EOTD- Simple Winged Liner w/ A Pop Of Color

I know it's been a while. (Gee this sounds familiar...) It's been a little cookoo bananas around her lately, no joke. But, I'm really trying to get back into the groove of it all. Though, I will warn you, I will be MIA in November. Why? Because it's National Novel Writing Month, and I will be locked away in my spare room furiously typing away on a novel. So, wish me luck and pray I don't go nuts! Well, more nuts than I already am. Ha!

I've been on an Agatha Christie's Marple binge here lately (I absolutely adore her books), so it's been me, the couch and Geraldine McEwan for the past few days. Even though the Geraldine McEwan Miss Marple's aren't very true to the books (at all), I absolutely love the way she portrays Miss Marple and the supporting cast and production quality are incredible, so I'll overlook the discrepancies. Anyways, since the majority of the books/episodes take place in the 1940s and 1950s there is an abundance of winged liner and red lips. Needless to say, I love it!

Today, I decided to springboard off of the fabulous makeup and do a winged liner. Now, this isn't a vintage recreation, it's just an "I wanted to play today!" look.

Here we go!

Face:

• M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid in NC15
• M.A.C. Select Moisture Cover Concealer in NC20
• Loose Translucent Powder
• M.A.C. Blush Ombre in 'Azalea Blossom'
• NARS 'Albatross'

Eyes:

• UDPP in 'Sin'
• NYX Jumbo Pencil in 'Milk', under the brows
• 'Brule' (matte skin tone) eyeshadow by Wet n' Wild, all over the lid
• 'Kid' (tan) eyeshadow by M.A.C., in the crease
• Unnamed (brown/gray) eyeshadow by M.A.C., in the deep crease
• 'Tako' (matte white) by Sugarpill, brow bone highlight
• NYX Extreme Liquid Liner in 'Extreme Smokey Gray'
• NYX Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in 'Aqua Green', on the bottom waterline
• M.A.C. Technakohl Eyeliner in 'Graphblack', on the top waterline
• 'Mochi' (mint blue/green) eyeshadow by Sugarpill, to set the NYX pencil
• Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara in 'Very Black'

Lips:

• 'Vegas Volt' lipstick by M.A.C.

Since Halloween is right around the corner, leave me some makeup ideas/suggestions in the comments section. 

Later my freaky darlings!

Double Feature! Review + FOTD

Holy crap on a stick. It's been a month since my last post. I am so sorry you guys, things honestly got a little hectic and time just went, whoop, right out the window. Honestly, though, the main reason why I haven't done any EOTD/FOTD post is because my skin has just about lost it's mind. My eyes have really been my biggest issue. The skin on my lids and under eyes have been dry and itchy, my eyes have been watery. Pollen season is in full swing here in the South. And my skin has decided that it's a teenager again, and I've been having breakouts galore. But, I am happy to say that all of the these problems are just about behind me (thank the L-rd!) thanks to a changed up skin care routine and some awesome new (to me anyways) products. I plan on doing a big post about all of that on Monday, after I finish my experiment.

Moving on.

Since it's been so long since I've posted, I've decided that today is going to be a two for one special: A Review and a FOTD.

Still love me? Of course you do.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

Though I haven't posted anything, I haven't been idle. I've been sampling foundations for the past month now try to find something lighter in coverage for the summer. Now, I still love my MAC Studio Fix Fluid, it's pretty much my baby, but with the heat and humidity down here in Alabama I really wanted something that was going to be light on my face but still evened out my skin tone.


So, I picked up 3 samples: 2 foundations from Clinique (I apologize for not listing their names, but I can't read the writing on their labels. I will edit that information in when I find it.) and the NARS Tinted Moisturizer. One of the Clinique I liked alright, but I was no way in love with it, and the other, though it was the lightest shade in its particular range, made me look like I had just slathered Nutella on my skin. It was horrifying, and yet very amusing.


After that particular experience, I be-bopped myself over to Sephora and picked up a NARS sample in 'Finland", which is their lightest shade. Let me just say, I loved it. Not only did I finish out my sample, I went out and purchased the full size.

So here is what NARS has to say about their product:

Your skin -  almost bare, but better. This advanced oil free formula provides a translucent veil of color and sun protection while helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks. Infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals and ingredients to immediately help thirsty skin feel hydrated. Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater revive and re-mineralize skin for softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow. Skin is transported.

First off, I don't have dark spots or hyperpigmentation, so I honestly can't say if those claims are true. But, my skin does feel hydrated, and smoother, and softer. No joke. 

One of the biggest selling points for me was the sun protection in this product. Of all the tinted moisturizers at Sephora that I looked over, this one had the highest SPF: 30. But wait, there's more! This product is a broad range product, which means that it protects you from UVA and UVB rays. I thought that was pretty fan-freakin-tastic! 

Another selling point for me is that it is a neutral tone, as in it has a balance of pink and yellow undertones. As with any skin tone, not all fair skin is alike. Some pale girls have yellow (or warm) undertones in their skin, and therefore need a pink toned foundation to balance them out; others, like myself, have pink (or cool) undertones and need a yellow based foundation (Like my MAC NC15). This moisturizer is perfect for both. 

The product is oil free, synthetic fragrance free, and retails for $42.00 for 1.9oz of product.

Now to the nitty gritty.

Pros:

• 30SPF/PA +++
• It gives good, even, light coverage
• Lightweight, and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth.
• Though there are no synthetic fragrances, it does have a very light citrus scent that I absolutely adore

Con:

• $42.00 a bottle is pricey, but honestly this product is worth it. So this isn't really a Con.

Now, we get to move on to the FOTD.

Since my skin has been acting like a brat, all I've been wearing is skin toned eyeshadows and no real color except for lipstick. Let me tell you, it's been driving me absolutely bonkers! So today I decided that I'd play with a little bit of color- I have a feeling that tomorrow I'll be incorporating even more color and getting back to my old self.

Pics!

Face:

• NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in 'Finland'
• M.A.C. Prep + Prime Translucent Pressed Powder
• Bourjois blush in 16 Rose Coup De Foudre

Eyes:

• M.A.C. Paint Pot in 'Painterly'
• 'Woodwinked' eyeshadow by M.A.C., all over the lid
• Nameless Gray/Brown (s) eyeshadow (Colourizations Duo #3) by M.A.C., in the crease and concentrated in the outer 'v', and very lightly along the lower lashline
• 'Tissueweight' eyeshadow by M.A.C., as the brow bone highlight
• Pin-Up Tease mascara by NYX

Lips:

• 'Viva Glam Cyndi' lipstick by M.A.C.

There you have it guys! I do plan on doing a big post on Monday about my skincare routine and the little experiment I've been doing this week. Hopefully I can get an EOTD or two in this weekend.

Have a lovely weekend, my freaky darlings!

<3

P.S. I dyed my hair again (surprise, surprise). It's now a super bright, vibrant shade of red and I friggin love it!

Heavy Metal- Gold Standard

So, I came up with this brilliant idea, and it isn't over used at all... (Could you detect the hint of sarcasm in the text just then?) Eye makeup based on metals (i.e. silver, gold, blah, blah, blah), what a unique concept!

Hur. Hur.

...

So up first is gold. Why? Because it glitters. Though, "All this is gold does not glitter, not all who wander are lost..."


Oops. Went on a bit of a Tolkien trail just then. Let's get on with the look, shall we?

Face:

• M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid in NC15
• UDPP Primer Potion in 'Original'
• M.A.C. Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
• 'Nerdgasm' blush by Geek Chic Cosmetics

Eyes:

• 'Woodwinked' by M.A.C.  - all over the lid and slightly above the crease
• 'Baked' by Urban Decay - in the outer 'V' and through the crease
• 'Goldilux' by Sugarpill - center of the lid
• 'Blond Ambition' by Too Faced - inner corner
• 'Virgin' by Urban Decay - brow bone
• 'Strada' by NARS - lower lash line
• 'Brownborder' Technakohl Liner by M.A.C. - tight line
• 'Velvet' Eye Pencil by NYX - waterline
• Too Faced LashGasm mascara

Lips:

• 'Marquis 'D' by M.A.C.

Later, 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