When you find that perfect foundation for your oily skin, you hold on and never let go! 😉 Amiright?! Although I’m constantly trying new formulas and testing new products, there are always those tried and true that I’ll turn to for particular occasions when I know I need a foundation that will come through for me. Weddings, special events, date night or just those times when you know you’ll be out all day and won’t get a chance to touch up or hey, you just want to slay it from the beginning to end! These are foundations that I know will always be there for me 😉 lol!
Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation won me over earlier this year when they first launched it. The formula is water based so it’s ultra hydrating while still having a beautiful matte full-coverage finish. I recently found that applying it with a flat top kabuki brush not only saves product but also makes for a gorgeous finish!
The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick is another fantastic full-coverage foundation in a stick formula. It feels super sheer on but it’s very pigmented so a little goes a long way and the coverage is amazing! I love applying it with their Vanish Foundation Brush but any dense synthetic brush should do!
MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Water Blend Face & Body Foundation is an amazing sheer coverage foundation that’s perfect for those no-makeup makeup days. The water-gel formula makes this foundation buildable to a light-medium finish with natural dewy glow. Set with a light dusting of powder, I love that it gives my skin that natural healthy look without any oily sheen.
L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation is a cult favorite. Not only is it an amazing matte foundation for the drug store, but the forumla gives prestige brands a run for their money! The coverage is incredibly impressive and true to its name, it keeps you looking matte throughout the day.
Smashbox’s Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation is my newest discovery and has already found itself at the top of my foundation list. In fact, I might go as far as to say it’s my new Holy Grail! The oil-free formula offers a medium coverage that’s easily buildable to full, and really is transfer proof! This means when I go to give Chris a hug, none of my foundation transfers onto his dress shirt (within reason, of course, if I rubbed then anything would transfer). I found that applying it with a beauty blender or sponge gives me the most beautiful finish and this foundation literally stays perfectly put ALL DAY! I’ve shared it quite a few times on Snapchat but I’ve applied it at 5AM and gotten home at 10PM and my face still looks perfect like I had just done my makeup! So amazing!!
Are you a fan of these foundations? What’s your favorite?
I’m so excited to partner with Braun to share their Silk-épil 9 with you guys! Hair removal has been a hot topic lately when chatting with my girl friends, we’re always sharing tricks and tips as well as our gripes and frustrations. I recently noticed my underarm area was getting darker (you know those dark crease lines that can appear on armpits over time?) and I’ve heard it’s a result of the friction from shaving so I’ve been searching for an alternative. I’ve considered getting laser hair removal but since I recently acquired an addiction to self tanner, that was no longer an option ( 😉 I love my tanned legs too much!) so I continued shaving my legs and tweezing my underarms instead. Although it’s affective, it’s also time consuming and incredibly uncomfortable as I twist and contort my body to try to see and reach every little hair! When Braun reached out to me to try the Braun Silk-épil 9 Bonus Edition, I was definitely hesitant. I’d watched some pretty intimidating videos that made it seem quite painful – and understandably so… After all, this device is essentially a ton of tiny little tweezers, plucking a bunch of your hairs out all at once. I’d also heard some great success stories, though, which really intrigued me! I decided that if I was ever going to give epilation a go, I should certainly try it with the best in class, Braun, right? They just so happen to be the world’s #1 best-selling epilator brand! Read more about their epilator technology & useful tips on Braun’s website here!
Now the pain factor is very subjective. Some people don’t even flinch, while others cry on contact. I personally found that it really depends on the area you’re epilating and the thickness of those hairs. For reference, I find waxing and tweezing to be tolerable; it’s slightly painful but I can deal with it. Threading is the bane of my existence, I tried getting threaded regularly for a few months to see if my tolerance would increase – it does not and I was a sobbing mess after every treatment. I also found that my skin was too sensitive, and apparently super soft because I almost always got cut or skinned when getting waxed or threaded, despite going to reputable salons. No bueno! Not to mention the frustration of having to schedule appointments and set time aside, alone is a deterrence. The Silk-épil 9 Epilator removes 4x shorter hair than wax so you can achieve long-lasting smooth skin for up to 4 weeks, in the comfort of your own home! Being able to do it in my pajamas without any fear of judgement if I did wince or cry, felt fantastic and really helped calm my nerves.
Since I had been tweezing my underarms the past few months, using the Braun Silk-épil 9 on my armpit area was completely painless. I should mention that the very first time I manually tweezed my underarms (after years of shaving), it was painful since the hairs had grown in so thick there, so perhaps epilating there first if you’ve only ever shaved, could cause some discomfort the first run. On my shins and calves, it felt like gliding my shaving razor up my legs – no pain whatsoever. I could slightly feel the plucking sensation over my knees where my hairs are thicker, but holy moly, did it tingle on my upper thigh area, even though my hairs are finer there! See, it really depends on the area and thickness of the hairs. It wasn’t fun on my upper thighs but since you can use it wet or dry, epilating that area in the bath helped sooth my skin making it much more comfortable. I know it will be more tolerable over time, too.
I’ve got to say, I absolutely love my Braun Silk-épil 9! Using the epilator became oddly satisfying and quite addicting 😀 I spent the weekend finding other areas to epilate, like my arms, even though you can’t even see any of my hair there, as well as all of my knuckles! I’m actually looking forward to my hair growing out so I can do it all over again! I’m not quite ready to venture to my bikini line, yet, but that will be next on my hit list 😉
The kit comes with both the epilator appliance and face cleansing brush.
This Bonus Edition comes with 7 accessories: facial cap, skin contact cap, facial cleansing brush, shaver cap, trimmer head (all shown), and the charging stand & pouch (not shown).
There are 2 speed settings: #1 for a gentle epilation and #2 for a quick and efficient epilation.
There is also a Smartlight to help guide your epilation!
This purple High Frequency Massage Cap makes it more comfortable to use; the tiny massage rollers help get your hairs to stand up while soothing your skin, so that’s a great option to try if you have any discomfort! To change it, the cap attachments remove easily with a firm tug at the sides, pulling away from the device.
I personally liked using the Skin Contact Cap because it’s closer and more effective, especially at getting around the hard to reach areas and grasping all the fine hairs!
I absolutely love how smooth my legs felt afterwards!
There is also a useful shaver attachment with a guard to trim your hairs down if they’re too long for the epilator.
Tip: Hold your Braun Silk-épil 9 at a 90 degree angle and slowly gliding up against the direction of your hair growth, applying even pressure. Pulling your skin a bit, making the area you’re epilating taut can also helps reduce any pain and make it feel a bit more comfortable.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Braun. While I was compensated to create this post, all opinions are my own. I only recommend products I’ve personally tried, tested, regularly use and love!
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YOU’RE INVITED! I’m super excited to partner with Armani Exchange to host an extra special styling event this weekend! If you’re in the Los Angeles area this Saturday, October 15th, join me at Armani Exchange’s Fall/Winter 2016 Event at Macy’s Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks! It will be from 3-5pm. 😀 Stop by & say hi! Let’s go shopping together! Enjoy mocktails and music, plus receive a special gift with any Armani Exchange purchase of $150+!
Macy’s (Impulse, Level 3) Westfield Fashion Square 14000 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423