Favorites: December 2011/January 2012

Hello, my Pretties!

I don't know if you noticed, but I didn't get a chance to do a FAVORITES post last month.  With all the hoopla surrounding my birthday and Christmas and preparing for the New Year, it kinda sorta got overlooked.

And even though this favorites post is inclusive of two months, my favorites are few.  I have had long weeks of working 10-12 hour days and don't wear makeup that often during the week.  If I do, it's just a quick dusting of face powder and some mascara.  When the weekend comes around, I only wear makeup if I'm going out and about.  Which isn't that often either since my weekends are filled with laundry and Lifetime movies.

I apologize for my lackluster array of favorites but nonetheless, here they are:

Favorites for December 2011 and January 2012.

Victoria's Secret Secret Garden Scented Candle and
Refreshing Body Mist in Pure Seduction.

I included this body mist back in my November Favorites and I'm still using it!  I love this scent and I love having the matching scented candle.  Casaba Melon, Plum, and Freesia make up this scent and it's wonderful!  I'm almost out of my body mist so keep an eye out for that one in February's empties post!

Clean & Clear Advantage 3-in-1
Foaming Acne Wash

This is a 3-in-1 because it 1-cleanses the skin, 2-treats pimples, and 3-helps prevent future breakouts.  And it's oil free.  I don't suffer from acne prone but my sweet-tart does and that's why we purchased this one.  It's always in the shower and so one day I started using it and liked how clean my skin looked.  I started using it often, about 2-3 times a week.  I don't use it everyday because since my skin is not problematic for the exception of a pesky pimple every so often, the salicylic acid acne medication in this cleanser dries out my skin too much.  Using it once in a while keeps my skin clean and prevents any acne from popping up.

E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Avon Healthy Makeup Eyeshadow in Tiger's Eye
L'Oreal HIP High Intensity Pigments in Tenacious
Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in On and On Orchid

This E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner is one of my all time favorite liquid eyeliners.  It's so black and easy to apply.  It dries fairly quickly and it lasts all day without running or fading.  And for only $1.00, it's a steal!

I use Avon's Tiger's Eye eyeshadow when I am in a hurry and just want a touch of color to my lids.  I apply it easily with the doe foot applicator and the liquid shadow blends out easily and evenly with just my fingertips.  The color is pigmented and wears well all day long.

This HIP pigment is my first and it is beautiful!  I bought this a while back when CVS was having a 75% off sale and I paid peanuts for it.  It is a color unlike anything else I have.  It's like melted metal on my eyelids.  Sounds painful but it looks stunning!

This Maybelline 24 Color is also my first and I adore it.  The lip color actually lasts just about 24 hours.  It's amazing, really.  This one was given to my by my sweet-tart's aunt who bought it for herself but didn't like the color on her but thought it would look good on me.  It does!  I love it.  I applied it in the a.m. and it stayed on through eating and drinking and even sleep.  I woke up the next morning and it was still on my lips.  Crazy!

Swatches.

Left to Right:
E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Avon Healthy Makeup Eyeshadow in Tiger's Eye
L'Oreal HIP High Intensity Pigments in Tenacious
Maybelline 24 Color in On and On Orchid

So, there you go my loves, these are the top products I have been using in my life for the months of December and January.  Are any of these your favorites too?

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money unless otherwise stated.  These are my own thoughts and opinions. ♥♥

The Makeup Orphanage

Hello, my Pretties!

Yes, I have yet another post to share with you today.

Today, my older sister cleaned out her makeup stash and got rid of makeup she wasn't using anymore or didn't like and she gave it all to me.  Yay!  She has done this several times.  She is the best, I swear!

While I have two sisters, my older sister and I share the love of makeup.  We can text for hours about it.  She understands my addiction so well even though she is not an addict herself.  She buys what she needs and nothing more.  And she has no problem giving it away which is totally an inconceivable thought to me.  And because she knows how off my rocker I am about makeup, she feeds my addiction.  God bless her.

Which brings me to the Makeup Orphanage.  That's me.  That's what she calls me.  I always take in older, unused, unwanted makeup.  No questions asked.  No matter how battered and beat up it is, I'll take it.  I will love it and accept it into my home.  I will clean it up, care for it, and give it a purpose.  I will find some use for it no matter what.  I don't discriminate.  All makeup is beautiful, useful, and important to me.

Have you stopped laughing yet??

It's true.

Here is my show and tell.

Latest newcomers to the Makeup Orphanage.

Love magazines!

We also share our magazine subscriptions.  She always gives me hers to keep because she knows I like to study the makeup shown on the women inside these pages.  She understands me so well.

Shown here is the January 2012 New Year's Special! Glamour magazine with the Kardashian sisters on the cover.  The other is the January 2012 edition of Cosmopolitan with Scarlett Johansson on the cover.  I didn't recognize her!

My newest eyeshadow palettes.

On the left, Colour Me Glow 12 Shades Eyeshadow by Profusion.

On the right, mark. Snap to It Custom Color Palette with 8 eyeshadows.  The shadows she included are:
Top, left to right: Glitterati, Daybreaker, Living Doll, and Tiki.
Bottom, let to right: Plum Velvet, Night Owl, Luvstruck, and Java.

My newest nail polishes.

Left to Right:
Zoe & Zac Naturals in Violet Flower
Zoe & Zac Naturals in Cardinal
Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Lady Luck
L.A. Colors Nail Lacquer in Bright Pink

Yay! Got a couple new shades of pink for Pink Wednesday!

My newest eye products.

Left to Right:
Avon Shadowstix Eyeshadow Stick in Vivid Violet
Avon Extralasting Eyeshadow in Rose Mist
E.L.F. Eyelid Primer in Sheer
Avon Smooth Minerals Eyeshadow Pencil in Sand Dune
Avon Smooth Minerals Eyeshadow Pencil in Amethyst

My newest L'Oreal HIP shadows.

Left to Right:
L'Oreal HIP High Intensity Pigments in Fiery
L'Oreal HIP High Intensity Pigments Bright Shadow Duo in Showy

My newest face products.

Left to Right:
VS Pro Airbrush FX Face Primer SPF 20
Urban Decay De-Slick in a Tube sample

My newest lippies.

Left to Right:
Cover Girl Lipstick in Iced Mauve
Clinique Super Balm Moisturizing Gloss in Apricot
Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie in Mango-thon
Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lipstick in Rum Raisin
Liplicious Tasty Lip Color Royal Pucker in Spiced Berry

The Royal Pucker in Spiced Berry was the only thing that was brand new and sealed.  I took the picture of it sitting inside the lid to the top of the Neutrogena lipstick.  Without it, I couldn't get the tube to stand up!  Ah ha, thinking outside the box!

So, don't you think I have the greatest sister in the world!  She is so understanding and non-judgmental of my makeup madness and so very supportive of my blog and future aspirations in the beauty community.  I appreciate all that she does for me.

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ Everything shown in this post was given to me by my sister.  ♥♥

EOTD: Grassy Knoll

Hello, my Pretties!

Finally, at last we are here at the end of my L.A. Colors 3 Color Eyeshadow trios series. Yay! And last on my list is Grassy Knoll and you know why. It's green! I cannot pull off green for the life of me.

I did this look this morning and took photos but was so disappointed in the way the photos looked. I don't know what it was. I didn't want to post that up on my blog so I went ahead and redid the look.

I had a light lip before, I vamped it up. I went easy on the liner before, I added some to my waterline. Granted, I'm battling a cold right now that started this morning and quickly progressed into full on grossness. My eyes have been red and watery all day. Sheesh.

I promised all my tweeties that I would really try and have this final look up tonight. So, I will do my best while I sneeze my head off and sip on hot water with lemon and honey. Woo hoo...

L.A. Colors 3 Color Eyeshadow
in BES507 Grassy Knoll

Swatches

1st green shade on inner half of lid.
2nd green shade on outer half of lid.
3rd green shade on lower lash line.

E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner on upper lash line.
M•A•C Fluidline on water line.
L.A. Colors Mineral Eyeshadow on brow bone.

L'Oreal HIP Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss
in 748 Enchanting.

Full face shot.

Ingredients.

FACE:
Avon Care Moisture Replenish Daily Hydrating Cream with SPF 15
Avon Magix Face Perfector with SPF 20
Avon Smooth Minerals Pressed Foundation in T105 Sand Beige
Avon Marimekko for Avon All-Over Face Palette in Poppy Bouquet

EYES:
Avon Healthy Makeup Concealer in H101 Light Neutral
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
L.A. Colors 3 Color Eyeshadow in BES507 Grassy Knoll
L.A. Colors Mineral Eyeshadow in BME488 White
E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner in Black
M•A•C Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz
Maybelline The Falsies Flared Volume Express Mascara

LIPS:
L'Oreal HIP Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in 748 Enchanting

By now you all know that I don't work well with green eyeshadows. I don't know what it is but I never think they look good on me. That is why I waited till the end to use these. I was hesitant because I knew I probably wouldn't like it. But, I'm the kind of girl that I see a makeup item in more than one color and I want them all. Just to have! Crazy, I know.

But in all honesty, I actually liked the way this turned out. I can't believe I'm saying that about green eyeshadow but I mean it. I think it actually looks nice. I think it was the revamping I did that saved this green eyed monster.

OK, my dollies, I'm out for the day. I'm sick as a dog (whatever that means) and I really do not feel well at all. I plan on curling up in bed with all my binkies (my blankets) and relaxing with some TV while I wait for the sweet-tart to get home from work. At least that's the plan. The baby is still up. Hmph.

Oh, and in case you want to know, here are the links to the other three L.A. Color 3 Color Eyeshadow looks:
Moon Rock
Southern Belle
Shooting Star

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All the products that were mentioned in this post were bought by me with my own money. These are my own thoughts and my own opinions. ♥♥

Haul: Dollar Tree Part 1

A few days ago, March 21, 2011, I made a trip to my local Dollar Tree. I always make a point to check out the makeup isle. You never know what you are going to find. I did find a few goodies. So much so that I'm going to divide this haul up into 3 parts.

Part 1
L'Oreal HIP High Intensity Pigments Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss

678 Ingenue
748 Enchanting
772 Energized
816 Mellow

These are TINY dollops of the lip gloss.
Left to right:
Ingenue, Enchanting, Energized, Mellow

These are the tiny gloss dollops smeared with my finger tip.
Left to right:
Ingenue, Enchanting, Energized, Mellow

Just in swatching these, I found the consistency to be thick. I mean thick. It was difficult to smooth out. The colors, of course, are highly pigmented. I think all the shades I chose are beautiful. Ingenue is a burgundy with more of a purple tone. Enchanting I would also say is a burgundy but with more of a red tone. Energized is a nude with gold. Mellow is a light bronze with gold. All glosses have a metallic look to them.

I got these for $1 at Dollar Tree. The lip glosses contain 0.5 fl oz.

I review is to come once I try these babies out. Stay tuned.

Luv & Luk,
--L.

FOTD: Dirty Blue Jeans

I did this look on March 10, 2011. I was a little bored with the looks I had been doing recently and opted for a bolder look without being over the top. I had no plan on what I wanted to do so I just let my creative juices flow and this is what I came up with.

I call it Dirty Blue Jeans. To me I see dirty jeans. I did the blue and the different shades of brown make for a muddy hot mess. Now that I think of it, my look reminds me of my brother's jeans when he was done working on his car with all that oil and grease all over them. LOL. Now I feel like I'm a mechanic! But hotter.

OK, so here is my pair of sexy Dirty Blue Jeans.

Face Ingredients

FACE:
E.L.F. All Over Cover Stick in Honey (on eyelids to cover veins)
E.L.F. Mineral Booster in Sheer (all over face)
CHEEKS:
E.L.F. All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade (on apples of cheeks)
E.L.F. Clarifying Pressed Powder in Spice (lightly dusted over Pink Lemonade)
EYES:
E.L.F. Eyelid Primer in Sheer (on eyelids)
E.L.F. Beauty Book Eye Brights Edition
E.L.F. Smoky Eye Edition
Victoria's Secret Brilliant Shimmer Shadow in Lovedust
L'Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliner in Burgundy Kohl
Cover Girl Perfect Point Plus Eye Pencil in Black Onyx (on waterline)
Korres Abyssina Oil Mascara Volumising/Strengthening (top and bottom lashes)
LIPS:
CVS Chap Block Lip Balm Lip Moisturizer Skin Protectant
E.L.F. Plumping Lip Glaze in Mauve Berry

E.L.F. Beauty Book Eye Brights Edition
Golden Blue all over the lid
Shimmery Black in the crease and outer corner

E.L.F. Beauty Book Smoky Eye Edition
Matte White as a brow high light

Victoria's Secret Brilliant Shimmer Shadow in Lovedust
in the crease

L'Oreal HIP Kohl Eyeliner in Burgundy
on the upper and lower lash lines

I know it took me a while to do another FOTD so I am sorry. I hope this one was worth waiting for!

Luv & Luk,
--L.