Real Techniques Core Collection

 

It's so funny that I never really write about the brushes that I use to apply my makeup.  Well that is going to change.  I was really happy with the MAC brushes that I was using but when I heard that my favorite youtube beauty "gurus" had a brush line, well I had to try it out.  I was super excited when I found out that Ulta carried the brand and they were super affordable.  This is actually my second time purchasing this set!  I love these brushes so much I bought a backup set.  My favorite two brushes from this set are the buffing brush and the contour brush.  I use those two every time I apply my makeup.

Real Techniques Core Collection

Includes:  Buffing Brush, Contour Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Detailer Brush

$17.99 USD

Available at Ulta

I use this Buffing Brush for applying my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.  I spritz it with a little of MAC's Fix + or water and then I dip it into my MSF and it gives a truly beautiful finish to the skin.  I get the most compliments on my skin when I do this method.

I use this Contour Brush when applying my bronzer on my temples, around my face and for contouring.  It does a great job at truly giving me a defined contour but it also blends it out like a dream.  After I contour, I take my Buffing Brush and blend my makeup a little more.

I have never used this Pointed Foundation Brush to apply my foundation with as it is just too small for my liking and I prefer to use a stippling brush for foundation.  I have used this brush to apply my concealer and it has worked really well for me.  I don't reach for this brush as often as I do the others as I use my fingers to apply my concealer most days.

The Detailer Brush is truly a tiny little brush and I use this only to define my eyebrows with concealer.  It works well for that but I haven't really tried it for anything else.  

Have you tried theses brushes?  What are your favorite brushes?

QVC Beauty Test Tube

This is my second shipment since signing up for the QVC Beauty Test Tube auto-delivery.  I love the concept of trying out different products at a reasonable price.  In this shipment I was most excited to try out the WEN hair product but as I write this, I have yet to actually try it out but I will soon!

QVC Beauty Test Tube Auto Delivery
Item # A227283
$29.96 + Shipping and Handling
Shipment Includes:
0.5-oz Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Regenerator
0.06-oz Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick
2.0-oz philosophy amazing grace shampoo, bath, and shower gel
0.10-oz tarte LipSurgence Lip Luster
6.0-oz WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner
2.5-oz St. Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Body Moisturizer
2.0-oz bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
0.5-oz Strivectin-SD Intensive Concentrate
NewBeauty magazine

tarte LipSurgence Lip Luster - Frisky (taken w/ flash)

Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick - Twilight (taken w/ flash)

 

I can't wait to try these out!  Let me know if there is a specific product that you want my opinion on and I'll review it as soon as I can.



Thanks for stopping by!

theBalm...yes again! Palettes, Highlighters and More

Hautelook is addictive!  Let me tell you, if you haven't shopped on Hautelook.com, you are missing out.  It is a website where they offer clothing, makeup, home products and more at discounted prices.  I recently saw theBalm cosmetics on there and of course I had to get a few things.  Since Hautelook doesn't ship to Germany, I shipped the package to my moms house in the states and she re-shipped it to me.  Now you know how much of a makeup addict enthusiast I am! 


This time around I wanted to pick up some eye products because I completely skipped the eye category last time I purchased from them.  I decided to get two eye palettes, some more luminizers and a blush.  I haven't used most of the products so I can't really give my thoughts on them.  

I paid $66.50 for all products shipped.  I can't remember how much each item was discounted but I will list the regular pricing below.

theBalm Nude'Tude Palette
Shades:  Sassy, Stubborn, Selfish, Sophisticated, Sexy, Serious, Snobby, Stand-offish, Sultry, Schitzo (it says seductive on the website but mine says Schitzo), Silly, Sleek 
Available at theBalm
$36 USD 

theBalm Balmbini Volume 2 Palette
Shades:  Promiscuous Pearl, Jinxy Jasmyne, Manic Maribel, Open to Offers Olwen, Lavish Latoya, Strawberry and Nude
Available at theBalm
$28 USD

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Available at theBalm
$24 USD

theBalm Betty-Lou Manizer
Available at theBalm
$24 USD

theBalm Frat Boy Shadow/Blush
Available at theBalm
$21 USD

Well that's it for my balm haul.  I will post some looks using the products soon.



Thanks for stopping by!

Straight Hair and MAC's Heroine Lipstick!

Front of Hair & Rocking MAC Heroine Lipstick

I went to the salon again yesterday and I was so excited to get my hair straightened.  I'm trying to keep up on my trims too so I'm striving to be at the salon at least every six weeks.  My hair came out great once again thanks to my fabulous hair stylist but it literally rained on my parade and my hair went womp womp when I got caught in it.  Sorry, I didn't get a picture of it when it was first done but I managed to get a few after the rain.  I decided to share some pictures anyway so that I can kind of document my hair growth process and share it with you all. 

Back of Hair

Right Side of Hair

Left Side of Hair and a cameo from Emily

Also, I'm going to try out a new flat iron to see if I can keep it straight a little longer than usual.

I purchased the ghd classic styler flat iron and I'm going to get a heat protectant too.  Hopefully I won't end up damaging my hair!

MAC Haul featuring Extra Dimensions, Tres Cheek, Reel Sexy

I'm wearing Glorify Skinfinish, Modern Mandarin blush and Heroine Lipstick

My most recent makeup haul included a few items from the MAC collection and I wanted to share my purchases with you guys.  Sorry this post is a little late but hopefully you can still find the items that you want.  I purchased Glorify Extra Dimension Skinfinish from the Extra Dimensions collection.  From the Tres Cheek collection, I purchased Modern Mandarin and from the Reel Sexy collection, I hauled the lipstick in Heroine. 

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish
Shade Purchased:  Glorify
Available at:  MAC
$29 USD

Loves:  The shimmer and sparkle.  The texture is divine and it blends easily.  
Hates:  Nothing for me but if you don't like a very noticeable highlight...this isn't for you.  

MAC Tres Cheek Blush
Shade Purchased:  Modern Mandarin
Available at:  MAC
$20 USD

Loves: ....um it looks good in the pan.  Maybe it would look good on lighter skintones....
Hates:  I hated the way this looked on my skin.  It gave me nothing but a little ashy color and blended out to almost invisibility.  I should send it back or sell it.  I can't stand this shade and it's so disappointing because I was looking forward to it.

MAC Reel Sexy Collection Lipstick
Shade Purchased:  Heroine
Available at:  MAC
$14.50 USD

Loves:  Everything!  The shade, texture and wear time are awesome!  I love this color against my complexion.  I love the matte finish and I love that it isn't drying on me.  Totally back-up worthy if I didn't have too many lipsticks already.
Hates:  Nothing!  This lipstick is freaking awesome.

Well that's all for my MAC haulage today.  Check out the rest of my haul including Butter London and Soap & Glory on youtube!

Thanks for stopping by.

Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond

Hey everyone!  Hope you are enjoying the new website!  Jordan from BohoVanity did an awesome job designing it for me.  Check out her blog if you haven't already, it's awesome and so is she.  When launching the new website, I decided to remove the blog comment widget that I had previously and it deleted most of my comments which is sad but I hope this regular commenting thing makes it simpler for you to make comments in the future. 

Now on to the makeup.

I've been hauling my little makeup obsessed butt off lately and I need to hurry up and photograph it so that I can show you guys!  I got some really great stuff.  Today I'm going to share one thing that I hauled a few weeks ago and kinda forgot to share with you guys.  It's the notorious Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond.  I finally made the leap and purchased this most talked about highlighter.  Well it did live up to the hype....kinda. 

Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star
Shade Purchased:  Amber Diamond
Available at Saks
$44.00 USD

Loves:  It gives an awesome subtle glow to the skin without being obnoxious.  It doesn't emphasize any imperfections on my face.  It looks great on my complexion.  It lasts all day on me.  The packaging is gorgeous and so is the powder.

Hates:  I kind of like obnoxious highlighters!  It can be a little too subtle and I have to build it up to get that glow sometimes.  I like to apply my makeup fairly quickly so I don't really like having to build up color although it does prevent me from looking like a disco ball.

I think this highlight powder is pretty awesome, I'm just nitpicking it a bit because I've become a lazy makeup hoarder!  

Well that's about all I have for today.  Tomorrow will be filled with taking photos, youtubing and editing so that I can show you guys all of my latest goodies! 

Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Why is this song from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stuck in my head right now?!
I'm stuck in a basement sitting on a tricycle, girl gettin on my nerves.  Going out of my mind, I thought she was fine, don't know if her body is hers...

Urban Decay Small Haul featuring Lip Junkies

Hi!  I of course can't seem to stop buying makeup.  Every time I go on a no buy, I get an email with the "deal of a lifetime!" and I always seem to cave.  My most recent haul is from Urban Decay.  They had a sale a little while ago and I decided to get more of the Lip Junkies because I have a mini size of one of them and I love it!  I also wanted to try one of their makeup setting sprays.

Urban Decay Lip Junkie
Shades Purchased:  Heavy, Wallflower, Jilted
Available at Urban Decay
$19.00 USD

Loves:  The colors are all gorgeous.  The formula is not sticky.  The shades Heavy and Wallflower are perfect over nude lipsticks!  These glosses layer so easily over lipsticks and they always seem to look great when paired with a complimentary lip color.  The squeeze tube also makes application of these easy.

Hates:  The packaging is a little strange but it is not a big deal.  These aren't very opaque but that doesn't bother me but if that is what you are looking for, you may want to try a different lip gloss.

Now for the lip swatches.

Heavy

Wallflower

Jilted

I forgot to take a picture of the All Nighter Setting Spray but it is just a simple setting spray but here is a picture of it below.  I only got the mini size and haven't tested it out yet so I can't give my opinions on it but if it works out, I'll let you'll know!

Source

Oh and the last thing for today....guess who's on youtube now?  ME!  I'm so excited, please visit my page and let me know what you think.  When I reach 100 subscribers I will of course do a special giveaway so subscribe if you like it!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Look of the Day 4.11.12 - Daytime Makeup Look

So of course I'm still on the Instagram 30 days of beauty challenge and yesterday was a daytime makeup look challenge.  I thought I would share the details because this look was super quick and easy.   I also did a quick braid out so I could forgo the beanie!  I'm really trying to do different things with my hair lately. 

Face: 

Lancome Teint Miracle - Suede 1N  (shade is a little light for me but it oxidizes a bit and I used my MSF to make the color work)
MAC Studio Finish Concealer - NW40 (creased like crazy for some reason today...)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Medium Dark (under eyes)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Dark (all over face)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Dark Deep  (perimeter of face)
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder - Deep Chocolate 7

Eyes:
Make Up For Ever Eyebrow Corrector - #4

MAC Studio Finish Concealer - NW40  (even out eye area and define arch of brows)

bareMinerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer

MAC Texture Eyeshadow (blending color)
MAC Brash (used all over lid)
MAC Fresh Daily ( Used in middle of the lid) 

Clinique Cream Eyeliner - True Black Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara 

Cheeks: 

Nars Blush - Taj Mahal

theBalm - Betty Lou-Manizer (highlight)

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder - Deep Chocolate 7 (contour)

Lips:  
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick - #25 Soft Beige 
Urban Decay Lip Junkie - Heavy 

Hope you enjoyed this look!  I'm getting a lot of use out of my makeup lately so I thought I would share that with you guys.  If you have any requests or suggestions of things that you would like to see on the blog or products that you would like to see me try, let me know and I will do my best to work it out!