Weekend Shopping: Banana Republic & Bobbi Brown

I am thrilled to report that this week's shopping trip was an unexpected success!  I ventured over to the Galleria with high hopes that I'd finally find some garments that I liked enough to buy.

Banana Republic had the entire store at 30% off this weekend and I scored two incredible dresses.  I don't buy the same garment in various colors very often, but this dress was so cute, flattering and work-appropriate that I just had to get it in both colors.  They were on sale for $41.99 each plus 30% off. I paid about $60 for both.

They don't look like much on the hanger, but when you see them on, I think you'll agree they are very cute!

My final clothing purchase was this gorgeous long cardigan from Armani Exchange.  Initially, I bought a long, oatmeal-colored cardigan at Nordstrom for $69.00 but when I stopped in at Armani Exchange, I liked the one I tried on there so much better and I went and returned the one I had gotten just 15 minutes before at Nordstrom. Yep, I was THAT customer. But a great LONG cardigan is hard to come by.  The Armani one was a little more at $88 but is much more interesting than the plain one I had purchased before. IRL it's a soft, dusty lilac color.

Lastly, I visited one of my favorite makeup counters, Bobbi Brown.  The girls there were SO sweet and helpful!  I picked up blush in the color "pale pink" because I read on The Possesionista's blog (in an interview she had with The Bachelor's Michelle Money) that it's the one she uses. Michelle's makeup was always so pretty on the show so I decided to try it out. It's similar to Bobbi Brown's peony but more of a cooler-toned pink. I also bought another long-wear gel liner because I was running low. This time, I got the color Black Plum which is a matte deep purple infused with black...it looks kind of like a purple infused with brown. Very pretty.

Did you have any luck shopping this weekend?  Let me know what you got in the comments below!

xoxo,

Veronika.

More Weekend Shopping: Forever21, Bobbi Brown, Buckle, Old Navy

I just realized that my shopping ban can't truly go into effect because I have to buy a baby shower gift and a birthday gift for my best friend...but those don't technically count, right? Because I'm buying for other people. Sigh. I will continue to work to not shop for myself. That's the goal.

EDIT- would you guys be interested in me having a blog sale? I've been going through my closet and I seriously haven't worn some of the stuff in a long time (or never!)  Let me know and I will post some for sale items. Thank you!!! :)

My lovely H and I both needed shorts. I own 2 pairs of shorts. One white (cargo style) and one pair of denim shorts (from Abercrombie, sigh.)

I wanted plain black shorts. Without all kinds of pockets or belts or pulls. Just plain.black.shorts. It took me SO many stores to find them but I finally found a cute pair at Buckle, which is great because I've never shopped there before.

I got the only size they had left (29) but they actually fit nicely because I can wear them low on my hips.  I like them. I think they were $32.00. I tried to buy on sale ladies, but no other stores had what I was looking for!

Next up, this pretty Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow by Bobbi Brown. I got the color Navajo (buy it here). I had tested out these cream shadows a few weeks ago and decided to come back to them when I read about them on The Beauty Bite blog.  When I came home, I realized exactly why I love the color. It's basically the cream version of MAC's eyeshadow in "blanc type" which is what I currently use on my entire lid/brow bone area to brighten it up (it's the only e/s I wear for the day.)

See how close they are? Here's some more photos:

I love the texture of the product from swatching it. I'll report back once I've used it for awhile but I have a good feeling about this one. I love love love Bobbi Brown's Longwear Gel Eyeliners so I can imagine I'll love this product too! It's great for summer when makeup tends to just slide right off if you're outside for awhile.

Next up, some purchases from Forever 21 with fitting room pics too!  First, I'll show the dress I didn't get:

I thought it was super cute but I have something really similar to it, a dress I wore to my cousin's wedding:

See? Very similar. I didn't "need" it.  Moving on, the next dress I bought was this cute party dress.  I'm going to wear it the next time I go out. It's low cut and is quite fitted. It's from the LOVE21 collection (XXI's more contemporary line.)

The color is gorgeous and even more beautiful than it photographs. On the hanger it's not much, but on it looks nice:

I really love the neckline on this dress. I think with a great pair of heels and a cute clutch it will be perfect!

The last item I got at Forever 21 was this pretty black dress/tunic with these cool sleeves that kind of are like lace, but not really. Not sure how to describe them. This was one of those pieces I took into the fitting room "just to see" and I ended up loving it the most out of everything!!!

It looks kind of blah/odd on a hanger, but on, I just love.

Right after lunch (at Panera, YUM!!!), we stopped in at Old Navy because they were having lots of sales. I picked up a hot pink sports bra for $3.97 (down from $15) and a tank top for about $6.97.

I think I did pretty well today :) I'm really excited to wear that black dress. I'm not sure what I'll wear it with yet but I'll figure it out!

Before I go, I wanted to share my nail polish fail from yesterday. I used the new glitter nail polish I got at Sephora (That's Bouquet With Me) over OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark and well... it doesn't look great. My husband said my toes reminded him of a bowling ball/ "the kind of nail polish strippers would wear." Hey, at least he was honest.

Excuse the messy paint job:

It's a bit more Halloween than "daily wear" to me, so I'm redoing it tonight. I tried!

By the way, I used the new Kate Spade bag today and it felt amazing to not have to carry a massive bag with me when I went shopping! So glad I got it!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

 Ask Me Anything- On Formspring!

How-To: Glowing, Highlighted Skin & My Face Makeup Routine (Requested)

I got a question on my formspring page today so I decided to make an entire post about it because it's a frequently asked question.

Here is my skin makeup routine, step by step:

(I am REALLY sorry about the formatting and I've tired everything to fix it and can't :( )

1.  Moisturize freshly washed skin with Neutrogena Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin all over skin. I brush my teeth as I wait for it to sink in.

 

2.  Next, I use my Sigma Foundation Brush to apply MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 to any red areas of my skin (the sides of my nose, between brows, around corners of mouth- anywhere I have unevenness or pigmentation...or a blemish.) Note that I also apply the concealer to my eyelids as a primer. I like my eyelids to have an even look and this helps to achieve that.

3.  Next I apply MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (my color is C3) with Sigma's powder brush to my entire face and bringing it down onto my neck and into my hairline so there are no obvious lines (this isn't as common with powder formulas, but still).  I always use a big powder brush to apply Studio Fix because I believe it gives a more airbrushed and flawless finish.

4.  After my powder, I apply my concealer and eye highlighter to my eye area. Please note that you can do this before applying the powder, but sometimes it's nice to do it after because the "glow" will show more.  I've been using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector Concealer Pen, which I really like.  I apply it directly from the tube and then use a Sigma eyeshadow blending brush to blend it. I know that sounds odd but I recently saw a YouTube Guru do it and it's a nice way to get a soft, blended sort of diffused look.

Yesterday though, I purchased a new Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector and also the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Concealer.

I can't do a full review because today is the first day I used it, but I will say it is very creamy when it goes on so I have to be careful to use just a tiny amount to get the desired look.  Here is the highlight/concealer pen swatched:

I got it in the color "light". Above is with flash and below is without.

I truly think all women should be using highlighting products for their skin. It makes a big difference- it can awaken tired eyes, perk-up a tired complexion and add brightness and warmth to your skin and features. 

The other concealer I got is the Dream Matte Mousse. Here it is swatched:

and blended...

Here is the Age Rewing concealer and highlighter on my eyes after an entire day at work (so this is what it looked like at 6:30PM- I applied it at about 7:30AM)

So basically I apply a dot of each side of the concealer/highlighter and use the brush to delicately buff the product into place. Please note I have Benefit's "Eye Bright"pencil on the inner corners of my eyes as well.

 

5.  At this point I would do my eyes, but I have another post about that here.

6. After my eyes, I apply my bronzer. My HOLY GRAIL bronzer is NARS "Laguna."

I use once again my Sigma large powder brush to apply it.  I am not a contour kind of girl. Some women only use bronzer as a facial contouring makeup, but I just use it to add warmth to my skin.  So I apply it to my hairline/upper forehead, my nose, my cheeks and a tiny bit on my chin with whatever is left on the brush. You must also apply this to your neck sparingly so it's all even.

 

7.  After the bronzer, I use NARS' The Multiple in "Luxor" on my cheek bones. I literally just use the product right from the tube and apply it in a line on each cheekbone. Then I use my finger to blend out. I recently added this to my daily routine and love it. I was previously not highlighting my cheek bones, but then I rediscovered my love for the NARS Luxor and decided to add it in.

 8.  After highlight, I use Bobbi Brown blush in "peony" on the apples of my cheeks.  It is my holy grail blush. I own other blushes, but this is the one that makes me feel the most pretty, so I use it the most often.

 

That's it :)

If you have any questions about my skin makeup, please leave me a comment OR ask me on formspring.

Thanks so much for reading and have a lovely evening!

xoxo,

Veronika.