There's a mermaid in all of us

Today I wanted NEEDED to be a Mermaid. Mermaids are mysterious, they don't have any bills as far as I can tell, and they don't have any reason to go to college, or at least its not proven that mermaids go to college. The point is I needed to escape today. I have had a really bad month; my husband and I are fighting everyday, I've had no time for fun because of college, and I am also on a diet. Whip all those issues in a blender and I am stressed to the max! Insert...Mermaid.
Now this is not a "real" mermaid, and I didn't really try to get all fancy with it. I just had fun (finally!!!).

I put some fishnet stockings over my head, and began to fill in my forehead with colors...

Its mermaid-esque ;)

Products used and application:

Forehead (scales) : I covered my forehead with fishnets by putting one stocking over your head, kind of like you would with a wig cap. With a shadow brush, I loaded Dark Heart Designs e/s in Grace (white) and covered my entire forehead. Over the Grace I used Betrayal from the Vice 2 Palette (its the purple color). Over that I patted on Pinkies Up by Dark Heart Designs. When I took it off it left just a slight effect. I'm sure if I would've pushed hard, it would've left a better indent, but I like the softness of it.

Eyes: I primed eyes really well with Too Faced Shadow Insurance and applied Sugarpill's Mochi to the lids. On top of Mochi I applied Dark Heart Designs e/s in Fairytale to the entire lid, and then applied Dark Heart Designs e/s in Rag Doll to the middle of the lid. For the lower lash line I applied a thick line of Dark Heart Designs e/s in Nymph. The purple brow color is the same color used on the forehead (Betrayal from the Vice 2 Palette). The eyeliner is by Jessies Girl. Mascara is Covergirl Lash Blast in Black.

Face:I applied moisturizer and then Kat Von D Lock It Foundation to the entire face. On top of my foundation I used Dark Heart Designs e/s in Bone Daddy as a setting powder to give my face a pearlescent glow. On top of that I sweeped a light application of Urban Decay Naked Illuminator to the apples of my cheeks, and applied Dark Heart Designs Summertime Sadness Blush.

Lips: Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam

Photo Editor: PicMonkey/ Lomo Filter/ No photo retouching

Does it even look like a mermaid? hahaha oh well, it was fun!!!



Until next time :)


-Sam

Neutral Look featuring Dark Heart Designs

Hey everyone, I hope you are enjoying your weekend!! I am swamped with a project for school so I haven't had time for really anything but that so far. Today, however, was my uncles birthday so my family and I went to my aunts house to have dinner and hang for a bit, which means I got to do my makeup (yay!). I kept it low-key and casual with a bit of glitter cus you know how I do! I can't ever go totally neutral, that's too boring for me hehe. All products used will be listed below, I hope you guys are all having a great weekend!!

EYES
1. Prime eyes (I used too faced shadow insurance)
2. Apply Dark Heart Designs e/s in Elizabeth to entire lid
3. Using an angled e/s brush apply DHD e/s Audrey (black) to the outer corners of your eyes, blending left to right and up until there is just a slight hint of color
4. Using Nyx jumbo eye pencil in Milk, add a dab of color to your inner corners, and using the same white shadow (Elizabeth) go over the milk
5. Line your bottom lash line (the skin part, not the waterline!) with Elf's glitter liquid liner in Starlight
6. Apply mascara. I used Elizabeth Mott's It's So Big

FACE
1. Prime Face with a moisturizer ( I used St. Ives w/collagen )
2. Apply Foundation with a brush (or your hands). Foundation I used is from Benefit and its called Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup
3. Apply concealer under your eyes ( I used Nyx)
4. Dab setting powder onto your concealer ( I used Ben Nye Banana Powder )
5. Blend out concealer and powder until all the yellow is gone
6. Apply Bronzer to hair-line, jaw line and hollows of your cheeks ( I used Nyx )
7. Apply Blush. I used Summertime Sadness by DHD

LIPS
1. Apply your favorite pink lipgloss to your lips. I used Nyx Lip Butters in Merengue

Done!

All DHD products can be purchased on the following link: http://darkheartdesigns.storenvy.com/

Juice Beauty Organic Oil-Free Moisturizer Review

I received this as a sample in one of my recent Juice Beauty Orders (look for a review soon!). I am always on the hunt for new skin-care because it seems like skin care trends change more often than the definition of beauty according to society.

Skin care is something that I take very seriously and it is one of those things I am disciplined about. There are so many things in life that I cannot control, but the things I choose to put into and on my body are just a few of the things that I do have control over. When it comes to moisturizer, I want my skin to have a natural glow and dewiness, which is what moisturizer helps to accomplish. I used this moisturizer for a week non-stop, and I like it so far.

Positives:

The product is dense, which means you do not have to use as much to cover your entire face, which is helpful since you are supposed to apply it twice per day (morning and night).

It is not heavy on your face like some moisturizers, and absorbs quickly. Who wants to wait around for their moisturizer to dry anyway? Hehe  *DRY TIME WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES*

Organic QUALITY ingredients & Cruelty Free = Happy ME!

Cons:

It’s a bit pricey. @ 28$ for a 2oz. tube, (although it will last a bit) it does not do anything extraordinary for my skin. Its moisturizer, and a 5$ 10 oz. jar works just as well.

Slight filmy residue left on your skin until you let it fully dry. As said above it does absorb quickly, but it is not instant, and there is an obvious residue left on your skin while it is still “wet”.

Will I buy a full size product of this?

Probably not. 28$ is a lot of money for a moisturizer. I would rather invest it into something else--- like candy J

If you can afford it—check it out. You will not be disappointed and the benefits of quality ingredients are definitely worth it.

Retail price: $28.00 for a 2oz tube

Available @ www.juicebeauty.com

September IPSY review (with swatches/product photos)

Have I told y'all how much I LOVE IPSY?? Ugh, let me count the ways :) 10$ per month, 5 awesome (usually) beauty products for me to try from high end brands...yes please! I'm a broke college student and I can afford it so y'all should really check it out.

To see my thoughts on Ipsy please click here and scroll 3/4 of the way down to see what I think of ipsy in greater detail.

TO THE REVIEW!!!

September's ipsy swag

September's ipsy bag was 4 cute little kittens out of 5 (because there is always five products) Don't judge me, I like kittens.

I received two lip products, one eye shadow, a liquid liner pen, and mascara

J Cat Fantabulous Lipstick FL 107 Honeycrisp
Retails for $2.49 and the entire product line can be viewed here

When I first saw this lipstick I immediately said awww hell no, and I was right. It's supposed to be a nude, but when I wear this I look completely washed out because its close to my actual skin color. I am not sure who this color would flatter, and the reason why this month's bag did not get a 5/5 is because of this product. I do, however, LOVE the texture and SMELL of the lipstick. It's easy to apply and smells like candycorn dipped in marshmallows, which appeases me on a multitude of levels lol After browsing their website, I noticed that they are incredible affordable, and there are several colors worth checking out. I plan on placing an order as I type this so I can give the brand another chance. For the price, ease of application and smell alone.

See what I'm talking about? Where's my lips? lol

Nyx Single Eye shadow in Rock

Retails for $4.50 and can be purchased here

                                                                                

 I am really loving Nyx products right now (after spending a small fortune) at Ulta :) I am never disappointed with their products. This eye shadow is a basic black with subtle hints of glitter. It would be great to use for a smokey eye. The shadow is highly pigmented, and goes on velvety smooth with little fall out (which can be appreciated).

Swatch taken with one swipe of product

Jessie's Girl Waterproof Liquid Liner

Retails for $6.99 and can be purchased here

I cannot even tell you how much I love this liner. I have been looking for this quality of product for a very long time and I cannot believe that this liner is $6.99, it seems like they are basically giving it away. I have always had trouble with liquid liner, and I always thought it was me, but it's not, it was the type of liner I was using. The brush makes all the difference in the world, and this brush is firm, and thin which helps me make more even strokes. You can apply your line super thin or thick with ease which I love. I also love that you don't have to stop to dip for more product, all you do is shake it and then use it like a pen. It doesn't skip, and the product comes out with ease. It's GREAT! Go get some!

      Check out that tip ;)

Make it Thick like I did, or as thin as a millimeter!!!

  

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Mascara

Retails for $19.99 and can be purchased here

This mascara is pretty awesome. I am not a big mascara person (it's not what I horde), but I do like it and it does live up to the name. My pictures suck, but I did see where it lengthened my lashes and made them appear longer. This claims to be a volumizing mascara, but I think its just because it coats the lashes well, which makes you look like you have more lashes than normal. Elizabeth Mott is cruelty free, which I love, and as far as I can tell from their website, the company is in the beginning stages. They only sell two products; this and lash cards (which suck). I'm not sure if I will buy this product strictly because mascara is not something I invest in, but if it was on sale, I'd buy it in a heart beat.

                                                                 Close up of the brush wand

CAILYN Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple

Retails for $19.00 and can be purchased here

I love this so much!! I had never heard of the brand Cailyn before, but I am definitely a fan (ty ipsy!!). This lip balm is the business!!! The packaging includes the lip balm (duh), and a little lip brush for easy application. The handle part of the balm is the brush. It's so amazing, seriously. The staying power is phenomenal and rivals my best lipsticks, the pigmentation is fab, and the application is flawless. Whoever invented this is a genius, no joke! It's definitely on the high-end side for me at 19$, BUT I am a lipstick hoarder so I can see myself spending my money on these. Something else that should be said is that this will literally last me forever. You need very little, and can change the shade depending on how much you use! One swipe will leave ur lips looking flushed, and if you do two swipes you have yourself a perfect apple red mouth :) LOOOVEEEE IT SO SO SO SO MUCH!

One Swipe with the brush = a pretty pink

Two Swipes = Perfect Apple Red

That's all she wrote folks. September was a pretty great month (remember the kitties?!), and I will be enjoying these products for many months to come. After calculating everything I got 40$ worth of product for 10$- a pretty good deal if I do say so myself!!! Every month is different and has a new theme, and it gives me something to look forward too each month, which I think that we all deserve.

If you are interested in joining ipsy, you can put yourself on the waiting list (THAT'S HOW POPULAR IT IS!!) by CLICKING HERE

Do you have Ipsy? What did you think of September's bag?!? Let me know in the comments below

Check me out on Facebook here

Dark Heart Designs Look For Today (actually, yesterday! oops :P )

For the eyes:

1. Start by applying a good primer. I used the e/s primer by Dark Heart (not out yet!)

2. Using an e/s brush apply Beautiful Nightmare to the entire lid using a patting motion (these shadows work best when dabbed not swept)

3. Next, Apply Hope on the outer crease using a fluffy blending brush

4. Apply Bone Daddy (or any hi-lighter) to your brow bone area

5. Line Eyes using your favorite liner (wing out if you want!)

6. Using Nyx Jumbo Pencil in Milk (or any white liner) lightly line your lower lash line, and then go over it with Bone Daddy

7. Apply your favorite mascara

Face:

1. Apply your favorite foundation

2. Conceal if necessary

3. Apply your favorite bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, around your hairline, and jawline.

4. Apply DHD blush in Summertime Sadness to apples of your cheeks.

5. Hi-light with your favorite hi-lighter (I used DHD Seeing Stars)

Lips:

1. Line your lips with a pink lip liner

2. Apply Sophia Lipstick (or a light pink)

3. Apply Marilyn Lipstick (or a deep red)

4. Using a black matte shadow (I used DHD e/s Audrey), take an angled brush and lightly dab the shadow on the corners of your mouth. Rub your lips together a few times to create a gorgeous ombre effect. 

DONE!

All Shadows can be purchased on Dark Heart Designs website by clicking here

Hope you guys enjoy!!

Please "like" my Facebook page by clicking here

Em by Michelle Phan Party Life Palette Sample Review (with Swatches)

I love Michelle Phan (along with millions of other people), so when she finally (FINALLY!) launched her makeup line EM by Michelle Phan, I was immediately intrigued. I have followed along with Michelle since she lived in Sarasota, FL back in 2007. (she lived about 2 blocks from me! *GASP*) Anywho, I think she is incredibly talented, sweet, and drop dead gorgeous, I mean come on have you seen her?!? I didn't want to invest in a life palette just yet because they are 75$, and because it is a new makeup company. I usually don't buy a new anything unless its from a brand I trust and have had a pleasant experience with in the past. A lot of people are complaining because her "life palette's" are so expensive. Well, you have to realize that you are getting 24 eyeshadows, 4 blushes, and 8 lip shades, so the price per item is only $2.08. Still, the initial price shock is hard for people to understand, which I totally get. I am a college student with no guaranteed income (another word for I don't have a job!) so, 75$ is a lot of money for me, especially if I don't know if the product is going to be worth it.

Last week, Michelle was doing an offer to try a sample size life palette of your choosing for 10$ shipping included. I decided that it would be my best opportunity to try it out, because a lot of the times I feel like reviews are biased, or paid for by the larger blogs (you won't get none of that here hunny!).

The shipping was super fast, which I love, because lets get real who wants to wait for your new stuff? Not me!

The Palette came in this cute little pamphlet

When you opened the pamphlet, this is what you saw

This sample contained 3 eyeshadows and one lipstick. The eyeshadows are the three on the bottom, and the lip is in the far right corner.

 SWATCHES

No primer from Left to Right: Medium semi-matte pink, Dark Purpley black with pink and silver glitter, Gunmetal silver with silver glitter, Purple lipgloss with multi flake glitter

With Primer (same colors as above)

Lip Gloss swatch

Used all three eyeshadows for this look with UD primer

Full face look using all products from the sample palette

IMPRESSION

The shadows all felt velvety when swatching them with my fingers, but the color payoff was not good at all, and I had expected a lot more. I only swiped my finger once through each color, and as you can see in the first swatch photo, the colors barely showed up. With primer, the eyeshadows did perform better, but at this price point, and the fact that its considered a luxury brand- the eyeshadows didn't hold up when compared to cheaper alternatives like Stila, Nyx, and even fellow luxury brand Urban Decay. 

During application I had to dig in quite a bit to get any color to show up, and although 2 of these shadows are dark, they actually apply quite softly (not sure if its because I didn't dig into them, or because they really do not have any pigmentation). I am wearing this look during the day, which is odd because this is the "Party life" palette. I expected a lot more vibrancy and POW, and quite frankly, more GLITTER. 

The lip gloss however is really nice. In the palette it is purple with multi colored glitter but it actually applies pretty sheer with just a hint of glitter. I've been wearing it for a few hours now and my lips still feel moisturized and look nice, so that is a plus.

Overall, I have watched and read about 100 different reviews on the life palettes, and it seems that I am the only one who doesn't see much of the hype behind it, which I find odd. 

I am really disappointed in this specific palette, and I cannot fathom spending 75$ for it, when I compare the color payoff to those really cheap Walmart makeup sets that come out around Christmas time and retail for $14.99 (OUCH!!!). The color payoff just isn't there, and the fact that these shadows come in small pans just makes me angry. As said above, I love Michelle, and I totally support her videos and her journey. She is my makeup idol, so this is like a double blow for me. To even write that I was really disappointed by this product really upsets me.

I am going to do some more research, but I don't see myself spending the money for this or any of the other palettes anytime soon. I will however, look into their lip products and palettes because as said before I am quite pleased with the lip gloss sample I received.

FINAL VERDICT: SAVE YOUR $$$$$$

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette (Swatches & Initial Impression)

I am obsessed with Urban Decay products. I have been buying/collecting makeup for only a few years now but I own almost every product that Urban Decay has come out with. When I heard that the Vice 2 Palette would be coming out for 2013's Holiday season, I immediately jumped for joy. I had missed last years palette, so I knew I just HAD to get this.

The Retail price for the Vice 2 is $59.00 and includes 20 shadows/mirror & Shadow/Crease brush. The price is hefty, but if you break it down, you are getting each shadow for $2.95 (a STEAL).

PACKAGING: The packaging is absolutely gorgeous (like any other UD product). It is made of a hard plastic material, and features a really pretty mixture of purples. The UD logo is made out of  rhinestones, which gives it another special touch. ( I also read on their website, that each palette's design is different, which makes each one feel custom)

20 shadows & a Shadow/Crease brush make up the bottom half of the pallet, and the top half is a mirror

SWATCHES: One swipe from each color, NO Primer was used, and the photos were taken with an iPhone 4 in natural light

Row 1 from Left to Right: Smokeout, Lovesick, Shellshock, Coax, X-Rated

Smokout- Dark taupe mixed with black with a satin finish

Lovesick- Black matte with an iridescent micro glitter

Shellshock-Very bright metallic silver

Coax- Medium pink with golden iridescent micro glitter

X-Rated- Baby pink with a satin finish

Row 2 from Left to Right: Prank, Madness, Strike, Stash, Poison

Prank- Deep Navy matte with turquoise pearlized glitter

Madness- Bright metallic blue shimmer with blue micro glitter

Strike- Gold shimmer with silver micro glitter

Stash- Olive green shimmer with micro sparkle

Poison- Charcoal with micro sparkle and a satin finish

Row 3 from Left to Right: Radar, Damaged, Voodoo, Betrayal, Derailed

Radar- Metallic brown shimmer

Damaged- Metallic emerald shimmer

Voodoo- Metallic purple shimmer with purple micro glitter

Betrayal- Bright purple satin with blue shift

Derailed- Medium metallic shimmer brown

Row 4 from Left to Right: Dope, Toxic, Habit, Ambush, Rewind

Dope- Warm champagne colored satin

Toxic- Metallic coppery pinky shimmer

Habit- Nude matte

Ambush- Metallic brown satin

Rewind- Medium brown matte

FIRST IMPRESSION

When I first opened it, I giggled like a school girl because the colors are so vibrant. I love color, and sparkle so this is a perfect palette for me to own. I don't see it being a great choice for people who do not like shimmer eye shadows because out of the 20 shadows there are only 5 that are matte. While swatching the colors I will say that they are insanely pigmented! Urban Decay has a patented pigment infusion system that gives all of their shadows a velvety texture, which is apparent while swatching them. They all feel so silky and soft, even the ones that are chock full of glitter. The pigmentation system also promotes staying power and blendability, which is something that you have to have with darker colors, or colors with glitter to them. If you can't blend the shadows, the application is going to be awful. 

I also love UD because all of their products are cruelty free, so I can feel good knowing that none of their products are tested on animals.

I haven't worn any of these shadows on my eyes yet because I really haven't even worn makeup for a few days ( I am coming down with some sort of flu). But I will for sure be posting a full review, along with eye swatches within a month or so. I want to really experience the shadows on my eyes before I make any judgments on the colors. 

MY FAVORITES FROM THE SWATCH

Shellshock- This silver is INSANE!! It's so glittery and gorgeous, and a little goes a long way.

X-Rated- This is a gorgeous baby pink with a slight sparkle so it's perfect for daytime.

Strike- I'm a sucker for golds, they really make blue eyes pop

Voodoo- Besides the rad name I love this purple, and I don't have a color like it (which I love)

Betrayal- This is probably my favorite from the entire pallet (and I havent even put it on my eyes!) The color shifts between purple and blue and the finish is like velvet. So pretty!

Would I buy this again? In a heart beat!

Recommended for: People who like glitter and bold colors. There is a very limited selection of neutral or matte colors, so if you are more of a nude/matte girl, pick up one or both of the naked pallets.

GO GET IT!