The Beauty Sleuth

OMG!! What can I say about Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics? I just adore the brand. First of all, OCC is Vegan and cruelty free. But the most important quality about this brand is of course, the product itself. It’s just stellar. In particular, the Lip Tar and Lip Tar stained Glosses are simply incredible. These little tubes pack a gigantic color punch—Both formulas are deeply pigmented, which means a teeny, tiny bit goes a long, long way. These mighty tubes of pigment are completely mixable so you can customize each shade to suit your mood, and they last and last. No stick lip feeling, no dried out pout. Just a super rich saturated pop of color. Of course as an art major back in the day, I love that they have several mixing mediums like pure white and jet black so you can tweak any color in the roster. They also have a clear that will make any of the opaque colors stain glass sheer. It’s a makeup artists dream.
Don’t get intimidated but the pro quality of these lip colors. I encourage you to try a few mix n’match and bring out your inner makeup maven!

Available at: www.occmakeup.com

Continuing on from my last post from The Makeup Show, I had a few products on my hit list that I just had to checked out. Let’s talk skin for a minute—I love Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, and have been a fan of Sensual Skin Enhancer Makeup for years. At first glance, you might think this tiny pot is a mere concealer, like many others. Don’t be fooled. This creamy, über- pigmented concentrate is actually a multi-purpose foundation that will not only make your skin look flawless, but because it can be applied as a sheer or full coverage as needed, you don’t need concealer. For the perfect skin tint that will result in a beautiful, dewy finish, I mix with a bit of moisturizer like Embryo Lisse and apply with a brush, preferably with a large bullet or flat domed shaped brush. A little goes a long way, and once I have the coverage I want, I buff the surface until the makeup looks flawless . Alternatively, I like to use my fingertips to apply because the warmth “melts” the foundation into the skin, and follow up with the same buffing process. The result is really hydrated, pore-less skin that looks fresh and natural. When I stopped by the Kevyn Aucoin Beauty counter at the show, I saw two newer products that mimicked the sheer coverage I created using moisturizers, yet each had its own distinct texture and finish. Essential skin tint balm and Liquid Airbrush both feel lighter to the touch than Sensual Skin Enhancer Makeup and both offer a great finish. I will be test driving these products in a few weeks, so stay tuned for the reviews!

Kevyn Aucoin is available at: Space NK