Happy Halloween From This Happy Ghoul!

Happy Halloween everyone!! Yay! On this super awesome day I will be sharing with you my trial run ghoul makeup for a Halloween themed swing dance party I'm going to next week.  I will also be doing my boyfriend's face to match mine and we will be swanky swing dancing ghouls together.  We are going to be so cute I can hardly stand it!

So let's start out with my happy face! Haha! It's always so weird to smile in this kind of makeup.  I do want to mention that I darkened the background of all these images to stop them from being too bright.  A ghoul walking around in broad daylight isn't scary at all!  No editing was done to my actual face however :P

Please excuse my greasy hair, I did this before getting a shower.

Assume creepy living dead pose!

To achieve this ghoulish look I covered my entire face and neck with NYX's eye shadow single in Whipped Cream.  I bought this eye shadow just for this occasion because it's a pure white matte, pigmented, and not too expensive shadow.  I then took Bruise by Detrivore Cosmetics and put it all around my eyes, being careful to slightly contour along my upper nose. I also used Bruise to contour my cheeks. Its the perfect dead person blackened purple. Next I took NYX's gel liner and smudger and did my best to put on my lid and lower lashline.  I do not own a matte black (how!?)...but don't worry I'll be going to Sephora and getting one soon! Then I took Gonzo from the Urban Decay Electric palette and messily and lightly blended it around my mouth and under my eyes. The final shadow I used was Aphrodite from the BH Cosmetics Galaxy Chic palette and blended it in above Gonzo on my eyes and did some extra nose contouring. The cracks were drawn using the NYX gel liner and smudger with a small liner brush. The final touch was putting a tiny dab of MAC Russian Red on the inside of my lips and blending it out into the blue. 

I love this one because my face looks so gaunt.  This was so fun to do and I can't wait to see it on my boyfriend and in our fancy clothes. I plan on trying to make my chest and arms slightly white with some cracks to really get a full effect.

This final pictures I had a bit of fun with in Photoshop.  I severely darkened the background, toned down the yellowness of the indoor lighting, and messed with the levels and contrast a bit to make myself look extra creepy :)

I hope all your costumes are awesome and your makeup is perfect. Have a great Halloween! :)

NYX Simply Vamp Lipstick in Bewitching

I wasn't planning on getting another one of NYX's Simply Vamp lip crayons however my friend accidentally picked up two and offered the extra to me. Being a lipstick junkie of course I said yes! Here is NYX Simply Vamp in Bewitching!

While the tube seems to be more of a reddish purple on my hand and lips it shows us much more as a deep red with only a very slight purple hue.  This goes on much smoother and less patchy than Temptress.  It also is very long lasting, I ate some tacos last night and it was still going strong! However if your lips are not bewitchingly perfect after an hour all those little dry patches will be darker than the rest of your lips.  So beware!

where to buy: nyxcosmetics.com and Ulta

Price: $6.50

Elf Lip Exfoliator Review and Demonstration

Today I will be reviewing a product that I absolutely love and use all the time but never really thought to demonstrate until now. With ELF the products are usually hit or miss and while I hate their eye shadows I LOVE their lip exfoliator among some other things that I may review soon. I love it so much I've convinced my friend to get one and I've also bought one for my boyfriend. they both plan on repurchasing when it runs out.

In comes in a traditional lipstick like tube with a lipstick shaped applicator. The container, because its square, is a bit larger than the average lipstick case. The formula is fairly simple. Its made up of what I'd imagine is wax, sugar, and flavoring. It tastes like vanilla brown sugar. Its heavenly.

Here are my lips after swatching some pink lipsticks. My lips are stained, dry, and distressed. But never fear ELF lip exfoliator is here!

I lick my lips to get them nice and wet then rub in circular motions. Make sure not to push the tube out too far as I have read about people have issues with it snapping in half. I rub all over my lips until they feel sufficiently scrubbed. I then wipe off the excess because the packaging says not to eat it.... Even though it tastes so good. However I have watched my boyfriend use it and lick his lips clean and he's not dead so if it happens don't panic. 

And here are my lips after, nice and smooth and fresh. It is very good for getting off those pesky staining lip colors or removing dead skin. I love this product so much and will definitely be buying again and again.

Where to buy: eyeslipsface.com and various drugstores and superstores

Price: $3

A Break From Makeup: Low Calorie Strawberry Coffee Drink

In today's break from makeup I will be sharing my absolute favorite coffee drink meal substitute thing with you! I love coffee, almonds, vanilla, and strawberries so one day I thought why not combine all of it?! And so I did, it was amazing...and low calorie! ;D

I prefer this to a 16 oz calorie packed Starbucks drink any day!

However the nutritional powder stuff I bought isn't really what I wanted. I was hoping for less sugar and more protein but my grocery store didn't seem to carry anything like that.  Any suggestions?

Here are the contents:

8 oz Black Coffee ~1 cal

8 oz Unsweetened Vanilla or Chocolate Almond Milk ~30-45 cal

One Scoop of a Vanilla Protein Mix  ~125 cal

1/2 cup Frozen or Fresh Strawberries ~25 cal

A Splash of Vanilla Flavoring  ~1 cal

Directions

1. Acquire the coffee by whatever means is your favorite and stick it in the fridge to cool.

2. If using frozen berries remove them from the freezer and allow them to thaw....I plop mine in the coffee to speed up the process.

3. Add a scoop of the nutrition mix and blend the crap out of it!

4. Add the almond milk and vanilla flavor to the blended coffee, strawberries, and nutrition mixture, then stir well.

5. Add ice if it is not quite cold enough or stick it in the fridge overnight for breakfast the next day.

6. Enjoy your 16 oz and less than 200 calorie coffee drink <3

If you would prefer this as just a beverage and not as a meal substitute just forgo the protein powder and perhaps add a bit extra vanilla extract! It will take the calories to less than 100 for a 16 0z serving.  I rarely eat meat so I like the shake mix as a way to add a bit more protein into my diet.  Hope you enjoy!

Urban Decay Pressed Pigment in Gonzo from the Electric Palette on my Lips

I feel like I haven't done one of these in forever!  Here is yet another shade from the Electric Pallete on my lips! This time I patted Gonzo on my face....and its probably one of the worst so far.  It just refuses to cover evenly and instead goes on very very patchy.  Oh well, I probably wouldn't wear such a bright blue outside anyway.

This shadow in general tends to not want to apply evenly so Its not that big of a shock that it doesn't want to work on the lips either. However there is a silver lining to this post......

On a whim I picked up a pink lip gloss and.....BAM

Awesome, shiny, even dark blue lips.  This color is lovely and I'm so glad I did this. After applying Gonzo I applied my Pop Beauty lip gloss in Peony Petal over top until all was evenly blended.  Win!

Ipsy Glam Bag October 2014

Get ready for Ipsy's October glam bag! YAY! I was actually not looking forward to this bag at all but after trying everything out my mind was definitely changed.  

Why was I not looking forward to this bag you ask? Well hair products tend to not work with my short hair, I prefer lipstick to lip glosses, cleansers can smell really annoying, hand lotion can give me a rash, and the eye shadow looked like it might be lame.  I was proven wrong with EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT.

As far as the bag itself, so cute! Such an adorable teal color, I love it! I could see using this as a clutch with either of my two teal dresses :)

1. ECRU New York Acacia Protein BB Cream for Hair

"A first in haircare. Finally, an ultra-light, incredibly versatile, all-in-one multifunctional beauty balm that harnesses the moisturizing and protective power of the patented Acacia Collagen™ for ultimate repair, conditioning, manageability, smoothness, body and shine. Perfect for all hair types. Color safe. Paraben free."

4/5

I was a little bit nervous about this product as over 50% of the time hair products don't work very well with my pixie cut however I am definitely a fan of this product! When used in damp hair I can style it without using my hair fiber and when I put it in dry hair it gives it a boost of softness and body.  I've used this every day since getting it in my bag! Only issue would be it has a slightly weird smell.

Here is the best attempt I could get at a before and after for this product.  It adds more shine and makes it easier to achieve volume.  What you can't see is how soft it makes my hair. <3

Where to buy: Ecrunewyorkcom

Price: $12

2. Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser

"Indie Lee’s bestselling Brightening Cleanser naturally washes away impurities to leave skin soft, refreshed, and luminous."

3/5

I usually hate clear cleansers because they tend to be super runny and hard to use but this formula has some viscosity to it making it not run everywhere when squeezed from the tube.  When rubbing it  into the skin it foams up a little bit and seems to throughly clean my face.  I have not broken out from this which is always a good sign.  My only issue with it is that it has too strong of a smell.  If the smell of my cleanser is going to be strong it had better be a freaking amazing scent, but unfortunately this is not the case for this product.  The smell isn't bad...just not wonderful.

\

Where to buy: Indielee.com

Price: $32 ($4)

3. Figs & Rouge Hand Cream in Rose Berry

"Figs & Rouge Shea Butter Enriched Limited Edition Hand Creams are deliciously fragrant & indulgent. These delectable creams soften, nourish & thoroughly pamper hands throughout the day, quickly absorbing to provide super-soft skin. Apply Figs & Rouge Hand Cream onto your hands and massage into skin throughout the day as needed."

5/5

Hand creams always make me nervous because the scent can either suck or I can sometimes get a rash on the back of my hands.  This lotion did not suffer from either issue.  I've used it a few times and have had no rash or burning.  The smell is also WONDERFUL.  While in Istanbul, Turkey my mom and I drank a lot of what they called Love Tea.  This lotion smells just like that tea so it brings back many fond memories every time I use it. :)

This may be a new product, I had trouble finding it for sale.

Where to buy: feelunique.com

Price: $6.50

4. Jesse's Girl Mneralized Baked Shadow Powder in Plum Frost

"Get out-of-this-world eyes with Jesse’s Girl Mineralized Baked Powder Eyeshadows. "

4/5

At first this eye shadow was a huge let down.  I wasn't able to get any pigmentation from it at all, it swatched as a very slight wine shimmer.  However after I kept using it and using it I noticed that as I got past that first initial layer the color went from barely there to a very nice deep shimmery wine.  I am now  very happy with this shadow and so glad I got this color over some of the alternatives. Use over primer or wet for maximum pigmentation.

Where to buy: Jessesgirlcosmetics.com

Price: $3.99

5. Starlooks Lip Gloss in Guilty Pleasure

"Starlooks Lip Glosses are created with a truly moisturizing, luxury, non-sticky formula. This neutral-rose, yet glamorous shade provides the perfect glisten for any lip look and complements any skin tone! Can be worn alone or in combination with other Starlooks lip products for a truly customizable finish"

4/5

I was worried this lip gloss was going to be a repeat of last month's Caylin gloss.  I should have put more trust in Starlooks because it definitely is not! The color is very flattering and it does not settle into lip lines. It lasts a good 2 hours, gradually fading evenly during that time. Would have liked to potentially see a longer lasting potential

  It reminded me of Urban Decay's Naked lip gloss in Lovechild so I swatched them next to each other.  Guilty Pleasure is a bit darker and has a bit more pigmentation with an equally good performance. Perhaps this lip gloss could be a good dupe for Urban Decay's Naked line.

Where to buy: Starlooks.com

Price: $12 (Website does not list size so this mini I'm guessing is about $4 worth)

In total I really liked this bag much more than I was expecting.  I even bought the Guilty Pleasure lip set that Starlooks had as a special so look forward to a review of that!

All in all this bag came out to be about $30 which is extremely low for what it usually is.  However I like the products so much that I don't even really care if its not in the normal $40 range.  As long as I like the products and they work I'm not too concerned that they don't cost a fortune.  If anything there is a much higher chance I'll buy them because of affordability.

Click here to sign up for Ipsy for only $10 a month!

MAC Rocky Horror Crazed Imagination Blush

Today I'm going to talk about the limited edition Rocky Horror MAC blush Crazed Imagination.  I do not wear blush very often however when I read the description for this blush I absolutely had to try it out.  As Temptalia stated its "A muted plum with a hint of pink pearl."

Well it looks absolutely gorgeous in the pan.  It's such a beautiful pinky plum shade however I was a little sad to find it does not look quite that way on the face. Swatched on my hand and on my cheeks it takes on a much more brownish color.  Because of its lack of purple I may actually use this as a contour as with a little bit of playing around it seems to be cool toned enough to be used as such which is still pretty exciting considering I have a really hard time finding bronzers that don't look weird and muddy on me.

Where to buy: Maccosmetics.com (Sold out)

Price: $24

NYX Wicked Lippie in Power and NYX Round Case Lipstick in Aphrodite

I've been looking forward to the release of these Wicked Lippies for what seems like forever.  I had originally planned on getting Betrayal but since it seemed so similar to OCC's Technopagan I decided on Power.  The online swatches made it seem so interesting and unique.

Well for me it doesn't look the same on my lips as it did on the major beauty blogger's lips.  Maybe it's because I'm super pale but it goes on very dark.  I was definitely expecting it to be a bit lighter, but instead it comes off as a very deep metallic pink. While I do like the color it isn't as unique as I had thought.   In fact after putting it on I instantly thought of NYX's Round Case Lipstick in Aphrodite.

Here is Aphrodite swatched so that you can compare.  Power is a tad bit lighter and of course a bit more metallic but honestly when on the difference isn't all that varied. I like the formula for Aphrodite better, it is less slippery and applies easier and more opaque.  In my opinion if you already own Aphrodite I wouldn't bother with Power.

The formula isn't so terrible that I would not buy another, in fact I'm hoping to pick up Cold Hearted because I need some metallic dark grey in my life.

Where to buy: NYXcosmetics.com

Price: $6

Monochromatic Sparkly Nail Design

Because I'm obsessed with OPI's My Voice is a Little Norse I did yet another overly sparkly nail look! And I know I will be using it again next weekend for a manicure I'm doing for a special dance. I love this color <3

To do this look I painted my nails with Zoya's Noot, a very dark grey. Then I carefully took Norse and made a half moon at the base of my nail and then a curved tip at the top of my nail to have a slightly curved strip of Noot showing through.  This mani was super cute and easy and I could definitely see doing it again with different base colors.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Wolvesmouth and Poe

As soon as I found out about this collection I knew I had to have Wolvesmouth.  It is just an amazingly beautiful metallic deep berry.  The name is only about 50% of the reason I got it...hahaha. While wearing it all I can think of is The Wolves Die Young by Sonata Arctica.  I bought this lipstick as soon as I could because I knew I needed to wear it to the Sonata Arctica concert and wear it I did!!

Anyway as for performance.  It goes on very easily and opaque.  It also lasts a very long time.  My friend and I had lipsticks put on in Sephora.  I had this one and she had OCC lip tar in Hoochie.  Afterwards we both had pasta at the Cheesecake Factory.  After the meal my lipstick was only slightly faded while hers was almost completely gone.  Definitely impressed.  As for appearance, make sure your lips are PERFECT.  Any sort of dryness or imperfection will result in the lipstick going on darker in that spot.  I exfoliate and moisturize like crazy when I plan on wearing this color. Also do not keep this lipstick loose in your purse! The lid WILL pop off!!

Next up please give Jaime a warm welcome as she helps me review Poe!

Just like I wanted Wolvesmouth as soon as I saw it, Jaime wanted Poe.  Here is her opinion of this lipstick: 

"The color is nice.  It's a gorgeous navy with gold sparkles and looks great on the lips.  The problem however is with the glitter in the lipstick.  It makes the formula dry and it does at times tug on the lips during application.  Once on it is also super drying and will last maybe 4 hours total.  I love the color but the formula makes me think the $22 price tag is not worth it."
If you would like to check out some of her other makeup looks you can find her on Instagram and Tumblr.

So overall really interesting colors but as far as performance goes $21 may be a bit steep.

Where to buy: Sephora

Price: $21

MAC Rocky Horror Nail Polish in Formidable

So I was lucky enough to get my hands on MAC's Rocky Horror Limited Edition items for my mom and I.  For myself I picked up the blush and the black glitter.  My mom got the Riff Raff palette and both nail polishes. Today I want to share with you the nail polish in Formidable. Excuse the mess I painted these in a hurry.

This color is a duo toned nail polish, shifting between dark purple and a tealish green.  It is very interesting and unique however I feel that sometimes as the purple and green collide it can appear a bit too brown for my taste.  I am so excited to try out the other nailpolish next weekend when I go home.  As for the formula this was my first time trying a MAC nail polish and honestly I'm not all that impressed.  It took 3 coats to build this color to full opacity.  With OPI and Zoya, my two go to nail polish brands I only need one or two. Overall its a pretty nice color but I'm not sure I would ever personally pay this much for a nail polish. This color is part of their perminent collection.

Where to buy: MAC, Nordstrom, Macy's

Price: $12

OCC Lip Tar in Technopagan

Oh yes, I have wanted this lip tar since it was announced.  My mom is a wonderful lady and bought this for me to feed my purple lip obsession. This is also my first full size lip tar!

This lip product makes me feel so amazing.  Its purple with a blue iridescence and it's just so perfect and beautiful and if I wasn't sick I would be wearing this every day. I love the little brush that comes with it too. As with most lip tars it has great staying power and I didn't notice too much bleeding, but I will probably be lining my lips with a clear lip liner when I wear this anyway.

And here is another picture because love. <3

Where to buy: Sephora, occmakeup.com

Price: $18

Ipsy September Glam Bag 2014

I know...I know, it isn't September anymore...but unfortunately I didn't get my bag until this past weekend.  Anyway this month and from now on may be a little deceiving.  Both my mom and I subscribe to Ipsy so we may be trading some of our items in order to get the things we each like the most. For this month's bag I will be reviewing two items that I did not originally receive, just as a little heads up.  I don't want anyone getting all panicked because I got a lip gloss and a lipstick. :P

Here is the bag in all its glory.  I LOVE this bag design.  The color, the studs, yes! Actually my original bag had a broken zipper but luckily my friend gave me hers, because I definitely plan on using this in public!

1. Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush

"This dual-ended brush offers the best of both worlds. The shadow brush is perfect for applying eye shadow or contouring the eye, while the crease brush is designed to be used dry for defining the eye, or wet for precision concealing."

I wasn't too excited to get an eye shadow brush since I already own 10 from various palettes and other Ipsy bags.  However one end of this brush I believe I will be using quite often so this product wasn't a total dud. It gets a 4/5 for quality and 1/2 usefulness.

4/5

Here it is, one side is a base shadow brush and the other a crease brush.

For the life of me I could not get the tiny little brush to work in my crease, it was just so small, difficult, and awkward to use.  Also the shadow brush was a bit bigger than I'm used to so I didn't feel comfortable using that end either.

However it redeemed itself in the crease brushes ability to be used as a really nice precision blender.  Yay! 

Where to buy: crownbrush.us
Price: $6.99

2. Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet

" Amp up the color with Hikari’s richly colored lip stick. The high pigmented formula glides on smoothly with a matte finish. Layer this formula to build color for a perfectly enchanted pout."

I was so excited to get this because lately the lip products I've been receiving have been booooooring.  Well this one is definitely not boring! In addition to loving the color I also love the formula,  it is a bit drying but it stays on for quite some time which for me is of the utmost importance.

5/5

It is an absolutely gorgeous and very flattering dark pink.  This color is so fun and it works really well with my skin tone.  I will definitely be getting a lot of use out of this.

Where to buy: hikaricosmetics.com
Price: $13

3.  Be A Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder

"This lightweight, ultra-fine, silky formula softens the appearance of imperfections, fine lines, and pores while leaving you with a beautiful glow. This finishing powder can be worn alone or to set your foundation. The translucent formula works for all skin tones. It is made from 100% silica and leaves your skin with a matte finish without drying it out."

I did not previous own a finishing powder so I was super bummed when my mom got this and I did not.  However since my mom owns a few products like this already I traded her the Pacifica brown eyeliner that I got and would never use for this awesome powder!

5/5

I actually don't own a super fluffy brush with which to apply this so I've been using my blush brush.  I will have to pick up an inexpensive one next time I'm out.

Unfortunately on camera I feel the full effects of this powder were lost.  I personally thought it made me face look brighter and photograph better in natural light.  However something that is definitely noticeable from this picture is the lack of shine! On the left I definitely have some shininess on my cheek...ew...and on the right, with the powder, ITS GONE. <3

Where to buy: beabombshellcosmetics.com
Price: $12

4. CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in Basic Instinct

"CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss delivers the stunning color impact of a lip stain and high shine of a lip gloss. This silky smooth gloss glides on your lips like butter, leaving you with a lacquer like finish."

This is another one that got traded between my mom and I.  I originally received the Briogeo hair mask, but since my mom despises lip glosses she asked to trade.  I happily obliged since I love lip anything and already have two hair masks.  The color isn't really for me but the formula is pretty ok.  The pigmentation especially is pretty impressive for a lip gloss. It loses two points for non impressive color and a formula with a bit to be desired.

3/5

It's a pretty nice nude, but it isn't really a perfect match for my skin tone. It's too peachy and not pink enough for me.  Anyway as far as pigmentation this gloss rocks. As you can see from the hand swatch which was done with one swipe.  However, after wearing this for a few hours it starts to settle into the lines in your lips and looks a bit weird.  So either make sure to reapply or only wear if you'll be out for an hour or two. For its price I would expect better.

Where to buy: Cailyncosmetics.com

Price: $19

5. LeeAnni Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light

" LIGHTER version of 3 in 1 Revolution. Great for normal to oily skin and during warmer weather. Toner, Serum, and Moisturizer in One. This Revolutionary Lotion will save you time during busy morning rush and moisturize your face all day long! Help tighten skin, reduce breakouts, relieve dark circles under eyes, moisturize, fight aging, treat sun damages, and calm irritated skin."

I'm pretty blah about this just like I am with any skin care product.  It's nice but it isn't amazing. One plus is that I do not currently use a toner so perhaps I'll substitute this every now and then to get some toner benefits. Loses two points because it's for oily skin and mine is super dry and it has no spf.

3/5

This has no smell as far as I can tell (however I do currently have a stuffy nose) which is a plus.  I'd rather no smell at all than an obnoxious one. It is a white most viscous formula that goes on the skin quite nicely.  I used it once and didn't break out so I will be sure to use it more in the future.

Where to buy: leeanni.com

Price: $17.48 ($4.37)

Alright! Awesome! Without trading I might have been pretty bummed about this bag, but thanks to my mommy I am so happy.  Because of trading this number isn't normal for an Ipsy bag but all together these items were worth about $55. 

Want to sign up to Ipsy? Click here! :D