Friday, April 27, 2012

FOTD/OOTD: Striving to Be Different

With my recent makeup rut, I had some time this morning to play with makeup and wanted to try a different eye shape than what I normally do. I hadn't used MUFE #92 in FOREVER, so I incorporated that as well. I really like how this turned out!






FACE:
- L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer
- Avon Smooth Minerals Foundation in Nude
- Mac MSF Natural in Light
 - Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Light
- Boots No 7 Vital Enlightening Powder (on eyes as highlight, too)
- Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin
EYES:
-Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Peach Sorbet (lid)
- Mac eyeshadow in Expensive Pink (crease and lower lashline)
- MUFE Eyeshadow in #92 (to darken crease and lower lashline)
- Physician's Formula black gel liner from Blue Eyes set
- MUA eyeliner in Lovely Lilac (waterline)
- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara
LIPS:
- NYX Lipstick in Indian Pink
- NYX Mega Shine gloss in LaLa

It's supposed to be pretty sunny and nice here today so I wanted to wear a dress... figuring out a cardigan to wear with it was tough, I'm not 100% sold on this combo.


 Cardigan - Forever21
Dress - Target
Shoes - Burlington Coat Factory
Necklace - No idea
Nails - Color Club Blue-Ming



Thursday, April 26, 2012

FOTD/OOTD: Shocking

I've been experimenting with different ways to make my eyeshadow last with all of the issues I've been having with creasing and fading. I've found that a really good method is the MUA Primer that Robyn sent me with a Maybelline Color Tattoo over the top, and then a powder eyeshadow heavily buffed into the Color Tattoo. That seems to be working for me right now. This eye look is one that I've done a lot recently.

I also used the Real Techniques foundation buffer today with my foundation and it is AMAZING. End of. Totally impressed.





FACE:
- L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer
- MUFE HD Foundation in #21
- Mac MSF Natural in Light
 - Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Light
- Boots No 7 Vital Enlightening Powder (on eyes as highlight, too)
-NYC Sun 'n Bronze Bronzing powder (blush)

EYES:
- MUA Professional Eye Primer
-Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe
- L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Amber Rush
- Rimmel Spark It Up eyeliner in Peridot (upper lashline)
- NYX eyeliner in Teal (lower lashline/waterline)
- Mac eyeshadow in Aquadisiac (lower lashline)
- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

LIPS:
- MUA Plumping Lip Gloss in Shocking Pink

It's so dreary outside today so I wanted to wear something bright and fun. I had a picture of my nails as well but my cuticles are looking too ragged for macro at the minute.


Top - Forever21
Belt - Primark
Skirt - The Limited
Shoes - Burlington Coat Factory
Nails - Color Club Blue-Ming


Friday, April 20, 2012

Quick Purple Lipstick Comparison

Really really lightning fast post here.


Left to right: Cover Girl Embrace, Mac Violetta, Mac Heroine, Cover Girl Divine and Mac Up the Amp

This was mostly to clear up some questions about dupes for Heroine!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

FOTD/OOTD/NOTD: Sweet Dreams

I did full makeup today which hasn't happened in a long time! I'm testing out a new eye primer to see if it helps with the issues I've been having. Anyway, I got out my Too Faced Sweet Dreams palette and went to town. Would you guys want to see a review and swatches or is it too old at this point?






FACE:
- L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer
- Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in #21
- Mac MSF Natural in Light (just to set concealer)
 - Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Light
- Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Light 
- Boots No 7 Vital Enlightening Powder (on eyes as highlight, too)
- Mac blush in Full of Joy

EYES:
- MUA Professional Eye Primer
- Too Faced Sweet Dreams Palette: Nice Stems! (lid and lower lashline), Party Girl (crease), Label Whore (to darken crease and lower lashline) and Smolder (to lightly darken upper lash line)
- NYC Waterproof Eyeliner in Teal (lower waterline)
- Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

LIPS:
- Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in 906D (Wine Room)
- Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss in Wanted (Silver)

For my outfit, I got this top at H&M last weekend for some stupidly cheap price. I think it might be a dress? I'm not sure as it's so short. But it's got kitties on it!


Top: H&M
Cardigan: Target
Necklace: Forever21 (?)
Leggings: Forever21
Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory, City Classified brand

Last, my nails. Nothing spectacularly complicated, just a pretty color. This is Wet n Wild's It's All in the Cut. This came out over Christmas time with a bunch of different colors. I love these polishes so much.


Anyway, that's all for today! Sorry I've been so MIA. We're in the process of buying a condo right now and it's been a little crazy.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Foundation Review

I picked up the newest of the Physician's Formula foundations last week as I had seen some reviews on blogs and wanted to try it out.


Youthful Wear boasts an SPF 15 and the potential to 'look 10 years younger instantly!'. It claims to fill fine lines and wrinkles and firm and lift skin in 3 weeks (for 94% of users). The ingredients list is quite long and is as follows:

Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 1.960% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Didecene, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tribehenin, Nylon-12, Polyamide-5, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ceramide 3, Glycerin, Aluminum Dimyristate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Silicate, Olive Glycerides, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides

The first ingredient is water, which made me assume that this would be a lighter foundation. It does also contain silicones (and a lot of them), so if you are sensitive, be wary of this foundation.


The foundation comes housed in a lovely metallic purple squeeze tube that is lightweight but not flimsy. It's quite compact so it would be good for traveling. You get 1 oz. of product in the tube, and the regular price of this is $14.99. I found the brush that came in the box to be soft and pliable, but not the right texture to apply this foundation with, which I'll talk about later.

The foundation comes in 3 shades: Fair, Light and Medium. I tried Fair.



Fair would be a good match for NW/NC15 in Mac, and possibly an NW/NC20 if you use a light hand. The color of this is pretty light for a drugstore foundation, but will be way too dark for those that have a very fair complexion. Alternatively, with this only going to 'Medium', those darker than an NC/NW30 are going to be out of luck! You can see from my swatch that it does indeed fill the fine lines in my hand, so I feel like the claim that PF makes for that part of the foundation is very true!

The foundation's texture is a little unusual to me. For a water based foundation, it feels quite thick, but I don't feel like it has a lot of coverage. I'd classify this as a light coverage, bordering on medium if you powder it afterward. I feel like the foundation takes a few minutes to settle on my face, as it tends to look a little oily in the first 5-10 minutes. Once set and powdered, it's a much more natural finish... I'd say a satin finish. I don't get shiny or oily when wearing this but then I tend to have dry to normal skin, so that's not usually a problem for me. I feel that around the 6-7 hour mark, the foundation definitely needs a touch up.

The easiest way to apply this is with fingers, by far, as the brush that comes with it is too soft and fluffy and ends up absorbing most of the product. The warmth from your fingers also helps to distribute the product around more evenly as again, it feels a little on the thick side.

I'm going to show you before and after pictures, just be warned that I am showing you my naked face! My bare face will be the first two pictures, and then my face with only the foundation on will be under those.



With the foundation:




As you can see, it doesn't completely cover the discoloration around my eyes, nose and in general around my face. On the closeup shot, you can see my skin imperfections, acne scarring and freckles. I don't have a problem with a lighter coverage foundation, but I wouldn't recommend this to someone who prefers more coverage.

One final picture to show it with powder and concealer (full makeup face):


Overall, this is a decent foundation but not spectacular. I'm jaded by using BB creams, I'll be honest. I got this at a discounted price because I had coupons, but I feel like $14.99 is too much for how little coverage it has! If you're looking for a light coverage with some fine line filling properties, you would definitely like this. It also reminds me of the Cover Girl NatureLuxe Foundation, so if you liked that, check this out. Otherwise, skip this and save your pennies for a BB cream.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Darling Girl Cosmetics: New Shop is Open (AND a giveaway!)


First off, Susan is having a fabulous giveaway to win a gift certificate, spectral shifts or a scrub. You can enter here: http://darlinggirlcosmetics.blogspot.com/2012/04/grand-opening-giveaway.html

If you order from the new shop, she is also offering a coupon code GRANDOPENING to get 15% off until 4/10 (tomorrow night) at 9:00PM CST.

Susan also had to do some minor price increases (but everything is still a great value!). Nothing has increased more than 50 cents or so.

Anyway, check out the shop and happy shopping!!
 

March Favorites!

I posted my March Favorites on The Makeup Heroes channel. If you aren't already subscribed, definitely do so as we are going to be doing a giveaway at 200 subscribers!



Products mentioned:
- Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation (BR10)
- Boots No7 Vital Enlightening Powder
- Barry M Natural Dazzle Bronzer
- Inglot eyeshadow palette
- Essence eyeshadows in 'Back to Khaki' and 'It's Up to You'
- NYX eyeliner in 'Teal'
- London Soho blending brushes
- Avon Be Blushed Stick Blush in 'Golden Rose'
- MUA Out There Plumping Lip Gloss in 'Sienna'
- Revlon Matte Lipstick in 'Smoked Peach'
- NYX Round Lipstick in 'Shiva'
- MAC Lipstick in 'Spitfire'
- Forever21 Nail Polish in 'Mint' + WetnWild Wild Shine polish in 'Kaleidoscope'
- The Limited clutch bag

A few weeks ago, I visited Kathy down in Durham and we recorded a haul video, I'm also posting that here!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

FOTD/OOTD: Indian Buffet

Long time, no post! Nearly 2 weeks, to be exact. I just got back from an indian lunch buffet with some friends and figured I would show you my makeup and outfit. I got Modern Mandarin blush from the new Mac Tres Cheek collection and I am totally loving it.





 

FACE:
- Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in BR10
- Mac MSF Natural in Light Medium
- Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Cream
- Boots No 7 Vital Enlightening Powder (on eyes as highlight, too)
- Mac blush in Modern Mandarin

EYES:
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Inglot eyeshadows in #352, #399 and #73 (I can't be 100% sure, I didn't buy them)
- Physician's Formula gel liner for brown eyes - black with bronze sparkle
- Collection 2000 Glam Crystals glitter liner in Rock Chick
- Maybelline Illegal Length mascara

LIPS:
- Mac lipstick in Reel Sexy
- Jordana gloss in ASAP

I don't know what compelled me to wear this outfit today. The idea just popped into my head. It ended up being a little sexier than I expected, but that's okay. I'm not a fashion blogger nor am I skinny but I tried to take the best photos I could.




Bag: J Crew 'Edie'
Sunglasses: Forever21
Vest: Forever21
Blazer: Target
Shorts: New Look
Tights: Primark
Necklace: Not sure, Forever21?
Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory