Makeup Steals: Smashbox Bestsellers Set

It's not a secret to my friends that I am a huge fan of Smashbox primers. I've tried numerous brands but, always end up coming back to this one. On a recent trip to Nordstrom Rack I was shocked when I saw the "bestsellers set" from Smashbox for a mere $19. This is a steal since it is currently retailing for $39 online. The set comes with a full size Photo Finish Foundation Primer, a sample size Photo Finish Lid Primer, a sample size Photo Op Eyeshadow Trio, a sample size Layer Lash Primer, and a sample size Full Exposure Mascara.  This is a great set because it allowed me to try four new products without having to spend a ton of cash. The Photo Finish Foundation Primer normally retails for $36 and it's well worth the price! It smooths and perfects the skin, fills in lines and creates the perfect canvas for your foundation.

The Photo Finish Lid Primer retails for $20. I was surprised at how much I liked it. It goes on smooth, doesn't crease, brightens the eye area, and causes eyeshadow to not only show up, but last longer. According to it's description on line, it can even be used under the eyes as a concealer.

The Photo Op Eyeshadow Trio is in "Multi-Flash" and it retails for $28. I love the colors for creating a natural eye. I've found myself reaching for this trio on a daily basis.

The Layer Lash Primer retailing for $19 is the perfect companion to the Full Exposure Mascara which retails for $20. The lash primer strengthens, thickens and protects your lashes. The mascara is paraben free and is reported to create a 104% increase in volume. It also boasts to be smudge proof, non-clumping, and non-flaking.

If you have a Nordstrom Rack in your area, check it out! There may be a few sets left. I have thoroughly enjoyed mine.

Comment below if you score one of these sets or have tried any of these products! We would love to hear from you.

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

{photos and styling: Rebekah Miura}

Beach Bag Bliss: The Essentials

Hit the beach in style with these ten summer must-haves.

1. Opt for a  beach bag that is both durable and fashionable.

2. Escape the suns harmful UV rays with sunscreen.

3. Keep your pout protected and moisturized with lip balm.

4. Seal in moisture and protect your locks with “sunscreen” for your hair.

5. Make a statement with a colorful beach towel.

6. Pack a lightweight beach cover up for a casual stroll on the beach.

7. Rock out to your summer play list with these portable speakers.

8. Add a stylish element to your beach attire with a hat.

9. Don’t forget to pack a good read .

10. Sunglasses are a must to shield your eyes and keep you looking chic.

What are your beach bag essentials that you can’t live without?

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

Editor's Pick: Budget Friendly Makeup Brushes

Sam and Nic Chapman from Pixi Woo, teamed up with Real Techniques to launch a makeup brush line made up of synthetic, cruelty-free brushes. Their mission is to provide quality brushes that are affordable and easy to use. After hearing so much buzz around these brushes, I had to try them out myself. I must say that for the price these are excellent brushes. Using my accumulated store points and this on-line coupon from Ulta, I purchased the Core Collection for around $13. Not a bad deal, considering that I received four brushes!

{brushes left to right: foundation, detailer, contour, buffing}

Included in this kit is a pointed foundation brush, detailer brush, contour brush, and buffing brush. The set also comes with a compact black case that is excellent for travel. Since these are synthetic brushes they can be used with liquids, creams, or powders.

The pointed foundation brush is a bit small for me. I have found that it works great as a concealer brush for under the eyes and covering up blemishes.

The detailer brush doesn't look like much, but it's the brush that I  have been reaching for every day! It does several jobs well. I love using it with my powder eyeshadows as well as my gel liner to line my eyes. It also is excellent used as a lip brush.

The contour brush is the perfect size for chiseling out your cheek bones. I use it for contouring with my cream foundations, as well as with my powder bronzers.

Last, but certainly not least is the buffing brush. This is my favorite brush from the collection. It applies liquid foundation like a dream. It also is great for buffing in mineral powders. I use it for both.

I love that each of these brushes are able to fulfill more than one role. It cuts down on the number of brushes that I have to carry with me when I travel. Overall, I am impressed with these brushes. If you are new to the makeup world this is a great starter set. Even if you own a ton of brushes already, these brushes are definitely worth trying.

What are your favorite brushes? We'd love to know! Let us know in the comments below.

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

{photos and styling by: Rebekah Miura}

Coral Crush: The Lipstick Guide

Coral is a must have lip color for summer. It's a fresh, classic color that can be worn subtle or bold. Here are a few tried and true coral lipsticks to add to your beauty arsenal this season.  

Nars Lodhi // Mac Vegas Volt // Revlon Kiss Me Coral

Mac Coral Bliss // Yves Saint Laurent 13 Peach Passion

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

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Lauren Conrad Beauty Tutorial

Lauren Conrad is a beauty and style icon best known for her classic fresh faced makeup. Her trademark cat eye with full lashes, pink cheeks, and a light lip is a look that is not only chic, but perfect for summer. To achieve Lauren's timeless makeup we've rounded up beauty products that will get you the perfect summer look in no time.  

Let's start with Lauren's eyes. Bobbi Brown's gel liner glides on like a dream and is a great way to get Lauren's famous "flick". Ardell lashes in 301 complement this look causing the fullness of the lashes to be on the outside of the eye making the eyes look bigger. Benefit's Their Real  mascara lives up to its name and delivers thick, beautiful lashes that complete this look. Keep the eyeshadow simple and minimal. Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette has a good range of shades that are great for achieving a lightly contoured eye.

Lauren's skin is flawless yet natural. Makeup Forever's HD foundation covers, without looking cakey. It gives a nice luminous, healthy look to the skin. Set with Mac's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder to stay in line with a fresh natural finish. To keep the look fresh, use cream blush such as Flower's cheek color in Primrose and Proper. Highlight with Benefit's Watt's Up for a soft glow. Dust on Nar's bronzer on your temples and cheeks for a subtle sun-kissed look.

For the lips choose a pink liner and lipstick such as NYX Nude Pink lip liner paired with Mac's Lovelorn to keep the look fresh and natural.

Lauren's makeup is soft and feminine, with a nod to the sixties. It's a look that is perfect for the day time and can easily transition into a night-time look by simply darkening the outer corners of the eye, adding a little more bronzer and changing the lip to a deeper pink or red.

What's your ideal summer look?

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

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The Long Bob: Summer's Ultimate Hair Trend

Looking to kick off summer with a new hairstyle? The long bob aka the "lob" is the perfect summer style that is both chic and low maintenance. The long bob is a style that is incredibly versatile. Here are five different ways to style this look modeled by some of our favorite celebs.

The messy beach wave look is one of the more popular ways to style the long bob. Jessica Alba looks fabulous in this hairstyle. This is a look that could be worn with a casual outfit during the day and easily transformed into a classy evening look.

          

Strapped for time? Wear the long bob straight. It still looks amazing and gives you a whole new look.

Ombre on its own is gorgeous, but pair it with a long bob and you have perfection. Kate Mara nailed it with this blonde ombre bob.

An asymmetrical long bob looks smart and sophisticated on Charlize Theron.

The long bob is an attainable look that is not just for the stars. It's a laid back, versatile look that is perfect for transitioning from a long hairstyle to a moderately short one. Will you take the plunge this summer and go for the "lob"?! Let us know in the comments below!

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

Cargo Cosmetics: Get Your Glam On

Cargo Cosmetics sent us over their “Lets Meet In Paris” kit that had been in stores for the holidays. With many other products to test, I was not able to get this review up until now! But, as they say “good things come to those who wait.” If you are looking for the ultimate glam kit, look no further. These five products will have you red carpet ready in no time!

Let’s start with eyes shall we. I have to admit I am an eyeliner snob. My checklist for a quality eyeliner is:

“Does it have good color pay off?” “Does it have smooth application?” “Is it smudgeproof?” “Is it waterproof?” “Is it longwearing”

I am not easily impressed, however I was with Cargo’s Swimmables Eye Pencil in Black Sea. It met all of my criteria and exceeded my expectations with a stand out fourteen hour wear. This pencil reminds me of Urban Decay’s 24-7 Glide On Eye Pencil which is a staple in my makeup artist kit.

Pair this eyeliner with Cargo’s TexasLash Mascara and you have a match made in heaven! This mascara is all about volume, which is perfect for a glamorous evening out.

As for lips, Cargo’s got you covered in that arena as well. They have their Reverse Lip Liner to keep your lipstick from feathering. Apply this liner around the outside of your lips to clean up the lip line, add definition and lock the lipstick into place. Cargo’s HD  Picture Perfect Lip Primer goes hand in hand with the lip liner. It smoothes, defines and plumps as it extends the wear of lip color. After this is applied, Cargo’s Essential Lip Color in “Paris” is the perfect shade of red to finish your look. It is a highly pigmented color that hydrates and plumps the lip throughout its wear.

These products are perfect for an evening out, but can also be worn during the day. So what are you waiting for? Go get your glam 0n!

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

Flower Beauty Review: Part 2

Oh, the power of lipstick. It’s extraordinary how such a small item can seemingly transform not only a woman’s outward appearance, but also her attitude. Thanks again to Flower for sending us some fabulous product to sample. Last week we reviewed face products and today it's all about the lips.

Flower's Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color in Berry Bloom is a beautiful shade of lipstick. The formula is rich and creamy, it glides on smooth, and has a ton of shine. The quality of this lipstick is impressive and so is the price. This formula is definitely a favorite in the Flower line.

Flower's Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Desert Flower looks similar to Berry Bloom. The difference is that it's a bit lighter and it's matte. Matte formulas have a tendency to be drying so exfoliating the lips and priming them with lip balm is key.

Kiss Stick Velvet Lip Color in Rosey Garden is a bright, vivid pink. It has a fresh, modern feel about it. It's great for days when you want to add a little pop of color to your beauty regime.

The Flower High Shine On Lip Gloss Wand was voted MVP by Redbook in 2013. It's hard to find a quality lip gloss at drug store prices, so finding this product is a gold mine. The formula is rich, moisturizing and long lasting. This will be a definite re-purchase in the days ahead.

Kuddos to Flower for providing us with quality products that are affordable. Flower is sold exclusively at Walmart. To purchase the above products you can visit your local Walmart or go online to walmart.com. For more reviews on Flower  beauty products click here and here.

Happy Styling!

Rebekah

Flower Beauty Review: Part 1

Today we are talking about one of my favorite topics MAKEUP! After a recent post reviewing Drew Barrymore’s cosmetics line Flower, the company was kind enough to send me a few more products to sample. Thanks guys! So let’s get started shall we?!

Let's start with their  Zoom-In Ultimate Mascara. Whether you want volume, lengthening, thickening or ALL three, you can have it. This mascara has a unique brush that is customizable. I received the mascara in brown which works great on the days that I want a natural look.

Cream blushes have become a daily staple of mine. Flower's Win Some, Rouge Some Cream Blush in the color Primrose and Proper is the perfect peach/pink color. The product goes on smooth, has great color pay off, and lasts throughout the day. This is a definite re-purchase for me.

Finding a quality drugstore foundation can be a daunting task, but Flower just made it is easier. Flower's Skincognito is a full coverage stick foundation. It is has an ultra creamy feel and glides on smooth. Oh and did I mention it's paraben free! I found this foundation to have excellent staying power and great coverage. As with any foundation to ensure the best coverage and application, I would highly recommend exfoliating, moisturizing, and priming beforehand. This foundation has a tendency to highlight any dry patches on the skin. For the best wear, I preferred using a primer underneath the foundation and setting it with powder.

Flower is exclusively sold at Walmart. If you want to purchase any of the above products, you can visit your local store or go online to walmart.com. In next week's post I will be reviewing lip products from Flower so stay tuned.

See you next week!

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

Trendy Tuesday: Stark Black & White

Seasons come and go, and so do trends. But one thing that hasn't changed is the stark beauty of a colorless outfit. That sounds weird, but you know what we mean! The contrast between black and white creates a beautiful, modern-yet-timeless effect that can help fill out your wardrobe without too much work. Wearing all black and white can also be a great base or platform to wear other funky pieces. Have some crazy Kelly green sneakers you've been dying to wear? Use an all black and white outfit to make those super sneaks pop! Same goes for any out-there accessory, from jewelry to handbags, scarves to makeup! Wearing a black & white outfit is a great baseline, and is so, so easy to put together!

And did we mention, black and white can be rocked in every season? It's true.

So today, we don't have any specific piece for you to try - but more an encouragement to stand out in black and white! Here's some ideas to get you started!

Five Ways To Organize Your Makeup

Christmas has come and gone. We have chucked our Christmas to-do lists and replaced them with new years resolutions. I don’t know about you, but organization is at the top of my list! Makeup organization to be exact! So, for all of my makeup loving friends out there, here are five beauty organization ideas to get you inspired. 1. Trays are the ultimate organizational tool. They are an excellent way to corral items, giving them an organized look.

2. Patterned plates add a decorative touch to your makeup storage.

3. Get creative and use items like milk glass, pretty glasses or mason jars to display your makeup brushes.

 4. Raid your kitchen cabinets and use a cake stand to show off your beauty items.

5. Invest in storage options that are made specifically for makeup.

Getting organized does not have to be expensive. Let creativity be your guide in finding new ways to utilize things that you already have. Glasses, plates, and trays are all household items that can be used to create a more organized space. So what are you waiting for, lets start organizing! Do you have make up storage ideas to share? We would love to hear from you! Share your ideas in the comments below.

Happy Organizing!

Rebekah

Images Via Pinterest

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Clarasonic Mia 2 Review

After hearing so much about the Clarisonic brush, I felt as though I had to try it in order to see if all of the hype was true! And....I have to say that it is! I absolutely love my Clarisonic Mia 2 and could not be more happy with it.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 is a professional caliber brush that cleans the skin deeply. It clears pores and cleanses skin thoroughly so that your skin care products can absorb better. According to the company, results include 6x better cleansing than manual cleansing, reduced pores, fine lines, and wrinkles and improved skin tone.

My Mia 2 came with an extra brush head, a travel case, a magnetic charger, and two cleansers. Just to warn you ahead of time, it takes a full 24 hours to charge. Those 24 hours felt like forever to me; I could not wait to try it out! The Mia 2 is simple to use. It has a built-in timer that is pre-set with the amount of time that you are supposed to use on different parts of your face. Genius!

Here is how easy it is to use the Mia 2:

• Remove your eye make up.
• Wet your face and the brush.
• Apply cleanser to the brush head or directly onto your face.
• Turn Mia 2 on and select which speed you want: low or normal.
• Follow the timer prompts. 20 seconds of your forehead, 20 seconds on your nose/chin, and 10 seconds on each cheek. Mia 2 will turn off automatically after one minute.
• Rinse face, dry and apply moisturizer.

After using the Mia 2, my skin has never felt so clean! Not only does my skin look and feel great, but the Mia 2 is actually fun to use. I find myself looking forward to cleaning my face, instead of dreading it like before. The results from using the Mia 2 are that my skin is clean, clear, and soft. Another perk is that my makeup goes on smooth and looks great. The Mia 2 is definitely worth the money; I look at it as an investment in my skin.

Ipsy: November 2013 Glam Bag Review

I don't know about you, but I LOVE trying new beauty products! When I heard about Ipsy, an online subscription that sends you customized beauty products each month, I was thrilled! For a mere $10 a month I receive 4-5 deluxe samples and full size beauty products. I recently signed up and today I am sharing the November Ipsy glam bag with you! In this month's bag I recieved two lipsticks, eyeshadow, nail polish, eyeliner, and bronzer. The first lipstick is from Michelle Phan's new beauty line EM in "Hug Me ". It is a sheer nude that gives you that barely there lip. It is creamy, rich, and glides on smooth. In the photo below I am wearing this lipstick a long with the Pixie bronzer in "Subtly Suntouched". This shade of bronzer was a bit on the pale side. I would only use this to give a subtle, warm glow to my skin. I would not be able to contour with this color. Overall, the finish was nice.

The second lipstick in my bag is from Be a Bombshell. It is a bright red lipstick that is perfect for the holiday season. It could be paired with a natural eye or something a little more glam such as the Starlooks gem eyeliner in "Amethyst!"

This eyeliner is also an excellent makeup staple for the holidays! It is a beautiful silver liner that is perfect for adding a touch of sparkle to the inner corners of your eyes. I can't wait to try this look using this liner!

I received Galaxy Chic baked eyeshadow from BH cosmetics in the shade "Aphrodite." I was impressed with the quality of the shadow. It has excellent color pay off and glides on smooth. The eyeshadow color however is not a shade that I would wear. I would love to try it again in a different color.

The Nailtini nail polish was a pleasant surprise for me. I received the color "Champagne." It is not a color I would have normally picked for myself, so I am happy this was the polish chosen for me. It is definitely fun and glamorous!

 I loved trying all of these products! 6 beauty items for $10 is a great deal. I am already looking forward to my December glam bag! Have you tried Ipsy before or any of the above products?! If so, leave a comment below and let us know how you liked them!

The Modern Manicure

I remember when french manicures were "the thing" to do. Picking out polish at the nail salon was simple... pink and white! Fast forward to the present and we have a gazillion nail colors to choose from. The color of your nails have become as important as the color of shoes you wear! With nail art in the spotlight, the traditional pink and white manicure is taking a back row seat and creative color combinations are stealing the show. I decided to ditch my comfort zone and take a risk with the "modern manicure." I chose this gold and black combination. Surprisingly, I really like it! It has to be paired with the right outfit for it to work. But, it is a look that I would actually wear on occasion.

To achieve this look I used Essie's Good As Gold and OPI's Black Onyx. I love both of these nail polishes combined and on their own. All you need to do is apply 1-2  coats of gold and then apply the black polish to the tips.

So there you go, the "modern manicure!" I am looking forward to trying a few different color combinations. I think the next look will be a sheer, milky white nail with gold tips. What would you suggest?! Let me know what you have tried or what you would recommend for colors in the comments below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Styling, Rebekah

How To Wear Dark Lipstick

One of Fall's hottest trends right now is dark lipstick. It is an ultra edgy look that if done right can look really beautiful. Today, I am going to share some tips on how to wear this look. Step 1: Exfoliate your lips. Dark lipstick enhances dry or cracked lips so you want to start off with a smooth surface.

Step 2: Apply chapstick. Let it sit for a few minutes, you don’t want to apply the lipstick to a fresh coat of chapstick because the color will run. During this time you could apply your face makeup. Remember to keep the eye makeup minimal. You want the lips to be the main attraction.

Step 3: Line and fill in your lips. Lipliner helps to keep your lipstick from bleeding. If the lipstick does bleed you can take a lip brush and apply some concealer around the lips.

Step 4:  Apply lipstick. You can either use a lip brush or apply directly from the tube.

If you want to gradually work your way up to wearing a bold, dark lip, you can apply your lipstick as a stain. You can easily achieve this look by applying your lipstick with your fingers.

Will YOU go bold with dark lips this Fall? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

* The lipstick pictured above is Revlon's Black Cherry.

Flower Beauty Review

I was thrilled when I heard Drew Barrymore was teaming up with Walmart to launch a new cosmetics line. I love the mission of Flower  which is to provide quality products that you would find in a high end store but, at a fraction of the price. A couple other perks are that all of the  products are made in the USA and they are never tested on animals. The entire line of Flower cosmetics is lovely. Everything from the advertisements to the white and rose gold packaging is beautifully done. I was equally impressed by the color line. The lipsticks, blushes, nail polishes, eyeshadows and liners have colors that are fresh and modern. There were so many products that I wanted to try, it was hard to choose. I decided to start off with four products. I chose two lipsticks and two nail polishes.

I fell in love with the promo poster of Drew Barrymore wearing the high shine lipstick in the color "Rosebud." It looked like a great Fall lipstick color so I decided to purchase it. Rosebud is a bold red lipstick that is rich and creamy with excellent color pay off. I would definitely recommend this color to add to your Fall lipstick collection.

The next lipstick that I purchased was So Gladiola. I have a weakness for coral lipstick so snagging this color was a no brainer for me.

So Gladiola is a matte coral lipstick. The color is fresh and modern and I love it for an everyday lipstick. The formula is a little drying since it is a matte lipstick. I suggest exfloliating and wearing a lip conditioner underneath it. Overall it is a really nice coral lipstick.

I had been wanting to build up my fall nail polish collection so I ended up purchasing Venus Fly Trap and April Showers.

I had been looking for the perfect burgundy nail polish and Venus Fly Trap is definitely a winner. I love the color. It needs at least two coats to achieve the color in the picture above.

April Showers is another excellent dark polish for Fall. In the store the color looked like a dark green color, but once I put the polish on it really is dark blue. In some lighting it actually looks black. Overall, I really like the color and will definitely be wearing it on a regular basis.

I am looking forward to trying out more of the Flower cosmetics line. Some of the products I am interested in trying are the cream eyeshadows, cream blushes, and eyeliners. I spotted some fun colors that I think would be great to incorporate into my daily beauty routine. To see more from Flower Cosmetics, you can find it here. Let me know what you think!

 Happy Styling!

Rebekah

Photography: Reagan Miura

The Drugstore Ten

Who doesn't love a good deal?! With cosmetics being so expensive these days, it is always satisfying to find quality products at a good price. Today, I am sharing ten of my drugstore favorites. Crest white strips have always been a drugstore staple that can be found in my beauty stash. They work especially well paired with their vivid white toothpaste.

Essie's Sand Tropez is my polish of choice when I want a natural manicure that will go with anything.

For a night out on the town, I love to wear Ardell's false lashes in 110. I use DUO lash adhesive so they don't budge, and finish the look with Loreal's Voluminous mascara.

Maybelline's Eye Studio gel liner is my pick for a drugstore liner. It has excellent color pay off, a great creamy texture, and glides on smooth. Elf's smokey eye pallette works incredibly well for being a mere $1.00. I use this pallette when I want to play up my eyes and add a dramatic effect. Revlon's lipstick in the shade Siren has received a lot of use from me this summer. It's a beautiful and bright, orangey- red color. Lastly, I daily reach for Rimmel's eye liner in white. I use it to line the inner rims of my eyes and  the inner corners. Their lip pencil in 049 Natural is a great nude shade that pairs nicely with many different lipstick colors.

It's always fun to try new beauty products at the Drugstore. At this price point, it makes it easy to try out different kinds of makeup that we may not normally try. What are some of your drugstore beauty favorites? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy Styling,

Rebekah

Photos by: Rebekah Miura

Six Steps to the Perfect Summer Look + Glitter Eyeliner

by  Make-up Artist Ashley Carrel 

Step one: Use skin type appropriate toner and moisturizer. It's great for oil control, and helps makeup go on smooth and evens texture. A good skin care routine helps enhance and create a great canvas for your everyday makeover. Used on this lovely model, Danielle: BC Spa Facial PHA Regenerating Tonic and BC Spa Facial Moisture Lotion with SPF link

Step two: Choose correct formula of concealer and primer.  Usually for teens an oil free non-comedogenic formula is best. I used a very light and smooth formula in yellow to cover up dark circles under the eyes. I used a bit thicker formula for coverage of breakouts. There are three basic color primers choices:  1) yellow for dark and sallow skin, 2) green to cover pink and red, 3) and mauve (pink) to cover yellow tones common in Asian skin types. Used on Danielle: Secret Agent yellow primer for dark circles and Extra Help concealer in light for breakouts

Step three: Choose skin appropriate foundation. For FL summers I always recommend BC Wet/Dry Perfecting Foundation. It has a perfect balance of powder to the formula, and it blends and soaks up your natural oils throughout the day. Also it has great natural coverage for all skin types and is available in a huge variety of shades. Used on Danielle: Y-2 BC Perfecting Wet/Dry Finish

Step four: Use a good matte bronzer for contouring blush application and a good “pop” color for apple of cheeks. Bronzer is for areas you want to shadow and for the apple of your cheeks. Color may vary for skin types. Used on Danielle: Tuscan Sun Bronzer for mid cheekbone and out to ear applied in circular motions/ Pink Mineral blush for apple of cheek to create that sun kissed, fresh face look.

Step five: Eye primer, eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara. It is especially important for summer to use a good eye primer.  With oils of the day, your shadow can crease and smear. A good primer will keep that from happening. I recommend urban decays primer potion and for a more affordable option, BC control crème.  A good shadow should come with a full palette to work with like BC Color Shadow Trio’s. It provides three colors to accent the different parts of the eye. For a summer fun flare and a fun pop of color I chose a hot pink glitter eye liner! Used on Danielle: BC Control Crème in Taupe /BC color eye shadow trio in Au Natural /Perfecting Eye liner in black /Glitz Hot Pink Glitter /and Glitz Eye Glue to adhere glitter (water based, it's a one of a kind formula)/ for Glitter Eye Liner use angle tip duo shadow brush to apply (press on, not rub on)

Step six: Finish with a nice natural Lip Liner, Lip-gloss and Hydrating spray to set foundation. You can't go wrong with a nude lip for everyday wear! Bright lips are all the rage this summer, but may work best with a softer eye look. Used on Danielle: Nude Lip Perfecting Pencil /Bare BC Color Lip Gloss / and BC Herbal Hydrating Mist to set foundation.  It's also great for a cool down mist for a Hot Summer day. Keep it in your purse and on hand; it’s a hot day life saver!

Article and Makeup by: Ashley Carrel

Photo credit: Elizabeth Garrard

Images Edited by: Jen Duarte

Get This Look: Jenna's Bold Eye Makeup

The colors of this season are soo exciting for a makeup artist like myself.  Bright and bold, just like me! LOL!  Pops of color have always been a great way to play up your makeup. However, pairing a bold lip and bold eye without looking like a clown, can be tricky.  To recreate Jenna’s fun Bold Eye Look, follow these easy steps: When using bright and pigmented colors, it essential that you prime your skin properly to ensure the makeup stays put!  On Jenna we used the Glo Conditioning cream to hydrate, then immediately primed her skin with the Glo Face Primer, and more importantly, the Glo Lid Primer.  The lid primer ensures that eye shadow stays put.  It also removes any discoloration and mattifies the eye area.  Other popular brands for priming the eye before shadow include  Urban Decay’s Primer Potion and Two Faced Cosmetic’s Shadow Insurance  which can be picked up from Sephora.

I wanted Jenna’s skin to have that “airbrushed” look so I applied Glo Minerals Satin II Liquid Foundation with a dampened foundation brush and lightly dusted her face with Glo Minerals Perfecting Powder to set.

To give her a soft glow I applied Glo Liquid Highlighter to her cheek bones and down the center of her nose with a taklon fiber fan brush, such a pretty sheen!  I then applied a soft rose pink blush to the apples of her cheeks.

On to the star of the show..the eyes!  Any bright richly pigmented color will work for this look.  I chose a jeweled green.  Apply a pale highlight color (white or cream works best) to the brow bone and inner corner of the eye.  Next apply the color of your choice to the eyelid and just above the crease.  Pat on a little extra color to make sure the color is deep!  Use a clean crease brush to blend the crease and soften edges.  Use this same color and a smudge (or pencil) brush to smudge just underneath the lower lash line.

Next, line the upper and lower lash line. I used Stilla’s smudge pot in black and dragged the upper lash line out a bit to create a little wing.  Then smudge a little black shimmering eyeshadow directly onto the upper and lower lash lines directly over the cream, gel eyeliner.  And finally, add lots of black mascara!

For her lips I tried two different Lip Colors and both looked great with her bold eye.  First I tried Glo Minerals Lip Stick in Socialite, a pale soft pastel pink.  Second, my favorite, I applied Glo Minerals Lip Color in Treasure, a bright intense hot pink - loved it!!

Jenna said she loved her look so much she was going to have to plan something to do that night!!!

Article and Makeup by: Melissa Kinsey

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Garrard

Images Edited by:  Jen Duarte

A Natural Look for Summer with Cream Based Makeup

We live in Florida... hot, humid, sticky Florida.  Make-up during the summer in this kind of climate is tricky, very tricky.  Here are a few tips to make your look stay all day without looking like you are melting: Crème based makeup during the summer is a great way to keep the skin looking fresh, hydrated and glowing and has staying power even in hot + humid weather.  When applying a cream, liquid or gel based makeup it's best to apply with a synthetic brush. Not only will it be much easier to clean, but you will get a much softer and even application. I started by prepping the skin with a light oil free moisturizer (Glo Emulsion).  Rather than using a heavy foundation, I used Glo Minerals Sheer Tint in Golden to even out her skin tone. Brow Powder in Taupe was added with an angle liner brush just to lightly fill them and define the brow.

Following the brows, I applied Glo Mineral’s crème bronzer to warm up her skin and crème blush in plumeria to the apples of her cheeks (soo pretty!).  To give that gorgeous glow we often see on celebrities, I applied Glo Minerals crème highlighter (a pretty sheer shimmery pink) to the tops of her cheek bones and down the center of her nose.  To do this I used a synthetic fan brush.

After using a lid primer, I applied Maybelline’s Color Tattoo, these little magic pots of crème eyeshadow are smudge + crease proof +very water resistant. Trust me when I tell you, they will last all day!!!  The color options in this line are awesome!  I used a brush, but you could use your finger as well.

To finish her eyes, we applied Glo Minerals Crème eyeliner in ebony to the upper and lower lash line.

Since we love love love the bright pink trend of this season and wanted to give her look some “pop”, we used Maybelline’s Lipstick from their “Vivids” line in Brazen Berry! (You can purchase Maybelline's products from any drugstore.) I love this line soo much that I purchased several of the colors and love them all!

To finish her look I lightly dusted Glo Mineral’s Perfecting Powder in her TZone to prevent shine and set her makeup.

You could tell Emily felt very comfortable in this look and she commented that she didn't even feel the makeup!

Written by Melissa Kinsey 

Melissa is a licensed skin care specialist who offers facials and complete skin care, waxing services, makeup consultations and bridal/formal makeup applications (using airbrush or Glo Mineral Makeup). To purchase Glo Mineral Makeup, you may visit the Glo Mineral website or connect directly with Melissa through her facebook page.

Photo Credit:  Elizabeth Garrard

Images Edited By: Jen Duarte