What Do I Love From Glossier?

It’s no secret that I love Glossier. I have tried a lot of their products and many of them are staples in my routine. Since I get asked often what my thoughts are, what my favorites are, etc..I figured it was time that I shared my thoughts on each of the products that I’ve tried.

Lash Slick

This is one of my favorite mascaras of all time. I have never seen a mascara that is not waterproof, look the exact same at the end of the day, as it did when you applied it in the AM. If you are someone who is looking for a very dramatic and voluminous mascara, this one isn’t for you. I’d say it’s a great every day mascara that makes you look like you have naturally beautiful and full lashes. I love it for my bottom lash line because it doesn’t transfer. I also like the price tag. It’s not very expensive for being what I would consider a prestige mascara.

Haloscope

I love cream highlighters so it’s probably no surprise that I love this one in Moonstone. This is the only shade I’ve tried but it’s perfect for a wet and dewy skin look. I absolutely love the effect and healthy look it gives my skin. I have heard great things about the other shades as well, but I love this one so much.

Stretch Concealer

I was hesitant to order this concealer originally because I knew it would have as much coverage as the concealers I was used to, but I loved that it had a really dewy finish. Turns out I just had to figure out how to apply it best for my skin. I find that when I apply it with my fingers, let it sit for a few moments, and then blend it out with a Real Techniques Setting Brush (you need to own at least 2 of these if you don’t already), it is PERFECTION! I still set it with powder or hit it with a good layer of setting spray if I want it to stay dewy.

Generation G Lipsticks

This is one of my favorite lipstick formulas of all time. I am obsessed with the shade ‘Cake’. If you look at my IG, I am wearing it all the time in makeup photos. I just love how it gives the perfect amount of something, while being nude. I keep it in my purse and will forever purchase it until they stop making it. I love the colors too because they give the perfect pop of color without being too bold. They are more of a wash of color than an opaque, bright shade. I think they would be great for someone wanting to start wearing lipstick that is nervous to go too bold. The formula is matte but feels really nice on the lips.

Solution

This is the only skincare product I have tried from Glossier and I love it. If you’ve been following my blog for a little while, you’ll know that I love a gentle chemical exfoliation as a daily part of my routine. It’s great for preventing breakouts and aging at the same time. I enjoyed the entire bottle of this and felt like it did what it claimed. I haven’t gone back to it, simply because I like to continue trying other products. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up back on my shelf in the future. If you deal with breakouts, texture issues, dark spots, fine lines, etc. this would be a great addition to your routine.

Boy Brow

Boy brow is probably tied with the Cake lipstick as my favorite Glossier products of all time. It’s the best brow product I’ve ever used and here’s why. The black shade is the perfect cool tone for my dark brows. It’s brush is small enough to apply precisely, but still is quick. The formula is long wearing and doesn’t make my brows look too wet. I also love that you don’t need a lot of product because I find that I go through my brow products the quickest. If you want a easy brow product that will make your brows look fuller and keep them in place, I HIGHLY suggest you try this one out.

Cloud Paint

If you’re a girl who likes easy and minimal makeup, you would love cloud paint. I tend to go for liquid and cream face products for daily and easy makeup, so I love these cloud paints. They are pretty pigmented and the shade range is beautiful. I have the coral shade and I love how natural of a flush it gives my cheeks. You can also wear them on your eyes and lips which is fun! I like to blend them in with my fingers.

Lidstar

This is probably the only Glossier product I’ve tried that I would say you could skip on. It’s a ok product, I just don’t think it’s anything special. I wish they were slightly more pigmented. I do feel like they wear pretty well, so if you’re looking for an all over color to provide a sheer wash of color for your lids, this might be for you. I think I just have too much discoloration and veining on my eyelids to use this alone.

Perfume

If you’re looking for a scent unlike anything you’ve ever smelled, TRY IT! It smells so good, and I’m not a big perfume person! It’s one of those scents that you can’t stop sniffing because it’s so good.

There you have it! If you’re new to Glossier be sure to CLICK HERE for 10% off your first purchase. I have yet to try their new PLAY line of makeup products, but I’ll probably give in and try it soon and let you know my thoughts!

What have you tried from Glossier? It really is a great brand and I love their whole skincare first, makeup second approach to beauty.

Have a beautiful 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.

Amazon Favorites

Am I the only one who is curious what other people buy on Amazon? Haha I’m so curious because you can find absolutely everything on there these days! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite products that I have found on Amazon that are not beauty related. If you’re curious about those, you can always click on the ‘My Favorite Things’ tab and most of the items there can be found on Amazon.

Uni-Ball Vision Needle Rollerball Pens:

These are my favorite pens and I love this pack because of the variety of colors. I love to organize things in my planner based on color and these are great for that!

Neewer 18-inch Dimmable Ring Light with Stand and Carrying Bag:

I get asked all the time which ring light I use and this is it! It’s pretty adorable for what it is, and has already been to a lot of places with me in one year! I would recommend it if you’re looking for a good light that isn’t going to break the bank.

OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker:

I got my boyfriend this speaker for Christmas just as an extra to have and I was pleasantly surprised with how good of quality the sound is for the price! If you need an inexpensive speaker, check this one out.

Gift Republic Bucket List Movie Poster:

This was another gift that I highly recommend for any movie, music, etc. buffs. I really love how you can frame it and use it as art when you’re done because the graphics are beautiful for each item after you scratch them off!

Stainless Steal Loop Apple Watch Band:

I wanted to have an apple watch band that looked a little nicer for when I have special events and dress up. I like this watch band for that purpose but prefer the one below for every day and working out use!

Nylon Sport Loop Apple Watch Band:

I can’t wear the silicone apple watch bands that most people use for working out because I developed a bad allergic reaction to them. However, I don’t like wearing the stainless steel one above when running because I don’t like feeling the watch move around. I prefer to not be able to notice my watch. Therefore I tested out this nylon one and I love it. It has a Velcro closure that is really solid and secure and this one is my favorite apple watch band.

Organic Miso Paste:

This is my favorite white Miso Paste to have on hand for when I want to make a quick miso soup!

ALINK Clear Straight Glass Drinking Straws:

These are my favorite reusable straws because you can see through them to make sure they are clean. Also they come with a little brush to clean them which is really important and useful!

Youdgee Meat Digital Thermometer:

If you want to make sure your meat turns out perfectly, this is a really important tool to have in your kitchen! I use this thing every time I make meat to make sure I am not over or undercooking anything.

Lodge Cast Iron Pan:

I love the Lodge cast iron pans (I also have the cast iron grill pan) and they are amazing for the price. Such good quality and are so great for searing something on the stove and finishing it in the oven.

Sea Team 6 Pc Multicolored Portable Travel Toiletry Bags:

I bought this 6 pack for my makeup kit, to organize products, but I’ve found great uses for these besides in my kit. It’s just really useful to have many bags like this for traveling, purse organization and so much more! I love the mesh because then if I add any brushes or sponges that are still a bit damp, they can air out and dry.

Moulin Ladies Pastel Color Jelly Digital Watch:

Before I got my apple watch, I needed something to get me through bridal season that was inexpensive. I have never gotten so many compliments on a watch before! Haha I still can’t believe how great this watch was for how little it cost me. It did not look cheap and worked really well! Highly recommend, even if you just want a pop of color on your wrist in the spring.

What are some of your favorites from Amazon? Comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful 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.

Happimess Eyeshadow & Lipstick Review

I was scrolling through Instagram one day and discovered the launch of a cosmetics brand that I had never heard of; Happimess.

I was intrigued by their packaging and products to click further and check it out! I was super excited to find how inexpensive their items are. After discovering how much I love the Maybelline Soda Pop and Lemonade Craze palettes, I’ve recently been on the hunt for other inexpensive but good quality palettes. I was really interested in Happimess palettes because I find that glitter and matte formulas tend to be the hardest to find inexpensively and the palette I ordered came with both!

I had a launch coupon code so I decided to try out some lipsticks and an eyeshadow duo, on top of the ‘Next to Me’ palette. Here my thoughts…

‘Next to Me’ Eyeshadow Palette ($12):

I was really happy with the quality of this palette for the amazing price of $12 (I got it even cheaper)! I loved how in this palette there is a good balance of matte and metallic shadows and even a glitter. The matte shades are not chalky and blend very well and the metallic shades are stunning! I love using the halographic glitter shade as a topper to give extra dimension. It’s so pretty. Overall I’m really impressed with this palette.

Accompanied Eyeshadow Duo in ‘Love Lay Here’ ($5):

I got this duo because I love really warm matte shadows to quickly swipe on my lid and blend out when I’m in a hurry. I loved that it was tiny and easy to pop in my makeup bag for the gym and that it had the two colors in one pan. What’s cool about their single and duo eyeshadows is that if you have multiple you can connect them into one unit which would be nice to create your own palette of shades! I again am impressed with the quality of matte shadows for the price.

High Class Lipsticks in ‘Deep Lilac’ & ‘Plum Red’ ($10):

High Class Lipstick in Deep Lilac

High Class Lipstick in Plum Red

High Class Lipstick in Plum Red but applied with my finger as a stain.

I haven’t tried many lipsticks recently, so I was excited to give these a try. They have another formula but it seemed glossier and since I'm more of a matte girl I went with this satin formula. I have been obsessed with applying these with my finger to give my lips more of a stained look. I find this helps the lipstick stay on longer and I love the subtle pop of color it gives to a makeup look. I love how the satin formula keeps my lips from feeling dried out too. Overall I’m really happy with this lipstick.

As you can tell, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Happimess. I love everything I purchased and I still can’t believe how inexpensive the prices are for the quality you get. I should also mention that the products are overall more natural than most and if you click on each product it will tell you in the description all of the nasty ingredients it is free from!

What new brands have you tried recently? What should I try next? Comment below and let me know!

Have a great day,

Andrea

Disclosure: All products were purchased with my own money and all opinions are my own.

An Afternoon in Chicago

I love Chicago and this past weekend I visited it for some fun with friends who live in the city. I wanted to share my Saturday afternoon activities with you in a post because I highly recommend recreating it yourself! It was the perfect amount of fun, food and relaxation.

I headed into the city from Lansing on the Amtrak. If you’ve never traveled by train and this is an option in your area, I highly recommend it. Mainly because I love having the entire 3.5 to 4 hours to read, watch Netflix, listen to music etc. I love it because you arrive right downtown. It would take me about the same amount of time to drive it but Michigan winters are too unpredictable for me to trust that the roads will be safe and clean to drive on. Plus I hate having to deal with a car in the city. While I arrive Friday, I want to highlight Saturday afternoon because my good friend Nick killed it when it came to planning a run day.

First off, we headed to Bar Pastoral in Lakeview for brunch. It was a cozy space decorated for Christmas and we got to sit in a little bench nook in one of the front windows which is my absolute favorite. When the grapefruit mimosas arrived, I knew we were off to a great start to our day.

We split this beautiful charcuterie board of meats, cheese, spreads, and bread and boy was it delicious! Next door to the restaurant is Pastoral, where you can buy wine, meats, cheeses, spreads and more which was fun to visit after our meal. For my meal I chose the Biscuit BLTA which was divine! It was a turkey, bacon, avocado crema, & tomato sandwich on a biscuit with amazing potatoes on the side. The sriracha mayo that the potatoes came in was unreal too. I was in heaven. (In case you’re wondering “Wait a minute Andrea. I thought you couldn’t eat Gluten…?”, you are not wrong! Haha! I have medicine I can take to be able to tolerate gluten and not get sick, but I only use it in situations like this when I’m not at home and want to enjoy a meal out). Highly suggest having brunch at Bar Pastoral, and I’d even gamble and say their dinners are amazing too! Everything that came to our table was so delicious!

After brunch, we walked down to the grocery store Mariano’s where I got an espresso shot to negate my after-brunch coma I was starting to sink into. The espresso was awesome and my friend Nick mentioned that he prefers their coffee to Starbucks. Once I was refueled we headed over to the wine bar for a glass of wine. They offer a wine of the month and you can get a glass of the special for $3! It was a really delicious Pinot Noir. I wish I had remembered to get the name of the wine, but I completely forgot. Blame the brunch.

Next, we hopped in an Uber and went to a location I had been DREAMING of. Nick just knows me so well and planned for us to head into the amazing Restoration Hardware location in the Gold Coast neighborhood. I cannot even tell you how long I have wanted to go here, so I basically screamed when I found out that’s what we were doing. Walking through the beautifully renovated old building with a glass of wine in hand is a complete experience. There are 5 floors of stunning rooms and it doesn’t feel like a store. I can’t wait to go back in the summer and go out on the rooftop too! I especially loved the atrium in the center that has extremely high ceilings, a beautiful fountain and so much greenery. Next, I think I’l definitely eat a meal at the cafe.

I left Restoration Hardware feeling an immense sense of motivation and inspiration. While I currently can’t afford anything from the showroom, you can’t but help to dream of what the future could look like with hard work and perseverance. I cannot wait to buy something from there some day. I highly recommend visiting a place of inspiration like this because I think it’s important to see goals right before your eyes. It makes anything feel possible and I’m so grateful we went.

Lastly, we walked over to The Goddess and the Grocer where I had a yummy little Italian Sandwich that was super tasty. If you need a quick bite, this is a great little stop on State St.

While this was only a slice of the fun I had in Chicago, I highly recommend checking these places out! The best part was that I honestly didn’t really spend that much money either. What are some of your favorite spots in Chicago? I am always adding to my list for future visits. Comment below and let me know!

Have a wonderful day,

Andrea

Alert the press! I'm actually talking about hair! (...plus a Formulate + Co. Giveaway)

You read that right. I, Andrea Fontana, am talking about hair today. Why is this weird? I don’t know much about hair. I know I work in the beauty industry, but I’m an esthetician which means I am NOT licensed in hair, and honestly don’t know much about hair because it really doesn’t interest me.

I’m excited to be collaborating with a haircare company that is changing the game and making shopping for shampoo and conditioner easy for even the hair incompetent like ME! I personally have very straight and easy to manage hair. I can take a shower, let it air dry, and not have to straighten, de-frizz, curl, or any of the other things so many women do. I know how lucky I am, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have areas I want my hair to improve. My hair can be dry in the winter, have dandruff issues, get staticky (is that a word? haha), get greasy at the roots, lie super flat, and more.

I was so excited when Formulate + Co, emailed me and wanted to do a collaboration, mainly because I never know what I’m looking for when I’m shopping for new shampoo and conditioner. I love how the process was completely custom yet super easy…there’s even an app for it!

Either download the app, or visit their website and you can begin the process. I told them where I live (genius if you ask me, since weather can be so determining in hair health), the current status of my hair, whether I colored it (I have never), and what improvements I’d like to see. I even got to pick my scent and decided how strong I wanted it to be (yes! it’s THAT custom).

So here’s what I chose for my hair goals:

• Prevent thinning (I mean doesn’t hurt right? haha)

• Lengthen

• Oil Control

• Volumize

• Hydration

Then, I chose to the scent Freshly Squeezed (a sweet orange delicious citrus scent) and chose to have it strongly scented because I looooove citrus smells!

Overall, I’m obsessed with my shampoo and conditioner. I try to only wash my hair every few days and ever since I started using these custom products I’ve been able to wash about every 3-4 days which is great! I do use dry shampoo sometimes if I’ve worked out and want to ‘clean’ my hair, but I really feel like I’ve noticed help with my oil control, yet my hair has felt hydrated. I honestly haven’t noticed much static in my hair which could be that it hasn’t been extremely cold yet this winter, but who knows!

Here are some other details that I love about this process:

• All shampoos/conditioners are always sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, & cruelty-free. They are technically not vegan because they source their keratin from wool, but if you want it formulated vegan you can get it that way!

• If you want to make changes to your next bottle, it’s really easy to control your settings in the app or on the website.

• If you want to omit certain ingredients because you’re vegan, allergic, etc, you can ask them to not add them! (Super cool)

• The packing is beautiful in your shower and I love that they have pumps! This made transferring to my travel bottles really easy for showers at my gym.

Now for the exciting part… Formulate + Co is giving away a free custom Shampoo & Conditioner set to one of my readers! All you have to do is click the link below to enter! (The giveaway closes on December 26th at midnight so hurry up and enter ASAP!) Even if you don’t win, you will receive a $5 off coupon for entering, so I highly encourage entering!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

I purposely wanted to end this giveaway around Christmas to be able to gift one of you an extra gift this year! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and supports Andrea Fontana Beauty all year long. You guys are the best and I am so grateful!

Have a beautiful day and GOOD LUCK!

Andrea

Maybelline 'Soda Pop' Palette Makeup Tutorial Video

I am finally back with another YouTube video for you guys! My bridal season this fall has been amazing, but so incredibly busy, which means I’ve been neglecting my YouTube channel. I’m finally starting to feel inspired again however, so I sat down and filmed this really easy, warm & purple fall eyeshadow look for you using the Maybelline ‘Soda Pop’ palette. Let me know in the comments below if you have tried this or the Lemonade palette by Maybelline!

As usual, the products I’ve used are listed below the video. Let me know if you like this style of video and want to see more! I have a lot of fun creating these for you!

Products Used in order (Click on products for Links):

Weleda Skin Food

NYX Honey Dew Me Up Primer

MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Foundation

Maybelline Master Strobing Liquid Illuminating Highlighter in Light/Iridescent

IT Cosmetics Airbrush Buffing Foundation Brush

Maybelline Soda Pop Eyeshadow Palette

Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Eyeshadow Brush Set

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC20

Beauty Blender

RCMA No Color Powder

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick in Amber

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer in Anthelion

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Boosting Conditioning Primer Mascara

L’Oreal Voluminous Voluminous Original Carbon Black Mascara

L’Oreal Lipstick in 008 Fairly Nude (Apparently they don’t make this anymore…sorry!)

Hope you enjoyed this video and have the best weekend,

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.

Recent Empties #2

I've found that you guys really like these empties posts because it's nice to see products I didn't like as well. It's been awhile since I did my last one, so I wanted to share with you the products I've used up in the last few months. I think this post will be equally as helpful because I have some products I won't be repurchasing because of the ingredients they contain and that I am finding cleaner alternatives. I've divided them up into categories so it's a little more helpful, and I've included products that I use up in my kit since that might be interesting for you as well! Let's get started:

Makeup Empties:

Most of these products were from my kit which will be helpful for you if you're looking for products I trust and love. First up we have two bottles of the Ulta Beauty Brush & Sponge Cleanser. I go through this stuff like water because it's such a great brush cleanser. It's really effective and you don't need much product. It also dries really quickly, so when I'm doing clients back to back, it's easy to sanitize and clean my brushes fast and move onto my next client. If you don't deep clean your brushes as often as you should, I highly recommend getting a spot cleaner like this to wash them frequently (every other day) in between deep cleansing. I will continue to keep repurchasing this spot cleanser until I find one that I like more or is comparable but more cost effective. 

This next product is also from my kit and I have a love/hate relationship with it. MAC Cosmetics Fix + is a cult favorite and I keep it in my kit for only one reason; to wet my brush for metallic shadows/more color payoff. I do not like it as setting spray for the whole face because I hate the way the container sprays. I'm picky when it comes to spraying a face of makeup that I've just put so much work and love into. I also find that the bottle tends to leak when I'm transporting it from job to job, so after 2 or 3 bottles completely emptying in my kit, I've committed to only buying this little 1 oz bottle of MAC Fix + from now on, so I don't waste money if it leaks again. I will continue to buy it because it is my favorite for really getting a shimmery/metallic shadow to lay beautifully on the eye and stay well. 

Benefit Porefessional Face Primer is my favorite silicone based primer to keep in my kit for almost all of my clients. I love how it smooths out the texture of a client's skin and will always have it in my kit. I've tried other brands' versions and nothing compares to this one for me. Plus most of my clients always say "this smells so good!" and it's nice for clients to have enjoyable situations like this throughout the makeup process. Remember if you are a makeup artist, the experience of doing someone's makeup is just as important as the end result. 

This last makeup empty is a personal one, as I am always trying out mascaras from the drugstore. I have had so many people talk about Covergirl Clump Crusher and decided to try this one out. It's the Covergirl Clump Crushers Extensions Mascara in 'Very Black'. Apparently it's supposed to be like the original clump crusher formula but with buildable fiber extensions in it? I don't think it was anything special and if I remmeber correctly, I bought it by accident when wanting to try the original instead. Mental note: Read fine print better Andrea. 

Skincare Empties:

These two kind of go together because they were my two favorite makeup removers before I went clean with my skincare. I loved this solid Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter because it isn't liquid which makes it easier to travel with. It also seemed to last forever. The Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water is also great for removing eye and face makeup with a cotton round. If you aren't concerned with clean skincare than I'd recommend them for you, but unfortunately you won't seem in my routine anymore. (In case you are wondering what I have switched to, keep an eye out for my current skincare routine post coming later this week!)

This toner is a repeat and thankfully is clean enough to stay with me through the clean skincare process! It has a few ingredients that register as a 3 but most are 1's which makes this an overall 3 or under product (my goal). There has to be at least a 50% chance that if you are reading this I've either gotten you addicted to this toner or you've heard me talk about it. The Dermadoctor Ain't Misbehavin' Healthy Toner with Glycolic & Lactic Acid is the perfect toner for people who need glycolic and lactic acid in their routine on a daily basis (i.e. many of you especially those who struggle with texture issues, uneven skin tone, breakouts, clogged pores. etc...). It's worth the splurge because it lasts over 6 months and I love that it comes in a glass bottle. I think it's made an appearance in at least 3 empties posts over the years, so you can bet I will continue to purchase it. 

I used up a pack of the CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patches and this things are my SAVIORS. I will always keep them on hand because I pop one on clean and unmoisturized skin over my blemish at night and in the morning it is significantly reduced. It works best if the blemish has come to a head already, but I am always excited to see the oil and impurities on the sticker when I remove it in the morning. It makes me feel like a science experiment and I'm weird like that. If you struggle with acne ever PLEASE do yourself a favor and click on the link and snatch some of these up. 

I got this sample of the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum and I couldn't even finish it because of the smell. I thought I could tolerate most smells if I knew the product was helping my skin but I just couldn't get over this one. I included it in this because I've heard great things about this serum but I wanted to recommend that you go into Sephora and ask for a sample to see if you can tolerate before you purchase it. 

Next up we have some sheet masks that I used up and this first one was a gift, and thankfully they still sell them on Amazon! The Secret Nature Firming Blueberry Sheet Masks are awesome. I'm happy I received a whole pack of 5 of these because after using the first one, I couldn't believe how plumped and hydrated my skin looked. My fine lines were so minimized and some even gone. It was unreal. While they contain ingredients like fragrance, that I try to stay away from, I will definitely be using up the pack. Again this is a product that I definitely recommend if you aren't as concerned with clean skincare. The other mask I used is from I Dew Care and I bought it in the Let's Get Sheetfaced kit of 14 sheet masks. Unfortunately it is no longer available, but I did like that there were many options in this kit. I definitely recommend getting a kit of different varieties of sheet masks to keep on hand so you always have something for whatever your skin is currently dealing with. 

Other Empties:

This category is for hair and body. So I have an issue with wasting products. I cannot just through products out because I no longer want to use them. I have to figure out a way to use them and this first product was no exception. I haven't bought a Victoria Secret or Bath & Body Works body product in ages, I think this one was a gift, because the quality of ingredients is just simply bad. I had this Amber Romance Victoria's Secret Body Wash and instead used about a tablespoon with my bathes to give a little bit of bubbles. This did make it last forever, but at least it's gone and I don't have to feel bad about wasting products. I'm not even going to link it because I do not recommend buying your body products from either of these places. 

These next two hair products, the Wella Professionals Enrich Shampoo & Conditioner for Fine/Normal Hair were my favorites before I switched to a cleaner option. I went through a few bottles of them and really did love them. They are great quality if you don't necessarily want clean hair care products and made my hair feel more voluminous and healthy (For reference, I have very flat and fine hair but a lot of it). 

The last product I want to share is something I've never talked about on AFB but it has to do with periods so if that bothers you here's your warning. While going clean and toxin free, I swapped out my tampons for organic cotton ones. This was actually one of the first changes I made, probably about 8 or 9 months ago! Through a recommendation of a friend (thanks Mercedes!) I went with This is L and I really do love their organic tampons. I signed up for the subscription on their website which I've linked above and received 20 tampons once a month (10 regular & 10 super) for $7.95 (including shipping). I like that with every purchase they donate to products women in need in high impact areas. So not only are you making a healthier conscious choice for yourself, but you're doing something good for other women at the same time. I will always support companies who have this business model! While I would buy L tampons again, I paused my subscription because I couldn't use them fast enough. Apparently I don't need 20 every month and they were getting backed up in my bathroom. I have also noticed the Cora tampons and decided that once I used up my This is L ones, I would give those a shot. Cora also donates products to women in need and they are organic cotton. I feel like Cora's website is more specific in how your purchase helps those in countries all over the world (including the US) which I really like. I will let you guys know how I like the Cora Tampons when I get to try them. Both companies have subscription options which is really nice so you never have to do a midnight tampon run again (Hello, we've all been there!) I like that Cora is sold on Grove Collaborative which is the online membership service that I use to purchase my natural cleaning products. 

This was definitely a longer post than normal but I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the products I've used up recently. It allows me to give you an honest opinion of the product after using it entirely. I hope you enjoyed and shout out to you if you made it to the end of this post! Comment below if you've tried anything I mentioned today!

Have a beautiful week,

Andrea 

Disclosure:

Unless noted, all products were purchased with my own money and all opinions are my own. 

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.

First Impressions Video (Ulta/Sephora Haul Proucts)

Last Monday I shared the products I picked up from the Ulta and Sephora spring sales and thought it'd be fun if I filmed a video trying the products I picked up for myself (not my kit). I really loved the look that came out of it! You'll have to watch below to see which products I loved!

I was honestly a little shocked that I picked so many products that I LOVED! I will say though this probably comes from years of experience swatching products and testing things. I can pretty much tell by a formula or shade if I'm going to like it. Sometimes I'm still surprised though and some things might not work out as well as I expect. 

Comment below which palette you want me to do 10 looks with!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Products Mentioned:
Weleda Skin Food *** https://amzn.to/2I4tSXS
IT Cosmetics CC Cream in Light
Maybelline Master Liquid Strobe Cream in Light/Iridescent
MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer
Laura Mercier Universal Setting Powder
Fenty Beauty Matchstix in Amber
Benefit Hoola Bronzer Sephora Collection Blush in Too Hot!
Milk Makeup Holographic Stick in Mars
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Glossier Boy Brow in Black *** (10% off your first order) http://bff.glossier.com/hWksm 
Fenty Beauty Mini Matchstix in Sinamon
Morphe 9B Bronzed Babe Palette
Loreal Voluminous Lash Paradies Mascara
NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in Walk This Way

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

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

The Launch of The Beauty Bar at Curate + Co.

Imagine a cozy little space that from the moment you walk in and see what's inside you can't help but smile. Every step and turn you make, you notice another thing you want and you find yourself saying "awww look" 1,000 times in a row. That's Curate + Co. in Kalamazoo, MI. 

I was lucky enough to have Christina, the owner, reach out to me and ask me to be a part of a very special project to launch The Beauty Bar, a collection of expertly curated face and body products that would make any woman's conscience scream, YOU NEED THIS! Christina and her husband Marco, wanted to create a launch video and needed a makeup artist to create the three looks showcasing the products, which is where I came in. 

Not only did we all come together to create an amazing video (Click here to head to my Instagram to watch all 3 looks!), but everyone involved was so talented and fun to work with. I loved this project. 

Now I want to share some of the products I used in the shoot and some that I took home with me and have been testing out. 

French Girl Organics Facial Scrub in Rose du Jardin: I am not normally a physical exfoliation girl but I had to get this one when I saw all the ways that you could use it! You can use it as a regular scrub by mixing it with water or toner, mixing it into your cleanser, or even using it as a mask, as it has pink and white clay in it! There are also plant antioxidants that brighten and soothe your skin. 

Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizers: I used the three shades of these luminizers in the video shoot and I fell in love. You can use them in so many different ways; brow bone, inner corner of your eyes, cupids bow, cheek bones, collar bones, etc. I have been way more into liquid highlighters recently and these definitely make the cut. 

Rituel de Fille Inner Glow Creme Pigment: I am normally not a huge cream blush fan, but these really changed my opinion. They were so easy to blend and had great color payoff. Even if you've never tried a cream blush before I highly recommend picking one of these shades up because they give such a healthy looking flush to the skin; plus they are great to keep in your purse for on the go moments when you need both lipstick and blush!

Herbivore Botanicals Blue Tansy Mask: To say that I'm obsessed with this mask would be an understatement. I can honestly say I will always keep this as a part of my regular skincare routine. This mask contains fruit enzymes and willow bark (natural source of salicylic acid) to gently exfoliate your skin but also clarify it. I highly recommend it for those who deal with acne, oiliness or texture. I love how Herbivore recommends you do it every night for 3-4 nights in a row to get started and then use it 1-2 times per week for upkeep. I noticed huge improvements with my skin within the first use and it just got better with each use. I never felt too dry or sensitive afterwards. I love the smell of it (it's surprisingly very candy like) and you don't need much product to get a successful treatment. I like to rub a dime sized amount between my fingers and then apply to my face for a thin layer. It will tingle for a little bit, but that is totally normal!

Sassy Lips Make The Moment Lipsticks: If you watched my last video (CLICK HERE TO WATCH) I mentioned that my favorite lip look is currently the 'popsicle lips' where you look like your lips are stained from just eating a popsicle. If you love this look too, I highly recommend these awesome pH changing lipsticks because they look different on everyone depending on the pH of your lips. They give the perfect amount of stain and can be layered to create a brighter and more intense look. We used one in the 'Fresh' look created in the video and I loved it. I cannot wait to get my hands on my own. I think they will be perfect for fresh summer makeup looks!

There are many other great products and pieces at Curate + Co to check out. If you like home decor, kids clothing/ toys, greeting cards, and more, or even just want a little inspiration, I highly recommend adding 'Visit Curate + Co. ASAP', to your To-Do List next time you visit Kalamazoo. One of the things I like most is that they host a lot of workshops to learn how to create new things or pick up a new hobby! If you can't make it to the store you can always visit their website at www.Curate-Chicago.com

Thank you again to Curate + Co for asking me to be a part of this awesome project!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Lash Boost Review

I think I might be the last one on the block to try a lash growth serum, but my review is going to be a little different than most. Let's get a little personal. Here's the back story as to how I ended up using Lash Boost in a nontraditional way. 

In November I was washing my face one night and looked up and the way my hair happened to fall, I spotted a completely bald spot right in the center of my head about the size of a dime. I immediately inspected it and stood in shock wondering what I was looking at. Changes in your body externally can often be a sign of something going on internally and my mind went in 15 directions. I immediately Facetimed my sister, because what else are sisters for...haha and probably repeated 18 times, "ARE YOU SEEING WHAT I'M SEEING?! "

I'm lucky enough to have an uncle who is a PA and immediately called him to discuss. His instinct told him it was Alopecia Areata just based on the fact that I had recently quit a high stress job, but he wanted me to go to my doctor to rule out any thyroid or other health issues. Turns out he's the world's smartest PA (haha) and my doctor also thought it was Alopecia Areata and said not to worry about it. It's really hard not to worry about something that is caused by worrying, if that makes sense. The most frustrating thing about Alopecia Areata is that there is no guarantee the hair will grow back, so I was really bummed when I saw growth throughout the next month, and one morning in December, it all fell out again. 

This then prompted a conversation with one of the amazing mom's I nanny for who sells Rodan & Fields. I asked her if anyone had tried the lash boost on their scalp and if she thought it would work. She had never heard of anyone trying it and obviously couldn't recommend doing it since R&F had never tested it, but I was pleasantly surprised to receive it for Christmas from her! Let me repeat, R&F DOES NOT ENDORSE PUTTING LASH BOOST ON YOUR HEAD, but I was self conscious at this point and wanted to try a more natural route before going to my doctor for steroid shots to stimulate growth. If the bald spot had been anywhere other than the center of my head where I part my hair I probably wouldn't have cared as much, but it was something I was having to cover and hide on a regular basis which is annoying. 

As far as my routine goes for Lash Boost, I started off the first few weeks by applying it every night to my lashes and whatever was leftover I would apply to my scalp. I never got more product from the tube. After the first few weeks, I started using it every other night to stretch the product and I don't feel like my results were affected. With these types of growth serums, you will always need to keep applying them in an area like your lashes that naturally shed and regrow every 6-8 weeks. So if you stop using it, the results will go away. I had so many brow clients that would use it to regrow areas of their brows when reshaping so that's something to think of too!

Now for some pictures of what my scalp and lashes looked like when I started using Lash Boost on them right before Christmas and what they look like today, 10 weeks later. I stopped using the Lash Boost on my scalp about a month ago probably because I just wanted to get the hair growing, and I'm happy to say that a lot of the hair has grown back, so much so that I can't really see the bald spot anymore! (Sorry if close ups of my scalp are weird...haha) I learned through this process that I know quite a few women who have experienced this type of hair loss due to stress so I'm happy to share my story if you happen to be going through the same thing and it makes you feel more at ease with what you're going through!

As far as my lashes go, they have always been long and thick, they just won't curl and always stay super straight. I have since found that they hold a curl much better and are significantly longer and fuller. I never felt like you could see my lashes in any pictures but now I feel like you can. 

Top Image: Before, Bottom Image: After

Top Image: Before, Bottom Image: After

You can really tell in the lash pictures how much longer and fuller my lashes look. I didn't take any pictures with mascara on because you didn't come to the post for a mascara recommendation. haha I wanted to show you my actual lashes.

Overall I am extremely happy with my Lash Boost experience. If you are looking to purchase please reach out to Kristen HERE! She is so wonderful and deserving of your business! I know she has a Lash Boost special going on right now! I cannot thank her enough for gifting me this Lash Boost and helping me get rid of my bald spot!

Let me know in a comment below if you have tried a lash or brow serum before and if you liked it! I totally think it's worth the money, do you?

Have a great rest of your week,

Andrea Fontana