FEARLESS

Though I've been talking quite a bit about beauty recently, and especially the power make-up has to complete a given look, I haven't really addressed how important I feel fragrance is. For me, fragrance is like second skin! It's an integral part of who I am and unlike make-up, which changes depending on occasion or outfit, is a signature and a constant. Much more than a lingering trail of sweetness you leave behind, in a way, fragrance is an external representation of who you are, or even would like to be.

Now, I fully admit that I do change my signature scent from time to time. Yet, because my relationship with fragrance is so personal, it happens quite seldom and often represents a change or a significant event in my life. Recently, I've made a switch to a bolder, exotic floral scent from Eau So Love's collection, entitled Eau So Fearless. Inspired by courage and the aspiration to leave a positive and indelible mark on the world, I absolutely love how light and refreshing this vibrant, passionate and spirited fragrance of exotic flowers, luscious fruits and creamy woods is! I enjoy the Eau So Love's perfume collection in general. It consists of 6 beautiful fragrances ( Eau So Fearless, Eau So Adorable, Eau So Fabulous, Eau So Glamorous, Eau So Pretty and Eau So Spectacular ), each of which is inspired by the endurance of Love and the 1960's movement, which encouraged women to make their own choices, carve their own paths and make a personal statement about who they are and what it is exactly that they want out of life. However, something about Eau So Fearless in particular resonated with me. I don't know what it is really, but every time I put it on, I feel just a little stronger and bolder and even more powerful in a way! And that of course, is a good thing indeed!:)

At the moment I am using the entire Eau So FEARLESS collection because I am so enamored with this fragrance. Consisting of 4 products designed to work together to provide long lasting scent without being heavy or overpowering, I start my routine with Creamy Body Wash. I really like how gentle and moisturizing it is. As I have mentioned before, dry skin is a bit of concern for me, so it's really nice to find a product that leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth and smelling amazing:) Next comes the Sheer Body Lotion which I absolutely love, because it delivers lightweight moisture without being greasy. It contains Vitamin E and I have to say that I can really see how soft and radiant my skin looks and feels after every application. Finishing touches: Fine Fragrance Mist which I love to spray all over for a really light, lingering scent followed by a few sprays of Eau So FEARLESS Eau de Parfum on my neck and inner wrists for a bold scent that lasts all day! And voila! All done and ready to face any challenges that may come my way!:) 

What about you guys? Do you have a special relationship with fragrance as well?

EAU SO LOVE'S Eau So Fearless, Eau So Adorable, Eau So Fabulous, Eau So Glamorous, Eau So Pretty, Eau So Spectacular | THALE BLANC Tiffany Micro pearl bag | NHA KHANH dress 

P.S. If you do happen to share my love of perfume, CLICK HERE to find your fragrance match at EauLoves.com

Thank you to Love's Fragrance for today's #sponsored post! 

EVE BY EVE'S BEAUTY FAVORITES

What pulls a Holiday look together? Is it the right pair of heels, a sparkly clutch or maybe some cute jewelry? Well..., if I had to name that one key ingredient, that perfect finishing touch, I'd say that nothing completes a great Holiday look quite like the right make up! No, really! Does a smoking jacket paired with slim trousers and stiletto heels make the same impact without that perfect red pout?     Or a little black dress sans the classic cat eyeliner... Cute and pretty? Possibly! But the cat eyes add that dose of drama and polish to the look and complete it unlike anything else! 

Though I certainly have a few favorite Holiday make up looks, lately it's been all about a dramatic, over-exaggerated cat eyeliner and red lips for me! Aside from the fact that it works with pretty much any outfit imaginable, the overall look is incredibly dramatic and polished, yet takes very little time to do! Seriously, under 5 minutes start to finish!:)

To create today's look I used Eve by Eve's products, one of my latest discoveries! I've always been very conscious about product ingredients. As you may already know, when it comes to beauty,  I opt for natural and pure whenever I can and constantly look for products made with natural ingredients that not only perform well but also won't harm my skin. What I like about Eve by Eve's products is the fact that they are not mass produced, but in fact made in small quantities to preserve the quality of the products and also the fact that they are made with natural ingredients from optimal locations, like water essence from Switzerland, algae from coast region of France and pigments from Italy. And finally, and this is perhaps one of the most important aspects for me, they perform absolutely beautifully!

Since the focus of this look is lips and eyes, I kept the rest of the face very simple and opted for just a bit of bronzer under the cheekbones. Next, I applied a coat of long-lasting matte Eve by Eve's lipstick in Poppy Red, which is one of my favorite vibrant shades of red at the moment and followed by two coats of volumizing, hydrating Eve by Eve's lip gloss in Eve Rouge for a beautiful glossy finish! To create that cat-eye look, I went with Eve by Eve's liquid eyeliner in black. What I really like about this particular one is the fact that it's waterproof, so it doesn't smudge but also how precise the application is. When it comes to eye liner, I feel like most people love either liquid or pencil. Personally, I am definitely a liquid liner girl! Sure, you need a steady hand, but once you get the hang of it, it's actually really simple to do and the impact is much more dramatic! Final step, and my favorite one actually! Mascara! I am OBSESSED with this one! To be honest with you, I've worn false eye lashes a few times, but no matter how much I love the way they look, I hate the way they feel on. They make my eyes itch and burn, and fall out at the most inappropriate times. Well, this Eve by Eve's mascara makes it look like I have really long eyelashes but feels amazing on! Basically a win, win kinda situation! I start by applying a primer, let it dry and apply two coats of lengthening mascara to create really long, full looking lashes!

And voila! All done! Pretty simple, huh? :)

P.S. As always, if you have any questions about products or application, email me any time! I'll be happy to answer!

EVE BY EVE'S Drama Luxe conditioning fiber gel mascara, Conditioning liquid liner, Luminous Shine volumizing lip luster, Drama Lux lip color, Radiant glow cream blush & face brushes

#SUNDAYFUNDAY

I love keeping busy! No really, for me, busy is exciting! A truly packed schedule is what I crave and how I function best! Don't really know what it is, but I've always been this way. Unless I have a million things to do, I feel like I'm slacking:) And yet, every once in a while, especially after a particularly crazy week, there is nothing I enjoy more than a quiet Sunday at home! 

I guess you could call it a ritual, but I love getting up really early Sunday morning and spending the day doing all my favorite girly things! I light some candles, put on my coziest sweater and lounge around indulging in some personal pampering like trying out new skin care, experimenting with my eye make up,  painting my nails or catching up on some reading as I savor my morning coffee.

I big fan of soft pink nail polish in general, I just can't get over this pretty Holiday 'Roses in Snow" duo from Deborah Lippmann! Today, I opted to layer the glitter coat over the soft pink nail polish, but next time, I might just opt for glittery french tips or make a statement by adding the glitter coat to just my ring fingers:)

Can't really decide what I love more, the packaging or the scent!:) Love, love, love how fun and sexy Viva La Juicy fragrance is! Usually, I like to apply perfume on the inside of my wrists and not just my neck to really amplify the fragrance and make it last all day!

Candy-inspired eye-shadow colors? Yes, please! Love how blendable these shimmery and glittery shades are and rich and intense the colors are. Personal favorite color combo of the moment is "Strawberry Ice" paired with 'Sugared Violet"!

You know me, skincare is my thing and face masks are my obsession! Seriously, I can't image a personal pampering day without trying out a new mask:) This mask/scrub combo from One Love Organics is my latest discovery. For a good exfoliating effect, I mix this powder mask with warm water in equal parts, but you can also mix it with greek yogurt for a more clarifying effect or with raw honey to hydrate the skin.

Reading in bed is my guilty pleasure! Really, all I truly need to make my day is a good cup of coffee, some cozy blankets and a really good book to read! Currently, I'm reading Living In Style: Inspiration and Advice for Everyday Glamour and indulging in some style insights from the effortlessly glamorous Rachel Zoe, who is also one of my personal fashion icons.

I can't get enough of this pretty Essence of Florets candle from DL & C! Pretty scent and beautiful packaging, I just love the way it fills the room with a delicate floral fragrance! 

FLAWLESS SKIN ROUTINE

Good morning, Everyone! Hope your week is going great so far! If you read my blog on regular basis, you probably know that usually I opt for a very simple make-up. Powder, bronzer, liner and a bit of lip gloss, that's pretty much what I use on daily basis. Yet, when it comes to evening make up, my philosophy is quite the opposite! As much as I like a fresh, dewy face for day, I feel that a great evening look starts with a perfect canvas, or the right foundation, if you will.

It took me a really long time to find the right foundation for me. On one hand, I was definitely looking for something to mattify and even out my skin,  on the other, I didn't want to wear foundation which was very heavy or obvious. So, after trying a few different products, I finally came across Clé de Peau Beaué radiant fluid foundation spf 24. What I like about this particular one is the fact that it creates a very fine texture, feels very light on my skin and though it provides great coverage, does not look like I have a mask on! Currently, I'm using B30, a Medium Beige, but if you're not sure about your shade, answer a few question to find out your perfect complexion regiment at Complexion Concierge.

In addition to the radiant fluid foundation, I also use Clé de Peau Beaué concealer to cover up a few of those places that need a bit more coverage like under eye area or the few freckles around my nose for example.

I always start with concealer first, applying it directly to the problem area or areas depending on how my skin is behaving that day, then patting lightly around the area of application with a concealer brush to blend it out perfectly. Step two is the foundation. I start by dispensing a dime-sized amount of foundation onto my hand. This is definitely the perfect amount of product to use because you really need a small amount to work with. Next, using a foundation brush, I dot 5 parts of my face ( cheeks, nose, chin and forehead ). I always start by applying foundation to my cheeks for a bit more coverage and use less on the rest. Finally, holding a foundation brush perpendicular to my face I glide it back and forward to blend out the product perfectly and create a very natural look.

As always, if you have any questions about products or application, please feel free to email me anytime! I'll be happy to answer! 

FAVORITE MAKE UP LOOK: BRONZED SKIN & CORAL LIPS

Since I've been getting quite a bit of emails asking about my make up, I thought it'd be a good idea to do a step-by-step instructional on how to re-create one of my favorite make up looks. The beauty of this particular look is that it's really simple to do and you can use your favorite products. 

I always recommend using really good brushes, like EcoTools ones for example. When it comes to make up, blending is everything, and good brushes really get the job done!:) Though I've used quite a few different brushes in the past, lately I've made a switch to EcoTools ones. Aside from the fact that they are made from eco conscious materials and are animal cruelty-free, something that's really important to me, they also  perform absolutely beautifully! Finally, and I am sure this will come as no surprise if you read my blog on regular basis, the reason why this is my go-to make up look is because it's super versatile. A great day-time look, you can wear it pretty much anywhere from work to school and everything in between:)

To my younger readers who've been asking me about a good back to school make up look, I say bronzed cheeks and matte coral lips make a great first impression and always look fresh:) Obviously I am a huge cat-eye liner fanatic, but for school, you guys may want to keep it a bit more natural by simply lining closer to the lash line and not extending so far beyond the corners of the eye! 

Step 1: I've mentioned before, I am not a huge fan of foundation, and wear it only on very rare occasions. So today, I simply applied an oil-free moisturizer with an SPF and followed with concealer   one shade lighter than my natural skin tone. Normally, I apply concealer using EcoTools Eye Perfecting brush from the Complexion Collection by dotting it under the eyes and around nostrils. Reason why I like using this brush is because it helps to really spread the product evenly and ensure everything is blended perfectly:)!

Step 2: To set the concealer and control shine ( since my skin does tend to be on the oily side), I applied translucent powder using EcoTools Mattifying Finish brush from the Complexion Collection. Quick tip: make sure you are applying the setting powder very lightly and delicately, to avoid that caked-on look.

Step 3: Whenever I use both bronzer and highlighter, I generally opt for a matte bronzer to avoid looking too sparkly. I also love using matte bronzers to contour my face because they really help create that shadow-like effect I am looking for. Using EcoTools Angled Kabuki brush I applied bronzer in the hollow of my cheeks, right below the cheekbone and I also dusted a bit on my forehead around the hairline and the jaw line.

Step 4: Since I am not a particular fan of super matte face, highlighting is basically a number one obsession of mine! Aside from the fact that a well placed highlight brings a bit of light to your complexion, it also helps to create that beautifully glowing skin! For today's look I wanted to create a very soft and subtle highlight, so I applied a powder highlighter using EcoTools Delux Fan brush to cheekbones, cupid's bow, bridge of my nose and chin.

Step 5: After applying a bit of sparkly gold eyeshadow all over my upper lid, I applied gel eyeliner using the Define brush from the EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Set along the top of my lash line extending beyond the natural outer corner to create my favorite cat-eye look.

Step 6: Generally speaking coral is my favorite lip color, so soft and pretty, I think it looks absolutely beautiful with bronzed skin. To finish this look, I used one of my favorite lip products of all time, i.e. Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Niagara Overlook. Aside from color, what I really like about this one is the fact that it doesn't dry my lips but actually moisturizes them and since my lips tend to be a bit dry, that's really important to me:)

That is it for this make up look! As you can see it's pretty easy to create, but just in case you have any questions about tools or application, email me any time, I'd be happy to answer!

This post was sponsored by Burt's Bees and EcoTools. All opinions are 100% my own.

MY TOP 6: BEST BRONZERS & HIGHLIGHTERS

If you read my blog on regular basis, you probably know that when it comes to make up, bronzer & highlighter are the two products I can't live without. In fact, I would say that they are basically the starting point of any look I create regardless of whether I am going for a simple day-time make-up or full on dramatic night-time one. As I was chatting about a few of my favorite bronzers & highlighters with Ninel recently ( my best friend, partner in crime and fellow make-up addict ), we realized that most of our all-time favorites are unsurprisingly the same. Unsurprisingly because... well, let's face it, not all bronzers & highlighters are created equal. The good ones can help you achieve that beautiful glowing skin, and the not-so great ones go on unevenly or look entirely to sparkly:) And so, Ninel and I decided to collaborate on a post featuring our top 6 favorite bronzers & highlighters.

BRONZERS:

I love to contour with the NARS Laguna bronzer because it’s completely matte and gives me that shadow-like effect I’m looking for when contouring. I like placing it in the hollow of my cheeks, right below the cheekbone, to make my cheekbone appear higher. I also dust a bit on my forehead around the hairline and the jaw line. Most of the days though, I like my skin looking natural and bronzy as opposed to contoured so I go for bronzers with a bit of shimmer in them. Tarte’s Park Ave Princess bronzer works well for me. It has just enough shimmer to give my skin a bronzy glow yet it doesn’t have those heavy sparkles and overbearing shine. I also found that the bronzer Ulta makes is a great alternative. Again, it provides the glow without the heavy sparkles.

HIGHLIGHTERS:

As far as highlighters go, I have a few favorites. The one I use on a daily basis is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. It’s such a beautiful and subtle highlight. The powder is so extremely fine, it blends into my skin and gives me the most natural looking highlight. It has no specs of gold or any heavy shimmer so it’s perfect for every day looks. I dust it on my cheekbones, and a little on the center of the forehead and chin.

The NYX Liquid Illuminator brings the sparkle when I need it. If I feel the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is not enough on a certain day, I apply the NYX Liquid Illuminator underneath it (on the cheekbones only, it’s a little much for the forehead and chin). That way, I get the beautiful glow and a little sparkle. Another favorite highlighter of mine is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (pressed). I definitely reach for this one when I’m looking for an intense highlight with a wet-like effect on the skin. The formulation on this one is amazing; it’s a powder yet it’s a little creamy, and it applies beautifully. I like to apply it on the cheekbones and the cupid’s bow. It also works really well as a brow bone and inner corner of the eyes highlight so it’s definitely a multi tasker.

P.S. I am working on a step-by-step instructional post to show you my go-to bronzed & highlighted skin make up look. It's coming up in the next 2 weeks, so stay tuned:) Meanwhile, if you have any questions about products or application, please feel free to email me any time!