Sparkle City!

Face:
Kat Von D Rehab Priming Elixir
Koh Gen Do Aqua PK-0
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder <3

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Illamasqua Naked Rose <3
Nars New Order

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Lancome really old LE black kohl pencil (as liner and to map out crease)
Too Faced Smoky palette (Smokin Hot everywhere you see black, Firefly to blend out top edge of crease black, and In a Flash on the inner corner)
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Chic (brow bone)
Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy (lid)
Sinful Colors Sparkle City loose glitter (lid)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen
GA ETK black waterproof liner pencil (waterline)
Tarte Taupe brow pencil
Fiberwig D.J.V. Beautenizer Volume Lash
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof mascara (lowers)

Lips:
Lipstick Queen Saint Pink

Happy New Year!

Copper and Blue

Not too long ago, I saw a really lovely look on another blog and I thought I would do my own take on it.  It was from this post on Messy Wands.  I love the simplicity and contrast.  Also, I very much enjoy blue and copper!

I ended up looking tanned here, even though I swear the BB Cream looked like a good match indoors.  I guess maybe it oxidized.  I don't know.  I often struggle with foundations and bases and being able to tell whether they match my skin perfectly or not.  I think I take a "close enough is good enough" approach on most days.

I like how the lashes on the bottom stand out against the blue!  Below is an awkwardly lit shot from the afternoon sun.  I was hoping to showcase all the lovely sparkliness and duochrome.

And....really I just took too many photos.

Face:
Smashbox BB Cream Fair
Korres Quercetin and Oak Concealer Fair
Becca Pressed Mineral Foundation Porcelain
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (just under eye)

Cheeks:
Illamasqua Tremble
Tokidoki Luminosa

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Ebloui (base)
Laura Mercier Baked e/s Terracotta
YSL Pure Chromatics palette #2 (dark brown and gold)
Kat Von D Stockholm e/s (smudged into liner on lowers)
Stila Smudge Stick e/l Damsel (upper lash line)
MUFE navy aqua e/l pencil (waterline)
Korres soft e/l pencil 3S (lowers)
Tarte taupe brow pencil
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes

Lips:
Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity lip gloss Opaline


I'd like to do more copper and blue eye looks in future.  Good colors, I say!  Thanks to Xiao for the inspiration.  :)

Before...and After

So, you have probably guessed that I'm not wearing any makeup in this first picture.  All I have on my skin is Jurlique's balancing oil (which smells absolutely divine, by the way), and I had just previously used the GlamGlow mask, which is really super nice - and intense.  Enough of that and onto some makeup!!

Here I am with everything makeup on my face.  Ta da!  The eye colors were a little funky together, but I think it all pulled together nicely in the end.

I wish you could see more of the mega shimmery sparkliness going on here.  The Shu shadows I used are very sparkly, but you can just barely tell here.  I suppose the overkill glitter of the Urban Decay liner more than makes up for that.  :)

Face:
Smashbox Photofinish More Than Primer Dark Spot Correcting
Stila Stay All Day Foundation with concealer in Bare
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder

Cheeks:
Givenchy Bucolic Poppy
Nars Hungry Heart

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Tarte chubby eye pencil in Gold (lid and lowers)
Tarte chubby eye pencil in Champagne (inner corner and inner lowers)
Tarte skinny eye pencil in Black (upper lash line)
Makeup Geek e/s Burlesque (crease)
Lorac Chic e/s (brow bone)
Shu Smoky Velvet palette (sparkly gold - center of lid)
Shu Prestigious Bordeaux palette (shimmery copper above crease and outer lowers)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
UD Baked glitter liner (uppers, over the black)
Tarte Taupe brow pencil
Laura Mercier Faux Lash mascara

Lips:
MAC Dare to Wear Lipglass Wind Me Up


Thanks for stopping by and feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

Hot Winter Days

This was from a really muggy and hot day last week.  It's nearly Christmas...why must I be speaking of really muggy and hot days?!  It's so wrong.

Another extremely simple eye look.  Golds are always a favorite of mine.  Can you spot the pool reflection in my eye?

I much preferred the Illamasqua Skin Base this go around, mixed with Stila's One Step Bronze.  It felt lighter on, looked more natural, and lasted better, dare I say.  It's such a finicky foundation for me!  I was quite glowy all the hot day, but I don't believe it looked melty or less than fresh.

Something is bothering me about these photos and I believe it's the blush placement.  Too far up the temples?  Perhaps too strong in any case?  I'm trying to learn to work with Panic, but it's certainly hard for me not to accidentally overdo it!

Face:
Benefit The Porefessional (tiny bit on the center of my face)
Illamasqua Skin Base 02 mixed with Stila One Step Bronze
Illamasqua concealer 115 (spots)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (under eye)
MUFE Super Matte Loose 12

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Illamasqua Tweak and Panic
Laura Mercier Starlight Mineral Illuminating Powder

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
BareMinerals High Shine Gold Medal e/s
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Posh (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
MAC Pure Show Superslick liquid liner
Armani Eyes to Kill Excess mascara
Tarte taupe brow pencil

Lips:
YSL Touche Eclat 1 (blended into lip line)
Shiseido Lacquer Rouge Nocturne


I for sure love the Shiseido Lacuqer Rouge formula.  They are supremely comfortable and decently long wearing.  I wish for more colors!  Also, I've got my eye on the asian exclusive colors, but of course.  If only they were easier to obtain.

Nocturne never looks shimmery or sparkly on my lips, but it amuses me that when I got to wipe my lips off (before or after eating, say), only then do I notice the shimmer bits.  Hidden shimmer!

Feel free to comment about anything - but you may not tease me for my ballerina bun!  It was just too steamy to have my hair down.  :)

Simple with a Twist

Here is another go at simpler eyes.  I didn't get my flick just quite right, as my one somewhat droopy eye crease tried to eat it up, but it was good enough for the time.  I'm sure the metallic gold brows distracted from that just as they should have!  :)

I absolutely adore Tweak blush on myself.  It might be my new favorite blush!  So many blushes to love...so little time on this earth to wear them all enough.

The new Cover FX powder compact is most definitely not matte.  As you can see, it's got a nice natural glow to it.  I applied it lazily with the included sponge pad and was surprised at how light it looked on me (thus the gentle dusting of bronzer all over afterward).  It did wear well through a long and rather humid day, so I give it big points for that.  Also, no annoying creasing or bunching up in my expression lines.  Hooray!

Face:
Laura Mercier Face Primer
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (under eye)
Cover FX Mineral Compact N10
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01 (lightly all over)

Cheeks:
Illamasqua Tweak <3

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
GA ETKI #26
RBR Golden Rhea (inner corner)
Lorac Chic Baked Matte Satin e/s (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen
Fiberwig D.J.V. Beautenizer Volume Lash
UD El Dorado and Baked e/l pencils (brows)

Lips:
Bite Beauty Lip Lacquer Aurora


If you are wondering about the lippie, I will tell you that I am in love with this color and am sure it was made to be worn with Tweak.  It's a tacky formula that tastes yummy and sweet (a bit like honey).  My lips weren't dry from it.  The applicator needs several dips to get my lips covered.  It stayed on good, although after hours of wear it left me with more of a stained balm kind of look.  What I'm trying to say here is that it doesn't retain its shiny lacquer appearance for much more than an hour or so?  Something like that.

Thanks for stopping by!

One of the Best Reds

Face:
Kat Von D Rehab Priming Elixir
UD Naked Skin 0.5
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1
Illamasqua Concealer 115
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder

Cheeks:
Vincent Longo Sandalwood

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
GA ETKI #17 (lid)
UD Ace e/s (crease)
UD Omen e/s (above crease)
Lorac Chic e/s (brow bone, inner corner)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Stila Smudge Stick Silver Dollar e/l (waterline)
Tarte taupe brow pencil
Stila Stay All Day mascara

Lips:
YSL Glossy Stain 9 <3


I'm not sure why my skin looks so pale here, but it looked perfectly normal/fine in real life!  Maybe it's because I skipped my lazy bronzer contour.  I'm on a kick for trying simpler eye looks.  For this one, I started with Ace in the crease, blended it, then added the #17 silver on the lid, and next blended above the crease with Omen.  I am pleased with how it turned out!  It definitely takes some getting used to to see myself without so much liner and with nothing on my lower lash line, though.

This is a re-try for me with the Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation.  I liked it much better this go around than I remember from before.  It's definitely very lightweight, which is nice.

Do I even have to speak about Glossy Stain 9?!  No, I do not.  It speaks for itself.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Pamplelune

I cannot remember everything on my face from this day because it was more than a couple of days ago.  I'll list what I can!  :)

Cheeks:
Givenchy Le Prisme 24 It-Girl Purple

Eyes:
MAC Paint Pot Let's Skate! (lid)
RBR Veiled Lyrebird e/s (crease)
RBR Alabaster Starling e/s (inner corner)
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Amethyst (lowers and very outer corner of upper lash line)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Stila Kajal Pearl e/l pencil (waterline)
Tarte taupe brow pencil
Korres Volcanic mascara

Lips:
Guerlain Shine Automatique Pamplelune


I think I was likely wearing Givenchy Photo'Perfexion foundation here, but I'm just not sure.  Let me know if you have questions about anything and I'll do my best.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wild at Heart

This was just for fun, of course.  I'm not at all convinced that my colors went together harmoniously, but I'm also not upset about any of it.  It's hard figuring out how to wear bright purple lipstick without just dulling down everything else!  This lipstick is a teeny bit more pink in person, just so you know.

I wore two of my favorite gold eyeshadows - Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Vision and BareMinerals True Gold.  True Gold actually muted some of the extreme sparkle of Vision, but also evened out the overall finish.  I *might* have used a little Urban Decay Smog in the outer corner but I seriously cannot remember.  I have the memory of a flea, I think.  Also, to be fair, I wore this last Wednesday.

Face:
Illamasqua Skin Base 02
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (under eye)
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
Sephora Microsmooth Powder 05 Porcelain
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01 (lightly all over)

Cheeks:
Illamasqua Morale

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Chanel Id'O Vision (base)
BareMinerals True Gold e/s (all over)
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s in Posh (to blend edges) and Chic (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Stila Smudge Stick e/l Damsel (smudged into outer uppers)
Too Faced Perfect Eyes e/l Perfect Peacock (lowers)
RBR Mountain Bluebird e/s (smudged into liner on lowers)
UD El Dorado liner pencil (waterline)
probably Fiberwig Volume Lash mascara
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof (lowers)
Tarte taupe brow pencil

Lips:
MUFE Rouge Artist Intense #15 <3


Illamasqua Skin Base photographs very nicely on me - however, I am not a fan of the formula on myself.  It feels a little bit too heavy and doesn't wear as well as I want it to.  If I'm wearing full coverage and have that sort of flawless look to my complexion, I really expect and need to for it to stay that way!  I had some breakdown on my nose (stupid nose) and creasing on my laugh lines and "11's."  Maybe I should not have put the Sephora Microsmooth powder over top.  Who knows?  I find that the 02 shade is too light for me, thus the need to gently bronze all over.  For those of you that use and like Skin Base, please tell me how you like to wear it!  How do you apply it and do you powder it?  I applied it with my finger tips here.  Next go around maybe I will mix in a pinch of my Becca Bronzing Skin Perfector.

Thanks for stopping by and do come again!

Siren

This first picture looks weird/cool and edited, although it's not!  I particularly enjoy the reflection of the sky, clouds, and whatnot in the sliding glass door behind me.

This was somewhat of an accidental combination of eye colors for me.  I like how it turned out.  I really love the formula on the Rouge Bunny Rouge cream shadows - some of the best I've ever tried.  Also, I adore my Too Faced The Return of Sexy palette.  Well played, Self, well played!

Let me sing praises for Hourglass Siren lip gloss.  It's metallic - way more so than my pictures show.  It wears a very long time.  It's not drying.  It pairs beautifully with any number of orangey to red to pinky shades of lipstick.  AND IT'S STUNNING!

Face:
not sure what primer - I think Benefit's Porefessional
Givenchy Photo'Perfexion 1 Perfect Ivory
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
not sure what under eye concealer - I think MUFE Lift 1
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (under eye)
MUFE Super Matte Loose 12

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Illamasqua Lover
Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous Illuminator

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
RBR cream e/s Velvet Fritillary (lid)
Too Faced The Return of Sexy palette (left grouping, all but the tan shade)
Stila Smudge Stick Lionfish (lowers, with shadow smudged over)
Stila Sparkle liquid e/l Rock Candy
Stila Kajal e/l Pearl (waterline)
Stila Stay All Day black liquid liner (tight line)
Tarte taupe brow pencil
probably Fiberwig Volume Lash mascara
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof mascara (lowers)

Lips:
Kat Von D Painted Love lipstick Stiletto
Hourglass Extreme Sheen lip gloss Siren <3


Thanks for stopping by!  I'd be happy to hear from you about this look or anything else.  :)

Juicy Cran-Grape

The first three of these pictures have been edited using Picasa's "one-click fix for lighting."  I like how it brightened up everything.  You can really see the difference when you look at the fourth (last) photo, which has not been edited.

I am loving the smooth, easy texture of Le Metier de Beaute's eyeshadows and also the excellent pigmentation.  Maybe they are too buttery, though, because Fig (the plum) likes to crease on my occasionally creasey left eye.  I'm pretty sure I've worn Corinthian without it creasing, so perhaps it varies color to color.

Do you see how high my right brow arches up when I smile big?  Years ago, on my wedding day, the photographer kept telling me all day long, to "stop doing that thing with your eyebrow!"  Uh...yeah.  That's how my face works.  Ha ha!  It's naturally just higher and more arched anyhow.  I'm a little miffed at myself for not getting the crease color up high enough on my poor left eye.

Face:
Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat BR20
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Givenchy Le Prisme Blush 24 It-Girl Purple

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Sephora + Pantone eyeliner pencil "Meteorite"
Makeup Geek Corrupt e/s (smudged into Meteorite)
LMdB e/s Fig (lid and outer lowers)
LMdB e/s Fire Lily (crease and inner lower lash lines)
Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma e/s (inner corner)
Makeup Geek Bling e/s (brow bone)
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Posh (to blend outer edges)
YSL black cream liner (tight and waterlines)
Tarte taupe brow pencil
Fiberwig D.J.V. Beautenizer Volume Lash
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof mascara (lowers)

Lips:
Korres Lip Butter Wild Rose

Immediately after I took these pictures I realized that the lip color was too cool with the eyes.  I added MAC Dare to Wear Lipglass in Wind Me Up (bronzey-pinky-gold) and that fixed everything just fine! I wish I had taken pictures of that.

I need to rave about Korres' lip butters.  I just bought a huge value set on sephora.com (three butters and three glazes) and have become instantly obsessed!  The butters in particular feel utterly amazing on my lips!  The glazes are really nice, too.  If you have not tried them, I highly encourage you to do so.

Thanks so much for stopping by!