Monthly Archives: May 2015

Today I’m Wearing – A Little Urban Decay, A Whole Lotta MAC

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So, today was a whole lotta lazy!  It’s a Sunday and I basically hung around, house sat/fed my sister’s cat, and I didn’t even put on any makeup until 5:00 pm, and that was only because I wanted to play with the gifts I just got and some samples.  Most Sundays are spent barefaced and laying on the couch watching Game of Thrones!

Well, I was having a great time experimenting with the MAC shadows my good friend sent me when I remembered that a couple years ago, she had sent me the Crush Metal Pigments Stacked 1 set!  I decided I would layer the icy violet one on the lower lid over the Mega Metal shadow in Mating Call (LOL, that name).  Even used wet, the glittery pigment still managed to get everywhere including on my face and in my eyes, causing me to have a major tear-fest and red-eyed reaction of Not Good.  Well, here is an example of how glittery it is:

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Top middle frosty glittery concoction is the pigment from Stacked 1

So beautiful, so not fun if you get it in your eye.  Reminds me of Kitchmas in lavender.  Be careful with glittery products, you guys.  I don’t even have sensitive eyes.  I can wear almost anything.

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Me with bloodshot eyes and a face full of fun purple makeup; see below for breakdown.

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Featuring Urban Decay Revolution Lipgloss in Bittersweet

FULL BREAKDOWN:

FACE:  NYX Photo Loving Primer Lavender (I don’t see color correction here, so the clear version would probably be a fine alternative, but I love this primer!), Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in Porcelain with damp Beauty Blender, MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC15 with Sigma E10 brush for pinpoint concealing (thanks for the tips to Lisa Eldridge), MAC Mineralize Concealer in NW15 under eyes blended with tip of damp Beauty Blender, MAC Casual Color in Evening Stroll (lovely violet!) sheered out with Sigma F82 round top kabuki brush, foundation lightly set with Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder in Translucent and MAC 150 Powder Brush.

EYES:  Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Vanilla eyeshadow as highlight, MAC Mega Metals shadow in Mating Call (lid) and Noir Plum (crease/outer V/lower liner), MAC Chromaline in Deep Purple, L’oreal Infallible gel liner in Black, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Ebony with No 7 double ended brow brush set with ELF Clear Brow Gel.

LIPS:  NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Deep Purple with Urban Decay Revolution Lip Gloss in Bittersweet (thanks for the sample, Ipsy!)

Most of these products are all available to be purchased currently except the two Mega Metals eyeshadows and the Casual Color by MAC, since they love to do those limited edition runs.

Everything here was purchased by me or given to me by a friend.  All opinions are my own!  🙂

A care package from a friend – with a little Sleek, a little NYX, and a whole lotta MAC!

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I’m blessed to have a rich online life and a lot of online friends.  A lot of them are merely acquaintances; however, I have a few friends that I’ve had for over 10 years that I consider to be real, close, lifetime friends.  One of them was talking to me this week about a shadow palette I had bought from Sleek makeUP and wanted to try some for herself.  She bought the Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Bad Girl from Amazon, but unfortunately she ended up allergic to it, so she said, “Hey, I’ll send this to you and you can use it and blog about it.  I’ll send you some other things too, like this green NYX Wicked lippie.”  She mentioned some metallic MAC shadows, but I didn’t expect a gigantic box to arrive at my doorstep a few days later.  Imagine my surprise…

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Unboxing…

Wait.  What?

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Hold on a second…I’m confused.

SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!

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Ok, let’s clean this up and take it in the bathroom with natural light.

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Sleek i-Divine Palette in Bad Girl and NYX Wicked Lippie in Risque

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MAC Mineralized shadows in Cinderfella, Gilt by Association, and Blue Flame

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MAC Mineralize shadow trio in Danger Zone

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MAC Mega Metal Shadows in Noir Plum, Mating Call, Odalisque, Dandizette, and Chromaline cream liner in Rich Purple

The only casualty of the cross-country trip was this shadow from the Maleficent collection, My Dark Magic – not a problem, because I’m going to put it in a container and use it as a loose pigment and recycle the container at Back 2 MAC for a lipstick, as you do! 🙂

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MAC Mineralize Shadow My Dark Magic from Maleficent Collection

Words cannot express my gratitude at receiving such a kind package from this friend and what’s even sweeter is that it’s not the first time she’s done this.  I hope we’ll always be in touch and I am hoping to go visit her at some point!

And of course, I believe you should always pay your good fortune forward.  Kristin:  INCOMING!  😀  (I had to make room for all this somehow.)

International Fluevog Day!

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Ok, so I missed it by a few minutes here on the East coast, but in most of the country, it’s still International Fluevog Day!  In store had 15% off, I believe, and every 45th web order was/is free.  Nope, I did not order anything today, but I wanted to share my latest acquisition, which is my favoritest pair of shoes in the history of MANKIND, the Fluevog Esoteric Temptations Odette:

BEHOLD!

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Ok, so that photo is a little dark.  Basically, this newer design is a mary jane hybrid of the older 80s/90s Swordfish toe, with the Frugal heel.  You Voggers will understand this language; everyone else just keep reading (giggle).  There’s a platinum colored band around the heel for an extra embellishment.  But what really gets me…is this buckle!

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TINY SILVER SKULLS, Y’ALL.

Oh, you want to see it with some fancy tights?  I knew you did.

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How about purple with a tulle tea length skirt?

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How about some fencepost tights with a four-cornered skirt?

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How about some sexy lace?

Oh my godddddddddddd.  You guys.  Sometimes I get these shoes out of the box just to *look* at them.  Do you have any clothing or accessories you feel like that about?  Leave me a comment!

Mad Max: Preview

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Tomorrow, I am going to participate in a Mad Max flash mob and viewing of Mad Max: Fury Road. One might say I am a little excited. Here’s a little preview of the makeup I’m working on to wear with my crazy get-up.

This is basically the entire theme behind my Burning Man camp. My time has come! The only thing missing is my campmates…

Makeup Of The Day 

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Today I’m wearing Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom lipstick in Brazen Berry.  I tried it two ways, first with NYX Purple Rain liner just to outline, and then with Urban Decay Ozone 24/7 Lip Liner (clear) underneath like a primer.  I like it best with a primer under!  It seems to really even out my lip texture and the color seems smoother, but honestly, the difference is small.


Brazen Berry with NYX Purple Rain lip liner


Brazen Berry over UD Ozone 24/7 Clear Lip Liner

Can you tell a difference?

FULL MAKEUP BREAKDOWN!

Face:  Tarte Clean Slate Poreless primer, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in Porcelain applied with Sigma F82 kabuki, MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC15 to spot conceal, MAC Mineralized Concealer NW15 under eyes, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless lightly swept over face to set, MAC Sculpt Powder Bone Beige for contour, La Femme Blush in Purple Passion (wish this was more purple on me), Temptu S/B Highlighter Pink Pearl (thanks, Ipsy!).

EYES:  Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone as a base, MAC Vanilla shadow as highlight shade, The Balm Nude Dude shadow in Flirty (thanks, Ipsy!) on lid and crease, Hustle shadow by Urban Decay (Naked 1) in outer V and lower lashline, L’Oreal Infallible gel liner to tightline, L’oreal Infallible Super Slim liquid liner for upper lash line, Cover Girl Clump Crusher mascara black, Anastasia Brow Powder duo (light shade) with mini double angled brush for brows set with ELF Clear Brow Gel.

LIPS:  Either NYX Slim Lip Liner in Purple Rain or Urban Decay 24/7 Lip Liner in Ozone with Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Brazen Berry

–Rachel

The Makeup Alley Mobile Reviews Feature Will Change Your Shopping Experience! 

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You guys!  I’m seriously excited about what I just heard about on Twitter.   Makeupalley now has their reviews database easily searchable via product barcode scan.  I’m so excited, I found myself testing it out on stuff in my bathroom at 1:00 am!  The makeup lover and nerd in me are both ecstatic, because it works. 

Do you ever find yourself in the drugstore (or any store) looking at beauty products and wondering if you should drop your cash on them?  Have you ever actually grabbed your smartphone and googled that item before you put it in your basket?  I sure have!  Weeding through reviews is tedious enough, but doing it in a store is too time consuming when you just want a fast answer – does it suck?  DOES THIS $12 THING SUCK OR NOT? 

Well, get a load of THIS!  Download Makeupalley’s app to your smartphone, open it, and look for the little barcode icon:

  
 

Ok do you see it? Now tap on it and something that looks like a camera screen will appear on your phone.  Scan the barcode of your Item of Scrutiny by holding it between the guidelines on your screen, and THEN: 

  
Are you freaking kidding me?!?!  Easy access to all of Makeupalley’s product reviews at my fingertips?!  The feature works so well, too!  Just scan and there’s the review page; click on any review to see it in its entirety.  This site’s wealth of reviews is amazing, too.  If it’s not there, it’s really new or hella obscure.  

LIFE.  CHANGING.  I shall buy crappy products no more!

Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipsticks in Power Peony and Lilac Flush

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I’ve been a big fan of Mabelline Color Sensational Lipsticks for quite some time.  I have seriously flaky, dry lips and I love a moisturizing lipstick.  I also love bold colors that aren’t boring.  These are not always easy to find in the drug store!  Maybelline has really been stepping up in that department in recent years.  I recently picked up 2 of the lipsticks in the spring line, Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom.  (Rebel!  I like it already…)  I chose Power Peony, a milky pink pastel (yet not the lightest in the bunch) and Lilac Flush, a milky lavender.  Lilac Flush is not your typical drugstore color and was sold out when I first tried to get it, so imagine my surprise when my boyfriend walked in the front door with it about 2 weeks later.  REALLY?!  How did he remember I was looking for that?!  Awesome boyfriend, 5 stars, would date again!

Power Peony and Lilac Flush:

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Also shown:  Earth Essence Lavender Moisturizing Body Candle, Chanel No 19 mini, Guerlain L’Interdit mini, Balmain Ivoire mini

What Maybelline has to say:

“Super-saturated pigments take fresh picked pastels to a new bright

Never dull, washed out or shy
Honey nectar adds a sumptuous feel

Why You’ll Love It

Maybelline Color Sensational® Rebel Bloom lipstick. Now pastels rebel in 10 vivacious shades. A kicky boquet of lip colors in pinks, reds and mauves. Honey nectar adds a sumptuous feel

For Best Results

Apply lipcolor starting in the center of your upper lip. Work from the center to the outer edges of your lip, following the contours of your mouth. Then glide across the entire bottom lip.”

Well, thanks for the lipstick application tips, Maybelline.  But I’ve been doing that since I was five.  As to when I started getting decent at it is anyone’s guess! 🙂

The formula:  The Rebel Bloom lipsticks are a little bit different than the other Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks.  They have a bit more of balm texture, so to me they are more moisturizing.  Fabulous!  They are a tad more sheer, as well, letting a hint of your natural lip color show through, unless you really layer them on.  I think this lends to the white based pastel shades being a million times more wearable than most of the white based, opaque pastel lipsticks out there.  You know the ones I’m talking about…the kind that nobody can pull off.  Still, I went a step further and added a gloss on top to add just a hint of dimension.

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Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom lipstick in Power Peony with a hint of clear gloss on top

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Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Lilac Flush topped with a bit of L’Oreal Extraordinaire by Color Riche lip color in Purple Prelude.  I find this shade is so light and milky that deepening it a hint flattered my skin tone much better.

Wrap up:  All in all, these feel good on the lips, do not dry them out (even without a gloss on top or a balm under), and do not settle in fine lines and cracks.  I get a good 4 hours’ wear out of them before I need to reapply.  I like the pastel lavender tube, as well.  I paid about $5.50 each for these at Target.  I hope these go BOGO somewhere before they’re gone; Blushing Bud and Orchid Ecstasy are now on my wish list!

–Rachel

Makeup of the Day

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Eyes:  MAC eyeshadows in Nylon, Ricepaper and Aquadisiac, Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaLiner liquid eyeliner in Black, Urban Decay Perversion mascara

Lips: NYX Butter lipstick in Hunk

Face: Rimmel Stay Matte foundation in Porcelain, NYX HD Finishing Powder, ELF blush in Twinkle Pink

It’s dark, cold and windy here in Seattle today, so I’m making up for it with bright, summery shades and vintage 1960s inspired cat-eye liner!

Contouring Experiment

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I’ve never done any contouring before. I mean, I’ve done it on other people, but every time I’ve tried to do it myself it looks terrible. It’s because I’m about the color of a bar of soap compared to most people’s having some sort of skin color that isn’t best described by household items.

So I decided to watch a bunch of YouTube videos, and then spend a bunch of time trying to see what all the fuss is about.

I used the Smashbox contouring palette, ELF blush in “Twinkle Pink” and Chella “Ivory Lace” highlighter crayon over MAC Matchmaster Foundation 01. At the end I put on some mascara and a little bit of neutral eyeshadow

Didn’t turn out… too… bad…? I look so weird.

I mean good?