Fab Five Favorite: Highlighters!

Once upon a time, I didn't understand the importance of blush - it's amazing how a little hint of color on the cheeks can liven up you face and really bring a look together! I listed some of my favorite blushes here, but fairly recently I've had a new revelation - highlighters/illuminators are a must too! I little bit of subtle shimmer in all the right places {generally where ever light would naturally hit you; ie, the upper cheeks, right above your brows, the bridge of your nose, cupids bow, and chin} can change the dimensions of your face and give you a covetable glow. Here are some of my favorite highlighting products - guaranteed to give you that glow {and now I have that song from Last Dragon stuck in my head}! {Products provided for review/feature consideration will be marked c/o}

Get your glow on like Bruce Leroy! Lol :) (Photo via The Last Dragon Tribute)

February Favorites!

It's the return of the monthly favorites! I'm making a concerted effort to both try more products when possible and also to completely use up more products {and then share my empties on Instagram with my thoughts on them, though I may start doing that here}, so these are truly my tried and true, and I highly recommend each and every one of them! {Products sent for review will be marked c/o}.

(Wine) Red Carpet Lips - Golden Globes 2014 Beauty Recap (Part 2)

This Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, officially kicked off Red Carpet Season in Hollywood! Not only did the gorgeous gowns and jewelry shed light on new trends, hair and makeup really stood out. From illuminated skin to to sleek hair and retro red lips, these Hollywood looks are easy to recreate for real life.

Jennifer Lawrence

October 2013 Favorites!

I tried really REALLY hard to narrow it down to an even 10 this month, but just couldn't do it! So here they are, the 13 products I could not stop reaching for during the month of October. {Products sent for review will be noted with c/o}.

MAC MATTERS: A Long Overdue Update!

I know, I know! I've been a bad girl {and now I have a Robin Thicke song stuck in my head}. I haven't done a MAC Matters post since April, and to be honest with you, I have no idea why. Chalk it up to life, a lack of motivation, and a hitch in my planning schedule, but I'm trying to get things back on track! So here's a bit of an update...

April 2013 MAC Matters Purchase: Almost There!

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

March Beauty Favorites

Peyton has inspired me to tinker around with Polyvore a bit more and I thought that in addition to sharing her monthly favorites, I'd like to share some of mine as well!

March 2013 MAC Matters Purchase: It's Lippie Time!

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

December 2012 MAC Matters Purchase-The Eyes Have It Again!

Before I share what I purchased for this month's installment of MAC Matters, here's a brief recap of what this whole shindig is about:

This series is the brain child of the fabulous Pam of Pammy Blogs Beauty. She basically decided that instead of continuing a subscription to a beauty box service, she'd use the money ($21) to build a core collection of products from MAC Cosmetics. I read about it and immediately asked if I could do it with her.

Here are the rules for the MAC Matters Makeup Challenge:

Goal: Build a core MAC Collection using an average of $21.00 per month. (Pam came up with this amount because it is what she was spending on a monthly subscription service that she decided to cancel.)Purchase at least one item a month: If the item is under $21, save the remainder for the next month. While there are many items priced under $21, there are plenty that are over the $21 range that we can save for. Some months, we will be "saving" the $21 to go towards a bigger MAC purchase.
Do a monthly blog post to share what we purchased! The goal is to continue this series for 12 months to see what kind of core collection we each can build! (I also think it will be very interesting to see the difference in the products we choose to purchase and what constitutes a "core collection" for us individually.)

Last month, my first MAC Matters purchase was an empty Pro Palette Eye Shadow x 4 and All That Glitters eye shadow...

Keep reading to see what I purchased this month!

November 2012 MAC Matters Purchase! AKA-It Begins!

Previously on Mama Fashionista...

My fellow Beauty Blog Coalition and Metro Atlanta Beauty Bloggers member, Pammy Blogs Beauty came up with the *genius* idea of doing a monthly blog series where she would, piece by piece, build a "core collection" of makeup basics from MAC Cosmetics. She set a budget of $21 a month (the fee that she was paying for a beauty box subscription that she was canceling) and MAC Matters was born! I immediately wanted to play when I read her post about it (here), so now we will be coordinating our monthly posts, sharing what we have selected each month to build a collection of basics/staples from the popular brand.

Being the eye shadow fanatic that I am, of course my first purchase had to be a great eye shadow shade that could be worn solo, but also would be great with other shades. With my $21, I decided to get All That Glitters, a beautiful warm, beige with a gold pearl sheen (it's a Veluxe Pearl finish, which means that it is a very pigmented formula, with a metallic/pearlescent shimmer). I also chose the Pro Palette Eye Shadow x 4, because I figure that for a well rounded collection, I need at least four basic eye shadow colors, AND it's $3 cheaper to get the Pro Pan Refills as opposed to the regular shadows (though you can't Back to MAC empty pans like these). So I suppose you can look at this as a bit of a hint as to what at least 3 months' worth of purchases will be.

The shadow cost $12 and the palette cost $9, so I used my whole $21 this month. Some months I will purposely spend under my allowance so that I can carry over the remainder for items to be purchased in the following month(s). I'm not going to lie, I sort of have the whole year planned out, but it's a loose plan, so that I can adjust it to fit whatever suggestions I get from you lovelies, as well as to account for items that may scream out to me as necessities in the many Limited Edition collections that MAC puts out (quite frequently). Part of me feels that I should only purchase products that are part of the permanent collection, that way my core collection will be something that is timeless and easy for someone else to replicate. Another part of me just loves pretty makeup and can't make any promises that an LE item may not make it into the bunch at some point. I guess we shall see!

So what do you think of my picks for this month? What do you suggest that I add next month? What would you purchase if you were building a "core collection" of makeup basics from the brand? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. And don't forget to go see what Pam picked out for her first month in the MAC Matters series! Until next time...

Beauty on the Go

Beauty Must Haves For Travel by mamafashionist1 featuring a thick eyeliner

This weekend I had the opportunity to test drive and experiment with my ever growing makeup stash in order to fine tune not only a simple go to look (similar to my Basic Face), but also looks that would last all day (in the Georgia heat), be easy to touch up if necessary, and help me look put together but not overly made up. The arsenal above proved to be exactly what I needed and they will definitely be in my travel beauty bag from now on! 

The only items not pictured that I utilized this weekend are my all time favorite highlight (and HG product) MAC's Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb, Benefit's  The POREfessional primer  and one of my favorite palettes, Smashbox's Click You're It Holiday 2011 Palette (which I also feature here). Here's a breakdown of everything else I used (as pictured above):

After washing my face, Maijan's Argan Oil was my moisturizer of choice. It was perfect for prepping my skin for makeup, but more importantly it left my skin smooth and glowing. Because my skin was in decent shape, I did not need a full face of liquid foundation. I simply smoothed on the Benefit primer, used Smashbox High Definition Concealer in Medium/Dark under my eyes (to brighten and highlight) and on a few blemishes, and apply a light layer of Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation with SPF 20 in Medium/Dark to even out my complexion and eliminate unwanted shine (and the gorgeous rose gold compact the foundation comes in is some of the prettiest packaging I have ever come across). I contoured with NYC New York Color SUN'n'Bronze Bronzing Powder in Montauk Bronze, added MAC Powder Blush in Fleet Fast from the Hey! Sailor Collection to my cheeks, and Superb Skinfinish for the perfect glow and dimension.

Everyday for the eyes, I started with MAC Bamboom Paint as a base. On Friday, I simply used the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black to make an intense cat eye and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Perversion to tightline. On my waterline, in the inner corner of the eye, and on my brow bone, I applied NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. I finished my eyes by curling my lashes and applying a few coats of Bobbi Brown Intensifying Long Wear Mascara in Black to the top and lower lashes (and the applicator in this mascara is perfect for grabbing every single lash, especially in the inner corners and lower lashes, and making the most of them). On Saturday, I went more delicate with the liner on my upper lash, added a bit of #6 from the Smashbox palette, and kept everything else the same. On Sunday, I did my traditional cat eye, used Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24/7 Eyeshadow in Edgy Emerald in the inner third of the lid and along the inner half of the lower lashline, applied #14 from the Smashbox palette in the crease and outer v, and #10 in the center of the lid, and #4 to highlight under my brow bone.

For lips, I kept it simple. Each day I started with my favorite (another HG) eos lipbalm in sweet mint, and used MAC Lipglass in Rebel (on Friday and Saturday when my eye look was simple) and a beautiful sheer, nude cream lipstick from Giorgio Armani on Sunday. 

The best thing about each of the looks was that, with the exception of reapplying balm, lipstick, and/or gloss, the only kind of touch up I needed throughout the long hot days was a bit of Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender to keep shine at bay. Another must that stayed in my purse all weekend long, was Sally Hansen's Gem Crush nail polish. I had Bling-Tastic on my toes and Showgirl Chic on my fingers. I love how adding these sparkle-licious colors to just one finger on each hand and one toe on each foot is enough to add a little extra something to your look! Plus if you chip the polish on any of your other nails, just covering the chip up with a bit of the Gem Crush polish adds a bit of unexpected flair that is really unique.

So that's that. After this weekend, I literally cleaned out my makeup bag and refilled it with these goodies (well, at least the ones that will fit into it). For the most part, I felt polished and put together this weekend, despite the crowds, heat, and my kiddies, and that was due in large part to the products. What's in your makeup bag? What products do you have to have with you where ever you go? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

PS-Some of the products mentioned above were provided to me by PR. I was not paid for this post and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. This post does contain affiliate links-if you click on a text link AND make a purchase, I will receive a small commission :)

Weekend Uniform

Weekend Uniform by mamafashionist1 featuring ralph lauren handbags

Ralph Lauren Collection platform shoes

Ralph lauren handbag

Ralph Lauren aviator sunglasses

MAC Cosmetics lip liner
nordstrom.com

MAC Cosmetics eyeliner
nordstrom.com

MAC Cosmetics pencil eyeliner
nordstrom.com

Mac cosmetic
nordstrom.com

MAC Cosmetics mascara
nordstrom.com










Inspired by the Ralph Lauren Big Pony 3 fragrance for women that I wore this weekend to the mall. In case you couldn't tell, the trip included a stop by the MAC counter too :) It's actually very similar to what I wear when running errands with the fam: skinnies, tote bag, some arm candy, aviators, and sky high wedges! Until next time...




Ciao, XxO




Q




PS- This post contains affiliate links (in the thumbnail pictures and corresponding links; to either the exact item or something very similar)-if you choose to click on a picture or link AND make a purchase, I will receive a small commission :)

Basic Face

Basic Face by quinn-ryan-smith featuring urban decay eyeliner

For the longest time, I felt totally comfortable leaving the house without a bit of makeup on (unless you count lip balm or gloss as makeup). Then I realized what a difference it made to my overall look when I simply applied some black eyeliner, and a sort of signature look was born (to this day I do not walk out the door without black liquid or gel liner on my upper lash line with at least a slight wing to exaggerate the shape of my, what I consider to be small, eyes). Then I discovered the importance of filling in my brows (they do frame your face), and so on and so forth. So while I could still venture outside in total comfort with no makeup (except for the aforementioned liner and balm), I know that I walk a little taller, smile a little brighter, and exude a bit more confidence when I take a few simple steps to better present myself to the outside world. Thus my basic face was born. 

I use this routine when I'm going to out and about, perhaps just running errands with the lil bits or for a trip to the mall with my family. It's simple and quick, but honestly makes a world of difference for my appearance. The end result is something that's equal parts chic and natural; I look perfectly put together, yet effortless. 

MAC Wish List: Casual Colour Collection

If I haven't disclosed this already, I love makeup. A LOT! Recently, I've become more and more enamored with MAC Cosmetics. I've heard people complain about how many new campaigns they come out with, but for a beauty junkie like me, seeing all the new colors, formulas, packaging, etc. coming out on a regular basis is pretty darn cool.

One of the latest collections to come out is the MAC Casual Colour Collection for Summer 2012. It's available on line right now, and should hit stores on June 7th. This is how the MAC Cosmetics website describes the collection:

"This is weekend chic, M.A.C.  style. Mineralize Skinfinish, Studio Fix Mascara, Prep + Prime Highlighter, and new all-in-one Lip and Cheek Colour Pots. Effortless and easy, this barely there formula feels like wearing nothing at all."

My MAC Wish List

I had an awesome day out with the hubby and the lil bits today (Peyton is on a road trip to see her great grandmother). We went to see The Avengers (the first time the hubby and I have been to a theater since Knight and Day came out two summers ago), and while it was highly enjoyable (I actually read Marvel comics as a girl and am well versed in the Marvel Universe; I knew who the bad dude after the credits was), my favorite parts of the day were visiting the CCO and the MAC Cosmetics counter at Nordstrom to finally see the Hey, Sailor! collection in real life.

Though I REALLY wanted to go on an all out shopping spree, the hubby's presence kind of hampered that notion. I got to swatch a few gems at the CCO that I hope will still be there when I return, but I had the most fun at Nordies. Initially I just wanted to swatch a few things from the new collection and come back later (by myself) to get a few things, but the MAC artist that helped me was SO nice and SO helpful, I ended up buying something then and there (and have added a few things to my MAC wish list).