Bronzer Find: Nars Illuminator

I would love nothing more than to to be Magda. To lay in the sun all freaking day, soak up that vitamin D, and get to a golden brown. 

Actually, I was Magda. In college. Hence why I have to avoid the sun at almost all costs now. But I crave that glow. Even in the winter months. 

Bronzer is the best. The absolute best. And while I love a great blush, I really need the look of a bit of sun on my face to feel human. Especially when my skin has not seen the sun in months (hello February). 

The problem with a powder bronzer (much like a powder blush) is that it seems to disappear within hours of applying. So I researched a way to have that glow last all day and into the night. 

Meet Nars Illuminator. 

I use it in Laguna and apply just the very smallest amount where the sun would hit my face if I had been laying around like Magda (top of forehead, top of cheeks, maybe a little on the jaw line for contour). Blend well and you are set. It wasn't even designed to be used like this (you can apply before foundation for a natural illuminated look too), but I love love love it like this. 

Bonus is it comes in a few colors, so if you are looking for blush with more staying power it comes in the ever popular pinky Orgasm. Or if you want just a bit of sheen a pretty and subtle beige. 

Happy Healthy Bronzing. 

xo

Erin 

Style Snapshot: Becky

This week we report from the West Coast. Where one fun-loving, gorgeous and chic Santa Barbara native shares with us her style and beauty secrets. Though this Southern Californian girl now lives in San Fran, she always has that beachy fresh look we love. 

'When it comes to my hair and skin, natural is what I always strive for. 


So let's start with my hair... When I first started highlighting my hair I would always tell the lady please make it look natural!  When it comes to highlights I like my hair to look as natural as possible.  One of my best friends, Sarah Hammel, happens to be a colorist for Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in West Hollywood.  Unfortunately, I live in SF and cannot get my hair done by her.  So when I made the move from LA to SF she referred me to Monica West at Zip Zap salon.  I have been going to Monica now for 6 years and will be the first to say if you want a natural, sunkissed beachy look, balayage is the way to go. 

Sarah Hammel Adding the Finishing Touch

When it comes to lightening up, one of the most natural-looking and modern coloring techniques available right now is balayage. Essentially, balayage involves painting sections of the hair freehand, rather than using foils. The end result is a sexy “grown out” look that takes literally minutes to achieve, and requires less maintenance than traditional highlights. I love the grown out look, so I only get my hair done two to three times a year.

When it comes to my skin, I pretty much stick to what feels great. As someone who loves being outdoors, sunscreen is the most important product I use. Neutrogena Sunblock, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 55 is the best and does the job it promises. 

I have used Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 forever.  I love it because it doesn’t apply like a thick foundation, smooths out your skin and has sunscreen in it.

Even though I love the Laura Mercier tinted sunscreen, I recently started using Skin Perfection Gel by Per-fekt Beauty and love it. It works as an antioxidant rich serum and improves the look of your skin. It is super lightweight, natural and water proof. I switch off between the two now.

For bronzer, which I always have on, I like Laura Mercier in Golden Bronze. It helps me get that bronzed look I love without having to sit in the sun. Nars Deep Throat is the perfect blush with it. It is a peach color with a hint of shimmer. Who doesn't love their blush!

As for eyes, I generally do not wear much makeup, but when I want to spice things up I love the smokey eye look. I have always used dark browns with a touch of brown shimmer.  Any brown really works for me but I like to stick to the MAC eye shadows.

As for eyeliner,  I use Lancôme in café.  When I apply eye liner I will put it under my top eye lid, then use the end of this eyeliner brush to smudge it and make for that smoky look.

 I love how a nude lip looks with a smokey eye. So if I am going for that look I use Nars Belle du Jour lipstick. It is a sheer nude-beige that works great with my skin tone and gives just enough color.

I have been using the same perfume since seventh grade. I love Acqua di Gio eau de toilette because it is a fresh, soft smell that is not too overpowering like most perfumes in my opinion. This has been my scent forever and I will never switch! 

When it comes to fashion, my jewelry is the finishing touch to every outfit. Over the past 5 years I have started collecting vintage jewelry.  I love the story behind each piece.  Everything is so unique and just gorgeous.

Current Favorite Find: Cuff & Earrings

A good family friend of mine, Holly Murphy, started Coast 2 Coast Vintage and sells her amazing pieces in Santa Barbara, CA.  When I go home to visit my family, I always visit her to shop her latest finds and never leave empty handed.

Blue Moon Dress 

I shop all over, but one of my favorites is Planet Blue. When I feel the need to online shop, this is where I turn to. I recently found my new favorite leopard maxi dress there by Blue Moon. I love dresses, but also cannot resist the perfect pair of jeans. J Brand is the greatest and the only brand that I will buy now. All the styles fit great and the selection is amazing.

Balenciaga Bag, Celine (top) & Ray Ban Sunglasses

Exercise has always been a huge part of my life.  I had been doing triathlons for the past 2 years until I unfortunately injured my hip last October.  Now that I am off crutches, I have started adding pilates, yoga and biking back into my weekly workouts.  San Francisco has a ton of pilates and yoga studios but my favorites are the The Pad and Aha Yoga on Union Street.  I train privately with Dina Ricken for pilates at the Pad and take group yoga classes at Aha Yoga. You are guaranteed to sweat no matter what.

If you are into biking, Breakaway Performance is fantastic. Joel Ramirez will whip you into biking shape in no time.  

All of my inspiration in everything I do comes from my family and friends! Without any of them I would not be who I am today.'

xo

Erin 

All About Cheeks: Nars Blush Bronzer Trio

Whether you read it on this blog, saw it on countless magazine polls, or heard it from your favorite make up artist, Nars Orgasm blush lives up to the hype. It has a coral-pink color that can be worn soft or piled on for a more dramatic look. The shade is flattering on so many skin tones and that is why it is so beloved. 

Nars has now figured out a way for you to enjoy this naughtily named blush to its full potential this summer. The limited edition Blush Bronzer Trio ($55), which includes Orgasm blush, Laguna bronzer and Albatross highlighter. All conveniently packaged together in a zipped up compact so you can take it with you on steamy summer evenings. 

I like how Monika here is wearing the Trio. Blush swiped on the cheek, a little bronzer where the sun naturally hits you, and the illuminater dabbed on the top of the cheek bone and just below the eye brow. 

There is also a great tutorial on The Beauty Department on how to use bronzer to contour your face. I have been using a few of those tricks lately and loved it. 

Every girl wants to look sun kissed and fresh faced in the summer (or on vacay) and I love how you can get there with just one purchase. 

xo

Erin 

Beauty Snapshot: Kelly

If you have checked out my favorite blogs, you know that I love the site Into the Gloss. It is a fun site with beauty profiles of some very chic women in the fashion industry. From designers, to PR girls, to editors at Vogue, they provide us with what they have found works best for them. I love reading it, but sometimes it does feel slightly far reaching for a girl like me. No fashion house connections, no access to the BFF hair stylist, and no flights to Paris to hit up the pharmacy. I thought I would bring the same concept to Imperfect Polish, but make it more accessible to all of us ladies looking for what's great. So every so often I will be profiling chic ladies I know who will share some of their favorite ways to look great from all over the country. 

I am starting with my friend, Kelly, who is a mom of two adorable little girls and lives in the Chicago suburbs. She loves design and fashion as much as I do, so we love pouring over great blogs and ideas. Kelly shares with us some of her favorites in our first profile. Check out her adorable girls, Eloise and Millie Bea. Thanks Kel! 

"I keep it pretty simple. Things I really care about are things I put on my face and fragrances. I am definitely no product junkie but I do love a good cream. I was a long time La Mer  devotee but after a recent trip to Versa Medi Spa, the esthetician told me my skin did not require the kind of moisture it was providing, (not to mention it’s pretty spendy at $130/ounce), so I recently switched to Dr. Hauschka after reading a couple of celebrities I have skin envy of use it. I love the cleansing cream, face toner, and rose day cream. It’s all natural, holistic, and smells yummy and in the 2 months I’ve been using it, I’ve been happy with it’s performance. 

After a shower I slather on Kiehls Creme de Corps. It really doesn’t smell like anything and it makes my skin feel softer and more hydrated than any other cream I’ve tried. At night I use Egyptian Magic under my eyes, on my elbows, and feet. This cream, although it really shouldn’t be called a cream because the consistency is more like vaseline (which I also love), is truly magic. This super powered formula gets rid of eczema, under eye circles, dry cracked skin, basically anything you can think of. I’ve read others have used it as a hair mask, designers use it on their models for the runway, or slather it all over your face after a long flight. Amazing and you can buy it at Whole Foods. 

After having kids, my hair is now wavy so most days I spray Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray  and that’s it. Some days I’ll diffuse it about a quarter of the way and let air dry but the hair dryer rarely makes an appearance. I have fantasies of my hair looking like Gisele’s, my hair muse, but I’m thinking it requires way more work than I’m willing to put in. For shampoo I’ve been switching between Bumble and Bumble and Pureology for a while.  If I remember I will put Moroccan Oil on after a shower. I’m not sure how much I believe in this hair oil moment going on right now but I guess I’ll try whatever Rachel Zoe tells me to. I’ve only been coloring my hair for about 5 years and the only person I’ve let touch it is Laura Shepherd at Swerve Salon in Chicago. 

My makeup story is much like the rest - pretty simple. I like Benefit’s That Gal brightening primer and I also like Fresh’s Illuminating cream. I’ll switch off between the two. Certain days I’ll also use Erase Paste under my eyes. I swear by Cover Girl’s Lash Blast mascara. I’ve tried a lot and this one is really great. Mascara is really the only thing I put on every day which is weird because it’s the most time consuming part of my morning. It literally takes 5 minutes to put it on and although that doesn’t seem like that much time, I do not usually have the patience for things like that. However, it truly is one thing I really think makes a difference in how I look. I also like Anastasia’s clear brow gel,  Nars Turkish Delight lip gloss, and Make Up Forever’s waterproof eye liner. I am very sensitive to smells and perfumes. Day to day I love Body Time’s China Rain. It’s fresh, clean, floral, and a little musky and perfect for me. Special occasions I’ll wear Quelques Fleurs.  I have loved this perfume for a long time and it takes over 15,000 flowers to create just one ounce. Which is amazing. It’s been around for hundreds of years and one I’ll always go back to. 

Other services I love are the oxygen facial and bikini wax at Bliss and getting my eyebrows done at Versa. I can’t remember the last time I had my nails done - probably when I got married. I prefer them natural and can’t really sit long enough to get through it and it also requires WAY to much maintenance for me. I don’t think I’ve ever not ruined a manicure within the first hour. Ah well. 

For the girls we use Mustela or Noodle and Boo. Mustela has a great clean smell that is not too babyish and Noodle and Boo is the exact opposite - the epitome of what you think a baby smells like. They are both delicious and we switch off regularly. The best diaper cream is Kiehls. 

Going into this I thought it was funny Erin asked me because I didn’t think I would have anything to talk about but I guess I really do use quite a bit of product. I never thought of myself as a girly girl and compared to a lot of women who have crates of makeup (mine can all fit in one little travel pouch), I feel less superior in the world of beauty. Although I guess it doesn’t so much matter how much you do or don’t have but the quality of what you do."

Let me know what you think of our first profile. I would love to hear your feedback and what information you are looking for most. I will be adding a fashion aspect to this as well, like favorite jeans and accessories. 

xo

Erin 

Lip Smacker

Lip color can literally change your whole day. Have you ever been having a rough day and swiping on glistening pink gloss just made it infinitely better? I know I do.

 Yesterday while picking up a refill of my favorite blush, Nars Orgasm (if you don't own it, you should, as it has long been called the best and most universally flattering blush in history), and I could not resist browsing the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. I have bought them before and always loved the fool-proof application, the long wear, and the vibrant colors. This picture is of me wearing it in Pop Life, a great red with the perfect amount of coral in it. It has a creamy consistency, but the matte feeling of lipstick that I adore. I am currently wearing it in sweat pants and a t-shirt while working from home and my strut to pick up the mail from the driveway was super glam.

The fun salesgirl from the counter also introduced me to their new chunky pencil, Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil. Basically it is the same concept, except these pencils have a shiny finish and a bit of sparkle. they are great on their own or layering and it stays on so much better than a sticky gloss. I bought Happy Days, as the color worked well with my Matte Pencils and on it's own for a hint of pink shine.

Loving my new lip finds. What shade is on yours?