My Week in Review

Alright then.  This is going to be a rather long post featuring pictures from the past week.  This first look is from Sunday.  I'm wearing Maybelline Color Tattoo in Seashore Frosts supplemented with colors from the Tarte Aqualillies palette.

For liner, I used a blue-gray Buxom smoky stick and Jordana's brown pen liner.  I'm slightly disappointed in how subtle Seashore Frosts is, however, I hear it is great layered, so I will be game to try that next.

My lip color is Belmacz Glow in Ruby and my blush is Nars Boys Don't Cry.

Not sure why these two photos turned out so "cool" compared to the previous ones, but I rather like them!

I believe I was wearing the Tarte BB primer with BECCA pressed mineral over top here.

Monday's look was a bit odd, I must confess.  I guess I was going for something kind of techno-futuristic.  I debated between this lip color (YSL Glossy Stain 18) and something really neon pink.  Perhaps neon pink would have been nicer as I look pretty washed out in these photos.  Nars Gaeity is my blush.

On my eyes I am wearing Belmacz Silver Swan, which I'm really sad to say is already showing signs of shrinkage and drying up.  I've not had it that long and have only used it once before!  :(  My package seems a bit loose, so maybe that's the reason why.  In any case, for something as expensive, I do expect more.  I lined the upper lashlines with Urban Decay Dime pencil and smudged Nars Barrow Street liner into the lowers.  The pink mascara is from L.A. Splash.

On Tuesday I went for dramatic smoky eyes!  I used Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Mirifique as my base color and Fantasme as the inner corner highlight.  UD Creep eyeshadow went over the lids and around the lowers.  Catrice Vanessa's Paradise was the teal color used.  On the waterline I had Sephora Flashy liner in Flashy Brown.

My blush was Addiction powder in Amazing and my lipstick was Bite Cuvee in Blush.

I really loved the sparklies from Mirifique and Fantasme - they were much better in person!

For Wednesday's look, I used Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Cocoa as my base and on the lowers.  I blended L'Oreal Infallible in Liquid Diamond over top on the lids and into the creases.  This combo was not my idea, but taken from Missy, a.k.a. "dreamonnnnnn," of MUA.  Stellar combo!  I thank you!!  I used the brown Jordana liquid pen liner to line, as well as a dark brown Bare Escentuals liner for my waterlines.

On my cheeks is Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01 Halees.  I'm still not sure if I can pull off bronzer as blush - but heck, some days I just want to and I don't really care.  The glow from it was really nice.

Cocoa is kind of magical with my eyes, I'm starting to think.  LOVE IT.

On my lips I am wearing Shisiedo Lacquer Rouge in Sunstone 312.  The formula on these is just plain awesome.  They are long wearing, light feeling, and do not dry my lips.  I highly recommend them.

Last, but not least, is Friday's look.  This one features Illamasqua's Paranormal palette (green and purple shades).  The palette is really creamy.  I'd say more cream texture than it is powder.  The shadows I used are decently pigmented yet somewhat hard to work with.  I also experienced minor creasing.  Not too happy about that!  The colors are really gorgeous, though, so I'm sure I will try to make them work again in the future.  :)

I used UD Kush lightly over top of the green Illa color, hoping to minimize any creasing.  RBR Gracious Arasari was in the crease with Too Faced Cocoa Star in the outer corner.  On the lowers, I smudged the purple Illa color into a blue-purple Sephora Flashy liner pencil.  UD Uzi was on the very inner corner and Virgin was my brow highlight.  Also, I lined the uppers with UD Mildew pencil.

I actually really like all the colors on my face here and find them to be nicely harmonious.  My blush was Tarte Tipsy powder and my lipstick was a combination of Tarte Buff and Achiote pencils.

I look extra glowy here because I was HOT!  Also, I learned that I do not love Clinique's CC Cream with BECCA Mineral over top.  It was okay, it just didn't wear as flawlessly through the day as I had hoped.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Let me know if you have questions about anything that I used that is not mentioned, or anything at all, really.

Rose Tempura

Face:
Benefit The Porefessional
MUFE Lift Foundation #11
Illamasqua Concealer 115
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Nars Light Reflecting Powder Loose

Cheeks:
Tarte AC Stellar
Tarte AC Angelic

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
RBR Gracious Arasari (crease)
Addiction Rigoletto (lid)
Addiction North Star (inner corner)
Hourglass Ambient Light Ethereal Light (brow bone)
Vincent Longo Pearl X Etherea (smudged into liner on lowers and outer corners of lids)
YSL black cream liner (tight line)
UD Baked e/l pencil (waterline and lowers)
Guerlain Maxi Lash
Cover Girl Clump Crusher water-resistant (lowers)
Hourglass Arch Soft Brunette

Lips:
YSL Glossy Stain #13 Rose Tempura


The lip looks a little more red here than it did in person.  It's a really bold raspberry sort of red-pink.  I'm wearing two layers of it in these pictures.

I think the silver on the inner corner of my eyes is a little kooky - aaand I think I like that.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Scarlet

Face:
Armani Face Fabric primer
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Porcelain
Illamasqua Concealer 115
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1
Korres WR Mineral Setting Powder

Cheeks:
Addiction Revenge
Nars Hungry Heart

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Armani Eyes to Kill Intense #28
Makeup Geek Bling Bling (inner corner)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo Ash Blonde (light side)
Korres Volcanic mascara

Lips:
Bite lip primer
Bite High Pigment lip pencil Scarlet (LE)

This was a relatively quick look for me, from last week.  I really loved wearing the Scarlet pencil.  It seriously hydrated my lips - shocking to say.  After the day my lips felt soft.  CRAZY!  It doesn't hold on as tenaciously as some other more drying formulas out there, but I guess you can't have perfectly long wearing without being a least somewhat drying.  Yeah.

In any case, I can see more Bite pencils in my future.

Thanks for stopping by and do pardon my messy, not so fresh hair!  Eep.

Lady of the Lake

Face:
Georgio Armani Maestro Fusion 3
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
MUFE Lift Concealer 1
Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder Loose

Cheeks:
Illamasqua Morale

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
lightest shimmer shade from Lorac Mint palette (Ulta version)
RBR Periwinkle Cardinal (crease and above)
Urban Decay e/l pencil Mildew
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes!
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo Ash Blonde (lightest half only)

Lips:
Addiction Lady of the Lake lipstick (applied with a brush)

Neck:
Dior Aurora 01 Bronzer

I was surprised to not hate Maestro.  While it didn't wear too tenaciously on me, it did look nice and natural.  It was also oddly fun to apply!  I put several drops into the palm of my left hand, then dipped a finger tip from my right hand into the pool, and followed by quickly applying to my face.  Repeat, etc.  It glides on like liquid silk, which I rather enjoy.  I did not use a primer here, so that will be what I do next time around, to see if that helps it to wear better through the day.  Mainly my nose got shiny halfway through the day - a problem easily remedied with a quick pat from my MUFE Pro Finish compact.

My face felt comfortable and not dry, too, so that is always good.  I was sure to moisturize well underneath.  I'm still loving the new Nars loose powder.

I find it strange and interesting that Periwinkle Cardinal eyeshadow is most definitely not periwinkle.  It's a soft, almost minty green.

Let's talk about Lady of the Lake for a second.  I love this color.  The formula - not so much.  It's thick and smooth and waxy.  While the initial application was not so difficult, I had trouble with subsequent touch ups (which I found to need every hour or so for various reasons).  It got patchy or would ball up in areas.  I ended up using my finger tip to rub out the textural issues, and then would add more as needed.  Also, it felt dry - quite dry.  Now, I can put up with beastly dry lipsticks if they are going to look endlessly pretty and perform well.  I can!  But if they are high maintenance and drying, then it's hard to justify.  All that said, perhaps because little Lady of the Lake came such a long way to be with me, I am determined to make her work.  Next go around I will try a primer and also exfoliate my lips first.

Below is a pic of an eye from Monday.  I didn't fill in my brows here, so try not to get too distracted by that sadness.  I wore RBR Lilac Reef Curassow all over, Umber Firefinch in the crease, and Alabaster Starling in the inner corner.  I used UD Mildew pencil for liner.  I love the color combination and would definitely wear it again!

Many Faces

I really would like to stop being a slacker about my posts.  Really.  But for now you'll have to cope with a random catch up featuring several different faces.  This first one features Tom Ford Diabolique lipstick.  It's the most intensely pigmented and matte of my Tom Ford reds.

On my eyes is Laura Mercier's Caviar Stick in Rosegold, some smudged black Sephora liner, and Stila's glitter liner in Golden Silver (LE Japanese, if I'm not mistaken).  I used Sephora Prisma Chrome eyeshadow in Moonbeam (pink version) as a highlight.

This next one features Tom Ford Slander lipstick.  My face is looking extra pink in the DiorSkin Nude BB Cream 001 (in real life it looked pretty natural).

The amazing eyeshadow you see is Addiction Thriller and the also stunning eyeliner is Stila Smudge Stick in Bluefin!  I love this so so much.

Lastly, I'm wearing a dramatic emerald smoky eye.  This was really fun for me to do.  I almost always have the most fun when I do super dramatic eye looks.

I used Stila's Smudge Crayon in black as a base, which really helps the green (Envy) to pop and gives it awesome depth.  Makeup Geek's Shimmermint eyeshadow is in my inner crease and on the inner half of my lower lash line.  Makeup Geek Envy is on the lid and lower lashes.  I used Rouge Bunny Rouge Whispering Ibis to blend out and above the crease.  Tarte's skinny pencil in Emerald fit perfectly onto my water line.

I kept the lips simple, using one of my favorite lip gloss formulas - Urban Decay Lip Junkie.  Midnight Cowboy has a really beautiful champagne shimmer that my pictures do not capture.  Also, it feels so comfortable and hydrating on my lips!

I started using a lip brush to apply my Tom Ford red lippies and I have to say, WOW, what a difference!!  It takes me longer to apply (or so it seems), but the end result is far superb to free-handing it with the bullet.  I get a really crisp line.  The reds have all worn spectacularly on me, so I don't know if applying with a brush extends the wear, as I've heard it does.  I would not doubt it.  I think I'm officially in love with the Tom Ford lipstick formula.  And applying with a brush!  Who knew?!

Oh, and for you blush fanatics out there, my blushes, in order of appearance, were:  Givenchy Bucolic Poppy, Becca Dragonfruit Beach Tint, and Illamasqua Naked Rose.

Thanks for stopping by!  Do let me know if you have questions or thoughts about anything.  :)

RBR Smoked

I'm back into my comfort zone now with smokier eye looks.  :)  I had missed them!  This was done with various gray tones from Rouge Bunny Rouge - arguably the best (or perhaps just my favorite) eyeshadow out there!  I wish I had remembered to use Volcano Fairy-Wren, too, but that's okay.

The Essence Twi-hard glitter liner is super subtle, but I actually like it!  It just adds a tiny bit of shimmery interest.  Never met a glitter I didn't like.

This is the first time wearing YSL Touche Eclat foundation in at least several weeks.  I had tested out a sample previously and decided that I very much liked it.  I still do!  It just makes me look better.  That's what we all want in foundation, right?  It smells nice, goes on easily, has a beautiful softly glowing finish, and lasts all day.  I finished with Cover FX powder for a little extra coverage since I applied very little liquid foundation.  Too bad Cover FX recently changed all their powder colors and my color no longer exists.  :(

Face:
Benefit The Porefessional
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation BR20
Cover FX powder compact (old) E0
Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer 1
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (under eye)
Illamasqua concealer 115

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Addiction Amazing powder blush
Sephora Prisma Chrome e/s Moonbeam (pink version)

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Sephora + Pantone Meteorite black pencil e/l
RBR Trumpeter Koel e/s (smudged into liner)
RBR Electrifying Storm-Petrel e/s (lid)
RBR Vivacious Maguari e/s (crease)
MUFE 307 e/s (outer corner)
Dior 5-Colour Designer palette Smoky Design (white and silvers used to highlight)
Essence Twilight Breaking Dawn part 2 glitter eyeliner Alice Had a Vision - Again (upper lash line)
Stila Stay All Day black pen liner (tight line)
GA ETK black wp e/l pencil (waterline)
Laura Mercier brow pencil Fair Blonde (too yellow!)
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes! topped with
Lancome Hypnose Drama sparkly silver top coat mascara
Givenchy Phenomeneyes wp mascara (lowers)

Lips:
Illamasqua Sheer Gloss Intimacy


Let me know what you think and watch out for more smoky looks to come!

Dragonfruit with Glitter

This will be a shorter post as I didn't get hardly any decent pictures of myself this go around.  Some days are like that.  It was a simple look, anyway, so I don't need to go on and on about it!  What I like most here is the tinted moisturizer (Amore Pacific), the lip color, and the purple glitter, of course!

Face:
Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Tinted Treatment Moisturizer 102 Fair
Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Addiction Revenge
Dior Amber Diamond

Eyes:
Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
RBR Alabaster Starling (inner corner)
RBR Angelic Cockatiels (all over)
Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black pen e/l (tightline)
Urban Decay Rockstar e/l pencil
Urban Decay glitter liner Metalhead
Fiberwig D.J.V. Beautenizer Volume Lash
Clinique Bottom Lash
Tarte Taupe brow pencil

Lips:
Becca Beach Tint Dragonfruit
NYX Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe Paint the Town

Okay.  So I don't like how Angelic Cockatiels looks out of control frosty in a bad way up to nearly my brow bone!  Good grief.  I can only say that I thought it looked better in person - but, ya know, that may or may not be true.  In any case, I hope you'll forgive me for that lapse in judgment.

The Amore Pacific tinted moisturizer is so dreamy, I simply must rave!  It goes on like silky smooth buttery face perfection (do you really want butter on your face - no, you do not - bad analogy).  It lasts all day, as well, which is an absolute must for me.  I even bothered to get hot and sweaty at work, so that was a great test for wear.  The coverage is a very nice light with a radiant but not overly dewy finish (if that makes sense).  It has the typical Amore Pacific scent going on, but fades away pretty quickly.  It also has a hefty price tag!  Oh boy.  For now, I'm enjoying a sample.  I definitely recommend that you get a sample if you can.  It is worth the trouble.

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to comment if you have anything to say - even, "Lauren, never ever wear that frosty eyeshadow that high up again!"  :)

Violet Edition

This was the makeup I wore yesterday.  I experimented with a few complexion samples and new things.  I tried Bobbi Brown Skin foundation in Alabaster and I think it oxidized on me - it was definitely a little dark and yellow.  That's okay, though, because I still have fun trying new things!  I've been on a try-new-things kick for some time now.

Speaking of which, this was my first time wearing my Addiction Concrete Jungle and Rouge Bunny Rouge Mountain Bluebird eyeshadows.  I like them a lot!  I added a little sparkle over top of the lid colors with Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure in Opal (it's a loose shimmer).  The only liner I wore was for tightlining.  I think it looked pretty nice.  I give myself credit for keeping the eyes relatively simple and not over-doing them.

See my baby Georgia in the picture above?  She's chilling on the couch behind me.  :)  The YSL Glossy Stains are one of my very favorite things.  I have 12 of them or something completely absurd.  Number 1 Violet Edition is a recent acquisition and I have to say that I'm head over heels for the color of it.  The application has been giving me grief, though!  It wants to go on patchy and uneven.  I fight it, though, and somehow make it work.  It's worth the effort.  They all wear so well for such a long time.  I never worry about bleeding and I can get a good 4-5 hours, sometimes longer, with them looking picture perfect (that's with loads of talking at work, too!).

Face:
GA Fluid Sheer 7
BB Skin Alabaster
BE Stroke of Light Luminous 1
Illamasqua Concealer 115
Stila Set and Correct

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01
Addiction Amazing blush
Nars Hungry Heart (pink side)

Eyes:
Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer
Addiction Concrete Jungle (lid and into crease)
RBR Mountain Bluebird (along lash lines and in outer corner)
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Chic (inner corner)
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Posh (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black e/l pen (tightline)
Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure Opal (lid over other shadows)
Givenchy Noir Couture mascara
Tarte Taupe brow pencil

Lips:
YSL Glossy Stain 1 Violet Edition

The Armani Fluid Sheer is a pretty pearly pink sort of base.  It reminds me a little of the Missha Boomer, at least in color.  I haven't quite decided how I feel about the Stila Set and Correct powder.  I need to try it out more to fully develop my opinion.  This time, I thought it made me look green, which could have been from over use, I suppose, and resulted in me putting on a little more bronzer than normal to counterbalance that.  Perhaps it just has too much color over all for my skin tone, to be a fab setting powder.

Please let me know if you have any application tricks for the Glossy Stain 1!  I would love it to be easier.  Also, feel free to ask questions about anything and thanks for stopping by!