Beauties in Bloom

If I had to choose a favorite eyeshadow color to use, my favorite would most definitely be a shimmery bronzey brown. Call me boring when there are so many vibrant colors to choose from, but I can't help it! I absolutely love a shimmery chocolate smokey eye more than anything else. I think brown is flattering on all eye colors and it can be made subtle enough for daytime or dramatic for evening. I just hit pan on two bronze colors in my eyeshadow collection so I thought I'd do some comparison swatches for you before I finish them up! Inglot 409 on the left, Nars Kalahari on the top, Urban Decay Smog in the middle and Mac Tempting (with the huge bit of pan showing!) on the right! Comparison swatches! L-R Inglot 409, Urban Decay Smog, Mac Tempting, Nars Kalahari From Left to right: Inglot 409 pearl: This bronze has a bit more red warmth to it, especially compared to Urban Decay Smog and is a bit darker--though I do think it's similar on the lid. Both 409 and...

So lately I have been pretty obsessed with Laura Mercier products even more than usual, especially... Caviar Sticks! They are such a creamy and easy to apply product and best of all, they last all day on my lids! I do still wear primer so eyeshadow really doesn't budge, but without it the caviar sticks still last well for a few hours. I also have a very watery right eye that has caused many nightmares when applying eye makeup. I constantly have to retouch the inner corner of my eye (even when I wear primer) because the eyeshadow doesn't last in that one spot when my eye acts up. The Caviar Sticks miraculously stay put in that area! I love them! Todays' look was done with a newly released Laura Mercier Caviar Stick called Rosegold! Laura Mercier Caviar stick in Rosegold all over lid, Mac Star Violet in outer-v, Mac Wedge in crease Products: Face: Laura Mercier Foundation Primer YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat B30 Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Bobbi Brow...

Guys, I finally hit pan on a bronzer I've had for a few years now! I've been using Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer for a long time now!! See the tiny bit of metal pan in the middle!? Since I took this picture it's even bigger! :) Firstly, I have to say this is the best smelling makeup product I own. It smells delicious, just like chocolate! I think it contains actual cocoa powder too. The scent is initially strong but the smell doesn't linger on the skin (therefore you can wear perfume and it won't interfere and you won't smell like a chocolate bar all day).  Chocolate Soleil is such a fantastic bronzer. It's matte and is not so warm toned that it turns orange on the skin--making it very easy to bronze up your skin in a natural way. Because there's no sparkle or shimmer it's easy to use as a contour or all over the face. For my skin tone I think the color is great, though I would definitely recommend more pale skin tones try their ...

Hey everyone! So I've been accumulating a bunch of empty products lately that I thought I'd share with you. These are all products that I've finished in the past few months, probably since January. A bunch of these products are favorites of mine that I have most likely mentioned on my blog before, so I'll be brief. I also had a couple products that I was happy to get rid of--I'll let you know why! Lots of Skincare Empties! Cerave PM Moisturizer: This has been my favorite face moisturizer for about 8 or 9 months now. I started using Cerave PM because my combo/oily skin felt very dehydrated (even in the warmer months). I've tried a handful of expensive moisturizers from Sephora and this one is definitely my favorite and it's affordable at the drugstore. This moisturizer really keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day without making me look greasy. I use it every day and night. I've gone through 3 of these already and will continue to buy it! ...

Hey everyone! This is a heads up to all of my followers who use Google Reader! I just found out that Google Reader is going to be shut down in a few months. As far as I can tell the internet is in an uproar over it! Thankfully there's many different sites you can use to keep track of your blogs, so I thought I'd let you know now so you can switch over before you lose the blogs you follow. When I first started my blog I used Google Reader but decided to switch to Bloglovin' after playing with their interface. I personally find it very easy to use and it allows me to organize the blogs I follow in a simple, neat way. I also love the Bloglovin' iPhone app! Bloglovin' also has an import option so it'll be easy for those of you who use Google Reader to transfer your blogs! I've also heard that Hello Cotton is another popular site used to keep track of blogs. I'm sure there are other sites you can use but these are just two popular ones! Feel free to use...

Ever since Real Techniques brushes came out they have taken the cosmetic world by storm. Real Techniques has managed to make great quality makeup brushes available at super affordable prices. They're also 100% cruelty free! I have a couple of her brushes and I love them all. The Expert Face Brush just may be my favorite of the bunch--it has become my go-to for applying foundation! I've tried all types of foundation brushes--flat ones, stippling brushes, fluffy ones, etc. This one is the best. It is a sort of paddle shape but instead of being flat like a typical foundation brush, it's rounded and thick--making it perfect for buffing in foundation too. The bristles are incredibly soft, but because of the density it is also very firm. It blends my tinted moisturizers and liquid foundations like a dream and leaves my skin with an airbrushed finish. I usually dot my foundation all over my skin with my fingers and then I use the expert face brush to blend. It's just fanta...

Hey everyone! I celebrated my birthday over the weekend and was able to take a few shots of my makeup before I headed out the door. I just went out with my boyfriend, a few friends and some family.It was pretty laid back day and I didn't want to wear any over the top makeup. I did a light gold eye and defined by tightlining. I absolutely love this technique! It makes my lashes look much thicker but still natural! If you haven't heard of it, tightlining is basically a way to line the eye by wiggling in a long wear eyeliner product into the lashlines (not the waterline!) to really thicken the lashes. It really helps to enhance and define the eye without having to line the waterline or do a more obvious line next to your lashes. I still smudged some eyeshadow along my lashlines, but tightlining has become my new favorite technique! I've been using Laura Mercier Cake eyeliner--it's so easy to apply and doesn't budge! Laura Mercier Sandglow Caviar Stick on lid, Urba...

I know I know, yet another  Zoya polish! What can I say, I'm obsessed! Anyway, today's nail polish is the beautiful Zoya Jules! Don't mind the terrible cuticles, I was in a rush! haha! Jules is a shimmering gray tinged champagne taupey color. A somewhat vague description, but it is definitely special. It's neutral enough to be subtle but still unique and shimmery to make it interesting! It was great in two coats though I could have done with a thin third coat. Formula is excellent as usual, not too thick, not too thin. Thoughts on Zoya Jules? As always don't forget about the share the love rewards program (you can read about HERE ) and to check out their facebook page for special deals!

Today I have a battle of the nude eyeliners!! For nearly a year, Nars Rue Bonaparte has been a staple in my makeup bag. Nars Rue Bonaparte is a creamy, nude colored eyeliner pencil. I have loved using a nude color on the waterline. I used to use black on the waterline all the time but dark colors on the waterline can actually make eyes look smaller. I still love using black, especially with smokier eyes but I have found that nude is a wonderful alternative. Nude eyeliner covers up any pink on the waterline that can make you look tired and makes your eyes look much more wide eyed and open. Nars Rue Bonaparte has a wonderfully creamy texture and is the perfect soft matte nude color to make eyes look bright. I already used up one pencil completely and am currently working through a second one--that's how much I love the effect! So when Rimmel came out with their new Scandaleyes waterproof eyeliners, I was ecstatic to hear that they came out with a nude color! After watching THIS ...