The Perfect Palette!

Happy New Year!! To start things off on just the right foot, here's a tag that no one asked me to do!! YAY!!!

Actually, I read a blog that tagged all of its readers, so there you go. I thought this would be a really fun post to do in January, since it's, more or less, a look at what products we've all used and loved (or hated) over the past year. Some of my answers surprised me, while others were no-brainers. I hope you have fun with this post, and let me know if you agree or disagree with me in the comments.

And away we go!!!

Best Packaging
M.A.C. 2004 Limited Edition 6-Eyes Crystal Palette

Obviously, I can't still use this, since the shadows are a decade old and smell apalling. Still, this is, by far, the prettiest packaging of any palette I have owned, before or since. It's a small compact, about the size of a credit card, and the thickness of an E.L.F. Custom Color compact. The casing is lavender metal, with the MAC logo inlaid in rhinestones. Inside, a mirror takes up the top, and a decently usable brush rounds the bottom portion, where the shadows, themselves, are located. A velveteen sleeve was included, to protect the compact when not in use. I freaking love this thing. Currently, I'm trying to figure out how to remove the eyeshadows so, maybe, I can use the case for something else. Anything else. Heck, I might toss my business cards in it.

Best Color Payoff
Urban Decay Naked 1

These shadows are so saturated with pigment that they're almost difficult to apply, but they're definitely worth the extra effort! During the Summer, these bronze and gold shades are simply stunning.

Most Versatile
Urban Decay Naked 2
NARS Guy Bourdin Cheek Palette

This was a tie. For eyes, in my opinion, you can't beat Naked 2. The range easily goes from daytime casual to dramatic evening. Bootycall and Tease make for a simple, sophisticated nude eye, while Verve and Pistol are two of the most gorgeous silvery taupes. For an easy one-color eye, Snakebite is a go-to. Really, I can't say enough good about this palette.

That said, I've also found that my NARS blush palette has become a nearly irreplaceable staple. It contains four blush colors that range from neutral peachy-pink to what I can only describe as a hothouse rose. In addition, there's a sheer, yet buildable bronzer, and a universally-flattering, subtle highlighter. This was limited edition, but you may still be able to get your hands on one, and I definitely recommend it.

Best for Traveling
Stila Not So Nude

Toss in a tinted moisturizer, bronzer, and mascara, and this is really all you need for a weekend. The thin, booklet-esque palette opens to reveal a (not so useful, sadly) mirror on one side, and a plethora of products on the other. Six neutral shadows range from matte baby pink to shimmering deep grape. Below those, you find a natural-flush cream blush/shadow/lippie, as well as Stila's famous Kitten highlighter.

Biggest Regret
E.L.F. 22-Color

This was a bust, and I really hate that. There just isn't one single redeeming quality. The packaging is bulky and unattractive. The shadow colors are weak, kind of ugly, and don't really go well together. The lip colors are chalky, and the blushes are so tiny as to be unusable...I think you get the point. It's just a miss.

Best Color Names
Urban Decay Glinda

Tornado, Aura, Magic, Illusion, Oz, and South. If you're a Wizard of Oz fan, like myself, then you've probably already squeed a little over this palette. The colors are beyond gorgeous (have you seen South? Holy Moly!), but there's just something, erm, magical about putting Magic on your eyes.

Least Used
Too Faced Spun Sugar Glamour To Go

I should use this more. It's a really beautiful palette. The thing is, I bought this for travel, but the sugary nature of the shadows doesn't really lend itself to that. The shadows are lovely as toppers, but aren't very effective on their own. I do, however, use the gold highlighter on a regular basis. That thing is spectacular!

Most Used
Urban Decay Naked Basics

This is one that caused me to eat a little crow. When this palette came out, I didn't see the need for it. The colors looked boring and easily duped. Shortly after, I found myself with a gift card or discount or something (I don't remember what) that made the palette pretty much free, so I picked it up. I don't think I've put it down since. Foxy and W.O.S. are fantastic blending colors for my fair skin, and Naked 2 is the best crease color I've ever used. Hands down. Faint fills in my brows, and Crave makes a fabulous liner. I don't use Venus very much, but five out of six ain't bad. I finally took this out of my palette drawer and stuck it in my countertop organizer.

Most Loved
Urban Decay Naked 3

This probably isn't a fair category. I just got the Naked 3, and I'm sure part of my current obsession with it is due to it being the shiny new toy under the Christmas tree. That said, I don't see myself shelving it anytime soon. The rose-gold shades are perfect with my skintone, and the color range puts its versatility on par with the Naked 2. It's a truly remarkable product, and one that can picture using regularly for a very long time.

Desert Island
NYX Crimson Amulet

What? Not an Urban Decay palette? The heck, you say! Yeah, it surprised me, too. Still, were I stuck on an island (obviously, with other inhabitants and a well-stocked, comfy hotel) with no other makeup options, save for one palette and some sunscreen, this one would take care of everything. Decent shadows in an array of colors and finishes? Check! Several pretty blushes? Check! Glowy highlighter? Check! Lippies? Check! There was even a liner and eye primer included when I bought it, but those went the way of the dodo ages ago. This was another limited edition, but most of NYX's palettes are just as versatile, and they're all high-quality for a low price point.

Well, that does it for this tag, so now, I tag all of you! Go forth! Have a lovely new year, y'all.

December Favorites: "In Case of Apocalypse" Edition

I kid.

I know it's a little early for favorites, but I wanted to get these up, in case anyone was still last-minute shopping and needed a recommendation. Plus, I'm hoping to do a Best/Worst of 2012 at the end of the month, so let me know if you have any picks for the list. Here we go!

Eyes:
Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy 24/7 Shadow Pencil
Midnight Cowboy is such a gorgeous color, and that level of sparkle is perfect for the holidays (or everyday if you're me and just don't care about being "day appropriate"). Unfortunately, the fallout from the powder shadow leaves you looking akin to a disco ball. I don't mind a little sparkle on my cheeks, but when it starts hitting my clothes, it's time to pack it in. Luckily, Urban Decay has a stick cream form of the color, with every bit the sparkle--it just stays on your eyes and not your...well, everything else. Use it as a lid color, highlighter, or even a liner! At $20, it's a little pricey compared to the powder form, but if you really love Midnight Cowboy, you can consider the extra couple of dollars a convenience charge.

Buxom Stay-There Eye Shadow in Collie
Another super-glittery cream shadow is Buxom's Collie. The shade is described as "sparkling champagne", and has a mousse-like texture. Alone, it packs a glittering punch; on top of the Midnight Cowboy Shadow Pencil, the effect is staggeringly beautiful.

Lips:
Victoria's Secret Color Drama Lipstick in Enamored
I've been eyeing these lipsticks for a while, now, and finally used one of my Secret Rewards cards to pick one up. The packaging is adorable, and the color I chose was a sheer, glossy, shimmery rose. It looks like a gloss, feels like a balm, and is quickly becoming my favorite shade because it goes with almost everything. Want a smoky eye? This makes a great nude. Want a natural look? This is your-lips-only-better. Going glittery? Why, hello, there! It's not the most long-lasting lip color, but that just gives me the opporunity to pull out the pink chrome and black case to touch-up.

Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet
Look, by now, we all know that these things are amazing. All I'm saying here is that, if you want a deep berry lip that doesn't require a ton of maintenance, look no further. That is all.

Face:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude
I was not going to try this. It's expensive, and I love my Too Faced Beauty Balm. I didn't need to ever bother letting this into my life...and then I got a 500-point perk from Sephora and really wanted the highlighter in this kit. Well, the highlighter I could take or leave; the tinted moisturizer is fantastic. The coverage is actually pretty decent, the finish is silky and smooth, it doesn't break me out, and I can cover my entire face with a pea-sized amount. This will last for-freaking-ever. Luckily, it's very similar to my Too Faced, so I don't feel the need to purchase the full-size of this product. However, I am planning to get the travel size. Nude is about a shade darker than my natural skintone, so it will make a great Summer color, and the $19.50 price tag for the 1 oz. is a lot more wallet-friendly than buying a darker shade of the $32.00, 1.5 oz. Too Faced. (Ed. note: The travel-sized moisturizer is 1 oz. for $19.50. The full-sized is $43.00 for 1.5 oz. On what planet does that make sense? You could buy two travel-sized for $39, save $4 and get another half ounce of product. Granted, only two shades are available in travel-size, but if you can fit into one of those, you can save a lot of money. Just sayin'.)

Skin Care:
GlamGlow
Buy this on Amazon, from a trusted merchant (I bought it through Amazon proper, so no worries, there, and I got free shipping). You can get it for a less-than-insane price that way. In fact, go in with a friend or family member. Doing so, you split the cost, and get to have weekly hang-time with them. I went in with my dear Thomas, and we were able to pick up a full-sized jar for around $25 each. Yes, that's still crazy. Yes, it's totally worth it. It clears out your pores, helps rid your skin of blackheads, tightens things up a bit, and exfoliates like mad. My skin is now much more HD-ready (which is great, since we're filming right now!), and Thomas has had a lot less trouble with breakouts. Plus, for a few minutes each week, we get to sit around and look like goobers together. Ah, marriage!

Gilded Sugarplum: Holiday Eye Look Inspired by Zoya Daul

Yesterday, I posted about the new nail polish that is currently rocking my world. Well, today I decided that I just had to come up with an eye look to go with it. Here 'tis, folks:

I'm really loving this. It's rich and kind of mysterious, but there's nothing severe about it. There are no hard edges. It's not smoky, but it is kind of sexy. I think it would make for a nice date or holiday party look. Me? I wore it with a sweatshirt and jeans to work, because that's just how I roll.

Start by applying MAC Woodwinked all over the lid. Then, using a flat shader brush, place Urban Decay Freakshow in the outer corner, and work it across the outer third of the lid and all throughout the crease. Taking the same brush, apply the bright violet shade from Too Faced's Glamour to Go Dream Edition (or any bright violet, for that matter) over the Freakshow and blend out. Taking a small, flat liner brush, line the lower lash line with Freakshow, stopping as you pass the eyeball. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero from eyeball to outer corner, then just on the outer corner of the lower lash line. Using Benefit Sun Beam as a liner, line the lower lashline from inner corner to meet the Freakshow, then continue to outline the inner corner and color in the first third of your lid. Highlight the brow bone with the glittery ecru shade from the Too Faced GtG Dream Edition (or any sparkly bone shade). Apply Buxom Lash mascara top and bottom. Done!

I finished off this look with NARS Super Orgasm blush (gold sparklies!) and a sparkling golden rose lip gloss, which looked nice and kept the focus on my eyes. Of course, feel free to use whatever you want. It's your face, after all!

Have a lovely Thursday! It's almost the weekend!!!!!!!!!

Pour Some Sugar On Me: Too Faced Spun Sugar Glamour To Go Review

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I'm a church musician. My life is no longer my own. Folks, I haven't had time to swatch and photograph this palette properly, but I was so excited about it that I had to go ahead and post! I picked up the Too Faced Limited Edition Spun Sugar Glamour to Go during the Sephora V.I.B. sale, and I really want to share it with you. I think it would make a fantastic stocking stuffer for any makeup maven on your list--but especially the younger, teenaged set.




Photo Credit: Too Faced

 Now, if you don't like sparkle, stay away, 'cause there's not a matte shade in the bunch. When they called it spun sugar, they meant it. Everything is shimery and glittery, including the bronzer--but that has both pros and cons, and we'll get to them in just a bit.

As an all-encompassing palette, this doesn't work. It's not a full-face look, by any stretch of the imagination, and the fact that it's completely glitzy doesn't help matters. You're not going to toss this in your travel bag or purse and be glamourously good "to go". However, much like spun sugar, this makes a beautiful topping to your usual makeup routine. The shadow colors are all neutrals, and the bronzer and highlighter are very natural-looking shades, even if they are loaded with shimmer. The gloss can be worn alone or on top of another lip color, and is long-lasting and slightly sweet.

So, here's the good, the bad, and the ugly:

The Good:
This is the first Glamour To Go palette that seems to have honest-to-goodness quads. Past palettes have had coordinating shades, but these are clearly grouped into golds and silvers, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous. I'm also completely in love with the highlighter. It's crazy-sparkly, and makes me think of sugar cookies and snowflakes, but is an easy and grown-up way to get away with a little glitter, even during the day. It really lights up my face, and I adore it. The bronzer can be used to add a little flush to the face, or as a contour, as the shimmer is minimal compared to the rest of the palette. The gloss is an almost clear gold, and is packed with sparkle. Basically, all of the colors are fabulous, wintery, and wearable.

The packaging is another plus. Like all other Glamour To Go palettes, it's constructed of a durable hard plastic, and is about the size of a credit card holder. Unlike other Glamour To Go palettes, the face is a pretty gold. It looks beautiful in my makeup drawer. There's also a mirror that spans the length of the lid, and is pefectly functional for touch-ups. The $22 price makes this a great value, and just right for gift-giving.

The Bad:
The shadows. Unfortunately, as wonderful as Too Faced shadows normally are, the ones in the Glamour To Go palettes tend to pale by comparison. They're not terrible! Not by a long shot! But they're not nearly as great as the singles or duos. The pigmentation is a little lacking in some, and others are a bit chalky. As soon as I get a free moment, I'll swatch them and update the post. Again, they're not bad shadows--they're just not as good as I know they could be. I've used them for a few days with very little trouble. Here's how the golds look together:

Hey! I finally did my brows!

The Ugly:
Nothing. It's just a really good palette.

Earlier, I suggested this might make a nice gift for the teenager in your life. While a lovely palette, some with fine lines may find that the shimmer enhances them, and that's not necessarily flattering. Teens and younger folks tend to love the pretty-shinies, and can wear them more easily. Plus, the shades are perfect for those just beginning to wear to makeup, making this a terrific learning tool.

Final Verdict: 9 out of 10, and only because Too Faced can do, and has done, better shadows.

Theme Park Makeup, Part Trois

*Ed. Note: This is the third in a multi-part series. The first two can be found here and here. 

Well, we're still waiting on the still-tropical storm, and everything's closed, so I thought I'd post a quick "this would work on water rides" theme park look. I put it on to withstand torrential rains (in case I have to get out in it), so it should be able to handle Universal's Jurassic Park flume. You know, theoretically. Nothing is going to be totally waterproof, but maybe you won't have to run to the ladies' room, bypassing GO and $200, to wash off the raccoon eyes.

Oooh! It's so fuzzy I'm gonna die!!!!  This is the only snapshot I got before realizing the rain had started and the puppy was still playing outside. Seconds after this photo, I dropped the cell phone, and ran like heck to let in a dripping chihuahua, who proceeded to shake all over the living room, and run me all over the house to get his wet T-shirt off of him, then refused to let me put a dry one on him until after I'd let him pick it out first. Yes, he had to choose his own shirt. It has the Avengers logo on it. I'm proud.

Anyhoo, here's what I used:

Too Faced Beauty Balm
Benefit Boi-ing concealer
Benefit Creaseless Cream eye shadow in Sippin' 'n' Dippin' (lid and crease)
Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Rehab (crease and lower lash line)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (upper lash line)
WATERPROOF MASCARA--I still don't have one. I can't decide!!! Anyone have a favorite to recommend?
MAC Cream Color Base in Virgin Isle (applied to cheeks with Real Techniques stippling brush)
Benefit Watt's Up highlighter (brows, inner corners, and cheek bones)
E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium
Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart
Rimmel Stay Matte powder (just to set concealer and maybe T-zone, if you think you need it)

I used my fingers for everything but the blush, brows, and powder. This is, really, a very travel-friendly look. There are eleven products, but they're all very small, and I threw this look together in less than ten minutes. Honestly, I didn't time it, but it was probably more like five minutes. The most difficult part was deciding which products to use.

Now, you've probably noticed that all of these park looks have been neutral. Keep on the look-out for a very colorful post coming up soon!

In Case of Emergency: Profusion Spotlight Eye/Lip Palette

Back in October, I raved about Too Faced's Glamour To Go palette. I'm still absolutely in love with it, and it's taken up permanent residency in my purse. In fact, just this morning it saved me from going around with one eye only partially lined (it's been a long week). Plus, $22 is a fantastic deal for eight good-sized shadows, travel blush and bronzer, and a pretty lipgloss. The Dream Edition one that I have isn't available anymore, but the new one out is nearly identical. The shadow and gloss shades are slightly different, but still infinitely wearable. As I said, it's a great purse kit, and I feel a lot more secure knowing that I'm prepared for all contingencies. Need a quick gloss touch-up? Covered. Find out you're going out after work and have no time to change? Covered. Realize you highlighted your right eye, but not your left (not that I've ever done that...*whistles nonchalantly*)? Covered. Having a designated purse kit has been a real lifesaver.

However...(you totally knew that was coming) it's almost Summer. Maybe you're going on a beach vacay; maybe you have a penchant for leaving your purse in the car; maybe, just maybe, you're like me and live in the ninth cir--Deep South, where it's hotter 'n Hades. Whatever the situation may be, you might just not feel comfortable having high end makeup sitting in your purse where it can get lost, stolen, or just plain melt. In that case, I think I may have an alternative for you.

Profusion (remember my gushing about their 99-cent palettes?) has a lipgloss/eyeshadow travel kit now, available at Ulta for $3.99. You get six shadows, six glosses, mirror and travel brush, all in a super-cute silver and black polka-dotted package. It's about the size of a lipstick holder, and perfect for tossing in a purse. For comparison purposes, here it is next to the Too Faced (which slightly larger than a credit card):

The Profusion is a smidge smaller, but comparable. Here they are opened, for a better look:



And there's my armpit in the mirror. Classy.

 The Profusion is on the left, and the Too Faced on the right. Obviously, they're not the same products, but they are basically the same size.

Now, just to get them out of the way, here are my issues with the Profusion kit:
1) The brush sucks. Either side will do in a pinch, but you're better off carrying a small travel brush kit, which you'd need to do with the other kit, anyway.

2) There's not a blush or bronzer option. You're still getting a ton of product for four bucks, but, in my case, blush and bronzer tend to be what I need most from a purse palette. That said, you could toss this non-space-consuming blush/bronzer duo from E.L.F. in and have everything you need. It's $3, so you're still only up to $7, or roughly a third of the price of the Too Faced.

Okay, with that out of the way, here's why this thing rocks:

Are  you believing that pigmentation? Those are some gorgeous colors, and I love that they give you two neutrals, two brights, and two smokier colors. There is some glitter, but mostly just shimmer, and so far, I've not experienced any real fallout. Sure, a brown or a matte would have been nice, but for four bucks, I'm not complaining.

Again, check out the vibrancy of those colors, and how creamy they are! I ran out of fingers, so the deeper red isn't shown in the above picture. It's the only one that wasn't super creamy. It is shown in the swatches below.

Left to right: clear, pink, peachy beige, purple, orange-red, red

These are very good glosses. They're moisturizing, wear for a decent amount of time, and look beautiful on. 

I picked this up because I needed something little and cheap to hit a dollar amount for a gift with purchase. I had no idea I'd come to love it so much. I'm keeping my Too Faced in my purse, but this is going in my beach bag. 

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. If you see this, grab it. It's a Summer must-have.

P.S. There's also a pink kit available from Ulta with all berry-hued shades, but it's in-store only. Also, keep the plastic covers for the glosses and shadows. They fit snugly and will keep the products from mixing.

Dear Easter Bunny, I'd Like Psychic Abilities and a Tan



Photo Credit: Superdrug

 So...a couple of weeks back, if you remember, I posted about Too Faced's Beauty Balm. I said that it was awesome and I loved it, and that its price was really reasonable, especially when you took into consideration the fact that there wasn't a drugstore beauty balm on the market.

The next day, Garnier announced their new beauty balm. I kid thee not. Like to have spewed my coffee all over the television screen.

The nice people over at word-of-mouth marketing agency, BzzAgent, must have somehow psychically sensed my predicament, because my email immediately dinged with a campaign invitation. They sent me a full-size bottle to test, saving me the $12.99 I would have, otherwise, felt compelled to spend after telling all you lovely folks that such a thing didn't exist. I swear, I have got to invest in a crystal ball.

So, how does the drugstore brand fare? Well, let's break it down:

Packaging: The tube is nothing special. It's simple in style, but neat and clean, and a lovely pale bronze. I especially like the inverted, hygeinic design, and that it holds a generous 2.5 oz. 9 out of 10.

Application: I squeezed a little onto the back of my hand, and noticed right away that the balm had a very thick texture--almost as rich as my heavy-duty foundation-plus-primer formula. However, the product applied very smoothly with a foundation brush, sinking into the skin quickly. 10 out of 10.

Appearance: Now, this is where things get a little dicey. Shade aside, the balm's finish was sheer and slightly dewy, and very, very pretty. My skin looked clear and even, but not made up, which is perfect for Spring and Summer. There's even a hint of caffeine in the balm, which wakes up the skin for a subtle glow. The problem comes in when you take the shade into account: it didn't match. The shade I was given was "Light/Medium", and was about a shade too dark, and just a tinge too yellow for my fair skin. Unfortunately, my only other shade option in the Garnier line is "Medium/Deep", which would be entirely too dark for me. That's it. Two shades. If you fall somewhere in that limited spectrum, you could buy both and mix them together for a custom color, but if you fall on either outer end of the range, you're pretty much S.O.L. I'm hoping that over the course of the Summer, as I gain more color, I might eventually be able to wear this. We'll see. 6 out of 10.

Photo Credit: BzzAgent

Wear: I popped a little powder over the top, just to tone down the shine a bit. One mid-afternoon blotting and an early evening powder touch-up, and this looked beautiful all day. In other words, it performed as well as my much pricier luxury brand balm. That kind of hurts my soul... 9 out of 10.

Price: Okay, this depends on how you look at it. Yes, you do get 2.5 oz (one full ounce extra than my almost any other brand), but if you are not an exact match to one of the two shades available, you have to buy both shades to custom blend your own. And yes, each shade is considerably less expensive than any other brand on the market, but if you have to buy two...well, that eats into the savings, now doesn't it? 5 out of 10.

Final Verdict: 7.8 out of 10. The range of shades is beyond disappointing, but if you can wear it, there's not a better deal out there.

Frugal Friday: I Wanna Look Like Katniss!

Photo Credit: E.L.F. Cosmetics

Well, this sucks. I have absolutely no deals or discounts for you guys today. It's just a dead Friday, I guess. What I did find, though, that kind of fits into the "frugal" part of "Frugal Friday", is a Hunger Games makeup tutorial, courtesy of discount-makeup titan, E.L.F.

What I love about this tutorial is that, while it is based on a movie character, this is actually a really nice, wearable, "no-makeup" look. It's something that would easily fit in at a casual beach wedding, Saturday outlet shopping trip, or just relaxing outdoors. Nothing about this screams, "I love Hunger Games and want to be Katniss when I grow up!!!" It's just a nice, normal, carefree look.

Now, obviously, they used E.L.F. products exclusively, but you don't have to go that route. If you already have similar products in your kit, go with those. For example: I don't happen to own their brand of tinted moisturizer, but I do have a Too Faced Beauty Balm. In fact, I'm just going to go through their tutorial and add in the products I would recommend as dupes. That way, you can dig through your kits and see what you already have before placing any unnecessary online orders. I'll mark all my edits with ***. 

1. Start out by applying our Studio Tinted Moisturizer in the shade that best suites you.
***Any tinted moisturizer would work. Just go with what works best for you.

2. Contour the cheekbones, temples of the forehead, and sides of the nose with our Essentials Bronzer with Brush for that sun kissed look. 
***Benefit Hoola is great for contouring because of its matte finish. However, if you like a dewier look, try Too Faced Sun Bunny for a light shimmer. Sun Bunny is also fantastic on porcelain lasses, such as myself.

3. Highlight the center of the face with our Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in 'Luminance' for a lit from within glow.
***As far as highlighters go, I'm a fan of Too Faced Snow Bunny, but LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight is pretty darn wonderful, too. Honestly, though, I'm always wary of putting shimmer in my T-zone. If you want to try a different route, I'd suggest MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (in whatever color matches your skin tone) for a soft, airbrushed, matte finish that still makes you appear to glow. It's gorgeous.

4. Brush brows into place with our Eyebrow Treat & Tame.
***Clear mascara works well for this. I'm also a fan of E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit.

5. Line the eyes with a brown eyeliner and smudge with a Q-Tip or blending brush. Try our Brightening Eyeliner in Coffee.
***Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in Deep Brown is a staple in my kit. A dark brown shadow would work well, too, since you're smudging it anyway. Urban Decay Twice Baked has always worked well for me.

6. Coat lashes with a few swipes of waterproof brown mascara.
***It's not brown, but I love Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes for a natural look. If you really want brown, though, CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion is a really nice one, and inexpensive to boot.

7. Coat lips with a swipe of our Lip Balm SPF 15 in 'Clear'.
***Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Minty Lip Shine should be in everyone's kit. It's a basic, clear gloss with no shimmer, and the minty flavor helps freshen your breath. If you need a color, though (and I would), Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Balms are a great way to go, and Bora Bora (sheer cherry) would be my pick. A less expensive version (and one that stays in my purse at all times) is CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in Muscat. Both give you a pop of color that still looks natural.

I'm also going to suggest popping a little peachy blush on the cheeks (Benefit Coralista is a fave. There's no shimmer, but a very fine sheen that looks extremely natural), and a bronze shadow on the eyes (Buxom Stay-There in Mutt or Stila's Sparkle), just to complete the look. May the odds be in your favor!

Frugal Friday, Plus This Too Faced Stuff Is Da "Balm"!

*Editor's Note: The author apologizes for the horrible title. She couldn't help herself. Trust that she is truly humiliated. Thank you.

Today's Frugal Friday Deals!

Smashbox: Free FULL-SIZED Photo Finish Lid Primer with any order of $65 or more. Offer expires at 2pm PT today! Use code EYEPRIME at checkout.

Old Navy: Use code ONEXTRA15 to take 15% off your entire purchase. Ends at midnight tonight. (Everyday Steals and Jeans not included)

Bath and Body Works: Take an extra 20% off your purchase with code ENJOY20. A printable coupon is also available for in-store savings. Expires 2/26/12.

Photo Credit: Too Faced

This is February, right? I didn't skip forward to May, or anything like that, did I? I ask, because the temperature was in the seventies this morning. Yesterday, I wore flip-flops, and the humidity was so high I didn't even bother fully drying my hair. There was no point, since it was just going to look damp and frizzy no matter what I did to it.

Makeup, schmakeup. When the weather's like this, all you can do is slap on some waterproof mascara and lip balm, then say a prayer and hope for the best.

The thing is, I would like to make it through the day without traumatizing small children. I don't want them to point, then run screaming to their mothers. I needed something just to even out my skin and give my eyeshadow and blush a base to stick to. My tinted moisturizer decided to turn orange on me, so that was no good, and foundation is flat-out too heavy for this humidity. It would melt right off my face, but only after clogging all my pores. No, thank you. This left me standing in my JCPenney's teeny-tiny Sephora with very few choices and absolutely no clue. Thankfully, between the online reviews I found with my smartphone (greatest invention ever) and the incredibly helpful salesperson, I realized what I needed was a beauty balm, and that Too Faced's version might be my best bet. The salesperson even color-matched me, which was beyond appreciated. I'm terrible at colormatching myself. I can help other people, but for some reason, I fancy myself about two shades darker than I actually am. Call it wishful thinking...anyhoo, moving on.

Here's what Ulta has to say about it (I know, I got it at Sephora, but I'm all for giving folks options):

Instantly impart a healthy glow and improve skin's appearance with sheer luminosity and a concealing, buildable tint. Soothing, oil-free moisture, antioxidants and SPF protection help to improve skin's condition and prevent future damage. This super-advanced, multi-benefit time saver from Too Faced streamlines your routine, giving you 'better than real' skin in just one step!
Enhance: Ideal balance of exceptional, buildable color, sheer texture, and light diffusion for a flawless-looking complexion.
Perfect: Minimize fine lines and wrinkles to create a smooth canvas for a more youthful appearance.
Nourish: Oil-free moisturizers condition and hydrate while chamomile extract soothes.
Protect: Antioxidant vitamins A & E, Ginseng Root and Ginko Biloba fight free radical damage and protect skin's integrity.
Prevent: Contains a non-chemical SPF 20 UVA/UVB multi-mineral sunscreen to prevent premature aging.

This sounded like exactly what I needed. I got the moisturizer I originally wanted, but with a slightly heavier consistency for better coverage (which, let's face it, I need. I am *shudder* over thirty...). I don't really have any fine lines, and my only wrinkles are on my forehead, but I'll take any and all help in keeping those at bay. SPF is a must, and I'm loving that the product is full of vitamins and antioxidants. Anything that could keep me from turning into a prune is more than welcome on my face. I've now had a few days to live with the product, so let's break it down, shall we?

Packaging: The product comes in an iridescent blush, beautifully decorated, hygienic squeeze tube. The cap screws onto the bottom of the tube, allowing the product to stay near the applicator for easiest access and least amount of waste. It also looks precious on my counter. 10 out of 10.

Application: I apply this by squeezing a small amount onto the back of my hand, then using a Real Techniques (review to come) foundation brush to work the product into my skin. You could also use your hands, though, if you were in a hurry or didn't have an available brush. Either way, the product applies quickly and effortlessly. 10 out of 10.

Appearance: The nice lady who colormatched me sent me home with Vanilla Glow. This is the lightest of the only four colors available: Cream Glow, Nude Glow, and Beach Glow. Vanilla matches my skin tone perfectly, but I'm not sure if that's because these colors are so sheer that they'll blend with a wide range of tones, or if I just got lucky. I recommend you try this on first, just to be sure. I found that the product was sheer enough for skin to show through, but still provided a reasonable amount of coverage. Honestly, I looked as polished as I normally would with a foundation, but didn't really look like I was wearing foundation. I just looked like I had really good skin. Concealer was necessary for under the eyes and to cover a little redness around my nose and chin, but that's the norm for me, even with heavy foundation. These are named "Glow" for a reason, though. While I didn't find this to be as shimmery as a few user reviews pointed out, there are light-reflecting pigments, which keep this from having a matte finish. I would call it "dewy", which is nice. I dusted a little powder over the top and was good to go. 9 out of 10.

Wear: I was shocked. Even in this crazy humidity, with the product already being "dewy", I've only had to do minor powder touch-ups around the 8 or 9 hour mark, with a quick blotting around hour 6 or 7. That's pretty darn impressive. 9 out of 10.

Price: This seems to be universally priced at $32. Believe it or not, that's on the lowest end of the specialty brand beauty balm spectrum (and I haven't found any drugstore brands), and it's toward the lower middle of the specialty store tinted moisturizer scale. You get 1.5 oz., which is pretty standard. Yes, there are cheaper drugstore brands for tinted moisturizer, but if you're looking for a beauty balm, this is not a bad deal at all. 9 out of 10.

Final Verdict: 9.4 out of 10. Nice coverage, decent wear. I have absolutely no complaints, and for what it is, you can't beat the price. Seriously. I tried.

While I Was (Sort Of) Out...

I've physically been here. I've been posting regularly, and all, but mentally...well, that's a different story, altogether. Considering I've been pretty well checked out as of late, I thought it time for another installment of...

WHILE I WAS OUT!

The first in a series-within-a-series of posts I'm doing on the Jersey Devil is up at Paranormal Pop Culture. The entire series is a fun blend of an insider's look at indie filmmaking-turned-cryptozoology lecture. The series-within-the-series discusses the creature in pop culture. Basically, I tell you which episode of Extreme Ghostbusters features the guys bustin' old JD. It's a hoot, and the rest of the site is definitely worth a look-see.

Thomas and I took my kid brother to see a sneak preview of the Ghost Rider sequel/reboot/whatever. Tonally, it's all over the map, but it does feature a knockout performance from Idris Elba and his amazing technicolor contacts. I wouldn't pay to see it in theatres, but it's definitely Netflix-worthy, and with its PG-13 rating, safe fare for the kiddies (who will probably get a huge kick out of the Rider peeing fire. I can't believe I just wrote that).

If you follow me on Facebook (and you should! I do occasionally remember to post stuff on it), then you saw where Kat at Paperclip Hashbrown had a The Night Shift giveaway. The date to enter by has passed, so I hope some of you were able to enter. Regardless, hop over and show her some AN love in the comments. I'll be sure to post the winner here when it's announced.

Other than that, every last, blessed, waking moment has been spent trying to get my new house put in order. Today's challenge was hanging up some super-cute mirror dots in the guest room. I'm absolutely in love with them, and they were really easy to put up (save for one nail that absolutely refuses to go into the wall, but that's not the dots' fault). I'm tempted to get a couple more sets to put around the rest of the room. Here's a quick shot (taken with my phone--I'm sorry!) to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Target, $19.99.

I really should have straightened those pillows first. Oops.

WHAT'S NEXT?

I'm one brush away from completing my Real Techniques brush set. As soon as I have that, I'll be back with an in-depth review, but thus far, I have to say that I'm extremely impressed.

This morning, I started using one of those new-fangled beauty balms. My go-to tinted moisturizer decided to turn orange on me, and this was cheaper, anyway, so why not? It's from Too Faced, and I can't wait to share my findings with you...after I've had a few days to live with it.

Have a great Wednesday!

Dream a Little Dream Of Me: Too Faced Glamour To Go

We had some of the most adorable trick-or-treaters Monday night! We also had one who's parents need a stern talking to, but I'll get to that later. First, the cutie-pies!

The Dread Pirate Li'l Bit
This little guy was, maybe, two, and all decked-out with a fake beard and everything. Mom and I asked him if he could say, "Aaarrr," and the poor baby just froze. After a couple of minutes (there were other children getting candy, and the runt got pushed out of the way), he mustered up a pretty decent, "AAARRRRRR!!" with all his might, and proceeded to use his Nerf sword to beat the ever living crud out of Thomas (who was hooking up the sound system and had his back turned--never knew what hit him!). Then he rushed to the candy and started taking out every piece in the bucket until his Mom picked him up, apologized, and ran off. The baby pirate pillaged the treat bucket! I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.

The Internet Meme
I still have no idea who this guy was. A teenager shows up in an inside-out, backwards t-shirt, with some sort of leg-like, wing-ish contraption taped to the back. I asked who he was, and he just sighed, rolled his eyes, and said he was an internet meme, like that explained everything and I should have known better. I still have no clue. Any ideas?

The Fairly Odd-Parents
I got this one!!! Two teens--guy and a girl--showed up in green and pink hoodies, with pink wings taped to the backs, yellow construction paper crowns, and plastic wands. The boy looked less than thrilled. I guessed, and they lit up like the Fourth of July. I have a feeling no one else on the street had an inkling of what they were supposed to be. Thing is, the costumes were pretty spot on. Good job, kids!

Ghost Rider
This kid. This. Kid. This...adorable?...child showed up three times. He only got candy once, and was quite honest about having gotten the candy the first time. He just wanted to keep reminding Thomas (dressed as Ghost Face) that he was watching him--complete with the hand gesture. His costume was cool: leather jacket, all black pants and shirt, orange-painted hair, and chain whip. Thing was, the chain whip was real, and our 8 year-old crime fighter didn't seem to realize (or care) that swinging it around was a bad idea, especially when there were crowds of people he could hit. I think he just didn't understand how dangerous that "prop" could be. He was extremely well-behaved, aside from that.

All in all, Halloween was a complete success. The yard looked fantastic, and loads of parents appreciated having a cool photo op for their tiny-mites. It's all down now, but that just means it's time to start planning for next year!

It also means that it's now, officially, Christmas. Well, at least according to the local mall. The festive cherry picker was out yesterday, allowing the seasonal elves to deck the halls with boughs of holly. Fa-la-la-la-la...it's too early.

It's not just the mall, though. Trees have been up at Walmart for months. Michael's started putting out Christmas decorations while putting out Halloween. MAC has already sold out of some of their holiday items (within mere seconds of sending out the email notification that they had even arrived! I'm sorry about that. Guess that's one I can't review...), and for about three weeks, I've been sitting on a Too Faced "holiday" palette, waiting until the actual "holidays" to review it for you guys. I guess that's now, huh?

I'm just going to cut to the chase on this one. If you need a stocking stuffer for Mom, Sis, teenage (or older) cousin, wife, girlfriend, or sweet Aunt Sue, this is it. If you are constantly on the go, and need a little touch-up palette to toss in your purse, this is it. If you just want a no-brainer way to put on makeup in the morning, this is it. This is one darn nice palette.

Too Faced has released a brand new Glamour To Go palette in conjunction with their Dream-themed Holiday campaign. If you're not familiar with Glamour To Go, they're pocket-sized palettes that are positively stuffed to the gills with goodies. Small palettes, small pricetags, tons of looks. This is the first I've ever owned, but I've been looking at them for years, and they're freaking awesome. ($22, Too Faced)

Look: The Dream Edition is roughly the size of a credit card when closed, and about the tickness of an Android phone with case. It will fit in a pocket, but not discreetly. It's sturdy, black plastic with excellent clasps, so no worries of spillage. The inside lid houses a large mirror for ease in application. The outside of the lid is my only complaint. It's a little kiddie-ish, with a plastic bow and sticker label. Still, it's an attractive, well-made case. 7 out of 10.
  

Photo Credit: Too Faced

Products: Eight not-tiny eyeshadows take up the upper level, and a good sized-blush (slightly larger than the one in the Urban Decay Face Case palette), bronzer, and lipgloss reside in the lower.

The eyeshadows are arranged in such a way that complimentary shades are grouped together. Now, there are several other combinations than just these, but if you don't feel like thinking, you can count on this palette to do it for you. Lighter color is first, followed by crease.

Peachy Beige and Metallic Gray: This is a pale pink with glitter chunks (but no fall out!), and a soft, sueded, silvery gray.

Champagne Sparkle and Black Shimmer: Pale yellow with gold sparkle, and rich black with multi-color sparkle.

Purple and Matte Brown: The purple is so gorgeous that no picture does it justice. It's an irridescent purple with a little blue shimmer running through. The matte brown looks like a square of Hershey's chocolate.

Light Brown and Plum Brown: I don't know what they're talking about, calling the light brown "brown". It's really a shimmering rose bronze, and the plum brown is a soft brown with plum shimmer. Eyeshadows: 8 out of 10.

Blush--Sheer Coral: This is very sheer, so it takes a little layering to build it up to the right color for my pale skin. It is lovely, though; a peachy pink with a fair amount of shimmer for a natural flush that slightly sparkles. 7 out of 10.

Bronzer--Sun Bunny Light: I'm in love with this bronzer, anyway, so having it in a travel palette is just the icing on the cake. It's a gorgeous, fair bronze, with just a hint of pink shimmer running through. It look amazing on, and I can't say enough good about it. 10 out of 10.

Lip Gloss--Bright Pink: This is a non-sticky, Barbie doll pink with golden shimmer to warm it up a bit. It's not the longest-lasting, but it looks really sweet and innocent when applied with a (clean) fingertip. Yummy vanilla scent. 8 out of 10.

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. Toss it in your purse with a mini-brush kit, and never worry about looking good again!