Welcome, Fall! (it's still really hot)

With another Texas summer under my belt, I find myself relishing in the beauty of cinnamon apples, boots and scarves, and pumpkin everything. I live for fall, and especially the makeup looks that come along with it. The deep plums, the sultry jades, and the smokey greys are just a few of my favorite things. A few trends I'm digging right now... everything is multi purpose! For us moms (or students, or worker bees, or... pretty much any woman I know) always on the go, this is amazing. THe potted cream shadows that double as a long lasting primer, the chubby lip pencil that wears as a glossy, saturated lip color, and the shimmery blush that acts as a highlighter. Whatever your need(s) are, they are sure to be met two fold this fall! Here are a few collections I'm looking forward to:
Two Faced 'Pretty Rebel'
I've always loved Too Faced, but I feel like they've really stepped up their game here lately. With their new Lip Injection Color Bomb lipsticks, you can plump up your pucker and add a balmy, glossy satin color all in a convenient chubby pencil.

Nars is all about the modern matte this year, which is right up my ally. I love the sophistication and edge of a matte nail, a suede lip, or a shimmer free, smokey eye. What I'm not a fan of is their campaign this fall... it's a little tired looking, and is sort of a turn off for me. Step it up, Nars!

MAC Has a few new collections for Fall, but the one I'm most excited about it their new Pro Longwear collection! If you're anything like me, you don't want to have to touch up your makeup any more than necessary, and I LOVE a great 5 minute face. This product helps me achieve a pulled together look without spending 30 minutes wrestling toddlers off of my legs in front of the mirror. Thanks MAC! Check out 'Perky' (cream coral with white pearl), and 'Tailor Grey' (muted grey). I don't think you can go wrong with these! 

So, that's it for me... what collections are you coveting this fall? Or are you already looking forward to Holiday collections like I am? Haha. Seriously, how pretty would the last look from MAC look for a holiday party?! Just gorgeous.

Please check in next week, I'll be posting my results from the TCA peel I did last week. I was aiming to get it up sooner, but the website states that it takes 10 days to fully recover, and I want to be sure to give it a fair shot. Stay tuned!

-C

Vacation Time!

It's summer, so with that comes Family Vacation Time! We are heading to my hometown of San Francisco (East Bay, woop woop!). We will be traveling all over California for 2 weeks, spending time Sonoma county, San Francisco proper and West Hollywood. I know I want to hit up a lot of flagship stores, any recommendations for me? I'm also thinking about bringing my kit, any California peeps need their makeup done? I'm up for a TFP shoot! Wish me luck as I travel with my young boys, and I'll try to get a blog in while I'm out and about... happy Summer, everyone! -C

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Another Giveaway!

Hey all! This is a big one, you will WANT to be a part of it, I promise :)

I am part of a group of ladies with wonderful beauty blogs, and we decided it would be awesome to collaborate on a giveaway (super jealous of whoever wins this, but the way) that feature our favorite things! Another bonus? You may end up finding your next favorite beauty blogger!

blog URL

www.citizensofbeauty.com

www.CosmeticSanctuary.com

www.SetinLacquer.com

www.kaytivstheworld.com

www.brandibeeee.com

www.glistenandglow.wordpress.com

www.katstayspolished.com

www.beyondbeautylounge.com

www.muainparis.tumblr.com

www.manicurator.com

www.youhadmeatmakeup.com

www.rainysunraynails.blogspot.com

www.loveforlacquer.com

www.styleonmain.net

www.cosmetish.com

Box 1: NAILS INC. Nail Polish in Cambridge Terrace, Physicians Formula wet/dry formula eyeshadow, brown Tarte Eyeliner, Givenchy Nail Lacquer in Fuchsia Irrésistible, Reach vivid Dimensions Mascara, MCA Reality Cosmetics Eye-liner, Urban Decay Tint Blush, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable lip stain.

Box 2: Kate Spade mini polish set, Jouer cosmetics tinted blush, Jouer cosmetics crème eyeshadow stick, Urban Decay Palette Mariposa, 6 china glaze nail polishes, Shu Umera eyeshadow, Too Faced shadow insurance sample, Maybelline Illegal length mascara.

Box 3: Real Techniqes brush, Urban Decay Naked Polish set, EOS lip balm, Tarte Lipgloss, NYX sparkly eyeliner, STILA Spring Collection eyeshadow,

Box 4: Japonesque precision lash curler, Dior Nirvana polish, Bumble & Bumble Shine On spray, Sephora Pantone Universe Gleaming Lipgloss Collection, E.L.F 14 piece nail polish cube, fragrance flower ring. 

Enter now, and good luck!

-C

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A review! My take on makeup artists choice Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

I really wanted to review the TCA peels first, but I haven't had a chance to do as many as I would like to do to get optimum results. The downtime on them is a mother, and I just don't have time for it with what we have going on with vacations and stuff (life's rough).

So I decided to go ahead and review this stuff now that my bottle is nearly empty. I have a hard time usually remembering moisturizer. I have crazy oily skin, and typically unless I see results immediately, I get bored. What's great about Hyaluronic Acid is that it is SO great for your skin long term, but it also has that instant gratification most of us love.

So, if you don't know exactly what HA is, let me tell you. From WebMD:

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. The hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory.

People take hyaluronic acid for various joint disorders, including osteoarthritis. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint by a healthcare professional.

The FDA has approved the use of hyaluronic acid during certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, and repair of a detached retina and other eye injuries. It is injected into the eye during the procedure to help replace natural fluids.

Hyaluronic acid is also used as a lip filler in plastic surgery.

Some people apply hyaluronic acid to the skin for healing wounds, burns, skin ulcers, and as a moisturizer.

There is also a lot of interest in using hyaluronic acid to prevent the effects of aging. In fact, hyaluronic acid has been promoted as a "fountain of youth." However, there is no evidence to support the claim that taking it by mouth or applying it to the skin can prevent changes associated with aging.

How does it work?

Hyaluronic acid works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. In addition, it might affect the way the body responds to injury.

Hold up... did someone say 'Fountain of Youth'? I'm in.

Really, though. It has a plumping effect, due to the fact that it holds 100x its weight in water. I have been using it as a primer on my oily skin and it just absorbs any oil my skin produces. It's literally amazing. I'm amazed.

So, this product I've been using is from Makeup Artists Choice, and you can find it here. It's $26.95, and in my opinion that's a very fair price.

There is little to no scent, and a little goes a VERY long way. I use one pump for my whole face. Here is an excerpt from their website:

When the air is dry and less humid, your skin will lose moisture.  Regular moisturizers typically give about 30 minutes of topical moisture...and they *feel* moisturizing for a brief period of time until environmental elements dry the skin once again.  Humectants work by helping the skin retain natural moisture from the liquids you drink and work as a "water-reservoir" for skin cells....they bind water within the intercellular structure of the skin.  When skin cells can't get enough water from the reservoir, aging issues are more pronounced.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is the most effective humectant available and is found in most hospital burn units for the hydration of severely damaged skin. 

The addition of MDI complex helps to protect the skin's matrix levels and ensures
proper bonding of hyaluronic acid to the skin's water reservoirs for maximum benefit.

Benefits:

• Deep hydration of skin cells.
• "Plumps-up" skin tissue to soften wrinkles, lines.
• Great for plumping lips.
• Reduces appearance of spider veins.
• Reduces the appearance of varicose veins.
• Reduces dark circles around eyes.
• Reduces appearance of Rosacea.
• Protects against environmental skin irritation.
• An excellent post chemical peeling humectant

She also addresses the issue of looking for 100% pure HA:

Let me address some very misleading claims other cosmetic companies may make regarding product percentage.  Hyaluronic Acid cannot be "pure 100% hyaluronic" as it must be mixed with water to become a serum or gel.  It's raw form is a thick pastey consistency that is too high in molecular weight to be an on-the-shelf skin care product in its raw form.  It must be diluted... and diluted with water, the product is no longer 100% pure.  Period. 

We could certainly claim our HA is 100% pure *active* ingredient.  Yes, the active is 100%.  BUT, once the water is added, it is then diluted... thus making it a lesser strength.  In our case, our FDA/EPA registered chemists/lab have formulated our product to a very high 95% concentration.

Those offering convuluted explanations as to how their product becomes a 100% pure hyaluronic acid product *after* adding water, alcohol, and preservatives mislead readers into thinking they are getting a stronger product.  It's a ridiculous claim and quite simply a misleading ploy that doesn't provide you with a true understanding of what you are purchasing.  

So, there you have it! I love this stuff. I've seen a huge difference in how my makeup wears, as well as the feel of my skin when I don't have makeup on. I feel like it has probably decreased my oil production by at least 30%. 

Do you think you might give it a try? They have samples, too! 

-C

Before and after: beautiful moms edition!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of making a few ladies feel their best for a small photo shoot with my MOPS group. Myself and a friend who happens to be a hobbyist photographer thought it would be a great idea to get the moms and kids together for pictures in the park. As moms we are always the ones taking the pictures. A lot of times I think that we hide because we aren't dressed right, have no makeup on, feel fat, etc. We wanted to help these moms make memories with their kiddos. I loved the way these turned out, but left he pictures of the kids off of my portfolio and blog for privacy reasons. Here are a few I can share!

This is Chelsea. Chelsea has a 2 year old boy and a sweet 3 month old girl. She has the most perfect skin, and beautiful eyes, so I wanted to bring a little bit of glow to her face, nothing to distract from the flawless perfection! I evened her out a bit, added a peachy pink blush and a little bit of highlighter on her cheek bone. I finished it off with tight lining and a little bit of mascara. A lip stain added to her naturally pink pout, and she was ready to go!

Sisha is a lovely mom with 2 gorgeous boys. Needless to say, with 2 toddlers, makeup is not high priority. I wanted to show her how to achieve a natural and polished look in just 10 minutes. I evened out her skin tone with a cream foundation, which worked well for her having skin on the dry side. I filled in her brows a bit to frame her face, and bring out her gorgeous eyes. A dusting of a depp pink blush for her yellow undertoned skin really makes her glow! I created a lightly smoked eye using brown eyeliner and bronzer, then topped it all off with a little gloss... voila!

Thanks for taking a look, this was a fun day for me, and I got to multi task a little, since I had my own kids with me, too!

Lush!

I would like to preface this post by saying that I am no Lush expert. You can walk into any Lush store and the peeps there can tell you SO much about every product they have... especially if you are near the Dallas Galleria location! My great friend Meagan works there and happens to be incredibly knowledgable about all of the amazing, handmade cosmetics you will find in their lovely boutiques. That being said, here is a little review of my most recent Lush purchases!

Feeling Younger Skin Tint- This product is the first, because it is amazing! I have only had it a few days, but love it as if I've known it my whole life... when you know, you know! lol. Here is the Lush website description:
We wanted a highlighting skin tint that would give a gorgeous glow wherever it was applied, so we started with a base of beautiful ingredients (as we like to do). Soothing oatmeal decoction, cocoa butter and some of the best oils for the skin, jojoba and almond oils are blended together for a nourishing base that’s good for your skin. Blended in is a pigment that reflects light, brightening cheek bones, brow bones, the inner eyelid or even your décolletage for a sexy glow.

It's also vegan! 

My take? I have used it mainly under my eyes and on my brow bone to brighten things up. I even wear it to the gym (I typically run errands to and from and don't want to look a complete wreck) and love that it is great for my skin and looks great too! It's not obvious or glittery, but it does help me look as if I didn't just roll out of bed clocking 4 hours of sleep due to teething baby. 5 stars from this tired (but not looking it) mama!

Blousey shampoo- for the longest time I wouldn't use a shampoo from Lush that wasn't a solid... I loved the novelty of these and wouldn't give it up, thinking that spending $25 on a shampoo was a little self indulgent. Well, I decided to splurge, and I am SO glad I did. This shampoo is amazing. Most of you know that I have purple hair, but do you know how I got it? Lots, and LOTS of chemicals. Bleach, developer, toner, dye... my poor hair was so fried and sad. I wanted a shampoo that would be gentle but still clean it of the daily styling products needed to manage my frizzy locks. 
Enter Blousey... This stuff is amazing. It doesn't fade my vibrant color, is cleans without stripping, and it smells heavenly. Here is what Lush says about this stuff:

Here is our gentle, non-stripping shampoo for damaged, over-processed, colored, bleached and fragile hair. It cleanses hair in the gentlest way, while locking in moisture with a huge helping of mashed-up fresh bananas, cocoa and cupuacu butters. These rich, nourishing and softening ingredients help bring damaged hair back to life and keep your locks in top shape.

I say go get it... now! Whether or not your hair is in as serious need as mine, you need this. Summer is coming, and your future is chlorine, sun and saltwater. All of those are going to dry your tresses, so preemptively strike and grab some Blousey!

R&B- This is one of those things you buy and your husband uses as much as you do... especially if he has a beard like mine does (and if your husband doesn't have a beard, you might consider a new husband... lol) I got this as a gift from my friend who works at Lush, and never used it until I caught a whiff of my husbands face one day. It smells so good! He said even the guys at work have commented on it (he works a very manly job... so this cracks me up). The tiniest bit makes your hair feel shiny and soft... so worth the splurge considering a tub will take at least 3-6 months to go through. Here is the Lush websites take on this wonderful hair product:

Enjoy some of our smooth R & B hair stylings to control your frizzy, flyaway hair. An instant best-seller, our easy-to-use “hair finisher” uses softening ingredients of organic avocado butter, oatmeal, olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil and candelilla wax because they are extremely effective for conditioning the hair and scalp. Three of our UK shop managers came up with R & B to revive and balance their wayward follicles. It works well with African American or curly hair because it conditions with a lot of moisture. And once you smell the seductive orange blossom and jasmine fragrance, your hair will truly get its groove back.

Perfect for you if you are a guy, have a beard, have ethnic hair, have extremely fly away hair, or just like people to stop you and ask to smell your hair. 

Did I mention that every product I reviewed today is certified vegan? Thats right vegan friends, this ones for you! They also actively fight animal testing. Awesome company with great ethics... yes please!

-C