Faux Glow, The Drugstore Way with Physicians Formula

Now that summer is in full swing, it is safe to say that I am looking to abandon those dreadful adjectives that have become a typical part of my self-descriptive vernacular. When it comes to describing my complexion, pale, pasty, and porcelain are the buzzwords to beat. Determined to reverse my unsavory pallor, I have decided to investigate the Physician’s Formula bronzer situation. New for the summer are some charming options that both delight with their amazing performance, and enchant with their marvelous packaging.

Illamasqua for Summer- The Body Electrics Collection

Let’s see what our amazing friends over the Atlantic had up their sleeves for summer, shall we? The Illamasqua summer range has been out in the UK (and elsewhere) for quite some time, but has just recently launched at Sephora. I have previously introduced you to the lineup, but let’s take another look at some new favorites.

This bronzer/highlighting duo in Glint and Burnish was actually an addition to the line that came out with last year’s Sirens collection. Nevertheless, it is an amazing year-round staple that bronzes, sculpts, and highlights the plans of my visage to perfection. The perfect-for-my-complexion powder shades are soft, smooth, and blend like butter.

Summertime ColorTime with Hourglass Cosmetics

Hot breezy days, and the feeling is right,
it’s time to embrace the sun
With lipgloss and bronzer and liner in sight
Summertime has begun.

Bright, sunny days and warm, balmy nights, summer is fast approaching us on this great big North American continent of ours. With the impending heat, it is time to switch gears and have a look at the products that will get us through splashing, sunning, and even that steamy night out at the club. Let us welcome the sunny season with smiles, laughter, and some sunny-weather favorites from Hourglass Cosmetics

Extreme Sheen Gloss in Fortune

Smashbox Tips for a Flawless Face

Welcome to part two of our Smashbox series. In honor of the launch of the Smashbox blog, we are having a look at those essential Smashbox products that will have us all looking gorgeous in no time flat.

Tame Frizzies- In a pinch, use a silicone based primer to tame hair and smooth flyaways.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Contoured Cheeks- Sweep a darker shade of blush just under the cheekbone and a brighter, shimmery one on top to create a beautifully contoured cheek

 

Smashbox Must Have Product: Blush Rush in Bare and Fusion Soft Lights in Intermix

Concealer in a Pinch- If you run out of concealer, apply a drop of liquid foundation to the back of your hand and allow to dry for a few minutes then apply with a concealer brush. The thicker consistency is perfect for covering up flaws

Smashbox Must Have Product: High Definition Healthy FX Foundation

Sexy, Dewy Glow- Apply foundation with a damp natural sea sponge for a gorgeous radiant finish

Smashbox Must Have Product: Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation

Summer Glow- For a sexy summer look that's perfect for every day, try sweeping a powder bronzer over lids

Smashbox Must Have Product: Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer

Beachy Beauty- Dab a tiny amount of gel blush over the bridge of nose and base of forehead for a just-been-sunkissed look.

Smashbox Must Have Product: O-glow intuitive cheek color. 

Natural Tan- Fake a natural tan by sweeping a red-toned blush over the tops of cheekbones and across bridge of nose, where the sun normally hits.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Blush Rush in Ecstasy


All Over Glow- Buff a reflective powder over arms, legs, and decollete for a sexy glow from head to toe.

Smashbox Must Have Product: Soft Lights


Warm Up- Before dabbing concealer on the skin, warm it on the back of your hand, then apply with a synthetic brush for a smooth, flawless application

Smashbox Must Have Product: Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer

Lei it On Me, Givenchy Fleur de Frangipanier in Natural Tan

You may not know this about me, but I have a not-so secret desire to vacation in Hawaii. While I have been to my fair share of tropical locales, there is just something so appealing about Hawaii's scenery, and of course the luaus.

Is it the burly Samoan men, the pulsing sound of drums, and all that spam that has me wishing to go far far west? Nah, I think it's the fact that I would get to rock one kick-butt lei without anyone looking twice.

While my Hawaii trip may only be one that I can take in my head, Givenchy's newest face powders are helping ease my island hunger pangs. Bringing me a taste of Hawaii via gorgeous packaging and soft, subtle glow, Fleur de Frangipanier is love.

Holiday Survival- De-Pale Yourself, and Sparkle and Shine this Holiday Season with St Tropez

"You make me feel like dancin'

Down on the Riviera

There's a town called Saint Tropez

Where a girl like you's a Pachanguera"

- Ricky Martin "Saint Tropez"

Latin lover extraordinaire Ricky Martin croons about a place called St Tropez that is clearly where its at, and who can really doubt him? Gorgeous beaches, exotic scenery, and beautifully bronzed people are a part of life. Here in NYC, its skyscrapers, yellow slush, and pale people as far as the eye can see. Sure, we can't all live in paradise, but that doesn't mean we can't have a taste of it with a splash of bronze against an otherwise pale backside... err backdrop. I introduced you all to the wonders of St Tropez's newest quick fix, the Wash Off Line, now lets stroll down a similar (but slightly different) venue. This holiday season, why not rock a defined, bronzed visage to go with that fabulously bronzed body of yours? I have recently discovered bronzing nirvana in the form of St Tropez's cosmetic line.

How to Not Look Dead

I talk about it all the time, but I realized recently that I have never did a post to feature a certain miracle product.

Said product is a must-have for healthy looking skin, and I apply it daily to keep me looking radiant and awake.
What is it you ask? Why that would be bronzer in general, Chanel Moisturizing Bronzing Powder in Desert Corail in particular.
I discovered this miracle powder while perusing last years Summer offerings from Chanel. This powder is like no other. Many bronzers often leave me looking like these fellows right here
But Chanel Bronzing Powder provides just a hint of color that isn't too orange, or too obvious. It isn't shimmery or sparkly, and yet it isn't too matte either. The end result is natural looking and flawless.

I love how it revives my tired and sometimes dull skin. End results may vary, but this is one after photo that speaks for itself:
* Wearing my beloved bronzer with a little nars orgasm on the apples of my cheeks

This is the holy grail of bronzers for me, and I highly recommend you all haul your butts down to the Chanel counter and pick this up in the color that is right for you.

You will all thank me for it! I promise ;)

Laura Geller Babycakes, for those low key kind of days

Laura Geller Makeup is a brand I have never really paid much attention to. Its a line of baked mineral products for the face, much like the MAC mineral line. It is sold mostly on QVC, but has recently popped up in most Sephora stores as well. Of course its the constant air time on QVC that caused me to look at her products a little more closely.

The QVC gods have spoken, and I was coaxed into purchasing something I normally wouldn't look at twice. The Babycakes kit comes with a balance and brighten powder, a blush, and a bronzer. Oh, the kit also comes with a small retractable brush but we will ignore that as the brush is absolutely useless!

Left to right, balance and brighten, the blush, and the bronzer
The brush, effective if u have a doll sized face only.

So has this product convinced me that Laura Geller is amazing? Negative. I found it all to be too sheer and too much work to apply. Granted, I know that these are intended to be petite, but gosh darnit getting a regular sized brush to pick up the product is near impossible!

I found the balance and brighten hardly provided me with coverage. It was more for adding a soft glow to the skin. The blush was a light and lovely peachy pink, and the bronzer was again effective only for a barely there glow.

Once I did get the product onto the brush I was pretty pleased with the end result, a soft glow. Honestly though, I could think of a million other products that could do the same.

See how subtle it is?
All in all, I was not THAT impressed. For those of you waxing poetic about the joys of baked minerals, I am glad that is working out for all of you. Until I find the mineral products that I am wowed by, I will stick to my current favorites. I tried to love it, I really did!

Anybody out there have some mineral products that they are loving? I am all ears :)