May 2013 Empties

Lately, I haven't been too adventurous with my makeup, hence the lack of FOTD posts that I usually overwhelm you guys with.  I have just been sticking with products that I know won't fail me and have been especially concentrating on using up products.  While I'm sick I have been reorganizing and attempting to make order to my vanity.  In the process I have been astounded and overwhelmed at how much makeup I own. I have TONS of new and barely used products so using them up is going to be a serious battle, but I've got to try.

Anyways, let's move on to the topic of this post: May empties.  I've got a good handful of items but only one makeup product.  Mark my words I will be sure to have more next month.

1. Nivea Kiss of Smoothness Lip Care SPF 10.  This is hands down my favorite lip balm--it's like lotion for your lips!  And I totally didn't realize it had SPF until I looked up the name for this blog.  Definitely a plus.

2. Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50.  I'm trying to be really good with SPF because....I have sun/age spots on my face.  I was in shock when I first saw them because I don't go out of my way to tan and I'm still young (or so I think)!  The last thing I want to do in 10 years is spend half an hour each day concealing sun spots so I'm trying to be really good with sunscreen now.

3. Cover Girl Waterproof Lash Blast Volume Mascara.  Technically, I'm not quite finished with this mascara but I've been using it for four months and it really has to go.  Great thickening and lengthening mascara.  I already have backups.

4. Evian Facial Spray.  I bought this a few years ago because I thought it was a setting spray.  It's actually just a refresher spray and you use it when you feel hot and sweaty.  It also helps to make your makeup look more melted in if your powder is looking a little cakey.  I've just been using it for both purposes, and I have one in my kit.

5. Kenra Volume Spray Super Hold Finishing Spray.  I was in love with this product when I first purchased it at last year's CosmoProf Hairshow in San Jose, California.  I still like it but I want to try out other sprays.  Too bad I bought two giant bottles of it already when I was in love with it.

6. Kirkland Unscented Baby Wipes.  I go through tons of these.  I use them to wipe makeup or hairspray off my hands, to wipe off my face makeup before washing my face, and for wiping off my vanity when it gets dusty.

That's it for this month!  Did you guys finish a lot of stuff as well?  I love empties posts so if you made one and I missed it, feel free to link it down in the comment section below.

EDIT:  I just realized I have backups for everything listed in this post.  REALLY, Janny!?  Really!?!

Welcome to My Afterparty

I found these pictures in my good old point and shoot whilst clearing out my memory card about a week ago.  I can't believe I haven't posted this look!  It's definitely one of my recent favorites.  

Tried the look with a different lipstick.  Just for funzies.

Eyes:

-MAC Painterly paintpot

-Sugarpill pressed shadows in Afterparty, Dollipop, Tako, and Bulletproof

-Inglot Gel Liner 77

-CoverGirl Waterproof LashBlast Volume mascara

-Urban Decay 24/7 liners in Zero and Psychadelic Sister

Face:

-Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer

-Lancome Teint Idole Foundation in Bisque 4

-Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Buff

-NARS Laguna bronzer

-Illamasqua blusher in Thrust

-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Lips:

-Inglot lipstick #264 (1st look)

-Lancome l'absolut rouge lipstick in Blush Classique

When I feel like I need some color, I always fall back on Sugarpill.  How about you guys?

FOTD: Decency

Hey everyone!

I want to post a super duper quick FOTD from yesterday.  I had to make sure I looked presentable for a certain meeting I had to have with someone I don't get along with.  So of course, I had to look halfway decent without looking like I was trying too hard. Haha!  Here it is!  Yup, baby blue managed to sneak into the look somehow.

Face:

-Bare Escentuals Face Primer

-Lancome Teint Idole Foundation in Bisque 4

-CoverFX Setting Powder in Light

-Annabelle BB Skin Perfect Concealer in Medium

-Illamasqua Blusher in Thrust

-NARS Laguna Bronzer

Eyes: 

-UDPP in Eden

-UD Naked 2 Palette: Foxy, Bootycall, Tease, YDK, Busted, Blackout

-Milani Liquifeye Pencil in Black

-Inglot Gel Liner 77

-CoverGirl Waterproof LashBlast Volume Mascara

Lips:

-CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Divine

Enjoy!

FOTD: Meet Me At The Deep End

Hello lovelies!

I really love it when I have time to do my makeup at my leisure.  What I love most about doing makeup is being able to play around with different colors, rather than wear makeup for functional purposes.  Of course I do both but it is a lot more fun to get creative!

As usual, I find that my everyday looks are too neutral and subdued.  I wanted to bump it up a bit for work today without going over the top.  Almost every time I say this, my look never really turns out as exciting as I want it to.  Haha.

No flash

I also do realize that my face seems a bit pale.  I'm trying out a BB Cream I recently acquired.

Face:

-Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer

-Missha M Perfect BB Cream #23

-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light

-NARS Laguna Bronzer

-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused

-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes:

-UDPP

-Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette: Vanilla, Deep End, M.I.A.

-Too Faced eyeshadow in Heaven

-Inglot AMC Gel Liner in 77

-Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Oil Slick

-Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume Mascara (Waterproof)

Lips:

-Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

FOTD: Everlasting

I love love love Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipsticks!  They are so long wearing and I don't have to touch them up too much.  They will stain your lips but I can look over that.

Everlasting is one that I did not have a huge problem with when it comes to staining.  But then again, I only wore it for about 6 hours.  Here is a look I wore last Wednesday:

I only have two pictures because I decided to take them before I ran out the door :(

Eyes: 
-UDPP
-Inglot eyeshadows in 399P, 451P, 434P
-Stila eyeshadows in Kitten and Black Cat
-UD 24/7 Liner in Perversion
-Inglot AMC Gel Liner in 77
-L'oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara

Face:
-Laura Mercier Hydrating Face Primer
-Smashbox Healthy FX Foundation in Light 3
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amusing
-Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory
-MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20

Lips:
-Cover Girl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Everlasting
-Jordana lip liner in Plush Plum

FOTD: Untitled Work Look

Sorry for the lack of imagination.  I really have no idea what to call this look.  But I wore it this past weekend for another day at the ice cream parlor.  I looveeeeeed how the look turned out but HATEEEE the freaking pictures because it makes the makeup look like poop.  Sure, the makeup could use some refining but blahhh.

Anyways, I did this look in the early afternoon and was thrilled to have a bit of sunlight left to take pictures in.

But as it turns out, you really can't see much of the makeup so I resorted back to the harsh flash of my camera:

Yes, I'm kicking myself for not applying makeup properly to my two different sized eyes too.

Face:
-Inglot Face Primer
-Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer in Medium
-MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20
-Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused

Eyes:
-UDPP
-Inglot eyeshadows in 395P, 422P, DS500, and 352M
-UD 24/7 Liner in Perversion and Oil Slick
-L'oreal Voluminous Mascara

Lips:
-Cover Girl Lip Perfection l/s in Romance

...And just for fun, here is a shot of the chaos that is the desk I use for makeup, cardmaking, and homework:

Like I said, CHAOS.

I feel like I've been using this blog for ranting and look dumping lately.  I have a lighter work load this week so I'm going to try to get some more fun posts in.  Comments? Requests? Randomness?  Let me know!

P.S.  I'm having trouble commenting on some of your blogs.  Blogger tells me that I need to be a member of some of your blogs in order to comment but that's all bullcrap.  I'm signed into blogger and all and I have been able to comment before so I don't know what the problem is.   Sorry :(

THERE'S LEAD IN MY LIPSTICK (and yours too)!!!

I found this out not long ago but I wanted to get the word out as soon as possible.  33 popular lipstick brands were tested in 2009 by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the results have finally been published.  It is absolutely ASTOUNDING because so many of the popular lipsticks we rant and rave about are on this list.

L'oreal is the producer of the top 10 most lead-contaminated brands of lipsticks.  Brands that are contaminated include:

1. Estee Lauder
2. MAC
3. Clinique
4. Wet n Wild
5. Dior
6. Benefit
7. Maybelline
8. Cover Girl
9. Revlon
10. Mary Kay
11. Bobbi Brown
12. NARS
13. Avon
14. Shiseido
15. Clarins
16. Chanel
17. Rimmel
18. Burt's Bees
19. Elizabeth Arden
20. Almay
 ...and many many more

With that said, I don't think ALL lipsticks from each of these brands are contaminated with lead.  In this list, you can check for the specific shade(s) that are contaminated.

Just to throw a few out there, some of the lipsticks on the very very extensive list include MAC Angel, Clinique Black Honey, MAC Lady Danger, MAC Red, MAC Viva Glam I, MAC Show Orchid, Maybelline Nearly There.  I'm listing a lot of MAC lippies not because I'm picking on them, but because MAC is probably the most talked about brand in the blogging world.

So what does this all mean?  Research shows that there is no safe level of lead, and yet the FDA claims that there is no concern for the level of lead in lipsticks.  In fact, the FDA does not have a limit on lead in cosmetics and have never been very restrictive on beauty products in general.  At the very least, however, cosmetic companies should be REQUIRED to list ALL their ingredients on he label, which they currently are not.

Here are the lead-contaminated lippies (that I know of) that I dug out of my own personal collection:

Wet n Wild Red Velvet, L'oreal Undeniably Mauve, Maybelline Madison Mauve, and Maybelline Mauve Me.

I haven't decided what to do with these lipsticks yet.  I originally wanted to throw them out immediately, but I wonder what good it would actually do me.  All cosmetics that are not organic and natural are probably bad for us in one way or another, and all the food we eat is also processed and contaminated to some point as well.  With that said, I don't think that this makes it okay for there to be lead in our lipsticks in the first place.  You see how I'm bouncing back and forth here?

In any case, I wanted to put the facts out there and let you all decide for yourself what to do about the lipsticks.  I think one thing we can all agree on is that there should not be lead in our lipsticks to begin with, so we can email or facebook message many of the companies listed about lowering or eliminated the lead in lipsticks.

If you would like to read more about lead in lipsticks and see the extended list of lipsticks tested, please check out these very helpful and informational sites:

http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=223

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137224.htm#expanalyses 

FOTD: Pacini

I actually did this look the day before I got my hair cut, so I've still got my old hair.  Since I have been staying with my boyfriend and his family, I've been keeping my makeup fairly simple and clean so they don't think I'm too crazy.  On this night, my boyfriend and I went out for some delicious Italian food (at a restaurant called Pacini, lol) with some of his friends.

Face:
-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3
-Gosh Cover Me Up Makeup Mousse in Almond (similar to Chanel's Tan de Soliel)
-Laura Mercier Setting Powder
-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny
-NARS Blush in Oasis

Eyes:
-UDPP
-Naked Palette: Virgin, Half Baked, Buck
-Inglot e/s in 428P
-Milani Liquifeye eyeliner in Black
-L'oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner
-L'oreal Extra Collagen Mascara

Lips:
-CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipstick in Romance

I haven't been posting too many looks lately because they all more or less look like this.  When I get back home, hopefully they'll be more interesting again.

FOTD: Divine

I was running extremely short on time today, so here is a quick look that I threw together for class.  Of course, there's nothing like a bright lipstick to glam up an otherwise simple look, so I popped on CoverGirl Lipperfection lippie in Divine....which I lost later that day.  I'm so sad T___T

Face:
-Aveeno tinted moisturizer in medium
-Laura Mercier Setting Powder
-NYC Matte Bronzer
-MAC Blush in Blushbaby

Eyes:
-L'oreal Lineur intense liquid liner
-L'oreal Waterproof carbon black mascara
-MUFE Black eyeliner

Lips:
-CoverGirl Lipperfection Lipstick in Divine

Did I say simple or what?  At least it's functional!

FOTD: Lazy Day/Running Errands Makeup

Since school is finally over, my boyfriend and I played Maplestory up until 5 in the morning, and woke up at almost 2pm.  Then we spent the day playing more Maplestory before deciding that we should get out for some fresh air.  We just had to hit up Target for a few things, and I really wanted to slap on some makeup (because I don't use makeup as often as I would like) so I did something really quick.  What you see down below is just some thick, funky, navy eyeliner, a shimmery wash of color on the lid, and my usual summer face makeup.  Easy peasy and not a whole lot of hassle.

Stuff I used:

Face:

-Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer in Medium

-Laura Mercier Setting Powder

-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny

-Benefit Blush in Coralista

-Benefit Erase Paste in Medium (not pictured)

-NARS Multiple in Copacabana 

Eyes:

-Stila e/s in Kitten

-L'oreal HIP eyeliner in Midnight Blue (I LOVE this stuff!)

-UD 24/7 Liner in Zero

-L'oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara 

Lips:

-CoverGirl Lipperfection l/s in Romance

Actually, my real lazy day/running errands makeup is no makeup at all.  I'd say half the time, my makeup is very minimal or no there at all.  Dare I still call myself a beauty blogger?  Why, yes. :)

What is your lazy day/running errands makeup?

FOTD: Bora Bora

There is no such thing as a quick blog post for me.  But I'm going to try because I really should be sleeping right now.

Here is a look I did with the Lise Watier Bora Bora Palette, which I have a review coming up for very soon.  

I tried this look the next day using NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Horse Radish in addition to UDPP.  I also opted for another blue (Inglot e/s in 428P) because I really needed some depth in the outer corner and the blue violet from the palette just wasn't cutting it.

~*Products Used*~

 Eyes:

-LWBB Palette

-Stila Kajal Pencil in Topaz

-UD 24/7 liner in Zero

-Stila Smudgepot in Black

-UDPP in Sin

-L'oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara

 Face:

-Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer in Medium

-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny

-Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

-MAC  MSF in Crystal Pink (LE)

-MAC Blush in Blushbaby

-MAC Mineralize Blush in Pressed Amber

Lips:

-CoverGirl Lipperfection l/s in Darling

Considering I own less than 10 MAC products, the fact that I feature 3 in a look is amazing.

Good night, darlings :)  I shall creep around in your dreams as you sleep.

Zzzzz......

[I have nothing to disclose.]

May 2011 Favorites

Boo...I did this video in a hurry so I accidentally left out a few things.  But I see myself using them a lot into the summer months so they will be featured next month :)

Anyways back to the month of May....

1. Combination of Too Faced Lock down Cream Shadow in Dramarama, MAC's Satin Taupe, and Inglot matte eyeshadow in 376.  Together, this just makes such a lovely neutral toned smokey look.  Slapping this look together takes minutes, so I've been wearing this look pretty often.  I have a FOTD featuring these products if you'd like to have a look.

2. Kat Von D perfume in Saint.  My boyfriend got this for my 21st birthday and I used it regularly for a while.  I stopped using it to enjoy some of my other perfumes, but I've found myself reaching back to this one, and have been using it pretty much everyday .  It has a lovely vanilla and citrus scent, with some floral notes in it.  It's just a wonderfully fruity and yummy scent!

3. L'oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in Carbon Black.  I needed a waterproof mascara a while back and picked this up.  I didn't use it till lately because I had been using a waterproof formula by Inglot.  I find that this mascara lengthens and voluminizes my lashes quite nicely.  It's also very black and very waterproof.  It has been raining a whole lately which does not make sense, but this stuff won't budge.  It's a pain in the ass to remove, more so than other waterproof formulas that I have used, but I suppose it is just doing its job!

4. L'oreal TruMatch Foundation.  I purchased this last summer because I wanted a darker, inexpensive foundation to mix with my current foundation to match my darker complexion.  I have had to start mixing foundations again because working outside with students during my internship has resulted in some tanning.  This stuff has phenomenal coverage, even better than my Smashbox foundation.  I has SPF 17, which is nice because it provides a bit of protection, but not too much SPF so that it does no photograph well.

5. CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks in Divine.  I love all of these lipsticks, but this one I have been wearing a lot.  I picked it up because I have a thing for purple lipsticks.  This one comes out a bit more fuschia with a hint of blue, but is really lovely all the same.  I have been wearing this lipstick with a neutral eye but heavily winged eyeliner.  Definitely a fun color to wear out.

6. Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder.  I mentioned why I purchased this on my last Sephora Haul post, but just to recap,  I was looking for a setting powder for all skin tones and one that would photograph well.  I used this powder on two other girls' prom makeup, as well as on myself after I have gotten darker and could no longer use my light setting powder.  This stuff is lightweight and photographs quite well.  I'm really loving it so far.  For $34, it was quite a splurge but you get a lot of product and the stuff works great.

Okidoke, that's all I have for the month of May.  Hopefully for June, I will have lots of new products to feature because that is when I'll have plenty of time to do more looks.  I'm hoping to do lots of bright, dramatic looks while I still can, before I have to tone everything down and look professional in Korea.  We'll see how that goes.

Until next time, au revoir!



[I have nothing to disclose.]

FOTD: Tempt

I purchased a couple Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipsticks at Rite Aid yesterday because they were 30% off. I've been dying to try these, and I don't possess willpower so I had to grab a few. I will do a full on review on these after I've worn them more often but I must say it certainly lives up to its hype.  I have never been more impressed by a lipstick.  Ever.

The color featured in this look is Tempt (355).  I've been looking for a red lipstick that would suit me and I picked this up thinking it was "the one."  Well, it's not "the one" but it is really awesome.  Very bright but not overly so.  I love it.

I also discovered that I don't do cat eyes or simple eye makeup very often, because I usually prefer dramatic eyes with lots of color.  I've learned to appreciate simple looks a little bit more, and so here we go!

No lipliner =)

Face
-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny
-Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Ivory (DISCONTINUED)
-Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Powder in Blackberry Bloom (DISCONTINUED)
-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes
-UDPP
-Lancome Color Design e/s in Sunset Gleam (DISCONTINUED)
-Inglot e/s in M363
-The Body Shop e/s in New Nude (from the limited edition Boho Beauty palette)
-Stila Smudgepot in Black
-L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

Lips
-Cover Girl Lip Perfection l/s in 355 Tempt

Thanks so much for stopping by!