Shocking Pink Makeup Look

This has got to be the pinkest of the pink look I've ever come up with, lol, thanks to Milani's Shocking Pink, which I find really lives up to its name as you can see.

I know most people will not dare to sport such a shocking pink color but hey there is nothing wrong with being daring and adventurous with makeup. And if you are not comfortable being seen in public with bright and bold colors, why not have fun with it and wear it in the privacy of your own home, but maybe that's just me.

 

 

 

 

Products used

 

 

Face

• Sally Hansen Luminous Matte Pressed Powder Deep for cheek contouring
• Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls Blush Rose Pearl on the cheeks

 

Eyes

• I applied UDPP original all over my lids
• I applied Milani Shocking Pink eyeshadow all over my lids and blend it up to the crease
• I used Milani Olympian Blue on the outter V and also blend it to the crease. Blue mixed with the pink eyeshadow created this gorgeous purple color. I guess I won't be needing a purple.
• For the browbone, I applied Heaven from my Too Face Eye Love palette. It's a matte off-white shadow.
• For the upper lash line, I lined it with Physicians Formula Eye Booster Ultra black and created a winged liner.
• I used Milani Shadow Eyez Royal Purple to line the lower lash line.
• For a little pop of color, I lined my waterline with MAC Chromographic Pencil in High Def Cyan.
• I finished up the look by filling my brows with ELF brow kit and ELF false lashes.

 

Lips

• MAC Famously Fab lipglass

 

What are your thoughts on bold makeup looks? Would you even try for the fun of it or would you only create looks that you'd be comfortable to wear?

 

Personally, I wear natural-looking makeup on a typical day. Often, I don't even wear eyeshadows at all and my makeup is minimal, those are the days I think of makeup as an accessory. Rarely, you will ever see me wear a bold look on a typical day, mainly because I prefer to blend in with the norm. However, there are times when I want to have fun with it and experiment with colors to express a different side of me, a different mood. That's when I think of makeup as an art and you'll mostly see that in my blog. Blogging allows me to express my artistic side. So for me, makeup serves more than one purpose. What about you?

 

 

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Lip Ombre - My First Attempts

 

 

I still haven't tried nail ombre, hair ombre, but I guess I can give it a whirl for the lip ombre. I was in the mood to try something different so this will do. I've googled a few pictures to get inspiration but gosh, why doesn't my pictures look anywhere as good as theirs? A lot of the pictures I've seen look very editorial and looks like it's been heavily photoshopped. Ok maybe that's why they look so good.

 

Anyways, so this is my take on the lip ombre. The first one is a "neutral" lip ombre. I used Milani Chocolate Raspberry on the upper lip. In the middle, I applied Sonia Kashuk Soft Pink, and on the lower lip I finished off with MAC Mattene lipstick in Naked Bliss.  

 

 

My second take is a "berry" lip ombre. I used the darker shade on top, MAC Mattene Lipsick in Night Violet. In the middle, I applied Milani Magenta Madness, and on the bottom I used NYX Black Label Lipstick Hot Pink. I struggled with this one and I think it's because I picked one lipstick with a different formula. The top and bottom ones are matte and the middle one is frosty and it didn't blend very well between the two.

 

 

My last take is the "coral" lip ombre. This time I decided to try a different spin and went from light on the outer to dark at the center. The outer color is Revlon Smoked Peach, the middle layer is NYX Matte Sierra, and the center color is Rimmel Bordeaux. This one is the more subtle look out of the three.

 

 

My favorite is the first and last, no too shabby for a first timer, haha...although I wished they looked more amazing, they at least look realistic. I think I had better luck with matte and satin formula. Anything too glossy or slippery end up looking uneven or blotchy.

 

Have you done anything fun with your lips lately? Do you have any tips and tricks for lip ombre?

 

 

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Teal Ribbon and Pearls Arm Candy

It's been a while since I posted an arm candy post. This one has been actually sitting on my computer for some time. Saved it for a rainy day, haha. Speaking of that, I need to take more pictures and experiment a little more with my stuff. Can you believe that I spent last week-end doing no shopping for myself! I thought I was gonna lose my mind. Wheww I'm patting myself in the back. I am hoping to keep this up.

Anyways, this is a pretty simple and cute arm candy

• A few small gold bangles. You can find these pretty much anywhere
• The teal ribbon bracelet was actually a simple DIY project that I did not long ago by simply lacing a ribbon into the spaces of the bracelet and I sealed it with a bow. This is so cute and so easy to do.
• The pearl and chiffon twist bracelet was purchased from Charlotte Russe and so was the pearl bangle.

That's pretty much it. Hope you liked.


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Cover Girl Sugar Coated Eyeshadow Quad / Review, Swatches, and Makeup Look

 

 

I picked up this palette quite a while ago and never to reviewing it until now. These are the new quad that Cover Girl recently launched. Since they are new, I was very curious to give them a try, hoping that perhaps the formula has also improved.

 

Packaging

• Black plastic case with clear cover and applicator
• 5.5 g or .19 oz
• Contains four eyeshadows: a dark greyish teal, a dark taupe, a light teal, and a nude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product

• I like the color scheme of this quad, which is why I picked it up. All of the eyeshadows are shimmery but the lighter two have more of a frost finish. They actually go very well together to create a makeup look.
• As you can probably tell from the swatch above, this quad is really lacking in pigmentation. I did a few swipes in order for the color to show. As usual, I do my swatches without a primer.
• Because the pigmentation isn't that great, I have to scrape the color with my brush and it takes several passes in order for me to get a decent color pay off to translate on my eyes. I'm really not liking that.
• As far as blendability, they are not the greatest but I can still work with them.
• I highly recommend you use a good primer with this quad. That is the only way you can get the color to show better and stay longer. I get about 6 hours of wear with a primer and even by then the colors have already faded a bit.

 

 

Final Thought

Cover Girl has done it again. I'm very disappointed with this quad. I don't think there is one Cover Girl eyeshadow that I've liked. The lack of pigmentation was a big turn off for me. I was highly hopeful with these new quads since they hold such pretty colors but there is no improvement in the formula; therefore, I wouldn't recommend these.

My rating: 5/10.

 

 

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• For this makeup look, I've used all of the colors from the Sugar Coated quad.
• I started off with UDPP all over my lids.
• I applied and blended the taupe color into my crease.
• I used the nude to highlight my brow bone.
• I applied the light teal shade to 1/3 of my eye lid.
• On the outer corner, I applied the dark teal shade and blend it with the lighter color and into the crease.
• I filled my brows with ELF brow kit dark.
• I lined the upper lash line with Physicians Formula Eye Booster Ultra black.
• I lined the lower lash line and waterline with Prestige Total Intensity Daring Green.
• I used the dark teal shade from the quad to soften the liner on the lower lash line.
• False lashes.

Overall, this look still turned out good and because the colors aren't very bright, you could sport these colors during the day too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there any Cover Girl eyeshadows you would recommend? I think I'm starting to give up on this brand.  

 

 

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Asymmetrical Skirt Outfit

I wore this outfit to work a couple weeks ago and got quite a few compliments on my skirt. As you can see it's pretty flowy and has a somewhat sheer layer on top and a more opaque lining underneath. I purchased it from Rue 21 for about $25.00. This skirt actually makes my hip looks a little wider. Eh, not that I need it but I guess it can be a good thing for someone who wants to create a curvier look. I am also wearing the skinny brown belt that came with the skirt.

I kept the look simple so I paired it with a white collar shirt with short sleeves and a pair of MIA white wedge sandals that I bought from TJ Maxx a couple months ago. These shoes seem to go with pretty much anything I wear and they are also very comfortable. I think everyone should own a pair of white wedge, lol.

 

 

What would you wear with this skirt?

 

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Green and Gold Chevron Nails Look and Tutorial

This is what I'm currently wearing on my nails. I started off on this design last night but it turned out to be a  hot mess because I got lazy and wanted to see if I could pull it off doing it free-hand, haha...BAD IDEA. It didn't work.

Today, I decided to play it safe so I used tape, masking tape to be exact.

• Step 1. I painted my nails with Zoya Shawn as my base color. I cut a few small pieces of triangles and taped them on my nails like so on the first picture.

• Step 2. I painted over Shawn, on the tips of my nails, with China Glaze Midnight Kiss. It's a light gold metallic polish.  


• Step 3. Wait for the nail polish to completely dry, then remove the tape.

• Step 4. I cut and another piece of triangle but this time I also kept the bottom part and place them on my nails like so and leaving a small space in between.

• Step 5. I used Midnight Kiss and painted in between the tapes and wait for the polish to completely dry before removing.

• Step 6. Clean the excess polish you got around your cuticles. Add a top coat and you're done!

Looks pretty simple and it is fairly simple to do but quite time consuming. In the end it's worth it cause it looks pretty cool and edgy. Make sure you wait for the nail polish to dry before removing the tape in order to keep the line nice and crisp. I know my manicure doesn't look perfect but it's close enough and actually looks much prettier in person.

Hope you enjoyed this nail look and tutorial.



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Zoya Shawn Swatch

Hello Beautifuls,

Last night, I thought about doing something with my nails. At first I started off with a glittery polish and ended up taking it off because it was way too sparkly and I had already worn a glittery polish all week already. After pulling this nail polish out of my stash, I just now realized that I have never posted a swatch of it.

Shawn is a dark, murky green with a creme finish. I don't know how else to describe it. I think this color is appropriate for fall, which is just right around the corner for us.

The first coat is a bit streaky an uneven but the second coat seals the deal and looks perfect and opaque. The formula is excellent and a bit on a thicker side; however, I find it very easy to work with because it glides quite evenly and nicely on the second pass. The polish dries fairly quick, a plus for me.

I did a nail look today using this polish and will be posting it shortly after this post.



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Studded Clutch (My New Toy) and Some Cute Stuff

Yesterday, I made a stop by TJ Maxx to look for a gift for a co-worker who will be leaving us for a new job.  While I was there, I was checking out the bag isle, something I typically do when I'm there. As you may or may not know, I'm currently on a budget...shocking but true, lol. So with that said, I had to be careful with how I choose to spend it. This clutch fit nicely in my budget, plus I think it is too pretty to leave it. I got it for $19.99.

It's a pretty good size. Big enough to fit my phone, a small camera, and a couple things. It also comes with a medium length chain strap. The closure is pretty sturdy as well. The material gives the illusion of leather but it is actually fabric. It's a very neat and chic bag. I'm very happy with this new addition, it's so cute!

 

For a similar bag, check out the sellers that I found. FYI, I am not affiliated with them. 

 

Skull Stud Faux Leather Clutch

Gold clutch with gold stud clutch

Boutique spiked studded box clutch

 

 

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And in case you were curious about the gift that I got my co-worker, here it is:

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't this glass flower just beautiful or what? The moment I set my eyes on it was like blown away!

It looks like a lily flower. It even had glitter inside the glass petals. The painting looks pretty simple yet adds such a beautiful touch to the flower. I like how the stem swirls in the back and the flower sits pretty well on its own. The diameter of the flower is roughly around 6 inches. It's pretty big, IMO.

 

I thought this would make such a lovely gift and that she would be so happy to display it on her new desk. We had a potluck for her as a farewell party. There was lots of food and lots of people but since I was off in the morning, I wasn't able to make it. I was tardy to the party so I just gave it to her when I arrived to work with a big o'hug.  After seeing her gift, she told me how much she loved it and I can see the excitement in her eyes and how much she really liked it too. It makes me smile when I see that people like my gift.

 

Ahh I almost bought one for myself but decided that I didn't need it. There was a handful of them on display. It looks expensive but I only paid $7.99 for it. Not too shabby, eh?

 

 

 

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I managed to pick up these magnets just cause they were stinking cute! Wouldn't you agree? This set of 6 was only $5.99. They are made of glass and have these gorgeous vintage design inside. I didn't need these little suckers but I just had to have them. Plus the Paris theme brings back memories of France and childhood.
They have a pretty good weight to them and the magnet is strong. I'm gonna take them to work and stick them on my cabinet for decoration, lol. What do you think? Do you sometimes buy random stuff just cause it's so cute or bring back memories? If so, mind to share what it was?

 

 

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My Favorite Black Eyeliners

I am probably one of the most picky person when it comes to eyeliners and I've tried many brands but between drugstore and high-end liners, I honestly had much better luck with high-end brands. Many drugstore liners just don't cut it for me and I've had issues with either pigmentation, packaging, formula, or a combination of the three.

With that said, here are my top picks of best black eyeliners.

• Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Perversion, $19.00. This liner was part of the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 4 and has become my most recent favorite eyeliner because I just started using it. You can certainly purchase it on its own. Urban Decay totally nailed it on both the packaging and the formula. First take a look at the brush. Look at how thin it is. It can create the thinnest line you can ever do with an eyeliner. The flexibility and length of the brush is perfect. It's flexible enough to help you maneuver around the curve of your eyes and yet it's firm enough to apply color just where you want it. The pigmentation is also very black with a slight glossy finish. The formula is waterproof, smudge-proof, budge-proof, and stays on until you take it off. If you want your eyeliner to look perfect for hours and hours, through tears, sweat, or rain, you need this eyeliner.

• MAC SuperSlick Liquid Eyeliner Marked For Glamour, $18.50. Ok so this color is not really black but the closest to black that I have from the line. I actually have 3 of these liners and in different colors, except for the black. Marked for Glamour is a shimmery charcoal grey. As far as pigmentation goes, it is fairly good. You'd have to shake the tube well before use. The formula is a bit wet upon application so be sure to wipe out any errors right away before it sets because once it sets, it won't budge. This doesn't claim to be waterproof but I find that it does have a pretty good lasting power. I typically get up to 12 hours of wear this and after that, it starts flaking off. The felt tip applicator has a bit of a spongy texture to it. It has just the perfect amount of flexibility and firmness to make application very easy. MAC does offer a black color along with a few other shades.

• Make Up Forever Aqua Liner Waterproof 13 Mat Black, $23.00. The formula is pretty black and quite pigmented. You'd have to shake the tube well before use in order to get a better pigmentation. It has a slight glossiness to it and is truly waterproof. Prior to using the UD 24/7 liner, this was my go-to waterproof liner. This won't budge until you take it off, and on top of that you'd have to use makeup remover especially formulated for waterproof makeup in order to get it to come off. As far as the felt tip applicator, I find it to be a bit too firm and short for my liking. I would have prefered a bit more of flexiblity because it makes drawing a line much easier. Regardless, it is still a pretty good liner with an outstanding formula.

• Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Perfect Black, $18.00. I mainly use this pencil liner on the waterline. For some reason, it has a tendency to smudge, migrate, and transfer when applied on the lash line, which I find weird for something that claims to be waterproof or maybe it's just me. For the waterline, it last 3-4 hours, which is pretty outstanding because I've never had a liner perform that long on the waterline. The corners tend to fade faster but if you set it with a black eyeshadow, you'd be amazed at the lasting power. This liner also come with a smudger, which I hardly use cause I find it too stiff for my liking. The formula is extremely pigmented and dark. It is also very creamy and smooth. I'd only recommend this one for the waterline. It might work for you on your lids if they are not that oily or hooded. With hooded eyelids, most pencil liners tend to transer into my crease and this one does it too.

• Physicians Formula Eye Booster Ultra Black, $10-$11. Probably the only drugstore liner that hasn't failed me. This supposedly has a serum to thicken and lenghten your lashes. I personally have not noticed any change as far as the condition of my lashes and I've used 3 or 4 of these already. Other than that the formula is pretty black but a litle wet. You will often have to shake it in order to get the color to flow through the bristles. This is a tappered brush tip that looks exactly like Lorac Front of the Line Pro eyeliner. I love everything about that brush tip. It dispenses the right amount of product. It's firm yet flexible. The very fine tip can create ultra thin lines. When it comes to the applicator, this one and the UD liner is my favorite because they give me the best control. It isn't waterproof but it is smudge-proof, budge-proof, and last me all day. The finish is very slightly glossy. This is my go-to every day liner.

Which ones are your favorite black liners?


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