Olivia Frescura

los angeles beauty & lifestyle blog

The Makeup Show LA 2014 Recap & Haul | Video

The Makeup Show LA 2014 Logo Olivia Frescura

This past weekend I headed Downtown for The Makeup Show to check out the latest launches. I was impressed! There were a lot of great brands in attendance- it made public transportation in the rain worth it! I managed to snag a lot of great products, check out my haul:

I picked up a lot of products, here is the full list (if you want to purchase any yourself, check out my luvocracy):
NARS Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner Pencil in Rue Bonaparte, Contour Blush in Paloma (must be new because there is nothing online!)
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX05, “The Eyeshadow” Duo in #202 Vellum/Shimmering Wheat, The Liquid Patent Lip in Jupitesse
Zuca Utility Pouch
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Rollergirl, Pool Boy, and Mannequin & Colour Pencil in Anti-Feathered, Hoochie, and Pool Boy
Cailyn Cosmetics Dizzolv’it Makeup Melt Cleansing Balm, LineFix Gel Eyeliner in Black
Parian Spirit Blush Cleaner
Embryolisse Micellaire Lotion
Skindinavia No Glow Spray On Primer
Jouer Bare Beauty Set, Glisten Gloss
Make Up For Ever HD Pressed Powder, Cream Blush #210
Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Raven, 3D Eyeliner in Orchid
Bdellium #964 Studio Brush- All-Purpose Blusher
Gorgeous Cosmetics Madison Avenue Mascara
Senna PinPoint Microtip Liquid Eyeliner
Crown Brush On The Go Mini Travel Brush Set, Eyelash Curler, and Pink Zebra Tweezer

Click around my gallery  to see some of the other brands that were there, as well as the super cool Kevyn Aucoin Gallery- featuring work & personal photos from Kevyn’s life:

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature 2014

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Purse Essentials feat. Cuyana Classic Leather Tote | Video

I recently got a new bag, so I thought it would be the perfect time to share what I keep inside it! The bag is the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote in black with a monogram. It’s not a cheap bag, but for real leather and the exact specifications I need in a purse, I think it’s really worth it. And in reality, $185 isn’t too bad to spend on a bag in the first place, I’m just cheap! They have a ton of colors and I love the monogram I got!

All I really need in a bag are my everyday essentials for work/life in general. I’m not hoarding 3 years worth of receipts or crumbs of food because the bag is fairly new, but since it’s so new I try to keep it clean.

A few of my purse essentials:

Glossier Pouches & Gen G Lipsticks: organizing my bag with the pink pouches (so lightweight and cute) is an essential and helps to separate things. I also love their Gen G lipsticks in Cake & Leo, so I keep them both in my bag at all times. Using my link gives you 20% off your first order + free shipping on orders of 2 items or more! 👯

Michael Kors Sunglasses: I’m obsessed with these gold aviators and think they suit me so much! I don’t think they have these exact ones anymore, but classic Ray Bans are probably pretty similar.

Orchid Essentials Tropical Trainwreck Cannabis Vape: If you like smoking occasionally/on the go…these vapes with the tfv4 tank are great and taste amazing! They’re a new brand from bulk dab devices that make take some time to see them popping up in different dispensaries.

Tatcha Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm: This has recently overtaken my Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer which I used to love & still use at night, I just like how lightweight and non sticky this one is.

Beauty Blender Blotterazzi Pro: I was washing mine when I was filming the video and completely forgot to mention this. But a compact mirror with the blotters save so much space, and these are great for people with oily skin.

Filming this was funny because I realized what I’m missing in my bag…guess it’s time to reevaluate!

What do you keep in your purse?

**This post contains products that I have received for free – for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (New 2014 Shades) Review & Swatches | Video

NYX 2014 Soft Matte Lip Creams Zurich Athens Cairo Ibiza Prague Cannes Copenhagen Transylvania Morocco Swatches Review
NYX New 2014 Soft Matte Lip Creams

Last Wednesday I gave a sneak peek of NYX’s 2014 Soft Matte Lip Cream shades, and today I have a full video review with swatches for you. Their are 9 new shades being added to the existing line of Soft Matte Lip Creams: Zurich, Athens, Cairo, Ibiza, Prague, Cannes, Copenhagen, and Morocco. I am most impressed by the addition of dark shades & an orange, which were the only thing missing (in my opinion) from the existing selection. Want to see how these apply? Check out my video!:

Overall I really like these new shades. Soft Matte Lip Creams are one of my favorite NYX products because it is so hard to find matte lip products, especially at an affordable price. These lip creams are very matte (a little drying) and very long lasting. I can get these to last over 4 hours if I need to- eating is the only thing that really disturbs these creams, because minutes after applying, they set to a dry matte finish! I did some really quick & dirty swatches for you all. It’s funny, because by the last shade all of my foundation around my mouth is messed up and my lips are stained. But all for a good cause of doing a review! There are a few favorites I have, but let’s take a look at each shade individually:

NYX Zurich Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream In Zurich (swatch)

Zurich is a matte muted rose shade. It applies really nicely on the lips and is perfect for light skin tones. I think this would be my favorite neutral from the shades I’m showing today.

NYX Athens Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Athens (swatch)

Athens is described as a matte peach beige, which it definitely is. For some reason I had more issues with patchy/uneven application with this one, but the color is really pretty. But, because the formula isn’t the best, it isn’t a favorite.

NYX Cairo Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cairo (swatch)

Cairo has hot mess written all over it. The pale nude color is way too light for my skintone, and I can’t picture this flattering anyone. Plus, the formula was very patchy and wasn’t very opaque, so you can see my lip color through it. I would skip this shade, because it’s going straight in the trash for me!

NYX Ibiza Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Ibiza (swatch)

Ibiza is a gorgeous rosy pink with hints of coral in it. I can picture myself wearing this a lot in the spring! The formula of this one is flawless- not patchy or streaky at all…and of course, dries to a beautiful matte finish.

NYX Prague Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Prague (swatch)

Prague is one of my favorites from this line because I don’t have any similar colors in my collection. This shade is a mix between fuchsia and berry and is a very flattering purple. I think it would look great on all skin tones as well! If you’re looking for a bright shade that isn’t too bright, pick this up- it’s a must have!

NYX Cannes Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Cannes (swatch)

Cannes is a dusty rose shade that looks like a “My Lips But Better” type of shade. I like this one because the formula is great and it’s very pigmented. This is an easy everyday shade, because it’s almost neutral, but just has the right amount of pink!

NYX Copenhagen Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen (swatch)

Copenhagen is a burgundy that has some warm red undertones. I thought this shade was a bit sheerer than I was expecting, but it is buildable. This is a classic burgundy- I would have worn it every day from fall to winter if I had it any sooner! If you wear burgundy a lot, you need this because the matte formula isn’t that common, and will make it last a long time!

NYX Transylvania Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Transylvania (swatch)

Transylvania is probably one of the more intimidating shades, as the tube makes it seem like it is nearly black. I would describe it as a purple-toned burgundy or plum shade. I was kind of bummed because it was the sheerest of the bunch, when I really wanted the color that was displayed on the tube. It is build-able, but I find that it looks a bit uneven. I think I want to test this shade out on top of a dark lipstick, in order to mattify it and make it more purple.

NYX Morocco Soft Matte Lip Cream 2014 Swatch Review
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Morocco (swatch)

And last but not least, we have Morocco…a coral orange. You know I’m all over that! I thought this shade was very fun because it comes off very bright and has a stellar formula. It almost looks neon! I can definitely picture myself wearing this a lot in spring and summer, because there aren’t a lot of matte orange lip products out there. Since it’s more of a coral, it isn’t too intimidating!

I think these new shades have a little something for everyone: neutrals, brights, and darks. I think I’ll be wearing Zurich, Ibiza, Copenhagen, Transylvania, and Morocco the most! Which shade is your fave?

Purchase NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream for $6 online or at Ulta, Target, and some drugstores.

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature 2014

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

BECCA Cosmetics The One Perfecting Brush Review & Demo Tutorial | Video

Becca The One Perfecting Brush Tutorial Video Review Demo
BECCA Cosmetics The One Perfecting Brush

When I had first heard of the BECCA One Perfecting Brush and how it is supposed to replace 10 brushes, I just didn’t believe it! Then, I had the chance to try it. The first few times were a bit rocky, but now I am obsessed with it. Although I haven’t gotten it to replace 10 brushes, it does do quite a lot for me. I decided to do a video demo because I think it makes it a lot easier to understand how this brush works, so definitely click play on the video below to watch me use this brush to apply primer, foundation, concealer, blush, powder, bronzer, and highlight.

I didn’t like this brush at first because I had a huge issue with shedding…but, the more I use it, the less it’s been shedding, which I’m thankful for! It still sheds a few hairs when I use it, but most of my brushes do. It’s made out of goat hair, which is very soft. You can’t spot clean this brush with any alcohol based cleansers, so they recommend to cleanse with a baby shampoo every few weeks. Although I don’t think I’ll be using this brush every day (I think it’s optimal for travel), I do prefer to use it to apply bronzer as a contour! I think it applies foundation nicely, but definitely a lighter, airbrushed coverage. It also applies liquid/cream blushes like a dream! Have I sold you on this brush yet? I hope so, because now you can enter to win one! I am opening this up to anywhere in the world, because I really think anyone should have the chance to try this awesome brush! Enter through the widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t win, don’t worry…you can find this brush online at Sephora for $49…which isn’t a price I’d typically pay for a brush, but because The One Perfecting Brush is so multitasking, it’s worth it!

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature 2014

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

My New Hair! (Color by Sherry Ratay)

Today I wanted to show you my new hair! It’s kind of funny because my last video was how I curled my long hair, and now I cut half of it off. The reason I cut my hair was because I wasn’t doing anything good with it, it was boring and in a bun half of the time. I think a lot of people, myself included, just have long hair to have long hair. Also, since spring is coming (and quicker in California), this shorter do will keep me a lot cooler in the coming months! In the video I talk a little bit about my inspiration, show a before and after photo, and more…so make sure to watch it!

I had the awesome opportunity to get my hair colored by Sherry Ratay, who is an Orlando-based colorist who comes out to Beverly Hills’ Gavert Atelier salon to do fabulous people’s hair. For example, Ashley Benson from Pretty Little Liars was right after me! I never color my hair (except in middle school I got highlights), so I wanted something subtle so I didn’t have to come in and maintain it often. Sherry gave me some caramel pieces using Minardi‘s Goldilocks. She told me she used a particular technique called American Baliage, which gives a very natural look and is only on the bottom half of the hair.  It’s not quite ombre, though!

I’m really loving finding new ways to style my hair…so if you want some videos on that please let me know!

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature

**This post contains a service that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**