eye adore pretty

Stila Cosmetics Countless Color Pigments: Review & Swatches

2013-04-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

image courtesy of Sephora

the Countless Color Pigments are part of Stila's Festival of Color Collection for the summer 2013. i saw these in Sephora a few weeks ago and was intrigued. Stila isn't typically a brand that we see a lot of bright colors from so when i saw these on display i was pleasantly surprised.

i played around with a few and left disappointed. don't get me wrong, the texture on these is great, as always! problem is...

it's almost impossible to use in the ways that Stila suggests. according to Stila, these can be used in multiple ways:

There are endless ways to apply....use each of the three shades individually, blend two sides that are side by side for custom colors, swirl a brush in a circular motion to create one pop shade or swipe the brush across the product to create a unique multi-shade streaked effect.

i played around with the blue one, Tie Dye, which was the only one that appeared as though it hadn't been touched much, and swatching was a terrible pain. here's the best i could do:

l - r: pink, dark blue, turquoise, pink & turquoise mixed, dark blue & turquoise mixed & all three colors mixed

it was nearly impossible to get swatches of the individual shades. and then once i began to mix shades the pan became a muddled mess:

the pan after blending colors to create custom shades

as you can see once i began blending colors together, especially if you "swirl a brush in a circular motion to create one pop shade or swipe the brush across the product to create a unique multi-shade streaked effect", as Stila suggests, it is nearly impossible to go back to using the shades individually.

it was an interesting concept that Stila tried to present, but the execution was all wrong. i would have been much more satisfied had they just given me a collection of single eyeshadows of the same bright colors. although i guess the ones that incorporate various shades of pinks, red, and orange could work well as blushes, but they likely wouldn't produce any unique shades for blush.

bottom line: these just didn't work for me and i left the store empty-handed.

Stila's Countless Color Pigments retail for $22 and are available online and at Sephora stores.

have you checked out the Countless Color Pigments?

Benefit Fake Up Hydrating Crease Control Concealer: Review & Swatches

2013-04-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

This crease-control hydrating concealer --- with Vitamin E & apple seed extract --- hides dark circles and diffuses fine lines for a silky smooth, ultra-natural look. Fakeup never settles...and neither should you.

i own far more concealers for my own personal use than should be allowed. needless to say, i've had these in my possession for a few months now, but didn't have an opportunity to use them until now.

packaged in a tube much like lipstick, Benefit Fake Up takes a page out of many of the hydrating lipsticks that have become so popular. the outer ring is the hydrator --- containing Vitamin E and apple seed extract; the inner ring is the actual concealer that diffuses light and smooths out skin imperfections.

i was majorly disappointed with the color selection. Fake Up is only available in 3 shades --- light, medium and dark. needless to say finding a match that would work for me wasn't easy (this will likely be an issue for most WOC) and i ended up having to buy both medium (which was too light by itself) and dark (which was a little too orange by itself).

Benefit Fake Up Concealer in Medium (left) and Dark (right)

i apply a dab of each color straight from the tube under my eyes and using my ring finger, i blend the two shades together, which gives me a perfect match.

Benefit Fake Up Concealer Swatched in Medium (left) and Dark (right)

Benefit Fake Up Concealer Blended Out in Medium (left) and Dark (right)

i love the feel of this under my eyes. at first i was concerned about how this was going to hold up all day without creasing and settling because of the oil, but it held up remarkably well and works great so far with the foundations that i've been wearing. i just wish they had a larger shade selection.

Benefit Fake Up Concealer retails for $24 and is available online, Sephora and Ulta.

Just In Time For Spring! Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick in Magnolia Organza

2013-04-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Givenchy Le Rouge #301 Magnolia Organza screams spring!

when i got the email from Sephora, i was curious about Givenchy's line of Le Rouge lipsticks because they were encased in genuine leather. only Givenchy!

i was also curious because while i adore lipsticks with a matte finish, i'm not so in love with how terribly drying they can be. Givenchy's latest line of lipsticks is a semi-matte, are super creamy, but have the staying power of mattes.

the case is so luxurious and sexy. i will warn you though, it's got some weight to it, but the leather is so buttery soft, i can overlook the weight of the packaging. Magnolia Organza is a stunning red-tone pink ~~(the name baffles me...not sure what the color has to do with magnolias or organza)~~. and the lipstick itself is emblazoned with the Givenchy logo. i don't know why, but i'm a sucker for little details like this. it almost makes it too pretty to touch.

the Le Rouge line comes in 12 shades. Magnolia Organza was the shade that immediately caught my eye when i checked them out in Sephora, but there are a couple other shades that i wouldn't mind adding to the spring line-up.

do you need these lipsticks? well, who really needs a $36 lipstick. but, if you're into luxury and want to treat yourself these are definitely worth checking out.

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipsticks are available at Sephora.

Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Bronzer/Blush Duo Swatches

2013-04-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

This revolutionary bronzer/blush duo warms the skin and adds a touch of color while light-reflecting pigments perfect the surface of the skin and imparts a glimmering, refined finish. This hybrid texture combines all the best features of baked, powder, cream and fluid formula to easily blend, protect against dryness and deliver buildable color payoff that lasts up to 12 hours without fading.

twitter will always have you lusting after a product that you really don't need. a while ago these bronzer/blush duos floated across my timeline and while i thought they looked absolutely stunning, i did my best to convince myself that i didn't need them and not to buy. and i kinda forgot about them.

fast forward to last week and out of nowhere they popped in my head and the next morning i headed to target....

the duos are available in three shades:

♥ Glisten - warm coral

♥ Glimmer - deep, rosy nude

♥ Glow - petal pink

i almost missed out on Glisten and Glimmer. i picked up Glow first and then noticed the other two slots were empty. something told me to check behind the other ones in the slot i found Glow....and wouldn't you know....SCORE!

i haven't had a chance to wear any of them yet, since i'm taking a few days off work to do some spring cleaning around the house this week. but from swatching them i can tell you that the texture is similar to a MAC's Extra Dimension Skinfinish or Estee Lauder's Illuminating Powder Gelee.

check out swatches below....

l -r: Glimmer, Glisten & Glow

Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Bronzer/Blush Duos are available online and in-store at Target and retail for $12.99.

Blush Crush: Sleek Makeup Blush Collection & Swatches

2013-03-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

one of my favorite affordable makeup brands is Sleek Makeup, a UK-based drugstore brand. not only are their prices super affordable, but they cater to women of all skintones. i mean...how many drugstore brands offer customers a range of 30 foundation shades? most high-end brands don't cater to that wide a range.

in keeping with this commitment, Sleek blushes offers a wide color selection that truly has something for everyone.

a few years ago, Sleek launched their website, making their products available to everyone outside of the UK. over time i've collected all of the blushes in the permanent line and few limited edition shades as well.

these blushes come in compact, black packaging that includes a mirror. the blushes themselves have a soft texture, are extremely pigmented (a little goes a long way), great staying power (i easily get 8-10 hours wear), and blend easily.

they are also a great value...at $5.99 you get 8 grams of product!

check out swatches below....

top to bottom: Aruba (LE), Coral & Fenberry

♥ Aruba (LE) - matte, deep orange

♥ Coral - i wouldn't describe this as a coral, it's really more of a matte, browned orange

♥ Fenberry (LE) - matte, crimson, rosy brown

top to bottom: Flamingo, Flushed & Life's A Peach

♥ Flamingo - matte, deep candy pink

♥ Flushed - matte, plum

♥ Life's A Peach - matte, pastel peach

top to bottom: Pixie Pink, Pomegranate & Rose Gold

♥ Pixie Pink - matte, bubblegum pink

♥ Pomegranate - shimmery, berry

♥ Rose Gold - peachy pink w/ gold shimmer (often compared to NARS Orgasm)

top to bottom: Sahara, Santorini (LE) & Suede

♥ Sahara - matte, orangish brown
♥ Santorini (LE) - matte, bright, fuchsia pink

♥ Suede - matte, peachy earth-tone

Sunrise

♥ Sunrise - reddish, brown w/ golden shimmer

Sleek blushes retail for $5.99 and are available for purchase online; the international shipping is only $4.97 and arrives pretty quickly.

do you own any Sleek blushes? what are your favorites?

Urban Decay Naked Flushed: Review & Swatches

2013-03-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

Urban Decay is just gonna ride the "Naked" thing until the wheels fall off! and how can you blame them? the line thus far has been uber-successful for the brand. this time they're taking on the world of blush, bronzers and highlighters.

the Flushed trio comes packaged in a compact similar but slightly larger than the Naked Basic eyeshadow palette and includes a mirror, making it convenient to throw in your makeup bag for touch-ups on-the-go.

my one gripe is that all three products are in the same pan. call me crazy but products packaged like this drive me crazy because they get super messy the more you use them and the colors tend to run together.

♥ the bronzer - the largest strip of the palette is described as a medium bronze satin (this shade will be useless for WOC with deeper skintones, which is unfortunate)

♥ the highlighter - the smallest strip, sits between the blush and the bronzer, is described as a soft pink champagne shimmer

♥ the blush - this super pigmented blush is described as a dusty rose satin with a hint of shimmer

while there isn't anything unique about the 3 shades included in this palette, Flushed definitely holds its own against other brands. and when all 3 products are used together the effect is perfection. Urban Decay got it right with this color combination. Flushed makes for a great go-to palette for everyday looks and perfect for the spring and summer.

and did i mention how fabulous they feel on the skin? these powders are so finely milled, apply like a dream and blending is effortless.

Flushed isn't a must-have, but is a nice-to-have. especially, for those that don't have a lot of time in the mornings and don't want to put a lot of thought into what blush to pair with what bronzer or highlight, etc.

the Naked Flushed palette retails for $30 and is available through Urban Decay (although it looks as though it is currently out of stock), Sephora and Ulta.

Dupe Wars: NARS Orgasm/Laguna Blush Bronzer Duo vs e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St. Lucia

2013-03-06T09:30:00.000-06:00

i've been obsessed with my NARS Orgasm/Laguna Blush Bronzer Duo for the last few months. it's been my go-to blush/bronzer combo since the beginning of the year. i've worn it every single day for weeks. and while i love it, it is pretty pricey at $41, so if i could find a great dupe that will save me a bit of money, i'm all for it.

i'd been hearing for the longest that the e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, which retails for $3, was a great dupe. it was no-brainer for me to head to Target to pick it up and see if this could become my every day blush bronzer.

so are they really dupes?

welllllll....not exactly.

from the moment i got St. Lucia home and opened it up i knew by looking at it in the pan that it wasn't an exact dupe.

NARS Orgasm/Laguna Blush Bronzer Duo

e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia

St. Lucia is definitely lighter and the gold shimmer in it is much more subtle. the bronzer in St. Lucia is a much deeper shade than Laguna and has some reddish undertones. Laguna definitely has more shimmer than the bronzer in St. Lucia.

top row (l-r): Orgasm/Laguna & e.l.f. St. Lucia

bottom row (l-r): St. Lucia's blush (top) & Orgasm (bottom), St. Lucia's bronzer (top) & Laguna (bottom)

once applied, they do look fairly similar. Orgasm is the more pigmented of the two blushes. i find that i need to swirl my brush 2-3 times in the St. Lucia bush to get the kind of color that i like on my cheeks. the bronzer is the exact opposite. i use a much lighter hand with the bronzer in St. Lucia. but once everything is blended they do give a remarkable similar effect.

the one thing i don't like about St. Lucia is the amount of powder that gets wasted after you swirl your brush in the product. but for $3...i can deal.

as a matter of fact, i've started using this more often so that i don't have to replace my NARS' duo so quickly. and i may invest in the other to duos that e.l.f has to offer.

have you tried any of the NARS or e.l.f blush/bronzer duos? which ones are your favorites?

Hey Chicago! Make Up For Ever Wants To Know What's In Your Make Up Bag

2013-03-04T10:30:00.000-06:00

on February 1st, Make Up For Ever began traveling all over the country to teach you to apply your makeup! the artists on the Make Up Bag Remix Tour have been helping folks go through their makeup bags, showing them how to use products that they already own.

what's even better? they'll also help you find new shades if the ones you own don’t work for you. after your session, you’ll get to take home a before and after photo, a makeup bag co-created by Christina Ricci, and a face chart to guide you when you get home.

on Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th the tour will be rolling through the Chicago area (E. Illinois & Michigan Avenue).

ready to book your appointment?

go to Make Up For Ever's Facebook page to sign up!

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Shine Stain Lipcolors: Review & Swatches

2013-02-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Shine Stain Lipcolors

every morning i walk out the house with my lipstick on. sadly, i suck at reapplying my lipstick throughout the day. i've always been partial to the idea of lip stains because if it was a way for me to keep my look in tact without having to reapply....i'm in!

i decided to give the new L'Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stains a shot and picked up Berry Persistent and Everlasting Caramel. word on the streets is that these are an affordable alternative to the YSL Glossy Stains; which isn't particularly surprising since L'Oreal bought YSL's beauty division.

so how did they stack up?

welp, they're almost identical.

the applicator is teardrop shaped, which allows for more precise application and the flatness of the wand allows for quicker application. these stains apply like a gloss and are, of course on the sheer side, but they can be built up to achieve a more opaque look.

Everlasting Caramel

Berry Persistent

the floral smell is definitely reminiscent of the YSL stains. as is the texture of the stains, but there is definitely something different about they way these feel on the lips.

and this is where my love affair with these lip stains ended...

i could not stand the way they felt on my lips. they were so waxy and uncomfortable. and the more layers i applied to get a more opaque look the more waxy and uncomfortable it became. the only way i could tolerate wearing it longer than 5 minutes was to apply another gloss on top of it. which kind of defeats the purpose. sadly, i've had these for a few months and haven't thought about wearing them since i took the photos for this blog post. i need to find them a good home, ~~because frankly i want to chuck them in the trash~~.

i know a bunch of people that have purchase the Colour Riche Caresse Shine Stains and love them, but i just couldn't get past the thick, waxy feeling.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Shine Stain Lipcolors retail for $9.99 and can be found in your local drugstore.

have you tried these lip stains? how'd they work for you?

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Lipstick: Review & Swatches

2013-02-04T09:30:00.000-06:00

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Lipsticks

i'm sure by now most of you have seen these all over beauty blogs, twitter and instagram, but i still wanted to share ~~(just in case someone's been living under a rock for the last month or so)~~.

every now and again a drugstore brand will release a product that is phenomenal and Maybelline hit the ball out of the park with these new lipsticks. the Vivids are creamy, moisturizing (thanks to the honey nectar) and are giving some of the higher end brands a run for there money!

it took me forever to get my hands on the shades i wanted because every display i came across for weeks was bare. i finally managed to get my hands on the 5 shades i wanted:

♥ Shocking Coral

♥ Vivid Rose

♥ Vibrant Mandarin

♥ Hot Plum

♥ Brazen Berry

if you can still find these in your local drugstore, they're definitely worth checking out!

l - r: Shocking Coral, Vivid Rose, Vibrant Mandarin, Hot Plum & Brazen Berry

Shocking Coral

Vivid Rose

Vibrant Mandarin

Hot Plum

Brazen Berry

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid lipsticks retail for $7.99 and can be found in your local drugstore.

have you checked out the Vivids? which shade is your favorite?

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation Review + Before & After Pics

2013-01-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in #240 Toast

Makeup so refreshingly light, it melts right in, creating a fresh even look. So the only one that knows you are wearing makeup is you. Blends seamlessly, buildable coverage.

of all the drugstore foundations that i've tried Revlon makes my all time favorite...ColorStay. so when i was in Target one day strolling he beauty aisles and saw the display for the Nearly Naked foundation there was no question in my mind that this would be yet another favorite.

after wearing it 2 or 3 days i posted this picture to instagram and the jury was still out on whether or not i liked the formula; it just wasn't wowing me in the same way that ColorStay had. i continued to wear it, i mean, 2-3 days isn't enough to write-off a foundation, especially if there aren't any major problems with the formula (i.e it causes breakouts). after using it daily for the last month i feel more comfortable giving you my final verdict on the formula.

so, did Nearly Naked win me over?

the short answer, yes. but it took some experimenting.

when i first started using it i applied the foundation without using a primer, which didn't work well, especially because i have large pores. the foundation had a tendency to pool up in my pores and using a stippling brush made matters worse. once i changed my approach (trying different primers and brushes) i found the magic combination. i got the best results by wearing Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional (which minimizes the appearance of pores) and a flat top kabuki to apply the foundation, i got AMAZING results.

wearing The POREfessional and MAC Select Moisture Cover Yellow Corrector (LE from Mickey Contractor Collection)

wearing Revlon Nearly Nude Foundation in #240 Toast before setting with powder

as you can see, my complexion is fairly even, but i do have some redness and a boatload of moles. the Nearly Naked foundation managed to cover the redness, but still leave many of my moles visible, which i liked because it looks much more natural. like my skin, but better.

Revlon has managed to develop a drugstore foundation that has a great color range (it's available in 16 shades) and has SPF20. this foundation feels lightweight on the skin and on my oily skin lasts 5-6 hours before i need to touch-up. it does have a dewey finish, so for anyone with oily skin you might want to set this foundation with a powder to get the best results. Nearly Naked is a buildable foundation that can get you medium coverage, so if you have acne scars or imperfections that require more coverage this may not be the foundation for you.

all things considered the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation is a great affordable alternative to Urban Decay's Naked Skin Foundation which retails for $38.00.

the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation comes in 16 shades and retails for $9.99 and is available at CVS, Walgreens and other drugstores.

have you gotten Nearly Naked?

Blush Crush: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Blush Collection & Swatches

2013-01-16T09:13:00.001-06:00

it was hard for me to figure out which brand i should start this series off with. but, after some thought it was pretty obvious: of all the blushes that i own, the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hr Blushes are easily my favorite. why?

This 12-hour blush universally benefits all skin types for a fade-free, flawless finish in shades ranging from soft to vivid and matte to shimmer to suit a wide variety of skin tones.

as a person with super oily skin, sometimes it's hard to find blush that lasts and looks just as good after 10 hours as it did in the 1st hour. these Tarte blushes do exactly what they claim.

i started out my collection with just four (which i reveiwed here) and have since added a few more to my collection.

so let's get to the swatches...

swatches in order from left to right: Blissful, Blushing Bride & Dollface

swatches in order from left to right: Exposed, Flush & Natural Beauty

swatches in order from left to right: Tipsy, Adored & Glisten

swatches in order from left to right: Buff, Frisky & Achiote

Coming Soon: Blush Crush Series

2013-01-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

i decided that i wanted to start a new series on the blog devoted to what is probably my favorite beauty product. blush. i feel naked without it. it's the part of my makeup routine that gives my face an instant pick me up. i never quite feel like my face is complete until i dust a little blush on my cheeks.

i own an obscene amount of blush from powders to creams and more natural shades to the unnaturally bright and bold. i'll be posting swatches by brand. i thought it might be helpful to start posting swatches of what i have, especially for women of color.

first up in the series will be my collection of tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Blushes, so stay tuned....

tarte Fantastic Foursome Blush Set: Review & Swatches

2013-01-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

Tarte Fantastic Foursome Blush Set

A limited-edition blush enthusiast set featuring tarte's award-winning and best-selling blush in four deluxe sizes of brand new universally flattering shades.

i went back and forth about whether or not i should even post this because this set, which was part of tarte's holiday 2012 collection, is no longer available through tarte's website, online through Sephora or through QVC (waitlist availability only). but, last week when i dropped into Sephora they did still have a few on the shelves; so i decided to post because some of you may still be able to get your hands on this set in Sephora stores.
there are four blushes included in this set, but i really consider two of them to be highlighters, especially for WOC:

♥ Angelic - shimmering champagne

♥ Fantastic - soft fuchsia

♥ Magic - pink coral

♥ Stellar - shimmering nude

the packaging is identical to the blushes in the regular line, but they are a tad smaller and there aren't mirrors on the inside.

the quality of these aren't diminished at all. they apply and blend just as wonderfully as the full size blushes from tarte's regular line.

surprisingly, my favorite of the set is Angelic, which is what i'd consider a highlighter. it looks great with almost any color blush.

l- r: Magic, Stellar, Angelic & Fantastic

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette: Review & Swatches

2013-01-04T09:00:00.000-06:00

The Basics

Naked Basics is more than just the long-awaited, multipurpose MATTE companion to Naked. It's the paletter EVERY woman needs in her beauty arsenal. With six stripped-down, Nakedly neutral shadows, it has everything you need for the perfect eutral matte eye --- including four totally new and exclusive shades.

if there was one complaint that i heard a lot after the release of Urban Decay's Naked & Naked 2 palettes, it was the lack of matte eyeshadows. welp, it appears the "powers-that-be" at Urban Decay have heard your cry and recently released a Naked palette of matte eyeshadows, appropriately called "Basics".

when i initially saw the promo pictures online i wasn't too sure that this palette would be WOC-friendly, but i made plans to get my hands on it anyway. hey, you never know until you try, right? and i know some of you guys wanna know what this looks like swatched on a WOC...

first, i must say that i love how compact the packaging is. with only six shades, it's much smaller than Naked 1 or 2, making it perfect for throwing in your purse for touch-ups or for traveling. and although two of the eyeshadows are ones that we've seen before, this palette is an excellent companion for both Naked 1 and Naked 2.

l - r: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint, and Crave

♥ Venus - soft, off white demi-matte

♥ Foxy - cream bisque matte

♥ Walk of Shame (W.O.S) - very light nude matte

♥ Naked2 - taupe matte

♥ Faint - warm, dusty brown matte

♥ Crave - deepest, darkest brown/black matte

i initially thought these might be hard to work with, but the texture is really smooth and they blend like a dream (with the exception of Crave --- it was kind of hard to work with). that aside, i'm really loving this palette, it's been great for everyday wear and work. this is gonna get a lot of use from me, likely more than Naked 1 or Naked 2 have gotten.

and with a $27 price tag, how could you pass this one up? the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette is available on www.urbandecay.com and at Sephora.

have you picked up this palette? what did you think?

I Adore...Products That Rocked In 2012!

2012-12-31T09:30:00.000-06:00

here we are at the end of another year....2012 seemed to have flown by. gonna keep this post short and sweet. i always have such hard time picking which products make the cut --- i experiment a lot with different products so i tried to stick with products that became part of my regular routine or worked wonders in solving minor/major issues (mainly skin & hair drama).

so, without further ado, i present to you the products that i adored in 2012...

♥ Dr. Miracles Deep Conditioning Treatment

♥ Guerlain Terracotta Blush Sun Shimmer Highlighters

♥ Guerlain By Emilio Pucci Terra Azzura Bronzing Powder & Blush

♥ NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30

♥ Guerlain Terracotta Sun in the City

♥ Urban Decay Baked Basics Palette (Review & Swatches Coming Soon!)

♥ Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection

♥ Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

♥ Top Shop Makeup

♥ Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel

♥ NARS Foreplay Palette

♥ Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

♥ OCC Tint: Tinted Moisturizer

♥ Tarte Gifts from the Lipstick Tree Color Collection

♥ MUFE Duo Mat Powder Foundation

♥ Laura Mercier Art Deco Illuminating Eye Colour

♥ NARS Powder Blush in Outlaw

♥ Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil

♥ Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel

♥ Creme of Nature Perfect Edges

♥ Tarte Fantastic Foursome Blush Set (Review & Swatches Coming Soon!)

♥ Lime Crime Lipstick

♥ Paco Rabanne Lady Million & Narciso Rodriguez essence

♥ MAC Extra Dimension Highlighters

♥ Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick

♥   Dior Addict Lip Glow
♥   NARS Makeup Removing Water
♥   MAC Shop Cook Collection (Part I & Part II of my haul)
♥   MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
♥   Benefit Cosmetics 'Hello Flawless!' Oxygen WOW Liquid Foundation

what were some of your favorite products of 2012?

Who's Watching? Totally T-Boz on TLC Network

2012-12-27T23:22:00.003-06:00

so i don't normally post this kind of stuff. but i just couldn't resist.

i have always been a HUGE fan of TLC! so much of TLC's music was the soundtrack to my teenage years (Baby, Baby, Baby was my JAM). they influenced the way young girls dressed, styled their hair and obviously for a girl like me i loved their makeup. i remember taking picture of her haircut with me to the salon and asking my stylist to cut my hair like that. she talked me out of having as much length on the sides, but you couldn't tell me i wasn't fly.

T-Boz was always my favorite: her attitude, the depth & raspiness of her voice...it was different, it was confident and there wasn't anything else out there like it. and there still isn't.

i was always hoping she'd release solo material, but it never happened. so i was presently surprised when i found out T-Boz had her own reality tv show premiering on TLC! and knowing everything that she's been through, i'm rooting for her as she reinvents herself and works to establish her solo career. who couldn't use more of her voice on the radio? i gotta say from what i've seen of the show, this is a good look. AND IT'S NOT RATCHET!!!!! ~~i'm looking at you VH1 & Bravo....~~

Totally T-Boz premieres January 1st on TLC at 8/7 CST. but you can also check out a sneak peek right here....

oh and don't forget to follow her on twitter @therealtboz

Laura Mercier Art Deco Muse Collection: Illuminating Eye Colour

2012-12-13T07:30:00.000-06:00

Art Deco Muse Collection

Gilded. Glamorous. Striking. Eyes are sharply designed and defined - lined in black, with gilded shimmering eye colours as a beautiful golden background. Lips wear super-shiny red lacquer - boldly painted on to make a stunning statement. The face is contoured, sculpted, and a true work of art.

this year there were very few things from the various holiday collections that spoke to me, but Laura Mercier managed to pull me in with the Illuminating Eye Colours. they just scream Christmas with colors like: Gilded Moonlight, Gilded Rosegold, Gilded Bronze and Platinum.

i picked up three of the shadows during the Spehora F &F sale last month...

♥ Gilded Moonlight - true gold

♥ Gilded Bronze - golden topaz

♥ Gilded Platinum - golden platinum

l - r: Gilded Moonlight, Gilded Bronze, Gilded Platinum

each of these shadows has a multi-dimensional pearl finish, that creates a great metallic effect. you get great color pay-off and they last all day without fading or creasing.

l - r: Gilded Moonlight, Gilded Bronze, Gilded Platinum

the Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Colors retail for $24 and are available on the Laura Mercier website and at Sephora stores.

have you checked out the Art Deco Muse Collection?

Beauty Basics: Concealers vs Color Correctors

2012-12-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

some of my favorites

lets face it none of us has perfect skin. and while i have a fairly even complexion, i must admit that the older i get the worse my under-eye circles have become. and i'm not alone. i'm constantly being asked by friends, family and coworkers what they should be using to help cover flaws, blemishes and darkness under they eyes. a lot of times they are trying to do with foundation alone. other times they are only using a concealer, which many times is not enough. sometimes it's not as simple as buying a concealer that's 1 or 2 shades lighter than your foundation.

so, how do you know whether you need a concealer, corrector or both?

and how do you know which color to use?

let's start with the difference between concealers and color correctors.

Concealers are meant to mask imperfections you don't want the world to see, like pimples, zits, acne and scars. They come in yellow-based colors.

Correctors are meant to correct things that are a little more difficult to cover, like dark circles and redness, to give the appearance of rested and uniform skin color. They typically come in pastel colors:

♥ Blue adds radiance to dull complexions, reduces the appearance of minor imperfections and can neutralize orange skin caused by self-tanners

♥ Green covers unwanted redness from birthmarks, rosacea, broken capillaries, acne and scars

♥ Orange conceals under-eye circles well on olive skin tones, covers unwanted blue tones (think dark circles and veins), masks freckles, hyper-pigmentation or age spots, counteracts ashiness on medium to dark skin tones

♥ Pink counteracts dull skin (highlights, brightens & refreshens), helps to soften unwanted olive tones

♥ Purple/Lilac brightens olive skin tones, neutralizes sallow/yellow skin tones, balances yellowish blemishes on most skin tones

♥ Yellow adds instant glow to the skin, creates a lightening effect, reduces signs of fatigue; helps to soften pink tones, fade out under-eye circles and when use on the eyelids can create a "blank canvas" for applying eyeshadow

correctors should never be used alone, you should always follow up with a concealer. and remember, a little goes a long way with color correctors!

a lot of women skip color correctors and reach straight for the concealer, which won't work if you have serious under-eye circles. i'm all about correcting first then concealing. i usually apply my corrector using the "upside down triangle" method, which lifts the eye.

what i've found is that by using a corrector first i am able to hide my under-eye circles better, i use a lot less concealer, my concealer looks less cakey and more natural and it lasts much longer.

hope these tips help!

My Pretty Little Secret: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer

2012-12-03T11:30:00.000-06:00

A moisture-rich concealer designed specifically for under and around the area to conceal discolorations and dark circles without settling into fine lines and wrinkles.

i have a confession. i have dark circles under my eyes. no matter how much rest i get, they never really go away. my husband jokes that some mornings they're so bad i look like i've gone on an all night drug binge. needless to say, i've tried more than my fair share of concealers and color correctors.

i know i've said it before, but it bears repeating. Laura Mercier is a brand that often doesn't get the love and credit that it deserves --- especially when it comes to face products. i know when i buy a Laura Mercier product it will do exactly what it says it will.

through trial and error i've discovered that i prefer liquid and cream concealers. they last longer on my skin, give me better coverage and i never have to worry about creasing. for a while now MAC Pro Longwear Concealer was my go to, but when i ran out of it i decided to try out the Secret Concealer i had in my stash instead of replacing it.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in shade #4

i absolutely adore the texture of this concealer! i usually dab my ring finger in the pot, building to get the coverage that i need. it blends like a dream and melts into the skin so flawlessly that i can also wear it without foundation. it's recommended that this concealer be used after foundation (which is my preferred method) and it has worked well with every foundation that i've used so far. it lasts all day, never creases, instantly brightens my face and keeps the under area of skin hydrated.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer comes in 6 shades that range from #1 (light complexion with pink undertones) to #6 (deep complexion with warm undertones). while 6 shades seems limited, the brand has done a great job and i think most if not all will be able to find a match.

Secret Concealer retails for $22 and can be found in department stores and Sephora.

what's your tried and true concealer? have you tried Secret Concealer?

well, hello there...

2012-12-03T09:30:00.000-06:00

i'm back...at least i think i am.

over the last few months i've pulled a disappearing act. i kind of lost my blogging mojo for several reasons: i'm exhausted by the time i get home from work, blogging about makeup can be overwhelming with all the collections and releases and to be honest i've had little interest in makeup. beyond the basic looks i do for work i really haven't experimented much with new products...i've found a routine & a group of products that work and i haven't varied from that very much.

over the years my collection has grown and it is now at the point where i could die and come back several times over before using it all. luckily my husband is understanding because it has taken up more than it's fair share of real estate in our bedroom. it's such a vicious cycle.

needless to say i've gone on a voluntary no-buy and have begun to use what i already have. when i first started my blog i used to do fotd's all the time and i really want to get back to doing more of those and focus more on how i'm using what i have. over the last few months i've discovered some gems that i never knew i had because past swatching them for blog posts they didn't get used much. and i've rediscovered some gems that i'd neglected for newer products.

so in the coming weeks i'm gonna work to get the blog back on track. but i wanted to say thank you to everyone that has continued to visit my blog and those that have reached out to tell me that you've missed my posts. it is truly appreciated :-)

NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette - Review & Swatches

2012-08-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

The gorgeous afterglow of classic Orgasm is reinvented in this quad that combines Orgasm blush plus vivid shades of pink and peach and a shimmering gold to create your own signature glow.

a couple of weeks ago i picked up the NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette, a limited-edition exclusive to Sephora. the palette contains four shades based on NARS' best-selling Orgasm blush. i know a lot of people don't get the hype with Orgasm blush, but personally, i love the subtle glow and added oooomph it gives my face without a ton of effort.
i was surprised by how small the palette was; it's about the same size as the packaging for the NARS bronzers. which isn't small at all, but when there are for shades in that space it does make the compartments pretty small.

the Foreplay Cheek Palette contains:

♥ peach matte blush

♥ pink matte blush

♥ gold highlighting blush

♥ Orgasm blush (peachy pink with golden shimmer)

i love the idea of using the matte shades and the highlighting shade to create my own custom shade of Orgasm. both the matte peach and pink are highly pigmented and blend like a dream. the gold highlighter was had a nice texture and is almost like a powder version of NARS' Gold Member Cream Blush.

this palette is gonna be great for traveling because it gives me great options in one small compact palette. i just wish the compartments weren't so darn tiny! especially given the $49 price tag. i use my bdellium tools #945 brush and it works like a charm without making too much of a mess.

NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette

left to right: peach matte blush, gold highlighting blush, Orgasm blush & pink matte blush

are you a fan of NARS' Orgasm blush? what do you think of Foreplay?

OCC + NYLON Magazine = Nylon Lip Tar

2012-08-24T21:49:00.000-05:00

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Nylon Lip Tar

Heralded in the September Issue of NYLON MAGAZINE as the Best Lipstick of 2012, OCC Lip Tar has eclipsed its cult-status and has officially been cemented as a staple in every makeup junkie's cosmetic arsenal. To celebrate, OCC has partnered with NYLON MAGAZINE to introduce an extraordinary new neon pink, Pantone-matched to the NYLON logo, aptly christened "NYLON".

there's one thing that OCC does better than any other cosmetics company and that's bright, bold, in your face color. this neon pink lippie looks like a pretty good dupe for MAC's Candy Yum Yum, but better & on steroids. can't wait to get my hands on it!

NYLON Lip Tar is available now exclusively online at Sephora and in select Sephora locations beginning on September 7th.

OCC Lip Tars retail for $16.

MAC + Azealia Banks = Yung Rapunxel

2012-08-24T14:21:00.002-05:00

Straight from the 212 comes out collaboration with rapper Azaealia Banks. Yung Rapunxel, a deep plum, cream lipstick with an amplified, semi-matte finish, is named after Banks' alter ego and boasts c colour as bold as its inspiration. Celebrate the fierce signature style of one music's most provocative rising stars.

Yung Rapunxel will be available in the US only online on September 5th and at all NYC MAC stores September 6th through September 20th.

you can catch an exclusive performance by Azealia Banks at MAC's Fashion's Night Out. if you're not in NYC, the performance will air on MAC's Facebook page on September 7th for one night only.

i've been feeling Ms. Banks' music (and all of her shenanigans) for a minute now. damn i wish i could be in NYC for Fashion's Night Out!!! this looks perfect for fall...

Yung Rapunxel will retail for $15.00.

I Adore...NARS Amour Blush

2012-08-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

of all the things in my collection i my NARS blushes have to be my favorites. i remember my very first NARS blush purchases...Taj Mahal (the holy grail for WOC) and NARS' best-selling blush Orgasm. while they've served me well over the years, as my collection has expanded i've discovered some gems that don't get talked about as much.

this has been the summer of Amour for me. i've had this in my collection for a while. and i'm ashamed to admit that i had probably only used it once or twice before this summer. but his have been heavy rotation all summer. i like that it's a blush i can wear and not have to worry about whether my lipstick will compete with it, because it's that subtle of a color.

NARS Amour --- isn't she purrrttty?

left to right: swatched heavy / blended out

are you a fan of NARS blushes? what's your favorite one?