Lace & Pearls

A Seattle Style blog. Helping women who struggle with their personal style or those who just need a fashion fix!

Beauty Haul II

Beauty Haul

Here are some recent beauty finds in my never-ending quest to tame my oily skin. This is a follow up to my last beauty haul.

Beauty Haul – Products to Tame Oily Skin

  1. Lorac POREfection Mattifying Face Primer – this primer is oil and paraben free, and good for all skin types. It reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines with a matte finish. Wearing this primer helps my makeup stay on all day and reduces shine. For me, this is the best primer yet.
  2. Beautyblender – this edge-less sponge leaves your face looking airbrushed and flawless. I recommend the Blendercleanser for keeping it in mint condition. I am obsessed with both.
  3. Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Pressed Finishing Powder – this finishing powder minimizes pores, mattifies the skin, and reduces excess oil. It also comes in a loose powder.
  4. Caudalie Beauty Elixir – the employees at my local Sephora swear by this spray. It is part toner and part serum. This is the final step in my makeup application. You can also use it to touch up throughout the day.
  5. Tweezerman Brush iQ Powder Brush – this is the first powder brush I’ve used, so I don’t have much to compare to, but I was shocked by how flawless my complexion looked after using.

To see the other makeup products that I use, check out this post.

Related posts:

  1. The Hunt For The Perfect Mascara
  2. How to Find the Perfect Red Lipstick for Your Complexion
  3. Get Super Straight Hair With the Irresistible Me Flat Iron
  4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick

Say Goodbye to Oily Skin

Milk of Magnesia
Image Source

Last week I wrote this Beauty Haul post and asked if anyone knew of a good primer for oily skin. Marae from The Always Fabulous recommended Milk of Magnesia as a skin primer. If you’re not familiar with this product it is typically used for occasional constipation. I found this article and watched a slew of YouTube videos for application techniques.

It should be noted that I have tried countless skincare products and have not found anything to keep my oily skin at bay. If you have dry or combination skin this product may cause issues with dryness and tightening of the skin. It should only be used on oily skin.

With a foundation brush I applied a thin layer over my entire face around 6:30 am. I let it dry for about 5 minutes. Once set, a white residue appeared on my face. This is normal. I then proceeded to apply my foundation using a foundation brush and finished with powder.

The end results was a gorgeous porcelain matte finish. Twelve hours later I was still shine free! I did have a glimmer of shine on the top of my nose, but other then that my makeup still appeared fresh. I can’t believe I’ve gone through life without this product. It is 100% amazing!

Check out this fun video for a product review and tips on application.

Disclaimer

Due to the ingredients, this product should only be used occasionally. 

Related posts:

  1. Kari Gran Organic Skin Care Review
  2. Why I’m Choosing Clean Beauty + How to Get Started
  3. Your Skin Will Glow With Tatcha
  4. The No Makeup Look with Pixi by Petra

My Makeup Routine

Beauty Routine

From left to right: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup | Smashbox High Definition Concealer | Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup | Estee Lauder Pure Color Powder Blush | Too Face Better Than Sex Mascara | Vincent Longo Lash Definer Eyelash Comb #2 | M.A.C Lustreglass in Simmon

My makeup routine is pretty basic but I wanted to share what I use and why.

  1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup – I love this foundation and have worn it for years. It provides the best full coverage and gives my skin a flawless appearance.
  2. Smashbox High Definition Concealer– this is the first concealer I’ve purchased. I use it under my eyes for days when I need an extra boost. It minimizes dark circles, puffiness and brightens skin.
  3. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup – to set my foundation I use this press powder with a matte finish. Amazing!
  4. Estee Lauder Pure Color Powder Blush – this blush stays on all day. I wear the Exotic Pink.
  5. Too Face Better Than Sex Mascara – I recently wrote about this item. While I like this mascara, it can be messy. I don’t think it’s necessary to do the third step and apply mascara behind the lash bed. I do two coats and my lashes look big and full.
  6. Vincent Longo Lash Definer Eyelash Comb #2 – after I apply two coats of mascara I use this tool to comb and separate my lashes. The metal teeth help remove mascara buildup or clumps.
  7. M.A.C Lustreglass in Simmon– This may have been my first lip color purchase. It is my all-time favorite. I’ve worn this shade since high school. The color looks good for all occasions, stays on all day, and the formula is not sticky. I rock this gloss with a raisin or burgundy colored lip pencil.

Related posts:

  1. Beauty Haul II
  2. The Hunt For The Perfect Mascara
  3. Drugstore Volume Mascaras: The Good and the Bad
  4. Get Super Straight Hair With the Irresistible Me Flat Iron

The Hunt For The Perfect Mascara

The Hunt for the Perfect Mascara

From left to right: M.A.C Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara//M.A.C In Extreme Dimension – 3D Black Lash Mascara//CoverGirl LashBlast Mega Volume Mascara//Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara//Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll Mascara//Too Face Better Than Sex Mascara

I have always felt like the majority of mascaras were the same, never finding one that was amazing enough to stick with.

Over the past few months, I have scoured the web in search for the perfect mascara. Through product reviews and claims I chose these 6.

  1. M.A.C Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara – lengthens, extends and separates. Formula can be sticky when applying a second coat and I didn’t achieve much volume.
  2. M.A.C In Extreme Dimension – 3D Black Lash Mascara – this mascara is great! It extends length, creates curl and adds volume. I would purchase again.
  3. CoverGirl LashBlast Mega Volume Mascara – this is good mascara and leaves lashes looking full. One drawback – when applying I get mascara on my upper eyelids. I have to wipe with a damp q-tip after applying.
  4. Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara – lengthens and curls but I didn’t get much volume.
  5. Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll Mascara – I love this mascara! Lashes look full and fluttery. However, this one flakes and leaves residue on skin after a few hours.
  6. The winner: Too Face Better Than Sex Mascara – amazing!!! The first time I heard about this mascara was from Emily’s blog The Sweetest Thing. I have always admired her lashes and had to give it a try when she mentioned it. With just two coats, I look like I am wearing false lashes!!!

Watch this video or follow the below steps to apply mascara. Start at 1:12 for full instructions.

  1. Brush the hour glass wand through the lashes from base to tip, giving it a slight push to lashes at the tip.
  2. Roll the brush along the full length of the lashes from base to tip.
  3. Apply mascara both under and over the lash bed to create a “blacker-than-black curled dramatically voluptuous results so amazing it’s better than sex!“

Related posts:

  1. Drugstore Volume Mascaras: The Good and the Bad
  2. How to Find the Perfect Red Lipstick for Your Complexion
  3. Get Super Straight Hair With the Irresistible Me Flat Iron
  4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick

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