Posts Tagged Make Up For Ever
ALL THE THINGS: An Abundance of New Lippies (But First: An Apology)
Posted by Latoya in BITE Beauty, Dior, Lips, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Sephora, Spring 2013, YSL on April 14, 2013
I have to admit that sometimes I’m a jerk. Sometimes, when people seem to be making excuses for things, I judge *just a little bit* Case in point: in the past, when reading posts in which the blogger noted that they had been sick and gave that reason for why they hadn’t posted in a while, I always thought ‘Jeez, you’ve been home for a week and you were so sick that you couldn’t even type? Pfffffft.’
Well, consider this my sincere apology at my secret douchebagginess.
*Did you know that when you google douchebag images that you get 99% pictures of guys? So maybe douchebag can’t apply to females, I dunno. Let’s just stick with jerk shall we?
As I noted in my last post, I was sick with a cold this week. Nothing life-hindering, just general shitty malaise with a seriously stuffed up (yet super-sneezy) nose, which meant some badass pressure in my head from all the congestion which made behind my eyes hurt, and the absolute necessity of on-hand kleenex at all times. Just your general bitch of a cold. I was off two days from work and skipped out on my extra-curriculars like yoga and running, yet I only posted once. It wasn’t that I couldn’t type. It was that I DIDN’T WANT TO. I didn’t want to do anything – I wanted to wallow in my own snuffling misery and drink lots of warm tea and feel kind of sorry for myself. I didn’t type nor did I read anyone else’s blogs (which is an admittedly passive, scrolling-finger-only kind of action). I watched a lot of Mad Men episodes and stayed on top of Big Brother Canada (which by the way is AWESOME – and the Nova Scotia peeps are ROCKIN’ it, woohoo!!!!!). And that was about it.
Long story short (this is what happens when I don’t get my chatty out on the regular), I am SORRY for judging you, my periodically sick friends. I recognize the error of my thoughts ways. Forgive me, as I get sick very infrequently and when it does happen, it lasts for 3 days max. I misunderstood – it’s not that you physically can’t, you just feel like doing sweet F.A., and I get it. I understand. So again I say: SO SORRY. My bad.
Ok, with that out of the way! Here is a sneak peek of a bunch of lippies I’ve procured over the past month or so. I went from not purchasing a lipstick since last August (!) to buying 3 in a week plus acquiring 1 via swap as well as 1 lipgloss via PR. For some, this is just another day, but for me it’s a lot. And they are all pretty damn sweet.
I plan on doing separate posts for each of them but for now I leave you with this:
Above: MAC Morange. I received this in swap and thought it was going to rock my world. I still think it’s an amazing color but on my face? OMFG IT IS SO INTENSE. And I’m not sure if that’s in a good way. It’s so frustrating, because in these swatches it seems like this color would be great on my skintone, and looking at it on others online it’s stellar. I WILL find a way to wear this, I just haven’t figured out how… In the meantime, I bought this:
One of the new Dior lippies, #433 Delice, in the Addict Extreme formulation. I bought this at Shoppers when I had a $10 gift card. They actually sent me home with the wrong version – the regular Addict which is more sheer – that thankfully I noticed before using it, but good grief Dior did you have to name them ALL the same name, same number? The poor SA’s… Anyway, no harm no foul on my end, but I would have been totally disappointed in the Addict shade; this Extreme one is more opaque and absolutely amazing on. It’s a more toned-down version of Morange and super-wearable, though I won’t give up on the former just yet.
Yay! I actually bought one of my wishlist items! Meet Quince, a High Pigment Pencil (matte formula) from BITE Beauty, my first from the brand. This is the exact fuchsia shade I was searching for, it looks SO good on – not too bright on my skintone, which was one of the major challenges, but also not so dark that it’s more berry. On me it’s just perfect. LOVE.
Yes, I caved and bought a YSL Rouge Volupte Shine since everyone and their dog seemed to be raving about them! I wouldn’t have probably picked this up if not for the 15% off VIB sale, which eased the painful $39CAD price tag down a bit. I initially didn’t think these were anything to write home about, but they’re actually more pigmented than I thought. I really wanted to get a soft pink shade as I don’t seem to own one, and #8 Pink In Confidence fit the bill. Very pretty and wearable.
Lastly, I received a couple of products from MUFE in shades that complimented the Pantone 2013 Spring shades. This is a Lab Shine Star Collection gloss in S0, which is essentially a shimmering beige. It’s fairly translucent but not clear, so it mutes my lip color a bit. I have to say that I do like the Lab Shine glosses, they have a nice smooth texture, feel hydrating worn, and have good staying power. This isn’t a terribly exciting color but it’ll be great for a casual look or for layering!
I think I’m pretty much set for spring with all of these lip colors, I finally have a few serious brights to play with, and also a couple muted shades to pair with any bright eye looks I choose. They’re all worthy of their own posts so keep an eye out! I wanted to get them up earlier but being sick my lips were so dry, everything I put on them just looked like a flaky mess. They’ve pretty much healed so I should be able to give you full reviews this week 
What new lippies have you bought lately? Do you prefer brights or more subtle shades? Gloss or lipstick? Did you buy anything from the VIB sale?
How Convenient That Pantone’s Color of the Year Was Also PERFECT for St. Patty’s Day!
Posted by Latoya in a-england, Blush, Chanel, Eye Liner, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Urban Decay on March 18, 2013
So. Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day! 7 years ago (OMG how time flies…barf) I was in Dublin for Paddy’s Day (as they shorthand it in Ireland), and yea…it was as crazy as you’d imagine it to be! Not so much a drunken mess, but just the sheer amount of people…yowza. It was a fantabulous time, and I’ll never forget it!
As the years pass, it seems the crew of hardcore Paddy’s Day party-goers dwindles in my crowd – job responsibilities, babies, and aging in general all seem to keep everyone at home on one of the most fun days of the year ~tear~ Thankfully, I have an excellent partner-in-crime who I can always count on to celebrate with me! This year it was just the two of us, so it was more low-key than usual, but I still made sure to dress the part – which includes green makeup (and nails), of course!
I usually do a lot more green on the eye, but since it wasn’t a rip-roaring party I went subdued and just wore a simple flash of green liner on the top lash line. I used Urban Decay’s 24/7 Liner in Covet (an emerald green with silver microglitter) on top of MAC’s Blacktrack Fluidline – the black gave the green more depth and helped the line look more crisp. I added MAC All That Glitters shadow all over the lid, as I find it gives the most beautiful shine to the eye without ever seeming like too much, and then a dab of Giorgio Armani’s Eyes to Kill shadow in #6 Khaki Pulse to the crease to add a little bit more depth. *Side note – anyone notice that I’m trying to grow my eyebrows out? It’s so frickin’ hard dude! I want to pluck all the random stray hairs but I’m trying to be patient ~sigh~ They are coming along though
Since it was going to be a long day, I wore MUFE’s HD Blush in #12 First Kiss on bare cheeks, layered foundation on top, and then added a touch of MAC’s Mineralize Blush in Early Morning to make sure my blush had good staying power. I quite liked the way it made my skin look kind of lit from within. I don’t usually layer cream and powder blushers but I really need to get on that! I topped off my cheekbones and other high points of the face with MAC’s Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl, which gives the best glow – I finally got my hands on the Year of the Snake version last week and I LOVE this product. Review will be forthcoming!
I finished with a very simple lip using Benefit’s Ultra Plush gloss in Hoola. I didn’t want anything competing with the green liner, so this gave the barest hint of shimmer and warmth, but that’s about it.
Of course, the look isn’t finished – gotta get some flash on the nails too, right!? Because I’m not a fan of green nail polish as a whole, I don’t actually own any that are going to give me serious pizazz. But I have shades with a green tinge… haha. I made it work, I think! I just read about sideways manicures, so I tried it out – easiest nail art EVER. And also my new favorite!!
The shades I used were a-England Tess d’Urbervilles as a base, and Chanel Peridot on top. This was probably more subtle than I should have gone with – the nature of Peridot with it’s duochrome nature just makes the a-England shade look like a shadow. Nonetheless, I loved the effect, and loved how darn easy this one (no nail stickers required – freehand works perfectly!), so I’ll definitely be trying this again and again with other shades. Fun!
I always have intentions to get these kinds of event posts up before the actual event, but who am I kidding? That’s never going to happen – I’m too busy prepping for the occasion to actually have time to post! LOL Anyway, all the other bloggers have got this covered for me 
And it’s not like I did anything particularly unique, and both the makeup and nails could be done any time of the year, right?
How did you celebrate Paddy’s Day?? Did you do any themed makeup and/or nails?
My Lip Color Collection (Part II – Lipsticks)
Posted by Latoya in Lips, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, My Collections on February 25, 2013
Here is the second part of my lip color collection – my lipsticks, as well as a couple lip liners to boot (check out the first part – glosses – here) I am kind of surprized by the number of lipsticks I have – as in, how few I have, when it seems like I’ve been ogling rich, pigment dense lip colors for the last long while. I feel like I should have a lot more than I do considering the long wishlist of shades I’m dying to own – let’s hope this year I change this! You’ll see that similarly to my glosses, I tend to stick to a few shade categories – actually, even more so here. There is a WIDE gap in colors which I am all too happy to fill Let’s take a look!
First up, we’ll start with the neutrals again:
Flash
Natural light
The NARS lip color is called a gloss, but it’s far too pigmented and not really all that glossy, so in my opinion it’s more of a lipstick. This is not true for all of the NARS gloss pencils though, as a note. Out of all of these, I actually only really wear the Buxom lip pencil regularly (which is actually a nude shade on me rather than ‘neutral’) – I think the others are supposed to be kind of ‘my lips but better’ shades, but they just aren’t nailing it very well for me. Thankfully, out of the four I only purchased one (the NARS), so it’s no real hardship. But once I use up one or two of these, I’ll be investing in a really good every day shade – every girl’s gotta have one!
Next, we have another shade category of which I think every gal should own at least one color – RED:
Flash
Natural light
I have a hard time not buying every single gorgeous red on the market – I LOVE me some red lips! Though as you can see, my stash is very homogenous – where are the orange reds!? I didn’t realize that all the shades I owned were essentially true reds or even blue-leaning until I did this swatch session. It’s interesting actually because I think my skintone leans warm, which typically means that I should be choosing a more orange-based red to get the most flattering effect. However, I do feel the colors I have are great and I feel very good wearing them, so I’m not going to concern myself with it too much. But, it gives me great pleasure to realize that I have this gap, as it gives me free reign to buy a few more
I would say I wear all of these reds equally as often, except for perhaps Russian Red, which I feel is a more ‘special event’ red as it’s so bold. The Aqua Rouge is also very ‘in your face’ but because it’s so long-wearing I’ve put it in more regular rotation because it’s so low-maintenance. The Dior Addict shade, which has since been discontinued, is the sheerest of the bunch, but with a flushed cheek it looks just perfect (though it’s a bit gritty feeling with the gold sparkle).
Yet another ‘must-have’ shade in my humble opinion, is a good vamp:
Flash
Natural light
MAC’s Bing (an LE shade) was my first vampy shade, and as you can see I pretty much dove right in! It’s VERY dark and mysterious and…insanely hard to wear. I either blot it down to wear as a stain (as you saw here), or I mix it with other shades to tone it down a bit. I still dream of being able to wear it full force, however, reminiscent of the looks in these pics below:
LOVE this photo all around – fabulous makeup on Leighton, and he-LLO Ed Westwick!!
Chanel Noirs Obscurs Winter 2009 collection
I’m not too upset by the difficulties of Bing however, because I have found MY best berry lippie shade since – Ellis Faas’ L102. I get so many compliment on this lip color, it’s crazy!!! You’d think I’d wear it every day, but it’s almost like I’m trying to ration it or something, because I don’t. Silly, I know. In any case, when I do wear it, it honestly makes my day. You always have to have one of those kinds of products in your back pocket, right? The Dior #976 is actually a similar color but doesn’t have the same impact, somehow, perhaps because of the golden shimmer.
The Shu lipstick is very sheer and not really my style, but I don’t own any Shu and I got it in a swap, so I’ll hang onto it for now (note that it is no longer available). Funbathing was also procured via swap (and LE), and I really like it’s berry-bronzey goodness, but it feels fall-ish to me, and I haven’t really had a chance to wear it since I was away for most of the fall and was doing the whole *next to no makeup* thing. It’ll get it’s chance next year!
And now…CORAL. While it isn’t the typical ‘you gotta own one’ color, trust me – you gotta own one!
Flash
Natural light
These kind of look pink in my swatches, but IRL they definitely have a coral leaning. Crosswires is described as a ‘clean pinky orange’ but I don’t see any orange when I wear it at all. Chanel’s Empire (LE) is described as a ‘pink-peach’ and MUFE’s N36 an ‘iridescent coral’, but to me they’re all in the same vein – coral-pink. In any case, these are highly wearable shades and seem to go with almost any look I choose (well, Crosswires is a bit bright, but the rest are good to go). I love them all and enjoy each of these shades immensely! No favorites nor duds in the bunch.
I have one straggler shade here, and sadly it’s also one that I wish would just DIE already – it’s a mauvey purple shade, and I’m not hating on the color, just this one in particular:
Ehhh…it’s just not my thing! It’s got too much grey in it, which I have to steer clear of (which tends to rule out a lot of mauve tones) – it just washes me out and doesn’t do me ANY favors at all. I try to wear it occasionally to use it up, and pair it with brighter shades and bronzer in order to keep me from looking dead and blah. I’d love to have a great purple shade, as I’ve seen it look truly amazing, but just not this one. Think more like this:
Gah. Such an awesome look. SO not like that lipstick I have. Must rectify.
Lastly, we have my few lip pencils, which I keep because it seems prudent to do so, but which get absolutely NO play from me at all (oops):
I think have have the gamut covered well here – a nude, a neutral, and a red. These will work with all the lip colors I own, if I ever do get the idea to wear one lol. Happily, none of these cost me a dime so I might as well keep them on hand and not worry about using them – it’s not like they take up a lot of space!
So – gaps. There is a lot (in my mind!). I’m thinking I need a true girly pink, a bright fuchsia, an actual nude, an orange-red (and – just an orange!), a coral-orange, and a fabulous purple…sound about right? Since I went with 25 as my ‘max’ for lipglosses, I don’t see why I can’t apply the same number to lipsticks. I’ve got 19, add these shades I’ve noted…well, that makes 26, but I’m sure I’ll finish one of these in time no problem ~schemes~
What are your thoughts? Any shades here you’ve tried and loved (or hated)? What color do you normally gravitate toward?
Flawless Skin In A Flash With Make Up For Ever’s Pro Finish Powder Foundation
Posted by Latoya in Foundation, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Sephora on January 10, 2013
It’s interesting how different people’s opinions can be. Last week, I read Tracy’s post on this very same product, and she stated that she far prefers powder foundation to liquid. In my case, in general I prefer liquid foundation to powder! See, I think what I like about liquid foundation is that it typically leaves skin looking a bit more moist and glowing, whereas I always imagined powder foundation to leave you looking matte and sort of dull. I like the idea of a powder base, because Hello, how easy it is to use? But overall I choose liquid every single time.
However, I think I’ve found THE product to meet all my needs. Make Up For Ever’s new Pro Finish Powder Foundation ($42CAD) – can be used dry like traditional powder foundations for a matte, full coverage look, or…can be used wet, for a more satin finish with sheer coverage! Yay!! And it actually does what it claims! Double-yay!!
The color that received is the same shade that I wear in MUFE’s HD Foundation – 153, which makes total sense (and isn’t always the case – Clinique numbering and naming system does not follow ANY pattern whatsoever – you can be a Sand in one formula and not be a Sand in another…drives me absolutely batty!). I would still test it in-store to be sure, but if you don’t have that option, choosing the same color as your HD shade is a good bet.
The case comes with a sponge and your typical flip-up storage for said sponge; however, ingeniously they’ve included air holes in the bottom of the casing to let your sponge air out after using – so handy!
There are some nourishing ingredients in the formula to help keep your skin hydrated and comfortable while you wear it. Tracy found that by the end of the day her drier skin felt *slightly* tight; however, my skin is normal to oily and I experienced absolutely no dryness – and also next to no oiliness! It kept my skin’s oils totally controlled without being too matte and flat-looking, which I found impressive. Pretty cool I’d say!
Below are shots of my skin in natural light – on the left side I wore it dry, and on the right – wet.
Left side of my face, with the foundation applied dry.
Right side of my face with the foundation applied wet.
Do you notice how on the side where I applied the foundation dry, it takes on a slightly more yellow tone? I think that’s merely because the product is being applied more densely, rather than with some transparency when applied wet. Nonetheless, I prefer the powder applied wet as it seems to meld into my skin more and look more natural. It still looked good dry, and if I needed more coverage I’d use it that way. But I tend to be a sheer to light coverage gal when it comes to foundation, so wet is ideal for me.
Here’s a full-face shot:
You can see that on the left side there is more coverage than the right. I like having the option of customized coverage, and I suppose you could even alternate between the two at once if you had some problem areas that required more concealment. It really does a great job! Check it out with flash:
If you’re in the market for a foundation, and your preference is a powder – or if you’re interested in trying something different – I’d highly recommend the Pro Finish powder. It feels lightweight (even when applied dry) and the stay power is great even without a primer. And the way it controls shine really is something else! Right now this is only available online at Sephora, but will be in-stores February 2013.
Do you prefer powder or liquid foundation? What kind of coverage do you like in a foundation?
Playing Where’s Waldo with My Makeup Collection
Posted by Latoya in Benefit, Blush, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, Chanel, Clinique, CoverFX, Estee Lauder, Illamasqua, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Milani, My Collections, NARS, Rouge Bunny Rouge, theBalm, Too Faced on January 9, 2013
I spent two hours – TWO HOURS! – last night, researching what products and shades I should to order from Becca Cosmetics (a brand I’ve yet to try and desperately want to). My (totally logical – I swear!) reason for doing this? To avoid purchasing any shades that were similar to ones I already own. I DID come up with a (very) pared down list, you’ll be happy to hear; if you’re interested (and FYI – the blog Shades of BECCA is a good resource for some swatches):
Papaya Beach Tint $30CAD (hot red)
Fallen Angel Ultimate Color Gloss $29CAD (nude spice)
There were a handful of other products I liked the look of, but in checking out swatches, they seemed to be too close to items I already own (though, c’mon, the brand is gorgeous and I could have easily gone for one of everything!). Which brings me to the point.
You’re all familiar with my organizational obsession right? (and…if you’re new and not aware: Hello! My name is Latoya and YES, I have a problem which manifests itself into a bit of compulsive organization. Could be worse!) Anyway, another problem I have is lack of funds; when you own a home on your own and don’t make the big bucks, things can get tricky. However, I have ANOTHER problem (jeez, someone institutionalize me, will ya?), which is that I love shopping – for cosmetics in particular. Smash the three of these together and what do you get? Well…you get THIS:
My poor broken MAC blush up on the right 
What ‘THIS’ is, is me taking a good look at an area of my makeup collection – specifically blush/bronzers in this instance – and seeing where I have gaps. By gaps, I mean: what shades do I lack that I can justify buying, in order to round out my stash and also quell the burning desire to shop my face off. Ya dig? This fantabulous idea kills three birds three mosquitoes (no one cares about those) with one big-ass swat. I get to organize something*, figure out what shades or products I’m missing, and rationally and systematically purchase new items that are on my wishlist and fit the ‘missing’ bill. BOOM!
*Seriously guys, I joke but….I really like organizing things. So much so, that near the end of the month I’m signing up for a Professional Organizers intro course to see if I’d like to become a professional organizer for realz. It’s THAT serious :S
So, as you can see, I’m starting with blush – because clearly blush is THE BEST EVER and deserves the number one spot for allowing EVEN MORE BLUSH. Because clearly 20 (+ 7 bronzer-type things and 2 mini-blush) are NOT ENOUGH.
(I swear I’m not on the sauce tonight guys – I just feel a little peppy ’cause I’m back into running and signed up for the Ottawa 1/2 Marathon in May…wooo! )
Left to right (flash): Rouge Bunny Rouge Florita, NARS Turkish Red, Illamasqua Tweak; NARS Taj Mahal, Make Up For Ever Blush Powder #25, Illamasqua Lover, Make Up For Ever HD Blush #12 First Kiss
Left to right (flash): NARS Sin, Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum (discontinued shade); MAC Raizin, CoverFX Bronzed FX in Garnet, Burberry Russet, MAC Early Morning
Even with 20+ blush, I can plainly see what shades I’m lacking: A bright red! (NARS Turkish Red is more of a burgundy) A true orange! (NARS Taj Mahal is kind of a burnt orange and quite shimmery) A neutral pink! (…I literally do not own one beige-y pink blush, for shame) A nice deep berry would be lovely! And also – varying formulations! I have NO cheek tints, and only four cream blush. You see, there actually ARE shades/formulas I do not have despite having far more blush than is probably necessary. And then, there are shades I need NO more of, like medium pinks…I have enough of those, yep. I don’t think I need any more bronzers, especially since I rarely wear them and I’m already kinda *ahem* bronze. I only really have a couple coral shades, which tends to be the one a lot of people go gaga for (myself included), but I’ll hold off till the warmer months on thinking about those right now. Same goes for apricot-hued shades.
Left to right (flash): NARS Desire, Illamasqua Unrequited (discontinued shade*), theBalm Down Boy, Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel, Benefit Bella Bamba, Illamasqua Hussy, Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral, NARS Torrid, theBalm Hot Mama
Left to right (flash): NARS Laguna Illuminator, Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzing Powder, NARS Laguna Multiple, MAC Refined Golden Bronzing Powder, Milani Sunset Duos in Sunset Beach, Clinique Bronze Uplighting, Estee Lauder Illuminating Gelee in Shimmering Sands
What I’m wondering is, what gaps do YOU see? Since I only have my stash to compare it to, I can’t get a good idea of what I’m missing. What shades can you suggest that I should focus on buying?
I’m planning on doing this little experiment with all my makeup over the next little while, so be prepared: more lame examples of my organizational obsession coming your way! But do come back anyway, because I need your help
Is your makeup collection where you want it to be, or do you have a few gaps you’d like to fill?
Make Up For Ever All Eyes On You Set = Effortless Holiday Beauty!
Posted by Latoya in Eyeshadow, Giveaway, Holiday 2012, Make Up For Ever, Make-up on November 20, 2012
Today I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs (I am SO behind!), and of course I started noticing a trend – everyone was talking about holiday beauty, in some way or another. It always comes as a shock to me that as soon as November begins, the holidays begin in full-force without a pause – it was especially weird being away from home and seeing decorations going up everywhere in New Zealand ~brain does not compute.~ I find it particular distressing to see all the beautiful holiday makeup collections and sets coming out that are desperately calling my name, because I feel so guilty splurging on myself when it should be spent on others (I sometimes like to employ the ‘one for you, one for me strategy’ in my weaker moments).
Aside from the consumerism-mode that we can get into during the holidays, another aspect is actually putting looks together, whether it be fashion or makeup. Yesterday I pulled out all my red, gold and silver makeup (just realized I forgot green….must correct that!) to have at the ready so I can be as festive as possible (though I did see a couple of great looks today that didn’t showcase the requisite ‘holiday colors’, which got me thinking outside the box a little bit). While you don’t need to be as anal organized as I am, it does help to lessen the stress of what makeup to wear if you have a couple go-to products at the ready. Here’s where Make Up For Ever’s new All Eyes On You set comes in!
The kit contains (click on links for previous reviews): an HD Microfinish Powder; an Aqua Cream Waterproof Cream Color in #16 (a pink-beige shimmer); two of their waterproof, long-wearing Aqua Eyes Eyeliners in 21L (dark metallic grey) and 0L (mat black); and a Smoky Lash Extra Black mascara.
As I already own all the products in this set except for the Aqua Cream shade (of which I own several other shades), I can attest to their awesomeness as I’ve been using them all for some time. While the Smoky Lash formula isn’t my favorite, looking back at the photos I took of the mascara worn, it really did give my lashes some oomph! The liners, with their waxy-like finish, wear exceptionally well, and 21L (gifted to me by the lovely Liz of Beauty Reductionista) is one of my favorite liner shades ever – somehow both soft and defining at the same time (see photo of me rocking it out, below). The HD powder is wonderful at setting makeup and giving a flawless, smooth finish – just be sure to use a light hand (I know some who have concerns about it turning white under the camera’s flash, but I’ve personally never experienced this).
Aqua Eyes Liner in 0L Mat Black on left; 21L Dark Grey on right
Wearing Aqua Eyes 21L on upper lash line.
The Aqua Cream shade, #16, is a metallic beigey-pink that can be applied sparingly to the eyelid for a subtle, eye-opening look, or heavier for a more dazzling look. You can also wear this on the cheekbone as a highlighter. On the back of the kit box they have two suggested looks to try, one of which is described as a ‘soft shimmer’ (in which you use the color smudged on the eye); the other is for ‘dramatic glamour,’ where they recommend the product be worn on the both the brow and cheek bones.
Like the festive background in the last shot??? There’s a reason for this…as I don’t own this shade, I guerrilla-swatched it at Sephora at the mall this past weekend. WHY would I do that, you ask , when I already have the product in my possession!?
You see…in the spirit of the holidays and giving and all that – I thought it might be nice not to mar this pretty collection and share the love with one of my most excellent readers Seems many of you stuck by me even when I was MIA for almost 6 weeks, and I don’t take that lightly! It was such an unexpected treat to come home to find that my readership held steady the entire time. You guys totally and utterly ROCK!!
SO! Let get this giveaway on the go, shall we? Contest is open to all residents of North America ages 18 and over, and all you need to do to enter is let me know what’s your favorite thing about the holiday season. Simple, right? Of course, you’ll get extra entries if you ‘Like’ Beauty Obsessed on Facebook, if you follow ‘xbeautyobsessed’ on Twitter, and if you tweet about the giveaway! Contest closes November 30th at 12:01am EST (soo that’s like…1am my time. Right
I love this Rafflecopter business, it makes things SO darn easy – except the widget doesn’t like WordPress or something and won’t visually show up in this post. Never fear, if you click on the link above, it’ll take you to where you need to go Good luck to all that enter – and an early ‘Happy Holiday wish’ to you!
I am personally wishing you good luck in this photo.
Oh, one more question – is it too early to start drinking rum and eggnog?!
Upcoming on Beauty Obsessed…
Posted by Latoya in Benefit, Holiday 2012, Hourglass, Illamasqua, Make Up For Ever, Make-up on November 19, 2012
So it’s been a week since I’ve been returned from my New Zealand adventure, and I’m slowly (verrrrrry slowly) getting back into the swing of things. It’s quite an adjustment to go from an action-packed-always-on-the-go-surrounded-by-people-partying-every-night atmosphere, to being…back to work, home alone, same-old same-old. I’m not knocking my life by any means – I’ve got a warm, cozy condo; a good (though perhaps boring) job; and great friends – but it’s still quite a change to get re-established into. And I’m someone who really likes to have things to look forward to (which is why I’m planning my next adventure!).
When I googled this country, I noticed it ALSO has a lot of sheep…guess it’s my thing 
*Hint hint*
ANYWAY. Enough whining, and on with the show, right? Right. Tonight, I opted get a bunch of ‘To Do’s’ done and make bread (because what’s more comforting than baking bread!?), but I want to show you what you can expect to see on the blog in the next week or two. I happily came home to a few surprise packages that had been sent my way, so despite the fact that I haven’t been buying much in the way of exciting cosmetics in the past couple months (though…I did pick up an eyeshadow this weekend ~guilty face~), I do have several holiday sets – four to be exact – to fill you in on!
Illamasqua Lip Twin Set*
Intense Lipgloss in Plentiful & Lipstick in Obey
Hourglass Best of Hourglass Collection*
(Top to Bottom): Veil Mineral Primer, Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara, Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Ignite, No. 28 Primer Serum
Make Up For Ever All Eyes On You Set*
(Clockwise from left): HD High Definition Powder, Aqua Cream Waterproof Cream Color in #16 (Pink Beige), Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara, Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils in 21L (dark grey) and 0L (mat black)
Benefit High Flyin’ Glosses Lip Gloss Set
(Clockwise from top left): Coralista, Dallas, Bella Bamba, Dandelion, Sugarbomb, Hoola
I think that’s a pretty good start to the holidays, don’t you? I will tell you now, I am absolutely IN LOVE with the Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum – it makes my skin look amazing on it’s own, improves it’s texture, doesn’t cause ANY breakouts or irritation (even on my normal-to-oily skin), and my makeup wears better and smoother with it on (though I will say, it doesn’t make it last all day long). I’m definitely buying a full-size when money isn’t so tight!
So – keep your eyes peeled! I spent the morning Sunday taking photos of everything, though I have to redo my lipgloss swatches as I had a bit of unnoticed flaking going on – yikes! I don’t want to scare you away just when I’ve gotten back! Also…..one (or even two!) of these sets just *might* be part of a giveaway coming soon to a blog near you – just sayin’.
What’s on everyone’s wish list for the holiday season, cosmetics-wise? Anything you’ve already picked up and are loving?
*Products marked with an * were provided to me for consideration of review by the PR company/brand.
I’m Calling It Now: My Favorite Product of 2012 – Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Rouge!
Posted by Latoya in Fall 2012, Favorite Product of the Month, Lips, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Sephora on September 18, 2012
Yep, I know that there’s still three months plus left in 2012, but I haven’t been this stoked about a beauty product in a Long. Freakin’. Time. DUDES!!!! I can’t even handle how much I love the new Aqua Rouge smudge-proof, high-impact lip colors from Make Up For Ever – I got the package early last night and already I’ve barely taken them off except to sleep! LOL (Yea, I’m a bit crazy!)
Ok, let me slow down. First, let me introduce my new loves:
Top – Beige Brown (#5); Bottom – Iconic Rouge (#8)
As soon as I saw Iconic Rouge (#8) (Madonna’s custom-made shade!), I had to try it on. I sat in my condo, alone, and wore it all evening long last night. Of course, I had to wear it in public to give it it’s fair due, so I promptly rocked it out all day today as well. It is truly the most perfect shade of red, ever. I can’t imagine it not looking fabulous on every skintone!
Top – Beige Brown (#5); Bottom – Iconic Rouge (#8)
I have yet to wear Beige Brown (#5), but I plan on giving it a run soon, if the formula of Iconic Rouge is any indication! And if I can stop WEARING ‘Iconic’ – it’s just that fabulous!!
Here’s what makes this product so amazing: I put Iconic Rouge on this morning at 7:30am. At 5:30pm when I got home from work – it was still there, and still almost completely intact, with NO touch-ups throughout the day! And no I did not starve myself, and I drank coffee and water to absolutely no detriment. Can you believe it??? No??? Well, check out the pics below if you don’t believe.
Without flash, before clear top coat, initial application
Without flash, with clear top coat, initial application
With flash, without clear top coat, initial application
With flash, with clear top coat, initial application
And now {drumroll please!!!}
C’mon, seriously?? 10 hours later!? And it looks this good!?!?!?!!?!? If your mind isn’t blown, THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU.
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering how this feels if it wears so impossibly well, right? Well, here’s yet another reason why this product makes my freakin’ day – it felt great! Applied it to my lips (with a narrow, sponge-tipped wand that allows for excellent precision, I might add), even before adding the top coat it felt lightweight, comfortable, and not at all drying. With the addition of the top coat, I found I only really used it to ‘moist it up’ a bit in the way it looked, but not because I felt I needed it personally. This feeling lasted all day – just like the color – and I honestly didn’t feel the need to add anything in order to make my lips feel hydrated or anything. And for the record, I have some pretty sahara-like lips. Apparently the Aqua Rouges contain oils and polymers that make this possible. The technology genuinely BAFFLES me.
Seconds after applying the clear top coat, I rubbed my finger over my lips…and this is ALL that came off.
Somehow, MUFE has created the ultimate lippie – lasts all day, feels great on, minimal transfer, and with rockin’ shades like ‘Iconic Rouge’ – I mean, how can you go wrong?? Truly, the instant I tried these out, I was online looking at other shades to buy, which NEVER happens (for me, anyway). And at $27CDN a pop, I’ll happily buy all 10 other shades (there are 12 in total). I advise you to run – no, seriously, RUN FAST – to Sephora to pick one (or five) of these babies up IMMEDIATELY (if for no other reason than just to stop me from typing IN SO MANY CAPS). They are hands-down my most favorite lipstick to date, and one of the most fantastic products I’ve ever tried. So – get going already, huh!?
*Products were provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration.
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation Event This Weekend at Halifax Sephora!
Posted by Latoya in Events, Foundation, Make Up For Ever, Sephora on September 6, 2012
Heads up guys – there’s another Make Up For Ever event going on at Sephora this weekend! With fall just around the corner, its a perfect time to get matched for a new foundation and MUFE has your HD shade – I guarantee you can find one to suit your skintone perfectly (there are like, 26 shades, so if you can’t – I’ll eat my hat!)!
They’re also offering a free gift with a purchase of the foundation, so if you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the perfect time! And while you’re there – check out some of their other fabulous products, like their liquid liners, eyeshadows (pencil, powder, and cream), blush, lipsticks…so many goodies to choose from!
The Times, They Are A Changin’
Posted by Latoya in a-england, Aqua/Teal, Eye Liner, Lips, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Musings, Nail Polish, Summer Polish Combos on August 28, 2012
Hello my neglected beauties! I am so far behind in everything in life it seems – isn’t summer supposed to be carefree and relaxed!? While I’ve had a lot of good times the past couple months, I’ve hardly had any time to address my ‘real’ life (guess that’s escapism to the max, eh?). I’ve flown out of the province three times in August alone (twice to Newfoundland and now to Ontario – I’m actually in the airport right now heading to Ottawa), and while I LOVE to travel, I didn’t realize how hard it is to get back on track when you return. Soon I’ll have been away from home for 12 out of 31 days – that’s a whole third of the month – and it’s kind of nuts. Fun – but nuts.
Look I did for a cottage party I went to – my friend’s family does a washer toss tournament every year, and this year there was a record 50 participants! As the cottage is right on a lake, I wore only MUFE’s waterproof Aqua Liner in #5 (diamond turquoise blue) and a touch of mascara – it gave enough impact all by itself!
To add to all that, recently my boyfriend and I broke up. So not only am I away physically but I’ve also mentally been not entirely present the past week or two. However, I know that everyone has ‘stuff’ that goes on in their lives and they keep on moving, so I don’t want to lean on this as an excuse. Most bloggers have busy lives and children and the like, and they post WAY more than me on a good week. I merely just want to explain my absence so you know it’s only temporary! Well…at least until October. Then I’ll be away for 35 days and you’ll be lucky if I’ve got a post a week coming out. LOL. But THEN! Then I will be blogger extraordinaire, I *promise.*
Mani/Pedi Combo with MAC’s Mischievous Mint on toes and a-England’s Saint George on fingers…see how often I wear the ‘Mint’ shade!? LOVE it.
The most frustrating part about all this is that while moving forward my budget will be next to zero for beauty purchases (paying for a condo on my own is NOT going to be easy), I bought a slew of fun, beautiful things in the past couple months I’ve been desperate to talk to you about! Actually, to be honest, a lot of those things I haven’t even had the time to experiment with myself, and they’re just in a forlorn little pile in my bathroom begging to be adored. Since I’ve been traveling so much, most of these items haven’t come with me because I’m crazy-anal about keeping my makeup pristine, and I’m nervous about things getting banged up or broken (I’m still sore over my MAC Early Morning blush being in pieces :S). Argh! I hate not being able to multitask. LOL!
Make Up For Ever’s Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N10 (iridescent copper pink). It was the shade the MUFE Artist matched me with for my ultimate ‘MLBB’ shade. It’s quite pretty but I see to either veer lighter, darker or more bold with lippies for the most part. See link above for original review on formula.
But ladies (and maybe gents??)…there appears to be a silver-lining for you now. It was just announced that my flight has been delayed for 2 hours – surely I can pump out a post or three in that time!? Its not going to be any of the new, good stuff, but I have a boatload of photos from other items I’ve been meaning to show you. So sit back and get comfy…I have a lot of making up to do!
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