Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer Review!

I think we can all agree when I say that concealer is one of the most important makeup items. A great concealer is supposed to conceal, even out, and the most important not crease like crazy. I have been a fan of Nars concealers for sometime now and I just became obsessed with their most recent one.

Nars soft matte concealer is perfection, I love it so much that as of late, I exclusively use it for doing my makeup. I carry it in my makeup bag to apply it on the go with confidence. It comes in my skin color, it needs minimum setting, and does not crease on me at all.  The coverage is full and the finish is exactly a "Soft Matte" the best way to describe it. 

I have very dark and noticeable veins in the side of my eyes as well as dark circles and the concealer cancels everything out. I also use it all over my face where I need a little coverage and it gives my skin such a natural healthy look. It's the perfect tool for the "no makeup" makeup look! My daily routine consists of this concealer, mascara, blush and lips. I highly recommend it and think its one if not the best concealer I have tried.

The Description Of Product The Product On Nars Website: 

Natural look. High coverage. Soft-focus smoothing complex blurs, conceals, and smooths imperfections. Complete comfort. Completely natural-looking. Concealing hits an all-time high. Oil-free. Long-wearing. Non-drying. 16 shades for all skin tones.

INSTANT RESULTS: Soft-focus blurring with high-performance coverage. Optimal Diffusion Powder helps maximize light diffusion with spherical surface powders designed to absorb and refract light for soft-focus perfection. High coverage with weightless wear. Advanced powders with a unique structure lay flat, staying in place without settling into fine lines and pores.

 LONG-TERM BENEFITS: Softer, smoother skin. Collagen-boosting peptides and hyaluronic acid reduce the appearances of wrinkles and pores by helping plump the look of skin. Antioxidant Daily Defense delivers a protective cocktail of Vitamins A, C, and E.

Product: Nars Soft Matte Concealer 

Purchased: Barneys 

Price: $30

I Got To Try Dermablend New Flawless Creator Foundation Drops And These Are My Thoughts!

I get so excited to try new makeup, will I love it?, will I hate it?, will this product become a holy grail? These are all questions going thru my head right before the product touches my skin. I know, I know it just makeup but well makeup is a very important thing in my life. I got to try Dermablends new foundation and I'm just going to cut thru the chase and tell you I LOVE IT! I was so relieved, yes relieved when I applied this foundation looked in the mirror and saw perfection. I could end this review right here and leave it at that but I'll tell you more details about why its AMAZING.....

Heres some important details about Dermablends Flawless Creator Foundation Drops: 

• Contains 33% concentrated pigments for weightless, customizable coverage anyone can wear.
• Uniquely silky texture is blendable, buildable and customizable.
• Multi-use: water-free and oil-free foundation formula for seamless blendability when used alone or mixed with skincare.
• Flawless Creator is formulated without parabens and is a vegan formula: no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

I loved it because of all that and it simply made my skin look perfect, even my grandmother commented how great my skin looked. The wearability is like no other foundation I own, the first day I used it I wore it for 16 hours, yes you read that correctly 16!!! I looked at the mirror right before I jumped in the shower and to my surprise my face was still on, even my highlight was still barely but showing. Thats a big deal for us makeup lovers, especially for me, a mother of four two of them under two that are constantly touching my face, I'm kissing them all day, I sweat a lot, I have combination skin that starts to get oilier by mid day. These are all factors that play against the longevity and quality of my makeup, but on this day it was not even an issue. 

As I demonstrated on this video I mixed it with my favorite sunscreen, my idea behind this was to make it more of a bb cream, and then I applied it solo on the areas I wanted to contour/bronze. Since then I have used it almost every way possible. However as my summer tan sadly is fading this shade is a little darker then my complexion so mixing it for a lighter coverage will definitely be my go to. 

I also tried their translucent powder and a buffing brush, they both work to perfection. 

FTC: Sponsored by Dermablend Professional. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my viewers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

Anti-Aging 101: Six Tips And Secrets To Look Younger And More Awake!

There is nothing that gives up our age (or ages us more) than the skin around our eyes. Fortunately for us if we properly take care of our eye area, we can prevent and even repair signs of aging like wrinkles, dark circles and puffy eyes.

• The first tip and most important is prevention, we do this by not exposing our skin to the sun without sunblock and wearing sunglasses to protect the delicate skin around our eyes. 
• Apply eye creams rich in antioxidants and vitamins, a great eye cream should have active ingredients that combat a few issues at once. I'm currently using and loving THIS ONE
• Visine yes little old visine is my number one tip for my clients that complain of always looking tired. Bright eyes are one of the first tricks of looking more youthful and awake!
• Lashes, lashes, lashes I swear it is incredible some of the before and after of my clients after they get eyelash extensions. Faux lashes can take years of you and give you and instant (no knife) eye lift! 
• Concealer is a must for looking more awake and youthful, the trick is finding one that won't crease on you and if it has added benefits even better, like THIS ONE. 
• Last but not least highlight, yes you are reading correctly. If used correctly highlighters work wonders for faking a more awake look. One of my favorite places to use them is under the brow, it immediately lifts the area giving you a more youthful look. I also love using it in the tear duct and a  beige pencil in the water line to open up the eyes. 

Dont forget that good diet, not smoking and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep play a very important role in how well we age! 

The Best Concealers For Covering Dark Circles, Blemishes, And Tattoos!

I think we can all agree when I say that concealer is THE most important makeup we use, specially if like me you have dark circles or any blemish, scar or even tattoo you want to cover. I was going thru my makeup stash, organizing and getting rid of some colors that no longer work for me and decided to share with you all my most used concealer of all times on my self and clients. I will list them in no particular order.

The one thing these concealers all have in common is they carry that perfect peachy tone that is necessary to cancel out (blue) dark circles. The second thing they all have in common is they are super pigmented which means a little bit goes a looooong way. Last but not least they are all available in stores and have a great range of colors...... Now to the breakdown of each one:

1. Nars Concealer is creamy, long-wearing, crease-resistant, and ultra-light yet opaque helps me achieve a flawless finish. I have replaced this concealer twice and for me that a big deal! 
2. Mac Studio Conceal and Correct palette is perfect to use on my clients, but I purchased one for personal use as well. With this palette I can rest assure to always have the right colors and whats even better it comes with two color correcting colors, the yellow one is great for brightening and the orange for canceling out dark circles. 
3. Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer.... remember I said a little goes a long way with these concealers, well with this one you definitely want to ha a light hand, or you will be blending forever! 
4. Kat Von D Lock- it Concealer is my go to for super heavy coverage, like tattoos and scars, for dark circles not so much on me personally but my super oily skin clients RAVE about it. Its super pigmented, water and transfer resistant.
5. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit this is my go to for a quick and fuss free makeup application, it blends smoothly. It does a good job at canceling out and brightening my dark circles and blending in with the rest of my face. 
6. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer, the name of this product says it all! Its an all in one, conceal and treat your dark circles. I love using this anytime I feel like skipping a few steps in my beauty routine. It cancels out my dark circles and sets fairly quick which helps it not crease. 

The number one question I always get asked is how to avoid creasing, and while these concealers are great if you don't set them (or any) with powder they will move through the day. My next post will be all about setting powders ;) 

Whats In My Makeup Bag

I must admit that I had completely forgotten how nearly impossible it is to find time to do my makeup with a newborn. I can't remember the last time I was able to sit on my makeup station and do my face, what I'm left with is (if husband is driving) to do my makeup in the car. The lack of time also meant that I had to find products that don't need much blending to go on perfectly and this is what I narrowed it down to.....

Mac Studio Fix powder Foundation in NC42: This is honestly my favorite (and only) powder foundation I have used. Its long wearing and matches my skin perfectly.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: This is one of the best concealers for dark circles with minimal creasing and long wearing. Plus the applicator works great for on the go.

Benefit They're real mascara: Works great at giving my lashes extra volume

Anastasia Beverly Hills Highlighting Duo Pencil And Tweezers: The highlighting pencil is my go to to highlight underneath my brow bone and help my brows look more define,, and the tweezers are by far THE best ones I have ever used.

Tom Ford Lipstick in spanish pink and Chanel lipliner in #68 is my go to lip colors and this Victorias Secret lipgloss tastes delicious!

It Cosmetics  Universal Eyebrow Pencil: I love this pencil because it goes on so smoothly and blends so natural with my brow hair, It doesn't give that obvious painted eyebrow look.  

Doll 10 Hydragel Cream Blush gives me the most flattering flush to my cheeks and I also use it on my lips as a tint sometimes.

House Of Lashes Glue: In case I need to apply lashes on the go, I keep this baby in my bag. This is by far the BEST eyelash glue I have used and the only one that doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes.

Miss Dior Travel Size Parfum

Louis Vuitton Cosmetic Pouch

Motives Mavens Sculpt Series Review!

The search for the perfect contouring products sometimes feels endless, every other day there is a new product out there thats supposed to be THE ONE. The Motives Mavens palette is definitely one that ranks very highly on my list of favorites the colors selection for the Fire is great for medium to darker skins with warm tones. I do recommend using a damp BB sponge to blend in the colors as I noticed they can look streaky with a brush. Overall I do love this palette and the packaging is nice and light and it includes a brush (not pictured) that is perfect for contouring the nose.

La búsqueda por encontrar la paleta perfecta para hacer contornos en la cara parece nunca acabar. La paleta creada por Motives definitivamente es una de las mejores. Con dos opciones para pieles con tonos mas fríos por ejemplo si tienes tonos rosados y tonos mas oscuros como por ejemplo amarillo. Recomiendo usar esta paleta con una esponja húmeda pues noto que con la brocha tiende a no ser una aplicación perfecta. Sobretodo me encanta esta paleta y la recomiendo a todos. La mía es Fire para pieles con tonos amarillo. 

Purchased: Shop.com

Priced: $35

IMATS NYC 2014

I finally attended the IMATS and boy was it fun! I loved every single moment, if you love makeup this is definitely something to experience for yourself. There was so many beautiful faces different styles from funky, dramatic, artistic, etc. Everywhere you looked there was something to be inspired from. I can honestly tell you guys that I was not prepare for this at all! I can only say that I should have taken a break from shopping for makeup at least 6 months in advance.

The lines was CRAZY but everything was really organized, until they opened the doors... The excitement took over some of the ladies and there was some pushing and skipping going on but overall it did not ruin my experience. 

This picture was taken at the end of the day after hours of standing in line as you can tell by my wrinkly shirt!

I couldnt help taking a picture with macdaddy, I will honestly say that I thought he was more warm and friendly but I found him shy and cold. His makeup did look flawless thought ;) 

Day two waiting for the train! 

With Kelly Bakers creater and owner of KBB

I found Kelly by accident and she was a complete sweetheart very genuine and sweet, I purchased the brow powder and duo pencil... Review coming soon!

Some of the the awesome live beauty fantasy competition!  

If you have not seen Jordan Liberty's makeup tutorial on youtube then you are missing out from learning a few tricks and tips. I was looking at his lashes and he actually approached me to complement me. He was so lovely and we talked for a while I must say hes skin is like porcelain soooo flawless I wanted to touch to feel it but he would have thought I was cray cray. I purchased three of his lashes, reviews coming soon...  

I met this cutie the first day and I was sooooo in love with her face she is so pretty and her makeup was just perfection. Makeup By Jenny was in the violetvoss booth and on both days she helped me pick out beautiful colors some worn by her on that day. Reviews on the pigments, glitters and eyeshadows I purchased from Violet Voss coming soon...

P.S If you have seen me in person then you know by now that I am not photogenic at all and almost all these pictures from IMATS demonstrate that. To get a good looking picture I take a dozen and even then I dont look right I hesitated putting these up because I HATE how I look on ALL of them but oh well! 

My purchases consisted of some personal buys but mostly products for my studio and travel kit. I stocked up on lashes, disposables, shadow shields, concealers, foundations, lip palettes. I will be doing reviews on most of the items as I use them on my self or clients.

 I was not able to get my hands on any Lime Crime, Sigma, Sugarpill products the lines was SOOOOO long and ten minutes after opening some products were sold out already. If I can make it to next years IMATS I will definitely attend the Friday event for PROS only so that I can take advantage and get everything I want before they open to the public.

Overall this was such a unique experience Im glad I did both days because I was so overwhelmed the first day that I really didn't take everything in. I hardly took any pictures because I didn't want to be distracted by my phone (some Blogger I am). My tips to anyone planning to attend is to definitely start saving money, make a list of the things you want, look cute BUT PLEASE wear something comfortable; there is a lot of walking standing in line I saw girls looking so uncomfortable on their 6 inch heels. Go with friends or alone and make new friends over there If you love makeup this is definitely an experience worth living at least once!

Steffany's Choice Best Of Beauty 2013: My Favorite Concealers!!

I cant believe 2013 is almost over this year flew by so fast! This year has been huge for me personally and professionally, I also tried soooo many products that it was hard to keep up with he reviews. This year I went concealer crazy I just wanted to try every single raved about concealer out there and test them my self and while a few were really good most sucked for me! I did however find five amazing concealers that do an excellent job at concealing! 

No puedo creer 2013 está casi terminado este año pasó volando tan rápido! Este año ha sido muy importante para mí personalmente y profesionalmente, también probé muchos productos que era difícil mantenerse al día con él. Este año me dedique a encontrar buenos correctores y ponerlas a prueba y mientras algunos estaban muy bien otros fueron fatales! Sin embargo he encontrado cinco correctores increíbles que hacen un excelente trabajo en ocultar las imperfecciones.

 Cle De Peu has been my favorite concealer for two years now and I 'll tell you why; it conceals and brightens like no other! What makes this concealer even better is that it seriously does not crease or fade! I have used it alone, over and under foundations and its just flawless. 

CLE De Peu es el primero en mi lista porque es increíble en serio! Este ha sido mi favorito corrector hace dos años y te diré por qué; ¡ oculta mis ojeras y aclara esta area! ¿Qué hace este corrector mejor es que en serio no arrugue o se desvanecen! Lo he usado solo, sobre y bajo base y su impecable solo.

Pros: 

The coverage

No Creasing

No Fading 

Cons:

Price!!

Color Selection

Another one on my favorites is MAC pro long wear, this is a great concealer the coverage is excellent, and its just a tad bit lighter then my skin tone but the same undertones which helps it look flawless but 'natural'. Its also my favorite to use on brides and on my self when taking flash photography since it has no flashback!

Otro de mis favoritos es MAC pro long wear, esto es un gran corrector la cobertura es excelente, y es un poco un poco más claro que mi tono de piel pero el mismo trasfondo que ayuda a una apariencia impecable pero 'natural'. Es también mi favorito para usar en las novias y en mi mismo cuando se toman fotografías con flash ya no tiene ningún retroceso!

Pros: 

You get a lot for your money

Coverage

Longevity

Color options! 

Cons:

Product waste; The pump makes it hard to control how much product you use, I always end up taking too much! 

Maybelline really outdid themselves with this concealer its honestly one of the best and the fact that its "drugstore" product is what makes it even better. This product also claims it conceals but also "corrects" meaning that with constant use it will help fade dark circles. I dont know if its true but if it does even better! 

Maybelline realmente superó ellos mismos con este corrector sinceramente uno de los mejores y el precio es lo que la hace aún mejor. Este producto también afirma que oculta pero también 'corrige' lo que significa que con el uso constante ayudará a desaparecer ojeras. No sé si es cierto pero si lo hace aún mejor!

Pros: 

Coverage

Brightens

Added Benefits

Price

Cons:

Doesnt look "natural" on pictures

Can you tell how much I LOVE this concealer? well lets just say this is my second one this year I empty out completely. Bobbi Brown know her stuff she really makes some of the best makeup products and this might be one of my favorites from her. I love this for how natural and perfecty matches my skin tone, but has a hint of salmon which helps cancel out the hideous HUGE veins around my eyes! This is my makeup bag essential!! 

¿Pueden ver cuánto amo este corrector? Bueno digamos que esta es mi segunda en este año que uso completamente. Bobbi Brown sabe sus cosas realmente hace algunos de los mejores productos de maquillaje y esto podría ser uno de mis favoritos de ella. Me encanta esto para partidos como naturales y perfecto con mi tono de piel, pero tiene una sugerencia de salmón que ayuda a cancela las venas enormes horribles alrededor de los ojos! Este es mi bolso de maquillaje esencial!!

Pros: 

Coverage

Packaging

Color range

Longevity

Natural Look 

Cons: 

Price

I slowly but surely fell in love with this concealer its excellent at covering my dark circles and it really doesn't crease! My only problem with this is the packaging is not to my liking, the tube feels like its empty and when you squeeze it sometimes more product then you need comes out! But this baby right hear COVERS so much you really wont believe just a little tiny drop of this stuff is all I use an it just covers and brightens my tired eyes! 

Lenta pero seguramente caí enamorado con este corrector su excelente a cubrir mis ojeras y realmente no arrugue! Mi único problema con esto es el embalaje no es de mi agrado, el tubo se siente vacío y cuando aprietas suele a salir mas producto de la cuenta! Pero este bebe con sólo una pequeña gota cubre mis ojeras y aclara mis ojos cansados!

Pros:
Coverage
No creasing
Waterproof
Looks great in pictures
A little goes a LONG way!
Added antioxidants and benefits

Cons:
The packaging 

Good Luck/ Buenas Suerte! Xxx

I Cant Live Without My/ No Puedo Vivir Sin Mi: Ben Nye Banana Powder! Vol 3

 I dont want to pretend with you, I love me some high end products. I can't help it I was born with expensive taste. Ask my mother, I think I was the only eight year old asking for lobsters in a restaurant. Chicken nuggets? no thank you! lol but by NO means translates into me not enjoying the simple things in life. I actually love me some bargains and love when i find products so amaizing that beat the high end products! I’m going to let you in a makeup artist (and beauty blogger) secret, Ben Nye Luxury Powder is the shiznet and costs about $10 for a years worth!  

Im not much of a powder lover, I find that sometimes instead of setting, powder just made me look cakey and took away the warmth of my face. I have noticed that this powder in particular is Ahhhmazing! It is seriously finely milled and looks gorgeous on camera! And the yellow tint helps highlight my face in such a beautiful way. If this powder were $100 it would be worth it, so the great price is really the icing on the cake!

I love using this with a powder puff and just adding a nice amount to the entire skin! It kind of creates a flawless complexion and just makes everything look incredible on camera and off! They come in different shades too but I haven't tried them yet! Have you tried this powder yet?

Good Luck! Xxx 

Product Rave: Benefit Fake Up/ Delirio Por Este Producto: Benefit Fake Up!

Medium Shade (02)

Unblended applied straight from the stick 

(Blended In)

 I've been in the hunt for a concealer that won't crease for ever now. There are so many concealer a out there that promise to be creaseless bug that's never the case. Untill the Benefit Fake Up Concealer that is pretty amazing! It actually does not crease, words I never thought I would say about a concealer! The pigment in this concealer is wrapped up in a layer of vitamin e and it works to not only nourish and protect skin, but also somehow magically keeps from creasing! I was really impressed that at the end of the day under eye circles were barely noticeable! The only thing I will say is it definitely streaks when you apply it, so you should stipple it with a sponge to prevent that from happening. I would also avoid using this any other place then under your eyes since it can be a little oily for the rest of your face. 

This concealer also completely banished my dark circles and gives you a beautiful appearance in photos! Again Don't  apply too much, since it does have that moisture layer, it can look greasy if you over do it! Keep it light, you really don’t need too much! So far, I am in love with this concealer! It’s almost too good to be true! 

Good Luck/ Xxx

Product Rave: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation!

I feel kinda embarrassed admitting that I had never tried this foundation until now. And now I understand what all the hype was about, this foundation is absolutely beautiful it looks analyzing and it feels like air. I actually had to look in the mirror to confirm that I actually had foundation on, thats how light it feels on my skin. Easy to blend, build-able coverage, healthy luminous look, non-comedogenic, I don't know what else I can say about this foundation. It is on the pricey side which is really the only negative. 

 This foundation is oil-free and works perfectly in filling lines and pores. It won't clog your pores or wash you out. This foundation has won so many awards year after year and now I see why.

 This foundation comes in 17 gorgeous shades so you are sure to find your perfect shade. I used my beauty blender sponge to apply it. I recommend this product to anyone and I have to admit I think I love it more then my Chanel foundation. Good Luck!

Purchased: Bloomingdales
Price: $59

My Foundation Routine

 I wanted to record my foundation routine for you guys, below is a list of products I used on this video. Please note that the products might change but the technique usually stays the same :) I hope you guys enjoy watching it, I loved making it. Don't forget to leave your messages! Good Luck Xxx

Lush Tea Tree Toner 
Smashbox Primer
CHANEL Perfection Lumiere foundation (Stippling Brush Real Techniques)
CHANEL Concealer #40 (Deluxe Crease Brush Real Techniques)
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC42  (same brush)
EVE PEARL Salmon Concealer Light/Medium (same Brush)
CHANEL Powder #40 (Blush Brush Real Techniques)
MAKE UP FOR EVER Microfinish Powder (same powder brush)