Mauve Eye Makeup Tutorial Featuring the Urban Decay Naked 3!

Happy Sunday everyone! I thought I would share with you a look I created yesterday with my Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. I know that the Naked Smokey Palette is everywhere right now, and since I still don’t have that (I don’t want to talk about it) I thought I should bring out my Naked 3, which I hadn’t played with in a while.

Steps:

1.) Prime Eye Lids. I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in the shade Inked in Pink, as it create a perfect base for the pink toned colors in the palette.

2.) With a fluffy crease brush, blend nooner into your crease. Blend out any harsh lines with Limit.

3.) With a flat shader brush, pack Burnout all over your lid.

4.) With a crease brush, add Liar to the outer third of your eye. Deepen that by blending factory on the outer v and crease. Blend it all out with a brush with no additional product.

5.) Use Dust to highlight the inner corner of the eye.

6.) Use Strange to highlight the browbone

7.) Smoke out the lower lashline by applying Nooner with a pencil Brush.

I used my sample of Le Volum de Chanel Mascara on my upper and lower lashes, and used Nyx wonder pencil on my lower waterline. All done!

I hope you enjoyed this look! Leave a comment below telling my your thoughts!

Elf Brushes Everyone Should Own

Hi everybody! I’m back today with a post about makeup brushes. It is incredible important for any makeup lover to have a set of good brushes in their collection. However, quality makeup brushes tend to be pricey, and not everyone can afford to buy all of the brushes they need. That is why I love Elf brushes. They are incredible quality for an extremely low price, and I rely on them every day to create any makeup look that I am wearing. Here are the best Elf brushes that make it easy to build up your brush collection without breaking the bank.

Elf Complexion Brush, $3

This is my favorite of all of my Elf brushes. It is a fluffy brush that is slightly flat on each side. It is perfect for applying bronzers and blush. I love how expensive and luxurious it feels.

Powder Brush, $3

This is a unique brush, and I don’t own anything else like it. It is a densely packed brush with the bristles cut flat at the top. It is perfect because it hold a lot of powder, but then releases it when you dab it onto your face. It is the only brush I use for applying powder foundations, loose powders, and finishing powders.

Small Stipple Brush, $3

This brush is great for blending concealer, cream contour, and also for applying cream blushes.

Blush Brush $3

I don’t use this brush for blush, as is it’s purpose, because I find it is too small for that. However, the tapered, small top is perfect for setting under eye concealer, and applying highlighter to the cheekbones.

Ultimate Blending Brush, $6

This really is exactly what the name states. This has become my go to brush for applying foundation, taking the place of my beloved beauty blender. It is a really quality brush, with densely packed brushes, slightly domed. It applies foundation completely flawlessly and gives my such nice coverage.

Professional Eyeshadow Brush, $1

This is a really basic eyeshadow brush, but it gets the job done. It is a flat shader brush that packs on a lot of color. ANd it cant be beat at $1!

Small Angled Brush, $3

Don’t feel the need to spend a lot of money on something as basic as an angled brush. This is my go to brush for filling in my eyebrows, and I use it with my Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade, and it works great.

Thank you for reading! What are some of your favorite makeup brushes?

Face of the Day: Minimal Makeup & Dewy Skin

So today was just one of those days where I didn’t feel like fussing with a lot of makeup. I was just running basic errands today and not doing much of anything else, so I went for a fresh faced look that looked like I really wasn’t wearing any makeup.

First, I primed my skin with Loreal Magic Lumi Illuminating Primer. This is my go to primer when I want fresh looking dewy skin, because it has a pearlescent, glowing finish that looks really natural under makeup.  After that I used my favorite Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation, which is a moisturizing foundation that always leaves my skin looking like it’s naturally flawless. I had to cover up my dark circles, with my NYX Dark Circle Eraser, which is a brightening concealer that naturally illuminates the under eye area. To set that, I used my NYX HD Setting Powder in Banana, and just a bit of Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent to set all my foundation. I used my Benefit Hoola Bronzer lightly under my cheekbones, and on my jawline and the sides of my nose. This is a matte bronzer, so it looks like a natural tan. Whenever I want a dewy look, I always use a cream blush, because it doesn’t have a cakey powdery finish, and looks very organic. I used my Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in the shade Pink Frosting.  I then took a bit more of the primer and added it to my cheekbones to illuminate, which really was essential to this look. I kept the eyes very simple, just using my NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skin Color, to cancel out redness on my eyelids. I did not add any eyeshadow, as I wanted the focus to be on my skin. I did a quick Swipe of Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara, which I find to be very natural looking, as it separates lashes and doesn’t clump. Then, I went for my Revlon Lip Butter in the shade Peach Parfait, which is a natural peach color. And that’s it! What do you do on days when you want to look natural?

Lorac Unzipped Gold Palette Review and Swatches

I’ve been going to Ulta a lot lately, and everytime I go there, I always go straight for the Lorac Section to swatch this palette. As a lover of gold eye shadow (Just look at the name of my blog) this caught my eye. It is a palette of 10 eyeshadows, all adhering to the gold theme in one way or another. The colors are all insanely pigmented, soft and buttery. They have a very silky quality to them, which caught my attention when I first swatched them. Also, I knew that I would use every single one of these colors and get a lot of use out of this palette. It has 3 matte shades, and the rest are metallic. The mix of metallic and matte shades make this palette versatile, and leave room for a lot of creativity. The most stunning shade in this palette is Unleashed, a brilliant coppery gold. Also included is Unlocked, a perfect champagne white shade, that is an amazing brow bone highlight. The palette has one perfect matte brown crease shade, a brown that is great for the outer v, and a very dark brown that would be perfect to smoke out any look for night. All in all, I am very happy with this purchase, and I think that it may be my new favorite palette. It is stunning. I am starting to question whether or not I like the Lorac Eyeshadow formula better than Urban Decay’s. At $42, this palette is an investment, but definitely one to think about. Now no more palettes for me until the Naked Smoky comes out!

( Top to bottom: Undressed Uninhibited, Unpredictable, Undeniable, Unedited, Unlocked, Unlimited, Unleashed, Unwind, Unafraid)

(Eyes: Undeniable in Crease, Unleashed all over lid up to crease, Unlimited in center of lid, Unlocked on brow bone and  inner corner. Lined with Maybelline Master Precise eye liner in black. Mascara: Maybelline Mega Plush.) Lips: Nyx Matte Lip Cream in Istambul. 

June Favorites

June is already coming to a close, and I cannot believe how quickly it went by. Here are the beauty and non-beauty items I have been loving all month

Bath and Body Works Country Apple Body Mist– This was my favorite scent ever in the early 2000s when I was a kid, but BBW sadly discontinued it. They recently brought it back for their semi-annual and I knew I had to have it. It smells just as delicious as I remember.

NYX HD Finish Powder in Banana– I have recently added this to my makeup routine and I love it. It is comparable to the banana shade in the Anastasia Contour kit but much cheaper, and it really highlights the under eye area.

NYX Dark Circle Concealer– This is basically a dupe for Benefit’s erase paste. It is the same color and has the same coverage. Paired with the banana powder, this is the ultimate weapon against dark circles.

Yankee Candle Fresh Cut Roses– I love anything rose scented, and this scent is a really true to life scent. It smells exactly like a fresh cut rose, and scents an entire room. It smells so amazing, and I have been obsessed with it all month.

Florence and the Machine How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Album– This has truly been the only thing I have listened to all month. It is really an amazing album, and there is not one song I don’t love on it. The songs are upbeat and catchy, and paired with Florence’s incredible vocals, it just can’t be beat. I highly recommend.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn– Written by the author of the insanely popular Gone Girl, this book is just as much of an addictive page turner. It is a dark mystery story about a woman who is the only surviving member of her murdered family, and her brother is in prison for committing the crime. I really can’t say more without giving things away, but it is completely worth the read. I couldn’t put it down.

My Favorite Beauty YouTubers

1.) Essiebutton

Essiebutton, or Estee Lalonde, is my all time favorite YouTuber. Technically, she is not a beauty guru but a lifestyle blogger, but she does a lot of beauty stuff. Not only is she beautiful, but she seriously has the best personality. She is so funny, and so chill. I could honestly listen to her talk for hours and I know a lot of people feel the same way. Another thing I love about Estee is that she is so smart. You can tell when she talks that she is very intelligent and doesn’t take beauty too seriously. Also, she just has the most enviable life. If you haven’t seen her yet, you totally should.

2.) Kathleenlights

Kathleen has been my obsession for months now, and it’s not going away. What I love about Kathleen is that she is just so talented at doing makeup. She comes up with the most gorgeous looks that I would never even think of, and she can do an eye makeup tutorial like no one’s business. She is really dedicated to YouTube and puts a lot of time into her videos. I also appreciate how she uses a good blend of high end and low end products, and never uses anything absurdly expensive because she knows what her viewers can afford.

3.) Tanya Burr

There is a reason Tanya is so popular. She is just the loveliest person, and is so talented. She has been doing makeup for years and is so good at it. She always does looks that are so wearable and easy to replicate. Not only is she insanely gorgeous, but she is very down to earth and very talented. Also, I am obsessed with her and her fiancee, they are complete relationship goals.

Who are your favorite YouTubers?

The Makeup Bag Series: What’s in My Sister’s Makeup Bag

So if I’m like anyone else, I love seeing the products that other people have in their makeup bags. So, I thought it would be fun to do a series where every now and then I peak into the makeup bags of my friends and family. The first bag is my little sister, Juliet’s. She is 15 years old, and is starting to get into makeup. She actually had some stuff I was very jealous of! Here’s what’s inside:

Bare Minerals Ready Touch up Veil in Translucent

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in New York Scene

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Flush

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer in Fair

E.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Lip Glosses in Currant and Raspberry

Maybelline Perfect Pastels Eyeshadow Duo in Pink Suede

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Bronzer Duo in Honey Heat

Benefit the Porefessional Mini

Rimmel London Kate Moss Lipstick in 107

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Carnival Spirit

MAC Mineralize Blush in Gleeful

What’s in your makeup bag? Let me know in the comments!

Summer Eyes: Fun Makeup Look Featuring Too Faced Sugar Pop Palette

Thank you to my beautiful little sister, Juliet, for volunteering to let me use her as my model.  I wanted to do a fun look today that was a little different from what I usually do, and I think summer is the perfect time to experiment with color. I did a simple eye look using my Too Faced Sugar Pop Palette. I like this look because it looks kind of like tye-dye when you are finished. I used Peach Fuzz as my base, Macaron all over the lid and onto the crease, packed Bubblegum into the outer corner, and dabbed Rock Candy in the center and on the brow bone, and then blended it all out with a fluffy crease brush! And voila! Finish with mascara for an easy, fun summer eye look. This worked really well paired with Maybelline lipstick in Brazen Berry.

That’s it for today! Please tell me your thoughts in the comments!

E.l.f. Baked Eye Shadow Palette Review & Tutorial

Happy father’s day everyone! It’s a dreary, rainy day here in Connecticut, so I thought it would be the perfect day for a nice review and tutorial. Today’s subject: E.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow Palette in Texas. I find that this palette is excellent considering that it only retails for $10 (!), and you get 10 beautiful neutral shadows. The shadows are baked, so they have the most intense color when used wet, but you can use them dry as well for a more subtle look. The palette is mostly brown neutrals, including some beautiful chocolaty shades and copper shades. In addition to the browns, there is a lovely baby pink, a beautiful white highlight shade, and a really striking yellow-gold. All of the colors work very well with each other making an endless variety of beautiful looks to be created. When the shadows are applied wet, there is no fall out, strong pigmentation, and it lasts all day. They are a bit crumbly when used dry, so I definitely recommend using a damp brush to apply them. This palette is defintely a home run for E.l.f. cosmetics, and can be found on their website and at Target. They have baked palettes in several different colors, and now I am very tempted to try them all.

All Colors swatched in order on palette

While playing around with this palette today, I came up with an easy look using 4 of the colors. 

Before I started with the palette, I added Urban Decay Buck to my crease. Any matte brown crease shade will work with this look.

Step 1: Using a a damp flat shader brush, pack 1 onto your eyelid, stopping at the crease. Continue dipping and applying until you have built up plenty of pigment.

Step 2: Take number 2 and press it on the center of your eyelid using a flat damp eyeshadow brush. This adds a beautiful pop to the center of your eyelid.

Step 3: Take eyeshadow number 3 on a damp pencil brush, and apply to inner corner of your eye to brighten the overall look.

Step 4: Take eyeshadow number 4 on a damp flat brush, and apply to highlight your browbone.

Step 5: Allow several moments for the eyeshadow to dry. Once it is dry, take a blending brush with no additional product and lightly go over your whole eyelid to blend all of the colors seamlessly together. I applied eye liner to my look, but that’s totally optional. Voila! You are done!

Thanks for reading guys! See you next time. Please like and comment if you enjoyed.

NYC Goodies: MAC and Chanel

I’m back! I had a wonderful time in New York, and before I share with you all the details of my trip, I thought I’d share some of the beauty things I picked up while I was in the city. I didn’t have much time to go shopping, since I was technically working, but I did have time to pop into the Chanel Boutique and the MAC store in Times Square. 

MAC Pigment in Old Gold

I knew exactly what I wanted before I went into the MAC Store. As expected, it was completely packed, and I could barely move. But luckily, there was a lovely saleswoman who helped me find everything I wanted and navigated the crowds for me. I knew I wanted the MAC pigment in Old Gold, because Tanya Burr wore it in one of her videos and I was absolutely obsessed. It is the most brilliant yellow-gold shade, with the slightest tint on green, just like tarnished gold. I bought the mini one because I knew that I would never use up a whole pigment.

Look at how beautiful that is!

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle

Next, I got the Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle. I’ve wanted this guy for so long! It seems like everyone in the beauty community has and loves this product.  It is a beautiful bronze color with streaks of gold through out. I like how versatile it is. It can be used as a light bronzer, a highlighter, and eyeshadow, or just an all over veil on the face for a gorgeous glowing look.

MAC Lipstick in Twig

I’ve heard a lot about Twig and Mac Lipsticks in general, and I thought it was time that I tried one. Since I am no wear near a MAC store, I knew that this was my best oppurtunity to get one. The lipsticks come in several different finishes, and this is a Satin. It is a beautiful pinkish brown red, that would definitely be flattering on everyone. The formula is silky and long lasting, and comfortable on the my lips. I have to get more.

MAC Lipstick in Twig 

Chanel and Bergdorf’s

Now, I didn’t actually buy anything in these two stores because it was just a little out of my price range, but the woman I nanny for, Judy, gave me all of her lovely samples that she recieved with purchase. I was basically drooling over all of the beautiful lipsticks and eyeshadows and perfumes in Chanel, and although I knew I wasn’t going to get anything, it was still fun to look.

I got this sample of Le Volume De Chanel Mascara, which is really nice. It makes my lashes long, but I don’t think it is special enough to pay full price. It is fun to say that I am wearing Chanel Mascara though!

Also at Chanel, I got two perfume samples. Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with perfume, and Chanel makes some of my favorite ever scents. Luckily, I was given samples of two perfumes that I don’t already own, so I was able to try out some new fragrances. Chanel has a line of perfumes called Les Exclusifs, and they are only sold at Chanel boutiques and I have been dying to smell them! I couldn’t believe I got a sample of 1932, one of the Exclusifs. I have not used it yet because I am saving it for something special, and I can’t wait to smell it. Also, they gave me a sample of Chance Eau Tendre. which is a really beautiful, wearable floral that anyone would love. At Bergdorf Goodman, I was given a sample of Chai de Robert Piguet, which is a scent that smells like green tea, and is really lovely.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post. I plan on doing a separate post all about my trip, so stay tuned! I would love to see your comments!