Face of the Day Using Urban Decay Naked + Naked Basics Palettes

I haven't posted any face of the day pictures lately so I thought I'd bring those back. This is my "going to the dentist look". You know how you see "going to work looks", "going on a first day look", etc? No one ever shows you how how you should apply your makeup if you're going to the dentist. So I'm kidding about that but I do have a tip for going to the dentist, don't wear lip color, opt for something hydrating like a lip balm. And waterproof mascara if you're going in for something painful. In any event, I did a neutral eye today using my UD Naked Palette and UD Naked Basics palette. Here's what I used:

Face:

Michael Todd Hydrating Serum

DeVita BB Cream (medium)

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder (natural beige)

Trish McEvoy Correct & Brighten (under eye)

Cle de Peau concealer (beige)

Dior Rosy Glow Blush (petal)

Wet N' Wild Reserve Your Cabana (highlight)

Eyes:

Wet N' Wild Fergie Eye Primer (great stuff!)

Lancome brow pencil (taupe)

Naked Basics Palette: WOS all over from lid to brow bone, Crave eyeshadow as liner 

Naked Palette: Naked in crease, Buck in outer-v area 

Chanel Volume de Chanel mascara (amaaazing!)

Rimmel Scandal Eyes eyeliner on bottom lash line (taupe)

Lips:

Sarah Happ Lip Slip lip balm

Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick (Nude Vanille)

Rimmel Lip Liner (East End Snob)

Oh.... and my "going to the dentist hair", a semi-greasy low pony tail. I have been experimenting with Wen Treatment oil and went a little overboard. 

No Birthday is Complete Without the Gift of Makeup....

My sweet husband and daughters gave me some great gifts for my birthday so I thought I'd share the makeup-related ones with you. I don't remember a time that I didn't get at least one makeup item for a birthday or holiday or at least a gift-card to a makeup store. Makeup for me is like toys are to a little kid. I get giddy and excited when I receive makeup as a gift and at my age, giddy and excited are not easy to come by. I've used all four of these items and absolutely love three out of the four. I've included swatches below and my first impression of each.

Dior 5 Coleurs Lifting Eye Palette Lifting Ivory (Above)

Tom Ford Lipstick Nude Vanille (Top), Kevin Aucoin Lip Gloss Dahliana (Middle), MAC Eye Kohl in Phone Number (Bottom)

Tom Ford Lipstick in Nude Vanille: LOVE! The perfect lipstick, in my opinion. It's creamy but not slick, it's opaque coverage but not too matte, it has good staying power and a light vanilla scent. If you love the paler nudes, you will love this. It's close to MAC Myth but much more wearable and a prettier finish. Unfortunately, the Tom Ford lipstick is worth every penny. 4,800 pennies to be exact.

Kevyn Aucoin Lip Gloss in Dahliana: My first Kevin Aucoin lip product. This is a beautiful milky pink that anyone would love. Interesting applicator too. Very happy with this item.

MAC Eye Kohl in Phone Number: This is a great color if you don't want stark black but are looking for a more charcoal shade. It's creamy and gorgeous and it is great as a base on the lid and smudged under the lash line for a smoky eye. And it looks great paired with the above mentioned lip products! 

Dior 5 Coleurs Lift Eyeshadow Palette (Lifting Ivory): I was excited to get this but it's a piece of crap. The colors look so pretty and subtle but they are so subtle that they melt off your eyes almost instantly. Not to mention they are full of shimmer but void of any actual color, it's very odd. And the eyeliner it comes with is dry as a bone. I was able to make a decent winged line with it and it disappeared before I put down my brush. As if this wasn't enough, the palette comes with an eye base in the center that is full-on shimmer. So you apply a shimmer base under shimmer shadows. Not shimmery shadows, SHIMMER shadows. There is nothing there besides shimmer. All three of the shadows are this way. I didn't swatch these because I'm returning it after one use. Keep in mind, this is the first awful Dior product I've ever had. Dior eyeshadow is usually amazing.

A Rave Review for NYX Extreme Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz

I wanted to share with you a lip product that is definitely worth checking out! The NYX Lip Cream claims that "It's not a lipstick, nor is it a gloss. It's like nothing you've experienced before. It's liquid lipstick that goes on with full xtreme color and intense shine." And guess what... they're right! 

This is a really cool product, it is super opaque and you apply it as if it were a gloss with a doe-foot applicator but it feels and looks like a lipstick with amazing pigmentation and full opacity. And to make it even better, it lasts a LONG time but without getting super dry and crackly on your lips like a lot of long-wear lip colors. It isn't sticky but it sure sticks on the lips while remaining comfortable and easy to wear. And it does give a good amount of shine, although not exactly "intense" as NYX claims. 

The product has a nice scent, semi-sweet that is very tolerable. Another good characteristic of this product is that you don't really need a lip liner, you can actually use the applicator to line around your lips before filling in the color and it really works well this way. Oh, the color, I almost forgot! I have Nude Peach Fuzz and it's a perfect saturated peach that will look great on everyone. The shade is true to color in the tube. I am super impressed and will be purchasing more! Can be purchased at ULTA for around $4-$5.

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz (nails are Boom Boom Room by Essie!)

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream Nude Peach Fuzz (above, photo credit belongs to me)