Archive for August, 2012
L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in 555 Perpetual Purple
Happy Friday everyone!
Today is the last day of August! Can you believe it? I sure can’t! I’m sitting at a cafe right now with a cup of yummy frozen yogurt with Hubs sitting next to me busily doing his work. It’s nice to get out once in a while during the work day. :]
L’oreal Paris 24hr Infallible Eyeshadow in 555 Perpetual Purple $7.99
I’ve been really loving my L’oreal Paris 24hr Infallible eyeshadow in Perpetual Purple. The L’oreal Infallible eyeshadows are pressed vibrant pigments that are said to last 24 hours through tears, sweat and… rain. :] I usually don’t like to deal with loose pigment because of the potential mess that they can cause so I’m really loving that these are pressed (comes with a plastic stopper) and easy to handle.
Application was not what I expected. I was thinking that the infallible eyeshadow would be a creamy texture but actually I had to pat it on and blend with my shader brush. It did take a little more time and effort to apply than I’d like but the pigmentation and longevity are worth it! It would be a smoother application to use a warm finger but I prefer to use a brush when I can. It was pretty smooth when I swatched it with my finger for the photo below.
Perpetual Purple is a bright violet shade. While it can look super bright in the pot, it actually appears more subtle after I apply it on my lids. For a neutral-loving gal, I find this shade very wearable. I love that I’m able to create a fast and easy makeup look with L’Oreal infallible eyeshadow in Perpetual Purple and MAC Quarry (a matte soft-muted plum brown). Here’s how I created the below look. Seriously, it’s easy!
- Prime with Urban Decay Primer Potion (I know the L’Oreal Infallible eyeshadows are supposed to last 24 hours but better safe than sorry!)
- Apply Perpetual Purple on the crease and a little above. I patted and blended this on with a MAC shader brush.
- Take a blending brush and Quarry eyeshadow. Apply starting at the lash line and blend all the way up. The colors should gradually get lighter the higher you go.
- Highlight underneath the brow to create more dimension. I used MAC Shroom eyeshadow.
- Then line your eyes. I used MAC Fluidline in Added Goodness.
- Curl lashes and apply masacara (Covergirl Lash Perfection) and you’re finished!
MAC Paint Pot Review – Constructivist
When I was at the MAC store yesterday, I knew that I wanted to pick up a new paint pot. MAC paint pots are great because they can work like a primer but give color like any cream shadow. It’s a great way to shave off a minute from your makeup routine. As soon as I swatched Constructivist I loved it. It’s a great shade for the Fall and you can wear it alone or underneath another shadow for more depth.
MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist $18.50
Isn’t it a beautiful shade?
It’s a coppery brown with very slight shimmer.
It’s more red-tone on my skin in person.
My look today is simple! Just Constructivist Paint Pot smudged on my crease, eyeliner and mascara!
Easy-peasy right?
Oh I also primed my eyes before with Urban Decay Primer Potion for durable assurance!
MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist is a great one to have in your makeup collection for those mornings where you hit snooze more than once. Or when you’re simply running errands and want to keep it casual. Also, you can easily dress it up by applying another eyeshadow on top. Perhaps Mulch or Satin Taupe? This is also very appropriate for school or work.
Do you own any paint pots? What are your thoughts?
Let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL day!
My MAC Haul
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the MAC store and I finally got a chance to go yesterday. I usually buy my eyeshadows in the pan versus the pot which are only available at the MAC stores (not at Nordstrom) so I was excited to pick up a few new ones and also look for some new Fall makeup.
Here’s the damage! I got 3 eyeshadows- Soba, Cork and Espresso. Also Constructivist paint pot and Media lipstick which is perfect for this Fall. And I picked up a refill of the pressed blot powder in medium. As you can tell, I stuck with the usual neutral/brown colors but honestly I’m really excited for each of them! I’ll do an individual review on each of my new friends in the coming week so stay tuned!
I’ll leave you this morning with this-
Source: likeabirdblog.com via Soo on Pinterest
Beauty Deals (Part 2) – Ulta Sale
Okay, I’m back! Dang those Sephora sales sell out quick! Next time I’ll definitely order first then blog about it later! Yeesh!
So onto Ulta! First let me tell you that you can get 20% off your entire purchase from now through Sept. 1st. You can click here for the Ulta printable coupon for in stores or use the code 72654 for your online purchase.
One of my favorite things to receive in the mail is the Ulta catalog. Every issue comes with a coupon, usually for $3.50 off your $10+ purchase. I was so bummed over the weekend when I realized that my Ulta coupon expired without going to use! But lo and behold this new baby arrived in the mail yesterday!
So what is Ulta’s 21 Days Beauty event? Well everyday there are 2-3 educational promos by specific brands and 1 special deal on one product starting 9/2 and ending 9/22. I’ll highlight the special deals that I’m pretty stoked about.
Friday 9/7
Too Faced Romantic Eye Collection $20 (originally $36)
Monday 9/10
Butter London Nail Lacquers – Buy 1 Get 1 free
Wednesday 9/19
Cargo Essential Eyeshadow Palettes 50% off
And some other things that caught my eye in the Ulta catalog for but aren’t on sale…
Tarte Call of the Wild Amazonian Clay Palette $36
LORAC Bejeweled Take 2: Eyeshadow Palette Trio $35
I’m MOST excited for the Butter London nail lacquers! I’ve wanted to try them out for a while now so I’ll definitely need to take advantage of the BOGO deal! Also, isn’t that LORAC palette gorgeous? It looks perfect for the Fall and what an amazing price! That one I’ll have to check out soon so that I can use the 20% off coupon if I decide to pick it up.
I hope these posts are helping you save some money while we’re preparing for the Fall. Let me know if you decide to pick anything up!
Wishing you a wallet-friendly Wednesday!
Beauty Deals – Sephora Sale
I’m having that hardest time concentrating this morning! Maybe it’s time for a second cup of joe! While I was trying to wrap my morning brain around writing about the Ulta sales that are coming up this month, in popped an email from Sephora about their end of summer sale! So of course I HAD to spend another 20 minutes checking out the Sephora sale.
Here are my Sephora sale picks!
Sephora Pore Cleansing Kit $7 (Originally $16)
Sephora Pro Foundation Air Brush #56 $15 (Originally $32)
The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel $5 (Originally $10)
The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter $9 (Originally $18)
I’m gonna stop right here and post this now because man these things are selling out quickly! If you see something you like, order it now!
I’ll be back soon with the Ulta deals next!
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL start to your Wednesday!
LeSportsac Cosmetic Bag Review
Hi Everyone!
I thought it would be fun to share with you another one of my LeSportsac cosmetic bags – the Square Cosmetic. The LeSportsac Square Cosmetic was actually my go-to makeup bag for a good 2+ year period. I picked it up at an international airport in Korea a long time ago. I loved and still love the design on this one. It’s not too flashy or too cartoony.
LeSportsac Square Cosmetic $18
It’s on the smaller side of cosmetic bags for me so it makes me choose wisely what I want to carry with me throughout the day. Definitely can’t accidentally hoard lip products in here. It fills up pretty quickly.
An awesome feature of this bag is that in the back there is a slot to keep your tissues! Isn’t that great? You can never go wrong with having some extra tissues on hand. I’m not sure if the new square cosmetics also have this feature. You can’t really tell on the website.
Like all my other LeSportsac bags, I love that it’s so lightweight. I hate having a heavy handbag to lug around so I want to keep everything in my bag as minimal as possible meaning no extra heavy makeup bag! It’s also a very affordable alternative. You can order a square cosmetic for $18 and I’m sure you can find one for much cheaper at the outlet store.
Mine gets dirty pretty easily since it’s all white. I just realized that the inside tag says do not wash in water. Wipe clean with a moist cloth and mild soap. I washed mine gently under running water and it’s still fine!
I think the size is pretty similar to the 3-zip cosmetic bag (my favorite travel wallet). You can probably fit around the same amount of stuff, maybe a little more in the square cosmetic bag. The square cosmetic is just 1 zipped compartment with an inside gusset for easier access while the 3-zip is obviously 3 zipped compartments. The 3-zip would be better for organizing smaller items while the square cosmetic is great if you want everything in one place.
It’s a great small-size cosmetic bag and a cute shape! You really can’t go wrong with a small bag like this. If you find a pattern you like, definitely pick one up!
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL Tuesday!
Michael Kors vs Elie Saab Perfume for the Fall
For some reason this year I’ve really been dreading the Summer ending. Not that I don’t love the Fall! I absolutely love seeing the trees change colors and the world turn into a fiery yellow, orange and red. It’s amazing and beautyfull! But there’s something special about the Summer that takes me back to my childhood when life was so wonderfully care-free. I’d spend evenings playing badminton in the backyard with my brother and dad while my mom made dinner. Or how my besties would come over and we’d take sleeping bags and snacks (jalapeno chips and mint chocolate chip ice cream) out onto my rooftop and look for shooting stars. Even though it’s been years since those days, the Summer never fails to brings back those happy memories.
So not to short-change the beautyfull Fall, I’m trying to prepare myself and get excited for it! Woohoo for stepping on crisp crunchy leaves! I showed you a couple boots that I’m interested in but today I wanted to share with you a couple new perfumes that I’m debating between.
It’s funny because I discovered both of these scents through the same way- those annoying perfume paper samples that come via catalog, the ones that always fall out- you know what I’m talking about? I loved these two scents so much that I saved those paper samples until I could get myself a real sample at Sephora and Nordstrom! I guess that kind of marketing does really work!
Michael Kors Michael Kors Perfume – 1.7oz $78 at Sephora
The first perfume that I discovered was Michael Kors Michael Kors perfume. This is by far the “warm-est” perfume that I’ve ever liked and find wearable. I usually get headaches if the perfume is too heavy but this one is just lovely. It smells like Jasmine to me which I absolutely love but that’s not one of the notes that’s included in the description, haha.
Here’s the description I pulled from Sephora:
Michael Kors is tuberose reinvented. Creamy florals explode into exotic spices, tamed by Moroccan incense. A fragrant creation with a wealth of personality that will capture the heart of every woman.
Notes: Dewy Freesia, Tamarind, Chinese Osmanthus, Incense, Fresh Tuberose, White Wings Peony, Blue Orris, Arum Lilies, Cashmere Woods, Musk, Vetiver Haiti.
Style: Sophisticated and sensual, warm and wearable.
It lasts quite a long time on my skin and I love catching the scent here and there throughout the day as I wear it. My fear is that it smells a bit “mature” if you know that I’m getting at. I don’t want to walk by someone and they suddenly smell their mom or someone of that age group. But I’m PRETTY sure that this isn’t one of those perfumes. And I love it so much that I don’t really care what other people think! Ha!
Elie Saab ‘Le Parfum’ Eau de Toilette – 1.6oz $75 at Nordstrom
The second perfume that I’m debating between is Elie Saab ‘Le Parfum’ Eau de Toilette. Elie Saab describes it as “like a precious jewel in a graceful new setting, sparkling facets of Mandarin tree blossom, gardenia and vetiver blend harmoniously with warm honey rose to make Elie Saab’s eau de toilette offering every bit as addictive as the original“. The description itself makes me want to purchase it, haha. Compared to Michael Kors, this one is more floral and refreshing although there is still a slightly warm base to it. It’s definitely a scent that is less Fall/Winter and can be worn year round.
I’d normally go with a scent like Elie Saab perfume that’s much lighter and fresh but it might be time to go out on a limb and wear something much warmer especially in celebration of the colder seasons to come. I’m still debating and trying out the samples so I’ll let you know once I reach a decision and make the purchase!
Have you ever tried either the Michael Kors perfume or the Elie Saab perfume? Does Michael Kors smell too “mature” for me? Which one would you choose? Or what’s your favorite perfume to wear through the colder seasons? Let me know in the comments below!
PS. My friend and her little one are coming over in half an hour! I can’t wait! <3
NARS Gaiety Blush Review & Swatch – NARS Blush Series Part 5
We did it you guys! We’re finally at the last NARS blush review! This has been the longest series that I’ve done so far so I’m going to give myself a pat on the back. :]
Today I want to introduce to you the newest blush in my NARS blush collection, NARS Gaiety! I knew that I wanted Gaiety as soon as I saw it featured in the Spring 2012 collection. NARS describes it as a bright candy pink. It’s a lot softer than NARS Desire in case you were wondering and gives a very natural flush on your cheeks. It’s matte and not a bright obvious pink at all. And it looks great on every skin tone. I sat in on one of my besties’ wedding makeup trials and the makeup artist used NARS Gaiety blush on her. She’s much darker than I am and I absolutely loved it on her mixed with some bronzer. It would also be perfect for school or work or hanging out. This baby is versatile- gotta love it!
NARS Gaiety blush swatch
Since NARS Gaiety blush is much more sheer and natural, you can use a stronger hand when applying it. I usually dip my brush into the pan 2-3 times before swiping it on. It is not as pigmented as NARS Gilda or NARS Desire so you don’t have to be cautious. I think that NARS Gaiety works well through all the seasons (looks amazing mixed with Laguna bronzer) and is an easy blush to have as a go-to blush. I definitely recommend it to everyone as a staple part of their blush collection.
I hope you enjoyed my NARS Gaiety blush review. I’ve really enjoyed writing this series and featuring each NARS blush individually especially because it’s reminded me of how amazing each one truly is. I’m definitely going to be using NARS Gilda a lot over the Fall and will also keep my eye out for any new NARS blushes that interest me. I find that you can’t go wrong with any of them! And although they may seem pricey, they last a long time in the pan and on your cheeks so to me they’re worth every penny.
One last time, in case you missed any of the other NARS blush reviews in this series, here are a few quick links!
- NARS Blush Swatches & Reviews Introduction
- NARS Orgasm blush – Part 1
- NARS Madly blush review – Part 2
- NARS Desire blush review – Part 3
- NARS Gilda blush – Part 4
- NARS Gaiety – Part 5 – You’re on it now!
- NARS Exhibit A blush review – Part 6
- NARS Lovejoy blush – Part 7
- NARS Sin blush – Part 8
Do you own any NARS blushes? If so, which one(s)? Let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you an amazing rest of the afternoon! :]
Etude House Products – Strawberry Milk Nail Polish Review PK003
Happy Monday everyone!
Today I wanted to share with you a new nail polish that I’ve been trying out. Have you heard of Etude House? If you’ve been to Korea you’ve probably seen these beauty stores on the street corners that look like a princess doll house.
Pretty cute right? Anyway inside they sell makeup and all sorts of things that a girly girl could want. On their site Etude House says that “Etude is a cosmetic brand that believes makeup should be playful and not routine. So our products are developed to reflect four basic concepts: high-quality, affordability, lovely design and a diverse color range”.
It’s been 5 years since I’ve last been to Korea and tried out any Etude House products. It wouldn’t be fair for me to give a Etude House review as a whole, BUT I will do a review on the nail polish that I have! The Etude House nail polish that I have been using is the PK003 Strawberry Milk (I translated the label for ya- you’re welcome!). It’s a super cute pastel pink shade.
Like all pastels it’s a bit more difficult to apply. I ended up with 3 layers plus a base coat and top coat. Longevity is pretty good. It’s been a few days and I only see one teeny tiny chip. And the color is just so cute. I’ve been loving pastel blues and turquoises this Summer but this pastel pink makes me feel so girly- it’s really fun to wear!
I admit- I’m such a sucker for packaging. And I love the Etude House princess/doll house theme. I’d definitely be more than happy to own a few more Etude House products even if it’s just to display on my vanity or in my makeup bag, ha ha! As of now, Etude House seems a bit our of reach but maybe one day they’ll start selling in the states. Until then I’ll be loving on my Etude House nail polish in Strawberry Milkshake.
Okay, it’s time for me to grab my long-overdue cup of coffee!
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL start to the week!
NARS Gilda Blush Review & Swatch – NARS Blush Series Part 4
Hi everyone!
A lot of the blushes I own are more Spring/Summer appropriate but today I have a treat for you! It’s NARS Gilda! It’s a matte perfect coral with a hint of red- totally appropriate for the coming Fall. I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job this year of preparing for the inevitable change of seasons. I even tried on a couple different Hunter boots yesterday with the Hubs! Aren’t you proud of me? 
At the time, NARS Gilda blush wasn’t a shade that I’d normally grab. I think I was at the NARS counter one day and the sales associate actually recommended this to me. She showed the blush on me and I fell in love. That seems to be a trend with me and blushes. They intimidate me in the pan but once it’s on I love it!
NARS Gilda swatch
On my face
Don’t I look ready for the Fall?
Just like NARS Desire, NARS Gilda is super pigmented. Just dip your brush ONCE and apply on your cheeks with a light hand. If you want more pigment, dip one more time and apply, continue until you’re happy! The great thing about NARS’ high pigment blushes is that they last forever! It only takes a teeny tiny bit to make an impact on your cheeks.
I honestly forgot how much I love NARS Gilda! It makes me excited for the Fall! Gilda will definitely be my go-to blush in a couple months!
You can pick yours up at Nordstrom or Sephora for $28. Links are below for the other NARS blush reviews in case you missed any!
- NARS Blush Swatches & Reviews Introduction
- NARS Orgasm blush swatch – Part 1
- NARS Madly blush swatch – Part 2
- NARS Desire blush – Part 3
- NARS Gilda – You’re on it now!
- NARS Gaiety blush review – Part 5
- NARS Exhibit A blush review – Part 6
- NARS Lovejoy blush review – Part 7
- NARS Sin review – Part 8
Only 1 more blush (NARS Gaiety) to go in my NARS blush series! Man- I’m falling in love with my NARS blushes all over again thanks to these reviews. Tehehe! Might need to pick up some more shades soon!
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL start to the weekend!