Flashback Friday FOTD - Daytime Matte Smoky Eye

Hello, Fireflies!

I dug into the archives today for this makeup look featuring a great matte palette from Viseart that doesn't get enough press.

Lady In (Cherry Smoke) Red

Hello, Fireflies!

I have a red, vampy look today, from my nails, to my makeup!

Let's start with the nails, shall we?  This blackened red is the kind of glowing color I fall for every time. I love how the shimmer makes Revlon Divine look like glowing embers!

I paired Revlon Divine with OPI Today I Accomplished Zero to punch up the glowing aspect.  These two polishes are peas in a pod. Polishes in a pod?

Bottle shot:  Revlon Divine, and OPI Today I Accomplished Zero.

I wore those nails with a red and black dress, so I decided to carry the red and black theme to my makeup.

I really love the Smashbox Cherry Smoke palette I used to create this look.  The reds are completely wearable, and don't make me look like I've been crying.

 Boys totally make passes at women who wear glasses.

What I used:  Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush and powder palettes, Smashbox Cherry Smoke palette, Ageless Derma Powder Foundation in Cool Beige, Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment, Cover FX Anti-Age Smoothing Eye Primer, and Cover FX Blemish Treatment Primer,  Cover FX Powder in Medium (used as bronzer), Physicians Formula 2 in 1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner and Serum in Ultra Black, Rimmel Scandal Eyes Retro Glam mascara, Stila Brighten & Correct concealer, Ellis Faas lipstick in Ellis Red, and Too Faced Bulletproof Brows in Brunette.

How do you wear red?

TRI - Deco

Hello, Fireflies!

Welcome to a new month of TRI-Polish Tuesdays! This month's colors are Lilac, Teal, and Grey/Silver.
I decided to do a technique for creating an Art-deco style graphic that I saw on Pshiiit.  It makes this neat pattern a lot easier to do, though I will admit to having some trouble lining up the striping tape.

I started with Cover Girl ShowStopper, a nice smooth silver.  When that dried, I applied the tape according to the diagram on Pshiit.

I wasn't talented enough to take pictures of the process.  I did want to show you that it's kind of a mess when you pull off the tape, though.  Don't be discouraged! A lot of nail art looks a hot mess until you put topcoat on.

I found that it's easier to do this one nail at a time.  Paint the nail bed portion first, and then the tip.  Quickly, before the polish starts to set, take off the tape with a pair of tweezers.

I used Rimmel Salon Pro Purple Rain and Pop Beauty Brave for the lilac and teal.

I love this look, and it can be done with so many different colors!

Bottle shot:  Cover Girl ShowStopper, Rimmel Salon Pro Purple Rain. and Pop Beauty Brave.

What do you think about this Art Deco type look?

An InLinkz Link-up

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?

Green Shimmer and Suede

Hello, Fireflies!

When NYX had their 25% off sale, I went looking on their site and saw this palette I'd not heard of.  So, I'm not sure if it's just new-to-me, or new, but I had to have it.  Suede!

These are shimmery colors with a rather unique texture.  I guess they're like cream-to-powder? They're not full-on creamy, but they're not a powdery texture, either.  They're very soft, and moderately pigmented.  They don't have names, only numbers, and I've swatched them in order on my arm (without primer, but apparently over my arm hair.  How embarrassing.)

The first two weren't that pigmented on my arm, but they showed up just fine over Urban Decay primer on my lids and under the brow.  I used the greenish ones in the crease.  

I decided to revisit some of the makeup I'd used in the past, like this bottle of Olay CC Cream (check it out, I almost finished it?!) I was using before I got the Cover FX. 

Um, I don't like that Olay any more.  Felt like it didn't cover *anything*. Basically, it's a tinted moisturizer.

I finally got to try the DHC Premium Lipstick GE, and I really like them! This is RD109.  I believe it's also known as Velvet Red? It's a very soft red, muted, but still pigmented.  Totally worth trying if you love lippies!

The stable of makeup: IT Cosmetics Radiance Palette, NYX Suedes Collection, Olay CC Cream, Rimmel ScandalEyes, Tarte Maracuja concealer in light, IT Cosmetics brow pencil, UD primer, the DHC RD109, and Ulta liner in Dublin.

I love shimmer on my eyes and nails!  Look as this awesome copper shimmer in the olive green goodness that is Rescue Beauty Lounge Turn It Around.

Ermagerd! Shimmer!

 Have you tried these NYX Suedes?  What do you think of a cream-to-powder formulation?

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?

Orange is the new ...blue

Hello, Fireflies!

Do you remember that really cool turquoise gradient nail art that I did a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away?

I mean, yesterday?  Well, I built a look around it to go hang out with my friends and watch the new season of Orange Is The New Black!

My little green monster decal is peekin' out from behind me.  He has a blue friend hiding behind my head. They have cartoon bubbles that the husband and I use to write notes on.  I thought you might want to know this.  Fun behind-the-scenes tidbit!

My face makeup started with my trusty stable of Cover FX products, including the Mattifying primer, the Eye primer, the BB Gel, and the Setting powder, which I used to warm up my face as a subtle contour.  Jouer blush in Dahlia, which is one of my new fave cream blushes, gave me a little color, and so did Too Faced La Creme in Believe.

For my eye makeup, I used the Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty palette, which I'm now a huge fan of. I love these buttery eyeshadows! I also used my Physicians Formula black liquid liner, and Rimmel ScandalEyes RetroGlam mascara. 

I tried the Mally Poreless Face Defender for the first time, instead of powder.  It still dried with a powdery finish on me, and looked a little more cakey than I would have liked.  I'm going to try it with a different combination of products next time.

Because I'm watching this show with friends, and we made a pact to ONLY watch it together, I still have a few more episodes to finish season 2 - so no spoilers, please! It's killing me already to not binge watch it, but I do try to be a woman of my word.

Are you having viewing parties for any shows? Do you cheat and binge on your own?

Girls' Day Out - BBCFL at The Salt Room Millenia

Hello, Fireflies!

Last week or so, my handlers let me out of my cage, and I met up with some of the Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida for a complimentary salt room experience!

Influenster Spring VoxBox!

Hello, Fireflies!

I was lucky enough to be selected to receive a Spring VoxBox from Influenster.  I had such a ball playing with most of these things, and I can't wait to tell you about them!

FutureDerm Face and Hair!

Hello, Fireflies!

Have you heard of FutureDerm? They did a collaboration with two beauty bloggers, Phyrra, and Jen from My Beauty Bunny.  When their products went on sale, I bought them!

A Night at the Theatre

Hello, Fireflies!

It's Friday! What are you doing this weekend?  A little while ago, a friend dropped some community theatre tickets in my lap, so we got dolled up and went out!

I was wearing this gorgeous shimmery brown polish from Koco called Insta-Glam.

And, because when you go to the theatre, you should be dripping in jewels, I wore my real (simulated) crushed opal nail polish from Profound Glassworks!  It's so subtle, though.  I really wish the opals had more oomph.

I was actually leaving the house, so painting *both* hands was in order.

I wore some other jewels, too.  I don't normally wear these bib-style necklaces, but I love this.  Found it on clearance at Target.  

I have been experimenting more with my makeup, and figured - what better time to go for a dramatic eye than when I'm going to the theatre?  If anyone understands bold makeup, it's them!  I used my ELF brow kit (still learning!) and L'Oreal Color Riche Eyeshadow palette in 211 Blue Haute Couture, and Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara.

My primer and foundation were my new go-to products from Cover FX - the matte primer and the BB Gel. I think I used my Hourglass Mood Finishing powder that night, too.

The playhouse was right on the Intercoastal waterway, by the bridge.  I love where I live.

My Cover FX primer and BB Gel held up admirably in the Florida heat. Hubby could have maybe used some powder for his shiny head, though!

Usually, I wear a bold lip when I want to feel glam, but this time, I went for bold eyes.  What is your go-to for feeling instantly glam?

April Fools!

You thought you were getting a regular post with my nubbins?  April Fools!  I did a few manis for friends and family that I want to share with you today.

My sis-in-law asked for this design while I was visiting.  I'd never done her nails before, but she liked how they came out.  The base is Rimmel London I Lilac You, and the white and silver are done with nail art stripers.

My friend Toni showed me a pix of this mani and asked if I could recreate it.  I did my best!  The thumbs and ring fingers are painted with Cult Nails Tempest, which is quickly becoming my fave white.  The pink is Revlon Colorstay Wild Strawberry.  So fun and bright. I made the hearts and dots with a dotting tool.

Toni's mom, Jill, wanted Julep Eloise, a navy blue, with Girly Bits Fathomless on top.  She also wanted a skull/butterfly design, so I found this one on YouTube and tried to copy it. 

Maybe it was a zombie butterfly.

On the other hand, she just wanted a skull.  The second time was better, I think.

It's not easy doing other people's nails, but I enjoy the challenge.  I have to push myself to do things that are other people's vision, and that's a lot of fun.  I hope you enjoyed this April Fool!