Dior Lip Liners are Amazeballs

I'm not the hugest fan of Dior Cosmetics, so if it hadn't been for LisaLisaD1's constant chatter about how amazing the Dior lip liners are I probably would never have tried them.  If any of you are familiar with LisaLisaD1's videos than you know that she is a woman who knows her lip liners.  I have never seen someone with so many lip liners that they could devote an entire 28 minute video to discussing the subject.  28 minutes... I know it is silly to get so excited about a lip liner during these times but a little levity is required! 

Anyhoo I'm thrilled to have found these gems!  Dior's lip liners are no hard, drying pencil which suck the life out of your lips.  These liners are amazeballs.  That woman is right.  Nothing lasts longer on the lips.  I apply the liner in the morning and it keeps whatever lipstick I am wearing on for much, much longer than otherwise, and even when the lipstick fades the liner is still left behind!  They do not budge!  They easily last through drinking which is not something I typically experience!

The color selection is equally amazeballs.  I had trouble deciding which to take home.  I chose Linen, a brownish nude, and Natural Beige a peach toned nude.  Both colors are gorgeous and go with most of my nude and light lip colors.  I find that Linen is so close to my natural lip color that I can wear this with reds and other darker shades.  The pencils are your traditional sharpener required tip with a brush on the other end.  I have used the brush to blend in the line and it works well.  A sharpener is also included with each liner. 

L to R: Linen, Natural Beige

After trying these liners out, I don't see the point in wearing lipstick without them because they just help the lipstick to last so much longer.  Plus the liners are comfortable to wear, and apply easily.  I want at least 2 more shades- Earth and Sparkling Beige.  The Dior lip liners retail for $29 which is pricey but well worth it!  These liners are not available at Sephora, but at Dior counters. 

The Magic Pot: Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

If you have any skin concerns then get a cup of coffee, sit down, and READ this.  Because you NEED this.  This being the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, or as I like to refer to it, my magic pot.

My recent episode of break outs left me with acne scars which no concealer or full coverage foundation seemed to cover. Or, if the coverage was good then it didn't last all day and I was left with spotty skin unless I touched up. Forever on the search for something better, I thought about the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer but was intimidated by its dense, thick consistency.  It seemed like spackle!   But after accumulating a few Space NK points, I decided to try it out.  Best.  Decision.  Ever.    

The Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is a base product that can be used as a foundation or concealer.  There are a variety of shades from very light to very dark, with a variety of undertones to suit most skin tones.  For an excellent picture with swatches of all the shades, click on The Beauty Professor.  Since I primarily wanted to use this product as a foundation or concealer for acne scars, I chose a shade as close to my skin tone as possible and went with SX11, a medium to dark beige with golden undertones.  The product itself comes in a tiny pot with a LOT (18 gm) of product.  

The product itself is very dense and thick like a pot concealer.  The product is so densely pigmented that you would need only a pinhead size amount to conceal scars or blemishes.  To use as a foundation you would need again a very small amount, much less than a traditional "pump" of foundation to cover your entire face.  The product is extremely versatile- it can be mixed with moisturizer or lighter foundations for a sheerer finish, or used as is.  It can also be applied with fingers to warm up the product and make it easier to blend, or with a brush.  I found that for concealing a small brush worked best since fingers pick up too much product and then using the fingers to blend the product into the skin.  To use as a foundation, a stippling or buffing brush works best.  I use the Sephora Mineral Powder brush to stipple a very thin layer of product over my problem areas, and it covers flawlessly.  FLAWLESSLY.  I applied this only over my problem areas and blended it in with the brush, and left other good areas of my skin bare.  Another great method is to use this product as a concealer and apply first, followed by a tinted moisturizer on top for a blended look. This can also help if the color match is not perfect.  The pictures below are unretouched, and without any other concealer or foundation.  I think they speak for themselves!  Normally, I wouldn't even think of posting pictures of my skin without makeup, but I am so excited about this product and I really wanted to share the amazing results with you!  

On close inspection, the finish is satin and looks like skin.  The coverage lasts all day without need for touch ups.  I do think this product works best over a primer to help it blend into the skin more seamlessly.  Setting with powder also helps to keep the makeup in place.  From reading other reviews, some mentioned a displeasing scent to this product but to my nose there is no discernible scent.  

Bare face

Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Only

Full face of makeup, concealer only under the eyes

There is a learning curve with this product in the sense that you can not just slap it on with a traditional foundation brush, or use it with your fingers straight from the pot and blend it into your skin.  It is too dense for that.  The key to using this product is to use a VERY small amount, less than a traditional foundation or concealer, and use a stippling or buffing brush to really work the product into the skin.  I would also recommend working on small areas of the face at a time.  This tiny pot, with 18gm of product, retails for $45 and will probably last a lifetime.  I have been using it daily since I purchased it, and there is no dent in sight.  This is by far the best product I have ever used to cover up acne scars, and is my holy grail!  I am so happy to have found something that provides enough coverage, but still allows you to have natural looking skin.  I will never be without it.  I highly, highly recommend it! 

No Solid Food for 3 Days!? My Experience With The BluePrint Cleanse

This is a different type of post on Product Doctor, but one I hope will be helpful! After a month of what most would call "excess"- excess drinking, excess eating, traveling and all the other joys of life I was feeling fairly grubby.  I felt tired, bloated, and my skin was having the worst breakout in a long time! I really wanted to do something drastic- but healthy- to help me get back on track!  Enter the BluePrint Cleanse.

A bit about me- I would describe myself as fairly healthy- I try to workout 3-4 times a week and watch what I eat, but I definitely indulge in a cheeseburger and fries every now and then, and I love my wine! So the idea of a cleanse was intimidating to say the least!  I just didn't think it was something I could realistically stick to given how much I love to eat!  I mean no solid food for 3 days!? Are these people crazy!? And you have to pay them!? A snapshot of my thoughts. 

There are 3 levels of cleanses offered by BluePrint and each can be done at your desired length.  I chose the Foundation Cleanse, which is the middle of the road option, for 3 days.  In the Foundation Cleanse you consume 6 juices per day, at your own pace with water or herbal tea as often as you like.  You receive 3 green juices, 1 fruit juice, 1 spicy lemonade, and 1 cashew milk.  

Green juices: romaine, apple, celery, cucumber, spinach, kale, parsley and lemon. 
Fruit juice: pineapple, apple and mint.  
Spicy lemonade: water, lemons, agave nectar, and cayenne pepper.  
Cashew milk: water, cashews, agave nectar, cinnamon and vanilla.  

Day 1: I woke up and had my first green juice- ever.  It was not as bad as I expected, and tasted mostly like apple.  Still this was no Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte.  The pineapple juice and spicy lemonade were much better, but my favorite was the cashew milk.  I could at least pretend that was an Iced Grande Soy Chai.  I felt extremely tired and sluggish all day, and by 5pm I was ready for a nap! I was out cold for 2 hours!  Around 7pm my friend called to meet her for happy hour!  I thought about saying no, but she had a friend there she wanted me to meet so cleanse or not, I had to go! To my surprise (and everyone else's), I only had a couple sips of vodka soda and even by midnight I wasn't hungry.  

Day 2:  I slept in until 11 am, and I am an early riser.  I can't remember the last time I slept in so long!  Day 2 was much better in terms of getting the juices down.  I also drank more water which is important for keeping your system flushed, and I didn't feel hungry all day.  However I still felt sluggish, tired and bloated.  I ended up taking another 2 hour nap in the afternoon. That night, I woke up with body aches which was unusual.  I took a couple Advil and went back to sleep. 

Day 3:  I was really happy that it was the last day.  I missed my coffee!  My Saturday morning ritual of coffee and LisaLisaD1 was not the same with a bottle of leaf juice.  I thought I'd be dreaming about french fries and wine, but it's coffee I miss the most!  I had more energy than the previous 2 days and even contemplated working out (but no actual exercise took place).  By 10pm, after my cashew milk, I was hungry.  I'm not sure if it was the fact that I was so close to being done, but my stomach was growling!  I broke down and had an apple and went to bed.


Post cleanse: I woke up today feeling great that I finished the cleanse fairly successfully!  The first thing I did was get some coffee, but I put soy milk and agave in it instead of skim and splenda.  I had so much energy today, went for a run and generally just felt really healthy.  I lost 3 lbs. which I realize is probably water weight, but still makes me feel like my cleanse was a success.  I think the biggest difference is that I feel like I have "reset" my body and so I feel more conscious of what I put into it.  I went through my refrigerator and pantry and made sure there was no junk.  Then I went to the grocery store for hurricane Sandy preparations but filled my cart with healthy options.  I definitely don't want all my hard work to be for nothing!  Hopefully this will be the start for me to be more consistent about maintaining a healthy lifestyle!

Bottom line: I think the BluePrint Cleanse was a great experience.  I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in a cleanse, and I would do it again before a big event or if I felt myself slipping up. 

Have you tried a cleanse before?  What was your experience? 

Disclaimer: I purchased this cleanse with my own funds and was in no way compensated for this post! 

Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush (No. 2)

I apologize in advance for the slew of Tom Ford posts coming your way! I'm becoming a bit obsessed.  I've been coveting some Tom Ford brushes for a long time, and when I finally succumbed I decided to start with the Number 2 Cream Foundation Brush.  What appealed to me most about this brush is the short stubby head (now there is a statement you don't hear very often).

The Cream Foundation brush has short bristles that are densely compacted.  The ferrule is flattened at the tip to give a wide but short brush head.  The bristles are soft and of natural hair.  I'm no brush aficionado- I refer you to The Non Blonde for true expertise, but this is by far the softest brush I own.  The hairs are so soft and so densely packed that any foundation you decide to use with it has no choice but to be seamlessly blended into submission.

The head is firm, but does give slightly with movement.  The shape is perfect for a quick all over application and hard to get areas like around the nose and under the eyes.  Though designed for the Cream Foundation, I have used this with my liquid foundations as well and the result is flawless.  Flawless! I'm talking no brush strokes, no streaks, no nothing. The only downside (yes after all even Ryan Gossling has a downside, though I'll admit that I don't know what that is) is that because the hairs are natural I do find the brush soaks up some product.  For instance I use 2 full pumps of foundation as opposed to 1 and a half with other methods.  

In terms of cleaning, I did wash this brush already with my usual face wash method and it cleaned completely with no staining of the brush hairs.  The pictures were taken after the brush was used and cleaned once.  The shape is exactly the same as before use.  I did notice a few hairs shed the first time I used the brush with a liquid foundation, but I did not experience shedding after the first time. I'm not sure if others have experience shedding with this brush.  

This foundation brush is right up there with my Shiseido foundation brush which has been my favorite thus far.  The result is equally flawless with both brushes, but the Tom Ford brush is much softer and gentler on the skin which makes me feel more comfortable using this under my eyes.  The Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush, like all things Tom Ford, will set you back $70.  It is an investment but with proper care should last a lifetime (this is how I justify such things).  

Do you have any Tom Ford brushes? What do you think of them?

Another Vamp Lipstick Post: Tom Ford Black Orchid

Certain lipsticks are iconic.  Chanel Red, Mac Ruby Woo and now Tom Ford Black Orchid.  They need no description. Most beauty lovers know the shade whether they have seen it in person or not.  The lipsticks evoke images of the beauties who wore them and wearing them leaves us feeling chic, sophisticated and dramatic.  Who doesn't want to feel that?

I fully embrace the vamp lipstick trend which seems to come every autumn/ winter.  I felt a surge of excitement when I saw the color on several celebrities during this year's Met Gala in the summer.  I love how it looks goth but in a modern way.  I love vamp shades on everyone- from the palest of skins to the deepest.  I love the complexity of Black Orchid- it is a little bit wine, and a little bit blackened burgundy.  You already know how I feel about the Tom Ford Lipstick formula- by far my favorite.  Black Orchid is no exception.

Vamp lipsticks are the perfect winter time alternative to red.  It is something different but equally as powerful.  There are so many gorgeous vamp lipsticks available now at every price point.  My advice is to pick one up in your favorite lipstick formula.  If you don't mind a splurge then get Tom Ford's Black Orchid- it will leave you feeling bold and sensuous. 

Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in #5

Giorgio Armani makes some of the best blushes- they are soft, fine and have just the right amount of pigmentation to make them easy to blend and wear.  In short, the Armani blushes are effortless.  I am always on the search for a barely there blush and Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in #5 is perfect.

The color is a pale dusty pink but is neutral when blended out.  When I first spotted this I thought it would be way too light or my skin tone.  When I swatched it I was definitely hesitant about the color working on me.  However when applied to the cheeks, it completely changes from the color of the swatch.  It becomes a beautiful barely there pink that provides the faintest hint of color to my cheeks.  The color is noticeable to my eye when applied to my skin, but on fairer skins the color will be much more visible.  It is the perfect shade for days when you don't want to bother with too much color on the cheeks and want something neutral and simple.  I like to wear this with a strong eye and nude lip.  I also like to wear this with a contoured cheek when I want the emphasis to be on the contour rather than color.  

Compared to other blushes in my collection, Armani #5 at first reminded me of Nars Doucer, another gorgeous barely there shade, but Doucer leans much more rose.  Armani Sheer Blush in #6 is a much darker, vibrant rosy pink.  It was hard to photograph but I included a picture of this color applied to the apple of my cheek.  

Swatch blended out

L to R: Nars Doucer, Armani #5, Armani #6

L to R: Nars Doucer, Armani #5, Armani #6

Those with fairer skins will love the natural beauty of this shade.  Those with deeper skin tones should definitely try this one on before passing it up!  This shade won't give you a "pop" of color on your cheeks, but will rather be a faint way to perk up your complexion.  Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in #5 retails for $44 for 6g.  

Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation

I am a foundation addict.  Foundation and skin care is definitely where my love for beauty began.  I just love trying new foundations and formulas, and so today I bring you Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation SPF 15.  

A bit of background- for some reason the past few weeks I have been experiencing horrible breakouts!  I believe the culprit was Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate which contains shea butter and beeswax.  I have since stopped using it, but was traveling recently which often wreaks havoc on my skin.  To make matters more complicated, my skin is dry.  So, I was looking for a full coverage foundation that was moisturizing and not matte in finish.  The Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation seemed perfect.  

I have been using this foundation solely for the past week since I purchased it and I can whole heartedly say that I love it!  I had wanted to try one of Bobbi's foundations for a while now because the color range is excellent, and yellow based, which is perfect for my skin tone.  I often find that foundations are too "brown" or "neutral" and don't blend in with my skin coloring as perfectly as I would like.  The color often matches, but the tone is off which I hate because I do like the golden undertones in my skin.  Bobbi's range of shades is perfect for those with warm undertones, and I was matched to Number 5 Honey which is absolutely perfect.  Finally a foundation shade that works right out of the bottle with no mixing required!  Love!

The foundation is marketed as a medium to full coverage foundation with moisturizing benefits for those with normal to dry skin.  The formula is very "liquidy" and almost "runny" which was interesting for a full coverage formula.  It glides on to the skin seamlessly and feels very silky and smooth to the touch.  I did find this to fill in my pores and smooth them out.  This foundation easily provides a medium coverage which is buildable to full in areas where you need it.  The finish will largely depend on how dry your skin is.  On days when my skin was dry, or feeling tight with dry patches, the foundation seemed to sink right into my skin leaving a natural satin finish.  On days when my skin was more normal or hydrated the finish was dewy.  The lasting power will also depend on your skin type.  When my skin was on the drier side, this foundation easily lasted all day until I was ready to take it off and required no touch ups.  On more normal skin days, I did set this with a powder and the coverage lasted all day, again with no touch ups.  I did not use a primer with this foundation.

The packaging of this product is less than ideal, as there is no pump.  However, on the Bobbi Brown website it does say that new packaging is being introduced for this product so I suspect (and hope) that a pump will be added.  

I really love the finish of this foundation and find it hydrating and comfortable on my dry skin.  This will certainly be a regular in my rotation as the weather cools!  I definitely would recommend this to anyone who has dry skin, or dry patches that often are exacerbated with foundation.  The Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation retails for $46 for 30 ml/ 1 oz.  

Le Metier de Beaute GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

The winner for my Le Metier de Beaute Bella Bronze/ Traviata Duo Giveaway is Christina Dragan!  Congratulations, Christina!  

Thank you again to all who entered, and to all my readers for your support!

More Tom Ford Goodies (A Guilty Post)

A week ago on Twitter I spoke about a small Tom Ford haul I did and here are the rest of the items I purchased during said binge!  I really hate to say how much I love the Tom Ford line, and that does not mean that I think his items necessarily justify the price tag.  However hesitant I was at first, I really do love his edited collection and feel that there are some really interesting gems!  

I think that one of the most interesting items in the collection is the Shade and Illuminate Cream Contour and Highlighter duo, which I purchased in Intensity 1.  I have had my eye on this item for a while now, and finally took the plunge!  I also purchased the Shade and llluminate brush (Number 4) and the Cream Foundation Brush (Number 2).  The brushes are absolutely gorgeous and so soft!  I also picked up another lip gloss in Pink Guilt because the color is such a natural, but sparkly shade despite how it looks in the tube.  The Tom Ford lip glosses are sticky, but I don't mind because they do last longer on the lips.  The last item I purchased was the Illuminating Concealer Pen in Amber Eclat.  I am nearly finished with my YSL Touch Eclat and so I felt this was something new to try.  

The last item on my Tom Ford wish list is the Eyebrow Pencil but that will have to wait for the new year...what lofty goals I create for myself.  

Sephora Haul

Starting today I am going on a makeup no buy for 3 months, so until January 1.  So it is a good thing I picked up a few goodies to tide me over! I have been purchasing way too much makeup lately so this self-imposed ban is necessary! 

Some items I picked up are the Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo, which is a repurchase for me.  I originally used the Oscar Blandi Invisible Pronto Dry Shampoo spray but it did not absorb the oil in my hair as well as I would have liked so I switched to the powder formula.  This dry shampoo is definitely the best I have ever used- it absorbs the oil, leaves your hair feeling clean, and does not leave any gray or white cast to my hair! I can not live without this stuff!  I also picked up a new foundation, the Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation.  I have been wanting to try one of Bobbi's foundations since the color range is yellow based, it really matches my skin tone perfectly.  I wanted something moisturizing and that provided medium to full coverage without being matte, and this foundation has all of that!  

I also picked up the Anastasia Brow Duality Pencil which is a brow highlighting pencil with both a matte and shimmery side.  I got the small size of the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer which everyone raves about, and the Nars Blush in Gaiety.  I don't have any bright pink blushes so this purchase seemed justified!  

I purchased a Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow in Sand Stone which is a nice neutral color that I think will be a good base.  It seems similar to MAC Quite Natural Paint Pot but I'm tired of Paint Pots!  I picked up 2 lipsticks, one from the new Dior Nude line in Grege, which is the perfect peachy pink my lips but better shade, and one from Bite Beauty in Salut. I have been dying to try one of the Bite lippies for a while now so I'm excited about to see how this feels!  Last but not least I picked up the Dior Nude Hydrating Concealer because my undereyes seem so dry lately and this seemed to cover and hydrate at the same time.

All in all I am really excited to try out my new purchases!  I have about 3-4 lipsticks on their way out so I think adding a couple was ok...

What have you been purchasing lately?  Don't forget to enter my LMdB GIveaway!  It's easy and free!

First Date Makeup

Remember how I said I plan my makeup?  Well sad as it may be to admit it, I was not kidding!  I have a first date tonight and after much research into first date makeup looks I've taken advice from the Queen, Lisa Eldridge and pulled some items to recreate the look! 

If you follow me on Twitter than you may have heard that I did an enormous small Tom Ford Haul this past weekend, and so far I am loving what I picked up!  I purchased the Illuminating Protective Primer to help create a glowing complexion.  I plan to wear the Tom Ford Traceless Foundation because it is sheer and looks luminous and natural.  I also have the Traceless Foundation Stick to use on areas that need a bit more coverage to help create a flawless complexion.  The Tom Ford Translucent Powder is nice for setting the makeup so it lasts all night.  It is also perfect to take with you for touch ups because it actually comes with a BRUSH instead of useless sponge!  I like the Jane Iredale Active Light Undereye Concealer because it has all the benefits of a light reflective concealer, but it actually provides coverage as well!  I think healthy and luminous skin is the most important aspect of first date makeup! 

I plan to keep brows extremely natural just using a very small amount of my Chanel Brow Pencil in Brun Cendre to fill in a few gaps, and Anastasia Clear Brow Gel to keep the hairs in place.  For the rest of the skin, my research informed me that cream products are the way to go since they blend easily into the skin and create a natural glow.  I like the Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in Poppy for a bright pink cheek, and the Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in Number 5 to help tone down the color.  The Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Sunlight is a gorgeous cream highlight that you can tell I adore!

The second most important part of a first date look is the eyes!  I plan to keep define them with my Chanel Quad in Prelude, and I can't live without my Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black Ink for my upper lash line.  The Chanel Waterproof Liner in Ebene is my trusty tool for the waterline as I know it doesn't budge!  My favorite mascara is Armani Eyes To Kill, and I don't know how I lived without the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara because it is the only mascara I can use on my lower lashes that doesn't smudge.  

The lips are kept simple, with the Chanel Lip Liner in Natural followed by Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick in Rose Piquant. Interestingly, I had this Guerlain lipstick on my Blog Sale and after it didn't sell I took another look at it and thank goodness I have this baby!  This is the perfect date night lipstick because it is moisturizing and comfortable to wear, the color is sheer but noticeable, and it is easy to apply without a mirror and without a mess!  

L to R: Rose Piqant, Chanel Natural, EB Sunlight, GA #5, LMdB Poppy, Chanel Ebene, Chanel Prelude

It's a good thing the men don't know how many products it takes to create the natural look! I hope you guys enjoyed reading this type of post and it inspires you to create some date looks to share with us!  I am getting a bit tired of product reviews at the moment and I know I mentioned many products I haven't talked about in depth on this blog, but I will get to them soon!  In the meantime I think you get a sense of what I like since I am trusting these items for an important night! Wish me luck!

Have you entered my Giveaway??? It's easy and the prize is from Le Metier de Beaute!