Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Beauty Gifts $30 or less

1. Real Techniques Cosmetics Brush Set ($30) / 2. Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral LE Matte/Neutral Palette ($30) / 3. Stila Color Me Glossy Lip Glaze ($28) / 4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Covet Waterproof Liner set ($28) / 5. Stila Tools of the Trade brush set ($28) / 6. MAC Stroke of Midnight Viva Glam 1 set ($30) /  7. Benefit Cosmetics Luve It Up! Color Kit ($25) / 8. Julep Hand Model kit ($25) / 9.  ALTERNA Caviar Experience Kit  ($29)/ 10. Living Proof beauty product ($29)

Makeup and beauty tools:

It's quite possible to purchase quality makeup and brushes for affordable prices, especially during the holidays with all the great gift sets. Best of all, you don't always have to hit up a specialty store to find them. Case in point, the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Limited Edition matte and shimmer palette is available at Target and offers fantastic pigmentation and easy blending. Speaking of blending, you can also find a Real Techniques brush set while you're there. 

If your giftee prefers high-end brand (how particular of him/her) don't fret. Stila has a great lip glaze set that includes nine glosses and a brush set both just under $30. There's also Anatasia Beverly Hills waterproof liner set and Benefit's cute LuveiIt Up kit, which includes three neutral shadows, a mini creaseless cream shadow, and Dandelion lip gloss. For the bold diva on your list, check out MAC's Viva Glam 1 holiday set that includes the original lipstick and gloss inspired by RuPaul. Bonus, every cent you pay for the set goes to HIV/AIDS research, so it's a do-good, look-good gift. 

Hands and nails:

If you've got a nail obsessed giftee on your list, instead go for a little something different than  nail polish and try this Model Hands set by Julep. Help your nail fashionista take care of her hands and tips so all the fun colors and designs she wears will look even better on her soft smooth and nourished hands. 

Hair

If you're gifting a gal (or guy) with luscious locks, consider helping her (or him) discover some awesome new hair products. Alterna's Caviar kit is a great anti-aging hair travel set that will help keep locks nourished, shiny, and full -- all signs of a youthful mane. And if Jennifer Aniston is his/her hair icon (and honestly, isn't she everyone's?) give them one of the various Living Proof hair care travel kits to address a variety of hair needs. My personal favorite is the  No Frizz Smoothing and Frizz Fighting line. Fantastic humidity fighting products that are light weight, smell great, and leave your hair looking ah-ma-zing. 

Dupe Alert: MAC Rebel

I was perusing the Milani lipstick selection at my local CVS since I'd heard such great things about the brand and most recently about it's lipsticks (a review on the two lipsticks I purchased to follow soon). While perusing I came across a color description I might've skipped over had I not seen the color swatch section on the bottom of the lipstick: Uptown Mauve. Normally, I think mauve colors are a bit boring to put it mildly, but this color didn't look anything like mauve to me. In fact, it reminded me a bit of MAC's Rebel -- a wine color with violet tones. So I took it home to compare. 

When I first got it home and held the two colors side by side, I thought I'd gotten it wrong. As you can see from the photo above, the two colors actually look quite different in the tube. Uptown Mauve looks a lot lighter, while Rebel looks much vampier. But then I tried it on and that's when the magic revealed itself to me. The two are nearly indistinguishable in color once you apply them. Check them out side by side below and tell me if you agree.

So, if you're looking for a drugstore alternative to the oh-so-popular Rebel, check out Milani Uptown Mauve. You'll get a lipstick that is excellent quality (and quite creamy), gives you great color pay off, smells pretty good too (it has a fruity scent, almost like a Jolly Rancher), and costs a fraction of the price ($5.49) of a MAC lipstick. Plus, since it's available at most drugstores, it's probably even easier to come by for most people.



Now that you know there's a dupe out there, will you be bypassing the MAC counter for a drugstore alternative to Rebel? Were you one of the many out there who wanted to get your hands on the coveted lipstick shade? Tell me what you think in a comment down below!


Video music by Dan-O at danosongs.com

My favorite hot pink lipsticks

I'm a huge fan of bright pink lips. I'll rock them all year long, but I'm glad it's still expected to be on trend this spring. Whenever I'm wearing hot pink lipstick people ask me about it, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite bright pinks.



MAC Girl About Town ($15)

• Bright blue-based fuchsia 
• Creamy, moisturizing, and beautifully pigmented
• Satin finish
• Has the quality you expect from MAC products
• Nice vanilla scent
• Easily accessible at MAC stores and department stores with MAC counters as well as online
• By far the one I get asked about the most

OFRA Cosmetics #203 ($13)

• Highly pigmented and bright
• Similar to Girl About Town, but not nearly as blue, more rosy and like a true bright pink
• Creamy although less so than Girl About Town
• Matte finish
• Unscented
• Available online

OCC Lip Tar in Anime ($16)

• Vibrant neon pink
• Liquid lipstick that is opaque and moisturizing (has Hemp Oil and Vitamin E)
• Dries down to a satin finish
• Heavily pigmented - one drop is more than enough product (and sometimes even too much)
• Peppermint oil gives it a nice minty scent without being overpowering
• Great for mixing with other lip tars to creat custom colors
• Easily accessible at Sephora and online
• Only con is that is can be a bit difficult to apply since you can't just swipe it on as easily as you would a lipstick or lip gloss. Be careful not to over apply as it can result in feathering at the lip line. 

Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids Collection in Wild Rose ($7.99)

• Stunning neon pink (rosy red toned)
• Highly pigmented, creamy and moisturizing (as we've come to expect from the ColorSensational line)
• Satin finish
• Really close dupe for Anime. I actually bought it thinking it might be a dupe for Girl About Town, but it's not nearly as blue-toned.
• Easy to find at any drugstore at a price point that is easy on the wallet

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart ($8.99)

• The best of all worlds combined: moisturizing like a lip balm, the shine of a gloss, long lasting like a stain, and the stick from makes it easy to apply like a lipstick
• This is the sheerest of the hot pinks in this post but it packs a punch and can easily be built up to be opaque like a lip stick
• Great if you are timid about going all in on a lipstick because it can be worn sheer or intense

Do you have any favorite bright pink lipsticks you think I should check out? 

MAC Palette vs. Z Palette; Plus a Holiday Giveaway

MAC Palette costs:
Large palette - $18
Square palette (fits 4) - $9
Small palette (fits 2) - $9
Pro palette eye shadow insert (fits 15 shadows) - $9
Pro palette blush insert (fits 6) - $9

Z Palette
Square palette - $14
Large palette - $20
Pro palette - $25
Dome Palette - $28
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Items being given away: Stila eyeshadow trio in Gilded and Coastal Scents Pro Blending Fluff brush. 

Giveaway Rules (Open internationally):
1. Subscribe to my channel
2. Like this video
3. Follow me on Twitter  http://www.twitter.com/girlythingsby_e
4. Leave a comment below (limit 1 comment to enter contest) and tell me whether you think you'd prefer the Z Palette or the new MAC palettes and why. Include your twitter handle in the comment. NOTE:  I am not actually giving away either palette in this giveaway, but since the video is a comparison between the two palettes, I thought it would make an appropriate comment topic. 
5. For an additional entry (optional) tweet about this giveaway. Tweet anything you want, just include my Twitter handle so I can see your tweet!
5. Giveaway is open internationally.
6. Must be at least 18 or have parental permission to enter giveaway
7. Giveaway closes 12/18/12 at noon EST. 
8. Winner will be notified by me via YouTube email and must respond within 48 hours with their contact information or another winner will be selected.
9. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash. The makers and manufacturers of the items being given away are in no way affiliated with this contest. While I take every precaution to ensure packages are delivered to contest winners, I do not take any responsibility for items lost or stolen during the shipping process once I have confirmed shipment from my end.
________________________________________________________________________

FTC disclaimer: None of the products in this video were given to me for the purpose of review or promotion. I purchased the products myself. 

Video editing software: iMovie
Music by Dan-O at danosongs.com

Cyber Monday Deals

The Black Friday frenzy came and went. Now it's time to shop in a more relaxed manner (unless, like me, you decided to skip the crowds and do your Black Friday shopping online too). Sip your coffee and avoid line with some of these great Cyber Monday deals. And don't forget to earn extra money back by shopping these sales through ebates links, there is a lot of double cash back going on that will sweeten the deal.

Get 25 percent off your entire online sale at Bath & Body Works with code CYBER2012. Stock up on some great gifts. It's typically a no-fail gift for many gals on your list. I mean, who doesn't like to smell good? Today only, holiday traditions (e.g., Twisted Peppermint, Vanilla Bean Noel, Pink Sugarplum, and Wintercandy Apple) body care items and antibacterial foaming hand soaps are buy one get one free. Check them out here. Other sales going on: buy three, get two free on all other signature scent items; four for $15 or six for $20 antibacterial hand soaps; and four for $20 or six for $24 wallflowers and plug ins.

MAC is providing free shipping through the end of the year on all orders. But today only, you can have free overnight shipping on anything you buy. That's right, make your gratification instant. Buy it today, have it tomorrow. Use code CYBER at check out. If you haven't heard, MAC palettes now are a lot more like Z palettes. That means, you can put anything in the palette and the clear top lets you see what you have. Even better, the MAC palettes are actually cheaper ($18 ) than the Z palettes ($25) and sturdier since they are a harder plastic rather than cardboard. P.S. The prices I just listed are for the large palettes. MAC also makes a small palette that will fit two eyeshadows and a medium one that will fit four.

ULTA has entirely too many sales to list. Lots of discounts and coupon codes. Check them out here. Get free shipping on $25 purchases with coupon code HOLIDAY2012.

If you've seen any of my videos about my favorite inexpensive makeup brushes, then you know I'm a big fan of Coastal Scents. Check out my videos here and here. I'm stocking up on more of my favorite brushes from them, my MAC 217 dupe, the Pro Blending Fluff, that I've written about here and here (some of my most popular posts, incidentally). They are normally only $4.95, but now I can get quite a few for only $2.50! Heck yeah! I think they'll make excellent stocking stuffers for my gal pals too. Also, the bionic flat top buffer brush I loved so much in my videos is back in stock by popular demand. Great brush at a fraction of the price of other brands. Enjoy 50 percent off site wide through 11/28/12 . Site wide includes makeup too ladies. I really love my 10 blush palette.  

Sephora is also offering free shipping on $25 purchases through 11/28/12 with code SHIPNOW. Although, I don't see any special Cyber Monday deals going on.

Enjoy 50 percent off everything on J. Crew Factory site today only and free shipping with no minimum purchase with code YOURGIFT.

Plus, if you are a J. Crew card holder, you can get 30 percent off your entire purchase at J. Crew and free shipping using code CARDSTYLE.

And while you're shopping for clothes, save 30 percent on your entire purchase at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic and 25 percent off at Athleta and Piperlime with code CYBER. 

Hopefully all this shopping will make the first day back at work after a long weekend a little more pleasant. Your boss won't mind. You're stimulating the economy. 

Happy shopping! Tell me what you bought!

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty Gifts under $50

I love holiday time in the beauty industry because of all the great gift sets. It's a great time to get a lot of bang for your buck, try out new products without spending a fortune, and get some stand-by items in pretty sparkling packaging.

In my last post, I showed you some of my picks for gifts specifically at Sephora. This time, I extended my search to other stores for the beauty obsessed on your list.

Gifts under $25

1. Real Techniques brushes ($6-18) - If you've got a beauty lover on your list, chances are, she loves a great makeup brush. Makeup brush quality and prices can range wildly, but you can find some great brushes at great prices. Real Techniques brushes are fantastic and they're available at fair prices. Individual brushes range from $6-10 and brush sets are $18. The brushes are sturdy, have synthetic, soft, taklon bristles, and are cruelty free. Order them online or get them at your local ULTA, they are bound to please.
2. Sonia Kashuk All Out Glam brush set ($24.99) - Check out the sparkles on this gorgeous brush set. It's so festive and perfect for the holidays. Who wouldn't feel like a million bucks when getting glammed up with these makeup brushes? Sonia Kashuk makes great brushes and the best part is their easily accessible at your local Target. 
3. Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Formal Affair face palette ($19.99) - A compact palette that flatters most skin tones is great for on the go. It has a pretty shimmery bronzer, matte pink blush, shimmery coral blush, and four metallic, yet neutral, eyeshadows. Great for the holidays and to use year round. 

Gifts under $50

1. Stila Seeing Stars Smudge Stick waterproof eye liner set ($32) - I purchased this eye liner set for myself at the Makeup Show in Orlando and I love it. Five, long-wearing metallic shades in very wearable colors. Fun to wear and not too in-your-face, for those out there who are color shy. Available at Sephora and ULTA. 
2. Korres Butter Me Up body & lip butter collection ($38) - If you have any natural beauty fans on your list, consider giving the gift of moisture with this Korres gift set that includes three super smooth lip butters (guava, jasmine, quince) and four luxuriously creamy body butters (guava, jasmine, basil lemon, and apple blossom). What it doesn't include: parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Pick it up at your nearest Sephora.
3. Stila Luxe Eyeshadow Palette ($45) - Another palette I purchased at the Makeup Show and absolutely love. It includes nine eyeshadows in neutral, smokey, and bright colors and has a nice mix of matte and shimmer shadows, as well as a smudge stick eye liner in lady killer (a pewter/purple metallic). The shadows are soft, pigmented and easy to blend and has a lot of great go-to every day colors. Available at Nordstrom. 
4. BareMinerals The Star Treatment set ($40) - If you've got a mineral makeup lover on your list (like I do) check out some of the great gift sets BareMinerals has this season. There were too many to include them all, so I chose my personal favorite of their products, their pressed shadows. This particular palette is limited edition for the holidays and it has some gorgeous colors in it. Ten gorgeous shadows to be exact, an eyeshadow brush, and an eyeshadow primer.  You're getting quite the deal, since normally the two-shadow palettes run for $20 and here you're getting five times as many shadows. Available at Sephora. (If you'd like a separate post on all my BareMinerals gift set favorites, just leave me a comment below.)
5. Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam Party Sampler ($45) - If you have an ultra-glam gal to gift, consider this gift set from Sephora that includes nine of their best-selling products that give you that holiday glow. Three of those products are full-sized items. Give your glam puss a full look and the chance to sample some new goodies. 
6. Lorac Eye Candy Eye Pencil set ($28) - This eye liner set is just functional, it's gorgeous to look at. I'm gushing over it! The golden packaging with rhinestone accents is positively luxe. But it's not just pretty on the outside, it's functional too. The set includes four wearable eye liners in coal (slate grey), licorice (black), cocoa (brown), and plum. Available at ULTA.
7. Lorac Pro palette ($42) - If you know someone who owns and loves the Urban Decay Naked palettes (either of them), surprise them with the new Lorac Pro palette. It's a great neutral palette to add to their arsenal, with 16 gorgeous shadows that are generously pigmented and easy to blend. Use shadows wet or dry to line, define, shadow - creating office friendly and all out glam looks with the same palette. Available at ULTA and Sephora. 
8. MAC Guilty Passion 4 pigment gift sets ($32.50) - Pigments are so much fun! Use them as shadows, apply them on your lips, or mix them into polish -- they're truly versatile. MAC released three new sets of mini pigments this holiday season, but don't let the term "mini" fool you. These are generous minis, with 3g each they'll last you quite a long time. Ask anyone who's ever owned a MAC pigment. They are seemingly endless. My two favorites are the Sweetly Smokey and Tenderly Warm sets. I think Tenderly Warm will give you a great glow the likes you might see in on the pages of Victoria's Secret. Secretly Smokey has some great shades in purple, berry, frosty pink and shimmery taupe. 
9. OCC Lip Tar gift set ($49) - The lip junkie on your list will go nuts over this collection. Five favorite Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tars they can mix and match to create their own unique shade or wear straight out of the tube. The possibilities are endless and the price is right. The tubes of liquid lipstick might look small, but they'll only need a pea-sized (that may even be too much) amount to pretty their pout. Check out my post where I swatch my OCC lip tars here. You can purchase this set from Sephora. 

What are some of your favorite beauty gift sets this year? Are you buying for yourself or to give to others? 

MAC Julie Verhoeven Lip Set Peach

After visiting the Nordstrom anniversary sale last week, I walked out with some of the items on my picks list. I had to restrain myself, I wanted so many things. You know, you saw the post. But alas, I had to only pick and choose a few things. And one of those items was the MAC lip trio in Peach with the Julie Verhoeven makeup bag. For $39.50, I couldn't pass it up. I'd never owned a MAC lipstick or lip liner before. Plus, I liked the color. And, the carry bag was cute. It's small, so it's perfect as a purse bag for your makeup and shouldn't take up too much space. 

I'm pretty thrilled with the purchase. The lipstick and liner are both quite creamy, although the liner is obviously drier than the lipstick (as lip liners tend to be). And I was really happy that the color wasn't an overwhelmingly bright peach. As you can see from the photo, it's a peach thats bordering on nude. So, it can easily be an every day staple color. 

Like Ravising and Creme Kiss, the dazzle glass creme in Sublime Shine is also a nude peach, except with pretty golden shimmer in it. MAC did a great job pairing these three colors together, they all complement each other well. I'm quite happy with the purchase. 

Left to right: Sublime Shine, Ravishing, Creme Kiss

As you can see form the swatch above, Sublime Shine is the peachiest of the three colors, while Ravishing looks like a pink-nude-peach, and Creme Kiss is closer to a nude-peach-brown. Worn together they create a lovely finish, but they stand alone quite well also. I could easily use Creme Kiss with other nude lipsticks. Ravishing looks soft and pretty on its own and is also particularly creamy and moisturizing. By itself, Sublime Shine gives you a pretty subtle shimmery color, but its a bit sticky, like most MAC glosses. So if you're not a fan of sticky gloss, you may not like it. 

Check out a picture of all three products on my lips.

 

MAC Double Feature Palettes Review & Tutorial

Swatches of two of the MAC Double Feature eyeshadow palettes that I purchase at Nordstrom. They are $25 each.

Check out the tutorial at the end of the video!

Get Sigma brushes featured in this video here.

Brushes used: Sigma E40 (fluffy blending brush), E55 (flat shader brush), E30 (pencil brush)

MAC 217 dupe from Sigma is the E25

Dupe Alert: MAC 217 Blending Brush

Photo credit: MAC website

If you are a beauty junkie, you have probably heard all the fuss over MAC's 217 blending brush. I'm in the camp of people who adore it. I think it's the perfect brush. It's stiff enough to pack on color, yet fluffy enough to blend to perfection. I can use it with powder shadow and creams. It's the one brush I reach for that I can use for a complete eye makeup look. For me, it's a staple. For the longest time, I couldn't find a cheaper alternative. For all my other brushes, I could easily find an alternative that wouldn't cost as much. Fluffy blending brushes, shader brushes of all sizes and densities, angle brushes, liner brushes, pencil brushes, you name it, I could find one that I didn't have to spend a fortune on. As much as I love MAC, I just couldn't bring myself to shell out the money for a brush I could find somewhere else (that was also a good quality and friendlier on my wallet). In fact, the only MAC brush I own is the 217, and that was after an intense (and failed) search for a suitable alternative.


But now, I'm happy to report, you don't have to pay $22 for one brush. If you are like me, and just love your 217, or if you've been wanting to try it but just couldn't justify the price (what if you didn't like it after spending that much?), you are in luck. There are now some great dupes out there that will save you lots of cash.

The first one I ever got was the Sigma E25 ($9) is less than half the price of the original MAC brush. I have the travel sized E25 and I think I may actually like it better than my original 217. Here's why, it's softer and a bit fluffier. Yep. As much as I adore my 217, I feel it can sometimes be a bit scratchy (not crazy scratchy, but just a tiny bit). Now, I have discovered that if I wash my brush often, it doesn't get scratchy, but I have to do the deep cleaning (as in using baby shampoo not brush cleaning spray). I don't have a problem with this, but sometimes I'm in a hurry and forget to clean it. I use the brush so often, I can't have it on the counter drying and not be able to use it (Gasp! Unthinkable!). Enter the new brush. With two of them (and one at a fraction of the price) I can alternate between the two while the other one is being cleansed. But I digress; the E25 is definitely softer, even when it's not as ideally clean as it should be.

Photo credit: Sigmabeauty.com

So I thought I was in heaven when I found a dupe for $9. It was a price I was much happier paying (especially compared to $22) if anything were to happen to the brush that I would need to replace it. But, call me cheap, I'd still prefer to pay less (if I can).

Imagine my joy when I received my weekly email from Coastal Scents announcing its sales and saw that brushes were on sale and in the photo I saw a brush that looked just like the 217. I had no idea that Coastal Scents had this brush! I'd been on their site many times before and had never seen it. Turns out, it's relatively new (about 6 months). I immediately clicked on the link and went to find out if this brush was in fact a comparable dupe. There were tons of reviews on it. Apparently it had been out long enough for the legions of 217 fans to try to get their hands on it, so it was always out of stock (how had I NOT heard of this until now?). Most reviewers were saying it was a comparable dupe. And here is the kicker. Are you ready for the price? Wait for it… $4.95. Yes! And it was on sale for 20% off. Even without the sale I could get 4 of these brushes for about the price of one 217 (I'm counting shipping). I jumped on it.

Photo credit: coastalscents.com

I got them in the mail two days ago. I have to report, it really is a close copy. The 217 is definitely denser (fluffier, more hairs) and a little rounder, while the CS Pro Blending Fluff Brush is a bit flatter and stiffer. But don't let this fool you. It still does an amazingly good job at blending your shadow and packing it on if needed. It's excellent quality at a fabulous price. I washed mine, and it didn't lose shape. However, when I did wash it, it looked like it might lose shape (the bristles started drying all wide). I fixed this by folding my towel in half and drying the brush wedged inside the fold (to help hold the shape since I don't own brush guards). I then put a small container (I used an eye shadow) over the bristle side to keep some pressure over it, and that worked just fine. When I unfolded the towel and got my brush the next morning, it looked just as it did before I washed it.

UPDATE: I recently urchased more of these brushes and have more to say about them on this post. 

Here are photos of my brushes so that you can compare them side-by-side. Apologies for the one dirty brush. I'd used it (obviously). As you can see, the Sigma brush is fluffier and fuller, while the Coastal Scents brush is a bit flatter. However, they are all so similar, the distinctions are truly minor.

Left to right: Sigma E25, MAC 217, Coastal Scents Pro Blending Fluff Brush

Close up shot of brush heads (same order as above)

I'm so thrilled. I now have four of the same style brush. Excessive? Maybe, but I'm telling you, I use this brush a lot and I'm tickled that I can now find it at a better price (and share those savings with you) and can always have a clean one ready and on hand.

So, what do you think? Are you a 217 fan? If so, will you be getting either of these brushes? If you have them already, was your experience similar to mine? Tell me what you think!

Makeup Tutorial: Easy Gray Smokey Eye

Products:
NYX Single shadow: Greyish brown
MAC Vanilla
Sonia Kashuk creme liner : Ebony
Sephora flashy liner: black

On face:
e.l.f. Mineral makeup (foundation, concealer) Medium
e.l.f. mineral blush: Coral
e.l.f. lip gloss: Flirt

Nail polish: Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Purple Rain (#410)

Welcoming spring: Pink & Grey neutral eyemakeup

Products used:

Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Rose Gold

MAC eyeshadow: Apres-Sky

Benefit Eyebright

NYX eyeliner in charcoal

Revlon lipgloss in Nude Lustre

Sigma brushes: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=48246

Super Simple Makeup

Tweet

NARS eye makeup look

A close up look:

This is the makeup I did for a fancy dinner out with my boyfriend and his family. I had a lot of fun doing it. I love love love my NARS eyeshadow palette. There are so many fun looks to get from it. I'll take more pictures of the different looks I come up with. Here is what I used:

UD Primer Potion (all over eyelid)
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk (inner half of eyelid to just above the crease)
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Black Bean (outer half of eyelid just above crease)
Ondine eyeshadow (inner half of lid to slightly above crease) - reapply as needed after applying night flight
Night Flight eyeshadow (outer half of lid and crease)
Himalayas eyeshadow inner corner and under brow - blend with Night Flight to soften line (I pulled some of the Himalayas under the outer V of the Night Flight to blend it out.
Dabbed NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk in inner corner/tearduct area to brighten the eye
NYX Eyeshadow in White over the inner corner where I dabbed the Jumbo Pencil, and then also pulled the color up to brow bone (over Himalayas)
Odine under lashline about halfway across
Night Flight under lashline in outer half and up into crease for continuity
Lined water line (upper and lower) with MAC Feline kohl eyeliner as well as along lashline on eyelid
L'Oreal Double Extend mascara in Blackest Black

Face:
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation #120
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish highlighter
NARS blush in Deep Throat
NYX Lip Liner in Nude
Lancome Lipstick (a nude shade I can't remember the name right now)

What do you think? Any color combinations from the palette you'd like to see?

Review: MAC's Feline eyeliner: The only black (non-waterproof) liner you will ever need

Photo credit: MAC website

Oh MAC, how I love you! I'd count the ways, but really, I think that's just a bit too much. Suffice to say, you've done it again. I've made a purchase and I simply can't believe I did without this product for so long. I have to give special thanks to Kandee Johnson (again) who did a MAC Haul video just before Christmas in which she just raved about MAC's Feline eyeliner (it's at the 9:43 mark). She proceeds to describe it pretty well, but I'll go ahead and repeat it: it's black, and when I say black, I mean BLAAAAAAAAAACK. Seriously, it's inky black, and it just glides on like buttah! One qualm, it's not waterproof. Wah! But it's soooo nice, that I can look past that little detail. It smudges quite nicely too, if you're going for that smokey look. But, a word to the wise, that easy smudging still applies later in the day when you decide you want to scratch your eye or something. So, I highly recommend setting it with black shadow. This little ditty is only $14.50, and it's a pretty decent size, so you should get a lot of uses out of it.

I have an arsenal of black eyeliners. This one has quickly moved to the top of my favorites list (for pencil liners). It's right up there (they are pretty much neck and neck) with Sephora's Flashy Liner and UD's 24/7. If this were waterproof, it would be the only liner I would ever buy. I think it glides on better, and darker on first try, than UD's 24/7 and Sephora's Flashy liner.

I'll have to post some pictures up soon.

Do you have any favorite black liners?

MAC Holiday Palette

Smoke and Mirrors

I love the MAC Holiday eyeshadow palette in Smoke and Mirrors. You can do so much with it. Barely there, subtle work, cool day-to-night, and fun, dark, sultry going-out looks. I still haven't done a really dark sultry look with this, mostly because I haven't really had the occasion to, but I do have a few looks that I've worn to the office and out to dinner.

As with all MAC products, the colors in this palette are nicely pigmented. I've used it multiple times, and it still looks relatively new, as I don't have to use tons of it to get color pay off. I'm a big fan of purple hues and pinks, so this palette had my name all over it. I really like it because, as mentioned, you really can get a lot of variety -- from subtle to dramatic, casual to dressy. It really is a great set. Here are some of the looks I put together.

When I do a darker look (I want to use the black more...), I'll definitely post those pics for you to see. I hope you like the little peak of the different looks that I did. Are there any looks you'd like to see with this palette?