MAC Stylishly Yours Winter 2011

New Collection coming out December 26!  I know I'm hoping for a MAC gift certificate for Christmas! haha  I definitely want the new plum fluidline, the rest I will have to see in person!

Lipstick $14.50 U.S.
• Style Curve -Bright violet purple (Cremesheen) (Limited Edition)

• Something New -Creamy bright blue pink (Amplified Creme) (Limited Edition)

• Neon Orange -Bright clean orange (Amplified Creme) (Permanent at PRO)

• Cockney -Sheer yellow red with multi-dimensional pearl (Lustre) (Permanent now) (Repromote from Euristocrats, ’09)

Lipglass $14.50 U.S.

• Clear -Clear (Permanent)

 

 

 

 

Pigment $19.50 U.S.

• Madly Personal -Bright pink (Limited Edition)
• New Fixation -Bright fuchsia red with soft pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
• Follow Your Fancy -Bright coral with pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
• Violet -Violet with pink pearl (Frost) (Permanent)
 
 

 
Cream Colour Base $16.50 U.S.
• Tickle Me Pink -Poppy creamy bright pink (Limited Edition)
• Movie Star -Mid-toned blue red (Limited Edition)
• Madly Magenta -Magenta purple (Permanent at PRO)
• Virgin Isle -Clean, bright coral red (Permanent)

Fluidline $15.00 U.S.
• Dark Diversion -Blackened plum (Limited Edition)
• Blacktrack -Flat black (Permanent)
 

Beauty Powder $25.00 U.S.• Too Chic -Soft peachy cream with fine shimmer (Limited Edition)
• Play It -Proper Pastel soft pink with sparkles (Limited Edition)

Zoom Lash Mascara $14.00 U.S.• New Hue -Blackened burgundy

My Favorite Makeup Brushes

These are my absolute favorite brushes. 

First - Brushes for the face

Nars Loose Powder Brush - This is perfect for a light dusting of powder to set your foundation.  Usually I would be using nars loose powder.  Its the perfect denseness (is that a word?)  for loose powder.

If I am buffing in a powder (like MSF natural) I used the Mac 183 brush.  This is great for bare minerals as well, or even if you are buffing in a liquid foundation.

For blush I use the Nars blush brush, I used this in a circular motion when putting blush along my cheekbone.

For bronzer - Nars Bronzing Brush - I LOVE this one.  its super dense and amazing for applying bronzer!

Nars Concealer brush - I honestly use my fingers most of the time for concealer, but if i am taking the time to do a really good job, this would be the brush I reach for.

For Eyes

The basic brush that I use the most

Mac 217, I use this for everything.  Laying down shadow on the lid, crease work, you name it and this brush can do it.

mac 224 Brush - for larger blending areas, i might used i after using the 217

Nars Eye Contour Brush- this i used for smaller crease work, like if i am blending in a darker color in the outer V

Mac 219 Pencil Brush -  This is very similar to the brush above, but i use this for highlighting on the brow and in the inner corners

Nars Smudge Brush- This is such an awesome brush!  its perfect for when you are doing a smokey eye and want to smudge shadow as a liner, or ever to smudge your eyeliner you have already put on

Nars Push Eyeliner Brush - I use this everyday.  I prefer to use powder as eyeliner, so this is essential.  this is the best thin eyeliner brush I have ever tried, and i have tried a few.   A lot of them have frayed over time, so they loose the sharp line.  This one I have had FOREVER and its still in perfect shape.  you can use it dry or if you want the thinnest line ever (the kind that you can barely see and looks like your lashes but better) this is for you!

Mac 266 Brow brush - one I don't use a ton, because i don't fill in my brows all that much, but is great when I do use it

I also got this mini brush set from the local CCO - its great for traveling.  Also the 187 is what i use for my nars sheer glow foundation.  its amazing! best foundation brush I have ever used. The other brushes are pretty good. I picked this set because it seemed to have a good variety for when i travel!

Mac 187

Mac 275

Mac 212

Mac 219

Mac 168

That is all ladies!  what are your favorite brushes??

Fabulous Felines Haul, Review and Swatches

Sorry Ive been MIA lately!   I have a bunch to catch up on!   I know this is a little late, but here's my Fabulous Feline Haul! 

I wanted to get more but I am pretty broke so I had to limit my purchases to the following three items!!

Burmese Beauty Quad

Showstopper, Burmese Beauty, Skintone 2, Prized

This is a beautiful quad!  the colors are dupe-able in my opinion, but not with things I have, hence why I bought it!  Showstopper is just a dark midtone brown, maybe like Charcoal Brown, Burmese Beauty is like Club, Skintone 2 is a really pretty light golden color, and Prized is a perfect peachy neutral.  Over all it can be used for a million different looks!

I will be posting looks using this quad soon so check back!

The other items I got were two pigments, Lithe and Bloodline.

Lithe is the perfect golden toned highlighting color,  its a peach based gold and is just too gorgeous.  You could used it on your eyes, or cheekbone as a highlight.  

Bloodline is similar to moth brown, they both have that taupe-grey-purplish color that is beautiful! 


What did you get from Fabulous Feline!!?

I would love to know what people got from Fabulous Felines and what they liked!

Nars Sale! 18% off

Nars is currently having a promotion offering 18% of purchases of $75 or more!

here is the code!

09922CP


I ordered, Elsa Eyeshadow Duo, Masai Lipstick, a new eyelash curler (my shu uemura finally kicked it), and a foundation pump!

Urban Decay Naked Palette Review, Swatches and a EOTD

So Ive had the palette for about a month now, I figured I would give myself some time to test it out before writing a review. 

Its a great palette with 12 beautiful neutral colors.  It also comes with a double ended eyeliner (black/brown) and a mini primer potion.  For $44 that's a lot!  My only complaint is that 10 out of the 12 eye shadows are pretty glittery.  So I don't get as much use out of the palette as I would like, because I don't use it for work all that much.    Its great for more fun, going out looks! (in my opinion) And as there always is with glitter, there is fallout under your eyes at times. 

Here's the palette

And here are swatches of all the shadows

Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar

Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse

Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

as you can see they all have beautiful pigmentation!  not a chalky one in the bunch!

One of my favorite looks so far is a goldish bronze combination - here it is!

(toasted and hustle are also a great combination!)

I used Virgin on inner corner and brow bone, Naked as wash all over, Half Baked on inner lid and under lower lashline, and smog in crease and under lower lashline.

beauty quiz!

SKINCARE
-How many times do you wash your face daily?
Twice normally, if i work out in the middle of the day on the weekend maybe three times

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
I have combination skin, can be oily in t-zone, and dry on cheeks

-What is your current facial wash?
neostrata facial cleanser

-Do you exfoliate?
Yes!

-What brand do you use?
i use my clarisonic daily and do a Neostrata Peel about once a week

-What moisturizer do you use?
day - darphin redness relief recovery cream
night - Creme de la mer

-Do you have freckles?
yes! more after going camping

-Do you use eye cream?
I have a few i use, still trying to find an HG. ones i like - caudalie eye creme, nars eye creme

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
only since graduating college and working full time! I get the occasional zit on my chin.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
tried it once, didnt like it. It dried out my skin too much.

MAKE-UP
-What foundation do you use?
lately for the summer I have been using Mac Face and Body foundation, i like that its very sheer and natural looking

-How about concealer?
cle de deau - Its AMAZING!

-Do you know your undertone color?
yes , its yellowish, nc 20-30 depending on my tan for mac, and punjab in nars

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I think they are great for a more dramatic look. I have used them a few times when going out in NYC, they are HARD to do though!

-Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
3 seems ridiculous. I go with 6

-What brand of mascara do you use?
nars larger than life volumizing, or shu uemura basic - both are amazing

-Sephora or MAC?
neither really. i supposed if i HAD to pick I would go with sephora since they carry nars. but i prefer neiman marcus or some other department store. my neiman marcus used to carry shu uemura so they were my favorite, but now I might go with Saks.

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
No.

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
a variation of mac and nars brushes, and my fingers

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
yes i used to use UDPP, now i am using nars eyeshadow primer

-For the face?
I occasionally use clarins perfect touch, usually I dont use one at all

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
bellisima - nars,

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
i usually use eyeshadow as a liner, like nars thunderball or mac typographic

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
never since i use a brush with shadow!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
some are gorgeous ( blue brown is a favorite) but i dont use them that often, and i hate the new packaging!

-Do you use mineral makeup?
no. bare minerals didnt agree with me. I loved Merle Normal mineral makeup but they dont have a large color range

-What is your favorite lipstick?
mac - danse. of course its LE!

-How about lipgloss?
nars - sweet revenge, sweet dreams, and chihuahua
mac - pinkocrazy chromeglass!

-What is your favorite blush to use?
deep throat by nars
glissade by mac

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
no, too many fakes

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
not really. Ive tried a few revlon lipsticks that weren't bad though.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
yes! i have been to the one near the beach in NJ and Woodbury commons. love them!

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
I went to a Mac seminar once, but they asked me to be the model, so I couldn't really see what they were doing! didn't learn much

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
i think I'm pretty good! I sometimes get mascara on my eyelids though. always annoying!

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
face darker than neck!

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
Neutrals!

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Scarlett johansen, I also always love Whitney ports simple makeup

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
mascara

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
yes I do regularly

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
haha i think i look ok!

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Nars, without a doubt

-What do you think of Makeup?
its fun!

I tag you all! Take the quiz yourself and post it in your blogs/videos!

Massive Sale

Hey Ladies! I am back from vacation and will be getting into the swing of posting again! I still have some unpacking to do, but i will try to post some of the new stuff I got this week! in the mean time heres the link to a sale of a lot of stuff I HAVENT been using.  Hopefully it will find a lovely home with someone else! 
Theres lots of Mac, some LE stuff (Stereo Rose), Nars, YSL, Shu Uemura, Chanel, Dior,  skincare, and a new Lilash!

Link to my sale!

Darphin Skincare Review

So I started using the Darphin Line about 2 months ago.  I have fallen in love with it!

Here's what I have been using!

The Intral line is specifically for redness and sensitivity, which is perfect for me!

This is the INTRAL Redness Relief Soothing Serum

Website Description:

This high potency soothing Darphin serum dedicated to sensitive skin prone to irritations helps diminish the appearance of redness and quiets the appearance of irritations as it softens skin.

Key Ingredients:
Calm Complex*, Grape Extract, Resveratrol, Glycosaminoglycanes (MDI Complex), Glycerine
*Chamomile, Hawthorne and Peony Extracts, D-Panthenol, Polysaccharide

A staff person at Blue Mercury put this on my face when I was there one day.   I didn't think much of it, and went out with my girl friends that night.   When I went to the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror while washing my hands, I was amazed! My skin was much less red than normal!  And this was the only thing I had don't differently.  It was a warm day, and I was drinking, so normally I would be very red ( i guess its the Irish in me!)  but I wasn't!  So i went back and purchased it, and the next product.

INTRAL Redness Relief Recovery Cream

Website Description:
This ultra-light soothing Darphin cream for sensitive skin with redness, helps repair and strengthen skin's natural barrier to enable better protection against irritants and external aggressors that may cause visible redness. Delicately, naturally green-hued formula instantly camouflages blotchiness.

Ingredients:
*Calm Complex: Chamomile reduces skin sensitivity, Hawthorn Extract helps protect capillaries, Panthenol rebuilds and repairs the skin barrier, Peony Extract acts as an anti-irritant and anti-oxidant, Polysaccharides reduce irritation.
Other Key Ingredients: Wheat Bran Extract, Lipid Complex, Vitamin E, Green-hued Mica
 
So once I went back and read the ingredients of the Serum I realized that I did know my skin did well with Chamomile and Reservatol.  So then when I read the ingredients of this, the cream, I was even more excited because my skin also does well with Vitamin E, and the Green hued Mica intrigued me.   I have tried many products with a green hue to them, and they have all made me look like a martian freak.  This is the perfect luminous cream with a touch of a barely there green color.  Its perfect and counteracts redness. The mica also provides a glow that diffuses any skin imperfections. This is an absolute favorite for me!  I have actually added a drop of foundation to this to make my own tinted moisturizer, which for the summer has been great!
 
 

Organic Chamomile Aromatic Care

 

Website Description:

This organic, aromatic, soothing essence of well-being quiets and comforts skin prone to blotchiness and irritation, while detoxifying and hydrating. Apply Darphin Chamomile Aromatic Care in the evening and follow with your appropriate Darphin Cream.

Ingredients:
Organic Chamomile and Sage Essential Oils, Organic Lemon Balm, Organic Jojoba and Calendula Oils, Organic Aloe Vera Extract



This was the next product I bought ( a few days after the previous two) I liked the first two soo much, I had to go back and look at more!  This you use at night under a moisturizer.  I have recently gotten into oils at night, because I have realized that my skin over produces oil due to dehydration.  I used to think I just had oily skin.  If I moisturize properly, my skin doesn't produce nearly as much oil!  So this is great.  I also use Caudalie Purifying Oil, which I stick to when I have a break out.  As I said before I love Chamomile extract, and I also know I like Jojoba, and when I saw Aloe Vera, I figured I couldn't go wrong with this! 

This is a fabulous product for calming your skin.  it hydrates without breaking out, and I can tell a difference the next morning when I wake up.  My skin is less red, less bumpy, and just thicker, healthier looking (if that makes sense, if your skin has ever looked thin and unhealthy you know what I am talking about)

I use this in combination with this next product

INTRAL Soothing Cream

Website Description:
This exceptionally gentle, non-irritating, comforting Darphin cream, particularly recommended for intolerant skin that is sensitive and easily irritated. Respects skin's vulnerability as it replenishes skin with essential moisture and helps protect against environmental aggressions.

Ingredients:
*Calm Complex: Chamomile reduces skin sensitivity, Hawthorn Extract helps protect capillaries, Panthenol rebuilds and repairs the skin barrier, Peony Extract acts as an anti-irritant and anti-oxidant, Polysaccharides reduce irritation.
Other Key Ingredients: Bisabolol, Orchid Extract, Vitamin E

This was described to me as the cream that cannot possibly irritate ANYONE.  Which I found to be a pretty amazing claim, but was willing to try it out, as my skin is very easily irritated.   I have to agree!  When I use this.  My skin is better the next day ( I used it mostly at night, as I really like the green Mica of the Recovery Cream for the day)  The texture is perfect.  It makes you feel like you have moisturized the PERFECT amount!  Its also a great cream to use after a peel or any other facial treatment. 


So that's pretty much it.   I am pretty sure the Darphin Intral Line will be my HG (holy grail) from now on.  If you have rosacea/red/irritated/sensitive skin, this is for you!  Unfortunately the one down side is the price.  Its up there!  But the products have lasted me a very long time so far, because you do not have to use large amounts of any of the products at a time. 

How to Be Happy!

How to be Happy!

1. Be your own BFF!
Enjoy your own company. Embrace everything about you! Without a doubt, it’s the most important step towards being a happy person.


2. Smile, Giggle, or Chuckle
Smiling releases serotonin in the brain, which instantaneously gives your mood a lift.


3. Sing Out Loud!
Shut the doors and the windows, or take a ride in the car, put on your favorite song, and belt it out!


4. Indulge in Dark Chocolate
Savor a small piece and watch your mood improve.


5. Expect a Miracle
Believe that something wonderful will happen for you today. The universe is waiting to shower good fortune upon you.


6. Laugh at Your Shortcomings
We all make mistakes; none of us is perfect. Forgive your imperfections, accept your faults, and laugh.

7. Sleep, Baby, Sleep
Seven or eight hours each night should increase your energy and decrease moodiness.


8. Count Your Blessings Daily
Gratitude, being thankful, is one of the key ingredients for living a happy life. Make gratitude a habit and happiness will be yours.


9. Wake Up Early!
Start the day off on a happy foot, with a happy thought. The morning hours are full of spiritual energy and prana (life force).


10. Let the Sun Shine In
20 minutes of sunlight per day improves mood and wards of Seasonal Affection Disorder (SAD).


11. Say "Good Job!"
Give yourself permission to pat yourself on the back. Recognize your accomplishments and positive qualities.


12. Catch Happiness from Others
Remembering that happiness is contagious, surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values, goals, and dreams.



13. Grow a Garden
Watching plants grow and thrive under your care is thrilling!


14. Pencil in 'Quiet' Time
Each and every day sit awhile, without television, without magazines, without the Internet. Just be!


15. Exercise!
Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which in turn cause us to have what is commonly know as a "natural high" or a "runners high".
Exercising can improve the way you perceive your physical condition, athletic abilities and body image. Enhanced self-esteem is another benefit.


16. Look to the Future
Set goals and then make plans to succeed and take action. Pursuing something we value always makes us happy.



17. Accept What You Cannot Change
Don't waste your precious time, energy, or thoughts on something that is beyond your control. Let it go.


18. Change what you can!
If something in your life makes you unhappy that you CAN change. Do it! don't sit around complaining about something you have every way of fixing, spend that time being proactive!


19. Take a Cat Nap
A 10-minute nap is all it takes to rejuvenate your spirit and get the happiness to flow.


20. Love Everything
Love who you are. Love what you are doing. Love the person you're with. Love your friends and your enemies, too. Love! Love! Love!


21. Focus on the positive
If you look for positive things in your life and around you... you will find them. If you look for the negative.. well you'll find that too... so DONT!

Nars Favorites Haul, Review, and Swatches!

So about two months ago, there was a coupon code for Nars for 20% off!  At the time there was nothing new out, but I was just itching to get a few things for 20% off!  So I got a few things that I needed back-ups of.  So these are all products I have had before and used up! So I obviously really like them all!

Swatches below!

First up, Copacabana Multiple.

This was probably one of my first purchases, 10 years ago when I discovered Nars. Its described as a glistening pearl, which I think is the perfect description.  Its a great cream highlighter for cheekbones, brow bones, and anywhere else you want to highlight!  I also like to wear it over my eyelids and smoke out a powder liner into it.   It creates a great semi smokey eye with a pearlescent sheen- almost wet looking. I think it looks awesome!

Galaxy Girl Lipstick

This is described as a baby doll pink with flecks of gold.   Its very sheer, and leaves a slight pinkish tint, with the slightest golden glow.  This also is an item I started purchasing about ten years ago!  Sometimes I layer Baby Doll lip lacquer on top for more of a pink punch. 

Belle Du Jour Lipstick

This is described as an "innocent nude beige."  This is a more recent purchase, and I didn't use to wear nude lips as much.   Its probably my favorite nude lipstick.   I feel like a lot are too light and make it look like your lips match your face.  Belle Du Jour just neutralizes your lip color and doesn't make you look washed out.

Night Flight Eyeshadow

This is one of the Night series, which are almost all black eye shadows, with another color glitter thrown in. Night Flight is described as a black with blue cobalt pearls.  This is my favorite of the night series, and I used it as eyeliner regularly.  I prefer using powders as eyeliners as I think they look more natural, since you can smudge them into your lash line more so than a pencil.   They are also easier ( I think) to wing out, or smudge, to accomplish many different looks.

 I recommend the entire Night series! They are great!

(one warning - they seem to crumble easier than other shadows, may have to do with the mixture of the "pearl" glimmer in it.  Be very careful as it will make a MESS of your makeup if  Night Series Eyeshadow breaks inside it!)

I also purchased Scopios and Aigle Noir Soft Eyeshadow Pencil

I havent had a chance to play with them, but they are gorgeous colors.

Here are swatches!

from left to right

Aigle Noir  Soft Touch Eyeshadow Pencil

Scorpios Soft Touch Eyeshadow Pencil

Night Flight Eyeshadow

Belle Du Jour Lipstick

Galaxy Girl Lipstick

Copacabana Multiple

Smashbox Ultimate Eyes Kit - for Blue Eyes

So I have mentioned before that I purchase the kit - Smashbox Master's Class: Ultimate Eyes - Blue at Sephora.  It is $59.  And yes, I bought it myself!

Heres whats included

- 0.04 oz Limitless Eye Liner in Espresso

- 0.273 oz Eye Shadow Quad in Ultimate Eyes-Blue

- 0.3 oz Hyperlash Mascara in Blackout

- 0.035 oz Artificial Light Luminizing Powder

- 0.08 oz Photo Finish Lid Primer

- 0.05 oz Cream Eye Liner in Obsidian

 

I finally got to play with it today!

I did the most natural look that is included in a booklet with three different looks.

 

 

 

So its basically just a wash of the lighter brown color over your entire lid into crease, the darker brown smudged in the outer V and under eye.  The highlighting powder in the inner corner, and I added the Obsidian as a liner.

Its a subtle look, but I really like it! The colors are most definitely flattering to blue eyes.  I am not thrilled with the liner,  I don't think Smashbox cream liners last a very long time, but it is a pretty color!

I love the quad, and all four colors. I love that they threw in a darker grey creme liner, because I sometimes think too much brown, makes your eyes look more red (warm based browns obviously) The highlighting powder is amazing! Only thing. The sponge applicator has sooo much product on it when you take it out of the tube, that you cant apply i directly to your face or you will end up with a big blob of highlighter. So i just ran my small pointed tip eyeshadow brush across the top and used that. I haven't used the brown liner yet, and I don't plan on every using the mascara (I stick with my nars and shu uemura mascara). But all in all I think the kit is definitely worth the $59.

I will try the smokier look and post the results of those looks soon!