Tag: Sephora

No-Makeup Makeup Using ONLY Fenty Beauty Products

Published on by Lee3 Comments

The no-makeup makeup trend is going nowhere in 2020. If you don’t believe us, check your social media feed… Ours is inundated with dewy skin goals, glossy lips, rosy cheeks, and feathered brows. Next, check Trendmood, and you’ll notice that all of the latest beauty releases have been created with no-makeup makeup goals in mind. Plus, the minimal makeup vibe was all over the runway this season; from Hugo Boss to Armani.

To help you live out your best no-makeup makeup life (flawlessly), we’ve curated an entire makeup routine using only Fenty Beauty products. Not only am I a fan of Rihanna but I love her products. Each product glides on the skin smoothly and little does go a long way. When spending my money, I expect to get what I am paying for which is quality and quantity! Fenty Beauty definitely delivers.

Step 1: Primer

Applying a primer is one of the most important steps when it comes to no-makeup makeup as it’ll help you achieve that stunning, dewy finish. Our current fave is the Fenty Beauty PRO FILT’R HYDRATING PRIMER, $32. The liquid primer blends seamlessly into the skin, smoothing out the appearance of pores and imperfections while leaving your skin looking hella-radiant. Simply apply two drops to prepped skin, and blend out with your fingers.

Step 2: Concealer

Okay okay okay…. I know what you are thinking. What about foundation??? Well, I personally ( Crystal Lee) don’t use foundation anymore because foundation has more bad chemical ingredients than concealer and skin feels more breathable without it. PRO FILT’R INSTANT RETOUCH CONCEALER, $26 is a amazing substitute for foundation. This creamy, light-as-air, soft matte concealer easily builds to full coverage, instantly brightening under eyes, concealing blemishes and dark spots, and reducing redness.

TOO FACED Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer, $29 is the go-to for the eyes, eyebrows and etc. This hydrating, buildable, multitasking concealer masks imperfections, smooths, and sculpts skin for natural-looking coverage. It’s infused with coconut water, alpine rose, and hyaluronic acid—skin-loving ingredients that come together for crease-free, weightless wear that’s so naturally flawless they’ll think you were born this way.

no-makeup makeup

Another great concealer that we couldn’t live without, is the LA Girl HD Pro Concealer, $5, to instantly transform our tired eyes. The creamy formula offers up intense coverage, so you don’t need to use a lot, which helps to give that no-makeup look. Once again, blend it out with a damp beauty blender to maintain that no-makeup makeup, airbrushed finish.

Pro tip: To achieve that wet skin finish, apply your foundation with a damp beauty blender. Or if you’re looking for more coverage, apply your foundation with a brush and then press a damp beauty blender into your skin for a seamless finish.

Step 3: Powder

If you have normal to dry skin, you can always skip powder or just apply on your T-zone, as this look is all about dewiness. However, if you have you have oily skin or want to lock your look in for extra long wear, powder your T-zone lightly to prevent any midday shine using the PRO FILT’R SETTING POWDER, $32 and TRUE COMPLEXION™ SOFT FOCUS FINISHING POWDER, $7.49. The superfine powder sets makeup effortlessly for extra-long wear.

The best part? Rihanna was obsessed with creating a setting powder for everyone that wouldn’t flash back, so Pro Filt’r was born in 8 versatile shades to melt into your unique skin tone, letting you set, perfect, and brighten without a trace. And with its light-as-air blend of mattifying powders that won’t cake or settle, Pro Filt’r minimizes shine while letting skin look like skin. So you can—for once—get matte, get even, and keep your photo-ready finish on lock.

True Complexion™ Soft Focus Finishing Powder is a micro-fine powder with skincare benefits exclusively formulated to give women of color a camera ready complexion that looks flawless from any angle.

Step 4: Bronzer

Next, add some definition to your cheekbones by warming up your face with a bronzer like the MOCHA MAMI, $30. The shimmer finish works perfectly for the look, leaving you with a soft, luminous glow.

Bask in that post-vacay bronze year-round with Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer. Rihanna dreamt of an easy-to-use powder bronzer that truly works for everyone, so she created Sun Stalk’r in 8 versatile shades that bring out the warmth in all skin tones, from the fairest to the deepest!

Super smooth, creamy, and easy to blend, this light-as-air bronzing powder builds like a dream yet is hard to overdo, giving you a believable sun-soaked glow that stays put all day without transferring. Whether you’re looking for all-over warmth or the ultimate contour, Sun Stalk’r does it all with the perfect soft matte finish that lets skin look like skin. Plus, it’s backed by mango and papaya fruit extracts to help give skin a natural, healthy-looking glow with every swipe.

Pro Tip: Not a eyeshadow fantatic then use your bronzer as a shadow. Been doing this lately and love the outcome. Also, I don’t really contour like y’all faves but when I do, I use this same bronzer on my nose instead of using cream.

Step 5: Blush

A no-makeup makeup look is lost without a rosy glow. One of our go-to blushes is the e.l.f Jelly Pop Flush Blush, $6, as it has a unique jelly texture that melts effortlessly into the skin. The glow-enhancing formula also boasts a rich blend of argon oil, vitamin E, and castor oil to hydrate the skin.

MATCH STIX SHIMMER SKINSTICK, $25, is a magnetized makeup stick in a longwear, light-as-air shimmer formula to highlight, blush, and enhance in 15 colorful shades that let you play.

Pro tip: For a youthful look, apply your blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it out using small circular motions. Avoid stretching it out along your cheekbones too much.

Step 6: Highlighter

drugstore no-makeup makeup

If you weren’t #blessed with naturally dewy skin (newsflash: very few people are), highlighter is the easiest way to fake it! A liquid highlighter is perfect for a more natural skin finish: The L’Oréal True Match Lumi Glow Amour Glow Boosting Drops, $15, has been a staple in our kit forever! The ultra-lightweight formula blends seamlessly and is easily buildable so it can take you from no-makeup makeup to full glam. The formula’s also infused with shea butter, providing rich hydration leaving your cheeks plump, and most importantly, glowy AF.

Diamond Bomb, $39, features a unique jelly-powder formula that’s bouncy, cool to the touch, and melts into skin like butter. This diamond dust highlighter is loaded with 100% pure brilliance to create an all-glitz-no-grit finish that decks out every skin tone. Plus, all of this glittery goodness comes in a faceted jewel-like compact you’ll never want to put down.

FAIRY BOMB SHIMMER POWDER, $28 is also another great highlight if applied right because the goal is still for a natural makeup look. Available online only, these loose highlighting powders coat all skin tones in the ultimate bejeweled finish that catches light with every movement. Plus, it’s softly scented with the same irresistible vanilla coconut for a full-on sensorial experience you can’t get enough of.

Step 7: Brows

Feathery brows are one of our fave brow trends RN, and the quickest way to get the look is with a brow mascara. Work with your natural brow and comb the hairs upwards with the BROW MVP ULTRA FINE BROW PENCIL & STYLER, $20. It’ll instantly add definition by adding a hint of color while shaping and adding volume to the brows.

Rihanna knows how personal brows are, so she made it easy to get instantly defined, natural-looking brows that are true to you. This super fine-tipped pencil is the ultimate pro at precision, letting you outline and fill-in brows with smooth, hair-like strokes that’s not too creamy, not too dry, but just right—giving you the exact payoff you need, every time. We’re talking serious stamina, too, with a waterproof formula that resists smudging, fading, and transferring. Plus, Brow MVP’s smart triangle shape makes it easy to hold, with a built-in paddle brush to comb through and shape up brows while blending out excess color.

Step 8: Mascara

While we usually advocate for lashings of mascara, for this makeup look, you want to enhance your lashes without looking overdone. The FULL FRONTAL VOLUME LIFT & CURL MASCARA, $24, is ideal, as it defines each lash without being too intense. Full Frontal builds easily, too, giving you plenty of playtime to layer, define, separate—whatever it is you need to do to create the look you want. And thanks to the long-wear, water-resistant formula life-tested by Rihanna to stand up to smudging, sweat and tears, this mascara keeps up while you turn up, keeping lashes fully exposed from root to tip until you’re ready to wash it off.

Step 9: Lip Gloss

No look is complete without a lip! For daytime, we like to keep our lips hydrated with a tinted lip balm in a similar rosy hue to our blush shade, which helps create a cohesive and harmonious look. We (like so many others) are devoted to the Burt’s Bees Lip balms, our fave is the Pomegranate Lip Balm, $3, as it leaves your lips looking rosy and soft. For a sexier look, opt for a high shine gloss like FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set $42, which makes your lips look so full and juicy.

Do you guys like the no-makeup makeup vibe? Let us know in the comments below.

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10 EYESHADOW TIPS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

Published on by Lee3 Comments

Your eyes are arguably one of your strongest assets. They are the so-called windows to your soul after all, which is all the more reason to brush up on your eyeshadow skills. But applying eyeshadow like a pro can be tricky. What are all those different sections of a palette for? What type of brush should you use? Let’s go back to the basics. Ahead, find our ten golden rules for applying eyeshadow and you’ll be golden, too.

STEP #1: Always Use Primer 

An eyeshadow primer creates a clean canvas for you to work with, and it acts as a barrier between your eyeshadow and the natural oils in your skin. That way, your makeup stays put so you can keep touch-ups to a minimum. Try a formula like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Potion Primer.

STEP #2: Enhance Your Natural Eye Color 

You want to choose an eyeshadow shade that accentuates your natural eye color. Finding colors that best complement your eyes takes some experimenting, but here’s a good place to start:

Blue Eyes: Shadows with bronze or peachy tones help blue eyes pop. Slate gray is another great option.

Green Eyes:A plum-colored shadow looks very flattering if you have green or hazel eyes. Rusty shades are also gorgeous.

Brown Eyes:If you’re a brown-eyed girl like me, we’re lucky because most shades look great on us. But gold or purple hues are especially flattering

STEP #3: Know Your Eye Shape 

Do you have deep-set eyes? Close-set? Hooded? Determining the shape of your eye helps you decide which shading technique is right for your specific features and plays up your natural beauty.

STEP #4: Decode Your Palette

You might be tempted to open an eyeshadow palette and just have at it, but it’s important to know which sections correspond to each part of your eye. Trust us, there’s a method to all this palette madness! There’s a variety of palettes out there, but here’s a general breakdown of your basic eyeshadow quad palette (the NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Neutrals is a great one to start with). 

Lightest color: This is your base color. Apply this shade from your upper lash line all the way up to right beneath your brow. You can also use this color in the inner corner of your eye to add a bit of brightness.

Second lightest: This is your lid color, as it’s slightly darker than the base. Brush this over your lid from your upper lash line to your crease.

Second darkest: This is applied to the crease for a contouring effect. This should go over the area where your brow bone meets your lid to create definition.

Darkest color: Finally, the liner. Using an angled brush, apply it to your upper lash line (and lower lash line if you want a bold boost), making sure to brush where the root of your lashes meets your lid so there’s no visible gap.

STEP #5: Blend, Blend, Blend

We can’t stress this one enough! Blending your edges can be the difference between your eyeshadow looking flawless and looking like … well, a hot mess. Don’t smear. Use a light touch and gently sweep your brush along your lid, blending harsh lines. To blend like a pro, you need the right brushes, which brings us to step #6.

STEP #6: Invest in the Right Brushes

There are so many eyeshadow brushes out there in every shape and size, it can get confusing. Here are the three most important ones you should own:

Basic eyeshadow brush:The bristles are flat and stiff, and you use this for all-over color.

Blending brush:The bristles are soft and fluffier for seamless blending.

Angled eyeshadow brush:This is a precision brush that is perfect for lining your eyes.

STEP #7: Take Care of Your Tools

Cleaning your eyeshadow brushes is probably at the bottom of your to-do list, but it’s really important. We’re talking about your eyes here, so cleanliness is key. Run your brush under lukewarm water and then pour a nickel-sized amount of baby shampoo into your hand. Swirl the brush in the shampoo, rinse well and pat dry with a clean cloth.

STEP #8: Choose Your Formula Wisely

Pressed eyeshadows are your basic, most common formula. They’re a great, mess-free option. Cream shadows are perfect if you want a dewy sheen, but they can crease easily — especially if you have oily lids. Loose shadows usually come in a small pot, and while you’ll feel like a professional makeup artist using them, they are definitely the messiest of the three.

STEP # 9: Let a Bold Eye Shine 

A smoky eyeshadow looks gorgeous on its own, but once you add a dramatic lip into the mix, the two can overwhelm each other. Don’t be afraid to go bold, but just make sure your overall look has balance.

STEP 10: Keep it All in Place With a Setting Spray 

Get the most mileage out of your makeup by using a setting spray as your final step. Hold the bottle at arm’s length from your face and spritz away. We love the Urban Decay All Nighter Ultra Matte Setting Spray.

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Huda Beauty Resting Boss Face Setting Spray Review

Published on by Lee1 Comment

When it comes to wearing makeup, we’re all weary of having it smear or disappearing and having to touch up. I almost never touch up because the thought of having to reapply makeup on dirty skin grosses me out. So, the idea that setting sprays can keep our makeup in place all day is extremely attractive. When Huda Beauty released her waterproof setting spray and I saw what it could do I ordered it immediately. I tested this out over the last week and here’s what happened.

𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓼

Huda Beauty’s Setting Spray offers “extra-hold” with a waterproof matte finish. This is a non-aerosol spray. You get 100ml of product for $33.

𝓘𝓷𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼

Well, this is like looking at a not so good report card. There are quite a few hazardous ingredients-Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, and Isoeugenol. Alcohol is the first ingredient listed and alcohol tends to dry out your skin which is a no-no. The last three are all fragrances and I think everyone has heard just how bad the fragrance is in this spray. Benzyl Salicylate is associated with allergies and contact dermatitis and also works as an ultraviolet light absorber. Actually, almost half of the ingredients in this list function as fragrances!

To be fair, this never claimed to have any sort of skin care benefit. I mean, what do you expect from something that claims to be waterproof and was inspired by extra hold hair spray? If you’re particular about the ingredients in your cosmetics, then run far, far away from this!

𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓾𝓵𝓽𝓼

First time using this, I sprayed directly to my face then on my makeup sponge and applied my foundation with it. In hindsight that isn’t what the directions said to do, but oh well! When applied directly on face, I did find the fragrance to be a bit much. My friend also tried it before we went out and she said the Resting Boss Spray irritated her skin. She felt this burning sensation and was kinda sticky to her. But, after a while that feeling went away.

This spray smells like perfume which normally wouldn’t bother me but it can be overwhelming. The spray does control oil pretty well. Normally, my T-Zone would start to get greasy after 3 or 4 hours, but the Huda spray kept it in check. Side note- It did cause me to have a migraine and I did feel sick. The setting spray was applied at 10pm and lasted throughout the night until 6am, when I finally came home to go to work. You know what was amazing though? I had gotten some of the spray on my eyelids and my eye makeup was creaseless. I didn’t use eye primer, so I was impressed! Overall, not bad for the first time.

I tried different ways of using the spray- spraying directly onto the face, doing it Huda’s way, and spraying targeted areas. If you spray directly onto the face, the fragrance is over-powering and cue in all the bad reviews on Sephora. Spraying directly onto the face will also lead to unevenness with more product on one part of the face than the rest. This formula really is like extra hold hair spray!

Primp Tip: Spray after your skin prep rituals and at the end, apply Huda Beauty Resting Boss Spray onto the beauty blender for less irritation and for more coverage. The fragrance is a little tolerable this way.

If you are wondering if Huda’s setting spray is waterproof, I can’t really say right now. February 15, 2020 was a rainy night but my friend and I makeup stayed in tact.

Compared to other setting sprays, Huda’s setting spray is significantly stronger and longer lasting.

If your skin is really oily then the spray will keep your face looking fresh throughput the day. For the normal to dry skin people, makeup will still look fresh and radiant. But since this has a matte finish, I would suggest don’t use it as much because like I previously stated, alcohol does dry out the skin. For the sensitive skin type, try applying with your beauty blender sponge instead of directly onto face.

𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀

The Huda Beauty Setting Spray is some heavy-duty stuff! If it wasn’t for the bad ingredients, I would be singing more praises because it works better than its competitors. I love that I don’t have to do any touch-ups when using this product, but I value my skin more.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

HUDA BEAUTY

Resting Boss Face, $33

Huda Beauty

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How To Apply Blush – And What You Definitely Shouldn’t Do!

Published on by Lee15 Comments

We’re calling it: blush is going to be one of THE biggest makeup trends of 2020. While some of you may think blush is a little old school, it’s a classic for a reason! When applied correctly, blush warms up your entire face and gives you the most stunning youthful glow. It also adds an element of harmony to your makeup game that we can’t live without (more deets on that later). The thing is, it has to be applied correctly otherwise a sun-kissed goddess is the last thing you’ll look like, and trust us, it’s easy to go overboard if you’re not careful! Here are all of our top blush tips, and how to avoid any blush-mishaps.

How to Find the Right Blush Shade for Your Skin Tone

Finding the right blush for your skin tone is one of the most important elements to get right. If it’s too bright it can look harsh on your skin, and if it’s the wrong shade it can disrupt the harmony of your look. The key is to choose a shade that looks like a natural flush; as if you’re blushing.

For fair skin tones: Light, pink-toned blushers work well for fair skin tones – the Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion Box O’ Powder Blush, $30, is perfect!

For light to medium skin tones: Peach shades will warm up your complexion beautifully. We’re obsessed with the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Formentera, $45.

For golden or olive skin tones: Opt for brighter pinks and soft corals like Patrick Ta’s Monochrome Moment Velvet Blush, $32, in the shade She’s Passionate – a beautiful coral-pink.

For deep and rich skin tones: Hot pinks, fiery corals, and deep berry tones look divine. The Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze, $18, is perfect for rich skin tones; it looks super bright but it blends out like a dream.

How to Choose A Blush Shade To Complement Your Look

Of course, you don’t have to stick to one blush shade, you can experiment with different shades depending on your vibe. However, try to create an element of harmony by using similar hues for your eyes, lips, and cheeks. It’s an MUA rule that we live by – it’ll instantly elevate your look. Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta actually created a makeup collection dedicated to the monochromatic mantra including four sets of Lip Cremes, lip liners and Velvet Blushes in complementary shades to create a truly harmonious look.

For example, if you’re wearing a bold coral or orange-toned lip, opt for a coral-toned blush. If you’re wearing a brown nude lip like our Power Bullet Matte Lipstick in Board Meeting $25, use a cool-toned blush with muted brown undertones like NARS Luster, $30. Check out our examples below for monochromatic makeup goals:

For fair skin tones: To match the Dandelion Box O’ Powder Blush, $30, we’d recommend Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick in shade Rendez Vous, $25. It’ll create that soft feminine look that’s seriously trending right now.

how to pick the perfect blush
Source: Benefit

For light to medium skin tones: The Beach Stick in Formentera, $45, is in fact, a lip and cheek stick, so you can use it to warm up your complexion as well as your lips. This is actually one of the easiest ways to create a harmonious look; either by buying multi-purpose products or using a lip creme as a blush. Simply try to find a shade that matches the blush shade for your skin tone, as we’ve recommended above.

how to pick the perfect blush
Source: Charlotte Tilbury

For golden or olive skin tones: Patrick Ta’s Monochrome Moment Velvet Blush in shade She’s Passionate, $32, was created to be worn with Lip Crème shade She’s Independent, $24.

how to pick the perfect blush
Source: Patrick Ta

For deep and rich skin tones: Once you’ve applied the Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze, $18, to your cheeks, you can use it to stain your lips or try our Demi Matte Cream Lipstick in the shade Lady Boss, $20, which looks gorgeous on deep skin tones.

how to pick the perfect blush
Source: Glossier

How to Find the Right Blush Formula

When you’re searching for your perfect blush, the formula is another crucial factor to consider. There are so many variations on offer from matte and shimmer powders, cream pots and sticks, and stains and tints. Each formula has its own set of pros and cons. Powder blush is great for those who love to set their foundation with powder and prefer a more matte skin finish. If you prefer the no-makeup makeup look and glowy skin and rarely set your base with powder, then you’ll most likely gravitate towards a ‘wet’ finish blush, like a cream or a tint. Blush stains are another great option and can be blended with foundation, but they can be harder to blend out, so you have to be very careful with the application.

Blush
Source: Benefit, Morphe

We recommend steering away from very shimmery or sparkly blushes, as these can disrupt the balance of your blush. Creams are also often not as long-lasting as a powder, which is why Beyoncé’s makeup artist Sir John suggests layering your blushes; first by applying a cream, followed by a powder to set it. He notes this is especially beneficial for dark skin tones to ensure it stays put and the pigment pops.

How to Apply Blush

For flawless blush application, use a tapered or rounded, medium-sized fluffy brush. If the brush is too densely packed, you run the risk of picking up and applying too much blush, and if the brush is too small, then the blush will be too heavily concentrated and won’t look well blended.

Our Fave Blush Brushes

The Spectrum A05 Blush Brush, $10, which has a tapered finish and works beautifully for targeted blush and contour.

spectrum blush brush

The Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Blush Brush, $35, has crimped synthetic fibers that easily pick up powder formulas and a tulip shape to disperse pigments for seamless application.

patrick ta blush brush

The Real Techniques Blush Brush, $9, is a classic and one of our all-time faves. The tapered bristles allow for precision application and flawless blending.

real techniques blush brush

How to Apply Blush for a Natural Glow

For a healthy flush of color apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend outwards using a circular motion. Scott Barnes, J.Lo’s go-to MUA told us “Instead of applying blush to the sides of your face, apply it towards the front of your cheeks, more under the eye line.”

What You Should Never Do…

Scott warns; “Applying blush on the sides, or stretching it out really far like it’s some sort of blush contour, will make you look older or outdated. The only time you want to put blush on the sides is if you are doing an editorial shoot or fashion shoot with a specific reason. Proper blush screams youth and that’s the makeup gospel truth.” And if there’s anyone we can rely on for youthful makeup tips, it’s JLo’s makeup artist – that woman doesn’t age!

How to Apply Blush for a Sun-Kissed Look

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6LdKxODf10/?utm_source=ig_embed

If you’re looking for a sun-kissed vibe, even in the dead of winter, blush is your BFFL. The trick is to apply a dusting (and we mean the lightest of dustings) of blush wherever the sun would hit. Think about the apples of your cheeks, the center of your forehead, and the tip of your nose. This looks works particularly well when it’s layered on top of a bronzed glow.

How to Apply Blush for a Warm, Sculpted Look

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2eTe1vg2_S/?utm_source=ig_embed

For a warm sculpted finish, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks as instructed by Scott, then lightly warm up your contour with any excess product, like under the cheekbones, and the top of your forehead. This will warm up your face and balance a grey-toned contour; the key is to go lightly – only use whatever is on your brush after applying your blush.

Do you guys wear blush? Let us know in the comments below.