Excuses Excuses... and lots of makeup :)

Sheesh…. Once again, it's confessions of a crappy blogger! And during my absence from the blogesphere, I have missed it greatly. Makeup and beauty is always on my mind…. It's a sickness (but a beautiful one). Since my last post - so much has happened, life selfishly got in the way of my cosmetic addiction. I left my job for a month, while we restructured my position, and also I've recently moved…. In with a man…. To a smaller place…. WITHOUT MY MAKEUP COLLECTION…. That brings me to the point of this bittersweet post.  I miss my over-full draws of makeup and cups full of cosmetic brushes desperately…. But for the last 6 months I have survived, and even thrived - with just 2 makeup  bags! Even as I type it, I can't believe it. One bag is some miscellaneous blushes, highlighters and lip products that I pretty much wear when I'm dressed up and going out…. And the other is my regular day to day stuff (please note… and be proud, that the only makeup I've purchased in the last 6 months is replacements of  foundation, setting powder, mascara, and bronzer) So without further rambling… let me introduce you to the REAL ESSENTIALS…. The ride or die products, that if all my makeup was taken from me (gasp) would sustain me. (and p.s. my makeup will find a home with me, sooner or later…. My fella is just gonna have to accept it! That collection is worth more than I even like to admit!)

*photo heavy* 

 

 

FACE:

1.        Covergirl CG Smoothers Foundation (inexpensive, lightweight & moisturizing, and generally fabulous!)

 

2.        Covergirl Professional Loose Powder (holy grail)

 

3.        Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer (notice a covergirl theme)

 

4.        Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer (thick as could be… would cover anything)

 

5.        Revlon Photoready Bronzer. (matte bronze heaven)

 

6.        Benefit Dallas Blush

7.        MAC Mineralized Skinfinish - Soft & Gentle

 

8.        Milani Eyeshadow in Copper Excess (luminous coral cheek heaven)

 

 

Eyes:

1.        Maybelline Volum Express One By One Mascara (forget the falsies… this stuff is amazing)

 

2.        YSL Eyeshadow duo in #39 (photos don't even do justice)

 

3.        MAC - Digit

 

4.        My MAC Quad

 

5.        Too Faced Endless Summer Quad

 

6.        MAC - Satin Taupe

 

7.        Covergirl Eyeshadow - Champagne (amazing for eyes and cheekbones)

 

8.        Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen (best liquid liner pen, I've ever used)

 

9.        Revlon Colorstay black eye liner pencil

 

10.     Milani Color Brilliance Eye Pencil - Green

 

11.     NYX Cake Powder (holy grail brow powder!)

 

 

 

LIPS:

1.        Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- Charm

 

2.        Maybelline Babylips - Grape Vine

 

3.        MAC -  Freckletone

 

 

 

And just like that you're all caught up.... Hopefully I'll be back MUCH sooner next time!

Another FOTD - because I'm a busy / lazy blogger

I hope everyone is loving this beautiful weather as much as me... of course I would love it way more if I didn't have to spend most of my time working in an office and missing the sunshine. But regardless, just knowing it's out there is enough sometimes.

I haven't been purchasing makeup much at all lately, just refills of essentials like foundation, setting powder and black liner. This wasn't really a conscious choice I've just been super busy. But the lack of new, has forced me to dig back into my collection and start using things I've neglected... which isn't a bad thing at all. So without further rambling... here's my Thursday/Workday - makeup.

The Face.....

Covergirl CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer, Covergirl Professional loose powder, the HG ELF bronzer, and just a light sweep of a super shimmery pink blush.

The Eyes....

(in order of application) Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow - RSVP, MAC Shadow - Digit (lid and inner corners), Mac Shadow - Trax (crease), Too Faced - Magenta Moon (outer corner), Covergirl - Champagne (brow bone). As always i use NYX cake powder on my brows, almay liquid liner on top and Revlon Colorstay (black) in the waterline.... plus two coats of Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara.

And Just Because I am soooo in the Spring Spirit...... (total sarcasm - this was an accident).........

My nails match my shadow today.... I finally gave up my black nail polish last night and opted for my favorite lilac shade... this is "Nice is Nice" by Essie.

Til we meet again...............

Smokey in Seconds...

List of everything needed for a perfect smokey eye:

1.       Too Faced Shadow Insurance

2.       ELF quad in Drama

3.       Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Lust

4.       Almay Black Liquid Liner

5.       Tarte Eye Pencil in Black

6.       Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara

7.       NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Dark Brown/Brown

8.       Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup in Tan

9.       Benefit Boxed Powder in Dallas

10.   MAC lipstick in Blankety

11.   ELF Lipgloss (liquid lip color?) in Pink Lemonade

Even though I don’t usually like to “blog” about things I just filmed about… a simplified smokey eye, seemed well worth it!

Just The Basics: All the things I NEEED in my makeup bag

Here's the thing...  what I carry around in my makeup bag, may seem a bit excessive, but as someone who frequently sleeps away from home spur of the moment, all the stuff I lug around has proven to be very useful!

So lets get into what's in this bad boy

Estee Lauder Blush in Mocha Rose

This is a total double use product... first of all it has a huge mirror inside the compact, and second - this is such a blendable, neutral blush I can apply it with my fingers and it still looks lovely.

Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara

Considering the only other Too Faced Mascara I tried (lash injection) I absolutely HATED, this was a surprise! It is so black, so volumizing and it simply doesn't clump, even layered over last nights dry mascara ;)

Avon Cool Bliss Cream Shadow - Frothy Mocha

This is the most gorgeous, creamy brownish/taupe color... and you can just throw it on and you literally have a complete shadow look. It works on the lid and the crease.

Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner - Black

I've just used so many eyeliners in my day, and this is pretty much the best of the best. It is black as night and it stays put. Plus this is a mini so it doesn't take up so much room in my overstuffed bag.

Mac Eyeshadow - Digit

This picture does this shade no justice... this is the lightest and loveliest lilac I own (and I own several). There's zero shimmer but it just glows like crazy, as for a lid color... it lacks pigmentation, but I wear this in my inner corners almost daily. Regardless what colors I'm wearing, it's brightening and pretty.

Elf Studio Eyeshadow - Butter Cream

On the surface this is just a plain yellowish eyeshadow... but it's a lovely yellowish gold, perfect for the brow bones and especially on the cheekbones!

Jordana Lipgloss - Tangerine

Yes it is in fact an orange lipgloss, but lets discuss what's perfect about it: It was 50cents, it is an orange lipgloss with orange glitter in it, it isn't sticky at all, annnnd it smells like oranges. Even though the color is intimidating it works perfectly with the lipsticks I use on a regular basis.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - Coral Shimmer

The name nails it on the head... this color is gorgeous and so damn moisturizing.

MAC Lipstick - Freckletone

I have pretty well admitted this is my favorite lipstick, so obviously it needs to be with me everywhere I go! If I want a peach this color works, if I want a nude it works too. Plus lustre finishes are just so creamy and smooth!

ELF Angled Eyeshadow Brush

This brush was only a dollar but it has certainly served me well. It is small enough for the inner corner... thin enough to highlight the brow bone... stiff enough to smudge eyeliner on the upper lash line and shadow under the lower lashes.... and soft enough for all over the lid, This is the perfect throw around brush!!!

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it... I stand by my claim that all these things are essentials (at least this week).