My Natural Country Girl Look

You can find all these products at Sephora... And know that they are Paraben Free!!!

Sephora 8 hr mattifying moisturizer 

Sephora cc cream in "fair"

Josie Maran Argan Powder in "fair to light" to set

Sephora bronzer in "Los Cabos" to do a light contour and add warmth to my face

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer on my check bones

Clinique Blush in "new clover"

Urban Decay Naked a basics palette...lid "W.O.S", crease "Naked 2", brow bone "Venus".. And filled in brows with "faint"

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel

Top liner Sephora Smoky Cream Liner in "Cafe"

Bottom liner Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in "Demolition" or "Bourbon"

Urban Decay Lash Potion Primer

Benefit "They're Real" Mascara

Sephora color reveal lip balm

SMASHBOX Camera Ready CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting Review

I've been pretty obsessed with tinted moisturizer this past year. I used to be a heavy MAC foundation user, but once I started using tinted moisturizer... I saw how much better my skin was looking. Almost completely flawless. I still have some dark spots from past blemishes. So I thought I would give a CC cream a try. 

I got SMASHBOX Camera Ready CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Dark Spot Correcting

It's basically all the benefits of a BB Cream (primer, tinted moisturizer, broad spectrum sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays) but it has the added bonus of color correcting to get rid if the dark circles.

So far I like the way it goes on, it has build-able coverage. It's a perfect match to my skin (fair). It can be worn alone, set with a powder,or worn under foundation.

I like how it is multi purpose, and takes away the need for a sunscreen, moisturizer and primer.

This item is available at your local Sephora!

Ill update on the dark spot correcting ability.

Facebook

For all of you that may follow my YouTube channel or blog...

I do have a professional Facebook page... That I post to more frequently than my blog.

Just look for Renée Ann on Facebook :)

Make your own Eco friendly phone case!

I got a shopping bag when I was over in Ireland this past march. The inner lining was so pretty and I couldn't bring myself to throw it out. Then I thought to myself, instead of spending another $20 on a new phone case, I could just make my own using the pretty paper from the bag.

All I needed was...

A clear phone case

Scissors

Pencil

Exacto blade or something pointing and sharp that can cut the hole where the camera lens is


I just took the bag, cut the handles off and unfolded it

Basically find a place on the paper where you want your cover to be. Trace it, then cut. You will have to trim the sides a few times. In between trims, test it first, so you don't over cut and have to start all over.

Then fit it inside the case. Find the camera lens hole... Trace that, and carefully cut away. It helps if you trace over it a few times with a pen, and press down so it appears on the other side of the paper. It will be easier the cut out that way.

Then Voila! A new phone case!

And you have extra paper for when you want to change it up.

A bit of warmth in the middle of winter

This look is very easy. It's all about blending. I used the body shop shimmer cubes in warm and matte latte lipstick by smashbox.

I used the lightest color on my entire lid. Then used the copper color on the outer corner. Light brown in the crease and dark brown on the outer corner... Only about a quarter of the way up.

I'm loving matte lipsticks... Whatever color they may be. I feel they give you that velvet looking pout. It's very clean and classic to me.

It's a very warm look and makes me long for spring that much more!!!

Goldwell Elumen RR@all vs. Garnier Nutrisse Light intense auburn for dark hair

I've been using garnier for about 4 months now and I love it. It gives me a very intense red color without bleaching which is a huge plus for me. It covers my grays and can wait up to 6 weeks to dye my hair before it becomes intolerable. By the 6th week it is a bit faded... But still is bright. It just sort of has a matted look rather than a shine, which is ok by me, cuz I know it's time to dye my hair when it gets like that.

Even though I'm enjoying the red dye that I've been using, I have been doing some research because I have always wanted to go a bit more vivid red, like the intense Rihanna red. (The red color that shows up on my hair now only in certain lights). However I wanted bleaching my hair to be the very last resort. I've blonde twice in my life and both totally damaged my hair to the point of no repair... Forcing me to chop it off and start from scratch. With that said, I came across Goldwell Elumen RR@all. A client from work (I'm a makeup artist at a photography studio) told me about Goldwell products after I was admiring her intense fuchsia hair streaks. She told me that the colors are so intense, have no ammonia and barely fade!! All you red dyers know that that is a huge quality to have in a hair dye considering red fades the fastest, and it's neatly impossible to find a good quality red dye.

(Side note: I've tried the loreal professional line of semi perm. Dyes from Sally's and was not impressed. Faded within two weeks)

I digress...

I watched a few youtube videos on the Goldwell product and read some reviews and finally decided to order some off eBay. $14 as compared to $20 or more regularly.

I followed the instructions as far as Vaseline around my hair line and gloves. Cuz this stuff stains like a mother!!

All in all... The end result was not impressive. It looks no different than the garnier... And not only did it not cover my grays but it stained my scalp like a hot red color (was expected). So it just was way more trouble than its worth. You can probably get two treatments out if one bottle depending on how long and thick your hair is... But why bother when you can get two boxes of garnier for like $12 bucks at target.

Obviously results vary by your hair color and if you bleach or not. But if your trying to go the non bleach route and still have vibrant red hair... Garnier so far as I know... Is your best bet.

I'm not completely trashing the Goldwell Elumen. I hear they are very intense colors and you can mix and match to get the color you want. As far as the fading (or shall I say non fading) aspect of it, I'll have to update you when I notice a change.