KIREI | BEAUTY

Perf for ♥ Day!

2012-02-10T12:45:00.000-05:00

I'm obsessed with ETSY! I just bought one of these adorable customized burlap pillows for me and my stud muffin...

$35 + $6. 95 shipping from Next Door To Heaven

Comes in 4 different colors of burlap!

Too cute!

Trend? Bold Bottom Lashes

2011-03-22T20:40:00.000-04:00

Does anyone else marvel at Kim K's amazing eyelashes? Holy bejeezus. She must use Latisse and have extensions and use falsies and primer and 3 coats of mascara. Good Lord.

But what stands out to me is Kim's bottom lashes. You don't normally see such emphasis on them. I used to think emphasizing your bottom lashes would "pull down" your eyes and make them look droopy, so I have never really put mascara on my bottom lashies - only the ones on the outer corner.

So lately I have been spotting other celebitches with bold lower lashes and thought I would experiment using the 5 steps of the Scientific Method cuz that's not dorky.

1. Pose Question: How will bold lower lashes look on normal people?

2. Hypothesis: Bold lower lashes look hot, not weird.

3. Conduct Experiment: Apply Dior Lash Maximizer (primer) and Diorshow Extase mascara, coating and emphasising bottom lashes just as much as uppers. Add some black eyeliner for drama.

YouTube video tips are essential!

Put lower lash mascara on before top lash

4. Analyze Results: I look stupid. Not something to rock every day. Not as flattering as emphasizing just the outer bottom lashes for the cateye look. This look made my eyes look rounder. and stupider. Maybe this would be a good idea only for those with a natural dramatic cat eye shape like Kim K. My eye looks droopy, and my undereye circles are emphasized yay!

5. Draw Conclusion:

Leave it for Kim. I look like a tard.

Fave Spring Nailcolors

2011-03-22T19:34:00.001-04:00

CHANEL Riva. All Hail Chanel Nailpolishes!! Perfect!

DIOR Nirvana and my craptastic version of a self imposed manicure. Embarrassing!

DEBORAH LIPPMANN Waking Up in Vegas. Oh how I looooove this shade! Deborah's nailpolishes are the BEST. One coat, that's all. Super pigmented color.

DIOR Purple Mix. Dior's nailpolishes dry extremely quick! Loving that.

DEBORAH LIPPMANN Naked...on the Summer end of Spring I think.

Multi-tasking with Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. Lip Treatment AND Bicycle Lube?

2010-08-16T12:18:00.000-04:00

I'm busy. Well, I'm mostly just lazy, but I tell everyone I'm busy. That is why I like Arden's 8 Hour Cream. It comes in a tube and it is a stinky, orange-ish, thick balm that does it all. It has now become part of my bedtime routine to put it on my lips and then slather it on my rough foot spots. I have used many a chapstick for dry lips in my day, but this one really works. I have also used many a foot creams, but none get my feet softer. Celebs like Vikki Beckham, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Love Vagazzle & Fergalicious love this stuff. Now I know why!

It's also good for skeeter bites, brow gel, an overnight hand treatment, bicycle lube, and rough knees and elbows. I even read that someone sniffs it to ward off hunger. LOL!

The secret ingedient is salicylic acid a.k.a. beta-hydroxy acid. It is the ingredient effective in many acne treatment product because of it's ability to penetrate and exfoliate through sebum (oil) into the lining of the pore. It is a mild exfoliant, gentle enough even for rosacea and comes from the bark of the white willow plant.

About the stinkyness - it is sort of medicinal and smells kinda like geranium. It's not that bad!

Eat Pray Polish. CHANEL Paradoxal

2010-08-16T11:47:00.000-04:00

My sweet honey just bought me this as a little love gift (along with Particuliere. Love you Noosh-Noosh!). Me gusta mucho!! I will wear it all fall, along with the classic, iconic Vamp, I predict. Yes, Chanel nail polishes cost $23, but think of these polishes as an accessory. Chanel colors are always the top trend (think summer's Nouvelle Vague. Beyonce doesn't rock just any color) and it's cheaper than a necklace! Atleast this is what I tell myself.
BTW how great was Eat Pray Love? Anyone want to go to Bali with me?

Nail Tips and Products from The Cosmetics Cop Team

2010-07-14T18:05:00.001-04:00

Nail Tips and Products from The Cosmetics Cop Team
As ya'll know, I am a big fan of Paula Begoun, the "Cosmetics Cop". Click the link for some great nail tips! Then you can grow out your nails as long as these! SEXAY!

Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder Foundation Knockoff/Dupe/Drugstore Double

2010-06-02T00:52:00.001-04:00

I know many, many ladies love Chanel Double Perfection Compact Powder Foundation, but hate the price tag... $50. I would wear this stuff every day, year-round if I was a rich girl. I've tried all the drugstore brands of powder foundations and Maybelline Pure Stay Powder Foundation is about as close as I have come to Chanel DP.

The thing I love most about Chanel DP is the ever-so-slight shimmer, or "light-reflecting pigments" of the powder, and the fact that it covers great without a chalky, mask-like look. It really blends well with the skin. Much better than MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, which tends to sit on top of your skin.

Maybelline comes pretty darn close to matching all the great qualities of the Chanel DP. The only drawback of the Maybelline Pure Stay is that the colors are a teensy bit ashy... Not quite right. But for about $42 less than Chanel, it is a steal at $8.

If you usually wear Vanilla in Chanel DP

Try Ivory 10 in Pure Stay

Tarte Cosmetics - Cheap on Hautelook.com 5/18/10

2010-05-17T11:26:00.000-04:00

Tarte cheekstains are the bomb!

Get some ( along with other select Tarte goodies) at Hautelook.com only on Tuesday, May 18 (tomorrow).

One Day Sale!

Now off to spin class!

Is the New Revlon Colorburst lipstick really YSL?

2010-05-14T22:11:00.003-04:00

This lipstick is super snazzy! Described as luxurious, rich color that feels virtually weightless. 'Tis true.

I was pleasantly suprised to find a drugstore lippy as smooth and silky as Yves Saint Laurent. No shittle. (If you have not ever tried Yves Saint Laurent lipstick before, it is like freaking butter. You must own one atleast one before you die.) Plus there is a $3 OFF coup here so you can get your own. I got my shade in Blush, which perfectly enhances my own natural lip hue for an au naturel look. It wears great and doesn't dry my lips out. It has virtually no smell. LOVE!!!

There's poop in that lipgloss

2010-05-13T12:33:00.005-04:00

Here's a great article from Paula Begoun about E. Coli and other various, icky microbials in tester makeup.
I worked at several cosmetic counters and it used to GROSS ME OUT me how people would just come up to my counter and put tester mascara right on their eyes.
Effing nasty.
Just read this little gem of tester hygeine etiquette and never put any tester product near your eyes or mouth, dumbass.. .and I just probably saved your life if you do.

"Lots of women love going to a cosmetic counter, salon, spa, or their local Sephora store to play with the skin-care and makeup products on display there (I know I do!). It is almost impossible to pass through the cosmetic section of a department store without something catching your eye. The irresistibly arrayed and easily accessible tester units beckon you to try on a lipstick, foundation, concealer, eye shadow, or moisturizer directly on your face. But you might want to think twice before doing that again because it may be riskier than you think.

Despite the fun you can have at the cosmetic counter, in reality these tester units are almost always rife with bacteria, mold, or fungus (or all three), and that isn’t funny. There hasn’t been a lot of research on the issue, but the little that exists has shown the pretty lip gloss or moisturizer you’ve just tried on is probably contaminated with microbes which can include staphylococcus and even E. coli.

When you think about it, this really isn’t all that surprising. That lipstick you’ve just tried on could have easily been already used by hundreds of other women with unknown hygiene or health (think herpes or pink eye). While preservatives in cosmetics do a great job of reducing the risk of contamination, they only can do so much and they get less effective with time and exposure to numerous microbes from people. Plus, a product’s preservative stability isn’t tested for use by hundreds of users.

In your daily life you would not willingly share your own makeup and skin care with countless women you don’t know, but that is exactly what you are doing when you try on a cosmetic that’s open and available on the counter. It becomes even more problematic on a busy day as a tester is used repeatedly in a short period of time. When this occurs, the preservative system doesn’t have enough time to kill off the contaminants, and that leaves you vulnerable to picking up something you don’t want.

Thankfully, at some cosmetic counters there are salespeople and makeup artists who try very hard to be as sanitary as possible when helping women test products. But given how busy a cosmetic counter can become or if no salespeople are present (which happens quite a bit), or the person behind the counter isn’t well trained, sanitation efforts go right out the door.

While we know there are microbes running amok at the cosmetic counter, the real issue is what are the risks to you? Unfortunately no one knows. Theoretically, if someone with herpes just tried on that lipstick or lip gloss it could get transferred to you, same for getting pink eye from an eye liner pencil or mascara, but there just isn’t any data to reference one way or the other. Theory isn’t fact and there is no evidence anywhere that women are getting any sort of disease from cosmetic tester displays, but they’re not bastions of hygiene, either.

Should you play it safe and avoid the cosmetic counter altogether? Personally I’m not going to give up playing at the cosmetic counter, but there are ways you can still enjoy the experience while playing it as safe as possible:

Eye shadows, pressed powders, loose powders, and powder blushes have the least risk of containing microbes because they contain ingredients bacteria, fungus, and molds don’t like, so they are probably the safest for you to play with. It can be helpful to scrape off some eye shadow (you want to be the most cautious with your eyes) on to Kleenex and then apply it, but check with the salesperson first before you damage a company’s testers.
Lipsticks and lip glosses are problematic to trust, but for lipstick you can roll up the tube and take some color from the bottom. You can also ask the salesperson if they have alcohol spray so you can spray the top of the lipstick or the applicator for the lip gloss before you try it on. Be sure to allow several seconds for the alcohol to disinfect before applying the product to your lips.
Mascaras should never be tested at a cosmetic counter. The application and applicator makes it the riskiest item on the display unit. What about cosmetic counters that offer disposable, single-use brush applicators? They’re a nice touch, but you don’t know if the person before you double-dipped or, for whatever reason, didn’t have hygiene at the front of her mind.
Eye pencils are best tried on your hand, not your eyes. This especially applies to liquid eyeliners, which are almost always water-based. Used on multiple people, liquid eyeliners serve as a fertile breeding ground for bacteria.
Foundations should be tested on the side of the face away from the eyes and mouth to be the safest, but using a clean or disposable sponge is best of all so everyone keeps their fingers out of the product.
For concealer or any product in a tube, squeeze out a little amount on a Kleenex and discard. The contents at the top are the most likely to be contaminated. Next, squeeze out a bit more on a Kleenex and use that to test.
Skin-care products are best tested on your hands to judge the texture (you can’t tell efficacy with one application anyway so there is no benefit of putting it on your face or eye area), or ask the salesperson for a sample if available.
Brushes should be sprayed with alcohol before you use them. Wait for the brushes to dry before using them.
It would be ideal (though given the pervasiveness of jar packaging, not realistic) to test products whose containers kept fingers out of contact with the contents. Products packaged in airless containers or with pump or dropper applicators are safer than those housed in open-mouth jars.
Tester units at salons and spas which have far less traffic than department stores are a safer bet as well (though of course there are less brands and options to try on—but if you are just trying to judge color these can work great)."

Vagazzle my Vajay?

2010-05-13T12:07:00.004-04:00

Fo Shizzle my Nizzle!

Apparently, Jennifer Love Hewitt announced on George Lopez that she gets a brazilian wax job and then Swarovski crystals her hoo-ha. Sounds like fun until you really start to think about it. This must be what bored, rich celebrities do to get their jollies.

Do any of you out there have enough free-time and money and a borderline porno-sex life that you require your vag to twinkle like a disco ball?? I'm not judging.

Things that sparkle make me stupid, so maybe for my wedding...

MAC To The Beach 2010 Summer Collection

2010-05-12T14:48:00.004-04:00

To the Beach? More like To the Poorhouse!

For Release May 27, 2010

CLICK ON PIC FOR LARGER IMAGE

Here's the Lowdown:
To the Poorhouse Shadows $14.50

•Sand & Sun: Light Peach (Matte)

•Firecraker: Frosted Mid-Tone Red Orange (Veluxe Pearl)

•Sweet & Punchy: Bright Yellow Green (Veluxe Pearl)

•Shimmermoss: Green with Green Pearl (Veluxe Pearl)

•Humid: Intense Green with Shimmer (Frost)

Lipstick $14

•BeachBound: Sheer Frosted Pale Peach (Glaze)

•Lazy Day: Light Dirty Blue Pink (Lustre)

•Thrills: Rosy Copper with Gold Pearl (Frost)

•FunBathing: Mid-Tone Bronzed Plum (CremeSheen)

Lipglass $14

•Easy Lounger: Light Baby Pink with Multi-Dimensional Pear

•Flurry of Fun: Sheer Sparkly Peach

•Splashing: Mid-Tone Blue Pink with Soft Gold Pearl

Lip Pencil $13

•Life’s a Breeze: Soft Pink

•Temperature Rising: Loudmouth Orange

Eye Kohl $14.50

•Float on By: Dark Green Turquoise

•Rosemary & Thyme: Mid-Tone Olive Gold with Shimmer

Powder Blush $18.50

•Hipness: Intense Coral with Soft White Pearl (Frost)

•Get-Away Bronze: Mid-Tone SunTan (Frost)

High-Light Powder $26

•Marine Life: Multicolour Pressed Powder

Nail Lacquer $12

•In the Buff: Muted Taupe Avocado (Cream)

•Scorcher: Creamy Bright Coral Red (Cream)

CLICK ON PIC FOR LARGER IMAGE

MAC To The Beach Bag $49.50

Cream bronzer $25

•Beach Bronze: Golden Glow with Soft Gold Finish

•Weekend: Mid-Tone Deep Orange Brown with Soft Pink Pearl

Luster drops $18.50

•Pink Rebel: Blue Pink with Gold Pearl

•Sun Rush: Peachy Bronze with Gold Pearl

Bronzing Powder $22

•Golden: Muted Golden Tan-Beige with Golden Shimmer

•Refined Golden: Finely Spun Golden with Soft Pearl Finish

Bronze Body Oil $22

•Glowing Tan with multidimensional Golden Shimmer

Brush 130 Short Duo Fibre $38

A short, round dual fibre with flat head composed of both natural bristles and synthetic fibers ideal for application with creams, emulsions & various powder products.

Brush 130 Short Duo Fibre Powder/ Blush $34

Flat, tapered face brush that contains a combination of short, natural, fibers and longer, fibre optic fibries ideal for light application and highlighting/ shading with various face powders; Ideally suited with mineralize skinfinish powder products.

more pics and swatches

What do you think of this collection? I think BORING! Nothing new here MAC!

Shu Uemura Gem Glam Collection Summer 2010

2010-05-08T23:52:00.001-04:00

Shu Uemura Gem Glam Collection Summer 2010 |The Makeup Divas Beauty Blog

http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/_us/_en/collections/seasonal/gem-glam/index.aspx

Essie Summer Collection 2010

2010-05-06T12:45:00.003-04:00

6 New Colors Available June 1st, 2010

Here's the Lowdown:

HAUTE AS HELLO

DEMURE VIXEN

KNOCKOUT POUT

MISS MATCHED

VERMILLIONAIRE

PRETTY EDGY

All About $8.50

Essie Summer 2010 Collection

POP Beauty on Sale at Hautelook.com Right NOW

2010-05-06T12:29:00.000-04:00

GO TO Hautelook.com

PRICES ARE DIRRRRT CHEAP!!

N.Y.C. In a New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish Review

2010-05-05T23:09:00.001-04:00

This is shade 242B Uptown

Ugh, I have a super snot-filled cold going on, so I decided to paint my nails a bright, indulgent shade of girly-girl pink to make me feel better. I had a BOGO coupon for this N.Y.C. " In a New York Minute" quick dry nail polish and WOW I am impressed! This pic is after just ONE coat! AND it really does dry fast. Not in a New York minute, but more like a minute in Idaho, or maybe North Dakota.

I usually apply polish coats in thin layers, but the trick with this one is to apply in one even, thick layer.

Best $1.79 I ever spent!

Some other cool colors to check out for Spring are SoHo (peachy-pink), Wall Street (bubblegum pink) and Park Ave (lilac) check out all the colors here.

Bargain Alert! Three Custom Color Specialists

2010-05-02T20:35:00.000-04:00

Enter code PRO3 at checkout at threecustom.com and receive 30% off all online purchases through midnight May 2 EDT. (Kinda short notice, I know. Sorry)

I have not tried this line, but several makeup artists rave about it. Check it.

Now's a great time to try! Let me know what you think!

Bargain Alert! Becca Cosmetics

2010-05-02T20:24:00.000-04:00

Becca has an INSANE color variety of foundations/concealers/powders that are impeccable!

This line is great and I wonder why it doesn't get more press. Hmmmm.

Anyhoo, sign up at Hautelook.com for the sale. Hautelook hosts private, limited-time sale events with today's top brands for women, men, kids, home, and beauty. Lasting between 48-72 hours. Up to 75% Off!

Becca sale starts Monday 5/3/10

Bargain Alert! Paula's Choice $5-$20 OFF

2010-05-02T20:12:00.001-04:00

Paula's Choice is my fave skincare line

Go here to shop!

Bargain Alert! Free Shipping at Chanel.com until May 2nd

2010-04-29T13:49:00.001-04:00

Free Shipping on any Purchase until May 2, 2010 Chanel.com

LORAC 3 Reviews in 1: Natural Performance Foundation, Wet/Dry Powder Makeup & Double Feature Concealer

2010-04-29T13:43:00.001-04:00

I went all crazy on LORAC makeup a few months ago and picked up some of her foundations/concealer because several of Carol Shaw's (makeup artist and CEO of LORAC- Carol spelled backwards - get it) products are paraben-free and non-irritating to sensitive skin like mine. I usually like to wear powder foundation because it's easy to apply without the liquid foundation hassle so I got the Wet/Dry powder foundation. I also decided to try the liquid Natural Performance Foundation since liquids do give a more skin-like appearance and my face has been dry lately. FYI: Dry skin + powder foundation = Hot mess.

I got the Natural Performance Foundation in NP2 (light)

The Double Feature Concealer in DF1

And the Wet/Dry Powder Foundation in WD2

Here are the swatches including a shot of my dope wrist tattoo for your viewing pleasure

As you can see, the foundation and concealer are very yellow. I thought this would be a good thing since my face is usually slightly red (yellow tends to even out a ruddy complexion and yellow is also good at canceling out under-eye circles, if you have any yellow undertones...more about this later) I have a pretty neutral skintone but more yellow-based foundations look better on me because they even out my redness.

Natural Performance Foundation: I like this stuff. It has no smell, it goes on evenly, it covers great without heaviness, covers flaws including undereye circles (mine SUCK), and most of all, it does not irritate. It is also filled with antioxidants that are good for your skin. This is a great everyday foundation. It comes in a pump dispenser that pumps just the right amount per application. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is too yellow. I have read several makeup reviews that say LORAC foundations are too yellow, so unless you have very warm undertones, go with another line. There is not a huge color variety in this foundation collection. Therefore, I must apply it thinner than usual or it makes me look like I have a slight case of jaundice. It would be a super awesome foundation if there were more skin-tone friendly variety

Grade: C

Double Feature Concealer: The roll up stick part of this concealer just plain sucks. The formula cakes and slides and the color is off. There is a rollerball in the cap that you are supposed to use to blend with, but it's just...wrong. However, The highlighter is excellent!! It has a lipgloss-like applicator that you dab on and it blends really well. It gives you a slight "wet" look that I like beacuse it looks more natural, instead of a glittery/shimmery look. I love this highlighter!

Concealer Grade: F

Highlighter Grade: A

This is the schizo of concealer/highlighter duos

Wet/Dry Powder Foundation: I really wanted to like this powder foundation, but I don't. It seems more like a regular powder than a powder/foundation. It has very sheer coverage and makes my skin look blaaah. Will I ever find a comparable match to Chanel Double Perfection powder foundation that isn't $50?? My heart breaks.

Grade: C

Bargain Alert! Vincent Longo 30% OFF & Smashbox 20% OFF

2010-04-25T11:28:00.000-04:00

At VincentLongo.com

Enter Code VFLIRT

Also get Free Shipping over $40

At Smashbox.com

Enter Code FFSB9

Good Until May 29th

New Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipcolor SPF 18 Review

2010-04-23T12:12:00.002-04:00

Sunset Beach

Ulta.com color swatches here

about $6

I got a coup in All You Mag for $3 off this lippy which made me giddy as a schoolgirl cuz I wanted to try it anyway. I love Rimmel glosses, so I could only assume, by my powers of makeup deduction, that I would love their lipsticks also.

I got to Ulta to find a nice display of about 24 colors...sweeeet. I love having options. After covertly opening tubes of color I fancied and then swiping them on the top of my hand (you know you do it too), I settled on the color Sunset Beach, partly because I want to actually be on a beach and partly because this color would go so great with my Rimmel bronzer. I think an Ulta lady saw me messing with her products and huffed, "Can I help you find something??!!??" I wanted to say, "No Ho. I'm good thanks. My hands are clean. Get over it." but I just turned bright red and said "I'm good, Thanks!" I'm pretty badass in my head. Moving forward, Rimmel bronzer is the shizz. Get some, it's cheap and the colors are tantastic.

So I like the lipstick okay, it is moisturizing, the color is semi-sheer and it stays put longer than gloss. I really like the SPF 18. SPF is good. It comes in a great range of shades and they have several neutrals to choose from. It's just not any better than any other drugstore lipstick. The only thing I don't like about this lipstick is the cheap lipstick smell. Why do all cheap lipsticks smell the same? Put some fruit oil in your lipsticks or something for Christmas sake!

If I rated this lippy on a scale of Wet n Wild to Chanel it would be a L'oreal. So it ranks slightly above it's cheapness. Will I buy more? Probably not. I can't deal with the smell for long periods of time.

Besties: Why I Love Bare Escentuals Eye Shadows, and the one reason why I hate them.

2010-04-20T13:04:00.003-04:00

Bare Escentuals eye shadows $13 are THE BESTEST, hands down! Why? because they are pure pigment with no fillers (like the extra ingredients used to get pigments to squash together to form a pan). They are yucky-ingredient-free and can be easily layered, mixed, used as lipstick, liner, even blush - just add clear gloss, water or liquid sealer. You can even blend eye shadow primer potion with them to give the color more oomph. They go on so nicely and never, ever crease! These are the only eyeshadows I have used that do not crease. All other shadows say they don't crease, but these ones really don't. Bare Escentuals eyeshadows really don't crease. Am I being redundant yet?
I know MAC and Make Up For Ever has pigments but they give you too much product and therefore, jack up the price ($19.50, $19 respectively), BE has more "real " colors that are useable for everyday as opposed to the bright-orange-crazy-colors and glittery-drag-queen-colors that MAC/MUFE has. Bare Escentuals eyeshadows are just a perfect amount in a little pot. I have had my shadows for YEARS and they are still good as new. A little goes a long way ya'll.

The one thing I hate: The messiness. They get all over the place. You must be diligent with application or your bathroom and your face will be a hot mess. I guess that's the tradeoff.

Tip: Put a cotton round, kleenex, post it note, or your homework under your eye while applying to prevent fallout onto your gorgeous face.

What are my fave colors you ask?

From Left to Right - Queen Phyllis, Wild Woman Melissa, Drama, Downtown, Nude Beach, Snow, True Gold, and Soul. All Gorgeous nude & brown colors that look good on everyone.

Irony of the day: I made a huge mess while making these swatches.

Best Other Eyeshadows that are not loose pigments: Chanel, Urban Decay & NYX (Cheap!)

What are your fave eyeshadows and why? What do you think of Bare Escentuals eyeshadows?
What is your fave color eyeshadow?

Wet n Wild New Mega Chrome Eyeliner Review

2010-04-19T12:16:00.004-04:00

Does anyone else think Wet n Wild sound like a porno title? Maybe I'm a perv, but I bet it really is.

Anyhoo, this pencil is literally the crappiest eyeliner I have ever used. It skips, it's too soft and the color does not apply evenly. It's horrible. Stay away!!

Why am I buying cheap, crappy purple eyeliner? Well, I so wanted to do the metallic purple eyeliner look as seen in Allure on Amber Valletta last month, but I just can't bear to spend over $5 for a metallic purple eyeliner that I won't get a lot of use out of. In this case, you get what you pay for. All the good eyeliners (Urban Decay 24/7 and MAC) are just not happening for my penny pinching ass right now.

Lauren Luke's Metallic Purple Eyeliner How-To. She never says what eyeliner she uses. That hobag!

(For those of you that don't get my sarcastic humor, I'm just kidding - I love her)

Here is Amber from the March 2010 Allure. I love this look!

Does anyone have any suggestions for my cheap metallic purple eyeliner?

Best Lip Plumping Glosses

2010-04-18T13:50:00.004-04:00

What? These are my friends. You are so mean!

There are two different types of lip plumpers, ones that irritate your pout enough to cause swelling like DuWop Lip Venom $16 (the first lip plumper, Lip Venom, is a blend of essential oils, including cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger, that cause the blood to rush to the surface of the lips) and those that include "collagen microspheres" and hyaluronic acid like in LipFusion that attract moisture to the lips and therefore fattening them. Some glosses have a mixture of the two which is less irritating than the full-on Lip Venom. I hate Lip Venom because it is so intensely irritating to me. It feels like my lips are badly sunburned. Cheaper glosses (drugstore) typically contain the irritating ingredients since they are cheaper to manufacture.

Plumpers are for everyone. I have been blessed with naturally big lips but I still love the lip plumpers because they seem to fill in the fine lines around around the lipline and give a more youthful plump to the lips that isn't outrageous. I have been a huge fan of LipFusion lipglosses, the first ever lip gloss that actually did plump lips without irritating them to all hell. The only complaint I have about these glosses is, of course, the price tag. $38 is completely ridiculous. ARRRRRGGGGHHH. Robbery of the vain!

I've tried many many many lip plumpers and here are the best I've found so far...

LipFusion Micro-Injected Color Shine $38
Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips $18
MAC Plushglass $18

Each of these glosses plumps effectively without irritation and lasts a decent amount of time before you must reapply for the plumping effects.

LipFusion Micro-Injected Color Shine: The first non-irritating plumping gloss. Classic. Expensive. Comes in a wide range of colors. I like Bare and Bloom. These are both extremely natural and real colors that give you that healthy, natural look. Bare for pale-medium skin. Bloom for medium-dark skin. This gloss seems to be the gloss that doesn't last the longest but it has the best texture (non-sticky). It has a faint sweet citrus-y smell.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips: If I had to pick a favorite this one would be it. LipFusion would win hands-down if it had the same price tag as this one ($18) but it doesn't, so it is not my favorite. It has a slightly sticky texture and smells good. This one lasts a long time as far as gloss goes. The plumping effects last the longest with this one. I like the color Amber. It is a sheer peachy gold that looks good on everyone. Smells like caramel.

MAC Plushglass: This is the gloss that lasts the longest. The plumping effects last a good while too but not as long as Buxom Lips. It is the most "irritating" of the glosses, but it is very tolerable. Smells like caramel and cinnamon. My favorite colors are Ample Pink (bare pink without shimmer) and Power Supply (healthy pink with gold shimmer). I wore this color for the first time and my BF said..."Whoa, You look pretty!" Score.

What are your favorite lip plumpers??

Rimmel MAX Volume Flash Mascara

2010-04-18T11:59:00.001-04:00

From Rimmel: Take your eyes to the max with the supersized, perfect-fit brush that works in perfect synergy with the exclusive quick setting Lash Expand formula. The cushion-like collagen effectively binds to each individual lash, while the keratin works to smooth the surface of the lashes, leaving them stronger, sleeker and shinier. Capture that edgy London look than with big, bold attention-grabbing lashes.

Ok. The only thing I really love about this mascara is the hot pink packaging. This makes it easy to find amongst the ridiculous amounts of makeup in my bathroom drawers...and I like hot pink. I am a girly-girl.

The mascara is pretty good. It is more of the type of mascara that lengthens and separates nicely, but if you want that dramatic volume you'll have to add a couple of coats. For me this is time consuming, and I want a mascara that does it all and fast like DiorShow or Cover Girl Lashblast (although these mascaras have a tendency to clump if you are not careful). I am searching for a mascara comparable to Dior Show or Cover Girl Lashblast that isn't ridiculously expensive (Dior is $24) that does not test on animals (Cover Girl does). I am having a hard time with that. Some girl at the nail salon told me that Maybelline Lash Stiletto was good too, but Maybelline tests on animals so I refuse to buy.

Some mascara's I've tried so far that are pretty good are Revlon Fabulash and MAC ZoomLash, but I am hoping to find something better.

PROS

Cheap, no clumps, very black, separating and lenghtening, hot pink tube, good brush, non-irritating

CONS

need several coats for volume, average mascara in comparison to everything else out there

Still searching for the cheap holy grail of mascaras.

Favorite New Body Wash - ShiKai Moisturizing Shower Gel

2010-04-18T11:14:00.002-04:00

Whole Foods was having a BOGO sale on these body washes the other day so I picked these two up - Coconut and Cucumber Melon - after test-smelling the entire line, of course. When I tried them out on my big giant white bath poof I was not expecting to be so impressed with these, but they are great! They foam up fantastically unlike some other brands I've tried and they smell delish. They are also free of all yucky ingredients. Very eco-chic

Price $8.99 each (unless you get a BOGO deal like I did)

From the Website:

These shower gels moisturize as they clean so your skin feels soft and smooth all day. (mmmm.ok) The exclusive formulas combine natural colloidal oatmeal, rich emollients and gentle cleansers. (sure) The oatmeal binds moisture to the skin soothing it and leaving it itch-free. (I did not experience any itching, so ok) Use as a body wash in a shower or even a shaving gel. (yes I will, thank you)

Rich in aloe vera & colloidal oatmeal.
Gentle, soap-free formulas.
Safe for baby's and children's tender skin.
Leaves skin noticeably softer & healthier .

Available in 8 luscious natural fragrances...Coconut, Cucumber Melon, Pomegranate, Honeysuckle, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Gardenia, and Yuzu ( I dunno)

Pick them up at Whole Foods or on ShiKai's website.

Chanel Noir et Or Paris-Shanghai Nail Polish Collection 2010 & Knockoffs

2010-04-16T15:41:00.009-04:00

I saw this combo on the All Laquered Up Blog and could have DIED!

Chanel Black Velvet + Illusion D'Or = Sexy Disco Vampire

I wasn't about to spend $50 ($25 each..WTF?) for nailpolish so I headed for Ulta to see if I could find a comparable knockoff. I trolled the nail aisle and the OPI and Essie sections and couldn't find a damn thing until I happened to eye a new little makeup display called LA Splash. Hmmm, funky, okay let's see...and Voila! I find 2 nalpolish colors called Black Sea and Treasure Splash

Black Sea Treasure Splash

Word. I'll see what I can do with these. Ring me up Ulta lady!

So I head to the nail salon and ask them to paint me up.

This is what it looks like fo' reals

Let's Compare

My resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me.

$8 vs. $50?

Uh huh. You're Welcome.

Update: I was at Walgreens last night and I found a few more Knockoffs you could try.

Milani Nail Art Laquer $3.99 in Black Sketch 703 and Art of Gold 701

Mix Art of Gold 701 with Milani Nail Laquer in Diamond Dazzle 40 to get an exact knockoff

Also:

Wet n Wild Wild Shine $1.99 each in 424A Black Cream

and 469 Hallucinate (Note: You still need to use a gold glitter polish like Art of Gold)

Go Ahead, Pop That Pimple—Just Be Careful How You Do It!

2010-04-14T12:56:00.002-04:00

Go Ahead, Pop That Pimple—Just Be Careful How You Do It!

Here's a new article that I just love telling you how to pop a nasty white head pimple... like anyone would just let one hang out on their face all day!

It recommends the use of a comedone extractor, which I own and love. My boyfriend loves it too. Everyone get zits once in a while and you just can't help but to try to pop those suckers.

When I get one, I warm the pimple with a washcloth that I soak with hot water. I let the pimple warm for about 2 minutes and then use my comedone extractor. After that I use some Neosporin and sleep on it. Even though you will have a bright red spot on your face, I am sure the pimple starts to heal faster after it has been popped and treated. I recommend popping your pimple at night so it has a little time to heal before morning.
Comedone extractors are great for blackheads around your nose too. They hurt a little more because you have to apply a little more pressure to get the blackhead out. Do this at night, too. You will have tiny red spots where the blackhead was, but they should usually disappear within 12 hours.

Want to cover that zit?? Use Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer. It's the shizz.

Read my review on it here

DIY Custom Makeup Palette & De-Potting Your Makeup

2010-04-12T13:13:00.001-04:00

I love Z Palettes! They are magnetic palettes that are fully customizeable. All you have to do is de-pot your current makeup (eyeshadows/powders/blushes, ect.) and stick them in these palettes to downsize and organize your makeup collection. I am so glad I found these because they are super cute (hello zebra and pink!) and they have a see through top so you immediately know what's in them. They are reasonably priced at $20 for a large palette (shown above). If you are a makeup artist you can get a pro discount at LeCosmetique.com and get them for $17 each. They also come in a smaller size.

I love that you can take practically any brand of makeup, de-pot it, and stick it in. No more just buying MAC, stila or Make Up For Ever pots.

Confused about how to de-pot your makeup?? I can help.

There are 2 ways I de-pot. One is with a simple candle and one is with the oven. The method you choose to use should depend on the makeup packaging. MAC products are the easiest to de-pot and just require a candle and some simple tools to get the pan out effectively. Other brands are usually a lot harder to de-pot so you will typically need to melt the entire container to get the makeup pan out.

EASY DE-POTTING METHOD

(for MAC and other brands where you can see a seam in the product casing that will easily allow you to get the pan out)

You will need:

A lighter, a candle, tweezers (not shown) and a teeny set of screwdrivers (for eyeglasses)

This is a MAC eyeshadow. See the "seam" in the packaging?

Stick a flat tipped screwdriver in that seam and pry the pot out. Be careful. Powders tend to crumble if you mess with them too forcefully.

Voila!

Now light a candle and hold the pot over it (use tweezers) until it burns a small hole through the bottom revealing the metal of the pan

Now flip the pot over and push it out with a screwdriver/pen/toothpick. It should drop out pretty easily. If not, hold it over the candle flame a bit longer.

There is usually some adhesive left over on the bottom of the pan. You can clean it off with Parian Spirit, Goof-Off or alcohol if you want. I just plop it into my palette, but before I do I label the bottom of the pan with a sharpie marker so I know what brand/color it is.

Now stick it in your palette!

Keep your empty MAC pots! You can return 6 of them to a MAC counter and get a free lipstick!!

Back to MAC

OVEN DE-POTTING METHOD

You will need an oven, a baking sheet and tin foil for lining and an oven mit, a knife and some tweezers.

1.Heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cover baking sheet with tin foil (Sorry no more pics!)

3. When oven reaches 350, place makeup item on sheet (for example, an NYX or L'oreal blush). If you want to de-pot more than one item, space them about 2 inches apart. Make sure the lid is OPEN away from the pan itself to avoid the container melting onto the makeup pan. If the packaging comes in a compact with a mirror, break the compact in half and throw away the mirror part so that the only thing left is the actual pan with the immovable plastic packaging around it.

4. Place baking sheet with items in oven for about 5 minutes and then check to see when the plastic packaging starts melting away from the pan.

5. When this happens, take out the baking sheet (with oven mit...duh!) and carefully use a knife to press the melting packaging away from the pan. Be careful it is HOT!!! Use tweezers too if necessary. The plastic packaging becomes pliable and the pan should come out fairly easily with some maneuvering. If not, place back in the oven until the packaging melts a little more and repeat.

6. Let pans cool on a paper towel before putting them in your palette. You can also remove the leftover adhesive and label them as stated above.

Besties: Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer

2010-04-12T10:20:00.003-04:00

This concealer is hands down the best concealer on the planet earth. I was searching for a concealer that would cover my horrendous under-eye circles and this is the only concealer that I've tried that actually works. The color is perfect. I am a MAC NC 15-20 and I wear this in shade # 4 Flesh and sometimes #2 Porcelain for a highlighting, more dramatic effect. The product doesn't cake or look cakey. Some reviews I read on Sephora.com and MakeUpAlley.com said this concealer is cakey and sets too fast. These people need to be wearing a good moisturizer. I swear it looks like real skin! I am so glad I got this product, even though the price tag sucks...$30. It is worth it. It is so densely pigmented that a little goes a long way. If you lightly pat this product on (as opposed to blending it in) It will cover anything flawlessly esp. zits, pigmentation and capillaries. It is supposed to be able to cover tattoos, but you would def need a color corrector (pink for light skin or salmon for med-dark skin) to cover a tattoo effectively.
This concealer is as close to perfection as it gets. It is completely waterproof too. I wear it jogging and it stays put.
The packaging is a tube with a small twist off cap (similar to MAC select cover except MUFE has a longer tube) you can dispense a little or a lot easily. A little of this concealer goes a long way.

From Sephora.com
Full Cover Concealer

What it is:
An ultra long-lasting, matte finish, oil-free, waterproof, full coverage concealer.
What it is formulated to do:
Designed to cover major imperfections like scars, hyperpigmentation, major discoloration, burns, and tattoos. This light and creamy concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, making it perfect for use on the face, as well as the body.
Clinical Testing/Results:
Clinically tested on sensitive skin and dermatologically controlled for gentleness.

Bargain Alert! Urban Decay 30% OFF

2010-04-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

http://www.urbandecay.com/index.cfm

I love Urban Decay eyeshadows, 24/7 Glide-On Pencils- they last forever and are really densely pigmented and, of course, their infamous Primer Potion that keeps eyeshadow looking perfect all day.

They have some interesting new products for Spring 2010 like

Dew Me & All Nighter, which look like finishing sprays to keep your makeup on all day similar to Model in a Bottle, which is basically hairspray for your face. I have model in a bottle and I just don't see the point...but it's not like I have put on a full face of makeup, sprayed on model in a bottle, and then went for a jog. Maybe I should. In fact, I will. Keep ya posted. I have used it for bridal makeup, and my clients say their makeup lasted, but would it have lasted without model in a bottle? I am a little skeptical...

What's your take?

If anyone gets either of these let me know how it works!!

I will be bagging the Summer of Love Nail Kit which has some bomb diggedy colors in it like iridescent beige, hot neon pink, neon coral orange, and electric teal. The perfect range of shades in the perfect amount to last all summer. Sweet.

Iridescent beige...so hot right now

I also wanted to try the "roll on tan" Baked Body Glow stick for my pasty white legs, Has anyone tried this? I know Tarte makes one too, but I would like to hear some reviews before I buy.

Skincare Review: Paula's Choice CLEAR Acne System

2010-03-23T01:19:00.004-04:00

I've struggled with acne since I was about 21 (now 33) and have used practically everything out there. I was recently prescribed spironolactone for hormonal acne, and had good results, but I don't like taking prescription meds and they made me feel lethargic, so I am back to using topical products to control my breakouts. I recently purchased this CLEAR Regular Strength acne system from Paula Begoun's skincare line titled, Paula's Choice. I use several of her other products and I love them (from the Resist Anti-Aging line) so I decided it wouldn't hurt to try this. So far I have had great results and my monthly pimples are clearing up. The best part is that my skin is not overdry, which is what happens when I use ProActive (even with moisturizer) and almost every other acne regimen I have tried. I have been using some moisturizer samples that I recieved with my purchase and will probably be purchasing a moisturizer from Paula in the near future. I have acne prone sensitive dry skin. My skin type is so hard to deal with because I am dry, yet moisturizers tend to break me out. I also have to deal with some melasma and I am in my early 30's so i am concerned with aging as well. i feel like i combine every product out there!

We'll see how it goes!

I think this system is probably the best that I have used so far. I am comparing this to some other regimens I have tried that include:

Topix Solvere Acne Clearing Kit- too drying

MD Forte now known as Vivite - too expensive, confusing if you pick the products yourself- u need a doc or esthetician

Exposed Skincare Acne Kit - pretty good actually.. but expensive, and too many steps

ProActive -too drying

Differin - hated

Tazorac HATED

Retin-A Micro good results but instead of acne i had peely/crusty face all the time

Atralin (tretinoin) -HATED!

Accutane cleared up ONLY cystic acne. I did 2 rounds of this drug hoping it would completely clear my skin and I would never get another breakout again... nope!

Ortho-Tricyclen- HATED made me fat and broke me out more!

Yasmin- this BC pill worked for my acne but it gave me MELASMA! Will it ever end??!??

Spironolactone - worked great but made me feel very lethargic. It is supposed to lower your blood pressure, but mine is already low. Not worth it.

I've also used countless other products I am too lazy to write about!

For now I have my acne under control with Paula's CLEAR, plus Tri-Luma cream 2-3x/week for my melasma. Plus lots of Ceravé moisturizer and sunscreen (of course)!

PROS:

*Decent price $46.85 for all 3 products. the cleanser is bigger than ProActive, the toner is the same size. You get much more Benzoyl Peroxide lotion than with Proactive. This kit will pbly last 2-3 months.

* No yucky smell whatsoever!

CONS:

* None so far!

Be Smart. Don't waste your $ CASH $ on yet another crappy product!

2010-03-13T21:59:00.005-05:00

I HIGHLY recommend researching skincare, makeup & beauty products before you buy!
Get informed about skincare, especially your skin type, and problems that you may be experiencing. This will save you lots of cash in the long run.
Here are some Resources:
WEBSITES
DERMAdoctor.com search 'articles'. Dr. Audrey Kunin is a dermatologist and has a great, informative website that addresses every skincare problem you can imagine. She also sells her own line of great skincare products.
Paula Begoun cosmeticscop.com Subscribe to her 'Beauty Bulletins'. She also has a radio talkshow - I post her sessions on this blog! I love Paula Begoun and I use many of her skincare products. She is very no-nonsense and does thorough research.
MakeUpAlley.com "Street Smart Beauty" is a database of real chicks reviewing makeup & skincare products giving honest opinions
Beautypedia.com Paula Begoun's list of thousands of makeup and skincare reviews compiled into an easily searchable database. Requires a yearly membership fee. I have a promo code so you can get 50% a year subscription. use the code BP50 as your Promo Code. After the discount it would cost $12.50 for a year. SO WORTH IT!
Sephora.com Reviews. Sephora stocks a ton of products. reading their reviews will get you some great real-life feedback.
Skin Deep Cosmetic Ingredients Database - for Ingredient Safety info. (This is NOT a substitute for the FDA) I have issues with this site because I think they abuse the fear factor. Fear is always the best marketing tool. Take this site with a grain of salt b/c it seems a little fanatical. No one can possibly avoid using all of their listed potentially harmful ingredients. It would be freaking impossible. Also, they mention "harmful" ingredients to avoid but don't state exactly why or site (link) tests, exactly where they gathered their specific information, or any other tangible evidence most smart people like to know! Nevertheless, it is still a good site to keep mindful of these ingredients, and I do think they genuinely want to inform people of potential dangers. Afterall, cosmetics are not strictly regulated by the FDA. Form your own opinion.
CaringConsumer.com search guide for cruelty-free companies and products. (Get a free pocket-size list from PeTA here)

BOOKS
Paula Begoun, The Original Beauty Bible (3rd edition) covers everything you would ever want to know about skincare, cosmetics, plastic surgery & cosmetic dermatology.
Ruth Winter, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients A more down to earth/scientific guide about cosmetics ingredients including potentially harmful ones

You could/should also read my blog and tell all your friends to read it too!!

Paula Begoun Radio Show: Surgery Free Facelift

2010-03-12T09:27:00.000-05:00

The Kevyn Aucoin Project: The Innocent

2010-03-11T23:36:00.004-05:00

For those of you who don't know who Kevyn Aucoin is - he is one of the most popular makeup artists in history. He died in 2002, but left behind a legacy in books and in beauty. The first book I ever bought about makeup was Kevyn's The Art of Makeup. He really inspired me as a youngin' way back in the day when i used to pluck all my girlfriend's eyebrows at the lunch table in High School and used all my allowance to buy Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent makeup.

As maybe sort of an "homage" to Kevyn I've decided a fun makeup project would be to do all of Kevyn's looks in the "Great Looks" section of the book Making Faces. There are 24 looks i will be re-creating over the next few weeks/months..i dunno. I'll take it as it comes!

I will follow the directions exactly as Kevyn describes them in his book and post my results.

"Throughout history every culture has had it's icons, those brave and extraordinary souls whose exceptional talent and passion have heplped us find our dreams. These icons have, for the most part, shaped our definition of beauty. From "The Innocent" to "The Temptress", from "The Showgirl" to "The Mimimalist", history has given us so many choices for inspiration." - Kevyn Aucoin

PROJECT 1: The Innocent

1. Kevyn says to first groom the brows and fill in where necessary. Did that with MAC brow powder in blonde

2. Apply shimmery liquid foundation- I used LORAC natural performance foundation in NP2 mixed with Benefit's High Beam shimmer liquid after I concealed with Make Up For Ever Full Coverage Cocealer in Flesh 2 under my eyes and on my pimples.

3. Dot pink cream blush onto apples of the cheek, temples and chin and blend. I used MAC Blushcreme in Posey

4. Apply white iridescent creme shadow on the entire eyelid. I used Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow Quartet in 711 black magic and used the white one.

5. Brush brown creme eyeshadow in the crease and under the eye. I used Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow Quartet in 720 Moonlit Jewels and used the brown one.

6. Curl lashes and apply black mascara. I used Japonesque precision lash curler and Revlon FabuLash mascara

7. Outline the lips with fleshtoned pencil and soften. I used MAC Spice

8. Apply clear gloss. I used Smith's Rosebud Salve

And here's my results

The resulting look was a very natural "innocent" look indeed. The pic of Tori Amos in Kevyn's book hardly resembles my makeup even though I followed his directions perfectly. This just goes to show you how much photography and lighting can play a part.

Also, in the pic of Tori, it looks like she has on grey eyeshadow, not brown.

DIY: How to make your own custom lipstick palette

2010-03-09T16:14:00.001-05:00

I have soooo many lipsticks and it is hard to keep them all organized in my kit so instead of buying an empty pro lipstick palette (expensive..there is a japonesque one for $26!) i just go to michael's or jo-ann fabrics and get small-medium sized compartmentalized plastic bins and make my own palettes.

HERE'S HOW:

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

1. ArtBins #918AB $4.99 (this brand is my fave b/c they are made of thick sturdy durable plastic) or any other bead storage, paint storage organizer. Check out the selections at the craft stores. make sure they are thick and sturdy!

2. a labeler that prints laminated / waterproof labels - i got mine at Costco

OR dot label stickers - (you can laminate them with modge-podge) to label your lipsticks on the palette for easy reference

3. Modge Podge ( a water based clear sealer - get at any craft store) and sponge (i used a makeup sponge)

3. A knife

4. A microwave

5. and of course LIPSTICKS

DIRECTIONS:

1. Take a lipstick and carefully peel the label off the top or bottom (if possible) i used my nails or a knife.

2. then place the sticker center to the palette "well" on the underside of the palette

3. roll up the entirety of the lipstick and cut it off at the base over the corresponding well. then throw away the lipstick tube & cap

4. repeat steps 2 & 3 until you fill up your palette

5. This step is optional! if you keep your lipstcks in their original form in the palette they will move around and get a little messy. if you want to melt them to get them to stay put, stick a full palette in the microwave for 1 minute & 30 seconds. time may vary- watch closely. take lipsticks out when they are melted. don't let them bubble/boil.

note: some lipsticks, depending on the formula, will not melt as easily as others.

6. carefully stick palette in freezer for 10 minutes then remove. make sure the lipsticks don't move/are still wet!

7. get out your modge podge and paint/sponge a thin layer over the lipstick label stickers on the underside of the palette . this step preserves your stickers and keeps them from peeling off or getting damaged by water

it will dry to a clear finish in about 15 minutes

VOILA!

8. next you can label your palette with the labeler. i labeled this one by brand- NYX LIPS

If you cannot peel the lipstick label off the lipstick tube (this is hard to do with MAC lipsticks i've found), you can just make a small label then stick it on the underside of the palette just the same way (or use a dot sticker and write the brand and name, then modge-podge it to seal)

here's another palette i made of "miscellaneous" lipsticks

i decided not to melt these

Before & After Shaneice

2010-03-08T21:57:00.005-05:00

This is my neighbor, Shaneice. I was going for a 40's Glam Billie Holiday look.

Here are the products I used:

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation Primer

Concealer-MAC Select Cover NC45

Foundation-Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily Skin in 400 Caramel

Bare Escentuals Tinted Mineral Veil

NARS blush in Exhibit A

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow Quartet in Not Just Nudes 710

Bare Escentuals Eye Shadow in True Gold

NYX shadow palette in Smokey Eye (Black Shadow) and Catwalk (Gold shadow)

MAC fluidline in Blacktrack on top

Rimmel Spark it Up! eyeliner in Tiger's Eye on bottom and in waterline

Ardell False Eyelashes #110 w/Duo adhesive

MAC brow duo in charcoal

Benefit lip liner in Gypsy

MAC lipstick in Fresh Moroccan mixed with

NYX lipstick in Black Cherry

topped with NYX gloss in Plush Red

Oscar's 2010 Best Makeup

2010-03-08T02:39:00.000-05:00

Essie Tart Deco Knockoff - Essence Colour and Go Nailpolish in What Do U Think? I think YES.

2010-03-06T16:38:00.003-05:00

i have been intrigued by this new line, essence, at ULTA for a while now. the line seems to be geared towards tweens and teens (this says to me, "crappy cheap makeup...avoid") with their 'moxie girl' cartoon character advertising. regardless, i decided to buy one of their products...colour and go nailpolish. this color What Do U Think? $.99 (YES $1!) really caught my eye for spring and is fairly similar to the new Essie Tart Deco color for spring 2010.

pastels are so hot right now.

The essence bottle claims "1 second per nail' and it was pretty much true. it dried fast but looks a tad streaky and thick. you will need 3 coats. so it's really more like 3 seconds per nail, but for $1 i can deal!

no animal testing! and they make a big deal about it on their website...love that!

i will def be reviewing more of this line in the future.

2 Smashbox O-Gloss Knockoffs!

2010-03-06T15:59:00.004-05:00

the original smashbox o-gloss $22, black radiance perfect tone lip gloss $4.99, and mark glossblossom $6.50

i love smashbox o-gloss. the texture is divine, it smells delish and the extra goji berry c complex makes me happy. the price, however, does not. i just can't be spending $22 on a lip gloss. especially when there are some great cheap alternatives out there!

i was at walgreens the other day because they were having a great sale on revlon colorstay foundations (LOVE) and i noticed this black radiance perfect tone lipgloss. for $4.99 i decided what the heck?! i had previously purchased the mark glossblossom online and loved it but left the tube in the pocket of my jeans and yes, washed them. idiot. not only was my glossblossom peril to this tragedy but many of my clothes were victims also. i hate buying just one product online and paying for the shipping. i am a cheapster coupon queen and fanagled a way to get free shipping but jeez-it's just a pain in the rear...then you have to wait for it to arrive. i have no patience!

anyhoo, i am thrilled to find this black radiance lip gloss at the local walgreens. easy AND cheap. does it get any better? the black radiance lip gloss does not smell as nice or have the great texture that o-gloss and glossblossom have, but it has the exact same effect- a perfectly pinky peach just bitten lip color custom made for you. i love the color it produces. i like it for that no makeup 'i am naturally gorg' (wink wink) look.

according to the black radiance web site you can purchase their products at k-mart, walgreens, rite-aid and wal mart.

mark glossblossom can be purchased online here or through your local avon/mark rep.

if you like to waste your cash for the brand name status and cute packaging (no judgement- i do it all the time!) go to sephora or ULTA to get smashbox o-gloss.

none of these products are tested on animals. mark glossblossom and smashbox o-gloss are paraben free.
black radiance lip gloss has propylparaben in it and they all have artificial coloring

Besties: Japonesque Eyelash Curler

2010-03-03T02:58:00.001-05:00

JAPONESQUE Precision Lash Curler $12
i got mine at ULTA
for precision curling
easy to use and manipulate
small and compact
comes with 2 silicone pad refills (attached to the curler - see pic)

NARS blushes... LOVE!

2010-03-03T02:30:00.004-05:00

My fave NARS blushes - they are:

TORRID-a coral shimmer fair - medium skin tones
EXHIBIT-A-a bright red with a slight coral tinge - looks great on dark skin tones
ORGASM-a natural flush pink with gold shimmer - fair-medium skintones
AMOUR- a pinky coral with some slight bronze undertones for medium skintones - it's a great natural color

can i just say that i LOVE every one of my blushes and they LAST FOREVER! i use these colors on everyone - all shades! i even use EXHIBIT-A on myself and i am paler than casper the friendly ghost.
they are highly pigmented, come in matte and shimmer varieties, even glittery varieties (SUPER ORGASM). they go on sheer to bright with application and are completely and totally worth the price!! ($26)

P.S. i love that the new spring 2010 campaign is using Amber Valetta as their model. she is soooooo gorgeous! and she's 36!

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder Review

2010-03-01T11:44:00.005-05:00

this powder foundation comes in a cool compact with a mirror. you twist the rim and powder is shaved off the top for a user friendly, less messy mineral foundation. it gives sheer-full buildable coverage and imparts a glow to the skin. the application brush it comes with is NOT recommended. this foundation is best for younger skin that doesn't need a lot of coverage. bonus: comes with a sample of smashbox photo finish primer (there are better primers out there). for $59 it is expensive!

From Sephora.com:
"Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder HALO is the first anti-aging powder with the science of skin care built in. It's advanced formulation of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and a powerful peptide deliver powerful anti-aging benefits while the patented hydration system continuously revitalizes skin and provides a hydrated look that won't accentuate lines and wrinkles. The built-in shaver allows for the convenience of a pressed powder combined with the radiant finish of a loose one, and the super-sized brush deposits the perfect amount of powder every time."

THE VERDICT

PROS
* paraben and talc free.
according to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter, "Talc is a finely powdered magnesium silicate, a mineral. It usually has small amounts of other powders such as boric acid or zinc oxide added as a coloring agent. Prolonged inhalation can cause lung problems because it is similar in chemical composition to asbestos, a known lung irritant and cancer-causing ingredient."
don't freak out yet! Paula Begoun says talc does not cause cancer by inhalation here but her most recent medical references are from 2006.

* contains antioxidants & peptides that are good for your skin

* would look amazing on anyone aged 16-25, or if you had really good skin

CONS
*i don't think this foundation is good for anyone with large pores or fine lines/wrinkles. it has a "shiny" illuminated look that gives you the j-lo glow, but the shine will only enhance your pores and lines. if you need medium-full coverage i don't recommend this foundation. the more you apply the shinier it looks

* the kabuki brush that it comes with SUCKS! it is very stiff and when you wash it it bleeds black from the dye used for the black color of the brush hairs. i've washed mine several times and it still bleeds.

*the shade ranges are not that iompressive. i am a MAC NC20. i tried this in "fair" and it was ghost white. "light" is a little too dark and yellow for me unless i do a very sheer application

LAST WORDS
i use this powder on my good skin days when i don't need much coverage. it would be a good choice for younger girls with good skin...not fair :(

REALNESS Paula Begoun (Beauty Genius) on Acne

2010-02-27T00:12:00.002-05:00

if you haven't heard of paula begoun...check her out! she is the "cosmetics cop" and i love her! she is FO' REALS about skincare & beauty and it's serious!

My Favorite Beauty Products from Whole Foods

2010-02-24T01:22:00.011-05:00

i frequent whole foods for many of my skincare products and spend a shameless amount of time in their beauty aisles reading product ingredients (and otherwise looking like a weirdo) because I like to buy products that aren't tested on animals and that are free of controversial ingredients like parabens and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates. i don't necessarily believe parabens cause cancer, i have read much scientific literature from both sides that is ultimately inconclusive. i just try to avoid parabens (it's hard to do by the way!) as a precautionary principle and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates (also known as SLS/SLES) are extremely irritating ingredients - i try to avoid sls/sles because i have sensitive skin and color-treated hair. sulfates strip your hair incessantly causing your color to fade quicker.

i find a good bit of the beauty products at whole foods to be crap for anyone without genetically blessed skin. take Dr. Hauschka for example, almost all the products are loaded with oils, butters, fragrances and plant extracts which are horrible for anyone with acne-prone or sensitive skin. i think all skin should be treated as "sensitive" as repeatedly irritating your skin is a leading cause of aging. furthermore, "natural" and "organic" products are not any better for the skin than synthetic ones. many of the lines at whole foods are similar (and just as crappy) to Dr. Hauschka - just take a minute to read ingredients.

cosmetics ingredients database if you are interested here

anyhoo, there are some very good products (some i couldn't live without) at this organic shopper's paradise that are great for sensitive skin and as an added bonus are also good for the environment. some are cheap, and some others not so much!

here goes...

SKINCARE

Whole Foods brand 365 Shower Gel- Unscented $3 - This stuff is great and CHEAP! I use it to wash my face and body. it is fagrance-free, artificial color-free, no sls/sles or parabens. it foams well too. it does not irritate whatsoever. my body & face loves this stuff...but my nose doesn't. :( it smells, well, weird. a slightly chemically smell that is pretty faint. it does not make your body smell this way though, don't worry! i wish it smelled better, but for the greatness of the product i will deal with the smell. you could add a Wyndmere essential oil -see below- so it's not so weird smelling but be careful cuz fragrance can irritate. they also have versions with lavender, herbal and citrus scents

Jason Naturals Red Elements Gentle Gel Face Cleanser $8-10 for 8 oz.

not all whole foods carry the red elements line. find it here

Avalon Organics Aloe-Unscented Hand and Body Lotion $8 for 8 oz. my "eco-chic" alternative to Cetaphil lotion

Avalon Organics Baby Gentle Tear-Free Body Wash the body wash i use most of the time, it has some citrus oils in it but they don't irritate. this one smells great!!
Desert Essence Organics Shampoos & Conditioners around $6 for 8 oz. i love the green apple and ginger thickening and volume versions of the shampoo and conditioner. they leave my fine, color treated hair silky, shiny and smelling like fresh green apples!
Wyndmere Essential Oils around $6 for 1/3 oz. (instead of perfume) the scent lasts all day! a great and cheaper alternative to expensive fragrances. i like grapefruit & mandarin
Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk and Shea Butter Body Bar $4 smells creamy, lathers well and soothes

MAKEUP

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lipgloss $6 tube. these glosses are super emoillent and aren't sticky. these glosses won a Natural Health Beauty Award. the colors are VERY sheer.
Mineral Fusion makeup - they have really great glosses, mineral foundations and blushes with great colors. a little pricey though.

STAY AWAY FROM
the whole foods 365 brand of shampoo, conditioner and body lotion...ew!
Bur't Bees shampoos..gross!

MAC Viva Glam GaGa Knockoff!

2010-02-23T02:36:00.007-05:00

I just discovered an NYX shade similar to MAC's new Viva Glam GaGa

it is called Narcissus (perfect!) Narcissus on my top lip, MAC Gaga on bottom lip. NYX is slightly pinker while gaga is milkier but you can barely notice.
UPDATE (2.27.10): NYX.com is sold out of Narcissus
go here or to your local ULTA store

do with this information what you will...

YES! Revlon Colorstay Lipliner

2010-02-23T02:11:00.002-05:00

For about 7 bucks at wal-mart you can have a great lipliner that really stays on and doesn't bleed or feather. there are good neutrals and a variety of colors. i like "blush" and "natural" (similar to subculture by MAC). i put it to the test. all day. it passed. it's cheap. just do it.

Green Nailpolish. So Hot Right Now

2010-02-23T01:48:00.000-05:00

CHANEL Jade - The shade that started it all back in fall. sold out everywhere. I saw this the other day selling on ebay for $135 SERIOUSLY!!

OPI Jade Is The New Black Hong Kong Collection 2010 $8.50

OPI Hey! Get in Lime $8.50

Orly Mint Mojito $5

ESSIE Mint Candy Apple $8 me w/ ESSIE Mint Candy Apple...looks more like a tiffany blue

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics/Skincare List

2010-02-23T01:18:00.005-05:00

so i like to be an informed consumer and buy products from companies who have ethics that meet my standards (which involved a certain amount of research...i do my best!) they are: 1. must not be crappy- they have to benefit me in some great way like remove my waterproof eyeliner, cleanse my skin without overdrying, make me have really long eyelashes or cover up my zits effectively 2. must not contain an overload of controversial ingredients that might cause cancer someday or irritate my insanely sensitive skin (parabens/sls, ect.) and last but not least 3. must not stick their products in fluffy bunnies/cats/gerbils/dogs eyes or whatever twisted ways of testing products evildoers come up with.
i have done a fair amount of research on products that test on animals and i try to avoid buying those products.. but i can't possibly know the history of all the skincare/cosmetics companies out there. like i said, i do my best.

it disturbs me that the FDA does not even require animal testing on non-perscription cosmetic/skincare products.

Quote from the FDA website:

"The FD&C Act does not specifically require the use of animals in testing cosmetics for safety, nor does the Act subject cosmetics to FDA premarket approval. However, the agency has consistently advised cosmetic manufacturers to employ whatever testing is appropriate and effective for substantiating the safety of their products. It remains the responsibility of the manufacturer to substantiate the safety of both ingredients and finished cosmetic products prior to marketing."

(Read more from the FDA's website here)

I am not a makeup saint...i have bought and currently use (neutrogena sensitive skin sunblock) some products that test on animals but they are few and far between. i don't get fanatical about anything in life.

my point is:

TRY TO BUY MOSTLY CRUELTY-FREE....PLEASE!!

I know it's annoying and takes some effort but

to help make it easier to navigate cruelty-free products here are some easy resources:

*Get a free pocket shopping guide from PETA here. i love this thing! i keep it in my purse

(I generally use this guideline but sometimes a product isn't listed so i have to do some xtra research)

*Search Companies that DO and DO NOT Test on Animals here

*I have made my own lists of common companies that DO and DO NOT test on animals BELOW
(You can download the PDF file or print it from Scribd - 8 pages)
THIS TOOK A LOT OF WORK! but i am happy to help :)
Common Companies That DO and DO NOT Test on Animals

NYX cosmetics - my new favorite makeup line and it's CHEAP! YAY!

2010-02-22T02:26:00.001-05:00

you might have heard of NYX cosmetics before, but i have just discovered them...well, i have seen the line in ULTA stores before but passed by thinking it was just another cheapy makeup line. i recently tried the line b/c a lot of makeup artists rave about them and... WOW! impressive! especially the powder eyeshadows, lipglosses and powder blushes. the eyeshadows and blushes come in an ENORMOUS array of colors-matte & shimmer, which i love. i am not a big fan of shimmer blush as far as makeup for photography is concerned b/c it looks bad on camera. there are 2 types of lipglosses that have almost identical packaging. the one that says "Goddess of the Night" on the tube is fragrance free, which i think smells gross so i opted for the other lipglosses that just had NYX on the tube. they have a much better smell. paula begoun - my favorite "cosmetics cop" rated their eyeshadows, doll eye mascara & lipglosses as paula's picks. it's so wonderful to find quality makeup for cheapo!! you don't even know! coincidentally, after this great discovery ULTA decided to have a BOGO on NYX so i drove deliriously happy to my nearest store and went a little crazy. i can't say so much for the eye pencils and lipliners, they, well, sorta sucked. anyhoo the "round" lipsticks are AWESOME, pigmented and a great creamy consistency that wasn't smelly. i wasn't too fond of any of the shimmery colors (overly shimmery gloss doesn't look good on anyone over 28) and picked up a bunch of non shimmery ones. to further add to my excitement, the nice people at NYX gave me a pro discount so i just placed an huge order for some 10 eyeshadow palettes!! check out the line at nyxcosmetics.com