The Multistick by Bite Beauty Review

As you may remember from my previous post reviewing the May 2016 Play! by Sephora Box, I recently discovered Bite Beauty and really enjoyed my first experience trying out one of their products. I love the bold, color-rich pigments offered by this prestige beauty brand. So, naturally, when Influenster contacted me about reviewing their latest product - The Multistick - I did not hesitate for a minute!

Susanne Langmuir, Founder & Creator of Bite Beauty noticed that women often use their lipsticks as blush and eyeshadow when they're in a pinch. So, she wanted to create a multi-purpose beauty product that would be blendable and that "performed equally well on lips, eyes, and cheeks". The Multistick is truly versatile. It is designed to apply like a cream but wear like a powder. There's 35% powder in each tube and the products are silicon-free. The product contains squalene, derived from sugarcane, that helps create weightless high performance coverage.

There are 18 shades in the collection. Influenster provided me with 3 of them: Macaroon, Blondie, and Cocoa, which I've reviewed below. The other shades I'm dying to try are: Nectar, Mochi, Mascarpone, Papaya, Praline, Biscotti, and Almond.


The first color I tried was Macaroon, which ended up being my favorite of the three. Since I have a pretty fair complexion, I thought it provided a very classic look. This one was excellent for use on both my lips and cheeks. You can see it on just my lips above and on my lips and cheeks here. It's a delicate pink that's noticeable but not too loud. So, you could definitely wear it in a relatively conservative work environment. 

For cheeks, I found that one really small dot on each cheek would do. It was very easily blendable and not too dramatic. I haven't tried this one on my eyes because I find that bright pink eyeshadows end up looking a bit too bold on my skintone, almost like I have pinkeye. So, I really felt like this one was useful for lips and cheeks only.

When I wear a soft pink like this, I do find that I often prefer a slightly glossy finish. So, I'll note here that with The Multistick you will only get a matte finish, since it's largely powder based (you wouldn't necessarily want shiny cheeks and eyes!). So, to achieve a glossy finish I did need to apply something over this color.  In this picture I'm wearing it with just the matte finish.


Blondie was the second color I tried. I have to admit I was a bit surprised when I opened it because, at least for me, this is such an unusual color. It's a slightly yellowish beige that is, as the name suggests, in fact very similar to the color of a blondie baked treat.

Since I have a relatively fair skin tone, I haven't typically purchased any beige lip colors in the past. I think it sort of washes out my overall look. My go-to colors are more often pinks, light purples/magentas, nude/mauves, reds, and sometimes chestnut/medium browns. I can't say I loved or hated the look I achieved with this color. It's just different from what I'm used to. It reminded me a lot of the look Australian actress Kate Beahan often has. Obscure reference, but am I right? It's definitely mature, work-appropriate, and very subtle. I think it would probably look even better on someone with a slightly darker skin tone.

The color provides a sort of peachy glow if you use it on your cheeks, which reminds me more of a bronzer or highlighter. I think it would look really nice as a blush on darker skin tones because it blends so well. It looks pretty nice on eyes as well because the gold/shimmering undertones come out a bit more, which I think would be flattering for most complexions. So, I suppose this was the one of the three that I really thought would be suitable for all three purposes - lips, cheeks, and eyes - for most people.

The final color I tried was Cocoa. This one was particularly interesting because there's virtually no way someone with my skin tone could use this color as a blush or lipstick. It's just too opaque. When I tried it on my lips, pictured above, I had to dab it very lightly and blend it considerably. What I found is that the pigment did not apply evenly and looked a bit blotchy. An interesting thing about this color is that it blends really well with the other ones. So you can create a "buildable" look by applying a light layer of Cocoa followed by a layer of Macaroon. This created a sort of deep mauve that was pretty nice. 

I didn't even try this one on my cheeks because it's just too dark, even when blended. However, I thought it made a really delightful eyeshadow, which you can see just a bit here, with Macaroon on my cheeks and lips. So, I would definitely carry this one around as a go-to eyeshadow but I think the 3-in-1 convenience factor for this one is lost a little bit on me, since I'm pretty fair.

Intrigued? You can check out the full collection below ($24 each) at Sephora:

These Bite Beauty products were supplied to me for free for review purposes by Influenster.

Everpro Back2Blonde Spray Review

My lifestyle is pretty busy and admittedly I don't always have time to go back to the salon every 6 weeks or so to get a root touch-up. That "in-between time" can be a bit awkward. Who likes having 1-2 inch roots showing when you have a job interview, presentation at work, wedding, or fashion industry event to attend? The truth of the matter is, as much as you want to look your best everywhere, sometimes life just gets in the way of that 2 hour salon appointment.

Dry shampoo can only do so much, but to add that extra coverage, you definitely want to try a root touch-up spray. Everpro's new BacktoBlonde temporary root concealer is one of the options out there for you!

Before

Here are a few things I learned from using this product:

1) The product take a little bit of time to dry. If you hold it too close to your head, your hair may come out looking a bit greasy/wet. Add some dry shampoo if that happens and it'll work out just fine.

2) Don't use this product immediately before going to the hair salon for a color treatment. My stylist noticed it right away before applying my color treatment. She told me that the color treatment would not be effective with the Back2Blonde product still in my hair, that there was chance the color wouldn't take. So, she ended up having to wipe it all off with a wet towel which took some extra time.

After

I found that after I applied the product I needed to blend it in quite a bit. The picture below shows what the overall look ended up like after I brushed my hair and tousled it a bit with my fingers. I think the product blends in especially well if you style your hair without a defined part, or if you apply the product with your hair parted one way (like in the middle) but style your hair with it parted another way (like either side).

This product was supplied to me for free for review purposes by Everpro via Brandbacker.

Fall Transitional Style with Tobi

Fall has officially arrived! Around here, the leaves haven't started dropping and most days are between 60 and 80 degrees. So, dressing for this transitional period can be a real challenge. My go-to style in the early autumn months consists of neutral delicate knits, gem tones, and layers!

I recently came across a great, affordable online fashion site called TOBI.com. TOBI offers a wide range of clothing that is perfect for all different types of social occasions from brunch to cocktails & dancing, and all that's in between. On the whole I'd say they have a very romantic, feminine style with lace and floral details and flattering cut-outs. These fun, flirty looks are perfect for layering as we transition from hot summer days to crisp autumn weather.

Romper & Sweater: c/o Tobi, Bag: Longchamp, Necklace: Kate Spade

Earrings & Watch: Tory Burch, Sunglasses: Karen Walker, Sandals: Jack Rogers

I picked out the Sealed With a Kiss Floral Romper and Alessandria Cardigan from their collection for the end of summer. This sleeveless romper with an open back is perfect for days that still make it up to the high 70s/low 80s. You won't sweat on the subway or sitting out in the sunny park for a picnic! I love the combinations of colors, especially the deep amethyst background. I really loved the high collar as well, which makes it feel a bit more formal and perfect for fall. It's also an excellent value - now on sale for just $28 (originally $56).

When it gets a little breezy out or when temperatures drop in the evening, this lightweight slouchy blanket sweater adds just the right amount of warmth. It's got some nice mesh panels and an "inside-out" seam that add a fun casual mix of textures to the look. I especially love the 4-button detail on the cuffs. It even has pockets too. Since it's so light, it's easy to stash away in a tote or bucket bag. This heather grey provides the perfect neutral color that will go with literally anything. The sweater also comes in white, which looks really lovely too. This piece is great quality and an absolute steal at the moment at just $17 (originally $58).

Because TOBI is so affordable, it's a great place to shop for multiple layers you can wear across different seasons - cardigans, sweatshirts, crop tops, rompers, bodycon/wrap/maxi dresses, and more. The best part? In addition to their amazing prices they also offer regular sales. Right now you can get 50% off all tops with the code "FL50" at checkout. This offer is valid through 9/24/16 at 11:59pm PST.

All clothing in this post was provided to me by TOBI.

NYFW: People StyleWatch x Nautica Event

On Thursday I had the absolute pleasure of attending People StyleWatch Magazine's New York Fashion Week Party with Nautica and fashion blogger Kendall from Styled Snapshots. I always love StyleWatch events because their home team is so enthusiastic and they partner up with some really interesting brands.

It had been a long time since I last visited the Nautica store in Soho, located at 101 Prince Street. It's a nice, spacious boutique with lots of room to shop, lounge, and take in the latest styles without feeling like you have salespeople breathing down your neck. They really play up the fun nautical motif with rope adorned light fixtures, a wire sculpture of a sailboat, sailing flags, and lots of great photographs. You really feel like you're near the coast!

The event itself was really fantastic. There was an intimate group of about 75 guests, mostly local bloggers and influencers or bloggers in town for New York Fashion Week. DJ Carver spun some relaxing beats and the hors d'oeuvres were creative and delicious - seared tuna, mini burgers, and fig & blue cheese tarts galore paired with refreshing glasses of chilled white wine. 

There were also stylists on-hand to create all kinds of great braided hairstyles. They were really receptive of everyone's personal styles and created everything from classic fishtail braids to teased "faux-hawks". Kendall was a really warm hostess as well and floated around the party chatting with each of us. She was super bubbly and down-to-earth. She wore this lovely Striped Sleeveless Dress that looked so flattering on her! Thinking about getting it myself. The People StyleWatch team gave us issues of this month's magazine along with a cute little "Fashion Week Survival Pouch" packed with useful things like chapstick, gum, and hair ties.

Of course I love all things nautical and preppy and, admittedly, I hadn't spent much time looking at styles from the Nautica store before. So, it was really nice to be re-introduced to this classic brand adorned with stripes galore! Check out some of my picks from their latest collections below.

Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer Review

Valentia is a fabulous new skin care line formulated with natural and organic cosmetic ingredients. I love the name because Valentia was the Roman goddess of healing who relied on nature's gifts to heal the citizens of Umbria (yes, that's my Classics major shining through...). This product is natural, free of toxins, and paraben-free. It also helps tackle a great variety of skincare concerns: repairing skin damaged by sun or wind, preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles and dark spots, and reversing the effects of oxidative stress on skin.

I found that this product made my skin look positively radiant. It evened out my skin tone within minutes - I have quite a bit of redness! It also helped diminish some of the fine lines around my eyes and forehead. Additionally, even though I have very dry skin, I found that the product very effectively provided all-day hydration without any need to re-apply.

I've definitely tried a lot of moisturizers and what I think makes the difference with this product are the key ingredients. The botanical Hyaluronic Acid locks in moisture, supports skin elasticity, and plumps skin from within. The Kojic Acid controls melanin production and prevents dark spots while helping even out your skin tone. The Ginseng boosts skin firming collagen, fights wrinkles, and brightens and energizes your look. The Safflower Oil repairs your skin's natural moisture barrier. Finally, the Shea Butter infuses skin with vitamins and minerals. Admittedly I have tried several products on the market that contain Hyaluronic Acid, Ginseng, and Shea Butter - but, I've never found one with all three! Since we all have busy lives, who wants to waste time applying multiple product?

I look forward to trying out more Valentia products in the future after this great first experience. Be sure to check out the brand's website, Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon pages to learn more about them (and to purchase their products).



This product was provided to me for free for review purposes from Valentia via Brandbacker.