Keeping it Glowy; Keeping it Simple

Before I start I want to say thanks to my three followers I greatly appreciate the support; this isn't easy, you put yourself out there for direct ridicule and criticism and I'm not good with either.
Hugs and Love,
Kandis


Holy Vacation, Cherry Pie!
This past January when I went to Jamaica I made the sad mistake of taking lots and lots of makeup with me. I was pouring foundations and squeezing primer into itsy bitsy containers trying to meet TSA standards. I ended up over packing because I didn't think about the look I wanted to have, and I forgot to bring colors that actually matched. Example: I ended up with bright lips AND bright eyes because I was rushing and just throwing things into my bag. This look may work well for some ladies, but boo, I'm just not one of them. In March when I went to Jamaica AGAIN, I decided to take a deep breath and pack like a sane person.

When going on vacation you really need to consider the climate you’re going to, the look your going for, and most important; the space you'll have. I knew I would be in the sunshine all day and none of my foundations or powders contain SPF, I know, I know I should be ashamed. I do however use 'Superdefense' by Clinique and it has an SPF of 25 so I'm in the clear. I didn't want to bring foundation but I couldn't walk around bare face could I? Well yea I could but I wasn't going to. I also knew that I didn't want to bring more than 8-10 items and I wanted to keep it low maintenance. I also wanted to have a warm glow, and look like sunshine itself. Here's the look I wore on the lovely Island and it worked day and night so I was totally covered.


Heading out to Negirl for a day at the beach and fun on the water!

On a clean moisturized face I applied my Select Moisturecover concealer in 'NW45'; $16.50 MAC Cosmetics, to cover up blemishes and skin imperfections, next I used Mineralized Skinfinish Natural powder in Deep Dark by MAC; $27, MAC cosmetics.
I applied my Superbalm lip treatment by Clinique; $12.50, Clinique counters and Clinique.com My lips get rather dry in the winter and I can't be walking around looking like a fabulous crack head. While my lips dried I began to work on getting my "glow on."

L-R: 'Ambering Rose' Blush working over time as a Highlight, bronzer, blush and contour, and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in 'Deep Dark'. These are my two "Can't live without" products.

You know how you always get those gift with purchases and never use them? Well not me I put mine to good use. Last year I got a cute little eye shadow quad from Lancôme as a gift with purchase. It contains two Mattes a Sheen and a Shimmer.

Top Row: 'Honeymoon' (Sheen), 'Chic' (Matte)
Bottom Row: 'Bikini Golden' (Shimmer) Lezard (Matte)

 This is the perfect quad I used all four colors 'Chic' on my lids, 'Bikini Golden' in my crease mixed with a tiny bit of 'Lezard', 'HoneyMoon' on my brow bone. and 'Lezard' in my outer 'V'. When we went out for dinner the night before I simply switched the places of 'Chic and 'Bikini Golden'. I used no eyeliner I didn't want to be bothered with it and sometimes eyeliner can hurt my look more than it helps.
 On my lashes I used one of my favorite mascara’s that I happen to have in a sample size (Great perk of working for a counter) I got five sample sizes of High Lengths Mascara by Clinique; 14.50 Clinique counters and Clinique.com, and I've never used them, because I have a larger one that I always used. When I started traveling I cracked those bad boys open and in an instant I had Glamazon lashes. I love this mascara because the applicator is actually a little comb and it catches every single hair you have, plus it was free; can't beat that! To keep my eyebrows in place I use Great Lash clear mascara by Maybelline. I don't know why they call it clear mascara when they market it for eyebrows as well...Anyway, $3.80 at your local CVS or Target.

Night time look!

Lastly I used my one of my favorite nude combos on my lips 'Jubilee' lipstick and 'Love Nectar' lip glass both by MAC $14.50 MAC cosmetics, respectively. I was scared that my 'Brandy Twist' by Clinique wouldn't make it through and I was not about to throw it away when I just brought it. I just wouldn't have gotten on that plane! Okay I'm forcing it but you know what I mean...
And that my lovelies is the look I worked with the entire time I was in Jamaica!

So here's a list of the things I brought with me just in case you like myself skim instead of read:



Items not pictured: Superbalm, it fell and rolled away before the picture was taken. Great Lash in clear, its no longer clear and looks nasty.



Closer look at the night time "face".

MAC mineralize skinfinish powder in 'Deep Dark', MAC Blush in 'Ambering Rose,

Lancôme Color design gift with purchase eyeshadow quad, MAC Select Moisture Cover consealer Great Lash clear mascara by Maybelline New York, 'Jubilee' lipstick and 'Love Nectar' lip glass, both MAC, Clinique Great Lengths mascara in 'Black', Superbalm lip treatment, also by Clinique and a Blush Brush.

I threw those suckers in a Airport Security Ziplock and went on about my buisness.

Before I go I just want to give a shout out to the my two favorite lip conditioners that got me through this harsh winter.... It has nothing to do with the reveiw above but they really don't deserve their own post because they're not that exciting. But hey they make your lips kissably soft and who doesn't want that?!

Sugar lip treatment with SPF 15 by Fresh $22.50 at Sephora stores and Sephora.com and Superbalm lip treatment by Clinique; $16.50 Clinique counters and Clinique.com

L-R Sugar lip treatment by Fresh and Superbalm lip treatment by Clinique.

Like I said they're not that exciting but they got me through these past few months They are actually my favorite products for the Month of March Yay! Mental note these beauties do not cause that nasty white film on the lips that you get when using blistex and chapstick. Yuck!

Sugar lip treatment although expensive is made with real sugar, which acts as an exfoliate, wax, forms a barrier on your lips to protect from the harsh environment and  fatty acids and antioxidants. Try to find that in your big tub of Vaseline; go on I'll wait...... I didn't think you could. Its stated to repair dry and cracked lips and protect from wrinkle and cancer causing  UV rays. What could make this product better is if they cut the price down; $22.50 for .15oz come on now that's just insane, but he I brought it so whose actually insane them or me? It should also protected from UVB rays as well, but hey you can't always have your cake and eat it too, right? What I do love about this product is that it actually last on its own for a least five hours before you need to reapply. I put it on at 10am this morning and here it is 3pm and I just now have to reapply. They come in two other tints Sugar Plum, and Sugar rose and this one smells like lemon!

I soon as I got back to Boston and felt the wind ripping threw my soul I ran to the Clinique counter and brought some Superbalm. Now this is fragrance free much like all Clinique products and it really does hydrate your lips without making them look greasy. You get .24fl oz and a little goes a long way. It does repair dry lips but that's it. Unlike the Fresh product there's no exfoliate in it (like sugar) so if your lips are peeling they're going to just peel. On the plus side you won’t continue to have peeling lips once the dead skin comes off your lips. It will last for two hours max and although there is no SPF in it, it actually does the job that it claims to do re-add moisture to moisture-less lips.

Both these products should last you 3-6 months if used every day. They do pay for themselves within a week and a half of use. You'll see a major difference in the way your lipsticks go on and the overall appearance of your lips in general. If you don't mind splurging I say go for it honey. If the prices aren't to your liking you can always get soft lips available in the checkout line at Target it works good too! Just keep those lips hydrated I refuse to talk to anyone who chewing the dead skin from their lips.

Now that I've completely grossed you out I think maybe it’s time for us to part ways until next time Cherry Pie,

Happy Kissing,
Kandis