Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Hourglass recently came out with a new foundation, Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick ($46).  I orginially looked at this in store and passed on it.  Mostly because I have the Makeup Forever HD stick and I am not the biggest fan.  But, then I was browsing online and I was like well let's try it.  And I was right I should have passed on it.  I picked up mine in Porcelain.  It was a good color match but, I couldn't get it to work with my skin.  It just sat on my face and felt very heavy.  I tried this many different ways.  I used primer, no primer, my beauty blender, and a brush.  Nothing worked.  It lasted only a few hours before it broke down on my face.  I was so disappointed.  I am usually not one to return a product but, with this I did.  Hourglass claims this foundation is seamless and weightless but unfortunately I did not feel that way.  I know other bloggers are loving this which made me really want to make it work.  But I couldn't.  

Have you tried this new foundation ??  How do you feel about it ??

Love,
City Styles


Also please let me know if you like when I review a product I wasn't happy with.  Thanks! 

Current Foundations In Rotation

I have recently acquired three new foundations.  As if I don't own enough already I just had to have these too.  First up we have Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint($55).  Hourglass claims this foundation will give you a smoother, firmer, more youthful appearance.  I can only attest to the smoothness.  I use one application all over my face.  I enjoy using this with a brush more then my beauty blender.  The beauty blender just doesn't work well with the consistency.  It is on the thicker side but, once on the face it doesn't feel cakey.  Out of all the foundations this is my least favorite.  Since I have combo skin this works well in my t-zone but not so much on my cheeks where I am more dry.

Next up we have Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint($26).  This is one of the best light weight "foundations" I have tried.  Its almost like you are wearing nothing.  I dab a bit of this all over my face and work it in with my fingers.  It gives good coverage and evens out my skin.  You can build this up to give more of a medium coverage but I would say of you want to do that use a brush instead of your fingers.  This is my number one out of all three.  

Lastly we have the Givenchy Teint Couture Balm($43).  This is a pretty light weight foundation that gives a more medium coverage.  Out of all the foundations this one smells the best.  It kind of has that rose smell that Chanel foundations have but, it smells fresher.  I love using my beauty blender with this.  I use about one and half coats.  I go back in and use another coat on my cheeks since they are more red.  I enjoy this foundation but I can't see myself reaching for this on a daily basis.   

Hourglass Illusion in Vanilla

Glossier Skin Tint in Light 

Givenchy Teint Couture Balm in Nude Shell

Have you tried these foundations ??  What are your favorites at the moment ??

Love, 

City Styles 

My Friday Five #10

I know this is going up a little late I am sorry. So let's see what I have been loving this week.


Estee Lauder Double Wear Light - I have had an acne flare up recently and this foundation helps cover them up but at the same time isn't too heavy.

Hourglass Luminous Bronzer - I have been using this all week to warm up my complexion.  It is the perfect shade for me and leaves me with a nice glow.

Armani Eyes to Kill #9 - Gold shades always look great with my blue eyes.  This Eyes to Kill is a nice pale gold that I use all over my lid.

Bite Beauty BB for Lips in Flush - I haven't been using too much lipstick lately so for some color I have been turning to this.  It leaves my lips moisturized and with a bit of color.

Dior Nail Polish in Sunwashed - I am obsessed with this shade of pale yellow.  It has been on my nails all week.  It is perfect for the spring time.  More too come this week.  


What have you been loving ??


Love,
City Styles

Hourglass Ambient Bronzer {Luminous Bronze Light}

Hourglass has come out with another product in their Ambient line.  This time we have the Ambient Bronzers ($50).  There are only two shades available, Luminous Bronze Light and Radiant Bronze Light.  I opted for the Luminous one, which is a bit lighter then the Radiant one.  Now we all know how these powders work.  The luminous powder and bronzer are mixed and baked together and we get a gorgeous marbleized bronzer.  

To be honest I wasn't sure how I would like this bronzer.  I am matte bronzer girl.  Anything that looks like it might have a sheen or shimmer I place right back on the shelf.  However this bronzer looks very nice on my skin.  It really warms me up and does not leave a sheeny finish like I thought.  It is also the perfect shade for my extra pale skin.  Any darker it might have been too much.  I used my Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder brush and it picked up the right amount of product.  I can see myself reaching for this throughout the spring time.    

  

Comparison of the Ambient Blush, Bronzer, & Powder

The Beauty Look Book has both bronzers swatched so you can get a feel of which one would suit you better.  Also now is the time to scoop these up and anything else you might want from Sephora.  Their VIB sale is going on right now until April 2lst.  

Have you tried these bronzers ?? How do you feel about all the Ambient products ??

Love, 

City Styles 

PS - Would you like to hear my recommendations for the Sephora VIB sale ?

Monthly Favorites {February}

We are one month closer to spring!  I am so excited.  My makeup game was pretty minimal this month.  I stuck to a few items and used them almost everyday. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - I finally repurchased this after too many month without it. I love how creamy it is and how easily it blends out and covers. 

Hourglass Modernist Palette in Exposure - These shadows are just absolutely gorgeous!  They blend like a dream and are amazingly pigmented. 

Tom Ford Cream Shadow in Platinum - On days when I am not sure what i exactly want to do with my eyes I turn to this.  I put this all over my eyes and I am good to go.  This shade just compliments my blue eyes so well. 

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara - My absolute holy grail in mascaras.  I love how this makes my lashes look so voluminous and at the same time lengthens them a bit. 

Becca Blush in Flowerchild - This blush is perfect for a natural flush look.  It does have shimmer in it but, it does not translate onto your cheeks. 

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick in Rosy Silk - I have been going for a lighter lip lately and this is perfect for that.  I love the way these lipsticks feel on my lips. 

Albeit Lip Balm - Every morning I get up and apply this balm to my lips.  It is very nourishing and moisturizing.  

What are your favorites at the moment ??

Love, 

City Styles   

Hourglass Modernist Palette {Exposure}

Hourglass recently came out with their Modernist Palettes ($58) and I hopped on the chance to own one. I picked up the palette in Exposure and I am so happy.    Exposure is a mix of different plum shades and would look great on all different eye colors.  I know there are mixed reviews out there about the kick up or fall out on these palettes.  The shadows are very creamy and they do have some kick up but the only shade that has fall out is the bronze shade.  I personally don't mind.  I'd rather have a shadow thats very pigmented with fall out then a shadow that has no pigmentation at all.

Size difference between the Hourglass Ambient Lightening palette vs the Modernist palette

Comparison swatches :

Chanel Raffinement (LE)

Burberry Nude Blush 

Overall I really love this palette and how creamy the shadows are.  I would like to pick up another.  If you have any suggestions please let me know.


Love,
City Styles  

Makeup Bag Round Up

I have an obsession at looking what's in other people makeup bags.  So I thought I'd share whats in mine this exact moment. 

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer 

Tarte Inner Rim Eyeliner

Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil 

Clinique Airbrush Concealer 

L'Oreal True Match Powder

Dior Fluid Stick in Rieuse

Nars Gloss in Priscilla 

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Wildflower

Bite Beauty Matte Lip Pencil in Aubergine 

What's in your makeup bag ??   Send me a picture and you can be featured on the blog!! 

Email me citystyles22@gmail.com 

Love,

City Styles 

A Night on the Town {Makeup & Outfits} #AriaNightOut

I'm totally not a party girl.  I like to sit at home in my pj's and watch a crazy woman throw her leg on a table but, every once and awhile it is nice to have a night out.  So, of course, the first thing that pops into my mind is what makeup would I wear!  I made a video showing you what I would use but, I'll also put step by step instructions of what I would do.

First up priming the face.  I like to use Makeup Forever HD Primer.  It helps my makeup to last all night and it helps prevent flash back.  I am already very pale.  I do not need to look like a ghost in pictures.  Next up is foundation.  I love the Covergirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous (1) foundation.  This has little or no SPF in it so this will also prevent flash back.  To hide my under eye circles I use the Maybelline Fit Me concealer.  This doesn't crease on me and helps to highlight that area.  Now to set my concealer and to contour I use the Nars Countour Blush (2).  I love the contour shade.  It isn't too red but, isn't to grey either.  For blush I use a neutral pink like Burberry's Blossom (3).  Since I am focusing more on my eyes and lips I don't want too much going on with my cheeks.  Then for my brows I use the Hourglass Brow Arch Pencil (4).  I can't go a day without filling my brows in.  I think it just frames the face so well.  Now onto eyes.  To prime my eyes I use the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Cocoa.  This is amazing.  It does not crease whatsoever!  I blend that out with my fingers and use Urban Decay Naked shadow in my crease.  Then I use Sephora's Outrageous Peach (5) all over my lid.  The mix of the Cocoa and the Peach really makes my eyes pop.  I am not really into the cat eye so I just use the L'oreal Slim Liner (6) to thinny line my lashes.  It makes them look fuller.  Then for mascara I use my beloved Too Faced Better Than Sex.  This makes my lashes look amazballs.  I am totally not a fake lash wearer.  They annoy my eyes so much.  Then to finish off my face I use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (7).  I just used Dim Light all over.  Then to highlight I used MAC's Definitely Defined (8).  This is my go to highlighter.  And lastly for lips I love a red lip so I am using Rimmel Show Off Lacquer in Big Bang (9).    

  

I thought I would also show you want kind of outfit I would wear out.  First Option we have nice Racerback Tank and these Rag & Bone skinny jeans.   My second option would be this great Red Dress.   I would probably go for option 1 since I am more of a jeans girl.  

Hope you enjoyed this little Get Ready with Me.  Let me know if you like these kinds of posts.

Love, 

City Styles 

*Vegas.com asked me to do a post showing what I would wear for a night out.  I am not being compensated in any form and all opinions are my own.  Plus, I totally want to go to Vegas one day soon! 

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 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette !

Back during the holiday period Hourglass came out with this gorgeous Ambient Lighting Palette.  Inside sat three powders, Dim, Incandescent (LE), and Radiant.  I, of course, passed.  Why?  Who the hell knows!  But ever since I have been so upset that I passed on buying this.  So, when I found out that Hourglass had re-released this palette I jumped on it.  

Now let's talk about how amazing this palette is.  These powders are so finely milled and go on the face like butta (butter said with a thick New York accent).  These ambient powders are used more for finishing off your look rather then setting your foundation.  They have this special technology that filters out harsh lighting and makes you look more amazing then you already are.  They give the skin a beautiful glow.  

I personally have a different way of using all the powders.  For Dim I like to lightly dust it all over my face.  Incandescent I like to use as a highlight.  I put this on the bridge of my nose, my cupids bow, and the high points of my cheeks.  It gives a lit from within sort of glow.  And lastly I like to use Radiant more as a bronzer.  I am pretty fair, some might call me pasty, so this is dark enough for me to use as an all over bronzer. 

Overall I am so happy that I finally got my hands on this palette.  I pretty much reach for it daily.  And it is so compact that it will be great for traveling.  This retails for $58 while a regular Ambient Lighting Powder retails for $45.  You can find this palette at Hourglasscosmetics.com or Sephora.

Have you tried this palette or any of the Ambient Lighting Powders ??  What do you think ?? 

Let's Talk Trash #1

I don't know about you, but I love seeing other peoples empties.  It inspires me to try and finish up products that I have.  I also love the satisfying feeling of finishing a product.  If you aren't a crazy makeup person like myself you might not understand what I am talking about, but just take my word for it!  So, I decided hey why not show my empties. 

(1) Mascara (2) Concealers (1) Face Primer (3)Eye Primers

(2) Lip Balms (1) Serum (1) Makeup Remover 

(3) Face Wipes 

(1) Cleansing Water (1) Dry Shampoo (1) Hand Cream 

(8) Perfume Samples 

Do you enjoy seeing empties ??   And what is your most repurchased item ??

Love,
City Styles 

Chanel 179 Murmure & 178 Sonate Glossimer {Spring 2014}

If you know me then you know how much I love lipgloss, especially coral lipgloss!  I was so excited when I saw the Chanel had released these glossimers, 178 Sonate and 179 Murmure, this spring.  Sonate is a darker more reddish coral that is a bit more pigmented on the lips.  And Murmure is a light pinkish coral.  It gives a nice sheen to the lips, but is not very pigmented.  They are both nice and creamy and free of glitter.  I love a nice matte gloss.  I am not one for glitter.  These glossimers are nor very sticky and last a good hour or so.  If you are a gloss girl I would definitely run and pick these up.  They are right aound $30, but I find them worth it! 

Hourglass Origami - Chanel Murmure - Hourglass Nectar - Chanel Sonate - Burberry Mallow Pink 

Hourglass Origami - Chanel Murmure - Hourglass Nectar - Chanel Sonate - Burberry Mallow Pink 

Are you a lipgloss girl?  If so what's your favorite shade?

Love, 

City Styles

Christmas Lips {LIPSTICK CHRONICLES}

So my favorite time of year is almost here!!  The Christmas season just brings me so much joy.  I love having my family all together.  I also love dressing up for Christmas!  I mean who doesn't!  Along with my love for being all fancy I also love a nice red lip for the holiday.  In the past I was never one to wear a red lip, but I have recently embraced it and need help deciding which red lip to wear.  These are my top 10 favorite red lip colors!  Let me know which one you would wear!! 

Clockwise: Revlon Red Velvet - Rimmel Big Bang - MAC RiRi Woo - Bite VIB Rouge - Revlon Ruby - Revlon Candy Apple - Tom Ford True Coral - Bite Bold - Hourglass Icon - Sephora Wanted Red 

Red Velvet - Icon - VIB Rouge - Wanted Red - RiRi Woo - Bold - Ruby - Candy Apple - Big Bang - True Coral 

Red Velvet - Icon - VIB Rouge - Wanted Red - RiRi Woo - Bold - Ruby - Candy Apple - Big Bang - True Coral

What is your favorite red to wear??  I am still at a lost for which one to wear, but I still have a month to decide!!

Love, 

City Styles

A Day Off

I sometimes love having weekdays off.  The city is busy, but not as busy as it would be if it was the weekend.  I met the BFF for some shopping at Columbus Circle.  I didn't pick up much, just a sweater from H&M.  I also got some goodies for when I start selling my jewelry at school.  If you didn't know I go to FIT.  Every Thursday they have a jewelry fair and I have decided that this year I am going to sell my jewelry.  I do not have all the logistics yet, but when I do I will let y'all know.  

Anywho, it was nice seeing the BFF since it's been like a week and a half.  We were having withdrawal symptoms.  And school starts back up again next week so there goes our shopping dates (haha yea right).  Is anyone else depressed that school starts next week?  I love shopping for school supplies and clothes, the actual school part not so much.  

Well back to today.  We went to Sephora and I swatched the new Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo.  I  have heard some many good things about them I needed to check it out.  I didn't pick any up this trip, but I might have to go back and get the first one. 

Sans Flash 

With Flash

Since we were out and about I asked Daria to take some pics of me.  I need to get better at posting my outfits.  I ask the boyfriend all the time, but he hates taking pictures for me (I can be very critical of his photography skills).  I am going to have to bribe him pretty soon! 

{Top-F21, Jeans-H&M, Bag-H&M, Shoes-Steve Madden} 

I am going to finish enjoying my day off with a cup of tea and some good/trashy tv.  Hope you all have a great night!

Love, 

City Styles