Shakeup Your Makeup

Another Halloween mani with the pumpkin polishes.  This time I layered the Pumpkin polish with orange and black confetti glitter on top of OPI Designer Series "Mystery".  The OPI is the most unique color, and so hard to capture on film.  Unfortunately it's been rainy and gloomy out so I couldn't go outside and take a picture either.  The color is a deep purple/almost black with gold micro glitter. 

If I could do this again, I would use a lighter shade underneath because you lose the black confetti in the dark color of the base polish.  Instead, I might choose a similar base shade, but something more purple and less black.   Regardless, the OPI is gorgeous on its own.  Too bad the picture can't capture it.

What is your Halloween manicure going to be?

Today's swatches are of The Balm's Shady Lady eyeshadow in Jealous Jordana.  I received this as a birthday gift as well.  This is my first go with The Balm, although I have heard very nice things about the brand. 

Jealous Jordana is a deep almost black green with evergreen shimmer.  This can be used as both an eyeshadow and an eyeliner.  The consistency is very smooth and silky.  The blending power was very nice as well.  Pigmentation is also nice, but to get the most out of it I would definitely suggest using a primer.  Using something underneath the shade really makes the color pop.

Swatched below are with (left) and without (right) primer.  I used the LA Splash Eyeshadow Primer/Sealer underneath and got really nice results.  I think if you used one of the UDPP in Greed or Sin you would get a really nice amplification of the shimmer.  It really depends on what type of look you are going for.

The Balm can be found online or in store at Sephora.  The eyeshadow singles retail for $16 a piece, but they do have sets quite often that are even more affordable.

Have you tried the Shady Lady shadows?  What about any other Balm products?

I think I mentioned a while back that they were renovating the Walgreens near me.  Well, while doing so, I was wandering through the aisles and found a section of clearance items.  These weren't just old products, or broken products, these were perfectly good products that were marked down substantially.  Case and point:  Maybelline's Limited Edition Fall 2011 blushes below...marked down to $1.75 a piece, and then Maybelline was BOGO50% off, so I got one of them for $0.87!  The moral of the story?  Go check out the clearance!

The three I found were Stage Glow, Pressworthy Pink and Ravishing Rouge. 

First, Stage Glow.  This is a beautiful highlighting shade.  The palest of nude pinks, there is beautiful pearl shimmer throughout. 

Pressworthy Pink is a true bubblegum pink.  There is also shimmer in this blush, but not as much as the Stage Glow.  The shimmer is a bit more silver as well, or it could just be because it is against the pink so it stands out more.

Ravishing Rouge is a deep brick/plum shade with a slight pink shimmer.  Yes, this is probably a bit dark for me, but I'm hoping with a light hand and a light brush, I can pull it off.  Otherwise, this is going to my sister.

All three swatched below - natural light, no flash.  The Stage Glow is just beautiful!  The textures are creamy, not chalky at all.  They blend very well into the skin and the shimmer left behind is a really nice glow in the cheeks. 

Have you tried any of these LE shades?  How about finding some great bargains like this in your local clearance?

(natural light)

(Flash)

New from the L'oreal Project Runway collection is Owl's Night.  This is a deep olive/black base with golden olive shimmer.  Depending on what type of light you are in there is orange, gold and green as well...especially in the sun.  Gorgeous.  That's all there is to say about this one. 

Two coats below.

Artificial Light

Sunlight

Sunlight

This is one of those colors I know I won't get tired of this fall/winter.  Any type of golden shimmer will look gorgeous over the top as well. 

An icy blue EOTD for this rainy day today!  I saw my Milani Baked eyeshadow laying lonely in my makeup drawer, so I thought I'd put a little look together around it.  Here it is...

UDPP Greed

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

Milani Baked Eyeshadow "Mingling" - inner corner

Fyrinnae "Otherwordly" - blended between inner corner and crease shade, wet lower lashline

Aromaleigh "Solange" - outer corner, crease

Milani "Lily White" - highlight

Lancome Artliner Eyeliner "Starshower"

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara - black

Today's EOTD is another mix of Fyrinnae and Aromaleigh and Sassy Minerals.  This one is a mix of golds, bronzes and olives as well, but I did it a little backwards.  

Laura Geller Balance 'n Brighten in Fair and Porcelain

Laura Geller Bronze 'n Brighten

Milani Baked Blush Dolce Pink

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

Sassy Minerals Witty Banter - inner corner

Fyrinnae STFU - middle of lid blended into Witty Banter and lower lashline alone

Aromaleigh Amarante - outer corner blended into crease

MAC Phloof - highlight

Boujouis Clubbing Liquid Eyeliner

Loreal Voluminous False Lashes Fiber Mascara

Too Faced Lip of Luxury Lipstick "Celebrity Meltdown"

Here's the whole deal.  Again, I can't rave enough about the Too Faced lipstick I got.  It's such a pretty warm berry shade!

Too Faced is one of the first higher end brands I had when I was younger . I think I had the original packaging in some of their eyeshadows and maybe a lipgloss of some variety.  I have heard great things about their lipsticks, and for my birthday I was lucky enough to receive one of their Lip of Luxury Champagne Essence Lipsticks in Celebrity Meltdown. 

Celebrity Meltdown is a rose base with golden shimmer.  The picture above is taken under a light, without flash.  It appears darker in the tube compared to how it applies. 

The picture below, with flash, really brings out the true color of the lipstick.  This is a deeper rose, almost raspberry shimmer base, with golden shimmer infused as well.  The pigmentation is wonderful, it's moisturizing, long lasting but doesn't dry out your lips, and I did not experience any feathering of the base pigmentation after long use.  Celebrity Meltdown its self is a really beautiful shade.  It would be perfect in the summer, but the gold helps it transition into these colder months when I find I tend to wear more dark blacks and browns. 

Swatched on the lips below.  The golden shimmer really comes out upon application.  The lipstick itself also has a nice shine - not quite like a lipgloss, but definitely more than most lipsticks have. 

There are a lot of colors to choose from, mostly ranging in the pinks to warmer red shades.  I took a snippit of the Sephora website so you could see the options.  I've also seen these at Beauty First, if you have one in your area.  Retail is $20.

Have you tried Too Faced Lipsticks before?  Which is your go-to shade?

Today's EOTD is a mixture of some of my favorite brands: Fyrinnae and Aromaleigh.  I am anxiously awaiting Fyrinnae's website to post the Halloween 2011 shades  - I am sure they are gorgeous!

Anyway, here's my little look from this weekend - enjoy!

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy - all over lid

Aromaleigh Earthly Delights - inner corner/lower lashline

Fyrinnae Newcastle - outer corner/crease

MAC Sugar Shot - highlight

Studio M Liquid Eyeliner in Bronze (I think - I need to confirm the name!)

L'oreal Voluminous Fiber False Lashes Mascara

I did a mediocre job at blending, but I find that happens when I'm in hurry - imagine that!  I love Newcastle - not only is it one of my favorite beers, but also one of my hands down favorites of Fyrinnae's.  The pictures above don't even do it justice.  It's just gorgeous.

I wanted to post a look using some of the new products that I've picked up the past few weeks, including the new L'oreal Voluminous Fiber False Lashes and Le Gloss in Saucy Mauve.  I threw in some Fyrinnae because I just love their shadows.  Something about warm colors and shimmery sparkles that just makes me happy on those gloomy cold and damp days!

Laura Geller Champagne Spackle

Laura Geller Balance 'n Brighten - Fair

Milani Baked Blush 'Dolce Pink'

Urban Decay Primer Potion 'Greed'

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

Fyrinnae Druid Werewolf - inner  corner

Fyrinnae Sake & Sashimi - outer corner

Milani Lily White - highlight

Fyrinnae Samhain Spirits - wet as liner

L'oreal Voluminous Fiber False Lashes - mascara

L'oreal Le Gloss Saucy Mauve