Showing posts with label Urban Decay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Urban Decay. Show all posts

Urban Decay Smoky Palette Swatch and Review

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Urban Decay Smoky Palette Swatch and Review

Urban Decay released their Smoky Palette earlier this summer and the blogosphere went nuts. I bought the palette on the first day it was available, basically stalking the Urban Decay website until it appeared!

And once it came... I wasn't quite sure what to do with it.

The colors are beautiful. As usual, Urban Decay has created shadows that are well pigmented, blend well and last all day, particularly when used over one of their Primer Potions.
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Top 10 Tuesday: My Favorite Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes

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Top 10 Tuesday: My Favorite Neutral Eye Shadow Palettes

I love a good eye shadow palette, and if the shadows are neutral, then I love it even more! Here's a peek at the neutral shadow palettes that I'm obsessing over right now. And really, is it any surprise that the first 3 are from Bobbi Brown, given my recent obsession? I didn't think so!

1. Bobbi Brown Greige Eye Palette: The newest one from Bobbi, this really is full of the perfect taupey-grey beige colors. Both matte and shimmer. Read my full Greige Eye Palette review and swatches, buy the palette from Bobbi Brown or Nordstrom.

2. Bobbi Brown Secret to Standout Eyes: This was the special palette from the Nordies Anniversary sale, but you can buy it still, just at a slightly higher price now. It's taken up permanent residence on my vanity counter, it is pointless to put it away! I'm hoping Bobbi releases Oyster as a shadow single, I'll probably hit pan in the next month or so. Here is my Secret to Standout Eyes review, you can buy the palette from Bobbi Brown or Nordstrom.

3. Bobbi Brown Shimmering Sands Eye Palette: Check out my full Shimmering Sands Palette Review and Swatches, you can buy the palette still from Bobbi Brown or Sephora.

4. Too Faced Boudoir Eyes: This is one of my old stand bys, I'm on my 2nd palette. Yes, I repurchased a palette. That is love people. Read my Too Faced Boudoir Eyes review, you can buy it from Too Faced or Sephora.

5. Urban Decay Naked: How could you have a neutral palette list without this palette? You can't. It's a classic and it works for everyone. It is definitely worth the steep price! Buy it from Urban Decay, Sephora or Nordstrom.

6. Urban Decay Naked Basics: This palette is filled with the neutral mattes that go perfectly with the Naked palette, and there's a #2 version to go with Naked2 (I have both, but prefer this version). Definitely get it if you find you are hitting pan on the neutral mattes you need to create looks and you're hitting pan! Buy it from Urban Decay, Sephora or Nordstrom.

7. Urban Decay Naked2: I think this palette is likely the most universally useful/flattering of the 3 Naked Palettes. Buy it from Urban Decay, Sephora or Nordstrom.

8. Urban Decay Naked3: This isn't for everyone, the rose-gold leaning of this palette is definitely easier for some to pull off than others. But, it's the Naked palette I reach for the most! Buy it from Urban Decay, Sephora or Nordstrom.

9. MAC Nordstrom Naturals Eyeshadow Palette: There are slightly different versions of this palette, but this one is my favorite. It has MAC shadows like Satin Taupe, Carbon and All That Glitters. For an amazing price! I use mine frequently. I have pictures taken, I'll try to get a full review up soon! Buy it from Nordstrom.

10. Stila Eyes Are the Window Shadow Palette in Soul: I have this in Soul and Spirit, and I use them a lot! I use Soul a little more frequently, that's why I've featured it here. Check out my Stila Eyes are the Window Shadow Palette Review and Swatches, you can buy it at Sephora, ULTA or Nordstrom.






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10 Best Natural Foundations

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10 Best Natural Foundations

With the advances being made in makeup, it is getting easier and easier to get perfect, flawless and natural looking skin, no matter how what your skin issue. I've pulled together some of my favorite foundations, they range from super light to full coverage, they come at almost every price point, but they all blend out to look very natural.

1. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup (review): This foundation blends very easily, and you can layer it to go from a light/medium coverage up to full.

2. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer (review): This is the lightest coverage of the bunch, it is super light. This is just enough coverage to even out my skin in the summer time, many of my friends use it when they're tan.

3. L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup: This foundation comes in a great variety of shades and it seems to work for almost everyone. It is a medium coverage but layers to increase the coverage easily.

4. Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation (review): This foundation is a light medium coverage, there's a bit of shimmer to make it more radiant.

5. Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation: I just started using this, and it is super easy to vary the amount of coverage with this foundation! Just use a smaller or bigger brush.

6. Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation (review): A medium to full coverage foundation, the coverage can be varied with wetting down the sponge you're applying with.

7. Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation (review): Similar to the Urban Decay, but I think a little lighter coverage.

8. Revlon Colorstay Foundation: This is every makeup artist's drugstore pick, at least from the interviews I conduct! It's definitely a great one to try out is you have combination or oily skin.

9. L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder (review): This is great in the summer, it is super lightweight and when you apply the liquid turns into a very light layer of powder.

10. CoverGirl TruBlend Liquid Makeup (review): This is my favorite drugstore foundation. It blends very easily for medium coverage.


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15 Great Shine Fighters: The Best Products to Help You Mattify

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15 Great Shine Fighters: The Best Products to Help You Mattify

It's the middle of the summer, which means my face is a big shiny mess. Make is melting off by mid-day, and there's definitely a lot of oil. Unless I take measures to prevent the oily skin and mattify! There are a lot of great products out there to help, here are some of my favorites.

Primers

1. Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer
2. Milk of Magnesia
3. MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment
4. Make Up For Ever All Mat
5. Cargo HD Picture Perfect Mattifier
6. NYX Shine Killer

Powders

7. Mattify Cosmetics Mattify ULTRA Powder (Pink Sith's Review)
8. Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder
9. Dior Airflash Matte Touch (spray on powder)
10. Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

Sprays

11. Ben Nye Final Seal
12. Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray
13. NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray

Blotting Papers

14. Clean & Clear, Clear Touch Oil-Absorbing Sheets
15. Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers



Avoiding Shine: Tips and Tricks to Mattify Your Face

If you're not sure how to use all of these products to make your face matte, go check out my post on eBay, Avoiding Shine: Tips and Tricks to Mattify Your Face!

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Urban Decay Naked Flushed Review and Swatches: Everything You Need In One Palette

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Urban Decay Naked Flushed Review and Swatches

Urban Decay has slowly been adding more and more products to their Naked line, have you noticed? While I'm a big fan of all the eye shadow palettes (Naked2 is my favorite), the double ended 24/7 Glide On Liners and the foundation, I think this might be my favorite yet! They released their original Naked Flushed palette a while ago, somehow I haven't tried it yet. But three new shades have just been added to the collection, and I'm in love!

Each of these palettes is pretty large. They contain a trio of very finely milled products. Don't let that palette fool you, there's enough of each to fill a regular full sized container. Each trio is meant to work together for your look, and there is a bronzer, a highlighter and a blush. Everything you need to highlight/contour/glow!

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Review and Swatches

Since the original Naked is more of a medium-pink (I don't have it, so no comparison pics, sorry!), the 3 new shades all fill the colors you'd want to see as well. Native is a lighter pink, Streak is more of a peach and Strip is mauve. And yes, Strip makes me look a bit bruised? I do think they would all work with any skin tone, though on such light skin I would use a very light hand with Strip!

I thought for sure that I'd be using Native the most often, I seem to always be drawn to pink blushes. But, the bronzer in Streak is a tad lighter and the golden glow of the highlighter seem to work better for me. So, I'm using Streak a bit more often.

I think these palettes are a steal if you use blush, bronzer and highlighter every day. They're also very compact for travel.

Which trio would you use?

Urban Decay Naked Flushed
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19 Best Urban Decay Electric Palette Eye Shadow Tutorials

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Urban Decay Electric Palette Review and Swatches

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Urban Decay Electric Palette Review and Swatches

The Electric Palette arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago, but with a few things going on in my "real" life, I admit that I only broke it out for pictures a few days ago.

Urban Decay Electric Palette Review and Swatches

When I first opened it, I was a bit unsure about it. The colors are bright, well pigmented and very, very not my usual style. I work in a conservative field and live in a somewhat conservative area. What would I do with a color like Gonzo or Thrash?

I think the answer is selective color punches in small areas. Pretty much all of these colors can work even for me, if used with neutral shades. You don't need to use Gonzo, Freak and Thrash all together. Instead you can use a small amount of Urban at the lash line and keep everything else nice and neutral.

Urban Decay Electric Palette Review and Swatches

The palette has 10 shades, 8 of which are new.

Revolt: bright metallic silver shimmer w/silver glitter. This silver was also in the Anarchy Palette (which I did eventually get after falling for the Shattered Case. I never reviewed it because it was already out of stock pretty much everywhere, but if UD ever makes cases like these again you need to buy them all!) The silver was beloved by many, so they included it here for a fun pop of shimmer. I do like this color, though note that when used over dry, non-primed skin it is powdery and doesn't have great payoff. I use it over a primer meant for glittery/powder shadows and it can become either a very intense silver shimmer or a pretty silver highlight.

Gonzo: bright turquoise matte with floating tonal pearl. Not really the color of the Muppet (he's more of a bright cobalt, a toned down version of Chaos), but a very pretty bright blue.

Slowburn**: bright red-orange matte with floating pearl.

Savage**: bright hot pink matte.

Fringe: bright metallic teal.

Chaos: bright blue matte with floating tonal pearl. This shade inspired the whole palette, you'll also find it in The Vice Palette.

Jilted**: bright metallic fuchsia with blue shift.

Urban**: bright metallic purple.

Freak: bright green with gold shift

Thrash: bright lime green matte with floating gold pearl

Note that there are a few of these colors that use pigments not approved for the eye area by the FDA in the US. I've marked those colors with a **. I'm a bit unsure how to use the colors otherwise, though I fully admit that I do use other products around my eyes that have pigments not approved in the US (I'm looking at you, Lancome Erica F Eye Shadow). Jilted in particular is the color that I was most excited about using around my lash line.


What do you think? Would you be able to incorporate this palette into your rotation and which colors would you use? Would you use the non-US approved pigment colors near your eyes?

Urban Decay
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Urban Decay's Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder

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Urban Decay's Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder

Recently I've been reaching for one powder at the end of my makeup routine. I have 3 or 4 others (really) sitting on the counter next to my Urban Decay Naked Skin Finishing Powder, but I'm grabbing this one almost every time.

Why is it so amazing? This powder is super, ultra fine. Even with no blending it is invisible on my skin (I swear that I've accidentally reapplied it a few times because I couldn't remember if I'd already used it.)

Urban Decay's Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder

The powder comes in 5 different shades and you can get a bit of an idea what 3 of them look like in this picture (I've been using Naked Light). The powder does a great job of setting my makeup and helping it last longer, but I wish it cut down a bit more on shine. It helps, but not as much as a few other powders I have. It's great for now, I'm not sure if I'll be able to still use it in the summer.

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Urban Decay's Naked Skin Beauty Balm: Optical Blurring That Works For Me

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Urban Decay's Naked Skin Beauty Balm Review

Last year when Urban Decay released their Naked Skin Beauty Balm I really wanted to love it. I truly did. But, the truth was that their single, "works for everyone" shade was just much too dark for my skin. I looked like I had dirt on my face when I used it. I gave it away to a friend that raved about it, which made me a tad bitter about the whole thing.


Urban Decay's Naked Skin Beauty Balm Swatches

Luckily, they've just released two new shades of their beauty balm, and now I'm loving it! Naked Light and Naked Dark have been added, and the original shade is now named Naked Medium.

It is a bit surprising that the shade of Beauty Balm makes such a difference with this product, since there really is very little coverage. The consistency is like a light moisturizer, and when applied it does have a little bit of slip. As you spread the product around you'll notice that the coverage disappears, blending completely into your skin.

There are light diffusing particles in this Beauty Balm and when I apply it I do notice a little optical blurring, it does make my skin look better. When I've used other optical blurring products I think its really just looked like I need to blend my makeup more (this is where I admit I still haven't gotten the hang of using L'Oreal's Miracle Blur). That isn't the case here, instead it looks like my skin is a bit more perfect, and the blurring is really natural.

I've been using this Beauty Balm alone under concealer, but if I want a little more coverage I will add a tiny bit of concealer and blend it in to the Beauty Balm before spreading it around on my face. It blends perfectly for natural coverage which I love!


Urban Decay's Naked Skin Beauty Balm Ingredients

Looking at the ingredient list, I have to admit that I had no idea what most of this stuff is, and I read a lot of ingredient lists! I thought it was a good idea to look at each of the major ingredients to see what they are. I grabbed the list of ingredients from the UD website so we could look at each ingredient.

Cyclopentasiloxane: You'll find a lot of silicones in formulas for primers and BB creams, and this one is no exception. They provide a little slip and allow anything applied over the product (such as your concealer) to apply flawlessly.

Water: Obvious.

Isododecane: This helps to dissolve the other ingredients but also feels very lightweight.

Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer: 2 chemicals together. The Adipic Acid is often found in foods, it is basically a thickener. I believe Neopentyl Glycol is a stabilizer from the information I found.

Lauryl Dimethicone: Another silicone

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer: More silicones

Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone: Yet more silicones

Glycerin: A humectant moisturizer

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene: This ingredient does a lot of things (read more about it over at Truth in Aging), but it basically is a moisturizer, and it helps evenly disperse pigments.

Propanediol: A thickener that helps things "gel" together.

Phenoxyethanol: Preservative

Dimethicone Crosspolymer: Silicones

Disteardimonium Hectorite: Derived from vegetables, this is a thickener and stabilizer

Isononyl Isononanoate: Emollient moisturizer

Sodium Chloride: Table salt

PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone: More silicones

Isopropyl Myristate: A lubricant and emollient moisturizer

Xanthan Gum: Thickener

Propylene Carbonate: Solvent and film forming agent

Isoceteth-10: Emulsifier

Silica: A mineral that does a ton of stuff, go read about it at Truth in Aging

Lysine HCL: An amino acid

The rest: Fragrance, Lecithin, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Citrulline, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Baicalin, Linalool, Limonene, Tripeptide-9 Citrulline, Geraniol, Citral, Eugenol, Coumarin, Citronellol.

Notable in the "rest" of the ingredients are the Watermelon extract, which should be a source of anti-oxidants. As well, down towards the end of the list you'll recognize a peptide.






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Your Perfect Nude Lippie: Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss Review and Swatch Pictures

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Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss Review and Swatch pictures

I know that I'm not the only one that has a bit of a problem finding great nude lippies that look right with my skin tone. And nude lippies are everywhere this season. I'm also not a lipstick girl at heart. I keep trying, but I will reach for a gloss or tinted balm 9 times out of 10 when given the option. So, a whole new line up of nude-ish lip glosses? From one of my favorite brands? Sign me up!

This gloss formulation is pretty great. I don't think that it is sticky at all, and I don't really notice a smell or taste to it at all. (Note, there are reviews on the UD website saying it has a strong chemical taste and scent. I don't have that at all, and I'm usually sensitive to those issues, I almost wonder if there was a bad batch?) The colors vary in their amount of pigmentation, but they all allow your lips to show through. I think they're very hydrating, more so than many of my lip balms. Which is great since we can't seem to shake the last bit of winter around my area!

Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss Swatches

There are 9 colors. I have to admit that while you can see a difference on my arm for the left 5 glosses (through Freestyle), on the lip I can't really tell those 5 apart. The differences are very subtle (FYI, if you right click on that pic above you should be able to open it in a new window, it is 2x that size to help you see the little shimmer and such). There's more difference for the other 4 on the right, especially Streak and Lovechild.

• Walk of Shame: Pale nude-pink with subtle micro-shimmer
• Nooner: Light neutral nude
• Rule34: Medium brown nude
• Naked: Nude-pink with pearly pink shift
• Freestyle: Brown nude with subtle mirco-shimmer
• Liar: Soft pink-mauve
• Beso: Deep pink-mauve
• Streak: Coral-peach
• Lovechild: Medium pink

I've been using mostly Nooner and Naked, but have Beso in my pocket as I type this post. What's your favorite nude lippie this season?

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18 Favorite Urban Decay Naked Basics Tutorials

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18 Favorite Urban Decay Naked Basics Tutorials

The Urban Decay Naked Basics palette is one of my favorites! The colors are all must haves, and they are the shades that every girl should own. If you don't have them in this palette, I recommend buying similar shades from a brand like NYX or ELF. I reach for my palette all the time (check out my Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette review and swatch pictures), and I love seeing how other people use their palettes. I thought I'd pull together a list of my favorite tutorials! Happy reading and watching!

Posts to Read
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette: A Must Have: I had to start with my own post! I show you how I do my most basic look with this palette in the post.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Tutorial by Phyrra: This is a big departure from her usual very colorful eye and it really makes her eyes pop!

Neutrally Blue by Kirei Makeup: I do a very similar look frequently with a blue, green or purple liner.

Everyday Natural Makeup Look With My New Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette by Gourmet Beauty

Urban Decay Naked Basics - the first impression by Miss Lipgloss (in Dutch): This post has a great map showing where to put each color!

Urban Decay Naked Basics: Back to Basics by Le Simone Blog (in French): This post has 2 quick looks! A basic every day eye look and a smoky eye. Both take under 5 minutes.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches by Temptalia: Very quick and basic for when you are on the run.

Tutorial: Everyday Eye Look Using the Naked Basics Palette by HeatherBelle


Videos to Watch
3 Eye Looks in 1: NAKED Basics Palette Tutorial by MakeupMarlin

Urban Decay Naked Basics palette using ALL the shades! by MeiMeiMakeup

Naked Basics Eye Tutorial by Glam Hungry Mom

Naked Basics - Smokey Eye by LoveLaughAndMakeup has more of a cat eye shape

My Everyday Makeup Tutorial (Feat. Naked Basics Palette) by jessFACE90, a basic neutral look with a black cat eye liner

My Go To Naked Palette Eye Look - Neutral Light Smokey Eye - Quick & Simple! (Tutorial) by hollyannaeree slightly darker with a great cat liner

Brown Smokey Eye for Blue and Green Eyes - Urban Decay Naked Basics by MakeupNme

Naked Basics: Fresh and Simple Makeup Tutorial by Julie G

3 Basic Eyeshadow Looks Ft. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette by ArielHopeMakeup

Urban Decay Naked Palette Makeup Tutorial by MakeupByCheryl


Do you have a favorite tutorial? Leave a link in the comments!

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Urban Decay Shattered Face Case Review and Swatch Pictures

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Urban Decay Shattered Face Case Review and Swatch Pictures

I'm a big fan of Urban Decay. When I first saw the Face Case over on my friend Phyrra's site (here's a link to her Urban Decay Face Case Review, Video and Swatch Pictures), the only debate was which case I'd be buying first. (I'm a lucky girl, Urban Decay sent me this Shattered case, I'm hopefully picking up the Anarchy one for the Sephora sale.)

Urban Decay Shattered Face Case Review and Swatch Pictures

So, what makes these cases so amazing is that they contain everything you need that's a color product for your look. Multiple shadows, blushes, a lippie and even an eye liner. The cases are so pretty that you could easily stick them in your bag if you want to touch up anything while you're out. (Though honestly, does anyone do that? I don't.) The cases are very compact, there's no wasted space here! Perfect for travel. And I haven't even mentioned the amazing shades.

Urban Decay Shattered Face Case Review and Swatch Pictures

There are 2 levels in this compact.

In Tier One you'll find five eyeshadows (from left to right):
• Shakedown: rich brown-gunmetal satin
• Remix: rich purple shimmer with tonal micro-glitter
• Nameless: medium gray-brown satin
• Minor Sin: champagne-pink satin
• Bleach: yellow-beige matte

Also, 24/7 Eye liner in Zero (a matte black) and Super-Saturated Lip Pencil in Lovechild, a cool pink cream.

In Tier Two are two blushes and a highlighter (from left to right):
• Overexposed: dusty rose
• Temper: soft baby pink
• Glint: soft pink-champagne shimmer


I've been using this case non-stop since I got it! My favorite shadow combo is Minor Sin over my entire lid, then Nameless up to my crease. I put more Nameless in the crease, but darker. A little bit of Remix is nice in the very outer V, but sometimes I leave that out. I smudge the Zero liner into my upper and lower lash line, apply a bit of mascara and I'm done!

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Easy Day to Night with Urban Decay's Vice 2 Palette!

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Easy Day to Night with Urban Decay's Vice 2 Palette!

Today my friend Brooke, from Blushing Noir, has a great day to night eye look with Urban Decay's Vice 2 Palette!


Just because a palette (and sometimes the brand) houses some seriously intense colors, doesn’t mean that you can’t be neutral with it! It’s easy to create a wear to work look and then amp it up with “bold neutrals” or an even snazzier color for evening.

For example, the Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette is new for Holiday 2013. Clearly, it’s beautiful and also boasts a broad range of colors… including those shades you just might not ever think of wearing. Ever. But maybe you still want it. Face it, you just might find a use for that hot pink eye shadow.

Quick and Easy Day Look Tutorial with Urban Decay's Vice2 Palette

Above I used two shades from the Vice 2 Palette to create an easy day eye. Wear it to work, play group, around the house… basically anywhere. Apply Habit all over the lid and Rewind to the crease. Pop on an everyday taupe liner (such as Urban Decay Hustle 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil) and your everyday mascara (I used MAC Plushlash).

Quick and Easy Night Look Tutorial with Urban Decay's Vice2 Palette

A pop of any bold shade makes it perfect for an after work happy hour or an evening out. Above I added Madness to the outer V and a bit under the outer third of the lower eye lid, as well as amped up my choice of liner by re-applying. Be sure to add a coat of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara to boost lashes even further.

Another added bonus to using this palette for your look? It has a mirror and a double-sided brush, making it perfect to keep in your desk or bag for on-the-go updates. The included brush was the only one I used for these looks.

What do you think? If you’re not feeling the blues and pinks there are also some deep browns such as Smokeout and Ambush. How bold can you go?



Brooke is the blogger behind Blushing Noir, and one of my great blogging friends! She lives near Pittsburgh where she is raising her kiddos and was one of this 2012's finalists for Allure Beauty Blogger of the Year! (She won "Most Buzzworthy"!)
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5 Reasons You Want the Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

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 Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush Review

I have some "stuff" going on in my real life this week, which I'm not quite ready to share (Yes, I'll be fine. No, I'm not pregnant.) Some of my best blogging friends have offered guest posts to help me out for this week. Today, my friend Marcia from Beauty Info Zone is sharing one of her favorite foundation brushes!


There’s a very good reason that Urban Decay’s Good Karma Optical Blurring brush is often out of stock for a long time both on the UD site and at Sephora. The brush is fabulous. Yes, fabulous.

When the Makeup Wars team did a post about our favorite brushes I saw it was loved by others but I kept remembering that I have a lot of foundation brushes and I don’t use them much. I’ve pretty much given up on the flat paddle type foundation brushes that were the first to come out. When I’m playing with a new foundation and I’m not sure which is the best tool for that type I’ll try a paddle brush but it’s rare that I use them. I semi-like a skunk type brush since some foundations need that type of diffusion. I have other brushes that look similar to the Good Karma brush. So did I need it?

Y.E.S. and so do you.

1. Even though the brush was developed to be used with Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Foundation, it works with every foundation and BB/CC cream I’ve tried it with. I have a ‘problem’ with foundation buying so I’ve had a lot of experience with it!

2. The bristles on the brush are incredibly soft. I tried a brush that I thought I loved one day when my UD brush wasn’t clean and instantly felt the difference. The synthetic, cruelty-free hairs on Urban Decay's brush are divine. No scratching or tickling.

3. It cleans up so easily and dries fast without any yucky smell or colors dripping out of it.

4. It’s a medium size brush with a domed head. It’s easy to manipulate it around your nose area, chin, and eyes so that blending foundation everywhere is a breeze.

5. It really does the job it’s made for – optical blurring.

While the name, Urban Decay’s Good Karma Optical Blurring brush, is a bit unwieldy the brush isn’t. The name tells you exactly what the brush is going to do – give an optical blurring effect to those fine lines. My method of application is to put the foundation on the back of my hand or a clean steel palette and pick it up from there with the brush. I use the brush in a circular motion. When I look in my mirror, especially a magnifying mirror, I see an air-brushed finish. Urban Decay created a winner with this brush and I thank my fellow bloggers like Phyrra who showed me the light. This is $25 that was well spent. Are you going to put this on your list? I’m glad I did.


Marcia is half the blogging team at Beauty Info Zone. She is obsessed with anything for the face so a good brush is part and parcel of that obsession
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The Favorite Eye Shadow Shades of Makeup Artists: Emma White

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The Favorite Eye Shadow Shades of Makeup Artists
The best MAC eye shadow combinations

I love using MAC’s Vanilla as a full base color with multiple combinations like two of Urban Decay colors Snatch blended softly into MAC Vanilla, with heavy liner, paired with a dramatic lash and Carbon Black Mascara. I also enjoy the look using MAC Vanilla as the base coat then on the inner lid and lash line use the light metallic pink from Two-Faced’s Thief of Hearts duo, on the middle of the lid and outer lid use the burgundy plum color then to finish use MAC Carbon on the outer crease and blend into outer lash line with black liner on the water line.

The favorite eye look shades of makeup artist Emma White
Dior Nude Luminescence, Dior Brown Fever, Urban Decay Naked 2 (I love using the Naked 2 palette often; there are countless combinations I use from it!), and MAC Vanilla are all colors that I use frequently for highlighting or contouring.


Emma White is a Special Effects, Glamour Make-up Artist & Master Cosmetologist, with a passion for positively changing people’s lives. After nine years doing special effects make-up at Sloss “Fright” Furnace in Birmingham, she worked for two years at M.A.C Cosmetics doing on-set make-up design for photo shoots, runway, & hair shows throughout the Southeast. As a 2009 CON*tourage group stylist, Emma became a personal stylist to many "characters" for www.RockEgos.com including, Dr. Rockzo, Axl Rose & Prince. Emma's eclectic career includes A Little Bit of Heaven, Green Lantern, After, and The Vampire Diaries.
In 2012, Emma started a pin-up, glamour-styling & photography company called, Divine Hysteria & is currently working on publishing her first book of artistic works. The Divine Hysteria website launches in September 2013.

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Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder Review: Matte without the Mess!

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Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with powder, much like any makeup enthusiast. I love setting my makeup so it lasts all day. I love the mattifying effect since in the summer I can turn into an oil slick mid-day without my powder. But I obviously hate the powdery look that powders give, and lately I've been using only the most finely milled ones I can find, which are pretty much HD powders. I've had good luck with options from Make Up For Ever and IT Cosmetics, but I'm a pressed powder girl (especially when I'm on the go), and the loose ones are great at getting on my clothes.

So, when Urban Decay sent me their De-Slick Mattifying Powder, I was really hopefully that this would finally be a pressed powder that was fine enough to not make me look powdery and gross, but would still work for controlling my t-zone shine.

Yes, this is it, my new holy grail powder.

This is a super fine powder, and while Urban Decay says it is a light lavender, I think it must be really light because mine looks white. It has a puff with a vinyl back, and it is very thin. It tends to stick to the mirror in the compact, which I like because it keeps it out of the way. I've been using it with a brush (my heavenly luxe powder brush), and after briefly buffing it out you can't even tell that I have on powder. And I'm matte alllllll day. Even in this heat wave!

What are you using to fight shine right now?

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder
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Top 10 Tuesday: My Favorite Cream Cosmetics

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Best cream cosmetic colors and shades

A quick peek at some of my favorite cream products and my favorite post where I've reviewed or used them (though I think I haven't mentioned the Cover FX before).

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil: Super pigmented, it's easy to just put a little right where you need it and blend with a finger. I usually wear FBI.

2. Stila Convertible Color in Lillium: I need to repurchase this since I'm almost out, but this has been my go-to blush this summer.

3. Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation: Cover GX does a great job with skin tones, and I swear that it looks so natural! (I wear N20)

4. NARS Multiple in Copacabana: The perfect highlighter

5. NARS Multiple in Orgasm: The cream version of my favorite splurge blush

6. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum: Another great cream blush that I turn to often. I apply with a brush.

7. IT Cosmetics Hello Light Anti-Aging Crème Luminizer: My new favorite highlighter for my cheek bones, it catches just enough light.

8. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Mushroom: Super easy to use as a liner or a shadow, it lasts all day.

9. Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in Matte Navy Blue: My fave dark smoky eye!

10. CoverGirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in Lime Green Flame: I'm looking for an excuse to use this one again.







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