hot pink lips!

think what you want about kim kardashian, this girl sure knows how to wear makeup!! this is so pretty.

I'm getting more into lipstick lately, and am loving a few shades the most :)

hot pink is my favorite lipstick color to wear! i just think its so fun and pretty. this is the best product shot i can find for my hot pink lipstick. it by josie maran and called 'bambolina'. its a lot brighter in real life than this shot shows.

it shows a bit like kim's shade. not quite as punchy, but close.

Starting A New Job

I will be reading blog posts, etc, but not blogging for awhile because I am busy with starting a new job! It is both incredibly exciting and stressful at the same time.

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Product Review: Revlon Colorstay Under-Eye Concealer

Revlon Color Stay Under-Eye Concealer.

I got this is the shade 'medium'. This is so far the favorite of all the drugstore concealers I have used. I am really liking the twist-up packaging that this one has, (the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind has this too).

It has a soft sponge on the tip where the product comes out that I have found to be very soft and good for blending out the product. Very easy!

This product is a thick liquid consistency, and it dries really fast! You have to blend fairly quickly. I usually only do one click and that has enough product for both eyes. If I want more coverage, I do thin layers, letting it dry in between.

I have tried it with my Clinique All About Eyes Cream, and L'Oreal Magic Makeup Base, and both work really well as a smoothing base for this concealer. I find I don't need to set with powder.

I have heard this is true of the Revlon Color Stay Foundation as well, but I haven't tried that one.

The medium matches my skin tone perfectly.

Grade: A
Coverage: Medium

Note: I reviewed two other drugstore concealers in recent posts, and I have been pleasantly surprised with how much I like them! In the past, I always wore foundation as concealer, if at all. I didn't wear much makeup while in school. But lately I've been trying out different brands to find a good long-wearing concealer for work, which I start soon!!

November--Most Used Products

"Croc Palette" by Lorac:

 I have had this palette for 3 years ( I think) , and it is often on frequent rotation, but lately I have been using it more and more. Its small and portable, and perfect for every day looks, and this shade of blush is my absolute favorite blush. I also use at least one of the eyeshadows every day. 

My go-to work look involves the matte chocolate brown & the two shimmery top shadows--top left for eyebrow highlight, and the top right shadow on the lid with matte brown in the crease. And finished off with the blush! Pretty and simple since it's all conveniently in 1 palette. 

24/7 Eyeliner Pencil by Urban Decay in "Whisky" (Dark Brown):

I got this double sided eyeliner with my Naked Palette, one side is a dark brown color and the other is a dark black. I haven't used the black yet, but I have been wearing the brown side almost every day this month! And I have to say, I am loving it.

Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo with Cedar Bark:

I LOOOVE this dry shampoo. I was just to the point where I was convinced that dry shampoo was not for me, then I purchased this on a whim after seeing Veronika from Veronika's Blushing blog about this. It smells amazing! Not citrusy, powdery, or anything. It looks white on the hair, but brushes out.

I used it today for a human resources appointment, and it was a lifesaver, my hair needed to be washed badly. And my hair looked great for my photo.

Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation in 03 Fresh Neutral :

My go-to foundation for years when I have to look put-together.

Make Up Forever High Definition Powder:

To set my foundation. This product is new to me, but I am liking it!

L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base-Face Primer:

I am loving this as a primer for my under-eye concealer. I did a review on this on my previous post. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser:

This concealer/brightener on me is very light coverage, and I was loving this on no makeup days. 

Product Review: L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base (Face Primer)

L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base (Face Primer). The box says 890 on the top, not sure if this comes in any different colors?

This retails at CVS and Walgreens for 12.99 normally, but sometimes goes on sale. I purchased it from CVS for $10.99. It has 0.5 fl oz in it, or 15 mL. 

I have used this under my foundation on my t-zone, and my forehead was not oily, so I was happy. But I need to really test this on a day where I work and wear my foundation for 12+ hours.

So far my favorite use for this product, and the main reason I purchased it was to prime my undereyes before applying concealer. My undereyes have fine lines, especially when I smile, and I need to use a primer to prevent creasing. I'm trying out different products right now to see what works well for preventing or delaying the creasing with my new concealers. 

This product is very good. I have tried out all my concealers, and using foundation as a concealer, and I have had much less creasing than without. When using my foundation, even a thicker layer, I don't have any creasing. 

I also like the consistency. Its very creamy and soft, in fact, it feels like mousse, but so soft and silky. It dissolves into your skin, and feels very soft in the undereye area.  It does not break me out either, which is important!!

I recommend this product if you are looking for a primer, but don't want to spend too much $$. I especially recommend this for undereyes!

Product Review: Physicians Formula Bamboo Silk Bronzer

I purchased this bronzer from the drugstore. I have always wanted to try Physicians Formula Products, because I have heard a lot of good things about them, but always held back because I can't try them on in person!

But I chanced it on this one. And....I hate it! I hate the smell, and for that I would return it alone. But I also hate the finish. It smelled so bad I had to wash it off my face immediately. I don't know how to describe the smell, but it was not one that I could put up with. It also looked very powdery on my cheeks and emphasized my pores, and showed up slightly orangey on me.

This is the color 'Light Bronzer'. I got the light since they were out of medium, and the dark I thought might be too dark. It has a slight shimmer in the  bamboo design portion.

It looks very cute in the container, with the cute bamboo design. But ugh ugh ugh smell.

Happy Half Birthday and Giveaway for My Life, The Universe and My Shoes!

Happy Half Birthday and Giveaway for

My Life, The Universe and My Shoes!

Alice at My Life, The Universe and My Shoes is celebrating her blog's half birthday, and is running contest to win Mac's Dazzlesphere in Smokey Blue.

Click here to enter here giveaway. Aren't they pretty??

I haven't picked up anything from Mac's new collection, but I was really tempted by their dazzlespheres and shimmery paint pots.

Smokey Blue has 4 shades: Silver Sleet, White as Snow, Winter Sky, and Dark Moon. Don't forget to enter!

My Blush Collection

My blush collection! I included a picture of Benefit Dallas Blush/Bronzer, because I only recently used it up, and I loved it. 

On the top left is my (favorite) blush, Lorac 'Soul' blush. It is my go-to everyday blush, especially since I'm out of Dallas. its a tan/rose. Its in my 'Croc' palette by Lorac. In the summer when I am tanner, I also use this as a bronzer. 

On the top right is Tarte's 'Blushing Bride', a sparkly rose.  

Bottom left is my new favorite blush. Its a mineral blush, and is called 'Coral Sea', by Coastal Classic Creations. This is the mini sample size. It looks so scary orange in the container! But it applies so beautifully, and this shade really warms my face with a pretty coral color. 

Bottom right is Stila Custom Color (original pink) blush. A very pretty pink. It looks hot pink in the pan too, which is fun. 

Benefit Dallas Blush/Bronzer, which I just love! It's such a pretty peachy tan. I use this as a blush, bronzer, and all over face color. Very versatile, which I like!

I also recently picked up the new Nars 'Danmari' Blush Palette. It is very fun to have so many pretty colors in one palette. It is quite big too.

Of this palette, my favorites are the bronzer 'Casino' (brown shade on bottom left) and blush 'Sin'. (Bottom right), though I have been using Desire quite a bit more than I thought I would (top right). Its a matte shade, so I thought it was nice they included at least 1 matte.

It would have been the perfect palette except that they included Superorgasm and orgasm, and I think they should have included a second matte blush instead of Superorgasm. But I still think it is a very nice palette.

Drugstore Concealers and Eye Brighteners

After spending the past year in school, I didn't bother much with concealer or foundation. But I'm going to start working soon, so I am starting to look for good concealer options for my dark circles. I want to look polished and put together, I don't want to look tired!! I want to look awake and put together.

I decided to check out the drugstore, since I've seen a lot of positive reviews for budget concealers. 

I am VERY happy with these! They work really well for me. 

The first is a concealer by Physicians Formula, which is a medium coverage for me. It's their 'Concealer Twins Correct and Cover Cream' product. I got it in the shade yellow/light because i have blueish toned dark circles and the yellow cancels these out. Then the light covers up the yellow color. I have been applying primer to make it apply smoother, and set it with a light dusting of powder. 

I don't have problems with creasing when I use a primer. I personally love concealers with wands. I blend with my fingers, but I like being able to dab the product on where I want it first. Very easy to use. 

I got mine at CVS, I don't remember how much it cost, but on Physician Formulas website it was only $7.65. Great price!

The second product is Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser. (below) I got this after reading a review by blogger Veronika from Veronika's Blushing. I got it in the pinkish-beige shade, it's labeled 'Brightener'. 

I use this when I want light coverage and brightening. The product itself is very lightweight, and liquidy. 

I don't need to apply any primer with this, it stays put as is, and doesn't crease. Very speedy to apply!

I also bought this from CVS, and it was $7.99. 

Buying Backups of Makeup Products: What Products Do you Do this For?

But I just bought 2 backups of a product that I haven't even used up! Call me crazy, but I am in love with this product. 

this image is from google (gold dust is the bottom right)

Its Estee Lauder Shadow Creme Eyeshadow in 'Gold Dust', and its limited edition, and sold out in many stores. I bought it over the summer, and it is my perfect everyday look. 

It literally looks like gold dust is delicately sprinkled on your eyelid. On me, no base color shows up at all ( I have a medium skin tone), just the gold sparkle. And since its cream, no glitter fallout, no creasing, and it just stays wherever you put it. I love it!!!

I bought it online via Apothica.com, which I only recently discovered, and love that I can find many brands that I don't have near me. However, currently their descriptions and reviews, even the pictures are not always great for the products. I think this is a good website only if you know already what product you are looking for, not for browsing. 

A few times in my life I have re-purchased a product I really liked after using it all up, but usually not immediately.

A list of my re-purchased products:

-Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Foundation-my go-to foundation-Worn for 4 years

-Clinique Stay Matte Pressed Powder-Worn for 3 years

-Covergirl Eyeshadow Trio in 'Shimmering Sands'--Repurchased 3 times

-Benefit Dallas Blush/Bronzer-Repurchased 2 times

-Clinique Lash Definitions Mascara-Repurchased 4 times