Chicago Travel Makeup Bag

I just got back from a trip to Chicago with my family (minus my husband because he had to work (sad face)), and I thought I'd show you what I took in my makeup bag.  If I showed you my skincare, this post would take forever to read.  Besides, I like looking at travel makeup bags more than travel skincare stuff.

Patriotic EotD

Happy Independence Day to my American readers!  I created a red, white, and blue eye look in celebration of the day.

I used:
  NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (matte white)
  "browbone" color (sparkling white) from Wet 'n' Wild Shimmer the night Away palette
  Naked (matte tan) from the Urban Decay Naked palette (tiny bit in the crease)
  Benefit swingin' sweetie eye sparkle in Swing (sparkling red)
  Darling Girl Cosmetics loose shadow in You'll Shoot Your Eye Out (sparkling blue)
  CoverGirl Liquiline Blast eye liner in Blue Boom (royal blue)
  Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara in Blue (lower lashes)
  L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara in Blackest Black (upper lashes)

from left: Urban Decay Naked, NYX Milk, Wet 'n' Wild "browbone", Benefit Swing, DGC You'll Shoot You Eye Out, CoverGirl Blue Boom, Sephora mascara

Have a happy 4th of July, everyone!

Valentine's Day Manicure

Pink on pink for Valentine's Day.  If I had some nail art tools (and was more steady handed) I would have attempted a heart or something.  I think the pink tips with the pink base is cute, though.

I used CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Pink-finity as the base color all over the nail, and Milani Nail Lacquer in Tip Toe Pink on the tips.

flash

Anything special on your nails for Valentine's Day?

January 2014 Beauty Favorites

I'm a little late with this post.  Maybe I should call it "The polar vortex/I'm fed up with winter favorites" post.  Wait.  That sounds like I'm fed up with winter favorites.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette -- I've been using this almost everyday either by itself, or in conjunction with some other shadows.  My favorite colors: Limit (for the crease mostly), Nooner (to darken the crease), Buzz, and Trick.  Blackheart is a great liner, too.

from left: Limit, Nooner, Buzz, Trick, Blackheart

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation -- I like the texture of this.  It's smooth and thin and feels light on the skin.  I would say it has medium coverage, but it can be built up for more.  It doesn't separate or break down on my skin, and it seems to have good wear time.

Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar -- This has been a long-time favorite of mine.   I've been using it more lately because I feel like warming up my skintone and pretending like I've been outside.

Maybelline Color Sensational The Elixir Lipgloss in 095 Blush Essence -- Balmy and shiny and a color that looks good with everything and I wear it almost everyday and this has turned into a run-on sentence.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in Rose Aurora (limited edition from spring 2012) -- This is so perfect with the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.  The lipstick is a shimmery rose that compliments the colors in the palette wonderfully.  Too bad it was limited edition.

from left: Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar, Maybelline Elixir lipgloss in Blush Essence, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in Rose Aurora

Thanks for visiting and have an exquisite day!

I almost forgot a non-beauty related favorite!  The new blanket my sister made for me!  It's made of fleece, and one side is Detroit Tigers material and the other side is Michigan State Spartans material.  How awesome is it?!

Pink and Gold Eyes with the Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette

I think I finally figured out how to use the vibrant pink eyeshadow in the Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette.  A very tiny amount on the brush is all that is needed.  Admittedly, this is not the most wearable look for everyday, but I quite like the way this look turned out, so lots of photos today!  It reminds me of the colors you might see in a sari.

I blended the hot pink color over the gold color, which I think ended up being really interesting and beautiful.

first with a daylight bulb:

now with flash:

lots of hair in the eyes

and, because the sun was shining, I was able to take some natural light photos

Eyes:  Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette:
                   --Instigator (antique gold) all over the lid and lower lashline
                   --Totally Fetch (hot pink) blended over Instigator and into the crease
                   --Dainty (matte cream) under the brow

       
          Tarte Skinny Smolder Eyes pencil in Onyx on lower waterline
          Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

Cheeks: NARS Orgasm blush

Lips: CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm #205

from left: Instigator, Totally Fetch, Dainty, Tarte Onyx eye pencil

from left: NARS Orgasm blush, CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balm #205

Have a gorgeous day, and thanks for scrolling through all the pictures of my face!  (P.S. Are you sick of FotD posts and looking at my mug?)

Peacock Eyes with Urban Decay

I love the colors in peacock feathers.

When I was a child and my parents would take me to the specialist eye doctor at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, they would take me to a store that was in downtown Ann Arbor as a treat.  I would always choose a peacock feather to take home with me.

Eyes:  Urban Decay Shadows -- Peace (inner 1/2 of lid)
                                              Graffiti (outer 1/2 of lid)
                                              Fishnet (crease)
                                              Asphyxia (above crease)
                                              Honey (lower lash line)
          Wet 'n' Wild Brulee (under the brow)
          Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Copper Glow (upper lash line)
          Too Faced Eyeshadow Luxe in Socialite (over Pixi liner on upper lash line)
          Benefit They're Real Mascara

from left:  Urban Decay Peace, Graffiti, Fishnet, Asphyxia, Honey, Too Faced Socialite, Pixi Copper Glow

Cheeks:  Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush

Lips:  CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in 205 (no color name...)

from left:  CoverGirl Jumbo Gloss Balm 205, Too Faced Sweethearts blush

kind of an odd angle...

 

indoor light

Have a gorgeous day!

Baby Pink Nails with Gold Glitter Tips

This is another attempt of mine at doing something more interesting on my nails besides one color by itself.  I'm not sure it really could be considered nail art...

I used CoverGirl Outlast Nail Gloss in Pink-finity all over my nails, and then added O.P.I. for Sephora Nail Color in Looks Like Rain, Dear on just the tips of the nails.

Pink-finity is an opaque, cool, light pink.

Looks Like Rain, Dear is a glitter gold that has large holographic glitter pieces as well as small gold glitter.  It is surprisingly un-sheer for a glitter polish.  It seems to have a gold metallic base that gives good color coverage.

Have a gorgeous saturday!!