Gwennie Gwen Gwen

So confession time- I've had the new UD Gwen palette for a whole week and this is the first time I've whipped it out. I didn't even take the protective sheet thing off the mirror until now. In all honesty, while its a lot prettier in person, it's not really my colors. Don't get me wrong, I have every Naked palette and I love them all, but this is too many neutrals for me. It's just not a particularly exciting palette for all the hype and how absolutely beautiful the packaging is. Buuuut there is a lot you can do with it. (I just also got the new Vice palette and the Venus II at the same time and those are SO much fun)

So, here's the first run!

I used the colors: Blonde, Stark, Anaheim, Punk, Zone, Pop, and Baby. Probably could have done a bright lip with this, but I just wanted to try out the palette, nothing too fancy (plus I still need to get my lips nice and soft again, they've been so rough cuz I'm still sick 😩). But it's a nice neutral day look for sure. 

Second New Years practice run!

Used the colors: Blonde, Bathwater, Stark, Pop, and 1987. Should probably mention that the second run (pictured above) was done while decently tipsy, and it's a practice run for New Years makeup so not so shiny and fancy as real makeup. I also added some sugarpill Goldilux loose eyeshadow to the top of this as well as some UD heavy metal glitter eyeliner in Midnight Cowboy. On lips more UD with the matte rev Bad Blood lipstick and liner, with Lime Crime glitter in Aries overtop. So much glitter!!!

I also tried to do an Ahitstosa! Look with the gold with white (Lime Crime) eyeliner, but I def lean toward liking the black. So maybe for the real deal I'll use white as an accent and not the main attraction. 

Side note- here's the real New Years look

I was a bit drunky pants by this point so it's not the clearest, but here it is! Also added some Blackmail UD matte lipstick to the ends to get a bit of an ombré look.

So the moral of the story, is it's basically another Naked palette with a few pop-y (get it? Cuz Gwen stefani? Lol) shades thrown in. And I'll def play with it, but it might be more of a really good additive palette to go with other looks. Unfortunately one of the shades I was most excited about (Danger, the blue sparkle shade) is not nice on me at all. It loses its vibrancy immediately upon application and has tons of fallout. It even goes almost a browny-grey look and muddy instead of a nice blue with the sparkle almost nonexistent. But I can't complain about those neutrals- they look great as crease shades and to blend out edges. 

Can't wait to try out the rest of the collection!

Bonus pic from NYE

If you don't have a spirithoods coat or hood, you need one. And a percentage of the profits go toward helping endangered animals! I never want to take this galaxy wolf coat off. Also wore the Fatale Dress from Black Milk, which is skin tight awesomeness. definitely a fun wear.

LIME CRIME ERRYWHERE (esp Velvetines)

Ok, so we all know lime crime isn't the most stand-up company, so no need to dwell on that, let's just talk about how much i love all their shit cuz i buy ALL THE THINGS every time there's a sale or new item i can't live without. And their packaging is hella cute. So no need to have a million links in this thing, if you want to buy stuff, THIS is their website.

my black wednesday haul

At this point i feel like i have a fairly sizable collection, so this post is gonna focus on the company as a whole, and then sum up with lipsticks cuz I've been meaning to group them together same as the mascaras deal and i like knocking out lots of things at once.

Damn girl, look at all those makeups.

Let's start with the zodiac glitters, cuz I feel like glitter gets a bad rep (i.e. herpes of the craft world, stripper references, etc.) but i fuckin' love it. I want it all (i even collect all the UD glitters even though they're not as good. Sorry UD, you still have my heart, just glitters need to step up the game). These babies do not disappoint– they're definitive colors, they last, they're SO sparkly, and they're a really nice consistency. Unlike the loose eyeshadows from Sugarpill, i feel like these are just fine glitters as opposed to superfine sparkly eyeshadow powders. Apparently my cat even likes them... but in all seriousness I wear them everywhere. On my eyeshadow, on my lipstick, in my hair, dgaf. I love it. they're like pokemon! gotta catch 'em all!!!

Ok, so I really love eyeliner, specifically, liquid liner. It is so many levels of my jam it's not even funny, so of course I totes buy these fancy colored liners from LC. While the colors are so pretty and pigmented, they do not go on super evenly despite their being decently opaque. I feel like i need to put a layer on, let it dry, and fill in spots. And that's not really a bad thing, but the evenness problem is also a brush problem, in that the brushes are a little too long for how little control you have, compared to say, MAC's liquid last liner, which is the most precise shit there is. I don't have that many because I feel like i definitely don't need another black liquid liner when i've already found my soulmate (MAC liquidlast, my heart's true love), and these are just such bright poppy liners i don't feel i see everywhere else. definitely a nice pop to an eye look.

So I've already talked about the majesty and beauty that is the Venus palette on my palette-a-day kick, so I won't go into detail on that here, but seriously. It's beautiful. (and i might wind up with Venus II in the very near future...)

I also am not a big fan of lipgloss, so the Carousel gloss is not something I've ever decided to purchase, nor do i do my nails myself (my nail appointments are a serious guilty pleasure of mine) so i have no nail polishes. so I can't speak to the quality of either LC product.

I do however LOVE MY LIPSTICKS. So many colors. So many Brands. and lucky for me, LC has a couple different awesome lip products- Unicorn Lipstick and Velvetines, and now Perlees which I haven't had a chance to grab yet. so Unicorn gets to go first.

This is another product i don't have a Ton of, largely because i have a million and one lipsticks from UD, and i like to buy more unique LC stuff I can't get anywhere else, especially work. So these 4 beauties are great- 2 metallic colors, 2 super bright crazy opaque colors. While in theory Poisonberry is my favorite, it isn't as opaque as i want it to be, and it's waxier texture tends to ball up on my lips a little bit. It also has the same problem as the eyeliners where it doesn't go on crazy even. but it's still gorgeous so whatevs. the other metallic, Serpentina.... i could write sonnets on how much i love this color. it is so goddamn beautiful, so opaque, so even, lasts a while, looks good on my skin, it is everything. i seriously should wear it more often cuz it is perfect. Retrofuturist is a nice bright cherry red, but it def needs its time and place, it's not really a classic dark or blood red. and it has marginal bleeding with a liner. But Crybaby is so pretty. It's intense, bright, fun, playful, and as a non-traditional lip color, it's surprisingly wearable. It's so opaque and amazing, it really is such a winner.

Finally, let's get into Velvetines. 

These are my faves. The colors all go on so smooth, so even, so easy. For a long-lasting liquid lipstick, they really are great. I feel like they mostly come off when eating or if anything oily touches them, and all of them except for Wicked just rub off with no smearing when they do come off. Wicked is the only exception in that when the little bits do come off, they total;y smear. It is a beautiful color though, and as long as you're not wearing white or light colors, it's probably ok. I love each and every color. they really can speak for themselves. I just recommend nightly lip exfoliation and maybe a little extra exfoliating before you put them on- your lips need to be soft and hydrated for these to look their best, but you can't put chapstick or anything on underneath or the longevity is compromised.

Ultimately, I love LC, I can't wait to try the Perlees, and I think with any company, it's good to be aware of practices and know what you're ok with and where you draw the line. but for now, i will continue to love all of this pretty shit and put it on my face.

Sharkies! Blackmilk! Shenanigans, oh my!

Ok so I know I suck, but now we get a nice long post to cover the past weekish where I've been super (relatively speaking) busy.

First off, went to my first SoCal Sharkie holiday party! Woohoo! I can almost never make it to meet-ups, so it was really cool to be able to go to this one.

Sharkie fun

ooh such pretty sharkies!

My bud Alex and I went together, arriving with a case of beer for the potluck, a gift for the gift exchange, and a few monies for the charity raffle...we made out like bandits. There was tons of food, I wound up with a bottle of Jack and 2 cool skull shot glasses, got an unwanted piece of nylon someone won in the raffle, and two adorable pieces of jewelry from the handmade raffle. 

It's pretty cool, the raffle apparently always benefits a charity, and this years was for Tree People, where over $300 was raised by us sharkies. 

And Alex and I bought some pieces from another sharkie who was selling both some of her handmade items and some of her less-loved nylon, which led me to getting this rad catsuit!

BM Juicy Fruit Minty Fresh Catsuit, BM Prima Donna Tulle Skirt, Jeffrey Campbell Skate shoes, Apatico fire harness, Lime Crime eyeliners

Alex is such a sweetie, she got this for me as my xmas gift 😻

But ultimately, the party was a lot of fun, I was glad we went, and we'll be able to go to the BMLA party on sat as well, can't wait 😊😊

And oh gosh, I officially have a problem

It's the 100+ club email!!! Holy shneikies! I have purchased over 100 pieces from BM 😱 seriously can't wait to get my special piece!!!

On a side note, I've been trying to post to Lookbook, but that shit is not working for me, so maybe I'll work on it on my home computer and try to get some more looks up. But in the meantime, here's today's jasmine-y outfit:

Triple BM-ing it up today, in the Good Guy Top, while new world Disney leggings, and twist back top, with some of my trusty lime crime lipstick and vice3 palette.

More Halloween Fun

So the week of Halloween I decided to take my Halloween inspired dressing for work a bit more serious and did wearable costumes for work with a different look each day! It was so much fun, and I got to finally get some entries in the BM Halloween contest (not that I anticipate winning, but entering always inspires me to step up my dressing game).

I got super busy this week trying to prepare for Comikaze (which I'll do a separate post about) that I haven't had time to upload anything, but here are last week's Halloween looks!

Oh, and I almost forgot, I'm on Lookbook.nu now, so look me up at Shenanigans_Galore!

Snow White

Black Milk Clothing's Princess Sheer Maxi Skirt and Kaboom Suspender Catsuit, Miista Rachel heels

Black Swan

Black Milk Clothing's Prima Donna Tulle Skirt, Vamp Jacket, and I Eat Mice Bodysuit, pink tulle skirt from Free People, Lime Crime Black Velvetine, heels from Urban Outfitters

Belle

Jakimac harness, Black Milk Clothing's Lemon Lace Skater dress, Steve Madden heels

Queen of Hearts

Black Milk Clothing Queen of Hearts Toasties and Good Guy Top, Sam Edelman Zoe Booties, Jakimac harness

Steampunk Ariel

Free People top, shell bra and corset from Wicked Chamber, Sam Edelman boots, Black Milk Clothing Mermemerald Legings

I was planning to be Steampunk Ariel for Comikaze, so I decided to tone down the look for the office the day before Halloween (we were having a big party and i made amazing Pumpkin Pie) so it's a bit of a different look for Comikaze shenanigans.

Woodsy Wedding Weekend

Oh man, it's been a little bit since i've had time to get on here, but being without Internet or reception for 4 days is crazy. It's taking me so long to catch up, you'd think i could get my shit together before now! But anyway, here's what happened. My cousin decided to get married up by Big Bear this past weekend at this nifty summer camp type place in the woods, which was beautiful and remote, freezing and totally removed from civilization called Crazzy's Wasewagon Camp and Retreat. It was a really, really fun weekend, a great time with family, but man is it good to be home.

The entrance to camp...you drive through a stream!

I took a ton of pictures, but basically didn't get any of my makeup or outfit that I was particularly happy with, however bf and i got some pretty good shots in this adorable Photo Booth camper called OhSnap! that was tons of fun. But basically we were there thursday-sunday, the wedding was saturday, and it was the most beautiful ceremony, i cried THE WHOLE time. And we also stayed up past 330am every morning, breakfast was promptly at 930 every morning, so I'm still pretty exhausted. But I will aim to get back up to speed (and maybe do something about this sad lipstick shenanigan. might group them up the same way as mascaras...)!

So sleepy! the man and my baby cousin cuddling.

So anyhow, here's a cascade of photos!

ugh, too cute.

the adorable couple's first dance *sniff sniff*

my favorite meal of the day...

don't know what this was, but we found it nailed into a random tree!

the guest book was so cute, you snap a polaroid and sign next to your pic

hands off ladies, he's taken.

crazy And good with kids?! how did i get so lucky ;)

my baby cousin's mama

can see where the little one gets her cuteness from! She had me do her makeup and was looking oh so fine. Used UD Vice3, Pore Primer, Brow box (lighter colors), liquid Naked foundation, Naked Flushed and Revolution Lipgloss in 69

the grandparents/parents and so forth wedding pix on both sides of the family (the big b&w one on the far right is my grandma and grandpa)

and here's like the only iffy pic of my makeup. I went a little crazy...
I did a quick, sloppy of Ahitsrosa's tutorial here (one of my fave's) and all products are in that, brow box, brow tamer, Afterglow blush in Rapture and Fetish, Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer, Naked Flushed, pore primer, Lancome's Visionnaire, Dr. Jart + Premium BB Cream, Lime Crime Wicked Velvetine, Naked Concealers (2 shades lighter/darker), Perversion mascara (risky move considering all the tears), Subversion lash primer... and i think that's it! (maybe)

And I totally forgot! Look at these rad nails. LOOK AT THEM. They matched my toes, dress, and shoes. Love. Thank you Glo!

Salem

Today was a hardcore Lime Crime day, cuz why not. I used their Venus Palette as well as their Salem velvetine, which I feel like really go together. It was yoga day again (which was suuuuper painful after a night of spin class btw) so i figured something a little easy for lipstick would be handy. I love the velevtines and have like 4 of them, and will definitely be buying more, FDA be damned!! But seriously, they are great. And the Venus palette is definitely great as far as colors go. I know I've talked about it before, but omg, the colors are sah prettayyyy even if the container is a bit on the cheap side, the eyeshadows are really nice and blendable. I just need to work on blending out my crease a bit more.. Also have on Lancome's Grandiose mascara and that Dr. Jart BB cream I was skin matched with at Sephora. So here's a closer look at my face.

Ooh such neutral, much brown. I actually love this lipstick so much it made me do silly faces.

And of course since it's a day that ends in Y, gotta get that Black Milk fix in the Luna and Lola muscle tank and The Catsuit– the best gym wear piece I own. It's a catsuit FOR THE GYM. so it's perfect for like yoga type things and i can  opt to not even wear a silly sports bra cuz so much support. so awesome. Loooooove. 

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 😉)