Loreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

I heard a ton of buzz about this mascara and given my love for Loreal Voluminous original formula, it was a given I would try this one. I love the Too Faced BTS mascara and this one is supposedly a drugstore dupe. The brush is tapered and flexible, which is unique. The flexible brush makes getting smaller lashes on the inner and outer corners easier, but also makes this mascara a tad messy at first. Once I got used to applying it, I was able to achieve very natural-looking daytime lashes that were thick and voluminous without being over the top. This is my new favorite mascara and I find myself reaching for it daily. If you don't like it at first, give it a chance to dry out a tad and it becomes much more manageable.

Tapered wand

Have you tried any new drugstore mascaras you love?
xxChris

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure

I am always after ways to look more awake (read alive..haha) in the morning and I love the concept behind the Hourglass powders. They claim to give you glowy skin, while minimizing imperfections and pores. I find this claim to be true. I own the Hourglass Diffused setting powder and it gives an overall glow while making my skin look more even and smooth. All of the powders have different uses and you can mix and match to achieve whatever look you are going after.

When the blushes first came out I was so excited to try them. They are basically blushes with the original powder formulas marbled throughout the product. The one I was instantly drawn to was Mood Exposure: a natural plummy pink akin to Tarte Exposed and Nars Douceur. This blush color is marbled with the Mood Light powder, which is a pinky color. The color is very natural and is easy to wear with multiple looks. This is important since it is expensive and when splashing out $30 on a blush, I want to wear it often.

I love the pigmentation and staying power. You have to apply this product with a light hand and blend thoroughly since it is so highly pigmented. The staying power is amazing. This blush will linger forever. It gives a very pretty natural flush that lasts all day. Also, the packaging is so gorgeous sitting on your vanity. It is like a little metallic mirrored box.

I also have my eye on the color Radiant Magenta for summer. Have you tried these Hourglass blushes? 

xxChris 

A Gilded Obsession: Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Isolde

I love copper. I can't help it. Rich, warm tones with a shot of red are my obsession. I recently picked up this Nars shadow in Isolde, a golden copper duo that is magic on blue or green eyes. I love it because it is so simple, flattering, and toned-down enough to wear every day, while still being interesting enough to not be boring. Paired with brown eyeliner and some mascara, I am good to go for an every day eye look.

Do you have any favorite eyeshadow duos?
xxChris

Maybelline Eye Studio Eyeshadow Quad in Copper Chic

When Melissa from YouTube mentioned this palette from Maybelline, I had to try it. I am such a fan of warm copper colors. I think they really brighten the eye and bring out eye colors. This palette has 4 colors that I used to create a complete look. I love that all the colors are usable and natural, while still being sparkly and gorgeous. There is a white highlight shade, a pinky-copper, a warm gold, and a warm dark brown.

I used the white color all over the lid and in the inner corner. I then used the pinky-copper all over the lid with the gold in the crease. I lined with a brown eyeliner, then smudged the dark brown color over it to smoke out the look. 

It doesn't show up very well on camera, but the white shade reminds me of Stila Kitten, but lighter. The camera does these shades no justice. They are breath-taking in real life. I posted a picture on Instagram of the look. Follow me if you want at clauren02. :)

Have you found any drugstore palettes that are must-haves?
xxChris

The Naked 3 Palette: A review

The Naked 3 palette was something I wanted from the first time I laid eyes on all the rosy-toned neutrals. I picked it up the day it came out and have waited to review it so I could play around with the colors first. I always prefer warm shadows. I love how much a tinge of warmth in a shadow can brighten your whole face and make you look vibrant and awake.

Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick

The lighter half of the palette is pretty and flattering, but standard. I have shadows that are similar to these. The color Limit is a good transition color and I find myself using Trick often (a gold glitter). Buzz is another one I reach for often. Strange is a good all over the lid base.

Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart

As you move down the colors, you get darker shades. My favorites are definitely at this end of the palette. I first fell in love with the color Nooner, a matte mauve unlike anything else I have ever seen. I love using this color in the crease to finish off any look. The next 3 colors are all similar, but amazing in their own ways. Liar and Mugshot are my favorites to sweep all over the lid. Factory is beautiful in the outer corner or smudged underneath the eye. Darkside is a huge standout. I don't own many gray shadows that show up true to the pan and this one does. It is the best gray shadow I have ever owned. It is easily smoked out and honestly makes the easiest smokey eye (bottom 2 pictures, I am only wearing this color). Blackheart is also unique, being a blackened-burgundy. The burgundy does not show up too much, but it is there enough to make this shadow so beautiful as a liner or to intensify the outer corner.

Mugshot all over the lid, Nooner in the crease, Blackheart as a liner and on the lower lash line

Darkside in the outer corner and blended into the crease

Darkside

I love this palette for its versatility and unique nature. I do not own anything like it and I love that. I have reached for it on days when I want a natural look without being boring. I have also reached for it for night outs when I want a dark smokey eye with some shimmer. This palette is worth the investment.

Do you own the Naked 3?
xxChris

Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Brazen Berry: A review

Prior to today, there was a certain fushia-shaped hole in my life. I was after something bold, with strong color payoff, that was also easy to wear. Enter the Maybelline Vivids collection. How have I never tried any of these before?! I picked up the color Brazen Berry because it was straight purple and unlike anything else in my collection. I feel like bold lips are so often done with hot pinks, corals, and reds; it is nice to mix it up with something as unexpected as purple. The color turned out being even more beautiful on the lips. I can't wait to try more!

Do you like to add pops of color to your makeup looks? 

xxChris

Goody's Dent-less Waves Large Foam Rollers

This is a blast from the past. Foam rollers...for our generation...no way. This "technology" may be ancient, but it works. In order to preserve the health of my hair, I have been looking into natural ways to style it (aka with as little heat as possible). When I saw these Goody's Dent-less Waves Rollers on Pinterest, I was interested. I got mine at Target in a set of 9 rollers for around $10. I brushed out damp hair (about 50% dry) with my wet brush and then used each roller on large 2-inch sections of hair. I let this dry while I did my makeup and before taking them out I did blast them with my hairdryer for just 1 minute. After that cooled, I took each one out and broke up the waves with my hands. I used a tiny bit of smoothing cream (hair oil works here too) to smooth flyaways and added some light hairspray. The result was full, voluminous hair with a natural/slight wave. I am a total convert! These are amazing! The only downside: my hair is so fine that even though these are "dent-less" I did have a few dents. I smoothed these out with my flat iron and they were gone in less than a minute. This is something I experience with hot rollers too, so this is not new to me and does not make me dislike the rollers at all! 

Foam roller with a velcro strap to hold the hair

I have some natural curl in my hair, so I have always wanted to be able to bring that out without having crunchy, limp locks. My hair is so naturally fine that without some type of heat it normally is very flat. I think I have finally found the answer to my hair woes!  

Have you ever tried foam rollers?

xxChris

Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks

I have a confession: I am addicted to cream eyeshadow sticks. They are just so easy to blend, quick (swipe and go), and the smudgeproof formulations will set and stay all day. I have too many already. Among my favorites are the Mac greasepaint sticks (discontinued), Laura Mercier caviar sticks, and the Rimmel waterproof sticks. I first heard of Mally from Emily of Beauty Broadcast. She is a former news anchor and knows a thing or two about long-lasting makeup. The Mally Evercolor Eyeshadow Sticks are one of her holy grail products, so when I saw them in a set on QVC, I jumped at the chance to try the line. These are normally $25 each, which I feel is a bit steep. QVC has the whole line and you get 5 colors for $35. 

The packaging is nothing to write home about. I think the case is cute, but it feels cheap. Which is no problem, because the product inside is very high quality. 

The set comes with a good range of colors. All of them are shimmery. If you prefer mattes for every day, you will not like this. The shimmer is intense, borderline glitter. I love them though, on their own or underneath other colors (as a base). They really make my eyes pop and are very creamy and easy to blend. Once they set/dry, they are there ALL day long. I usually have creasing after about 6-8 hours with all other shadows, except these. Which also makes them a fantastic eye base to make other colors on top last all day. 

It was quite hard to capture the shimmer on camera. From top to bottom you get: a dark green, bronze, dark plum, warm taupe, and a champagne. In the picture above, I am wearing the warm taupe all over the lid and smudged underneath the eye. You could add a warmer color in the crease if you wanted to get a more complete look, but as I said...I can be lazy..

Score: A+

Best for: oily eyelids, shimmer lovers, and those first venturing into cream eyeshadow

You can get the set at QVC here or you can purchase individual colors at Ulta.

xxChris

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette for Eyes + a Tip for shadow creasing

*All the shadows in order. Picture is at night, so excuse the lighting! My look in the picture is: bottom second from left all over the lid, then top fourth color from left in crease and the deeper brownish-plum right beside it in the outer corner. Blend with a clean fluffy brush to finish.

If you are looking for a new palette to add to your collection and happen to love purples and warm tones, then the Laura Mercier Artist's Palette for Holiday 2013 is for you. As much as I love cool-toned eyeshadows, I always seem to go back to warm colors. I just find they liven up my complexion and makes my blue eyes pop. In this palette, you get 12 shadows with a good mix of mattes and shimmers, which makes it easy to create a variety of looks. Laura Mercier has such good quality shadows and the normal price for just one color at the counter is $23, so you are actually getting a deal with this holiday palette. I picked mine up at Sephora. If you would like to see this palette in action check out Sandra's video on YouTube. She is one of my favorite beauty bloggers. I absolutely adore Sandra's style of makeup and I always learn so much from her. You can also follow her blog here- http://www.15stepsblog.com. 

How cool is the textured exterior of this palette? It's all in the details. I am such a sucker for packaging. 

Oh and btw, I have a quick tip that might save your shadows if you have oily lids like mine. I struggled with my shadows creasing (despite using an eye primer) for so long until I heard this tip! After putting on your eye primer, let it dry completely (this is when I do foundation). Then add a layer of a matte translucent face powder (I like Nars Crystal Translucent Powder and Rimmel Stay Matte Powder) on your entire lid before adding color. This single step will keep your shadows from creasing all day. This is because the oils have to break down each layer one at a time. As long as the oils don't reach the actual pigment, your shadows will stay in place. So layer it up baby and watch your look last all day long. 

What palette do you have your eye on this holiday season?

xxChris