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BLOG SALE: MAC Limited Editions

Hey everyone!
I am cleaning house, so I would love to give some of my barely used limited edition MAC products new homes. Here are the rules:

Please note I ONLY take Paypal and it's first come, first serve. Please comment below with your email (or send me an email) and which product you are interested in and I will send you an invoice. You have by 8pm to pay and it will be shipped all out tomorrow. If you don't pay by 8pm the next person who is interested will be contacted. Please add $3 for shipping in the United States and $5 for international shipping.


MAC LE Eye Shadows: ALL $15.00
ALL used one or two times

Top left going clockwise: Modelette (Warm & Cozy), Buckwheat (Naked Honey), Bright Future (Style Warriors), Chamomile (Warm & Cozy)

Top left going clockwise:  Lilac Touch (Ungaro), Mineral (Ungaro), Of Summer (A Rose Romance), Silverthorn (A Rose Romance)

Top left going clockwise:  Haunting (Makeup Art Cosmetics), Playful (Barbie), Deep Shade (Blonde, Brunette, Redhead), Blue Storm (Naughty Nauticals)

MAC Blush: $20 Used once each

Fun & Games (Hello Kitty) and  Eversun (Style Warriors)

Shadesticks: Used twice each (about 95% left) $12.00

Cakeshop (Sugar Sweet) & Nurture (Warm & Cozy)

Lip products:

Buzz Lip Glass (Naked Honey) $10

Beachbound (To the Beach) w- box  $12

Any questions about any of these products please email me at sestokes13@hotmail.com
 

HAPPY SHOPPING!

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss: Natural & Smokey Look

I never really paid much attention to the cosmetics brand NYX before.  I had seen it at Ulta before never gave it a second glance.  Then I started watching tutorials on MakeupGeek’s YouTube channel and saw Marlena use several of their products. So the other day I was at Ulta and saw that NYX was on sale. I decided to check out a few of their Mega Shine Lip Glosses, the colors I picked are Natural & Smokey Look.

Top: Smokey Look  Bottom: Natural

Both glosses are very shiny & apply smoothly on the lips. They have a cream finish that is relatively pigmented. Natural is a fleshy nude pink that really enhances the color of my lips.  Smokey Look is a slightly milky peach nude.  This color lightens and brightens up my pout without looking to milky when applied.

L to R: Natural, Smokey Look

Overall, I am pretty impressed with the NYX glosses. They are a quality product with a small price tag. I will definitely be purchasing more of these in the future.

Lip of the Day: Chanel Beige Felin & Petit Peche

When I was out shopping this weekend, I stopped by my favorite Chanel counter. I haven’t really been by any Chanel counter recently, so I wanted to sit down and look at some newer products. I left the counter with several products, two of those being Rouge Coco in Beige Felin 01 ($30) & Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Petit Peche 148 ($27).  This combo is definitely going to be my new everyday fall lip. 

Beige Felin in the tube and when swatched is a neutral rosy brown, but when applied to my lips pulls a light more peachy brown.  It has a light creamy texture and gives semi-opaque coverage. I find that this formula is indeed very hydrating and seems to be quite long wearing.  I can go up to three hours without reapplying, which is a miracle for me because I am constantly rubbing my lips together.  

Beige Felin

Petit Peche is a sheer peachy pink with subtle shimmer. As with all Chanel glossimers, Petit Peche adds plenty of shine to your lips. Petit Peche is sheer when applied to lips, with a hint of milkiness. It’s a great color to through on easily when you are out and about.

Petit Peche

Now together these colors make a beautiful pair. The peach pinky shimmer goodness of Petit Peche really complements and brings out the peach in Beige Felin. The combo is great for everyday and night as well.

L to R: Petit Peche, Beige Felin

Lipstick & gloss applied together

Foundation Search

 As I mentioned in my earlier post on my foundations, I had gone to Sephora and picked up three samples of foundations that I wanted to try.  I got samples of NARS Sheer Glow, Make Up Forever HD and YSL Teint Resist. Here are my thoughts after trying all three…..

Out of all three foundations I tried, I would say my favorite is the YSL Teint Resist ($55).  The color I was matched to was #4 Sand which is for light to medium neutral beige complexions.  This is an oil-free foundation with a spf 10 that claims to smooth out your complexion and absorb excess oil.  First, I noticed that this foundation has a nice clean smell. Some foundations I can’t use because they smell awful.  Teint Resist applies nicely with a foundation brush and provides a light coverage although it can be layered to create heavier coverage if needed.  It found that this foundation wears very well and doesn’t feel tight on my skin like some oil-free foundations can.   I didn’t need to touch up with Blot powder hardly at all through out the day, which is always nice because I can get pretty oily.  All in all, I am pretty impressed with this foundation and might possibly be purchasing a bottle in the near future.

Next, I tried the Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($45) in the color #120 which is a soft sand color for medium light complexions with yellow undertones.  I have read so many reviews were people have raved about this foundation so I finally gave it a go.   This is also an oil-free foundation that offers medium to full coverage and give you a flawless finish.  Swatches of all the shades available can be found on KarlaSugar’s blog here.

The last foundation that I tried was NARS Sheer Glow ($42) in Fiji (light#5).  Once again, I had read and seen amazing reviews about this foundation.  I was a little hesitant because it was not oil-free, which is not always good for my skin.  This foundation offers a satin finish that gives you lightweight coverage and glowing skin.  When I first applied this foundation it seemed light and non-greasy. It gave a nice coverage and did give my skin a subtle glow.  After time though, my skin became greasy looking and felt greasy, which led to endless blotting sessions.  I really do wish I could use this foundation because I like the coverage I get with it but my skin will not deal with it not being oil-free.  If you have normal to dry skin, you should definitely give NARS Sheer Glow a try. Swatches by KarlaSugar here.

NOTD: Essie Sew Psyched

I was at Ulta the other day browsing around and stumbled upon the 2010 Fall collection from Essie.  Out of the six new shades offered, I decided to try one of them. 

Sew Psyched is a military grayish green with a cream finish with slight shimmer.  Vert from Chanel. Sew Psyched from Essie is definitely a more affordable option if you don’t want to spend the money on Chanel.  Especially on a color like this were you may not wear it as mush as other colors such as nudes, pink or reds.  After about two coats you get a great opaque finish. If you want a little something different for fall, I would go check this polish out.

Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color: Pink Dusk

I have been debating for some time now whether or not to purchase any of the lip colors from the Tom Ford Beauty line.  The line consists of 12 lip colors ranging from nude to deep purple.  The though of purchasing a lip color sight unseen for $45 dollars weighed heavily in my mind.  Luckily I have read and seen various reviews online on how amazing this lip colors are, I had to have at least one.

First, we must talk about the gorgeous packaging of this product.  The tube is white lacquer with gold trim and looks very expensive and chic. Each lipstick has the initials TF imprinted in them which is a cool touch.  Pink Dusk is the color that I finally decided on after debating between that color and Blush Nude.  Pink Dusk is a neutral cream pink that is very pigmented.  The formula is very creamy and smooth, with a vanilla scent. Other bloggers have compared the Private Blend lip color to YSL Rouge Volupt and I totally agree. I like the cream finish it gives you when applied but I also like to add a little Bobbi Brown Crystal lip gloss to give it some shine.  Overall I really I quite happy with this product and the only bad thing I would say is that the color selection is very limited. Hopefully more colors will be launched in the future.

Pink Dusk

Edward Bess: Secret Desire & Endless Love

I was so excited when I saw that my order from Neiman Marcus had arrived yesterday.  The reason I was so excited was that inside that little box was something I was super duper pumped about.  I received two products from Edward Bess, Ultra Slick Lipstick in Secret Desire ($32) and Deep Shine Lip gloss in Endless Love ($30).  This is my second Edward Bess order because I simply love the first lipstick & gloss I purchased in Pure Impulse & Soft Whisper (see that review here).

Secret Desire Ultra Slick Lipstick is a beautiful neutral pink.  To me, it is the perfect “my lips but better” lip color.  I love it! It has a cream glossy finish that applies like a dream and excellent pigmentation. I will definitely be carrying this color with me wherever I go. So far, Edward Bess lipsticks have really impressed me.

Ultra Slick Lipstick in Secret Desire

Endless Love is a new edition to the Deep Shine lip gloss collection.  It’s a creamy baby pink that makes my bare lips look natural and glossy. It also looks amazing over Secret Desire and gives that lip color an extra glossy look. I love the way the Deep Shine lip gloss feel on my lips, very light and moisturizing.  Plus, I adore the fig scent that all the products have.  This will definitely be a go to lip product for me from now on and I looking forward to purchasing more Edward Bess products in the future. I believe he will be coming out with new lipstick and gloss colors in December.

Deep Shine Lip Gloss is Endless Love

NOTD: Ginger + Liz Not On The First Date

Since I loved the nail polish in "Swagger" I purchased from Ginger + Liz, I decided to order a couple more polishes that caught my eye.  I decided on "Not On the First Date" from the fall collection that was released recently. 

This polish is described as a creamy lavender taupe, which really is the perfect description.  When I saw it online the color looked more pink but I am quite happy with the actual lavender color. I am really into neutrals right now when it comes to my fingernails, so this is a perfect new addition to my collection! 

Small Paul & Joe Beaute Haul

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I never really had much interest in Paul & Joe Beaute.  I peeked at it from time to time and read review on various blogs, but nothing really jumped out at me.  Well after getting the lipstick C in Clair de Lune from the Autumn collection, I decided to try some other products.  After browsing on beautyhabit.com, this is what I decided to purchase…..

The first product I purchased is a lipstick S in the color Caravan ($22) from the Summer 2010 Sahara collection.  First of all the packaging for this limited edition lipstick is so pretty.  It’s a light turquoise plastic tube with a floral fan print that definitely reminds me of a posh desert oasis.  Caravan is a sheer bright shimmery pink with a hint of gold sparkle.  The lip color feels very smooth and light on my lips and gives a nice shimmery sheen.  It’s a perfect lip color to give you a sheer bright pink pout.

Next, I decided to try one of Paul & Joe’s single eye shadows which they call eye color G ($20).  The color I picked was Nugget 001, which I believe may be discontinued. Beautyhabit’s website described Nugget as a “gold infused fawn shimmer” but I don’t get much fawn out of it.  To me it is a light golden bronze shimmer and when applied to my lids takes on a coppery tone.  It’s nicely pigmented and not overly shimmery or frosty.  The texture is soft and blends nicely. I will definitely purchase more shadows in the future.

The last product I bought was Face Color is Canyon ($24). Each face color comes with two colors that are in crescent moon shapes that allow you to mix the colors or use separately.  The left side of Canyon is a light shimmery peach highlight color and the right side is a bright pink blush with a soft sheen. Mixed together you get a bright peachy pink with subtle shimmer which looks beautiful on your cheeks.  This blush is very soft in texture and is not overly pigmented. I am quite surprised at how long the face color lasts on the cheeks. I didn’t feel like I needed to touch it up as I have to do  with other blushes.

Overall I am very pleased with my Paul & Joe purchase. I will most definitely be purchasing more of their products in the future, plus I just found out that a boutique in my town carries the line! Yeah!! Talk to you all soon!

Favorites - Eye Shadow Brushes

I owe all my makeup skills to my brushes. They are like my little babies.  With the help of great eye shadow brushes, you can create the most flawless looks. Here are the brushes I can't live without.

1. MAC 217 - Blending Brush $22.50

2. MAC 219 - Pencil Brush $24.50

3. MAC 239 - Eye Shader $24.00

4. MAC 266 - Small Angle Brush $19.50

5. Sigma E70 - Medium Angled Shading $9.00

6. Sigma E35 - Tapered Blending $9.00

What are your go to eye shadow brushes??

Favorites: Cream Blushes

I have always been a powder blush kinda girl. Having combo/oily skin, I never really had an interest in trying cream blushes because I thought they would be greasy on me. That all changed when my local MAC artist used one of their cream blushes on me during a run through for my wedding. I never realized how long lasting and dewy looking cream blushes could be and from then on I was hooked. Since then, I have accumulated a few cream blushes that I really love and use all the time. Here are my favorites….

NARS Penny Lane, MAC Ladyblush, Jouer Petal, MUFE HD Quickie

MAC Ladyblush blushcreme ($18.50) was the first cream blush that I ever purchased and I love it. MAC blushcreme’s are very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. Ladyblush is a beautiful cool pink with a cream finish, no shimmer here. It leaves a rosy, healthy glow when applied on the apples of the cheek. I either use my fingers or my handy MAC 109 brush to apply.

 

 

MAC Ladyblush

 

Jouer cosmetics is a brand that I first read about in various fashion & beauty magazines. I purchased a few of their products a couple years back and have loved mostly everything I have gotten. One of the standout products for me is Jouer’s Cheek & Lip Tint ($20) in the color Petal. Petal is a soft rose pink with a soft shimmer finish. It’s almost not even a shimmer but a sheen. The formula isn’t super pigmented so you don’t need to worry about using too much and it’s very blendable. I keep this in my handbag for on the go cheek/lip touch ups! If you have a chance you should check out Jouer’s website for all their great products. (www.jouercosmetics.com)

Jouer Petal Tint

I received a deluxe sample at Sephora of Makeup Forever HD Microfinish blush in #6 Quickie. MUFE released this new blush formula. This is a cream formula that comes in a pump form. Quickie is a salmon coraly pink that is super pigmented with a cream finish. One thing about this packaging is that you need to be careful and not pump out too much product. Since it is so pigmented you only need half of a pump. I have swatched it unblended and blended. This color is a little bright, but once it is blended, you get a nice peachy pink flush that lasts and lasts.

 

 

MUFE HD Blush in Quickie - Left swatch Blended out

 

The last of my favorite cream blushes is from NARS in the color Penny Lane ($26). This is a cream to powder blush with a sheer cream finish. Penny Lane is a soft nude pink color that is perfect for my NC25 skin. I love using this color when I do a strong smokey eye because it gives the perfect pinky nude color to the cheeks that doesn’t compete with your eyes. The cream to powder finish is nice because it doesn’t feel sticky at all. It almost has a silky feel when you blend it in.

NARS Penny Lane

As you can see Penny Lane is very light nude and is the lightest of my cream blushes. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my favorite cream blushes and if you have any suggestions on one's I should try, let me know! Talk to you soon!