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 :)

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 :)

nyfw fall '12 beauty ~ NARS

new york fashion week wrapped up a few days ago and the NARS team definitely made a fabulous impact! inspired by the visions of designers they worked with, using current and yet-to-be-released products {yay for new beauty goodies!}, i thought you'd enjoy some of the highlights...take a look!

at Honor, NARS director of artistry, James Boehmer created pretty, beautiful skin {NARS Sheer Glow foundation used} that was "luminous and glossy" with eyes that were "deliberate and sculpted in a chalky grey shade." to compliment the collection, described as a "love story between a preppy boy and exotic, argentinean girl." Honor designer Giovanna Randall says, "it's the merging of two worlds ~ very refined and earthy with tapestry prints and a modern take on art deco."


at Fabiola Arias, the collection was full of strong pieces. NARS international lead makeup artist, Uzo, created rich, illuminated ombre eyes; warm shades, complemented by gold tones on the inner corners of the eyes, created an illuminated look. Key Largo, Kuala Lumpur, and Kilamanjaro duo eyeshadows {along with new Vent Glacé Duo Eyeshadow, available fall 2012} were key. designer Fabiola Arias wanted the models to look "really lit from within, in gorgeous dresses and hats that my mother, a milliner, created."


Thakoon wanted to focus on the lips for the fall/winter season, so NARS makeup artist Diane Kendal used fuchsia pink, a less obvious shade when one thinks of a bold lip. "the collection is a romantic cliche of something old new york...upper east side in the '80s, but with a quirky twist", said the designer. "it's reminiscent of the past but still feels modern." Kendal says of the shade choice, Heat Wave: "we wanted to play with color, and it ends up making the whole look so interesting."


the 3.1 Phillip Lim collection explored duality, "creating illusions of form by exploring the idea of shadow mapping and paneling, using positive and negative space to evoke the notion of a neo-noir heroine with a strength that belies her innate vulnerability." brand ambassador, Francelle Daly, gave models a look that was "part cartoon, but emotional, edgy, ethereal, and on the brink of tears. think, 'comic book super hero' meets 'emotional Roy Lichtenstein' character." key products included Carpates Stylo Eyeliner, Outlaw blush and Undress Me Multiple {all new for fall 2012}

Naeem Kahn's collection was inspired by italian actress Monica Vitti. "i wanted to do a collection that referenced italy in the 1960s...a beautiful time", says the designer. James Boehmer created a precise, sharp line on the eyes to bring this inspiration to life on the face. "everything else has that 'barely there' feeling. the eye line has to be really sharp and pointed up towards the temple - it's not a cat eye, and it's not a wide eye. it draws the eyes up." key products included Larger Than Life Mascara and Carpates Eyeliner Stylo.


so many fabulous trends to love and products to look forward to, wouldn't you say? stay tuned as i bring you more beauty and style highlights from ny fashion week!

info and images courtesy of NARS

Too Faced spring 2012 + Mystery Out of Makeup series

bonjour, beauties! the weather remains on the cold-because-it's-still-winter side and i'm still relishing each opportunity to wear layers, but as you already know, beauty brands, including one of my faves, Too Faced cosmetics, are always one season ahead. in this case it means the spring 2012 collection has arrived!

along with a gorgeous selection of palettes and sets, Too Faced has also produced a video series, Mystery out of Makeup, that you can enjoy via youtube.

watch an episode here...




be sure to check out their channel for more fabulous ideas, tips and tricks and visit toofaced.com for more info regarding the new, gorgeous spring 2012 collection!