studio gear cc cream review

I have yet another Studio Gear Cosmetics review! As my partnership with Studio Gear continues to develop I have luckily been sent another wonderful product to test out- the Hydrating CC Cream. I received this in the lightest shade, called Linen. The product claims, "Micro encapsulated pigments deliver a fresh does of color that adapts to your own skin tone creating the most natural looking coverage. This lightweight, oil free cream is infused with the Hydra-Extend technology that provides up to 72 hours of continuous hydration. Skin nourishing and brightening ingredients help to correct and maintain a youthful complexion."

Personally, I am extremely impressed with this product thus far, and think that it matches the description very well. I am surprised at how much it resembles the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, which I have been using daily for about two weeks now. However, I am not the biggest fan of the fact that the product has color-adjusting beads that are supposed to match your skin tone. I find that they often are still slightly dark in color for someone who is quite pale like I am, and I end up with two a different colored face as a result of using too much product. My best advice is to handle this by slowly building up the product and using your fingers to apply it evenly on your face.

As long as you are able to control the color and it matches your skin tone, this is an excellent product to invest in. $34 is quite pricey for a brand that is not quite as popular as others (though it can be purchased at Ulta!), but the quality is quite worth the money. It is not drying and leaves the skin with a soft, hydrated finish. Because this is a CC Cream it does not provide a lot of coverage, so if you are dealing with troublesome skin and spots, this might not be the product for you. Despite this, I think this is a great alternative to a tinted moisturizer for the winter or a BB Cream in the summer. It gives the skin a great glow and is quite brightening for dull, sallow areas (like the undereyes). This is also a great option for being a starter with face makeup!

If you are interested in this product you can purchase it online at studiogearcosmetics.com with an extra 15% off! Just enter the code "brandbackercc" in your cart before you checkout! 

http://studiogearcosmetics.com/shop/best-sellers/hydrating-cc-cream/

xoxo

p.s. this post was sponsored

by Studio Gear Cosmetics via

 Brandbacker but are all of my

 honest opinions of the product!

Powered by BrandBacker

the new "miss dior"

Everyone's favorite female movie star, the beautiful Jennifer Lawrence, is back on the fashion scene! Not only is she truly stunning on her own, she has created an image for the brand that is absolutely flawless. Lawrence, who has worked with Dior in the past, renewed a contract for three more years of advertisement modeling for their cosmetics and fashion. 

Personally, I adore what the brand has done with her public image. When she's not looking über glam, they have her modeling with a clean face. It has brought a completely fresh look to fashion and proves that models could still be sophisticated and gorgeous without wearing a ton of makeup.

I am looking forwards to seeing her in future ad campaigns and hope they are as beautiful as all of the previous ones I have seen on the internet recently. I love when my favorite popular celebrities showcase fashion for my favorite high-end brands, because it connects the fashion and media worlds, making both so much more relatable to real people. Many other of Hollywood's elite have had this position as well (like Mila Kunis) so I hope this works out and she stays with Dior for quite a while!

For more information on where I found this, check out this article written on Fashionista.com! 

http://fashionista.com/2014/01/jennifer-lawrence-three-year-dior-contract/

xoxo

p.s. let me know if you like

this and want more fashion 

posts like this in the future! 

this or that? beauty tag

I have decided to do another YouTube tag blog post! This may be a long post, but it is actually quite a small amount of reading and I am going to try to make it as simple as possible. The questions don't say that you have to put a specific product with your answers, but I thought that some recommendations would add dimension to the tag. I hope that you like some of my choices and test them out for yourselves (and let me know if you like them as well)!

This or That? Beauty Tag

Makeup

• Blush or Bronzer? Blush (MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush in Royal Flush)
• Lip Gloss or Lipstick? Lipstick (KIKO Cosmetics Glossy Stylo Lipstick in 803)
• Eyeliner or Mascara? Mascara (Lancôme Hypnose Star Mascara)
• Foundation or Concealer? Foundation (Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer)
• Neutral or Colored Eyeshadow? Neutral (Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette)
• Pressed or Loose Eyeshadow? Pressed 
• Brushes or Sponges? Brushes (Real Techniques everything!)

Nails

• OPI or China Glaze? OPI (Sephora by OPI Nail Polish in If You've Got It, Haunt It)
• Long or Short? Long (I don't really mind short though!)
• Acrylic or Natural? Natural
• Brights or Darks? Brights (L'Oreal Nail Polish in 119 Lacey Lilac)
• Flower or No Flower? No Flower (I used to love flowers, but I think I have grown out of it.)

Body

• Perfume or Body Splash? Perfume (Jack Wills English Velvet Perfume)
• Lotion or Body Butter? Lotion (Essence of Beauty Passion Flower Body & Hand Cream) 
• Body Wash or Soap? Body Wash (Lush Twilight Shower Gel)
• Lush or Other Bath Company? Lush 

This was actually a really fun tag to do! I think it would be more interesting as a YouTube video, but I hope that it gave some insight onto what my makeup, body and nail favorites are at the moment. It wasn't mentioned in the tag, but I just got a new nail varnish from Essie called "Spin the Bottle" and I am in love with it! It is a perfect nude color for all of my pale princesses out there ;)

xoxo

getting the chop

I know I have absent from the blogosphere for quite a while, but I am finally back to post! Something very exciting has happened in my life, and if you haven't figured it out from the title..... I got my hair cut! Recently I have seen many of my favorite online beauty inspirations getting a shorter haircut and I was anxious to hop on the trend! I'm not talking about a super short cut- I only got 5 inches removed but my hair was significantly long, and still reaches past my shoulder. The bottom of my hair is a layered so it looks a little bit texturized and uneven. I was extremely excited for this because spring is finally starting to present itself where I live and I this was definitely the change I needed to get myself ready for the new season. So far, I am loving this length and so glad that I took the plunge and got my long locks shortened!

Not only do I love the look, but a shorter cut has really made my mentality on this year different! Less hair to deal with makes me more relieved and has certainly lifted my spirits. My body is starting to shift into warm weather mode and getting a new haircut is the perfect trigger. 

On a side note, as you can see there is a stamp on the bottom of these photos from an app called "Retrica." My Italian friend showed me this app on the Apple App Store and I am obsessed with it. If you are an avid selfie taker like I am (I must admit to it), this app has an amazing filter selection and takes great photos!

xoxo

p.s. this hairstyle was inspired 

by makeupbymandy24 and 

madisenrosebeauty1 from YouTube!