Battle of the Highlighters & New Video!

Hello readers! Today I thought I would feature my favorite part of my beauty routine: highlighters! I love to highlight my cheekbones, especially in the spring and summer.  I usually achieve this look by using a moisturizing foundation with brightening effects such as Almay's Wake Up foundation (featured in my Spring Makeup Look video tutorial HERE).

In the picture above I have some of my favorite highlighters (I rotate them and use different ones each time I apply makeup).  So, if you're on the market for a new highlighter, these are some to consider:

1. NYX Liquid Illuminator: As you all know, I'm a huge NYX fan. Their products are seriously so good for the price and you can never go wrong with them.  This is a good one for a subtle glow, just use underneath foundation, and remember -- don't apply powder on top, it'll mattify it and that defeats the purpose!

2. Victoria's Secret Ultimate Glow Face Trio: I love this little compact for traveling.  It includes a bronzer, blush and highlighter (and a mirror), so it's super easy just to chuck in your travel bag and you don't have to worry about bringing too many separate products! Also, the blush color is BEAUTIFUL.

3.  Benefit High Beam: I really like this little thing, but I always pair it with the Benefit Posietint because they look beautiful together.  These two products are great for a subtle flush and glow (a lot of times, I add a powder blush and highlighter on top for a better effect). Also, as I've mentioned before, make sure you apply it on top of foundation, never on top of powder! It will not blend well and it'll just look weird.  This also goes for any other Benefit tint.

4.  Milani Illuminating Face Powder: I love this product so much, I even included it in my February Favorites video (if you want to watch, just click HERE).  This powder is great alone or over a liquid highlighter.  It's a beautiful combination of pinks and golds that work perfectly to create a natural glow. I like to apply it on my cheekbones, chin, nose, and cupid's bow.

5. Boots No. 7 Skin Illuminator: This is my FAVORITE highlighter!! Most of the time I apply it before (or after) foundation and then I go in with the Milani powder right on top.  It also has a really cool applicator.  When you open the cap, it'll reveal a brush applicator.  You just squeeze the tube and apply it using the attached brush.  Just a tip: a little goes a long way with this product, so don't go too crazy! I am obsessed -- I really suggest trying it!! 

Also, I have a new video up on my channel! Watch it HERE. Don't forget to subscribe and to leave me a lovely little comment :D

Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear some of your favorite highlighters... I'm always up for trying new ones :D

Miriam <3

New YouTube Video!

Hey everyone! I've got a new video now live on my channel! See how I created this beautiful Spring time makeup look.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zlW55LgkiA&index=2&list=UUE9lmK5FkyzJbG1LBsKNDsw

Don't forget to subscribe and leave me a comment :D

Miriam <3

A Slice of my Makeup Bag

Heya :) So I thought I’d do a “what’s in my makeup bag?” kind of thing to start off my blog. Here goes:

1. Primer: e.l.f. Mineral Face Primer, which is AMAZING by the way and I’ve tried A LOT of primers. And for some reason I have two eyeshadow primers: my e.l.f. shadow primer and NYX eyeshadow base. Both are great, but the e.l.f. one is much better, plus I’ve noticed that many people rave about it.

2. Foundations: I have two for some reason. My trusted Rimmel BB Cream in “light” because it’s amazing and then my new Almay Wake up liquid makeup in “ivory” because I just got it and to be honest I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.

3. Concealer: Right now I toting around my Physician’s Formula Perfecting Concealer duo that I got for literally like $2 at CVS.  It has a green tone that you apply below the actual concealer that hides redness and blemishes.  Then on top of that you just add the normal skin tone concealer to cover any minor flaws.  When I apply this, I usually use a concealer brush and then blend it out with my beautyblender makeup sponge. IT IS SUCH A GOOD PRODUCT.

4. Powder: the amazing Rimmel Stay Matte powder - seriously one of the best that I have ever used.
5. Blush/bronzer/highlighter: My favorite product has to be my new Ultimate Glow Face trio by Victoria’s Secret that I just bought at the Semi Annual Sale.  It has a bronzer, blush, and highlighter shade (that I apply at the top of my cheekbones and down my nose) and it gives such a pretty glow and color to my face.  Also have NYC Cheek Glow in Central Park Pink and NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in Pink Cheek Glow (these are ok, they’re inexpensive so what do you expect?).  Not to mention my Covergirl blush (I think the color is “pink”?) that I have literally had for years and it still has not run out. It is a beautiful color and very pigmented - one of my faves for sure.  Almost forgot my new NYX Liquid Illuminator in the color “sunbeam.” Not sure how I feel about this yet, but I will definitely let you guys know.

6. Eyebrows: e.l.f. Eyebrow kit which I am obsessed with.  I don’t feel like my makeup look is complete without a good defined brow. Basically I take an angled brush into the waxy part, apply it to my brows creating the shape.  Then, I take the powder to set it and it stays all day I love it! I also have a new product: the NYX “pushup bra for your eyebrows” yeah that’s literally what it’s called.  Basically it’s a two sided pencil, one side to fill in your brows then the other is a highlighter that I like to apply underneath the arch to give a lifted effect and not to mention a nice highlight (I don’t like filling in my brows with a pencil so I only use the highlighter).

7. Eyeliner:  I have a few for some reason: my Sephora kohl expert and my Hard Candy Take Me Out Liner.  Both are good, but what I mainly use is my e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner which I definitely recommend if you have trouble applying any type of liquid eyeliner it’s a life saver.

8. Eyes: I always use my Revlon eyelash curler before applying mascara, it creates a more dramatic curling effect to any mascara.  Right now I’m using the Loreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions mascara which is amazing.  I used the Maybelline Cat Eyes mascara for a long time which is also AMAZING.  I decided to try out a new one because I have this thing where I always need to try a different mascara and I really don’t know why….

Ok so that’s my makeup bag :) And I realized that maybe I keep too many things in there lol.  Hope I maybe gave you guys some inspiration…. ask me any questions you might have!! <3