Top 5 Must-Have Mascaras!

Hello again, beauties!!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! Now that summer is coming to a close, and autumn is upon us, I will be back weekly on my blog! Though I am so incredibly sad to see summer go, I am ready for all the great things autumn brings along. I have some great favorites, routines, and tutorials planned for fall, and all fall beauty trends! Yay!

Today, I wanted to share with you all my top 5 must-have mascaras! 

I own quite a number of mascaras. I'm not even entirely sure how I've accumulated them all, but my makeup organizer now has an entire drawer dedicated to all of my mascaras. As I was sitting down doing my makeup yesterday, I looked at that drawer, and thought it would be fun to share my favorites! I love all of the mascaras I own, but I narrowed it down to my top 5. I do have a drugstore honorable mention at the end, for those that are looking for something less expensive!

My top 5 are the mascaras that I nearly ALWAYS rotate in reaching for whenever I'm doing my makeup!

My Top 5 Favs:

1. Lorac Pro Mascara
2. Benefit Cosmetics They're Real Mascara
3. Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara
4. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
5. Mally Beauty Get the Last Lash Maximizing Duo Mascara

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Let's start with the Lorac Pro Mascara, shall we?

I love to use this mascara whenever I'm looking for natural-looking volume. The wand is so unique, and the thickness of the bottom leaves my lashes looking so beautifully fluffy. The pointed tip makes it easy to separate, avoid clumping, and lengthen my lashes.

It is a lengthening, thickening professional mascara. It's smudge proof, and flake-proof. Only downfall: It's not waterproof. However, I have never experienced any panda eyes, or situations where it ran, and I'm a crier!

The Lorac Pro Mascara costs $23.00 at Ulta Beauty.

Next up, the Benefit Cosmetics They're Real Mascara!

 

It's so crazy to me that I've included this mascara in my top 5 favorites, because I wasn't sure about this one when I first tried it! I was gifted this mascara, and when I first used it, I did not like it at all. Whomp whomp. I'm not even sure why I didn't like it, I just didn't. So, it just sat in my mascara drawer, untouched for a while. 

I have seen countless beauty vloggers and bloggers use and praise this mascara, so I thought, "let me give it another try," and it has become a fav of mine! Maybe it caught me on a cranky makeup day. 

This mascara wand is so incredibly unique. It is a straight wand, but it has a little ball at the tip. Use the mascara as per usual: holding the wand horizontally and wiggling your way up. The staggered bristles grab close to the root, giving more length and volume. Then, go vertically: use the ball at the tip, filled with tiny precision bristles, to lift, define, and curl every single lash.

I use this mascara when I want a bit more drama with my look. I curl my lashes, and then apply two coats of this mascara, and I have beautiful, long, dramatic lashes! Unfortunately, this mascara is also not waterproof, but as I said for Lorac, I have never experienced panda eyes! 

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real Macara costs $24.00 at Sephora. If you want a try-before-you- buy, Sephora sells a travel size for $12.00! I've been thinking of trying the new Benefit They're Real in blue... how do we feel about this? Should I give it a try? Have you? Let me know! 

Tarte Gifted Mascara! I've talked about this mascara on my blog before. I mentioned it in a monthly favorites. As you can see, I am consistent! Haha

I own this mascara in a travel size, but I fully intend on purchasing a full size when I run out! This is another mascara I like to use for a natural, fluffy, volumized look with no clumping! 

This mascara is unique because it's infused with Amazonian Clay, like many other Tarte products! This mascara was created to offer long-term reparative, rebuilding, and strengthening benefits with each use. Amazonian clay also works to keep lashes hydrated and nourished to prevent fallout and brittle lashes. The amazonian clay also works to improve pigmentation and volume, making your lashes look brighter, blacker, longer, and more full! This mascara is not waterproof, but still no panda eyes happening.

A full size tube of Tarte Gifted Mascara costs $21.00 at Sephora.

On to the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara! 

This mascara is in the top 5 just for it's name alone! Just kidding, but how daring. I love it! 

This mascara is a fav among beauty lovers, and it's not hard to see why. I was so excited when I received this mascara in a kit from HSN a while back. 

It has a beautiful, hourglass-shaped wand that clings to every lash, long or short, that curls and lengthens your lashes, and has incredibly black pigment. I like to wear this mascara when I'm doing a smokey, vampy eye look and I'm looking for some plump, dark, intense, voluminous lashes. It just pulls a smoked out look together. Two coats on the top, one coat on the bottom, and this collagen-infused mascara has your lashes long, defined, and intense. I love it!!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara costs $23.00 at Sephora. 

Finally, we have the Mally Beauty Get the Last Lash Maximizing Duo Mascara!

Mally Beauty is famous for its award winning mascaras, and this one does not disappoint! I cannot begin to express the perfection of this mascara. It's probably my favorite of the five. The volume and definition your lashes get with just one coat, it's insane! 

This mascara is probably the most unique of the five, due to its duel-ended wands with two different formulas for two different purposes. On one end, the maximizing wand is thicker, with a special formula for maximizing, volumizing, lifting, and filling your lashes. The thinner wand, for defining, has a formula created to define the curl of your lashes and keep it in place.

I apply this mascara by first, curling my lashes, and then applying two coats of the maximizing end, and one coat of the defining end to the top lashes; and then one coat of the defining end to the bottom lashes. I naturally have very long lashes, but this mascara takes my lashes to a whole new level.

If you need an idea of how amazing Mally Beauty mascaras are, I remember when I was backstage at the Rachael Ray show when filming my segment with Mally Roncal, after I got my makeup done, everyone backstage was asking me if they were my natural lashes, or if I was wearing falsies. That's the kind of reaction you want to a mascara! 

You can get the Mally Beauty Get the Last Lash Maximizing Duo Mascara for just $25.00 at QVC.com! 

On to my honorable drugstore mention... L'Oreal Paris Volumizing Original Mascara!

Before I got into more high end makeup, this mascara was my go-to. I LOVED it! It works great! Def one of the best drugstore mascaras, and for just around five or six dollars at Target? You cannot beat it! 

And there you have it! There are my Top 5 Favorite Mascaras, and one drugstore honorable mention! 

What are some of your favorite mascaras? I have many others, but I'm always looking for suggestions. Send them my way!

Until next time, have a wonderful week! And for those going back to school this week, best of luck! Wear a smile :)

Stay beautiful, 

Christina Bracco

xoxoxoxo

For PR inquiries, questions, comments, suggestions, please email Christina.f.b@aol.com or please fill out a Contact Form in the sidebar. Thank you. 

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Beat The Heat! How To Keep Your Makeup From Melting in The Summer!

*If you're on mobile, click images for higher resolution :)*

Happy Friday, beauties!!!

It's been a while since my last post. I'm so sorry I've been slacking, but I will make up for it this upcoming week with a few different reviews of skincare and makeup products. Be on the lookout next week via my Instagram, Twitter, or the blog itself for my new posts! :)

Now that summer is almost here (9 days away, YAY) the weather has been getting hotter and hotter, and more recently, more and more humid. Humid weather is just a pain in the bum for so many reasons. It makes my hair frizz, and it makes my makeup melt. Even the most high end products are victims of hot/humid weather... unless you take the proper precautions! That's why today's post is all about some of my tips for keeping your makeup from melting, creasing, smudging, and running, in these hot, sweaty summer months!

My number one tip for surviving the summer months: Keep it natural. Try to rock your natural beauty as much as possible in the summertime. Let your natural beauty shine through. You can do this while still looking beautiful, and making sure your precious skin is protected! If you're going to be outside in the sun, you want to make sure to apply SPF to your face. I hate applying regular sunscreen to my face. It's greasy, oily, white, gross... yuck! I don't mind it on the rest of my body, but I want something a little more gentle for my face, while still receiving all the safety benefits and coverage.

• My go-to product: Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47. This is essentially a hydrating, fast-absorbing, non-greasy, Argan Oil-infused, all natural moisturizer and sunscreen in one! You can skip your usual moisturizer (my daily moisturizer is Argan Oil anyway, so I'm not so far off) and apply this amazing product instead. It absorbs right into the skin, giving you a hydrated/dewy glow, and it has SPF 47. Does it get any better? It doesn't smell, it's all natural, it's not greasy, it goes on in a breeze, it has the all-natural skincare benefits of Argan Oil and Green Tea, and it protects you. What more do I have to say? It's perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and it doesn't leave any irritation like a regular sunscreen would.  Texture-smoothing, skin-nourishing, radiance-boosting GOODNESS IN A BOTTLE.

 Less is more. The more layers of makeup you apply, the more at risk you are for your makeup to start melting throughout the day. If you really must apply some sort of coverage to your face, whether it be to even out your skin tone, or camouflage blemishes, I would suggest using a tinted moisturizer or a BB Cream. If you're going to be out in the sun, coverage with an SPF is a must.

• My go-to product: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream with SPF 30. I LOVE this product!!! You can skip your moisturizer for the day (less chance of melting), as well as getting sheer coverage. It evens out your skin tone, without feeling like you have any product on your skin. This product simply makes you look naturally beautiful. The Complexion Rescue is perfect for all skin types! 

If you insist on wearing a foundation, it's so important that you PRIME. 

I cannot stress the importance of priming your skin before foundation, ESPECIALLY in the summer months. If you don't use a primer on your skin, I can almost guarantee you will be creasing, smudging, and melting within the first hour of being outside. I recommend staying away from liquid foundations if you're going to be outside. They're liquid foundations. They can melt off in an instance. Stick with a powder foundation. Regardless, primer is a necessity. But, make sure you're using the right primer. You want a primer that's bulletproof, mattifying, long-lasting, smoothing, translucent, and not greasy. 

• My go-to products: Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional or Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Poreless Primer. I've talked about my love for the Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Poreless Primer on my page before. It's a go-to, must-have primer for me. I use it daily. It's everything I said a primer should be above. The Benefit Porefessional is another favorite of mine. It keeps you matte and bulletproof throughout the day. Sometimes, if I want double-duty priming, I'll use both of these primers at once! Put that foundation on lockdown.

 

Wear a waterproof mascara! 

If you're out in the summer heat, you sweat. It's natural, ladies and gents. This can cause your mascara to smudge underneath your eyes. We don't want to get the I-Just-Got-Punched-In-The-Face look or raccoon eyes, so it's important to make your lashes bulletproof against sweat! 

My go-to product: Tarte Cosmetics Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara. This mascara is amazing! It's totally bulletproof thanks to its waterproof properties, so it won't smudge around your eye area. Along with it being waterproof, it's also volumizing, lengthening, curling, and conditioning. It doesn't clump ( a pet peeve of mine) and I've never experienced any fall out. Definitely my top pick for the summer months, and all year round, really! 

Set your eyes! If you want to wear eyeshadows and/or eyeliners while in the summer heat, it's important to mattify your eyelids so they don't crease, sweat, and smudge throughout the day! Our eyelids are one of the most oily parts of the face, therefore, we have to set them properly so our beautiful eyeshadows don't start melting off. I'm not a total fan of eye primers, I use them every once in a blue moon. I feel as though most of them are a little too greasy and don't totally set the eyelids properly. That's why I have my own method of priming and setting my eyes. 

• My go-to Product: bareMinerals Mineral Veil. Normally, I take a concealer, and I use that to prep my eyes. As you all know from my On-The-Go Makeup bag post, I use the CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer on most days. I use this to even out my eyelids, brighten them, hide any redness/veins, and lay down a base for my shadow. After concealing my lids, I take a brush and I tap on a little Mineral Veil over them, and my eyelids are set for the rest of the day. I put on my shadows, do my thing, and my eyeshadow (no matter what the brand) does NOT MOVE. Totally matte, totally bulletproof. I do this every single day. 

Set Your Makeup! If you don't want to keep it natural,  you want more coverage than just a tinted moisturizer or a BB Cream, and you're looking to do a full face of makeup- blush, contour, and all... then just like priming, it's incredibly important to set your makeup. Setting your makeup will help your foundation to settle into your skin and lay properly, as well as keeping it all from moving and melting off. I usually go for a dewy finish, but for the sake of today's post, we'll talk about keeping it matte for all the girls who don't want any extra shine in the summer months. 

• My go-to product: Nyx Cosmetics Matte Finishing Spray. This long-lasting, durable setting spray will keep your makeup in place, and keep you from getting extra shine throughout the day. For those of you (like myself) who enjoy the dewy look more, than I'd go with the Nyx Dewy Finishing Spray. It does the same as the matte, except it doesn't make you look matte, lol!

There you have it, peeps! These are a few of my makeup tips for surviving the summer heat and still looking fierce and beautiful! Try to rock your natural beauty throughout the summer months, but if you still feel like being a glam diva, you can do it without worrying about looking like a greased chicken! 

I love you all, and I will be back next week with some more fun posts!

Stay beautiful,

Christina Bracco

xoxoxoxo

For PR inquiries, questions, comments, suggestions, please email: Christina.f.b@aol.com or please fill out the Contact Form in the sidebar. Thank you. 

INSTAGRAM  <----- CLICK AND FOLLOW ME HERE!!

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REVIEW: Benefit Cosmetics Rockitude Rockin' Rose Gold Lip and Cheek Kit!!

Happy Monday, beauties!!! 

I hope you all had a great weekend! I've been so excited to get back to blogging regularly. I'm feeling much better after a few days of resting, and I'm finally able to (kind of) smile again. 

The product of today's post is definitely smile worthy! I purchased this on a whim about a little over a week ago, and I was so excited to write a post about it! 

What is it?

Benefit Cosmetics Rockitude Rockin' Rose Gold Lip and Cheek Kit!! 

I was strolling through Sephora, looking for nothing in particular, when I stumbled upon this super cute Benefit kit! 

I LOVE the whole idea of this kit! I think it's such a cute product that gives makeup lovers the ability to give a number of their Benefit Cosmetic products a try for a great price!! 

I really love Benefit Cosmetics for their great kits and sets that they have. I'm a sucker for a good kit for a good price, and Benefit never fails me when I'm in the mood to try numerous products. Keep it up with the kits, Benefit, and I'll purchase your products forever!

They have a few of these Lip and Cheek kits. It was hard for me to choose which I was going to buy. 

There is:

• Rockitude Lip and Cheek Kit
• Sugarlicious Lip and Cheek Kit
• Feelin' Dandy Lip and Cheek Kit

With that being said, I will certainly be purchasing the others at a later date! 

I decided to go with the Rockitude Lip and Cheek Kit. 

Within this kit, there is:

• 0.13oz Benetint Rose Tinted Lip and Cheek Stain
• 0.13oz High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancement 
• 0.22oz Rockateur Ultra Plush Gloss
• 0.1oz Rockateur Famously Provocative Cheek Powder
• Cheek Powder Applicator
• Tips & Tricks

The price of the kit is $28.00! I feel that is such a great price for all of this product. 

The packaging is adorable, as always. I think Benefit wins in the packaging department. Always on point. 

I've been wanting to try so many of Benefit's products that are in this kit. I've heard so many great things about them!

The Benetint is a Benefit Bestseller that leaves your lips and cheeks with a beautiful pop of color. Basically a liquid blush! While the High Beam is another Benefit Bestseller, and one of the most popular highlighters for the contour game in the beauty world. If you want a beautiful luminescent shine on your cheek bones, or anywhere else you'd like to highlight for that matter, BUY THIS! It's amazing. And of course, you can never go wrong with a beautiful mauve-y blush or gloss. A little really goes a long way with each of these products.

There is also a really great little booklet attached to this kit with great tips and tricks on how to use each of the products! 

The whole kit is amazing. I'm so happy I spotted it while strolling through Sephora. If you're looking to try Benefit Cosmetics products, or you're just looking for a fun new makeup toy to play with, I really suggest all of the Benefit Lip and Cheek Kits. I will definitely be purchasing the others! You really can't beat the price. 

I hope I've sparked your interest with this post. Let me know if you're going to give this kit a try, or if you've tried the other kits. Also, feel free to suggest more Benefit Cosmetics products to me! I'm always looking for suggestions.

I'll be back in a few days with a post on a skincare trick! Until then, stay beautiful!

Christina Bracco

xoxoxoxo

For PR inquiries, questions, comments, suggestions, please email: Christina.f.b@aol.com or fill out the Contact Form in the sidebar. 

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MINI SEPHORA HAUL: Urban Decay, Too Faced Cosmetics, Benefit Cosmetics,Buxom

Welcome back, beauties!!!

It's been so long since I've last blogged. There's been so many things happening in my personal life, I haven't stepped foot near a computer in about a week and a half.

On top of that, all four of my wisdom teeth were removed this past Wednesday, and the recovery has been... annoying.

But I'm pushing through the pain in my swollen chipmunk face today because I just received my package from UPS with my Sephora order that I placed earlier this week before the madness began! It's not much, mommas on a budget, but I am really excited for the goodies that I bought, and I wanted to share!

First off, can we talk about how great it is to purchase items from Sephora.com? I love getting the 3 free samples with every order, the extra free little something, something when you put in a specific code for their weekly deals, and free shipping! Plus the fact that Sephora.com has so many more products than my local Sephora store. So let's take a peak into the awesome products and deals that I scored with this purchase!

First, I'm so amped to talk about my purchase of the Urban Decay Ammo Palette. I am OBSESSED. I stumbled upon this palette while scrolling through the "Sale" section of Sephora.com and immediately fell in love.

The Urban Decay Ammo Palette is usually priced at $34.00, but it was on sale for... wait for it... $16.00. YES, SIXTEEN DOLLARS, YOU ARE SEEING THAT RIGHT. I mean, how could you not buy it????

When I received it this morning, I realized that this is my first Urban Decay palette. I'm really excited! I've heard great things about all of the Urban Decay shadow palettes, and I've always wanted to try them, and now I can!

Can we talk about the packaging? SO CUTE!
(CLICK TO ENLARGE ALL PHOTOS)

The Ammo Palette comes with a travel size shadow brush, and a travel size of the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Looooove!!

I am living for the Mildew (green) and Shattered (blue) shadows. 

The 10 shadows in this palette are Urban Decay's best selling shadows ever. All of the colors have a beautiful shimmer to them. I die. And I love that the palette is designed for the shadows to vertically pair up and be used together, or however you please! Each shadow features the Urban Decay Pigment Infusion System, giving each shadow a velvety texture that is rich in staying power, color, and blendability. 

I cannot WAIT to try it, and for it's current sale price of $16.00, I hope YOU do too!

Next, I purchased the Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Marshmallow. I have heard so much buzz about these liquified lipsticks, and I've been loving all of the products in my HSN Exclusive Too Faced Better Than Chocolate Natural Beauty Essentials set I wanted to give this a try! 

The packaging for Too Faced Cosmetics products is always SO adorable. 

Melted Marshmallow looked like such the perfect pink. It's described on Sephora.com as a candy pink, and though I didn't swatch it yet (because it's so perfect eek!) the color of the packaging matches the color of the lipstick, and it is definitely candy pink! It is highly saturated, and has a precision sponge tip applicator. It has the shine of a gloss, lasting power of a stain, and pigmentation of a liquid lipstick. Sounds perrrrrfect. I'm so excited to try it! Each Liquified Lipstick runs for $21.00 and there is a lot of product in this .04oz tube. If you've tried any of the Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks, let me know!

Next, I'd like to talk about a product that I didn't actually purchase, but I did choose it as my freebie with my purchase using the special offer code. Now, I am only able to have special access to this free deluxe sample because I am a Sephora VIB member. This deluxe sample is only available for VIB/VIB Rouge members. So, if you are indeed a VIB or VIP Rouge member, I strongly suggest snagging this freebie!

I'm talking about the new Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara! It's their new mascara that hooks to your lashes and curls them without having to use a curler! 

Like I said, this deluxe sample is an exclusive to certain Sephora members, and the Roller Lash does not officially go on sale publicly until Friday, February 27th at 10am! The full tube of Roller Lash Mascara will be $24.00!

Of course, since I just received it, I haven't tried it yet. I am really, really excited. I've seen demos of it on HSN, and it looks like it really works. I hope it gives my long lashes and gorgeous curl! 

Can we talk about how cute like, ALL Benefit products are? Yes.

Finally, I purchased another sale item on Sephora.com. The Buxom Two of a Kind Mistress & Hooligan mini lipstick set. 

This is a set of two mini lipsticks in the shades Mistress (a peony pink) and Hooligan (a mauvey plum). Both colors are so beautiful. The set of two usually runs for $18.00, but it's currently on sale for $15.00. I swatched both colors on my hand, and I love the rich and creamy, and hydrating texture. It's said to plump your lips with a beautiful satin finish. 

So there you have it! That's my mini Sephora.com haul! I hope I've sparked your interest on some of the products. 

And if you've tried any of these products, plan to try them, or have any suggestions, let me know! I'm going to have a new post on Monday about another Benefit product that I purchased prior to this haul.  I really love the whole idea of it, so it's worthy of its own post! 

I hope you all have an amazing weekend, and I apologize for being missing for so long. I will be back and on routine again on Monday! Until then, I shall put this ice pack back on my face and nurse my wisdom tooth-less mouth. 

Sending you all love, 

Christina Bracco

xoxoxoxo

For PR inquiries, comments, questions, concerns, please email: Christina.f.b@aol.com or fill out the Contact Form in the side bar. 

TWITTER  <--- CLICK AND FOLLOW ME HERE!!

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