Home Authors Posts by Lara Eurdolian, Pretty Connected Beauty Blog

Lara Eurdolian, Pretty Connected Beauty Blog

2754 POSTS 39 COMMENTS

Buxom Va-Va- Plump Shiny Liquid Lipstick Review

Buxom va-va voom liquid lipstick

Christmas may be over but it’s hard to not feel like it’s still hear when a giant tree shape box arrives filled with the new Buxom Va-Va Plump Shiny Liquid Lipsticks ($20 each). Featuring 20 high shine, bold, plumping — it has that little tingle — shades. Smooth finish, and it doesn’t bleed, just as long as you don’t put too much on! It’s highly pigments so do glop it on like a gloss. And these colors have some serious pop! See swatches below but I swatched against my friend Lorna and from my medium to her darker skintone the shades are almost identical!

Also I love the curved applicator, it’s a similar one to Charlotte Tilbury that makes precise applications so easy. Swatches for each shade going left to right (forearm to fingers):

1. Feel the passion, 2. Boldly Go, 3. Beg for Mauve, 4. Make Me Melt, 5. Gimme A Hint, 6. Getting Warmer, 7. A Muse Me, 8. Lights Down, 9. Come To Dolly,

2017 Highlights: Oh the Places We’ve Gone… (and people we’ve met)

2017 was a pretty incredible year for me. I got to be in an Olay campaign with my mom, was profiled in Vanity Fair, danced with the Rockettes, judged Glamour’s Beauty Awards, was on a billboard in Times Square, and meet so many of my idols! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If I’m being honest the whole year was a bit of a blur. Which is why every New Years Eve, I take an hour to go through my Instagram feed, blog posts and just reflect on all the incredible things that have happened. So here we go, my top moments of 2017 (in no particular order)!

  1. Being profiled in Vanity Fair. I mean… #goals.

2. Seeing my face on a billboard in Times Square! I hosted a Facebook Live with Sophia Bush for Sunglass Hut that was streamed on a billboard in Times Square. It was incredible.

3. Getting this Owl necklace from Iris Apfel’s personal jewelry collection. She hosted a trunk show of her one of a kind vintage pieces she’s thrifted throughout the years and I walked away with this incredible piece.

4. Being in Greece with Patricia Field and Debi Mazar, two women I’ve literally admired my whole life. From cruising around Mykonos in an ATV, to epic lunches overlooking the Mediterranean, this vacation was the definition of paradise.

5. Getting to judge Glamour’s Beauty Awards for the 2nd year in a row.

6. Being in an Olay campaign with my mom and being apart of the 28-day clinical study for the famed Regenerist and Total Effects moisturizer.

Also being in Health Magazine for the campaign!

7. Got to workout with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and learn their moves thanks to Gillette Venus!

8. Getting to hug Joe Biden!

9. Walking in my first fashion show for Livari during fashion week!

Road Tripping with Toyota

Toyota rav4 hybridOutfit details: Tracee Ellis Ross Dress / Ann Taylor Scarf (similar) / Prada sunglasses (similar) / Avon Joyful Beautiful Knit Hat

This past week I spent a lot of time in Boston for the holidays. It was magical. At the 11th hour James and I decided to drive instead of taking the train. We partnered with Toyota and tested out the 2017 Toyota Rav4 SE Hybrid. We loaded up the car with gifts, snacks, and drove through a storm. While the weather outside was frightful, the heated seats, all wheel drive, and spacious interior kept us comfortable and toasty. Plus, we got to enjoy a white Christmas, which made the day extra special.

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation {Review}

NARS just launched their new Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation and it’s epic. I’m going to go as far as saying it’s the best full coverage foundation I’ve every used. It covers everything, is creamy without being heavy or cakey. It lasts forever and makes me look ten years younger.

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear FoundationAvailable in 33 shades, it’s medium to full coverage, great for all skin types and literally perfect. It doesn’t oxidize, fade, finish with powder and you’re good to go all day. Makeup sits beautifully on top of it and makes me feel flawless. The formula is enhanced with a mix of fruit extracts — Raspberry, Apple and Watermelon — to smooth and improve skin for optimal radiance. I’ve had a really hard time finding my perfect shade in the past, for this launch NARS used a unique combination of a translucent base with micronized aminio-acid coated pigment sand mineral tone balancing powders to mimic skin’s tone for a close match to skin.

Side bar, I’m also in love with their Soft Matte Concealer, it’s matte and is amazing for touch ups. A little goes a long way and you just lightly dab a small about to anything that needs covering, including dark circles. Use them together and you’re set!

IGK Swipe Up Charcoal Dry Shampoo & No-Frizz Smoothing Wipes

IGK just dropped two new Swipe Up products to Sephora, the IGK Swipe Up No-Frizz Smoothing Wipes and IGK Swipe Up Charcoal Dry Shampoo Hair Blogging Tissues.

IGK Swipe Up No-Frizz Smoothing Wipes (pack of 16), $18

IGK Swipe Up No-Frizz Smoothing Wipes. Photo credit: Becca Glasser-Baker

Convenient on-the-go individually wrapped No-Frizz Smoothing hair wipes. They smell like coconut and weightlessly calms static and frizz. It’s basically a dryer sheet for your hair. Just rub them down your hair and be amazed at how much frizz is reduced. Some of you may have seen me my Instagram stories where this totally transformed my photographers hair to half the size (I gave her some for her trip to Florida).

IGK Swipe Up Charcoal Dry Shampoo Hair Blogging Tissues (pack of 16), $18

IGK Swipe Up Charcoal Dry Shampoo Hair Blogging Tissues. Photo credit: Becca Glasser-Baker

Travel friendly, individually wrapped dry shampoo hair wipes in similar size and packaging as the Swipe Up Smoothing Wipes. These Blotting Tissues are formulated with a unique activated black charcoal powder to soak up hair oil. You just blot hair at the scalp on the charcoal end and watch as the oils get soaked up (you can see it on the paper after). This is much lighter then a conventional powder or spray dry shampoo and doesn’t leave any type of texture or residue.

Learn more at sephora.com

COAF Honors Patricia Field and Raises $3.6 Million for Villages in Rural Armenia

Patricia Field art fashion coaf lara eurdolianIt was a really special weekend for me. My mom came down for her birthday and to celebrate my dear friend, costume designer Patricia Field, as she received the Humanitarian Award at the 14th annual Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) Holiday Gala. An inspiring evening where $3.6 million was raised for villages in rural Armenia.

Hosted by Emmy & Tony Award-winning actress Andrea Martin (fun fact, my mom used to waitress at her dad’s restaurant), Patricia was presented the award by actress and singer, Vanessa Williams who she worked with on the TV series, Ugly Betty with. There was a lovely tribute to her work, including clips from Sex and the City, Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Ugly Betty, featured above.

Nordic Wonder: Eleni & Chris Skincare

There’s just something about those nordic brands that just get the cold, and winter skin. Hailing from the fjords of Norway, Eleni and Chris products are now available in the US. Their skincare is formulated with their patented +SEA3oil, which is packed with some of the purest omega oil in the world and exclusive Scandinavian Glacier Water to hydrate and ensure optimal moisture for your skin. The glacier water used in their hydration products is the purest of its kind found in the Black Ice Glacier near the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia. Tell me you don’t just want to bath in that water! Their products are also paraben free, clinically tested, dermatologically reviewed, non-irritating and allergy tested.

I’m usually a normal skin type but this winter weather has had me feeling dry and my skin just blah. Since starting this line, and from day 1, I noticed a difference. For anyone that like clean skincare and not a fan of heavy products these are amazing. My skin has been glowing since I started this regimen and my pores non-existent.

Eleni & Chris Cleansing Oil – this felt really nice on the skin, and didn’t have a heavy oil feel like most of the cleansing oils I’ve used. When I was done made my face feel throughly cleansed and took off makeup without that oily feel, and leaves skin so smooth.

Eleni & Chris Face Mist – A winter wonder, so refreshing and boosts moisture. I love as it as a post wash toner or throughout the day when my skin feels dry for some added hydration. It’s a very clean, refreshing mist and makes your skin glow. Great for a pick me up and when your skin needs an extra boost to revive skin and makeup.

Eleni & Chris Hydrating Day Cream for Normal Skin – All of their products have a similar texture which I really enjoy. A lot of hydrating creams can be really heavy and thick, this one however absorbs beautifully into skin without making it feel greasy or slick. It’s enhanced absorption feels like a cup of water quenching skin and it’s a really enjoyable product to use. If you’re a dryer skin type try the Ultra Hydrating Day Cream.

Last Minute Must-Have Beauty Stocking Stuffers

beauty stocking stuffersI hit up so many amazing holiday previews recently and from SpaceNK (who by the way is offering some great discounts and has a curated holiday page HERE), Sephora (my complete Sephora guide is HERE), Ulta to department stores and beyond here are some of my favorite beauty stocking stuffers I’ve scouted. You can also head to glamour.com to see some of my other holiday beauty picks!

Cricket Hair Tins, $8.95

Fun tins holding anything from 75 bobbi pins to 50 hair ties with fun sayings like “IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, FIX YOUR PONYTAIL AND TRY AGAIN.” (that one includes a pack of 50 black hair ties) to “LIFE STATUS: CURRENTLY HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER WITH ONE BOBBY PIN.” (which contains 75 bobbi pins in that tin). They have a few other funny saying tins, and as someone who’s always traveling and looking for hair ties and bobbi pins, this set is a total winner!

Holiday lips with Clarins

Clarins red lipstick and lip oilRed lips or shimmer? The usual debate of my holiday lips. Why not both? Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in shade Joli Rouge might as well be called Jolly Rouge, because it’s the happiest red. My lips are always so dry and chapped in the winter and this formula is so creamy and moisturizing and goes on so smooth. It features Mango Oil and organic Marsh Samphire to condition and nourish lips for 6 hours.

Top it off with their Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in shade Honey Glam to create the perfect lip look for all your festive gatherings. Their lip oils are infused with 100% pure plant oils to nourish, sooth and plump lips. Honey Glam adds just the right amount of shimmer and shine making it the perfect top coat for your holiday parties.

7 Ways to AMP up your Energy in Minutes

I always think it’s so funny when people think I have a lot of energy. Yes, I’m driven and active with a lot of events and projects but that’s all the more reason why I’m so conscious of how I take care of myself and also what I put in my body. AMP Energy Organic is an USDA-Certificated organically caffeinated energy drink that’s offers the perfect afternoon pick me up. Available in four flavors, Pineapple Coconut, Citrus, Grape and Tropical Burst, it tastes so good (Tropical Burst and Citrus are my favorites)!

amp energy drinkI’ve partnered with AMP Energy Organic to share my tips on how I boost my energy to keep my stamina up when I start to feel sluggish.

1. Be conscious of your caffeine type – I can do coffee in the AM but try to slow down by the afternoon. Other energy drinks have ingredients you can’t pronounce mixed into their caffeinated beverages that aren’t good for you. Instead opt for an organically caffeinated AMP Energy that balances energy with simpler ingredients. Each beverage has only 5 ingredients: Organic Caffeine, Organic Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carbonated Water and Natural Flavors.

2. Power play – Charlie (my pup) and I do sprints throughout the day when I’m feeling low energy. We run full speed down the street and back to get our heart rates going and our blood pumping. Jumping jacks for a minute or a quick cold shower are also great power plays to boost blood flow. If you’re feeling adventurous, try Cryotherapy.

3. Supplements –From natural root powders (I love Dope Naturally) to Vitamin B blends (B12 and B6 are my favorites), that help the body convert food into glucose, which gives you energy. Investing in some good energy powders and capsules are great for the mind and body.

4. Monitor your sleep – Sleep and its correlation to energy fascinates me. I use a BeautyRest SleepTracker to make sure I’m getting the 7-8 hours I need to be a functional human being. Any good tracker looks at your breathing rate, heart rate as well how long you’re asleep for and breaks down your light sleep, REM and deep sleep. When you’re more aware of how you’re sleeping and how you feel the next day you’re able to take control of it and make adjustments to give your body what it needs.

5. Aromatherapy – There’s isn’t a shortage of essential oil boosting energy lifts, including orange, lemon, ginger, eucalyptus, cedarwood, grapefruit, mint, basil and many more. Personally I like the Focus Essential Oil Blend from 21 Drops. It comes in a roller-ball and mixes peppermint, rosemary, frankincense and jojoba that help perk me up.

6. Fun people – this may sound funny (and granted not a tip you can usually make happen in minutes), but whenever I’m feeling really low energy I push myself to meet up or work around my friends. Not the ones that suck the life out of me, but the ones that whether we’re going for a walk or out to dinner, we just laugh the whole time. It’s always those nights when I expect to stop by for 30 minutes that I find myself getting lost in time when I’m around good energy. And it’s contagious. Sometimes getting out for a bit helps me come home and be more productive than had I stayed home in front of my computer the whole time.