Sandy Beaches- EOTD featuring Glamour Doll Eyes

FTC Notice: All items were purchased out of pocket.    

      Hi everyone! First off, I would really like to thank everyone who visits and checks on my page- I appreciate it more than you know. My schedule is a little strange for now since I recently started a new job, but I have several future ideas set and would like to implement an e-mail notification list and Facebook page in the near future.

With flash.

     For this look, I patted a little Glamour Doll Eyes Control Freak primer all over the eye area.  Next, I brushed Mannequin onto the lid.  It's a beautiful sheer neutral that has a gorgeous sheen in the light.  Using Peep Show from the Easter 2013 Collection, I brushed all along the crease, above the lid. It's a pretty, pale matte blue shade.  To give a nice pop, I brushed Celestial Crow into the outer half of the crease and outer "v."  It is a highly-pigmented, super shimmery blue with loads of glitter in it. Next, I applied Skin of a Killer onto the brow bone and inner corner. To finish off the eye, I used my finger to dab a little Hippity Hop from the Easter 2013 Collection onto the center of the lid. It was a mystery color being sold, and is a matte sea foam green. It puts just a slight variation of texture and color on the neutral lid.

With flash.

     For the lips, I applied the Shiro Cosmetics' Ridiculously Photogenic Intertube on as a base, and topped Triple Dog Dare on top for added shine.

Products Used:

     Face:

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Light

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light

Revlon Photoready Sculpting Blush Palette in Peach

    Eyes: 

Glamour Doll Eyes Control Freak primer 

Glamour Doll Eyes pigment in Mannequin (Halo Collection)

Glamour Doll Eyes pigment in Peep Show (Easter 2013 Collection)

Glamour Doll Eyes pigment in Celestial Crow

Glamour Doll Eyes pigment in Skin of a Killer (Twi-Shadows, discontinued)

Glamour Doll Eyes pigment in Hippity Hop  (Easter 2013 Collection, mystery color)

Milani Easyliner Retractable Liner in Black (lower lash line)

Sally Girl Mini Liquid Eyeliner in Black

L' Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara in Black Lacquer

Milani Brow Fix Eye Powder Kit in Medium

    Lips:

Shiro Cosmetics Intertube in Ridiculously Photogenic

Shiro Cosmetics Holiday Gloss in Triple Dog Dare (Christmas 2012)

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Simply Irrestistable: Smashbox Love Me Eyeshadow Palette (Image- Heavy)

FTC Notice: These items were received from the company in a giveaway.

     Earlier this year, Smashbox was running a sweepstakes in which they were giving away sets including one of their Love Me products and one of their top-selling products to several entrants.  I was very fortunate to be one of the winners, and within 2 weeks of notification, a box with Smashbox's Love Me Eyeshadow Palette in Entice Me and travel-sized Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black arrived in the mail.

I love the sticker on the packaging!

My kitty was excited, too! :)

     The Love Me Eyeshadow Palette in Entice Me features five shimmery and sparkly neutrals, including sparkling purple, purple taupe, icy pink, icy blue, and deep sparkling navy (color descriptions courtesy of Smashbox's website).  The compact itself contains artist Curtis Hulig's iconic "Love Me" heart design, which is featured throughout the entire Smashbox Love Me series.

Without flash.

With flash.

         ...but there's more to this shadow than meets the eye.

     The "Love Me" logo flips up, further revealing the colors!

Without flash.

With flash.

     The colors are highly pigmented and are incredibly soft and smooth to the touch.  This made application a BREEZE!  I did not use any brushes- simply my fingers for application and blending. I used all the colors in the palette and they went together so nicely. The only disappointment I have is with the sky blue shade- for some reason, it did not want to stay put at all. It was the second color I applied to my lid, and then I reapplied it onto my lid last because it was no longer detectable. It still did not want to stay put after that. I had no problems, however, with the other colors. The next time I use this palette, I plan on using a mixing medium and different base just to see if I'll get a different result.  If you do plan on purchasing a Love Me Eyeshadow, check out the back of the box. There's a peel-off sticker that includes a how-to guide for achieving a look incorporating all the colors. It is a bit discrete, and I did not notice this until after I used the palette for the first time:

  The Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara is good for achieving nice, polished lashes without going over the top.  The applicator is a bit thicker and larger than the typical brush, with the classic, slightly tapered shape. While I strongly disagree with Smashbox's claims of the product's ability to volumize 104% and lengthen lashes 32%, I can't vouch for how it would work on others since not all lashes are created equal. However, clumping is minimal and this is an ideal mascara to use with false lashes.

     

     The following are photos incorporating both the Smashbox Love Me Eyeshadow Palette in Entice Me and the mini Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black.

    The lipgloss is Smashbox Lip-Enhancing Mega Gloss True Color in Celebrity and was also from a previous giveaway (just had to answer a quiz on their Facebook page and sign up for it that given day!) for a full-sized tube. If you haven't already, I think it'd be a great idea to "like" them on Facebook just to keep an eye on the giveaways they have! 

    Overall, I was really impressed with the Smashbox's Love Me Eyeshadow. The shadows are much more gorgeous in person, creating such a romantic, feminine look. You can purchase Smashbox's Love Me Eyeshadow Palettes in Entice Me or Admire Me for $34 and .38 oz. of Full Exposure Mascara for $19.50 at Ulta, Sephora, Smashbox.com, or Amazon.

Disclaimer: I was not endorsed by Smashbox to promote this post.  The content expresses my sole, personal opinion without influence from the company.

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Shiro's February COTM: Gettin' Frisky With "My Cat's My Valentine"

     Shiro surprised us with not one, but TWO colors of the month this February! While both colors are gorgeous, I'm on a budget and trying not to select colors similar to what I already have. However, I felt obligated to purchase one of them. As a self-confessed "cat lady", I was loving My Cat's My Valentine! (Click here to see both colors). It was just too funny and adorable; not to mention a very pretty color.

  My Cat's My Valentine is described as "a creamy light pink with bright white sparkles" on Shiro's website.  While I enjoy pink shadows, I was expecting a very soft, light pink. I was pleased to open the jar and find that it was actually more of a light pinky mauve, which is something I did not have in my collection. If you're curious as to what white sparkle may look like, it's actually an iridescent color that reflects pink and soft greens. Due to its creamy consistency, it comes off as pearly when applied wet.  

Check out the lid. How ADORABLE is that?!

The colors below were swatched under regular indoor lighting:

Without flash
Left- Applied with I-Candy Cosmetics Eye Base
Center- Applied wet, with I-Candy Cosmetics Base
Right- Applied alone

With flash
Left- Applied with I-Candy Cosmetics Eye Base
Center- Applied wet, with I-Candy Cosmetics Base
Right- Applied alone

     I'm really glad the latter swatch captured the color's shimmer, because the creaminess really does give it a little more pop.  Some soft pinks, while beautiful in color, come off as a bit too subtle.  Also, since it's lip-safe, this will be a fun color to play around with on lips and cheeks, too.

     The following look was done using I-Candy's Eye Base with Shiro's My Cat's My Valentine applied wet on the lid, Nic Cage Raking Leaves on a Brisk October Afternoon ;) along the crease, and Day of Reckoning on the lower lash line.

Without flash

With flash

     You can get My Cat's My Valentine while it's still out this month! It's definitely a unique novelty name and jar (like most Colors of the Month) and a pretty pink to boot.  It sells for $6.00 a jar, or you can purchase both COTM's for a total of $10.00.  

     And, only because it's appropriate, here is my sweet little Valentine ;)

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Valentine's Series: Classic Romantic

     

     Hello everyone!  I hope all is well!  For this look, I wanted to create a soft, sweet, romantic look. I used Too Faced's gorgeous Romantic Eye Palette and I Candi Cosmetic's Limited Edition CHAOS Vie En Rose Palette (created by makeup artist Megan Martinez). 

Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette

I Candy CHAOS Vie En Rose Palette

     First, I applied Control Freak primer from Glamourdoll Eyes onto my entire eye area.  I started off with the Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette. Next, I used my finger to apply Soulmates onto the brow bone and Bouquet Toss onto the inner corner as a highlight.  With an angled eye brush, I applied Cut the Cake onto the lid and used Glamourdoll Eye's Foil Me to apply it onthe outer half of my bottom lash line.  Next, I took the I Candy palette and applied the pink shadow with Foil Me onto the lid. I used Too Faced's I Do on the outer "v" and upper part of the crease. I blended it upward toward the brow bone and reapplied Soulmates for added drama. Next, with an angled eye brush I took Honeymoon, a golden shimmery color, and applied it across my upper lash line and the inner half of my bottom lash line.  After applying mascara and eyeliner, I finished the look off with elf glitter liner in Stardust.

Without flash.

With flash.

     For my face, I used Too Faced's Kiss the Bride as blush, and then applied the lightest color of the I Candy palette (a pearly, iridescent, creamy pink shimmer) over the blush and as a highlight for added shimmer. For my lips, I used 

EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet as a hydrating base and then applied the pink I Candy pigment on top, with the lightest color in the quad in the center of my lower lip for dimension.

   The Too Faced Romantic palette is rather affordable for higher end cosmetics at  about $36.  It comes with nine colors and is great for achieving soft, natural looks, or heavier nighttime looks.  I Candy Cosmetics sells very high quality, cruelty-free pigments that can be found online here.

Products Used:

     Face:

elf Glow Bronzing Powder in Sun Kissed 

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer in Light

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light

Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette in Kiss the Bride as blush

I Candy Cosmetics CHAOS Vie En Rose Palette (lightest pigment as highlight)

    Eyes: 

Glamourdoll Eyes Control Freak Primer

Glamourdoll Eyes Foil Me

Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette in

        Soulmates

        Bouquet Toss

       Cut the Cake

       I Do

       Honeymoon

I Candy CHAOS Vie En Rose Palette in pink and lightest pigment

 elf Glitter Liner in Stardust

Nyx Waterproof Retractable Eye Liner in Black 

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black

Wet n Wild Color Icon Brow & Eye Liner in Taupe

    Lips:

EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet

I Candy CHAOS Vie En Rose Palette in pink and lighest pigment

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Get It Before It's Thrown Into The Incinerator! Shiro Cosmetics' Discontinued Science Collection Sale

     Even though The Science Collection has been out for a few years, it is now being discontinued with the remainder being sold for 20% off its original price. Based off the original video game Portal, I knew I had to buy some of these shadows!  I have only recently started playing this highly popular game in the past few months, and it’s amazing.  Owning a part of a collection associated with it containing gorgeous, quality colors is a glam nerd’s dream come true.  Every color has a clever name associated with quotes from the game.

     What I love about the shadows from Shiro is how easily the pigments blend onto the eye area without having to pack a lot of product on. The jars always arrive jam-packed with product, too, whether it be full-sized or a larger sized sample jar.

     

 Check out the Shiro Aperture lid, and how much product is packed into the jar (this was after a few uses, too!)

Without Flash- The pigments I purchased (from left to right) were Because We Can, Party Escort, Beta, and You Were Adopted. Used with I-Candy Eye Primer.

  With flash- The pigments I purchased ( from left to right) were Because We Can, Party Escort, Beta, and You Were Adopted. Used with I-Candy Eye Primer.

     According to Shiro Cosmetics, each pigment is described as such:

     Because We Can- “Super-bright shimmery hot pink with flashes of silver. Lip-safe!”

She wasn’t kidding when she said this is “super-bright.” It’s a gorgeous, girly pink that also makes a great lip/blush color.

     Party Escort- “Shimmery blackened silver with lots of red sparks. Lip-safe!”

I found that this color actually requires a little more building up to achieve as much drama as the other colors. It looks GREAT directly on top of the other colors!

     Beta- “Shimmery blackened emerald. Not lip-safe”

Another gorgeous shade of green. Blends really nicely with You Were Adopted.

    You Were Adopted- “Dark shimmery grey-blue with flashes of silver and green. Not lip-safe.”

Wowzers, is this a bold color!  It really stands out if you want a heavier pigment.

Because We Can on Lid Paired With Party Escort Over Crease, Lower Brow Bone and Outer "V"- Going For That Basic Companion Cube Look

You Were Adopted on the lid, Blended in With Beta on the Crease and Outer "V."

     I’d like to try out some of the other colors as well, but I’m not sure how much longer these shades will be up for grabs.

     Be sure to snag The Science Collection while it’s “Still Alive.” ;)

     You can find the link to view the whole collection here.

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