Mascara Week Part 5: My Holy Grail Mascara

To wrap up Mascara Week, I want to share my detailed review of my Holy Grail Mascara: Benefit They're Real ($23).  

The first time I used this mascara, I was absolutely blown away.  I had heard good reviews, but nothing prepared me for the amazingness to come!

Image Source: Sephora.com

It gives absolutely amazing length and volume, separates your lashes flawlessly, and stays in place without smudging.  It is a wet formula, but that's right up my alley.  It does dry up a bit after a few weeks, but never to the point that you feel you're using a different mascara.  It always remains perfect.

The plastic brush is very unique and the spiky ball on top really lets you get every last lash.  I also find that the ball allows you to coat your lower lashes so much easier than a typical mascara wand.  (I prefer plastic brushes to typical bristle wands.)  

It is also one of the blackest shades I've ever used, which I love.  I really enjoy dramatic lashes even during the day, so the extreme length and volume you get from this mascara is perfect for me.

Removal of this one can be a bit tough.  It is very water-resistant, so an oil or oil-based remover is necessary.

I know it's pricey, and I know it's a pain to remove, but it is SO worth it.  I will repurchase this until the day they no longer make it.  And when that day comes I will run out and buy 39402630423948203984 backups of it. ;)

Do you love Benefit They're Real as much as I do?  What is your HG mascara?  Please share!

Thanks 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.

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.

Mascara Week Part 3: Removal

One of my least favorite tasks is removing my mascara at the end of the day.  It's SUPER important that it gets done, though.  You really just don't want to sleep in with those chemicals and products on your eyes!

It's no secret that some mascaras are harder to remove than others.  I've used everything from tubing mascaras that come off with just water and some pressure from your fingers (which are a cinch to remove!) to super duper waterproof (in other words, good luck).

Here are my tips for getting every last speck of whatever mascara you have on, off!

If it's pretty easy to remove...

Water usually does a pretty good job!  Wash your face with your normal soap and water, and if your soap is gentle, carefully rub a little over your lashes (eyes closed!!) to help break down the mascara.  I usually just use whatever is left on my fingers after washing the rest of my face.  This will usually leave a little residue that can easily be cleaned up after with some water based or cream based makeup remover.  My picks are Bioderma (find it on Amazon or Ebay) or Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($16.50).

If it's average...

This is how I remove probably 80% of my mascaras.  First, use either water based or an oil based remover on a cotton pad.  I have yet to find my Holy Grail oil-based remover, but I did enjoy Sonia Kashuk Remove ($10).  Gently press the remover over your eyes for a few seconds to help break down the mascara, then wipe away.  You likely won't get everything off using this alone.  From there...either wash or face as described above, or go in with a makeup remover wipe.  Mac Wipes are my pick, but they aren't technically eye-safe.  For other great wipes, check out my post comparing a bunch of brands.  With your eyes closed, carefully rub the wipe over your lashes.  I also then open my eyes and "pinch" my lashes from the top and bottom with the wipe in my fingertips.  Be very, very gentle...you don't want to pull your lashes out!  This method really lets me get everything off, but you have to be very careful and gentle.  

If it's stubborn or waterproof...

This is the method I would use to remove anything waterproof, or something stubborn like Benefit They're Real.  First, use an oil to get most of it off.  No, not an oil-based remover.  A straight oil.  My favorite is Josie Maran's Argan Cleansing Oil ($12 for 1.9 oz...which will last you forever, or $32 for 6 oz.), but you could even use something as simple as olive oil.  I like Josie Maran's because it is specifically meant for this and it does not irritate my contact lenses at all.  (I plan to do a full review and demo of this product, because I really do love it.)  BE VERY CAREFUL!  With your eyes closed, rub the oil into your lashes and all over your eyelids.  Your eyes will be completely and totally black and you'll look like a freak!  ;)  But the genius part of this is that the oils just wash right away with water.  No soap needed.  And they take about 90% of your stubborn mascara with them.  I clean up any residue with one of the two methods above.

Let me know your favorite products and methods to get your mascara off!  Do any of my tips work for you?

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.

Mascara Week Part 2: First Impressions Review of Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara

Back in October, I purchased Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara ($20) during an Ulta haul.  I had seen it featured on QVC one night and totally fell for it.  I just had to grab it and give it a shot.  I finally opened up the tube last week and wanted to share my first impressions with you all.  (And yup, I paid for this one with my own money.  This isn't a sponsored post in any way shape or form.)

Image Source: Mallybeauty.com

I'm happy to say that I was really pleasantly surprised by this mascara!  It seems like it's going to be a really great one.  The formula is on the wet side, although I would call it right in between a wet and a dry formulation.  It should be interesting to see how much it dries up over the next few weeks.  The brush is a bristle brush, not a plastic one, and is of average size.  The mascara only comes in Black, and I found it to be a dark black, although not the darkest mascara I've used.

Overall, this made my lashes really voluminous and fairly long, especially for a mascara that is marketed as volumizing.  I was really impressed with the way my lashes looked after just 1 coat.  I did not have any clumping, and it did not make my lashes stick together.  The separation and definition it gave were by far what impressed me most.  After 2 coats on top, I did have a little less separation, but my lashes still looked really good.  (Typically, thought, I find that mascaras clump and fail to separate as they get older.  This review is just based off my impression after my first use.)  The mascara also performed exceptionally well on the lower lashes.  The brush made it easy to apply just enough, but not too much.  My lower lashes were dark and defined.

no mascara

one coat on top lashes only

two coats on top; 1 on bottom

(These photos were taken with only this mascara on.  No filters or photoshopping.)

Another huge plus...this stuff barely moved throughout the day.  I did get a tiny little bit of smudging under my eyes, but nothing to complain about at all.  (And MUCH better than Mac's Haute & Naughty that I had been using.  Omg...world of difference!)  Plus I did wear it on my lower lashes, so I know that usually does cause some smudging.

The most unique thing about this mascara is that it did not leave my lashes crunchy or hard at all.  I've never used anything that still left my lashes feeling soft to the touch.  It was really incredible.  The only downside of that is it made removal a bit more difficult.  Overall, the mascara removes fairly easily...I would say it's average.  I was able to get everything off between some Bioderma on a cotton pad and a Mac wipe, which is my normal removal process.  The reason I say it is more difficult because your lashes are soft is because you cannot feel if there's any more mascara on them.  You just have to keep wiping until your cotton pad/wipe comes clean.

One last thing worth mentioning...Mally Beauty is a brand that does not test on animals!

Have you lovelies tried Mally's Volumizing Mascara?  What were your thoughts?  How are the other mascaras from her line?

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: My Mascara Rules

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!

Welcome to Mascara Week my lovely readers!  This week I will feature a post each day about my absolute favorite makeup product, which is obviously mascara :)

I chose Mommy Makeup Monday to kick off Mascara Week (instead of just putting up my first post on Tuesday) because even a busy mom has time for a quick swipe of mascara.  There's just no excuse ladies.  Mascara takes like 45 seconds to apply, if that.  Leave a tube out on your bathroom counter and swipe a coat on your top lashes after you brush your teeth.  In my opinion, it is the #1 way to look just that little bit more awake and refreshed, opens your eyes, and just makes you look prettier.

So.  That being said.  Here are my Mascara Rules!

1.  Follow proper hygiene with mascara.  I am making this my #1 Rule because it is SO IMPORTANT!!!!  I've heard women (and I've seen it featured on Pinterest, WTF??) say that they will drop some contact lens solution into an old mascara tube to get more life out of it, and I cannot fathom why on earth anyone would do this!!  These are your eyes you're messing with!!!  Just don't do it!  Toss your mascaras after 3 months, tops.  That's the industry standard as to when a tube of mascara is considered so full of bacteria that you really shouldn't be using it anymore.  If cost is a concern, go drugstore.  You can grab really great mascaras for less than $10!  And another hygiene point...don't share mascara.  Professional makeup artists use disposable wands in their mascara tubes so that there is no cross contamination for a reason.  You just never know.  (And if you're getting your makeup done at a place like Sephora or a counter in the mall, make sure they're using a disposable wand on you!)

2.  Don't pump the wand.  Swirl it while it is in the tube instead.  This reduces bacteria in the tube.

3. Application is important.  When you apply, look down into a mirror to do your top lashes.  Wiggle the brush at the base of the lashes and then pull it upward to comb through your lashes.  If you want a cat-eye effect, pull the brush outward as you swipe.  If you want to open up your eyes more and make them look rounder, swipe straight up.  One coat is really all you need for day time, but of course a second coat looks awesome too.  :)

4.  Wait to do your lower lashes until all your other makeup is done.  This way, you aren't blending concealer or anything else into your mascara.

5.  If you smudge, don't worry...just wait!  Waiting until any mascara that smudged accidentally on your face or top eyelid is 100% completely dry makes it much easier to remove it.  I know this seems counter-intuitive, but when mascara dries, it flakes off.  This means you won't just be moving it around your face even more, just causing black stripes.  After it's totally dry, just rub it off with a Q-tip.  If you use a gentle hand, you won't disrupt any makeup under the mascara smudge.

So those are my must-follow rules for mascara.  Stay tuned this week for tips on removal and to hear about some awesome mascaras that I recommend!

Thanks for stopping by :)  I hope you enjoyed and found these helpful!

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.

The Little One and I Went Shopping :)

Yesterday, my daughter decided I decided to drag my little one to Ulta to spend our 20% off coupon that came earlier in the month.  (If you haven't received one, you should see it on Ulta's Facebook page if you Like them!  They've also been sending them via email.)

I didn't grab too much stuff since I did go a little makeup crazy in November, but I picked up a few items to share.  Plus you'll get to see my Christmas tree and meet my black lab, Molly, in the video :)

Products Mentioned
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel ($22)
Seche Base Ridge Filling Base Coat ($7) (all Seche products are B1G1 Free until 12/24/13!)
Seche Nail Lacquer in Contemporary ($7.50)
Sally Hansen Salon Gel Base Coat ($12.99)
Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish in Sheer Ecstasy ($12.99)
Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume Waterpoof Mascara ($8.99)  (all Cover Girl is B1G1 50% off until 12/24/13!)
Cover Girl TruBlend Pressed Powder in Translucent Fair 1 ($8.99)

Have you tried any of these?  I'd love to hear some opinions on the Sally Hansen kit!  

(Not-so-funny story...after I filmed the video, that night I went to try out the gel polish system and my little UV light broke!!  The part that the a/c adapter plugs into came loose and the connection is now rattling around inside of the light.  I contacted Sally Hansen to see if they would send me a replacement, but I haven't heard back yet.  If and when I can ever get it working again, I plan to do a review of all the Sally Hansen gel products!)

Thanks for stopping by!!

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.

Mommy Makeup Monday: If You Only Do 1 Thing...Make It Mascara!

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 December!  Welcome to the busiest month of the year...which leaves us all even less time for makeup in the mornings.  Funny, since we all have even more errands to run and places to be!  

For today's quick and easy makeup tip, I'm sharing my #1 must-do thing before you leave the house.  Even if you have no time to fool with foundations and blushes, there is just one step you can make time for...it only takes a minute.

MASCARA!  

 

Giving your lashes a super fast curl (if you even need it...) and a swipe of black mascara instantly makes your eyes more open and makes you look more awake.  Keep a tube out on your bathroom counter and run it over your top lashes before you turn the light off to leave the house.  One coat takes less than a minute and will make a HUGE difference.  (If you have 2 minutes, add some to your bottom lashes and maybe a tiny bit of concealer if you have dark circles...no need for anything else!)

Here are my top picks for mascaras!

a more detailed mascara post is coming soon!

#1 - My Holy Grail Mascara - Benefit They're Real.

Yes, I know it's pricey, but Oh Em Gee.  This really does make my lashes look like falsies.  It's a wet formula, but does an amazing job with both volume and length.  I've found nothing that even comes close.

If you want volume.... Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume or Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1

If you want length.... Maybelline The Falsies or Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes!

If you like wet formulas.... Loreal Telescopic Carbon Black or Buxom Lash

If you like dry formulas.... Revlon Grow Luscious or Makeup Forever Smoky Lash  (DiorShow is the cult favorite here, but personally I am not a fan.  At all.  It's beyond overpriced, and Grow Luscious is basically the same thing for 1/4 of the price.)

If you want easy to remove.... Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes or MAC Extended Play Lash (both of these are tubing mascaras)

Share with me your favorite mascaras!  I'm always looking for new ones to try :)

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.

Ulta Haul!

As promised, here are the items I picked up during Ulta's 20% off sale!  I actually didn't go too crazy at Ulta, as I am trying to save most of my purchasing for Sephora's VIB sale (details here) to try to make VIB Rouge by year-end :)

The one item I skipped was the Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Styling Heat Protect Spray ($23).  I do use this regularly when I curl my hair with a curling iron, and I love it, but I have a few other heat sprays that I need to use up, so I couldn't justify the purchase right now.  (Plus, I didn't realize that Sephora sells this, too, so I would rather get it there anyway!)

More details on what I grabbed below!




Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara ($20)
As I mentioned in my wish list post, I saw this on QVC one night and have been dying to try it.  I'm a total sucker for a new mascara, so this was my must-have item.  I can't wait to give it a shot!

Loreal Voluminous Full Definition Mascara ($7.99)
When I placed my order, Loreal products were B1G1 50% off, so I decided to grab this.  Tiffany D claims it's the closest drugstore mascara to the Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara, which I haven't splurged on (cough*yet*cough), so I just had to add it to my cart.

Prestige My Biggest Lashes Mascara ($6.99)
Yes, another mascara!  Like I said, I'm a total sucker!  I loved Prestige My Blackest Lashes, but I prefer lengthening formulas, so I figured I'd try this one out next time around.

OPI All I Want for Christmas (is OPI) ($9)
So as I mentioned in my video, when I took this out of the box, I realized it looked an awful lot like OPI's I Got the Blues for Red and other shades just like it that I already own.  The swatches I had seen online made this polish look warmer toned than the polishes I already have, which is why I grabbed it.  However...as promised in my haul video...here it is swatched with other shades:

I can't even make this up.  These 4 polishes are identical.  Like, not even similar...identical.  Oops.  (Click for a larger image, but L-R, it's OPI All I Want for Christmas (is OPI), OPI I Got the Blues for Red, China Glaze Adventure Red-y, and Sephora Formula X Ignite).  So yeah, All I Want for Christmas is getting returned!

Essie Toggle to the Top ($8)
The swatch of this in Polishaholic's post on the Essie winter collection made this shade look incredible, so I grabbed it.  I don't have any sparkly or glittery holiday reds in my collection, either, so now I do :)

Jane Cosmetics Water Resistant Eye Liner in Black ($6, but on sale for $4 right now!)
After filming my haul video, I gave this liner a run for its money.  It actually did stay on my waterline ALL DAY.  I think I may have actually found my Holy Grail liner for my waterline.  This stayed better than anything else I've ever tried by far.  It's super black, transfers so easily, and hello...it's $6!  I have to give a huge thanks to Tati/Glam Life Guru for mentioning this one!!

Loreal Colour Riche Caresse Aqua Lacquer Lip Stain in Endless Red ($9.99)  This was the other half of my B1G1 Loreal purchase.  I grabbed it on a total whim, since I don't wear bold lips that often.  However, I've been really feeling red for the holidays this year.  This is also supposed to be a drugstore version of the YSL Glossy Stains, which I've been dying to try.  For 1/3 the price of the Glossy Stains, though, I figured I should start small and try this one instead.  Happy to report that I LOVE the red color, and it lasted me about 3 or 4 hours before I had to reapply.  I purposely brushed my teeth with it on (it was still perfect afterward) and drank a latte.  It was a little worn off after the latte, but I went another 2-ish hours without needing to reapply.  I'm a big fan!  (As promised in the video, here is a great post comparing the YSL and the Loreal stains!)

That's it!  Please let me know what you picked up during the sale in the comments!  I'd love to hear what you're going to try out :)

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.