Mascara Week Part 4: My Top and Bottom 5 Mascaras

I am a complete and total mascara junkie, as if you couldn't tell.  I strictly adhere to the 3 Month Rule, but once that 90 day mark comes, I toss my tube and generally don't look back.  I'm always searching for a new tube to try in the hope that it will be my new favorite.  If you saw my makeup collection, you saw my stockpiles of new tubes to give a shot!  (Included in there...Cover Girl Clump Crusher, Hourglass Film Noir, YSL Shocking, Loreal Voluminous Full Definition, a bunch of samples, and more!)

Even though I've tried so many different mascaras, there are some clear winners and some total losers in my book.  Here are my picks and not-picks :)

...and for the record, I only use black mascara, so all my opinions are based on the blackest shade available in each particular type.

My Top 5 Mascaras

1.  Benefit They're Real ($23).  This stuff just cannot be beat.  It is my Holy Grail Mascara.  Tomorrow's Mascara Week post is going to be all about this gem, so stay tuned for my full review!

2.   Mac Extended Play Lash ($16) or Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes ($9).  LOVE me some tubing mascaras.  They're just so insanely easy to remove.  Both of these are great.  I've purchased the Loreal mascara multiple times...it was especially great for right after my daughter was born.  It helped me look a little more awake but took seconds to remove.  They should hand that stuff out at the hospital ;)  Anyway...Mac's version definitely gives more length than Loreal's, which I find to be more volumizing than lengthening.  They're both wet formulas, and neither smudges or budges.  Mac's mascara has a smaller, narrower brush than Loreal's, although they're both bristle wands.  I should also add in the caveat that I only use the black mascara side of the Loreal duo, and not the white primer side.  I've found that the white primer just causes clumps and bunches your lashes together.

Image Source: givenchybeauty.com

3.  Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 ($32).  The formula on this is so unique that I had to include it in my Top 5.  It's neither wet nor dry...more like a mousse.  It gives great length and volume with no clumps and good separation.  It does smudge a little on me, but nothing terrible.  The 3-balled bristle wand is also really different, although I cannot say it really made much difference in application.  The formula of this alone is what makes it great.  Plus the packaging is pure luxury, which helps justify the astronomical cost!

4.  Buxom Lash ($19).  Love the plastic brush and the wet formula of this.  It's a decently priced high end mascara that delivers.  Super black, great length and volume with no clumps, good separation, and barely any smudging.  I did find that this was better when the tube was new...as it dried out I didn't love it as much. 

5.  Maybelline The Falsies ($6.99).  Another one that gives great volume and length.  This is totally comparable to Buxom Lash, but it's obviously much cheaper (especially if you can snag it on sale or with a coupon).  I really liked the curved plastic brush, and I found it very easy to pull my lashes outward to create a cat-eye effect with this one.  Another plus, you can load this stuff up with coat after coat, and if you're careful...it won't clump, but you'll just look like you're wearing some awesome false lashes.  Funny how they named it that huh? ;)  It's true though!  My hairstylist swears by this mascara, and I can't tell you how many times I asked her what lashes she had on so I could immediately go buy them because her lashes always look amazing.  She just loads them up with this stuff!

Honorable Mentions: Tarte Lights Camera Lashes ($19) (bristle wand, good volume, decent length...but a little on the dry side for me) and Cover Girl Lashblast Fusion ($10) (I prefer it over the original because I like both volume and length).  (I might also want to add Mally's Volumizing Mascara here, but it's too soon to tell!  See my thoughts on that one here.)

The Bottom 5

1.  Diorshow.  I'm sorry, this stuff is just overpriced crap in my book.  I am not a fan of dry formulas, which this is.  I found that it clumped, smudged under my eyes, and just did not give me the length I wanted from a $25 tube of mascara.  I will say that I have been more pleased with Diorshow Extase than with the original formulation.

2.  Revlon Grow Luscious.  I would go so far as to call this a dupe of Diorshow, which is why I didn't like it.  I got the exact same results...albeit at a fraction of the price.

3.  Maybelline Lash Stiletto.  I actually didn't mind the results I got with this mascara, but OMG the smell!!!!  The smell is awful.  It wasn't just my tube, either...my sister's smelled the same way.  I felt like I could smell it on my lashes all day long and I just couldn't deal with it.

4.  Makeup Forever Smoky Lash.  Another dry formula that I just did not like.  One of the only 2 mascaras that I ever threw away after 3 or 4 uses.  I felt that it really didn't do much of anything to my lashes.

5.  Maybelline Great Lash.  The only other mascara that I threw away after 3 or 4 uses.  This stuff does. not. dry.  It smudged all over my face, let alone my undereyes.  For the lackluster length and barely-there volume I got, I would never purchase it again...even if it is only a few dollars.

Please share your picks and those you definitely recommend skipping.  Clearly I love to try new mascaras, so I'd love some recommendations!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

December 2013 Favorites! (And 1 Complete Waste of Money)

To wrap up the 2013 holiday season, here are my favorite products from this past month.  I do plan to do a blog post (but not a video) sharing my 2013 beauty favorites next week, but for now I just wanted to share the products I have been loving recently :)

Please share yours, too!

Products Mentioned:

Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Peppermint Lip Balm ($10)

I've talked this one to death.  You guys know I love it!!

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate ($30)

I finally broke down and put away my NARS Laguna Bronzer, and broke this baby out.  This is my favorite winter bronzer.  It's matte, the perfect shade, and it smells heavenly!

Naked Palette (the original!) ($52)

I've been giving this one a LOT of love lately!  It's just such an awesome range of colors...you cannot go wrong.

Avon 8 In 1 Neutral Palette ($7 on Amazon, but it's an add-on item, so it only ships when you spend $35+)

I found this little gem stashed away in my collection, and I've been loving it this month!  It is a little hard to find, since Avon does not sell it anymore, but if you can get your hands on it, it's really worth trying.  The colors are all shimmery, but the payoff is great and there is a good range of lights, mid-tone browns, and darks in the palette.  It's also really travel friendly, since it is a nice small compact with a mirror.

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen in 03 Blackened Brown ($9)

This was my replacement for Mac's Penultimate liner that I really didn't like.  It's a felt-tip pen style liner and I love it.  The color is pretty dark, but is still noticeably brown.  It's very very easy to use, too.

Jordana Fabuliner in Black (normally $6, but it's only $2.99 here!)

Basically the same as the Revlon pen liner, but in black, and way cheaper!

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel ($22)

I finally caved and bought this, and I'm so glad I did!  It does leave your brows a little crispy, but they don't look flaky or stiff.  It keeps each hair in place all day.

Trim Eyelash Curler ($3.49 on Drugstore.com, but I snagged mine in-store at Target for $1.99!)

WHAT AN AMAZING FIND!!!!!  OMG!  I only paid $2 for mine in Target, and it is the best $2 I have spent in a long time.  This little beauty makes my lashes look SO much curlier (they're naturally curly) and longer.  It works SO WELL, especially for the price.  I cannot rave enough about it.

China Glaze Poinsettia ($5 with free shipping on Amazon)

This is by far my favorite holiday red.  It's a perfect true red without any warm/cool undertones.  It's a cross between a jelly and a creme in my mind, an I love it!

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop ($19)

I just HAD to grab this with my Sephora VIB $20 coupon earlier this month.  I've wanted this gorgeous pink glitter forever and it's finally mine.  :)  I have to admit, I expected the staying power to be a bit better, but the color is so fabulous I don't even care if I only get 24 hours out of a mani!

Diamoncel for Sephora #20 Coarse Foot File ($38)

I know this is stupid expensive for a foot file, but my feet need it, big time.  I am really super hard on them, and I have awful calluses, so I need something really heavy duty to help them out.  I wanted a metal file after having a professional pedicurist use one on me, and this was the 2nd item I grabbed with my VIB coupon.  If you have terrible calluses, it may be worth a shot.  It really smooths my feet down better than anything else I've tried.

Stridex Soft Touch Pads Maximum Strength (2% Salicylic Acid) ($8 for 180 pads at WalMart, but I got mine in-store...90 pads for about $4)

I wanted to grab these after hearing Josh Collier rave about them, and hoped they would help my clogged pores and redness.  I don't have acne, but I do have oily skin and a lot of discoloration.  I've only used them for about 2 weeks so far, but I definitely have noticed that my T-zone (where I use them nightly) is a lot smoother.  I'll update as I use them more, but for now they really seem great.

And the waste of money item is the Sonia Kashuk Brush Cleaner ($7).  The reviews on Target's website are a lie!!  It's just terrible...it really didn't clean my brushes well at all.  I tried it both as a spot cleaner (which just left a funky residue on my brushes) and as a soap-alternative.  I would not recommend purchasing this whatsoever!  Just go with Mac's Brush Cleaner instead, it's way better!

I hope you enjoyed, and I hope you all have a fabulous New Year's!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Get Ready With Me! Some Original Naked Palette Love :)

I know Naked 3 has been all the rage these days, but I just can't help giving the original gem some love!  It's by far my all-time favorite, most-used palette.  I've been doing a different eye look than my typical "shimmery champagne on lid, matte tans in crease" lately, so I thought I would share :)

Enjoy!

Products Used
Clarins Bright+ Brightening Hydrating Day Lotion ($62)
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden ($20)
Mac Paint Pot in Nubile (LE shade)
Urban Decay Naked Palette ($52)  (shades Naked, Buck, Hustle, Sidecar, Virgin)
Jordana Fabuliner in Black ($2.99 at CherryCulture!  It's normally $6.)
DiorShow Extase Mascara (mine is a sample, but full size is $28.50...and not worth the $$ IMHO!)
Makeup Forever HD Foundation in shade 117 ($42)
Mac Mineralize Concealer in shade NW20 ($20)
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate ($30)
Victoria Secret Blush/Highlighter (LE, and discontinued, but Mac's Crew Highlighter is very similar!)
Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick ($26)
Cover Girl TruBlend Pressed Powder ($8.99)
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel ($21)
Mac Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait ($20)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Organization Week Part 3: My Everyday Products

On Monday, my post focused on how I keep the products that I use day in and day out right where I need them...on my vanity.  Today, I wanted to give you a more detailed view of my everyday products.  I've included in the video the things I use literally every single day.  I often change up things like foundations and eyeshadows, so those aren't in there, but everything from mascara to eye cream is!

These are the things I keep in the drawer in my purple makeup tower and out on my vanity for easy use!

Links Mentioned in the Video:
Monday's post on organizing for everyday ease here
Temptalia's post on Mac's Haute & Naughty Mascara here
My post on the Julep Top Coat here

Products Mentioned:
Clarins Bright+ Brightening Hydrating Day Lotion ($62...this was a gift from my sister)
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden ($20)
Mac Paint Pot in Nubile (limited edition shade)
Mac Mineralize Concealer ($20)
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack ($16)
Mac's Haute & Naughty Too Black Mascara ($21)
Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara (used as a brow gel) ($5.50)
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel ($21)
NARS Laguna Bronzer ($36)
Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Peppermint Lip Balm ($10)
Bioderma (try Amazon or Ebay.  It's about $20 for 250 ml, $35-$35 for 500 ml)
Sheseido Facial Cotton ($9.50)
Mac Lip Conditioner (now sold in a tube, here, for $15)
Avon AnewGenics Eye Cream ($36)
Clarins Lotus Oil Face Treatment ($50...also a gift from my sister)
Gelous Base Coat ($6)
Seche Vite Top Coat ($10)

I hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

November 2013 Favorites!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  I'm sure everyone is either shopping or decorating today, but for those who took a quick wine hot chocolate break to catch up on your blogs, here are my November 2013 beauty favorites :)  Enjoy!

Favorites This Month:

Mac Prolongwear Foundation ($31) mixed with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm ($45)
I love Prolongwear by itself, but it's a bit heavy for me for day-to-day use, so I like to sheer it out a bit with my Beauty Flash Balm, which is similar in concept to Mac's Strobe Liquid.  It's not as iridescent as Strobe Liquid, but it gives a great natural glow.  It smells divine, too!  (Full disclosure...the Beauty Flash Balm was a given to me by my sister to try, since she LOVES hers...I didn't buy it myself.)

NARS Orgasm Blush ($29 individually; mine is shown in an old palette)
An oldie but a goodie!  I sort of forgot about this blush for a while, but I picked it back up this month and have worn it most days.  You all know everything there is to know about Orgasm...but it's just a gorgeous shimmery pink that is flattering on all skin tones.

Mac Pro Shaping Powder in Emphasize ($16.50)
I use this to set my undereye concealer.  It's a white power with the slightest amount of sheen, and it is meant to highlight all areas of the face.  I like a little undereye brightness, and this works well with my skintone (Mac NC25/30).  

ELF Studio Makeup Remover Pen ($3)
I grabbed this at Target after hearing Josh Collier rave about it, and it's the one ELF product that I can honestly say was not a waste of money!  I love it!  It's great for getting rid of a mascara smudge or end of the day liner smudges.  It does leave a slight residue, but nothing that can't be just rubbed into your skin.

Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush ($35)
I resisted this brush for a while, but finally broke down and grabbed it during Sephora's VIB sale.   I am so glad I did.  If you use Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powders, I would definitely recommending investing in the brush that goes with them.  I was using a large paddle brush that was sort of similar in shape, but it wasted too much product.  This brush really keeps the powder from flying around and gives you a flawless application.

Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush ($6; these go on sale B1G1 50% off at Ulta a lot!)

I love this brush!!!  I think it might be my new HG liner brush, and I don't say that lightly!  It's a round shape, but it is stiffer than other liner brushes I've tried, which makes application a breeze.

Chanel Eyeshadow in Fauve ($28.50)
Fauve is my sole Chanel eyeshadow, and I could only justify the purchase because it is SO unique.  It's a gorgeous greyish purple, but the insane shimmer is what sets it apart.  I don't get a ton of fallout, which is awesome, especially given the shimmer.  If you're ever near a Chanel counter, just go play with this one!!  I have yet to see a swatch that does it justice...

Mac Naked Pigment ($21)
I have been using this on my eyelids with warm browns in the crease and I have been loving the look.  It's a gorgeous super shimmery nude color and pairs well with anything.  You could absolutely use this pigment as a highlight, too!

Dior Amber Diamond Highlighting Powder ($45)

This highlighter gives such a gorgeous natural sheen to the skin...it's basically all I've been using for on my cheekbones this month.  It's a tan shade and may work better as a shimmery bronzer for the fairest of us, but on most complexions it will work as a gorgeous highlight.

Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Balm in Peppermint ($10)

I'm not sure how many times I can rave about this stuff before you guys get bored of me talking about it.  Just go and get it already!!!!  It's the perfect peppermint lip balm. 

What have you been loving toward the end of the fall??

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Pick Through My Trash: Product Empties

One of my favorite types of videos to watch on YouTube are beauty girls' product empties videos.  I'm always trying to use things up, especially now that I have put myself on a serious no-buy and I'm trying to just enjoy and condense my collection!  I love seeing what people think of products and if they would re-purchase them after they've had a chance to fully use the products.  I take a lot of recommendations from these types of videos, so I figured I would start doing them myself!

I don't plan to do these on any regular basis...just when I have a full bag of items to share.  So without further ado...here are my product empties for the past few months.

Products Mentioned:

Beauty Secrets Pure Acetone ($6 for 32 oz. at Sally's, which is the size I buy)

I would and have repurchased

Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Antibac Hand Soap ($5.50 full price, but they're always on sale)

These are a staple in my house...I always have one of the B&BW scents in each bathroom and the kitchen.

Yes to Blueberries Face Wipes ($6)

Not a fan of these...see my full thoughts in this post.

Mac Wipes ($20 for 45 wipes)

My favorite wipes evah!  I already have repurchased them.

Mac Penultimate Liner ($19.50)

Not sure if mine was a dud or what, but I would not buy this again.

Gilette Venus Disposable Razor ($12.49 for 3, but again, buy on sale with coupons!)

I generally just buy whatever razors are on sale and have coupons, but I would get these again.

Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Body Wash (Now called Coconut Lime Breeze...$12.50)

Love this scent, and again I'm a big fan of B&BW body washes.

LUSH Almond & Coconut Shower Smoothie ($22)

This was my 2nd tub of this...LOVE it.  Such a luxurious product.

Soap & Glory Hand Food ($12)

I would buy this again, but don't plan to until I'm out of other hand creams.  It was good, not amazing.

Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo ($8)

Loved the scent, but hated the texture.  I likely would not repurchase this.

Oral B Glide Pro Health Dental Floss ($4)

This was fine, but I get so many samples from the dentist that I wouldn't buy it!

Lancome Absolute Eye Premium Bx Replenishing Eye Cream ($95 for 5 oz.)

Hated it.  No way I would buy the full size.  (I had a 1 oz. sample...NO WAY did I buy it for that price!!)

Mac Brush Cleaner ($25)

Best brush cleaner I've used.  I would absolutely repurchase and will when I finish up the bottle of Sonia Kashuk cleaner I have already.

And a bonus item I forgot to mention in the video....

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara ($32)

I did really enjoy this, but it's no Benefit They're Real ;)

Hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Get Ready With Me! An Average Morning...

Today I'm sharing what I do on an average morning for makeup.  This 10-minute look is pretty typical for me.  Hope you enjoy!

Products Used:  (ps, sorry it's so Mac heavy!  didn't mean that...)
Clarins Bright+ Brightening Hydrating Lotion ($62) (given to me as a gift by my sister)
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden ($20)
Mac Paint Pot in Nubile (limited edition)
Mac Eyeshadows in All That Glitters and Moleskin (limited edition) ($15)
Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush  ($12)
Mac 224 Tapered Blending Brush ($32)
Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Taupe Notch ($6)
Mac 217 Blending Brush ($24)
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack ($16)
Sigma E05 Eye Liner Brush ($12)
Mac Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara ($21)
Beauty Blender ($20)
Loreal True Match Lumi Foundation ($13)
Mac Mineralize Concealer ($20)
Anastasia Brow Wiz ($21)
Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base ($48)
NARS Blush in Sin ($29)
Sigma F40 Large Angled Contour Brush ($19)
The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer ($24)
Sigma F05 Small Contour Brush ($18)
Soap & Glory A Great Kisser Lip Balm in Peppermint ($10)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Face of the Day: Red Lips!

I decided to rock some nice red lips today!  I'm getting SO excited for the holidays with my little one here this year, I couldn't resist being a little festive with my makeup today!

Products Used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden layered with Mac Paint Pot in Soft Ochre.  (Not pictured.  Individually, each of these crease on me, but layered they don't.)

Mac Eyeshadow in All that Glitters. (Placed on the lid)

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows in Creme Brulee and Frappe.  (Blended into the crease.  These shadows are AWESOME.)

Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack.  (As of right now, this is my HG eyeliner.)

Mac Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash.  (I have been liking this a lot more than I originally thought I would!  I layer using the volume wand first and then the length wand.)

Loreal True Match Magic Lumi Foundation.  (Very similar to one of my favorites, Neutrogena Healthy Skin, but this is a better winter shade for me.)

Mac Mineralize Concealer.  (My shade is NW20.  I love this because it doesn't settle in my fine lines.)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light.  (This is barely yellow and helps hide any redness and blurs pores.  It's SO good!)

Anastasia Brow Wiz.  (I use Caramel to lightly define my brows and fill in bare spots.)
 

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Milk Chocolate/Light/Medium (Great for my skin tone in winter...not too dark and not too orange.  Plus it smells SO good!)

Mac Blush in Melba  (Perfect go-to peachy pink color that will be flattering on most skin tones.)

Dior Amber Diamond (Used as a cheek highlighter.  Beyond amazing!!!  Worth every penny!)

Bite Beauty Lipstick in VIB Rouge Red :)  (This came in the little package Sephora gave me when I made VIB Rouge!  It's just a very flattering bright red.)

Hope you enjoyed :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: 2-Minute Eyes

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

 
Another new week!  With the holidays coming up, we're all even busier than normal, so having a super quick go-to eye look that you can fall back on morning after morning is key to getting out the door quickly.  Keep reading for my two-minute easy eyes!  (And yes, it really only takes 2 minutes.  I timed it!)

You'll Need:
2 or 3 eyeshadows - a light shimmer and a medium brown matte crease color, plus an optional dark matte shade (black or brown are best; you can also grab your favorite eyeliner instead of that third dark shadow)
Mascara
2 eye brushes - a flat shader brush and a big fluffy crease brush (like a Mac 224)

What You'll Do:
1.  Apply your light shimmery shadow to your lid and inner corner area.  Use your flat shader brush to pack the color on.
My Picks:  Mac Vanilla, Mac Naked Lunch, Stila Kitten, Urban Decay Virgin or Sin (both in Naked 1), Urban Decay Bootycall (Naked 2), Loreal Infallible in Iced Coffee, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded.





2.  Apply the medium brown matte color in your crease.  The bigger and fluffier the brush, the better.  You can absolutely use a more-dense brush (like a 217), but it will take more blending (read, more time) to crease a flawless look.  The best color will be 2 or 3 shades darker than your skintone, because it will give your eye definition and also help blend our any harsh edges from your lid color. 
My Picks: Mac Moleskin (limited edition), Mac Soft Brown, Makeup Geek Creme Brule, NYX Nude, Urban Decay Naked or Buck (both in Naked 1). 


3.  Take the darkest shadow and get it just on the tip of your shader brush.  Push it into your lashline to make it look like eyeliner.  It's perfectly OK if it looks smudgey and imperfect!  (Alternatively, you can line your eyes with a pencil, gel or liquid liner, but using shadow and not being too fussy is so much faster.)
My Picks: Mac Carbon, Urban Decay Hustle (Naked 1), Urban Decay Blackout (Naked 2), NYX Black, Makeup Geek Corrupt, Mac Smut.  You could even go with a fun dark color, like purple or green.





4.  Add mascara to your top lashes (and bottom if you have time) and you're done!



I used my Naked 1 Palette for this look, specifically the colors Sin, Naked, and Hustle.  My mascara is Mac's Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash.

 

So lovelies, what is your go-to quick look?  Share!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Pinspiration: Purple Lids

I'm a huge fan of Pinterest...I absolutely love getting great beauty tips and ideas while browsing the Beauty tab.  I also really love to recreate looks I've found, and from time to time, I'll be sharing my Pinterest-inspired eyes with you :)

Today's purple eye is one that I've admired for a while.  I'm always trying to find a way to make color more wearable, and I think this nails it.

Original pin is here.  Follow me on Pinterest here.

Image From Pinterest

My Recreation

 I've recreated this look a few times, but I've always worn browns in my crease to make it a little more everyday-appropriate.  However, I never felt like I really had the look quite the same as the original pin.  The secret was using a purple to define my crease.

Here's how I recreated this eye, step by step:

1.  Prime lid with a base to prevent creasing and help shadows stay vibrant longer.  I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion in the color Eden.  I then layered that with the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Too Cool, which is a shimmery white.  (The original pin is shimmery, but my shadows were all matte, so I used a shimmery base.  The Color Tattoo is unnecessary if you're using shimmery shadows.)

2.  On a fluffy crease brush, blend a brown shadow just a bit darker than your skintone into your crease, and blend it up to your browbone.  I used Mac's Moleskin, which was limited edition.  Other options: Mac Soft Brown, Urban Decay Naked, Makeup Geek Creme Brule.  My brush was a Mac 224.

3.  On a more precise crease brush, blend a dark, warm purple into your outer crease.  (I used a Mac 222, which is no longer sold.  Sigma's E35 brush is a good alternative.)  I used an old shadow that is no longer for sale anywhere I could find, but there are a lot of options that will work.  Mac Sketch or Shadowy Lady, Urban Decay Rockstar (check your palettes...this was in many of them!), or the Wet N Wild Petal Pusher palette are great options.  Start with a little and build the color up until your eye is defined to your liking.

4.  Pat a warm, light purple onto your lid, staying below the crease, with a stiff shader brush.  I used Sigma's E55 brush, and a combination of 2 colors on my lid...Inglot 379 (bluer toned) and Inglot 334 (purpler toned).

5.  Highlight your inner corner and browbone with a light, slightly shimmery shade.  I used Mac's Mylar.

6.  On your lower lashline, smudge the lighter purple shadow on the inner half, and the darker purple that you used in your crease on the outer half.  I used a pencil brush for this...Sigma's E30 brush.

7.  Line your top lashline with black liquid liner.  I did not see a discernible wing in the inspiration photo, so I did not wing my liner.  You absolutely could do a wing though!  I used Loreal's Lineur Intense Carbon Black liner.

8.  You really want to make sure that your upper lashline is very dark with no light spots at all.  To do this, I smudged the liquid liner into my lashline from underneath my lashes, as well.  I also lined my upper waterline with a black pencil liner.  I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner in Perversion.

9.  Line your lower waterline and all the way into your inner corner with a black pencil.  Again, I used Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner in Perversion.

10.  Add lots of black mascara!  I used Mac's Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash, and I used only the volumizing wand.  You could definitely add some false lashes, too, especially ones that emphasize the outer corner of your eye.

Let me know what you think of my recreation!  Will you try this look?  What colors will you use?  Do you have a look you found on Pinterest you'd like me to recreate?  Send me the pin, or email me at abeautylush@gmail.com :)

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

My Top 10 Mac Eyeshadows

Hello Loves!  Today I'm sharing my Top 10 Mac Eyeshadows with you all.  I have to admit, I have a LOT more Mac shadows than I really need, but I've been collecting for over 10 years and I did get quite a few free as Back to Mac items. They're listed in no particular order...the just match the swatches :)

For reference, in Mac foundations I am generally in the range of NC30. 




Grand Entrance (Starflash)
This was a Limited Edition shade launched in 2009's Love that Look Collection.  It is a light, shimmery beige that has such an incredible sheen to it.  I wore this on my wedding day, and it still one of my top favorite shadows...this may even be my very favorite Mac shadow.  You can find it online (All Cosmetics Wholesale has it for $24 at the time of this post), but you can also get a pretty close dupe - Stila's Kitten eyeshadow.  The two are super similar...close enough that I won't be upset when I eventually use up Grand Entrance.

Mylar (Satin)
This is the perfect highlight color for my skintone.  It is a cream color, and has just the smallest amount of sheen to it, but not enough to make my browbone look shiny.

Vanilla (Velvet)
I use Vanilla for both highlighting and as a lid color.  It's the perfect creamy shade, and the shimmer that you see in the pan does not translate to the skin.  This is just a touch lighter than my natural lid color, so I like to use it to lighten and brighten up my eyes.  It is for me what Brule would be for someone in the NC35/NW25 range.





Naked Lunch (Frost)
I love to use this shade on my lids with a cool brown in the crease.  It's light pink, but translates as more beige-toned on the skin.  It looks so pretty, and it just shimmery enough to create a nice bright look without being over the top.

Stars N' Rockets (Veluxe Pearl)
This is a very pink-toned purple duochrome, and it's my favorite purple shadow by far!  It's actually a lot more useable and wearable than you may think, and when layered with different shadows or cream products, this takes on various different looks.  I love layering it over a navy blue eye pencil on my lid to create a darker, smoldering smoky eye, or over a white base on my lid with browns in my crease to have some fun with my eyes, or smudged under my lower lashline for a wearable pop of color.

Moleskin (Matte)
This was a Limited Edition shade launched in 2011's Mac Me Over Collection.  This is definitely in the running for my #1 Mac shadow.  I probably use this most frequently, as it is the best color for me to blend out my crease colors with.  It's very similar to Urban Decay's Naked, which is sold individually and also comes in the original Naked Palette.

Tempting (Lustre)
I think Tempting might be the most underrated Mac shadow!  I never hear anyone talking about it, but I am obsessed!  It's so sparkly, flattering and versatile.  It's a bronzey brown color and I use it both on my lid or in my crease for different looks.  Definitely one of my most-used!

Satin Taupe (Frost)
Who doesn't love this shade?  I'm not even sure anything I can say about it will add to what has already been said!  It's just the perfect shimmery grey-brown.  The end.  (If you love the shade but not the $15 price tag, Wet N Wild has come very close to duping this!  One of the shades in the Silent Treatment trio and their individual shadow in the shade Nutty are both super close.)

Sketch (Velvet)
I absolutely love this purpely brown.  I typically use Sketch in my crease with something light and shimmery on my lid (I wore this with Grand Entrance for my wedding).  It can come off more grey when paired with certain colors, but used with a light shimmer and blended out with a matte brown (like Moleskin) you really can't go wrong with it!

Handwritten (Matte)
I love to use this dark warm brown to add dimension in my crease or outer V area.  It flatters my skintone very nicely and blends like a dream.

So readers...what are you favorite Mac shadows?  What other dupes are there that I need to know about?!

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

October Favorites!

Happy end of October!!  Such a cliche - but I seriously cannot believe how fast this month went.  September and October flew by for me.  I blame it on being so excited to share Halloween and the upcoming holidays with my favorite little girl :)  (My little one is going to be 8 months old this week.  How did that happen??)

The end of October also marks a first for me...my first YouTube video to share with my readers!  I love watching monthly favorites videos, so I figured now would be a great time to take the plunge and film one.  Besides, it's way better to see a product than to just read about it.

And onto the beauty products I've given a lot of love this month!





Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation ($12.99 at Ulta)
Love this for the great natural glow it gives your skin.  I have oily skin, but this still does great things for me.

Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ Foundation ($36 at Sephora)
This really does stay matte on me most of the day, plus the color match (I am shade 30) is spot on.  It gives a good medium coverage but can be built up.

Beauty Blender ($19.95 at Sephora)
A ridiculously expensive makeup sponge, but I've found nothing that beats it.  When you use it damp, it applies any foundation flawlessly and keeps it looking so natural.  I've been using mine basically every day this month.

Mac Prolongwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre ($20 on Mac's website, but I found mine at a CCO!)
This is more yellow than the cult-classic shade Painterly.  It's the same shade as Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Eden, which really works well with my skin tone.  This works very well to block out redness and even out my lids.  Paint pots do crease on me, so I layer them over Primer Potion.

Nars Bronzer in Laguna ($36 at Sephora)
I've had my Laguna bronzer for-ev-er.  It's time for it to go, and I've been working on it for months now.  I LOVE the shade, but it's a bit dark for me in the winter, and I just have so many other bronzers I want to use.  I've been using this literally every day to try to use it up!

Burberry Blush in Russett ($42 at Nordstrom)
I absolutely love this color for fall - it is the perfect peachy brown.  It's actually the same exact shade as Mac's blush in Gingerly ($21), which I learned personally when I purchased Gingerly and compared them.  I have to say - Burberry's texture and blendability win by a mile, but the price is a little hard to stomach.  (In full disclosure, I received this as a gift...I did not purchase it myself.)

Mac 222 Brush (~$20, found at a CCO)
I love this brush because it is more dense and compact than a 217.  It deposits color more precisely in my crease, and I've been using it with a 224 to build up color and define my eyes more.  Mac no longer sells the 222, but Sigma's E35 brush ($14) is basically a dupe.  The brush that comes with the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette is also very similar.

Loreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner in Carbon Black ($7.94 at WalMart)
No liquid liner will ever replace my beloved Fluidline, but I have been reaching for this one quite a bit this month!  It is by far the easiest liquid liner to apply (I use the felt tip version, not the brush version) because the tip is just firm enough to give you a nice, straight line.  Plus, it's ultra black so you don't need to keep going over it.

NYX Setting Spray in Matte Finish ($8 at Nordstrom)
I forgot to include this in my video, but I have been absolutely loving this spray.  It's the first setting spray I've used that actually does keep my makeup in place all day, let alone keep my face from getting shiny after a few hours.  One thing I didn't expect that I was so happy to see was that this spray really keeps my eye makeup from budging.  I typically get a lot of black smudging under my eyes from mascara, but this keeps them looking perfectly clean all day.  

Formula X Polish in Ignite ($10.50 at Sephora)
Holy cow - I never expected to love a nail polish as much as this!!  I will do a full post reviewing these polishes when I grab a few more with my VIB sale coupon, but for now, suffice to say that these are AMAZING.  They wear much longer and better than typical polishes, and you absolutely don't need to topcoat them.  They're just as shiny with Seche Vite as they are without it.  These things are going to be a new addiction for me, I can feel it!!!

What are your favorites this month?  Let me know what I'm missing out on!

 

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

I Have A Black Eyeliner Problem

For some odd reason, I decided to count how many black eyeliners I have in my collection.  18.  I have freakin EIGHTEEN black eyeliners.  A little much, no?  12 pencils, 5 liquids, and 1 gel.  Who needs this much black eyeliner?!  If my husband reads this, you'll see me on the next episode of Hoarders.

In an attempt to justify my ridiculousness, I figured I may as well swatch them and hope they're at least a little different.  

Here are my 12 black pencils.

And my 5 liquids and 1 gel.

My ultimate conclusion - I definitely don't need this many black liners.  However, even though many of them do swatch identical similarly, the textures and wear times do vary greatly.  Here are my top picks and the biggest misses from my collection.

Best Black Eyeliners

1.  Mac's Fluidline in Blacktrack ($16).  This gel liner is pretty much Holy Grail for me.  Definitely my go-to daily liner, even though it does smudge a little, and it irritates my contact lenses when I use it on my waterline.  I love the deep color and the crisp line I can get with it.

2.  Loreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black ($8.99).  The felt tip makes this liquid liner basically foolproof.  Great black color and doesn't smudge at all, even on my oily lids.  Comparable to Makeup Forever's Aqua Liner ($23) in my mind, but I like the price point or Loreal's liner much better!

Worst Black Eyeliners

1.  Mac's Penultimate Liner ($19.50).  I should just toss this, I never use it.  It's barely black, has a dry formula, and doesn't transfer easily to the lid.  Maybe mine is a dud??

2.  Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner ($18).  I love how black this is, but omg it gets everywhere.  Waterproof my ass!  It's super smudgey, which can be a great thing, but not when it claims to be waterproof and it smears all over your face when you don't want it to.  Maybe it's my oily lids, but I wouldn't purchase this liner.  (Mine came with a palette...I didn't purchase it separately.)

What black eyeliners do you love or hate?  Are there any I am missing that can justify adding to my collection?  Help me feed my addiction :)

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.

Mommy Makeup Monday: Fastest Makeup Removal Method

On Mondays, I share a tip, product or tutorial that will help you look polished and put-together quickly and with minimal effort.  You definitely don't have to be a rushed mom to benefit from these posts...anyone who needs to be out-the-door fast (and who doesn't?!) can appreciate Mommy Makeup Mondays!

Happy Monday!  Sorry for the radio silence these past few days...my Macbook decided it needed to spend some quality time at the Apple store, but it's back and in a much better mood now :)

So let's discuss face cleansing and makeup removing wipes.  They are my go-to method of cleaning my face before bed on those nights that I'm just about too exhausted to even care.  But because I know how bad it is to sleep in your makeup, and because I'm sick of throwing my mascara-smudged pillowcases in the wash every morning, I keep a stash of wipes in my vanity for quick and super easy makeup removal.  It will take about 2 minutes to get all your makeup off, and you'll be in bed before you know it!  It's SO worth the tiny bit of effort...your skin will thank you in the morning!

A quick roundup of my favorite and not-so-favorite wipes:

Image Source: maccosmetics.com

1.  Mac Wipes.  You cannot beat them for makeup removal.  They take everything off; the end.  Mac does indicate that they aren't eye-safe, so those with sensitive eyes may want to try another type of wipe.  Personally I've always used them on my eyes with no problem.  The one downside is the price - $20 for 45 wipes, or $29 for 100.  (Personally, I would be afraid of the 100-pack drying up by the end.  Mac's packaging is by far the best with this issue, but the ends of my 45-packs are usually pretty dry.) 

Image Source: simpleskincare.com

2. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes.  These are a good buy for the money (around $5 for 25 wipes), and they're readily available at Target.  They smell nice, do a solid job of makeup removal, and I like that there are no harsh chemicals in them.  I would rate these on the better side of average, although they still don't compare to Mac's wipes. 

Image Source: target.com

 3.  Up & Up Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes.  Sold only at Target stores, these wipes are actually really great!  For 30 wipes, you'll pay less than $4, and they will do a great job of removing makeup.  These were my go-to wipes for years, until my eye area grew sensitive to them.  I've taken a break from them, but I will definitely repurchase them in the future.  Unless you have super-sensitive skin, I would definitely recommend trying these out.

Image Source: target.com

4.  Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes.  These are another favorite of mine.  They smell so nice, like chamomile and white tea.  It's a gentle scent, and doesn't linger, but is so nice when you're using them.  They also do a great job taking off makeup, although these are better for face makeup than eye makeup.  They run about $5 for 30 wipes.

Image Source: olay.com

5.  Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes for Sensitive Skin.  I have to be honest, I didn't love these wipes.  They were good for cleansing, and never irritated my skin at all, but only did a fair job at makeup removal.  Plus, every time I purchased a pack, the last 4 or 5 wipes was almost entirely dried out by the time I got to it.  (I typically go through a pack per month.)  These are also a little pricey...between $6 and $7 for 30 wipes.

Image Source: ponds.com

6.  Pond's Luminous Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes.   I am currently using these wipes after finding them available on Amazon's Subscribe & Save program.  (Amazon's normal price is less than $5 for 30 wipes.  Plus I get 20% off with Subscribe & Save!)  I haven't formed many opinions yet, but the fact that they contain kaolin clay (known for drawing crap out of your pores) intrigued me.  I will say that I won't use them on my eyes...I didn't find that they got off all my liner/mascara, but I'm excited to see if they end up improving the appearance of my skin!  I will update as I use them.

Image Source: yestocarrots.com

And the one I would skip over:  Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes.  They're about $6 for 25 wipes, but in my opinion they smell awful and don't remove makeup well at all.  I found myself scrubbing to get it all off.  Skip these - you won't regret picking up something, anything, else.

I have yet to try either Neutrogena's wipes (I am all about the grapefruit scented ones!) or Garnier's wipes, but I have heard good things about both.  Neutrogena may be my next purchase if I decide to switch from the Pond's Luminous Clean wipes.  We'll see.

Overall, I think wipes are just the best way to get rid of your makeup and give your face a quick clean before bed when you're about to fall asleep sitting up.  I wouldn't use them every night, though, especially if you have acne-prone skin.  They aren't a foolproof substitute for good old soap and water, but they do a damn good job!  (And besides, if you need that extra layer of clean, it's easy enough to run over your face with some toner on a cotton round to get all the grime off.)

Do you use face wipes?  Have I missed a must-try brand?  Share what you love about them!

Do you have an idea for a Mommy Monday post?  I'd love to hear it!  Leave it in the comments below or email me at abeautylush@gmail.com.

As always, everything in this post is my honest personal opinion.  No affiliate links were used.  I have not accepted any consideration for sharing these items with you.  Unless indicated otherwise, all products were purchased by me with my own money.