It’s pretty fun to be me right about now, I’m using products with some really innovative technologies that separate the marketing machine from the real deals in the industry. My expectations were not that high when I bought Clinique’s Lash Power Mascara, but after seeing their ad for it (too many times) and hearing the claim that it doesn… Read More…
A more traditional take on the smokey eye..
Start with a bare eye and a thick line, I used Bobbi’s Graphite Shimmer Ink Gel Liner.
Use a darker color from the lash line up to your eye’s natural crease, Jane Iredale’s Dusk shown. Using something with a shimmer is better, much easier to blend. Using a flat grey shadow, I smudged the liner upward… Read More…
Admittedly, glitter isn’t my thing. I’m all for glow, radiance, and a bit of shimmer, but chunks of glitter rarely make their way into my daily makeup routine. But, I’m a Makeup Artist so having something like the Glitter Cream Pallet from NYX in my kit, is just part of the job.
Let’s check out the one I bought recently, B… Read More…
A few new launches have caught my eye recently in a vast landscape of ‘more of the same.’ I haven’t tried either one, but I’m looking forward to checking out new innovations by two companies I’ve grown to really love.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare has a new Vitamin D Serum Oil $65 for those of us who are so good with sunscreen that the… Read More…
Intelligent Aesthetics is a well organized, well thought out, affordable skin are line featuring 6 different collections suited to every possible need. Balance was the collection I was able to try for oily skin which is packed full antioxidants, grapefruit, lemongrass, and other oil-busting goodies. The biggest difference I experienced was my mineral… Read More…
I’m now fully obsessed with Snapguide and just posted another how-to this time I made hummus using an easy recipe that tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant- just throw everything into a food processor and blend.
You’ll find the recipe HERE and can download the free app HERE.
Makeup and beauty tutorials for Snapguide coming soon!
Belle Nouveau, Laura Mercier’s Spring 2012 collection has some gems worth checking out – here are the highlights.
Nobody does creme shadows as well as they do, I use several in my kit as primers. They aren’t drying and for being so sheer they really lay down some beautiful color that holds onto powder shadows and prevents creasing. Their 3 new colors; Aqua, Grey, and Mauve give a sheer pop of fresh spring color to the lids in the same crease-free way.
Anything purple lights my fire and this light lavender polish is just what my boring pastel pink polish wardrobe needs to get my toes ready for spring.
Lavender Cloud Nail Lacquer $18
I always keep a body bronzer both in my kit and under my sink. Since I’m an SPF freak and inconsistent with self-tanner, I’m often dressing for something when I realize that I look like an extra from the Twilight movies. I mix a dab of body bronzer in with a body lotion or oil and get an even, instant tan that lasts until my next shower.
A friend turned me on to Snapguide and now I’m fully obsessed. It’s an app that allows you to post and gather mini pictorial guides on how to do just about anything from computer related things to cooking and anything in between. I made one last night as we assembled our paper lantern mobile for our nursery and it already has 366 views in less than 24 hours. It took just a few minutes to create (the guide that is) but best of all are the other guides that are so fun to look through. This is the next big app, I just know it. Check it out and follow me (Hooked on Beauty Carissa), then click HERE to see in just a few steps how we assembled our paper lantern mobile you see below.
Click HERE to see a gallery of non-surgical cosmetic facial procedures along with before and after shots from WebMD.com. I didn’t see a big difference in the chemical peel before and after photos, but I’m not a chemical peel fan since you can’t predict how far into the skin the chemicals will go – which can sometimes lead to burns. Scary! Microdermabrasion is another throw away treatment I think unless you do it pretty frequently in which case you should just get a PMD and get it over with. I’ve been looking into Thermage and want to try it on my lids! The before and after pic they have is just what I want, a little tightening without looking like a freak.
Anyway, it’s just fun to see how far technology has advanced and what we can improve without going under the knife even if it’s something (like me with Thermage, let’s face it..) you’ll never do.
Photo Credit: WebMD.com
I try not to get too complicated when it comes to my makeup routine, but I do make a few changes when the the weather starts to heat up. First to go are usually powder shadows that can look heavy or chalky in the sunshine. I’ve been using THIS Lid Last Shadow Pen ($18) from Pixi in place of my usual powder shadows and really loving it. It’s easy to swipe on and blend using only fingers and it stays on without creasing (I still use a primer and matte powder shadow first so it has something to grab onto.) The shade is perfect too, a shimmering champagne that’s just a step beyond having bare lids, but not a full on heavy shadow look – something else I avoid in the hotter months when flushy cheeks and pink and coral lips take over for winter’s defined eyes.
Catching Shadows Crayon in the shade ‘Beaming Reflection’
I think this particular shade is part of a limited collection so find it soon, HERE are the other colors available in the crayon.
