Makeup For Life - Beauty Blog, Makeup Tutorials, Product Reviews, Celebrity Makeup, Beauty Advice » my beauty routine/secrets

My Favorite Top 5 MAC Lipsticks

Phyllis — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:15:58 +0000

Ever since my lipstick addiction started in 2007, MAC lipsticks have been my go-to for a pretty pout. I love how they come in all sorts of colors and finishes (perfect for experimenting!) and are super affordable at just $14.50. See my top 5 must-have MAC lipsticks from the permanent line after the jump!

#1 Girl About Town
One of my very first bright lipsticks, Girl About Town is a gorgeous bright fuchsia in the Amplified formula. Love the creamy, non-drying texture and the contrasts it adds to my dark hair.

#2 Russian Red
There is a reason why this matte blue-based red is loved by many, including Dita Von Teese and Christina Aguilera. Not only does the classic red adds instant glamour, its cool undertones can also help make your teeth appear whiter.

#3 Creme D’Nude
Thanks to its pink undertones, this “pale muted peach beige” in the Cremesheen formula is great for a no-brainer nude lip without washing me out.

#4 Modesty
The secret behind that my-lips-but-better look in my profile picture? Modesty, a warm neutral with pink undertones in the Cremesheen formula.

#5 Saint Germain
Every girl should own a barbie pink lipstick and Saint Germain is my favorite from MAC’s permanent range. The cool-based “clean pastel pink” color in the Amplified formula goes on super pigmented so all you need is a few dabs to turn heads.

Are you a fan of MAC lipsticks too? What are some of YOUR favorites?

MAC Lipstick is available at MAC counters, www.maccosmetics.com and Nordstrom for $14.50.

My Favorite Top Glitter Eyeshadow Must-Haves

Phyllis — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:26:35 +0000

With all those holiday parties coming up, you MUST throw on some glitter eye makeup, which by the way, is super hot right now. Need a few recs? Below are a few of my favorite glitter shadows that will bling you up in no time!

#1 NYX Glitter Cream Palette ($5.50)
One of my newly must-haves, NYX Glitter Cream Palettes come in 12 gorgeous sets of 5 gel-based glitters that can be used on the eyes, cheeks and lips. Pat them on top of a powder shadow and voila! Super sparkly effect with no mess!

#2 Revlon Diamond Lust Eyeshadow ($4.99)
The Diamond Lust Eyeshadows made their debut in the Gucci Westman Expressionists Fall 2011 collection. Each is packed with TONS of glitter and with a primer like my favorite NARS Pro Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base, you will get great pigmentation and staying power. But the best part? The shadows only retail $4.99 so you can get as glitter-tastic as you want without breaking the bank!

#3 NARS Night Series Eyeshadow ($23)
From my first Night Fairy eyeshadow to my latest Night Series Palette, I have been a fan of NARS Night Series shadows for years. Love them for their irresistibly beautiful colors and excellent pigmentation.

NARS Night Series Palette

#4 myface.cosmetics Blingtone Single Eyeshadow ($18)
Used during London Fashion Week and on stars like Kylie Minogue and Victoria Beckham, these glitter shadows from the UK are a great way to add bling bling to your eyes minus any fallout. They also lasted over 10 hours at a rave party and without a primer underneath too!

What are some of YOUR favorite glitter eyeshadows? Learn how to wear glitter on the eyes!

Like this post? See My Favorite Top 5 Neutral Eyeshadows For Brown Eyes!

My Favorite Top 5 Neutral Eyeshadows For Brown Eyes

Phyllis — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:30:30 +0000

Having one of those lazy days but want a bit of color on the eyes? Neutral eyeshadow is your best bet and below are the top 5 colors I always reach for.

#1 NARS Brousse Duo Eyeshadow ($33)
This soft, shimmery earthy brown from the NARS Holiday 2009 Collection is not only great as a wash on the lid, but can also be used to fill in the eyebrows. Plus the duo comes with an equally gorgeous plum so you can smoke things up in an instant.

Swatches and more pictures here.

#2 MAC Satin Taupe Eyeshadow ($14.50)
Described as a “taupe with silver shimmer”, I have been wearing and loving this gorgeous color since 2002. I love that it is light enough for day but you can instantly dial up the drama by going heavier with the liner and mascara .

#3 NYX Iced Mocha Jumbo Eye Pencil ($4.50)
Pencils are always a fast and easy way to add color to your eyes and Iced Mocha is a shimmery cool taupe that I love using on my lower lashline. It gives my eyes that extra pop without the harshness of black liner.

Swatches and more pictures here.

#4 Bobbi Brown Stone Long-wear Cream Shadow ($22)
This fool-proof brownish taupe goes on like a cream but dries off to a matte finish that will stay on all day without creasing or fading. Perfect as a shadow and a base!

#5 Pixi Softly Smoky Eyes Palette ($9.99)
This limited-edition palette from the Pixi Holiday 2009 Collection contains a variety of shimmery warm-toned beiges and browns and is still one of my favorites to create a quick, easy look. If you missed out on the palette, fret not! Pixi always comes out with neutral sets during the holiday season so just keep an eye out for them at Target.

Swatches and more pictures here.

What are some of your must-have neutral eyeshadows? Tell us!

My Killer Combo To Get Rid Of Blackheads

Phyllis — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 04:46:18 +0000

While I have been blessed with semi-clear skin (thanks Mom and Dad), wearing makeup on a daily basis has given me quite a few nasty blackheads that I constantly struggle to get rid of. So after watching the Live Chat Q&A with ELLE beauty editor Emily Dougherty, I decided to take her advice and try both chemical and physical exfoliation and I think I finally found my perfect blackhead killer combo!

*Step 1. Use a cleanser with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid has been widely known to exfoliate and unclog pores so start using a cleanser with a 1-2% concentration to clean and exfoliate.

* Step 2. Exfoliate physically. The fastest way to smooth away dead skin is through physical exfoliation. Look for products that contain jojoba beads, salt, sugar, synthetic micro-beads etc. and remember to make sure the particles are fine so they do not irritate your skin.

* Step 3. Apply a thin layer of Benzoyl Peroxide. Thanks to its ability to rid the follicle of excess dead skin cells and introduce oxygen into the pore, Benzoyl Peroxide has been commonly used in acne treatment products like Proactiv and Clearasil to kill acne-causing bacteria. Stick with a 2.5% concentration for everyday use.

Below is the products I use for my blackhead killer combo:

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Cream Wash
+
H20 Plus Sea Pure Gentle Refining Polish
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Paula’s Choice Clear 3-Step Acne Fighting Treatment

I have been using this combo everyday for a week now and I swear at least 90% of my blackheads have completely vanished! So try it out and let me know if it works for you too. Would love to hear feedback!

* One word of caution, over-exfoliation can dry out the skin. If you experience flakes or peeling, remember to moisturize with an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer. You can also ease your way in slowly, i.e. using the combo once every 2-3 days before doing it every day. And as always, skincare regimen is a personal thing. What works on me may or may not work on everyone else so please use with discretion.

My Latest Skincare Regimen

Phyllis — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:46:21 +0000

Since November is National Healthy Skin Month, I want to start a series of skincare posts to promote the importance of being good to your skin.

Now I don’t believe in using a ton of products or spending hundreds to get healthy skin, but I do believe in splurging on the basics when necessary. So below is a humble list of products I have been using to keep my dehydrated combo skin in best condition.

In The AM
* Sana Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Lighter Toner applied with Japanese Facial Cotton Pads
* Origins Brighter by Nature SPF 35 Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer
* Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Eye Creme

In The PM
* Kanebo Sensai Silk Purifying Cleansing Oil
* Kanebo Sensai Creamy Soap
* Botanics Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover
* Sana Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Lighter Toner applied with Japanese Facial Cotton Pads
* Bobbi Brown Hydrating Gel Cream
* Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Eye Creme and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex (I alternate between the two)
* Latisse

I also use the following scrubs and masks 1-2 times a week:

* Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System
* Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator
* Boscia Luminizing Black Mask
* Various sheet masks like myfaceworks, my beautiful diary, Kose and Kanebo

Tell me what you are using too!