Hello Fashion: beauty

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Beauty Loves & Cravings

I typically keep my lipstick and makeup pretty neutral toned. I love the soft pink shades for lips and the natural conturing for the face. Above are some of my favorite products and current cravings.

1. HAVE: YSL Rogue Volupte Lipstick - Lingerie Pink - The perfect soft pink lipstick. This is the color you see in 90% of my posts.

2. HAVE: Nars Turkish Delight Lipgloss - Hands down my favorite lip gloss. I wear it daily.

3. CRAVING: NARS Nail Polish - I love the shade of these two polishes (pink and nude). Nars always creates the perfect hues. I have a few of the their other polishes and the quality is better then the generic drug store polishes.

4. HAVE: Diptyque Baies - The price tag on these candles seems extreme but once you have one you won't go back. Even when the candle isn't lit you can smell its aroma. Jasmin is another favorite scent from their collection. I keep that one in my bathroom (it's more of a sweet scent) and Baies in my living room.

5. CRAVING: Sugar Zip Pouch - Top of my wish list. The color and simple classic shape of this pouch is perfection. A stylish place to store your makeup and lipsticks in your bag, or could also be used as a clutch.

6. CRAVING: Nars Countour Blush - I'm always looking for new contouring products. I've read great reviews about this one and just ordered it. Anxious to try it. Have you guys used it before?

7. HAVE: YSL Highlighter - 100% a must have for your makeup collection. Works great for dark bags under your eyes, or as a highlighter to define your brow or cheek bone. Use it everyday I wear makeup.

8. CRAVING: Bobbi Brown Eyelash Curler - I have been on the hunt for a good new eye lash curler. Another product I have read great reviews about, so hoping it lives up to the hype. I currently use their BB Cream and love it so I'm guessing I won't be disappointed.

I always try to coordinate my beauty stock up or when I try new products to when a store is offering free gifts. I love getting the samples and trying new products. Right now Barney's is offering a big gift with your $200 purchase of beauty products (includes cosmetics, perfume, home fragrance, and hair products). I just did a mini haul and picked up some of the above items along with a couple other favorites: these cotton pads (softest facial pads) and this lip scrub and lip treatment (great for exfoliating and softening lips).

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish • Fresh

Bobbi Brown Brightening Blush - Bronze • Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara - Black • Bobbi Brown

Lipstick Queen Let Them Eat Cake • Lipstick Queen

Givenchy Beauty Le Rouge Lipstick - Rose Dahlia 210 • Givenchy

Givenchy Beauty Shape Memorizing Blush • Givenchy

Fresh Sugar Lip Advanced Therapy • Fresh

Diptyque Jasmine Candle • Diptyque

La Mer Crème de la Mer • La Mer

XOX,

Christine

How to Highlight for a Natural Glow + an Airbrush Tutorial

Recently I had the opportunity to try out TEMPTU's airbrush system and I am completely obsessed. It gives such a natural even coverage to create that flawless photo finish look. Today I am excited to share with you guys a make up tutorial using highlights to create a "natural glow". I was inspired by Phillip Lim's iridescent texture at this S/S Runway show where he created the perfect translucent glow.

Today I am going to try and recreate some of my favorite elements from the look using an iridescent highlighter. To start you will want to pick a highlighter that is 1-2 shades lighter than your natural color. I choose TEMPTU's AIRpod Highlighter in Champagne. It is pretty light but I love the soft shimmer in the hue.

STEP 1: Lower Power

After you have applied your foundation and blush drop the power on the TEMPTU system to 2 or 3 o'clock. You will be applying the highlighter about 1 to 2 inches from your face, so you want the lower pressure so it doesn't get blotchy.

Step 2: Highlight

You will be highlighting five areas on your face to create definition and glow:

* Brows: Highlight below the brow bone along the hairs of your brow

* Corner of your Eye: Apply a small centimeter circle in the inner corners of your eye to attract light to your eyes

* Bridge of your Nose: Depending on the shape of your nose, will determine the width of the highlight. If you have a wider nose apply a thin straight line down the center of your bridge to slim the width. If you have a slim nose apply a wider highlight to exaggerate the width.

* Cheeks: Cheeks can be a 3 step process. After you have applied blush to the rose of your cheek, highlight above your blush from the rose to the outer corner of your eye almost creating a semi circle. If you want to accentuate the bone more and create depth apply a bronzer below the blush in the shadow of your cheek bone.

* Lips: We all love the look of a soft plump lip! Highlight around the outer rim on your lips before you apply liner and this will create light and volume. You can also apply a splash of highlight to the center of your bottom lip to create additional plumpness.

Step 3: Tada you are done!

The highlights will emphasize your features for a natural glow.

Do you TEMPTU? The TEMPTU airbrush system really makes highlighting so much easier and more professional looking. Right now you can click here to get a special discount on the starter kit.

Below is a basic breakdown on where to highlight:

For a more thorough tutorial on using the TEMPTU Airbrush System to create highlights see my how to video below:

[Video: Thanks to Tribe Federation]

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I'm happy to answer :)

Be sure to vote for my look on Fashion Indie for a chance to win an all expense paid trip to NYC for the ultimate beauty make-over.

Thanks for your support!

XOX,

Christine

Makeup Favorites

I love trying new beauty products. Make up is so different for everyone, but I wanted to share a couple of my favorites with you.

FACE:

Smashbox BB Cream / YSL Radiant Touch / Bobbi Brown Bronzer

The YSL Highlighter is a recent find and I'm obsessed. It's perfect for under your eyes and highlighting different areas around your face. I'm working on a "how to" on highlighting for various face shapes. If you are new to highlighting and contouring you will love it!

CHEEKS:

NARS "The Multiple" Stick (Orgasmic) / Stilla Color Pigment (Lyric)

I switch back and forth between the NARS Stick and the Stilla Pigment for blush depending on my color and mood. The Stilla Color Pigment is actually an eye shadow but I use it for both. It gives a bright fresh color that blends really well.

The NARS Stick is another multi use stick (lipstick, shadow, blush). I have recommended it to a couple friends and they were having troubles blending it, so a little tip, apply a swipe to your cheeks then use a blush brush to blend it in and smooth out color.

BROWS:

Anastasia Brow Wax / Brow Pencil (Brunette) / Brow Shadow (Dark Brown)

I came across this line a couple years ago and it is my favorite. All their brow products are the best. My brows have a hard time staying in place. I use the Brow Wax stick before I apply my brow pencil or shadow and it helps keep the little random hairs in place. The brow highlighter is another one of my favorites (didn't fit on my board :) I use it as an eyeliner as well as a highlighter. They also have great stencils have you have problems shaping your brows.

EYES:

Naked Urban Decay / Stilla Eyeliner / Estee Lauder Mascara

I keep my eye's pretty basic as far as shadows go. This matte palette has all the best shades to get that natural eye look.

The Stilla Eyeliner is another new find as well. I used to use a brush to get a more precise cat eye but I have fallen in love with this Stilla wand. It's easy to use and makes a straight crisp line.

I am so indecisive with mascaras. I switch these up pretty consistently. Right now I'm loving this Estee Lauder one. I mix it with a YSL sample mascara I got in a free gift. What mascaras do you use? I am always looking for new ones to try.

What are your favorite beauty products? Any of the ones above your faves too?

On a completely different note, I will be selling some of my clothes this weekend at ILY's Fashion Blogger Market. I would love to meet you! Also half the money from my sales will be donated to St. Jude's Children Hospital. Hope to see you there!

Breezy Flow + Scarf Head Wrap Tutorial

Ruffled Maxi Dress (old similar here & here) / Splendid Jersey Cardigan / ILY Crystal Necklace / Gigi New York Clutch c/o / Karen Walker Sunglasses

I have had quite a few emails and comments asking how I tie my head wraps (last seen here). So tada here it is! A little scarf wrap video. I would love to see how you guys wear your wraps, shoot me an email or tag me on Insta (@hellofashionblog) with your pics so I can see!

Healthy Skincare (my daily routine) + Pics from our Montana Vacay

It hasn't been until the last 2-3 years I have really started taking skincare seriously. My mom always told me I needed to earlier but I didn't think it was a big deal. I was the naive girl that always went to tanning beds, never wore SPF, and was to lazy to wash her face at night. Now as I get closer to 30 and the wrinkles are starting to show (grrr), I am playing make up trying to preserve and take care of my skin. Through trial and error. These have become my favorites.

1. Cleanse:

Philosophy Purity / Arcona Brightening Scrub / Clarisonic

I wash my face daily with a little Philosophy soap and a wash cloth. About every other day I use the Clarisonic to do a deep clean. I was using it daily for awhile but I found it made my skin a little dry so I switched to every other day. If you have never tried the Clarisonic you will be amazed. The first time you use it is my favorite, your skin is like five times softer, your make up goes on better, and over time you see a difference in your pores. There is also a more budget friendly version by Revlon. I have had both. They both work great, I do like the Clarisonic a little better, the brush is a little more powerful and larger, but they both do the trick.

Once a week I do an exfoliating scrub for a deep clean. I really like the Arcona line because all of their products are natural. The grit on this exfoliater has enough to deep clean but it's not to harsh on the face.

*Tip: Always wash your hands before you clean your face, and use a fresh wash cloth. Your face is only as clean as the hands that wash it, and towel that dries it :)

2. Tone:

Shiseido Cotton Wipes / Clinique Toner / Sephora Eye Makeup Remover

After I cleanse, I remove any excess makeup that didn't come off in the rinse. If I could rave about any product it would be the Shiseido wipes. I used to use the cheap round cotton pads from Walmart and Target and they were great, but once you try these you will never go back. It is a completely different level of softness. I have got all my friends hooked. (Tip: They sell out pretty quick in stores, so you may want to order online)

Toner is really important because it removes any excess residue left from cleansing, and helps restore the natural pH level in your skin. Clinique's toner also acts as a moisturizer. This has been a staple I have used for years. If I'm too lazy to do a full wash I just use a little toner and eye makeup remover.

3. Bronze & Moisturize:

Clarins Self Tanning / Arcona Magic Ice / Smashbox BB Cream

One of my best friends introduced me to the Clarins Self Tanner. It has become a life saver. Generally I tan pretty easy. I'm Colombian so color is in my blood, but for some reason my face always had the hardest time getting tan. I'm embarrassed to say it now, but I used to lather on the dark tanning oils, and tanning bed lotions doing everything I could to get color on my face (not smart!) I love this face tanner because it doesn't make you orange and it lasts a long time. I have had my first bottle for almost a year. I apply it about every other day before I apply my makeup.

A lot of people apply a moisturizer after they cleanse and tone. My skin gets a little too oily if I do a moisturizer and makeup, so in the morning when I'm getting ready for the day I use BB cream as my moisturizer and foundation. It has all the hydration and SPF you need blended into one. At night I use Arcona's Magic Ice as a hydrator. If you aren't ready to invest in the individual bottles, Arcona has a great starter kit (scrub, magic ice, toner, etc) with a step by step daily breakdown. This is what I used to get started when I first tried their products.

I am still on the hunt for a good eye cream. I have tried a couple different ones and nothing has really jumped out at me and worked great. If you have any tips on your favorite eye serums or wrinkle creams I would love to hear! What are your favorite beauty products? I always love trying new ones!

FOURTH OF JULY AT FLATHEAD

I apologize I was kind of MIA last week with the blog. We went up to Montana to spend the Fourth of July with my family at our cabin. Flathead lake is hands down one of my favorite places. Partially because I have so many childhood memories there, but overall it is just gorgeous. It's so fun taking the kids to places that were so special to you as a child and seeing them create their own new memories. I had little to no service up there so here are a few snap shots from our trip.

Also I had quite a few of you asking about this tee Baseball Tee and these Metallic Sandals from my Instagram pic, so here are the links. The tee is now on sale with an extra 30% off, such a good deal! (CODE: MWDEAL) I think I am going to get another color :) Hope you all had a great Fourth of July!

Make - Me - Up GIVEAWAY - CLOSED

Day to day I love to wear neutral shadows for a more natural look, but once in a while I like a pop of color. A thin line of neon eye shadow can totally pop your eye color. This fun eye shadow palette from Riesh has a rainbow of colors to match any ensemble.