stylebydesign
Style by Design
Engineering personal style and a beauty-filled life. 5'4", 140 lbs, and curly hair.
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What I got from Le Tote - Jan 2018
I’ve got a new mail-order love in my life, and it’s called Le Tote.
This first box is work themed because I desperately needed work appropriate wear while traveling for business. Basically, I was already traveling when I found out I needed to give a presentation to a lot of very professional people!
Le Tote is supposed to be able to style you based on a quiz you take, but I ended up picking out the items myself because the automatic selections weren't work themed and I basically needed a blazer. To be safe, I selected two blazers and a work appropriate dress, plus two necklaces.
Here is how I styled the necklaces with some of my own clothes, which happen to be black. I do own a lot of black though, because I can pair them with so many different accessories and I do think that no one really notices the same black basics.
I love the chunky clear stone necklace. It gives me stylish-millenial-professional vibes. It's almost oversized and almost a statement necklace, but the short length and clear color tone it down to business-like.
The long necklace is from The Sak and I like the not-quite-lariat style. In my opinion, true lariats aren't very flattering in practice (as in the two ends fly around way too much). This split pendant hangs nicely and is more interesting than regular pendants. The end of the pendant is a white marbled stone, which I think gives the long pendant a classic twist.
For my two days giving presentations, I wore the two blazers paired with dresses. The dress from Le Tote was made of ponte fabric, which I like for being stretchy while having enough heft to hide things that need hiding. However, the fit was tight both in the bust and waist, so I ended up keeping the blazer on to hide those areas. Also, the dress has a triangle cut-out in the back that didn't sit well on my silhouette. Probably a petite size in the same dress would have been a better fit.
I really like the grey blazer, which is strechy, has a pretty lining material, and fit like a glove. On both blazers, I needed to iron the collar to keep it from rolling when worn. The black blazer is an open fit with no buttons and I didn't find the large lapel style particularly flattering. The blazer is creative though, with velvet shoulder pads, and I like that it gave a bit of life to a basic black blazer.
I'm pretty happy with this box. The quality is medium, I would say -- the pieces are good enough to not look cheap, but they are not the kind of pieces to last for years and years. I definitely appreciated that both blazers had a lining.
You can try Le Tote free for one month with my referral link: Le Tote
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Final Thoughts on IPSY
June 2017 was my last bag, (regrettably) one month shy of the Gudetama bag. I cancelled primarily out of practicality; I wasn’t sure what address I would be using to receive mail in the coming weeks and months so I cancelled to be on the safe side. It was a busy and hectic time overall, hence, no posts on my May and June bags.
In total, I purchased 14 glam bags, starting in May of last year. I discovered new brands that I now love, and learned that some things aren’t for me (all primers break me out!). Some products have inspired me to permanently change my makeup routine, and some samples are now in full time rotation in my beauty bag.
I really appreciate IPSY as a way to broaden horizons and try on different styles or formulations. That said, none of the samples inspired me to buy full-size versions or repurchase the same product either because I won’t run out or the product isn’t unique enough that other products can’t achieve the same effect.
In retrospect, I think the novelty of sample size products had worn off, and I’m ready to explore styles and looks with the vault of products I already own.
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April IPSY Bag
A bit late but still technically April! This month’s IPSY glam bag surprised me in that I thought I would really hate the bag, but I don’t. The color is really appealing in person and the texture is sort of rubbery and thick. I feel like this bag would be really protective of compacts for traveling. The super hyped products this month were Colourpop eye liners and the Lisa Frank makeup brush.
The Lisa Frank brush is super generous as a bag item, but it’s not my style at all. I know a lot of people had Lisa Frank products growing up and this is a great throwback for them, but it doesn’t hold any nostalgia for me. This brush is on a pre-release through Ipsy and you can’t buy it yet from the company, Glamour Dolls.
My eyeliner came in Swerve, which apparently is the black shade. I was a little bit hoping for a fun shade to get me into more daring looks, but at least with black I’ll definitely use it.
The Ciate Bamboo Bronzer is decent. It’s a matte bronzer and I received the shade Star Island, which is the lighter of two shades. Bronzer is one of my favorite makeup products and I don’t love this shade, but it’s wearable. I actually like a bit darker, a bit shimmier bronzers, so if you’re going for subtle shading on light-medium skin, Star Island would work great.
This month had a skin care sample from Eau Thermale Avene. I received the Rich Compensating Cream, which comes with lots of claims over hydrating and repairing skin with plant-derived building blocks. With a 5 mL sample, there isn’t enough to see these effects, so all I can say is it feels like a nice moisturizer.
My favorite product of the bag this month has already made it into my daily rotation. The Adesse New York Cupuacu Butter Lip Balm has a retail value of $24! It makes my lips feel super nice and has a nice pink shimmer as well.
Overall, another enjoyable bag from Ipsy. Even though I don’t use and/or would have chosen to purchase every item I receive, Ipsy satisfies my makeup craving so that I don’t go and put in a large online order of things that I also don’t need.
#ipsy#glam bag#ipster#april glam bag#lisa frank#makeup#beauty#skin care#unboxing#subscription box#monthly subscription#ciatelondon#aveneeauthermale#adesse#ColourPop
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I tested out the Moda Prismatic brushes!
I’m never going to shell out the money for the actual Artis oval makeup brushes, so my review of the Moda brushes are on their on merit and won’t be a comparison.
The design is definitely hopping on the unicorn/mermaid bandwagon. I’m not super into the colors, but I don’t hate them either. As an affordable version of Artis, I’ll put up with some color.
I’ve seen a lot of talk about Amazon dupe sets, but I’m just not comfortable buying a huge set of brushes by a company I don’t know. These Moda brushes are made by Royal & Langnickel, a brand which I’ve tried and like. I find their brushes to be high quality and I found out that the company originally produced art brushes and later on expanded to makeup brushes.
The fact that these brushes were designed for sale at Walmart made me a bit uneasy about their quality. Myself, I picked up the set at Ipsy instead. These are made of plastic, which is different from other Royal & Langnickel products which are made of metal, but they do feel sturdy.
I was surprised by how the handle flexes a bit in use. I guess this might be a perk for using less pressure, but I don’t feel I have as much control so I steady the brush (the big one particularly) with a finger on the back. The bristles are in fact super dense, just like the Artis ones are supposed to be, and spread foundation very thinly so that a little goes a long way. I’m happy with the brushes based on what I’ve heard of the Artis brushes, so I’d say they
#oval makeup brushes#artis#moda#royal & langnickel#ipsy#brush set#mermaid brushes#unicorn brushes#makeup review#beauty#foundation
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Talc-free Setting Powder Roundup!
I set my makeup with powder almost every day because I think that a powdered look is more professional than a dewy finish. I do like dewy looks, which tend to make you look younger, but I save those for weekends, if I wear makeup at all. Currently, I use the NYX Translucent Powder, which is really just a pure silica powder, and theBalm Sexy Mama. I was curious what other products are out there if, heaven forbid, these are ever discontinued. I'm looking for definitely talc-free formulations, and preferably paraben free as well.
Talc-free Setting Powders by style-bydesign featuring Laura Mercier
Drugstore Setting Powders
1. NYX Cosmetics Studio Finishing Powder, Translucent $10
My favorite! Great price and silica only
I might also try out the #NoFilter Finishing Powder, which is colored and also talc-free
2. Milani Prep + Set + Go Transparent Setting Face Powder $10
Reviews complain about flashback, but maybe it is usable in small quantities
5. L.A. Girl Pro Setting Powder $6
Same as the NYX powder (silica only) and even cheaper.
Ulta Mineral Setting Powder $14
Not all that cheap, and contains parabens
The regular Ulta powder contains talc
Wet and Wild Take on the Day Mattifying Powder $5
This powder doesn't have great reviews, unlike the new Photo Focus powder (which has color, but also talc)
Inglot Translucent Loose Powder $13
High End Setting Powders
3. theBalm Sexy Mama Anti-Shine Translucent Powder $20
My other favorite! Feels silkier than the NYX powder and looks great all day.
4. bareMinerals Mineral Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 25 $22
Contains titanium dioxide for spf
bareSkin Perfecting Veil Pressed Powder $26 is also talc-free but doesn't come in a translucent shade
Aesthetica Translucent Loose Setting Powder $20
I've never heard of this brand but reviews are good.
Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder $30
This isn't the super popular Laura Mercier powder! The invisible powder only has two ingredients, calcium aluminum borosilicate and silica.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Aging Micro-Powder $24 or Pressed Anti-Aging Finishing Powder $29.
100% Pure Cosmetics Bamboo Blur Powder $39
A silica only product!
Make Up Forever HD Powder $36 and Pressed Powder $37
The loose powder is 100% silica while the compact has other ingredients including hyaluronic acid.
Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder $37
The MAC translucent powders appear to be talc-free, but their ingredient information is not readily available
Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder $27 and Prep + Prime Transparent Pressed Powder $27
Set Powder in Invisible $33
Becca Multi-Tasking Perfecting Powder $34
A colored talc-free and paraben-free powder
Popular setting powders that aren't talc-free!
Maybelline Fit Me Translucent Powder, either Matte and Poreless formula or Set and Smooth formula $8
I used to use this powder exclusively as foundation! I'm shade 225 or 220, and the same in the liquid foundation.
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent $5
RCMA No Color Powder $12
Coty AirSpun Loose Face Powder $15
Maybelline Facestudio Master Fix Setting Plus Perfecting Powder $8
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder $38
Tarte Smooth Operator™ Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder $33
Lorac POREfection Baked Perfecting Powder $33
Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pressed Powder $30
Dermablend Loose Setting Powder $27 or Compact Setting Powder $27
Lastly, the Vichy Dermafinish Loose Translucent Setting Powder $21 is 100% talc.
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Blues-ing into April with an easter egg mani.
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A monochromatic look, in blush pink no less! I find this color to be really flattering on me personally and useful as a light neutral. You know they make a Burberry trench in this shade right? *swoon*
Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall 2016 Fashion Show
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My first Colourpop purchase has arrived and I couldn’t help playing with them right away. I’m wearing Fringe (super shock ultra-glitter shadow) on the lid and Going Rogue (super shock pearlized) in the inner corner and on the browbone. On my lips, I have the Ultra Glossy Lip in Aquarius, and it is literally the exact color of my lips.
In total, I bought four shadows (Fringe, Going Rogue, One by One, and Birthday Girl) and three lippies (Aquarius trio pack with an Ultra Glossy, Ultra Satin, and Ultra Matte).
#haul#colourpop#super shock shadow#fringe#going rogue#aquarius#ultra glossy#fotd#try on haul#beauty#makeup#eyeshadow
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When I wear my Joe’s Jeans with my cashmere Elie Tahari cowl-neck sweater and Frye Boots I feel like I am a force to be respected, listened to, and appreciated. This outfit has the power to cancel out a bad hair day or hot mess of a kitchen as I walk out the door.
Love this philosophy! It takes time, intention, and confidence to pull off, but I would bet it’s well worth it.
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Zendaya is supremely stylish.
Upcoming Spiderman: Homecoming actress Zendaya in Christian Siriano with a Kate Spade bag photographed by James Perry for Harper’s Bazaar, May 2015.
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Here’s a secret beauty product: Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Cream with Aloe
Use it as a night cream for damaged skin and it really does provide healing. I applied this twice when my face was damaged from sun and weather when I thought it would take days for my face to heal from texture and redness, but I was back to normal in one to two days.
If you have super dry skin because of the season and your regular beauty-brand night creams aren’t providing enough healing, you might want to try this.
#beauty hack#drugstore#beauty#skin care#gold bond#night cream#moisturizer#healing#redness#texture#sun damage
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Tried this little item out from The Body Shop and it does something! I actually really like the color it becomes on me and it's basically a lip balm so it's super lightweight.
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For Morenike Fajana, a public interest tenant lawyer, each workday can be different. Her daily schedule — appearing in court, meeting with clients, working in the office or going to see someone’s home — dictates what she wears. But no matter what, Morenike strives to look professional. “I already look young,” she says. “I’ve had clients ask if I was an intern. I don’t want them to be like, ‘Who is this person that I am trusting with my housing situation and my life?'” Ahead, she shows us five go-to outfits, including a fun weekend look…
This woman is schooling in how to wear booties! And this is me taking notes.
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I’m in the market for new sneakers, especially ones that will look great in spring. I’m feeling the white and light grey, maybe with detailing in light pink or light blue. I want the kind of shoes that look just as fine with black leggings and a comfy sweater at the airport as they do with a mini summer dress. More ideas saved in my likes.
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This is so gosh freaking beautiful. Click through to see a whole bunch of images.
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Location: Manhattan Beach Pier Top: Forever21 Coat: Macy's
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March Ipsy Bag
You are beautiful! I really love the design this month. The bag quality was a little bit less than I expected, but I do like that it’s bigger. On to the goodies! I received a Beau Gachis brush that feels really nice but I haven’t used it yet. The other Beau Gachis product I received was a really awesome beauty blender, so I’m excited for this brush. Then a Tarte lip paint, I believe in a matte finish. I received a glossy finish lip paint a few months ago. A Pur concealer, a moisturizer by the brand First Aid Beauty, which I’ve never heard of before, and then an eye crayon much like the Maybelline Eye Tattoos from the brand Eyeko. The color of the crayon is a pretty awful taupe, though, so I’m not sure how I’ll ever use it. Overall, not the most exciting bag, but I’ve had plenty of awesome bags before so I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for next month.
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