Too Hot for Make-up!

When It's this hot out, I just spot check with BB cream and concealer. Then I do my eyes and lipstick or gloss.  I don't do the whole sweaty-foundation-face thing.

Life After MAC

I'm bitter about my job moving me from the King of Prussia area to the airport area of the city. Why? Many reasons, but one major gripe is that I can no longer go to a MAC store on my lunch break. I feel silly ordering online when there are like 4 stores in a 20mi radius. I just never have time. I work an hour from home and rush hour traffic means I'd never get there before closing. That leaves my over-booked weekends. Blah. I'm in desperate need of more Viva Glam VI lipstick. I also want to try out another lipstick -- Viva Glam III. I think it could work. My other reason to go would be that I'll need another Studio Fix Foundation (powder) compact. It's the one foundation I've found that perfectly matched my skin tone in pressed powder form. There are close alternatives, but none in pressed powder. T_T

Anyway, Maybelline has a nudes collection in drugstores. I found two  that look good on me. Rum Riche is a little too coral, or maybe just a little too bright. The other color is probably the most nude nude I've ever tried. It's called Bean There and the brown is a pretty good match for my skin tone. I was amazed. I've never experienced that before. I typically use mauvey colours because pinky brown looks good on my. Now, I have more options. Yay. I'd given up on drugstore brands before, but lately I've been more flexible. Things have improved!

Gyaru Goals

Howdy! I've been feeling like I should re-evaluate my life in all aspects. I've decided to post about my gyaru-relevant aspirations instead of boring you with my work, school, and familial pursuits.

My Top 10 Gyaru Goals:

1. Stop cutting my hair every time I get bored with it.

2. Lose more and more weight until I feel like Xena, and fit into Japanese sizes. 

3. Improve my highlighting and contouring.

4. Be more adventurous by wearing MORE COLOURS.

5. Show off my awesome legs by amassing a stunning collection of stockings, tights, and thigh highs. 

6. Get lash extensions and keep getting them. 

7. Learn to do more 3-D nail art. 

8. Be gyaru and stick with it. Consistency is key to development. 

9. Find a pair of comfortable color contact lenses, but never the enlarged kind. 

10. STICK TO MY BUDGET!!! Irresponsibility is not sexy. 

One bonus goal is to be a little more social with the gyaru community. I'd love to check out others' goals. The other is to successfully complete the Couch to 5k workout plan. I've never been into running for no reason. Running had to be a part of something else: freeze tag, kickball, playing ninja, escaping zombies. You get it. C25k will help me shed pounds, increase stamina/endurance, and build better bone health. The only downside is that I'm clumsy as hell and will probably trip over my feet a million times in the beginning. Ah well. It is what it is. I will start on the treadmill since I have a gym membership. Once I'm more comfortable running while chunky (with onlookers), I'll take to the streets of suburbia. 


So share your goals. Stick to them. Let's motivate ourselves and each other!

L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara, Carbon Black

Woo Hoo. I'm a big fan of this stuff. It doesn't make my lashes look like falsies (as you can see), but it feels good. I don't get flakes in my eyeballs at the end of the night. It doesn't come off easily, but it isn't a beast to take off. L'Oreal did something right with their formula. And the little spiky ball applicator is nice. Not awesome, but nice. My main rave about Telescopic Explosion is the formula. I rub my eyes a lot, but there are no flakes or smudges. Also, my lashes feel soft. They're not stiff and gross. I've had other mascaras that were great (especially by Clinique and Maybelline), but this is a nice addition to the arsenal. This is my new favorite for when my eyes are being super sensative and I can't wear much eye make-up.



Here's a peek at what it did for my medium-long, but sparse lashes:

One coat.

Vlog Action

The Case of the $5 Primer

So I've been sick for what feels like ages. Last Monday, I finally went to the doctor because I got conjunctivitis from my sinus infection spreading to my eye. After spending another $60 on prescriptions and nose tissue, I stopped by the make-up aisle. There I came across a display or the Essence of Beauty "Portables" line. I believe EOB is CVS's house brand of make-up and beauty supplies. Anyway, I needed a new face primer so I bought this for $5. It's actually pretty good. It went on like liquid silk. The finish was smooth. When I put on my foundation (MAC StudioFix powder compact) I was thrilled. I used a brush to apply as usual and the coverage was better than I expected. I also ended up using less. So yeah. I'm pleased with this product. Also, the Essence of Beauty line has never let me down.

Lipstick Meme

I saw this on NANCAKES's blog so I stole it. Yep. Taggin myself here, people.

1. When you were a child, did you use your mother's lipsticks?

Nope. She doesn't wear make up. I used to use my aunt's red lipstick though. 

2. How old were you when you bought your first lipstick?

Probably 11 and I remember getting smacked for wearing it outside the house. (I forgot to wipe it off before I got home)

3. Pink or red lipstick?

Mauve. I guess that's more of a pinky-brown and it's my kinda nude.

4. The most expensive lipstick you have ever bought?

Mac Cremesheen in Looks Like Sin.

5. And the cheapest?

My NYX Round Lipsticks which were <$2. 

6. What's the most bizarre thing you have ever done with a lipstick?

I've put it on like all over my mouth and smeared it a la mental patient for a photo. 

7. If you had to recommend a lipstick, which brand would you recommend and why?

I'd also recommend MAC, but specifically the lustre and creme lipsticks. They feel soooo good and don't dry your lips out.


Now I will tag 5 people (because why not):


Chaudie
Aranza
Robin
FriFri
Tiffany
Naka

Samples are Loved!

Pretty decently sized, eh?

So I went to Lord & Taylor to get another bottle of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and came out with a bunch of unexpected samples. Two of my favorites are the High Impact Mascara and the Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in #05 Rock Violet.  I swear this shade can work for every complexion.

Anyway, the products are both great in coverage and long lasting. That's pretty important to most of us, right? Also, they really do help in making a 5 minute face that pops. Couple with some eyeliner (I use MAC fluidline gel liner) and all is well. Crease contour is optional, but I find myself doing it often (with MAC eyeshadow color Embark). I chose to stick with just the Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in the photo below.

Blurry, but you get the point!

CVS Mini-Haul

I decided to try a bunch of drug store brands hoping to post a great review full of win. Sorry, that isn't gonna happen.

I was most excited about the Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipcolor. I thought it would be awesome. It is not. The colour shows up well after about 2 gloopy coats. You have to keep your lips parted until it dries because it is a sticky mess. It feels tack as it dries. When it finishes drying, your lips have a matte wash of colour. Some gyaru like that in a nude, but I don't. I had to add gloss. I did not buy any other colours. I was looking for a new nude. This was a disappointment. The major pro is that this lipstick does last a long time. It is pretty frustrating to get off.

The Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain was another semi-dud. It stains the arms, legs, fingers, etc just fine. When used on my lips, it took a lot of patience. There is a stain at one end and a lip conditioner at the other. Once you get it on, it's fine. Cost: $8.99

The Milani Nail Art polish is okay in terms of colour (Black Sketch) but the brush was a bit shabby so the line I painted was a bit splintered. Because of this, I had to add more to fill in the splintered bit, thereby making the line thicker than desired. Hopefully this was just the one bottle I had. I clipped the stray bristles down to match the others and now it's okay. Cost: $3.99

The Essence of Beauty Retractable Kabuki Brush might be limited edition. The only link I can find is for the not so kira kira version. It's an okay brush, but I like more density and shorter bristles. It needs to be a fatter brush. I really think I chose it for the bling. I had a Revlon kabuki a while back but lost it a week later. I should have just repurchased it instead of this beautiful-yet-mediocre brush.  Cost: $13.99

Last we have the Essence of Beauty Extra Gentle Brush Cleaner. It's awesome. It's definitely gentle and doesn't dry my brushes out. I like the fact that I can spray the brushes because it aids in product preservation. I have no complaints. It's great for deep cleansing. The price is right, at only $5.99.

Has anyone had better luck with these products?

How I Get Down

So my husband's band is playin in Delaware tonight and Xavier is at my mama's to spend the night, so I decided to stay home and read/write/game/clean/sew in peace. So far I've only done a few of those things. I was gonna go downtown for a bit but that seems like it ain't gonna happen. That's just as well because my side-back area still kinda hurts. 

Luckily I made time to do some make up! I did a purple smokey eye. I guess you could call it that. I used the Buxom Stay There eyeshadows I bought from Sephora. I got Schnauzer (purple) last week and didn't think it held up to the "Stay There" name at first. Yay for being wrong. It was my fault for improper application. I just did it like a newb. I apologize, Buxom. 

I picked up Golden Retriever and Black Lab yesterday. The colors are obvious, but I would like to note that Black Lab has tons of teeny tiny rainbow glitter dots. Golden Retriever reminds me of Urban Decay's Corrupt-- only with a little more orange to it. It's like a gold foil. Going beyond color, these eyeshadows feel great to put on. I didn't have to bother with a primer either. Also, if I were to just use my finger, the color would go on bold with little to no effort. The only annoyance is that the glitter spreads a little  if you touch your face a lot like I do. The color truly lasts and it's never creased for me. I've been wearing the Schnauzer way too much and have had no creasies. 

For the look pictured, I used the Schnauzer and Black Lab. I used my Shany large eyeshadow brush and the Sephora large eyeshadow (#25 & rounded crease (#13) brushes. Buxom has a brush specifically for these eyeshadows but I seriously don't need any more effing brushes.  My Shany & Sephora brand brushes worked just fine. I have also used just my finger with these shadows and been very pleased. As a side note, the Sephora 13 is great. I used to use my Nyx contouring dome brush with no major complaints, but the Sephora brush is clearly the winner of any debate. The price wasn't even horrible. Maybe someday I'll pick up a MAC blending brush. I like both the 217 and 222. The Sephora 13 brush I have is similar to the MAC 222 so I don't intend to get the latter any time soon. I said I don't need any brushes-- I never said anything about wanting them. ^_^

For fun, I thickly lined my eyes (top and bottom) with the Blackened Teal end of my Milani Black Magic Liner & Eye Glimmer. The eye glimmer (in this case: Teal Magic) sucks donkey bollix. Seriously. It's a mess of crumbly crap. 

To complete the look, I used MAC fluidline in Blacktrack on my top lashline, the waterproof pencil in Engraved on my waterline, and the MAC Zoom Lash in ZoomBlack on my lashes. I then used my MAC Studio Fix pressed powder (NW-45), MAC blush in Raisin, and Nyx lip lacquer pot in Caramel Fudge. I used a cheapo N.Y.C. lip liner pencil in a very warm brown shade of 952A. It's better suited for eyebrows than lips because it's too dry. It just doesn't feel good to put on the lips. Either way, I had to do something for those furry brows. They'll be waxed tomorrow!

So I hope this post makes up for my absence. I'll be back tomorrow with an outfit post.  XOX

Special Things

This was recorded pre-tantrum. It's about Nyx faux lashes and some other unexpected stuff. 

Cheap Face Challenge!

So I decided I would try to do a look using as many inexpensive products as possible WITHOUT relying on my 120 palette. For this, I turned to Nyx and couldn't be happier. I used my MAC Studio Fix powder compact as usual, but I could have just as easily used my Revlon Colorstay Foundation (liquid). I also used my MAC cream and pencil liners, but could have used my Maybelline Line Stiletto (liquid) & Define-a-Line (pencil). I just couldn't find them! I have too many make-up bags and such (and that's another post entirely).


So the rest of the products I used were simple and all by Nyx save for the Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara. 
I decided to go with:


Nyx 10 Color Palette Eye Shadow The Runway Collection: 01 Jazz Night
 (silver, dark grey and blue), 
Nyx Mosaic Powder Blush in Paradise, 
and 
Nyx Lip Lacquer Pot in Caramel


* Notice I didn't use any primer at all and the colors worked out well. They also lasted at least 8 hours. I will check out the Nyx Eyeshadow Base soon to see how it compares to my Urban Decay Primer Potion.


Now my Cheap Face Challenge wasn't just about the make-up. I also wanted to use cheap brushes. I used my Shany 12-piece brush set for this. They performed very well but the set has one major flaw: no blending brush. I ended up using my Nyx Contoured Dome Brush because it's cheap and awesome. 


I will have to post photos of the look later. It will more than likely also include my semi-matching nails. If i feel like it, I'll also post my outfit. We'll see. I have to rush to my in-law's for dinner now.

Outfit, Make-up

I love this dress but my boobs are so big that I have too much booby showing. I'm not 18-21 years old. I'll be 27 this year. I'm gettin to be too old to show all that business! So I wear black lace bra (by Goddess) under it so that if anything shows, it's that.

Semi-off-topic: Does anyone know where I can buy some 4" wide black elastic? I can't find it at my usual spots.

You can't really see my hair, but it's in spiral curls that start just beneath my ears. I don't really love the agejou super volume hair for daily living. It's phenomenal in photographs but that's where I draw the line for my own wear.

These brows really need to be waxed but I faked it.

     Next up is my make-up. Here we have some variety. I usually use my MAC Studio Fix (powder), but this time I used my Becca Cosmetics Fine Loose Finishing Powder in Nutmeg. I love this stuff because a little goes a LONG way and it smells great. I love the company because while they are expensive (avg. $10 > MAC for example) they have quality products that seem to last a long time. Plus, they have a great range of colors from super pale gals to super dark gals (ganjiro to gonguro if you will).  I need to buy more of their lipgloss in Grenadine. It was my perfect pink. It was my first pink as well.

Before curling my hair.
Make ALWAYS comes first.

Anyway, back on topic. Here's what I used:
Concealer - MAC Select Moisture Cover in NW45
Eye Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original
Face - Becca Fine Loose Powder in Nutmeg
Cheeks - Posner Bronzer in Oasis
Contour (dark)- NARS Bronzer in Casino
Contour (hi-lite) - Nothing as usual
Eyeliner 1 - MAC Fluidline in Black Track (top) 
Eyeliner 1 - MAC Waterproof Pencil in Engraved (bottom) 
Mascara - Rimmel The Max Volume Flash 
Eyeshadow 1 - MAC in Woodwinked (lid only)
Eyeshadow 2 - MAC in Glamour Check! (crease & blended up)
Brows - MAC eyeshadow in Embark (or Showstopper)
Lipstick - MAC Funbathing 
Lipgloss- Dots Lip Plumper in Pink (which doesn't plump anything, but has a nice shimmer)

FOTD - Blue

So after waiting forever for Xavier to take a nap, I finally got to get a full face of make on. The details for what I used are below the the images. I didn't bother with faux lashes since I'm not actually leaving the house tonight. I wish I was! My husband's band is playing at the M Room and I love it there. The bar tenders are cool and the sound guy is a sweetheart and a friend. <3<3<3 I wanna be out, but tonight I stay in like a good mama should. But back to today's face, ne?


1. Eyes

2. Lips

3. Face

I'm so channeling my mom in her twenties in this image. She used to be crazy for blue eye shadow. It was the eighties though, so ya know...

Okay! Here's the list o' ingredients:

• Concealer - MAC Select Moisture Cover in NW45
• Eye Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original
• Face - MAC Studio Fix powder foundation in NW45
• Cheeks - MAC blush in Raisin
• Eyeliner - MAC Fluidline in Black Track
• Mascara - Maybelline Lash Stiletto (Volume)
• Eyeshadow 1 - Nyx in Pacific (inner eye V)
• Eyeshadow 2 - MAC in Freshwater (most of lid & blended up
• Eyeshadow 3 - MAC in Embark (crease & blended up)
• Lips - MAC Viva Glam VI lustre lipstick

* Please disregard my bare-shoulderedness (yes, that is a word... because I said so)

Red Lipstick Gal!

I'm so so so happy right now. My hubby and I took Xavier to the mall today to walk around for a few hours, have dinner, and walk some more. Of course we did a little shopping, but nothing major and no clothes for me-- just X. Our first stop was the MAC counter at Bloomy's.

In case you don't know, MAC has the Back to MAC program where you turn in 6 empty product containers and get a freebie. At the standalone stores, you can get a free lipstick, lip gloss, eyeshadow, and something else. At department store counter stops you can only get lipstick. This is fine. I was really eager to look for another nude (something closer to a true nude for an NW-45 gal such as myself)  or a new red (since they no longer make the Looks Like Sin Cremesheen lip gloss.

After trying a few different lipsticks-- including some peaches for some odd reason-- I settled on a red. It's a lustre lipstick called Spice it Up (pictured) and I think it looks great, as does my husband. I love that mode-kei is including red lip sometimes.  I think it's a win and am happy to know this lipstick isn't a limited edition color. I can't tell you how pissed I was when I found out MAC had the audacity to not keep Looks Like Sin around. I've bought like five tubes and eventually ran out of it. You can only rain-check the inevitable for so long, right?

 I bought some MAC Ornamental lip gloss, a while back but it is more of a gold-red.  I still haven't finished the tube. I realized I didn't love it then gave up and stuck with my go-to nude Viva Glam VI. I have been going with that for what feels like ages now. It's a mauve type of vibe and seems to be better for me than the oft-recommended Viva Glam V. I'm referring to the lipsticks of course. The lip glosses are too sparkly for my taste.

While at MAC, I decided to take some advice from a commenter and buy the Fluid Line gel liner in Black Track. OMG x 10. Finally a black-black for lining my lower lash line. I have this problem where the lower eyeliner never stands out. I've complained about it before. I even have failure with the MAC water proof pencil, despite recommendations from all over. I think that pencil is one of my most pointless make-up purchases, but you live and you learn. I've been using the Maybelline's Line Stiletto in black on my upper lash line since it first appeared in stores. It makes for a killer cat eye and lasts a really long time. Add the fact that it costs less than $10 and that's a WIN sandwich right there. I'll just use the MAC pencil for my waterline, but not for that dramatic black-around-the-whole-eye look. For that I'll use the gel liner.

In closing, I'd like to say that no matter how obsessive this post may sound, I am not a MAC addict. I can see how some people get there though. The foundation is a perfect match. Raisin is my perfect blush. Viva Glam VI is my best nude so far... but I may have a new one soon. That'll be a few posts from now. I love make-up!

Stupid Eyeliner

So today I did perfect gyaru eyes save for the bottom lash-line. I was able to do the mascara on my bottom lashes and one of my new brushes to apply a little more [powder] foundation under the lashes to make the black pop. I was seriously missing the black liner on the bottom though. I need to either find my sharpener or buy one. I don't like the incomplete look. It'd be one thing if I had super full faux lashes on. Sometimes that helps make the look okay without bottom liner. But to not have the liner felt incomplete and I think it's because I made every last lash stand out on the bottom. They needed to be connected [via eyeliner]. Well. You live and you learn. 

FYI: The new Shany brushes are still going strong. I used them for full face application, but added my Nyx blending brush since the kit didn't come with one... BTW, WTF is up with that?

Shany Cosmetics Brush Kit

I recently acquired this set of brushes from Amazon. Luckily I received the red ones and not some other mystery color. Most of the brushes are made of squirrel or badger. I believe the fan brush and brow brush are both nylon. Overall, the quality is okay. These inexpensive but stylish brushes are nothing to write home about. To be honest, I bought it because it was under $20 and I was going to spend that on a liner/definer brush by MAC or Sephora anyway. Now I have more in the collection to help me brush up (NPI) on my make-up artistry skills. 

Plus it came with this nifty red pleather case which is just fun times if you ask me. And sure you didn't ask, but I'm telling you. So BAM. 

Yep. Between the array of brushes to practice with and the case that came with it, I'm 100% certain I got more than my money's worth.I will be sure  to readdress the purchase later to let you all know whether or not they stood up to my heavy-handed style of clumsiness. 

The brushes I currently use are great quality and varied (by brand). They range from Sephora and MAC, to Nyx and Bare Essentials (an all natural bamboo fibre line of brushes from CVS). How funny is it that the latter batch of brushes is my favorite? 

Variety is the spice of life and all that jazz.