I'm finally back...for at least a week! I still have 3 or 4 trips left to go on for July and August so I will be away again pretty soon. I MISSED you ALL soooooo much! It was like torture being away from my blog and makeup for so long. I had lots of work and a bit of fun in California (Orange County and Huntington Beach areas) and Switzerland (Solothurn and Thun towns). I was so exhausted from being out all day for work and then socializing after. Argh!!!! I need at least 8-9 hours of sleep to function well during the day and I didn't even get close to 6 hours on any given day. So needless to say I was walking around like a zombie half of the time and high on caffeine for the other half.
It's great to be BACK! And I have so much catching up to do with swatches and reviews and looks. I hope I can get a few posts out this week and just back into the swing of things. How have you all been doing? Fill me in! What's new in the makeup world? And just your world?
A few pictures...I am not a picture taker outside of the blog believe it or not...and even then I take pics of food and scenery at most :)
Switzerland is BEAUTIFUL and I had delicious desserts every night!
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush - New SWATCHES...
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush A long-wearing, solar-baked blush that lasts up to 12 hours. Infused with natural clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun, this nutrient-rich blush benefits all skin types for a fade-free flawless finish for an amazing 12 hours. Inspired by Tarte's best-selling shades of cheek stains and lip tints, the colors range from soft to vivid to suit a wide variety of skintones. For oily skin types, Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. Those with dry skin will benefit from the clay's nourishing and hydrating properties, which naturally restore skin's moisture. Combination skin types can rely on its ability to zero in on skin concerns and deliver benefits to restore complexion harmony. The result? Blush that wears better, longer, and truer!
This blush features the following Skinvigorating™ ingredients:
Vitamins A and E, two natural preservatives that act as anti-inflammatory emollients and protect against free radical damage
Vitamin C, an antioxidant that fights free radical damage and prevents oxidative stress and premature signs of aging, while brightening the skin
Amazonian clay, a nutrient-rich, multitasking, skin-balancing clay that reduces dryness and flakiness, improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness, and texture while removing oil from the skin's surface for smooth application and wear
I recently picked up a few more of the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes during a Tarte 20% OFF sale. I am loving these blushes so I figured a few more wouldn't hurt. Since I already did a full review on these blushes I will only be adding new pictures on swatches in this post.
Bright berry pink. This is not as intense as may be expected so it is much more wearable than would be anticipated. May be a bit too light for deep skintones.
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Tipsy - Coral
Beautiful soft coral. A little bit less warm than Blissful and definitely wearable for all skintones.
Dark skin will get a great glow from this blush.
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Dollface - light pink
Nice cool light barbie pink. The non-glitter version of Adored. Very subtle pink that will suit light to medium dark skintones. May be a bit too light for deep skintones and can translate as ashy.
I am just popping in to post a video tutorial as promised for a glitter look. I am off now to Switzerland. Talk to you guys soon! Miss you all. Kisses!
Eyes:
PRIME:
I started off with Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer all over my lid up to the brow bone. I applied MAC Layin' Low Paintpot (creamy beige) all over my lid and slightly into the crease as my primary base. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush
COLOR:
For the lid and tearduct area I applied MAC Vanilla Eyeshadow (satin ivory). MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
For the middle of the lid I used MUFE #40 Eyeshadow (matte charcoal grey). MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
On the outer lid I used Rock & Republic Fatalistic Eyeshadow (matte black). Sonia Kaskuk Large Crease Brush
On the middle of the lid I also applied Too Faced Blue Angel GlamourDust (pale blue with opalescent glitter) using Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter GlueGlitter Bonding Eye Shadow Primer. MAC 242 Small Shader Brush
For highlight I used Magnolia Makeup Champagne Pigment (shimmery light champagne).MAC 252 Large Shader Brush
BROWS:
My brows are filled in with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud and NARS Coconut Grove Eyeshadow (matte blackened brown). Paula Dorf Eye Definer Flat Top Brush
DEFINE:
I lined my upper lashline with Lorac Front of the Line PRO Liquid Eyeliner in Black.
I lined my lower waterline with L'Oreal HIP Cream Eyeliner in Black. Sigma Eye Liner - E05 Brush
I used L'Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara for my lashes and added Nigel Beauty Emporium G747S Eyelashes for effect.
Lips: POLISH:
For my lips I used MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick (matte nude) topped with MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass (creamy nude).
Face:
FINISH:
I used Tarte ReCreate™ Anti-Aging Foundation in Walnut 20 - Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush - for my face and set my t-zone with Tarte Smooth Operator™ Micronized Clay Finishing Powder - Sigma Round Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush. I used MUFE #12 Full Cover Concealer - Cozzette P350 Cylinder Concealer Brush - under my eyes set with Benefit Powderflage - Cozzette S150 Cylinder Setting Brush.
I used Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed (matte rose nude) for my cheeks - MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush - MAC Style Blush (frosty golden peach) for highlight - Cozzette Highlight Powder Brush S140 - and MUFE #2 Sculpting Kit for contour - Sigma Angled Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush.
With its Frizz-Mending Complex, shampoo weightlessly replenishes essential oils, the hairs natural defense against frizz. Restoring this proper balance of moisture helps prevent frizz and blocks out humidity.
Frizz-Ease®Smooth Start® Repairing Conditioner
Smooths and repairs strands by helping to seal split ends and restore hairs natural defense against frizz. Reinforces distressed tresses and leaves them smooth, soft and highly manageable. Contains Frizz-Mending Complex + special silk protein.
Glitter Glitter Glitter! One and all! MAC, MUFE, Inglot, Eye Kandy, Magnolia Makeup all have fantastic glitter options. I have been using glitter as a 'splatter' accent on my outer lid a lot lately and I absolutely love the effect. It's simple and easy to do but adds a geat pop to any neutral look.
Eye Kandy Liquid Sugar
Liquid Sugar is a water based sealer that bonds glitter, metallic and micas (powder make-up) to your eyelids, lips or any other skin surface. This product is safe for sensitive skin and contact lenses.
L'Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara For Lashes
Uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften lashes and build lashes to 5x their natural thickness. Unique maximizing formula quickly thickens and builds lashes in a single application for a full and dramatic lash look. The patented volume maximizing brush thickens lashes evenly and smoothly, leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges or clumps. Formulated with panthenol and ceramide-R, protects and conditions lashes leaving them supple and soft to the touch resisting clumping and flaking.
Tarte Smooth Operator™ Micronized Clay Finishing Powder with PM20™
The breakthrough technology of this micronized clay finishing powder improves the production of keratin, a building block of skin synthesis, to promote the tightening of skin and effectively shrinking oversized pores. Amazonian clay, nature's most perfect ingredient, acts as a total skin balancer by reducing dryness and flakiness, improving clarity and texture and removing surface oil to mattify skin for a soft focus and flawless finish.
Facial Cotton is 100% natural and uniquely manufactured for a consistent soft, smooth texture. Allows for maximum absorption and assists in the application of Shiseido softeners.
Cozzette Makeup Brushes The Divinity Collection -- An insightful angle on modern instruments. Cozzette presents vegan makeup brushes of the highest quality. Silky bristles made of the finest synthetic fibers provide you with peace of mind and blending perfection. Practice compassion through the art of beauty with these essential, cruelty-free tools. Divinity Collection brushes are finished with 100% renewable resource wood handles that have been dipped in purple lacquer.
Cylinder Concealer Brush P350
Cylinder shaped concealer brush used on its side to conceal under the eye, eyelids, and corners of nose. Use the pointed tip of brush in a stippling motion to eliminate tiny imperfections’, hyper-pigmentation or cover tattoos on the complexion.
Contour Stylist Brush S135
Accentuate bone structure with this tightly packed deluxe contour brush shaped to sculpt and define the face or body.
Cylinder Setting Brush S150
A round shaped setting brush sized to fit areas often missed like under the eyes, lids, sides of nose and around mouth.
Eyebrow/Mini Shader Brush D230
This small densely packed defining brush is capable of creating a soft focus or extreme detail on the eyebrow. Can also be used for defined and shading around the eye using eyeshadow powder pigments.
