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

Highlight on Fleek

      Jaclyn Hill has had us going crazy for the past few months as we waited

     for the release of her new highlighter "Champagne Pop"! Jaclyn collaborated with
         Becca cosmetics and created a new color for their "Shimmering Skin Perfector" line.                 

         Becca has become very (and we mean very) popular for their highlighters in the 

      past few years. "Moonstone" and "Opal" should definitely sound familiar to you if 

        you're a highlighter fanatic like us. "Champagne Pop" has the same formula 

       as the rest of their skin perfectors and is very smooth, creamy, and has tiny specks

   of shimmer that give the skin an effortless glow. If you're looking for a go to Summer            

      highlighter we would definitely recommend "Champagne Pop." It gives off a            

        golden/peachy highlight that goes perfect with a Summer bronzy look.
        Jaclyn was aiming to create a universal highlighter that would look flattering/amazing
   on all skin tones and it truly seems like she did! 

We didn't expect anything but amazingness from the oh so fabulous Jaclyn Hill.

If you'd like to purchase "Champagne Pop" you can click on the link below

 Becca Cosmetics "Champagne Pop"

(Aside from only being sold at Sephora, it's also limited edition so move fast!!)

#Highlightonfleek

Below is a picture of "Champagne Pop" under natural sunlight.

Instagram: @simply.tria

XOXO, RLS

You've Got Me Blushin'

                            Morphe Brushes has been all the buzz for about a year now.
                          From what we know, it's a fairly new brand but has become very,
                         very popular in the past few months. This is mainly because of the
                           amount of Youtube gurus, especially Instagram gurus using their
                            products. So we decided to give them a try! Aside from being
                          extremely popular they're priced quite low too. Their individual
                        eyeshadows are just $2.99 which is really cheap for a good quality
                                                               eyeshadow.
       

          We've tried out a few of their products but today we're going to just talk about the "9B BLUSHED BLUSH PALETTE" which retails for $19.99. So as usual Jaclyn Hill raved about this product and we had to buy it. It's pretty awesome because you're paying just $20 for 9 blushes when you would be paying around $22 for ONE blush at MAC. Although I don't think i'll be using that bright red color in the bottom right corner, I really love the rest of the colors. They range from brown, peach, shimmery peach, to pink colors. The blushes go on matte and so far I like the consistency of them. They're very pigmented and have a nice consistency that's not too chalky or creamy. But I would recommend picking up small amounts of product at a time because I've noticed that it is a bit hard to blend once the product is on your face (which is common with many blushes). So we definitely recommend this palette to anyone that wants a nice variety of quality blushes for a really good price.



Here's a picture from the Morphe brushes website so you can see the true colors. The palette can be purchased here "9B Palette".

How to Rock Sneakers Everyday

One of the biggest trends on the rise in the fashion world is incorporating sneakers to our everyday wear. Celebrities such as Rihanna and Kylie Jenner love rocking a sporty shoe with any ensemble. Famous Instagramers SongofStyle (Aimee Song), Dani Song, Tania Sarin, Camille Charriere, etc. also set trends and style effortless looks. 

Celebs and fashionistas have proven that sneakers can be worn outside of the gym and have incorporated them into casual, street wear. Here are some looks we are lusting over where sneakers are the highlight.

First up we have Instagramer, Tania Sarin. Ms. Sarin is a blogger and personal fashion stylist with a very edgy, sleek style. She loves mixing fabrics and is not afraid to step outside the box. Here, she is rocking her Nike's with drop crotch pants (which she designed herself with V Fashion Group), with a large, camel sweater. Perfect for a quick shopping session or a run to the coffee shop. She sure knows how to look casual, yet chic.

We now have Aimee Song showing us how it's done. Known as SongOfStyle on Instagram, it is no shock that she has over 2 million followers loving her daily fashion posts. Aimee paired what looks like jersey short-shorts, a thick cool-tone sweater, with bulky BenBaller kicks. Add some gold, chunky bangles and your ready to conquer your day in style (SongofStyle that is)!

You can never go wrong with a good, old pair of Chuck Taylors. Creative consultant and blogger Camille Charriere paired her classic Chucks with an Isabel Marant leather skirt and an H&M tan jacket. We love the mix of textures Camille went for on a regular day out in London. The cut in the leather skirt with a pop, yet settle color in the jacket was all around debonair and funky. Who doesn't love a good fashion risk?!

Whether you are edgy like Tania, casually-chic like Aimee, or a fashion risker like Camille, always keep in mind to have fun with fashion! Mix it up, bring out the classics, or add new ones to your shoe closet.

XO,

RLS

Mario Badescu Spring Essentials

We can go on and on about reviewing and rating makeup products, but we decided to do a different review today featuring Mario Badescu Skin Care products. We all know that makeup can transform an individuals face, whether it means enhancing your features with contouring techniques or giving yourself a fuller brow effect with brow pomades, but one thing that creates the perfect canvas is your skin! Beautiful, clear, and glowing-from-within skin is a trend that will never fade. 

Mario Badescu began to work in the skin care industry in 1967. Since then, him and his team have created astounding products that remain to be essentials in both a man and a woman's bathroom cabinets. Mario has had the chance to work with plenty of A-list celebrities including Martha Stewart, Cher, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Owen Wilson, P. Diddy, and Eva Longoria just to name a few! His vision continues to thrive with great products by him and his team. Here are some skin products we have fallen in love with by Mario Badescu. 

1) Special Healing Powder: Sometimes we can't help, but poke on those irritating blemishes! It is until later that we regret ever touching it. Here is where Mario Badescu's Special Healing Powder comes into play. This sulfur based powder absorbs excess oils and significantly reduces redness. It also disinfects blemishes, which is great since infections begun by open wounds can cause the blemish to scar and become even more irritated than it already is. It is suggested to use sparingly since this product does contain sulfur. Perfect spot treatment and great results!

2) Drying Lotion: If you have acne-prone skin, say hello to your new best friend. This drying lotion works wonders overnight! Instead of messing around with unsightly whiteheads and blemishes, dab one drop of the pink sediment onto each problematic area using a cotton swab. Let the solution dry and sleep! Sounds pretty easy and hassle-free right?! By morning, your blemish will be significantly reduced in size and redness.

3) Seaweed Night Cream: At night is when your skin repairs and recovers. Your cells have a major turnover and regeneration during your night sleep. That is why investing and dedicating your night time regimen to a night creme is extremely important. The Seaweed Night Cream is super nourishing and hydrating, yet light on the skin. For anyone who has oily skin and tries to avoid lush cremes, no worries, this night cream is oil-free! It contains collagen, hyaluronic acid, and seaweed extract to provide supple and plump skin. A very versatile product reaching out to all skin types especially dehydrated and mature skin.

4) Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater: A facial mist is a must all-year round! If you are looking for an instant hydrating pick-me-upper, the Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater facial spray is the one to check out. It works on dry skin, dull skin, and all kind of skin types! You can also use it as a setting spray for a more dewy effect or on dry hair day and night. This is a great product to have in your purse at all times for any beauty emergency.

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

We hope you found something new to try and add to your skin care regimen!

Until next time,

XO, RLS

Best of Beauty: Drugstore & High-End Products of 2014

As we welcome the new year, it's great to take a look back at 2014 and see what beauty products made it on our list of most used and loved! We are covering drugstore and high-end splurges for our 2014 ultimate favorites. These are our must-have products:

1) Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum:  What it is best used for is before applying your favorite mascara. It lengthens, supplies volume, and conditions your lashes. It doesn't matter what mascara you use, this lash plumping primer will transform your lashes for a fuller and longer effect. This lash serum can also be used on it's own. It contains active ingredients such as soy protein which promotes lash growth and strength in long terms.






2) Dose of Color Matte Lipsticks: Dose of Colors had a very successful year in 2014 launching 3 highlighters and the amazing matte liquid lipsticks.  Dose of Colors has become a permanent favorite in our beauty bags. Their matte lipsticks come in a liquid form and dry to a matte, but not too drying finish. The color that stole our hearts and many other makeup lovers is "Berry Me." You can get a more descriptive look at this product and other Dose of Color products in our previous "Dose of Color Review" post.
A similar drugstore find is the NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream. They have a wide range of colors and have a lasting and hydrating effect as well (did we mention that it's only $6).










3) MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter: This pen-style highlighter works wonders to highlighting the under-eye area. We suggest concealing before using this highlighter since it tends to be sheer on its own. But you can also use it under your concealer if you don't want such a bright highlight. The product comes out quite sheer but can definitely be thicker if more product is used. The MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter comes in four colors, but our favorite is "Light Boost." It is a yellow based color which is perfect for providing a brightening effect. You can use this product in many other places to highlight as well the cupids bow, the highest points of your cheeks, your brow bone, down the bridge of the nose, on the forehead, and on the chin. It can even be used at the inner corner of your eyes! This highlighter gives you a lot of control on where on the face you want to brighten up. It is a very versatile product that delivers major brightness.




4) Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: We simply cannot say enough about this foundation! Having a bunch of make up is a great thing, but having a great foundation is a basic necessity that provides a clean slate to work on. This foundation feels silky and leaves a slightly dewey finish. This doesn't mean that an oily person can't use it, rather after applying this foundation they should set the parts of their face that tend to get oily with powder. It also looks amazing when photographed and gives an airbrushed look. Although many people recommend using this during night time we definitely also wear it during the day by using slightly less product. This foundation looks and feels amazing!




5) Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: A look is not complete without polished brows. One of the best part about Anastasia's Brow Wiz is the spooly brush on the other side of the product. Brushing your brows with a spooly allows you to see where your natural brow lining is and to get a more precise image of wear your brow needs enhancing and filling. The small, retractable tip is perfect for mimicking brow hairs and making a more natural filled brow. Unlike most brow pencils, this brow wiz stays put all day long. Filling in your brows after doing make up might not seem that important, but trust us it makes a huge difference. By lightly filling in your brows and brushing it out with the spooly brush, you get to form the perfect brow shape that looks best on you.




6) Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: This is not a surprise pick for our favorite primer since we have done a previous review under our "Holiday Beauty Must-Haves." The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer blurs out any fine line and smooths the skin for a flawless makeup application. The best part of this product is that it is an oil-free product. That prevents the oil from breaking through the skin and moving your foundation around. Absolutely in love! Since this product can tend to be on the pricey side, our top drugstore pick for primer is the NYX Cosmetics Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer. This product has a more satin finish compared to the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. It also creates a smooth complexion which helps making your makeup stay in tack for any event.



7) Eyeko Brow Gel: If you're looking for a great brow gel, the Eyeko Brow Gel is a must. Unlike most brow gels, the wand's size is very small and not the size of a typical mascara wand which gives maximum control to any user. You can create a bushy or polished look with this product. It comes in a universal color which will assure to match any color brow you may have. It does not flake after many hours of use and truly defines each brow hair to ensure a fuller effect. This brow gel also contains ingredients such as keratin and other blends of vitamins to gradually promote brow growth!

We cannot wait to see what's in store for new products in 2015! We hope to add more makeup staples to our list! 

XO,

RLS

Sigma lovin'

When it comes to make up brushes the options are endless! There are hundreds of brands out there that sell make up brushes that range from high quality and expensive to low quality and cheap. But that's not always the case! Some brands out there provide affordable brushes that are amazing quality. One brand that's been on the rise and is being compared to MAC Cosmetics is Sigma Beauty! Sigma has been around since 2009 so it's fairly new but is definitely building up a good and solid reputation (and Youtube's Jaclyn Hill is one of the main reasons!). Jaclyn is quite an experienced make up artist and always raves about Sigma brushes on her Youtube channel (she's also our favorite of all time). She used to work at MAC but always recommended for her clients to get Sigma brushes instead. So on that note here are two brushes that Jaclyn has recommended and made us OBSESSED with.

The brush on the left is the Sigma F35 which is considered a Tapered Highlighter brush. Sigma recommends using it with a highlighter to brighten up certain parts of the face. But what we use it for is slightly different. We use it to set under eye concealer and other areas of the face that tend to get oily, with setting powder. After I apply my concealer under my eye (with either a beauty blender or my finger tips), I have the F35 dipped in my setting powder and ready to go. This way I ensure that my concealer has no time to crease. The F35 gives a smooth application when used with powders and is so so fluffy! Since it is tapered and pointy it makes it easy to apply powder under the eye without getting it all over the eye in the wrong places. When I first saw Jaclyn using this in her Youtube videos it looked so damn fluffy and it truly is!

The brush on the right is the one and only Sigma F80 which has been literally everywhere on the internet. So what's it used for? It can be used for blending out liquid or cream products on the face, and let me tell you it does that BEAUTIFULLY. The brush is dense and flat and is synthetic. As a result, when you apply any liquid product onto the brush, it doesn't suck up the product. It simply picks up the product and applies it onto the face. It obviously sucks up some product but definitely less than what brushes that are made out of real hair pick up. Brushes that are made out of real hair, such as horse hair tend to pick up much more product which wastes the product. I use the F80 for every liquid foundation that I apply onto my face. I either put the foundation onto the brush or directly onto my face and start to buff out the product. This brush literally provides an air brushed look and I can confidently say has NEVER left and streaks on my face. So what more can I want from a foundation brush!?

Although Sigma has a good reputation there are people out there that say that their brushes are a hoax. They say that Youtuber's that rave about these brushes are probably paid to talk about them and get better quality brushes than what everyone else receives. But that is DEFINITELY not the case for us. We purchased these products with our own money and have absolutely loved them so we're providing an honest review.

You can purchase either brush on the Sigma beauty website since they don't have too many physical locations where they can be purchased:

Purchase Sigma F80 here for $24
Purchase Sigma F35 here for $24