valentine's day makeup

I don't usually "celebrate" Valentine's Day, but my husband surprised me by letting me know that he made reservations at a Japanese restaurant for dinner that day! Here's what I'm planning on wearing, beauty-wise:

1. Base: The Face Shop CC Cream in no. 2
2. Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose
3. Lips: Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Demure
4. Eyes: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette in Booty Call, Chopper, and Tease
5. Eyes: Heroine Make Long and Curl Mascara
6. Eyes: MSH Love Liner in Rich Black
7. Under eye: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer

I love soft and sweet makeup, so I'm keeping it simple: a bright and radiant complexion with softly defined eyes and pink lips. The CC cream has a surprising amount of coverage, and isn't too dewy, while brightening your skin. The shimmer brick gives a subtle hint of color and a lovely sheen that brings life back to your face.

I have extremely oily eyelids, but these Japanese mascara and eyeliner simply do not budge on me! The under eye concealer by IT cosmetics is one of the most pigmented that I've used, and I only use it on special occasions. Finally, the finishing touch is a hint of pink shimmer on the lips.

What are you wearing this Valentine's Day?

all that glitters--bobbi brown shimmer brick in rose

I love a good blush/highlighter combo, and that's just what the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is! I have it here in Rose.

 

Sorry it's dirty; it's been well loved. 

All the colors swirled together on my finger.

From left to right: Swirled together, then individual color swatches taken in the sun.

...and in indoor light.

It was difficult to photograph the swatches, as the effect of the Shimmer Brick is to give you a illuminated, glow-from-within type of look. It gives my cheeks a lovely touch of pink, but I do use it mostly for that beautiful shimmer. I've used the individual bars as eyeshadow as well if I want to amp up the shimmer on my eyes.

It's especially beautiful to wear in the winter, as it breathes life into dull skin. It's also great for if you're not into pigmented blush, but still want a hint of color!

I can't wait for the Spring release of the Brightening Brick Collection, I'm most interested in the coral shade, which I think will be perfect for spring and summer!

Have you tried a Shimmer Brick before?

Product: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose
Price: $44 USD

hourglass ambient lighting blush palette review

I picked up the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette as a Christmas treat for myself after hearing all the hype--and I wasn't disappointed.

How gorgeous is this packaging?

The blushes inside are even more gorgeous! The marbling is to die for.

Sorry for the fuzzy swatch picture and the little freckles on my arm, but you get the idea. From left to right: Luminous Flush (bright pink coral), Incandescent Electra (pale baby pink), and Mood Exposure (rich plummy red). These blushes are infused with Hourglass's Ambient Lighting Powders, which makes all the difference in this case. It gives the blush dimension and a little bit of a sheen, so it doesn't lay flat on your skin. All the blushes will look different depending on the ratio of lighting powder to pigment in your specific blush, so yours may not look like mine!

The color payoff is quite subtle; it's hard to over do it with this blush. You can use a denser brush with these if you want more color. I use a fluffy brush and it gives your skin a lovely touch of color that's very natural and easy to wear. The powder is very soft and finely milled, so application is smooth and never patchy.

I've been loving Mood Exposure, especially for the winter, but the combination of the three is great too! I use Luminous Flush on the apples, Mood Exposure toward my hairline, and then dust Incandescent Electra on the high points of my cheeks. I can't quite use Incandescent Electra as a blush, but it makes for a lovely highlighter, or blush/highlighter combo if I'm not up to wearing blush that day. It wears quite long on my combo skin; about 6 hours, before I see fading.

I hate talking about this because the palette is limited edition and already sold out on Sephora, but you can buy the individual pans of blush still! I would skip this if you like more pigmented blushes, but if you're in the market for a nice, subtle blush that will give you a bit of a glow, definitely look into these.

Product: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes
Price: $58 (palette); $35 (individual)