Currently Coveting - Eyeshadow Palettes (Featuring Dior, Lancôme, LORAC, Urban Decay, Illamasqua, & Clinique)

One of my favorite makeup pieces are eyeshadow palettes! I love being able to create a look (or ten) with just one palette.

 

Here are a few eyeshadow palettes that I've been coveting.

 

Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow in Golden Snow (Golden Winter Collection)
Lancôme Color Design Shadow & Liner Palette in Lavender Grace
LORAC Pro Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
Illamasqua Complement Palette
Clinique Eyeshadow Quad in All About Shadow


What are some of the beauty (or non-beauty) products that you've been coveting lately?

Check back every Sunday for more of my "Currently Coveting" posts.

XOXO


You can take a look at my past "Currently Coveting" postings below:
Baby Pink & Glowy Skin (Featuring Illamasca, YSL, Hourglass, Mac, & Dior)

Burgundy, Cognac, Burnt Orange, Tortoise, & Gold (Featuring Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Express, & Macy's)

Fall Nail Polish (Featuring OPI & Essie)

 

Cozy Sweaters (Featuring H&M)

 

Skincare (Featuring Clarins & Origins)

 

Tiffany Blue & Silver (Featuring Tiffany & Co.)

 

Comfy Lounge Wear (Featuring Victoria's Secret PINK & Forever 21)

 

Updated Mac Palette

MAC eyeshadows are becoming my obsession.

 

These three new shades - Club, Cranberry, & Woodwinked - are perfect for fall and transiting into winter.

 

 

Top (left to right): Club, Cranberry, Woodwinked

Bottom (left to right): Nylon, Woodwinked, Handwritten, Club, Cranberry

 

 

My favorite color at the moment is Cranberry. Truly beautiful shade!

 

 

XOXO

 

Coming Soon: Eye looks with these shades & Swatches!

Eye Makeup of the Day - Featuring Mac Cosmetics

Hello!!

 

Today I decided to try something new - an eye makeup of the day (or EOTD). The makeup that I wore today features Mac eyeshadows which I've been loving lately. This has become my go-to makeup look!

 

 

 

 

 

The Products:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Mac Nylon Eyeshadow (inner corner, first third of the eyelid, and browbone)

Mac Crystal Eyeshadow (center of the eyelid)

Mac Handwritten Eyeshadow(outer third of the eyelid, crease, and lower lashline)

Mac Blacktrack Fluidline (on top lashline)

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner (on top and bottom waterline)

Benefit They're Real Mascara (on top and bottom lashes)

 

The Tools:

Mac 239

Mac 217

Mac 219

Revlon lash curler

 

 

 

XOXO

 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I've been a fan of Urban Decay eyeshadow for a few years now. I am obsessed with my Urban Decay Naked 1&2 palettes. I use them 90% of the time I wear makeup. 

I had mixed opinions when the Naked Basics palette was released. I thought the shades would be too similar to the other two palettes I own. I bought the palette after hearing so many people praising the palette. 

I've decided that this palette is not my favorite and too similar to the Naked 1&2 palettes. If you already have those palettes, I would not recommend purchasing. If you don't have the Naked 1&2 palettes, I would suggest that you save your money and purchase either the first or second Naked palette depending on which shades and tones you prefer. If the first three shades weren't almost identical, I think that this would be an amazing palette for the price.

 

The Naked Basics palette features six neutral shades for $27.

Left to right: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint, Crave

Swatches left to right: Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint, Crave

Although these aren't dupes, I found some similar shades in my collection to the eyeshadows found in the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette.

Left to right: Venus (UD Naked Basics), Bootycall (UD Naked 2), Virgin (UD Naked), Browbone color (Wet N Wild Walking on Eggshells), Sellout (UD single eyeshadow)

Left to right: Naked 2 (UD Naked Basics), Tease (UD Naked 2), Naked (UD Naked)

 Left to right: Faint (UD Naked Basics), Buck (UD Naked), Deep Bronze (NYX)

Left to right: Crave (UD Naked Basics), Blackout (UD Naked 2), Creep (UD Naked)

After giving this palette a try, I will be returning it to my local ULTA store. These eyeshadows weren't as unique as I had hoped after hearing so many good things about this palette. This may be a great palette if you are a beginner, however the similarities between the first three shades holds me back from recommending it.

 

 

What are your opinions on the newest addition to the Urban Decay Naked family?

 

 

XOXO

Back to Mac # 1 Update

Hi everyone. If you haven't already seen my back to Mac #1 go check it out! I showed the items I was returning to Mac for their recycling program. Plus I included a mini review of each product. Click HERE for that blog post.

Here is what I got!!!

Eyeshadow: Crystal (frost) 

Thoughts:

This is definitely a shade that I would consider a step out of my comfort zone. I typically wear a lot of neutrals. If I do wear color, it is typically purples. This shade is a light frosty purple with some gray undertones. Depending on the light, it will lean more gray than purple. I've been loving this shade so far. You do need to pack it on a bit to get good color pay off. 

 

 

 

What are your opinions on this eyeshadow if you've tried it before?

 

 

XOXO

MAC COSMETICS - Shopping List

Hi everyone! I thought that I would share with you the items that I've had my eye on at MAC for a while. I'm going to the mall on Saturday so these items are what is on my shopping list!

MAC COSMETICS - Shopping List by ladyem2 featuring glitter eye makeup

 

1. Single Eyeshadow ($15 each). I've never owned a MAC eyeshadow and I want to get a everyday makeup look. The shades that I'm interested in are Nylon, Handwritten, and a "best friend" blending color.

2. Prep & Prime Lash ($16). I'm currently trying out a sample Lancôme version that I've been liking so far. I want to try out a few more versions before I buy a full size.

3. In Extreme Dimension Mascara ($20). I've already tried two different mascaras by MAC - Haute & Naughty and False Lash. I want to try out a few more and see which is my favorite.

4. 219 Pencil Brush ($25) & 209 Eye Liner Brush ($19). I've wanted the 219 for a while, but have never bought it. Since I've started using concealer, I've been using my 211 which I previously used (but didn't like) for my fluidline. The 209 looks like a good brush to use to apply a thin line of eyeliner.

5. Eye Kohl in Fascinating ($16). I've wanted to try a white or nude shaded eyeliner for my waterline. Black is usually too harsh for everyday.

6. Lash Curler ($20). My eyelash curler (Revlon) is getting old and not curling my lashes enough for my liking. I want a good one that isn't too expensive.

7. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural ($30). I've wanted this product since I first learned about MAC. I've never bought it though. I decided that once I finish up my Blot Powder that I'll buy this (which I'm really close to being done with).

8. Fix Plus ($21). Sometimes I notice that my face looks a bit too powdery (not cakey) for my liking. I've heard that this product is good for that.


Please let me know if you've used any of these items. I would love some input before I head to my local MAC counter.


XOXO

january favorites

Hi everyone! I'm here again for my january favorites. I've decided that I'll be featuring my re-discovered items since a lot of my past favorite posts have featured repeated items -- like my beloved urban decay naked palettes.

january favorites by ladyem2 featuring revlon cosmetics



I usually wear my mac blush in plum foolery for the colder months, but I decided to switch it up and use my lovecloud blush from the tres cheek collection last year. I absolutely love this blush for a nice flush! It's a mix between a pink and a coral blush in my opinion.

Since I'm taking two clinicals (starting at 6:30 am!) this semester, I decided I need a quick makeup look for those days. Urban Decay's single eyeshadow in sell out is great for those days. It's a nice shimmery nude that is great for all over the lid up to the brow. It gives my eyes a brightening effect which makes it look like I got a little more sleep then I actually did. :)

Ever since I got my makeup done at mac, I've been using my 211 brush (which I originally used for gel liner) for my concealer. It's great for concealer because its not too big or too small. I actually prefer this as a concealer brush rather than a eyeliner brush. This was a bit too large for my gel eyeliner look I prefer (thin and winged out line).

I've had rimmel london's lipstick in dreamy for a while. It's a nice formula (moisture renew) and color for any look. It's a slightly shimmery (without over doing it) pink-nude shade. I've been loving this for school since I don't want to wear anything crazy on my lips in class!

Revlon colorburst lip glosses are probably my current favorite lip gloss to wear. I own more, but my favorites this past month to wear have been peony, sunset peach, and crystal lilac. These are a bit more spring, however it's a way to kind of hurry up the nice weather! :)


What are some things you've been loving or re-discovered this january? I'd love to know. Maybe I will pick them up in february!


XOXO

May 2012 Favorites, Haul, & Empties

Hi everyone!

I've decided that in addition to my monthly favorites, I will be including any collective purchases I've made this past month, and the products that I've used up this month (or empties). I originally saw this idea on Gaby's Beauty Blog, however The Sunday Girl also does this every month. I may not have an empty product every month.

May Favorites:

MAC blush in lovecloud (from the tres cheek collection)
MAC blush in full of joy (from the tres cheek collection)
Benefit creaseless cream shadow in bunny hop (discontinued)
Urban Decay single eyeshadow in sell out
NYX single eyeshadow in taupe
Revlon single eyeshadow in pure pearl
Covergirl eyeshadow trio in cafe au lait





MAC blush in lovecloud & full of joy - I bought these from the tres cheek collection that came out in April. I absolutely love these colors. Lovecloud is described as a bright mid-tone pink and full of joy is described as a lavender. If they are still available near you or online, I highly recommend them. They are perfect colors for spring and summer.


Top picture (left to right): lovecloud and full of joy.



Bottom picture (top to bottom): full of joy and lovecloud.

Benefit creaseless cream shadow in bunny hop is my first and only benefit product. I'm not sure if I would purchase another shade, only because I want to try out similar products such as MAC paint pots. The color is very natural and creamy. I haven't experienced any creasing while using under eyeshadow or alone. I think cream shadow is useful as a base or as a wash of color on a lazy day.

Urban Decay single eyeshadow in sell out is a universal shade. I use this as a highlight under my brows and in the inner corners & all over the lid for a 'wide awake' look.




NYX single eyeshadow in taupe is a "best friend" color as dubbed by Allison or Amarixe on YouTube & another blogger. I love using this shade to blend out any other colors that I'm wearing. Sometimes I'll wear this all over the lid for a natural looking eye.


Revlon single eyeshadow in pure pearl is something that I have owned since high school (5+ years ago). Obviously I haven't used it in awhile and not often since there isn't a single piece of pan showing! I originally bought this WHITE shadow since it was something similar to what a friend bought. I have since moved on from white eyeshadow across the lids. Thank god I didn't follow that trend for long!! Now I use this as a highlight shade to help when I look tired.


Covergirl eyeshadow trio in cafe au lait is one of my project pan items. I've had this eyeshadow palette since high school as well, however you can clearly tell how much I've used it since then! These are nice shades for a natural everyday look, however the pigmentation can be lacking sometimes. The eyeshadows will fade throughout the day no matter what brush I use to apply it or what primer I place underneath it. I want to try shimmering sands after I finish with this palette.


Top picture (left to right): double espresso, mocha latte, and sugar rush

Bottom picture (top to bottom): sugar rush, mocha latte, and double espresso

May Collective Haul:

My new purse is from goodwill (brand is relic). This is a perfect bag for summer with the bright colors. It also helps that it was under $5.00!

The sunglasses are from Charming Charlies. They are brown with diamond accents around the sides of the glasses. These were around $12.00, however one of the diamonds fell out already! I still like them and I'll still wear them since it's not very noticeable. I like these better than the huge white pair I was wearing to replace my other favorite brown pair.

The watch is the brand studio from Kohl's. I still want a Michael Kors watch, however I'm going to wait until I graduate to buy one. This one will get me through nursing school.

The wallet is from the Coach outlet. It was on sale for $50. I use it for my cards and I absolutely love it! If you zoom in on the picture, you can see the zipper wrist wrap (whatever its called!) has a bow on it. Too cute.

This was the watch I originally bought for nursing school, however it's a little busy. I usually don't like all the bling but this watch is very pretty. I purchased this at Charming Charlies for $20.00. I love the crystals inside the watch.

Another nursing school purchase - an owl stethoscope ID tag. I bought this at Affordable Uniform for $5.00. I have been obsessed with owls for about 4 years now when I joined my sorority. If you weren't aware, I am a proud alumna member of Chi Omega!!

May Empties:

Bare Minerals mineral veil is the first and only bare minerals product that I have ever tried. I thought that this was a good finishing powder to wear over your foundation. I wear mineral foundation (non bare minerals), so I don't know how this would look over liquid foundation. I won't repurchase this (at least not right away), because I want to try other similar products.

WOW. I think this is the longest blog I have ever written. It took awhile but it was fun sharing all of this with everyone. Let me know what your May favorites and empties were! Or what you bought this month. Look out for a new blog post idea coming up within the next couple days.

XOXO

blogruary day 18 - eye shadow out 2012

I have decided to add another project to the list! Not only am I doing project x pan and gloss out 2012, I am also doing eye shadow out 2012! I'm not sure if anyone has done this before because I couldn't find anything about it on YouTube or Google.

Eye shadow out - a promise to myself not to buy any eye shadow for an entire year.

Since it is half way through February, I will be starting today and ending on February 18, 2013. I want to do this project because I have too many eye shadows that I don't use very often.

Here's my current eye shadow collection:

Wish me luck!

XOXO