April 12, 2019

Il Makiage has your perfect shade of foundation, barrettes are back, Juice Beauty's latest eye cream and a travel makeup bag you'll want to use at home.

Foundation shopping has never been easier

We all have a foundation-shopping story that goes a little something like this… You went into a store, sat in a makeup artist’s chair for a while, fell in love with how amazing your skin looked courtesy of a new foundation—and likely bought a few other things you didn’t plan on because your face looked that good. Then, you left the store with a little extra spring in your step and immediately looked in the mirror as soon as you got in the car, only to be absolutely horrified. Your skin was a shade that you’ve never seen before, or the finish was completely different than it appeared inside. And then you debated whether you should waltz right back in and return it, or give it a chance and see how you feel later. (If you chose option B, that foundation is probably somewhere under your sink or in the back of a drawer.)

Sound familiar? I know firsthand this experience is enough to make you very, very loyal to a foundation. I’m fortunate that foundations are sent my way for review on the regular, and when they are I usually receive multiple shades to maximize the chance I’ll find a perfect fit. But when Il Makiage reached out about their new Woke Up Like This Flawless Base Foundation, things went down a little differently. I was directed to an online quiz that was sure to pinpoint the perfect one of 50 available options, asked to email back with my result, and a package arrived on my doorstep in a matter of days. (If only we could shop for bathing suits or jeans like this.)

The quiz covers the gamut from skin type and undertones (they help you figure it out) to desired coverage and finish (i.e. matte, natural or luminous)—but that’s just the beginning. Il Makiage also wants to know if you look better in gold or silver jewelry, how you tend to apply your foundation (fingers, sponge or brush), the products you use to prep your skin for foundation (if any), if you set it with a mist or powder, your top skin concerns and more. You can also share the brand and shade of foundation you’re currently using to help ensure the best possible match. Once you get your recommended shade you can get a full-size bottle to try for two weeks (and all you have to pay for upfront is shipping), and if it’s not the foundation of your dreams, just send it back—no hard feelings.

FYI, beyond getting the ideal shade that blends seamlessly with your skin, the medium-coverage formula is buildable so you can add extra where you need it, and it features optical diffusers to blur imperfections, hyaluronic acid for extra moisture and vitamin E for anti-aging action while you wear it.

I was so excited to try my match when it arrived that I immediately stopped what I was doing, washed my face and gave it a whirl. It was indeed the perfect shade, and although I tend to prefer a dewier finish, that can easily be fixed by applying moisturizer beforehand, mixing a little luminizer into the foundation on the back of my hand,  or using a face mist to set it. And honestly, I love that this foundation gives me options, because some occasions call more a more refined finish. I give it a 10 out of 10, and the fact that I didn’t have to go to a store and deal with that whole situation makes it even better.

Barrettes are a trend we can all get onboard with

My hair is on the shorter side, so I have FOMO when it comes to a lot of trends. My version of beachy waves is basically a single beachy “bend,” and although I’ve tried to use a curling iron to create loose curls, it’s really just a waste of time. But there’s FINALLY a hair trend I can partake in: Barrettes. And unless you’re living under a rock, you probably already knew these are the hair accessories you need for spring.

A few weeks ago, I unearthed a pouch of random hair accoutrements I’ve collected over the years, but alas, no barrettes. (I did find a few great headbands that I’m excited to wear again though). So I promptly hit up Amazon to find something inexpensive that I wouldn’t feel bad about not using (in the event the barrette thing wasn’t for me) and I bought this…

I’ve worn it multiple times in different ways since. Half-up half-down was a success, as was pulling my hair back into a twist and securing it with the barrette instead of an un-chic claw clip. Now I feel the need to expand my collection a bit. Of course there’s the holy grail Gucci number below, but I’m thinking these smaller pearl-embellished ones would be more practical (and affordable).

What do you think? Are you down with barrettes for spring?

IBB Guest Vlog: Meet Bay!

I was already a burgeoning beauty addict by the age of 12, but obviously this was well before social media, blogging and vlogging. Times have certainly changed, and while I had my Caboodle and kitchen table, today’s beauty up-and-comers have Instagram, YouTube and full-on production set-ups, including lighting, backdrops and editing tools that add extra oomph to their videos. Nothing makes me happier than lending a helping hand to aspiring beauty boss babes, so everyone, meet Bay!

Hi, I’m Bay! I’m a 12-year-old girl who dreams beauty. I started playing with makeup and face products when I was 3 at my grandma’s house. I would always go into her makeup drawers and cabinets make a mess with anything I could get my hands on. While other kids were asking for toys for their birthdays and holidays, I was always wanting makeup palettes and lotions. I’m obsessed with anything that shines and sparkles—especially if it’s rose gold.  

I believe that beauty and skincare is very important at any age, and if you start young you will develop great habits that can help prevent skin damage in the future. I feel like we are at our best when we’re natural, but it’s always fun to add a little glow to an everyday look.

I started my Instagram account @bays__beauty at the beginning of 2019. I love public speaking and have been told I’m a natural in front of the camera, so I figured why not create my own page and let people join me on my journey? I’m having so much fun creating fresh, fun content and I hope I can continue to inspire my beauties with each of my posts!🌹

New season, new eye care

Don’t you love it when timing works in your favor? Whether it’s an empty check-out line at the grocery store or catching every green light when driving, it’s these little things that can make or break a day. A few weeks ago—the first day of spring to be exact—I was on the receiving end of good beauty timing when I used the last drop of my Clark’s Botanicals Retinol Rescue Eye Serum—and started using Juice Beauty’s Signal Peptides Firming Eye Balm.

I’ve always loved an eye balm because I feel like it’s easier to apply in a controlled manner simply by patting it on with my finger. (On the other hand, if I use too much cream I wind up smearing it half-way down my face.) I’m really enjoying this Juice Beauty balm, as it has a rich, hydrating feel, but somehow it absorbs super quickly and leaves an almost-highlighted imperfection-blurring effect behind. But perhaps the best part is that I don’t have to be super-precise when applying to my upper eyelids—because it doubles as a brow fixative with just a few strokes of a spoolie brush.

And I haven’t even gotten to the ingredients… The all-organic plant-based formula harnesses epigenetics—which is basically the theory that turning on and turning off certain genes can influence how cells act. In the case of this eye balm, peptides, paracress extract (which has been found to help collagen contract), sunflower-based lipids and wild blueberry extract are telling my skin cells to get their act together and perform more like their younger, firmer selves—and after just a few weeks I definitely notice a difference.

And for the record, I’m not one of those all-organic all the time people when it comes to skincare—but it kind of makes me feel good knowing that potentially unsavory chemicals are one less thing I have to think about.

This makeup bag is calling my name

I fully realize that I don’t travel as much as I used to, but when I do, I like to be as organized as possible—and not have to play favorites when it comes to my makeup. (Who knows, maybe I’ll want to finally use that teal eyeliner I’ve had since last summer.) I still love my Kusshi bag, and it totally gets the job done (and very well, may I add), but there’s a new kid on the makeup-bag block and truthfully, I kind of want it.

I mean, look at all that space for brushes, at that extra pocket behind for larger palettes… But the dividers are what really got me. I see can totally see these preventing my makeup from rattling around (and perhaps breaking in transit)—and it appears tall enough to store campacts and lipsticks upright, which is another space-saver. At roughly 9-inches by 9-inches, it’s not all that big either, but since I rarely carry-on this isn’t an issue at all for me.

With two trips planned for June and July, it’s never too soon to prepare, right?