Five Brushes Every Makeup Bag Needs

The more I've developed my skills in the beauty department, the more I have realized the importance of good brushes. A good brush can take a so, so product and work wonders with it. While I have a large collection at this point, I'd say that there are about five brushes I really rely on to give a flawless finish and make product application easy.

The Foundation Brush: I've tried a few variations of foundation brushes and have found that a buffing brush gives me the most flawless finish. When used in circular motions around the face I find that product blends evenly and gives that "my skin, only better" appearance. 

The Precise Concealer Brush: A smaller version of the buffing brush which is perfect for getting into the smaller areas of the face. I use this primarily under my eyes and around my nose - perfect for concealing dark circles and red spots. 

The Cheek Definer Brush: A smaller, fluffy brush like the NARS Yachiyo brush is perfect for multiple uses - contouring, adding blush, highlighting, and spot treating areas with translucent powder. A one brush does it all sort of deal. The smaller size allows for you to easily get into the hollows of your cheek bones, apply precisely to the apple of the cheek, and highlight.

The Blending Brush: A must have for any type of eye shadow application. I rarely use any other eye shadow brush because this one does the job so well. It's fluffy, soft bristles are perfect for smoothing out rough edges and adding contrast to the crease. Hands down the most commonly used blending brush is the MAC 217. 

The Small Angled Brush: This brush can be used for multiple purposes as well - eyeliner, brow definition, and lips. The small angled tip allows for precise liner application, giving detail to brows, and getting that perfect red lip.

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Faith Pierce is a regular contributor to STYLE'N.  For more of her work, check out her blog or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Skincare Strategy #2

Hi everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. I was supposed to be in Miami the past few days for a much needed girls weekend with some of dear friends from Boston. But unfortunately the snow storm we had here on Thursday put a huge damper in my plans and after several cancelled flights I was unable to make it. So this weekend we are just relaxing and catching up with errands and I decided to dabble a bit with video. I have done a few videos in the past but most the work I have done involving cameras has been live local TV segments. This type of video is definitely new to me and I still have a lot to learn but let me know what you think. Would you like to see more video content here on the blog? Hope you enjoy the video and you can shop all my favorite skin care products below. 

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Skincare Strategy #1

Hi everyone. I hope you're having a great week so far. Today our fashion and beauty contributor Faith Pierce is sharing her favorite skincare products, daily routine, and beauty tips for dry skin. And on Saturday I will be sharing my everyday skincare routine so be sure to head back over and check it out! 

Skincare is something over the years I've learned to not take lightly. Seeing as I have drier skin (especially during these winter months) I have relied on a few tried and true products to keep my skin smooth, hydrated, and prepped for whatever makeup I may throw on it. 

Cleansing Water: The REN Cleansing Water is a newer incorporation into my skincare routine. I added it as a first step to remove that initial layer of makeup (it also serves as my morning cleanser since it is quick and gentle). Since the product is a 3-in-1 it acts as a makeup remover, cleanser, and toner. 

Eye Makeup Remover: On days that I wear full eye makeup (think the Tom Ford liner, waterproof mascara, etc) I pull out my Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover. This product melts away eye makeup easily and I'm not left tugging and pulling at my eyes.

Cleanser: In the shower I use this REN Cleansing Milk to really get my skin clean from makeup, grime, and dirt. Since I have dry skin this product is perfect for me - it is gentle, moisture filled, and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped after using it.

Exfoliator: Since my skin is drier I was recommended this chemical exfoliant. It removes the layer of dead skin without being super harsh (like some beaded exfoliators can be). It leaves my skin glowing and fresh feeling. I usually use this one exclusively on Sunday night (and occasionally on Wednesday if my skin is really needing it). 

Serum: Before moisturizing I load up on serum the extra layer really helps to lock in the hydration that my skin so desperately needs. This one is a radiance boosting serum so it helps to keep my skin looking dewy and naturally glowy.

Moisturizer: Since all my other products heavily concentrate on moisture and hydration I was recommended a moisturizer that was hydrating but lightweight. This one is the perfect balance - it locks in moisture without leaving my face feeling like it has a ton of product loaded up on it. It also dries down well so that I don't feel greasy when climbing into bed.

Thermal Spring Water: This is pretty much one of those sort-of, kind-of ridiculous products (glorified water if you will) that I'm not sure how to exactly describe. If my skin is feeling particularly beat by the harsh winter weather I will spritz a bit of this on my face as a last step. It helps to add a bit of cooling moisture. I will also spray it over my base makeup in the morning sometime if I'm feeling that things are looking a bit cakey. 

Balm: My dry lip savior! Before climbing into bed each night I like to add a bit of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream onto my lips. Since this is a heavy duty, long lasting balm it's perfect to sleep in. I wake up with my lips feeling repaired and soft. 

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Spring 2015 Top Fashion Trends

This Spring is all about the modern revival of the Seventies - think suede in the summer, travel inspired bohemian, and fringe covered pieces. To keep things modern add splashes of cayenne colored pieces and replace your small structured handbags for slouchier bucket bags.To keep fringed pieces looking fresh and modern use it as details on your accessories or small touches on your clothing (like the dress above).

Shop Spring Trends

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Faith Pierce is a regular contributor to STYLE'N.  For more of her work, check out her blog or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The Working Woman's Wardrobe

As a woman with a full time career I’ve found it’s most important to utilize a select group of well made, staple items when getting ready in the morning. These items allow me to have a basis to start with to then add trendier, fun pieces to finish off a look. (Much like the image above - sourced from Collage Vintage ) Her staple cropped pants and great winter jacket work seamlessly with her bright sweater and trendy shoes to keep her looking polished and professional. Above and below are some of the items I love to keep on hand in my closet. From classic stilettos to a well made pencil skirt they are items that every closet should have.

Check below for some of my favorite picks!

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Faith Pierce is a regular contributor to STYLE'N.  For more of her work, check out her blog or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.