Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation {Review}


I am a little late to the party on this one.  I recently picked up the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation and I am in love.  Now I don't love this as much as my Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation but, it is up there.  This has a nice satin finish and is more of a medium coverage and you can build it up to a full coverage.  I am shade 3.75 which has a pinky undertone.  This lasts wonderfully on long days (10+ hours) which is always a huge thumbs up for me.  I love to use my beauty blender to apply this especially when I want a more of a full coverage.  When I am looking for a more sheer coverage I love using my Louise Young LY34 to apply it.  And another huge thumbs up about this foundation is the pump.  I love foundations that come with a pump.  It makes everything so much easier.  I think this foundation is great for people with normal to combo skin.  I am not sure how people who have very dry skin or very oily skin would like this.     



Have you tried this foundation before ??  What skin type do you have and how does it work for you ??


Love,
City Styles 

Chanel Collection Reverie Parisienne Blush Camelia Rose


Chanel's Spring collection came out a month ago.  I didn't jump on the band wagon right away but, once I saw the Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Rose I knew I needed it.  It is probably the most beautiful blush I have ever seen.  It is a three dimensional blush with two shades of rose.  One is a lighter pinky rose and the other a darker dusty rose.  It has the signature Chanel scent, which I love.  On my cheeks it gives a nice dust of color. 
   




Compared to Chanel Innocence and Rose Initial.  As you tell Blush Camelia Rose is pretty much a dupe for Innocence.  So if you have one you don't need both.  But, really how could you pass up this beautiful blush ? 



Have you bought anything from the Spring collection ??  What are your thoughts ??


Love,
City Styles 

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Sephora + Pantone Universe {Facets of Marsala Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette}




Pantone announced that the color of the year for 2015 was Marsala.  Marsala is an earthy red tone that enriches our bodies, mind, and soul.  For the past few years Sephora has been partnering with Pantone to bring out a collection encompassing the color of the year.  Normally, I am not to intrigued with these collections but, this year The Facets Of Marsala Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette ($39) really caught my eye.  It has 24 shadows with all different finishes and tones.  It is a little out of my comfort zone with all the warmer red shades but, I have been loving it.  Some of the matte shades are a little chalky but, blend out nicely.  And all the shimmery shades are very pigmented.  Overall i am very pleased with this palette and I am looking forward to creating some new looks. 
     








Have you tried this palette out ??? What do you thinks of this years Pantone color ??


Love,
City Styles 

Monday, January 19, 2015

My Friday Five #9


It's a little late but hey better late then never.  


Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder Brush - I ordered this brush pack in December and I have used it everyday since.  I love to use it for bronzer and blush.  It picks up just the right amount of product.  

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara - This is holy grail status for me.  I can never be without this mascara.  It gives my lashes such volume and I don't need to curl my lashes either.  There is no flaking and no transferring.  I have never found another mascara that I love as much. 

Albeit Lip Balm - I use this lip balm every morning to prep my lips.  It has a thicker texture then my fav Jack Black or Malin + Goetz ones.  It really helps nourish my lips and get them ready for lipstick or gloss. 

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Yu - I have wanted this shade for the longest and I was so happy to see it in the Nars Coffret.  It is such a beautiful bright pink shade and has made my winter a bit better. 

Physicians Formula Argan Oil Blush in Natural - I saw this in Harmon's one day and I could not resist.  Isn't it gorgeous !!  There is also a darker shade but I opted for the lighter one and it looks great on my pale skin.  


What are your favorites at the moment ??


Love, 
City Styles


ps - how adorable is my new makeup pouch !!!  If you are in NYC you can probably find them in Chelsea Market or you can visit her Etsy shop ! 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Nars Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret


For Christmas Daria got me the Nars Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret ($49) and I was beyond ecstatic!  I love Nars lip pencils and here I was holding five amazing shades.  This set comes with three satin lip pencils (Yu, Descanso, & Torres Del Paine) and two matte lip pencils (Passionate & New Iberico).  The case it came in is gorgeous.  I am not sure what I will use it for yet but, I know that I am keeping it.  I don't own any of the matte pencils and I am very happy with them.  My favorite out of all the Nars lip pencils are the satin ones.  As for the shade selection I am very pleased. There are the two nudes and the three brighter shades.  These minis perform just as well as their full size counter parts.   Luckily this is still available on the Sephora website.  So, if you still have some holiday shopping to do or just want to treat yourself you can. 
         





What are some of your lip pencils ??

Love,
City Styles 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Top 14 of 2014



Happy 2015!!! I can't believe another year has come and gone.  But 2014 was pretty good to me.  I was introduced to lots of new beauty products and I rounded up my top favs for you guys.


Bioderma - I am down the end of my bottle and I keep telling myself I don't need a new bottle.  Yeah ok, Amazon Prime to the rescue.  This is my holy grail of makeup removers.  It has never met a match it couldn't handle.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask - I don't know what I would ever do without this.  This is great for people with very dry or combo skin.  It isn't a mask you leave on for 10 mins and then wash off.  This is more of a very thick moisturizer that you lather on at night and let sink into your face.  When you wake up in the morning your face is hydrated.  I love this for the winter months.

Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation - I have never had such a love for a foundation before. I discovered this back in August and I have had a love affair with it ever since.  It lasts all day and has a medium coverage.  It has a satin finish and doesn't need to be powdered.  I have been searching for a foundation like this for years and I am so happy to have found it!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - The consistency of this is amazing.  It is very liquidy but at the same time it isn't runny.  I am able to use this as my under eye concealer and even at times I use this all over my face and just set with a powder.

Chanel Les Beiges Powder - Best setting powder!!  I love to use a light dusting of this after my foundation.  It helps set my foundation but, doesn't make me look matte.

Becca Blush in Flowerchild - I enjoy a good matte blush but, this blush came along and blew them out of the water.  It is the perfect pinky, coral shade that gives you a nice flush and has a beautiful satin finish.

MAC Definitely Defined - Unfortunately this was a limited edition product but, I use it so much I had to include it.  It is such a beautiful highlighter.  I have very pale skin and like a highlighter that has more of a champagne tone to it.  I think it complements me nicely.  And it isn't too shimmery.  I hate when a highlighter makes you look like a glitter ball.

Anastasia Brow Whiz - I have gone through three of these in one year.  This stuff is like auhhh mazzz balls.  It is so precise and taupe is the perfect shade for me.

Lorac Pro Palette - If I lost every other palette and only had this one that would be fine with me.  The shadows are so creamy and pigmented.  I grab for this palette at least twice a week.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock - Let me start off my saying I love the Ombre Blackstars in general but, Misty Rock is such an amazing shade.  It is a dusty mauve color that looks s amazing on so many eye colors.  And it is a one and done kind of product.  I can use this all over the eye, buff it out, and I am done.  Plus the lasting power is amazing and no creasing.

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara - This is my mascara.  It has fiber bristles and just gives you great looking lashes.  It gives them volume and a bit of length.  I have gone through two in the past year and don't know if I could ever go without it.

Malin + Goetz Lip Balm - This came in one of my Glossy Box's this year and I was blown away by how good it was.  It has a thicker texture then most lip balms and really hydrates my lips.  It also lasts longer then most.  It isn't too sticky either.

Sephora Formula X System - I have never been religious to a base and top coat before but these have now become my holy grails.  They help my polish last so much longer.  I get at least 5 days out of my manicures.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray - My hair has no volume whatsoever.  This stuff gives my fluffy hair such texture and volume it's so amazing.  I love to use this on my hair after I dry it and I also love to use it on my second day hair.  I love it more then dry shampoo.  And it smells amazing.



What are your favorites from 2014 ??


Love,
City Styles 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

On a Personal Note {Relationships}

If you follow my blog regularly then you have probably noticed I have been a bit MIA in the month of December.  And I am sorry for that.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to post my story or not but I feel like I want to share it with you girls.  I feel like some of you will probably relate to my story and I hope some of you learn.

About three weeks ago I broke up with my boyfriend of 4 and a half years.  It has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do and yet it has been the best decision I have ever made.  We first started dating when I was 19.  At 19 I had an idea of who I was but, at the same time I had so much to learn.  And to be honest I was just excited that I had a guy who was really into me.  He was pretty much my first everything.  And I fell really hard for him.  I remember about a month into dating we were sitting in Bryant Park and I just looked at him and knew I was going to love him.  The first two and a half years of our relationship went really well.  We hardly fought.  There were things I found odd about him, like he never wanted to come meet my parents or friends.  At the time I just left it alone since I knew he had some issues growing up.  I just swept it under the rug.  And let me say I swept a lot of things under the rug so we didn't fight and he stayed happy.  I remember the first time things came crumbling down.  My Nana had passed away.  She was one the most important things in my life.  To me she was like a third parent and I never lost someone so close to me before.  I wanted him to come to the wake or the funeral.  It didn't have to be both, just one or the other.  Nope he wouldn't come.  It didn't matter that I was crying on the phone to him, he just wouldn't come.  We got into a huge fight that almost landed us on a break.  At the time I couldn't imagine my life without him.  My friends and family kept telling me that I deserved better.  And at the time I didn't believe them.  I valued their opinion but, they didn't know him like I did.  Now that I look back I wonder how I stayed with him as long as I did.  Not that he was or is a terrible person but I totally deserved better and I know that now.  A quote comes to mind, you accept the love you think you deserve.  And in my case that is so true.  I was 19 and he was 28 when we started dating.  I was just starting my journey and he was already on his.  He knew what he wanted and I had no clue what I wanted.  I am now 23 and know so much more about myself and what I want out of my life and the relationships in my life.  My best friend asked me the other day if I was ready to start "dating" again and I told her yes.  I know what I want now and I know what I deserve.  I am not going to accept anything less.  Yes, I know we only broke up three weeks ago but, I had been mentally checked out of the relationship for months.  I was always looking for the right time to break up with him but, really there is never a good time to break up.  I will never regret my relationship.  I learned so much from him and I am so grateful for that.  I also believe everything happens for a reason.  I stayed with him for so long to learn how strong I really am and to know that I'm worth a whole lot more then I originally thought.  I am very proud of myself for becoming who I am today.  And I hope 2015 brings me a lot of joy and happiness.  




And I want to thank everyone who follows my blog and reads my posts.  You guys are the reason I keep this going and give me hope!  

Happy New Years to you all !!


Love, 
Gina