Face of the Day December 30

Face:
Revlon Colorstay liquid foundation
Maybelline Superstay concealer
Revlon Colorstay Aqua mineral finishing powder
Physician's Formula Organic Wear Light Bronzer/Soft Ginger (blush only)

Eyes:
Palladio eyeshadow primer
Physician's Formula gel liner trio for hazel eyes - black (as base and liner)
Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box - Graffiti, Peace, Ransom
Wet n Wild Greed Palette - top left shade
Covergirl Lash Perfection mascara

Lips:
Revlon Colorburst lipstick - Fuchsia

Face of the Day - December 28 2011

Face:
Revlon Colorstay foundation
L'Oreal True Match concealer
L'Oreal True Match powder
Wet n Wild blush - Heather Silk
Physician's Formula Happy Booster translucent powder

Eyes:
Palladio primer
Physician's Formula gel liner trio for hazel eyes - purple (as base)
Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box - Ransom, Fishnet
Physician's Formula gel liner trio for hazel eyes - black
Maybelline 24 Hr Bold mascara

Lips:
Milani HD Advanced lipcolor - Vivacious Fuchsia

Target/CVS Haul

Target haul: Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Fuchsia, on clearance for  $1.94
Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow - Pomegranate Punk - $5.99

 Since I have kind of an obsession with hot pink lipsticks, I've had my eye on this particular one from Revlon for awhile, but was hoping it'd go on sale at CVS. It wasn't there, so when I found it on clearance at Target I knew I had to get it! Plus I gave in and got one of the Tattoo shadows from Maybelline because I was curious about them.

CVS clearance haul: Wet n Wild Greed Palette - $2.49, Revlon Colorstay Aqua mineral finishing powder - $3.49, Physician's Formula Organic Wear Bronzer & Blush - Light Bronzer/Soft Ginger - $3.75, Sally Hansen Natural Beauty cream blush - Bloom - $2.37

 Since they're 50% off I finally got the last 6-pan palette from Wet n Wild. The other products I know basically nothing about but I'd been curious about them and for the prices I decided to try them.

If any of you have tried any of these I'd love to hear your thoughts or how you use them! Especially the cream blush as I've never used a cream blush before and don't really know what to expect!

Face of the Day - December 12

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it on here yet, but the lens I use for taking these pictures no longer is able to auto focus, so I have to manually focus it. This isn't too much of an issue for products or most swatches, but it has made taking photos of my own makeup quite the challenge! I've worked it out to be decently in focus, but it's definitely less sharp than it used to be. Hopefully I'll get it worked out in the next month or so, but in the meantime, just know I'm trying!

(Just to be clear, the products in these pictures are not necessarily their relative size to each other...it's just how they fit together!)

Face:

L'Oreal True Match liquid 

Maybelline Superstay concealer

L'Oreal True Match powder

Physician's Formula Happy Booster blush - Rose (not pictured)

Eyes:

Palladio primer (not pictured)

Physician's Formula gel liner trio for green eyes - purple 

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box - Ransom

Wet n Wild Vanity Palette - top left shadow

Physician's Formula gel liner trio for hazel eyes - black

Sephora Flashy waterproof liner - Flashy Blue

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box - Peace

Maybelline The Colossal mascara

Lips:

Revlon Colorburst lipstick - Pink Sugar

Jordana Lip Shine - Pink Grapefruit

I also forgot to put my foundation brush in there! I used the Sonia Kashuk pointed foundation brush, though. I've done a blog post on it in the past - it's my favorite foundation brush I've tried so far.

"Decked for the Holidays" Collaboration: Snowman Manicure!

For this manicure, I started with a layer of Revlon's Quick Dry Base Coat. Then, I put three coats of China Glaze's Dorothy Who?. After letting that dry, I used a dotting tool (I found mine very cheaply in a set of five from eBay) and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polish in Whirlwind White to do the snowman & flakes. I did the snowmen first, starting with the bottom circle of the snowman's body and then building up to the head. The largest dotting tool is still smaller than I wanted to start the snowman, so I put extra polish on it and swirled it around a bit more to make a wider circle. After the snowman's body was complete, I just used a smaller dotting tool to drag some of the white along the base of the nail. I used the same small tool to make the snow dots on all the other nails. Once they were dry, I put two coats of Seche Vite to make sure the surface was smooth and I couldn't feel the dots through it.

Before deciding on the manicure I ended up doing, I tried a few different designs and color combinations to see which I liked the best, although I always used the same white since it's the most opaque I've come across. In case you like any of these better, the one on the left has Essie's Coat Azure as the base color and China Glaze's Fairy Dust for the glitter. The one in the middle is Finger Paints' Laugh My Art Off with China Glaze's White Cap to add a glow and more glitter. 

Of course, if you're more artistic or have better tools than I do, you could add details to the snowman, like a face or buttons. I don't have that kind of ability, however, so I just left mine simple. 

If you do one of these or a variation of it, I'd love to see it! 

Definitely go check out the other participants in this holiday collaboration!!

Natalie:
Blog: Purplestar Makeup
Title: Beautifully Frozen
Link:
http://purplestarmakeup.blogspot.com/2011/12/decked-for-holidays-collaboration.html

Sarah:
Blog: LashGirl
Title: Soft and Sexy Look
Link: http://lashgirl.me/?p=2572

Wendy:
Blog: Luvlifebeauty
Title: 2 Looks, 1 Lipstick
Link: http://wp.me/p1HLFz-ut

Britney:
Blog: The Glam Goddness
Title: Vampy Candy Cane
Link:http://britters89.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-collab-look_10.html

Venessa:
Youtube Username: venessaesquer29
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dRn-qCVjUc&feature=youtu.be

Maria:
Youtube Username: fabulousblueyes
Title: Holiday Gift Wrap Eye Makeup
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqDIDuZHVIA&feature=g-u

Allie:
Blog: My crazy obsessions
Title: Dark Holiday Eyes:
Link:http://alliebabii.blogspot.com/2011/12/dark-holiday-eyes.html

Cinthia:
Youtube Username: MakeupWithCinthia
Title: Holiday Party Makeup
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b03cfCGZCg&feature=youtu.be  

Milani Cyber Monday Haul & Swatches - plus a high-end comparison!

Definitely click this one to see it bigger!

Paint Palette
Red Vino blush
Earthly Delights quad
Atlantis and Java Bean singles

All swatches done over NYX white eyeshadow base and applied with sponge-tip applicators.

I'm really excited to try this stuff out!! If you've tried any of these, I'd love to know your thoughts.

Also, while swatching the Paint palette I noticed some similarities so I tested it out:

L-R: Paint Palette, Makeup Forever #92, Paint Palette, Makeup Forever #75

#92 is definitely more pigmented and a bit cooler, but the pinks are extremely similar. And to think - the Paint Palette is about $8 (I got it for $4 with this sale) and the MUFE shadows are around $20...

Face of the Day - December 3rd

For the eyes, I started with NYX HD primer and a thin layer of the Sephora jumbo pencil  in Green. I used the Urban Decay shadows in Graffiti and Scratch from the Deluxe Shadow Box, with Graffiti on the lid and Scratch above. I applied both with the same brush - the all-over shadow brush from Mark.
I used a small angled brush from Coastal Scents to apply the copper eyeliner from the Physician's Formula Glam Collection for brown eyes.
I used Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara.

I used L'Oreal True Match compact foundation, Rimmel Match Perfection concealer, and REvlon Colorstay pressed powder.
I used the ELF Studio Complexion brush with Physician's Formula Happy Booster light bronzer and the ELF Mineral blush brush with Wet n Wild blush in Pearlescent Pink.
For lips, I first did a layer of Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Kiss Me Coral, then topped it off with Jordana lipgloss in Darling. 

Holiday Nail Polish Colors! (Bottles and swatches)

I went through my collection and pulled out the ones that reminded me most of the holiday season. I may have missed a few, but I think it's pretty comprehensive. Remember, you can click the photos to view them larger!

L-R: Revlon Matte Suede - Emerald City, Finger Paints Holiday 2010 - Mistletoe Mischief, China Glaze Holiday 2010 - Jolly Holly & Mistletoe Kisses, China Glaze Holiday 2011 - Holly-Day
Middle left is the polishes plain, right is the polishes with opposite-finish topcoats.
Bottom left is with a coat of China Glaze - White Cap.
Bottom right: the first two are with a layer of China Glaze Holiday 2010 - Party Hearty and the second two are with China Glaze Holiday 2011 - Twinkle Lights

L-R: China Glaze Holiday 2011- Poinsettia, Holiday 2010 - Ruby Deer, Sacred Heart , Red Pearl, and Revlon - Frankly Scarlet
Bottom left is all the polishes plain.
Bottom right: Thumb - China Glaze -White Cap, first two fingers - Party Hearty, second two - Twinkle Lights

L-R: Revlon Matte Suede - Powder Puff, China Glaze Holiday 2010 - Mrs. Claus, Sugar Plums, China Glaze Holiday 2011 - Twinkle Lights, China Glaze - White Cap
Bottom left is the polishes plain, Bottom right has the opposite finish topcoat

L-R: Milani - Ruby Jewels, Maybelline - Snow Bunny, Milani 3D Holographic - HD, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Celeb City, China Glaze - Fairy Dust
Bottom right - plain, Bottom left - mattified

The polishes I used as topcoats in a few of them
L-R: White Cap, Party Hearty, Twinkle Lights

For the matte topcoat, I used Essie's Matte About You, which I highly recommend.

Face of the Day 12.2.11 - Trying something new

 

I started with a layer of NYX HD eye primer, then did a base with the purple eyeliner from the Physician's Formula trio for green eyes. I applied it with a brush from a Sephora set that I believe is meant to be a concealer brush. I blended the edges out with a stiffer brush from a Sonia Kashuk set.

I used the shadows from the Wet n Wild Lust palette. I used the middle shade on the left all over the lid with a large eyeshadow brush from the same Sephora set, then blended the bottom left shade into the crease with the large crease brush from Essence of Beauty. I used a combination of the two top shades to blend the crease into the browbone and in the inner corners with a fluffy blending brush from Sephora.

For liner, I used the black from the same trio the purple came from and the angled liner brush from Sephora on both the top and bottom lashlines.

I hadn't used it in awhile so I decided to try Revlon Lash Fantasy Total Definition mascara again.  Somehow I put the photos in backwards and didn't notice, so the one on the far right is bare lashes, the middle is just the primer, and the one on the left is with the mascara as well.

I used my L'Oreal True Match compact foundation, NYX concealer in a jar, and Revlon Colorstay pressed powder before I did the eye look. I applied the foundation with a round foam sponge, the concealer with a stiff blending brush from Sonia Kashuk, and the powder with the ELF Studio flat top brush.
After the eyes, I did the rest of my face products. I applied the Physician's Formula Happy Booster light bronzer with the ELF Studio powder brush, then used my Sonia Kashuk small duo fiber brush to apply Wet n Wild blush in Heather Silk.
Finally, I used Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in Airy Fairy.

If you want to see the photos larger, you should be able to click on them and view them that way. This is the first time I've done a post like this with a look, so I'd really appreciate your thoughts on it! (Too much/too little information, if the photos are arranged well, if I should do more like this or keep doing them like before, etc)

Daily Manicures in November - The Final Ten

November's done which means so is my experiment with trying all the polishes I'd been ignoring! Changing polish every day got a bit annoying after awhile - sometimes I just am not in the mood or did not really have the time to dedicate to it. No regrets, though. I'm glad I finally got to see what all these look like on my nails! Swatch wheels can only do so much.

I plan to do winter/holiday themed polish posts for December - not every day, though! If you have anything you want to see along those lines, let me know! I'm open to suggestions - but keep in mind I have very minimal art skills so don't get too crazy in nail art suggestions. Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! Happy December!

Milani - Hi Res
Top: one coat
Bottom: three coats

Finger Paints - Where Art Renoir?
This polish goes on about 90% opaque the first coat. If you're good at applying polish evenly you could probably just do the one.

Wet n Wild - Back Alley Deals
(Ice Baby Collection)

Wet n Wild - Teal of Fortune

China Glaze - Skyscraper
I LOVE THIS COLOR

China Glaze - Tempest
Not really a fan...I don't like this frosty kind of polish much at all.

China Glaze - Emerald Fitzgerald

China Glaze - Vertical Rush

China Glaze - Light My Tiki
Again...that same kind of frosty look I just don't enjoy...I think this one in particular is too "Barbie" and not in a good way.

Essie - One of a Kind
LOVE this one. Applies beautifully.

Nails of the Week - Ulta and Zoya

As with last week, they're starting with the most recent on top.

Zoya - Savita. Top is without topcoat, bottom is with.

Zoya- Shawn

Zoya - Caitlin

Ulta - Smoke Screen

Ulta - Jaded
This one was really sheer at one coat and took 3-4 to get to what you see in the bottom image.

Ulta - Blue Streak

Ulta - Limelight

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Face of the Day - November 17

Face:
Revlon Colorstay foundation
NYX Concealer in a Jar
L'Oreal True Match powder
Milani blush - Mai Tai

Eyes:
NYX HD Primer
Wet n Wild Eyeshadow single - Nutty
Kat Von D Autograph Eyeliner - Proud Peacock
Maybelline The Colossal mascara

Lips:
Revlon Colorburst Lipstick - Crimson

I think I've found my new favorite red lipstick!

L.A. Colors Color Craze Nail Polish Set - Swatches

These are the nail polishes I used the week of November 7th - 13th. I got them all together in a set from Marshall's. Unfortunately, the individual polishes do not have names. The photos are in reverse order - I wore the orange on the 13th and they go backwards from there.