Beautyblender Review + My Napa Valley Trip

In last week's video, A Midsummer Night's Makeup Tutorial, you saw me use a new way to apply foundation, with the Beautyblender. I've seen many YouTubers use the beauty blender and rave about it so I decided to try it myself and give you my thoughts. The Beautyblender sells for just under $20 and can be found at Sephora, Amazon, and many other beauty stores.

The beauty blender is a revolutionary makeup sponge applicator that has no sharp edges (like a traditional triangle sponge). When used properly, I find it blends your foundation flawlessly and seamlessly into your skin, so much better than a foundation brush or your fingers can. I've had my makeup airbrushed by makeup artists in the past for various events and the beauty blender is the closest thing to achieving that same professional finish. So, as you can tell, I love it!


How to apply

It's very important that you use the proper application when using the Beautyblender. Many people don't know this but the beauty blender should be damp before you apply your makeup. This allows the product to sit on the edge of the blender and not get soaked (and subsequently wasted) by being absorbed into the sponge.

Place the foundation or bb cream on the back of your hand and dab the damp Beautyblender in the product. Then bounce the product lightly on your skin and you'll be amazed at how it blends in.

You can clean your Beautyblender with soap and water (no need to buy the formal cleanser unless you want to) after every application or at the minimum, once a week.

There are many Beautyblender-esque products on the market and I have heard mixed reviews on them. I can fully recommend the original. (And P.S. I have no affiliation with Beautyblender... just sharing my honest opinion).

For a full review and to see the application process, check out this week's video. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

If you've tried the Beautyblender or a similar products let us know your feedback in the comment section below.


For more on the Beautyblender, check out the informative page on their website here.

Napa Valley Trip
This weekend my sister and I hopped on a plane to northern California to visit our Aunts, Uncles and cousins who live up there. We spent two days with them and on Saturday had a lovely afternoon in Napa Valley. It was my first time ever away from my girls so two days, though short, was perfect because I already missed them after the first hour away!

Here I am at the airport. I was channeling the mysterious traveling woman I wrote about in Lessons from Madame Chic. Can you tell?



Saturday's trip to Napa Valley was so much fun. We sought out the arts by visiting the Hess Winery's fine art gallery. Here I am standing in front of a larger than life piece by artist Frank Stella called Silverstone II...



Here were two other pieces from the fine art collection. The untitled piece on the left is by Danish artist Per Kirkeby, and the upside down portrait on the right is by Georg Baselitz aptly titled, Self Portrait Disaster.


After our art gallery experience we visited the charming, old-fashioned grocery store Oakville Grocery Co., where we bought some artisan treats and ended the afternoon with a picnic at the Rutherford Hill winery in Napa. What an adventure! It was great catching up with family again, but now, of course, I'm very happy to be back with my own.

Here's a picture of the stocked shelves at the Oakville Grocery Co.


News
Simon & Schuster editorial assistant, Kaitlin Olson, has written a very touching piece on Madame Chic books 1 and 2 on her blog, Adventures in Crazytown.

At Home With Madame Chic is coming out one month early! The new publication date is October 7, 2014. Not long to wait now...

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Take advantage of these last days of summer by enjoying a picnic in a beautiful spot. Block out a few hours, put the cell phones away and languish outside with some delicious food. Purchase everything at a nice deli or grocery store if you don't feel like preparing food in your hot kitchen. Sometimes all you need is a baguette, a high-quality cheese, olives, meats and a nice refreshing lemonade or a glass of wine. As my aunt Deb says, "Everything tastes better outside." I couldn't agree more!

This week I would love to know... what are your thoughts on the Beautyblender?

Have you ever visited Napa Valley? What did you do while there? What were your favorite wineries?

See you next time!


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