NARS – Mackenzie Billington

My NARS Favorites

October 27, 2015 by Mackenzie

NARS has been one of my favorite makeup brands for years now. From their classic, sleek packaging to their high quality, unique products, NARS definitely has it all. I have tried so many Nars products over the years, and I’ve finally narrowed it down to these favorites:

‘Laguna’ Bronzer & ‘Orgasm’ Blush are just two of many NARS products that have a cult following, and after repurchasing them for years, I can totally see why. ‘Laguna’ is that perfect bronzer that isn’t too matte or too shimmery. It also doesn’t leave you orange at all. ‘Orgasm’ is a beautiful, shimmery peachy-pink that just about everybody and their mom has heard of by now. It is such a universally flattering blush shade, and it also comes in a multitude of other products from the NARS multiple stick to lipgloss. The NARS eyeshadow duos are awesome, but I feel as though they are a little underrated. NARS eyeshadows are very pigmented and easy to blend. There is also a great variety in colors. My classic go-to is the eyeshadow duo in the shade ‘Key Largo’. ‘Key Largo’ has a nice satin peach on the left, and a shimmering bronze on the right. It’s that perfect eyeshadow duo that you can throw in your purse on the go. It’s perfect for an everyday-look, but also works for a night out when paired with eyeliner and several coats of mascara.

NARS has released several awesome collaborations over the years. The most recent- and my new favorite- is the NARS x Steven Klein collection. This limited edition collection is so incredibly unique and stunning. I decided to narrow it down to the deep purple lipgloss called ‘Provoke’ and a pewter bronze eyeshadow called ‘Stud’. The reason I chose these two is because I thought they would be perfect for fall, and I don’t have anything else similar to them in my makeup collection. Provoke is a new formula of lipgloss for NARS and has some mega shine. It’s a lot deeper and darker than I expected, but I really love it layered with my favorite MAC lipstick, ‘Rebel’. Provoke just screams fall to me, and I know I will be rockin it all season. I find that Provoke also pairs perfectly with the ‘Stud’ eyeshadow. Stud is a unique and slightly strange combination of bronze, taupe, pewter, and silver. The shade is hard to describe, but I’ve never seen anything just like it. It’s super shimmery and has a gorgeous metallic finish that is perfect for any special occasion. I love it paired it with black liquid liner and false lashes. In addition to Provoke and Stud, I also picked up one of NARS new lip glosses called ‘Chelsea Girls’. Chelsea Girls was originally in a pot container version, but was recently released in lipgloss form. It is showing up more pigmented and orange in the photos below, but in person it’s a very wearable, nude-pink color. It’s a great nude that doesn’t wash your out at all. I also love the formula because it is very pigmented and lasts on the lips for hours.

(Left to right: Provoke, Chelsea Girls, Stud)

I always find myself gravitating towards neutral, wearable shades, but it can be fun to break out of my comfort zone every once in a while. ‘Exhibit A’ is a bright red blush that looks absolutely terrifying in the pan, but on the skin (applied with a very light hand) it actually looks surprisingly beautiful. I love that it works for a variety of skin tones and gives a nice flushed look. I use it year round because I find it flatters my skin tone when I am pale and when I have a tan. ‘Isolde’ is my very favorite NARS eyeshadow duo, ever. I think it can look intimidating in the pan because it is a little bolder than your everyday neutral, but I always get tons of compliments when I wear it. I find it to be especially flattering on blue eyes. My favorite lipgloss this summer was most definitely the limited edition shade, ‘Nebulous’. I remembering when I purchased it in Sephora, my sister was a little conceded. “It’s literally orange”. However, there is something so fun and not too crazy about it when it is applied to the lips. I really love it for summer and spring layered over a coral lipstick. It’s bold, but still very wearable and fun! Even though it was released as limited edition in the spring, it is still available to purchase.

Have you tried any NARS makeup products? If so, let me know what your favorites are!

My Everyday Makeup Routine

August 4, 2015 by Mackenzie

MAC Face Primer / UD Eye Primer / Bobbi Brown Touch Up Stick / Bobbi Brown Long Wear Foundation / Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer / Benefit “Hoola” Bronzer / NARS Blush in “Exhibit A” / MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in “Soft & Gentle” / NARS Duo Eyeshadow in “Key Largo” / Maybelline The Falsies Mascara / Wet ‘n’ Wild Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner / Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in “Carmel” / Eyelash Curler / Make Up For Ever HD Setting Powder / Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick in “Naughty Nude” / Beauty Blender / MAC 224 Brush / Eco Tools Eyeshadow Brush / MAC 150 Brush / ELF Small Stippling Brush / Real Techniques Contour Brush

Hey friends! So this has been highly requested, and I just wanted to share my makeup routine with y’all. This is the makeup I wear on a daily basis if I am traveling, spending the day with friends or family, shopping, going out to lunch, or attending a day time event. It usually takes me between ten and twenty minutes. I will skip a lot of the steps depending on how my skin is that week and how much time I have. When I have class or errands to run, I will typically only apply concealer and blush!

I start by applying face primer and eyeshadow primer. If you have oily skin like I do, primer can make the world of difference in helping your makeup stay all day! I then apply my foundation with my beauty blender sponge, and then I apply concealer to my blemishes and around the eyes. I then set it with setting powder. Next is color. I apply blush to the apples of my cheek and lightly down my nose and forehead. My very favorite blush is NARS ‘Exhibit A’. It looks really scary in the pan because it is bright red, but it looks really nice if you use it with a light hand. I then apply bronzer to the outsides of my face and cheeks. In addition, I contour my nose a little on the sides. My favorite highlighter is MAC ‘Soft and Gentle’. It’s super shimmery and looks really nice on the cheekbones and down the bridge of the nose. It’s definitely worth the money because it will last you ages. I then fill in my eyebrows with a pencil because they are naturally sparse. Anastasia Beverly Hills makes the best eyebrow products. Eyeshadow duos are so easy for day time, and NARS ‘Key Largo’ is my very favorite. It has a peach tone on one side and a beautiful bronze on the other. After applying a little eyeshadow, I curl my eyelashes and swipe on some black liquid liner to the top lash line. I put on two layers of black mascara after. The final step is setting my face with setting powder. I use my large MAC 150 brush to apply my powder, concentrating on my t-zone. Lastly comes lipstick. My go-to is ‘Naughty Nude’ by Too Faced. It is the one nude lipstick I have tried that actually doesn’t wash me out. I definitely plan on purchasing another one of the Too Faced La Creme lipsticks- they are gorgeous!

Let me know what your favorite makeup products are! I always love trying out new ones. Hope you all are having a terrific Tuesday!

Favorite Summer Purchases

July 12, 2015 by Mackenzie

At the beginning of this summer, I did some serious closet cleaning. I went through everything in my closet that didn’t fit anymore or I hadn’t worn in the past two to three years. It felt good to finally de-clutter my life and get organized. After selling some of my old Lilly Pulitzer pieces that didn’t fit anymore, I had money to do a little shopping and purchase pieces that fit, and that I could get great use out of. This season I’ve been all about off-the-shoulder dresses and tops, pom-poms, bold colors, tassels, cut outs, crop tops, versatile, pieces, and heels/wedges! London has some great shopping, and I absolutely love living in the city. If any of y’all have any London shopping recommendations- let me know. So far I’ve been loving Topshop, Zara, and Mango!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. I hope you all had a great weekend!

Take me to Maui

June 6, 2015 by Mackenzie

Dress Show Me Your Mumu Wedges Jack Rogers Earrings Kendra Scott

Every time I put on this fun, tropical dress, I instantly feel like I am back in Maui (which is pretty much my very favorite place on Earth). The halter, swingy fit of this Show Me Your Mumu dress is incredibly flattering and perfect for those hot summer evenings. I loved the ‘Katy Halter Dress’ so much, that I purchased another one in this wild print as well! I decided to pair it with some rose gold, hibiscus adorned wedges, and pearl statement earrings. For my lips, I went with a beige lipstick and a layered coral lipstick. I’ve also been playing around with my new Exhibit A blush, so I will definitely be reviewing this bold blush soon!

Hope you are having an awesome weekend!

May favorites

June 3, 2015 by Mackenzie

As the month of June begins, it’s time to share my beauty favorites from the month of May. I am a little bit of a beauty-junkie, and I am constantly trying new products. These are my favorite beauty products I have been loving this month:

1.) NARS Key Largo eyeshadow duo

These NARS eyeshadow duos are my favorite, especially for travel. I picked this little duo up on a whim, but I have been loving it so much. It’s a perfect peach and bronze combo that works for both day and night. I find myself wearing it pretty much daily with black liquid liner and mascara. The peach shade is matte and looks really nice with a tan. The shade on the right is a rich bronze that looks lovely in the crease of the eye. I think ‘Key Largo’ is a great duo for blue eyes! I will definitely be bringing this perfect summer duo with me when I head abroad.

2.) MAC ‘Margin’ blush

When I am picking up a new blush, I usually go for warm peaches and pinks. I was just browsing around at the MAC counter in Memphis, and the makeup artist there suggested that I try this blush. Initially, I was very opposed to giving this blush a try. It does look muddy and dull in the pan, however, it actually looks very natural on the skin. It really adds a nice glow and is perfect for everyday use. I think this blush would be especially perfect on tan skin and works great as both a blush and bronzer.

3.) Revlon colorburst lip balms

These Revlon lip balms are brilliant! I have three shades- Sweetheart, Cherish, and Mischievous. ‘Sweetheart’ is a bold, hot pink that is super bright and stays on the lips all day. ‘Cherish’ is a cool toned pink that is a little more wearable for daytime because it is more sheer. ‘Mischievous’ is a pale orange stain with a matte finish. Something that I love about these balms is that they are so easy to apply and require no sharpening. These Revlon balms also have the nicest scent. They smell so minty and fresh, which is great because I can’t stand lip products that smell bad! I definitely plan on purchasing more of these fun Revlon lip balms in the future.

4.) Bath & Body Works ‘Maui scrub’

I got this summery, little scrub for my birthday and I’ve been loving it! With notes of coconut, hibiscus, and mango, it smells so tropical. This body scrub also does a fabulous job of exfoliating (which is great if you spray tan and/or use self tanners). I am a little bit in love with everything from the Bath & Body Works Hawaii collection, especially the lotions and body sprays!

5.) Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’ nail polish

This has been my go-to nail polish for the past month. It reminds me of the beach and really flatters any skin tone. This cool blue polish also looks great on the toenails as well! It’s a really nice color for the season, and I would highly recommend it for anybody looking for the perfect summer nail polish!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. Let me know what your May favorites are!