My Recent Favorite Products

It’s been a little while since I’ve talked about some favorite products on here, so today I thought I’d share what I have been loving recently. I’ve discovered some new to me products and also re-fallen in love with some products I already owned. Have you discovered anything good lately?

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Smashed

After hearing so many talk about how amazing this is, I finally picked up my own while in Chicago last month. Since then, it hasn’t left my purse and gets applied almost every day. I love the slight red tinge because it wakes my lips up and enhances their natural color. This is the best lip moisturizer I’ve ever used, as it doesn’t contain petroleum!

Mac Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb

When I moved at the end of August, I went through my entire personal makeup collection and got rid of about 75% of it! I only kept things I knew I wanted to continue to use, which is when I rediscovered how much I love this Skinfinish as an every day blush and eyeshadow shade. It’s so easy to swipe on and gives you a nice sheen too, so you can totally skip the highlighter too on days when you’re in a rush!

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance

This product was sent to me by Influenster for free for reviewing purposes and I fell in love with it! It reminds me a lot of Loreals Glotion, except if it was a primer. I love using it for days when I don’t wear full coverage foundation because it makes my skin super glowy and healthy looking.

Kaja Beauty Moon Crystal Sparkling Eye Pigment in Rose Quartz

My best friend Margaret and I discovered this brand in a Sephora in Madison, Wisconsin in November and both picked up a few products from them. These Moon Crystal sparkling eye pigments are amazing as quick and easy eyeshadows for day to day use! I love the Rose Quartz shade because it’s super warm and reminds me of when I wear blush on my eyelids. I can’t wait to pick up more shades. The formula is easy to apply with your fingers and blend out. Then it sets well and lasts all day. I also love that it is the perfect amount of glitter for daily use; not too much.

Hydroflask 40 oz.

I’ve had my Hydroflask for awhile now, but I haven’t talked about it on the blog yet, so I figured I’d throw it in too. There is no greater feeling than waking up in the morning super thirsty and having ice still in your water bottle from the night before. I love the straw top because I drink more water with straws. I take this water bottle EVERYWHERE I go. The only thing I would warn you about is if you want yours to fit in your car’s cup holder, you may want the skinnier bottle shape. It doesn’t bother me because I put it on the passenger front seat when I’m driving.

Kitsch Spiral Hair ties 8 pk for Brunettes

These are my new favorite hair ties. I love how they simultaneously hold my hair in so tightly, yet don’t feel tight at all. They are tight enough from running which is a must for me too. I also love how comfortable they are when they are on your wrist. Bonus, my niece loves them so they are a great baby entertainer when you’re in a pinch! hahaha

Quip Rosegold Toothbrush

I have been using this toothbrush for over 6 months now and I LOVE it. I love that it’s a subscription, so every 3 months a new tube of toothpaste and a replacement head comes in the mail without me every having to think about picking them up from the store. I love the rose gold handle because it looks beautiful in the bathroom. Even though I sometimes feel like a kid, I secretly love that when you turn on the vibration, it does a special buzz every 30 seconds, and turns off when you’ve brushed for long enough. One less thing I have to think about!

Weleda Skin food Light

I received this as a birthday present from my friends last May and I have fallen in love with it. I will do an updated skincare routine soon because I’ve discovered some new products, but I wanted to let you know that if you have loved the Original Weleda Skin Food in the past, you have to try this one out too. I keep them both on hand and use whichever one is more necessary for my skin, that day. I will always keep both the Original and the Light on hand now because they mix well with other skincare products and are awesome on their own as well!

Have you discovered anything great lately? Let me know in a comment below!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a small commission off the purchase of the product through my link. This does not affect the price of the product. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

Recent Favorites

I haven’t shared my favorites in a couple months, so I thought I’d write today about what I’ve been loving recently. I feel like I’ve found some pretty great stuff in the last few months.

1. Acure Brightening Cleanser:

   I was shopping one day in target and ended up taking this guy home with me and I have to say I’m obsessed with it. The fresh lemon scent is awesome and I feel like it does a great job of gently chemically exfoliating every time I cleanse. Acure is one of my favorite clean brands that isn’t crazy expensive. So I love trying more and more out from them.

2. Native Deodorant:

   I picked up this deodorant on that same Target trip and I have to say, I am shocked at how much I love it. I got the lavender & rose scent and it’s heaven. Only con is that the actual deodorant is white so it can sometimes get on clothes if you’re not careful, but for an aluminum-free natural deodorant, it’s awesome! I have heard the other scents are just as amazing, so I can’t wait to try more. My previous natural deodorant gave me a rash over time, so I’ll keep you updated as I use this one longer. So far so good.

3. Acure Rosehip Oil:

   I just had to add this one for those of you who are new and don’t know my love affair for rosehip oil. Its probably tied for my favorite ingredient of all time with Glycolic Acid (probably not another shocker). I added it to this post, because I’ve been back in the habit of slathering my face with it every day as my moisturizer because I was recently experiencing more breakouts. Rosehip oil is my secret to fading the post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation from acne scars.

4. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Treatment Cream:

   This guy has also been getting some serious use lately, because of those pesky breakouts I just mentioned in the previous product. I try to apply this every night on my chin and jaw where I’m prone to breakouts, but have really been vigilant about it recently because my skin has been more broken out than usual. It contains Benzoyl Peroxide, but I don’t find that it dries me out ever.

5. Maybelline Soda Pop and Lemonade Craze Palettes:

   I purchased the ‘Soda Pop’ palette on a whim and fell in love with it. I say that because I NEVER buy drugstore eyeshadow. I just don’t find it to be worth the money usually. However, the ‘Soda Pop’ palette was so great that I bought it’s older sister ‘Lemonade Craze’ and I really love them both. I have been reaching for them every time I do my makeup. Click here to watch the Makeup Tutorial I did with the ‘Soda Pop’ Palette, and comment below if you want me to make one with the ‘Lemonade Craze’ one too.

6. L’Oreal Infallible Galaxy Holographic Lumiere Lip Gloss in Ethereal Gold:

   I picked this gloss up after seeing a friend who had it and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. I keep it in my jacket and it has quickly become my favorite gloss for when I need something nude or my lips feel dry. It’s not sticky and gives off the coolest slight holographic look; it’s not too crazy, I promise.

7. Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer in Anthelion:

   I always prefer a cream highlighter over a powder. There’s something about the dewyness that a cream product gives, that is hard to replicate with a powder and boy does this one deliver. I love it on my eyelids, inner corners of my eyes, above my cupid’s bow and obviously on my cheekbones.

8. Sherlock Mini Series

   Here’s a random favorite for you guys. If you haven’t watched the BBC mini-series Sherlock, GET ON IT. Don’t worry, I was also really, really late to the game on this one. Benedict Cumberbatch is SO freaking good in it. If you love mysteries and thrillers it’s a must see. Thank you to my boyfriend Mikey who is always making me watch the BEST tv shows and movies.

What have you been loving recently? Comment below and let me know what you’ve discovered! I love discovering new products because of you guys!

Have a great day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

May Must Haves

So May was absolutely nuts. Forgive me as I acknowledge the fact that I was not very good at blogging during it. I think I worked every day but two, which included 5 weddings, many trials, and lots of other fun makeup things. I also celebrated my 28th birthday which is nuts but was absolutely amazing! Thank you for the support and kindness you all share with my throughout the year, but especially on my birthday. 

Today I'm sharing my favorites for May because I actually tried a lot of new things and have been loving them so many of them.

First off I recently decided to switch to a natural toothpaste, which I had put off for so long because I had heard so many terrible things about how bad they tasted. But I was visiting a friend who lives near Trader Joe's and decided to give theirs a shot. The All Natural Anticavity Peppermint Toothpaste with Baking Soda and Flouride  (I've linked a 2 pack on Amazon for those of you who can't get to a Trader Joe's easily) is honestly not as bad as I was expecting. Yes you can tell it's a natural toothpaste because it doesn't have that sweet, strong flavor of the bad stuff but I'm totally used to it now and it doesn't bother me. I feel like my teeth are just as clean as before. The only thing that I don't get from it is that super minty fresh feeling that you get from the bad stuff, but honestly I think that's fine since it's better for me. 

Next up we have probably my favorite find of the month that is courtesy of my amazing friend Suzie who gave me this product for my birthday! I've talked about this before on here, but I do not let the sun damage my face in the summer. I always have SPF 55 on it, hats, sunglasses, towels, haha whatever I can find to protect myself. This obviously means that I end up with a face that is pretty pale compared to my body; that usually gets some color despite my constant SPF because it's just exposed more. Insert the Coola Suncare Organic Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Face Serum. I put one pump on every night after my skincare routine and wake up sunkissed every morning. It's not super dark (although I'm guessing that's because I only use a little, if I try to apply more and get darker I'll let you know). The fact that it's a beautiful olive and natural looking fake tan is just the beginning. It's also an anti-aging serum loaded with Argan Oil, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, & plant stem cells to leave you feeling hydrated and glowing! It also smells delicious and you can add it to your moisturizer if you want. When Suzie gave it to me she said it's favorites worthy and she was right! 

I have done videos before showing how I love to mix a liquid highlighter in with my foundation to give me a dewier skin look and have always used the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter before to achieve this. However, it's quite expensive and I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to a whole other bottle. When I was shopping with friends in Ulta in April, we discovered the Maybelline Master Strobing Liquid Illuminating Highlighter in Light/Iridescent and I thought it looked pretty close to the Becca shade in Opal. Fast forward to purchasing and trying it out and it's a pretty close dupe.  If you compare them side by side the Becca one looks a little more finely milled, but once mixed in with foundation and applied to the face I cannot tell a difference. I am so happy I found an amazing dupe that is less than a quarter of the price! They do have other shades as well if you don't want the blush rosey color that is like Opal. 

I received the gorgeous Tarte Aspyn Ovard Eye & Cheek Palette for my birthday from another amazing friend (I know I'm the luckiest girl to have all of these sweet and amazing friends) and luckily with all of my weddings and makeup I've been doing I've had plenty of time to test it out. I love the whole thing, my only critique is that the really glitterly/shimmery shades are a little tricky to apply. I tried using a wet brush with MAC Fix + on it to apply them and that helps, but can also be tricky in a chunky way if that makes sense. The mattes are so beautiful and smooth and easy to use, the blush is an amazing shade for summer, and the highlighter is also beautiful. Overall I love it the shades and think it'll be a great palette to take with me when I want to travel. 

I have saved the best for last! If you have been reading my posts recently, you've noticed that I love Glossier. I have been trying more and more out from them and when they came out with a Mascara I KNEW I had to try it. Lash Slick is if not the best, one of the best mascaras I have EVER tried. I know that is a bold statement but I love it. I saw it described somewhere as giving you lash extension like lashes and I think that is such a great description. It doesn't look like clumpy, thick fake mascara lashes, it really looks soft and natural which I love. The wand is awesome and separates your lashes so well too. If you want a bolder look you could always layer a second and thicker mascara over it which is usually what I do if want a bolder look for night time. The best part for me though is that it truly lasts all day on my lashes. No smudging, no flaking, no changes; it still looks great at the end of the day. Here is my link for you to get 10% off your first purchase from Glossier. I highly recommend checking Lash Slick out if you haven't yet! 

What were your favorites in the month of May? Comment below and let me know! I love hearing about the new things you try!

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea

10 Random Makeup Tips

Hello! Sorry for my little hiatus this past week on here. I've been taking some time to myself because there's a lot going on in life. In times when I would normally be working on creating content, I've been taking the time to just breathe and relax, which I CANNOT recommend enough. Taking time when you know you're at your limit is really hard to do, but so important. 

Today's post is easy and informative. Enjoy!

1. Use dry Q-Tips to remove excess mascara. This one is popular and I feel like I talk about it all the time, but I'm always surprised how many people today still don't know it! If you get any mascara on your eyelids when putting mascara on, wait for it to completely dry. Then using a dry Q-Tip you can lightly flick away the dried mascara without messing up any of your eyeshadow! Just be sure that it's 100% dry before attempting. 

2. Change things up. Just because we like a product doesn't mean it will work for us forever. As your skin changes, it's good to try new things as long as you're not trying too many at once or too often. This can sometimes bring about a sensitivity you didn't realize you had. Always be patient when trying new things. 

3. Pay attention to expiration times and write it on your product. I know I talked about this one in my 10 Random Skincare Tips Post, but this also applies to makeup products like foundations, mascaras, cream products...etc. Beauty products don't usually have an exact expiration date, but they often have a 12M, 24M, etc, logo on the bottom or back that shows in how many months you should stop using the product. It's too hard to remember dates for every product, so I recommend getting a sharpie and either dating when you opened it, or when it's time to pitch it. 

4. Try new makeup looks or techniques at night before you wash your face. How many times have we tried to do a technique we've never tried when we have 15 minutes to get out the door and there's all this pressure to make it look good because you are running out of time and of course, it looks terrible. We've all been there ladies! I recommend trying new looks at night because you're going to wash your face anyways. This removes the pressure which allows you to really practice.

5. Check your foundation color in natural light on your jawline. If you go to get your shade matched for foundation, make sure you are swatching the foundation on your jawline so you can see how it compares to your face and your neck/chest. Also be sure to walk to a source of natural light and see how it looks. Unfortunately, makeup stores don't always have the best lighting. If they're in a mall, ask for a sample to take it home and test it out before you buy!

6. Get creative. Remember makeup is fun and can be a great way to express yourself. Try eye shadow combinations that you would never pair together. Wear a lipstick shade that you've never worn before. You never know what looks you will love on yourself until you try them out so get creative. Some of my favorite looks have come from random color choices.

7. Invest in good skincare. I promise you that if you take care of your skin and help it become balanced, your makeup will be easier to apply and you won't feel like you need as much. I find myself doing my makeup so much differently now that my skin is in a great place where I'm taking such good care of it. 

8. If you have acne, try wearing less makeup. You read that right; LESS makeup. If you suffer from acne in certain areas but have areas that are clear, trying highlighting those. We often feel tempted to use a full coverage foundation when we suffer from acne, thinking we want to cover it. Instead, try using a lighter coverage & dewy foundation all over the skin. Then go back in with a full coverage concealer and conceal just the areas where you have blemishes. This will allow your healthy glowing clear skin to shine through, and be the focus.

9. Buy good brushes. I cannot stress how important having the right tools for makeup application is. Once you start using better brushes, you will be surprised how much easier it is to blend and concentrate color where you want it! If you ever have questions on what type of brush to use for what product, shoot me an email! I'd be happy to help.

10. Take a Makeup Lesson. If you're struggling with learning new techniques or want help ask a makeup artist near to if you could learn from them. It's a service that I personally offer as a makeup artist because I want everyone to feel confident applying makeup every day! If you live near me and want help, please send me an email or direct message so we can set something up. 

I hope you enjoyed these tips and have the best weekend,

Andrea

Top 5 Tips for Getting Your Dream Brows (My Brow Secrets)

Welcome back!

Today I am sharing my Brow Secrets. Yes you read that right. I am sharing my Top 5 Tips to helping you get your dream brows. If you want to reshape or regrow & see how I fill in brows to be super natural but full looking, this video is a must watch!

I hope you have a beautiful weekend! I'm off to kick off bridal season with a huge wedding tomorrow!

Enjoy,

Andrea

Ten Eye Looks. One Palette: Jaclyn Hill Edition

I am so excited to introduce to you my newest series on Andrea Fontana Beauty!! "Ten Eye Looks. One Palette." is going to be a series where I (or you guys) pick a palette and I create 10 eye looks out of it. This idea came to me when I realized how many women come to me and say, "I bought this palette but I don't know what to do with it". I wanted to create some natural and some more bold, but wearable for everyone no matter your skill!

I'm excited to share the first in this series which is obviously the Jaclyn Hill for Morphe palette. I love the warmth of this palette and there's so many amazing shades that I felt really inspired. Over the past month and a half I have been using this palette for all of my eye looks and below is what I have come up with. 

Through creating these looks I've realized a few things. Some of the shades are similar, but overall they are extremely creamy and blendable with great pigment and texture. My biggest con to this palette is still that they don't have a matte brow bone highlight for light skin tones like myself, but I tried my best to make it work without it!

I put a lot of time and work into this one, so I really hope you enjoy it! When you're done looking, comment which look is your favorite and which palette you want me to try next!

Look # 1: SILK CREME all over the lid and buffed out into the crease; HUNTS & JACZ in just the outer corner and blended out to soften; ENLIGHT in the inner corner to brighten; SILK CREME & BUTTER buffed out on whole bottom lash line; JACZ outer bottom half of lash line. 

Look #2: SILK CREME in the crease; JACZ & CHIP in outer & inner corners; ENLIGHT in inner corner; OBSESSED on wet brush in center of lid for impact.

Look #3: SILK CREME blended into the whole crease; ROXANNE blended into the whole crease; MOCHA all over the lid; SILK CREME  & ROXANNE buffed into whole bottom lash line; MOCHA blended into outer 2/3 of bottom lash line. 

Look #4: SILK CREME & M.F.E.O. all over lid and blended out towards the crease; ENLIGHT in inner corner.

Look #5: ROXANNE blended into the crease but very concentrated in the outer corner; S.B.N. outer half of the lid; 24/7 inner half of the lid; SODA POP & CENTRAL PARK concentrated in the outer corner; OBSESSED in the inner corner. 

Look #6: CREAMSICLE blended into the whole crease really well; QUEEN all over the lid and blended out to meet CREAMSICLE.

Look #7: BEAM all over the lid; BUTTER & POOTER mixed and concentrated in the outer corner; BUNS blended on top of that still in the outer corner; Next layer CHIP on top of that; Add winged eyeliner and then go in with smaller brush to concentrate a little bit of CENTRAL PARK in the outer corner.

Look #8: SILK CREME blended into the whole crease; DIVA all over the lid and blended to meet SILK CREME; ENLIGHT in the inner corner.

Look #9: CREAMSICLE blended into whole crease; ENCHANTED placed in inner and corner corners only and blended out slightly; HUSTLE added to center of lid; Darken inner and outer corners of lid as needed to create Halo shadow effect. 

Look #10: M.F.E.O. blended into the whole crease; HUNTS added a little to deepen the crease slightly; FIREWORK all over the lid.

Below I've shared close ups of the shadows so you can see the whole palette and decide if you want to snag this one! I recommend it. I was actually surprised how many different types of looks I could create because when you look at the palette as a whole, there are many similar colors!

Some of the shadows towards the bottom look similar here, but up close and in natural light you can see that Enchanted is a deep forest green, central park is brown; and soda pop has some burgundy/ deep purple to it. Abyss is black. 

Again, PLEASE comment below sharing which palette you want me to create 10 looks for next! I really loved doing this because it challenges me to create new looks all the time which is really fun as a makeup artist!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

What Did I Buy at the Sephora & Ulta Spring Sales?

Am I the only one who hoards an Ulta or Sephora gift card waiting for the 20% off or VIB sale email to come through so I can finally spend it? Haha hopefully some of you beauty addicts understand the happiness of having both! I luckily had an Ulta GC this weekend when it was time for the sale and headed to both stores with two of my also beauty obsessed friends which resulted in this haul. I asked on Instagram if you wanted to see this post and got a 100% response of YESSS so here we are! I will be filming a first impression on a lot of these and posting that this week so look for that if you're curious about my thoughts on these!

First up was Ulta. I often take the opportunity to stock up on some things for my kit when I have discounts, so you'll see some of the purchases below are for that. If it's for my kit I'll denote that in case you want to know!

In the back row (from L to R) you'll see I bought the Morphe 9B Palette, the Morphe 35O Palette (kit) , two shades of Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (kit), Morphe M530 Contour Brush (kit), TooFaced Hangover RX Primer (kit), The Maybelline by Face Studio Master Strobe Liquid in Light, NARS Power Matte Pigment in Walk This Way, the Morphe M459 Flat Contour Brush, a multipack of Ardell Demi Wispies (kit), and a multipack of Ardell 110's (kit). 

Close up of the 35O Palette!

Close up of the 9B Palette!

At Sephora I got the Fenty Beauty Lil Match Stix Duo, Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick in Amber, Milk Holographic Stick in Mars, and the Sephora Collection Colorful Blush in Too Hot! No. 7. 

Did you guys shop the sales? If you did, what did you get? If you want specific reviews on some of these products let me know! I'll be sure to Instagram story the exact products I'll be using in the First Impressions video, so be sure to follow me over there @andreafontanabeauty. 

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea

How do I love Glossier? Let me count the ways.

Did I already spoil this post with the title? 

I have known about Glossier for years, but had never purchased anything due to the abundance of products I already had. Once I quit my job and trying new things became fun again, I knew that Glossier was next on my list to try. The main reason I love Glossier is that their skincare and makeup ideas resonate closely with mine; healthy and effective skincare that gives you a glowing look, and makeup products that simply accentuate this natural and healthy vibe. All of their products are easy to use and many are multi-use which allows the modern woman to easily incorporate them into her fast paced and busy life. 

With the release of Solution, a exfoliating toner, I knew the time had come for me to place my first order. We all know how much I love a good exfoliating toner.  I didn't want to go too crazy, so I only purchased 3 things with my first order. If you are new to my blog or videos, these three items are very reflective of my favorite types of products. I ordered Boy Brow (a tinted brow gel) in Black, Haloscope (a stick highlighter) in Moonstone, and Solution (the exfoliating toner). 

I wanted to use the products for a little while, especially the toner in order to give you honest feedback and I'm obsessed with all three. If you want to see how I use the two makeup products be sure to click this link and watch my Everyday Glowing Skin Tutorial Video because I show how I use both of those items in it. 

Boy Brow: I freaking love brows. That is no secret. So I am extremely picky when it comes to new brow products. Boy Brow is naturally what I think of when I think of Glossier because they are known for this product, so this was an obvious place for me to start when deciding what to order. I got the shade black because I knew it would be very cool-toned (I cannot stand a warm brow with my coloring)  and it is a perfect match for me. As you know I have a history with Benefit Cosmetics and used to live for Gimme Brow for it's ease and ability to thicken the appearance of brows quickly. I can honestly say I love Boy Brow more (Plus it's cheaper...just sayin' haha). I feel like it never makes my brows look wet and my hairs still look very much like brow hairs, just thicker and darker. For me it's extremely undetectable and not opaque, so it gives me a very natural and full brow appearance. If you do not have very full brows, I would still recommend this product for you, I would just use a pencil afterwards to fill in the areas that you are lacking a little hair.

Haloscope: I heard about this product from Katie Hughes, a makeup artist, and she said that she loved it, specifically in the shade Moonstone, because it made the skin look wet and I cannot agree with her more. It's not sparkly, it's a sheen that gives your skin such a healthy and dewy look. I love to swirl my middle and ring fingers together around it in and dab it on my cheekbones and it's just heaven. Some people apply it straight from the stick, but I feel like this moves my makeup around too much and requires me to need to blend it out more. 

Solution: I was nervous to swap out my old exfoliating toner (The Dermadoctor Ain't Misbehavin' one) for this one, because I was nervous for breakouts to come back, but I can say that I feel like the transition was an easy one. I knew my old toner wasn't clean and that I would have to get rid of it (click here to read my post on cleaning out the chemicals in my skincare). Solution has Glycolic and Lactic acids in it (the AHA's and the stars of my old toner) but also has salicylic acid (BHA) and Gluconolactone (PHA), which I think is key for my acne staying at bay; I like the combo of different acids working together. I love the packaging because it keeps things sanitary, but my only critique is that I feel like one pump is not enough toner for my face, but 2 pumps is too many. Am I the only one who feels this way? Comment below if you agree or disagree. Solution is also much cheaper than my old toner, so this change is great! If you have regular breakouts, dry skin, little white heads from oil buildup, or other texture issues, I highly recommend this product. 

Have you tried anything from Glossier before? If you want 10% off your first order be sure to click this link! Up next on my list to try are the new Lidstar Eye Glows, the Stretch Concealer, the Cloud Paint Cheek Colors and the Skin Tint! I will be sure to keep you guys updated as I try more stuff from this brand because so far, I'm LOVING it!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Andrea

Bold & Daring Valentine's Day Makeup Tutorial Video

I'm back with a makeup tutorial! Over on my Instagram (link is to the right-->) I created a poll in my stories asking if you wanted to see a romantic & soft makeup look or a bold & daring one. Technically, romantic & soft won by one vote, but I decided I would create both looks since it was so close! 

In the YouTube video below, I show you how to take a few shadows and create the easiest smokey eye. Products used are listed in the description of the video on YouTube, so be sure to click on the video and visit it there if you want details!

Remember, you can swap out any shadow for the cranberry/burgundy tones so this look is really versatile! Look for the romantic & soft tutorial to come early next week! 

Have a beautiful night,

Andrea 

January Favorites

I'm back with some favorites from the month of January! As you know, I had a rocky start to the new year but I'm happy to say that things have turned around and the second half of the month was amazing! The thing I am most proud of this month is that some of my friendships have grown tremendously and I feel like I went through a lot of self growth. One of my favorite YouTubers mentioned that she often finds that the greatest things come out of challenges and I feel like my January was a great example of this. What was your biggest accomplishment this past month? Leave a comment below and let me know! I'd love to congratulate you on your journey!

Now for the favorites! I'm trying a new style this month as I've become an Amazon Associate recently. This means that if you buy products through these links I will earn a small commission. If that bothers you, feel free to find the products separately. If you choose to buy, THANK YOU for supporting Andrea Fontana Beauty! You are awesome! Let me know how you like this format!

I don't have a Trader Joe's by me but had heard quite the buzz about this seasoning all over. Luckily a store opened up recently in the city I'm from so when I went home for Christmas I made sure to pick up two bottles because I knew I would love it. I put it on everything; hard boiled eggs, avocado toast, homemade bagels, and more! I highly recommend trying it out ASAP!

If you follow me on Instagram, this first favorite probably comes as no surprise! I received a cookbook (Bobby Flay Fit) that I wanted SO badly, from my beautiful friend Sammy! I have made so many recipes already from it and have loved them all. I highly recommend if you are looking to eat a healthier way but don't want to sacrifice flavor. I use it so much that I even burnt an imprint of the coil from my stove burner into the cover by accident (haha!). Be sure to follow my Instagram (www.instagram.com/andreafontanabeauty) to laugh with me at my daily adventures!

I've already mentioned this next favorite a few posts back, but I finished it in only 2 weeks and I CANNOT recommend it enough. Don't let the almost 600 pages scare you away from this amazing story of the life of Cyril Avery growing up in Ireland. It's written well and I couldn't put it down; sometimes getting lost in the pages for hours at a time. 

I received a sample of this facial oil a little while back and when my coveted Rosehip oil ran out and I didn't have any on hand, I grabbed this one and have loved it all month! It's a dry oil made up of Vitamins E and B, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil, and wheat germ oil. I love how it sunk into my skin quickly and didn't leave me feeling greasy which is nice for day time. I love to put on oils with Anti-oxidants to help combat free radicals and pollution throughout the day! You only need a few drops to apply so this bottle would last a long time!

This is my favorite hair product of the moment. It was recommended by a friend Ashley, who is a cosmetologist (as you know I know nothing about hair and rely on friends for help in that area haha). I love this finishing spray because it smells awesome, gives my hair some shine and a slight hold. It's definitely not as strong as a hairspray, but I love it to tame my style when I actually do my hair. It doesn't leave any crazy residues, which I love. 

Love, love love this moisturizer. I've mentioned it before, but it's my go to in colder months or when I've been sick. I had a cold at the beginning of the month and blew my nose so many times that the skin around it was raw and red. This moisturizer saved me (due to the colloidal oatmeal). I highly recommend it for dry skin that can be sensitive. It's one I always keep on hand in case I'm feeling dry.

This one's a classic that I always go back to at least once a year and apparently January was that time. It's great for thick, voluminous lashes and always makes my lashes look amazing. I'm not sure why I ever get away from it haha. Why do we always have to try new mascaras as women? 

I contemplated writing an entire post devoted to these babies, but I couldn't hold off on telling you about them any longer. They are heaven sent if you get blemishes. Always keep them on hand. They are little nude/clear stickers that you put over a blemish at night when you go to sleep. I like to do it before I put my moisturizer on so that they stick well and then apply moisturizer around it afterwards. The trick with these is that you have to wait until there is a white head, then it pulls everything out as you're sleeping and you'll see the white color change in the morning on the sticker. The blemish will still be red in the morning, but it is always so much flatter if not completely flat from pulling everything out. I can't recommend them enough! 

Another favorite worth mentioning is the product that I did a First Impression on in my most recent YouTube video! Click here to watch it! It's the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan. I love this product for everyday makeup use! Also while you're at it subscribe to my YouTube channel 'Andrea Fontana Beauty' to stay notified when I post new videos for you!

As usual, leave a comment below sharing any new products you loved this month so we can all learn from each other!

I hope you have a wonderful February,

Andrea

So You're Getting Married? (Bridal Makeup Tips)

Hello! 

I'm really excited to bring you this post because I have so many tips to share when it comes to bridal makeup. I'm going to try to condense everything into as short of a post as possible but there is so much to consider when planning the getting ready portion of the day.

1. Give yourself PLENTY of extra time to get ready. This one has many reasons so read the whole thing! When it comes to the morning of your wedding day, you will not be able to sleep in. You're going to be so excited like a 5 year old on Christmas, so if your hair stylist or makeup artist suggest an earlier start time, do not worry. There's a few reasons why I always ask for extra time. The largest being that this is a really important day and it's the only time you will get to spend with just your bridesmaids. You picked them for a reason, so take extra time to enjoy their company. Also however you feel at the end of getting ready, is the energy you will feel when going into a first look or down the aisle. The last thing you want is to go into it feeling stressed or rushed. I also recommend that my brides take a moment to let the day sink in with peace and quiet, often when alone. Enjoy every second of the day because it will fly by. 

2. Trust your hair stylist and makeup artist when they give advice. You hired them for a reason and unless you have been married before, they do this a little more often than you. As a makeup artist I have seen TONS of things not go as planned, so when I give recommendations to my brides, it's usually because I have experience to go off of when something went wrong. Whomever you decide to go with for your glam team, wants you to have the best day ever so keep that in mind. 

3. Have a trial. I cannot stress this enough. The more that you can do to get rid of potential stress on the big day, the better. You will feel a sense of relief knowing that your hair stylist and makeup artist know exactly what you want for your wedding day. Also this allows you to make sure you don't have any sensitivities or allergies to the products being used ahead of time. 

4. Bring pictures! I find that sometimes brides feel weird about bringing pictures to their trial but they are so helpful for your glam team. It's much easier to understand what you want if we have a visual of it. We all describe things differently so pictures can help us connect the dots better. Also know why you love the pictures. I often ask brides why they love a certain look so that I can make sure I deliver the best possible makeup look for them.

5. Discuss allergies and sensitivities ahead of time.  If you are allergic to specific ingredients or sensitive PLEASE let your artist know ahead of time. While I keep a lot of extra products in my kit, I can't be prepared for every possible allergy since everyone is different. So make sure you discuss everything with your artist before the big day.

6. Create a schedule. This is the big one. Depending on large your wedding party is or how many people are getting hair and makeup done, you may want to create a loose schedule to keep things flowing properly. If your party is large, it will probably take a good amount of time (hours) for everyone to be glammed. If you create a schedule it allows your girls to at least know the approximate time that they will be needed by the hair and makeup team. I've had bridesmaids go MIA and slow down the process which can end up stressing the bride out. Sometimes they need to leave to help with setup and such, which is fine, but it's nice for them to know what time they should return to keep things running smoothly. It's helpful to have your hair and makeup team take a look at the schedule to make sure that you planned enough time for them to do what they need to do to help you look perfect! Please lean on your hair and makeup team for this! I cannot stress this enough. Have family members (mom, sisters, etc.) be done towards the beginning. I recommend making sure that none of your close family members go last. I like to plan for worst case scenario so that even the unpredictable doesn't ruin anything. Anyone who you would want in pictures to help you get dressed (i.e. sister buttoning your dress, mom putting on your veil) you do not want to go last. Just in case things are running behind you do not want your mom or sister to miss that special moment. You want to be as close to the end as possible without being last. You are the star of the show and your makeup and hair needs to look the best, so going as close to the end as possible (I recommend second or third to last) is best so that everything will look fresh at the end of getting ready!

Congrats on your big day! If you are still looking for a makeup artist for your big day, please send me an email. I'd love to be considered in helping you look your very best on your wedding day. If you are going to be a bridesmaid this year, make sure you check out this post I did on Bridesmaids Makeup Tips. 

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea

Gigi Hadid Jetsetter Palette First Impression and Test

Let me start off by wishing you a Happy Holiday! I've created another video on YouTube for you guys sharing the Gigi Hadid for Maybelline Jetsetter Palette. I'm super excited to bring you another video because I'm loving the format of making them. What are you guys thinking of it? I feel like there's certain things I can show you in a video that I just can't get across in a blog post. I of course will always give extra feedback in these corresponding posts but watch the video first below to see my thoughts on the application and wear of this palette. Good news, as of this moment when I'm writing this post, the palette is on sale for $17.99 at Ulta! Watch below to see if I think you should pick it up...or skip to the bottom and read what grade I give it!

Thoughts on the Jetsetter Palette: 
I really did enjoy using this palette and think it will be one that I reach for a lot. For me, this will be something I throw in my gym bag and use on days when I want an easy and quick makeup look. Will I reach for it when I want full glam? Probably not, but that's ok! 

As far as the individual products in the palette, my favorite by far is that highlighter. I think it's beautiful and if Maybelline sold it on it's own, I would for sure buy it. Other favorites were the blush and bronzer, and the eyeshadows. I definitely don't like the lip colors as you saw above, and the concealers were good enough for a quick makeup day. If I needed my makeup to last for a long amount of time I would probably bring another one with me to use instead. The mini mascara was one I already know and love so that's a good thing, but as mentioned in the video, I wish they had included one of the ones in the Gigi Hadid line because I had heard good things about them.

Overall, I give this palette an 8 out of 10. I think the price is nice, I like majority of the products and definitely think I will get good use out of the palette over time! 

Have you tried anything from this collaboration line with Gigi? Leave a comment below letting me know how you like this style of review? 

Have a Happy Holiday season with your families and loved ones!!!

Andrea Fontana