What's in my Handbag and Everyday Makeup Bag? Fall and Winter Edition

I’m not 100% sure if any sayings exist about women’s purses, such as “purses are a window to a woman’s soul”, if that’s the case there are some strange things lurking inside of mine! I recently flipped one of my favorite fall and winter handbags upside down and took stock of everything inside. More so what did or didn’t need to be in there as I prepare for the holidays.

I wasn’t surprised to see the usual suspects - hair ties, favorite lip glosses and lipsticks, but a few of the items I found were completely unexpected! Regardless of the occasional oddity, I had a fun time spring cleaning my purse during my latest video vlog. I swatched several products from my everyday makeup bag, shared holiday tips and gift ideas, completed an unexpected DIY and talked about ways to score some fun holiday freebies! The best part of overturning my bag? Putting things back where they belong and sharing a glimpse of my life with my favorite vlog viewing friends!

 

Now it’s your turn to clean out your handbag with me. What is the strangest thing you’ve resurrected from the depths of your purse? I invite you to participate and leave a comment in the comments section below. If you have a blog or vlog and you’ve completed a “What’s in my Bag” entry, please leave a link below so I can visit. I really enjoy seeing what people have in their bags!

Tag - This or That! Beauty Product Preferences

I was tagged by my friend Danielle at Danielle Loves Glitter Beauty Blog to answer several questions about beauty product preferences. This is the first Blog Tag I have ever participated in and I am very excited to get started and share my answers with you!

Blush or Bronzer?

If asked to choose between blush and bronzer I’m going to choose a product that can double as both a blush and a bronzer depending on how I apply it. My two multi-tasking favorites are at different ends of the price spectrum. My top blush selection would be Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in the shade Exposed. This is a fantastic option if you are searching for a color that will carry you through all seasons, provide excellent color payoff and stay on throughout your day. On the cheeks it gives off a soft bronze/taupe/mauveish hue and if applied with a heavier hand it makes a terrific bronzer, especially for fair skin.

My second choice would be NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in the shade Sunny (aka NYC Sunny Bronzer). I use this bronzer in the same manner as the Tarte Exposed Blush. NYC Sunny Bronzer is a natural looking bronzey peach tone. Both provide a great matte finish, stave off excess oil in the skin, and neither leaves your skin feeling like you’ve caked on a ton of product.

 

Lipgloss or Lipstick?

Lipgloss! I don’t even have to think about that one. I’d love to say my lips are always mega-smooth, but more often than not I usually have some sort of issue with chapped skin so gloss adds the perfect amount of color and moisture to my lips. Plus, who doesn’t love a slick shimmery pout? My personal favorites lately have been Buxom Glosses. I really like the Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Cream in the shade White Russian, it is my go-to nude lipgloss and Buxom Lips Dolly is one of my top warm toned choices for Fall and Winter.

Matte or Sparkle Eye Shadow?

Matte Matte Matte! Not only was I born with slightly hooded eyelids, I also have super oily eyelids so I look for textures that won’t travel or migrate into my crease or draw unnecessary attention to what I feel are flaws. I find matte eye shadow provides a great amount of coverage and doesn’t accentuate or settle into fine lines on my eyelids. The colors stay rich and vibrant, and they do not migrate on me as much as sparkly eye shadows do. It’s also worth mentioning that I enjoy slightly shimmery/low sheen eye shadows on occasion. My top choices for shimmery (but not glittery) shadows include MAC Phloof, Stila Oasis, Stila Wheat, Stila English Boy, Dior Grege Palette’s White and Gold shades, and Urban Decay Virgin.

Gel, Liquid, Cream, or Pencil Eyeliner?

I prefer a basic pencil eyeliner to complete my every day makeup looks. Pencils are very easy to apply, easy to control and don’t require a lot of effort to blend. I can get in between my lashes and easily line my tightline and waterline. My favorite eye pencil is the Estee Lauder Artists Eye Pencil in shade #01 Softsmudge Black. If you are looking for a no fuss no muss liner that performs well, lasts several hours on your tightline/waterline, applies dark, smudges out and sets like a dream this is definitely the way to go. For a darker/richer (slightly less blendable) waterproof option I recommend Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eyeliner.

For dramatic eye looks I reach for cream or gel eyeliners since I can create a sharp winged line using a thin brush to apply the liner. My favorite cream and gel eyeliners include Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner, MAC Fluidline, and Loreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner.

Foundation or Concealer?

Concealer. I can turn any concealer into a foundation by varying my application technique. If I had to choose one specific type of concealer I would select liquid concealer. My favorite concealer is MAC Prolongwear Concealer. It has the consistency of a liquid foundation, provides excellent coverage, does not settle into or accentuate fine lines or wrinkles, is easy to blend and lasts all day. It provides a natural looking finish and I often find myself using only this concealer. A little bit goes a very long way!

 

Liquid or Powder Foundation?

Liquid Foundation - for blending purposes. I need to be able to smooth foundation all over my skin without feeling like it has to be excessively fussed over, buffed or swirled around. I prefer a natural looking “healthy glow” or soft velvet-like finish. I do not care for the look of most powder foundations on my skin, and my sensitive skin does not seem to care for powder foundation either.

My top choices for liquid foundation include Giorgio Armani Maestro Octinoxate Sunscreen Fusion Makeup (aka Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation) and Christian Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup (aka Diorskin Nude Foundation). My top choices for drugstore foundations include Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation and Revlon Photoready Foundation.

 

 

Neutral or Statement Eyes?

Wow, that’s a toughie! I think I always manage to do something right down the middle. Neutral eyes with a hint of sass and smokiness tend to be my trademark when I apply my eye makeup. I don’t fuss too much over my makeup application and I like to smoke out my eyeliner and eye shadow. The resulting look is something that transitions from daytime to nighttime and is appropriate for almost any occasion.

Pressed or Loose Eye Shadows?

Plain and simple, I’m an absolute klutz! I NEED pressed eye shadow. I have no choice. As surely as I use loose eye shadow I sneeze or tip it over, plus I really don’t like excessive fallout or grabbing too much product. I’m the same way with setting powder as well. Pressed all the way!

 

Waterproof or Non-Waterproof Mascara

Non-waterproof. Perhaps I should clarify this better. Non waterproof mascara provided it isn’t pure rubbish and actually has some staying power. I do like waterproof but I do not like having to spend two days trying to get the remnants off of my lashes!

Brushes, Sponges or Fingers?

Surely this is a trick question! I have a preferred method for applying certain types of products and certain consistencies of products. I’ll have to say all of them. I hope that doesn’t disqualify me.

Powder, Cream, or Liquid Highlighter?

Powder Highlighter. I have an oily Tzone, so technically I can achieve the soft dewy glow without even wanting to! I like the element of control in application and I like being able to apply powder highlighter to any part of my face without feeling like it slides around or migrates (especially as it wears on throughout the day). Powder seems to last longer product-wise since it won’t dry out in the packaging. Powder highlighter also goes a long way to help absorb excess oiliness in the skin. My top areas for highlighting are the tops of my cheekbones, my cupids bow (above my lip) and a light dusting above my browbone.

Since this is a tag, I welcome anyone reading this to participate. Let’s keep this tag going! Please leave your answers, your blog post, your blog post link or your vlog link in the comments section below.

I tag:

JLUVBIRDEE  – Jessica Blog
TheJools123 – Stacie YouTube | Blog
MatixsMommy – Bonnie YouTube | Blog
ChristasWorld – Christa  YouTube
Walkn4Life – Laura YouTube
Fun4Lala – Loretta YouTube
Melmphs - Melissa YouTube

And of course you can always find me on YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest or Instagram (thisisrachael)

Latisse and Contact Lenses

One of the common misconceptions about Latisse is that it is not safe for use with contact lenses. The great news is, if you do wear contact lenses you can still enjoy the benefits of Latisse. There are a few key things to be aware of while using Latisse with contact lenses, and I would also like to share a few tips with you from my personal experiences with both.

Per Allergan (Manufacturer): Remove contact lenses prior to applying LATISSE®. Contact lenses may be reinserted 15 minutes afterwards

This step is crucial. Latisse is a liquid substance that needs sufficient time to dry naturally on the eyelids. If you rush the step by blotting excessively, you risk removing too much of the active product. You also risk transferring excessive amounts of active product into your eye proper (eye surface) and damaging delicate material compounds that form and affect the stability of your contact lenses.

One of the easiest ways to avoid conflicts with contact lens wear and Latisse use is to apply Latisse in the evenings after you have removed your contact lenses. This also enables you to develop a fairly regular Latisse regimen. I find this simple step eliminates a majority of my concerns. Latisse works through the night as I rest and in the mornings I can put my contact lenses in as usual.

One of the biggest problems I have faced as a contact lens wearer who uses Latisse is unusually dry eyes. Prior to using Latisse I had no issues with dry eyes whatsoever, even while wearing contacts. I never had any need for rewetting drops or eye lubricant in conjunction with contact lens use. However, over the course of using Latisse (around the 8th week) I began to notice my eyes had gradually become drier and more easily irritated. I found this extremely frustrating because I was more aware of the fact that I was wearing contact lenses, primarily because I could feel the actual contact lens on my eyeball. Contact lenses function best in a stable moist environment - since my eyes had become drier I noticed my lenses felt dry as well.

Without a doubt dry eyes has been the most aggravating side effect of using Latisse I have experienced!

In order to combat dryness I began to purchase rewetting drops specifically formulated for my contact lenses. There are many types of rewetting drops available. My best recommendation if you are suffering from dry eyes while using Latisse and you decide you need to purchase an eye lubricant - pay very close attention to the material your contact lenses are made of. For example, my contact lenses are made of an extremely porous substance called silicone hydrogel. Silicone hydrogel allows maximum oxygen flow to the eye while wearing contact lenses; therefore I made sure to purchase an eye lubricant that was safe for silicone hydrogel lenses. It’s worth the extra step to ensure you are using contact lens solution or rewetting drops that are safe for your contact lens type.

One final tip I can give you, in addition to regular use of rewetting drops, place a few rewetting drops or a few drops of contact lens solution inside of your lens prior to placing it on your eye. This provides temporary relief by adding a thin barrier of lubricant between the lens and your eye.

For additional Latisse application tips and Latisse resources I encourage you to visit this entry.

What is photodamage and photoaging? A prevention guide.

We often hear about reversing photodamage or photoaging but what are these things, what do they mean, and better yet how can we prevent them from happening?

Every time you are exposed to sunlight, whether you’re sitting by a window, taking a walk, laying out in the sunshine or playing sports outdoors, your body comes into contact with varying degrees of ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is emitted by the sun and can also be emitted through artificial sun lamps. There are three basic types of ultraviolet rays, UVA, UVB and UVC, the latter UVC is generally absorbed into the atmosphere before it reaches earth. Years of exposure to UVA and UVB rays cause your skin and certain DNA cells to deteriorate in addition to the natural aging process. Trademarks of photoaging or photodamaged skin include premature aging, roughness, altered leathery texture or appearance, wrinkling, sun spots, brown patches, hyperpigmentation, thickened skin, brown macules, and accelerated collagen breakdown to name a few. Once skin is damaged on a cellular or DNA level, ultraviolet radiation is also capable of producing genetic abnormalities that can lead to skin cancer. The following excerpt is from a public education resource provided by The Skin Cancer Foundation:

“Both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have identified UV as a proven human carcinogen. UV radiation is considered the main cause of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). These cancers strike more than a million and more than 250,000 Americans, respectively, each year. Many experts believe that, especially for fair-skinned people, UV radiation also frequently plays a key role in melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, which kills more than 8,000 Americans each year. ”

A brief guide to understanding UVA and UVB Rays

In short, UVA Rays (ultra violet long waves) are primarily responsible for tanning, wrinkling and premature aging, while UVB Rays (ultraviolet short waves) are responsible for skin reddening, ‘sunburn’, and damage to the inner epidermal layers of the skin. Both UVA and UVB Rays have the ability to travel through the earth’s atmosphere and to affect our skin and our immune system. Did you know that a suntan is the direct result of UV damage to the DNA within your skin cells? The skin darkens in an attempt to prevent further UV damage or UV penetration. How amazing is it to think the sun, something that appears so small can have such a major impact on our overall health and the condition of our skin!

Artificial Tanning

If you frequently use a tanning bed, you are exposing yourself to complex artificial UV Rays. The high pressure sun lamps found in tanning beds primarily emit UVA rays; artificial rays are up to 12 times more potent than the rays emitted by the sun. Take a look at the recent findings of The Skin Cancer Foundation:

“Not surprisingly, people who use tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent."

While exposure to natural sunlight is something we can’t always control, we can control the measures we take in order to protect our skin. Now that we know what photoaging and photodamage is, and that UVA and UVB exposure contributes to these conditions, let’s explore some of the things we can do in order to minimize their harmful effects.

• Try to wear protective clothing that limits sun exposure.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• If you must tan outdoors - limit tanning time, avoid excessive tanning and always wear sufficient SPF.
• Opt for a broad spectrum sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. Always select a minimum of SPF 15; however a higher amount is recommended.
• Ideally sunscreen with sufficient SPF should be applied daily.
• If you know you are going to be exposed to direct sunlight for any length of time, apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to the event, reapply every 2 hours, and reapply immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Use protective eyewear outdoors, not only is this believed to help prevent UV related cataracts, it helps combat premature wrinkling caused by excessive squinting!
• Check your skin regularly for signs of melanoma.
• Monitor your skin for signs of photodamage, photoaging, or premature aging.

If you believe your skin shows signs of photoaging or photodamage, consult your physician or dermatologist to explore the many skincare treatments available to reverse or minimize long term effects of these conditions. If you believe you have melanoma or abnormal looking spots or moles, consult your physician or dermatologist for further testing.

For additional information about skin cancer, UVA/UVB Rays, or skin cancer prevention resources please visit The Skin Cancer Foundation at : http://www.skincancer.org/

Noteworthy Hair Care: John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Review

Lately I've been diversifying my blog to include various beauty related items. Initially I wasn't sure how I felt about this addition but I have received such a great response that I plan to feature noteworthy products more regularly. With that being said, today’s topic is hair care!

John Frieda Precision Foam Colour : My Home Hair Coloring Experience!

Hair coloring has always been an issue for me. While I love getting pampered at my favorite salon, there's a large part of me (the DIY side) that longs for my adventurous teen years when I'd lock myself in the bathroom, flip on the fan, blast the radio and change my hair color on a whim. This usually involved the company of my best friend for a girls night in, but what I remember most was how much fun we'd have! There was always something so uplifting about coloring my own hair. Not only was it uber affordable, it added an element of self fulfillment. I never knew exactly how my color would turn out, although I distinctly remember hoping the shade would turn out as pictured. Even if it didn't turn out like the glossy haired girls on the box I wore my crazy color with pride, and an occasional hat. If it turned out  fabulous all the better because I made sure to tell the world I did it all by myself!

Well I got that rainy day feeling again. I had already been through a years worth of hair appointments to maintain allover color and blonde highlights, but suddenly I didn’t want them any more. I wanted one allover color that was easy to maintain and somewhat close to my natural hair color, and I wanted it yesterday. My roots were coming due and it was becoming glaringly obvious that I either needed to hit the salon, or hit the aisle with the home hair coloring kits.

I researched several good home hair coloring kits and these were characteristics I knew I wanted the product to have:

• Good Color Selection
• Ease of Prep and Application
• Low Odor
• NOT MESSY
• Covers Grays
• Even/Non-Patchy Color
• Non Damaging/Gentle on Hair
• Long Lasting Results, and if it had kick-butt conditioner, even better!

John Frieda’s Precision Foam Colour fit the bill. With a slew of great reviews and two glowing recommendations from women whom I trust implicitly, John Frieda’s Precision Foam Colour came home with me. I cancelled the appointment with my colorist and DIY’ed myself into ‘4N Dark Natural Brown’ oblivion, and I have to say I am completely enamored! 

The overall mixing and application process was breeze-easy and the results are far better than I expected. Of course I lifted the window since I love fresh air, though it’s worth mentioning I had no need for the fan since the scent of this product was extremely pleasant, and I have to give major kudos to John Frieda for figuring out we really do need salon grade gloves for color application. I’m also keenly aware of the fact I selected a tame color, no more deep reds and jet blacks for this chic. I even had Pandora blasting all sorts of great music... INXS, Hall and Oates, Phil Collins and a few other choice groups that would surely date me if I continue to mention them here. So without further ado, I present the John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Hair Color Review and Demonstration (video is also embedded below). Plus some random nonsense and goofiness featuring me in a shower cap. So grab a box of John Frieda Precision Foam Colour knowing it gets a solid thumbs up from me, and come along for a girl’s night of DIY hair coloring!!!

Spend the day with a Christian Dior Beauty Artist/Stylist - Dior New Look Event!

I had an amazing opportunity to spend the day with well known Christian Dior Beauty Artist/Stylist Tina Rozwadowski (Tina ‘Roz’) at the Dior New Look Event.  We had a wonderful time learning about new and existing Dior beauty products, Dior skincare, Dior’s New Look Collection and we also learned fantastic tips for everyday makeup application! We delved into Dior’s rich history and learned about why products are named as they are - we even discussed the number of years that went into developing Dior’s world renowned cosmetic and skincare essence! Experience a behind the scenes look at two Dior New Look Makeovers on both myself and a dear friend of mine, Jamie. This footage also features makeup application tips to enhance brown eyes, blue eyes, large eyelids and short or hooded eyelids. I am so excited to share this day with each of you and I hope you too will enjoy familiarizing yourself with the world of Dior Cosmetics and Dior Skincare.

Thank you for spending the day with us!

Noteworthy Cosmetics! Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup

What do you do when you no longer feel 100% comfortable braving the world bare faced? You freak out, which is pretty much what I did. I had reached a point where I felt most comfortable having some form of coverage on my face before venturing out in public. I had already exhausted a variety of drugstore foundations, the stand out one being Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Liquid Foundation, but I also had my eye on several high end foundations as well.

I’d heard great things about CHANEL Vitalumière Aqua and NARS Sheer Glow. I visited both counters and after two in depth consultations I received generous samples of each, enough to later determine I didn’t care for either of them. It wasn’t long before I was chatting with a friendly Dior representative who introduced me to the most prized foundation in my cosmetic collection, and quite possibly my favorite high end brand altogether. The foundation we selected was Diorskin Nude, and let me assure you, the foundation is just as cheeky, wonderful, and luxurious as its name!

Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup has SPF 10 in it, which makes it perfect for everyday wear. The foundation comes in a 1 fl. oz./30ml glass bottle and has a silvertone plastic dispenser/pump for ease of application. I’d say Diorskin Nude is a medium coverage foundation that has the ability to be layered to obtain medium + plus coverage. What I love most about this foundation is the smooth, radiant, natural looking finish it provides without looking dewy, shiny, or cakey.
 

Many foundations leave a dewy shimmery glow on the skin, and although it’s nice on occasion, I like to be able to “turn off” my foundation if I’m not feeling particularly glowy that day. It’s not like you can de-glow a foundation at will, at least not without a decent matte finishing powder. A soft dewy glow can be easily achieved by applying a highlighter or skin finish, I like the option to add a finish versus trying to cover it or take it away.
 
Dior has managed to blend Diorskin Nude foundation so well that it literally looks and feels like healthy, fresh, well cared for skin once applied. The foundation has a liquid/viscous texture and it smells as clean and fresh as it feels. The scent is very light, not overpowering - think light, fresh, citrus, mint. Diorskin Nude is easily applied and blended using a foundation brush, a damp cosmetic sponge (or sea sponge), or clean bare fingers. It evens the skin and provides ample coverage for blemishes, redness and discoloration. Diorskin Nude can be beautifully layered to achieve medium plus coverage without becoming cakey or heavy looking.

Longevity

I find Diorskin Nude lasts about 6 hours with no need for touchups. I have combination skin and can get a bit oily depending on my activities. Diorskin seems to keep my Tzone at bay, while at the same time hydrating and balancing my dry skin. I do not need to use a primer with Diorskin Nude, but I do apply lotion using a damp cosmetic sponge prior to applying foundation which may or may not have something to do with longevity. I could easily go without setting this foundation although I prefer a light dusting of powder to complete the finished look.

Cost

Diorskin Nude is on the higher end of the price spectrum, around $50 a bottle. Unfortunately there’s no way to guarantee how long one bottle will last since it depends on how frequently or heavily you apply foundation. I will say this, most foundations are 1 fl. oz./30 ml (as is Dior) but the coverage of Diorskin Nude is far superior to many drugstore and department store foundations so you will definitely use less of this foundation. I'm okay with spending $50 for foundation as long as I know it won't get tossed by the wayside or die in the far recesses of my makeup cabinet. I justify the splurge by calculating how much money I've wasted over the years on foundations I thoroughly hated.
 

Shade Range

Diorskin Nude has one limitation, color range. There are only about 9-10 colors in Dior’s universe. I’m the absolute whitest (shade #10) but if you have dark or ebony skin you may have difficulty finding an exact match. All Dior shades, even the lightest ones, tend to be a bit peachy which makes it tougher for olive skinned girls such as myself to decide between two shades. My Dior consultant remarked she often has trouble matching olive toned skin, at least on the first try - hence my warning, try to get a sample before you buy this foundation. Diorskin as with all foundation reacts with oils in your skin (known as oxidation) so it darkens an inth of a shade on the peach side. If you are in doubt or torn between two very close or near perfect matches, try the lighter shade. Again, it is always best to sample foundations first if possible, especially $50 foundations since this is an investment you are likely to use every day.

I highly recommend Diorskin Nude. My extremely sensitive skin is positively behaving. I enjoy being able to wait longer for facials and microdermabrasion thanks to the wonderful coverage and finish provided by this unique 40% water based foundation. Diorskin Nude has a way of making me temporarily forget that I am aging, and as far as I’m concerned you can’t put a price on this type of satisfaction. My skin looks great when I’m wearing Diorskin Nude and I’m not the only one who notices. I am absolutely delighted to have this product on my skin!

To view a complete review and Diorskin Nude application demo, please feel free to visit my Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation Review, Application and Foundation Routine video (video is also embedded below).