On Saturdays We Play with Makeup

I know, I know… It has been a while since I actually posted something. I’ve been so busy with work and trying to create videos for my YouTube channel that I always forget to actually write. For today’s post, I will be sharing a new look I created using – mostly – new makeup.

Just as a little side note, I apply my makeup in somewhat of a weird order. Check out the look and steps below.

Step 1: Spray Urban Decay’s B6 Complexion Spray all over your face. This will help absorb any oils you may have on your face prior to primer and foundation application and will help get rid of any redness you may have.

Step 2: Gently rub Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer on your face. When using a water-based foundation, this is a great primer to use since there is no oil and helps hydrate your skin. For me, since the weather here in the Bay Area is still really cold, it helps with my dry skin.

Step 3: Apply five to six drops of Tarte Cosmetic’s Rainforest of the Sea foundation on a damp beauty blender and stipple on your face. This foundation is medium to full coverage and can easily be built up. I am in the color light sand. If you have use Too Faced’s Born This Way foundation, you’ll like this one. I am actually liking it a little bit better, but we’ll see how the day progresses.

Step 4: Once you have blended out your foundation to the coverage you’d like, apply the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea concealer and blend with your beauty blender. I am in the color light medium and usually apply concealer in a triangle under my eye, on my forehead, bridge of my nose, my laugh lines and on my chin.

Step 5: Set your foundation and concealer with a transluscent powder. I use the Bye-Bye Pores powder from it Cosmetics. I always apply a little more under my eye since the next step for me is my eyeshadow and the powder will help catch any fallout from the shadows and can then be wiped away easily.

Step 6: I fill in the gaps in my eye brows using Benefit Cosmetics Ka-Brow! in 4, as well as the Goof Proof Brow Pencil in 4.

Step 7: Next, take the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer and apply on lid up to brow bone. I then take a concealer brush and smooth it out.

Step 8: Now for the eyeshadow. For this look I use Colourpop’s new pressed powder shadows.

  1. Using an all-over eyeshadow brush, apply the color Firefly on your lid and up to the brow bone. This neutral color will help with blending other shadows.
  2. Using a fluffy blender brush, apply the color Made to Last generously in your crease and outer-V of your eye. Be sure to tap off excess color as these are powdery shadows, but have great color payout.
  3. Next, using a firmer blending brush, apply the color Going Steady in your crease and outer-V. Stay close to the crease line. This color will give a great purple effect, while still looking neutral. If you see that you applied too  much color, go back with that first blender brush with the color Made to Last and soften the color a bit.
  4. Using an all-over eyeshadow brush, apply the color Time Out on your lid. This is a beautiful peachy-nude color and would even look great by itself with Firefly in the crease. To bring the look together (with the purple theme), add a tiny bit of the color Pinky Promise on top of Time Out.
  5. Using that firmer blender brush, apply the Going Steady in your outer-V again. Guaranteed you covered a bit of that up when applying the lid colors. Then go in with your fluffy blender brush and Made to Last and apply to the crease to combine the colors.
  6. Taking a clean, fluffy blender brush, blend your crease colors to get rid of any harsh lines.
  7. On your lash line, apply Going Steady close to the roots of your bottom lashes and then Firefly over it. On your brow bone and inner corners, apply the color Pep Talk.

Step 9: Take the Too Faced Sketch Marker Liquid Liner in black and apply a thin line on your lid. Next, apply the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara on your lashes, starting with your bottom lashes first. This will help prevent any mascara ending up on your lid. If you get mascara under your eye or on your nose, wait until it dries and brush it off with a clean eyeshadow brush or Q-Tip.

Step 10: Apply your contour. I use the Cocoa Contour palette from Too Faced and apply in the hollows of my cheeks and on my jaw line. If the color applies too dark, take your beauty blender that still has your foundation and concealer on it and stipple it over your contour. This will lighten the color.

Step 11: Time to get that sun-kissed looking skin! Apply your bronzer.

Step 12: Apply a pinky-nude blush color to the apples of your cheeks. On your cheekbones, nose and Cupid’s bow apply your favorite highligher. I use the Too Faced Candlelight Glow in Warm Glow.

Step 13: Line your lips with a nude lip liner. I used Colourpop’s Skimpy pencil. Then I applied Too Faced Melted Matte Liquid Lipstick in Child Star.

Step 14: Time to set it all! Spray your favorite makeup setting spray and voila! Your look is now complete.

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I know this may seem like a lot of steps, but the result will yield a great day-to-night look, perfect for any time of year.

If you like this look, leave a comment below!

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August Hits and Miss Video

Hi everyone! Hope you’re all having a fabulous Labor Day. Below you’ll find my August Hits and Miss video. If you like what you see, please subscribe to my channel, and stay tuned here on the blog, because I will be giving you a written tutorial on how I got the look I wore at my housewarming party last weekend!

Swamp Queen Palette | Tarte x Grav3yardGirl Summer Look

finally got around to using my Swamp Queen, tarte x grav3yard girl palette over the weekend. It has been a while since I ordered it from Ulta, but I was wearing the right colors Saturday night to pair with an eye look. I also used some of my new ColourPop products, which I unbox in this video.

As you can tell from the hyperlink above,  I started a new YouTube channel and am really excited about it! Please subscribe if you like Blush and Lipstick.

Here’s the look!

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Palette photo courtesy of tarte cosmetics

Face:

Eyes:

I will provide a step-by-step application on how to get this eye look.

  1. Apply Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion (in original) on lid and a little above the crease.
  2. Using the Makeup Revolution Affirmation palette and a firm eyeshadow brush, I applied the matte white shade on my lid up to my brow bone.
  3. Taking a fluffy blending brush, I applied natural peaches from the Grav3yardGirl x Tarte Swamp Queen palette in my crease, blending up.
  4. Once I had the right color with natural peaches, i took a firmer blending brush and applied dogmain the crease, slightly below natural peaches, and in the outer “v” of the eye.
  5. Using the same firm eyeshadow brush I used to apply that white matte shade from the MR palette, I applied sassy bun on my lid, adding a little glam to the look.
  6. If needed, reapply natural peaches to the crease to soften the look a bit.
  7. Using a clean, fluffy blending brush, blend the crease up a little more to get rid of harsh lines.

Lips:

If you like this look and want to see a tutorial of it on my YouTube channel, leave a comment below! Also, what looks have you created with the Swamp Queen palette by Grav3yardGirl x Tarte? I’d love to know.

Makeup Revolution and ColourPop

Now that I have my office/vanity room set up, I’ve been able to organize everything so it’s super accessible. Over the weekend I had to venture out for lunch in San Francisco and decided to play around with my new Makeup Revolution Affirmation palette. Super affordable, the colors are quite pigmented and who doesn’t love 32 shadows for $15. The look pictured below includes the affirmation palette, as well as ColourPop’s liquid matte lipstick in the color Trap. Read below to see how I got this look. If you’ve created a similar look, please let me know! I’d love to see it.

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Face:

Eyes:

 

  • Eyeshadow Primer Potion by Urban Decay (placed on lid up to brow bone)
  • Affirmation Eyeshadow palette by Makeup Revolution (see image for step-by-step placement of color)
    1. Using a clean eyeshadow brush, place color A on lid up to brow bone.
    2. Using a clean blending brush, place color B in the crease, blending in windshield wiper motions. Blend color B into the outer “V” of the eye, placing a little on the outer corner of the eyelid.
    3. Using the same eyeshadow brush you used to apply color A, apply color C on the eyelid, covering any empty spots with color C. Apply color C on inner corners.
    4. If necessary, apply color B into the crease again to deepen the color.
    5. Using a clean fluffy blending brush, blend crease out so lines aren’t as harsh.
    6. Using either a clean eyeshadow brush or an eyeliner brush, apply color D to brow bone (under eyebrow) to highlight.
  • Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in the color jet black by Bobbi Brown
  • They’re Real mascara by Benefit Cosmetics

Lips

Setting Spray:

 

National Lipstick Day

Lipstick has always been a staple in my makeup collection, however, I haven’t religiously wore it until recently. Something about a matte liquid long-lasting lipstick intrigues me. So, in honor of National Lipstick Day, I decided to list some of my favorite lipsticks here, followed by a gallery of some of my favorite colors I’ve swatched. I’d love to know what brand you use for your go-to lip color, as well as types (satin, matte, gloss, etc.). Leave a comment below to tell me!

Note: Too Faced is offering 15% off their lipsticks in honor of National Lipstick Day, so take advantage!

Lipsticks

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick in Child Star

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick in Sell Out

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick in Queen B

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Lipstick in Miso Pretty

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Unicorn (comfort matte)

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Backtalk (comfort matte)

Tarte Cosmetics Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Namaste

Tarte Cosmetics Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint in TBT

 

Latest Ulta Haul: Urban Decay & Benefit

I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately. We bought a house and are in the process of packing up our apartment and moving things over. But I am excited for the new house since I’ll have my own beauty room and office! I will be starting a YouTube channel shortly after we move (and after I get everything set up), but in the meantime you can still follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Now to the post. About a week ago I placed an order on Ulta.com after they sent me an email that Benefit just launched their new brow collection online. I normally don’t do anything with my brows, but had heard great things about this new collection so I thought I’d give it a try. Loving the packaging for both Goof Proof Brow Pencil and KaBrow! I have yet to use it (I overslept this morning and barely made it out the door on time), and I’m excited to give my eyebrows a cleaner, less patchy look. Have you used these new Benefit brow items? I’d love to know. Since I purchased the Benefit items, they sent me a free variety pack. Love those items, too.

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Also in my haul was another Urban Decay Vice lipstick. I have been obsessed with this collection since it first launched. This is the second lipstick I’ve purchased – I am obsessed with their comfort matte finish. The color I purchased this time around is called Unicorn and is a pale, peachy nude color. When I applied Unicorn today, it seemed brighter than what the shade looks like in the lipstick tube. To darken it up, I took a little bit of Urban Decay’s Backtalk (another Vice, comfort-matte lipstick) and dabbed on my lips. Worked really well, actually.

Here’s a photo of the lip color. What do you think of this shade? Let me know in the comments.

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Grav3yardgirl x Tarte Swamp Queen Palette First Impressions

If you’re an avid YouTube beauty vlogger follower like me, guaranteed you’ve stumbled across Grav3yardgirl’s channel. The quirkiness of Bunny is so appealing and her looks are super unique. So when other people like Jeffree Star and MannyMUA were reviewing her new palette (a collab with Tarte Cosmetics), I knew I had to buy it. I mainly purchase my makeup goods from Ulta, so the moment they told me it was available online, I added it to my cart and bought the palette. Unfortunately, the liquid lipsticks that came with the palette were sold separately and sold out when I last looked (I may have to go to my nearest Ulta location to purchase).

In Grav3yardgirl’s palette you’ll find a brush, a bronzer color, a highlight and a blush. You’ll also find nine eyeshadow colors including some matte, some shimmer and some glitter. The names are super cute. When I swatched after I got the palette (and then stupidly deleted the photo of the swatches), the colors are super pigmented. This palette helps you accomplish a full-face glam or natural look. I can’t wait to experiment more with these colors. Take a look at the palette below. I’m in love with the packaging and the sturdiness of it, too.

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Here are the color names and the type of shade from the Tarte website:

  • #SFS (rose gold)
  • natural peaches (peachy nude)
  • dogman (burnt sienna)
  • big baby (cream)
  • sassy bun (copper peach)
  • sippy sippy (glittery brown)
  • haunting (lavender)
  • uncommon (purple slate)
  • mancat (deep plum)
  • sweet tea (bronzer)
  • gator wings (highlighter)
  • does this thing really work? (blush)

Have you used this palette or created looks with it? Let me know in the comments.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick First Impression

While making a purchase on Ulta.com, I needed an add-on item to get free shipping. That day, Urban Decay had just launched their Vice lipsticks (100 different shades in 6 different finishes), so I decided to pick a color and lip liner and add it to my bag to get that free shipping.

What a good decision that was! I’m in love with the color I got, as well as the finish. I am obsessed with matte finishes right now, so when I saw that the Vice lipsticks come in a comfort matte, I had to try it. The shade I purchased was Backtalk (a mauve-nude pink) in a comfort matte finish. The comfort matte finish feels like a regular, creamy lipstick, but looks 90% matte after it dries. I am really digging it. I will probably purchase a few other colors. Look at that packaging! Loving it. The Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on lip pencil in Rush (pictured) is super pigmented, so keep that in mind. Ulta’s site has a perfect couples section that matches a shade of the Vice lipstick to a lip liner, so give that a whirl if you’re interested.

Have you tried Urban Decay’s new Vice lipstick? Let me know in the comments.

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YouTube channel coming soon! Stay tuned for how I get this look. 

Born This Way Concealer & Lip Injection Glossy Review

Finally! My Too Faced Born This Way concealer came in on Monday (I teased a photo on my Instagram). When Too Faced teased this concealer weeks ago, I was so excited. I swear by the Born This Way foundation and I had high expectations for this concealer. Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed. I purchased the concealer in Light Medium, which is one shade lighter than my foundation (in warm nude), giving my face a highlight.

The concealer smells amazing due to the coconut water ingredient. The applicator is perfect for big areas (like under your eyes) or smaller areas, like near your nostrils or your laugh lines. You don’t need to blend this concealer right away (which I do anyway) in order for it to look great on your skin. I find it super hydrating. I have not been disappointed with this concealer. It provides a flawless look all day, which is great for me.

I also purchased the Lip Injection Glossy in the color Angel Kisses (a super sheer light pink color). I haven’t used a lip plumper lipgloss in quite a while, so I totally forgot about the subtle burning sensation it has in order to plump your lips. I applied  the lipgloss before leaving the house for work at around 8 a.m. and the burning sensation didn’t really subside until about 8:45 a.m., but it wasn’t super intense either. I’d say that’s the only thing I don’t really like about the lipgloss. The color is pretty and the gloss lasts. I didn’t put a lip primer on, so surely it’ll last longer with that (mine lasted a little past lunchtime). I’d probably layer it with another pink lipstick.

All in all, it was a good purchase. I will keep using both products. Have you tried either of these yet? Let me know in the comments.

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Mascara Melt-Off Review

In my last big Too Faced haul, I had purchased their Mascara Melt-Off as I always seem to have trouble getting all the mascara off my lashes. After having dinner with my father-in-law in San Francisco (if you’re ever in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, highly recommend Beso), it was time to take off my full face of makeup. First thing’s first – get rid of the mascara. Per the instructions, you’re supposed to coat your lashes with this conditioner and leave in for 60 seconds. The applicator looks like a traditional mascara wand, with way shorter bristles.

All in all, I think the product works really well. Even better if you wipe off the mascara with a makeup wipe (which Too Faced suggests in the instructions, too). I do, however, feel like if you leave it in for more than 60 seconds, you’ll be better off. I still had a little mascara on my lashes this morning.

All in all, I am loving this product and will continue using! 😀

Have you used the Mascara Melt-Off by Too Faced? If not, what’s your way of removing all your mascara? Leave a comment below.

Update: Letting the conditioner sit on my lashes for 2 minutes worked better. Still use a makeup wipe to remove it all. 

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Too Faced Cocoa Contour Review

I finally took the plunge – I contoured my face. Now, I have never ever contoured before, so if you think I did a horrendous job, please leave some tricks and tips in the comments section. It took me long enough to use the cocoa contour palette after purchasing a whole slew of other things from Too Faced, but I gave it a shot this weekend. I didn’t go all full glam, but just wanted to play around with it. Per the “instruction manual” as I like to call it, I went for the natural look.

I do have to say that this palette smells amazing (obviously, the cocoa) and is not as pigmented as I thought it would be. I used the small contour buki brush provided and while it did pick up a good amount of color, it didn’t look pigmented on my cheeks. I applied medium cocoa near my temples and on my cheeks to define my cheekbones, and lined my jaw bone with it, too. I then applied light cocoa in my T-zone.

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As you can see, I only contoured a little. I still need to get comfortable with it, but I’ll eventually get there.

Do you have any contouring tips and tricks? Let me know in the comments.

MOTD: Out-The-Door Look

Happy Friday! I hope you all had a great week. As for me, my body is fighting off some kind of stress cold, I think, so I haven’t done a full face of makeup since last weekend, but wanted to share this out-the-door look with you. I’m sure you’ve seen similar photos on my Instagram about it since I tend to do this makeup every day, but I wanted to share it with you in case you need a quick makeup look for the day. I’d say this look takes me about 15-20 minutes to do, maybe a little less. This look mainly consists of foundation, blush, eyeliner on the waterline, blush, highlighter and lipstick. No eyeshadow, mascara or liquid eyeliner. 🙂

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Face:

Lips:

That’s the look! I apply my foundation with a beauty blender so I’m not using my hands, and then I apply my concealer with a brush and then go back with the beauty blender to make it look more natural. I tend to apply foundation and the blended concealer on my eyelids and brow bone to hide the redness. As you can see by the photo, no hardcore eye makeup!

Do you have an out-the-door look? Let me know in the comments.