Your Finishing Touch

Blame School.

2009-10-17T09:16:00.004-04:00

Helloooo everyone!

I know I'm an awful blogger lately, but I SWEAR it is all School's fault! I had a few midterms this week along with some decently important assignments, and I GUESS school is a "priority" or whatever you call it...tehe

Anyways, I'm also in this group project and no one is doing anything at all about it! None of my group members communicate with me and it is SO frustrating!

I definitely want to do more videos. I need to find a better place in my house with good lighting so they don't come out so crappily! I hope you are all enjoying the Fall weather, it actually snowed here 2 days ago! I did not enjoy it...snow is not good for the clumsy. Have a great weekend everyone!

PS! I noticed I have a few new followers, hello to them! Feel free to email or comment requests! And THANK YOUUU!

Random Swatches

2009-09-28T09:21:00.003-04:00

Hello lovies! Here are some random swatches I have of the current MAC lip stuffs I own..

Brave Red is Cremesheen, Hot Tahiti is Glaze, and Angel is Frost.

Have a good week :)

Pink and Black FOTD

2009-09-18T16:28:00.002-04:00

I wanted to do something fun today since I feel better, so here it is!!

I originally wanted it to be more purpley, but it came out a lot darker. Oh well, I still like it and got a few compliments!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, it's gorgeous out today!

Quick Update :)

2009-09-17T20:39:00.000-04:00

Boo sickness!

2009-09-14T13:33:00.002-04:00

Some of you may know...I have flat out AWFUL allergies, especially when the seasons/temperature changes. It's been pretty bad lately, I've been having a constant allergy attack for about 3 weeks now and it's starting to look like a cold or the flu. I'm going to the doc's in about a half hour..I'm considering telling them to just chop my nose off, I'm so sick of being stuffy!

Anyways. I also got a webcam! It's a lot easier to tape rather than doing my normal camera set up. The quality isn't as awesome as my camera, but it'll do. Hopefully I should get around to do the GHD review that I've been meaning to do forever!

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall transition...the leaves are starting to change already!

Quick FOTD!

2009-09-06T10:33:00.002-04:00

Hey all! Going to a BBQ today at my aunt's house. Here's a quick FOTD. I used a light green and light yellow color, didn't come out super duper on the camera, but you get the idea :]

Enjoy the long weekend!

Back to schoooool

2009-09-02T08:24:00.003-04:00

So my classes started up this week, I've been testing some new looks out including those 2 new palettes I got! I also want to do a fun little fall look that's SUPER easy- 2 eyeshadow colors, you don't even need a brush!

Any requests or anything, feel free to fill me in!

Smokey Eye Tutorial! VIDEEOOO!

2009-08-29T20:56:00.003-04:00

Yay for my first official sweet video!

Any questions, please comment or email! Expect more soooooon :) I def gotta adjust the camera/mirror setup though. Have a good weekend!

Mac Scene Eyeshadow

2009-08-27T15:18:00.003-04:00

For some reason, I always confuse Scene and Print eyeshadows. I think the colors looked really similar online the first time I saw them and from then it's history. But this color is a really nice muted purple that's good for either everyday or a night out.

I've used this shadow a few times and it's definitely blendable and easy to work with. It also goes really well with other colors so it's super versatile.

Wow, that picture is pretty damn awful! But this shadow really is just awesome. I would consider it a staple in a night-out palette. If you aren't sure, I would just get it!

MAC Photo Realism Quad

2009-08-27T15:14:00.003-04:00

Lovee this quad already. I haven't used this one on my actual eyelid, but these colors are really gorgeous. Expect an FOTD soon soon soon!

The colors from top left to bottom right are: Photo Realism, Fresh Approach, Image Maker, and Grey Range.

The lightest color is a gold/champagne. The lightest green reminds me of a Granny Smith apple, only sexier. The 3rd finger green is a gorgeous olivey shimmery color, and that deep color is a green/blue that is truly gorgeous. I really can't wait to use these shadows and I shall give you all updates when I use it!

MAC Nocturnelle Eyeshadow

2009-08-27T15:09:00.004-04:00

I got this shadow a few weeks ago and I really like it. It's an intense violet with a decent amount of shimmer and it makes for some really fun looks. This first picture doesn't really do justice, it's much more vibrant purple IRL.

The swatch came out a bit better, the shadow actually looks a bit muddy in this next picture, but it's really workable on the eyelid.

But that above picture definitely shows the true color of the shadow. Nocturnelle is perfect for a purple based smokey eye. Here's an FOTD I did a few weeks ago from a wedding I went to with Shane..

We're precious, I know. But you can juuust see that hint of purple. I got many compliments on the shadow that night!

MAC In The Gallery Quad

2009-08-27T15:03:00.003-04:00

Right when the Makeup Art Cosmetics collection launched, I KNEW I had to grab a few of those gorgeous quads!! This is one of the quads I ended up getting. The colors are, I believe top left to bottom right: Lightfall, Look At The Eyes, In The Gallery, and Private Viewing.

Being a brown-eyed girl, I looove purples. They always make my eyes look super rich and deep. I haven't tried out this quad on my actual face yet, but I'm pretty sure it'll be a hit. The colors IRL are a bit deeper than the picture above.

The lightest color is a mauvey pink with little shimmer, it almost looks champagne in the pictures, but IRL it's much pinkey-er. The top purple looks to be a lighter version of Nocturnelle by MAC. The bottom left (3rd finger) purple is just flat out violet, and the darkest color is a very deep plumb. I'm very excited to play with this quad and you all can expect some FOTD's in the future!

MAC MSF: Triple Fusion

2009-08-27T14:56:00.004-04:00

I sure do love me some MSF's. They're so versatile. Triple Fusion is my 2nd MSF.

There's a pink, bronze, and goldish color included in this MSF. Whenever I use it, I usually just do an all around swirl with my brush. But you could easily make it into a single blush, or bronzer, or highlighter. The colors are SUPER shimmery and if you're going for a matte look, look elsewhere.

These colors are all good for a sun-kissed look due to the intense shimmer. All 3 in the Triple Fusion MSF are fun and flirty, and I think it's a decently good investment. This MSF is limited edition according to MAC's website, it came out with the Colour Craft collection. If you want any of the other MSF's that came with the collection (there are tons! And they're all very gorgeous) I would grab them soon!

Lancome High Definition Mascara

2009-08-27T14:43:00.007-04:00

Mk. So. I got this mascara from a beauty exchange from the lovely Denise aka Lambie. I really like it.

The wand is very little and easy to manuever. It's super easy to get those little baby lashes close to the tear duct compared to all these new super size brushes.

What I really really like about this mascara is that it's soo so dark. It makes your lashes look extra black which I love. It makes your lashes wicked dark and pretty good as far as thickening goes. It doesn't do a super lot for length, but I don't usually go for lengthening mascaras since my lashes are already decently long.

All in all, I wouldn't go out and buy this mascara (on Sephora it's $24.50) but I do really like it. For someone with lashes of average length and thickness, this could be the one for you.

I'm still getting used to the new camera Shane got me for my birthday, especially as far as close ups go, but here are my lashes with Lancome High Definition.

:[

2009-08-26T21:04:00.003-04:00

Ok...so I know that I am officially the worst blogger in the world since I haven't posted in like..3 months or so? I'm sorrryyy!! My job working at the bank this summer really consumed a lot of my energy and hanging out with BF Shane occupied me as well. So I'm sorry! But school is starting up next week, and hopefully I'll have a little more time. I'm taking some bloggish pics tonight because TOMORROW to make up for my haitus (good word use, I know.) I am doing a super duper review post-session!! I have MAD eye products and some other misc. stuff to go over. So be ready. Very ready.

MAC Sunpepper & FOTD

2009-05-25T17:46:00.004-04:00

Hello everyoneee, especially my new followers!!

I'm gonna try and be a consistent blogger, lol. Here's an FOTD from this weekend, this is what I normally do for a smokey eye.

I use MAC Ricepaper, Print, Carbon, and Vanilla eyeshadows. If you want a tutorial let me know!

I also grabbed Sunpepper Pigment from Miss Holly. It's a really interesting color! It's like a brownish/reddish color with gold reflects. It's very pretty and I can't wait to use it!

I feel like it looks too light in these pictures...I almost thought it was Tan when I was looking at the pictures. It's a little deeper in real life.

Either this week or this weekend I'm FINALLY gonna be doing a GHD review!! I've been putting it off BIG TIME. Hopefully this week I can find a good digital camera set up (no web cam. Maybe I should invest in one.) otherwise I'll use Shane's laptop.

How was everyone's Memorial Day weekend? I hung out with my mom today...soaked up some sun which is AWESOME since I'm always so palee!

I start my new job as a bank teller tomorrow...sort of. We have training for 2 weeks then we start for real. I'm really excited though!

Revlon DoubleTwist Mascara Review

2009-05-19T11:32:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone!!

A little while ago I saw that Jen from ABS saw a new drugstore mascara...Revlon DoubleTwist and said it reminded her of Chanel's Exceptionnel de Chanel applicator. Hmm. So the other day at WalMart I figured I'd just pick it up, being the mascara fiend that I am.

The brush is a bit...scary. The red combs are HUGE and very plastic-y. I'm gonna do a video later at BF's house because you can literally HEAR the huge plastic brushes grinding against the tube when you take the wand out. That was a bit of a turn off for me.

Overall though, I'm decently happy with this mascara. It gave me ALOT of volume, but almost no length at all.

Look at those fatass lashes!! Hahaha. Another issue for me was clumping. Usually I can get around ANY mascara as far as clumping goes, but this stuff is just..bleh. The product doesn't get distributed well over the wand so you'll get some bristles that are completely naked, then some with HUGE globs of product. I applied it on one of my eyes and just got a huge chunk of mascara right at the base of my lashes, it wasn't comfortable!

Overall, I'd give this mascara 3/5. It does the job...and that's it. The bristles are way too overwhelming (for me, at least.) and it just could have been a lot better. Better luck next time Revlon!

EDIT: Here's the video!

Update!

2009-05-14T09:14:00.003-04:00

Hey all!!

Big shout out to my new followers - thanks so much for reading!! It's definitely appreciated!!

I have been a bit MIA lately...finals SUCK big time. I'm officially done with classes, but Monday night I have to sit in for a few presentations then I only have one more final next Thursday which I really need to do good on, so I'll be studying like crazy (hopefully) in the next week. I should really stick in a review before then...maybe I'll finally do my GHD review!!! Haha, I know a few people have been waiting for it, but I haven't forgotten!!

Personal life update: I got a summer job!! I applied at a local bank a few weeks ago and just found out last week that I got it! I had to go out and buy all these sweet "businessy" clothes since I don't have any at all, but I got a good haul.

Summer is so close! Hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather..even though it's been raining a lot where I am.

BIG THINGS THIS POST.

2009-05-01T18:25:00.003-04:00

Soo, mad reviews and whatnot this post heyy.

I'm gonna start off with MAX Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper. I've wanted to try this mascara forEVER and I could just never find it anywhere, which is weird because when I was at WalMart last night I found it and I was estatic. It claims to "fatten your lashes for a thick, dramatic look." The wand is very similar to that Covergirl (I think) mascara in the orange tube...it's pretty big. And I hated the Covergirl wand. It was so huge, but I can totally deal with this one.

I don't have a picture of it on my lashes because I was lazy this morning, but this is definitely a Diorshow Iconic competitor for me. Diorshow is my absolute FAVE macara ever, and this holds up pretty well next to it. It applies really evenly on the lashes, and doesn't take forever to try so you can blink and whatnot normally within a few seconds. I rrrrrrrrreally like this stuff. I'll put up a pic of it on my lashes at some point. But I would definitely recommend this mascara to anyone who wants thicker lashes, it does a good job.

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NEXTTT. Let's talk pigments. MAC Pigments are ridiculously amazing. As told by MAC's website,

"Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting."

Pigments can be used for SO many things. Eyeshadow, face highlighter, lip color, the list can go on and on. They also last FOREVER. I don't know anyone who's gone through a whole jar.

This is Circa Plum, she's brand new from the Rose Romance collection by MAC, obv. I usually don't agree with MAC's color descriptions too often, but this time they're pretty accurate. "Frosty dirty mid-tone lavender." It's also got a little bit of pink shimmer when you apply it, or at least for me it did. It's very pretty.

I don't know why it looks so chunky there.

I gotta work on my swatch skillZ. I never do them cause I feel like they look so lame. Oh well. It looks kinda pinkier when I used it last time.

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Mkay. Next is Tan pigment. "Muted pinky-brown bronze." I guess that's alright. It's very coppery and WICKED sparkly. I feel like this is the craziest sparkley pigment ever. I usually don't wear this alone, I put it over a green or purple to add a little somethin' somethin'.

This one's a little emptier because I took some to put in a sample jar, which you should do with pigments. If you spill one of these babies, it's all over and you'll probably cry, I know I would. They're a PITA to clean up and they last for so long. I still gotta do that with my other ones.

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Last up is Vanilla pigment. Oh my god. I love this stuff SOOO much. I use it as eyeshadow and face highlighter and sometimes on my lips. It's like magic in a jar, for realz. I love it and I could go on forever about it.

The color is really really neat. It's white but when it's applied it's got like, little rainbow sparklies in it. I really really love it as a face highlighter.

I usually put on my blush then just stick my brush on that little plastic thing that comes on top of the jar, swirl the brush around in the lid, then dust my cheeks and hairline with it. I love this stuff SO much if I haven't told you yet.

The first time I wore it on my cheeks my co worker said I looked like I was glowing, so yeah. Get this now. Vanilla Pigment. Do it.

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Have a GREAT weekend everyone!! It's kinda crappy weather here in CT, but I'll make the best of it I'm sure :). I have exactly 6 days of class before finallssss. I hate how my school gets out SO much later than everyone else. Growl. Oh welllll. Summer soon. And I just found out I got a job at this local bank and I'm SO happy about it. Life is really really amazing right now. Remember when things are bad, it could always be so much worse. Make the best of every single day because you'll never know who can be taken away from you before you know it. Rest in peace Lucille Spector.

Bye loves :-*

FINALLY!! Almost everything you need to know about mascara.

2009-04-28T12:22:00.003-04:00

After promising for weeks, finally a little blurb about mascara!!

I would say anyone who wears makeup should absolutley wear mascara. It's easily my #1 beauty item. As said by "Getting Gorgeous" by Instyle, "Lush, darkened lashes not only exude femininity, but also brighten and enlarge your eyes."

In order to find your perfect mascara, you have to identify your lashes. Everyone's eyelashes are different. Some are short, some are thick, some are light, etc. I personally have long and thin lashes, seen here.

So how do you know your type of lashes? It takes a lot of trial and error. I know my lashes are long because whenever I use a lengthening mascara, they pretty much touch my brow bone, which isn't attractive in my opinion! I also consider them thin because you can barely see the damn things when they're naked!!

So now that you know your type of lashes, how do you know which mascara you should get? Get a mascara that offers what you don't have. Since I have long, thin lashes, I usually always get a volume boosting/ thickening mascara since I want thick lashes.

Types of Mascaras

Lengthening: The wands come with lenghtening mascaras have short, densly packed bristles that allow you to get more mascara onto each lash with every swipe. The design also makes it easier to touch up tips - the most important area to coat if you're trying to achieve the appearance of longer lashes. Lengthening mascara contains plastic plymers that cling to lashes and extend byond the tips of your lashes to add precious millimeteres. My top lengthening mascara is L'oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara. It's crazy.
Thickening: Mascaras that add volume have a thicker formula of waxes and silicone plymers that coat the lashes and bulk them up. They also contain darker, more intense pigment, which gives the illusion of denseness with just one or two layers. My favorite thickening mascara EVER is Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express.
Curling: These contain polymers that cause the mascara to contract once it's been applied, causing lashes to shrink and lift. "Fixing" plymers hold the curves in place. Curling formulas work particularly well on short lashes. A good example of this is Maybelline Sky High Curves.
Non-Smudging: Waterproof and water-resistant mascaras have special formulas that repel water and minimize smudging and running. The best ones are formulated to dissolve easily with oil-based makeup removers ot hey don't have to be scrubbed off. Waterproof mascara is best for swimmers and at the beach; water-risistant is easier to remove and therefore more appropriate for weddings and watching movies like Terms of Endearment. Use both types sparingly because they tend to dry out lashes. Try Lo'real Voluinous Waterproof.
Non-Clumping: Clump-free mascara keeps lashes from looking gloppy - t hanks to moisture-rich ingredients like silk exract and glycerin, which allow the product to glide on smoothly. Applicators with long bristles pull it evenly through your lahes. They contain fewer waxes and fibers than regular mascaras, so you won't get a lot of volume and length. The effect is more natural than va-va-voom. Maybelline Lash Discovery Waterproof is a good example.

A lot of the above is also from Getting Gorgeous by InStyle, it's a really good beauty reference book.

My absolute favorite mascara ever is Diorshow Iconic. It makes my lashes a tad longer, and adds beautiful beautiful volume. I love it. It's a bit pricey for $27 at Sephora, but I would pay that easily for this mascara. Some people have issues with it smudging, but I've had no problems with it.

^That's a good close up of Diorshow's wand. It's beautiful lol. My absolute fave of all time.

I don't use anything special to take off my eye-makeup. I use Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover from Neutrogena, it's the one in the purple bottle. It's an oldie but a goodie.

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and I hope I helped clear up those mascara issues!!

Update!!

2009-04-23T07:03:00.003-04:00

Hey everyonee!!

So it's been like 2 weeks since my last post...whoops! Haha thank you Gianna for kicking my ass to get on the blog bidness. School has been so ridiculous lately, and I'm pretty much over that whole scene. I'm sure you all know what I mean.

Hmm let's see. A Rose Romance just came out, hopefully buying some shizz from there tonight, definitely getting Rose Fix+ because I love Fix+ with everything in my achey breakey heart!!

Future posts...I'm doing one on mascara and different formulas for Miss G, and yes I know I still need to do the GHD Review. It's hard to get good hair pictures haha. If anyone has requests or anything, please comment or email me! My email address is tmc089 at hotmail dot com. Do it up loves :)

BTW, going to see the delicious Dane Cook on Saturday. I am so pumped ahh!

Oh and to my new followers, welcome and thank you so much! Chit chat with you all later, hopefully tomorrowww!!!

Happy Easter Everyone!!

2009-04-12T08:37:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone in blog land!! Since it's Easter, I thought I'd hook you up with a little Peep Show...

BAHAHAHAHA!! I thought this was so funny when I saw it. Peep show. Hahahahaha.

ANYWAYS. For Easter Eric's mom got me some Coach lipglosses!! I don't have my camera cord at the moment, but expect a review and some swatches for them. I'm also going to do a little something something about mascara, and which ones are best for different types of eyelashes. So stay tuned...! Have a great day everyone!!

Face Contour/Highlighting Tutorial

2009-04-07T20:48:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!! The art of face contouring and highlighting is a mystery to most people. It may prove to be difficult at first, but it can make a world of a difference. I'll be using the book "Making Faces" by the late renowned makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin. It's a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone with a love of cosmetics.

"This photo is really an illustration of the contours of the face. The application is exaggerated and not to be taken too literally. It's just to show how highlighting and contouring (when sparingly applied and carefully blended) can add definition to the face. You can use this photo to understand your own bone structure and make the most of it. Practice at home in daylight and test your progress. You may n ever do this for everyday life, but for special occasions or photographs, it can really make a difference."

Dark colors shade and make areas recede, for instance the hollows of the cheek, temples, under the chin, sides of the nose.
Light colors highlight and make things come forward: the apples of the cheek, under the eye, the browbone and middle of the chin.

It's usually best to use a bronzer-type color to contour with LITTLE TO NO shimmer. Shimmery, lighter colors should be used for highlighting. Shimmer draws attention to that area, which defeats the purpose of contouring.

FOR HIGHLIGHTING:

-the browbone

-center of the eyelid

-center of the forehead and down through the bridge of the nose

-the cheekbone plane and uner the eye (see illustration if you don't understand)

-around the corners of the mouth

-the collarbone

-the inside curve of the breast

FOR SHADING/CONTOURING:

-the hollows of the cheek

-under the chin and down the neck

-sides and under the tip of the nose

-into the crease of the eye

-the temples

-the center of your clevage

-the hollows above and below your collarbone

-around the hairline

*For shading into your cheekbones, it's best to used an angled contour brush.

I normally do minimal shading/highlighting. For more dramatic looks, I'll do more. For everyday I shade in under my cheekbones, my temples, and the creases of my eyes. I also highlight my cheekbones, collarbone, and center of my forehead. It adds a healthy glow/definition to an everyday look.

If you have any questions, please let me know!! All of the italicized text is directly from Kevyn's book, which has turned into somewhat of a bible for me! Have an awesome week everyone!!

Red Lip Tutorial

2009-04-01T19:16:00.003-04:00

Ooooh two posts in one day!! You lucky readers.

Today I'll be doing a really really simple tutorial on a sexy red lip. This is great if you're doing a cute 40's look or even a Halloween idea (I know I'm a smidge early ;)) if you're going for the Marilyn look.

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Products Used:

Chapstick (OR MAC Prep + Prime. My lips dry out so easily and Prep + Prime dries them out a decent amount.) Just a base.

MAC Red Enriched Lipliner. Something the same color as the lipstick your using.

MAC Brave Red Lipstick. A really true red color.

MAC Monogram Posh Life Lipgloss. It's a bright pink/ reddish color to finish off the look.

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-So! Step one is to prep your lips. Just give them a nice smooth base that isn't too heavy. I just apply a thin layer of chapstick.

-Next is to line your lips. I start at the outside and color in the rest of my lip from there. Make sure everything is colored in really well, and that it's even. Clean up any mistakes that you make on the way. This will almost give your lips the "stained" look. It keeps the color more true and prevents it from getting all over your face like you got dunked in Kool Aid!!

-After that, time for lipstick. A lot of makeup artists will advise to use a lip brush. I personally don't care much for them. I always use the very tip of my lipstick and apply ALL OVER your lip. Lip brushes are recommended because a lot of people tend to mainly put lipstick in the center, ignoring the sides of your lips. Clean up your mistakes, smoosh, and blot once with a tissue. You can see the color getting more intense in the pics..

-The last step is to add some lipgloss!! Apply it all over the bottom lip area and smoosh together, cleaning up any mistakes. I keep saying that because mistakes are pretty noticeable with this color, lol. After applying gloss they'll look so smoking hot!!

YOU ARE DONE!! See? Red lips totally aren't hard!! I usually pair it with some bold black liner, you don't want to go overboard with shadows when you have such a bold color on the lips. Any questions? Let me know!! Have a great night everyone!

If anyone has any suggestions/ideas for ANYTHING, please email me at tmc089@hotmail.com

I'm always open to them while I'm still figuring out this whole blog/HTML thing!!

Blahh bored @ work!!

2009-04-01T12:54:00.002-04:00

Oh heyyy. I just got into work and I'm SO SO tired. I need a day off from life just so I can sleep and bum around!! I still have to do a review on the GHD, and I'm also doing a red lip tutorial.

Apparently all the rage in blog world is posting vids lately! (cough cough Holly/Steph cough cough) it makes me want to jump on the bandwagon but I don't have a webcam and I don't know how long my camera will record for so...meh. We'll seeeee.

Biiiig big shout outs to my girls Jenn B. and Gianna!!! Lol I talked to both of them yesterday and they mentioned creeping on my blog...ahh I love it! And hello to my few new followers! Thanks soo much for looking everyoneee!

Pretty Neutral Look Tutorial

2009-03-28T14:50:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone!! Today I'll be doing my first tutorial on a really pretty brown neutral look. It can be worn just about anywhere and can work with all eye colors.

This is a good look for beginners since it's hard to get browns muddy when blending!

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Products Used:

MAC PAINTERLY Paint Pot

L'oreal HiP Shadow Duos in SAUCY and ADVENTUROUS

Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow in CHAMPAGNE

Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express in GLAM BLACK

MAC Eyebrows in SPIKED

Bonnebell lipLites Gloss in MOCHO MOUSSE

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush

MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush

MAC 213 Fluff Brush

The Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush

MAC 266 Small Angle Brush

MAC 266SE Special Edition Small Angle Brush

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I always put on my foundation, powders, blushes, etc. before I do my eye makeup. I know some people do it the other way around, but that is what works best for me since I rarely get fallout.

-Apply a base all over your eye area if desired. I used MAC Painterly Paint Pot applied with the MAC 239 brush.

-In your crease area, apply the dark brown shade from the L'oreal HiP Eyeshadow in SAUCY, as shown below. Apply this color with a tapered brush that is meant for working the crease area, like the MAC 226.

-If any excess shadow gets on your lid, brow bone, or outside of the eye area, clean it up with your finger.

-Next, apply the brown shade from the L'oreal HiP Duo in ADVENTUROUS all over you lid with a fluffy application brush, like the MAC 213. You can use any eyeshadow appliation brush for this.

-To highlight your brow bone, use a light shimmery brown. I used Revlon's Colorstay eyeshadow in CHAMPAGNE. Appy this with another eyeshadow brush different than what you applied other colors with as to not wash out the color. I used the Eyeshadow Brush by The Body Shop.

I didn't include a picture of this because it's very subtle, but it definitely makes a difference.

-Next, if desired, take an angled brush like the MAC 266 and apply the same color as your crease (Dark brown) as a liner underneath your lower lashes.

-If desired, fill in your brows. I personally use MAC Eyebrows in SPIKED. Be sure to blend it out with a different angled brush like the MAC 266SE. Apply black mascara to the bottom then top lashes. I used Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express in GLAM BLACK.

-Be sure to blend everything with a large fluffy brush. I use one I got from WalMart, it came in a 10 piece brush kit.

-Finish off the look with lipgloss that has brown undertones. I used Bonnebell lipLites Gloss in MOCHO MOUSSE over some Chapstick.

That's it! If you have any questions at all please comment and ask, I'll get to it as fast as I can. Feedback about the actual tutorial is welcome too :). Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I'm still alive!!

2009-03-24T10:28:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone, sorry for not being around much lately!! Right now I'm at my house rather than my dorm, we're on spring break. I also forgot my camera cord at my dorm, so I can't upload any pics!! But I'm hoping to do some FOTD tutorials, and a few reviews, including one on the AMAZING GHD Styler IV! It's so incredible, trust me!!

If anyone has requests of looks/colors/reviews or questions/issues with the blog, please let me know!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

2009-03-17T12:33:00.004-04:00

Hey all!!

Tuesdays are always super busy for me, but I woke up a few minutes early (Actually I woke up before my alarm went off, weirdd!) to do a green eye look.

I didn't do any practice beforehand to see how this green would show up, and it was super bright green at first, but then I put some of MAC's Brightside/Gallery Gal over it to soften it up. The picture looks really harsh as far as colors go, it really isn't THAT bright. In my opinion this picture does no justice at all lol, just came out crappy.

The green is from the 120 palette, I also used a really light sparkly yellow as a highlight. Hope everyone has a great day, be safe tonight!!

Smashbox Photo Finish Primers Review

2009-03-14T20:39:00.004-04:00

"Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea. Worn alone or under foundation to increase its longevity, our best-selling primer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety-smooth finish. In a new square airless pump for freshness to the last drop."

I got Smashbox Photofinish Primer as a gift in a previous beauty exchange via The Purse Forum, and I instantly fell in love with it. For a while, I only used it for special occasions when I really needed my makeup to pull through and stay on all night, and daily I'd use Monistat Chafing Gel, which is a great alternative. I wouldn't call it a substitute though. At first they felt so similar, but after using Monistat for so long then switching to smashbox, I have found a new love for this stuff! What I really like about it is the instant gratification. Right when you apply it, you get a clean, smooth canvas to apply your makeup.

"Our latest primer innovation! Our new oil-free, 60% water based primer is ideal for oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin. This silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for visibly softer skin and can be worn alone or under foundation to increase its longevity. The revolutionary formula has oil absorbers for a smooth matte finish all day, light diffusers to minimize the appearance of imperfections, and vitamin C and peptides to help even skin tone and promote collagen production for a flawless future. In a new square airless pump for freshness to the last drop."

Now, smashbox Photofinish Light Primer. I just got a sample the other day from the lovely Jen over at A Beautyful Sentiment. I really like this stuff too!! I'm pretty sure the difference is that the Light formula has more of a water base in it, and made more for oily skin types. I have combination skin, and I used the Light primer this morning. I had a busy day, helping my mom move, and my makeup stayed in place all day long.

The only con about Photofinish Light is that it doesn't offer that instant gratification for me. It's really not a big deal, I let it sit for a few seconds on my skin and I got that silky smooth skin I got with regular Photofishish. I would give both of these formulas 5 out of 5 stars.

PS!! Can anyone tell me if anything is...like wrong with my page?? Lol, Miss Holly left me a comment on my last post saying some of my links weren't working and that she wasn't seeing my updates in her Dashboard (I'm pretty sure that's what she meant!) So if anyone has any issues, please let me know! THANK YOU!!!

Just an update!

2009-03-14T07:53:00.003-04:00

Oh, hey. Lol. Just giving a quick update...school has pretty much been consuming my life lately, it suuucks!!

Hopefully I'll have a few reviews this weekend, including Nice Kitty lipglass from the HK collection thanks to the AMAZING Jen from A Beautyful Sentiment!!! It's SUCH a gorgeous pink color, very fresh and pretty.

I also might be doing a Fix+ review and maybe some FOTDs? We'll see what happens lol.

But today I'm helping Momma move into her brand new condo, we're both so excited lol. Hopefully reviews either tonight or tomorrow!

MAC Brunette Minearlize Skin Finish Review

2009-03-07T18:17:00.002-05:00

"Limited-edition Mineralize Skinfinish specially created for the Brunette Blonde Redhead Collection. Each offers a colourwave of four shimmering shades in a range of light to dark. Use all over the face to create a low/sheer luminous finish or apply in tones of light and/or dark to highlight, contour or add dimension to eyes, cheeks or brows."

So, this was my first MSF (Mineralize SkinFinish) ever, and I definitely think I made the right choice. I'm kindof a paler brunette, so I was torn between getting this or the blonde for kindof a softer look, but I'm happy with getting Brunette.

MAC describes the 4 colors as "Soft coral to copper bronze degrad," and for once I actually agree, lol. Usually I always add something more to their descriptions but that is pretty right on. Each shade is a nice brown tone, you could even use them as eyeshadows. I put this all over my face today for a soft glow and you could definitely see the difference, in a good way. I used the 2 lighter colors closer to my hairline and above my eyebrows, then the darker colors I swept over my T zone and cheeks, and it just looked very healthy. I put some Fix+ spray (ooh, I should review that too!) over it and I looked like a beached babe! (Sorta. teehee)

The right finger is more the lighter shades, and the left is concentrated on the darker. I really like this stuff because it has both cool and warm shades, and they work great together. The BBR MSF (Blonde, Brunette, Redhead Mineralize SkinFinishes...phew!!) are being discontinued, so if you were torn on getting any, I would. It'll last you a long time and has many many uses.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

MAC Peachykeen Blush Review

2009-03-07T17:58:00.003-05:00

"Colour for the cheeks and face. Various formulas. Different looks."

I'm kindof on a blush/face powder kick lately, so last time I was at the MAC counter I picked this blush up. Normally I'm really cautious as far as blushes go, but this color looked SO fresh and pretty.

The forumla of Peachykeen is called Sheertone Shimmer, which is described as "Jet-milled and micro-fine, just like Sheertone, but tickled with just-enough shimmer to make light dance on the cheeks." It mentions Sheertone in that description, so because I love you all SO much, here's the description of Sheertone: "Shy-on tints in a sheer-on micro-refined powder. Not transparent. Goes on faint. Looks real."

I really like this blush. A great amount of color gets picked up on your brush, and it's pretty blendable. I wouldn't say it's as blendable as the Minearlize Blush MAC offers...I would say this stuff is a bit thicker if that makes sense. As far as this specific color, Peachykeen, goes, it's described by MAC as "very baby peach." For me personally and on my computer, the website swatch looks WAY washed out and dull. In real life, I would say it's peach with a dab of pink and gold shimmer. For my skin, it gives me a great start of spring look, I even got complemented on my complexion by my roommates BF today!! Don't know if that's a good or bad thing...but regardless, it happened, lol.

The left finger has color payout after I gently swiped over the blush, and the right is me rubbing it in the blush pretty good, just to show the intensities. This blush will definitely be in my normal rotation. It makes my skin very fresh looking.

4 out of 5 stars.

MAC Zoomlash Mascara Review

2009-03-06T20:03:00.002-05:00

"This instant volume mascara power-lifts the lashes into length, curls them up...builds them faster than you can wink! Precision control wand glides smoothly down lashes to provide a gorgeously silky upward “sweep”. Smudgeproof and long-wearing!"

So pretty much, I seriously am in love with this mascara. I've never tried a mascara for the first time and been like "Wow, I love this more than anything I've ever tried before" until I used Zoomlash by MAC.

The color I got was Zoomblack, which doesn't seem to be on MAC's website, but it's a very rich and intense black, which I love.

I would describe the wand as thick bristles coming out of the wand. They grab each lash pretty well though, and it's thinner at the top to get to those hard to reach lashes in the corners. I had no issues with getting little dots of mascara anywhere on my face due to the brush size.

I hate this picture lol. I would describe my naked lashes as long but very thin. So whenever I get a lengthening mascara, it pretty much looks like I have bangs coming out of my eyes, so I definitely need a volumizing mascara, and this does the trick SO perfectly.

This isn't the best picture, I couldn't get any real good ones after I put on the mascara, but you can especially see with my bottom lashes how thick it made them. But I swear on my life this mascara is PERFECT if you need volume but not alot of length. I literally would not shut up to Eric (the BF) about how amazing this stuff was, and I'm pretty sure this is my new drug!

The only cons I can think of is that it takes a bit to dry. I couldn't get that good of a picture after I put it on because I put some eyeliner on my top waterline, and it kindof clumped my lashes together a little because the mascara was still wet. I also had no patience to let it dry lol.

Another con is that it comes off REALLY easily with water. So I would definitely not recommend this on a rainy day. I forgot my eye makeup remover last night when I slept at Eric's and it literally all came off when I washed my face with a wet facecloth. All of it. It was pretty cool considering the cirumstances that I forgot my stuff, but don't wear this to a waterpark or else you'll get it running ALL down your face. Other than that, I absolutley love it. Love love love it.

Did I mention I love it? 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Mini-MAC Haul!!

2009-03-04T22:19:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone!! I just got back from a very fun and tiring day with the BF, and we happened to stop by the MAC counter!! I ended up getting Peachykeen Sheertone Shimmer Blush, Brunette Mineralize SkinFinish from the BBR collection, and Zoomlash Mascara. Expect reviews of all 3 of these within the next week or so!!

MAC Mineralize Blush Review

2009-03-03T19:41:00.003-05:00

Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.

I received this blush as a gift from a dear cyber friend of mine in a past beauty exchange. I absolutely adore this blush. It's everything for me. It gives me a healthy glow that's buildable, a bit of sparkle, and it blends beautifully.

The color I have is called Lovejoy, and it seems very versatile in real life. MACcosmetics.com describes it as "Warm mid tone brown with gold pearl." I would describe it also as a dusty pink. It reminds me of that first-kiss blushing. I think some of the shades can even be used as an all over face powder, but you might want to tap out some of the sparkle.

I put my index finger in the blush and rubbed back and forth once, and look how much I got!! With this stuff, a little goes a LOOONG way. With my middle finger I pretty much placed it on the surface of the blush and got a really good amount of color.

I would absolutely recommend this formula of blush to EVERYONE. There seems to be a decent array of colors, and you could even mix colors because they're so blendable.
Easily 5 out of 5 stars.

MAC Fibre Rich Mascara Review

2009-03-02T21:15:00.003-05:00

Fibre-rich. Good for you. Keeps lashes fit. Makes them strong, fat, well-defined. Adds muscle to short and fine lashes. Creams on. Clump proof...Spike-proof! The difference fibre makes is amazing. Add it to your lashes' diet!

I bought this mascara about two months ago, and I'm not going to lie, I'm really not that impressed. I've probably used it 5 times because I just can't stand it!!

The wand doesn't really have combs that stick out like most mascaras that I like, it's more like a band of spikeys that are just wrapped around a lash wand.

These are my lashes with no mascara (actually, I'm wearing no makeup at all, so excuse mee!). I was playing with bright pink eyeliner before also, so you can still see the little remnants of that!

These are my lashes with the Fibre Rich. As you can see, they definitely have more volume and are a bit longer, which is normally all I look for, since I have long thin lashes.

What I hate most about this mascara is that it clumps at first, A LOT. I feel like the forumla itself is really dry, and it clumps on my upper waterline a lot. Normally what I have to do when I wear this mascara is take a finger, put it on my eyelid, and pull upwards so that waterline will show and I can even out the mascara on it. After going through my lashes a few dozen times, the clumps come out and above is the result. Remember, it might just be me that this happens for, everyone's different!!

As far as making my lashes feel healthier...eh. When the product dries it's pretty lightweight, not crunchy or anything like some mascaras, and it doesn't flake that much (then again, mascaras don't seem to flake on me very much ever.) I would rate this mascara just average, 3 out of 5 stars.

120 Eyeshadow Palette Review

2009-03-01T13:19:00.009-05:00

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a good weekend.

About a month ago, I ordered the 120 Eyeshadow Palette from Beauties Factory. I used the free shipping option and got my palette within 10 business days. I only had one cracked eyeshadow...it was a super super sparkly green that I probably won't end up using, just because it's so damn sparkly!!

I had heard in a lot of reviews that it's either hit or miss as far as cracked eyshadows go. Some people had a bunch cracked, and some, like me, had either none or just a small amount.

The quality of these eyeshadows are REALLY good in my opinion. They're very pigmented, and they blend really really well. They also stay in place for a long time, so you can wear them day to night. They also wash off really easily.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this palette to absolutley anyone who loves makeup. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in the business for years, this is deifnitely a staple to have in your train case. I give the 120 palette 5 out of 5 stars.

It Begins...

2009-02-26T20:24:00.000-05:00

Okay so...I'm pretty sure only Holly reads this lol. But I think I'm gonna start fo'real blogging about makeup and skincare and maybe hair stuff. I have alot to figure out though...I need to think of an awesome name and from there I can probably go a bit crazy. Right now I'm figuring out layout and colors so you'll probably see this whole setup changing a bit to find what works for me.

So if anyone has suggestions for names or anything, then I could make a logo or something in Photoshop and this can maybe take off!

2009-02-19T20:34:00.001-05:00

Soo I basically made a blog so I could follow my friends Holly and Jen better on this website...maybe I'll start blogging at some point...about something...