Overall, I've pretty much had a good experience with just about every KAT VON D beauty product I've tried. But this next one really hits the ball out of the park! It's her new Lock-It Powder Foundation ($36 @ sephora.com). 

When it comes to full-coverage powder foundations, I've only experienced a handful of them and really the only one I can remember is Bare Escentuals. 

What It Is: A vegan powder foundation that delivers full-coverage, instant blurring, and extreme long wear, in a sexy compact. Lock-It Powder Foundation is formulated with rice powder extract to blur away imperfections. Kaolin, a clay mineral, helps give a diffused, matte finish without feeling dry, making this formula ideal for a range of skin types.  

Click here to read more

This next one is a pretty ground-breaking release and it’s from the KAT VON D line! It’s a liquid liner for the waterline. Yup, you read correctly. This Lash Liner Inner Liquid Eyeliner ($20 @ sephora.com) is made for your waterline, which is where the rim of your eye meets your eyelid. Also called tightlining, there have been quite a few products made for this area, however, color doesn’t seem to last there too long, which have mainly been in the form of pencils.

Click here to read more

Soooo these have to be the brightest liquid lipsticks I’ve ever seen and just about every shade out there but nothing like these! Say hello to KAT VON D Everlasting Glimmer Veil Liquid Lipstick ($22 @ sephora.com) in Shockful and Razzle.

What it is: a multidimensional liquid-crystal finish. A rich, glimmer, non-gritty formula that is so lightweight, it feels like nothing. Experience Gel Cushion Comfort – glimmer crystals that are coated in a gel to ensure even application and effortless glide. This innovative liquid stain base is loaded with iridescent micro-pearls and reflective mirror-crystals for three layers of mesmerizing dimension. Experience 3D effects with a swipe of the wand.

Click here to read more

I think I’ve been around the liquid lipstick block a few times now and with the latest ones I’ve tried being on the indie side, I have some more observations. It seems that just about every brand is coming out with their own version these days, which is great, but not so great when you kinda know what formula works for you, and you don’t get it when you open the tube. If you’re on the liquid lipstick (will abbreviate to LL) bandwagon, do you know which form you like best? I think I do, now that I’ve tried quite a few different brands:

Chanel, Wet N Wild, Tarte, Buxom (part of BareMinerals), ColourPop, Motives, Cailyn Cosmetics, L’Oreal, Make Up For Ever, Stila, Laura Mercier, Merle Norman, NARS, Lime Crime, Ofra Cosmetics, Fyinnae, Maybelline, Ciate London, L'Oreal, Napoleon Perdis, Houglass Cosmetics, CoverGirl, LipSense by SeneGence, Giorgio Armani, Sephora, Kat Von D, MAC, Makeup Monster, LA Splash Cosmetics, Caked, Beauty Bakerie.

Brands on my list to try: The new ones from Smashbox, Anastasia Beverly Hills (I know, I know, I'm like the only one on the planet but I've read mixed reviews), Jeffree Star, Milani (drugstores are always out of the Amore Mattes!), Lonely Planet.

Click here to read more

I attended The Makeup Show in Los Angeles a few weeks ago and picked up some products I’m uber excited to try out! Some I had not seen before and some I had on my list to pick up.

Since it’s tax season, I had to really be watchful on my dollars this time around and thankfully the show had a blogger preview so some of the products that were on my list were in the bag the show gave us. Yeah!! I've just started trying some of them out so do you see anything you like?

1. ESUM Pro Finishing Sponges ($20/2 sponges @ musebeauty.com) – here’s a new twist on the makeup sponge – these combines the wedge and oval sponge in one so you can get every inch you’re trying to get to.

2. BÉSAME COSMETICS Boudoir Short Hair Contour Brush ($48 @ sephora.com) – this one is in the same category as those oval brushes that are blowing up everywhere. It feels so nice on the skin and is able to get into all the angles on the face … flawlessly!

3. SENNA COSMETICS Lash Detail Mascara ($20 @ sennacosmetics.com) – I’m really picky about my mascara and don’t like many. I’ve worn this one twice and what I like about it is the super skinny fine brush that seems to be able to maneuver color on ever lash. If you’re looking for natural looking lashes, this might be one to try.

4. NYX COSMETICS Soft Matte Lip Crème in Transylvania ($5.99 @ bedbathandbeyond.com) – I’ve been needing this shade in my life since it came out and has been sold out at my Ulta since it came out.

5. SEPHORA PRO Press Full Coverage Complexion Brush #66 ($36 @ sephora.com) – this seems to be Sephora’s answer to the oval brush craze and I can’t wait to see how it performs!

6. SMASHBOX Photo Finish Primer Water ($32/3.9oz @ smashbox.com and sephora.com) – there’s been quite a buzz on this primer water since it emerged recently. Can’t wait to try this out!

7. VERA MONA Color Switch Duo ($19.99 @ veramona.com) – a genius product! Stroke your brush against the black to remove the color so it’s ready to dip into the next shade. And the white middle part can be soaked in water if you feel like applying shadow with a wet brush.

8. KAT VON D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($19 @ sephora.com) – from the queen of liner. Need I say more?

9. PUR Browder Perfecting Brow Powder in Medium Brown ($22 @ kohls.com) – this combines a powder with fibers to help fill in sparse areas. Interesting application pointer!

10. MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Sculpting Lip 2-in-1 Lip Sculpting Pen in #40 Carmine Red ($27 @ sephora.com) – quite a unique twist on giving lips a multi-dimensional look. Can’t wait to try this out!

I was pretty excited when I saw KAT VON D’s Metal Crush Eyeshadows ($21 @ sephora.com) coming out for the fall. While I try and wear the bright colors like theses when it comes to shadows it seems that I gravitate towards them more for lips but things can change!

Each color is made with the brand’s own technology called Color-Soaked Concentrate, which are custom blended powders for the greatest possible saturations of pigments and pearls in a long-wearing eyeshadow. Each seems to have a metallic finish and comes in 11 colors.

So how did these do? Well you may be surprised. I know I was.

Click here to read more

Unlike the trend of highlighting and contouring, or HACing, the trend of liquid lipsticks is pretty doable for anybody. With HACing, you really have to have some kind of idea of what you’re doing, what you want to bring forth or set back, blah, blah, blah. And yes, I don’t have it totally down either, just parts of my face.

With the liquid lipstick trend, it’s basically lip color on steroids so if you can apply lipstick or lip gloss, you can apply liquid lipsticks!

It seems to have started out as just a handful of brands a few years ago with MAC (I even have theirs in my Hall of Fame), Korres, Addiction NV (who I don’t think is around anymore), Make Up For Ever and L’Oreal and it wasn’t even called liquid lipstick; not even sure when the name liquid lipstick started surfacing with these.

I’m a fan of all the aforementioned brands but just in case you were wondering, I think the OG liquid lipstick brand has to be LipSense by SeneGence. Thoughts?

But now, this seems to be a full-on trend with whole brands being built just on it like Jeffree Star’s new collection, Pretty Zombie Cosmetics and I’m sure others I just haven’t caught up with just yet.

So just what is liquid lipstick anyways? Click after the jump to find out!

Click here to read more

Highlighting and contouring with makeup is all the rage but which palettes do it best? Here are four that are cutting-it for me right now.

KEVYN AUCOIN The Contour Book The Art of Sculpting + Defining - $59 @ sephora.com.

SMASHBOX Step-by-Step Contour Kit - $45 @ smashbox.com and sephora.com.

KAT VON D Shade + Light Contour Palette - $46 @ sephora.com.

COVER FX Contour Kit - $48 @ ulta.com and sephora.com. 

There’s nothing better than catching a glimpse in a mirror to give myself a quick makeup check only to see that my lip color is still going strong. This got me thinking and concluding that I like when I can’t feel when I have a lippie on.

It seems that I’m having some luck when it comes to the weightlessness of a lip color with these liquid lip colors some of the brands are coming out with. I mean, the colors are nice and fresh, they don’t dry my lips out and the pigments are superb! But, not all liquid lipsticks are made the same and some formulas can bleed. So when it comes to weightlessness, which ones are my favorites? Here are 4 that are scoring big points from me. 

KAT VON D Everlasting Love Liquid Lipstick $19 @ sephora.com
Available in 12 shades and don’t look for any beiges or really light ones in this collection! One swipe of the wand across lips is pretty much all you will need but just know that these seem to set to a really(it) matte finish, so I would use a little bit of gloss on top but not too much as too much can start to break down the product on the lips.
Yes, these are matte but they don’t seem to dry lips out probably because they are made with vitamins A, C and E. And there are no parabens inside these. 

STILA Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick $22 @ stilacosmetics.com and ulta.com
10 colors available. Once these set, there’s no transfer and well, no heavy weight on lips! Yeah. No parabens, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals or phthalates inside but they do contain vitamin E and avocado oil for moisture. 

LIPSENSE BY SENEGENCE $25 @ sengence.com
As far as I know, this brand pretty much started the trend of long-wearing lip color. 69 shades strong – from light beiges to bright pinks and stark reds and there are sheers, mattes, sparkles and frosts finishes available. And to use this brand, it requires 3 coats allowing each coat to dry for 3 to 5 seconds before applying the next.
For the best results, I would also recommend dabbing on a little bit of gloss or balm as this one really dries to a matte finish. They also sell Ooops! Lip Color Remover ($10), if you make a mistake and need to remove some of it because once it’s on, it’s on for quite a few hours.

LIME CRIME Velvetines $20 @ amazon.com
7 shades available with most selling out quickly so if you see the one you want in stock, don’t wait! These are a little different than the above ones in that I don’t think I would put them in the category of a liquid lipstick. I mean, they are closer to a liquid lipstick than not but what they are exactly still alludes me! I just know I like the 2 I’ve tried.
These too dry down to a matte finish but it’s a velvety finish and I don’t find I need to apply anything on top when wearing them. 

A Makeup Primer – SKINDINAVIA The Makeup Primer Spray ($49/8oz, $35/4oz @ dermstore.com) – a skin primer is going to help your makeup stay on your face where it belongs and not melt off any quicker then it has to. This one is the first face mist primer I’ve seen and I love that you just mist it on and then you’re onto your next step of foundation. Also available in an oil-free version.

Waterproof Mascara - URBAN DECAY Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara ($20 @ nordstrom.com and urbandecay.com) – nothing worse than coming out of the pool or ocean with black mascara running down your cheeks. Not sexy.

A Continuous Spray Sunscreen – HAWAIIAN TROPIC SPF 30 Dry Oil Clear Spray Sunscreen ($8.99/6oz @ ulta.com) – I’ll use a dry oil over a heavy lotion any day during the hot summer months and this one has sunscreen in it? Woo-hoo, double-duty, baby! And this is one of those continuous spray ones so you can get in in those hard to reach places on the body!

Non-Moving Lip Color – KAT VON D Everlasting Liquid Love ($19 @ sephora.com) – who wants their hair getting stuck in lip gloss when the summer winds blow? Not me! This one dries down to a super matte finish; almost too matte but better to have color then none at all. And these lasts for hours on lips! Shown here in Bauhau5, a deep raspberry.

Bright Tips – NAILS INC. Gel Effect Polish ($14 @ saks.com) – I just picked up this bright red called St. James shown here last weekend (Mayfair Lane also shown here, a dusty pale pink) and wow, does this polish totally rock! I was sick of taking the time to put on a flawless manicure on my fingernails only to have it start chipping within 24-hours. This formula uses a plasticiser technology to create the glossiness and longevity of a salon gel polish but without the price tag or removal process. 

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.