Will Work for Makeup

Monday is by far the gloomiest day of the week for me, followed by Sunday simply because it precedes Monday. Hopefully, The Monday Post will give you some beauty inspiration and help you get through the week! ❤

Favorite beauty read/viewing: It's been eons since I last tried a Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick, and I've yet to grace my lips with a Rouge Coco Shine, but this post on BellaChique has me seriously rethinking my ways. Cheri Rouge Coco, in particular, is calling my name.

Beauty goal: After having a big clear-out in the form of a blog sale (there are still plenty of great products left, if you're interested! LINK), moving forward, before making a beauty purchase, I'm going to make a conscious effort to decide if I truly think I will use it often enough to justify the purchase. As I scoured my collection for products to put in the sale, I recall thinking more times than I'd like to admit, "Why did I buy this?" (probably because of the hype), and "I forgot I even had this" (suggesting I probably didn't like it that much if I didn't even miss it). My goal is really just to be more particular about which products I spend my money on and realize that I shouldn't buy everything just because it's pretty!

Product Rediscovery: Thanks to my beautiful cousin in the UK, my face has finally been reunited with my favorite drugstore foundation - Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. You may recall my review of this gem way back in the day, but as I grew paler and paler and shade 53 matched me less and less, I eventually stopped using it altogether. A few almost moments on Asos (thanks to my indecisive ways), and before I knew it, Healthy Mix Serum was no longer available in the US. My newest shade is 52, and not only is it a great match, but the beautiful, dewy, medium coverage reminded me on first application why I loved it so much in the first place.

Beauty lust: Lord knows I don't need another serum or oil in my life, but after reading Lily's post on Genuine Glow about the benefits of Argan oil, I'm dying to get my hands on the Kahina Argan Oil. And it doesn't help that I've recently developed an addiction to perusing the Eco Diva Beauty site. The Kahina oil is available there, as are a million other products I "need."

Most looking forward to: This whole week, actually! I'll be getting a couple cheeky beauty orders in this week (hey, I did just get rid of a bunch of stuff, right?), and the boy flies in for a visit on Thursday :)

Hope you all have a great week!

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We've all been faced with those mornings - you swear your alarm never went off (it most definitely did), and what follows is always a mystery, because you wake up eventually and look at your clock with a look that flashes from bewilderment to SH*T! (What do you mean I'm supposed to be out the door in 10 minutes? I haven't even brushed my teeth yet!) These are the edited down products I use when I'm in a rush with only 5 minutes to spare (if I'm lucky), as well as the products I tack on when I have extra time - also known as my 5, 10 and 20 minute routines.

5, 10, 20 minute routines

5 min - Back to Basics. When I'm working against the clock (most days), my routine consists of only the basics. For me, that includes concealer (I use one on blemishes and redness and another for under-eyes), some sort of blush, mascara and eyebrow product. My lips are often left bare with only clear lip balm (Anthony Logistics pictured above); I have an array of lip products to choose from in my handbag when I have time later on. Certainly, there are days when I skip makeup altogether, but if I've decided to make an effort beauty-wise, this is considered my bare minimum. It's just enough to make me look put together and takes only about 5 minutes from start to finish.

5 minute routine

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light-Medium

Benefit Rockateur Blush

Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in Stone Grey

10 min - Subtle Definition. If I have a few extra minutes and my routine has room to encompass a couple more products, in addition to the aforementioned ones, I incorporate in what I consider my 'nice-to-haves,' meaning products just a step below daily must-haves. A foundation to even out my complexion, bronzer for warmth and definition, a fantastic all-over lid color and a touch of liner, all topped off with a goes-with-everything lip.

10 minute add-ons

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 3.5

Chanel Les Beiges in 30

Burberry Eyeshadow in Pale Barley

Sephora Contour Eye Pencil in Flirting Game

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in #9 Nude in Private

20 min - Precision and Finishing Touches. For me, 20 minutes is considered my maximum. It's more than enough time for me to relax and complete any look without having to cut out steps. Still utilizing all of the products mentioned in my 5 and 10 minute routines, given the time, I like to add on a cheek highlight, define my eyes in the way of darkening up the crease and outer v, and finish off the look with clean, winged liner.

20 minute add-ons

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight

Physicians Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner and Serum

Burberry Eyeshadows in Midnight Brown (left) and Almond

How do you adjust your routine when you have 5, 10 or 20 minutes to get ready?

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theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer was a somewhat out of character purchase for me. Firstly, I'm not very familiar with theBalm products (not personally a fan of their cutesy packaging); secondly, between the few highlighters I already have and love, there's not much desire left on my part to branch out and try any new ones. With that said, I will preface this post with this: Cindy-Lou Manizer is beautiful.

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer is shimmery, peachy-pink 3-in-1 higlighter/blush/eyeshadow. (I know how overused the phrase "peachy-pink" is, by the way, but in this case, it really is the most apt shade description.) Unfortunately, I was unable to capture the true gorgeousness of this powder on camera. In person, the shimmer is so multi-dimensional, and there is a slight lavender shift that can be detected in the sunlight that is so unique and absolutely stunning. The powder itself is smooth, buttery and finely-milled without being powdery. It's incredibly blendable and sits beautifully on the skin.

Unblended swatch (left) and blended out

For skin tones NC20 and lighter, Cindy-Lou Manizer will likely function more as a blush

than a highlighter. This is how I most like to wear it as well. It provides a subtle peachy-pink glow with shimmer that catches the light beautifully without emphasizing pores. NC30 skin tones and darker will likely enjoy using Cindy-Lou Manizer more for highlighting, although I sometimes use it for this purpose, too, simply by applying it with a stippling brush for just a light dusting without too much pigment. Ladies in the NC25 range will probably sit right on the fence in terms of whether Cindy-Lou Manizer will function better as a blush or highlight on their skin tone.

Wearing Cindy-Lou Manizer as my blush

Although I purchased Cindy-Lou Manizer with the intention of acquiring a pink-toned highlighter that would be unique to my collection, I ended up with an absolutely stunning blush instead...and I'm totally okay with that! Personally, the subtle lavender shift that my camera refuses to capture is my favorite thing about this blush. It sets it apart from a sea of peachy-pinks. Shimmer fiends - you need this.

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizeris available from their website for $24.

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I love me a brown smokey eye, but throw in a touch of bronze? Even better. Technically, this was my favorite look of last week, but who's keeping track, right?

A lot of you seemed to like the super simple smokey eye I wore in my Clinique Black Honey All About Eyes post (I did too!), but I wanted something with a bit more dimension on this particular day; in other words, a smokey eye that utilized more than one shadow.

For this look, I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over my lids as a base with the orangey-gold Clinique All About Shadow in At Dusk (a don't call me jesse-inspired purchase) layered on top. I used Clinique's Black Honey from the same eyeshadow line to deepen the outer v and crease, and I blended everything out with Burberry Almond. I'll admit, when you look at Bad to the Bronze, At Dusk and Black Honey in their respective pans, the three don't seem like they would ever go together, but once layered and blended over the eye, bronze perfection ensues. For the perfect bronzey-brown liner to smoke up my lash line, I used Urban Decay 24/7 liner in West from the Black Market set.

For my base, I wore Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 and applied Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in 5 in areas where I needed more coverage (I've kinda re-fallen in love with this). I sculpted my cheekbones a bit with NYX Taupe blush (perfect contour shade for lighter skin tones) with Rouge Bunny Rouge blush in Delicata added in for just a touch of color on my cheeks.

Lastly, on my lips, I wore my newest love - Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Cheri. Swoooooon!

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If you ever wanted to test the theory that exfoliation is just another overrated step in the skincare process, forgo it for a couple of weeks and re-assess the state of your skin. Unfortunately, yours truly did this in January, not willingly or intentionally, mind you. (I blame traveling woes.) The damage? My skin was dry, flaky and blemish-ridden, aka a hot mess.

As soon as I was able, I jumped back on my regular exfoliation schedule, vowing never to forsake it again. And really, when I thought about how simple it was, especially considering the vast difference it made in my complexion, I felt like an idiot for ever even considering it could've been simply a nice, but not necessary, skincare step. It is crucial.

My exfoliation schedule looks a little bit like this:
:: Every night after cleansing, I splash a bit of DDF Glycolic Toning Complex onto a cotton pad and swipe it across my entire face, avoiding only the eye area. It provides just enough chemical exfoliation to maintain the state of my skin, and I don't find it too harsh to use daily, although my skin isn't typically sensitive either.
:: Once a week, I cleanse my face in the shower with my Clarisonic Mia, paired with a variety of different gentle cleansers (I'm not too picky), for a slightly more intensive exfoliation treatment.
:: Also once a week, although not on the same day I use the Clarisonic, I enjoy 20 minutes of skin purification with Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask.
:: Both of these once a week, physical exfoliation options give my skin that extra kick in the tush it needs to remain smooth, blemish-free and glowing.
:: It's worth noting is that on days when I use the Clarisonic or the Detox Exfoliating Mask, I skip the Glycolic Toning Complex. My general rule is to incorporate a maximum of one exfoliation step into your routine each day. Be gentle to your skin!

Luckily, the story of my skincare disaster ended well. Within just a few days, I noticed a dramatic improvement in the state of my skin (back to my baseline), and it was clear to me that the culprit was truly my lack of exfoliation. Its role in removing dead skin cells on the surface prevents pores from getting clogged and causing breakouts, it allows serums, oils and moisturizers to absorb more freely, requiring less product, and it creates an overall glowing complexion. By the way, how many times can I say 'exfoliation' in one post?

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Favorite beauty read/viewing: My most recent facial cleanser addition is a delicious one from May Lindstrom (review forthcoming). After quickly falling in love with the ethos behind the brand's beautifully earthy products, I found this post on Eco Diva Beauty Blog with a breakdown of each product - perfect for ML newbies. My wishlist was updated accordingly.

Beauty goal: Soooo....my brushes. I can't remember the last time I gave them a good shampoo. Yikes. Adding that to my to-do list as we speak.

Product Rediscovery: My Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer has been working overtime lately. Although I don't absolutely love it as a foundation, as a concealer, it's the bomb. Impeccable coverage, and the shade SSE05 is a great match for me. Now, if they could just figure out a way to get rid of that nauseating scent...

Beauty lust: My friend recently gave me a sample of Tatcha Revitalizing Eye Cream, and damn - it's good. It's rich and luscious but absorbs quickly, leaving behind a plump and nourished eye area without any greasiness or slip. The downside? A 0.5 oz jar will set you back 135 big ones. Ouch.

Most looking forward to: Both of my giveaway items for my 4 year blogiversary should be here by early next week, and I can't wait for you guys to see them! I know you'll love them just as much as I do :)

Hope you all have a great week!

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A recent re-discovery is the Smashbox Limitless 15 Hr Wear Cream Shadow in Topaz. I used it out of the blue one day, and since then, I've worn it almost daily. I love it on its own, but my favorite way to wear it is paired with a variety of different eyeshadows. I've learned that if it has even a hint of taupe in it, it's guaranteed to look phenomenal on top of Topaz.

Topaz is described as a soft golden beige, but on me, it reads more silvery taupe. It's quite metallic when swatched heavily, but it blends out to a sheer wash of color when worn on its own. Coming from someone who doesn't have much luck with the staying power of most MAC Paint Pots, Topaz wears all day without creasing on me, even when it's not set with a powder. In fact, when I use it as a base for other eyeshadows, I'm able to forgo primer altogether.

From left to right (all eyeshadows are shown layered on top of Topaz):

Smashbox Topaz

NARS Bellissima

NARS Kalahari

Benefit Where There's Smoke

Burberry Pale Barley

Burberry Rosewood

I love the extra dimension and lasting powder Topaz provides as a base for taupe shadows. Even under a matte shade like Bellissima, the overall effect is just a bit more glowy, without being overtly shimmery. I can't quite explain why I love it so much, except that it seems to enhance most every eyeshadow I pair it with.

If you've never tried the Smashbox Limitless 15 Hr Wear Cream Shadows, you're missing out. And, if you're a lover of all things taupe, Topaz is certainly worth a gander. While you're at it, try swatching it under other eyeshadows. You'll see what I mean.

Smashbox Limitless 15 Hr Wear Cream Shadow in Topaz is available from Sephora for $20.

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This post contains PR samples

My interest in natural skincare and beauty products was piqued around the start of the year, and one of the things I found I loved most in my quest to try different natural brands was that there is an abundance of smaller brands making fantastic products that really deserve more recognition. Splurge Skincare is one of those brands.

Christine and Kara, two teachers from Boston, are the masterminds behind Splurge Skincare. The brand's philosophy? "People shouldn't wait for a special occasion to treat themselves well, it should be something they do everyday." Can't say I disagree.

I tend to think that whenever a brand offers only a couple products in their line-up, those products are bound to be amazing. They've (hopefully) focused their time and attention on perfecting those few products, instead of making a bunch of mediocre ones just to say they have them. I respect that. Splurge Skincare makes three products: The Rub, Lip Buttahs and Tinted Buttahs. I was sent two scents of The Rub and one Lip Buttah to test out.

I have The Rub in the scents Peppermint and Winter. The primary ingredient in this body scrub is sugar. Just as you might imagine would happen if you were to rub sugar onto wet skin, the more you massage it in, the more it will dissolve. The Rub does exactly that, leaving behind an incredibly soft and smooth surface. Other key ingredients include organic safflower oil, meadowfoam oil, glycerin, organic cocoa butter, organic shea butter, aloe vera leaf juice and vitamin E. I don't hesitate at all in saying that it's the most moisturizing body scrub I've tried to date.

Unlike many other body scrubs I've tried that carry the option of being used in place of a body wash, The Rub is truly meant just for exfoliation. As the directions instruct, The Rub should be used post-cleanse; think of it as an adjunct to body wash. I typically use it only where my skin tends to be the driest and flakiest (arms and legs), but it's absolutely gentle enough to be used all over and daily.

Hands down, my favorite scent of the two I have is Peppermint (it's also available in Almond and Lemon). It smells exactly like candy canes, and I get tempted to sneak a taste every so often, although I haven't yet, ok? Everyone just calm down. After using The Rub in Peppermint, there's a slight cooling effect from the mint that feels incredibly invigorating, especially on I-can't-seem-to-wake-up kind of mornings.

I also have the Lip Buttah in Lemon (also available in Peppermint, Almond and Orange Chocolate). Main ingredients include babassu oil, organic cocoa butter, beeswax, sweet almond oil, organic castor oil and vitamin E. The scent is very subtle, and the tube is a flattened oval shape. Despite having a fair amount of slip to it, it sticks around for quite the while on my lips. It's moisturizing and makes my lips soft, but it's not anything ground-breaking, nor is it the best lip balm I've ever tried. It's good at moisturizing my lips most days, but it doesn't do enough for them when they're chapped or ultra-dry.

For me, The Rub is really where it's at.

Splurge Skincare The Rub ($26 for 8 oz.) and Lip Buttah ($7) are available from their website.

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Disclosure: These products were sent to me for consideration for a review. I am not affiliated with the company, nor am I getting paid for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are honest and based solely on my own experiences with the products.

The 22nd of this month will mark Will Work for Makeup's 4th birthday, and I can hardly believe it! Of course, my blog would be nothing without all of you, so I figured the best way to thank all of my readers, both old and new, is to give away a couple of amazing products :)

I'm giving away one CHANEL Rouge Coco Lip Colour in 61 Cheri and one Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat. If you recall, I have the Hourglass blush in the shade Dim Infusion and while I love it, I wanted to give away a shade I thought would be more universally flattering :)

There will be two winners, and I set up each giveaway separately in case people wanted to enter to win one but not the other. Thank you to each and every one of you who reads my blog, and GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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:: Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster :: I'm using a sample of this at the moment and loving every drop of this light and brightening serum. I use it at night to maintain the potency of the vitamin C.

:: Flora by Gucci Gorgeous Gardenia :: I first tried a sample of this scent about two weeks ago, and it's still lingering on the jacket I wore that night. I was completely taken aback by how unexpectedly beautiful the scent was. Every time I put on said jacket, I can nearly hear Gorgeous Gardenia saying, "Buy me."

:: Givenchy Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow :: These are new for spring and already available on Sephora's website. I love a good cream shadow, and if Givenchy's offering is even half as amazing as their Le Rouge lipstick range, I'm sold.

:: Kahina Night Cream :: My first Kahina product was their Facial Lotion (which I absolutely LOVE), and seeing as how they just added a night cream to their line-up (pictured is their eye cream...oops!), it only makes sense that I should plan on owning the pair at some point in the near future.

:: Dior Addict Fluid Sticks :: Dior makes some of my favorite lipsticks ever, and I'm not ashamed to admit that their new for spring, Addict Fluid Sticks make me weak at the knees. Looks like there will be 16 stunning shades total.

What's topping your wish list at the moment?

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A good cream shadow can literally be a lazy girl's best friend. When I want to wear eyeshadow, yet I know I don't actually have enough time to apply anything decently with a brush, I reach for a cream. (What can I say? I love my sleep.)

These are some of my favorite cream shadows. Some I adore for just a natural wash of color; others I love with a touch of smudged black liner for an ultra-simple and quick smokey eye. They do me right every time.

Clockwise from top left:

Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono Long-Wear Eyeshadow in Météore

CHANEL Illusion d'Ombre in Diapason

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist

Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in Mutt

Smashbox Limitless 15Hr Wear Cream Shadow in Topaz

L to R:

Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono Long-Wear Eyeshadow in Météore

CHANEL Illusion d'Ombre in Diapason

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist

Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in Mutt

Smashbox Limitless 15Hr Wear Cream Shadow in Topaz

: Dior Météore is undoubtedly the sparkliest of the group; it looks beautiful when paired a semi-matte complexion base and a wine lip (like in this look).

: CHANEL Diapason is quite a shimmery one as well (the blue-toned sparkle is stunning!), although it's much less apparent when applied with fingers than with a brush.

: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze is one most of us know and love. Mine is starting to dry out a bit, but the color is still as beautiful as ever - the perfect mixture of brown and taupe.

: MAC Constructivist is a smokey eye favorite; UD 24/7 liner in Perversion smudged into my top and bottom lash lines finishes off the look perfectly (as evident in this post). I've experienced quite disappointing wear-times with many Paint Pots, but Constructivist holds up nicely on my lids.

: Buxom's Stay-There Eyeshadows are completely underrated, and it's a shame because the formula is very similar to the much less wallet-friendly CHANEL Illusion d'Ombre formula. Mutt is my current go-to everyday shade for a beautifully subtle wash of golden bronze.

: I spoke about Smashbox Topaz in more detail in this post. I often wear it on its own for a touch of somethin' somethin'; otherwise, I pair it under nearly every taupe eyeshadow in my collection.

Wearing Buxom Mutt all over the lid

With the exception of Diapason, can you see a color theme with my favorites? Neutrals will always have my heart, after all.

Don't forget to get your entries in for my 4 year blogiversary giveaway before this Sunday at midnight PST!

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I've been wanting to experiment a bit more with different eyeshadow placements lately. I really liked how this turned out, although admittedly, I found the overall effect was more apparent in real life than in these photos.

What I normally go for is pretty simple: a lighter shade across the lid with a darker shade in the crease. Sometimes, I'll use a darker shade in the outer v as well, but that's about as adventurous as I get.

With this look, I applied the darker shades (RBR Abyssinian Catbird layered over Burberry Midnight Brown) on the inner and outer thirds of the lid with a lighter shade (Clinique At Dusk) concentrated right in the center.

: Face :

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 3.5

Hourglass Dim Light

: Cheeks :

NYX Taupe Blush (contour)

NARS Luster Blush

: Lips :

YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 6 Rouge Bergamasque

Urban Decay Lip Liner in Naked2

: Eyes :

Burberry Midnight Brown

Burberry Almond

Clinique At Dusk

Rouge Bunny Rouge Abyssinian Catbird

The pop of brightness in the center of the lid is more subtle in my case, simply because of the shades I worked with. You could certainly create a more dramatic effect by choosing more contrasting shades.

So what does this eyeshadow placement actually do? It gives the illusion of your eyeshadow catching the light perfectly in any lighting, and it opens up the eyes in the process.

Lastly, shout-out to NARS Luster. You rock my world every. single. time.

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I hate to admit it, but I can really be a makeup snob sometimes. It's no secret that high-end and luxury brands entice me to a much more ridiculous degree than do drugstore brands; however, there's one area of beauty the drugstore just seems to get right - lipgloss. Here are some of the best I've found while roaming the aisles of Target, Ulta, Walgreens and the like.

Revlon Colorburst and Super Lustrous Lipglosses ($8) :: It shouldn't come as a surprise that Revlon makes some great lipglosses, especially considering how fantastic their lipsticks are. Compared to the Super Lustrous Lipgloss formula, the Colorburst formula has slightly less pigment (coming in at around medium), feels lighter on the lips and is completely non-sticky. Super Lustrous lipglosses are a bit tackier (but not sticky), and as a result, they last longer on the lips. I also find them more moisturizing. Both are non-scented (although the Colorburst glosses can tend to smell a bit funny to me.)

Shown: Revlon Colorburst Lipglosses in Bellini and Killer Watt; Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Pop (old version). Can be found at all drugstores.

NYX Butter Gloss and Mega Shine Lipgloss ($5) :: The Butter Glosses feel like gloss-balm hybrids on the lips. They're incredibly moisturizing and offer light to medium pigmentation with a sweet, dessert-like scent that's difficult not to drool over. (Truthfully, they sound a bit like the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors, no?) On the other hand, the Mega Shine Lipglosses offer more punch in the pigmentation department, boast similar moisturizing properties and have a medicinal cherry scent that, thankfully, dissipates quickly.

Shown: NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel; Mega Shine Lipgloss in Nude Peach. Can be found at Ulta and some Target stores.

Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lipgloss ($3) :: Now, for the underdog. In my mind, Essence is a cheap-n-cheerful brand with products I don't often give a second glance to - except for their glosses. The scent reminds me of an old Bourjois lipgloss I used to own (back when the brand was still available at Sephora), and trust me, that's absolutely a good thing. It has a unique hourglass-shaped doe-foot applicator that hugs the lips perfectly during application. The formula is incredibly moisturizing, and the medium to full pigmentation is impressive.

Shown: Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lipgloss in Candy Bar. Can be found at Ulta.

My favorite formula of the bunch? It's a toss-up between the NYX Butter Glosses and the Essence Stay With Me Longlasting Lipglosses. Shade-wise, I basically love every shade pictured here, so no help there. Can you tell I like my peaches and corals?

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I try to take good care of my skin everyday, but once a week, I like to go all out and pamper my skin with a face mask trifecta. Yup, three masks back to back. It usually occurs simultaneously with tea drinking. Sure, it may sound like overkill to some, but hear me out on this one. Each mask serves a completely different purpose, and the effects of one help to maximize the effects of the next, and so on. Sound good? Here are the three simple steps I follow, as well as the masks I use to accomplish each step.

Step 1 :: Detoxify

To begin, I detoxify my skin by drawing out impurities from clogged pores and smoothing off the surface of all the dead skin cells that have accumulated throughout the week. This step is crucial if you want any skincare product to actually have the opportunity to penetrate the skin. The perfect mask to accomplish this? Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask ($50). I let it dry down on my face for 20 minutes before rinsing off in circular motions. Skin should look polished and feel silky soft at this point.

Step 2 :: Soothe

After the rather intensive skin detox and exfoliation step, I soothe my skin by slathering on May Lindstrom The Honey Mud Gentle Cleansing Silk ($80). I often use this as a cleanser throughout the week, but during my triple mask routine, I rely on it for its calming properties. I spread a thin layer of the pudding-like cleanser/mask on my skin and let it works its magic for 15 minutes before rinsing clean (no harm in leaving it on even longer though!). The cocoa and honey scent will shift you into relaxation mode instantly.

Step 3 :: Hydrate

Lastly, once my skin is in the post-detox and soothing treatment stage and looking rather bright and refreshed, I amp up my usual overnight hydration routine by swapping out my night cream for Origins Intensive Drink Up Overnight Mask ($24). The fruity scent is downright delicious, and the extra boost of hydration replenishes whatever moisture may have been lost during the previous steps. You'll wake up the next morning basking in the beautifying effects of your three step regimen from the night before.

There you have it - a once weekly mask routine that sounds exhausting but feels heavenly. Go on. Light a candle, grab a magazine, and get maskin'.

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Lancôme is one of those brands that I don't often give a second look, but that all changed with the release of their new Lip Lover range, an innovative super-gloss, if you will, with a balm base, lip line smoothing properties and saturated color. All I can say is, Lancôme did good. Granny makeup, this is not.

During an impromptu Sephora visit over the weekend, I spied the new range sitting prettily in the middle of the Lancôme display and decided to indulge in a bit of a swatchfest. Available in 14 shades that range from nude to bright to vamp, I can personally attest to each shade being a winner. I eventually headed home with the shade that caught my eye just a bit more than the rest - Orange Manege. It's a striking bright orange-coral with subtle shimmer.

When applied full on and straight from the tube, Orange Manege is incredibly pigmented and nearly opaque; however, one of the things I love most about the Lip Lover formula is how easily the color can be sheered out as well, increasing its versatility in my already rather lipgloss-heavy makeup collection. Below, I applied Orange Manege lightly and blended it out with my finger on the left, compared to applied straight from the tube on the right.

The Lip Lover formula provides impeccable moisture for hours on end, and a beautiful, even stain is left behind even after the initial glossiness has worn away. It has a thick gloss-balm texture that isn't sticky or tacky in the slightest, yet it still manages to boast impressive lasting power. My lips look perfectly smooth and plump with as much or as little color as my heart desires. In short, the Lancôme Lip Lover wears flawlessly and feels absolutely incredible on the lips. Easily one of my favorite new releases in recent months.

Lancôme Lip Lovers are available from Sephora for $23.

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Spring used to be the season of pastels for me, but I think I've finally outgrown that obsession (not to mention, pastel tones look horrific on my skin tone). This season, I'll be focusing on light and fresh skin, natural, barely-there eyes, with pops of color in cheery floral shades on my cheeks and lips in varying degrees of subtlety.

For a fresh base, I've been loving Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. It has light to medium coverage with a dewy and illuminating finish. As with all the Bourjois foundations I've tried, it blends easily and lasts well throughout the day. Perking up a dull, post-winter complexion? Check.

Stila In the Know Palette is a great all matte, neutral palette (admittedly, the orange shade is a bit of an odd ball) that doesn't often get talked about. It makes perfecting the barely-there eye look a breeze. I've been mixing Desert and Rain and sweeping that messily all over the lid and on my lower lash line. If needed, Earth and Ebony double as liner shades as well...smudged out, of course.

Two blushes that have not left my cheeks lately are Clinique Cheek Pop in Plum Pop and Milani Luminoso. Plum Pop is a cool-toned medium pink that, against all odds, seems to flatter even my warm complexion, and Luminoso is an old standby that has yet to disappoint me. Considering it's affordable and available at the drugstore, I don't hesitate at all in saying it's a must-have product.

Lip options include CHANEL Rouge Coco in Cheri for an everyday petal pink and Givenchy Le Rouge in Rose Dressing or Lancôme Lip Lover in Orange Manege when my lips are crying out for a bit more punch. Le Rouge is one of my all time favorite lipstick ranges (Rose Dressing is a beautiful coral pink), and the Lip Lovers are a more recent favorite in which I'm already crafting up a wish list of shades to add to Orange Manege.

Lastly, the scent of the season award goes to Flora by Gucci Gorgeous Gardenia, gifted to me by the ever so generous Mel. I'm a lover of floral scents, and this one just screams my name. It's feminine, sophisticated and suitable both during the day and at nighttime. And, if you can't wear floral scents in the spring, when can you wear them, right?

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This post contains a PR sample

Oils and serums are some of my favorite skincare products. No other product type seems to have the ability to create a glowy, luscious canvas with quite the same ease. Read on to hear about the three I've naughtily been keeping from you all these months...

The serum for combo to oily skin - Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum ($50) does exactly what its name suggests. Often times, oily skin can become exacerbated by drying skin care products or over-washing, causing it to react by producing more oil. This serum balances combination to oily skin types by giving it the hydration it needs, no more and no less, which in turn, helps skin regulate its own sebum production. It absorbs quickly into the skin, with minimal greasiness. When used at night, I always wake up with soft and moisturized skin that somehow manages to be completely shine-free. That's how I know it works. As with all Osmia Organics products, Facial Calibration Serum is soothing and non-irritating, complete with a natural, herbaceous scent.

The oil for 'damaged' skin - Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($36) is a self-proclaimed multi-tasker. It claims to increase skin firmness and elasticity and improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and fine lines. I use this oil at night, typically 3-4 drops under my night cream, and although it doesn't claim to, I notice that it offers an additional dose of hydration that is more than welcomed in my routine. With consistent usage over the course of about four months, I've noticed that it actively works to minimize the scarring left behind by healing blemishes, while also working to slowly fade existing marks. Luckily for me, I can't test out the fine line claim yet, and as I've only used it on my face, I also can't speak to its stretch mark fading abilities either.

The serum for a morning pick me up - One Love Organics Morning Glory Brightening Complexion Booster ($29 for 0.5 fl.oz./ $48 for 1 fl.oz.) is what I call the 'cup of coffee for my skin'. I either apply it on its own or mix in 3 drops with my morning moisturizer. It absorbs almost instantaneously and leaves behind no greasy residue whatsoever, allowing it to sit nicely under makeup without disturbing the peace. It brightens up and awakens my complexion each morning, to the point where I fear I may have developed a slight obsession with it. My favorite part is that it also works to de-puff early morning skin. I don't ever want to wake up without it.

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Disclosure: The Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum was sent to me for consideration for a review. I am not affiliated with the company, nor am I getting paid for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are honest and based solely on my own experiences with the products.

The last time I remember using a true powder foundation, it was during a time in my life when signs of cake-face often went unnoticed, allowing skin to breathe was overrated, and MAC was my drug of choice. Yup, it was MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation. Nowadays, I prefer to err on the side of natural, rather than overdone, and having said that, I never thought a powder foundation would ever appeal to me again.

I randomly had an itch to try out a base of the powder variety again a few months ago after having omitted one from my routine for a few years. After reading some reviews and swatching and comparing several different options in-store, I picked up Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation. I kind of eyeballed the shade I thought would best match me and was lucky that #120 Neutral Ivory is spot-on.

Having used it now for several months, I can honestly say this powder is fantastic. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I do. It has buildable coverage that ranges from medium to full, depending on what brush you use to apply it (it comes with a sponge whose existence I completely ignore).

The 'multi-use' aspect of this powder is that it can be used as a sheer, satin finish foundation, a full-coverage, matte finish foundation, or as a setting powder. MUFE suggests applying the powder with a damp sponge for the sheer coverage option, although I have yet to try out that method. I most like to use the Real Techniques Multi-tasking Brush to buff in the powder over my concealer, and I find that this achieves a beautiful, medium coverage, soft matte finish. If it's a setting powder I'm after, I switch to a fluffy powder brush and dust it over only my most shine-prone areas.

Wearing Pro Finish Powder Foundation in 120 over concealer

The finish is, surprisingly, very natural and never cakey or powdery. It doesn't even look like a powder on my skin. It also has great longevity, offering oil-control where it's needed without clinging to dry patches elsewhere. It's a powder that I think would work on a variety of skin types, from slightly dry to oily.

Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation is available from Sephora for $36.

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Rose is one of those shades in makeup that will never go out of style. While I've often thought of rose lipsticks and blushes as a more 'mature' color choice, I've come to learn that there are so many different variations on the shade that you're bound to find one that works for your skin tone, age range and occasion. This post is dedicated to a few of my favorites.

Clockwise from left:
CHANEL Rose Initiale

Dior Cherie Bow

Milani Romantic Rose

Revlon Teak Rose

Givenchy Rose Dressing

Too Faced Razzle Dazzle Rose

Lancôme Beige Adage

Surprisingly, I don't own very many rosy blushes. The two I have are CHANEL Joues Contraste in Rose Initiale and Milani Romantic Rose. The former is a fresh petal pink, while the latter is a rosy nude. I've been wearing Rose Initiale quite a lot lately, and I particularly like that the pigmentation is medium but buildable, allowing me to control the brightness according to my mood. Romantic Rose is one of those 'goes with everything' shades that you can't go wrong with.

In terms of lip options, rose is a theme that continues to run rampant in my collection. Dior Addict Extreme in Cherie Bow and Lancôme Lip Lover in 332 Beige Adage are neutral, medium rose shades with a touch of nude. Both are everyday staples for me. Too Faced Razzle Dazzle Rose is a bright, blue-toned medium pink that's beautiful in the spring and for transitioning into summer. Givenchy Le Rouge in Rose Dressing is a pinky coral that provides the perfect amount of color while still being suitable for daytime wear. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Teak Rose is a shade that can border on matronly worn on its own, so I prefer to dab it on with my finger and top it off with a nude gloss.

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I'm typically not a fan of cream to powder formulas, but Make Up For Ever HD Blush is an exception. Their newest blush formula 'combines the second-skin look of a cream with the ease of a powder,' and there's not a single fault I can find with it. Available in 16 shades, I went for the one shade I felt would be unique to my collection.

Make Up For Ever HD Blush in 335 Fawn is a tawny pinky-brown. I'm a big fan of the 'goes with everything' blushes, and this shade offers an incredibly natural flush that suits any look, and the brown base helps to create a soft contoured look as well.

Swatched below in different lighting situations

In terms of finish, HD Blush boasts 'no visible texture,' and I agree wholeheartedly with its claim. Even upon close inspection of the skin, you see only the color and never the actual product sitting atop the surface, if that makes sense. It has neither a dewy finish, nor a true matte one; a skin-like finish is the best way I can describe it.

Although the formula is technically a cream-to-powder, it's unlike other formulas I've tried in the past in that it continues to blend smoothly like a cream until you let up, never blending away into that horrible dry, powdery texture towards the end. (I apply mine with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, by the way.) It lasts all day on me and blends just as flawlessly over a liquid base as it does over a powdered one.

Wearing HD Blush in 335 Fawn

The only people I can think of that may not appreciate the HD Blush formula are those who favor cream blushes with a dewy finish, and even then, these might surprise you. Everyone else - you need at least one.

Thanks for the recommendation, Tracy! :)

Make Up For Ever HD Blush is available from Sephora for $26.

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The Monday Post #8

5, 10, 20 Minutes

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer

My Favorite Look This Week #7

The Exfoliation Schedule

The Monday Post #9

One Taupe Base Suits All

Splurge Skincare

4 Year Blogiversary Giveaway!

The Mid-Week Wish List

Cream Eyeshadow Loves

My Favorite Look This Week #8

The Best of Drugstore Lipglosses

Detoxify. Soothe. Hydrate.

I am a Lancôme Lip Lover

The Spring Edit

The Oils & Serums

Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation

A Rosy Outlook

A cream blush formula that will appeal to the masses