Bobbi Brown and bareMinerals

Hello!  Happy Friday indeed!  I received my goodies from Sephora today and took them for a test run.  Check out my look:

Taken in natural window lighting.

I was able to create a very soft, natural look that I'm so in love with right now!  Great for daytime, but I'm sure it's easy to amp up for the evening.

I'm pretty happy with my bareMinerals.  The shade suits me fairly perfectly and I love the matte finish.  I read up a little more on the Mineral Veil...found out that it's supposed to give you a soft-focus finish and keep your look from getting greasy.  So I layered it over my foundation and I'm  happy with the results.  My skin is still pretty dry, but I'm exfoliating both in the morning and evening now and finish my makeup with spritz of aloe cucumber hydrating spray.  It seems to be doing the trick.

This little palette is just so gorgeous!  I love how the shadow colors are a true matte.  They apply very soft, velvety, and are finely milled, yet I experienced little to no fallout.  They're also nicely pigmented.  The espresso shade is nearly black and the taupe is so versatile.  The lightest shade acts as a very subtle highlighter.

All Uber Nude except for the shimmer in the inner corner of my eye.

I haven't tried the glittery shade of lipstick yet, but I really love the creamy nude shade.  I also dabbed the sparkle gloss in the center of my bottom lip and cupid's bow for extra fullness and dimension.

Sorry the color looks so orange-y.  Bad bathroom lighting.

I really love my new additions.  I'm attending a party tomorrow night, so I can't wait to show you guys a more dramatic look using the same products.  Hope everyone's all revved up for the start of their weekend! (it's raining here, but I'm still happy it's the weekend) Lol.

Hugs,
Cat

Stila Sale!

Hello friends and happy Friday!  Just got wind of a big sale over at Stila and wanted to share.  Click on the banner above to get to stock up and get your Stila fix for a fraction of the retail cost!  Cheers!

Hugs,
Cat

Things To Come

Hi everyone!  I'm sure you've all probably figured out that my finals week is coming up, hence the disappearing act.  Thanks for continuing to stay tuned despite my frequent absences. :)  Just thought I'd give you all a sneak peek of some cool new cosmetics that I'm expecting:

Bobbi Brown Uber Nude Lip & Eye Palette.  I'm really excited to receive this!  Since we're deep into fall and approaching winter, I've been obsessed with the nude/neutral look.  I love how essential these colors are and how portable the palette is!  You get a really great neutral trio that can take your look from natural to smokey/dramatic in a snap, and then two nude lippies, one creamy, one shimmery, with a nude gloss to add extra dimension.  I've heard great things about this palette and if all the hype is true, this would be the only palette a girl would ever need for a classic, timeless look.

bareMinerals SPF 15 Matte Foundation.  The weather is changing, therefore my skin is changing.  My favorite BB cream is just not doing it for me these days.  A little while ago, I purchased a bareMinerals sampler from Ulta and got a chance to test out the product.

Sorry I never did a review!  I kind of forgot about it...lol. :P  I didn't really use any of the brushes, barely touched the concealer (I prefer cream concealer), the Mineral Veil didn't do anything for me, and the original formula had too many light reflecting particles, making my skin look oily.  However, I did like the matte formula, so I decided to get the full-sized jar.  Still, because of the severe dryness of my complexion due to cold weather, my foundation routine has become ridiculously convoluted.  I won't get into THAT just yet, but will do so once I get the product in so we can talk about it.

And finally...this is kind of crazy, but here is my final and ridiculously pricey gamble:

One of my friends swears by the Temptu Airbrush Makeup System which piqued my interest, so my sisters and I chipped in and bought the cheaper kit (which didn't include any blush or highlighter).  I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of results I get from using it, since airbrush makeup is highly touted as one of the most effective ways to achieve a flawless face.  Excited!

Looking forward to sharing my findings with you guys!  Wish me luck on my final projects!  I can't wait till this term is over so I can spend my break tuning back in to fashion and makeup!

Hugs,
Cat

Sunday Style

Happy Sunday everyone!  I've been rather busy over the weekend so haven't had a chance to post until today.  Just thought I'd share today's outfit with you all:

This look is so easy and comfortable!  I think it's such a stylish way to cozy up for the upcoming winter.  The sweater cape is from Forever21, the boots are from JustFab, and the tights are from YesStyle.  I absolutely ADORE my tights.  They're lined with brushed fleece and keep me warm and toasty from the waist down.  I don't know what I'd do without them!  YesStyle carries many brands.  I just choose the most reasonably priced ones.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Hugs,
Cat

Dramatic Smokey Eyes

I just wrapped up a shoot testing out hubby's new camera, so I decided to put a little extra effort into my eye makeup today.  Using my Coastal Scents Original 88 palette, I did a super-dramatic smokey eye using the darkest neutrals included and then topped it off by applying my Ardell Demi 120 false lashes.  Check it out!

Lol, now I'm going to have to go to class with really intense eyes and big hair.  Oh well.  :)  Hope everyone's enjoying a lovely Wednesday afternoon!

Hugs,
Cat

Revlon Lip Butter: Strawberry Shortcake

I love my Revlon Lip Butters.  It's like balm and lipstick rolled into one.  A few months ago, I did swatches and reviews of Sweet Tart and Cherry Tart.  I do love my bright pinks and reds.  But lately, I've had a craving for a softer pink, thus picking up a shade called Strawberry Shortcake the other day at my local drugstore:

Strawberry Shortcake is a cool, pastel, bubblegum-pink.  You can play around with the intensity depending on how heavy handed you apply the color.  Pat it on gently and you'll get a barely-there whisper of pink.  Smooth it on like a lipstick and, on me, it goes on milky and semi-opaque, like this:

It reminds me a little of UD's Pocket Rocket in Rashad, but creamier and less sheer.  I can definitely apply Rashad over Strawberry Shortcake for a glossier look.  I like it.  I think it creates an interesting look for me since my complexion is on the golden side.  It gives me a mod-ish look.  I'll see about taking a full face photo and updating so you can see what I mean. :)

Hope everyone is enjoying their Tuesday evening!

Hugs,
Cat

Late Autumn Casual

Although the weather has taken a turn for the cooler, temperatures are relatively mild here in northern California.  I've been enjoying the last of the warm sunshine and am bracing myself for the coming winter.  To make the most of my shorts before I pack them away for the next 6-7 months, I paired them a cozy, flannel plaid button-down and some slouchy boots...adding just a touch of glam with a bright red lippy. (Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart)

Here's to the start of another week!  Happy Monday all! :)

Hugs,
Cat