The No Makeup Look: A Natural Cheek

(All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me; I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned.)

In honor of Summer I put together a series featuring my version and thoughts about the no makeup look, entitled "The No Makeup Look," of course :)  This post will be the first installment and its focus, you guessed it, is on the natural cheek.  Now, the whole natural cheek look depends on your particular skin tone, for example, I am light to light-medium in complexion with a yellow undertone and some splotchy, red areas on my cheek, around my nose and on my chin.  In order for my skin to appear to have a healthy flush when I'm wearing minimal makeup I choose to use a cream formula that isn't too bright, too pink and is shimmer free.  The following products are the colors that work for my skin tone (for reference: MAC NC20) and I decided to include a powder formula as well because I do use that on days when I can't bother blending out a cream :)  All these colors are a nudey, fleshy pink and are shimmer free:

NYX Stick Blush in 05 Tea Rose
Tarte Amazonian Clay Powder Blush in Exposed
Stila Convertible Color in 3 Peony

May 2013 Favorites

(All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me; I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned.)

I can't believe it's going to be June tomorrow!  Where has the year gone?  Admittedly, Summer isn't my favorite time of year (Fall is with Winter coming in a close second) but the thunderstorms we've been experiencing here in Northern Italy (I'm not Italian but my family and I live her because of my husband's career) are getting really old.  Suffice it to say, but I'm ready for Summer to come!!!  Anyhow, here are my May favorites and while I don't think there are many, I do think that there's a good bit of variety.  

Sneak Peak: May 2013 Favorites...

(All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me; I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned.)

Just a little sneak peak of one of tomorrows posts; my May 2013 Favorites!

What are your favorites for May?

My Quick Makeup Kit: Polished and Chic in No Time!!!

(All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me; I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned.)

I would love to have the time and energy to glam up on an everyday basis but alas, it’s not always possible.  I think that one of the most valuable kits to have in your makeup arsenal is a quick makeup kit comprised of  a few go to products that are fast and easy to apply while still making you look polished and chic.  Here is my go to look for a quick, made up face:

My Foundation Brush of Choice: Real Techniques

(All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me; I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned.)

I've been using Real Techniques brushes for well over a year now and I can't get enough of them.  All of the Real Techniques brushes that I own are top quality (I have every brush except four of them) and they are extremely affordable as well which makes them an even better buy.  One brush that I'm particularly in love with is the Expert Face brush which I've had since around July of last year.  This brush is soft but dense, enabling it to buff foundation in without scratching or irritating my facial skin.   I find that I'm able to use it with a wide array of foundations, both thick and creamy and thin and watery, which makes this brush indispensable in my humble opinion.  It's also perfect to smooth out tinted moisturizers and bb creams; in these cases I apply my TM or BB Cream with my hands and then buff and smooth out the edges with the Expert Face brush, and voilà, perfection!!!

Review: Drybar Products

(All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me; I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned.)

I love the thought of being able to do my own blowout; luscious, volumized locks, all smooth and shiny but sadly I've never been able to reproduce anything close to a salon blowout on my own.  I've never been to a drybar but I was extremely intrigued when I saw some of their offerings being sold on the Sephora site.  I'm pretty picky when it comes to hair products so I thought it a safer bet to purchase some of their other offerings to try out first, in this case it was their Morning After Shower Cap and their Hold Me Hair Clips.

The Perfect Red Lip

A red lip is both beautiful and classic but many women forgo the shade altogether and opt for more muted or nude colors instead.  To be honest, I've never been drawn to the lip color choice myself until this past year which is saying a lot since I've been wearing makeup regularly for more than a decade.  Anyhow, below I have four red lip color choices that I feel will flatter basically any skin tone.  I think the shades are quite neutral so your skin tone being cool or warm makes little difference.

Mirenesse Lip Bomb in 2:  A medium toned, neutral red liquid lipstick with a glossy, opaque finish.  The texture of the lipstick is smooth and not sticky.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam:  A medium toned, pinkish red with a matte finish that doesn't feel overly drying on the lips.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Red Velvet:  A sheer but buildable, slightly brownish red shade with a glossy finish. This is a safe bet color for those that may be a bit hesitant to give a red lip a try because of the sheerer quality of the formula.

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate in 01:  A midtoned, neutral red with a soft satin finish.  This particular color and formula catapulted my love for a classy red lip!