Makeup Wars: Holiday Night Out Look

This week for Makeup Wars we've decided to showcase a holiday look. I was thinking of New Year's Eve (because really, most office holiday parties are long gone). I wanted to go smokey, but given how pale I seem to be right now... well, black wasn't going to happen. I didn't want to look like the hot mess Britney has this season on X Factor (I looked for a while, I can't find a picture, but really, it was bad)...

Anyways, I decided to do a slightly more intense and darker version of one of my every day eye looks.

I prepped my eye area with a little concealer and then a light layer of Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer. Next I added a rough fill of Stila Smudge Stick in Tetra all over my lid. I blended it with my finger.

I patted Stila Grace shadow over my lid, extending it slightly over the edge of the liner.

Next I applied a little Stila Heather shadow into my crease, blending it down and a little bit up on to the brow bone.

A very light highlight of L'Oreal Gold Imperial in the center of my lid. It didn't show up very well in this picture, but in person it was there and pretty!

When lining my eyes I applied Elizabeth Arden Smoky liner first, really smudging it in to my lash line and then a little on my lower waterline. Next to keep the liner intense I applied a line of Stila Stay All Day Waterproof over the pencil.

Next I completed the look! There was a lot of shadow fallout, so I cleaned up with a makeup wipe, and then applied my foundation. I used CoverFX Total Cover Cream Foundation, and then used the IT Cosmetics concealer under my eyes and around my nose. I used Cargo Colorstick in Key West on my cheeks and set everything with CoverFX Matte Setting Powder. This really decreases the intensity of the blush, but with a second layer over the powder the blush will last all day.

Next I finished the eye look. A little Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil and I'm ready for my lashes. I curled them and then layered MAC Plush Lash and CoverGirl Clump Crusher.

Finally, the last touch is lips! A light layer of Passion Fruit Cheek and Lip Stain and then Stila gloss in Grapefruit.


Here's a peek at the completed look again. Not too bad for someone that was up most of the night coughing! I was soooo close to doing a purple smoky eye, so I think that's up next!

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Make Up For Ever's Ultimate Liner Set: The Perfect Liner Set!

I've oogled this set in Sephora in previous years. Was it worth it? Does a girl really need that much eye liner? (Answer: Yes, you need more. I *might* have a bit of an eye liner obsession.)

I'm not sure that I've previously mentioned Make Up For Ever's eye liners on here, other than using them in quite a few looks. When I was sent a set for review, I fully admit that I may have squealed gleefully, run to take pics and then put them in their own little organizer shrine on my vanity. (True.)

The Ultimate Liner Set is out now, and if you're an eye liner lover like me, you really should run out and grab one. While it seems pricy at $160, it really is a steal because the liners are valued at $277! These aren't crazy colors either, they include the basics that everyone needs, a few fun colors to expand your horizons (that emerald green that Pantone is pushing right now is in there too), and the formulas are ahmaazing.

The kit includes a nice sharpener too, but obviously I've swatched the liners here and have some details on the formulas.

Khol Liner is the basic liner that everyone needs. This is a pretty good one, it isn't too soft or too hard. It's that nice in between that glides on to your lash line and smudges pretty easily before it sets up. It isn't water resistant, so it removes pretty easily at night. I like to use it on my upper lash line, though I avoid it for my lower lash line. I tend to sometimes have watery eyes, and if I rub at all this will smear (there's that waterproof thing coming in to play). I use the next liner for my lower lash line.

Colors included:
1K: Deep Black
4K: Deep Green (you need this for the spring!)
9K: Matte Warm Brown


The set includes a lot more Aqua Eyes. This is really the best formula that MUFE makes. It is a bit softer than the Khol liner, and the color is a bit more intense for me. You really need to smudge this one right away, once it sets up it really isn't moving. I love this for my lower lash line and it is perfect for any "moist" situations (crying at a wedding.... swimming in a pool...) you get the picture. It really is waterproof.

Colors included:
0L: Mat Black, black
2L: Pearly Brown, golden brown sheen
3L: Iridescent Navy Blue, navy blue sheen
5L: Bronze Green, golden olive sheen
11L: Purple, metallic purple
12L: Blue With Green Highlights, metallic teal blue
23L: Champagne, metallic pink champagne (perfect for highlighting the inner eye)


Aqua Liner is the one I haven't quite gotten the hang of yet. This is a classic liquid liner. It looks like a fat pen on the outside, but when you unscrew the wand you'll find a thin foam brush. The liner formula is a bit thinner than some other liners, so it does take practice. I can *mostly* get it right, but I admit that I've been lazy and not using liquid liner for the last few months, so I'm only about 95% there. I'll make my liner perfect soon!

Once you have the liner on, it really is beautiful. The shades are deep and rich. The shimmer does show up on your lash line. And it lasts for forever.

Colors included:
4: Diamond Lagoon Green, sparkling blue green
7: Diamond Black Purple, deep violet sheen
13: Mat Black, matte black
15: Iridescent Anthracite, gunmetal gray


Make Up For Ever

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Makeup Wars: What Would A Beauty Blogger Wish For?

This week, the Makeup Wars gals have decided to share what is on our holiday wish lists! I'm concentrating on beauty only, and you'll notice a theme. Namely, I go for eye shadows mostly. To me this is the time of year to stock up on those limited edition palettes that you'll be reaching for year round.


1. Mally Beauty Evercolor Eyeliner Library: This is a QVC exclusive, and I fully admit that I got sucked in by a video that Mally posted on her Facebook page recently, showing how quick and easy an eye look is with these pencils. Mally is the brand I want to try out most in the New Year, and this kit looks fab!

2. Mally Perfect Palette Total Face Kit: More Mally. She uses a lot of these shades in her videos. So I'm obsessing over them.

3. Mally The Perfect Smokey Eye: Notice a theme yet? I like the looks of the shadows in this kit, and I think I'd spice it up a lot with some of the shadows already in my collection.

4. YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick: You know that pic on Pinterest of the girl putting on the perfect nude lippie and it is the YSL? And how most people can wear 1 or 2 and it is ahhhhmazing and drool worthy? I want it. I covet it. And I tried out both shades at Sephora this weekend and it didn't work on me. I might need to just buy it and really try it out, I think applying yourself is a bit different than using the tester. But I really want the YSL or a Chanel in a perfect nude...

5. Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer Trio: I love to stick one of these in my pocket and just go. I'm running out, time to stock up!

6. Too Faced The Return Of Sexy Eye Shadow: I'm usually all about eye shadow palettes at the holidays, and I love the colors in this one!

7. Stila In the Light Palette: I looooove Stila shadows, and this one has just enough neutral and just enough interesting to make it perfect for travel and every day.

8. Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar Palette: Seriously. Just look at those greens. I think I've said enough.

9. Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Portable Palette in Warm Neutrals and 10. Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Portable Palette in Cool Neutrals: Yes, I'm cool toned. I don't care, I think these are both neutral enough (and look at the eye shadows.... ohhhh... my precious....) I think I want both.

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Makeup Wars: My Favorite Holiday Metallics

I've been holding back on you. I had some craziness at work about 2 weeks ago, followed very quickly by the holiday, which means I have all sorts of stuff sitting around my house, that I've been loving and enjoying, and haven't gushed about on my blog yet!

Aren't these shadows gorgeous? They make me want to go all RZ and use words like "amazeballs" and "bananas". (Does she use those words anymore? I stopped watching her show ages ago...)

Anyways, this week for Makeup Wars we are featuring our favorite metallics for the holiday season, and the metallics seem to be an even bigger trend than usual this year! Instead of the typical gold and silver, there are so many variations with bronze, copper and platinum thrown into the mix. The metallics seem more wearable than ever!

These 2 shadows are from Laura Mercier's Art Deco Muse collection for the holidays. I have some other pieces from the collection that I need to share as well, but I'm particularly in love with these 2 shadows and had to feature them here!

The shadows pictured here are Gilded Platinum (left) and Gilded Moonlight. Also available are Gilded Rosegold, and Gilded Bronze.

Somehow these are glitzy without being glittery and overbearing. I've been reaching for them almost daily! I've been using Gilded Platinum under my lower lash line, on the inner 1/3 or so and the tear duct area as a little highlight. It catches the light and has a good amount of shimmer but doesn't scream "DISCO!", which I love. Gilded Moonlight has been so pretty when combined with neutral shades to add a little depth. Sometime, if we ever see a little sun again around here, I'll share pics with everyone.

In the meantime, put these on your Christmas list!








Laura Mercier

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