Laura Mercier Midnight Caviar Eyeliner

I've been using Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Midnight for about a year now. For the first 4 months after I got it, I was certain it was black but wondered why they called it "midnight" ...

It's actually a really deep blue and it definitely almost looks black.

Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliners before activated looks like an eyeshadow, you can use it wet or dry but if you want the full color payoff, you will have to add water (about 2 drops) and work your brush into the product to create a paste like consistency.
I haven't used this in my waterline because I am as scared as a mouse to waterline my eyes, but, It stays on all day which in my case is around 14 hours.
I did have a hard time finding the perfect brush to use with this product, I'm not much of an angled brush user for eyeliners, I prefer using pointed eyeliner brushes in general and the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Liner Brush is perfect!

Once you get a hang of how to use this, you will LOVE it. 

So what do you think about this?

I really like the fact that you can control the texture and opacity that you want by either adding more or less water.

xoxo

Michelle

Becca Beach Tint in Papaya

Becca beach tints are sheer stains for the cheeks and lips, they can be layered for a bit more intensity but generally, they provide a very natural looking flush of color to the lips and cheeks.

With spring in the air, I felt Papaya to be an appropriate color for me, it's a very bright orange with a pinch of red. I placed a little dot of it on my cheeks and spread it out with a small stippling brush. I also dabbed a little on my lips and added a touch of clear gloss for added moisture.

The consistency is creamy but it's oil free, it blends into the skin and doesn't feel tacky at all which is probably because of it's water resistant nature that also helps it stay put of a good amount of time (around 8 hours)

Details on my face
Revlon colorstay foundation in Cappuccino
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in extra deep
Sephora eyeshadow in western leather
Laura Mercier caviar eyeliner in midnight
Givenchy noir couture mascara
Becca beach tint in papaya (cheek and lips)

For .24oz of product, you may fear this isn't going to last but all you need is a little.

What are some of your favorite Becca products?

xoxo

Michelle

Shh!! Library Beauty

(whispering)

Lets keep it real ladies and gents, we do feel the need to touch up at the library. On a library day, I spend at least 9 hours in there (true,true) and it's important for me to have touch up products for a few reasons listed below.

Evian facial spray, Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Glee, Lancome Dual Finish Powder Suede IV

As usual, I keep it simple...

A powder so that I don't look like a freshly fried plantain, a lipgloss so that my lips don't look like I've just eaten 7 large powdered donuts and a facial spray to make sure the powder is blended in nicely.

What are some of your library or daily beauty touch up essentials??

xoxo

Michelle

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light

The latest IT powder to turn the makeup world upside down is the new Ambient Lighting powders by Hourglass (10g $45). 

They come in 6 distinctive shade and they have been described to "recreate the most exquisitely flattering types of light" depending on your skintone and lighting desire.

These talc free powders are made to capture and diffuse light evenly onto the skin, they've been infused with soft focus technology to help blur imperfections like fine lines and pores. Hourglass uses photo luminescent technology which makes these powders transparent so that all you see is a "glow"

Lets talk Radiant Light, which is what I'm wearing and have been wearing non stop for close to a month.

Radiant Light is a warm golden beige. Remember, these are finishing powders but you can also use them in certain areas that you want to highlight especially if you have oily skin and like to stay away from the all over luminosity on the skin. I must say that these powders are very fine and soft.

I am wearing YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation reviewed here which provides luminosity on the skin already and I lightly dusted radiant light with Laura Mercier fan brush. You can also set your foundation with a setting powder first and finish with the ambient powder.

What I really love about radiant light is that it doesn't give that visible white cast on my darker skin, thanks to the photo luminescent technology :)

Along with the ambient powders is the ambient powder brush ($35) which is what I used until I figured out how I liked the look with the fan brush when I used it as a setting powder. This brush is very densely packed and made with high grade taklon bristles which is a synthetic alternative to animal hair brushes , you definitely have a lot of control especially when you are only highlighting certain areas on the face

So, breaking it down for ya! I use Laura Mercier fan brush when I use the powder as a finishing touch and I use the ambient powder brush when I only want to highlight certain areas in my face. 

Oh, and to make you drool even more, these ambient powders are free of paragons, talc, fragrance, nano-particles and gluten :)

You can't go wrong with these powders, I recommend going into a store and trying it on your face before making a decision as these aren't soo easy on the wallet :)

xoxo

Michelle

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Giveaway

                   

I love how blushes frame and brings color to the skin in seconds, it's like magic :).

Please share with me your favorite blushes.

There will be three winners and this is only open to US residents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

525 PR Makeup City

I was contacted by 525 PR Makeup City to try out some of their products. 525 PR Makeup City is currently in the process of creating a website but their online catalog can be viewed here

Lets talk about the La Vie En Rose - Blush in Antoinette, it's filled with color... a blend of deep berry colors and mauve tones creates a beautiful subtle flush of color and glow on the cheeks.

The eyeshadow to the left is called Cream Dust and to the right is called Satin Gold (my favorite), they both have the right amount of shimmer without being too glittery and they are very smooth, in the photos below I am wearing Satin Gold in my brow bone and the inner corner of my eye.

These products are super affordable, you can get access to some of 525 PR Makeup City on perfumeland.com , unfortunately, the blush and eyeshadows aren't available on perfumeland.

As Seen Through My Lens

Diptyque Volutes Eau De Toilette.

Happy New Year my loves.

xoxo

Michelle

Issey Miyake Pleats Please Eau De Toilette

Issey Miyake introduces Pleats Please Eau De Toilette.

This perfume is a harmonious blend of floral and fruity oriental scents with base notes of Patchouli, Vanilla, White Musk and Cedar, mid notes of Indole, Peony & Sweet Pea and top notes of Nashi.

This is my first experience with Issey Miyake's fragrances, a little birdie sneaked me a sample of this about a month ago and I impatiently looked out for the exclusive launch at Nordstrom.

It's very sweet when you spray it, might be extremely sweet to some but the dry down is my favorite part and what I look forward to.

The dry down is an Epitome of Femininity, a very beautiful sweet and soft floral scent that lingers for about 5 hours.

Most of the time, I tend to go for Eau De Parfum rather that Toilette because of the longevity differences... this may have to be one of the longest wearing EDT that I've tried.

It's the perfect day time fragrance and would work best during spring/summer seasons.

The packaging is gorgeous! and definitely mimics some idea of pleats in my opinion, but I feel like more could have been done with the print... its definitely lacking something there... (just saying...)

 side view of the packaging

Pleats Please is currently exclusive to Nordstrom and available in 1.6oz and 3.3oz bottles.

xoxo

Michelle