Beauty Favorites for Winter 2013/2014

I guess this post’s title is pretty self-explanatory. If your cosmetics bag is in need of uplifting, some of these gems might fill the void and do the trick quite nicely. Let your beauty shopping commence…

P.S. “Over-the-counter” doesn’t mean you need a prescription for your next mascara. It just refers to those super sophisticated-looking counters in the department store where ladies walk around in all black with fruit sprays and such, trying to explain why you need that hydra-quenching, line-reducing, age-defying cheekbone lift cream you never knew you needed.

Eyeshadow:

Victoria’s Secret Shimmer Eye Shadow in “Bewitching”

–          This shadow is bewitching to say the least. Whether you’re looking for a girlier take on a traditional smoky eye, or you just need a little sparkle to get through the day, this long-lasting shadow does the trick. It’s all up to how you apply – the more on the brush, the more concentrated the pigment. It looks super dark in the pod, but a light sprinkling on your lids will leave a light sparkle in a light grey-ish tone – nothing more! Otherwise, you can heavy it on for eyes that will majorly pop, without looking like you got punched in the eye socket (which always ends up being how I look if I ever attempt the traditional smoky look. Awkward, right?). The shade listed below (After Dark) is nearly identical to Bewitching!

VS SHIMMER EYE SHADOW by Victoria’s Secret – AFTER DARK – 2g/0.07 oz

Click the link above!

Moisturizer:

Drugstore: Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer

–          This goo (and the whole Aveeno brand, actually) has gotten rave reviews from people who swear by Aveeno for sensitive skin. Now I swear by Aveeno, too. I love feeling like I’m combating breakouts and moisturizing all at the same time.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer, 4 Ounce

Click the link above!

Over-the-counter: Clarin’s HydraQuench Tinted Moisturizer

–          I’m so so picky on moisturizers. With sensitive skin and past problems with acne, I never even USED moisturizer for forever because I mistakenly thought that moisturizing before makeup would just make me more oily and more prone to break outs. While being oily can increase your risk for breaking out, properly applying a good moisturizer won’t do that.

Many I’ve tried still leave me feeling dry and flaky, or they’re too heavy and greasy. NOT CLARIN’S. This had me hydrated, but it felt so light that I could apply makeup without feeling goopy and masked. Because who wants to feel goopy and masked?

Clarins by Clarins – WOMEN – HydraQuench Tinted Moisturizer SPF 6 – # 02 Beige –50ml/1.7oz

Click the link above!

Primer:

Drugstore: Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer in 001

–          Beauty bloggers and vloggers all seem to swear by primers, so I eventually gave in and gave it a whirl – now I’m a huge primer person. It’s definitely the key to not getting streaky, uneven, stripe-y foundation or concealer lines (I know animal print is big, but some days you’re not really feelin’ the zebra look). I love this Revlon primer because it’s super light, so again, no masks here!

REVLON Photoready Perfecting Primer, 0.91 Fluid Ounce

Click the link above!

Over-the-counter: Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer

–          I first tried this beaut of a primer as a sample…man-oh-man, it’s great. Same concept, just at the Estee counter.

Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer 30ml/1oz

Click the link above!

Concealer:

Drugstore: Revlon Colorstay Concealer in 02 Light

–          Revlon used to make this concealer for blemish control, with salicylic acid in it, which I was obsessed with. But when I couldn’t find it during my last drugstore beauty haul, I settled for the basic concealer – same product, minus the salicylic acid. It’s still great, and this shade blends really well (I think) with my skin tone. If anyone seems me with spots on my face though, please let me know and we’ll re-think this one.

Revlon Colorstay Blemish Concealer, Light/Medium, 0.21 Ounce

Click the link above!

Eyeliner:

Drugstore: Maybelline Unstoppable eyeliner in “Onyx”

–          Since I do black eyeliner on my lower water line for a more subtle under-eye punch, roll-up liners do the trick much better than pencils that need sharpening. This Maybelline liner lasts all day!

Maybelline New York Unstoppable Eyeliner, Onyx 0.01 Ounce

Click the link above!

Over-the-counter: Clinique quickliner for eyes in “10 dark chocolate”

–          My brown eyeliner obsession. A roll-on liner that deserves its name – it goes on so smoothly and fast, it’s perfect for a girl on the go. The color is so rich and really lasts all day, smudge and streak-free.

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Automatic Pencil .01 oz Boxed, Dark Chocolate 10

Click the link above!

Lip balm:

Maybelline Baby Lips

–          Super soft, and fifty billion shades and hues to choose from. I tried a neon pink for a pop of fun during my last college a cappella show – whaddya think of it?

Maybelline New York Baby Lips Balm Electro, Pink Shock, 0.15 Ounce

Click the link above!

EOS Lip Balm

–          I was a big EOS girl and then took a hiatus before hearing about them again through beauty vloggers. I fell back in love after grabbing a pink globe in Strawberry Sorbet. It’s super yummy, makes your lips feel super soft, and you just want to re-apply over and over again.

EOS Strawberry Sorbet Organic Lip Balm Sphere, 0.25 Ounce (Pack of 3)

Click the link above!

Lip scrub:

Bite Beauty Fruit Scrub in Whipped Cherry

–          This winter, it was time for me to step up my beauty products’ game and try a lip exfoliant; cold temps and harsh winds are so so so unkind to the ol’ puckers. I’m new to this scrub, but the woman in Sephora swore by it and it was the last one left of any lip scrub in store (what are the chances?), so I considered it fate and picked it up for a go. Although I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it yet, I am 100% sure that it tastes yummy and leaves my lips soft afterwards!

Bite Beauty Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub Whipped Cherry 0.28 oz

Click the link above!

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub

–          This is my next-to-try product. Haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard rave reviews, so when good ol’ Cherry runs out, Mint Julips is next in line.

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub MADE IN CANADA, SHIPS FROM USA (Georgia)

Click the link above!

Mascara:

Drugstore: Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express

–          They live up to their name, and they’re clump-free (my biggest thing with mascaras).

Maybelline New York The Falsies Volum’ Express Washable Mascara, Blackest Black, 0.25 Fluid Ounce

Click the link above!

In the middle: MaryKay Lash Love Mascara (Get a full MaryKay line review here!)

–          I have fondly named these “spider lashes” for their long, spidery goodness. Maybe comparing lashes to a spider isn’t the most enticing thing, but I swear it’s a really good compliment for a black tube of eyelash enhancement goo.

NEW! 2013 Mary Kay® Lash Love® LengtheningTM Mascara: I Love Black

Click the link above!

Over-the-counter: Lancôme.

–         Really, I think any Lancôme mascara will do the trick and then some. I’m pretty sure their reputation is all about ‘dem lashes, too, so going with that, I’d say that a pretty penny spent on mascara is best spent on Lancôme.

Hypnose Doll Lash Mascara – #01 So Black 6.5g/0.23oz

Click the link above!

 

If you give any of the above products a whirl, I’d LOVE to hear your feedback…if you love (or hate…but I’m pretty sure you’ll love…) your next beauty haul! Comment below, post on the Coming Up Roses Facebook wall or send a message (and be sure to “LIKE” the page!), or shoot me an email at erica.ligenza@gmail.com.

What have been YOUR favorite beauty goops and gels this season? Comment below!

Happy hump day…

lovelovelove,

E

Beauty LINE Review – MaryKay

This week, Coming Up Roses is tackling an entire line of beauty and skincare products. Not an easy feat, my friends. But my friend Ashley is a beauty consultant with MaryKay, and she offered me a bunch of sample products to test and try and play with – who could say no to that? So today, we’re doing a little mix up on the blog. Below are each of the gajillion products I played with for a day, my thoughts, pics, and links to get connected to Ashley if you’re interested in seeing for yourself (under each product pic)! Which, in my totally unbiased-ish opinion, I’d recommend. I had never used MaryKay products before – I’m a total best-you-can-find-at-the-drugstore girl. But BOY have I been missing out. I swear to you, I almost committed a cardinal sin by sleeping with make-up on because it was just as good at night as it was when I first put it on in the morning. IMPRESSIVE, right? With that, here’s a before and after shot for your entertainment education.

Yikes.

Much better!

TimeWise 3-in-1 cleanser

Get it here!

–          The 3-in-1 cleanser felt more gel-like going on in comparison to other face washes I’ve tried. It has refining microbeads, but it doesn’t feel abrasive in the SLIGHTEST, which I loved. You just feel like you’re getting a really good clean! And your skin feels a bit tingly and chilled afterwards. Yummers.

TimeWise age-fighting moisturizer

Get it here!

–          I’m always getting reprimanded by beauty consultants and those people in the mall who do free makeovers (because I never miss out on an opportunity to get my makeup done professionally and be told everything that’s wrong with my current regimine – HA!). Why? Because I always skimp on moisturizer – a major beauty no-no. I grew up with uber-oily skin, and for me, this translated into not adding extra moisture. HOWEVER. I didn’t realize that sometimes, extra natural grease comes from your body attempting to make up for dehydration. Your skin is lacking water, so it produces more oil in hopes of making up for it. But we end up with greasy skin that might be more prone to break-outs, instead – not a lush, moisturized complexion. Bummer, huh? So I’m adjusting to moisturizer life. At first, I put on age-fighting moisturizer and it felt a tad greasy on my skin, so I got worried. Wait, I said to myself, and see what happens. Sure enough, after a few seconds, it melted into my skin and felt oh-so-light and airy, leaving me feeling moisturized and a few years younger. If anything, it ended up NOT feeling greasy…

Soothing Eye Cream

Get it here!

–          The soothing eye cream feels cool and a bit heavy – a neat sensation. It’s meant to reduce redness and puffiness and to help calm dark circles. So I guess if I used it for a long period of time I’d probably see more definite results. But I’d definitely want to buy it to try it long-term, because it just felt like a product that would work for me long term. Weird, right?

TimeWise Firming Eye Cream

Get it here!

–          The eye creams burned a little bit upon application, but I think that’s because I’m so rough (which is SO BAD) around my eyes when I’m putting eye makeup on in a hurry. I blend outward instead of inward (bad), I stretch out my skin to put on liner (bad), and I just dab shadow or shimmer on/off so fast that my eyes are probably screaming. That, and I have bad luck in stabbing my eye with mascara wands. #oops. I think, however, that this stuff basically did double-duty as an eyeshadow primer. Because I had no primer sample, but my shadow lasted all day, completely smudge and/or crease-free. Which NEVER happens for me. Definitely a #win.

Foundation Primer Sunscreen (spf 15)

Get it here!

–          I’d never tried primer before, but always meant to. WOW what a difference. My problem has always been feeling like I’m using a ton of foundation and it’s just being absorbed into my skin and clogging my pores instead of lightly laying over top and actually evening out my skin tone. It has a thick, gel-like consistency, feels like you’re putting on a clear mask. Now I know what I’ve been missing.

TimeWise Matte-wear liquid foundation in Beige 3

Get it here!

–          Use hardly any to still cover your whole face! Literally, I used the tiny bit that squeezed out from my sample packet and it covered my ENTIRE FACE. I’m a Beige 3. Turns out I’ve also been using foundation shades that are too yellow or too dark for my skin tone. Oops, again.

Translucent loose powder

Get it here!

–          I never thought a white-ish looking powder would sufficiently go onto my face and not make me look like I belonged in a Halloween parade (hello, ghost girl). It’s supposed to hold your makeup all day, and, as noted by my introductory raves, it seriously lasts all day. All. Day. Long.

Microdermabrasion

Get them here!

–          Step 1: Refine, Step 2: Replenish. Microdermabrasion is an interesting phenomenon. It’s an exfoliant, but the microbeads are super super tiny. It felt a bit too abrasive for my skin, though. I know I have pretty sensitive skin, but I can use exfoliants like St. Ive’s Apricot Scrub (which has MUCH bigger microbeads) without a problem. BUT. The “Replenish” cream that you put on AFTER the “Refining” goop feels so goshdarn nice. It’s like a soothing remedy for the exfoliation. Which basically makes everything ok.

Eyeliner in Steely

Mid-review break: The I-just-put-on-eyeliner look. 

Get it here!

–          I’m not AS huge of a fan, because it was a tad light and smudgey for my taste. That said, I’m super picky with eyeliner, and eye makeup in general, because by 11 am I’m a big smudged and oily mess and everything I put on in the am is clumped in my eye crease and I have to wipe it off and re-touch – not cool. Disclaimer: My teeny sample size may have been the problem, because I usually wind the liner up more to use it and I was just physically unable to. So this one, take with a grain of salt. It still lasted all day and went on nicely to my waterline (where I wear liner on the bottom).

Lash Love Mascara

Get it here!

–          Ashley told me she considers this a mascara “comb” instead of a “brush,” and now I totally see why. The bristles are far enough apart that you feel like each lash is being individually mascara-d. I curled my lashes first with my eyelash curler (they look torturous, but they’re miracle workers I swear) per usual and applied – I did my little mascara shimmy and it was clump-free and long, just how I like ‘em. GUYS, I HAD SPIDER LASHES. Thoroughly impressed. So so thoroughly impressed. Definitely lash love.

MaryKay @ Play Baked Eye Trio in On the Horizon (the purple-y set)

Get it here!

–          I had never before been told to apply liner and mascara BEFORE shadow. So this was a new, welcomed experiment. I’m a HUGE shimmer girl. If it shimmers, shines, glows, sparkles, or has magical fairy dust-like qualities, I will put it on my face. Especially my eyes. Because I love my eyes and I like to use them as my featured feature. AND I LOVE HOW SHIMMERY THIS TRIO IS. Gold shimmer throughout was the perfect touch. Also, I had never followed an actual diagram before on where to apply different colored shadows…thanks again, Ash! (;

Mineral Cheek Color in Sparkling Cider

Get it here!

–          Super shimmery again! Normally, I’d pair shimmery eyes with a matte cheek or vice versa, so this was new for me. It was pretty faint, though, and a nice natural blush color – nothing like bubblegum pink, etc. So it actually paired perfectly with the rest of my face.

Marykay @ Play Jelly Lip Gloss in Berry Me

Get it here!

–          Love this gloss. Love. it. At first, it might seem a tad sticky. I hate sticky gloss. Yuck. BUT. It ends up being not sticky at all and glides on oh-so-nicely, and Berry Me is the perfect mix of color and shine. I felt music-video ready as a girl-next-door character or something. It was empowering.

All done up!

And VOILA! Lots of gunks and goops for the next time your face needs a lift. Super huge THANKYOU/shoutout to Ashley for making it happen! If you want to chat with her about your makeup/beauty routine, joining the MaryKay team, or just life in general (she’s ridiculously awesome, so I’m sure she’d love to chat!), find her at MaryKay.  She’s absolutely fantastic at making you look and feel oh-so-amazing, so thanks tenfold to her!

What are your must-have beauty or skincare products? I’m always up for some recommendations! Let the comments commence.

lovelovelove,

E