Category: eyes

My Two Favorite Eye Makeup Products

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Yesterday, I received a restock of my favorite eye makeup products – a liner and mascara. It dawned on me that I hadn’t shared them here in a while (or together). So when you find a perfect “recipe” for easy and defined, everyday eyes, it needs to be shared!

I fell hard for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty ‘The Volume’ Mascara but then got distracted trying out other brands. After a series of disappointment (and even several weeks skipping mascara all together) I remembered my old favorite. I was so sick of fallout and this is the only one that stays on all day. This smaller brush is nimble and works well getting volume and pigment on all lashes.

I’ve been hanging on to the last bit of my Trish McEvoy Lash Enhancing Liquid Liner Pen – it was embarrassingly old. But I still loved it. Imagine how stoked I was when I used my fresh one this morning and the pigment and ink were brighter and bolder with my trusty formula. (note to self: replace old products more frequently!) Add in that the formula can improve the length and fullness of lashes in only 15 days, and I call that a dream eyeliner.

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Brand Spotlight: Wander Beauty

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I promise it isn’t because we share the same first name (Lindsay) and she spells it correctly 🙂 . But model Lindsay Ellingson got it right when she founded Wander Beauty. Inspired by her globe-trotting travel lifestyle, this luxury cosmetics line is a gift for the face (and morning routine). The products perform all while being cruelty-free.

I’ve absolutely have loved the On-the-Glow Blush and Illuminator (reviewed here) so I jumped at the chance to try Wander Beauty’s new Flash Focus Hydrating Foundation Stick. I have been on a tinted moisturizer kick but was looking for a little more coverage (thanks, three week cold/cough) and this fit the bill with its buildable coverage. I love the conditioning formula as it layers on my dry skin. I’ve been wearing Medium which might just be my most perfect foundation match yet.

In my morning routine, I’ve been skipping eyeshadow and using this multi-tasking palette from NARS to save time. But when I came across Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow, I made time for a little shadow. Kudos to Wander Beauty for coming up with a cushioning eye shadow that actually feels good to put on. The silky liquid stays on a gives just a wash of color. You can also layer for a more dramatic look.

I admit, I am a bronzing addict, but I am really working on backing off the golden stuff. And Wanderess Cheek Tint makes it easy. This liquid is definitely subtle, but it wakes up my complexion just enough. This natural-shaded tint contains serum to enrich skin. And the golden glow is perfect for sallow skin. The formula contains hyaluronic acid and humectants to plump and hydrate skin.

Available at Wander Beauty.

NARSissist L’amour Toujours Eyeshadow Palette

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While I haven’t splurged on much new makeup this holiday season, looks like things might turn around for spring. Because I’ve been taking a sneak peek at the new NARS Spring and the seasonal shades are just perfect. First up is an epic palette full of shadows that are delectable. Just to tell you how much I love it, I have moved all other palettes out of my makeup drawer to make space for this all-in-one beauty.

I have been a long-time fan of NARS eyeshadows (the Kalahari duo is my all time favorite). This palette has equally must-have shades for a wide variety of looks. While technically these are a mix of matte and shimmer, I find them balanced making them wearable. My favorites – not surprisingly – are the larger sized neutrals.

Along the top row:

I – Cream Bisque
II – Shimmering Pink Sand
III – Amethyst Ash
IV – Black Truffle (great as a liner)

And the smaller pots:

V – Golden Starlight (made me realize how wearable gold shades are!)
VI – Sunburst Copper
VII – Café Au Lait (beautiful coffee shimmer neutral)
VIII – Pistol Grey
IX – Industrial Steel
X – Regal Blue
XI – Shimmering Taupe Cashmere (a slightly darker neutral crease)
XII – Shimmering Liquorice (an evening liner option)

NARSissist L’Amour Toujours L’Amour Eyeshadow Palette is available on NARSCosmetic.com and at NARS boutiques today and at specialty stores on February 1st, 2016. Also keep an eye out for the NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette  available exclusively at Sephora on February 1st, 2016 (review to come next month).

Stowaway Cosmetics

Stowaway Cosmetics on Belle Belle Beauty

While I’ve had my eye on Stowaway Cosmetics for a couple months, looks like I picked the perfect time to dive in. Absolutely love their sets for gifting. First, their daily essentials have chic, smaller and minimalist packaging. My favorite part is that you can actually finish the products before they go bad. No more crusty mascara and dried out BB cream. The sizes are perfect for travel, but also neat and tidy for the vanity.

You can purchase Stowaway individual products, but the easiest way to try (or gift) the brand are the kits.  For $75 you can customize a kit containing:

  • Radiant Complexion BB Cream
  • Creaseless Concealer
  • Cheek & Lip Rouge
  • Creme Lipstick
  • Effortless Eyeliner
  • Defined Lash Mascara

A little about the individual products:

Radiant Complexion BB Cream: This is truly a balm that has a balanced coverage – not too sheer but doesn’t cake on. I love the way my skin feels plump and moisturized.

Creaseless Concealer: I really get nice coverage with this concentrated concealer. It doesn’t crease in my under eye and covered redness around my nose very well.

(a note about these – I purchased a light and it was ideal on my winter skin town. So I would say the shades are slightly on the darker side as I usually wear a light-medium)

Cheek & Lip Rouge: This dual-tasking compact has a smooth formula and offers my desired sheer wash of color. You can also build it up for a stronger impact. The finish is matte. I absolutely adore the shade Burnt Rose with its slight bronzing effect.

Creme Lipstick: I’m not much of a lipstick wearer but this cream, long-wearing formula makes it fool-proof with just one swipe. And my lips stay hydrated. I also love applying just a wash of color with my finger.

Effortless Eyeliner: This tiny eyeliner is a true standout. The q-tip sized pen glides on and stays(I’m using the inky Black)

Defined Lash Mascara: Also a tiny tube, it manages to house a generous, fluffy brush. The fibers can build impactful lashes. And it holds up all day with no flaking.

For the holidays, along with the kits I am also loving the gift guide with sets ready for under the tree like “Your Sister”, “Secret Santa” and “Frequent Flyer”.

Made in the USA. Available at www.StowawayCosmetics.com.

skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels

skin ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels on Belle Belle Beauty

I just completed one of the most exhausting and draining weeks of my professional life. And it was great. Fun, educational and adventurous. But the exhaustion showed and my under eyes were a mess. Thank goodness I had skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels on hand.

I had a dry and wrinkled mess AND puffiness on top of that… lovely. But these cooling gel patches nourished the skin and brightened and firmed. The skin was soothed and rejuvenated. Elastin restores tone, ginkgo biloba leaf improves blood flow, and Coenzyme Q10 combats premature aging with free radicals.

I’m not alone either:

Like a caffeine jolt to the face, they top my list as a must-have beauty necessity… achieving the effect of an instant eye lift in minutes! Perfectly sized for on-the-go! 

I keep mine on for the recommended ten minutes. They are easy to wear and remarkably effective. At $30 for eight pair, they aren’t a bad deal either! Cruelty-free and vegan. Available at Ulta and Amazon.

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Easy & Healthy Glow

Napa Valley on Belle Belle Beauty

I’m fresh off a fabulous trip to Napa Valley which I also like to call my “Happy Place”. There is literally no other place I’d rather be. While a part of it is wonderful wine, I am just as invigorated by great produce, long walks through the vineyards, delicious coffee and (most importantly) seeing my dear and wonderful friends.

While I was out there, I took a break from work-week makeup and went for a fresh and healthy glow. Just a tad of product to even out my skin, some color on the cheeks and a swath of mascara. Here are the products I turned to:

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation – With the warm and dry heat, my skin needed a serious dose of moisture and this barely tinted foundation provided just that. The formula is 60% water and 10% mineral pigments in botanical oil. These pigments work to reflect light for a natural luminous finish.

Tata Harper Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tint – Although Tata is from the East Coat, the Napa Valley reflects a lot of what she’s about: natural products, botanicals and a natural look. I use Very Vivacious as a cheek tint for just a hint of flush that wakes up my complexion.

Maybelline Full ‘N Soft Waterproof Mascara in Very Black – This is the only waterproof mascara that I use and I love that I can refresh my stash frequently because it is so affordable. There is nothing worse than a dried out waterproof mascara. The formula lends to full but still soft lashes that aren’t stiff. And there are no worries about messy fallout during hotter or more active days.

This post is inspired (but not sponsored by) Glossier. Another favorite for a healthy glow is their Perfecting Skin Tint which offers just a wash of color and is perfect for those with oilier skin.

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