Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog

My Home Remedy for Unclogging Pores!

2012-03-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

I don't necessarily get full-on break outs with acne as much as I just get those little, and sometimes not so little, clogged pores that are just flesh colored bumps under the skin. Sometimes I think getting a normal zit is easier to take care of but it feels like clogged pores take forever to go away. I have one specific area on my cheek that this happens when I use products that my skin does not like. Which is pretty much everything that contains Dimethicone or other silicone ingredients. And those are hard ingredients to steer clear of because they are pretty much in every single foundation, moisturizer, bronzer, and blush on the planet. Which is why I had to go back to Bare Minerals. But I digress. Let me tell you quickly why I chose to do this post. Yesterday I got the brilliant idea when I was self-tanning with Sun Labs extra dark tanning lotion to put some on my face. I read the back and yes it contained Dimethicone but it also stated it was not pore clogging. Stupid naive foolish me. I put a very thin layer on my face and two hours later I had a monstrous bump under my skin. TWO hours later, not the next day or the next couple of days. Lesson learned. This situation called for my little at-home facial called "Clean, Steam, Helene" I made up that name so don't try to steal it. I didn't make up the process, just the name.

What You'll Need:

-Queen Helene Mint Julep face mask or Mud Mask (any clay type mask that hardens up on your face will work)

-a kitchen pot for boiling water

-water (approximately a bit less than what you'd use to boil pasta)

-tea tree oil (this is optional, but highly recommended)

-towel

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque + Tea Tree oil

Project Steam-Clean-Helene:

1. CLEAN:

This is where you cleanse your face with your typical face cleansing process, do not moisturize or do any of the other steps in your face routine, cleanse only! You are prepping your face for steaming.

2. STEAM:

Boil some water in a pot, you don't need a ton of water but make sure the pot is bigger around than your face.

Put about 2 drops of Tea Tree oil in the water before or after it gets boiling.

Remove boiling water from stove, put a towel down on a hard surface, and put the pot on top of it

DON'T actually TOUCH the pot, and warn others not to as well

Put your face over the pot, careful not to actually put your head IN the pot or come to close to the water. All you need is the steam and it will rise to meet your face. Put the towel over your head to keep the steam from escaping but make sure you have some air to breathe. You can come up for air if you need a break! Do this for about 10 minutes. The steam will open up your pores!

3. HELENE:

Blot your face dry with a clean towel. Its important to use your face mask while your pores are opened from the steam to allow for the product to really do its thing in cleaning out your pores. Don't put anything on your face except for your mask. This is where the Queen Helene Mint Julip or Queen Helene mud mask (or similar style clay mask) comes into the picture. Put it all over your face but not under your eyes or around the nose area. You can also go down the neck if you like. Leave on for up to 15 minutes. I leave mine on for about 8-9.

Remove with warm wash cloth, splash your face with cool water to close the pores back up.

Then follow your typical moisturizing routine.

*Do this about once a week if you have issues with clogged pores or acne.

*You don't have to use the mask I suggest, you can use whatever mask that you like. The point is putting it on while your pores are opened to allow for maximum performance!

Kim Kardashian Getting Her Makeup Done in Her Kitchen, Get Her Signature Look!

2012-03-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

This four-part video is probably one of my favorite YouTube videos ever. Its from a few years back but Kim's makeup look hasn't changed much since then. Take a look at Kim and her (former) makeup artist do a signature Kim look with lots of input from Kim herself regarding her favorite products and application methods. She really does know her makeup!

Review for Chanel Ombre Essentielle No. 90 Fauve Single Eyeshadow

2012-03-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is a quickie review for a Chanel single eyeshadow in the shade Fauve No. 90 which was released as part of the Sophisticated Eye Collection and can be purchased for $28.50 at Chanel counters (Nordstrom, Macy's, Neimen Marcus, SAKS, etc) and Chanel.com. Fauve is a really beautiful and unique color in that it is a silvery-taupe-mauve-lavender kind of shade all rolled into one with shimmer. The texture is kind of grainy which I'm not in love with 100% but the prettiness of the color and the fact that its Chanel makes up for it. Chanel could release table salt and call it loose eyeshadow and I would probably buy it. But on the flip side, Chanel does packaging very well and you always get a pretty velvet pouch with their eyeshadows so it helps justify the price if you ask me. So if you're the kind of gal that likes her neutrals but wants something with a little extra something that makes a great all over wash of color, lid color, or to blend out a darker shadow for a smoky eye, you will like Fauve.

Photo taken by me, wearing Essie Mochachino

Photo taken by me, with flash (above)

Photo taken by me, no flash (above)

Photo courtesy of Cafe Makeup (above)

Review for Too Faced Natural at Night Palette

2012-03-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

Too Faced has enjoyed much success with their series of boxed palettes like "The Romantic Eye" and "The Natural Eye" among others. I picked up the "Natural at Night" palette after forgetting how much I've been wanting the "Matte Eye" palette.They retail for $36. In the Natural at Night palette you get three matte shades: a yellow- beige (spotlight), a light milk-chocolate (night cap), a dark cocoa-brown (cocoa) and six shimmery shades: shimmering medium champagne (full moon), shimmery light champagne, very glittery and kind of gritty (night light), pink champagne (after hours), a shimmery bronze-rose (eclipse), shimmery dark gold (moonstone), and shimmery dark olive (fever).

My Thoughts:

At first glance, these are super pretty shades to look at. I like that you get three matte shades that are very basic and can be incorporated into many looks. Very soft, very pigmented. What I don't like is when a brand will do shimmer/glittery shadows that feel grainy in texture like you can feel the glitter particles which leads to massive fall-out like in the case of "night light". I like that they give you a dark olive shade because you don't normally see this color even though its perfectly neutral but this one just looked dirty on me. I also thought that three of the colors were pretty similar to one another in that they all had a champagne/highlight thing going on.

To Return or to Keep?

I'm sad to report that these shadows didn't look very good on me personally. I could take a shade or two from the palette and work with some of my other shadows but I wanted to be able to find more looks within the same palette that worked for me. The three matte shades I did like were not unique to others in my collection and all in all, I didn't feel justified in keeping it. I definitely prefer the "Natural Eye Palette" to this night-time version. Next time I'm in the Too Faced palette kind of mood, I will opt for the Matte Eye which looks to be much more my style!


Photo taken from Spektra.net

Photo taken from www.blushingnoir.com

Review: Estee Lauder Cream Eyeshadow Pink Amethyst + Eye of the Day!

2012-03-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

So this is like two posts in one, a review for the EL Pink Amethyst cream eyeshadow and an eye look that incorporates this product. This cream eyeshadow is seriously budge-proof and wears amazingly when you're wanting something easy and fast to throw on. I feel like these would be great "going to the beach/pool but still want something on my eyes that won't rub off" shadows. When I was at the CCO, this color jumped out at me because I love pinky-mauve-purple tones which is exactly what this is. I would say it has a tinge of lavender in there as well. Pink Amethyst has a very pretty sheen but without shimmer or glitter and I like that about this shadow. I've tried many a cream shadow and Bobbi Brown has been superior to the rest as far as staying power but I would say that Estee Lauder is right up there with Bobbi. And that's a good place to be.

How I Wore the Shadow:

I used this shadow today underneath a couple of other pink shadows but I should have just kept it on its own because it was prettier than the pinks I covered it with! I paired it with a matte black from the Too Faced eye love palette mixed with Gunmetal from the original Naked Palette in the outer corner and used the Gunmetal to blend into the crease. On the lower lash line I used Urban Decay Perversion on the waterline and slightly smudged underneath with some of the Gunmetal eyeshadow. I used Perversion eyeliner on upper lash line. For a highlight I used the Anastasia Brow Duality matte highlighter.

Estee Lauder Pink Amethyst cream shadow lightly swatched and heavily swatched (no flash, above)

(with flash, above)

Eye of the day w/ Estee Lauder Pink Amethyst

Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeliner Black Noir VS MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

2012-03-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

I am kind of surprised I don't hear too much buzz about the Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeliner, I personally love that they came out with a cream line that includes a brush all compact and nicely packaged in the same mechanism as the liner. I read an article in one of my magazines, I want to say Allure or Lucky because I get both of those in the mail, that gave a great review on this product but complained that the size of the brush didn't allow for creating a thin line. Here's a novel concept, use a different brush? I mean, is Revlon forcing us to use this brush? But seriously, that doesn't sound like much of an obstacle. So here's the deal, I really like this product and it really stays put. It's a beautiful rich black pigmentation very comparable to MAC Blacktrack Fluidline only with way better staying power (at least on my lids) and a few bucks cheaper. Only time will tell whether the Revlon liner stays as creamy as it is now because these cream products can tend to dry out over time (I'm talking to YOU Mac Paint Pots). Price wise the Revlon will run you somewhere between $9-$10 which is a bit pricey for drugstore when you can shell out a few bucks more and get MAC but that would only make sense if the MAC Fluidline were the better product. And in my opinion, it is not. Let's put them back to back for an official determination of winner.

Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeliner in Black Noir VS MAC Blacktrack Fluidline

Who's the Blackest?

They are roughly the same. See picture below.

Better Staying Power?

Personally speaking, Revlon hands down. Plus when I swatched them side by side and went to clean my hand, it took more muscle to get the Revlon off while the MAC Fluidline seemed to come off easier.

Ease of Use?

Both are fairly creamy and easy to apply with a brush of your choosing. The Revlon product comes with a brush that is good for a basic line but may lack precision needed for a wing. It's a tie.

Price and Accessibility?

Revlon and Revlon.

Better Shade Range?

MAC Fluidline comes in more colors than the Revlon Colorstay but its a more established product with a following, perhaps Revlon will release more in the future. For now, they have a purple, a charcoal/gunmetal, black, and a bronze that I hear is very nice.

Better Packaging?

Revlon gives you a brush but if you don't care about that, then its a draw.

Overall Winner: Revlon. They are similar products, but for the price, you may as well just save a few bucks. Or you could just chuck them both and opt for the Bobbi Brown black gel liner, which is amazing and a favorite of Princess Kate Middleton! Revlon who?!

Photo taken by me! Revlon Colorstay on the bottom, MAC Blacktrack on the top

Check Out These Upcoming Deals in March at ULTA!

2012-03-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

Starting March 11, ULTA is doing their 21 Days of Beauty where they have different in-store events and beauty steals. I went last year for the Too Faced event for me and my little girl to get our makeup done with her. Next time I'm just going to have my little girl do my makeup because it will turn out a lot better. I was embarrassed to stick around and shop after the "makeover" for fear of someone thinking I was responsible for that mess. But all is forgotten and its that time of year again with some great deals to check out if you are interested! Its a limit of 2 per customer on the beauty steals. This isn't the complete list, its only the things that most people would care about. And the deals are ONE DAY ONLY sales while supplies last. My ULTA has limited supplies of pretty much anything good even without the sale so I am not hopeful.

Sunday March 11:

Too Faced Naked Eye Palette on sale for $20 (reg. price $36)

Monday March 12:

BUY 1 GET ONE FREE Stila Smudgestick eyeliner! (I highly suggest hopping on this one)

Tuesday March 13:

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara $10

Friday March 16:

Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer, $10

Monday March 19:

Lorac Starry Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trios $13 (50% off)

Thursday March 22:

Stila Smudgestick (again in case you missed the first time) Buy 1 Get 1 FREE

Saturday March 24:

25% Mario Badescu products

50% off Bare Minerals mascaras

Sunday March 25:

Benefit Realness of Concealness palette $18 (50% off)

20% off on Boscia

Tuesday March 27:

Amazing Cosmetics Large Concealer $21

Wednesday March 28:

Cargo Beach Blushes 50% off

Friday March 30:

FREE Urban Decay Deluxe size Razor Sharp Ultra Definition Finishing powder with any $25 UD purchase

Eye of the Day! Fresh Spring Bronzey Look with a Hint of Teal + Coral Lips

2012-03-08T10:02:00.002-08:00

Inspired by the beautiful warm weather today, I thought I'd add some spring zing to my look by trying to make use of my utter disappointment of a product, "Maybelline Color Tattoo" in Tenacious Teal. I refused to be the only one in the makeup-lovin' world that didn't like these shadows. I have posted about it twice so I don't want to beat a dead horse but let's just say I tried it twice with the same creased results. Rather than admit I wasted my money (twice), I thought I'd try this product out as a liner and so that's what I did for this look. When I think of summery looks, I always think of bronzes, corals, and turquoise. So I tried to use a bit of all three in this look. But the coral lip using MAC Hibiscus (Surf Baby Collection) didn't come across as coral as much as it did RED, even when I used Myth underneath to take it down a notch. Pictures aren't the greatest but I'm trying. Here's what I used!

Eyes!

Urban Decay Primer Potion, Greed (the gold shimmery one)

Tarte Shimmering Bronze Waterproof CreamEyeshadow up to the crease (tested by the US Women's Water Polo team with very good results)

Bare Escentuals The Truth quad, the silvery-taupe shade in the crease and to blend out the cream shadow with the darkest shade in the outer-v area

Maybelline Color Tattoo Tenacious Teal (for eyeliner on upper and lower lash line)

Prestige Waterproof Retractable liner in brown smudged a bit on upper and lower lash line prior to the teal

Kat Von D Sinful-lash Mascara

YBF brow pencil, taupe

Anastasia clear brow gel

Lips!

Boots 7 nude lip liner

MAC Myth (for a light base to de-brighten the lip)

MAC Hibiscus lipstick

Face!

Missha Cho-bo Yang BB Cream

Bare Escentuals Mineral veil

Lorac Baked Matte Satin blush in Exposed
YSL Touche Eclat for under eye area

Bad Salon Experiences: Is There Anything WORSE?!

2012-03-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

I was prompted to write this post after watching a video on YouTube (eleventhgorgeous) of this very sweet and pretty girl with gorgeous long blonde hair suddenly become a very sweet and pretty girl with long weird-colored hair that wasn't blonde. She walked into the salon asking to get her roots touched up and she walked out hours and hours later with a weird brown shade that was nothing close to what she asked for. I've had TWO absolute horror stories when it comes to hair and then a whole bunch of just bad experiences. Let me tell you about just one of my nightmares in hopes that it will help some other blonde in preventing her worst nightmare from coming true: no longer being a blonde. GASP!

So I was about 23. I was new to the state I was living in and so of course I was dreading the process of finding a decent hair person to keep up my heavily highlighted blonde hair. I used to work at a certain department store in college and used to also use their salon so I thought now that I was living in a new state I would try this same department store salon. My hair was already blonde but my roots were in desperate need of some freshening up. Most people know what you're talking about when you ask for highlights but I still took the time to cut out a picture in a hair magazine to use as a reference. I take it in. I sit in the chair all excited to have my blonde color refreshed and around the corner comes this lady in her 60's with glasses on that had really thick lenses. She practically shoves my hair picture up her nose to be able to see it. Red Flag #1 and Red Flag #1 ignored. For all I know this lady works in the bra department and wandered down to the hair salon on accident. I am going to fast forward to the part where I see my hair turning orange with what looked to be brown spots. I glance down at the hair picture I brought in to see if maybe on the other side of the girl with beautiful highlights there was a picture of a tiger. Nope, just a girl with beautiful blonde highlights. At this point I am freaking out, I can feel the lump in my throat and the tears are on their way. My blood is boiling and its about to get uglier than my hair up in here. I don't even remember what I said to my blind hair stylist, I just remember getting up and going to the receptionist and flipping the freak out. The only words I can remember saying were "LOOK AT THIS! WILL YOU LOOK AT THIS? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS?!" Even the receptionist looks horrified, she tells me that someone else is going to take over but it would be about 2 hours until she was free. My appointment was at 11 and it was now around 3pm. And my hair was orange with weird brown shades through it. OK, what choice do I have? So fast forward a couple of hours and the new hair stylist lady takes over. Only she's not a lady, she's a man who looks very much like a lady and his name is Denise. But whatever. Denise was a breath of fresh hair but informed me that there was no way she could put my hair through anymore stress and give me what I originally asked for without my hair falling out of my head. Thus, Denise has no choice but to just try to salvage my hair by making me a brunette. The exact opposite of what I asked for when I made the horrific mistake of making an appointment there. It was 9pm by the time I left and of course I didn't pay for all the crap I had been through. The owner of the department store came down to apologize and give me a bag of freaking trial size shampoos and conditioners for my trouble (trauma). Thanks dude.Unless any of that shit is gonna make me blonde and give me back the last 9 hours of my life, I don't want it.

So not only did I NOT get my highlights touched up, but I wasn't even a blonde anymore period. I actually sat in a salon chair for upwards of 9 hours to have something done that was the exact opposite of what I went in there for. Needless to say, I ended up finding a good hair stylist who #1 was young, #2 could see and #3 could perform a basic hair service that EVERY person with a license to do hair should know how to do in their sleep. But then she set me up on a really horrible blind date with her brother-in-law and that was the end of our hair friendship.

TIPS to avoid similar catastrophes:

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS, if something doesn't feel right or if the hair stylist seems unsure of herself or is asking other people for advice on a basic hair service, kindly excuse yourself and save yourself from a potential trauma.

ASK AROUND, find salon reviews, if you see someone's hair you like at the grocery store or school, ask them who they go to! I have a bad feeling that when you call a salon and ask them to just put you with anyone because you aren't familiar with the salon, they will stick you with the person who has the fewest clients which may mean there is a reason why they have the fewest clients. I'm not saying this does happen everywhere, but its better to be safe than sorry!!!

ASK QUESTIONS of your stylist if she's doing something you aren't used to. You know your hair better than anyone. It's your hair, don't be afraid to ask or to tell them if they are doing something you aren't comfortable with. Remember, YOU are paying THEM. Spare no one's feelings.

Bring a picture with you, tell the stylist this is the exact color you want. Let them know that you are picky and they may try harder to please you.

Don't pay for something that wasn't what you asked for. Granted, you have to be reasonable. You may not look exactly like the picture you took in but if its close then you shouldn't bitch. But if you look like hell on wheels when she's done, DON'T PAY. Demand to see the manager and explain how you were wronged. Try to get some free stuff while you're at it.

Eye of the Day! Great Look for Blue Eyes Using Copper and Bronze

2012-03-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

I've been getting in to this whole taking pictures of my makeup looks lately, partly because sometimes you think your makeup looks amazing when you look in the mirror but when you look at photos you're thinking.. uhm, what happened to the hot piece I just saw in the mirror? Or what's worse, when think you look amazing under nice, soft, forgiving, bathroom lighting and then you catch a glimpse of yourself in the rear view mirror in natural light where all flaws are revealed and poor technique and bad color combos are put on blast. But that didn't happen today, at least not where the eyes are concerned, so I thought I'd share. This is a great color combination for blue eyes because oranges, coppers, bronzes, and browns are a blue-eyed girl's BFF. So this is what I used today:

Eye Products:

TFSI eye primer

Urban Decay Half-Baked in the inner corner of the eye (its in the original Naked palette and about 1/2 a dozen other UD palettes)

MAC Coppering eyeshadow (a must-have)

A nameless bronzey eyeshadow from Tarte in the crease

Bare Escentuals The Truth quad, the darkest brown in the outer-v

Bare Escentuals Dream Sequence, the matte ivory as browbone highlight

Prestige Retractable Waterproof eyeliner, brown (upper lash line and waterline)

Tarte Shimmering Taupe Waterproof cream eyeshadow (blended into lower lash line over the Prestige brown)

Kat Von D Sin-Ful Lash Mascara

YBF brow pencil, taupe

Eye of the Day + Bare Escentuals Dream Sequence + BEST Eyeliner in the World!

2012-03-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a loaded post because I want to fit my eye of the day in with some product raves because my product raves are both used to create my eye of the day! Pictures at the bottom! But let's just start out with this:

Prestige Total Intensity Waterproof eyeliner is better than any high-end liner that I've tried. It's very soft like a Stila Kajal or the Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 (which is softer than the typical 24/7 liner), it goes on so incredibly smooth and pigmented on the waterline and wherever else you want to put it. No tugging at the eye area is necessary. But be careful not to press too hard because this is one soft pencil that you may have to re-sharpen often..which is totally worth it because the color comes off rich and creamy and it LASTS! I'm so impressed. I picked up the shade Powerful Purple which goes nicely with my eye look featuring the Dream Sequence quad from Bare Escentuals Ready line that has a variety of purple/lavender shades. In closing, you can't beat the quality and staying power of this eyeliner for under $6. If you have problems with eyeliner smudging on you or transferring, try this one before you totally give up.

I can't say enough about the BE Dream Sequence quad, the colors are beautiful and smooth. And I absolutely love the matte ivory highlight shade because its more pigmented than the highlight shade from the The Truth quad. The best part is that the Dream Sequence quad contains this to die for silvery taupe-lavender shade that has quickly become one of my all-time favorite shadows. All I can say is they blend amazingly, they last longer than most shadows do on me, and the color range is gorgeous. Well done, Bare Escentuals, well done. I will be back for more!

Eye of the Day:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance eyeshadow primer

Wet N' Wild single eyeshadow in Creme Brulee

Bare Escentuals Dream Sequence quad: matte purple, lavender-silvery-taupe, ivory matte

Prestige Total Intensity eyeliner in Powerful Purple

YBF brow pencil, universal taupe

Kat Von D Sin-Ful Mascara

Courtesy of me, Bare Escentuals Dream Sequence (above) & swatches (below)

And those are my real lashes, looking especially fake courtesy of Kat Von D Sin-Ful Mascara!

ULTA Haul: Just a Few Little Goodies to Brighten My Day! (Pictures Below)

2012-03-03T12:36:00.001-08:00

Photo is mine (above)

So I finally got out among the living today and went over to ULTA to see what's good. I have been eyeing a couple of things for months now so I ended up finally buying them. First, the Lorac Baked Matte Satin Blush in "Exposed", a beyond gorgeous shimmering peach-pink that makes NARS Orgasm look like compressed dirt. Don't get me wrong, I like NARS Orgasm but Exposed takes it to another level and is the perfect summer blush. If you haven't tried the Lorac Matte Satin blush, you need to. They are so incredibly pigmented and you need the slightest bit to give you amazing color. The best part is they are kind of like a highlight/blush all in one because the color has such a gorgeous sheen that you could totally forgo the highlighter. I am so pleased with this blush. I also have the Velvet Rope shade which is a pretty rose color with all the same great qualities as Exposed.

Photos taken by me, Lorac blush in Exposed, swatched below next to the Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner

Next, I see that Bare Escentuals has taken this whole "ready" concept to another level with their latest release of a gorgeous array of pressed powder blushes and a couple of bronzers thrown in for good measure. We are talking A-List style colors, absolutely stunning! But I kept my eye on the prize and the prize was the Bare Escentuals Ready quad in The Dream Sequence which includes a matte purple, an iridescent purple, a taupey-lavender, and matte ivory. I have already mentioned a few times that I live and die by the BE The Truth quad so I thought, let's give it another go!

Photo taken by me, Bare Escentuals Ready quad Dream Sequence, swatched below

Third item is the Prestige Total Intensity Waterproof eyeliner (swatched above in the Lorac blush picture) in the plum shade that I can't remember the name of but am too lazy to get up and find out. Prestige claims 10 hours of wear with this liner and they have yet to disappoint me in the eyeliner department. I have a real problem paying over $20 for an eyeliner when there are perfectly amazing eyeliners like this one for under $6. Plus they didn't were all out of the Stila Smudgestick in Stingray which is the real reason for why I opted for a cheaper alternative. But I felt good doing it.

Finally, I picked up one of my staple items which is a pack of the Ardell individual false lashes. I love individuals, they looks so much more natural even though they take a lot of time to put on. And they are $2 less than the Eyelure individual lashes.

While I was there I smelled the Katy Perry Meow Perfume. If you like Pink Sugar, you will like this. And you get a bottle that is the shape of a cat's body with a cap that is the cat's head. And its pink.

February Favorites! Most Used/Loved Products of the Month!

2012-03-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

I don't do monthly favorites unless there is a variation from one month to the next. It would be boring to read my favorites if they didn't really change from month to month, right? But February is special because I used a lot of new stuff! Here's a list of what I reached for most in the month of February broken into categories.(Pictures below!)

Face Stuff:

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion: This a sulfur-based acne fighting product that you put on your face at night either all over or as a spot treatment. If you find that the benzoyl-peroxide acne products don't work for you, try something sulfur-based because I find that I do better with these. I apply this to a zit(s) before bed and it really helps to dry them up and speed up the "get the hell off my face" process.My skin is dry so I don't use this all over.

Estee Lauder Doublewear Light, Intensity 1& a dash of Intensity 2: You know I love my original EL Doublewear but I do find that it clogs my pores even though it doesn't give me full-on zits. It is oil-free but not pore-clogging free. So I tried the "light" and I really like it because it has the same staying power as the original but it is much lighter and allows my skin a little more breathing room. A big complaint is the shade range. I love the original EL because of the shade range they offer of cool, neutral, and warm, but the "light" version only has Intensity 1, 2, 3 and so on. If you are cool or neutral toned but not fair, you will have trouble finding a shade because 1 is fairly pink and 2 is really yellow-based. Other than that, I have no complaints.

Smashbox Hydrating Halo Powder: This stuff is a-m-a-z-i-n-g but breaks me out like a teenager going through puberty. So why is it a favorite? Because I can use it on my cheeks and forehead and in the highlight area of my cheekbones and it won't break me out. I will use this stuff wherever I can because it gives such a beautiful glow and helps to de-cake your face if it looks too foundation-y and dry. Love.Love.Love.

MAC Stereo Rose MSF: This is a limited edition MAC product that I use as a blush/highlight. It has a beautiful sheen to it that is enough to not have to use a cheekbone highlight if you're wearing this. I absolutely love this MSF for the sheen it provides and the natural lovely pinkish/rose color that is incredibly pigmented.

Sigma F80 Flat-Top Kabuki Brush: This is one of those must-have brushes that can change the way you apply your foundation. A lot of people from YouTube talk about this brush which is how I found out about it. This is an amazingly dense brush that works really well to stipple your liquid foundation on and then buff in. It could also be used to buff in mineral powder foundation or blend any blush or bronzer lines away. And its synthentic, holla! And doesn't shed If you want to check out Sigma, click on the ad over there in the right sidebar -------------------------------------------------------------->

Sigma F55 Small Duo-Fiber Brush: Another winner from Sigma, this is the smaller of their duo-fiber brushes. Its the perfect size and shape to apply highlighter when you want to be careful not to apply too much. I also use it to apply blush and bronzer because it will apply it in a sheer layer and allow you to build up the color if you want to add more. I would recommend this brush for your powder products (blushes,bronzers,highlighters) or to set your concealer under your eyes with a light dusting of powder.

Eye Stuff:

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Whiskey: I love this shade of brown, its my favorite shade of brown eyeliner in that its just a flat, matte brown with a hint of a reddish-undertone. Whisky made its debut in the original Naked Palette as part of a dual ended liner w/ the Zero (black) liner. I have since used it all the way down to the last bit that can be sharpened.

Anastasia Brow Duality Matte & Shimmer Highlighting Pencil: I love the matte side of this pencil especially to highlight the brow bone. Its the perfect matte pale pink which you can apply from the pencil and then blend in with your fingers. And if you aren't feeling matte, there is a shimmer side that does the same thing but with a little extra glam. The dual-ended pencil concept is a great idea that I'd like to see more of.

Bare Escentuals Ready Eyeshadow Quad in The Truth: My #1 go-to palette that I pretty much wear every single day. My favorite shades are the darkest brown ones which are the perfect shades of brown to make blue eyes stand out. I find that these shades have tremendous staying power if you layer them and blend them really well while of course using a good primer. I am super impressed by the BE pressed eyeshadows because they are super pigmented and supposedly contain anti-aging ingredients. I don't know if that is true or not but I'd rather be lied to and go on believing they do.

Kat Von D Sin-Ful Mascara: I did a separate post about this yesterday so scroll down and check it out. This is a good volumizing and lengthening mascara that is easy to build and build to achieve the desired look.

Revlon Colorstay Cream Eyeliner (black): I was super excited to try this because I love cream eyeliners BUT I don't love them if they don't stay put. I have found that when Revlon says "Colorstay", they mean it and so I trusted it would do what it claimed. First, I really like the consistency and the pigmentation. It comes with a brush that is fairly thick so if you want to get a thin line then use a different brush and problem solved. I like the staying power and consistency better than MAC Fluidline. And I like the convenient packaging of having a brush and the cream liner in the same packaging mechanism.

Trish McEvoy Correct & Brighten; This stuff was way more expensive than it should be but I really like it. I have found that I don't really have dark circles or darkness under the eyes and so a normal concealer isn't really necessary unless I've had a really bad night. This is why I prefer to use an illuminator to brighten under the eyes but without the thickness of a concealer. The Trish Correct & Brighten is similar to YSL Touche Eclat in the purpose and consistency. Also good for highlighting other areas of the face.

Lip Stuff:

Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee: This product has seemed to make its way into my lip routine at least once per day whether its an "in-car" touch up or a base before applying another shade. I love the consistency of this one in that it is smooth and creamy and leaves my lips hydrated. Some of the Lip Butters have a grittier texture (like Peach Parfait) that I don't enjoy as well. If you love nudes, you will love Creme Brulee!

MAC Myth Lipstick: Myth is a favorite of mine every single month because I wear it every single day either underneath or over top of another shade. I would never be without my Myth.

Estee Lauder Doublewear Light, Smashbox Halo, Sigma F55 & F80

MAC Stereo Rose MSF, Bare Escentuals quad The Truth, Kat Von D Sin-ful Mascara, Revlon Colorstay Cream Eyeliner, Urban Decay 24/7 Dual Liner Whiskey/Zero

Same as above but with the Anastasia highlight pencil & Trish McEvoy Correct & Brighten

Revlon Lip Butter Creme Brulee & MAC Myth lipstick

Mascara Rave: Kat Von D Sin-Ful Lash

2012-03-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

Kat Von D Mascara Sin-Ful Lash: I would have never purchased this (I'm sure all cosmetics companies love to read reviews that start out that way) but it was one of the Sephora 100 point perks and I was feeling like taking a Kat Von D kind of risk. Glad I did because I really like it! Its got the big wide brush symbolic of a volumizing mascara but I find that it lengthens as well as it volumizes. The brush kind of looks similar to Benefit Bad Gal (which I hate) or Prestige My Biggest Lashes (which I like). But despite having a big brush, it gets my corner lashes very well and lengthens them as well as the easier to reach lashes. Plus it has a weird smell. I know, how is that a good thing? Well I happen to like when mascara has a scent that isn't reminiscent of any of the chemicals used to make it. If you have ever tried Too Faced Lash Injection and notice that citrus scent, that's what the KVD smells like. I have heard that when you do not notice that scent anymore, its time to throw out the mascara because it went bad. Moving on.. I haven't experienced any deal-breaking smudging or flaking and I also find the formula to be quite buildable. Which is a must have for people who like to wear 12-15 coats of mascara. You know when someone asks how many coats of mascara you put on, they expect you to say 2 or 3.. well my answer is that I put on as many coats as it takes to arrive at that point right before my lashes start to crisp up. And if that point is 5-6 coats, so be it. We all have our limits, and that is mine. Nice job, Kat Von D, I shall now add this mascara to my list of other KVD winners which now makes that list two items long (the other being Celebutard lipstick).

Nail Polish Review: Nicole by OPI Kardashian Collection "Kim-Pletely In Love"

2012-02-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

Well, we all know Kim Kardashian isn't Kim-Pletely in love anymore, at least not with her soon-to-be ex-husband. But at least she made a pretty nail polish out it. This shade is a nice sweet pale pink with very fine (blue-ish green-ish) microshimmer and is the very first K-Dash nail polish I've purchased from line. The main reason for my lack of interest in the K-Dash colors has been my overall lack of interest for the Nicole by OPI brand. I purchased one from the line about five years ago and the formula sucked and it chipped instantly. I never purchased another. What can I say, I can hold a mean grudge. But enough time has passed that I figured I'd give it another go.

I really love how this polish looks in natural lighting that is conducive for showing off that pretty shimmer. But since I can't stand outside all day, I have to succumb to the fact that its basically just another average pale pink polish that needs at least 3-4 coats to be opaque. The weird thing is I would add a third coat and it would look great but then it would dry down and look like I needed another coat. So I would put on a fourth coat and the same thing would happen only this time I would just accept it and move on. I tried to find a picture that captured that fine iridescent shimmer in the polish because all of my photo-taking attempts were unsuccessful but you still can't really see the actual colors of the shimmer. Oh well. Anyone try the new OPI Holland collection? I am thinking I want "I Don't Give a Rotterdam" & "Vampsterdam", the rest look pretty resistible.

Photo credit http://www.polishinsomniac.net/2011/12/nicole-by-opi-kardashian-kolors.html

Wet & Wild, Rimmel Clearance @ Rite Aid

2012-02-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

I can't say that every Rite Aid has the same markdowns but while I was in my store today, they had a bunch of Wet & Wild clearanced for 75% off! As if it weren't cheap enough already. Some of the markdowns included their single eyeshadows (I got Brulee for around 49cents, great ivory matte highlight color btw) and their Mega-Last matte lipstick (another 49cent deal). They also had a bunch of their nail polishes 75% off as well as some of their palettes. As for Rimmel, all of their eyeshadows were clearanced as well as certain colors of lipglosses. So go get you some!

I'm on the hunt for a peach-coral eyeshadow, a true vibrant peach, not to be confused with the really light peachy "highlight" shades. Something similar to MAC Paradisco. Any ideas?

Kim Kardashian Makeup Favorites

2012-02-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

Photo credit Allure Magazine March 2010

My ultimate makeup-crush is on Kim Kardashian. I swoon when I see her long, thick, dark lashes, nude lips and dramatic smoky eyes. This month's copy of Allure features Kim on the cover looking every bit of gorgeous as usual but in a much more natural and toned down look. I remember a few years back coming across one of her blog posts about her favorite products and was so excited to be privy to such important (to me) information. Allure asks Kim what some of her current favorites are in the March issue, and so I thought I'd share with you some of those as well as what I can remember (which, shamefully, is a lot) of her old favorites. Some of the products are on both lists so I guess that means she REALLY likes those ones in particular. And if you like her Allure cover look, I listed some of the products used below.

Some of Kim's Past Faves:

NARS Turkish Delight lipgloss

MAC Angel lipstick (paired w/ Turkish Delight and Stripdown liner was her signature lip look for quite some time!)

MAC Stripdown lip liner

MakeUpForEver HD Foundation

Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

MAC Zoom Lash mascara

Lancome Hypnose mascara

Stila Kajal eyeliner in Black Onyx

Cle de Peau concealer in Ocre

Some of Kim's New Faves:

NARS Orgasm blush

Smashbox Bronze Lights in Suntan Matte

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX05 as concealer (applied w/ Beauty Blender sponge)

Chanel Teint Innocence foundation

Georgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation

MAC Zoom Lash

Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes

NARS duo eyeshadow in Surabaya

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Night Calming makeup wipes (which she calls her most essential product)

Revlon and Yves Saint Laurent lip glosses (no mention of shades)

To Achieve Kim's Allure Cover Look:
No mascara OR eyeshadow (gasp!)

Dolce & Gabbana Chocolate Khol Pencil (or any reddish-brown pencil)

D&G The Foundation in Amber

Clarins Gloss Prodige in Rose (a must-have, you will LOVE!)

Photo credit Allure Magazine March 2012

Want Some LEAD With That Lipstick? FDA Tests 400 Lipsticks for Lead Content

2012-02-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

The FDA tested 400 tubes of lipstick for lead contamination and came up with 400 tubes of various brands and shades that tested positive for lead. The top 10 lipsticks on the list were found to have the highest concentration of lead on the list and so on and so forth. You are welcome to view the list yourself below but I will share with you the top 5 worst offenders:

Maybelline Color Sensational in Pink Petal

L'Oreal Color Riche in Volcanic

NARS Red Lizard

Cover Girl Queen Collection Ruby Remix

NARS Funny Face

Who had the "leadiest" lipsticks on the list? L'Oreal.

Other offenders further down in the list include MAC Impassioned, MAC Show Orchid, MAC Cream in Your Coffee.

Watch the video and see the full list below:

http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/14/10408975-lead-in-lipsticks-fda-tests-400-tubes

Fragrance I'm Loving: Narcisco Rodriguez for Her

2012-02-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

You know you LOVE a perfume when you practically get paper cuts from rubbing the magazine page sample so vehemently to get every last bit they offer you. That's what happened when I smelled the delicious sent of Narcisco Rodriguez for Her. This intoxicating aroma contains notes of Pink Chypre, Pink Floral, Woodsy, Soft Amber, Flower Honey, and Sheer Chypre. Its been described as seductive, feminine, and velvety. I would say that about sums it up. Its a very soft, light, wearable scent that will not give you or anyone around you a headache. The notes blend together so effortlessly that you can't quite pinpoint which of the notes is the most powerful. Narcisco Rodriguez for Her is available in an Eau de Toilette and an Eau de Parfum, which boils down to "semi-affordable" and "holy crap, that's expensive".

I would venture to say that this is a fragrance that most people will like, regardless of scent preference. I absolutely love it and I usually dislike about 90% of fragrances. To give you an idea of my preferences, I love Thierry Mugler Angel, Thierry Mugler Alien, Bond No. 9 I Love NYC, Tom Ford Violet Blonde. All very unique, all slightly unusual, and all getting me a ton of compliments. I've just added Narcisco for Her to the list.

My Top Valentine's Day Polish Picks!

2012-02-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about some good Valentine's Day nail polish. Not that we wouldn't wear these shades on every day of the year if we wanted but these shades are especially appropriate for celebrating Valentine's Day, going out with your sweetheart, your friends, or your kids. Why not get into the spirit of all things red and pink?

My #1 Top Pick: OPI Sweetheart

By far, my favorite pale pink polish. By far. This one doesn't have as much name recognition as OPI Bubble Bath or Essie Ballet Slippers when it comes to that perfect pale pink but in my opinion, it is light years better. It is more of a milky pink that goes on opaque after 3 coats unlike some of the others that tend to appear streaky. If you like the other shades I mentioned then you will really love this.

OPI Sweetheart

OPI Red:

This is pretty much my favorite red. It's bright and eye-catching and reminds me of a candy apple the way it shines when you have a good two coats on there. This is a very creamy red, no shimmer or sheen, yet very sophisticated and special.

OPI Red courtesy of VampyVarnish.com

OPI Pink Friday, Nikki Minaj collection

The nail polish version of Nikki's famous MAC Pink Friday lipstick. This is a creamy, milky pink but its much more of a bubble-gum Barbie pink which makes it very wearable for most skin tones. If you can get your hands on this one, its definitely worth it. If you want more of a statement pink than the french manicure look, go for Pink Friday.

OPI Pink Friday Nikki Minaj courtesy of nailgalore.my

Sephora by OPI, Sample Sale:

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous metallic candy-apple red! This is a date night shade for sure. Metallic sheen is very on-trend right now and it looks amazing on nails.

Sephora by OPI Sample Sale courtesy of enamelgirl.blogspot.com

Sally Hansen Gem Crush:

If you want to spice up your manicure, these glittery polishes will certainly do the trick. Lady Luck is a magenta with large holographic glitter while Razzler Dazzler is a golden pink with silver glitter. And if you are looking for a good purple glitter, Be-Jeweled is a pretty purple with larger light pink glitter.

Sally Hansen Gems Lady Luck courtesy of majnonnibeauty.blogspot.com

Sally Hansen Gems Be-Jeweled courtesy of fingerspainted.blogspot.com

Drugstore Review: Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips in Nude

2012-02-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

It seems as though all the makeup companies, high-end to drugstore are on this "nude" kick aren't they? The success of the Urban Decay Naked Palette really told the world that we want wearable, neutral shades that we can dress up or down. Soon, companies like Stila, The Balm, and Too Faced followed suit with their versions of neutral palettes. Smart move.

The closest I've seen at the drugstore to a "Naked Palette" if you will, has been Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips in Nude. Now, Shimmer Strips aren't new but the packaging and concept for the nude version is. And the packaging is an eye-catcher! Its the same rectangular palette with various strips of eyeshadow but its adorned in black lace with the word "NUDE" on the front. These shadows can be worn wet or dry and are comprised of 9 shadows or 3 different "trios" that can be worn together to create looks from natural to nighttime. It also comes with an odd little angled sponge tip applicator which is actually kind of useful for applying the shadow wet as liner if you don't have an angled brush. Of course I was going to be a sucker for a semi-affordable (around $10) eyeshadow palette that contains my favorite types of colors so I picked it up. And here's what I think.

-Really pretty shades ranging from good highlight shades like peach and ivory to wearable natural shades like taupes and beiges to dramatic shades like dark brown and black (which double as liners). They aren't glittery, so don't be scared by "shimmer" strips but they do provide a nice sheen.

-Pigmented. The darker colors are more pigmented but you can build on the lighter ones to get the look you want. They blend very nicely as well. I used the darker shades as liners and I quite liked them in this capacity.

-Functional. I like having 9 color options in one portable palette.

If you want me to compare this little drugstore gem to the likes of the UD Naked Palette, I will say that the Physicians Formula option is not similar. Its much more natural and less pigmented with little room for drama unless you want to use the black. The shades, while very pretty, aren't unique like Urban Decay but I also find them to have less fall-out due to the fact they do not have glitter. Overall its a great little affordable palette for travel and for everyday wear. If you're a nudes kind of girl, you pretty much have everything you need in this palette.

Physicians Formula Nude Shimmer Strips Photos taken by me!

Swatches with flash (above) Photo taken by me.

Swatches without flash (above). Photo taken by me.

Product Rediscovery: Jane Eyeshadow in Brownie Points

2012-02-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, what happened to Jane products? I remember my Rite Aid and Walgreens used to carry them a few years back and then they slowly starting phasing them out. Jane used to make some fantastic matte blushes and some really great eyeshadows too. Namely, Brownie Points. This used to be my favorite dark matte brown of all time. I bought MAC Handwritten once and was thinking oh this will be similar to my Jane shadow.. um. no. The similarities ended at "they are both powders". So as I was shopping my own stash which is located in the reject drawer in my bathroom, I saw my forgotten love. I pulled it out and used it today in the crease with a Bare Escentuals taupe color from the Truth "Ready" quad. It blends effortlessly, is so pigmented and is basically what all matte shades should be. As for the color, its kind of a smoky deep brown with no distracting undertones. I know its kind of rude to talk about how amazing a product is that is discontinued but discontinued doesn't mean anything except that you have to try to buy it online as opposed to going to the store. Which is easier anyways.

Jane Brownie Points eyeshadow (above) Photo taken by me.

Face of the Day! Urban Decay Naked Palette Smoky Eye

2012-02-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

I haven't done one of these in a while! I apologize for my camera, if I don't use the flash the pictures turn out terrible. I also apologize on behalf of the SPF in my foundation that casts a white appearance in photos and often leads one to believe that my neck is a different color than my face. Nice.
Products Used for this Look:
Face:
Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in Fresco
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer
Dior Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder in shade 032 Sable Rose (highlight)
Hourglass Hidden Corrector concealer in Pearl
Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Urban Decay Naked Palette: Virgin (all over + browbone), Creep+ Gunmetal (lid), Gunmetal (crease)
Urban Decay 24/7 liner Perversion
Wet n' Wild Gel Cream eyeliner, black
Mally Volumizing Mascara
Ardell individual short false lashes
YBF eyebrow pencil (universal shade)
Anastasia brow gel, clear
Lips:
MAC Innocence Beware lipstick
MAC Plushglass, Fashion Fanatic

Nails of the Day + Review: Nikki Minaj for OPI Did It On Em'

2012-02-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, "Did it On Em'" was my least favorite shade of the bunch upon first glance. Its this very odd bright green pea soup color that I would never be drawn to had I not purchased it as part of a set along with three other much more visually appealing shades (Fly, Pink Friday, Save Me). After testing all of the shades, I was actually quite intrigued by the outcast and found it more interesting than the other colors of the collection. I decided to pursue the idea of painting all of my nails in this color further. And I took the plunge.

After staring at my nails adorned in "Did it On Em'", I couldn't help but wonder.... did WHAT on em, Nikki? Given the shade of this polish, "it" can't be good. It reminds me of battery acid, or worse yet, the bodily fluid excreted by Reagen on the (original) Exorcist movie when she utterly humiliates her poor mother in front of their guests. I mean, granted, she was possessed by the devil, so these things will happen. But what's even stranger? I LIKE this color. I feel like if you have a seemingly unwearable color, you should try to "normalize" it with what clothing you wear. For instance, it looks really cool up against an eggplant or dark teal sweater or scarf. Wear some prettier shades that will compliment this bright green and you will probably end up liking it. I did.

Nikki Minaj for OPI Did it On Em, with flash (above) without flash (below) All photos taken by me.

OPI Nikki Minaj Collection: Save Me

2012-02-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

I was absolutely drooling when I saw the Nikki Minaj magazine AD wearing Save Me from her OPI collection. A really bright platinum silver with silver micro-shimmer and flecks of what appeared to be glitter but not in the traditional sense. I was able to snag the mini's collection today.

There is one thing I really hate about sharing a bathroom with my husband. Back up, what does this have to do with anything? Wait for it.... .... We each have our own sink but let's face it, both sinks are mine. Sometimes when I lean up against the counter space over his sink to look closer in the mirror or to clean, I come away with a bazillion of his little short, sharp, course hairs from shaving stuck all over me. If you have ever had this experience, you know these little suckers are kind of hard to just simply brush off. Just when you think you've gotten them all, there's five more stuck to your hand. As I was painting my nails with Save Me and noticed those long blue strands of confetti in the polish, I got an unwelcomed flashback of my husband's shaving remnants. Aside from that, I do enjoy the very fine silver micro-shimmer. It doesn't remind me of any bad bathroom behavior.

P.S. I find that this polish looks best on its own, not over another polish, and 3 coats is a must. The strands of "confetti" can get a little messy so you have to watch for the strays and put them in check when they go outside of the nail area.


Save Me, photo credit www.imabeautygeek.com


Photo credit www.imabeautygeek.com (above)

Photo found on www.her-styleshop.com (above)

Nikki Minaj for OPI: The Mini's Set + OPI Error in My Favor

2012-02-03T10:43:00.000-08:00

I knew I should have gone to ULTA sooner for fear of not being able to get Pink Friday (milky pink) and Save Me (platinum silver glitter) from the new collection. They had one mini set left and a few of the Did it On Em' (the weird green one), one Fly (the pretty blue), and several Metallic 4 Life (the black glitter) and the Shatter shade (purple/burgundy). I looked at the mini set and was glad that it included Fly and Pink Friday but I wasn't interested in the Metallic 4 Life, why couldn't they have put Save Me in there instead? Wait a minute, they DID put Save Me in there instead but the box says its Metallic 4 Life. This OPI mistake appears to be my gain since Save Me was the shade I wanted in the first place. I asked the girl ringing me up and she said that yes, indeed, OPI had made a mistake putting Save Me in the box when it was supposed to be Metallic 4 Life. Some boxes do have Metallic 4 Life and some have Save Me. Photos illustrate this below.

Correct Nikki Minaj Mini Set w/ M4Life (above)

Incorrect mini set that has Save Me but the box reads Metallic 4 Life (above)

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette Contest Winner Is..............

2012-02-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to lucky number #366, GFC follower: SADI, the winner of the Naked2 Palette giveaway! If I haven't already, I will email you Sadi to get your contact information to get your prize sent out. Thanks to everyone who entered. And for those that did not win, don't worry! I will be holding ANOTHER Naked2 contest very soon!!

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette Contest NOW CLOSED! Winner Announcement SOON!

2012-02-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Thank you SO much to everyone who has entered my contest in the last month. The contest is now closed, as it is officially February 1st. All entries that come in after February 1st 12:00 AM, EST will not be considered. I will be choosing a winner based on the number that I get from random.org and then will count down to find the comment that corresponds to that number. I will then check to see if the person is a follower and if they were indeed eligible for additional entries if there were any. I will post the winner on my blog in a post and contact them via email address provided or their GFC name. Sit tight and the winner will be posted and notified between 6:00PM EST February 1st and 6:00PM EST February 2nd.

Maybelline 24-HOUR Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow: Take TWO

2012-02-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Photo from Allurabeauty.com (above)

Oh why, oh why, do I doubt myself? Because I truly thought I was the only person in the free world who didn't LOVE the new Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 ~~Hour~~ cream shadow, in fact, I didn't even LIKE them. Not even a little bit. I originally purchased the Pomegranate shade and it creased all up on me before I could screw the top back on and put it away. Review here: Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Review for Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow

But after watching video after video about how much this product is loved how its similar to or better than MAC Paint Pots (my apologies to MAC on behalf of these claims), I began to think..... maybe its just me? Maybe I did something wrong when I applied it (twice, with and without primer) the first time. Granted, both the primed and un-primed attempts resulted in the same disgusting mess of a result but I continued to second guess myself...... until I caved. This time purchasing the teal shade. I admit, these are beautiful pigmented colors that had me convinced of their potential staying power upon first swipe. But I'm here to finally report that my days with Maybelline Color Tattoo and doubting my own judgment are officially over. I received the SAME crease-tastic results after precisely 10 minutes (or sooner) of the cream shadow's presence on my lids. And this time I noticed my eyelids were itchy in the process. So I got to suffer physically as well. Nice.

Below is a picture of what happened the first time using the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Fizz, or is it Punch? Oh hell, Fizz, Punch, its all the same mess. I didn't take a picture of my experience with the teal shade. Look at the picture below of pomegrante, and imagine it's teal and you'll get the idea. It just occurred to me that I literally paid $16 to make two mistakes. If I had that money back, I would be a few dollars shy of buying a first class cream shadow like Bobbi Brown Waterproof cream shadow. Bobbi doesn't make ridiculous claims of 24 hour wear. Bobbi doesn't need to because for one, she's Bobbi Brown, and for two, her products don't suck.

Photo taken by me, approximately 5 minutes after applying Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow.

Review: Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

2012-01-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

Let me start out by saying something really negative, I absolutely detest Maybelline mascara. No matter which kind I've tried, I've ended up both super disappointed and around $10 poorer. There once was a time when Maybelline made a really great mascara, it was called "Illegal Lengths" and it has been discontinued for quite some time. It came in a navy tube and was one of my staple go-to products in high school. The absolute only reason I chose to ignore my distaste for Maybelline mascara and pick up this new one they've released is because I really thought they just brought back Illegal Lengths and repackaged it. And removed the letter "S" off of the end of the name. But actually it's not the same whatsoever. Here's the good news. Illegal Length doesn't totally suck. It's actually quite decent in the lengthening department which I enjoy. You do have to act fast to build on the coats because it does dry rather quickly and the packaging advises that you do not wait for the first coat to dry to apply the second. It's a rather wet formula but I didn't find that it was particularly messy to apply.

I am not even going to say much about this whole "fiber lash extension" claim that Maybelline makes because I really didn't see any fibers or notice that the formula was really that different than other lengthening mascaras from the drugstore like L'Oreal Telescopic. And it doesn't do anything in the volume department which is actually my favorite department and the one I seek to satisfy when I buy a mascara. But I knew this was a lengthening mascara so I'm not complaining. With that being said, its a pretty good lengthening mascara but I certainly do not agree with the absolutely ridiculous claim that the advertisements make about the power of this mascara. If you will look at the AD below, it may have you believe that your lids will actually produce a ginormous false eyelash by using this mascara. This did not happen to me. Would I repurchase this mascara? No. Would I throw it away entirely? No.

Photo above taken by me

Photo Credit: http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/2011/12/spotted-new-maybelline-illegal-length.html

Keeping it real with the original "Illegal" mascara, Maybelline Illegal Lengths

Review: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in White ON

2012-01-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

As an extremely desperate attempt to leave the store with a white nail polish, I bought the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in White On. I've tried many drugstore whites but they have been streaky and/or not exactly the bright opaque white I was looking for. Too lazy to drive to ULTA to purchase a respectable white like OPI Alpine Snow, I took a chance on this one, a formula I had never tried by Sally Hansen. In a nutshell, I freaking hated it. I don't know if I just got a bad or expired bottled but the texture and application of this polish was unacceptable. Because of the bright white appearance of this shade, it was literally like trying to spread melted marshmellow all over my nails. It was so thick and sticky that when I was trying to wipe off the excess polish to lift the brush out of the bottle, it left behind a string of polish hanging off of the brush that was still stuck onto the side of the bottle. Kind of like when you try to peel gum off the bottom of your shoe and it is a stretchy gooey nasty mess. The only thing semi-respectable about this polish is the shade "White On" which goes extremely opaque after two very thick and unbearable coats. But its no wonder its opaque after two coats, seeing as though the amount of polish you're putting on in those two coats is actually the equivilant of 10 coats of a normal polish. I will say that after I put on the first coat, I was like "ugh what was I thinking?!" and then after the second coat I was still like "ugh.. what was I thinking?!" but this time white at least enjoying the color.

Naturally, because of the consistency issues, it took forever for the polish to dry. Seriously, I painted them yesterday and 25 hours later they are still damp. Lesson learned. When you are too lazy or do not have the time to go the further distance to buy a quality product and you settle for crap in hopes that the crap will surprise you and be better than the other one, most often you will end up going back for the other item therefor wasting the money you spent when "settling".

The photo below is from Maricza.com because I have already peeled that marshmellow mess off my nails before I was able to take photos. Again, the color is nice as you can see below.

Photo credit Maricza.com Sally Hansen White On

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Nails of the Day: Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Good to Grape

2012-01-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

Another winner in my book, Good to Grape is a really creamy opaque mid-toned purple. It reminds me of China Glaze "Spontaneous". I tried to find another review on this shade so I could find out what collection its from and the odd thing is, I couldn't find one single picture of it on google images. Could it be that my review will be the first of its kind? And if it is not, please, do not ruin this moment for me. I found this color along with about 3 other brand new shades at Walgreens if you are interested. I had been to Rite Aid and CVS prior to going to Rite Aid so I could see if anyone had any of the SH Crinoline left and sadly, they did not. And Walgreens was the only store I had visited that had Good to Grape. The formula can kind of vary from shade to shade but this one is pretty much identical to Himalayan Blue in that it is very creamy with a rich and beautiful pigmentation. I am a three coats kind of girl whether I think two coats did the trick or not but I really think that this one is best with three coats. I used the Revlon Colorstay Top Coat which I've been enjoying lately over top. I have found that my manicures with the Revlon top coat + a Sally Complete polish have lasted upwards of 7-8 days. A rather large milestone worth mentioning. Enjoy! All photos included are taken by me.


Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Good to Grape (with FLASH, above)


Same polish, without the flash (above)

And for fun, my little girl wanted to get in on the action and show HER nails of the day (below) by Essie, I refuse to say the name of the shade because of one of the words being "risque" and inappropriate to be associated with a young girl. But the second word is "Divide". Thanks!

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Win Urban Decay Naked2 Palette!

2012-01-10T14:26:00.000-08:00

Have you entered to win the Naked2 palette yet? If not, sign up to follow my blog and follow the link below! Contest open WORLDWIDE and the chance to enter multiple times! The prize is a $50 value and a super popular item right now. Good luck!

Click on the picture of the Urban Decay Naked2 palette to your right in the sidebar and you'll find all of the details! ------>

Nails of the Day: Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Himalayan Blue

2012-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Himalayan Blue is part of the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen collection. It's a bright and creamy opaque blue that has quickly become one of my favorite polishes. Some people do not like the wide brush that comes with these Sally polishes but I rather like it. It works perfectly for the shape of my nail beds and practically covers the whole nail with one flat stroke. When I paint my nails using this formula, I get a very neat and precise application every time. I never really thought there was anything special about the SH Complete Manicure polish formula but for some reason, this latest one that I have has applied better than any of my OPI, Essie, Deborah Lippmann, Butter London, etc. Next on my list is Green Tea.


Sally Hansen Himalayan Blue, photo taken by me.

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Kate Moss Lipstick Collection by Rimmel London: No. 14

2012-01-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

Kate Moss has been seen in various Rimmel advertisements and commercials as a spokesperson for the brand and now has her own collection of Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks. While at CVS today, I was able to see some of the collection but they didn't have all of the shades. I picked up No. 14 which is a pinkish-brown nude with a matte creamy finish. It's quite a pretty color and I really like the texture and the way it wears. While it claims to last for 8 hours, it didn't quite go that distance on my lips. Maybe two hours at most. When I swatched it, I was reminded of MAC Blankety lipstick which looks quite similar to the Rimmel No. 14. Although Blankety is slightly pinkier, both have that brown undertone which really warms up the shade. See for yourself. If you're the kind of person that just can't pull off those really pale nude lips like MAC Myth or Creme d' Nude, you may want to try a warmer shade of nude like the Rimmel No. 14 or MAC Blankety.


MAC Blankety on top, Rimmel No.14 bottom

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette @ Sephora! Hurry!

2012-01-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

The exclusive and coveted Urban Decay Naked2 Palette is in stock right now at Sephora. It won't be coming to stores until the end of January but is available, for the time being, online. If you missed out on its availability during the debut, now is your chance! But you have to hurry... before its all sold out again. For those of you that have the original Naked and the new Naked, I'd love to hear your thoughts on which one you prefer! I know everyone loves the original Naked, but I found that I only really used a few of the shades (mostly Naked, Buck, and the highlight colors). I actually prefer the shades of the Naked2 better but still wish they would make a Naked Matte palette!

If you want to WIN an Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, enter my contest by clicking the link below. And don't forget to sign up to follow my blog so that you can enter. Find out how you can enter multiple times!

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The New Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink

2012-01-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

What a cool product. The latest blush released from Maybelline has the most unique texture and feel with its sponge-like bounce and silky powder application. It feels like a cream blush but is actually powder in the way that it applies. The color selection is pretty much amazing with super fresh and bright shades that scream "SPRING!" I was already a fan of the Maybelline Dream Mousse blush but I really wish they had more of a matte selection because I think they are rather shimmery. The Bouncy blush in Fresh Pink looks matte for the most part but may have some very fine shimmer that certainly isn't very noticeable. In fact, I don't even know if its really there or if I'm seeing things and making the whole thing up. Fresh Pink, the color I chose, pretty much looks like it sounds in that its a very beautiful, cool-toned, bubble-gum pink. In the photos, it appears to have a blue undertone but its less noticeable in person. It really gives your cheeks a natural flushed appearance. Well, actually, how natural is having hot pink cheeks? Let me put it another way. It looks bright and scary but goes on very sheer and natural if that is how you choose to wear it. I took some pictures showing the color on my wrist. The swatch is what the pigmentation looks like after a few good coats, you can make it much more sheer but I wanted it to show up on camera.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink. Photos taken by me.

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New Stuff at the Drugstore: Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish & Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

2012-01-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Today was the first time in a little while that I went to the drugstore and so I was blown away by all of the new makeup goodies that were on the shelves since I'd last been. First, I see the Revlon Colorstay nail polish that claims up to 11 days of wear and all the shine of a gel lacquer. In quite beautiful shades I might add. Then I look up and see the new Maybelline Dream Bouncy blushes in a variety of lovely bright shades. Rounding the corner, I see the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows (see post below for that monstrosity) and a bunch of brand new L'Oreal nail polishes in gorgeous shades. Now, I do not have reviews for the blush and the polish but I just wanted to make you aware of their existence because I have tested them and am excited to see if they work out for me.

Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel. Photo taken by me, @ CVS

I have painted two nails with the Revlon Colorstay nail polish and after two coats, I can say that they are very shiny. But the really cool thing is the Maybelline Bouncy blush. I can't speak to the wear or the application as of yet, but the texture is SO cool. And really is bouncy. It feels like a sponge when you press your finger to it. The texture is like a cream but is a very soft and silky powder. Very cool product. So check out the new goodies at the drugstore and I will have some reviews when I've had a chance to test them out to their fullest extent.

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Review for Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow

2012-01-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

What a bunch of crap. Color Tattoo?! I wish my tattoos faded as quickly as this shadow did so that I wouldn't have to live my life in further regret for making dumb decisions when I was 18. I was all set to put on the new Color Tattoo cream shadow that boasts 24 hour wear time so that I could take a picture of what it looks like now and then later to see if it held up when I took it off tonight. What a fool I was. As I applied one eye, I was quite pleased with the color and pigmentation so I moved on to the other eye, so far so good. But when I went back to look again at the first eye, the junk was already creased! But wait... in all fairness, I hadn't used a primer first. I like to to give the benefit of the doubt and so I removed the eye make up and started over. Bobbi Brown cream shadow doesn't need a primer. Tarte waterproof cream shadow doesn't need a primer. But I will do it anyways to be able to make a fair and accurate assessment of the performance. I applied my primer and repeated the process. Different story, same freaking ending. Crease crease and more crease. I can't say that this stuff won't work for others, but It failed miserably for me. I can't even be bothered to even describe the product in more detail because quite frankly I can't be bothered to waste another second on this rubbish product. I didn't do a before and after picture because the before and the after was the same result. Rather, this is the picture I took about 2 minutes after applying the shadow. I wasn't even expecting to get 24 hours of wear out of the stuff, but I was certainly expecting more wear than the time than it took to finish both eyes!

Now, you may say, well, maybe you have oily lids. Well, even if I did, there wasn't even time for my eyelids to get oily before the junk creased. You may say, well this stuff worked amazing for me. Well, maybe you only needed to wear it for 4.5 seconds and in that case, I'm sure it did work amazing in that time frame. Or, maybe your eyelids are made out of different material than mine. Ever think of that? Huh? So, RIP Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow.

No more pictures. No swatches. No before and afters. No checking out the other shades. Nothing. Nothing but disappointment. And creased up eyelids.

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

Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway..Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! CONTEST CLOSED!

2012-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

I haven't done a giveaway since last summer and I thought I would kick of the new year with a good one! Since everyone is trying to get their hands on the new Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, I thought that would be a fitting prize for the winner. I happen to have a brand new Naked2 that needs a good home. See the rules below and I hope you will enter! Please follow the directions when entering the contest, it will prevent a lot of confusion and be in your best interest to make sure your entries are counted. Thank you everyone!

Contest Rules:

Must be 18 to enter or have your parents permission!

Contest is open WORLDWIDE

YOU MUST FOLLOW my blog to enter (I do check, when I pick the winner!)

I use random.org to choose a number, when I get that number I count down to what comment corresponds to that number and that is the winner.

The contest will run until February 1st, 12:00 am EST CONTEST CLOSED!!!

To enter one time, answer the following question in the comments section of THIS post, "What is your everyday go-to eye makeup look?"

You may enter TWO additional times if you've posted my contest on your Facebook or Twitter page. You don't have to have both, just one or the other (make your second and third entry the link to your FB or Twitter page)

You may enter TWO additional times if you have posted my blog contest on your own blog (make your two additional entries the link to your blog)

If you do all of these things, you can enter FIVE TOTAL times. If you do two of these things (any two), you can enter THREE TOTAL TIMES. If you only answer the question and do not do the other things, you can enter ONE TOTAL TIME.

If you have any questions, send me a message! Thank you for your support and good luck! Whoever wins is a lucky lucky girl!

Urban Decay 24/7 in Perversion: The World's Blackest Liner

2012-01-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

I did a post on the Perversion 24/7 eyeliner back in April of last year. I received a message on my FB page from a girl that was desperate to find a Perversion dupe and this message reignited my love for this product. As all love affairs eventually do, my infatuation with the incredible black pigment in eyeliner form, fizzled out. But we're back. If you are interested in seeing the original post, I will have the link below. If you're too lazy to click on that link, I will tell you why I love this eyeliner.

-First, it takes black to the next level, the highest level, the kind of black that resembles wet tar on a freshly paved highway. Before it dries. Its so black that calling it black is an understatement. Not only is it blacker than all other liners but its glossier than most liners too. And its matte. If there is one thing I am not head over heels in love with, its a black liner with shimmer because the shimmer tends to dull down the intensity of the black.

-The next reason I love Perversion is that its super soft. It glides on the water liner like instant perfection. No tugging, no running the liner back and forth to get the desired color. Its softness also makes it extremely easy to blend out to soften up the look.

Unfortunately a really soft eyeliner can be problematic when you apply it too heavy. For some reason, Perversion is a lot softer in texture than the other 24/7 liners. It resembles the Stila Kajal eyeliner in Black Onyx if you are familiar. Or looking for a dupe. MAC Feline Eye Kohl pencil is supposed to be close as well. So I will leave you with a photo I took to demonstrate the visual intensity of this wondrous shade. You may think I was pressing really hard to get a super dark swatch of Perversion but it was quite the opposite. I had to press hard on the other colors to get a good swatch and had to be careful of not pressing Perversion too hard because its so soft! Again, if you want more details, follow the link below.


Urban Decay Corrupt, Zero, and Perversion from L to R, Photo taken by me.

Original Post for the Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Eyeliner:

Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Perversion: You Can't Get Any Blacker Than This!

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New Years Face of the Day! + Smoky Eye Tips for Beginners

2012-01-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years everyone! Just thought I'd share my face of the day. A simple brown smoky eye using two shadows, a dark brown matte shade and a matte ivory shade to help blend and highlight. A great look for those who want to make their blue eyes really standout. If you aren't accustomed to doing a smoky eye, there are some tips below for a basic look.

Products Used:

Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in Fresco

Smashbox Halo powder

Hourglass Hidden Concealer in Pearl

Anastasia Brow Whiz brow pencil in medium ash

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed

Tarte dark brown matte (don't know the name)

Tarte matte ivory shade for highlight

Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Perversion

Mally Volumizing mascara in black

Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee

Smoky eye tips for beginners:

A smoky effect is usually created using a dark matte (flat color, no shimmer) eyeshadow like a black, charcoal gray, or deep brown. However, a smoky eye isn't about the color of the shadow, but rather, the blending technique used to "smoke" up the shadow.

-Apply your shadow on the lid with a flat shader brush and just slightly above the lid with whats left on the brush. Careful not to use too much. You can always go back and add more.

-Take a good blending brush that has some density to it and start blending upwards from the part just above the lid where you last applied shadow. There may not be much shadow there to blend but just do a little at a time.

-You want to keep the lid the darkest part of the eye and from there, the shadow should lessen in intensity. If you apply too much, there will be no smoky effect and it will look like you have a black eye.

-Just apply a little, blend up, apply a little, blend up.. until the desired look is achieved.

-You can take a much lighter matte shade to help soften the blending and transition to the highlight shade, or just go straight to the highlight shade. You may want to go with something shimmery for the highlight since you have been working with matte for most of the look.

-A smoky eye shouldn't have any harsh lines, therefor when you applyeyeliner to the top and bottom, use a smudging brush to soften it and blend. Using a dark eyeshadow (wet) applied with an angled liner brush will be your best option to give a softer effect and avoid harsh lines.

-If you aren't comfortable using a shadow as liner, use it over your regular liner to soften up the look, especially important for the lower lash line.

-Take a black liner, something soft that glides on the waterline without tugging for a more dramatic look.

Many smoky looks can be created with multiple shades and liners but its best to master the technique first and then start experimenting with other looks.

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

2011-12-31T17:29:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2011-12-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

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.

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Hautelook Haul: Crown Brushes Set!

2011-12-30T13:55:00.000-08:00

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).

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Makeup Favorites for 2011: A Year of Amazing Products

2011-12-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-12-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

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!

http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C10214&om_mmc=ret-us%2Bnews1%2B20111226%2Bsale%2Bbuyer2-he-saleonsale&emtc=us%2Bnews1%2B20111226%2Bsale%2Bbuyer2&ematg=1389974031&dcid=481392:20724622122:33414498

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

2011-12-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

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

Christmas Eve Face of the Day!

2011-12-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-12-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-22T11:23:00.000-08:00

$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!

Looking For Some Fab Holiday Nails? Revlon Snow Bunny!

2011-12-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-12-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

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!

A Teeny Tiny Sephora Haul + Meeting My Fave YouTube Makeup Guru!

2011-12-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

I went to Sephora today because my favorite YouTube makeup guru was asked to be a guest of Hourglass Cosmetics during an event at the Sephora at my local mall. My little girl and I are big fans of LisaLisaD1 so we were totally there, no questions asked. The mall was packed of course, being the last weekend to shop before Christmas. I really do love Hourglass products but I really just went to meet Lisa and return my goopey nightmare of a YSL Faux Cilis mascara and 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 dissapointment 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 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.

Ahh, I digress.. again. The point is I met Lisa and she was SO nice and genuine and even prettier in person. She is so stylish and has amazing shoes and jewelry. It's funny to get to see her jewelry up close because I'm always admiring many of her pieces on her YT videos. The best thing I can say about Lisa is that she is radiant, she's the kind of person that just glows inside and out and I'm happy that she's been recognized by a well known brand through her videos on YouTube.

LisaLisaD1 (left) and me on the right!

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!

b
Photo credit www.canadianbeauty.com

MAC Innocense Beware Lipstick: It Shall Finally Be Mine!

2011-12-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2011-12-14T10:11:00.000-08:00

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!

Getting Fed Up With "Beauty Experts"

2011-12-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2011-12-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2011-12-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-12-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

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!

Review: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

2011-12-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

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.

Fragrance Everyone Will Love: Prada Candy

2011-11-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

I normally don't do fragrance reviews or recommend that someone buy a certain one because fragrance is a very personal, subjective thing where tastes can differ tremendously from one woman to the next. I don't try a lot of fragrances because normally if I find a couple that I love, I stick to those and they become my signature scents. I don't like to switch it up very often unless something comes along that blows me away. I am not normally into "sweet" scents. I like musky-woodsy-patchouli type "boyfriend" scents as they are so aptly named nowadays.
Prada's new fragrance "Candy" is a sweet scent that is reminiscent of Pink Sugar but done in a more sophisticated, grown up way. It is so delicious. This is a scent that I think almost everyone would like because it just smells good without being too much of any one note. It's not heavy whatsoever, it is very light and wearable. The composition of the fragrance is an elegant mix of musks as the top notes, followed by some vanilla and then an explosion of caramel at the base. But it isn't too sweet or sugary smelling, it has the right amount of sweet without being headache inducing. And the bottle is gorgeous and will visually make a beautiful addition to your perfume collection. I think that Prada Candy is the gift that you could give any woman in your life and she is going to love it, whether she be 16 or 60.

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!

Current Favorite Lipstick! New Series..

2011-11-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

So since my favorite cosmetic item is lipstick, I am going to be posting a new series where I feature my current favorite lipstick or the lipstick I've been wearing the most often. Lately, my favorite lipstick has been MAC Myth, a very pale fleshy nude with a pink undertone. Not a color for everyone but it could be wearable for most if warmed up a bit with a gloss, or lip liner base.

How I Like to wear MAC Myth:

First, I moisturize my lips but not too greasily, line lips with MAC Stone (a grey/plum/taupe) for definition and to make my lips look bigger. Then I like to take a pink liner of some sort and go over the Mac Stone, making sure the MAC Stone is all blended with no harsh lines, and fill in my lips. This makes the MAC Myth look less "concealer" like. Then I go over the liner with Myth. I don't use a gloss over top but occasionally I will take Too Faced Centerfold and lightly put a layer over the Myth if I want to warm it up. Other ways to warm up Myth is by taking a warm/peachy gloss over it. It's not such a scary shade, I promise.

Photo Credit http://cheekstokisses.blogspot.com

Myth is most comparable to MAC Creme d' Nude, MAC Fleshpot (Myth is slightly pinkier while Fleshpot has a fleshier tone), Gosh Lipstick in Darling, MAC Playing Koi. If you like any of these lipsticks, then you probably already own Myth, its pretty much a classic staple nude.

I Love the Smell of Makeup on Christmas Morning.. Need Some Cheap Gift Ideas?

2011-11-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

How many of you asked for some type of makeup product for the upcoming holidays or are giving some type of makeup to someone else? If you want some cheap gift ideas for friends/co-workers/people that you don't want to spend a lot of money on, I am including a great video below.

So I was thinking, you know how Christmas and similar holidays just aren't as exciting it was when you were a kid? The anticipation you feel as a child to come around the corner, or down the stairs to see the Christmas tree all lit up with tons of presents wrapped so beautifully cannot be duplicated in adulthood to the same degree. However, the next best thing is getting to experience it through my child's eyes. Obviously nothing is more exciting to a child than opening up toys. But I think I experience a similar feeling on a smaller scale when I open up makeup gifts. Makeup to me is like toys are to a child. That is the best way to describe it. Makeup is fun and colorful with adorable packaging and cutesy gimicks. Makeup, like toys, is also vulnerable to being replaced over and over and over to find the next best thing with no real permanent satisfaction in sight. Makeup is but a mere momentary indulgence and the feeling of opening up a brand new makeup item can only be replicated by opening up another brand new makeup item. For me, using the makeup isn't as fun as the anticipation of opening up and using the makeup. As weird as that may sound, it is actually true. Being an adult isn't that fun, I admit. However, getting to indulge in some good old fashioned American materialism on a grand scale once a year is still something to get excited about (while keeping in mind the true meaning of Christmas, of course, first and foremost). And if your memories of Christmas or other holidays aren't very good, then that really sucks because every child deserves to experience the magic of Christmas whether it include one present or 20. The best way to deal with bad Christmas memories is by making new good ones, especially if you have children. Do all of the things you wish you could have done as a child and experience the holidays the way you wish you could of the first time. Better late than never. I'm celebrating two Christmas's this year, one with my husband and kids at the normal time of month and one next weekend with all of my other family flying in to stay with us. So I hope to have some makeup goodies to report soon! God Bless and be safe and happy this holiday season!

Watch the 1st Video for Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas (Beauty-related) Watch the 2nd Video for Building a Drug-Store Makeup Bag Gift

Just Checking In! A Quick Hi, Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

So just checking in to say I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. I will be mad busy getting my Christmas shopping started and doing all of the fun Thanksgiving cooking and eating! Not to mention some last minute school-related responsibilities. I cannot tell you how much I am LOVING the Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation, seriously. It not only covers everything but it makes my skin look better and my pores even look smaller. It's like a magic potion. Also on my list of current loves, the Anastasia clear brow gel. I had the tinted one for like 2 years and it was all fine and dandy but didn't keep this one pesky portion of my left brow in place. However, the clear gel must have a little bit of glue in its formula because my brows don't budge. Also loving the Revlon Lip Butter in "Gumdrop", a lovely pale lavender-ish shade. Can't say I care for the Berry Smoothie shade I picked up first so I am glad I purchased the Gumdrop. Because its way better.

If anyone goes out on Black Friday to do shopping, please don't be the person that either got trampled over or did the trampling when the doors open. No electronic item is worth the pain, or embarrassment that comes along with being the psycho featured on the news that thinks all her problems will be solved with a $79 DVD player slash toaster oven.

Happy Holidays!

Just a Little Fellow Blogger Shout Out!

2011-11-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say that if nail polish is your thing, you should check out my pal Danielle's blog. http://thelacqueredlady.blogspot.com

She is a very lovely follower of mine, a total smarty and lover for both higher learning and makeup and nail polish. She knows her polish, she shows her polish, and she has substance for days. Thanks Danielle, keep up the good work girlfriend! A guest post will be coming your way shortly!

BTW, I am dying for that Essie polish. And all the other colors in that "bling" collection..

Personal Makeup Thoughts of the Day!

2011-11-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

This is a long overdue post. First of all, I have so many products to review for you like my new LORAC Baked Matte Satin Blush in Velvet Rope (drop-dead amazing), Anastasia brow kit, some good drugstore stuff, Nutra-Nail (amazing at-home gel nail system, very long lasting chip proof results for $11), and a bevy of Sephora purchases mostly for Christmas presents unfortunately. I will tell you that it takes an act of God in situations where a Sephora package arrives into my hands that includes gifts for other people that I don't hijack and claim as my own. It's takes tremendous willpower. But those people on my list this year are lucky ladies because I got them (me?) some good stuff!

Next subject. Went to ULTA today because I have a $9 off coupon as well as a $3.50 off coupon to be used on non-prestige items (which means non-good brands). I was in much need of a brow pencil so I thought I'd take a look at a few that got some good reviews. Normally I like the Dior Brow Universal but its nearly $30. I looked at Benefit (too waxy), Too Faced Brownies (pencil form, I prefer automatic, and Anastasia who is the self-proclaimed Queen of Brows. Since Anastasia had a set where I could get tweezers, brow gel and a brow pencils for a few dollars more than just the brow pencil, I went for it. AND, BONUS, I got a free gift with purchase that included none other than the same dang tweezers I just bought in the kit. Oh well. That always happens to me. Once I bought a couple of OPI polishes, an OPI top coat and OPI base coat. I get to the register and guess what the free gift is? And OPI base coat that doubles as a top coat. Had I known that, I would have dumped the two I had and picked up more pretty colors instead. Drag.

So this thing always happens to me when I go to the mall, Sephora, or ULTA. I lose all track of the goings on of the outside world. I can only compare it to what people say about Las Vegas when you don't know day from night or noon from midnight because you are just in a dellusional trance that has nothing to do with reality. It happened to me today at ULTA. Prior to ULTA I told myself, you have to hurry up because you have two ginormous papers to write. All of this went out the window when I found myself in an alternate beauty universe where time, school work, and mom duties do not exist. Luckily I snapped back to reality as the store became crowded and the check-out girls voice was filling my ears with a level of annoyance that was unbearable. You know the kind of girl that draws out certain sound in the word she is saying? "I was gonna wear thaaaaaaat buuuuuut liiiiiiiiiike it didn't look good on meeeeeeee." You know what else doesn't look good on you? Talking like a dumb-ass.

Prior to that interaction, I overheard a makeup artist telling a customer to put back whatever gold eyeshadow she just picked up because, and I quote, "gold tends to make people with blue eyes look tired." While I was over looking at the Bare Escentuals stuff, I muttered under my breath, "that isn't true." And it freaking isn't. I have blue eyes, I know that gold makes blue eyes sparkle. Duh, lady! Someone needs to get re-trained because I am pretty sure she is getting her lessons from a point in time prior to figuring out how to properly use color to maximize your eyes potential. Plus she smelled like a day old party. Like cigarettes and vodka seeping out of her pores. Unacceptable in a customer service profession.

And there you have it. My personal thoughts for the day. Join me next time as I further pick people apart and talk about makeup at the same time.

OH OH OH, Scroll down and see my new favorite foundation post!!