Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My Every day Eye Makeup

I have been reaching for the same products for the past few weeks and I love the way it looks. I want to change it up, but this is so easy that I might keep it for a while.

First I apply NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Strawberry Milk all over my lid.

Next I pat Bootycall from the Urban Decay Naked2 Pallet all over the NYX base with an E.L.F. Studio shadow brush.

Then I take Tease from the Urban Decay Naked2 Pallet on a Sigma E55 brush and blend that into my crease.

After that I take Busted on a Sigma E65 Tapered Blending Brush. I only swipe it in the shadow once, on one side of the brush. I then place the brush flush to my lid, on the outer corner, close to my lash line and blend it upwards.

The final shadow step is to take a clean Sigma E25 with nothing on it and blend Busted into Tease. If I think it needs a little more depth I will take some more Tease on the E25 and blend it out a little bit more.

After the shadow is done I apply Urban Decay 24.7 liner in ___ to my water line and apply mascara. Right now I am using the new Cover Girl Clump Crusher. I love that it separates my lashes really well, but I wish I picked up a waterproof formula since my curl falls after a few hours.

Well that is all I do for my every day eye makeup at the moment.

xoxo Colleen

Sunday, November 25, 2012

November 2012 Beauty Favorites

I figure the first post back should be a favorites. It has been a while, but I have really been using a lot of the same products since the colder weather has hit my area and doesn't seem to want to quit. :)

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Cream Foundation- I discovered this when I was looking for a good, inexpensive alternative to my Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation. I love the coverage of it and it feels very lightweight. It also blends beautifully into the skin. I find it to be quite buildable which is good for the redness in my cheeks and the acne that has developed on my chin and mouth area.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara- This mascara is a great mascara for every day. It is very natural looking which is good for work or school. I've never had a problem with it smudging and it makes me look like I have so many lashes. I adore it.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed- I am obsessed with this blush. I have worn it almost every day for two months now. Since it is getting warmer I have been wearing more of a dark lip and because of it I like the toned down eyes a cheeks. This is perfect and if I don't want to use a separate contour this works beautifully for that on me as well.

theBalm Mary LouManizer Highlighter- I love, love, love this highlighter. It is a bit glittery so you have to be extremely careful with applying it, but it gives the most beautiful glow. My skin is dry but gets exceptionally dry in the colder months so this gives me the look of wonderfully hydrated skin.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm- Again, since my skin gets really dry in the colder months so do my lips. I love this lip balm. It is extremely hydrating and I feel like it really helps the health of my lips. It does have an SPF of 25 too so that is an added bonus.

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie- I can't exactly pull off red lips well, or at least I don't think I do, but this is a great deep purplish pink that can come off red. I love the way it looks and it has been my go-to for a bold lip.

Urban Decay Naked Pallet- I am a big fan of both of the Naked Pallets, but I usually grab the Naked2 more frequently. Lately I have been loving a look from the original Naked pallet for every day. I have been wearing Half Baked all over the lid and I put Buck in the crease. If I want a little more drama I will also use Darkhorse to deepen the crease or outer v area of my eye.


What is your staple makeup product for the winter time?
xoxo Colleen

Thursday, November 15, 2012

It's been a while...

It has been a long while since I have posted anything on here, but that is because I was working on another project. I am writing my first novel, or novella, depending on how long it gets. That takes up a lot of my time, but I want to get back into posting on here again.

I have not stopped buying, using and testing beauty products so I hope to make my schedule so that I can work on all the things I love to do.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

June Beauty Favorites

So this month I didn't really wear a lot of makeup at all. I stuck to mainly tinted moisturizer, eye liner, mascara, and some sort of cream shadow. I am all about ease since it has been super hot and humid where I live.

  • Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- I have been wearing this with some translucent powder to set it and it is working pretty well for me. I usually want some more coverage, but I have been liking the tinted moisturizer on its own.
  • Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes- I am in love with these eyeliners. I love the texture, pigmentation and, most of all, the fact that they are waterproof. I am loving wearing the purple or the blue around my eyes and some mascara. It is fun for summer and so easy to do. 

  • Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara- I fell in love with the original formula of this when it first came out so I picked up the waterproof version. I love that is makes my lashes look really full, but they also stay soft. It looks really natural and I like that for during the day.
  • MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle- I love this to add a great glow to my skin. I have been loving it so much in conjunction with my tinted moisturizer. It makes me look more alive and glowy.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Review: Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes

I have heard so many good things about these eyeliners and I finally got my hands on a few, then I bought a few more. I am in love with these liners. They are super pigmented and when they say waterproof they mean it. They don't budge at all during the day.
L to R: 0L, 23L, 12L, 11L
 Below are swatches I did and I only swiped each of the liners twice to get this amount of color. They work great on the skin and since they are super creamy they don't pull at your eyes if you try yo line your upper lash line. 
L to R: 0L, 23L, 12L, 11L
 I have been wearing them on my water line, lower lash line and upper lash line and the color really pops no matter where I put them. The only one that is hard to see is the nude one, but this I use only in my water line to brighten my eyes up when I need it. These don't need to be reapplied throughout the day, even on the water line.
L to R: 0L, 23L, 11L, 12L
My favorite of the four I have is the purple one (11L) since I have hazel eyes. The purple tone really makes the color of my eyes pop. I love all of these liners though and plan on getting more. They are really long lasting and creamy to use. They are the perfect liner for me.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Product Face off: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows VS MakeUp Forever Aqua Creams

For the longest time Benefit Creaseless Cream shadows have been my favorite cream shadow, but I had heard a lot about the Make Up Forever Aqua Creams and really wanted to try them out. I finally bit the bullet and purchased two of them and have tested them out for the past two weeks.

L to R: Birthday Suit, Pot O' Gold, R.S.V.P., Skinny Jeans;;  13, 15



Both shadows are extremely pigmented and creamy. They both apply very well and blend fairly easily. The Benefit CCS blend a little easier and I think that is due to the fact that they don't have the waterproof feature that the MUFE Aqua Creams have. Because the MUFE Aqua Creams are waterproof, I feel that they set a lot quicker which makes them a little more difficult to work with when trying to blend two together.

L to R: Birthday Suit, Pot O' Gold, R.S.V.P., Skinny Jeans;;  13, 15
Both brands are very long lasting, but I find that over time the MUFE Aqua Creams tend to crease a bit. It might be because the humidity where I live has been out of control, but the Benefit CCS don't crease at all, even when worn at work. They both can be used on their own or as a base under powder shadow. The MUFE Aqua Creams do tend to last a bit longer in general due to the fact that they are waterproof. They only come off when I use my makeup remover before I wash my face at night.

I haven't had an issue with the CCS drying out at all yet and I have had most of them for almost a year now. Since I just got the MUFE ones not too long ago I can't attest to the longevity of the product in the pot. I do think that the packaging might have something to do with it and since the MUFE are in plastic I worry where as the CCS are in glass. 

I love both of these products and really want to try more of the MUFE since I have 4 of the Benefit ones. I think the MUFE Aqua Creams are perfect for the summer since they are quick, easy and waterproof, but my favorites are the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows. I will always love these.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Review: Sheer Cover Duo Concealer

I recently received a new concealer in the Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox and the moment I tried it I fell in love. It is the Sheer Cover Duo Concealer in light/medium

As someone who is always on the search for the prefect concealer this was an amazing treat to receive. I started to use it immediately and the first thing that sold me was the creamy texture of it. Because of the creamy consistency and great pigmentation you need the littlest amount to cover even the darkest of under eye circles (which I definitely have).

As for staying power I do need to set it with a powder to ensure it stays in place all day. I also attribute this to the creamy consistency of it. Another quality of this concealer that I love is the fact that you get two different shades so it is easy to mix them together to get the perfect shade for your skin tone.

I love being able to use the light shade under my eye to brighten the area and use the dark shade to cover any blemishes and redness on my face. I also love that it is super moisturizing due to the Jojoba in it and it is great for sensitive skin.

This really is the perfect concealer (for me at least) since it applies to smoothly, provides great, build-able coverage, is nourishing to the skin and is super light weight.The cost is $29.95 for an introductory system or for the concealer alone. Visit www.sheercover.com for more information and to purchase.



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Review: Inglot Eye Shadow

L to R: AMC Shine 30, Pearl 399, Matte 342, Pearl 445, AMC Shine 44

Oh my gosh I am in love with eye shadow. On my recent trip to Las Vegas I stopped by Inglot to create my very own pallet with the Freedom System. These are some of the best shadows I have ever used. The texture is super buttery and smooth so they glide on the eye effortlessly. The blend so seamlessly into one another and with very little fallout (the matte shade is the worst culprit)

L to R: AMC Shine 30, Pearl 399, Matte 342, Pearl 445, AMC Shine 44


 I love the pigmentation as well. All 5 shades I have are ones that I can wear every day, and I have worn them at all different times of the day and to different events. I do wish I had some more matte shadows, but the one I have is the perfect best friend shadow for me. It is my new favorite crease color and helps when I am trying to do some darker looks for the evening.

The only downside to the Freedom System is that once you put the pans in the pallet you can't see the name of the color. I kept the boxes and was later able to look them up online then I labeled my pallet on the back (shown below).



My go to look with these has been Pearl 399 on the lid, Matte 342 in the crease and for a night out I add Pearl 445 to the outer v. I also love AMC Shine 30 as a highlight. It is not too shiny, but catches the light perfectly. 

I can't wait to pick up more of these. I love the fact that with the Freedom System you can customer build pallets that suit your needs. I want to build a neutral one, a color one, maybe a matte one, and a blush pallet too.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

May Beauty Favorites 2012


My makeup this month has been super minimal. Being in New Jersey the humidity has been out of control, especially at work, so I have been wearing makeup that can stay on all day.

  • Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation/Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- I have been mixing the two of these since the tinted moisturizer doesn't give me the coverage I want and the foundation gives me too much coverage for the summer. Mixing equal parts together has been really good for my skin and I don't need a blush when I do this since my cheeks are naturally so flush.
  • Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume- I love this mascara. It stays on all day and won't smudge all over my face. It gives amazing volume to my already long lashes. 
  • Tarte Lip Surgence in Enchanted- This is one of the greatest lip products ever. I feel like I can put it on at work and not have to worry for a while. Since I am becoming more tan I feel like my lips are blending in with my face more so I like having the pop of color on my lips without having to fuss about it too much. 
  • Sheer Cover concealer- Best concealer I have tried in a while. I got it sent to me in the Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox and I am so happy I did. I really like that it has two tones so you can mix your perfect shade. I mostly have been using the lighter one to brighten up my under eye area.
  • Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows in Skinny Jeans & R.S.V.P.- I am obsessed with these. I will wear R.S.V.P. all over the lid by itself or put Skinny Jeans in the outer corner with R.S.V.P. over the lid and blended into the corner. This is going to be my go to summer look.


Sunday, May 27, 2012

Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox

I received my first Influenster box earlier this month and I wanted to give an overview of the products and review them a little.


  • Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips- I love these. It \was my first time using them, but I had been wanting to try them for a while. They were super easy to apply and the lasted to long. I was surprised that they didn't chip even when I was at work (since I work at a home improvement store) They were kind of a pain to take off, but it reminded me of removing glitter polish.
  • Sheer Cover concealer-I love this concealer. It is my favorite for under my eyes. It hides my dark circles and really brightens up my under eye area.
  • Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body wash- This is the best body wash I have ever used. I love the fact that it is natural, but they don't lie when they say it is moisturizing. I usually have really dry skin and I have used less moisturizer on my skin than I usually do. I also have these little red bumps on my arms that have seemed to disappear when I started using this. I can't wait to get a big bottle of it!
  • SoyJoy Bar- I have had SoyJoy before and it was extremely dry and didn't have much of a taste, but this one was pretty good. It was still a little dry, but there was more of a taste to it and I could see myself bringing them to work with me for a healthy snack.

  • Bath and Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist- I have two of these scents already, but this is one I have wanted for some time, so I was really happy to be able to try it. The scent is sweet, but it has a nice spice to it also. I bring it with me to work for when I need a little pick me up and I feel so much fresher when I wear it. 

  •  Dr Scholls Ball of Foot pads- I love all the Dr Scholls products specifically designed for women. They really help target the spots that tend to hurt the most and with even my little heels these worked wonders to avoid blisters and toe cramps.
  • ChapStick Lip Shield 365 (SPF 50+)- I tried this over the hot sunny weekend we had and I love the lemony smell of it. I'm glad it doesn't smell like sunscreen, but it does leave a bit of a white cast if you apply too much of it. I also feel like if you add too little it can be drying. I had to play with it a little to find the perfect amount to apply, but it isn't a terrible ChapStick. 

All products were sent to me for testing purposes from Influenster. 


Monday, May 21, 2012

Friday, May 11, 2012

No Makeup Buy May

I have decided not to buy any makeup for the rest of the month of May. I am going to try to save some money and use a lot of the products I have. I did just purchase some Inglot shadows last week,  but that will be all until June. I hopefully will be able to do a post of products I have used up at the end of this no buy.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

May Birchbox!

I was so excited to get back from vacation and have my very first Birchbox waiting for me. It is the Gossip Girl box and I am in love with it!

L to R: Ojon volume advance Volumizing Shampoo, Color Club in Disco Nap, Algenist Complete eye renewal Balm, Dr. Jart + Waterfuse BB Cream


I am super excited to try all of these, especially the Dr. Jart + BB Cream. I have wanted to try it for the longest time. Hopefully I will have some reviews on these soon.

Monday, April 30, 2012

April Favorites 2012

I know there aren't a lot, but I have been trying to be good about buying makeup products since I am going on vacation in 2 days :)

  • Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Rose Ivory- I have been wanting to try this forever so when I ran out of my MUFE HD foundation I figured I would give this a try and it is amazing. It covers so well and lasts forever on my skin.
  • MAC Blush in Pink Tea- This is a wonderful pale pink blush. It gives such a nice natural flush to the cheeks
  • MAC Lipstick in Watch me Simmer- In love. It is the perfect shade for spring and summer and I plan on wearing it a lot in Vegas. I just wish I could have gotten a backup.
  • Stila Smudgestick in Stingray- I went to Ulta to find a new black liner for my waterline since lately mine had been smudging a lot and ending up on my cheeks pretty much. I fell in love with this the first time I tried it. It is creamy and lasts a long time and is super black.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

My Spring//Summer beauty wishlist!

I have spent the past few days scouring the internet and youtube trying to find new (or new to me) products that I can't wait to try this spring and summer. I am trying to save some money, so I might do a no buy for a short period of time, but I want to wait til June or so for that. Here is what I really want to try this spring and summer:

  • Inglot eye shadows- I am going to Las Vegas in 2 weeks and I can't wait to build my own eye shadow palette. I have heard how super pigmented and soft the shadows are so it is going to be a good in vestment. Also the price on them is so reasonable that I can't pass it up. 
  • YSL Lip sticks- This is a product that I have heard the most amazing reviews about. I just want at least one, hopefully in a my lips but better color.
  • Make Up Forever Aqua Creams- I love the Benefit creaseless cream shadows and I want to do a comparison between the two. I do like that there are some options for lips and cheeks and the color range seems to be a little bit better than the Benefit ones.
  • Too Faced Perfect Lips- I have never really been a fan of lip liner, but if I could find the perfect one I think I could be sold on them. Since this is marketed as the only lip liner you will ever need I figure it's my best bet to try it first.
I know there isn't a lot on here, but since most of them are higher end I feel that if I focus on these I will be able to do better reviews and not be overwhelmed. I can't wait for my first review of these which will definitely be of the Inglot shadows.  

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

My favorite drugstore mascaras!

I love mascara. It is the one thing I always have to wear no matter what. I have extremely light lashes, but they are very long so I love volumizing black mascaras. I just feel that they make my eyes pop.


 This is the newest addition to my collection and my newest obsession. It has a huge brush so it coats all my lashes so well. I absolutely love how long a curl lasts with this and how the mascara wears throughout the day.


Maybelline is one of my favorite brands and this mascara is a big reason why. I love the curved brush and the bristles get into ever corner of my eyes to give great coverage on my lashes. It lasts all day and is the blackest mascara I have ever used.
This is my all time favorite mascara. The brush is big but super simple. The base of my lashes looks super thick when I use this mascara. It is waterproof too so it holds a curl really well and lasts the whole day. I absolutely love this mascara more than any other one.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

10 Nail Polish Picks for Spring and Summer

I love nail polish, so I dug through my collection to choose my go to spring shades for my fingers and toes. I find that most of the shades I will wear in the spring also carry over to summer so these are the polishes from my current collection that I look forward to wearing.

OPI - Fly (Nicki Minaj Collection)
This is a beautiful teal blue color that is perfect for spring. I have worn it so many times already.

 ESSIE- Navigate Her (Spring 2012 Collection)
Pistachio green is very popular for the spring and this creme finish polish is perfect. It is very pastel and a looks great on my nails.







China Glaze-Reggae to Riches
I love this shade of purple. It has a beautiful blue duo chrome in it. This is my favorite color to wear on my toes right now.
 ESSIE- To Buy or not to Buy (Spring 2012 Collection)
This is a great pastel purple, but there is something special about it. This polish may look like a creme finish, but it has blue sparkles in it.
 China Glaze- Fast Track (the Hunger Games Collection)
I am wearing this right now and will be until I get sick of it. It is a great tan color with the most beautiful glittery shimmer in it. I am obsessed with this color.
 Sinful Colors- 24/7
This is a neon pink that is going to be great on the toes when I go to the beach.
 China Glaze- Ahoy
I love this pink polish. It has glitter in it, but not too much to be overwhelming.
 O.P.I.- Did it on 'Em (Nicki Minaj Collection)
Best neon green ever. I am obsessed with this color although my friends hate it. I love love love it.
 Sinful Colors- Boogie Nights
This polish is a gorgeous coral color and right now I seem to have a problem that involves buying any coral makeup I see.
ESSIE- Meet me at Sunset
Tangerine is the color of the year, so I joined the club on that one. I love this color so much and can't wait to wear it constantly this spring and summer.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Spring Must Haves 2012

I am totally in love with spring. It is one of my favorite times of the year and have been waiting for it for months. These are the products I will be using throughout the spring and into the beginning of the summer:

  • Physicians Formula shimmer strips bronzer in Las Vegas Strip- I am obsessed with all things Las Vegas since I am going there in May, but this is an amazing bronzer to add a little shimmer to your face. I will sometimes use the lighter colors for a highlight too. 
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface- I love the pink color for the spring time. It is just light and will last forever which is good with the warmer weather
  • NYC Bronzer in Sunny- this is the best bronzer I have to contour with. I love the look it gives me
  • Urban Decay shadow in Naked- This is my best friend shade and I like to wear it alone to define the crease and make my eyes look a little bit bigger.
  • MUFE HD Foundation in 120- this is my new shade for the spring. I am a bit darker and although most people don't like to wear foundation in warmer weather I prefer the full coverage look.
  • Urban Decay All Nighter Spray- This is a staple all year. This makes my makeup last so long.
  • MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle- wonderful highlight to add a wonderful glow. It makes my skin look so dewy. 
  • Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP- I love this. It makes my eye look so quick and effortless. I just love these
  • Colored Eyeliner- the combination of this on the lower lash line and RSVP on my lid is beautiful. Great for a pop of color.
  • NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Golden Pink- Again I love pink for spring. This is a great shade of pink. It is bright with a bit of simmer that really makes your lips shine.
  • MAC Lip Stick in Ravishing- I bought this a few weeks ago and I am in love. This is a wonderful coral color that works so well with my skin tone. 
  • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer in Light- This is a wonderful lightweight concealer that is perfect for the undereye area. 
  • L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black- Best mascara ever. It makes my lashes look full and dark, but not fake. 
  • MAC Lip Stick in Vegas Volt- Another Las Vegas product that I adore. It is super bright and a little overwhelming, but if I blot and layer gloss over it, it is perfect.
  • Buxom Lip Gloss in Debbie- This is the perfect gloss to dull down Vegas Volt. It is my favorite spring time lip combo. 
These are my go to products for the spring and I adore each of them. There may be more with the new collections to come out. 

Sunday, March 25, 2012

March Beauty Favorites!

This month has been a good one for me. I have finally found a make up routine that works for me and I am thrilled. These are some new products I have been absolutely loving this month.

  • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser in Light- I love this concealer. I was using Benefit's Erase Paste, but the creamy consistency to it tended to cake a little under my eyes and it slipped a little throughout the day. The Maybelline Eraser is so lightweight that it doesn't sink into the wrinkles and stays put all day. It is very pigmented and my dark circles are so much more less noticeable when I use this concealer.
  • MAC Eyeshadow in Honey Lust- I have been eying this shadow for the longest time. It is a beautiful gold-ish color with glitter in it and I absolutely love wearing it all over my lid. There is a little fallout, but I can deal with it since the color is absolutely fantastic and it feels so smooth on my lid.
  • MAC Lipglass in Julia (from the Marcel Wanders 2 collection)- This is the best pink lip gloss I have. I can't believe how beautiful and pigmented this lip gloss is. I wish it was permanent because when I use this up I know I will be extremely upset. It isn't too sticky and the shimmer in it is subtle, but is noticeable.
  • MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle- I finally joined everyone in loving this product. I have only had it for about 2 weeks, but in that time I have fallen in love with the way this highlights my cheeks. I have a very round face and this helps when I contour my face to give the illusion of higher cheek bones and a glowing complexion. 
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface- This is the perfect pink blush for the spring. It also doesn't make me look to flush since my face is normally very red. My foundation definitely covers the redness, but the blush helps to keep it at bay by only showing this color on my cheeks.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Review: MakeUp Forever HD Foundation

So I was totally loving my Benefit Play Stick, but my skin was just getting super dry with the winter being so cold, so I went in search of another full coverage foundation to get me through the drier months.

My first thoughts of this foundation was how amazing the coverage really is. It covers most of the redness in my face effortlessly and blends in to my natural skin tone very well. There is not a lot needed to cover my face, only a pump and a half (the pump is my favorite packaging feature).

Throughout the day I noticed that my face stays well hydrated and is soft to the touch, when I happen to touch my face. The coverage also lasts throughout my work day even without a primer. I do use a setting spray over it though.

One downside I have noticed is that since this is an HD foundation it is meant to be great with pictures. I went on vacation recently and in the photos I looked very washed out and white. I was wearing blush and bronzer on top and it was still washing me out. I think maybe a darker shade might help with this.

All in all I love this foundation and it is my favorite for the winter time so far. I do want to keep trying other foundations in search of my holy grail foundation that is perfect for both seasons.

 I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars

Friday, March 9, 2012

February Favorites

There aren't too many favorites this month, but I figured I would still share them.

Top: Sigma Make Me Crazy Travel set, Bottom: MUFE HD Foundation, OPI Fly, MAC Satin Taupe, MAC Viva Glam V

  • Sigma Make Me Crazy Travel Brush Kit: I love this set. It has every basic brush that I need so I have the perfect base for the rest of my collection. I also LOVE the color of it. 
  • Make Up Forever HD Foundation in 117: This is amazing foundation. I am still on the hunt for the perfect one, but this is great for covering the redness in my face and I look flawless in pictures. It lasts for a long time and doesn't make me break out. It also is super moisturizing which helps since I have dry skin. 
  • OPI Fly: I love Nicki Minaj and I love this color. It was my default color all month and I love the way it looks. 
  • MAC Satin Taupe: I can't believe it took me so long to discover this shade. It is gorgeous. I love wearing it all over the lid on lazy days or blending it into the crease when I want to take a little more time with my eye look. 
  • MAC Viva Glam V: The perfect nude. It's that simple. I love it and wear it almost every day. I have debated buying a few backups just in case they decide to discontinue it. I might cry if that happens.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Going on a Trip: My long weekend getaway makeup necesseties

I am going away next week for a long weekend to Vermont and I figured this would be the perfect time to do a travel makeup guide. This will be a compilation of the products I feel are necessary for my makeup needs.



  • Makeup Forever HD Foundation (I am in shade 117)- Since it is so cold and windy in the area of Vermont I will be in I need a hydrating foundation that has a lot of coverage. My face is red enough as it is, so anything I can use to cover that so only redness from the cold and wind show through is perfect
  • Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder- Best powder to set my makeup. I use it mostly for my concealer though.  
  • Urban Decay All Nighter- This is a must have no matter where I am going or what I am doing. I love this setting spray and I don't really need a primer when I use it with the MUFE foundation. 
  • Benefit Erase Paste- My favorite concealer. It covers my dark circles so well, which is good for the long nights out I will be enjoying. 
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion- No brainer. 
  • Urban Decay Naked2 Pallet- I love this pallet so much. It is perfect for every day looks and since I will need a look to go from day to night this will be the perfect pallet to bring with me. I love the combination of Bootycall all over the lid with Tease in the crease. To amp this up for night all I do is add Busted to the outer corner. 
  • Lush Lip Scrub in Sweet Lips & EOS lip balm- This is what I need to keep my lips from getting chapped and cracked. The combination of the scrub and the balm are perfect for amazingly soft lips.
  • Maybelline Baby Lips in Grape Vine- This provides SPF, moisture and a little bit of color. I don't have to worry about reapplying lip color and I don't need a mirror for it. The Baby Lips are effortless and since I will be spending a lot of time outdoors it is perfect for my trip. 
  • L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara- The best mascara ever. It lasts all day and doesn't flake. It makes my lashes look full and long and I just love it. 
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero- Best eyeliner ever. Period.
I am super excited for my trip and I can't wait to see how all of this works out for me. I also get to try the Naked2 pallet and see if it is the one I want to bring with my when I go to Vegas in May. I am pretty much having an all out battle between Naked and Naked2.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Review: Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Eye Shadows

At first I wasn't impressed with these shadows, but the more I use them the more I like them. I am still a little wary of them because I have had some difficulty with the application of them, but all in all they are pretty good.

Left to right: Tough as Taupe, Too Cool, Audacious Asphalt
My favorite is definitely Tough as Taupe. It applies so smoothly and it a very unique color. I love that it can be purple, gray, and taupe depending on what you wear it with and that I love. Too Cool is the one that has given me the most problems application wise. It gets a little clumpy and applies sporadically on the lid and when swatched. Audacious Asphalt is a dark color that I don't use very often but I like that I have a dark base when I want to do a smokey eye look.  

Left to right: Tough as Taupe, Too Cool, Audacious Asphalt
I think these three are the only ones I am going to keep in my collection. None of the other colors stood out to me and I prefer the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows over these.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

January 2012 Beauty Favorites



There aren’t too many for this month, but I didn’t want to include random things I didn’t love this month. Enjoy :)


Urban Decay Naked2 Palette- I love this palette. It has every color I could possibly want or need for any look. I use it for my every day look which is Bootycall on the lid with Tease in the crease. It is my favorite combination for my eyes and if I don’t know what to wear on my eyes that day that is what I reach for.

Benefit The POREfessional- I love this primer so much. I have been searching for the perfect one for a long time and this just makes my makeup stay all day. I do use a setting spray when I am going out for the night, but for every day this is all I use under my makeup. It feels so smooth and I love that it has a slight tint to it.

Tarte Lip Surgence (Enchanted)- This  is the best lip stain I have ever used and I think it’s because it doesn’t behave like a lip stain. I love that it has a glossy finish when it is freshly applied. Though that fades, it is great to pair with a gloss on top. My favorite is Buxom’s Dolly. They are my perfect pair on my lips.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes- This is a rediscovered favorite of mine. I used this all through college and stopped for a few years (I’m not sure why) but I always knew this was a favorite and repurchasing it confirmed that for me once again. This is the perfect mascara for me; it makes my eyes look bigger, my lashes longer and fuller.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush (Coffee Cake[right] & Candy Coral[left])- These are the most freakishly amazing blushes I have ever used. I am still getting used to the application, but they work so well on my skin that I can’t get enough of them. These are the only two colors I have right now, but I definitely want more. They end up so smooth on my face and I like how sheer they can be applied since I have so much redness in my face.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Product Face Off--Tarte Lights Camera Lashes & L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

This is my first product face off because I recently realized that L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black is a fantastic dupe for Tarte Lights Camera Lashes.

Lights Camera Lashes has been my holy grail mascara for years, but the price of it was getting kind of out of control for my budget. I started wearing it back in college because it made my lashes look so full and long. I stopped wearing it because of the price tag, but I went back to it when I saw it in a set of Tarte products.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black is a new discovery for me. I never really gravitated towards L'Oreal products, but then I saw a bunch of YouTube videos about it and decided to give it a try. I instantly fell in love. It is an amazing mascara that does everything I want; lengthens, makes my lashes look super full and doesn't wear off or flake throughout the day.


Left: Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, Right: L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
As you can see the packaging is very similar. Here the Tarte mascara is without the usual snake skin wrapping around it. Either way they look so similar with the packaging. 

Top: Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, Bottom: L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
The wand is slightly longer on the Tarte mascara, but I like the shorter wand because I feel like there is more control over the wand and how the mascara applies to my lashes. It helps to maneuver the wand to separate the lashes if they begin to clump. 

Top: Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, Bottom: L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
The brush on the mascaras is also very close in size. The L'Oreal brush is a little longer and thicker than the Tarte. I have smaller eyes so the brush on the Lights Camera Lashes is great, but there isn't much difference between it and the Voluminous Carbon Black. They both provide excellent coverage to your lashes as you apply and quickly because of the size of the brush.

All in all I love both of these mascaras but if you are looking for a less expensive alternative to Lights Camera Lashes I think the Voluminous Carbon Black is the perfect mascara for you. It lasts forever, has great pigmentation, has little to no clumping and is definitely my new holy grail mascara.

<3 Greens

Friday, January 13, 2012

Review: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows

I absolutely love these cream shadows. I discovered them a few months ago when I was looking for a new tinted eye shadow base and will buy them in every color I can get my hands on. Right now I have 4 (Skinny Jeans, R.S.V.P., Pot O' Gold (Sephora exclusive) and Birthday Suit) and the pigmentation on them is amazing. They have a great color payoff without having to use a ton of product. This prevents the eyes from feeling super heavy.


(left to right) Skinny Jeans, R.S.V.P., Pot O' Gold, Birthday Suit
 These shadows are great as a base. They bring out the colors in so many other shadows, but they are also phenomenal to wear on their own. If I am having a lazy day or I am running late I will swipe one or two on my lids and put on a little mascara and I am good to go. They last the whole day and never budge or crease. Their name really does describe them.
(left to right) Pot O' Gold, Skinny Jeans, R.S.V.P., Birthday Suit

The texture of them are also fantastic. None of mine have dried out at all. They are very creamy and because of it they are super blendable with one another. The Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows are an amazing product and I recommend them to anyone.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Review: Benefit Play Sticks

This is the best foundation I have ever used. I have an abundance of redness on my face, especially on my cheeks and nothing I have ever used has covered it the way the Benefit Play Sticks do. It has some amazing coverage, which is why they say it can be used as a concealer or foundation. Some days I don't even use concealer for my blemishes because of how well this foundation covers everything.

This is me after I did half of my face with foundation
                                               

The finish of this foundation is also great. It is a cream to powder finish so it lasts all day, even without a setting spray. I simply use a primer under it and it stays through my whole work day and into the night. It is easy to apply, just use a normal foundation brush and a small amount of product to keep it from looking cakey. This is a holy grail product for me and I will repurchase this for a long time to come. The only downside to this product is the color range. There are only 4 shades, but luckily the lightest shade matches me perfectly.