Sunday, November 29, 2009

I Have a New Found Love

WHAAOOOO! Two blog posts in one day! Redonkulous!

Anywho, I was looking at some of my old makeup that I haven't used in forever, (or in this case, used at all) and I remembered my little ol' container of Reflects Copper that I got from the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics collection. I was in love with the texture; it was my first reflects glitter (and it will definitely NOT be my last), and I highly recommend them, even to glitter-phobes. Reflects glitters are so finely milled they seem more like pigments then actual glitter chunks. I'm not sure if they are eye safe, but I do believe MAC claims glitters are not eye safe only as to not get sued. Speaking of reflects glitters, I REALLY REALLY want Reflects Transparent Teal, Reflects Purple Duo, and Reflects Very Pink. GAHH! Actually, I want all of the Reflects glitters <3

So, anyways, I was wondering of ways I could possibly use Reflects Copper. I had already played around with it on the eyes, but what about the lips? It was a pretty versatile color; brown enough to be used on the eyes without making one look bloodshot, but not too brown as to look unnatural on the lips. The result?



A gorgeous gloss! I mixed the Reflects Copper with a not so pigmented gold Victoria's Secret gloss, and it came out lovely. I think this would be best with a lipstick or more pigmented lipgloss underneath, but seriously, wow! I need to wear this out <3

*P.S. I am not affiliated with MAC cosmetics (or any other companies I have mentioned on this blog or post). At all. I don't work for them. Because if I did, I would own a lot more of their products.

EOTN - Miss Violeta


I wouldn't even consider this an Eye Of the Night because... I didn't wear it out. And I literally only did one eye. But I liked how it came out.

I got inspired by the newest tutorial from sayanythingbr00ke and xsparkage on Youtube. I really LOVE Romping e/s and its duochrome nature, and I think it is gorgeous paired with black.

I don't think I will do a tutorial on this, because I did a really similar look ALSO using Romping e/s, Rave pearlglide eyeliner, and MUFE #92 e/s. However, they look really different, considering this one is very pink, and the other was more dark and purple.

What I used:

- UDPP
- Make Up For Ever Flash Color in "Fuchsia" (On Lid and blended out past crease)
- MAC eyeshadow in "Romping" (Patted all over lid, and on the inner half of the lower lash line over "Rave")
- Heavenly Natural Mineral Pigment in "Nymph" (Outter corner)
- Make Up For Ever eyeshadow in "#92" (Outer corner and crease, and on the outer half of the lower lash line over "Rave")
- MAC eyeshadow in "Carbon" (crease)
- LA Splash eye sparkle in "Avalanche" (brow highlight and tear duct)
- MAC Eye Kohl in "Fascinating" (waterline)
- MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack" (upper lash line)
- MAC Pearlglide Eyeliner in "Rave" (lower lash line)

Friday, November 20, 2009

Katamari Damacy Inspired Look

I think it's fairly obvious I am a huge nerd. I go to conventions, I cosplay, I watch anime, I read manga and comics and graphic novels, and that's just to name a few. Another pastime I enjoy (though not as often as the others) is playing video games. I'm not the hugest video game buff, and my tastes are quite strange, which would explain why Katamari Damacy (or any of the spinoff games such as We Love Katamari and Me and My Katamari) is and will be one of my top five favorite games of all time.

I really like the colors and the general design of the game. Everything is simple, colorful, and down right trippy. I specifically got inspired by the main character, The Prince, and his outfit, which consists of a lime green tunic and violet tights. Not sure if I plan on doing more Katamari looks, but this was definately fun!



Face:
Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion
Benefit Dr. Feelgood
Lancome Dual Finish powder in Matte Honey III
The Balm Time Balm in Medium

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Kryolan Aquacolor in 509 (Yellow) and UV Green
MAC Technakohl Liner in Colour Matters
NARS Rated R Duo
88 Original Palette
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
MAC Fascinating Eye Kohl
Benefit Bad Gal Blue Mascara

Brows:
88 Original Palette

Cheeks:
Rimmel Natural Bronze in Sun Light

Lips:
Almay Intense Color Eyeliner in Purple/Amethyst
Kryolan Aquacolor in R27 mixed with NYX Round Lip Gloss in Doll Pink
NYX Round Lipgloss in Queen of Africa

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Conflicting Feelings

**So, while this is not an ordinary make up related post, this does pertain to makeup somehow. And it may get pretty text heavy.**

So, I know it's quite common nowadays for companies to repackage makeup. In fact, so many companies do it, and generally, I feel like I can keep up with finding out who is fake and who is full of well, bull shit.

However, I feel like I am losing more and more faith with the mineral makeup community, which is a shame. I know that one does not have to really dig deep to find out who is actually making their own products (thank god for Bloggers), but really, it seems more trouble than it's worth. I hate being a beauty snob, only buying from high end brands, but at this point in time, I almost feel like high end brands, brands that I have always had good results with, are the only ones I can trust.

I don't know about you, but I am not loaded with money. Not only that, but as I've mentioned multiple times throughout my posts, I don't work, nor do I own a credit card, thus it takes an arm and a leg to actually BUY something makeup related, let alone something online. So, needless to say I want my money's worth. I do not take being cheated out of my money with repackaged products or terrible customer service lightly.

Luckily I can say I haven't really been into the mineral makeup craze; I have only bought from one company, Heavenly Natural Beauty, and my results were more than satisfactory; the products arrived quickly, and with the package was a nice little note, nothing fancy, but it made it seem like whoever handled that package actually gave a damn about their customer.

I think that's what it all boils down to; the customer. I write this mostly because of the whole Lime Crime debacle. I don't know if it is new, but I did start my research today, and I can't help but be disappointed. I mean, I can't say I liked Doe Deere since I never knew her personally, but what I saw of her I liked, a lot, and I had hoped she was really, truly that happy, genuine person she seemed to be.

And I can't help but feel a bit betrayed.

I guess it's taught me to be a little less naive, but I still can't help but feel let down. I think I may have forgiven her, if she actually admitted to repackaging items, but the fact that she tries so hard to market this facade to her customers, AND so obviously does not care about them is really disappointing. It's really just a whole slew of hypocrisy.

And, for the icing on the cake, I came across this blog post:
http://frescophyrra.blogspot.com/2009/10/mineral-makeup-companies-that-make.html

Again, I have not purchased that much mineral makeup, but this is a little unsettling, because a few of these companies I have contemplated purchasing from.

Granted, I know I can't so easily believe this, considering that they do not mention if the "companies to avoid" actually make their own products. Also, though there are multiple times where someone has had a problem, one has to take into consideration the ratio terrible customer service experiences to those with satisfactory, if not great customer service experiences. Still, it does make me a bit wary of these brands.

All in all, sometimes I wonder if I should even try to buy mineral makeup or independent makeup lines. I really want to support them, but sometimes it just seems easier to buy some loose shadow from Sephora then spend $934 on a gram of a repackaged eyeshadow.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Face of.... Two Days Ago?


Last week was terrible; I woke up early to do my face all nice so I could photograph it for my blog and actually have some nice FOTD or EOTDs... unfortunately, I don't wake up early enough, because by the time I'm done I have to rush out the door, without time to photograph. And photographing when I come back from school is not an option, unless I want to redo most of my face, because I'm a hot mess (generally) when I get home.

I did, however, manage to snap this little thing up. I got inspired by one of Pixiwoo's older tutorials, I forget which one, but she used a blue in the inner corner and a brown/charcoal/taupe smokey color for the rest. I've been using MAC Copperbeam pigment a lot lately, because it's such a gorgeous color. I'm not sure how close it is to Copperized, since I don't own it... I think Copperized is more yellow whereas Copperbeam is like if Herritage Rouge and Brown were to have a baby? That's the only way I can describe it; I love it. So I'm not calling it a FOTD or EOTD because it's not from today.

Not sure what I used on my face,

I know for the eyes I used the 88 palette, plus Copperbeam and the blue is Cosmic Blue by Ben Nye. And I'm fairly certain I used MAC Fun And Games blush on the cheeks and Sockhop lipglass. I have no idea what the rest is. Mleh.

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I Choose You! Tutorial Series - #004 Charmander


WOO! Here is charmander, I think this may be one of my favorite so far, I think the matte oranges are very pretty, and very much fall inspired. Actually, this look is pretty wearable (sans the blue). Charmander I think, of the three starters, was the epitome of cool; it was quite obvious considering everyone just wanted him to evolve into Charizard, who, I think, was probably considered even more cool. I just thought the idea of having a cute little lizard friend that could make bonfires for you would be pretty rad.

Face:
Benefit Dr. Feelgood Face Primer
Boots No7 Mattifying Mattifant Primer
Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous (original)
The Balm Time Balm Concealer in Medium

Brows:
88 Palette

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Kryolan Aquacolor in 288 (Orange)
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
88 Original Palette
MAC Goldenrod Eyeshadow
Splash Eye Sparkle in Island Sunset
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Electric
24/7 Tattoo Liner
Lancome Definicils Mascara

Cheeks:
NYX Blush in Expresso

Lips:
MAC Lipglass in Sockhop




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