best beauty picks

It's time for another beauty post!! The last time I wrote about cosmetics and beauty, I was going through an unusual troublesome time with my skincare regimen. I was breaking out constantly, stressing out about it, and it helped to perpetuate the cycle. Now I feel as though I am in a really good place, with a great balance of skincare and cosmetics that I wear a lot during the week. I wanted to share with you some of my current beauty favorites, with my honest opinion (this is not a sponsored post!) about why these products rock.

I wear makeup at least 5 times a week. Getting ready in the wee hours of the morning is often a groggy blur of stumbling out of bed, in and out of the bathroom, and in front of my vanity. Hands down, though, the best part of my routine is my skincare  and makeup routine because I love these products.  Here's a quick rundown of what is pictured:

eyes
- lancome definicils 
- trish mcevoy intense gel eyeliner
- it cosmetics bye bye under eye cream
- fresh inc. age delay eye cream
- lancome le crayon powder eye brow pencil
- lancome le crayon khôl eyeliner

cheeks
- nars illuminator
- nars blush

moisturizer
- laura mercier oil-free day lotion
- neutrogena hydro boost water gel

Maybe it seems like a lot but I use these products often and love them - I feel like they really work with my skin and complement my complexion. I am particularly proud of my eyeliner choices because I was in this search for a while for the perfect, long-lasting eyeliner that doesn't smudge but is not waterproof (I hate waterproof anything!). It cleanses really nicely, but STAYS on during the day which is awesome.

That being said, I think that it is super important to take days off and not wear makeup! I make sure that my skin gets a break, and if I am wearing makeup after a long day, I can't wait to get home and wash my face to feel refreshed.

Still, moisturizer is a 24/7 necessity and I have dabbled with a few high end products (such as Le Mer) in the past, failing to find a consistent go-to.  I feel like Laura Mercier and Neutrogena Hydro Boost are really high quality alternatives that are way more cost effective. Here's how I balance the two: Neutrogena is for day-night during the week and I indulge a little bit with Laura Mercier on the weekends. It is so rich and nourishing! Neutrogena's gel is awesome for anytime, though, and I love the light and dewy feeling it gives my skin.

You should try these out! Let me know if there is anything you swear by :)

ciao, xo

PS: I would definitely recommend trying the more expensive items as samples! I always stock up on samples when I make a purchase from Blue Mercury. Some of these products are totally out of my price range but I am enjoying the samples while they last! On the other hand, some of these are totally worth the investment and have been paying off!

current (and forever) beauty favorites

I am really excited about this selection of beauty faves because it's not just current - I feel like I've struck gold and these will be longtime go-to choices. That being said, it is quite an opulent selection - rich Chanel lipsticks, La Mer, skinny gel eyeliners. Combined, these would make up the ultimate gilded look, something really glitzy and festive for a special occasion - not everyday. I think a little touch of red for a random workday doesn't hurt, but layering all of this on does make for a particularly glamorous look. Alright... I am done talking about toning this makeup down! I am so excited, like I said, because I am totally 100% in love with each and every product; I feel really confident on how to wear them.

Foundation I have spent the better part of the last year finding out which moisturizers work for me and what doesn't - I've never thought about it before but it may have been the cause of some minor issues like oily skin and breakouts. So I ditched anything I doubted altogether (which was hard to do). I tried a few samples of Creme de la Mer and of course, it's absolutely divine. It leaves skin light and succulent and nourished. However the price tag is definitely an inhibitor, so I rarely (and I mean rarely) use this before dabbing on my favorite Visible Lift Blur (or as I just call it, "blur") foundation by L'Oreal. To apply, I use one of those awesome foamy tools that cost $5 or so at any beauty store. Then comes the bronzer. I picked out this Bare Essentials bronzer - a perennial favorite - during a complimentary Sephora makeover, which I highly recommend if you're doing a total beauty overhaul.  I really think the unsung hero with my bronzer is the brush, actually. I bought this super-soft brush (not sure if it is a true kabuki brush) solely for my bronzer, and I love it.

Lips The investment pieces are obviously a little pricier; Chanel lipstick is not something I plan to start collecting but man is it fun to have a little stash going! I have two shades, but my more recent acquirement is La Fascinate - a super 'old hollywood' bold red. This is something I'll definitely be reserving for nights out and 'fancier' occasions. My everyday pick is Bonheur, which unfortunately doesn't "last" as long on, but has a beautiful plum tone to it along with a light shimmer to awaken the color.

Eyes For everyday, I use the Revlon and Almay skinny liners (I used to be horrible at applying, but practice makes perfect). Both are great for layering atop the other, since one is jet-black and the other is a pretty gem-tone purple. I don't normally use either on the lower-lids, but the Almay is actually perfect for smudging and creating a jewell-y dimension. I find that I love this amethyst color (and also a jade green) for my eyes. Do some messing around and you can find a rich gem tone that complements you eyes, too. :) I also just received a waterproof Chanel eye pencil in ebene (black) which is really fun for drawing dramatic, bold lines that won't budge. Last but not least - and probably my desert island product - is mascara. For me, I've always gravitated to L'Oreal, anything high-volume.

- - -

This post has made me feel like a beauty editor. New dream job? 

See the details in the products below (they are click-through links).
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

ciao! xo

new skin favorites

Lately I've been feeling very defeated when it comes to skin care and breakouts.

I am sooooo done with my skin! My breakouts have seemed to worsen,

and now I pay more attention to them now that being back at work

means that I spend time in the morning in front of the makeup mirror.

So last week, in my defeatist state, I marched to the Chanel counter at Macy's

and said, "I need lipstick." You know, a little pick me up.

My best friend bought herself a goooorgeous wine color shade from Chanel,

and it looks so good on her, so I was inspired to try it out and see what worked.

It ended in a whole makeover. I was happy.

Then, in a makeup-induced ecstasy, I bopped over to Sephora.

More damage done. She did another makeover.

I found products that actually work with the goals I have for reducing my breakouts,

and makeup that makes them look like history.

So far, so good.

I thought I'd share some of my finds with you - because splurge or not, they are seriously awesome.

(sorry for the poor quality photos).

I've been experimenting more and more and so far have really liked this process of seeing what works,

and what doesn't.

One kind of out-there beauty boost I've been having fun with is false eyelashes.

Not many - like one or two individuals on each eye - and I feel that more dramatic!

Paired with the berry lip, a dash of blush...and I feel very very made up indeed.

ciao! xo!

new beauty additions

Nars tinted moisturizer | Benefit Fake Up | Elf Cream Eyeliner | Urban Decay All Nighter spray

I think its apart of my spring fever...but a few weeks ago I stocked up on some new makeup essentials!

I decided to cancel my birchbox subscription, partially because 

a) I was tired of receiving some samples that I really loved, 

and b) I'd rather save the $10/month and splurge on something I really need.

So - here are a few of my current favorites.

NARS and I go way back. I remember my first ever NARS purchase - lip gloss in Turkish delight.

A high school favorite of mine. Ah, the memories. 

This tinted moisturizer will hopefully prove to be good to my skin - I am optimistic.

I can't bring myself to wear just tinted moisturizer, though, as a moisturizer...so this will be more of a foundation.

A birchbox find that I have loved was the Fake Up concealer from Benefit. Love love love.

I don't usually buy concealer, and if I do I usually pick up a less expensive version at CVS..

but I am beginning to see the magic! I like to swipe this under my eyebrows, 

under eyes, and even over some blemishes to brighten up my face before adding more.

Another awesome and amazingly-priced pick is my Elf cream eyeliner.

When I put it on in a hurry, it can be bad news...it takes precision and patience.

But I remember on a day I actually took my time and did a really good cat-eye, I loved the results!

It stays on all day.

Speaking of staying on: my friends recommended the UD "All Nighter" spray to me.

I wore it out on new years' eve and it was great. It's also available in an oil-control version.

After a night of being out and hot and sweaty from dancing, it kept my face clear and clean.

so, there you have it! some current beauty essentials.

what are you swearing by these days?

ciao, xo

scenes from my weekend

a new first for me: afghan cuisine! two thumbs up!

also, another first: pumpkin gelato. yes.

 sometimes, mess-ups are so beautiful.

new swag from korres ;) thanks s!

that's quite an assortment of photos, isn't it!?

Saturday night was spent at a cozy floor side table at ariana's in old city with an old friend catching up.

we sat in the window and watched all of the passersby, the city lights flickering, and the happy college kids (maybe too happy) wave at us through the glass. 

before my friend arrived I snapped some pictures to kill some time - the sun was setting rapidly.

i do have to admit i am a bit rusty with my shutter and aperture settings - it's never something i really mastered (hence photo no.6)

but i enjoyed it immensely, nonetheless.

i do truly miss long days filled with sunlight, but the evening chill of the fall is exhilarating.

this time preceding thanksgiving, and all of the holidays for that matter, is so exciting. :)

life's highlights lately:

+ discovering pumpkin gelato. 

+ oolong tea and honey on weeknights in.

+ loooong grey fuzzy socks.

+ an unexpected goodie bag of korres makeup from s…you dote on me!

+ seeing the very first sets of christmas lights out

+ candles at night by my bedside.

what's making you happy today!?

ciao, xo

some beauty truths.

 coach signature perfume // loreal magic BB cream // burberry brit sheer

 julep nail color

loreal revitalift blur // bare escentuals in warmth // dior bronze // clinique even better foundation

My beauty picks are quite a variety this time around...ranging from drug store buys, to hand-me-downs, to freebies or the occasional splurge. Like...I'm pretty sure at one point or another I gave that Burberry perfume to my mom...

Makeup is an instinctual thing. You have to know what works for you, and a lot of that comes with trial and error. I am fortunate that my mom and I allow each other to "borrow" makeup and try new things. I also fortunate that my grandmother formerly worked at Estee Lauder and gave me so many countless tips. I am lucky that I've been able to find brands and products that work for me. I might sound like I know what I am talking about, but I break a lot of rules when it comes to makeups. Like, how you're supposed to clean your brushes and throw out products that are over a year old? Psh! I don't do that. But I do look for products that are long-lasting and have worked for me over the years. I may or may not still have same Bare Escentuals bronzer from junior year in college...and re-buy the same NARS Lipgloss every single time I am looking for a new tube.

As for the pricier products...some of them are gifts, but some are also splurges. I tend to make a splurge on moisturizers and foundations. One of my favorite current items is the Loreal BB cream, which is under $10 at the drugstore. The Dior Bronze Auto Bronzant is a pricier pick, but it's worth the cost for an every-once-in-a-while, high luxe look. The perfumes are gifts...somehow, I find it hard to buy perfume for myself.

Oh! And Julep is my latest discovery. I received it in a RTR freebie, and it has been my go-to nail polish since. I love the texture and the sleek bottle. The shades are fantastic. I'd check out the perks of becoming a Julep Maven... ;) it's like a birchbox, for nails! This is the shade I want next...

ciao ciao! xo