August Beauty Favorites

August 31, 2020

BEAUTY FAVORITES: BEAUTY COUNTER BEYOND GLOSS | ATELIER COLOGNE CLEMENTINE CALIFORNIA | GLOW RECIPE WATERMELON GLOW TONER | ELEMIS SUPERFOOD GLOW PRIMING MOISTURIZER | ELEMIS SUPERFOOD AHA GLOW CLEANSING BUTTER | GOOD MOLECULES DISCOLORATION CORRECTING SERUM | FIRST AID BEAUTY EYE DUTY NIACINAMIDE BRIGHTENING CREAM

Summer is coming to an end and I’m back with my monthly beauty favorites! In today’s post, I’m sharing the latest skincare and makeup products that I discovered to be my favorites from the month of August. This includes a lip gloss with a responsibly source vanilla, a pore-minimizing toner that smells of juicy watermelon, a multi-purpose moisturizer that also works as a primer and a highlighter, a summer fragrance that is unisex and also can be continually used through the fall season! And more! Continue reading to learn more about these products along with where you can find them!

BEAUTY COUNTER BEYOND GLOSS

This gloss delivers high-impact shine and conditioning lip benefits, while taking transparency to the next level with ingredients that care for your lips—and the greater good. Formulated with a blend of waxes to lock in moisture (with no stickiness), this gloss delivers cushiony color and a sophisticated scent thanks to responsibly sourced vanilla. ECOCERT-certified organic vanilla from Madascascar, Beauty Counter’s supplier is committed not only to sourcing the highest quality of vanilla, but also to improving the quality of life for their community of farmers. This is definitely something I am on board with!

ATELIER COLOGNE CLEMENTINE CALIFORNIA

This scent contains notes of clementine from Italy, juniper berries from Turkey, and vetiver from Haiti. The fresh and fruity perfumes from across the world combine in this citrus cologne for men and women to create a summer scent that evokes sunshine, blue skies, and endless miles of sparkling beachfront. Perfect for those who love a citrus-based fragrance as well as those who love a fragrance that smells sweet but not too sweet and really fresh.

GLOW RECIPE WATERMELON GLOW PHA + BHA PORE-TIGHT TONER

Suitable for all skin types, this bouncy, alcohol-free toner is made with PHA and willow bark, a natural form of BHA, to help unclog pores while hydrating skin. Combined with watermelon, hyaluronic acid, and cactus water, it smooths without stripping skin of its moisture, for poreless, glowing skin. Due to cactus water and cucumber in the formula, scent is herbal with a fruity finish. I definitely noticed a significant reduction in my pore size after only using it for a couple of weeks.

ELEMIS SUPERFOOD GLOW-PRIMING MOISTURIZER

Turn up the brightness while hydrating skin with Elemis’ glow-getting Superfood Glow Priming Moisturizer. A radiance enhancing blend of kombucha and fermented ginger extracts helps to even out skin tone, while green tea seed oil and an active prebiotic help leave the complexion feeling soft, balanced and nourished. Enhanced with universally flattering light-reflecting minerals, the featherlight formula can be used as a radiance-enhancing moisturizer, a hydrating makeup primer and an illuminating highlighter.

ELEMIS SUPERFOOD AHA GLOW CLEANSING BUTTER

Packed with brightening AHAs and skin softening Mango Butter, this nourishing facial cleanser removes makeup, daily pollutants and daily grime to reveal a healthy-looking radiance. The buttery formula can be used as a daily cleanser, a deep cleansing mask or a hydrating makeup remover around the eyes and face for smooth and glowing skin.

GOOD MOLECULES DISCOLORATION CORRECTING SERUM

Formulated with an advanced form of tranexamic acid (cetyl tranexamate mesylate) and 4% niacinamide, this lightweight serum improves the appearance of age spots, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. It’s a great lightener but please note it takes a few weeks to start noticing results.

FIRST AID BEAUTY EYE DUTY NIACINAMIDE BRIGHTENING CREAM

This cream is formulated with peach micro-pearls to help the eye area appear dewy and revitalized, while sodium hyaluronate helps smooth and visibly plump. It is also formulated with niacinamide, pumpkin seed extract, and caffeine to help diminish the look of dark circles over time by targeting two key causes: skin pigmentation (brown circles) and puffiness (blue circles). I can literally see a difference as soon as I apply the brightening cream around my eye area, really amazing stuff!

LOVE & XX’S,

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July Beauty Favorites

July 31, 2019

Last day of July calls for a monthly roundup of beauty favorites! In today’s post, I’m sharing the latest skincare and makeup products that I deem to be my favorites from this month. This includes a new fragrance brand I have never tried but fell in love with, a colorful orange palette makeup collection that’s extremely affordable, a nourishing oil for face, body and hair, shimmering dry oils, and a Korean beauty starter kit perfect for your holiday travels. Continue reading to learn more about these products along with where you can find them!

PARFUMS DE MARLY ‘CISSILI’ FRAGRANCE

A joyful fragrance with a floral fruity scent on a woody vanilla base--this new creation invites you to indulge into the fresh sweetness of its scent.

KEY NOTES:
- Top notes: red currant, Bulgarian rose, transparent white flowers
- Middle notes: plum accord, mimosa absolute, plumeria, petalia
- Base notes: sandalwood, tonka beans, vanilla pod

COLOURPOP ORANGE YOU SWEET SET

The new neutral in town, and she’s orange. Get the entire orange collection including Colourpop’s newest 9-pan palette and brand new curated sets to match! There’s four super shocks, lip glosses, makeup brushes, blush sticks, lippie sticks and lip gloss, it’s the perfect orange palette set. Here are the 9 shades of the eyeshadow palette:

Zested - matte pale apricot
Squeeze Me - metallic yellow orange with gold flip
Creamsicle - matte peachy orange
Rise N Grind - matte vivid orange
Clementine - orange glitter with a copper flip
Sunkiss’d - matte neon tangerine
Tangerine Dreams - metallic mid tone red orange
Mimosa Mami - matte bright red orange
Ya Peel Me? - matte mid tone rust

DAVINES AUTHENTIC NOURISHING OIL

For all hair and skin types. Authentic Nourishing Oil contains 100% natural origin ingredients and 30% of organically grown safflower oil. The oil is free from artificial colors, silicones and PEG, leaving hair and skin silky and glowing. I even use this oil as a cleansing balm to remove makeup from the day, but my favorite use of this oil is for my hair. Now that I’m trying to grow my hair long, it keeps the ends moisturized and softer. And the subtle smell is incredible.

111SKIN ROSE GOLD RADIANCE BOOSTER

Founded by renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, 111SKIN combines decades of expertise with the latest ingredients. Formulated with Damask Rose Extract and Gold, this serum is formulated to relieve inflamed skin and enhance natural radiance. This radiance booster is a bit expensive, retailing at $160 at.68 fl oz (!!) but it is well worth the investment. I use this serum for days when I’m utterly exhausted and my face needs an extreme pick-me-up. When that second cup of coffee won’t do, use this immediately and your skin will immediately be revived.

SOL BODY SHIMMERING DRY OIL

It’s that Friday feeling in a bottle. Delivers a shimmering, good-for-the-soul glow that nourishes skin and highlights your highlights. My favorites are a rich, glowing bronze with highlights of copper and gold pearl. The other is a more silvery tint to it called, ‘Platinum’. Comes with a lovely kabuki brush that’s oh so soft. The perfect accessory for summer. Works for all bodies and skin tones.

DR. CURE 7 STARTER KIT

See a drastic improvement to your skin's hydration and melt those fine lines away. This starter kit includes mini-sized versions of their products so you can change your skin routine with one simple kit. It’s perfect for travel. I love all of them but my favorite out of this kit are the teardrops.

Kit includes:

3 Healing Melting Masques

Trial-Sized Collagen Powder Cleanser
0.5g/0.02oz

Trial-Sized Hyaluron Intensive Serum
10ml/0.35oz

Trial-Sized Teardrop Vitamin A or E
8g/0.28oz

Trial-Sized Snow Pearl Cream Mist
30ml/1oz

LOVE & XX’S,

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Bikini Questa Sera

May 29, 2018

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK KNIT TOP | MAVI JEANS ANIKA CROP FLARE | 
TKEES JO SUEDE GEORGIA SANDALS | CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN BIKINI QUESTA SERA

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN BEAUTE.

Hi, everyone! How was your MDW? I have a new post up with an editorial video! For those who didn't catch my last post, I had been wanting to create more video content but given that video editing is not one of my favorite things to do, I do not create this kind of content often. However, so many of you, along with my peers have been strongly urging me to do more video so voila! When it comes to making a video, there's so much more that goes on besides a photoshoot. I feel like a like an internet browser... 19 tabs open, 3 of them are frozen, & I have no idea where the music is coming from! In all seriousness, that's another reason why I don't do videos often. It takes a lot of time and effort and if I don't see some sort of visual that I need to come to life, I wait until the inspiration comes. And when I received the Bikini Questa Sera perfume from Christian Louboutin, a strong sense of summer encouraged me to create this for you guys.

We literally had a total of two people in production and on set for this video. My husband and I are a team: He is the photographer & videographer - I am the creative director, location scouter, stylist, hair and makeup, and editor. While shooting photographs, you're too thinking a million and one things at the same time. Is my shirt tucked in properly? What about my hair? Are the sunglasses on straight? Am I on the good side of my face? Where is the light? Don't blink. Okay... car coming. Back to my mark. Another cat call? Great... oh where did I put my phone? Is it almost noon? I have a meeting to run to, I have to leave in a bit. Honey, now there's car behind you! Phew! See what I mean?

And doesn't even get to the shooting film, imagine doing all that again plus the multiple takes to get the shots you envision. And the more specific the frame gets, the more time and patience it will take, which to be honest can sometimes be challenging to me. But videography strengthens that along with my visual eye and apparent need to create film. I'm sure many other photographers, writers, and artists feel this way, where you get so many visual images in your head and this sudden outpour, this compelling conviction to bring it to life. To try to show others what you see, think and feel.

I hope this video (scroll toward the end of this post to view) brings you a certain feeling and appreciation for the artistic notion of oneself. I am still trying to get to a level where the content is super-glossy editorial, but alas, no one is perfect. But I am, every day trying to elevate my skills and to exercise them in the best way possible, and to me, I think that is through writing, photography, and film. So enjoy, and please leave me any feedback! I really appreciate and listen to what you guys look forward to on MaQ + Suz.

Lastly, a footnote on this summery outfit. The coral knitted top with shoulder straps is from Saku New York, the faded black crop jeans are by Mavi, and the coral suede sandals are by TKEES. You can shop the entire look at the beginning or at the end of each blog post. Don't forget to drop a comment in the section box down below. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay updated on new videos! Happy Tuesday. :)