Best of 2015: Makeup

Another year has passed and even though I haven't really been active on either my YouTube channel or this blog, I have of course accumulated another pile of makeup that I think is worth the mention. After much speculative review and testing, these are the products that have made it into my Best of 2015: Makeup video. I hope you guys enjoy and be sure to be on the lookout for the Hair & Body edition as well as my personal favorite, skincare. 

Also, be sure to subscribe to both the blog and YouTube channel if you enjoy these videos! 

Love, 

Claire

Empties: January - March 2015

An epically large empties that had to be split up into two videos! 

I'm still in shock that I kept all those products for such a long time to share with you. I hope you guys enjoy the video and be sure to like and subscribe to see more!

Love, 

Claire

2013 Favorites: Makeup & Nails

2013 was a year that I discovered so many amazing products I know will be in my arsenal for years to come. This includes Burberry Cosmetics, a brand I got my paws into at the beginning of the year and immediately became obsessed. At the end of 2013, Marc Jacobs (specifically their blushes) really stood out to me and will certainly be a line that I'll be diving further into over 2014.Even though the video doesn't contain in depth reviews on these much loved products, it is a great way to get an understanding of who I am as a makeup junkie :)

Products Mentioned:

Foundations/BB Creams

Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45

Concealers

Maybeline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer Radiant

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Waterproof Concealer

Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Creme

Powders

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder Light Plus

Burberry Sheer Powder No.2

Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

Bronzing/Contouring

Burberry Warm Glow Nude Glow No. 3

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder Medium

Highlighting
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter SPF 25+ Moonstone
Benefit High Beam

Blush

Jouer Mineral Powder Blush Rose

Nars Blush Douceur

Marc Jacobs Shameless Bold Blush 206 Reckless

Stila Convertible Color Peony

Eyeshadow

Burberry Eye Shadows

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection

Laura Mercier Artist Palette (limited edition)

Jouer Creme Eyeshadow Crayon Baroque

Eyeliner

Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner Rue Bonaparte

Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes 19L

Brows

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel

Kevyn Aucoin 'The Precision' Brow Pencil Brunette

Lipstick/Lip Crayon

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipsticks

NYX Black Label Lipsticks

MAC Viva Glam II

L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Balm Tender Mauve

Maybeline Vivids Lipsticks

Nars Lip Pencils

Too Faced La Creme Lipsticks

Lipgloss

MAC Cremesheen Glasses

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Glosses

Lip Liner

Makeup Forever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencils

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils

Nails

Julep Cleopatra (Black Latex)

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquers

Essie Disappearing Trick

Other

Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray

Fragrance

MAC Turquatic

Hope you enjoyed!
Love,
Claire

FOTD: Ox Blood Lashes

Today's look is on a slight twist to an easy every day eye. Over the last couple months this has become my go to look when I'm in need of something flattering, fresh, and work appropriate. The star of the show is YSL's Faux Cils Mascara in No.5 Deep Burgundy. This beautiful mascara not only lengthens and thickens, but gives a slight burgundy tint to lashes. As you can see form the photos below, from certain angles, the color can be seen.

As much as I love this luxury product, the focus is on the color, which can be found on the drugstore market as well. For dark brown eyes, I truly recommend trying this slight variation out. For the rest of the face, I used one of my favorite foundations, the Liole Triple the Solution BB Cream and the Maybeline Dream Lumi Concealer in Radiant under the eyes. As always, I set my under eye concealer with Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder. 

 I did a typical combination of neutrals on the eyes: Maybeline's Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all as a base, Sigma Command all over the lid, Sigma Publicize on the brow bone and inner corner, and Urban Decay Tease in the crease. I also dusted a little of Sigma Surrender in the outer "V" of the eye. This little Sigma trio that you see above is a free gift with purchase that came with a brush set a couple years ago. I also lined my waterline and lower lash line with the Rimmel ScandalEyes in Brown.

After completing the eyelook, I went back to the face and set my foundation with Burberry's Sheer Powder in Porcelain No. 2, bronzed and contoured with Burberry's Warm Glow in Nude Glow No. 03, and highlighted with Dior Amber Diamond. Finally I dusted MAC's Lured to Love on the cheeks and MAC Viva Glam II on the lips.

Hope you enjoyed!
Love,
Claire

Favorites: October 2013

As the seasons change I turn back to favorites that have been my tried and true moisturizing and exfoliating products. Colder weather means it's time to hydrate the skin, slap on darker nail polish, and pamper time in the shower/bath. Oils, glycolic acid, and black nail polish galore, check out my October Favorites in the video below!

Products Mentioned:

Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner
L'Occitane Cleansing & Softening Shower Oil with Almond Oil
Bobbi Brown 'Soothing' Cleansing Oil
Skin 79 Rose Moisture Mask
Alpha-H Liquid Gold
Estee Lauder 'Idealist' Even Skintone Illuminator
MAC Mineralize Blush Lured to Love (Divine Night Collection)
Burberry Sheer Luminous Pressed Powder No. 2 Porcelain
Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils - Luxurious Mascara No. 5 Burgundy
Julep Cleopatra

In the video I mentioned that the L'Occitane Almond Oil 500 mL bottle is only available during the holidays. This is no longer the case and it can be purchased all year. However a great deal is rather than repurchasing the larger size, but getting refills for $12 cheaper for the same amount of product!

Hope  you enjoyed!

Claire

FOTD 3-13-13

I thought I would start a new series here on the blog. Face of the Days aren't new friends with blogs, but definitely new to The Makeup Architect. I think they are great ways for me to share the makeup that I'm using, and a way for me to share mini reviews on the products I'm trying out. Let me know what you guys think and if I should continue with these kinds of posts. Hopefully yes, because I thought it was so fun to do!

For the look I first started out by smoothing the Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum all over my face. I'm enjoying this product sample, but not enough to shell out the money, it's good, but not life changing. After letting that set and sink in, I used my trusty Chanel Lift Lumiere Foundation in Ivoire (14). This is one of my favorite (and most expensive) foundations. It gives a beautiful satin finish and the medium coverage, buildable foundation lasts all day (the plastic packaging is obviously not very durable).

To cover the dark circles under my eyes and the redness around my nose I used my MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW 20. This is a full coverage and very blendable long-lasting product. My only complaints are the smell and the over zealous pump dispenser, otherwise its perfect for those of us with those genetic deep purple under eyes. To ensure that there would be no creasing and migrating into the fine lines under my eyes, I used the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil to set the concealer. To cover my blemishes and scars, my favorite is the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW 20, it doesn't budge all day once it's been set with powder; this time was my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

MAC's Bare Study Paint Pot served as the perfect base for the star of the show, my new Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in Rosewood. This is THE ultimate in luxury eyeshadows. There is no going back now that I've tried this shadow, it has reset my standards for the possibilities of makeup; over dramatic much? I placed rosewood all over the lid, into the crease, and took it under the eye. I used The Balm shadows from the Nudetude Palette; Sultry to blend out the crease and Sassy on the brow bone as as inner corner highlight. Finally, a little brown eyeliner, Nars Laguna as a contour, Tarte Magic on the cheeks, Revlon Coral Reef on the lips, and Covergirl Clump Crusher Waterproof on the lashes.

This has been my go-to-lookfor a while now and I am absolutely in love with it!

Hope you guys enjoyed!
Love,
Claire