NYX Parallel Worlds

July 22, 2013July 22, 20132 Comments

I know I always rant about how great NYX is, but believe me when I say they are one of the best beauty brands on the market. A few weeks ago I posted about NYX’s collaboration with The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie and how I was obsessed. Having looked everywhere for the Parallel Worlds kit I broke down and ordered it from Ulta. It was worth it. The quality of product for the price is insane. I’ve already used the matte lip cream (in Istanbul) a bunch of times this weekend. The color is great and long lasting. I think I should also add that I started reading the books around the time that I discovered this collection. I’m on book 4, and I’ve embarrassingly become a total fangirl. I can’t wait until the movie comes out but for now the make up and books will have to last until then!

Cast of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

source

BaubleBar on Brandchannel

July 16, 2013Leave a comment

Brandchannel is a site my office runs. It has all the latest news about the branding world. It’s actually very interesting. I read it in my spare time. My article was published on the site yesterday, so exciting.

Check it out here

July Birchbox

July 15, 2013July 15, 20131 Comment

Birchbox is a cool program. I look forward to my present each month. They always encourage people to upload pictures of their Birchbox. I’m lazy but lately I’ve been trying to take more photos for PWD. What’s cool about BB is that if you update your personal profile they try to send you items that are best suited for you. Here’s what I got this month:

It’s Potent Eye Cream by Benefit

Birchbox Bobby Pins

Super Comb Prep & Protect (leave in conditioner) by Number 4

Acne Control Treatment by DDF

Powder Staining Blush by The Balm

Bauble Bar x PopSugar Event

July 13, 2013July 13, 2013Leave a comment

Thursday night I had the opportunity to attend an event for BaubleBar x Popsugar at BaubleBar’s Soho pop-up shop. I walked in and they handed me a $10 off coupon. Winner. The store was incredible and filled with people snapping photos, sipping Godiva cocktails and admiring the jewelry. I actually have done a lot of research on BaubleBar because I recently wrote a piece on the company and their dive into brick and mortar (I’ll post it once it’s up). The company and their business model is really cool. They’re a part of the new wave of technology-inspired retail experiences. But again more about that in a different post. Back to the party: I found myself overwhelmed by the amount of merchandise the store had but I’m not surprised because the shop is supposed to carry everything that’s on the website. That’s a lot of baubles. After being indecisive for 45 minutes I decided on a bracelet and earrings. I think it was a good choice. Check out the shop if you’re in NYC!

BaubleBar Soho 131 Greene St.

Check out their calendar of events here.

The chevron earrings in the middle were a gift with purchase. They look a bit preppy for my style so I think I’ll give them to my sister for her birthday (Ali, if you’re reading this: happy early birthday).

Drugstore Favorites: Summer Edition

July 11, 2013Leave a comment

One of my stranger hobbies is shopping drugstore makeup aisles. Store of choice: Target, for obvious reasons. These are my new favorite drugstore products that I’ve become obsessed with.

Essie “Sugar Daddy”– Cheeky name. Perfect color. Would work well as the base for a french manicure (do people still do french manicures?). Ok so I didn’t just pick this up randomly, I have to confess that I read an article on xovain (my current favorite beauty site) about a girl using this color for her wedding because she liked Giada De Laurentiis’ nails and this is one of the colors she apparently used. So I bought it too.

eos lip balm– I think I have (self-diagnosed) chronic chapped lips. It’s either that or I’m weirdly addicted to chapstick. Eos has now glamorized chapped lips. I have 2 of these babies: strawberry sorbet and pomegranate raspberry. I have to have one within reach at all times. Addiction at its finest.

Maybelline’s The Colossal- I was a strictly Maybelline Falsies girl until I picked this up. I saw some magical formula on Pintrest that suggest something like 2 coats of Falsies followed by 1 coat of Colosial. Anyways, I’ve been venturing out lately in the mascara dept. and I wanted to try something new. And I was at Target. Done.

You can be a drugstore maven too. Just hit up your local Duane or CVS (they sell Katy Perry false eyelashes). Or shop at drugstore.com.

e.l.f.

June 28, 2013Leave a comment

I finally went over to elf store and made actual purchases. I’ve been in there a couple other times and have been in a hurry so I’ve never taken the time to really look around. elf is very much a cult favorite beauty brand. It’s super cheap but somehow the products are actually amazing quality. I bought 3 things, as you’ll see, and my total was $9. That’s insane. For the most part, I’ve only ever seen the brand at Target. And in NYC, Target is hard to come by. Plus the selection is usually picked over. I’m so happy that elf has a store, now I need NYX to open up shop!

So here is what I bought:

Volume Plumping Mascara: I like this product but it’s not great. Worth the $3 I spent for maybe a casual weekend look. I like a dramatic looking mascar and this is definitely creates a more subtle eye.

Rose Red Matte Lip Color: I am in love with this color. I’ve worn it twice and have gotten so many compliments on the color. It’s a great formula too, it’s long lasting and not drying.

Retractable Lip Brush: Haven’t opened this up yet (lazy) but I’ve been wanting to try a lip brush for when I use darker colors.

Me wearing the red matte lip color

Modeling for Refinery 29

June 25, 2013June 25, 20132 Comments

A little over a month ago I had the amazing opportunity to model for Refinery 29. I am a religious reader of their site and jumped at the chance to work with them. The shoot was sponsored by Cover Girl and I got to have my hair and make-up done. I’ve been waiting patiently for the picture to come out and now it’s finally here! Right now, it’s on the home page of Refinery 29! Go check it out.

The Body Shop’s New Scent

June 21, 2013Leave a comment

I’ve been meaning to hit up The Body Shop. It’s truly a place that you take for granted when you don’t live near a mall. #NYCProblems. There is one near my work so I decided to drag my friend into the store with me. I had my eye on a tea tree oil product I was sidetracked by the line of Absinthe scented products. I was expecting a licorice scent because I’ve actually had absinthe and it’s derived from anise. Though the smell wasn’t quite as licorice-based as I hoped, it still smelt very refreshing and clean. I think it’s a great unisex scented product. I really wanted to purchase the hand wash but spent too much this morning on Drake tickets. I know, priorities.

this or that?

Sephora Beauty Essentials

June 19, 2013June 19, 20131 Comment

As I made my weekly trip to Sephora I found myself lingering around the Super Stars Beauty Essentials kit. It’s basically a round up of the cult favorites Sephora has to offer. And did I mention that they are all full-sized products? But the fact that they’re full-sized means a full-sized price. The Essentials will cost you. I had to decide in that moment whether all these amazing products were worth $75. Of course they were, but I had already racked up a sizable debt that weekend, spending my weekend budget at Topshop and Aritzia before I even got to Sephora. On the bright side, the kit looks like it may be around for a while so I probably have a little while longer to deicide. Here is what it comes with and my thoughts:

0.035 oz Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder	Never tried this product but have only heard amazing things. I have a friend who uses it as dry shampoo.
0.06 oz Sephora Collection Microsmooth Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Black Light	I think these colors look amazing, but I’m not a huge eye shadow person so this product isn’t making my decision.
0.16 oz NARS Blush in Orgasm	Of course this is my go-to blush but I also just bought a new one not that long ago and it happens to last forever.
0.5 oz Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment	I’m not a huge skincare guru, but my roommate is. He called dibs on this product.
0.5 oz Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil	Huge fan of Josie Maran, but I’m not sure what I’d do with the oil. Maybe use it in my hair. I have the oil stick for the winter. I could just save it for then.
0.33 oz Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer	I recently ran out of my Hourglass primer and have been lively solely off sample-sized primers. I’ve been using the NARS primer but also have a small Hourglass sample.
0.3 oz Benefit They’re Real! Mascara	I bought the mini- They’re Real to try from Sephora. I actually really like it.
0.15 oz BUXOM Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Sandy	Not a huge fan of the color of the lipgloss, but hey, who doesn’t love lipgloss. Maybe it goes on sheer.
0.016 oz Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner	I haven’t had luck with eyeliners lately. Nothing is working for me. Either my eye reacts badly or it just goes everywhere
0.33 oz Kat Von D Saint Eau de Parfum Rollerball	Tried this at the store, could not believe how amazing it smells. I want to buy the actual perfume.

Jenesequa x Destination Beauty

June 18, 2013June 18, 2013Leave a comment

My new article is up online at Jenesequa. I had a great time putting this piece together and I found a lot of new products during my research. The theme of the issue is Wanderlust, and with summer rolling in, who doesn’t want to imagine an exotic vacation. Check out my travel-inspired picks for beauty in the June issue of Jenesequa.