Shakeup Your Makeup

...and I apologize - I have a lot of things to catch up while I've been sick these past few days. Once I get some pictures taken tonight, I'll get back to posting!

Last week I showed you all my Easter goodies, and I finally got around to taking pictures of my lipsticks! When I came through Walgreens and they had the sale on Jane, I snagged 3 of their lipsticks - Aquaceuticals Laguna, Cotton Candy and Toasted Rose. The Easter Bunny also brought me a gorgeous Rimmel lipstick called Coffee Shimmer, which I love.

Laguna is a beautiful shrimp pink with shimmer
Cotton Candy is exactly as it sounds - a cotton candy pink - no shimmer
Toasted Rose is a warm rose color - no shimmer
Coffee Shimmer is a warm brown with champagne shimmer


Absolutely gorgeous colors and at a great price due to the sale. I can't wait to wear the Cotton Candy - what a pretty pink for spring.

Yesterday I posted about Sonia Kashuk's Blending Sponge, and when I was searching through her products I found that several over her eyeshadows were marked down (although there wasn't any rhyme or reason to it). I had been looking at these colors in the past, so I took the opportunity to pay $6 for the palette instead of $9 - always looking for a bargain!!

Born to be Wild is a palette of four beautiful colors - an indigo, navy, turquoise and wine color. I figured if anything they would make great liners, but I do have quite a shortage of blues so this was the perfect addition to my collection.

The colors are very smooth and really well pigmented conidering they run about $2.50 a peice if you purchased the palette at full price. I really like the violet irridescence to the indigo color, and the turquoise is absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to try them out!

Below are swatches so you can see the colors and the shimmer in each of them.

The newest sensation in liquid foundation has been the Beauty Blender sponge applicator. Sonia Kashuk (at Target) created her own version, and the store close to my house FINALLY got back in stock so I was able to pick one up when I was there this past weekend.

The Sonia Kashuk blender sponge is a deep purple and looks like an Easter egg! It is made of a dense, but very squishy and flexible sponge that has a narrow tip at the top for application into smaller areas (under eyes, around nose, corners of eyes) and the broader end that can be used to apply to a broader areas, like the cheeks, forehead, etc.

I tried it for the first time today and was amazed at how little foundation I had to use in order to get excellent and flawless coverage - definitely a lot better than using my fingertips which apparently was just smearing it all over my face! Although I am a mineral makeup fanatic, I do have Laura Geller's Phenomenal Foundation and I found this made a world of difference in it's application compared to how I had in the past.

For around $9-10, this is definitely worth the try! Pick one up next time you are at Target, or take a look online here.

I finally stumbled upon the Revlon "Pure Confection" highlighting powder that everyone has been comparing to MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes at my local Walmart, so I picked one up to try. The one I got had a majority of ivory frost, with some pink and blue woven through.



I was worried that the Revlon "Brighten" I purchased last week would be very similar, but the colors are very different. The "brighten" is much cooler and pinker. The "Pure Confection" is truly a highlighter, and could be used as an eyeshadow as well!


I swatched the two below, and unfortunately it is difficult to see a difference because of how much shimmer there is in both of them. The "Brighten" is more pink, though.

I've been a little MIA recently because I have the dreaded cold that is running rampant through our office - yuck! Unfortunately it hit about Thursday and I'm still feeling the repercussions of it! Regardless, I figured some makeup would make me feel better, so I thought I'd post about the Jane Aquaceuticals I bought myself before Easter.

I found four colors left - black, bronze, taupe and wine - at my local Walgreens, so I bought them all up. They are pretty fat pencils, but the color payoff is great! There is a bit of a cooling sensation when applied, and they remind me of the old Maybelline eye pencils that had the same effect, only the Jane Aquaceuticals actually lasted and had better pigmentation.


The swatches are below - as you can see a few of the colors have a little bit of minuscule glitter to them, but it didn't irritate my eyes like some glittery eyeliners do. I love the color of the Deep Pearl, because I find it's hard to come across a good taupe eyeliner that doesn't pull and drag along your lashline when applied.


If you happen to come across these are your local Walgreens while they are being clearanced, I'd say for the $2, they are definitely worth it!

The Balm "Balm Beach" palette is absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to wear this when I get back from Floriday here in about a month - what perfect colors to wear with a nice tan! There are three colors that can be worn as eyeshadows and bronzers, as well as a gorgeous lipgloss in this palette. The top color is a matte bronze, the middle is a beautiful coral/peach with golden shimmer and the bottom is a peachy bronze shimmer. These are absolutely gorgeous!

Secondly is the Revlon Colorstay Mineral Finishing Powder in "Brighten". This is a drugstore version of the MAC Mineral Skin Finish blushes and highlights, although it doesn't necessarily carry the drugstore price. At around $14.00, I would definitely wait for a coupon or BOGO to come along, although the product is beautiful. A gorgeous shimmery pink, this works great as a highlight or eyeshadow.

Below is The Balm palette on, along with the Revlon as a highlighter - gorgeous! I just can't wait until I have a tan! :)

Face:

Everyday Minerals Intensive Foundation "Fairly Summer"

The Balm Palette "Hot Mama" - blush

Revlon Colorstay Mineralize Finishing Powder "Brighten"

Eyes:

The Balm Palette shimmery bronze - lid

Ulta Eyeshadow "Olive" - crease/outer corner

Ulta Eyeshadow "Lustre" - highlight

Milani Color Brilliance Eyeliner Pencil "Green" - lower lashline

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara

Forget taxes - lets think about makeup for a bit! The Easter Bunny was good to me this year -tons of candy and makeup made the start of my week that much better! Not only did I get a gorgeous palette from The Balm, but I also got some beautiful lipsticks as well! Also, as an Easter treat for myself, I hit up Walgreens to buy some of Jane products before they were all gone, and I grabbed some of the Jane Aquaceuticals eyeliners and lipsticks, as well as the new Revlon Colorstay Mineral Finishing powder.

Swatches soon to follow... :)

It's official! Now that Easter has come and gone, the weather can turn to the warmer days that we are all looking for! Although it is another rainy day, I know that warm weather is around the corner (especially since the weatherchannel.com says it is going to be sunny and 70 on Friday!).

For Easter I dug through my closet to find the brightest clothes I had, and went with yellow, turquoise and green - and therefore had to reflect that in my makeup. Using all drugstore brands including Cover Girl, Milani and NYX, I managed to pull together a look that even the Easter Bunny would be proud of!

Face:
Laura Geller Balance 'n Brighten "Light"
Everyday Minerals Multi Tasking Fair Concealer
Laura Geller Blush 'n Brighten "Pink Grapefruit"
Revlon Colorstay Mineral Finishing Powder "Brighten"

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Milani Runway Eyes Fashion Shadow "Glamorous Gems" - yellow on inner corner; Kelly green on lid and on lower lashline.
Cover Girl Eyeshadow "Indigo Impact" - outer corner/"v" into lower lashline
NYX Snow Cone - highlight
Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara "Black"

Spring keeps knocking on the door here in Indiana, and then will leave us for either colder weather or rain, so I've been getting a little frustrated with Ms. Mother Nature! This morning I needed something to brighten up the wardrobe from the blah blacks and creams I tend to lead towards when I'm in a "funk", so I decided to do a sparkly look, and what better than some MAC Solar Bits and pigments to help out!

Now, I know there are mixed reviews about the Solar Bits because of their very cumbersome consistency, but I find that using a fingertip and letting the pigments melt into the eyelid really can create a beautiful look. It does take some practice, but I find that you get very little fallout compared to using a brush.

Below are the four eyeshadows I used - MAC Solar Bits "Sun Rays", MAC Paint Pot in "Bare Study", MAC Pigment in "Sunpepper", and NYX Eyeshadow in "Snow Cone".



Face:
Laura Geller's Balance and Brighten "Light"
Everyday Minerals Intense Multitasking Concealer
MAC Mineralize Blush "Merrily"
MAC Beauty Powder "Soft Focus"

Eyes:
Lumene Beauty Base Eye Base - all over eye/lid
MAC Paint Pot "Bare Study" - all over eye/lid
MAC Solar Bits "Sun Ray" - lid and lower lashline
MAC Pigment "Sun Pepper" - outer V and into crease
NYX Eyeshadow "Snow Cone" - brown bone
Black Eyeliner (unknown brand - it had rubbed off, but I think it is Revlon)
Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara "Black"

Lips:
Bare Escentuals Natural Lipgloss "Brilliance"

Something I find I am always trying to do is find a good knockoff of a product in a drugstore brand. I posted a few days ago about a good duplicate of the Urban Decay Primer Potion in the Lumene Beauty Base Eye Makeup Base, and now I am going to tackle the infamous Nars O blush.

While going through my collection of blushes, I discovered I have about every possible knockoff available, so I thought I'd line them up against the real deal - Nars.

Wet 'n Wild "Pearlescent Pink" - shimmering pink/coral - more pink than coral with golden shimmers.

Ulta Blush "Afterglow" - shimmering pink with coral/gold sparkles - cooler undertones than Nars O.

Milani "Luminous" - coral blush with golden shimmers and a more golden undertone.

Loreal "Front Page Peach" - pale coral with a hint of pink and very golden shimmers.

Because I just received the Loreal Front Page Peach in the mail yesterday, I had to play around with it and see if I liked the color or not - which I do! Not only is it a great flush, but it has a beautiful glow associated with it. The glow isn't quite as evident below, but this is a beautiful blush!

Laura Geller's newest addition is the "Eye Dream of Italy" collection, which was available as a Today's Special Value on QVC about a week ago. This collection contains a full size foundation, full size blush, full size eyeshadow duo, lipstick, mascara and two brushes.


Per the QVC Website -

What is it:
The Eye Dream of Italy collection is all about warmth, ease, and living life beautifully.Who is it for: All skin tones and types.

How is it different:
A souvenir of Laura's journey through Italy, this kit includes highly crafted formulations of her rich and luxurious baked powders. Creamy liquids infused with multiple colors--sometimes as many as 10--are poured onto terra-cotta tablets and baked for 24 hours. The result is a lustrous dome of silky powder that knows almost instinctively how to make your skin look its best. Free of mineral oil and parabens, these powders are formulated with the age-fighting, antioxidant protection of centella asiatica and white tea.

How do I use it:
Balance-N-Brighten Baked Foundation creates a smooth base of color to help your skin look flawless and natural at the same time. Stroke the Retractable Brush across the powder dome and sweep it over your face. Blush-N-Brighten is Laura's first blush and highlighter combination in one compact. Apply the softly shimmering Como Blush directly to your face by sweeping it from the height of your ears to the apples of your cheeks. Then apply the Portofino Highlighter across the top of your cheekbones and under your eyebrows for instant illumination. Laura's Baked Eye Shadow Duo in Rome/Milan is a new shadow duo influenced by the warmth of the Tuscan sun. With the Eye Shadow Brush, stroke the golden beige Rome over your entire lid. For a more sculpted eye, stroke the deep aubergine Milan along your crease bone. Riviera is a new baked Marble Lipstick created in Italy. This swirl of light and dark pigments creates a vibrant depth of color on the lips, while its unique formulation provides deep moisturizing benefits. Apply directly from the tube or with a lip brush.Full-figured Lashes Volumizing Mascara is a water-resistant, opthalmologist-tested mascara that blends short and long nylon fibers for full, voluptuous results. Place brush at base of lashes and gently brush up. From Laura Geller.

Includes:
0.32 oz Balance-N-Brighten Baked Foundation in Fair or Regular--full size

0.32 oz Blush-N-Brighten/Highlighter in Como/Portofino (shimmery pink-peach/champagne)- full size, worldwide launch, and exclusive to QVC until September 28, 2009

0.06 oz Baked Eye Shadow Duo in Rome/Milan (golden beige/deep aubergine)--full size, exclusive to QVC until September 28, 2009

0.12 oz Marble Lipstick in Riviera (peachy brown)--worldwide launch and exclusive to QVC until September 28, 2009

0.264 oz Full-figured Lashes Volumizing Mascara (black)--worldwide launch and exclusive to QVC until March 28, 2010

Retractable Brush--full size

Double-ended Eye Shadow and Cheek Brush--full size

Brushes made in China; Products made in Italy

Below I have pictures of the collection.

First, the Como/Portofino blush and highlighter combo. What a beautiful color, and it couldn't be more appropriate for spring - it reminds of pale pink icing! The pink, mauve and golden shimmer swirl together to create an absolutely beautiful flush on the cheeks. top with the Portofino highlight on your cheek bones for a gorgeous shimmer.

The eyeshadow duo, Rome/Milan is a combination of a beautiful cream and deep golden copper swirled together - this can either be a highlight, or grab a little more gold and use it as a deeper contouring color. The other side, a swirl of gorgeous periwinkle blue, shimmery gold and deep purple creates a gorgeous natural plum/mauve on the lid.

The first of it's kind, this swirl lipstick, Riviera, combines natural moisturizers so that when applied it creates a natural color full of shine. Keeps lips smooth and healthy all day long, without caking on the color. When applied, this color is a very natural Terra cotta color.

Laura Geller's Baked Balance and Brighten is a great foundation for the natural look. Unfortunately, the original color was a bit to deep for me, so I was excited to see that this collection allowed for the choice in the NEW fair, which has less of the color correcting yellow undertones, and more of the natural beige's that I needed in my foundation. Use the retractable brush to apply - if the brush is pulled mostly in, the bristles are compact and allow for a more full coverage (under eyes, over blemishes, etc) and if the bristles are mostly out, this allows for a more natural veil to be applied over the face.

A new launch for Laura Geller, her Full Figured Lashes mascara combines short fibers for volume and longer fibers for length. A great mascara and brush, this gives thick, but natural, looking lashes from the start.

Swatches of the collection are below. This is definitely a must if you haven't tried her products before. I love this eyeshadow and blush the most out of any of hers I have ordered in the past. Great for spring, and to naturally brighten up any makeup collection!

I can't take my eyes off of the picture above - there is something about the colors, technique and application of the look that I just can't get over! Talk about stunning! MAC has come out with their line of primers that will give the appearance of flawless skin - the ultimate high definition look!

The newer items in this collection are as follows:


Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
A silky finishing powder that provides an invisible way to set makeup. Reduces shine while optically minimizing the look of pores, lines, imperfections. Available in one universal colour that suits all shades. Wear over makeup or on bare, moisturized skin.
8 G / 0.28 US OZ US $21.00

Prep+Prime Line Filler
A primer used post-foundation, pre-makeup to camouflage, soften and relax expression lines and wrinkles. Applies as a dense cream: dries to a transparent, smooth, natural matte finish. With ongoing use, clinically proven to help rejuvenate your look.
15 ML / 0.5 US FL OZ US $19.50

Prep+Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment