Instagram Snapshot: Smoky Eye

Car photo shoots are so convenient because I feel like I never have time to take a proper photo except when I'm in transit to some random place.  This weather is also making me increasingly tired and dreary so I've been opting for a quick smoky eye.  I slap on MAC Eyeshadows in Texture and Brown Script with Smolder Eye Kohl all over the lid.  LOVE!  Pair that with a nude lip and it's all done!   Also, I recently cut my hair so I've been pinning up my braid-out.  Quick and easy.  

Cheers!

LA Girl Pro Concealer - 15 Shades Swatched

I have found a concealer that I've really been loving lately and I wanted to share it with you all.  It's such a great product and it's super affordable.  The L.A. Girl PRO Conceal Concealer is crease resistant and offers full coverage without being too heavy.

L.A. Girl PRO Conceal Concealer
Available in 18 Shades
Shades Purchased:  Classic Ivory, Natural, Creamy Beige, Nude, Medium Bisque, Pure Beige, Warm Sand, Toast, Warm Honey, Fawn, Toffee, Espresso, Chestnut, Beautiful Bronze, Dark Cocoa
$2.50 on sale at Cherry Culture

I purchased 15 of the 18 shades.  I have personally tested the shades Fawn and Warm Sand underneath my eyes and have been very impressed.  They are crease-resistant but since they still do crease, I set them with my Ben Nye Powder.  Now for the swatches.

Classic Ivory, Natural, Creamy Beige, Medium Bisque, Pure Beige

Warm Sand, Toast, Warm Honey

 Fawn, Toffee, Espresso, Chestnut, Beautiful Bronze, Dark Cocoa

 I definitely recommend these concealers and with 18 shades available, there is likely to be a shade for everyone!  It reminds me of my MAC Pro Longwear Concealer.  Have you tried this concealer yet?  Let me know.

ShinyHappyPretty Featured on The Shopping Mama

I was recently given the opportunity to be featured on an awesome blog The Shopping Mama.  I curated a page for their Holiday Shopping Guide which is awesome. Check out my recommendations below!

1.  LUSH
All The Best
$39.95

These products will enhance your bath time and relax even the hardest working soccer mom out there.  This set includes 5 lush holiday Bath Bombs that are not only amazing but also vegan!

LUSH

2.  LORAC

Rockin' Red Hot PRO Set
$39

Includes 16 buttery smooth, highly pigmented, gorgeous eyeshadows in complimentary matte and shimmer shades.  You also get an eye primer and liner to complete your eye makeup look.  This palette is perfect for every day neutral looks but it also has shades that can vamp up a date night look.

Ulta

3.  FRESH

Sugar Rosé Royalty Set
$32

For the low maintenance mama who likes a clean face, moisturized skin and a little balm to brighten up the day, this set is perfect.  It comes with an amazing facial cleanser that works with all skin types, a much raved about body cream and a lip balm that not only nourishes the lips but also gives a lovely sheen of color.

Sephora
 

4.  MAC

Nocturnals Lip Gloss:
$32.50

Four great lip glosses that are pretty and also sheer enough for every day use.  These glosses are not sticky and look good worn alone but look even better over lipstick. 

MAC Cosmetics

5.  Urban Decay
Vice 2 Palette
$59

This palette is definitely for the makeup lovers.  Twenty bold, bright, beautiful eyeshadows that are easy to apply and leave practically endless options for beauty looks.

Urban Decay

6.  Benefit Cosmetics

Primed for Lovin
$42

With this set you will get three full sized products which include a pore minimizer (which everyone needs or thinks they need), an awesome mascara, and a cheek highlighter, for that dewy glow.  It also comes with a great mini lipgloss.   All these products are encased in a gorgeous pop-art inspired makeup tin that will look great on any vanity.

Benefit Cosmetics

Hope you guys like my recommendations and definitely check out The Shopping Mama.  Also, if you have any holiday recommendations, leave them in the comments section so I can check them out!

Chaos Makeup - Chaos High Lightning Powders

This is not a review, I repeat this is not a review!  It's simply a sneak peak at one of my new playthings!

I love the creativity of makeup artists and one of the many that I admire is Megan Martinez.  She is amazingly talented and I believe she is also self-taught.  She recently launched a collection of highlighters.  These highlighters are all hand pressed and they currently come in a set of 6.   The shades are as follows:

Striking - Silver 
Shrinkle - Blue 
Mynxii - Pink 
Electric - White 
Fawn - Bronze
Vie En Rose - Bridal

The set retails for $55.   I ordered them online and my order was processed really quickly and I got them in a decent amount of time (around 3 weeks which is fine considering I'm in Germany).   However, I didn't read the description of the highlighters so I was expecting them to be larger but they are actually quarter sized/about the size of a MAC eyeshadow.   Also, each pan is encased in a small plastic container with a snap top and is secured with a small piece of what looks to be cotton.  All of the pans arrived in perfect condition and nothing was cracked or spilling. 

At this time I've only tried Fawn on myself and I loved it, however, I have to play with application techniques and try these on some of my clients to really give honest feedback but I will be purchasing the new colors that she is launching and I'm definitely happy with my purchase so far!

Available at Chaos Makeup

Retro Night at The HoneyComb in Kaiserslautern Germany

Well the retro event happened and it was pretty freakin awesome!  Now by looking at this picture, you would never know how absolutely frantic the days before and the morning of the event were for me.  Let me fill you in. 

So, my husband was working a lot (even more than usual which is amazing) and I was running the kids around to their endless activities when my "check engine" light comes on.  Stress!  So with all of this going on, I didn't have time, or the nerves, to drive around Germany with my baby in the car looking for outfits. 

A couple of days before the event, my husband took me to Primark after work and ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, the skies opened up and I was at home again!  Clothes, cute clothes, like everywhere!  I found these awesome black high waisted shorts with little hearts all over them.  I also went to H&M and I found a black turtleneck that was super affordable and the perfect material to tuck inside the shorts.  I then went to the Exchange on base and purchased some fishnet stockings.  Lastly, I've had these Marc Jacobs shoes for about 4-5 years so I dusted them off and they were the perfect compliment to my outfit!  I was super excited to finally have a complete outfit even if it didn't come together until the last possible day. 

Now on the day of the event, I forgot my belt, redid my makeup 3 times (because my concealer kept looking super crazy) and then I finally left the house in my douxrag and french braids only to find that there was construction on the autobahn and I was stuck in severe traffic!  What a day.  However, I kept a positive attitude and I finally made it to the salon to help set up, change clothes and get my hair done!  I also had to do my co-workers makeup which is always fun because she has the perfect face.

My boss & My Co-worker

The food at the event was amazing!  There were gourmet cupcakes, mini chicken-n-waffles, signature drinks, cheddar popcorn and specialty snacks.  LOVE!

We did demos on 3 models and since I am the only makeup artist, I was working and talking the entire night.  So many people were getting involved and asking me questions that it made the night fly by.  The energy in the room was really positive and I had an awesome time.  I can't wait to do it again.

Me with two of the models from the event

This is what we call a good day ladies and gentlemen....well until I called my husband to let him know I was on my way home and he said we were out of milk for the babycakes.  So, I then had to go to the gas station on base in retro booty shorts and fishnets!  Yup, I got a lotta looks that night but hey whatever right!

Cheers!