Renewing My Subscription to Better Tombs and Graveyards

Folks, I apologize for dropping off the map for a while. I've been fighting off an illness, and it's left me an absolute zombie--and not the cute and cuddly kind from The Night Shift. More like that bicycle torso from The Walking Dead, but with less energy, so I just sort of lay around and flail for the remote control until Thomas takes pity on me and changes the channel to something either wedding or Disney-related. I'm a mess, y'all.

Anyhoo, I did find these today, which are sort of undead and Disney-related, so score!

Coasters based on the cemetery!
Photo Credit (This and All): Disney Parks Blog

Disney is releasing brand-new merchandise for The Haunted Mansion!! I have no idea about store dates or prices, but I already have a few favorites picked out for jazzing up my Halloween decorations. Then again, I have a skeleton in my closet and zombie masks on my wall, so I could probably just leave them out all year and no one would think me any more strange than normal...hmm...

Throw Pillow

Candleholders

So, who else is excited? Let me know in the comments.

Now I Need a Pink Bubble and a Wand: Urban Decay Glinda Palette Review

I caved. My love of all things Oz and Disney and Urban Decay proved too great to ignore (plus, I had a coupon code), and I broke down and bought the Glinda palette. And you know what? I have zero regrets. It's utterly amazing. I was so wrong to have not been excited, because these are some seriously gorgeous shadows with great versatility. Let's take a look:

The outer packaging is pretty...

...and inside you get a beautiful tin, Super Saturated Lip Color, and a get the look card (that I haven't used).

Here are the shadows. Clockwise from top left: Tornado, Aura (duo), Magic, South, Oz (duo), and Illusion. My swatches were abysmal, but you can find some fantastic ones here. There's not a dud in the group, and a few far exceeded my expectations.

Tornado: Similar to Urban Decay Freakshow. Deep purple shimmer with reddish undertone.

Aura (duo): Both halves feature a white base with reflective pigments that skew either pink or blue. The pink side is sheer, slightly chalky, and more difficult with work with, but lovely. The blue side is still sheer, but much more buttery, and leaves a blue glow wherever it's placed. Stunning!

Magic: One of my two favorites. This is a blue based medium pink with tons of golden shimmer. It's universally flattering and looks downright ethereal on the eye. I'm currently obsessed with it.

South: My other favorite. Medium taupe, loaded with silver micro-glitter. It has a finish similar to the urban Decay Stardust shadows, and just glistens.

Oz (duo): The gold side has an antique look and is chock-full of glitter. It's a glitter-bomb, honestly, and I've had difficulty wearing it. It's not as bad as, say, Midnight Cowboy, but it is a discoball. The silver side is phenomenal, though. It looks on your lid like it does in the pan, and has almost a wet-look finish. It's that metallic. Patted on like a dream, and is a slightly blue based true silver.

Illusion: Pale peach satin. It's not super exciting, but makes a nice "eraser" color on fair skin, and would be very pretty as a lid color on darker tones.

The included travel-size 24/7 Glide-On Pencil is in the color Rockstar, and is part of the permanent collection. It's a rich eggplant, and a welcome alternative to black.

This photo has not been blurred. It was not soft-focused. This is just what it looks like when you blend these shadows out. I know I already used the term "ethereal" to describe it, but that's the most apt adjective I've got. I used every single color in this look. Oz (silver) is all over the lid. Tornado is in the crease. I blended out the line between Tornado and Oz with Oz (gold), and then used Magic to blend out the crease. Illusion went from crease to brow, with Aura (pink) as a brow highlight. Aura (blue) is in the inner corner. South lines the lower lashline. Rockstar on upper lashline.

All in all, I'm ecstatic over this palette. There is fallout with most of the shadows--not as much as with the old formula, but a significant amount. If you wear these, do your foundation after your eyes. It'll make it easier to clean up.

Sorry about that lovely nose shot, but I couldn't get the cropping program to work. Yay! This is the lip color in Glinda. It's a peachy-pink nude, and reminds me a lot of the Lip Junkie shade Naked. The product is creamy, moisturizing, ridiculously glossy, and long-wearing. The gloss will wear off before the rest of the color, so bear that in mind. Personally, I have no complaints.

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. The fallout's a little irksome, but I can totally deal with it for all of these gorgeous colors!

Magic Bag O' Samples: Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm

Okay, so I finally caved and picked up the Urban Decay Glinda palette. I know, I know, I said that it didn't look that exciting, and I wasn't interested...but my love of all things Oz kicked in, and then Urban Decay sent a coupon, and one thing led to another, and...

*ahem*

Anyhoo, when my order arrived, it came with a deluxe sample of the new beauty balm, which I have been dying to try out. I adore the foundation, but generally use my Too Faced Beauty Balm for everyday makeup. It's pretty darn fantastic, but if this Urban Decay BB was anywhere near as awesome as the foundation, it might blow the Too Faced out of the water. So, Saturday morning, I decided to give it a shot.

It's not great.

Let's just break this down, shall we?

The Good
This leaves a really pretty finish. Your skin isn't shiny, but not quite matte, either. It's very similar to the finish you get from the foundation, which is a demi-matte. It's very natural, but just slightly more polished, and doesn't require powder to set. It comes in one "universal" shade that actually worked on my NW15, Casper-the-Friendly-Ghost-like skin. The product contains SPF 20, has a very light consistency, and feels weightless on the skin. You'll truly feel like you're wearing nothing.

The Bad
You'll also look like you're wearing nothing, and not in a good way. This provides absolutely zero coverage. I'll be honest; I'm genetically blessed in the skin department. Thanks to Mom and Dad, I have decent skin that doesn't require a whole lot of coverage. I do have a couple of dark spots that I'm lightening up, though, and a tiny bit of redness around my nose. This did zilch as far as evening skin tone. Not even that little bit of redness was covered. I ended up going to town with concealer to try to even everything out and fake a foundation so I could apply the rest of my makeup.

The Lowdown
This is not a beauty balm; certainly not according to Asian standards, and not even by the, admittedly more lenient, Western definition. This is, at best, a very, very, very lightly tinted moisturizer. Now, as far as skincare benefits go, I didn't notice any of the supposedly "immediate" effects, and I didn't use it long enough to find out if any of the long-term claims came to pass. It retails for $34, and is available at Sephora, Ulta, and the Urban Decay website.

Now, who would use this? I would say that if you have perfectly even skin, and just want something with a little SPF in it to toss on, this would do it...but so would sunscreen. You could use this under a foundation as a primer, I guess, but there are better out there that cost less. If you're looking for skincare benefits, a decent anti-aging moisturizer would do the same things, and you can find them at the drugstore.

I wanted to like this. Honestly, I wanted to love this. I just don't.

Final Verdict: 3 out of 10. If you can use this, you probably don't need it.

Out Darn Spot!: Garnier Dark Spot Corrector Progress

Happy Lundi Gras!!!! I'm actually going to be at the big party this year, so look for pics coming soon. Of course, it's also supposed to pour buckets during the parades, so those pictures might be of the inside of the local shop. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Quick update: I've now been using the Garnier Nutritioniste Dark Spot Correcting Peel and Daily Moisturizer for six weeks, and I can tell a difference. My dark spots are nowhere near gone, but they are lighter and easier to cover with concealer. I'm going to continue using these products and keep you posted on the progress. I got mine on a BOGO, so I only paid around $16 for the set. That's a heckuva lot cheaper than an in-office procedure, I'll tell you that.

Have a fantastic Monday, and I'll see you soon!

Vampires Need Skincare, Too: Josie Maran Haul and Overview

For a while, I've noticed that just about every Sephora "Favorites" kit has come with a Josie Maran Argan Color Stick, and I've been intrigued. Then, a couple of months ago, Thomas and I were in Sephora and he noticed the Josie Maran display.

Thomas: Is that the vampire chick from Van Helsing?
Me: What?
Thomas: On that sign over there--is that the vampire chick from Van Helsing? Does she do makeup now?
Me: No! That's Josie Maran. She's got a makeup company that does a lot of stuff with argan oil. It's supposed to be really good. She probably just looks like that girl from Van Helsing.
Thomas: I'm pretty sure that's the vampire chick.
Me: I doubt it, but you have IMDb on your phone. Look it up.

She is totally the vampire chick from Van Helsing. I'm not ashamed to admit that I freaking love that movie, so the fancy argan oil makeup instantly became exponentially cooler. That said, I've never been one to buy a product simply because it's hawked by someone I think is nifty. I decided to ask around to find out if any of my beauty junkie friends had tried the line (found some absolute devotees), and also watched Ms. Maran and her cosmetics in action on QVC. (In my defense, I'd just spent the night in the ER and was in no mood for daytime television. I also couldn't focus enough to read, so it was home shopping or staring at the wall.) All in all, what I could see of the line impressed me, and I decided to place an order for some products I felt were representative of the collection. Now, I'm here to share my thoughts on my "haul". Hopefully, some of you who have been interested in trying some of these products will find this helpful.

The first thing I had to try was the travel set of Argan Bear Naked Wipes. As you may have noticed, I do love a good facial cleansing wipe. Actually, pretty much anything in a wipe is tops in my book: lotion, sunscreen, Chlorox...I'm a sucker for a wipe. Anyhoo, here's the good and the bad:

The Good
To start with, a portion of each sale goes toward saving the polar bear. In fact, all of Josie Maran's products are cruelty free, and several items help fund charities. I'm a big fan of this, because it's not right to be pretty only on the outside. Inner beauty is far more important. Pretty is as pretty does, as my Mom and Grandma always said.

The wipes smell fresh and clean, and have a lovely dry texture. You don't feel like you're going to drip all over the place. They also leave your skin feeling very moisturized and silky. You can tell you've done something good to your face.

The Bad
They don't remove makeup worth a flip. Eventually, with enough scrubbing, you might see where your eyeshadow has moved around a bit, but these are not going to clean the makeup from your face.

The Bottom Line
I recommend these. Seriously. I recommend them not for makeup removal, but for touch ups on car or plane rides, and even trips to the beach; anytime you're going to be in a dry and dirty climate. These will remove dirt and oil (just not makeup), and leave your skin very moisturized (that argan oil is ah-maze-ing), without your having to bring along both a facial cleanser and a bottle of face cream. $6 for 8 wipes, or $12 for 30.

The rest of my order consisted of the Power of Argan Oil Skincare Collection--a four-piece set that includes a travel-sized cleanser, multi-use argan oil, argan color stick, and whipped argan oil body butter. Basically, it's a little bit of everything. I was planning to discuss stand-outs and disappointments...but I didn't have any disappointments. These are all fantastic products! Here's the lowdown on each one:

Argan Cleansing Oil
This removes makeup! Just pour a few drops in your hand and apply to your face. Let it sit for a few seconds to break up the makeup, rub in a bit, and rinse off. It's wonderful. Plus, it smells like oranges.

100% Pure Argan Oil
I really love this stuff. It's a complete multi-tasker! I've used it as a facial moisturizer, as an "in a pinch" undereye moisturizer, rubbed it on dry patches of skin, tamed frizzies, and repaired my cuticles. I haven't tried it on linoleum yet, but I bet it would shine up my floors. Awesomesauce.

Argan Color Stick in Love (Rose)
This made my January Favorites, and will probably make February's, too. It's a quick, blendable, natural blush with enough of a glow to make highlighter unnecessary. You can also use it on lips for a subtle flush. It's fairly long-lasting, but if you wanted to bring it along for touch-ups, the packaging is completely travel-friendly. There's pretty much nothing I don't adore about this cosmetic. It's gorgeous.

Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Be Loved (Jasmine)
This feels amazing and smells heavenly. Oddly, the butter has a very dry feel, but leaves your skin feeling super soft, with just the lightest sheen. Again, it's an amazing product. $28 for the entire set.

So, yeah, the vampire chick from Van Helsing has her line of makeup and skincare...and it's unbelievable. Now I understand why there's always a Josie Maran item in every Sephora Favorites kit, and why my friends are raving about the line. The prices for full-sized items are definitely high-end, but the travel-sized items are much more reasonable, and will last for a long while--long enough for you decide if the full-sized is worth the price tag. My advice: if you're on the fence over the argan oil fad, give the minis a chance to wow you. I'm glad I did.

Playing Cinderella at the Ball

I got all dolled up for the Mardi Gras, and since it's a rare occurrence for me to be this fancy, I thought I'd share it with you guys. I also thought it might be helpful to prom-goers, since I did this on a very tight budget, using stuff from the drugstore, along with some very popular higher-end items that a lot of you guys already have, or can either dupe or acquire on the cheap. If you want to skip this one, though, I'll understand.

*sniff*

Thomas took this picture of me after we got back, so so I'm super proud of my hair for not falling completely flat. It was close to midnight, and I was a little bleary (I'm a 10:00 pm bedtime kind of girl), but I actually squeezed into this dress and needed visual proof.

Again, this is end of the night makeup, but it proves that Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray is a freaking miracle product. I'll list products used at the end of the post, in case you're interested in recreating.

Here's a close-up of the eye makeup. It was created using a white base, then silver and navy cream shadows layered on top. Over that, I blended silver, blue, black, and muted purple shadows, and finished with a warm white highlighter at the tear duct and browbone. The coolest part, to me, anyway, is the crystal accent. These came as part of a set called Eye Rock, and I found it at Ulta for about $6.99. Technically, you're supposed to apply these as you would a temporary tattoo, and they come in pretty designs. I didn't want that much going on around my eye, so I just used a pair of tweezers to pick a couple off of the sticky backing (they come pre-glued), and applied them only where I wanted a little extra sparkle. They're not the easiest little suckers to work with, and I did lose a few along the way, but once they were on, they were on. They're also re-usable, if you want to save them and re-stick with a little spirit gum at a later date. (The original sticky back is a one-time-use kind of deal, just to be clear.) If you would like to see a real tutorial on this look, let me know in the comments.

My hair is long, damaged, and unruly. Think: Merida from Brave, but with fewer curls and more frizz. It does what it wants, when it wants, and I'm really beginning to think it's sentient. Anyhoo, to get through the night I decided, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and let it do it's own thing...with a little guidance.

I started by hot rolling my hair, using Bumble & Bumble Prep. This helps extend the life of the curl, but in a soft, touchable way. I wanted waves, not curls, and this helps achieve that look much better than hairspray can. Once the curls set, I took down the rollers and finger combed the curls to break them up. Then, I twisted two sections on the side where my hair is parted, pinning them to the back of my head. After that, I took the remaining length and divided it so that all of the hair on the non-twisted side would remain down, and the bit that was left on the twisted side was loosely twisted upward to meet the other twisted sections (good Lord, I hope that makes sense). I made a loose bun with the now twisted length, and used it to cover the pins I'd used on the first two twisted sections. I added a sparkly comb for interest. So, the left side of my head was all twisty, and the right side was completely down and curled. It's like a really fancy-schmancy side pony, without the ponytail holder. I used Aquage hairspray to finish.

So that's my glammed-up "Goin' to the Boom Boom" (as it's referred to around here. Because the parades are loud and have marching band drums throughout. I'm totally serious.) formal look. If you're getting ready for prom (or any other formal event) and want to DIY your hair and makeup, I hope this helped. The only thing I had to buy was a blue eyeshadow base and the crystals, so I only spent about $12 or $13 total. Here's that promised product list:

Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon Skin Base (from a past Glossybox--any non-mattifying primer will work)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation (Check out the Revlon Nearly Naked for a decent dupe)

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Electric Blue

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Spoon (Maybellline Color Tattoo in Silver Strike is almost identical)

Urban Decay Naked Palette (Gunmetal, Creep)

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Verve, Blackout)

MAC Apres Chic Eyeshadow in Fireside (any muted plum will work. You're only blending out the edges with it.)

MAC Apres Chic Eyeshadow in Ice (I really don't have a dupe for this one. Mixing a little peach and gold glitter into a shimmery white eyeshadow might be a good place to start, though.)

Buxom Insider Eyeliner in Onyx (liner--any black cream/gel pencil will work)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero (waterline)

Buxom Lash Mascara (or any black mascara that you like. Add false lashes, too, if you want!)

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette (E.L.F. Brow Kit works well, too)

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Tarte Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess (on cheeks)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface (on cheeks--you can get this and the bronzer in a travel set and save A LOT)

Benefit Hoola Bronzer (contour--look for a deluxe sample of this in the mini-kits Benefit is so fond of putting out. The sets run about $10-$15 and offer several products. A mini of this will last for-freaking-ever)

Eye Rock crystal tattoo (or rhinestones and spirit gum)

Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in London (or any matte baby pink)

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Rose Quartz

Victoria's Secret Color Drama Lipstick in Enamored

LORAC Perfectly Lit Pressed Powder in Spotlight (for highlighting contour. Try Hard Candy Baked Blush in Pin Up)

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier! Glam Mardi Gras Ball Nails

Tonight, Thomas and I are going to a Mardi Gras ball! I'll be working as a narrator for the tableaux, so I'm even more excited than usual. Normally, the local news anchors and radio personalities take on those roles, so It's a huge honor for little ol' me to get to do this. It's also a really nerve-wracking, because instead of throwing on a gown from a couple of years ago, hoping my hair only frizzes half as much as it normally does, and just trying to blend in with the crowd, I'm going to have a spotlight on me. Oh. Dear. God. No complaints, but I've had to kick "gettin' purty" into high gear.

I have an awesome dress that I hope to God I can squeeze into. It's not Spanx-friendly, so I'm on my own, and already formulating a backup plan. I have fake-baked, exfoliated, moisturized, exfoliated some more, face-masked, moisturized some more, and broken in my heels. Last night, I bit the bullet and did my mani-pedi. I'm never sure of the best time to do those. I chip my nails just thinking about chipping my nails. Anyhoo, I wanted something super glam with just a little bit of silver bling. My dress has silver and, well, it's Mardi Gras. You have to be just a little over-the-top. Here's what I came up with:

Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. I can not take a picture of my hand without my other hand shaking. I've even tried propping the camera up on something. I need a tripod. And a better camera. And talent.

The base coat is Femme Fatale by Ulta. Once that dried, I used LA Colors Art Deco silver glitter to draw on the half moon and fill it in. This is not easy to do, and can be very frustrating, so don't get discouraged. Just take your time and remember to breathe. Once that's dried, dot a holographic top coat (mine's discontinued, sadly, but here's a great option) on top of the silver for a little extra dimension. Finish with a clear topcoat.

That's my fancy-schmancy manicure for the fancy-schmancy ball tonight. Tomorrow, the coach turns back into a pumpkin, and the pumpkin into a...carpet cleaner, actually. I have Krampus tracks all over my living room. Glamorous, no?