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My daughter, A, and I are at Ulta a lot. Between getting our brows done and her favorite person for doing her makeup for events now working there, and just stopping in to pick up the latest and greatest things we've heard about and have wanted to review, has made us well known by the staff. Chatting with them is dangerous because we always walk out with way more than what we went in for, but we do receive some of the best recommendations this way.
Brando, who runs the Nars cosmetics counter at our Ulta, recently asked me if I had ever tried their Radiance Primer, and because I hadn't, he sat me down and had me watch while he reapplied my makeup. I'm always leery of "radiance" products because often that means shiny, but this is genuinely luminous.
The primer looks peachy-pink in the tube and has a very fresh almost spa-like scent that I find refreshing. As you apply, the color diminishes, leaving a glowing, beautiful skin finish. It does not have that heavy, slippery, slick feel of primers like the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, but it is tacky enough to grip the makeup applied over it.
As the weather has begun to heat up here in Nevada, I've noticed a dramatic change in how my makeup 1. is not budging and, 2. it is not breaking down, which is a significant problem for me. I usually get two hours into the day and have what look like small dots of makeup everywhere as it has sunk into my pores in some places and disappeared in other.
Nars Radiance Primer is my new favorite primer for aging skin. I've found it especially good under full-coverage formulas like the Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able I shared here or the Armani Power Fabric.
Have you tried the Nars cosmetics primer? Are you a fan of Nars makeup in general? Do you use a primer or do you think it's unnecessary? I'd love to hear your thoughts. I mean who even had heard of this product when we were in high school?
This week I'm linking up in Midweek Inspirations on PoshClassyMom. Please go visit and show some love for the other bloggers posting.
Are you starting to panic yet? I've talked to so many people over the last week who are either not finished with their holiday shopping yet or haven't even started. I'm not sure what's going on, but if you are still looking for ideas about what to buy the beauty fanatic in your life, or if you are a proponent of the one for you, two for me school of holiday shopping, look no further than NARS. Last week I was blessed to be invited to an event at the NARS within The Forum Shops at Caeser's Palace. There senior artist Julia Sohn, who was trained by Francois Nars himself, shared some fantastic tips I had never heard before while she did a demo for us using the limited edition Man Ray collection. After Julia's explanation of how to apply blush, I feel like I've been doing it wrong all my life, but now I've seen the light.
I always love NARS' special collections; you may remember me gushing over the limited edition Charlotte Gainsbourgh Multiple in Alice here, but this is a whole other level. Both the packaging and the products are so well designed and executed; I haven't seen a collection this good in a long time.
The Man Ray collection is fantastic, so there is no way I could choose just one favorite. The Glass Tears Eyeshadow Palette has a combination of highly pigmented and blendable jewel tones perfect for your New Year's Eve looks and includes two matte shades, cream and a black, and four shimmering tones. Ladies, these are not glittery but instead the perfect creamy shimmer.
The Love Triangle sets are the best stocking stuffer I saw this year (and I saw a lot of stocking stuffers this year) by far. These are going fast, so I highly recommend grabbing them while you can.
And I can't recommend highly enough the Velvet Shadow Sticks. These come in a range of 14 colors, which is enormous, and sticks like these are my favorite and most reliable trick for doing my eyes on mornings when I don't have a lot of time for my makeup (read that as I decided to hit the snooze one too many times).
If you can't get ahold of the Man Ray Collection, remember that NARS always has amazing palettes like this one all year round. The collection is available directly from NARS boutiques such as the one in The Forum Shops or at Nars.com.
I love finding new brands and even better is when those brands have great products. In October, I was given a bottle of Pistache Skincare Pistachio and Lavender Divine Beauty Oil to review. I receive a significant amount of samples, most of which I never share here on the blog, but when I like something, I want to share it with you.
Oils have shown up so much in beauty routines over the last few years, so I assume that most people have tried at lease one. I know from my personal experiences that not all oils are created equal. Prior to the Pistache, my favorite has been Bobbi Brown’s Extra Face Oil ($67/oz), which smells amazing. In comparison, the Pistache has more of a traditional spa scent as it contains lavender for healing and soothing, and for $34 for 3.4 oz., it’s an amazing bargain.
I also appreciate the packaging. Oils most frequently are packaged in some type of bottle and you end up balancing the oil in your hand while trying not to spill after you pour and try to recap. This product has a pump dispenser, an inner cap to prevent leaking and a larger outer cap. This is genius.
I began using the oil on my face, but quickly moved on to applying it to my hands and neck where my eczema has traditionally been the worse. I love that it is quickly absorbed and leaves my skin feeling moisturized but not greasy. Based on the recommendation on the bottle, I’ve also been applying it to the ends of my hair and find it soaks in nicely without adding extra greasiness.
I don’t believe I’ve ever used pistachio oil before, but since the creator of the brand is a fourth generation pistachio grower herself, I trust she understands the benefits of the oil.
Have you every used pistachio oil before? What did you find to be beneficial?
Ring: Tiffany
Lipstick: Estee Lauder Color Envy in Desirable
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Nail Polish: Londontown Lakur in Candy Floss
Pumps: Vince Camuto
My thoughts have definitely turned to fall - not because the temperature has gone down - quite the opposite. It's still hot, but since the nights are cooling down, in my mind at least, it's almost autumn. My favorites reflect that with some great transitional pieces that could be worn from now into the cooler months without looking like you are guilty of trying to fast forward.
My wedding band is from Tiffany, and my husband has gifted me with several more bands over the years. I’m always keeping my eye open for the next ring on my wishlist. This ring is a classic, simple design, and since it's silver, you could get away with wearing it to the beach but still wear it out on date night or to the office and it's season-less.
Estee Lauder has been my go-to brand for that "your lips but better" pinky nude for years. Desirable is another great version of this color that is nude-y brown enough to hold up into the fall. I've been hearing a lot about Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk as well; as soon as I check that one out, I'll let you know what I think. If you've tried it and agree that it's one not to miss, please let me know.
Do I really need to say anything about these Ray-Ban glasses? Classic. Nuff said.
I chose Londontown Lakur in my last Casual Outfit of the Day post. I’m still obsessed with it, and, as promised, here it is in Candy Floss, which I am currently wearing. For the first time I actually feel like polishing my nails is good for them because of the oils, extracts and vitamins this polish contains.
Finally, I could write volumes about my love for D’Orsay pumps. I believe they are the most flattering shoe, and I’ve had many different pairs over the years. And did I mention they are usually really comfortable too? This is a beautiful, classic pair from Vince Camuto just perfect for autumn with both pants and skirts.
This week I've linked up to Link up on the Edge. Please visit and see what all the other lovely bloggers have to share.
