NYX and Stila Eyeshadow Swatches

Posted on by
Reply

  
This is the Stila “Eye for Color” eyeshadow palette. It has 13 eyeshadows in it – a light and dark of six colors, plus a shimmery black.

  
They seem to overall be well pigmented, which is great! The Petal Pink color is pigmented as well, but it is very light and so is my skin. 😜

Top (L to R): Petal pink, burgundy, bronze, coffee, moss, green

Bottom (L to R): Blue green, navy, lilac, orchid, porcelain, bisque, black

  
There are the three NYX eyeshadows Rachel sent me — good god look at how richly pigmented these are! Wow. And go on silky smooth… I think I’ll have to do eyeshadow with these tomorrow.

Swatches (L to R): Rock, Bright Green, Lime Juice

Well COLOR me excited to try these out.

See what I did there?

Color?

Lol. 

Mail Call

Posted on by
1

  
So, Rachel is obviously my #1 hooker, so when she decided to sell some gorgeous, like-new Fluevog sandals for a damn thrift-store price, I bought them. Because that’s what friends do. They’re the Friends Mae sandal with that cute kitten/wedge heel! Many people seem to have complaints about the strap being too tight, but they fit me like they were made for me.

  
But since she’s my #1 hooker, she also sent me a bunch of makeup, because that’s what friends do. I’m always in love with green eyeshadow, but when I have fuchsia/pink hair, I love it even more because they go so well together.

Here’s the bonus goodies, modeled by my cat Fëanor who refused to not be in the picture.

These are basically all shades I love (besides the greens, I’m loving some of those bronzey brown colors in the stila palette), so I’m sure I’ll have to search them all and make a post… Coming soon!

Thanks for the makeup, ‘ho!

Books and Shoes

Posted on by
Reply

  
As if I wasn’t enough of a nerd, I store my two favorite collections (my Fluevogs and my amassed J. R. R. Tolkien reference library) in the same place. 

THE BOOKS

  

Left to right:

The Silmarillion (hardback)

The Silmarillion (trade paperback)

The History of Middle Earth vol. I-XII:

  1.  The Book of Lost Tales 1
  2. The Book of Lost Tales 2
  3. The Lays of Beleriand
  4. The Shaping of Middle Earth
  5. The Long Road and Other Writings
  6. The Return of the Shadow
  7. The Treason of Isengard
  8. The War of the Ring
  9. Sauron Defeated
  10. Morgoth’s Ring
  11. The War of the Jewels
  12. The Peoples of Middle Earth

The Children of Húrin (hardback)

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings

Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle Earth

The Lord of the Rings (leather-cover)

The Silmarillion (paperback)

The Tolkien Reader (Ballantine Books compilation, 1st edition 1966) – it’s not worth anything but it was a cool thrift-shop find!

The Complete Tolkien Companion  (by J. E. A. Tyler)

…not that I’m a nerd or anything. I also own a couple of LotR related art books, including one that is an atlas, but I packed them away “to be safe” when I moved up to Seattle from California and still have some boxes which have not been unpacked – and I moved in 2012.

Let’s move on to the fashion-y part!

THE SHOES

  

I have a Fluevog “problem.” At this point I’ve managed to replace most of my other shoes with Fluevogs, because I’d rather own fewer shoes of higher quality than more that will fall apart. But now I have more Fluevogs than I had regular shoes… And I neeeeeeeed mooooooooore. I buy them pre-owned on the cheap and on sale – I don’t have the money to purchase new.

Left to right:

  • Friends Mae
  • Derby Swirl
  • Yunnan
  • Zaza
  • Hi Vanny
  • Moon
  • Vera Ellen
  • Angel Bill
  • Arabella (worn)

You can’t see my Defender boots in this picture because I wrecked them at Burning Man and I haven’t had a chance to clean and condition.

What’s on your nails? Ombre Black and Red 

Posted on by
Reply

In the wintertime, I often start to get a little stir crazy.  That’s when I start to do more craft projects, coloring/drawing, and get into doing more nail art.  Hey, why not?  It’s not like I’m going to go run around in the single digit temps outside!  Here’s my latest mani – a red to black ombre done with Zoya Janele (red), Revlon Vixen (dark blood red), and Zoya Willa (black).  I used a damp sponge wedge to do the sponge paint method and topped it off with a coat of Poshè for a great 3-free home mani that looks pretty cool!

   

 

What’s on your nails?  

Miraculous Indeed

Posted on by
Reply

  
Hey, Kristin here! I know I’ve blogged about Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish before (spoiler alert: it’s the shit) but I’m super impressed by my current manicure Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish in “Combustealble” (which is an awkward and stupid color name). My nails are completely wrecked because I had acrylics removed, but you’d never know it!

The whole “system” is a color coat and a clear coat which basically cure like a faux gel mani, but I like to hit it with Seche Vite on top of the clear coat. It makes it shinier and dries it fast so that my clumsy ass doesn’t ruin a perfectly good manicure.

So basically posting about this same product and color again because I’m stoked about my nails. 💅✨💖

Drugstore Makeup for Pale Skin!

Posted on by
3

Hallooooo!  If you have truly pale skin (and no, I don’t mean the drug store’s orangey-beige version of “Ivory”), you have probably done countless online searches trying to come up with foundation, concealer, and powder options, both high end and drug store.  Drug store options seem to be the most impossible, but after loads of searching, I’ve found a few options.  Actually, my entire face today is drugstore, and I’ll post a list of what I’m wearing below! 

For reference, in MAC terms, I would be around an N10, shade wise.  I usually settle for NW10 since I lean more cool, but honestly I would prefer a perfectly neutral base.  Studio Fix Fluid in NW10 works fine for me.  Cover FX does have an N10 shade that is fairly perfect for me, but both these lines are pretty pricey and I wanted another option!

What I have on today is Rimmel Match Perfection in 010 Light Porcelain.  Unfortunately, if you’re in the United Stares, you’ll have to order this shade online, as it’s only available in the UK.  American Match Perfection starts at an ivory shade that is rather dark and super pink!  The Light Porcelain is beautifully neutral.  This is a sheer to medium buildable foundation with a satin finish.  This shade is also available in the UK in a few other formulas such as Lasting Finish, which is a heavier coverage, but sadly breaks me out.  I have no issues with this one.  I got this on Amazon for around $10 USD. 

The concealer I’ve used today is a new one to me and I’m praying it won’t break me out, because it looks pretty nice!  This is NYX Gotcha Covered in Ivory.  I saw a Youtuber say this was “really light” and had to try it for $6 USD.  It’s a full coverage cream concealer in a tube.  What a I like about this for under eyes is it has a bit of a peachy-salmon tone, great for correcting dark circles!  I’ve yet to determine if this creases or causes breakouts, so watch this space.  I set this with powder immediately today and it looked bomb.  Which brings me to…

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Powder in Translucent 100!  This is a wonderful, finely milled pressed powder that mattifies oil and sets foundation like nobodies business.  Don’t let the white color fool you – this is basically invisible on the skin, at least if you’re fair like me!  It has a nice sponge and a mirror so it’s good on the go.  Don’t want to shell out for MAC Blot?  Don’t have to!  This product is around $6 at the drug store. 

Here’s my finished look.  You like? 

  
I also have on Wet N Wild’s Comfort Zone palette and I used Rimmel’s “Tower of Mauve” lipstick on the lips and as a cream blush!

Do you have any drug store favorites? 

No longer AFK

Posted on by
2

  
Hey everyone! Kristin here. While I was gone, I dyed my hair pink and got a tattoo. I am no longer gone so the Kristin-related updates (including a retrospective of what I’ve been doing) will resume soon. But here are my two favorite things I’ve done while I was gone. 😀

Right picture:

Hair: Special FX “Virgin Rose.” I do it myself, including cutting it, lately.

Eyes: MAC eyeshadows in Vex and Satin Taupe, Almay liquid eyeliner, Urban Decay Perversion mascara.

Lips: MAC lipstick in Fusion Pink

Left picture, or: Regarding my tattoo:

It is written Quenya, a dialect of JRR Tolkien’s elvish. It is a quote (part of a longer passage) from The Silmarillion, which is my favorite book. 

It says, in Quenya: “I cardar yar caruvalmë nauvar i tama lindíva.”

In English: “The deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song.”

Soooooooooo I’m back, hello!

Makeup Of The Day – Berries 

Posted on by
Reply

Sometimes I don’t feel like going full tilt with the dramatic makeup, but yet I don’t feel like doing a 100% nude/natural look either.  Usually on these in between days I will go for a middle toned blush and lipstick color like a nice rich berry that isn’t too dark or deep.  MAC’s Amplified Cream Lipstick in Craving is perfect on these days and is also nicely hydrating on these cold winter days.

  
Darn this winter light situation…

Anyway, then I put my nose ring back in and made my nose really, really mad.  Probably should have done this before makeup.

  

BREAKDOWN: 

FACE:   Smashbox Photo Finish Primer mixed with Cover FX Custom Cover Drops in N10 w Real Techniques sponge, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain under eyes, NYX Gotcha Covered Concealer in Ivory to spot conceal, MAC Set Powder in Invisible, NYX HD Blush in Taupe to contour, Kat Von D Shade + Light Blush in Gomez + Morticia (mixed), MAC Accentuate Sculpting Powder on high points of the face

EYES:  Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC shadows in Vanilla, Brule, Kid, Mystery, MAC Fluidline in Shade (this never picks up as green on camera, ugh), Benefit They’re Real Lash Primer, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, NYX Micro-Brow Pencil in Black (OMG this is great), ELF Clear Brow Gel

LIPS:  Jordana Lip Liner in Baby Berry, MAC Amplified Cream Lipstick in Craving 

Makeup of the day with NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen

Posted on by
Reply

Man, I should know that my lips are too dry in February for a liquid to matte lip color…but LOOK at this shade!  I mean really!  My lips are going to pay later and I’ll be slathering on the NUXE Réve de Miel lip balm to try and make up for it.  But….MATTE GOODNESS. 

  
BREAKDOWN:

FACE:  Cover FX Custom Cover Drops N10 with Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, MAC Set Powder in Invisible, NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC15 to spot conceal, Kat Von D Shade + Light Blush in Gomez + Morticia swirled together, ELF Mist and Set Spray 

EYES:  Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone, MAC Eyeshadows in Vanilla (highlight), Brule (lid), Kid (crease), Mystery (outer V), Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in Ebony, ELF Clear Brow Gel, Maybelline Master Precise black liquid liner pen, Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara black

LIPS: Skone Luxe Doubler Lip and Eye pencil in Wine, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen (very thin layer, very matte this way!) 

What are you wearing today? 

Makeup of the day – Urban Decay Spectrum palette jewel tones

Posted on by
Reply

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?