Strobing – the new highlighting?

July 27, 2015July 27, 2015 ~ steframos15 ~ 1 Comment

Strobing is the new makeup technique buzzing in the makeup world this summer. Strobing is basically highlighting and skipping the contour. To me, this technique was nothing new because I was never a contour type of girl. And although I think strobing is really just a fancy word for highlighting – I thought I would share my favorite products that give me that “strobed” glow factor.

My first tried and true highlighting product is theBalm Mary Lou Manizer. This is a light champagne shimmer powder that gives the most beautiful glow. Not only can this product be used on the face but it also makes for a beautiful eye shadow. It gives a gorgeous glow without chunks of glitter.

My second go-to product is a liquid highlighter that I just recently discovered – the L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator in the shade Golden. I was skeptical about this product at first because it was a little darker than my skin tone, but once applied to my face it instantly gave me a perfect “just back from vacation” bronze. It can be mixed in with your foundation for an all over bronze glow, or it can be layered on top of your foundation for a more precise highlight.

And if you want an even more intense strobing look , putting a powder on top of a liquid highlighter really brings it up a notch. You will be giving J. Lo’s signature glow a run for its money, I promise.

Although I’m not 100% buying into the hype that strobing is anything new and exciting, I do love what it stands for. I love to hear that people are highlighting their natural features more and opting for a healthier look by skipping the ridiculous chiseled cheek bones.

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer $24 @ BeautyBridge
L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator $12.99 @Walgreens

TOM FORD VS. Revlon ?!

July 21, 2015March 10, 2016 ~ steframos15 ~ 2 Comments

Over the last couple weeks I have been putting two lip glosses to the test from two extremely different brands. The TOM FORD Ultra Shine lip gloss is very luxurious and in my opinion quite expensive for a lip gloss, so I wanted to see if it was truly worth it.

As soon as I applied the TOM FORD lip gloss to my lips, I knew I had something just like it in my collection. The lip gloss applied very well- no stickiness , just enough pigment and it felt hydrating on the lips – but, it didn’t change my life. For the price, I was expecting this lip gloss to rock my world and instead I found a much cheaper dupe.

The Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss has the exact same effect as the TOM FORD lip gloss. It isn’t sticky, has nice pigment and feels amazing on the lips (and it even lasts longer on the lips than Tom Ford).

I had high expectations for the TOM FORD lip gloss because of the brand name and price. I figured it had to be good – it’s a $46 lip gloss, right?! Kind of.

It’s good, but I found just as good for a far better price.

So, I say save your money lip gloss lovers. Revlon Super Lustrous easily wins this lip gloss showdown.

TOM FORD Ultra Shine found @ Bloomingdale’s $46.00
Revlon Super Lustrous found @ Walgreens $8.29

Beauty Blender VS. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

July 14, 2015March 10, 2016 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

We all have heard the praises that the Beauty Blender gets in the beauty community. It is supposed to be the “miracle sponge that can do it all”. Well I gave in and purchased this $20 sponge and I will admit -yes it is amazing, but it is a $20 sponge. I was determined to find something cheaper that works just as well.

After doing some research I found a lot of companies out there with their own versions of the Beauty Blender. I thought to myself there must be something cheaper. I mean it’s just a sponge right?

So, I went out and purchased the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. After giving this sponge a try for about a month now I have realized that I’ll pay the money for the Beauty Blender sponge because nothing compares.

The Beauty Blender blends my makeup beautifully and leaves my skin with no streaks, hydrated and flawless. Not only does it blend out foundation but it can be used for concealer , cream blushes or bronzers and for powder products.

So to give the Real Techniques Sponge a fair shot, I used it the same way I would use my Beauty Blender. I put it under water and squeezed all the excess out. Immediately I could tell a difference on how much water the Real Techniques Sponge held on to. It was harder and did not have the same elasticity as the Beauty Blender. As I used the Real Techniques sponge to blend out my foundation I noticed it was taking away product from my face and that just didn’t cut it for me.

Bottom line the Beauty Blender wins this showdown in my book. Yes I know it’s a $20 sponge but it works miracles.

Beauty Blender $19.95 @ Sephora
Real Technquies Miracle Complexion Sponge $5.99 @ Ulta

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

July 9, 2015March 26, 2018 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

As the summer days are getting hotter I need a powder that is going to keep my oil at bay but not make me look cakey. My search ended when I came across MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

This powder is the most light weight powder I have tried so far. It sets my makeup perfectly and makes it look like my skin. Most powders are visual on top of the skin but the Skinfinish Natural looks just like it says , natural. If you’re looking for a powder to keep your makeup on during these long hot summer days and nights check out the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish line you wont regret it!

$32 @ Nordstrom

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

June 16, 2015March 10, 2016 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

Hello beautiful, clean summer skin!
I have always been a fan of the Simple Skin Care line because of how well they work with my sensitive skin. This new cleansing water is nothing different.

The Simple micellar cleansing water can be used as a cleanser to take off your makeup and a toner if you take your makeup off with another product. I have used many other toners and cleansers but they usually dry my skin out or burn my eyes when i try to take off my eye line or mascara. This cleansing water is very gentle and leaves my skin clean, hydrated and fresh.

Available @Amazaon 5.97$ + Free shipping

Dupe Alert!

May 28, 2015March 2, 2016 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

We all love a good dupe don’t we, especially when they help us save money right?!
I have been using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz for my eyebrows for about 6 months now and it is amazing but something better and cheaper has come along.

The makeup brand NYX came out with their own micro brow pencil and i honestly cannot tell a difference between the two.

NYX is a drug store brand and can be found at CVS and Ulta and is half the price of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and you come out with he same results! Both have a spoolie on one side and a retractable pencil on the other and the product feels the same!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
$18.90 @Nordstrom

NYX Micro Brow Pencil $9.99 @Ulta

It Cosmetics Build-A-Brow

February 24, 2015March 2, 2016 ~ steframos15 ~ 2 Comments

The new It Cosmetics Build-A-Brow Waterproof 5-In-1 Micro-Fiber Crème Stain has been on my eyebrows daily. This is a pomade product used to fill in and shape your eyebrows. I naturally have very dark brows so i am careful with what products i used so i don’t have too intense looking brows.

This product fills them in very naturally and too harsh + does not budge .
It comes in 5 different shades , i use the color universal taupe which isn’t too ashy or too warm. I apply this with the It cosmetics build a brow brush but any angled brush will work!

This pomade has changed my eyebrow life.
It Cosmetics Build-A-Brow $24 @Ulta

What eyebrow products changed your life?
xoxox

Winter Skin Care -Moisture Takeover

January 13, 2015July 21, 2015 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

I have fairly normal to dry skin all year-long but once winter hits my dry skin goes into full effect.I also have sensitive skin that can be pron to break outs , so when i say something is working for my skin that means it is fighting all the battles. I was always a one moisturizer type of girl whatever i used in the morning, i used at night. But the day i decided to switch it up-my skin changed forever.

In the morning i use the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over. This is a gel based moisturizer that leaves my skin feeling so hydrated all day long.

For the night time i use the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream. This was given to me by my sister in law and i have fallen in love. It is a thicker cream formula that sinks into your skin while you’re sleeping and when you wake up your skin still feels firm and moisturized.

Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over $14.99 @Target

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream. $38 @Dillards

These two products are keeping my skin happy during winter, what are some of your favorite skin care products for these cold months?!

Coconut Oil is the answer for dry + damaged hair

November 7, 2014March 26, 2018 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

The answer is Coconut Oil my friends. I recently was having a hard time with dry and damaged hair and being that I am away at school , I don’t have the time or money to get a haircut. I did some research on YouTube + Pinterest to find some quick solutions.

I instantly found many articles talking about coconut oil. I had already used coconut oil for my skin to help with dry patches so i figured it must also nourish dry hair. I personally purchased the organic brand and it is a solid at first but has it warms in your hand it turns into an oil.

I first began to get my hair damped then took a decent amount of the oil and distributed it all over my hair from roots to end, put a shower cap on for about 30 minutes and then took a shower and washed my hair as usual.

The results were amazing. I could feel how much softer and smoother my hair was while i was blow drying it + shiny! I highly recommend this if you’re looking to amp up the life of your hair. It’s an inexpensive and natural way with amazing results fast.

Coconut Oil 14.99 @Vitamin World

Nars Sheer Glow

November 4, 2014March 26, 2018 ~ steframos15 ~ Leave a comment

Okay ladies im gonna keep it real for a second.. I have some pretty dry skin and as the months get colder and the holidays start rolling in the struggle of finding that perfect foundation gets harder and harder. But fear no more I have found it.

I recently heard of the Nars Sheer Glow foundation on YouTube and it had fantastic reviews but the price tag was a little hard for me to adjust too. So I went to my local Sephora store to pick up a sample not once , but twice. That is how good this foundation is. It has amazing coverage and is very build-able and it truly feels and looks like your skin.

It has a beautiful glowing from within finish and does not bother my sensitive skin – im obsessed. If you are a dry skin girl like me pick up this foundation and try it our for yourself I promise you wont be disappointed!

Nars Sheer Glow $45 @Bloomingdales