Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I had a gift card for Sephora burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted to get something I wouldn't normally buy for myself. So, instead of blowing it on bottles of nail polish, I was smart and actually purchased something awesome.

I know everyone in the blogosphere has already reviewed this, but I thought I'd throw my little 2 cents in there too.

For me, this is a great companion to the other 2 Naked Palettes, but also super great to throw in your makeup bag and have one palette for several different looks. Naked 2 even works great for my brows, so this really can be an all inclusive eye palette for me.

This is my first real adventure with mattes, aside from Naked and Buck in the original Naked Palette. I'm a satin finish kind of girl. But the mattes in this palette have reformed me. It makes such a soft, wearable look. So nice for day/work and I especially like it with my reading glasses. Sometimes the glare off glasses with a shimmery eye look is too much. Matte's just look polished and done.

 

I like them all except for Foxy. It is the only one that feels "chalky" to me and it just doesn't show up on my eyes at all. Even with a primer. I haven't found a good use for Foxy yet, so if you know of one, let me know.

Day to day, I wear W.O.S. on my eyelid, Venus (the only one with shimmer) on my inner corner and browbone and Naked 2 in my crease and lower lash line. Naked 2 packs more punch than you think it would, a little goes a long way. I like using Faint on the outer V, but seriously, just a small amount.



Prom Hair and Makeup

This year my super gorgeous cousin Allison went to her first prom. I was so excited when she asked me to do her hair and makeup for it. I don't actually remember if she asked or if I insisted...either way :) We've done hair/makeup for homecoming, but prom is a major deal and so much more exciting.

Her dress was this gorgeous, poppy pinkish red hue that just looked stunning on her. Because it had one shoulder of rosettes, we decided to do her hair all to one side. She chose a voluminous side swept style and I think she chose the perfect hair to compliment her dress.

This was the inspiration picture she chose. I think we got pretty close, with a few little changes because her hair isn't as long as the picture.

I started on her dry hair. I split the hair in sections by layer and sprayed each section with heat protectant. I then curled the hair with my flat iron  and curled it in different directions so it wouldn't clump together. I think curling in different directions was the most vital step to this look. It really gave her hair more volume and kept it big. Which is what she wanted.

Once I got about 1/2 way up her head, I started slightly backcombing each section before curling to give it a little more "oomph" since she wanted volume.

When we reached the crown section, I used Backcomb in a Bottle by Big Sexy Hair. I sprayed at the roots and then slightly backcombed that as well for extra volume. I flat iron curled all of those sections and allowed it all to cool in clips.

Once it was cooled, I started pinning the bottom section. She didn't want a "ponytail" look, more side swept. So I just very loosely (don't pull) started pinning pieces to the side while working with the curl. As I worked my way up I tried to pin on top of the already pinned pieces to create more of a cascading look instead of an updo.

I finished by taking my backcomb tail, inserting it on the crown section and lightly pulling up to get the top to loosen. This created the final bit of volume at her crown. I then placed 3 rhinestoned pins in the twist section of the hair and sprayed the ever loving hell out her hair.

 

 

Now on to makeup.

 

 

 

Because her dress was such an extraordinary shade, we didn't want to try to match or go bright with the lips. So, a traditional smokey eye seemed like a good choice for some drama. This girl has crazy long eyelashes so we didn't have to use fake eyelashes. 

 

I think the combination of a smokey eye with a lighter lip kept her look youthful and fresh but still dramatic and special enough for prom. I used the following products for her makeup look:

 

Face:

Revlon ColorStay Foundation

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Rimmel Match Perfection Highlighting Concealer

NYC Sunny Bronzer

Revlon Coral Reef Cream Blush

Wet n Wild Reserve Your Cabana Highlighter



Eyes:
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded and Bad to the Bronze
Urban Decay Naked Palette (Sin, Virgin, Halfbaked, Smog, Toasted, Hustle and Creep)
CoverGirl 24 Hour LashBlast Mascara on top lashes only
Sephora Flashy Eyeliner in Ultra Brown on ower lashes and waterline
L'Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner

Lips:
Bonne Bell Lip Lites Strawberry Parfait

Overall, I was so pleased with how it all came out and was so lucky to be able to be a part of Ali's special day. She's a gorgeous girl who I love so very much and I can't wait to do it again next year!!

Mistletoe Makeup

 

 

Warning: This is NOT a tutorial. I was at home Saturday night organizing my makeup stash when I pulled out the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette. An idea for smokey green eyes popped into my head so I tried it out. I ended up loving the look and wanted to pass it on. It's **almost** 100% drugstore and so festive, but still very wearable I think. I tried it with a nude lip but it didn't pop for me like I wanted it too. I tried a red lip and viola...Mistletoe Makeup!

 

 

 

 

Here is a list of the products I used:

 

1. Clinique Even Better Foundation

2. Revlon ColorStay Under Eye Concealer

3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Powder

4. NYC Sunny Bronzer

5. Clinique "Cupid" Blush

6. Sephora Waterproof Eyeliner in Glitter Green

7. Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette (3 green shades)

8. Urban Decay Naked Palette (Virgin as a highlight, Naked as a brow powder and Buck in the crease)

9. Maybelline Blackest Black Gel Eyeliner

10. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Black

11. Benefit Prrrowl Mascara Topcoat (you can see the shimmer in some pictures)

12. Clinique "Merlot' lipstick



Holiday Wish Lists and Gift Ideas



It's that time of year for birthday and holiday wish lists. I've been perusing my favorite makeup and girlie goody websites for this season's gift sets and found a couple of things I wanted to pass along. They would make great gifts for your best girlfriends, nice presents from the man in your life or just awesome things to treat yourself to after a long hot day of shopping for everyone else at the mall!

Happy Shopping!

1. Sephora by O.P.I. Tinsel Town collectors set. This includes 16 mini nail colors plus a full-size jewel top coat. These products are worth over $90, but this is available at Sephora for $49.50.



2. Benefit "Upgrade to Gorgeous" set. This 5 peice set contains a High Beam, Porefessional, They're Real! Mascara, Sugarbomb blush and a Laugh With Me LeeLee roller ball perfume. It also comes ready to gift in a cute floral suitcase. These products are worth over $85, but this is available at Sephora for $34.




 

 



3. Too Faced "Love Sweet Love" set. As always, Too Faced does some of the best themes and packaging with their holiday sets. This is adorable and fairytale themed. It comes with Shadow Insurance, Primed and Poreless, Perfect Eyes eyeliner, LashGASM Mascara, Face Brush, 6 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 2 lipglosses and a travel bag. These products are worth $163, but this is available at Sephora for $46. 

4. Tarte "Carried Away" collectors set. This is probably one of my favorites just for the sheer amount of products you get. This includes an Amazonian Clay blush, Amazonian Clay finishing powder, 8 Maracuja lip glosses, Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara, Face Brush, 24 (yes...24) Amazonian Clay eyeshadows and a cute bag! These products are worth over $512 (!!!!), but this is available at Sephora for $54.

 



5. Sephora "Glitz and Glam" Party Sampler. This is a great way to try products from several different brands in an affordable way. This sampler includes Stila Duo Shimmer Powder,  Laura Mercier Baked Eye Color, bareMinerals Eyecolor in Good Fortune, SEPHORA by OPI Nail Colour,

Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara, Nars Body Glow, Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre Gold, Bare Escentuals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss, Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner. Products are worth over $133, but this is available at Sephora for $45.

 

all makeup kit photo's are courtesy of sephora.com

That's it as far as makeup is concerned, but I did manage to find a few other things I thought would be great things to put on your wish list or ideas for that hard to buy girl in your life!

 

6. Nordstrom's Make + Model Pattern Thermal Pajamas. Who doesn't like getting fresh new jammies? These ones from Nordstroms are SO CUTE. I love that they don't look like frumpy dump jammies but still look so soft and cozy. They come in 4 different patterns and are available at Nordstrom's for $48.

 

photo courtesy of nordstroms.com



 

7. Lush "Rosie" gift set: I think Rose is one of those classic scents that almost everyone likes if it's done correctly. Lush does Rose well. It's not grandma scented Rose, it's a true Rose scent. Floral, feminine and sweet. This cute set from Lush contains Rose Jam Bubbleroon, Rose Queen Bath Bomb, Amandopondo bubble bar and Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner. This is available from Lush for $29.95.

 

photo courtesy of lushusa.com

 

 8. Lemon Kissed 3 Month Jewelry Club Subscription. This girl makes some of the most awesome jewelry I've ever seen and she's fantastic. Her prices are affordable, the jewelry is amazing and I think this subscription is the cutest idea. Each month, for 3 months your friend (or you!) will recieve 1 jewelery item (of the seller's choice) sent directly to you. One suprise ring, one suprise pair of post earrings and one suprise pair of dangle earrings. For only $38. With FREE SHIPPING!! Visit www.lemonkissed.com to see all of her pretties!

 

photo courtesy of lemonkissed.com

 

9. J.Crew Wool Angora "Glittens". Anyone with an IPhone knows how important a good pair of glittens are. You need your finger tips!!!! Kind of hard to do in freezing weather. Glittens keep your hands warm and your fingertips available for your phone use. I am always on the hunt for a cute pair of these babies and these Wool Angora ones from J.Crew are fab. Not only are they practical and soft but they have a longer wrist to keep them from creeping out from under your coat. What a thoughtful little luxe gift! These come in 5 different colors and retail for $29.50.

 

photo courtesy of jcrew.com

 

10. Cherry Blossom Stationary Set. This SUPER CUTE stationary set from Papyrus comes packaged in a beautiful matching wooden box. It comes with 20 notecards and 20 matching envelopes. Who doesn't like stationary!? It's one of those things that's so lovely to have but no one ever buys for themselves. This cute gift is available in 6 different patterns, but the Cherry Blossom was my favorite. It's available for $32 from papyrus.com.

 

 

photos courtesy of papyrus.com



**I am not affiliated with any companies mentioned and was not paid for any mention of any company listed. Purely my own opinions.**