The Perfect Spring/Summer Makeup!

Hey guys!

I've been using some great beauty products lately so I thought I would recommend some of them to you. As it's getting warmer it's all about looking great in the sun! Here are some of my favorite beauty products that you can use for a great spring/summer look that keeps you looking fresh!

Ultraflesh Luminous High Shine Lip Gloss - $18
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P285814&categoryId=B10
This is a great no-stick lip gloss that is actually high shine, unlike some other cheap products out there! It gives you a quick and perfect shine on your lips! The quality is wonderful and it's long-lasting. Plus, it offers so many colors to choose from! For a light spring look, I would recommend a peach or light pink color. If you want to bring a burst of color into your look or really draw attention to your lips (maybe to just make them pop, or to draw attention away from something else!), go for a darker color, like a brighter red or pink. A maroon color would be perfect for more formal events, or for lighter winter dresses.

Sephora Collection Matifying Compact Foundation - $20
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P190025&categoryId=C108
This is such a great foundation to use. It has so many color choices that you can't possibly be unable to find one that fits your skin tone! It gives you an even, natural-looking finish, and it's great with oily skin (I heard this from others I know who've used it; I have dry skin myself). It's lightweight, easy to carry along, and it covers all your blemishes and definitely makes you look naturally flawless. It's not powdery and it doesn't look cakey when you wear it.

Sephora Collection Bronzer Powder SPF 15 - $10
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P185402&categoryId=S10854&shouldPaginate=true
Not only is this product a bronzer, it's also a sun protectant! Because I have more olive, darker-toned skin, I don't actually use a bronzer, but I've heard great things about this one. I hear it blends really well and gives a great natural look.

Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette - Ludwig - $34
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P211635&categoryId=S10501&shouldPaginate=true
This product is so wonderful! It offers 8 very earthy colors for your eyeshadow. I love colors that aren't flashy and that give you that sheer, finished look without looking overdone. This palette does just that. It has your browns/nude colors, greens, and a black, and all of the shades are truly wonderful. Not only is it easily portable, it's also really well-priced and gives a great blend. You can color-coordinate these to your outfit; if you're wearing green, then definitely work with a green eyeshadow. If you're wearing more metallic colors, put on a light (LIGHT, really) coating of the black shadow...and if you are wearing anything else (anything summery, fun, light, etc.) go for a nude or brown color! You can play with this palette to make your eyelids look darker or lighter, depending on your outfit, which is so great!

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - $18
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P133707&categoryId=S10505&shouldPaginate=true
This eye pencil is so versatile! It comes in so many shades, which is wonderful, and it lasts a long time. I can put this on in the morning, and it'll stay put and not run or look messy from the minute I put it on to the minute I take it off, in the late night/evening. It smudges really well to give you that smokier look, and it's also waterproof, which is good when you're going to a chick flick and you end up crying but don't want to look like a trainwreck coming out of the theater. :) Also, I've found that with other eyeliners they drag when you put them on, but this one doesn't do that; it comes off really smooth and almost sort of creamy. It's lovely! Try different colors in this. You may look at some of the colors, like the purples and greens, and think you'll never wear them...but they really do complement outfits if worn correctly. i.e. If you have a white outfit, a green eyeliner would look BEAUTIFUL. Likewise with a gold eyeliner for a black outfit, or a blue eyeliner for a blue outfit. :) Play with colors! Be bold! Sometimes, if you put on light-enough coatings, you can put on fun colors without looking too outrageous.

Buxom Buxom Lash - $18
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P228204&categoryId=S10510&shouldPaginate=true
This is a great mascara because it's free of a lot of the synthetic chemicals that are generally in makeup! It doesn't flake, like some other mascaras, which is wonderful, and it also gives you that sharp, defined, volumizing lash look. It doesn't lengthen your lashes TOO long, it's just long enough, and it doesn't clump your lashes, which is something I HATE in mascara. It's not waterproof, but that's a compromise for beautiful fuller lashes, right?! Just try not to cry. :) You don't have to spend the extra money to buy a primer with this one, though! It's easy to apply, and it holds all day.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer - $22
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P109935&categoryId=S10520&shouldPaginate=true
Now, I don't use concealer, so I'm not going to write too much because I don't want to pretend like I know a) how to use it and b) what kind of concealer is great. But, that being said, I figured some of you ladies love your concealers, so I asked around my friends to see which concealers they loved. This was by far the favorite, and the reviews on sephora.com agree! Everyone just told me it felt creamy and smooth and natural, which is, I guess, great! :) The only thing I've seen from the reviews is that it doesn't last very long (but that's not a hugely popular comment) and that the shades are a bit yellowy. I wouldn't know...sorry, gals...

Sephora Collection Blush Me! Mono - $12
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P182201&categoryId=C12181&shouldPaginate=true
Good blush can be REALLY expensive! That's why I love this little Sephora mono. It's not only cheap, it also works amazingly well! It comes in 8 shades that will give your cheeks the rosy or golden tint you desire. You get this beautiful natural look, and there's a bit of a shimmer/sheen to it that also lights up your face. It's an amazing product! In love! Lighter shades will give your face a more lit-up, spring/summer look. However, try darker shades if you have super pale skin (i.e. Northern European skin) to give it warmth.

Sephora Collection Maniac Long-Wearing Lipstick - $12
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P170102&categoryId=S10601&shouldPaginate=true
This lipstick by Sephora comes in so many great colors! The truly pink ones are so beautiful for spring! The darker ones are also gorgeous as well and can work wonderfully for dinner parties and the like. It's creamy and a bit shimmery, which is perfect, and it also really does last longer than the average lipstick!

Sephora Collection Nano Lip Liner - $5
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P236904&categoryId=S10610&shouldPaginate=true
I don't use lip liner often, so I won't pretend to be an expert on it. However...when I do, I use this one. It's so cheap it's incredible, and it comes in so many shades so that you can afford all of them. Coordinate the color with your lipstick or lip gloss color. Make sure that you use a shade that is almost exactly the same color as your lipstick or lip gloss. We don't want to see your lip liner, we just want it to be silent but defining. :)

And that's it for my tips for spring and summer makeup. Depending on the occasion you want to choose your colors right, but you should ALWAYS make sure that everything complements other colors you've picked. Be smart and look fabulous!

xoxo

Hello friends! / Forever 21 visit!

Hi guys! I haven't been around in a while and I apologize for that. Just been super busy lately! So sorry!

Anyways...
I DID go shopping at Forever 21 two weeks ago! It was a blast! I tried to find the pieces I bought on the online store so I could share them with you all, but I couldn't find them in the HUGE treasure trove that is www.forever21.com! :(

I bought two cozy, long-sleeved tops with gorgeous designs (one is cream and oatmeal striped and the other is cream with a black-gray flower image), a simple gray cami, a striped gray-black-and-white cardigan, and a pair of gray skinny jeans. People have been saying such wonderful things about my purchases! I love them and other people seem to love them, so it's a win-win!

All the clothes are so comfortable and stylish and I just feel great wearing them. They definitely boost my self-confidence and self-esteem because I feel AMAZING and on top of the WORLD and BEAUTIFUL wearing these clothes! I've never gotten to dress even moderately chic-ly before, and so to get to wear clothes like this...it's beyond anything I'd ever expected.

I love Forever 21! And this trip just signified and reinforced WHY! :)