Evening Skincare Routine

As a natural follow up to my morning skincare routine, I bring you my evening skincare routine. The video explains and shows you how I remove my makeup after a long day of work, cleanse, and nourish my skin. My skincare routine is very important to maintaining the health of my skin. Since my skin is so sensitive and acne-prone, if I skip even one night.morning of my routine, my skin will show it, via a break out or increased discoloration. Make sure to leave a comment telling me your favorite skincare products below! I hope you enjoy the video!

Products Mentioned:

Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil

Elemis Tri Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash

Mario Basdescu Glycolic Grapefruit Lotion 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, & Rosewater

The Balm Pomegranate Restorative Facial Serum

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm

Thanks for watching!

Claire

Morning Skincare Routine

A long awaited and much requested video, I bring you My Morning Skincare Routine. I love my skincare, there is no doubt about that, and in this video I give you mini reviews and show you how I use all my morning products. I also share a little on my philosophy behind my morning cleansing and moisturizing ritual. Do note, and proceed with caution, everyone's skin is different and may react differently to various ingredients and products. Something that works beautifully for me, can have adverse reactions on you. Thus, take advantage of samples and testers at your locals stores and counters. And always remember to patch test new skincare on a hard to see area on your neck/chin before going hog wild! Be sure to watch the video below to see how I start my day and the products that give me clear and hydrated skin! 

Make sure to stay tuned for my evening skincare routine and a third part featuring sunscreens, exfoliants, and treatments.

I hope you guys enjoyed the video and be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel and follow my blog to see more!

Thanks!

Empties: November 2013

The last day of December and I'm posting my November Empties. I've become such a cliche bad blogger. But I promise, I will not apologize. Empty products and mini reviews are fun to read/watch regardless of when and how long it took to finish the product. Moving on, November was a month of finishing large quantities of key hair styling products while also getting rid of a few products that have been needing to move out of my collection. Products to be missed are the Bumble & bumble prep and the Mario Badescu Keratoplast Cleansing Lotion. Be sure to check out the video below to watch my mini reviews on all the products listed.

Products Mentioned:

Dove Go Fresh Body Mist, Rebalance: Plum & Sakura Blossom
Banana Boat Protect & Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50*
Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap "Keep Calm Carve On" (Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin)*
Julep Facial For Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub*
the Balm En Root Moisturize My Hair Shampoo*
Bumble & bumble Color Minded Conditioner
DevaCurl Styling Cream*
Suave Kids Double Dutch Apple Detangling Spray*
Bumble & bumble Prep*
The Healing Garden Cleansing Body Wash Soothing White Tea
H&M Body Butter Coconut Line (discontinued)
Mario Badescu Keratoplast Cleansing Lotion*
Etre Belle Collagen & Aloe Vera Hydro Mask*
Origins Clear Improvement*
Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray*
Maybeline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer Radiant*

Travel/Sample Sizes

Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo*
Pureology Hydrate Conditioner*
L'Oreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing Conditioner*
Number 4 Hair Clarifying Shampoo
St. Ives Ultra Moisturizing Body Wash Oatmeal & Shea Butter
Korres Body Butter Apple Blossom*
Origins Modern Friction*
bareMinerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer*

* = will repurchase

Hope you enjoyed!

Love,
Claire

Empties: October 2013

Even though it's almost December I still thought I would share my October Empties. Ones I will miss are the Kiehl's Magic Elixer and the NUDE Day Moisturizer. These are definite repurchases down the line. As a product junkie, I've always got plenty of backups and more fun products to try. But every once in a while I come back to my tried and true products. I hope you enjoy the video linked below!

Products Mentioned:

the Balm En Root Moisturize My Hair Conditioner

Kiehl's Magic Elixer Hair Restructuring Concentrate with Rosemary Leaf & Avocado Oils*

LUSH Whoosh Shower Jelly*

Shiseido Facial Cotton*
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum*
Origins Clean Energy*
Butter London Acetone Free Lacquer Remover Pumpkin Warrior (discontinued)
Butter London Acetone Free Lacquer Remover Branwen's Berries (discontinued)
Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Hand Cream SPF 15

Marc Jacobs Lola Eau de Parfum Purse Spray*
Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Concealer Light*

Travel Sizes/Deluxe Samples:

Alterna Bamboo Style Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo

BVLGARI Eau Parfumee White Tea Shampoo & Shower Gel

Clarins Body Lift Cellulite Control

Shea Terra Organics Whipped Shea Butter Ultimate Moisturizing Body Creme Bourbon Vanilla*

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water*
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner*
Ole Henrikson Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster*
Murad Clarifying Cleanser
NUDE Perfect Cleansing Oil Face & Eyes
NUDE Radiant Day Moisturizer*
Algenist Overnight Restorative Cream*

Samples:

NARS Makeup Removing Water
Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Serum*
Chanel Le Blanc Brightening Moisturizing Cream

NEST Midnight Fleur Eau de Parfum*
bareMinerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer*
Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara*
Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Creme*
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch*

Hope you enjoyed!

Claire

Empties: August 2013

Many favorites this past month hit the dust. I had to say goodbye to a luxurious and unnecessary (but oh so pampering) love, my LUSH Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie; which I will be sure to repurchase next time I make my way to LUSH.

It's always frustrating that by the time I make it to finishing a product and talking about it in my Empties videos/posts, it's been discontinued. Unfortunately this month, two products that I really enjoyed are currently unavailable! Otherwise, I hope you find all the mini reviews helpful and interesting. Do note, that as I am a beauty product junkie, there is no judging needed for the hoards of product I pound through over the mere course of 30 days!

Products Mentioned:

Shiseido Facial Cotton*

Johnson's Baby No More Tears Shampoo Original*

Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser
Bath & Body Works Pocketbac Sanitizing Hand Gel Cilantro Peach (discontinued)*
Studio 35 Beauty Regular Nail Polish Remover Pad*
Andrea Modlash Strip Lash - 21 Black*
LUSH Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie*
Champneys Spa Indulgence Oriental Opulence Body Glow
Chaacoca Intense Hair Repair Treatment Mask with Argan Oil*
the Balm En Root Hairspray Flexible Hold*
Suave Kids Soft & Smooth Detangler Twirlin Swirlberry
True Blue Spa 60-Second Manicure Hand Scrub
Sephora Instant Nail Polish Remover
Butter London Acetone Free Lacquer Remover Pumpkin Warrior (discontinued)
Murad Clarifying Cleanser*
MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator*
Olay Fresh Effects S'wipe Out! Refreshing Make-up Removal Cloths
Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toner (reformulated)
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser*
Alchemie Forever Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask*
Clarisonic Sensitive Skin Brush Head*
Naruko Raw Job's Tears Supercritical CO2 Whitening Mask*
Maybeline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer Radiant*
Maybeline Baby Lips Peppermint

Travel/Sample Sizes:

Color Sustain Color Revealing Conditioner (x2)
Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask for Dry Hair*
Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Spray*
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray*
A! Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissues Cucumber*
Ole Henrikson Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster (x5)*
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate*
European Wax Center The Exfoliate
European Wax Center Slow IT Body Wash
Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Lotion
Dior Hydralife Youth Essential Concentrated Sorbet Essence*
Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream
bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener*
Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne*
Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne*
Stila Lip Glaze Lights (discontinued)*

* = I would repurchase

Be sure to let me know below if you have tried any of the products mentioned in the video!

Love,
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

Favorites: February 2013

Another month, another favorites video. This time around I had a lot more makeup bits than normal since I've been experimenting a bit more with different eye looks. I'm pretty settled in my skincare but there were still a few bits that I received as samples that really impressed me as well. Make sure to watch the video below to get a better and more detailed description of each product!

Products Mentioned:

The Balm Meet Matt(e) Nude Eyeshadow Palette

MAC All That Glitters

Maybeline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Amethyst

Nars Brozing Powder in Laguna

Mac Brush 109

Benefit Bella Bamba

Origins VitaZing

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Repair Eye Serum

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater

Hope you guys enjoyed!

Love,

Claire

Empties: September 2012

As per usual my makeup and beauty product addiction is blatantly obvious via my empties posts/videos. I still will never understand how it is possible that I finish this many products. Even though 95% of these products took more than a month to finish, I never realized how fast I fly through products. At least I know I'm getting my money's worth since I'm getting through the products and enjoying the whole process of trying out new things.

Products Mentioned:
The Balm Balms Away Eye Makeup Breakup*
Kenra Volume Spray Super Hold Finishing Spray #25*
Refresh Plus Lubricant Eye Drops*
Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment*
Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol Free Toner*
Earth Therapeutics Peach & Pasion Loofah Scrub*
Lush American Cream Conditioner*
Vitacare Multicare Acai Toothpaste
Ahava Hand Cream (old packaging & formula)
Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant in Natural Fresh*
H&M Coconut Lime Shower Cream*
MAC Wipes*
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen*
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream*
Studio 35 Beauty Textured Cotton Rounds
MAC Fast Respons Eye Cream*
Lush Curly Wurly Conditioning Shampoo*
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat*
Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Soothing Organic Milk & Oat Bath
Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara*

* = I would repurchase

Hope you guys enjoyed!
Love, Claire