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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Valentine's Series: Anti-Valentine: Blue Valentine Featuring Glamourdoll Eyes

     So, I wanted to have a little variety and include something more artistic.  As I was working on it, there were some things I would have changed, but this was my first time creating a darker-themed look.

     I started off by using a eye brush to pat Nymphette from the Blogger Collection onto my lid, crease, and outer "v."  Next, I used my black Nyx rectractable eyeliner and drew across the crease.  I used my finger to smudge and blend it outward.  This was a rather messy process, so I used a large fluffy foundation brush to clean up fallout and applied concealer underneath my eye and along the outside of my eye at an angle from the edge of my lower lash line to the tip of my eyebrow.  Next, I took Corpselike from the 2012 Halloween Collection and placed it onto my brow bone and blended it slightly with Nympette.  I then took Foil Me and mixed it with the Fierce Eye Lights (unfortunately, the Eye Lights are discontinued :( , but you can find glitters at several other companies) and applied it onto my lid.  Using a foundation brush, I applied Corpselike all over my face to achieve a pale appearance.  Using Foil Me once again, I pat it underneath my eye area.  I then used an angled brush to apply Ahoy Sailor in streaks.  I smudged the area, and reapplied the pigment is some areas.  I then dripped a very small amount of water onto my face to further achieve a smudged appearance. With the angled brush, I lined some areas with concealer as well as eye liner to enhance the streaks.  Again with Foil Me, I used Eye Lights Fierce and Pink Cadillac for a subtle feminine effect.  When I lined my eyes, I applied a generous amount of liner on my lower lash line and smudged it.  I really love the big, dramatic lashes from the Maleficent elf Disney Villains kit, so I used them.

Without flash.

With flash.

     For my lips, I used EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet as a moisturizing base, and applied Spider Sense from the Super Shadows Collection onto my lips in a bee sting fashion. The remainder of the lips were covered with concealer. I used a dark red lip liner in for an enhanced effect (I used the darker liner from elf's Maleficent Palette).

     I had a lot of fun with this look because it was so different for me, but I certainly hope that everyone has a much better Valentine's Day than this!

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

Glamourdoll Eyes pigment in 
    Corpselike (Halloween 2012 Collection)
    Ahoy Sailor
Glamourdoll Eyes Eye Lights in
     Fierce
     Pink Cadillac
Nyx Waterproof Retractable Eye Liner in Black  

    Eyes: 

Glamourdoll Eyes Control Freak Primer

Glamourdoll Eyes Foil Me
Glamordoll Eyes pigments in
      Nymphette (Blogger Collection)
      Corpselike

Nyx Waterproof Retractable Eye Liner in Black 

Wet n Wild Color Icon Brow & Eye Liner in Taupe

elf falsh lashes from Disney Villains Maleficent set

    Lips:

EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet

Glamourdoll Eyes pigment in Spider Sense (Super Shadows Collection)

darker lip/cheek stain from elf Disney Villians Maleficent set

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Valentine's Series: Vampy Valentine (Featuring Glamourdoll Eyes)

     This is a darker look using mostly Glamourdoll pigments. This one was probably my favorite of the series because it's not something I wear often, though I'm a fan of darker colors.  I've also been really into revisiting purples lately, which was my original favorite eye color years ago. While I was referring to the "vamp" fashion look, I unintentionally ended up using the Twi Shadows from Glamourdoll Eyes...what a coincidence!  Take note that is is also a very glittery look, as all but one of the pigments contain sparkle.

     I started off by priming my entire eye area, and then applied Skin of a Killer (now discontinued) onto my brow bone and inner corner. I then placed Premonition (now in the permanent line!) lightly onto my lid and all over my crease and outer "v." I also applied Premonition onto my lower lash line with an angled brush. Next, I took Shiro's Day of Reckoning and pat it into the outer "v." I blended it into Premonition with my brush.  Finally, I applied Mannequin from the Halo collection onto my entire lid area.  Since this is a more dramatic look, I traced my entire eye area with retractable liner, including the inner corners of my eyes.  For the upper lash area, I did a cat eye look with the liner. I finished with  mascara, and concealer.

    For my lip, I used N.Y.C. Ultra Moist Lip Wear in Mahogony, which is a deep, rich berry red.(Since I tend to look for either Wet n' Wild or N.Y.C. at the stores and often tend to find only one or the other, or if you have a preference, Wet n' Wild. has a color that appeared identical to this one in Cherrybomb.  I chose the N.Y.C. color since it cost less. I honestly expected a cheap taste when I applied this onto my lips, but was so surprised to find that it was a pleasant berry flavor.  The application was so-so, but it was a very dark color, and I expected it to be a little messy. After applying the lip color, I traced it with concealer on the outer lip. 

     Since I was using so many cooler-toned colors, especially the lipstick, I knew it would wash my face out. To help add warmth, I used Sparkler from Glamourdoll Eyes as a blush on the apples of my cheeks.

    Since this is a flirty look, I chose one of the largest lash sets I have and put those on as a final touch.

Without flash.

With flash.

 Products Used:

     Face:

elf Glow Bronzing Powder in Sun Kissed 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Light

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light

Glamourdoll Eyes pigment in Sparkler (Blogger Collection)

    Eyes: 

I-Candi Cosmetics Eye Shadow Base 

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

Glamourdoll Eyes pigment in Premonition (Twi-Shadows, PERMANENT Collection)

Glamourdoll Eyes pigment in Mannequin (Halo Collection)

Shiro Cosmetics pigment in Day of Reckoning

Tarte Amazonion Clay Smart Mascara in Gifted

Nyx Waterproof Retractable Eye Liner in Black 

Wet n Wild Color Icon Brow & Eye Liner in Taupe

elf Ultimate Lashes 4 Piece Lash Set 

    Lips:

N.Y.C. Ultra Moist Lip Wear in Mahogony

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Valentine's Series: Golden Dew

     Hi everyone! So, I'm thinking of doing a small series of looks for Valentine's Day.  I want to do a few different looks that can hopefully cater to different preferences.  Today I'm starting off with a "Golden Dew" look.  This is a soft, feminine look that would be great for any time of the year.

     I'll include a complete list of products used at the end of this post, but I'll mention the main items used as I went. For this look, I intentionally wanted the main products to be budget-friendly and easily accessible for anyone to use.  I started off by applying a bronzer onto the hollows of my cheek and along my chin for contouring.  I blended the bronzer in and then applied a foundation over my entire face, including my eye lids and crease (I chose not to use an eye primer for this look).  Then I applied Maybelline New York Color Tattoo By Eyestudio in Bold Gold along the lid, into the crease of the eye, and along my lower lash line.  I used Maybelline New York Color Tattoo By Eyestudio in Too Cool on my brow brown and blended along where it met Bold Gold. and also applied a dab of Too Cool into the corner of the eye to brighten them.  As far as eye color goes, you can stop here, but I wanted to add a little more dimension.  I took a few colors from the elf 24 K 100-Piece Eyeshadow Palette.  The colors do not have names, but I photographed the colors for you to refer to. (Sidenote: This 100-piece set cost $8.00 on clearance and is highly versatile! Unfortunately, the 24K edition is discontinued, but 100-piece palettes are still on sale on elf's site for $10.00, which will work fine!  Always keep your eyes peeled for clearances when you're out at the store)  

     I applied this color over Too Cool on my brow bone for added shimmer:

This is a shimmery, iridescent light yellow.

     I simply dabbed this color in the center of my lid:

This darker gold color has just a little bronze to it, to bring out some dimension to the gold.

     I blended this color into the outer "v."

This shimmery, hazelnut brown is just dark enough to add depth to the eye without overpowering the look.

     I actually applied Bold Gold once more onto the entire lid, crease, and outer "v" to unify the look.  I then applied retractable liner on my upper lash line and lower water line, added mascara, and liquid eyeliner onto the upper lash line.  I used a little Vaseline keep my brow hairs in place, and colored them in with liner. I used a cream concealer on my face,  under my eyes and blended on an angle along the outer edge of my eye for a clean look. I finished off the look with a soft blush color on the apple of my cheeks and a matching pink/coral gloss to work with the gold.

Without flash.

With flash.

Without flash.

With flash.

     Products Used:

     Face:

elf Glow Bronzing Powder in Sun Kissed 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Light

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light

elf Blush in Candid Coral 

    Eyes: 

Maybelline New York Color Tattoo By Eyestudio in Bold Gold

Maybelline New York Color Tattoo By Eyestudio in  Too Cool

elf 24 K 100-Piece Eyeshadow Palette 

Tarte Amazonion Clay Smart Mascara in Gifted

Nyx Waterproof Retractable Eye Liner in Black 

elf Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Travel-sized jar of Vaseline in Original (for setting brows)

Wet n Wild Color Icon Brow & Eye Liner in Taupe

    Lips:

Essence of Beauty Mini Lipgloss Set "London Calling" in the light pink/coral

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Makin' A Sp"lash": A Beginner's Guide to Using Mascara

     There are plenty of formulas and techniques out there, but below I'll give you a basic step-by-step guide of how I do my lashes.  Don't let the number of steps intimidate you; over time, it becomes second nature and only takes minutes to do.  If this is unfamiliar to you, start off slow to get a feel for it- practice makes perfect!  These are techniques I've picked up from over 15 years ago and counting, so like any art form, there are always new things to learn!

Before                                         After

                                        

     For this tutorial, I used Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express in Blackest Black.  This formula is a little wet, and while I don't normally like wet formulas, I really like how you can build up your mascara after allowing each application to dry a bit with this one.  Once dry, the product feels rather lightweight, too, which is a plus.  Without further ado, let's get to it!

     Bonus tip: NEVER pump your mascara wand; it only pushes air into the container, allowing for bacteria to grow and product to dry up. Just simply open the wand, and dip it into and out of the tube as needed.

     If you're comfortable with an eyelash curler, you can use one to start off and set a nice shape to your lashes. Close your eyes and clamp the curler to the base of your lashes. Slowly release by pulsing the curler open and close, moving away from the lashes. I usually like to do this twice on each eye. Bonus tip: Warm a metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds to give it a little heat to seal in the curl. Be careful not to burn your skin!

     Begin with the mascara wand at the base of your lashes.  Move the wand upward in a zigzag motion and repeat, covering all parts of your lashes.  This will help create volume.

    Next, with the mascara wand, sweep downward and outward to touch on outer lashes.  Repeat above steps as many times as desired.  I personally like to repeat the above steps a few times, alternating on each eye while the formula is still wet, and then wait a few minutes for lashes to dry.

After first application.

     Allow coats to dry completely. Don't worry about any excess mascara on the eyelid area for now. (If it really bothers you, place a business card behind your lashes and rest it against your head as you apply the mascara.  The excess product will go on the paper instead of onto your skin).

     Once the base of your lashes are defined, focus on the upper half of the lashes, and apply mascara only to that area.  This will help boost length.

    Again, repeat this step as many times as desired, allowing for coats to dry.

After mascara has been applied to lash tips.

     You may continue to build up more and more layers until desired volume and length is achieved.  If you have clumps, use a mascara comb to separate lashes.  Add a thin layer of mascara to bottom lashes for effect.  Use a cotton swab to gently remove any mascara residue from the eyelids.

Final 

.

     Bonus tip: Applying eyeliner makes lashes appear bolder and more dramatic.

     Voila!

     Keep in mind, different formulas behave differently (wet vs. dry consistencies, different wand shape, volume, length, or lash defining), and you will find over time that you may have a preference to one over the other. In the mean time, enjoy playing around with it as you discover what you are able to do!

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Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer Review/Video Tutorial

     The arrival of BB creams (also known as Beauty Balms) in the U.S. made waves this summer, particularly through drugstore brands such as Loreal, Maybelline, and Garnier.  As the hunt for the ideal BB cream went underway, higher end companies started formulating their own versions.  I thought I had given up on BB creams altogether until QVC launched Tarte's BB Tinted Treatment Primer in August 2012. The on-air demonstrations looked promising, and when I tried the product for the first time, I was not disappointed.  

     It's important to note that Tarte does NOT use fragrances or mineral oil in this product.  Some companies use these as selling points, though even subtle fragrances and some mineral agents  can actually cause irritation to the skin and be counterproductive to the original purpose of the product.  

Check out the tutorial below on how to use this product:

     When selecting a shade ideal for your skin color, try to find one that will match under your wrist. As you can see from the photos below, the product initially appears darker, but is nearly undetectable once blended in.  Stores like Sephora and Ulta often have a sample on display for most of their higher end products so that you may test it out first.  This allows you to try several different shades if you would like before committing to purchasing.  This also gives you an initial feel for the product, how it applies to the skin, feels on you, and tests its lasting power if you're not planning on purchasing a particular product right away.

                    

                      

Prior to blending.

Once blended in (flash was used to enhance any trace of product).

    Pros: Silky smooth formula, buildable product, covers redness, produces an overall healthy, smooth finish, long staying power

    Cons: tends to enhance highly dry areas, may cause minor irritation to sensitive skin


     Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer can currently be found at Ulta, Sephora, and Tarte's website for $34 in Fair, Light, Medium, and Tan.  (The original formula started at Light). Their relaunch has added SPF 30, which is ideal for protecting skin from every day sun damage. While this is more expensive than some of the earlier American BB Creams we've seen by other companies in the summer, I personally feel that it is worth the price.  I know that I've spent more in the past on failed products over time that have added up to more than the price of Tarte's BB cream, only leaving my skin itchy, irritated, cakey, or yellow.  

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