Recently in Cosmetics: Face Category

We firmly believe that certain products are best bought as sets (think eyeshadow duos, gloss palettes), but we never really ventured into blush/bronzer sets....until now! How cool is Hourglass Cosmetics' new Illume Créme-to-Powder Bronzer Due?! Encased in their signature swivel compact, this new pair includes both a bronzer to add a little healthy color and a blush for a rosy glow.  We naturally gravitated towards the bronzer first, but couldn't resist giving our cheeks a little extra flirt with the blush. It's the best of both worlds.


As always, Hourglass is  free of parabens, phthalates and sulfates. $40, Available in May online at Sephora.

There's nothing more opulent than a little gold in your makeup and mani! Chanel's new Orient Extreme collection inspired us to add some drama to our beauty bag. Not too much gold, just some highlights around the eyes, the lips and even the body (think...glittery Décolletage). Not into gold makeup? Then opt for gold nails  -- Chanel's Gold Lamé polish is the best.

We're crushing over these must-haves (gold nuggets not for sale):

If you're one of the thousands upon thousands of people making the trek out to the California desert this weekend for Coachella, then please remember to protect your skin! This season is shaping up to be slightly cooler than most (like high 80s vs. high 100s), but you'll still need to make a conscious effort to stay protected.

Here are a couple SPF-infused ideas:



From left: Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15, $9.50 Nordstrom.com, Murad Age-Proof Suncare Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30, $30 Beauty.com, Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder SPF 45, $30  Sephora, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, $42 Sephora.

In an effort to raise awareness about Earth Day -- and a little money -- Kiehl's has added a colorful twist to one of our favorite products. With the help of famous faces Julianne Moore, Jeff Koons, Malia Jones and Pharrell Williams, Kiehl's has created a limited-edition series of their rejuvenating Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist. Four different bottles are outfitted in each collaborator's idea of a happier earth. We're digging artist Jeff Koons' bright bottle the most!


We're already fans of Kiehl's Acaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist on its own with its regular old outfit -- and are even more supportive with its lively new packaging.

100% of proceeds up to $200,000 from the sale will be donated to the Rainforest Alliance.
$26, Kiehls.com.

You're probably well-aware, but tinted moisturizers can be your BFF, especially during the sunnier seasons. They're a great lightweight, everyday alternative to foundation. But most importantly, they're one of the most reliable way to protect your skin from UV Rays. Because let's face it (pun intended), applying both sun block and some sort of color daily can be a chore, and very easy to forget.

Protect your face with five of the most popular tinted moisturizers.





Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15,  $34 Sephora

















Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer -- Oil Free, $42 Sephora













Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer, $38 Sephora















*Cost-effective!* Boots No7 Soft and Sheer Tinted Moisturizer,  $11.99 Target










Sephora Collection Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer SPF20, $21 Sephora

We're perpetually on the hunt for the perfect highlighter and never seem to find it-- this little highlighter is too glittery, this little highlighter is too greasy, and this little highlighter has us streaking all the way home. What's a girl to do?

Enter Vapour Organic Beauty-- their new Halo Body Spotlight imparts a luminous, lit-from-within glow that looks natural, and more importantly, doesn't leave glitter bomb fallout on our cheeks. It's the perfect shimmer to counteract dull, lifeless winter skin, and can be used on the face, shoulders, arms, décolletage.. the possibilities are endless.
 
Halo also delivers potent anti-oxidants into the skin to heal and protect it against environmental elements and pollutants.  It's made with the anti-inflammatory Frankincense, moisturizing Lotus Flower and Tulsi, an ancient healing herb, and is 70% organic.

Added bonus? The packaging is so pretty: a steel blue-gray shimmer... and it smells awesome too! Sort of a light, fruity smell that makes us want to bite it...but we won't. ;)

Halo comes in one universal shade, Moonlight, suitable for all ages and skin tones.
$34, VapourBeauty.com

 

Trends can be intimidating, especially during Fashion Week- not only are the models 16 year old goddesses, but they have the best in makeup, hair, and design backstage dressing them up like dolls. How can we compete?

Thankfully, as we jet from backstage to backstage this season, we keep hearing the same phrases used over and over again: clean, fresh, organic, and "like they did it themselves". Good news for us, who don't have the beauty team following us around all day ( a girl can dream!)

Backstage at the Charlotte Ronson show, we noticed some really chic looks, which thankfully are super easy to re-create at home. Here's how to get the look:

For the face, Sephora PRO artist Gilbert Soliz told us that Charlotte wanted the girls to look as if  they'd done their own faces. The skin was kept dewy using Make Up For Ever Face and Body Liquid Makeup, and then sculpted with taupe powder to lift the face. The eyes were then given a monochromatic brown smokey look using Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes in Pearly Brown. The shadow was applied to the lid and then winged out with a brush, followed by DiorShow mascara enhance lashes. The eyebrows were kept natural and only lightly groomed, and lips were left nude, touched only by clear balm to enhance (Sephora FACE Very Sexy Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 15).

For the hair,  TRESemmÉ Celebrity Stylist Jeanie Syfu said that Ronson wanted "decadence". The hair was prepped with a lightweight mousse (Tresemme 24hr Body), and then dried with a round brush for volume before being sectioned off and wrapped lightly around a barrel iron. The curls were then finger combed to loosen the wave, and spritzed with a dry shampoo (Tresemme Fresh Start) to absorb leftover styling products.

Viola! So simple....turban optional.

We've all been there: alarm blaring WAY before we've completely slept off last night's cocktails with the girls. A shower and coffee may help wake us up, but wait a minute - what's going to help wake this tired skin?! 

We say: if you can't beat it, fake it. You may not feel anywhere near a million bucks, but follow these tips and you'll look it in no time...five minutes to be exact.

1. Give skin a double boost by smoothing on a  primer that hydrates and brightens, Tarina Tarantino Pearl Glow primer.
The primer hydrates and smooths skin while light reflective crushed pearl pigments brighten skin and diffuse light to fake a radiance. Time: 1 minute.

2. Apply a sheer to medium coverage tinted moisturizer to mask imperfections and even out skin tone. Depending on the amount of coverage you'd like, use fingers for more control and coverage, or a dampened sponge for a more sheer finish.
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer has just enough pigment while still being lightweight and invisible. Added bonus? SPF to protect skin from harmful rays. Time: 1 minute.

3. Any problem areas are easily covered with a creamy concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage.
Use a small concealer brush to dot onto problem areas with precision, then use your ring finger to tap into skin and diffuse, for the most natural coverage. Time: 1 minute.

4. We've been trained to be afraid of powders to set our makeup, for fear of looking unnaturally matte or cakey. The new HD powders are foolproof, and give skin a soft-focus look. Makeup For Ever Microfinish contains silica powder, which helps to soften the appearance of imperfections.
Sprinkle a small amount into cap, swirl powder brush, tap off excess, and lightly dust over contours of the face. A little goes a long way. Time: 1 minute.

5. Lastly, here's an insider tip to a fresh, no makeup look: Spritz skin with a light facial spray to take down the powder, set, and give an added dose of hydration. Shu Uemura Depsea Facial Water Mist contains over 60 minerals to enhance moisture.
Holding bottle 1-15 inches from skin, mist lightly and let dry. It may sound counter-productive after applying the other four products, but trust us: One time, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without this step! Time: 1 minute.

Total time elapsed: 5 minutes, which leaves you time to stop for that double latte!

A lit-from-within glow is always beautiful and we can't help but notice our favorite stars looking this way at every red carpet event. So, it's only natural we would desire that same glow. While the original NARS Orgasm powder blush isn't really the perfect shade for all skin tones (in our opinion), the new Orgasm Illuminator is definitely more versatile. This sheer, weightless fluid can be worn alone or mixed with your foundation to give skin a gorgeous, radiant glow-- no special red carpet event required. $29, sephora.com