Where Style, Beauty and Travel comes together
The Balm sent me a package with all the shades of their new Creamy Lip Stain and I am so excited to be sharing this product with you guys! The Balm Jour Creamy Lip Stain comes in 8 different shades and are named by greeting phrases from different countries round the word. You can find shades as Hello, Ni Hao, Ciao and more in the collection.
National Lipstick day is just around the corner. As “national holidays” like lipstick day is becoming more popular companies are starting to catch on the trends and use it as a promotional day. Some companies will even give away free lipsticks! Yep, you heard that right. Keep on reading to find out where the best deals are and where you can snag some Lipstick freebies this weekend.
Perricone MD are famous for their amazing skincare. So when I got a package from them containing their No Makeup makeup line. It is safe to say that I was more than surprised. I actually did note even know that they carried makeup products. A very simple makeup collection made to look like you aren’t wearing makeup when you are. We have everything from foundation to eyeshadows in the collection. And majority of the products are liquid products. But with a starting price of $30 for products, are the products worth the money?
4.4 stars, 158 reviews on perriconemd.com
No Makeup Foundation Serum instantly softens imperfections and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and pores with Neuropeptides without settling into fine lines. A luxurious fluid texture leaves a semi-matte suede finish with a breathable second skin effect. This lightweight and elegant formula contains a non-irritating, natural sun screen that protects skin from the age-accelerating rays of the sun. It comes in one universal shade or you can customize to match your skin tone with No Bronzer Bronzer.
4.4 stars, 366 reviews on perriconemd.com
The foundation only comes in 5 shades. With that being said I think it is time to develop some more shades. The packaging makes the foundation look a lot lighter than it actually is. And while I’m usually a light to medium or medium in my regular foundations. For some reason fair to light was my perfect shade with the no makeup foundation. Perricone MD states the following about the product on their website.
The only foundation that combines the proven results of Perricone MD science with a natural-looking, buildable no-makeup texture and finish. Scientifically formulated with ALPHA LIPOIC ACID, No Makeup Foundation minimizes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores over time.
The formula of the foundation is extremely light and a true liquid foundation. I experienced that I used a lot of product when applying with a beauty blender. I did not try any other application methods but would assume a silicone base might minimize product usage. The foundation did however look absolutely stunning. It evened out my skin tone but at the same time it did look like my skin. It minimized the pores somewhat but they were still visible. I would rate this product 4/5. The missing rate for the lack of shades and the fact that so much product had to be used. Overall I absolutely love the foundation and how it looks on my skin. 
Perricone MD No Makeup Concealer $35 – I didn’t really get a chance to try the concealer. It had a very foul smell. Not sure if this is normal but the expiration dates on the concealers were towards the end of 2019. I could simply not take the smell of the product so I opted out from using it at all. I really love the blush and the bronzer. It gives you a natural finish without being too much and the liquid formula blends out effortlessly with everything else.
Self care is my number one priority this year, besides from doing well in school. I have never been the person to wear a ton of makeup to cover anything up. On the contrary I love the on-the-go natural look even more. Makeup is fun, but wearing too much is not good for my skin. Neutrogena recently introduced their new Hydro Boost line. Top rated by several beauty publications, whom better to try it out than me? The products have hyaluronic acids in it to help naturally hydrate your skin. This makes them extremely lightweight and not at all oily. Neutrogena is an extremely affordable makeup and skincare brand. You can find the Hydro Boost collection at your local Walmart. I was very pleased to se a well stocked isle at my Walmart.
I picked up three products from the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cosmetics line. The hydrating tint foundation, hydrating concealer and hydrating lip treatment. Honestly, the lip treatment excited me the most. Although my skin in general gets very dry during the Winter season. My lips are the worst at any season. A lot of times I find drugstore brands to not be as good as brands with higher price point. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the Hydro Boost Lip Treatment from Neutrogena. I applied it in the morning and by the afternoon my lips still felt moisturized! Costing less than $10 this is definitely a runner up to my otherwise $24 lip oil.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost hydrating tint is a very light foundation. You will find a range of colors from fair to dark. Natural Beige 60 was a perfect match for me down to the undertone. The foundation looks flawless and like my own skin. Combined with the Hydro Boost hydrating concealer I have everything I need for a simple on the go look. Using only these three products its a simple three step on-the-go beauty routine to follow that takes less than 10 minutes to do. Although hydrating, the products looks very natural and matte once applied.
Have you tried the Hydro Boost products? If so, what did you think of them? Leave a comment down below. If you haven’t tried the products yet I have a discount code under the next photo for you to use! If you are prone to brake outs, I also have a code for the Skin Clearing line for your use.
I was super excited to receive the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Makeup Foundation in the mail from Octoly. I have heard a lot about the foundation, but I never got myself to pick it up. Supposedly it is proven to have a 24-hour long wear with a medium to full coverage. So, I decided to take it to the test! I have the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Flawless wear concealer and it is my absolute favorite concealer. So I have super high expectations for the foundation. 
As mentioned it has a medium to full coverage. The foundation is available in 38 different shades, ranging from fair to deep skin tones. Estée Lauder claims that it won’t change color, smudge or come off on clothes. Also that it lasts through heat and humidity with a flawless and natural look. It has a matte finish. The foundation retails for $42 for 30ml. 
I received the shade 3N1 Ivory Beige and at first look I thought that this would be too dark for my skin. But once I actually applied the foundation I think it blended in flawlessly with my skin. I applied the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Makeup Foundation with a Smashbox Blurring Foundation Brush for a light and natural finish. What I noticed was that the foundation would dry up pretty fast so I had to work with it one area at the time. It is definitely a medium to full coverage foundation that you can easily build up to a full coverage. It covered my redness and almost all of my brake outs.
What I enjoyed most was that even though it is a matte finished foundation it did not grab onto my dry areas. Something I have huge problems with is foundations that kind of makes my dry areas patchy. This did not do that at all. However, something that I did not like was that it doesn’t come with a pump. Not only does it waste product but the chances of your foundation to have more bacterias in it increases.
Besides from that it is really an amazing foundation, at least for me. Remember that not everyones skin concerns or needs are the same and not all products work the same from everyone. I would suggest to go to a store or counter to get a sample and try it out for a day before deciding to buy it. But for me this is definitely something I would buy again.
I received this product complimentary from Estee Lauder. All opinions are 100% my own.
Today is national lipstick day and I wanted to share some of my favorite lipsticks of all time. Lipsticks are something that I have a lot of in my makeup collection. And seriously I need some help organizing them. So if you have any ideas on how to organize lipsticks and lip glosses please let me know! I will cover all of my favorite lip products from brands that are drugstore, high-end and luxury. There is sure to be something for everyone! As usual I will link all the products but I have also found a lot of offers on the products which I will include as well on each product! Hope you enjoy. And please share your favorite lipstick or lip product with me in the comments!
There are so many features out this matte liquid lipstick that I love. Revlon really outdid themselves with this product and I absolutely love it. It has a sleek and minimal design. The wand is extremely easy to use and with this price you can’t really beat it. The Ultra HD Matte Lip Color comes in 16 different shades. Some of my favorite shades are Seduction, Forever, Embrace, Flirtation and Kisses. I think that while it is a matte lipstick it is not so matte that it dries down my lips. I also think that it hols up extremely well and it doesn’t stain or come off easily.
Right now ULTA has a offer on ALL Revlon lip products. Yes, all of them. Right now all lip products are ONLY $5. Shop Revlon Lip Products here.
The Color Sensational Matte Metallics Lipstick is a new release from Maybelline. And yes, it is a Matte metallic lipstick. How can a matte lipstick be metallic you probably wonder. The base is a matte lipstick with a metallic sheer. So it is not like a gloss or a velvet lipstick that has a soft sheen to it. The lipstick itself is matte with a metallic look. I actually have planned to write a full post with swatches of all colors of the metallic lipstick so stay tuned on that. My favorite shades are definitely all the gold ones. White Gold. Pure Gold and Copper Spark.
Although Maybelline doesn’t have a special offer going on their lip products are still extremely affordable. If you spend $20 on lip products at ULTA you’ll receive a free special gift.
Another favorite form Maybellines new releases is the SuperStay Matte Ink Lip Color. Now the first thing that I noticed about this matte lipstick is that it will just not budge at all. The formula is super creamy and extremely easy to apply. I was pleasantly surprised of this lipstick. It is not very drying on the lips yet it will stay on all day. And when I mean that it stays on, IT STAYS ON! I have never seen a matte lipstick hold so well and this is at this moment my favorite matte liquid lipstick ever. It comes in 10 different shades and my favorites are Loyalist and Lover.
You really need to swatch or try it for yourself to understand just how well this lipstick stays on. I couldn’t get it off with any makeup removers until I finally got an oil based one which required two tries to wash i off. Even though this is a love or hate thing, thus lipstick will surely last you all day and night.
BHüe is a fairly unknown brand for many people. I came across their products when the owner contacted me last year and wanted to send me some o their products to try out. I was a little hesitant at first, as you always are of brands you have never heard of before. But I gave the brand a shot and oh my god. These liquid lipstick are amazing. First of all, they wear extremely smoothly and they don’t dry out your lips. But, what I was most impressed by is how well they stay on. Even though I had been drinking water and eating food the lipstick still looked the same after hours of wearing it.
I really don’t know how well known this brand is or how many people know about it. But it is definitely a brand that you need to discover! You can shop BHüe beauty here. My absolute favorite shade is Poppy. A bright orange.
Bite Beauty has been one of my absolute favorite brands when it comes to lip products. Besides from their Amuse Bouche Lipstick being a favorite I love their Agave lip treatments. The best thing about Bite Beauty is that it is all natural and produced in small batches. I think its really cool that they are so dedicated to quality products that are good for you. I have several shades but my absolute favorite is the one pictured, Pepper. The Amuse Bouche Lipstick has a satin finish and comes in over 40 shades. You will definitely find one that you love.
For a period of time I was obsessed with buying basically all products that Kylie Cosmetics released. I made a crazy try on video of all the lipsticks and glosses that I have from them. You can check out the video here. The quality of the lipstick really differ depending on the color. Some of them I love and some are just unwearable. The nudes are my absolute favorites and for the price that you pay these are actually really good. You can think and say whatever you want of Kylie Jenner, but her makeup is actually really good. Well, at least most of it! I haven’t tried any of the newer shades that she has released and actually haven’t purchased anything new from her in a while. Maybe I will soon though.
My favorite shades from Kylie Cosmetics are Exposed, 22, and Mailboo. The single lipsticks are $17 but if you want to buy a kit with a lipstick and lip pencil it will cost you $30 and that isn’t a bad deal.
I have so many shades of the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick. but my favorites must be the new shades from the heat collection. There are a ton of different collections and finishes on the lipsticks. I love the matte and the satin finishes. Super easy and smooth application that i very comfortable to wear on the lips. The Heat shades comes in two metallics and one satin finish.
Claris Lip Oil is my absolute obsession. That is how good it is. I am currently using this daily and it is so comfortable to wear alone or under any lipstick. It had really helped my dry lips being restore to healthy and hydrated lips. There are several different formulas, honey and red berry are my favorites. And today is your lucky day because these babies are on sale for only $15!
I can really not rave enough about this product and if you follow me on Instagram you have definitely seen me post about it a couple of times already.
Another new lipstick from Smashbox is the Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick and it is so comfortable to wear. Smashbox has never really failed when it comest to any of their products but these lippies are so good. Smshbox was kind enough to send me the entire color range and I am swoon. This is one of their best selling products and I can definitely understand why. The formula is so smooth and creamy. It dries up fast and holds for so many hours. There are currently 20 different shades from the deepest red to a really cool gray one.
The rave about Dose of Colros was something that I really never understood. Until ULTA started selling the brand and I decided to give it a go. And now I kind of understand the hype that was around this brand. Besides from being vegan, cruelty free, gluten and paragon free. The Matte Liquid Lipstick is also super smooth and long wearing. I absolutely love the packaging and it seems to be a classic as they have kept it the same. ULTA does have a Free gift with purchase if you spend $25 or more on Dose of Colors.
The nude shades are a usual my favorites as well as Mood, a muted dark plum shade.
It has been a while since I shared a makeup look. It was finally time to do it again and I am so happy to partner up today with Laura Mercier. And show you some of my favorite products to use this summer to get the perfect summer look! My ideal summer look is light, fresh and easy but with a fun colorful twist – like a fun lipstick. And it must last all day!
Above are my top essential Laura Mercier products and they can all be bought at Sephora. I have owned some products since previously and they have been among my all time favorites. Others are completely new to me, and happily surprised me. The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is definitely one of my holy grail products. But we will get to that soon.
A good base is always key to me. You want to find a primer that suits you and focuses on targeting your problems like redness, pores or dryness. You also want it to elevate your foundation. During the summer it is also important to use a SPF to protect your skin from the sun. I used the original foundation primer from Laura Mercier to create this look. It has vitamin A,D and E and has a water based formula. But if I was to spend the day outside I would have gone with the Foundation Primer Protect that has a SPF of 30.
I also got to try out the new Flawless Fusion Ultra Long-Wear Foundation that is being released on July 6th at Sephora. I could have probably gone up a shade but the foundation itself was incredible. It was extremely light but had very nice coverage. I rarely find foundations that doesn’t patch up any dry spots that I may have and at the end of the day it didn’t look greasy. The Candleglow Concealer and Highlighter is also a new product with a click end to release function and sponge tip. Together they work extremely well . To set my entire look I used my favorite setting powder of all time – the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.
Just like many other beauty fanatics, the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder has been a holy grail product among my collection since I first got hands on it. I use it to bake. I use it to lightly set my concealer and foundation. And I use it as an eyeshadow base. There are just so many things you can do with a good translucent powder! It comes in two shades – Translucent and Translucent Medium Deep. To ensure it suites any skin tone. Besides from ensuring that my makeup stays in place and looks fresh all day the powder has some other amazing features as well. The thicker than usual formula blends flawlessly and has a no flashback formula! It will not settle into your crease or pores while creating a sheer matte finish that lasts you all day.
Shop my favorite Laura Mercier products here.
This post was sponsored by Influenster and Laura Mercier. All text and opinions are my own.
BECCA Cosmetics new Sunlit Bronzer* arrived at my doorsteps last week and I have been so excited about trying these out. Surprisingly fast summer sprung upon us. And this summer I am all about bronzing and strobing. That means, no hard contouring. The Sunlit Bronzers come in five different shades. Bali Sands, a soft golden beige. Capri Coast, a warm golden brown. Bronzed Bondi, my favorite in a medium amber gold. Ipanema Sun, a darker medium auburn brown. And lastly Maui Nights that is a more sun kissed bronze with a rose pigment. There is really a shade in the collection for everyone and that is one of many reasons why I love this brand.
The packaging is the same size as the BECCA highlights. But the packaging has more of a golden shimmer look to it with a golden lid. Instead of a matte finish it is shiny with gold glitter. It gives me major beach vibes and makes me wanna go and get a tan. I would say that the bronzer is a mix between the BECCA blushes and the highlighters. They have that rich pigment, but at the same time they’re super sparkly which will make it look like you are using a highlighter. This would not be a product that I would use for an every day look as I tend to lean towards the more matte bronzers. but if your looking for that glowy one this is definitely it!
Pictured is my favorite shade, Bronzed Bondi. It has that right amount of warmth that suits my skin tone. The Sunlit Bronzer* costs $38 just like many of the other BECCA products do. And I do highly recommend that you stop by the nearest Sephora and pick up a sample. 99% of the time I would recommend BECCA products because they do really hold incredible quality. By now I probably have ever single item that they have ever released and BECCA are in many cases my go to brand.
The latest release from Hourglass is the Veil Mineral Primer. The company explains the product as “an oil-free primer silky, airy texture that leaves a smooth canvas for makeup, while reducing the look of redness, pores, and wrinkles”. The primer also supposedly conceals redness and minimize signs or pores, lines and wrinkles. The Veil Mineral Primer has a SPF 15 with mineral-derived sunscreens. It’s ideal for all skin types, even sensitive and repels water so that the makeup can stay on longer. The formula is free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates and you can buy it for a whooping $54 at your local Sephora.
To me, a good primer is essential in my makeup routine. Whether I do a natural simple look or go all glam I make sure that I have the best base possible to make it last. I was super excited to try out the Veil Mineral Primer from Hourglass as soon s it arrived to my doorsteps. I must admit, the packaging is absolutely stunning just like everything else form Hourglass. And I did not expect anything else. However, I was extremely disappointed in the product itself.
We are just transitioning from winter to spring/summer and our skin is probably in a very fragile state. I make sure to moisturize and keep up with my daily cleansing routine. But even so I notice som dryness and pores here and there. Since the product itself claimed to be suitable for all skin types as well as sensitive I expected a whole lot more from it. At first when I tested it on my hands it did indeed feel silky soft and I felt like it was very air light. It did however leave a thin firm of white residue.
I really wanted this product to work out. But as soon as I applied it to my skin I could instantly tell that it wouldn’t work. I could see my pores actually being enlarged and any dry area would look even drier and the white layer would show off eve more on the dry areas. It just looked awful by itself. Applying a foundation over it did not help at all and my skin actually looked way better without a primer. Unfortunately, for me and my skin, this primer is a big no.
That is how things work in life. Not everything will suit everyone. This does however not mean that this primer won’t be your holy grail primer. This just means it simply did not work out for me. And I will most likely not give it another try after this. I will stick with my favorite primers from Smashbox, and as usual I will link them down below together with some of my other favorite primers!
Shop my favorites down below the image.
