Holiday How-To Makeup Look feat. DRESSBAR.com

Happy (almost) Holidays! Today I have an exciting post featuring my holiday how-to makeup collaboration with DRESSBAR.com. To see the full post on how to achieve this classic and glam look, click here! For the list of products I used, keep on scrollin' ;)

Product List:

(These are all links!)

Face:

Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid – NW18

Concealer: Maybelline Master Conceal – Light (LOVE this!)

Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural – Medium

Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil – Milk Chocolate

Highlight: The Balm Mary Lou Manizer

Eyes:

Primer: MAC Paint Pot – Soft Ochre

Crease Shadow: used my bronzer!

Lid Shadow: used my highlighter!

Liner: Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeline

Mascara: Bare Minerals Lash Domination (added a few of Ardell individual lashes)

Brows: NYX Micro Brow Pencil – Ash Brown

Lips:

Sephora Collection Lip Cream Stain – 01 Always Red

November Beauty Favorites

As we're moving right along through Decemeber (where does time go?), I thought it would be a good idea to finally get my November favorites up. I decided to do this post a little differently this time because I found my favorites all seemed to be in duos. Take a look below for a list of these duos, why I've been loving them, and where you can get them!

Duo 1: Face

Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid Shade NW18 - Ever since I've been working in an office, I've found my skin has been more oily than normal. Since I was previously using a more dewy finish foundation, I thought I'd try one more matte. This one has totally made a difference and I've been loving the medium-full coverage. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer Shade Light - I used to use this concealer years ago and finally came around to repurchasing it. I certainly remember why I've been loving it - it doesn't crease, and it's lightweight! Definitely gives more of a brightening effect as well, which I love - especially in the morning!

Duo 2: Lips -

MAC Lip Pencil - Whirl - This has been my go to lip pencil this past month because it pairs perfectly with my favorite pink lipstick (listed right below). It completes the matte pink lip look I've been going for and helps make my lips look a teeny bit bigger.

MAC Lipstick - Pink Plaid - If you've been following this blog, you've probably seen this lipstick make an appearance a few times, and for good reason! This is by far my favorite pink lipstick, and just one of my favorite lipsticks in general. It's completely matte, and is the perfect shade of pink for my skin tone. My mom even borrowed (stole) it from me and also wears it everyday, so I had to get another one!

Duo 3: Brows

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade - If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that my cute little dog ate my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, so I was forced to go back into my makeup drawer and use something else for the time being. That doesn't mean I love this product any less - I'm actually really glad I've been using it again because it's a really great product, especially for going out or making your brows last all day. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo - This is another brow product I really love and have been using either on top of the brow pomade, or alone on days when I need to quickly fill those babies in. I like that this powder gives you a lighter and darker option because I use both - lighter towards the front, and darker to fill in the tail.

Current Fall Accessory Craves

I feel like all I've been browsing for lately are scarves, shoes, and all other kinds of accessories. It's probably because a big part of the fall season (to me at least) is combining some of the clothing you already have and simply adding an accessory. For example, you can wear the same sweater twice, just switch up the scarves and shoes and you have two different looks. Other kinds of accessories like stud earrings or a phone case are pieces you can wear everyday and get so much use out of. I think I've had the same iPhone case for close to six months now (I need an update - and I'm loving the one below!). And let's be real, if you have a growing lipstick collection like I do, you really can never have too many. So go ahead, go a little accessory crazy every once in a while - it's worth it!

Links Below!

1. Kate Spade Stud Earrings / 2. Sam Edelman Booties / 3. Kate Spade iPhone 5 Case / 

4. Green Plaid Scarf / 5. MAC Viva Glam Lipstick

Brand Spotlight: Fall Styles

Three things I love: shoes, handbags, and lipstick. Three brands I love: Sam Edelman, Michael Kors, and MAC Cosmetics. Put all that together and you get today's post! I wanted to feature these particular brands because I believe in their quality and price range. Yes, they can all seem a little expensive to some; however, these brands are priced at something I am willing to invest in. The shoes usually last me a few fall seasons. You'll see me using the same bag all year round. My MAC lipstick collection is continuously growing and I like having the option to change it up with different makeup looks. Below are some of the items I would want to purchase as new additions to my fall wardrobe and makeup collection.

Links Below!

Have any particular brands you love?

xox,

                 Meredith

September Beauty Favorites

Can you believe it's already October?! As we say our goodbyes to the month of September, I would like to share with all of you the beauty products I have been loving all month long (and will continue to use during the month of October). I love reading monthly favorites posts because it lets me know about products that other people recommend and are worth trying. There are so many products that exist today, so it can be difficult at times to narrow down what products to actually use. Hopefully this post can give you some ideas of what to try next. Feel free to share your favorites with me as well!

Links below!




1. The Anastaisa Beverly Hills Brow Wiz has been a favorite of mine for months. I recently tried a different shade, which I think works better for my brow color. This one is in the shade 'Medium Brown' and is cool toned as opposed to 'Soft Brown' (what I was previously using), which is more warm toned.


2. The next favorite is a MAC blush in the shade 'Melba' and I have been reaching for it everyday. It gives my cheeks a light warm flush with a little bit of peach. I tend to reach for more neutral toned blushes, and I feel this one just gives me a little extra color.


3. My Too Faced Perfect Lips Lip Liner in the shade 'Perfect Nude' has been my go-to lip product for the past few weeks. I start out by lining my lips, and then finish with filling in my entire lip with this pencil. I love it because it gives me that matte look with a mauve/nude tint. It also lasts longer than a lipstick would.


4. I have heard so many great things about the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and I just had to try it. I have heard its been compared to Nars Concealer; however, is much cheaper. Although I've never tried any concealer by Nars, this one I have been loving since I purchased it. It has a nice light formula that doesn't crease.


5. For some reason my chin has been breaking out more than usual and my Neutrogena Rapid Clear Spot Gel has been a lifesaver. I've noticed that my blemishes have been clearing quickly since I started applying the spot gel to my problem areas.


6. I purchased my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade 'Rose Gold' a few weeks ago and have been using it ever since. I apply this as a highlight to my cheekbones for a nice sheer glow. I think this shade is the perfect highlight for the fall season.


7. For some reason I stopped using my It's a 10 Mirale Leave-In Plus Keratin during the month of August (and I have no idea why!). I started using it again before blow-drying my hair and really noticed the difference! I am running out and will have no choice but to purchase another (it is on the expensive side, but still can be found at the drugstore). It really just makes the overall outcome of my blow-dry so much better and frizz free.

xox,
                 Meredith

August Beauty Favorites

Now that August has officially ended (and I mean August, not summer!) I'd like to share with all of you the beauty products that I have been loving all month long. Some of these products are repeat favorites from previous months (I apologize!), but I had to include them again because they are still important items that I've used every day this past month. For a list of all the items, links, and why I've been loving them - keep on reading :)

Links Below!





1. Here's a repeat favorite at number one. The Milani Baked Bronzer in Glow has been my go-to bronzer all summer. I feel like my face isn't complete without it and I love that you can get it from the drugstore.

2. MAC's Powder Blush in the shade Prism is one of my favorite blushes because it is so neutral. I've been really digging neutral everything this past month, so this blush worked perfectly.

3. I believe I may have raved about this stuff once or twice before, but for good reason - I promise! The NYX HD Concealer is probably one of the best under-eye concealers I've ever used, and it's also a drugstore brand.

4. I've taken a break from the brighter nail polish shades, especially for my pedicure and have been using OPI's Linclon Park After Dark. I've always liked the way a dark nail color looks on tanned skin - so better take advantage while I'm still a little tan!

5. For my manicure, I've been doing quite the opposite. I also love the way lighter shades look on nails in the summer, which is why Essie's Urban Jungle has been my go-to the whole month of August. I also love that it doesn't apply streaky at all.

6. Here's another repeat favorite. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in the shade soft brown has been a life-saver all month long. This pencil makes it so easy to fill in and blend my brows.

7. I have been absolutely loving my MAC lipstick in the shade Velvet Teddy. I've always been a fan of the matte formulas and decided to give this one a try. This neutral color is gorgeous and it's the closest thing I've found to the whole Kylie Jenner lip phenomenon.

8. I've been pairing my Velvet Teddy lipstick with a lip pencil also from MAC in the shade Stripdown. MAC lip pencils always apply really smooth and creamy - this one in particular goes great will all nude lip colors.









xox,
              Meredith

Face of the Day: Matte & Smokey

Just a quick Face of the Day post for you today! This look is actually from yesterday - I went to grab dinner with a friend. A wearable smokey eye with a neutral matte lip - yes please :)

See it all in action below:

Links Below!

Face:

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base

MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation

NYX HD Concealer - Light

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Medium

Cheeks:

Milani Baked Bronzer - Glow

MAC Powder Blush - Prism

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighting Powder

Eyes:

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot - Soft Ochre

Lorac Pro Palette (Crease: Taupe & Sable, Outer Crease: Espresso, Lid: Cream, Liner: Black)

Loreal Telescopic Mascara

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 

Brows (not pictured whoops!):

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Soft Brown

Lips:

MAC Lipstick - Velvet Teddy

MAC Lip Pencil - Stripdown

xox,
                 Meredith

Face of the Day: A Simple Summer Glow

Hello, Hello! Today I have for you a quick face of the day post. If you've never heard of "FOTD" short for Face of the Day (which I guess is pretty self explanatory), it's basically a list of all the makeup products you used on your face that particular day. So now if you ever see the hashtag #FOTD, you'll know exactly what it means! My makeup in general always kind of stays on the lines of a natural look. I just like to add a little bit more 'glow' in the summer.

The foundation I used is by Loreal called True Match Lumi, which is pretty lightweight but leaves a nice dewy finish. Over my concealer I added a little bit of a highlight with my MAC Prep + Prime Highlight Stick in the shade 'Radiant Rose' to really brighten up my under-eye area. I of course set everything with my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in the shade 'Medium'. I went for a real simple eye using my Naked Basics Palette by Urban Decay, just using the lightest shade all over my lid, and the neutral shade in my crease (4th shadow in). I lightly lined my upper lash line and applied a bunch of mascara. For my cheeks I used my Sonia Kashuk bronzer/blush duo and then just added a little of my favorite highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones. I finished the look off with some of my NYX butter gloss in the shade 'Eclair' and called it a day. The only product not shown is my brow powder, which is by a brand called Kelly Baker Brows. It's a medium ash brown shade that I applied with an angled brush. Look below for pics! :)

Links Below!

Here are the products in action! P.S. don't mind my messy hair ;)

xox,

                   Meredith

June Beauty Favorites

Now that we are moving right along in July, I wanted to share some of the beauty products that I've been loving the entire month of June and will continue to use. Now bare with my descriptions of the products, as I am still stick and my concentration is limited to edit - so I don't really remember what I wrote - but it's all down below!

Links Below!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

1. MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Primer: I have been using this primer all month long underneath my foundation. I especially love to use it with my MAC Mineralize Foundation because it keeps it in place and lasting longer. I also like how smooth it makes my face feel before I apply anything else. One pump of this stuff goes a long way!

2. MAC Mineralize Foundation:  I have been really enjoying this foundation beacuse it is lightweight and leaves my skin with a nice dewy finish. I have tried it without primer, and it just didn't last as long - so I would definitely recommend using a primer. The finish of this foundation is beautiful though.

3. Milani Baked Bronzer - Glow: This stuff has probably been my most favorited (is that a word?) (it is now!) beauty products of June. I have been using this bronzer every day to really give me a glowing look. It is sheer and subtle so I pretty much go to town with applying this all over my face and neck. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for that fresh summer glow!

4. MAC Matte Lipstick - Pink Plaid: I finally have this lipstick back in my life! My mom permanently borrowed my first tube of this lipstick and she wears it everyday. I've been doing the same since I purchased a new one - It is the perfect cool toned pink lip color. Definitely one of my favorite MAC lipsticks ever.

5. Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Eyeliner - Black Velvet: This eyeliner came to me in one of my Ipsy glam bags and I've been using it ever since. I really like it because it applies nice and smoothly and isn't as intense of a black. It's more of a soft black, which is what I always prefer in my waterline. 

6. Essie - Ole Caliente - I have been loving this color for summer. It is kind of a mix between a bright red with a slight hint of pink. It really pops, especially now that my skin is getting a little tanner.

7. Jergens Natural Glow - This is reoccurring favorite that makes its way into my life every June. I love to use this lotion to enhance my tan after I've spent a day in the sun. I'm still not crazy about the smell (that self- tanner lotion smell that seems to be universal) but I find it's not as strong in this particular brand. I always make sure to buy the medium to tan shade because the light to medium always comes out too orange. This product isn't just a June favorite, it's also a summer must have!

8. The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - If you want some extra glow - try this stuff! I love lightly applying this on top of my cheekbones to highlight my face. I always apply this last and like I said before, lightly! A little bit goes a long way, otherwise you'll have shimmer city on your face. The champagne color is beautiful though and it can even double as an eye shadow - sometimes I plop it right in the inner corners to brighten. 

What have you been loving in the month of June?

xox,

                    Meredith