3 Brands, 3 Products - Favourites by Yossi

The two questions I get asked the most about makeup is, “What is my favorite makeup product of all time?” Or “What is my favorite makeup brand?” Now I can never pick just one, so I decided to have fun and give myself a little challenge. So I picked three brands and three products from each brand to talk about. 

The first brand I chose is NYX Cosmetics. I feel this is a makeup company that has really stepped up their game in the last few years. The variety they carry is quite extensive and the quality of the products are very comparable to high end in my opinion. Its always the first section I check out whenever I go to Ulta. If you have a NYX pro store near you, I definitely recommend going there over Ulta or Target simply because they have a lot more for you to see. 

Now onto the three products.

1. Total Control Drop Foundation. 

This foundation has quickly become one of my favorites! I have very oily skin so one of the biggest things I depend on throughout the day are my blotting sheets. I find that when I blot, the foundation will transfer onto the sheets and I will notice patches on my face where the foundation will be missing. But this one does not do that. 
It stays on so well even after blotting as much as I do. It has great coverage. You can go full or very sheer and the dropper makes it quite easy to control that. Also, a little bit does go a long way, so I really suggest starting off with a light layer and build it up. It leaves a nice satin finish and does not feel heavy

2. Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer 

My BIGGEST problem with primers is trying to find one that can mattify without feeling tacky or smooth my skin without my makeup slipping off two hours later. I feel with this primer, I am getting the best of both worlds. It leaves a beautiful matte finish on my face but feels silky smooth without feeling greasy. My makeup will stay on with no fading, it doesn’t enhance my pores, and my makeup blends like a dream over the top. Although I feel like it did not make my pores look smaller, it's completely worth it for everything else it is doing right. 

3. Retractable Eyeliner

This eyeliner is great because first off, I am not a huge fan of pencil eyeliners. I always go for retractable because they are just a lot easier to work with. The formula is very creamy, goes on very opaque on my upper eyelids and even though it’s not a waterproof eyeliner (they used to make one but I have had a hard time finding it) it lasts very long without fading off. 

The second brand I chose is The Body Shop. I have always been a big fan of their body products but never really dove into their skincare and did not even know they had makeup until I worked for them for almost three years. My specialty ended up being makeup while I was there, and I made some fantastic discoveries. 

1. Lip and Cheek Stain.

If anything on this list is going to take holy grail status it has to be these stains. However, I find that these do not work very well on the lips. The color tends to gather on the inner part of my lips, and I end up looking like I just ate a popsicle. BUT on the cheeks, they are so so so good! They just melt into your skin and give this very natural flush. I usually dab the wand on my hand and use my fingers to apply otherwise its extremely easy to get carried away with it. 

2. Eyeshadow Blending Brush

If you have hooded eyes or smaller eyelids, you will LOVE this brush! A lot of blending brushes tend to be too big for my hooded eyes but this one is perfect. It’s wonderful for doing crease work and doing a simple wash of color all over the lid. It’s fluffy without being too big and the bristles are very soft, so I don’t have issues with irritation. 

3. Matte Lip Liquid 

The first thing I love about this is the formula. It applies very creamy and has a moussey texture on the lips. They dry down matte, but they feel very comfortable.  They also last a decent amount of time. I do have to reapply after eating and drinking but personally, that never bothers me with any lip product. Also, with some of the colors, you do have to build them up as they can go on a bit thin with one swipe but again, I don’t mind that because the colors look very nice. 

The third and final brand I picked is Urban Decay. I have a bit of a sentimental thing with this brand because it was the first high-end brand I discovered. After all these years it still has a special place in my heart. 

1. ALL their eyeshadows

My absolute go-to eyeshadows! They are completely worth the $20 price. They have an amazing color payoff, blend very well, last a very long time without fading or creasing, and look so smooth and beautiful when you apply them.  The selection of colors is huge and covers a wide variety from bright colors to neutrals. 

2. Deslick Oil Control Setting Spray

There are a few things in my collection that are absolute staples, and this is one of them. The way I like to use it is I spray it on before primer, after my foundation and concealer, and then again after putting on setting powder. It really helps with controlling the oil throughout the day. Now I still get oily but there is a big difference if I don’t use this spray. Usually, when my oils start to come through, I just look very greasy. This spray really controls that, and I just look like I got a healthy glow going on. I’m on my fourth bottle and its so worth the price especially in the summer when I’m just an oily AF! 

3. Naked Skin Concealer

It has recently come to my attention that this concealer was being discontinued and replaced by the Stay Naked concealer which is a major bummer. But if you can find this one, I highly recommend it. Its super lightweight but has insane coverage. My undereye area is very dry (what irony!) but this concealer doesn’t emphasize my fine lines and dryness. I also really love the way it blends; it disappears into the skin and gives that “my skin but better” look. 

Because I am really indecisive when it comes to picking favorites, I have three honorable mentions below for you to check out.

1. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

If you are going to splurge on anything on this list, this is the one! This powder will lock your makeup in place and not even sweating will melt my makeup off. I also love using this on my eyelids to set my primer before I put on my eyeshadow. It won’t give a white cast, doesn’t clog my pores and doesn’t emphasis texture

2. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blushes 

Funny story but one time my cousin was in Sephora with his girlfriend. He snapchatted me a picture of the Tarte blush display and said, “Who would spend the money on these things?” I quickly snapchatted him back a picture of the three I own and said, “I would, lol!” 
These blushes are absolutely fantastic! They have really beautiful colors and their range is quite large. The formula is probably my favorite. They have great color payoff, go on very smooth without looking too powdery or chalky and the lasting power is amazing. 

3. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks

I would like to specifically talk about the crème finish. This formula is probably my all time favorite out of the drugstore. First of all, the color selection is insane! So, no matter your preference, there is a color in there for everyone. They are super smooth and creamy when you apply but they don’t slide all over the place. The crème finish is also very buildable. I like to go sheer or super opaque with my lipsticks and I get the best of both worlds from these. Revlon, you did well! 

Review: bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor

bareMinerals Strength (Vibrant Red), you can get this from most decent retailers, but I got mine from here

As someone who has had to suffer through more than her fair share of allergic reactions to makeup (A.K.A. Allergic contact cheilitis), I was pretty happy when I first heard about the bareMinerals brand. In fact, after taking home a tester from London's Clapham store a few years back, I'd say it's the only brand that I am currently happy to spend a decent amount of money on- hey, don't judge me, I work in retail!

The first thing you notice about this striking red is the sheer pigmentation- for what is described as an 'opaque' colour, it certainly gives you a statement look. Because of this, you find you don't need to keep going over your lips until you reach a good, even colour, so a little goes a long way (at least initially) and it doesn't feel too 'sticky'- unless you apply a lot. Which is silly.

On the downside, this stuff gets EVERYWHERE. It's the first time I've ever managed to somehow get lipstick on my teeth (I honestly don't know how), it came off on glasses and, yes, my boyfriend's face (although I actually did get a kick out of kissing him in random spots for a while before he realised). 


But hell, sometimes we can live with these things if it looks good enough for long enough- so I took the liberty of assuming you guys wanted to see how it actually looks. Bear in mind that in this photo, other than the Lipcolor itself, I am only wearing bareMinerals foundation (Fairly Light), Mascara (Curl and Lengthen) and eyeliner (Body Shop's Liquid Eyeliner in black)

Summary: This stuff is amazing if you're planning on looking like a doll all night. For those who plan on being living, human things, I would suggest perhaps some Lipcote or a good deal of blotting to make sure you don't literally paint the town red.

High Street Highlights for Wedding Guests

You know you’re getting older when summer becomes less about festivals and exam results, and more about weddings. These days, weddings are becoming more extravagant, with each couple trying to out-do the next, with the main question being ‘how can we make this more memorable?’.

At the same time, the internet is becoming increasingly valuable as a research tool and with sites such as Pinterest- and the many, many blogs discussing how to save money on your Big Day- couples are also asking ‘how can we do this particular thing, but cheaper?’. Yet we still see the happy pair willing to spend thousands on clothes, when they try to save on everything else. Why do we do this? Is it really because the high street doesn't provide the same quality as the classic catwalk brands? Or is it simply the fact that we enjoy putting a name to beauty?

The guests are no different- often spending hundreds on the finest dresses to hug their newly, neatly trimmed figures to parade in front of friends and family. Because, let’s face it, when you believe you look good, you feel great and everyone has a much happier time when they’re confident enough to shake their booty on the dance floor, to cheesy Golden Oldies. With that said, I like to believe I'm a master of finding a bargain and, for me, the high street is where it’s at. So I've taken it upon myself to bring the simple elegance of wedding fashion to you, at a price that doesn't make your purse want to scream. 

Cream Stripe Midi Dress- A touch more daring than the usual, this dress is perfect for us petites as the vertical stripes lengthen the legs and also means the design is more eye-catching, without being too overdone- if you've ever had the joy of talking to a bride a couple of days before the wedding, you’ll know not to take attention away from Her Royal Highness. Trust me, you’ll know. This one rocks in at £35 which is a real steal.

 

Antonia Short Dress-  A beautiful little number that screams elegance in it’s simplicity. This dress is from Monsoon and is considerably more than our other choices at £119. It’s a little too formal to wear on most nights out, but if you’re heading to a wedding where you know the guests will make a lot of effort, this really would be perfect. It’s also a good length, allowing you to show those pins, as well as your waist.

 

 Beige Chiffon Maxi Dress- If you’re anything like me, with a tiny waist but massive hips, you know just how difficult it is to find something that balances out your body so it’s just right. Enter the maxi dress. The best thing about the maxi is how it covers up all the wobbly bits but still makes you feel confident and sexy. Chiffon is one of the more forgiving fabrics and you’ll be grateful for how light it is, if the wedding is in a hotter climate (or on a rare day of sunshine, if you’re in the UK). At £60 from River Island, it’s at just the right price for you to still feel relaxed about wearing it around food and alcohol.

I also realise there’s quite a few out there who aren’t big on the dresses and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that- the most beautiful person is one who feels beautiful! My personal prefence in this case is wearing a pair of light coloured trousers and a brightly colour wrap top. You can find these anywhere, from ASDA to Zara, so go and have some fun, out on the hunt!