Ninja Sovereign Giveaway!

The fabulous Yume Ninja is having an awesome giveaway on her blog. So head over here, and check it out!

xo
Aimz <3

Annabel Lee- Edgar Allan Poe Series

If you came up to me randomly on the street and asked me who my favorite poet was, I would immediately, and without an ounce of hesitation, respond: Edgar Allan Poe. Even since I was a little kid I've loved Poe. In 5th grade we were told to memorize a poem and recite it in front of the class, and being the Hermione that I am, I selected 'The Raven', and recited it. The whole thing. Needless to say, I don't think I could repeat that feat as an adult. Why? Because I'm getting old...well, older. But Poe was not just a master poet, but a master storyteller with a great command for tragedy. So, I found it rather fitting to take inspiration for my Halloween Lead Up series from his works, the first of which is Annabel Lee.


The story of Annabel Lee, is a bittersweet one. The narrator tells of the love that he and Annabel Lee shared, and how it was so deep that the angels were jealous and they sent a wind that chilled her to death. But the narrator never lost his love for the beautiful Annabel Lee, and he firmly believed that his love for her was stronger than the grave.

I have always pictured Annabel Lee as a blond, so I ask that you bear with the fact that I am not.

I wanted to try and achieve the look of cold, with a slightly gray pallor to the skin and "frost" tipped eyelashes and eyebrows, not to mention blueish lips.

Products Used:

• Silver cream makeup all over the face and neck. (You can get this at any Halloween or party supply store. It does has a bit of a shimmer, though.)
• N.Y.C. Smooth Skin pressed powder in 'Translucent' (use what ever fits your skin tone) pressed heavily all over the skin.
• All the eyeshadows used were from the BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette (which you can order here). All around the eye socket I applied a light cool toned gray. To give the eyes a more sunken appearance I applied a mushroom brown under my eye and also under the brow bone and down the nose. On my eyelids I applied various shades of gray, from darkest to lightest and creating a gradient effect, over a black kohl pencil. I used a combination of the mushroom brown and the cool toned gray to contour around my temple, cheekbones, and jaw. I used a combination of sky blue and medium blue eyeshadow as a blush.
• For my lips I puckered them and dabbed NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk' all over and blending it out. I added a tiny amount of red lipstick to my cupid's bow and the edge of my lower lip. I then patted a dark blue eyeshadow over the center of my lips.
• I lined my upper and lower waterlines with Rimmel Soft Kohl eyeliner in 'Jet Black' (this is the same liner I used as a base for the eyeshadows).
• I curled my lashes and applied Maybelline One By One Mascara. 
• I lightly went over my eyebrows and the tips of my upper and lower lashes with NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk'.

^o^ ^o^ ^o^

As I was removing the face makeup, I realized that I really quite liked the eye makeup, so I left it. I just added a little bit of a matte gray eyeshadow ('Stake' from TfTB) all over the lid, and blended it all out with a matte tan ('Dusk' from TfTB)- I also reapplied my mascara.

I hope you have enjoyed this look, and I can't wait to get the other looks in this series up. Especially since when this series is finished, then it's on to the Halloween looks.

See you soon my freaky darlings. <3

A Haul of a Different Color

So, what makes this haul so different? Simple. I didn't buy any of the products. No, I wasn't sent anything by companies or anything like that. Apparently my best friend and my parents love me and they like to give me neat things. So, I thought I'd share.


My best friend, my beloved Best Biatch, just got back from a trip across the pond and brought me some British makeup goodies.


Let's start with some Barry M.

I adore this color. It's a lovely smokey black with teal and purple reflects. Sadly, my camera didn't pick up the purple fleck, but they are most definitely there. This is such a chameleon eyeshadow, especially with the reflects glitter, any other shade you put it with it just seems to compliment. It's also fabulous as a stand alone eyeshadow, and used wet as an eyeliner it's incredible.

This pigment is just so smooth and vibrant, it's crazy. This is one of those pigments that it so pigmented that when you apply it dry it looks like you've applied it wet. 

Yeah. It's amazeballs.

I feel so fancy pants because I now have a Barry M nail paint- which is ironic considering that Barry M is a drugstore brand over the Merry Ole England. The color is called 'Berry Ice Cream' (308), and it is wonderful. When applied it isn't streaky, and it only takes 2 coats- but I did a third to be on the safe side. And it has staying power. I did my whole nails last Thursday and it wasn't until Sunday night when it finally started to chip a tiny bit. I love this color so much that when I re-did my nails Monday I used it on my tips, as you can see above.

Now we move on to Bourjois.

This is such a beautiful blush. And it is aptly named, because this is the shade I think of when I picture a rose. It's just lovely and so fresh looking.

I also love that there's a mirror built into the compact.

The last bit of my haul isn't entirely related to makeup. Well...it is, but it isn't. You'll see what I mean.

My parents did some spontaneous antique shopping a few weekends ago, and knowing my love for all things beauty and vintage, they bought this compact for me. It even still has some powder still in the case, as you can see. I haven't used the powder on myself, as I'm wary of old cosmetics. I'll most likely clean it out and perhaps find a new powder that will fit in it's place.

There you have it.

Spread the Peachy love, my freaky darlings. <3

Sugarpill Review (photo heavy)

Before I get started I just want to get something out of the way:


Hi. My name s Aimz, and I'm Addicted To Pretty. *waves*


I had been wanting to get my hands on some Sugarpill products for a really, really long time and my dream has finally come true. I was so excited about this order that it was ridiculous- I watched the USPS website like a hawk until my package arrived. Serious business. 


As most of us should know by now, Sugarpill was founded by Amy a.k.a. Shrinkle. She started Sugarpill Cosmetics with the intent of creating a line of high quality and deliciously bright makeup to complement her fashion line, aptly named Shrinkle. I believe that it is safe to say that she has accomplished that, and with flying colors. Ha! I love puns...


I placed my order on September 1st, knowing full well that it was a holiday weekend and that it would most likely be later the next week before I got my order. No biggie, I'd waited this long, right? As I said above, I watched the USPS track and confirm site like a hawk, and by September 4th my package had made it to the Dirty South. I was really, and pleasantly, surprised. Keep in mind I ordered at pretty mush the start of Labor Day weekend. My package reached my mail box on the 6th- less then a week from when I placed my order. You would not believe how much of a happy panda I was, especially when I opened the mailbox and beheld this:

I absolutely adore the Sugarpill kitty. So precious.

Now lets get to the good part.

Nestled inside masses of hot pink tissue paper was my palette along with a sample of Goldilux, Amy's business card, a double sided 'look' card (which are gorgeous), and a glitter-tastic sticker (which now resides on my eyeshadow palette organizer). And, of course, my invoice which even included a thank you from Amy herself:

So cool.

One thing that people go on about is Sugarpill's packaging. There's a good reason for that, because the packaging is pretty much amazeballs. So much thought and detail went into it, it's crazy!

I think the only complaints I have heard about the packaging/palette is that it's heavy and that it's made of cardboard. The palette is heavy, I don't deny that, but to be honest I like a heavy palette. In my mind it comes across as well made and durable. Which brings me to the cardboard bit, that doesn't bother me either. Why? Because it's not flimsy at all. So, in my opinion, these folks that are complaining about little things like that can just get over it. Just saying.

Also, I love that this palette comes with a mirror. Definitely bonus in my opinion.

These colors are delicious. That's right delicious. The color payoff is just incredible, and the texture is fabulous. And, I just love playing with them. I told my husband that it was like getting out my favorite color and water color pencils and working with them. These eyeshadows just made my artistic side come out in spades, and that is a very wonderful feeling to have.

My camera is just not doing this color justice at all. This is the brightest yellow I have ever seen. It's kinda crazy, and, needless to say, I'm in love.

The texture for this color is amazingly smooth. Dr. Pepper Cherry amazingly smooth. The name definitely fits the bill as well. If ever someone wanted to capture the intensity of a flame and put it in eyeshadow form, this is what they would come up with.

I love 'Love+'. It's honestly the perfect red- especially for football season. Roll Tide, y'all!

Oh, 'Poison Plum', where to begin? I've probably used this shadow the most out of the quad. I just absolutely love it. I've actually found myself coming up with excuses to wear this color, no matter what my outfit looks like I love it so much.

Now, let's get down to it.

Pros:

• Quality. That goes for both the packaging and the product, both are unbelievable.
• Fast shipping- with a flat rate of $5 here in the U.S.
• The products were well packed. Plus, pink tissue paper is always a win.
• Price. The quad retails for $34, so you actually come out cheaper than you would buying 4 of their individual eyeshadows ($12 each). And, it's also cheaper than the quads that M.A.C. will release with their collections ($38), and you get more product.

Cons:

• None.

If you haven't looked at Sugarpill, then what the heck are you waiting for?!

Sugarpill

See you soon my freaky darlings. <3

Collective Haul + Review

I'm alive!!! 


Believe it...or not!


My brain has been all a buzz because it's starting to become my favorite time of year: Autumn. The weather is starting to cool down, the breezes are picking up, the leaves act like they're about to turn, and the Halloween merch is hitting the shelves. I have several ideas for Halloween tutorials, and I'm very saddened by the fact that I don't believe that it's humanly possible for me to fit them all in in one month. But then there's always next year, right? The last few weeks in September are going to be a lot of fun as well. I've got a few reviews coming up, plus I'm going to be starting a special makeup series as a lead up to Halloween. Good times, great oldies. 


But, in the meantime, for your viewing pleasure, I've got a haul and some review-age! This is just some of the things that I have accumulated over the last month or so, and they products that I've primarily been playing with.


Disclaimer: I purchased all of these items myself, all opinions are my own. Yadda, yadda.

I freaking love this eyeshadow. I've used it in the crease, as a liner, as an all over shadow, and it's just amazeballs. 'Beauty Marked' is a gorgeous browny/burgundy with tons of crimson glitter shot through; it is a velvet finish. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this shadow. Serious business.

How I came to own 'Sushi Flower' is the same story as with 'Stars n' Rockets': I came in for 'Blanc Type', it was out of stock, I got this instead. 'Sushi Flower' is a lovely cool toned salmon pink, and it is a satin finish. It's a fabulous blending color (I've used it blend out 'Beauty Marked' and various other colors like matte browns), as well as being used by itself. I've even used this color as a blush, and it is quite beautiful.

Let me just be honest here, I love lipstick. I love M.A.C. lipstick. This should be evident by the fact that I bought two lipsticks on the same day.

'Rebel' is a dark purple/berry color, and is a satin finish. It was re-promoted with the 'M.A.C. Me Over' Collection, and is apart of the permanent line. The color is gorgeous, and it is highly pigmented. I do find it to be a bit drying on the lip, personally, and I have been known to swipe 'Skeltrina' by Toki Doki (a tinted lip balm in almost the exact same shade- it's also one of my faves that lives in my purse) over top for some extra moisture. 

'Morange' is bright. Really bright. You are not going to believe how bright this lipstick really is, because the picture does not do the brightness justice. My husband suggested that I wear it the next time we go play laser tag to see if it shows up under the black light. That's how bright it is. So, if bright lip color frightens you, this is not the lipstick for you. Truth be told, it's not an easy color to wear- as is the case with a lot of orange lipsticks. The key is to keep your eye neutral, then you won't look like some sort of day glow clown. But I love this color. 'Morange' is very, very pigmented and is an amplified finish. Its application is smooth, and it is not drying at all.

Let's just take a moment, shall we? Just soak in those big four letters up there.

.......

Yeah. NARS. 

This was my first NARS purchase. Ever. It was also the first time I ever spent $23 on a single eyeshadow. It pretty much gave me heart palpitations. 

NARS is the brand that I always stare at every time I go into Sephora. Usually I go stare at the blushes, swatch them, and walk away. I hadn't ever looked at their eyeshadows before, why I don't know, but I swatched several this particular trip and I now have a running list of eyeshadows that I want. But, 'Strada' was the one that I couldn't walk away from. It was one of those "You had me at hello" moments. 

'Strada' is a beautiful smoky lavender with gold reflects, I don't think I've ever seen another color like it. The texture is so buttery smooth it's amazing, and the color payoff is unbelievable. Yeah. After staring at the swatch on my arm for a good five minutes, I put on my big girl panties and headed to the cash register. 

Consider my NARS virginity officially lost.

There y'all have it, a haul and review all in one fell swoop. But before I go, I'd like to leave you with a little preview of a review to come.

Hehehe...

Later my freaky darlings.

<3