Helpful Eye Makeup Pictorials

Do you love those smoky eyes you see in magazines? Love to do a cat eye, but can never get it to look right? I recently came across this article on Glamour.com and it has great pictures and instructions, so I thought I'd share - Five Super Helpful Eye Makeup Pictorials. You can see:

• The sultry smoky winged eye
• The traditional cat-eye
• The smoky metallic eye
• The multi-tonal eye
• The 'natural' eye    

(from India-Jewel Jackson on Pinterest)

I've tried the natural eye and it's so easy to do. It takes just a couple of minutes to do both eyes and it's great for an every day look! Now if only I could get my eyebrows to look like those in the pictures...

10 Beauty Products...

I just read an interesting article on Glamour.com: The 10 beauty products every woman should own ...


Their list:

1. blush
2. concealer
3. eye cream
4. red lipstick
5. BB cream
6. mascara
7. dry shampoo
8. deep conditioner
9. face wipes
10. sunscreen

I disagree with a few of their choices. I never wear red lipstick. I never use face wipes for fear that the ingredients will cause irritation or breakouts. And I never (well, almost never) deep-condition my hair. So I made a list of my own...

My list:

1. a good broad-spectrum sunscreen (I like Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion, spf 60 and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock spf 70
2. tinted moisturizer or BB cream (I'm testing some new ones, so I'll let you know my favorites)
3. blush (I love Meow Cosmetics' Delusions - they describe it as a soft, dusty pink, but on me it's a peachy pink)
4. mascara (my favorite is Maybelline's Full & Soft (washable), it's inexpensive & reminds me of Dior Show)
5. mascara base (IMO, the only one worth using is Shiseido's Nourishing Mascara Base)
6. concealer (I really like Amazing Cosmetics' Amazing Concealer - I buy the "to-go" size, it lasts a long time)
7. eye cream (the one I'm using is an eye cream & concealer in one - Olay Total Effects Eye Cream + Concealer - however, I can't find a link for it, so I assume they stopped making it (of course) and I'll soon be on the hunt for a new one)
8. dry shampoo (I use the one from IFP, but I also like Oscar Blandi's Pronto & I've heard Batiste is good)
9. YLBB/nude lipstick/lipgloss (the best will vary since everyone is different, but I like Benefit's Full-Finish Lipstick in Lady's Choice & Sally Hansen's Natural Beauty Forever Stay Moisture Gloss in Sparkling Nude)
10. makeup setting spray (I like Urban Decay's All Nighter)

So what's on your list?

Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer

How many disappointing products have you tried in your search for the perfect concealer? If you're like me, it's way more than you expected - and you're tired of looking. Well, look no further!!

I read about Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer somewhere - and it had really good reviews. I've been wanting to try it for awhile now, but that would involve a trip to Sephora to get samples - and I always seem to forget.

Luckily, an Ulta recently opened about 5 miles from my house - and they carry Amazing Cosmetics. Gus & I stopped in there the other day to take advantage of the $7.99 Shaper hairspray deal, and while I was there, I asked for a sample of the Amazing Concealer. A salesperson helped me determine that Medium Beige was most likely the best color match, and she gave me a generous sample to take home. (There are 10 different shades.)

This stuff is truly AMAZING!! I love it! It has a wonderful consistency, is easy to apply, and offers great coverage. And you only need to use a tiny amount! They gave me about a teaspoon of product - I've used it for a week and I haven't even made a dent in the sample. I apply with a small concealer brush.)

This stuff stays in place all day long - even when I'm cleaning the house or exercising. It doesn't separate at all - it really is unnoticeable except for the fact that it has completely concealed whatever you were trying to conceal. Skin just looks like perfect skin.

Pros: great consistency, easy to apply, waterproof, no creasing, lasts until you remove it with cleanser, a tiny amount gives great coverage, doesn't look "cakey" under powder
Cons: ? - I can't think of any. Price may be a factor for some, but the smaller tube is affordable & should last a long time.
Repurchase? Yes - ASAP!!
Ingredients: Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Petrolatum, Lanolin Oil, Ozokerite, PVP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Cucumbar Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI77492)
Price: $28 for 0.2 oz., $42 for 0.5 oz.
Note: I was a little concerned about breakouts when I saw the first three ingredients, but so far, I haven't had any problems. If I do have issues down the road, I will update this review. Also - when the salesperson tried the Medium Beige concealer on my skin, I felt it was a little too light - but the darker ones seemed to have too much peach in them. After trying it for a week, the Medium Beige is definitely the right shade - so be sure to try the product for a few days before deciding on a color.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind foundation

I really like Maybelline's Super Stay foundation (True Beige), but it's a little heavy - especially for summer. Plus the color only works if I'm sporting a fairly dark medium tan. I wear Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 (Sand) a lot in the summer, but sometimes, it's not quite enough. So I thought I'd give Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment makeup a try.

As you can see, it has a funky domed sponge applicator tip (similar to a flocked makeup sponge), and you turn the maroon collar to dispense the makeup into the applicator (like some lipglosses). Supposedly, this applicator will help "erase" lines. I assume it does this by keeping too much makeup from getting into facial lines. Does it work? Eh. Not impressed. For me, it just seemed to take the makeup right off my face, leaving very little behind.

The label says that the product offers SPF 18 and super-concentrated goji berry & collagen (supposed to tighten & improve skin's elasticity). I can't say for sure whether it works or not because I didn't use it enough to see a change.

I purchased 190 Nude - and that color does work well with a very light sunless tan (like I have in the winter). But it's too light for my summer sunless tan. There is just a very faint fragrance to the product - it's not horrible & does dissipate quickly. It also has a nice texture/consistency - but it is just too sheer for me. It's even more sheer than the LM Tinted Moisturizer.

However - all is not lost! The Maybelline Super Stay foundation that I find too heavy & dark works wonderfully well in summer when mixed 50/50 with the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, which is too sheer & light. It's a really  nice consistency and gives medium coverage. I do find that my face tends to get a little oilier after a few hours with the Instant Age Rewind added, but a little IFP pearl powder or powdered mineral makeup takes care of that.

Are you wondering how I mix the two foundations together when the Age Rewind has a domed covered top? It's easy. I just twist the maroon color until a pea-sized amount of the foundation appears on the applicator, then I use my finger to remove it. I have a small glass rice dish that I use for mixing makeup - so I just put that in the bowl, then add about the same amount of the Super Stay!

Another great deal!

Lauren Luke palette from beautyticket.com

You know Lauren Luke, right? Maybe you recognize the name panacea81 from YouTube? Well, if you didn't already know, Lauren has her own makeup palettes. I bought one when they first came out (I have the Vintage Glams). I really like it except for the eyeliner (I find it too hard to apply - it's not creamy enough). When they first came out, they were selling for $37 each - and for that price, you got two eyeshadow primers, three eyeshadows, a blush, and two lip colors. Great deal, huh?

The deal just got better!! Beautyticket.com has the palettes as their "steal of the week" and they're priced at $17.50 - and you also get a free "My Glossy Lips" gloss!!! Shipping is a flat rate of $6.95 (so you can order other great deals, too!) - and I've ordered from them before without any problems.

Run, run, run before they're all gone!!!