My Friday Five #13

So it might not be Friday but, these are the five products I've loved the most this week.

Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($15) - I was standing on line in Sephora and was looking at all the cute mini items and came across this.  I have been wanting to try it but, didn't want to buy the full sized item in case I wasn't a big fan.  Turns out I am.  The powder turns into a paste and when buffed onto the face leaves my skin so rejuvenated.  It is a light exfoliant that works wonders for me.   

Chanel Frenzy ($27) - Nude nails have been my thing as of late.  Chanel Frenzy has made quite an appearance.  I love the fact it has a bit of a grey undertone.

By Terry Baume de Rose ($60) - I bought this from Space NK recently and am in love.  I adore the rose smell and just feel so luxurious every time I put this on my lips. 

Sunday Riley Good Genes ($105) - Again this is another recent acquisition from Space NK.  I have lusted over this serum for the longest and finally bit the bullet.  And I am so glad.  This serum leaves my skin with just the right amount of hydration without over doing it.  It also smells auhhmazzzing. 

Diptyque Eau Duelle Parfum - This was a large sample that I received as a GWP.  It has been my go to recently.  It is a light scent that lingers for just the right amount of time and doesn't over power you.



What are your Friday Five ??



Love,
City Styles 

September Favorites

I was a bit of a makeup minimalist in September.   Since I have been in training with my new job I stuck to the basics. 

Becca/Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop - I can't get enough of this highlighter.  Every time I wear it all I can think is highlight on fleck.  If you are still living under a rock and haven't bought this you need to run to Sephora like yesterday. 

Bite Beauty Deluxe Creme Lipstick in 002 - Bite Beauty has been releasing a limited edition shade of lipstick every month.  For the first few months of the year I had been diligent about buying them.  This is the shade from February.  It is a nice egg plant shade.  Perfect for this time of year.  

Glossier Skin Tint - I recently bought this and have been testing it out.  I enjoy a nice lightweight foundation.  I have a more on depth review coming soon. 

LA Girl Cosmetics Pro Concealer - This has quickly become my holy grail.  I have already bought a back up.  I love the coverage it gives and how great of an eyeshadow base it is. 

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock - If I had to get rid of all my eyeshadows and only keep one it would be Misty Rock.  It is such a beautiful mauve/purple shade.  I smudge this all over my lids and blend it out with a MAC 217.  

What are your September favorites ?? 

Lip Balms In Rotation

Aesop Rosehip Seed Lip Cream ($15) - I love to use this every morning before putting my makeup on.  This helps soften my lips and prep them for lipstick.

Dior Addict Lip Glow in Coral ($33) - I break this out during the day after my lipstick has worn off and I need a little bit of color on my lips.

Glossier Balm Dot Com ($12) - I keep this in my bag at all times!  I have very dry lips and this moisturizes them so well.

Grown Alchemist Watermelon and Vanilla Lip Balm ($13) - I had to have this because watermelon and vanilla are my two favorite scents and flavors.  I keep this at my desk and use this to freshen up my lips.

By Terry Baume de Rose ($60) - This took me forever to actually buy.  It is definitely a luxury item but worth every penny.  I keep this on my night stand and put it on before bed. 

What lip balms are currently in your rotation ??

Love, 

City Styles 

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 

By Teryy Ombre Blackstar Dupe {Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow 5}

A few months back I picked up the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock.  I instantly fell in love with it.   It is definitely on the pricey side ($43).  And I have always been on the look out for a good dupe and I found it!  Kiko recently opened a store in the Queens Center Mall and of course I needed to go and take a peek.  I found this Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 5.  It is almost an exact dupe for Misty Rock.  And it is a fraction of the cost ($12).  The Kiko stick is very creamy and long lasting.  It hardly creases,  only after eight or so hours of wear. 

  

Do you have a dupe for Misty Rock?? 

Love, 

City Styles 

Septemeber Favorites

September has come and gone ... boo!  So I thought I would show you my monthly favorites.  Hope you enjoy the video!  And let me know if you like this format or would you like me to go back to just writing about them.


Love,
City Styles 

My Friday Five #6

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter - I recently finished my cleansing balm and was in the market for a new one.  I was strolling through The Body Shop and saw this and feel in love.  I love the buttery texture and how my makeup just glides off my face.  

Nars Blush in Sin - It is finally fall and I am in full fall makeup mode.  This blush is such a gorgeous maroon shade and looks great on my pale skin. 

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock - I was watching Tanya Burr the other day and she had this on her eyes so I thought I would bring this out of the arsenal.  I use this all over my eyes and just blend it out.  I love how it makes my blue eyes pop. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Caramel Cool - If you hadn't noticed I love a cream shadow.  I love to wear this shade by itself.  Sometimes I line my lids with a plum liner when wearing this. 

Chanel Glossimer in Crushed Cherry -  I love a good vampy lip and this gloss in the best!! It is a beautiful deep plum color that stains my lips.  

I am also so excited that my new 2015 planner came in.  I picked up the Day Designer from Whitney English and I can't wait to use it.   And I have been obsessed with HGTV magazine.  

What have been your favorite this week ??

Love, 

City Styles 

By Terry Ombre Blackstar {Bronze Moon, Misty Rock, & Velvet Orchid}

I first heard of these By Terry Ombre Blackstars from The Beauty Lookbook.  She had a review about the Bronze Moon shade and it totally caught my eye and went on the list.  Fast forward a few months and one late night Space NK shopping spree and Bronze Moon was mine.  I fell totally in love with the shade and the formula and I knew I need more.  So fast forward to another late night Space NK shopping spree (as Amelia Liana would say #feelingspendy) and Velvet Orchid and Misty Rock were thrown into my beauty arsenal.  These pencils are so creamy and pigmented.  They glide so smoothly onto the eye and they blend easily.  I love to wear these on their own and just use a neutral color in the crease.  They last me a full work day, 7am to 7pm.  Which I find amazing!! These don't crease too much on me.  I would say in the finals hour or so of wear I see a bit of creasing.  I do use a primer but, that's because I have pretty oily eye lids.  I use it as a precautionary step.  

    

Bronze Moon is a beautiful neutral bronze shade.  This is my absolute favorite of the bunch.  It makes my blue eyes really stand out.  Misty Rock is a pinky mauve shade.  It doesn't look as good swatched as it does on the eyes.  And Velvet Orchid is a bold deep purple shade.  I like to wear this more when I am going for a night out. 

I am of course looking into getting a few more shades but, I need to stop at the Space NK store and swatch them first !! 

Have you tried these eyeshadows ??  What are your favorite shades ??

Love, 

City Styles 

By Terry Cellularose Blush Glace {Frozen Petal}

I was so excited when By Terry came out with these new Cellularose Blush Glaces (.25oz, $58).  I wanted the shade Frozen Petal for the longest but, it was always sold out.  One day I was browsing the Space NK website and it was in stock and calling my name!  This formula is a lot different then any other "cream" blush mainly because it's not a cream.  It is more like a gel blush.  It is very light weight and meant to give a watercolor effect for a nice glow.  It does just that.  Applied to the cheeks it is very sheer but, you can build it up.  I like to use a small stippling brush, like a MAC 130.  When I use my finger I feel like it takes longer to build up the color.  I do about two applications only because it is very tacky.  It doesn't really dry down.  I have tried three coats but, then it looked a bit odd and my hair kept getting stuck in it.  The color itself is gorgeous and I really like the way it looks on the cheeks.  I just wish it had a better drying power.  I think this is great for the no makeup, makeup look I've been going for lately.  This works best over a liquid foundation.  Over powder it looks funny and makes the foundation break down.  Overall I really enjoy the concept of the blush but, for the price I am still a bit iffy.  I would give it 3.5 stars out of 5.     

  

heavy swatch, blended out 

gel like texture

Have you tried these blushes ??  What do you think about them ??

Summer Edit

Summer is coming so I thought I would share my top ten picks for the season!   

The Chantecaille Just Skin tinted moisturizer is just amazing.  It is very light weight and has great coverage.  It will be perfect for the hot, humid weather.  I have been loving the Hourglass Ambient Lightening palette.  It has the perfect shades for me.  I can use it to powder, to bronze, and to highlight.  It is perfect to carry in your bag and touch up.  I originally said that I wasn't sure if I would get another shade of the YSL Kiss & Blush but, I did.  These are great multipurpose product for the summer.  I don't know about you but, I am totally into the no makeup, makeup look.  It is so easy to do and looks effortless.  I use these on my lips and then blend them out on my cheeks for a nice summer glow.  I also love the By Terry Blush Glace in Frozen Petal.  It gives me such a nice glow and is very light weight.  Another By Terry product that I will be using all summer are the Ombre Blackstar shadow sticks.  These are the bomb dot com.  I have three shades, Bronze Moon, Misty Rocks, and Velvet Orchid.  These are great to pop on for an easy eye look or to use under shadows.  I am totally obsessed with all the shades and want to own them all!  If I don't wear any other makeup I need to have mascara on.  My go to at the moment is the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme.  It gives my lashes so much volume and length.  We all know how much I love Bite Beauty so when I heard about there new BB for Lips I had to go pick one up.  They are perfect for a sheer wash of color but still extra moisturizing.  For a a little more color I love the Lipstick Queen lipstick in Perfect Wave.  It is the most gorgeous pinky coral shade.  I think white nails with a tan looks amazing and Chanel Eastern Lights will be prefect for that.  And lastly how could I not include Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede.  It is a great light, floral scent for the summer.  

What are your top picks for the summer time ??

Love, 

City Styles