My new favorite foundation: Urban Decay Naked liquid foundation

So with all the talk of BB creams and CC creams and ZZ creams (OK, I made that last one up), is the classic foundation a thing of the past? Well beauty fanatics, not to worry, foundations will always be a staple in every makeup bag, and lately they've been impressing me more than ever.

First, I was on the mineral foundation wagon, for a solid couple of years! Then I fell in love with BB creams, and I fell hard -- sampling any and every BB I could get my paws on. First it was the Asian ones like Skin79 and then the American ones like Smashbox, Garnier, etc., etc. And then I tried the whole no-makeup routine using just a little concealer and mattifying powder.

Anyways, a lovely Sephora employee encouraged me to try out Urban Decay's latest foundation wonder: the Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup and can I just say ... I adore it! I would say the coverage is medium, but you can build your coverage if you like medium to full, or even apply it to be more sheer. For the most sheer coverage, you can add a drop to your moisturizer (just a little tip for your dry winter skin!).

A little background: my skin is a little on the shiny/oily side and prone to acne and breakouts (a variety of types, from clear-ish skin to nightmare-ish skin). So, acne-prone and combination or oily skin types rejoice -- This foundation will mattify without drying, even out your skin tone, and flaunt a natural finish. I love the natural finish because I don't look shiny or dull, just pleasantly glowing.

There are no sparkles, no shimmer -- just a smooth natural finish. The usual oily t-zone shines through like clock work with most liquid (and powder too, actually) foundations for me, usually by lunch time, but not with this bad boy.

More pro's: It lasts soooo long. This is a keeper; it lasts all day. Sun up to sun down. That's rare. No primer needed here.

Application: I use my finger tips and it spreads so easily. It may seem like a runny consistency in comparison to other foundations, but it's certainly not watery or lacking in pigment (the pigment rocks). I find that when I use my foundation brush, I use more product, so finger tips work best for me. Exfoliate and moisturize first for the best result.

And lastly, the color ... there are plenty of shades to choose from. Whether your skin tone is cool or warm or somewhere in between, you're likely to find something that blends seamlessly with your natural shade.

With a steep price tag of $38, you may be skeptical about dishing out that much doe, but personally, I find it's worth it for a long-lasting, satisfying product. And this beauty blogger is quite satisfied with Urban Decay's Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup.

Rock a bold hair hue this fall

Colored hair no longer marks a punk. It's claimed its spot in couture, on red carpets, and on Pinterest as one of the hottest ways to showcase your personality and stand out. Dying your hair an  unnatural color can be edgy or girly, wild or mature; it really just depends on your hair style and the shade(s) you choose that create the vibe. I mean just look to Katy Perry for a prime example of the way a new hair color/cut/style completely changes up your look, and in a dramatic way. The dark purples and subtle pinks look sophisticated and chic. Those bright sherbert styles kind of remind me of Rainbow Brite, or My Little Pony, or Lisa Frank. Either way, I totally love it.

Here's your hair coloring inspiration if you're thinking about dying your locks. Be sure to check your work's dress code policy to see if there are any restrictions on hair color!

Makeup brush guide

Ever feel overwhelmed by the variety of brushes? I found this handy little guide on Pinterest and thought I'd share it with you fellow beauty-lovers!

My own edits: Angled eyeliner brush shouldn't be in the essential category, in my opinion. I use either pencil eyeliner or liquid so I've never needed it. You might use the angled eyeliner brush if you use gel eyeliner, eyeshadow as eyeliner, etc. Swap that out for the crease brush. How is crease brush not in the essential category?! It's virtually impossible to have a well-blended smokey eye without a crease brush. But anyways, this chart may come in handy for you, so enjoy!

Be sure to care for you brushes -- use Bare Minerals Quick Change or Ulta Professional brush cleaning spray between uses. Simply spray onto a paper towel or directly on the brush, and then wipe it off on a paper towel. You'll see just how much product was on there. Once a week, shampoo brushes with Bare Minerals brush cleaning shampoo or even baby shampoo.

Rock a fuchsia lip like Ashley Greene on the red carpet

WOW. Look at Ashley Greene in Donna Karan couture at "The Apparition" premiere. That dress, the lip color ... hello gorgeous! With the final installment of "Twilight Breaking Dawn Part II" just a few months away, I'd be a little worried if I were  Kristen Stewart or any other female gracing the red carpet for the premiere. How do you stand next to that?!

Ashley is a force to be reckoned with, and she's knocking the ball out of the park with her glammed-out beauty and style. So naturally, we want to copy her!

So, to take a little inspiration from this look into every day, whether it's the office or a sexy date, pair a fuchsia dress with a matching fuchsia lipstick. This dress from Express rings in at $69.90.

Pair the dress with this Makeup Forever lipstick in Pearly Fuchsia. 

You can rock the fuchsia lipstick with a formal dress, a sassy short dress, or of course, just a simple and casual outfit. Ashley Greene knows it, and now you do to. If you're trying the fuchsia look this season, tweet your photos to me @PrettyinPrestig.

Jojoba oil: the multi-tasking beauty staple you need

I'm never opposed to a Sephora product binge, like ever.

But you know, sometimes the most effective ingredients are right in front of your nose ... like in your kitchen or medicine cabinet (shout outs to tea tree oil, baking powder, calamine lotion, and honey for amazing spot treatments). 

There are so many natural remedies for your skin, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to begin. Most importantly, use a product that will address your particular skin concern (duh). Some products, though, can do wonders for any and all skin types. Enter the star of the show ... jojoba oil. This is one of my all-time favorite natural products that I always have in stock, and I use it for everything! With anti-inflammatory properties, it's amazing for my acne-prone skin.

So, where does jojoba oil come from? Well, Native Americans of the Southwest harvested this incredible multi-tasking oil from the jojoba shrub. According to Acne.org, it's actually not technically an oil, but rather a wax ester, and it's quite similar to your own skin's natural oil (one of the reasons that jojoba is non-comedogenic). 

Jojoba has so many uses, it's a beauty staple you absolutely must have within reach. I highly recommend it! Here are 5 uses for jojoba oil:

1. Facial moisturizer. Add a few drops to your moisturizer to give your skin a moisture boost. It's also said that since jojoba oil mimics your skin's oil, you can actually trick your skin into thinking it's already oily, and as a result it won't produce as much oil! I'm not sure if that's true. Oil does fight oil though! I like to use it straight; it moisturizes wonderfully by itself (I have oily skin -- doesn't make my skin oily. Just use moderately).

2. Makeup remover, face & eyes. Even the most stubborn mascara will melt away. Rub the oil into the skin, then rinse and buff away with warm water and a wash cloth. Use as a cleanser/makeup remover alone, or follow up with your usual cleanser if you like more of a squeaky clean feel. PS - extra virgin olive oil also works well for removing makeup!

3. Conditioner, leave-in conditioner. Apply oil to damp hair, but avoid roots. Concentrate the oil mostly on the ends. Rinse out, or leave in. If you're using it as a leave-in, only use a small amount of oil, just enough to coat your strands very lightly. If you suffer from a dry scalp, massage some jojoba oil into the scalp for relief.

4. Softening treatment for feet. Apply oil generously to feet, wrap in gauze, put on cozy fluffy socks. After an hour, remove socks and gauze and be amazed at how soft your feet are.

5. Massage oil. It's perfect for sensitive skin, or even those sensitive to the strong fragrances of other massage oils. 

You can order jojoba oil online or get some in store from your local Whole Foods. Presently, I'm using Desert Essence.

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume -- Sky-high lashes, low-budget price

I am so excited to review Revlon's PhotoReady 3D Volume mascara today. I recently purchased this bad boy for just $6.74 from Target (plus I had a coupon so it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 bucks for me!).

To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I've never used a Revlon mascara before and I hadn't really heard much about them. I've used tons of prestige and drugstore brands, but usually I'm pretty loyal to CoverGirl Lash Blast (24-hour, or the regular orange tube with a coat of Blinc tubing mascara on top), as well as Benefit's They're Real.

Both LashBlast and They're Real have amazing brushes -- kind of a like a fusion between a regular big, fluffy-bristled wand and a defining comb, so you really get the volume and definition with each stroke.

What I love about Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume is that it has that same type of brush that can be found on CoverGirl's Lash Blast and Benefit's They're Real, which is pretty difficult to find! But a brush alone isn't enough for me; I need a formula that will last all day without flaking into my eyes (urrggg, that's the worst), that doesn't smell raunchy (husband always complains when I wear smelly Maybelline), and that looks like I put on a pair of false lashes because my eyelashes look that fabulous.

Those are my criteria for approving of a mascara and for repurchasing. I can say with confidence, Revlon's PhotoReady 3D volume is all those things and more. It boasts great volumizing power, but   this would also be a perfect fit for someone who really desires definition and length for their eyelashes. It looks beautiful by itself (see photos below), and with a full-face of makeup for a special event. It's hard to believe I haven't heard of this mascara, but I sure hope it gains a loyal following because I can't imagine life without it now that I've tried it. Thank you Revlon!

 An eye without mascara, and an eye with the Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume:

Left eye with Revlon mascara, right side without any mascara:

Both sides coated with Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume mascara:

Where have you been all my life Body Shop?

Have you ever had one of those beauty moments where you're like, OMG, where has this product been all my life?! 

I have recently had this revelation the moment when the Body Shop entered my life this week. Of course, I have passed by the Body Shop numerous times in many different malls, and I've always been intrigued by those delicious body butters, although with body lotions, I'm usually just expecting them in stockings or as gifts and such, so I don't really go out of my way to purchase them. Is that strange?

But anyways, on this particular day, I was on a mission for a mask. After slinking away from Lush disappointed that they were out of all of their masks (I know, crazy), curiosity got the best of me and I waltzed into the Body Shop. 

"Do you guys carry masks?" After taking a quick survey of the store, I realized that was as silly as asking a Sephora consultant if they carry makeup. But hey, I was a Body Shop virgin, so to speak.

After the nice lady gave me some very helpful suggestions, I purchased the Mineral Warming Mask (good for all skin types) so I could share it with my husband. The associate gave it a very high rating for giving a nice "deep clean." She was right! Not only that, but applying it feels like you're getting a professional spa treatment. I was shocked just how hot the mask gets when you rub it on your skin ... not too hot, but quite warm indeed! I have oily and acne-prone skin and my husband has flawless skin but can be more on the dry side. Works great for both.

The associate also gave me a little sample pot of the tea tree mask, and oh my word, this mask tingles and cools like no other and leaves skin feeling smooth after. Great on oily and/or break-out prone skin! Next time I'm at the mall, I will undoubtedly purchase this mask, too.

All in all, I can't say enough good things about these two masks. I couldn't believe I haven't been shopping at the Body Shop my entire life, but I'm so very glad I have started, because there are some very appealing products that are calling my name ... Hello peppermint foot treatments!