If you’re a Cosmopolitan Magazine fan, you’ll be glad to know it was praised there and received the “Fabulous Face Kit” Beauty Award. It was also voted the “Favorite Timesaver” by Child Magazine. If you have a stressful week and you happen to break out, this concealer kit can be a life saver if you have any events that week. If you’ve been curious about a Benefit concealer or other correction product, this is a great way to try it out, along with a few other Benefit fan favorites. This is also a great item to keep handy in a wedding day makeup kit. The kit retails for just $32 and comes in a darling little box.

You can purchase it here!

photo credit: ookikioo

Many of their devotees’ first foray into Dior was with their lip gloss. That’s because their glosses have an excellent reputation in the cosmetics world. Celebrities and fashion magazines alike sing its praises and with good reason.

Dior has been around forever but the first gloss that started getting a lot of press was Dior Addict. The Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect is a shimmery gloss that is shiny without being sticky. Rose Denim is a cool toned rosy-pink color with a subtle blue shimmer. It is perfect for neutralizing colors that are too warm. If you have always wanted to wear a baby pink color but never thought you could pull it off, this is a great way to experiment because it’s very sheer and the intensity will vary depending on what you put underneath it.

Crème de Gloss is a gloss with a very high color payoff. In fact, it reminds me more of a liquid lipstick than a gloss. It could easily be worn on its own because it is not sheer like most glosses. The texture is about as perfect as a gloss can be. It’s very creamy and moisturizes without being sticky or drying out your lips. Fig Nectar is a highly pigmented plummy pink that looks great on both warm and cool skin tones. It also lasts longer than you would expect a gloss to last.

photo credit: *nomi* & malcolm

As part of their new DiorKiss line, Dior has also released their DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss – a lip gloss available in eight translucent shades that plump your lips as they shine. Most of the shades have a iridescent shimmer to them. The lip gloss also features a special curved gloss applicator that allows for smooth and application.

Another Dior lip gloss fav of ours is Dior’s Addict Lip Polish – a lip primer and polish in one. This lip product mimics the effect of a lip primer with it’s unique formula of moisturizing hyaluronic microspheres and a high shine finish. The product also has a special spinning roll-on applicator that gives you an even, “just-right” amount of polish over your entire lip area.

Dior lip glosses are a great choice for anyone who is looking to treat themselves to an ultimate luxury pick-me-up. It helps you look great and feel great at the same time.

Makeup primer is one of those beauty secrets that can make a big difference in the look and wear of your makeup. It preps your skin for makeup and creates a smooth base that makeup can adhere well to. If you’ve tried a foundation that looks fantastic on a friend or a model in a magazine only to be disappointed with the results, using makeup primers can make a big difference. Even if you are happy with the foundation you are currently using, a layer of cosmetics primer underneath can bring it to a whole new level.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you learn how to apply makeup primer:

Step 1: First you will need to use moisturizer. Putting any makeup on top of dry skin usually leads to trouble later in the day. Choose a light moisturizer as heavy creams tend to make primer slide right off your skin. Be sure to let the moisturizer sit for a few minutes to allow it to be absorbed into your skin.

Step 2: Pump or pour a small amount of the primer into your hand. Dip a damp foundation wedge sponge into the primer and dab it gently onto your face, beginning under your eyes and around your nose. (Note that some primers are packaged in such a way that you spritz them directly onto your face from the bottle.)

photo credit: L30Nde

Step 3: Next, add the primer to your forehead, chin, nose, and cheeks.

Step 4: Using the same sponge, blend the primer into your skin. Be sure you cover all areas s evenly as possible, but it’s okay to use a little extra in places where your makeup tends to wear off quickly, such as in the T-zone or over large pores.

Step 5: Wait a few minutes for your primer to dry before applying foundation and concealer.

Step 6: Most foundation primers aren’t suited for the eyelids, but you can purchase a primer specifically designed for the eyelid. Eyeshadow is often the first makeup to fade during the day. A good eye makeup primer can help you get much more mileage out of even the cheapest eyeshadows. Just rub some into your eyelids before applying shadow to help your shadow stick to your lids all day.

Once you know how to use makeup primer, you’ll have an extra secret weapon at your disposal to help you achieve the ultimate in your makeup look for your next special occasion.

To avoid eyelid creases on your lid, first apply MAC Paint under your eyeshadow. These Paints blend right into your skin and serve as a base that will keep your eyeshadow looking fresh all day, or night. Some people use the paints as their actual shadow, but I often use it in addition to shadow to help my shadow last longer and stay in place. Paint can double as a simple basic primer that works well with a matte or shimmer look. The paints come in different shades, but my favorite is Bare Canvas – it is just that, a nice, neutral shade that provides the perfect canvas for your shadow. Truth be told I have even dabbed Bare Canvas on my lips to help keep my lip gloss or lip stick on a little longer.

photo credit: ookikioo

Now, shadows are not the only thing that starts to wear out and blend together. So, for a fresh all over look, MAC created its popular Prep + Prime – a makeup primer that you smooth over your face to achieve an impeccable powder application. Many of us use both foundation and powder but with Prep + Prime I have found that for a more natural look the powder itself will do just fine. Of course both can be used if a little more coverage is needed. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your makeup last all day, you’ll definitely want to give Prep + Prime a try. You can usually even stop by the MAC counter and have one of the makeup artists apply it to your skin so you can test it out.

When there is a long day or night ahead, let these top MAC products come to your cosmetic rescue and make your makeup last longer. MAC Paints and MAC Prep + Prime are both top notch MAC essentials that will prevent you from having to take a too many powder breaks – leaving more time for the more important things in life!

• Apply Vaseline to your lips each night before bedtime. You may have another lip balm product you will want to use instead, but if not, good old Vaseline works wonders.
• Keep an extra toothbrush handy and use it to lightly brush the surface of your lips each day to remove dead or dry skin. You will want to do this just as your Vaseline or other moisturizer is wearing off so that the dry skin comes off smoothly and easily. If you wait until your lips are already dry, it won’t do much good!
• Always use a water-resistant lip balm with SPF protection (yes, even in the winter… and especially while skiing or snowboarding). The skin on your lips is ultra thin and delicate. Since you don’t need to “tan” your lips, too much sun exposure will cause your lips to burn, chap, or worse. This can make applying any type of lip color a nightmare. A protective lip balm will prevent damage and soften your lips all at the same time.
• Use a lip liner that is close to your natural lip color. You don’t want to use one that’s too dark – your lip liner is there to help keep your lip color in place and make it last longer, not to create a distracting line around your mouth.

photo credit: Phoney Nickle
• When applying lipstick, blot your lipstick with a tissue after applying each layer. This will give your base lip color extra staying power.
• February is a perfect time to try fun, flirty shades in pink, red or berry. Once you’ve finalized your clothing choices, choose a shade that compliments your coloring and goes well with your outfit.
• After applying your lipstick, finish off your look with a soft, shiny lipgloss. But be sure not to go overboard on the gloss – too much can take your lips from gorgeous to gooey. Also, by layering and blotting your lipstick as mentioned in the above step, you won’t have to touch up your lipstick during the evening, which usually requires precision – and a mirror. Glosses are lighter and easier to apply, so you can quickly and easily touch up the shine if needed.

These tips will give you a perfect pout and help your lip color last much longer – throughout your entire Valentine’s Day date, perhaps?

xoxo!