03.04.2013
St. Patrick’s Day Beauty Products! (Irish Girl-Approved)



Growing up with fair skin wasn’t easy, to say the least.  I can’t even tell you how many summers I spent in the shade, slathered in sunblock, watching my friends rub baby oil on their skin and soon after get the sexiest golden tan that you could possibly imagine.  It’s a simple fact: being pale with freckles wasn’t desirable when I was a teenager; however, now, at almost 30, I am SO GLAD that I was born with freckled, Irish skin that I was given.  Why?  Well, for one, I look way younger (and age slower) than everyone else and it’s really just now that I’m starting to appreciate that little fact.  Sure, a nice tan makes you look thinner, but that’s what spray tans are for…I digress.  With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I got to thinking about my fair-skinned beauty tricks that I’ve learned over the years, mixed with a little Irish makeup fun.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel! My manager has been giving me tips and my videos are definitely getting better, if I do say so myself, haha.

Featured in the video:

Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Sunscreen SPF 30: a MUST for everyone. Learn more about their Helioplex Complex HERE.

Fusion Beauty PrimeResults Anti-Redness Primer: This primer is great for fair, Irish skin since rosacea is quite common.  The primer has claims that show 50% reduction in overall redness after only six weeks.

Lancome Flash Bronzer Anti-Age: Every pale-skinned girl needs a good self-tanner!  I’m a longtime fan of Lancome’s tanning products; they don’t streak and they give a natural bronzy glow.

Sue Devitt Hydrating Marine Minerals Eye Palette in “Green Isles”: Probably the prettiest green eye palette that you’ll ever find.

COVERGIRL Liquiline Blast eyeliner in “Green Glow”: If you want a subtle green eyes look for St. Patrick’s Day, this bright green eyeliner is the way to go.

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Glam Hazel Eyes mascara: Gold mascara? YES.  It reminds me of the whole “pot o’ gold” thing that used to make me so excited as a little kid.

06.26.2012
Perfection = Blake Lively At the “Savages” Premiere

I saw this absolutely ridiculous photo of Blake Lively from last night’s LA premiere of Savages and nearly passed out.  Utter perfection.  Blake is wearing a stunning Zuhair Murad dress that she, not having a stylist, probably selected on her own.  The dress is from the Couture “Casino Fever” Spring Summer 2012 collection, which I love, but even more…can you believe her hair and makeup?  She is just stunning.  I did a little search to see if I could find the “get the look” from her makeup artist and/or hairstylist but no dice.  Here’s my take on how you can get the look:

Hair: For this style, you need volume.  I recently attended a Dove and Dailycandy.com event at DryBar and the stylist used Dove’s Style+Care Nourishing Amplifier Mousse and I was totally impressed.  Once hair is blown out and dry, use a 1-inch curling iron around your hair and brush out the curls for this old Hollywood glam look.

Skin: Blake definitely has a bronze goddess glow happening.  Apply your regular foundation and then use a summery bronzer to highlight the apples of your cheeks, nose and forehead.  I like Stila One Step Makeup Primecolor in “Bronze Babe” since it allows you to play with the countouring a bit and also serves as a primer, cheek color and eyeshadow.

Eyes: Keep eyes minimal, as it’s really all about the lip (see below).  Try a simple black eyeliner like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Perversion,” a personal favorite, and, of course, some false eyelashes.  I’m loving Makeup Forever’s eyelash strips since they’re easy to get on.  Then top it off with a dramatic black mascara like Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes, which I’m also currently loving.

Lips: As my friend Nadine Jolie said, any time a celeb is wearing a draw-dropping red lipstick, it’s probably MAC “Russian Red.  Enough said.

Nails: Blake is sporting a pretty serious red and Essie’s “Well Red” would definitely foot that bill.

 

 

01.23.2012
Currently Using (And Loving)

 

Moroccan Oil: This stuff has been a beauty industry staple, and I’ve had my bottle since the beginning.  But it’s only now that I’ve been consistantly using this stuff and guys, it is good.  Not only is the smell of this amazing (it is) but my ends are sleeker and easier to tame.

Lancome Flash Bronzer Anti-Age: I’ve blogged about this line before so I was elated when I found out they’re now making a face version that has SPF 15!  Lancome is just amazing and aside from the SPF, this self tanner doesn’t actually smell like a self tanner.  It has hints of jasmine and honey – two of my favorites.

Tarte Maracuja Blush & Glow: I’m a sucker for a two in one, always.  I love the way this tints my cheeks but here’s a secret – I also use it as a quick bronzer when I’m too lazy to use my Lancome (above).

 

07.25.2011
My 2011 Tan-spiration

Every year around this time, it hits me (once again) that I am incredibly pale.  I spent years trying to fight it, years learning to accept it and even more years trying to find the best products to give me even just a subtle hint of color.  Ironically, even at my most tan, I’m still paler than most of my friends but I digress.  With every new summer season comes a ton of new “innovative” and “revolutionary” self-tanning products but honestly, sometimes the classics really are the best.  Here are my latest faves…

LANCOME Flash Bronzer: This product was made famous in the beauty world by Lucky magazine’s Beauty Director, Jean Godfrey June, and after trying it out for myself a few years ago, I’m totally hooked.  You get real, natural-looking color with a subtle hint of shimmer that makes the skin look all illuminated.

Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Bronzer: It’s new, it’s limited-edition and I love it.  Obviously.  Besides the fact that it’s probably one of the most glamourous beauty products ever, this bronzer actually really is awesome but I can’t lie- I really only bought it because I invisioned myself opening it up at a bar and looking like Sophia Lauren.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray-On Perfect Legs: I used this product for the first time during Halloween (in an ironic way) since I dressed up as Snooki.  I was totally surprised at how a-mazing it actually was.  My legs looked super tan, smooth and the spray didn’t come off until I literally scrubbed my legs in the shower.  I’ve also had this on and dipped my feet in a hot tub and it totally stayed on, which is the true test.

My current “tan-spiration”: Mary Kate Olsen (who I don’t normally think looks very good) looking bronzed and gorgeous in this amazing robin’s egg blue blazer and blonde highlights to die for.  I also kind of love her snake bracelet.

06.09.2011
Yayoi Kusama for Lancome Juicy Tubes

Like I always say, I’m a total sucker for pretty packaging.  Lancome recently partnered with Yayoi Kusama, world renowned Japanese visual designer, to create six cute packaging designs for the Juicy Tubes, a lipgloss classic.  They’re limited-edition so snap these up quickly!

04.24.2011
Spring Makeup Palettes

So I’m the first to admit that I’m a total sucker for pretty packaging, which is exactly why I’m also a sucker for makeup that just looks gorgeous…oh, and it’s also actually really good makeup on top of the pretty presentation.

Stila Garden Bliss Palette – Inspired by fresh organic flowers, this palette instantly enhances your skin, leaving your complexion radiant and luminous…and I love that you can use it on your eyes, cheeks, face and decollete.

Lancome Desert Rose Blush – It’s just sooo pretty and fun.  This all-over powder gives you a super subtle shine.  I love that’s it’s sort of a “new” mix between shaded tones of summer bronze, berry red and soft pinks.

Physician’s Formula Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Bronzer – As son as I saw the braided texture of this bronzer, I immediately had to touch it.  The ultra-luxurious powder has the classic look and feel of cashmere, leaving skin feeling smooth, soft and nourished.  And yes, this product actually does contain 100% cashmere extract on top of moisturizing hyaluronic acid and soft focus pearls.

 

 

02.09.2010
Beauty editor favorites that I finally got around to trying

So working in the beauty industry, I’m privy to which products are REALLY amazing and what the beauty editors truly love.  I’ve been meaning to try these four classics for quite some time and I have to say, the rumors are true…they are all amazing.

Lancome Flash Bronzer Self Tanner for Legs – Lucky magazine’s Beauty Director, Jean Godfrey June, is a major fan of this product and for good reason.  It’s hard to find a good self-tanner that doesn’t streak or look too orange…this product is pure genius.

CARGO Bronzer – I had first heard about this bronzer about four years ago from a Beauty Assistant friend.  She is just as fair as I am and insisted that it’s the only bronzer that she’s tried and loved.

Dr. Brandt pores no more – More than one beauty editor has raved about this pore refiner.  In fact, a former Life & Style editor actually even carried it around in her purse!  This little wonder makes pores practically invisible and also absorbs excess oil.

Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer – It’s hard to find the perfect concealer; this product has won multiple beauty awards and is a makeup artist favorite.  It blends sublimely to expertly conceal dark circles, spots and imperfections.