guitarrasara

Wet N Wild Color Icon Customized Neutrals & Colors Palette

2011-05-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

It is rare for me to purchase eyeshadow at the drugstore, but I've been really excited to try many of the Wet N Wild Color Icon Shadows since they have received so much praise. One of the reasons I hate drugstore eye shadows is the packaging... So I found a solution and de-potted the pans to create a custom palette!

Using 6 Wet N Wild Color Icon Trios and one Eyeshadow Collection I created a neutrals and colors palette I can't wait to start using!

The WnW Trios and Eyeshadow Collections I used to create this are:

-I'm Getting Sunburned 334
-Silent Treatment 335
-Walking On Eggshells 380 B
-Sweet As Candy 381 B
-Cool As A Cucumber 382 B
-Knock On Wood 383 B
-Don't Steal My Thunder 385 B
-Comfort Zone 780

By glancing at the pans you might think there are several duplicate colors, but when swatched, you'll find subtle variations that make each color special and unique.

Swatches:

I owned the Walking On Eggshells for several months and loved it, and based on my swatching experience I think I will love most, if not all of the colors as much as the ones from my first trio.

What do you think of WnW shadows? Do you hate the packaging too? Or is it worth putting up with for such a great product?

P.S. the photos above were taken with my new camera... in manual mode! I am still learning but hopefully my photos will be improved over time. I'm learning as I've never had a DSLR camera before - and have no photography experience outside of point and shoot cameras. Wish me luck!

Vanity Organization, FOTD and "Project X Pan" Update

2011-04-17T16:17:00.001-07:00

I have gone through several variations of makeup vanities and internal storage, but I think I have finally found a solution that works for me! I wanted to share some quick pictures to begin with, and if there is interest I can do a longer post on the vanity itself and / or my storage solutions. Let me know what you think!

Drawer #1:
Everyday face products, blushes and eye bases that are not in palette form. And yes, to the left - my birth control! What can I say, it is a convenient place to keep it :)

Throughout the drawers you will see that there is room to grow, and that's the way I like to keep it!

Drawer #2:
Lipsticks, glosses, lipliners, eye liners, stick eye bases, lash adhesive, lashes.

Drawer #3:
Brush roll for storing brushes that are not in use, Bare Minerals eye shadows and complexion enhancers, brush cleansers and some fragrance rollerballs.

The acrylic trays that I use are stackable, so I can fit more in less space ;)

Drawer #4:
Palettes (MAC, Inglot, Nars, Urban Decay, NYX and some Custom made ones) to store eye shadows, blushes, and other face products

Probably one of the best items I used while reorganizing my vanity was this kitchen shelf liner... It makes a HUGE difference in preventing items from moving around, and it also looks cool beneath the clear acrylic.

And... A Sunday afternoon F.O.T.D. after a 4.5 mile hike (lookin' a lil scrubby but I still have most of my "face" on!)...

Project X Pan update... This probably deserves its own post, but I started out really strong, and then I broke!!! Inglot's shopping site launched, and I had to buy a couple palettes... Then, I got a VIB coupon from Sephora, and I just couldn't take it!!! I have been focused on using up items, and have been good about that, but I am still buying new things from time to time. For right now I am putting that project on hold, but maybe I will decide to commit some time this year and really make a dent!

NYX Lip Liner Overview

2011-03-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple years I have collected quite a few NYX lip liners. In my opinion, this is NYX's best product. While the textures and pigmentation vary slightly from shade to shade, in general these lip liners are creamy, pigmented, and long lasting. The bonus with these lip liners is the price tag - these are often sold between $2.50 - $4.00 at most retailers that stock them. In short, I highly recommend trying them out.

My favorite shades are: Pale Pink, Nude Pink, Mauve, Rose, Dolly Pink, Burgundy and Coffee.

Pinky Nudes/ Naturals

Beige is light tanned beige color with a warm undertone.
Pale Pink is a cool pastel pink with a hint of beige.
Nude Pink is a warm light peach with a hint of beige.
Natural is a neutral mid tone peachy brown.
Peekaboo Neutral is very similar to nude pink, except it has stronger beige undertones.
Mauve is a mid tone pinkish- brown with a slightly purple undertone.

Peaches

Tangerine is a light peachy coral with subtle shimmer. This liner is a bit dryer, harder to blend and is not as pigmented as others.
Nectar is a peachy berry color with subtle shimmer. This liner is also a bit dryer, but not as fry as Tangerine.

Pinks

Flower is a pale frosty pink. This liner is dryer in texture, is harder to blend and is not as pigmented as others.
Citrine is a mid tone warm pink with subtle shimmer. Citrine is dryer in texture, but not as dry as Flower.
Rose is a mid tone warm pink with peach undertones. Rose is very creamy and easy to blend
Dolly Pink is a mid tone cool pink with blue undertones. Dolly pink is creamy, but as creamy as Rose, although it is very easy to blend.
Pinky is a dark hot pink with red undertones. Pinky is very creamy and easy to blend.

Reds

Pumpkin is a mid tone orangey red with subtle shimmer. Pumpkin is extremely smooth and creamy, so it is not quite as long lasting as others.
Hot Red is a cherry red that works well with both reds and dark pinks.
Burdundy is a deep wine colored red with neutral undertones.
Deep Purple is a is a very deep wine red with purple undertones.

Browns

Coffee is a mid tone peachy brown with neutral undertones.
Cocoa is a mid tone brown with warm undertones.
Dark Brown is a rich, very dark brown with cool undertones.

Swatches

Pinky Nudes/ Naturals

beige - pale pink - nude pink
natural - peekaboo pink - mauve

Peaches

tangerine - nectar

Pinks

flower - citrine - rose
dolly pink - pinky

Reds

pumpkin - red
burgundy - deep purple

Browns

coffee - cocoa - dark brown

Brush Drying Frame

2011-03-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

This will be a quick post!

I asked my boyfriend to make me a brush drying frame so I could dry my brushes head-down after washing them, and I was constantly annoyed at how much space my brushes take up if I have to wash and dry a few dozen at one time...

So here is the finished product! The brushes are suspended by rubber bands, which are hanging from thumb tacks. It works really well! I am going to store it in my closet on my dresser, so my brushes are out of sight while they're drying.

(and I might paint it so it looks a little prettier!)

The New Urban Decay Naked Palette?

2011-03-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

My palette arrived so much faster than I anticipated!

Because of the coverage this palette received on blogs, I knew exactly what to expect...

But I was surprised! My palette did not come with the double-ended zero/ whiskey 24/7 eye liner. Instead it came with a brush:

Is this palette overrated? Absolutely not- every color in this palette is awesome, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Pictures:

Swatches:

And my eye look/ F.O.T.D. after trying it for the first time:

I highly recommend this palette. Hopefully it will come back into stock soon!

I'm Beginning Project [X] Pan

2011-03-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

I've been away from blogging for several reasons (work, brainstorming for my next blog- which I hope to get up and running by the summer, etc.), but I am back and hope I can keep blogging on a regular basis because it is something I truly miss.

I have purchased a ton of higher-end makeup/ brushes/ skin care in the last 6 months and decided that once I was able to get the Urban Decay Naked Palette, I would begin a Project [X] Pan. I found the Urban Decay Naked Palette in stock last night on Urban Decay's website. As I write this, I have confirmed the site has already sold out (unfortunately!).

I am calling this a "Project [X] Pan" because I am not actually sure how many products I can finish. When I think about getting to the bottom of a blush or eyeshadow pan, it seems impossible... I decided to start with products I just want to get out of my vanity drawers, although there are more that I should be able to finish in the coming months. I am shooting to finish 10- 20 products, depending on how things go.

I put the ones I want to "work on" in this tray so I can remind myself to use them every day:

I am certain I can get through several lip products, so I feel like that will get me off to a good start!

Other food for thought:
1) I am sort of over buying makeup online and in the drugstore. I really got into trying inexpensive makeup (ELF, NYX) in 2009, but as 2010 ended, I felt like I had a ton of cheap makeup that was collecting dust. I went through my stash and tossed a lot and reorganized other items I thought were worth keeping. In the last 6 months I've been getting back into high end products.
2) Hopefully I'll be getting this camera soon, and provided that I learn a bit more about photography, I hope I should soon be posting better quality pictures.
3) I've been considering video-making for my YouTube channel (I deleted all of my videos), but for some reason I just haven't taken the plunge. I have recorded and edited countless "test" videos to A/B lighting and camera settings, but I just haven't wanted to put myself out there yet.
4) I am in my 4th week testing Rapid Lash, and so far, I haven't seen a huge difference. I plan on posting a full review in the next few weeks, with before and after pictures.
5) I am so ready for Spring and Summer! I can't wait to be rid of these gloomy days!

Hope you all are well :)

Loreal Color Riche Lipstick in Fairest Nude

2010-11-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

Although I may have grown up in the lip gloss generation, I have definitely discovered the loveliness of lipstick in the last 3 years or so. I don't normally seek out lipsticks at the drug store because I find that most of the shades offered are ones I wouldn't be likely to wear every day (i.e. lots of berry "mommy" shades!). This particular lipstick is definitely outside of that category. While not my everyday lipstick, this is one I reach for when I want a natural, pretty lip that is not so pink.

As with most drugstore brands, Loreal Color Riche Lipstick does not come in the greatest packaging, but it is better than some! One really odd thing is that I have to twist about twice as much to get the bullet to make an appearance, but I don't find it to be a real problem.

As the swatches indicate, this color could be described as a beigy-mauve that falls somewhere between light and medium. It is definitely not a nude shade that will blend into the skin tone, especially for a fair skinned person like myself.

*Please excuse the shoddy retouching! My skin is a bit flaky from benzoyl peroxide, and while it isn't noticeable from most angles, in a macro photo it looks quite scary!

Full face shown in natural daylight:

Full face shown with flash:

In summary, this lipstick is probably worth trying if you're looking for a natural lipstick shade with a cream finish that feels more on the moisturizing than the drying side. Color payoff is quite opaque, and the scent could be described as "papery rose" (I don't find it to be off-putting, but others may!). All things considered, this is a good lipstick!

What would you like to read about?

2010-10-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

Some of the reasons I have not posted in 4 months include that I have been considering starting another blog (and possibly a new video channel as well) and also that I have also been really busy with work and moving (again!!). Anywho - If you're still reading this blog, please let me know what you'd like to see next!

Loreal Color Riche Lipstick
Fairest Nude

Victorias Secret Lipstick
Satin Slip

MAC Lipstick
Various Pink Shades

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips
Sandy

Stars Makeup Haven Eye Shadow
Various Shades

Urban Decay Eye Shadow
Yeyo - Revolver - Vapour

Smashbox Eye Shadow
Flirt - Minx

Smashbox Blush
Chiffon - Flush

NYX Mosaic Blush
All Shades

Sigma F25 (SS138) vs. MAC 138

What is Weird: "Gift Hauls"

2010-06-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

Am I the only person who thinks that this phenomenon is really creepy?!

I am subscribed to probably a dozen gurus who regularly accept "gifts" from subscribers. Sometimes the items the gurus receive are used, and other times they are brand new.

I don't mean to pass judgment on people who send the gifts, or those that receive them, but the idea is really strange to me...

I could definitely elaborate on this, but for how I'll keep this short and sweet!

If you are inclined, share your thoughts in the comments ;)

mark. Eye Shadow Overview

2010-05-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

The simplicity of mark. eye shadows appealed to me from the first time I saw them- they're square, have a the "mark." logo imprinted in the center of the shadow, and can easily be popped in and out of palettes and rearranged. Initially I started with 8 colors in the spring of 2009, and after using them several times I sort of forgot about them...

Then, when I discovered an Avon Store in the San Francisco Bay Area (who knew there were Avon stores?!) I decided to pop in and check out the other colors. Several of the shades I wanted to try were out of stock, so I hopped online and placed an order for some colors I didn't have but wanted to try. I already owned a couple mark. palettes, but instead of purchasing more, I decided to house the shadows in a MAC palette (for storage reasons- something I plan to talk about in a subsequent post).

18 colors fit nicely into the MAC palette. As pictured above, I created a nice neutral palette that I really like.

Below you can see the size difference as compared to the mark mega palette that holds 8 shadows.

There are two other sizes of mark. palettes available, the mezzo (pictured below) and the mini that fits two colors.

As for the colors in my neutral palette, I think all of them would be flattering on almost any skin color. I think that mark. has aimed to create very wearable colors, for the most part. The only thing to watch out for with these shadows is the finish- some of them have micro glitter, and I think that is something most of us over the age of 20 want to avoid (for daily wear). See my descriptions and swatches to get an idea of how the colors will appear when applied to the skin.

Neutral Colors

whisper (matte)

Flat pale ivory-beige that is great as a highlight or base color. Pigmentation is middle of the road (i.e. not sheer but not totally opaque either).

biscotti (shimmer)

Shimmery (with micro glitter/ large shimmer- however you want to look at it) sheer ivory color. this works well applied across the entire lid and in the inner corner. I wouldn't use it as a highlight due to the level of shimmer. This color doesn't have great color payoff, so I would use it to add a touch of shimmer, more than anything else.

nomadic (shimmer)

Shimmery (with micro glitter/ large shimmer) sheer pale buttery gold. This works well applied across the entire lid and in the inner corner. I wouldn't use it as a highlight due to the level of shimmer. This color doesn't have great color payoff, so I would use it to add a touch of shimmer, more than anything else.

stellar (shimmer)

Light shimmer/ sheen finish pale golden yellow. This color is beautiful applied across the entire lid, or in the inner corner of the eye. Pigmentation is good, but is not totally opaque.

magic (shimmer)

Light shimmer/ sheen finish pale golden copper. This color is beautiful applied across the entire lid. Pigmentation is good, but is not totally opaque.

cake (shimmer)

Light shimmer/ sheen finish baby pink. This color is beautiful applied across the entire lid, or in the inner corner of the eye. For light to medium skin tones, this may work well as a warm highlight color. Pigmentation is sheer.

latte (matte)

Flat warm beige. This is a nice highlight color for tan- deep skin tones, and words well as a crease/ blending color for fair- light skin tones. It would also work well as a base color applies across the entire lid. Pigmentation is middle of the road.

fairy dust (shimmer)

Shimmery (with micro glitter/ large shimmer) rosy warm beige. This works well applied across the entire lid and in the inner corner. I wouldn't use it as a highlight due to the level of shimmer. Pigmentation is middle of the road.

minx (shimmer)

Light shimer/ sheen finish mid-tone taupe with cool undertones. This is beautiful as a base color applies across the entire lid, or as a standalone color. Pigmentation is middle of the road, but can be intensified by layering.

gioia (shimmer)

Shimmery/ sheen finish mid-tone neutral brown. This color is beautiful as a stand alone color across the entire lid, or when used to subtly deepen the crease. Pigmentation is good, but is not completely opaque.

tiki (shimmer)

Shimmer (micro glitter/ light shimmer) finish warm golden brown. This color is beautiful as a stand alone color across the entire lid. I don't think it is the best color for the crease, given the level of shimmer. Pigmentation is middle of the road, but can be layered for more intensity.

espresso (matte)

Flat warm brown with red undertones. This is a nice color for deepening the crease. Pigmentation is good but is not completely opaque.

glitterati (shimmer)

Shimmery/ sheen finish pale silver. This color is beautiful when applied across the entire lid. Shimmer fallout can be a problem, so patting this color onto the lid rather than sweeping it will help to prevent fallout. Pigmentation is a bit sheer, but can be built to medium opacity.

lotus (shimmer)

Shimmery/ sheen finish pale lilac. This color is beautiful when applied across the entire lid. Shimmer fallout can be a problem, so patting this color onto the lid rather than sweeping it will help to prevent fallout. Pigmentation is a bit sheer, but can be built to medium opacity.

wink wink (matte)

Flat beige with purpley- grey undertones. This color works well when applied as a base color across the entire lid, or as a crease color for subtle definition. Pigmentation is middle of the road.

plum velvet (shimmer)

Shimmer/ sheen finish mid-tone burgundy. This color is beautiful in the crease, but can also be applied across the entire lid for a bold eye look. Pigmentation is good, but is not completely opaque.

java (shimmer)

Shimmer/ sheen finish deep neutral brown w/ copper shimmer. This color is beautiful in the crease, but can also be applied across the entire lid for a bold eye look. Pigmentation is good, but is not completely opaque.

corset (shimmer)

Shimmer/ sheen finish charcoal black. This color is a few shades lighter than a straight-up black, so some may find it easier to blend. Pigmentation is good, but is not completely opaque.

Bright Colors

I also have six bright colors. I don't wear them very often, but they are nice to mix with neutrals, or even to wear alone on occasion.

(The blush pictured is angelic. It is filled with chunky glitter. I would not recommend it to anyone. I believe this color has been discontinued.)

dragonfly (shimmer)
Shimmer/ sheen finish lime yellow. Pigmentation is middle of the road, but can be layered for more opacity.

retro peacock (shimmer)
Shimmer/ sheen finish deep blue-teal. Pigmentation is very opaque.

night owl (shimmer)
Slightly shimmery finish deep blue. Pigmentation is good, but is not completely opaque.

pool (shimmer)
Light shimmer finish aqua color. Pigmentation is middle of the road, but can be layered for more intensity.

picadilly (shimmer)

Light shimmer deep purple. This color actually looks more matte when applied. Pigmentation is opaque, but applies patchy.

apple (shimmer)
Shimmer/ sheen finish coral. Pigmentation is good but is not completely opaque.

Swatches

whisper - biscotti - nomadic
latte - fairy dust - minx
glitterati - lotus - wink wink

stellar - magic - cake
gioia - tiki - espresso
plum velvet - java - corset

dragonfly - retro peacock - ocean drive
pool - piccadilly - apple

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 Is Not For Me!

2010-05-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

In the last month, Laura Mercier's mineral foundation has received a lot of praise from beauty gurus on youtube. I have been happy with my Bare Escentuals foundation, but decided to try this foundation to see if I would prefer it...!

A little about my skin issues:
- I have very very fair skin, and I usually find that most foundations are too yellow or pink for me (even BE foundation falls to either side, but I make do).
- I have a lot of discoloration (inflammation, acne scarring, freckles) that I need to cover.
- My skin texture isn't the greatest... I have some acne scarring and visible pores that I don't want to accentuate with makeup.
- My skin is sensitive.

(the jar is only half filled, so the packaging should be smaller)

To get to the point: I didn't like this foundation at all. Here are the reasons:

1. The color I picked was too little bit too light for me, but I won't be trying another shade for the reasons below...
2. The finish of the foundation just looks ridiculous. It looks like I took a highlighter and applied it over my face... Not a good look. To me there is nothing subtle about the pearl powder in this product- it is noticeable and is not in the least flattering or natural in appearance. I don't think anyone with even the slightest skin texture issues should go anywhere near this product (as a full on foundation).
3. The packing is cheaply constructed, and is too large for the amount of product that is provided. I know it took Bare Escentuals over 30 years to improve their packaging, but at least they have finally done it!

Bottom line- I just don't like it. It doesn't give me enough coverage (it is a light- to medium coverage foundation), it emphasizes skin texture flaws and looks very unnatural on the skin. I am assuming some of the more medium-tones colors are not as bad as the lighter toned ones (my guess is there is probably less pearl powder in those).

This could be nice as a highlighter, but I think there are better products for the price (and in more convenient packaging) so I don't think it is worthwhile to use this solely for the purpose of highlighting. I will say that the foundation didn't irritate my skin and wore about the same as my BE foundation (as far as lasting power is concerned).

Oh well!

My first NARS Eye Shadow Duo: EGEA

2010-05-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

NARS EYE SHADOW DUO, EGEA

Described by NARS as a "frosted sage and smoky lilac", I thought this would be the perfect introduction to the brand, since I tend to gravitate towards cooler-toned light colors to compliment my fair skin. Because the duos are a bit more expensive, I also wanted to pick one that contained two unique, slightly complex colors. I have many different colors of eye shadow in various finishes in my collection, but none quite like this.

Both colors have a fairly frosty finish, although the sage color is a bit more intense in its light reflecting properties. It almost borders on neutral, but is ever so slightly warm. The smoky lilac is definitely cool- toned. Mixed together they create a very unique, pale color that is hard to describe... When paired with other shades of eye shadow, the duo is very chameleon- like, and I think it would work with a lot of colors.

Unfortunately, when I actually wore the duo, I didn't feel that it was complimentary to my skin tone. I was also surprised by how powdery the finish was. I have heard others say that the NARS shadows and blushes are not nearly as creamy as the testers in stores are, so I wasn't totally surprised by this, but I didn't think I would feel as underwhelmed as I do. Another disappointment with this duo is the packaging- no matter how clean I keep my vanity area- seemed to show off any and all traces of makeup, fingerprints, dust... It was impossible to keep clean. I should also say that I tend to prefer using shadows from a custom palette, so reaching for this duo, given my feelings for it, would be somewhat of a chore.

For $32, I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be. Sadly this went back to Sephora. I'm thinking next time I'll go with a larger pallette from Nars.com, and see if I have better luck in the future.

Sigma SS165 vs. MAC 165 Brush

2010-05-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MAC 165 AND THE SIGMA MAKEUP SS165
Difference in Price: $24.69. You'll spend 73% more on the MAC version.
Difference in Weight: 0.3 grams.
Difference in brush length: approx. 1/2".
Difference in Brush Diameter: MAC handle is smaller than Sigma handle.
Difference in Brush Heads: None in terms of size. Differences between bristle softness and stiffness are noted in the detailed descriptions below.
Difference in construction: MAC brush head is glued and clamped onto the handle. Sigma brush head is only glued onto the handle.

MAC 165 TAPERED CHEEK AND HIGHLIGHTER BRUSH
Cost: $34. Availability: Limited Edition (MAC releases this brush a few times a year but does not stock it in the permanent collection). Origin: Japan. Intended Use: Blush application, contouring, highlighting. Brush Length: approx. 7 1/2". Brush Weight: 15.6 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No dye bled. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Extremely soft, very comfortable to brush across the face. Quality is very high; ferrule is attached very securely. Cons: Availability, price. Final Impression: This is a fantastic brush I would recommend investing in when it is next available. I don't think all MAC brushes are worth the price, but this one is an exception. It is very uniquely shaped, of very high quality, and performs in a way that most other cheek brushes don't. It is a one of a kind.

SIGMA MAKEUP SS 165 TAPERED HIGHLIGHTER BRUSH
Cost: $9.31 (When purchased in the $149 kit, and the price is divided equally among 16 products). Availability: Online at sigmamakeup.com, but only in the $149 kit (not individually). Origin: China. Intended Use: Blush application, contouring, highlighting. Brush Length: approx 7". Brush Weight: 15.3 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No dye bled. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8 Pros: Inexpensive. Bristles are stiff enough to contour really nicely. Pretty soft. Cons: Bristles are not quite as baby-fine as the ones in the MAC 165, and they are a bit more "frizzy". The brush doesn't hold its shape as well after washing, and the tapering is a little bit asymetrical. The brush head is simply glued onto the handle. Final Impression: This is a good brush that works best for contouring and highlighting. In most situations I don't think it would be great for blush application, but you can definitely make it work if you must. This brush is one I am pleased to own.

So... Which brush do I prefer???

The MAC 165. It is a higher quality brush. It is softer. The construction is superior. I still like the Sigma SS165, but I feel that the price differences between the two is not enough to make a significant difference in my decision.

Sigma Makeup Professional Premium Brush Kit Review/ Overview

2010-03-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

***Preface: I purchased these brushes with my own money. This is not a sponsored post.***

Although I had heard A LOT about Sigma Makeup Brushes through youtube, I hesitated to purchase the original brush kit. I did purchase the revised SS 187 when Encore Makeup published his video about it, but otherwise, I owned no other Sigma brushes. I was simply sick of hearing about the company, and wanted to spend my money elsewhere. However, when I received an email about the Professional Premium Brush Kit, I was intrigued....

At $149, it is considerably more expensive than the first full brush kit offered by Sigma Makeup; however, there are more face brushes in this set. Compared to what one would spend for similar brushes individually, this is a very good value for money. Shipping will vary by location (I.e. Domestic v. International). I paid $7 for shipping, and no sales tax (which is awesome- I live in California and would have had to pay an extra $14 otherwise!).

15 Brushes are included in the set, along with a brush roll. If divided equally, the price for each item is $9.31.

I ordered this set on Monday, February 22nd and it arrived on Wednesday, February 24th. I was impressed that it shipped so quickly (to California). The box the kit shipped in was black with a Sigma sticker on it. I appreciated the care taken in packaging the contents.

When I opened the box, I observed everything packaged nicely in a black gauze bag. Instructions for care and a brochure detailing each brush were included. Unexpectedly, I smelled an extremely strong, artificial and rubber/ glue- like odor. Initially I believed the smell originated from the brush roll, but after removing the brushes from it, I determined it was coming from the brushes themselves (probably due to the glue used in the manufacturing process). The odor has significantly decreased after several washings, but is important to consider. I was surprised by this since no other gurus that I have seen have mentioned this detail...

The included brush roll is the exact same version as compared to the one sold with Sigma's Complete Brush Kit (and also available individually on the site). I noted that some of the brushes fit very tightly into their slots (in particular, the SS 227 and the SS 165) and were difficult to remove and replace in the roll. Contrary to comments made by others (Tiffany D and the like), I found the brush roll to have a very cheap feel. It didn't feel like imitation leather, but more like a thin rubber. The brush roll is not an item I would use, since I already own a brush belt that I prefer to Sigma's brush roll. I would have preferred the option to order this kit without the roll.All brushes were nicely packaged in plastic for protection. As I removed the brushes from the roll, I immediately noticed that the plastic sleeves were labeled "Made in P.R.C." (People's Republic of China). Given background information provided by several gurus (including Tiffany D) about the Sigma brand, I believed the brushes were made in the United States. In fact, the brushes are designed in the U.S., manufactured in China, and then distributed by Sigma (based in the U.S.). Whether or not this poses an issue is for you to decide, but I think it is important to clarify this point. I was previously under the impression Sigma products were made in the U.S.A. since "U.S.A." is stamped on each brush handle (Why not omit "U.S.A" to avoid confusion?).

The information included with the kit is great, especially for beginners who may not know how to care for or use the brushes. One criticism I have for the brochure is that there are inconsistencies in the descriptions of the brushes. Some descriptions include the materials the brush is comprised of (I.e. "natural bristles" vs. "synthetic bristles") while others do not. I think this is something Sigma should consider revisiting. Consistency is important (Something we'll revisit when inspecting the quality of the brushes)!

...Onto brush specs and review details!

SS 134 LARGE POWDER BRUSH
Intended Use: Setting Powder and Bronzer application. Brush Length: approx 6 3/4". Brush Weight: 43.3 grams. Shed Factor: Not bad. Only a few bristles shed here and there prior to washing, and a few after. Dye Bleeding Factor: Not bad. Very little dye extracted during washing. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Very Soft, very dense and lush feeling. Cons: Becomes extremely fluffy after washing and loses its "paddle shape". Over time it takes on the shape of a fluffy powder brush. Final Impression: I do like this brush, and am hoping that drying the brush in a brush guard will help to condense the bristles so they do not become so fluffy as they dry.

SS 129 POWDER/ BLUSH BRUSH
Intended Use: Blush and powder application. Brush Length: approx 7 1/2". Brush Weight: 21.8 grams. Shed Factor: No noticeable amount of bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No noticeable bleeding while washing. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 7.5. The bristles aren't quite as baby fine as some of the others. Pros: Good, basic blush brush- a "can't go wrong" standby. Cons: Might be a little large for some people. Could be softer. Final Impression: Not my favorite blush brush in the world, but definitely not bad.

SS131 DUO FIBRE POWDER BRUSH
Intended Use: Blush and powder application, application of cream and liquid products. Brush Length: approx 7 1/2". Brush Weight: 23 grams. Shed Factor: A few bristles shed prior to washing. Dye Bleeding Factor: Noticeable bleeding during washing. In addition, black dye leaches into the white synthetic bristles as the brush dries and tints them a grayish color. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Unique brush, may help to deposit highly pigmented products with less intensity. Cons: Dye leaching into white bristles. Final Impression: I like this brush, and hope that the dye leaching will discontinue over time.

SS 138 TAPERED FACE BRUSH
Intended Use: Powder application. Brush Length: approx 8". Brush Weight: 35.7 grams. Shed Factor: LOTS of shedding. Countless bristles shed and even a clump of about 4 bristles came out of the brush prior to washing. This brush shed more than any other I have owned in any price range. Dye Bleeding Factor: Bleeding was a bit more noticeable with this brush, but was not bad. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Very soft, pleasant to use for powder application. Cons: Brush head is very fluffy, and like the SS 134, this brush almost turns into a standard powder brush after washing. The domed and pointed shape lose definition when the brush head is pressed into the face. Lots of bristles shed. Final Impression: I like the brush, and am hopeful that the use of a brush guard during drying will help to condense the bristles so they are not so fluffy. I am disappointed that the brush head does not retain it's pointy shape when brushed across the face.

SS 165 TAPERED HILIGHTER BRUSH
Intended Use: Hilight, contour application. Brush Length: approx. 7". Brush Weight: 15.3 grams. Shed Factor: Not bad. A few bristles broke off, but did not shed from the base of the brush. Dye Bleeding Factor: No noticeable bleeding of dye. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Brush retains its pointed shape even after washing. Works tremendously well for contouring. Cons: The tapering around the brush is not completely symmetrical. There are some "Frizzy" and slightly scratchy bristles that stick out of the brush. Final Impression: I like this brush, but wish it was a bit softer and tapered more precisely. This is another example of inconsistency in the bristles. While the similarly shaped, but larger SS 138 bristles are extremely soft and baby fine in texture, there are definitely some bristles in this brush that are on the scratchier side.

SS 192 LARGE CONCEALER BRUSH
Intended Use: Concealer, cream products application. Brush Length: approx 6 3/4". Brush Weight: 16.5 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No dye bled. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9 (although synthetic bristles are inherently slick and are often soft). Pros: Large brush head can conceal larger areas quickly. Cream products wash out more easily than they do when used with natural bristled brushes. Cons: None. Final Impression: This is a good basic brush. It doesn't particularly stand out in the set, but it performs very well.

SS 195 CONCEALER BRUSH
Intended Use: Application of concealer and other cream products such as eye bases. Brush Length: approx. 7". Brush Weight: 8.2 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 7.5. Pros: Tapered and slightly pointed brush tip allow you to get into all crevices around the eye area. Since the brush is extremely thin, it doesn't absorb too much product. Does not cake on liquid or cream concealers, and allows for building of products if necessary. Cons: Can feel slightly pokey. Tapering, again, is imperfect. I can see jagged cuts on this brush. Final Impression: I really like this brush. I wish it was a little less pokey, but it not so bad that it would prevent my use of the brush.

SS 210 SMALL EYE LINER BRUSH
Intended Use: Creme and liquid eye liner application. Brush Length: approx 6 1/4". Brush Weight: 4.8 grams. Shed Factor: No bristles shed. Dye Bleeding Factor: No bleeding occurred. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Very thin, allows for precise application of eye liner. The brush handle is is a good size in terms of diameter- it fits really well in the hand. Cons: I wanted this to be an arced liner brush. Arced liner brushes are simply easier to use and are more precise. Final Impression: Great brush. Does what it is intended to.

SS 212 FLAT DEFINER BRUSH
Intended Use: Eye liner application, smudging, eye liner setting with powder. Brush Length: approx. 6 1/4". Brush Weight: 6.1 grams. Shed Factor: No shedding occurred. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 7.5. Pros: Dense but very thin. Wide enough to cover a good amount of real estate, but not so wide that it doesn't contour to the curves of the eye. Cons: A little bit stiff, but I really can't complain here. Final Impression: Awesome brush.

SS 214 SHORT SHADER BRUSH
Intended Use: Precise shading and smudging. Brush Length: approx 6 1/2". Brush Weight: 7.3 grams. Shed Factor: Has shed probably about 6 bristles so far, some prior to washing, and some after while being used. Dye Bleeding Factor: No bleeding occurred. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Nice small size with rounded edges makes it great for smudging. Cons: Wish it was a little more dense. Surprising amount of bristles shed. Final Impression: Like this brush, but it could be improved upon (make it a little softer and just a touch more dense).

SS 217 BLENDING BRUSH
Intended Use: Eye shadow application, blending of eye shadow and cream products. Brush Length: approx 7". Brush Weight: 7.3 grams. Shed Factor: No shedding occurred. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A Softness (Scale of 1-10): 10. Pros: Extremely soft, lays down color nicely and blends wonderfully. Cons: Can be a little difficult to clean. It is a good idea to research cleaning methods for white bristles to retain the brightness of the white goat hair. Final Impression: I absolutely love this brush. I love it more than I thought I would. It might be my favorite from the set.

SS 222 TAPERED BLENDING BRUSH
Intended Use: Blending, application of eye crease color. Brush Length: 7". Brush Weight: 7.6 grams. Shed Factor: Maybe 1 bristle? Pretty much not an issue. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8.5 Pros: Great blending brush that works well even on small eyes. Lays down crease color precisely. Cons: The tip of the brush can feel a little pokey, but I expect that this will improve over time as the brush is used. Final Impression: I really like this brush, but not as much as the SS217!

SS 226 SMALL TAPERED BLENDING BRUSH
Intended Use: Application and blending of crease color. Brush Length: approx 7". Brush Weight: 6.6 grams. Shed Factor: Maybe 1 or 2 hairs? Not really a big issue. Dye Bleeding Factor: Not noticeable. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 8. Pros: Works well to apply color and blend in the crease. Retains its shape after washing. Cons: Tapering is not symmetrical around the diameter of the brush head. There are also a few bristles that are on the scratchier side, as occurred with the SS 165. Final Impression: I like this brush, but wish a little more care was taken in the manufacturing process to ensure that the brush head was symmetrical. Overall, I don't think this effects the performance of the brush.

SS 227 LARGE FLUFF BRUSH
Intended Use: Eye shadow application. Brush Length: approx 6 1/2" Brush Weight: 17.3 grams. Shed Factor: Shed about 6-8 bristles prior to washing and while being used. Dye Bleeding Factor: Not noticeable. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9 Pros: Covers large area, feels soft and is comfortable to use. Cons: Shedding of bristles, although I expect this to improve over time. Final Impression: This is a good brush. For me, it is not a must have, but is a nice supplement to my collection.

SS 316 LIP BRUSH
Intended Use: Application of lipstick and lip gloss. Brush Length: approx 4" when closed, 7" when open. Brush Weight: 8.2 grams. Shed Factor: No shedding occurred. Dye Bleeding Factor: N/A. Softness (Scale of 1-10): 9. Pros: Very sleek looking, and the brush head is protected by the cover. Cons: Poor design. The cover scrapes the brush handle as it is slid on and off, damaging the black finish finish. The shape of the brush head is a bit small and rounded for my taste. Final Impression: This could be a good brush, but the design needs to be improved.

More pictures... Because we love pictures!

Final Thoughts:
I am really happy with the set after using it for just over a month. Although there were some brushes I probably wouldn't have purchased on their own, I think I will still use every brush in the set. I was so pleased with this set that I went ahead and purchased the original complete set after the fact, which I am still testing out.

I wouldn't rely solely on these brushes if I were a makeup artist, but I think that for personal use they are just fine and will likely last for years. I think that like the original complete set, some will probably prefer certain MAC brushes, and some will prefer certain Sigma brushes. Be on the lookout for my comparison of the Sigma SS 165 to the MAC 165, as I think this review will detail some important differences between the brushes, as far as quality is concerned. Bottom Line: If you're curious about these brushes, I'd recommend trying them. But keep in mind that Sigma does not accept returns, only exchanges, for defective products. So if you end up disappointed, you're stuck with the brushes!

Happy Valentines Day + PayPal Chocolate!

2010-02-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

On Friday morning, as I was exiting the BART station I saw a woman with a box of chocolate bars exclaiming, "Happy Valentines Day from PayPal!" I was happy to grab a free chocolate bar, and figured it was probably just a repackaged, chalky and overly sweet hersheys bar.

Well, I was wrong! The chocolate was even imprinted with the Pay Pal logo, and it was yummy! It was a lovely start to the 3 day weekend.

Introduction to LORAC Eye Shadow

2009-12-30T11:22:00.000-08:00

Lorac has an amazing deal in their Everyday Eye Collection. I picked this up about a month ago along with two other colors not in the collection, Persuasion, and Innocence.

Pictured from left to right: Persuasion, Beige, Mesmerize, Joy, Innocence, Cappuccino, Cocoa, Suede, Kiwi, Lush, Jade

*Swatches done over NYX Concealer in a Jar

Beige, Cocoa, and Suede are Matte while the others are between a satin and pearl finish (the camera flash makes the swatches appear more frosty/ shimmery than they are in person). All of these shadows are buttery, blend effortlessly, and look beautiful on the eye. They last all day over a variety of bases (from a NYX Jumbo Pencil to Urban Decay Primer Potion). My favorite shade is Kiwi- it is a beautiful, slightly green mid-tone silver that is gorgeous all over the lid and on the lower lash line by itself. The pots that hold these 26mm, 1.7 gram filled pans in place have a twist- off lid. A de-potting method for these shadows would be the same as the MAC or Smashbox method.

This eye collection came with a calligraphy style pen liner, called Front of the Line, in the shade black. I personally prefer gel liner, and think a pen like this would be best suited for detailed eye or face makeup (for theatre/ photo shoots) as opposed to an everyday liquid liner. I also think that as an individual product, the product is way overpriced at $22.

Lastly, everything came in this very cute makeup bag!

As of today this collection is still available. I HIGHLY recommend picking it up. I have always been a fan of LORAC makeup, but never wanted to give in to an $18 shadow. Now that I have tried these, I can see myself splurging on a LORAC shadow single from time to time. Sometimes spending a little extra for luxurious application is worth it!

Tarte Eyeshadow Review/ Overview

2009-12-19T09:39:00.001-08:00

Customized Magnetic Palettes

2009-12-18T15:28:00.000-08:00

Elf Studio Powders Review and Cross- Comparison

2009-12-09T21:59:00.001-08:00

Crown Brushes Review

2009-12-04T15:39:00.001-08:00

Products of the Moment

2009-12-04T10:12:00.001-08:00

How to De-pot the Tarte Treasure Chest

2009-12-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

*DISCLAIMER: THIS METHOD INVOLVES BAKING THE PLASTIC TRAYS WHICH SERVE AS THE PALETTES WITHIN THE TREASURE CHEST. BAKING THE TRAYS IS DANGEROUS, DUE TO THE RISKS OF CREATING A FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING EXPOSED TO PLASTIC FUMES THAT ARE RELEASED AS THE PLASTIC TRAYS MELT. SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO DE-POT YOUR TREASURE CHEST (OR ANY OTHER COSMETICS HOUSED IN PLASTIC PACKAGING) USING THIS METHOD, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE RISKS. I RECOMMEND HAVING A SMALL KITCHEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND JUST IN CASE... YOUR ROOM SHOULD BE WELL VENTILATED, AND FOR ADDED SAFETY YOU MAY WANT TO WEAR A MASK (ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IF YOU HAVE PETS, YOU ARE ALSO EXPOSING THEM TO THE FUMES). I HAVE NEVER CAUSED A FIRE WHEN USING THIS METHOD, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY DAMAGE TO MY RESPIRATORY HEALTH, BUT BELIEVE THESE ARE VALID CONCERNS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO DE-POTTING COSMETICS.*

*You will not be able to de-pot the lip glosses with this method- only the eye shadows, blushes, hilighter, and bronzer)

In Addition to the Treasure Chest, you will need:
(1) Metal sheet pan covered in aluminum foil. You will also need extra foil for additional "batches" of trays that you'll be baking.
(2) Oven mitts (Silicone Mitts are recommended as the melted plastic does not stick to them).
(3) Toaster oven or conventional Oven, pre-heated to 325 degrees fahrenheit (Make sure your oven light is on so you can see they tray as it is baking. You will remain in the kitchen the entire time the tray is baking, while watching, in order to pull it out at the right time).
(4) Metal utensil to handle the shadows when they are ready to be removed from the melted trays. I recommend using a metal nail file.
(5) A flat work surface upon which you will place the tray
(6) Trivets or a raised, heat resistant component to go underneath the sheet pan if it can not be placed directly on your work surface.
(7) Paper towels or additional aluminum foil to lay the shadows/ blushes on after they are de-potted, until they cool down.

Instructions:
(1) Remove all trays that slide out. Place the lip gloss tray to the side, as this will not be de-potted.
(2) Remove the Tarte ribbon from the tray housing the blushes, etc. by pulling on it firmly.
(3) Remove the matte eye shadow tray by ripping it from the packaging by ripping off all paper and fabric parts (this will be very easy).
(4) Remove the shimmer eye shadow trays from the packaging by ripping off all paper and fabric parts (again, this will be very easy).
(5) You should be left with your square palettes containing the blushes, etc., and the matte eye shadows, as well as two smaller rectangular trays that hold the shimmer eye shadows. Ensure that all of the paper and fabric is removed from the plastic.
(6) After the oven is pre-heated, you will place one tray at a time on the covered baking sheet, with the cosmetic product facing upwards, and place it in the oven for 2-3 minutes, give or take.
(7) Watch the plastic melt. It will begin to curl under or upwards, and you will see the cosmetic pans loosen from their holes. Pull the sheet pan out after the plastic has curled up. If the plastic starts to smoke, remove it immediately.
(8) Using your metal utensil (metal nail file recommended), carefully lift the pans from their pots. This should be effortless. Remove all pans that are easily lifted.
(9) For any pans that do not remove easily, do not force their removal. Place the sheet pan back in the oven for 30 seconds- 1 minute to re-heat the tray, then attempt to remove them on the second try.
(10) Once all pans are removed from the tray, throw away the plastic sheet along with the aluminum foil. Do this while wearing oven mitts; the tray will be hot.
(11) Repeat steps 6-10 for the remaining trays. (The rectangle trays containing the shimmer shadows will be at an awkward angle due to the L-shaped plastic trays, but this will not be an issue- they will bake normally just as the flat trays did).

Once the trays are de-potted and cooled, you can clean the backside of the pans with alcohol to remove the glue residue, and then place a magnet over the back so the pan can be placed in a magnetic palette (such as the MAC palettes, with the plastic inserts removed, or a 28- hole plastic palette, with the foam insert removed, fitted with a piece of galvanized steel on the bottom).

An Epiphany, Thanks to MyFavoriteWeapon

2009-11-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

OMG! I have a PEAR face shape.

How is it I have made my way through life never hearing this term? I have heard of square, round, oval, and heart, but never "pear". MyFavoriteWeapon told me she believed I had a pear face shape, so I did a google image search and found this:

And here is the advice for pear shaped heads (via apply-sexy-makeup.com)...

"The pear shaped face is narrow at the temples,forehead and wider at your cheeks and jawline. If you have a pear shaped face, you should highlight your forehead to create the illusion of width and highlight the area under your eyes on top of your cheekbones and also the tip of your chin.You could contour the jawline and your cheeks to minimize the width too. Ps: Your hairstyle plays a part in balancing your face too. Bangs and hair brushed over your temples can add fullness to your upper half of the face."

While I am concerned about hilighting my forehead and making it any bigger than it already is, I do have to say that I will take to heart the advice for my hair style.

Thank you MyFavoriteWeapon! I am now an expert on my own head shape (hehehe!)!

It Had to be Done: De-Potting the Tarte Treasure Chest

2009-11-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

Loved the contents.

Hated the packaging.

Seeking Your Hair Advice!!!

2009-11-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

I need your advice! I really need to cut my hair... I am currently growing out an a-line bob, and I'm trying to decide if I should maintain this look, or do something different entirely!

Things you should know about me and my hair:

(1) My hair is a fairly low priority. I like to have a style that requires little work to maintain and/or style (i.e. if I decide to roll out of bed and do nothing, it doesn't look too horrible).

(2) I enjoy having hair that is long enough to pull back into a ponytail, but am willing part with this convenience when it is short.

(3) My hair isn't colored, so I would say it is in healthy condition, with the exception of the ends (which are a bit heat damaged and ravaged from cutting and thinning my hair myself)

(4) I have mixed texture hair. Some hair is baby fine, while other hairs are more on the coarse side.

(5) My hair is fairly straight, but has a little bit of awkward wave in it if I don't straighten it.

(6) I avoid at all costs blow drying my hair. I maybe do this less than 10 times a year, and only if I have no other option! (I usually wash my hair at night and air dry it).

(7) My hair is pretty thick and I usually feel like stylists never thin it out enough. I actually bought a pair of thinning shears to take some of the weight off, but I'd really prefer a professional take care of this for me, as I have no idea what I am doing when I hack away.

(8) I would like a style that works with my face shape. I think I have somewhere between and round and square face? I feel like I have to be careful to pick a cut that won't make my face look fuller...

With that said, below are some styles I have had in the past. Please give me some suggestions! I am thinking I might want to try bangs again, but I am not sure how that would go with the shorter hair I currently have.

Short A-Line Bob:

In this style, my hair is so short it is hard to style... If not wearing my hair down and straight, I would pin the middle section back, as pictured below (but this gets boring after a while).

Medium Length, with Layers:

Mid Length with Long Layers, Straight with Side- Swept Bangs:

This was my first time wearing bangs since 3rd grade! It definitely took some adjusting. I liked looking different, but I have to say that I hated the obligation of styling my hair every day. I don't think I maintained this style long enough to truly master arranging my bangs, so there definitely days where I felt awkward with the way my hair looked.

Many times (Especially as my bangs grew out) I would slick on a goody headband to avoid doing anything to my hair (you can see my bangs slipping out in the picture below!)

Long (for me!) Hair:

Any advice is welcomed! I am also considering dyeing my hair. But maybe this is a bad idea since I am low maintenance when it comes to my hair? I am kind of sick of the golden hue in my hair- I think I want a more neutral, slightly darker brown...

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

ELF Studio Products Review- It is massive!

2009-11-14T16:30:00.001-08:00

It seems like ELF releases new products in their Studio Line every day- so I have held off purchasing anything for a while. When I got a good coupon, and had several items I wanted to try, I ordered a ton of stuff! I decided to also review items from past purchases that I have not yet reviewed- so everything you see here is several purchases over time. There are also a few items that I have posted before that I am either recapping or including for purposes of comparison (either in photos or written)...

Of course I had to try the Mineral Infused Face Primer and High Definition Powder...

The packaging for the primer stands out from every other item in the studio line. It features a small white cylinder encapsulated in a larger, clear acrylic cylinder. All of the packaging, including the silver dispenser cap, is plastic. This does not look like it is in the same "family" as the rest of the studio products!

Mineral Infused Face Primer, $6 for .49oz

As you can see, primer is clear. It feels very much like Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer. The ingredients are a bit different- but the effect is similar. ELF's primer provides that slippery surface we're all accustomed to with this style of primer. This helps to diminish the look of pores, and provides a slick surface that will extend the wear of foundation. I have used this with Bare Escentuals original and matte foundations, and it performs equally well with both. My foundation glides over the surface of the primer, resulting in a smoother skin surface than I would have achieved had I only used the foundation itself. I have used the primer for three days and have not had any skin reactions or breakouts, so for now I can say this is an inexpensive primer I can recommend trying; however, those who don't like the slippery feel of silicone primers should steer clear of this one.

Concealer Pencil and and Under Eye Concealer and Hilighter

I was excited to try the spot concealer since it contains salicylic acid. I usually have at least one breakout on any given day, so to conceal spots while promoting faster healing time is a definite plus. Unfortunately, as you can see from the swatch below, the color is off for me- much to yellow. I can pull it off if blended well, but ELF should consider revising this shade.

Concealer in Fair- I was equally excited to try the Concealer and Hilighter. This has been called a "dupe" of the YSL Touche Eclat by some, and I can't deny that this comparison influenced my purchase! Unfortunately, the color is a bit off for me, but I can make it work under my eyes by blending it well. I found that the thin concealer did not provide nearly enough coverage for my under eye circles, so I decided to try it on top of concealer to refresh it, just as one might use Touche Eclat. Initially I felt good about the results, but after a 1/2 hour of wear, the makeup on my lower lash line began to smudge horribly! As for the hilighter side, I was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable level of shimmer/ luminescence this gives. It is fairly patchy when applied, but when blended out, the effect is nice. I applied the hilighter on my brow bone, and to my surprise, it also began to melt down the makeup on my lids! It must have broken down with my body heat and slid down my skin... What a disappointment! Unfortunately I won't repurchase this product, and I can't say that I recommend it. It might be suitable for someone with minimal under eye discoloration, but I would be concerned about the "melting factor" described above...

The hilighter doe foot applicator was red...? Seems a bit weird to me. I thought it had lip product on it, but nothing rubbed off.

Under Eye Concealer and Hilighter Swatch:

Pencil Concealer Swatch:

Swatch of the concealer reveals that it is too yellow for my skin :(

High Definition Powder

The packaging matches it siblings in the Studio Line- black with white labels. The sifter has many holes, so I recommend only cutting off a portion of the sticker sifter to avoid having a plume of powder dispensed every time the puff is removed. My jar came filled only 1/3 of the way, and while the product may have settled, there is really no way for me to know if I was jipped, short of weighing the product! Oh well.

This white powder can be applied with a brush, or rolled onto the surface of the skin with the included cosmetic puff. I applied this over mineral foundation and it provided a lovely, diffused and fairly matte finish to my skin. I must say that I also tried this on top of my under eye concealer (I use NYX Concealer in a Jar) and the HD Powder was much to drying for this. For this reason I'll only use it on my face. As far as lasting power- I think this lasts for about 4-6 hours on my combination skin. After that I would need a touch up to retain the finish I achieved when I started. I only used a very tiny amount of the product for my whole face, so I would imagine this lasts quite a long while. I have used this for three days and have had no reactions, so I can happily recommend this product to others. I can't say how it compares to other "HD" powders, but I can say that I like this one and think it is well worth the money.

ELF Studio Blush, $3 for 2.75 grams

Pictured above: Top Left- Mellow Mauve. Top Right- Candid Coral. Bottom Left: Tickled Pink. Bottom Right- Peachy Keen.

The Studio Blush has to be one of my favorite products out of the entire line. The formulation is superior due to a formula that includes Nylon 12- an ingredient provides smoothness (both to the touch and in application) in cosmetic products. This is the reason these blushes are far less powdery/ chalky than other ELF pressed powder products. Of the four blushes I have, they all have middle of the road pigmentation, with the exception of Tickled Pink, which is sheer and requires more layering to achieve good color payoff. These blushes are easily blended onto the shin, and can be applied sheerly, or layered for more opacity. I wish there were more colors in this range (including a hilighter or bronzer with the same formulation!). Studio Blush is a product I recommend trying. Two other shades that I didn't purchase, Berry Merry, and Blushing Rose, would probably be lovely on medium to deep skin tones, although with a light hand and a kabuki for blending nearby, I would bet they suit lighter complexions just as well.

*Please note error in name; "Cool Coral" is actually "Candid Coral"

Bronzers in Warm and Golden

I like both of these bronzers- but I have to admit that I prefer Golden to Warm! I find that Golden has finer shimmer than Warm, and I can use this one as a nice hilight on my cheek bones, whereas Warm would be too deep in color for my fair complexion. I don't wear warm on my face due to the level of shimmer and darker color, but it is lovely on the deccolte or arms. One of the downfalls of the bronzers is that they are fairly powdery. As you can see from the Warm Bronzer, as it is used the powder breaks down unevenly... While this absolutely doesn't effect how the product wears on the skin, it is a little bit of a turn off. I recommend trying both of the bronzers above. There is also a matte brozer I have yet to try.

Pressed Powders in Porcelain and Almond, $3 for 4.85 grams.

ELF's website states these can be applied wet or dry, although I achieved the same coverage using them either way, so I prefer to use these dry to save myself the hassle of wetting a sponge. This product is extremely powdery- the most powdery of all of the ELF Studio compacts I have tried. That being said, once applied to the skin, the staying power is fairly good. Porcelain, when applied, is still a bit too yellow, so ELF should consider revising the shade (it seems they can't get the shades right for the lightest complexions!); however, applied sheerly, this color works well for my skin. I purchased Almond because I wanted to see if it would work well as a matte bronzer for fair complexions- and I am happy to report that it does. I used this on my neck and decollete as well and noticed very little transfer and fading. Since the shade is darker than my skin, transfer, or fading would have been apparent, but it didn't seem to be a problem with this one. Because this product only provides light coverage, I would only recommend using it as a finishing powder. For those who have almost perfect skin- this product might be all that you need; however, it may be drying to those with dry skin, so make sure to use a good moisturizer. While I am happy with the results of this product, I am not sure if I will repurchase it again. I can see myself repurchasing Almond for use as a bronzer more than I can see myself repurchasing Porcelain.

ELF Blush/ Bronzer,
ELF Translucent Mattifying Powder
ELF Complexion Perfection

Blush/ Bronzer
I find the Blush/ Bronzer products powdery and hard to work with. I personally dislike shimmer in bronzers, and because this bronzer is so deeply pigmented, it doesn't suit my skin tone without applying this extremely lightly and buffing to the extreme. The same can be said for the blush. I dislike the shimmer, find the product overly pigmented, and feel it requires a lot of effort to blend. Because of how cute this couple looks in the compact, I can see why it would be hard to pass up! For me, it is a product that I don't reach for, and I will not repurchase it.

Translucent Mattifying Powder
The translucent powder is not translucent; in fact, it is almost a little pink when applied to the skin. When applied with the included sponge, it successfully disguises pores and mattifies the skin. One complaint is that this product can look cakey. I would not use this a primary setting powder- only as a touch up powder, and I think that touching up more than once a day will result in a cakey effect. It is worth trying, but may not be suitable for the deepest skin tones. I have a backup of this, and after I finish it, I am not sure if will repurchase it. Refill sponges are available from Covergirl Cosmetics, and I recommend replacing the sponges after no more than three washes.

Complexion Perfection
I wasn't happy with the finish of the complexion perfection. To me the finish is dry and powdery, and it does nothing for my skin. I wouldn't use this as a setting powder, and the colors are too sheer to provide any real correcting power to disguise skin imperfections. I would recommend passing on this one.

ELF Studio Eyelash Curler, $3 ELF Studio Mini Eyelash Curler, $3

Hmmm... I bought the standard size lash curler to use when traveling. Unfortunately I can tell it is a $3 lash curler. The glide is not smooth at all- I can feel the bars catch as I open and close the mechanism. Pictured below you will note that the metal that comprises the curling part is asymetrical- not something I want to see in a lash curler. Nonetheless, it curls my lashes, but if I had to rely on this as my everyday lash curler, I would most definitely be frustrated! I have heard the $1 lash curler is superior, but I haven't tried it.

As for the mini lash curler... I thought this would be perfect for a few lashes in my inner corner that point straight down! Unfortunately I found that this lash curler simply pinch and pulled out my precious lashes on either side of the curler! The little "curl" that it did provide was not worth the lash torture I experienced. Personally, I think spending about $10 on a decent lash curler is worth the investment, so I would not recommend either of these.

ELF Studio Eye Shadow in Butter Cream, $3 for 1.75grams
ELF Studio Eye Shadow in Raspberry Truffle, $3 for 1.75grams

I was very disappointed with the first three shadows I purchased (click HERE to see this post) but based on reviews from others, I decided to give these one last try... I am disappointed still. It seems the pigmentation of the darker shades is decent, while the lighter shades barely represent on the skin (even with a good primer). The texture of the shadows is powdery, soft, and a little crumbly. I don't see myself trying these again, and recommend investing more money in a high quality shadow that won't leave you disappointed. This is a good example that sometimes you get what you pay for!

ELF Studio Eye Transformer
ELF Shimmer Palette (click HERE to see my previous post on the Shimmer Palette, including swatches)

Eye transformer swatched above.

My Eye Transformer arrived with a shattered peachy/golden color, but that is ok with me. This is a great product. The pigmentation isn't magnificent, but it is decent. This reminds me of a quad I had in High School from Victoria's Secret- but that one was much more expensive! These can be worn solo over a flesh colored base, over eye shadows, or on top of colored or dark bases to modify the color. This is a fun product I recommend trying.

Eye Liner and Shadow Stick

Colors from left to right: Brown/ Basic, Green/ Moss, Black/ Smoke, Pearl/Glow

I like the idea of Eye Liner and Shadow Stick, but I think this could be better. The shadow sticks are very hard and require a lot of effort to achieve good color pay off. The Smoke color has the best color payoff. The Liners are very soft and are easy to apply; however, they smudge easily so I recommend setting them with powder for longer wear.

Eyebrow Kit

Shown Above: Light

This is absolutely, positively my favorite product from the studio line. It replaces my Smashbox Brow Tech, which is much more expensive. The compact comes with a brush that I don't recommend using (I recommend a boar bristle brush). I use the colored powdered and the gel wax separately and together, depending on the effect I am trying to achieve. I will repurchase this product again and again.

I wanted to try the new lip products. One I skipped was the Lip Stain, since I am not a fan, but I purchased three others that I thought I would like.

Minty Lip Gloss in Miami
Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Supermodel
Lip Balm SPF 15

Swatches of Miami (Left) and Supermodel (right) reveal very very little pigmentation. These glosses might as well be clear. Both contain subtle shimmer, and as you can see, Miami is ever so slightly more noticeable than Supermodel. These colors, though, are basically identical.

Packaging on the Minty Lip Gloss is poor. The cheap doe foot applicator gets stuck in the stopper, and the black cap comes off of the applicator.

The packaging on the moisturizing Lip Gloss is interesting- there is a plastic clamp at the end. I hope this stays on! If it were to break off in a handbag, what a horrible mess that would make! Also- note the air bubbles pictured right. Some have complained about this, but I have to say that this does not effect the performance of the gloss.

As for the Minty Lip Gloss- the minty taste is much to sweet for me! Don't get me wrong, I love mint and menthol flavored glosses, but this one is simply off. The gloss also has an apparent fine- grit feel to it. I also find myself dipping and re-dipping into the gloss to get enough product, since the one or two dips does not deposit enough product on my lips. The taste, texture, poor color payoff, and cheap packaging mean I won't be repurchasing this again. The Moisturizing Lip gloss is extremely sticky, so I imagine this product caters only to a crowd who prefers sticky glosses. There is a very slightly noticeable chemical flavor to the gloss- but not one that I would consider a turn off. Many complain that the clear/ colored gloss do not always dispense evenly, and I can confirm this. I would say it is a non- issue, though, considering the gloss is almost clear anyway. The only benefit of a gloss like this, in my opinion, is that it works well when paired with thin, slippery lipsticks such as the NYX Round Lipsticks. Apply the gloss first, then layer over a cheap lipstick. This will provide a nice cushion and shine to a lipstick that lacks body. And this is the ONLY way I will ever wear this gloss. With that said, I won't be repurchasing it.

Lip Balm SPF 15

The Lip Blam SPF 15 also left me disappointed... And I really wanted to love this. The packaging is awesome. It is made of aluminum that is painted black. The tube is square, with rounded edges. Unfortunately, the formula is waxy, and I don't find it to be particularly moisturizing. I prefer a cheap chapstick to this. I am going to try to keep using it as a prep step while I am applying my makeup, but I would not rely on this as a hydrator for my lips. I like that it has SPF 15, but in order for that to be effective, I would have to constantly reapply this, which I can't bring myself to do! This has a slight minty flavor- think a very toned down version of Burts Bees Lip Balm, which is nice.

ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths, $3 for 20 Cloths.

I am not going to lie- I didn't use wipes for makeup removal prior to trying these. My cleanser removes makeup on its own; adding another stop in my routine is something I can't justify! Also, being a fairly environmentally conscious person, throwing away a wipe every day seems wasteful. Still, I wanted to give these a try to see if I could use them on a lazy day when I didn't want to wash my face. What I discovered is that this leaves behind a yucky film that I can't stand! Perhaps this is typical of most cleansing wipes- I don't know- but I didn't like it! I also tried these as a quick clean up for my brushes. I swept dirty brushes over a wipe- and while this did remove a good amount of product, it left behind that same film on my brush fibres that I didn't like. I won't be repurchasing these.

If you have tried any of these products, I would like your feedback! Everyone is different. Please feel free to share your experiences if you've tried ELF, and if there's something you recommend me trying, let me know!

Who Won? Philosphy's Candy Cane or Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint?

2009-11-11T14:44:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to try both of these candy cane, pepperminty sweet 3-in-1s but I had to decide on one or the other...

I have tried several Philosophy 3-in-1s before. Some of them are right on. Some are awful! And then there are some that don't smell pungent enough or just lach the suds factor!

There is a $6 price difference between the two, so I was already leaning toward Peppermint Twist over Candy Cane... What pushed me over the edge was rediscovering the roll-on Peppermint Twist fragrance my mom- I mean- "Santa" (hehe) put in my stocking last Christmas. It smells sooo good! So I decided to go with Bath and Body Works' version.

I have already showered with this sweet, minty body wash twice, and I love it! It is crisp and sweet all at the same time.

Sorry Candy Cane!

If you have tried Candy Cane, let me know how you like it! Does it smell like the real thing? How is the lather? I want to know!

Tag: Holy Grail Products

2009-11-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

(1) Serious Skin Care Glycolic Cleanser

(2) Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion, SPF 30

(3) Clinique All About Eyes Rich

(4) Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover

(5) Cover Girl Lash Exact

(6) ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit

(7) ELF Studio Powder Brush

(8) Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Foundation

(9) Bare Escentuals Natural Light

(10) Bare Escentuals Glimmer in Queen Phyllis

(11) Bare Escentuals Blending Brush

(12) Supersmile Tooth Paste and Whitening Activator

(13) Sonicare Tooth Brush

(15) C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine

(16) Tweezerman Petite Tweezer Set

On- Trend Runway Vampy Red Lips

2009-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

*Disclaimer- lips are darker in person! The camera flash has altered the color a bit. Also- application was pretty sloppy! I simply applied this over my existing makeup with no prep. You'll get a more seamless result with proper preparation. See what I have to say about recreating the whole look, and if requested I'll do this properly!)

Out of boredom, I decided to put on these deep red lips late last night! I was inspired by this Smashbox Video I saw a few months ago. I wanted to recreate the lips using less expensive products. Actually, I think it would be cool to do a whole face inspired by this look with cheaper products!

I used the following NYX products:
Burgundy lip liner around my mouth, and a little filled into the lips.
Dark Brown Lip liner outside of the Burgundy liner (because I lined outside my lips! ooohh!)
Black Label Lipstick in Black Cherry
Lip Gloss with Megashine in Orchid.

NYX Cost:
NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Burgindy and Dark Brown, $6 ($3 each)
NYX Black Label Lipstick in Black Cherry, $7
NYX Lip Gloss with Mega Shine in Orchid, $5
Total Lip Cost: $18 (and you can subtract $3 if you are staying inside the lip line and using only one liner!)

Smashbox Cost:
Smashbox Lip Pencil in Dark, $16
Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick in Marvelous, $22
Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Sultry, $18
Total Lip Cost: $56

Bonus! I also used Black Cherry as a cheek stain, just as the Smashbox MA, Lori Laylor, used Marvelous as a cream blusher.

Let me know if you like this- maybe I will do the entire face!

Tarte Treasure Chest Eye #3

2009-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I applied silver snowflake over my lids.
I applied a light layer of medium gray into the crease, and intensified it slightly by blending in a bit of charcoal.
Lining the eyes with a mixture of NYX purple liner and ELF mineral liner in midnight created a cobalt color, and set with evening twilight, I have a nice blue shimmery line.

I lined my bottom lashes with medium gray and then deepened the intensity of the line by adding a bit of night sea as close to the lash line as possible.

On my cheeks I am wearing ELF Studio Blush in Mellow Mauve (should have just used the mauve color in the palette- but for some reason I picked up the ELF blush!). My lips are glossed up with the TTC gloss that is in the top row, fourth over.

Tarte Treasure Chest Eye #2

2009-10-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

*For e/s color names, click HERE*

UDPP was my primer of choice.
I applied ballet slipper as a shadow base. Vibrant purple was applied to the crease and outer "v" and blended inward.
Glistening grape was applied to the crease and outer "v" and blended inward and outward.
I then applied a bit of berry tarte strategically to deepen the outer "v" just a bit.
A bit of silver snowflake and pink fizz were applied to the center of my lid for sparkle.
The eyes were lined with ELF Studio Brown eye pencil and cranberry pops was applied over the top.

The lower lash line is lined with berry tarte and softened with caramelized sugar.

On my cheeks I am wearing ballet slipper with a bit of the pink hilight over.
On my lips I am wearing the brown shimmery gloss in the fourth row, the third one in.

I know I look like emotionless in the picture below but I had a hard time getting good pictures today- so this was the best one showing the full face of makeup!

This eye look could have been much more bold by using color bases or by foiling the shadows. 95% of my makeup is still packed up so I just made due with what was in my travel kit. I will definitely do some that are more intense once I am settled in my new place and have access to all of my cosmetic resources...! For now I am still sitting on the bathroom floor, looking into the sliding closet door mirrors to do my makeup ;)

Have a lovely Sunday!!

Tarte Treasure Chest Eye #1

2009-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

*Note about color names- the eye shadows are not named. I named them myself. You can see the colors that correspond with the colors by clicking HERE.*

I started out by applying fair skin hilight from lid to brow.
Then I applied medium gray on my lid up to my crease.
I lined my upper lash line with ELF Studio black eyeliner, and smudged it. I set the smudged line with evening twilight. I blended it out with night sea and followed the blending with martini garnish.
Then I applied gold dust from the middle of my lid to just above my crease.
I applied a little silver snowflake in the middle of my lid for some sparkle.
I lined my lower lash line with ELF Studio eye liner in brown.
I added peppermint cocoa on top to set the line. I blended the peppermint cocoa with spun caramel.
I then applied a little silver snowflake to the inner corners of my eyes. Mascara= Benefit Bad Gal Lash.

Over my foundation, on my face I am wearing the Park Ave. Princess Bronzer and the Pink Hilighter. I am not sure how I feel about the bronzer yet...! I am wearing the pink blush (First one of the four). The lip gloss I am wearing is the lightest color in the fourth row of the lip glosses. It lightens my lips ever so slightly.
With the exception of my eye brows, foundation and concealer, these are the brushes I used to apply everything from the Tarte Treasure Chest:

Hope you liked this! More looks to come ;)

Tarte Treasure Chest- Get It Now!

2009-10-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

I had been eyeing several Tarte eye shadow palettes, but when I saw this on Sephora's website I HAD to order it!

The packing is so- so, but I have to say that the silver stitched jewel top of the box looks a lot nicer in person. I may depot these in the future to preserve their integrity.

While the packaging is a bit cheap, the products inside are lovely!

*The Eye Shadows are full size and contain 1.75 grams of product*

Top Row- Shimmer Eye Shadows:

*Please excuse the arm hair! It is blond and not very noticeable in daily life- but a close up photo makes it VERY visible!*

All of these colors swatched beautifully with minimal effort. They are a bit soft and creamy. A few colors required a bit of building, but none were bad.

Second Row- Matte Eye Shadows:

The matte colors overall required a bit more effort to build (minimal effort!) and the only color that had poor color payoff was the white.

Third Row- Lip Glosses:

They are all sheer, moisturizing glosses. Unless you're wanting either a barely- there glossy look or sheer berry or red lips, I would recommend using these over lipstick. Some have a bit of shimmer, some are cream colors.

Bottom Row- Bronzer, Hilight, Blushes:

Obviously these are swatched more intensely to represent the color. All of these had wonderful payoff. I would probably apply the blush with a light hand, both due to the high pigmentation and level of shimmer.

I will do an in-depth review after I've had a chance to wear these for a day. I am sooo excited and can't wait to experiment with the eye colors. I am wishing I had the prior holiday palettes!

So far my only con for this palette is that the Eye Shadows, Blushes and Lip Glosses are unnamed. I am thinking of naming them myself!!! Let me know if you have name suggestions ;)

Picture Info:
All pictures taken with daylight through the skylight in my bathroom.

Swatch Info:
Eye Shadows, Bronzer, Hilight, and Blushes swatched over NYX Concealer in a Jar in Fair. Applied using the ELF eye shadow blush.
Lip Glosses swatched over clean, dry skin. Applied using a lip brush.

From the Sephora Website:

"This set contains:

- 16 All New, Full-Sized Shimmering Tarte Eyeshadows
- 16 All New, Full-Sized Matte Tarte Eyeshadows
- 16 All New Tarte Lipglosses
- Best-Selling Mineral Powder Bronzer In Park Ave Princess
- All New Soft Pink Luminizer
- 4 New Powder Blushes

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Petro-chemicals
- Phthalates
- Sulfates
- GMOs
- Triclosans

What else you need to know:
This limited edition, Sephora exclusive bejeweled kit with mirror is an annual best-seller—and this year it's 30% bigger for the same great price! The products are dermatologist tested and free of preservatives, gluten, talc, glycols, MEA/DEA/TEA, and formaldehyde donors."

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick

2009-09-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THESE!

I have seen these new lipsticks mentioned a few times on blogs and in a few youtube videos, and I snatched up two colors at Walgreen's today (They were having a BOGO sale). I purchased "Born With It" and "Pink Please". BWI is definitely my favorite.

Born With It: A pretty, neutral light pink color with very subtle silver shimmer. I can feel the shimmer texture a bit on my lips but it is not bad.

Pink Please: A light Pinky/ Peach cream color.

As far as the formulation is concerned, I really like these! They are shiny and creamy, without being too thin and slippery. I find that I dislike the finish of most lipsticks and tend to apply gloss over the top- but these are both opaque in color and a bit glossy at the same time, so I like this lipstick worn alone. On top of that, they stay in place- no lip liner is required! My only complaint would be the taste. They have a slight vanilla/ floral (non- sweet) waxy taste, that kind of reminds me of a generic bar soap. Not too bad though.

My opinion on the packaging is that it is very cheap and is liable to break if thrown carelessly into a handbag. The plastic base of the tube has a silver coating that is bound to chip off, and the cap is made of a translucent red plastic that I envision cracking and/or shattering easily.

48 shades are available. Make sure you look at the lipstick bullet because the color swatches on displays and stickers are always horribly misleading!

All in all, definitely worth it and highly recommended!

10 Random Facts Tag

2009-09-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Sparkling.Pink.Gorilla (go check out her blog!) to do the "10 Random Facts" Tag.

*A'hem* Here Goes:

1. I get really nervous seeing men shave their faces in movies. I start to feel queasy, concerned they will cut themselves. Recently I asked my BF if I could try shaving part of his face and I was so nervous I couldn't do more than a few swipes of the razor! I watched him finish and felt really uncomfortable the entire time- I guess I can't handle seeing men shave in real life, either! Funny thing is, I am not bothered by Gillette commercials. Perhaps it is difficult to take those buff, metro sexual topless dudes seriously.

2. I am double jointed in my thumbs. I had no idea about this until 3 years ago. I was sitting in class and my friend Ivo pointed out to me that my thumbs were bent backwards. I thought everyone could do that- apparently not!

3. My first youtube video was an 8- minute film I did for a film class project. It was called "Beauty Isn't Everything" and it was about this young rich couple wasting money on worthless art (essentially blank canvases). It was very very corny but a good experience- I learned the basics of movie making.

4. I really can't understand why the youtube beauty community seems to be centered around MAC products. I do think MAC makes many good products, but I think the brand is way over- hyped. Especially in the tools category. So far, I have not found a MAC brush I prefer to use over less expensive versions from other vendors.

5. My favorite shoe is the "Mary Jane" style. I have purchased several pairs of TUK/ Tredair shoes and I like them in both flats and heels. My first expensive pair, however, were Doc. Martens in 10th grade. They were wing-tip double straps in the color "peanut". I loved them so! The pair you see below I have had for about 5 years:

6. I lovvvveee to cook and for a time the only television I watched was the food network. I even contemplated submitting an audition tape for their "Next Food Network Star" show but the timing overlapped with my last term in school/ graduation. I also feel I am not experienced enough, so for now it is a hobby- possibly something I may explore more on youtube :)

7. I used to have reoccurring nightmares about my teeth. In some dreams they would shatter, in others they would fall out. After awakening, I would be so happy all my teeth were still in place!

8. I am not that big on online social networking. I made my myspace page in 2003 when I was 19, and before that I had livejournal. I think that having a very busy life prevents me from getting sucked in! Although I worked and went to school, I had a bit more time then. Now--- not so much!

9. I like to grow herbs. I used to have a blog on CasaSugar before they created the "OnSugar" Network, and a few of my posts were ongoing photos of the life and demise of some of my herbs.

10. I used to think I hated cats- but no more! My boyfriend's cat, Grace Jones, has really grown on me. I did not grow up with pets; thus, I didn't understand how much value they can add to one's life. I am happy to have grown in this area of my life. I find myself appreciating more the cuteness of all kinds of animals I see out in the world :)

I tag:
Simply Suzy
Blue Bell

Coastal Scents Gel Eyeliner v. Wet'n'Wild Cream Eyeliner

2009-09-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Shown: Coastal Scents Gel Liner in True Black and Wet'n'Wild Mega Eyes Cream Eyeliner in Black.

Both are very dense, black liners, but the reason I love the Wet'n'Wild cream eyeliner is: long wearability. By the end of the day, the Coastal Scents gel eyeliner has rubbed off onto other parts of my eye, creating a rainbow below my brow bone (even when set with shadow). The formulation of the gel liner is too emollient to wear for a long day, whereas the cream liner dries and barely budges:
Only downside? You MUST use a waterproof eye makeup to remove the Wet'n'Wild cream liner. It will not come off otherwise! I also wish there were more colors available :(

Also! I used the cream liner in my waterline and it is THE BEST waterline liner I have used thus far. It covers all of my pink skin with opaque blackness once it dries and lasts a really long time. The packaging does not specify whether or not it is safe for the waterline, so try this at your own risk. Some would argue that NO eye makeup is safe for the waterline, however!

A Moonicure Experiment

2009-09-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

The pictures speak for themselves! Here is a quick and easy new way to do a manicure- opps! It's actually called a moonicure... Ooh fancy!

I did this very very fast and did not apply a base or top coat, although I definitely would if this were more than an experiment. I think this would be a great way to extend the wear of an existing nail color, since color tends tend to chip at the tips first :)

Hope you like it!

Base coat- Sally Hansen, Made You Blush. Make sure this is COMPLETELY dry before moving on.

Cut Round Labels into quarters:

Place them on nails. Make sure to secure edges for a tight fit to create a seamless line.

Paint over with a second color. Covergirl, Luxw Lilac.

Peel off labels when the color is fairly dry- allow at least 15 minutes, depending on how long it takes the color to dry. Pulling labels off too early will result in a mess.

Done!

Next time I will make smaller moons- these are a bit dramatic for me!

Pressing Mineral Blushes and Eye Shadows- Oh Joy!

2009-09-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

When I first heard about Everyday Minerals, I knew I had to try the brand. I had been using Bare Escentuals products almost exclusively for 9 years, and didn't think I would ever use another mineral line. At the time, Everyday Minerals offered free "try me" kits that included 3 foundation shades, one concealer, and one blush in sample sizes. In an attempt to find my perfect foundation shade I placed many separate orders for sample sized eye shadows, while also ordering the free sample kit. After many orders I had tons of sample size jars; cumbersome to store, open, and use, I thought I would forget about my lovely eye shadows. Solution?! Press them! Here they are in a 28- Pan palette I purchased from Auraline Beauty (The first 2 rows are eye shadow refill pans- not eye shadows I pressed- see labeling. There is also one ELF mineral eye shadow- see labeling).

Eye Shadows

Once I had the hand of pressing eye shadows, I decided to attempt blush. One benefit of pressing minerals is that the quality and texture of the finished product is often better than drugstore quality, and sometimes comparable or superior to high end brands (if you do it right!)

Blushes and Hilight colors pictured below are all from Everyday Minerals, unless otherwise specified (see labeling).

Blushes

I would really like to make a video on my pressing "recipe"! I used EZ-Prez (what a horrifying name!) pressing medium, 99% Isopropyl Alcohol, Tea Tree Oil, and Jojoba Oil in the blushes. Eye Shadows were pressed with EZ Prez and Alcohol, with approximately a 40% EZ Prez to 60% Alcohol ratio.

How I Store Mineral Makeup

2009-08-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Mineral makeup tends to be a hard item to store. One solution I find to work perfectly for me is using this Sephora Metro Train Case to keep everything together:
I like that I can divide sections to make everything fit perfectly:

There are also trays below to store more product:

For a slightly cheaper alternative to this train case, check out this one at yazmo.com.

Travel Makeup

2009-08-25T17:32:00.000-07:00

My family lives about 2 hours away from me, and during college, whenever I would visit, I would bring with me a huge train case from Sephora filled with makeup. I will be visiting my family again any day now as my brother and sister in law are expecting the birth of my nephew (yay!) but this time I waned to simplify and see if I could travel with the necessities:

Here I have:
Bare Escentuals Foundation, Full Size, Fair
Bare Escentuals Natural Light (Hilighter), Full Size
Tarte Tool Kit (Eye Brow Kit)
Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil (Travel Size)
NYX Concealer, Full Size, Porcelain
Urban Decay Primer Potion (De-potted into a travel jar)
Smith's Rosebud Salve (De-Potted into a travel jar)
2 ELF Studio Liner/ Shadow Sticks
3 ELF Brightening Eye Shadow Quads
Bare Escentuals Lip Liner, Nude
All the brushes I need to do my face and eye makeup.

I think I am going to have to find a replacement for my ELF Eye Shadow Quads (I hate them!) but all of the makeup in this kit stays in this kit- and I am having a hard time deciding what I should pull from my regular collection of makeup to replace them...

What do you bring with you when you travel? Do you keep it simple, or do you pack away as much as you can?

ELF Mineral Primer v. UDPP

2009-08-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

I don't have oily lids, but I always use UDPP to make my eye shadow more vibrant, and yo make it last all day. I love UDPP and for this reason I have never tried any other, until I saw a .15oz tube of primer for $3 on eyeslipsface.com...

Immediately after applying:
Above I am wearing several NYX eye shadows, along with ELF Mineral Liner in midnight, set with a NYX shadow.

After 12 hours of wear:Above, very very minimal creasing occurs on the EMP side. Both sides show eye liner transfer, although it it slightly more noticeable on the EMP side.

The bottom line:
Both are sheer, light skin tone colors, although the EMP is a thinner formulation. The UDPP is more sticky; therefore, eyeshadow adheres to it more easily and appears a bit more vibrant in color. Based solely on performance, I prefer the UDPP. For those looking for a better buy, you really can't beat the EMP.

New ELF Studio Products

2009-08-22T19:50:00.001-07:00

Single Eye Shadows in Sand Dollar, Pebble, and Amethyst:

Very Disappointed in the pigmentation of these :( With UDPP as a base, I applied about 4 layers of shadow to achieve the swatches below:

Blush in Mellow Mauve:

I know that my wrist looks like it is covered in a rash, but that is actually the swatch! I must say that it is actually a pretty satin finish mauve color, with middle of the road color payoff. Nylon 12 as an added ingredient helps to make this less powdery and smooth on more nicely.

Shimmer Palette:
I added this to my cart to get free shipping, and I had no idea I would like it so much! There are four colors, a white, a baby pink, an amber color, and a more vibrant pink color. They are very very sheer and are luminescent without too much shimmer.

Complexion Perfection:
I wasn't that impressed with this one. While it is mattifying, it doesn't have a very nice finish. The sheer colors provide the slightest sheer cover to disguise uneven skin tones.

Warm Bronzer:

This can be used even by the fairest skin tones! I must say I will not put this on my face due to the shimmer. It is nice when applied to the decollete and shoulders/ arms.

Inexpensive New Hair Products

2009-08-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

I think it is important to rotate shampoos to prevent buildup on my hair, and I've been bored by my current shampoo and conditioner, so I decided to try something new, based on the positive reviews these products received on drugstore.com:

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo and Daily Deep Conditioner:

I've used this shampoo and conditioner combo twice this week and so far I am very impressed with the results! My hair is mixed texture; I have some baby-fine strands as well as medium and coarse strands of hair. This really seems to moisturize my hair and keep the frizzies away. I don't plan to use these every time I wash my hair, but probably every other time. These may not be suitable for those with fine, thin or oily hair, as they would probably weigh these hair types down.

The next product I bought is an inexpensive replacement for Ojon's Leave- In Glossing Cream. I love Ojon, but one tube is $30, so in an attempt to get similar results from a more affordable product, I purchased Frizz Ease's Secret Weapon:

Secret Weapon is used on dry hair to smooth out the ends and provide a bit of shine. The scent is kind of a generic, clean scent, which I like (although it does not compare to Ojon's Leave In Glossing Cream, which smells like an Orange Creamsicle!). I am happy with this so far, and it will probably last a really long time since I don't have to use very much product. There have been a few days this week that I've been walking on the beach with my hair down, and the wind has really ravaged it! When I get home I brush my hair and apply a pea size amount of Secret Weapon and my hair is tamed again!

These are definitely worth trying. I picked up all 3 for less than $20. If you have tried them or have other inexpensive hair product recommendations, please let me know!

Eyes Lips Face Mineral Lipstick

2009-08-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

I've had several of these lipsticks and initially I was a bit disappointed as the colors were not as I expected and very similar. I recently picked up two new colors, Natural Nymph and Runway Pink (although mine says "RunAway Pink"!). I think that Runway Pink is one I will wear a lot. It is a neutral light pink/ beige color that looks nice on its own. Natural Nymph almost comes across as concealer on my lips since I have such fair skin. I have paired it with darker colors and am pleased with the outcome, but I don't think I'll be inclined to wear this one solo.

Nicely Nude is a popular light pink shade, and I do like it, although I prefer Runway Pink since it is lighter, without shimmer, and has more opaque coverage.

Overall, I do like these lipsticks. They are moisturizing, come in pretty colors, are packaged nicely, and are very affordable. I ordered two more of my most recent purchases- I think that shows how much I like them!

Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation is Here!!!

2009-08-01T16:33:00.001-07:00

The Matte foundation was put on display at Sephora on Friday, July 31st. Since I have used Bare Escentuals original foundation for 9 years, I was eager to try it and couldn't wait- so I had to purchase it immediately!

Price: $28 at Sephora
My Shade: Fair
My Skin Type: Sensitive combination with persistent acne.

Read below for a complete review of my experience over the last three days trying it...

The new jar is much improved as compared to the original foundation jar; there is a twist- lock sifter that prevents spillage:

The ridges provide a grip for fingers to twist the sifter to the open position for the foundation to flow through:

My Experience

Application/ Coverage/ Color:
The matte foundation doesn't provide as much coverage as the original. I used more product (probably about 50% more product) to get the same coverage as I would expect from the original foundation. I found that the color was slightly more yellow intone as compared to the original.

Wear:
The first day I wore the foundation, I used it alone (without any setting powder) and after a full day wearing it, I went on a 4 mile walk/ hike. At the end of the hike, the finish was still almost completely matte. One thing to point out is that for those who have any skin texture issues, this is a great foundation since it does not draw attention to varying textures the way a dewy foundation would. I found it slightly reduced the appearance of my acne scars.

Treatment:
This foundation has ActiveSoil, a proprietary ingredient that is also utilized in RareMinerals (a skin treatment that I have also used). Because it containes this treatment, I find it helps to reduce inflamation in my skin (redness, irritation). In just the last 3 day I note that my skin appears more even and smooth. Bare Escentuals claims it reduces the pore diameter and increases cell turnover. I did not find this to be the case with RareMinerals, but perhaps I will notice some changes using the matte foundation.

Would I Reccommend It?
YES! But very dry skin types may find this doesn't work for them.

My Final Thoughts:
I think that many people will continue to use both the original and matte foundations. I am sure that some will use just the matte in the t-zone (or other oily areas) and the original on the jaw line, cheeks, etc.

Fast Easy Messy Updo

2009-07-22T21:17:00.001-07:00

NYX Caribbean Collection Palettes

2009-07-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

I Dream of Jamaica

I Dream of St. John

I Dream of St. Kitt

Depotted and placed in a 15- pan palette together:
(Top to bottom: St. Kitt, Jamaica, St. John)

My thoughts:

I really like all of the palettes. Although some of the colors are similar, they are all a bit different. The finishes are mostly satin, some having a bit of shimmer and some frost. The darker shades fall between a satin and a matte finish in that they are smooth and non- chalky. Definitely worth checking out!

Auraline Beauty Pro Black Brushes

2009-07-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

Face Brushes

How I use them:
125- On days when I need more concealing, I use this brush for applying heavier coverage of mineral foundation onto acne scars and redness.
130- My every day under eye concealer brush (I use it to apply NYX concealer in a jar).
108- I don't really use this one- it is more like decoration! The ferrule is imperfect in that the left and right sides are not cut symmetrically.
127- My absolute fav. blush brush!!! It is extremely soft and is the perfect size.
128- I use this on rare occasions for contouring my cheek bones. When my 127 is dirty, I'll also reach for this brush. It is slightly less soft than the 127, but still feels very nice.
166- I use this occasionally for setting powder over top of my foundation. This badger hair brush is THE SOFTEST natural bristle brush I have ever used in my life. I love it! However, I must mention there is s defect in the brush handle. See below for a closeup and description.
155- I use this for application of powders to my body. It is very very plush and dense with bristles. A downfall is that it bleeds tremendously when washing. It also sheds from time to time; however; both shedding and bleeding lessen after several washes. Please see below for a close up photo regarding a defect in the handle.
kab1- A very soft, plush kabuki brush. Similar in size to no. 155, but slightly smaller and slightly less dense.

Eye Brushes

How I use them:
213- My absolute fav. boar bristle brow brush! It is perfect for me because it is thin enough to fill in my brow tails. Similar to Smashbox's no. 12 brush, but slightly smaller and thinner. I prefer the 213!
317- A good lip brush that would be perfect for travel. The cap slips off of the bottom to cover the brush.
244- A disappointment for me :( See below for close up shots and comparisons to better alternatives.
231- Great for gel or cream eye liner.
224- Awesome for setting eye liner with powder, or for lining the lower lash line with powder or cream liner.
219- An invaluable crease brush for small eyes. I use this almost every day.
252- Another invaluable brush for small eyes. Great for the crease, for a soft smolder on the lower lash line, or for brightening the tear duct.
222- My everyday lid color packing brush. Great for small eyes. I love it!
221- Slightly bigger than the 222, great for medium to large eyes.
254- A perfect supplement to the 219 for blending out colors. Also great for soft blending when precise lines are not desired.
235- Very fluffy soft eye brush that works great on the brow bone. Also wonderful for contouring small areas of the face, like the nose.
279- I love this brush! I use it to set my under eye concealer with powder, and to conceal blemishes with mineral concealer/ foundation.

161 Duo Fibre compared to Sigma SS187

I found the 161 to be a disappointment. The synthetic fibres are much to sparse. While I have learned that I am not a duo fibre brush girl, I would say that for those looking for an alternative to MAC's 187, the SS187 is your best bet.

I

244 compared to Crown Brush's C217 from Coastal Scents

The 244 was another disappointment. The barely- bent ferrule is clumsily stamped and is does not compare to the C217. The synthetic bristles are too agile to precisely apply gel liner. I highly recommend the C217 as an alternative to Smashbox's bent liner brush.

Brush Defects

The finish of the handle on my 166 has a 1/4" rounded crack in it. I do not know how this occurred. While it has not affected the performance of the brush, it does make me sad as I love this brush. The crack has not worsened in the 4 months since I first noticed it.

The 218's ferrule has a stripe of silver showing through. I do not know why the finish has worn away. This has not occurred on any other brushes.

More Cracks! The 155 has very tiny shallow cracks from the ferrule to the bottom of the brush handle. No peeling has occurred, but I worry about that in the future.

Custom NYX Tester Palettes

2009-05-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

Having recently become a NYX Rep, I wanted to create custom palettes for the tester items I purchased. I purchased several 28- Hole Eye Shadow palettes from auralinebeauty.com, glued in pieces of galvanized steel to make the palette magnetic, and added black foam to the borders to finish each palette.

NYX Eyeshadow Testers, Neutrals/ Naturals:

NYX Eyeshadow Testers, Colors:

Some of the shadows shattered while pulling them out of the NYX packaging. So Sad!! But I am pleased with the finished product.