The Hangover Facial

So let's get real. If you have a serious hangover you are not going to do this. Some days your are just bed bound until dinnertime-no shame, we've all been there but this little setup is not intended for those days.

Although on the days where you're feeling a little worse for the wear but have to get going anyway it is always a good idea to have a product lineup that gets things moving.

Let's do this one step at a time...

The Daily Glow

Nothing is more exciting than coming across a selection of base products that just...work. When you're all done applying it's exactly the way you want it to be and it's quick to get on.

As someone who doesn't try a lot of foundation type products all at once plunking down on a new one and having it work out is especially exciting.

The Spectrum: Navy

I have found a new neutral and it's taking over my collection. 

Navy is not, by any means, a ground breaking shade but ever since I got the Lorac Pro 2 Palette with that amazing matte navy I have been all over the color.

Now my two favorite ways to incorporate navy shades into my look have been eyes and nails. 

Multi Product Effect: Highlighting Blush

I feel like a pretty constant theme here on my blog is my weekday morning laziness when it comes to makeup. 

Now I am by far not alone in my desire to sleep as late as possible but still look good in the morning and, as a result I have accumulated quite a few products that create a multi-product effect on the skin.

For this edition I'm going to focus on the blushes in my stash that give a fresh glow to the face without the need of an additional highlight.

The Repurchase: Seche Vite (Always and Forever)

 As someone with an insatiable appetite for beauty it is uncommon that a product comes along that I repurchase religiously. In fact I don't think there is anything besides Seche Vite that has that rare honor in my collection.

Now this is not an item devoid of flaw but, you'd be hard pressed to find a nail aficionado without this in their stash.

The Summer Splurge!

 

 I bought stuff! I am pretty happy with this selection of things as I was a responsible(ish) adult about my purchases and my budget and bought things I had been really anxious to try for a while.

So please join me after the cut while I waffle on about all of the consuming I did this month.

About Face: Simply Complicated

It never eases to amaze me how many products can be employed in the achievement of the "no make up" made up face. Now clearly I am wearing lipstick in the above shots but I am loving all my new bits and really wanted to give them a test run.

I decided for a Sunday running errands in the neighborhood a plain, contoured face a naked eye and a bold lip and brow were the way to go.

I am LOVING my new foundation routine. I think a video might be in order on that account. This is a very face heavy face of the day and I started, as you do, by priming. First the eyes with Lorac Behind the Scenes and then the face with Becca's Ever-Matte formula.

 I tend to prime my whole eye area because I find eye primer products to be as helpful with concealers as they are with shadows. The Becca face primer is really in a class of itself. It leaves me smooth and matte looking for hours and I have never really encountered anything else like it.

I have been really reveling in the good skin since I finally invited Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua into my life for good. This foundation produces a finish on the skin that is so lovely you might need to see it to believe it. On top of the beautiful finish, when paired with the Becca primer, it feels like you have nothing on your skin.

The concealers are a bit of a classic duo, the Clinique Airbrush (RIP this one kicked the bucket this morning.) and the Nars Radiant Creamy. Layered together they make for a bright under eye that doesn't look over highlighted or caked on. This and the foundation went on with the aid of my trusty Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

After, I set all of the face products with my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. If I sing the praises of this stuff anymore you are all going to get sick of the tune and change the station. (It's still powder perfection though)

On the cheeks I just contoured with some of Illamasqua's Cream Pigment in Hollow and the Real Techniques Contour Brush. I skipped the blush to keep the color focus on the lip and opted for a strong highlight from theBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer instead. The cheek products from theBalm really are worth checking out if you ever find yourself near a counter. I find myself reaching for this or the Cindy Lou-Manizer almost every day. 

So the eyes. Almost nothing but just enough.

I used a push liner brush to get some of MAC's Typographic right up into the lashline for some added definition and volume. I popped some of my highlighter in the inner corner, curled my lashes (Japonesque...meh) and loaded up with YSL'a Faux Cils Shocking Mascara. The mascara is kind of to die for. It's nice to know that when a brand asks you to shell out $30 for a product you will have to ditch in 3 months anyway they really make it worth your while.

As a last minute addition to they eyes I popped some of Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Eyeliner in Nude on my lower waterline for an extra bit of the wide awake effect.

For brows I stuck with my day to day and ran a bit of the Hourglass Arch Sculpting Pencil in Medium Brunette through the brows and then set them with the Essence Clear Lash and Brow Gel. It's 3$ and I have never encountered a better brow gel.

And now...for the centerpiece we have Marc Jacobs Kiss Pop Lipcolor Stick in Headliner on the lips.

Not only is this a stellar matter lipstick formula but this product wears and faces like a champ. Through bao and some serious french fries I still had a damn near perfect pout. It didn't even transfer anywhere else on my face when I opened my huge mouth.

If you're in the market and you have the budget I highly recommend giving the Kiss Pop sticks a try.

So how did you paint your face today?

Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes 101

I go through phases with my eye makeup but, I typically wear more on my eyes in the colder months.

I'm not sure if it's an inherent tendency toward more makeup in general in the fall and winter but it tends to last longer and a more dramatic look just seems...more fitting with boots and a leather jacket than it does with shorts and Birkenstocks.

I also have a 7 a.m. fondness for single shadows but usually your dollars are better utilized by buying in bulk.

The Spectrum: Sunset Orange

With summer on it's last legs I thought it was time to feature a shade that worked well as a transition into fall. Being inherently warm and pumpkin-y all at the same time orange works perfectly going from August to September and, with this autumnal weather we've been having in New York lately it seems very appropriately timed. 

Let's start at the top.

On they eyes I don't have anything pure orange per se but, I do have some amazing shades that really warm up the eyes. First up is MAC's Tete-a-Tint. (apparently discontinued now? Check your CCO) This is the perfect peach-orange transition color. It creates a halo of warmth as you blend toward the browbone that I think flatters warm and cool shades alike. For a nice warm all over smokey look I have really been loving Milani's new Bella Eyes Eyeshadows in the shade Bella Copper. It is hugely metallic and a beautifully simple warm smokey eye. Copper shades tend to be up my alley anyway and this is a really nice option especially if you are on a budget. Apparently there is also a shade called Bella Mandarin which would also be beautiful but I currently do not have. (It's on the list).

My blush pick, while it's was limited edition shade has been made permanent. by MAC since it's initial release. Modern Mandarin is a true deep, slightly muted, orange blush. It mimics a freshly sunswept face and is suprisingly easy to wear.

On the lips are two very favorite shades of mine. The one that gets the most rotation is by far Make Up Forever's Rouge Artist Intense in number 40. It is a true tangerine orange shade and is surprisingly user friendly. The Rouge Artist Intense formula is pretty stellar satin to matte formula that lasts about 6 hours on the lips. A budget contender is Maybelline's Color Sensational Vivid in Vibrant Mandarin. This is slightly more red (read: slightly less intimidating) and a little bit more moisturizing and glossy on the lip. 

Now on to the tips. My favorite and by far the most flattering orange polish I have ever tried. Butter London's Silly Billy. It's a beautiful orange lollipop colored crelly finish that looks so dense and full on the nails. It is damn near orange perfection. If you feel like something a bit more peachy (and less than $15) look no further than OPI's Where did Suzi's Man-Go? A pale orange-peach shade makes this a more wearable and "office appropriate" shade for day to day wear.

Phew...that was a lot of stuff. I love incorporating warm orange tones into my looks and I think they are so much more flattering than most people give them credit for. If you're feeling a little more adventurous I would whole heartedly recommend you give them a try.

The Daily and the Drama

Sometimes people talk about a lipstick so much and so loudly that eventually you have to see what all the fuss is about. 

What can I say, I'm easily swayed.

The only other NARS lip product I had turned out to be terribly disappointing. (Pure Matte Lipstick in Terre De Fue. Don't do it!) 

These two on the other hand have been lovely.

The Best of the Basics

I am not generally a three product face girl but, some mornings sleep sounds way better than anything my vanity could ever give. 

I don't mind leaving the house bare faced at all but for work I like to at least look alive. 

The products I turn to on those days, the pinch hitters if you will, are the kinds of product worth spending money on.

Today we're taking a tour of the three things I need to make the most impact in my morning.

I Did That Thing Where I Buy More Marc Jacobs Products

There was really only one item from Marc-y Marc's line this time around that I had to have. 

Then I saw a little more.

 Then there was a point perk.

 Then I had three new things.

 Magic.

When the Points Matter

If you are a frequent beauty shopper you know that there are a plethora of rewards, points, and loyalty programs that stores are always clamoring for you to be a part of.

 I always sign up.

When it comes to the drugstore you really do save money by having the card but; when it comes to higher end retailers, often times feel like the rewards you get don't merit the money you spend.

Now is not one of those times.

When You Finish Things-12

 Don't you just love the feeling of finishing something? 

SO. GOOD. 

In my humble opinion it's even better when it's a body lotion, or a powder, or a serum or one of the other million beauty things that seem to last forever. As someone who is consistently looking for a reason to try something new, it's nice when you actually make space in your collection for new things. 

Wanna see what I finished? 

Check out life after the jump.

The Dresser Skincare Cut

I thought it might be fun to have a little snoop around another recently redecorated portion of my life space. I don't know if the idea of room or apartment tours are all that appealing to me but I like sharing decorations and organizations and the like.

As such...I have started keeping a lot of my skin care bits, apart from masks and cleansers, out in my room on my dresser because I remember to use them when they are right in front of me. I also think they look lovely and feminine when they are on display.

There are a lot of pictures up ahead.

You have been warned.

Makeup Bag: The Weekend Getaway

Something about Summer in New York just begs for weekends away. The smell, the heat and... the heat. I have been really taking the time to get out and give myself a break. 

I have also spent the last 2 months whittling down my makeup bag to, what I have decided, are my bare necessities. As I normally end up wearing makeup out of the city and then back in again and very rarely in between I think this is the perfect low maintenance face.

July Favorites 2014| TheUnanimousMolly

This is what I loved this month.

How about you?