Reds and Burgundy Liner Using Aromaleigh Mineral Makeup and Bare Escentuals





Here is a look using reds and burgundy liner from some products in my mineral makeup stash. I used Cory Minerals' Amused blush. In the bag, it looked so unassuming, or rather, boring, but on the cheeks, it gives a really pretty flushed finish with just the nicest delicate shimmer.







In one of the cosmetics company outlets in California, I also found two of my favorite lipglasses from MAC: Nico and Nico Now; the latter is a back-up for me because I have one in my stash. Nico is a cult classic, while Nico Now is like a tribute product in honor of the classic Nico. They released Nico Now in one of my favorite MAC collections, The Originals. I love the lilac-infused color of these two lipglasses. Nico has obviously more purple undertones, while Nico Now has a pinker tone to it. Both are breathtaking though, and are beautiful when worn. I wore Nico for this particular look.

Here's a step-by-step illustration. All products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply Butternutty shadestick all over lid and on lower lashline. Smooth with finger. Using a stiff shader brush (Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" or the MAC 239), apply Coastal Scents' Frenzy mineral shadow foiled on the lid using MAC Fix+ Rose.


Using the other side of the damp shader brush, apply Nasturtium on the crease and outer V. Blend with the MAC 224.


Like so.




Apply Calendula dry to blend with Nasturtium using a clean shader brush. Blend with the 224.


Apply dark brown side of MAC Inter-View mineralize eyeshadow trio on the crease and outer V using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush. Blend harsh edges with the 224. Apply Bare Escentuals shadow liner in Black Ruby wetlined on the upper lashline using the MAC Fix+ Rose. Highlight the browbone using the matte pink shadow from the Pop Beauty Brown Eyes Wallet Palette. Apply mascara. Tightline and waterline using Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero.

















Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
Urban Decay 24/7 concealer pencil topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder in English Rose
Cory mineral blush in Amused

Lips:
MAC cremestick lipliner in Sublime Culture
MAC lipstick in A Rose Romance
MAC lipglass in Nico

The Best and Worst Sunscreens

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The Best and Worst Sunscreens

See which products will prevent your skin from looking lobster-like all summer long


Whether we like it or not, sunscreen is a must for all of us. And according to Heidi Waldorf, M.D. of Waldorf Dermatology & Laser Associates in Nanuet, NY, we need "an SPF of at least a 15 daily." No one wants to spend all summer slathering on sunblock, but with these reader favorites maybe it wont seem like such a chore.

See sunscreens

No. 14: Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel, $45

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 6*


Why: Readers complain that it "is too orange" and "the brush bristles break off and shed..."

No. 3: Philosophy A Pigment Of Your Imagination SPF 18, $30

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 5.5*


Why: Readers didn't like the "thick and sticky" formula and hue, which "turns my skin yellowish and made me look like I was sick..."

The Best: No. 14: Dermalogica Super Sensitive Face Block SPF 30, $40.50

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.2*


Why: Readers like that it is SPF 30 and that it is "not greasy, doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts."

Want to see the rest of the list? Click here!

The Best Products For Curly Hair

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The Best Products for Curly Hair

In a sea of styling aids, these 13 are tops


Curly-haired ladies, the search is over. According to TotalBeauty.com editors and users, these products successfully tame, soften and sculpt curls to their finest, Botticelli-esque state. Read on to find out which conditioners and styling aids will finally get you to stop calling your hair "kinky," "frizzy" or (gasp!) "shapeless."

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Bare Escentuals Mineral Eyeshadow Swatches

I went to the Planet Beauty store in Chino Hills, CA and played with some of the makeup there, particularly that of Bare Escentuals. I have several of their glimmers and glimpses (mineral shadows), but it was the first time I'd swatched several of them at the store. I swatched mostly neutrals that I'd like to get samples or full sizes of, especially the lid colors. I believe the eyeshadows are some of the best, if not the best, products from Bare Escentuals (I know, several Mineral Veil fans would object to this!). These swatches were applied dry with no base, but as you can see in the photos, the hues are rich, vivid, texture is smooth and clean, and the colors are gorgeous.





I have full size jars of Queen Tiffany, Desire, Pure Gold, and Celestine, but I want full jars (or even generous samples) of Bare Skin and Coconut Palm. They are gorgeous! I also have several others like Summer, Morocco, Rio, Amazing Amanda, Radiant Rebecca - basically the classic shades, but I lost track of some of the newer, even the limited edition shades.

Bare Escentuals enthusiasts, which shadows and blushes do you recommend?

Fuchsia Lips Using MAC Magnetique Lipglass and Mineral Liner





Here's a look using the MAC Magnetique liplass from the Rose Romance collection. I LOVE this lipglass to death. It is not the kind of shade I usually wear, but I believe this is going to be as bright as I can get on most days. It is a great focal point; I love the richness of the hue and the high-watt shine. I usually wear dirty lavender or rose pink, coral or brown on my lips, so hot pink is refreshing for me to use.



I also wore my mineral liner from Meow Mineral Cosmetics in Cat-chy wetlined on the upper lashline using MAC Fix+ Rose. In my opinion, Meow has some of the best mineral liners out there. It goes on rich, smooth, not streaky and the range of colors is amazing.

















Eyes:
MAC Butternutty shadestick as base
Aromaleigh shadow in Mallow foiled on the lid using MAC Fix+ Rose
Pop Beauty Brown Eyes Wallet palette shadow on crease
mascara
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline
Meow mineral liner in Cat-chy wetlined on upper lashline using Fix+ Rose

Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in YuanYuan
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
Aromaleigh ultra resolution finishing powder in Translucent
Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Rouge blush in Dolly

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC A Rose Romance lipstick
MAC Magnetique lipglass

Pinks and Purples Using Mineral Makeup and a Lobster Feast





Hello lovelies! What makeup products do you use when you travel? I dare not bring my MAC eyeshadows, blushes, especially mineralize blushes or skinfinishes when I go out of town even for just a weekend, for fear that they might break during transit. I will definitely mourn my products should that happen (every makeup addict's worst fear). As such, I mostly bring my sample baggies of mineral makeup. They are very-travel friendly (no jars filled with minerals to spill, no potted eyeshadows or blushes to crack or break). Should you lose them, they're not really too hard on the wallet to replace. I mostly tote around my mineral shadows and blushes when I travel. For blush baggies, I bring my trusty small condiment saucer, a.k.a. "swirly bowl" to sprinkle the mineral blush on before applying.

For this look, I used my mineral shadows from Aromaleigh, and a wonderful shade of blush from Cory Minerals called Naughty. I'd marveled at how pretty it looked on my skintone- it was understated enough (no clown cheeks here), but I also loved how it brightened up my face and gave a pretty, healthy, natural-looking flush. As I stated in a previous entry, the sample bags are miniscule BUT it will last you a really long time because a crumb or two are all you need for one application as this brand churns out really concentrated minerals. I just love the blushes because they are truly pigmented and finish is really awesome. As always, a grain or two of these blushes are all you need for a beautiful application of blush. Truly, the sample bags are tiny pigment bombs. I am definitely getting a full-size jar of the Naughty blush.

This is not actually a step-by-step illustration, as I only have three or so eye pics, but this will show the placement of the two shadows I used from Aromaleigh.


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick on entire lid and brows. Smooth with finger. Apply Aromaleigh Candytuft foiled on the lid using MAC Fix+ Rose and Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" (or the MAC 239).


Using the same brush, apply Aromaleigh Bellflower on crease and outer V.




Using the Pop Beauty Brown Eyes wallet palette, apply Shadow A on the crease using the MAC 224 brush. Apply Shadow B to contour the crease using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush. Blend everything using the 224. Apply Shadow C on the browbone using the MAC 227. Apply Candytuft on the inner to mid lower lashline, and Shadow D from the Pop Beauty Brown Eyes palette on lower lashline. (*Use picture above for reference.*) Apply Revlon Color Stay felt-tip liquid eye liner in Black on upper lashline. Apply mascara.





Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
Urban Decay 24/7 concealer pencil topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder
Cory mineral blush in Naughty

Lips:
MAC cremestick lipliner in Sublime Culture
MAC lipstick in A Rose Romance
MAC dazzleglass in Bare Necessity

As I had mentioned previously, I am on vacation right now with my parents in California. My brother-in-law and his family treated us to this amazing Chinese seafood restaurant along Colima Road in Roland Heights. We waited an hour for a table, but the wait was worth it! Most of the customers were asian, so we knew that this restaurant really serves authentic asian dishes. We spent the time waiting gawking at platters piled high with lobsters and crabs at every table, and we were like homeless people outside, looking inside the restaurant while our mouths watered. We ordered the most succulent lobsters this side of town enhanced with the distinct flavors of Southeast Asia. Their house special lobster was probably the best I've ever tried, with this spicy-garlicky sauce that had everyone at our table licking their fingers. It was messy, but it was sure damn good! It was such a gastronomic delight, and I believe this restaurant is sure to satisfy most food connoisseurs. We also ordered their house special, the whole fish which was fried and smothered with this sauce with a burst of spicy, garlicky goodness. Their honey walnut shrimp was a blast as well.


Part of our spread clockwise from top: chicken fried rice, the french beef (partially hidden), hongkong style crispy noodles in sauce, honey walnut shrimp, of course the "I-died-and-went-to-lobster-heaven" house special lobster dish (it even had lobster eggs!) in chili, garlic, ginger and special sauce




The most amazing lobster dish I've tried (and reviews on Yelp.com agree with me).

Top Tips to Looking Sexy Over 40

TotalBeauty.com
Top Tips to Looking Sexy Over 40

Try the makeover tricks we used on TotalBeauty.com reader Kim to help spice up her dating life


New to the Internet dating scene at age 50, Kim turned to our makeover dream team for beauty tips to help in showing off her sexy, independent self. Follow their steps to see whether their advice worked, and how you can recreate her look on your next date.

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MAC A Rose Romance Review and Swatches Part II







Looking for Part I of my MAC Rose Romance review and swatches? Check them out HERE.

I bought the rest of the products I'd been lemming for in the Rose Romance collection, and I am really loving these latest items I got. The collection is the ultimate romantic collection of the season, and the colors are very swoon-worthy.



I got the Fix+ Rose and I really love the scent and feel of rose water. It doesn't just smell good, it has certain medicinal properties. It is a known astringent and has anti-bacterial properties. It is suitable for all skin types, but is especially good for sensitive, dry and aging skin. The aromatherapy benefits of rose water are also remarkable- the wonderful scent gives you a sense of well-being and calmness. I don't know about you, but in these trying times, I need large doses of tranquility and well-being regularly.



I am in deep love with Magnetique lipglass. The fuchsia with blue-pink undertones are so gorgeous, and the hue goes well with my skintone. I love how rich, vibrant and yet romantic this lipglass looks. I can't wait to create looks using this.

Silverthorn at first glance might just look like any other silver shadow, but I was floored by how gorgeous it looked on the MAC MA who helped me gather my loot. She wore it with Bare Study paint pot as base, Silverthorn packed on the lid, Tete-a-Tint on the crease, and a very very thin line (almost invisible) of Rapidblack Penultimate Liner, with lush false lashes. It was jaw-droppingly beautiful. The things I like about Silverthorn are its finish and texture. It's veluxe pearl, my favorite MAC finish, and it is shimmery without making you look like a big fat discoball. It is entirely possible to look subtle and yet turn heads using Silverthorn. I am so perfectly happy with this shadow.

I also got Bare Necessities dazzleglass to add to my dazzleglass collection.





The brown undertones in Bare Necessities make it similar to (though not identical with) Moth to Flame. I included photos above for reference. It has brownish tones but still maintains peachy-pink hues. I believe the reflects themselves are pink. This is such an amazing color too.

Finally, ah, the Love and Friendship nail lacquer! It is also highly coveted, as there were only three left when I bought it at the MAC store. The creamy dirty lavender color is romantic, under-stated and yet is classy and eye-catching. I can't wait to do my nails using this.

There you go, my new Rose Romance loot and review part II!