Summer In the City: May Favorites

First off, I want to congratulate my awesome, amazing, and way too darn tall baby brother on his 8th Grade Graduation! Not only that, but he won the Technology award for his class! Don't ask me what that means, because I'm a bad sister who has no idea. Still, I'm impressed, and couldn't be prouder.

And yeah, I cried.

Buckets.

I love that kid.

 

Photo Credit: Sally Beauty Supply

 

Okay, now that I've embarrassed the pants off my younger sibling, let's move on to something new! Since it's the end of the month, and I've had the opportunity to play with some new things, I thought I'd put together a little "best of" list. These are the products I've found myself reaching for the most this month. I tried really hard to choose both high-end and drugstore products for each category. Think of it as a mini-review/recommendation list. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, let me know, and I'll try to keep this up. I'm trying to tailor this blog to what you guys want to see, so please, do a girl a favor and tell me what  you want, what you really, really want.

Eyes

Photo Credit: Sephora

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Rehab: Toss this is in your beach bag for one-step, no fuss, boho smoky eyes. Run this bronze-y brown all over the lid and under the lower lashes, smudge it out, then use it to line upper and lower for added definition. No brushes, primer, or neatness required! $20, Sephora.

NYX HD Eye Shadow Base: Surprise! This is the only primer I've ever used that could really cut down on glitter fallout. I adore my UD Midnight Emergency palette, but Midnight Rodeo and Midnight Cowboy (my favorite shades, wouldn't you know) tend to turn into mini Tinkerbell-explosions that no amount of clean-up can fix. On a whim, I used the sample size primer from my Dark Shadows palette, and ended up with only the tiniest bit of fallout on my cheeks, instead of the disco-ball shrapnel I'm used to. Awesome stuff, guys. $6.99, Ulta.

Lips

Photo Credit: Sephora

Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Lip Tint in Enchanted: I picked this up to wear during a voice recital, which is basically an hour straight of singing. Correction: it's basically a solid hour of beating your lips together, interrupted only by brief, yet frequent, periods of chugging water. Anything that goes on your lips has got to have serious staying power, and this definitely did the trick. Not only that, but my lips stayed soft, moisturized, and the prettiest shade of fresh strawberry pink. It's pricey, but given the circumstances, worth it. I do want to compare it to the new lookalike, Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm. $24 (nearly choked!), Sephora.

Photo Credit: Drugstore.com

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Lollipop: Speaking of Revlon, I am absolutely loving their new lip butters. They feel like a balm, look like a sheer lipstick, and come in really pretty, color-coordinated packaging, so no fumbling around looking for the right one in a sea of black containers. (I'm looking at you MAC and E.L.F.!) Lollipop is a super bright fuschia that can be worn sheer for a wash of color, or built up for maximum impact. It's gorgeous for Summer. $5.99, Drugstore.com.

Face

Benefit Boi-ing: I'm just going to say this: I ran out one day (okay, so I accidentally dropped it in my coffee while I was half-asleep and trying to get dressed in a hurry. Grace and dignity, right here), and had to use another concealer I had lying around. I figured that would get me by for a few days, at least, right? Nope. By nightfall, I'd replaced it, and have no intentions of ever being without it again. It's just that good. $19, Sephora.

ELF Mineral Foundation: I use this to set my beauty balm and concealer, and honestly, I like it better than the UD powder I was using. Plus, I feel like I'm doing something good for my skin by using the mineral powder, and it's a heckuva lot cheaper. $5, eyeslipsface.com.

Body

Photo Credit: Sephora

Super by Perricone Supermodel Legs: I won't go out in shorts or a skirt without this, if I can help it. It's leg makeup, pure and simple, but it's so easy to use, and your legs look fabulous. This is a lightly-tinted, weightless moisturizer that you just rub on for a subtle sheen that reflects the light and masks imperfections. I'm not going to say that it does anything other than that, but for this day-glo white chick with cellulite, that's enough. It's on sale right now, and I plan to pick up a few more bottles. $15, Sephora.

Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen with Shimmer: I live in the extreme deep South (any further South, and you'd be swimming). It's hot. It's muggy. It's downright miserable, and while I feel that everyone, regardless of location, should wear sunscreen every day, there's really no way around it down here. You go outside, you fry. End of story. This feels nice, coats well, protects really well, and leaves you with a pretty glow. The smell's a little too sunscreen-y for my taste, but I can live with it for all the other benefits. $9.99, Drugstore.com. (Available in several SPFs. I like 40. 'Cause I'm Casper.)

Hair

Photo Credit: Sephora

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray: My technique for beach waves: Spray this in towel-dried hair, then roughly blow-dry until just damp. Let air-dry the rest of the way. Do. Not. Brush. Looks like I just spent the day at the Gulf, and it's so fast and easy! $24, Sephora.

Bumble & Bumble Prep: I use this is conjunction with the Surf Spray, actually. That's why I have two high-end products for this category. The day after you Surf Spray your hair, spritz this all over to reactivate the product, then brush through for soft waves that last all day, or use as a base for hot rollers or a curling iron. You can also use this on its own as a style primer, but I love it for reactivating product. It really came in handy a couple of weeks ago during filming. Travel size is only $6 at Sephora.



Photo Credit: Buy.com



It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In: The drugstore pick is as expensive as the high-end! That's madness! I hate, hate, hate, that I got this as a deluxe sample. I used it up, fell head over heels in love with it, and then found out how much it cost! It's completely worth it, though, and a bottle will last months. Spray it in freshly washed hair for detangling and added softness and shine. I don't know how I lived without it. $21.99, Target (I believe Ulta is less, but I can't find it on the site).

Nails 

China Glaze in Watermelon Rind: This is a super fun, unexpected pop of color for your toes. I don't recommend it for fingers, but this bright teal glitter shade looks beyond beautiful peeping through flip-flops. Check it out at the top of this post. $6.49, Sally Beauty Supply.

Zombie Apocalypse...NOW!

I'm on a mission today. I need to find the easiest, least expensive zombie makeup imaginable. I'll probably just end up ordering some greasepaint to replace the green that I used up on The Night Shift, but a palette would be ideal. I don't want to have to keep mixing colors, if I don't have to. I just need a cheap, good palette with a decent number of applications. This isn't it:

Photo Credit: FX Faces

Oh, but I want it so bad it hurts!! It's based on the palette that was custom-ordered for the original Dawn of the Dead, and it's perfect for my needs! ARGH!

Now, this is an alcohol-activated product, which can be tricky (and I have no idea how to use one, myself, for that matter. Not a pro, folks!). Another extraordinarily good option is the--unfortunately, crazy expensive--Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case. If all else fails, some greasepaint and a little baby powder works wonders. 

Photo Credit: Sephora

Turns out, we may not need zombie makeup, since we might be at the very beginnings of the zombie apocalypse! Give this a read and tell me what you think in the comments. Me? I'm watching The Walking Dead for survival tips*.

*Not really. I just like the show. :)

Skin As White As Snow...Check!

Oh, I'm so excited! Tonight, I'm going to the sneak preview of Snow White & the Huntsman, and it looks like it's going to be amazeballs. I have no idea why, but I have been completely stoked to see this movie since I first heard about it. I guess it's because the princess part of me loves a good fairy tale, and the feminist part of me really digs it when the heroine kicks some serious butt. Anyway, I've been all over this one, and even managed to score a cooler-than-usual promotional t-shirt that I'm wearing today. It's a super-soft gray burnout v-neck with silhouettes of birds making up the shape of a tree printed on the hip. Honestly, it just looks like a fashion tee, with the only giveaway that it's a promo being the movie's logo printed on one sleeve. I didn't notice it for quite a while, and I was studying the shirt pretty hard. Anyhoo, it seems that nifty t-shirts weren't the only tie-in for this movie, and there are actually a couple of impressive beauty sets (which makes sense) on the market. 

Photo Credit: Benefit

If you're a Benefit fan, there's the gorgeous Rare Beauty set. It includes a full-sized POREfessional balm, full-sized BADgal mascara, deluxe sample of Benetint cheek and lip stain, and deluxe sample of High Beam highlighter, all housed in an absolutely lovely lavender and pearl train case. The set goes for $45, which seems a little high until you remember that POREfessional runs $29, and BADgal is another $19...so you'll end up saving $3 right off the bat, and that's not even taking into account the deluxe samples or the case. If you use those two products, snap this up. Me? Well, I like POREfessional very much, and use my sample size underneath mineral makeup. Unfortunately, BADgal isn't for me. It's a good mascara--don't get me wrong! It's just not my personal favorite. I'm more into Buxom and Tarte. I do like the High Beam highlighter a lot, but I'm currently in love with a cream highlight from Urban Decay (discontinued, wouldn't you know), and I've found that, pretty as Benetint is, I can't use it. I'm probably the only person on the planet to have a reaction to it, but I'm sort of allergic. Who knew? In other words, it's a wonderful set for somebody, just not me. I do encourage you to check it out, though. 

Photo Credit: Beauty.com

The other set is the much more affordable, twenty-five dollar Deborah Lippmann Snow White & the Huntsman nail polish duo. It contains two polishes, one each in Prelude To a Kiss (a pale, almost eggshell pink) and Dark Side Of the Moon (dark, blue-based blood red). I have zero experience with these polishes, but the colors look beautiful in the box.

For giggles, I thought I'd try a Snow White-inspired look to wear to the movie. I knew that cheeks and lips would be the main focus, so for the eyes, I did a sugar-sparkle shadow (snow sparkles, right?) in a barely-there shade. Of course, Kristen Stewart is known for her smoky eye, but that wouldn't be appropriate with the strong lips and cheeks, so I tried a toned-down version to keep the look natural and pretty. Other than that, I worked a lot on making the skin look dewy and flawless (ha! I am so broken out, it's ridiculous). What do you guys think?


Products used:

TooFaced Beauty Balm in Vanilla Glow

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in Light

E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Warm

E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium

NYX HD Eye Primer (works GREAT for glitter shadows!)

Eyes: Urban Decay Stardust in Space Cowboy--All Over

         Satin-Finish Camel from NYX Dark Shadows Palette--Crease

         Matte Charcoal Brown from NYX Dark Shadows Palette--Lower Lash 

         Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero--Upper Lash

         Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Sin--Inner Corner

Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Black--Upper and Lower

NYX Matte Red Blush from the Dark Shadows Palette (I knew I could find a way to wear it!)

MAC Mineralize Blush Duo in Moon River as Highlighter (discontinued, but I'm working to find a dupe!)

Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

Frugal Friday: Window Shopping Challenge!

Happy Friday-Before-A-Three-Day-Weekend!! Major sales happening over the next few days. I won't bore you with those, since they'll all but slap you in the face if you're out and about. Instead, here's the scoop on some extra special savings that you might not know about. Let's get to it!

TooFaced: Free Shipping all weekend with code THANKYOU12. Exp. 5/28.
Sally Beauty Supply: Take an extra 50% off all red tag clearance with code 555100. Exp. 5/28.
Bath and Body Works: $1 Shipping on orders over $25 with code MEMORIAL25. Exp. 5/28.

Question: has anyone here ever paid full price for anything at Aeropostale? That store seems to be in a state of perpetual clearance, and that's just fine and dandy, dandy and fine with me. Today, I looked and about half the store was 70% off. Just for giggles, I hopped on Polyvore and gave myself a challenge: put together a Memorial Day BBQ outfit for under $50, using only Aeropostale items. Here's what I came up with:

$50 Memorial Day BBQ Outfit by adorablenapalm featuring nyx lip gloss

Not bad, if I do say so, myself. Dress, shoes, bag, and two accessories (that ring is precious, and I like the way the curve in the sunglasses mimics the curve in the bodice), and the total came to $44.10. For coming in so far under the imaginary budget, I imaginarily treated myself to an imaginary lip gloss, bringing the final bill to $49.60. Heck, I'm so proud of myself, I may go try this on at the real Aeropostale this weekend. You can't beat twelve bucks for a dress.

I hope you all have a truly wonderful holiday, and please take a moment to remember the reason for the day. See y'all next week! If you're interested in any of the products mentioned, there are links below. Bye!

Nyx lip gloss
$5.50 - nyxcosmetics.com

Floral Halter Dress
$12 - aeropostale.com

Aero Surf Vertical Tote
$10 - aeropostale.com

Jelly Quarter Strap Sandal
$7.35 - aeropostale.com

Vented Shield Sunglasses
$9.75 - aeropostale.com

Sparkly Jelly Ring
$5 - aeropostale.com

50,000 Page Views...And Counting!

I am so excited, y'all! Today, this little blog hit 50,000 page views, and they're still coming! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading this. It's been such a fun experience, and I wouldn't be able to continue without you. Seriously, folks, thank you.

In celebration, I thought we might revisit the ten most popular posts. Come with me on a journey down memory lane...

The Ghost Post
Well, we've moved out of the haunted apartment, so that's good. Thankfully, since the move we've not encountered any more paranormal activity, though I did scare myself silly watching a ghost movie the other night. Whoops...

The Second Annual Obligatory Twilight Post
I don't have the Alice palette mentioned, but I did do a mini-review of the Rosalie palette just recently. Also, if you've not subscribed to the Pixiwoo YouTube channel, you're really doing yourself a disservice. It's one of the best sites for tutorials around.

Goth Kitteh Can Has Hot Topic?
Wowzers! The Manic Panic people have really added to this line! I am absolutely loving the single pan eyeshadow refills that pop right back into the palettes. First, they're 100% cruelty free. Then, they're Vegan. Now, they're going sustainable. If I ever get my hands on one of these, I may just be in love. Has anyone here tried any of this makeup? How does the quality stand up? Enquiring minds need to know. I've yet to see any of these products in my area.

Um...The Dog Ate My Blog Post?
I have to say, it has ceased to amaze me that this post made it into the top ten, much less the top five, considering it was just a, "got busy, see you later" post. Thank you, guys, for taking an interest in my movie. Since that post went up, we received distribution and are now on shelves and available online. Adding to the excitement, the soundtrack was just released on CD and MP3 a few weeks ago. Thank you, again, for supporting me, Thomas, and all of the gang at Fighting Owl Films. I love you guys!

The 100th Post!!
Would you believe I'm still using that sample of Miss Dior Cherie? I absolutely love it, and the tester has lasted for ages. Soap & Glory is now at Sephora, but the price has gone up tremendously, so I still haven't replaced my empties. Oh well, I've had fun trying out new shaving creams every few weeks, but I still haven't found one to compare.

Where's the Simplicity Pattern For That?!
Sadly, I've seen nothing to top this awesomeness. If you have, please leave a link in the comments. I'd LOVE to see it.

Worth No Sleep and Crazy Crowds: Stila Glitz and Glam Palette

Well, this post took off like gangbusters! It also taught me the importance of swatching, so thank you to the commenter who asked about that. I'm still learning, and appreciate any and all helpful hints. As for the palette, I don't know how readily available this one still is, but Stila is constantly churning out new ones, and from what I've seen, they're all great quality and a real steal. Just keep your eyes peeled.

You Are Not Saving the World Wearing That, Young Lady!
This post proved to be moot, as the Wonder Woman reboot never happened, but it was fun to see your comments on the outfit and on the role of female superheroes, in general. For the record, I'm a fan of the Black Widow costume from The Avengers. I thought it was functional and attractive without being overly sexualized. So, there.

There! Art Thou Happy?: UNII Palette Review Part II

The UNII was redesigned, and while I don't hate it, it doesn't fill my needs as well as the original version. In the interest of full disclosure, when I realized I needed a new palette for Fighting Owl Films, I went with a Z Palette. It hasn't come in, yet, so I don't know if it'll be any better, but if I can't have air-tight, either way, then I'm going for more bang for my buck with the bigger size.

We Are Marshall (and Lily)

Lastly, my favorite of the group. It's really touched me that you guys liked this post enough to keep it in the top ten, since it is so personal. I guess, in keeping with the comparisons, we're still very much like Marshall and Lily. We moved out of our apartment and into the house I grew up in, which means that my family has had the fun of pointing out all of the house's idiosyncracies (though, in a, thankfully, much less annoying way than Lily's Dad). Thomas is working for a non-profit, saving the world. Of course, we did skip out on that whole baby thing. We got a puppy, instead.

So, that's it! The top ten posts of all time, revisited. I hope you've enjoyed it. Here's to 50,000 page views, and to 50,000 more!

Hair Of the Dog--Er, Ghost

Author's Note: Before we go any further, please bear in mind that Thomas and I have made two films that were outright ghost stories. Together, we have lived in a haunted apartment, and before we were married, I lived in a haunted house. I have been chased by a shadow, watched objects fly across rooms, and seen the unexplainable. In other words: I am not a wuss.

I am not a wuss. That was the mantra I chanted continuously last night, as I lay awake in bed, thankful for the soft glow of the muted television. I am not a wuss, I firmly stated as I turned on every light in the bedroom so I could make my way to the bathroom. I am not a wuss, I defiantly screamed in my head as I curled up even closer to my sweet, loving, and now sleep deprived Thomas. I AM NOT A WUSS!!!

I am, clearly, a wuss.

I adore a good ghost story, so last night, Thomas and I rented The Woman In Black, starring Harry Potter, himself, Daniel Radcliffe. We'd seen the trailers and read the reviews, and both of us were under the impression that it was atmospheric and creepy, but not overly scary. It's PG-13, for crying out loud. How scary could it be?

I had to remind myself to breathe, that's how scary. Then, I looked over at Thomas, and all I could see was the top of his head and two little eyes peering out from beneath a blanket. Heck, even the puppy was completely invested. He only hopped out of my lap once during the movie, and that was only long enough to grab one of his stuffed animals. After that, he was right back on top of me, snuggling with Dinosaur, eyes wide as saucers as he stared intently at the screen. That, folks, is the very definition of "riveting".

Neither one of us slept last night. The puppy slept like a freaking log, but Thomas and I were both wide-eyed. Today, I have been determined to learn as much as possible about the movie, as well as the many other incarnations of the original story. To me, it seemed like taking another shot to fend off a hangover. Did you know that the original story was not a folktale, as I'd been told, but was actually written in 1983? Or, that there was a television movie made in 1989, starring the actor who played James Potter, in the same role as Daniel Radcliffe? There's even a West End stage play that's been running continuously since 1989! And you know what? They're all creepy as heck!! All I've done is scare myself more! Awesome...*sigh*

Maybe not all of my research is for naught, though? If you're into cosplay and have a spare $102.99, then have I got a kickin' costume for you. Just think of all the people you could freak out during panels!

Photo Credit: Milanoo

Challenge!: $20 Makeup Look

The other day, one of my favorite vloggers, DivaMakeupQueen, posted a video on the $20 Makeup Challenge Tag. At the end, she tagged everyone who viewed the video. Now, I'm not a vlogger, and even if I were, I doubt she'd ever know if I'd welched on the dare, but I'm too honest for my own good. So, without further ado, I give you:

The $20 Makeup Challenge!!!

(BTDubs, this is a heckuvalot harder than it sounds.)

The Rules: Pretend you have a $20 bill. Using only products and tools that you could purchase with that bill, put together a full face of makeup from start to finish. I will warn you, the end result is not the best. I mean, I could have lived with it for the day, if I'd needed to, but it's not my best look.
Okay, first, let's just get this picture over with...

GAH!!!! SHE'S A WITCH! BURN HER!!
This is after getting soaked in a flash storm, so please bear with me.

So...yeah...it looked a lot better in person. Let's start with products used and the grand total:

E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Warm applied with included Mini Kubuki Brush: $5

E.L.F. Essentials Eyeshadow Primer as primer and concealer (better than nothing): $1

Profusion Spotlight Eyeshadow and Lipgloss Palette, applied with included applicator: $4

E.L.F. Studio Blush in Pink Passion, applied with Mini Kubuki Brush: $3

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Mascara: $6

Total: $19

If I'd had a $1 black eyeliner, that would have helped tremendously. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Now, let's talk about what went right with this look. Right off the bat, I'd say the color was great. You can see from the photo just how pretty and bright that blush is, and how soft, shiny, and pigmented that lipgloss is (which was applied with my finger, by the way). The shadows went on smoothly and blended well, even with a dinky little sponge-tipped applicator, and the foundation covered well and looks nice and glowy. Plus, believe it or not, the mini kubuki brush didn't suck. It's not my first choice, but it didn't create any problems. I truly believe that having a good, inexpensive palette that took care of more than one area of the face helped salvage this challenge.

Alrighty, now for the wrong. If nothing else, I needed a moisturizer in the worst way. Going one better, I really needed a primer. I was born with expression lines in my forehead, and you'd be hard pressed to catch me on a day when I didn't have on some form of a primer (today, it's part of my beauty balm). I also hate the lack of eyeliner. I tried using an eyeshadow, but without a decent brush to apply it, it really didn't work.

Other thoughts: A real concealer would have been helpful in brightening up the undereye area. My brows are actually in decent shape, so I'm okay with leaving them as is.

Wheel Of Morality, turn, turn, turn! Tell us the lesson that we should learn!: High quality color doesn't have to come with a high price tag, and there's no substitute for a good moisturizer and primer. If you're going to invest in something, invest in those.

So, who do I tag? ALL OF YOU!!! Leave your responses in the comments!