5 Favorite Kérastase Hair Products

June 15, 2020

KÉRASTASE HAIR PRODUCTS: GENESIS STRENGTHENING BLOW DRY PRIMER | GENESIS STRENGTHENING SHAMPOO | GENESIS STRENGTHENING HAIR MASQUE | GENESIS SCALP SERUM | FRESH AFFAIR REFRESHING DRY SHAMPOO

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY KÉRASTASE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

For the past few months, one act of beauty care I’ve been keeping track with is my hair. I had recently cut my hair this winter and along with the use of toner, I have not been back to the salon since. My hair is no longer short and the colors are slowly starting to fade. Which is why it’s so important to maintain my hair lately. I’ve been using Kérastase for many years and had to share my top 5 favorite products from this amazing hair brand. Continue reading to learn more along with direct links to shop each product!

GENESIS STRENGTHENING BLOW DRY PRIMER

The Genesis Fortifying Blow-Dry Fluid Primer is a strengthening blow-dry primer that protects against heat, adds hydration and shine, and helps prevent split ends. A lightweight, heat-protecting blow-dry primer for weakened hair that also helps reduce hair fall due to breakage from brushing.

GENESIS STRENGTHENING SHAMPOO

Tired of seeing hair on your brush? This ultra-delicate gel shampoo for normal to oily hair is the perfect solution. It gently clarifies, removes intense oil build up, and supports hair to reduce hair fall due to breakage from brushing.

GENESIS STRENGTHENING HAIR MASQUE

Break up with breakage, not with brushing. This intensely rich and creamy hair mask for weakened hair helps to reduce hair fall due to breakage from brushing. It hydrates hair to keep it nourished and smooth. I use this mask instead of a conditioner and leave it in during my entire shower and it’s honestly worth every penny. Plus it smells heavenly! Out of all of the Kérastase masks this has absolutely been my favorite.

GENESIS SCALP SERUM

This daily, non-greasy scalp serum has a scalp applicator that allows for precise application on the scalp. This serum is wonderful. It has really changed my hair for the better. I started noticing after a few days that I had significantly less hair fallout. Texture is more watery than oil. Super lightweight. Noticed healthier scalp right away.

FRESH AFFAIR REFRESHING DRY SHAMPOO

Cheat on bad hair days with the new Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo. Kérastase’s up to 24-hour, long-lasting neroli fragrance will leave your hair smelling gorgeous all day. Fresh Affair is formulated with rice starch and vitamin E to instantly absorb excess oil and leave your hair with a lightweight, clean feeling.

LOVE & XX’S,

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9 Favorite Hourglass Cosmetics Products

May 30, 2020

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY HOURGLASS COSMETICS BY ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Hourglass Cosmetics, a cruelty free beauty brand, is known for its innovation and commitment to reinventing luxury cosmetics. Complexion, color and skincare are crafted to be undetectably transformative while effortless to apply. Paradigm products feature cutting-edge formulas with active ingredients and covetable packaging that elevate expectations of how a product should look, feel, and perform. Which is why I’ve rounded up 9 of my favorite products from this luxury makeup brand to help you get started. Continue reading to learn more along with direct links to shop each product!

VEIL™ EYE PRIMER

This long-wearing, lightweight formula creates an even canvas for eyeshadow and improves its performance, making its color more vibrant while reducing fading and creasing. Nourishing delicate skin with vitamins E and C, this eye primer also keeps skin moisturized and reduces the look of age spots and sun damage.

VEIL™ MINERAL PRIMER

This cream is formulated with microspheric powders that fill and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, minimize the look of pores, conceal redness, and create a smooth, even canvas for makeup. It is my most favorite primer of all time!

VEIL™ TRANSLUCENT SETTING POWDER

This finely milled, weightless setting powder is formulated with soft-focus light-reflecting particles to instantly blur imperfections and minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for effortlessly smooth skin. I have oily combo skin and I find this powder does not magnify my skin, which I prefer! Definitely leaves a natural glow.

ARCH BROW SHAPING GEL

Paired with a custom dual-sided brush that coats brow hairs from root to tip, this soft-hold formula provides lasting, flake-proof wear in just one sweep. This clear, weightless brow gel dries invisible while softly holding brow hairs in place.

ARCH BROW SCULPTING PENCIL

This buildable formula combines powder, pencil, and wax to create the look of naturally fuller brows. The double-ended component also comes with a brush to blend and groom brows into place. I’ve tried many eyebrow pencils and this one is so smooth and perfectly matched to my eyebrow shade in dark brunette.

N° 28 LIP TREATMENT OIL

This is an advanced lip treatment. The formula combines essential oils, vitamins, and three powerful active ingredients in a supremely luxurious oil blend. The sleek applicator features an opulent 24-k gold-plated tip. This lip oil in Hourglass’s bestselling, brick red, exclusive shade, has some great ingredients such as Saliporine-8, known for elevating moisture levels in the skin, Volulip™, known for improving the appearance of lip texture, shape, and softness, and Viamerine, known for hydrating and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

CONFESSION™ ULTRA SLIM HIGH INTENSITY LIPSTICK IN ‘AT NIGHT’

Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick delivers creamy, saturated, long-wearing color with a satin finish without smudging or feathering. Each lipstick is encapsulated in a sleek gold applicator to provide the ultimate control to precisely accentuate, contour, and define the lips. Featuring the ultimate luxury lip accessory, the gold applicator can be used interchangeably with the full collection of Confession Ultra Slim Lipstick Refills (sold separately). My favorite shade is ‘At Night’ which is the most used brick red color I’ve been using lately.

AMBIENT LIGHTING POWDER IN ‘RADIANT LIGHT’

Create the perfect illumination for your face with Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Powder. Infused with the innovative Photoluminescent Technology, each finishing powder captures, diffuses, and softens the look of the skin. The micron-size, color-correcting particles refract light and create transparent coverage, filtering out harsh light and refining the appearance of the skin. My favorite lighting powder is the shade, ‘Radiant Light’, a sun-kissed golden beige that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth, and also extends a summer glow.

VEIL™ SETTING SPRAY

This weightless setting spray sets makeup while blurring the look of imperfections. Undetectable on the skin, the ultra-fine and hydrating mist creates a visibly smooth, even, and naturally radiant appearance. Its water-resistant properties enhance foundation for maximum staying power, setting it in place for up to 24 hours.

LOVE & XX’S,

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7 Favorite Laura Mercier Beauty Products

October 28, 2019

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY LAURA MERCIER BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

When it comes to beauty looks, my favorite makeup is the ‘no makeup’ makeup kind of look. It is that flawless and effortless one, with no drama to be anywhere nearby. One brand that has definitely been a pioneer of that certain ‘face’ and inspires women to embrace their individual beauty is Laura Mercier. Laura Mercier has created some of the beauty industry’s most iconic products, such as the Allure “Best of Beauty” Translucent Loose Setting Powder, the first Foundation Primer, her beloved Caviar Stick Eye Colour, and so much more. In today’s beauty post, I’m sharing 7 of my favorite products from Laura Mercier. Continue reading to learn more along with direct links to shop for each product!

FACE ILLUMINATOR POWDER IN ‘INDISCRETION’

Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powder highlights the skin with pure light-reflecting pigments for a color-true, multidimensional, and luminous finish that complements all skin tones. Its non-dusting texture allows for excellent color payoff and applies smoothly and evenly onto the skin without dragging. Designed to complement all skin tones, the unique formula brings natural-looking radiance to the complexion for an instant glow that lasts up to eight hours. I’ve tried many highlighters and this one is still the best in the market. My favorite shade is ‘Indiscretion’ which is a great goldish pearly tone for medium skin tones.

MATTE BRONZING POWDER IN ‘SOLEIL 1’

Matte bronzing powder delivers a natural-looking warmth to the skin. Silky, micro-fine powder feels weightless on skin, goes on smoothly and blends seamlessly to provide the ultimate sun-kissed glow. I enjoy using this product as a subtle contour when I want that to be as seamless as possible. It’s a great bronzing powder in general, and I really love how it looks on the skin.

TRANSLUCENT LOOSE SETTING POWDER

Cult-favorite and winner of multiple major awards, Laura Mercier's "best in beauty," #1 setting powder* is your go-to powder. I love the super smooth application, which goes on evenly, blends effortlessly and provides great wear. Sets makeup for 12 hours without adding weight or texture. Literally the best setting powder I have ever used to date.

MATTE RADIANCE BAKED POWDER IN ‘HIGHLIGHT 01’

The ultra-lightweight formula feels comfortable and weightless on the skin, applies smoothly and blends effortlessly. Features a smooth, silky, velvety texture and long-wearing formula that lasts up to eight hours and stays color-true without oxidizing for an even wear. Use for refined highlighting or soft strobing. This multidimensional highlight shade works on all skin tones. A very elegant looking highlighter.

VELOUR EXTREME MATTE LIPSTICK IN ‘VIBE’

Modern matte lipstick so seductive in color, touch, and texture, the sensation is irresistible. Mattifying powders and silky conditioners envelop your lips in the softness and comfort of velour, sans drying and cracking. The collection of 24 vivid, full-coverage shades provide intense color with a dramatic, matte finish. The slim precision bullet allows the formula to grab and glide over lips, defining and filling in one seamless stroke, while the built-in shaper customizes the tip for precision lining and detailed filling. It is ideal for creating edgy effects and everyday extremes, with no liner needed. One of my favorite shades is a medium pink-beige called, ‘Vibe’. Perfect nude color for everyday wear.

CAVIAR STICK EYE COLOR IN ‘GILDED GOLD’

This extremely versatile cream eyeshadow stick delivers effortless application, intense, buildable color and up to 12-hour wear. Pigment-rich shades in creamy shimmer and matte finish glides seamlessly onto the lids, staying crease and transfer-resistant. The luxe formulation gives you plenty of time to smudge, blend, line, fill or define, so you can effortlessly create any look. Don’t be afraid to be playful! Caviar Stick Eye Color layers easily over or under other eyeshadows, including powder. A favorite shade I like to use all the time is called ‘Mystic Gold’.

FOUNDATION PRIMER HYDRATING

Moisture-rich face primer nourishes, soothes and conditions skin as it creates a smooth surface for flawless makeup application. The formula provides a soft-focus effect to help minimize the look of pores, fine lines and imperfections. Laura created this expert hydrating primer specifically for dry, dehydrated skin. Lightweight, creamy formula creates a protective moisture buffer, with an enhanced antioxidant vitamin "cocktail" that helps protect skin against harmful, aging effects of the environment.

LOVE & XX’S,

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A Midwestern Victorian

March 25, 2018

WEARING: SHEIN EYELET EMBROIDERED RUFFLE BLOUSE | DL1961 HEPBURN JEANS |
EGO BOOTS | GUCCI BELT | ANA LUISA EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHEIN, DL1961 & URBAN DECAY COSMETICS.

My Midwest DNA has been infected with a Victorian flair. Today's post focuses on fusing the two together and where the inspiration is behind the look. A lot of you ask me what's my take on my personal style and here's my answer: Midwestern Rock n Roll mixed with European Chic. Since my visit to London, there has definitely been more of a British style within my looks. I've also included my new favorite makeup pieces from Urban Decay Cosmetics, incorporating an overall coral tone for an updated, fresh spring look. Continue reading to learn more about the products along with where you can get this white eyelet embroidered ruffle top for only $20!

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SHOP THE FLAT LAY

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in 'Demolition' 
80s purple fala round framed sunglasses 
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in 'Alkaline'
Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat 
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 'Backtalk' 
Louis Vuitton Poche Toilette 15 Monogram Pouch

SHOP THE TOP

The Eyelet Embroidered Ruffle And Bell Cuff Blouse is from SHEIN and is only $20! It's the perfect addition to your spring closet. Its crisp details will turn many heads! And what makes this blouse so fantastic along with it being purely chic? Comfort level 100. It's very wearable and makes me feel uber fashionable with it on. I also tucked it inside my jeans to give the blouse a more fitted, clean look. Hurry now and shop here before it is sold out!

SHOP THE JEANS

The blouse would also go well with a maxi skirt/dress but I styled it with a pair of wide leg jeans by DL1961, a New York City-based premium denim brand specializing in high-performance, sustainably manufactured denim that always offers a perfect fit. Katharine Hepburn's brazen style is reinterpreted with these aptly named wide legs. Its ultra high rise is fitted through the waist and butt, widening onwards from the thigh. Soft yet sturdy in 100% cotton, Slate is an old-school indigo wash with a heavily ravaged hem.

Accessories included in this look are Ana Luisa earrings (limited edition only, which makes them all the more special and unique), my favorite Gucci belt, and a pair of rose gold metallic boots from Ego. I also pulled my hair back into a ponytail because of the statement top. A little styling tip from me, to keep a 'busier' piece like this blouse well-balanced and not over the top, slick the hair back to focus attention on the shirt rather than the face. Earrings can sometimes be too much, especially with the hair down in a look as such.

What do you guys think of this mixed styled look? To clarify (for some), I grew up in the Midwest, in that it's something in my blood, not just a taste in a style I tend to gravitate towards to naturally... and as to what city? Motown baby! Fun fact: The Oldies is probably one of my favorite genres of music, on top of Rock and the Blues. I've always like to hear about where others are from because you can then have a better grasp to their personal style and taste. It's in all of us, and I think it's such a wonderfully cultural thing.

As to what I did this weekend? Aside from the usual brunch and my birthday (please no, I love you all but I'm really not into mine... hence the quietness about it.) I actually did a fun video shoot with a pretty well-known K Beauty brand on Saturday and am excited to share it with you soon! Stay tuned, lots of spring content coming your way including my monthly roundup of beauty favorites and other current trends in fashion & style. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! :)

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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September Beauty Favorites

September 29, 2017

BEAUTY FAVORITES: LANCÔME VISIONNAIRE YEUX EYE ON CORRECTION ADVANCED 
MULTI-CORRECTING EYE BALM | PETER THOMAS ROTH BLUE MARINE ALGAE INTENSE HYDRATING MASK
 | NAKED® COSMETICS URBAN RUSTIC TRIO PRESSED EYESHADOW PALETTE | 
LIE X NEOEIGHT N23 RED LIP GLOSS | JIN SOON NAIL POLISH FALL ART NOUVEAU COLLECTION |
 FIRST AID BEAUTY HELLO FAB MANGO BUTTER MULTI STICK ROSE | 
OLE HENRIKSEN INVIGORATING NIGHT TRANSFORMATION GEL | 
MAISON MARGIELA 'REPLICA' FUNFAIR EVENING | LANCÔME TEINT IDOLE ULTRA WEAR CAMOFLAUGE CONCEALER

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY JIN SOON, FIRST AID BEAUTY & LANCÔME BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Friday! I've been getting a lot of feedback from my monthly beauty favorites the past few months and I'm so happy to share with you today my September favorites when it comes to skincare and makeup! Beauty products galore, today I'm talking about my everyday perfume as of late, a multi-butter stick that can be used for lips, cheeks and/or eyes that's such a winner, and my favorite lipstick to tell everyone about right now is by NeoEight in collaboration with LIE Collection, and it's a Korean lip gloss with special features you just HAVE to read about! Continue reading to find out more, along with how I keep my dark circles in check, what is my current favorite nail polish brand, and other amazing beauty products (+ more) that I've been using for a while now or just recently discovered. Come take a look!

1. LANCÔME VISIONNAIRE YEUX EYE ON CORRECTION ADVANCED MULTI-CORRECTING EYE BALM

Capture the skin you want to keep forever with Lancôme’s best-selling Visionnaire skin correctors.
The Advanced Multi-Correcting Eye Balm has a triple-correcting effect on the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles and under eye bags. Made with Hydra Blur Technology, this cooling eye balm immediately blurs the appearance of imperfections around your eyes. Its lightweight texture blends seamlessly into the skin, targeting fine lines, evening skin tone and reducing the appearance of bags and dark circles. My skin is hydrated all day long and its soft focus blurring effect definitely helps reveal a smoother eye contour.

2. PETER THOMAS ROTH BLUE MARINE ALGAE INTENSE HYDRATING MASK

This nourishing, refreshing, hydrating gel mask, complete with nutrient-rich glacial lake blue marine algae delivers maximum anti-aging moisture. Energizing Korean Jeju Island tea, Arctic glacial antarcticine creates an eco-bubble barrier to help defend against varying environmental aggressors. It's my favorite mask to use when I'm in need of a quick hydration mask and I don't have a lot of time. I normally do it while I take a shower as it's only about a ten-minute mask.

3. NAKED® COSMETICS URBAN RUSTIC TRIO PRESSED EYESHADOW PALETTE

If you are a fan of the high-color payoff of our Pigments, you will NOT be disappointed in this new Palette. These highly pigmented pressed eyeshadowshave a soft silky feel, and as with our pigments, a little goes a LONG way. I'm obsessed with the fall-inspired rustic colors and have been using this little palette a lot lately! You can try them separately but I like to combine the colors here and there as well.

4. LIE X NEOEIGHT N23 RED LIP GLOSS

In collaboration with LIE Collection, a brand I saw at Concept Korea's show during NYFW, I received this amazing lip gloss in their goody bag. What makes this lipstick so unique? First off, I'm a K-Beauty addict and Korean skincare and makeup are first-rate. But it's not just the quality of the gloss or the color or creaminess (which I'm always looking for - hate when lip gloss is sticky) but its applique is insane! It not only has a side mirror, but when you open to apply the lip gloss, an LED light within the bottle turns on, which is the perfect lip gloss to carry while out when it's dark! Perfect for when painting the town red. :)

5. JIN SOON NAIL POLISH FALL ART NOUVEAU COLLECTION

I discovered Jin Soon nail polish while covering backstage life for Tibi the past couple of seasons. Also Korean, the Fall Art Nouveau Collections comes in four different colors, Abyss (blue-green), Fable (plum purple), Idyll (red-orange), and Milieu (creamy nude/grey). I love each color and think they complement each other well should you want to do a little more nail art. But regardless, these nail polishes are high-quality and won't chip your nails for over a week! Seriously, the best!

6. FIRST AID BEAUTY HELLO FAB MANGO BUTTER MULTI STICK ROSE

An all-in-one, cream-to-powder multi-stick that imparts a natural-looking, lit-from-within glow. Solutions for:- Dullness and uneven texture If you want to know more… This must-have cream-to-powder complexion finisher imparts a natural, gorgeous glow. With the help of superfood mango butter, it glides on easily over skin leaving behind a soft, luminous finish that's never dry or cakey. The versatile multi-stick is available in two universally flattering shades that can be used anywhere including the cheek, eyelids, lips, and decollete to capture the light and warm the complexion for a custom finish. The lightweight formula provides buildable coverage to create your desired look, from subtle illumination to intense strobing.

7. OLE HENRIKSEN INVIGORATING NIGHT TRANSFORMATION GEL

Which skin type is it good for? Normal Oily Combination Dry Sensitive An anti-aging serum with potent AHAs to smooth skin texture, even tone, and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep. Solutions for: Dullness and uneven texture, dark spots and uneven skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkle. If you want to know more… Wake up to a more even and luminous complexion with Invigorating Night Transformation™ Gel. This multitasking antiaging serum is loaded with a concentrated multi-source AHA complex including glycolic and lactic acids and microalgae. This potent retexturizing gel formula is designed for daily use, so you can see results night after night. The cooling gel texture is lightweight to absorb quickly, even as it delivers skin-nurturing hydration.

8. MAISON MARGIELA 'REPLICA' FUNFAIR EVENING

From the first breath, Funfair Evening evokes the carefree, playful ambiance of festivity. The sweet accord merges apple, caramel, orange blossom, and Tahitian vanilla to evoke a familiar but forgotten moment a night of childlike wonder. Close your eyes and let the fragrance transport you to the memory of laughter and playful melodies floating through the warm night air. Splashes of neon color break through the night, vibrant and explosive. The scents of cotton candy and caramel envelop you, filling you with youthful, wide-eyed joy. The silhouette of each 'REPLICA' bottle is inspired by classic apothecary jars, allowing the collection to be instantly identifiable. Each bottle carries a 100 percent cotton label, which is printed using black ink text and resembles the tags used on the clothing and accessories for the 'REPLICA' couture collection. The unique pumps are wrapped with a rope to symbolize the authentic reproduction of the original 'REPLICA' couture line.

9. LANCÔME TEINT IDOLE ULTRA WEAR CAMOFLAUGE CONCEALER

This ultra-pigmented, full-coverage color corrector hides imperfections. It won’t crease or cake, and it easily addresses the following common skin concerns: redness, dark spots, under-eye dark circles, sallowness, dullness, and acne scars. It blends seamlessly for a lightweight, second-skin feel and a natural finish—a little goes a long way. I use it under my eyes as a color corrector and it's my favorite concealer I've discovered in a very long time!