Top 10 Fav Beauty Products (at the moment)

+++ Some of you ladies were asking what type of basic look I do when I go out & ^this^ would be it :) same with my hair! I'm going to do a post very soon listing my routine & all the products I use while getting ready! (PS - please excuse my silly "kissy" face..smh lol)

Top 10 Beauty Products (at the moment):

1. Avalon Organics Vitamin C Soothing Lip Balm - This is probably my favorite chapstick/balm I've used in a long time! It really helps keep my lips smooth especially with the cold weather coming plus it smells & taste like oranges! It's made with super antioxidants Vitamins C & E plus organic Coconut, Jojoba & Apricot kernel oils & nutrient-rich Aloe.

2. Victoria's Secret Sweet Tease Fragrance Mist - this product is from the VS Summer Beauty Rush collection so I'm not sure if it's still available. But this stuff smells SO amazing!! I love using this fragrance right after I get out of the shower..to me, it smells lke a mix of vanilla & sweet candy! YUM!

3. Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (in tan) - I swear by this stuff!! When I'm in a rush or don't feel like putting on foundation I just reach for this tinted moisturizer & I'm good to go!

4. Jemma Kidd Show Stopper Water-Resistant Bronzer - BOMB bronzer right here lol! I'm obsessed with this stuff. I'm pretty sure it only comes in 1 or 2 shades but this one is perfect for my darker complexion. It comes in a hugee compact which I love, making it easy to swirl your brush in real quick & your done.

5. CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer - (I use shade 210) This concealer is awesome! It's a mix of undereye brightner + concealer. I love it for the fact that it's so creamy & doesn't leave any streaks or cracks under my eyes at all.

6. Lorac Little Black Palette - Let me just tell you, these colors are GORGEOUS! They're individual baked shadows consistenting of golds, bronze, & brown. Perfect for girls who love neutral colors, like myself :) The color pay off is amazing. Probably one of my fav palettes I've ever used!

7. No 7 Natural Blush in 12-Coral Flush - This blush would probably look great on any skintone! I love using coral colors instead of the everyday pinks & whatnot. This blush is hypo-allergenic so great for sensitive skin. It has just the right of sparkle to it & is gorgeous in the sunlight! Love! :)

8. Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight - This powder highlights your face beautifully!!! It's soo velvety & I feel like it really helps evenout my skintone as well. I use it over my cheekbones & for my browbone highlight too!

9. CoverGirl Line Exact Eyeliner - This liner makes creating a cat eye or winged eye look soo easy! It dries really fast but at the same time easy to fix mistakes! Def my fav liner at the moment :)

10. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute (660) - I saved the best for last lol! I'm soo happy I discovered this color! It's honestly the perfect Fall shade. A mix of warm pink & purple..it's great for day to night looks. & I have found myself reaching for this lipstick almost everyday lol! I highly recommend this shade if you are wanting to try out something new but not too too drastic!

Current Obsession: L'Oreal Color Riche Le Gloss Collection!

My current obsession right now is L'Oreal's Color Riche Le Gloss lip glosses! Literally B0MB <3 I can't say enough good things about this product. They are soo creamy, have a great touch of color, & smell + taste like cake batter..YUM! They contain Omega 3 & conditioning Vitamin E to really keep your lips moisturized. This by far is now my favorite drugstore brand of gloss :) & at less than $8 each, it's a steal!


They come in these various shades:

• Naturally Nude
• Baby Blossom - *fav*
• Nude Touch - *fav*
• Raspberry Splash
• Watermelon Crush - *fav*
• Saucy Mauve
• Really Rose
• Red Ravishing
• Peach Fuzz
• Golden Splash
• Violet Attitude - *fav*
• Mystic Mauve
• Blushing Berry
• Plum Rush
• Nude Illusion
• Chocolate Obsession

Have any of you tried this L'Oreal product yet? Or what are some of your other fav drugstore brand glosses??

Ombre Lips

Whether it be in fashion, hair color, or nail art...OMBRE is EVERYWHERE. & it's now making its way into makeup! The newest trend hitting the streets is the "ombre lip". It actually creates a 3D effect & can help lips look fuller.

Find two contrasting lip colors that are in the same hue family, such as:

• Red & Pink
• Red & Orange
• Orange & Pink
• Purple & Pink
• Purple & Red
• Wine & Red
• Burgundy & Red

Fill in your entire lip with the darker shade. FYI, this is not the 90′s look of a dark lip liner. You must fill in the entire lip.  Matte finishes work best, so try a matte lipstick or a lipliner. As with any time you use a matte finish, make sure your lips are in the best condition possible & not chapped or scaly by using a lip scrub such as Lush's Mint Julips I mentioned here.

Then add the pop of color in the center of the lip with the lighter shade. You can use a lip brush or your finger. A matte finish in the lighter shade looks gorgeous, but you absolutely can use a shimmer or slightly metallic finish (this actually will add even more dimension & make your lips look even fuller).

As always, when doing a statement & bold lip, keep the rest of your makeup minimal..especially your eye makeup. A nicely lined eye plus a few coats of mascara is perfect for this look!

Here are a few pics of the trend:

Will you be rocking this new trend this fall??

5 Beauty Products for this Fall!

1.) Royal blue or deep purple shadow &/or liner.

With not being able to wear many bright colors in the Fall season...These colors easily spice up any makeup look & practically looks good on every skin tone! I love using these shades for a pop of color to my basic makeup looks. They also look amazing with a nice black or grey smokey eye.

More Laura Mercier...

2.) An exfoliate.

With cooler temps approaching our skin can start becoming very dry & dull. An exoliator can really bring out your natural glow & prep your skin for a flawless makeup application. Just make sure to moisturize really well afterwards!..Trust me, your skin will look better than ever ;)

More Bliss...

3.) Dark nail polish. (my favorite for Fall/Winter ^_^ )

Other than being able to wear cute cozy clothes & layers for warm weather..being able to wear my DARK polishes get me excited for Fall (hahaha...I know it's the "little" things in life ;P ) This year I'm loving dark purples, blues, greens, browns, & black but all with a hint of different colors of shimmer/glitter. So fun!!

More Butter London...

4.) Bronzer.

Keep rocking that healthy looking glow into the next season by using a good bronzer. Be sure to find a good shade that matches your complexion & DON'T over due it :) Snooki is my girl & I will forever love her but keep that ULTRA BRONZED look to her!!! Lol 0:) I use bronzer more for contouring my face & it gives me a nice subtle glow. If using a bronzer for contouring..just make sure it has no glitter or sparkles in it & it's a nice matte shade.

More NYX...

5.) Berry/Plum lipstick & gloss.

Berry & plum shades are the perfect go to color for Fall. These shades have the ability to be flattering on just about everyone! Plus there are soo many different hues to choose from. Just make sure when using a darker color on your lips to keep your eyes and the rest of your face makeup more natural.  This will really make your lips pop & keep you from looking like a clown!!

More NARS...

Will you be using any of these types of products this season? I'd love to hear any other recommendations or tips!! Hope everyone is having a great week :)

xo, Natalie - - follow me on Twitter

Bobbi Brown Marrakesh Chic Fall 2011 Makeup

The ultimate makeup look is the one that accentuates the facial features while still maintaining a high dose of naturalness, so peep Bobbi Brown's new fall 2011 makeup collection titled Marrakesh Chic and learn how to get a feminine, season-chic look perfect for every occasion this fall!

Bobbi Brown seems to have turned towards the beauty of Morocco for inspiration and the result is absolutely gorgeous! The new line brings back beauty through gorgeous deep, rich hues that create the perfect blend of color on every skin tone.

The fall 2011 makeup trends place a heavy accent on natural beauty, so if you're all about subtly enhancing it, you will LOVE this collection!! It really has an amazing oriental feel which draws the eye from first glimpse. In the new collection, a perfect blend of rich hues which deliver soft, sensual and feminine results perfect for every occasion are featured. What do you think of the new line?

Deal Alert: 50% on ELF Cosmetics! Now till Aug 29th

Hey everyone :) if you didn't already know, elf Makeup & Cosmetics has a great sale going on now! 50% off their Studio line. You only have a few days left to take advantage of this great offer because it ends August 29! So be sure to hit up the site soon. At check, out be sure to use the promotion code: STUDIO
I made my purchase today & picked up a little bit of everything lol. The elf (eyes lips & face) line has the most affordable, great quality makeup I've used in a long time! So far, everything I've tried from them..I have LOVED. When I receive my shipment, I'll be sure to do a post & review on all of my purchases :)

Trend Alert: Dramatic Lashes

They say that eyes are the window to the soul. If so, then your eyelashes must be the curtains? Lately, I've seen tons of gorgeous celebs rocking beautiful lashes everywhere! Whether it's individual lashes, full strips, or just focusing on extra volume, dramatic lashes can add a lot to your overall look, & even in some cases, let you get away with wearing less makeup. What's your favorite dramatic lash look?

Victoria Justice

Vanessa Hudgens

Eva Longoria

View the rest after the jump!

Contouring

Contouring your face with makeup has been around for a long time but I feel it's really became much more popular recently! Celebs such as the Kardashians, Lala, Eva Longoria, Mila Kunis, & Cassie (+more) have all taken on this technique. A great contoured cheek just really sculpts the face & LITERALLY can be an instant face lift!

You’ll need:
*A vivid blush color (don’t be scared—orange, bright pink, reds, corals, and reds look great in the summer especially on bronzed skin)
*A contour (can be a blush, bronzer, foundation, concealer, powder 2-3 shades darker than your skintone)
*A highlight (can be blush, bronzer, foundation, concealer, luminizer, but should be lighter than your skin)
*A blush brush and powder brush (good to have two or three so you don’t “muddy” the blush, contour, and highlight colors by mixing the shades together on accident)

More NARS...

Apply your blush to the apples of the cheeks, dust the contour in the hollows, & sweep the highlight shade on the tops of the cheekbones. Lightly blend where the colors meet & voila! You’re done.

Are you a fan of this contour/highlighting technique?

Perfectly Pink Combination

I've just recently started to use lipstick a lot more now than I ever have.  I love to layer it with a similar lipgloss on top.  So I'm constantly looking for good combinations to work together.  Here's my latest find (sorry the picture quality isn't great..I used my Blackberry to take this pic) 



The lipstick is Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine in Pink Freeze.  This is honestly one of my favorite lipsticks I've ever purchased!  Even compared to some of my higher-end brands. It goes on so smooth & smells/tastes good too (like Fruity Pebbles....lol). The shade is a medium pink with tons of shine!
On top, I layer it with Bonnebell LIPLITES in Strawberry Parfait.  Everyone raves over this lipgloss for a reason..it's a great lipgloss & so cheap too!  The shade is a very creamy light pink & goes perfectly over the Maybelline lipstick.

If you love pink pouts as much I do, I highly recommend this duo! It's the perfect combination of lipstick & lipgloss.  What are some of your favorite duos you suggest??

♥Natalie

follow me on Twitter  & let's talk makeup! :)

Small Beauty Haul

Products starting from top going clockwise: 1.) Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (tan), 2.) Nicole by OPI nail polish (NI J10 - I'm a Belieber), 3.) Nicole by OPI nail polish (NI 221 Change the World), 4.) L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche leGloss (151 Baby Blossom), 5.) Boots No7 Mineral Lipstick (313DD Pink Angel), 6.) Boots No7 Extravagant Lashes Mascara (01 Black)


This is just a small haul of a few products I picked up from Target today.  I LOVE Target, haha.  I feel like I could spend hours there...it's bad.  But anyways, you all will come to find out I am obsessed with nail polish!  I'm always on the hunt for new colors & constantly changing whatever current one I'm wearing.  So if you have any suggestions please let me know :) I'd love that.  I'll do a post later that has swatches & reviews of everything. But for now I'll just give a description of each product.


1.)  Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (tan) - This is a tinted moisturizer that's supposed to help balance & protect your skin.  It also contains UVA & UVB protection.  I needed a lighter foundation for the summer (I normally wear Make Up Forever Matte Velvet) so my skin can breathe in the heat.

2.) Nicole by OPI nail polish (NI J10 - I'm a Belieber) - My fav color is purple & as soon as I saw this creamy deep lavender polish color, I had to pick it up.  I didn't realize it's from the Justin Bieber "One Less Lonely Girl" Collection, LOL.  It also features a new "perfect stroke" brush tip from Nicole which I love (works wonders)!

3.) Nicole by OPI nail polish (NI 221 Change the World) - This is a pearly pinkish red color.  It's the perfect shade of red for summer (I didn't want a "Christmas" red) & will really pop with tan skin.

 4.) L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche leGloss (151 Baby Blossom) - I really love this collection from L'Oreal. I've already tried it in the shade Watermelon Crush. They all have a nice subtle vanilla scent & taste. The consistency is also really nice too. Not too sticky or watery, just right.  & this color is the PERFECT light pink.

5.) Boots No7 Mineral Lipstick (313DD Pink Angel) - You really can never have too many pink lipsticks. I feel there's soooo many different tones & shades to explore.  This shade is a creamy light pink mauve.  The consistency of this lipstick is really smooth! I also like the fact that all Boots No7 products are hypo-allergenic because I have really sensitive skin.

6.) Boots No7 Extravagant Lashes Mascara (01 Black) - I cannot wait to try out this mascara!  The brush on this is HUGE.  & it does seem to have a wet formula, which I prefer.


Let me know if any of you have used any of these products &/or what you think of them :) As always, I appreciate all of your comments!!

♥Natalie

follow me on Twitter & let's talk makeup :)

Running Late? Use These 5 Products to Look Fly in 5 Minutes!

It's happened to all of us...your alarm clock didn't go off or you simply overslept.  Either way sometimes you just don't have the luxury of having time to get ready & look great (let alone decent in some of MY cases, haha).



Here are some highly recommended products to use while you're on a time crunch!

1.) Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo - Dry shampoo is THE best thing to use for your hair when you don't exactly have the time to wash it.  Just spray the shampoo onto your dry hair, brush it out, & it's ready to be styled! I usually will use this product and put my hair up into a high ponytail or bun or even a cute messy fishtail braid.  This product magically makes any grease or dirt in your hair disappear instantly!


2.) Neutrogena Deep Clean Sport On-The-Go Cleansing Wipes - These little lifesavers remove any excess dirt, oil, & makeup on your face when you don't have the time to grab your cleanser + towel to wash your face. (They are also perfect for post-workouts)


3.) Almay Wake Up Hydrating Make Up - I personally like to use liquid foundations but on those days where I'm running super late & don't have time to "blend, blend, blend" I like to reach for a powder formula instead. This is a powder but it actually feels like its a liquid? Strange, I know. But it really works brilliantly!


4.) L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow - This eyeshadow literally highlights & brightens your eyes in ONE sweep.  Yes, we all love taking the time to pay attention every "section" of our eyes to create glam looks...but, if you don't have the time to do so, this product works perfectly!  It comes with 3 different colors in each palette & the collection comes in various colors as well.


5.) Sephora Lush Flush Lip & Cheek Stain - This little miracle-in-a-tube doubles up by providing both lip & cheek stain.  So when you're on the go quickly blend into your cheeks & lips then, you're good to go!

There you have it!  5 Products to save you from being late to class, work, or whatever it may be you're rushing to.  Use them in order & 5 minutes will be all you'll need to be out the door looking fly!

Summer Date Day/Night Look

Trying to figure out to wear can be a girl's worst nightmare.  & what about trying to figure out what to wear on a date? You don't want to be too over the top dressy but still not look like a complete bum! Here's a casual head to toe look you can rock while going out with your boo on a warm summer night!


Stretch Denim by Hudson
Platforms by Dolce Vita

Keep your hair out of your face by styling it into a simple sleek ponytail like the one below:

As far as makeup goes, majority of guys definitely like the less is more look.  So for your guy, play down the makeup by not using any highly pigmented bright colors. Go for a more natural look (with out having to be bare faced) by using nude to peachy blushes, along with nude to light pink lipsticks and/or glosses, & add just a touch of gold shadow to your eyes along with liner & mascara:





Comment below & let me know what you guys think! ♥ Natalie