I am absolutely ecstatic that Fall is just about here. I know, I know… I love Summer, but honestly – I look forward to every season as it makes its way and Fall is one of my favorites because I love the makeup and fashion trends. In collaboration with my friend Beth (Pearlznlacebybethk), I am bringing to you another makeup tutorial. This is my first fall inspired makeup tutorial – however, we also decided that we would use Milani’s Bella Navy as a common factor in our makeup looks. She will be creating a Day Time look using the shade as well as other drug store priced items and I have created the Night look. For years now, I’ve been quite fascinated with adding the “Pop of Color” on the lower lash line, but didn’t think about using a dark blue until I seen Kendra from Citizen’s of Beauty post a look. Needless to say, I was inspired by her to use a rich blue as she did (you can see her look here), so I hope that I was able to pull it off. Check out the makeup tutorial I created for this look, pictures and a list of products used below. If you would like to watch the tutorial directly on YouTube, click here.
I hope you enjoyed my video. Don’t forget to subscribe for more…
Products used to create this look
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Eye shadows used in the look
Milani Brow & Eye Highlight – Vanilla
Milani Bella Cappuccino shadow
Milani Bella Espresso shadow
Milani Bella Bronze shadow
Milani Bella Charcoal shadow
Milani Bella Ivory shadow
Milani Bella Navy shadow
Milani Bella Chiffon shadow
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil liner in Binge
Jordana Fabuliner in Black
Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner in Black Point
L’Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
KISS 11 Lashes
Milani Color Statement Lip Liner in All Natural
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Nude Creme
NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake
On my face, I used a few products to warm up my complexion as well as blush and highlight but I did not mention it in the video. Those products are:
Milani Matte Baked Bronzer in Sienna
Milani Luminoso Baked Blush
Milani Mosaic Face Powder in Amber Nectar
On my brows I am using the Milani Brow & Shape Wax and Milani Bella Cappuccino Shadow to color my brows in
As you can see from the tutorial, this look is simple to create but definitely has a statement. I can’t wait to try out the lid shades I used with a purple as my pop of color on the lower lash line. I think that while it can be a bit bold and edgy – it’s still very wearable and can be worn day or night. You can deepen the lid shade and use a black or darker brown to create a more sultry and sexy night look as well.
Hope you enjoyed this look. Don’t forget to head over to Beth’s blog to check out her day look also using Bella Navy from Milani in a different way.
Skin care products are very important in my skin care regimen and that goes for serums. I never personally paid much attention to my skin growing up – mainly because the beach and surfing was so important to me, I really didn’t have many break outs or issues with my skin – even through puberty. After graduating from high school, I realized my skin started to freak out… but the adult life had taken over my hobbies and I wasn’t spending as much time in the ocean as I would have liked. Of course, makeup and lack of taking care of my skin definitely took its toll until I started experiencing with different skin care products which of course, included serums.
Hyaluronic Acid Serums are essential in my skin care regimen and I use it two times a day. Since I have severe eczema flare ups, I’m always in need of a product that works well in combination with my moisturizers to keep my skin supple and hydrated. If my skin becomes too dry, I have a flare up which can take days to a month to clear up once it begins. I have tried over 10 different brands of Hyaluronic Serum and while all of them have worked well for me, I am proud to say I found a favorite.
Petunia Skincare is becoming one of my favorite skin care brands offering products for my skin regimen that are gentle and easy to use. You get 1 fl oz (30ml) bottle for about $23.00 and the packaging is easy to use.
I’m not fond of sticky serums or those that are so thick or liquidy that it can take a while for the product to soak into my skin. Since I use several serums both morning and night, I need a product that will allow me to apply the rest of my products quickly so I’m ready to go and can be on my way. Petunia’s Hyaluronic acid comes in a pump style bottle that allows you to use one to two pumps to cover your whole face. It smooths into the skin quickly and is not sticky at all. The serum has a light citrus scent – very light and is clear. While it has a gel like appearance and texture, it is not thick but feels more like a liquid which I like.
Overall – I’m impressed with this product, the amount you receive and the price tag. I have used a few products from Petunia and I’m very impressed with the skin care line altogether.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
This is a Sponsored Post thanks to U by Kotex – Save The Undies
What makes me feel confident?
As much as I try to exude confidence in myself, sometimes I know deep down in my heart I need a little push and shove to bring out the best in me. I’m not gonna lie, there are days that I just want to crawl into a dark hole and hide out, but I’m lucky that I have a handful of confidence boosters to get me through it all. To me, feeling confident in myself is much easier when I have these little things that make the negatives of the World disappear, if only for a second. Everything you’ll see in this post are just a few of my favorite confidence boosters. While colors may vary, shades, scents or even the accessory of choice may change, there is one thing that I keep handy dandy for always… and that’s my U by Kotex (definite lifesaver) and of course, My Family. Every woman has a list of Confidence Boosters in their life, products or people that make them feel like they can rule the World… and here are mine.
My Family (my husband and sons) are my biggest confidence booster. Come on… look at those smiles, they melt hearts and bring sunshine to my cloudy days. I never knew True Love until I met my husband and then had my children and because of this – I consider them to be my biggest support system and they make me feel confident in who I am as a Woman, a Wife and a Mother.
Like all women, handbags and shoes are an addiction and for me… a great handbag and a gorgeous pair of stiletto heels help to put a little pep in my step. Since I’m a very busy mom, a larger tote that can carry all of my essentials (as well as my confidence boosters for the day), is a must. The bigger the better.
I think a sweet and sultry perfume and a signature red or nude lipstick definitely adds to my feeling confident. And, since I am also a huge Gold color addict, Cosmetics that are in gold packaging tend to be what I like to pull for when I’m looking for a little extra somethin somethin for the day. Gold screams luxury to me so it doesn’t matter if it’s a high end brand or drugstore buy – if it is in gorgeous gold packaging, I will rock it out to give me a little swagger.
A gorgeous golden highlight graced across my cheekbones, the perfect contour and gorgeous fluttery lashes are a go-to and probably the one thing I rock out often if I’m looking to wear makeup. These essential are what keep me feeling great about myself, giving me the tools to be comfortable in my own skin with a little bit of sparkle.
Last but not least and one of the most important things to have for any time of the year are the Girly Essentials or feminine products. The new U by Kotex® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core, has a one-of-a-kind center that locks away wetness to help stop leaks. These thin little products keep my monthly friend at bay and I can go about my days confident in knowing I have saved my undies. Visit the U by Kotex Landing page and find the samples that best fit your mission to save the undies. Click on the “Get Sample” button and enter your mailing information if you are interested in giving these a test drive for yourself for free.
PRESS SAMPLE | AFFILIATE LINK I am an OG Monthly Subscription box/bag person… having been one of the first subscribers to Birchbox, Ipsy (then My Glam) and even…
I’ve had the Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Palette now for about a month or more and I have been really enjoying it. But, I realized that I didn’t have a tutorial up using the product and I always like to do that before posting a review. Since Hawaii has been dealing with Tropical Storms and hurricanes, it has left me with a bit of cabin fever so I figured the best way to combat the blues is to do a makeup and then head out for some grocery shopping.
Check out my video tutorial embedded before. Well, actually it is a GRWM (Get Ready with Me) with a little chit chat. I’ll show you the steps on how I achieved my look and hang out like girlfriends as we talk story a bit. lol If you want, you can click here to watch directly on YouTube.
I hope you enjoyed the video – please don’t forget to subscribe.
If I were to decide to wear makeup every day – which everyone knows I normally use eye makeup maybe once a week… this would be what I would choose to do – a soft brown smoky eye. It’s simple to create and since the area between my eye lid and brow is so large… I normally need a soft wash of color to pull a look together. The Amrezy Palette offers some really nice shades to create just a look for a daytime wearable ensemble or something with a soft pop of color.
Products used (eyes):
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather Collection – Creamy Beige
L’Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara blended with Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Brows – Cailyn Gelux Brow in Cocoa
I especially love these types of shades because it is perfect for my eye color. Browns and bronze shades really make my eye color pop and bring out the natural sparkle.
Products used (face):
Milani Color Statement Lip liner in All Natural layered with NYX’s Extreme Shine Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz
Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
Covergirl True Magic Sunkisser Bronzer
Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection Shimmer Palette in Photo Bomb
I hope you all enjoyed this soft bronze toned look. It’s perfect for summer but a look that can we worn year round. Don’t forget to check out my video if you haven’t already and subscribe too. See you all in my next post. Smooches!
I know I say this each month, but man… July sure flew by faster than ever and August is already proving to be traveling at lightning speed. I had so much going on I really just forgot to post my Monthly Favorites here on my blog… so I am sharing it with all of you now. Last month was a month of discovery because I tried out quite a bit of new products, most of which I found I immediately enjoyed.
Check out the rundown of products for last month below.
I did a review here on my blog of the Hask hair care products in Argan Oil and Keratin Protein. After using other products for a few months, I find that I still enjoy this line and it has made a whole lot of difference on my hair since the sun has been doing a full beat down. Check out my complete review for these products here, and definitely check out the line where you can find them at select stores – I have been picking up my masks at Walmart.
I have a review coming soon on the Verona Color Switch. This product is pretty genius and I think would be a great benefit for Makeup Artists especially. It allows you to take your brush and swipe it through the product cleaning off excess product so you can use the brush again. I especially love to use this when I used the brush originally to apply a color and then swipe it through the color switch so that I can blend the shade out without transferring additional product and causing a muddy effect on your eyes. I also love that I can go from a dark shade like black to a light cream or white shade without mixing them. It’s a great product and I hope to have the review done soon.
L’Oreal has hit a home run with Voluminous Miss Manga mascara. It has quickly become one of my favorites because you can actually see my lashes when I use it and used in combination with one of my favorites… Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – they have become a pair made in heaven. lol
Kiss 11 Lashes have been my jam this past month… this is my third pair even with reuse and cleaning of previous pairs. I love how affordable Kiss Lashes are, how thin the band is so it makes it near to impossible to detect you have them on and most importantly – how comfortable they are on the eyes. I especially love that these are dupes to my favorite Ardell Demi Whispies… but a bit cheaper than they retail since I can get them in a larger pack if I can find it.
Of course, I have been loving the new Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Shadows. If you have been following me at all in July – you would have seen my review, which you can find here, as well as a tutorial using a few of the shades I mentioned in my favorites which you can find here. Bella Chiffon, Bella Sand and Bella Bronze have been some of the favorites I have been gravitating to this past month and I know they will surely be favorites for time to come.
L’Oreal Infalliable eye shadows have been a favorite now since first trying them earlier this year. While I am smitten and in love with Iced Latte, Gilded Envy has been a shade I have been rockin’ out in July. I love just applying it with a quick wash of color and blending Milani’s Bella Cappuccino in the crease for a sweet every day look. I promise I’ll have a quick tutorial for that coming up soon.
Through most of the summer I usually pull for my more nude shades and since I’m already on my second tube of Milani’s Nude Creme, I figured I needed to switch things up a bit and pull out some shades I haven’t been using all that much. I purchased Bite Beauty’s Duo Lipstick in Lychee & Musk earlier this year and have really enjoyed the shades as well as the formulation. Creamy, moisturizing and the colors are gorgeous. The only downfall is that the formulation of these lippies are so darn soft, the warm summer heat has been doing a number on them and I know that soon I’ll be needing to apply these lip colors with a lip brush because the lipstick is getting bent out of shape. They are naturally soft so even without summer, they were already starting to warp. Regardless, for the price tag I am loving these and I think that anyone would enjoy them.
Of course, NYX’s Butter Lipsticks have been a favorite for months. I have been pulling for Pops much more now then I did any other time. I have a review for this lipstick here and if you are someone who likes nudes, this may be a great addition to your collection. Creamy, soft and buttery on the lips, it’s been a favorite of mine all month.
After purchasing my Lorac Pro 2 Palette last month, I instantly fell in love. The shades are perfect for year round because they are soft and wearable… you can easily use most of them for all over the lid one wash shades. I love that there are a few bold shades as well. I have a review of this palette coming soon as well as a tutorial coming up using colors that I have been rocking all month long together: Rose, Mocha, Cool Gray, Nectar & Plum. This is surely becoming a favorite palette of mine and will take it’s place right next to #1 in my Holy Grail pile.
Of course, we all know I’m about that Vanilla Cake scents. I have been a long time fan of Pacifica and their Island Vanilla scent has been a top scent for me the last 2 1/2 years. I haven’t used anything else but this scent all month long in July.
Last but not least are my Lifestyle Favorites. As I mentioned in my video, the boys have been enjoying listening to Magic’s Rude on the radio so it has become a favorite of ours in the house. I think it’s beyond adorable when twin 4 year olds and a 10 year old knows all the words to a popular song and they love it. I have been also getting great use out of my Glasstic Water bottle. I have a review for it here, and definitely recommend it to anyone – especially people who love infused waters. It has been a lifesaver for me to carry around my drink in this heat.
Last but not least is my Cafe Press Customized Plus Size V-Neck T-shirt. I designed this last month and have been enjoying it. I think Black and Gold are such a great combination and I have been loving the simplicity and the statement. I’ll try to remember to post a quick Outfit of the Day the next time I wear it. The fabric is breathable, it’s cut and fits this plus size gal really well and it’s personalized. I love it. You can check out more information about creating your own shirt or many other things here.
Overall – even if July flew by so quickly and August is here… I am thankful that I accomplished so much in the month. The twins are off to school as well as my eldest and all started on August 1st so the house has been quiet during the day, and I miss them so much. Our summers are always filled with fun and this summer was surely no exception. From hitting the beach, to the park to just cruising and enjoying our time together – I was certainly sad to see it all go (excuse me while I tear up a bit), but all three boys were so excited for school (I’ll have more of that in another post this week). It’s times like this when I reflect back on a previous month that I realize how awesome life is and I’m glad for Monthly Favorites that allow me to reflect on the month previously. My number one favorite that I didn’t mention in my video – time! The past two months has given me awesome and quality time with my littles and my husband… that overall, is the best favorite of all.
“Love; True love is magic. Not just any magic, the most powerful magic of all. It creates happiness.” It’s no secret that I’m a hopeless romantic. Disney movies,…
