Happy Monday W. Red Kisses.

Happy Monday Guys, and what a better way to start off the week than with a make up tutorial done by yours truly =). Although the video shows exactly how I did everything, I would still like to do a written tutorial, you know, just because.

Tools Used:
EOS Lip Balm in Summerfruit
NARS Lipliner in Amazon
NARS Lipstick in Fire Down Below
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Syracuse

Step 1: Make sure to exfoliate lips prior to applying lip color. You can use a dry rag to wipe off the flakiness.
Step 2: After exfoliating, apply lip balm to lips ahead of time or if not just make sure before applying lip balm to wipe off any feeling of waxiness and any excess product.
Step 3: Now is the time to apply your lip primer or just dab a bit of foundation on your lips to provide a nude flesh toned base.
Step 4: Apply your liner with a steady hand tracing over your natural lip line and ever so slightly shade in your lip so lipstick can adhere and last longer.
Step 5: Apply lipstick by sliding bullet back and forth across bottom lip being careful to not go outside the line.
Step 6: Take either a lip brush or simply use your finger to apply color to the top lip. Do not blot.
Step 7: Take liner and trace over lip line once more to perfect your pout.
Step 8: (Optional) Take a red colored or clear lip gloss and apply lightly to lips with either a lip brush or your fingers. Now your gorgeous and ready to go !

Howdy Partner, Sincerly OPI Texas Collections & Swatches.

So today I went to my local beauty supply only to find that the Katy Perry Shatter OPI Collection was sold out but once again (Boo!). I almost left until I did a double take and noticed the large OPI Texas Collection display and thought to myself "Oh yeah, I forgot this came out.". With 12 new bold shades, you can tell that spring has galloped its way through this shitty weather. With six "sorbet-like" shades, OPI has been able to create a collection that is not only spring but summer in additon to. I grabbed a few of the shades that appealed to me most and San-Tan-tonio is my new favorite, but here is a brief description of each of these true Texan hues.

San Tan-tonio: A “honey” of a ten-gallon tan!
Suzi Loves Cowboys: But she loves this campfire chocolate shade s’more!
It’s Totally Fort Worth It: A shimmery lavender grey that’s so worthy of you.
Don’t Mess with OPI: A lean, mean, kick-grass forest green.
Austin-tatious Turquoise: Cowgirls love this bodacious blue-green.

I Vant to Be A-Lone Star: You won’t want to share this starry Texas-sky blue.
Y’all Come Back Ya Hear?: This Texas tangerine will be waitin’ for ya!
Big Hair…Big Nails: A rosy pageant peach.
Guy Meets Gal-veston: An “engaging” coastal coral.
Too Hot Pink to Hold ‘Em: A red-hot pink-red that deals a winning hand.
Do You Think I’m Tex-y?: A “berry” sexy bloom of Dallas dahlia.
Houston We Have a Purple : A galactic red-violet that’s ready to “rocket roll”!

Austin-tatious Turquoise

San-Tan-Tonio

                                     

 Y'all Come Back Ya Hear?

Don't Mess with OPI

By the way, is it me or is it that "Don't Mess With OPI" is almost just as if not the same as "Jade is the New Black" from the previous Hong Kong Collection?! I feel kind of robbed.



Mother Monster Has Done it Again...

TGIF Lovelies, and what a more wonderful way to enjoy the upcoming weekend with the new world premiere of Lady Gaga's new video "Born This Way". The video premiered this morning at 6am Eastern Standard TM and was worth wiping the crust out your eye for. The new empowering gay anthem will probably be the a chart topping #1 single for the beginning of 2011. "Born This Way" has already topped the iTunes music charts at #1 after being on sale for only a few hours.  I can hear Mother Monster laughing all the way to the bank. I have always been Goo-goo for Gaga and will be till the day I die! Below is the full length version of the song , it seems that youtube doesn't have a link for the video as yet (hmmph!). So to all my Lovely Monsters, have a great weekend.

La Nouvelle Collection Printemps Essie? Oui S'il Vous Plaît!

If you are a polish fanatic as am I, then you would be anticipating every new varnish collection for the season. After the lovely colors released last years for Essie's Spring Collection, I thought there is no way they can top Mint Candy Apple, Lilicasm, and Van'D Go. But, this year they took a different approach, more tres chic perhaps. The new Essie 2011 Spring Collection will be launched during sometime this month with a hue of polishes than can only result in a "French Affair". The bunch consists of six new sheer but opaque hues which are a bit more neutral and reeking of Parisian glamour in comparison to previous shades released. Ce que vous l'amour? Comme je fais!


French Affair: A soft intricate pastel hue pink with a hint of lavender.
Coat Azure: A light cerulean blue with a hint of shimmer.
Sand Tropez: A soft nudey-beige.
Nice is Nice: A soft pastel lavender.
Topless & Barefoot: A pinky-beige sheer thats perfect for a french mani.
Kisses & Bises: A pearly iridescent sheer that can perform as a topcoat.

Holy Mother F#@%ing Grail !

So what if I'm late ! I just recently jumped on the MAC bandwagon, so don't look at me funny. I was always a MAC skeptic, fearing that every foundation from this brand was evil, and only made to cause breakouts and prolonged oiliness >:( . I was one of those girls who constantly switches foundations because I simply believed that I will never find my HG (Holy Grail.). I've tried everything from Make Up Forever HD, to Stila 1 Step, from Chanel Mat Lumiere to Bare Esscentuals Bare Minerals. Nothing worked, it was either the color or the formula that just wasn't right for me. I'm considered NC42 with sensitive, combo-oily, and acne prone skin. Horrible right?! So I'm very precarious as to what formulas might work for me. Now I'm an active member on makeupalley.com and was convinced by the reviews. Then, I've heard so much raving for the Studio Sculpt Foundation by a close makeup crazed friend of mine (Yes, Jamal You!). So with a leap of faith, I visited a MAC store, got matched by an unhelpful SA who I swore was gonna match me wrong on purpose, and swiped my credit card. When I got home and tore open the matte black box, I thought I was not only in love with the tube like packaging, but I quickly applied it to my face and the greatest feeling came over me. It was easy to apply with my Sephora Professionnel Mineral Powder Brush #45 which by the way is A W E S O M E for applying liquid foundation. I prepped my skin with moisterizer, started out with about a pea sized amount and buffed away from the center out. Then I set with the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium Dark. When I mean this stuff is amazing I mean it! I seen my reflection looking back at me with the prettiest almost airbrushed looking skin. Overall, I love this stuff! Sometimes throughout the day I may have to blot, but this gives the most natural and dewiest coverage without looking to made up. ;)

Pros:
Is water-based so good for those with almost all skin-types.
Creamy coverage that goes on pretty light when applied.
Only need to use a small amount for complete coverage.
Has a great variety of shades
Covers most blemishes, hence you need a tad bit of concealer if they are super dark
Packaging is in a super sleek tube so it's easy to stash in your makeup bag.

Cons:
Might not be suitable for those with super oily skin types unless set with powder.
Cannot be left on face for too long, for it might be a tad bit hard to blend.
If too much is applied or not applied correctly can tend to look cakey.
Has SPF in it, so with camera flash, might make you look a bit ghostly.

Before Blending...

Blended W. Sephora #45 Brush W. Camera Flash

You Need A Great Base To Start & Finish the Race.

Okay. At one point of time I was one of those girls completely against using any form of foundation. I used to think that it always made you look almost fake in a way. But that was almost five years or so ago and boy was I wrong hence that I am a foundation whore. I go through a foundation almost as much as I switch my panties (joke...). But I am that annoying customer in Sephora and Bloomingdales who constantly brings back that foundation. There is something always wrong, or perhaps wrong with me? Maybe being an olive colored African-American makes it rather perplexing to find such colors to fit my hue. I get so sick and tired of these SA's (Sales Associates) giving me the wrong color match or formula to fit my oily-combination skin type. Now ladies, we all know that there is nothing worse than stepping out of your house realizing that your two shades lighter or darker after applying your cover up. Now back those of you who swear off of this beauty essential, foundation tends to even out your skintone if you deal with redness or some sort of blemish issue of any kind. Not to mention that it helps boost self confidence! Now I'm not telling you to run out to your local CVS and Walgreens and pick up just any one. Be sure of your skintone and undertones, don't just select a foundation thats red based if you have a yellow undertone. Foundation should look the most natural as if it were your own skin. Also be aware of the type of formula you choose. Girls with oily skin should choose a mattifying formula, while those with dry skin might want to choose a more moisterizing one. In summation, to achieve a flawless everyday face, foundation is the key. If you prefer a look that is way more natural, you can try tinted moisterizers though I personally think that they are better suited for dry skin types. Or even a powder foundation which delivers the lightest coverage when used properly.

Go Cinderella. Go Cinderella.

So you know the song, and I thought "What a great name for a blog!?" Okay, I kept telling myself that one day when i gain the courage, I was going to start blogging. Fearful, no. I just did not have the time to constantly update and review. So what suddenly came over me? My addiction to all things B E A U T Y. I was always known for taking a special interest in my appearance at a young age, and then started to dabble with makeup, Then it grew from just a squeal of satisfaction swiping that satin finished eyeshadow across my eyelid, to having the SA's (Sales Associates) at Bloomingdales asking "Are you back again?". Don't judge me, I'm just simply a young, product crazed adult who has a passion for looking great. So on this exhilarating ride, I will do posts, reviews, and video tutorials from makeup to skincare to haircare. And so on. And please forgive me for starting out taking picks on my BB. A camera will soon be in rotation. So until I swipe that pretty little piece of plastic through that electronic machine giving me an insane total, I will be here, for the meantime. =)