Beauty Product Reviews

A powerhouse red.

This is *the* glossy red you were searching for. A true red leaning slightly blue. Intensely packed pigment and a rich, smooth texture with incredible staying power for a gloss. I'm more of a lip balm/matte lipstick kinda girl, but when I need a glassy lacquer I reach for these first.

Amazing, Gentle, And a Divine Scent

Have you ever smelled a ripe box of strawberries? That fresh-from-the orchard, clean yet fruity aroma that doesn't overpower your senses with sugar? Mmmm, I never thought I'd love sniffing a cleanser, but Indie's is the exception. The gel formula has a handful of ingredients, including strawberry oil—which I didn't know even existed until seeing it written on the bottle.

Scent-sation aside, it's a great cleanser for those with normal or sensitive skin (I am of the latter camp). I pump it twice onto my Clarisonic brush and swirl away. Little to no sudsing (that's good!), and my skin feels clean and refreshed without that tight effect many gel-based formulas seem to produce. I wouldn't count on this sucker to take off eye makeup (I leave that to cleansing oils), but it's a staple basic to have on hand.

And that scent.

The best of the best.

I've tried my fair share of dry shampoos. Some leave a streaky mess, others leave my roots waxy, and locks oilier than before! I know—it's a splurge. But I'm telling you, Oribe's Dry Texturizing spray is cult-loved for a reason. It's amazing! It gives my fine hair body and bounce without that weird chalky feeling in my roots. Plus, it smells awesome and the can will last you ages. Win!

A base coat for the natural nail lover.

What more can be said? butter LONDON's Nail Foundation really does act like base makeup for your fingers. I love it! One coat gives a solid, slight tint of beige, and dries within 30 seconds. The lacquer smooths out ridges and makes a great base for any color to be applied above. That said, I love the semi-matte finish it dries to, and often wear it on its own for a "your-nails-but-better" finish.

One of my favorite highlighters.

I absolutely love everything this highlighter does for my face. My skin naturally radiates when I apply this on my cheek bones, brow bone, on the bridge of my nose, and especially over my cupid's lip. I'm pretty pale, so this champagne shade will work on every complexion. The only downside is the packaging. It's a bit too bulky and I never use the blending sponge it came with—my fingers work just as well. Otherwise, a solid product.

A staple in my routine.

I don't know what I'd do without Dermalogica's Cleansing Oil! It quickly washes away even the most waterproof of beauty products. I never have to pull or tug on my face, and the apricot kernel oil does amazing things for my super-sensitive skin. I love to mix it with a coconut milk cleanser for a perfect cold weather cleanse.

ME 550 Green

Shu Uemura eyeshadows are outstanding and their quality is one of the highest I've ever seen in a brand. ME 550 Green, a metallic shimmering medium green, has a remarkable texture and a stunning vibrancy. Since this is such a powerful shade, I wear this with mostly neutral shadows, letting the green stand out. In the pic, I am wearing it with a sheer opalescent white gold shadow in the crease and smudged on the lower lashline. It makes the green bits in my eyes come alive! See below for more details on why I love Shu Uemura eye shadow.

M 860 Brown

I absolutely love Shu Uemura eye shadows. Their texture is silky and the colors are incredibly unique! I also love the unique aesthetic and packaging of Shu Uemura products; the clear lucite geometry makes it easy for to see color variations and line them up! M Brown 860 is a deep matte plummy brown shade that perfectly accents my brown eyes. It can be smoked out with a tapered blending brush, or used as a soft eye liner with a thin angled brush. In the pic I'm wearing it in the crease and smudged over black eyeliner. The only caveat I have is the price; they are expensive at $20. However, the price still doesn't deter me from wanting them any less. Come back to the US, Shu!

Byzantine

Becca 'Byzantine' Cream Blush is a gilded bronze-peach shade....perfect for warm complexions in the summer time!! For cool toned skin, it might turn orangey on your instead of the lovely sun-kissed glow it should have. On my fair skin with peachy undertones, it was slightly too warm, but if you have a warm skintone, go for it! Their cream blush has a fabulous texture and it stays on for a while. I have normal/combo skin so the texture is perfect for my drier cheeks

Frangipani

Frangipani is a very complex color. I'd describe it as a rosey shade with bronze undertones and subtle cool toned shimmer! Weird....right? It showed up as a gorgeous flush on my fair skin with peachy undertones. The Becca Cream Blush formula is very silky (not as creamy or light as their lip/cheek creme but still a divine texture). It's a very wearable shade, I just personally prefer non shimmery blushes. For those that love a rosey bronze glow for summer, this is your perfect choice!