Sephora Puerto Rico: Quick visit and first thoughts

**NOTE: this post is mostly for my Latin Caribbean/Boricua readers, since this is the first Sephora Store in Puerto Rico**

Yes, quick visit today (finally!) because I was with my sons and they were threatening to destroy the store **sighs**.

Sephora@Plaza Las Americas
San Juan, PR

SEPHORA Puerto Rico is located at Plaza Las Américas Mall in San Juan, on the first floor, near Borders and Old Navy. It is a beauty retailer that offers great quality cosmetics, skin care, makeup, fragrance & perfume, hair and other beauty products (like makeup tools and brushes). The store was founded in France back in 1969 and acquired by the Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy (LVMH) Group in 1997. Yes, THAT Louis Vuitton company many of you know by way of say...amazing, beautiful products like handbags, suitcases, scarfs, clothes...LOL.

SEPHORA has more than 750 all over the world. They know how to reach the consumer. How? Simple (and this is based on my short experienced and for what I've seen/read from customers): They have testers for all their products and I do mean ALL of them. You might say: "but other counters at Dept. Stores have testers...". Thing is, here you have all the M.E/H.E. brands at one place, you don't need to go to different counters AND you can try on everything without waiting for Store Attendants (SA) or Makeup Artists (MA) to help you (or be all over you) AND you can ask for samples to try at home.


Today when I went to the store, the SAs were really nice, left me in peace and I had a great time (not for long...again, my kids...) going through all the aisles trying and feeling lipglosses, foundations, mascara and skincare products. Between you and me, I really hate going to any store or beauty counter and having the SAs all over me likes bees on honey. I always wished secretly "gosh, just let me browse in peace, I will ask for help whenever I need to".

Maybe SAs here are really nice? lol =) I'll tell you about that when I visit the store again ;)

I was in love with the whole store of course. Based on what I saw, they brought most of the lines they offer on-line. One I'm very interested in, Make Up For Ever has a really large display. I swear, I could have stayed playing with their products the whole afternoon. I am happy!!! Too Faced, Benefit, Guerlain, DDF, Cosmedicine, Urban Decay, Bliss, Clinique, Laura Mercier, Cover
FX, Korres, Philosophy, Fekkai...yep, all of them are there and lots more. It's like a huge playground for me!


Short, nice experience today. Can't wait to go back, yeah...gotta save some $. Hehehe.


Have a good one!



¡Vivan, amen y rían!

My easy, worry-free summer look + how I achieve makeup that stays on my skin all day

Hello ladies (and gents if there is any that read this blog)! Back to beauty blogging, lol. This is just a simple post about a simple and easy look I'm sporting this summer.

Summer calls for a look that doesn't disappears (melts) during the day and/or makes you worry about having raccoon eyes because you walked for a few minutes and sweated like crazy. This look is for those days you need more coverage than that a tinted moisturizer can provide.

First of all, after cleaning, moisturizing and adding some sunscreen on my face, I proceed to apply Clinique's Pore Minimizer T-Zone Shine Control Gel on that specific area.

Then, for me it is important to use a good primer for face and eyes, because Gosh! the heat here is unbearable. I'm using a combination of moisturizing primer (Borghese Prima Viso primer), just a drop on my cheeks, with a silicone-based one (Smashbox PhotoFinish) on my T-zone and to fill my pretty pores.


For eyes, as always I use first Too Faced Shadow Insurance or UDPP, followed by a MAC PaintPot. Then I'm ready for makeup.


Come to think of it, all that is the "hardest" part of my routine because I then apply all the other products in just minutes.

Again, this is a very natural, barely-there look. I want to mention that I fake a more bronzed look using a foundation shade a bit darker than my skin tone. I blend it well in the jaw and neck area so I don't look ridiculous --> taking pics of yourself always helps to verify if you overdid it. Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Tawny provides just that to my complexion.


When I first bought Double Wear, I thought the color was a perfect match, but now I think it is just a touch too dark for my complexion. Also, honestly, this summer I am really pale, like it is ridiculous. So I get help from makeup. (I still haven't write a review about DW. I like that foundation, I can hardly feel it on my skin (like the Revlon ColorStay Makeup). Here's a list of the other stuff I use:

FACE
♥Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 3W1-Tawny
♥MAC Powder Blush in Sunbasque on cheeks
♥Laura Mercier Loose Powder in Stardust (as highlighter)
♥MAC Powder Blush in Blunt (to contour)
♥MAC Loose Blot Powder in Medium Dark

EYES
♥Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over the lid
♥MAC Eyeshadows: Kid (all over eyelid); Texture (crease); Ricepaper (browbone); Shroom (Inner eye area, near the tear ducts); Espreso (outer lower lash line to define the eyes)--> I know, I used many eyeshadows but they are applied very fast.
♥L'oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in Black
♥MAC Eyebrow pencil in Stud

LIPS
♥MAC Tendertone in Hot-n-Saucy (LE)--love them, great lipbalms and they have SPF12; You could use L'oreal HIP Jelly Balm in Ripe or Delectable, though they don't have SPF.







Hope you find this post helpful.

Later!


¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com--Your Skin Challenges

Your Skin Challenges -- Solved!

Take this quiz to get customized tips on winning your skin battles, from acne and wrinkles to chronic dryness

Does it feel like your skin is conspiring against you, sprouting pimples or fine lines when your back is turned? It may seem impossible but you can overcome any skin challenge and have a flawless complexion -- with the right care. Take this quiz to identify your enemies and get tips on how to conquer them. Take the quiz

Taking a few days off!

Sorry for the lack of posts. The kids are spending time with their granparents and now my hubby is on his way to the States so, as Spock would say, it's logical I take a few days "off" whatever that means for a homemaker. LOL

Seriously, I'll be back next week with some new swatches and hauls.

Later!


¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Update: MAC 25% Off Sale: Three Offer Codes Are Working!

MAC just sent an email inviting customers to their 25% off sale TODAY, before the sale official starting date which is tomorrow. I noted that three offer codes are working as of today:

EARLY25
SAVE25
SUMO

**Please NOTE: offer codes are case sensitive, so be sure to use capital letters.

This is nice. =D


I'll probably get new brushes... lol.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Look: Revlon CS E/S Quad in Coffee Bean -- Revisited

Yes, this quad again. I loooove this quad. So easy to work with. Besides, I wanted to redo this look because I didn't like the photos of the first look.

This time I applied the color horizontally, meaning side by side, instead of vertically. I started with the second lightest shade all over the lid and browbone area, then the darkest shade on the outer crease, the coppery shade (3rd from the top) on the middle of lid and the lightest shade on the browbone. I like it this way better.

Oh, I had to use two primers, MAC's Prep+Prime SPF 50 and Smashbox's PhotoFinish. It is so hot and humid here. I need a primer that deals with my dry cheeks and other that can control my oily t-zone, which is out of control!

I've been trying lately the Borghese Viso Primer and yes, I love it. Very moisturizing and I love how it feels like a non greasy moisturizer on my skin, super refreshing. But it doesn't handle my t-zone very well. PhotoFinish Primer and Clinique's Pore Minimizer T-Zone Shine Control and Instant perfector are my tools to deal with all this oil for now. The Refining Lotion is also good.

Do any of you have any recs for a primer that is great for combo/oily skin that works well under hot+humid weather?

Products used:

FACE
MAC Prep+Prime for Face SPF50
SMASHBOX Photofinish Primer -- on T-zone
REVLON Age Defying Spa Foundation in Light Medium/Medium
NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in Translucent
MAC Beauty Powder in Eversun
LAURA MERCIER Loose Powder in Stardust (highlighter)

EYES
MAC Prep+Prime for Eyes in Light
REVLON Colorstay E/S Quad in Coffee Bean
MAC Fluidline e/l in Dipdown
L'OREAL Voluminous W/P Mascara in Black
MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

LIPS
Carmex lipbalm SPF 15
MAC Lip Pencil in Oak
REVLON Super Lustrous L/S in 125-Nude Velvet
MAC Slimshine L/G in Bare Necessity

(Pics with flash: big difference huh?)

Later!



¡Vivan, amen y rían!

TotalBeauty.com: What's your ideal Foundation?

In my case, foundation is the most important part of my makeup routine. I am always looking for the perfect one, still think haven't found it, but there are very good options out there.

Check out this quiz provided by TotalBeauty.com.

They recommended the Neutrogena Skin Clearing Liquid Foundation, but I tried it once and did not like it. Why? Because it sure didn't help controlling my oily t-zone. I thought it made it worse.

What about you? Agree? Disagree? Let me know.

Quiz: What's Your Ideal Foundation?

Find the formula that will finally give you flawless-looking skin.

We talked to celebrity makeup artists Gita Bass and Molly Stern and Procter & Gamble senior scientist Sarah Vickery to help you figure out the perfect formula for your skin type. Take the quiz to find out what kind of makeup your skin really needs and get expert tips on making your skin look its best. Take the quiz

MAC's F+F sale - - 25% off

By now the news is all around the web about MAC's Friends+Family Sale! They are offering 25% off the products you buy online for orders placed in the USA and Canada. The sale will be held from June 16-18, only at MACCosmetics.com. This is a great opportunity to stock up on goodies you love or try new things like eyeshadows, lippies, etc...

Just write SUMO on the promo code area at checkout.

Thanks to Temptalia.com for the heads up!

NOTE: Fellow blogger Saadeh from BeautySpot posted today a note indicating she already used the code and it worked. She lives in Canada, I hope US residents can get the discount now too. =D Thanks for sharing Saadeh!

MAC Blushcremes

The other day I got Blossoming and right away I knew it was to become one of my favorites. It is a shimmery coral pink shade, really beautiful.

Yeah, I made that "dent"...oops!

I love blushcremes. The texture is nice (I do warm them a bit) and apply them on top of my liquid foundation or just before applying powder foundation. Blushcremes look so natural on my cheeks. I also use them as "blush primers" to make my powder blush more noticeable and long lasting. For example, I like to use True Romantic Beauty Powder on top of Brit Wit. Here is a video of different ways I have to apply Blushcremes. I also use my clean fingers. I like to apply makeup with my fingers sometimes, yeah.

Blossoming probably will be the last one I buy in a while, because the other shades are not that interesting and look almost the same to me.

Here are some of the swatches I made for the shades I have. I had posted some of them before, as seen HERE.

That's all for now girlie girls.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Total Beauty Makeover: Short Hair

Me + short hair = NO!!!

I had short hair for so long I hated it, but it was perfect for those "early" Mommy days when I simply couldn't deal with it, or so I thought. It took me years to have my hair like I do now. I still get angry when I remember the lady at Walmart that took off more than 3-4 inches...serves me right...Walmart Hair Salon...never again!

But I have to admit, this makeover turned out great for this lady. I thought that with a face shape like hers it wouldn't work, but she looks amazing. And the makeup was just right.

Enjoy.

Is a Short Hairstyle Right for You?

It might be if you have delicate features like TotalBeauty.com reader Elie, see how we transformed her style

Our makeover dream team gives TotalBeauty.com reader Elie a chic, gamine haircut and a sultry makeup look to boot. See how to make this easy-to-style short hairstyle and sexy makeup look work for you. See makeover

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation: First Look

So...I finally decided on a shade (3W1 Tawny) and got my little DW bottle. I tested it again at the Estée Lauder Sears counter and really liked it. I applied Tawny on one half of my face and left the other side sans foundation. I know I looked funny as I went outside looking for different types of lighting because one half of my face was completely evened out--- and looked wonderfully natural, like I didn't have makeup on--- and the other half showed redness, freckles and dark spots. XD

A drop of Tawny on top and blended on my skin
on bottom (yeah, you can hardly see it but that's the point)

I loved the color. No smell and the texture is way too soft. I could barely feel it on my face. But I will do a full review after I use it for more than 1-2 weeks.

Funny, I thought Tawny would look too yellow on me but it was a pretty good match. The 3N1 shade looked more on the pink side than really neutral. Maybe for winter. If I don't like Tawny, I can always return it.

Cool fact: I had a MAC foundation pump around and it fits the DW perfectly!

I had a bonus with my purchase: I got an Estée Lauder Gift-with-Purchase! Those are always very welcome, lol. =)

• A cool tote
• Small makeup bag
• Hydra Bright Cream
• Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
• Pure Color L/S in Bois de Rose
• High Gloss in Rose
• Projectionist Mascara

Some pics and swatches...

Rose l/g reminds me a lot of MAC's Nymphette

Bois de Rose

Bois de Rose l/s + Rose l/g

That's all for now beauties. =D



¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Tutorial (English&Español: MAC Goldmine, Amber Lights & Sketch

This is a short tutorial of the look I posted HERE. Enjoy!




¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Airless bottles w/ Pump for Revlon ColorStay Makeup (oh yes!)

For those of you that love the Revlon ColorStay Makeup but hate the fact that it doesn't have a pump, here's one solution for that: An airless bottle with pump.

I was looking for a pump like this, but couldn't find one reasonably priced. There were other types of dispenser, but I wanted a pump that could be reusable. About 4 weeks ago I saw this video from 11709MAVERICK on YouTube and knew that's exactly what I wanted.

The ebay seller --nicomsupply-- sells these 1oz. pumps in sets of two for USD $2.99. I thought the price was good considering also the cost of shipping the pumps and that they are reusable, as I wanted. I did bought more than one pair to get the most of my shipping and yes, I needed them. They could also be used for lotions and other creams.

Of course, you do have to pour the product into the new bottle. I just placed the Revlon bottle on top of the plastic one and let them like that overnight.

11709MAVERICK provides the link in her video review, but here it is again:

Nicomsupply--Two airless bottles with pump

I'm sure there are other sellers for this pump, however I can only post the one I bought them from and talk about my experience. I was very satisfied with the whole transaction, fast delivery and the product description was very accurate.

Here is a short clip I made using the bottle:

Here are some pictures of the bottles:

OTHER OPTIONS:

*I have also seen in many drugstores 3 oz plastic bottles (travel size) with caps that have a small whole to dispense the product. They cost less than a dollar each.

*One beauty blogger (can't find her now, sorry!) wrote that she found one of the Colorstay Stay Natural Makeup old bottles and that the pump fits the actual CS bottle.

So you see, there are solutions for every taste.

Of course, it would be easier if Revlon provided a bottle with a pump---Psst, Revlon are you listening?) LOL

HTH!



¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Shoes: Aldo Shoes--So gorgeous

These is a post about my other addiction: Shoes.

I thank God I don't have loads of money, because I would spend it in thousands of shoes I probably wouldn't wear many times...mostly admire them. LOL.

I saw these heels in one of my latest Glamour issues and I fell in love.

Frowill

Ah, so beautiful! I think this pair is gorgeous and could be worn with many outfits.

This is the first time I've heard from Aldo Shoes. For some reason I love to know about the latest in makeup but not about the latest about fashion. Go figure. Anyway, I went to their website and loved the variety of shoes and most of all, they are reasonably price.

More beauties:

Lacau

Bucknell

ALL IMAGES: ALDO SHOES

These shoes look amazing. Of course I'm not always walking 0n heels--my back wouldn't survive. I use heels only on special occasions or once in a while with jeans, just to feel sexy. Aldo shoes comes in sizes from 5 to 11. Sad thing is they only deliver to Continental USA. That sucks. So I guess I will be daydreaming about these little jewels until I can get anything deliver to family in the States. Or as I do most of the times, look for similar shoes here in the island, hehe.

Oh, no one is paying me for this post. I just wanted to share these beauties with you.

******

ETA: There is an ALDO Shoes Store in a Shopping Mall very near to where I live, I swear I never saw it b4! LOL!!!! I saw the Lacau Model...drooling!!! I had to use all my willpower not to get them--->I was going to buy another stuff and thay wasn't on my list...but will be soon. **dancing** Ah, the little things that make me happy, hahaha.


¡Vivan, amen y rían!