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Anti Aging

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Aging Gracefully

Clairol Natural Instincts

I have been dreading the day that I finally have to start coloring my hair! Now, don’t get me wrong, It’s not like I have an entire head full of grey hairs. But I was getting enough that it was getting to the point that I could no longer pluck out the few random ones or cover them lightly with eyeshadow or root touch up spray. I was also on the quest to get my scalp to a healthier place, which means not using a lot of products that cause buildup. *That will be talked about in another post! But trust me, if you want your hair to grow and grow in healthier, your scalp holds the key to growing beautiful locks.

Anyway, the issue I have always had with dying my hair, is the tone that most brunette dyes have. I’m not a fan of the reddish hues that most dark hair dyes have. I also don’t want to color every hair on my head, as I realistically only have between 10-15 grey’s, if that. So I started researching and decided to give Clairol Natural Instincts a try. It’s semi permanent and washes out in 28 shampoos. The issue was this, the first color I tried, 5C Brass Free Medium Brown, was exactly the same as my natural color. I only applied it to my roots, but since it was the same color as my hair, it didn’t do a great job of coloring the grey’s completely. So the next round, I decided to mix in about a 1/4 of a darker dye, 4 Dark Brown,  to the original mixture. That did the trick. I was left with perfectly rich dark chocolate, grey free roots. It blends in so beautifully with the rest of my hair, that It never looks colored at all. I usually get the full 4 weeks out of the product, but I have gone as long as 5 1/2 weeks without the need to touch up! I can honestly say, this has been a game changer for me. My hair is so much healthier and is finally starting to grow again…and I don’t have grey’s, so that’s the icing on the cake!

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Make Up

Amazing Cosmetics Line Smoother + Primer

Primers are such a must for beautiful, flawless looking skin. I never do my makeup without first applying a primer. Since I have super dry skin, I’m always looking for a primer that tends to lock in moisture and keeps my skin looking dewy and fresh all day long. I’m an avid user on the Amazing Cosmetics Anti Aging Primer but was super excited when I had the opportunity to try their Line Smoother + Primer.

Amazing Cosmetics Line Smoother + Primer is formulated with Neodermyl, that consists of powerful and concentrated blend of peptides, ceramides and botanicals to help smooth, firm and hydrate your skin, delivering long-lasting results. The rollerball applicator also provides a soothing and cooling effect as it massages the skin. Not only are you getting the short term effects of flawless skin, this primer is actually treating your skin and imperfections while it primes. I truly love how refreshing it is when applying it under my tired eyes.

This particular primer is a bit thicker in consistency than the Amazing Cosmetics Anti Aging Primer that is my holy grail but, I actually love to use the two together. Since my skin is often times dehydrated, I like using the Anti Aging Primer on my forehead, nose and my chin, while using the Line Smoother Primer on my laugh lines, cheeks and under eyes. The Line Smoothing Primer does a great job of filling in my pores and fine lines, while the Anti Aging Primer keeps everything dewy and fresh! At my age, my makeup is only as good as my skin and my preparation prior to application is the key to beautiful makeup. I will NEVER be without a primer, ever. It’s as simple as that!

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Make Up

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Foundation

On my latest mission to find a great replacement for my beloved Dolce & Gabbana Lifting Foundation (that has become increasing impossible for me to get my hands on) I think I may have just found my new Holy Grail! Giorgio Armani’s Lifting Foundation. Can I just quickly say, this aging thing definitely has it’s upsides, but the struggle is real for the downsides tool! Well, at least for the constant battle of searching for the fountain of youth. Sigh.

When it comes to my favorite foundations, I’m constantly searching for not only a foundation that gives me medium to full buildable coverage, but also a foundation that doesn’t settle into my fine lines or accentuate my dry skin. On my latest mission to replace my D&G staple foundation, I ran across some mixed reviews on the Armani Lift Foundation. In the past, I was a HUGE fan of Armani’s Designer Shape Cream Foundation, which was one of the BEST foundations I have ever used to date. When Armani decided to discontinue this foundation, many people (Kim Kardashian included) started scrambling to stock up on every last jar in existence. Story has it, that Kim K. even contacted Giorgio Armani himself to get her hands on as many jars as possible! Yes, it was that good. So fast forward to today. After researching great foundations for mature skin (yes, I may have just cringed at using the word mature) because there it NOT a mature attribute about me (at least behavior wise). I then ran across the Armani Lifting Foundation. It seemed to have everything I was looking for in a foundation. It was medium to full buildable coverage, it didn’t settle in fine lines and it was actually great for us dry skinned girls. BINGO! Now to find a store that actually carried this little gem.

I was able to locate the Armani Lifting Foundation at my local Nordstrom. I had done my research extensively and I had basically pinpointed what my color would suit my skin tone by some other reviews I had read online. I also found it a bit odd, that this specific foundation had a very limited range of colors. Could it be that this foundation is also on it’s way to becoming extinct? Limited availability and color range is usually a tall tale sign of what’s to come. SO, when I was approached by the salesgirl at Nordstrom, I was a tad bit disappointed when she barely knew the product line, or even very little about this specific foundation itself. Like I said, since I had done my own research, I basically color matched and confirmed the shade I needed, which is 5.5. It is a perfect match for my more medium than light skin tone and definitely more yellow based, which is what I prefer.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Now onto the application. As you already know, I never do my make up without first applying a primer. And with this foundation, it was no different. Since I am currently using the Dermalogica Skinsmart anti aging primer, that is what I used. After slightly pressing my primer into my skin, I used my Real Techniques foundation brush to get the perfect coverage. I did try using my Beauty Blender the next day, but felt the foundation worked better with a brush in my opinion. This foundation worked beautifully with my Tarte Shape Tape and after setting my face using a damp beauty blender and my RCMA No-Color powder, I was left with virtually flawless skin. The Armani Lifting Foundation does a great job of staying put and it also did not settle in my fine lines. It also looks amazing in pictures. This foundation is a keeper for now, but I’m hoping and praying that someone comes out with another stellar full coverage foundation for aging skin in the near future. When I find something that works, I definitely stick with it, but in life, it’s always good to have options!

 

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LA girl Hd foundation
Make Up

L.A. Girl Pro Coverage HD Illuminating Foundation

First and foremost, let me apologize for my month(s) long absence. SO much has been happening behind the scenes and one day I will share with you and it will all make sense. But for now, let’s get on to this long overdue review!

I must admit, that although I love a great drugstore bargain, I have NEVER, EVER used a drugstore foundation in my life. As you know, I’m a diehard fan of my beloved Dolce & Gabbana Creamy Foundation. But after watching a handful of YouTube videos where vloggers raved about this foundation. I thought, “What do I have to lose?” Worse case scenario is I’m out of $9. But even most drugstores take back cosmetics these days if you’re unsatisfied. So, after stumbling across this L.A. Girl Pro Coverage HD Illuminating Foundation I had been hearing all of this hype about, I decided to snatch up my own bottle in the shade NUDE BEIGE. I had read that the color choice in this foundation can be a bit challenging, so I went with a color that seemed to look pretty close to my Dolce & Gabbana foundation color of Warm 100.

Now on to the application. I started with my usual Anti Aging Primer by Amazing Cosmetics and then I blended away with my beauty blender. At first, I thought there was no way I could pull off this shade, as it appeared way too dark. Even with my self tanner, it still seemed a coupe shades darker than my go to. But let me just say, the consistency of this foundation is phenomenal. It disperses from the pump in a pretty runny fashion, but boy does this stuff cover. It covers any pigmentation I have on my face and quickly covers any blemishes. For the areas on my checks where I have a bit more dark spots, I lightly applied a second thin layer and it covered EVERYTHING. I usually have to go back in and spot conceal, but not with this miracle foundation.

Once I applied my concealer, my face did lighten up color wise. I then applied my La Mer (original formula) loose translucent powder with my damp Real Techniques beauty blender and my skin looked flawless and airbrushed. I have also used this foundation with my Dolce & Gabbana Pressed powder with equally impressive results. I just needed to set it with a setting spray to get it to melt into the skin a bit more. By this point, the fact that the foundation was slightly too dark when I started off, had all but left my mind. My skintone was warmed up and I did not feel the need to apply my usual bronzer. Although I still contoured around the parameter of my face, the color and finish looked great.

I would say that this foundation my be a miss for anyone with oily skin, as it does seem quite hydrating. By the end of the day, I do feel the need to powder it down a bit more, but it never sets in my fine lines or wrinkles.

One more quick fact about this foundation is, it comes in a white shade as well. I LOVE this idea. This gives you the ability to quickly change the color of your foundation with a few quick drops. I have yet to try it myself, but I will definitely be picking one up as we head into Winter. I feel as though this trick and formula will work beautifully with all of my other favorite foundations. Stay tuned…and I will let you know how that works out!

Thanks again for your patience and support during my lack of posts. It means the world to me that you stuck around!

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Make Up

Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Luminous Liquid Foundation

It’s no surprise my NEW favorite foundation is by Dolce & Gabbana. I just can’t seem to find another foundation that I love as much as theirs. Dolce & Gabbana’s Perfect Luminous Foundation is simply perfection in a bottle. I know you probably get tired of me raving about my Dolce products, but seriously, I don’t think I’ve met a product of theirs yet that I don’t adore, and this foundation is no different. It definitely has a lighter feel that my usual Prefect Creamy Foundation, but it’s every bit as good and it’s name basically says it all. It makes my skin look perfectly luminous and I love the fact that it doesn’t dry out my already dehydrated complexion. I do use this foundation over my usual anti-aging primer by Amazing Cosmetics so it helps keep my makeup looking fresh all day without having to touch up at all. I wear the color Natural Glow 100 (for reference I’m an NC-25 in MAC) and it has the perfect amount of warmth to it and definitely livens up my skin. I have been using my new favorite foundation brush (stay tuned to see which one it is) to blend my foundation. The two together give me an airbrushed, picture perfect face! Now…”Say Cheese:)”

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