Category: Makeup

YES, YOU NEED A FOUNDATION BALM IN YOUR LIFE — MORE ON THAT AHEAD

Published on by Lee3 Comments

We all have our alliances when it comes to face makeup products. You’re either a foundation kind of beauty person or you’re a lighter CC or BB cream stan (I’m the latter). But we’re here to throw another curve ball into the mix of base products. Introducing foundation balms. We know what you’re thinking: How does this differ from my other foundation products? 

All About the Texture and Coverage of a Foundation Balm

Think of a foundation balm as a cross between a cream and powder foundation. It applies like a cream or a mousse but sets to a semi-matte finish. As someone who usually prefers lightweight CC or BB creams with a natural finish, I’m obsessed with this formulation. Lujan describes its feel as cushiony and luxurious, being both smooth and comfortable without the heaviness that can come with cream foundations. 

When it comes to the coverage, foundation balms are pretty customizable. When first applied, a little goes a long way and can be blended and smoothed over a larger area of skin. “Foundation balms have an excellent level of coverage that can be applied as a full-coverage foundation or sheer with your moisturizer or beauty oil to create a skin tint,” says Lujan.

How to Apply a Foundation Balm

STEP 1: A foundation balm works best when applied over well-prepared skin. Well-prepared skin starts with a good cleansing and hydrating routine, followed by a good moisturizer application.

PRO TIP: Apply your moisturizer with your foundation balm brush. The residual moisturizer in the brush will ensure a seamless application of foundation.

STEP 2:  Load your brush by dabbing it into your foundation balm. A light dab will give you more sheer coverage. If you swirl it in the product to load your brush, you will get immediate full coverage.

STEP 3: Apply the foundation in the areas that need more coverage first,” advises Lujan. “Bounce the brush on the skin to deposit coverage and then buff outward and down in circular motions with light pressure.”

Our Favorite Foundation Balms

Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Foundation Balm

This full-coverage foundation balm gives you a natural-matte finish that stays shine-free and feels hydrating all day. When applied, it provides you with a blurred finish for smooth, flawless skin. 

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Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Foundation Balm 

You can get as little or as much coverage as you desire with this foundation balm. It contains skin-loving ingredients; hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and skin barrier-reinforcing avocado oil that nourish and hydrate your complexion while you wear it for a better look and feel. The foundation is currently available in 20 shades and is available is 3 undertones.

As for the finish, it’s advertised as silky and flawless, though Kevyn Aucoin notes online that anyone after a dewy glow can apply the brand’s Neo-Elixir Weightless Beauty Oil before the complexion product to achieve a glossier finish. (And in case you’re curious, Sephora has classified the balm as a matte cream foundation.)

While the foundation is intriguing all on its own, the formula’s versatility may be even more noteworthy. In the product description, Kevyn Aucoin lists that the Foundation Balm can be used as an eyeshadow base, contour, or applied over your arms and legs, crediting the formula’s powder-like finish as the key reason why. Using it just as a foundation is simple, too: Just “swirl” the foundation with the Foundation Balm Brush (which comes included) and stroke the product over your skin. It’s that easy.

You can shop Kevyn Aucoin’s new Foundation Balm on the brand’s website; the brand also notes on its Instagram that it’s available at Sephora, Space NK, and Bluemercury.

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WHY YOU SHOULD MIX HIGHLIGHTER WITH FOUNDATION

Published on by Lee4 Comments

The search for perfect-looking skin has our constant attention — we invest in fancy foundations, skin-smoothing primers and magical blending sponges. But little did we know that creating a flawless makeup base has less to do with these methods and a whole lot more to do with what we mix our foundation with. Ahead, we broke down exactly how to achieve the look by mixing highlighter with our favorite foundation formula, and we can guarantee that the results are better than any other method out there. 

STEP 1: Pick the Right Liquid-Based Highlighter

Picking the right illuminating product is key to making this makeup mix a success. First and foremost, choose a highlighter that has more of a sheer finish, as opposed to a glittery, shimmery one. You’ll need a lightweight formula like the Dermablend Glow Creator Highlighting Drops that will blend seamlessly with your foundation to leave a natural, subtle glow.

STEP 2: Mix It Up

Mix equal parts foundation (our current favorite is the YSL All Hours Longwear Foundation) and highlighter on the back of your hand. The total combination should equal a dime-sized amount. If needed, add more to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. Just be careful that you don’t end up with thick, cakey makeup.

STEP 3: Blend, Blend, Blend

Dot the mixture on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and smooth it all over the face (we recommend working from the center and blending outward) with a blending sponge or foundation brush, until your makeup is evenly distributed around your face and neck. Make sure to blend well, so that there are no streaks or splotching. Your makeup should look like second skin. For a next-level glow, feel free to add more strategically placed highlighter on the high points of your face when you’re finished with the rest of your makeup.

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This $6 Mascara Will Give You The Sexiest Lashes

Published on by Lee1 Comment

One thing we love about mascara is that we get to buy a new one every few months – it’s the perfect opportunity to get our beauty fix and try a new formula! We discovered our latest mascara obsession thanks to a subscriber insanely long, fluttery lashes, who revealed that she swore by the Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara. She loves it so much that every time she travels back to the US, she stocks up on it. Naturally, we had to try it out, and we were not disappointed. Here’s everything you need to know about this amazing $6 mascara!

What it is: A volumizing mascara designed to give full, fanned out lashes.

The brush: Let’s be honest, a mascara wand is as important if not more important than the formula when it comes to mascara, and this wand is pretty unique, to say the least! The rubber wand is made with little bristles that go from short to long at the top of the wand, aka the opposite to most mascara wands, and it feels more like a comb than a brush. When you first pull the brush out of the tube, it almost looks like there are no bristles as they’re so coated with formula.

What we liked: We love how this made our lashes look long, fluttery but also intense, however, we will say it takes a little getting used to – we’re going to give you all our tips! The mascara added a lot of drama to our lashes and depending on the look we wanted to go for, we found that – with a bit of practice – we could achieve natural, fluffy-looking lashes, or more dramatic, defined lashes.

Another huge bonus is that we had absolutely no flaking or smudging throughout the day – and we wore this from 9am till 11pm! We also like the fanned out the effect this gives to our lashes, but you will need to wiggle the brush around and pull your lashes outward to get a super fanned effect.

Tips for using: When you first use this mascara, a lot of product comes off on your lashes – it’s not one of those you need to build up – so it’s really important that you twist the brush when you apply to comb the product through. It also means that you probably won’t need to dip the brush back in the tube between eyes, so what we like to do is apply to one eye and comb through, then do the next eye, then once there’s less product on the brush, comb through the lashes again. This gives us super full, defined lashes that look sexy and fluttery. For a more intense look you can build it up with a second coat, but do it while the lashes are still wet.

Who it’s good for: We recommend this for people with medium to long lashes who want to add volume and definition and a little curl. If you have short lashes, this will add length and volume but it’s not the most lengthening mascara we’ve tried.

Considering the Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara costs $6, it’s a no-brainer for us. We loved the look we could achieve and how well it wore throughout the day. If you’re more of a wack-it-on-and-go kinda gal, then this may not be for you because it does take a little time to perfect.

Have you guys tried this mascara? Let us know in the comments below.

MOISTURIZING LIP BALMS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR DRY, WINTER LIPS

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Admittedly, if you went through our purses right now, you’d probably find a pile of half-used lip balms loosely floating around at the bottom. As far as we’re concerned, it’s seemingly impossible to have too many lip balms during any time of year, but when the weather turns cold, we double down. Come winter, we cling to the most moisturizing lip balms we can find in the hopes of alleviating our dehydrated, dry or chapped lips. Ahead, you’ll find a list of our favorite hydrating lip balms guaranteed to give your winter lips the extra love and moisture they deserve. 

Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1
Shield your lips from the drying effects of wind and cold weather with this Kiehl’s fan-favorite lip balm. Made with hydrating aloe vera, antioxidants like vitamin E and replenishing squalane, this nourishing formula provides the ultimate lip care. 

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IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Lip Balm Treatment
For those that can’t resist a little color on their pout, reach for this innovative lip-reviving balm. Not only will it provide intense hydration thanks to its essential butters and oils, but the Vitality Lip Flush Technology will even react with the warmth of your lips to provide a perfect flush of pink that lasts all day. 

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Maybelline New York Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm
It’s called Baby Lips for a reason and that’s because, well, you know where we’re going with this — it offers hydrating benefits that last for up to eight hours. Available for a humble $4.49, we won’t judge you if you buy one in every color. 

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Mario Badescu Lip Balm
Give your lips a kiss of hydration with the Mario Badescu Lip Balm. Formulated with cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil and almond oil, this ultra-rich balm is a great choice to replenish and renew your lips all winter long. 

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Lano The Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm
Cold temperatures mean dry lips, hands, elbows and so much more. This Lano Super-balm will save you during those desperate dry times where you need a quick fix of hydration everywhere, including your pout. 

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YSL Volupté Tint-in-Balm
This lipstick-lip-balm hybrid will care for your lips while giving you a glowing, sheer touch of color. The macadamia and apricot butter formula will keep your lips hydrated, protected and looking amazing with each use. It’s definitely a bit of a splurge, but trust us when we say it’s worth every penny. 

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Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells Nourishing Lip Balm
Treat your lips to the luxuriously rich and nourishing salve that is the Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells Nourishing Lip Balm. The formula will keep your lips moisturized and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the lip area. Not to mention, the inclusion of acacia honey, beeswax and rosehip seed oil will leave your pout feeling soft, supple and plump.

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