Sunday Nailday: Chanel

Chanel "Black Satin"

Beauty Bits: Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation Review

This. Foundation. Is. Awesome.  The End. Just kiddingggggggg - you didn't think I could avoid a chance to ramble on about a new found beauty product that is knocking my socks off, did you?  You know me better than that.  And trust me you want to know this foundation just as well.  Known already for their smash hit the Naked Palette and Naked Palette 2, Urban Decay really hit it out of the park with this foundation.  To have one product stand out in my plethora of beauty treats, amongst my already large makeup collection means one of two things - it is horribly bad or amazingly good.  Since I believe in focusing on the positive and products I love for this blog, naturally it is the latter.  Now that I have sufficiently gushed, let's get to the review.

 As many of my readers already know, I have extremely oily skin that never seems to have a day where the shine is not glowing.  Skincare plight aside, I have unfortunately set my standards low when it comes to foundation and resigned myself to applying powder all day, every day.  I just want it not to make the situation worse.  So finding a foundation that doesn't contribute to the shine and actually stops it completely and ALL DAY seemed like a dream.  A naked dream.  But dreams do come true, ya'll.  They not only come true, but they make your face look like a flawless porcelain doll.

Being a former makeup artist (oh you didn't know? well....I don't like to brag..:) ), I believe in applying foundation with a brush, typically a natural hair flat top brush like this Real Techniques Buffing Brush.  One of my faves, too.  Starting in the center of the face and working out, I buff the foundation into my skin.  The texture is perfect, and is highly pigmented so it provides amazing lightweight coverage.  Only a smidgen (not to be confused with a pinch) to cover most of your face.  The finish is a velvety natural matte, keeping the shine at bay but still giving an all over radiant glow.  How does it do that?  Seriously, it must be magic. 

Put the pen and paper down, I already pulled out all the products mentioned and put them in this handy, dandy widget for you to shop.  Gosh, I'm so thoughtful.

Bits and Pieces: A Play on Proportion

Now that I ventured out of my sartorial comfort zone this past weekend (need a refresher?  read post here), I am back to my regularly scheduled program of the wardrobe silhouette that I wear ad nauseam, with a cheesy smile courtesy of facial muscle exhaustion.  But you're back again so you must like it too!  Besties! Blossoming kinships aside, the play on proportion is what tickles my fancy in this look.  A fitted skirt and blousy - er..well blouse balance each other out, only to be made whole by metallic peep toe pumps.  And though I didn't turn around, my little fun fact is that I only tuck in the front part of my blouse, because I happen to like the slightly haphazard/polished mash up that ensues.  Also, it helps to hide my bum when wearing a fitted skirt. There! Happy?! I admit it.  The function does serve a slight vanity.  But since my commute involves dozens of people walking behind me on my way to work, a little modesty never hurt anyone.  And a little Spanx too.  "You have too many proper, body smoothing, fitted undergarments" - said noone ever.  And that is the takeaway my friends.  Hope you took notes. 

Blouse - Club Monaco | Skirt - Club Monaco | Shoes - Gucci (similar here and here) | Necklace - Banana Republic (similar here)

Bits and Pieces: Weekend Prep

Here is a secret about me - I was never preppy.  Stylish, fashionable, maybe even a tad flashy - but not preppy.  Hell - I didn't even buy my first proper button down that was not uniform mandated until last year.  I will let that sink in for a moment.  Alright, are we back?  Good.  I don't know what my aversion was to it but as I wise up in my older years, I find myself gradually warming to the idea.  And this weekend seemed like a full on prep explosion.  I mean, I was wearing J. Crew head to toe (which I did not realize until I went to write this post - it had to be the influence of their recent catalog's appearance in my home).  But nonetheless, I quite enjoyed the look.  The blouse was a vibrant royal blue gingham and my loafers were glitter, so there was definitely some sartorial jazz hands going on in my outfit still. I did unfortunately match my belt to my shirt, so that was where I felt slightly disappointed in myself, but when you know better (see yourself in photos) you do better.  That utility jacket though, has been rocking my world.  Worn with jeans is the obvious choice, but I have paired with a pencil skirt and work attire and find it meshes nicely with lots of different looks.  Universal prep - I dig.  Evolving style - I dig.  Fashion always with a side of sass - I dig.   

Jacket - J.Crew | Blouse - J.Crew | Belt - J.Crew | Jeans - J.Crew | Loafers - J.Crew (similar here and here)

Sunday Nailday: Julep

Julep "Eloise"

Beauty Bits: A Typical Day

Fact:  I own 3,456,752 pieces of makeup.  Fact: I continue to buy more as if the world is ending.  Drugstore or luxury, makeup is the fluff that helps us get through life.  The non-sensical items that clutter our bathrooms, weigh our purses down and in the same breath make us squeal with joy like a 5 year old on Christmas morning.  But even though I am sure that the sheer volume of makeup I own may suffocate me one day while alone in my apartment, there is a method to the madness.  A color scheme if you will that has become my  staple for every day.  I pepper in other colors here and there (evidence of this is my Instagram feed @alittlebitetc), but generally I stick with what I like and then buy 14,000 different variations of each type of product.  I will walk you through my typical daily makeup routine and why I wear what I do.  It's a science, truly.

1.  Dior Forever Flawless Foundation - No face of mine begins without some sort of foundation.  I rally between tinted moisturizers/BB creams and foundations depending on time of year.  This was a random purchase recently, and frankly, it has knocked my socks off.  I fight regularly with my oily skin and look for foundations that will keep my skin matte, while still radiant.  Enter Dior.  Buildable coverage, SUPER long wearing and a natural matte finish that never gets shiny. Never.  This is vying to be a contender in the A Little Bit etc holy grail Hall of Fame.  Whoa.  

2. Diorshow Mascara - Dior again? Yes.  It's a mascara jungle out there and choosing one seems harder than choosing a mate.  But I always gravitate towards a full volumizing formula for all of my mascara buys.  Reason being - more looks with a thicker formula.  How?  Well I am glad you asked.  With a thicker formula, you can build the intensity and tailor it to your look.  You can wear less of a bolder mascara, making it appropriate for day, but you can never build up a thinner mascara for evening.  See how that works?  One mascara can do it all.  And this one does. 

3.  Burberry Concealer - I don't often use concealer for my face because my foundation has that on lock down, but I do like to brighten up the area under my eyes and this product has become a favorite concealer/highlighter for this purpose.  It never gets cakey, has an amazing consistency and is multipurpose and portable.  Along with acting as a rescue mission for your under eye area, you can dab along the top of the cheekbones to sculpt, under the brow to highlight, around the nose and lips to erase redness.  Who knew the maker of the best rain coats could also kill it with makeup?  Bravo Burberry.
4.  Revlon Colorstay Brow in Light Brown - Conversely to what you would think, I always opt for brow colors labeled for either "light brown" or "dark blonde" hair.  Not because I have hair envy, but because I prefer my brows to read a bit lighter than my hair color. Ok, a lot lighter.  But since I have quite prominent brows, I would rather them not reach you before I actually do.  And a bonus about this product, the product is actually a waxy based pencil so it helps the hair stay in place while giving them color.  Stay brow, stay. 

5. Urban Decay Primer Potion - As we will explore later, I am a nude lip gal.  So in the absence of lip bravado, my eyes get the spotlight.  And since my oily skin also manages to find it way onto my eyelids, primers are essential to helping my eyeshadow last and stay crease less.  Every brand out there seems to tout their primer's staying power as the best, but frankly I have tried a ton and this is the real deal.  Whatever magic Urban Decay puts in this product is like music to my eyes, or something like that. 
6. NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita - Now when I say nude lip, I don't mean actual skin tone-J.Lo circa 1997- nude lip.  I mean a color that resembles my natural lip color, but amped up.  If I could Instagram filter my lip color, those are the shades of lipstick (rarely gloss) I reach for time and time again.  My younger self is yawning at my current self but I don't care.  I proudly pout in my nude lips, particularly this nude lip because on top of a texture that never dries my lips out, it is exactly my lip color in a Rise or Valenica filter (for all you non-Instagram users, you will have to sit that reference out.)   

7.  Giorgio Armani Blush in #10 - A rose colored blush.  Ground breaking, I know.  But like I said before, I have found what works for me and just buy tons of variations.  Since I am no longer a teenager since like 75 years ago, I prefer my blushes to have little to no shimmer.  Frankly, I am an embarrassment to my twenty something self, but you can't fight your destiny.  Your neutral, rose-colored, subtly radiant, goes with almost any eye/lip combination blush destiny. 

8.  Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder - So wait, I am using both a semi-matte finish foundation AND powder?  You bet your sweet no-shine ass I am.  A finely milled loose powder pressed into your foundation with a powder puff is my recipe for staying power.  And this product does it flawlessly, never adding extra bulk and never adding extra color. 

9.  Votre Vu Bronzer/Blush Duo - I'm sure by now you all have seen millions of pictures of me on my blog, Instagram, Facebook, etc so it is no secret I am one shade lighter than Casper himself.  To warm up my complexion, I opt for a subtle bronzer with little to no shimmer applied just on the cheeks and a little on my hairline to give me slight color.  This bronzer reads quite natural not leaning too orange or too brown. 

10.  Laura Mercier Palette - Many mornings I like to think I am an actual artist, mixing palette colors to create some sort of masterpiece on my face.  Naturally my color choices are always different shades of brown (and trust me there are millions, I am collecting them all), but the looks vary between subtle with just a sheer wash of color to bronzed and smoky.  Safe zone or not, a heavy brown palette enables me to create any look for any occasion.  This palette is the perfect balance of light and dark shades, and the texture of the eye shadows are divine. 

Well there you have it, a typical morning getting ready with me.  It's only fair if you let me come spend a morning with you now, right?  What does your a.m. makeup routine look like?

And in case you are sick of furiously writing down all my top items and blogged about looks (I apologize for the hand cramp), now you can shop my favorite items directly from my blog!  Just click on the tab at the top of my blog labeled "shop my favorite bits" (creativity had escaped me that day for the name) and there are all my current favorite fashion and beauty bits all in one place.  Happy Shopping! 

Fashion Bits: Inspiration Needed

Images via Style.com 

 

Sometimes you just have to turn to the experts for some inspiration....and by experts, I mean Tommy Tom's street style shots of SS2013 Fashion Weeks.  Pouting in front of my closet, complaining I have nothing to wear and putting on the same thing over and over is the true definition of insanity.  So therefore, I need a jolt.  An infusion of fashion wonderment for the eye to make me have 'dressing butterflies' again while getting ready in the morning.  If you have never perused any street style websites, or photos, you are missing out.  Not because you are actually going to dress like that but because you need to be reminded of what is possible - to wear that is.  To see fashion at its most avant garde moments and realize it is only clothing and meant to be fun.  It may feel a little funny at first to put on a striped top with a hounds tooth skirt, but trust me, pack your day with tons of meetings and errands and before you know it, you plowed through an entire day mixing patterns.  Bucket list - check!  And perhaps the next day it is back to your Johnny Cash-esque color story, but for one day it felt good to be different than what you know.  It felt good to be inspired. 

Bits and Pieces: Shorts in Fall

I almost titled this post - "Trying on Hipster" because I felt my hip-meter go up a few hundred points when pairing boots with shorts.  I know, I know - I am certainly not reinventing the wheel, breaking fashion boundaries nor beginning a blossoming trend.  Its just boots with shorts, but for me it was like a whole new world.  My comfort zone is styling these shorts with a tank and sandals, ala this post, but what is the point of having a fashion blog if not to push your style limits?  My personal style limits, not any style limits.  These aforementioned and featured boots were a buy last year that quickly became my best investment all year.  And now with my current pairing, the shelf life of these bad boys just got an extended warranty.  How silly I was to think boots are only for winter.  Last year me got a schooling from now-I-have-a-fashion-blog this year me.  But naturally the color story is still neutral, except for a neon pop with the belt - after all, conservative me is still lurking there somewhere underneath.  

Jacket - Kenneth Cole (similar here) | Tee - Madewell | Shorts - Madewell (similar here) | Belt - Ann Taylor | Boots - J.Crew (similar here)

Fashion Bits: A Cape Story

Perhaps I have super hero envy or maybe I just like looking like an extra on a Sherlock Holmes movie set, but either way I just love a cape!  I cannot say that my significant other likes them on me ("are you TRYING to look like an action figure?"), but the old adage that "women dress for themselves" definitely applies to me in this case.  I adore the shape, the style, the versatile pairings - what is there not to love???  It goes great with skinny jeans and a turtleneck, a sweater dress and boots, flare jeans and platforms - the list could go on and on and on.  Regardless of the throwback persona or obvious connection to some crime fighting characters, the cape is the most chic way to brave the crisp Fall air without succumbing totally to a coat.  And we have all been trapped in our coat, on top of a thick sweater, on top of a blouse with limited mobility that resembles A Christmas Story's Ralphie's wailing sentiment "I can't put my arms doowwwwnnnn" and thought - there has to be a better way!  Well there is - the cape! Duh.  Arms free, warm body and fabulous look.  Here are some of my cape cravings I have spotted in my online travels - and felt they were too good not to share.  Which one is your favorite?  And more importantly which one will you be getting me?  Just kidding....sorta. 

1.  Burberry Brit Funnel Neck Cape

2.  MSGM Wool Blend Cape

3.  Michael Kors Toggle Cape

4.  All Saints Dune Cape

Beauty Bits: Morning Rituals

After rambling on about my nightly skincare routine last week (see post here), I received requests to reveal what is in  my current morning regimen.  And like the blogging puppet that I am, I obliged.  Here ya go.  Ma face schtuff fanned out nicely for the sake of being artsy.  I will say that while most of these items are used in regular rotation, I am not averse to changing on a whim and spontaneously arriving at my neighborhood Sephora with a force-field like pull directing me to the skincare department.  Upon arriving, I will subsequently stare off into oblivion, mesmerized by all the lights and rows of face creams, and just wander.  Then I will snap myself out of my trance and pull out my trusty I-phone that contains lists and lists (and lists and lists) of products that I have come across in my daily reading, blogging, tweeting, instagramming travels.  But for now, this is the line up.  For now.

1. REN Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel - To get my tired butt out of bed in the morning, I rely on cleansers that either foam or have a gel consistency.  Why? Who the heck knows?  In the evening I am usually using a cleansing oil to take off my spackle, errr makeup, so a nice cooling or foaming consistency seems fitting for the a.m. shower.  And since this is rose-infused, the scent is delightful and makes my skin feel extra soft. 

2. Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion - After jumping on the toner bandwagon, I am enjoying this for my morning routine as it calms my skin immediately and does not make it feel tight afterwards.  Alcohol free and gentle as a lamb, it is the perfect way to prep my skin for the barrage of makeup I will be putting on it later. 

3. Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 - I use its sister product, the Ultra Facial Cream, in my nighttime routine, and love this range so much that I just can't help but use the lotion for the day.  With my oily skin, I do prefer lotions for day to wear under my foundation, and flip flop between this and the next product.  It has SPF, hydrates my skin all day and looks great under makeup.  This should be in every one's routine.  Seriously. Your face will thank me.

4. OLAY Complete All Day Moisturizer SPF 15 - Yes you have seen me talk about this during the summer in my post about sunscreen.  And yes I am still using it.  Yes, I still have a ton left.  Yes, I do believe secret OLAY elves come every night and fill it up so it never runs out.  No muss, no fuss, a great day moisturizer. 

5. Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum (c/o) - Try saying that 5x fast.  You can't.  But your inability to say it will only be won over by ability to be completely amazed at its awesomeness.  One of the only eye creams I have ever come across that can be used on the lid, this serum has become forever linked to  my eye makeup for its ability to help smooth my lid and allow anything I put on top to stay there until I decide to take it off.  And after you finish reading my blog post, head over to The Daily Perricone where I did a full review on it, and read that too.  And then sit back and ask yourself "how can I make the world better?"  By smoother lids and brighter eyes?  Unequivocally and undeniably - YES.  The rest of us thank you in advance. 

6. Ole Henricksen Truth Serum - How could I not love this serum after my intimate affair with the face wipes?  All that vitamin C goodness in a serum form?  Delicious.  After receiving this recently in a Glossybox, I have been hooked every single day.  It absorbs quicker than I can apply, and instantly makes my skin feel hydrated and nourished.  The best thing is my skin looks brighter all day when I wear this (and trust me I have tried it without because I am a total skeptic believe it or not), and after my imaginary blogging oath I took, I feel compelled to only speak the truth.  Or maybe the serum made me do it.  Food for thought.

Ok now I have given you night skincare AND day skincare - now I need to know what I am still missing.  My FOMO (fear of missing out) is quite real when it comes to beauty so don't leave me in the dark. Leave a comment below or tweet me @alittlebitetc with some skincare products I need to try.   



Sunday Nailday: Color Club

Color Club "Catwalk Queen"

Beauty Bits: Nightly Routine

While I am quite fickle with regards to my makeup, my skincare routine remains solid for weeks at a time.  My commitment to lipstick is often no more than a day or two, and one would think my eye shadows are in the witness protection program with the way they change so frequently.  But with cleansers, toners, potions, etc, the test of efficacy takes longer than a mere 8 hours and requires a more disciplined diligence in use.  This of course is difficult for me because I am easily distracted, constantly chasing sparkly things and shop like it's a sport.  But I occasionally buckle down and let the products run their course.  Here is a peek at what is currently in rotation for my nightly skincare ritual (I say ritual because often I am wearing a mask and there may be dancing involved):

1. Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil - How many times do we have to go over this?  Cleansing OILS are not bad people - they are good.  In fact, they have changed my skin remarkably.  And for all you science buffs out there - oil binds to oil, correct?  Exactly why this is the perfect cleanser for oily skin.  This particular one is thicker than I have used in the past, which makes you work a little more to scrub off the makeup.  However, the result is ridiculously clean skin and not a trace of makeup.  Nothing.  This stuff should be used to clean crime scenes.

2. Amore Pacific Treatment Toner - Toner Schmoner.  This was my mantra for so long - until I happened upon this product.  I find after using this toner, my skin feels much smoother and calmer, and I am convinced it has helped manage my oil production.  I find on the nights that I use this - the following morning my skin is less oily and more even tone.  I can officially say I am now on the toner bandwagon.

3. Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask - I sang this mask's praises on my post for ThisThatBeauty, and we are still going strong.  Simply amazing.  And the best part is it foams up and looks like a fluffy, bubble bath on your face.  Yes - it's delightful, trust me.  When you rinse it off however, the true magic happens because your face is hydrated, plump and glowing.  You should not be getting ready for a special night out without this mask.  Your fabulous outfit will thank me. 

4. Clinique Exfoliating Scrub - If I could exfoliate my face 10 times a day, I would.  I love the feeling of freshly scrubbed skin,  but I realize that my skin needs an outer layer, so I manage to reign in my tendencies.  I appreciate this scrub because it has a minty scent that even after the scrubbing is over, still leaves my skin tingling and feeling ridiculously fresh.   

5.  Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - This stuff should be renamed the "Pimple Police".  It fights blemishes with such vengeance - and for its service I am truly grateful.  Little tip - do not shake the bottle no matter how tempted you are, simply dab the Q-tip in all the way down to the pink sediment and then spot treat away.  Precaution: do not apply before you take out your dog for his last nightly walk.  People can see this on your face, and people will stare at you.   

6.  Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream - Sometimes I just want a basic skincare cream - no bells, no whistles, no change-the-course-of-my-life-with-a-single-drop claims.  No muss, no fuss.  This is why I have kept this cream in my skincare arsenal for so many years, along with its sister the SPF 15 lotion.  Hydration is the best key to keeping skin looking its best, and this Ultra Facial range is the expert.

7.  Dr. Perricone Formula 15 (c/o) - As a regular contributor to the Daily Perricone blog (oh you didn't know?  yes I am, but I don't like to brag.  *blink, blink* *blushing*), I have had the opportunity to try this cult-classic.  Always wary of beauty hype, I often tread cautiously - however my tread turned into a full gallop of joy after using this product.  Used to help correct skin imperfections and improve overall skin's appearance - check.  Perfect for day or night, under makeup or alone - check.  Total worthy of its cult status - check, check, check!

8.  Julep Elixir Organic Moroccan Argan Oil - This product can be used to do everything but fix the kitchen sink (though I haven't tried, so it's possible).  I have used it on my face, my cuticles, my hair, my body - it is my cure all for giving my skin intense nourishment.  Though I have oily skin, I have never been scared of oil on my skin and find my body seems to get the memo and chill out on overproducing it.  It's my reverse psychology trick I play on my skin.  How brilliantly manipulative of me. 

 

Now that I have given you my nightly run-down, I think it's time you share yours.  What products are you loving that I am missing?  I want to be included.  Drop me a comment below or tweet me @alittlebitetc and tell me what I am missing out on.  I can be persuaded very easily.