Get Ready With Me: Natural Look for the Summer Heat

Here's a new look where you just want a minimal amount of makeup to last throughout a hot, sweaty summer day.  Today is perfect to post a new video because as the sun is beaming through my bedroom window, it reminds me that today is Father's Day.

As I did for Mother's Day, I'm going to write a small blurb about the fathers in my life...

Everyone in my life knows that I'm Daddy's little girl (even though I have a younger sister).  Everyone who knows me knows that I'm my father's "mini-me" and my daughter is my father's "mini-him".  I've inherited a lot of my Dad's personality and mannerisms.  He raised me to always put family first and to deal with life issues once "we cross that bridge".  He has been so supportive in every decision that has changed my life.  My Dad has that special touch when he does anything whether it's the movement of his finger or a word out of his mouth.  Let me explain- on the day of my wedding, I was getting anxious and nervous before the ceremony began.  I was up in the bridal suite with my mom and future mother-in-law pacing back and forth from the room into the hallway and back again.  I haven't shed a tear yet, but I just wanted things to start already.  Suddenly, I heard someone play a song on the piano that brought me back to my childhood.  It was my Dad playing a tune that he would play every morning to wake us up.  I didn't have to lean over the balcony to know that it was him- rather, I started to break down in tears sobbing like a little girl.  Geez, as I'm typing this, I'm already starting to tear up.  Anyway, throughout the wedding, I didn't see my Dad shed a tear or try to keep it together.  He just had that great smile and great host personality with all the guests who were enjoying the wedding.  It wasn't until our "father-daughter" dance that I felt like I was still his little girl.  The world froze around us as we danced to "Butterfly Kisses".  Even though I married the love of my life, my Dad knew that he would always (and forever be) the first man in my life.

Sleeping beauties circa 1987 (?)

Wedding day circa September 2011

So to all the fathers out there, you are the only man in your little girl's life.  You will never be replaced. Rather, you crafted your little girl to be tough and independent so that when she meets "her" man, she expects them to be as great as you.

Here's the video that you've been patiently waiting for.  The items I used are below:

- Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream (Light/medium)
- Maybelline Erase Dark Circles (Medium)
- Make Up For Ever Pro Finish (163)
- Ck One Brow + Gel Duo (400 Crafty Raven)
- Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Trio (Walking On Eggshells)
- Urban Decay Naked Basics
- Tarte Multipleye Liquid Eyeliner
- Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless
- NARS blush (Rotonde)
- Mary Kay True Dimensions lipstick (Color Me Coral)

Get Ready With Me: Coral & Brown for the Day

I've been in a coral crush lately and my makeup can stand up for that.  Every time I see a coral makeup product, I get this sudden urge to purchase it.  Coral has become such a spring/summer fashion and beauty statement.  There's a great range as to how deep or soft you want coral to be.  Well, I've been mixing the colors coral and peach and have created a soft, daytime look that's very easy.

I have a video posted on my YouTube channel for steps to re-create this look.  Items I used are listed below.

- Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream (light/medium)
- MAC Oil Control Lotion
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (Stromboli)
- Maybelline Erase Dark Circles (medium)
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- CK One Brow + Gel Duo (400 Crafty Raven)
- UD Naked Palette (Naked, Buck)
- UD 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil (Sin)
- UD Single Eyeshadows (Freelove, Secret Service)
- Tarte Multipleye Liquid Eyeliner
- Maybelline One by One mascara
- Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara
- Benefit Hoola bronzer
- MAC blush (Peaches)
- Mary Kay True Dimension Lipstick (Color Me Coral)
- Bobbi Brown lipgloss (pink lemonade)

Enjoy the video and this beautiful weather we've been having!

Face of the Day

Morning! Big girl is taking on the Big Apple today.  I want to have this up before I head out to New York City for a job fair with the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority).  Hopefully my luck will change by working in the public sector.  My dream job before going to college was to work for a public agency because I wanted to make a difference in a person's life in an indirect way.  I'm just crossing my fingers that the MTA will take me in since I worked on a project with them before...

Anyway back to what I really wanted to say- I posted a picture on Instagram yesterday (@elaiine27) of my face of the day which I'm wearing this morning.

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (Stromboli)
NARS Concealer (Ginger, this is the old packaging)

Maybelline 24HR Color Tattoo (Barely Branded)
Korres Lip Butter (Jasmine)
Maybelline Define A Brow
Lorac Front of the Line PRO
Maybelline Master Drama Eyeliner

MAC Blush (Small Vanity)
Urban Decay Theodora Palette
Covergirl Clump Crusher
Maybelline One-by-One Mascara

This is another natural all-day look that's simple and easy to put together.  I wonder if I should do a tutorial on this... Have a great day everyone!

DAILY GRINDS

♥ What is up with the weather last night?  Despite my weather app telling me it was suppose to snow, I didn't expect a ton of it to be on the ground.  Man, mother nature doesn't want us to enjoy the fact that spring is just around the corner.

♥ I'm obsessed looking at other people's vanities.  People are so creative with a budget of $100 or $1000.  My vanity is currently a work in progress, but I love seeing pictures on Instagram.

♥ I want a makeup sleepover.  Can someone arrange that for me?

Get Ready With Me! [ Winter Edition ]

Here's my go to look for this winter season.  My signature look is simple eyes and face with a bold red or berry lip.  My lip collection has doubled since the holidays with the bountiful amount of dark lip colors that I've purchased nonstop.

Check out my YouTube channel [link] for the tutorial.  Don't forget to thumbs up and subscribe so you are up to date with my latest videos.

- Mary Kay Timewise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation (Beige 8)
- Maybelline Define a Brow
- Maybelline 24HR Color Tattoo (Barely Branded)
- Urban Decay Naked Palette (Sidecar, Buck, Darkhorse)
- Lorac Front of the Line Pro
- CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara
- Maybelline Rocket Mascara
- MAC Eye Kohl Pencil (Powersurge)
- Maybelline Lash Discovery Mini-Brush Mascara
- NARS Bronzer (Casino)
- MAC Blush (Small Vanity)
- MAC Prep+Prime Lip Primer
- MAC Lip Pencil (Soar)
- Tarina Tarantino Lip Conditioning Sheen (Floriculture)

February Beauty Makeup Haul

The beaming sun through my window is giving me energy to start my day on the right foot.  Also, it reminded me to post my latest beauty haul on my YouTube channel.  This is a massive haul of makeup products that I purchased towards the end of January.  The purpose of these items is to replace the makeup that I have finished or tossed out which turned out to be a lot.  Isn't that a reasonable excuse to purchase more makeup? LOL... Anyway, I'm starting to reach into my makeup caboodle (yes, I store a majority of my makeup in my leopard print case) and pull out items I haven't used in a while.

So, don't judge me for these purchases!  I already returned a couple of items because I have a duplicate from a previous purchase and/or its twin has been stashed away in my closet.  And others have turned out to be a disappointment or I just wanted my money back because buying into the label wasn't worth it.  Don't forget to check out the video!

DAILY GRINDS

♥ My husband and I are going to a beer convention tonight with a few friends.  I figured I'd be DD since I'm not a heavy drinker.  But later realized it'd be pointless for me to go if I go as DD.  So tonight we'll be sipping on beers from around the world.  Cheers to Beerfest!

♥ I'm constantly searching for a makeup vanity for my new house.  I've stumbled upon different kinds from a simple desk to very ornate ones that are over the top.  I want one that has a decent size mirror, a drawer under the table and maybe a side drawer so I don't have to purchase a lot of storage units.  Where can I find a decent vanity???

♥ I'm rooting for the Baltimore Ravens this weekend!!!

Date Night Makeup

I rarely do date night with friends or with my husband.  When you're a parent, date night consists of any valuable time where there's no noise resonating in the house.  The minutes after your child falls asleep is positively the best part of the night until you or your husband starts cleaning the house, falling asleep on the couch while watching tv, or your husband starts drifting into his computer gaming world.  So, when I saw a date night makeup tutorial on YouTube, I wanted to give it a shot and recreate the look with what I have.

Just Another Manic Monday

I've collected a ton of makeup since last year and today I feel like sharing one of my biggest collections from Urban Decay.  I have always loved this brand since high school, but never really used the products (religiously) until last year.  My sister used to buy Urban Decay products back in the day and was one of those girls who wore a ton of makeup, but made it look effortless and natural.  Now, she's a simple girl who just throws on eyeliner, mascara and lip balm and calls it a day.

I thought my Urban Decay collection would look a bit out of control, but I guess it looks reasonable with the amount I've purchased in the past year.  I love my UD palettes especially my Naked palette.  I used to own Naked 2, but found myself gravitating more to the original.  I ended up giving it to my sister for her birthday last October in mint condition.  You can say I am obsessed with their eye shadows more than anything else.  (Ahem- I also am obsessed with their primer potion and setting spray.  I think I'm working on my 3rd tube and bottle right now.)  I believe the quality of the eye shadows are long lasting, vibrant and creative.  As long as you apply an eyelid primer, your eye makeup lasts forever!

I definitely want to venture into other products from this brand.  I'm currently loving their lip gloss that's a plumper, but want to try their jumbo lip pencils.  I remember during one of my trips to Ulta I wanted to splurge on their eyeshadow pencils because they're so creamy and long lasting (duh, it says 24/7 on the pencil!).  But I quickly found dupes of the pencils I wanted on the other side of Ulta and a las did not purchase these beauties.  I've read reviews and watched a ton of videos of people raving about different Urban Decay products that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Which ones are your favorites?  Definitely leave a comment on what I should try!  Note: I'm on the fence about purchasing Naked Basics palette.  Should I or shouldn't I?

Ice Blue Princess Holiday Look

It's close to Christmas and I'm finally posting some last minute holiday looks that I created a few days ago.  This is fun and festive with the whole icey blue look.  This reminds me of the Alaskan sky with the different shades of blues, grays and purples- don't be thinking 50 shades of grey!  

Elegant Blue Eyes Makeup Tutorial

It's been a while since I've done a makeup tutorial, but I had a great time filming this most recent one.  Today's look is all about the color blue.  I always thought I couldn't pull off the color blue because in the end, it would turn out looking purple.  But, after months of practice and learning how to use certain makeup brushes, this is my first time debuting a blue eyeshadow look.  Check out my video on how to work this look.  Products used can be found below.

PRODUCTS USED:
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer (medium)
- MAC Pro Longwear SPF10 Foundation (NC40)
- MAC Studio Fix Powder (NC40)
- Tarte 12-hr Smoothing Eye Primer
- Maybelline Eyestudio (Saphire Stylist)
- Urban Decay Smoked Palette (blackout, kinky, freestyle)
- Josie Maran Long-Lasting Eye Liner (black raven)
- Maybelline Line Stiletto
- Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
- NARS Bronzer (casino)
- MAC Blush (Pinch Me)
- MAC Cremestick Liner (Sublime Culture)
- Korres Mango Butter Lipstick (Natural Pink 13)

Just Another Manic Monday

Hey friends!  It has been a while since I've featured any makeup item, but I finally got my hands on something that I've been wanting to try for a long time.  The item I'm talking about is the Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation.

This item may or may not seem new to you because this has been in the market for a while now.  But, I wanted to wait for the right time to pick it up which turned out to be now as we transition into fall.  I tested this item at Sephora where the makeup artist/salesperson tried to sell me the Stila Stay All Day Forever Foundation & Concealer.  Of course, I was only interested in the Urban Decay foundation but she did a good job in almost convincing me to purchase the Stila product instead.

Product Showdown: Setting Spray

I've been building up my makeup collection since the beginning of the year and have dedicated a lot of time in researching the pros, cons and differences between items that serve the same purpose.  After all of my purchases and will power to avoid buyer's remorse, I decided to do a showdown between items that serve the same purpose but have different labels.  So here we go!

First up is Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray.  This product can be purchased in travel size at 0.34 fl oz, normal size at 4 fl oz, or XL size at 6 fl oz.  The retail price is $12, $29 and $34, respectively (based on the Urban Decay website).  You can purchase this online or at any beauty store that sells Urban Decay (for me, my local Ulta, Macys and Sephora).  As the name of this product implies, this setting spray is meant to set your makeup once applied.  You can spritz this all over your face after applying your face makeup (foundation, concealer, powder, etc.) or once you're done applying all of your makeup.  Just shake the bottle and spray a few inches over your face.  Let it dry for a bit and then you're set.  Easy as pie!  Another addition to this line of setting sprays is that it comes in 3 different types: All Nighter which is the original and great for all skin types, De-Slick for those with oily skin, and Dew Me for those with dry or combination skin.  The sizes and prices are the same as All Nighter.

The challenger is Model in a Bottle Makeup Setting Spray.  This product can only be purchased in one size at 2 fl oz and can be purchased at $18.  You can purchase this through the company's website or any bargaining website (I purchased mine plus other items on HauteLook) or, if lucky, at any makeup show such as IMATS (International Make-Up Artist Trade Show).  The packaging is a glass bottle with a frosty finish and has a gold cap.  Just like the Urban Decay setting sprays, the directions on this product says to "close eyes and spray evenly about 10-12 inches away from face.  Allow 20-30 seconds to dry before opening eyes".  This spray seals your makeup and is resistant to smudging, humidity, water and tears.  It's long lasting and leaves your face with a matte finish.

And the verdict is...Urban Decay wins in the setting spray category!  First off, Model in a Bottle is over-hyped.  It sucks that you can only purchase this online and it has a horrible powdery scent.  It's pretty strong that the scent lingers not only on your face, but in the room.  Definitely hold your breath when spritzing your face because if you inhale while spraying, your nose will hate you for a while.  As I mentioned earlier, I purchased this through HauteLook.  The deal (at the time) was $10 for the 2 fl oz bottle.  I decided to purchase 2 bottles ($20 for 4 fl oz) since the price and size is comparable to the Urban Decay All Nighter spray ($29 for 4 fl oz).  After assembling the bottle, I couldn't remove the cap.  With all my strength, it just wouldn't budge.  It came to a point that the whole gold top came off and all that was left was the spray tube with no nozzle.  I had to transfer the bottle into an empty, travel size spray bottle.  The other bottle is sitting in the back of my closet.

Overall, setting spray is setting spray.  I've gone through 2 travel size bottles of All Nighter.  Even though I have oily/combination skin, I have yet to try De-Slick but assume I'll get the same results as All Nighter.  Maybe my next purchase will be the XL size so that I can transfer it to the travel size bottle once I'm done with Model in a Bottle.

What are your thoughts on what I just showcased?  Let me know!