Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

It's been forever since I've written a beauty blog strictly for this blog. I've been inundating you with articles from the website I currently write for. So, I decided to show my blog some love- and this is what I decided to grace you all with: My thoughts on the new Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup (foundation). Although I've only tried a sample of it, I actually really like it. It's super lightweight, leaves a flawless luminous finish and comes in a multitude of shades. 12 to be exact. I happen to be # 8: medium-dark shade, with warm golden undertones. How I came across this foundation was through an email Sephora sent me as part of their beauty insider program. Introducing the new product, the email stated that you could pick up a week's worth sample at your closest store. Now, I initially went in to pick up my annual birthday present- also through the beauty insider program and figured why not pick up the sample as well? Turns out the store didn't have any :( It also seemed that the girl at the register had no idea what I was talking about, saying it might be an online only promotion. I told her I was really interested in the product, I'm assuming she felt bad because she had another associate color match me to make a sample of the foundation- I expected nothing less from them! Sephora always makes sure you leave happy, and that's probably why I keep going back...that and my unwavering love for beauty. Even though the sample isn't a week's worth, I'm still happy I got enough of it to at least try on my entire face. I was slightly hesitant to even try it- because let's be honest, it's a little pricey and I didn't want to fall in love with something that expensive- even if it is really great. The foundation retails for $38, and yes I have spent more than that on other makeup products- but I'm not sure I'd want to spend that much on foundation alone. Instead I also plan on trying out L'oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous foundation, another new foundation which looks like it could be comparable to the UD Naked foundation, and is $30 cheaper!!! The one thing that both foundations do have in common it seems is the luminosity factor- both products claim to leave a healthy glowing finish. The UD Naked foundation actually did just that, it probably didn't hurt either that I applied it with my beauty blender-which I blogged about way back when in this post : http://fashionablylatest.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-favorites.html
Overall I'm pretty pleased with the product, but the jury's out until I try the L'Oreal True Match Lumi. I'll be sure to keep you all posted. Pictures to follow soon too! Till then, stay fabulous! XOXO

"FALL"ing For Beauty

Another blog!!! Finally. It feels like it's been forever since I last wrote- and to say the least, I don't like the feeling. However, within the past few weeks I've purchased some more beauty products that I absolutely need to rave about :) I've been using all 3 products a lot and they have rather quickly become some of my faves. So let's get to it!

Coastal Scents 36 Smokey Palette

First off, let me say I was a bit skeptical before ordering the palette (coastalscents.com, $22.95). I read several reviews and watched plenty of videos, where people pretty much either loved or hated the palette. I was in the market for something other than just eye shadow duos or quads, so I figured why not? I've used other products from the same company and I've liked them, so why not try this particular palette out? I'm very happy I did. 

First 6 shades, top left

The palette itself consists of 36 shades which are broken down into groups of 6. These colors and potential looks are categorized by neutral browns, greens, purples, greys/blacks, blues and pinks. Grouping each set of colors allows for the smokey effect, as each group contains several shades of the same color. 

Second 6 shades, top center

I will agree that some of the eye shadows in this palette as far as formula is concerned, are different from the eye shadows in other Coastal Scents palettes I've used. My way around this? Good primer and brushes. Which leads me to the other products I've fallen in love with. Would I recommend this palette to some one else? Yes, if they were looking for the same thing(s) I was looking for before purchasing this item. However, you can live without it as well, but....even if you don't LOVE every shade, it's still a good bargain. Nearly $23 bucks for 36 colors, that's about $.64 a piece. And where will you ever be able to find that deal? CoastalScents.com, it's worth a try!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue

This stuff is amazing!!!!!!!! I can't say enough about it. Anyone who has used Too Faced products or even Urban Decay products for that matter, know there are several eye shadow primers available. "What is an eye shadow primer?", you might be asking yourself. Well, it is a type of base you apply to the eye lid area before applying eye shadow. It helps with the shadow's staying power and also prevents creasing if the shadow were applied to a bare lid. Although this primer's intended use is as a "Glitter Bonding Eye Shadow Primer", it does work just as well as a plain primer- sans glitter or loose pigments. I love this stuff. As with most primers, a little goes a long way, especially with this particular kind. It's much thicker in formula and leaves more of a tacky adhesive once dried. This is what you really want when applying color; you want it to adhere to something and you want that color to last all day. The very good thing about this product besides quality, is that like the other primers available from Too Faced cosmetics, they are all the same price. $18, and available at several retailers. I purchased mine at Sephora. And I highly recommend it. I've used it with glitter as well, and it works just as it says it will. I experienced little to no fall out, which I can't say about any other primer I've used. This is the real deal.

Sigma Beauty 12 Brush Kit

Probably the best makeup product I've purchased all year, these brushes are worth every penny they cost. $79 at SigmaBeauty.com. At the time of purchase, I found and used a 10% off coupon- which pretty much covered the shipping, so I was pleased with that. This 12 piece brush set did not come with the container that the brushes of the 'Make Me Up' collection ($99) come with. I didn't feel the need to have the container, so I chose the less expensive set. I am beyond pleased with the quality and variety of these brushes. I've noticed since having and using the new brushes, that the time I spend on applying my makeup, has reduced considerably. And I love that! Don't get me wrong, I love to do my makeup- but if I can get the same results in less time, I'm all about that! I won't talk about each brush, but I will list the numbering for your reference as well as a link to their descriptions: 

E05, E30, E40, E55, E65, E60, E70, F30, F40, F50, F60, F70 

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Complete_Kit_p/ck001.htm

I highly highly recommend these brushes. Prior to this set, I was using Coastal Scents brushes for about 2 years, which there's nothing wrong with those- but the quality in Sigma Beauty brushes is just a million times better. I promise, you will love these. *Side note: Joey and I filmed a video about my old brushes. It's pretty funny, check it out: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE-NBtoxHKY

So there you go guys, just a few of my new favorite products. I'm hoping writing this blog will keep me motivated to not let so much time pass before the next one! Be on the lookout for more DIY blogs as well as reviews and favorites. Till then, stay fabulous! XOXO 

NAKED.

My recent makeup obsession: Urban Decay's Naked palette. In my opinion this is the holy grail of all neutral palettes! It's $48 and available from retailers such as Urban Decay.com, Sephora/Sephora.com as well Amazon.com. Let me preface this by saying the Naked palette is extremely hard to come by, some retailers even limit the amount you can purchase at a time. It is one of Urban Decay's more popular products, and although the price may seem steep for eye shadow, let me assure you that it's well worth it! With its original release, the palette came with a mini sized Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP) in Original and a dual sided 24 7 eye pencil in Whiskey (brown) and Zero (black). Since the palette's return this spring it too, comes with a mini sized UDPP in Original but instead of the eye pencil, it comes with a flat shadow brush. I know the 24 7 eye pencils are sold separately and I'm almost positive the brush is too. I believe I heard somewhere that the brush itself is in the neighborhood of $26, so getting it in the palette that comes with 12 different shades for $48 is such a bargain! 

The shades are extremely pigmented- so a little goes a long way. I've had this palette for a couple of months, I use it just about every day, and it still looks like I've barely touched it. I love that! The shades from left to right are: Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep and Gunmetal. 

My favorite shade: Buck, because it matches my skin tone perfectly and makes for a very beautiful blending color. 

My least favorite shade: Sidecar, for the simple fact that it has too much glittery fall out. None the less, it is a pretty color. 

What I love most about this palette is its size. It is perfect for travel because you can fit it almost anywhere and all of the colors you would need for any occasion are in one place. No more searching at the bottom of your makeup bag! 

Whether you're headed out to work or on that first date, I suggest playing around with these colors, because there are SOOO many looks you can achieve!! So whaddaya waiting for??? Go for it hunnay! Till then, stay fabulous! XOXO