August Beauty Favorites

BEAUTY FAVORITES: KIEHL'S CUCUMBER HERBAL CONDITIONING CLEANER | 
FRUDIA GREEN GRAPE PORE CONTROL SHEET MASK | 
ESTEE LAUDER REVITALIZING SUPREME PLUS GLOBAL ANTI-AGING CELL POWER CREME | 
FRUDIA GREEN GRAPE PORE CONTROL TONER | 
ORIGINS DR. ANDREW WEIL FOR ORIGINS™ MEGA-MUSHROOM SKIN RELIEF FACE MASK | 
URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER LIQUID FOUNDATION 7.75 | LANCÔME MATTE SHAKERS | 
YSL BEAUTY SMOKER EYE DUO GREEN | ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR | 
KIEHL'S CREAMY EYE TREATMENT W/ AVOCADO | 
ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOR ENVY SCULPTING LIPSTICK - VENGEFUL RED

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FRUDIA & KIEHL'S, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Friday! What's everyone doing for the long weekend? I'm ready for some much need R&R for the next few days, as come Tuesday it's the beginning of a long and crazy week, AKA: Fashion Week. Today's post I'm sharing my latest beauty favorites that I've discovered and have been using for the past month. There's a ton of skin care and makeup products I'm excited to share with you, ranging from Lancôme, Estee Lauder, YSL Beauty and even a new K Beauty line called, Frudia. I found some really amazing lipsticks and face masks along with a brand new liquid foundation I've never tried, but am now officially obsessed with. Come take a look at all these goodies and how these can be incorporated into your beauty regimen! 

1. KIEHL'S CUCUMBER HERBAL CONDITIONING CLEANSER

You think drinking cucumber-infused water is refreshing? How about washing your face with it?! This ultra-gentle, foaming gel-lotion cleanser softly melts away dirt, impurities, and makeup while conditioning even dry, sensitive skin for a fresh-feeling clean that lasts all day. Formulated with whole cucumbers, carefully extracted to preserve the quality and nutrients of the fruit, and plant-based glycerin, this non-drying, non-irritating cleanser maintains skin's moisture leaving it soothed, velvety soft, and comfortably cleansed. My skin type is combination/oily, so I will definitely be using this cleanser to the start to the chillier season... it'll be perfect during winter time!

2. FRUDIA GREEN GRAPE PORE CONTROL SHEET MASK

Looking to get rid of that extra sebum on your face without drying it up? Stop worrying about oily skin and dirty pores. This nature-derived, botanical sheet contains 60% green grape extract to help tighten pores and balance the skin. Using a face mask like this quickly delivers active ingredients deeply to the skin to balance moisture and soothe your irritated skin. It can be used on all skin types.

3. ESTEE LAUDER REVITALIZING SUPREME PLUS GLOBAL ANTI-AGING CELL POWER CREME

This creme is the key to younger-looking skin. Unlock your skin's youth potential and see it spring back with new bounce, glow with radiant vitality. With Estee Lauder's exclusive RevitaKey Technology featuring exclusive moringa extract, this silky-soft, deeply nourishing multi-action creme encourages skin's natural power to amplify collagen and elastin. Lines and wrinkles look dramatically reduced. Skin's visible firmness, density, and elasticity are significantly improved. In just 4 weeks, 96% of women said their skin felt firmer. After using this creme every night for a little over a month now, I too can attest to an improvement in my skin's overall 'glow.' It's literally amazing.

4. FRUDIA GREEN GRAPE PORE CONTROL TONER

The only kind of toners I ever use are Korean. This pure, refreshing toner made up of 89% green grape extract controls pores with natural grape tannin and helps remove dead skin cells. Panthenol calms agitated skin, while fruits seed oil complex helps to maintain skin clarity. The tannin works with and vitamin E from the green grapes to not only hydrate the skin but keep it smooth and healthy. Soothe and hydrate your irritated skin with this fresh-feeling green grape toner, it smells fantastic too!

5. ORIGINS DR. ANDREW WEIL FOR ORIGINS™ MEGA-MUSHROOM SKIN RELIEF FACE MASK

A non-irritating, redness-reducing facial mask for those rather, extra rough days. The effects of sun, wind, and dehydration can accumulate, and your skin needs extra help to break the cycle. This rich treatment mask with hypsizygus ulmarius, cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms along with ginger, holy basil, and turmeric rushes relief to challenged skin to rapidly soothe signs of compromise. Chinese black bamboo leaf extract celebrated for centuries as a symbol of eternal youth, quells and calms visible redness and reactivity. And a unique blend of marine algae and moisture-replenishing plant extracts helps revitalize and restore luminosity to stressed skin while rebuilding a protective barrier to help avoid future flare-ups. Great for all skin types, skin is left calm and comforted. I use it once a week on top of sheet masks, and it's a great face mask.

6. URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHT LIQUID FOUNDATION 7.75

A full-coverage, matte-finish, waterproof foundation that lasts all night. All Nighter Liquid Foundation by Urban Decay provides full coverage with a modern matte finish that never looks overdone. Get all-night wear and a blown-out effect you never thought was possible for a flawless-looking complexion that looks incredible and stays that way. Perfect for all-night affairs, this innovative formula is also comfortable enough to wear every day. While Naked Skin complexion products are semi-matte, All Nighter Liquid Foundation is completely matte and oil-free. Urban Decay loaded this formula with a higher amount of pigment (about three times as much as Naked Skin Liquid Makeup), so a little goes a long way. There's no need to build coverage or apply multiple layers. This waterproof formula diffuses light to blur flaws for beautifully perfected skin, while it mattifies and absorbs oil to reduce the appearance of shine. It's a wonderful foundation for fall. 

7. LANCÔME MATTE SHAKERS HIGH PIGMENT LIQUID LIPSTICKS 186, 270 & 272

A highly pigmented matte liquid lipstick that delivers intense color payoff with a lightweight, second-skin feel. Matte Shaker High Pigment Liquid Lipstick wears comfortably on your lips throughout the day without drying. Its pillow-like cushion applicator allows for precise application without streaking or smudging. And it's formulated with a patented Ultra Thin Film technology and vitamin E, so that lips feel double the thinness of a liquid lipstick and provides comfortable non-drying wear. Its unique cushion sponge allows for maximum absorption of the formula to deliver a precise, soft application onto the lips, and buildable color that dries without smudging or transfer. Just shake it to soak the applicator with formula, and apply the cushion directly onto lips to build the saturated color. Then wait for it to dry down to a lightweight, comfort matte finish. I even love mixing the colors together to blend an entirely different hue as well! Really amazing liquid lipsticks. 

8. YSL BEAUTY SMOKER EYE DUO IN GREEN

A dual-ended eye shadow pen that allows you to shade, line, smudge, and highlight to create easy smoky looks. The eye shadow comes with a creamy texture and water resistant formula. One side of the dual-ended pen has a dark shadow and the other side has a light shadow, so you can use it from day to night. Use the darker color as a base on your eye lid and lower eye lid in one stroke. Use the lighter color as a highlighter on the corner of your eye and at the arch of your eye brow. For a lighter version of the look, start with the light shade as the base on both upper and lower eye lids, then add contrast and structure by applying the darker shade to the outer corner of the eyes. There's an assortment of colors but I loved the green one. You can see it on me in this look here.

9. ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR SYNCHRONIZED RECOVERY COMPLEX II

Reveal a smoother, more radiant, younger look. Wake up to more beautiful skin every day. Tested and proven: Advanced Night Repair dramatically reduces the look of key signs of aging. It maximizes the power of skin's natural nighttime renewal with our exclusive ChronoluxCB Technology. Lines and wrinkles look significantly reduced. More than 75% of women felt their skin looked more youthful in just 4 weeks. Skin feels smoother, hydrated, stronger. 82% felt their skin was immediately hydrated. Skin looks younger, radiant, more even toned. 83% felt their skin looked healthier, fresher, more rested in just 4 weeks. 25+ Patents and Patents Pending Worldwide. These stats are legit - it's my new favorite serum!

10. KIEHL'S CREAMY EYE TREATMENT W/ AVOCADO

This luxurious eye cream gently moisturizes the eye area without migrating into the eyes. Perfect for use under eye makeup, it contains highly effective natural ingredients that provide essential daily hydration and protection. The eye area is left softer, suppler, and more youthful-looking. This moisturizing eye treatment formulated with avocado oil is a definite must morning and night in my beauty routine. 

11. ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOR ENVY SCULPTING LIPSTICK - VENGEFUL RED

An Allure Best of Beauty winner, this six-hour wear, highly-pigmented lipstick gives your lip look the ultimate transformation. Make a bold color statement that lasts. Saturate lips with high-intensity color in one stroke, swiping on a statement shade that works with all skin tones. Designed with multi-faceted pigments that add definition, and a time-released moisture complex that seals in hydration, it leaves lips looking beautifully shaped, sculpted, and curvaceous. I have been trying to find the perfect red lipstick for the fall/winter season and this one is a definite keeper! 

LOVE & XX'S,

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July Beauty Favorites

BEAUTY FAVORITES: OLE HENRIKSEN SHEER TRANSFORMATION® MOISTURIZER | 
ORIGINS GINZING SCRUB CLEANSER | MUSTAEV MOOD THERAPY MASK - JOY | 
AVEDA BE CURLY™ CURL ENHANCER | STUDIO MAKEUP ON THE GO EYESHADOW PALETTE | 
MUSTAEV MAXI VOLUME MASCARA | DIOR ADDICT ULTRA GLOSS 'EVERDIOR' | 
MILK MAKEUP BLUR STICK 

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THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY OLE HENRIKSEN & AVEDA BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Monday! Today's post is on my favorite beauty essentials I've discovered and have been using during the month of July. Some are old time favorites, but a lot of the beauty products I'll be sharing with you today you may have heard about before, but it's my first time trying and reviewing them. And because it's such a gloomy day out here in NYC, I had to bring in some colorful beauty essentials to brighten up this Monday! Let's get down to it... 

1. OLE HENRIKSEN SHEER TRANFORMATION™ PERFECTING MOISTURIZER

The Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation® Perfecting Moisturizer is an oil-free moisturizer, rich in antioxidants, to weightlessly hydrate, even tone, and smooth skin texture for a healthy-looking complexion.Transform the way you think about your moisturizer. Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer delivers weightless hydration and luminous perfection. With its whipped, silky texture, this best-selling oil-free moisturizer imparts essential moisture to the skin, even as it delivers radiance and improves the appearance of dark spots and discoloration. It is formulated with multi-fruit acids, plus licorice and pea extracts to help gently refine uneven skin tone and texture. This silky, multitasking moisturizer is also the perfect prep step for makeup because it smooths and brightens for flawless foundation application.

2. ORIGINS GINZING REFRESHING SCRUB CLEANSER 

The Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is a 2 in 1 scrubby cleanser that is fortified with radiance-boosting Panax ginseng and caffeine. Jojoba and carnauba wax gently exfoliate to help unclog pores. Skin looks smoother, brighter. Feels perfectly refreshed and squeaky clean. Plus, Origins uplifting 100% natural essential oil blend of grapefruit, lemon and Spearmint perks you up so you're ready to face the day!

3. MUSTAEV MOOD THERAPY MASK - JOY

Tone up your sunburned skin from frequent outdoor activities! The Mustaev Mood Therapy Mask - Joy mask contains soothing extracts that even the skin tone and improve the overall clarity. Supercharged with a brightening solution to help alleviate and improve the appearance of dark spots and freckles. There are many factors that contribute to how your skin looks. Diet, hygiene and the environment are a few but did you know your emotions and mood could be the reason for a dull complexion, dehydrated skin, wrinkles, and breakouts?Anger, sadness, and stress are a few emotions we experience regularly and each of these moods adversely affect our skin. Mustaev does carry other moods for other skin needs, you guys need to check them out!

4. AVEDA BE CURLY™ CURL ENHANCER

One of my favorite hair products to use while at the beach or just keeping it super casual is the Aveda Be Curly™ Curl Enhancer. Since I have naturally wavy hair, this product intensifies curl, combats frizz and boosts shine on curly or wavy hair. Wheat protein and organic aloe infused styling creme expands when hair is wet and retracts when hair is dry to intensify your curl or wave. Aveda's own pure-fume™ aroma with certified organic lemon, bergamot, orange and other pure flower and plant essences will keep your hair smelling fresh and amazing.

5. STUDIO MAKEUP ON THE GO EYESHADOW PALETTE

The On the Go eyeshadow palette is a compilation of shades that updates the bare beauty look with a cosmopolitan attitude. With this elegant palette, you can create the prettier, urban makeup look and Go Studio from day to night. The On the Go Eyeshadow Palette includes 9 shades that will boost your confidence all year round. This "Cool Down" palette contains 9 shadows: 5 mattes, 3 satin-shimmer shades, and 1 foiled shade. All of the shades are, as the name suggests, distinctly cool-toned. There are cream shades with pink undertones, taupe with lilac undertones, and cool browns, berries, lavenders, and grays. It is beautiful to look at – very Fall/Winter appropriate.

6. MUSTAEV MAXI VOLUME MASCARA

Another favorite product by Mustaev is the Maxi Volume Mascara which provides gorgeous, voluminous, high impact lashes! The dark, rich color coats and curls the lashes while providing a long lasting wear with no smudging, running, flaking or clumping. I've been using it since this photo shoot and I just can't get enough of it!

7. DIOR ADDICT ULTRA GLOSS 'EVERDIOR'

More than just a gloss, Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss is a lip plumper and gloss all in one. Bursting with hyaluronic acid spheres, its plumping and ultra-hydrating formula gives lips a supple, plump shape bursting with freshness, and offers up to six hours of continuous, deep moisture. Ultra-glossy, lips are glossed with an incredibly thin and easy-wearing mirror-shine film. I'm obsessed with the "Everdior" coral summer color, it's been perfect for the month of July! Will definitely be wearing more of this color for the remainder of the season.

8. MILK MAKEUP BLUR STICK

Last but not least is the Milk Makeup Blur Stick. A colorless, oil- and silicone-free primer to blur the look of imperfections on all skin tones. The Blur Stick minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines on every skin tone for an invisible, smooth matte finish. Use it as a primer for a smooth finish and to lock in your makeup. This stick is free of silicone, and it will not clog pores. 

Have you guys tried any of these in the past? Any favorites of your own? Don't forget to leave a comment down below. Follow me on Instagram for more daily posts. Wishing you a great week! 

LOVE & XX'S,

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Cosmopolitan: Let's Talk About It Event

WEARING: NATIVE YOUTH RUST HIGH NECK BLOCK JERSEY SWEATER | 
MARSHALL FIELD'S FAUX CROC SATCHEL BAG | ALDO BUGIANO STUDDED ANKLE BOOTIES | 
STELLA & DOT GOLD AND BLACK FRINGE NECKLACE | AE CHAMBRAY SHIRT 

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THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY COSMOPOLITAN, NATIVE YOUTH, AND STELLA & DOT.

 

"KILL THEM WITH COMPETENCE."

Yesterday's 'Let's Talk About It' event with Cosmopolitan helped others find their voice on topics that some (wrong) people consider taboo for women to talk about and more. Busting taboos around money & power, sex & romance, beauty & image, happiness and more, it was an inspiring, and empowering way to spend a Saturday. Kicking off the morning with 'humming in' with sound therapy practitioner, Sara Auster, and CEO of MNDFL, Ellie Burrows, the entire room suddenly felt like I was surrounded by hundreds of bees near its main nest. It was strange yet communal... zen. Practicing meditation helps one focus on themselves and who they really are. It was a unique opener and a wonderful way to bring us together.

The seminar was welcomed by Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan, Michele Promaulayko, and her first panel of boss women, television personality, host, fashion designer, singer, actress and author of There's No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch, Kelly Osbourne, acclaimed TV journalist, woman's empowerment advocate and author of the upcoming book, Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back, Gretchen Carlson, and CEO of, The Pink Ceiling, and the woman behind the 'female viagra', Addyi, Cindy Whitehead.

Self-acceptance, struggles in the workforce and yes, sex, was among some of the general topics discussed in the opening panel. I think my favorite moment from that panel was Kelly Osbourne's story about being bullied as a kid. At first, she confided in her mother, Sharon, and told her to go back to school the following day and tell the girls that were picking on her that if they didn't stop, she'd have her father bite their heads off. LMAO. But when that didn't work, she then went to her father, Ozzy. And surprisingly enough, his advice was to basically tattletale on them. He told her to tell the girls they had one last chance to do right and if they didn't stop, she would report them. And sending that kind of message to your daughter, that your voice is the most powerful force within you, is such an important lesson to learn, let alone acquire.

The second segment focused on money, power & work. The panel included Director of Editorial and Business Development of Cosmopolitan & Seventeen, Laura Brounstein, journalist & author of, Feminist Fight Club, Jessica Bennett, and women's leadership expert, Chief Leadership Officer for LEVO & author of, Drop the Ball, Tiffany Dufu. Heavy talks of the balance between your work life and personal life were extremely central to everyone, along with great tips for it. For example, Tiffany Dufu, said people respond to authenticity. “Embrace the imperfection,” she said. “Do what you need to do in order to be the kind of leader that people will resonate with." And I think this applies to everywhere in life, not just on Instagram. 9/10 times I want to work with someone because they're real with me, not because they're putting up a front that they're perfect. Because no one is that.  

When Jessica Bennett was first starting her career, she felt uneasy about self-promotion. Her male co-workers, however, had no trouble shamelessly doing so  — and got all the credit and raises. Then she and her friend came up with a strategy and became each other’s “boast bitches.” “When I did something good, she would send a mass email to all of our editors, being like, ‘Did you see this great thing that Jess did? It was really amazing!’ And I would do the same for her.” No good deed goes unpunished? Not in this case. It's selfless, they're both supporting one another and at the same time feeling good doing it and feeling good about themselves. And they finally got the credit they deserved. 

Another favorite segment was the sex talk with Digital Special Projects Director for Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, & Redbook, Elisa Benson, actor & host of his own hit podcast, The Love Bomb, Nico Tortorella, and founder & host of the Sex with Emily podcast, Dr. Emily Morse. Dr. Morse encouraged women to talk about what they need from their partners in the bedroom but to not talk about it in the bedroom. Rather in a more relaxed setting, like at brunch, or over coffee. "Make it more casual," she said. "You just kind of throw it out there, not like a we need to talk." Another tip? Do it in the car or on the subway. It's a place where you can talk about awkward issues without making eye contact. And reinforce, reinforce, reinforce! It goes a long way, especially before giving some feedback that might not exactly be A+.

After lunch, there was a dance-off with the founder & creator of DanceBody, Katia Pryce, where she had the entire room gyrating together in a full circle. It was yet another great way to bring everyone together and to prepare everybody for what's next, which was the part where we all sat around each other in the same circle and went around telling the room what our current ambitions were. Many wanted love, happiness and more. Better jobs, bigger houses, more time with their loved ones... and I have to admit, when it comes down to it, we really all want the same things in life. To love and be loved in return, to find joy in the bittersweetness of life; to belong to something, to be accepted and appreciated. To have much purpose and to fulfill your dreams. To just be at peace.

And the Cosmopolitan conference did just that for me and helped me recognize what really matters and what doesn't. What's your current ambition? To answer mine, I would honestly say that I am striving to be a better wife and mommy to my fur child because, with the crazy amount of work I've been doing in the past year, the amount of time I have with them is really scarce. Sure, I work with my husband constantly, but that doesn't count for quality time. And my pup has been missing me being home and spending time with him. So I'm definitely working on that challenging balance in life as well. This event also reminded me how powerful our voices really can be. I think if we can continue to spread the gift of courage, in that the more we speak up about things we shouldn't necessarily talk about or are subject to taboo, the more we will all see that it can help and inspire others to break free from their silence. Thanks for stopping by and reading about my Cosmopolitan adventures! Don't forget to comment your ambitions down below!  

LOVE & XX'S,

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Kimchi Risotto

A rainy start to the work week, I wanted to create some new food content as a lot of you have been making several requests as of late. Plus, I've been going through a lot personally, and cooking has always been therapeutic, for me, at least. Eating well never sucks and having others enjoy the food I make results in me being happy, which also never sucks :) So let's talk about this wonderful recipe I tried out - it's nutty, buttery, and tangy with just the right amount of heat, and perfect for a chillier day like today... kimchi risotto! What the heck did I just say?!

Kimchi Risotto

photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1/2c Kimchi juice (squeezed from kimchi)

1/2 Kimchi (minced)

3c Vegetable stock

2Tbsp butter

2 Cloves garlic (minced)

1c Sushi rice

3-4Tbsp Gruyére cheese (grated with a microplane)

Directions:

1. Squeeze the juice out of the kimchi using your hands to make 1/2 cup of juice and then weigh out 100 grams of squeezed kimchi. Mince the kimchi.

2. Pour the vegetable stock into a pot and bring to a simmer over high heat. Turn down to low to keep warm.

3. In another pot, add the lard and garlic and saute until fragrant.

4. Add the minced kimchi and continue sauteing until the kimchi is translucent.

5. Add the rice and stir until the rice has evenly absorbed all the oil.

6. Add the kimchi juice along with a ladleful of hot vegetable stock and stir the rice until most of the water has been absorbed.

7. Continue adding vegetable stock a ladleful at a time and stirring until the rice is your desired consistency. You may not need all the stock.

8. When the rice is done, add the grated Gruyère and stir into the risotto. Serve immediately.

I know, initially the idea sounded a bit peculiar. Swiss cheese with kimchi and sushi rice? But the combination of flavors go wonderfully within this dish, and though I've made risottos in the past, I've never tried a fusion recipe of this kind before. And the results were sublime, I'll tell you! One of my favorite dishes is risotto, which would make sense given I'm such a rice girl. But the creamy warm flavors delight my taste buds, as I'm sure they do yours. I love a mean, mushroom risotto, but this kimchi risotto certainly takes the cake! The flavors are really all there, you don't even need to add salt! 

I normally use arborio or baldo rice when it comes to making risotto, but I found sushi rice to be an interesting type of rice to use in this fusion recipe. Though this recipe is derived from here, I did a bit of my own tweaking in terms of measurements and the different use in rice. You could also try using a different form of kimchi, such as turnip/radish, which would still bring the acidity into the risotto. I'd love to give a zucchini kimchi a go, what do you guys think about the sounds of that? 

Here are a few tips to achieving the ultimate risotto: Number one - the broth you use to mix the risotto should be very heat, it better cooks down the rice giving it that smooth, creamy goodness that should be when making risotto. Number two - you can use lard instead of butter should you want a more rich flavor but I like to eat pretty healthy (not that butter is any healthier lol), should you not want to use butter at all, you can try making it with coconut oil! And lastly, when it comes to making your own risotto, try to live a little on the wild side. Mix up the flavors, try something you haven't tried before. Get creative. After all, that's part of the fun when it comes to cooking, am I right or am I right? :) 

LOVE & XX'S,

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Recent Beauty Favorites: Dermablend, YSL & More

RECENT BEAUTY FAVORITES: YSL BEAUTY MON PARIS EAU DE PARFUM STAR COLLECTOR | 
DERMABLEND LOOSE SETTING POWDER | DERMABLEND PRO FACE & BODY BRUSH | 
WANDER BEAUTY MICRO BROW PENCIL | LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR BB BLUR | 
CAILYN O! WOW BRUSH | 100 PERCENT PURE BRIGHT EYES CREAMY LONG LASTING EYE LINER 

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THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YSL BEAUTY, DERMABLEND, WANDER BEAUTY, LA ROCHE-POSAY, CAILYN O!, & 100 PERCENT PURE BUT ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN.

Hey, everyone! I just wanted to start off by thanking everyone for all of their feedback from last Friday's post. It was also the first time I received a negative comment on my blog which of course at first, stung, but then I quickly realized: One - this person intentionally went out of their way to leave a ridiculous comment, which in turn proves they have too much time on their hands, and Two - one has to be way more thick-skinned than that to get through judgmental remarks, scrutiny, criticism and then some in this industry. I responded the way I wanted to respond to the person who wanted to deliberately hurt me and I will leave it at that because any more time spent on it would be sad. But to those who reached out with love, kindess, and support, thank you!! I can never tell you how much it means to me. So speaking of thick-skinned... today's post is featuring some of my most recent favorite beauty products! Come take a loooksie down below!  

1. YSL BEAUTY MON PARIS EAU DE PARFUM STAR COLLECTOR

Sparkling red berries and pear mixed with a sensual peony accord combined with exotic white Datura flower and creamy musk swirled with spicy patchouli to create an unforgettable Parisian journey of love, this Star Edition brings a more rock and couture attitude with the stars that dress the bottle. A new collector to highlight the edgy style of Yves Saint Laurent. It is a bit too musky for me, but the floral scents do help with the balanced scent. Made in France.

2. DERMABLEND LOOSE SETTING POWDER

Want a complexion that stays all day? Try the legendary Dermablend Loose Setting Powder. This powder provides a shine free finish that helps keep makeup in place for up to 16 hours of wear. Simply dust all over your concealer or foundation to lock your look in place. Formulated with silky micronized powders, this product helps keep your complexion matte, even and flawless. It's my first setting powder and trust me when I say this, I don't think I'll be switching to any other setting powder anytime soon!

3. DERMABLEND PRO FACE & BODY BRUSH

Makeup coverage blends easily with Dermablend Pro Face & Body Brush. Made from high-quality hairs this large fluffy rounded head allows for application on large surfaces. This brush has a convenient short handle allowing for use on both the face and the body. I love using this brush with the loose setting powder as it gives good coverage and is light to the touch. Definitely a good investment.

4. WANDER BEAUTY MICRO BROW PENCIL

Wander Beauty's 'Micro Brow Pencil' creates natural-looking and sculpted eyebrows. It has an ultra-fine tip that mimics brow hair for sparse areas, and a brush for a soft, defined shape. This 'Taupe' hue works best for those with dark blonde to light brown hair and goes perfectly with my new lighter-colored hair (literally almost blonde, you guys, lol)

5. LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR BB BLUR CREAM MOUSSE

Blur the appearance of pores, blemishes and fine lines with La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur, a new generation skincare hybrid that absorbs oil all day long. Specifically tailored for oily skin, BB Blur will provide day-long control of shine with Aircilium, a cutting-edge ingredient that forms a supple and resistant film over the skin that smoothes its surface whilst letting it breathe. NASA-used Aircilium absorbs 3 times its weight in oil, keeping the skin matte and unified with a velvet finish. Added Perlite composed of silica is 5 times more powerful than talc and protects against humidity with its continuous blotting paper effect. Suitable for the most sensitive of skin, the skin-perfecting formula contains blurring technology that scatters light to visibly fade pores and fine lines. The cream mousse contains shade adapting pigments that work to color match the skin on application, whilst providing medium coverage that will erase imperfections and leave a radiant, flawless finish. Go and get this NOW. You will be just as obsessed as I am!

6. CAILYN O! WOW BRUSH

Cailyn O! Wow Brush - Velvety-Soft Touch, Award-Winning Finish - Thousands of micro-fine, ultra-soft bristles are densely packed for the most flawless, porcelain finish in a flash! The dome-shaped angled brush head contours to every corner of the face for smooth, airbrushed application of liquid or powder makeup, serums, and creams. You won't believe how velvety-soft this brush is! This ergonomic-styled wand, with slip-off cap, is self-standing to keep germs & dirt at bay. Perfect for makeup table or travel!

7. 100 PERCENT PURE BRIGHT EYES CREAM LONG LASTING EYELINER

This creamy long lasting formula glides on your eyelids to beautify and define your eyes while nourishing your skin with Vitamin E. An old-kept secret to brighter-looking eyes? Put white eyeliner on the bottom inner lids of your eyes to give that extra pop and attention to them! Works with every other shade you work with as well :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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