Sonia Kashuk Knockout Beauty Collection nail polish – Roll With The Punches 

So…sweet and true, sometimes my hubby brings me nail polishes as a token of his affection and because he understands my love of color and all things beauty.  (You can all roll your eyes and go “oh, gross!” now.  LOL, I know.). This week, he brought me a bottle from the Sonia Kashuk “Knockout Beauty Collection” because the artwork looked “badass” and “look at this freaking color.”  Well, I have to agree! 

  
Look at that freaking color! No retouching here (honestly, I never retouch swatch photos).  This color’s BRIGHT, y’all.  And it’s completely overcast today!  

This lovely polish is available at Target now for $5.00. 

I’m wearing this with Barielle protein treatment and I did 3 coats of the Sonia Kashuk laquer to get the most saturated color, but I could have gotten by with 2.  I topped it off with Poshè top coat for a super glossy 3-free manicure.  

What’s on your nails? 

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Get up, dress up, and show up 

So, I have been sick all week!  However, the NC primary was Tuesday.  I felt like I had to do my duty and vote no matter what, so I spritzed some Alterna dry shampoo and put on some slap!  Here’s my “I have to go adult” face:

  
But hey, Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadows, amirite?  

We’ll be back at the blogging momentarily! 

NYX Wonder Pencil First Impression

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 – Spring Brights

Ok, let’s face it.  Here in the mountains, it’s definitely still winter at the beginning of March.  But it’s in the 70s today and everyone is outside going spring crazy.  (Unfortunately, we’ll get at LEAST one more snow when nobody expects it!) I simply could not resist getting out some bright makeup since it’s so sunny out. 

  
The stars of my look today are Sephora Countour waterproof eyeliner in Summer Cruise, MAC Pink Swoon blush, and MAC Girl About Town Amplified Creme Lipstick.

What are you wearing today? 

NYX Ombre Blush Review – Mauve Me

When I fist saw the NYX Ombre Blushes, I got pretty excited!  My first thought was that these may be an affordable version of an earlier limited edition MAC offering. 

From the NYX website:

“Treat your cheeks to a radiant flush of color with our Ombré Blush, a new gradient blush inspired by the ombré trend. This must-have formula features two silky colors blended into one perfectly coordinated shade combo. (It’s like they were meant for each other.)”

My excitement turned to doubt when I saw the INTENSE color selection.  I have incredibly fair skin and realized that most of the shades were going to be “too rich for my blood.”  One shade stood out as a possibility that might work for me, though, and that was “Mauve Me.”  I thought, “Well, at $10 for an enormous blush, let’s give it a shot,” and ordered it from Ulta.  I’m SO glad I did, because this particular shade of mauve is my jam!  Check it out:

  
I love that ombre fade!  There’s a nice mirror inside, as well. 

  
The compact is nice and sleek.  

Here’s how it looks on my skin (around a MAC NW10, for reference):

  
(Worn with MAC “Syrup” lipstick.)

  
(Worn with Kat Von D “Lovecraft” lipstick.)

I have been using my MAC 116 blush brush and sweeping from the light color into the deep color in the pan, then applying the blush in a swirling motion on my cheeks.  The color is a lovely satin (very lightly shimmery, NOT frosty yet not matte), a healthy glowy type finish that I tend to get from MAC Mineralize blushes.  Not bad!  I’m not wearing any highlighter in this photo.  

NYX Ombre Blushes come in 8 shades and retail for $10.00 USD.  Have you tried them? 

Nuxe Reve de Miel – EMPTY!

I have quite a bit of blogging to catch up on, but before I get to reviewing my latest finds, I just want to say A) this is the richest, creamiest, most luxurious lip balm known to man and B), I use this every day (day and night) and it STILL took me around 4 months to use this up!  BEHOLD:

  
This pot shall be repurposed for DIY sugar lip scrub!

Of course, I had a backup waiting.  🙂

  
What’s your favorite lip treatment? 

Makeup of the Day

  
I bet you didn’t know my hair was this long. I’ve had it short since 2001, the longest it ever gets is about this length. When I dyed it recently, I couldn’t get all of the black out, but due to some stroke of luck I got enough out that it dyes burgundy when I hit it with the fuchsia dye I use (SpecialFX Virgin Rose).

Eyes: Stila eyeshadows in Porcelain, Coffee and Bronze, Rimmel Soft Kohl eyeliner in Stormy Grey, City Color Be Bold mascara in Black

Lips: MAC lipliner in Spice, NYX lipstick in Thalia

Face: Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Mattifying Powder in Pedestal

Fragrance: Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs “Nemesis”

Makeup of the Day

  
I went out to see one of my fave bands tonight so I got a dressed up.

Eyes: Urban Decay eyeshadows in Kinky, Mushroom, Asphalt and Blackout, NYX grey pencil eyeliner, Urban Decay Perversion mascara

Lips: Rimmel Provocalips lip paint in Little Minx

Face:  MAC StudioFix powder NW10

Fragrance: Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs Voodoo

  
Then, I met their lead singer and fangirled him about his day job. Like one does.

Makeup of the Day

  
Eyeshadows: NYX eyeshadows in Rock, Lime Juice and Bright Green, MAC eyeshadow in Nylon, NYX glitter eyeliner in Green, (name has rubbed off) sparkly liquid eyeliner in Green, Almay liquid eyeliner in Black, Urban Decay Perversion mascara; eyebrows are Rimmel Provocalips lip paint in Little Minx (yup, for my eyebrows)

Lips: Covergirl Outlast lip paint in Moonlight Mauve

Fragrance: Dolce & Gabanna Pour Femme

I’m not going anywhere. In fact, I’m in my pajamas! I just felt like playing around.