Goldie{HipMama}B and The 3 BB Creams: A Quest for the One Thats JUST RIGHT

BB Creams (beauty balms) are ALL THE RAGE. I first heard about them last year (or the year before?) with all the talk of the high-price Korean imports that touted being "The. Best. Make-Up. Ever." Creams that do it all - heal, conceal, cover and correct your skin all in one bottle. But I gotta tell you - I'm a hard sell. I'm picky on texture, color and coverage. I've been wearing Dior Skin Foundation for years, and hard as I try, I can't find anything else that I like.

But still the lure of the perfect make-up/skin care combo had me trying and testing... Here's the story of my quest. 

Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm: This One's Too Oily 

This is the one that you read about in Allure and celebrities tell you is the only thing they will put on their faces. I was excited when it came in my Birchbox a few months ago, as for some reason I always thought of it as a high-end product. Whatever, it didn't matter. It sat on my face in a slick mess. My chin looked shiny and I felt the universal color did nothing for me. The second time I tried it I actually washed my face and reapplied make-up half way through the day because I hated it so.

Too Faced Air Buffed BB Cream: This One's Too Cakey

With this one I totally fell for the marketing promises. According to the packaging it was supposed to even my skin tone and BANISH imperfections. The soft brush was supposed to give you an air brushed look and it was supposed to be a fuller coverage than other BB Creams offered. What it was was thick and cakey. The brush didn't do much but slow down the application process, and I found myself still using my fingers to blend... and blend, and blend and blend... I tried to pretend I liked it, then I got a look at myself in the rear view mirror and packed that baby up and returned it the next day. 

Naked Skin Beauty Balm: This One Is JUST RIGHT

I had given up. I wasn't even looking at BB Creams anymore. The $75 Sephora gift card that had been burning a hole in my wallet since Christmas was going to a new NARS bronzer, the Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb perfume rollerball and a new brush head for my Clarisonic Mia. As I was checking out I was offered a sample of the Naked Skin BB Cream, so I took it. What they hey, it was a free sample. And? It was love at first application. 

From the Sephora website:

Blur flaws in seconds and get serious antiaging benefits in just eight weeks. This lightweight, velvety, oil-free miracle works instantly and over the long term. Naked Skin Beauty Balm is invisible on your skin (zero rub-off): the universal shade glides on and dries down to a translucent, flawless finish that works on most skintones. While many beauty balms are tinted to provide coverage, Naked Skin diffuses light with high-tech pigments to give you amazing, natural, naked-looking skin that keeps getting better every week. Unlike a lot of beauty balms, Naked Skin delivers measurable antiaging benefits—and the claims to prove it.

This? ALL TRUE. I can wear it to work-out and it doesn't come off when I wipe my brow. It give my skin a blurry, Alexis Carrington filtered glow. The color is perfect and it feels like I have nothing on. And if I see anti-aging benefits in 8 weeks ALL THE BETTER. 

Have you tried BB Creams yet? Which one do you like? 

The Red Lipstick Experiment, Can A New Lipstick Make You Happy?

So, I've been working on this thing called HAPPINESS. 

This doesn't mean that I'm unhappy, or that I'm sad per-se, it means that I'm working towards a positive mental and physical state for my life. I, my friends, was in a funk -  and needed to do SOMETHING. So over the past month, I've made a few changes to help ME be a better ME.

Mental and physical go hand in hand, so some of what I'm doing is for body, while some things may just be simple, everyday things. What I'm looking to find is that key combination... that elusive word "balance". Not just in my life, but in my body and soul. 

I'm calling these "Happiness Experiments;" Something I try out to see what, if any, affect it has. After attending a "Happiness Bootcamp" last month, I realized the main reason that habits don't change and resolutions don't stick for me is because I throw them all out there at once. I'm also keen to declare FAILURE when the outcome isn't what I envisioned it looking like. With "experiments" there are no passes, no fails. You are trying something out. Taking it out for test drive. Trying it on for size. Some things may stick, while others don't. 

Which brings me to Lipstick. 

{Yes, you were wondering how I was going to get back around to make-up, huh?} 

It is a proven fact that new lipstick makes you happy. This has been a phenomenon tracked in women since World War 2. Lipstick is an inexpensive, non-permanent change that can spice things up. 

This particular experiment was inspired (and enabled) by my good friend, Romy of RomyRaves. Romy is the queen of fun accessories and make-up, and she's lucky enough that she's channeled this into an amazing online presence and working relationship with top beauty brands. A few weeks ago when she came down and spent the weekend with me, not only was she sporting this super hot new lipstick, she brought some for the rest of us to try. I mentioned my current love affair with Avon's Totally Kissable line a few weeks ago - but the shade I was loving over was a very pretty, but very neutral pink color: totally right in my comfort zone. 

But there was Romy - rocking this red hot lip (in Avon's Make-Out Red) that made people stop and stare. And honestly, I was in awe by her bravery and ability to work that shade. Over the next week or so I kept trying on the same color that Romy wore, only to wipe it off a few seconds later. It wasn't doing it for me - it wasn't right. Digging into my bag of Avon goodies that Romy brought for me (she knows a way to my heart is through my make-up bag!) I finally got up the nerve to try another color - Red Embrace. 

WAY better for my coloring, this red is more of a coral-red, rather than the pink-red Romy was wearing. While bright and eye-catching, with minimal other make-up I actually wore it in the daytime... and loved it. It gave my casual jeans and shirt look a kick, but it wasn't too much. It was way different than what I normally wear, but every time I caught my reflection I kept thinking how much I liked it. 

This experiment was deemed a success! I'm throwing this lipstick into heavy rotation and going to wear it with a smile.  

Make-Up Look I Love! Julianne Hough @ Safe Harbor Premier

While I'm really not a fan of Nicholas Sparks books or movies, I actually can't wait to see Safe Harbor. I ended up with the book as part of my BlogHer '12 swag and almost read the whole thing on my flight home. To me, books like this have a special time and place - delayed flight home after 6 days drinking and eating and running around NYC? PERFECT TIMING for a Nicholas Sparks book. 

Needless to say, I'm already planning a night out with a girlfriend to go and cry over this sappy tale as it plays out on the big screen. 

Also? I'm a little obsessed with how adorable Julianne Hough is. And if I can connect myself to her by one degree (or item?) ... she wore my favorite Votre Vu eyeliner and mascara to the premier of Safe Haven. 

“Her entire look was inspired by her Alberta Ferretti dress which was a very sheer, nude color with beautiful, subtle detailing and shimmering pieces.  We wanted to keep the makeup in line with that magical, ethereal feeling, nothing too strong.

I started by prepping Julianne’s skin with the Votre Vu Attentive Skincare Line for sensitive skin.  She was extremely happy with the result from the products and the pick-me-up they immediately provided for her skin. The product that I liked the most was the Attentive Crème du Jour, which I applied with a foundation brush in order to get a very even veil.

We wanted to focus to be her eyes, so we went with a very natural face.  I applied the Votre Vu Love Me Deux in Provence all over to give her skin a youthful, luminous, lightweight look.

Then to give her a little color back, I took the Vu-On Rouge in Bouquet Rose and used my fingers to warm it up on the back of my hand, then blended it onto the apples of her cheeks.  This skin-on-skin application made it softer and sheerer.  Then I took a lip brush and applied the Vu-On Rouge in Bouquet Rose directly onto her lips with it.  The brush gave greater control and a heavier application for denser color. I finished her lips off with a pale nude gloss to give it a bit more moisture and then set her face with the Belle Poudre HD Sheer Face Powder in Medium.

Next, I used the Beauté en Bronze duo and used a larger powder brush to give her a little kiss of sun and then an angled brush to sculpt the sides of the face, cheek bones, neck and jawline. Then I took the blush and applied it right on the apples of the cheeks.  Placement was key with this duo to get the dynamic quality of them playing off of each other.

Now for her eyes, the focus of the face.

I prepped her lids with a nude shadow base.  Then took the Le Joli Crayon in Aubergine and smudged it into her upper lash line.  Then using a trio of eye shadows from Face Atelier, I created an iridescent look of pale silver, pink/gold, and deep brown.

Lastly, I curled her lashes, applied the Eiffel Power mascara and then finished off with her brows using the Arch de Triumphe in Fair. To set her face for the night, I used the À Votre Santé Refreshing Spray.

When she got into the dress, it was apparent that the look had come together perfectly. “

- Celebrity makeup artist Spencer Barnes for Votre Vu

What do you think? Do you prefer a smoky eye and nude lip or less eyemake-up and bold lip? 

The Gift of Make-Up: I'm Lovin' Votre Vu Winter Sets!

I've now been using Votre Vu cosmetics since August and I'm still head over heels in love. So when I opened the door to find a box full of their holiday gift sets for me to check out, it was like Christmas morning had come early. 

And? I've now found presents for all the hot mamas on my list. 

For the girl who has it all, the Little Miss Hard To Buy For set ($45; $83.25 value)

My FAVE - Eiffel Power mascara made with curative cotton bloom and luminous carnuba and sunflower waxes.  

Tarte D’Amande Body Soufflé - an almond smelling decadently rich in tropical nut oils and shea butter for truly haute hydration.

bébé Duette Framboise - a little tube of jojoba-based hand crème with a citrus-kissed lip balm and mirror tucked in the cap.

For my Party Mamas: Party Crashers ($49; $98 value)

We're not 21 anymore so Votre Vu’s Party Crashers skin-redeeming threesome will totally come in handy as we are rushing from Holiday performances, dinner parties, work parties and any NYE celebrations. 
 
1st start on the inside by having a SnapDragon shot for the skin. Toast to restored radiance while sipping this delicious blend of powerful anti-aging superfruits and antioxidant teas, plus calcium and collagen with a botanical boost.  I've been downing this stuff for the past few days - I'm desperate for a little holiday glow!

Late-night puffy peepers are soothed with a dose of SpécialEyes serum, infused with curative nutrients like primrose and avocado oils to promote a brighter, more toned eye area.  

Finish with a wake-up call to the complexion, as Tragic Magic stabilizes and hydrates your visage with a restorative recipe of fruit extract, botanicals and vitamin E.

For my mamas dreaming of a shopping trip to Paris.. Pretty in Paris ($34; $76 value)

This set includes my other GO-TO make-up love of the past few months;  Le Joli Crayon-Aubergine, Vu’s eggplant-tinted gel pencil that feels like a liquid but allows ample time to smudge and feather before setting its mineral-based mix. This liner is a fabulous color alternative to brown or black and really lasts all day on your eyes. 

Helping to make eyes POP, this set also includes Eiffel Power mascara, which illuminates lashes with natural waxes while cotton bloom strengthens the hair’s keratin.

Lastly, Vu-On Rouge in the perfect red "ma cherry" , an anti-oxidant rich, moisture tint in the perfect color for cheeks and lips of every skin tone.  

SO many good choices... Which would you choose?

Here's to a beautiful December!

Make-Up Monday: I'm Lovin' LASHES

Anastasia Steele snagged Christian Grey's heart by constantly looking at him through hers... Iconic movie stars always had long, thick fringes... yes - I'm talking eyelashes. 

Longer, thicker, non-clumping eyelashes can be all your need to finish off your look - or all you need at all to look your best. Think about this. Currently, women in the US spend 7 billion dollars on make-up each year; Breaking it down, the average woman will spend over $13,000 on make-up in her lifetime - with over $3,000 dedicated to MASCARA alone.

We have a thing for lashes. As we should. Our eyes are the portals to our souls - don't we want our souls to be dressed properly? 

So, how does a girl get fabulous lashes?

Masacra and Lashes by hipmamab featuring shu uemura

Mascara:

Every beauty expert agrees that if you put ONE thing on in the morning, it should always be mascara. It's the easiest, cheapest way to get amazing lashes. While make-up artists around the globe swear by Maybelline's Great Lash mascara, my personal favorite is Volumin' Express Falsies. I also love the Votre Vu Eiffel Power and of course, Dior Show. With so many great products at different price levels you really have no excuse not to use mascara daily. 

Grow 'Em:

Latisse is an amazing product. When I used it a few years back my lashes were so long I actually need to trim them. But other products have popped up claiming the same results without the Rx. French beauty company, Talika claims longer lashes in 28 days with it's Lipocils Expert. This lash enhancer was actually discovered in 1948 and is all natural with no side effects. I used this product for about 3 weeks and saw noticeably differences in my lashes*. Maybe not as extreme as Latisse, but my eyes didn't get red when I used it and I liked the fact that its more natural. Plus the applicator is fabulous and easy to use. 

 Fake It, Baby

So why did I stop using the Lipocils? Because I ended up going the fake-route. I've been DYING to try eyelash extensions for years. I did them years back when they first came out, but they were the clumps of lashes, not individual ones. A few weeks ago The Dailey Method had a promotion going on promoting a new eyelash salon in the area. While I wasn't going to do it, seeing the lovely ladies I work out with regularly sporting these fab lashes with their lulu's - I HAD to go for it. 

Ali from Ciao Bella Eyelash Studio in Encinitas worked her magic and they are fabulous. My favorite thing is that I can wake-up, put on a little tinted moisturizer and lip gloss and be done with my make-up. I didn't go all out Kim Kardashian, but more natural. They are perfect. 

*Just a quick digression to the Talika product mentioned above. I know that it was working, because when Ali was doing my lashes, she had to use the longer ones on me, citing that my natural lashes were longer than the shorter extensions she normally uses on clients!

*disclosure: As a blogger I get to review tons of products {Squee!} While services and products may have been provided to me, all opinions are my own.