MAKEUPMONDAY: CARI'S COSMETIC OBESSIONS: MY DUTY FREE BOOTY

Hello Beauties,

This week’s rant is about duty free overseas illusive makeup. On my Adventure to Costa Rica I poked my head in a duty free shop and found L’Oreal’s Volume Million Lashes Excess.  It’s in a sleek red and gold tube that made me do a double take. It retailed for $13 each or the kit for $25.00 which included two mascaras and a kohl liner.  First impressions are an upgraded version of the Loreal Millions lashes in the gold tube. The wear is pretty impressive even in Costa Rica's sweltering heat.  It’s pretty comparable to the gold tube with a little extra oopmh! I really hope this pops up state side at our local drugstores soon!

 

 

The other find was a Lancôme La Maison Make-UP Palette. This traveler’s exclusive came in an ultra slim black shiny compact embossed with a gold outline of the photo.   The pallet has an overspray on the iconic Eiffel tower and street light. (The overspray will come off with use.)   Tucked on the side are three coordinating eye shadow colors a purple, a pink, and a yellow.  The color payoff was a bit disappointing. If it wasn't for the Eiffel tower, and the Paris themed background, I don't think I would have made the commitment to buy.  I have said this before and I’ll say it a thousand times; for me exclusivity is a must in purchasing higher priced items.  This weekend I put the formula to the test, and in the beginning it did give my cheeks a just pinched look, but as my tan progressed it did get a little ashy looking :0(  So I would highly recommend this for my light to olive skin complexions.

 

 

Next week I'll be reviewing the latest MAC collection: Temperature Rising!!

 



FIVE JACKETS YOU NEED TO OWN: THE DENIM JACKET

The denim jacket is timeless, classic like the little black dress. As fashion has evolved so has the denim jacket.  Introduced by Levi Strauss in the early 1900's (See History of the denim jacket) it's the one piece of clothing that has never waned in popularity.  If anything it's constantly evolving, in the 60's it was socially conscious, adorned with buttons proclaiming love, not war. In the 70s it got groovy and lost its sleeves, and in the 80s it became a canvas of graffiti enthusiasts and hip hop heads. Dare I say, it’s the one piece of clothing that is universally owned?  My favorite brands for the classic jacket are of course Levi's, and my personal go to brand for all things denim, The Gap.  My advice to you, buy one you love and wear it forever, because it gets even better with age.

XOXO

FASHION: THE 2013 MET GALA RED CARPET (PHOTOS)

Tis gala season! And the Met gala outshines them all.  This year’s theme was Punk in conjunction with the latest costume institute exhibition Punk: Chaos To Couture which runs from May 9- August 14.  Now if you're familiar with this event you know that the attendees go all out, I'm talking high levels of fierce.  But when you think of the era of punk, chiffon and sequins don't come to mind, well unless it’s ripped chiffon and sequins. I was eager to see which celebrities would rock it and which would flop.  Here are a few of my favorites from last night’s event:


Kerry Washington in Vera Wang

Beyonce in Givenchy

Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs
 

Jennifer Lopez in Michael Kors

Emmy Rossum in Donna Karan Atelier

Solange in Kenzo

 

Jessica Biel in Giambattista Valli

Sienna Miller in Burberry

 

XOXO

TOPBAGTUESDAY: KENZO CLOUDED LEOPARD PRINT TOTE

Colorful leopard print and oversized tiger heads? I'm here for all of that!! I am totally in love with Kenzo's SS 2013 collection, which was inspired by the jungles in Thailand.  Queen B, Beyonce, has even rocked some of the looks on the European stretch of her Mrs. Carter Show tour.  This tote is in conjunction with that collection and features a fun purple and pink leopard print. I love totes, especially during the summer because they are the perfect size for the extras warm weather brings.  You know an extra pair of shoes, an extra set of sunglasses, or an extra pair of undies (things might get spicy!)   It would go great with jeans or a mixed print sheath, if you're feeling funky.   Check it out here

XOXO

MAKEUPMONDAY:CARI'SCOSMETICOBSESSIONS: MAC EXTRA DIMENSION HAUL

Hello Beauties!

These are my MAC Extra Dimensions Picks

Last week I managed to snag a couple of pieces from the new collection and if you’re a Mac-a-holic you know they average 3 collections a month, 2 of whom are limited edition. It religiously gets me panic stricken, stalking and my heart racing until the shipment notification arrives. What’s a makeup junkie to do if we can’t buy every single item? For me the research begins the moment I hear the release date.  I begin scouring the internet for any and every photo or swatch to find the gems we just shouldn't live without!
 

With the warm weather approaching the look is glowing sun kissed skin, bright cheeks, and bold lips. I picked up all three of the Extra Dimensions Skin-Finish's inDouble Definition, Shape The Future, and Definitely Defined.   I highly recommend shape the future with its rosy tones and double definition you for the darker skin-tones hands down. These babies come in a split pan with two complimenting colors. They can be used as highlighter, eye shadows or blushes.  I am always sucker for dual functioning products.   As usual MAC's skin finishes glides on smoothly and sinks in giving you that dewy flawless look.

This collection also has liquid-powder blush with prismatic reflections in five shimmering shades. Impact ranges from a sheer crystallized light to a highly polished metallic effect. It Lasts up to 6 hours. My picks were Flaming Chic, a bright blue pink, and Fiery Impact, a burnt red bronze.  Both those babies are a matte finish and are beautifully build-able and fool proof.

In addition there are 6 eye shadows that I completely passed on I actually happen to love the buttery smoothness of the extra dimension shadows but the colors just didn't do it for me.

While this collection is limited edition and some products are sold out on the MAC site do not fear you may still be able to find your picks at retailers who carry the brand such as Macy's & Nordstrom.

 

 

 

SHOPFORYOURTOTS: FRESHLY PICKED MOCCASINS

One of the benefits of social media, besides providing comic relief, is that it introduces you to brands you may not have known otherwise.  Instagram is home to a plethora of really cool designers who use the app to introduce and sell their wares.  Recently I was scrolling through my timeline and one of my favorite follows, stylist Rachel Zoe, posted a pic of her adorable son Skylar's collection of colorful moccasins by Freshly Picked.  My eyes did that thing like in the cartoons were they bulge out in the shape of hearts, I love these shoes!!  The simplest design makes for an adorably classic shoe that works for walkers and crawlers!  Check out their site and be ready to be overwhelmed by cuteness.

XOXO

 

TOPBAGTUESDAY: CAST OF VICES CORNER STORE LEATHER SHOPPER

 

We're going Eco-Chic in honor of Earth Day and featuring a leather shopper by Cast Of Vices.  It's a fun, fashionable take on the everyday plastic shopping bags you get from the grocery store.  Who doesn't love a leather tote, and one that comes in fun colors too!  The bags even feature slogans like Thank You, Have A Nice Day, And my favorite of course, I ❤ NY.  Sure you could use it for groceries, but it makes for a great everyday bag as well.  Check out the rest of the colors here, and remember, Have A Nice Day!!

XOXO

 

MAKEUPMONDAY:CARI'SCOSMETICOBSESSIONS: MY IMATS HAUL PART II

 I'm back beauties with part two of my IMATS haul......

To continue on with the fabulousness of IMATS I picked up some awesome goodies courtesy of Vanity Mark by Brett Freedman Cosmetics.   Mr. Freedman is a well-known makeup artist whose work graced the front covers of magazines such as Elle. His cosmetics line is well known for brow products such as the ultra-brow pencil or the ultra-brow powder. I personally was drawn to the gloss-a-holic glosses that are super moisturizing and taste great! I picked up the shades mango-verdose and sex and violet, as well as both Dr. Kiss products the balm and gloss that has a baby blue hue but goes on pale pink  with a minty fresh taste ; oh Dr. Kiss I'm  yours! Signed sealed and delivered. www.brettfreedman.com. 

Yet another blossoming makeup line is the amazing Cailyn Cosmetics.   I am always looking for a liner that just won’t budge.  Let’s face it beauties there are many out there that make that claim and fail miserably, not Cailyn!  Last year I tried this gel liner in basic flat black. Its staying power is bar none and it works in the water line. This time around I picked up Iron a metallic black and it's simply gorgeous! I did not get the recently launched tinted lip balm since only the lighter colors were left I have since put in an order for velvet rose and fiesta. I'm faithful they won't disappoint.

Last but not least was the Fantabulash booth. Gina stole my heart; this entrepreneurial young lady suffers from alopecia a disease where you lose all your hair. For years she was using fake lashes and wigs to glam it up. Recently she had become severely allergic to the lash glue and was pretty devastated. Through this she developed a pretty impressive adhesive strip that not only is hypoallergenic it allows you to reuse your lashes. Check out Fantabulash for Gina's full story, the product and how to video!

Next MakeUpMonday I'll be reviewing MAC's latest collections!!

PUTMEON: MELODY EHSANI X JEREMY SCOTT ARAB SPRING 2013

The king of collaborations Jeremy Scott has met his queen in jewelry designer Melody Ehsani, and a fresh set of jewels has been born.  Titled Arab Spring 2013, it fits together with Scott’s latest collection of the same name (seen here, SS2013).  Ehsani stays true, remixing her classics with just a touch of Jeremy swag.  Her signature bamboo earrings are tricked out with machine guns, and "Jeremy" spelled out in Arabic letters.  Need I say more? Check out the pieces and tell me what you think.

XOXO

THESTATEMENTJACKET: CHAIN TRIMMED FAUX LEATHER JACKET BY FOREVER 21



I'm addicted to jackets, and when spring rolls around I can't get enough. In my opinion, there are five jackets everyone woman should own.  This post I'll focus on the statement jacket.  A statement jacket is a jacket that is heavy on the details and can be worn day or night.  This is not necessarily your everyday jacket, but with the right looks it could be.  Now if a Chanel bag was ripped apart and draped on my shoulders, this is how I envision it would look.  This cropped quilted jacket from Forever 21 features gold chain detailing and would go perfect with jeans or a simple shift dress.  Check it out here; I'll be buying mine as soon as this post goes live.
XOXO