Play! By Sephora: June

Woo! Just got my second box from my Sephora subscription with the theme of 'The Minimalists' and I have to say it's not as exciting as last month, but it's still fun!

I did this one a little out of order as a few of these things didn't really work using together or I had to wait, but I still got through all of them. 

They're Real! Mascara by Benefit:

I've actually had this mascara since it came out and it's one of my favorites. It separates and gives lashes definition while lasting all day without flaking. It's a great mascara and works even better with the matching tinted lash primer from Benefit or Subversion from UD. 1/1 (but I already had this so does that cancel out? 🤔)

Also pictured above,

BECCA Primer:

This is really light and nice, though it won't be replacing my go-to primer from La Roche-Posay. The subtle glow underneath my foundation have a dewy appearance, but I feel this is best for an evening time makeup look than daytime, as it looks more sweaty and oily than dewy with the sun hitting it, and it doesn't have any SPF which I prefer in a primer. So evening is great, daytime not so much. It didn't ball though went on super smooth, even lighter than usual primer. Overall a win cuz it's something fun and different. 2/2

Bare Minerals Bare Skin liquid bronzer:

This definitely isn't really my thing. I'm super fair, and this product definitely works better mixed with foundation than placed overtop. I don't need my whole face looking even darker than my already lighter neck, and it doesn't blend into my contouring spots as well as a nice powder bronzer, so not a win. 2/3

Also pictured above:

Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It:

This cream is supposed to be used in lieu of blow drying your hair to have it air dry in a stylish way, but all it accomplished for me was a huge amount of frizz and craziness. I'm thinking this isn't the best product for people with curly hair. 2/4

Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion:

The intent behind this product is nice, but I feel like there are just better ones out there. I mean, if you're short on time you should still always put a least a form of sunscreen on, but I prefer something a little less greasy. And I like having the option to put more makeup on later in the day, so I personally prefer using a primer with SPF 50, significantly more than this, and the finish is more powdery than a usual sunscreen, so I feel like this isn't the best fit for me. Even for a day at the beach, I need something higher. 2/5

Tocca Beauty Florence:

I've never really been a fan of fragrance samples as I'm super picky about perfumes. I get migraines super way from scents, so I always prefer something gentle and light, and this particular perfume is very strong, and particularly floral- a scent I'm not fond of too. So this isn't for me but that doesn't mean anything about quality. 2/6

So overall this box really didn't do it for me, but that's ok! There's always next month and the quality overall is so strong, much better than anything Ipsy ever had to offer. Plus I think I just have so much makeup and skincare at this point, shit needs to be special and super effective to do something for me. 

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Contour-tastic!

Since I'm a little on the thicker side, only makes sense I'd want to make my face look a little thinner, so I've totally gotten on this contour train.

Left: no foundation! no contour! Right: Eve Lom foundation, contour using UD Naked Skin concealer and Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette. Same Lighting, Same day, just before face makeup and after.

I figured I'd go over a few palettes I've tried as well as go into other options I've used.

I typically use a variety of things, starting with a primer (i use several different ones), followed by foundation base (either Eve Lom or Lancome Ultra Teint which i review in another post), then 2 shades lighter UD Naked Skin Weightless Concealer as a base highlight, my contour color Lancome stick, then the Shade and Light palette, followed by a couple different UD Afterglow Blushes (darker/lighter to build depth), the finish with a translucent light diffusing powder. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour (Light):

After hearing so many good things about Anastasia contour palettes, I gave this one a go cuz it has so many good attributes. The colors are customized to fair skin, each color can be replaced when out, and cream is great for beauty blender use (my bff). This however fell short of my hopes as after putting on my foundation and everything, not using foundation, using foundations and concealers, nothing could get these colors to show up on my skin. I might as well have not bothered putting it on. Also I truly couldn't tell the difference between any of the contour colors themselves, along with the fact that when scraping the surface, they turned out to be much darker colors than they appeared. Although that didn't make them show up any better. It was just hard to figure out what I was getting here.

Kat Von D's Shade and Light powder palette:

This is totally worth some hype. I will say this is definitely buildable color though, so it's not a dramatic difference with one sweep, but it does look super seamless over liquid foundation. I really love this, the colors work super well for my skin tone and the ability to build is really great to avoid super dark or light areas. It looks so much better than the Anastasia cream palette, and it lasts over the day better as well. I am so happy i traded in my cream palette for this.

Since I've discussed primers, foundation, and blushes in other posts, I'm gonna skip on to concealer. I've used a few over the years, but nothing is really worth mentioning except the UD Naked Skin Weightless Coverage Concealer. It's liquid as opposed to a stick, and I am in love. It blends so well!! I use this for my cream highlight before putting the powder on, and it really brightens things up without looking out of place. I personally don't use the darker colors for my contour as I prefer other options, but I do love the texture and blendability of these. Seriously though, make sure you're going two shades off your color, as most brands alternate warm and cool undertones. So if you're warm, stick with warm contour and highlights, same for if you're cool (or neutral). 

Dat Contour Tho

Lancôme foundation, Kat Von D palette, Matt Blackmail lipstick from UD layered over Blackmail liner, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer and Brow Dip in Graphite and Ash Brown respectively, UD 24/7 Concealer Stick to help define brow edges, Afterglow Blushes in Video, Rapture, and Fetish, Benefit High Brow, Melt Cosmetics Love Sick Eyeshadow stack, MUG eyeshadows in Creme Brûlée and Bitten, UD Super Saturated Cream Eyeliner, and Lancôme Grandiose mascara over UD Subversion Lash Primer. Whew!

Whole look inspired by an Ahitsrosa tutorial here. 

Bat Those Lashes Baby pt 4

Omg so many new mascaras! Time to do another post! Since my last one I've gathered some more exciting new lash friends and have some new reviews (and colors 😁)

1. TooFaced Better than Sex:
I can see why people like this mascara- it volumizes A Lot. and if my lashes weren't such finicky little bitches, i'd probably like it too, but it irritated my lashes a bunch during the day, and had a fair amount of flakiness, and wound up with a lot of smudging. My eyes pretty much watered on and off all day. But it certainly looks pretty! goes on really easy and has a huge brush so applies a lot of product at once.

2. YSL Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof in Violet:
This is actually a really nice mascara, though it's purple, it hardly shows as another color, and complements my green eyes fairly nice. It's not necessarily anything crazy, like it doesn't lengthen more than anything else, nor curl or thicken, but it goes on smoothly, didn't give as much smudging as other waterproof options, wasn't sticky either, and didn't bother my fickle eyes all day. so it's definitely a solid waterproof option.

3. Armani Black Ecstasy:
Damn baby! yes. i fully approve of this mascara. it's so black! and it went on over my primer super well. didn't flake all day, and i didn't notice any smudging, the only dark under my eyes is the darkest  of circles. Looks so nice :) i can def get behind this as a daily mascara.

And two more primers!
1. They're Real Tinted Primer:
Ok I love They're Real mascara, and this primer really holds up. The brush glided through my lashes and separated them better than the mascara even does, so it's definitely a solid primer option. It might have even replaced Subversion as my fave. Largely because it's even tinted! this is awesome cuz I can put it on my lower lashes and don't need to use a full black mascara to do that. also, for how much grief my lashes generally give me, this was great. no problems all day. And these pix below are with just primer, no mascara on top :)

2. Lancome Cils Booster XL:
I really don't love this primer, for how much I love Lancome as a whole, it doesn't really help my mascara out, it doesn't apply easily, and it feels lumpy on my lashes. i've used this one in the past, and never really got much use out of it. there are just much better options out there.

Bat Those Lashes Baby pt. 1

So many mascaras, so little time.

To be perfectly honest, I can't tell much of a difference in how every different mascara looks. I can tell how they feel after a few hours (sometimes), but I wanted to definitively figure out which mascara does what, and what ones I actually like. 

I have a lot of them, so this post has taken some time, and i'm showing them different ways to really get an idea of things.

This was starting to get a little crazy long, so I opted to break it up a bit and group brands together with a few stragglers thrown in.

here's the ones in this post, so let's get the ball rolling with Benefit!

1. Benefit's Roller Lash: 

Starting with Benefit's newest mascara, I do love Benefit and have been totally happy with their They're Real! mascara, so wanted to try this new one and see if it really curled my lashes all on its own. 

The wand itself is just the way I like it, with the plasticy-rubbery spiky wand, but unlike They're Real, it's really short bristles on a curved skinny wand so it's really easy to reach each lash, even those tiny ones in the corners.

I wouldn't say it necessarily curled my lashes like crazy, but it did make them look nice and defined, and also definitely longer, so it curled enough that they showed even with eyeliner. And on this one I feel like I could tell the difference between the eye with Subversion and the one without, cuz the one on the left definitely looks a little thicker especially toward the base of the lashes. I really like that I feel like I can't tell there's mascara on and that it makes a difference even with the thick liner on. 

2. Benefit They're Real!:

This is definitely one of my favorites, I've been using it for a while and I'd say it's definitely a solid one for special occasions cuz it really gives a good dark thick coat on the lashes and makes them look nice and long. The only thing that makes this not an everyday sort of mascara for me is its a bit heavy to wear, and I feel like I really notice I'm wearing it all day. I feel like this one needs a fair amount of help to not irritate me too. I usually wear Subversion underneath, combed out before and after mascara application, several coats, and if any curling is going to happen it needs to do so before the mascara, otherwise only a heated curler will work over the mascara. 

But despite any difficulty, it really holds up and doesn't smudge under the eye very easily, so it lasts all day quite impressively and truly finishes a whole look.

3. Benefit BADgal Lash:

Of Benefit's mascaras, this is definitely my least favorite. It's got the traditional bristled wand, but it's quite a bit thicker than usual. I find it not super easy to apply, you kind of have to go over and over to deposit some color, and it doesn't glide though the lashes as easily as say They're Real! or Roller Lash. 

I feel like it's not particularly thickening or lengthening, and when there are such better options, I kind of feel like this is one that's not worth it. Too much work for too little reward. 

4. Butter London Iconoclast:

Ok, this mascara is rad. No joke man, i never would have picked it up on my own, but a friend who works at Ulta recommended it, and I'm in love. So there are a bunch of reasons why this is a great mascara and I'll try to make logical sense, but it's so great I don't know if I can. 

SUCH LENGTH. MUCH VOLUME. my lashes look soooooo prettehhhhh. I didn't feel them at all all freaking day (which is Really saying something when your eyes are as tweaky as mine). The wand is everything i want–it's that nifty plasticy-rubbery applicator, nice and skinny, but—best thing ever—it's also got a spiky little ball on the end, similar to the Givenchy mascara applicator. OMG. Love. So it's super easy to use that ball and hit specific lashes, and the skinny part of the wand hits the rest while you're nailing those corners. It's great. 

Also, this is how they look after a mother fucking spin class. this mascara holds up. I am so down. Even after sweating like a pig and having that salty shit running into my eyes for 45 mins, it still looks good. ugh. yes. i will wear you all the time. be on me, iconoclast. stay on me. 

Oh, one more thing, your lashes are still soft!!! even after putting on like 2 coats, then putting on Mascara Resurrection later in the day, then two more coats. They are soft and pliable and feel perfect.

Bite me

Got kind of a fun one today, last time i was at Sephora I decided to use a few of my points and get this fancy Bite Beauty set. I'm definitely a sucker for red lipstick, and berry for fall always piques my attention, so I definitely took the opportunity for a new addition to the lipstick set. Bite is an awesome brand, I love everything I've tried from them, from dual-ended lipsticks to lip treatments, they offer a really solid product. If you need an excuse to try it out, there're always small sets near the cash wrap at Sephora for decently cheap.

So this is the fancy little fall set in Mimosa. So cute!

On eyes today, UD Naked palette, Smog 24/7 eyeliner, Heavy Metal Glitter liner in Midnight Cowboy, and Benefit BADgal Lash mascara.

I tailored today's look around the bright red plan, with a nice gold/bronze eye and black and white outfit. 

I had some fun with the patterns today, so went with a Nasty Gal bustier, old skirt from Anthro, Black Milk Card Suit hosiery, and Michael Michaud cherry jewelry.

I LOVE Michael Michaud– I've been collecting his jewelry for years now, and every piece is a work of art inspired by nature. Seriously, it's gorgeous. Go buy some.

And it's so close to fall!! Pretty much time to whip out the booties at any chance possible. Woohoo!

Liar Liar

Felt like nice and easy things today, and since my dress was such a nice natural scape, I figured I'd go with a neutral makeup shindig to match.

So today we've got UDs Liar Revolution lipstick, 1993 lipliner, and Naked2 palette; Lime Crime Venus palette; Benefit's They're Real! mascara and High Brow. 

The lipstick wasn't bad, definitely not my favorite nude, but i feel like it was a solid option and it worked decently well with the 1993 liner, which is definitely becoming one of my favorites. Plus I'm really committing to this whole lipstick-a-day dealio.

Tried to go a little fancy with the eyeshadow techniques, and while I feel like it turned out ok, it definitely could have been better. I think next time I'll skip the black liner and instead opt for a nice dark brown pencil or liquid. I think I got too carried away with the nice line of eyeshadow and overcorrected with too thick of a wing. But oh well, practice makes perfect, and i definitely have a few upcoming events I definitely need to practice for... :)

Best morning ever though, woke up to a repost from Black Milk so life goal achieved, clearly. Seriously could not be more stoked 😍😍😍

And of course more Black Milk today with my Aurora Sky v. Amethyst inside out dress. I also wound up doing some #doublebm again with navy bummers... Wearing BM even when you can't see it (unless the wind gets a little frisky 😉)

Everyday Essentials Pt 2

this is just a small snippet of my makeup collection. i'm a little obsessed with these clear stackable makeup organizers..

OK picking up where we left off with the last post, gonna just dive right in here with the last few items on the list (below for quick reference).

-Makeup Setting Spray
-Lip Exfoliation
-LipLiner (for no feathering)
-Eyeliner

Makeup Setting Spray
I wouldn't say I use Makeup Setting Spray every day, but for a long night or a special event, it's definitely something I will 100% be using. UD has 3 varieties of this, which like the ESPP, it's really all about preference, though I've included snippets from the product pages themselves to give more references on differences. And this applies to all three: "SHAKE WELL. Apply just before foundation to control oil and again after makeup to deflect surface shine and lock makeup in place. Hold the bottle 8"–10" away and mist face 2–4 times, in an "X" and "T" formation." 

1. All-Nighter– I feel like this is the straight-forward long-lasting makeup dealio, not really any added benefits outside of makeup staying put. Definitely nothing wrong with that, and I've actually used this stuff for years. The shtick for this is that it's guaranteed for 16 hours, and while I haven't tested that number exactly, it has treated me well.

From the website:
"Is makeup meltdown ruining your midnight mojo? Mist on this weightless spray to give your makeup serious staying power. All Nighter keeps your makeup looking gorgeously just-applied for up to 16 hours – without melting, cracking, fading or settling into fine lines. 

Developed in an exclusive partnership with SKINDINÄVIA, our groundbreaking, clinically tested formula is suitable for all skin types and features patented Temperature Control Technology. Yep, this baby actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place – even in hot and humid or cold and windy conditions. The result? Smoother-looking skin and vibrant makeup that lasts all day (or all night).

In a 7-day clinical study:
• 78% of participants said All Nighter helped their makeup last for 16 hours.
• Over 80% said their makeup not only looked better, it stayed on better (even in the T-zone) without settling into fine lines. 
• Whether they had combination, oily or dry skin, 88% or more said All Nighter was the best product to help their makeup last. "

2. De-Slick– This is the Oil-Control setting spray, so it's for oilier skin in addition to setting your makeup in place. I feel like my skin does what it likes, so some days i have oilier skin and this works out well, and some days it's definitely drier.

From the website:
"Oily skin has met its match! Mist on this weightless spray to control oil, deflect surface shine and help makeup stay put. Meet your most powerful oil-control ally. De-Slick mists on weightlessly to control oil, deflect surface shine and keep skin looking beautifully matte. High-tech ingredients help keep foundation, shadow and blush from smudging, sliding or fading – so you hardly ever need to touch up. 

Developed in an exclusive partnership with SKINDINÄVIA, this groundbreaking, clinically tested formula features patented Temperature Control Technology. Yep, this baby actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to help it stay put and keep skin looking smooth (but never shiny).

In a 7-day clinical study:
• 100% of participants said De-Slick helped prevent makeup meltdown.
• Over 90% said their makeup looked less shiny, didn’t slide and rarely needed to be touched up.
• 85% said De-Slick is the longest-lasting oil-control product they've ever used."

3. Chill– This one is only supposed to last up to 12 hours of no makeup meltdown (i think De-Slick is the same number), but it has the added bonus of being cooling and hydrating, so really good for drier skin or on hot summer days.

From the website:
"Just CHILL. Mist on this weightless spray for makeup that lasts all day without smudging or settling into fine lines. Stop makeup meltdown. Chill features cooling time-release Temperature Control Technology that actually chills the surface of your makeup – to keep it looking gorgeously just-applied for up to 12 hours. 

Perfect for drier or combination skin, Chill mists on to keep makeup from smudging or settling into fine lines. Developed in an exclusive partnership with SKINDINÄVIA, this groundbreaking, clinically tested formula holds foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place. The result? Vibrant makeup that LASTS and a glowing, dewy, youthful complexion. 

In a 7-day clinical study of Chill:
• Over 83% of participants said Chill helped their makeup last for 12 hours without smudging or settling into fine lines. 
• 88% said their concealer, foundation, shadow and blush lasted longer too!
• 94% said Chill kept their makeup looking just-applied. "

Lips
As far as lips go, I use a couple different products to keep my lipstick looking great, and of course just as great skin is the best basis for great makeup, keeping your lips hydrated and smooth is the best base for perfect looking lipstick. I use a combination of different lip balms depending on what I feel I need at the time when i'm not using lipstick, I use an exfoliator when i'm done with my lipstick for the day after taking it off with makeup remover, and then I have a nightly treatment to keep them happy and healthy.

Starting with balms, these I keep in my purse at all times:
1. Marc Jacobs Lip Lock Moisture Balm– This stuff is amazing. it's so creamy yet dry, soft, and SO moisturizing, and also tasteless as well as colorless. It's name is "Makeout" and I feel like it would indeed be the most perfect lippy to wear while doing just that, just cuz it's so nice and dry, but it feels so ridiculously good, you're not feeling dried out even after *ahem* directly sharing from your lips with another person for an extended period of time. It even has SPF18 so you get some sun protection. I seriously use it on the regular, especially when it's just a lazy day with gym time and such and i'm not bothering with makeup at all.

2. Dior Addict Lip Glow– I have legit used this stuff for years, and there are not enough nice things to say about it. Fuck, do yourself a favor if you don't already own it, and buy a goddamn tube. I use the pink shade,  but it is super flattering on everyone, NO EVERYONE. Like you might be tempted to think, oh maybe that may not be the right shade for my skin, but Yes It Is. It's perfect. it responds to the pheromones in your skin, so it'll look different even on your own lips at different times. I love this so much, it's so soft and smooth, not sticky, not quite as dry of a feel as the Marc Jacobs stuff, and it gives such a nice light color that's great for a natural look. I love the minty-ish flavor/smell of it and I HATE MINT (like everything except actual mint leaves, it all sucks. especially peppermint), and it really is just all around great– it even has SPF10 so once again I get a baby amount of sun protection.

3. Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm– This is totally different from the other two balms I use, as it's definitely the kind of sticky gel type stuff, but it's really not sticky so much as slick and thick. I use this as a treatment when despite my best efforts my lips are still on the chapped side. It feels great, soothes irritated lips, and is a really nice option for something cooling and gentle to get unhappy lips back on track to perfection.

Every once in a while I add one of the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments to my arsenal (largely because it comes in so many colors), but I feel that while it goes on so smooth and feels nice, it doesn't really absorb into my lips, it moreso just coats them. 

Exfoliators/Treatment: I have used several lip exfoliators in the past (including Lush, which is a brand I love), but I have pretty much stopped experimenting because I found the perfect one: Fresh Sugar Lip Polish. This is such a straight-forward product, you can't even really get too in-depth on it, as it does just what it's supposed to- it polishes your lips to be the happiest version they can be by buffing away dead skin and not drying them out by leaving a moisturizing layer behind, even after rinsing the sugar off. 

Every night as part of the evening ritual, I use Bite Beauty's Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub followed by their Agave Lip Mask. Every now and then Sephora has a set with the two rodents, but they're worth it to buy separately also. So yeah, this is another lip exfoliator, but i really feel like they're a little different. While the Fresh one is nice and easy and i like to use it to help clean off my lipstick and really scrub my lips, Bite's is definitely a little more like a true treatment in that it's really nice and soft, and serves to prime for excellent absorption of the mask. Also, this is good to use before lipstick as well and it won't be too rough, and the combination of this scrub and mask is seriously Delicious. It smells amazing, and tastes great, and is such a nice way to feel while drifting off to sleep. Bite is a fantastic brand to boot- I love everything from them. I did a post a while back talking about a set of their lipsticks i have, and I still crazy recommend them. Plus, how can you say no to all natural products? You can't.

Lip Liner
I usually use two pretty much every day, which seems excessive, but ultimately is more practical than anything else.

1. Urban Decay Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil– I've used UD's lip pencils for a while, and have been using the regular Ozone for years, but this fatter, smoother version is SO much better. It goes on so much easier than it's skinnier counterpart, and is great for coverage. This really keeps your lipstick in line with almost zero feathering. Just line inside/outside the lips, and everything's good to go. So nice. It's really kind of a necessity.

2. Urban Decay Glide-On Lip Pencil– They're great. I use a different one every day for every different color of lipstick I have, and while i don't yet own all 22 shades, I do have a ton of them so no big. These really are an excellent tool, you just have to be confident with your lines so they're nice and crisp, then fill in the lips (i would say at the very least mid way) so you have a great long-lasting color. Plus, this isn't your mom's method of creating one line around the entire outside of the lips in a slightly darker color, then using your lipstick. A great blend is just as important on the lips as it is on the eyes, and an ombre lip is always a solid look, whether a gradual transition or a stark difference in colors. Lip liner can really make all the difference too, especially when it comes to a bold, classic, red lip. Also a necessity.

Eyeliner
So there are truly more options on the market than I can count, and I'm fairly certain I've tried them all. Seriously, eyeliner is my jam. If i don't have time for makeup and am leaving the house with nothing on, I still have eyeliner. Trust me, I can talk about everything on the market in detail, but that would be a crazy post all on it's own, and this is more about what I use everyday and don't really think about.

1. Glide-On Pencil Eyeliner– My eyeliner journey started years and years ago with pencil, and after much trial and error, it led me to my eternal love of UD's pencils. They really are my favorite available, going on super nice and lasting all day once set, but pencil isn't really my jam anymore, but when i do use pencil to add to my eye look, these are what I use.

2. Cream/Gel Liner– This was the next step in my eyeliner evolution, and i really did go through like every option out there, though my favorite out of all of them was Smashbox's Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner. Since this is no longer something I really seek out, when I do use a gel liner to enhance my eye look (generally to make it look a little messier and smokier), I reach for UD's Super-Saturated Ultra Intense Waterproof Cream Eyeliner purely out of convenience. 

3. MAC Liquidlast Liner– This is the Holy Grail. There is nothing else. This is everything I wear every day, and for absolutely good reason. After I graduated from gel/cream liner, i moved into the liquid realm. Now, I have incredibly stupid sensitive eyes, so many liquid formulas of any type are too much for me and I wind up having waterfalls from hell springing from my eyes, but this little baby is a miracle. It's the most truly waterproof thing I've come across in makeup EVER, and it is perfect. I literally wrote an article for a journalism class about how this is the only liquid liner anyone needs, and I HAVE TRIED EVERY SINGLE ONE OUT THERE. This liner is what dreams are made of. It doesn't flake, doesn't melt, doesn't smudge, doesn't pull. It mother fucking glides on your delicate skin, making it insanely easy to create gorgeous, crisp, deep black lines that really seal the deal with any look. I could write sonnets to the majesty that is this liner, but it wouldn't do it justice. This liner is everything.

Everyday Essentials pt 1

So I know I'm in the middle of my lipstick challenge, but since I'm finishing up with my eyeshadow jam I figured I'd take a breather and do a post on the stuff I wear every day under my fancy makeups and such. Every makeup shenanigan has to have a solid base to work all day.

Here's a list of everything I'll be talking about:

-Eyeshadow Primer Potion (ESPP)
-Mascara Primer (Subversion)
-Brow (box/tamer/beater/zings/high)
-Makeup Setting Spray
-Lip Exfoliation
-LipLiner (for no feathering)
-Eyeliner

This is going to be a crazy long post, so I'm also going to split it into two parts: first 3 on the list, followed by the last 4.

Starting off with UD's classic ESPP, i use this stuff literally every day, so i always feel like it's barely something worth mentioning, but it is an integral part of the routine for sure. I have 5 versions to choose from and each does something different, so it really can be a matter of preference.

1. Original ESPP– I've used this for years cuz i never really felt like i needed to branch out, but it's really dropped to the bottom of the list now that I've used other formulas. It's not that it doesn't work well, it totally does. you put this stuff on, let it sit a sec to settle in, then eyeshadow you're cares away and your makeup still looks fabulous by the end of the day. No complaints.
2. Eden ESPP– This one and the next two are all tied for my faves, but they really do offer each something different. I love eden because it gives a super nice, matte, opaque neutral base for shadow, but is also suuuuuper creamy, so it just glides on– not pulling or tugging at your delicate eye skin to get this all over the lid. If anything, it's only drawback is the texture, in that it's so runny, a teeny tiny amount goes a crazy long way, and it's easy to go overboard applying this one, and it can also be a little tricky to make super even. But really, the base it gives is pretty much unparalleled.
3. Minor Sin ESPP– I love this one so much when i'm doing some sort of sparkly look; it's a legit insanely shimmery champagne formula. It has a similar problem to Eden in that it's very watery, and a small bit goes super far, however because this one is much thicker and spreads a lot more evenly. however, since it does have a lot of presence, the look you're doing should probably involve a lot of blending to cover up any harsh edges.
4. Anti-Aging ESPP– This one might actually be my favorite option. It's creamier and gentler than original, goes on clear, and provides a great base for shadow (while also giving anti-aging benefits). It's really only draw backs are the lack of color and lack of matte neutral color for under brights, but you can get either of those things from one of the two formulas listed above, so nbd. but this is hands down my go-to for every day when i don't need a lighter base for brights, or a shimmery base for those types of looks. It feels great and it works great.
5. Greed ESPP– I don't think this one is available anymore, but it's basically the same as Minor Sin, but instead of being a champagne shimmer, it's this super intense gold. Like Minor Sin is a touch natural, this is GOLD GOLD GOLD. So it really works the same, just is really intense.

So here's a base pic of my eyes without anything, so you can (maybe) see the difference.

This is eyes with Original on the left, and Anti-Aging on the right.

This is Eden on both eyes.

Finally Greed on the left and Minor Sin on the right.

Moving on, I've used several mascara primers in the past, but I actually like UD's Subversion the best. To put it into context, I have stupid sensitive eyes that are pretty much freaking out for one reason or another, so mascara has always been  bit of a challenge. And because there are so many problems, my eyes are usually watering, so I typically need to stick to waterproof formulas for mascara and eyeliner. After using Subversion though (and an eyeliner i'll get to in a minute), I can pretty much wear any mascara I want overtop. it really is great, and it's not like it's difficult to cover up- it goes on white, then you just brush whichever mascara on overtop, and nbd, just cover up the white (and i always comb my lashes in between coats of primer and mascara). Just go do yourself a favor, go buy this, and put it on every damn day.

I take my brows pretty seriously, no joke. this is Serious Business:
-I get them waxed every 2ish months at whichever Benefit counter is closest, but seriously, ONLY BENEFIT. No threading (tried it, no good), No other salon, just Benefit. They fucking know their goddamn brows. Strong, sexy, perfect. ugh. I just got mine done and it's like all is right in the world again.
-I have sad, thin brows that need a lot of help, so i use either Benefit's Brow Zings or UD's Brow Box to start. They really work the same for me so this is again a personal preference. Brow Zings has two different colored pigmented waxes, whereas Brow Box has two colored pressed powders and a clear wax, so theoretically you can mix up your ideal color with the powder and then use the wax to set (or lay the wax down and top with powder). Really, these are both versatile products that I've been instructed (by counter workers themselves) a number of ways to use, so just figure out which works for you and call it a day.
-Once i have my brows shaped, I set them with UD's Brow Tamer, which is a tinted (or clear) gel that you kind of just brush on and they're pretty much set and good to go. They're still super touchable and it just keeps your hairs from going rogue and winding up in opposite directions.
-I also have UD's Brow Beater, which is kind of a twist up pencil to color in sparse areas, but while i've used it a few times, it's just not for me. you can see how it works here, but It's not one i keep in the brow arsenal.
-Once the stage is set for the awesome brow game, I'll often finish with Benefit's High Brow. It's actually a great highlighter that blends super easily despite being a fairly chunky pencil (which you wouldn't expect). I'll lay down a nice highlighter shadow over my ESPP under the brow bone, but it really never works as well or blends as seamlessly as High Brow. It's super nice.

You saw my sad brows in pix above^^^ that's what they are without any extra brow help, just nice and waxed. So after i work them a little bit using magical tools listed above, they look like the nice things in real pictures i post.

Look at these brows though. Yes. A little help goes a long way, even with a great wax. Sure, they could probably look more natural than this, but for a night out and a good dramatic effect, so good.

Last Day of the Eyeshadow Game!

OMG! I'm finally using my last palette!!! it has definitely been a struggle, but I managed to get through using a different one each day tip I used them all once. I finished up with another Naked (natch) with some nice bright lipstick, cuz obviously it's festive.

So I've got the Naked2 Basics palette going on, with Benefit's They're Real! mascara, Matte Bad Blood on lips and liner of the same color underneath. Pretty simple stuff, but this is Definitely one of my favorite red colors. It's smooth and creamy and really stays put. Compared to a lot of other red options, the bleeding is super minimal, and i don't feel like i'm constantly getting it everywhere, plus it really is a great color, so win-win.

Can't end this shenanigan without some Black Milk of course, with the Versailles crop top, and sparkly gold Jeffrey Campbells 'Shalimar' Heel. Keeping it short today because I have some other things I have planned for blogging, so on to better things!

At least I've proven I can set my mind to something and actually get through it ;)

Trying new things

So going with my resolution to try new things and let tutorials guide the way, I tried something new today– with makeup and hats.

Found this pic an age ago, but never really got around to see how it worked for me.

So here's my attempt, a little less than perfect, but trying to fit it in to normal routine I doubt I'd put a ton of perfectionism into the deal. 

The nose is a touch shiny for my taste, but I can get behind anything that makes me look like I have real bone structure. I used a highlighter, dual blush, and brow pencil from Benefit cosmetics, the famous Orgasm blush from Nars, and Dior lip addict lip glow with MAC liquid last liner

Seriously, always buy Benefit face care, Urban Decay foundation, that MAC eyeliner I mentioned, and Dior lippy. I've done more than my fair share of playing with makeup (long history of terrible skin), and trust me, with sensitive skin this stuff is the best.

I'm also never really good with working with my hair, headbands, hats, etc., but I got this nifty little beanie for Christmas from the fabulous Ro at Urban Philosophy, and I think it's changed my mind about working that hat thing :)

And check out Ro's blog here.