Cape Chic OOTD

 Once again, an unusually warm day upon us. Putting all global warming concerns aside, I must say that I do like this weather. I favor cooler weather and this was one of those days where you can be effortlessly stylish without worrying about being too cold.

Not Your Typical Smokey Eye

Makeup trends will come and go but in my opinion, a smokey eye is the sexiest look you can rock. Smoldering eyes paired with a neutral lip will never fail. It goes with almost any going-out outfit and it can be tweaked in so many different ways to suit your mood.

Colourpop Cosmetics Review Part 1: Supershock Shadows

The people I follow on Instagram are like 85% fashion and beauty related. I just love looking at people's different pages and seeing the immense talent some people have. There has been some buzz about Colourpop Cosmetics because they have awesome products but what's even cooler is that their stuff is super affordable. Starting at $5! I started following the brand on Instagram and I was immediately convinced to do some shopping. I ended up getting some of their shadows and lippe stix and liners.

Shimmery & Cozy FOTD

This look features warm, soft colors and a bright "pop" in the middle of the eye.   I love this look because it is pretty wearable. It is a look you can wear out with a touch of glam but it is not too overwhelming. The colors are nice and cozy. Weird word to use to describe this but that's the vibe I get from the crease and lip colors.

Cut Crease & Glitter Liner

This is a fun party look that is perfect for New Year's Eve. Cut creases are my kryptonite. Out of all the makeup techniques, this is one is the most difficult for me. It's because I have hooded eyelids and I have to draw the crease a lot higher than my natural one so it can show up. And all that blending! A big shout out to you if you can conquer cut-creases with ease!

Give Yourself The Gift of Beautiful Brows! (Photo Tutorial)

*This Giveaway Is Now Closed*

I have reviewed Billion Dollar Brows before HERE and their Bestseller's Kit, which contains everything you need, for beautifully groomed brows. Now that I have a better camera, I can post a better pictorial! And what's even better is that one of my readers will have the chance to win  one of these kits!

Reinventing The Selfie With The GlamST App

image property of GlamST

The best part of executing the perfect makeup look is taking a selfie and posting it on social media to show off your handiwork. My favorite part of social media sites like Twitter is all the cool people I've met that share the same interests as me. Now there are apps dedicated to beautyholics like me! I love technology!

It's All Black & White

A  quick OOTD post on what I wore for a night out. It wasn't dreadfully cold, only in the lower forties. Plus I was wearing a long coat so it wasn't so bad.

(Not So Secret) Secrets for Better Skin (Guest Post)

I didn't exactly win the hereditary lottery. I have oily skin and humongous pores and I break out from time to time. I've tried just about every cleansers, toners, serums and creams that promise younger-looking and glowing skin. While others work to some extent, some are just complete wastes of money. One thing I've learned, you can take good care of your skin without spending a lot of money or time. In fact, most of what you can do to improve your skin, you may already be doing. Here are simple habits you can adapt for great skin.

OOTD: Oh What A Winter Wonderland

To face unafraid of the plans that we made
Walking in a winter wonderland

"Winter Wonderland" -Dean Martin

FOTD: Holiday Glam

I am on a roll with the makeup posts! I've been refining my technique and plus I purchased a new camera. This makes taking photographs a lot more fun. You can actually see the colors accurately. I no longer have  lighting struggles or have to wait for daylight to capture that one perfect picture.

FOTD: Berry Smokey Eye

I was inspired by beauty guru Desi Perkins (@desimakeup on instagram) for this look. I immediately felt in love with it and felt that this is perfect for a party look. It can even be worn out on a regular day with the colors blended out more for a softer effect. I love the use of the colors and how they complemented my skin tone. Thanks Desi for posting this wonderful look!

How To Make The Winter More Bearable

There’s no denying that, for those who live in one half of the globe at least winter is well and truly on its way. We can kiss goodbye to those long, hot lazy days of summer and say hello to cold weather, rain, snow, dark nights, even darker mornings and frostbite.

Don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. Some people actually enjoy the winter months and find it a welcome relief after being so hot and bothered through the hottest months of July and August. It’s a time for hibernation, sitting by the fire with a cup of steaming cocoa and watching movies.

Bright Sophistication FOTD

This is a look that I think is great for any holiday party. It it nstantly adds brightness to your eyes while the deep lip adds some elegance.

Highlight Your Life! Highlighter Swatches and Haul

From the top: Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Luminizer "Stardust", H&M highlighter, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors in "Champagne Gold" and "Opal", Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights

This is a collective haul of highlighters that I have  hoarded purchased the past month. I love highlighters, they can add so much to your face. The right shade can add illuminate your features and add a nice, healthy glow. The highlighters feature in this post are different formulas, shades and price points. I love them all and I'm sure you will too!

Get Big, Sexy hair with The Kiss InstaWave Curling Wand

Let me start off my by saying that I am HOPELESS when it comes to using a traditional curling iron. I curl my hair using a curling wand which is much more convenient for me. I was giving the chance to try out the Kiss InstaWave, which is a wand that curls your hair for you! I have seen this product on tv and I have been very curious to try it so I was very excited to get this opportunity.

Get Bold, Beautiful Brows With The Billion Dollar Bestsellers Kit

Let's blame Cara Delevingne for making full brows popular again. Brows are finally getting the spotlight they deserve! They are such an important part of your face. The right shape can take years off your face and enhance your features. So you can imagine how excited I was when I got the chance to review the Bestsellers Kit from Billion Dollar Brows.

Contents of Billion Dollar Brow Kit with the Brow Queen herself in the background

About Billion Dollar Brows:

 Billion Dollar Brows Best Sellers Kit:

Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil - a unique product that will set you free from the headache of finding cosmetics that match your hair color. Universal Brow Pencil is a mechanical, self-sharpening pencil which goes on smooth and natural for all hair colors and skin tones. 

Billion Dollar Brows Brow Gel Clear - an effective formula that will lock in your look, giving your eyebrows a long-lasting, radiant glow while keeping them perfectly in place all day. It’s the perfect finishing touch for giving your brows a polished, perfectly manicured look. Plus, it is a guarantee the Brow Gel never flakes. 

Billion Dollar Brows Brow Duo Highlighter - an amazing and unique two in one highlighter and concealer. With this innovative pencil you can get picture perfect brows. Brow Duo Highlighter allows you to highlight your brow bone to add gorgeous definition and warmth. Works with any skin tone. Plus, for those on-the-go touchups, a handy universal concealer to the opposite end of the pencil. 

Billion Dollar Brows Smudge Brush - an essential item for applying Brow Highlighter. This flat, synthetic brush is the ideal mate for applying creamy cosmetics like our Brow Duo Pencil. Get your smudge on!

There was quite a change in my skimpy brows after using this kit. I used all the items in the kit to get these fabulous results!

Getting Billion Dollar Brows:

1. I brushed my eyebrow hairs up and out using the brush that is included with the Universal Brow Pencil.

2. I outlined my brow with the Universal Brow Pencil and filled in the ENDS of my eyebrows only. I didn't fill in the front because I feel that it gives a more natural effect when you don't. You don't want your eyebrows to look too severe.

3. I used the "concealer" end of the Brow Duo Highlighter to outline and clean up the edges.

4. I used the Brow Smudge Brush to blend out the concealer with my skin tone.

I was very pleased with these products. The pencil was very smooth and not too creamy. However, I feel like that it isn't "Universal" as I feel it won't really work on those with darker hair or skin tone. I did like the brow gel very much, it kept my brows in line and it lived up to its promise on not flaking.

The kit is available at Kohl's or www.kohls.com as of this month. It retails for $35.00 which I feel is a great value for your money with everything that is included.

You can go to www.billiondollarbrows.com for more information on the Bestsellers Kit as well as other brow products they have available.









Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

Halloween Makeup: AAAAAH I'm A Zombie!

Another look for Halloween. This time, I'm a vicious zombie. With my flesh torn off, ready to attack! Cool back story huh? This was surprisingly easy to do. I used paper towel and liquid latex for the "torn flesh". Then I drew on the teeth to make it look skull-like. Then I just went crazy with the rest of my face. I used the "Colorizer" app for iPhone to change my eye color is the first couple of pictures.

Halloween Makeup: Silence is Golden

I rarely do SFX makeup, I usually just draw out my looks. It can be pretty difficult working with the "extra ingredients". But now with YouTube, you can learn to do just about anything. That's how I learned about using tissues and liquid latex to create fake skin.

 I wanted to get really into the gory stuff and I started out with this "smile". I wanted to give the appearance of a Glasgow Smile that got pinned back together. Very sick and something that might be part of a Saw movie.

For this look I used the liquid latex and tissue paper to make layers of skin. After cutting open the new layers, I added some blood and safety pinned back the latex layers. This is something that isn't super difficult, but like most Halloween looks, it does require some patience.

DETAILS

EYES

MAC Paint Pot "Soft Ochre"

MAC  "Brule" (lid and highlight)

MAC "Saddle" (crease)

Coastal Scents Hot Pot "Deep Roast" (crease)

Inglot gel liner "77"

Black eye shadow from Coastal Scents 88 Palette

Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade "Dark Brown"

MAC "Parfait Amour" (lower lashline)

Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes "Flirty"

FACE

NYX Stay Matte Not Flat Foundation "Tan"

LA Girl Pro HD Concealer "Medium Beige" (under eyes)

MAC blush "Pinch Me"

For SFX

Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector "Medium"

Tissues 

Ben Nye Liquid Latex

Ben Nye Thick Blood

Ben Nye Stage Blood

Inglot gel liner "77"

Red and blue eyeshadows

Halloween Time: Peacock Makeup Look

It's Halloween! Candy, costumes and treats! Oh my! 

photo credit: makeup101withh.tumblr.com

Add Some Color With Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup

Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup in "Gilt-y As Charged" and "Punked Up Pink"

I was given the chance to try out the Redken Color Rebel temporary color. I'll admit I was kind of hesitant because I have really dark hair and temporary colors usually don't show up well on it. But I decided to test it out by doing a couple of peek-a-boo streaks in the front of my hair. I didn't want to go too crazy since I had to be mindful of my job (darn it).

Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup "Punked Up Pink"

The color I tried was "Punked Up Pink". The color comes packaged in a cylindrical tube with a separate spongy attachment. You had to remove the cap and attach the sponge yourself. This was pretty messy (well for me at least!) and I advise for you to wear gloves because this does stain. It comes off but it took a lot of scrubbing. 

You select the section of hair you want to color and you apply it using the spongy-thingy (can't think of another name for it). Depending on how intense you want the color, you can keep layering it on. I layered it about three times since my hair color is dark. After applying the color, you have to brush it out to distribute and set the color. You can also use a blow dryer but I just brushed it out. One thing about this is that you have to brush it out pretty thoroughly since it does stiffen your hair a bit, creating tangles.

And the color is pretty intense! After one wash, it stayed pretty pigmented. I got my hair done at the salon the next day and the stylists couldn't believe I achieved this color without bleaching it. They were pretty excited when I mentioned this product. The color blended really nicely with my hair since I chose subtle sections and my hair is dyed burgundy. And because my hair is burgundy, the pink showed up more on the purple side which I loved since you all know purple is my favorite color. I'm considering using it again to do peek-a-boo streaks through my head to keep it work appropriate. It washes out after two shampoos depending on much you layered and on the porosity of your hair. But for a quick removal, there's Redken Hair Cleansing Creme. Also, rubbing on some Argan Oil would do the trick.

My hair after one shampoo

I would definitely recommend this product for those that love to experiment but only want a temporary fix. Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup will be available this month in October. So perfect for Halloween!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

Beyonce Makeup Photo Tutorial

photo credit: Radar Online

So over the weekend, Jay-Z may have or have not announced that him and Beyonce are expecting a another baby. I quite frankly did not care about this news. I cared more about the makeup that Mrs. Carter was rocking. Such a cool look! Awesome for a party and even for the upcoming holiday season. Never too early to start brainstorming looks.

I recreated this look and it's super easy to do. I love the pink and the silver glitter together. I used loose glitter because I only had a gold liquid liner. Also, with loose glitter you don't have to layer as much and it comes out much better in photos. Check out the pictorial below to learn how to create this look.

Instructions:

1. Prime your lids and sweep a shadow similar to your skin tone all over your eyelid. Then, use a color slightly darker than your skin tone and blend that into your crease to give your eye definition.

2. Line your upper lash line with a gel liner, slightly flicking the corner. 

3. Starting from the outside in, line your eye as if creating a cat eye. However outline a little outside your lash line to create a small "gap". 

4. Since I used loose glitter, I first filled the "gap" with a glitter adhesive so the glitter can have something to stick too. This step isn't necessary if you are using a liquid liner. Then I layered a silver loose glitter over the adhesive. I neatened up the edges with the black liner and I exaggerated the tail of the cat eye to make it a little more dramatic.

5. Beyonce wore a pink lip to complement this look. I lined my lips with a pink liner and topped it off with a matte pink lipstick. 

Products Used:

FACE

Smashbox Primer

Urban Decay Naked Foundation Shade 8.0

LA Girl HD Pro Concealer "Cool Tan"

Ben Nye Banana Powder

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Powder "Dark Tan"

TooFaced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer "Medium Deep"

EYES

UDPP

Tan eye shadow from Wet n Wild "Vanity" palette (lid color)

Coastal Scents Hot Pot "Oktoberfest" (crease)

Inglot gel liner "77" 

TooFaced Glitter Glue

NYX Loose Glitter "Silver"

TooFaced "Better Than Sex" Mascara"

Anastasia Dip Brow Gel "Dark Brown" 

Wet n Wild Brow Kit "Brown"

LIPS

Milani Statement Lip Liner "Fuschia"

MAC Retro Matte lipstick "Flat Out Fabulous" .

Review: Makeup by One Direction

From the company:

"A range of makeup and cosmetic products celebrating youth, style, and the uninhibited lifestyle of a new generation. Celebrating life with bold shades, unique formulae and infused with limited edition collectable packaging, Makeup from One Direction is fun, bold, often irreverent, with a touch of cheeky mischievousness. Offered at prices that every girl and woman can afford."

Makeup by One Direction "Midnight Memories" Collection

Unless you've been living under a rock, you have heard about One Direction. The brand MarkWins, (the geniuses behind such brands such as Wet n Wild) have launched a limited edition collection inspired by several of One Direction's hits. I received the "Midnight Memories" collection. The makeup comes encased in a collectible tin. Sadly, mine got dented during delivery.

The "Midnight Memories" includes stencils, nail polish, lipstick, lip gloss, jumbo eye pencil, ,mascara and an eye shadow palette. For a collection aimed at a young audience, I wasn't expecting high-quality to be honest. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The shadows in the palette had a pretty good pigmentation. I swatched them without primer and they had great color payoff. They also were nice and satiny, not chalky at all. My least favorite item is the lip gloss and that's only because it was just too sparkly for my liking. Overall, this is a great collection for girls who are just getting into makeup. It includes nice colors that you can play with and they are pretty versatile.

The makeup will be distributed at the following locations and dates:

United States:
Macy's - August 11th
Stage Stores -August 25th
Dillards- August 25th
Beauty Brands -August 25th
Lord and Taylor - August 25th

The collections are not available internationally yet but will be soon! Go to the official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MakeupbyOneDirection to stay updated!

Disclaimer: this is a sponsored post.

Electra-Pink Lips b/c It's Wednesday

lips: Sephora Luster Matte Lip Color "Electra-Pink Luster"

On Wednesdays we wear pink! I wanted something to complement this lip color I got from Sephora. I just love how clean and bright the pink is! The formula is awesome too, It goes on like a gloss and it dries matte. I will be checking out the other shades as I prepare for Fall.

NYX Macaron Lippie Swatches & Review

wearing NYX Macaron lipstick in "Earl Grey" with "Chambord" blended in the center

NYX has released a collection of lipsticks named after the popular bakery treats, Macarons. I personally have never tried them since they have almond in them which I do not like. So I can't gush over how awesome they are. They do look very pretty however. I'm excited for these lipsticks because it's hard to find unconventional colors in affordable brands. I myself do not like wearing unusual lip colors, I ordered these for Halloween and to have some fun with experimental looks.

I ordered five of the lippes ( I love that they named them lippies by the way) on Ulta in the shades Violet, Earl Grery, Pistachio, Chambord and Black Sesame. The lipsticks are packaged similar to the NYX Matte Lipsticks. 

From top to bottom: NYX Macaron Lippies in "Violet", "Earl Grey", "Pistachio", "Chambord", Black Sesame

Violet: This color is a pretty Lavender color that is very wearable as well. I love purple lipstick so I had to snatch this one up.This color applied very smoothly and evenly. The texture of these lippies are very nice and creamy.

Black Sesame: Another color that applied fairly easily. A great base color for doing some lip art.

Earl Grey: This color was a little tricky, it took several coats to get it to apply evenly and for it to get proper coverage.

Chambord: I thought this would be the easiest color to get full coverage for but it was pretty difficult to apply. It came out pretty patchy and it took some work to get it on.

Pistachio: Out of all the shades, this might be my favorite. I may not wear this on a regular day but the color is awfully pretty. It also went on very easily and creamy. I'm looking forward to whipping up some Halloween looks using this shade.

All in all, the lipsticks are of decent quality. For the price ($6.00 USD) you can't really go wrong. It's worth working with the colors since you do save a bundle compared to higher-end brands. The only thing I found odd was the smell. It's not a terrible smell but I expected a dessert-inspired scent with these. They have a bit of a rubbery smell but it's pretty faint. Not a deal breaker for me.