Shakeup Your Makeup

 

CVS's last beauty clearance was a good one for Milani - there were several items 75% off, so I took advantage and picked up some of the HD Advanced Lip Colors.  The three I chose were Candy Apple, Classy Nude and Sweet Grape - three different colors, but I figured at 75% off I'd buy a couple of colors I'm don't typically purchase.  Sweet Grape certainly fit that bill for me. 

 

I apologize in advance, I've been wearing these for a while, so the pictures aren't of perfectly new, fresh out of the tube, lip colors. 

 

 

These HD Lip Colors are sheer, yet buildable, and moisturizing colors for your lips.  They come packaged in a thin, long, twist bottom tube. As you twist the product up, it clicks.  I don't know about you, but when I'm not paying attention, and just grab a tube of gloss, those little "clicks" are a nice subconscious way of me making sure I don't twist up the ENTIRE tube ... and believe me, I've done that before!  Also, you can retract the color back down, so even if you do over do it, they can be put back into the tube and the lid snapped on. The actual product itself is a smaller surface to apply to the lips, so it's not the size of a full lipstick in the least.  The colors leave a nice shine behind - similar to the shine of a gloss, but more the consistency of a balm.  The lip colors also have a subtle fruity fragrance and flavor.  Not over the top, but also not a lipstick-y smell either. 

 

Candy Apple is a rich red, with a slight blue undertone.  No shimmer here. 

 

Sweet Grape is a pinky-purple with golden shimmer.  I'll be honest, I opened the tube and thought, "Oh jeez, there's no way I'll be able to pull this off", but it actually is a really pretty, subtle color. 

 

Classy Nude is just that.  A simple, basic, carmel nude.  A slight shimmer, but it doesn't translate onto the lips.  Perfect to grab and go if you are needing a nude shade. 

 

 

Today I wore Candy Apple, so I thought I'd post a FOTD of the whole thing.  I put about 2 coats of the lip color on, and got a nice even coverage with a lot of shine.  I love this color - it is so pretty. 

 

 

 

Finally a beauty magazine dedicated to nails!  Nail It! was launched and hit newsstands earlier this week and is jam-packed with tips, techniques, brands, and of course, the latest trends.  I picked up my issue at CVS, but I have heard it has been seen at Target, Walgreens, and other drug stores. 

 

You can also follow Nail It! on Facebook here, Twitter here, or Pinterest here.  Their Pinterest page is full of inspiration.  I could spend hours looking through all the posts there!

 

I am really excited about this.  I have a hidden passion for nail polish and nail art - something I don't do a lot of on this blog, but might have to start doing more of now. 

 

Below is one of the mani's that I loved from this month's issue: Anne Hathaway's nude and bling'd mani.  Here's a step-by-step how to:

 

 

 

 

Have you seen this magazine yet? 

 

 

Rose is a beautiful peachy base with a bright pink shoe in the middle.  This truly goes on more peach than pink, but the color is beautiful and the shimmer is just perfect on the skin.  The fragrance is a very warm vanilla, which I can smell after I've applied too. 

 

 

 

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day.  I decided to play around with some pinks and peaches for my makeup yesterday, as opposed to reds.  Simply, I'm ready for spring, so I'm hoping some pastels will bring it sooner! 

 

A brand I haven't worn in a LONG time is NYX.  A few years ago I bought a ton of these from their website, and swatched them all here (pictures are kind of big, but you get the idea).  I picked out three complimentary colors to play with: Jazzy Bronze (far left), Shimmer (bottom right) and Wild Flower (top right).  Wild Flower would make a gorgeous blush too. 

 

 

So it's official - I've reached that point in life where I have excessive dark circles and I'm starting to see those fine lines and crepeiness underneath my eyes that only a year ago were not an issue or concern.  I am trying several things, including religiously using my Clarisonic, Argan Oil (thank you Josie Maran) and need to entertain the idea of some anti-aging skin care items.  In the meantime, I am now struggling with finding a concealer that doesn't settle into my fine lines, but has enough guts to actually cover my dark circles and can play nice with my Laura Geller and/or Bare Escentuals foundation. 

 

More after the jump!

 

Spring is so close, I can feel it.  In honor of my desperate need to get past the winter blues, I grabbed a bottle I had been holding onto for warmer weather - Flower by Drew Barrymore in "I Lavendare You".  The new line by Drew is a complete collection, including BB Creams, blushes, nail colors, lip sticks and butters, eyeliners and mascaras...you name it.  Most range from $4.98 (as the nailpolish is) $13.98 for the foundations.  Really a nice price for a new cosmetics line. 

 

I picked up the Nail'd It Nail Lacquer in I Lavendare You (below) and a Lip Butter in Haute Honeysuckle.  I will swatch the butter later. 

 

I Lavendare You is a gorgeous, extremely pale lavender shade with just the slightest (and I mean slightest) hint of an iridescent blue shimmer.  It was so slight, it was difficult to capture, but I think you might get the idea in the second picture.   There are a variety of shades, from rich wines to pale nudes, and a couple extravagant colors like a turquoise and orange as well.  The bottles squat square bottles, but easy to hold.  The brush was nice, thin, and applied an even coat.  The actual consistency of I Lavendare You was much thinner, more jelly like than I anticipated.  I guess by looking at it in the bottle, I was expecting an opaque creme, but it did not apply as such.  With that said, I was very pleasantly surprised with the outcome.  

 

 

 

This closeup (above) gives you a feel for the shimmer in this color.  Not over the top at all - in fact, I can't say it actually translated onto the nail.  When I look close up, I do not see any shimmer at all.  Just a pleasant little surprise in the bottle. 

 

Below, my swatches.  See how gorgeous this color is?  I mean, it screams spring.  Just a light, beautiful pastel.  I actually thought of those conversation hearts for Valentine's Day when I saw it on.  This could easily have used one more coat to get full opacity (I did two here), but I am very happy with the color and slight transparency of this.  With one coat, it is streaky, so I would suggest two.  Application was a breeze - runny enough to get a nice thin even coat, but thick enough to hold on when you are getting close to the cuticles.  Dried quickly and didn't shrink with a top coat, which is another added bonus. 

Final verdict?  I will certainly be picking up another color or two in this collection.  I really love this shade, and hopefully the wear will live up to the hype of everything else I have experienced with the color.  I would definite suggest picking this shade, I Lavendare You, if you are needing a little spring pick-me-up.  You won't regret it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So...the flu has hit my house, which explains the lack of posting recently.  Unfortunately, because of it I am WAY behind in updating my blog.  Sorry about that!  I am working diligently on getting posts and pictures updated and uploaded for posts this week.

 

Anyway, evidently my camera got the flu too, because only one of my pictures I took for the Mally Favorite Things Volume 2 uploaded, so this is the only one I have to share wearing this collection.  I used all three Age Rebel Eyeshadows to create this look.  Below are the details:

 

Face

Laura Geller Champagne Spackle Primer

Make Up Forever HD Foundation 115

Make Up Forever Microfinish Powder

Nars Blush "Orgasm"

 

Eyes

Mally Age Rebel Eyeshadow in "Jade" - inner corner, lower lashline

Mally Age Rebel Eyeshadow in "urnished Violet" - middle lid to outer corner and crease

Mally Evercolor Eyeshadow Stick "Taupe" - outern corner/crease blended into Burnished Violet

Mally Age Rebel Eyeshadow in "Sugar" - highlight

Mally Evercolor Waterproof eyeliner in Shimmery Black - upper and lower lashline

Mally Mascara - Black

 

Lips

Mally Liquid Lipstick in Raspberry

 

Like I mentioned in the post earlier, these are extremely creamy eyeshadows that could easily be used as a primer underneath another powder.  I did use them simply as shadows, without any other color setting them.  They lasted all day, did not crease, and the pigmentation was wonderful.  I will certainly use these as liners along my lower lashline, and as a quick and easy eyeshadow on days I am in a hurry, or not looking for an intricate look.  Jade is easily my favorite color of the bunch.  It is such a bright and springy color! 

 

So who else picked up this kit?  What did you think?