My Makeup Collection in 6 Seconds

Monday, January 28, 2013

Late last week, Twitter launched Vine, an app and social network currently available for iOS devices. Think of using Vine like Twitter, just in video form. You have 6 seconds to play with.

Here's Twitter's blog post about Vine. Lots of early adopters are creating stop-motion mini works of art! Check out my first Vine post, my Makeup Collection in 6 Seconds :)

Makeup for Sick Days!

Sunday, January 27, 2013



What a winter, huh? This flu season has been the worst in years, and this past week the arctic chill over the East Coast did not make things any better. I thought I had escaped unscathed until I woke up Friday morning with terrible cold symptoms. It got worse throughout the day and into Friday night, so I had to cancel my plans to join my boyfriend and his friends on a ski day trip Saturday. Yesterday, while my friends were having fun skiing, I cranked up the humidifier, turned on Bravo, and tried to get better. 

Usually when I'm sick at home, I don't have a lick of makeup on (what's the point?), but when I had to step out to Whole Foods for some lunch, I decided I would try to look the best I could. 

Here's are my top products for glowing, healthy-looking skin for even on your worst days.

My Complete Skincare Routine

Friday, January 25, 2013

I have very sensitive skin, but I also love trying new products, so it's been a bit of a not-so-fun trial and error game trying to see what products won't irritate my skin. My skin's bad reactions to face creams range from slight red irritation to swollen shut eyes, patchy skin, and even a painful rash (Oil of Olay CC cream, I'm looking at you).

I believe in using natural and organic skincare with as few chemical-y ingredients as possible, but I have also have had allergic reactions to those products, so it's definitely a give and take. I'm currently saving up my money to try the Michael Todd True Organics' sensitive skin set.

For now, though, I thought I'd share my current favorite products and routine. All of these products work great for my sensitive skin, so I highly recommend all of them to others!




My 5 Holy Grail Lipsticks

Monday, January 14, 2013


Here they are, my top five favorite lipsticks! 

Drugstore Eyeshadow Discovery!

Friday, January 11, 2013


Everyone in the beauty blogosphere raves about the Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palettes.

A Couple Thoughts on The New York Times' Current Makeup Debate

Friday, January 4, 2013




This week, The New York Times introduced a debate that was right up my alley: whether or not makeup helps or hurts a woman's self esteem. It was really interesting reading the debaters' varying opinions. Obviously, I sided with the makeup artists ;)

As I'm starting a makeup blog, I have a few thoughts.

Review: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation


First things off – a little about me and Revlon foundations: I definitelt not a fan of the famous Revlon Colorstay liquid foundation but the newer Colorstay Whipped is my favorite drugstore foundation.

Back to Nearly Naked: From what I’ve gathered, this probably is a repackaged version of a now-discontinued Almay Nearly Naked Makeup (Revlon owns Almay). So it looks like they’ve taken a product from Almay and rebranded it with the Urban Decay Naked font - tricky tricky!

Maybelline Color Tattoo Collection and Review




(Clockwise from top left: Tough as Taupe, Inked in Pink*, Barely Beige*, Bad to the Bronze, Gold Rush*, Bold Gold)

I really really love the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows. I love their color payoff and how simple they are to use. I currently have six.  As I don't tend to go too crazy with makeup in general, I have stuck to buying the more wearable shades I've seen.

A Holiday Party Look


This was my look for a friend's casino-themed holiday party in December.

Nails are Color Club Put a Pin In It (from my first Birchbox - thanks Jess!) 
L'Oréal Sparklicious as a glittery topcoat

My Top Cream Foundations

Tuesday, January 1, 2013


Over the last year, I have tested over 10 different foundations, and I figured out I prefer cream foundations. They stay on my skin longer and are so much less messier than liquid foundations.

matte+crimson. All rights reserved. © Maira Gall.