Battle of the Lolitas

It's possibly the best selling liquid lipstick at Sephora and the most infamous one with a story, Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita. Almost everyone and their mothers either have this shade of lipstick in their makeup collection or it is on their most wanted list. Not only is this shade & formula the most desired, but there is a whole story behind it:

When the original Lolita came out a couple of years ago, it was all the rage (no surprise). Everyone had subscribed to Sephora's "email me when in stock" to quickly get their hands on when it came back in stock. When it finally did, people were surprised. The color was entirely different and reformulated. It was a lot browner than the beloved warm, rosy original Lolita. It was a love or hate relationship with the new Lolita. When the third time came around, they got the color back.

Since Lolita is a cult-favorite, it was no surprise for Kat Von D to release a sister shade called Lolita II. Lolita II officially made its debut when Kat Von D Beauty came out with a Lolita Lip Duo at Sephora. Lolita II is a warm, terracotta nude that would suit any skin tone. The formula and longevity of the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick remains bulletproof & not too drying. The Lip Duo contains a 0.1 fluid oz of the 2nd formulation of Lolita (chestnut rose) & the new Lolita II. This limited edition, holiday package costs $19.50 and is currently only available at Sephora stores in limited quantity. See swatches below:

 

If the three reformulations & release of Lolita II wasn't confusing enough, Kat Von D recently announced she will be releasing a shade called OG Lolita.

If you're ever on the market for a great dupe of the chestnut rose Lolita since it's always sold out, you have to check out NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Creme Lipstick in Soft Spoken. Soft Spoken is almost the same exact color as Lolita but has a slightly different formula. It's definitely equally as creamy as Lolita but has a lighter formula that give the lips almost a "suede" soft feel. So the decision is up to you, would you like to save or splurge!

Stay tuned for images on our Instagram: simply.tria

XO,

RLS

Pick a Polish!

As we head deeper into the fall and winter months we like to switch up our nail polish a bit. Fall calls for more neutral, warm, and dark colors as opposed to the bright colors we love to wear during Summer. Here are some of our Essie polish picks we think can be worn year round!

From left to right:
 Angel Food
Minimalistic
Fiji
Sand Tropez
Miss Fancy Pants
Wicked

Make sure you check out our Instagram for your weekly beauty & lifestyle dose!

XO, 
RLS

MUFE HD Foundation vs Ultra HD Foundation

The Make Up For Ever HD Foundation was the first foundation to introduce makeup in High Definition form. It revolutionized the power of makeup for film & TV industry use. It was a holy grail foundation for years to come. Just a few months ago, Make Up For Ever reformulated and replaced the beloved original HD Foundation. The new & improved foundation is now called the Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation, but what's the difference? Is it better than the original? Find out more by reading below where we compare the different properties of each foundation.

Let's start off with the original HD Foundation. It was an oil-free foundation that evened the skin with it's medium buildable coverage while remaining invisible, even under the most magnifying HD lens. If you have problematic skin, this foundation would not be able cover your imperfections entirely (so we suggest spot concealing any troubled areas after application). The High Definition property lived up to it's name. This foundation photographed beautifully with absolutely no flashback. The color range was another reason why everyone loved this foundation. With nearly 25 different colors & tones, you were sure to find your right match.

Now onto the new Make Up For Ever “Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation.” There have been mixed reviews on this foundation ever since it was released just a few months ago. It seems as if most people either love or hate the foundation but we're kind of stuck in the middle! Most people were obsessed with the previous formulation of the foundation and don't love the new formulation as much. In our opinion, even though the new formula is different than the previous one, it's still a good, solid foundation. The new formula goes on quite sheer but can be packed on to provide full coverage. One thing we've noticed is that it doesn't cover blemishes (similar to the previous formula) and when you add more foundation to get additional coverage it can get pretty heavy/thick on the skin. Similar to the previous formula, there are several shades to choose from which is great because you can get a color that's almost a perfect match for your skin. Overall, we think this is a great foundation for everyday use and we would recommend it to those who have dry to combination skin. Girls with oily skin will most probably find that the foundation melts off and doesn't last all day, even if it's set with powder.

If you'd like to purchase the new MUFE Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation click here!

XO, 
RLS

Morphe Brushes Overload

You can have the most top notch quality eye shadow or foundation, but what makes it even more impeccable is the brush you are using it with. This is where one of our favorite makeup brush line comes into play: Morphe Brushes. Morphe had its big break just last year thanks to all of the YouTube and Instagram beauty gurus. They are known for having great quality brushes for amazing prices. Here are our top Morphe Brushes picks for the face and eyes:

Foundation Brush: M439 

Thanks to the beloved Jaclyn Hill, the Morphe M439 quickly became a must-have for all makeup lovers. The M439 is the perfect foundation buffer brush. The bristle density and size allows quick application leaving no streaks.

Price: $13.99

Contour Brush: M460

Applying cream and powder contour to your features must be precise and even. This is why we love the M460. The flat top allows even application and to get that sharp contour. It is also great at diffusing your cream/powder contour. 

Price: On Sale for $13.99

Highlight Brush: M438

The M438 is possibly the most versatile brush from our collection. This tapered brush can be used to set your concealer, highlight the top of the cheekbones, or carve out the hollows of your cheeks. The soft bristles perfectly blends any powder. 

Price: $9.99

Shadow Brush: B77

If you're a glitter girl like us, then you would know packing on glitter can be challenging. The B77 has the perfect shape and density to pack shadow on your lid for a beautiful and controlled application. 

Price: $2.99

Flat Liner Brush: B75

Smoking out the lower lash line completes any smokey eye look. The B75 will help you get right on the lash line to apply any shadow or eye liner. You can also use it as a flat liner to apply top liner and smoke it out.

Price: $2.99

Crease Brush: M441

Everyone loves the MAC Cosmetics 217 blending brush, but the Morphe M441 does the same job for fraction of the price. This pro firm blending crease brush is also made with quality goat hair for amazing product pick up and blend. 

Price: On Sale for $5.99

Blending Brush: M200

Round and fluffy, the M200 is our favorite way to buff out shadows in the crease. It is super soft and tapered enough to get right in the crease to buff away any hard eye shadow edges. 

Price: On Sale for $4.99 

Morphe Brushes is not only known for their brushes. They also sell their very own makeup products such as blush, eye shadow, and concealer palettes which are known to be of great quality and reasonably priced. They have the perfect products for professional makeup-artists looking to expand their makeup kits. What are your favorite products from Morphe Brushes? Let us know on our

Stay updated with our Instagram page: @simply.tria

XO,

RLS

Facial Mists You Need to Know About

If you have a long day ahead & need your makeup to last, a setting spray is a must. Here are two different setting sprays that serve different purposes to make your makeup look flawless all night long:

The Urban Decay setting sprays are a cult-favorite to makeup lovers and YouTube beauty gurus. Urban Decay has four different kind of makeup mists, but the All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray has made a permanent stay in our beauty collection. This setting spray is a weightless setting spray that keeps makeup looking just-applied for up to 16 hours. The All Nighter Setting Spray was developed in partnership with SKINDINÄVIA, a company known for their power-holding makeup finishing sprays. It is suitable for all skin types and actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to guarantee it stays intact all night.

Tips for use:

-Spray after your makeup is completely done to lock it all in.

-Use it to dampen your Beauty Blender when blending out your liquid foundation and/or concealer. The ingredients in the setting spray will prolong your foundation/concealer wear.

-Use it to make your highlight and/or eye shadow pop! Spray your brush with a few spritz to bring any powder to life.

If you're new to setting sprays or in need of a new one, the All Nighter Setting Spray by Urban Decay does come in a travel size for only $14 (which actually lasts forever). Give it a whim and you'll thank us later. You can find the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray at your local Sephora and Ulta.

Now on to the oh so classic setting spray that everyone seems to have in their makeup kit, MAC's Prep + Prime Fix+! To finish off a makeup look, spray a few pumps of Fix+ all over your face and see/feel the amazing difference. Aside from making you feel refreshed, it also has plenty of vitamins and minerals in it which naturally help your skin look and feel better. The primary ingredient in Fix+ that makes your makeup stay in place is Glycerin; which attracts moisture and locks it into your skin. Fix+ hydrates the skin and seamlessly fuses everything together to create a beautifully blended canvas. After initially spraying it on your face, you might look almost too wet/dewy (which we still love) but after a minute or two it all dries out to perfection. Unlike the All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, MAC's Fix+ isn't intended to be used as a setting spray. Rather, it's supposed to hydrate the skin and blend all of the makeup on your face together and into the skin. Lastly, anyone with any skin type can use Fix+ without it making them oily.

Tips for use:

-Hold it a few inches away from your face and spray evenly.

-Spray a few spitz onto a makeup brush to enhance the color of an eyeshadow or highlighter.

Stay tuned for next weeks must haves.

XO, 

RLS

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil Review

If there is one thing to invest your money in when it comes to your beauty purchases, it’s your skincare routine. No matter how much coverage your foundation has or how much your primer fills in your pores, makeup applies seamlessly on a clear canvas.  Thanks to Claire Marshall on YouTube, we have discovered a new skincare product that has made it on the top shelf: The Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil.

Before we talk about the results, here is an overview of what the product is, what it promises to do for your skin, and the suggested usage:

What it is:
A next-generation retinoid oil to reduce pore size, improve appearance of damaged skin, and help fight wrinkles.

What it is formulated to do:
With an advance retinol complex, Luna helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles while simultaneously correcting damage caused by the sun, time, and pollution. Use this oil before bed to notice firmer, clearer skin by morning. Trans-retinol ester fights the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of skin elasticity while an essential oil complex calms and soothes skin. Cold pressed avocado, chia, and Concord grape seed oils sink into skin for quick absorption of actives while boosting radiance.

What else you need to know:
This product is made with organic, cold pressed oils. Advanced trans-retinoic acid ester is mixed with potent botanicals for the ultimate transformational, sleeping night oil. This item is formulated for ALL skin types including, dry, oily, and combination. It does have a blue tint, but the color fades away as soon as you massage the product into your skin.

Suggested Usage:
Apply to at night to clean, dry face.

What stood out the most was that the product promised that you would see overnight results. That seems a bit promising, but it delivered. In the morning, I noticed my skin was much more plumped and moisturized. It was not until I applied my CC cream, with no pore-filling primer, where I noticed how much better my pores & overall skin complexion looked.  I received a sample of Luna and only after one week of use, I now own the full bottle. This sleeping oil has a steep price of $105, but it only takes 3-4 drops to cover your entire face and neck, which will basically guarantee a long usage. You may experience mild peeling since this product does contain retinol, but a good exfoliating session with your Clarisonic will do the trick. It’s essential to moisturize your face, including you oily skin girls and boys, and the Luna Sleeping Oil does it all in one bottle.

You can purchase the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil at Sephora. 

XO,

RLS

(We know that not everyone will react or have the same results as we have with this product. So please take precautions if you are allergic to any of the substances mentioned.)

La La Lavender

                        

   It’s finally the weekend! …But sometimes it can be difficult to let go of all of the stress and tension that you’ve been dealing with during the past week. One natural product that can help to ease all of that tension is lavender. This simple, yet gorgeous flower can be used in so many different ways; it’s pretty awesome. It’s mainly used to calm the mind, skin, and stomach. So here are some ways to incorporate lavender into your lives!

 Lavender Scent 

Smelling lavender, or using a lavender scented oil is known to reduce heart rate and blood pressure! So if you have trouble sleeping, it’s worth giving this technique a try. Before going to bed rub some lavender oil on parts of your body (such as the temples), or keep some dried lavender in a vase on your nightstand.

Some beauty products that already have lavender in them are MAC's Lavender Fix +  and the LUSH Angels on Bare Skin

         

Design

Lavender just seems to be the perfect topping to make anything aesthetically pleasing! Use some lavender as a garnish for an iced drink.

Strawberry Pink Lemonade recipe from Simplyrecipes.com

 Lavender Tea

Place a few fresh or dried lavender buds into hot water and enjoy some calming tea.

Becominglanina.com

So grab some lavender and take a break!

XO, 
RLS