amynicolaox

Tag! You're all it!

2012-02-01T13:14:00.004-05:00

I usually wouldn't post my videos here, but felt compelled to as yesterday I filmed a really fun tag; 'The 7 Deadly Sins of Beauty"

Basically the premise is there is a beauty related question that accompanies each of the seven sins. I'm sure you've seen a few kicking around, but I wanted to invite my readers to join in on the fun.

I know not everyone makes videos, but I will post the questions below and if you have a blog feel free to do a written version and link me to it, or even just write your answers in the comments. I like hearing everyone's responses to this tag, so I think this would be a great way to share.

Here's my take on the tag:

The questions are as follows:

GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty product? What is your most expensive beauty product?

WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been hardest to find?

GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect due to laziness?

PRIDE: Which beauty product gives you the most confidence?

LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

ENVY: What item would you most like to receive as a gift?

Happy Hump Day and I look forward to reading all your responses

Something Kinda Different - FOTD

2012-01-31T23:35:00.005-05:00

So January has been SUCH a bleak month here, I'm so over our bouts of snow & freezing rain! When I get into these winter funks, I tend to bust out the day-time smokey eye look & today I walked on the wildside (for me, at least) and dug MAC Greensmoke out of the archives!

FACE:

- Givenchy Mister Mat Primer

- Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation (forgot to set it, so apologies if that combined with flash made me look a bit oily)

- L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighting Pen in Fair

- theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer

- MAC Lovejoy Blush

- theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer Highlighter

EYES:

- MAC Dirty GreasePaint Stick

MAC eyeshadows in:

Greensmoke (lid & lower lashline)

Hocus Pocus (crease)

Ricepaper (brow highlight)

Soft Brown & Swiss Chocolate (transition)

NARS Night Breed (outer-v)

Bare Minerals Nude Beach (tearduct)

MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

YSL Shocking Faux Cils

LIPS:

- Revlon Soft Nude

- MAC Boy Bait

Sighh, I just love a smokey-eye at all times, it's definitely a go-to look for me, even more so when I use colour as it's not so 'in-your-face'.

For me the piece de resistance of the entire look was...

The Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter from theBalm, look at that J-Lo Goddess Glow! I just picked this up last week and I can't stop using it, it's a gorgeous finely milled, strong highlighter. I plan to do a post on this later in the week!

Hope you're all having a good week and faring well through your winter, wherever you may be

xxx

What I Wore...NYE Edition

2012-01-01T23:30:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of 2012 being here, I thought I'd share the outfit I put together to wear on New Year's Eve as I'm always curious to see other people's sense of style!

I had planned to film an OOTD but my tripod was not set up and in my haste to get out of the door and then later in my inebriated state I did not manage to get any blog worthy pics of myself in what I wore.

As luck would have it though being the crazy person that I am, I had the urge to lay out my entire outfit/accessories/makeup I was going to wear earlier in the day & photograph it: (picture edited & taken from my instagram)

My style is quite minimalist and I usually don't go for too much colour, I wasn't going out to any bars this year so I didn't feel the need to do an obnoxiously sparkling dress, so I decided on this bright blue to liven things up!

Dress: Silence + Noise (found at Urban Outfitters)

Necklaces: Wing & Charm from American Eagle, Dog Tags were gifted and Key is from Aldo

Cocktail Ring: Aldo Accessories

Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Bianca"

Bag: Coach "Ashley"

Makeup:

Eyeshadows: Smokey eye with MAC Carbon, Electra, UD Gunmetal & Creep and Glitter Eyeliner from Annabelle

Blush: NARS Deep Throat

Lips: YSL Pur Couture in #6 Rose Bergamasque

For my NYE, I chose to be low-key (I hate the bustle of the same old busy, sweaty clubs) I just had a nice dinner & went to a house party.

What did you wear this New Year's Eve?

I'm Back... I Promise!

2012-01-01T18:10:00.006-05:00

Remember me?

I would bet that most of you don't!

I was an extremely awful blogger in 2011 (and YouTube guru, but that's another story), and I agree deserve a bit more than a slap on the wrist. BUT, instead of making up countless excuses for why I deserted the blog, I want to focus on the fact that 2012 is a new year and I'm back!

What sparked this change:

1) The other day I was looking through the blog & felt a twang of remorse for the fact that my follower count has grown exponentially this year, despite me barely writing a thing (I hate letting people down haha).

2) I had an urge to write with no pressure and LOVE to share, so it seemed like a natural fit to come back :)

Going forward:

I had a little revamp of the page aesthetics to more suit my personality (minimalist, with colour pops) and have made a resolution to myself to post at least once a week for the whole year. I've also gotten to grips with the new technology and enabled you to follow me via email and bloglovin' for whichever you all find easiest.

You'll still find the old face of the day posts I used to do on occasion, but I wanted to expand the blog to feature more of my daily musings be it lusts, beauty, books, product loves..you name it. I always find products I love, but being a senior student don't necessarily have the time to make and edit a video a video so I'll use the blog as a companion to share them here.

So without further ado, I'd like to say hello to all my new followers, and thank you to all the old faithful ones who have remained subscribed in my absence, I'm excited to interact with you all, have some fun & get this going again!

I hope everyone had a fabulous & safe new years....stay tuned for a little what I wore post tonight!

Electrifying- Eyeshadow Challenge 4

2011-03-09T21:12:00.003-05:00

So I have fallen off the Eyes of March bandwagon a bit over the past few days; I don't usually wear makeup on the weekends and during the week I usually tend to favor sleep over applying the slap!

However, on Sunday I did end up going to a bar for my friends birthday and so a traditional smokey eye was in full effect with one of my favorite silver shadows MAC Electra. It's a very intense icy silver, but putting it on a black base lost some of the intensity that night!

I only took this one snap in my car upon my return about 6 hours later, so it held up nicely!

UDPP

MAC Blackground Paint Pot

Lid: MAC Electra Eyeshadow

Crease: MAC Sunnydaze Pigment & Print Eyeshadow

Outer-V: MAC Black Tied Eyeshadow

Transition: MAC Soft Brown

Inner-Corner & Highlight: MAC Phloof

I paired it with MAC Warm Soul on the cheeks and Peachstock Lipstick with Gold Rebel Lipglass on top for a nice nude lip.

Looking at it I was a bit of a MAC fanatic that night (more so than in my last challenge posts), but I do find their products tried & tested!

Hopefully, I will be back on track with this later in the week!

What was your EOTD today?

Mixing Low & High End - Day 3

2011-03-04T23:12:00.004-05:00

I really think this challenge has made me fall in love with eyeshadow all over again & made me want to spare the extra few minutes in the mornings to slap some on :)

Today's eye look is great because it mixed high end products with an inexpensive, yet fabulous drug store shadow as the main focus.

The shadow in question is Wet n Wild's Nutty which retails at 99 cents at the drugstore is a beautiful, buttery (think Starflash) and pigmented, silvery taupe colour which is RIGHT up my alley - it also held up well through a 13 hr day. I want to thank Yuliya for introducing me to it!

Face: *is pretty much the same as yesterday

MAC Face & Body C4

MAC MSFN

MAC Blunt

NARS Madly

Lips:

Benefit Lady's Choice

Josie Maran Brilliance

*I love this lip combo, it's gorgeous & effortless and goes with ANY look

Onto the eyes...

You all know I'm partial to smokey eyes, but this was a bit more toned down & day appropriate as I had an early start!

Lid: Wet N Wild Nutty

Crease: Chanel Taupe Gris

Outer-V: MAC Smut

Inner Corner: MAC Phloof

Highlight: MAC Mylar

Transition: MAC Soft Brown

I absolutely love Nutty & can't wait to wear it like this again after the challenge is over, but for now I will think of new ways to pair it!

What did you guys wear for day 3?

xoxo

As Hot as AC/DC - Eyes of March #2

2011-03-03T22:13:00.004-05:00

So we are back with day two of the "Eyes of March" challenge!

In the spirit of things I am trying to pull for shadows that I don't usually choose & haven't used i a while. I've been really into adding different purples tones into my looks lately & today was no exception!

Face:

MAC Face & Body Foundation C4 *love this

MAC Blunt

NARS Madly Blush

Milani Hd Concealer

Benefit Powderflage

Lips:

Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in Pink Dusk

MAC Frankly Fresh Lipglass

Now onto the eyes:

*the flash somewhat washes some of the colour out, it was more dramatic & smokey!

Rouge Bunny Rouge Silk Aether Cream Shadow in Velvet Fritillary (review coming)

Shadows all by Urban Decay:

YDK (lid)

Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (dabbed on center of lid for shine)

Mushroom (crease)

AC/DC (outer-v)

Sellout (inner corner & highlight)

MAC Feline on waterline

The Urban Decay shadows were all from this palette (shades used are marked with *):

The infamous BOS Vol II that I had to literally scour the makeupalley swap board for a brand new one that would stop my lemming for it.

Since I got it I can count on one hand the times I've used it, but it really is great. The shadows are all smooth and pigmented (with the exception of the heavily glittered one) and Sellout worked just as well in the inner corner as my beloved Grand Entrance.

Other Thoughts....

I absolutely LOVE the way the Face & Body foundation photographed, it makes my skin look flawless and not oily in the t-zone at all. It is a low coverage foundation, but it is buildable so I added another layer to get my desired effect (I would probably use a concealer with it too).

I think it looks even better in pictures than in real life because it is intended for print & professional work.

Also I have found my new favorite pink lipstick in the Tom Ford Pink Dusk it's just the right shade, not too dark or too light - I want a back-up, but it is a shame about the hefty $50 pricetag!

If you have joined in on the "Eyes of March" challenge please comment below with your look for today!

March Eyeshadow Challenge #1

2011-03-02T23:14:00.006-05:00

You all know I'm the worst when it comes to consistently blogging, I always WANT to try better, but somehow it doesn't translate, which is why I have embarked upon a new fun challenge!

Fellow beauty blogger Yuliya has created "The Eyes of March" which is not only a challenge to blog everyday, but to also get the most out of our excessively large collections by using a different eyeshadow every day for a month!

Now this does not mean that I cannot use an eyeshadow on two different days, the catch it it just has to be in a different combo & with other new shades. Also, I always use Soft Brown as a transitional colour so that will stay the same :)

As I'm lazy and don't wear eyeshadow everyday, I will only post on days when I have worn something noteworthy to show (this challenge will encourage me to wear shadow more).

So now you get the point, the ramble is over and here is today's eye I did for going out to dinner for my sister's birthday!

I ended up going big and used all the eyeshadows from one of my favorite, but not used enough palettes:

NARS Pleasures of Paris #9951:

Base: NARS Mykonos cream shadow

Lid: I mixed Nepal & Fez

Crease: I mixed Violetta & Cordura

Outer-V: Demon Lover

Brow Highlight: Absynnia

I also used MAC Soft Brown as my transition and Nylon in the inner corner and Feline Kohl Power on my waterline!

Today I also included a full face shot as a bonus so I will share what I teamed with it:

Face:

Lancome Teint Miracle

MAC Blunt

MAC Get Away Bronze Blush

Lips:

Benefit Lady's Choice Lipstick

Josie Maran Brilliance Lipgloss

I also know Sandra has joined this challenge, so go look at her blog as well for some more eyeshadow porn!

If you guys want to get in on the action I'd love to hear - we can all find great new combos together!

Just leave me a comment below with your blog. If you don't blog just include the shadows you used each day in your comment :)

Ins & Outs - #3

2011-02-05T19:12:00.006-05:00

I just wanted to check in with you guys on the blog and get in on the Ins & Outs trend.

It's a good way for me to quickly share things both makeup & non makeup related that I am loving and not such a fan of every so often!

IN...

- Dinner & movie dates with my best friend... it has become our weekly tradition (we usually go on Tuesdays) and I always have a great time catching up with him <3

- Lipstick... I've been finding out what really works for my skintone lately & loving it. Favorites include: MAC Blankety, Shy Girl, Brave New Bronze, Hug Me, VG Cyndi, Benefit Jing A Ling, YSL Rouge Volupte #1 & 2.

- Reading week... I am looking forward to having some time off school and going on a roadtrip to Montreal (any restaurant/bar recommendations are welcome) I'll also be meeting up with fellow blogger Sandra, yay!

- Nicki Minaj... *embarrassed face* I used to really dislike most of her stuff, but lately I've been enjoying Super Bass, Moment 4 Life & Itty Bitty Piggy.

- MAC Centre Stage Mega Metal Eyeshadow... Perfect rich cool toned brown for the crease & outer-v - I've used it in almost every eyeshadow look lately! It blends really well and I love that it's not so dark that it reads black.

OUT...

- The Hunt for my Elusive HG Foundation... it seriously seems never ending, I thought I had found it in NARS Sheer Glow, but the winter weather has once again dried out my skin and it doesn't look as nice. I like Chanel Pro Lumiere, but that doesn't last as long as I want it to sometimes. I think some mixology is required, what is your favourite foundation?

- Winter Weather (Snow & Cold)... I am so ready for it to be over, I hate the cold it dries out my skin & hair. Also, not a fan of driving in the snow - eek!

- Rushing... I really need to give myself five extra minutes to get out the house in the ams because I hate being late and feeling stressed!

- Makeup Overload... I still have way too many unused items & things I have only used once so I will be having another blog sale soon :) I'm really starting to figure out the products I truly love & that really work for me!

There you have it - definitely not too bad!

What are some of your ins & outs?

Make-Up Inspiration FOTD

2011-01-21T20:25:00.005-05:00

So I may be beating a dead horse here, but the first thing I thought when I picked up the February 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan was, "Wow, the cover girl's makeup looks STUNNING"

I didn't even realize at first it was Mila Kunis - how amazing does she look?

This picture totally gave me major inspiration (it's been a while) and I knew I'd try to do my own version/take on this when I could!

Last night, I was going for my friends birthday dinner & a bar afterward so I decided to do an inspired and toned down version by going a little less intense & keeping the lower lashline brown/nude instead of black as it was going to be a long night & I didn't want it to get smeared by the end of it! Also I didn't line my upper-lashline as I never do that since it does me no favours!

The flash in these pictures takes away some of the smokiness, but you get the point! I got TONS of compliments on this too & am thinking of filming a tutorial for it!

FACE:

Laura Mercier Primer

Chanel Pro Lumiere

MAC MSF Natural

Milani Hd Concealer #2 & Benefit Powderflage

MAC Blunt

MAC Melba Blush

MAC Refined MSF

EYES:

*to see how smokey the makeup looks in real life click here & watch this little video I made*

NARS Smudgeproof Base

MAC Constructivist PP

NYX Milk Jumbo Pencil

MAC Eyeshadows in:

Tempting

Centre Stage

Handwritten

Ricepaper

Grand Entrance

MAC Chromagraphic Pencil NW25/NC30

Stila Eye Kajal in Tiger's Eye

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

LIPS:

MAC Shy Girl Lipstick

Overall, I absolutely adore how this turned out, if you clicked the link & watched the video enough you'll see that it's sultry, yet eye brightening! It's definitely going to be a new go to look for me! Please also bear in mind that it is an inspired look, I wasn't going for an exact replica, but tailoring it to my needs, so feel free to switch it up to suit you!

Also if you watched that video, you saw I was asking for some outfit advice, well here's an awful, grainy photo from my BlackBerry, just so you can get an idea!

I ended up wearing the white loose tank top, with a fitted cropped blazer, black skinny pants and the black leather heeled pumps I showed in the video! I accessorized with a silver bangle & earrings as the heel of the shoes are metal!

So has the make-up inspiration bug hit any of you guys lately and if so what image or object inspired you?

Also let me know if you'd like to see this in tutorial form on YouTube!

Have a great & safe weekend!

I'm Back..New Year, New Things!

2011-01-17T21:29:00.004-05:00

Happy belated New Year!!

Do you guys even remember me? Doubt it, let me refresh your memory, I'm pretty much the worst beauty blogger ever! After almost two months I'm ready to try and get back into the swing of things and have a few posts scheduled upcoming this week.

So 2011 is a new year, so why not show you two brand new things I've gotten and am loving in the past week.

1) New Blogging Station...

Finally... I'm so freaking excited I got a brand spanking new 13-inch MacBook Pro & new BlackBerry (my old crackberry died unexpectedly & the warranty sent me brand new one thank god).

This is my first time switching over from a PC - I had a Sony Vaio beforehand that progressively got worse & worse over 2 years until it virtually was dead and the MacBook Pro was honestly the best option to switch over to!

So far I absolutely love it - the battery life & graphics are insane. I still have to figure out how to use iMovie so I can make and edit some more YT vids and I need to find my camera cord so I can sync my pictures and blog some more, but other than that I am in love <3.

2) Fave New Lip Colour...

MAC came out with the new Kissable Lip Colours in their new Peacocky Collection which combines the opacity of a lipstick with the shine & feel of a gloss. Although this colour wasn't featured in my haul video, I did go back and pick up Super.

Super is a nude colour that is darker and more brown that I am used to when in artificial light, but runs more pink in these pictures and natural light. It's pigmented enough that it doesn't wash you out!

After some initial getting used to it (it looks darker IMO) I've come to the conclusion that it's a great more natural/defined nude for winter as it isn't pale or corpse like.

This is probably the most random and ill written post as I sick in bed and watching Jersey Shore at the same time, but I wanted to finally get something up for you guys :)

A huge thank you to everyone who have been patient and continued to follow me over my hiatus, but look out for a new post later in the week.

What are your favourite and most recent purchases?

xoxo

Playing with NARS Tzarine (Review + EOTD) !

2010-11-30T23:30:00.006-05:00

Long time no post!! It's not to say my makeup addiction was completely waning, but I hadn't really been inspired by anything new to try or even post here about, but that all changed tonight!
Earlier this week I plonked down the cash at Sephora and picked up NARS Tzarine Duo from their Fall 2010 collection...

It's a gorgeous combination of a sparkling champagne colour with golden shimmers (perfect for highlighting and all over the lid) and a sparkling gunmetal grey.

I think the combination is quite unique, I wouldn't have thought about pairing them together for a smokey eye myself! The shadows themselves are standard NARS fare - decently pigmented and easy to blend with minimal fall out.

Tonight, I decided to have a play around & made a few discoveries:
*note I am wearing no foundation, my brows aren't filled in & I'm wearing one coat of mascara in these photos, I didn't expect to blog or take pics when I started!

The first eye, I only used Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin as a base, and I found that the duo provided more of a lighter day-time eye that was not smokey enough for me, so I added a bit of MAC Satin Taupe and Typographic to the outer corner. I also am really into extra sparkle, so I patted MAC's Reflects Antiqued Gold on the lid for shine.

Now while I liked this softer look, I am usually after a more dramatic and deeper smokey eye, I think it suits me better! To create some extra drama I added the double winged liner.

After some thinking, I discovered to take it to that next level the NARS Tzarine Duo needs...

BASES to make the colour pop!

Pictured here are just two recommendations; Laura Mercier's Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Gold for the lid and Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans (metallic pewter) for the outer corner.

Armed with my new idea, I set out to do the other eye:

I started by patting the Laura Mercier shadow on the lid & then took a NYX Jumbo Pencil in Black Bean to draw in my crease shape, then blended the two together.

I then applied the NARS Tzarine duo over this (no other shadows needed) however I used a backwards technique. I started with the darker grey colour in the crease and finished with the lid colour. I again used the MAC glitter to top it off - although this picture didn't pick it up and the Gel liner I used is Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink.

This is the moment I fell in LOVE with this duo & deemed it a new favorite of mine! I love, love, LOVE the depth and smokey drama that the simple addition of the bases provide. In future I would probably leave the double winged liner out as it doesn't need it!

What would I wear on the lips with this, you ask...

I wanted a nude that wasn't too stark and lifeless, but had a pretty pink/brown tinge to it! I was going to use MAC's new The Faerie Glen Lipstick from the new holiday collection, but couldn't find it at the time so I paired MAC Myth and Hug Me lipsticks together to get the exact same color.

I topped it off with my new favorite lipgloss - Diorkiss in Fizzy Lemonade - a high sparkle pink champagne colour that adds a pretty shine and juicyness to the lips and voila!

So there you have it - one small duo that reignited my passion for makeup and blogging!

Traditional grey smokey eyes don't have to be boring, and this fresh take on it is proof.

I cannot wait to wear this to a dinner party I have on Thursday.

Have you found any new products lately?

xoxo

Top 5 Eyeshadows of the Moment!

2010-10-31T15:19:00.008-04:00

I'm a bit of a fickle character at heart - I've posted top tens (shadows, blushes, lipsticks etc) before on YouTube, but here we go again!

I seem to go through makeup phases where I tend to use different products & shop my stash, I thought I'd show you my top 5 eyeshadows that I've been using over the past few months and why I love them:

(see swatches below)

#1: MAC Beauty Marked:
This is my newest acquisition and is a Velvet formulation; it's basically a black base with red/puprlish shimmers running through it. It swatches very plainly yet it buildable, but I love to use it in the outer-corner instead of a black. The beauty of this is that it can really look more purple/dramatic depending on what shadows you've blended it into! Don't swatch this one and leave it behind because it doesn't look very special, because once applied it really is!

#2: MAC Texture:
I originally purchased this shade to use solely as a transition colour - but have since found many other uses for it. It's a pretty medium peachy brown with gold shimmer that can be worn all over the lid alone, or my new favorite way is smudged underneath the lower lashline. It adds just the right amount of daytime smokiness to any look without being too dramatic and reminds me of the type of shades the Kardashian sister's wear. If I'm in a hurry it takes two seconds to apply this and some mascara and head out the door!

#3: MAC Satin Taupe:
This is an oldie, but goodie and an all-time favorite of mine that I've rediscovered again lately. This shadow is SO versatile - I can wear it in the crease with a lighter colour on the lid, or on the lid for a smokey eye or in the same way as I wear Texture eyeshadow. I absolutely love taupes and this is one of the richest ones with pretty purple undertones - I also like to pair this with Beauty Marked to pull those undertones out more! The frost formulation is very soft & pigmentd, all in all I LOVE this one :) (check my last few FOTDs, I wore this)

#4: MAC Ricepaper:
In my opinion this is the BEST brow highlight ever! I only used to wear Matte/Satin shades underneath my brow, but this is a wonderful peachy gold with subtle shimmer that makes the area GLOW like no other! It really brightens that area up & adds dimension, I've also worn it on the lid aswell with chocolate browns in the crease.

#5: Urban Decay Half Baked:
For me this is the ultimate shimmering bronze/golden colour that runs less orange as some golden colours tend to do (ahem, MAC Amber Lights). The pigmentation is amazing and it looks great as a lid colour, or underneath the lashline to brighten the entire eye area! This colour is a filler in a lot of Urban Decay palettes, so chances are you already own it!

Swatch time....

Siiighh, pretty, pretty!

What are your top five eyeshadows of the moment, I might need to check them out!

Ps. Happy Halloween!

FINAL BLOG SALE!!

2010-10-24T17:35:00.008-04:00

So this is the final blog sale (for now at least)...I'm really trying to get my collection down to a more manageable size - as I've stopped buying as much!

I hope all this stuff can find a loving home & thank anyone in advance who purchases from me!

This sale is on a first come first serve basis, commenting does not ALWAYS ensure you will receive what you want (ex. Item will go to the person who first requested it). The invoice I send will detail the products that were still left that you requested!

I've done my best to be fair with the prices designated to each item If you feel something is incredibly unfair email me @ amynicolaoxyoutube@hotmail.com and we can try to work something out.

RULES:

1) I WILL ONLY ACCEPT PAYPAL – it is the easiest and most secure way for all parties involved.

2) If you would like to purchase items, list what you would like in the comments section below, along with the email address associated with your PayPal account AND the shipping type you will require. I will then send you an invoice.
3) Prices are ALL in Canadian $’s (CDN) (You can easily use an online currency converter to figure it all out) **
4) Once I have sent the invoice, please ensure you pay for the item promptly/within the next 24 hours (aka don’t take the mickey with time lol) otherwise the item will go to the next person who requested it OR be reposted.
5) I will ship within Canada & US and Internationally – Prices are listed below.
6) I cannot be held responsible for things that get lost by the post office or broken in transit (buy at your own risk) – I can assure you I’ve never had a problem with any of this so far & hope it stays this way
7) No returns & no holds – what you see is what you get!

** Since Prices are in Canadian Dollars, it'll definitely be cheaper for those of you in the USA & UK

SHIPPING:
In my last sales I realized shipping from my end isn't as cheap as I expected & had to front over 50% of the costs myself - Prices you see here include postage AND packaging :)

USA: $7.50 for all items

Canada & International: $9.50 - who knew it was cheaper to post things to the states from Canada - can you say rip off!

I will be shipping to the address associated with your PayPal account - if this is incorrect please email me where you want your package to go.

Now onto to the good stuff:
All products have been sanitized where applicable.

Eyeshadows & Bases

L-R
(SOLD) NARS Bellissima Duo (used 3x) - $16.50
(SOLD) NARS Surabaya Duo (swatched 1x) - $16.50

Benefit Smokin' Eyes Palette (swatched 1x) - $18.50
(SOLD) MAC Photorealism LE Quad (used 1x) - $21

(SOLD) MAC Love Lace LE Eyeshadow (swatched 1x) - $12.50
Global Goddess Makabari Eyeshadow (used 1x) - $9.50
(mac vainglorious dupe)
Benefit Fawn Over Me Eyeshadow (used 3x) - $11.50

Body Shop Eye & Cheek Palette - $13.50
(this is my backup - really good quality)

BNIB Cargo Toronto Palette - $15
(i own dupes for these colours)

Stila Jezebel Eyeshadow (swatched 1x) - $8.50
(SOLD) MAC Museum Bronze Pigment (50% full) - $9

Benefit Birthday Suit Creaseless Cream Shadow (used 2x) - $12.50
MAC Blackground Paint Pot (dip in product) - $9.50

Liners & Mascaras:
*mascaras have never been touched except to photograph them here!

BNIB Dior Style Liner Liquid Liner - $14
(SOLD) Lorac Black Front of the Line Pro Liquid Liner - $11

(SOLD) BNIB Diorshow Iconic Mascara in Black - $15
BNIB Diorshow Mascara in Black - $15

Bronzers, TM, Blushers, MSF & Highlighters:

(SOLD) NARS Casino Bronzer (used 3x) - $18
BNIB Stila Sheer Colour Tinted Moisturizer in Tan - $16

(SOLD) MAC Sunny By Nature LE MSF (used 7x) - $14.50
(SOLD) MAC Naked Honey Honey Light Highlight Powder LE (used 2x) - $13.50

(PENDING) MAC Hello Kitty Tippy LE Beauty Powder Blush (used 3x) - $13.50
MAC LE Holiday 2009 Hocus Focus Face Kit (blush used 2x) - $16.50
(includes Peachykeen Blush, Sunsparked Pearl & Pretty Baby Beauty Powders)

(SOLD) Tarina Tarantino Parasol Blush (used 2x) - $13.50
(PENDING) Stila Lilium Convertible Colour (used 2x) - $12
(sanitized with alcohol)

Lipgloss & Lipsticks

*all lipglosses are either brand new, or brand new in box or only swatched once on my hands - they've never been on my lips!

(PENDING) NARS Striptease Lipgloss - $14.50
(PENDING) NARS Orgasm Lipgloss - $14.50

L-R
Laura Mercier Pink Pearl Lipgloss - $10.50
Lorac Multiplex 3d Lipgloss in Intermix - $11.50
(PENDING) BNIB Dior Kiss Lipgloss in Fizzy Lemonade - $14.50
BNIB Lorac Multiplex 3d Lipgloss in Vivid - $12.50

L-R
MAC Miss Marble LE Tricolour Lipglass - $12
MAC Underage Lipgass - $12
(SOLD) MAC LE Young Thing Lipglass - $12
(PENDING) MAC Ravishing Cremesheen Lipstick (used 1x) - $9

MAC BRUSHES:

*all brushes have been deep cleaned & have a clear coat of varnish to preserve the numbers.

Top to Bottom
(PENDING) MAC 189 Brush (brand new with sleeve) - $20
(i paid $50.50 for this)
(SOLD) MAC 252 Brush - $14.50
(PENDING) MAC 194 Brush - $13

Happy Shopping!

Spending A Pretty Penny + Dupes :)

2010-10-17T20:17:00.010-04:00

Last post, I had mentioned that I wanted to write a haul post - since the MAC Venemous Villains collection released I have picked up a few items and just not gotten around to filming a video for it yet, so I'll give you lot the first look!

Read on for some swatches & comparisons :)

MAC Vainglorious Eyeshadow (LE):
This was the one item I KNEW I wanted from the collection, it's a beautiful deep burgundy colour and it's a frost formula..result! It'll be perfect to deepen the crease & outer-v of neutral looks while making brown eyes, I hate to say it POP!

I thought it may compare to some of my existing MAC permanent shadows & I didn't have an exact dupe for this. In my opinion it looks like a mix of Cranberry & Twinks..what a stunner!

Strange Potion Lipgloss (LE):
I didn't really NEED another coral lip product, but I'm a sucker for coral lips and my enablers egged me on to go back for this one. It's a gorgeous medium pink/coral with subtle shimmer to it. It's pretty pigmented so it could be worn alone, or with the obvious lipsticks like MAC Ever Hip & Jazzed. I also wore it on top of my favorite nude lipstick (YSL Rouge Volupte #2) and the result was gorgeous.

This product is slightly more dupable - it reminds me of Pink Lemonade lipglass (not pictured as I don't own it). It's brighter & pinker than Sock Hop lipglass, but more coral than Perennial High Style.

Style Blush (Frost):
This is a blusher I've wanted for a while - I think I posted about my lemming for it before! Since I didn't get the Bite of An Apple Blush from the collection, I thought I'd treat myself to this one! It's a smooth frost formula that leaves a light peachy pink sheen on the cheek!

When swatched it immediately reminded me of the coveted Stereo Rose MSF, and as luck would have it I was right!! Stereo Rose is a touch less coral and more frosty than Style, but I'd say they are pretty interchangeable & look the same on.

If you missed out on Stereo Rose trust me, you need Style in your life, no one can tell the difference on your cheek!

NARS Douceur LE:

This blusher came out with the fall collection and is a limited edition colour and another product I have lusted after for a few months. It's a dusty pink/brown blush that upon first glance looks matte, but when closely inspected does have a fine shimmer laced through it. It's been my new go-to blush as it leaves me with a naturally pinky flush to my cheeks! I also liked that it had "NARS" embossed into the power - except mine's started to wear away as I've used it so much.

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque #75 Dragon:

Be still my heart! This is the red lipsticks of ALL red lipsticks - total Hollywood movie star bombshell. I've wanted this for quite some time after seeing a bunch of swatches and luckily a friend was able to get me an unused sample tube from the makeup counter! This liquid lipstick is the sexiest deep blue base red with maroon undertones EVER. It does have some fine shimmer ot it, but it isn't apparent upon application. This glides on effortlessly & smoothly and does not feeling drying at all - it' s long wearing & leaves behind a pretty stain!

I need to work out an eye makeup to wear with this (reccomendations) as I want to wear it in videos & eventually out the house - I think it's a great addition for fall!

Along with my other reds - you can clearly see the beauty of it - I mean it even makes Revlon's Cherries in the Snow look positively pink next to it! I really haven't come across another red I like as much as this one, so I guess you get what you pay for!

Miscellaneous Items:

I saw the new L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara while on a quick dash to the grocery store to pick up some feminine essentials and couldn't resist. I used to religiously wear the original formula and enjoyed it, but the gaudy tube & promo images sucked me in.

I also picked up a full size of the Sephora Lash Stretcher mascara, as a VIB I was able to test a sample of this & loved it as a lengthening mascara so here we are.

Finally, I picked up the Garnier Skin Renew Anti Puff Under Eye Roller - these are pretty pricey, but I suffer from raised bruise-like under eye circles. This product contains caffeine & other ingredients that I roll over them with the metal rollerball when I wake up. I can honestly say that not only does it feel soothing, it also reduces the size of my circles, yay!

Onto you...
I will film a video on my YouTube channel for this stuff, with more complete thoughts, etc.. I just didn't want to bore you TOO much with the text!

I've also pre-saled my A Tartan Tale items from the Holiday Collection, so stay tuned for that.

What have you guys picked up lately?

Stay Beautiful xoxo

I've Got The Blues!

2010-10-11T18:28:00.006-04:00

Really, I wanted to post a haul on here as my next post! However, that required doing lip swatches and lets face it I'm clearly too lazy for that on this Thanksgiving Monday!

This Saturday two of my best friends and I had a lovely date night - we wanted to be classy and dress up to go for cocktails before the club.

I wore a gorgeous vivid electric blue dress, and wanted to incorporate my makeup into this theme so I broke out my favorite blue eyeshadow...MAC's Contrast, so here's the FOTD...

Face:
Sephora Mattifying Primer (a new love)
NARS Sheer Glow
YSL Touche Eclat #3
Benefit Powderflage
MAC MSF Natural
NARS Madly Blusher
NARS Albatross
Benefit High Beam
MUFE HD Powder

Neutral Smokey Eyes with a Twist:
*eyeshadows all by MAC
NARS Smudgeproof Base
Satin Taupe (lid)

Electra (patted over Satin Taupe on inner 1/3)
Smoke & Diamonds/Print (blended together in crease)
Knight Divine (outer crease)
Contrast (outer-v)

Soft Brown (transition)
Phloof! (inner corner)
Ricepaper (brow highlight)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Lips:
In the pictures I'm wearing nothing as I was prepping my lips to wear MACs Peachstock lipstick with Gold Rebel Lipglass on top!

Thoughts?...

Well I do love to pile on the slap for night out don't I.. Contrast - is one of my favorite coloured eyeshadows even though I rarely get the chance to wear it. I've also been rediscovering Satin Taupe and adoring it as a lid colour when I go out - usually I'd only wear it in the crease for a daytime look!

For me the easiest way to wear coloured shadows is by blending them through the outer corner or crease - it adds visual interest, but it's not BAM in your face as we know I'm a bit colour shy!

The Evening Drinks...

We went for these amazing Peach Bellinis at Milestones, they were so delicious albeit the brain freeze it gave me at first! Milestones & their sister restaurants (Cornerstones & Moxies) really have the best cocktail menus :)

The bartender gave me the pink glass topper, he must've known!

I hope you guys all had an amazing weekend & Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers.

xxx

Blog Sale Update + Items added!

2010-10-10T15:33:00.007-04:00

For items still left as some items have become unpending, see pictures & list below as well as shipping info :) In the comments please list items you want & shipping type!

Just a huge thanks to everyone who participated in my blogsale so far; packages were sent out this am. However, because it's Thanksgiving here they won't actually leave the post office until Tuesday!

Items Available For Purchase:
(Paypal & Serious Buyers Only)

*writing will reflect items in the pictures that are for purchase!

*item on left
MAC Naked Honey Honey Light Highlight Powder LE (used x2) - $13.50

*middle item
Lorac Black Felt Tip Liquid Liner (never used) - $11.50

*item on left
(PENDING) MAC Photorealism LE Quad (used x1) - $23

Benefit Fawn Over Me (used x3) - $11.50
Global Goddess Makabari (used x1) - $10
(is similar to the new vainglorious eyeshadow from mac)
Stila Jezebel (swatched x1) - $9

BNIB Cargo Toronto Eyeshadow Quad - $16
(i own all these colours in another format)

The Body Shop Eye & Cheek Palette - $13.50
(this is my backup - really good quality product & nice colours)

BN MAC LE Young Thing Lipglass - $12
BNIB MAC LE Ember Glow Lipglass - $15
(SOLD) Make Up Forever Super Lipgloss #22 - $10.50
Laura Mercier Pink Pearl Lipgloss - $10.50

BNIB Lorac Multiplex 3d Gloss Vivid - $13
BN Lorac Multiplex 3d Gloss Intermix- $11.50
BNIB Dior Kiss Brilliance in Fizzy Lemonade - $14.50

Shipping:
US $7.50
Canada & Int'l $9.50

*Price includes packaging items as well as shipping costs. Shipping costs are higher than anticipated out of Canada, even with these prices I still have to cover costs from my own pocket!

Thank you ladies!

MASSIVE Blog Sale!!

2010-10-05T13:45:00.014-04:00

For me - this is the blog sales of blog sales, All LOW prices ..I'm having a MAJOR clear out of all the things that I've either never used, do not use, or that I bought due to hype that didn't suit me!

I hope all this stuff can find a loving home & thank anyone in advance who purchases from me!

This sale is on a first come first serve basis, commenting does not ALWAYS ensure you will receive what you want (ex. Item will go to the person who first requested it). The invoice I send will detail the products that were still left that you requested!

2) If you would like to purchase items, list what you would like in the comments section below, along with the email address associated with your PayPal account AND the shipping type you will require. I will then send you an invoice.
3) Prices are ALL in Canadian $’s (CDN) (You can easily use an online currency converter to figure it all out) **
4) Once I have sent the invoice, please ensure you pay for the item promptly/within the next 24 hours (aka don’t take the mickey with time lol) otherwise the item will go to the next person who requested it OR be reposted.
5) I will ship within Canada & US and Internationally – Prices are listed below.
6) I cannot be held responsible for things that get lost by the post office or broken in transit – I can assure you I’ve never had a problem with any of this so far and will wrap all items securely in bubblewrap to ensure it stays this way!
7) No returns & no holds – what you see is what you get!

** Since Prices are in Canadian Dollars, it'll definitely be cheaper for those of you in the USA & UK

SHIPPING:
In my last sales I realized shipping from my end isn't as cheap as I expected & had to front over 50% of the costs myself - Prices you see here include postage AND packaging :)

USA: $7.50 for all items

Canada & International: $9.50 - who knew it was cheaper to post things to the states from Canada - can you say rip off!

I will be shipping to the address associated with your PayPal account - if this is incorrect please email me where you want your package to go.

Now onto to the good stuff:
All products have been sanitized where applicable.

BRONZERS, HIGHLIGHTERS, FOUNDATONS

(SOLD)BNIB MAC Refined Golden Bronzer (Style Warrior Compact) $19
(SOLD) BNIB NARS Laguna $19

(PENDING) MAC Naked Honey Honey Light Highlight Powder LE (used x2) - $13.50
(SOLD) MAC Belightful Iridescent Pressed Powder (never used) -$13.50
(SOLD) Laura Geller Bronze & Brighten (used x2) - $13

(SOLD) MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation NC40 (95+% left) - $14
(SOLD) Illamasqua Halycon Illuminator (used x2) - $12

BLUSHERS

(SOLD) NARS Cream Blush Penny Lane (used x2) - $14
(SOLD) NARS Cream Blush Enchanted (used x1) - $14

(SOLD)NARS Blush Mata Hari (never used) - $14
(SOLD)NARS Blush Dolce Vita (used x3) - $14

MAC PIGMENTS:

(SOLD) MAC Golden Olive (60% full) - $8.50
(SOLD)MAC Teal (full) - $10
(SOLD) MAC Cornflower (full) - $10
(SOLD)MAC Golden Lemon (full) - $10

*you could even use these to sell samples to others

EYELINERS:

are hard to photograph L-R
(SOLD) MAC Fly By Blu Pearglide Liner LE (navy with shimmer) - $12.50
Lorac Black Felt Tip Liquid Liner (never used) - $11.50
(PENDING) Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner Catfight (never used) - $10

EYESHADOWS & PALETTES

MAC Photorealism LE Quad (used x1) - $23
(SOLD) MAC Natural Flare LE Mineralized Shadow (used x3) - $13.50

(SOLD) NARS Fathom - $11.50
(SOLD)NARS Edie - $11.50
*both never used

Benefit Fawn Over Me (used x3) - $11.50
Global Goddess Makabari (used x1) - $10
(is similar to the new vainglorious eyeshadow from mac)
Stila Jezebel (swatched x1) - $9

(SOLD) Calvin Klein Sheer Creme Shadow Champagne Satin - $7.50
(SOLD) Calvin Klein Sheer Creme Shadow Bare Silk - $7.50

BNIB Cargo Toronto Eyeshadow Quad - $16

(SOLD) BNIB NARS Essential Eye Palette - $27.50

The Body Shop Eye & Cheek Palette - $13.50

LIPSTICKS:

All by MAC (L-R)
(SOLD)Sandy B (swatched) - $9
(SOLD)Creme De La Femme (x1) - $9
(SOLD)Snob - $9
(SOLD)Plink! - $9
(SOLD)Creme D'Nude - $10
(SOLD)Fleshpot (Pro) - $10

(SOLD) NARS Promiscuous $11
(SOLD)NARS Outsider $11
(SOLD)Dior Addict Rose Lingerie #323 - $12
(SOLD)YSL Rouge Volupte #7 Lingerie Pink (full only swatched) - $20

LIPGLOSS, ETC:
*all lipglosses are either BNIB or only swatched on my hand, none have ever been on my lips!

MAC LE Young Thing Lipglass - $12
BNIB MAC LE Ember Glow Lipglass - $15
(SOLD) Make Up Forever Super Lipgloss #22 - $10.50
Laura Mercier Pink Pearl Lipgloss - $10.50

BNIB Lorac Multiplex 3d Gloss Vivid - $13
Lorac Multiplex 3d Gloss Intermix- $11.50
BNIB Dior Kiss Brilliance in Fizzy Lemonade - $14.50

(SOLD)BNIB NARS Misbehave - $14.50
(SOLD)BNIB NARS Striptease - $14.50

(SOLD) Laura Geller Lip Spackle/Lip Erase (used x2) - $7

NAIL POLISH:
all nail polish is brand new & never used or opened, although i took one of the seals off.

All Sephora By OPI L-R
(SOLD)Underneath My Trenchcoat - $4.50
(SOLD)On Stage - $5
(SOLD)Lagoon-a-Beach - $5
(SOLD)Mermaid To Order -$5
(SOLD) Fancy Schmancy - $5

* Also if anyone is interested, I may later be selling a BNIB MAC Spiced Chocolate Quad for the price of $57 - as it is LE & very hard to find! I'm undecided atm though!

Cocktail Night + VG Gaga FOTD

2010-10-03T16:35:00.005-04:00

Remember months ago when the beauty community was buzzing & going manic over the Viva Glam Gaga lipstick?

I do... back then I caved and bought into the hype, only to realize it wasn't as gorgeous on me as I expected it to be.

I'm in the midst of setting aside LOTS of items (50+) for a major blogsale/clean out (all prices will be cheaper than usual) - but more on that later! I wasn't sure if I wanted to sell this puppy so I gave it one more chance and decided to base my makeup around it when I went out for cocktails last night with my friends!

Face:
MUFE HD Primer & Powder
NARS Sheer Glow
MAC MSF Natural
MAC Blunt
Cargo Topeka Blush
NARS Albatross
Benefit High Beam

Cool Toned Smokey Eyes:
NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base
MAC Satin Taupe (lid)
MAC Twinks (pressed on base of lashes)
MAC Smut (crease & outer v)
MAC Soft Brown (transition)
MAC Nylon (inner corner)
MAC Grain (highlight)
Lancome Hypnose
Stila Eye Kajal in Sapphire (which is a deep navy, I used MACs Deep Truth to set it to intensify the blue)

Lips:
MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick

The verdict...

So, I won't say I'm "Gaga" over the lipstick (silly pun intended)- I think in pictures the colour becomes a bit distorted, so I prefer it in real life.

However, I did like this makeup look quite a lot, so the lipstick can stay in my stash as bit of a more intense pink for nights out! I wish I could pull it off effortlessly, but I think the trick for me is to pair it with heavier more cool toned eye makeup!

What about you?

Are there any makeup items that work wonders for everyone else, but don't seem to work the same way for you?

Thanks for bearing with me, I know I took a little blogging break when school started, but I intend to come back full force now!

xoxo

Blog Sale #3 - All Must Go!

2010-09-05T17:27:00.011-04:00

So the time has come for another blog sale :) I decided I needed to have a bit of a clear out when I filmed my makeup collection video, and saw all these things I have never used or used once (aka I have too much). I hope all this stuff can go to fabulous loving homes!

This sale is on a first come first serve basis, commenting does not ALWAYS ensure you will receive what you want (ex. Item will go to the person who first requested it). The invoice I send will detail the products that were still left that you requested!

I've done my best to be fair with the prices designated to each item - I've researched on ebay and sites such as All Cosmetics Wholesale (since some things are LE) and tried not to take the mickey when pricing items. If you feel something is incredibly unfair email me @ amynicolaoxyoutube@hotmail.com and we can try to work something out.

RULES:

1) I WILL ONLY ACCEPT PAYPAL – it is the easiest and most secure way for all parties involved.

** Since Prices are in Canadian Dollars, it'll definitely be cheaper for those of you in the USA & UK

SHIPPING:
In my last sales I realized shipping from my end isn't as cheap as I expected & had to front over 50% of the costs myself - Prices you see here include postage AND packaging :)

USA: $8 for all items

Canada & International: $10.50 - who knew it was cheaper to post things to the states from Canada - can you say rip off!

I will be shipping to the address associated with your PayPal account - if this is incorrect please email me where you want your package to go.

Now onto to the good stuff:
All products have been sanitized where applicable.

MAC Cosmetics:

(SOLD) Notoriety Quad (LE) - $30

Used x1 -from the makeup-art collection - pretty netural colours, but I always forget I have it!
I prefer this to the quads that MAC just released for fall! I've seen this going for silly prices online, but I want to be reasonable.

(SOLD) Devil May Dare Holiday 2009 Warm Eyes Palette (LE) - $34
Only swatched x1 & mini 213 brush never used; this has some gorgeous shimmering colours as well as some mattes, the warm colours are perfect for the fall - for some reason I always overlooked this!

(SOLD) BNIB Feline Kohl Power (LE)- $16
Never used or tested - I only opened it to take the picture - I bought 3 backups of these and I'm still on my first, it's my favorite blackest black pencil eyeliner that can be smudged for a smokey effect as well! I thought I'd give those who missed out a chance to own one of these without paying $30! It really is a must have in my opinion!

Honey Light Highlight Powder (LE) $17.50
Used 2-3x - After the first use the ultra shimmery overspray came off, but some still remains around the edges, the honeycomb design is still fully intact. Pretty finely milled golden highlighter. From Naked Honey collection.

Lipsticks (L-R) all sanitized with alcohol
(SOLD) Saint Germain - $12
Used 3x - had to face the music this popular colour does NOT work for me, had to let it go!

Sandy B - $12
Swatched x1 - pretty pinky peach with shimmer that packs on the shine!

Creme De La Femme $12
Swatched 2x - flattering medium pink colour with light shimmer that makes lips look full and shiny!

Pigments (L-R)
Golden Lemon - $13.50 -95% full
Golden Olive - $10 - 50-60% full

Golden lemon is a pretty metalic golden colour that doesn't apply as yellow as it looks in real life (definitely is more to the gold side). Golden olive is a really pretty green with an intense amount of gold shimmer running through it, I've taken some out for me to keep I only got this as I saw Kim Kardashian had used this and it looked lovely.

NARS Cosmetics:

(SOLD) Desire Blush - $16
Used 1x - I got this because Kim Kardashian frequently wears this on her cheeks, but I find it too cool toned for my complexion! Super pigmented a little goes a LONG way!

Single Eyeshadows (L-R)
Tropic(SOLD), Fathom, Night Star (SOLD)
$13 each
These have all never been used - I rarely use blue shadows, but tropic is the prettiest blue/teal and forgot I had the other 2.

(SOLD) Venice Lipstick - $12
Swatched 1x - Pretty baby pink with silver shimmers, similar to MACs High Strung, but application is lots smoother and NARS lipsticks are very moisturizing even if they have shimmers.

(SOLD) Black Moon Eyeliner - $11
Swatched x1 - I honestly forgot I had this among my black eyeliners which is crazy after spending so much on it! Hopefully somone else can love it!

Urban Decay:

(SOLD) Ammo Palette - $20
Chopper, Smog, Mauie Wowie & Sin Used 1x - applicators never used! I think this is one of UD's best permanent colours as it has the best range of colours! I have my favorite colours in other UD palettes though so this one can go - plastic sheath is still on mirror.

(SOLD) YDK Single Eyeshadow - $12
Used 1x - Gorgeous taupe colour, it is shimmery but applies well with no fall out - I have this in the UD BOS II though, so I don't need it twice!

Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Catfight - $9.50
Never Used - Fuschia glitter liner, I bought for a costume but never needed, great to add sparkle, and halloween is approaching so you could use it for costumes then!

Other Misc. Brands:

(SOLD) Makeup Forever HD Blush #4 Walk of Shame - $17
Used 1x - Cool toned bubblegum pink, as mentioned before cool toned/blue based pinks aren't the best on my skintone so I'm letting this one go. You guys know I LOVE everything about the HD blushes though, you can watch my review on them here, a little goes a LONG way!

(SOLD) Kat Von D Lucifer Palette $14
4 shimmery neturals used a handful of times - when I first got into makeup this used to be my go to neutral palette. The Kat Von D eyeshadows are great quality and easy to apply and blend. Comes with box.

(SOLD) Bare Minerals Cupcake Glimmer - $9
Used 2x - Very versatile peachy pink with gold shimmer, great to use as a highlighter or blush or even eye colour with a burgundy like antiqued in the crease.

Stila Jezebel Pan Shadow - $8
Swatched 1x - Pretty colour similar to MACs expensive pink; can be used with any neutrals would be nice over Coral Crepe PP.

Calvin Klein Sheer Creme Eyeshadows (L-R)
Champagne Satin
Bare Silk
$8 each
Both swatched 1x - Mouse like texture, waterproof & crease resistant cream eyeshadows, can be used as bases or blended with real eyeshadows.

(SOLD) BNIB Christian Dior Bronze Harmonie Blush in Coral Riveria - $30
Never used; Pretty shimmering coral blush - I clearly don't need anymore blush, muchless coral blush so this has just been sitting there. Since it was so expensive, I thought I'd sell it on.

The Body Shop Eye & Cheek Palette (LE) - $14
Brand new - never used; This was LE over xmas time - has pretty neutral & plummy colours and a pretty coral blush. I have all these colours in another form - the velvet case is easy - great for a gift or travelling. Sorry for out of focus picture.

Laura Geller Products (L-R):
Bronze & Brighten - $14
Lip Spackle - $7.50
Both used 2x - Bronzer really does have an illuminating effect and lip spackle is along the same lines as a lip erase, but is too pale for my skintone.

(SOLD) Set of 2 Sleek Eye Dusts (L-R)
Inferno, Vintage

$8 for both
Both never used.

Thanks in advance! Happy Shopping!

xxx

Obsessed with Illamasqua Lips!

2010-08-15T18:39:00.009-04:00

I finally was able to get my hands on Illamasqua products when I visited Florida in June, and since then have become a little bit obsessed their lip products that I own. I already have plans to go back and buy more when I vacation there next year!

I decided to give a mini review and take some HQ pictures & swatches for you of three of my favorite Illamasqua lip products - it may be helpful for those who can't see the products in store directly!

So let's behold the lip porn...

First, is the lipstick in Obey $22USD which applies as a matte yet creamy pastel peach shade. Illamasqua says that it is a universally flattering colour, however on darker skintones I could see this looking a bit too pale and ashy. I don't usually go for matte lipsticks, however I do not find this one drying at all if you have properly exfoliated and moisturized your lips beforehand. It can sink in a little to lip lines or cracks though as you can see a bit here.

As it is so opaque and rich in colour, alone it can be a bit intense for me, so for the perfect peachy nude lip I like to pair it with my Dior Lip Polish in 001 (I talked about these here).

I think it's a gorgeous alternative to a peach or nude lipstick as it combines and makes an interesting mix of the two!

Next up are their Intense Lipglosses $20USD

These are high shine and some of the most pigmented lipglosses on the market; they really pack a punch and I love that I don't need to layer a lipstick underneath.

I prefer this squeeze tube applicator as it means I can apply the product more easily with my finger or a lip brush. I find that doe foot applicators can get a little bit unsanitary when you apply them straight from the wand on top of lipgloss!

Firstly, I got Move which is a really unique pretty medium pink that has plummy/purple tinges to it. This is definitely the most neutral/wearable shade in the line.

I absolutely love that it's bright yet muted at the same time, so it is the perfect colour to wear during the day or night! It definitely is opaque in one coat on my lips too!

Excuse my oiliness in these photos, it was a v. hot day! As you can see it is an effortless colour to pull off!

Secondly, is a wildcard that I'm actually surprised to really be loving - the lovely ladies at Illamasqua PR sent me this colour in Fume to try out. I'll admit when I was unboxing it I was a little bit intimidated.

Illamasqua describe it as being a dark rose, which is true except when I think of rose I think more pink, yet this leans more to the red rose.

I don't find that this one is as intense and easily opaque in one coat (pictured above) as Move is. Yet, I still love it and think that its a perfect, sexy red lip for me. I even wore it out on my birthday!

I can't wait to show this one off in a YouTube video, usually I find red lips make me look clown-ish, but this is a little more sultry!

I really want to try some of their Sheer lipglosses and other lipstick shades next, they have some amazing reds and bright pinks to try.

Have you guys tried and Illamasqua lip products, what did you think?

xoxo

Blush Collection - A Sick Obsession!

2010-07-29T19:29:00.012-04:00

The time has come for me to stop waffling on about how much I love blush - and just show you my wares :)

My lovely friend & fellow blush fanatic Mel is the one who got me really obsessed with blush; I've been heavily collecting it since about Jan/Feb of this year! (go drool over her collection on her blog)

Warning:// This post will be very picture heavy :)

I keep my blush in two drawers of a stackable three unit sterilite drawer from Walmart - nothing fancy. I also didn't show you my MSF collection - we can do that in a seperate post that will be shorter as there's only 8-10.

Onto the candy...

MAC:
'*' means limited edition

Blunt (Matte), Peachtwist (Sheertone Shimmer), Trace Gold (Sheertone Shimmer)
* I use Blunt as my contour colour & Trace Gold as a beautiful golden highlighter.

Sun & Moon* , Buddy Up* , Rhapsody In Two*
All from Too Fabulous collection

Melba (Matte), Instant Chic* (Sheertone), Fleur Power (Satin)
Instant Chic is one of my all time favorites from the Pret A Papier collection

Tippy * (Beauty Powder Blush), Hipness* (Frost), Get Away Bronze* (Frost)
From the Hello Kitty and To The Beach collections.

Warm Soul, Dainty, Conjure Up*

Conjure up is from the Holiday 2009 Magic, Mirth & Mischief collection.

Gentle, Intenso*, Lovejoy
Intenso is from the Grand Duos collection

Ladyblush, Lillicent, Posey
These are all permanent blushcremes - I really love the dewiness & consistency of the MAC cream blushers. They're not cream to powder though so not sure if the oiliest of skins would love them.

Light Over Dark*, Eversun* (Beauty Powder Blush) , On A Mission* (Beauty Powder Blush)
The first blush is from Grand Duos/Pret A Papier and the last two are from Style Warriors.

Nuance*, Earth to Earth*, Pleasureful (Blushcreme)
Nuance is from Sonic Chic, Earth to Earth from Grand Duos & Pleasureful is discontinued, but applies similarly to Lilicent which is perm.

Spaced Out* (Sheertone Shimmer), X-Rocks* (Sheertone Shimmer), Hocus Focus Face Kit*
The first two are from Neo Sci Fi and the last is from the Holiday 2009 collection and has Sunsparked Pearl and Pretty Baby Beauty Powders and Peachykeen Blusher.

NARS:
I am a huge fan of these blushes & hope to collect lots more in the future :)

Deep Throat, Luster, Super Orgasm
Deep Throat & Luster are probably my two most used/fave NARS blushers.

Dolce Vita, Desire, Mata Hari
These are all mattes - the first would be amazing on dark skins, Desire is a shocking super bright pink (doesn't translate in pics) that I got cause Kim K uses it but not sure I love it for myself, Mata Hari is an amazing wearable buttery muted bright pink.

Orgasm, Torrid, Madly
I do love Orgasm although some don't - Madly is my go to neutral blusher for when I do colour or stronger eyes and I need to use Torrid more as the picture makes it look absolutely beautiful!

Lovejoy, Oasis, Sin
Lovejoy is another great neutral/sculpting cheek blusher, the last two I use mainly in the fall/winter.

NARS Creams:

These are a cream to powder finish which make them a great option for those with oily skins who worry about cream products sliding off their face throughout the day.

Enchanted, Penny Lane
Enchanted has a touch of sparkle in it & I use it to illuminate/highlight peach blushes. Penny Lane is amazing on fairer skins, a lovely pale pink.

Lokoum, Cactus Flower
Both have gold shimmers running through them; although bright Cactus Flower would make an amazing summer blush so I need to pull it out more.

Other Misc. Brands:

All Laura Geller Blush & Brightens:
Golden Apricot, Roseberry, Pink Grapefruit
These are AMAZING products, my first & some of my favorite blushes, they give such a radiant glow to the face - not to mention they are pretty to look at.

Cargo Topeka, Tarina Tarantino Parasol, Benefit Coralista

Illamasqua Hussy, Illamasqua Rude, Stila Lillium
Hussy is a matte blusher very similar to MACs Fleur Power, Rude & Lillium are creams.

Milani Luminous, Maybelline Soft Mauve, Maybelline Fresh Plum
The Milani blush sadly doesn't really show up on my skin (NC40) except for the glow, the Soft Mauve by Maybelline is a very nude-ish stark matte colour, but Fresh Plum is crazy pigmented with some shimmers.

Bourjois Golden Apricot, Beaute Fluron Liqui-Gel Stain, Smashbox O-Glow

The only product I really rate out of these three is the Beaute one - it goes on an amazing hot pink stain that dries quickly and then really lasts the whole day - don't be put off by the price a little goes a long way.

Makeup Forever HD Blushes:
You guys know how much I love these, click here for my whole YouTube video I made about them.

#4 Walk of Shame, #5 Nip Slip, #6 Quickie, #14 Starstruck
I most use #6 and it is the one I reccomend most as the salmon pink colour is universally flattering although the others are still great. These really do last all day and a little goes a loooong way!

.... I know guys it's seriously a sick obsession!

The next blush I am dying to get my hands on is MAC's Cheek blush which is a discontinued pro shade - if you have any idea how I can get my hands on this I will owe you forever. I'd also love to try Style by MAC.

What are your favorite blushes or makeup obsessions?
Any blush reccomendations are welcomed & appreciated :)

xoxo

What's In My Travel Makeup Bag Take 2!

2010-07-26T18:32:00.004-04:00

On Saturday I went on a quick overnight trip to Toronto with three of my friends - so after showing you what I took with me on my vacation to Atlanta/Florida on YouTube, I thought I'd give you a peek of the makeup items I bought with me on this trip.

*** I ended up using all of my face products :)

♥ Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer
♥ MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer NW25
♥ DiorSkin Nude Foundation 050
I'm going to review this foundation on Youtube soon as it is really something amazing, lightweight yet good coverage & long wearing, great for the summer. I wore it all day 11hrs at Canada's Wonderland and it stayed put.
♥ MAC MSF Natural Medium/Dark
♥ MUFE HD Powder

♥ MAC Blunt & Peachtwist Blushes
♥ MUFE HD Blushes #6
♥ NARS Albatross
♥ Illamasqua Halcyon Illuminator

I didn't end up using any of these products; I thought I would want to wear my faithful Peachtwist/Blunt/Highlighter cheek combo I previously blogged about, but on the day of Wonderland I decided I wouldn't bother since it'd probably wear off throughout the day, so I went bare cheeked.

♥ Premade MAC Quad with (Grand Entrance, Ricepaper, Espresso & Carbon)
♥ Clinique Brush on Cream Liner in Dark Brown 04
♥ Covergirl Lash Blast Length
♥ YSL Faux Cils (loving this mascara it's one of the best)
♥ Sephora Lash Stretcher Mascara

To Wonderland I used a combo of all 3 Mascaras (one coat of each) and lined my waterline with the clinique brown gel liner which is a new acquisition and to my delight it performed quite well. I bought the MAC Quad as it holds Espresso which is my brow colour - which I did use. I had the other colours to touch up my eye makeup I had on Sat Night in case we went to a bar.

♥ Dior Lip Polish Smoothing Lacquer in 002 & 003
♥ Victoria's Secret Scrumptious Lipstick
♥ Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Spotlight Beige
♥ Vaseline

The only lip products I used were vaseline to keep my lips smooth & hydrated.

I'm happy with the amount of products I bought, of course I could've left the cheek products & some lipglosses at home, but everything else was used and loved.

I had an amazing weekend and fabulous time with my friends at Canada's Wonderland (it was my first time going) - I absolutely adore rides & amusement parks.

How was your weekend?

xoxo

Summer Make-Up Revisited!

2010-07-20T23:53:00.004-04:00

A few months ago I wrote about the make-up I deem my summer essentials click here to read it!

Well yesterday in my inbox I got an email from a girl asking if I could show her my everyday summer FOTD and if I was still using the things shown in that post.

The answer is...

Yes, of flipping course!! It is wayyyyy too hot here to be spending time in front of the mirror meticulously applying and blending eyeshadows, etc. In the words of Lorraine Stanick I like to "slap that shit on" and get out the house.

Of course I vary the products used, but here is a general idea of my summer FOTDs over the past few months (which is why I haven't been posting them):

Face:
Dior Nude Foundation
Illamasqua Halcyon Illuminator (will be reviewing this soon)
MAC Blunt
MAC Lovejoy Blush
Dior Amber Diamond

Eyes:
NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base
Illamasqua Incite Pure Pigment (amazeballs)
MAC Grand Entrance (tearduct)
MAC Femme Fi (highlight)
Stila Eye Kajal in Tiger's Eye
YSL Faux Cils Mascara (FAVE mascara atm)

Lips:
Beaute Girlina Weightless Lip Creme

So there you have it ladies :)

Quick, fresh & easy summer makeup that takes about five minutes - it makes me feel a bit low maintenance!

What are your summer staples?

xoxo

Three Cheers for my Favorite Lipgloss!

2010-07-18T18:32:00.013-04:00

Truth be told, I never really used to be a fanatical lipgloss girl!

I find a lot of them to be on the thicker side and that they tend to seep into lip lines which is no bueno (especially MAC).

But right now I can officially say that I am very excited to share these lipglosses with you - it's the little things in life, right?

So thanks to one of my twitter followers who asked the simple question; "What's your favorite lipgloss by MAC?"

...Well, we shall get to MAC later, but my favorite lipgloss of all time is:

Dior Addict Lip Polish Smoothing Lacquers $29.50US/37.50CDN

Okay so you're probably thinking what I thought first - holy expensive!!! Yes, there are mother of pearl particles and other fancy jazz infused into this BUT that price is ridiculously steep (comparable to what I pay for a YSL Rouge Volupte or Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick)!

I purchased my first two a year ago; and now have to say that the price is definitely worth it - so don't let it put you off as these are really lovely!

For now these beauties only come in three colours (I wish they'd make more)

So the names are pretty rubbish we have 001 Radiance Expert (a light peachy-beige nude), 002 Fresh Expert (a sheer medium pink), and 003 Glow Expert (a tangerine coral).

These have an exclusive to Dior "spin-on applicator" - meaning the applicator is completely rounded to pick up the optimal amount of product which you then roll on your lips (like you're rolling paint onto a wall).

This technology is definitely cool and I like the concept, except for the fact that it picks up quite a bit of product, which in my opinion isn't optimal, so I have to wipe the excess off!

Instead of waffling on about what Dior claims these glosses do, I'm going to keep it simple & tell you what I love about them!

♥ They are semi-thick (which is perfect in my opinion, not too thick and gloopy, but not thin either).
♥ They really feel like a good quality product!
♥ They are not sticky - hallelujiah as I hate my lips feeling stuck together or the dreaded hair in lipgloss.
♥ These really do smooth, soften and enhance my lips - they really feel like soft little pillows!
♥ Although these are sheer glosses, alone they do impart just enough colour to change your lip tone and this makes them more wearable for older women
♥ They also look amazing over lipsticks to amp them up a knotch and bring out the colour more!

My favorite one (002 Fresh Expert - the pink) is pictured above on my bare lips and it is the one I'd reccomend everyone to try! The subtle pink colour and mother of pearl particles are amazing and make my lips sort of glow! This also looks fabulous over any pink lipstick - at the moment my favorite combo to wear it with is MAC's Lazy Day (from To The Beach Collection).

Now onto what she really asked, the best MAC glosses...

Top-Bottom: Prr Lipglass, Love Nectar Lustreglass

I love these two because alone they apply like a dream and are easy to slap on thoughtlessly they add a pretty shine & colour to the lip that works with any eye makeup! Apparently Prr is Paris Hilton's favorite lipglass for all of you who love a good celebrity endorsement!

The colours of these are VERY similar both are soft peachy pinks, but Prr has an icy silver-ish shimmer and is more opaque whereas Love Nectar has a warm golden shimmer!

Love Nectar over any coral, peach or pink lipstick is divine; but I most like to wear Prr alone as a simple wash :)

Pretty, Pretty!

So now I have waffled on about lipglosses to you for an entirely too long post - but now you know the cream of the crop!

I'd love to know what some of your favorite lipglosses are so I can hunt for more!

xoxo

Ps.. I've decided in the near future after posting this picture on my twitter I will try to get around to posting my blush collection & listing my faves! Oh and you may be seeing a little blog sale soon :)

Birthday FOTD/FOTN!

2010-07-16T15:19:00.007-04:00

So as some of you may already know, yesterday (July 15th) was my 20th birthday!! A big thank you to all who sent me lovely messages on twitter & such ♥

I realized I haven't done many FOTDs on here since the summer started as it's too freaking hot! For my birthday, I originally was going to go all out smokey - but did something more pretty & summer appropriate! I'll also show you how I switched it up for the night out.

Note: The colour of the 4th & 5th pictures are a little off, but I can't be bothered to edit them, I'm more of an upload & go girl! Items I have marked with ♥ means you'll be seeing a review of them on either my blog or YT as they are favorites.

Face:
Smashbox Photofinish Light Primer
Diorskin Nude Foundation 050 Dark Beige ♥
YSL Touche Eclat #3 ♥
Benefit Powderflage
Benefit High Beam
MAC Blunt
MAC Stereo Rose MSF
MUFE HD Powder

Eyes:
NARS Pro Smudgeproof Base ♥
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP
MAC All That Glitters (lid & lower lashline)
MAC Grand Entrance (inner corner)

MAC Time & Space (crease)
MAC Creole Beauty (from Colour 4 Quad - crease & lower lashline)
MAC Bateaux (outer-v)
MAC Ricepaper (brow highlight)
Bobbi Brown Forest Shimmer Ink Gel Liner
Stila Kajal in Tiger's Eye
YSL Faux Cils Mascara

Lips:
Barry M 147 Peachy Pink Lip Paint
MAC Smile Dazzleglass

This look literally took me ten minutes even though I used a few different browns to give the crease definiton, I just slapped them on till I acheived the right intensity as I didn't want them to be too dark or smokey just defined!

I really think this is going to be my new staple summer look :)

And this is how I wore the same look the night before for an evening of partying;

Excuse the silly face & messy application, I just slapped it on without liner to give you an ideas!

Instead of brown on the waterline I used MAC's Blacktrack Fluidline - as well as for the upper winged liner. On the cheeks instead of Stereo Rose I went for NARS Madly Blush.

For the lips I wore Annabelle's Demure Lipliner, MAC's Viva Glam Cyndi & Illamasqua's Intense Lipgloss in Fume ♥

I also wore my hair like this for a bit of a hollywood glam look:
please excuse the lack of makeup

As for my birthday it was great! A lot of you have asked for a haul -but really I only asked to order the Urban Decay Naked Palette (when it's back in stock) and a few clothes. My main present is actually getting help in buying my first car!! I'm hoping to get a Mazda 3 in the next month or so, fingers crossed :)

Hope you all are well xxx

Seduced by the Pretties :)

2010-06-29T21:02:00.008-04:00

As always...

Before I left for vacation after seeing my lovely friend Michele (Michele1218's) review video on Glamour Doll Eyes shadows I knew I had to have some and the next day I placed an order, so it was exciting to come home to this package!

I had never really thought of ordering from GDE before as they are mainly known for their vibrant, bright colours and as you know I live for my neutrals :) However, I ordered their fabulous, yet neutral All Work, No Play collection in their sample jars (I subbed Dirty Jeans out for Brown Eyed Girl).

Each sample jar contains 1gram of product (for reference a MAC eyeshadow has 1.5) so you're still getting tons of product for $11.75 (Canadian) and shipping on sample jars was free, RESULT!

Sighh, I was so excited opening these today I just had to blog about it; aren't the colours so lovely, I still can't get over how inexpensive they were.

These are just swatched on my are hand with no base and I love them all, there's a great mix of super shimmery, glittery and then more matte/satin shades. The colour "He Loves Me Not" reminds me a lot of Lorac's Serenity eyeshadow but more intense & sparkly and for a fraction of the price!

Not only are the colours stunning, they feel very smooth and glide on easily when I swatched them so I have high hopes!

When you place an order from GDE you also get two free sample baggies (.5 grams) of random colours that Vee has extras of. I got Doll House and Premonition (an Alice Twilight Shadow). I won't lie at first I was a little nervous about the colours, but when swatched I love them!

In it's packaging Doll House looks very yellow based, but swatched it comes out more of a pretty gold! I think Premonition would be an amazing outer v colour with neutrals, but I need suggestions on what you would pair them with?

Overall, I'm extemely pleased with my order and I just wanted to share my initial thoughts with you; I can't wait to play around with these on my eyes.

I also appreciate and think it's very cool that GDE is a complete one woman show; if you didn't already know Vee the owner does all the packaging, filling, marketing, shipping etc herself! She's also on YT, so I was more than happy to spend some $ and support her!

Have you guys ordered any GDE before?

Hope all is well xxx

I'm Alive...An Update!!

2010-06-26T23:40:00.004-04:00

I've kind of dropped off the blogging/yt face of the earth for the past weeks, I did upload a YT video so some of you may know that I've been on vacation :)

My family & I drove up to Atlanta & Florida, tonight is our last night in Atlanta and tomorrow begins day 1 of our drive home - we'll be stopping in Virgina :( Boo I'm sad vacation is over.

Before I left, I had planned to film a couple of videos and write some blog posts while away, but surprise, surprise I got way too busy to fit that in so expect an influx of both next week

Anyway; here is a tiny picture diary of some of the things I did:

1. Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site;
We visited here our first day in Atlanta the grounds of the site were beautiful - this mural was so cool I thought. The site itself was amazing so many artifacts from MLK himself and new stories and things to learn, we also got to visit inside his childhood home. I'm very glad to have gotten the chance to experience all of this!

2. Georgia Aquarium;
After the MLK site on our first day in Atlanta in the late afternoon/evening we visited the aquarium, all I can say is BREATHTAKING! I didn't think an aquarium would be that fun, we got to touch anemone and sting rays and see tons of pretty fish in large tanks. I had a great time!

3. Downtown Disney;
On day 3 we drove down to Florida and in the evening went shopping at the Orlando Premium Outlets where I tore up that CCO and then went for dinner at the Golden Corral Buffet.

However, this is day 4 (my mum's bday) we went shopping again at the outlet, and then went to Downtown Disney for lunch and to browse around and bask in the heat before going out for a family dinner! We lost my Dad twice this day - it was super stressful, but I got to pick up Illamasqua :)

The pic above is of me cooking myself on a bench in Downtown Disney, waiting for the fam-jam to leave a lego exhibit my sister was loving!

4. Disney's Magic Kingdom;
Since we were only in Florida for 3 days we chose this park out of all the Disney ones to go to as it's a classic. I LOVE Disney - it makes me feel like a kid again, I'm never too old for it.

We spent a ridiculous 12 hours in the intense heat walking around and riding the rides in this park - Splash Mountain was my fave to cool down. It was the most tiring, but fun day overall.

5. Eating Out (Cheesecake Factory);
We ate out A LOT this vacation, but today we visited the North Georgia Premium Outlets (the CCO there wasn't all that) and North Point Mall as well as going to dinner for the first time at The Cheesecake Factory....AMAZING food!

This is the Chicken Pasta Carbonara that was delicious & so filling, I didn't even eat half - I wish we had this restaurant in Canada as we all loved our meals.

Oh...what's that you ask? Did I buy anything?
...But, of COURSE!

A selection of my shopping bags in the hotel; the brown paper bag is full of makeup (guilty), but I got some amazing clothes too, so expect tons of hauls/reviews to come your way in the future!

Since this is a make-up blog, I guess I'm obligated to show you at least SOME cosmetics; so here's a sneak peek at a bit of the makeup I bought;

I went crazy - but there were some really good deals. A make-up detox is definitely in order; thank god I'm not needing anything soon!

So that is my little update :) Sorry if this is very rambly, but I'm just quickly typing this before bed!

I am super sad for the vacation to end, but excited to get back to sleeping in and updating the blog & yt; so expect regular service to resume next week.

Hope you're all doing well
xxx

Oops...I did it again!

2010-06-15T15:18:00.008-04:00

I know I said I wouldn't before vacation, but these were mainly essentials :) So, yes I am guilty...I hauled:

Before I leave, I won't have enough time to film a video for this; so I decided to blog it. So onto the wares:

I finally got my hands on this thanks to the LOVELY Michele1218 (one of my fave YT'ers and Yt friends) picked this up for me :) When the collection came out I thought it was unique and a stunning colour, but would I wear it on my eyes? I decided I wouldn't and left it at that.

However, Michele kept telling me I needed it and when I saw it on her it looked stunning, but alas it was sold out, so the rest is history...

It's a gorgeous soft coral colour with gold pearl and makes a wonderful base for any neutral shadows as shown above. It really IS a must if, especially if you love colours such as Mythology & Expensive Pink, as it adds more depth and makes brown and green eyes stand out. I also like to wear this as a cream blush, as it is the perfect coral colour for summer and the gold shimmer really makes the cheeks glow!

I don't usually like Paint Pots, but I find this one to be creamy and blends and applies well, so I've been screwing the lid on extra tightly!

Above are swatches without flash of Coral Crepe alone & then with various neutral shadows/pigments over top of it (Nylon, Hey, Tan, Melon, Expensive Pink, Mythology, Honey Lust, Woodwinked). I wore this the other day and have an FOTD with this coming up this week :)

I was honestly going to leave this lipstick behind, as how many pink lipsticks do I need and cool-toned pinks aren't always the best for my NC40 skintone. But the lovely Dara (BelleDuJourNYC) kept talking about how it was a must-have and I saw pretty swatches everywhere so I caved :)

Like I've said a million times, my willpower can be slim to none at times especially when the people I talk to on YT and twitter are my biggest enablers :)

Lazy Day to me is essentially the Lustre version of Angel Lipstick - it may be a tad lighter and less opaque, but on the lips they look very similar. If you have one you don't NEED the other :) Other's have compared it to VG Gaga, but as you'll see in the swatch below the Gaga is definitely more cool-toned and blue based.

I am glad I picked this one up as it really is an effortless colour for me to pull off, I can just slap it on and go! Again, this will be featured in the Coral Crepe FOTD.

These are two essentials I am going to need on my vacation and I definitely didn't want to be without.

First up, the MAC MSF Natural in the shade medium/dark is what I use either as a setting powder over my foundation or on hot summer days I use it alone as my foundation for a lighter coverage. This is HG status - my last one now is almost completely done, I have one last ring of the bullseye to come through lol! Also, these are a good investment as they last forever, I use them everyday and only have to purchase once per year :)

I got the MUFE Smoky Lash mascara because in the summer when I barely wear any makeup, I at least want my lashes to be bold and dramatic to open my eyes up. This is the mascara that does that; it thickens, lengthens, curls and is the blackest black. I know I can swipe this on my lashes and not have to wear any other eye makeup so it's a great time saver too :)

(L-R: Essie Knockout Pout, Essie Haute as Hello, OPI Rumple's Wiggin)

These nail polishes definitely weren't necessary, but I am a sucker for these pretty summer shades. One of my lovely twitter followers Maria picked up the last 2 for me in Ulta as they were all sold out where I was :)

The two Essie polishes are from the Summer 2010 collection; my favorite has to be Haute as Hello, it's the perfect bright coral polish for summer, and will look great with a tan. The OPI offering is from the Shrek Collection and is basically a dupe for Essie's Lilacism, but with better application which is why I wanted it :)

So that's it, definitely NO more spending till I leave for vacation this Saturday!!

For everyone that wanted to know I will be in Atlanta on June 20th, 21st and 25th and in Florida on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th. Yay, so there will be lots of touristy things as well as shopping as trips to CCO going on. If you want to know more about where I'll be/what I'm doing just follow my twitter by clicking here.

Hope everyone is well; what have you all purchased recently?

xoxo

Glowy, Defined Cheeks...Yes Please!

2010-06-09T17:59:00.010-04:00

I apologize for another blusher post - but what can I say, I truly am obsessed and prefer to play up my cheeks in the summer months rather than my eyes.

I've been wearing this cheek combination A LOT lately, as not only does it give me glowy cheeks, but as we all can tell I have fuller cheeks, and I feel like this makes them look more defined (well in real life at least).

The two products in question are...

Surprise, Surprise, they are both MAC offerings :) $18.50US/$22CDN each

Blunt is what I use as a contour, the website describes it as being a 'muted golden brown' and I think that's spot on. I think this is a great contour on most skintones, but extremley fair people may prefer to use Harmony. It's a very pigmented matte colour so I tend to apply it heavily before buffing it out with a kabuki for a softer effect.

Second up is Peachtwist which is I don't hear enough about, it's a top ten of mine! Despite it's name I don't find it overly peachy, I find it gives off more of a rosy, peach, bronze shade if that makes sense. Applied on the apples of the cheek it gives off such a wonderful glow and complements the contour shade perfectly.

Swatch time..

I wanted to include some face shots for you, but I do think the effect is even prettier in real life as you can see the definition better.

The only other two products I am wearing in the pictures are Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer and MAC's Sun Rush Lustre drops (which I love...review soon). Please be kind!

I feel comfortable wearing this combo with no other makeup as it really lifts the face, and can definitely be worn any time of the year!

This close up for me shows how Peachtwist and Blunt both complement and blend into each other gorgeously..I love them!

Needless to say I think you all need to run out and buy Peachtwist (it's one of those unsung heros). These two will definitely make it into my travel makeup bag for my upcoming vacation on the 19th!

What are your favorite cheek combinations AND favorite blush for more defined cheeks!

xoxo

Neutral With NARS...

2010-06-06T20:43:00.003-04:00

For my latest video (MAC To The Beach & Sephora Haul if you're interested) I wanted to do look using mostly NARS products as although I don't mention it enough lol NARS is one of my absolute favorite brands (Starter Kit video coming soon; it's a 17 minute epic though).

Again, this is nothing out of the ordinary - a bit sparkly, a bit smokey and A LOT neutral ...my favourite :)

Face:
Smashbox Photofinish Light Primer
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
Benefit Powderflage
MAC Blunt (contour)
NARS Deep Throat
Diorskin Shimmer Amber Diamond

Eyes:
Benefit F.Y.Eye Primer
NARS Corfu Cream Eyeshadow
NARS Lola Lola Eyeshadow
MAC Smut Eyeshadow
MAC Grand Entrance Eyeshadow (as always)
NARS Absynnia Eyeshadow
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara

Lips:
MUFE Aqua Lip Pencil in 18c
Barry M #147 Peachy Pink Lip Paint
MAC Love Nectar Lustreglass

So admit - I didn't do all NARS, I could've but I adore that lip combination TOO much and wanted to do it - you ALL need to go buy those products... Also MACs Smut just fit so perfectly in there...oops!

I have a few posts lined up for the week, so I won't desert you like I have done for the past few weeks! Hope you had a good weekend, here's to the week ahead ♥

In A Cloud of Greensmoke FOTD

2010-05-21T22:32:00.007-04:00

Shock horror, I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried colour again! This time I'm not sure if I 100% like it! I wore this make-up in my latest video and was using a new addition, MAC's Greensmoke eyeshadow and I find that in real life and on film it appears more of a brighter green (no thank you!), yet in these pictures it looks green/gray!

Ahh I can't decide how I feel about this - it's definitely more of a night out look as thats when I'd usually wear colour! I'm going to try it over Benefit's Skinny Jeans and see how it looks that way too! I'm going to put my apprehension down to me being overly critical as you know I'm a neutral girl at heart!

A lot of my viewers on YT loved this look & said it made my eyes pop & made me look freshfaced, so here's a product rundown for those who asked!!

Please excuse the purple clip in my hair - I forgot to switch it to black bobby pins before snapping away! Yes I'm human too, not plastic & too materialistic I promise haha!

Face:
Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer
NARS Sheer Glow
MAC MSF Natural
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
Benefit Powderflage
MAC Blunt
MAC Warm Soul Blush ♥
Diorskin Shimmer Powder 002 Amber Diamond ♥ ♥

Eyes:
UDPP Sin
MAC Greensmoke Eyeshadow
MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
MAC Grand Entrance Eyeshadow
MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow
MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow

(excuse the brows; notice when I use colour I don't take my eyeshadow up as far/high for a more subtle effect)
MUFE Smoky Lash + Covergirl Lashblast Length
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

Lips:
Revlon Soft Nude
MAC Boy Bait

I do know one thing, I do love my cheek & lip combination - Warm Soul is an amazing blush to subtly accentuate the cheeks I use either this MAC Lovejoy, or NARS Madly when I do a bold eye. I'm also a little bit obsessed with that Dior highlighter - HG status I promise you all need to go get it :)

What do you ladies think - and do you have any suggestions on how I can bring out more of the grey tones in Greensmoke?

Ps. I'm almost at 500 followers - all I can say is WOW and thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me, I know I haven't been the best with my blog, but I really want to try! I appreciate all of you who stop by & read & comment, I am making the effort to do better with this, so any requests are welcome ♥

xoxo

My Summer 2010 Essentials!

2010-05-17T19:27:00.006-04:00

I decided to do this post after an attempted nasty message popped up in my YT inbox basically saying among other things;
"I can't wait for summer, when all that slap melts off and exposes your true face"

It's true in summer I hate wearing a lot of make-up; where I live it's far too hot, too humid & too sweaty to bother fussing about in the am. There's nothing worse than seeing girls wearing heavy caked on makeup in the sweltering summer time, it's like they're trying too hard.

Below are my summer essentials that take less than 5 mins to apply & let me leave the house looking fresh, glowing & put together!!

(I added the colourful magazine as a background in these pictures to keep with the fun summer theme - I think I will do this from now on!)

1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: When I sweat in the summer (let's face it, we all do) my foundation usually doesn't last, becomes patchy & slides off my face which is not a pretty sight. I was so relieved last summer when I found this product - & used it as a staple! The TM feels so lightweight on & breathable on the skin, yet offers enough coverage (I find it reasonable coverage for a TM) to even out my skintone. I find it also seems to hydrate & last well on my dry skin! I haven't worn the NARS Sheer Glow in the summer yet & am not sure how that will fare, but if it is still wearable then it is a true HG.

2. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer: Along with the TM this is a must to cover any blemishes or redness & to brighten up any under-eye circles to provide a good amount of coverage. I use this concealer all year & love that it is not drying or cakey!

3. MAC MSF Natural: I use this to set the Laura Mercier TM with just a light dusting, or on it's own with concealer to act as my foundation. It has light coverage and adds a little more matte-ness (not a word, I know) to the skin, which is perfect as in the humidity of the summer I can look shiny.

Although I've posted alot in this picture for aesthetic purposes, I really don't bother much with eyeshadow in the summer. It's sad as I LOVE eyeshadow & have lots of it, but I find on extra hot days a full eyeshadow just creases & by the end of the day looks a hot mess!

I adopt a less is more strategy and stick to just slapping one shadow/pigment/cream shadow across my lid, generally a champagne or light tan/bronzey shade as pictured above. Another thing I love to do is use a bit of colour not only is it a great way to branch out, but looks very pretty. I'll line my eyes with a coloured (purple,blue, green, etc) eyeliner, or use a coloured shadow (generally blue or teal) underneath my lowered lashline to brighten my eyes & am good to go!

Don't fear though - when the night comes & the temperature cools down I definitely am a creature of habit and go all out with eyeshadow for nights out so I'll still be posting FOTDs!!

I do still wear power blush in the summer, but I prefer to stick to creams for that more natural glow. I didn't add a section on highlighters, because I tend to use whatever!

1. MAC Blushcremes: I love the consistency (extra creamy) & colours of these! They add an instant dewiness to the face and provide natural healthy colour. On their own the lasting power could be better, but they can also act as a great base for powder shadows. I apply with a 109 or my fingers! I plan to collect all the colours!

2. MUFE HD Blushes: The cream of the crop when it comes to cream blushes - these gel blushes are insanely pigmented, apply & blend easily and the best part is they last 12 plus hours! I favor a MAC 130 brush to apply these and remember a little product goes the longest way! If you want to hear more - I did an entire YT video about these :)

3. Beaute Liqui-Gel Lip/Cheek Stain in Fluoron: This stain looks scary and neon orange in the tube, but when applied and blended out becomes a pretty bright pink. Again a little of this gel consistency stain goes a LONG way! My favorite thing to do is apply this under my TM for that glow from within look and as it's a stain it really does last all day even without setting it!

Ahh, Lipgloss - one of my favorite summer items. Dewy, bronzed skin & eyes and glossy lips are a winner in my books! I also love Tinted Lip Conditioners and Lip Butters. Above I've assembled some of my favorite/most used types of shades from a variety of brands (corals, pinks) I even don't mind light shimmer in the summer. Some of my favorite are:
♥ MAC Prr
♥ MAC Ember Glow
♥ Stila Papaya Lip Glaze
♥ Beaute Girlina Liquid Lipstick
♥ MAC Perennial High Style
♥ NARS Easy Lover
♥ Korres Jasmine Lip Butter

When it comes to lipstick I've really branched out, last year I would only look at nudes or baby pinks. Yet my #1 summer essential this year are some bright, fun lipsticks! Bright pinks & corals are my favorite & the most flattering on all skintones, my newest addition & the piece de resistance being the Chanel Genial (pictured in middle). My tops picks are:
♥ NARS Schiap
♥ MAC Ever Hip
♥ Chanel Genial
♥ Barry M 145

I would be lying if I told you I didn't still wear my nudes/pinks anymore in the summer! My favorites are MAC Angel, Peachstock, Hue, Brave New Bronze & Revlon's Soft Nude.

There you have it; I know I showed a ton of products, but I promise it only takes 10 mins to add a swipe of this and a dusting of that.

I do love the fall/winter/spring if only it is that I can add extra make-up - in my defense I have so much that I need to at least try to finish it!

If you want to know what any specific shades are in any of the pictures, leave me a comment & I'll let you know!

What are your tried & tested summer essentials for 2010, I'd love to hear.
xoxo

Revisited Products I'm Loving Right Now!!

2010-05-14T20:20:00.007-04:00

Okay, so I KNOW I just did my April Beauty favourites video on YouTube, but who says I can only do them once a month?!

Since I have a ton of makeup - I often forget about things and therefore don't use them as much and they get unintentionally pushed to the side. I've started pulling out some of these said products & revisiting them & finding out how much I LOVE THEM!

So I thought I'd share some of my "old" products that I've been religiously using...think of it as a new tag & feel free to participate & link!

"The Oldies But Goodies":

Number One:

Wow, what an amazing palette - I know this was expensive but in my eyes it's SO worth it! Every colour is extremley wearable & you can create endless combinations from romantic to smokey looks! I should also mention that the textures of these are brilliant; they each are pigmented & blend like a dream, with the matte colours being super buttery! I've been wearing this quite a bit & usually get compliments on my eyes when I do! This is definitely a palette I'd take on vacation with me & then I wouldn't need much else in terms of eyeshadows!

Even the purples in this palette are easy to wear and non-scary for all you neutral girls like myself! I also adore Absynnia it has a pretty sheen & although I usually go for something matte on the brow bone this shade looks perfect there!

In Action..EOTD

♥ Fez on lid
♥ Cordura in crease
♥ Demon Lover Smudged on lashline
♥ Absynnia on brow bone

Number Two:

Corfu = ♥ !! I had my eye on this for the longest time & snapped this up when my city got a NARS counter (they didn't sell it at my Sephora). This comes off as a taupe-y brown sugar colour with lots of shimmer. I use UDPP under this as I'm a creature of habit, but this applies evenly, isn't gritty & blends well. Because it isn't too greasy of a texture it has amazing staying power & lasts all day without being patchy. It's also the PERFECT base for any neutral eyeshadow - as it warms it up & makes it look 100% better and more luminous/shimmery than it usually is.

See how pretty it looks? Siiiigh...

Number Three:

This is a purchase I made when I first started getting into Sephora & branching out with higher-end makeup brands! I used this alot last summer, it's a pretty thick gloss & is somewhat sticky which means great lasting power.

The colour is a gorgeous bright pinky coral with a cream finish - I would say it's quite similar to Perennial High Style lipglass by MAC. My only gripe with this is I hate the applicator as for some reason way too much product always ends up coming out with one twist! It also has a bit of a sickly sweet fruity smell, but looks so stunning I deal with it!

I have a few of these that are unopened & I think I want to try them now :)

Number Four:

I think this picture speaks for itself - what a GORGEOUS colour!!! I think this shadow looks best on the lid & underthe lower lashline as it really showcases the reddish chesnut tones & gives a your eyes a soft smokey feel! I just uploaded a tutorial on my YouTube showing you how to get one of my favourite looks of the moment! I do find sometimes when you blend this into the crease it can diffuse & lose a bit of the intense chesnut tones & it becomes more of a generic brown, but this is a must have in any neutral lovers collection.

Number Five:

This is hands down my favorite liquid highlighter!! I love adding a few drops to my foundation for an added glow to my face. However, my most common way to use this is to dot it on my cheekbones & blend it in. It gives SUCH a dewy, intense highlight that is natural looking. I adore it!! I've had this for about a year now & it's still going strong, I will definitely repurchase.

And because we wouldn't be complete without a brand new addition:

I finally caved and picked this up the other day on reccomendation of Pixi2woo (Tanya) who uses and raves about this all the time.

I can safely say that after only a few uses, that this is right up there with my HG highlighter NARS Albatross. It creates a gorgeous peachy/bronze glow on the cheekbone - instead of glitter it has a sheen to it therefore it'll be perfect for those with mature skin who don't want to look like a glitter bomb. I can also see this working on every skintone - those with fair skin may find this has a more bronzey effect, while darker skinned girls will use it as a straight up highlighter.

It is pricey at $45, but I can tell it's going to last a while so it's well worth it :)

And there you have it; some fabulous products that have currently integrated themselves into my daily makeup routine - I absolutely love them! Are there any neglected products you've found lately that you LOVE?

If not, try taking a look around your makeup collection, you'll be sure to find some old favourites without shelling out a penny!

Until next time, have a good weekend!

xoxo

Trying Out A Few New Products FOTD.

2010-05-02T19:31:00.009-04:00

This is the look I wore in my latest "April Beauty Favorites" video and got tons of compliments on it & I really LOVED how it looked in real life too. It's a little bit smokey, yet very warming to the eyes & I think it'll look great on any eye colour. As per request I will be filming a tutorial for this too!

It's quite similar to the Mythology/Smut look I posted below - except this is much stronger & a bit more dramatic.

I really wanted to try out 2 new products I recently picked up both from MAC the products in question; Black Tied Eyeshadow (thanks to the lovely Laura/lollipop26) and Fleur Power Blush (as reccomended to me by a lovely subscriber) which I LOVE and is so pigmented, wow.

I threw in an old favorite - Antiqued which I have never used on my lid since I've had it. Whenever I use it in the crease the reddish/chesnut tones blend out & get lost which results in a more generic brown colour. However, on the lid I got the FULL vibrancy & gorgeousness of the colour so I was a happy camper :)

Face:
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
NARS Sheer Glow
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
Benefit Powderflage
MAC MSF Natural
MAC Blunt
MAC Fleur Power Blush ♥
NARS Albatross
MUFE HD Powder

Eyes:
UDPP Sin
MAC Antiqued (lid & lower lashline)
MAC Black Tied (crease/outerv)
MAC Grand Entrance (inner corner)

MAC Ricepaper + Grain (highlight)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Covergirl Lash Blast Length + MUFE Smoky Lash

Lips:
YSL Rouge Volupte in #2 Sensual Silk
I later added Stila Papaya Lip Glaze for the video.

Overall I love this look - it's the perfect day to night - as it's quite smoky enough for an evening out, but still neutral enough to not look silly in the daytime.

As for my verdict on the new products:

1) Black Tied: This is definitely not as intensly pigmented as Carbon and comes off a more charcoal gray - the shimmers in this also aren't apparent when you blend it away. I think it's a great outer-v colour when you want the look to beless dramatic - but for an intense black with shimmer try NARS Night Breed Eyeshadow which is amazing.

2) Fleur Power: I am floored by the crazy pigmentation of this blush - the lightest hand is all you need. I feel it really lifted and brightened up my face when I applied it! It's a pink-ish coral so I can imagine this being flattering on most skin tones and a great summer product.

Have you guys tried any great products lately?
xx

You're Such A Smut!

2010-04-27T19:37:00.005-04:00

This is just an FOTD I wore to work last week - I forgot I took pictures for it! It uses two of my newer eyeshadows that I really love:

Mythology is a gorgeous copper bronze with a pinkish tinge, and even though it's a lustre I find the pigmentation to be fine and don't have trouble will fall out! Smut - siiigh is amazing it's a blackened brown with subtle barely there red shimmer (that can be blended away), I chose to use this instead of Carbon as I felt it would bring out the tones of Mythology well. (if you wanted the lid colour to be really intense you could use MACs Brash from the Spiced Chocolate Quad)

On with the mug shots...

Face:
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
NARS Sheer Glow
MAC MSF Natural
MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer
Benefit Powderflage
MUFE HD Powder
MAC Blunt
MAC Ladyblush Blushcreme (very lightly)
NARS Deep Throat Blush
NARS Albatross Highlighter

Eyes:
UDPP Sin
MAC Mythology
MAC Smut
MAC Phloof + Jest (inner corners)
MAC Soft Brown
MAC Grain (highlight)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
CoverGirl LashBlast Length + MUFE Smokey Lash

Lips:
Revlon Soft Nude 070 Colourburst Lipstick
MAC Boy Bait Cremesheen Glass

Very simple & low maintenance - I think my favorite part of this is the lips - what a gorgeous perfect nude!!! I think if you're in the USA or have access to it, you NEED it!

I know I post a lot of neutral looks - some may find that boring - but it's what I love best on myself (I find colour on my eyes can take away from my features & isn't always daytime appropriate). I do try to change up the neutral shadows I use everyday so I never wear the exact same thing everyday (I have been stuck in eyeshadow ruts before though). I hope it gives some other neutral lovers ideas on how NOT to make neutrals "boring" which I don't think they are!!

What are your favorite neutral looks and shadows from any brands? You guys know I'm all about reccomendations and tend to buy a lot of your suggestions!!

Blush Obsession: Instant Chic Comparisons + New Additions!

2010-04-25T22:35:00.010-04:00

I featured MACs Instant Chic Sheertone blush in my latest video, it's limited edition & came out with the Pret A Papier Collection. While gorgeous & I love it, I've heard a lot of people wondering if it's similar to other things in the permanent range so I decided to do a bit of a comparison!

The MAC MUA told me that it's like a mixture between Dainty Mineralized Blush which I already owned & Melba (Matte) Blush. I went out & bought Melba today (I don't usually go for matte blushes, but this is love) and I think she's pretty spot on.

These two look pretty similar but there is a slight difference & in real life it's more apparent that Instant Chic has more of a definite pink undertone, where Melba is more of a true peach undertone. Another difference is the formula, while Instant Chic is a nice sheer wash of colour that is buildable, Melba is a Matte which equals high pigmentation! I love both, but if you're being good with your money/collection, it's fine to own one or the other :)

Here is Dainty next to Melba and as you can see it's more pink toned so combined with the peach it basically equals Instant Chic. You could layer these to get a similar effect, except the real Instant Chic has no shimmer!

SWATCH TIME

I think the difference in both formulas and tone are quite apparent in this swatch!

Another blush people wanted a comparison too, was Benefit's Coralista...

Here, they look virtually identical except for the shimmer that Coralista has. However, when applied on the skin I can definitely see a difference; Coralista is a stronger colour that comes off as a more pastel colour. I also think Instant Chic has a bit more peach in it.

It was hard to get a good swatch showing the difference, but this is the best I could do :)

I hope this helps some of you in your decision to purchase Instant Chic or not. I say go for it - I love it & have worn it everyday since its a stand out item from the collection for me, then again I'm always an enabler aren't I?

However, its a colour that has a few similar colours from the permanent line so I understand if you can't justify it!

I also mentioned in my video how I've become a bit obsessed with blush lately - a few months ago I wasn't a blush fanatic and had a few colours (mostly NARS & 3-4 MAC). I don't know what happened blush fever kicked in & now my blusher draw is almost full - time for a new one soon methinks!

(this excludes my NARS blush collection & MSFs & some highlighters)

And the newest additions are...
As reccomended by some of you, Fleur Power (Satin), Melba (Matte) & Trace Gold (Sheertone Shimmer) I'll use the latter as a pretty gold highlighter for summer!

I'm always on the lookout for new blushes, so let me know what your favourite blushes are in the comments below, I'd love to take a look & maybe buy a few!!

Also, what are your thoughts on Instant Chic?

Have a fabulous week.

xxx

Something A Little Different FOTD

2010-04-18T18:16:00.005-04:00

The other evening I went out for a friend's birthday dinner & drink and decided I wanted to do something other than neutrals! I wore this look in a video once and loved how it turned out, so decided to recreate it.

The trick for me when incorporating colour is to go smokey - as it's not too dramatic & looks more wearable!

In some of these pics I'm not wearing anything on my lips as I was priming them for lipstick aha (they were dry that day)!

with the eyes open it's a little smokey - nothing too out of the comfort zone!

but close the eyes & BAM!

Face:
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Love this)
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
MAC MSF Natural
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
Benefit Powderflage
MAC Blunt
NARS Madly
NARS Albatross
MUFE HD Powder

Eyes:
UDPP Sin
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans
MAC Club (lid & lower lashline)
MAC Typographic (crease & outer-v)
MAC Nylon (tearduct)
MAC Electra (patted on center of lid for reflectiveness)
MAC Texture (transition)
MAC Natural Flare MES (tan colour above crease)
MAC Mylar (Highlight)
MAC Blacktrack Fluid Line
Covergirl Lash Blast Length
MUFE Smokey Lash

Lips:
MAC Peachstock Lipstick
MAC Frankly Fresh Lipglass

When I went into the mall for a little bit the lighting did make my eyes look a lot more blue & bright than they were in natural light and it made me a little self conscious - I'm really not meant for super bright colours, I prefer them subdued :) But in the natural light I adore this look!

What are some other ways you like using Club eyeshadow? I can't seem to get the reddish brown to show up for me - let me know :)

Next up I want to get Greensmoke eyeshadow & do a lovely smokey eye with that - greens & blues bring out brown eyes!

xoxo

Reunited & It Feels So Good!

2010-04-15T12:39:00.006-04:00

If you follow my YouTube channel or this blog for a while, you'll know that a few months ago the NARS Sheer Glow foundation & I had to sever our relationship :(

What happened you ask?

Well, although it's marketed for dry to normal skin types, my skin decided to get extra parched and dry and the foundation would inescapably cake/flake up on certain parts of my face... now isn't that the biggest piss off in the morning?!

The other day on a whim I started mixing it with my Revlon PhotoReady foundation and it seemed to work nicely - so I branched off and used it alone again and RESULT -it looked lovely.

We have now resumed our love affair with one another <3

What I Love:
♥ The medium coverage it gives is the perfect amount to cover my flaws, but still look natural

♥ It feels SO light on my face
♥ Lovely Finish - it's not insanely luminous, but it does create a healthy luminosity!
♥ The tiniest amount covers the whole face
♥ It is the longest lasting foundation I've tried - 12+ hours even without powdering the skin & it's all still there!

Not a Fan of:
- The price - $55 is quite steep - not everyone wants to or can afford to shell out this much everytime they need a new foundation & I respect that!
- If your skin is too dry, this is going to look horrible & not work for you despite the fact it is marketed for your skin type so make sure to use a rich moisturizer.

So now I basically moisturize twice before I use this to be on the safe side & so far so good!

I hear the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation is an exact dupe for it (for a fraction of the price) and I'm dying to get my hands on it. But, as usual Canada doesn't sell Neutrogena's make-up line, so I'm going to have to wait till I come to America to get it..typical!

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you all since people asked if I'd ever go back to it!

Happy Thursday xxx

I Love Starflash Shadows!!

2010-04-11T18:04:00.003-04:00

Yes - that's true, I flippin ADORE the MAC Starflash formula eyeshadows that were released with 2009's Love That Look Collection (I believe some were also released a year prior to that too). They are buttery feeling and the smoothest, most pigmented, easiest to blend shimmery shadows I've come across!

My absolute HG eyeshadow - Grand Entrance is from this release, I use it everyday as an inner corner highlight and am searching for a back-up of it as I never want to be without it. MAC really needs to repromote & release some new shades of Starflash shadows - but I don't think they are so far this year :(

Anyway - I grabbed a few of my favorites and did a quick FOTD that I wore to work & for drinks the other day.

Face + Cheeks:
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (Stromboli)
MAC MSF Natural (Med/Dark)
MUFE HD Powder
Barry M Natural Dazzle Compact
Tarina Tarantino Blusher in Parasol
NARS Albatross

Eyes:
UDPP Sin
MAC Style Snob Eyeshadow
MAC Glamour Check Eyeshadow
MAC Grand Entrance Eyeshadow
MAC Handwritten Eyeshadow -- Best Matte Brown!
MAC Grain Eyeshadow
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (waterline only)
Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Primer
Covergirl Lash Blast + Lash Blast Length

Lips:
MAC Cherish Lipstick
NARS Giza Lipgloss

My only gripe is that colours like Glamour Check/Antiqued never come off as the same pretty reddish brown when blended through the crease - they turn into more of a generic ash brown on me at least. Does that happen to anyone else?

Maybe Cut To Fit Eyeshadow from Pret-A-Papier collection won't do the same :)

Regardless I liked this look as it bought out Style Snob's pinkish tones!

How do you guys feel about MAC Starflash shadows?

xoxo

MAC Eyeshadow Collection!

2010-04-09T17:29:00.010-04:00

I promised in my last post I'd show my MAC Eyeshadow collection, since it's ALWAYS requested that I do a collection video - or at least show my MAC eyeshadows. I want to make everyone happy so today I'm posting all my MAC eyeshadows - I will make a collection video so you can see all my other shadows & products at a later date!

Hopefully, this is helpful to people wanting to see what MAC eyeshadows look like in real life to help make decisions on which ones they want to buy (especially if they can only order online). I ALWAYS used to trawl posts like this when I first started to get into MAC to give me new ideas :)

I love my eyeshadows; so here we go :)
* means the eyeshadow is/was limited edition

My Fave Palette

1st Row: Soft Force*, Grand Entrance*, All That Glitters, Woodwinked, Tempting
2nd Row: Mulch, Amber Lights, Bronze, Antiqued, Glamour Check*
3rd Row: Sable, Style Snob*, Satin Taupe, Handwritten, Carbon

My Second Fave Palette

1st Row: Mylar, Phloof, Grain, Ricepaper, Nylon
2nd Row: Naked Lunch, Jest, Cranberry, Expensive Pink, Trax
3rd Row: Star Violet, Twinks, Soft Brown, Espresso, Sketch

Unfinished Palette:
I planned to finish this with some potted eyeshadow, then I had my pots vs. pans dilemma.

1st Row: Fashion*, Silver Ring, Smoke & Diamonds*, Knight Divine, Print
2nd Row: Steamy, Deep Truth

Potted Eyeshadows!

L-R: Hey*, Gleam, Mythology, Texture

L-R: Electra, Smut, Typographic

L-R: Club, Love Lace*, Contrast

L-R: Hypnotizing*, Bough Grey*, Birds & Berries*

Mineralized Eyeshadows

L-R: Young Punk*, Play on Plums, Natural Flare*

Pre-Made Quads & Palettes

Top Row: Colour 4 Quad* (Manila Paper, Flip, Aztec Brick, Creole Beauty), Spiced Chocolate Quad* (Nanogold, Brash, Sweet Chesnut, Spiced Chocolate)
Bottom Row: Notoriety Quad* (Skintone 1, Rich & Earthy, Skintone 2, Notoriety), Photo-Realism Quad* (Photorealism, Fresh Approach, Image Maker, Grey Range)

Trip 5 Neutral Eyes Palette* (Bisque, Say Yeah, Sable, Mineralism, Bateau)

Holiday 2009 Palettes:
Top: Smoke & Mirrors*, Devil May Dare*
Bottom: Sorceress*

** If anyone who has PayPal wants to purchase the Sorceress Palette it has never been used/touched and I will sell it for $37 + shipping or best offer :) If you want it leave me a comment with your email below.

As you saw above I'm in a bit of a Pots Vs. Palettes dilemma - I went through a depotting phase, and I like my palettes as they're convenient & it's nice to see everything together. But, lately I've been into buying pots again, as they're easier to travel with and I like how they look!! Pots do get messy when you start to get lots, so I'll probably depot a few again, but I just can't decide!!

I love all my eyeshadows but I do have some favorites that spring to mind; if you want me to do a seperate post on that let me know as this is getting a bit long!

What are your favorite MAC eyeshadows?

Hope you enjoyed this
xxx

FOTD: I Twinks I Like It!

2010-04-04T17:22:00.005-04:00

First of all - Happy Easter everyone! I hope you're all eating as much chocolate as I am (I'm quite stuffed)

Without further digression, here's that little FOTD I promised in my last post and I think I quite like it! It's a bit smokey, a bit neutral & a bit plummy :)

I've had a few requests to show my MAC Eyeshadow collection along with names - let me know if you're interested in me posting this and I'll have it up this week!

FACE & CHEEKS:
Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (Honey)
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in 006 Medium Beige (review here)
MAC MSF Natural
MAC Blunt Powder Blush
NARS Luster Blush
NARS Albatross (dabbed a bit on top of the blush to get the glowy effect & as highlight)
MUFE HD Powder

EYES:
UDPP Sin
MAC Eyeshadows in:
Mulch (lid & lower lashline)
Woodwinked (inner 1/3)
Grand Entrance (tearduct)
Star Violet & Cranberry (mixed in crease)
Twinks (outer-v & outer lower lashline)
Soft Brown (transition)
Ricepaper & Mylar (mixed as brow highlight)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (waterline)
Covergirl Lash Blast & Lashblast Length

LIPS:
Benefit Lady's Choice Lipstick
Josie Maran Plumping Lipgloss in Brilliance

Nothing overly exciting - but I really did like it! What are some of your fave eyeshadow combinations - I'm always on the hunt for new ones.

Again have a lovely rest of your long weekend :)

xoxo

Review: Do I Look Photo-Ready?

2010-03-31T18:31:00.008-04:00

I know I'm a bit late on the Revlon Photo-Ready Foundation bandwagon - but a lot of people have asked for my opinion on it AND I haven't seen a review yet geared towards normal-dry skin, so here's my two cents :)

This was my first foray into drugstore foundations - so I didn't know what to expect, but

do I like it? Yes, is it 100% perfect? Not Quite:

I've seen this retailing in my city from anywhere between $13.99 and $17.99 it just depends which drugstore/retailer you purchase it from.

The Packaging: I think the packaging is really simple and sleek - I'm impressed with it - it doesn't look cheap like some drugstore product packaging can look. I ADORE the addition of a pump as this is what a lot of great foundations lack. This pump especially is great as you can control exactly how much product comes out - I wouldn't even say I need a full pump.

Comparisons (L-R): (all contain 30ml/1 fl oz of product)
Chanel Vitalumiere in 50 Naturel, MAC Select SPF 15 in NC40, Revlon PhotoReady in 006 Medium Beige, NARS Sheer Glow in Stromboli

* It is important to note in this foundation that the shade 006 Medium Beige (which I chose) is actually darker than 008 Golden Beige, so don't just go by numerical values!

Comparison Swatches: Going Clockwise from the bottom blob.
Revlon PhotoReady, NARS Sheer Glow, MAC Select SPF, Chanel Vitalumiere

I find that the Revlon line lacks a shade that has true golden/yellow undertones (like the NARS and MAC). The shade I purchased (006) is the best for my skintone but runs a little on the beige side - luckily I can make it work. For some reason the Chanel looks sooo dark, but when on my skintone works just as well for me as the others?

I was also reccomended to try 009 Rich Ginger, but if you are NC40 it will definitely be too dark by looking at it in the bottle and when swatched it runs a bit orangey.

Luckily the store had testers of the two shades I was interested in, but most drugstores don't have testers so it can be hard to find the perfect shade in-store. Also I think the colour range might be difficult to suit every woman's skintone (especially darker women) I've heard a lot of people custom blend their own shade with 2 foundations.

I like that the foundation is very light feeling on my face (I hate a heavy foundation), and offers medium to buildable coverage. It blends reasonably well, I use a stippling brush to apply it and then my fingers to remove any streaks. However, if you have extra dry spots like I do around my nose you'll want to avoid those areas otherwise it can cake up.

A lot of people are worried about the shimmer factor - when under direct sunlight there is VERY finely milled shimmer that isn't really a problem but just adds a nice dewy-apperance to you face, it's definitely not Cullen like. The only way I'd be wary of this is if you have any bumps or extensive acne on your skin as the shimmer will highlight and accentuate the problem area.

Now for pictures of me wearing the foundation (FOTD to come on this look):

Picture in my normal lighting set-up. I really like the finish this gives it's beautiful and glowy, but my only problem is that it doesn't last very long on the skin even when given a light dusting of powder (MUFE HD or MSF Natural). I find after about 5-6 hours I need to reapply, as its practically disappeared from my face - as I have dry skin I have never encountered this issue with any other foundations.

With direct sunlight streaming on my face through a window, I still can't detect the shimmer factor on my face. The only shimmer I see is that of my blush :)

In some lights I did notice that with flash photography it could have the tendency to make me look a bit Casper (white-ish) - this is due to the SPF factor it has in it. In real life & without flash it looks fine!

For blogging purposes I even ventured outside my house to take a picture in direct sunlight and still no Edward Cullen sparkle factor, yay!

I would say this foundation is similar to MACs Mineralized Satinfinish that also has shimmer particles in it, but is better as it has more coverage and the shimmer is finer.

If this foundation had more longevity I'd be in heaven! I've found to make it last all day long I like to mix it with my NARS Sheer Glow - it achieves the same beautiful finish, but 12+ hours later it's all still there no touch ups required :)

I don't think this is the foundation I would choose in the midst of a hot, humid summer as it could have the tendency to look like an oil-slick as combined with the natural oils it'd be a bit to dewy. However, this is perfect to brighten up drab skin in the winter/spring months!

Despite it's few short comings I would definitely repurchase this as it's a fraction of the price of my other foundations and I quite like the finish so it's a nice thing to have in my collection.

Thanks Revlon!!

So what's your verdict, do I look PhotoReady? If you've tried this what are your thoughts?

xoxo

Loving Lash Blast Length

2010-03-14T13:09:00.006-04:00

About a month ago while perusing my drugstore, I noticed that they had Covergirl's Lash Blast Length Mascara on for a special offer, I adore the regular Lash Blast so I thought I'd pick it up & give it a go. (I can't remember the exact price, but I believe it is around $7)

I opened it last week and it has been love at first swipe - I haven't heard seen enough great reviews on this one, so I'm going to show it some love :)

Covergirl Says; "With our longest brush yet, lashes look up to 80% longer.* The new Elasta-Nylon formula flees without flaking, so lashes hold their stunning length all day."
*On average vs. bare lashes.

The wand has the same plastic bristles as the regular Lash Blast formula, but is much slimmer and slightly longer (aka definitely not a teddy bear brush). This is great because it really captures every single lash (even the tiniest of them), and acts as a lash comb almost to separate them.

A closer look at the wand shows the part I'm most excited about: the little nylon fibers that attach to the tips of your lashes creating more length! I always wanted to try one of these kinda of mascaras, so yay!

The Results:

One of my eyes has lashes that are naturally a bit longer...its weird.

What I Say;

From the pictures above you can definitely see the added length to my normal length lashes, giving them a doll like effect that I love. As for 80% longer than bare lashes, I think this is an overstatement - but the fibers definitely work to add length. I wore this with dark smokey eyes and it added enough length that my lashes weren't "lost" in the look so I didn't HAVE to apply falsies.

If you're looking for bold, thick eyelashes (and prefer not to layer mascara) this definitely isn't for you (here is where I realize why some people reviewed it negatively) I on the other hand ALWAYS layer 2-3 mascaras to get desired results & in the above picture on my top lashes I have combined it with a coat of the regular Lash Blast. However on my bottom Lashes I just have Lash Blast Length and you can see the natural, separated, lengthening effect that it has. If you are a fan of the natural look, then you can of course use this alone.

Also, even though the wand coats every lash, it does not pick up TONS of product, so I find I have to layer it, but because of this it clumping is never an issue.

Overall;
I think this is a great,affordable mascara that has been added to my routine combination. I'm always looking for extra long lashes and in my opinion this does the best job of lengthening that I have seen as of yet. If you want to purchase this; I think you just have to go into it with realistic expectations - it is not a thickening mascara in anyway - so don't set your sights on that!

What are some of your favorite mascaras that I should try out - I'm totally obsessed with finding the best ones on the market?

BLOG SALE #2 - All Must Go!

2010-02-24T17:12:00.020-05:00

SO here we are again with another little blog sale! I really didn't think I'd have another one because I'm a bit of a hoarder & get separation anxiety when it comes to my makeup even if it is unused! Since my last sale was so successful, I know I'll be able to find fabulous homes for all this stuff!

This sale is on a first come first serve basis, commenting does not ALWAYS ensure you will receive what you want (ex. Item will go to the person who first requested it). The invoice I send will detail the products that were still left that you requested!

** Since Prices are in Canadian Dollars, it'll definitely be cheaper for those of you in the USA & UK

SHIPPING:
In my last sale I realized shipping from my end isn't as cheap as I expected & had to front over 50% of the costs myself - Prices you see here include postage AND packaging :)

USA: $8 for all items (subject to change if you get tons of items)

Canada & International: $10.50 - who knew it was cheaper to post things to the states from Canada!

I will be shipping to the address associated with your PayPal account - if this is incorrect please email me where you want your package to go.

Now onto to the good stuff:
All products have been sanitized where applicable.

MAC Cosmetics:

Sandy B Lipstick - $13
This has been swatched x1 on the back of my hand, and sanitized with alcohol for your enjoyment :) Pretty peachy pink colour that packs on the shine.

(SOLD) BNIB Colour Crafted (LE) Lipstick - $21
This came out last summer with the Colour Craft collection - I've seen this going for $26+, but I think that's crazy talk! Gorgeous color one of my faves, but I'm selling one of my backups as I'm not finished the 1st one. Never used/tested.

(SOLD) BNIB Peachstock Lipstick (Pro) - $18
Gorgeous full coverage peachy/nude colour - my friend bought this back for me on a trip, but I already just purchased new one from Katrina. Again, this is a little harder to get hands on since it's a pro productand I've seen it going for silly prices. Never tried/never tested.

Holiday 2009 Sorceress Palette - $36.50

This palette has only been lightly swatched 1 time but looks brand new. Bought this because I wanted to get more into purples, but still haven't used it. Comes with 6 beautiful highly pigmented colours an unused 213SE brush - All plastic coverings are still on this!

(SOLD) Rose Pigment - $13
75% full - this picture doesn't show it's true color it is not as bright. This is a really unique soft rose colour shot through with tons of gold & copper - think Mythology eyeshadow but more intense! I will never finish the full thing so I scooped some out for myself, so the rest is yours!

(SOLD) Bare Study Paint Pot - $10
60% left - perfect champagne base - I'm just not the biggest fan of paint pots so don't reach for it that much.

NARS Cosmetics:

Single Eyeshadows - $14 each
(L-R)
(SOLD) Night Sun
(SOLD) Night Snow (camera washes it out, its a cool silver)
Both of these have never been used and are in perfect condition, I just have tons of similar things.

(SOLD) Nico Highlight Powder - $17
Swatched x1 - this is a great for a natural highlight and is a subtle off white with fine shimmer running through it! Those with fair skin can probably use it as a setting powder to give a healthy glow.

(SOLD) Hungry Heart Duo - $17
Used x1 - this is a glittery highlighter. The left side is a soft cream colour, while the right side is a soft pink infused with sparkle. This product is no longer available at Sephora.

(SOLD) Senorita Lipstick - $13
Brand new! This is a really pretty natural rose colour that applies with a glossy finish like a lustre. I swatched this in the store & forgot I had it- selling it as I have way too many similar lipsticks I haven't finished.

(SOLD) Sex Machine Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - $14
Swatched x1 on back of hand - full coverage mauve/pink nautral colour that can be built up to more intensity! Love the pencil concept - but I definitely have lots of this colour!

(PENDING) NARS Parrot Cay Eyeliner - $11
Brand new & never touched! Got this when I was on the coloured eyeliner kick, but forgot about it - it's a pretty pastel green.

Miscellaneous Brands:

(SOLD) BNIB Kat Von D Ludwig Palette - $24
Before, I got into makeup & collected this was the ONLY palette I used everyday - it has the perfect combination of 6 highly pigmented shimmering shadows with 2 complementary matte shades to break things up. This is one of my 2 backups I'm selling and I'm still on my 1st one.

(SOLD) Kat Von D Beethoven Palette - $18.50
The cream colour has a slight dip and the matte brown has been used as a liner once, but the rest of the shades have only been swatched x1. This palette is really pigmented & versatile, you can do neutral as well as basic coloured looks - perfect for those than want to experiment with colours. Selling this because I have most of these colours by other brands!

(SOLD) Benefit Sugarbomb Box Blush - $24
Used x2 with a brush - the brush it comes with has never been used and is still in it's protective packaging. Sad to let this go, but on my skintone (NC40) I really have to build it up to get the desired pigmentation - I think on NC35's and fairer this would be great and it smells amazing too!

BNIB Urban Decay Skull Shadow Box - $24
Never touched/used, as between my Book of Shadows & Ammo Palette I have these colours. This comes with 9 of their best-selling shadows - the neutrals are v. pretty.

Stila Pan Eyeshadows - $9.50 each
(L-R)
(PENDING) Sun
Jezebel
Both in boxes. Amazing pigmentation & easy to work with, but both are similar to colours I have in my collection. Sun has been used once and Jezebel twice.

CK Calvin Klein Tempting Eye Glimmer Sheer Creme Shadow #303 Champagne Satin - $8
Swatched one time - pretty golden/tan shimmer.

(PENDING) Guerlain Cupidon (00) Lip Pencil - $13.50
Swatched x1 on back of hand - this pencil was so expensive but I just have never used it - I think it'd be great for people with non-pigmented lips when they want to wear nude or nude/pink lipsticks, my lips are just too pigmented for it. It's double sides and one end has a lip brush that has never been used.

Brand New B Kamins Eyelash Growth Fortifier - $26
Because we all want longer lashes - this is from a Canadian brand and retails for $100. It helps condition and grow lashes - this is brand new I just don't have the box - it's still all sealed in plastic though.

(PENDING) Laura Geller Lip Spackle - $10
Used 3x Texture-less and opaque - this is kind of like MAC Lip Erase, but just not the right colour for me as it's too pale for my NC40 skintone.

Have Fun & Thanks In Advance
xxx

Brown Eyed Girl!

2010-01-28T17:12:00.006-05:00

I apologize for all the FOTDs lately, I promise I do have some reviews and other posts lined up for you very soon!! Today I wanted to try out a few new products I bought as well as some things that Sigma Makeup sent me this week including the Beauty On The Go Neutral Eyes Kit which is on sale till Valentines Day for $27US (it's usually $36 and ships worldwide) and their brush kit! Needless to say I was quite impressed with the results, so the look ended up here :)

With the neutral eyes kit you can make an amazing brown smokey eye that's perfect for day or night (which I did today) or something a little softer. As I was in a bit of a rush, I only used 2 brushes for the look the SS 239 and SS 219 (which is revolutionary). Enough of my waffle - I'll be doing a proper review of all that in the next few weeks.

Face:
Smashbox Photofinish Light Primer
Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation (5.0 Natural)-- LOVE this
MAC MSF Natural
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
Benefit Powderflage
NARS Orgasm Illuminator
NARS Orgasm Blush
NARS Casino Bronzer
Barry M Natural Compact (contour)
MUFE HD Powder

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Sigma Beauty on the Go Neutrals Kit:
Brown Sugar (lid & lower lashline)
Indian Girl (crease)
Brown Eyed Girl (outer v & lowerlashline)
Angie (inner corner)
MAC Soft Brown
MAC Mylar
MAC Feline with Carbon to set
Lancome Powerbooster Oscillation Primer
CG Lashblast and Clinique High Impact Mascaras

Lips:
Lancome Pale Lip Lipstick
MAC Partial to Pink Cremesheen Glass

I really liked this look as it paired warm with cool toned browns - I was initially nervous that all the shades were glittery, but luckily the darkest shade was a lot less shimmery than the others so it broke it up! Personally, I wouldn't use Angie on the browbone as intended, because I don't like sparkly shadows up there, so I went with the tried and trusty Mylar from MAC.

Overall, I really do love the kit, I think it's great value, and I want to go ahead and buy their blush and highlight palette and the smokey eye kit with my own money :) What do you guys think - have you ever tried any of Sigma's new makeup line? xoxo

Sex Kitten Sunday!

2010-01-24T18:22:00.007-05:00

Sunday is usually the laziest of days for me which equals NO makeup :) Today however, my parents asked me to go to church and shopping with them, so obviously I had to plonk some makeup on my face!

I've also been using a TON of MAC products lately, so I wanted to do a look with predominantly non-mac products (I'm not a MAC fanatic I promise lol) So I broke out some Bare Minerals Loose Eye Glimmers namely Sex Kitten (a stunning intense reddish brown) and did a quick 5 minute look!

Face: Smashbox Photofinish Light Primer
Benefit Moon Beam & High Beam
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer
MAC MSF Natural
NARS Casino
NARS Albatross
Stila Lillium Convertible Colour
Benefit Sugarbomb
MUFE HD Powder

Eyes: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Bare Minerals Sex Kitten Eye Glimmer (3/4 of lid and lower lashline)
Bare Minerals Cupcake Eye Glimmer (tearduct)
NARS Fathom Eyeshadow (inner 1/3)
MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow (crease)
MAC Mylar Highlight
Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster
Clinique High Impact Mascara + CG Lash Blast
MAC Feline Kohl Power (set with carbon)

Lips: Benefit Lady's Choice Lipstick
Josie Maran Plumping Gloss in Brilliance

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend - here's to a fantastic week ahead! Tell me your favorite quick 5 minute looks below so I can try them :)

xoxo

Warm Juicy Goodness FOTD

2010-01-15T19:47:00.006-05:00

I'm on a little blogging/fotd kick :) So here's another one for you from today - this is my classic "warm eyes" look - I was talking about this in my last MAC Haul where I showed the Plays on Plums Duo so I thought I'd show you all here since I got a few questions...This is effortless and super flattering on brown and green eyes especially! Yes please bare with the cam-whoring yet again lol!

Face: Smashbox Photofinish Light Primer
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Fawn)
MAC MSF Natural
Benefit Moon Beam & High Beam
MAC Ladyblush Blushcreme
Cargo Topenka Blush
NARS Albatross Highlighter
MUFE HD Powder

Eyes: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Sable Eyeshadow (lid)
MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow (crease + outer v)
MAC Play on Plums Mineralized Eyeshadow (darken outer v + crease & light shade in inner corner)
MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow (transition)
MAC Mylar Eyeshadow (brow highlight)
Cargo Eyelighter in Pink (tearduct)
CG Lashblast + Clinique High Impact Mascara
MAC Feline Kohl Power (waterline)

Lips: YSL Rouge Volupte #2 Sensual Silk

I really, really love this purpley/brownish combo it's so pretty, I think it'd be a good date or Valentine's look also!

What do you think?

xxx

Hypnotizing In HD FOTD

2010-01-13T22:30:00.006-05:00

So I tried something a little different this morning, and broke out a purple-ish smokey eye, and lovedd it :) I am not the kind of girl who is opposed to wearing a smokey eye in the day - I think it's appropriate whenever! I also wanted to whip out some new products that I hadn't yet used, as well as some things I haven't touched in a while - yes I was a cam-whore above:)

I love Hypnotizing, it comes out as more purple with grey undertones on my skin - it looks lovely on brown eyes

I had to add this to show you all the magic of my new Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, look how flawless my under-eye area looks I must film my haul for it soon :)

Products Used:
Face: Smashbox Photofinish Primer
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Fawn)
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer (NC35)
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (Honey)
Benefit Powderflage
MAC MSF Natural
NARS Casino Bronzer
MAC Ladyblush Blushcreme
MAC Lovejoy Blush
NARS Deep Throat Blush
MUFE HD Powder (love, love, love)

Eyes: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Hypnotizing (lid)
MAC Smoke & Diamonds (crease)
MAC Print (darken crease)
MAC Phloof (tearduct)
MAC Soft Brown (transition)
MAC Mylar (highlight)
CG Lashblast + Clinique High Impact Mascara
MAC Feline Kohl Power

Lips: MAC Sun Tint in Full of Grace

9 hours later... the first pictures are from about 8am and when I got back, my entire makeup had stayed almost perfect throughout the day (even my blush), this never happens to me (ughh apart fromt he fact that i need my brows threaded again). I think it's due to the MUFE HD Powder that I lightly dusted on my face after my entire makeup was done! This was the first time I'd used it, and I would have to say it is amazinggg :)

Hope everyone's having a fabulous week..videos to come on Friday <3

PS. If you're reading this feel free to ask me any anonymous question @ http://www.formspring.me/amynicolaox :)

Best Products of 2009!

2010-01-08T19:43:00.013-05:00

Okay, so 2010 is here - Happy New Year to you all :) However, let's turn back and do a review of good old 2009 by looking at my absolute winning/favorite beauty products of the year! Lots of these are truly HG material!

I was going to make a video for this, but didn't know when I'd have the time to film - and I quite like documenting it in blog form! I have covered a lot of categories so expect this to be picture heavy :)

FACE PRODUCTS:

Best Liquid Foundation: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
I take this in the colour Stromboli - the application is easy (best done with fingers) and gives me such a flawless face! It never cakes up on my dry skin and provides a healthy medium to full coverage finish with a minimal amount of product usage! This is well worth the money!

Best Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer
This is what I put on my face whenever I don't use the Sheer Glow (I use the shade Fawn) This is extremely lightweight, yet offers the perfect amount of coverage for my skin! I find it easy to use when I'm in a rush because I smooth it onto my skin the way I would a regular moisturizer and it never streaks since it's so foolproof! The only downside is that this only comes in 3 shades & I own the darkest one (and I'm not that dark).

Best Face Primer: Smashbox Photofinish Light Oil Free Primer
I have gone through so many of these things and I love it - it minimizes the apperance of the larger pores around my nose/cheek area so that the foundation or TM I use glides and covers over them!

Best Blemish Concealer: MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer
I use this in NC35 and it is so creamy that it blends like a dream it is also lightweight yet offers medium coverage to cover any flaw I may have without ever looking cakey.

Best Undereye Concealer: MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer
I use this in NW25 and it's the perfect salmony pink colour to erase any dark circles or redness I may have and brighten up my under-eye area so I look fresh! Since the liquid formula is so light this never ever looks cakey or creases under my eyes!

Best Eyebrow Set: Rimmel Style & Shine Clear Lash & Brow Gel
No need to spend crazy amounts of money - this $3 clear gel cements my wavy brows in place all day!

Best Powder Foundation/Foundation Setter: MAC MSF Natural
This is one of the only face powders my dry skin can get away with! I can layer this over liquid foundation or tm's and it adds the lightest amount of coverage to make my skin completely flawless, but never leaves dry patches. I can also wear this alone with just concealer underneath to even out my complexion - it's very versatile. (Medium Dark Pictured)

Best Concealer Setter: Benefit Powderflage
I haven't featured this in a haul yet but I did get it in 09 & have used it every day since. This is a light pink powder with a slight unnoticeable sparkle that I dust under my eyes once my concealer on and it lightens the area even more giving it a dewy look and setting the concealer all day :)

Best Bronzer: NARS Casino & Laguna
I used both shades this year and there's minmal difference between both - the opened one is Casino as my Laguna shattered so treat these babies with care. These bronzers last forever - my Laguna had been going strong for 9 months before it shattered. This is the perfect bronzer that never looks orange but gives a healthy glow to the skin. It does have some shimmer to it, that is not noticeable once applied to the skin, so it can be used for a light contour also!

Best Liquid Highlighter: Benefit Moon Beam & High Beam
Both of these products add an instant luminosity to your complexion once applied. They are shimmery, but look like more of a natural glow on the skin. I like to mix these with my foundations and tm's to give myself a dewy, radiant complexion! I also apply High Beam to my cheekbones before I set my foundation so it looks as though they are naturally highlighted.

Best Powder Highlighter: NARS Albatross & MAC Refined MSF
Despite the amount of highlighters I own, I always return to these two. Albatross by NARS looks a little stark and scary upon opening it, but when applied it gives your skin the most beautiful candlelight glow - it is really perfection! MAC's Refined MSF is a more peachy toned highlighter so adds more of a subtle and natural glow to my skin rather than being a white tone, hopefully they repromote this before it's done (the dome has flattened already, boo).

Best Mineralized Blush: MAC Mineralized Blush & Laura Geller Blush and Brighten
Both of these come in a variety of pretty colours, but function the exact same way. These are definitely shimmery, but when you put them on your cheeks they instantly lift your face. It doesn't look like you are glittering,but just makes you look healthy, flushed and luminous. Love, love LOVE! (MAC Warm Soul & Laura Geller Pink Grapefruit pictured)

Best Powder Blush: MAC Beauty Powder Blush, NARS Blush & Benefit Coralista
MACs beauty powder blushes (On A Mission pictured) are 10x more amazing than their regular powder blushes in my opinion, they are much more finely milled, have great pigmentation and are a satin/sheen finish that adds such a nice brightness to your face I wish MAC made these permanent. NARS blushes are simply amazing - everything a blush should be and more. They come in tons of shades either matte or sparkle, have great pigmentation and lasting power some favorite shades are: Deep Throat (pictured above), Orgasm, Luster, Lovejoy, Dolce Vita. Benefit Coralista needed a mention not just because of the gorgeous packaging, but the product inside is one of the best peachy pink blush colours I've come across - and it smells divine too!

Best Cheek Stain: Beauté Fluoron Liqui-Gel Lip & Cheek Stain
This product has become an essential for me - it looks shocking orange in the tube, but transforms to a pretty pink colour on the cheeks. I usually use this a little heavier than normal under a tinted moisturizer so that once the TM is applied it looks like my cheeks have a natural blush from within on them! I apply powder blush on top sometimes, but when it wears off I still have this stain on my cheeks to keep me pretty!

EYE PRODUCTS:

Best Powder Eyeshadows: MAC Eyeshadows
This is undeniable for me - MAC eyeshadows come in the widest variety of colours and finishes from matte to lustre (high sparkle) and that's in the permanent line alone. MACs shadows are truly amazing quality and easy to work with - I just adore them so they will always have a special place in my heart. (Shades pictured are just randomly 2 of my palettes opened, ask if you want to know a specific color).

Best Cream Eyeshadows: NARS Cream Eyeshadows
These come in some gorgeous colours and are lightweight enough to apply as just a base to make powder colours really pop over them, but are pigmented enough to use alone! I love that these can easily be blended with powder eyeshadows to create a mixed eyeshadow look. (Pictured L-R Mykonos, Corfu, Cosmic Girl, El Dorado)

Best Liquid Eyeliner: Lancome Artliner
As you can see above this has a felt tip pen that makes it super easy to apply both thin and thick lines as well as drawing neat wings - this is also the blackest of blacks I've used! I think the felt tip liners are also good for beginners, as you can get a lot of control over what you're doing.

Best Gel Eyeliner: MAC Fluidline
I use this with a MAC 210 brush and it's richly pigmented, but the texture is so soft and buttery to apply and manipulate on the lid. It only takes a tiny amount of product to line your upper lash line/waterline and add wings if desired.

Best Coloured Eyeliner: Sephora Brand Flashy Waterproof Liner
Not only are these fantastic - they are also inexpensive! When Sephora claims that these are waterproof they 100% are tried and tested - they do not budge. They come in a variety of colours that are richly pigmented - see my initial post rave on them here. (Pictured above: Flashy Green, Flashy Blue, Flashy Copper)

Best Black Pencil Eyeliner: MAC Feline Kohl Power
I am suprised I love this as much as I do - a few months ago I would've totally been saying the Stila Kajal in Onyx is the best (it is a close second). The reason I prefer the Feline Kohl Power is that it is not as soft and crumbly as the Stila so I can use it for precisely lining my upper lashline as well as my waterline while still getting the same jet black appearance. This will run - so I do like to set it with a black powder eyeshadow (but I do the same with my Stila). Since I got this in October (I believe) I've sharpened it only 3 times and it is still practically as long as the day I got it - it's gonna last forever! That being said MAC should just make these permanent I know lots of people love it!

Best Mascara Base: Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster Primer
This has the vibrating plastic spiky-ish wand that seperates, lengthens and thickens lashes in one fell swoop! I use this everyday, and it's my favorite lash primer to date (in comparison to the Shiseido and Clinique one I'd tried in the past). It's well worth the money it costs -if you didn't like the Oscillation Mascara don't think this is the same way, its ten times better!

Best Mascara: CoverGirl Lash Blast and Clinique High Impact Mascara
The drugstore offers some fantastic mascaras - L'Oreal Voluminous is also good, but the CG Lash Blast really takes the cake and surpasses some high-end mascaras I've tried. It has a fat spiky plastic brush that extends, thickens and seperates my lashes giving them a dramatic and flirty and never clumpy look! The Clinique High Impact mascara as a teddy bear bristle wand, but NEVER ever clumps while lengthening, thickening and seperating my lashes. It's truly my HG I've used it on and off for 4 years and always end up returning to it! (I have yet to open my YSL Faux Cils to see what the hype is about)

LIP PRODUCTS:

Best Lip Treatment: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
I won't lie this is pricey as $28 CDN for a lipbalm, but it seriously quenches my disgustingly parched lips in the winter and hydrates them amazingly. It has such a thick, waxy consistency that coats and fills in any lines on my lips and erases dry patches. It also has an amazing citrus scent and lasts a long time!

Best Lipgloss: YSL Gloss Pur and Beauté Luminous Volume Gloss
The YSL gloss pur comes in a variety of creamy shades (no shimmer, which I prefer) and apply like a dream - they never sink into any lines in my lips and give an opaque coverage. The Beauté Luminous Volume Gloss is quite possibly the best lipgloss I've ever used - it's scentless highly pigmented and coats the lips with high shine while never sinking into lip lines or leaving them dry after a while - I want all of them. (YSL 02 Rose Pur & Beauté Heroine pictured)

Best Lipliner: Sephora Brand Native Nude Lipliner
This is the 2nd Sephora Brand product to make it into my favorites, and a lot of people usually overlook the store's own brand, but there are some great gems! I don't line my lips a lot but when I do I use this, it is not exceptionally creamy, but the colour is the perfect light nude and matches all my lipsticks perfectly!

Best Lipstick: MAC Lipsticks, Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick, YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick
MAC Lipsticks come in tons of shades and finishes, offering low to full coverage so everyone is bound to find something they like. For me MAC has an amazing selection of nudes, pinks, nude/pinks that I love for a good price point! Benefit lipsticks don't get a lot of buzz, but they do have some pretty shades that offer full coverage AND leave your lips glossy (think a full coverage lustre/glaze finish from MAC). They are the perfect slap on and go lipstick as I never need to top it with a gloss. The YSL Rouge Voluptes are like the Jaguars (insert any luxury car name) of lipsticks - the ULTIMATE luxury - just look at the stunning packaging! They are the most creamy lipsticks I have ever used that offer an opaque coverage and come in a variety of stunning shades and have a melony scent. The only downsides are the price point - these are quite expensive ($34CDN) I only have 4 of them I get them as treats to myself and the lasting power isn't the best. (MAC Blankety, Benefit Jing-a-Ling, YSL 01 Nude Beige pictured)

Best Long Lasting Lipstick: Stila Longwear Lip Colour SPF 15
These roll-up lipsticks are quite innovative and apply rich and pigmented colour with a slight glossy sheen to the lips in a cinch. The lasting power on these are absolutely phenomenal - even through drinking & eating. (Pictured is Flushed)

MAKE-UP TOOLS:

Best Make-Up Brushes: MAC Brushes & Essence of Beauty Smokey Wide
MAC brushes are amazing high quality, and get the job done effectively - they are some of the softest brushes I have ever used. Of course they are expensive so some favorites for a starter kit would be 239, 217/224, 219, 129,134 (optional), 187/190. The Essence of Beauty Smokey Wide brush has been revolutionary in my life - the smokey end can apply an inner corner highlight colour or do crease work beautifully and the wide end is great for applying a wash of colour to the lid of brow highlight. (I just threw a selection of my MAC brushes down - if you want to know a specific one, ask).

Best Make-Up Remover: Clinique Take The Day Off Make-Up Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips
The tiniest bit of this product on a cotton pad takes my make-up off in one wipe, no tugging or pulling required...enough said!

MISCELLANEOUS:

Best Nail Polish: Sephora By OPI & OPI Nail Polish
The Sephora by OPI line has a plethora of gorgeous rich shades in the permanent line and comes out with new collections all the time. The formulation is never streaky, and two coats gets a colour rich perfect application - I use the brands top and base coat too. OPI nail polishes also come in a variety of pretty shades - however the formulation can be hit or miss some are very streaky like the one pictured above but the gorgeousness of the colours are undeniable. (Sephora By OPI Metro Chic and OPI Mod About You pictured)

Best Perfume: YSL Parisienne and Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy
Both of these have infectious slightly fruity, yet floral scents that I want to spray on myself all day! Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Spray is a close second. I realize perfume is entirely subjective - but I love these.

Best Facial Moisturizer: Olay Classic Moisturizing Lotion
I have skin as dry as the Sahara desert - especially in winter, but I slather this on my face after cleansing and voila my skin stays hydrated all day. This is another HG I've used for years and will probably never changed (it's the same as in my skincare 101 video on YT).

Best Body Moisturizer: The Body Shop Hemp Body Butter
Other than Johnson's Baby Lotion that I am loyal too - this stuff is truly amazing. It has an earthy scent that lingers all day and when I massage it into my skin I actually can feel that it's seeping in and hydrating which is perfect for the winter months!

Best Spot Treatment: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil
This is another HG product that I mentioned in both my skincare and how to get rid of spots overnight video! I just dab a tiny amount of this pure tea tree oil onto any existing pimple or one I can feel coming and when I wake up in the morning it's completely gone (99% of the time). If it isn't gone overnight if its a massive pimple - the next morning it is considerably flatter and less red and it is gone by the next day!

Phew, I feel kind of relieved this is done it took me forever, I'm practically getting carpal tunnel! But those are my ultimate favorite products of the year of 2009, so bring it on 2010 I'm excited to see what you bring me and if this changes next year :)

What were some of your favorite products of 2009?

Ask Me Anything!!

2010-01-07T20:04:00.002-05:00

I do actually have a bunch of FOTDs, a Product Rave and a Haircare hit and miss to write about for you starting on Saturday! However, for now I thought I'd leave you with a little something non-makeup related :)

I get a ton of questions on YT, twitter and here all the time about anything and everything! I've been seeing people making these formspring accounts where you basically can ask anonymous questions and the owner of the account answers them! Perfect, right?

Click here for my formspring account

Click on the link above and feel free to ask me questions about ANYTHING! Because it's anonymous they can be about make-up, or you can ask me for advice, personal questions, whatever you want! It's so much fun, so I hope to get lots of questions.

xxx

It's A Jolly Lush-a-Day!

2009-12-28T22:28:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I know these Lush posts are seriously over-played BUT with boxing day/post x-mas sales like they have - it's well worth it! I didn't even think about going there when I went boxing day shopping, but after hearing everyone on twitter raving about the buy 1 (holiday items or soaps) get 2 free as well as buy 1 wrapped gift and get one free I had to go today!

This sale was the perfect opportunity for me to pick up a few products and sets with products I had been eyeing and wanted to try for a fraction of the price :)

So about $30 later here's all the loot I picked up:
I don't take baths too much as there aren't enough hours in the day, so I tried to get items that could be used in or after a shower!

L-R: "You Shall Go To The Ball" Gift Set, "Snow Fairy" Gift set
Karma Soap, Bohemian Soap, Snowcake Soap

The best part: I only paid for the Snow Fairy Gift set and one of the soaps :)

Lets take a closer look...

You Shall Go To The Ball Gift Set:

Contains:
1 Yummy Yummy Yummy Shower Gel (100ml): This stuff smells gorgeous, mixed with fresh strawberries, honey and almond oil (to soften) - it's like bathing in a smoothie! Plus I ADORE strawberry scents.

1 Fairy Tale Sugar Scrub (100g): This complements the bodywash as it has the same strawberries & cream scent and shaped with a tail like a mouse :) The texture is almost like a pumice stone - but basically this will exfoliate! I'd reccomend being gentle, so as not to be too abrasive as it looks as though its made to get the job done!

1 15% off your next purchase coupon - RESULT - it expires in april 2010!

Snow Fairy Gift Set:

Contains:
1 Snow Fairy Shower Gel 100ml: I had a sample of this from my last Lush trip and fell in love! I was originally going to get the biggest size, but I preferred to get a smaller size and try more things in the set! This is so girly and pink and smells like cotton candy and vanilla!

1 Angel's Delight Star Soap: This soap again is so cute in it's pretty star shape and smells like candies :) I'm excited to try it!

1 Shimmy Shimmy Massage Bar: This is perfect to use before a night out - it smells like vanilla and will soften the skin as well as adding the shimmer to your body - so you shine :) I'm a bit of a loser so I thought that was really cool!
1 15% off purchase coupon: Again result!!!

Soaps:

I decided I wanted to try a few Lush soaps so in order to test things out and see what I love I decided to get 3 for 1 on the soap deal :) I only got about 110 grams of each, which is perfect for me to road test them all :) I got:

Snowcake Soap: I am so excited to use this one - it's infused with almonds which is the perfect natural exfoliant! This is going to slough off any dead skin cells and leave my skin as soft as a baby's bottom! This isn't high on scent, but what it claims to do sounds fabulous!

Karma Soap: This has such an interesting and intense fragrance of oranges mixed with spicy patchouli - it's divine! This soap is purely for the scent it gives, and does not do much on the hydrating or softening front!

Bohemian Soap: I am a sucker for anything that smells citrusy and this is just that -the lemon scent is so refreshing. Perfect to use on an early morning to wake me up and envigorate me. This also cleanses and tones your skin which I'm never opposed to!

They were sold out of Sexy Peel so I'll be going to my other Lush store tomorrow to pick up that and 2 other free soaps (Honey I Washed The Kids & something else?)

So as you can see I took full advantage of this sale and have a LOT of Lush to play around with for a while. I'm the type of girl that'll try to get as much for my money as I can (aka will try to get a more $$ gift free lol)! If you want any reviews of anything here, let me know!

What are your Lush favorites and did you get anything from their amazing sales :)

Make Up Storage Round 2

2009-12-27T22:03:00.006-05:00

You may remember back in September I posted about an "Operation Make-Up Storage" - where basically I showed you some tips & tricks on how I stored my crack.... Well, fast forward three months and I was thinking that things were getting a bit full and I would need to expand - I confess I have compulsive make-up buying syndrome (CMUBS)! Luckily, I was saved as for christmas my oldest sister got me a wonderful traincase! I thought I'd share with you the new additions and give you some tips & tricks about why traincases are a perfect storage option:

Don't worry - I still have my two large three plastic drawers I showed you in my last post - this just supplements it all in a stylish way without having to buy another industrial looking container!

The Traincase:
The traincase I received is a standard large black & silver (I love simple & chic) hard cased design. When you open the latches it reveals a large base which has plenty of room for dividers and two large stackable drawers that slide out!

In my traincase: I've decided to put some of my NARS stuff in here - It contains single eyeshadows, cream eyeshadows, powder & cream blushes, palettes and a few unused lip products! In the second pull out drawer I've housed all my MAC pigments - I needed a good place to store my pigments and this is invaluable, there's still plenty of room to add more! In the bottom area I've housed some miscellaneous eyeshadow Palettes as well as most of my back-ups and unused items!

Why I love It:
- This traincase is not only perfect for storage, but essential for travelling. Since it has a hard outer, your make-up is sure to be safe when you are carrying this or even bumping it around!
- A traincase is optimal for freelancing (which I do from time to time) - just pack up your kit and what you'll need in it and you're good to go!
- It's a lot more stylish and compact than the 3 drawers I own - yet has tons of space!
- The versatility - You can use a traincase in any which way - but this is just how I've decided to store my makeup. You can manipulate things and add dividers as necessary to maxmize on space!

The other white wicker basket is just used to house all my "products in transit". By this, I mean items I've purchased that I haven't done a haul on yet - or things that have yet to find a home or be used, etc!

How do you guys like to store your make-up? If you need to expand - what do you do to keep the cost down :)

xoxo

FOTD - Tempting Cranberries!

2009-12-12T23:15:00.014-05:00

As some of you may know by now Tempting Eyeshadow from MAC is one of my all time favorite colours :) I decided to break it out again to day, but this time to change it up from the routine carbon in the crease, and decided to use Cranberry (a gorgeous Veluxe Pearl that doesn't get enough use from me).

I was going to watch the Christmas lights be turned on downtown in my city and it turned out to be the perfect festive look - and I'm 95% sure I'll be recreating it on Christmas Day! Since I loved it so much I was a major cam whore, so I thought I'd do an FOTD (picture heavy):

(excuse the demonic eyes here lol!)

Products Used:
(Note: I ended up using lots of products surprisingly and for the FTC I purchased every item used)

Face: Smashbox Photo Finish Light Oil Free Primer
Laura Mercier TM in Fawn mixed with Benefit Moon Beam (for a dewy look)
MAC MSF Natural Medium Dark (set everything)
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer NC35 (blemishes & redness)
MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer NW25 (undereye, I used this after I did my eye make-up today and LOVED the results)
NARS Casino Bronzer

Cheeks: MAC Blunt Powder Blush (contour)
MAC Lovejoy Mineralized Blush
NARS Deep Throat Blush (apples)
Benefit Moon Beam (Highlight)

Eyes: Benefit F, Y..Eye Primer
MAC Tempting Eyeshadow (lid)
MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow (inner third)
MAC Grand Entrance Eyeshadow (tearduct)
MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow (crease/outer v/lower lashline)
MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow (transition color over crease)
MAC Mylar Eyeshadow (brow highlight & to tidy edges)
MAC Carbon Eyeshadow (set liner on waterline)
MAC Feline Kohl Power
Lancome Oscillation Powerbooster
Clinique Lash Power + L'Oreal Voluminous + CG Lash Blast Mascaras

Lips: MAC Blankety Lipstick (new fave)
Vasanti Timor Lipshine

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In this look I also got to play with Soft Brown which I just bought for the first time and I ADORE it, it's the perfect colour to blend out eyeshadow so it seamlessly flows into your brow highlight - I can't wait to do a deep blue look and use this to transition (I'm such a little makeup nerd haha). Also I used Mylar for the first time on a MAC 227 brush to tidy, correct and sharpen the edges of the shadow that may have crept out too far - I thought it'd be too white to do so, but it is sheer enough to do the job nicely!

Then whilst in the car, I decided to cam-whore a little bit more in case the lighting was different and lo and behold...it was a little!! I love Blankety Lipstick it's my first time wearing it (even though I got it months ago) and it's the perfect pink nude and such a great consistency!

So now for question time - What are you guys' favorite festive holiday looks - I love looks that aren't too obvious and overstated (no green and red combos here)! Second what do you pair Cranberry with? I can't wait to play with it some more!

xoxo

Tickle Me Turquoise

2009-12-01T23:49:00.007-05:00

After reading Laura (lollipop26's) blog post on coloured eyeliners a la Stephanie Pratt from The Hills - I ran to Sephora to go take a look at what I could find!

If you followed my blog back in the summer (probably not) I think a did a few FOTD's where I used MAC's Teal Pigment or Steamy eyeshadow underneath my lashline and a neutral shadow look on the top. I used to be all over that look and totally forgot about it - liner just simplifies it.

I originally wanted to get the NARS Kitty (that Laura had) as I liked that it was bright, yet matte finish - however it was sold out?! That being said I wasn't sure that I wanted to spend a lot of money on something I wasn't sure I'd like so I meandered over to the tried and trusty Sephora Brand section, where I found this:
Disclaimer: Everything I am about to mention and show you was purchased with my own cash and I have no affiliation with any of these companies,nor am I receiving financial compensation for this review/rave!
Presenting the Sephora Brand Flashy Liner Waterproof retailing at a modest $10 CDN.
Now this ladies, is truly Holy Grail material - it comes in 10 shades and I chose 08 Flashy Blue which is a vivid, yet metallic turquoise. When in doubt with colour, I always go for blue as I know it flatters brown eyes.

This pencil is really soft and creamy (like my old favorite Stila Kajal), BUT is not so soft that it fails at precisely lining my upper lashline and goes blunt after two seconds (that is IMO where the Stila counterpart fails). Also this really does stay put - I had to vigorously rub it off with makeup remover so it's waterproof claim is absolutely right! I've had success also with the Sephora Brand long lasting liquid liner and I think a lot of people overlook the store's own products.

EVEN better - this liner can totally be transformed by setting it with an eyeshadow:

With flash
(MACs Steamy over 08 Flashy Blue, MACs Deep Truth over 08 Flashy Blue, MACs Fashion over 08 Flashy Blue, 08 Flashy Blue alone)

Without flash in same order

In person, you can really tell the distinct differences between the colours more, and it's really cool. I will definitely be picking up the purple and mossy green shades in this liner I am a well satisfied customer.

Now for a little look I did today: (pictures taken after 8-10hrs wear)

Products Include:
NARS Sheer Glow in Stromboli
MAC MSF Natural Med/Dark
Laura Geller Bronze & Brighten in Medium
MAC All That Glitters, Grand Entrance and Stila Kitten (eyes)
NARS Cactus Flower & Dolce Vita Blushes
MACs Myth & Bare Slimshine on lips (rubbed off by this time though lol)
Sephora Brand Flashy Liner Waterproof 08 Flashy Blue
(with MACs Steamy on top lashline, MACs Deep Truth on Waterline and MACs Fashion on lower lashline)

Adding Deep Truth onto the waterline to set it, darkens it up a little thus defining my eye waterline in a subtle way.

Of course I winged it out a bit on top :) The Steamy brings out the green tones & makes the liner more vivid!

All in all this product and this look in my opinion is FTW I really love it and felt comfortable - I got so many compliments today! Have you guys tried any of the Sephora Brand products and loved them? Let me know - I'd love to try more since it's so affordable :)