January Favorites

January is where you use up all your christmas gift cards and cash. It is also where you break your new years resolution of not buying as much make up, in the first month. Sorry, I haven't posted in a while and that this post is getting up so late. Im slowly learning how to balance my life and blogging.

1. NYX Angel Veil - Im a little late on this but I love it. This product controls my shine and gives a beautiful base for foundation.

2. ABH Contour Kit - In my blog post I said it wasn't worth the money but since I already spent the money on it. I will gladly use it.

3. Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil (pomegranate) - I cashed in some Sephora points to get this sample size and I love it. I am not a red lipstick fan put this is so flattering and I will repurchase it soon because I am quickly going threw it. 

4. Evian Natural Mineral Water - Where has this product been all my life! Once I crawled out of the rock I was living under and discovered this product my routine has changed. I apply it before my primer, on top of thick foundations to help blend it out, and to wet brushes to get a foiled eyeshadow look. I love it.

5. Jergens Natural Glow line - I am terrified of self tanning. I do not want to look orange. So this product is amazing I apply it at night because it has a funny smell. I use the one for the face too but not as offten it tends to feels weird on my face.

6. Too Face Shadow Insurance glitter glue - This is another thing that Jaclyn Hill made me buy. I love this and the name explains it all. If you use glitter and pigments this is a life saver. it works amazing and leaves no fall out. I recently heard of a dupe, elf has one that I've heard works just as good.

7. Color Pop - This brand is slowly growing in hype and for good reason. They are so glittery and pigmented I love them all over the lid and as a pop in the center of the eye.

8. Jaclyn Hill's Favorites - It's Jaclyn Hill. Enough said.

9. NYX glitter liner - Ive fallin in love with the glitter liner trend. Like Katy Perry in the super bowl. This is such an easy product to use and comes in a lot of fun colors.

10. Solid  by beauty blender - I hate that I can't live with out a beauty blender because its kinda pricy. So, I really needed a new one and my boyfriend happen to be at the mall. I asked him to stop by Sephora and get me one and of course he was suckered in to buying the cleanser with it. However, I am so glad he did. It keeps my beauty blender so clean, pink, and makes then last so much longer. So, I guess in the end it saves you money because I'm buying them less often.

11. NYX dark circle concealer - I use this product before my foundation and it does a great job of covering up my circles and it has been a life saver. 

12. NYX eye shadow base - I found a good dupe for mac's paint pots. It conceals my eyelids and preps for eyeshadows.

13. Bearskin by bareMinerals - I am a full coverage kind of girl. But for some reason I like this product and its not even matte. It gives my skin such a healthy glow and a little goes such a long way. I only wear it on days where I don't need my foundation to look great all day because my skin is too oily and this foundation does not help combat it. But for 5 or so hours it's perfection.

14. Lock-it tattoo foundation - Now this is full coverage and matte. I love it. Some say its hard to blend it out and I see where they are coming from. So i have to work in sections and spray it with my Evian spray and blends out great. 

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit - Review

This palette may be the most hyped about makeup product that I have ever heard about. The entire MUA community was buzzing about this palette since it was relesed. I waited to buy it for several reasons. It was always sold out, I wasn't sure if I would know how to use it, and its freakin' $40 dollars. So finally I gave in to my addiction and bought it. Here are my thoughts. . .

Packaging is not something I ever have an issue with as long as the product is good, I'm happy. Its a simple cardbord case with no mirror. The pan can be popped out easily which I did. I have a z-pallete with a few Makeup Geek blushes so I added them to that palette. I use it as a "face" palette and I love it.

Highlighting Shades

Vanilla- This is a matte shade, with a slight peach undertone. If you have very light skin this shade is pointless. I have a slight tan ( but not much ) and this shade does have a slight brightning affect. I use this shade to highlight under my cheek contour to make the line more defined. If that makes sense.

Banana- A light yellow shade. This is by far my favorite color. I use it to set my under eye canceler and mixed with vanilla is great for highlighting the center of the forehead and chin.

Sand- A pale nude shade.This is the only shimmer shade and makes a beautiful and sutble cheek highlighter. I place it on the very high points of my cheeks on top of blush.

Contour Shades

Java- A medium brown with neutral undertones. I don't really use this shade as much. If i do its to darken up fawn to make it more intense.

Fawn- A cool town brown with grey undertones. This is the most natural contour color of life! This is the most easy shade to use I love it!

Havana- A warm red base brown.This is the darkest of all the shades with warm undertones. It is super dark and I don't really use it alone because it is too much. If I do use it, I mix it with java and put it on the hair line. 

So, that is it! I do love this palette and I use it every day. However it is not necessary for the average woman. Especially if you are just starting out in Makeup. I spent 40 dollars on this and I can not see me doing that again. I might repurchase the banana and fawn shade in the future. If you love to contour and are familiar with how to do so, you will love this palette.

Jaclyn Hill Favorites - Review

    New years eve, everyone is celebrating and popping fireworks. I am at my computer waiting for the Jaclyn Hill Favorites palette to release. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

    When others were trying to break the internet Jaclyn Hill actually did! Makeup lovers, Jaclyn Hill fans and even hackers flooded Morphe Brushes' website and crashed it. When it became my turn to purchase the palette I was not even able to access the site. However, I did not give up. After hours of frustration and determination I was successful in purchasing my palette. 

(picture from Jaclyn Hill's twitter)

In case you have been living under a rock and do not know Jaclyn Hill is, she is beauty guru, youtuber, and just perfect. I owe my love of makeup and even my addiction to beauty to her. When I was first starting out in make up I stumbled upon one of her videos and I became hooked. I wouldn't have tried Makeup Geek, Sigma, Gerard Cosmetics or Morphe is she had not recommended them. She has never steered me wrong and I trust her completely. And it is no suprise that the palette she created is "amazeballs".

    For $27.99 you get 28 of Jaclyn's favorite individual eyeshadows in one palette. These shadows are normally 2 dollars each so you are getting a huge discount! So you can not beat the price. If you are questioning the quality because they are so cheap. Don't! 

    

    The palette is currently out of stock. However, Morphe will be restocking the palette in February. When (not if) you order yours use coupon code "JACATTACK" for 10% off.

The palette is mostly warm tones and a few cool tones. If you watch Jaclyn this is no surprise. She loves her warm tones. The palette has a nice array of finishes, neutrals, transition shades, and brights. They are smooth to the touch and blend out like a dream. The colors are so pigmented and the color pay off is on point. 

    I love everything about this palette. In my opinion it is a must have.

My Favorite Maybeline Products

    Maybelline is one of my favorite makeup brands of all time! Everyday I apply at lease two or three of there products. It is high quality at an amazing price, nothing I am writing about is over 8 dollars! The picture on the left is the lipstick, Touch of Spice. The swatches on the right is the eyeshadow quad.

• Dream Wonder Powder - 60 sandy beige - This powder is buildable medium coverage, but I use it to set my foundation and to fight back the oil. I have oily skin and this right here is my best friend. I love the texture, It is so soft and feels just like a loose powder with out all the mess of one ($6.99)

• Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer - radiant - I don't know what I did before to hide my eye bags and dark circles. This concealer just lightens my whole under eyes and makes me look like i actually got enough sleep. I also add a little to my chin and forehead to even out the highlight. ($6.44)

• Fit Me Shine Free Foundation - 2 shades darker than your skin tone I use 340 cappuccino - Do you want an easy way to contour? Well of course you do! I apply one line in the hollows of my cheeks, at the hairline, and down the temples. Next, all you have to do is blend it out with a Beauty Blender. ($5.99)

• Color Tatto - I use 80 creamy beige as a matte base for a smokey eye or just a wash of color. For a shimmery eye look I use 70 barely branded as a base. These cream shadows turn into a powder as they dry and last all day. They have tons of colors these are just the ones I use the most often. ($5.94)

• Eyestudio eyeshadow quad - 50 taupe temptress - If you want a creamy and pigmented eyeshadow, these are for you! Now I must say there is always one shadow in each in the quads that is laking. For example, the highlight shade in this palette is chunky and is glittery (and not in a good way). ($7.94)

• Eyestudio Gel eyeliner - blackest black - Gel eyeliner is not for everyone and personal I think it is harder to use that liquid eyeliner. However, this one goes on smooth and super black. When I want to get a smoked out liner look I apply a thin line on the lash line and smudge some black eyeshadow over top for a fast and effortless looking liner. ($7.94)

• Maybelline Line Stiletto -blackest black - The short handle on this liner makes it so easy to control and it last forever. If you have trouble with winged eyeliner try this out. It will help out big time! ($5.97)

• Maybelline Matte Lipstick - Touch of spice - I love matte lips. I am not a lip gloss girl, just not me. This line is super creamy, non-drying, and super pigmented. And thats all you can ask for. ($5.50)

Makeup geek Foiled Eyeshadows - Swatches and Review

   
     Makeup Geek is by far my favorite brand in the beauty industry. Not a day goes by that I don't use a Makeup Geek product for my transition shade, black eyeshadow to set my eye liner, outer v color, or even there brushes. I love watching the Makeup Geek YouTube channel, it is entertaining and taught me a lot when I was first starting in makeup. Marlena (the owner) is the most genuine and trust worthy person, and I wish her and her company all the best in the future. I will forever buy and rave about all things Makeup Geek.

    For the every day/ natural eye look I recommend the eye shadows above. I could wear these shadows every day and they are work appropriate. Which, is hard to find with shadows this pigmented and light reflective.

• Magic act, is a light gold with yellow undertones, for me is a hard shadow to wear all over the lid it just does not go with my skin tone. I do love it to lighten up the inner corner. If you are more fair do not listen to me, you will love this color. 
• In the spotlight, Soft pink with coral undertones, this is a prefect baby pink color, that pairs nicely with the colors in the Urban Decay Naked Palette. 
• Grand stand, a medium rose gold with slight taupe undertones. I love everything rose gold and taupe so this is my favorite neutral shade. 
• Mesmerized, a deep medium taupe with strong purple undertones. I love this color it is so easy to put this all over the lid and add an outer V color for a perfect eye look. 
• Showtime, a rusty brown with warm undertones. This shadow reminds me of the foiled version of Bitten form Makeup Geek. Bitten is one of my most used eyeshadow and the first one I hit pan on. 

 

   Now, these eyeshadows are not for everyone. Personally, I never wear blues or greens but I thought maybe just maybe, one day, I would step out of my comfort zone so I bought them. If you bought all 10 it saved you some money so I said hey why not?

• Flame thrower, true brighten warm copper, is my absolute favorite color from this collection. Orange is my favorite color and this shadow does come off as a burnt orange shade (Not in a bad way). Whenever I want a bold, intense, and somewhat edge look I use Flame thrower with corrupt, by Makeup Geek, in the outer V.
• Catlin Rose, a bright amethyst purple. Brace yourself I am going to say something not 100% positive about Makeup Geek. The pigmentation is lacking in this shade. However, it is buildable. 
• Center Stage, a bright royal blue, is the only other shadow that needs to be built up. I personally can not pull of this color but if you can, more power to you!
• Houdini, a deep emerald teal color, is a gorgeous color. I have recently started dipping my toes in the water with this color and apply it to the lower lash line as a pop of color.  
• Jester, a bright mossy green with a slight golden undertone. Again this is an amazing color, just not for me. I wish it was but I just can't pull it off.

    Oh, you might want to know the price. Makeup Geek Eyeshadows are normally $5.99. However the Foiled Eyeshadows are $9.99 a pan. The formula cost a little more to produce but, I am okay with paying a little more for the quality I received. If you are worried about the cost, buy the first five that I showed you. Those are the ones you will get the most use out of. Another alternative is buying them all! Makeup Geek offers a bundle for $89.99. Which is what I chose to do.

Go check them out!

http://www.makeupgeek.com/store/eye-products/eyeshadows/makeup-geek-foiled-eyeshadows.html

2015 New Year Resolutions

1. Start a beauty blog

I read beauty blogs on a regular basis and yeah, they are fun to read. However, the new Tom Ford lipsticks are not for me. Yes, I want them but come on girl 50 dollars for a lipstick is not going to happen. So, in this new year I am going to start this blog for someone, like me, who loves make up and is addicted to everything beauty who also lives on a budget.

2. Stop popping pimples

I know the act of popping a pimple is quite satisfying, but I need to stop! Lately, I have noticed more and more permanent acne scares on my face and that is not okay.

3. Drink more water

Lord knows I will love Dr. Pepper until the day i die, but that day will come a lot faster if i do not get that much needed H20. Plus, it's good for your skin and stuff. 

4. Throw away expired make up

Throw away makeup? Uh?. . . I don't think so!. . . But I will think about it.

5.  Work out/ Get some sun

I used to have a tan. My butt used to not match my face. In 2015 I will change that. I will also go on a run or do some squats or whatever you do when you work out.

6. Wash my make up brushes on a weekly basis 

Enough said. . .

7. Have more "no make up" days

Well to be honest, I can not remember the last day i didn't wear any make up. So yeah, try that. I need to be more comfortable in my own skin.

8. Eat less fast food

Maybe I would have more money for make up if I did not eat out so much.

9. Try 1 thing I pin on Pinterest 

I would like to do this once a month, like a recipe, DIY, new hairstyle or even a make up look.

10. Improve my hair care routine 

Psh, I need to get a hair care routine