Charm City Mrs A.M Skincare Routine for Dry/Combo Skin

Step 1:

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Face Wash - By far my all time favorite face wash. It is oh so gentle but still strong enough to remove makeup (even waterproof mascara). My skin feels clean, but not overly dry. Its is imperative in the morning to wash your face. It eliminates oils produced throughout the night, skin pollutants and preps your skin for your skincare regimen.

Step 2:

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream - I have had 4 or 5 samples of this amazing eye cream. Each sample lasts a few weeks...it’s about time to invest in the full size. This is by far my favorite morning eye cream. It’s brightening and gives my eyes the pick up they need every morning.

Step 3:

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster - My morning serum. I have some redness on my cheeks. Nothing too extreme but something I want to try and keep under control. This is rather sticky and I find it doesn’t spread very easily. But one pump works for my concern areas. It absorbs extremely quickly so there is virtually no wait time between this and applying moisturizer.

Step 4:

L’Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Day/Night Cream - They have recently discontinued this product. So of course, I stocked up when they went on clearance. They have a similar day/night cream under the Youth Code umbrella now that is meant to be similar. Any type of moisturizer would work! Now, there isn’t any spf in this moisturizer. I usually rely on my everyday CC Cream which has an spf 50 to give me that protection.

Step 5:

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herb and Rosewater - And the final step is just a spritz of my favorite skin boosting spray! I also use this as a pick me up throughout the day. You can also use it to settle down powders after applying makeup. 

The whole routine takes me less than five minutes. I hop out of bed before the baby wakes up and get my routine out of the way before I get her up for the day. This little regimen makes a huge difference and after having whacky skin during my pregnancy, I’m finally finding a routine to get my skin back to where it used to be....maybe even a little better!

Watch out for my upcoming P.M skincare routine...

Current Favorites November 2015

Being the mother of a 5 month old...my beauty routine has seriously been edited. I no longer have the luxury of taking however much time I need!

I’ve really begun focusing more on skincare and investing in amazing products that really pack a punch. With makeup, I look for lightweight, quick to apply products that will last all day and don’t require a lot of maintenance.


1 - Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream ($38, Sephora) 

      This BB Cream is super watery but the coverage is amazing! The best coverage of any BB or CC cream I have ever tried! Tip: blend with fingers (and quickly!)

2- Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil ($105, Sephora)

Quite the investment, but after using this for a few weeks, my skin has never looked better! You wake up to super supple and hydrated skin. The scent takes getting used to, and yes, it does apply blue but absorbs quickly. 

3- Tony Moly Coconut Face Mask ($7.50/2, Sephora)

The most amazing sheet mask....ever! I love this line from Tony Moly. If you have dry skin, you need this mask in your life! Plus, the coconut smell is out of this world. And for the price, maybe grab 4 or 5!

4- Sephora Total Age Defy Cream for Eyes & Lips ($26, Sephora)

A great all around eye cream. I typically use this at night as I’m testing out a n A.M eye cream. Eye area always feels plumped and hydrated in the morning. I think Sephora’s in-house skincare brand is way underrated!

5- YSL Babydoll mascara ($32, Sephora)

I’m not usually a fan of plastic bristle brushes...but this completely changes my mind. Amazing volume, staying power and holds a curl!

6- Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose ($22.50, Sephora)

The best mess free wash of color and amazing hydration. The entire line of colors is outstanding...but Rose is the best everyday ‘your lips but better’ color.

7- Tarte Stroke of Midnight Brush Set ($44, Sephora)

Tarte’s Holiday 2015 brush set...an amazing value and also contains my new favorite foundation brush! For reference, the airbrush finish foundation brush on it’s own is $34.

Stila in the Light -- Quick Neutral Eye

Kitten (second from top left) on inner third of lid, Bubbly (first on bottom row) on outer two thirds. Mix of Bliss and Sunset (third and fourth on top row) on outer v and into the crease. Kitten and Bubbly smudged on lower lash line.

Such a simple but eye catching look because of the gorgeous shimmer in Stila’s Kitten. Deepen the outer v with the bronzy copper of Sunset to really makes light eyes pop!

Lorac Pro 2 Palette -- A Quick Look

Products used:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation
MAC Prolongwear Concealer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes in Exposed and Buff
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Emerveille 
Lorac Pro 2 Palette 
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara

For the eye look:
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre as a base
Snow on the inner corner of the eye (to brighten) (bottom left row)
Beige on the inner 1/3 of the lid (second on bottom row)
Rose on the outer 2/3 (third on bottom row)
Lt. Brown and Nectar mixed to blend and soften the crease (matte colors top row)
Beige and Rose on the lower lash line (Beige on the inside, Rose on the outside)

Tarte Off The Cuff Amazonian Blush Palette is BACK

Holiday 2013 brought us the the amazing Tarte Off The Cuff Amazonian Clay Blush Palette. And in a few weeks, it was gone. Luckily, I’m happy to report that it is back!! At Ulta, and online only right now...for $38 you receive 4 full size blushes (one costs $26) and a Park Avenue Princess bronzer. Can you say amazing deal? 

click here to buy it online at Ulta

Update: As of 8/22/14, the palette has been taken off of the site. Keep an eye out for it’s reappearance!

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Naked

This is what I would consider the fair girl’s version of the Kylie Jenner lip trend!

Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Naked (Sephora, $20)

(eye look using the Lorac Pro 2 palette and Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Moss)

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Coming Soon!!

The original Naked Basics palette is the only Naked palette I don’t own. I just didn’t think it was worth it! The yellow tones just did not strike my fancy and the color range (I found) is nothing special.

Well, meet the Naked Basics 2 palette! Coming soon, according to the Urban Decay website, a 6 shadow palette with more pink toned neutrals. But the range seems much broader! I see the perfect everyday quick neutral eye. Left 2 for the lid, center 2 for crease and right 2 for the outer v. 

Obviously would need to swatch it in person, first. But it looks very promising!

The Scotch Tape Trick -- Wednesdate Wednesday

Scotch tape has been my new best friend when it comes to eyeshadow. When you’re in a hurry, have to do a quick look but don’t want to look like you’ve scribbled carelessly all over your lid -- use scotch tape to create a clean line. This way, when you’re blending, you don’t need to worry about making a mess. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to start using this!

Products used:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation, NYX HD Concealer, Nars Crystal Radiant Powder, Anastasia BH Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde, Benefit Hoola bronzer, Benefit Dandelion Box Blush, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light, bareMinerals 5in1 cream eyeshadow in Blushing Pink, Nars Charade eyeshadow duo, Lorac eyeshadow in Pewter, Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Liner, Kat Von D Eyeshadow in Heavens, Jordana 12 Hr liner in Jade Jewel, YSL Babydoll Mascara, Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob, Burts Bees Matte Lip Crayon in Carolina Coast

July 2014 Favorites

This month has been a pretty light makeup month. And cream products have been my absolute go-to as they are quick and withstand the summer heat!

Tarte Off the Cuff Blush Palette- From the Holiday 2013 collection, the Tarte blushes last forever and don’t oxidize
Stila Convertible Color in Peony - amazing product. Has been a staple for years. And for good reason. This color is fabulous as a blush or even on the lips.
Stila Convertible Color in Camellia - my favorite shade in this product. It’s a bronzy color with slight pink undertones. Amazing for quickly warming up the face.
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Khaki, Rose Gold and Amethyst - by far my favorite cream shadow (in stick form). This formula lasts forever and has a slight metallic finish that is beautiful for summer. So easy to apply and head right out the door!
YSL Babydoll Mascara - I received a sample of this mascara as a point perk from Sephora. It gives me great length and separation and a descent amount of volume! When I’m finished with the other eight thousand mascaras I’ve recently purchased, I may have to get a full size of this!
Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Paint in Chestnut Taupe - a great drugstore cream eyeshadow. Staying power is fantastic and a good range of neutrals to choose from!
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater - the perfect pick me up to give your skin hydration. Can also be used to set makeup!
Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser - my new miracle worker! I received this sample with an Ulta purchase and will be buying a full size. Using it 2-3 times/wk, it reduces discoloration and smoothes skin. Amazing!
Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Conditioner -  a Birchbox find, this not only softens and tames the hair...it smells a-mazing! I use this as the last step of my hair routine.
Scotch Tape - how have I not used this before? This may sound weird, but putting this from the outer corner of your eye towards you eyebrows before applying eyeshadow/liner will give you a crisp/clean line. Just make sure to apply concealer after as it will pick up any makeup you’ve already put on!

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy #460 Hold ‘Em -- Ready for Autumn

Talk about ready for Autumn! I recently picked up the new Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy polish in #460 Hold ‘Em ($5.00, Target).

A gorgeous dirty, plummy color, it’s an amazing formula that delivers quick, one coat, opaque color and high shine. I’ve gone chip free for 3 days now...which is amazing considering all of the typing I do on the daily! 

To accent, I used Maybelline’s Color Show Jewels in #608 Gilded in Gold ($2.99, Target) on the tips of my ring fingers. Now this one you can definitely go ahead and skip. While the glitter itself is beautiful, different jagged shapes, the ratio of clear polish to glitter is not conducive to an even distribution onto the nail. So you basically end up with 3 glitters on your nail. Such a headache. For glitters, I recommend the Sephora Formula X Transformers Top Coats. 

But even with that little flop, this quick at-home manicure turned out rather well, wouldn’t you say? So definitely try out the new Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamels and skip out on the Maybelline Color Show Jewels.

It’s a Dupe! Nars Iskandar Eye Paint and L’Oreal Silkissime liner in Gold

Nars Iskandar on left eye, L’Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in Gold on right eye

Nars Eye Paint in Iskandar and L’Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in Gold

Now swatched, they don’t look that close. Nars is more of a ‘dirty’ gold. But on the lid, they look identical! Wear time is very similar....long wearing! Great unexpected find!

Nars Iskandar (left) L’Oreal Silkissime in Gold

Nars Iskandar on left eye, L’Oreal Silkissime eyeliner in Gold on right eye

Milani Bella Eyeshadows--High Demand!

Whoa, buddy! I was just here 72 hours ago...and they weren't even stocked yet! After hearing they were finally out, this is what I stumble upon. I hope they are as good as they say they are, because I may be buying them all out of spite when they finally restock!

Ulta -- Your Free Gifts Are Quite Good!

OK...not so much free, ‘free’ with a $40 purchase. But still! I highly recommend keeping an eye out for these awesome deals and line up your purchases accordingly. Their offerings do change quite often as well. 

I chose a Bare Minerals set ...Fabulous sizes, and my chance to sample the much loved Lash Domination mascara. Which is wonderful!
 -Ready Pressed Powder Foundation
-Ready Eyeshadow Duo 2.0 in The Inspiration (Muse/Passion)
-Ready Blush in The Natural High
-Lash Domination mascara

Simple, Quick & Glam -- And All Drugstore!

A quick, easy and glam look with only a few products...and all drugstore! 

Products:

-L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation in Light Ivory

-NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain

-Elf High Definition Undereye Setting Powder

-Physician’s Formula Bronze Booster Powder

-Hard Candy Kal-eye-descop Baked Eyeshadow Duo in 057 Peace (champagne color all over lid)

-Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Black

-Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black

-L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

-Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color in 03 Fiery Coral

-NYX Butter Gloss in Sugar Cookie

-NYX Wonder Pencil (applied around lips and in water line)

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow

“with coconut water for more hydrated, healthier looking lids.” -- Sephora

Now we’re concerned about how healthy our lids are?? Goodness! In any case, this newer product from Josie Maran is completely stunning and perfect for summer. Imagine a metallic sheen that lasts all day and does not fade away...well this is just that. ($18 at Sephora)

At my local Sephora, they only had 4 shades:

L-R: Beach Sand, Rio de Rose Gold, Playa del Pink, Bora Bora Bronze

I picked up the Playa del Pink shade. This product is different from anything I own. It is a bi-phase liquid-- which means it contains 2 parts, the coconut water and the pigment that mix together to bring you this beautifulness. It does separate, so before applying you will need to shake, shake, shake it! 

The doe foot applicator delivers super strong pigment in one swipe. It is (obviously) a wet formula, so I wait a few seconds for it to set. Lately I have been using it under the Lorac Pro 2. My favorite thing to do is layer the Rose color on top immediately after laying down the color. The effect is a super metallic look that is no muss, no fuss, easy and long lasting. Perfect for the summer!