Save Some Money!

Hi, guys!

First off, I must apologize for not updating as much as I should. I owe you more content and I promise that it is on the way.

Now, what I wanted to tell you about today is Free Shipping Day. Today, 12/17/10 is Free Shipping Day in the US. Over 1,500 sites are offering free shipping, with guaranteed delivery by 12/24. This is your last chance to order before the holidays, so take advantage! Merchants include Sephora, Benefit, Philosophy, Macy's, Bergdoff Goodman, Sears, Kmart, Neiman Marcus, and many many more. Check out the list at freeshippingday.com

Also, check out ebates.com to earn money while you shop. Ebates gives you rebates for clicking through them to get to a site. Rebates range from 1-13% and can add up over time. I've accumulated over $15 during the Christmas season (which I plan on using for a new lipstick!).

You should also check out retailmenot.com for coupon codes for popular web retailers.

Happy Shopping!

Acrylic Recovery- Growth Update

If you've seen my last few videos or read this blog, I'm sure you can tell that I'm in the middle of a big nail polish kick. For all of you interested in makeup, I have a few cool things coming your way. For those who are into skincare and bath products, well..that's my next kick lol.

I have followed the same routine since I took off my acrylic nails (almost 3 weeks ago). The routine is described in my original acrylic recovery post and video. Here's what they look like now:




I know they may seem dry, but I had just removed my polish and was about to begin my routine.

So far, I have noticed a big difference in my nails. They feel stronger and are growing at a decent rate. I love painting my own nails. Its relaxing and saves me quite a bit of money. My only issue is living in constant fear of ruining them (its not that serious, but you get it). I found an anti-bite polish from Sinful Colors that makes your nails taste awful. This has definitely curbed any biting. Thanks for reading! I'll post updates every week.


Here are a few recent NOTD's to check out before you go:

ORLY Halley's Comet


Sinful Colors Mint Apple (beautiful color, BAD mani- the dents from my acrylics are still visible!)


Sinful Colors Sugar, Sugar topped with WnW Prancer

Nail Polish Haul (including China Glaze Holiday)

Here is the list of the polishes mentioned in my recent np haul video. The China Glaze polishes are from the holiday 'Tis The Season' collection.

Wet'nWild- Black Creme- $.99 @ Walgreen's
Sinful Colors - Sugar, Sugar and Mint Apple - $ 1.99 each @ Walgreen's
Orly- Halley's Comet - $5.99 @ CVS
Wet'nWild- Prancer (holiday duo with clear tc)- $1.99 at Walgreen's
Orly - Meet Me Under The Mistletoe- $4.99 @ transdesign.com
Sephora by OPI - Only Gold For Me - $9 @ Sephora
China Glaze - Jolly Holly, Naughty and Nice, Party Hearty - $2.99 @ transdesign.com

Nail Care: Acrylic Recovery

Here are my nails immediately after removing acrylics:



Here is my first natural nail mani:

ORLY Sweet Blush

Products Used:
Pure Acetone - $1.99 @ Sally Beauty Supply
Glass File - $8 @ Sephora
Buffing Block - $4 @ Target
China Glaze Peppermint Cuticle Oil - $3.99 @ Sally Beauty Supply
Gelous base coat - $5.99 @ Sally Beauty Supply
OLRY Sweet Blush - $5.99 @ Sally Beauty Supply
Seche Vite - $7.99 @ Sally Beauty Supply


I'll post a growth update next week. Thanks for reading!

Happy Halloween!

Thaank you to everyone who watched my Halloween tutorials. I know they weren't very intense, but I appreciate you watching them anyway. I'm still pretty upset that I had all those issues with my wisdom teeth which made it impossible for me to finish the series. Oh, well, theres always next year! ;)

My look for today was a very light candy corn eye. I used pastel shades of orange and yellow to keep the look subdued. The lashes are e.l.f. natural black lashes ($1, Target). Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Halloween Tutorials: Messy Rocker and Ghostly Ghoul

Messy Rocker:
UD Deluxe Shadow in Sting
Black shimmery shadow as a liner
NYX lipstick in Chloe






Ghostly Ghoul:
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
WnW Palette in Lush (silvery black color)
WnW Palette in Pride (matte white)
NYX Lipstick in Black Cherry

Sephora Friends and Family Sale

Sephora is having their annual Friends and Family sale. That means 20% everything! The code is FF2010. It expires on November 2, 2010. I purchased a few items, which you can check out on my YouTube channel (links in the side panel). This is a great way to save money on staple items (such as primers, foundation, etc) as well as gifts for the holidays. Happy Shopping!

Halloween Nail Tutorial : Candy Corn Nails!

I am in love with these nails! I saw a video tutorial and immediately tried it on my nails. Its so adorable and perfect for Halloween! You can use any white, orange, and yellow shades you have. For reference, I used Sweet Georgia Brown in Cyberwhite, Duri in Yale Orange, and Brucci in Emmi and Ollie Go Bananas. Its best to use creme formulas (i.e. without glitter or shimmer). If you want glitter, your best bet is to layer it on top. Enjoy!


Step 1: Paint entire nail white. Use 2 coats and let dry.



Step 2: Paint one stripe of orange horizontally in the middle of the nail. Let dry, repeat.



Step 3: Paint a yellow stripe that borders the orange and covers the tip of the nail. Let dry and repeat.


Step 4: Add top coat and let dry.


Voila!

Halloween Makeup Tutorial: Rainbow Eyes

Edun by Sephora palette in Contrast
WnW Lust palette (matte purple)

Nail Polish Haul: September/October

Hola! I posted a video to show you guys my new polishes. Here's a list of what I bought and where I found them. Thanks for reading!

MAC- Bad Fairy - $13 (MAC, Macy's, Dillard's, etc.)

Sephora by OPI - Only Gold for Me - $9 (Sephora)

N.Y.C. - 223 and 235 - gift, unsure of price (Walgreens, Target, CVS)

Sinful Colors - What's Your Name?, Daddy's Girl, Frenzy, All About You - $1.99 each (Walgreens, Target)

OPI - That's Berry Darling - $5.99 (beauty supply stores, Duane Reade)

China Glaze - Mummy, May I? - $5.99 (Sally Beauty Supply)

Seche Vite - Dry Fast Top Coat - $7.99 (Sally Beauty Supply)


Thanks for reading!

Halloween Tutorials: Suggestions, Please!

Hey, pretties!

So I want to do a short series with a few looks for Halloween. I was thinking general (glamorous, witch, punk/rocker, fairy, etc) so that you guys could get a general idea and then customize it for your particular costume. I'd love some suggestions and ideas for looks/tutorials. I can make videos or post step by step instructions on here, depending on how many ideas I end up with. Make your suggestions in the comments section of this post or on my blog channel, http://youtube.com/lovedork3

Thanks, guys! xo

Nails of the Day: Frenzy

After a week of Bad Fairy, I was itching for something new. It took FOREVER to get the gold glitter off! My poor nails were all bumpy after. I tried to get away with 2 coats of Sunful Colors Daddy's Girl (jelly-like purple with pink glitter) but the surface was too messy to pull it off. I topped DG with 2 coats of Sinful's Frenzy and- viola!- I has pretty nails. I love the sparkly, party-like look. Here are 2 pictures in natural light:





The polish has lasted 4 days so far without chips or obvious wear. I'm in love!

Sinful Colors are available at Walgreen's for $1.99.

MAC Bad Fairy

I've been wearing MAC's Bad Fairy nail polish since Friday. While the color is gorgeous, my mani is showing signs of wear. Instead of taking it off, I decided to top it with 2 coats of Sephora by OPI's Only Gold For Me. I must admit that I love the results. I will probably revisit this look around Christmas. Enjoy!





A word of advice- This top coat does not come off easily! I recommend using the foil method to remove.

MAC Venomous Villains: Part 3- Pictures

The Boxes


The products (with flash...sorry!)


Wearing Toxic Tale (100% natural light, no flash)


Bad Fairy (no flash, natural light)




Thanks for reading!

MAC Venomous Villains: Part 2- Review

Here are the products I purchased, along with a quick review of each. For images and swatches, check out my YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmWSrwQb1u0

MAC Venomous Villains

Evil Queen:
Strange Potion (lipglass) - a pearly pink color, with a very slight peach tint. The color is soft, pearlized, and semi-opaque.

Oh So Fair (beauty powder) - a soft powder for the face, can also be used as a blush or highlight. This is a very pale pink with a tiny amount of shimmer. The powder feels very fine and smooth and applies lightly.

Toxic Tale (satin lipstick) - an amped up coral color. It is very, very bright! This color looks reddish in the tube, yet it seems to lean orange on the skin. Very similar to MAC's Coral Polyp.


Cruella DeVil:
Wicked Ways (lipglass) - a blue-based red with shimmer. Seems more opaque than Strange Potion but can be thinned out to a stain-like finish using fingers or a brush. Creates a lovely red lip that is not over the top.

Innocence, Beware! (cremesheem lipstick) - a pinky nude with minimal shimmer. I find this to be the perfect nude for my pale complexion, though the formula is not my favorite.

Maleficent:
Revenge is Sweet (lipglass) - a jelly-like gloss that seems deep purple in the tube, yet takes on a sheer pink look on the lips. The color looks like a glossy stain. It is quite sheer and can be used to alter another color or to enhance the natural pigmentation of your lips.

Bad Fairy (nail polish) - A shimmery varnish that appears to be a darkened cherry color, but flashes to a golden/orange color. The color is beautiful on its own, but the duo chrome effect is amazing. You should use 3-4 coats to make this opaque on the nail.

Pics to follow!

MAC Venomous Villains: Part 1- Overview

On Tuesday, September 21st, I attended a preview party for the new MAC collection, Venomous Villains. The collection is based on 4 Disney Villians: Cruella DeVil(101 Dalmations), The Evil Queen(Snow White), Maleficent(Sleeping Beauty), and Dr. Facilier(Princess and the Frog). It is a rather large collection which contains 6 lipsticks, 6 lipglasses, 6 eyeshadows, 2 mineralized eyeshadows, 1 lip gelee, 3 nail polishes, 2 blushes, 2 magically cool powders, 2 grease sticks, 3 pigments, 3 beauty powders, and a mirror compact.

The colors were chosen using official "pantones" from the films. Pantones are the official shades used throughout the animation process to ensure consistent coloring. The collections are not simply based on the villians' makeup, but rather their costume, environment, and aura. The packaging is plain black with character animation printed on the cover. Many fans have complained about the packaging, saying that it seems cheap and looks like stickers on normal MAC products. While I do feel that MAC missed an opportunity to be very creative with this packaging, I have come to appreciate it. The images are not stickers, but rather printed directly onto the covers. Also, each product type has a different image of the villains. For example, the lipstick from the Cruella DeVill collection has an image of Cruella's profile, while the lipglass shows Cruella cuddling many puppies. This, in my opinion, was a nice touch.

Overall, I find the collection to be a must have for MAC and Disney fans alike. There are already some buzzworthy items, such as Bite of an Apple Blush and Bad Fairy nail polish. After swatching every single item, I ended up purchasing many lip products, one beauty powder, and one nail polish. The eyeshadows are lovely, but were not calling to me. In my next post I will review each item I purchased individually. Stay tuned!

Bright Eyes using Edun Palette

I posted a picture of my birthday haul last month, which included the Edun by Sephora palette. I have actually posted a review video on YouTube as well ( link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGpL8uXZw_s ). I used it for the first time today and, I must say, I am genuinely impressed.


Sephora brand items have a reputation for being low quality and overpriced. While I have had a few duds, I have alwo found a few winners, which is why I wanted this palette in the first place. I used the yellow, teal/turquoise, and green eyeshadows in the Contrast palette to create my bright look, pictured above. I found the colors to have a nice pigmentation. They are also blendable and have a nice color payoff. Last I checked, the palette was half off on Sephora.com (thats $15 for 6 shadows and a blush!). Considering that it is inexpensive, good quality, and charitable (proceeds go to Wildlife Conservation) I see no reason to skip this one. Buy a palette and have some fun!

UD BOSIII - Times Square Event

On Saturday, August 28, 2010 Urban Decay released 1000 BOS III palettes to eager fans. I was in the crowd and had a blast. The first 200 people received a tshirt. I was number 35, therefore I received a shirt and other goodies. The Sephora staff was awesome, handing out low-cal apple snacks to the pretty ladies waiting for their makeup. When the Urban Decay staff arrived, they handed out deluxe shadow samples, displayed the BOSIII to the crowd, and offered free makeovers using UD products.


After waiting about 2 hours, we were ushered inside. We were immediately handed a palette and ushered to the check out line. While waiting to pay, I was given a sample of the new Lip Junkie lip gloss in Wallflower. At checkout, I received a 24/7 eyeliner in Mildew, my tshirt, and a Stardust eyeshadow in Retrograde. I was truly amazed at the generousity of the staff.

I posted a video (on YouTube) talking about my experience and I have also posted swatches below. I really love this palette, as well as this brand. In my experience, Urban Decay is a cosmetics company that understands makeup junkies like us. They want to keep us as loyal customers and are thankful that they have. They made everyone feel beautiful and appreciated at this weekend's event.

The Book of Shadows III will be availiable at urbandecay.com as of September 7th, and as of October 1st it will be available at Macy's, Sephora, and Ulta.

Urban Decay BOS III - Swatches

Perversion, Uzi, Loaded, Kush

MCRA, Last Call, Rockstar, Money

Haight, Maui Wowie, Smog, Bordello

Radium, Snatch, Suspect, Psychedelic Sister

Birthday Haul

I have awesome friends and family! Almost all my presents (pictured above) were makeup related. They know me so well! I wanted to share my gifts with you, not to brag, but because I will be doing reviews on these products in the near future. I posted a video with a general overview on YouTube. Check it out!

Let me know if theres anything you want to know about a specific product. Have a beautiful night!

Recession Special Beauty: Eyeshadow Palettes

Check out my YouTube video!






The first product I purchased was L.A. Colors palette in Tease. I have seen this palette in a few stores, generally priced around $3. I saw it in Dollar Tree for $1.50 and purchased it. The low price and bright colors interested me. The palette contains 5 colors: yellow, orange, pink, blue, and green. They are supposed to be shimmer colors, but the shimmer is gone after one swipe. After trying these out, I must say that I was impressed. The colors are very pigmented and did not crease or fade with a primer. The texture is a bit chunky, but you can work with it. My biggest disappointments are that it tends to mush together when you blend, and also that the pink stains the lid. If you are careful with blending and have a stron makeup remover, neither of these issues will affect you. I was honestly shocked at how much I ended up liking this.

Look created with 3 LA Colors shadows:



Wet'nWild Color Icon Palettes:

Vanity & Greed-

I picked these up for $4.99 at Walgreens. I had high hopes for these after using the Color I con Palettes in Pride and Lust. Unfortunately, these did not meet my expectations. Vanity is a brown/beige/gold palette with matte and shimmer colors. They can be used for dramatic or neutral looks. I found the colors to be flat and not flattering. The browns were too deep and the gold too yellow. Greed is a black/peach/gray palette with mattes and shimmers, as well. The peach colors are pretty, but when applied they tend to look more like conjunctivitis than makeup. There is an odd blue/gray color that has a gold sheen when swatched. This unique color would make the palette worth it, but the texture is chunky and there is immense fallout with this shade. The blacks and grays are lovely, but I just can't get a decent, cohesive look out of this palette. While some shades in these palettes are nice, I'm very disappointed with them as a whole.

June Favorites - 2010

Wall Flower Shaving Cream - $4.95 - Target
LUSH Love Lettuce Mask - $5.95 - lush.com
LUSH Godiva 2-in-1 Solid Shampoo - $9.95 - lush.com
Too Faced Champagne Infused Lipstick in Pink Flamingo - $19 - toofaced.com, Sephora
Stila Charmed Eye Shadow Palette - $15 - Urban Outfitters, stila.com
MAC Pro Palette Refil in Orb - $11 - MAC Pro Stores
Sephora Daily Brush Cleanser - $14 - Sephora

Thank you for the request! Keep the feedback coming! I'd love to know what you would like to see on my channel/blog.

Stay beautiful!

Summer Beauty Haul

So today was a big shopping day for me - I was celebrating the end of the retail diet! For more information on my 'diet', head to the bottom of the post. For products and where to find them, read directly below.

Here are the beauty items featured in my YT haul video:

e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips - $1 - Target, eyeslipsface.com
e.l.f. Wet Gloss Lash $ Brow Clear Mascara in Crystal - $1 - Target, eyeslipsface.com
Goody Spin Pins in Blonds - $5.99 - Target
Healthy Sexy Hair - Soy Renewal (trial size) - $2.99 - Essentials Beauty Supply
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Girl About Town - $14 - MAC Pro Store, Macy's, maccosmetics.com

LUSH Products (in Macy's, can be found at www.lush.com)
Ickle Baby Bot Bath Bomb - $3.95
Ring Of Roses cut soap - $10.95 (price will vary depending on size you request)
Q10 Toner Tab - $1.95
Seanik Solid Shampoo - $9.95
Godiva 2-in-1 Solid Shampoo - $9.95
Solid Shampoo tin - free (with purchase of 2 solid shampoos)
Sole Revival fizzing foot bar (information unavailable on site)- $3.95
Love Lettuce facial mask - $5.95 (also not on site, I believe this is correct)
Turkish Delight Body Polish- free (sample)


Retail Diet:
After the MAC To The Beach preview party, I realized that I was spending a lot of money without thinking. I decided to tighten the purse strings a little bit. The next day I found myself at Sephora, checking out palettes. I realized then that I had to take a break. I have plenty of makeup, clothes, shoes, etc. I don't need to spend each extra dollar that I have on things I probably don't need. I decided to stop spending money on anything that wasn't necessary, meaning anything that wasn't food or a gift. There were 3 birthdays I needed presents for, 3 bills that needed to be paid, and an annoying parking ticket I didn't want to deal with. The diet began May 18th. I bought nothing. Not a dress, not a blush, not one single shoe. The only shopping I did was for groceries and, at wen the birthdays came, for 3 gifts. I quickly realized how much extra money I had. I was able to pay my bills without flinching. The parking ticket was a piece of cake. I had enough extra cash that I started putting some in an envelope. I made a list of things that tempted me during the diet. At the end of the diet, I would pick the items that I still wanted and purchase them in celebration. I found that my wants changed quickly. An eyeshadow I lusted after for the first week was forgotten by the second, a shoe I practically stalked online wasn't as pretty up close. I learned to truly think about what I was buying. At the end of the diet, I had double what I had expected saved in my little envelope. I put half in my savings account and went on a planned and controlled shopping spree with the rest. This has definitely taught me to think before I purchase something. I may keep up the diet, with a once monthly shopping trip. Hope this was interesting and helpful!

Stay beautiful!

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

I recently became interested in LUSH products after watching a video on YT that described the Dorothy bubble bar. My mother is a big Wizard of Oz fan, so I knew I had to find it. When I arrived at LUSH, I was immediately impressed. The products are arranged as fruit would be at a roadside stand, i.e. in baskets. The sales people were helpful and attentive, not at all snooty. They explained each product ad even offered samples of soaps to take home. I purchased a 2 bubble bars (Dorothy and Armandopando) for myself, as well as Mother's Day presents for family members. I also received cut samples of 2 soaps (Honey I Washed the Kids and Karma).Each person who received a LUSH product as a gift has since called me to tell me how amazing they were. Here is my personal review:

Dorothy- adorable design, wonderful smell. It smells like gardenia and jasmine. I have not used mine yet, but my mother said that hers turned the water blue and produced amazing bubbles.

Armandopando- white bubble bar with a dried rose on top. Sweet and romantic. In the store, I could only smell the rose scent. Once I used it, the citrus scent exploded into the bathroom. It smell was lovely, but I would have liked more roses. I used half the bar and the tub was full of bubbles.

Honey I Washed the Kids- this soap had a honeycomb on top. It smells sweet and rich, like a honey dessert. It feels soft and moisturizing. One sample has lasted me 2 weeks.

Karma- this soap has a strong patchouli scent. I am not a fan of this scent, so I gave it away. It smells woodsy and spicy, very masculine.

Mums- I purchased 2 'Mums' bath bombs as gifts for Mother's Day, one in pink and one in yellow. The scent was light and sweet. The tag on the flower 'stem' had wildflower seeds and can be planted in the garden. Both recipients loved it and said the smell was amazing.

Flosty Gritter Bubble Bar- I purchased this as a Mother's day gift for someone in a house with 2 boys. She said the tub filled with pink water and pink glitter, which made her feel girly. The vanilla scent was relaxing and sweet.

I am not one for bubble baths and bath products, but LUSH may have converted me. Keep an eye out for another LUSH haul/review coming within the next 3 weeks. To find a LUSH new you, visit www.lushusa.com Enjoy and have a beautiful day!

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows Re-release

Hello, lovelies!

Urban Decay is re releasing their special edition Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows along with the DVD release of the Disney film. The BOS was originally $52. It includes 16 shadows, 2 24/7 liners, and a mini primer potion. The re-release will be sold as a set which includes Sparkling Edible Body Powder, Razor Sharp Finishing Powder, De-Slick in a Tube, Big Fatty Mascara, Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss in Kirk, Primer potion in Eden, and Heavy Metal glitter liner in Midnight Cowboy. The set is currently priced at $211. I added up all the products included and discovered that there is no discount in buying the set. If you bought all of these items separately, not in the kit, it would still cost $211. The price may be steep for some, but for others it may be a chance to get your hands on this beautiful palette, as well as a few full size favorites.

I received the palette as a gift after the original release (from the boy- thanks, honey!) and have been using it since. It was the first Urban Decay product I ever owned. I was very impressed by the quality and pigmentation of the shadows. This palette inspired me to purchase many other UD items.

The palette contains 16 shadows, which are all available for individual purchase. Many of these colors have been used in previous palettes, so if you already have a palette from UD, chances are you will end up with repeat colors. The colors have been given 'twisted' names to go along with the Alice In Wonderland theme. Here is a list of shadows, AIW name first, followed by real name and description:

Underland = Flash - bright purple with velvety sheen
Alice = Painkiller- bright blue/teal with a hint of shimmer
Oraculum = Baked- metallic gold, very pigmented, very opaque
Queen = Last Call - purpleish cranberry with a frosty shine
Chessur = Chopper- beige with silver glitter
White Rabbit = Polyester Bride- creamy off-white with silver and gold glitter
Wonderland = Maui Wowie- pale olive green with silver glitter
Curiouser = Grifter- vivid lilac with silver glitter
Muchness = X- peachy gold frost
Mushroom = Mushroom- Taupey gray frost
Midnight Tea Party = Midnight Cowboy Rides Again - frosty beige with silver glitter
Vorpal = S&M - frosty gray
Absolem = Homegrown- frosty kelly green
Drink Me, Eat Me = Sin - shimmery beige
Mad Hatter = Twice Baked- dark brown with gold/bronze glitter
Jabberwocky = Oil Slick - black with silver glitter

This palette is probably best for fun or beauty looks. Due to the fact that all 16 shades have either shimmer or glitter, it is probably not work appropriate. While there are some neutrals (Mad Hatter, Drink Me, Eat Me) the color is predominantly bold and colorful shades that are not to be ignored. The color payoff is amazing. I definitely recommend trying out UD shadows, either in the AIW BOS or individually.

I hope this helps in your decision. Have a beautiful day!

MAC To The Beach: Part 4- The Look

I posted a video on YouTube to show you what I feel this collection looks like. Its a simple look focused on glowing skin and a simple colored eyeliner. I wanted the look to be something you could actually wear to the beach without looking too fussy. Here are the products you can use to achieve that look. Watch the video for dupe ideas!

Face:
Neutrogena Sunscreen SPF 50
Hard Candy Sheer Envy in Light
MAC Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel (mixed in)
MAC Fix+

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
MAC Eyeliner Pencil in Float on By
MAC Eyeliner Pencil in Rosemary and Thyme
Maybelline Volum Express Mascara in Glam Black
Covergirl Exact Eyelights in Black Sapphire

Lips:
MAC Glaze Lipstick in Beachbound

Summer Breeze- Green and Blue Tutorial

Here is a look that is colorful and fun- perfect for summer!

Products used:

Face:

Hard Candy Tinted Moisturizer in Light

MAC Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel (mixed in tinted moisturizer)

Sephora Mattifying Compact Powder R15

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

Wet'nWild ColorIcon Palette in Pride

MAC Orb/WnW Color Icon in Lust (beuge shade- can use either for highlight)

MAC Lash Zoom

Cover Girl Exact Eyelights in Black Sapphire

Lips:

Sephora Maniac Liner in #12 Miel

MAC Lustre lipstick in Lazy Days

MAC Glaze lipstick in Beachbound (tiny bit)

N.Y.C. Lippin Large clear gloss

MAC To The Beach - Preview Haul

So tonight I went to the MAC To The Beach preview party. It was from 7-9pm at MAC Montague. The store was packed when I arrived (along with my friend) at 7:30pm. The ladies at the door were dressed in - surprise!- black. Each person had gorgeous makeup, though most of the ladies had some kind of green incorporated into their look. There were two model-esque guys in tiny, tiny orange bathing suits standing near the front door. They were covered in glitter (presumably from the new bronzing spray) and their job was to make sea shell necklaces for everyone. There were also two 'models' serving cocktails, which were sponsored by Ciroq, and canapes. The store was absolutely packed. It took ages to walk from one end of the store to the other. I decided that I was only going to purchase items from the To The Beach line, since I could purchase permanents anytime. I had saved and set aside about $100 to spend (I started saving when I got the invite). I bought 5 products and spent $94.16.

Here's what I got:

Marine Life Highlight Powder - $26
Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel - $18.50
Lustre Lipstick in Lazy Days - $14
Frost Lipstick in Thrills - $14
Glaze Lipstick in Beachbound - $14


I already posted a review on YouTube titled "MAC To The Beach: Part 3- The Makeup". You can check that out for swatches. I hope to have swatch photos on here within the next few days. The line launches May 27, 2010. Until then, check out my videos! Part 1 & 2 from this series show the invitation and expectations as well as the party itself. Keep an eye out for a summery look using these products! I'll probably tape it over the weekend. Thanks for reading/watching!

Recession Special #1: Wet'nWild ColorIcon Palette in Lust

Wet'nWild has always been known for its ultra cheap makeup- both in price and quality. The shadows were powdery, lipstick waxy, and everything had some odd smell I could never quite put my finger on. A few weeks ago, I was watching a video on YT and chuckled when I saw someone using a WnW palette. However, when I saw the results, I was shocked. There was actual color! I quickly searched reviews and found that WnW had reformulated a lot of their products and had actually made better quality products.

I headed out to Walgreens and bought a ColorIcon palette in Lust, the palette with the best reviews on MakeupAlley. It was $4.99 for 6 shadows, 3 matte and 3 shimmer/glitter. The colors range from a deep, blackened purple to a shimmery cream. They are all higly pigmented and blend exceptionally well. I recommend using a primer, particularly Urban Decay's Primer Potion for Eyes. I used a paint pot from MAC and found that the darker colors didn't blend as well. I generally use the darker colors in the crease, pink on the lid, and cream as a highlight. The steele color is great when mixed into a liquid liner. For a little more fun, add some glitter or shimmer over the matte colors!

Despite my initial doubts, I really do love this product. I have used it many times and love the results. I will definitely go back and buy more of these palettes.

Stay beautiful, babes!

Recession Special Beauty

So lately, makeup junkies have been getting what I like to call the 'recession special.' Every beauty magazing has featured cheaper drug store products in order to make readers feel that they can access beauty without breaking the bank. While their intentions are good, often their choices often leaving us wasting more money than we save. After buying a few products at the drugstore that a magazine promised would be amazing *cough*N.Y.C. lip liner*cough* I felt a longing for the quality of the pricey stuff. I turned to YouTube, a haven for junkies craving a haul, tutorial, or just a quick fix. I watched review after review and finally found a few d/s products worth trying. In the next few weeks, I'll be posting videos and reviews of these products so that you can shop smarter. Happy shopping!

Designer Discounts!

As promised, here are the invites to the three designer discount sites mentioned in my video. At this time, I have only purchased from Hautelook (though I can't wait to buy from the others!).

Make sure you mark your calendars for the Hautelook POP beauty sale on May 6th, 2010. The sale begins 11am EST/8am PST. POP beauty has such adorable products, including dramatic and fashionable false lashes. I can't wait!

http://www.hautelook.com/invite/AHakius192


Sign up now for an exclusive sale on Burberry Shoes! Check out Gilt later this week for Just Cavalli Accessories, Seven for All Mankind, and other great finds!

http://www.gilt.com/invite/lovedork

RueLaLa is currently featuring classics from Hanky Panky. Come back tomorrow and Thursday for Monique Lhullier for Doulton, Oakley, and Badgely Mischka Footwear.
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/ahakius


Happy Shopping!

e.l.f. Haul from Target

Products Purchased/Reviewed:

Complexion Perfection Tone Correcting Powder $3

Studio Line Blush- Candid Coral $3

Tone Correcting Concealer- Light Beige $1

Foundation Brush $1

Eyeliner Brush $1

Concealer Brush $1

Eyeshadow Brush $1

Blending Brush $1

Defining Eye Brush $1

Face Kabuki Brush $5

Mineral Eye Shadow- Natural $3

Hypershine Gloss- Flirt $1

Hello, Gorgeous!

First off, thank you for visiting my blog! Most of you probably got here after watching one of my videos, and for that, I thank you.



So let's talk makeup! That's what we're all here for, right? I have alwways loved playing with makeup. It started with the Tinkerbell sets (does anyone remember those?). My mom would buy them for me and I would use my dad as a test subject. I have many, many pictures of him with lipstick all over his face, including his nose (apparently that was my trademark). When I was 14, I asked my aunt, a beautician, to teach me how to put on my makeup. She was so thrilled to pass on her skills that she gifted me with a beautiful Estee Lauder palette and a few brushes so that I could practice with them. They were my HG products for the longest time. As I grew older (and had to pay for my own things), I relied heavily on drug store products for my cosmedic needs. I was a ballroom dancer and used heavy makeup for my competitions. Other than that, I really didn't use many products.



About a year ago, that all changed. For my last birthday I received Sephora's Blockbuster Palette. I loved it from the moment I opened it. So many colors and products, I didn't know what to do first! I started experimenting with my looks, using new techniques and colors. I felt like a new person. I noticed that I had much better results with this than with my DS products. I began a slow rebuilding of my makeup collection. What once filled a small makeup bag on my bathroom shelf now overflows out of an antique vanity in my room. I'm not going to say that the pricey products are better than the drug store ones, but I will say that the journey has certainly been interesting.



My blog and YouTube channel will be a combination of reviews, hauls, tips/advice, and eventually a few tutorials. I'm still figuring out a lot of terms and techniques and would really like for you to learn with me. I'll pass along any ueful information and we can follow the pursuit of beauty, together!