Please don't TEAL my credit card number...

My hair is looking shaggy and brassy so I've *cleverly* cropped it out of the photos! :-P

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting

So, it finally happened.  After years of shopping online with abandon at innumerable retailers, somebody finally hacked my information and made fraudulent charges on my credit card.
I feel so violated!
It is a small comfort to know I likely will not be held liable, and I know other people that have been victims of this kind of fraud.
To cheer myself up, I've done a colorful EOTD!  It's been a while since I reached for colors this vibrant :-D Works a charm <3

Method: Too Faced Shadow Insurance is my base all over, followed by the champagne shade (rehab, fourth from left) on the inner third of the lid applied with a flat eye shadow brush.  Next I applied the purple-tinged blue (bellbottom, second from right) to the outer 2/3 of just the lid with the flat brush, avoiding the crease to tame the bright blues for daytime.  Using just the side of the flat eye shadow brush, I carefully traced the turquoise (peggy, fourth from right) into the crease and outer v, being careful not to take it up too high (for this look, I'm sort of sneaking blue eyeshadows into my office by hiding them in the crease only to be seen when I close my eyes).  This makes for a harsh line, which I softened by using the slanted blending/crease brush with the champagne color (rehab) around the turquoise and up on the browbone as highlight.  Lastly, I used the pencil brush in the teal color (bukowski, third from right) to line the outer 2/3 of my lower lashline, used a white pencil on the waterline, and applied mascara to top and bottom lashes.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black, Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara 1 (decent mascara, but not really worth the $30 price tag, in my opinion), Wet n Wild Color Icon Eye Liner in White, Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Angeles, EcoTools flat eyeshadow brush (great for concentrating color, can be used to apply concealer), pencil brush, slanted crease brush

REVIEW: AYA Fairy Drops Volume and Curl Burst Film-type Mascara

Sorry so few posts, gals! I've been under the "monthly visit" and a boatload of work at the office.  Plus, I started using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and it's been making it's way into my eye area and drying it out somehow :(
Today I threw a million coats of an amazing mascara on my lashes:

Up 'til now I've been thinking of it as the "Pink Tube" Fairy Drops, but it's actually the non-waterproof one. I LOVE the Las Vegas theme of the packaging!  This mascara is great :-D It reasonably holds my curl, volumizes and lengthens as it says, and really gives my lashes the dolly-eyes look.
You can really put on layer upon layer of this formula, and it gives you plenty of time until it dries to work out the clumps, all while not feeling too "wet."
I bought this from iMomoko; you can get it here.  It's not a cheap thrill, but it's as great as any Dior mascara I've ever tried.  My picture is taken after six hours of wear and I've experienced no flaking or smudging.  <3 If you don't mind ordering online or the nearly $24 price tag, I highly recommend it!

Eek... sorry about the red veins, I've been hard at work on my computer all morning (since 8 AM and it's now 1 PM!).

September 2011 Favorites

Wow, that was a quick month. I had to cut down massively on my spending (because I got a new car!), but I still managed to add new favorites to the lineup:

The olive ("Browbone") shade from Wet n Wild LE Earth Looks Small From Down Here Trio ($2.99):
This is just incredibly gorgeous. I love to do a gradient greens eye with it, and this has a duo-chromey, antiqued gold look to it so if I am in a rush but still want my eyes to pop I can just swipe this across my lid by itself.  It's perfect.

Jill Stuart Mix Blush in Romantic Poppy ($65):
Hard to get, but other shades are available from iMomoko.com.  These are in beautiful packaging and come with a great brush.  Each shade in the blush quad can be worn alone, and when swirled together it has this dimension I cannot compare to any single blush I own.  It is almost a 3D effect.  It's so soft and blends out so well, you can get a full-on pigmentation look like NARS or a whisper if you prefer.  These are so pricey but I'm contemplating collecting every one that comes out... if I win the lottery... sigh.  I've been wearing this more than my beloved Illamasqua Lover this month!

Clinique Black Honey Brush-On Cream Liner ($15):
I wasn't really feeling the limited edition blush or eye quad, but I picked up the lip duo and this cream liner.  It looks more interesting than my usual black or dark brown, while still being neutral.  I think the bit of red in it makes my eye color skew more green.  When I've done a linerless look and find myself thinking I need more definition, this is what I've been reaching for all September. It just screams Autumn, doesn't it?  The brush it comes with is kinda meh but does the job in a pinch.

Mac Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoomblack ($15):
This just works for me; it volumizes, lengthens, separates, and defines with true, deep blackness.  The price isn't bad at all, but I've been using various samples of it that I have around.  I've bought it in the past because I heard it is vegan, but I can't confirm that is still true. I have several mascaras in rotation at the moment (more than I ought to!), but this is the one I reach for when I just want a mascara I can rely on!

Dior Aurora (LE, Sold Out):
I can't even remember how much it cost.  I was boycotting Dior, like NARS, earlier this year because I have issues with the fingerprint-magnet packaging and excessively high prices.  I eventually caved on both of those boycotts, and this is what made me cave on Dior.  It was being raved all over the blogosphere, and when I got it back in June I didn't touch it for a few months because it was so pretty in its compact.  Well, I caved to that temptation, too!  This is what I've been reaching for when I don't want to put on anything besides mineral foundation.  At that point, I look too washed-out, and this is a perfect combo of a natural bronzer and peachy blush to send the pallor packing.  It's near impossible to over-do and requires no finesse; easy, goof-proof makeup at its finest.  This ought to be permanent.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple ($20 for 8 oz.):
I received a free bottle of this with a purchase during a promo at Ulta back in May or June, and eventually got around to using it on a regular basis this month. I've had samples of it before and was unimpressed - I tend to like a good lather with a facial cleanser.  I do have to use the CVS makeup remover wipes beforehand.  Still, with use over an extended period its gentle cleansing is growing on me despite my dislike for rose scents.  My face feels really clean but not at all irritated, tight or dry after I use it.  If my skin clears up a bit more I may attribute it to this cleanser rather than the cooler temperatures of Fall, but the verdict is still out.

Too Faced Sweet Dreams Palette ($52):
I think this was obvious; how many FOTD/EOTD have I done with this palette this month? The packaging is pretty and fun, the cheek products in the drawer alone justify its purchase.  Full review is here, but since writing the review I've figured out how to work with its few shortcomings and we're running away together ;-)

No lippies in the favorites this month;  Honestly, I was a lippie ho and love them all. Maybe next month!

REVIEW: Blink and you'll miss that I've put on Blinc mascara

I got a sample of tube mascara by Blinc in my September Birchbox, and this is the look it achieves:

no mascara

blinc mascara

blinc mascara

blinc mascara (smudged a little on my lashine when I applied it)

no mascara

I think it's a subtle mascara, more for those who want lash-darkening without having to worry about flaking.  It's pretty good for people who have a tendency to rub their eyes as well, because for testing purposes I rubbed the mascara-ed lashes into my surrounding eye area, and as it claims it did not smudge around my eyes.  I found the sample size a little tricky to apply and you must finish application within a two-minute window before it sets.

This is what it looks like after removal:

To remove, you get it very wet, pinch your lashes, and pull it off gently (so as not to take your lashes off with it!).  It's kind of fun in an icky way ;-)
Overall I think this would be a great mascara for a natural look or light lashes you just want to darken without having to worry about flakies through the day.  Maybe for (slightly glam) camping?
It's not enough of an impact for me so I don't think I'll use it that often, but I can see why a lot of people would like Blinc mascara.

August 2011 Favorites: My First Monthly Favorites Post!

Ooh, boy, it was hard to narrow down my favorites this month... because it's my first favorites post ever!  I had to really limit myself to stuff that got crazy love within the month of August, which was kind of difficult to separate from my favorites of the year.  At any rate, after much deliberation (and a consolation swatching of my faves that didn't make this list):

Boscia BB Cream: I'm sure I've said it before, but this has been my go-to foundation this summer.  I only need to blot once all day (not too shabby for a greasy girl), the SPF is pretty great for a U.S. color base product (SPF 27), the price isn't too high to stomach, and best of all I didn't have to buy it once because I kept using a code on Sephora.com to get a generous sample size!  If you're curious, the code is "bb cream" and I've used it three times (3x .35 oz = 1.05 oz.  Retail cost is $38 for 1.75 oz and each sample is a $7.60 value!).  It isn't moisturizing so I use Stila or Origins tinted moisturizers underneath (both work great).  It cooperates just perfectly for a flawless finish with my Beauty Blender and covers up most of my acne/post acne marks.  I'll probably wind up buying this if they stop running that code and my winter skin likes it.

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Born With It $8.49: It's worth at least $14.50 because it's my dupe of MAC Creme Cup that I actually prefer to Creme Cup! Comparison is here. I've been wearing this a lot with the Maybelline Color Explosion Palettes to the office, but to be honest it's most gorgeous with a matte smokey eye. Now that August is over I'll probably do that look more often (If I can grudgingly surrender my colorful Summer brights!).

Orly Oh Cabana Boy $8: Again, I already mentioned it but besides the Axxium Gel Lacquer by OPI, it's the only nail color I've used this month that I couldn't stop ooohing and ahhhing over.  It also lasted over 3 days each time, which is pretty great on me. I know it's probably going to be put away until next summer, but I look forward to busting it out again!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Eye Quints $10.99 each:  I was really impressed by these. I don't like Maybelline's regular eye shadow line as it's not pigmented and chalky (bleh).  But these pack a color punch and you know I love color.  After I bought Forest Fury, I went back to the store during a sale and snapped up the rest (at least, what they had left!).  I was stopped twice by strangers the day I wore Forest Fury and asked if I was a makeup artist (yay!).  The price is not amazing but of course you can always find coupons and BOGO 1/2-off.  The shimmer topcoats really make these stand out and I'll continue to use them into Fall.  I love Too Faced's Matte Palette but I must admit I've been reaching for these more... even for office work days... now where is that promotion? Oops!

CVS Makeup Remover Wipes $5.49 for 25: This is my first month as a beauty blogger and I don't know what I would have done without these!  They do the best job at scraping off all those pigmented swatches and FOTDs!  Their price is not too far off from a pack of MAC Wipes at $28 for 100 ct., but I find those sting my skin a little. I also tried the much-raved Yes to Cucumbers makeup remover wipes (more expensive per wipe) but the fragrance was too strong and they didn't do as good a job at quickly removing makeup completely as the MAC or CVS wipes.  CVS wipes often go on sale, too. I just bought three two-pack boxes because they are on sale BOGO 1/2-off this week, in fact.  I also like that when I can't be bothered to really take care of my skin (kryptonite for the acne-prone, but I am a flawed human being!), if all I do is wipe off my makeup with one of these the damage is limited.  Best wipes I've tried!

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara $10: Now an essential, as it really drives home the entire point of my pixie hair cut; Channeling Twiggy! Full review here.

Jewelmint Trinity Bracelets $29.99: I am NOT a bracelets person. I have delicate (try skinny and bony) wrists that I like to look at when I'm feeling bloated/fat.  Reminds me that I'm only fat in the brain!  On top of that, my desk job has me typing up documents all the time and wearing bracelets is usually annoying, if not painful.  These do emboss my skin a little but I hardly notice it. They make my wedding set (white gold) look just fine with any other metal colors I could be wearing on any given day.  In fact, my wedding set is the only other jewelry I wear without fail every day.  I always want to change my jewelry to complement an outfit and these complement everything! I've worn them fancy and casual and never feel the itch to take them off.  Above and beyond my favorite Jewelmint item thus far (I have eleven pieces currently). I can see myself wearing these less often when I'm wearing a coat or long sleeves on a daily basis, but I never give this much love to a piece of jewelry that isn't a gift from DH/Mom & Dad.  They're a part of my body now :-P

Wow, it was so hard to narrow these down!  This Summer has been full of beautiful makeup and I'm just starting to love what I've hoarded for Fall.  I hope I turned you onto a product or two you might have easily dismissed.  Let me know your favorites if you don't put them up in your blog!

REVIEW: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara is a $10 little wonder with the cutest little mascara brush head. It allows you to reach and enlarge every last tiny wisp of a lash along your bottom lash line with ease. It comes in both black and brown (black shown here).  I don't always try to put regular mascara on my bottom lashes, in part because I fear I'll just make a big tar-like smear down there and ruin my concealer work, but now I might be tempted to rock the Twiggy look of super-long lower lashes every day! How did I live without this before?

without

Eyes: TFSI, NARS Grand Palais Eye Shadow Duo, E.L.F. Studio Blush in Gotta Glow as highlight, Clinique Black Honey Cream Liner on upper lashline, MAC Zoom Lash Mascara on upper lashes

Cheeks: NARS Grand Palais dusky rose shade as blush, E.L.F. Gotta Glow as highlight

with

Eensy weensy brush! Beautiful tube! <3

REVIEW: Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara

Lancome makes some great mascaras, and I was excited about their newest release in spite of the kinda creepy promo images (models with dead eyes.  Probably the greigey-makeup is in part to blame).  I love the idea of "Doll Lashes" Mascara, it sounds a lot like Fairy Drops and brings whimsy to a product that is usually so straight-forward.  Lancome's packaging also does not disappoint; the tube has such a pretty curve and the wand is comfortable to hold.  It has beautiful (but rather tricky to photograph) iconic Lancome roses all over and a reflective cap tip.  Packaging definitely gets an A+.

The wand is an interesting idea as it's rather cone-shaped.  This allows you to get at some hard-to-reach lashes with the narrow tip, while you can try to pack on layers of mascara with the thick bottom.

No eye makeup whatsover...

Yeah, nobody wants to see me with no makeup, avert your eyes!!!

MANY coats of Hypnose Doll Lashes mascara...

Pretty, but natural.

 That is... you can try to pack it on. In the pictures above I am wearing countless layers of Hypnose Doll Lashes, and while the lengthening is acceptable and it doesn't clump, there is hardly any thickening to speak of.  The wear of this mascara is excellent and it doesn't flake whatsoever, and application is a breeze with stray smudges easily avoided.  I think this would be a good mascara to put over false lashes or wear for a natural day look, but I think the marketing suggests it ought to give you a false lash, dolly look.  Yeah, not so much, and I am disappointed!  It's a nice future addition to the makeup graveyard (I keep around products with pretty packaging), but definitely not something I'd repurchase.  Covergirl LashBlast in the orange tube acheives a more doll-like effect without the $25 price tag!  But I imagine women who like very natural-looking mascara will overlook this because of its marketing, and they shouldn't!