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Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme – Liquid to Matte Lipsticks

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PRESS SAMPLE / SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

The matte lip is all the rave and trend right now and that includes the liquid to matte lipsticks that we are seeing from different brands.  While each of them have similar formulations, I can’t help but enjoy the ones I try since it allows me to go without touching up all day.  A few months ago, Milani (my favorite drugstore brand) came out with the Amore Matte Lip Cremes.  I got my hands on four of them so I figured I would share them with you should you be wondering how they worked for me.

Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme - Liquid to Matte Lipsticks

The Milani Amore Matte Lip Creams come in eight different shades at the moment – though I am sure Milani may be adding to this list of liquid lipsticks eventually.  You get a pretty nice variety of shades from very light and wearable nudes to deep dark vampy reds that are showstopping and perfect for the Fall season.  Each liquid lipstick retails for $8.99 on Milanicosmetics.com but I’m sure they can be found a bit cheaper at your local Walgreens where available.  I ordered one of the shades online and haven’t been able to locate a display at any of my local stores to date.

Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme - Liquid to Matte Lipsticks
Left – 02 Adore, Right – 04 Lust

The Amore Matte Lip Cremes have that liquid-to-matte formula that has been coveted by many lately.  It dries to a soft, velvet like finish and really gives your lips that fuller look.  If you are familiar with the Brilliant Shine Lip Glosses from Milani, these liquid lipsticks have the same double-sided, flexible plush applicator which I actually enjoy because it applies nicely to my pretty full lips.  Each one has a sweet sugar/vanilla scent which makes application enjoyable – I love it.

Out of the four shades I have I am really loving the darker ones – Crush & Flirt.  Crush applied so easily, though because it is so dark, with any type of oily food, it starts to really fade and can leave that ring on the inside of your mouth.  Flirt is a gorgeous berry red that will be my go-to for this Fall Season.  Adore and Lust are really nice too – but I truly fancy the darker shades at the moment.  I’m sure during Spring and Summer I’ll pull for Adore & Lust more.

Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme - Liquid to Matte Lipsticks
Left – 01 Crush, Right – 08 Flirt

While most liquid lipsticks dry to a matte finish and can be drying on the lips – I was pretty impressed with the texture of my lips with these on.  Most of the shades I own (I have four of them) apply pretty evenly, though I thought Lust was the one that I needed to work with to really get the best application.  Was it enough to sway my opinion and dislike the product?  No, because after a little fixing, I was able to get it to work for me without issue.  These lipsticks take about a minute to two minutes to dry on me… but I think it depends on the weather.  During the summer months I found that it remained tacky up to 5 minutes before it actually set.  Now that Fall is here and the days are a little cooler, the colors set on my lips within a minute and are locked into place for several hours through the day.  All of the shades I own have an opaque color on the lips when set and dry and I can get approximately 6-7 hours of wear time before I feel the need to reapply.  If I am eating anything oily (like my favorite food, pizza) – of course, it will start to fade and in some cases, I’ll need to touch up.  But – I can kiss my hubby without any transfer which also makes these “HUBBY APPROVED!”

Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme - Liquid to Matte Lipsticks

Considering the price point and the fact that this is from a Drugstore brand, I think they are really nice and I enjoy them.  My goal is to collect all eight so that I have a selection to choose from when dressing up my pout.  I would love to see Milani create many different shades as they have with their Color Statement Lipsticks – purples, plum nudes and dusty rose pinks are all of my favorite types of shades, but an orange and mauves would be great hits as well.  Overall – I am loving what I tried so far and I think they are a great addition to one of my favorite brands.

Have you tried these yet?  Have you been able to spot them at your local stores?  With the price point and the brand, I think these could definitely be a hit.

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  The products mentioned in this post were both purchased by me and also sent to me for review consideration.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to feature these products or provide my thoughts, however – affiliate links are posted through out.

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Going For Gold – MUA Makeup Academy Professional Eye Shadow Palette

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

It’s seems like I’m shopping my stash a lot lately and I completely forgot about this little gem I had in my possession now for quite some time.  The Going For Gold eye shadow palette from MUA (Makeup Academy Professional) has been a favorite to pull for during the warmer months since it offers shimmery shades to adorn the eyelids.  I was excited to use this palette in the fall to create eye looks filled with hues like falling leaves to I figured I would share it with all of you.

Going For Gold - MUA Makeup Academy Professional Eye Shadow Palette

I purchased this palette last year from the MUA website and was so excited at how affordable the palette and the rest of the cosmetics from the line is as well as the quality.  Sadly, I just found out from MUA that they no longer ship to the United States, so if you are interested in getting this palette or other MUA products, you will have to check out your local CVS or other avenues online.  I have been a fan of the makeup I have used thus far and even ordered products for fellow beauty junkies over the year so I was disappointed to find out that I am only limited to a selection that doesn’t really include any of their new palettes or beauties such as these.  I decided I would share the love on this palette anyway – since I really like the quality and the colors included.  Retailing for about $4.53 *USD the Going For Gold palette includes 10 gorgeous shimmery shades that include golds to silvers and are show stopping to say the least.

Going For Gold - MUA Makeup Academy Professional Eye Shadow Palette

For the price point – you get 9.6g worth of product and really good pigmentation for a product that costs less than many that you can find in the U.S. based drugstores.  The packaging is okay – a snap tight closure that is fairly sturdy considering I have tossed this palette around like an unused toy over the last few years and it’s held up well.  It comes with a double ended sponge tip applicator that is just an extra addition, if you know me – you know that I don’t use it and usually will put together in a collection of those from other palettes to tuck in the back of a drawer – lol.

Going For Gold - MUA Makeup Academy Professional Eye Shadow Palette

Each swatch is done dry over my bare arm and as you can see the color picks up well and it is really easy to work with.  The shades are definitely fun for an every day look that calls for a pop of color, but I do think the palette is missing a mid tone brown and a black which would help to make this palette one that could be used for a plethora of looks instead of all shimmery eyes.  The shadows are buttery – but they can have some powdery pick up – so dusting your brush off prior to applying to the eye will save you a glittery mess on your cheeks.  If you wear these wet (not pictured) they will pick up much more intense and apply with minimal fallout – however, I noticed the eye shadow in the pan starts to develop an odd layer that can make working with the shadow dry a bit tricky.  Note:  If you are going to use these wet, I suggest using the corner of the eye shadow pan so that you are not causing the entire shadow to get hard and difficult to work with.

Going For Gold - MUA Makeup Academy Professional Eye Shadow Palette

I have tried several different products from MUA over the years and this is the sixth palette I own from the brand in a similar price range.  Overall – I’m always impressed and you can beat a palette that is less than $5.00.  Shipping was actually reasonable (when they did ship to the US) and it didn’t cost that much and usually took about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks to arrive to me in Hawaii – which again, not bad.  My only con about the brand now is the limitations to the product line – especially now that they have included so many gorgeous palettes I wouldn’t mind adding to my collection.

Have you tried MUA products before?  Besides your local CVS with a limited selection, have you been able to find this brand anywhere else?

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The product(s) mentioned in this post was purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.  Affiliate links are posted through out.

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Runway Ready With Mary Kay – Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

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Thank you to Mary Kay® and SheKnows/BlogHer for sponsoring this post.

I have been a long time Project Runway and Mary Kay® addict, so I was beyond ecstatic to have the opportunity to share with all of you two stunning looks featured on Project Runway using Mary Kay® Cosmetics. When creating Runway looks, it is key to be able to complete the look in a timely manner but also to create a look that is show stopping and fashion ready. Today I will share with you two gorgeous looks and the products used to create each. These looks were created by Mary Kay® Global Makeup Artist, Luis Casco and were featured on Project Runway. They are easy and simple, but most important, they are classic and can be used at anytime or season. With Mary Kay® being the official beauty sponsor for Project Runway, I feel privileged to be able to share my take on these looks for all of you. Here are my takes on each look and the steps I took to create them.

Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

The first is the Sculpted Look that focuses on the lips and brows. I wanted my lips to be the focus on this look since burgundy lip shades really give my lips a gorgeous plump look. Creating this look was so easy and the products included make it quick and perfect for any time of the day. Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

I started the look by using the Mechanical Brow Liner in Blond ($11) to fill in my brows. I followed the natural growth of my hair and swept the liner in short strokes to provide a natural looking brow that looked defined. I then took Hazelnut Mineral Eye Color ($8) and with the Eye Smudger Brush ($10), I applied that to the highest points of my brows to add a little more color and depth for emphasis on the arch. To keep my brows in place all day I used the Brow Gel ($10) to set them for long wear. Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

To keep with the theme of this look, I went with the soft eyes so that the lips would be the statement. Taking Rosegold Mineral Eye Color ($8) with my finger, I applied the color on my eye-lid and then used the Eye Color Brush ($10) to blend. Using the same brush, I then add Crystalline Mineral Eye Color ($8) as the highlighter under the brow to create a little contrast. To finish off the eye look, I used the Black Pencil Liner ($12) to apply liner to the base of my upper lashes and lightly on my lower lash line to shape my eyes. Then, I completed the eye look with two coats of one of my all time favorite mascaras: Lash Love Mascara in Black ($15) from Mary Kay®. Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

To finish the look and bring it all together was easy. I applied the Mineral Cheek Color Duo ($18) in Juicy Guava (which is a gorgeous summer shade) to the cheeks with the Cheek Brush ($14) and blended perfectly to create a soft cheek kissed look. Then applied the highlighter shade to the high points of my cheekbones to brighten the face and a light dusting all over to add a little depth. Once that was done, I applied True Dimensions Lipstick in Spice ‘N’ Nice ($18) to the lips and to add a little definition and sculpting, I lightly lined my lips with Dark Chocolate Lip Liner ($12) and blended with the lipstick. Using the Beauty Blotter tissue ($6), I blotted my lips to create a long lasting semi-matte look that helped to make my lips look plump and juicy.

Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

The next look is perfect for summer but can be used year round to add a Bronze Glow to your face. The focus on this look is the eyes and cheeks, creating a very subtle but bronzed look that gives you that sun-kissed glow. Like the first look, this one is very easy to achieve and Mary Kay® has all the products to create a look that is stunning and flawless. Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

To create this look, I first started off with the Powder Brush ($16) and applied the light shimmery Bronzing Powder ($18) in Light-Medium to the high points of the face that the sun would naturally hit to create that sun-kissed look. Since this bronzer is lighter than what I would normally use for contouring, it is perfect to add a subtle but show-stopping bronzed glow all over my face. To create a little depth and drama to my cheeks, I then added the Mineral Cheek Duo ($18) in Spiced Poppy over the bronzer with the Cheek Brush. Finishing with the highlighter shade on top of the cheek to give a little shine.

Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

To create the eyes, I used the Eye Color Brush ($10) and swept Amber Blaze ($8) and Gold Coast Mineral Eye Colors ($8) to the eyelid. I applied Amber Blaze to the inner corner of my eyes sweeping in and blending with Gold Coast which I applied all over the lid. I then took Precious Pink Mineral Eye Color ($8) to the crease to add a bit of definition, but also to add a little more warmth to the look. Finishing off the eyes by adding the Mary Kay® Gel Eyeliner (which I am loving) in Jet Black ($18) to the base and upper lashes and with the product that is left on the brush, lightly sweeping the last of the product onto my lower lash line to create more drama. Finishing the eye look with a few coats of one of my favorite mascaras Lash Love Lengthening Mascara ($15) from Mary Kay® and the eyes are complete.

To finish the entire look, I added a hint of metallic shimmer to the lips with NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss ($15) in Beach Bronze. This gloss gave my lips a plump look but also offered a little shine. It is comfortable to wear on the lips and perfect for those Summer Beach Bronze looks or year round. As I mentioned previously, each look is simple to create and takes little to no effort. These are perfect looks for the runway and for anyone looking for a little drama in their lives to make a statement. Since I have a warm skin tone, any of these looks are definitely easy for me to use, and I especially enjoy both of them for how easy they are to create, but also how little time it took me to get it done. As a mother, getting ready and doing a full face of makeup in 10 minutes is ideal and any of these looks can easily be accomplished in that time. Runway Ready With Mary Kay - Official Beauty Sponsor of Project Runway!

I have been a long time lover of Mary Kay® cosmetics and over the years I have watched their cosmetic line grow tremendously to include products that are not only made with quality but products that also keep up with the trends and color profiles we see on the market today. As I mentioned, some of the products I used to create these looks like the Mary Kay® Lash Love and Lash Love Lengthening Mascaras are some of my holy grail products I have used for years and the Gel Eye liner has recently become a favorite of mine. While these looks are easy to create, use your love for makeup and experiment to create your own takes on each look. Make it your own and love it.

For more beauty looks and information on Mary Kay® products, you can visit their website, visit the Mary Kay® Project Runway page, follow them on Facebook, and watch their videos on YouTube!

What did you think of these looks? Tell me in the comments below which would be a look that you would love to recreate for a chance to win a Mary Kay® Prize Pack. Each comment will automatically be entered to win.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned and featured in this post were provided to me by Mary Kay®. This post is sponsored and brought to you by Mary Kay® and BlogHer/SheKnows. While it is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

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This sweepstakes runs from 8/31/2015 – 9/27/2015

Be sure to visit Mary Kay’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

I’m probably a bit late to the game in sharing this palette with you all, but I just wasn’t certain if it was something I wanted to have in my collection but decided I would try it out anyway.  I’m glad I did, because the Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette has easily become a favorite in my makeup arsenal.  It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Kat Von D – having watched her career flourish as a tattoo artist over the years, so when she began her own cosmetic line at Sephora, I was taken by everything about it.  Many who read my blog or watch my videos know that the Tattoo Liner in Trooper is probably one of my favorites to date and I’m glad I decided to pick this palette up because I’m loving it.

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette

The Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette retails at Sephora for $46 USD.  It includes twelve all matte shades that were created to transform your eyes through the art of contouring.  Using shadow and light to create dimension in her beautiful portraits, Kat wanted a palette to empower you to create a look for your ideal eye shape featuring definition, lift and balance.  This palette has arranged its shades into three unique quads – each with a base, contour, define and highlight shade in neutral, cool and warm hues so you could create a look that was effortless and perfect.

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette

Included with your palette are illustrations on different shade combinations that you can try from each quad to discover your favorite transformative look.  And, of course if you are wanted to interchange and mix up the shades to create your own looks, you can do that as well.  The palette is made in the USA and the packaging is stunning.

Shade break down:

Net Wt – 3 x 2.3g/0.08oz (larger base shades) and 9 x 1.1g/0.04oz (contour, definition and highlight shades).  Like I mentioned before, each shade is matte which allows you to create a variety of looks.

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette

I am loving the shades in this palette, especially since they include a range of hues from cool and warm to neutral which means I can use a combination of all or a few to create looks I love.  Each shade while matte are actually quite easy to work with and easy to blend out.  If you have worked with matte shades before, some can be a challenge, but overall I do like how well these blend.  Like a lot of my Kat Von D palettes, this one can be a bit powdery, though I do think it has some to do with the matte shades as well.  I don’t get much fall out – but I always make sure to tap my brush off prior to applying to my lid.

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette

For the quality you are getting and the amount of shadows, I think you are definitely getting a steal.  The palette is well made and the packaging is really nice and sturdy.  I would have loved to have the magnetic closure a little stronger than what it is – but overall I think I would be comfortable enough to take this palette on a trip or pack it for travel.  It can be a bit bulky (the palette itself) but I still think it is pretty good protection for the shadows.  Oh – and I really really wish the names of each shadow was printed on the actual palette itself.  I’m doing my best to throw out packaging and I’m not about that life of keeping cards handy.  I like that the names are printed on the back, but I much rather prefer it printed near the actual shadow itself.

Smoldering Smoky - Easy Smoky Eye Featuring Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette

In the look above, I am using shadows from the Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette.  A full list of products used can be found here and a tutorial for this look here.

Like most makeup on the market today – any purchase in its own is an investment and I think this is a nice one.  If you are looking for a palette you can create looks for work with or just something easy to use, I think you’ll enjoy it.  I am surprised at how much I’m enjoying this palette.  Laetus has been my go-to highlight shade for my brow bone since I got this palette and succubus is a gorgeous shade in the crease or to smoke out your look.  I love it – even with it’s little issues I have with it – I know I’ll get some great use from this one.  This palette is sold exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com

Have you tried this palette yet?  If not – is it on your list? If you have, what do you think about it?

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  I purchased this product with my own money.  All thoughts and opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to feature this product on my site though I do have affiliate links posted through out.

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Smoldering Smoky – Easy Smoky Eye Featuring Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

I’m naturally a busy bee so when I am looking to create fierce looking eye makeup – I not only have to do it quickly, but it needs to be pretty easy as well.  Over the years I have found that a soft brown smoky eye or even a purple or burgundy hued one is my best play on eye looks to bring out my brown eyes, but lately I’ve been digging adding grey hues to the mix and found that this look could definitely be a showstopper.  Today I bring to you a Smoldering Smoky, Easy Smoky Eye featuring the Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette.  It’s my first true makeup look using this particular palette so I hope you enjoy.

Smoldering Smoky - Easy Smoky Eye Featuring Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette
A complete step by step walk-through tutorial can be found in the video embedded below or you can click here to watch directly on YouTube.

I began this look by applying my Milani Eye Shadow primer all over the lid and onto the lower lash line.  Then taking my Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette – I swept Laetus all over the lid. Samael was then applied as my transition shade and blended towards my browbone to blend the highlight shade and transition effortlessly.  Saleos was applied onto my lid with patting motions and a domed eye shadow brush followed with Solas which was applied on the top of Saleos to soften the shade.  Then I applied Solas into my crease and added Succubus to give the look a more blended and darker effect.

Using the Milani Kohl Kajal liner, I lined my upper and lower lash line and waterline.  Then used the deep shades from the Kat Von D palette to smoke out and smudge the liner to create a softer look.  I then used Latinus to highlight my browbone and applied Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening mascara and Ardell Demi Whispies lashes.

Smoldering Smoky - Easy Smoky Eye Featuring Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette

To add light definition and contour to my face, I used my NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep and added warmth to my face.  I am using Milani Rose Powder Blush in Warm Petals to add a little warmth and color to my face and finished with Becca Shimmering Face Perfector in Champagne Pop for highlight.  For my lips I am using ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Trap with a little of Tulle topped to give a little different hue.

Smoldering Smoky - Easy Smoky Eye Featuring Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette

This look is a bit bold, but still wearable and so quick and easy to create.  Don’t forget to check out my tutorial for the deets and I hope you enjoyed this.  It’s been a while since I have done something quite bold, but I had a lot of fun doing so.  I’m totally diggin’ the Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette and I’m having fun trying out new combinations.

Have a wonderful day!

Signature Honey

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