Sure I could’ve cleaned up the Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics products in this picture before snapping it. But that would defeat the purpose of this beauty review…because this is must-have makeup, which means I really do use them. What you see here is Youngblood’s Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder in Translucent (bottom), Ultimate Concealer in Medium, and Pressed Individual Eye Shadows in Orca (top) and Jewel (the teal color.)

Eye shadows: The highlighter is “Orca” and the contour “Jewel.” (On the lid you would wear more of a nude/natural color.) I have hazel eyes, so Jewel really makes my eyes pop. It also creates more of a smoky eye look, as well. I can say that at first when I saw Jewel I was nervous because I immediately had a flashback to a bad 80’s blue eye shadow experience.  Thankfully, this teal colored shadow is gorgeous. If Youngblood’s Ultimate Concealer is applied first to your eye area, these shadows won’t crease.  makeup

Ultimate Concealer: This is a staple in my makeup bag. Due to the shadowing in the picture, it appears darker than it really is. It is creamy, yet seems to dry to a powdery feel on the skin. It also has buildable coverage, so whether you need light coverage under your eyes or heavy coverage on a blemish or redness, this concealer will get the job done. The best part is that it has Jojoba esters, which prevents your skin from drying out in the areas that you use it in. (Which is great especially in the winter!)

Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder: No, this white powder won’t make you look like a clown or appear paler than you are. It simply gives you coverage like nothing I’ve seen before. I have combination skin, so shine is always a problem for me. I also have a bit of redness on each side of my nose and some wrinkles (good grief the wrinkles!) under and around my eyes. This powder not only mattifies the shine for a long stretch of time, it also diffuses imperfections so that I can look like I have perfect skin (even though I don’t…AT ALL!)

Not seen here, but deserves an honorable mention (because I carry it in my purse all of the time) is their Pressed Mineral Rice Powder (I have it in Medium). It has a super silky feel on the skin and mattifies wonderfully. I keep it on me to use for touch-ups when I’m out and about.

Do you use any of the products mentioned above (or any other makeup from Youngblood)? Let’s discuss in the comments!

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I don’t know about your beauty regime, but I’ve spent most of the season taking advantage of my summer tan and going the “bronzed goddess” route — chocolate shadow, golden highlighter, bronzer, nude lips — with the occasional monochromatic smokey eye for those more dramatic nights out. As a result, as much as I love amped-up neutrals and sparkly skin tones, my makeup look is starving for some hardcore color. As wild as it looks, I’m totally loving the watercolor inspiration trend for fall — multi-toned and gradient shadow, candy colors that pop despite the impending dreary weather, and rainbow shades that a conservative gal would normally steer clear from!

Mix and match your shadow and liner with a coordinating bright duo, like Sephora Collection’s Colorful Duo Eyeshadow in Tropical Blue, or if full-on neon shadow isn’t your thing, go neutral on your lids while making liner pop with a colorful swipe of one (or two!) of the shades from Illamasqua’s Liquid Metal Palette! Face painting never looked so chic! Make sure not to incorporate a whole art gallery’s worth of color on your face at one time, however; it’s definitely possible to go overboard with this trend! 

Also pictured: Make Up For Ever Flash Color Case (top right) and Josie Maran Natural Wonder Powders Palette (bottom left).

Save on Watercolor-Inspired Palettes at Sephora from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) from my friends at TheFind.com.

It should be no surprise to anyone that Purple Lab would be part of my birthday giveaway extravaganza this week. Why? Because look at how much I covet my friendship with Karen Robinovitz and adore her products:

Review of Huge Lips Skinny Hips
Review of Lashionista Modelista
Purple Lab Challenge: Operation Chic and Sexy

Besides, who else would try to hand me a pair of Christian Louboutin’s that were a size too small and tell me to just have them stretched? Only Karen. I love her.

So let me share the love of her super fab Purple Lab foundation, Silk Sheets, so you can experience the awesomeness.

From her website: Silk Sheets is a luxe foundation infused with silk, Instalift Goji, Hyaluronic Filling Spheres and skincare treatment ingredients that give your skin a supple, youthful freshness.

Dude, I am all about youthful freshness right about now, are you?

Contest details:

What you have to do: Take a peek at Purple Lab’s website and leave me a comment about which product you feel you relate to best. Is is Luvah? Cheek Implants? SWAC? It’s time to dish.

Optional, but we really would like it: Like Purple Lab on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. And pretty please Like A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) on Facebook and follow A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) on Twitter as well.

Prize: Silk Sheets foundation
Retail value: $34

Contest dates: Wednesday August 18th-Monday August 23rd at 11:59PM EST. Winner announced on August 24th. Winner chosen at random.

Legal jargon: Contest only open to legal US residents 18+. Only one entry per person total. Purple Lab has provided the prize to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) for free for this giveaway. No purchase necessary to enter or win. No cash or product substitutes will be given. I can cancel this contest at any time without notice.  You give me permission to use your name in the winner announcement post.  Contest is void where prohibited.

Are you ready? On your mark, get set…GO!

Psst. Don’t forget about the Redken Time Reset and philosophy eternal grace giveaways!

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Given the many steps required for a complete makeup look (you know, foundation, bronzer/blush, shadow, liner, mascara, lip gloss — the works), combined with this late summer heat, your beauty regime hardly stands a chance when it comes to braving the elements and still looking fresh by the day’s (or night’s) end. Even though I’ve recently become a serious primer addict — which definitely improves the situation — my makeup still requires some major touch-ups by the time 3 o’clock rolls around, not to mention happy hour. Think of setting sprays as your “post-application primer”… or something like that. Instead of just prepping your skin and creating a smooth canvas for you to apply your makeup, setting sprays finish off your look and give it an invisible, lightweight “veil” or seal after it’s already been applied — giving it that waterproof, crease-proof, budge-proof shield that it needs to withstand your day’s trials and tribulations (even if that only involves some pesky wind or humidity). To get you started, Make Up For Ever’s Mist & Fix is a popular favorite because it’s ultra-sheer and doesn’t make you feel like you’re wearing an addition layer on your face, but I have to say I’m especially intrigued by Urban Decay’s All Nighter, which boasts a whopping 16 hours of staying power! 

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, ModelCo Beauty Fix Setting Spray, Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix, and Sephora Collection “Tricks of the Trade” Makeup Setting Mist.

- Alex Gambardella

Save on Makeup Setting Spray at Derm Store from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

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In the hot summer months, when you’d like your beauty regime to be as simple and lightweight as possible, sometimes it ends up being the complete opposite. The harsh sun requires some hardcore SPF, while the constant heat calls for some serious moisturizer. Then of course you need your usual concealer, foundation, powder, bronzer and what-have-you, depending on how high-maintenance your normal beauty routine, but let’s face it — summer beauty should be easy, lightweight yet pretty, and if possible, a single-step process! Enter tinted moisturizer — the perfect 3-in-one product for keeping skin soft, protected, yet also presentable! 

Yes, I know that such product “consolidation” sounds risky for girls who require a bit more coverage to get them out the door and comfortable in the public eye, but hear me out. Tinted moisturizer may give you a bit more coverage than you think, providing complexion-evening tone for your subtle trouble spots and laying a lightweight base that, if needed, allows you to go back with your favorite concealer for those areas that need a bit more help. You may be surprised how much better your face looks and feels almost-naked!

From left to right: Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, Sephora Collection Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer, Hard Candy Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer, Chantecaille Tinted Moisturizer, and Perricone MD Tinted Moisturizer.

- Alex Gambardella

Save on Tinted Moisturizers at Ulta from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) from my friends at TheFind.com.

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I have to admit, though while I’m always intrigued by NARS products for all their hype and blog-worthy praise (namely the ever-popular Orgasm blush), I don’t have many of the brand’s products. After all, I am a bit of a recessionista (not so much when it comes to makeup, but I try!), and NARS is definitely on the higher end of the beauty spectrum. However, the normally high price tag is only more reason to indulge in a value set when the opportunity arises, because they not only provide a selection of fan-favorite products for a well-worth-it bargain, but they also highlight shades and products you may not have normally tried out on their own. While the “So Famous” set, which features flattering shimmery shades for eyes, lips, and cheeks, is marketed as a “gift set,” I think it’s perfectly suitable for some self-gifting! The soft pinks are totally wearable for any season, so you can’t go wrong in caving in and splurging on this set! 

The set includes Deep Throat Blush (shimmery peach), Bettina Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (rosey beige), and a mini Orgasm Multiple multi-use stick (pink shimmer).

- Alex Gambardella

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In the summer months ahead, the last thing you want for your hot-day beauty look is a heavy, powdery finish and an overall cake-y appearance. The idea of packing on foundation, powder, and blush, all topped off with a layer of sunscreen is just a sweaty-face disaster waiting to happen (in fact, it’s making my own makeup crease just thinking about it), so instead of renouncing makeup altogether, it’s time to rethink your product formulas. For summer, swap your favorite pressed powder blush for a gel-based cheek stain — the result is not only more lightweight and less drying, but it also gives your face a breather and provides a much more natural flush. 

A longtime shopper favorite has always been wildly popular Benefit Benetint. While it doesn’t come in a wide variety of colors like Tarte’s version, the shade is lightweight and gradually buildable so it can easily work with any skin tone! If you’re not a fan of the wand applicator, Jelly Pong Pong’s (yes, that’s an actual brand!) roll-up jelly bar allows for super smooth application and easy blending! The other great thing about cheek stains is that most of them are multi-purpose — they serve as lip color, and sometimes even as a gel shadow, depending on the shade, so it’s a great pack-light product for touching up on the go!

- Alex Gambardella

Save on Cheek Stains at Sephora from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) from my friends at TheFind.com.

If you haven’t heard, Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet has teamed up with MAC to create a limited edition collection that launches July 8th and will be available through August. The result is perfectly MAC-appropriate with highly-saturated, peacock-inspired shades — deep navy pigment, sparkly purple and matte turquoise nails, chartreuse and fuchsia Dazzleglasses, and more. Anyone who is a fan of MAC’s less “practical” shades is bound to be a fan of this collabo, but ultra-girly followers of the clothing line alone may find these shades better suited on a blouse of printed skirt instead of on their face! 

But it’s not all wild pigments and sparkly brights — the collection’s “Sparklicious” Dazzleglass and “If It Sparkles” are perfectly wearable for just about anyone as long as you love shimmer finishes, but they’re not the most exciting aspects of the line, if you ask me. I adore the “Later” pigment, a rich black-and-purple which looks more like a shimmery navy, and both the sparkly purple and creamy turquoise nail lacquers, “So Rich So Pretty” and “Morning After,” respectively. And hey, you never know until you try it — the bright yellow Dazzleglass may apply totally sheer, though I am a bit skeptic myself. What do you think of these bold party-girl summer shades?

- Alex Gambardella

Save on MAC Cosmetics at MAC from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! (sm) from my friends at TheFind.com.

If you haven’t heard of Scott Barnes, it’s certainly not because he’s not worth knowing about. The successful makeup artist has created looks for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Mariska Hargitay, Kim Kardashian, and has recently released a book, About Face, which gives insight on the secrets behind his most famous beauty transformations. He believes that the key to a gorgeous look is first and foremost a healthy, glowing complexion, and his widely popular Body Bling is what he considers to be the perfect way to achieve it without harmful rays or an unflattering orange hue. 

What’s great about Scott Barnes Body Bling is that it provides shimmer and subtle tint without staining skin like many self-tanners — this one washes off easily with soap and water! You don’t necessarily need to shimmer 24/7, so Body Bling works to give you a glow only when you want it — a special event, a hot night out, a beach party, etc. — no streaking, no staining, no ending up looking like a Jersey Shore castmember. It comes in both Original and Platinum, the former which provides deeper color and subtle shimmer, and the latter for fair-skinned girls who just want sun-reflecting sparkle. Either way, the formula works to enhance any complexion to go from winter dullness to brilliant summer skin!

Save on Scott Barnes Body Bling at Fragrance.net from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

*Guest beauty post from my friends at TheFind.com.

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Naturally, I was the first person to set foot inside the San Francisco Centre’s Nordstrom at 8 AM on Wednesday (the second their Half-Yearly sale began), and instead of going to the obvious departments like shoes or bags, I ran straight to the MAC counter. Why? It’s not like anything is ever on sale, but they do sometimes have brand-new releases of their latest line, or quick-to-sell-out value sets. In this case, they didn’t have anything worthy of a mass grab-and-buy (I’ve been there), but they did have a full shipment of MAC’s newest collection, To The Beach. The summer line features beachy-colored eye shadows, coral-hued lipsticks, and seascape-imprinted blush palettes, all in cute shell-monogrammed containers (if that’s their way of convincing us to not trade them back in for their Back 2 Mac program, they’re sorely mistaken)!

The one product that really caught my eye was the Bronze Body Oil. I love shimmer, so while the deep bronze color was a little intimidating to me (I’m not the fairest of them all, but I’m certainly not this dark), I had to try it out. As it turns out, this “Bronze Body Oil” isn’t very bronze at all — on the skin it rubs in almost clear (nice and lightweight, with just a teeny hint of a tan tinge) with very subtle sparkle. It’s not at all glittery or gritty — in fact, under the store lights it was a little too subtle for me — but in the bright sunlight it did give my skin a lovely allover shimmer. Personally, I’ll probably just stick to a swipe of shimmery bronzer on my decolletage, but if you’re looking for a non-heavy product with little color and subtle sparkle, it’s worth checking out!

Save on Bronze Body Oil at Nordstrom from TheFind.com’s coupon site.

*Guest beauty post from my friend’s at TheFind.com.