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.

A Do and a Don't: E.L.F. Mini Haul and Review

A few weeks ago, E.L.F. had a 40% off sale online. There were a couple of items that I'd been eyeing, but hadn't quite built up the courage to try out, so this seemed high time to bite the bullet and order. I picked up, among other things, the Prism Eyeshadow Palette in Sunset and the new 22-Piece Mini On the Go Palette. Normally, the 22-piece palette goes for $15, but right now, you can get both palettes for $10 each.  

Top: Prism Eyeshadow Palette. Bottom: 22-Piece Mini On the Go Palette.

Now, because I like to end things on a good note, let's start out with the 22-piece palette and get that out of the way.

You see, for me, this was a fail. Through and through. It's really a shame, too, because the idea is fantastic. It's just the execution that falters.

Before I go any farther, let's start with the good: I very much enjoy the concept of carrying a purse-friendly, compact palette with shadows, blushes, glosses, applicators, and a mascara. Normally, you get some combination of a few of those elements, but rarely all of them. Also, kudos for putting the cream products in a section to themselves, thus preventing the powder shadows and blushes from contaminating the glosses. It really sucks when you apply a pretty pink gloss, only to find that particles of black eyeshadow have smeared across you lips, as well. There's also a really nice mirror, so you actually can apply your makeup "on the go".

And that's about it. And I hate that.

So, what's so terrible about this palette? Unfortunately, pretty much everything (oh, I HATE this review!! It's so negative, and I really adore E.L.F.!). To start with, the packaging is boring, shoddy, and just plain bulky. Sadly, I didn't get a picture of it from the side, but while it's only about the length and width of a credit card, the height is ridiculous. It's a brick. Think of two Altoids tins stacked one atop the other, and you've got a pretty accurate representation. It's supposed to be travel-friendly, but there's not a pocket in my purse large enough to hold it (and I travel heavy). Of course, even if I could fit it into my bag, I wouldn't because the clasp is flimsy, and I'm afraid it would open up and spill everywhere. It's just not workable as a travel palette.

Secondly, the products aren't very good. The eyeshadows are chalky and lacking in the pigment department. Below, I have a random sampling of some of the shadows, and I had to really work to build them up to this intensity. The fourth shadow from the left--see if you can spot it. It's supposed to be the cornflower blue in the top row of the palette. Now, if you look at the shadows in the pan, they appear to have a variety of finishes, ranging from matte to glitter. However, when you apply them, they all come off as matte, and unfortunately, muddy together. I tried wearing a few to work, and while I didn't have any fading or creasing, the overall look was so embarrassingly...the only word I have is muddy, y'all. I'm sorry...that I had to pull out my usual purse palette and re-do it before I left the office.

Of course, E.L.F. shadows tend to be hit or miss, but the lip products have, generally, been pretty good. I had higher hopes for the second tier.

See! The colors are lovely, and there's a nice range of shades. Another thing that bugged me about the shadows was the apparent randomness of color choices. When I think of a purse palette, I think of touch-up shades: a deep shade for adding drama, a shimmer to perk up a look or cover creasing...that sort of thing. The shadows didn't deliver on that, but the lip colors--more sticks than glosses, really--fared better. Sadly, they feel kind of gritty on the lips, look thick and chalky, and wear off quickly. The lip brush is splayed and unusable, and shed the first time I tried to dip it into the product. Below is another random sampling of colors. They are very pretty in the pan and in swatches. It's just a shame they wear so poorly.

Left to Right: the light pink, the last shade, the deep purple.

On to the blushes! I'll be perfectly honest with you; I did not try these. I couldn't. I don't have a brush small enough. The included brush wasn't usable, and each color is roughly the size of a postage stamp. Again, this is a shame because E.L.F. tends to do well with blushes, and these colors are just gorgeous. From what I can tell, they appear to be a subtle golden highlight, a raspberry blush, and a light, shimmery bronzer.

I did swatch these, and that made me even more unhappy. They swatch well and look just lovely. I just can't use them.

I didn't even bother with the mascara. It's their standard studio mascara, so if you like it, you'll like this. It's not enough to make or break this palette. So, in summation, it's a wonderful idea. It just didn't work.

Part of me wonders if, perhaps, this was rushed into production. Recently, Urban Decay released the Anarchy and Shattered Face Cases (shadows, blushes, and a lip pencil in a compact case), and I wonder if this was launched as a response to that. Granted, the case more resembles a Too Faced Glamour To Go, but I really do wonder. This is pure speculation, but I get the feeling this started out as a dupe of the Glamour To Go, and then went into production early because of the Urban Decay. Maybe not. It's just a theory, and the only way I can understand how something that was so clearly not thought through could be released. Hopefully, they'll keep with the idea, but tweak it so that it works better. Personall, I'd reduce the number of shadows to eight and up the quality of each, make the glosses "glosses" (creamier and easier to apply without a brush), and include only one blush and one bronzer/highlight (to increase the size of each). I'm not sure what to do about the bulk of the packaging, but even rounding the corners would help. Right now, it's a mess.

Okay, now that that unpleasantness is out of the way, let me show you my new friend:

Isn't it pretty?! These are well-done shadows, y'all. This is the Prism Palette in Sunset, and here's how E.L.F. describes it:

These ultra-silky and lustrous eyeshadows look like a powder but feel like a cream, allowing for a smooth and flawless application. Use to contour, line, and highlight for a radiant finish. The luminous, shimmery formula creates a gorgeous range of looks for both day and night.

They ain't lyin'. I have had very little luck with E.L.F. shadows in the past. The best I've ever had was half of the Maleficent palette from last year. When I opened this baby up, I let out an audible gasp. I could tell just by looking at the shadows that they were going to be special.

These swatches are crap. In person, they look much richer and sparkle like nobody's business. The formula is fantastic, too. They're creamy and silky, and not even slightly powdery. These swatches are in palette order, and those second, third, and fourth shades are standouts.

Is this a perfect palette? No. You will need to augment it with some matte or satin shadows, and probably with some deeper shades to put together a complete look. If you have Urban Decay's Naked Basics, you're set. I can completely forgive that, though, because of the formula. I would put it on par with Stila, honestly. It's that kind of soft, slightly flaky (not flaking off, but it's almost like it applies in a solid flake form...or maybe I'm insane...either way), shimmering texture. I didn't experience any creasing or fading in the hours that I wore these, and felt confident enough to use the palette for a holiday party look. These are just d@*n good shadows, and you get six of them for ten dollars. There are two other versions, Naked and Smoke (I tell you, they are seriously trying to get in on the Urban Decay audience), with neutral and jewel tones, respectively. I haven't tried them, yet, but after falling in love with Sunset, I may need to place another order.

Final Verdict

22-Piece On the Go Palette: 2 out of 10. Great idea, but executed poorly.

Prism Palette: 9 out of 10. Gorgeous, and tremendously good quality. On par with high end. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Life Hack: $1 Magnetic Palette

I'm probably super late to the party on this little life hack, so I claim absolutely no ownership of the idea. I've seen it on countless blogs and youtube videos, and thought, "Well, shoot! That's brilliant. Why didn't I think of that?"

So, for those of you out there who also didn't think of that, I give you this post:

HOW TO TRULY CUSTOMIZE AN E.L.F. CUSTOM COMPACT

This is the E.L.F. Custom Compact. It measures 3x3 (perfect purse size), and costs a buck. I picked mine up from Target, but they're available online, and possibly at Walmart or Walgreen's, if your's has started carrying E.L.F. A couple of the stores in my area have.

And here's the inside:

Photo Credit: E.L.F. Cosmetics

I totally forgot to take a picture of the inside before I started this little project. Whoops.

Now, looking at the above photo, you see that the top half of the compact is a mirror, and the bottom half is sleek white with openings for four small pans and a tiny applicator. We're going to leave the mirror alone, and use a butterknife to pop that bottom white portion out. (It works best to slide the knife under the inside edge of one of the circles) Once you've done that, you'll be left with a shiny metal insert, and the inside of your compact will look like this:

The pretty shiny metal isn't attached to the compact, so you will want to use some super glue or hot glue to make sure it stays put inside. If you use hot glue, make sure that the glue is completely melted, waste NO time, and press the metal in as flat as you can get it. I waited a second too late, and my hot glue hardened enough to keep me from being able to press the metal down fully, and I couldn't get my compact to close when filled. It works now, but I got to spend a good ten minutes peeling and scraping out all of that thick glue, and let's just say that was less than fun.

Sticking in the de-potted pans was a cinch. There are two ways you could do it: A. Stick a full magnet sheet in the bottom, or B. stick magnets to each pan. Either way will work, but I chose to stick the magnets on to each pan. I thought it looked nicer. If you do decide to use the full sheet, you can skip gluing in the metal liner.

The finished compact isn't huge, but I was surprised at how much I could fit in it. Above, I have the three de-potted (de-plastic and cardboard-ed?) EM Cosmetics eyeshadows and lipgloss, an Urban Decay blush and teeny-tiny shadow from an old Face Case, and a Stila shadow from the Pro Artist Palette No.1. I honestly couldn't tell you how many, say, MAC shadows would fit, but this is great for all of those little sample sizes or fragments of palettes that most of us have lying around. I'm actually planning to take this on vacation with me, and this palette alone gives me multiple eye looks, as well as a blush and lipgloss. I may not have to take any other shadows, blushes or lippies. I probably will take more, but I don't have to.

I will warn you, though: the compact isn't the highest quality. It's sturdy, and I feel like my products will be protected in my purse, but the construction is not the greatest. The closure is flimsy and easily breakable. I also feel like a drop onto a hard floor would be catastrophic. That said, the mirror is huge and actually usable, and the lid stands up without having to be propped against something. Also, allow me to remind you that this thing costs a dollar! One dollar. One. A small Z-Palette, which is only marginally larger, runs $14 and doesn't come with a mirror. Also, taking the larger Z-Palettes I own into consideration, I really don't think it would be much more likely to survive a hard drop--at least, not without a few casualties.

So, there you go. That's my life hack o' the day. Has anyone else tried this? Any suggestions for decorating it? Let me know in the comments.   

Frugal Friday: My Favorite New(-ish) E.L.F. Blush/Bronzer Duos



Left to Right: Turks & Caicos, Cream #24601...I mean, #83606. Oops.



A little while back, ELF had a sale on their Studio line, and I took the opportunity to try out a couple of products that I'd been eyeing since they came out a few months ago. For some reason, a buck-fifty each was perfectly reasonable, but three whole dollars (Seriously? Three whole dollars?) was absolutely ree-darn-diculous.

In any case, I picked up the Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Turks & Caicos, and the Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream in...um...Item #83606. That's all I got, folks.

Holy Guacamole, Batman! These suckers are fantastic! Talk about pigmentation! Just look below:



Left to Right: Turks & Caicos Blush, Bronzer, #8675309...sorry, #83606 Blush, Bronzer. One swipe each. Crikey!

 But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start with the packaging. Each duo comes housed in a smooth, black, hard plastic compact, with the ELF logo and product name printed on the lid in white. Inside, you'll find the product, itself, along with a large, fully-functional mirror--not one of those cheapo, fun-house-looking pieces of garbage. All in all, the packaging reminds me (a lot) of NARS, except that the NARS has more heft to it, and the outside is rubberized.

Okay, now for the products. The cream blush is a warm, rosy peach, and the bronzer is a golden medium brown. Neither has any shimmer or sheen, but by nature of the cream, they do impart a nice glow. As we've seen, they're HIGHLY pigmented, so only the teeny-tiniest amount is needed. By that, I mean, don't use your fingers! Obviously, you can, if you want. I won't stand there behind you screaming, or anything like that. That would be creepy, and a little bit illegal, most likely. Grab a stipple brush and barely tap it onto the product. You can always add more, but taking it away's a pain. It's not impossible (said the girl who went to town with concealer and powder after tapping her brush too hard this morning), but it's better to avoid having to.

The shades, themselves, are lovely. The blush is pretty much universal, as far as working with different skintones; the bronzer, less so. This would work on light to medium skintones, but no darker. I also would not recommend this as a contour shade, since it is so warm. It borders on orange-y, and that's just not a good look for a contour. It is wonderful, however, for warming up the skin. Once you've tapped your stipple brush onto (not into, onto) the bronzer, apply the product to the areas of your face where sunlight would naturally hit--just as you would a powder bronzer. The end effect is very natural and sunkissed.

Now, I purchased Turks & Caicos because I'd heard from several places that the blush side was actually more of a highlight shade, and I thought that a travel-friendly highlight/bronzer combo would be awesome to have for out-of-town trips. Apparently, I had gone temporarily insane, and totally forgot that I'm so white, I'm day-glo. My skin lights up on the dark rides at Disney. The only highlighters I can wear are either white, gold, or translucent shimmer. Almost nothing that could be classified as a blush is going to work as a highlighter on me. But I digress...

Anyhoo, the blush is gorgeous, even if it isn't a viable highlighter for me, personally. The shade is a very tawney...I hate to call it pink, because it's just barely pink, but it's not really brown, either. This is a hard shade to describe, but applied lightly, it gives just enough color to wake up the skin, but not enough to compete with, say, a bold lip or a smokey eye. Unfortunately, it's not a universal color, in the slightest. If you're often confused for Casper the Friendly Ghost, then this is gorgeous, and I highly recommend rushing out to pick one up. Medium skintones and up might consider using it as a highlighter, but, sadly, I'd just say skip it.

The bronzer is scary. It looks brown; like chocolate brownie brown. However, if you use a super fluffy brush and an extremely light hand, you can use this as a bronzer (not a contour. Neither of these bronzers are contour shades. I don't know what ELF was thinking calling them "contouring".) even if you're lily-white. This shade could probably work on medium skin, as well, but again, if you're darker, you might want to pass on this. There are tiny flecks of gold shimmer in both the blush and bronzer, but they don't transfer to the skin in an obvious way. You end up with a little glow. Again, the end result is very natural and just downright pretty. I probably don't need to say it, but I will, anyway: these puppies are crazy pigmented! If you use a heavy hand, you're going to look like you've been playing in the dirt. Go easy, and add more as you need to.

The staying power for both duos is top-notch. I've been using them both for a couple of weeks, pretty much exclusively, and haven't had to touch-up at all. I repeat: at all. ELF, as a brand, may be hit or miss, but these are a homerun.

Pros
Cream: gorgeous blush, gorgeous bronzer, highly pigmented, beautiful packaging, fantastic price, natural finish blush, natural finish bronzer, universal blush, glow without glitter
Powder: gorgeous blush, workable bronzer, highly pigmented, beautiful packaging, fantastic price, natural finish blush, natural finish bronzer, slight shimmer without glitter

Cons
Cream: bronzer not universal
Powder: blush not universal, bronzer not universal

Final Verdict: Cream--9 out of 10, Powder--7.5 out of 10. I'd say that these were amazing for three bucks, but they'd still be amazing for a lot more than that.

Prettiest Pretty Princess: Pink Positivity

Today is not my favorite day. It's the twelfth anniversary of my dad's passing, and it really doesn't get easier. On top of that, I got to deal with some less than fun insurance excitement, and the puppy decided to get a tummy bug. It's been a banner day around the Smith house!

To fight the urge to curl up in a sock drawer and sleep for days (points for reference!), I've decided to focus on the positive. I like pink. It's not my favorite color--that's teal, if you were wondering--but it tends to make me feel all bright and cheerful, and darn it, I need that today. So, in honor of pink, I'm pulling out two of my current favorite pink products to review for you. Spoiler Alert: they're both really good.

First up is E.L.F.'s Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Summer Nights. This has become my go-to lip product for the Summer. It's so hot and humid that about all I can wear is a little tinted moisturizer and cream products, so the overall look tends to lean towards "farmer's market" or "I've had the flu, and you're lucky I tried this hard". My main goal is to avoid scaring small children, really. Anyhoo, this is the quintessential "my lips but better" lip color. It's glossy, non-sticky, extremely user-friendly, and feels very moisturizing. Yes, there is a little glitter, and yes, you can feel it, but not enough to make it a deal-breaker. The staying power is...well, laughable, but for two bucks and this much pretty, I can re-apply. It's not like you need a mirror (or even a steady hand).

How pretty is that gold shimmer? Oh...I just can't even...

The other product is Zoya PixieDust Professional Lacquer in Miranda. The Zoya site describes it as a "rose sparkle" in Mauve family. I'm describing it as an exact match to the hot pink bows on my favorite Hello Kitty pajama pants. Seriously, though, it's a warm, rosy berry with a freaking ton of sparkle. So much sparkle, in fact, that a male friend who has zero interest in nail polish commented on the sparklies from across the room. That's sparkle.

The wow factor, oddly enough, isn't so much the intense sparkle, but the matte finish and sugary texture. Rather than attempt to describe it (the best I could come up with was "raspberry sand dunes", and that sounds somewhat disgusting), here are some pictures:

Shade

Sunlight

See? It's like having microfine grains of sand glued onto your nails. Doesn't necessarily sound appealing, but it looks beautiful. I keep staring at my nails!

Now, it does chip a little, but touch ups blend in easily, due to the texture. Normally, a top coat would prevent this, but using one defeats the purpose of having a matte finish. I've kept an eye out for dings, and added extra coats as necessary. So far, I'm on day four (and probably coat four), and it still looks fresh and flawless. Two coats for full opacity, quick drying, and relatively low-maintenance. I haven't tried removing it, yet, and I'm anticipating it being a real pain in the rear--akin to removing glitter polish, which is the devil. A beautiful, sparkly, shiny devil--but for the utter beauty that this polish is, the extra effort is totally worth it.

Have a lovely Monday, folks! I'm off to eat a chocolate chip cookie because it makes me happy, and my newest bathing suit is a tankini, so who cares about calories!

Putting the Lime (or Vanilla) in the Coconut: E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes First Impression

Did you know that Walmart carried E.L.F. now? Surprise!! I had to run in the store yesterday, and was greeted by a really nice display, filled with all sorts of essential and studio line goodies. As it happened, I had used up the last of my beloved Pacifica Island Coconut body lotion that morning, and was (and am) not in any real position to replace it anytime soon, so I called it kismet and picked up a pack of the E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes in the only available scent (it's fate, I tell you), Vanilla & Coconut. Today, I thought I'd give them a whirl and share my first impression of the product.

Honestly...it's kind of neat.

I'm going to start this off by saying that I will totally be replacing my Pacifica as soon as I can. There is absolutely no comparison between the two items. However, I do have some definite use for the E.L.F. wipes...just not necessarily as a moisturizer...let me 'splain:

The wipes smell lovely. The sweet vanilla and sweeter coconut give off an almost dessert-like fragrance, but the scent is so light that it's not cloying. It's downright dreamy, actually. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the scent doesn't last very long. Truthfully, I don't think it lasted much past application. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you're a perfume wearer, you don't have to worry about competing; if you're going to be in a tight space with a lot of people (like an office cubical setting), you won't kill anyone allergies.

The formula, itself, is fairly dry, which is a plus in my book. The humidity down here is ridiculous, so anything greasy or thick flat-out melts off of your skin and feels disgusting. You can leave little lotion puddles on your car seats. It's not pretty; I don't enjoy it. This is nice and cool, sinks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth, but dry to the touch. Its hydrating properties aren't bad, either. It's not the "World's Best Moisturizer" (TM), but it does the job. I applied after shaving, and that gross itchy feeling that you get after a close shave went away immediately, and I haven't experienced any irritation.

Now, the application is a bit tricky. You would think that a wipe would just, you know, wipe on. Um...no. Not quite. These wipes are super-soft, which sounds fantastic--who wants to rub something rough on their skin? Unfortunately, the texture causes the wipes to bunch up while you rub, effectively cutting the application surface by about 75%. It's workable, but a little annoying. Still, I'd rather have soft than scratchy any day.

This appears to be a nice product. It does what it claims. For three bucks, I couldn't be happier. That said, when I repurchase these (which I will), it will be to toss the very convenient little package in my theme park bag. I know, I know, that sounds odd, but again, let me 'splain:

I hate the smell of baby wipes. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I adore the smell of baby wipes on a baby. I detest using them on myself. I'm 33, not three. I would like to smell like a grown-up, thank you. Normally, when we go to Disney or Universal, part way through the day I begin to feel less like a girl and more like a swamp thing. It's nice to be able to pop in the restroom and freshen up a bit before, say, going in a restaurant. I don't like to carry a ton in the parks, but a travel brush, some blotting papers or a little powder, some lipgloss...and a pack of baby wipes...go a long way toward making me feel human again. Now, these lotion wipes don't have the same cleaning properties as the baby wipes, but I'm not necessarily trying to clean anything. I just want to wipe off the sweat, cool down, and hopefully smell a little less theme park-y. This should do the trick nicely, and I won't have to go into Be Our Guest smelling like a pre-school.

Verdict (thus far): 8 out of 10. Good in a pinch, and great in a park.

Hey, Mr. Postman!: Top Five ELF Products Worth the Shipping

You've gotta love E.L.F.

If you're on a budget (and aren't we all?), those little one- and two- and three-dollar price tags can be pretty darn hard to resist. I mean, come on! How am I supposed to say no to a lipgloss that looks just like Stila's Lip Glaze, but only costs a buck? I could get twenty-two of the E.L.F. for the price of a single Stila! Not that I need twenty-two lipglosses, but it's the principle.

Unfortunately, the downside to having ridiculously low prices is that, by comparison, your online shipping rates can look a tad on the high side. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time paying more for shipping than for the item to be shipped. Sure, you could try to find your item locally, since Target and select Walgreen's carry an assortment of E.L.F. products. They just don't have anywhere close to the entire line, meaning that there are times when you can't circumvent the shipping costs. With that, I have compiled a list of the top five ('cause that seemed like a good number) E.L.F. products worth the cost of shipping.

Now, please bear in mind, this is not a list of the five best E.L.F. products. These are items that are A) high-quality, B) classically useful (not just super trendy and fun--these are warhorses), C) either difficult to dupe with a readily available item, or are dupes of much more expensive items. Basically, these are items that, were you to add the almost seven dollar shipping charge to the original amount, you would still come out ahead. Now, on to the list!

5. Studio Lip Exfoliator ($3)
I'm a fan of making my own lip scrubs, but they're not always the most travel-friendly option. This little gem is unique in the fact that the scrub comes in a solid form and is housed in a cute little lipstick tube. You can toss this in your purse or travel bag and not worry about sugary liquid spilling out of a tub and onto your other products. The scrub smells and tastes like yummy maple and brown sugar, and is chock full of skin-loving ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba oil. Even at what amounts to a $10 price point ($3 + $7 shipping), it's a good buy.

4. Studio Lip Lock Pencil ($3)
If  you wear brightly colored lipstick, this is a must-have in your kit. This pencil outlines the outside of your lipline to keep color from feathering or creeping into any fine lines. There are a couple of drugstore varieties of this product, but I have yet to actually see one in a brick-and-mortar store. If you go the Sephora route, a clear lip liner--which is all this is, really--will run anywhere from $14-$20. The E.L.F. version works like a dream and, even with shipping, is still easier on your wallet.

3. Studio Eye Shadow "C" Brush ($3)
This is a very basic eyeshadow brush, but it's one of the best I've ever worked with. I use mostly Real Techniques now, but every now and then I grab this one, and am reminded how awesome it is, and wonder why I don't use it more often (why don't I use it more often?). The brush has a sleek handle design and very densely packed synthetic bristles. It picks up product really well, lays it down really well, and blends really well. Basically, it performs really well (in case you hadn't picked up on that). If you're going to spend ten bucks on an eyeshadow brush, this is the one to buy.

2. Studio HD Blush ($3)
Considered to be a dupe for Make Up For Ever's HD Blush, E.L.F.'s version packs a very pigmented punch. It's creamy, applies smoothly, and wears well. It's a top notch formula, and a steal at a ten-dollar price point.

1. Studio High Definition Powder ($6)
HD powder is a silica-based finishing powder that can be used to set makeup, but is mainly utilized for its airbrushing effect. It leaves skin looking flawless, silky smooth, and camera-ready. There are several on the market (most notably by Make Up For Ever), and tend to carry low-volumes and high-prices. E.L.F.'s version is only six bucks--expensive by E.L.F.'s standards--and you get a figurative ton of product. Yellow and Shimmer versions are also available, but the standout is the original transluscent powder. With shipping, it'll set you back about $13, but you'll still be getting more bang for your buck.

Of course, this is assuming you only need to purchase one item. But I know none of us would ever go makeup crazy on the E.L.F. website...right?...Guys?...Hey! Wait up!! I need some brow gel...and lip gloss...and a blush...and.........

Review: E.L.F. Baked Blush in Passion Pink

Yesterday, I showed you a little haul that included two of the E.L.F. Baked Blushes. Today, I've got a review for you on Passion Pink.

First up, don't let the name fool you. This is actually peach; much in the same way that Pinktastic is actually gold. I have this ridiculous compulsion to buy Peachy Cheeky, simply to find out what color it really is, since these names have absolutely nothing to do with the color payoff. That aside, I'm not disappointed in the color, just confused.

And speaking of color...you know how yesterday I mentioned that this looked like a dupe for NARS Orgasm?

NARS on Left, E.L.F. on Right.

I wasn't far off. The E.L.F. is a tad more peach than the NARS, and much more pigmented. The NARS is pinker and sparklier, and far sheerer. I had to swatch it several times to match the single swatch of the E.L.F. They're not exact, by any means, but if you're in the market for an Orgasm-ish color, you could do a lot worse for three bucks. They look much more similar in person, for the record.

NARS on Left, E.L.F. on Right.

It's a very subtle blush once it's on your cheeks. More than color, it leaves a pretty glow.

On cheeks: E.L.F. Passion Pink. Highlighter: E.L.F. Pinktastic. Bronzer: Tarte Park Ave. Princess.

I packed it in my purse, just in case it faded and I needed a touch-up during the day. Happily, I can say that I've been wearing this for four hours, and it's still going strong. I have touched my face, been in and out of doors, talked on my phone, and moved around quite a bit. In other words, I haven't been sitting like a china doll on a shelf.

I like the natural, soft look of this blush. The staying power is there, the color is lovely, and you can't beat the price. The packaging isn't fancy, but it looks nice and functions well.

Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. It would be nice if the names matched the colors, but you can't always get what you want; sometimes, you get what you need.

In case you were wondering about the rest of the face, here's what's doing:

Primer: Tarte Clean Slate

Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt NW15

Concealer: Maybelline Age Rewind in Neutralizer (yup, I'm pale)

Setting Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent

Finishing Powder: E.L.F. Baked Bronzer in St. Lucia (yup, it's pale)

Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

Eye Shadow: Urban Decay Snakebite (all by itself. It gets a bum rap, but it's gorgeous as an all-over color)

Eye Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick in Rehab

Inner Corner: Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick in Midnight Cowboy

Brows: E.L.F. Brow Kit

Mascara: Buxom Lash Waterproof

Contour: Benefit Hoola

Lips: MAC Shy Girl

E.L.F. Cyber Monday Haul and First Impressions

E.L.F. ran a 50% off plus free shipping sale on Cyber Monday, so I took the opportunity to pick up a few things. They just came in yesterday, and I thought you might be interested in some of the newer items on the site
.

I picked up two of the HD Blushes, two Baked Blushes, one Baked Bronzer, the Eye Refresh, one Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick, and the Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Natural.

St. Lucia, Passion Pink, Pinktastic

Here are swatches of the St. Lucia Baked Bronzer, Passion Pink Baked Blush, and Pinktastic Baked Blush. St. Lucia is a very light, warm bronzer with a subtle hint of sparkle. I used it all over today, much the way I would a MAC Mineral Skin Finish, and it just helped knock the chill off of my uber-pale face. I had to use different products to contour and add color. The Passion Pink blush is also very light and warm, with more of a peach tone than I had expected from the online photos. I thought this would be more of a plummy color, but this looks like it could dupe NARS Orgasm. I haven't checked them against each other, yet, but this is definitely a peachy pink. The Pinktastic blush is actually a very pretty gold highlighter. Again, not what I was expecting, but not a disappointment. I bought this thinking that it would be a good dupe for one of my favorite MAC highlighters, Moon River, that is now discontinued. They're actually not even close to similar, but I think I'll get a lot of use out of this one, anyway. It's just lovely. It's just not pink.

Left: Moon River. Right: Pinktastic.

Left. Moon River. Right: Pinktastic. Um...it's not pink. Nope. Not pink at all.

I started to swatch the entire eyeshadow palette, but decided that a few representative shades would probably be just as informative. If you want, I can do an entire, in-depth review on the palette, though. Let me know in the comments. I realized right off the bat that these shadows were E.L.F.'s standard hit-or-miss grade, unfortunately. Believe it or not, there are five swatches in the above photo. The very first one barely showed up, and it was a mid-tone brown. The second swatch is super powdery. The third is supposed to be a glittery blackened gray, but very little glitter transferred to my skin. The last two are actually very nice, and they're demi-mattes. Honestly, I expected the least from them, and they ended up being the best out of the bunch. Originally, I purchased this to use for film makeup, and I intend to keep playing around with it. Maybe it will surprise me. Something tells me I'm probably going to end up having to break down and get the Coastal Scents 28 neutral Palette, though. I am wearing two shades from the palette on my eyes today: a soft gold and the demi-matte ecru shown above. So far, they're doing pretty well.

Here are swatches of the HD Blushes in Showstopper and Encore, and the Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Movie Star. Showstopper is a gorgeous berry with shimmer, and Encore is a shocking pink with shimmer. These blushes are scarily pigmented--a little dab'll do ya! I've not tried wearing them on my cheeks, yet, but they didn't want to come off of my hand. The formula is creamy, and I prefer the consistency to that of my Make Up For Ever HD Blush, honestly. Be prepared to work quickly, though, because they dry almost instantly.

Movie Star looks like a blood red in the stick, but comes off as a very natural red. Sort of like the color you'd get after kissing for a few minutes. I am surprised by how much I like this product. It's sheer upon first application, but the color can be built up by layering over time. The color starts out glossy, but dries down to a stain-like finish. It's long-lasting, but non-drying, and there's no taste or scent. Seriously, I really like this product.

Movie Star upon first application. It's not red, but it's the perfect flush.

The Eye Refresh is a clear liquid that you apply with a rollerball applicator. The packaging is nifty, but I couldn't tell where any liquid came out. I just felt the cool metal ball rolling under my eyes. It's pleasant, but I think you get a similar effect with an ice cube for free. I'll keep playing with it and report back if anything miraculous occurs.

Packaging-wise, I have no complaints. The HD Blushes are dead ringers for MUFE's packaging. The baked items are housed in functional, if not flashy, compacts. The palette is sleek, sturdy plastic with a usable mirror. As I said before, the Eye Refresh looks cool (even if it does feel a little cheap). The only thing I'm not thrilled over is the Lip Gloss Stick. I love how it's made--especially the twist up design--but the white coloring is killing me. The first time I used it, red product smeared all over the top portion, and it just looks messy. Making the package color match the lip color would look much cleaner.

Have any of you tried these products? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

October Favorites!

It's the end of October, and that means it's time for FAVORITES!!! *insert Kermit flail here*

We all have lives, so let's skip the small talk and get straight to it!

Skin
Clean & Clear Oil-Free Dual Action Moisturizer
While Thomas and I were in Orlando, we realized that the car trip had left both of us with really dry skin that was beginning to break out. We had to run in a Walgreen's anyway, so I had the chance to pick up something, anything, that could help. This was cheap, and we were desperate. Now, I'm happy to say that I have a new favorite basic moisturizer. It doesn't have any anti-aging benefits, but my skin feels great, and breakouts have been at a minimum. Added bonus: it leaves a cooling sensation as it sinks in.

Face
Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation
Ulta sent me a 20% off anything in the store coupon, so I bit the bullet and bought this. My only complaint about this foundation was that it didn't hold up to heat and humidity, but now that it's cooler and drier, that's not really an issue. Ever since I tested this, I've found myself comparing other foundations to it. Now, I could spend the next however long and however much money trying to dupe this foundation, or I could just buy it and be happy. I just bought it, and I've been happy as a clam with it ever since. It's gorgeous, and I highly recommend it.

Eyes
E.L.F. Disney Villains Palette, Maleficent, Night Villain Shadows
As weird as this may sound, and as difficult as it may be to believe, I've been reaching for this more than any other palette, recently. I don't even keep it in a drawer; it's right there next to my brushes. Misfortune, Diablo, and Forest of Thorns are three absolutely beautiful, pigmented, buttery shadows, and they work perfectly for Fall. The rest of the shadows...eh, I could take or leave. These three, I'm really hoping E.L.F. decides to sell as singles. They're amazing.

Lips
Urban Decay Lipsticks in Sellout and Midnight Cowboy
I am ill that these have been discontinued, and I'm really angry at myself for snapping up three colors while they were three bucks apiece on the Urban Decay site. I had no idea I'd like them so much!! The packaging is so vile that I barely have words to describe my hatred, but the lipsticks are glorious. They're moisturizing, wear well, and the colors are simply beautiful. Of the three I purchased, Sellout and Midnight Cowboy have made it into the daily rotation. Sellout is a warm neutral rose, and you can still find it online (see the link). Midnight Cowboy is a glittering nude that also makes a lovely topcoat over other colors. I like it over Dervish lipliner from MAC, but normally wear it on its own. I can't find it anywhere, but if you know of a good dupe for it, please share with the rest of the class.

Nails
Sephora by O.P.I. in Leotard Optional
Sephora by O.P.I. in Blasted Gold Glitter
I've been wearing these together, and love the birch bark effect it leaves on my nails. Leotard Optional is a plummy nude, and the Blasted Gold Glitter is...well, blasted gold glitter.

Other
International Delight Creamer in S'mores
It looks like chocolate milk and tastes like graham cracker. I can't stop drinking it!!!!

I hope you enjoyed this, and have a safe and happy Halloween! If you're in the Northeastern region, and are duking it out with Bad Sandy, please know that you're in our thoughts. Good luck, and be careful.

Costume Creations/Frugal Friday: Frankie Stein from Monster High

My little niece, Tempest, is big into Monster High. It's my fault, too. I got her a Frankie Stein rag doll for Christmas one year, and that was it. To her mother, I apologize.

Last year, Temp went as Frankie Stein for Halloween, and was so darn cute it hurt. In her honor, I thought I'd do a costume look for Frankie Stein, and I wanted to try to do it with all drugstore products. This is not intended to "transform" you into Frankie, nor is it meant to be a "going out" look. This is just to show that you don't need to buy the overpriced makeup kit that is sold alongside the costume to get a Frankie Stein look for trick-or-treating. If you want to see me do a Frankie Stein-inspired "going out" look for adults (since those costumes apparently exist. Who knew?), let me know in the comments, and that can totally be arranged. This one is more "stage makeup" inspired, and intended for ten to twelve year-olds.

For the uninitiated, this is Frankie:

Frankie Stein (Credit)

And here's what I came up with:

I know, the stitches go on the other cheek. Whoops. You'll also want to do your neck and ears, but this was for demonstration purposes only. I love you guys, but Supernatural was coming on. I have priorities. Jensen Ackles is cute.

I'm not a tween, nor am I a model, so this looks silly as heck. Plus, I blinked every darn time Thomas took a picture. As a stage actor, I can tell you that this--every bit as much as the whole "the actors could get distracted, fall, and die" aspect--is the reason they tell you not to take flash photos at theatrical productions. It's because we're unaccustomed to the flashes and make stupid faces. THIS is the picture I look the least stoned in, so here you go. 

Alrighty, I (not being a twelve year-old with perfect skin) started out by applying a moisturizer, then used Maybelline Age Rewind concealer to cover any blemishes and dark circles. Then, I used a NYX jumbo pencil in Milk to prime my eyelids, all the way up to the brow. The white base will help keep the L.A. Colors mineral shadow in a purple color nice and vibrant. Next, I mapped out the shape I wanted for the eyeshadow, then filled in the entire area with purple,including under the lower lashline. After that, I took the pink shadow from the L'Oreal HiP duo "Reckless" and defined the crease area. Then, I grabbed my NYX liquid liner (though a black pencil would work if you're not comfortable with liquid) and created a winged cat eye on the top lashes, then lined the lower lashline, as well. We'll come back to the eyes a little bit later.

For the skin, I used a small, dense powder brush to apply the green side of the L'Oreal HiP duo "Perky" all over my face. This will take you a thousand forevers, but it's a sheerer effect than greasepaint, and easier to find in a close-to-accurate shade. If you have trouble keeping the brush out of the dark navy shadow that makes up the other half of the duo, try carefully covering that half with a little masking tape until you finish with the green. Once you have your face (and neck and ears) covered, take an even smaller brush (like a lipliner) and the same green (the smaller brush will help concentrate the color) to map out the places you want contoured, like the cheekbones and around the nose. Use the bigger brush to blend out the lines. Then, uncover the navy blue side and lightly go over those contoured areas with the bigger brush and the blue. You'll also want to go into your hairline and around your jaw. Next, take a blush brush and a hot pink blush, like E.L.F.'s Pink Passion from the Studio line, and shade the apples of your cheeks. Use the same brush to pop a bit of the purple eyeshadow over the pink, to tie the colors together. Dust a sparkly white shadow, like L.A. Colors mineral shadow, onto the cheekbones to highlight.

Back to the eyes! You're going to have to do a little clean-up, now that the green is in place. I found it easiest to do this with the NYX jumbo pencil in Milk, because it's super creamy, opaque, and you can just draw it wherever you want it. I didn't want to lose the eyeshadow shape, so I used the white pencil as a highlight for the brow, inner corner, and brought it down below the lower lashline. I also used it on the waterline. Then, I applied two coats of black mascara to upper and lower lashes. You could use false lashes, but I know a lot of kids won't sit still long enough for that, so I just went with the mascara.

To finish things up, I used a black pencil to darken my brows and to draw on her stitches. Lastly, I applied Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic to my lips for her signature glossy red pout.

I hope you enjoyed this. Again, if you want to see a more grown-up version, let me know in the comments.

Costume Creations: The Walking Dead

Last night was the third season premier of one of my favorite shows, The Walking Dead. I'll be honest; I'm not a fan of gore. I know, that's probably a shocker to most of you, since the movies I'm involved with tend to be in the horror genre, and I have a kickin' recipe for fake blood, but frankly, gore doesn't do it for me. It's not scary. It's just icky. The idea of the zombie, though, is terrifying. Just think about it: you're bee-bopping along, enjoying life with all of your loved ones and BAM! Zombie outbreak! Suddenly, there's the very real possibility that--at any moment--you could be bitten and killed, only to come back to terrorize your own family. Worse, yet, you could lose one of your loved ones, and not only have to deal with the pain of their death, but then have to put them down when they come back. No, thank you. That's horrifying! If you've never seen the show, that's really what The Walking Dead deals with. The real story lies with the survivors. Their fear, resolve, and guilt make for some of the best writing on television today, and the actors are more than up to the task.

That said, the zombies do look pretty darn cool.

I was supposed to go to a pre-show Zombie Walk yesterday, but the after-vacation crud got me, and I had to stay home (we just got back from Orlando, and the land of no-internet-access, in case you were wondering where I was last week). I'm a little puffy from being sick, but figured, what the hey, I'll do my zombie makeup, anyway, and share it with you guys. The walk wasn't necessarily Walking Dead themed, but I decided to go with that look and color scheme, anyway. To keep it simple, I went for a fresh "Walker" look, so I could skip out on prosthetics or latex scarring. I wanted this to be cool, but super-easy and able to be copied with stuff from the local party or Halloween store. In fact, some of this came from E.L.F., and may already be in your stash. Here you go!

(Yay for having Thomas take the pictures with a real camera!!!)

So, these are the before shots...

Okay, kidding. Slightly. I started off by using a stippling brush to cover all areas that would not be covered by clothing (which I then forgot to put on over my tank top...oops. I said I was sick...) with the lightest cream foundation I could find. Don't forget your ears! Then, I used a flat concealer brush to pat a light grayish-blue cream makeup (mine came from the Ben Nye death wheel, which is actually really cheap and accessible online, but there are great options from party stores and Halloween pop-up shops) in the hollows of my eyes. Then, I cleaned off that brush and used it to pat a brownish-burgundy cream in the same areas, blending the two colors together to simulate bruising. Don't worry about definition, yet. Next, I went back into the blue with a foundation brush, and used that to contour my face, like I normally would with a bronzer: around the hairline, temples, cheekbones, and jawline. I also brought it down onto the neck to accentuate the natural hollows. Then, I cleaned off that brush and did the same thing with the burgundy cream and blended. To add a little color to the look and get that signature Walking Dead greenish-yellow cast, I used the foundation brush to blend a little Spring green cream makeup just onto the cheeks, almost like a blush, and also patted a little onto the eyelids. I used an Easter yellow to highlight the tops of cheekbones, forehead, nose, and chin. Basically, I made sure that every inch of skin had at least two colors blended together--the original foundation, and another color. I followed that up by grabbing a stippling sponge and dotting blue and burgundy onto random areas to simulate mottled skin. To add definition, I used a small lining brush (E.L.F.'s precision brush is fantastic for this!) to line the hollows of my eyes (and patted a little yellow on the "bags" to highlight), the eye socket, the marionette lines around my mouth, and a few expression lines on my forehead. Then, I brushed just a little more blue onto my eyebrows, the hollow over my chin, and around the marionette lines. I covered my lips with a light concealer, popped a little blue on my lower lip and pressed my lips together, then added a little burgundy to make accentuate the lines in my lips and make them appear dry and cracked. The look is set with a yellow HD powder (E.L.F., again) to keep that Walking Dead tone. For fun, I grabbed some dark, medium, and bright reds and created a wound on my neck by starting with the darkest in the center and going lighter and as I spread the colors out.

This is all about layering colors and accentuating your own lines and facial structure. If you look old, pale, and unnaturally colored, you're probably on the right track. You can add to this by using fake blood, tooth color, or prosthetic "hollows" around the eyes. Thing thing about a Walking Dead zombie that's different from, say, Night of the Living Dead, is that these "Walkers" look like real dead people. The colors aren't crazy, and the costumes are believable for the person they were. Add your own personality, but keep the look grounded in reality and you'll be fine. Happy Halloween!!

Smoky, Spooky, Vamp Eyes: Featuring E.L.F. Maleficent Palette

I know a lot of you were interested in the E.L.F. Disney Villains palettes, so I decided to put together a Halloween eye look incorporating the Maleficent palette products with some others I had lying around. Okay, truth be told, I did this accidentally. Today was actually "Favorite Sports Team" day at work, so I needed something with University of Alabama crimson. As I started putting on my makeup, I realized that this would work really well with a Devil or Vampire costume. You could go more dramatic than I did, but honestly, I like it just the way it is. I paired it with a nude lip for a 60s mod vibe, but a blood red lip would look amazing. (I didn't take pictures of the whole look, since it wasn't really Halloweeny.)

If you would like to see the full , more dramaticVampire/Devil look, please let me know in the comments. I'm working on a few costume looks, and appreciate suggestions. Now, does anyone know how to make time stop so I can take a break and do them?

Here 'tis:

I hate cameras. In person, that crimson is CRIMSON. Oh well, it's still pretty.

Alrighty! I started by priming all over the lid, up to the brow. Then I used a fluffy shader brush to wash the "Misfortune" shade (silver) from the Maleficent palette all over the lid and in the crease. Then, for the crimson, I dipped a denser, shorter shader brush into "Cranberry" by MAC*. It's a permanent color, and just a gorgeous almost metallic rusty berry. It just screams Fall. I placed the color from the outer corner just to the edge of my eyeball. Then, I dipped the same brush into "Forest of Thorns" (dark charcoal with multicolored micro-glitter) from the Maleficent palette, and, holding a tissue from the corner of my eye to the end of my brows, created a sharp angle at the outer corner and blended it in. Then, I used a blending brush to blur all my edges for a smoky look.

We're just doing eyes, so you can ignore the lip and cheek color.
We'll be using the first two shades from the left, as well as the liquid eyeliner. It's sparkly!

Next, I grabbed the liquid liner from the NYX Dark Shadows palette (Crimson Amulet...whatever you want to call it) and created a medium-thick, slightly winged line on my upper lashline. I used a tiny, flat liner brush to run "Forest of Thorns" over the liquid line, then from outer corner of the lower lashline to about halfway in, then used the same brush to place "Misfortune" in the inner corner and run it under the lashes to about halfway in, meeting "Forest of Thorns" in the middle, and overlapping slightly. I finished the look by running the glitter liquid liner from the Maleficent palette over the upper lashline, then adding black mascara to top and bottom lashes, and dusting a little of the highlighter from the NYX palette onto the brow bone.

Basically, the key to this is precise edges, but no harsh lines. False eyelashes would look amazing with this, as would either a nude or blood red lip.

I hope you've enjoyed this! Again, if you would like to see this amped up a bit (vamped up a bit?) as a full-on costume look, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

*MAC shows it as darn near purple, and classifies it as a plum, but mine (bought from the store, so definitely not a fake) doesn't even come close to fitting that description. (Pixiwoo did a stunning tutorial with Cranberry, and theirs didn't look purple, either, if that makes any sense. In other words: IGNORE THE DESCRIPTION ON THE MAC SITE!)

Frugal Friday: Have You Seen Me?



Photo Credit: Sephora



Recently, I rediscovered Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Blush. I received a deluxe sample size some time back, and absolutely hated it. Loathed it. Despised it. Tossed it into the deepest, darkest recesses of my makeup case, never to lay eyes on it again...until about a month ago.

Holy moley, what was I thinking?!



I absolutely adore this stuff now. The color I have is #6, Quickie, and it's a beautiful, warm, salmon pink that looks completely natural on my cheeks. I'm totally in love, but there's a problem: the full-size is $26, and I will run out of this at some point.



Photo Credit: E.L.F.



Coincidentally, at the same time I fell for the MUFE, bargain-favorite E.L.F. came out with its own version of the HD cream blush. So, my question to you is: anybody tried this, yet? It's only $3, but I've only been able to find it online. I don't need to place an order with them right now, and it seems silly to pay twice as much in shipping than for the one item I want. If you have tried this, please let me know in the comments. Maybe I can do a comparison on the two one day, if I can get my hands on a bottle.