Category Archives: Eyes

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 – 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? 

Makeup of the Day 

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Going to keep this short since we’re about to make dinner!   Today, I paired Urban Decay Naked2 Basics eye shadows with La Femme blush in Flamingo Pink and Wet N Wild Fergie Creme Lipstick in Penthouse Sweet.


What are you wearing this weekend?

Makeup of the Day – Everything amazing gets discontinued 

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So, today I felt a little opalescent.  I got out my favorite moonstone jewelry and I used my MAC Vellum eyeshadow, which I’ve been hanging onto forever, because it’s been discontinued a long time.  It’s a gorgeous frosty white multichrome that flashes blue-purple-pink in the light when you move.  I’m wearing it today as a brow bone highlight.


It’s hard to see the reflections of color here, but if you move in the light…


Last night I was bummed out to read that I missed a re promote of this color that was limited edition – I didn’t even hear about it!  So, I started looking for dupes.  Apparently, Milani made a shadow that was similar called Moonlight – discontinued, nowhere to be found.  NYX made a single in the old square packaging called Opal that’s a pretty close dupe for Vellum – oh hey, they still have these on Amazon!  I grabbed one with my Prime membership, because yeah…this will also go the way of the dodo.  Makeup companies…WHY YOU DO DIS?!?  Stop taking away my preciouses.

The other product of amazing I have on today is Notoriously Morbid’s loose mineral highlighting powder on my cheekbones (or complete lack thereof) in “Osteomancy.”  Ok, seriously?  How cool is that name?  I got a sample of this that is so generous I won’t have to buy a container for a while, but when I run out?  I totally will!  This powder highlighter is a super fine shimmery white.  It’s so super ethereal and gorgeous.  And not subtle.  Heh!

BREAKDOWN:

FACE:  MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW10 with Sigma F82 brush, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly under eyes with Luxie Tapered Blending Brush, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain to spot conceal, MAC Set Powder in Invisible with MAC 134 Large Powder Brush, Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet with MAC 116 Blush Brush, Notoriously Morbid Highlighter in Osteomancy with Sigma Tapered Face Brush, ELF Mist and Set spray

EYES:  Wet N Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Primer in For My Primas, MAC Mega Metals eyeshadows in Mating Call and Noir Plum (Noir Plum beneath eyes with MAC pencil brush as well), MAC eyeshadow in Vellum to highlight, It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal brow pencil, ELF Clear Brow Gel, L’Oreal Infallible Cream Liner in black with MAC 210 Precise Liner Brush, Dolce and Gabbanna Passion Eyes Mascara in black (on bottom lashes with Bdellium Tools Fan Brush)

LIPS: Maybelline Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Lilac Flush topped with L’oreal Extraordinaire by Color Riche Lip Color in Purple Prelude

FRAGRANCE: TokyoMilk Dark Tainted Love

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What are your go to products when you’re feeling glowy?

Makeup of the Day 

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I tried and tried to get the green in MAC “Shade” Fluidline to really show up in my pictures today, but it’s just really overcast!


Blurry in the bathroom…


Light from the front door is blown out on the chest, shaded on the face…better luck tomorrow for a sunny day, I hope!

MAKEUP BREAKDOWN:

FACE:  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (thanks for the sample, Ipsy), Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation mixed with L’Oreal Lumi Primer for some luminosity (applied with fingers because I was messy/lazy today), NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer under eyes also applied with fingers, no spot concealing on face (so lazy today), MAC Invisible Set Powder lightly dusted to set face, NYX HD Blush in Taupe for contour, Benefit Dandelion blush, MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish for highlight (I swear, you really can see this in person)

EYES:  Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone all over lid, MAC Vex on lower lid, MAC Satin Taupe in crease, MAC Vanilla to highlight, MAC Shade Fluidline with angled brush for eyeliner, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Ebony Brow Powder Duo (light side) with angled brush for brows set with ELF Clear Brow Gel

LIPS:  MAC Soar Pencil with MAC Brave Lipstick and Smashbox Radiant Lip Gloss

Goth Night!

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Last night was our local goth night!  I turned on my Spotify Joy Division radio station and had a blast doing this makeup look – too bad I had allergies the whole time and borked up my stupid eyeliner before I could even get done.  It was glorious…while it lasted.  😉

My amazing raven necklace is available on Etsy here.

MAKEUP

FACE:  Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer, MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NW10, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly under eyes, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain to spot conceal/around nose, face set with Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder in Translucent, contour with NYX HD Blush in Taupe, blush is NARS Sin, highlight is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

EYES:  Wet N Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Primer in For my Primas, MAC Vanilla shadow as brow bone highlight, MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in Cinderfella on lid with damp brush, Urban Decay Mushroom in crease with Cinderfella blended in, L’Oreal Infallible Gel Liner with MAC 210 liner brush, MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in Cinderfella patted on top, Ardell 110 lashes with Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ebony with ELF Clear Brow Gel (this eye look was all great until the itching and eye watering began…)

LIPS:  MAC Burgundy Lip Pencil with L’Oreal Endless Lipcolor in Sangria

SHOES

I even busted out some very special shoes, the John Fluevog Esoteric Temptations Odette!

KITTEH

And just for fun, here’s my kitty up on the table today where he’s not supposed to be, contemplating the consequences of eating my freshly cut roses from the garden.  Sorry this is blurry, but I grabbed this photo fast as I knew he was about to run!


Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Makeup of the Day 

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So, I feel off my makeup game today.  I decided I wanted to give MAC Chromaline in Rich Purple another try today, although the last few tries had me feeling this plum-purple cream liner just had too much red for me to pull it off.  I should have known better, because I’m having allergies today already.  Sure, it matches my shirt, but I don’t think it’s doing me any favors.


Yep…off day.  I also used my sample of MAC Strobe Cream under Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation, hoping it would make it look a little more satin and life like and less flat matte.  Well, it did at least a tad…but the color is still a bit too light or something and oh my GOD you guys…the fragrance of the Strobe Cream is not going away!  I did my makeup an hour ago.  No Bueno!  Yeah, I’ll stick to L’Oreal Lumi Primer, thanks.  :-/

At least my NYX lipstick in Hunk looks awesome.  Thanks, Ipsy!

Ok, here I am 5 hours later, at 9:00 pm.  I added Sephora Contour eyeliner pencil in Eccentric Diva, which is a blue purple, which I think looks a bit better.  However, I think I’ve gone from “satin glowy skin” to straight up shiny (hard to tell here since my house is dark).  Not sure how I’m going to like Strobe Cream in the summer (regardless of the scent).  I am just so…combination.  *gets out Blot Powder* I switched here to Wet N Wild Fergie lipstick in Ferguson Crest Cabernet.  This lipstick has such great staying power!


Ever have makeup off days?

$10 off every $50 you spend at MAC Online – perfect time for me to get a few brushes! 

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So, MAC Cosmetics just launched a new website redesign and they’re doing something they’re not at all known for – they have a coupon code going on for $10 off every $50 you spend, plus, you can chose from 3 free samples.  (Hey, with free shipping, why not make separate orders and try different samples?) I had just sold a few things on eBay and decided this was the time to replace the 210 super-extra-skinny eyeliner brush (Ok, I made up that name) and try 2 eyeshadow brushes I always wished I had – the 217 Blending Brush and the 239 Eye Shading Brush.  I picked a sample of Strobe Cream and got $10.00 off my order!


For many of you, these shadow brushes are already staples; however, I still feel I should do a review on these later.  Just feeling them in my hands, they are about 300,000 times softer than the Crown and Makeup Geek brushes I’ve been using – although we know that doesn’t necessarily mean better, so the proof will be in the test!

I had already used the 210 liner brush…for so many years, actually, that I killed it dead.  Welcome home, new 210.  Nobody makes a brush as skinny as you.  I shall never stray again!

Here’s the code!  It’s good until 11:59 on June 22.


What are your go to eye brushes?

Makeup of the Day

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Finally felt like wearing a little slap today!  Going to keep this short and just post a pic and a list of what I used.  Happy Monday!

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FACE:  Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in Porcelain with MAC 190 brush, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly under eyes, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain to spot conceal, Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder tapped on with MAC 134 brush to set, MAC Mineralize Blush in Gentle with MAC 116 blush brush, MAC Lightscapade as highlight with Sigma F25 tapered face brush, NYX HD Blush in Taupe as contour with MAC 168 angled contour brush, ELF Mist and Set sprayed lightly to make the whole look a tad less matte

EYES:  Wet N Wild Fergie eyeshadow primer, Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette (I seriously used about 6 colors?), L’Oreal Infallible Super Slim liquid liner, Anastasia Brow Powder in Ebony with Anastasia #7 brow brush, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara.  (I used about 6 different eye brushes, most are Sigma and MAC…no clue what all the numbers are but I shall point out that the Sigma pencil brush is awesome!)

LIPS:  NARS Rikugyen lip pencil (Sephora gives this pencil in the NARS duo for your birthday)

What are you wearing today?

My NYX Memorial Day Sale Goodies <3

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At the end of May, I posted about NYX’s annual Memorial Day sale.  I took this opportunity to grab a few things I had really been wanting, but had not yet trekked across town to Ulta to get (especially considering our Ulta is not always well stocked and it is 20 minutes away).  It took quite a while to get my order, because this is a huge sale and it takes a while each year for them to process that many orders – but the savings are worth the wait!  I got all this for a whopping $20.00 USD:

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NYX Wicked Lippie in 01 Betrayal, NYX Primal Colors pressed Pigment Hot Black, NYX HD Blush in Taupe, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain

Let’s take a look!  First up, the thing I’m most excited about, the HD Blush in Taupe.  I have been contouring for years with MAC’s Sculpt Powder in Bone Beige.  It is light and sheer enough for my porcelain skin, but it has a bit too much redness in it for my skin tone.  I make it work because it’s in a duo with a favorite highlighter (MAC Shape Powder in Emphasize).  I have been wanting to try a more taupe colored contouring product, though, because let’s face it…shadows are not brown.  I am pleased to say, this blush fits the bill for that purpose (there’s a photo at the end of this post of me wearing it.).  Plus, the compact is very slim and takes up very little room in my kit and has a cute bow on the the clasp:

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NYX HD Blush in Taupe

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Would you look at that?  It’s not orange!  Hallelujah and praise the makeup gods!

Next up, the product I’m almost as excited about, because pale concealers at drug store prices are a bit of a unicorn…the NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain:

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NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain

I’m also wearing this in the photo at the end of the post.  This is a great high coverage concealer that works wonderfully for concealing imperfections on the face.  It’s too thick and dry for using under my eyes; however, your mileage may vary.  I’m using NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for that.  The NYX HD Concealer shade Porcelain is a lovely pale shade with a slight pink undertone that works great with my MAC Studio Fix Fluid shade in NW10.  It’s a keeper!

Next up, NYX Primal Colors pressed pigment in Hot Black:

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NYX Primal Colors pressed pigment in Hot Black

When I went to use this product today, I used it as an eyeliner with an angled eyeliner brush.  It performed extremely well, but I did have some fallout as I was applying, getting some black powder on my cheeks.  I sometimes forget this is an issue with pigments, whether they are pressed or not.  I would say use this product where you do your eyes first, then the rest of your makeup.  The great thing is, this is blaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.  Like, black like my soul black (hahahaha!!!).  It works great as liner and you could also use it to set pencil or gel liner.  I have not tried it as eyeshadow yet, but hey, goth night is coming up…oh hey, maybe I’ll wear it to the Voltaire show tomorrow!  (I am wearing it as liner in the photo at the bottom of this post, blended with Urban Decay Mushroom eyeshadow.)

All in all, I have to say that while NYX can be a hit or miss brand for me, I love everything I got in this order.  (I am also wearing the Photo Loving Primer underneath my foundation today – a long time favorite!)  I am wearing the concealer, blush for contour, and black pigment here.  I like that the contour is subtle, but I can go heavier for an evening look if I want to.  The only thing I haven’t tried yet is the purple lipstick, but the photos I’ve seen online are (wait for it) Wicked.

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Also shown:  Urban Decay Smoked eyeshadow palette, MAC Azalea Blossom Blush Ombre, Maybelline Lilac Flush lipstick with L’Oreal Extraordinaire Lip Color in Purple Prelude

What are your favorite NYX Products?  Have you tried any of the new stuff for 2015?