There are many new reviews and looks coming!

I gave myself a little break from this blog before it really got going. I went away on vacation for a week without Wifi (Ahh!), but besides that, I don't have excuses for my lack of posts lately. This blog will be back on track soon!

Recent looks :)

Look 1: Ocean Spray

For this look I used a mint green eyeshadow from Inglot, as well as a very bold blue Inglot color.  I used a teal eyeshadow from my Coastal Scents 88 palette to blend between the two, and Foxy from Urban Decay as a highlight.  On my cheeks I just used a light bronzer.

These are the two Inglot shadows.  I don't know their  numbers, but this is what they look like!

Look 2: Garden of Violets

Again, I used my Inglot palette, with Tarina Tarantino Feather Dollskin Cheek Blush, and Mac Myth Lipstick.

I used both purple shadows in the picture below, as well as the bottom green color:

Upcoming posts: Comparison of Shadow Pencil brands, swatches of my Inglot palette that I used to create the majority of these two looks.

Yesterday and the day before's looks!

 I tested out some green shades, and a yellowish color from my Shady Lady palettes from theBalm!

Ignore the weird, curly wet hair in the next pictures :P

In this look I used a bright blue Sephora shadow pencil, and one of the new Makeup Forever shadow pencils, the matte teal one, some blue and green theBalm shadows,  and the matte black Urban Decay shadow.

Update

Hey, I just I haven't posted in a few days, and that makes me sad.  The giant mirror in my upstairs bathroom where I usually get ready fell off the wall and shattered about a week ago.  I had to move some of my stuff downstairs and get ready there, where my parents things already were.  Everything was really cluttered and frustrating, so I haven't posted anything :(

But now, we got the new mirror put in, so new posts will be coming!

Upcoming review

Yesterday, I received all three Shady Lady palettes from theBalm.  They had a deal on Memorial Day where you get all three for the price of one, so of course I bought them!  Later tonight, I'll post swatches and my opinion of the eyeshadows.

Makeup I did for my friend Corinne

My friend was going to a prom the other day and asked me to do her makeup.  This was the first time I've been payed to do makeup, and besides the eyelashes, it turned out alright.  From this experience I have learned that not only do I prefer to do my own makeup, but I am much better at just doing my own.  It wasn't horrible, and I know that with practice it could get better, but I have realized that I do not want a job in makeup at all.  So I guess I'll stick to blogging about it, because I still love it for myself!

On Corinne I used a coral eyeshadow from Inglot, along with various brown Urban Decay shades, MAC Blacktrack gel liner, false lash pieces that she brought (that proved to be a bit of a challenge), Tarte Lights, Cameras, Lashes Mascara, Revlon Colorstay foundation, concealer from a Coastal Scents palette, Tarte Blissful Blush, and Inglot Lipstick #106.

Afterthought: I wish I'd contoured her more, filled her brows in a bit more, and took much more time for the eyelashes.  Also, I wish I'd actually asked her what she wanted, because I'm pretty sure she didn't like wearing lipstick (she didn't have it on in a picture).  Asking would have been a good idea, and if I ever happen to do someone else's makeup again, I will make sure I know what they really like.

This was definitely a learning experience.

A few more looks

Blue and Purple:

Hot Pink:

Purple and Nude:

Makeup artistry

For a while now, I have been wanting to be a makeup artist through college, and maybe even after I graduate as a side-job or even a regular job if I can't find myself a position in journalism.  I applied for jobs at makeup counters at Macys and Nordstrom, had a couple interviews with Macys, and never got hired (I'm assuming it's because of  my lack of sales experience).

I have also wanted to give freelance a try.  I purchased a travel case and everything I'd need like a concealer palette and different shades of foundation.  However, no one was interested in my services, until a few days ago!  My new friend Corinne is going to a prom tonight, and after another friend asked how my makeup business was doing, she asked me to do her makeup!  This will be my first client, and I'll definitely be posting photos of my work later on tonight.  I'm excited :)

My skincare routine

My skin has been relatively clear for the past 2-ish years.  However, very recently, I've been getting a few minor breakouts, which has kind of freaked me out.  I do not want my skin to regress to what it was like in middle school and early high school, so I'm doing what I can to fix it and prevent worse breakouts.

In the morning I use Neutrogina Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub in the shower most days of the week, and St. Ives Apricot Scrub once or twice a week, followed by Origins Starting Over Age-erasing moisturizer with Mimosa (which I got for free at Sephora for bringing an empty makeup container), and Bliss Fabulous every day eye cream.  Both the moisturizer and the eye cream feel really amazing on my skin.

At night, I take my eye makeup off with Neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover.  After that, I wash my face with the new Sephora Supreme cleansing foam all in one cleanser, which works really well to take my face makeup off, and my face always feels really clean afterwards.  It's a really nice cleanser for $7.  I follow that with Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner, which I couldn't live without.

After those three steps, I use the same moisturizer and eye cream, and go to bed.  When I have a bad pimple, I have found that every spot treatment I have ever tried has not worked as well as toothpaste.  Yup, toothpaste!  It dries out the pimple easily, and it's already right there in the bathroom.  However, I did like the tea-tree oil from The Body Shop when I had it a few years ago.

Here's yesterday's look

I was wearing a turquoise dress, and this is the eyeshadow I wore to go along with it:

I used Urban Decay eyeshadows, and some colors from my Coastal Scents 88 palette, along with  my usual liner, mascara and face makeup.  On my lips, I used Mac's Ravishing lipstick, with a little bit of the Revlon Coloruburst Lip Butter in Creamsicle on top.  

Look of today!

Today I had work, where I wear all black, so I really played up my eyeshadow.  Here's the result.

(Ignore the weird face in the last one :P)

Today, I used:

Eyeshadows: Inglot #371 is the bright blue on the lid, with a little bit of Urban Decay Peace on top for shimmer.  In the crease and blended upward is Last Call, Toasted, Hustle, and Foxy, all by Urban Decay.  

Liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Perversion, with Urban Decay Hustle and Inglot #371 on the lower lash line

Mascara: Tarte Lights, Cameras, Lashes and Maybelline The Falsies

Skin: Stilla Natural Finish Foundation in A, Cover FX Foundation as concealer, Cover FX Translucent powder, and Tarina Tarantino Charm Dollskin Cheek Blush (although it didn't show up well in the photos)

Lips: MAC Myth Lipstick

My favorite drugstore/inexpensive products

Although I am known to spend an extremely large sum of money on mid to high end beauty products fairly consistently, I do have some favorites in the $1 - $10 range that are truly impressive. I have various products from NYX (which can be purchased at ULTA), ELF, Maybelline, and Revlon that are at least equal, and potentially superior to their high-end counterparts.

NYX products:

Soft Matte Lip Creams: Like the company claims, these go on soft and velvety, but dry like a worn lipstick or stain.  They last for hours and do leave a stain on the lips.  I own this product in Tokyo and Addis Ababa. These are cruelty free and hypoallergenic. 

Lipliner Pencil: I own it in 813 Plush Red.  It goes on evenly, somewhat stains the lips, and isn't too dry.  It isn't quiet as creamy as Makeup Forever or Urban Decay's lip liners, but it's a great alternative at only $3.50.

Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk: I always grab this product when I want an eyeshadow to really pop!  I think this creamy white color is the perfect first step to achieving a bold eye look.  It is easy to blend, too.

Elf Products:

Mineral Eyeshadow Primer: I absolutely love this and use it everyday.  It is literally ONE DOLLAR, and I can find no fault with it.  I know many people worship the Urban Decay Primer Potion and the Too Faced primer, but this, in my opinion is better, and exceedingly less expensive.  My eyes and my wallet love this primer.  

(Left Urban Decay Primer Potion, Right Elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer)

The Urban Decay primer looks watery next to the Elf primer.   

Shimmering Facial Whip: I have this in the white color and love it as a highlighter.  Although I'm not wearing a highlighter everyday anymore, this is the one I go to when I want one.  It smells a bit like  lemon, which I think is nice and fresh, although some people might mind.  It is $1.

Maybelline Products:

Color Tattoo By Eyestudio 24 hour eyeshadow: Although I haven't tested to see if these truly last 24 hours, they definitely lasted at least 8, with and without a powder shadow on top.  I have it in Edgy Emerald and Bold Gold.  They both perform amazingly and glide on smoothly, without any patchiness, which is really great, considering they're around $7.  I have no interest in purchasing similar products from Smashbox or MAC, because I am completely content with these as a base or alone.  

As you can see in my swatches, the Gold shade is shimmery while the green only has a slight sheen.  When swatched here, the green looks like there is a little to be desired, but these swatches were done without a primer, and keep in mind, my eyelid is less crease ridden than the skin near my wrist.  

Also, the pots look almost brand new, like maybe they've only been used for swatching purposes.  I've actually used both of these products three times, so a little goes a long way, and a pot will last a long while.  

The Falsies Mascara: This mascara has amazing lengthening power.  If you are really looking for added volume, this might not be the best route, but this mascara paired with another that adds major thickening is stunning.  I never used to get compliments on my eyelashes, but since I started wearing this along with Tarte's Lights, Cameras, Lashes, I've been getting compliments left and right.  

The Falsies is definitely worth a try.  

Revlon products:

Colorburst Lip Butters:  I literally cannot contain my love for these!  They are just as moisturizing as a lip balm, with almost opaque color.  I usually use them over a lipstick, but they are just fine on their own.  I've purchased 5 shades, but lost one of my favorites, Creme Brule, a nice nude shade.  As of right now, I have Peach Parfait, a shimmery color, Creamsicle, a pale peach without shimmer, Lollipop, which is a plum-y color, and Strawberry Shortcake, a blue-based pink.  

I love them all, and cannot wait to re-purchase Creme Brule even though I'm sad I lost it.  I literally take these with me everywhere now.  Before I was able to buy any, I saw every beauty blogger raving, and I was uncertain of how amazing they were, but I was totally convinced after I tried one for the first time.  I keep seeing similar high-end products, but I have no interest in them, because these are just so wonderful!  

Since I only own four, here's a photo of another bloggers swatches of some of my favorite shades:

I haven't tried any other Revlon products recently, but I'm definitely interested in giving other products in the Colorburst line a chance.

I'm trying decide what my next makeup purchase will be

I'm choosing between a Sugarpill haul, because for some crazy reason, I haven't purchased anything from Sugarpill yet, which is driving me INSANE, and the new Sephora and Pantone Universe palette.

If I go with Sugarpill, I'm going to order all 3 palettes and probably a pigment or two.

Help me decide?

How I do my eyebrows

I use 2 products and a brush to fill in my brows

• Makeup Forever Eyebrow Pencil in Brown 3:  This is the first brow pencil I have ever used.  I've tried creams, but never liked them.  I used powders until I bought this product, which has changed my mind about penciling my brows.

• Urban Decay eyeshadow in Naked and Buck (I mix the two with a slanted precision brush): I used to use these shades on their own before I bought the pencil, but now I find that they even out the color the pencil gives me.  The combo of pencil and powder makes my eyebrows look more natural.

(Photos from Temptalia.com)

The result: