FOTD: Hello March

I am continuing my yearly tradition of doing an aqua-colored eye inspired by my birthstone which is the Aquamarine. The Aquamarine stone varies in different shades of blue. For this reason,I chose this pale blue for my look choosing an old NYX pigment I had. I created a halo eye, smoking out the inner and outer corners of my eyes. I felt like this made the light blue really pop.

By the way, this is a milestone birthday for me this year. This year I'm turning the big 3-0. In 29 days to be exact. Ahh!!!!!

I used a L'oreal quad I had in "112 Avante Garde Azure". It looked very pretty in store and had some colors that were perfect for this look. Unfortunately these shadows kind of sucked. They weren't very pigmented and the blendability (is that even a word) was kind of blah. But I managed to work with it.

Product Details
FACE
NARS Natural Radiant Foundation "Tahoe"
Maybelline FitMe Concealer "Medium"
Laura Mercier Transluscent Powder
TooFaced Dark Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Nicole Guerriero x ABH Palette "Forever Young"
EYES
NYX Microbrow Pencil "Espresso"
MAC eyeshadow "Soft Brown"
MAC eyeshadow "Swiss Chocolate"
MAC pigment "Naked"
ABH eyeshadow 'Warm Taupe"
L'oreal Colour Riche Pocket Palette "Avant Garde Azure" (darkest color to smoke out eyes and 3rd color on lid"
Inglot gel eyeliner "77"
L'oreal Voluminous Mascara
Koko Lashes "Flirty"
LIPS
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb

Mask Monday: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask

photo credit: Pure Formulas

I have struggled with acne ever since I was a teenager. For the most part, my skin has been pretty clear due to my skin routine and the changes I have made to my diet. I will break out here and there, due to hormones. I had a pretty bad breakout last month and on top of that, I was eating a lot of sugar so it led to my skin starting a small rebellion.

I love making custom masks using the Aztec Secrets Indian Clay. This contains 100% Calcium Bentonite. Bentonite Clay is very affordable and can be used on all skin types. A one pound tub costs about $10.00 and you get a lot of use out of it. Bentonite Clay can also be used as hair masks and soaks, among other things.

For the skin, Bentonite Clay serves a lot of purposes. Some of them are:

• Removing dead skin cells
• Extracting impurities from the skin
• Healing Acne Scars
• Helping control the production of sebum
• Softening and exfoliating the skin

I started using the clay once in a while when I want to give myself a face mask. Once I started having problematic skin, I started to use it more regularly. I now use the Bentonite Clay twice a week as a face mask to help keep my skin clear and to help fade away my acne scars. Since the Bentonite Clay comes in a powder form, I like to mix it with Apple Cider vinegar and sometimes I'll add a couple of drops of Vitamin E oil and/or Rosehip Oil. Both oils have moisturizing properties and are great for healing acne scars and other skin imperfections. You can add your own essential oils or other ingredients like lemon juice and honey, depending on your skin concerns. It's like having your own custom face mask.

I add enough ACV to form a paste. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to do a spot test or just use water instead. I apply it with a brush and leave it on for about 20 minutes, as recommended on the package for normal skin.

it's tightening!

Once the mask dries, you will it tightening and "pulsating". I honestly love this sensation, it makes it feel like it is working its magic. Once the time is up, you can rinse with warm water. I like to use my makeup eraser to remove any spots that don't wash away easily.

before

after

The photos above have been taken within a three week span. I have been starting to see an improvement in my skin by regularly using this mask. I've also been drinking a lot more water and cut down sugar and dairy from my diet. So far, no new breakouts. Along with my regular skin routine, I hope that the scars fade away even more. So far, I'm pleased with the results.

The Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Clay can be purchased at health food stores and can also be found on Amazon.

FOTD: Rihanna-Inspired Grammys Look

The Grammys aired a couple of days on the 28th and there were a lot of great looks. One of the looks that stood out in particular to me was Rihanna's when she was performing her song with DJ Khaled "Wild Thoughts". She had a beautiful purple eyeshadow that complemented her dress beautifully. According to her makeup artist, Rihanna was wearing products from her Fenty Beauty line that have not been released. I cannot wait to see what she has up her sleeve.

I used some shadows from MAC to recreate this look the best way I can. For my cheeks and lips, I applied a creamy blush to add a dewy look. Overall, I loved recreating this look. The colors were very pretty and it was really easy to execute. Would definitely wear this out.

PRODUCT DETAILS
FACE
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Makeup Forever HD Foundation "Y435"
Kat Von D Lock-It Creamy Concealer "Medium 27"
Laura Mercier Transluscent Setting Powder
Fenty Beauty Matchstix "Truffle"
Fenty Beauty KillaWatt Freestyle Highlighter "Girl Next Door"
Jordana Color Tint Blush "Coral Touch"
EYES
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil "Milk"
MAC eyeshadows "Parfait" and "Stars & Rocket" layered
MAC eyeshadow "India Ink"
Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon "Blaquer"
Ardell Lashes "Wispies"
LIPS
Jordana Color Tint Blush "Coral Touch"
Colourpop Cosmetics Ultra Glossy Lip "My Jam"

Mask Monday: Fantasy Blue Glittering Peel-Off Mask

Korean Beauty is taking the beauty world by storm. While I do not partake in the 10 Step Skincare Routine (pretty close though!), I've become a big fan of Korean products. The packaging is super adorable and most products are pretty affordable.

I was at Urban Outfitters when I spotted the Fantasy mask. The glittery box immediately caught my eye. Glitter face masks are a huge trend right now. Even big brands like TooFaced and Glam Glow are hopping on the glitter bandwagon. I love sparkly s**t so I definitely wanted to give it a try. This mask was only $14, which didn't hurt my pockets too much. Besides it being glittery, the mask is a peel-off formula that promises to remove sebum and other impurities of the skin. I have been struggling with some acne for the past month or so and I have been making changes to my regimen to correct it. This mask sounded promising.

The mask comes with a silicone wand for application, which was pretty cool. It made applying the mask a lot easier since the formula was pretty thick. I applied the mask with the wand, in downward strokes. It's best to apply in one direction to make the peel-off process easier. I really liked the scent of this mask, it was nice and pleasant. The application process was fairly easy and mess-free.

Mask Instructions:

• Cleanse and dry face.
• Apply mask using applicator.
• Relax for 20-30 minutes
• Peel off mask.

I'm Blue!

I was expecting the mask to be a lot more glittery so I was disappointed when it was more of a pearl-effect. It did look pretty cool, still. The peel-off processing was only a tad uncomfortable. I had a little discomfort around the under-eye area. I started from the outer edges and peeled off towards the center. It came off in one go minus a few little flakes, which washed off easily with warm water. There was some slight redness but my face did feel a little softer and tighter. With regular use, I expect to see some overall improvement with my skin. 

The Fantasty Blue Glittering Peel-Off Mask is available at Urban Outfitters for $14.

FOTD: Bella en Barcelona

My latest look is a cranberry-colored halo eye. Most of the eyeshadows are from my muvh loved Renaissance palette. I also got to try one of my Supernova shadows that I purchased from Colourpop. The formula for the Supernova shadows are very similar to the Stila Magnificent Metals, for a third os the price!

Product Details:

FACE

NYX First Base Primer Spray

Hourglass Vanish Foundation "Honey"

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme "Medium 25"

Fenty Beauty Matchstix "Truffle"

Toofaced Dark Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Laura Mercier Transluscent Powder

Laura Gelato Swirl Highlighter "Gilded Honey"

EYES

MAC Paint Pot "Soft Ochre"

NYX Microbrow Brow Pencil "Espresso"

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil "Black Bean"

ABH Modern Renaissance Palette (Love Letter, Red Ochre, Raw Sienna)

Colourpop Supernova Eyeshadow "Firecracker"

Kiss Faux Mink Lashes "Little Black Dress"

Laura Geller Gelato Swirl Highlighter "Diamond Duster" (inner corner)

LIPS

MAC lip pencil "Currant"

LA Girl Matte Lip Paint "Rebel"

Winter Is Coming FOTD

I'm late to the party but I have recently started watching Game of Thrones and I am obsessed! It's so good! I used one of the quotes of the series to name this Winter-inspired look. I mixed a couple of blues to create the color on my lid and kept my crease warm. I liked how the contrast looked and makes the look more wearable. Click for more photos!