In Depth Review: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation The Perfect Foundation for Women of Color

Nars sheer glow foundation is my favorite liquid foundation. Here are the reasons why:

Texture:
Nars Sheer Glow has a slightly watery texture but it is still sort of thick (if that makes sense). It is definitely not a full coverage foundation, its more of a medium coverage. I personally think the coverage is too heavy for me. I like to sheer it out with a face serum or cream, my favorite is Nars Balancing Moisturizer. This makes the texture very very runny and watery so it is like a very light tinted moisturizer but more pigment and it doesn't break me out. I would only suggest doing this if you have moderately decent skin or you just want a light coverage. I don't like wearing thick foundation, I find Nars Sheer Glow is too thick for me.

Application:
When it isn't sheered out it the foundation dries pretty fast so you have to work it quickly into the skin.When mixed with a moisturizer doesn't dry as fast. I like to apply it with my fingers because it keeps the foundation warm so it melts into my skin.

When it is sheered out with the Nars Balancing Moisturizer the foundation is extremely watery and amazing! It creates a very very light tinted moisturizer that looks like my skin but more even toned.

Color:
What I love about Nars is their color selection. Nars has a ton of colors in cool and warm undertones. The foundation also blends to match your color if it is a little off. My color, Cadiz is is a medium brown (Cadiz- Medium to Dark number 3) color with peach undertones. I like that it has a mix of yellow and red undertones because my skin is sort of a mix. Every foundation I find is always too dark or too light, I like how Sheer Glow adjusts to my skin color.

This foundation photographs EXTREMELY well. Literally. You look like you have flawless movie star skin with this foundation on. When I wear this foundation to events or going out, I never have a bad picture. This is probably because it has "glow" particles that look great when photographed.

Reaction:
My skin doesn't break out to this foundation when it is mixed with another moisturizer When I use it by itself and it does have a tendency to clog my pores.

Packaging:
It comes in a glass packaging with a matte black top. You can buy a pump which is very very good. You get full control over the product with the pump, you can pump out a drop or a huge squirt and everything in between. The pump is really well made, seriously.. it's actually worth it because you don't waste product.

Cost:
It costs 42 dollars, which is average for a high end foundation. I think it is totally worth the price because of how it photographs and how natural it looks in real life. I am personally in love with this foundation.

Conclusion:

I only really love 2 foundations, Sheer Glow and Chanel Double Perfection Powder. I would recommend Sheer glow for girls who want a higher end foundation that photographs extremely well and with a dewy appearance. This foundation is perfect for women of color because of the great color selection. When sheered out, or when applied alone it doesn't look ashy or mask like (look at my pictures below in Boho Makeup Tutorial) it just looks like you have great skin! I don't know of any drugstore dupes for this foundation :( sorry!

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White Eyeliner Look with NARS Goldmember

Right now I am loving white eyeliner. I used to wear only darker colors on my waterline, but I think white is a fresh alternative. Here's what I used for this look:

Eyes:
1. Line upper lashline with MAC Dipdown gel eyeliner (brown gel liner)
2. Line a small amount of lower lashline with Dipdown
3. Set Dipdown with NARS Mekong eyeshadow (dark brown eyeshadow with gold glitters)
4. Layer on tons of L'oreal Voluminous Mascara
5. Apply Lancome kohl liner in Blanc to lower lashline (white eyeliner)

Face prep:
1. Apply NARS' Aqua Gel Hydrator Lotion all over face (new purchase will do a review soon!)
2. Use NARS duo concealor to cover any blemishes
3. Sweep Chanel Double Perfection Powder down t-zone
4. Blend NARS Laguna bronzer all over face concentrating on nose, cheeks and chin (golden colored bronzer)

Cheeks:
1. Apply NARS Deep Throat blush to apples of cheeks blending upward (soft pink blush)
2. Blend NARS Goldmember cream blush on high points of face (on top of cheekbones, brow bone and down nose bridge)

Lips:
1. Line lips with NARS Fantasia lipliner (very pale peach color)
2. Apply MAC Pink Lemonade lipgloss (bright coral lipgloss)

I think this look is so simple and pretty, it's nice for everyday and with eyeshadow or fake lashes it could be glammed up for going out. This look definitely concentrates on enhancing natural features, which I love!

EOS Product Review

Hey guys! Here is my first video review! Hope you like it!

**I'm so sorry! I meant EOS Products**

By all EOS products here at www.evolutionofsmooth.com

NARS Haul

NARS is one of my favorite makeup companies. They have amazing products! I really like that their products are also skin care products as well (their foundation has vitamins and minerals to help your skin, instead of just spackling over your problem areas). So since my local Lord and Taylor was having 15 percent of all cosmetics, I had to go and buy some things!

The makeup artist that were brought in were amazing and matched my skin perfectly, and they recommended some great products that I love already! The counter makeup artist, Marybeth, is always so helpful as well she's great with suggesting interesting colors (like Taj Mahal) that are really pretty on my skin tone.

I bought some stuff for myself and my mom bought some great stuff for us to share.

 

 Sheer Glow Foundation and Casino Bronzer

Sheer Glow Foundation is a light weight foundation I sheer it out even more with the primer and the NARS lotion. Casino is a brown bronzer with gold shimmer that is great for warming up my face. 

Gold Rush Powder (gold shimmer)

This is a great gold shimmer powder that can be used to highlight my brow bone and cheek bone. Thanks Marybeth for this gift!

Striptease (beige) and Frisky Summer Lip Gloss (hot pink)

Striptease looks amazing with Barbella, and Frisky Summer is a perfect summer hot corally pink. 

Barbarella Lipstick (pinky peach)

This is the perfect peach lipstick, it's super creamy and moisturizing.

Fantasia Lip Liner (light peach)

I needed a peach liner to match the lipstick and Striptease gloss.

Palm Beach Bronzer Multiple (bronzy brown)

I LOVE this multiple, I have 3 and this is definitely my favorite.  It is the perfect bronze color that is great to use as a blush. It instantly gives you that beachy bronze glow.

Albatross Highlighter Powder (sheer light gold)

This is a pretty highlighter powder because the glitter is sheer so it gives a natural glow. 

El Delrado Cream Eyeshadow (creamy gold)

Pretty sheer gold eyeshadow, it's great with brown (for day) and black shadows (for night).

Torrid Blush 

It's really a pretty coral  pink with gold shimmer but it doesn't show up in this lighting. It's my favorite blush. I actually bought this at Sephora about a week ago when they had the 15 percent off. (A good dupe for this blush is Mai Thai by Milani but it doesn't have the gold shimmer through it)

Primer (they ran out so Marybeth gave me a tester till it is back in stock)

I use this to sheer out my the Sheer Glow and with my tinted moisturizer because I only need a sheer wash of color to even my skin tone.

Brightening Serum 

I also use this to mix with my foundation and my tinted moisturizer to sheer them since I don't need heavy coverage. It's a pearlized pink color that really makes your skin glow! You literally have a celebrity glow when you put this on. Also it is supposed to even skin tone over time and it's loaded with good plant extracts, vitamins and minerals for your skin.  (I might review this more in depth later).

Schiap (hot pink) and Versailles (glittery gold)  nail polishes 

 These colors are so pretty and summery!

I'm so excited to play around more with the products and give more in depth reviews.

Natural Beauty

In an attempt to go a bit more natural with my beauty routine I have been using olive oil as my daily body moisturizer. I can't say enough good words about it! It moisturizes my skin really well, better than any store bought lotion. I use it after I shower and I wakeup in the morning with smooth soft moisturized skin. I really suggest trying it for a few weeks instead of store bought lotions. There are so many lotions that claim to have olive oil in them and they actually have hardly any. Why pay for stuff that has chemicals in it, when you can get a pure natural oil that does a better job? I use De Cecco Extra Vigin Olive Oil.

Now I use olive oil at night and in the morning I use my Laura Mercier lotion on my arms because I adore the smell. Because of Olive Oil I can milk the jar for longer!

Juice Beauty- Summer Makeup Routine

Summer is coming! This means fresh, bright and vibrant skin. Instead of scrubs to exfoliate I have been using a chemical based formula. These are gentler on your skin if you have sensitive skin or acne. I have been testing Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel and their Hydrating Mist. The Juice Beauty products are organic and natural, which is a plus!

So I have been using the regular strength peel and I love it! I don't have sensitive skin, so the normal strength is perfect for me. I put it on after using a mild cleanser and leave it on for 15 minutes. After my skin looks refreshed and very vibrant. This peel reminds me of a lighter version of the chemical peel my dermatologist gives me. The peel comes out as a clear gel that I evenly spread over my face. It tingles for the first then it stops. After this I wash it off with cold water.

After the peel I spray on the Hydrating Mist. This stuff is great! It's so light yet moisturizing and it sinks into my skin very quickly. It is the most calming and cooling spray ever. It's great because after my skin is a bit sensitive from the peel the mist calms it without re-clogging pores.

So those are my skin care products to get my skin vibrant and beautiful for summer. I do the peel every month, as it suggests. I use the hydrating mist whenever I feel like it because I love how it cools and moisturizes my skin.  Buy Juice Beauty products at http://www.Juicebeauty.com/.

Here's a closer look at the Hydrating Mist liquid.

Also, don't forget sunblock! Right now I am using Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock spf 70. Don't forget your neck and your hands when you apply sunblock. I like this sunblock right now because it doesn't leave a gray film on my face and it sinks in very quickly. It's also cheap!

New Purchases- Laura Mercier and my new favorite M.A

So I went to Lord and Taylor with my mom the other day. I've heard rave reviews about the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer so I stopped by the counter to give it a go.

While at the counter we met the sweetest makeup artist Brunilda. She matched my skin color exactly, which never happens (EVER)! Tinted Moisturizers/ foundation always look too light so they look gray on me or they are too dark. Brunilda was amazing, she gave me a tester so I can try the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with my own makeup routine. She didn't pressure me to buy it, bought it anyway because I loved it so much.

I highly recommend this product it's worth the $42 price tag because: It stays on all day, doesn't break me out, matches my skin color, doesn't cake on and it makes my skin look naturally flawless with less than a dime sized amount (it's also build-able for girls who need more coverage.
I bought the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and my mom bought the Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme. I used her body creme last night and I love the body creme as well! It makes my skin so soft and it smells absolutely amazing. It's like a gourmand perfume in a cream. The smell lasts a long time too, I put it on at night and it lasted through the whole next day.

 My Tinted Moisturzier and my mom's  body creme (I love this stuff... I might have to take it!)

Here are the containers

Look how thick and creamy the body creme is! 

Here is my tinted moisturizer tester, I use the color tan. 

Here it is with flash on my hand (sorry about the weird shadow). 

 Here it is without flash.

Look how amazing it blends into my skin! It's perfect! 

I am am super impressed with the Laura Mercier products and service. The tinted moisturizer has spf 20 and no fillers/ strange ingredients that will break out sensitive skin. I bought the oil-free version because I have oily skin.

Anyone who is the Connecticut area should definitely stop by the Lord and Taylor on High Ridge Road in Stamford CT to see Brunilda to get your color matched or to get your makeup done. She is the only makeup artist that I have wanted to go back to, and I plan to soon to check out Laura Mercier's kohl liners.

My Favorite Black Eyeliners

I LOVE black eyeliner. I am always on the search for the darkest black which usually means a kohl liner. I have a few that I reach for almost every day. I just wanted to share them because everyone is on the search for the darkest black shade.

My three favorites are (from top to bottom): Stila Kohl Liner Pencil, Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner, MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved. 

Stila: I was very annoyed with all my black eyeliners because none of them were dark enough. So I went to Sephora and asked the consultant for the blackest eyeliner they sold and she showed me this one. It's very soft so it's perfect for lining my waterline and upper lashline.  It can be smoked out with a smudger brush to create a quick smokey eye. It needs to be sharpened often because it's so soft but that's ok because the pigment is so dark.

Guerlain: This eye powder is the closest I have found to true Indian kohl that is available on mass market. This liner is great because I line my eyes in 2 seconds (great for mornings), I just slide it through my eye while it's closed and I'm done. It can't really be smoked out very much, but it's great for a perfectly lined eye. It's extremely dark and it makes my eyes pop.

MAC: This is my favorite mid priced liner. It's great for the beach or hot days because it's waterproof. It's not the darkest black out there, but it's pretty dark. I like it because it's a good simple eyeliner that stays put, has good pigment, is soft enough to apply on my waterline and can be applied as a regular liner around my eye as well.

So there they are. I love brown eyeliners too, I will have to pick my favorites for you guys!

American Beauty Lip Gloss

 (without  flash)

(with flash)

When ever I go out for a long day or I want a lip gloss I can apply to my lips without a mirror I always reach for a soft rosey color because it's a subtle natural shade (so it's easy to apply). One of my favorite right now is American Beauty Lip Gloss in Iced Coco. It's a beautiful rosey nude color that looks amazing with any makeup look,  or no makeup at all. The gloss is very moisturizing and it makes my lips look soft and smooth with one swipe!

You can buy these glosses at your local Kohls or at www.americanbeautycosmetics.com for $12.20.

Hourglass Prodigy Hydrating Lip Gloss

Hourglass has a new lip gloss that is really moisturizing with great color shades for summer.  I have the shade Pulse which is a really pretty coraly pink with gold shimmer, great for the spring or summer! This gloss looks great alone or layered over a lipstick. The packaging is great to slip in your pocket as well. This lip gloss has no sulfates, phthalates, and it's fragrance-free.

They last a long time on your lips as well, through drinking and eating. Get them at Sephora or at www.hourglasscosmetics.com for $26. I'm am thinking about picking up the color Eden to layer over a pretty coral lipstick.

Beaute Weightless Lip Creme

Beaute Weightless Lip Creme is truely a lipstick in a tube. It has a full coverage pigment that is moisturizing and it feels like nothing on your lips! This Lip Cremes are perfect for summer because they have long lasting, very pigmented and moisturizing color. What I also love about this product is you don't need a lipliner! Just one swipe from the doe foot applicator and you have perfectly defined colored lips.  They have a beautiful selection of  vibrant colors that are great for upcoming spring and summer.

I have it in Girlina, a beautiful Barbie pink.

With Flash

without flash (bad lighting)

I'm in love with Beaute Cosmetic products right now! Buy yours at www.beaute-cosmetics.com for $26.

Beaute Lipgloss Review

Beaute Cosmetics is a luxury brand that is very exclusive, I've never seen them in a store. They make the most amazing lip gloss ever- Luminous Volume Lip Glosses. They are extremely pigmented, very moisturizing, not sticky and they last on my lips for a long time (even through eating and drinking!). It comes with a brush applicator (which I like because doe foot applicators always change colors because they scrape off you lip stick).  I have the color Medusa which is perfect for a pink nude lip.

Here's what it looks like on my lips:

And here is it with my whole look:

I love this lip gloss to tone down bright lipsticks or do do a really quick nude lip, all you need is one swipe! This lipgloss is seriously the best lipgloss I own, it's so silky, applies to the lips easily and fills in any chapping or dry skin on my lips. Which is great because for I have to put lip balm on before  a lot of lip glosses, especially if they are a lighter color.

Another thing I love about this lip gloss is you get a lot in the tube, you can buy it at www.beaute-cosmetics.com for $26. I really suggest splurging on one of these!

PUR Mineral Foundation

I really like foundation powders because they are light, (since I don't have much to cover)  they keep oils at bay (which is great! I am so oily, espically in the summer).

PUR mineral makeup has become one of my favorite brands, it's up there with NARS and Chanel powders foundations. PUR is great because it's more budget friendly, blends seamlessly into the skin, lasts for the whole day, has SPF and keeps oils at bay.  I also love the compact the makeup comes in, it flips open to a mirror on the back side. I apply it by dusting it lightly on my forehead, nose area and buffing it into my cheeks lightly with my MAC Kabuki brush. I have it in my makeup bag all the time!

I like this foundation because it's photo friendly as well, and it doesn't oxidize or change color through out the day.

Price: $25
Where to buy: www.PurMinerals.com

Loving LUSH- New Purchases

So LUSH is amazing. I bought a few things there that I thought were pretty cool. 

I love spray on face toners. Breath Of Fresh Air takes mattes my shiny forehead and moisturizes my drier cheeks. I like this more than MAC Fix+ because it's all natural and it makes me looks fresh and glowy not oily-like MAC Fix+.  The spray is so refreshing, calming and cooling. It also sets your makeup just like MAC Fix+. 

So I bought Aquamarina face wash. I haven't used it at home yet, but it calmed and cooled my skin when I used it in the store. It's kind of funny looking too.

I got a tester of Joy Of Jelly body wash. It's soo moisturizing, it lathers so well and it's fun to use! I love washing with it, I am going to have to buy the full size.

Loving Lush- Body Powder

LUSH's Silky Underwear Dusting Powder should be in everyone's after-bath arsenal. It smells like sweet jasmine and it has a silky texture that glides on your skin. It's great to use after a shower to feel dry and refreshed or to sprinkle on your sheets because the smell is so soothing. I like that it has small finely milled shea butter granules in it to keep you dry and moisturized at the same time. When you purchase it make sure to only open it a crack, a little goes a long way.

 

Buy it at your local LUSH store or online at www.lushusa.com for $11.25.

Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss

 
Milani Cosmetics introduced their 3D Glitzy Glamour Glosses this season and they are gorgous! They are so fun and sparkly, perfect for a night out.

This gloss is great on it's own (as shown on me) or on top of a lipstick.  It's not sticky at all, which is great and they last quite a while on my lips. Zoom in by clicking on the photo to see the pretty purple/pink sparkles!
 

The color shown is Starshine. Buy them at your local drugstore for $6.99 or at www.Milanicosmetics.com.

Thanks so much Milani!

Everyone can be a model, Model In A Bottle at least!

Model In A Bottle is a really adorable brand that makes some great innovative products. The products I have are Model In A Bottle Make Up Setting Spray Matte Finish, Long Lasting Eyebrow Sealer, Super Gentle Eye Makeup Remover and their eyelash curler.

Setting Spray- ($18) This spray is great. I wore it on really rainy day while running around and my face was matte by the end. My blush stayed on perfectly as well, which is amazing. You can spray it on your face but I like to spray it on a brush and wipe it over my face because I can't see without my contacts in the morning to aim it hahah.

Long Lasting Eyebrow Sealer- ($12) This product sets you eyebrows all day. If you have eyebrows that don't exactly stay put then this is great for you. It's clear and it dries really quick! I like to wipe a bit off and apply it to my eyebrows to keep the arch up.

Super Gentle Eye Makeup Remover- ($14) My eyes are so sensitive so this eye makeup remover is great. It doesn't sting mye yes it has cucumber extract, aleo leaf juice, mugwort extract and algae extract in it. It is so cooling and refreshing on my eyelids!

Eyelash Curler- ($9) This eyelash curler is so cute and small! I like that it can't get twisted in your makeup bag. The gel pad on it is so big and soft so it doesn't smash your lashes. It comes with a replacement pad as well.

All of these products are available at www.Modelinabottle.com!

Thanks Model In A Bottle!