Holo-ween Skulls

Hello, Fireflies!

Today's Sunday Stamping challenge is, "Holo-ween" - keeping with the theme of Halloween, but using a holographic polish in either the base or the stamp.  I'd been wearing the beautiful NARS Black Fire for a few days, and decided it would make a great base for this challenge!

Blue and Brown Eyes with Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Palette

Some products given for review, some purchased by me.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I have wanted so many of the Anastasia Beverly Hills palettes, but decided on the Tamanna palette because of the rich colors.. and that blue! I had such a saga getting it, though. But I'm glad I finally did!

Matte Is The New Black With Tarte Tartlette Palette

Hello, Fireflies!

I don't always follow the beauty 'rules' but I'm not mad about mattes being in vogue again, especially since us older ladies aren't supposed to wear too much of the shiny and glittery on our sagging eyelids.  Well, tomorrow's another day, but for today, I'm going matte with the amazing Tarte Tartlette palette!

Feeling Bold and Blue with #EddieFunkhouser and #CoverFX

Some products provided for review, some purchased by me.  All opinions are my own.

 Hello, Fireflies!

One of my little goals for my blog this year is to practice more with makeup, and incorporate more makeup looks.  Yesterday, I pulled out my Eddie Funkhouser Hyperreal Color Palette Girls On Film, and built a look around that.

What Do You Get For the Girl Who Has ALL The Makeup? A Book With Ideas Of How To Use It!

Product Provided For Review.  All Opinions Are My Own

Hello, Fireflies!

It's no secret that I love makeup.  I have a particular weakness for lipstick.. and eyeshadow palettes.  I go cuckoo for a new neutral palette, or bold colors, or great summer colors, or, well, almost anything.  Last time I was in Walgreens, I picked up a couple of $3 LA Girl palettes, and I also picked up the Lorac Mega Pro eyeshadow palette, so it runs the gamut.

But if you're someone like me that owns ALL the eyeshadows, sometimes it can be daunting to figure out what to do with them all! And, here's where this amazing book comes in.

Grey Monday - Subtle Look with Coastal Scents Revealed and Dance Legend

Hello, Fireflies!

Here in Florida, it's rained and/or stormed almost every day for over a month.  I spend most of my time in the A/C, but even though I'm not out in the weather, it's still starting to affect me!

So, today's look is a subtle neutral one in greys and berry colors, in homage to these grey Florida days.

I've been experimenting with a look I saw Wayne Goss do in a video for mature eyes.  It's a much older video of him, but I think the techniques are classic.

Here's a close-up of my eyes.  I used the Coastal Scents Revealed palette and my now HG gel liner, NARS Black Valley.  That stuff stays where you put it.

Here's what I used on the whole look:  Mally Primed and Poreless, and Mally Face Defender.  Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in Pravana, Cover FX Setting Powder (as a bronzer), Nars Black Valley, L'Oreal HIP Shine Struck liquid lipcolor in Arresting, IT Cosmetics brow pencil, Rimmel ScandalEyes Retro Glam Mascara, and a blend of IT Cosmetics CC Cream in medium, and CoverGirl True Blend 1/410 to lighten it up a tad.

I'm having no luck with the Mally Face Defender.  It's supposed to be a 'no powder' look, but I find that it looks cakier on me than if I used regular powder.  Those of you who are successful with it, what foundation are you using?  What's your secret?

To go with the look, I used a grey polish from Dance Legend's Smoky collection, called Grey Britain 1025. 

It has a smooth texture, but a grey pebbled look to it, like ashes scattered amongst the grey.  It's quite pretty and unique!

What do you think of my greyed look?  What are your favorite greys to use?

Share The Love at a Wedding Reception

Hello, Fireflies!

Recently, I went to a wedding.  Well, not so much a wedding, as the couple had previously eloped.  It was a reception, but nothing fancy.  It was outside, and dress was casual.

So, basically, I went to a party where I really didn't know that many people, and there was no dancing, and I sweated a lot.  But, I am happy for the couple, and I'm glad they included us. 

Since it was a wedding, it's appropriate to share the love, right?  I mean, NailNation3000 Share The Love, a fuchsia holo! And some rose water decals.

Water decals are so easy and fun.  Simply cut out around the decal - no need to be precise - and soak them in water for 10-20 seconds.  When you pull them out of the water, they'll separate from their paper backing, and then you can place them on your nails.

I also did some pinkish makeup for the event.  I was running late, so hubby took this picture in the car at a stoplight on the way there!

Trying out my new Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette! I love Too Faced products.

It was hot, there was no A/C, but Cover FX saved the day! The CC Cream held on admirably over a mix of anti-aging and SPF primer.  Here's my makeup after I got home from the wedding.  I only reapplied lipstick - changing from Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart to Tarina Tarantino Floriculture after dinner.

Dang. My hair is a frizzy mess.  I hate Florida heat.

The stable of makeup for the day:  Cover FX primers in SPF30 and Anti-Age, Blemish primer and Eyeshadow primer, and also Setting Powder.  Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow in Pravana, Hourglass Ambient Light in Mood Light, Rimmel Scandal Eyes RetroGlam mascara, Nars Black Valley and Maybelline Studio Eyes in Eggplant, Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette, and Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (going) and Tarina Tarantino Floriculture (after dinner).

Not pictured, but I know I used a setting spray.. either ELF or Urban Decay.  Not sure. They both work well for me.

What are your tips for keeping your cool (and your makeup fresh) during this summer heat?

Roses on a Disco Inferno

Hello, Fireflies!

Quick post today - most of my pictures weren't that great! Just one of those Blogger problems, I guess.  This week's challenge was to stamp whatever we were in the mood for, so I did a stamp inspired by one of my dresses - grey and black with roses.

I started off with Cult Nails Fetish, and then added a layer of NARS Disco Inferno, a grey/purple duochrome layering topcoat.  By itself, it had almost no color, and a little sparkle.  It looks great over black, though!

I used Finger Paints Black Expressionism and Bundle Monster 323 to put black roses over the sparkly grey background.  Loved this!  I actually had a student notice my nails and want to know how I did them.  She was even familiar with stamping!  It was pretty cool.

This is my first NARS polish.  I bought it on clearance at Sephora, which was great, because I don't think it's worth the full $18 for this polish.  It's beautiful, no doubt, but a grey/purple duochrome is the most popular type of duochrome, and there are many cheaper options to be had. I do love the cap texture, though, and the formula was very nice.

What are you in the mood for stamping on your nails today?