Still Addicted
Feels like a lifetime since I've hit "new post!!" But between a little breathing room at work and inspiration from newbie blogging buddies, I've found some motivation. Whatever I lagged in blogging, I made up for in purchasing (shocking, I know). Below are a few of the goodies I acquired in my hiatus.
You'll be happy to know I'm still addicted to gloss, and lately, I'm addicted to a specific brand. Buxom has been rocking my world with their line of sheer, shimmery, minty lip polishes. Feels like they infuse my lips with actual superhero powers. The latest addition to my Buxom collection is the
Fashion Show ... & Tell set. For $29, you get 7 mini tubes of the good stuff. All in wearable shades (and I know this word is relative, but trust me).
Just to prove how wearable they are, here's Sugar (it's the color on your far left, above).
Buxom also has a line of fun
cream eyeshadows that are all named after dogs. I love cream shadows and I'm a crazy dog lady, so this one was a no-brainer. The shade below is "mutt." It's a super glittery taupe that clings to your lid all day long. Mutt is accompanied by Sonia Kashuk's eye liner palette, NARS blush in Angelica and Ecotool's blush brush.
To take it all off, I'm loving
Yes to Cucumbers facial towelettes. They smell awesome and are excellent at removing stubborn mascara, cream shadows with staying power and layers of concealer, bronzer, highlighter and blush. AND they don't leave a weird residue on my skin like other towelettes do. I've also fallen back in love with
Neutrogena's Deep Clean Invigorating foaming scrub. This is a blast from my 8th grade past, but since I'm older and wiser now, I don't use it on my face - I use it on my body. I go through like one a week. It feels that amazing!
I've sincerely missed this! Talk to you soon (:
Labels: Buxom, Ecotools, Nars, Neutrogena, Sonia Kashuk, Yes to Cucumbers
NARS Pampa/Stolen Kisses Duo
Knowing full-well that I shouldn't, I paid Sephora a visit over that crucial week before Christmas. I had all my presents pretty much bought, my beauty presents DEFINITELY bought, so me and my debit card were just askin' for trouble. Luckily, the store was in such a state of disarray that I manged to leave with just a few items, including this $10 steal from NARS - a
Pampa/Stolen Kisses stain/gloss duo.
Isn't she gorgeous?!
Stolen Kisses is a beautiful nude gloss that matches perfectly with the color of my lips - so it's me to the max. Could be my imagination, but the gloss consistency in this duo feels thinner than your average NARS gloss, though it provides just as much color.
Pampa is a deep red-bronze stain that I'll save for outings that call for an edgier me. It's one step down from the brownish red that was crazy popular when I was in high school, so bonus points for nostalgia. It almost makes up for how drying this formula is.
Stolen Kisses.
Pampa.
Labels: Nars
Pajammy Jam Jam
A week ago, the BF and I kicked off the holiday house party season with a Pajammy Jam with friends we've known since high school. As you can imagine - So. Much. Fun! I was a little torn about wearing makeup in my PJ's, but in the end, decided to wear bedtime-themed makeup: Too Faced cream eyeshadow in Bedroom Eyes, NARS blush in Super Orgasm (hahaha). I topped off the look with my MAC Blinking Cool lashes, because once I start putting on makeup, I can't stop!
We had a girls-only White Elephant gift exchange, which meant there was a crazy array of makeup up for grabs. And I totally scored - got the
Urban Decay Eyshadow Ammo palette. Looking forward to strutting my showdowed self at all our upcoming parties!
Nice & cozy.
We played 'Face the Cookie' from A Minute to Win It. This game is even harder (damn near impossible!) with fake lashes on.
Can't remember why we started doing this, but I know this was the first of many attempts at "being cheerleaders" that night!
Expect multiple posts featuring this bad boy in the coming new year ...
Labels: MAC, Nars, Too Faced, Urban Decay
Dancin' Days
Learned a few lessons at my office holiday party:
1. If you spend the majority of every day running around like a crazy person IN FLATS, it's probably wise to avoid wearing 4 INCH HEELS to a party, especially if you plan to dance. (The feet/calves/shins/etc just don't bounce back like they used to!)
2. Hair sticks to shiny foreheads in a most gnarly (almost offensive) way. Bring Boscia blotting papers with you to any function that involves dancing like you mean it.
3. Just because you're a newbie doesn't mean you can't make friends at the party, or become even better friends with the ones you've already made (by having your own private parties in the photobooths or inappropriately sprawling out - as a group - on the couches framing the dance floor)
Standout Products -
Eyes: Bliss (formerly Red Cherry?) lashes, #42, Korres Eyeshadow in Dark Grey
Lips: MAC Dare to Wear lipgloss in Ban This
Face: NARS Blush in Sin
Labels: Bliss Lashes, Korres, MAC, Nars, Red Cherry
My Sister's Wedding
I had the honor of helping my little sister with her makeup on the biggest day of her life. Normally, this
would be an ENORMOUS pressure, but my sister was so far from bridezilla that at some points, I felt like geting all diva on everyone simply to fill the unnatural void that her happy-zen-ness left behind. My sis isn't big on heavy make-up, but she wanted to pop in her pictures. So we concentrated on her eyes, and on accenting the angles on her tiny face.
Here she is, au naturel and a little apprehensive (not of the wedding and the major committment she was about to make, but because of the amount of makeup I packed and spilled out in front of her).
Hard at work and havin fun. I'm so happy she trusted me to do this :)
Here she is with some of her eyes done. We used Urban Decay Sin Primer, Maybeline ColorStay Palette in Khaki, Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer, Maybeline Volum Express Mascara.
See how everyone around her is moving? And she's so calm and still? Happy-zen-ness.
Korres Eyeshadow in Plum, Ardell Lashes #102, NARS blush in Sin.
Buxom Lipgloss in Michelle.
The Love of her Life.
I'll never forget this day! I love my sis and my new brother in law so much ... hopefully they'll let me do their kid's makeup one day ...
Labels: Ardell, Buxom, Korres, Maybelline, Nars, Rimmel, Urban Decay
20's Party
We work hard, and party harder. And sometimes we do both while dressed in 20's attire.
Eyes: MAC Blinking Cool lashes, Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer
Lips: LORAC Matte lipstick in Explore
Face: Nars Super Orgasm Blush
I whole-heartedly despise my expression in this shot, but it's not always about looking great in pictures. Sometimes it's about who you're lucky enough to get a picture with :)
Labels: LORAC, MAC, Nars, Rimmel
Ballerina Bombshell Bridesmaids
...Holding Butterfly Bouquets! I had the honor of being in a 10-year wedding anniversary this past weekend (like I said...every other weekend) and I have to say, except for my yucky tanlines, I felt pretty freaken cool walking down the aisle looking like a ballerina bombshell. My personal style is very California casual, so when the bride asked for puffy skirts and vintage updo's, I was doubtful I'd be able to pull it off. But with help from a few friends with miracle hair powers, a skirt color that could do no wrong, and with my gloss addiction, everything came together very nicely. Seriously, everyone looked super cool -- I may have to do a part 2 post when the reception pictures are available.
On my eyes: TONS - Too Faced Lockdown base, MAC Eyeshadow quad (borrowed and don't know the colors...but they were all purple-centric), Korres Plum Eyeshadow and MAC Lashes #7
Face: Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer, Stila All Over Shimmer #2, and NARS Super Orgasm Blush
Lips: MAC gloss in Ban This (we ALL used this :)
Labels: MAC, Nars, Stila, Tarte, Too Faced
Party Polished
This past weekend, I had the honor of attending my friend Camille's wedding. She and her husband, Andrew, looked so beautiful together, and I felt so special joining their celebration. Camille is a lady of impeccable taste, but she also doesn't shy away from fun. So I knew I could get away with a party-girl makeup look without being controversial.
Eyes: Tarte Lock and Roll in Amethyst/MAC #7 lashes
Lips: MAC Ban This gloss (because yes, I'm still obsessed with it)
Face: Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer (great formula. Obsessed with this, too)
Cheeks: NARS blush in Sin
I'm on your left. Please note the lighting in the venue was extra romantic, so it looks like I got a SUPER tan in Miami when in fact, I'm only slightly sun kissed. Regarding the coconuts, Camille knew she was playing with fire when she made the decision to have those props at her wedding!
Goooooooood times!
Labels: MAC, Nars, Tarte
Love You Back
I know I've talked the whole 'OMG I'm turning 30' thing to the ground on this blog, but as each of my friends turns 30 one by one, I get a little emotional and puffed up with pride. Last weekend, my friends and I got together to celebrate another 30th and I remember looking around the table at all these smart & vibrant individuals thinking -
we have seriously got it going on! None of us are severely rich, so I don't mean this in a monetary sense, I mean that we've all managed to grow up into responsible, respectful, hard-working adults and every one's positive transformation was contagious. We've had a positive influence on one another for sure.
One of my dearest friends (the nail savvy one I mentioned two posts ago, actually) shared a link to her latest photo album of pictures taken this weekend at the latest dirty30. Lots of fun. Lots of good makeup, too. Excuse the shine, as most of these were taken post-party!
Check those nails!
PLEASE NOTE: I took the picture below like this on purpose so you could see my eyeshadow. I LOOOOOOVE this shade. and I was NOOOOOOOOOOOOOT this faded!
Eyes: Too Faced eyeshadow, Label Whore // MAC#7 lashes
Face: NARS blush, Sin
Friend's Eyes:
Stila Smudge Pot
Friend's Nails: OPI X Sephora, Le Beau
Labels: MAC, Nars, Opi, Stila, Too Faced
Sephora VIB/Makeup Madness Haul - with scary, scary pictures
Shooooooooot ... so, part of my Makeup Madness haul includes a gorgeous
NARS blush (Sin) . This is my first NARS blush - I was pretty excited to test it out, but I'm not used to how pigmented this stuff is and .... well, I'll let this picture speak for itself:
I couldn't walk around with only one heavy blushed side, so now I'll spend the rest of the day looking like one of those scary porcelain clown dolls with painted on cheeks. No matter, I sill love it and since I'm slowly getting back into powder products, this probably won't be my last NARS blush purchase. It will just take some practice to get it right.
My second haul item of note is the
Tarte MultiplEye Lash Enhancer . The only way to gauge how effective this stuff is to actually compare my lashes before and after a few weeks of 'treatment.' I'm skeptical but hopeful that this could work without making me go blind! Here are a few before shots for us to reference - excuse my tired, tired eyes. Haven't gotten a lot of rest in the last few days:
That's enough scary pictures for one day.
Labels: Nars, Tarte
My Sephora VIB Wish List
Awwwww yeah!!! Look what came in the mail yesterday. Guess someone's going shopping this weekend.
It's dangerous for me to step foot into a Sephora without a set agenda, so I'm making this a premeditated shopping trip. Observe le liste:
-
NARS So Famous set
-
NARS Lipgloss set ... been eyeing this since last Holiday
-
Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine - one of my staples
-
Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancer
- More colors of
Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadows. During Easter weekend, I bought my first color, Get Figgy (kept calling it 'Get Figgy With It' at Macy's). I'm using it as both an eyeshadow and a contouring blush today.
Obviously, my wish list needs some editing. And after it's been edited, my list will need a fat reality check. I can realistically afford 1 - 2 things on here ... I'm open to suggestions on what to pick up and what to forget, my lovelies.
Labels: Benefit, Korres, Nars, Sephora, Tarte
V-day Red
Happy V-day Eve! Last night I did some 'research' on the perfect red lip to wear for my valentine. I tested out three options: Neutrogena Pinch of Cinn, Vincent Longo Fellini Red and NARS Bloodwork. I evaluated each color against 1) its' closeness to Gwen Steffani's red (still working on that challenge), 2) the ability to stay put while I downed multiple "Sweet Leilani's" at
John Collins and 3) the ability to withstand a taste test of these PASSION FRUIT dreams from
Kara's Cupcakes - for the record, this was the BEST research project EVER!:
Neutrogena Pinch of Cinn:
Vincent Longo Fellini Red:
NARS Bloodwork:
Think NARS is the winner! But all three failed the cupcake test, so I let this guy eat most of them:
Labels: Nars, Neutrogena, Vincent Longo
