May Beauty Favorites

June 4, 2019

When summer hits my makeup definitely becomes more minimal than any other season throughout the year. I usually only wear lipstick and mascara with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. Just enough coverage, but still light enough for my skin to breathe. In today’s post, I’m sharing my monthly beauty favorites for the month of May, which include my in-between skincare regimens for the summer which does include some K-Beauty as well as other classic brands. I also have a favorite new prebiotic mask that’s great for anyone that’s a city dweller. And it’s fun because it changes color after applying. Continue reading to see more of my latest faves, such as a red orange lipstick and texture hair spray for beachy waves.

CLINIQUE FRESH PRESSED CLINICAL DAILY BOOSTERS

Turn your moisturizer into a de-aging powerhouse. Clinique 's breakthrough day and night Boosters with Pure Vitamins C 10% and A(Retinol) are freshly activated to deliver prescription-level results against visible wrinkles. Simply mix a few pumps with your favorite Clinique moisturizer—Vitamin C in the morning, and Vitamin A at night. Enjoy a potent de-aging boost without changing the moisturizer you love. Everyday, Vitamin C 10% works on skin's surface to instantly brighten. See remarkably even-toned and retexturized skin with continued use. Everynight, Vitamin A (Retinol) penetrates deeply into skin's surface. Overtime, skin appears revitalized, lines and wrinkles 're-filled,' youthful tone recaptured.

GIVENCHY LE ROUGE LIPSTICK COUTURE EDITION IN NO. 304 MANDARINE BOLERO

Le Rouge defines lips with its intense, pigment-rich color. Its feather-light, non-sticky, velvety texture glides across the lips to deliver a semi-matte finish and long-lasting wear. The case features the “scribble tiger” pattern straight out of Clare Waight Keller’s first Givenchy runway show. Use this limited-edition case on all your Givenchy Le Rouge lipsticks. The shade is a muted red orange, the perfect vibrant bold lip for summer.

GIVENCHY PRISME LIBRE COUTURE EDITION

Unify, set, and perfect with Givenchy’s Prisme Libre. Upon application, imperfections appear diminished, skin looks more even, and makeup is set with a lasting, radiant, matte finish. The cap features the “scribble tiger” pattern straight out of Clare Waight Keller’s first Givenchy runway show. Use this limited-edition cap on all your Givenchy Prisme Libre loose powders.

LUNE + ASTER REALGLOW SKIN TINT IN MEDIUM BEIGE

This light-diffusing Skin Tint covers and perfects with ultra-lightweight, customizable sheer to medium coverage for a naturally radiant look. Your skin, only better! After trying this product, I have given up on foundation as well as BB & CC creams. A tiny bit covers those imperfections and smooths my skin tone without looking like a heavy makeup! You can dab on extra to cover specific spots and it does not look cakey like other tinted moisturizers that I've tried before. It’s the perfect formula for flawless skin, while the ingredients help repair while you wear it:

Hyaluronic acid helps to plump and replenish the skin’s moisture level.

Vegan collagen helps to improve hydration and smooth the skin.
Vitamin E helps to hydrate, repair and protect.
Licorice extract helps to support skin's elasticity, fight inflammation, soothe irritation and reduce redness. Consistent use over time has been known to fade dark spots.
Apple seed extract helps to hydrate, repair and protect skin.

COSRX FIRST CLEANSING MILK GEL

COSRX's Low pH First Cleansing Milk Gel gently removes makeup, dirt and excess oil, without leaving behind a greasy residue. Olive oil and witch hazel are added to this silky formula to alleviate visible pores, oiliness and redness. Maintains skin's pH level, tightens pores, and refreshes skin without stripping the skin. I’ve been using it every other day when I do not do a double-cleanse and it’s a great balancer in between.

COSRX CENTELLA CLEANSING POWDER

Mildly acidic cleansing powder is infused with enzymes to gently exfoliate, and centella extract to soothe sensitive skin. Promotes a healthy-looking complexion with youthful radiance. I use it as an exfoliator once or twice a week, especially if I have had several shoots and am using more makeup than usual. They’re also a great travel companion due to its size.

URBAN DECAY PERVERSION MASCARA

So intense you might need a safe word, Perversion glides on and gets you sexy in one stroke. (Yet it won't quit until you say when.)Like a second skin, Urban Decay's ultra-creamy, lengthening, volumizing mascara coats each lash with triple-black pigments and a deeply nourishing ingredient blend - for bigger, blacker, badder lashes. It's sick how black it is...the purest, deepest, most intense black color imaginable. Perversion has a creamy, full-bodied texture that's not too dry, not too wet. This allows just the right amount of ""pull"" so it glides through lashes. The result: Incredible control for insane lashes. Go ahead and pile on coat after coat. Want to apply more before you go out at night? No problem. Even if it's been all day since you applied, more Perversion always means more beautiful lashes. It NEVER gets brittle or clumpy.

URBAN DECAY PERVERSION WATERPROOF FINE-POINT EYE PEN

If you want to nail an eyeliner look that's perfectly exact, you'll enjoy total control with Urban Decay's Perversion Waterproof Fine-Point Eye Pen, a super-smooth, free-flowing pen that draws crazy-precise, waterproof blacker-than-black lines that last all day.The pen's unique cartridge system allows for a constant flow of ink. Plus, its ultra fine tip glides on smooth without skipping or pulling, providing a smooth, controlled application. Easily create everything from fine lines to bold, thick lines. The waterproof formula lays down long-lasting black lines with ink that dries quickly and won't smudge, run or feather.

PEACE OUT DARK SPOT BRIGHTENING DOTS

Using microneedling technology, these revolutionary treatment dots create micro-channels within the skin that help deliver results in half the time of most treatments. Niacinamide, licorice extract, and tranexamic acid work together to visibly lighten and brighten without causing irritation. All dark spots are different—this product best treats dark spots from post-acne inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Now that I’m older it takes longer for an acne spot to clear up, and these brightening dots are doing the magic trick!

PEACE OUT ACNE HEALING DOTS

Zap that zit! These patent-pending acne-healing dots are the only acne treatment to combine absorbent hydrocolloid technology with active blemish-fighting ingredients. Infused with salicylic acid to kick acne-causing bacteria to the curb, they also contain vitamin A to help support natural skin turnover and aloe vera to soothe redness. Hydrocolloid technology extracts impurities while creating a protective barrier that guards against external irritants. By protecting your blemishes from bacteria, inflammation, and picking, these dots also reduce the potential for acne scarring. Whether you're struggling with hormonal acne, whiteheads, or inflamed pimples, your blemish is less red, less painful, and significantly less irritating in as little as six hours.

SGX NYC ‘THE DO-IT-ALL’ 3-IN-1 DRY TEXTURE SPRAY

Tired hair? Revive flat, 5pm hair with this multi-talented dry texture spray. Designed with dry shampoo to instantly add texture by refreshing and volumizing while hairspray provides brushable hold for that that perfectly undone tousled style. I love to use this dry texture spray all by itself on towel-dried/damp hair. During the summer, I’m not as into styling my hair with a blowdryer, curling iron, straightener, etc; that all do so much damage in the long run. So for those all-naturalé days, it’s my go to for wavy, beachy hair.

ALGENIST ALIVE PREBIOTIC BALANCING MASK

Algenist ALIVE Prebiotic Balancing Mask is a transformative mask that re-balances, detoxifies and leaves skin feeling alive and hydrated while enhancing clarity for an even, radiant look. Formulated with a probiotic, and prebiotic from algae, paired with our patented Alguronic Acid, to target concerns that may result from unbalanced surface skin bacteria. Probiotics and prebiotics are good for you ingredients that help balance skin's natural surface ecosystem. Skin is more resistant to pollution and the appearance of lifestyle aging. I use it every 2-3 days and it’s so fantastic! I love how it changes color, as if its really getting down to business and cleaning my face, ha ha!

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE PRODUCTS

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Pardon My Fucking French

May 23, 2018

WEARING: NASTY GAL GRAPHIC TEE | NA-KD FASHION LEATHER JACKET | 
 MAVI TESS JEANS | FOREVER 21 RETRO SUNNIES | 
TELEPORT SHOES BOLT BOOTS | LEVI'S BERET

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY NASTY GAL, MAVI JEANS AND TELEPORT SHOES.

Parlez vous francais? Today's post is all on edgy Parisian style. This is totally me. As you guys know, my favorite part about styling is mixing it up and trying things outside the box, even pieces you might not even consider to be your ultimate 'look' but there's nothing more comforting than knowing your own unique take on fashion and then putting together an outfit that you'd not just wear once, but over and over again. So without further ado, pardon my fucking French and let's get down to what I'm wearing in this fierce look! Also, continue reading to learn more about some of the brands I've been wanting to partner with for the longest time and it's crazy to think that they're styled within this post! So... don't miss it, you definitely want to be checking this out!

I'm so excited to be working with Nasty Gal! They've been one of my favorite brands since forever, and to be able to style one of their pieces within my content is just surreal! They've created a collection of (p)unny uncensored graphic tees and of course being an Aries, I instantly gravitated to big, bold red font on a simple white T-shirt. My personality is quite unfiltered as well. I swear like a sailor and call it like it is. Not afraid of my voice let alone how opinionated I can be as well. So I found the 'Pardon my fucking French' tee to be fucking awesome! What do you guys think, would you wear something like this out in public? Obviously not to a job interview... ha ha!

When I was in college (and yes that was a while ago...) I discovered a jean brand with Turkish roots and had the most incredible and softest touch to their denim. Mavi Jeans is not just top quality (I had a pair that I wore for over ten years before I finally parted ways with them after literally splitting the seams with my big booty Judy!) but the comfort level is so legit, I never wanted to take them off! These pearl-studded skinny jeans are so fun and can go with so many different tops! This pair comes in at $128 (plus tax) but is so well worth the price. I find that once I got older, I was way more into investing in top quality staple pieces to my wardrobe because it's better for the environment and keeps your closet at a minimum when it comes to space - and us New Yorkers have so very little of it!

I can't say I've ever owned a pair of red boots before but these Bolt boots are just the right amount of lightning red for any Aries girl. If you remember from my last fashion post with the metallic silver boots, these red ones are also from the same brand, Teleport Shoes. Teleport has established its origins in the heart and soul of Los Angeles. They design for today by perfectly juxtaposing celebrated elements of the past and present. Feel electric in these new red leather Chelsea boots. The lightning bolt elastic gore detail will add a little edge to any outfit. They're amazing to walk in, even with a -inch heel.

I styled the look with some retro sunnies from Forever 21 and my favorite beret from Levi's. People are always so surprised to hear that the beret is from Levi's the brand, but I just consider it a lucky find and of course, why wouldn't it be fab? (Clearly, a lover of Levi's LOL) I recently attended a private event to the launch of Givenchy Beauty's Le Rouge Liquide lipstick collection and their new lippies are to die for! I actually combined two lipsticks into one to give it a berry ombre look, I went for colors N-107 Nude Velours and N-412 Grenat Alpaga - what's amazing about these lipsticks is the functionality. You can go bold or soft with just a twist! The soft matte liquid cream gives you a blur-effect yet a hydrating luminous set of velvet lips!

SHOP THE GIVENCHY LE ROUGE LIPSTICKS

I ate one of the props straight away after shooting. It was early on a weekend morning and we walked with the pup for a couple of miles before getting the shots. I could eat bread all day, every day. Who's with me on this? Of course, this isn't healthy but who said anything about that?! Just kidding, seriously though, why can't bread be our friend?My favorite part of this look though is MaQ, of course. I always have so much fun shooting with him and I think he does too. He is very trained to sit and hold a position, we've been doing this since he was a pup! I used to pose him unleashed in front of street art and people are still amazed at his ability to sit still and look so happy while doing so. He's the best model, I swear! He even knows when "it's in the box"... meaning we got the shot. He literally walks away like a diva, convinced we have it and that's why it's a wrap! Ha ha ha!