Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Cream Foundation

Guerlain is one of those brands that I don't buy from often. Obviously if I could afford it I would own all there products, but seeing as I how I was not blessed with a wealth of riches I can only pick them up on special occasions. However, I was feeling rather impulsive today and thought I might as well spoil myself a wee bit.

I was running low on foundation yet again and I always make sure to have some type of foundation handy, due to my oily skin that doesn't always cooperate well bare or with tinted moisturizers. I usually skip new foundations and head straight to my longtime love; Lancome Teint Miracle. But with the weather getting quite warm where I reside I decided to switch it up for something more summer friendly. I originally planned on purchasing the liquid version of this, but a cream formula seemed more fitting for warm temperatures.

 I was excited to see the packaging. It is really fancy, but when is Guerlain not fancy? Everything they produce seems to exude some sort of elegance. I thought it seemed luxurious and expensive, which it should for the $75 price tag. I also enjoyed that it came with a cute little Guerlain embossed spoon.

When it came to color I opted for 02 Beige Clair, which would generally be too dark for me but I have been dabbling with self tanner a lot, as I do each summer. I thought the color was pretty perfect. It was just slightly dark and that's usually how I choose to tan. Still somewhat pale, but with a bit of color.

I also though it felt wonderful. I loved the consistency. It is thick, but spreads amazingly on my face and dries almost instantly. I would recommend this to anyone who has oily skin and feel as though no foundation will ever really do the trick. I think you will be pleased with this! It stays on all day long and doesn't get greasy or oily at all. Plus the coverage is wonderful if you have problematic skin. It seems to cover every blemish and make my skintone look nice and even.

Have you tried any Guerlain products? If so, what did you think?

Thanks for reading!
Victoria

Mac Ambering Rose

I picked this up a few months ago and mentioned it briefly in a separate post, but did not fully review it. I decided to share my thoughts as it has become one of my favorite blushes. I was very drawn to the color of this blush. It is a dark reddish gold that is beautiful and quite shimmery. This was my first Mac Blush and I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I first tried it. After trying it a few times I kind of understood how easy it is to go from sheer pop of color to sunburn red. I also found that a good brush is necessary or else it will not blend nicely.

After finding the best way to use it, it quickly became one of my favorite blushes. I wear it almost everyday. I apply it very lightly to the apples of my cheeks and usually highlight it with Mac Soft and Gentle as it creates a soft, warm glow.

Have you tried this blush? If so, what were your thoughts?


Thanks for reading
Victoria

Lancome Rouge In Love: Corail In Love

It feels like forever since I have just sat and gushed over beauty products. I have just been so absurdly busy lately, but I feel as though I am ready to jump back into this and just really enjoy it and write more posts that I really like rather than what I think the majority of people who read it will like. I also feel that I have a bit of a clearer idea now of where I would like the direction of this blog to go, so you can expect to possibly see some big changes soon.

I have accumulated several products in the past few months that I didn't get the chance to review and I am going to try to post many of them within the next few days.


I received this lipstick as a gift from my boyfriend for Christmas. He knew that I really loved all things Lancome and I have probably babbled on and on about the Rouge In Love line of lipsticks a billion times. I adore the joyful color selection. They are all quite cheerful and bright colors.

Upon first glance I thought the lipstick was pretty cute in a very simple way. It looks a little niftier than most lipsticks. I pulled the top off and rolled up the lipstick to inspect the color. I was amused to see that it was a bright and beautiful shade of coral. I have had a long standing obsession with coral shaded lips since seeing it so wonderfully done on the models for Fendi's Spring 2011 runway show. I was really happy with the both the color and how well it suited my skintone. I think this is positively a color that could work great with any skintone, which is great for me as I alternate between ghostly pale and sunkissed. I have also noticed that colors like this can accentuate a tan quite well!

Along with the color, I also enjoy the moisturizing effect and how long lasting it is. Depending on the amount used, it can almost feel like a coat of gloss. My lips always feel very hydrated while I am wearing this and even after. It is supposed to last 6 hours, but I find it to last much longer. I put this on before I go out in the day and I do not need to reapply even if I eat or drink. It sits perfectly on my lips all day. It's a pretty marvelous lipstick and now one of my all time favorites. It usually comes with me everywhere I go.

Thanks for reading! 
Victoria

Today's Makeup

Lately I have been dealing with some dreadful insomnia. It is extremely distressing to have to deal with. I sleep 3 hours a night, if I sleep at all. Some days I'm up 36 hours on 1 hour of sleep. I'm hoping that once this infection has cleared up that my sleep will go back to normal. So, since I haven't been sleeping great I have been running pretty low on energy which makes do a whole full face of perfect makeup a little difficult. That is why I love red lipstick. When you have an alluring red lip that is the focal point of your face. People instantly notice your lips. It makes it so you can dial the rest of your makeup down a notch. You can do a matte brown eye with a bit of liner and mascara as I did, which only takes a matter of minutes. It's perfect for days when you are in a rush or just feeling a tad bit lazy.

 Face: 
- Clarins Instant Smooth Touch
- Mac Studio Finish
- Lancome Teint Miracle
- Mac Refined Golden Bronzing Powder
- Guerlain Cruel Gardenia

Eyes:
- Urban Decay Buck
- Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner
- Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara

Lips:
- Mac Vegas Volt
- Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 11
- Mac Korean Candy


What red works best for you?

Thanks for reading!
Victoria

Today's Makeup

I went to the doctor today and found out that I have some sort of kidney infection, so I am taking some anti-biotics now and in a few weeks I should be good as new! I'm very happy that things will be going in a more positive direction and I will no longer feel like absolute garbage everyday. 


I did my makeup very light and it was just a basic everyday look. I did switch things up a wee bit, but nothing too drastic. I have been really wanting to try something different with my eyeliner. I love the cat eye look, but I have very unsteady hands and have only ever achieved it decently a few times. I also feel like I need to find an eyeliner that easier to use. Don't get me wrong, I love my trusty Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner, but it's not the easiest to use in terms of angling and doing styles. It's perfect for a simple lined look though.

If anyone has any recommendations on great eyeliners for achieving a beautiful classic cateye look, please comment below!

Face: 
- Purminerals Correcting Primer
- Lancome Teint Miracle
- Mac Studio Fix Concealer
- Purminerals 4-in-1 Powder
- Mac Ambering Rose
- Mac Refined Golden Bronzing powder
- Benefit High Beam
- Guerlain Cruel Gardenia

Eyes: 
- Dior Stylish Move Palette
- Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner
- Lancome Hypnose Star
- Urban Decay Buck

Lips:
- Mac In Synch Lipliner
- Lancome Voil de Rose Lipstick
- Dior Contour Lipliner in Natural Beige

Thanks for reading!
Victoria

Skincare Updated

 I love to take care of my skin. It is such an important part of the whole beauty process. My makeup looks unattractive if I haven't kept to a proper skincare routine and healthy eating. And I, like many other women, love to change up my skincare routine with the exception of absolute, can't live without favorites. I will probably always write a skincare update every few months, maybe sooner if there has been a drastic change in my regimen.

Cleansers:

1. Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs
2. Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam
3. Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser

Toners:

1. Avene Gentle Toner
2. Shiesido The Skincare Hydro-Nourishing Softener

Makeup Removers:

1. Avene Gentle Eye-Makeup Remover
2. Bioderma Sensibio H20 Solution Micellaire

Moisturizers:

1. Lancome Renergie Lift Multi-Action
2. Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream

It looks like a lot of products all together, but when separated into categories you can see that I don't use many types of each product.

Day

The first thing I usually do after I wake is wash my face. I start with the Shiseido cleanser because I find that it cleans very well. I feel like it removes all the dirt from my pores and makes my skin feel so light and fresh. I then use the Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser to make sure I get my skin completely clean and to make my skin soft and supple. This cleanser has a mousse-like texture and smells perfumey but nice. It makes my skin feel very smooth and that really helps when you put on makeup soon after. I use the Shiseido toner after I am through with my cleansing. It is really refreshing and cooling. I love using this. The last part of my morning skincare regimen is moisturizer. I use Lancome Renergie Lift Multi-Action and I actually get a lot of flack for this. Whenever I purchase it the sales associates always tell me that it is for older women and try to suggest something else but I have been using this moisturizer and it's older version for a few years now and I can not imagine my skin without it. It is the only moisturizer that really helps with my occasional dryness and that my skin always completely soaks up. It is the perfect moisturizer to use before applying makeup. It makes my skin very moisturized but not greasy. It helps to create a flawless look that doesn't look cakey.

Night

My favorite part of the day is coming home after a long, usually stress-filled day and putting on my largest and most comfortable pajamas and getting all the makeup off of my face. I love wearing makeup but after a whole day I really miss that feeling of having fresh skin that is able to breathe. I begin by using both makeup removers. I use the Avene Gentle Eye-Makeup Remover first to remove most of the makeup upon my eyes. This gets most of it, but never all of it. I then use the raved about Bioderma Sensibio H20 Solution Micellaire to get every last bit that has not been cleaned off. After this I use Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs because it cleanses very well but is soft and not to rough before bedtime. It also smells quite nice and relaxing. Then I use the Avene Gentle Toner. I like to use this because it is one of the only spring water-type toners that does not break my skin out. It has actually helped to clear up a rash that I had on my face for several weeks. It's not as nice as the Shiseido toner though. That will remain my favorite I think. I use Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream as a night moisturizer mainly because it can sometimes cause my face to look a little greasy, which I don't mind at night but wouldn't be ideal before using makeup. I always wake up with super hydrated skin that looks bright and feels amazing.

I'm sorry if it is a little hard to follow. I actually had a hard time explaining the process. I'm horrible at explaining things sometimes. I can be such a scatterbrain. But, I hope you get the gist of it. I am constantly trying new skincare products whenever I can. If you have any suggestions or thoughts on the products I use please leave a comment!

What are your favorite products in your current skincare regimen?

Thanks for reading!
Victoria

Today's Makeup

After a few days of feeling sorry for myself and being a complete mess I decided it might be time to perk up a little, get all done up and finally leave the house. I have been a bit uninspired lately. I have no idea what to do with my makeup anymore. I always seem to go with what I already know looks okay and safe. While this is a good thing, it's also sort of depressing. I have been too preoccupied to try anything new. I'm hoping that once I find out what has been making me so sick these days that I may get back to my usually creative self. I've just been so very stressed and drained both physically and mentally.

I'm sorry for the amount of photos. I'm not a narcissist, I promise. My boyfriend actually just got an ipad and I had a lot of fun using it's camera. It has a much better camera than my tablet and I also couldn't decide which photos made the makeup look most noticable. Some cameras really blur all the detail and make the colors look very different. I'm glad that I have a new gadget to use for photos. You can expect much better pictures on here soon!

Face:
- Purminerals Correcting Primer
- Mac Studio Fix Concealer
- Benefit Hello Flawless
- Lancome Teint Miracle
- DiorBlush in PeachyKeen
- Mac Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden
- Mac Iridescent Loose Powder in Silver Dusk
- Guerlain Cruel Gardenia

Eyes:
- Dior 5 Couleurs Palette in Stylish Move
- Urban Decay Sin
- Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
- Diorshow New Look Mascara

Lips:
- Dior Contour Lipliner in 213 Natural Beige 

Thanks for reading!
Victoria