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Saturday, December 31, 2011

New and Improved Packaging, Urban Decay Gets it Right This Time!

I am so glad that Urban Decay makes their primer potion in a tube now. Its what people have been asking for for years! First people complained that they couldn't get the last of the product out of the tube with the wand. So UD releases a new angled wand in their primer. That wasn't good enough either but at least they tried. And now, they've finally got it right. The primer formula is still the same, its just the packaging that has been revamped. It's also supposed to come with 10% more product. It's probably the same 10% that was in the old packaging that we couldn't get to with the stupid wand but I'll take it. So tonight I was in Sephora and they were out of the original UDPP. I thought I'd try Envy UDPP as a second option so I grabbed it. Come to find out when I got home I had grabbed Greed instead which is the gold shimmery tinted primer that I love but I was in the mood to try something new. Oh well, I can think of worst mistakes. The cost for one is $19 but they are selling a duo right now for $28 which is a great deal. I fought my urge to buy the Too Faced Matte pallet and left Sephora with a rather conservative yet respectable total on my receipt. 

Enter to win! Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. Sign up to follow my blog and follow the link below!
http://makeupsessed.blogspot.com/2012/01/kicking-of-2012-with-giveaway-urban.html#links

Friday, December 30, 2011

All Time Favorite Top Coat Ever: Good Ole' OPI Top Coat

I've tried a bunch of top coats over the years. Hands down, the one that never fails me, is the regular old OPI Top Coat. It leaves my nails the shiniest and protects the best from chipping. It isn't a quick dry top coat but I am glad because I do not like those. I don't like them because in order for those quick dry top coats to really set your polish in a hurry, it makes your polish really hard like glass and chips in big pieces. I also find it to be damaging to my finger nails because of whatever is in it to dry and harden the polish so quickly. I would recommend the quick dry if you really have to get out the door fast but as far as longevity is concerned, they do nothing for me except cause me to re-paint my nails ever other day. I'm willing to be patient and let the regular top coats dry in order to preserve my manicure. Another great one is Essie Let it Shine and for a drugstore choice, I like the Sally Hansen Diamond Shine. I see where SH has come out with a new and improved Diamond Shine but I haven't tried it yet. In any event, a good top coat is a must-have in anyone's nail arsenal. Especially if you're wearing some cheap-o polish that needs extra protection. 

Want to win an amazing sold out Naked2 palette from Urban Decay? Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 

Hautelook Haul: Crown Brushes Set!

So you probably don't hear too many people talk about Crown brushes but Crown is a very well-respected brand in the world of makeup artistry. Often overlooked and overshadowed by heavy hitters like MAC and Sigma, Crown deserves a little recognition themselves.  I'm a sucker for a good brush but I also cringe when I think of paying upwards of $50 for one. So when I see Crown on Hautelook from time to time, I jump on it. Last year I bought my favorite blending crease brush from Crown for around $4 and unfortunately I think someone ran off with it. Steal my jewels, my towels, my favorite shampoo... but keep your dirty thieving hands off my makeup and related utensils. Thankfully, I've bounced back from that makeup brush betrayal and purchased a set that Crown put together exclusively for Hautelook. I'm a sucker for pink and white, what can I say. I believe it was around $45 which is great for all that I got. The brush set comes inside a pink travel clutch and includes: 

-angled blush brush
-powder brush
-foundation brush
-angled liner brush
-small shadow brush
-large shadow brush
-crease brush
-lip brush
-eyebrow and lash comb
-smudge brush
-concealer brush



and a few more that I am failing to remember..  The brushes are so pretty and girly but you probably can't see the pretty pink tips on the white brush hair. For the price, these brushes are a great deal. They are super soft and the eye brushes are very sturdy and well made. I especially love the small, dense, crease brush that will be perfect for blending a smoky eye. They work just as well as my MAC brushes but with a much smaller price tag! If you're ballin' on a budget, try Crown for all of your makeup brush needs. And if you have a ton of money to drop on luxury makeup brushes, I think Bobbi Brown makes the best there is. I would also highly recommend the Sephora Pro-Platinum brushes (the silver and white), and if you love MAC but want something cheaper then Sigma is definitely your brand. As far as the drug store goes, Eco Tools makes some lovely (and so soft) brushes. And oddly enough, Revlon makes a killer blending/crease brush (probably my favorite at the moment). 



Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Makeup Favorites for 2011: A Year of Amazing Products

It's been a good year for makeup. I've tried some really great products this year and as we say hello to 2012, I thought I'd share with you my favorite products of 2011. The following products are broken up into individual categories.

Skin Care Best of 2011:
Philosophy On a Clear Day Clarifying Lotion

I can't be without this product. If you have been scared of retinol in the past for fear of it tearing your face apart, this product is a way for you to reap the benefits of retinol but through a gentle and lightly moisturizing formula. And if you are over 30 and aren't using retinol, you really need to be. I did a whole post on the benefits of retinol so go read it! This product is amazing for keeping your skin clear while the retinol goes to town on your anti-aging concerns. It can be used day or night under your moisturizer. I use it both day and night! When I go without this product, I notice a big difference. The #1 skin care item of 2011 in my book. 

 Hope in a Jar (tube) for Dry Skin SPF 20:

 Unlike the original Hope in a Jar which I didn't care for, this lotion is pink. It  contains a peptide complex and antioxidants to fight off those pesky free radicals. Although it contains an SPF, I use it both day and night. This is the only moisturizer I've found that keeps my dry skin hydrated ALL day long and also wears very nice underneath my foundation. That deserves to be commended.

Foundation:
Hands down, Estee Lauder Doublewear. I wont go into it much because I've written a separate post about it. Suffice it to say its extremely long wearing and doesn't transfer and can pretty much cover up anything on your skin that you aren't a big fan of. The only drawback is that it contains SPF. Why would this be a drawback you ask? Because of the SPF, it can leave a white cast in photos if you have your picture taken.

Concealer:
I have yet to find a concealer that works really well for covering up spots, breakouts, etc. but I have a few that I love for under eye concealing. The #1 under eye concealer in my opinion has been my Hourglass in shade Pearl. It's a stick concealer but its fairly creamy and blends very easily. Honorable mentions go to Tarte Creaseless Concealer and Maybelline Age-Rewind brightener. 

Eyebrows:
Both products come from Anastasia. The first being the most amazing of the two and its the Anastasia clear brow gel. This stuff really holds the brows in place and feels like it has some kind of glue in the formula because I've tried her tinted brow gel and it didn't work nearly as well. My next pick is the Brow Whiz in shade "medium ash" which is slightly darker than the blonde ash. I like my brows to appear a bit darker than the natural shade of them so this color works well. I despise a brown brow pencil that has a red undertone and this one does not. Plus, the Brow Whiz is different than the original Anastasia brow pencil because it has a fine fine tip and it isn't waxy like the other. 

Eyeshadow Primer:
Photo Credit Temptalia.com
A rather boring category but my favorite product of this type is the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed, that works like the regular version but has a very subtle gold shimmer that livens up your shadow or works nicely all by itself. I happen to prefer Urban Decay over the Too Faced Shadow Insurance after using them both interchangeably for a while now. 

Eyeshadow:
This is a toughie because there are so  many. But since we are talking about my picks for 2011, I chose the Bare Escentuals Ready eyeshadow as my #1 pick. These shadows are unlike the other loose minerals that BE released first in that they are pressed and in a compact like "normal" eyeshadows. The formula is so nice, and SO easy to blend. For an added bonus, the formula is supposed to have anti-aging properties. I am not quite sure how to measure whether or not that is true but its a nice concept. 

Blush:
There is no doubt in my mind that Lorac Baked Matte Satin blush takes this category. The colors are beautiful and they are so insanely pigmented. My favorite shades are Velvet Rope and Exposed but they make a super awesome bright bubblegum pink that I adore as well. This blush will seriously last forever because you need only the tiniest amount. 

Bronzer:
Every single bronzer I've ever used has broken me out with the exception of Bare Minerals Faux Tan or Warmth (which is too red on me). It's so frustrating. But if I had to pick a favorite that I wish I could use if it didn't break me out, it would definitely be Too Faced Chocolate Soleil, the perfect matte chocolate brown bronzer also smells like chocolate. But the scent is quite funny because it doesn't smell like actual chocolate but rather, a scratch and sniff sticker that smells like chocolate. It brings back fond memories of when I was a kid collecting stickers and I had one that was a Hershey Bar. You probably won't be familiar if you aren't at least 30. 

Highlighter:
Smashbox Halo powder. I know, its not a highlight product exactly but since it breaks me out like crazy when I use all over the face (which saddens me because I absolutely love it), I can at least tolerate it on my forehead and cheekbones. It leaves quite a nice understated glow when using it in this way. I had to find another use for it because I truly love it and couldn't give it up completely. 

Lip Primer:
Although it doesn't taste or smell great, I really enjoy the Too Faced Lip Insurance. Simply because, it works. It really provides a great base for your lip product to stick on to and stay put. Honorable mention goes to MAC Prep & Prime Lip primer. It smells much less offensive and does the trick. 

Lip Liner:
I have so many lip liner loves! Being a lip junkie, I have a rather extensive collection of lip liners. My number one favorite is Chanel "natural" which is a beautiful formula and includes a lip brush AND a separate sharpener. My second choice is a drugstore pic, Rimmel Lip liner in East End Snob, the perfect pink. Other favorites include: MAC Subculture, Revlon Colorstay Rose.

Lip Gloss:
The lip categories are the hardest because there are so many favorites. In sticking with the best of this year, I choose MAC Plushglass in Nice Buzz. This is the perfect gloss because it works with everything! It's a very lovely champagne with subtle shimmer but nothing overpowering. If you don't want to change the color of your lipstick, but rather just accentuate if, try Nice Buzz. It's a must have! Another that I love equally is Mally High Shine Lipgloss in Mally's Look. Mally lipgloss is amazing, so shiny and the colors are gorgeous. Not to mention, she won the QVC beauty award for best lipgloss of 2011. Mally's Look is the color that Mally wears daily, its a basic no frills pink but its pretty enough to wear on its own. 

Lipstick:
I've saved the best category for last. As you can imagine, I have more than one winner. I've limited myself to five and even that was hard. My favorite all time lipstick, for the fact that it can be worn in so many different ways, is MAC Myth, a very pale nude that may frighten some but if paired with a good liner and gloss is amazing. I wear Myth almost daily. My next pick is Hourglass Velvet Creme Rouge in Grace, the first lipstick I've actually used down to the bottom. This formula is heavenly, so creamy and delicious! And Grace is the kind of warm pink nude that will work on almost everyone. My last pick is Too Faced Centerfold, a pretty mauve shade. The formula on this one is really nice and hydrating and includes shea butter which I enjoy. I've worn the heck out of it this year so it is fitting that it be in my 2011 picks. 

Miscellaneous Picks:

Best of the Drugstore:
-Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub: if my skin gets off track, I use this 2x per day to bring it back on track and clear up clogged pores. Really perfect for sensitive skin because its chalked full of natural ingredients.

-Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: A big time love for me. This stuff really wakes you up in the morning and helps to keep breakouts at bay. Also an Allure beauty award winner!

-Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Cookie: I admit I didn't go hog-wild over these like some people but I really like the Sugar Cookie shade. It's kind of a frosty pale pink that can work as a nude with a dark eye look. Plus, the lip butters do feel pretty good and hydrating which serves as a practical purpose as well. 

-NYC High Definition Volumizing Mascara: I did a post on this a while back if you're interested. I am really impressed by this little under $5 gem because it really does it all!

-Wet N' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio's: These almost made my eyeshadow winner category for 2011. I have used these so often and am rarely disappointed. These shadows are the softest and most pigmented that the drugstore has to offer and they last just as long as any of my more expensive ones, sometimes longer! WnW never disappoints on shade selection and whether you're looking for a natural look (Walking On Eggshells is my fave) or a wild look, you can find it in these trio's. I have been with WnW since I was around 15 years old, and they've come a LONG way in the quality department. 

That's all for now! Thanks for reading and sticking with me in 2011! As this year comes to a close, I want to thank all of my readers for their support and comments. And if you aren't signed up to follow me, get to it because I have a fantastic giveaway coming up around the corner for one of my followers! 

Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 




Monday, December 26, 2011

Sephora Extra 20% off SALE Items, Now Until January 3rd

From now until January 3rd, get an extra 20% off SALE items at Sephora when you enter promo code "EXTRA" at checkout. Can only be used on items already marked down. 

If you are a Hello Kitty fan, you will want to check out the sale items. If you're familiar with the Hello Kitty Noir Eyeshadow and Lipgloss Palette (the black one shaped like the HK head), its marked down to $24 PLUS an extra 20% off! The Smashbox Click You're It palette has been marked down to $40 plus an additional 20% off as well. I have had my eye on that one for a while! Oh! and if you missed it the first time around, the Tarte for True Blood set is also on sale for $36.50 plus 20% off. Other featured sale items are from brands like Make Up For Ever, Benefit, Bare Escentuals, Smashbox, and more! 

To Go Directly to the SALE Items, Click Below!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Lip Look of the Day! Merry Christmas, Hapy Holidays!

I finally received my MAC Innocence Beware (Venemous Villians collection) lipstick I bought from Ebay. Its a gorgeous creamy pale pink which resembles MAC "cream cup" which is also a cremesheen finish. I love my new lipstick but I admit that its not a totally unique shade that cant be found elsewhere for less than I had to pay. With that being said, I'm also not too proud to admit that the "unavailability" factor made it more appealing. And for me, thats the best part about buying makeup.....the chase.
I tried to take close-up pictures of my just lips but they were not flattering. 

Products Used:
Fusion Beauty Lip Plumping Pencil in Buff (as a liner and base)
Innocence Beware lipstick by MAC
Anastasia brow pencil in medium ash
Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in Fresco
Milani baked blush 
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed
Pop Beauty sparkley pink eyeshadow from the Bare Texture pallet (a gift from my little girl:)
Mally Volumizing mascara in black

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve Face of the Day!

I never do "face of the day" posts. Quite frankly I hate uploading pictures from my phone to my computer, out of pure laziness. But what can  i say, I'm feeling festive and sparkly so I thought I'd share. 

Products Used:
Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in Fresco
La Mer concealer in medium
Smashbox Halo (as a highlight)
Anastasia brow pencil in medium ash
Anastasia clear brow gel
Tarte eyeshadow (there is no name, a super dark green from the Puttin' On the Glitz set) + an ivory matte shade from the same set)
Prestige waterproof automatic eyeliner in black (at Rite Aid and damn good)
Mally Volumizing mascara in black
Eyelure Party Perfect false lashes (ULTA)
Bare Escentuals Pretty Amazing lipstick in Free Will (probably my favorite shade of nude of all time)
Yikes, the lighting made my hair look yellow.. it ISN'T.

Check out those sparkles on the falsies! Love!
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, no matter which holiday you celebrate, it's a special time to be together with family and/or people you love. God Bless!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Zoya Pandora from the Zoya Touch Collection + The Germiest Place in the Mall!

Zoya's Touch Collection features three soft pinky nude shades that you will be sure to fall in love with if you are a nudes girl. I picked up Pandora, a pale dusty mauve-nude with a very slight metallic sheen. And I quite love it. Zoya polish rocks because it applies creamy smooth and dries fairly quickly. The other shades in the collection are Shay, a dusty rose beige, and Mika, a latte beige cream. Both shades have that subtle metallic finish. It was hard to choose between the three. The shades couldn't be more perfect for me and I'm getting a little bored of what I've been wearing lately. It was 75 degrees today, that doesn't exactly put you in the dark polish mood.
Zoya Pandora, Photo found at http://justakelly.blogpsot.com
It pained me to look at nail polish today while at ULTA because I was standing next to two dim-wits who were actually testing different polishes on their nails, which would be fine if they were using testers and not the brand new bottles that someone else will buy. At one point, they tried on a purple shade and freaked out because "OMG its SO purple! OMG let's go find some nail polish remover!" Umm, when you put on the polish, what did you expect it to do? Something besides stay on your nail? So they proceed to look for nail polish remover to open up and stick their grimy fingers into. Luckily the polish removers are usually sealed. I'm not sure if that stopped them because I had to remove myself from the situation. I can't sit there and watch perfectly good cosmetics be abused like that.

That reminds me, I heard on the radio that out of all the nasty, bacteria ridden places in the mall, the #1 germiest, most bacteria ridden playground of filth in entire mall is....... the tester product displays at the cosmetic counters! Even germier than the kids play areas, food court, and bathrooms which were all ranked below the makeup testers displays. How sick is that?! I am not surprised it was on the list but I guessed that the play areas would be the leading den of disgustingness. 

Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 


Cheap Nude Lipstick Alert! Essence Creamy Nude

$2.50 can't get you very far these days but it can buy you a great nude lipstick. Essence is a very cheap brand that can be found at ULTA if you live in the US. I am surprised that this lipstick is only a couple of dollars because it is nice, creamy, smooth, and it smells like watermelon. Usually cheap lipsticks smell like plastic right? Creamy Nude is a warm nude that has a rosy tone to it. The texture is something in between a lipstick and a gloss in that its thinner than a lipstick but gives a nice enough sheen to be able to forgo a gloss on top. The pigmentation is nice, you get all the color of a lipstick but the feeling of a lip balm.
The only drawback is that, like other cheap lipsticks, the packaging isn't very secure so watch it when you throw it in your purse because the top comes right off.

Photo taken by me: Essence Creamy Nude

Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Looking For Some Fab Holiday Nails? Revlon Snow Bunny!

Revlon makes some beautiful and unique shades, it is a shame that the formula induces major chippage after a day or two. I've had better luck with the Revlon Top Speed rather than their standard polish formula because it dries really quick and shiny. Snow Bunny is part of their new "Spice it Up" collection polish that includes gorgeous and holiday perfect shades like "Mistletoe" and "Glitz and Glam". The best way to describe Snow Bunny is that it is a white-silver platinum with very fine microshimmer. I'm including some pics of Mistletoe and Glitz and Glam as well.
Revlon Top Speed polish in Snow Bunny. Photo Rights: www.stephscloset.com

Revlon Top Speed polish in Glitz and Glam. Photo Credit: http://nailpolishenthusiast.blogspot.com

Revlon Top Speed polish in Mistletoe. Image is from http://polishedclawsup.blogspot.com

Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Best Budge-Proof Cream Eyeshadows E-V-E-R!

I am a big fan of cream eyeshadow when I'm in a hurry and don't have a lot of time to do a four course eyeshadow look or if I'm just lazy. I've tried lots of different ones because not only do they work well when you just want a single wash of color all over but they also can work amazingly as a base for your powder shadows. I know a lot of people love MAC paint pots for that same reason. But if you are looking for a cream eyeshadow that doesn't budge and lasts until you remove it yourself, you don't have to look any further than the Bobbi Brown cream shadows or the Tarte Waterproof Amazonian Clay cream shadows. Both are so amazing it hurts. My favorites are "Sand Dollar" by Bobbi and "Shimmering Taupe" by Tarte. If you're a fan of neutrals, you'll love these shades.
Photo Credit www.the-beauty-blog.com, Tarte Shimmering Taupe (above)
Sand Dollar is a silvery-taupe and Shimmering Taupe is ..well... a shimmering Taupe, which is more of a golden brown taupe. Neither are glittery, both have the perfect amount of very fine and subtle shimmer. Because of the beautiful sheen that both shades have, they can stand on their own if you are in a "mono-shadow" kind of mood. But I have a little bad news about Shimmering Taupe. It's only available in the Tarte Glow Your Way to Gorgeous kit that is only available on QVC. It's a drop-dead amazing kit and a heck of a value but if you aren't in the market for a $60 kit, then it sucks to have to do that. I know they have them on Ebay though and most sellers also give you the brush that goes along with it. I paid around $13.99 I think for the shadow and brush back when I saw it on QVC featured in the kit. I think its a popular shade because I am doing a swap with a lovely young lady in France and she really wanted that kit, so I ordered it and instead of giving me the cream shadow they gave me something else that was taupe but there was nothing shimmering about it! I think they tried to pull a fast one and kept the cream shadow. But they did remedy the situation by sending me a nice replacement gel eyeliner.
Photo Credit: fitinthemidwest.wordpress.com Bobbi B Sand Dollar (above)


Photo Credit: Karlasugar.net (amazing world class swatcher, go visit her site!!)
The Bobbi Brown "Sand Dollar" (No. 15 in pic above) is always available though, and pricier of course at around $24. It's pretty much worth it though because of its extreme longevity. And because of its budge-proof nature, you have only a few seconds of playing time before it firmly plants itself and then you've fully committed to the look. 

P.S. The Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof cream eyeshadows were tested on the US Women's water polo team and needless to say, the product passed the test with flying colors.

Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 

Friday, December 16, 2011

A Teeny Tiny Sephora Haul + Some Product Bashing

I went to Sephora today. The mall was packed of course, being the last weekend to shop before Christmas. My goal was to return my goopey nightmare of a YSL Faux Cilis mascara and also return the Smashbox Limitless liquid eyeliner. But first let me tell you, that liner definitely has limits. Unless "limitless" refers to all of the situations where the liner will end up in your crease. Or the disappointment you'll face when you drop $23 on it and it dries up like a bone well before its time. Then I suppose, yes, this Smashbox eyeliner is indeed limitless. I quite enjoy the YSL mascara so I am not sure why this time its so wet and messy and impossible to apply without 10 little black smudges on my eyelid and surrounding area by the time I'm done. Not to mention the wetness factor creates the perfect scenario for more black mess to rub off when your lashes hit your eye area. But if you don't plan on opening your eyes at all, this mascara may work.

The "haul" portion of this post results from my purchasing a Lancome lipstick in the shade Pale Lip, a gorgeous, creamy, pale pink-nude but more pink than nude. Lancome lipsticks are fantastic and the texture is smooth and hydrating and pretty much perfect. A day that ends with a new amazing lipstick is always a good day!

Photo credit www.canadianbeauty.com

Thursday, December 15, 2011

MAC Innocense Beware Lipstick: It Shall Finally Be Mine!

I've been kicking myself ever since I missed the Venomous Villians collection by MAC some time ago. What was I thinking when I passed up a chance to get a beautiful pink nude lipstick with Cruella Deville on it? Where were my priorities? And so I finally caved and did what any desperate makeup junkie would do in situations like these, I turned to the saving grace of missed opportunities: EBAY. $37 dollars later, I signed on the dotted line and the only thing to do now is wait. It sucks when you buy a lipstick for 2x the retail price or more (::cough:: Pink Friday), and then you feel like you don't even want to use it because you know you will love it and then not want to drop another $37 later down the road. But, we shall cross the bridge when we come to it. Its kinda silly to write a post BEFORE I get the lipstick but this is kind of an "I'm excited and its makeup news so its relevant I guess" kind of post.

photo credit www.vampyvarnish.com (above)

Can't find original owner of the picture because it was on multiple sites, let me know if its yours and I will link it back to you! :)


Oh! And I'm going to Sephora tomorrow for the Hourglass Cosmetics event and LisaLisaD1 from YouTube is going to be there too! Can't wait! For NC people, check out LisaLisaD1 on YT for more information so you can go too! And be my friend!:) But not if you're a freak show, I am not accepting applications.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Great Red Lip For All! Tarte LipSurgence Lip Stain in Moody

I'm not a "red lip" kind of girl. I wish I was a red lip kind of girl but I've come to accept that I am just not. However, I think I have found something I can definitely hang with as far as a red lip product and I am confident this shade will work for most people. It's the Tarte LipSurgence Lip Stain in "Moody", a very wearable sheer red. If you haven't tried the Tarte LipSurgence products, you are missing out. They are nothing like a traditional lip stains because they are anything but drying, in fact, they feel amazing on and they never look or feel dry. I don't think it wears as long as a traditional lip stain but its really not the "stain" I am after, I just want a really nice smooth, comfortable, lip product that doesn't come off when I blink. There is also a matching cheek stain if you are really feeling dangerous. Oh, and the beauty of this product is that you don't sharpen them, they twist up from the bottom so you don't get any mess or inconvenience. I don't know about you but if I have to sharpen something, I will usually just put it back and reach for something else.

So I never would have purchased this product had my mother not given me the "Best Of Sephora Lip Products" gift set that includes this Tarte product as well as Benefit "Benetint", a Buxom gloss, Kat Von D "Celebutard", and Smasbox "Fame". I love those little "Best of..." kits because I wouldn't normally try most of the stuff included in them under normal circumstances. I don't have any pictures of the Tarte product on my lips because, here's why: its gonna look different on me than it does you, you, or you because our lips are pigmented in different ways. For instance, I went to google images to look for swatches of Moody because I'm lazy and I saw what it looked like on other people and it honestly looked different in every picture. Things like this can turn a person off to a shade altogether when the it looks dark on one person, super sheer on another, and super horrible on another because of some crazy liner they paired it with. Go to Sephora or ULTA if you are in the market for a great red for the holidays but really aren't a red lip girl, and see for yourself, I'm sure you will love it!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Getting Fed Up With "Beauty Experts"

I can't stress to you enough to do your own research and second guessing when it comes to purchasing products. Don't you think people that work at beauty retailers should know at least as much if not more than their customers? Call me crazy but I do. My mom went in to Sephora (my poor mom is getting duped a lot as of late) to buy her Pureology Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner (which they didn't have). Long story short, the sales person on the floor talked her into another brand because "Pureology contains a lot of alcohol" which she told my mom would dry her hair out even further. She also felt my mom's hair and insinuated that Pureology had dried it out. Totally unecessary. Come to find out that yes Pureology conditioner DOES contain Cetyl and Stearyl Alcohol but these are NOT BAD ALCOHOLS. They are fatty alcohols derived from coconut and palm oil and they are used as emulsifiers to mix oil and water in the conditioner that would otherwise separate in the bottle because oil and water do not mix. They are both emulsifiers but Stearyl has two extra carbons and is therefor longer than Cetyl. Basically, they help your conditioner to spread. It is a shame my mom didn't have this scientific information on hand because it would have really shut that girl up and made her look inferior to my mom's expert analysis of the chemical composition of said alcohols. Not that the girls there work on commission but I still don't appreciate her making alarmist statements with no factual background. Not to mention, my mom was shopping at the Sephora where I live and now is back home in her own state and they do not have a Sephora anywhere close to her for her to return her mistake purchase that she ended up not liking. Even though the sales person said she would LOVE IT SO MUCH MORE. Lesson learned.

The bottom line, and reoccurring theme of my posts, is to do your own research, and don't assume just because someone works at a beauty retailer that they know more than you.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Smashbox Liquid Liner Limitless VS L'OREAL Carbon Black Lineur Intense Felt-Tip Liquid Liner


There is no competition as far as I am concerned. The winner is L'OREAL Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner by a landslide, reaffirming the fact that one doesn't need to spend big bucks for eyeliners that perform amazingly. I purchased the Smashbox Limitless liquid liner the other day at Sephora because I had seen it on QVC and thought the very fine fine point would be great for winged liner. Not on these eye lids unfortunately. Read on for full comparison.

Smashbox Limitless


L'Oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black

Smashbox: $22
L'Oreal: $7-$11 (varies according to location)

Smashbox VS L'OREAL, Who is the Blackest?

This is where both liners are neck and neck in the blackness category, although I feel that L'OREAL gives a shinier black while Smashbox is relatively flat. 

Who Has the Best Applicator?

Easily, L'Oreal. I thought the fine point of Smashbox would make it the winner here but unfortunately, the tip is so pointy that it makes it hard to drag while creating your wing in a smooth, non wrinkled looking way. The liner is great for a simple line from end to end of lash line but not liking how it performs the wing action. On the other hand, L'Oreal goes on smooth and seems to release more product so you don't have to go back over it again. 

Two Coats Necessary For Full Coverage? 

Not with L'Oreal but with the Smashbox, since the tip is so thin you have to go back over it get get all of the area you want covered as black as possible. And because it dries so fast, another coat can look cake-ish. L'Oreal wins again.

Smudging, Transferring, Staying Power?

The weird thing is you don't have much play time to use Smashbox because if you mess up and try to fix it real quick (like if you make your wing all weird), it won't budge. However, it transfers! It doesn't move when you want it to and it definitely moves when you DON'T want it to. Just what I don't want in an eyeliner. I tried it more than once to rule out the transferring being caused by a new primer I'm using and it still came up the loser. L'Oreal wins again, its easier to fix when you screw up but yet it doesn't transfer. Props to the drugstore contender. And to kick a horse while he's down, I've used the Smashbox Limitless NON-liquid liner that resembles a UD 24/7 but transfers and smudges like nobodies biz. Applies very well on the waterline but if lasting power is your thing, this one is not for you.

Longevity of Using the Product Before Replacement?

I have had the L'Oreal product for about a month or more, and it is showing no signs of drying. On the other hand, I have read numerous reviews that say the Smashbox liner dries out very fast. Which is enough to never repurchase even I loved how it performed. 

Is there ANYTHING Good About The Smashbox Liner?

Yes, one thing. You can just shake the pen when you want more product whereas with most liners, you have to dip it back into the bottle to shake it or get more product. I like not having to do the extra step involved. 

Verdict: 
I like the concept of the Smashbox liner BUT Stila makes a similar style that works way better and doesn't transfer and the point isn't as rough. Save your money and buy the L'Oreal and if that isn't your thing, try Wet N' Wild Megalast liquid liner, it is crazy black and bulletproof. I don't know about you but I'm getting sick of spending money and in exchange getting sub-par performing products. And to me, this isn't even sub-par, its like no-par or way below par. Thank you Sephora for your excellent return policy.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Nails of the Day! Sephora by OPI Chest-Nuts about You

Photo Credit http://www.manicuremommas.com/2011/11/notd-sephora-by-opi-chestnuts-about-you.html
Chest-Nuts About You is a gorgeous shimmering champagne polish that almost has a rose gold appearance in certain light. It's a great holiday color! The other holiday shades like "Quit Stocking Me" were super gorgeous too and definitely need to be checked out further. I usually don't buy Sephora by OPI but it wears very well and I love the formula and how it applies. 

Want some great new eyeshadow? Enter to win the brand new, sold out, Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Sign up to follow my blog, and click the link below!

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! 

Shop Smart at the Cosmetics Counter!

I know we all hate pushy sales people at the cosmetics counters that pounce on you immediately upon entering their territory. I know they are trying to make a buck but I get really mad when they try to take advantage of people that are new to makeup. Like my poor mom. We went to Nordstrom this past weekend and to make a long story short, they tried to get her to buy $366.00 worth of Trish McEvoy makeup. It all started when my mom and I were innocently walking through the cosmetics counter area and two Trish employees asked if we wanted a free "touch up". Of course I did! However, my makeup artist messed up the winged liner I had done on myself the morning of and when he "fixed" it, it looked like crap. And he used a kohl pencil that wasn't even very sharp to try to recreate my perfect wing. It smudged off within the hour. And yet this eyeliner was something they tried to talk my mom into buying like it was the only liner on earth that would work for her. Here is my point. When you go get your makeup done, you don't have to buy the products they use on you to get the look they did. Instead, take their information, tips, and knowledge from them but leave the products behind and find cheaper alternatives. Who wants to spend $20 on a kohl eyeliner pencil that wears off if you sneeze? Especially when brands like Wet N' Wild, Prestige, and NYC make some killer liners for under $6. My mom and I went down to Sephora to get her a navy eyeliner similar to the Trish one the makeup artist put on her. We found a waterproof one that doesn't budge for $12 and its 10x better. Some things are worth investing in, like foundation, concealer, skin care but some things like liners are not. Not to mention the Trish people overcharged us and told us one of the items was only $30 when it was actually $40. My mom didn't want to even go back and talk to them after we looked over our receipt but I did all the talking and got it taken care of. Had I not been with her, she would have walked out of there with nearly $400 worth of products she didn't REALLY need. And those ladies wouldn't have lost any sleep over it.

Now if you have the money to blow, by all means, buy whatever you want but if you are trying to watch your money like most of the country, don't let these vultures take advantage of you. Arm yourself with knowledge before you go makeup shopping. Look at reviews to find alternatives that can be found at the drugstore. And never let them convince you that you NEED anything!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Review: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

I adore many of the products that MAC has to offer but their mascara is one category that I make a concerted effort to avoid. Which is a shame because MAC is relatively more affordable than many high-end mascaras and it would be nice if they could make a good one. The last failure of MAC mascara in my collection was the Opulash that was released with the Wonder Woman collection. Big brush, little to no results. Before that it was Zoom Lash taking a ride on the failure train with its goopy wet mess of a formula. But I've heard some good things about the Haute & Naughty and so I said, what the hell, I'll go for it. And the verdict is in. 

The Good, The Bad, and the question of "to repurchase or not to repurchase?"

The Good:

Cool concept. This mascara basically has two different wands that allows you to decide between "Haute" and "Naughty" which is basically like "day" to "night" respectively. The "Haute" side is for defining and separating without going over the top in the glam department. The "Naughty" side is supposed give that va-va-voom, dramatic effect that I personally prefer for both day and night. Call me crazy but I don't get the concept of wanting a more "natural" looking mascara during the day, why wouldn't you want to maximize your lash potential 24/7? Performance wise, the "Naughty" side does give drama, length, and a very rich black color while the "Haute" side does a good job defining. You can use them both together if you want to define the lashes first or last or whatever you prefer. 

The Bad:

The "Naughty" side, which is the side I prefer, is a goopy, wet, mess. You really have to allow for that first coat to dry before putting on a second or else you will have major clumping. This is really not a buildable mascara in my opinion because after two coats, you can't really go any further because of clumping potential. I am sure this is one of those mascaras that will perform better once its not so new and messy. Another negative factor is that while my lashes look good when I first apply, this doesn't lash. By the end of the day, my lashes have lost the curl, have crashed, and have burned. Because the formula is wet and can't hold a curl, the product seems to flake off as the day goes on. It really doesn't grab onto the lashes and hold on for dear life like Benefit They're Real. Call me spoiled, but I want a mascara that does it all in with one brush and does it without making a mess. 

To Repurchase or Not to Repurchase?

Sad to say, I most likely will not. I have received better results from other mascaras so there really is no point to buying a sub-par mascara. I will, however, keep giving it a chance in hopes that once it dries up a bit, it will be less messy and gloppy gloopy. Spell check likes the word gloppy but doesn't like the word gloopy.