The Usual Vampy Stuff

Face:
BECCA Ever-Matte primer (just on my nose)
Ardency Inn Americana Fair Pink mixed with LM Radiance Primer
MUFE Full Cover 1
BareMinerals Stroke of Light Luminous 1 (under eye)
Nars LRP Loose (under eye mostly)
MUFE Super Matte Loose 12 (around and on nose)
D&G The Foundation Powder Ivory 50 (forehead)

Cheeks:
Dior Aurora 01 bronzer (soft contour)
Benefit Hervana
BECCA Gypsy

Eyes:
WnW Fergie eye primer
Marc Jacobs black Highliner pencil
Illamasqua Precision gel liner (tight line)
MUG Corrupt
MUG Burlesque
MUG Shimma Shimma (inner corner)
Too Faced Salted Carmel (transitions)
Lorac Chic Baked Matte Satin e/s (brow bone)
UD Perversion mascara
Clinique Bottom Lash black mascara (lowers)
Tarte The Brow Architect Fair/Light (just the pencil part used)

Lips:
Stila Color Balm Lipstick Isla


I know.  It's a crazy amount of complexion products happening, especially for me!  This is me wanting and needing full coverage complexion but not wanting it to feel, look, or act heavy (read:  misbehave).  It was relatively successful, I'm happy to say!  The Ardency Inn Americana + LM Radiance primer base mix did really well for me.  Mad science has finally paid off.  :)  And using the D&G powder lightly to set my forehead (the area I'm trying most to cover), worked well, too.  I can't believe all that held up through a long day at work, but pretty much it did.  I think I only did a slight touch up around my nose and between my brows once, while on my break.  My nose was decidedly shiny by hour nine, but I can live with that, and could have done another proper blot.

Salted Caramel from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette is fast becoming a favorite crease and/or transition color.  I can't tell you how much I adore it.  Also, a huge rave for BECCA Gypsy mineral blush, which is a solid fave for blush transitioning!  Who would know that I would become such a transition freak?  I'm loving Gypsy just on top of my cheekbones paired with nearly every blush.  Sometimes I skip the highlight, sometimes I add one over top, just on the high points.

More new stuff - the Urban Decay Perversion mascara.  I really love this!!  But it's not suitable for use on my lower lashes.  Can we say smudge city?  That happens to me with loads of mascaras.  It's perfect on the uppers, though.  I like that it gives me length, a touch of volume, good separation, glides on so easily, and is very black.  On my upper lashes I have no smudging, flaking, clumping, or otherwise egregious behavior.

I hope that everyone is enjoying a good summer!  I can't believe how freaking hot it is.

La Dee Da

Yeah, I know.  I have posted in forever.  I'm sorry about that.  What can I say?  Here are some photos to make up for it (hopefully).  I'll write a little bit about each one, but I'm not going to go on and on because really, I probably can't remember all that much about any of them at this point!  And you probably want to just look at pictures versus read what I'm writing anyway.  :)

The eye above features Urban Decay Zodiac suuuuper sparkly eyeshadow over top of a dark base.  The lime color on the inner crease is an old single from either Tokidoki (Soya) or Tarina Tarantino (Tokyo Hardcore) - I'm thinking the former.  RBR Gracious Arasari to blend out the top of the crease.

In the full face above, I am wearing Stila CC Cream in Fair.  I've decided that it's too yellow and a little too dark for what I like.  Blush is Benefit Rockateur which is UGH so pretty on just about everyone but my sad self!  My lip color is a Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pout Popper in Evelyn's Journey.  It definitely plumped out my lips!

This is a look with Shiseido Into the Woods eyeshadow trio.  I really love the picture above!  I did add a little bit of dark matte brown from the Tarte Aqualillies palette (it's called Hammock) into the outer corner, which I think really made the eye complete for me.  I've used that brown a lot lately and love it!

I'm pretty sure I was wearing Givenchy Le Rouge Magnolia Organza above.  And I'm kicking myself because I'm not going to be able to remember the foundations or blushes in most of these pictures!!  This blush is Tarte Amazonian Clay Tipsy, though.  :)

Okay.  So, this is much too much of a good thing.  I was roughly emulating a Marc Jacob's intense smoky eye look here, but I think it's a tad too much for me!  Woah.  Reverse bandit mask.  Yeah.  Scary bad blending thanks to a black base that set WAY too fast.

At least the rest of my face looks awesome here.  :P  No idea what is what - perhaps some Dior Rosy Glow blush?

I did not tight line here.  Eek!  The inner corner gold is Sugar Pill Goldilux.  I believe most, if not all, of the other shadows are from the Lorac Pro palette.  Given the little sparklies I see peeking through, I'm going to say I probably used Chanel Ebloui as my base here (or might have even been a bronzey GA ETKI shadow!).

Again, face looking relatively awesome here, and no stinking idea what I was wearing!!  If I had to guess, it's probably Smashbox CC Cream in Fair.  I've been using that a lot.

This is another sort of kind of Marc Jacob's dark smoky eye inspired look.  I used Urban Decay 1999 eyeliner pencil as a base for the lid, then UD Last Call eyeshadow over top.  The blue is from the Tokidoki Skate Deck palette.

I'm going to wager that I was wearing Dior Rosy Glow blush in this picture because I've been loving on that one hard lately!

This is a metallic eye featuring Ellis Faas Light in E303 (lid) and Urban Decay eyeliner pencil in Lucky.

I really love the blush and lip combination here, but of course haven't the foggiest idea what blush I was wearing (it's kind of amazing - I'm so mad at myself for not remembering)!  The lipstick was Givenchy Le Rouge in Beige Plume, which I have been mildly obsessed with for some number of months now, and only recently own.

Dark smoky eye using Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Mirifique as a base and Ardency Inn loose eyeshadow in Teddy Boy over top (lid mostly).  Teddy Boy is dark red with turquoise sparkles - not that you can tell here.  I also supplemented with Lorac Pro.  A little sloppy, but mostly good.

This is a really silly, kind of shocked looking picture.  My lipstick is Bite Pastille Violet with some MAC Rebel in the center, over top.  I'm wearing Armani Fluid Sheer(s) as blush and highlight, but I'm not positive which ones.

The glitter here is about the only good thing going.  It's Urban Decay Spandex over Empire eyeliner pencil.  The all over wash is MAC paint pot in Let's Skate, which I do adore.  RBR Gracious Arasari is in the crease.  Top liner is UD Stray Dog pencil.  The mascara on the lower lashes is a lovely purple and blue duochrome from Butter London (Wink in Indigo Punk).

I can't remember anything about the rest of the look.  Sorry!  I mean, really, I could write this down or bother to keep track somehow.  Also, the liner shape, and perhaps lack of shadow depth/shape, made my eyes look down-turned and dopey.  :(  (It's true, honestly.  I picked the least bad picture to put above.)  Proof that I cannot just slap on eyeliner, following the natural shape of my eyes, and look good.

Above is a fab smoky look using just Urban Decay Naked 1 palette!  Niiiiiice.  I do enjoy this.

I'm sorry that my lashes look junky here, but in person I can assure you that they were just fine.  I've been loving Make Up For Ever's Smoky Extravagant very much lately, and while it doesn't always photo well in close ups, it looks freaking awesome on me in person.  It gives me fantastic length, volume, and lift!!  J'Adore!  My new favorite.

The eyeshadows used were from the Urban Decay Vice 2 palette:  Strike, Stash, Dope, and Radar.

The clashy lipstick I wore above was Givenchy Le Rouge in Rose Taffetas!  My foundation was UD Naked Skin in 0.5.

This is another Vice 2 look.  I so much loved this in person.  I'm not sure it translates all that well in photos.  I used Toxic, Damaged, Dope, and Derailed.

I believe that the lipstick above was Shiseido Lacquer Rouge 309.  Two or three of my Lacquer Rouges do look quite similar...so.... *crickets chirping*  The blush was a mix of Hello Kitty Head of the Class palette (the one with the peachy blush!) and a touch of Tarte AC Tipsy.

Another Vice 2 look!  Love!  I used Coax, Madness, and Dope.  Also used, UD eyeliner pencil in Chaos.

I'm wearing Bite Cuvée Coral lipstick, which holy smokes do I ever love this shade and formula so, so, so, so much.  It's crazy pretty.  I can't even believe it.  In person it got just slightly more orange coral throughout the day, but just wonderfully balanced and bright.  It's a stunner and I do highly recommend that you grab it if you can.  It's limited edition, but of course.  Dior Rosy Glow blush, again!  I think my highlight is Tokidoki Luminosa.  

This is a simple smoky look using the Kevyn Aucoin eyeshadow duo in #204 and Urban Decay's eyeliner pencil in Roach.

I'm wearing MUFE Face & Body 38, Tarte's Amazonian Clay blush in Natural Beauty, Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight, and Givenchy Le Rouge Beige Plume lipstick.

Aaand yet another Vice 2 look!  I used mainly Shellshock and Prank, but also some Lovesick, Dope, and Betrayal.

On my face:  Dr. Jart + Renewalist BB Cream (looks dark here, but I find it to be better in person), Illamasqua Katie, Laura Mercier Baked Highlight 01, and Givenchy Le Rouge Croiserie Fuchsia (LE from summer).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate you.

The Tornado

Face:
Kat Von D face primer
Wet 'n Wild Coverall 815
Maybelline Fit Me concealer Fair
Nars Light Reflecting Powder Loose

Cheeks:
Lorac Flaunt blush
Tokidoki Luminosa highlighter

Eyes:
Wet 'n Wild Fergie eye primer
Belmacz Midnight (base color used on lid and lowers)
UD Tornado (lid into crease)
UD Magic (to blend out edges mainly above outer crease and on lowers)
UD Aura (blue looking side on very inner corner area and peach side to blend out inner crease area)
UD Oz (gold side patted over inner half or so of lid and a tiny bit on lowers to mirror)
Stila black pen liner to tightline
Stila Smudge Stick Purple Tang (uppers)
UD Rockstar pencil liner (waterline - topped with Tornado e/s)
YSL Babydoll mascara
Dior Iconic Overcurl (lowers only)
Tokidoki Luminosa (brow bone)
Hourglass Arch Soft Brunette brow pencil

Lips:
Bite Cuvée Blanc

Now for some random thoughts about new things used here!  The WnW Coverall foundation is pretty darn good, yeah.  Four dollar foundation?!  Are you kidding me?  It's better than decent.  I did get a little shiny through the day, but I can thank hot working conditions for that and just my skin's normal behavior this time of the year.  I've only worn it the one time so far, but my initial thought is YAY and go get you some.

The YSL Babydoll mascara is good, but not blowing me out of the water.  The brush provides excellent separation, definition, and a really pretty look.  Not much extra length or volume to be had, though, I fear.

Also, the next time I use Oz eyeshadow I really need to use a sticky base!  The glitter all fell down onto my face, making quite a mess.  None is visible on the eyes even.

I'm trying to work on my blush placement.  It's more in a contour position that what I normally do.  I think I like it!  

That's all for now.  Thanks for stopping by!

Lady of the Lake

Face:
Georgio Armani Maestro Fusion 3
Illamasqua Concealer 115 (spots)
MUFE Lift Concealer 1
Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder Loose

Cheeks:
Illamasqua Morale

Eyes:
Nars eye primer
lightest shimmer shade from Lorac Mint palette (Ulta version)
RBR Periwinkle Cardinal (crease and above)
Urban Decay e/l pencil Mildew
Stila Stay All Day black liner pen (tight line)
Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes!
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo Ash Blonde (lightest half only)

Lips:
Addiction Lady of the Lake lipstick (applied with a brush)

Neck:
Dior Aurora 01 Bronzer

I was surprised to not hate Maestro.  While it didn't wear too tenaciously on me, it did look nice and natural.  It was also oddly fun to apply!  I put several drops into the palm of my left hand, then dipped a finger tip from my right hand into the pool, and followed by quickly applying to my face.  Repeat, etc.  It glides on like liquid silk, which I rather enjoy.  I did not use a primer here, so that will be what I do next time around, to see if that helps it to wear better through the day.  Mainly my nose got shiny halfway through the day - a problem easily remedied with a quick pat from my MUFE Pro Finish compact.

My face felt comfortable and not dry, too, so that is always good.  I was sure to moisturize well underneath.  I'm still loving the new Nars loose powder.

I find it strange and interesting that Periwinkle Cardinal eyeshadow is most definitely not periwinkle.  It's a soft, almost minty green.

Let's talk about Lady of the Lake for a second.  I love this color.  The formula - not so much.  It's thick and smooth and waxy.  While the initial application was not so difficult, I had trouble with subsequent touch ups (which I found to need every hour or so for various reasons).  It got patchy or would ball up in areas.  I ended up using my finger tip to rub out the textural issues, and then would add more as needed.  Also, it felt dry - quite dry.  Now, I can put up with beastly dry lipsticks if they are going to look endlessly pretty and perform well.  I can!  But if they are high maintenance and drying, then it's hard to justify.  All that said, perhaps because little Lady of the Lake came such a long way to be with me, I am determined to make her work.  Next go around I will try a primer and also exfoliate my lips first.

Below is a pic of an eye from Monday.  I didn't fill in my brows here, so try not to get too distracted by that sadness.  I wore RBR Lilac Reef Curassow all over, Umber Firefinch in the crease, and Alabaster Starling in the inner corner.  I used UD Mildew pencil for liner.  I love the color combination and would definitely wear it again!

Slackin'

Okay.  I've been seriously slacking on the posts.  Sorry for that!  Here are a whole mess of looks from the last week +.  This first one features Shu Uemura's Prestigious Bordeaux palette.  I used the blush in the palette, as well!  That was a total pain in the bumsky to get on my brush because the pan is so tiny.

I'm wearing Beaute weightless lip creme in Trace.  It's a really good nude for me.  I was also testing out Nars Light Reflecting Powder (loose) - stay tuned for a freaky flash pic!

Prestigious Bordeaux is great for me, as long as I use a good base under the dark purple (I used Stila Smudge Stick in Tetra here).

Next is a face featuring really simple eyes with Laura Mercier Gilded Platinum eyeshadow.  I also used a Tarte SmolderEyes pencil in Rainforest Black.

The lipstick is By Terry Grenadine Diablotine.  I got it on super sale through Space NK recently!

Here is a look using the Ulta Lorac Mint palette.  I look so tired here!  It was kind of early in the morning.  I used all the shimmery shades of eyeshadow as well as the lightest matte ivory shade.

This one below features Guerlain Terracotta Sun in the City, which I've used as eyeshadow and also a highlight.  The liner is UD Lucky pencil and I used a darker brown in my crease (it's from Sephora's Moonshadow palette - the black and gold one).

I'm wearing BECCA Bronzing Skin Perfector, along with BECCA mineral powder, Dior Aurora 01 bronzer, and Hello Kitty blush (from the black and white Head of the Class palette).  BECCA beach tint in Dragonfruit is on my lips.

The next look features the lovely Nars Cordura eyeshadow duo, a la smoky.  I'm loving how my eyes look more blue here.  I wore Dior Aurora as blush here and Lipstick Queen gloss in Saunter.

Also worth noting is that I'm wearing the Too Faced BB Cream in Snow Glow, along with the Nars Light Reflecting Loose.  I think my skin looks really great!

Last, but not least, is a smoky look with shadows from Urban Decay's NYC book of shadows.  I used Loaded, Bordello, Rockstar, and Perversion.  I've done this look before and I imagine I may do it again!  I just love it.

I'm wearing Illamasqua Naked Rose blush, Nars New Order (super shimmery in person), and Nars Albatross lip gloss.

I really wish I had bronzed my neck.  It only takes about 10 seconds, but makes a big difference (at least, in pictures, where my neck often looks blindingly white compared to my face).  Live and learn!

Thanks for stopping by and do let me know if you have questions about anything.  I'm happy to ramble on more about these looks, as much as I can remember what I did/used.  :)  Aaaaand I'm going to try to get back to more regular posts (unless of course you like these monster posts).