Found At Sephora | Hooked On Beauty

Caudalíe Beauty Elixer

May 29, 2013 by carissa Leave a Comment

Caudalíe’s Beauty Elixer is one of those one-size-fits all things that becomes a cult classic by mostly word of mouth. It’s a refreshing spray that visibly perks up skin and gives makeup a second life.

I use it on a damp Beauty Blender sponge to blend and set foundation and concealer but I also spray it on skin right before makeup as a last step prep. Most women carry it in their bags and use it throughout the day in place of powder to keep makeup fresh without looking chalky or heavy. It has been praised for shrinking pores, calming redness and breakouts, and adding a fine layer of visible hydration. I just know that my client’s skin looks much better when I use it which is why I’m on my 4th bottle.

Filed Under: 'Green' Beauty, Found at Sephora, Multi Use, Professional Skincare, Tips and Tricks, Toner, Uncategorized

Things I Buy: Ole Henriksen

April 29, 2013 by carissa Leave a Comment

When I was pregnant one of the first things I did was switch out my skincare. Goodbye Retin A and all the other hardcore products that keep my face properly sanded down and presentable. See ya later good skin- or so I thought. After some research I found that AHA’s, lactic acid, and a most natural exfoliating ingredients were safe to use so I looked into Ole Henriksen, a brand I’d been sent to review in the past and always really liked. I remembered their natural-yet-effective spin on skincare so I bought Sheer Transformation for a light moisturizer that would also aid in keeping dark spots away. (Sidebar: there’s no stopping that melasma when it comes on, you just have to wait until after the baby is born to tackle it and let it fade out on its own.)

Fast forward to today when I’m out of nearly everything and need to actually buy things because all of the samples on my desk are for skin types unlike my own. I remembered how much I loved my Ole Henriksen so I headed into Sephora to grab another Sheer Transformation. I had also read great reviews on their Walnut Complexion Scrub ($24) which I tried first on my hand- it’s gritty but not too chunky and foams up so I grabbed a jar of that too. I’ve also wanted to try the Invigorating Night Gel ($45) which is a big fave among Sephora reviewers for keeping pores cleaned out and skin really clear and bright. My Sephora bonus gift was Ole too! Small sized Truth Serum Collagen Booster, Ultimate Lift Eye Gel, Sheer Transformation, and Invigorating Night Gel.

I’m always excited to try some new skincare especially when I already know I’ll love it.

Check out the line HERE at Sephora.com.

In my car after Sephora- the car is parked of course..

Filed Under: 'Green' Beauty, Acne, Anti-Aging, Antioxidants, Found at Sephora, Ole Henriksen, Pregnancy

Makeup Before and After: Coverage and Color From tarte

March 12, 2013 by carissa Leave a Comment

Of all the BB Creams I’ve tried so far, tarte’s is the only one I’d be able to actually use in my kit. Most BB’s are skin-enhancing, so they give some coverage but not nearly enough to get skin looking great for a long day and tons of photographs. Kelly, is the bride below whose trial run for her upcoming wedding I photographed for a before and after. I used tarte’s latest foundation on her and we were both thrilled with the results. Her skin looked so great that very little concealer was needed and it looked invisible both in person and on camera.

On her cheeks I used tarte’s airblush maracuja blush, which is my new go-to for an easy flush, and then their LipSurgence lip luster on her lips for a finished look that isn’t thick or heavy.

Before…

… And After! There was a slight change in the natural lighting, but the photo isn’t re-touched at all.

tarte bb cream

tarte airblush maracuja blush

tarte LipSurgence lip luster in achiote

Filed Under: BB Cream, Before and After, Cheeks, Found at Sephora, Foundation, Lips, Makeup I Did, Photos, Tarte, Wedding Makeup

Easiest Blush to Apply: tarte’s Airblush

March 2, 2013 by carissa Leave a Comment

Forget eyeliner, I think the most difficult thing to apply is blush. Take a gander around your office and you’ll see women with heavy, streaky, or under-colored cheeks. It’s hard to nail the perfect flush. Technique accounts for a lot, sure, but so does the right blush. I’ve been using tarte’s Airblush Maracuja Blush for a few weeks now and I’m so impressed. It’s one of the easiest cheek colors to apply because of its consistency- not a powder but not overly creamy. You can use your fingers, but I use just a regular blush brush that captures and disburses the color softly and evenly. Don’t let the bold looking shades fool you either, they’re so sheer and buildable that you can pile on the color without overdoing it.

tarte airblush maracuja blush

Filed Under: Best Of, Cheeks, Found at Sephora, Tarte

This Week in Pictures and MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Finish Powder Foundation

January 23, 2013 by carissa Leave a Comment

My week in a nutshell:

Mike gave me flowers for no reason.

Lance said a bunch of unsurprising things to Oprah.

The baby made wee little stand-ups with some help from daddy.

I captured just the perfect pic of Harper mid breakfast. She sure loves her meal times.

And I got my hair done. Very important stuff when you don’t go as often as you should/ did.

We took just the sweetest pic of Harper at the aquarium in an old diving suit. I swear she poses for pictures now.

And I found a power foundation that trumps all.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation was a pleasant surprise. It’s what mineral makeup and MAC Studio Fix want to be but fall short. It’s perfect coverage without a chalky finish – a powder that thinks like a cream. For me, it has been the easiest, quickest way to get perfect looking skin with the sweep of a brush (you can also use it wet with the included sponge.) It’s so good, I can’t wait to order a palette for my kit to finish faces. It has replaced a years-long run I had using Jane Iredale’s mineral powder foundation. Pro Finish disappears into my skin making it look so much better using just a little bit. I had a laser treatment today that left my skin scorching red after, but Pro Finish easily disguised the redness so well and without any irritation at all. If you’re looking for quick, complete coverage check it out next time you’re at Sephora and let me know what you think!

Filed Under: Baby, Best Of, Found at Sephora, Foundation, Make Up For Ever, My Life, Powder

Too Faced Primed and Poreless Bronze

January 10, 2013 by carissa 1 Comment

I’m so pale lately. Ok, I’m always pale. I don’t tan and wear SPF every single day of the year but I dunno, I’m just feeling a little lackluster like my skin needs a boost. I see photos of myself and I’m all ‘What’s up Casper?’ See, here I am with Harper chillin on the floor the other day. Maybe I’m not crazy ghost face, but a little color wouldn’t hurt.

The problem though is that when I use a bronzer it sometimes looks way too obvious because of the difference in my light skin and the bronzing powder. Too Faced has a bronzing primer that I haven’t tried, but they’re known for their bronzers so I might give it a shot. Since I’m not using foundation every day anyway, a little boost of bronze in a primer shouldn’t be too heavy so it might be all I need to wake up my skin and give it some glow. Just keep in mind if you’re going to try a liquid bronzer that you might need to also use a little on your neck to keep the look consistent.