Deep Berry Lip Combo

Since I have been posting my love for berry and burgundy lipsticks I thought I would share my favorite way to achieve the perfect deep berry lip. I like to use a lip liner to really create a perfect lip shape and then I like to top it off with a lipstick to give me full color and shine. I do love matte berry lips but I feel that when it is a little glossy it is more wearable. If you want a more matte finish just use the lipliner or top it off with a matte berry color. 

The two products I use are OCC's Cosmetic Colour Pencil in Black Dahlia and Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Deepest Cherry. 

Apply Lip Liner (but don't do it awfully like I do) 

Fill lips in with liner

Good Luck! 

Favorite Drugstore Winter Lippies 2014 edition

I have been obsessed with lipsticks lately. I rarely ever leave the house with out a some type of lip color so I thought I would share some of my favorites with you. All of these are drugstore expect for one so everything is really affordable.

Keep reading for swatches 

Makeup Bag Winter edition

I have been in college a few months and I have really been enjoying having a makeup on my desk with my essentials then having my whole collection displayed. Having a makeup bag really saves me time and I cycle through products more. I am really trying to use up my foundations from summer before my skin becomes porcelain due to lack of sun in Washington state. My darkest foundation is my Garnier BB cream which I bought when I was my most tan so my goal is to finish it by the end of November because it won't keep till next summer.

keep reading to find out what else is inside

Nourishing Lip Balm

So it is fall and thats means I am beginning to wear dark lipstick colors. When wearing darker lipstick color I need my lips to be in their best condition. Moisturizing your lips is really important because your lips are really sensitive. They get a lot of abuse so I like to pamper them with amazing lip balms. I have been really obsessed with these too lip balms and I wanted to share them with you.

My Lush Whipstick is an amazing waxy lip balm that smooths out all of the lines in your lips. If I'm going to be wearing a more shinny or glass finish lipstick this is a great primer. But, what is really fantastic about this balm is chocolate orange. It also tastes great so that is an added bonus. If you want a thicker texture balm then you should go pick this up.


If I am going for a more glossy finish to wear on its own then I always use my Lip butter from Korres. This is a lip butter that smothers your lips in deliciousness. The scent is out of this world, the range is all scented differently and comes in tined forms. Mine is in Jasmine which is a peachy light pink that barely shows up on the lips. The scent is rich and buttery and I want to slather is all over them. This is a glossy lip balm that makes them healthy and fuller looking.

If you are looking for some moisturizing and great balms I would suggest going and get these two.

Real Techniques Brushes

Over the past year I have collected quite a few Real Techniques brushes and I am kind of obsessed. These brushes are so decently priced and work fantastically. I got mine from Amazon but you can get them is tons of other places.

My first brush that I bought was the expert face brush (second to the left) which is a an awesome foundation brush, it is not your typical brush that I would use for foundation. It is a mix of a paddle and flat top brush and it is amazing. If I am going to use a brush to blend in my foundation this is my go to.

The brushes with the orange handles are for blending in liquid complexion products like foundation, cream bronzers and highlights. The pink brushes are for powders the expert blush brush is perfect to apply a thin layer of setting powder. The white set are duo fiber brushes that give the lightest touch on the face, they are so soft and are limited edition. The purple set are eye brushes and are all so perfect. The fine liner brush makes applying cream/gel liners so easy.

Real Techniques is coming out with another limited edition set and I am so excited. It is coming out in October and I am waiting for it with baited breath.

Updated Z palette

Hello, so I have been gone for a long time. I found that I just completely lost interest in everything and I just couldn't blog. However I am back and ready to post a ton of new content. I have done several large hauls at the drugstore and Sephora lately. My product rotation has totally changed, meaning I have a lot to talk about.

A while ago I got a few new Z palettes and reorganized my de-potted shadows and blushes. For my eyeshadows I got the large z palette so I could have all my shadows in one place instead of three smaller palettes.

My palette is currently holding 26 shadows from Costal Scents, Urban Decay, and of course Mac. I have space for one more shadow but other wise this palette is pretty much full. I really love Z palettes because they are so easy to organize, clean and the top is clear so I can see all of my colors. I use this palette for personal use and in my kit.

First row: Deeper brows, greens, and purples

1. Cobra: UD 
2. Kodiak: CS
3. Rich Walnut: CS
4. Vintage Burgundy: CS 
5. Amber Bronze: CS
6. Light Bronze: CS
7. Burnished Wine: CS

Second Row: Mattes 

1. Cajun Craze: CS
2. Mai Tai: CS
3. Peach Fuzz; CS
4. All That Glitters: Mac
5. Caramel Ice: CS
6. Nude: CS
7. Vanilla Sky: CS

Third Row: misc

1. Snow Bunny: CS
2. Kokomo Cafe: CS
3. Wild Rasin: CS
4. Deep Roast: CS
5. New Terrain: CS
6. Navy Baby: CS

Fourth Row

1. unknown brand but its a matte nude color
2. Barista: CS
3. 18 Karat Gold: CS
4. Wizardry: CS
5. Lava: CS

Shoe Essentials #1 Boots

I haven't really talked much about fashion on my blog but, today seems like the today to talk about SHOES. I am going off to college in late September and it is time to make some practical purchases. My college is in Washington state so that means a lot of rain. My shoes need to be durable because they are going to take a beating. I find that when it comes to shoes I like simple and a more edgy look. I am a huge fan of motorcycle boots. At 5 foot I like all of my shoes to give me a little height but I don't want to sacrifice comfort. Living in NYC I walk everywhere and I need to be able to go the whole day without my feet killing me. 

In the winter I basically don't wear anything but boots. I kind of have a love affair with my Frye Engineer and Veronica Slouch boots. I have one in a brown (red based) and the classic black. These boots are my life because I can wear them forever and my feet never hurt. The breaking on process does take few weeks, but once you do it is like walking on air. The leather is super durable and with a little water-proof spray they are perfect for the rain and light snow. While in Venice a two years ago I wore my Fryes in ankle deep high tide and they kept me dry. 

They have a nice chunky heel that keeps you elevated off the ground but doesn't feel like your wearing "high heels". If you live a cold place or if you have a cold fall/winter I would suggest getting a pair of black and brown boots that you can wear in almost any weather situation.You don't have to get motorcycle boots, what ever style that suits your wardrobe best. I know not everyone likes a slip-on boot and prefer a lace up combat boot. 

I recently just purchase a pair of Dr.Martens because I wanted a pair of boots that were in a different style. Because I already have the basic brown and black I bought a 1460 W in purple smooth. They are matte muted plum color with eight eyelets. Dr.Martens make great quality shoes that if you take care of them they will last forever. 

Boots are a really great styling tool because they can dress anything down and give your outfit an edge. Good quality boots are pretty expensive but, I see it as an investment. Great boots will last years and you can re-wear they for with every coming season. Classic black and brown boots really never go our of style.

Let's Be Honest About Covergirl Tru Blend Foundation

Hello again this is another installment of my Let's be Honest About . . ." when I am brutally honest about the good and the bad of a product. No sugar coating just the cold hard truth.

If you know me, then you know that I am a foundation addict. In my opinion foundation either works for you of it just doesn't. Covergirl recently re-did their TruBlend foundation with a new shade system and packaging. I need a new foundation and so I decided to pick this up.

Coverage
This is a light to medium coverage foundation. This is no a build-able foundation one layer is all of the coverage you are going to get. I have pretty good skin I mostly just have uneven tone. This covers the redness but, probably won't conceal a blemish. It can conceal some minor discoloration or pigmentation.

Formula
This is a gel consistency foundation. It applies very wet and takes awhile to really blend in. It is very thick but little DOES not go along way. I feel like a need a lot of this stuff to really cover my whole face. Thought it is very wet it doesn't spread nicely (because it is a gel). This sets to a satin finish but takes a long time to really sink in. If you have any oil on your skin you NEED to set this with a face powder. Without powder it will just melt away and disappear with in a few hours.

Packaging 
It is the same packing as the 3 in 1 foundation. It is a glass bottle with a PUMP. Really no complaints about the packaging perfect. Covergirl got it right with this.

Shade Range
Covergirl recently re-did their shade system. Now it is split into Light, Medium and Dark. My shade is L2 and matches me perfectly. However I don't think the shade range is very extensive. As all drugstore complexion products there aren't enough shades for people of color.

Overall I like this as a light weight foundation. It works well and it blends in to look like skin. If you have minimal skin problems this might work for you. So the honest rating . . .

4/5 stars!

Bobbi Brown Corrector Light Bisque

If you know me then you will know that I am a complexion product junkie. I just simply can't get enough foundation, concealer, or powder. Lately I have been really playing around with concealer, correcting, contouring, and of course concealing. So with all of that in mind I thought I would be a good idea if I invested in some really good under-eye discoloration. Bobbi Brown is known for her correcting concealer so I thought I would start off with some thing creamy and peachy. Over the years I have started to get less and less sleep which means my eyes look tired and I have the worst under eye circles. My inner corners are tinged a blue color and it looks awful especially in the morning. Blue and red are opposite colors on the color wheel, so when you layer one on top of the other they cancel out. I chose a light peachy color that will conceal my under eye circles and color correct.

Bobbi Brown has the sleekest and minimalist packaging it is so professional looking. I feel very adult while using this concealer. The product comes in a little circular compact that includes a mirror. This product is really great for traveling because it is so tiny and compact. No space is wasted with the packaging. 

The concealer has a very thick, rich and creamy consistency that needs to be warmed up before applied to the skin. I suggest applying this with your fingers, because the heat from your fingers will warm up the product, letting it melt into your face. The coverage is pretty good, but I like to use another concealer to completely perfect my under-eye area.

Overall I am very happy with my concealer and I definitely want to try out more stuff from Bobbi Brown. You can pick this product up at Sephora. 

NARS Duo India Song Reveiw

I have had this duo for a very long time but I haven't really used it till a few months ago. The duo consists of a matte banana and brown with golden shimmer. This palette is great to create a really simple and neutral eye with little effort. As you can see my duo is very dirty and has been thrown in a lot of different makeup bags. The duo was originally my sisters but she never used it, so I took it off her hands. 

The first color in the Palette is a matte pale yellow that looks like the flesh of a banana.  The shadow is very sheer on the lids and doesn't have that much color pay off. The texture is a little chalky but with a good primer adheres to the lids well. I like to apply this color all over the lid and as a highlight on my brow bone. If you have very yellow toned skin you could use this to set your concealer because it is so sheer. 

The second color is a deep cooled toned bronze with golden shimmer. The finish of the shadow is on the matte side with just a hint of satin. The pigmentation is really good, this shadow is potent and should be built up in small amounts. Though the shadow has really great color pay off it has a very dry texture but doesn't have much fall out. 

Overall I think this is a valuable duo to have in any my collection and anyone else's. unfortunately you can no longer pick this up and has been discontinued, but the duo in Bellisima or Key Largo is very similar. 

Forever 21 Cream Eyeshadow Shitake Review

I made a larger order from Forever 21 for my birthday and I decided to try out some of their makeup. They have sold makeup a Forever 21 for a while now but, they recently re-did their packing and re-vamped some products. The only other product I have bought from them is a champagne shadow which I was obsessed with for about a year and only used it exclusively. I decided to purchase a cream eyeshadow that comes a pot like the Maybelline Color Tattoos.

On the Website the photo of the shadow looked like a purple/brown/silver taupe. I know that is a lot of different colors but, it seemed to have a duo-chrome effect. However when it arrived it turned out to not look like the picture at all. The shadow is more of a grey toned brown with multi-colored shimmer. In some lights it almost looks like a burgundy frost.

I was really hoping that this would have a simular formula to my Bad To The Bronze Color Tattoo but, it is a little different. The texture is very smooth and creamy but has a thinness to it. The color goes on with decent pigmentation but sheers out into nothingness when you blend it out on your lids. The shadow does set but without a primer on my lids this creased and virtually melted right off at the end of the day. I would suggest using this with a primer and putting powder shadow on top of it. 

Though the color doesn't look like the picture on the website, it still is really pretty on the eyes. I wear it all the time but it does take some work to make it look the way I want it took. I think the best way to apply it is with a synthetic brush instead of your finger.

If you are interested in picking this up you can get it in Forever 21 stores and on their website for few bucks!

Easy Eye Makeup For Prom

So my prom is coming up and I thought I would show you guys a super easy drug store product list and tutorial for your eyeshadow.



Base: Jordana 12 HR Made To Last Eyeshadow Pencil in Continuous Nude

• Apply all over the lid all the way up to the brow bone. Using your ring finger blend in the cream shadow. 

Lid Shadow: L'oreal 24 Hour Infallible Eyeshadow in Iced Latte

• Apply with your finger all over your lid, inner corner and on your brow bone for a highlight 

Crease Shadow: NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

• though this is a bronzer it also works great as a crease shadow. With a fluffy blending brush apply in the crease with wind wiper motions. 

Outer V Shadow: L'oreal 24 Hour Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush

• With a firm crease brush apply to the outer v/ outer third of your lid. Then take a fluffy crease brush and blend into the crease. Go back into NYC Sunny and blend out the edges into the brow done. 

Liner: Jordana Fabuliner in Brown

• Line your upper lash line going thin towards to the inner corner, thicker in the center and then flick it slightly out on the edge to create a small wing. 

Water Liner: Rimmel Scandaleyes Water Proof Kohl in Nude 

• apply to your water lower water line to brighten up your eyes. 

Mascara: Maybelline the Falsies in Black 

• Apply to both your top and bottom lashes. Three coats at the most. 

Heres the Final Look!

This is really sublte and pretty for prom or any even where you need an easy eye look. 

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in Liquid Diamond

Went to the drugstore and I bought some shadows to mix up my collection and get some more color. I ended up getting two shadows, one color for spring and the other for smokey eyes (Naked 3 Dupe!!!!). Liquid Diamond is a pearly lavender with grey and cool undertones.

Formula
liquid diamond is a butter smooth pressed pigment that is saturated in color. It takes very little effort to get full color pay off. The formula does have a some minor  fallout  but because this is a lighter shade is doesn't bother me too much. L'Oreal claims that these shadows have 24 hour wear but with my oily lids I need a primer to prevent fading and creasing. This can be a long lasting shadow if you have eyelids that aren't particularly. The color when sheer out it pearly and but when it is layered it is an intense metallic. The shade doesn't contain much glitter it just had a nice pearly and shinny finish.

Packaging 
This shadow is a press pigment and has a very unique packaging. It is a twist off tub that contains a press/lid that keeps the shadow neat and solid. The tub is clear and you can see the color very clearly while the cap is the same color as the shadow. Make sure that you keep your press because it is focal to keep your shadow intact.

How To Apply
This shadow can have a lot of fallout it you don't apply it correctly. I wouldn't recommend using a brush, I would use your fingers. Get some shadow on your ring finger and gently pat your lids with the color. Slowly build for intensity. Never wipe your lids with this product for it will blend too quickly into your skin. Use a fluffy blending brush to blend the color up into your crease.

This a really beautiful shadow and is great for spring when applied all over the lid to create brightness that is soft and hazy when blended. I also love use this as my main lid color for a grey toned smokey eye.

NARS Single Eyeshadow in Nepal

Went to Sephora and I bought some more NARS, what can I say I'm an addict. So here is my review of my first NARS eyeshadow single!

This shadow is a satin finish with medium to opaque pigmentation. The color is a dusty pink with gold and sliver micro glitter. The shadow is super smooth and blends like butter. I would recommend wearing a base underneath to really make the shadow pop.  I like to pat this on my lid using a stiff shader brush. Sweep this shadow on the lids for a lighter application, and pat for a more opaque look. 

The shadow has classic NARS packaging with a matte black case, and contains 2.2 g of shadows. That is a whole lot of product when comparing it to a MAC shadow which has 1.5 g of product. NARS single shadows retail for $25 dollars, they are a little bit more expensive than other high-end shadows on the market but you do get a lot of product and they are great quality. I don't mind spending a little bit more when this shadow is going to last me forever. 

This shadow is kind of like the NARS Orgasm in eyeshadow form, but it is a little more toned down and doesn't contain so much sparkle. Peach and rose eyeshadow are a huge trend right now and if you want to get a good pink shadow to spice up your collection then I would totally recommend going out and getting this one. I hope that this was helpful! 

Emma

Avon True Color Quad Romantic Mauves

My mother has a work friend who is an Avon representative so we decided to order some makeup and try out a few products. I wanted to try out their eyeshadows and purchased a quad with some purple and pink toned shadows. I love the way purple looks with my brown eyes and I think that purples and hazy pinks are a subtle way too use more color.

The palette contains a total of four shadows three with a satin finish and the fourth is the shimmer. Overall the shadows have medium to sheer pigmentation, with quite a bit of fall out. All of these shadows need a primer and a base so they have something to hold on to. The fourth shadow is very chalky and is super sheer with big flecks of glitter.

The first shadow is a light pearly pink with a satin finish, just your run of the mill light blue toned pink. The second shadow is a pinky brown with a satin finish but also has some small glitter flecks. The third shadow is a purple brown that swatches out to be more of a deep taupe. The fourth shadow is a purple with magenta glitter but swatches very sheer.

My favorite shadow in the palette is the third shadow because it has the best pigmentation. I highly dislike the fourth shadow is just so sheer and has so much fall out. I would compare the quality of these shadows to a lower quality drug store quad, they remind me of the Covergirl quads in pigmentation and texture.

No matter how you apply these shadows you get a washed out purple eye that looks like someone punched you. The only combo that I like is to take the third shadow all over the lid, the first on as a highlight on my brown bone, and then dust the second shadow on the very center of my lid.

You can order Avon makeup on their website and pick up this palette for around 7 dollars. Hope that this was helpful!

Emma

Revlon Photoready Skinlights Bare Lights review

As always I went to the drugstore and saw a new display for some Revlon face products and of course I felt compelled to buy everything. I was able to have some self restraint and I only purchased one item! I am such a sucker for illuminating or highlighting products, I want my face to sparkle like a diamond and blind you with my luminous glow. Thats why the Photoready Skinlights illuminate looked so interesting to me.

Packaging
the bottle is a squeezy tube with a twist off the cap. The product comes out really quickly and with barely any pressure, so don't hold this upside down or press on it to hard or you will get too much product and make a big mess. Over all the bottle is kind of bulky and I wish it was more compact, otherwise it is functional and works well. The tube contains an one fluid once of product or 30 ml.

Formula
this is a liquid light, very, very liquidy and it runs. It applies smooth on the face doesn't have that gritty glitter texture. The color is very sheer and just adds a bit of shine and sparkle on to the face. It blends out nicely and doesn't leave the face too sticky but, I still like to set it with something else because it does melt off by the end of the day.

blends to be very sheer as you can see, swatch fail :-(

How To Apply/Wear
I like to squeeze a dot out onto my hand and then put smaller dots on to my cheeks/cheek bones and blend out with a small stippling brush or my fingers. I like to set it with a translucent powder or I set it with a powder higlighter. This product is pretty versatile, you can use it on your cheeks to add glow or on your cheek bones as a peachy pink highlight. You can also mix this in with your foundation to give your skin a radiant healthy glow without having too much glitter.

Overall I really like this product and I am happy with my purchase, if you see this display I would pick this and try out some of the other colors. I bought it at my local CVS around $11 dollars. Hope that this was helpful!

Emma

Lets's Be Honest About L'oreal True Match Naturale Mattifying Mineral Finish (translucent matte)

Hello again here is a review of a product that I have been putting off for months. I started using it on me and a client, then stopped using it and pushed it to the back of my collection. I was doing makeup for a wedding during October and I need a translucent setting powder, I picked up a random one from L'oreal, and boy oh boy was that a mistake. I don't hate this product but I'm not too happy with it. I bought it to set liquid and cream products and not add any coverage. The title does call it mattifying and transulcent so I thought that would be a fit.

Packaging

This powder comes in a twist of cap tub, like most loose setting powders except this one has a top that gives you a brush and then you screw the brush off to reveal the product. So it is a three part packaging, top, brush and tub with the powder. The top of the tub has a sifter, with fairly large holes so you are getting a lot of product in the little dish. The brush that is comes with is a very stout tapered kabuki. The bristles are softish, not the nicest feeling on your face, but not horrible. I personally do not use the brush because it just isn't as effective as my own personal brushes. The brush just doesn't fit into the container, you pick up way too much product and then the cap is too awkward to tap of the excess in. You end up trapping a whole lot of product in the cap when you attach it to the brush. Not a fan of the packaging, too many problems.

Formula

This product is not finely milled, it is a little big more gritty. When you do smooth it out on your skin it feels soft and nice. Because it is a bit grittier, it takes a lot of effort to evenly distribute it all over your face instead of having concentrated white spots. The powder simply isn't translucent it gives your face a white cast no matter how much blending I do. Also the powder has sparkle in it, so it doesn't give you a matte look, it just doesn't.

So overall I'm not to happy with this product, and for the price it I don't think it is worth picking up. I bought this a CVS for $15.99, just way too expensive.

So, I hope that you enjoyed reading this and that it was helpful,

Emma