Stepping Outside My Beauty Comfort Zone For The Holidays #MKholidaylooks

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Mary Kay® and Conde Nast.  All opinions are my own.


I was a tomboy.  Girly things and makeup didn't come naturally to me.  It was awkward because I heard stories of my mama being a beauty queen (without makeup!) and remember her gorgeous long hair...  I remember the first time I ever tried on makeup, I was 15 years old, my family was out shopping and one of Madonna's music videos came on MTV and I wanted to try eyeliner.  After almost poking my eye out, I got it on and I was so excited to show it off.  This was back in the days where cordless phones were in so I had to wait till my folks got home to show off my "look".  The humor in this is my parents were totally strict and I wasn't the type to share with them but I'm not sure if it was my excitement or they finally felt I was getting into girly things that they went along with it, maybe they laughed, I don't know... I didn't let anything ruin my first attempt at makeup.

I have never been one to experiment much after that.  I had one set look and that was that.  Maybe it's the tomboy in me but a little foundation, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lip gloss and I was good to go.  I did love buying new makeup and letting it just sit there.  I doubt I'm the only one!!!  When Mary Kay invited me to try one of their holiday makeup looks, I was like are you sure... I'm not a beauty blogger at all.  But I was glad they did because it gave me a bigger appreciation for beauty bloggers.  It is hard work and don't for one minute think that putting yourself out there showing off every blemish in detail is easy.  I love a good challenge and it was honestly, so good for my soul to be put outside of my comfort zone.

I dare you to step out of your comfort zone for the holidays and in 2014!  

This is my attempt at Mary Kay Flapper Chic - Flirty and fun flapper style of the 1920s.  Key elements in the look are: dramatic smoky eyes, neutral lips and cheeks to balance an intense eye look.  The other holiday looks are Silver Screen Siren and The White-Hot Suit.  Check out all 3 looks inspired by celebrity makeup artist Mariela Bagnato and Saucy Glossie blogger, Lindsey Calla!  

Don't mind my eyebrows, my husband cleaned up my dresser when I was away in Vegas and I haven't been able to find my favorite tweezer.  So here's the deal, I never ever wear eyeshadow but I really love Mary Kay at Play™Eye Trio in Tuxedo.  I don't even know how to blend but it looks good!  I'm also more of a liquid eyeliner type girl but really liked the eyeliner.  My absolute favorite is the lash primer - omg do you see my eyelashes - so dramatic!  Big fan of the mascara too because it is very light!  

Remind me to buy a remote for my camera because my husband drove me crazy trying to take my picture.  Another favorite is the Mary Kay® Mineral Bronzing Powder in Desert Sun - I applied it right above the blush (Mary Kay Shy Blush) and on my nose.  Love it!

Mary Kay makes great gifts for the holidays, pick up my faves!

L'Oréal #MagicBBCream Review

Another confession!  I was a little bit of a tomboy because my mom was a natural beauty and never talked girly things with me.  I wore dresses, had Barbies but I was the one climbing trees and playing in the mud.  My BFF in junior high school wore makeup when we were 13 but I was 16 years old when I went for it.  I was inspired by a Madonna music video on MTV.  It was in the 90s when MTV still played music videos.  My weapon of choice: pencil eyeliner.  And you had to have a good sharpener and a lighter.  I remember the first time I applied it, my mom was out grocery shopping with my siblings and they came home and I was so stoked to show it off.  What a dork!  I wish I could tell you that I really got into makeup but I've always kept it simple.  Foundation, liquid eyeliner (I upgraded!), mascara, blush and lipgloss.  My younger sister lucked out and got the talent and true love for makeup (she's a MUA!)

Fast forward to now --- Being pregnant, labor, delivery and taking care of a baby sucks the life out of my skin and hair.  My body suffers for about two years.  My face has been breaking out like crazy and I really want to mellow out my foundation use.  I have tried unsuccessfully for a few years to find something that would work for lighter coverage and I finally found it - L'Oréal Magic BB Cream!  I wasn't sure what to expect.  I squirted the tube on my palm and out came white liquid.  Its not firm at all and I went with my instinct and rubbed it together.  Thats when the color started to change and it actually matched my skin!  I applied it to my face with my hands and when it started to dry I was a bit nervous that there was no coverage.  After a few minutes I could definitely see it working.  I tried to take a selfie but I don't even know how to do it right!  I spent my day out & about and it felt like I barely had any makeup on, I loved it!    

About L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream: This product gives the sheer coverage needed to create a natural bare skin finish, while delivering built-in skincare benefits. With four beautifying actions, this all-in-one innovation primes and smoothes, perfects to hide flaws, hydrates all-day, and corrects and evens skin. The product is infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization.

To apply, simply dot on and blend with fingertips. Self-adjusting beads will instantly transform and blend to your skin tone.

L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream retails for $10.95 for 1 fl oz. It is available in four shades and is sold at mass food and drug retailers nationwide. Click here to find out more.

  

I checked Target and the current price on L'Oréal Magic BB Cream there is $7.99

Drugstore.com has it for $10.95 with 30% off EVERYTHING in their makeup department! 

Join me at the #MagicBBCream Twitter Party w/ @SheSpeaksUp & @LOrealParisUSA 3/7 9pm ET! http://bit.ly/loprsvp

Lucky winners* participating in the Twitter Party will be randomly selected to win prizes including L'Oréal Paris beauty baskets that include Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream and more! We're giving away over $700 in prizes.  One lucky winner will take home our grand prize, a $250 Target gift card!

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary product from SheSpeaks/L'Oreal to facilitate this review.  There is an affiliate link in this post.  All thoughts are my own.

Stila at Coterie today!

THE STILA 4 PIECE BRONZING COLLECTION

Includes: One Step Bronze, Prime Pot Eye Shadow Primer, Stay All Day Liquid Liner and Coconut  Crush Lip & Cheek Stain

A total value of $100, but here for only $60.

Please see website for dates and availability.

Summer's over but healthy, luminous skin is not. Fool fall with a youth-enhancing natural bronze.  

1. Apply One Step Bronze all over face. This innovative serum instantly illuminates, bronzes, primes and nourishes the skin. It visibly improves skin tone by evening out your complexion and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. 
2. Smooth Prime Pot Eyeshadow Primer over eyelid. This creamy, waterproof formula lasts all day and night. It can be worn alone for a flawlessly smooth lid or used as an eyeshadow primer. 
3. Line eye with award-winning Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner. For a winged effect, try creating the wing first, then connect it when lining the rest of the eye. Featured in Allure's Editors Dish: The Five Best New Summer Beauty Products and Redbook: Beauty MVP Award, 2011. 
4. Complete the look: Dab Coconut Crush Lip & Cheek Stain to the apples of your cheeks for a healthy glow, inside and out. This nourishing formula contains potent antioxidants, vitamins A, C, E and coconut extracts, which is known to slow the degeneration of collagen. Follow up with a dab on your smoocher, and you'll be polished to perfection with seconds to spare.