Mint Sorbet is such a fresh and cheerful color, perfect for the spring and upcoming Easter. Also perfect for the sunny weather in Cabo San Lucas, where I'll be spending my spring break next week. Yippee!
Hugs,
Cat
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Beauty: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet
I love nail polish! :) But I'm also lazy about it. :( I'm the type of girl who will put on a coat of nail polish, and, regardless of it chipping off and looking disgusting, won't take the 10 seconds to remove it, rather I'll let it grow out in the next 3 months. Still, I was at the drugstore today and saw the prettiest shade of pastel mint green. I don't remember what the color was called, but it was by Revlon and was $6. Being the frugal fashionista that I am, I went looking for a bargain polish of the same color and found Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear nail polish in Mint Sorbet. It was a dead ringer and cost me only $2.99.
Mint Sorbet is such a fresh and cheerful color, perfect for the spring and upcoming Easter. Also perfect for the sunny weather in Cabo San Lucas, where I'll be spending my spring break next week. Yippee!
Hugs,
Cat
Mint Sorbet is such a fresh and cheerful color, perfect for the spring and upcoming Easter. Also perfect for the sunny weather in Cabo San Lucas, where I'll be spending my spring break next week. Yippee!
Hugs,
Cat
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Product Review: Milani Lip Flash in FLASHY
Must be something in the air, but I'm so drawn to brights right now! I was at the drugstore today when I spotted Milani's Lip Flash, a chubby lipgloss pencil. It's advertised as super-high pigmented, lightweight, non-sticky, shiny, and anti-feathering...all characteristics of a great gloss in the convenient form of a pencil. Sounded good to me, but what really got me was the ultra-bright colors. As soon as I laid eyes on Flashy, a shimmery, hot pink shade with blue undertones, I was sold.
Upon application, I was very impressed. The pencil glides on smoothly, and easily. As advertised, the formula is very lightweight and non-sticky. It's not as shiny as a true liquid gloss, but that problem is easily rectified by simply applying gloss over the Lip Flash. In fact, sometimes I prefer a shimmery luster over a vinyl-like gloss, which makes this product more versatile. I really love that it comes in pencil-form. It makes application quick, easy, precise, and, most of all, fun! For me, Lip Flash's best quality is the pigmentation. WARNING! This is truly high-impact color...like staring-at-the-sun intense. My reaction from the first stroke was: "Wow, this must be pure pigment!"
However bright it looks in photographs, the color is 10x more extreme in person. I think my husband was slightly shocked when I emerged from the bathroom, ready for our dinner date. To tell you the truth, the color was so intense that I was a little scared to go out in public, but we ended up going out anyway. Here was my complete look for the evening:
Before going out, I consulted my nearest and dearest regarding my daring new look. I think the overall consensus was that the fuchsia shadow accent was a little overkill along with the strong lip, so next time I'll just do a monochromatic black smokey eye. Still lots of fun though, I just love color!
Oh, and FYI, even after dinner and dessert, the color still held strong with no feathering, so Lip Flash definitely gets the two thumbs up from me. At about $6.99 a pop, you can't lose. Also, at CVS right now, they're having a "buy one get one half off" promotion for Milani Cosmetics. Lip Flash comes in varying shades of intense red, pink, and orange...so that's a win/win for sure!
Upon application, I was very impressed. The pencil glides on smoothly, and easily. As advertised, the formula is very lightweight and non-sticky. It's not as shiny as a true liquid gloss, but that problem is easily rectified by simply applying gloss over the Lip Flash. In fact, sometimes I prefer a shimmery luster over a vinyl-like gloss, which makes this product more versatile. I really love that it comes in pencil-form. It makes application quick, easy, precise, and, most of all, fun! For me, Lip Flash's best quality is the pigmentation. WARNING! This is truly high-impact color...like staring-at-the-sun intense. My reaction from the first stroke was: "Wow, this must be pure pigment!"
However bright it looks in photographs, the color is 10x more extreme in person. I think my husband was slightly shocked when I emerged from the bathroom, ready for our dinner date. To tell you the truth, the color was so intense that I was a little scared to go out in public, but we ended up going out anyway. Here was my complete look for the evening:
Before going out, I consulted my nearest and dearest regarding my daring new look. I think the overall consensus was that the fuchsia shadow accent was a little overkill along with the strong lip, so next time I'll just do a monochromatic black smokey eye. Still lots of fun though, I just love color!
Oh, and FYI, even after dinner and dessert, the color still held strong with no feathering, so Lip Flash definitely gets the two thumbs up from me. At about $6.99 a pop, you can't lose. Also, at CVS right now, they're having a "buy one get one half off" promotion for Milani Cosmetics. Lip Flash comes in varying shades of intense red, pink, and orange...so that's a win/win for sure!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Beauty Tutorial: Green-Eyed Monster
Hello hello! I should have soooooooooo done this for St. Patty's Day, but oh well. Better late than never! So here's another color I NEVER use: bright green. I thought it would be fun to do something a little different, to stray away from the comfortable. As always, I'm going to start with a primed eye and see what I end up with!
From my ELF palette, I'm going to choose 3 shades of green, varying from dark, medium, and light. The dark green is a bold, cheesy, plastic grass green. The medium is a bright lime shade and the light is a pale, shimmery yellow-green.
Using a large, flat shadow brush, I'm going to apply the darkest green to my lid up to the brow bone. Then I'm going to blend the medium green shade along the edges of the dark color to soften the edges using a smaller shadow brush. To highlight, I'm going to apply the palest green shadow under my brow arch.
Once I've completed these three steps, I'm going to take some black pencil eyeliner and apply it to my top and bottom lid lines.
Then, using a small smudge brush, I'm going to layer black over the eyeliner, smudging and blending as I do so to create a smokey look. Just to add an extra pop of color, I'm going to blend a little of the darkest green shade along my bottom lid line along the edge of the black shadow.
Up to this point, the result looks something like this:
Now that's a great green gradient, don't you agree? For some extra drama, I'm going to add some liquid eyeliner to the top and bottom lid lines.
Curl lashes, apply mascara, and I'm done!
To complete my look for the day, I did a basic face with bubblegum-pink glossy lips and curled my hair. Warning! This look is BOLD! However bright you think this green looks here, it's about 5X more intense in real life. Good thing I'm staying indoors tonight. Not sure if I can pull this off in public, but hey, it was fun! :)
Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Cat
From my ELF palette, I'm going to choose 3 shades of green, varying from dark, medium, and light. The dark green is a bold, cheesy, plastic grass green. The medium is a bright lime shade and the light is a pale, shimmery yellow-green.
 |
| Please pardon the poopy lighting, it's so yellow in my bathroom! |
Using a large, flat shadow brush, I'm going to apply the darkest green to my lid up to the brow bone. Then I'm going to blend the medium green shade along the edges of the dark color to soften the edges using a smaller shadow brush. To highlight, I'm going to apply the palest green shadow under my brow arch.
Once I've completed these three steps, I'm going to take some black pencil eyeliner and apply it to my top and bottom lid lines.
Then, using a small smudge brush, I'm going to layer black over the eyeliner, smudging and blending as I do so to create a smokey look. Just to add an extra pop of color, I'm going to blend a little of the darkest green shade along my bottom lid line along the edge of the black shadow.
Up to this point, the result looks something like this:
Now that's a great green gradient, don't you agree? For some extra drama, I'm going to add some liquid eyeliner to the top and bottom lid lines.
Curl lashes, apply mascara, and I'm done!
To complete my look for the day, I did a basic face with bubblegum-pink glossy lips and curled my hair. Warning! This look is BOLD! However bright you think this green looks here, it's about 5X more intense in real life. Good thing I'm staying indoors tonight. Not sure if I can pull this off in public, but hey, it was fun! :)
Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Cat
Friday, April 8, 2011
Beauty: Pretty in Pink
I've never used bright pink eye shadow before. Not sure what came over me, but when I was getting ready for work this morning, I went right for a sparkly fuchsia shade in my ELF palette. This was the result, which I thought was kinda fun. I'm thinking about posting a tutorial on this one if anyone is interested. I know I'm behind on those.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Bad Bitch Peaches: Color Fail
Hey, I know that I'd said I purchased a 3rd color from Bad Bitch, Peaches. You're probably wondering why I haven't posted any pics. Well, it turns out that color, while pretty in it's own way, just looked terrible against my complexion. Waaaaaaaaaaaay too orange-y. Here are some images.
I did my best to fix it by adding browns, but it was a tough save. I went to work with this on, btw.
I don't think I'll be using this again and unfortunately, they don't accept returns/exchanges on used makeup. They were nice enough to offer me a free sample of a less orange shade of peach, however, which I'm looking forward to reviewing, so it wasn't a total loss. Besides, Nana and Belacqua looked pretty awesome, right?
I did my best to fix it by adding browns, but it was a tough save. I went to work with this on, btw.
I don't think I'll be using this again and unfortunately, they don't accept returns/exchanges on used makeup. They were nice enough to offer me a free sample of a less orange shade of peach, however, which I'm looking forward to reviewing, so it wasn't a total loss. Besides, Nana and Belacqua looked pretty awesome, right?
Style: Spring 2011 Wardrobe from Forever 21
Happy April 1st! Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the "April Fool's" tradition. In fact, I think it's kinda messed up so I've stopped pulling pranks since middle school. Instead, inspired by this lovely weather we've been having in the bay area, I've put together a list of amazing pieces for a spring wardrobe from Forever 21. Ah, Forever 21...cheap and thoroughly stylish fast-fashion. My drug, my guilty pleasure.
Ruffles, buttons, and lace? This adorable babydoll tank was just made to be a Cat-magnet!
Who can resist this sunny-yellow piece? It's such a pretty print and shape in such a cheerful color. I don't have any yellow in my wardrobe so I think this is a great place to start, don't you agree?
A double row of buttons is always such a classy look. These shorts would certainly complete an upscale, resort ensemble. And in a cool, linen fabric, it's perfect a for relaxing, spring break getaway.
Quite possibly my favorite piece in today's feature. If weather would permit, I'd wear dresses every day, day and night. The peter pan collar and buttoned placket give this dress a vintage feel while the flattering cut finishes with sashes that tie in the back to tuck in the waist for an hourglass shape. This elegant, feminine dress is a must-have item for the upcoming warmer season!
This adorable, shabby-chic handbag features a faded, vintage-style rose print that inspires a French country feel. I think this is an excellent accessory for the Marie Antoinette in every city girl.
While we're on the topic of resort, wouldn't this bag be the perfect companion for the linen sailor shorts? I love the nautical-themed stripes. It's also such a versatile look and shape. I can see this bag pairing perfectly with a sundress or with a bathing suit on the beach.
And, while we're on the topic of fun in the sun, let's not forget about UV protection. What better way to fashionably keep harmful rays from our pretty faces than a classic, wide-brimmed floppy hat?
Last, but not least, shoesies! These babies will take you from sweet to sexy in just two steps. I find the neutral, taupe shade to be extremely elegant and will go with just about anything. The bows keep the style flirty and feminine while the stud detailing on the platform gives it just a touch of an edge. I could wear these with dresses, skirts, shorts, leggings, or skinny jeans. You really can't go wrong.
Happy shopping and enjoy the sunshine!
Hugs,
Cat