MAC Proenza Schouler Blush Ombre in Sunset Beach & Ocean City

Slowly, I am learning that I am what they call a "Blush Whore". Whenever I find a new collection or brand I HAVE to check out the blushes. The Proenza Schouler collection from MAC really caught my eye because they had an ombre effect. I've seen everything from sheens to glittery overspray but never ombre, so of course I had to pick them up. Plus they are limited edition so I couldn't pass them up.

The packaging is a pretty ombre effect of green to purple. I really prefer when MAC does there special packaging just because it really makes it distinct from the permanent line.

The first blush I got is Ocean city. It was my first choice just because it was is an orange and I tend to shy away from it. 

The ombre effect is done beautifully in it and there isn't a stark line between the colors. The pigmentation is good between both of the blushes. Not amazing but good enough that I don't have to scratch it. If I put my brush in sideways I get the goodness of the deep almost burnt orange but I also get somewhat of a highlight shade.

The other blush is called Sunset Beach. Just hearing the name made me think of the purples and pinks that happen at the beach and better yet, a sunset is filled with ombre colors.

         







For me this is an essential pink blush because I can control the shade of pink I get rather than having an orange and a highlight. I found this to be slightly less pigmented then Ocean City but it wasn't substantial.

Ocean City

Sunset Beach

Anybody else pick these up?

Babette & Coquette Lime Crime Lipsticks Leave Lips Drenched with Pigment

Only my browser history would tell you how many times I've been on Lime Crimes website to drool, look, at their lipsticks. Throughout all of their sales and rave reviews of rich pigmented items, I couldn't bring myself to buy these magical items. Maybe I'm more of the, must see in person type.

        So about a month ago, I had the lucky chance to attend IMATS LA 2014. I was beyond happy cause I had been dreaming about going for the past 3 years, but sadly, missed out until this year. :) My first, absolute, have to go there, booth was Lime Crime.

THANK GOD  I was one of the first 100 in line, so I could run to the Lime Crime booth. I knew that I wanted a nude and a pink lipstick for them. Eventually I decided on Babette and Coquette, due to the immense popularity of these two.

Babette to me is a bright milky pink. 

Honestly, I love the color in the tube and swatched. But on my light skin in the middle of February, I am not a fan. Personally, I think once I get darker come summer, this will look beautiful on tanner skin tones. 

Now Coquette, I am head of heels for! For me it is the PUURRRfect nude! 

Oppisite to Babette, I was scared of this color in the tube! It was a cool toned brown that I always stray away from in fear of the brown butt-hole effect some of those colors can give. But once this little gem hit my lips, I kicked myself for not trying it sooner. 

To me, this is the perfect tan nude that doesn't blank my lips out completely and still gives them depth. 

Top: Babette, Coquette

Now the finish of this lipstick to me is a semi-matte. It has a little gloss within the first hour of wear, then dries down matte. I personally find this formula to be drying over time and emphasize dry patches. (Which sucks because my lips are CONSTANTLY dry). Since they are so pigmented, they will emphasize every uneven, bump, crack, dip, and hill you may have on your lips. I did not experience any feathering with and without lip liner. I find that These leave a beautiful stain after 4-5 hours of wear that I can pop some lip balm over to prevent the painful cracking. 

All in all, these rank as a C+ on my scale. They are beautiful colors available in the range, but even the $18 (plus shipping) is not worth it to me. 

Pigmented lips HERE

Karen 

Naked 3 Has Got Me Wanting to Strip Down

No, really, this rose gold palette is amazing. I secretly coveted the rose gold trend when it first became popular 5 years ago. Slowly, I added more and more rose gold items into my growing collection. Naked 3 was no exception. Add $15 off and I was completely sold.

This pretty little thing landed early underneath my Christmas tree and I welcomed it!

I LOVED the rosy hues in this palette so much better than the first 2. It definitely is fit for warmer skin tones, but can fit both cool and warm depending on how they are used. My favorite color from this palette has to be Darkhorse, which is the darkest shade here. It is a black shadow with a cranberry hue and cranberry glitter. 

Overall I am more than happy with this palette. I found that it is different compared the other two. So even if you have either Naked 1 or Naked 2, this one may be worth it to pick up.

Happy Shopping!

FOTD: Relaxed, Sunny, and Warm

        As half of the country is experiencing a freeze out, I'm stuck in Southern California with 80 degree weather. Now I'm not saying being stuck here is a "bad" thing, I just wish a cold breeze would come through here every once in awhile.

I admit I can do a better job curling my hair, but I was just lazing around the house so there was nobody to impress besides my dogs. I wanted to have a little fun and I LOVE purple with my blue eyes. How is everybody else's winter going?

Face:

Becca Primed and Poreless 

It Cosmetics, Bye Bye Redness

Make Up Forever Duo Mat Powder 203

Bare Minerals Warmth

Bobbi Brown Blush Flame

Laura Mercier Mat Highlight 01

Eyes:

Mac Dipdown (eyebrow)

Nars Pro Prime Smudge Proof

Make Up Forever 09

Make Up Forever 92

Stila Kitten

Stila Smudge Eyeliner Violet

YSL Babydoll Mascara

Mission: Get through the Holidays with some Glamorous Bobbi Brown: 6 pan pallet Review

As the holiday season (finally) comes around, the more glamorous I want my makeup to be. But at the same time I also want it to be flawless. I know many photos are going to be taken and family will be seen asking "why this" and "why that" so a bright smile and a pumped up version of my makeup always helps. :) This year I discovered that Bobbi Brown wants to help me with my mission.

Recently I caved on my ache for a Bobbi Brown pallet. I told myself that if I got a 6 pan pallet, then I can use it for travel as my all in one. (In reality, it was probably just my excuse to get more Bobbi Brown stuff) Since I have an event coming up for New Years eve I wanted to customize this pallet specifically for it.

The pallet is sleek and opens and closes without a hitch. The eyeshadows are securely fashioned in there that it actually takes effort to pop them out. 

Now I had some restrain and didn't fill all 6 pans. I wanted a couple neutral shadows that I can create a base look for, and I can never fail with browns. Then came in my want for sparkles... When I think glamour, I think shiny, perfection, and sparkly. So I got one of her sparkle eyeshadows and one of her shimmer blushes. Now I know many people are afraid to wear sparkle, but for the holidays its hard to go wrong. 

The first shadow I got is a deep mat brown called Rich Brown. This shade is greatly pigmented that really makes my blue eyes pop.

The next shade I got was mat orangey brown called Camel. This color is really the color of puke. Like it seriously is. Hahaha, I guess I just yearn to have shadows that look like barf on my lids. Seriously, its a great crease color.

Ok take a moment to absorb this beautiful sparkly goodness. I mean, to me it screams GLAMOROUS! Its a light gold, that yes, is completely composed of sparkles. This shade is called Sunlight. The only pigmentation that comes off with this shadow is in the gold sparkles. No base layer, just pure sparkles. 

The last pan I got was a shimmer blush called Flame. It is seriously dangerous if a light hand isn't used. But it is SO worth it! Its a deep pinkish red with gold sparkles in it. It creates a satin sheen with a nice golden glow. Ugh, I want to just stare at it all day.

Flame, Sunlight, Camel, Rich Brown

These swatches do not do these colors justice. I did barley touch my finger to them and they were incredibly pigmented. I was expecting the sparkle shadow to be just sparkles and was what I wanted. They shadows blend nicely and last all day on me with or without primer. When using the Sunlight, you have to be a little careful of fallout, but it leaves the perfect sparkle when layered of a shadow or in the corner of the eye. Flame is a daunting creature of a blush. It is so bright and pigmented, that a light hand or a duo fiber brush is needed. But once you get the hang of it, you'll be reaching for it all day.

Overall I am extremely happy with my pallet picks for my holiday events or everyday use. Now to add onto it...

Karen

YSL Golden Gloss in #4 Golden Fuchsia Welcomes in the Holiday Season with Sparkles!

I've been longing for these cold nights, christmas movies, and hot coco times. I enjoy writing these blog post even more now that I get to be cuddled up in a big fuzzy blanket.
           So I am normally not a lipgloss kind of girl. My lipgloss collection consists of maybe 3 or 4 sample sized random brands that I got with a palette. The color payoff mixed with the longevity is just not what I'm looking for. I enjoy my full coverage, matte, bright lipsticks. But when I saw YSL's golden gloss collection, the glitter fiend in me couldn't hold back. Plus the Sephora VIB sale gave me the extra little push.

I picked up the Fuchsia color because I figured I could layer it over one of my bright lipsticks. 

Sephora describes this gloss as A high shine lip gloss with real 24-carat-gold flecks.

It is meant to form a mirror-effect on the lips with sparkling gold mother-of-pearl. Now I will give this gloss props for its pigmentation. The other colors that I swatched in the store had comparable pigmentation. The glitter within the gloss isn't grainy or bumpy, it goes on smoothly every time. Their color range is quite big, with over 15 glosses that range from a clear sparkle, to a deep burgundy. 

I personally fell in love with this gloss. It gave my lips color and nourished them at the same time. I really loved the effect that the gold flecks gave, even over my bare lips. I prefer the gloss over a lipstick compared to my bare lips just because it gave the lipstick more depth. I have been stalking a few more shades that I am trying to hold off on til after the holidays. 

To get your own sparkle heaven

Formula X for Sephora nail polish in Love Chemistry Feeds my Addiction

So like many beauty lovers, I have a problem staying away from anything sparkly. During the recent VIBTOPIA sale, I was standing in line just "casually" looking at the beauty to-go station. ( OK I admit I HUNT through  there for my favorite products in travel size) And out of the corner of my eye this shinning bottle caught my eye. I'm still on the fad of rose gold, so when i saw this nail polish it was the perfect combination of gold dust and pink dots.

Sephora Formula X: Love Chemistry

According to Sephora, "these as a revolutionary fusion of micro and macro glitter lacquer that creates an intriguing 3-D effect"  

This shade is described as a champagne and pink 3D glitter.

Personally, I love this shade! I don't have any glitters that cover quite as opaque as this one. When applying this, I find its difficult to "spread" the big chunks of glitter. But after working with it, I LOVE IT. I am by no means a pink girl, but this polish could turn me. 

I layered OPI "Bubble Bath" underneath to bring out the pink flecks in the glitter. I found that it really brought the polish more. And the even better part? It hasn't chipped and it has been a whole week!

I can't wait for my other Sephora hauls to come late this week so I can change my colors up! 

Karen 

Sephora Formula X: Love Chemistry $12.50