FOTD: MAC Almondine

So, I broke out my new Spring Colour Forecast "candy". I came up with this version of the MAC Almondine face chart. I really like the purple on the lower lashes and I am so loving the lip combo! I die for nude lips!!

FACE:
Revlon Colorstay Foundation
Smashbox Concealer
MAC Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach
MAC MSF in Medium

EYES:
MAC Painterly Paint Pot
MAC Colour 4 Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Satellite Dreams
L'Oreal Carbon Black liquid eyeliner
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

LIPS:
MAC Beigeland l/s
MAC Almondine l/g
MAC Stripdown lipliner

XOXO!!

Video: My Makeup Collection & Storage

Hello, lovelies! I did an updated makeup collection and storage video. My last one was a little dated and my storage was in need of an overhaul as well. It's still not exactly the way I would like for it to be, but it's better than before! I have a vision of how I want my "makeup room" to look like and I can't find what I want to make it look that way! Maybe you all will get to see my baby steps to get to the grand finale! :)



Oh, and in even bigger news (drum roll, please) I got my shoedazzle shoes in today! They are ridiculously gorgeous! I will try to make a video review for that tomorrow. At the very least, I will post tons of pics and let you know what I think! Let me just say that the gorgeous pair of red heels = BIG LOVE!!

XOXO!!

My Foundation Routine and Concealing Very Dark Circles!

Hello, lovelies! I put together a tutorial on how I do my foundation and conceal my ridiculously dark under eye circles. Seriously, I have the worst dark circles ever! I have deep set eyes and high cheeks bones - not a good combination! I can look like a raccoon!!

Anyway, hope you find the tutorial helpful!

XOXO!!

FOTD: Neutral Smokey Eye Using Coastal Scents 88 Palette

Hello, lovelies! Here's the FOTD that I did the other day, and made a video tutorial for. I guess I'm getting the video juices flowing or something! Yay, me! :) I hope you guys enjoy it - it was really very simple!

FACE:

Smashbox Balance Primer

L'Oreal True match Foundation in N5

Smashbox HD Concealer in Light

MAC Emote Blush

MAC Dainty Blush

NARS Albatross highlighter

MAC MSF in Medium

EYES:

MAC Bare Canvas paint

Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette

Coastal Scents Gel Liner in True Black

Hard Candy Curl up n' Die Mascara in Ink

LIPS:

Hard Candy l/s in Fire Alarm

Hard Candy Plexi Goss in I Want Candy

Until next time, XOXO!!

Green and Gold Look Using Coastal Scents

I wore this look the other night for a girls' night out and I really liked it, but I didn't take any pictures - don't ask me why! So, I recreated it and actually made a video (my first in quite a while!). Please ignore the watermark - I am using a trial version of the editing software and I can't get rid of it! I used my new Coastal Scents palletes...I know I'm a little behind on that, but I finally gave in to the temptation that has been building forever and bought 2. I actually did a haul video, but for some reason, it wouldn't upload, then was accidentally deleted. Ugh!

Products Used:
Face:
Smashbox Face Primer in Balance (the purple one)
L'Oreal True Match Foundation in N5
Smashbox HD concealer in Light
MAC MSF in Medium
MAC blush in Dainty

Eyes:
Coastal Scents 88 Ultra Shimmer Pallete (#1 on lid, #2 on inner corner, #3 in crease) - see picture below
Coastal Scents 88 Warm Pallete (#4 in outer "v", #5 as highlight, #6 below highlight)

Coastal Scents Gel Eye Liner in True Black
MAC Feline Eye liner
Hard Candy Curl Up N Die Mascara

Lips:
MAC Subculture lip liner
MAC Viva Glam V lip stick
MAC Viva Glam V lipglass

Hope you all like it! Until next time, XOXO!!

My Winter Skin Saver!!!

Ok, I will admit that for years I didn't adhere to the changing of the skin moisturizer based on the seasons. I usually just stuck with whatever was working for me at the time. However, this winter season has wreaked havoc on my skin. I was having dry patches in the strangest places - above my top lip, the bridge of my nose, the middle of my cheek. Just really weird places for me. So, I finally caved in and headed to my trusty Target, where I found this - TA DA!

My apologies on the blurry picture - I didn't notice until after I uploaded! Anyway, I love my Oil of Olay Age Defining Daily Renewal Cream! This little gem contains a beta hydroxy complex that works as an exfoliant (you would never know it because it is so gentle - I can't feel a thing!) then gives your skin the most amazing moisture surge. It truly is unbelievable! Honestly, after 2 days of using this, my crazy dry patches went away and my skin feels incredibly soft and supple!

Check this out! Not overly thick and heavy. Perfectly rich and creamy!


I am constantly running my hands over my cheeks now! It contains a light fresh scent that is not overpowering and just smells clean. This is one product that I can see forever being in my winter arsenal. If you battle dry skin in the winter, definitely check this stuff out!

Until next time, XOXO!

"Oooooh, That Smell"

Hello, lovelies!

While I'm not the biggest perfume chick in the world - not because I don't believe in smelling nice. They just don't like me. It can smell wonderful in the bottle, but once I put it on, apparently my body chemistry messes it all up and it smells like poo! Not really like poo, but you know what I mean! :)

Anyway! While I'm not the biggest perfume chick in the world, I am very excited about the release of Kim Kardashian's new perfume next month! As you all probably know by now, I love that girl! Anything and everything about her - it's more like an obsession, really! But minus the stalker tendencies!

The perfume is already up on the Sephora website. It comes in 3.4 oz, 1.7 oz, 1 oz, and the rollerball. Prices range from $65-$16, respectively. Although the release date isn't until next month, it looks as though you can already purchase it through the website. Or maybe you can preorder and it will ship next month. Not quite sure on that one!

What do you think? Are you guys interested?

Until next time, XOXO!

Great Skin In Less Than a Minute!

I picked up the February 2010 issue of Glamour magazine this weekend. Katy Perry is on the cover - and just how freaking gorgeous is she?!?! Anyway, I found an article in there with tips on facial cleansing that I wanted to share with y'all! It helped me and I hope it helps you all as well!!

Step 1 - Exactly How to Wash Your Face:
1. Use warm water. "Cold closes your pores, so your cleanser can't work and hot water is too stripping." Hands get the job done, but a sponge feels good. Try ricky Care Sea Sponge ($5. rickysnyc.com)
2. Pick a good cleanser. "Don't worry about whether it's a gel, lotion or bar. It's the ingredients that matter." If your skin is oily or acne-prone, look for one with blemish-busting salicylic acid. Dry skin? A wash with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter works best.
3. Rub in on: rinse it off. Work cleanser onto skin for about 15 seconds - any longer is overkill. Then splash your face with water at least six times to completely rinse.
Recommended products:
1. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Facial Cleanser (for the greasies) ($7 at drugstores)
2. Clarins Gentle Beauty Soap (cleans and moisturizes) ($15, clarinsusa.com)
3. L'Oreal Paris Go 360 Clean Deep Cream Cleanser (comes with a cool tool for scrubbing) ($7 at drugstores)
4. Clarins The Brush. Use on bar soap for some serious lather. ($19, clarinsusa.com)

Step 2 - Exactly How to Moisturize
There's no big trick for applying face cream - experts agree you can just slap it on. But choosing the perfect formula is essential. The rules:
1. Oily skin needs lotion too. Seems odd, but oil production has nothing to do with skin's hydration level!
2. Feeling tight? Go rich!! IF your skin seems dry or tight postcleaning, opt for creams that contain humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which draw moisture to the skin.
3. Get a multitasker. Whoever decided to add SPF to moisturizer was a genius! You're able to soften and protect skin from sun damage in one step. Pick one with anti-agers to fight lines, too.
Recommended:
1. Origins Starting Over Age-Erasing Oil-Free Moisturizer With Mimosa ($45, origins.com)
2. Estee Lauder Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme ($38, esteelauder.com)
3. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 ($14, at drugstores)

Until next time, XOXO!!

Happy New Year!!!

Wow, is it me or does "two thousand, ten" or "twenty-ten" just not sound right? How in the world could another year have flown by so quickly? Crazy!


I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season, whatever you celebrate, be it Christmas or whatever! Santa was nice and brought me an i-touch. I was extremely excited! My cell phone service provider isn't AT&T, otherwise I would have asked good ol Santa Baby for an i-phone. But I was overjoyed with my i-touch. Now all I need is someone to explain to me why I have to have some password to log in when I am supposed to have free wi-fi! I consider myself pretty saavy with the techno stuff, but this one is beyond me! I was so frustrated at my local Starbucks that I caved and paid for a year subscription to AT&T's wireless internet just so I could log on and download apps there, since that is my favorite "hang out" place!
Anyway, I will admit, I am one of those who will make a huge slew of resolutions, feel completely overwhelmed by all the promises I made, and end up breaking all of them by January 15th. Yes, I'm a failure! So to save myself the stress of it all, I made myself a simple resolution for the new year - "just be a better person than last year." Nothing fancy or detailed. Just short, sweet and to the point. So far, since this is only the second day of the new year, I've actually done quite well! LOL!! Part of the "bettering myself" is to work a little bit harder on this blog. I enjoy this so much and am so thankful to all of you who read it, I want to do more to make it more enjoyable for you all! So, any ideas for postings that you guys want to see, please feel free to send them to me! I'm all for it!!
Here are a couple of looks that I did over the past month or so that I was able to get a few pictures of! I don't really remember what products I used, though! Sorry!!

Until next time, XOXO!!

Style Black is Here!!!

Finally, after many sleepless nights filled with anticipation, Style Black is available on the MAC website!! I've already placed my preorder with my local counter, and will be picking that up in the next couple of days - hopefully Friday! (I have a crazy work schedule!) I can't wait to show you guys what I purchased, the swatches and the looks that I have planned for it!!!! Yay, MAC!

Until next time, XOXO!!

NYX and Eyelashes Haul!

Ok, so I hit up the local beauty supply store the other day. It's not a place that I check out on a regular basis because it's generally a so-so kind of store. But on that particular shopping trip, I racked up!

I was so excited to find these Candy Glitter Liners! I love my similar glitter liners from Urban Decay as well as those that came out with MAC's Hello Kitty line, so I grabbed these beauties up!

And a swatch of each one for you! Are they not beautiful? I love all three! I can't wait to play with them!

Next, I picked up a couple of single shadows. White Pearl, Frosted Flakes, Purple, and Black Sparkle.

As far as inexpensive makeup goes, I love the payoff of NYX! Frosted Flakes is one of my faves - a simple pretty champagne/nudish color. Check out the swatches:

Next, I picked up a lipgloss (in Beige), a jumbo eye pencil (in Milk), and these adorable pigments (Ultra Pearl Manias) that were only $1.50! Those are the only items that I remember the price of! They are so cute and little, but there is tons of color concentrated in those bottles! The colors I got are Mocha Pearl, Silver Pearl, Black Pearl.

And of course, swatches! I love the lippie! And I think the Ultra Pearl Manias will work well for the fall!

Now, check this out! This Glitter Cream Pallet is unreal! I love the gorgeous fall colors and what girl can resist glitter?

Next up are my faves - LASHES!!!! Even though the packaging says Ever Lash, I believe they are another version of Red Cherry. I compared the numbers on each of the lashes and they are identical to Red Cherry. Anyone know why they do this? How many alternate names does that make? Creme, Bliss, Ever Lash....?

The only thing I forgot to include separate pictures of was the eyeshadow trio in Ceramic. Gorgeous smokey colors with a touch of sparkle. Love it!

Well, now I'm off to play with my new goodies!

Until next time, XOXO!!

Best of the best from Fashion Week Spring 2010

I believe I would have cut off any appendage necessary to have been able to attend Fashion Week in New York last week. I mean, the styles were absolutely beautiful! Such a huge diversity of colors, prints, fabrics! Apparently anything goes for next spring!

Here's a few of my faves:


Arise: African Promise Collection

This dress is to die for! I love the colors. But what I love most is the top portion of the dress. Even though the model is not well endowed, this style would also work well for those of us who are a little more blessed up top. Maxi dresses and I did not get along well this summer for that reason - I felt like I was exposing more than I was covering! Ugh!

BCBG Max Azria

What I would give for those shoes! I love the overall look of this design! Very light yet the contrast of solid with the bold print gives it an awesome edgy look! Awesome!

Milly by Michelle Smith

I love the chic casual look of this design - aside from the "thingie" on her head! LOL! I can picture stores like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe carrying comparable items in their stores.

Monarchy Collection

There is nothing that I do not love about this one! Love the bow on the skirt, the flowy lightweight material of the shirt, the absolutely stunning shoes. This design takes the look of neutrals and kicks it up a bit!


But out of all the amazing designs from some truly incredible designers, I think Diane von Furstenberg really stole the whole week's worth of talent! Love, love, love every single one of her designs! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

Click here to see all of the designs from the Spring 2010 Fashion Week. Let me know which are your faves!

Until next time, XOXO!!

Polish of the Week: OPI Black Cherry Chutney

Hi, there! Hope you all had a great weekend! Sorry for the lack of updates last week - I just started a new job and last week was full of orientation and such! And this week's polish is not going to be the prettiest sample! I actually JUST put it on so that I would have an update for you. I am currently wearing it on my toes, but I have such a foot anti-fetish that I will never take pictures of my feet to show them to you! So I threw it on my fingernails for you!

This week's color is OPI's Black Cherry Chutney. Seriously, this color is to die for! It's a deep raspberry plum (like a reddish-black) color that is just gorgeous and perfect for the fall! It's from the India collection (which included some absolutely amazing colors!) and I consider it a must-have for this coming fall/winter season!

You can find this at:

SV Beauty Supply: $4.25 - yes, $4.25!!!
American Discount Beauty Supply: $5.95

88 Beauty Supply : $4.48 - I know, crazy right?!

Until next time, XOXO!!