November Faves

Now that November is coming to a close, it's time to sum up my favorite products this month! I stuck to warm tones, mainly neutrals with some shimmer.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss, Papaya - A fun orange shade with just enough pigment and shimmer.

Laura Mercier Paint, Rose Gold - The perfect metallic shade for fall, and so easy to use!

Elf Duo Eyeshadow/Liner, brown- I like to line the upper lash line with this, with or without the LM eyeshadow. It makes for a warm, soft definition.

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Foundation - Keeps me matte without powder, and evens out the skin with light natural-looking coverage. A must for oily skin.

All for now! What are your November faves?

Love, Val

My Makeup Besties ♡

make/up best/ies phrase 1. Favorite cosmetics 2. Trusty beautifiers 3. Lifesavers

Definition taken straight from the Val Dictionary! I can always rely on my personal makeup besties to help me out when I'm looking "ehh", to get me ready in a flash, and to brighten my mood in the morning. Here they are!

 

Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer - makes my skin look fresh, healthy, and not made up
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer - camouflages dark under-eyes without looking cakey 
MAC Satin Taupe Eyeshadow - can be popped on the lid and blended for an easy smokey look
DiorShow Iconic Mascara - gives a big, separated lash effect in a flash
NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick - enhances my natural lip color and moisturizes
elf Tickled Pink Blush - adds a fresh, natural pink to the complexion

What are your makeup besties??
Love, Val

PS - Sorry I was gone for so long! School + cross country = a very busy start to September. But I'm back for good! ;)

Back To School Makeup!

     It's that time of year again! Time to decide on your own back-to-school look. Will you reinvent your style? Try all the new trends? Stick with the classics? While you work on your perfect first-day outfit, I've already figured out a makeup look that will flatter anyone on their first day!
    It's a simple look designed to bring out your natural beauty. It features very little on the skin, with naturally pink cheeks, big and lifted eyes, and glossy coral lips. As a bonus, all the makeup is from the drugstore. Let's get started! (You may also check out my video tutorial here.)

1) For your base makeup, take time to evaluate what makeup you actually need. As an example, my skin has a few blemished areas and dark undereye circles, but other than that is relatively clear. Thus, I used concealer in those areas and left the rest bare. I even used a little extra on the lids as an eyeshadow primer. Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer - Light/Medium

2) Begin by giving your eyes some shine and dewiness with a shimmery cream shadow. elf Shadow/Liner Stick - Basic/Brown

3) Next, define the eyes with a brown liner. Apply accross the upper lashline, gradually getting thicker toward the end, and finish with a "kitten" wing. This will lift the eyes, making them appear large and bright. Apply some halfway through the lower lashline as well. elf Shadow/Liner Stick - Basic/Brown

4) Optionally set the shadows and boost color by applying powder shadows (in colors that match) directly on top of the creams. Revlon ColorStay Quad - Coffee Bean

4) Finish off the eyes with curled lashes and mascara. Revlon Grow Lusicous Mascara - Black

5) Keep the cheeks simple and natural by applying a blush that mimics your own natural flush. To do this, check the color of your cheeks after exercising. elf Studio Blush - Tickled Pink

6) Finish off with a glossy lip. There's a shade of coral for everyone! Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss - Coral Reef

Done!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and have a great day!
Love, Val

4 Minute Makeup!

I don't know if many of you know this but I actually have a YouTube channel! I've only done a few videos, but nonetheless - it's been fun. I thought I'd share one with you today. It's a tutorial for makeup in four minutes! (And as you can tell, I'm still pretty awkward in these. Ha. That's why blogs are great!)

How To:

1) Apply a mineral foundation all over the skin for a little bit of coverage. Using a smaller brush, pinpoint more of the mineral foundation to the areas ou need it - specifically, under the eyes and on blemishes. (GloMinerals loose base, ecoTools powder brush, Stila brush #30)

2) Liven up the cheeks with a blush! I used a cream stick blush for quickness, applied to the back of the apples and blended out with fingers. (NYC blushable cream stick - Big Apple Blush)

3) Get your face an all-over dewy glow with liquid highlighter! I applied to the tops of the cheekbones and all over the eyelids, as an eyeshadow. (elf Shimmering Facial Whip - Lilac Petal)

4) Curl the lashes and apply mascara, as always! (Sephora Lash Curler, Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara)

5) Finish off with tinted lip balm on the lips! (Wet N Wild lip balm in 104)

Hope this helped! Any requests, video or blog?

Love, Val

EOTD: Neutrals, Shimmer, Winged Liner

I absolutely love playing around with makeup to find new neutral combinations, and this was one I particularly liked so I thought I'd share!

primer
MAC Painterly Paint Pot

shadow
lid + inner corner: Physicians Formula Sunset Strip - 2nd shade down, a frosted pink/beige
crease/lower lash line: Urban Decay Smog - bronzey brown with satin finish
outer v: MAC Satin Taupe - grey/plum/brown with satin finish
blending out the crease: Clinique "No Show Taupes" Duo - darker, a matte medium neutral brown

liner
upper lash line and wing: Stila "stay all day" Waterproof Liquid Liner
tightline, between upper lashes: elf Cream Eyeliner - black

mascara

Revlon Grow Luscious - black

All for now! Would you like more EOTD posts?
Love, Val

Review: e.l.f. Blush & Bronzing Powder

This blush/bronzer duo was my first e.l.f. product ever, and well - it's responsible for my obsession today!

Color: The blush is a light, neutral pink; the bronzer is a warm brown.
Finish: The blush has large, visible shimmer - this is the only downfall to either product. The bronzer has small gold reflects, but I don't notice them on the face.
Texture: Really nice for the drugstore! Smooth and well pressed.
Payoff: Decent color payoff; just enough without being difficult to work with.
Wear: All day, as most cheek powders are for me.

Overall: If you don't mind a little glitter, this duo is wonderful for any makeup collection and definitely worth the price. The bronzer is my absolute favorite for summer, and the blush adds a pretty light pink glow!
To buy: The e.l.f. website or Target stores, $3.

**I've heard that the blush is a good dupe for Nars "Deep Throat" blush, and the bronzer for Nars "Laguna" bronzer. I don't own either, so I can't compare, but keep it in mind!

Hope you enjoyed the review!
Love, Val

May Faves!

For me, May has been a month of glowy, fresh skin with subtle eyes and coral lips. On to the faves!

FACE
Stila Tinted Moisturizer is an illuminating, glowy start to any makeup look. I love its barely-there coverage; just enough to even out the complexion.
I like to follow up with a tiny dot of Stila Perfecting Concealer, which covers blemishes and redness beautifully.
Atop the cheeks I apply Revlon Colorstay Brighten Finishing Powder for a sheer highlight - right above whatever blush or bronzer I wear that day.
EYES
I adore this $1 e.l.f. "Day 2 Night" Quad; the pigmentation is excellent and the colors are fab. I use the cream shade on my lid with the taupe brown blended through the crease.
LIPS
I like to finish off the look with Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef for a glossy coral finishing touch!

This is my 1st anniversary for my favorites posts! Read last May's here.
Have an excellent day!
Love, Val

Mila Kunis Makeup: SAG Awards

Today I have for you a makeup tutorial inspired by the gorgeous Mila Kunis. I'm sure all of you have followed her fashion, hair, and makeup choices from the awards season; she always looks stunning! Here's my take on her smokey yet simple Screen Actor's Guild Awards makeup look.

FACE
For that flawless matte skin, apply a thin layer of medium coverage liquid foundation, full coverage concealer under the eyes and on blemishes, and a light dusting of powder to set. (Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in "soft beige," Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in "3," MAC MSF Natural in "Medium Plus")

CHEEKS
Mila is wearing a subtle cheek color: a bit of bronzer on the backs of the cheekbones and temples, and a bit of peachy blush on the apples of the cheeks. Remember, the eyes should take the focus here! (e.l.f. Blush & Bronzing Powder)

EYES
1) If necessary, prep the eyes with eyeshadow primer and lightly fill in eyebrows. (MAC Painterly Paint Pot, matte brown from Revlon Coffee Bean quad)

2) Apply a shimmery, medium/dark taupe color to the eyelid. Blend slightly into the crease. (Taupe from e.l.f. "Day 2 Night" quad)

3) Pat a darker, matte brown into the outer corner. Blend upwards for that smoky effect.Take this time to apply more of the lid color to the lower lashline. (Matte brown from Revlon Coffee Bean quad)

4) Take a true black eyeliner pencil and line the upper lashline and waterline, all the way around. (Stila Kajal Liner in Onyx)

5) Finally, curl your lashes and apply lots of black mascara to the upper and lower lashes. No false lashes necessary; let the liner do the talking! (CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara in black)

LIPS
Keep it simple with a kiss of pink color, and a tiny dash of gloss! (e.l.f. Lip Stain in Birthday Suit)

DONE!

I hope you all enjoyed this makeup look!
Love, Val

P.S. SO sorry for being MIA recently! I got caught up in finals, potential summer work, volleyball, etc. I will have a lot more time come summer, aka in one week!

What's in my travel makeup bag?

Hey guys! Sorry it has been so long since I've posted, but I've been on a couple trips. Here's a quick peek into what makeup I brought with me. :)

MAC MSF Natural, Elf Blushing/Bronzing Duo, GloMinerals Blackberry Eyesahdow, Born Lippy Body Shop Lip Balm, Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer, Stila Kajal Onyx Eyeliner, Clinique Gentle Waterproof Mascara, Revlon Colorstay Blemish Concealer

Japonesque Travel Brush Set

Trina Makeup Bag

All for now! What are your travel beauty must haves?
Love, Val

March Favorites + Blog-iversary!

Hey girls! As is is already April, it's time for my March faves post. The month of March was another simple one for me. However, I do have some new products to mix in with some old faves. So here we go!

FACE:
Stila Perfecting Concealer - This is, yet again, a fave of mine. I PROMISE to review it soon!
NARS "Orgasm" blush -  A year later, I still enjoy this blush! It actually looks really pretty and natural, not too shimmery. I love the peachy/hot pink color.
Elf Blushing/Bronzing duo - This is my first elf product, and for $3, I am super impressed! The bronzer is perfect right now, as I am not yet tan enough to pull off my Hoola bronzer. Review?

EYES:
Clinique "No-Show Taupes" eyeshadow duo - I am completely in love with this duo. The colors, when used correctly, feign the look of a gorgeous natural eye shape. Love.
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in "Black" - I don't usually like eyeliner for every day but have gotten into it this month. I use a thin line on the upper lash line for a very subtle look.
Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara in "Black" - Another old fave of mine! It fans out lashes nicely without clumping.

LIPS:
Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in "Raspberry" - Feels like a lip balm, with a hint of color and shine.

That's all for my March faves! Oh, and Happy (belated) one-year Blog-iversary to me!! I seriously cannot believe it's been a whole year. Thank you so much for reading. I really appreciate all of you who have made blogging so fun for me.

Love, Val