Makeup of the Day – Urban Decay Vice 4 Look

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Rachel

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?

NYX Simply Lip Cream Sets

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Rachel

Sometimes you just want a bold lip, but you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg! I had seen the NYX Simply Vamp Lip Creams, but didn’t pull the trigger on these beauties until I saw the sets at Ulta. These retail individually for around $6.49, but the holiday sets are $5.99 for 3 shades. Each set also has a shade of the Simply Red Lip Creams and one set has one of the Simply Nude shades. I also grabbed a Soft Matte Lip Cream in the cult favorite shade “Transylvania.” Seven shades for under $20? OK!

Set 1: Simply Red “Leading Lady,” Simply Vamp “Temptress,” and Simply Vamp “She Devil.” Set 2: Simply Nude “Fairest,” Simply Red “Marachino,” and Simply Vamp “Bewitching.” Laying across the top of the boxes but hard to see, the dark vampy wine plum shade of Soft Matte Lip Cream “Transylvania.”

These pencils are in a plastic casing and do not need to be sharpened. They roll up by twisting the base. Fabulous – no wasted product! They are creamy and not drying, as far as I can tell – I have just worn one shade, Bewitching. It dried down to a satin matte that wears for many hours, though it did transfer onto my coffee mug when I drank. That’s ok…we are all used to my “marked mugs” around here!

What do you think? This is NYX Simply Vamp in “Bewitching.”

Do you ever rock a vampy lip?

Benefit They’re Real Tinted Lash Primer Review

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Rachel

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?

Bold lips with Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Mercy

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Rachel

I recently found myself really lusting for a Kat Von D Studded Kiss lipstick. I had a credit after returning something to Sephora. I still really couldn’t justify the price unless I found a shade unlike anything I already owned, yet something I would wear all the time (so not black or green, though I am still looking at those!), so I settled on this unique shade called Mercy. Mercy is described as a “romantic garnet berry;” however what makes this really unique is that it is somehow matte and metallic at the same time. It still manages to have a creamy and comfortable formula, unlike the unfortunate experience I had with a similar shade I had from the old Foiled Love line called “Oh My Goth.” Oh My Goth was dry and dragged on the lips and had uneven pigment. This lipstick is smooth and manages to be everything that one should have been – I’m in LOVE!

Look at this beautiful packaging. Kat says she designed it to look like her favorite studded wrist cuff.

The logo is stamped into the lipstick bullet.

This is a beautiful wine garnet shade! If you aren’t pale as a ghost, this will not seem quite as dark.

Pardon the damp hair! Hubby’s napping and I don’t want to get out the noisy blow dryer.

Do you have any new makeup favorites?

Nuxe Réve de Miel lip balm – HOLY GRAIL STATUS!

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Rachel

You guys, I’m a bargain shopper. I hunt down deals like it’s my job. I hate paying full price for anything and I love finding inexpensive, high quality items that get things done, or expensive items on mega clearance. That’s why for years when I saw bloggers rave about this $20 lip balm, I rolled my eyes and figured this was just another item that gained cult status because it seems luxurious and special as it’s imported from France.

I was wrong.

It’s fall in the mountains. My electric heat is murdering my skin. My lips looked something off the set of The Walking Dead. All the amazing matte lipsticks I had finally been able to wear (improved creamy formulas like Maybelline Creamy Matte) suddenly were doing awful things to my lips. I tried Eos (meh), Jack Black (fairly ok), Malin + Goetz (decent), and hourly slatherings of Aquaphor, including before bed. I made sure my Sensodyne toothpaste was SLS free (it is). I drank a ton of water.

When the cracking and peeling turned to flat out bleeding into my mouth, $20 started to sound not so bad. I mentioned the product to my husband, who works at Target, where they carry it in the import section. Then I was like…”nah, I seriously cannot pay that much for lip balm!” And then he came home with it the next day because he knew I was miserable. (Did I mention he’s a keeper? I gave him many “fancy imported kisses” yesterday!). The product is actually $19.00 at Target and double the size of most balms, at half an ounce, so that took some sting out of the price.

Nuxe Rève de Miel is not like any lip balm I’ve ever tried. In the jar, it has this lovely creamy honey look. It feels a bit stiff to the touch, but the magic happens when you warm the formula up. That’s when the mix of beeswax, honey, and oils warms up and…what is this? It actually penetrates into the lips to plump and hydrate them instead of just sitting on top of them! Aquaphor and Vaseline are good for protecting, but this actually penetrates and that’s when the healing really takes place. What’s so great about this is it lasts and lasts…hours later, even after drinking and eating, it’s still there. I put it on before bed…still on 8 hours later! Crazy! And the fragrance is so light and delicate…like grapefruit and honey. I’m extremely sensitive to smells because of migraines and this light and natural scent is delightful. It doesn’t linger for too long, either.

The most interesting thing about this treatment is that it has a matte finish, making it a good choice for men, as well, who need protection from the elements and don’t want glossy lips (FYI, the Jack Black balm is also matte). The awesome thing about this matte finish is that if you use it sparingly, it makes a great base under lipstick without changing the color or finish of the lipstick. Just try that over Aquaphor – you’ll end up a greasy mess!

At about 24 hours, the area of my bottom lip that has been jacked up for two weeks is finally healing. I’d say by tomorrow, my lips should be golden. This is staying in my winter dry skin arsenal along with my humidifier and Nivea cream. Yeah…it’s that dry here!

Nuxe Rève de Miel…I will find a place in my budget for you! And bloggers…sorry I mocked your fancy $20 lip balm. I admit it, YOU WERE RIGHT. 😀

So, how do you care for your skin in the winter?

Makeup of the Day

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Rachel

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

**********

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?

Transition to fall makeup with MAC Rebel Lipstick

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Rachel

When the weather starts to change, I start to change up my makeup a bit. I start to wear more dramatic lip colors and often reach for plums, berries, burgundies, and wines. MAC Rebel is a lipstick in their permanent collection that is perfect for when the days just start getting shorter and the leaves are just starting to drop.

MAKEUP BREAKDOWN:

Face: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer on t-zone (this is an experiment to see if this behaves badly with my foundation, which is water based), MAC Face and Body Foundation (2/3 N1 mixed with 1/3 White), NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain around nose and under eyes (I am now rationing my NARS concealer, ha!), MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC15 on random pigmented spots, face set with Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and a puff to set and mattify, NYX HD Blush in Taupe to contour, MAC Mineralized Blush in Gentle, no highlight needed with dewy foundation and shimmery blush.

EYES: Urban Decay Primer Potion, MAC eye shadows in Shroom and Satin Taupe, L’Oreal Super Slim liquid liner black, Cover Girl Clump Crusher mascara black (I could not use Too Faced Better Than Sex for another day….ugh…more on that later), It Cosmetics Brow Power pencil

LIPS: NYX Lip Liner in Deep Purple, MAC lipstick in Rebel

WOW this lighting washes me out. We got new light bulbs. Not sure I’m a fan!

Makeup of the day – Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Rachel

So, I needed to replace my Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow that I use as a base, so I made a small Sephora order and got my double points and this adorable Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick mini in Lovecraft. First of all…that name. HELLO. I love Lovecraft’s writing and the Cthululu mythos, so this is one of the coolest makeup names ever. Plus, look at the studded tube:

How cute is that?

The color is a muted, warm rose mauve, basically one of those colors that looks amazing on my cool toned fair skin. It’s also really, really matte. I have heard that some of the mattes in this line apply patchy or are too dry, but this one applies nicely and feels comfortable to me!

I have it on here with MAC Soar lip liner – perfect match!

Have you tried any Kat Von D products? So far, I have loved everything I have tried from the line.

Makeup of the Day – I Dyed My Hair!

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Rachel

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

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Rachel

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)