Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette Lookbook

I have decided that I will be trying to pan the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette starting now until the end of this year. I doubt I will finish the entire thing, but would like to see how much progress I can make on it. Even if I hit pan on a few of the shades I will be happy.

That said, I did a week of looks using strictly this palette. No other shadows were used, but I did use eyeliners when needed and layered shadow on top to set the eyeliner. Also, I used various cream bases to alter some of the shades slightly (I need to work on using these more as well: paint pots & color tattoos).

#becauseglitterduh Day 2 - Reflects Blue

For #becauseglitterduh I applied MAC's 'Reflects Blue' on top of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Gel liner. This glitter is my favorite because it reflects blue and looks different depending on what you place it on. On top of the black, it is full on bright blue! Love.

#becauseglitterduh Day 1 - Reflects Pearl

Glitter Challenge Day 1- M.A.C Reflects Pearl

Using Too Faced's Chocolate Bar (below): 1-Crease, 2-Brow bone, 3-Transition, 4-Lid
Added:  ColourPop 'Amaze' on lid & Reflects Pearl on the inner corner as a highlight and swept in towards the center of my eye. The result is an everyday look with a glimmer of shimmer (pun intended).

Pop of Blue - Sephora Collection 'Stormy Seas'

I fell in love with Sephora's Duo Reflects Single Eyeshadow in 'Stormy Seas'. I am normally not a fan of blue eyeshadow, honestly I do not know how to wear it properly. The nice lady at my local Sephora suggested I put it on the outer "V" and then use a champagne color for the rest of the lid. Keep it simple. So, that's what I did today.

Here is the result:

Clinique Foundation

I feel like I am always on the search for the perfect foundation. Different times of the year call for different foundations. My coloring changes constantly it seems, as well as my skin needs. I thought I had "normal" skin, come to find out it is actually dry, with oil in the T-zone, and acne prone on my chin. It's a hot mess.

I went on the hunt this morning for a new foundation. One that is medium coverage, allowing my freckles to show through, I don't like the muskiness that the EL Double Wear gave me. (Double Wear sucks for dry skin, by the way). I found myself at the Clinique counter in Nordstrom's, after telling an employee I would not spend more than $40 on a foundation when she was trying to talk me into Givenchy. Uhm, no thank you. It's foundation. I wash it off every night.

Below is a picture of what I purchased:

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup in 04 cream chamois, Blended Face Powder in 03 transparency, Cheek Pop in 04 plum pop, Chubby Stick in 20 jumbo jasmine, All About Eyes eye cream.

My first impressions of the Clinique Superbalanced Makeup are good. It is not too thick and came out of the pump easily. I only needed 2 pumps to cover my whole face, using Sephora Pro Airbrush #55 (I forgot how much I love this brush!) It blended well, and surprisingly concealed the redness from blemishes and helped hide my under-eye circles.



No makeup at all. Fresh faced, dark circles, blemishes, & all!

Superbalanced makeup, one coat, no concealer.

Blended face powder, Cheek Pop in 04 plum pop, & Chubby Stick in 20 jumbo jasmine (that's it! NO concealer or anything at all. I would be comfortable walking out of the house in JUST this makeup)

I have high hopes for this foundation/powder combo. I think we all just want to be comfortable in our skin, so please don't fail me Clinique! For me, the best part is the price point. Nothing was over-the-top $$$, which enabled me to be willing to buy more than just the foundation. I'm happy.

Side note: The Cheek Pop is to die for. The formula went on so smooth and settled into a nice, natural flush...I'm hooked! After being disappointed in Revlon's Kissable lip balms (too drying), I now know why Clinique had the first chubby lippies. They are GOOD! Creamy and pigmented, does not crack or make my lips feel dry.

Mossy Green Subtle Smokey Eye

I had gotten a Lancôme Color Design quint in the color "507 Metallic Moss" last month, but never used it. My reasoning for buying it was that I didn't have any green shadows, and this would be the last palette I get before going on a no-buy. Today I cracked that baby open:



Lancôme Color Design - 507 Metallic Moss (flash/natural light)


If you've never used a Lancôme quint before, the colors all  mesh together beautifully, taking the guesswork out of what colors to pair with one another. It even tells you where to place the separate shadows on the eye. Easy peasy. The formula is a dream to blend, but there is a lot of shimmer (which I don't mind, but others may). The highlight shade (middle row, all the way to the right) is to die for. I don't know how else to describe it, except: light wash of beige with micro multi-colored shimmer...it is so pretty and is ultimately what drew me into this palette in the first place. The bottom pan (dark shade) can be used wet/dry as eyeliner...it's pretty much the best formula I have ever used for "shadow as liner".

 

These shadows are not overpoweringly bright, and the effects of the shadows are hard to see unless you are right up on someone. I personally like the subtleness of Lancôme products in general, especially on normal days. Again, I know my pictures aren't the greatest, but this blog is more for myself, a diary and a place to keep my favorite looks/products/thoughts. Have a good day!

New Nars "Dual-Intensity" Eyeshadows

Nars came out with some new "Dual-Intensity" eyeshadows that can be used dry for a light wash of color, or wet for intense color, and oh are they pretty!



Cassiopeia, Europa, & Phoebe
Real Techniques Shading Brush

Cassiopeia is an iridescent pink that has a slight purple/pink duo-chrome. This one is my favorite and is the most unique color I have ever seen. Europa is a peachy-pink, and Phoebe is an amethyst (purple). These three shadows together are perfection for me. Although I own purple shadows, I have been scared to use them, as I always wind up looking like I have a black eye. That, and the fallout from other brands is bad. I am blown away with the Nars. They are velvet in texture, are easy to blend (even when wet), and last ALL day long. I did my makeup at 11:00 this morning and it is now just past 9 p.m. and my eye makeup still looks as good as it did when I first applied it. I used the Real Techniques Shading Brush and am happy with the results. Nars does sell a "wet/dry" brush, but at a $28 price tag, I shied away from it. This RT one for $6 works well. To wet the shadows I spritzed my brush with MAC's fix +, then dipped into the shadow. No hard pan formed, which made me happy.



Mascara is Too Faced's "Better Than Sex"

I put Phoebe on the outer 1/3 and Europa all over the rest of my eye area. Europa is really light, almost fleshy peach-pink. Then, because of the glitter from Cassiopeia, I put that on the upper part of Phoebe and up to my outer brow bone. Finished with a line of Revolver liquid liner from Urban Decay and some mascara. Simple & fast. I took these pictures at night, so they aren't the greatest, and the color doesn't pick up all that well, but in real life, it's pretty, but not intense. These shadows are quickly becoming my favorite, what are your favorite shadows?

Have a good weekend everyone!

Loving Peachy-Pinks

I keep finding myself drawn to peachy/pinks' lately. I don't know if it is because it is summer and the colors scream "let me out I want to play", or if they just look decent on me, or what....but I have fallen in love with MAC's pigment in 'Melon' paired with their eyeshadow 'Expensive Pink'. This particular combo is super easy to use for a quick, yet pulled together look.

Steps:

1. Pack Melon pigment all over lid and just above crease. I use a stiff/flatter shadow brush that acts almost like a spatula for this. To make the color pop even more, wet the brush (with water or a fixing spray)
2. Apply Expensive Pink eyeshadow in crease and make a slight "v" shape on outer corner of eye. I use elf's contour brush because it is cheap and the perfect size for my crease.
3. On browbone sweep a highlighting shade. (I cannot remember what I used, but any vanilla/champagne color will work).
4. Brush on pigment under bottom lash line to "pull" the look together & apply mascara. I have been using Loreal's Miss Manga Voluminous Mascara and I LOVE it!!!

For blush I just patted Becca's Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in 'Watermelon/Moonstone' (it is a highlighting & waterproof crème blush that smells like jolly rancher watermelon!!!) Lips are MAC's Mineralize Lipstick in 'Dreaminess' (baby pink).

Makeup Basics - The Eyes

"The eyes are the windows to the soul." I have no idea who said that or what exactly it means. I may have to do a Google search...

I was lucky enough to have a mother who taught me the art of makeup from an early enough age. I used to makeover my younger sister, Emily, and do photo shoots with her. Makeup has been in my life for what seems like a very long time, and I will never give that up.

I had the pleasure of doing my friend's makeup for her husband's homecoming, but sadly did not get a picture. She has told me on several occasions that she does not know how to do her makeup, let alone apply eye shadow properly. I decided to do a "basics" series, that will hopefully give some hints & tips on what tools are needed that will help achieve any eye shadow look you want.

 

First, brushes. I cannot put enough emphasis on using brushes to apply eye shadow. Brushes will make your life a million times easier. Brushes range anywhere from $1 to $50 and up. The most I have spent on a brush is $34, my very first foundation brush from MAC. It is still in perfect shape even though it is close to 8 years old. My cheapest brushes were $3 from Target by e.l.f. Don't you know my $3 brushes are the most amazing concealer & contour brushes ever!?! I suggest starting off with four types of brushes (pictured below):

Pencil brush. Good for lining top and bottom lash line. The "pencil" will put color exactly where you want it to go, hence perfect for lining. The one I have is by Sonia Kashuk from Target and costs about $7.

Contour brush. Use this brush to add color into your crease line. It is domed, almost like a pencil eraser in shape. I have tried using other types of brushes for my crease, but color gets all over the place or not enough is distributed evenly. The one I have is also from Target by e.l.f.brand. It is literally called "contour brush" and only costs $3!!! (There has been absolutely no shedding of the bristles and the brush stays in shape through multiple washings.)

Flat brush. My all time most favorite brush in the world is the MAC 239 shader brush. It has a tapered, rounded edge with firmer bristles. I cannot remember when I got this brush, but it has passed the test of time. I use it to pack color on my lids, get in the inner corner or brow bone for a high light. It picks up color very well and applies it smoothly. This brush costs $25 and is the one brush that I recommend most.

Fluffy brush. Good for distributing color all over the eye, (lid and brow bone). This one is the Sephora Classic Collection Crease Shadow Brush. But I hate it for in my crease, it is too big, so I use it mainly for my brow bone or to blend shadows. The cost is $16.

After you have your brushes ready, the first step is primer. Without primer, eye shadow does not stick to the lid, the colors are muted, and won't last all day. Loreal, Urban Decay, Nars, (most brands) carry an eye primer. I have currently been using Too Faced's Shadow Insurance. I squeeze some onto my pointer finger and blend it all over my eye. Let it dry for a minute or two and you're ready.

Cream, powder, long lasting, chalky, bright, nude. Eye shadow can be scary. There are so many colors from so many brands to choose from. Where to start?  First do you want to wear bright colors? Or is a more natural eye your style? Shadow preferences are different depending on the person. I personally am not afraid of color, but have learned to tone it down so I don't wind up looking like a clown. For beginners I suggest picking up a natural palette. Wet 'n' Wild has great pigmentation for very cheap. I am not a fan of Cover Girl shadows, they are chalky and don't last long. MAC has the most amazing pigmentation I have ever had in a shadow. My favorite natural eye shadow palette though, is Urban Decay's Naked 1. All of the shades can be mixed and matched together for a flawless look. There are matte shadows as well as shimmers, 12 colors in all for $52. It seems pricey, but the breakdown is just over $4 a shade.

Mascara can be scary as well. There are so many to choose from!!! I suggest CoverGirl's Clump Crusher as a basic overall amazing mascara. Not only is it around $7, the wand is amazing...I have yet to get any clumps from it and it lasts longer than and works better than most of my high end $20 - $30 mascaras. Again, mascara is a personal preference thing that you have to shop around for to find the one that you like.

Whew, that was lengthy, but I hope you found it useful. For me, makeup is trial and error. Sometimes something I had high hopes for failed for me miserably, but thank goodness for good return policies! If you don't like something you bought, don't be afraid to return it, even if it is used. Look around, read reviews if ordering from Sephora or Ulta, or watch You Tube videos on products you are interested in.

Tricky 3 (Using Urban Decay's Naked 3)

Trick is a gorgeous color in the Naked 3 palette. It's like an orangey/pinky glimmer goodness for your eyes. I watched a YouTube video this morning using Naked 3 and figured I would put my own spin on the look. If you don't know yet, Urban Decay has this whole "Naked" line of shadows, lip glosses, face powders, etc., that are geared towards the nudes. The "3" is pink nudes, soft, romantic, and pretty. I have used it a lot lately, as I am thinking of spring. In the wintertime I go a little darker with my makeup, but now that it is warming up, I am liking softer colors. Okay. Here we go....my "Tricky 3" look down below:

 
I really, really like how this turned out today. It was soft and somewhat subtle, the focus being on the eyes, but the cheeks/lips rounding it all out.

 

Do you see the shimmer? I first applied Trick on the "balls" of my eyes all the way up into the crease, patting the eyeshadow into place. (Patting a shimmer shade will help keep the glitter intact and prevent fallout.) Using Limit I took a fluffy crease brush and blended out the harsh line from Trick. Then I took a small stiff crease brush (I use ELF's $3 crease brush...it's amazing) and applied Nooner into the crease and a slight "v" on the outer corner of the eyes. I used Limit to blend a little more, up above my crease and onto my brow bone until there were no harsh lines. For the space just below my brows I used Strange as a highlight (this shade is matte and perfect for the brow highlight).

For the finishing touch, I used UD's 24/7 Liquid Liner in Smog on my top lash line, then used a dark brown eye pencil on the outer 1/2 of my lower lash line. It looked too blah, so I took a pencil brush and swept Trick on top of the brown pencil and all the way into the inner corner of the eye. Finished off with a coat of mascara and done!


Side view

Can you see the freckles on my nose?!?

The blush I have been loving lately is Mac's "Warm Soul". (Pictured above). It's a gorgeous warm, almost peachy light brown color with a slight shimmer. When I went into Mac to get a new foundation, the girl used this on me and I had to have it. I believe if I were stuck on an island, this is the blush I would want with me. You can see it on my cheeks 3 pictures above. I also used the bronzer from UD's Naked Flushed palette and a Smashbox highlighter on my cheek bones, down my nose, and on the sides of my upper face.

Above are 7 of the colors from the Naked 3 palette. I used Strange, Limit, Trick, & Nooner. For my lips, I used a Cargo Cosmetics lipstick (can't remember the shade) and a Lorac gold glitter gloss. Hope you liked today's look and thanks for reading this!

Leave me a comment with your favorite blush!

Vice 2 Neutrals/Golden Eyes

I never used to like to wear neutral eyeshadow. I thought it boring and always liked brighter colors on my eyes. Looking back at pictures, what was I thinking?!? I got the Vice 2 palette from Urban Decay for the bright colors, but have honestly used the neutrals more than anything. Now I realize that there are times when a neutral eye is better than a bright eye. Granted, I still love those bright colors, but have learned to use them as a pop instead of a full eye look. Older and wiser I suppose. (When I am brave enough I will find one or some of those old photos...)

The other main reason behind my not going full on clown with the brights: The night before my husband and I got married (rather, eloped in Vegas), he told me I look like a clown with all that nonsense on my face, specifically my eyes. For a while I quit wearing makeup all-together, but that wasn't me. I am a tried-and-true makeup addict, and honestly, I feel better (inside and outside) when my face is on.

So, here it is, yesterday's look using the Vice 2 palette, all bottom row shadows with a touch of gold glitter from MAC on the inside corners for added sparkle.

Makeup items I used:
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay's Vice 2 palette - all bottom row colors
Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil - Roach (gorgeous chocolate brown with gold shimmer
                Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil - Whiskey (on water line)
Blush/Bronzer/Highlight: Urban Decay's Flushed palette
Lips: Hourglass Femme Nude lipstick - Nude #3

~You can click on any of the pictures to view larger~

Tip of the day: Glitter on the inside corner of the eye will catch the light, giving a little something extra to your look. It's definitely a personal preference, so go with what you feel comfortable with.

Leave a comment with your favorite nude eyeshadows/palettes!

Naked 3 Everyday

Have you jumped on the Naked train yet? I was so very excited for Urban Decay's release of the Naked 3 palette and was lucky enough to have been one of the first to get it. The drama that surrounded its release due to not enough being manufactured definitely made it all the more exciting to have gotten my order in before they ran out the first time. That said, it has become the palette I use the most. I have the original Naked, but not the Naked 2. I like the cooler colors that is in the original & 3, feel they look better on my skin tone.

Here is the look I did today using the Naked 3. It looks subtle in the photos up close I think, but face-to-face it is a little more "in your face". I am still trying to figure out the best way to photograph, so please bear with me!

The products I used are as follows:
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow - Seashell Pink
Urban Decay Naked 3 - Trick, Nooner, Factory, & Strange
Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil - Roach
Lancôme - Hypnose Drama mascara
MAC blush - Cubic
Smashbox Soft Lights - Shimmer
Urban Decay Flushed - bronzer
Tarte Lipsurgence Lipluster - Glitzy

I really like how the pinks look with brown eyeliner, gives it a softer feeling.

When applying my eyeshadow I use the same technique every time, just switch up the colors to create different looks. Some days I use perversion eyeliner on my water line, other days I leave it bare, depending on the look I am going for. I suggest always using an eye primer, I use Too Faced's Shadow Insurance, the one in the pretty blue tube. I never used to use a primer, but have found that it is the secret to not only helping your shadow stay in place all day, but it helps to place color where you want it, instead of the shadow slipping all over. It is also really helpful for shimmer shades, keeps the glitter in place.

Have a beautiful day everyone!