Thursday, March 25, 2010

Quick Post - ELF @ Target!

Thanks to the lovely Miss P I was delightfully informed that Target is now carrying more ELF products, even some from their studio line. Since I live pretty close to a Target, I had to go check it out asap (aka) the next day lol.



I picked up their Studio Powder brush, the studio blushing and bronzing duo, a shimmering facial whip, and one luscious liquid lipstick. I tried them all out yesterday afternoon and I must say I am really impressed! These products are so wallet friendly and I really feel like the things I bought are quality things that didn't break the bank. I will do a FOTD soon using the products.





The blush from this duo would honestly look great on any skin tone. I know this is supposed to be somewhat similar to the NARS duo that everyone loves (i have yet to try that one, but have stared at it plenty in Sephora) and now I can see why so many people would love shades like these.





The shimmering facial whip I bought is in the color "Toasted". So far I really like this, i only used it on my cheekbones, but you are supposed to be able to apply it pretty much anywhere. It worked as a nice highlighter and did give that pretty "dewy" look. Only 1 buck!

The luscious liquid lipstick I bought is in the color "Pink Lemonade". This is another color that I think would look great on any skin tone, especially those that have fair skin. When applying these you get a tingly sensation like you would if you had put on burts bee's lip balm. Very nice. They also smell kinda minty. I really loved this, it wasn't really sticky at all and made my lips feel smooth and moisturized. Again only 1 buck.

The studio powder brush is a little smaller than I thought it would be after seeing the online pictures from the ELF site, but i still really like it, the handle is nice and sturdy... and overall it does the job.


So go check out your local Target. I think these ELF products are a great buy considering the price.


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

New buys and a few photo's ♥

Studio Secrets™ Professional Magic Perfecting Base

This base is supposed to reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines. The product claims to provide a flawless matte finish that makes your skin look smooth and resurfaced. I have only used this "magic base" a few times since a bought it... so far I honestly am not sure if I really am finding it useful. It doesn't really make my makeup look any different than it does when i just use my Cetaphil moisturizer. I will try it a few more times though. It does feel incredibly velvety and smooth though to the touch.

I also bought a few new LASplash pigments: Russet and Lovely. Russet is a pretty brown with gold shimmer/reflects pigment, and Lovely feels more like chunky glitter to the touch. It is a pretty white with fluorescent pink; nice for highlight or inner corner, or for using over another shadow.

Here are a few pictures, the weather has been beautiful the last few days :)






















Recent pictures of my princess

she just recently started being able to sit up by herself... she can only do it for a minute or two right now though without toppling over, hehe ;)






The "Shampoo Myth Comes Clean"

Ever since I can remember I have been on the search for that "miracle hair product" ... the one that will leave your tresses looking healthy, shiny, and manageable. You know... that product that will make your hair feel like silk to the touch, the one that will give you the experience the ladies feel in the Herbal Essences commercials. I'm not so sure I have found it yet... but on the journey to it I have found a few great products that are wallet friendly.

It is rumored that your hair can get "used to" certain shampoos and conditioners and therefore you should switch up which ones you use every now and then. I was reading my "Prevention Magazine" (one of the bold fonts was "walk that belly off" and after having a baby, that's something I need to do so I purchased it, lol) and found that only 33% of people stick to the same shampoo brand. I know I'm not apart of that percentage. The truth is that your hair cannot get "used to" any product because hair is dead, which leaves it unable to adapt. But there are certain shampoo's that work better for different things... such as if you color your hair you may need a shampoo that is more moisturizing, or sometimes your scalp may need a clarifying shampoo to clean out any products your strands are holding on to.

With this being said I went to Wal Mart last night and picked out some new hair products! Lol. ;)



On first impression I am very satisfied with my new Garnier hair care products. They left my curls feeling very soft. I got the feeling of a squeaky clean scalp with the shampoo. The deep conditioner that is supposed to be great for dry hair & it really did make it easier for the comb to slide through my otherwise tangly hair. I used the leave in conditioner and wave enhancing spray after wards and i love how they are working for my hair so far too. They all smell wonderful to me as well.


The best thing is these products were about $2.75 each. I have tried Redken, Chi, Tigi, Mizani and other more expensive brands, but honestly for my hair, the cheap stuff works just as well if not better.

A close up of my natural curls after using these products:





What are your favorite hair products?


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Going Green for Saint Patty's Day

Hey everyone! Happy Saint Patrick's day!

Here's a look I did for the holiday. I'm wearing the dream matte mousse foundation and powder from my last blog post. Other products listed below.










Face:
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Liquid
Dream Matte Powder
Milani XL Bronzer
Ulta Blush, forgot which one

Eyes:

Bloom Eye Colour Cream "Moss"
Ulta Mineral Eyeshadow "Jade"
LASplash Pigment "Dragon Dust"
Lineur Intense Liner
Hip Black Cream Liner
Cover Girl Lash Blast

Lips:
Rimmel Lipstick "Heavenly"
Ulta Lipgloss "Sugarplum"



Do you remember looking for four leaf clovers as a child? *sigh* sometimes I really miss being a kid.


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

MayBelline Dream Liquid Mousse & Dream Matte Powder






The weekend before last I was browsing in CVS just to see what sales they had going on and I didn't really see much I was interested in but... I did remember I had seen a guru on You tube raving about Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. I wanted to try it out because I have problems with my t-zone area looking oily especially in photos. So i grabbed that in my shade Honey (Medium 3-4) and since they were having a BOGO 50% off I bought the Dream Liquid mousse as well in the shade Natural Beige (Medium 2.5)

The first liquid foundation I bought turned out to be a little too light for my skin tone especially since I'll probably be getting darker soon due to the weather... so I went back and bought the Honey Beige (Medium 4); they had sold out of this shade at the first CVS I bought from.

Overall I rate the Dream Matte powder 4/5*
It really works great for getting rid of unwanted shine. You can keep reapplying it throughout the day if you care to w/o it looking like you have over powdered. In my experience from using it the last few days it lasts about 6-7 hours when applied.


The liquid foundation also gets 4/5* stars from me


I don't usually reach for liquid foundation when applying my makeup because I feel like it can look heavy very fast on my skin. But this applies very nicely and gives a good coverage without looking like you are wearing it. It is build-able and will of course looks even better when finished with the Dream Matte Powder.



Here are a few swatches of the two colors... I may return the lighter one because I'm not sure I'll be using it. (in reality I'm probably a mix of both of these shades.)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

China Glaze, NOTD

This week I have been on spring break and so far it has been somewhat boring.. we have had beautiful weather the last two days though , sunny... not too hot.. not cold... sound like spring? Spring is my favorite time of the year... its not hell hot and you don't have to wrap up with heavy layers of clothes. Goodbye Winter, won't miss you.

I picked up two China Glaze nail polishes the other day. I picked out Ruby Pumps because I saw someone else blog about it and thought it was a beautiful color. Overall now that I have it and wore it I think it's just OK. It's not as vibrant as I thought it'd be.

I also got Caribbean Temptation. This color reminds me of my favorite NYX lip gloss African Queen. They have the same kinda thing going on as far as the pink, purple and blue hues.






I think tonight I'll read this cosmo magazine I picked up and watch some Netflix... tomorrow I should be getting season 4 of Weeds in... I love that show... I finally get to catch up with what I haven't seen. Now I need Desperate Housewives season 6 to come out on Netflix!


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Target Mossimo jeans

Here a few pictures of my OFTD... they aren't the best, but I thought I'd share anyhow! I have a Calculus test tomorrow... along with other HW... the joys of being a student. Have a great weekend!



Beauty Secrets - Favorite Icons

So this morning I was browsing Google image search to look for pictures of Kim Kardashian's makeup looks. I have been a fan of hers for years now and I always always always love her outfits, hair, and makeup.

So I came across this interview I thought I'd share since I know I'm not the only Kim fan out there... it's an older interview on her beauty secrets but I thought I'd share it anyhow because it was my first time reading it.

[Source - www.spoiledpretty.com]



SP: Your complexion is flawless, Kim. Care to share your skin care secrets?
KK: I love using CellCeuticals Skin Care products, and I make sure I moisturize all of the time.

SP: You never seem to have a bad hair day. What products are you using to keep your hair looking so healthy and shiny?
KK: I always change my shampoos and conditioners, anything from Finesse to Pantene. I also don't wash my hair every day so that it stays thick and healthy.

SP: What is your every day beauty routine?
KK: If I'm having a casual day, I put on tinted moisturizer and some blush and I'm ready!

SP: What is your #1 beauty secret?
KK: I always make sure to use a MAC wipe or an Oil of Olay facial cloth to wipe all my makeup before I go to bed!

SP: I am on an eternal quest to find products that help me achieve the signature Kim Kardashian glossy nude lip. Can you recommend a few?
KK: My favorite lipstick is NARS Belle De Jour - it's the perfect nude! My favorite lip liner is MAC Stripdown and I love MAC Gloss in Instant Gold.


SP: I was very excited to learn that you're working on a fragrance. How is it coming along, and have you considered creating your own makeup line? I would buy the entire collection!
KK: The perfume is coming along great! It's been an amazing experience creating it. It's been a lot of work, but I am beyond thrilled with the outcome. I have thought about my own makeup line, and it's absolutely a goal of mine for the future.

SP: How has your look evolved over the years?
KK: I used to love heavy makeup and smokier eyes, and wouldn't really try new looks. Now, I will try anything and love fresh, lighter looks.

SP: If you could only choose one designer to wear for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?
KK: I'd have to go with American Apparel. Their designs are cute, edgy and stylish - but are still SO comfortable at the same time.

SP: What is your most memorable fashion moment?
KK: My most memorable fashion moment would have to be at this year's Oscars when I wore a gorgeous Lloyd Klein gown with my hair pulled up in a slick bun. I felt like a princess.

SP: What fashion trends are you loving and embracing right now?
KK: I'm loving the ripped jeans look! Also, I've been embracing "recession-ista" style which is why I co-founded ShoeDazzle.com. Women need to be able to stay trendy and fashion-forward without having to spend a fortune.

SP: Every time I see you photographed, you are carrying an insanely chic handbag. Which are your current favorites?
KK: When it comes to bags, Chanel is always a classic, but I also love Balenciaga because their styles are fun and edgy - I'll always rock those!

SP: I've got a little junk in the trunk, so what jeans would you recommend for women with a well-endowed derrière?
KK: When it comes to jeans, always opt for styles that have stretch in them no matter what the brand.

SP: Like you, I have a very close and special relationship with my sister. What qualities do you most admire about your fellow Dash Dolls, Kourtney and Khloe?
KK: I love my sisters. Kourtney is the most loyal and responsible person I know and Khloe definitely has the biggest heart.

SP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
KK: Hopefully, married with five kids!


And here are a few of Marilyn's secrets I found a while back on the net... She is another icon of mine, I love her! She is the epitome of a stylish, confident, beautiful, timeless woman!


Tip #1: Setting the Base ♠
Marilyn didn't wear much as far as the base goes but here are a few products that she used as foundation!
1. Anita d'Foged Day Dew Make-up in Ivory Medium
(now known as Anita of Denmark these products are available at this website: http://www.daydew.com/, just a warning though, the website is very illusive and it seems as though you will have to call to get info & there aren't any images).

2. Erno Laszlo

Duo-pHase Loose Powder in Transluscent LightDuo-pHase Loose Powder in Transluscent Light
Still available at: www.ernolaszlo.com

Active pHelityl CreamActive pHelityl Cream
Marilyn used this as a face protector as well as a moisturizer.


Normalizer Shake-it Tinted TreatmentNormalizer Shake-it Tinted Treatment

♥ Application:
Apparently Marilyn washed her face with Shu Uemera cleansing oil and then would splash her face 15 times with cold water to seal the pores. She would then wear Vaseline on her face as a moisturizer and would alternate between thin layers of Vaseline(or you could use Active pHelityl Cream, as she did later in her life) and powder(from the ones above and she also used Elizabeth Arden's Pat-a-creme) to create a base. This is what gave her that beautiful glow. Although she did grow a thin layer of little baby-fine blonde hairs on her face for using hormone cream all of those years, it just added to her glow in the studio lighting.

Star Tip #2: Accenting Her Features

Marilyn was described as a true "artist" when it came to applying her make-up and she definitely knew how to accentuate her features. Here is a break-down of what she did to highlight her face, cheekbones, nose and eyes.

1. ♥ She used blush to enhance her cheekbones and shorten her nose. She would dab the blush on the tip of her nose and then would go over it with vaseline and powder. She probably would do this until the desired affect of the perfectly shaped nose was achieved. This way in photos she wouldn't have a nose that looked too elongated.

2. ♥ Next, she would sweep blush across her cheekbones, underneath the top of the cheekbone(ever so lightly) and this would accent her cheeks. Her blushes were generally pink or coral.

3. ♥ Using a light light illuminating powder and/or a highlighter creme blend around the nose, avoiding the tip of the nose but blend everything else around it! Blend in a highlighting motion above the cheekbones, under the eyes and over the eyelids(I would not recommend doing this part with the powder, never put powder around the eyes it will enhance the fine lines in that area). So use a cream to do this part and then put it in between your eyes(in those dark crevices by your nose). SO the whole idea here is to highlight the whole area of your face that you want to look flawlessly light and also wider, which would be the eye area and the forehead area. Here is a good picture of Marilyn that will kind of show you that the top of her face is highlighted and the bottom is shadowed and contoured.




Star Tip # 3: Eyes eyes eyes!

So, Marilyn would call her own eye make-up "the Greta Garbo eye". She took cues from the sultry star from the Golden Era, and tried to re-create that look. Here is how she did it!

Greta GarboGreta Garbo
1. ♥ She would cover her eyelid with a lustrous white stick shadow, which she would use White Lustre by Elizabeth Arden, which I haven't been able to find but you just need a shadow that is silky and won't crease. She would apply it liberally all over the lid up to the brow bone.

2. ♥ After that she would apply(with a brush) a smoky-toned color into the outer crease of her eyelid. The colors she used were Autumn smoke and Pearly Blue By Elizabeth Arden. So light silvery blue or a soft smoky brown are two options. She also used light green at times depending on her wardrobe.

3. ♥ Eyeliner. So, she would use a black or brown eye stopper Elizabeth Arden eye-liner, or a fluid liner(black liquid liner), to line her eyes. It all depends on your eye-shape, but the idea is to make your eyes look wider.
There are three-steps to this process: the upper lashline, the lower lashline and the gap in between the liners on the outer edge of eye (sound confusing? I know, but hopefully it will make sense below).
♠ Upper lash-line: Marilyn would line the whole top lash-line starting from the inner corner of the eye going all the way to the outer corner and sweeping the line up and out.

♠ Lower lash-line: This is the secret of all secrets to achieving the Marilyn eye. Take the pencil and start at the beginning of where your iris starts and line out and downward (not too far downward but just enough to look like it's a line created by the shadow of your top lashes). This may sound silly but once you get it down it creates the illusion that you have a lower lashline that is to die for! It also opens up your eyes a tremendous amount!
♠ Lastly, the gap between the two lines you created on the outer edge of the eye should be about a millimeter wide. So in that gap use a white highlighter pencil (any white eyeliner pencil will do) or brush (like Benefits High Beam) and sweep a little white line in.

see the white in between the outer corner lines of the eye? see the white in between the outer corner lines of the eye?

4. ♥ The last part of the eye includes curling the lashes and putting on some falsies if you would like to(just put them on the outer corner of the lids, not the whole eye). Add a little bit of mascara and then you're done!

Quick Tip: Make sure that your eyes are highlighted all over! On the brow bone, in the inner corners of the eye and underneath the eye! It really lightens everything up, it takes practice but it's worth it.

Star Tip #4: The Lips

I know I touched on this before but I thought that I'd go-over it again with the information that I now know about Marilyn's lipstick regimen.

She would use a lip brush and she would use five different shades of lipstick to achieve her look. She also would use a white highlighting color of some kind that she would put on the middle of her lips after the layering of the reds were all done. This would give the illusion of plumpness. So it was pretty much as follows:

1. ♥ Red liner(a little dark but not too dark) would go on the outer line of the lips.

2. ♥ She would then apply with a lip brush three different layers of red lipstick. I'm assuming she used Guerlain lipstick, Elizabeth Arden lipstick and Max Factor lipstick. So these were the basic layers that were put on first.

3. ♥ The way she would shadow her lips was to give the effect that they were voluptuous and plump. She shadowed her lips so the darker reds were on the outer edges of her lips and the lighter were in the middle of her lips.

4. ♥ The white highlighter was put in the middle of her lips to soften the middle and leave the edges of the lips stunningly dark.

5. ♥ Her gloss was also added intermittently in this process, so a layer gloss (known as a concoction of beeswax and vegetable wax) and a layer of lipstick, then the shadowing happened and then the last layer of gloss was used. I have no idea what gloss she used but people say it was her own invention and a mix that she would not tell to anyone what was actually in it!

[Source - www.popsugar.com]


So... who are your favorite icons as far as makeup and fashion? I love finding new inspiration.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

February Favorites



So February is done and gone so I thought I'd post some of my favorite beauty products of the month :) I tried to order these in consideration of their importance in my routine for skincare/makeup routine.

1. Cetaphil Deep Moisturizing Cream ($10-12) - This is a fabulous moisturizer. It is supposed to be for every day, every stage, every age, and also suitable for sensitive skin. I find that this is a great face moisturizer to use before applying my foundation or powder. I also use this cream all over the rest of my body. Non greasy feeling, not too thick or super thin, just right. Love it!

2. Nivea Kiss of Moisture Chap stick ($2.99) - The best chap stick I have used. That pretty much adds that one up.

3. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self Tanning Lotion ($8-9) - I have been using this since I posted about purchasing it. It is giving my skin a wonderful bronzed glowing look. I love it so far.

4. MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural ($26) - I love this more than I do the Studio Fix foundation I bought when I got this. I find that this powder evens out my skin tone nicely and does look very natural... so it's great when you don't want to look like your wearing makeup.

5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer ($16.50) - This has been an essential for my everyday makeup routine for brightening my under eye area.

6. L'Oreal Lineur Intense Liner ($7) - This is now my favorite eye liner.

7. Sigma SS150 Powder Brush (12 PC kit $69)- I love this brush. It is the perfect powder brush to apply my MSF.

8. Sigma SS168 Angled Blush Brush (12 PC kit $69) - Perfect for contouring or applying blush.

9. Lash Blast ($8)- Still my favorite mascara.

10. Milani XL Face and Body Bronzer ($8.99) - I love this bronzer it comes with two shades... a lighter shade that is perfect for applying all over the face for a healthy glow; and a darker shade that is nice for the cheeks or contouring.

11. i.d. bareMinerals blush in "True" (22.99) - I love this color. I think this was my first higher end blush. It is perfect for applying on the cheekbones for a beautiful highlight.

beautiful right?


12. MAC Naked Lunch ES ($14.50) - I love this color it is a nice lid or highlight color for me.

13. HiP Jelly Balm in Succulent ($7.99) - I love this for the lips. It isn't too sticky, it provides a nice sheer color... great for moisturizing the lips while adding a touch of color.


And.............. of course the best part of every day of every month... Kailei...