil Tan de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid in Sunkissed into my foundation, Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup. I buff a sheer layer of this all over my face using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

Step 2: I conceal under my eyes, around my nose & any other imperfections using my Clinique Airbrush Concealer. I then set everything with a light dusting of MAC Blot Powder. 

Step 3: On the eyes, I apply a sheer wash of Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Emerveille, a gorgeous shimmering peach-nude all over the lid, along the lower lash line, & in the inner corner of my eyes. I then layer MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked, a burnished gold shade, in the outer 2/3 of the eye & blend up into the crease. I finish off the eyes with a little black liquid liner on the top lash line & two coats of Revlon's Photoready 3D Mascara on both top & bottom lashes. 

Step 4: On the cheeks I apply tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface  for a pretty flush of pink. I then take my favorite highlighter, Benefit Watt's Up!, and using my fingers blend this shimmering nude/light bronze shade along my cheekbones to highlight my face. 

Step 5: On the lips, I simply swipe on tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Stain in Charmed & blend the color in a little using my finger. 

Step 6: I set all my makeup in place with a few spritzes of Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray &  I'm out the door!

Swatches Top to Bottom:

tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Stain in Charmed

Benefit Watt's Up! Highlighter

tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface

MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Emerveille

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid

What products do you reach for when you want an airbrushed, glowing Summer look?

Thanks for reading!

Lots of Love,

Louise

Sorry Birchbox, It's Not You, It's Me...

...Oh who am I kidding..It's you!

I've been duped by Birchbox again! They say fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me & I can honestly say I think I am through with Birchbox for good this time. As some of you might know, I resubscribed to Birchbox last month after having canceled it originally. I feel like I should have known that last month's box, which was actually quite good, was just a fluke. Because when my June box arrived, it was back to the same old dissapointing things & I was left wishing I could have my $10 back. Harsh I know!

Summer Skin Care Routine

Hello Lovelies! I hope you all are doing well! Last night as I was washing my face before bed, I came to the realization that my skin care routine has changed drastically since my last skin care post. Not only have I updated many of the products I use, but I have also added in a new skin care tool! My skin seems to really be responding to the changes & is much less dehydrated & dull looking than it was months ago. This is not to say I think that any of the products I used previously aren't good, I just feel  this combination suits my needs better right now. So, if you would like to see which products I credit for improving my skin over the last few weeks, keep on reading!

Morning Skin Care Routine

Step 1: I cleanse my skin with Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap in the Oily Skin Formula. This, aside from my Origins A Perfect World Face Wash, is one of the only cleansers I have repurchased numerous times. This was my holy-grail cleanser throughout college. It is gentle, yet effective, and the foaming lather feels refreshing on the skin. I switched to the Clinique cleanser because the gel formula seems to work better with my Clarisonic Mia.

Step 2: I am still using the same daytime moisturizer, my trusty Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. This lightweight gel is the perfect consistency to wear under my foundation. It keeps my skin comfortable throughout the day and prevents it from becoming dehydrated.

Step 3: My holy grail sunscreen is still Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector. I have raved about this product before, so I won't bore you with all that again! If you would like to know more about this amazing sunscreen, you can read my review here.

Evening Skin Care Routine

Step 1: First off, I remove all my makeup with MAC Cleanse Off Oil. This is a first-time purchase for me. I had heard such wonderful things about this product & wanted to see if it would live up to all the hype. I am still a bit undecided as to whether or not I would repurchase this. I do love how gentle it is on my skin & the fact that it removes all my face makeup with no residue left over. My one and only complaint about this product is that I find myself having to use a lot of product to remove all my eye makeup. Most nights I am still left with some residual eyeliner after using this (have been wearing Stila Waterproof Liquid Liner). I really do love how hydrated this makes my skin feel though and most importantly that it rinses off cleanly with water. So I will continue to experiment and see how I can hopefully make it work better for me.

Step 2: Next, I cleanse my face with my Clarisonic Mia & my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap. I think these two products works great together. The result is fresh, deeply cleansed skin that is primed and ready for toner & moisturizer. 

Step 3: Before I apply my moisturizer, I tone my skin with Yon-Ka Lotion PS for Normal to Dry Skin. This spray-on face toner is actually a similar concept to the ever-popular Caudalie Beauty Elixir, except it is alcohol free. Both products contain similar essential oils that are meant to balance the PH of your skin and restore a healthy glow. I absolutely love the Yon-Ka Lotion and have used it on and off ever since high school. I love that the essential oils help balance your skin, and heal acne flair ups. Not to mention, the smell is completely intoxicating. One spray and you immediately feel as if you are transported to a high-end French spa!

Step 4: A few weeks ago, I found myself suffering from very dehydrated skin. My skin felt dry and tight and yet during the day would get quite oily, I think to compensate for the loss of hydration. Ever since I switched over to Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, my skin has improved immensely. It seems to drink this lightweight gel-cream up. When I wake in the morning my skin looks & feels so much more hydrated, plump and healthy. I cannot recommend this face moisturizer enough if you have combo to oily skin that feels tight or dehydrated.

As Needed Extras

When spots pop up, I still reach for my Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer. Also, once or twice a week I use Origins Modern Friction  to gently slough away any dead skin cells. I have noticed however, that I need to use this scrub much less frequently now that I started using the Clarisonic Mia, which has a slight exfoliating effect. 

What products are in your Summer Skin Care Routine?

Thanks for reading!

Lots of Love,

Louise

Today I'm Wearing #12: Essie Cascade Cool

Hello Lovelies! Today I wanted to show you a new Essie polish that I have been wearing the last few days. It is called Cascade Cool and is part of the new Essie Bikini So Teeny Collection for Summer 2012. Cascade Cool is a creamy, medium bubblegum pink, but with purple undertones. I feel that if Essie's Splash of Grenadine had a pink-toned little sister, this would be the color. 

This color is subdued & girly, yet still has enough punch to be playful for Summer. Also, something about the cool tone of this nail polish is super flattering & manages to make my hands look a little tanner than they are.  

 Unfortunately, the formula was a little thin & streaky. However, with 3 coats the color was completely opaque. 

*Image from essie.com*

Essie's Bikini So Teeny Collection for Summer 2012 really has some beautiful, unique shades. I plan on going back for Bikini So Teeny, a pretty periwinkle blue, and Off the Shoulder, a bright warm-toned hot pink (a girl can never have too many pink polishes).

Have you tried any of the new Essie Summer 2012 shades? 

Thanks for reading!

Lots of Love,

Louise

Clarisonic Mia: My First Impressions

*Image from clarisonic.com*

Hello Lovelies! Today I wanted to talk to you about my first impressions with using my new Clarisonic Mia! As some of you might know, I was given my Clarisonic Mia in Turquoise as a gift from my boyfriend. I have been using it off and on (I will get into that) for about a week now, and I wanted to share with you my experiences so far!

The Perfect Summer Lip Gloss? Dior Ultra-Gloss in #664 Rose Bikini

Hello Lovelies! *Sigh* another weekend has come & gone too soon! Hope you all enjoyed it! While I was out shopping a bit this weekend, I found a gorgeous new product that I just knew I had to share with you asap! It is the new Ultra-Gloss from Dior, in Shade #664, Rose Bikini! This shade is launching as part of the Dior Summer Mix Collection, which is a compilation of eye-catching bright lip glosses & nail polishes for Summer 2012. 

 Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss #664, Rose Bikini, is best described as a bright watermelon pink. I love that the color can be sheered out for a more subtle look, but is also pigmented enough to create more of a statement lip if desired. Rose Bikini is part of the "Glow" family of Ultra-Glosses, meaning it contains little to no shimmer. This shade is completely shimmer free, which I really appreciate. I generally steer clear of glittery & ultra shimmery glosses.  

The formula of this gloss feels very smooth & moisturizing on the lips. According to Dior.com, the Ultra-Glosses contain Hyaluronic spheres which help condition & moisturize the lips. As is the case with most non-sticky glosses the wear time isn't amazing, but I would say I get around 1-2 hours of wear time before I need to reapply. 

The packaging is your standard luxurious Dior tube. This is one of those glosses that just looks so pretty in the tube, I actually look forward to pulling it out of my purse in front of people to reapply. 

The only complaint I have about this product is that I wish the applicator was a doe-foot instead of the little lip brush. I find doe-foot applicators much easier to work with, however this is just personal preference. 

All in all, I really feel Dior hit a home run with their Ultra- Gloss in Rose Bikini. It is a quintessential bright Summer color that captures the feel of the season perfectly. I cannot wait to wear this lip gloss all Summer long. I'm even considering running out to buy a backup!

What is your favorite Summer lip product? 

Thanks for reading!

Lots of Love,

Louise

A Little End of May/ Beginning of June Haulage

Hello Lovelies! This is just a quick post to share with you a few clothes & beauty products I picked up over the last few weeks. All of these items were purchased by myself, with the exception of my Clarisonic Mia in Turquoise, which was a lovely present from my very sweet boyfriend!