GUEST POST: The Beauty of Love

Editor’s Note: This guest post is from Austin-based professional matchmaker and relationship expert Julia McCurley of Something More. Julia and I recently met at an event, and I was instantly drawn to her firecracker personality. I’ve invited her to write this guest post on Beautypendence. All opinions shared below are her own.

I know about love… and beauty. Often they are intertwined. Here, I’ll let you look into my makeup drawer to see my favorite products that I use – as well as recommend to my clients.

Facial moisturizer: Chanel Sublimage La Crème
Why I love it: This cream is three products in one: a day cream, a night cream, and a serum. I have very dry skin, and this is the only cream I get compliments on since it keeps my skin looking fresh and dewy.

Eye Cream: Lancôme Absolue Eye Precious Cells
Why I love it: I have been using this eye cream since college, and I promise I have no crow’s feet. (Disclaimer: I also have been wearing wrap around sunglasses for years to prevent squinting.)

Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Oil-Free
Why I love it:This product is great year round, in the summer time or on the weekends when you want a more simple beauty routine. It is a moisturizer and tinted cream all in one… moisturizer, primer, color.

Foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup
Why I love It: This product is transfer-proof, sweat-proof and waterproof, perfect for the heat here in Austin. Plus, the natural looking shade selections make it look like you’re wearing no foundation at all.

Powder: Lancôme Dual Finish Powder
Why I love It: The flawless finish is never too powdery or cake-y. It doesn’t leave a white cast when I appear in photos, which is a major plus.

Eyeshadow: Dior 5-Coulour Eyeshadow (in Petal Shine)
Why I love it: These shades of purple, mauve and pink are very flattering on brown eyes like mine. In addition, you can create both a daytime and a nighttime smokey eye with this one compact.

Mascara: Dior Diorshow
Why I love it: This mascara does double duty as both a thickening and lengthening product. Since I have rather small eyes, I rely on mascara to open them up. When wearing this mascara, I often get asked if I am wearing eyelash extensions.

Lip Color: Chanel Rouge Double Intensité Ultra Wear Lip Colour (in Amethyst)
Why I love it: Once you apply this, it is like a stain and doesn’t budge. One end is the lip color, and the other end is a gloss to use for touch-ups during the day. The lipstick contains shea butter, so it isn’t drying and is even make-out proof… just ask my husband!

Lip liner: Lancôme Le Lipstique Sheer (in Portelle)
Why I love it: I’ve used this lip liner for over 20 years. I’ve tried others and nothing compares to its smooth texture. The ease of application makes it the best you’ll ever use, and the variety of colors gives me all I need to go with everything.

Shampoo: Reshtive
Why I love It: My hair tends to be on the dry side due to straightening and color treatments, along with heat damage. I have tried at least 50 shampoos, and this is the only one where I can see and feel a difference in my hair texture.

Body moisturizer: Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Body Crème
Why I love it: Like many of us with dry skin, my legs especially can look like an alligator’s without proper moisturizing. This body cream is certainly rich, but it’s creamy without being too thick or stiff. You don’t need much and despite being a richer cream, it absorbs within minutes and doesn’t leave behind any greasiness or stickiness.

Self Tanner: Lancôme Flash Bronzer Body Gel
Why I love It: Being a girl on the go, who has time to go get spray tans or worse, the tanning bed. This product instantly bronzes, as well as having a built in self tanner. I am all about multi tasking, and this is a great example of it.

Images: Julia McCurley – photo by John Conroy, Chanel Sublimage, Lancome Absolue Eye, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Estee Lauder Double Wear, Lancome Dual Finish Powder, Dior 5-Coulour Eyeshadow, Dior Diorshow mascara, Lancome Le Lipstique, Chanel Rouge Double Intensité, Reshtive Shampoo, Jo Malone Body Crème, Lancome Flash Bronzer