Blackout - last look from the NAKED 2 Palette

Okay here it is - my last look using Blackout from the UD Naked 2 Palette. I know that a black matte shadow isn't really life shattering but one that's easily blend-able with maintaining lots of pigment is great to have in a palette!

I used Pistol, gray taupe metallic shimmer, on my lid. Tease (taupe) in my crease, I then used Blackout as my outer - V contour shade. I also blend it with Tease in my crease and I also blended it along my lower lash line. NARS Larger than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto, matte black on my top lash line only.

I know it's very basic and neutral, which could read as BOR.IN.G! But sometimes that's all you want - just neutral, polished and could be slapped on the face in 5mns flat!

I think this challenge was a misnomer - each look didn't take more than 7mns to put together. This palette will really speak to the beauty novice or just plain lazy girl!

Now that I've completed my mission I find myself wondering what to use as my eye shadow and yes, I'm still reaching for this palette to play along with my MAC, NARS and Edward Bess shadows in my collection.

The good news: they are all getting along nicely!

With the holidays literally around the corner, I'll be taking a small break - posting here and there so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Holiday!

Take this time to hug your friends and family just thirty seconds longer, slow your pace and take a stroll down the street to admire holiday window decorations, smile at strangers, drink hot chocolate, yes, eat that second holiday sugar cookie and just be thankful to wakeup every morning!

Because this is what the Holidays mean to me and I hope it does to you.

And yes, it is okay to take advantage of holiday sales just for yourself!

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Coming Soon to a Drugstore Near You!

This week I review a new dry shampoo from Suave.

It's supposed to be comparable to Bumble's dry shampoo but I've never tried there's. So I compared it to another leading drugstore brand.

Read more here.

Busted and Verve EOTD

Here's an eye look that took me no more than 5 minutes:

A very lovely plummy brown with a metallic shimmer finish. I blended Tease in the crease and Foxy and Bootycall on my brow bone. I lined 3/4 of my upper and lower lash line with MAC Eye Kohl pencil in Coffee, a black brown. I smudge a bit of Busted on top of the Coffee liner on my lower lash line. I added layers of Armani's Eyes to Kill Mascara to finish my eye look.

Also used Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes in Brunette.

On my cheeks - NARS Sin, berry w/gold shimmer and Casino bronzer, deep brown w/gold shimmer, to contour. I used NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama - neutral pink brown, UD Lip Junkie gloss in Naked, neutral pink.

Sorry, if this is starting to be played out but here's one more look:

Verve - a greige oyster shell shimmer:

To take it up a touch, I added Siren 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner (teal w/blue shift shimmer), also by Urban Decay. This is when I love a teal liner - it really pops against a neutral shadow, especially for us dark brown eyed girls!

As usual Tease (taupe) is my crease color. Yes, this really is a no-fail crease color. It adds enough color contrast to an otherwise metallic/shimmer lid.

This was part of an informal department holiday cocktail party and I must say it did get me in the right spirit. The only problem was that I couldn't stop thinking about that afternoon beer waiting for me at the pub next door and it was only 8am!!

Don't worry, I got one last look and then I'm done with this palette, I promise! You have to admit that it's pretty impressive that I went this long with just using one palette exclusively...

What I Want for the Holidays....for Miss Omni Media

Happy Friday!

I was asked to participate in a very fun post, which was pure fantasy for me. It's a yearly post for Miss Omni Media - they ask their writers for 5 items on their wish  list. Each day till Xmas they feature a Wish List.

Here's my list, which caused Mr. Lex to laugh in my face:

The only thing I see myself successfully purchasing on my own - is that fragrance bottle, travel sized version of course and perhaps a week and a half in Italy (I'd have to combine Rome and Florence into one visit, instead of a full month languidly moving about the country).

The Louboutins, the Dolce and Gabbana suit and that gorgeous Chanel purse will always be on the wish list of my dreams!!

Read more here....

YDK Look of the Day

If there is one thing Mr. Lex more than anything, aside from his NY Giants, bacon, Baseball, his girls, it's EFFICIENCY!

I hope he's proud of my efficiency creating several looks from just one palette: UD's latest, NAKED 2.

Today, I embrace another glitter bomb shadow - YDK, a cool mocha bronze loaded with chunky golden, microglitter.

(MAC NC 42, for skin tone reference)

Once again, Tease (taupe) is used in the crease, Snakebite (golden brown, bronze shimmer). I complete the look with Foxy as my brow high light shade (yes, again!). This time I went with my favorite golden bronze liner, UD 24/7 Waterproof Eye Liner in Smog on top and bottom lash line. I gently smoke my lower lash line by smudging with my MAC #219 brush. Eyes are finished with layers of GA's Eye to Kill Mascara.

And here's what the rest of my face looked like:

Today I went with on of my favorite Chanel Glossimer in Mystic (described as a shimmery copper red but it almost takes a pink tone on my lips). Blush is NARS G-Spot Multiple and I contoured with Edward Bess Bronzer in Daydream.

Like with Chopper, have makeup remover within arm's reach...there will be some fallout. But this is not the glitterbomb that Chopper can be!

Pistol FOTD

To compliment my abstract snow leopard cardigan (grey/black), I wanted a charcoal eye. So I turn to my Naked 2 palette to see what I can come up with.

I went with Pistol.

It's a gorgeous grey taupe shimmer - I seem to pull out the purple tones on my lids. I contour with Tease (my new favorite Taupe crease color). My outer V shade is the Busted (deep, plummy brown). I used Foxy (matte beige) as my brow bone highligher. I used Bobbi Browns Graphite Shimmer Ink Long Wearing Gel Eyeliner on my top and bottom lash line. I did smudge my lower lash line with Pistol to bring it all together. Completed with GA's Eyes to Kill Mascara.

I think Pistol is slowly becoming my next favorite shadow (next to Tease). I really don't have a dupe in my collection - well I'm sure if I DIG DEEP into my collection I might find something remotely close to it but I don't think I do. I realize I could be lying to myself just to comfort my weeping wallet.

On my lips I used NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama, my favorite nude pink brown shade, and UD Lip Junkie Gloss in Naked on top.

Also used - MAC Gingerly, peachy bronze, on my cheeks.

I am quite pleased on how this look turned out and it didn't take that long to do. This is a great look that pretty much goes the distance. If I were to take this out on date night, I swap the brownish pink lips for a wine  gloss.

I am anxious to see how well Pistol plays with the other colors in my collection!

Chopper EOTD

In attempt to embrace the holiday season, I bought a red lipstick - NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Cruella. Okay technically a pencil but it is RED no less! I didn't want to do my typical black lined eye (upper lash line only) so I knew my go-to neutral eye would be created with my new Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette.

I went with Chopper, a lovely peachy, copper LOADED with silver chunky glitter. Yes, there will be fallout but if you clean up with a swab, makeup remover and save your foundation/concealer for last - you'll be just fine!

 Chopper - lid
Tease (cool tone taupe) - crease
Snakebite (deep, metallic brown bronze) - outer V corner and lower lash line.

**lots and LOTS of Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Mascara**

Here it is paired with Cruella on my lips:

I am a fan of the NARS Velvet Lip Pencils...it goes on pretty easily. When it dries down, it's not an uncomfortable, dry skin cracking when you smile kind of feeling. It stays put and the color doesn't fade for about 5 hours. I didn't reapply till after my gym session. I do make sure to apply over a layer of Kiehl's Lip Balm. I also add a thin layer of this lip balm when I feel like my needs just a bit of moisture.

I think this is office, friendly holiday look.

Oh and my latest obsession:



(Faux-Fur Trim Sweater Boots)

 It's a little personal Xmas gift to myself while picking up gift for others at Old Navy. I score these for 50% off, originally $19.94. I love them! They are perfect
for freezing, cold nights and the fact that I bought these on sale just makes me love them even more.

Is it sad that this is what I look forward to most after a day at work? Well besides, seeing my family of course!

Naked 2 Palette - My Review for Miss Omni Media

Happy Monday Lovelies!

I just wanted to share my brief breakdown for Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette. I wanted to keep it short and sweet just so I don't sound like a broken record.

In a nutshell, if you already have the first palette - you really don't need one. If you are a neutral shadow hoarder then by all means add yourself to the waiting list if you haven't already!

Please click here, for the article.

Starting tomorrow I will beging posting looks featured with this palette. I have been using this exclusively for a while and it's very basic palette. You really can't go wrong with these colors. Just be sure you have a makeup removing soaked cotton swab handy if you choose to wear the chunky glittery shadows: Chopper or YDK.

This Week in Miss Omni Media - Week of 12/5/11

I pick my favorite item from NARS 2011 Holiday collection and it might be a shocker!

But since you probably know me all to well it won't come as newsflash or anything like that:

Ponderosa eye cream has gotten lots of play lately, well it's taking a disco nap since I decided to exclusively use my new Naked 2 palette (more on that later!).

To see how I used this golden brown eye cream, click HERE!

MAIL CALL!!

Look what arrived in my (work) mail box:

I am so excited about this since I skipped the first Naked palette because I got tired waiting for the next wave of shipment to come in and once it became a permanent item, I just got tired of the hype. This time I decide to jump the Naked bandwagon once I got an email for Urban Decay. Also, it was free Priority Mail shipping - how could I lose? I'll be posting looks and thoughts soon (early next week).

As you know, I started an unhealthy addiction to fragrances and I blame a very, very bad BUNNY for this...

This is my second round of sample purchases from the awesome fragrance site:
theperfumedcourt.com

You can buy samples of almost any perfume out there in the world. I am officially addicted to niche brands!

The best part of ordering from them is the candy they put in your orders - such a special little treat and just great customer service!

I know, Xmas is just around the corner and here I am purchasing crap for myself. Oh well, I'm sure my family will appreciate my makeup and lovely scent as they receive gifts from me!

My wallet on the other hand.....

Cross Promotion: Mr. Lex's Latest Creation

I loved our old coffee table. It was plywood, simple and cheap but most importantly, it was mine. I bought it with my own money when I was living on my own (for the first time) in Seattle, WA. I had a hard time parting with it, mainly for sentimental reasons.

Well until Mr. Lex revealed our new coffee table that he made by himself (and some help from his welding buddy).

I love this table because it's real cedar, it looks like a grown-up's table and most importantly he made it!

For more of Mr. Lex's latest offerings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/265design

As for my old, worn out coffee table - it has a new home: holding up our crap in my husband's office!

Loving It - November Favorites

Here's what I was feeling in November and yes, I realize that it's already December 5th.

No time like the present, right?

1. NARS Multiple, G-SPOT
2. Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish, Anne
3. MAC Eye Pencil - Coffee
4. Serge Luten Feminite du Bois
5. Decant bottle of SL FDB
6. NARS Cream Eye Shadow - Ponderosa

I love the pink glitter in this polish, it softens up the deep olive brown tones.

I love these items but the one item I have reached for the most is the MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, it goes on smooth and easily and I love that it really is a Black Coffee color.

And here is a snap shot of G-Spot on my NC42 skin tone. It looks lovely in flash photography. And I do not wear this Multiple this heavily - I just added an extra layer just so you could see it on my face.

I am really going to attempt to write about fragrance so please bear with me. I have discovered that all the scents I gravitate has a musk, wood or oud note in it. This particular scent has notes of clove, plum, peach, cinnamon, orange blossom, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla and benzoin. I get a hit of the fruitiness from the plum and peach but for a quick moment then it settles into a lovely spicy wood. It truly is lovely scent. I know that Serge Lutens originally created this for Shiseido and the formulation has changed slightly once it was released for the SL line. I can't compare it to the original but I'm so pleased with this version.

I also discovered that fragrance collecting can get you in trouble especially if you are buying samples regularly like I do from this site.

My November love list is short but it is sweet nonetheless!