New Year's Eve Makeup Look

On New Year’s Eve I attended a Las Vegas style party with food, drinks, gambling, and lots of dancing. It knew it was going to be a long, sweaty night but I wanted to ensure the longevity of my makeup. To accomlish this I layered products and used products that I knew would last for hours and hours such as my Revlon ColorStay foundation,  Neutrogena Shine Control Powder, and MAC lipgelee. I also used a makeup setting spray to keep it all in place.  Overall I was pleased with the way the look came together.  At the end of the night my face looked as fresh as it did at the start of the party.  

Take a look!

FACE:

NYX Primer

Revlon ColorStay Foundation

Lancome Maquicomplet concealer – under eyes

MAC Studio Finish concealer – to cover blemishes on chin

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (MSFN) – to set makeup

Neutrogena Shine Control Powder – pressed into T-zone

NYX Terra Cotta blush

Ruby Kisses Mineral Powder in Ebony – contour

MAC refined Deeper Bronze

EYES:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

MAC Quite Natural Paint Pot

MAC Spiced Chocolate eyeshadow quad

Wet n Wild matte black

MAC MSFN – transition color

Physicians Formula Eye Definer Felt Tip Eyemarker

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in El Dorado – on waterline

L’Oreal HIP Cream Crayon in Attentive 812 – on lower lash line

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay mascara

Katy Perry lashes by Eylure in Oh Honey!

LIPS:

NYX brown pencil (name is rubbed off)

MAC lipstick in Dressmaker, Dressmaker

MAC lipgelee in Resort Life

*My hair was originally down, but I pinned it over to the side before the party. Happy New Year Lovelies!!!

NARS PURE RADIANT TINTED MOISTURIZER

The Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF30/PA+++ has piqued my interest. A combination of the online buzz, my addiction to tinted moisturizers, and the fact that my MAC StudioTint is running low, led me to Sephora. The plan was to purchase this product, however the $42 price tag stopped me in my tracks. I opted, instead, to get a sample.

For the past few days I've been testing it out to see if I like it enough to purchase it. Here we gooo....

1st try:
The first day I tried it and hated it. I applied it after my regular moisturizer (with SPF) and primer and set it with my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural (MSFN). It was terrible. It had oxidized and made me look red/orange after about 4 hours of wear. I was a freaking grease ball after a few hours! Ummm, no ma'am.
Try again:
I decided that maybe I had done something wrong on the first day. On this day I used a very lightweight moisture serum (no moisturizer/no SPF), primer, then applied the NARS Tinted Moisturizer with my fingers. I set it with Korres Wild Rose Brightening/Flawless Finish setting powder, then pressed Neutrogena Shine Control powder onto my t-zone. It already looked much better! As a part of my experiment, I decided not to blot all day. See picture diary below

7:30 am : moisture serum and primer applied

TM applied; Note the dewy finish

8:00am : TM, concealer, powder/blush added



5:00pm: shiny as hell, but the coverage held up pretty well





Verdict:

As I stated, I decided not to blot for the entire day...unfortunaltely, I was oily by 10:30am! I tried this on multiple days with a varying combination of moisturizers and primers and had the same result. This tinted moisturizer does well when it comes to a lightweight coverage and alightweight  feel on the skin, however it was a miss for me. It left me entirely too oily too early in the day.

Have any of you ladies tried this tinited moisturizer?

Best 12 of 2012

Hi Beauties,

2012 was a year of minimal makeup (and blogging!) for me, but here are my 12 favorite products of 2012. I posted a little description below my most fav products...enjoy!

FACE
Renewal Powder brush - Love. This. Brush. Use it everyday for powder (setting powder, when I'm wearing powder foundation, etc) and it was super cheap at Rite Aid.
Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief - I got this as a free gift with purchase about 6 months ago and after using it almost everyday, still have a little less than 1/2 of the travel sized bottle left. This lightweight serum enhances my regular face moisturizer and allows my skin to remain more moisturized and healthy-looking throughout the day. I believe a full sized bottle costs about $40.
MAC Prep & Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural
Clarisonic - not pictured

EYES
Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart mascara - I literally use this stuff everyday. It gives life to my lashes in the form of volume, separation, and bomb ass length.
MAC Quite Natural Paint Pot
Wet N Wild Vanity palette
Tarte emphasEYEs inner rim brightener

CHEEKS
NYX blush in Terra Cotta - I've included a better pic.

LIPS
Blistex Moisture Melt- actually provides moisture to the lips and doesn't just sit on top of them. It also has a pleasant taste and SPF 15 which is nice.

What were you guys rocking faithfully in 2012?

Curls Unleashed 'Take Command Curl Defining Creme'

Hi Beauties,

Here is a quick product review of a moisturizer from then Curls Unleashed line.

A few months ago I purchased the Curls Unleashed 'Take Command Curl Defining Creme' from Target for about $14.99. I was excited to try it becasue I have used and loved other products from this line.

Description on bottle:
This product is made with coconut, sweet almond and safflower oils and other ingredients. Helps shine, define and moisturize your curls without shrinkage. Great for twists, twistouts, coiling, freestyles, shingling and updo's.

• Perfect for curly and kinky textures
• Free of SD alcohol, parabens and mineral oil
• BPA free

First impressions:
I first applied the thick creme' to my 2 or 3 day old twist out for a little moisture boost. I distrubuted the Curl Defining Creme' throughout my hair, added a light oil, and slept in a bonnet. My hair did NOT feel moisturized in the morning, but instead still felt quite dry. Naturally I tried again adding a little more of the creme and light oil. The results were slightly better but still not great.

The next time I used the product was on damp hair. I applied the creme' over leave in conditioner and instead of using a light oil I used some heavy duty Jamaican Black Castor oil to seal in moisture for a twist out. The results were far better that time around. My hair felt soft and much more moisturized.

Pros:
My hair was more elongated and, after much effort, was adequately moisturized. Some people may appreciate the fact that it is a paraben free product, however this is not a deal breaker for me.
Cons:
When used alone it did not help with shine and provided little definition. It also took alot of trail and error and effort to have properly moisturized hair. Shouldn't a moisturizer just...moisturize?

Verdict:
I need to be quite heavy handed with this creme' (I feel like an asshole everytime I type creme' instead of cream) in order to get decent results. Also, for my thick, dry hair the creme' should be used in conjunction with a heavy sealant. This product costs about $15.00 in the drugstore which is a little to steep to require extra steps/products, in my opinion. The Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter retails for less than half of the price of this product and works amazingly well on my hair.

For someone with hair that is not as thick or dry this may work. Because I paid for it I will attempt to use the entire16 oz. bottle, but for future reference I will stick to what I know. I will not be repurchasing this product.

Creams, Butters, and Serum for Winter

Hi Beauties,

It's beginning to get very cold in my neck of the woods which, for me, means dry skin and hair. Every year with the change of season I change my products to accommodate for drier, colder air.

Face:
In the warmer months, I use an oil free cleanser with a gel-like consistency. This is meant to keep the skin matte/dry in more hot and humid conditions. For the winter months I've switched to Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser ($8.50 at Target). It does not strip the skin of moisture while cleansing which is a plus!
Instead of my usual oil free moisturizing lotion I opt for a heavier, creamier moisturizer -- I recommend Olay Complete all day UV moisturizer SPF 15. See comparison photos below. I also love Blistex Moisture Melts for the lips.
Quick Tip: You may also want to try a serum or moisture gel before you apply your moisturizer if you have very dry skin.

Top: Oil free face lotion; Bottom: Olay Complete moisturizer 

Makeup:

Instead of my usual under eye concealer and powder, I like to apply tinted moisturizer and set with powder. In the winter, powder alone can leave me looking a little cakey; the addition of tinted moisturizer eliminates this problem. I like MAC Studio Moisture Tint {not pictured} but the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is a good drugstore alternative ($8.00 at drugstores).

Body:
I love Body Butter for the winter. My absolute favorite is Mango Body Butter from The Body Shop, however the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Eczema Therapy w/ Argan Oil & Extracts of Frankincense & Myrrh ($9.99 at Target in the baby bath section) is excellent for dry skin. It feels a tad oily upon application but settles into the skin nicely and provides moisture all day.

Hair:
To moisturize my hair I need something a little thicker in the winter. I LOVE Elasta QP Olive Oil and Mango Butter Moisturizer, but have recently purchased the Curls Unleashed 'Take Command Curl Defining Creme' ($14.99 at Target)...I haven't tried it yet, but I'll update you with my thoughts. For best results, top off moisturizer with a bit of oil to seal moisture into the hair. Quick Tip: For dry, itchy scalp try a hot olive oil treatment prior to washing your hair...works wonders!

What do you all use for in the cooler months?

Blemish Balm + Satin Taupe = FOTD

I cannot remember the last time I did my makeup for work. I had a little extra time this morning, so I though...'What the heck?'. I came up with a very simple eye look and a basic face using the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream. Overall, I like the BB cream which looks, feels, and acts like a tinted moisturizer (my base of choice).

There are some skin enhancing properties associated with Blemish Balm (BB) creams which differentiate them from tinted mositurizers. For the record, I do not believe that this BB cream will make my skin better and brighter, but for $9 it's cool so far. I need to play around with it some more before I determine whether or not I like/love/could-care-less-about it.

EYES:
MAC Quite Natural Paint Pot - blended over eyelids with ring finger
MAC Satin Taupe - pressed onto the lid and slightly above with a flat shader brush
MAC Mulch - applied to outer corner with a blending brush
Urban Decay Zero - placed in outer corner and crease (bc Mulch did not show up!)
Wet N Wild matte white - tapped onto inner tear duct area
Milani black eyeliner - applied on top lash line and slightly smudged into a wing
Tarte emphasEYES inner rim brightener - placed on waterline

Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara in black = LOVE!

FACE:

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream - applied very lightly with fingertips (so lightly that you can still see my freckles/moles and pimple!)

Lancome Maquicomplet concealer - blended under the eyes with a flat concealer brush

Cover Girl Queen Collection bronzer in Brown bronze - applied to the hollows of cheeks for contour

Wet n Wild bronzer - applied over CG bronzer as contour and blush

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural - applied lightly with a large fluffy brush to set BB cream

LIPS:

NYX Brown Cafe lip liner

Tarte Lip Surgence Lip Shine in 'Smitten'

Ulta Haul

 I hardly ever go to Ulta because of it's distance from where I live, however I was in the neighborhood a few weeks ago and was excited to grab some things.

Here is what I picked up:

NYX Xtreme lip cream in 08 Skin Tone and 09 Strawberry. I have a previous post about the NYX Soft Matte lip creams and these are just as wonderful PLUS they are very creamy and hydrating.  These lip creams are amazing!! Swatches below.

Maybelline Define-a-Brow pencil. These pencils are very similar to the MAC eyebrow pencils but retail for half the price. I have been having difficulty finding them in drugstores lately, but if you can get your hands on them, I highly recommend. I purchased two!

Essence Clear Mascara/Brow set. This is your standard clear mascara - I use it to set my brows and keep them in place all day.

Katy Perry lashes in Oh, Honey! Haven't worn them yet, but they look promising. Each box contains 1 pair of lashes, 1 small tube of lash adhesive, and an insert with tips to apply lashes like a pro.

Essence gel eyeliner in 01 Midnight in Paris (black). For such an inexpensive brand, thus eyeliner works pretty well and stays all day.

NYX Eyebrow Shaper. This was pencil is supposed to groom browns into shape. I purchased this to use on clients with unruly eyebrows.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone (obviously not from Ulta). Your pores will become invisible and your skin will be as soft as butta. This can also be used on non makeup days for a smooth, mattified look.

Have you tried any of these products? I think the NYX lippies may be my favorite so far!

What has your makeup done for you lately?

This post is super late, but I picked up the Tarte ‘What has your makeup done for you lately?’ set which was available as a QVC exclusive on July 13th. This set came with the full sized products listed below.

· Maracuja Miracle 12-hour Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

· 100% pure Maracuja Oil rollerball

· LipSurgence Lip Shine in smitten soft pink with built-in sharpener

· Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara in black

· modernEYES waterproof creaseless shadow/liner duo

· Retoucher bamboo foundation brush

· There was also an eye cream added to the mix as a ‘Sneak Peak’…nice touch, Tarte.




Photo courtesy of Musingsofamuse.com


Clearly everybody and their mama copped this set (or was gifted this set) and are raving about it
all over bloggerland. I’ll add my two cents in a series of brief posts, quickly detailing my experience with each product.

First up: the eyes. I have been using the Maracuja C-Brightener Eye Treatment religiously for the past several months and overall, I think it is a good product. It is not a moisturizing as I would like, but I have noticed a slight decrease in my dark undereye circles.
The modernEYES waterproof creaseless shadow/liner duo in plumberry and plum brown is a dual ended pencil with a plummy eyeshadow stick on one side and deep purple eyeliner on the other. I used this in the look below and got fantastic results. It applied easily, there was no tugging or unevenness, and it lasted all day with ZERO creasing even though I used it with a sub-par eyeshadow primer as an experiment. Needless to say, I am impressed.

And can we take a minute to discuss this mascara. The Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara is a gift from above. I am seriously in love and will repurchase this mascara as soon as I run out. It lengthens, volumizes, and adds some serious sexy to the lashes. Yes, ma’am!

Do any of you have this set? I was skeptical before purchasing because I have not used many Tarte products, but so far, so good. Up next we’ll discuss the LipSurgence Lip Shine.

I cannot believe I forgot about this lipstick!

My Christian Dior Rouge Dior lipstick in 752 Favori Red. This is a luxurious, moisturizing lipstick with excellent color payoff and longetvity. Let's not forget about the sleek packaging.

I purchased this SOOO long ago and completely forgot about it *hangs head in shame*  I dug her out of makeup drawer, dusted her off and gave her a go. Now I remember why I lover her so...

Maybelline Dream Matte - My Thoughts

Hola! Let's get right to it.

Ok, let me reiterate once again that I am not a regular foundation wearer, however on the occasion that I do wear it, I want it to last all day and look as fresh as possible throughout the day. Usually I have dry skin but due to the recent increase in temperatures and humidity I become oily and shiny in my t-zone after a few hours. The problem is that the foundations that I own for personal use (not to be used on clients) are formulated for dry skin and are intended to leave skin looking moisturized…not good for me during this time of year.

I decided that I needed blow some money and get a summertime foundation to control my oilies. Enter Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation. The website states:

• Revolutionary air-soft mousse provides perfecting coverage for 100% velvet-matte perfection
• Ideal for normal to oily skin
• Fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested, allergy-tested, non-comedogenic – won’t clog pores, safe for sensitive skin

First off, the texture is not something that I’m used to seeing or feeling on my skin. It’s a light mousse consistency that spreads over the skin like buttah. I’ve worn it a few times on the hottest of days and can attest to all the claims. It definitely kept me matte all day, did not cause breakouts on my sensitive skin, and did not look cakey or heavy at all. I really love this foundation for the summer months. I also love that there is a good selection of darker colors in the line.

Take a look below.

BEFORE:

8:00am

AFTER:




5:30pm and still matte with the exception of my cheek area

 As you can see, after almost 10 hours of wear with NO blotting or reapplying throughout the day, my face is still matte. As you can tell by the hair there was a considerable amount of humidity, and based on the sweat where my sunglasses were, it was hot as Haites. This foundation performed excellently.

Other products used on face:

MAC MSFN

Wet N Wild bronzer

NYX Terra Cotta blush

Buxom mascara

Revlon lip Butter in Sweet Tart

Joise Moran Tinted Moisturizer

Hey Guys! Found this SUUUUUPER old post from way back when my hair was colored lol.

I picked up a Josie Moran tinted moisturizer around a year ago. I was super excited because all of her products are infused with Argan oil but was sorely disappointed by the lack of coverage it provided. I am well versed in tinted moisturizers as I wear them/test new ones all the time, but this?...nah. I'll pass. I'm wearing it here with powder.

What is nice about this product is that it contains Agran Oil which is great for the skin. It also makes the product very moisturizing which is nice in cooler months.









**UPDATE** To date, this product has sat unused since this time. Maybe I will use it as moisturizer in the future.
I'm thinking of revisiting this hair color. What do you guys think?

Recent Favorites

Hi MakeupLovers!

Just a quick post to show you guys a few of my summer favorites. Hope you enjoy!

HAIR

Curls Whipped Cream - Great, lightweight moisturizer. This is perfect for the summer because it is not too heavy but still provides  tons of moisture while aiding in the detangling process. I've been using it non - stop for the past few months.

Curls Unleashed No Boundaries Leave-In Conditioner - with - Curls Unleashed Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly - I get LIFE from my hair when I use these two products together. Moisture and hold for days! 

SKIN and SCENTS

Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf - I cannot say enough about the sexiness that it this perfume. It was love at first sniff. I got this little gift set from Sephora for around $35, however this perfume can be pricey if you purchase a full size bottle. 

Clarosonic Mia - I've had this for a year now and I use it every. single. day. Love! After using this for the first time, I was AMAZED by how soft and clean my face felt. It works great with every face wash I've tried so far.

MAKEUP

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (not pictured) - This can be used to set liquid or cream foundations or by itself to provide light coverage. I usually wear this alone on an everyday basis to provide a slight amount of coverage; it also feels very lightweight and comfortable on the skin and allows the skin to breathe in the summer heat.
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in #14- This is the perfect nude lipstick for women of color. Since this is a part of a collaboration between Rimmel and Kate Moss, I'm not sure if it's limited edition however I've already purchased a back up tube...I have a ton of pics while wearing this lipstick.
NYC Sun 2 Sun bronzer- provides great summer bronzy glow. For a quick, everyday face, I apply this to my cheekbones on top of my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish with  a bit of gloss.
MAC Creamsheen in Richer, Lusher - A recent MAC acquisition that gives a great peachy-pink tint to my lips. Perfect for the summer months when I need something light, quick, and easy, which is usually everyday!


MISC

Gel manicures (not pictured) - Theee absolute most convenient creation know to man...well, me. No fuss, no chips, no drying time. Love! Love! Love!
iPad - I purchased an iPad for myself as a birthday gift in March and I've been using it nonstop. Initially I was hesitant to purchase such an expensive toy, but I literally take this thing everywhere and it comes in handy when traveling, working, for school etc.

Don't forget to stalk me on Twitter: @xoxorashida

NARS Laguna Illuminator...

...is so Illuminating! Love the glow it gives.

FOTD featuring Wet N Wild eyeshadow

photo: vampyvarnish.com

Wet N Wild has really stepped their game up! I achieved this look using the WNW Comfort Zone palette and had great results an lots of compliments at my friends birthday gathering.

FACE:
MAC Face and Body Foundation
NYC bronzer in Sun 2 Sun
Estee Lauder blush in Radiant Peach

EYES:
MAC Prep and Prime Eye (review coming soon)
MAC Quite Natural Paint Pot (I think??)
WNW Color Icon Comfort Zone palette (pictured above)
     colors from left side of palette used:
      3rd color on lid
      1st color on inner corner
      4th color on outer corner
MAC Chromographic eyeliner on waterline
MAC Penultimate eye liner on upper lash line
Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara

LIPS:
Pinky-Nude Buxom pencil used to fill in lips
NYX Cocoa lip liner
MAC Creamsheen glass in Richer, Lusher

HAIR:
Dry twist-out using Curls Whipped Curl Soufflé and Eco Styler gel

MAC Face and Body Foundation - My Thoughts

Hey Makeup Lovers!

Typically, I am not a foundation wearer. I'll apply it if I'm attending an event at which pictures will be taken (i.e. wedding, maybe girls night, work events) but on a day to day basis I wear minimal makeup which includes finishing powder and maybe concealer and tinted moisturizer.

Recently I've been experimenting with MAC Face & Body Foundation because of its water-based, water resistant, lightweight properties. I have very sensitive skin and have not experienced any breakouts since testing this out for the past few weeks - THUMBS UP!

PROS:
Lightweight
Water resistant
Sheer but can be layered for a more medium coverage
Photographs well
Dewey finish, but non greasy
Lots of product in the bottle
Great for those with sensitive skin

CONS:
Sheer coverage -  for those who desire a more full coverage foundation this is not it
Some may not like the dewey finish

I'm Alive - Quick Post

I'M ALIVE!!! I took a super long hiatus to focus on life -- get my mother married off, complete my Master's program, have a minor medical procedure...and be lazy and not wear/do any makeup. In any case, I am back and seem to have gotten my blogging mojo back (partially thanks to Mr. Jones).

This is just a quick post featuring a lip product with which I have a love/hate relationship; lately it's been all love. I am referring to NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream. I'd been reading great reviews about these products and picked one up about a year ago in the shade 'Antwerp'...not sure what I was expecting, but I was underwhelmed. It was patchy,streaky and drying and has since been collecting dust in my makeup drawer.

Fast forward to a few months ago and I hear a comparison of the Soft Matte Lip Cream in  the shade 'Amsterdam' to MAC Ruby Woo lipstick...my ears perked up...I checked out some pics/reviews online...then drove to my nearest beauty supply to see for myself.



 



SOLD!!!


Perhaps the formula has changed over time, maybe I purchased a bad tube, but I have not experienced any of the issues with 'Amsterdam' that I had experienced with 'Antwerp'.

Do any of you own this shade? Would you compare it to MAC's Ruby Woo?

Don't forget to stalk me on Twitter for pics that may not make it to the blog: @xoxorashida