June 2013 Beauty Favorites

Hourglass Dim Light / MAC Harmony Blush / Jouer Bare Tint* / 

Jouer Perfume Oil* /OPI Samoan Sand / Korres Anti Aging Primer /

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector / Diorskin Nude Skin Hydrating Concealer /Pixi Lash Line Ink

I must admit, while it's insane that it's the end of June/that this year is going by so quickly, I'm pretty excited for this month to end. Why? Welllllll, next month is my birthday. I'm a huge birthday person so I can't wait. I don't even care that it means I'll be another year older. Embracing these 20s, yo! Plus, this month has been great in terms of finding some new products that I really really love.

Hourglass' Dim Light has obviously made the cut. Still using it, still obsessed. I've even been wearing only this on lazier days. No foundation necessary. MAC Harmony has made it back into my daily routine, taking over as my contour powder of choice. Not sure why I haven't used it more; it's so perfect! A new little product that I recieved: Jouer Tint in Bare. A gorgeous pale peachy-pink. You guys know that's totally what I'm into as of late. This stuff is 10x better than the Stila cream blushes so keep any eye out for a full-on review.

I wrote a little review on this perfume oil and honestly? I can't get enough. I use it daily and reapply like 20x an hour because I'm obsessed. Sorrynotsorry. Am I allowed to put Samoan Sand here even though I just got it last week? I'm gonna go with yes. It's the perfect nude/summer color and it definitely helps bring out the slight tan I've gotten. Beach babe status: almost achieved. This Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Primer is a sample I got from Sephora and have been using religiously. Though I went off primer for a little while, I'm back and loving this so so much. It doesn't make me oily like the NARS primer started to do and it really does help my makeup last. Will most definitely be purchasing the full-size of this.

My BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone is still one of my all time favorite products. I love how versatile it is, not to mention it's incredibly natural looking. No disco ball shimmer, I promise. Diorskin concealer still workin' it's magic on my hormonal spots. Still thinking about getting the lighter shade so I can mix the two to make the perfect color. We'll see. Pixi Lash Line Ink aka the best liquid liner for achieving a sassy little cat eye. I'm loving gloss + liner with a bit of contour, powder, and a pop of blush. Less is more in this 95º weather!

Annnnd that's a wrap. So many products but honestly, I've just really been enjoying makeup this month. More so than ever, I think. What are your favorites?!

Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer in 002

Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer in 002 / $30

With all the hype around NARS' new Creamy Concealer I thought I check it out for myself. Unfortunately for me, none of the shades we're right for me and something about the consistency through me off. Now I'm not even a concealer girl but for some weird reason I've been getting chin breakouts (I'm blaming hormones) so I've had to go out and find something that works for me. Let it be known, that I was really hoping to find a concealer I could use both under the eyes and on spots (and I did)!

^ Left eye: Nada / Right eye: Concealed ^
Please excuse my brows! Growin' them babies out!

While I never felt like I had any signs of dark circles, this concealer hides the very itty bitty purpley-blue that I do have, blending in almost perfectly — never creasing or caking in the process. You can see a bit of red/purple on my right (your left) but on my left (your right) you can see it's quite smoothed out. Hooray. As for covering blemishes and spots, this glides right over them and doesn't cling to dry patches. I'm guessing this is because it's meant to be a hydrating concealer but you know, not every product does what it says it will. This one however, has yet to let me down. While the shade isn't perfect, it's much better than any other I've found. Though I have thought about getting the lighter shade to mix the two, right now the only thing that's stopping me is $$$ because these lovely little tubes ain't cheap.

Dior is consistently knocking it out of the park for me; everything I use, I really do love. They're quite obviously my favorite high-end brand... could you have guessed? I'm super interested in trying out their other products from this range, more especially after seeing Esteé's review on them all! FLAWLESS.

What do you guys think of this concealer + range from Dior?

Dior Addict Lip Glow

Dior Addict Lip Glow / $31

Aaaaand we're back. Sorry for the little hiatus, ladies and gents, but sometimes ya just need a little break. With that said, I bring you Dior Addict Lip Glow. I've talked about this a few times before but I'm finally getting around to a proper review.

I love this stuff — probably a little more than I should. I mean, it's only a lipstick/balm/whatever you want to classify this as. Thing is, it's kind of the perfect alternative to your favorite daily lipstick. I suffer from what I like to call chronic dry lips so this stuff is great for giving me a little extra moisture, especially in the way too hot dry heat. It is quite thick, so if you're not into thicker lip products I'd suggest that you try it out before you buy it. Plus, it lasts quite a long time. Win! If I'm running late or just want to apply something quickly, this is my go-to as of late. Pop it on for the perfect pink flush. Something that looks au natural though it's totally not (duh). It's supposed to give each person their perfect shade of pink and I've got to say it does a damn good job at that.

Do you know what else it does a damn good job at? Making me feel stupidly glamorous. Look at the packaging. Silver. Pink. Ridiculously I don't even know what. It makes me feel like a princess when I pull it out of my bag, and put it on my lips. Oh Dior, you don't know how to be subtle, do you? I'm not complaining though. I love anything pink and semi-frivilous — everything in moderation, right?

Anyway, this is definitely one of my top lip-picks for spring and summer. I have a feeling this will look gorgeous with a tan. Though the price is steep, I don't mind paying this much for something (every now and then) that makes me feel so dang pretty.

Have you tried this stuff? What do you think?

Dior Addict Lipstick in Tokyo

Dior Addict Lipstick in Tokyo / $31

There are the lipsticks you can leave behind, and then there are the ones you can't. I told myself I'd only leave the store with two things: Dior Addict Lip Glow and a YSL Glossy Stain. Let's just say the glossy stain was swiftly put back into it's rightful place and replaced with this beauty. No offense, YSL.

Immdiately after trying this on in Sephora (or "the mothership" as I sometimes find myself calling it), I literally felt like "how the hell do I not have this in my possession/collection already?!". Then part of me is reminded of Patisserie, though Patisserie is a a bit darker and muted (IRL). This is sheer glossy goodness, literally. Even if it is a little too close in color to my MAC favorite, I don't mind. It's the type of color I find myself falling back on when I'm not exactly sure what to wear. Something I don't have to think about or make a fuss over. It just works.

Dior's lipsticks in general have a lovely consistency. Creamy, glossy, but not annoyingly sticky. They last and don't seem to have an issue when applied to my sometimes-dry lips which is an issue I have with more than one MAC lipstick. I love that it's sheer but still opaque enough to make a difference. Just another one of those my lips but better colors, which I'm totally alright with especially in the warmer months. Tanned skin, beachy hair, coral cheeks, and a teensy hint of color on the lips? Count me in (with this lipstick in hand).

Have you guys tried any Dior lipsticks before? What are your favorite shades?

FOTD: Muted Neutrals

Face: NARS Pro-Prime / YSL Touché Éclat BD10 / L'Oreal Magic Lumi concealer / MAC Margin Blush / MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in S&G

Eyes: NARS Portobello / MAC Charcoal Brown / Diorshow Iconic Mascara / Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal / MAC Teddy eyeliner

Lips: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 014

Last night I went a little bit Lisa Eldridge crazy. No regrets. I'm late to the game, I know but I am ob-freakin'-sessed. I watched so many videos before bed, that this morning when I woke up I decided I wanted to recreate a look, this look to be specific. While I know it's not the same thing (and I'm not claiming it is), I put my own spin on it and made it work for me. 

For my base I started with the NARS primer and then applied YSL Touché Éclat with my fingers and blended it softly into my skin. I concealed under my eyes and around my nose with the Magic Lumi concealer. I popped a bit of Margin on the apples of my cheeks and added a touch of highlight with Soft & Gentle. I actually haven't worn Margin since my wedding day but I've rediscovered it and have fallen right back in love.

For eyes I used the darker color from Portobello all over the lid and Charcoal Brown from MAC in the crease and outer corners. I applied two coats of Diorshow Iconic to my top lashes and one to the bottom. Followed up by the nude Rimmel liner in the inner part of my waterline and Teddy on the outer part.

I finished with the Rimmel Kate Moss nude lipstick and applied it generously with a Real Techniques lip brush from the Core Collection. First time using that brush and it's sooooo awesome.

I've never ever ever worn a nude lip before, but I've got to say I'm kind of in love. I'm also loving the soft brown eyeshadow paired with the coral/orange toned blush. Not something I would normally wear together but I love the way it works. This is pretty out of my comfort zone if I'm honest as I'm really used to a bright pink or berry lip. I also went a little lighter with my brows, using Charcoal Brown and Mystery; I'm convinced!

Annnnd ta-da, that's my finished look. What do you guys think? I feel like I'll be wearing nude lips so much more now, it's actually kinda nice! Do you like these kinds of posts? If so, let me know!

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum & Diorshow Iconic Mascara

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum · $28

Dior Diorshow Iconic Mascara · $28.50

As of late I've been a bit obsessed with trying to figure out how to make my lashes look longer and fuller without the use of falsies. 

After trying, I immediately fell in love with Dior's Lash Pluming Serum.  I already have pretty full lashes but this helps separate them and add a bit more volume. I can't imagine applying mascara without this now; it's seriously perfect! 

My next step was to try to find a mascara that would add the dramatic length that I was looking for. My first run was with a different Dior mascara which I wasn't a fan of and promptly returned. I then went for a different brand, Lancome, and while really wonderful, it still wasn't what I was looking for. This weekend I went into Sephora and asked one of the MUA's for advice and told her what I was looking for. She immediately took me to the Dior section and although I was a bit hesitant I trusted her advice and bought the Diorshow Iconic Mascara. She couldn't have picked a more perfect product; I'm absolutely in love.

It keeps my lashes separated, adds a bit of curl, and lengthens like I cannot believe. I'm not really one to use the "holy grail" term that we hear so often in the blogging universe but honestly? This is my holy grail mascara. I don't really see myself using anything else for a loooooong time and can honestly say this is the best mascara that I have ever tried. So obsessed!

What do you guys think of Dior's mascara collection? Have you used the Plumping Serum? What did you think? P.S. You can see the bigger version of my after photo here!

Christian Dior Fall 2011 RTW

I love Dior's fall 2011 RTW line for a multitude of reasons. The array of colors, the super-sexy-even-while-fully-covered look, and of course, the classic essence of femininity that never ceases to exist in any Dior collection. Fall seems to be all about the detail and drama with a little dash of romance; electric blues paired with deep magentas, pale pinks accented by light tans and baby blues. Leather and fur seem to be the accessories of choice -- while we do get to see a bit of suede, some sunglasses, and a few big hats. There really isn't a piece here that I don't absolutely adore but that's not at all surprising. This collection is absolutely charming and encompasses a little bit of everything that I enjoy. Whether you're super girly, casually chic, or a plain (but fashionable) Jane, there's something here for you to fall in love with.

photos via nymag.com

Miss Dior Cherie

There's been lots talk about Natalie Portman being the new face of Dior, and well, here she is. Stunning as usual and totally charming, here are some backstage stills from the shoot. Check out the film as well as some other fun stuff at missdiorcherie.com.

P.S. try not to fall in love right away!

photo credit: missdiorcherie.com