Hanukkah and Christmas Eve FOTNs

Hi Guys! I hope you're having a wonderful holiday break, or that you've enjoyed your celebrations past if you're back at work now.  I've been doing the family thing so I apologize for my lack of posts!
Just thought I'd share with you my Hanukkah and Christmas Eve looks :) I hope you like them <3

Hanukkah

Face: Hourglass Veil Mineral Foundation Primer, Chanel Perfection Lumiere Beige 30, Maybelline Dream Mousse blush in Coffee Cake
Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed, this cheap palette, NYX Crystal Glitter Liner in Crystal Onyx, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara
Lips: DuWop Blue Venom

Christmas Eve

Face: same as above
Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed and Rollergirl Palette, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill mascara
Lips: Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in 005

Easy-peasy and festive!

Holiday Party Look 2011

Hello girls :) I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  This weekend was my office Holiday Party, and thanks to your help in the comments on my 100 Followers Thank You post, I devised a smokey purple look:

Glitter is so darned difficult to photograph!

Face: Dermalogica Active Moist, Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer in Medium, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (a sample I had. I knew it was risky to try it out for an event, but the risk paid off and I LOVE this stuff! Best primer I've ever tried, as far as feel on the skin and finish it gave my foundation.  I'm definitely going to invest in a bottle!) applied with a flat Eco Tools Foundation brush, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 Vanilla applied with the beauty blender sponge (this is the best application method for this foundation.  My skin looked nearly flawless!  If it wasn't more time-consuming than my Sephora #55 brush, this combo would be my HG). Just FYI, I had prepped my skin earlier in the day with Vivo Per Lei Facial Peeling, followed by a wash with Philosophy Purity on my Clarisonic Mia. I'm sure this helped with smoothing my skin under the foundation.

Please pardon the weird shadows cast on my face

Cheeks: I used the NYX Highlight and Contour Powder (review here), and kept my blush very subtle using sheer Rimmel Santa Rose on the apples.  Then I highlighted my cheekbones with a little Benefit Highbeam.

Eyes: I didn't really need it, but out of habit I applied Garnier Tinted Eye Roller to the dark circle area.  This messed up the finish of my foundation a little, but I was able to blend it in the end.  The Bourjois Healthy Mix had actually covered up enough of my shadows, though.  I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance to my lids and lower lashline with a synthetic concealer brush (this is kind of drying on my lids. Can anyone tell me if the NARS shadow base is less drying but not oily like UDPP?).  Next I dabbed on Tokidoki shadow in Donutella, a shimmery champagne with silver glitter.  I think it is a lot like Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy in that it has tons of glitter fallout.  I liked this effect for my festive look, so no worries! This went on my lids' inner third and corner, and the purple from NARS duo eyeshadow in Bysance went on my lids' outer two-thirds.  I found this shadow frustrating as I really had to pack it on with effort.  I hear this is common for purple shadows, though. I was originally going to use the gold in this duo as well but decided not to.  Next, I applied NARS single in Ondine (a plummy brown) in my crease and outer v.  It wasn't giving me the depth I wanted, so I darkened the crease with Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense in Red Lust (probably any black eyeshadow would have done the trick; this one just has a reddish nuance that won't really show in this look). The last shadow I used was Wet n Wild Brulee, a matte cream, to blend Ondine out and highlight my outer browbone.  I had to reapply and keep blending all the shadows until I got the desired balance of the colors.

Next I lined my lower lashline up to the inner half of my iris with Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Asphyxia. I wanted to bring in the pinkish-purple shade to match the amethyst look of my Jewelmint Screen Siren earrings. I topped it with NYX Crystal Glitter eyeliner in Crystal Pewter.  I applied Revlon Beyond Natural Lashes in 91182 Flirty with Duo Lash Glue and used a liner brush in the black gel shade from Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Glam Gel Creamliner trio in Glam Green Eyes to hide the lash band.  I topped this with NYX Crystal Glitter eyeliner in Crystal Onyx.  Lastly, I applied Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara. And after all that, I forgot to put any mascara at all on my lower lashes... argh!

Lips: MAC Hue topped with Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Barely Legal.  There was heaps of glitter on my eyes and I didn't want my lips or cheeks to compete.

It's pretty obvious which dress I ended up wearing:

It wasn't very cold, even with the snow on the ground :D

Originally I was going to do a regal combo of gold and purple as many of you suggested.  I did up my nails with over-the-top bling to bring more gold into the outfit and planned to use a little gold handbag to tie it together.

Sadly, it wasn't meant to be! My nail decals trapped water in the shower and the whole shebang just peeled off with only hours until the party and my full makeup left to do.   Rather than freak out, I removed the nail look, replaced the gold in my eye makeup with a glitter-bomb champagne shadow, and switched to a duo-chrome evening purse.  Right at the last minute, I applied two coats of NYX Girls nail polish in Spot Light, a polish with hexagonal holographic- and silver micro- glitter in a clear base.  This would up looking awesome with the boyfriend watch my husband bought me for my first Christmas present!  I had been wanting a boyfriend watch but the Michael Kors ones were too big for my wrist.  The Fossil ladies' boyfriend watches were also too large.  In the end, I got a real men's watch with crystals... would you know this was meant for men? The only differences were we had to remove more links... and it was $30-$50 cheaper than the Fossil ladies' boyfriend watches! I love it <3

Yay, thanks G <3 xoxo!

So, obviously I'm really in the spirit this year... are you guys still psyched for the holidays or are you over it already?

EOTD: Holiday Sunset Reject

I've been testing out some of the looks you guys have suggested in my giveaway post, and expanding on them as well.  I like this one enough to include it as an EOTD but I think it's a little over-the-top for the event.

Oops! How'd that mascara clumpy get by?

Tip: Gold, Purple, and Red are all colors that really make green eyes pop :)

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed all over, Yellow-gold shade from Sleek Sunset Palette (right) on inner upper and lower lids, Red from Sleek Sunset Palette as a dot on lid, Purple from Sleek Original Palette (left) on outer-v, crease, and outer lower lashline, Matte Black from Sleek Original Palette blended over the purple to darken crease. Wet n Wild single eyeshadow in Brulee on browbone and blending out the dark crease colors. Smashbox black eye liner (not pictured) on upper lashline and lower waterline. L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara on upper and lower lashes (see the little clumpy?)

Thanksgiving for My Readers! 100 Followers Giveaway

Hi Guys!  I'm so excited to have reached 100 followers on GFC.  I'm really touched, and thankful for the people who read and comment and make me feel like a part of this beauty-blogging community <3
It just so happens I was planning to do a "Thanksgiving Giveaway," and obviously I have so much to be grateful for! So here goes:

My office holiday party is actually a rather swanky event (lucky me!).

In my first year at the company (back when I was a Twilight geek), I copped Bella's prom look right down to the jeweled cardigan and royal blue halter dress.  Of course I didn't copy the cast, leggings, or shoes;  I had nude boots.  I wore a subtly smokey eye look just like hers in the first Twilight movie, and a MLBB lipstick.

Sorry I'm using doll photos, I just think they're kinda funny

The second year, I went out and bought Bella's birthday dress replica (no worries, I sold it on eBay and recouped 90% of the cost, SWEET!).  In case you're not familiar, it was a dark green taffeta number with black velvet flowers embossed right into the fabric.  I added a black velvet shrunken blazer because the dress was a sleeveless tank.  The dress shape was sort of 1950's with a full skirt. Honestly I can't remember the makeup I did because this was two years ago... I think I used the Twilight Beauty Bella Palette because the line had debuted by then. So, another natural look.

The blush in this palette is great on fair-to-medium skin (though powdery), I have owned three of these and hit pan on all of them!

I wore nicer shoes, I promise!

So, last December I really switched it up (because I'm not as into Twilight, lol): I wore a Zac Posen for Target red dress, a black pleather bomber jacket, had my hair dyed red for the first time in years, did my eyes up with the Dior Five Golds LE palette (using silver, gold, and bronze), black liquid liner, and Hourglass Siren gloss (most amazing red gloss EVER) on my lips. Fortunately, I have a decent picture of this look:

So, now I've done the Hanukkah blue, the Christmas red, and Christmas green with black velvet... what festive makeup look can I wear this year without repeating?  I definitely don't want to do a red lip again, I've done the perennial smokey eye to death, and last year's eye look incorporated every Olympic medal color... 

My dress options include a black chiffon knee-length goddess dress, a floor-length (but lowww neckline) matte cranberry jersey dress that I'm concerned I won't fit into, and a low-back black matte jersey dress that is slightly more forgiving but still would show a gut.  I hope to be able to show these dresses in a future post :)

Basically, I'm likely to wear a black dress this year.  Red eyeshadow? Nude lip (like Viva Glam Gaga II)? Something not immediately related to a specific winter holiday, like rich purple?
I just can't decide!
Do you have any dress-up events for the holidays? What are you planning for your look?

Anyways, I decided to turn this solicitation for help into a contest and giveaway!

Please choose a dress from the three mentioned above and recommend complimentary makeup colors in as much or as little detail as you would like in the comments below.  You can mention specific products or their dupes for clarification.  You can even mention what you would wear!  I will choose winners at random, but these are the conditions for entry.  Please help me come up with something lovely!

(Giveaway Prize and Rules)

There will be FOUR prizes available to win! They are all worth approximately $70 each.  They are loosely based on the looks I've worn above and the four elements (because I'm cheesy and I love themes).

Prize Fire: Based on my red dress look above DRAWING ON NOVEMBER 9th

Prize Fire includes: Wet n Wild Everything Under the Sun (LE) Bronzer, Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Beige Bombshell (LE), Wet n Wild Mega Last lipstick in Coral-ine (909D),  Wet n Wild Color Icon eye liners in Dark Brown, Taupe, and Copper, Urban Decay 24/7 Travel-size eye liner in Bourbon, Wet n Wild Color Icon palette in Vanity, Full-size Stila Prime Pot in Taffy, Tokidoki Sugar-free Cinnamon Mints in Diavolina, EOS Sweet Mint lip balm, Tokidoki Cartina Blotting papers, Revlon nail polish in Carbonite (LE), and Almay Trio for Hazels eye shadow

Prize Earth: Based on the Bella's birthday dress look DRAWING ON NOVEMBER 16th

Prize Earth includes: Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Ulta double-ended eye pencil in chocolate and black, Urban Decay Travel-size 24/7 Eye Liners in Stray Dog, Ransom and Underground, Stila Lip Glaze in Creme Bouquet, Wet n Wild Color Icon palette in Greed, and Sugar Factory -exclusive Violent Lips lip tattoos

Prize Air: Based on purples, because I haven't done a purples look yet! DRAWING ON NOVEMBER 23rd

Prize Air includes: Benefit Bella Bamba, Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Lust, CoverGirl LashExact waterproof mascara, Urban Decay Travel-size 24/7 eye liners in Zero and Ransom, Wet n Wild Color Icon Liner in Deep Blue, Stila Lip glazes in Grapefruit and Seashell, Urban Decay mini Primer Potion

Prize Water: Based on Bella's prom dress look DRAWING ON NOVEMBER 30th

Prize Water includes: Benefit Coralista, Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer in Across the Universe, CoverGirl VolumeExact waterproof mascara, Wet n Wild Color Icon eye liners in Green, Cool Green, and Turquoise, Urban Decay Travel-size 24/7 eye liner in Zero, deluxe-size Stila Lip Glaze in Grapefruit, and Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Envy

You only have to enter once to be eligible for ALL drawings, but the sooner you enter, the smaller the pool of entrants and the better your odds to win!

• Open to ALL internationally!
• Please follow with Google Friend Connect
• Leave a comment below this post with your email address in order to be contacted, as well as a dress choice and some makeup colors that complement
• For an extra entry (+1) mention this giveaway in your sidebar
• For an extra 2 entries (+2) write a post about this giveaway (3 entries maximum per person)

• Giveaways end November 30th, 2011 

*If mentioning my giveaway in either sidebar or post, please leave me a link to your blog*

Official Rules:

The approximate value of each prize is $70.00. This prize is non-transferable. There are no cash or other substitutes of prizes by winner. Beauty Vigilante reserves the right to substitute similar prizes of equal or greater value in the event the above prize is unavailable for any reason. Individual, parent, or legal guardian of the winner is solely responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes with respect to the prize. Prize will be mailed to the winner’s physical mailing address. Please allow six (6) to eight (8) weeks for delivery. Beauty Vigilante is not responsible for lost/damaged/stolen items in the mail.

By entering or accepting the prize in this contest, each winner agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. This contest runs from November 1st, 2011 through November 30th, 2011 at 12:01AM EST.

Eligibility

This contest is open to all participants unless prohibited by their local state/country. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parent or legal guardian on their behalf. For reference, the age of majority is 18 years old in the United States, with the exception of Alabama (19), Delaware (19), Mississippi (21), and Nebraska (19). The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Eligible participants are allowed to enter up to three (3) times, as per the section above.

How to Win

Four (4) winners will be selected through consideration of all eligible entries each week of November 2011 for drawings on the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th (One (1) winner per week) . In the event that the original winners do not meet eligibility requirements or he/she forfeits the prize, the prize may be awarded to the next randomly drawn eligible participant. All entries must be received on or before drawing dates at 12:01AM EST. The winners will be notified via e-mail or message (as applicable), and blog post. Winners will have 48 hours to claim prize after initial notification. If winner fails to claim within 48 hours, an alternative winner may be selected.  Please note that if you win a prize you will be removed from eligible entries in subsequent weeks (One (1) prize eligibility per entrant).

Thanks for your help in designing my holiday party look, and thanks SO much for reading!

FOHN (Face of Halloween Night): Superficial Girl's Sugar Skull

Hi guys! I wasn't going to do anything for Halloween this year (besides festive nails), but I felt inspired by the cute and apropos sugar skull tutorial by Superficial Girl. Sorry it's not original makeup, but I will definitely give credit where it's due :) And I thought it would be fun to show my party look, even though I didn't design it.

  I wasn't getting much use out of this Kat Von D Metal Orchestra palette (another over-the-top look can be found here), but when I saw the tutorial from Superficial Girl, I realized this look was that palette's calling.

Makeup used: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra foundation (not pictured), Benefit Realness of Concealness mini "fake-it" kit Boi-ing concealer on lips, e.l.f. Blush in Gotta Glow all over, Kat Von D Metal Orchestra palette "first class" (shimmery white) all over, "techno" (blue next to the white) around eyes, "lucifer" (matte black) on nose and lids, Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx to trace around eyes, around blue sockets, and doodles all over face.  Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers Mysterious Maven kit deep blue lipstick (I used the eyelashes from this kit in this look), Fairy Drops Mascara (not pictured).  Actually, the Mysterious Maven kit came with a blue and black eyeshadow duo, so if you own a shimmery white single eyeshadow you could do this whole look with that $4.99 kit (though I got it 25% off for about $3.75), plus it comes with shimmery navy nail polish!

Dress - Betsey Johnson
Boots - Hot Topic

100 Followers and...

A huge "Thank you!" is in order to all of the gorgeous ladies who are following me!  I really appreciate it and I'll be holding a Thanksgiving Giveaway to celebrate. Stay tuned in the next couple of days for details, but here is a preview:

I'm so excited to get to play Makeup Fairy again! In fact, that's sort of my look for tonight:

TFSI, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense in Khaki Pulse on lids, champagne color from Maybelline Eye Studio quad in Strut it Suede from crease to brow, Benefit High Beam on browbone, Urban Decay 24/7 eye liner in Radium on lower waterline, Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers Mysterious Maven Kit lashes only, Duo clear waterproof lash glue, no mascara!

Tank and bandage skirt - Forever 21 $3 and $6
Sweater - Kohl's $6
Boots - Alloy $15
Spending nearly no money on clothes so you can spend more on makeup - priceless :-P