Divergent Makeup Series: Dauntless

Hello, everyone! Bringing you the second, Divergent-inspired makeup look: Dauntless. This was probably my favorite faction. (gawd, I'm such a bandwagoneer, lol) They were cool, and tough, and brave. It was always my dream as a kid to be a badass. Of course, that never really happened since I grew up to be very petite and ultra-feminine. But hey, I might surprise you with some of my Muay Thai moves, so watch out! lol

For the Dauntless look, I thought I'd do sharp, more avante-garde eyeliner in order to represent the fearless philosophy of the faction. In retrospect, I realize that 1.) I'm in dire need of a brow wax 2.) I should have made my brows more austere by making them as black and defined as the eyeliner. Oh well. No one is paying me to do this and it wouldn't be fun anymore if I had to do-over since I spent so much time on it. Maybe one day. XD

Products/Instructions:

1. apply Urban Decay's Naked eyeshadow to the entire lid as a nude base
2. sketch out the shape of your graphic liner with a black eyeliner pencil (I used UD's Zero)
3. fill in the eyeliner shape using black get eyeliner (mine is by MBA Cosmetics)
4. do a general cleanup of the lines using black liquid eyeliner (I used ELF)
5. using my Kate Super Sharp pen eyeliner, I further refined the wing tips
6. again, using my eyeliner pen, I added graphic dots to create a more avante-garde look

Finish by curling lashes, applying mascara, and applying Ardell Edgy strip lashes in #403

Hope everyone is enjoying my Divergent Makeup Series! I know I am! Happy Tuesday, everyone and thanks for reading! <3

Hugs,

Cat

Metallic Bronze Gradient Cat Eye Tutorial

I'm really having fun making these pictorial tutorials and seems like everyone else is enjoying them, too. :) So, here is yet another. I'm just so in love with my Stila Magnificent Metals Foil Finish eyeshadow, especially the Comex Gold…it's such a vibrant shade of molten gold! Here I've created a sparkling gradient cat eye with warm, bronze tones with the help of Urban Decay's Naked and Naked 3.

Product/instructions:

1. Line upper lash line and draw a flick along the edge as a containment guide for the cat eye using UD pencil eyeliner in Corrupt.
2. Apply UD Darkhorse from the Naked palette to the center of lid.
3. Shape wing using Blackheart from UD's Naked 3 palette.
4. Blend Smog (Naked palette) from the center of lid towards the inner corner to create a gradient.
5. Apply Stila Magnificent Metals in Comex Gold to the inner corner and extend towards the center of lid.
6. Clean up shape with concealer.
7. Line lower lash line with UD eyeliner pencil in Zero.
8. Accent lower liner with Blackheart.

Finish by curling lashes, applying mascara, and affixing Ardell lashes in #120.

I look forward to doing more full-face and creative looks in the coming days. Stay posted and thanks for reading! :)

Hugs,

Cat

Fantastic Frugal Find: $1 Matte Lipstick by Jordana

Hey, guys. Ever heard of that cheap-o cosmetic brand called Jordana? I've always noticed it in the bargain section at grocery and drug stores and have always avoided it because the products just looked so terribly cheap and "ghetto".

Anyhoo, I saw a bunch of their matte lipsticks on sale at my local grocery store the other day and thought it would be fun to just give it a try. What'd I have to lose? They were marked down to $1 from $1.50. I picked a bright, red-orange shade called Tangerine Tango.

I was completely floored by the quality of this lipstick! The color is richly pigmented and opaque, the finish is a creamy matte, the scent is reminiscent of M&M's, and it still looked great on my lips when I removed it 7 hours later, with just some slight fading and feathering (my bad, I didn't use any lip liner). I never had to touch up and I didn't find that it was overly drying for a matte formula. For just $1 apiece, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go back and purchase them in every color available.

A little bit of overkill with the electric, metallic blue eyeliner. Lol. Orange and blue were my high school colors, coincidentally.

I used the Naked palette for this look and accented with NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Blue, another cheapy-but-goody product that I love!

Full face product list:

• UD Naked Skin liquid foundation - 5.0
• ELF Clarifying pressed powder - Honey
• Etude House Drawing Eyebrow pencil - gray/brown
• UDPP - Eden
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk
• UD Naked palette
• NYX Studio Liquid Liner - Extreme Blue
• Sugarpill eyeshadow - Velocity (lower lash line)
• ELF liquid eyeliner - black
• Maybelline Full N Soft Waterproof mascara
• Ardell #403 eyelashes
• ELF Studio blush - Twinkle Pink
• Jordana Matte lipstick - Tangerine Tango

Hope everyone's having a fantastic Saturday! It's sunny and warm out right now, but I'm stuck inside all weekend working hard on my grad project. XD

Hugs,

Cat

Gold & Curls

By nature, I'm an avid reader.  My mom took me to the library on a weekly basis from the time I was, like 4 or 5, to check out books.  However, the age of the internet began and I've slowed down a bit since.  I do read, still, but not quite as voraciously as I used to.  Well, I've recently picked up on it again and it feels good.  I get so absorbed in my novels that I feel like I'm living another life when I'm reading.  In the series I'm currently reading, there some references to ancient Egypt.  I felt inspired, again, to do my Cleopatra-esque, glittery, golden look:

I did this with my Urban Decay Naked palette, using Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, and Creep.  I then enhanced the liner on my top lash line with Sephora's Glitter Eyeliner in Gold.  I finished off the look by applying my trusty Ardell #122's.

I also felt like doing something a bit different with my hair.  So I grabbed my Hot Tools curling wand and gave myself some tight, bouncy curls.  Tons of volume that lasts and lasts and lasts...no hairspray required!

That's Pale Mauve on my lips from Bobbi Brown's Atomic Pink palette, btw.

I LOVE my hair like this, but I'm soooooooooo lazy to do it.  It takes more than twice as long as my usual styling routine, so I can only do it when I have time.  Well...it takes about 20-30 minutes, which I think is waaaaaaaaaaay too long.  <---- no patience :P

Anyways, just wanted to let you all know that it's back to school for me starting tomorrow. :(  I've really enjoyed the regular posting and I'll try to stay as regular as possible, but, most likely, posts won't be up on a daily basis.  I'm truly grateful for those who have stuck around (both subscribers and lurkers) to read my humble little blog.  Thanks guys, happy Sunday, and have a great night!

Hugs,
Cat

Holiday Haul: Part 1

Hiyeeee!  Hope everyone had a lovely holiday!  I know I did.  Lots of eating, drinking, being merry, and being gifted with beautiful things by loved ones who know me all too well:

- Bobbi Brown Atomic Pink Palette
- MAC blush in Mocha
- Urban Decay Naked foundation in 5.0
- Urban Decay original Naked palette
- Make Up For Ever lipstick in #34
- mini Philosophy Grace fragrance trio

Technically, the Grace To Go by Philosophy was a gift from Sephora. :)  I was really excited to try out UD's Naked palette.  Sure, it's been around for awhile so it's nothing new.  I'm late in the game getting on this bandwagon, but, to be honest, I probably wouldn't have purchased it anyway due to lack of funds, so I'm sooooooooooo thankful to have received it as a very thoughtful gift! ^_^

 For me, neutrals are anything but boring.  They're just so versatile, whether you're going to class, or  getting ready for a hot night on the town.  As always, Urban Decay doesn't disappoint.  Each silky shade is richly pigmented and they all compliment one another so there are endless ways to layer and combine them.  Here's my first look!  These are the colors I used and how I used them:

- Buck: allover upper eyelid as a base
- Creep: to darken outer corners of upper and lower lash lines
- Smog: to blend and soften Creep into Buck, as well as outer corner of lower lash line
- Virgin: to highlight brow arch

The only shadow color that did not come from the palette was my UD Eyeshadow Pencil in Sin, which I used to line the inner corner of my lower lash line.

I also decided to use a new product to enhance my lip...a glittery gloss sample I received from Bobbi Brown called Bellini:

Bellini is a warm, peachy-pink that is sheer with subtle glitter particles.  The color reminds me of ballerinas...so pretty!  The texture is on the tackier side, but I prefer it because it means the gloss will last longer.  I thought it complimented my eyes very well.  Here is the overall look:

 Hope you all enjoyed the little reveal of my holiday haul!  Stay tuned for additional looks including other products that I received! :)

Hugs,
Cat