Guest Post

The Best in Beauty From the Boot: The GIVEAWAY Edition! ($148 Value)

July 18th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 51 Comments

*** Thank you for entering, everyone!***
The giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Becky! (@beekeyperuk). You’re the lucky makeup lover. 🙂 Enjoy your prize.

If you thought that Italians were only good at making cars that cost more than houses, drool-inducing food, shoes, colosseums, towers, and thousand-year-old churches…

Well, I hope my Best in Beauty From the Boot series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog during Karen’s maternity leave showed you that we may also know a thing or two about makeup.

It’s forming neat and tidy queues (there are literally no queues in Italy; just messy groups of people ruled by “survival of the fittest,” LOL), yielding the right-of-way to vehicles or pedestrians, and parking within the lines that we struggle with, and I guess you can blame that on our national artistic soul. I mean, artists do have a reputation for not conforming to rules, right? No one’s perfect. 🙂

But let’s focus on the good things that my country has to offer (always focus on the good!).

You know, I was taught to share the best things in life with friends and family, and I wish I could share some of the things that Italy is known for with you, like homemade lasagna, Valentino pumps, shiny Lamborghinis, or magnificent colosseums…but for shipping and budgetary reasons, it looks like I’m not going to be able to do that.

SORRAY!

How about a whole lot of UH-MAZING Italian makeup instead?!

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!

I’ve partnered with Karen to give away this handpicked prize package of some of my favorite Italian makeup (a $148/€134 value) to one lucky reader. I really think you’ll love these products.

PRIZE

I’ve talked about most of these items in my Best in Beauty From the Boot series over the past few months since Connor Claire was born.

Here’s everything you’ll get in the prize:

NABLA Eyeshadow Pan in Caramel
NABLA Eyeshadow Pan in Rust
NABLA Eyeshadow Pan in Desire
NABLA Eyeshadow Pan in Sandy
NABLA Eyeshadow Pan in Glitz
NABLA Eyeshadow Pan in Water Dream
NABLA Liberty Magnetic Palette
NABLA Diva Crime Lipstick in Alter Ego
NEVE Cosmetics Blush Garden in Tuesday Rose
Collistar TWIST Ultra-Shiny Eyeshadow in 106 Bronze
MADINA Exact Color Lipstick
MADINA Prisma Blush in 03
MADINA Prisma Allover Highlighter in 01
Deborah 24ORE Color Mat Eyeliner in 10 Bamboo
PUPA I’M Lipstick in 301 Poppy
WYCON Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in 20 Sweet Strawberry

If you’d like to sample some of the best makeup that Italy has to offer, enter this Instagram giveaway now!

TO ENTER

Follow me, @carol_in_a_page, on Instagram
Post a picture of one of your favorite pieces of makeup in the whole, wide universe, and include #winbeautyfromtheboot
When you’re done, come back here and leave a comment on this blog post to let me know. The deadline to enter is midnight (PST) on Sunday, July 31st.

The giveaway is open to readers worldwide, but the prize will ship from me here in Italy, so if you win and you live outside the EU, you’ll be responsible for paying taxes and duties when the prize arrives.

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How Important Is Makeup Packaging to You?

July 15th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 23 Comments

Expensive vs Cheap Makeup Packaging — Despite these Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks By Kate Moss being pretty good quality, I feel like when I use them, I don’t get the same makeup experience as when I use, say, a YSL lipstick.

Well, to me, makeup packaging is very important.

Because makeup isn’t just about the way I look after I’ve made up my face. For me, more importantly, it’s about the overall experience and how much I enjoy putting it on.

I mean, it’s like when I go to a restaurant where the food is presented in a creatively appealing way. To begin with, the food they serve has to be good, but the way it’s presented definitely adds to the culinary experience.

(Speaking of which, if you ever come to Bologna, make sure you go to Casa Monica and La Taverna del Farneto, my favorite restaurants in the area. Amazing food, outstanding service and a relaxed atmosphere — a perfect combination, if you ask me!)

Same goes for makeup. The products have to be good, but if they also come in beautiful packaging, it makes the experience more enjoyable.

Beautiful Makeup Packaging — I have a soft spot for pretty packaging… Can you tell?

That being said, some pretty packaging costs a lot, so I think it’s great that there are also good quality products that come in plain, inexpensive packaging and retail for less than the cost of a kale smoothie. It’s good to have options, right?

Now that I think about it, when I said that makeup packaging is very important to me, I should’ve actually said that it’s very important for certain product categories.

Like, if they’re in my budget, I’ll usually buy beautifully packaged lipsticks, eyeshadows, bronzers, blushes and palettes, while, most of the time, I’m happy with drugstore mascaras and eyeliners (provided the quality is good, obviously).

With the latter, even when they’re high end, I don’t really get that luxe feeling that I get from those other products (especially lipsticks). Do you know what I mean?

Carolina Braina

Hey, ladies (and gents), it’s Carolina here, reporting live from Bologna, Italy, to bring you the latest and greatest in beauty from the good ol’ continent! For an extra dose of that timeless Italian glam with a touch of humor and self-irony (because, you know, laughter is the best makeup), come say hi at carolinapage.eu and Instagram.

An Ode to NARS

July 13th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 29 Comments

NARS Best Makeup Products — Wearing NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Corder on top of NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base on my eyes, NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl on my lips, and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, and NARS Blush in Amour on my complexion

Yesterday I played the lottery for the first time in my life.

And just like I think everyone does when playing the lottery, I started fantasizing about what I would buy if I won €100,000,000…

You know what the first thing that popped into my head was?

Nope, it wasn’t a big house in the hills or a round-the-world getaway (although those would be nice).

It was the entire NARS makeup collection!

Can you imagine that? Hundreds and hundreds of those sleek, rubberized cases and tubes (side note: you can easily clean them up with duo-phase makeup remover).

AHHHH!

But anyways, I didn’t win…

And since they say that to be happy in life you should focus on the good things you have rather than the things you don’t have, today I decided to focus on the products in my NARS stash that bring me happiness on a daily basis!

Wanna see what they are?

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Isolde ($35)

In the event of a fire, you’re supposed to leave all of your belongings where they are and get to the nearest exit.

Well, I really hope we never, ever have a fire in our building, because I’d have a really, really hard time leaving the NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Isolde behind (should I grab it or not?).

I know I might sound like I need to re-evaluate my priorities, but if you’ve ever tried Isolde, I think you’ll understand.

I can’t imagine my life without it.

The shadows have the most gorgeous metallic finish (no chunky glitters in sight!), and they’re so pigmented, creamy, and smooth that I can’t think of many other shadows that compare (I’m thinking of the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense in 5 Gold Blitz and Pure Ganache from the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette).

And if that’s not enough, they practically blend themselves and last longer than probably anyone could need.

NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna ($39)

NARS Bronzing Powder Laguna — If you look at a pan of NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna or swatch it with your finger, you can see teeny, tiny sparkles running through it, but I’ve never really noticed them once applied…

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A Quick Modern Pin-Up Look With Glo Minerals

July 7th, 2016 by Adia Goss 12 Comments

I gotta say that this Glo Minerals neutral eyeshadow palette and cream blush are sooo good! I mean, the blush is crazy pigmented, and the eyeshadows are smooth and silky.

After trying the Glo Minerals lip crayons a couple of months ago, I’d been dying to try more from the brand. So I did!

This neutral eyeshadow palette and vibrant lipstick made me think of a modern-day pin-up look, so for this makeup look I kept the eyes pretty neutral and added some punch with the coral blush (Go Minerals Guava) and red/orange lip (Glo Minerals Crush).

The Glo Minerals Elemental Eye Collection palette ($44) is the second neutral eyeshadow palette I’ve used and recently reviewed (my thoughts on the other one, this palette by Buxom, are here), and I really like it!

The darker shades mean that you can totally do a super smokey eye with it, but the shimmery eyeshadows are easy to apply for quick washes of color, and there are four warm-toned shades and four cool-toned shades, so it’s very versatile.

All of the shades are mattes, except for two of them, which are shimmery, so I think there’s a little something for everyone.

Here are swatches of the shadows:

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Three Wallet-Friendly Products From Umberto Beverly Hills That Protect, Tame and Add Glorious Shine!

July 6th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 4 Comments

Umberto Beverly Hills Controller Conditioning Spray ($9.99), Shimmer Shine Spray ($9.99) and Regular Hairspray ($9.99)

NYC summer is in full swing, and it is HOT.

When it’s breazy, it’s bearable, but when it’s not…it’s awful, y’all. I have to wash my hair every day, which is not how I normally like to roll.

When it’s hot like this, my best buddy is dry shampoo, but I’ve also been on the lookout lately for something to add extra texture and shine.

So, as a self-proclaimed greaseball, whenever I’m contemplating a new hair (or skin) product that’s supposed to add shine, I tread very carefully (some shine is good, but some shine is not).

I had such a good experience with Umberto Beverly Hills Lifting Powder recently that I decided to give some of their other products a try, including their $10 Shimmer Shine Spray, Controller Conditioning Spray and Regular Hairspray.

Umberto Savone is a popular stylist and salon owner over in Beverly Hills, and his line of products is exclusive to his salons and Target.

I’ve been trying to find a leave-in conditioner/detangler that doesn’t weigh down my hair for YEARS, and the Controller Conditioning Spray is perfect. It’s my favorite one of these three, and it also does heat protection! Yay!

Surprisingly, I also really like the Shimmer Shine Spray. Because of my oily skin and hair, I’ve never used a spray specifically made for shine before. I was a little nervous to give it a try, but it actually works! It adds QUITE a bit of shine (but not shimmer), and the greasiness depends on how much I use. If I go overboard, it does grease up my roots a bit.

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5 Fab Products for Curly, Kinky Hair

July 5th, 2016 by Adia Goss 17 Comments

When it comes to haircare, I have NO LOYALTY. I will switch things up in a minute because I usually don’t feel like there’s anything that’s all that unique. But, despite my persistent product junkie-ism, I find myself always coming back to these five products.

1. Oribe Shampoo For Moisture and Control ($45)

Ok…so this is really expensive ($45!). It’s probably the most expensive hair product I’ve ever used. I tend to go for cheaper hair shampoos and conditioners because of how thick my hair is, and because I go through products super quickly.

Despite wanting to hate this product and my hope that I’d never want to re-purchase it, I have to admit that it’s the ONLY shampoo I’ve ever tried that actually feels moisturizing.

Ironically, as a rule, I mostly only buy “moisturizing” shampoos, but they all leave my hair feeling the same as it ever was. But this shampoo, my goodness, is incredibly moisturizing. It also lathers up into nice, big, refreshing suds. If you’re looking for a haircare splurge, this is it. By the way, the conditioner is great too.

2. Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner ($9)

I’ve tried so many different leave-in conditioners, but I’ve NEVER found one quite like this one. The formula has the perfect consistency (not too thick or thin), it’s an affordable $9, and it just works. I am 100% committed (I actually buy it in bulk on Amazon).

I slather it on my hair when it’s soaking wet in the shower, then comb it through with a wide-tooth comb. It coats and provides lasting moisture, but it doesn’t leave behind a thick residue. Whether I’m going to slick my hair into a bun or add some gel for a wash & go, this is always the first thing on my hair after I wash it.

3. Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Wrap Set Mousse ($6.89)

This little miracle product is the secret to all of my twist-out styles! Here are some pics of the hair styles I do with it:

kat von d shade and light palette — Thanks to ORS Olive Oil Mousse! (Details on this look in this post)

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Look No Further for Your Perfect Summer Lipstick! The MAC Huggable Lipcolours Are All You Need

July 4th, 2016 by Jen Clark 11 Comments

I’ve taken a break from the heavy makeup lately, honestly, probably out of pure laziness (pregnancy saps my energy), but I’m kind of digging it! On days that I actually put on makeup, it’s usually dewy skin that showcases my new summer freckles, brows and winged liner (because I will always wear winged liner), some mascara, and an easy-to-wear lipstick like these $14 MAC Huggable Lipcolours.

You know those lipsticks that feel so good to put on that you can sit there for a few minutes and just smear them all over your face? These Huggable Lipcolours feel like that to me.

Weird, I know, but don’t judge me. They just feel so good!

They feel almost like a really luxurious, comfortable lip balm, and with a nice amount of color payoff, they’re the perfect lipsticks to keep in your bag and pop on throughout the day, whether you’re wearing more makeup or not.

I also have to commend MAC on the packaging. The gunmetal tube feels so heavy and expensive. I like it a lot more than MAC’s standard plastic lipstick packaging.

I really can’t believe you get such an amazing product and impressive packaging for only $14. That seems like such a good deal to me!

From left to right: MAC Origami Orange, Bonsai Bloom, Good Luck Mochi, What A Feeling!, Seoul-ful, Cantonese Carnation

There are 20 colors to choose from, and I have six of them here.

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My Latest Skincare Finds for Combination Skin

July 1st, 2016 by Adia Goss 12 Comments

Over the past year or two, my decidedly normal skin became very “combination.”

Maybe it was my cross-country move from NYC to the Bay Area, or maybe it’s just that I’m in my 30s now, but I’m constantly looking for the right products for my sensitive, combination skin.

Here are some things I’ve been testing:

combination-skin-2 — The skincare products I’ve been testing lately (L to R): boscia Charcoal Mattifying Makeup Setting Spray, Erborian Bamboo Matte Lotion, Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 and Sephora Clarifying Booster

I don’t like heavy skin products, especially now that it’s consistently over 85 degrees every day, so I’ve been trying out all kinds of different things, from setting sprays and toners, to SPF and skincare boosters.

First up is Erborian Bamboo Matte Lotion (available at Sephora for $34). It’s the product I’ve been using the longest of this bunch, and for good reason. I love it! It’s definitely earned a place in my skincare routine.

It’s actually a toner, and I picked it up randomly one day at Sephora because I’d been curious about it for a while. As you can see in the photo above, a powder settles at the bottom of the bottle. I just give it a quick shake and apply directly to my face.

Since my skin is classic combination right now — dry on my cheeks and shiny along my T-zone — I can’t really get down with strong toners because they just make my skin feel too tight, but this Bamboo Matte Lotion manages to work well wherever I use it.

The water is infused with moisturizing bamboo, but the powder helps soak up oil.

I love applying this after I wash my face. It just balances my skin so perfectly.

I’ve also been testing Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 (also available at Sephora, and it’s $40).

It’s a moisturizer with SPF, and I definitely like the convenience of having one product that does both. It does a great job preventing shine, but at the end of the day, my cheeks feel a bit tight when I use it. I don’t think that translates into visual dryness, but I can feel it!

Also, I feel like SPF 15 is pretty low for a sunscreen, and I like to wear SPF 30 at least. My uncle was diagnosed with skin cancer when I was in junior high, and even though he was able to get treatment in time and is doing just great now, that experience alerted me to the danger of not protecting myself from the sun.

I’m gonna get off my soapbox now, but outside of the low SPF, I think this Murad does a good job at keeping my skin matte.

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