Bright, Glowy Purple

I created this look using my new Coastal Scents Hot Pots. 

This look was inspired by Makeup by Tiffany D's purple look.

I started off using a light cream eyeshadow base that was close to my skintone. Next apply a bright purple all over the lid and into the crease. You can take this shade around your lower lash line as well. Next, blend into your crease and towards your brow bone a lighter purple shade to create a glowy affect. Lastly apply either a black shade or if you have a dark purple you can apply this to your crease. Don't forget to blend! I would definitely recommend false lashes and liner to complete the look. :)

Coastal Scents Hot Pots + MAC DUPES !!

hey ! so i'm so excited because I got my coastal scents order in the mail today :) 

I ordered 12 hots pots which included a free 12 hold palette  !

i'm lovinggggggg this :)) 

basically the hot pots are identical in size and shape to Mac's pro refill pans.. 

and the hot pots are only $4.49  !!!

I'm going to give you guys a little description from left to right.

1. s29-really gorgeous muted taupe color. great for all over the lid. it's extremely pigmented and very creamy.

2. m23-gorgeous shade and has a subtle orange shimmer to it. very pigmented--not sure why it's considered a matte shade.

3. s28-favorite color through the whole palette! amazingly pigmented burgundy. perfect for fall!

4. s20-bright violet purple. medium pigmentation.

5. s03-SUPER CREAMY, really pigmented gold.

6. m06-off gray with light shimmer, again not sure why it's considered a matte.

7. s35-dark gray brown with subtle shimmer, good pigmentation.

8. s19-purple on the more lavender side, medium pigmentation but very buildable color.

9. m09-EXTREMELY pigmented, great highlight shade. a true matte.

10. s14-a dark grayish blue tone shade. good pigmentation, easily blends.

11. s36-another SUPER creamy, SUPER pigmented shade. very very very soft. awesome color.

12. m15-blue toned purple. true matte. very blendable.

 (under the shadows is Urban Decay Primer Potion)

 (left Mac Pro Palette, right Coastal Scents Hot Pots)

And now for the dupes....

 (right Vanilla by Mac, left Hot Pot #M09)

 (right Vanilla by Mac, left Hot Pot #M09)

 (right Mac's Satin Taupe, left Hot Pot #S35)

  (right Mac's Satin Taupe, left Hot Pot #S35)

I would definitely recommend these hot pots if you are on a budget and want something similar to the Mac Pro Palette. This palette totaled $53.

 

SEPHORA FRIENDS & FAMILY DEAL

just want to remind everyone that from October 21 - November 3 is the Sephora Friends & Family Sale !

Sephora will be offering 20% off using the code:

FF2010

so if you are an avid Sephora shopper then this is a perfect opportunity to get some big hauls accomplished and possibly some Christmas shopping !

ENJOY -- HAPPY SHOPPING !

COASTAL SCENTS TUTORIAL

hey :)

I decided that since I talked about the Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette I would bust mine out and do a look for you guys using it.

this look is VERY similar to my "Neutral Fall Look" however using a big darker colors and a reddish brown.

(the only Mac product I used was a paint pot in the color "Constructivist" which can easily be substituted for a regular primer or any cream base)

1. apply a primer and/or a your cream colored base

2. apply the color that is row 6 and from the bottom & up 2 all over your lid

3. next apply the color that is on the 3rd row from the right & 2 down to the inner corner of your lid to brighten it up

4. apply to the crease the shadow that is 3rd row from the right and 3 up from the bottom right corner

5. for more definition apply the shadow that is the 2nd row on the bottom right & 2 up to the outer 'v' shape of your lid--making a wedge shape

6. apply the very top right corner shadow where your browns/reds hit your brow bone

7. use any light matte shade suitable for your skin tone as your brow highlight

when your done with your shadow you can line your upper lash line and apply some mascara to complete the look ! :))) 

enjoy !

Neutral Browns for Fall

hi !

here's my "neutral brown eye look." this look is definitely inspired by the fall weather and it is my everyday go-to look. :) enjoy !

1. to start off prime your lid and up towards your brow bone. I used Urban Decay Primer Potion.

2. apply Mac's eyeshadow in Retro Speck to the entire lid.

3. apply Mac's eyeshadow in Satin Taupe to the outer half of the lid and up into the crease.

4. apply Mac's eyeshadow in Mystery to the crease.

5. use Mac's eyeshadow in Soft Brown where the Mystery ends up towards the brow.

6. as a brow highlight use Mac's eyeshadow in Vanilla.

lastly, line your upper lash line with whatever you'd like (I used L'Oreal Carbon Intense) and apply mascara !

Coastal Scents Palettes !

hey :)

alot of girls who are into makeup don't have the kind of money to feed their beauty addictions. a fabulous alternative to buying Mac refill pan eyeshadows for Mac palettes are products made by Coastal Scents. This company has gone above and beyond millions of peoples expectations. they have a huge variety of palettes to chose from and ways to create your own palettes on their website. my particular favorite is the premade "88 Warm Palette."

this palette has soo many options for you to create dozens and dozens of looks. most of these shadows have Mac dupes and they are definitely of Mac eyeshadow quality and pigmentation. this palette which includes 88 shadows is only $24.95. For good quality eyeshadows, this price is unheard of. 

 

I 100% recommend this palette and the rest of the Coastal Scents products to everyone who, like me, is very into makeup and doesn't want to spend a ton of money.

these products are available at www.coastalscents.com

EASY & LONG LASTING CAT-EYE LINER

hey :)

here's my simple how-to on dramatic liner and making it last all day.

1. take your favorite liner (doesn't matter if it is liquid, gel, or a pencil) and lightly trace your upper lash line and end at the outer portion of your lid.

2. tilt your head upwards and look down. draw your wing as if it were a connection from the lower lash-line to the upper. 

3. after you have perfected your liner to make it last all day take a black eyeshadow (or an eyeshadow that matches the color of liner you used) with an angled eyeliner brush. pat the shadow over where you applied the liner.

4. next apply mascara

these techniques will give you the perfect cat-eye liner and make it last ALL day !

THIS OR THAT TAG

heyy, so today I decided to do something fun that is going around YouTube called the "this or that" tag.

Basically you're given 2 scenarios and you pick one and talk about it.

Pretty self explanatory :)

LIPSTICK or LIPGLOSS ?

most definitely lip stick! for some reason I hate the way my lips look when they are shiny..? weird I know.

MASCARA or EYELINER ?

mascara 100% ! I couldn't live without mascara and most days that is all I will wear on my eyes! I am only a fan of liquid liner because I have really sensitive eyes--putting any kind of liner on my waterline irritates them! :(

FOUNDATION or CONCEALER ?

foundation! I don't feel for my skin type that concealer is necessary and you can always use your foundation as a concealer ! it's a 2 in 1 type deal in my opinion :)

BRIGHT COLORS or NEUTRALS ? (pertaining to eyeshadow)

I have to go with neutrals, although I do wear purple eyeshadow frequently. Neutrals are more flattering on me and I feel like I can do a lot with neutral colors to make them dramatic rather than using bright colors.

OPI or CHINA GLAZE ? (nailpolish)

OPI all the way! even though china glaze is a very reputable brand, I have a lot more OPI colors and love them way more than I do my China Glaze polishes.

LONG or SHORT ? (nails)

I'm definitely a short nail girl. I like to get my nails short, but at the same time very healthy. 

NATURAL NAILS or ACRYLICS ?

well I have to admit that I have gone through an acrylic phase. they look really nice and polished, but natural nails are my favorite. I really can't justify spending 20+ dollars every 2-3 weeks on nails. I would much rather spend that money on new polish.

BRIGHT or DARK COLORS ?

I'm kind of a mixture. I tend to be drawn more to neutral colors. I do love colors that are bright but muted or are washed out. pretty much whatever I feel like that day is what I wear.

BODY SPLASH or PERFUME ?

perfume. I love the way it lingers longer than a body splash. 

LOTION or BODY BUTTER ?

truthfully, I am not really sure of the difference. do body butters moisturize more heavily? I guess it's safe to say that I always use lotion!

LUSH or OTHER BATH COMPANY ?

normally I would have cheered for lush but I have been really into bath and body works! something about the fall air really gets me loving b&bw. their fall scents are fabulous, as always!

JEANS or SWEATS ?

well obviously sweats are wayyy more comfortable. I LOVE my yoga pants! but I'd have to say jeans--they are classic and will never be out of style!

STRIPES or PLAIDS ?

this is a no brainer. PLAID is one of my all time favorite prints. I pretty much wear plaid at least once a week. very fall-esqe. :P

FLIP FLOPS or SANDALS ?

well if gladiators are considered sandals then sandals. I don't really wear flip flops that often.

STUDS or DANGLE EARRINGS ?

studs! I wear studs every day. I only own two pairs of hoops and one pair of dangle earrings--for some reason I don't feel like I can pull off anything except studs. they are classic.

BRACELETS or NECKLACES ?

bracelets ! I only have a few necklaces but I have tons of bracelets! I love their versatility.

HEELS or FLATS ?

well I have to say heels because I think they are stunning. I always feel glamorous when I get a chance to wear heels! however, I am mostly seen in flats.

FOREVER 21 or CHARLOTTE RUSSE ?

is this even a real question ?! no store could ever compare to my love Forever 21. <3

CURLY or STRAIGHT HAIR ?

again another funny question. if you know me then you most definitely know that I will always and forever wear my hair CURLY! or at least wavy.. :))

BUN or PONYTAIL ?

ponytail ! pretty much my signature style. love my low-ponys :P

LONG or SHORT ?

ahh. the first question I cannot answer. I've been both and LOVED both equally. It's all about the experience of being both and the dramatic change.

LIGHT or DARK ?

dark! I've always been dark haired and I love the contrast with my blue eyes.

RAIN or SUNSHINE ?

hmm. I'd have to say sunshine, but a rainy day is soo nice when you can just relax..

WINTER or SUMMER ?

another one I have no idea what to say ! this is why I love Michigan soo much--it's versatility! when both seasons are approaching I am so excited. each season brings something new and exciting.

FALL or SPRING ?

again! no clue! love both :)

CHOCOLATE or VANILLA ?

chocolate please !

EAST COAST or WEST COAST ?

both :P because I love to travel.

Tutorial: Black Smokey Eye

hi :) 

this is my version of a black smokey eye. all products will be listed below.

1. Start with Mac's Bare Canvas paint tube over entire lid and work it up into the crease

2. Then apply Mac's Mystery eyeshadow into the crease

3. Next apply Mac's Satin Taupe eyeshadow where Mystery and the brow bone meet. Work this upwards and then blend with a clean blending brush.

4. Next apply Mac's Vanilla eyeshadow (different then Mac's Vanilla pigment) as a brow highlight.

5. To start with the black you need it to have a sticky base. I applied Coastal Scent's Gel Liner in True Black over the lid. Then blend with a clean blending brush. This is supposed to be a smokey eye so no harsh lines! (Mac has several paint pots and shadesticks in black shades that will work as well. Also any gel or pencil liner will work too. Use whatever you have!)

6. Next I applied Mac's Carbon eyeshadow over top the black base. Then blend.

The next couple steps are up to you:

You can apply liner to your upper lash line with whatever product you'd like. You can also line your upper and lower waterlines.

Then you can use any mascara you'd like

I HIGHLY recommend fake eyelashes because it will really bring out the color of your eyes and add more dimension to your look.

Tutorial: Deep Purple Eye

hey :)

 here's my version of a dark purple smokey eye

products used:

Mac's paint tube in Bare Canvas -- placed all over the lid and up towards the brow bone

Mac's Trax eyeshadow -- placed on the outer half of your eyelid and up into the crease

Mac's Blackberry eyeshadow -- placed in the outer corner of your eyelid and brought up a little onto the crease

Mac's Naked Lunch eyeshadow -- placed on the inner corners of your lid and as a brow highlight

Mac's Soft Brown eyeshadow -- placed in between where the blackberry/trax combination meets the brow highlight

Clinique's Long-Lasting Mascara in Black

enjoy !

REVIEW: Sassy Human Hair Extensions 14 & 18 in.

hey :)

I've gotten a lot of questions on the clip in hair extensions I've used in the past so I figured I'd do a proper review because I have tried a ton of extensions and finally found some that I love.

I think hair extensions are really fun and if you get the right ones they can look really natural and flattering. The key is to match your shade correctly and know how to blend them with your hair.

I own four pairs of extensions, three pairs of Sassy Human Hair Extensions (two 18 in. sets and one 14 in. set) and one pair of Euronext Premium Remy Hair Extensions. I have purchased all four of these extensions throughout about 3 years. 

My experience with hair extensions is that at first they are all alike: very silky, very straight, and very smooth. However, as time goes on you notice how well they hold your style, if the wefts are separating, if they are getting tangled, etc.

The Sassy Human Hair extensions are by far my favorites. I have two pairs of 18 in. and a pair of 14 inch. I used to have an angled bob and that is the hardest style to grow out so I picked up a pair of 14 in. Sassy extensions (available at Sally's for $50). These extensions do not come with clips so you can either sew them yourself (which I did) or have a professional company sew them (about $50). These extensions were the perfect NATURAL length for me while my hair was growing out. These extensions held curl extremely well and could take heat products and hairspray like a champ. I only found a little bit of breakage, which is only normal for extensions. I typically wore these extensions every single day until my hair finally grew to be the same length. I purchased a pair of 18 inch extensions that are of the same exact quality. They are very "rapunzel" like and if you are going for that look then these extensions are for you. I purchased another darker pair to match my newly dyed hair, not because anything was wrong with the first. :)

The Euronext Human Hair extensions (available at Sally's) come pre-assembled. The clips are sewn into the wefts, and these extensions are singled wefted. The 16 in. extensions are very natural and extremely soft, but I have found that by the end of the night my style has fallen and the extensions are back to their normal straight style. These particular extensions get tangled and almost frizzy really really fast. I find that these extensions are a little thicker than Sassy extensions. The Euronext hair is also a lot more expensive (around $90).

It is definitely worth your while to go to Sally's Beauty Supply and look at both these extensions and find your best fit.

TOP 5 SEPTEMBER FAVORITES

hey everyone :)

so I really can't believe it's already October--the year is already flying by. 

I'm going to try and keep up with these monthly favorites to show you what I've been loving the past month. I'm going to try and keep it categorized with an except or two ;) enjoy!

1. Bare Minerals Matte Foundation:

My favorite makeup this month has definitely been my Bare Minerals Matte Foundation. I am in the shade "medium beige." I've been using Bare Minerals foundation for almost two years now and have loved it soo much. I started with the original formula and since May 2010 have switched to the matte formulation. I have always loved this product but this month I have really REALLY loved it and am not sure how I ever lived without it. I have a pretty basic application technique that I'm sure everyone has seen in the Bare Minerals infomercial. To apply it I use the kabuki style brush made by Bare Minerals as well. I feel their brushes are extremely well made. They may not be as soft as Mac brushes but I feel that they apply the product exactly the same if not better.

2. Lush Lotion -- Dream Cream

For those of you who don't know Lush Cosmetics is an all-natural company that creates products made specifically for the bath and shower. These products are all handmade and use natural products. Most of their products are vegan friendly, too. This month I've been using one of their best selling lotions "Dream Cream" every day. It's packed with essential oils so it makes you skin feel incredibly soft. It has a very earthy smell that goes with all perfumes and body sprays. (and smells great on it's own too !) I have been really enjoying this lotion this month, I typically change my lotions a lot so for me to want to stick with one is a big deal !

3. Pacifica Mediterranean Fig Perfume

I love to change up my perfume according to the season and my favorite fall/winter perfume is Pacifica's Mediterranean Fig. I love this scent sooo much, I've purchased several bottles! These perfumes are pretty small and inexpensive (around $22). I love that they are small because you can easily throw them in your purse! The scent is has a unique smell that consists of sandalwood and fig. I find that most people either love or hate this scent--but I would recommend it if you love earthy and unique scents. This is the type of scent that grows on you! If you love this scent as much as I do they carry it in a lotion, a solid shampoo, and candles!

4. Twilight Woods Body Gel 

My favorite body wash of this month (and several months in the past) is Bath and Body Work's Twilight Woods. This gel is lathers so well--a little definitely goes a long way. The scent is perfect for this time of year. The notes include berry, mandarin, coconut, frangipani, mimosa, wet honeysuckle, apricot, oud wood, musk, orris, vanilla milk and warm woods. YUM :)

5. Black Low-top Converse

 This month I've pretty much worn my black low-top Converse shoes every day. They are an essential to my wardrobe now and give every look a more casual feel. I really love the versatility of these shoes and how they can be worn throughout most of the year. These are one of my favorite shoes!

BLACKBIRD TEES

hey all :) 

I came in contact this month with a wonderful company called Blackbird Tees. This company is amazing in soo many ways, and I really want to get other people aware that these great clothes exist !

She is located in Seattle but all clothing items can be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackbirdtees#
(for those of you who don't know, etsy is a website dedicated to promoting artists and selling their products)

So I came across her designs just by searching on etsy and I immediately fell in LOVE. Her company includes women and men clothing and has a very indie/artistic feel which shows in her clothing. I was so impressed and loving a ton of her pieces so I decided I would order my favorite shirt. 

This shirt is called the "One That Got Away Slouchy Pullover." It retails for $37.00

I ordered my shirt on Wednesday. (September 29) It is now Friday. (October 1) WOW. That is pretty much unheard of. I didn't specify or pay for any special shipping, but my package came in about 2 days. Honestly, what better costumer service?

When I opened my package it was sealed in tissue paper with a tiny (handwritten) note thanking me for purchasing from her company. Again, what company does that? None. When I touched the shirt it was a soft sweatshirt material. I ordered a medium because in her description she stated "shirt has a slouchy fit & appearance, and is meant to loosely drape over the body." The sizing chart was pretty accurate as well. I definitely could comfortably fit in a small, but the medium has the slouchy appearance--which I was going for. The detailing is hand-printed. It seems like it will be able to handle some wear and tear. Also included are directions on how to wash the shirt.

Overall, I am SOOO impressed with the quality of the shirt, the efficient response from the company, and the generous note. I will 100% be buying more from this company and will be recommending to ALL my friends and families.