april instagram challenges ~ week 3

for week 3 of my instagram photo challenges, i confess, i got a bit behind. daily life can get busy, as you know, but thankfully, i did catch up, so here i am to share!

#photoadayapril called for pics of flower, something i don't like, hair {first pic at top}, orange, something i drew, bottle, the last thing i bought and vegetable...

for #aprilfashion i took pics of flats {shoes}, belt, plaid, large ring, bow, polka dots, lip balm/chapstick and diamond...

holy grail beauty, toe nails, morning skincare, inside beauty cabinet, shades of autumn, sparkle and bronzer for #30daysofbeautyapril rounded up a fabulous week of pics.

hope you've enjoyed this picture journey with me so far! i'll be posting week 4 in a few days. i'll also be sharing what i decide to do for the month of may since there are a few other photo challenges i'm considering. i don't want to do more than 3, so i'll let you know!

please follow me on twitter for all my daily happenings {and don't be afraid to say hi!} and visit my tumblr for fashion, lifestyle and beauty that inspires me.

enjoy your weekend! :)

pics taken by me :)

review: Per-fekt Skin & Cheek Perfection Gels

it goes without saying, but multitasking products are a must in every beauty girls' supply. Per-fekt Skin Perfection Gel {introduced to me during awards season, and used by celebs like Reese Witherspoon, Blake Lively and Jennifer Love Hewitt} is one of those products. not only does it offer lightweight, skin-enhancing results, but reduces redness and discoloration, keeps skin hydrated, controls shine, and is packed with antioxidants to boot!

Skin Perfection Gel isn't like most foundations. the unique formula is a gel-mousse hybrid of sorts, available in 5 skin-loving shades {4 if you don't count translucent as a shade} with smart color technology. while it's buildable, it doesn't provide completely full coverage. it's also unique in that it is to be applied by patting on rather than rubbing in {the shade i use, by the way, is called rich}. the finish is smooth and matte, which i love, plus water and sweat resistant ~ perfekt {sorry, i couldn't help it} for the warm-weather season! 

after creating a glowing complexion you'll, of course, need a gorgeous compliment of color! the Cheek Perfection Gel {available in 2 shades, blushed, pictured, and bronzed} is an amazing blush that gives cheeks a natural-looking flush. and because it's so concentrated, a very tiny bit goes a long way. simply warm between fingertips, dot onto cheeks and gently pat in for your most flattering color.

if you hadn't already guessed, i love the both the Skin and Cheek Perfection Gels. they're innovative, all-natural and such a lovely treat to use.

visit perfektbeauty.com for more info!

products featured sent to me for reveiw consideration; pics taken by me :)

currently loving...

spring is in full swing...isn't it fabulous?

mornings are still cold, but the days are getting warmer, longer, and i'm so inspired by all of the new and gorgeous things in my life that are making the season so much more splendid...

fresh blooms!
i love fresh flowers, and seeing them everywhere always brings a smile to my face.

a new scent!

i've enjoyed wearing Shenandoah, by Terri Michelle fragrances, a lot lately. the clean-smelling scent has floral notes, but also musks, making it sophisticated but still light. i admit, i probably wouldn't have liked this a few years ago, but i now find this to be quite lovely. this gem is perfect for the spring season with its notes of bergamot, white lily, white musk, freesia, lotus, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

pastels!

coral and mint in particular are among the eye-pleasing, happy-inducing pastel shades every beauty girl should be adding to her daily life this season. both shades are uber flattering and can easily be incorporated through clothing, accessories and beauty products. i'm loving Sally Hansen nail polish in Mint Sorbet and Revlon's Coral Reef lipgloss.

new mascaras!

even if i'm not wearing shadow or liner, i wear mascara. three i can't get enough of all happen to be made by Maybelline ~ One by One {clump-free, fabulous volume}, Lots of Lashes {amazing, glossy length and volume with a fabulous brush to get at every lash} and Illegal Length Fiber Extensions {gorgeous, flake-free length}. trust me, dolls, you need these eye-opening gems in your beauty arsenal.


what are you currently loving??

Shenandoah fragrance sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me

video: Bobbi Brown's Lonely Makeup Bag

inspired by the idea that Bobbi Brown's new Long-Wear Eye Collection will take you from coffee to cocktails without a smudge, this fun video, The Lonely Makeup Bag, plays up just how lost {and lonely} your makeup bag will be when you'll no longer need touch-ups throughout the day.

it's too cute! enjoy...

review: Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation

to give skin smooth-looking, flawless texture it's the base that will give you the best result...

i'm no stranger to foundation {i've used my share in 32 years!}, and though i've found my holy grail, i've been using the new Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation for the past few weeks...

the formula feels light on my skin, blends well and is buildable in coverage. it promises up to 8 hours of wear and actually went beyond that {i did use a primer and makeup setting spray} under average wear. it contains skin-loving antioxidants, and because of its non-drying, oil-free ingredients, is great for most skin types.

the overall finish of Supreme is beautiful. it did streak when faced with moisture {in the form of sweat and tears from laughing or crying}, but it doesn't claim to stand up against any elements, so that was easy to get over. it doesn't contain spf, and unfortunately, i did have to mix two shades to create my perfect match...

the brand was gracious enough to send me two of their dark shades, Sunset Beige and Toffee Bronze. i did find the lighter shade {Sunset Beige} was better, if i had to choose one, but blending them together was best. since this line is permanent, i'm hoping more shades will be added {at least one shade between Sunset and Toffee, please :)} to fill in the gaps.

no, this isn't a perfect foundation, but i still think it's good. if you can find the shade best suited for you, it's definitely worth giving a try. of course, you can always get a sample first {from Sephora or your nearest Laura Mercier counter}.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Supreme is available now. visit lauramercier.com for more info!

product featured provided by brand for review consideration; pics taken my me :)

review: Beauty for Real Miracle Mascara

lush, long lashes. what gal doesn't want them? these days they're definitely easy to achieve thanks to an abundance of mascaras on the market.

one i want to share with you today is Beauty For Real's Miracle Mascara. i was given the opportunity to receive this for use from the brand. it's been a little more than 2 weeks that i've been using it, and i have to say...this mascara impressed me very much.

with claims of being water resistant and smudge-free, but still easily removable with just water, i admit, i was a bit sceptical. well, this little beauty proved me wrong! it applied beautifully with no clumping. the look it created wasn't as dramatic as i wanted, but still pretty and lush. once on, Miracle stayed put until i removed it {water worked, yes, but i still used my typical makeup removal methods as well}.

key ingredients include carnauba wax which allows for the mascara to give lashes fullness but also soft flexibility. collagen and vitamin E give strength, resilience and antioxidants, promoting healthier lashes. the long-lasting formula held up against sweat, tears and the oh-so annoying lint/dirt/makeup/stray eyelash-in-the-eye events. another fab feature that i {and you will too} love is in Beauty For Real's signature packaging: a magnifying mirror on the outside of the tube and LED light in the lid! genius for precise application.

thumbs up for this mascara, beauties! visit beautyforreal.com for more info about Miracle Mascara and more info about the entire range of products.

product sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

luxe & organic: Vapour Organic Beauty

hello beauties!

as another month is coming to a close {yikes, this month flew by!} and the spring season slowly blooms, i'm excited to share some gorgeous products from Vapour Organic Beauty i've been using over the past several weeks.

lovely and luxe, each of these products not only make you look good, but are also made with organic ingredients so they're good for you!

oh, and just as a little pop culture/celeb side note, Jessica Alba recently gushed over a few of these products...

the first product i have to share is Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation {swatched below with and without a flash}. the shade sent to me for this review is a tad too dark, but worked gorgeously as a liquid bronzer thanks to its natural skin luminizers. the finish is dewy and pretty, the formula feels light, and {when used as a foundation} is buildable so you can add more product to places that you may require more coverage.

creating flawless skin typically requires a concealer, and for this the Beauty Illusionist is fabulous. it easily covers imperfections, blending away dark spots and blemishes and is housed in a sleek tube, making it purse and travel-friendly.

Luxe Organic Lip Conditioner treats lips with jojoba seed, beeswax and coconut oils. one of my new lip-loving faves, i like to apply this when i begin my makeup application. by the end of it, my lips are soft and ready for whatever lip color i choose to apply. one to try...Siren Lipstick.

another lippie standout is the Elixer Plumping Gloss. of course, let's be honest, my lips aren't in need of plumping, but i simply j'adore this gloss! the non-stinging formula contains antioxidants, lip-loving skin-hydrators and has a gorgeously glossy, not-too-sticky finish. the shade pictured is called Vivid, a stunning fuchsia with silver flecks.

let's not forget the eyes! Vapour Organic Beauty's Mesmerize Eyeliner & Smoky Eye Tool applies and blends beautifully. whether i used it to create a defined cat-eye or {with help from the built-in smudger} a glamorous, smoked-out finish, the result lasted for hours and never irritated my eyes.

be sure to visit Vapour Organic Beauty's website for more info on these products. find them on facebook & follow the brand on twitter!

products sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

organic beauty: Cecilia Wong Skincare

i was fortunate enough to receive samples of Cecilia Wong's amazing anti-aging, organic line of products and, well...i'm loving them!

products i used include, but are not limited to, Awakening Gel Cleanser, Rejuvenating Toner mist, and moisturizer {for oily/overactive skin}.

free of all the yucky parabens, sulfates or artificial colors and fragrances, the cleanser has a name that is perfect fit for its name, awakening. the formula is refreshing, smells bright with citrus, and leaves my skin so clean, without over-drying it...

the rejuvenating toner keeps hydration levels up in my skin with luxe ingredients like chamomile water, rosemary and lavender {ahhh...},

and topped with the moisturizer, my skin was always left looking fabulously radiant.


visit the Cecilia Wong website to learn more about this beautiful line, its creator, and if you're in the nyc area, you can treat your skin to a facial at her park avenue spa!

products samples provided by the brand's pr for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

eye creams for every budget...

for any beauty maven, eye creams are essential. for the prevention and/or treatment of dark circles, discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, it's safe to say that these concentrated creams {and gels} play a major part in the skincare routine.

when it comes to which are best for you, more often than not, it's not just a matter of which product is best and actually will work, but also what is most affordable for your budget.

thankfully, there are many fabulous options on the market that are effective and won't send you into debt. i've used the following eye creams {on their own, separately, over the last several months} and they are all effective and have varying price points...

Caudalie Premier Cru the eye cream is the priciest {just under the hundred dollar mark}, but lives up to its promise of delivering a healthy, youthful look to the eye area. tetrapeptides and grape seed polyphenols {antioxidants!} are to thank for the results this rich, iridescent cream gives. highly concentrated, this gem gave my skin a more hydrated feel as well as a supple and radiant look.

Philosophy Eye Hope is in the mid-price range and my favorite for reducing puffiness and keeping fine lines at bay. this popular eye cream is heavy with antioxidants and hydrating ingredients, but is completely lightweight and fast-absorbing.

the Yes To brand offers eye products that are affordable and can be found in your local mass retailer {CVS, Target}. Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel {not pictured} does exactly that, thanks to ingredients like chamomile and cucumber, while Yes To Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment gives eyes a radiance boost and aids in keeping the delicate area of the eye firm. both are rich in antioxidants and didn't irritate my eyes at all.


tell me: do you spend more on your eye cream because it's what works best for you and is worth the splurge, or do you only use what you can afford??

caudalie and yes to brands sent to me for review consideration; pic taken by me :)