Could it be....

...Have I been wrong all along, is less really more when it comes to makeup?!? Last night before bed (okay not bed... another 2 hours on the phone), I was just about to take off my makeup and I thought to myself "Self... I kinda like the smudged out/faded way my makeup looks now better than I liked it this morning when it was all neat and precise" Strange.... anyway, here's my makeup after about 17 hours of wear!

And here's what was left of my eye makeup...

This used to be.... "Print" (MAC) on the lid and outer corner, blended into "Satin Taupe" (MAC) in the crease, and "Kitten" (Stila) on the brow bone... with some winged liquid liner and maybelline "Falsies Flared" mascara.

So.... is understated the way of the future?





Milani LOVE...

Run don't walk to your local CVS (at least that's where I went).

I'm not someone who really follows the new drugstore makeup collections, or any makeup collections actually... But while dangerously browsing the cosmetic aisle at CVS this past weekend, I found the loveliest new stuff from Milani. Milani has been developing quite the buzz over the last year or so, and personally all of the products I've bought have been winners. The new collection of eye shadows seems to be no different. I bought two (which took great restraint!) And one is my current obsession!

Meet ''Copper Excess'' the baked beauty, that's stolen my heart (dramatic but true)

This is a combination of bronze, copper, peach, and amber... It's so gorgeous.

Dry on left, wet on right (natural light)

Dry on left, wet on right (artificial light)

 Here's a look at the other two Milani shadows I own... On the left is ''bronze doll'' which I've had for years... And adore, its a super warm bronzey gold. On the right is ''Antigua'' which is a part of this new collection... Its a hunter green with a gorgeous gold duo-chrome.

The only thing wrong with ''Antigua'' is that all the fabulous gold glitter is merely an over spray.

 I highly recommend ''Copper Excess'' its unique and lovely. Check out the whole collection for yourself here: http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-101-baked-eyeshadow-marble.aspx

Any must-haves... Or already-haves?

Long time no see...

It has literally been forever and a day (or two) since I've posted here... life has really gotten in the way of my cosmetic addiction! I figured to get my feet wet (or fingers really) I would kick off with a good old Face Of The Day post... which incidentally are my favorite types to read. It's just a typical Friday morning.... this may seem like an excessive amount of makeup to use for work, but I don't believe there is such a thing as an excessive amount of makeup!

On my face I used...

(left to right)

Covergirl Natureluxe Silk Foundation (suede), Revlon Photoready Translucent Finishing Powder, ELF Bronzer (from blush and bronzer duo), Benefit Dallas, MAC Mineralized Skin Finish (Soft&Gentle)

*favorite cheek combo, by the way*

And here's the outcome...

gotta have the glow!

On my eyes I used...

"Swish" from MAC all over the lid, "Texture" all over the crease, a random Avon dark brown in the "outer v" and under the lower lash line, and the lightest shade in my Physicians Formula highlighter on the brow bone, Almay Liquid liner on top, Mally pencil in "espresso" on the water line, and my new favorite mascara "Falsies Flared"

All that became this....

I truly LOVE pink eye shadows

My lip combo...

The cult favorite "Airy Fairy" lipstick from Rimmel, and my favorite nude lip gloss Sally Hansen 12-hour diamond lip treatment "Princess"

And voila... the finished product...

I make strrrrrange faces in photos :)

On a side note - I am over the winter, although New York has been spared awful weather and storms, I am still craving spring/summer. So I ditched my usual winter Black or Blackened Plum nail polishes and busted out the neon pink (glitter on top OF COURSE)... instant mood lifter

Happy 2012 since I haven't posted since... hope it's fabulous for all!

Could it be....

... That I have found it.... found the ideal trio....found the perfect cheek combo? Ok, so I'm a bit dramatic about it, but for me.... someone whose "everday makeup" is different everday... it is amazing to find something I think to be perfect, I've tried every combo under the sun on my face!

Let me introduce you to the players...

meet "Dallas" from Benefit, "Park Ave Princess" from Tarte, and "Soft and Gentle MSF" from MAC!!

Here they are on my hand (because I ALWAYS wear makeup there)...

L-R (Park Ave Princess, Dallas, Soft and Gentle)

Unfortunately those swatches don't do enough justice.... The Tarte bronzer, is the perfect warm shade of brown, and I detect no orange on my face. It does have a slight shimmer, but it just creates a soft-focus glow. Dallas, is the perfect dusty plum shade.... sometimes it comes up more purple and sometimes a slight brown... it's natural but complexion warming. And Soft and Gentle is a cult highlighter.... gold perfection!

Here's the final test....



Currently Un-beautiful

Since this is a beauty blog, I will start with these facts... I just received a MAC package in the mail

Lady Bug Lipstick - Lustre Finish (a truly perfect red)

4 New Shadows to re-fill my "travel" MAC 4 pan palette

(Clockwise: Dazzlelight, Swish, Print, Texture) 

Anyway... though that package would have normally made my day... currently I am in hell. I don't normally post anything really personal here, it's pretty much JUST BEAUTY - but this is my blog (and I'm pretty sure no one really reads it anyway) so basically I can post what I want.

This has been the hardest week, and especially weekend of my life. And I don't mean hard in the way that you say when you get into a little argument with someone or worry that "Johnny" doesn't like you anymore. I mean life-alteringly hard. My mother is extremely ill. (haven't seen that written yet and I don't like how it looks) There have been health problems for a while, but the severity of things now, happened very suddenly. Serious is an understatement.

I must say... as a 27 year old, only child... whose mother is truly her best friend, I feel unhinged... and terrified. I feel nauseous constantly, anxious every minute. I am not dealing well... and I don't see how moving forward I will deal any better. I am so scared, and so sick, and so ill. I couldn't think of anything else to do but write about it... because writing has always been my form of release.

All I can tell you are the following things. If you love someone (even if they piss you off constantly!) just fucking tell them. If you're holding a grudge, just get over it. If someone has a request and you're simply too stubborn - suck it up!

And finally, if you're a praying person... please say a prayer for my mommy... it would mean the world to me.

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).