My Winter Foundation Favorites

As a former South Florida resident I have ALWAYS struggled with oily skin. My skin is just used to the heat and humidity, and to be honest that is ok because I am accustomed to dealing with it and I know what works on my oily skin. Now that I don’t live in Florida anymore, I have to deal with drier cooler weather coupled with actually having to run the heat in our house my skin kind of freaks out in the winter. It is dry, tight, and a little hard to deal with. My normal foundation picks just don’t work when my skin is this way so I have to use different products in order for my makeup to look good and my skin to feel normal.
All of these foundations give at least medium coverage, apply well with a dense buffing brush or a beauty blender and give my face enough glow to knock the dull dryness down some but without making me look like a disco ball or a greasy mess. The foundations listed below are in no particular order.

-Guerlain Lingerie De Peau shade 13 Ambre Pale $63
This foundation gets awesome reviews online and it is easy to see why. It applies VERY easily and actually looks like skin when applied. I can apply 1 layer and then just go back into the places that I need a tad bit more coverage on and apply a second layer without any issues on those spots. Not all foundations layer well so that is a real bonus for me. I am the lightest shade (surprise surprise!) and it matches me pretty well.
-Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation shade 113 $62
This foundation is interesting. The color when you first apply it looks slightly gray but once it sits on your skin for a few minutes it becomes a perfect match (at least on me). It is the lightest coverage of all the ones I have in my winter rotation but it layers well and can be built up to a solid medium coverage. It looks amazing on the skin and wears well without breaking up around my nose which is my problem area for most foundations. There is NO way I could wear this when it is warmer outside but for right now it is working really well.
-Diorskin Star Foundation shade 010 $50
Dior as a brand makes some really great foundation formulas. Unfortunately, all of their foundations other than this one oxidizes TERRIBLY on me which sucks because I really do love many of their formulas. Star is a little tricky to apply and my best advice is to apply it quickly. I take about a pump and a half on my fingertips and spread it all over my face. I then quickly take a damp beauty blender and blend it out. It dries pretty quickly so just work kind of fast and it is fine. It is more of a demi matte foundation without making your skin look flat or super dry. It wears for a long time and I tend to grab this when I know I will have a long day or just need my makeup to look good for more than 5-6 hours. I prefer the beauty blender over a brush for this particular foundation but you can use a brush with it if you prefer.
-Rimmel Lasting Finish in Ivory $7.99
You cannot beat this foundation, especially for the price. It is so easy to apply, has great coverage and is so comfortable on the skin. This particular foundation can even be worn on my skin when it is hot outside and I am oily without breaking down quickly on my skin. I wish they would expand the shade range a little because most of the shades that they have are pink toned which doesn’t work for that many people. If you are looking for a good foundation that looks slightly glowy but not luminous on the skin I highly recommend you try this. At $7.99 it is worth picking up.

With all of these foundations I do set them as I don’t want them moving around but if you have super dry skin you could probably get away without setting them. I am always on the search for a foundation that looks amazing on the skin yet is long lasting. What are your favorite winter time foundations and are there any out there that you think I should try?

Favorite Highlighters...My Picks for Fair Skin

Am I the only one that feels like everyone and their brother has come out with a type of face highlighter this past year? As someone with fair skin I have had a hard time finding a highlighter that is light enough in its base shade to actually highlight that area and is lighter than my actual skin tone. I know I can’t be the only fair girl with this struggle right? Thankfully, I have quite a large highlighter collection and it does contain some that I just love and continue to reach for when I want that bright highlight. Here are my top 5 permanent products that I love and then a few limited edition ones that I reach for often too!

1. M-A-C Lightscapade MSF $32 (permanent)
I adore this cool toned highlighter! You can apply it with a light hand for a pretty subtle glow or really layer it for a more intense glow. There is no glitter or micro-shimmer in it so it applies really smooth and lays well on the skin. Even though this shade is really good for fair skin I think even up to a medium skin tone could wear this and really enjoy it. I bought it as part of a M-A-C collection so the print on the top is limited edition but the color itself is part of their permanent line.

2. Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I156 $21 (permanent)
My beautiful makeup loving friend Robin, raved about this shade for months before I picked it up and I am SO glad that I did. Don’t let the marketing of it as an eyeshadow throw you off because it is BEAUTIFUL on the skin. It is a light iridescent pearly shade with a hint of a pink reflective shimmer and when the light hits it just right and it makes for a stunning highlight for fair skin. Just like Lightscapade, this shade has no glitter or micro-shimmer in it so it applies very smooth and lays beautifully on the skin. This in no way is chalky or powdery.

3. IT Cosmetics Hello Light Anti-Aging Crème Illuminizer $24 (permanent)
I am not partial to my highlighter being in a cream formula or a powder formula. As long as it lays well on the skin, looks beautiful, and wears well it is fair game for me. Enter one of the best cream highlighters I have ever found! It is no secret that I have a love affair with many IT Cosmetics products and this is no exception. This champagne/slightly pinky cream applies effortlessly on the tops of your cheekbones giving the most radiant and natural glow you have ever seen. When I am feeling a little frisky I layer this under a powder highlight for a really in your face pop of glow! I shied away from cream products for a long time because of my oily skin but when a product is formulated correctly it can work even on me. I typically apply this with the pointed brush that I purchased with it or a damp sponge. I have ever layered this over my setting powder and it doesn’t disturb my foundation which is a totally plus. The key with any cream product like this one is to pat (or stipple) on and not buff. You will disturb the makeup you have under it if you try to buff it on.

4. Colourpop Stole the Show $8 (permanent)
Colourpop describes this product as: Light cool-toned gold with luminous flashes of pink, silver and gold. I would say that description is pretty accurate although the “flashes of pink, silver and gold” are VERY subtle. Don’t think of this as a duo chrome type of shade because I don’t think it is. It is however, a beautiful cool toned gold with beautiful shimmer that is creamy and super easy to apply. Much like the IT Cosmetics illuminizer I typically apply this with a pointed synthetic brush or a damp sponge. I have applied it with my fingers too and it seems to be fine that way too. I do end up having to set this with a tiny bit of translucent powder because it doesn’t set quite like the IT one does.

5. Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in Golden Lights $6 (permanent)
This is a VERY strong highlight so be careful if you do decide to pick it up. It is a white gold that is striking when used with a fan brush. I have also used it in the inner corner of my eyes for my inner corner highlight and it was gorgeous used that way as well. The formula of these baked highlighters from Makeup Revolution remind me of the MAC Mineralized Skin Finishes. This color happens to be my favorite from the range and it is the lightest one so it is great on fair skin.

A few of my favorites were limited edition or now discontinued but I figure I would share them anyway just in case you have one of them and want some inspiration to pull it out of your collection to use.

1. Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in Moodlight $80 (Limited Edition)
It took me awhile to fall in love with this one. The trick to this one is the brush that you use to apply it. The top white gold shade is fairly sheer so you have to use a stiffer brush in order to pick up enough product or you can use a flat sponge which also works. The first couple of times I tried using it I used the Goss #2 brush but that brush is just too soft to pick up enough product. I prefer the Sigma F35 which is not near as soft as the Goss brush. The bottom pinky champagne shade is really beautiful as a blush topper for a matte blush or under a matte blush. On deeper skin tones that shade would be a wonderful cheek highlight but it is just too dark for me to use as a straight highlighter.

2. Chanel Camelia De Plumes Highlighting Powder $72 (Limited Edition)
This is my all-time favorite highlighter. It is so unique and absolutely stunning on fair skin. The coloring is a whitish silver with incredibly finely milled gold shimmer shot through it. I wish I would have gotten a backup of this when it was still available because I would love to use this more often, but my crazy paranoid self is scared of ever being without it so it only gets used on special occasions. I cannot even put into words how beautiful this one is but I hope the swatch translates well.

The highlight struggle is real for fair skin but I hope that I have given you some choices that you may be able to try if you have a hard time finding one that works on you as well.

Bite Beauty Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss Library

Bite Beauty has just released a new lipgloss library called “Deconstructed Rose”. I bought this online at Sephora.com with my VIB Rouge 15% off and it was worth every single penny! This normally retails at $49 but with the 15% off it is a pretty good deal. It comes with 12 lipglosses that are all supposed to be some shade of rose. They also have a slight hint of rose scent when applied. After they are on my lips though I do not notice the scent at all. Bite nails their lipgloss formula. It is creamy, smooth, pigmented and very long wearing for a gloss. As a bonus Bite uses food grade ingredients so there are no yucky weird chemicals that you have to worry about with these glosses.


This set is a beautiful range of rosy neutrals, rosy reds, and even a rosy purple and I think anyone no matter what your skin tone could find quite a few everyday shades in this set. I have included a picture of all the shades on my arm. The shades are named from left to right in the picture:

One (light pink/mauve)
Two (rosey pin
Three (light coral)
Four (raisin)
Five (mauve)
Six (dusty rose)
Seven (dusty coral)
Eight (muted cherry)
Nine (apple red)
Ten (jewel red)
Eleven (dark red/brown)
Twelve (deep purple)


I HIGHLY recommend this set if you are in the market for really good creamy neutral lipglosses with a few brights thrown in!

NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection Limited Edition One Night Stand Cheek Palette

I am trying REALLY hard to curb my beauty related spending and trying to save money to eventually buy a house but every now and then I just get suckered into purchasing something. In walks the new NARS Holiday Collection One Night Stand Limited Edition Cheek Palette a beauty that I just could not resist no matter how many times I told myself I didn’t need it. I never got the Danmari palette a few years ago when that one came out and I have regretted it since then so I knew it was now or never. I think this one will sell out pretty fast especially since the 20% VIB sale starts this weekend so I would order it NOW if you want it. Don’t wait for the 20% because you will kick yourself if you miss out on it. Here is the description of shades from the Sephora website:

- 0.14 oz x 6 Blush in Laguna (diffused brown powder with golden shimmer), Deep Throat (flirty, sheer peach), Orgasm (peachy pink with golden shimmer), Mistinguette (bright pink), Goulue (medium pink), Devotee (highlighter)

If I had to change anything in this palette it would be that it wouldn’t contain the permanent shades. For people like me who already has Laguna, Orgasm and Deep Throat it is a little disappointing to see them appear in this palette. NARS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come out with a 6 pan cheek palette that has all limited edition shades.

I would highly suggest ordering this before the 20% VIB sale start not only because it will probably sell out but because I got to choose from a cute little bag of samples on top of the 3 samples you already get from a Sephora.com order. I have included pictures of all the samples (plus the normal 3 and I grabbed a Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser for 100 points because I love that stuff and think it is awesome to have a travel size).

Overall this is a beautiful palette and if you don’t already have the permanent shades in the palette it is a no brainer. If you do own 1, 2 or all 3 of the permanent shades you will have to decide if you will get good use out of this as a travel palette. Since I am gone so much (I have been gone pretty much every other week for the past 3 months and will be gone again starting tomorrow) it makes sense for me to travel with this and not being a few single blushes.

Cheers to pretty cheeks!

Laura Mercier Fall/Winter 2013 Artists Palette for Eyes

Well, hello beautiful little addition to my makeup collection! In case you are a makeup lover like me you already know that Laura Mercier has released a new Artist’s Palette for Eyes this fall/winter. For those of you asking “hey wait, didn’t Sephora carry an Artist’s Palette last year?” the answer is YES, but this one is different (and prettier in my opinion). While I love the one from last year (there is a side by side picture below) the new release seems much more wearable for my skin tone.

The palette from last years release is on the left and this years is on the right

Laura Mercier does a FANTASTIC job with shadows, especially mattes. I have never experienced such consistently soft, creamy, and blendable matte shades in any other line of cosmetics that I have tried even better than high end lines like Chanel, Guerlain, Dior, etc.

Here is a closer look at the shades


Color names from left to right on arm: Sparkling Dew, Guava, African Violet (this years version of this shade is MUCH creamier and better than last years!), Plum Smoke, KIR Royal, Violet Ink, Vanilla Nuts, Primrose, Fresco, Bamboo, Truffle, Espresso Bean

When comparing last years version of the palette to this years you will notice that overall there are a few more lighter shades in this years palette which I really love, plus the Fresco and Truffle shades are amazing crease and blending shades! I cannot wait to bring this on vacation to go back home next week for some easy yet pretty eye looks. The packaging is sturdy, pretty and it has a really awesome big mirror inside which is certainly a nice little detail.

You can pick this beautiful palette up at any Sephora store that sells the Laura Mercier line or online at Sephora.com for $48.

July EMPTIES!!!

I have been on a "use it up" rampage lately. I am trying REALLY hard not to buy things unless they really are difference from what I already have or unless I use things up and can replace those with new things. I used ALOT of things up this month and have quite a few things that I am almost done with so next month I should have quite a few empties too! It feels like such an accomplishment when I can peek into a bag of things I actually finished up. I am sure some of you feel the same way!

Here we go!(I will add in parentheses whether or not I would repurchase or not with w "yes" or "no")

- Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment (YES!)
- Philosophy Amazing Grace shampoo, bath & shower gel (yes)
- Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Defeat Deep Treatment (maybe)
- Suave Moroccan Infusion Shine Shampoo (maybe)
- Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy oil Body Wash (yes)
- Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo (probably not- it isn't bad but for the price I like the Suave the same and its a lot cheaper than the Nexxus)
- Philosophy travel size pure grace shower gel (yes)
- Philosophy travel size eternal grace shower gel (yes) I cannot get enough of these "grace" scents lately!
- Ion Color Solutions Deep Daily Conditioning treatment for hair 1 ounce packet (yes)
- Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Peeling Gel sample (no)
- Clinique bottom lash mascara (probably not- now that I have been using the IT Cosmetics tightline on my lashes I don't think I will ever use anything else for the bottom. This is good stuff thought if you don't want to try the IT Cosmetics tightline)
- Sample of Glam Glow clearing mask (not sure- the sample was SO small I barely had enough to just use it on my Tzone)
- Baviphat Peach all in one peeling gel (yes love this stuff)
- Ulta eyebrow gel (no I will repurchase the product below though)
- Anastasia Brow gel (YES YES YES!)

What did you use up this month? Look out for a July Favorites post coming tomorrow (with pictures!)