Blue on the eyes.... Tacky?

I was never one for blue cosmetics… even blue nail polish only recently crept into my collection. But this morning (after a long and quite relaxing - makeup free weekend) I woke up uninspired about what to do with my face! Golds… purples… silver - I do it ALLLLL the time, even green is overdone for me. So I dug around in my "eye drawer" and found some pretty blues.

I really love the way it came out, and even though there's a bit of my "signature smokiness" it still feels springy and fresh. Like crisp denim shorts :)

Sometimes a step outside the box is exactly what your Monday needs!

Spirit Fingers....

...And the spirit I'm talking about is spring fever!!! I've always painted my nails and enjoyed pretty polishes, but lately I've become somewhat a fanatic! So even though I'm sure you've seen this a millions times by now if you follow the "beauty community" - I'm going to do it too... here are my Top 5 Spring Nail Polishes

This is "Limo-Scene" by essie, and it has been on my nails at least once a week lately... it's a milky pale pink and it's perfect!

This is "All about you" by sinful colors, even though it looks dark the crazy gold/bronze glitter reflects all kinds of red, green, and coral colors... I love this, even though it takes about 8 shade to become totally opaque :)

This is "Minted" by revlon... BELIEVE THE HYPE.... this is a creme finish, perfect mint green.... perfect in 2-3 coats. It's on my nails right now as I type!

<3 This color!! This is my signature shade in summer (amazing against a tan) but I'm pulling it out in spring too. It's cheap as could be - but gorgeous... maybe my all time favorite polish. Peachy coral creme... amazing!

"Disco Lights" by milani. I wish I had a picture that could do this more justice.... PURE PINK GLITTER GORGEOUSNESS. It's full coverage in 3 thick coats... and lasts forever. It is so so pretty. So girly... just good!

What do you love on your nails all spring long?

My Current Lust List

I know I'm double posting today.... BUT this just needed to be shared! These are the things I'm drooling over, saving for, and convincing myself I MUST own :)

(not in any particular order)

Where do I even begin with this.... Guess why do you know me so well. This is the "Bellissima Box Satchel" in pink of course... $130.00 at http://www.macys.com/

Now I won't lie to you and say this is practical and would be worn frequently.... BUT LOOK AT IT. I'm on the hunt, for a perfect - wearable nude pump, this is not it, but it's just so amazing! These are the "Parker Pumps" by Signature Shoes, $250.00 at http://www.macys.com/

I look at this bad boy nearly every day...  I love this watch and I just must have it! It's classy but still fun. Michael Kors -Clear Acetate Bracelet Watch.... $225.00 big ones @ http://www.macys.com/ but sooo pretty! 

I am a bracelet freak and these are so perfect! R.J. Graziano "Go Glam" Bangles. $59.95 at http://www.hsn.com/

Okay so what if I have enough makeup... I alllllways want more. This is an amazing value, rest assured I will have it! This is the Tarte "Beauty in a box" $36 at http://www.sephora.com/

I have been eyeing the UD <3 NY book of shadows since the first time I saw it... it's beautiful, it's Urban Decay, and It's NEW YORK! This runs about $56 at http://www.sephora.com/

So there's my list and I'm sticking to it... what have you got your eye on lately?

Ins & Outs...

I always enjoy reading these so I thought I'd put mine in the ring!

INS

Sunshine and warm spring weather

Iced coffee

New clothes

Wedges

Matte lipsticks

Diet Dr. Pepper

Crown Brushes! (review post to come!!!!)

Colorful Eye shadow

Tons of blush

Layering lots of random, chunky, mismatched bracelets

Sparkly coral lip-gloss

OUTS

Winter

Sugary soft drinks

Heavy contouring

Neutral Smokey eyes

Deep plum lipstick

Being at work 24/7

My boring/worn out wardrobe

Black pumps

Red nail polish

Pale winter skin

Fab trend or Fail trend - BRIGHT cheeks

I'm kind of a blush freak, it's certainly one of my all time favorite makeup items to play with and buy in excess! It's ironic too, because I used to never ever use it (I was a bronzer ONLY type of girl). Personally, I always pack on quite a bit of  blush, because for me and my tastes... it doesn't have to look super natural!

The trend of super pigmented super bright blushes is NOT for everyone, but it is for me :). Even worn in a toned down way.... (just a few dabs, blended extremely well) bright cheek colors really wake up your entire face, this a look that's certainly bold but not clown like if done right!

Here's one of my favorites - a HOT pink color, that has a lovely sheen but no shimmer (if the color is this intense, you should probably avoid the glitter!)

And here it is on my cheeks today... please note that this is just me on a dreary Monday morning... I don't reserve these looks just for the night time - I love a "pop" for work!

Happy blushing!

(slightly belated) Fridays Face - 4/8/11

So I thought since Fridays are my busiest days... I'd do a simple but fun post... face of the day.

Here goes.

This is what I used on my face

*Maybelline fit me foundation (310), Elf bronzer, maybelline pressed powder, maybelline mineral blush (peach), physicians formula shimmer strips highlighter.

This is what I used on my lips

*Rimmel lipstick in Airy Fairy, Sally Hansen Lip gloss in... I forget :(

This is what I used on my eyes

*Stila Road to Radiance Palette, Tarte smokey eye palette, Wet N Wild lust palette, maybelline the falsies, almay liquid liner and Tarte eye pencil



And voila... the finished project!

*excuse the foundation in my hair! (I was in the direct sunlight.... I was definitely glowy but NOT this shiny!!!)

*tweeezers please :)

Bargain Beauty: A holy grail brush!!!

Okay, I'm going to try and keep this review short and sweet (which isn't in my nature!) because there's only so many ways I can say something is AMAZING.

The "Studio Tools - Crease Brush" can be found at Target... I checked the website and it says it's an In-Store Item, only.... sort of stinks for you online shopping junkies - but it's worth the trip!

This brush might not look especially impressive, but it is! First of all the average price is $3.00 and when I tell you this brush feels HIGH QUALITY... I mean it! It's weighty and super soft, it cleans wonderfully and it's shaped perfectly. It's probably the best 3 bucks I've spent in recent memory. I bought this brush on a whim, I needed a new/nice fluffy blending brush and figured the price was right... and I loved it sooooooooo much -

That I went back and bought a second - I use one for my crease work the other I use for my under eye concealer... most likely I'll get a third, reserved strictly for blending!

I can't recommend this brush enough! Go target go!



E.L.F. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder.... a review

I'm fairly new to ELF - not for any particular reason, it's just not something I've been too familiar with. About 2 months ago I placed an order (http://eyeslipsface.com) and the one product I knew I was looking for was the Contouring Blush & Bronzer duo, any bronzer that has a peachy blush next to it is worth trying, at least in my opinion.... and for $3.00 it's definitely worth a shot!

Now this product is a clear "knock-off" of the Nars powder duo, in Laguna and Orgasm... even the packaging of this product, and their whole studio line is STRONGLY "inspired" by Nars. I'm fine with it... the packaging feels weighty and substantial and it doesn't cost me $40 like the Nars one does!!!!

The colors might be compared to orgasm and laguna but they really aren't that similar.... Orgasm Blush is actually a much darker shade than the ELF one.... it's much more pigmented and it's a whole lot more shimmery! They are both pinky/peachy colors with a golden sheen - but the one by ELF is much more subdued (ps I love it!). The bronzer doesn't even look that similar to Laguna in the pan, and it definitely doesn't on the skin.... even though laguna is a great non-ommpa-loompa shade, I think it is just a teeeny bit more orange than the ELF... and the shimmer in the ELF bronzer shows up far less on the face than Laguna.

I am thrilled with this product and wear it almost everyday... don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be said for the Nars duo.... pigmentation, softness and blend-ability of the powder, staying power. BUT for 3 dollars the ELF duo is not just a cheap alternative - it's an excellent product, all on it's own!

^ Here's a closeup of the duo with overhead light... pretty

^ Here's a closeup in natural light.... much more subtle!

^ And here's the duo on my mug :) I have foundation on, a setting powder and TONS of both the bronzer & the blush (which is just me.... I did this for work, not just for the photo!)



Spring Trend Breakdown... Favs & Fails

So I'm always on the hunt for the "next big thing" in the beauty world, now don't misunderstand me - I like what I like... trendy or not! However, sometimes you can get some fun inspiration from what's current and seasonal.

Through my magazine, internet, and television searching... here's a few of the trends worth mentioning (for one reason or another)

FAVS:

Rose gold on the face. Gold is always a flattering and seasonless shade, but what's fresh this season is a pink undertone.... it can be on the lips the face or the eyes - above is a Bobbi Brown shadow.

Pretty blues on the nails. I've never been a fan of baby blue on the nails.... or anywhere on the body for that matter - but when it's the perfect medium shade, it looks springy and fun. Above is one of the best in my opinion, Turquoise and Caicos by Essie.

YOUR perfect nude. I'm a fan of nude lips, I know it's cliche and done to death, but I can't help it! What's new about nude this season is the understanding that it depends on your skin tone which shade you should wear. The pink-toned nude above is from covergirl... and nude lipsticks with pink in them, tend to be the most universally flattering.

FAILS:

Bright Neon Eye Shadows. I'm all for neon colors in spring and summer... I wear them on my nails constantly. But this is just going too far! I don't even like this look on the models walking the runway. I certainly don't want to see it on the girls walking at the mall!

The Top Knot Bun. I know this is a controversial pick, because it really seems to be all the rage these days... but come on. I don't mind "shabby chic" but this is what I look like when I've been home with the flu all week. To me it's not fashion forward at all, it reminds me of the "beehive" style of the 60's (think Amy Winehouse) and it's just not that cute!

These are just my opinions.... wouldn't mind your imput!

ONE: Has spring sprung?

I don't know about you, but I am ready for the warm weather! Fall and winter have there advantages - but I will take a warm sunny day over "winter wonderland" ANYTIME. :) Since over here on the east coast spring is taking its sweeeeeet time to actually come. Here are a few of the things I've been doing to warm my inside, until my outside can be warm too.

1. Wearing pretty sping polish (ignore the not so perfect paint job!)

^ this is "Limo-Scene" by Essie (perfect milky nudey pink)

2. Buying cute spring shoes:

^ got these bad boys from Target... 20 bucks!!! (adorable on)

3. Collecting my favorite warm weather makeup colors!

^ "Fire" by prestige... the most intense bright coral I have ever owned <3

^ "Skinny Dipping - Fox in a Box" by hard candy... lovely warm peach blush!!

^out come ALL my shimmery brozers!!! (this one is a physicians formula shimmer strip)

I could go on and on, but we'll save it for another day... what do you love about the warmer seasons? And what are you doing to prepare for them?