Primers and Eyeshadow and Lipstick...Oh my!

My Partners In Pretty know the way to my heart! Being an aspiring makeup artist, you have to build your kit with the essentials. Foundation, primers, concealer, powder, eyeshadows, blushes, lippies, etc. And the ladies always bless me with the perfect products to add to my growing kit. Here are a few things that I got this weekend from my boos Shana of ShanaJanelle and Nikkia of Silver Lips Beauty. (I can't thank you ladies enough for my goodies!)

Ben Nye MagiCake Aqua Paint Palette...12 colors for the face and body. Activated by water or Ben Nye's LiquiSet Sealer, these colors are vibrant and extremely pigmented. 

Sephora eyeshadow in Prisma Chrome. This eyeshadow is not only pretty in the pan, it amazing on the skin. The texture is velvety smooth and easily blendable. I also think this would be a beautiful cheek highlight for the summer. 

MAC Cosmetics Pearlmatte eyeshadow trio from the Lilyland Collection. My girls know I'm a sucker for anything pink and green lol. I love the design of this trio and it may be too pretty for me to use lol. 

Senna Totally Transforming Eyeshadow Primer. (Colors light and medium) Senna cosmetics describes this product as a color magnet, eyelid color corrector, wrinkle minimizer, and eyeshadow fixative. 

MAC Cosmetics Metal Maven lipstick and Rock Out lipglass from the Riveting Collection. I love the frost on this lipstick and the rainbow glitter in the lipglass is gorgeous! Can't wait to find somewhere to rock these two lippies!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) lip tar stained gloss in new wave. I haven't tried these new stained glosses so I'm excited to see how they work. Plus I love a pink lip :)

Temptu Pro s/b concealer wheel. Being as though I am trying to build my kit...this is a perfect addition for concealing and highlighting. 

Make Up Forever makeup bag...this is great for travel or your big purse lol. You can never have too many makeup bags!

Lovely Lilac

At the advice of my mentor, I have decided to branch out and try some new makeup products. (Review on them later.) I tried out the Revlon Colorstay foundation in Golden Caramel, LA Girls pro concealer in Medium Beige, and MACs invisible setting powder. I also picked up a lilac lipgloss at the beauty supply store and thought I might as well do a lilac look. So here it is.  Below is a list of all the products I used to achieve this look. Enjoy!

On the eyes:

Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in Brunette

Revlon Lilac Shimmer eyeshadow on the lid 

MAC Mystery on the outer corner

Rimmel London day to night mascara

Wet n' Wild gel liner in black

On the face:

LA Girl pro concealer in Medium Beige

Revlon colorstay foundation in Golden Caramel 

MAC invisible setting powder

Milani blush in Sweet Rose

Ruby Kisses mineral powder in Cognac for the contour

On the lips:

LA Colors lipstick in Frosted Lilac

IrisColors lipgloss in Lilac

Sunrise Remix Makeup Look

Ok...so I totally forgot to post how I got this look. Please forgive me lol. Just a little background on how/why I chose this look. While hanging out with one of my partners in crime we were sipping on some Tequila Sunrise. I thought the color combination was perfect for a makeup look...but I wanted to mix it up a little bit. I got home and attempted to make a Tequila Sunrise for the hubby but realized that we only had a darker orange colored juice to add to it. Perfect! I'll do a sunset (or as I call it...Sunrise Remix) look! So I searched for a sunset look to inspire me and I stumbled upon a beautiful orange and pink smoky eye (see @c_flower's look here) and I decided to recreate it. And this is what I came up with. Also, check out my girl @itsjustmenai Tokyo Tea inspired eyeshadow look here. I hope you enjoy! 

On the eyes:

Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in Brunette

Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer for the brow highlight

Wet N Wild Spoiled Brat trio for the pink and Flora trio for the orange

NYX single shadow in Kiss in Casablanca on the lower lash line

LA Girl eyeliner in Aqua in the waterline

Wet N Wild gel liner in black

Rimmel London day to night mascara (lengthening side)

Almay 1-coat dial up mascara

On the face:

Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer for concealer

MAC Studio Fix powder foundation in NC43

Wet N Wild blush in Berry Shimmer

Ruby Kisses mineral powder in Cognac for the contour

On the lips:

NYX lip liner in Currant
Revlon lipstick in Pink Pout

MAC All About Orange Collection

Orange you glad MAC has come out with yet another collection? Lol 

Images via MAC Cosmetics

Orange has quickly become one of my favorite colors for the spring and summer. I love how the color pops when I have a nice golden tan. In an outfit or on the lips and nails are my favorite places to wear the color...but I'm learning to love it on my face too. 

Here is what MAC has to say about its newest collection:

"Orange. Its vibrant energy and modern edge ignites fashion and beauty big time in Korea, the rest of Asia and the world. It's one of the new global super shades that pops with sizzle and cool sophistication. M∙A∙C translates the trend with international impact into a colour collection for face, lips and nails."

Here is a look at the products available with this collection:

Rainy Season Eye Shadow Quad $40

An Eye Shadow Quad in four shades: Arctic Grey, Courtly Grey, Typographic and Rainy Season. The highly pigmented powder formula applies evenly, blends and builds beautifully.

7 Lipsticks $15

Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous. (Shades: Sweet & Sour, Flamingo, Razzledazzler, Tangerine Dream, Sushi Kiss, Tart & Trendy, and Neon Orange)

3 Cremesheen Glasses $20

A lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of M∙A∙C Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky. Applies with a doe-foot applicator. Use as a top layer to its namesake Lipstick or on its own. (Shades: Double Happiness, Imperial Light, and Rising Sun)

3 Powder Blushes $21

Colour for the cheeks and face. Various formulas. Different looks. (Shades: Immortal Flower, Royal Sunset, and Honey Jasmine)

4 Nail Lacquers $16

Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, Sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. Go hi-lacquer! (Shades: Sweet Pop, Ke Ai, Fiestaware, and Morange)

The All About Orange collection available now online, and will be in stores beginning June 6th. Although I love my bright oranges (I'm really eyeing that Morange nail lacquer and the Neon Orange lipstick) some of the lighter orange shades are catching my eye as well. What will you pick up from this collection?

MAC Fearless Femme Collection

Images Via MAC Cosmetics

MAC has another online collection of lipsticks and nail lacquers now available to you in a beautiful array of pinks and purples.  This is right up any girly-girls alley and I might just have to get all of them! lol  Here is what MAC had to say about the collection:  

"MAC Captures the fearless, fashion-loving femininity of It Girls with beauty, attitude and cool to spare in an online-selection of shades for lips and nails."

Here are pictures and the names of the products being offered with this collection:

Sheen Supreme Lipsticks ($16):

  Quite the Thing (deep blue plum)

Asian Flower (creamy lavender)

Full Speed (bright clean yellow pink)

Nail Lacquer ($16):

Steamy (hot n' steamy pink)

Saint Germain (light cool pink)

Dark Angel (goth romantic dark lilac)

So....what items are on your "to get" list???

Marilyn Monroe Collection by MAC Cosmetics (via Macy's)

Images via InStyle.com

Marilyn Monroe is back at MAC via Macy's! This collection is available on-line now (I will update when it's available in stores).  And being as though I missed the last release of this collection, I'm somewhat excited to see what it has to offer.  Here's what MAC has to say about the collection. 

"Pure platinum Hollywood glamour. Channel the legend's luster & sex appeal in a colour collection distinctively Marilyn. It's everything you need to capture the MM look. Specially designed packaging features imagery from The Black Sitting. Limited Edition."

So, without further ado...here are a few pictures that I was able to find.

Images via InStyle.com

Lipstick
In Deeply Adored, Charmed I'm Sure, Scarlet Ibis,
Love Goddess, and Pure Zen
  

Lip Pencil
In Beet, Redd, and Cherry
 
 

 
Nail Lacuqer
In Orange Kid, Vintage Vamp, Stage Vamp,
Flaming Rose, and Rich, Rich, Rich

 

 
 
Large Eye Shadow
In How to Marry, Preferred Blonde, Showgirl, and Silver Screen

 

 

False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara, Eye Khol in Smolder and Fascinating, #35 False Lash Strips in Forever Marilyn, and Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapid Black

 

 

Penultimate Brow Marker and Brow Finisher in Clear

Powder Blush

In Legendary and The Perfect Cheek

Beauty Powder

In Forever Marilyn

 
Dazzleglass
In Phiff! and Little Rock

MAC Punk Couture Collection

Images via M.A.C. Cosmetics

Well, MAC Cosmetics is on it with yet another collection. And I believe it to be right on time after last night's MET Gala theme...Punk: Chaos to Couture. The Punk Couture Collection is described as "Punk's rebel spirit and revolutionary impact on fashion inspires an exclusively-online collection of hautecore colours, superbly M∙A∙C. Lips and nails attract all the right attention in blackened plums and deep burgundy, while Fluidline and Liquid Eye Liner give intense definition for that daringly gorgeous glare." Below is a list of items available in this collection (all permanent I believe, but please correct me if I am incorrect). While I was hoping for some neon and eye popping colors, I think this is a nice collection for the inner punk in all of us.  Will you be purchasing any of this collection? 

Fluidline in BlackTrack $16

Liquid eye liner in Boot Black $19.50

Lipstick in Dark Side and Cyber $15

Pro longwear lipglass in Dark as Night $20

Nail lacquer in dark angel $16

Classic Smoky Eye

Last night I had a business/pleasure meeting with my partners in crime...not crime as in facing jail time but the two ladies that I get my good time laughs in with lol. I started to do my makeup for the night and thought...hmmm, I haven't done a classic smoky eye in a while. So that's just what I did. And since I was wearing black and white I just knew a pop of color on the lip was needed. Below is a list of what I used to achieve this look. Enjoy!

On the face:
Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in Brunette
Kevyn Aucoin skin enhancer for concealer
MAC studio fix powder foundation in NC 43
Milani blush in Mai Tai
Ruby Kisses mineral powder in Cognac as a contour

On the eyes:
Wet n' Wild Vanity palette light brown above crease, medium brown in crease
MAC Mystery slightly below the crease
ELF natural palette very dark brown on the lid
Rimmel London day to night mascara (both lengthening and volume sides)

On the lips:
MAC Heroine lipstick

Rainy Day Blues

April showers bring May flowers...I hope lol.  It's rainy here in the DC Area and I decided to do a Rainy Day Blue look.  I used the NYX box of eye shadows that I got from my sister for Christmas this year which had this very pretty blue (used on the lid).  Below are all the products I used to achieve this look.  Enjoy!

On the face:
Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in brunette
Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer for concealer
Kiss colors liquid foundation in honey glow
MAC studio fix powder foundation in NC 43
Ben Nye powder rouge in cool pink
Ruby Kisses mineral powder in cognac as a contour

On the eyes:
NYX box of eye shadows (light and dark blue)
LA Colors smudge proof liquid eyeliner
Rimmel London day to night mascara

On the lips:
Wet n Wild megalast lipstick in Don't blink pink
Wet n Wild megaslicks lipgloss in sweet glaze

Smoked Peach

Today I was feeling some type of way and decided to play in makeup as a little therapy lol. What I did was this smoky peach look using yet another unopened Wet n' Wild palette. I wanted to focus on the eyes because I used a different pencil to fill in my brows today (click here for that blog post) so I opted for a very nude lip to accompany the smoky eye. Below is everything I used to achieve this look. Hope you enjoy and Happy Saturday!

On the face:
Kevyn Aucoin Skin Enhancer as a concealer
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC 43
Ruby Kisses Mineral Powder in Cognac as a contour
Milani blush in luminous

On the eyes:
Wet n Wild Greed palette
NYX light brown and taupe pencils to fill in brows
Rimmel London Day to Night mascara (lengthening side)
Maybelline great lash mascara
Wet n Wild gel eyeliner

On the lips:
Wet n Wild just peachy lipstick
NYX currant lipliner
NK taupe lipgloss

Brows Brows Brows...

I got a question on Instagram last week about a possible dupe for MAC Spiked brow pencil, which is described as a Rich Brunette color.  I needed to do some research as I don't own the pencil myself (I know...bad me) however, I do plan on getting it when I make my next MAC run.  Now what I found is this...NYX Slim Eye Pencil in Light Brown which is described as well, light brown and Taupe which is a soft medium brown.  (See swatches of both pencils below.)  I also had Milani's EasyBrow pencil in Dark Brown, but I gave it away to my niece who has very dark brows as it was way too dark for me.  And I also had slight difficulty using it because I had too heavy a hand when trying to apply it to my brows.  While I believe MAC's Spiked is slightly darker, I think NYX's Light Brown would be a great alternative (not necessarily a dead on dupe).  

Prom look #3: Purple Smoke

So here is the last look of my prom makeup series. I decided to do a slightly bolder eye look with a glossy lip. I chose purple because I had this blackened violet pigment sample from The Body Needs and have been dying to use it. I didn't want the lip to overpower the eye so I kept it simple with my favorite lipliner (MAC Chestnut) with a peachy gloss. I hope you have enjoyed this series and let me know if you tried any of these looks for prom or any special occasion.

On the eyes:

Wet N' Wild Idol Eyes creme shadow pencil in Techno used as a base

ELF Mineral Shadow in Girly on the lid

The Body Needs pigment in Blackened Violet

Almay 1 Coat Dial-up mascara

Maybelline Big Lash Mascara

Milani liquifeye eyeliner in black

On the face:

Cover Girl True BlendFoundation in #460

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer as a concealer

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC43 all over

Ruby Kisses mineral powder in Cognac for the contour

Ben Nye powder rouge in cool pink

ELF Healthy Glow bronzer in Sun Kissed as the highlight

On the lips:

MAC Chestnut lipliner

Victoria's Secret lipgloss in lotta colada

MAC Silly Lipstick Possible Dupe

I was looking through my lippies today and decided to challenge myself. I wanted to see if I had anything close to MAC Silly lipstick. So I swatched lipsticks, lipglosses, and lipliners. Below is what my hand looked like after all the swatching. Not very pretty lol but it serves the purpose. The closest lipstick to Silly that I own is one from Black Radiance in Pink Dahlia; retails for about $1.99 in most drug stores. 

Have you found any Silly dupes? If so, I'd love to see it!

If you'd like to know the names of any of the other swatches, please let me know and I will try to remember what it is :)

Prom look #2: Neutral Look (Two lip options)

So I'm back with prom look number 2. I thought some girls may not want to wear a whole lot of makeup and go for a more natural/neutral look. I was reminded of this when two of my nieces went to their "Spring Fling" last month. They are just starting to experiment with makeup and to be honest...neither one of them need it. Plus their mom and dad are not going for the "beat" face look for them. Here is the look what I came up with. This look is my everyday/go-to look. I decided to show you how you can easily change up this look with two different lip options. Enjoy!

On the eyes:
Wet N' Wild Vanity palette
E.L.F liquid liner
Maybelline great lash mascara

On the face:
MAC Studio Fix powder foundation in NC 43
Tarte Matte waterproof bronzer in Park Avenue Princess for the contour
Milani blush in Mai Tai

On the lips:
NYX round lipgloss in Pinky Natural
NYX round lipstick in Femme

Work ready FOTD 15 min. or less...Day 2

Alright...it's day 2 of my work ready FOTD in under 15 minutes. Here are the products I used. Feel free to join me in this challenge. I'd love to see your looks!

Eyes:
Elf primer, elf 100 color palette pinky shimmer shadow on the lid and a brown for the outer corner, milani liquifeye liner, almay one coat dial up mascara

Face:
MAC studio fix powder foundation and milani blush in luminous

Lips:
Maybelline baby lips in pink punch, MAC chestnut lipliner and NYX lipgloss in pinky natural