My Pretties

Total Pageviews


Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 Hr Cream Gel Shadow

Hello, my Pretties!

Happy Leap Year!  Did you do anything special to commemorate this only-comes-every-four-years holiday?  Not I.

But, I do have my Valentine's Day gift to share with you.  I know, 15 days late.  Oops.  That's been me lately, constantly running behind schedule.  But better late than never, I suppose.

I love you, too, baby.

It's so funny that the sweet-tart always puts my gifts in these little "Chinese food" containers.  I love them though.  When he handed this little box over, I had no clue what was in it.  But I knew what I wanted to be inside!

And when I opened it, what I wanted to be inside was NOT inside.  I couldn't help but laugh.  For weeks I had been telling him I wanted the Maybelline Color Tattoos.  He got the Maybelline part right.  Instead, there were 10 Maybelline Eye Studio Color Pearls Marbleized Eyeshadows inside.  They were nice but not what I wanted.

I had to tell him.  I said, "you got the wrong ones!"  He said, "you said the marbleized ones.  And I got all 10."  I said, "not marbleized, MAYBELLINE!"  He said, "oooohhh."  I thought it was funny.  It was the thought that counted, right?  He felt so bad and he told me that he would return them and get the right ones the next day.

I felt bad making him return them.  I even went on Twitter the next day to ask for advice.  Should I keep the gift he gave me or exchange it for something I really wanted?  You all said to exchanged them.  After all, he was on the right track.


Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 Hr Cream Gel Shadow

So, the next day I finally got something I really wanted!  As usual, I'm always behind all the rage but who cares?  I got them anyway!

Top: 05 Too Cool & 10 Fierce and Tangy
Bottom: 15 Audacious Asphalt, 20 Painted Purple &
25 Bad to the Bronze

No flash.

Swatches without flash.

With flash.

Swatches with flash.

In this set, I am really loving the Fierce and Tangy and Bad to the Bronze!  So bold!

Top: 30 Pomegranate Punk & 35 Tough as Taupe
Bottom: 40 Tenacious Teal, 45 Bold Gold &
50 Edgy Emerald

Without flash.

Swatches without flash.

With flash.

Swatches with flash.

In this set, I really wanted Pomegranate Punk and Tough as Taupe.  A month ago I was going to purchase these two but I decided against it.  If I couldn't buy the entire collection at once, I'd wait until I could.  That's really a bad idea!

But I just wanted to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to my wonderful sweet-tart who is always so thoughtful and giving.  He will do anything to make me happy.  I adore him.  He is my favorite person in the world.  I think we have a wonderful love story...

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were gifted to me. ♥♥

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Buy & Blog: Kleancolor

Hello, my Pretties!

About three weeks ago, I went shopping downtown with my mom and my sister.  We walked into this "99 cent" type of store just so the kiddos could look around and maybe pick out a toy or something.  The kids didn't get any goodies but I sure did!

I don't remember the name of the store but I do intend on going back.  When I show you what I got, you will see why.

Kleancolor Nail Lacquers
Price: 2 for $0.99

I am a fan of Kleancolor nail polishes.  They have a huge selection.  The price is $3.49 on the Kleancolor website but I usually buy them at the local flea markets around here for $1.00 each.  Indoor flea markets price them at $1.75 but 2 for $0.99 is unheard of!

16 Neon Purple

I have done a blog post featuring this shade which I just love and you can see that post HERE.

49 Mocha

This was also another color that I really liked too.  I also have used this polish in a blog post already and you can see that post HERE.

90 Madly Matte

While taking the photos for this blog post, I quickly swatched this matte finisher on one nail over hot pink nail polish.  I didn't see too much of a difference so I will have to test it out again before I say YAY or NAY to this one.

181 Mix Signal

My six year old daughter picked this one out.  No surprise.  It's pink.  It's sparkles.  She's my very own little Elle Woods.  I did use this polish on her but not on myself yet.  Stay tuned for a Pink Wednesday post featuring this blingy pink!

Kleancolor Hawaiian Rainbow Splendor
02 Cool & Sexy
Price: $0.99

"A touch of paradise is captured in dazzlingly beautiful 12-shade eyeshadow.  You will be all dolled up in seconds with this professional palette."


Swatches.
Top 6 shadows.

Don't you just love these shadows!  So shimmery.  So pigmented!  Wow!

Swatches.
Bottom 6 shadows.

The darker shades are even more pigmented, I think.

Kleancolor Multi-Color Blush
02 Brazilian Rose
Price: $0.99

"Accentuate your cheekbone with Kleancolor's Multi-Color Blush and finish with a sensual glow.  The blend of 4 blush colors naturally adjusts itself to fit you and boosts your appearance with a flushed look."


Finger tip swatches.

I melted when I saw this.  These colors are so beautiful!

Swipe swatches.

Brush included.

I did try the brush to appy the blush and the brush is pure trash.  No better way to describe it.  It's tough and rough to the touch.  It scratches your face and it sheds like crazy.  When I finally managed to apply the blush, I had long hairs all over my face.  Not a good look.  But that's OK, the blush alone is really good.

Kleancolor Multi-Color Blush
01 Blushing Geisha

Finger tip swatches.

The darkest shade in this blush is my favorite.  It would make such a pretty shadow.  Can I use it as an eyeshadow?

Swipe swatches.

Love Me 365 Gel Eyeliner
116 Mocha Brown and 114 Violet Purple
Price: 2 for $0.99

Now, these aren't Kleancolor but I don't have any gel eyeliners and I just wanted to try them out.  I have recently discovered cream liners, which I love, and I just wanted to see how gel liners compare.

Swatches.

I was impressed with the swatches.  Especially the brown one is so dark!  The only thing was that they felt so greasy.  They remained wet for a long time.  Even after applying it to my eyes after my eyeshadow, the liner never fully dried.  I touched my eye after about 30 minutes and the liner was still wet and transferred easily onto my finger tip.  Not good.  These I will not be repurchasing and I don't know if I will even be able to use them.  Maybe next time I will set them with eyeshadow and see if that helps.  I don't know if that is normal for a "gel" liner but I don't think so.

Brush included.

Once again, this brush was not good.  It was very hard and not good at all.  I liked how it's stored at the bottom of the jar but too bad it was trash.

Kleancolor Loveville Matte Shimmer Duo
02 Alluring Touch
Price: $0.99

I got this palette solely for the fluorescent yellow shadow.  It called out to me, I swear.

Swatches.
Top 5 matte shadows.

Swatches.
Bottom 5 shimmer shadows.

I love this palette.  As usual, the shimmer shadows were much more pigmented and softer and easier to apply but the matte ones weren't really all that bad either.

Overall, I think I did well with this little haul.  I love everything for the exception of the gel liners.  Those were a bust but I only lost a buck so I'm fine with that.

I have done an FOTD featuring the Loveville Matter Shimmer Duo palette so stay tuned for that one coming up real soon!

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  These are my own thoughts and honest opinions. ♥♥

Monday, February 20, 2012

Just Another Mani Monday: Kleancolor Neon Purple

Hello, my Pretties!

I know I failed you all last week when I failed to do my Pink Wednesday post but I am back on track this week with my Mani Monday post.

This nail polish is part of a Buy & Blog post I want to do for you all soon. I went to a store downtown, can't remember the name, but everything I purchased was $1 or less.  Cool, huh?  This Kleancolor nail polish was 2 for $0.99!

More details on that later.  For now, let's take a look at this pretty purple polish!

Kleancolor Nail Lacquer

I have a handful of these Kleancolor Nail Lacquers.  They are quickly becoming a favorite of mine.  For one, the price is great.  I usually buy them for $1.00 each and have paid $1.75 for them at a different store.  But now that I found a store that sells them at 2 for $0.99, I am definitely getting some more!

Shade in #16 Neon Purple.

I love purple.  I love purple polish.  I saw this and I just had to have it.  I saw that it was a 'neon' and I already own a few 'neon' shades.  You can see my Kleancolor Nail Lacquer collection HERE.

One coat.

Like many nail polishes, Neon Purple was a bit sheer and streaky with only one coat.  I did not apply a base coat.  I never do.  I should!

Two coats.

But after a second coat, and NO top coat, this was the final result.  Totally opaque.  So vivid.  Love it!

Here you can see the slight shimmers.

When I saw this nail polish in the store, I thought it was a creme finish.  For the most part it is but there is a slight dusting of tiny shimmers all through out the polish which you can see here slightly.  I don't mind the shimmers.  They are ultra fine, barely visible actually.

The drying time is great!  I love how little it took for this polish to dry completely.  The formula is not too thick and not too thin.  But I guess if I had to chose one, I'd say it's more on the thin side.  The brush, which I should have taken a photo of, is a bit wider than normal but not was wide as the new 'one sweep' brushes.  I have small nail beds and it worked well for me.

All in all, I love this shade of purple.  Pretty, isn't it?

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  These are my own thoughts and honest opnions. ♥♥

Sunday, February 19, 2012

LFI: Sunday Best

Hello, my Pretties!

I've been M.I.A. for the last few days...somewhat of a self imposed mini sabbatical, if you will.  I was in dire need of a break.  I won't go into details.  Let's just say I needed a break from life in general.

But, when I take a break, I come back a little bit stronger.  Today I have a Look For Inspiration for you.  I think this may be one of my best looks yet!


I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this look!  This morning while getting dressed and ready to visit my mother, I asked the sweet-tart, "Bright eyes or brown eyes?"  Without hesitation, he answered, "Bright eyes."

Bright eyes it is!


As you can see from this photo, I used a shimmery champagne shadow on my brow bone as a high light.  A light tan brown went into the crease just to help blend out the bright eye shadows.

On my lid, I first applied a bright and shimmery lemon yellow shadow to the inner third of the eye.  Next, I applied a matte green shadow to the middle of the lid.  And on the outer third of the eye, I applied a matte hot pink.


On the lower lash line, I added a touch of the lemon yellow to the inner most corner followed by a matte blue to most of the lower lash line.  On the outer corner of the lash line, I applied a vivid purple shadow.


And while the rules of makeup say: bright eyes/neutral lips, neutral eyes/bright lips, I say, "to heck with the rules!"  My #1 rule in makeup is there are NO rules in makeup!

I was a rebel and did bright eyes with a bright lip.  A nice hot pink lip.  Grrr, baby, grrr!


I finalized the look with a hint of a bright peach blush and simple black eyeliner to my upper lash line and waterline.  A couple coats of heavy black mascara completed the look.

And just to make sure I didn't look at all like a clown, I paired my beautifully bright and bold look with a simple black top and my hair nice and tidy pinned back.


I got so many compliments on this eye look.  Even my brother in law said, "Niiiice!"


I don't know about you but sometimes throwing caution to the wind and just doing something that makes me feel pretty makes all the difference to me.  While my life hasn't been all wine and roses lately, today I felt like a Froot Loop in a bowl of Cheerios!!  I was special.

Luv & Luk,
--L.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

PicTorial: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Hello, my Pretties!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope your day was as sweet and as wonderful as you beauties are!  Mine was good. Had plans to go for dinner and a movie but instead we stayed in and had a delicious homemade dinner with our girls and ate cupcakes for dessert.  The sweet-tart got our girls a beautiful pink rose for each of them.  I got makeup, of course.  More on that in another post.  It's quite funny.

Today I'm going to try something different.  A PicTorial.  This is a makeup tutorial done with step by step pictures.  We'll see how it goes!

Today's ingredients.

ELF All Over Cover Stick in Honey
ELF Eyelid Primer in Sheer


I applied the All Over Cover Stick to my brow bone area and the Eyelid Primer just to my eyelids.

ELF Cream Eyeliner in Copper


I used the Cream Liner in Copper as a base.  With my fingertip, I applied it all over my lid past my crease.

BH Cosmetics 120 Colors Palette 2nd Edition

Bottom layer of the 120 palette.


On top of the Copper Cream Liner, I applied a shimmery red (H3) but it ended up looking like more of a hot pink.  To make it more red, I applied an orange (H6) over the red shadow.


In the crease, I applied a dark brown shade (I5).


And to deepen up the outer "V", I added a shimmery black shadow (A6).

Top layer of the 120 palette.


I only used one color off the first layer of the 120 palette.  It is a very pretty cream color with shimmery gold. I applied that shade to my brow bone and in my inner tear duct area and that was my highlight.


Along my lower lash line, I used the Copper Cream Liner once again.

MAC Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz


Blitz & Glitz was applied to my waterline only.  It is such a deep black and it withstands the moist area of the waterline perfectly.

mark. Get in Line Hook Up Waterproof Eyeliner in Painted Black

Maybelline the Falsies Flared Volum' Express Mascara in Black

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Baked


I used Painted Black liquid eyeliner along my top lashes.  Two coats of Falsies Flared was added to both my top and bottom lashes.  And, the Baked Glitter Liner was added on top of the Copper Cream Liner on my lower lash line.

Exfoliating Facial Wipes for Sensitive Skin


I used the makeup remover wipes to clean up the edges of my eyes.  Worked perfectly at removing all fall out.

Avon Smooth Minerals Foundation in Medium Beige.
Anew Age Transforming Pressed Powder in Tan Beige.
Avon Smooth Minerals Blush in Blushed.


Full face of makeup is done.  All I need are my lips.

Avon Smooth Minerals in Rumberry
mark. Glow Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in Choco Luxe


I didn't know which color to go for.  Full on bright lips like this in Rumberry...


Or more subdued lips like this in Choco Luxe.  Not as much difference as I initially thought.  Which do you prefer?

I apologize for the hoodie.  This was just a trial run I did this morning.  And also excuse the messy hair and unplucked brows!  Yikes!

How did you all like my first PicTorial?  Too many pics??  Borning??  Let me know, please!  I know that the pics aren't very good.  I am using a new camera and have been for a while.  I miss my old one.  The old one was much older but somehow I think it took better photos.  This is supposed to be a better camera so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt.  I'm sure it's user error!

Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day.  A day we celebrate love...love of all kinds that we share with all kinds of people.  And don't worry if you didn't have anyone to share this day with.  You don't need a date!  There is only one person that you should love more than anything and that is YOURSELF!  Treat yourself like everyday is Valentine's Day.

Much love, hugs, and kisses to all of you!

Luv & Luk,
--L.

♥♥ All items mentioned in this post were bought by me with my own money. ♥♥