W3ll People

As you have read in recent posts, I have transitioned to using all natural beauty and skincare products.   What's exciting is that the number of natural beauty companies is increasing every day, so there are lots and lots of options.

I've been using Laura Mercier bronzer for years, and it is the last of my makeup products that is not natural. I don't like being wasteful, so I was waiting for it to be used up before I bought something new.

A few weeks ago the compact dropped on the floor, and what was left of the pressed powder cracked and broke into pieces....thus ending the life of the bronzer.

This presented the perfect opportunity to try a new, all natural bronzer. I was recently introduced to W3LL PEOPLE beauty products and decided their Bio Bronzer Powder would be my first purchase.

I've been using it for a few weeks now and really like it. I like the color (not too golden), it goes on nicely and the price is less than many other similar products. So, if you are looking to try something new, I highly recommend W3LL People. I'm looking forward to trying more of their products in the future. 

Products We Love

A number of months ago I posted about the Organic cosmetic brand Juice Beauty (post here). I was introduced to the brand through barre3 and first purchased the cellular repair cream, which is like a beauty balm. I'm still using it and like it, except for the slightly dirt like smell, but what do you expect, it is organic. 

Since my original post Gwyneth Paltrow has come on board as Creative Director for the makeup line, which makes me like the brand slightly less, but it won't cause me to take any drastic measures, like conscious uncoupling. 

Anyway, back to the products. A few weeks ago I realized that my Laura Mercier mascara was ready to be replaced, and one of my goals has been to switch to natural beauty products. Unfortunately my go-to company Beauty Counter doesn't make mascara, so I decided to give the Juice Beauty mascara  a try. 

I didn't even have to order it through the mail as they sell it at my local Pharmaca. 

Lash Defining Mascara $19

I highly suggest trying it! 

Products We Love: Beautycounter Update

Earlier this year C & C did a Beautycounter giveaway. Here's a little refresher about why we love this company and its goal to get safe products into people's homes and onto their bodies. 

C & C #protip - download EWG's Skin Deep app to check out the 1-10 rating on your products. Beautycounter doesn't have anything higher than a 2. 

I recently hosted a group of my favorite ladies to learn more about these awesome products. And, of course, I couldn't not add to my growing collection. 

Here's what I got and my initial feedback starting with my favorite products.

Vibrant Eye Perfector - I've never used eye cream, but I guess as 40 gets closer than 30, it's time to start. Now that I've been using this for a few weeks, I'm wondering how I ever got by without it. It seriously feels like putting little cloud puffs under your eyes - I can feel it's wrinkle-fighting powers. The eye cream is here to stay. 

Lustro Face Oil 1 - Regan blogged about this in January and is almost out. I can see why! I LOVE this. I've been adding a few drops to my moisturizer and also using it independently. There are three different levels based on your skin type. I've also got the 2 and will probably be switching over to it during the winter months. 

Color Pinch Cream Blusher - Like the eye cream, I'd never used a cream blusher before. But after hearing and reading about what can be in color makeup products, I was eager to try something I knew was safe. The best part about this cream blusher, when you're in a pinch, it doubles as a lipstick. I bought the caramel (it has a bronzing effect) but might need to add the hibiscus to my collection. 

Routine Clean Cream Cleanser - I bought this product to specifically use with my Mia2 Clarisonic. It has the consistency of Cetaphil and doesn't soap up as much as the Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser that I've been using (the price is about the same). I'll probably make the switch to Beautycounter long term since it looks like the Clarisonic product has some suspect ingredients (I will miss the suds though). 

Color Define Brow Pencil - I recently started filling in my brows (remember this post) and was pretty hooked on Brow Power. When mine ran out, I knew I wanted to try what Beautycounter offered in this space. I love the coverage it gives, but miss the "twist" of my Brow Power. But with a rating of "6," I probably won't be going back. Hey Beautycounter, can you make a cream pencil for us lazy girls who don't want to sharpen the pencil? :-)

As we think about what we put in our bodies in the way of food, doesn't it make sense that our beauty products should follow the same rule of thumb?

Products We Love: Brow Power

As a kid, my mom always said I had Brooke Shields eyebrows - which was either a huge compliment (which it probably was since it came from my mom) or a nice way of saying, "girl you need to tame those caterpillars!"

Fast forward a few decades and with the help of some talented wax enthusiasts at my nail salon and a good pair of tweezers, I thought I'd hit the perfect stride. Until I was given the IT Cosmetics Brow Power universal brown pencil (it came in a random gift bag I received at work - BONUS!)

I never used any sort of product on my brows before, but this is now a staple in my morning makeup routine, and I've got to say, I'm hooked. And seeing as I've been using it for several months now, I feel very ahead of the dark brow trend. I even put it in the category of "must applies" with lip gloss and mascara. 

So, since we've been on a beauty kick lately, I thought this little nugget was too good to keep a secret. Are you fans of darkened brows? Yay or nay? 

Dietician on a Makeup Mission

Sit back, grab your cup of coffee (or tea) and get ready to have your mind blown. I know mine was when I read this.

Let me re-introduce you to our lifelong friend Katie Kahn of Mission Delicious.

This woman is a dietician on a mission to keep you eating delicious and healthy food. We have shared some of her amazing recipes...date cookies, blueberry almond oat scones, and sweet potato pizza to name a few, but today she's not talking food.

Today is all about makeup, a subject Katie McBreen and I feel we could learn a thing or two about. So take it away Katie K.

I’m prone to blogging about food and nutrition, but when I’m not guzzling a Kombucha, or inhaling a Brussels sprout salad or brown butter chocolate chip cookie, I’m probably feeding my secret makeup addiction (it’s a ‘secret’ because I don’t want my husband to know about this, ok?). I can spend hours doing switchbacks in my makeup Triangle – Neimans, Nordstrom’s and Sephora all for the love of the hunt.  I’m shameless about it, too – I’ll even go with all four kids if the mood strikes (I do bring along food bribery, but to avoid too much judgment, I’m going to skip over this topic quickly☺). So, recently, I asked Regan and Katie if they would ever do a makeup product post and they said I could be a guest blogger and share my favs- love these girls for allowing me to share some of my makeup bag must-haves with their awesome, loyal followers! So thanks for having me, ladies!! XO

OK, so I think how I will do this is just make a list of my favorite products and fill you in along the way. Sound good? Apologies for the lengthy post but this is serious business, and I cut out half already.

1. Foundation:  Foundation junkie right here- always have been always will be. I don’t leave the house without it.  Seriously. I know this sounds lame, but when my skin looks good, I feel good, so it just works for me. When it’s done right, you should not look like you are wearing makeup- you should just look like you have awesome, glow-y, more even skin.  I have the hardest time with foundation because my skin is starting to show its age (i.e. pores, hyperpigmentation, fine lines) and I’m a stickler for a perfect color match. Over the years I’ve tested dozens of foundations, and have spent a small fortune for my your our benefit. Here’s my short list of products to try:
- Givenchy Éclat Matissime: pretty much my all-time favorite. It’s a perfect color match (I’m a shade 4, neutral tone), which is a great start. But I love the coverage and finish!!! It’s true to the promise by giving you a “mat radiance” look; not shiny, or overly dewy and the coverage is medium I’d say, but you can layer up as needed. It just looks like very healthy, beautiful skin. Added perks: SPF 20, blends into skin like a dream, especially with my Beauty Blender sponge (another must-have for applying foundation and concealer!!), layers perfectly for occasions that call for more coverage, and smells pretty, and lasts me all day.
- Dior HydraLife BB Cream: I’m surprised I love this product as much as I do mainly because I’ve never experimented with Dior face makeup before. But this BB cream ROCKS. I use color 02 (Golden Peach) and its perfect for summer and fall. But it’s too dark for right now ☹ The shade lighter in this lineup is way too light for me so it sits on shelf for a while. But I love this product because it gives you a natural look with a touch of dewiness, and added perk: SPF 30! People always comment on my skin when I wear this product. SOLD!
- YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Illuminating Foundation: Right away, I should tell you this definitely has the dewiest finish of the foundations but I still adore it. Might not be for you if you have really oily skin. It totally brightens your skin, evens redness, and makes you feel oh so purdy. Perks: SPF 20, layers beautifully, good color range. I always set this with powder but staying power is pretty darn good either way.  Oh, and B30 and B40 are my winter/summer shades.
- Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation: I’ll be brief about this. This is your special occasion makeup.  Its full coverage without being heavy looking. This is a makeup artist secret product. I can’t tell you how many MA have told me that this is their favorite, so I know it’s not just me. Perks: photographs great, stays on like a champ, covers most flaws. I use my damp Beauty Blender sponge to apply but fingers work too! TIP: This has a thick formula but you can thin it with a little moisturizer.
- Amore Pacific Cushion Compact: Could NOT leave this product out. SPF 50; super fun application, light, dewy coverage. I layer mine to get a little extra coverage and it layers nicely. I usually use a finishing powder to help with shine. The color selection isn’t great, so just pray that you’re a match. This is a must-have for summer!!! Works perfectly as a primer, too. Smells amazing!

2. Under-eye Concealer: Holy smokes, I’ve got some crazy dark under eye circles so I have an arsenal of products but these are my top 3.
- Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: This has changed my life! The compact comes with 2 shades-one to correct darkness and one to conceal/brighten. You really need to use a good under eye cream first, though, because it can be a bit drying. But once I figured that out, it’s been a dream product for me.  The two colors can also be blended to get a perfect match for blemishes.
- Cle de Peau concealer: they have 6 shades now; I’m beige. This product is $70 so with that price tag better come some miracles, right? Well, I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle worker but I solidly recommend it. What I discovered is that when I use a color corrector first, then apply Cle de Peau, the results are beautiful and really hide my dark circles. On its own, it just doesn’t cut it. However, if you have mild dark circles or any type of blemish (this works GREAT on zits and redness), this product will probably work perfectly on its own. It’s smooth, creamy, and doesn’t crease, really! It’s brilliant for aging/dry skin.
- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: I will be honest, I’m not a huge Nars makeup person, but I love this concealer. I usually layer it on top of my Laura Mercier concealer using my Beauty Blender to gently buff it out, and it does a great job brightening my under eye area and making me look well rested.  This is a must for when I go out at night or a special occasion (but I wear it all the time to the gym, too, not gonna lie).

3. Blush: I have at least 6 blushes and bronzers in rotation so its really hard to narrow it down for you but I wanted to share with you a new find that my mom turned me on to.
-Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze: I can’t believe I like a Mac product, but I do. And even stranger, it has a “frosted, metallic finish” according to Mac- ick! -  And I still like it. I’m not a sparkly bronzer kind of gal – I like more of a matte look (love my Guerlain Terracota Four Seasons Bronzer for daily use), BUT when my mom bought this for me I decided to test it out. Hugely surprised to find out that it’s GORGEOUS on. You don’t need very much and it just perfectly bronzes and highlights your cheekbones with little fuss. I usually add a tiny bit of matte pink to my apples but this can definitely stand alone, too. Makes me feel like taking selfies all day to check out those dewy, defined cheeks!!

4. Mascara: Obsessed. Chanel Le Volume mascara in black. Major glamorous lashes. Not for people that like a super natural look. This is for those of us that like impact. Worth every penny.

5. Eyeliner: A few years ago I discovered liquid eyeliner pens and I can’t stop using them. They really give great definition to the eye, and allow for a natural to va-va-voom look depending on how you apply it. But there are some out there that are awful (bad applicator tip, bad packaging, difficult to work with, etc). The one I love is a bargain- you can find it at Target or CVS! Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-1 Eyeliner +Serum in black.  It’s super easy to use, comes as a cute silver pen, and lasts me all day. Love that I can easily get that dramatic winged-look or a simple thin line in about 5 seconds.  Easy peasy and almost idiot proof.

6. Eye Shadow: I love Laura Mercier and Chanel eye shadows, but I wanted to share with you something a little more fun than your basic powder formulas. Last year I found Josie Maran’s Coconut watercolor eyeshadow in Playa Del Pink. It’s a liquid eyeshadow that is made with coconut water and some other stuff that’s supposedly good for your skin, like argan oil. But anyway, it’s a very hydrating formula, lasts all day (even through a sweaty workout), and doesn’t crease. I will be honest- it takes a little playing around with to get it just right, but once you figure out the application part, its just beautiful on. I love how this pink shade brightens your eyes and can be layered with other eyeshadows, even powder formulas.

7. Lip Gloss: The list wouldn’t be complete without this! I have probably 10 lip glosses in my purse. I love them all for different reasons. But if I had to share my favorites, I’d say Laura Mercier in Bare Blush. It’s the perfect color and I adore the texture.  Very natural and I love layering it, too.  I also love La Praire lip gloss in berry glace.  This one’s shimmery berry-pink and goes great with a tan.

Whew, I’m exhausted! And I have so many other products I want to talk about!! Maybe, just maybe C&C will let me come back for more product-talk. Did I mention I’m obsessed with skin care products, too? ☺

Happy makeup hunting and always remember the golden rule – it’s not very nice to keep beauty secrets to yourself!

~Katie

Makeup Makeover

When we went to the White House Correspondents Dinner last month (recap here), I got my makeup done before the event. I'm not a big makeup person, in fact, as you might have read here if it doesn't come from the drug store (with a few exceptions), it probably isn't going on my face. 

But after having a professional work her magic, I realized it was probably time for a refresh.  So I made the investment and went home with Laura Mercier foundation primer, eye basics, nude smoky eye palette, mosaic shimmer bloc, second skin cheek color, and a cheek colour brush. The only things I wanted to stick with in my routine were Missha M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream, which is a tinted moisturizer with SPF 42 from Korea (it's amazing), and Blinc mascara (both products get two enthusiastic thumbs up). 

And while I may have had a professional do my makeup once and I'm armed with all the right products, I'm by no means an expert. For me, the eyes are the toughest part. Thankfully the interwebs are there to help me out. Bobbi Brown has a great everyday eye tutorial. 

And now that I've made the investment, I should probably be better about cleaning my brushes. According to Real Simple, which is a legit source in my book, you should use a spray to clean them weekly, and do a more thorough cleaning monthly....let's just say I'm due since I haven't cleaned the brushes since I bought them over a month ago (I literally ordered a spray off Amazon in the midst of typing this post). 

And one last thing, I keep all my makeup in this handy acrylic organizer from The Container Store (the OCD in me gets excited just saying the name, The Container Store). 

It's super convenient for trips to the gym or car travel. I don't have to pack everything up into a cosmetic bag - just grab and go. 

How much do you spend on your morning makeup routine? Any good tips or products I should know about?

Beauty Basics

There isn't much to my beauty routine...if you can even call it a "beauty routine".  I wear minimal makeup and most days none at all. I am clueless when it comes to makeup application. I do my best, but I know there are techniques I could use to enhance my features in a better way.

I've actually really come to question "makeup" in general lately. Here is why: It's really hard to explain to The Mini Fashionista why I put on makeup. In fact...I don't feel there is a good, logical explanation at all. Women spend all this time talking about how we need to embrace our natural beauty and be comfortable in our own skin, yet many women I know (me excluded) won't even leave the house without makeup. We tell our daughters that they are beautiful just the way they are, yet we cannot accept ourselves as such. Actions speak louder than words, and we are sending them mixed messages. So, I still haven't found a good explanation for why I wear makeup, and luckily she's not that interested in it, but I know a time will come when I need a better answer. Anyone have suggestions?

All that said, today's post was not intended to be so serious. I actually started out writing with the purpose of sharing my favorite lipgloss and lip balm. Talk about a digression...

Anyway, lipstick is the last thing I think about, but I do like keeping my lips moist, (I hate that word) and a pop of color is never a bad thing, so these two products are perfect for me.

Burt's Bees Lip Shine

And the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm (which comes in a cool, but useless little cardboard tube).

If you are looking for something for everyday wear that adds a little color to your lips and prevents them from getting dry and chapped, I highly recommend trying the Burt's Bees lip products. Added bonus, they are 100% natural!

Let's Talk Lashes

My eyelashes are short, thin and pretty much nonexistent, so when a friend (thanks JL) recommended I try LiLash, and set me up with her supplier (doesn't that sound seedy), I was all in. Knowing my genetic clone (that would be Katie) suffers from the same problem, lack of lashes, I ordered her a tube as well. We have both been using it since the end of December.

Well, let me tell you, I have not been disappointed. In just a few months, my lashes are thicker and longer. I should have taken a before and after photo so you could see the difference, but I didn't. So, you will have to trust me. This stuff works!

It's available through a variety of online retailers, including Overstock .  If you suffer from a lack of lashes, I highly recommend that you try this stuff.

And while we are on the subject of lashes, I recently branched out from my favorite mascara, Blinc to try something new. I LOVE Blinc mascara because it doesn't leave black smudges under my eyes and is super easy to remove, but I thought i would try something new.

I am a fan of Laura Mercier products, and I have read great things about their Long Lash Mascara, so I thought I would try it.

And while I'm not going to throw my Blinc mascara in the trash, it now has some competition! The Laura Mercier Mascara goes on easily, doesn't clump, and leaves my lashes looking thick and long.  I prefer the Blinc mascara when it comes to eye makeup removal because it leaves less black smudge than the Laura Mercier, but that just means I need a better eye makeup remover!

Products We Love

Katie and I were talking the other day about possible products for upcoming posts. Katie mentioned this great bag she keeps in her purse, and ironically I have the same bag. A twin thing? Nope, actually we both received a Baggu pouch as a gift from a friend (different friends). 

We have blogged about the Baggu nylon shopping bags before (here), but did you know that Baggu has branched out and now makes leather bags and pouches as well? Katie and I love ours. I keep my makeup in my cobalt blue suede pouch.  And yes, that is all the makeup I use. I'm pretty basic when it comes to cosmetics.

They come in a variety of colors and sizes and are perfect for all those little things you want to keep organized.

How do you keep all your little things organized?

Travel Time

In honor of my trip to Sun Valley for the 4th of July, I thought I would do a post on travel. I am desperately in need of a new toiletry bag. I've been searching for something with a really fun print, and I think I found exactly what I have been looking for. These dopp kits from Hammocks & High Tea have fantastic prints and are a great size! I wish I had one of these in my suitcase. 

Essentials Dopp Kits $49.50

Organized Style

Every girl needs practical yet cute travel accessories. Stephanie Johnson offers a wide variety of colors, patters, sizes and materials all to help store your things and travel in style.