Who do you wear makeup for?

The other day the Yahoo homepage had an article up regarding make up looks men love...curiosity got the best of me and I read the super lame yahoo article (and you can too if you like), but I will sum it up.

1. They like "au naturel" ...isn't that what most guys say?  I personally like the a natural look, but to me that means a little BB cream and some translucent powder to set it...and maybe a little mascara.  I feel like it evens out my skin tone and gives me the SPF that my skin needs.  I rarely go out without anything.

2. A "smoky eye", how vague is that? There are so many variations on the smoky eye look to even be sure what any one person means by that.

3. "Light eyes/light lips" one guy said he liked "light sparkly eye shadow" well, ok for this one I do get that Metallic shadows are on the way in.

4. "Rocker-Chic Eyes" In my opinion that would be one of the smoky eye variation I was speaking of before.

5. "Minimal Makeup" or what I would call a natural look.

6. "A bit of blush" another version of a natural look.

7. "Bold lip color" speaks for itself, okay.

8. "Subtle Glow" natural look and bronzer.

I don't know what guys they interviewed.  I don't know what the article hoped to accomplish.  I just know that when I put my makeup on in the morning I do it for me,  I want to like how I look when I walk out of the house.  If someone happens to compliment me so much the better but I'm not putting on my makeup to please these guys.

Do you care what others think of your makeup look?  What's your daily look? 

mini drug store haul

Whilst perusing the aisles at the drugstore I found a few little things that I apparently couldn't live without:

Garnier, Soothing Remover Cleansing Towlettes...cause sometimes I'm just really tired and washing my face just seems like too much work, so I keep them by my bedside..I figure it's better than nothing.  I picked up the ones for sensitive skin, I haven't tried Garnier's but I figured what the heck?

Pack of two powder puffs: I watched/read a tutorial about using powder puffs for putting on translucent powders instead of a brush.  Thought I'd give it a try.  To view The Beauty Department's tutorial click here.

Revlon Photoready BB Cream in 020 Light Medium:  Just because I haven't tried a new BB in a while and liked that this is called Photoready,  I know that sometimes the sunscreen in creams can kind of change how you look when flash is involved.

Revlon Foundation Brush, it was small and looked soft.  I don't always use a brush, but the one I do use sometimes really needed a replacement.

I didn't pick up any nail polish on this trip, which has become an increasingly bad habit of mine, mainly because I tend to pick up various shades of hot pink...all of which look similar when sitting next to each other.

Where do you like to shop for goodies?  Drug stores, department stores, Sephora, Ulta...all of the above??  Speaking of Ulta...I have a March ad to skim through, have a lovely day!!

nice enough to buy it twice

While I totally enjoy trying out beauty and skin care products (and find a certain joy in merely being in the cosmetics section of department and drug stores), there are some items that I like enough to buy twice (or more).

I've been a fan of the Clinique BB cream for a while now, and that doesn't appear to being to stopping anytime soon...I've also had a love of mascaras for a long time...so let me get to some of my new favorites:

Benefit's Ultra Radiance: a super refreshing spritzy toner.  I began using this over the summer when my skin just needed a little wake up call durning the day. Now that the weather is colder, I've been using it prior to my serums.  Such a light fragrance (kind of cucumbery).  

Cherimoya Nail Polish Remover Pads with Cuticle Oil: I picked one of these up at random for 99 cents at a clothing shop.  One little pad removes the nail polish from all ten fingers!  It's not harsh like acetone removers, there is not much of a scent and while your fingers might feel a little oily I'd take that any day over the sting of regular removers.  Added bonus, no spills.  I went back to the shop and bought a couple more, what a bargain.

Pond's Cold Cream:  I know that there are some mixed views regarding cold cream, but I like it.  When I've got some real make up removal to take care of, I dampen my face rub a little cold cream on and then take my face cloth and wipe off. Voila, no make up and my skin feels soft.  If it's feeling a little to oily, I wipe with a cotton ball of toner.

Tarte Bronzer and Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation: A couple of my favorite powders.  Park Ave. Princess bronzer gives a nice summer-year-round type of glow...then a quick dusting of Bare Escentuals (I use golden medium) and I feel good to go. 

Puritan's Pride Retinol Cream: I use it as a night cream, every other night or so.  It's a good price, and I love waking up with my skin feeling all glowy.

What are some products that you like enough to purchase again?



nice enough to buy it twice by tamorama featuring tarte

pretty skin (day off of work edition)

I aim for a pretty natural look for the most part, the whole "my skin but better" is my goal...which is not always easy to pull off working in cosmetics, but for my days off though, I try to keep it pretty simple. This is my basic daily routine:

pretty simple morning by tamorama featuring Clinique beauty products

Benefit They're Real! Mascara (your lashes...but better) 

Desert Essence Organics: Pomegranate  Face Wash (cruelty free)

Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion 

Clarins Generation  Six  Firming Serum

Clinique BB Cream, Shade 2 (SPF 30 + antioxidants+ foundation=awesome)

pretty in Palm Springs

Coachella Weekend One!

My good friend has an email that she sends out per request to friends attending their first Coachella.  She's been going for years and years and she is a total pro.  I just read a blog entry regarding Coachella (see: broke girls guide: coachella survival kit ) and have decided to create my own. 

Recommended: 

• hat or parasol (provide yourself with shade, because the nice shady areas get crowded)
• sunscreen (kind of a given but whatev), I'm going to be putting on a Clarins progressive tanning sunscreen with spf 20 in the am and reapplying with a Hawaiian Tropic spf 30 later in the day.
• no blankets are allowed, but I'm bringing an old sarong to sit on (sometimes the grass is itchy), they recommend a small beach towel, but I think the sarong takes up less space.
• Wet Ones antibacterial hand wipes (for after the porta potty situation, before meals, and any other time that my hands may need it).
• speaking of porta potties, it doesn't hurt to bring a little tp with you (just in case)
• if you can get a locker, it's a good thing. You can stash your day stuff (hats, parasols) for the next day and leave jackets and such there for the day til they're needed. It's also a great spot to meet up at the end of the night.

Dress for comfort...that's my plan, but def not a rule. I look forward to seeing all the different Coachella fashions but I myself and my friends we dress pretty comfy. I tend toward shorts and skirts (but as my friend has pointed out if your skirt or dress is really long it may just trap in heat).  I pack a sweater or jacket for later in the day.  For shoes I just go with my flips. Make up wise, again while I look forward to see some people go all out, I'm sticking with my Smashbox BB Cream (because of the high SPF), and a little powder (I use Bare Escentuals in Golden Medium for a quick dusting over any areas that'll get shiny).

I'm so excited for my weekend to begin!

pretty good deal

Clinique is currently in their bonus time (or GWP) and their gift this time around is a pretty good deal.

 

It comes with two bags (a larger cosmetic bag and a smaller coin purse type bag) and:

• A 1oz Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which is nice to use right after you wash and/or tone your face.
• A mini High Impact Mascara in black, which is one of my favorites
• A two-sided lipstick and gloss (the pink set is Raspberry Glace/and Fireberry, the nude set is Think Bronze/Sunset)
• A mini palette with a blush and three shadows
• A 1oz Moisture Surge sample, which is (in my opinion) the best part of the deal.  A 1.7oz retails for $36 by itself.  It is a great product that can be used on all skin types when your skin is feeling dehydrated.  Use it by itself as a lotion or at night before bed as a mask.  During the winter, this product really helped my skin out. 

The gift comes with any $23.50 Clinique purchase, which as far as bonuses go is pretty affordable.  For my purchase I picked up a new BB Cream in Shade 2 (this is now the only BB cream that I've bought twice, I really like this one so much).



 I also got a Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover; after receiving a sample of this from the counter one day I knew it was something I needed. I wear contacts and this makeup remover is gentle enough that I can put some on let it set and breakdown my eye makeup and remove it without any eye irritation.  It has a creamy consistency rather than a liquidy-oily type that is the norm as far as most makeup removers go.



 Side note/mini rant: I enjoy getting the Clinique gift, but it is because I also like their products.  Working in the Cosmetics section it astounds me how many people want a "free gift" even when they say they don't like the products that a line has to offer.  It's only a deal if you actually intend on using the items you get.

If you do enjoy Clinique products, or want to try them out bonus time is a great time to stop by and it only comes a couple times a year.  

pretty bomb balms...yay for BB creams!

All sorts of lines are coming out with their BB creams (Beauty Balm, Blemish Balm, what have you).  Typically they offer more sunscreen protection than a tinted moisturizer. They're also supposed to improve your skin with antioxidants, and many may claim to even out your skin tone.

I'm a fan.  I feel like they offer more coverage than a tinted moisturizer and as California girl, I feel the added sun protection is a plus.  Of the one's that I've tried Clinique's BB Cream (in shade 2, spf 30) remains my favorite.  When I first used it, it seem thick on my skin and I would mix it with my foundation...over the first couple of weeks though I found myself using less and less foundation. Now, I use a little moisturizer to hydrate my skin and a little dab of the BB and I'm good to go (well not counting the makeup steps).

I've also tried the following:

• Smashbox Camera Ready (shade light, spf 35): almost a little too light for me, but really seems to calm redness after a work out.
• Estee Lauder's BB cream (#1 light): the fragrance is too strong for me, it's a fresh scent and all...just too much for my taste.
• Too Faced (Cream Glow, spf 20): I really like this one a lot...it would be my favorite, except for the shimmer in it.  I like a little shimmer now and then, but not every day.
• Skin 79: (BB pink mini set): Admittedly I was warned (via another blog) that this is better on Asian skin.  The product comes from Korea, and it was a good price so I gave it a shot...it just didn't work on my skin tone.
• Origins (shade 1): Just received a sample of this from their counter the other day.  I love the scent it has a little fruity/sweet but light and fades quickly.  The coverage is very light compared to the others I've tried, but good for an all natural kind of day.  They do come in six shades which is more options than anyone else is offering right now.
• Clarins also has their Beauty Balm, which has no tint and no spf.  I love this product because you can put it on before your makeup, or later in the day you can rehydrate your face by gently patting this product into your skin...they don't market it as a BB cream, but I thought I'd throw it in anyway.