Category Archives: Eyes

Rainbow eyeshadow with Sleek i-Divine palette in Matte V1 Brights 

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So, what do you do when you want to buy a ton of Sugarpill shadows that are all sold out and really expensive anyway?  You search for alternatives!  A little sleuthing led me to the brand Sleek’s very affordable eyeshadow palettes, which are available in the UK, but us US folks can get them on Amazon (with a hell of a long wait)!  I believe I paid around $12 USD for the V1 Matte Brights palette.  I think it also took around 3 weeks to get here – WORTH IT. 

  
  
I used this wonderful tutorial I found online (I did indeed use the NYX Milk pencil as a base as well).

Hope you enjoy! 

Makeup of the day – Daytime smoky eye with MAC 

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So, from time to time, I find myself pining for the Urban Decay Smokey palette.  I always talk myself out of it, because I HAVE THOSE COLORS (repeat to self 500 times).  I’m a sucker for packaging and I have the other 3 Naked palettes and will probably keep pining, though…even with my psychology degree, I’m a marketer’s dream come true!  Regardless, here’s a smoky look today I put together with some MAC shadows – enjoy!

  
  
  
Eye look was done with Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone as a base, then I used MAC Copperplate eyeshadow as a transition shade in the crease and MAC Howzat shadow (LE, but substitute any deep frosty grey you like) in the crease below the transition shade and all over the lid.  I used MAC Electra eyeshadow to highlight the center of the lid. I blended Blanc Type on the brow bone as a highlight and used Howzat below the eye with a pencil brush.  I then used MAC Nehru on a 266 angled eyeliner brush for a soft smoky eyeliner…no liquid liner today!

You can take this look even smokier with black or grey liner on the waterline, but spring allergies dictate that I’m not doing this today – LOL! 

Blush is NYX Ombre Blush in Mauve Me and Lipstick is Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft.

What are you wearing today? 

NYX Wonder Pencil First Impression

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I’ve been trying a lot of NYX lately now that it’s available in CVS and Target.  I have quite a few reviews in store!

The NYX Wonder Pencil may just be my new best friend!  For years, I have used the MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20, but it’s always been just a bit too dark for me.  Other skin tone liners have either been the wrong shade or irritated my eyes, plus I wanted something that would work for other makeup multitasking purposes.  Leave it to NYX to make another professional type product available at the drugstore!

  
My MAC pencil is a bit used up.  You do get more with the $16.50 MAC pencil, but the NYX product is only $4.50.

Shade comparison of MAC NC15/NW20 and NYX Wonder Pencil in Light (this comes in 3 shades):

  
I used the NYX pencil today for cleaning up and highlighting around the brow, reverse lip lining (really great since I have freckles around my lip line), and concealing a few dark spots on my face along with lining my waterline.  CAVEAT:  If you use this on your face and the waterline, sharpen that sucker to a clean point for fresh product before going near your eyeballs!  Also, clean your sharpeners from time to time with alcohol.  Ok, enough lecturing. 😉 

  
I am super pleased with this multitasking pencil!  Have you tried it?

Makeup of the day – Urban Decay Spectrum palette jewel tones

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Well, I certainly had fun with this look!  I really went for bold color today.  We are having flash flooding after two days of pouring rain and I just wanted something bright and cheerful. Full makeup breakdown below! 

  
  
FACE:  Cover FX Custom Cover Drops in N10 mixed with Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (fantastic, more on the drops later), NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC15 to spot conceal, very light setting with MAC Blot Powder in Light, Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet 

EYES:  Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone as a base, MAC Vanilla eyeshadow as highlight, Urban Decay Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette shades Deep End and Madness (lid), Flashback (crease), Flatline (inner corner) and lid shades also used as lower liner, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in Ebony, ELF Clear Brow Gel, Benefit They’re Real Lash Primer, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black

LIPS:  NYX lip liner in Purple Rain, MAC Up The Amp lipstick 

What are you wearing today?

Urban Decay Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette Swatches 

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The Urban Decay Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette ($55 USD) is back in stock at Sephora! This was a limited edition item from the holidays that sold out pretty much immediately, well before the holidays, leaving folks like me broken hearted that they had missed out on this item. Urban Decay hinted at re-releasing it again in late January, but it sold out again within hours! Well, for some reason, Sephora has stocked it again and this time its been available for several days. I was able to grab mine with my Sephora Flash shipping and I couldn’t be more excited!

I will get a full review done soon, but for now, here are some beautiful swatches for you and photos of the palette.

The case is a gunmetal box that is lined with velvet. The matte black top has filligree laser cut edges and can be repurposed as a jewelry box.  There is a beautiful green jeweled UD logo on top.

   
 

The palette insert can be taken out when you’re done with it, so you can repurpose the box.  Check out these stunning ombre jewel tones! 

  
Now, on to the swatches! 

First off, please note that any crumbles in my swatches are due to me being a monster and swatching too hard.  This formula is divine and not crumbly at all, but I went at it like a maniac…oops!  

Now…observe the lusciousness!

  

 

Protest, Junkie, Deep End

  
Madness, Evidence, Prank

  
Omen, Flashback, Voodoo

  
Flatline, Bordello, Backlash

  Daybreak, Burn, West

These are all swatched over the original Urban Decay Primer Potion.

A full review and many looks with this palette are on the way!  Will you be picking up this palette?  

Makeup of the Day – Urban Decay Vice 4 Look

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I’ve been playing with the UD Vice 4 palette and today I tried a shade I had yet to wear, but have totally been intrigued by because of the name – 1985!  This is a great fuscia shimmer shadow that looks amazing with Beatdown, the shade I have above it in the crease.  I wore MAC Vellum as the highlight, a funky white duochrome that reflects blue and pink.  

  
Eyes closed! 

  
The lipstick is Maybelline Creamy Matte in Vibrant Violet.  Boy, they ain’t kidding about vibrant!

So, there’s my “cabin fever makeup” as we are still somewhat snowed in here in the Southeastern US.  I hope you enjoyed it!

What are you wearing today? 

Benefit They’re Real Tinted Lash Primer Review

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So, for once, I have something to review for you guys before it’s released!  I don’t get PR products, but Sephora had promo sample sizes of these available, although they will not be for sale until 2016!

Here’s the package it came in.  Pretty hefty claims!


They’re Real Tinted Primer is a lash primer that’s unique in that it can be worn alone or under other mascaras.  It is a gel formula that is in a natural medium taupe brown shade.  I find that worn alone, it real does define and lengthen lashes, but I wear nothing but black mascara, so I would only use this under other mascaras.  I tried to get a photo of it alone, but my camera would NOT focus…


To be fair, I have REALLY long eyelashes to start with, so I feel a little guilty reviewing mascaras.  But the definition and separation this stuff gives is excellent.  It has a flexible wand, which I don’t love, though I know that’s a popular feature right now.  The bristles are the same as They’re Real Mascara, which is one of my favorite mascara brushes of all time, since you can use the spiky ball on the end to really fan out corner lashes.

And here it is underneath Covergirl Clump Crusher!  HOLY COW!!!


Like I said, I alread have long lashes,  but this result is kind of INSANE.

And with my eyes open…


The great thing about this product is that UNLIKE They’re Real mascara, this stuff is easy to remove!  I was able to easily take this off (including the extra coat of Covergirl) with nothing but Simple Micellar Water on a cotton pad.  I had stopped buying They’re Real because taking it off at night was a pain in the ass!

Lash primers are a luxury “extra” that I never spend money on, but this product is making me reconsider.  If I’m buying this at $24, and Covergirl at $6, then how is that different than a $30 Dior mascara?  THAT, my friends, is your introduction to “Rachel logic!”

Do you ever use a lash primer?

Makeup of the Day 

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Kristin and I have been absent from the blog for a bit, having been victims of Stupid Life Stuff, but I have a couple of posts lined up that I am pretty excited about!  First up, a quick post about today’s look – a casual fall look featuring warm colors. 

  
MAKEUP:

FACE:  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer on T-Zone, Rimmel Lasting Finish foubdation in Light Porcelain, MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10 to spot conceal, no powder, NYX HD powder blush in Taupe to contour, Benefit Dandelion Blush, MAC Lightscapade Mineralized Skinfinish to highlight

EYES:  Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Vanilla shadow to highlight, INSPR eyeshadow in Carnival, Urban Decay Black Velvet 24/7 Liner, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Ebony with mini brow brush

LIPS:  NYX Nude Pink Lip Liner and Rimmel Kate Moss matte lipstick in 105

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I love this fall look because it’s warm, but still neutral enough that I can pull it off with my cool toned skin and hair.

What are you wearing this fall? 

Makeup of the Day – I Dyed My Hair! 

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So, this happened…

  
I dyed my hair black!  Ok, when your hair is already dark brown, it’s not a huge stretch, but it’s so glossy and neutral toned now!  This is the Pravana 1N Black in Chromasilk used with the Zero Lift Developer.  I’m in love.  

Luckily, I was able to switch my brow color from the light color of the Anstasia Brow Duo in Ebony, to the dark side.  Handy!  Since this is a demi-permanent hair color, if it fades, I can go back to the lighter brow color.  I Love the Anastasia Brow Powder Duo for its versatility! 

Also featured:  MAC Smoke and Mirrors eyeshadow palette, Benefit Dandelion Blush, MAC Lightscapade highlighter, MAC Soar lip liner and Brave lipstick.  The rest is my usual stuff!  

Makeup of the Day – with Guerlain Meteorites

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You guys.  I really need to get out the Guerlain Meteorites more often, right?  I look like I used a beauty filter on my camera or something…except I didn’t!  

  
What I used:

Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer (this sadly was too rich for my combination skin), MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain around the nose and to spot conceal, MAC Invisible Set Powder to set concealer, NYX HD blush in Taupe to Contour, Smashbox Baby Pink blush (Wondervision Mega Palette), Guerlain Meteorites in Clair all over to brighten, MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Lightscapade on cheekbones

EYES:  Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in Ebony (light side) with angled brush set with ELF Clear Brow Gel, Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone, Smashbox shadows in Beige, Fawn, and Blue (Wondervision Mega Palette), L’Oreal Infallible Gel Liner in Black with MAC 210 Precise Liner Brush, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

LIPS:  NARS Rikugien satin lip pencil (Sephora 2015 birthday gift)

What are you wearing today?