How To Wear Black Eye Shadow (Even to the Office!)

Hello readers. Recently, I was asked if there is any way to make black eye shadow work appropriate. Yes, there is! Of course black eye shadow is mainly known for creating the perfect smokey eye, but it is also an incredibly versatile product. In this how-to I will show you several different ways to use and wear black eye shadow to get the most out of your product and increase the versatility of your eye make-up looks. For my looks, I used Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow quad in Steel Impressions. You can find reviews of other ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow quads here.

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What's on My Toes? Revlon Carbonite

Hello readers. It is finally starting to feel like fall here. I thought I would celebrate with a cool and chic color on my toes. I recently purchased Revlon Carbonite, which I had been considering buying for quite a while. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but I LOVE this polish. I have been very lucky lately in that all the polishes I have purchased have been great (or maybe I am just in touch with my inner polish). If you haven't picked this shade up yet, you really should. Read on to find out why!

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Transtition into Fall with China Glaze Watermelon Rind

I don't know about all of you, but I am so ready for fall weather to start. I am also ready to wear my fall color nail polishes. Unfortunately, the weather here has remained stubbornly in the 80s. For some reason, I just can't wear fall colors when I sweat every time I step outside. Instead, I went in hunt of a seasonal transition manicure - a polish that toes the line between summer and fall. I found it with China Glaze Watermelon Rind and added a little more depth by applying OPI Navy Shatter on Top. The result - the perfect seasonal transition manicure.

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Everyday Favorites: The Body Shop Eye Definer in Glowing Amethyst

Hello readers. I recently got an email from a reader asking me what my go-to eyeliner is. I have several that I simply adore, all of which happen to be from The Body Shop. The formula on all their eyeliners is spot on - creamy and long lasting, incredibly easy to apply. I'd have to say that my favorite go-to color for everyday use is Glowing Amethyst.

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Butter London Wallis Gone Matte

Hello readers. Like many of you, I'm sure, I took advantage of the recent ULTA sale on Butter London polishes. I have been lusting after Wallis for a while and was not disappointed. Wallis is a gorgeous antique gold with olive green undertones. It approaches a foil (which I love) and applies flawlessly - two coats to full opacity. Wallis has a gritty looking finish, but applies totally smooth.

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Wet n Wild Lipliner Review - Fab Fuschia

Hello dear readers. Today I have for you a quick review of one of the few lipliners I own. Unnatural Beauty (one of my favorite beauty blogs) recently posted about wearing gray lipliner (which you can find here). Since then, I have been obsessively watching make-up videos. Most of these use lipliner. I have never really used lipliner. I don't have a problem with my lipstick feathering or fading quickly. To me, lipliner seems kind of old fashioned, and requires a steady hand - which I often don't have. Also, the word just looks really really strange to me (kind of like the word fork, but I digress). These make-up tutorial gave me a renewed sense of confidence to try some lipliners I purchased on sale but never used. Today, I tried Wet n Wild Creme Liner in Fab Fuschia. Did it change my stance on lip liner? Read on to find out!

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Longer Looking Nails with Orly Rage

Hello fair readers! A couple weeks ago I wrote a how-to on how to make your nails look longer. One of my readers, Sonia, emailed me telling me about her favorite nail lengthening polish: Orly Rage. I happen to have this in my collection and it is one of my favorite Orly polishes, so I thought a follow up post was in order.

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What's on my Toes? Orly Fowl Play over OPI Russian Navy

Hello readers. I have for you today another installment of "What's on my toes?" I've been on a neutral trend lately so I decided to kick the slump in a big way - with a nice dark vampy color. Most of you have probably seen reviews of Orly Fowl Play from the Fall 2011 Birds of a Feather Collection. I decided to wear mine a little differently, using the dark navy OPI Russian Navy as a base. I must say that I really like the results!

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The Thrill of the Hunt - The Perfect Red Lipstick: Fantasy Makers Geisha's Kiss

Today, my readers, I have for you the next installment of my Thrill of the Hunt series where I search for the perfect red lipstick. In ULTA last week, I picked up Fantasy Makers (by Wet n Wild) Geisha's Kiss - a bright red lipstick. This is meant to be a novelty item as it is part of the Halloween collection, but it is so much more!

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Halloween Part III: Wet n Wild Behind Closed Doors

Hello fair readers. I am quite a Halloween freak. Simply put, I love the holiday. It was one of my favorite holidays growing up. My mother would always make my costume from scratch (yes, she is amazing), and trick-or-treating was HUGE in my neighborhood. This instilled in me a passion for Halloween. Halloween manicures are my favorite holiday manicures, closely followed by Christmas of course. So today I have for you pictures and a review of the much coveted Behind Closed Doors from Wet n Wild's On The Prowl collection.

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China Glaze Franken Polish: Metro + Holo = Fall Fun!

Hello readers. Today I have for you a franken polish I came up with - well technically it's a layered effect, but with two polishes that were not made for layering purposes: China Glaze Street Chic and China Glaze Cyberspace. So it's a downtown fresh meets futuristic fun polish combo!

For the base I used Street Chic from this season's Metro collection. I was on the fence about this color when I purchased it, but am really loving it on the nail. It's a taupe cream with very slight cool undertones. This is definitely not a brown, but if it had more yellow in it, it would approach a toffee. Though it has cool undertones, it really warms on the skin. It's a great neutral that feels really fresh.

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Halloween Part II: China Glaze Cross Iron 360 and Wet n Wild Tangled in My Web

Hello readers. Several of you either emailed me or commented that you would really like to see what CG Cross Iron 360 looks like on the nail. I was going to save this for later in the month, but I thought I would bump it up on my list. Cross Iron 360 is from the Ski Collection from 2009. It is no longer available except through the current Haunting four pack that can be found at Sally beauty. Read my full review, including a dupe search, after the jump!

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The Thrill of the Hunt - The Perfect Red Lipstick: L'Oreal Color Riche in Target Red

Hello readers. Today I have for you the first of another new installment called The Thrill of the Hunt. In the first part of this segment, I will be searching for the perfect red lipstick. I decided to begin with L'Oreal Color Riche in Target Red. This lipstick is marketed as suitable for multiple skin types and is a classic red. It has really chic packaging and includes the famous Target  brand symbol on the top of the cap. The real question though is how does it look on the lip?

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Halloween Part I: China Glaze Haunting Review

Hello readers. Are you ready for Halloween? I certainly am. I'm already working on putting my costume together. I love China Glaze's holiday collections, but I must admit that when I saw the Haunting collection I was a bit blah about the entire thing. However, I had a 15% off coupon at Sally's and they had the four pack on sale for $9.99, so I went ahead and picked it up. Let me also say that I have purposely stayed away from the crackle trend. I did it when I was in middle and high school - who remembers when CoverGirl came out with them? I do! In any case, the Haunting four pack came with Cross Iron (an orange), It's Alive (a sage green glitter), Black Crackle, and Goulish Glow (a glow in the dark polish). I am in love with this four pack!

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Confidence Boosting Make-Up (aka War Paint!)

Hello readers. This weekend I have a conference. Many of us can find professional networking events a bit intimidating. For these situations, I have developed what I call my "war paint." This is make-up that makes me feel incredibly confident and sophisticated. It's like putting on a mask of professionalism, even on days when I am exhausted or have other things on my mind. So what is my version of war paint?

When I go to professional events, I really like to have a flawless face. I go for neutral eye colors that brighten my eyes, with brown liner, and big lashes (but not too over the top). I ensure that I have an even skin tone and healthy glow (through the use of both a tiny bit of bronzer and not too much blush). I fill in my eye brows to frame my eyes. Finally, I choose a lip color that is bold but not overpowering.

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How To Make Your Nails Look Longer

Growing out your nails can be incredibly frustrating. Right now my nails are total nubs as I had to cut them back to work on their health. Having short nails can make me feel less feminine or pretty, but I have learned a few tricks on how to make my nails look longer.

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CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain Review

Hello readers. As you all know, I recently reviewed CoverGirl's LipPerfection Lipcolor and was not particularly impressed. Everyone deserves a second chance, so I decided to review CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain for you today in Teasing Blush (415) and Wild Berry Wink (440). These lipstains are advertised as award winning lightweight color that is long lasting. They apply with a matte finish and can be layered with lipgloss for a wet look. How did they fair? Read on to find out!

Teasing Blush (Left) and Wild Berry Wink (Right)

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What's on My Toes? Jesse's Girl Blue Moon Layering

Today I have another installment of "What's on My Toes?" using Jesse's Girl Blue Moon as a base for layering. I must admit I am a bit confused by the name of this polish. Online and in photos it looks blue, but in person it is a rich dark royal purple with hints of pink and blue. I really like the color, but I just don't think the photos (either mine or the company's) accurately portray the true tone. This polish went on very smooth and buttery. It was incredibly pigmented and really lives up to the "high intensity" branding. You need to use a base coat with this polish. It will stain your nails and your cuticles. In my photos you can see a bit of polish left on the skin. This is after cleaning up with a brush. The polish is that intense in color. The brush was very easy to use and fanned out nicely. I also liked the long square cap - very easy to grip and manipulate.

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Wet n Wild ColorIcon Eye Trio - Knock on Wood

Hello readers. I was recently tempted into trying some of the Wet n Wild ColorIcon Eye trios after reading some positive things about them on Nouveau Cheap. In addition to picking up two palettes from the Dream Weavers collection, I also picked up a new palette from part of their standard collection - Knock on Wood (383B). These eye palettes are really affordable. They each come with three colors designated for the browbone, crease, and eyelid. In addition, they come with an applicator and a mini-brush which is actually usable. This makes these perfect travel kits. I also appreciate that they come sealed.

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CoverGirl LipPerfection Lip Color Review

Hello readers. I received a reader request to share my thoughts on the new CoverGirl LipPerpection Lip Color. I happened to have two shades - Eternal (350) and Smitten (310) - to review so I decided to share my thoughts on these today. CoverGirl advertises these lipsticks as containing silk moisturizers to help keep your lips moist. The company also claims that with a week of use, you will find smoother "perfect" lips. Does the product live up to these claims? Read on to find out!

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Zoya Smoke and Mirrors Review

Dear readers,
I have been waiting for a week to swatch these for you! I was so excited when I found this collection at my local ULTA that I let out an audible shriek of joy. Yes, that is how gun-ho I was about this collection. After much thought, I picked up one Smoke polish - Cynthia -and two Mirror polishes - Yara and Jem. I am so glad I picked them up when I did because Cynthia and Jem are both now sold out at my local store. So, what did I think of these polishes? Did they live up to my expectation? Read on to find out!

Cynthia, Yara, and Jem

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Buxom Lip Glosses - Minty Goodness!

Hello readers. For my first post of the day I have for you a review of four Buxom lip glosses - Blanche, Tonya, Julie, and Gabby. I picked up this set of minis at my local Bare Escentuals store, but they are also available at ULTA, Sephora, and the company website. I must say that I really like these lip glosses. They have a nice shimmer to them and are very minty - which makes your lips plump up. They feel very tingly and rich. Though they can be a bit sticky, they are long lasting for a lip gloss which I really like. I'm also a fan of the sassy packaging and the mini size is perfect for travel. These also come in larger full sizes. Read on for the full review!

Blanche, Tonya, Julie, and Gabby

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Maybelline ColorSensational LE Jewels Collection Lipsticks

Today, dear readers, I have for you a product I have been lemming ever since it came out - the limited edition Maybelline ColorSensational Jewels Lipsticks. I took advantage of a 40% off sale and combined that with a $2 off coupon to get these lipsticks for $2 each! After much debating, I picked up Rubylicious (979) and Plum Jewel (980). If you checked out "My Favorite Products" page, you know that I am a big fan of the ColorSensational line. Did this collection meet these expectations? Read on to find out!

 

Rubylicious (Left) and Plum Jewel (Right)

The LE Jewels Collection are the same formula as the regular ColorSensational line, but with pumped up color intensity. Both Rubylicious and Plum Jewel are cream lipsticks - very pigmented and very opaque on the lip. These lipsticks are not for the faint of  heart!

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Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow Quads

Gems and Jewels (Left), Sunrise, Sunset (Right)

Hello readers! Today I have for you a review of two of the Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow Quads: Gems and Jewels (17) and Sunrise, Sunset (20). Let me just begin by saying, you need these shadows! Seriously, go buy them today! Here is why:

These eye shadows claim to be long lasting for up to 12 hours of wear. They certainly live up to this claim. I have worn them all day and night, including a night out on the town, and the shadow refuses to budge. They are that good! I also love the texture of these quads. They are velvety smooth and strongly pigmented. They go on evenly without dusting. Even more so, the color on the eye is the same as the color in the tray - very important in an eyeshadow.

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Brittle, Peeling, and Cracked Nails...What is a girl to do?!

Today, I had a nail disaster. I lost several nails down to the quick and realized that my nails are actually peeling! So what do you do when you find this happening to you? I recommend these five easy steps:

Step 1: Determine the Culprit
There are many reasons why your nails may not be cooperating, but here are some of the most likely culprits. First, do you bite your nails? Biting nails not only weakens them, for obvious reasons, but having constant moisture on your nails can also weaken them - not to mention introduce bacteria from your mouth onto your nail bed. Second, do you wash your hands often? If so, you could be inadvertently drying out your nails. Third, do you change nail polish often? Nail polish bonds to the top layer of your nails. Every time you remove it, you are actually taking off a micro layer of your nail! This is even worse if you pick off your nail polish - a big no-no. Fourth, have you recently had acrylic nails removed? If so, be prepared to have weakened nails for quite sometime. Finally, have you been feeling ill lately? Sudden changes to the quality of your nails could mean you have a vitamin deficiency or a sudden hormone shift. You may want to consider consulting a physician.

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Beautique Eyeliner Review

Blue Azure (Left), Blonde (Middle), Jade (Right)

As you all know, this blog is about beauty - specifically nail, lip, and eye products. Today I have for you all my first eye product review: Beautique Eyeliner in Blonde, Blue Azure, and Jade. You can find the Beautique line at Sally Beauty supply. These liners are incredibly affordable. They retail at under $2 each and are often on sale. I picked these three up at a buy 2 get 1 free sale. Are they worth the money? Read on to find out!

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Ready for Fall! Essie Very Structured vs. China Glaze Brownstone

Fall is creeping closer. I am so ready for fall, and now my nails will be too! This week I picked up both Essie Very Structured and China Glaze Brownstone from their respective fall collections. Both colors just scream fall to me!  I didn't realize until I got home that the two were in similar color palettes. Let's see how they compare!

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What's on My Toes? L'Oreal Jet Set Quick Dry Polish in Concorde

Hello lovely readers. Today for you I have another installment of my feature: What's on my toes? This week I have been sporting an oldie but a goodie - L'Oreal Jet Set Quick Dry Polish in Concorde. This polish can be hard to find due to its age - it was released over 10 years ago. However, it can still be found on Amazon and other online retailers. This polish is certainly worth the extra effort to find. Keep reading to find out why!

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China Glaze Pelican Gray - A Slight Obession...

Today I have for you another one of my all time favorite polishes - Pelican Gray. If you read my review of CG Below Deck, then you know that I love the Anchors Away collection from China Glaze, of which Pelican Gray is a member. Though this was a spring release it feels really fresh for fall, especially since shades of gray are still en vogue this year.

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Dupe Comparsion: OPI Don't Mess with OPI vs. Orly Lucky Duck

Hello dear readers. I went to ULTA today to use my fabulous 20% off coupon. I was pleasantly surprised that they had the new Zoya Smoke and Mirrors collection (review to come later this week) as well as the summer Birds of a Feather collection from Orly. Lucky Duck caught my eye so I picked it up. As soon as I brought it home, I realized it might be similar to OPI Don't Mess with OPI from the recent Texas collection. Let's see how they compare:

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Wet n Wild Fast Dry Diving for Pearls

Hi there! Today I have for you Wet n Wild Fast Dry nail polish in Diving for Pearls. This is one of the polishes you could win in my 15 Follower giveaway. And it's a lovely polish at that! I would never lead my readers astray with a bad nail polish!

Diving for Pearls is from this summer's much coveted Mermaid's Cove collection. I was unsure of how the formula would be on this polish as I have had iffy luck with Wet n Wild's non-fast dry polishes (reviews to come!). I was pleasantly surprised by this polish. It was indeed fast drying - it only took a couple of minutes for the polish to set. Since I wanted to show you all the true color and finish of the polish, I did not use a base or top coat. I also must say that I am quite fond of the brush on the fast dry polishes. It fans out very nicely and creates a flat surface for easy manipulation with minimal polish overage onto the skin. Well done Wet n Wild! Now, onto the swatches and review after the jump!

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