DOUBLE HAUL: MAC FALL COLOR COLLECTION, NARS EYESHADOWS, AND LOTS OF INEXPENSIVE GOODIES.

Hey guys, another haul!!

NARS Eyeshadow in Night Sun

NARS Eyeshadow in California

Bare Escentuals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in New Orleans

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss in Tara

Tarina Tarintino Gem Gloss in Tokyo Hardcore

These eyeshadows were only eight dollars, they usually are twenty three dollars so this is a great deal. I love NARS eyeshadows, in fact NARS is one of my favorite brands. I think they are discontinuing the shades, that's why they are on sale. That's a shame since I think both shades are quite stunning.

NARS eyeshadows come in beautiful silky black texture with a slight rubbery feel. They each come with mirrors and a plastic sheath to protect the shadows.

Night sun is a bright true yellow gold with gold glitter. For NARS, their glitter is more "flakes" than something like the glitter particles in Urban Decay. These do fallout easily similar to most glitter, so this can be a down fall.

Swatch! 

California on the other hand is a true favorite all ready. NARS eyeshadows are buttery smooth and finely milled. Their not sheer and dry, but not to creamy and powdery. California is a rich red based copper - gorgeous.

That's my finger barely touching the pan!!

This lip gloss may look scary, but it's simply a clear lip gloss with green glitter/reflects. This was on sale for five dollars!! I purchased it because I love the way green reflects look on lips, it instantly brightens the look, and don't worry you don't actually see any green.

The wand is quite nice, long and angled.

I got this Bare Escentuals set for 12 dollars. I love Sephora Sale! Also, ignore the missing key on my computer, I found it.

Bare Escentual Buxom glosses are nice and smooth, a little bit thick though. They have a tingly feel when applied because of their plumping attributes.

In the light you can see this is a beautiful coral with purple duochrome, it goes on sheer and quite captivating on the lips. I've been wearing it for the past week!

This product is super creamy and lightweight on the lips, plus it has the same tingling plumping effect. The color is a peachy coral with a hint of nude so it's still wearable. I love the packaging and twist up stick, very convenient. By the way, the two products together create a nice flattering coral lip.

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow Palette in 710 Not Just Nudes

MAC Eyeshadow Quad in Angel Flame

This quad came out brand new in the Fall Color Collection.

The shades are chamomile, a light creamy bisque, angel flame, a warm golden peach, feather pink, a creamy light pink, and gravel a creamy mid tone gray.

Chamomile is somewhat similar to Heaven in the Too Faced Natural Eye Neutral Shadow Collection, but it's a little bit more yellow toned. Angel Flame is an exact dupe for MAC Melon Pigment, which I love. The pink and gray shade I don't have in my collection, so I'm happy to add them.

Pretty combo!!

All of the shades swatch with a light touch, they're rather sheer. I like this though because I think the texture is nice and layerable. 

I love these Revlon cream shadow palettes, I also have it in 705 Precious Metals. The packaging is really pretty and the shadows themselves are creamy, pigmented, and long lasting. They usually are opaque, the really shimmery ones can sheer out more easily though.

I want to definitely buy more of these, Skinlights was out of stock sadly. 

Swatches of all the shades.

The dark brown has a creamy bronze tone and the tan one is a nice matte shade. (So far this is the only matte one I've tried in their cream shadows.)

This is a nice warm orange toned bronze and matte cream color with a hint of light shimmer. These look so pretty for a smoky eye, or highlighting a simple look. :) 

What have you gotten recently?

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

gracie

SEPHORA FALL 2011 CATALOG

Here's a quick review of the Sephora Fall 2011 Catalog. Some of these makeup looks are gorgeous - maybe I'll try them out soon for the blog!!

Here the model has her eyes rimmed with a bright purple liquid liner, warm mocha cheeks, and a soft red lip.

Definitely one of my favorites, bright blue liquid liner with lots of lashes, contoured cheeks, and true red lips.

A flirty look for day may I suggest? Lots of lashes, highlighted eyes, contoured cheeks, and more red lips.

A gorgeous true silver eye (must try this one!) and glossy nude lips.

A look I'd also like to try is this basic smoky eye with peachy champagne and bronze tones on the eyes. Contours and a fresh pink lip, I swear this is similar to the makeup I'm wearing now.

Loving the liquid liner trends, this is a great showing of graphic liner, contours, and a rosy lip.

More purple liner!! This time paired with a nude lip and glowing skin.

To finish off graphic liner, matte contoured skin, and red lips. This is similar to what we see every fall!!

What trends do you like? What do you want to try out?

Thanks for reading!!

xoxo,

gracie

URBAN DECAY FALL 2011 PHOTOS

Urban Decay Fall 2011 Ad Campaign

Blue/Purple Eyeshadow + Neon Pink Lip (Love the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette so far!!)

Love their new liquid liner too, I'm going to buy the color she's wearing. Anyone notice the lovely ring she has on?

so inspirational am I not right?

xoxo,

gracie

HAUL: MASCARA && SKINCARE

Hey guys!!

Quick haul today from Sephora :)

I bought a bunch of skincare products, and a mascara that was on sale. Lots of sample though!!

I've decided to try getting products with lactic acid, which is supposed to dissolve hardened oil under the skin. (That's a big problem for me, blocked pores, which will then get stretched and infected. BLAH!) These pads are supposed to be good for everyday, I like that since I want to have a very strong skincare routine.

I also got a spot treatment, which I really, really hope works. For some reason, the first time ever, I've been breaking out in my cheek area. Weird since I only get it on my forehead, I'm not sure what triggered it. I love the packaging on this though!!

I got a sample of this mascara long ago, I really liked it. I'm happy it's on sale, so I bought a full size.

Nice, lush brush. Very "creamy" formula.

Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara sample.

Looks good, I'll probably try it out tomorrow.

Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara sample.

It looks good but I feel like it wont really make my lashes pop out, more like a light defining, lengthening, etc. I'll also probably try it tomorrow.

Some samples!! Note, I just tried the matte body perfection gel and it is AMAZING. It's a super realistic dark tan, and I'm already really tan. The Charlotte Ronson product is like the prettiest golden bronze sheen. I think I want both of these...

xoxo,

gracie.

MAKEUP EXPERIMENT: GOLDEN CRANBERRIES - MAYBE A VAMPIRE LOOK FOR HALLOWEEN?

Makeup Experiments are makeup tutorials, but they aren't full blown makeup tutorials where I show you step by step. Instead I guide you though the look, but only show the products used. These are usually looks that I make up on the spot.

I decided to play around with fun colors like hot pink and gold to create a simple look. This reminds me of autumn, even though I wouldn't wear it everyday. I personally think this works great for Halloween because the pink tones on the eyes remind me of a vampire look. The lips also have a very bloody tone, even though they aren't strictly red.

Hope you enjoy!!

1. Begin by priming your eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original to make sure that your eyeshadows stay on all day and appear vibrant, not to mention not crease. Apply it all over the lid area and along the lower lash line. 

2. When using pigments I always apply Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer in Skin along the lid. Urban Decay's primer sinks in immediately and feels likes there is nothing on the lid. This primer is an opaque nude and tackier, so it grabs pigments well and makes them appear extremely vibrant. Here I applied a thin layer along the lid and blended it out so it was completely smooth.

3. Now take your favorite bronzed or "rustic gold" pigment/eyeshadow, this is the MAC Crushed Metallic Pigment Stack in Surf The Ocean. Here I'm using this stunning bronzed gold shade, these pigments are jet milled so they almost feel like a cream shadow. They are completely different from normal pigments, which can sheer out and feel flaky. Using my finger, I gently applied this all over my lid for a beautiful gold shade.

4. Using a pinky peach gold pigment (or eyeshadow), this is MAC Pigment in Melon. I applied this along the crease using a Borghese 204 Smudge Brush. You want to blend gold upward and fade it out with a pinky tinge. This will ensure that when you apply the hot pink eyeshadow everything will fade out perfectly.

5. For a highlight shade I'm applying Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMineral Eyeshadow in Wearable Pistachio Light using the Borghese 201 Eyeshadow Brush. This is a satin finish ivory that gives a soft glow to the eyes, nothing to sparkly or stark white.

6. Since I don't use pink very often I've been trying to craft more looks with the shade "Junkshow" from the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette. It's a very, very bright satin finish hot pink as you can see. Using a L.E.I.F. On Location Crease Brush get a bit of the eyeshadow on the tip and start applying it along the outer corners. Gently bring it up and inward to define the crease. Work slowly and make sure to blend along each application of pink so everything looks well rounded.

7. Line your tightline with Stila Kajal Liner in Onyx for instant definition. This eyeliner is pitch black and extremely creamy, plus it won't smudge or budge once it sets. Personally I find it better than any other liner, especially the waterproof formulas.

8. Curl your eye lashes and apply your favorite mascara(s). Here I'm using the Maybelline Lash Curler, I curl at the roots so lashes can flare up and out. Don't curl near the middle of the lashes otherwise they'll just appear shorter and stubbier. For mascara I layer on Dior DiorShow Extase Mascara in 090 Black, Fairydrops Scandal Queen Mascara in Black, Sephora Lash Plumper in Black, MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash, and Dior DiorShow Blackout Mascara in 099 Black. Each of these mascaras work to make my tiny lashes look a lot, lot better.

9. I skipped cheeks for this look and went straight to the lips with a shimmering hot pink lipstick. This is Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in 105 Pink Wink. 

10. For a soft sheen I added Korres Lip Butter in Mango on top, which is an opaque coral lip balm. 

xoxo,

gracie.