Belle’s Seven Beauty Wonders
Apr 15, 2013
1. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($30) // 2. Laura Mercier Camouflage Brushes ($26 and $28) // 3. Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 ($13) // 4. NARS Purple Rain Polish ($19) // 5. Bobbi Brown Pale Pink Blush ($25) // 6. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette ($50) // 7. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Sugar Plum ($23)
I’ve talked about most, if not all, of these products before. However, these are the products that I endorse most ardently. So if you’ve been thinking about investing in one of them, let me give you “hard sell.”
One and Two. I have acne, which means I have flaws that need covering. I tried dozens of concealers before I found Secret Camouflage, and I could not live without it.
This formula combined with the two greatest skin brushes ever created give me flawless coverage every time. The pinpoint brush is like a laser that covers acne, skin darkness and broken capillaries in a flash. The wider brush blends makeup effortlessly and covers under-eye darkness.
Three. To tone or not to tone, that is the question? Personally, I’m pro-toner, especially this toner. One swipe removes any trace of makeup, hard water film or oil that may linger. I use it in the morning to clean off the grime that accumulates while I’m sleeping and give my pores some breathing room.
Four. Purple Rain is my favorite polish of all time. It’s a not-too-dark purple with a hint of gold shimmer for the lady who likes to wear dark polish year round.
Five. Pale Pink blush from Bobbi Brown is the ultimate blush. It has sheer, buildable coverage that has a soft, slightly-bright pink that looks good on almost everyone. I wear Bobbi’s Plum blush on my cheekbones, and the Pale Pink on my apples for a bit of contouring and color.
Six. When I travel, I have to bring my Naked2 palette with me. It has soft, shimmering neutrals for daytime and bold hues for cocktail hour smoky eyes. If you prefer a palette of neutrals, try the Naked Basics Palette ($27). And if you’d like beachy, boho-chic eyeshadow colors, try the original Urban Decay Naked Palette ($50) with shimmering Earth tones.
Seven. When I need a pop of quick lip color, this sheer lip treatment with a burst of plum is the fix. The Fresh Lip Treatments are great for light wear and come in a bevy of colors from sheer reds to pretty pinks.
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Can you please comment on what you use the wider Laura Mercier brush for. I have it and I use it to brush clear powder under my eyes after I’ve put on concealer. But I can’t figure out if I’m supposed to be putting the under eye concealer on with it. It seems too wide for that? Thanks!
The wider brush is specifically designed to set your undereye concealer with Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightening Powder.
Can’t live without my Naked palate. I like the original better even though the case for it isn’t as handy as 2. Thanks for the post!!
I love these favorites posts! Question for you about your morning skin care routine as a fellow cystic acne sufferer. Do you only tone in the AM without actual washing with cleanser & water? I am struggling with combo skin and a recent bout of acne around the hair & jaw line (I had an aHA! moment this morning when it occured to me these post-acne scars hit me just where my hair does and my shampoo/conditioner is likely to blame) and I’m trying to find a good balance. Also, are you going to do a hair care list of faves? Love the blog!
For any readers out there who have the opposite of sensitive skin, I would recommend MD Forte’s line of glycolic acid cleansers. I have very oily skin with bouts of cystic acne and I can withstand stronger cleansers. I use the Level III cleanser, but if you have never used glycolic before, you should start with Level I and then move on to Level II. It’s like a mini peel. I use it in the morning to wash my face. If your skin is feeling blah, you can leave it on for a few minutes and it will slough off all the dead skin and leave it baby soft.
This cleanser is generally sold through dermatologists, but you can find it on Amazon for about $25.
Love the blog!