Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Maybelline has a new 18-shade, gel-liquid foundation line with an interesting concept behind it. A bunch of color-compatible face products like powder and blush are categorized by skin tone (foundation shade) for easy shopping… there's an interesting video about it here.

Here's an idea of the range of colors from the second lightest (#120) to a medium (#220) to the second deepest (#355) of 18 shades:

These go on smoothly, but they were really hard to remove! You can really build up the coverage without getting cakey. This line is worth a look if you have a difficult to foundation-match skin color.

NYX Slim Lip Pencils: Auburn (#801) VS Currant (#830)

I'm not really a lip liner person (Should I be? I don't even know!), but these two NYX Slim Lip Pencils were purchased for another project. I thought people might want to see the difference between these colors since their labels look very close. The difference between the colors isn't huge per se, but there's enough of a difference that the wrong color could clash with certain tones of skin. I'll just consider this a "The More You Know" post...

Swatch: Covergirl Eyeshadow in Sapphire Flare (#315)

Here's a quickie eyeshadow swatch: Covergirl Eyeshadow in Sapphire Flare (#315). This is a nice blue because when it's applied to skin it retains that bright cobalt flare instead of becoming dull and bruise-like like a lot of blue shadows. Sapphire Flare has a nice shimmer to it also.

Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday 2013

Ahhh summer. That means heat, longer days, and my birthday! Time to head to Sephora for a prezzie!

Last year Sephora gave out a Sugar mini-set for Beauty Insiders' birthdays (which I had a lot of fun with) however, I think I like this year's set better. I've been wanting to try Benefit's Watt's Up and They're Real! mascara for a while so this was ultra convenient.

I really love They're Real! mascara. The wand separates and elongates my lashes so I get length and volume (think Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood) without messy thickness. I actually said "Oh wow!" out loud when I first applied it.

I'm still getting the hang of Watt's Up. It's a little too shimmery for my taste and I think it would look better on me if I had a decent tan (I'm working on it, folks). If I have some good results I'll update this post!

MAC's Archie's Girls Pearlmatte Face Powder in "Flatter Me"

When I was little I'd beg and plead for my mom to buy me an Archie comic as we were checking out at the grocery store... I loved those guys and I still do! The vintage-cartoon aesthetics always appealed to me, and I have to say they look perfect on this MAC packaging.

I needed a blushy highlighter, so I snagged the paler of the two offered by MAC, Flatter Me. It's fairly pink and shimmery, so it's hard to get used to. I've only used it a few times now and I already know that it's going to take practice to get it to look nice on my face instead of making me look like I'm the weirdly red-faced kid in the room. So, I'll work on it and get back to ya!

Depot MAC Eyeshadows → Pro Colour X 4 Compact

This Christmas I got a great, great gift--a MAC Cosmetics gift card! Woohoo! So naturally I was browsing their website to see what kind of goodies I could score and discovered their empty palette section. I didn't give this much thought until I remembered hearing about people depotting their MAC eyeshadows. I don't have a lot of MAC eyeshadows (3 total), but they're a right pain in the patoot because they're so hard to store. The circular case with rounded lid makes them impossible to stack and arrange, so these 3 little guys take up much more room than they should. With a free shipping code (double awesome), I ordered a Pro Colour X 4 Compact and prepared to depot my MACs (and an Urban Decay because it is only a teeny-tiny bit larger and still fits the palette).

Top Row: Greensmoke, All That Glitters, Beauty Marked
Bottom: Midnight Cowboy

These adhesive magnets are perfect to stick to the back of the depotted pans ($2.99 from Hobby Lobby--look for their 40% off coupon, too!). They look like they were made exactly for depotting--they are the exact width of the pan and they are just the right thickness to put the pan flush with the palette.

I used this tutorial on YouTube to deconstruct the eyeshadow in a way that hopefully allows me to Back 2 MAC the packaging (I don't see why it shouldn't). This method also worked for the old packaging of Urban Decay eyeshadow.

How brilliant do these shadows look in the compact? For $9 (+ magnet cost) this is a pretty easy upgrade and it's going to save me so much space! The quality of the palette itself is top-notch. It has a matte finish on the black plastic with a see-through top that closes smoothly with a strong magnet. I don't see the palette popping open in a purse anytime because the closure is strong enough that you need two hands to get it open (but it's not difficult to open by any means). Another great feature of the palette that differs from MAC's traditional packaging is that it is very geometric. There are no curved edges which makes it great for stacking and saving space.

This is probably going to be one of my top purchases of the year, and it's only January!

Zoya's Hot Lips in Luvie

Zoya Flash Promos, oh how I love you! I snagged one of these fo' free (it helps if you read that in a Rebel Wilson from Bridesmaids voice) in an under-100 people coupon frenzy. I took a shot in the dark when it came to picking a color because I'm somewhat conservative when it comes to lip shade but wanted to try something a little more girly, so I selected Luvie.

One tube of Zoya Hot Lips lip gloss is slightly shorter than a bottle of Zoya polish, which makes it an ideal size for purses and pockets. The gloss is so thick (it helps to warm up the tube in your pocket), which isn't helped by the tiny hole that it's supposed to squeeze out of. It also smells and tastes like old-school bubblegum, which could be a deterrent if you're not into that flavor.

Check out that shimmer when the light hits it! Luvie doesn't pack a lot of color, but it does have a lot of shimmer!

Speaking of Zoya, have you seen their new 3 free deal to start off the new year? Check it out! And use my referral link if you're going to partake!

MAC Cosmetics Counterfeit PSA

Anyone get this email today?

How we protect you from Counterfeit M·A·C
Taking great pride in producing the finest quality prestige makeup, we vigorously pursue counterfeiting operations and individuals responsible for the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit goods.
M·A·C Cosmetics does not offer its products through individuals, street vendors, internet auctions, independent boutiques or unauthorized online retailers. 
To be certain that you are purchasing authentic products, always shop on maccosmetics.com or visit our Store Locator to locate a M·A·C store or authorized retailer near you. 
For more information, please visit our Counterfeit Education page.

Beware of fake anything, folks! They fund shady organizations and can often be hazardous to your health (yes, even non-cosmetics)!

ELF Black vs. Coffee Waterproof Eyeliner

This is my new favorite cosmetic product hands down. It costs a dollar and works really well. This stuff truly is waterproof--it mostly stays on through a shower (but yes, you still come out looking like a hot mess) if you don't remove it beforehand. This eyeliner comes in a good range of colors, but my local Target only had Black and Coffee:

Coffee on top vs. Black on bottom

Coffee is fairly dark compared to Black, so I guess the color choice is down to personal preference, but when it comes to performance there really isn't a difference. I dying to try ELF's other color eyeliners!

ELF Eyeshadow Brush, Eyelash Curler, & Waterproof Eyeliner

ELF has released a line of python-printed tools that are a-dorable! I got mine at Target where they also had different colored python prints, but I settled with the teal. I grabbed an eyeshadow brush and and eyelash curler, both of which are great tools.

While I was there I purchased a black waterproof eyeliner (also by ELF). I am in uber-love with this eyeliner. It's felt-tipped and so easy to apply. At first it seemed like it was dried out, but with more use the "ink" was more fluid and intense in color. The felt tip makes it super easy to stay close to the lashes, which was my problem with my previous pencil eyeliner because I like a thin line of liner and that looks weird with a gap of flesh between lashes and liner. And for the low, low price (a buck)? Amazing!

Note: There is zero makeup on my eye except for the eyeliner.

Stay tuned this weekend for a waterproof eyeliner color comparison!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow in Sapphire Siren

This is final option in the search for performance makeup for the performance group I performance work with (See what I did there? Not great, I know but it was fun, okay?), Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow in Sapphire Siren. Could they have given this line of products a longer name? Geez!

The bulk of the shimmery effect can be found in the white eyeshadow. The teal and blue have some shimmer, but not as much as the white. The black has glitter, but it's not thick at all. When applied to skin, the colors aren't that vibrant and there isn't much of a visual difference between the teal and blue. It definitely does not look like the advertisement if you've seen that. You just don't get the intensity of color that Maybelline's adverts have. It's impossible--believe me, I've tried.

The sponge applicator has a flat, more traditional side and a smaller, more compact side. The case itself it made of thick plastic cut in a geometric style like jewels are. For a drugstore product, it's pretty nice.

This eyeshadow palette ended up being what we chose for everyone to wear. It's a sturdy product that get's the job done ("the job" being give some color and glitter to the eyes that can be visible from afar) without being clownish, is pretty affordable (for drugstore prices it's on the pricier side), and is widely available (we had members find it in Targets, Walmart, CVS and Publix stores).

Milani Eyeshadows in #08 Shamrock and #09 Caribbean Sea

Here are two more options for makeup for the performance group I work with: Milani's Shamrock and Caribbean Sea eyeshadows. Unfortunately, the glitter on the surface is not found after that surface layer is gone. Another bummer? These are kind of hard to open. I had to use my nails to pop the lid which is a big no-no. So, if you're looking for glitter and "Wow"ness, pass on this, but if you need some basic eyeshadows with color these just might be your best bet. I will say I appreciate the inclusion of a double-ended applicator---it has a sponge on one end and a brush on the other. However, the curve of the brush is unusual, and while I appreciate how it compliments the design of the case, it's awkward to hold.

The search continues!

Icing by Claire's Eye Makeup

I volunteer my time with a performance group, and this product was purchased by someone else as a possibility for performance makeup--the look that this person wanted was, "blue color on the eyes with sparkle [insert jazz hands]"... which is entirely plausible to assume you would get from this product, right? Wrong!

At first glance, this looks like glitter embedded in a blue powder, but really it's glitter embedded in blue gel. The gel's color doesn't transfer to skin. On the paper in the picture, I gobbed it on which is why you see the blue gel. After the "gobbing", it seemed that the gel had moisturized the paper so, I decided to let it dry so that only color and glitter were left behind... but that never happened. The wet look is caused by whatever grease is in the gel. It soaked the paper and made it oily. Gross!

I will say something positive about this product, the glitter combination is full of shine and it pretty to look at, and it does have staying power once it's on the skin (it was hard to wash off, too). However, unless you're a junior high-er going to the school dance, I'd avoid this product.

E.L.F.'s Complexion Perfection & Golden Bronzer

I was surveying my makeup box/container/treasure chest thing and noticed that one brand is slowly becoming a favorite. E.L.F.'s (eyes lips face) line is cheap, cruelty-free (yay!), and good quality. When I say this stuff is cheap, I mean each product is usually under $3.

Pictured on the left is their Complexion Perfection powder and on the right is their Golden Bronzer. From the picture you can't see that each comes in a black compact with a mirror (a brush isn't included). When using these, you run your brush across all four quadrants which blends them together--Easy peasy. The Complexion Perfection mixes to be a flat, almost white powder and the Golden Bronzer mixes to be a shimmery bronze color.

I love both. Neither are overbearing and seem like they're meant for building color. I have a problem with redness in my cheeks so the Complexion Perfection makes me look like a normal human being, and not like an overheated weirdo. The Golden Bronzer is a pretty friendly bronzer in that it would compliment many skin tones. The shimmer also offers a little bit of coverage if you have any blemishes. I'll also add that when I say "shimmer", I don't mean glitter. Overall, these are both good buys especially for the price.

What's in My Bag?

I lovvvveeeee when magazines harass celebs and ask to see what's in their makeup bags. I still remember being fascinated by Molly Sims' bag in an issue of YM magazine from the early 2000s (remember that one?). She had a cute, black bag with a rhinestone cherry for a zipper... and I'm pretty sure she used Rosebud lip salve, so thanks, Molly, for getting me addicted to that at an early age. If you're willing to forget the fact that I'm not a supermodel, you can peek into my makeup bag! Here are my main staples of beauty:

Omorovicza Complexion Perfector BB SPF 20 - For those good skin days/gotta do my makeup quick days/beach days. This BB cream has everything you could need and it's easy to apply--great for those low-maintenance days. The downside to this product? It's pricey y'all.
Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup - For those bad skin days/I know I'm going to have my picture taken and I need to look good days... this is not oily at all and provides pretty heavy coverage. It's supposed to help prevent acne too, but I don't know how effective that is.
Nicola Roberts' Dainty Doll Shadow & Base Duo in Honey Bronze - This duo is great for any time and so easy to work with. It's color is buildable so you can go from understated to nighttime-glam-wow easily. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure you can only get this brand in the UK and also, I think they discontinued this particular product. Bummer.
Nars Eyeliner Pencil in Black Moon - I've been using this for years... like, since middle school and I'm a few years out of college now. It's super dark and long lasting.
Band Aid by Cynthia Rowley - Fans of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy know to always have a towel. Fans of Doctor Who know to always bring a banana to a party. I know to always have a band aid in your makeup bag. I find them useful for those times that your shoes turn evil and give you blisters or for random freak incidents that leave you in need of a small cover-up operation.
E.L.F. All Over Color Stick in Fair (names have changed since my purchase) - This is a quick, compact concealer that has a sugary/citrus-y scent. The best part? It cost $1! A buck! What!
Tweezerman Mini Slant Tweezers - I swear by these tweezers. They're super sharp so they grab those really fine hairs.
Last but not least, a hair clip - I have floppy hair and sometimes those situations where it's windy or super humid arise and you have to get that hair out of your face! This is a lifesaver.

Now, you may have noticed that I have nothing for the lips. That's because I'm usually a balm person. I have balms and some glosses stashed away in every purse... lipsticks stay with the rest of the makeup until they're needed.

So, that's it! That's what's in my bag! Do you swear by the same stuff? Do you swear by something similar? Comment and let me know!

Review: Charlotte Ronson's Face & Body Glow

Description from Sephora's website:
This weightless bronzer gives skin a shimmery, sun-kissed glow while evening and brightening the complexion. Like having your own personal lighting guy, its LFT™ (Light Filter Technology) adjusts to absorb and reflect light, creating exceptional glowing effects under any light. Enhanced with vitamins C and E, these ingredients help skin look luminous—never flat or dull. Its soothing and moisturizing formulation is oil-free. 

What I liked about this product: It's fairly easy to apply and a little goes a long way while still being lightweight. The color looked fairly natural without being too faint.

What I didn't like about this product: The glitter. My word, the glitter. If this product didn't have what it so delicately describes as "shimmer", I would totally buy it. However, the "shimmer" is abundant and looked tacky to me when I had it on my face and arms---I looked like I had had a glitter eyeshadow explode all over my face. I think if you were going to use this on your legs you'd avoid looking like a glitter mess.

Anyone else have this experience with Charlotte Ronson's Face & Body Glow? Or did I just get the bottom of the Face & Body Glow barrel where all the shimmer gathered together? Ick.

Review: Supergoop! Acai-Fusion Lip Balm

I received this as a free sample from a Sephora order. Despite the somewhat cheesy name, the packaging is cute and the balm itself looks appealing and not greasy. Actually, the balm tastes and smells really good and fruity (but doesn't feel synthetic). Unfortunately for me, it didn't last on my lips and I felt like my lips were yearning for moisture shortly after application. It's a bummer because I wanted to love the product and the reviews on Sephora.com were fantastic.

Maybelline's Limited Edition Great Lash

Maybelline has released designer packaging by BCBGMaxAzria, Vivienne Tam, and Tracy Reese for their cult classic mascara, Great Lash.

Same old great product, but the packaging is irresistible and doesn't look cheap. I picked up the BCBG one. They're limited edition and only available at Target, so act fast!

Review: Tarte's True Blood Palette

I love True Blood (okay... I'm obsessed), but I wasn't sure I wanted to spend around $52 for a makeup palette just because it was True Blood themed. That is, until I randomly picked it up in Sephora. I was immediately impressed by the quality of the palette. I went home and after a little more thought, I ordered it.

Tarte for True Blood display in Sephora

I wouldn't use this image for color accuracy, just for color range and overall tone :)
These also match up to the image above (same order).

If you're looking for crazy, out there colors, pass over this palette. If you're more demure and want to play with a range of dramatic to natural looks, this is for you. These shadows are soooo silky and lovely. Some take a lot to get the color to show up on the skin, while others (especially the darker ones) take little effort to get an intense color.

Overall, I bought this palette because my makeup collection has gotten old and I needed to breathe new life into it. It's a great value for everything that you get (17 eyeshadows, eyeliner, mascara, eye primer), but if you have similar stuff I'd maybe pass over it... that is, unless you're a huge True Blood fan!

Who doesn't want to look as fierce as Pam?

Coming Soon: MAC & Wonder Woman

This February my childhood dreams will collide with my adult interests. MAC Cosmetics is putting out a Wonder Woman line and my inner 9 year old is freaking out! I was (and still am) a huge Wonder Woman fan. My cousin used to own a comic book shop and would always hook me up with the latest WW issue or giant poster that came out. I still have them all tucked away in their little plastic sleeves, safe and sound from the world!

Here's a small preview of the line coming out:

Some people think the line is tacky, but they clearly aren't familiar with the essence of Wonder Woman, DC Comics, and yes, Linda Carter. The packaging is '70s kitsch and I am in LOVE!