Winter Wonderland

Face:
Smashbox More Than Primer
KGD Aqua PK-0
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1
Nars LRP Loose

Cheeks:
MAC Full of Joy
Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Winter Wonderland swirly luminizer

Eyes:
WnW Fergie eye primer
all eyeshadows from Sephora Winter Wonderland palette
UD Perversion e/l under smudged e/s (uppers)
UD Uzi e/l - waterline
UD 1999 e/l under smudged e/s (lowers)
Stila Stay All Day pen liner (tight line)
MUFE Smoky Extravagant
Blinc Amplified (lowers)
Anastasia brow powder duo Ash Blonde

Lips:
Too Faced Smurf gloss!  (seriously old, but I seriously love that thing)


Let me know if you have questions about the eyeshadows or anything else!

Lady at Play

Face:
UD Naked Skin Beauty Balm
MUFE Lift 11
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1
Nars Light Reflecting Loose Powder

Cheeks:
Dior Aurora 01
GA Fluid Sheer #6 (blush)
GA Fluid Sheer #2 (highlight)

Eyes:
WnW Fergie eye primer
L'Oreal Infallible e/s "Gold Imperial"
RBR Abyssinian Catbird (crease/outer corner)
Lorac e/s Posh (brow bone, blend out edges)
Illamasqua Liquid Metal Solstice (inner lowers)
UD Smog e/l pencil (lowers)
Tokidoki e/l pencil "Marrone" 
Jordana black pen liner (tightline)
Anastasia brow powder duo Ash Blonde
Hourglass Arch Soft Brunette
Guerlain Maxi Lash
CG Clump Crusher water resistant (lowers)

Lips:
UD Ozone l/l
MAC Lady at Play
I also put a little Fluid Sheer #2 on my cupid's bow

Okay!  I'm starting to fall behind.  This is me making a concerted effort to catch up.  :)  Wish me luck!  And I hope you like this look.  Of other importance - I tried the UD BB, as primer, here.  It was not as orange or scary as I had initially thought it would be.  Yay!  It also did a nice job of keeping my makeup in tact through the day.  

Another Mongo Post

Here's another mega post.  I hope you enjoy it!  In the above pictures, I was wearing Hourglass Immaculate (Vanilla, I believe), Tarte AC Tipsy blush, Too Faced Natural at Night palette on the eyes (the three top row colors), aaaand Belmacz Infrared Lip Glow.  Infrared surprised me by being peenk because in the pot it looks almost neon orange.

Pardon my under eye area looking too bright/light in the above photo, but I was playing with a new eye primer and used some under my eyes there as well as on my lids.  It's the CK One Eyeshadow Base in Clean.  So far I really like it!  It does brighten very nicely and I haven't had any creasing yet (other than from Illamasqua cream shadows, but that's another story).  I'm not sure how I feel about this eye look in general because I worry that it makes my eyes look too small or narrow.  Thoughts?

I am, however, mildly obsessed with this easy winged out pencil liner technique!  I just take my BareMinerals Soft Focus eyeliner brush and pull out the ends of my pencil liner before it sets.  It's so stinking easy and I love the result.  I may forsake harsh liquid wings altogether now!

In the above look, I was wearing Clinique CC Cream Very Light, Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream #5 on the eyes and cheeks, RBR Gracious Arasari in the crease, Stila Lionfish liner, a little bit of Tarte AC Fearless over the #5 cream on cheeks, and Korres Greek Yoghurt Lip Cooler in Peach.

Above, I was wearing Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer Fair 1, Stila Custom Color Blush in Coral, Sephora + Pantone Precious Metals eyeshadows from the huge palette (eek - I messed up the outer corner of the eye you see above by not extending/darkening the color enough), and Guerlain Shine Automatique in Pamplelune.

Above, I was wearing the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau BB Light, Illamasqua Tweak blusher, Guerlain Turandot eyeshadows, Sephora Flashy liner in Flashy brown, and Hourglass Liquid Rouge in Canvas.

For this one, I wore Stila Tinted Moisturizer in Fair, Illamasqua Morale blusher, Armani Eyes to Kill Intense #1 (my special pot is way more gold/taupe than most), UD Bordello and Last Call, UD liners in Mainline, Delinquent, and Cuff.  The fabulous lipstick that looks even more amazing in person is Armani Lip Maestro in #504 Ecstasy.

Lastly, a more "simple" look for me.  I wasn't feeling great that day, so I tried to keep things easy.  I was wearing Missha Perfect Cover BB #13, Tarte AC Achiote (a bit heavy handed, I suspect!), Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Ebloui, and Tarte Lipsurgence in Lust.

Please keep in mind that my breakdowns here have been very lazy and of course do not list every item that I used.  If you have questions about anything specific that was not mentioned, feel free to ask and I will do my best to remember!  Many things I don't list are pretty routine - for example, bronzers, concealers, brows, tight line, eye primer, mascara, etc.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  <3

Diamond Dusk

This was a face from last week.  I was wearing Make Up For Ever Lift Foundation in #11, Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, Guerlain Meteorites Perles du Paradis, Tarte AC Adored Blush, YSL Glossy Stain #15, and Tarina Tarantino's Diamond Dusk Aurora Jewel palette (LE from a while back).  How's about that for a quick product breakdown?!  :)

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!

Red for Days!

If you'll forgive my hair, I think this look turned out really awesome!  I wanted to do dark eyes and dark lips.  It was the perfect opportunity to break out my newly beloved MUFE 48 lipstick.  48 is possibly my favorite vamp ever!

Sadly, it was very overcast outside, so all the sparklies on my eyes refused to shine.  Mirifique has soft rainbowy multi-colored sparkles and Berber has beautiful gold sparkles.  Oh!  And MUFE 307 e/s has tiny rainbow glitters, too!

Next up are some bloopers.  That's right, folks.  You heard me right.  I make silly faces.  Mostly on accident while trying to make really cool faces (or while attempting to smile in a natural looking manner).

This is maniac smiley face.

This is "oh no you di'in't" or alternately, the face of indigestion.

This is smoochy eyes to the sky face.

And lastly we have squinty-eyed smoochy pirate.

Face:
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat BR20 <3
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
Tarte AC Stellar
Nars Hungry Heart

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Chanel Illusion d'Ombre Mirifique (base/lowers)
Illamasqua Pigment Berber pigment (everywhere you see red)
Make Up For Ever Diamond e/s 307 (outer corner and smudged into lash lines)
Face Atelier White Gold pigment (inner corner)
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Posh (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
YSL black cream liner (waterline)
Sephora + Pantone e/l pencil Meteorite (upper lash line under 307 e/s)
Sephora Outrageous Volume mascara
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof (lowers)
Tarte taupe brow pencil

Lips:
Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense 48

I'm still loving the Touche Eclat foundation.  Also, the formula on the lipstick is pretty great, too!  I definitely think I want to do more red eyes with red lips in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed the silliness.  :)

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!

My Epic Wings

Alright.  I just had to title this post the way I did because these are my biggest wings to date!  Go me!  I have wing fears.  Wing issues.  I'm trying to work through them.

I used YSL's black cream liner and a small angled brush from Tarte (I probably got it in a QVC set).  The angle of the brush seemed to help do some work for me on the actual wing.  Nothing is perfect here, but I'm mostly happy with the way the liner turned out.

Please share all your winged liner tips with me!  I'm game to try anything that will help build my confidence.  Also, I never know what to do with my lower lash line.  Do I put liner on it as well?  And what kind?  Do I line the inner rims?  Obviously I lose all sense of direction when it comes to doing winged liner on myself.  I opted to just use a little shadow softly on the lower lash line and a brightening pencil on the rims.  I think I probably could have used more definition after all - maybe a pencil liner.

Face:
Armani Face Fabric primer
MUFE Lift 11
MUFE Lift concealer 1
Illamasqua Concealer 115
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder

Cheeks:
Nars Sin
Sephora Prisma Chrome e/s Moonbeam (pink version)

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
Tarina Tarantino e/s duo Moon Opal & Iris Plume
Lorac Baked Matte Satin e/s Chic (brow bone)
YSL Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils 01 Black
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Tarte Taupe Brow Pencil
Fiberwig D.J.V. Beautenizer Volume Lash (this stuff is awesome, BTW)
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof mascara (lowers)
Tarina Tarantino e/l pencil Broken Doll (waterline)

Lips:
UD Ozone lip liner
Armani Lip Maestro 201 Dark Velvet

I have a few disappointments from this look.  Nars Sin blush did not wear well on me at all.  It faded noticeably through the day.  Also, the Dark Velvet lip color did not wear as good on me as the other Lip Maestros I've tried so far.  It faded on the fat part of my lower lip (the pillowy part in the middle, if that makes sense) after only a few hours.  It didn't look awful by any means, but not as gorgeous as the other colors.  It also felt much drier to me, if that's even possible.  I'm thinking maybe I was internally dehydrated, but I'm also wondering if the formula could vary due to pigment differences?!  I'm not sure, but it's worth noting.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tibetan Orange Love

First and foremost, a huge shout out to my peeps Caroline and Kristin for urging me to buy this lippie on Tuesday night.  YOU CHOSE WELL.  <3 you both!

Overall, I'm really pleased with this look!  I feel quite sexy and confident in it and I truly love just about every product that I used today.  The only things I would want to change would be to try and brighten up the inner contour of my eye area (toward my nose, if that makes sense) and perhaps a different under eye concealer only because I think the Tarte one looks a bit too light for me.

Oh, and if only I could do false eyelashes!  That would be slamming, as well.  One day I'll have to get brave and try them again.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Blackpepper Jay eyeshadow is so, so, so lovely!  It's the dark taupe brown sort of color I used all over.  The texture was pure heaven to apply and it lasted perfectly all day.  I'm not a lover of matte eyeshadows, but this one has stolen my heart!  I was going for matte brown-black and I need to look in my stash to see if I have another option - something warmer or deeper.

Face:
Benefit The Porefessional
MUFE Lift Foundation 11
Illamasqua Concealer 115
Tarte Maracuja Concealer Fair
Korres Wild Rose Mineral Setting Powder (under eye)
MUFE Super Matte Loose 12

Cheeks:
Guerlain Terracotta Light Blondes 01 (applied a bit heavier to cheeks than my normal lazy contour)
Tarte AC Peaceful blush
Bare Minerals Secret Radiance (highlight)

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
RBR Blackpepper Jay e/s
Sugarpill Goldilux pigment (applied with dry brush first, then smaller damp brush on inner corner)
Too Faced In the Buff e/s (brow bone)
Stila Stay All Day black pen liner (tight line)
Tokidoki Brillante glitter liner Melodia
GA ETK black wp pencil liner (waterline)
Tarte Taupe brow pencil
Fiberwig D.J.V. Beautenizer Volume Lash
Givenchy Phenomeneyes waterproof mascara (lowers)

Lips:
UD Ozone lip liner
GA Lip Maestro 401

Friends, I've got to gush about the Lip Maestro.  The formula is superb.  It applies easily with a slanted wand.  You don't have to rush to get it on.  It's very soft and cushiony and glides over the lips with such ease.  It feels very comfortable and light.  The finish is a radiant and forgiving matte.  It wears very well for quite a long time and is only the slightest bit drying on my lips.  Even as it feels a tiny bit dry after it's been on for hours, it still feels magnificently soft, cushy, and comfortable!  Craziness, I say.  It also stays put great through eating and drinking (although I opted to touch up after).  I'm not sure if it would bleed out or not, if left to its own devices, hence why I used the clear lip liner as a precaution.  I love this color and it makes for a great addition to my now vast and varied collection of lipsticks.

Today I applied my foundation with a traditional foundation brush, as opposed to my finger tips, which is what I normally use.  I like how it looks and it went on well enough - who knows?  Maybe I'll convert back to using a brush!  For what it's worth, it was the Sephora I.T. collection flat foundation brush.

Well, I've got to get some beauty rest.  Thanks for stopping by and goodnight!