Saturday, August 13, 2011

Mermaid Inspeyer-ation, Part 1

I spoke to my girlfriend today and she suggested I do a look with blue and green, something mermaid-inspired. Well I got a little too busy, because I can be heavy-handed when it comes to color application. My look started leaning towards a Mardi Gras theme, so I tried and pull the focus back. I decided that this is MY rendition of a mermaid, a beautiful, fun and playful mermaid that is! I got to thinking of doing a second mermaid look, a more serious dramatic look, to represent more of a dangerous siren of the sea. You know, the wickedly sexy ones that sing the sailors into the hands of death. LOL. Watch for that soon.

So I went ahead and took pics while I worked on my face. I am sloppy when it comes to this whole thing. You will see my mineral fallout on my cheeks, under my eyes, and my crazy, not yet groomed brows. Oh, I have a time with my brows!!! A tip that will save you a headache; DO YOUR FOUNDATION AFTER YOUR EYES!You will spare yourself a lot of wiping up, because unless you are a pro, you will probably end up with "fallout", that little thing we call it when your loose minerals end up somewhere other than where you intended! Same goes for using heavy black shadows. You are probably going to make a mess before your look is done. Here we go....



Apply your primer to all the areas you plan on putting your makeup. I went up to my brow bone and under my eyes using Laura Geller Eye Spackle.

I then took a blue from BFTE called
Blueberry and applied to more than 3/4 of my lid. I open my eyes and use points on my eyeball to mark off where to end my shadow application. You are going to blend, so if your eyes are not exactly the same, don't stress.

I then took BFTE Green Apple and applied to the rest of my eye and extended the shape out to around my outer eyebrows and lined the bottom as well, but not all the way in. I took the blue and did the under eye near the tear duct area and left a small gap between the blue and green.

 I then took BFTE Whimsey and lined the top of the blue and green, following the shape. I put BFTE Isis in the gap i left under my eye, and highlighted under the brow with BFTE Way Up High. I lined my lids with a white pencil.

LoL, you can see my crazy eyebrow which needs to be brushed, and the fallout under my eyes.




I then lined my water line with Starry Eyeliner Gel in a rich, navy color. I brushed MAC powder in Espresso on my eyebrows and then put Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions (very black) mascara on upper and lower lids.
I followed with all over foundation and then blushed the apples of my cheeks.










MAC Studio Fix Fluid Review-Full Coverage Foundation



For foundation I prefer full coverage. I use Mac Studio Fix Fluid with SPF 15. It's The fullest coverage foundation I have found and I have been through a ton of foundations! I use it when I have the worse break outs and even when I don't. I love it because it gives you a very clean and clear look. Your skin almost looks like a beautiful porcelain doll. With this foundation, a little goes a long way, so it can last awhile depending how often you do your make up. You can usually find Mac at any mall and this does happen to be their highest priced foundation, at around $30. But again well worth it. If you have some hard to cover blemishes this foundation will be your saving grace. I give it 4 stars out of 4."EvlArch"

****/****

Smurf Nail Art and a blonde Katy Perry!


Friday, August 12, 2011

Mama & Baby Matching Makeup

I somehow pulled this off on my wiggly daughter. One of my favorite looks. :-)
Used BFTE minerals :-)
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Quick Blue and Gold Look


Very simple makeup that makes an impact. Use a blue on top and line the lower lashes with the same color. Highlight under brow with a gold. Only takes a few minutes but turns out pretty in the sunshine,

Weekend and Weekday

A full face with nude lips.


 A simple, toned-down look for work

Hazel loves Makeup too!

My daughter loves having the chance to be like Mommy and play makeup. She convinces me that she "pee-peed in the potty this morning" and since she hasn't been potty-trained all that long, I reward her with some colors after I'm done doing my own makeup. I am working on teaching her how to close her eyes without squinting them shut tight and trying to get her to stay still for not only application but the pics. She is a hard one! She usually rubs most of it off, but at least it makes her happy!



Maybelline Lux Lilac with Wet n Wild Pink Sugar confetti on top. Under the eye-Jesse's Girl in Mardi Gras


"My First BFTE Makeup Set (Bright Colors)"

The first Indie company that I decided to test makeup from was Beauty From the Earth, known as BFTE.This company does not test on animals. I looked through the website and found myself wanting it all! Tons and tons of color choices, these loose minerals are awesome! The website claims to have "...Over 350 unique and modern colors of the rainbow."
At a loss at which colors to try first, I decided to go with the set of bright colors which come in a pretty little box in sample size. This set includes 8 jars of gorgeous shades, .50 grams (by volume) with a sifter. Although this seems like a rather tiny amount, these colors can go a long way, as they are nicely pigmented. The more you use, the more vibrant the color will show up. Dab on a light layer to shimmer or pack on the color with a makeup brush for a more intense effect.
From left to right: Raspberry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Gem, Blueberry, Grape, Whisper
My makeup arrived quickly after I placed my order and came in an adorable little box. I was also given a tiny plastic bag with an additional sample with my order. I was so excited! This would make a great first time purchase because these eight colors can be combined in lots of fun ways. I also think this would make a great gift, and at $14.00, you can't go wrong.
I've had a great time with this little set, and I placed another order shortly after.
BFTE sells full size jars for $6.50 and sample size for $2.00. The website also carries cosmetic-grade glitter, some brush sets, foundations, blushes, and more. Every week their is a Color of the Week, voted on by Facebook friends online. The COTW sells for $2.00 for a full-size jar. What a steal! Definitely a great sales technique because it is tempting to want to make a purchase every single week!
I am very happy with this line of cosmetics, and I can't wait to get some $$$$ and pick up new shades.
The colors are more vivid than what my little camera can capture. Did you know that a camera can only capture about 60 shades of color, whereas the human eye can differentiate between millions?!

Taken in the sunlight. From right to left: Raspberry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Gem, Blueberry, Grape, Whisper


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Grape Crush

Blue-Jesse's Girl eye dust in Mardi Gras. Purple-BFTE in Grape


I also used a silver on the highlight, a white eyeliner, and a black shadow for blending in the crease.

Blonde Shampoo Mini-Review

I have the top layer of my hair bleached some shade of blonde. Even one afternoon in the sun will turn it brassy and an undesirable yellowed hue. This blonde thing is high maintenance! An easy and fast way to de-brass your blonde is to use a purple shampoo specially formulated for blonde or grey hair. It's not bleaching and although some of the shampoos can be a little drying, they are not damaging like toning your hair. Toned hair looks beautiful, but requires a developer which is detrimental to your locks.
I have recently tried three different purple shampoos, which I will give you a quick run-down on.

Shimmer Lights Original Conditioning Shampoo by Clairol Professional:

This shampoo is one of the most commonly used purple shampoos. It is available at beauty supply shops usually and is affordable, between seven and fourteen dollars depending on the size of the bottle and where you purchase it. This shampoo does what it says it will do, which is to remove brassiness and brighten the hair. The directions call for leaving the second lather on for 3-5 minutes depending on how much you would like to brighten. A word of advice? Watch the time! You may have to figure out how long is right for your hair, as the lighter your hair color is, the more likely it will be to pick up the purple pigment. I left on my hair for the maximum time and ended up with a dull dingy ash-like color over my blonde. I have read horror stories of hair turning purple also.If this happens, don't panic! It's temporary and even though it may take a week to fully vanish, I assure you it will. If your hair is not in bad condition, you can use a strong clarifying shampoo daily to strip it out faster. The shampoo is also not conditioning like it claims. I have very dry, frizzy hair that I do my best to deep condition, and this shampoo wasn't the gentlest for me. Do not use this more than a few times a week or it has a dulling affect. Use when you notice your hair is changing back to brassy, and like magic, problem solved.
Shimmer Lights will get the brassy/gold out. It really works, maybe a little too well. Do not overuse this product or you will not achieve the results you are looking for. Easy to get and reasonably priced.
***/****

Jhirmack Distinctions Silver Plus Ageless Shampoo:

This shampoo says it is for "grey, blonde, bleached or highlighted hair" and says it has antioxidants and CoQ10 in it. The back lists various ingredients that make this shampoo seem like a good idea for hair that needs nourishment. I did not like this shampoo at all! I might as well used generic hotel shampoo; I noticed no difference before and after washing my hair, even the times I left the product in my hair for five minutes. The directions do not even indicate to leave the product in your hair, nor any mention of how often to use. The purple seemed useless, and the shampoo did  not leave my hair particularly soft or manageable.
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Rusk Sensories Bright Shampoo:

Rusk Sensories is a line that is known for it's awesome smells. This shampoo is Chamomille and Lavender and although I can't say it smells exactly like those scents, it smells yummy! I love washing my hair with this product. The back claims that all of their shampoos have "Compressed Formula Technology." Although it sounds all hi-tech, it really just means a little goes a long way. This proves true, the shampoo suds up and foams into a rich lather with just a dollop in your palm, meaning the bottle will last you a little while. Instructions indicate to only leave in 60-90 seconds, but I am able to leave in for several minutes with no negative effect. It does not say how often to use, but I found I am able to use it 3-4 times a week with no dulling and no purple hair. As for removing the brass, this shampoo delivers without the finickiness of Shimmer Lights and smells great. I paid about twelve dollars at a beauty supply for 13.5 ounces, but like I said, this shampoo goes a long way. This is my current favorite shampoo, and I plan to get the matching conditioner next. Will let you know how it goes.
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Have you tried any purple shampoos? What was your experience?









Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Marina and Whimsey



 I did this look last night just for fun while waiting for my husband to finish playing his video game. I think I did a rather alright job for having a few drinks prior! LOL



 Foundation: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Natural Ivory (Light 3)
Eyebrows: Mac matte shadow in Espresso
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions in Very Black
Eyeshadow: Jordana loose eyeshadow, Black, with a layer of Beauty From the Earth (BFTE) minerals-Marina on top. Marina also used on lower eyes                                         
Under brow bone: BFTE minerals in Whimsey

 Eyeliner: Jordana eyeliner in white
Water line: Wet n' Wild 886 black pot liner

Playing

A look I did on one of my girlfriends this weekend. I used her makeup. It was hot on the day of application, so I had her apply her normal foundation heavily to her lids before we started putting the shadows on. The picture was taken about three hours after applying and she had been in the sun. Holding power was pretty good in my opinion, considering we did not have a real primer to use. She has an awesome, inexpensive palette from Hot Topic that we used for the colors.





Pink and Blues

I love pink and blue combinations.
All of these pictures were taken after I had been wearing the makeup for awhile.These looks were done with Beauty From the Earth minerals and Jordana loose shadows. I don't have the specific colors used, as these are old shots, but if you really like a specific color shown, contact me and I will try and go through my shadows and find you the color used.





Welcome!

I am a mother with crazy kids and never-ending laundry and dishes, so I will work on this project as time allows. I am also trying to figure out the best lighting and settings on my camera for up-close shots of makeup, so excuse the picture quality.
I understand that cosmetic prices can get way up there! I am a savy shopper myslelf, so I test out a lot of drugstore products. I am not a brand snob and I'm not hung up on trying to sell anyone anything, just give my  honest opinion on what works and what doesn't. *I have no endorsements and am not being paid by any company for my reviews or commentary.*
Enjoy looking around and please feel free to subscribe and comment.
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