Tha Gabulous Lyfe

Hello, Dolls I have been shopping from my makeup stash, (rediscovering products that I've had for a while, but don't use often) and I have fallen in love with the Coloured Raine: Queen of Hearts eyeshadow palette. The foil eyeshadows are so amazingly pigmented; and the shadows blend so effortlessly. I wondered why I haven't used it more. Most of the eyeshadows that I used in this look are from that palette. Here is a quick selfie pic of the look I did. Brows -Mac Spiked Brow pencil Eyes  -Too Faced Shadow insurance as eye primer -Heir shadow as highlight -Your Majesty shadow on half of the lid -Copper-red shadow from Juvia's Place Nubian 1 palette -Ladyship shadow in crease -Royal Perogative shadow as transition color -The Balm Schwing liquid eyeliner -Danessa Myricks Thrive 02 lashes -Danessa Myricks Lock on lash glue Face -Embryolisse Lait-Cre'me Concentre' as face primer -Mac Studio Finish concealer NC45 -Black Opal Liquid Pore Perf...

Here is a look of the day that I did a few days ago. I was going out, and I wanted just a soft look. This is one of my regular no bells and whistles looks. I'm really trying to wear eyeshadow more, at least one shade a day so that I can start using it up more. Brows -Mac Spiked brow pencil Eyes -Too Faced shadow insurance as eye primer -Kiko High pigment e/s as highlight -Juvia's Place Dahia e/s as lid color (Masquerade palette) -Juvia's Place Makeda e/s as crease color (Masquerade palette) -Coloured Raine Birthday Suit e/s as transition color -The Balm Schwing black liquid eyeliner -Avon True Color Wide Awake mascara black -Broadway lash adhesive -Mark by Avon Lash is More faux half lashes Face -La Pro Girl concealer in Fawn -Black Opal Pore Perfecting liquid foundation in Truly Topaz -Cover Girl Queen collection pressed powder in light -Mac Plum Dubois blush -Enlight Gocha Glow illuminator by Danessa Myricks as cheek highlight -Ish Contour ...

Hey, Dolls Here is a look I did last week using some of the new techniques that I learned on the Glam All-Star voyage (that post is forthcoming). It's a neutral look with a pop of Melon pigment that I won from a giveaway thanks to Sheer Beauty's blog! I haven't used Mac eye shadows in a while, so; this look features all Mac shadows. Brows -Mac Spiked brow pencil Eyes -Lorac Behind the Scenes eyeshadow primer -Mac Arena e/s as highlight color -Mac Saddle e/s as transition color -Mac Folie e/s as crease color -Mac Melon pigment on lid -Wet n Wild Fergie creme line in Little Black dress -Kara lashes #213 -Drugstore lash glue Face -Smashbox Photo Primer -La Girls Pro concealer in Fawn under eyes/face -Mac Prep + Prime highlighter pen in peach lustre around mouth -Black Opal True Color Pore Perfecting foundation in Truly Topaz -Ben Nye Dolce powder -Missy Lynn palette (the two darker brown eye shadows for my cheek contour) -Missy Lynn pale...

As of late, I've have been loving this foundation. I have gotten a tan, and this prompted me to buy a new foundation matching my new shade. The color that I bought is Truly Topaz and probably in the Fall/Winter I will be back to my Heavenly Honey shade. I've used Black Opal foundations before, and I figured I would give this new one a try. Read on for my thoughts. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION "Keep them guessing with picture poreless skin. This lightweight, oil-free liquid foundation seamlessly blends to provide flawless coverage with a high definition finish. Exclusive poreless technology helps minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, controls excess oil and renews skin natural radiance. Oil, fragrance and paraben-free formula. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive." PROS -Inexpensive, it's $10.95 online and retails anywhere between $12-$13 in stores. -Light to medium coverage, this is a pro for those who have relatively clear skin. -The cove...

Hey Dolls, Lately, I've been loving the matte tint lippies. They apply like a gloss but dry to a matte lipstick finish. I received the Corruptionist shade (deep amethyst) from  Cailyn  cosmetics in my # OnyxBeat  makeup bag. Like most mattes, they last all day. I only had to touch up the center of my lips after I ate lunch. . Also, in this photo; I'm wearing the new Black Opal Pore Perfecting foundation. I absolutely love it! It's my every day foundation. I'll be posting a review on it soon. With flash Without flash I've been loving the deeper purple shades. There are several dupes for this color like Mac Cyber lipstick and Nars Train Bleu matte velvet lip pencil. 

Catchy title? Sugarpill's Bulletproof eyeshadow and Urban Decay's Sin eyeshadow were two of the main colors that I used on my lid. It seems like I've been stuck on neutral looks for so long, the Urban Decay Naked palette makes it so easy. Here is a neutral silver and brownish look I did using the Naked 1 palette. I have a love-hate with lashes, this time the lashes were on point...practice makes perfect. To enlarge, click the pic. PRODUCTS USED Eyes and Brows -Elf Brow Kit in medium -Urban Decay primer potion as eyelid primer -Urban Decay Sin e/s on lid -Sugarpill Bulletproof e/s on outer v -Urban Decay Naked e/s as transition color -Urban Decay Virgin e/s as highlight color -Black Radiance Creme liner on upper and lower lashlines -Miss Adoro #66 lashes Face -Black Opal Creme to powder foundation in Rich Caramel -Bobbi Brown peach corrector under eyes -Mac Studio Fix C6 powder -Mac My Paradise cheek powder -Mac Blunt blush to contour Lips -J...

I'm so late posting this, it's technically spring in my area but we're still having some cold days here and there. I have combination skin on my face (mostly oily) but, in the winter it becomes dry and so does the rest of my body...these are the products that got me through the winter and I'm still using some of them now. LIP BALM I know, lip balm sounds so basic and elementary, but; I really need it in the winter because my lips are even more dry and sometimes chapped because of the cold air. I find myself applying lip balm 3 or 4 times a day, it makes a great conditioner before putting on lipgloss and lipstick. I use Burt's Bees honey lip balm and Soft Lips balm. Both work really well, but Soft Lips has SPF, it tingles and it also makes my lips soft. ROSEBUD SALVE So lotion really doesn't work to well for me in the winter, sometimes it's not moisturizing enough... so, I have to switch to something with a more heavier consistency, that ...

Ahh, the drugstore! It really has become a one stop shop for me for makeup, especially since I've been on a budget. I can always find something at the drugstore when I've forgotten my cosmetic bag and I've even replenished part of my makeup kit at the drugstore. I must browse the makeup aisle every time I visit CVS and Walgreens. Here are a few of my best purchases that are all under $10 each. MILANI I saw a friend with the Milani Infinite liquid eyeliner on, it was this same exact shade. It looked beautiful on her. I bought it for $8 at CVS. The color you see is exactly how it applies, it's very true to color. It glides on easy and it is waterproof, I swatched it on my hand and it doesn't budge. I had to wash my hands a few times before it finally came off. It claims to last 24 hours, the most I've worn is for 10 hours and it stayed on without smudging or fading. YARDLEY I started using natural soap from a company years ago, the com...

This is a look I did a while ago, I received so many compliments on it but it doesn't photograph nearly as well as it looked (sighs). Anywho, I absolutely love how Urban Decay Flash e/s and Mufe #92 e/s looked together. I apologize for the pics being small, had some bad breakouts = smaller pics :-) *You can click on the pic to enlarge.* PRODUCTS USED Eyes -Elf brow kit in medium -Urban Decay primer potion -lilac purple e/s from the Wet n Wild Lust palette on inner lid -Urban Decay flash e/s middle of lid -Mufe #92 on outter third and -Mac Saddle in crease -Mac Studio Finish concealer NC45 as brow bone highlight -Elf plum waterproof eyeliner on upper lash line -Mac Smolder pencil eyeliner on lower lash line -L'oreal Voluminous Carbon mascara Face -Black Opal Heavenly Honey cream to powder foundation -Black Opal Truly Topaz cream stick foundation to contour & conceal -Bobbi Brown peach corrector under eyes -Mac Stud...

One of the makeup trends for this winter season is metallic eyes and red lips. I voted in my poll on the top right side of my blog, that I was going to try both trends (metallic eyes and red lips). This look is starring the beautiful frost copper sparkle pigment. Since the pigment is very sparkly and has copper flecks in it, I kept the browbone and crease area very neutral and subdued. Here's the look. PRODUCTS USED Eyes -Elf brow kit in medium -Urban Decay primer potion -Mac Copper Sparkle pigment on lid -Mac Texture e/s in crease -Mac Studio Finish concealer NC45 as highlight -L'oreal Double Extend illuminator mascara in black quartz -Black Radiance creme liner in black -Mac Engraved powerpoint eye pencil on top & bottom lashlines Face -Black Opal Cream to Powder foundation in Heavenly Honey -Bobbi Brown peach corrector under eyes -Mac Gingerly blush -Mac Blunt blush to contour Lips -Avon glimmersticks lip liner in red brick -...

Here is a look I did yesterday using my Naked 1 palette that I won last month! This is a natural eye look, using three shadows with a pink lip (I know... I'm always doing a pink lip). I have dozens of other lipsticks, but; I keep coming back to my old faithful lip color :-)   PROUDCTS USED  Eyes -Elf brow kit medium -Urban Decay primer potion -Mac Studio Finish NC45 concealer as highlight -Half Baked (rich gold) e/s on lid -Darkhorse e/s on outter crease -Mac Saddle e/s as transition color -Black Radiance creme liner on upper lashline -Mac Engraved powerpoint eye pencil on lower lashline -Kiss lashes #5 Face -Mac Prep + Prime face -Black Opal Truly Topaz creme stick foundation -Mac C6 Studio Fix powder plus foundation -Elf Berry Merry blush -Mac Blunt blush to contour Lips -NYX chestnut lipliner -Mac Viva Glam Gaga I l/s

This is the LOTD that I did using the Sun Blonde eyeshadow, My Paradise cheek powder and the Hibiscus lipstick from the Mac Surf Baby collection. I kept the eyes simple because I wanted everyone to be able to see the true color of the Sun Blonde eyeshadow... since the eyes were simple, I added lashes to give it some extra glam. Yesterday was one of those days that I wasn't feeling my hair, brows, skin or pictures... so I'm only including a few pics... (sighs). PRODUCTS USED EYES -Mac Painterly paint pot as eye base -Mac Ricepaper shadow as highlight -Mac Saddle shadow in crease -Mac Sun Blonde shadow on lid -Mac Engraved power point pencil on lashline -L'oreal Lineur Intense liquid liner -Red Cherry #1 lashes FACE -Black Opal Truly Topaz creme stick foundation -Mac Studio Fix C6 powder -Mac My Paradise cheek powder blush LIPS -Nyx Natural lip liner -Mac Hibiscus lip stick

This month's featured lip gloss that I'm wearing all this week is another product that I stumbled upon while bargain shopping. CVS had their annual 50% and 75% sale off of select cosmetics. I was browsing and I saw a 75% sticker on this gloss from Black Opal and I immediately picked it up. It's the Tear Drop lip liner and lacquer duo from Black Opal. It normally retails for $6.75. What I love about it- is that it comes with a retractable lip liner and it makes it very convenient for touch ups and you don't have to worry about finding a lip liner that matches. After wearing it for a while it really lasts a good while. I put it on around 9am and it lasted until I ate it off at lunch time around 3pm, so that's a plus. The only thing I don't like is that it's very sticky, you may need some oil or Vaseline to remove it... but that's a minor issue because the finish is amazing. It gives you a glossy-wet finish! The gloss and coordinating lip liner. ...

Thanks to everyone who voted in this poll, the majority voted that "yes," I should do a post on my top beauty products of 2010. So, here are the products that I've been in love with for this year and can't get enough of using them. BODY MOISTURIZERS Love Spell and Passionate Kisses (discontinued) my favorite scents from Victoria's Secret I have fell back in love with Victoria's Secret Garden lotions. I used to buy these all the time years ago, in every fragrance but I stopped because I became a consultant for a self care and wellness company and I started using their body moisturizers... that company is closed now, so I went back to using these lotions. They smell beautifully and they make your body, especially my hands feel like silk. My favorite scent is Love Spell. I have had these bottles for a little while now... Victoria's Secret doesn't make the bottles like this anymore. Caribbean Ginger perfume essence body butter from Soul Purpose ...

This is a look I did about a week ago. It's a simple look and I used plum shadow, liner and blush :) Products Used Eyes -Elf Brow kit in Medium -Mac Blackground (black-grey) paint pot as a base on my lid -black eyeshadow from the 88 neutral palette on the entire lid -plum eyeshadow from the 88 neutral palette in my crease -Mac NC45 Studio Finish concealer as my highlight -Elf Plum liquid eyeliner in plum on upper lash lines -Maybelline Volum Express Falsies mascara in black Face -Black Opal creme to powder foundation in Rich Caramel -Mac Vintage Grape (dirty plum-purple) Blush Ombre on cheeks Lips -Wet n Wild Chestnut lip liner -Mac Viva Glam Gaga lipstick (my favorite lipstick right now!) -Mac clear lip glass

In part 1 we talked about the top foundation myths that all women have about foundation. This second part is going to feature the foundation brands that are great for women of color and foundation tips from the pros. The great thing about all of these brands is that they are budget friendly. You don't have to break the bank or purse to have a good foundation. These brands are just suggestions, they are tons of other great brands of foundation that look great on women of color but I can only blog about a few, don't limit your choices to just the brands that I've featured here :) 1. Black Opal - If anyone follows celebrity makeup artist, Sam Fine, on twitter he's ALWAYS raving about Black Opal stick foundations, because he talked about it so much I had to try their foundation. I'm not a fan of stick foundations, so I tried their creme to powder foundation, it comes in a mirrored compact with a sponge. The price was only $9.59. After deliberating on the color, I cho...