Beauties in Bloom

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...

Hey everyone! Happy new year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and a safe New Years! I apologize for the nearly three month hiatus but I'm glad to be back :) I thought I'd start of 2013 with a fun little tag focusing on some daily staples I use all the time! I've seen this tag go around the blogging community for a while (first time I saw it was from the lovely ladies behind  A Brunette Duet !) and thought it would be fun to do even though i knew the number i would see after calculating all the items would terrify me!! To be honest, I think it's really easy to get products on some sort of discount if you're patient enough--whether it's a Sephora 20% sale, a CVS sale, or getting a deal at a Cosmetic Company Outlet. What can I say, I love a good deal! Anyway, I calculated based on the full retail price, not  the price I paid for. I chose makeup I would use for a nice, typical day out! Face: Laura Mercier Primer: $32 Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua: $45 La...

This is a look I've been doing a lot lately--the gold/orange Inglot eyeshadow makes me feel extra summery! :) As usual with my orange toned looks, I am always drawn to chocolatey yumminess of Nars Galapagos to warm the shadow up even more! Inglot 407 on lid, UD Virgin to highlight, UD Buck in crease, Nars Galapagos in outer-v Products: Eyes: Mac Painterly Paint Pot Inglot 407 (an amazing, pearly coral/orange with gold shimmer) Urban Decay Buck, Naked, & Virgin (from Naked 1 Palette) Nars Galapagos Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate Shimmer Ink Covergirl Lashblast (orange tube) Hope you like this look! Let me know what kinds of looks or colors you'd like to see in the future--I need new ideas!!!

I'm guessing the hype has passed since this palette is almost a year old now, but I figured I'd dedicate a swatch post to it since it's such a wonderful palette and I use it SOOO much!! I took these pictures when I first got it so I'm a bit tanner in the swatch photos, but I hope they're helpful. My palette came with a mini urban decay primer potion and the double ended 24/7 eyeliner. I really like the eyeliner. I don't use the UDPP since it doesn't help with creasing on my lids (i trust my mac paint pots for that job!). click on the photos to enlarge! Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal I am definitely a neutral eyeshadow kind of gal, so these shadows are right up my alley. They all have a gorgeous buttery texture and blend like a dream, I just LOVE urban decay eyeshadows. If you don't love shimmery shadows this might not be the palette for you since there's really only two matte col...