confessions of a conceal-a-holic

Garnier / MAC / Clinique / Tarte

It's true, I am a conceal-aholic. When I look into my makeup bag it tells a story of said addiction. For the most part, I feel like I've tried them all, from drugstore to designer. 

That being said I am not into concealers for their blemish covering powers (that should match your face) but instead for the highlighting miracles they can perform over the rest of my face. 

All of my favorite concealers don't actually break the budget, and run roughly in the same price range. The Garnier concealer would be my absolute favorite if it lasted longer, but I feel like it works best when you're in a hurry and not looking for long lasting full coverage. (I have used it with a really sticky primer (benefit's stay don't stray) which made it last significantly longer, but that is almost twice the work of just applying these other concealers. 

What are some of your favorite concealers?

Review: Philosophy's Just Release Me

I have been a devoted Philosophy fan ever since I first tried their face wash purity. I don't know why I never tried their makeup remover before, but I ran out of my cheapo alternative and decided during a sephora haul that I'd give it a shot because ounce wise it was way more than any drugstore brand and costs 18$ for double the amount. 

Anyways, for a makeup remover I just love this stuff. A little bit on a cotton ball and a few swipes later and my eye makeup is melted to smithereens and my skin is clean and ready to wash. 

I feel like finding an eye makeup remover at a medium price point is hard to come by, but Just Release Me is more than a steal of a deal. 

DIY [Beauty Balm]

Did you know that I hate wearing full coverage? With an insane passion. I can't stand the way a filmy layer of makeup is over my face. Which is why my favorite makeup multi-task is a homemade BB cream.

I loved the idea of the BB cream and all the benefits companies praised them for having, but I just couldn't find a BB for me.

So I made one.

 I already had all the ingredients in my makeup bag, and it just seemed inevitable that I would love my own creation instead of the store bought kinds.

The biggest pitfall of pre-made BB's is that you have to try and find the right shade for your skin. Also you don't know what kind of "primer" they used and the moisturizer might not be right for your skin.

Luckily all those problems are solved right in your own makeup bag because, more than likely, you already have a favorite all-over primer, liquid foundation and moisturizer.

 Start with a small dollop of moisturizer, St. Ives Collagen Elastin is seriously my favorite… it does its thing without being heavy or sticky and absorbs quickly into your skin. This one is hard to find at actual stores so I suggest nabbing it online.

Add a pea sized amount of primer. (Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel -- I got mine at CVS for 8$, don't pay 18$ for it!) I know this does't look like primer but it is because it is 100% of the same ingredient  (Dimethicone) that is in so many primers for at least half the cost, and it doesn't contain any additional colors or fragrances. (Compare to Smashbox or Bare Minerals)

And then add a drop or two of your favorite liquid foundation (More or less based on the kind of coverage you want). I love Benefit's Hello Flawless because it has nice yellow undertones that so many other brands are missing (Yellow instead of pink for us Hapa's / Asians)

  Mix it all together and apply like you would with a tinted moisturizer or store bought BB. 

Voila! Perfect skin without wasting money on something you might hate!

What are your favorite beauty multitaskers? 

<3

Sio

A Bonafide Game Changer

I have been avoiding this product f-o-r-e-v-e-r. I've seen it on tons of blog lists, and even had a girl at the Benefit counter put it on me while I waited for my brows and wasn't impressed.

The original reason I didn't like the stuff I think had to do with the fact that the girl didn't apply it with the wand it comes with, but a sample wand for hygiene, and sadly the best part of the product (and what I'm convinced makes it so phenomenal) was not used during my first experience, and it makes all the difference.

If you're non-commital grab the $10 mini size, because I can pretty much bet money on the fact that if you haven't already tried the stuff you will love, love, love it.

I honestly don't even think I would have purchased the stuff after my first experience, but there musta' been some makeup angels watching over me because during my latest visit to Sephora I received my annual deluxe birthday sample, which happened to contain a mini thing of they're real, and also Watts Up highlighter (which I am also amazed by!). And I got to try the real deal, brush-n'all and it is a game changer. I was originally pleased because I could add them both to my purse makeup bag, but then I tried them. I am hooked you guys. The second I run out of this mini tube I'm running out to the nearest store to get the full size because my lashes are like whoa never before! 

Color me a fool because I've been avoiding this mascara forever and I was so wrong for doing it.

What are some products that caught you by surprise lately?

xo 

Siobhain

The Bare Necessities

If I had to limit my makeup choices for travel or something these are the things I could probably not live without. I left out skincare because that in and of itself is an entirely different beast.

Brushes: (Cheek) MAC 120 /  (Shadow) MAC 214 /  (Eyeliner) Stila #4

Urban Decay Naked 2 - The equally amazing twin to the Naked shadow pallet 

MAC Blunt for contouring & MAC Desert Rose for cheeks

MAC Fluidline in Dipdown (I also use it in Blacktrack when I'm doing more intense makeup)

MAC select moisture cover concealer in NW25

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray primer and concealer stay put-ter

Typically I use Maybelline mascara, but I accidentally bought L'oreal because it was in the wrong section of target and it looked like what I normally use. OOPS.

and last but not least MAC Brow Sets in clear, although because I put it on after I fill in my brows with benefit brow zings it has become brown.

What's in your makeup bag?

 Cheers! 

 -Siobhain

 

Smart Lash: Day 45

About a month or so I bought a product from dermstore.com called Smart Lash, which claims to lengthen and thicken your lashes within 60 days without a prescription (like Latisse)

Originally I was super super stoked to try this hoping it would be a miracle worker, but I sit here on day 45 feeling large amounts of disappointment. (I know, I still have a few more days!)

Though my lashes aren't any longer, they are certainly thicker, and with the addition of mascara they definitely appear fuller and longer than before.

I don't know if I would continue to pay 125$ for this product (I got lucky and scored a "deal" from the website dermstore.com and paid only like $30) because I'm pretty positive you can get a prescription for Latisse for like the same price, and that literally has insane results.

But if you have sparse lashes it might be something to try if you can swoop that introductory offer.

**(Also some things to consider is that around the same time I started taking the supplement Biotin & Cod Liver Oil, so maybe that has also influenced my lashes too.)

Product of the week: WEN (Just try it already!)

I KNOW I KNOW. I am SO late to the game with this one. I recently was browsing through my local Sephora and decided to snag a sample of the Wen hair cleansing system. Despite my prior skepticism (infomercial products to me always seem too good to be true!) this stuff works!

Wen is a total game changer. 

I feel like I am betraying Moroccan Oil (A hair care line I've been seriously loyal to) just by this little sample I got. I am floored.

Not only is my softer, it's not frizzy at all and totally more manageable. To give you an idea about my hair it is very fine and has been bleached at the ends 3-4 times over the last year because I keep covering & then redoing the ombré which is seriously bad for hair and left me with some severe split ends and dryness. Wen is a miracle worker. It has completely restored the luster of my hair and what split ends I have are hardly noticeable after 1 use.

I wasn't expecting miracles here, but I got them. If you haven't tried Wen, and are skeptical like I was, go to your nearest Sephora and ask for a sample, it's free and worth it if you've been searching for your hair care soulmate.

Now, I don't think I'm converting permanently (I just love Moroccan Oil too much) but  I'm definitely mixing this stuff into my routine somewhere because, like, my hair looks totally awesome you guys! I'll try to add a picture when I can of a before and after, but for now, you'll just have to take my word for the amazingness.

**(Wen is a "cleansing conditioner" which basically means you forgo your normal shampoo-conditioner routine for this "all in one" style product-- it claims to reduce frizziness and boost volume)

Makeup Favorites: Mascara Roundup

Sometimes.. I feel like I've used them all. Sometimes I go into the store and I walk around for like an hour with 7 mascaras in my hand and shake my head in disgust because there are so many and I feel like I'll find the right one and it will change my life if I just try something new. I go around and then spend time feeling overwhelmed and thinking, "Man, this is stressful," so I go back around the store again in circles and pick them up and put them back over and over and over. 

Well here is a short list of some mascaras that I love, and some that I probably won't be using again anytime soon to save you from that same headache (probably): 

#1.  If I put Benefit's BADgal lash mascara on a scale from 1-10, it would rate some where between a 2-3. I feel very "meh" about this formula. For me, it never stayed put and I could never get the results I wanted. Also, it's on the pricier side of things coming in at $19. (Also I notice that on their website it has a 4/5 rating, but honestly what? I don't buy it!)  Hate!

#2. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: I cannot get enough of L'Oreal Voluminous Power Volume mascara!! I am seriously obsessed with it, and I've had so many compliments from strangers asking what kind of mascara I'm using because I get insane length & volume from this one. This one is great because it's also budget friendly ($7.99!). Do yourself a favor, go to the store now and buy yourself this immediately. LOVE!

#3. Man, after writing the review for the last mascara I don't even want to talk about this one. Ironically this is the same brand. While Waterproof L'Oreal Double Extend mascara has a great primer and honestly getting nice length and volume, my lashes always turn out gray and a little too clumpy for my liking. Perhaps it's just user error on my part? Hate!

#4.  I know, I know... This is a classic mascara, and maybe I'll get a lot of flack for hating it, but with the mass amounts of mascaras on the market this one is behind the times. Maybelline Great Lash, though it is well-known and a continual best seller will never again see the inside of my makeup bag.  Hate!

#5.  Want long lashes? Have 20$ to spend every few months on mascara? Well, Urban Decay's Skyscraper mascara will give you super long, super thick lashes. I have kind of a love it or hate it with this formula. On one hand it works, but on another hand it kind of flakes off your lashes and onto your cheeks throughout the day. It also seems to dry out fairly quickly in the tube, which means only a short period of time before you have to toss it. ($20) Love-Hate

#6. Zoom Lash from MAC has been a staple in my makeup bag for years. It was only recently beat out by the Power Volume (see above) but I still keep one in my bag for rainy days (not literally). It comes in at a mid-price range for mascara, but I really like the length and volume and the fact that it still seems to be on my lashes by the end of the day. ($16) Love!! 

Smart Lash: Day One

I have been coveting long lashes so much lately. The obsession has only grown since I started hearing about Latisse, and the magic results it produced. But was turned off by the fact that it requires a prescription and costs quite a lot. So instead I'm trying out SmartLash.

This product seems to have pretty good reviews as well as some decent results from clinical trials. It looks like a good option for me right now because it is non-prescription, and you can get it for a pretty decent price from dermstore.com ($30, normally $125).

Supposedly full results will have occurred in 60 days.. so until then.. wish me luck!

Have you tried SmartLash?

xo 

Siobhain

The Power of Primer

Back when I first started wearing makeup at the ripe age of thirteen, I had not a clue what was what. I also had no help. (I'm the oldest of my siblings by ten years and my mom hardly wears makeup and was never interested in teaching me the basics.) It also didn't help that I was doing competitive gymnastics 30 hours a week, and hardly had the time to wear makeup in the first place.

So, I went for many years only applying mascara and jet black eyeliner all the way around my eyes, and wondering why I looked like a strung out raccoon. I still don't know what I'm doing but I definitely have a better handle on things now that i'm older and (slightly) wiser, which brings me to primers: They are important. They are what keep your makeup in place throughout the day. Without primers, I would be lost in makeup land. Wear them under your concealer and eyeshadow and you will be happy.

#1. Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray ($26). This primer is my personal favorite. I love it because it works really well as a concealer primer and eyelid primer. It has a little bit of a tint to it, but I kind of feel like maybe it makes it work better. Or maybe it doesn't...perception is reality you guys. (As a side note it kinda seems like they changed the packaging for this primer on their website which is VERY disappointing bc I personally loathe wands.. give me a stick, or a squeezey tube, or a pump or something other than a wand!)

#2. Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($20). I loveeeeddddd this one. One tube lasted me almost a year  and I only needed a teeny drop per eye. One of the major pluses for me is that it is somewhere between stay don't stray and primer potion in terms of overall texture and consistency. I will probably re-buy as soon as my Benefit runs out.


#3. e.l.f Eyelid Primer ($1). If you're looking for something non-commital: Meet e.l.f., your beauty soulmate. Most prices for their products are under $3. Their eye primer is more or less equivalent to Urban Decay's in quality for only a buck. Personally, I don't use this primer a lot, but it's a good one to have in your travel beauty bag because it's super inexpensive and does the job when you're not close to your beauty arsenal.

#4. Urban Decay Primer Potion ($20). It looks like they changed this one too from wand to squeezy tube (If so yay! I repeat: I cannot stand wands).  Works a lot like the e.l.f primer above. It has a kind of smooth and silky texture, but it doesn't cling enough to my concealers or shadows to really be a favorite of mine.

What are your favorite primers? 

xo 

Siobhain

10 I love for $10 or less

Here is a list of a few of my favorite products that won't leave you (too) broke: 

1. e.l.f Essential Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal ($1). I lovee this great, inexpensive, and multipurpose alternative to Benefit Cosmetics High Beam ($26). Dab a little on the inner corners of your eyes, or on your cheekbones for a dewy glow.

2. Burt's Bees Lip Balm Tube ($3). If you haven't already tried Burt's Bees you are missing out. I could not live without this miracle chapstick.

3. My hands are always dry! Without taking L'occitane Lavande hand cream ($10, 1 oz) with me everywhere, I would be lost. So, so lost. 

4. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Shampoo & Conditioners in Plumeria ($9.95). I have a tendency to succumb to hair cleansers that smell amazing. Thankfully though, Alba Botanica also makes an excellent product that is light weight enough to use everyday. Whenever one of my very best friends visits me for a weekend she always picks the Alba in my shower to wash her hair with, and one of the last times I went to the salon, my stylist even asked what the brand was because it smelled so good.

5. Not Your Mother's: Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray ($5.99). Perfect for lazy hair days when you've towel dried but your waves aren't exactly what you were hoping. A quick spritz and you're off to the races looking "beachy"-keen! 

6. NYX cosmetics Super Skinny Marker ($8.99). My favorite alternative to MAC's Penultimate liner ($18.50), and half the cost! 

7. TRESemmé split remedy serum ($4.99). I use this product religiously. I am talking about after every single shower once I realized the amazingness of it. Literally mends ends within the first couple of uses. I had my hair ombréd several times with bleach, and you wouldn't even know it because of this stuff. 

8. Travel size Philosophy Purity Cleanser ($10). I'm cheating a little bit putting this one on here, but I have indulged in this smaller size when I'm on a tighter budget. I simply cannot resist the powerful cleansing action of Purity. Leaves you clean and soft and removes unwanted makeup residue.

9. Neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover ($6.99). Just as good as anything you can get from a higher end company at a quarter to half the cost. Old faithful. If I had my way I would buy Lancome's Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover, but alas it is 28$, and sometimes out of my league. 

10. L'Oreal Voluminous Power Volume Collagen Mascara ($8.99). I have tried what seems like one million mascaras. This one is (so far) my favorite. Great length and volume and I love the wand. Being part Japanese I have very short eyelashes, so this definitely helps! 

What are some of your favorite products under $10?

xo

Siobhan

Argan Oil

Moroccan oil is all the rage right now, (and often referred to as liquid gold) and I was a bit hesitant to buy any products claiming the benefits of the stuff until I found out more. After a lot of research (aka Googling), and suggestions from friends I finally decided to purchase 100% pure Argan oil by Acure Organics ($14.99).

There are a couple of reasons why I really jumped at this option. First, this brand is pure and organic; Secondly the price was right. So far this particular product has been all it claims to be: 5 products in 1. 

I've used it directly on my skin as a nightly moisturizer, and surprisingly it cleared the acne I had. I have added a drop to bottles of conditioner and it has GREATLY reduced the frizziness of my hair. I was extremely skeptical about putting OIL on my face but I gave it a shot and don't regret it even a little. On nights I have forgotten to use it my skin is tight and dull without it, and on mornings I wake up after using it my skin is supple and dewy.

I can't wait to buy more and though the bottle is teeny tiny, a little bit goes a long way. One small drop is all I need for my nightly routine and I'm set.

What products have surprised you lately?

xo 

Siobhan