LOTD: Urban Decay NAKED Smoky Palette

I'm finally accepting that it's fall, so I've started using my NAKED Smoky palette and have come up with an easy, everyday look that I wanted to share. Here it is:









I have a little bit of beef with this palette—I don't like the transition shades! Maybe they're only too close to my natural skin color, but they just don't get the job done. I ended up using the Too Faced Natural Matte palette's Strapless on my brow bone before using the shadows from the NAKED Smoky palette. From that palette I used Dirtysweet on my lids, Password in the outer third and creases with Smolder over it to deepen it up. For a highlight I used High. I used my usual Ulta eyeliner and mascara trio. Since I was wearing turquoise and had a less dramatic eye look, I figured I could try out a pretty cranberry lipstick I recently got from my Sephora points. It's a Bite Beauty lipstick in Kir Royale. It also came with a lipgloss in the same shade (which I don't like at all!!!) I love the lipstick though! It's so smooth and hydrating, which I'm grateful for since my lips (and my skin for that matter!) haven't transitioned as well with the change in weather this year. What are some products you use this time of year either because of colors or to combat colder weather?

Halloween Look: Ladybug

I was out of town for Halloween this year, and knew ahead of time I would need a simple costume for an event at my Grandfather's VA Home, so I found some cheap ladybug wings and an antennae head band at Spirit and wore some black and red items I already owned. Halloween is NOT my favorite, so it's hard for me to get into it, but I started looking up makeup looks on Pinterest for some inspiration and enthusiasm. Keep in mind these pictures were taken hours after application and I smudged it a little because I kept forgetting I had it on. Here it is:

I first primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion banking on it preventing the dreaded creasing (it didn't fail me! :D) I didn't own any red eye shadow, and didn't get a chance/wasn't super motivated to buy any since I wouldn't use it again for a while-if ever, so I used my NYX waterproof lip liner in Red instead that I've used maybe twice on my lips. Ha! For the black I used Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl eyeliner in Black. For lashes I used Ardell Natural 120 Demi in Black. 'Cause you have to have fluttery lashes as a ladybug! I really didn't know what I was doing, hadn't practiced before, and didn't have any time to wipe it off and start over, so I am pretty pleased with how it turned out, all things considered. I think if I were to do it again I'd have the body of the ladybug connect with the wings and also do the spots differently/more random. Other than me forgetting I had the makeup on and rubbing my face/forehead/nose, I'd say it had great staying power. I was super worried about the lip liner creasing since it wasn't meant for eyelids, but it was extremely pigmented and held up all day. What looks did you come up with for Halloween?

Empties

Most of these products are tried and true, but a few are some staple items that I tried in new brands. The first one I can think of to mention is the makeup removing wipes. The Dollar Tree brand failed miserably. They aren't thick, moist or large enough to get the job done! The Swisspers brand of cotton rounds aren't my favorite either. I believe I bought a value pack of three sleeves from Walmart and I've gotten used to them but I think I'll spend a little more to get a thicker cotton round that will give me more bang for my buck. Are you familiar with the Yes To brand? I had heard a little but about it, and understood it was a pretty natural line of products. I picked up the Yes To Cucumbers facial wipes which are for normal to sensitive skin, and my skin would turn beat red afterwards. I didn't figure out what was causing it at first but eventually ruled out other things as this was really the only variable and new product I was using. I have never had a reaction to cucumbers so I don't know why I reacted the way that I did, but sure enough, I would react every time. Terrible! The Calgon body wash is to die for! I have stuck with Sweet Pea for a good 10+ years, but I was trying to use up products I've had forever, so I made myself stray from the usual and I really like it! The Victoria Secret perfume in Pure Seduction is also a favorite and became my summer scent. I've always loved the scent and it's perfect for summer, as it is so fresh and floral, so I finally used this bottle up that I've had forever. The last product I haven't reviewed yet is the floss. Random, I know! I got this from my dentist and it is the worst! It shreds and becomes useless after just a few teeth. Any suggestions for a good quality floss? :D

Thanks for reading!

LOTD: Urban Decay NAKED Smoky Palette

I'll admit, I held off on buying this palette for a while—even after going the day it came out and swatching it with the BFF. It just didn't do anything for me! I felt like the colors were too similar to the other 5 (!!!) Urban Decay palettes I own, let alone shades I have in other brands of palettes or singles. I ended up buying Too Faced palettes instead, and have loved them, yet I was still drawn to this palette. I ended up swatching it every time I went to Ulta or Sephora but couldn't justify buying it. Sephora ended up having a 3X the points at the beginning of August, so I purchased some staple items and the palette. I thought if I wasn't impressed, I could always return it. I left on a trip right after I received it so it did not make the cut for which palettes I was going to bring. (I only bring palettes I am familiar with and know quick looks to get me out the door fast.) So since getting back I have been wanting to try this new palette and I have to say, my hesitation was unwarranted. What I thought were your typical smoky shadows, were actually very diverse shadows! They might look similar to each other and similar to other shadows we all already have, but these really are a different kind of amazing. The pigmentation, blendability, quality, and intensity are one of a kind! I highly recommend this palette! Here is the first look I came up with:











Thanks for reading! Let me know if you try this look! :)

LOTD: Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!!! My love for America can't really be put into words but it swells in my heart as I experience all the carefree moments that I am able to enjoy because of the liberty this country possesses thanks to so many sacrifices made by others!

In patriotic fashion, I present you with my Independence Day look, a navy smoky eye:

For any eyeshadow look I always start with Urban Decay Primer Potion! I used Nooner as a blending shadow (UDN3), Downfall as a base (UDV3), Reign on the inner and outer thirds (UDV3), Houdini on entire lid (MUG), Center Stage on entire lid (MUG), Unbridled (LORAC UNZIPPED) blended above blue shadows into Nooner, Magic Act in a triangle shape just above my iris (MUG), Heroine (UDV3) pat on the outer side of Magic Act, Evidence (UD Smoked) pat on the inner side of Magic Act with In the Spotlight (MUG) as a highlight below brows and in then inner corner of my eyes. I finished off this look with eyeliner, mascara, my usual face makeup, filling in my brows, and Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Pomegranate.



Thanks for reading! I hope you're all enjoying the freedoms of this country with your loved ones!

Haley Awards: 2014

I don't know about you, but 2014 was a pretty epic year for me! I graduated from college (finally!!!) and have had lots of fun with my time when I would normally be worrying about class, homework, studying, books, commuting, etc. so that has been nice and I'd say I've adjusted well! :) The year 2014 brought more make up my way to review as well and yet I've relied heavily on no-brainer products when in a rush. I thought it would be fun to start doing Haley Awards for products I think stood out in the crowd and became no-brainer-go-to products. So to you, I present these products...

Best Facial Exfoliator
PMD Personal Microderm Pro: I had used exfoliants and scrubs on my face for years but nothing has improved my skin like this has. I purchased this in September and since I started using it as instructed, my skin is looking revitalized, healthy, and now has a nice glow. I still have breakouts, but not as extreme or for as long.

Best Facial Moisturizer
dōTERRA Essential Skin Care Hydrating Cream: This has helped my skin stay nourished this winter and has helped my skin rebound from the microdermabrasion treatments quicker than anything I've previously been using.

Best Face Primer
Smashbox Oil Free Photo Finish Foundation Primer: Even though the PMD has greatly helped my skin, it is still exfoliating and causing abrasions to promote healthy skin renewal and with that comes some flaking and uneven skin at times, so this primer became necessary to create a smooth canvas for my foundation.

Best Cream Foundation
Make Up Forever HD Foundation (N115): It was certainly a splurge but I have found a foundation that doesn't feel cakey, look cakey, provides excellent coverage, photographs well, and yet doesn't feel like I'm wearing it. It pairs perfectly with the Smashbox primer as well!

Best Powder Foundation
bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation (medium): I have been wearing this for years but have started wearing it over my cream foundation and it it warms up my skin a little while setting my foundation.

Best Concealers
bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation (fairly medium): For slight acne or red areas, this works perfect. Stick concealers wear oddly on my skin and later on in the day they tend to emphasize the blemishes and even appear flakey, which is even more disgusting than a little red area, so I've started patting this foundation on the area and because it's lighter in pigment than my bareMinerals foundation and it's covering an area darker than my normal skin, it blends a lot better. With that said, for blemishes more intense, I use benefit Fake Up (01 Light). It has a clear product surrounding the concealer and although I haven't researched it, I have gathered that it aids in blending the concealer and making in last longer.

Best Bronzer
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder (Light Matte): This is truly perfect for winter! I am more fair but still need to warm up my skin and this does the trick! I think I'll try a darker shade for summer because the formula is that great!

Best Blush
e.l.f. Blush in Berry Merry: This blush goes well with any look and is what I tend to use day after day because it's a no-brainer!

Best Mascara
blinc Mascara Amplified: This mascara's unique technology of "tubing" lashes is revolutionary! I would reach for this on the many mornings that I was in a hurry or didn't want to have to think about which mascara to use. I stare at computer screens all day and my tired eyes would inevitably cause flakes of mascara to fall onto my cheeks and either unattractively stay or get smeared. After long shifts, I would walk away not realizing I had looked like that for who knows how long UNTIL I started using this fabulous mascara. I have even more recently started putting it over Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara because it provides great volume but flakes like cray! Ain't nobody got time fo' dat! It has helped, but I still get some flaking if I don't cover all of the Too Faced Mascara with it.

Best Setting Product
Make Up Forever HD Pressed Powder: This truly does set not only the foundation, but also the blush and highlighters I have on.

Best Enhancer
MAC Fix +: This makes any blush or eyeshadow last longer, photograph better, or give a foiled appearance for a different look. (BTW, did they change the name of it?!)

Best Brow Pencil
MAC Automatic Eyebrow Pencil (Lingering): It's not only the fact that the color that was suggested to me is on point (so important!), but the formula is as well. This lasts all day and I don't worry about it running, clumping, or fading.

Best Eye Primer
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original): This formula leaves me never wanting to try another primer! It blends well (never looks weird on my fair skin), keeps my eyeshadow in place, makes the eyeshadow more true to color, and never causes creasing.

Most Used Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay NAKED 3 Palette: This is still my favorite go-to because it makes my blue eyes pop, creates a natural look, and just always looks good no matter what I'm wearing!

Favorite Eyeshadow Palette Released in 2014
LORAC PRO 2 Palette: Although the NAKED 3 Palette is a no-brainer, this palette is one that also creates a number of looks that can be used everyday! LORAC's eyeshadows are so fragile and need to be used gently, but they are highly pigmented and this particular palette is very diverse and wearable!

Best Lip Exfoliator
e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator: Winter time comes and my lips get rough! This scrub works great and I have made it part of my lipstick application routine!

Best Lipsticks
Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick: These are so creamy and yet stay on! The pigmentation is to die for!

Best Lip Primer
Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm: I haven't ever used a legitimate lip primer, but after I exfoliate, I put this on and it's perfect to create a smooth canvas for my lipstick. It is great to put on by itself too!

Best Body Moisturizer
The Body Shop Body Butter: I received this as a gift from the BFF, and oy! It sure prevented my skin from getting so dry and having to play catch up most of spring!

Best Tools
2X Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove: This made brush cleaning fun, much easier and more effective for me! I just use dish soap and follow the steps on the glove. So simple!

Benjabelle Daisy Brush Tree: After cleaning my brushes, I put them in this tree and it helps dry them so much quicker! Gravity is working in your favor with this product!

Best Brush
Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki: I use this to blend my foundation after I have applied it. It makes a big difference in ensuring that the foundation is smooth and evenly applied on my skin and it's super obvious on my fair skin when it's not blended well!

As you may have noticed, Haley Awards 2014 was mostly high-end products. I think sometimes quality is more important than quantity. I guess it was a year of "treat yoself!" If you read this far, you're a trooper! Thank you!! I would love to hear which products were your favorites during 2014!

LOTD: Holiday Colors using Urban Decay Palettes

My mess today!

I bought a navy and green blouse that seemed like a different holiday look for me (I usually stick to red!) and I wanted to create an eye look with those colors.

This is what I came up with!

On my eyes I used Angel (UD Vice 3) all over, then sprayed a flat shader bush with Fix+ and used Dragon (UD Vice 3) on the outer half of my eye and then used Freeze (UD Vice 3) to transition Angel to Dragon. Then I used Heroine (UD Vice 3) in my outer one third and crease. I then put Fix+ on another flat shader brush and pat Side Car (UD NAKED) in the inner third of my eye to brighten it up. For a highlight I used Virgin (UD NAKED) and as a transition into the highlight I used Nooner (UD NAKED 3). On my lips I have Bite Beauty's Luminous Crème Lipstick in Pomegranate. I hope you like this look! I was afraid of using Dragon but it looked much better than I thought! Merry Christmas!

LOTD: Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette

I'm always looking for a good berry look for fall, so yesterday I set out to create one. I used Primer Potion first then Alchemy all over my lid. Over Alchemy I pat Sonic. Over Sonic, I pat Vanity until I got to the inner one-third of my eye, which I wanted to be lighter. In the outer one-third and into the crease I applied Bondage. I buffed out Bondage with Alien and used Last Sin as a highlight. I used my usual Ulta brand automatic eyeliner in Black and Blinc Mascara to finish the look. Pardon my hair! I had wrist surgery last week and can barely blow dry my hair!

I mentioned yesterday that I got my sephora.com purchase which included some lipsticks and I couldn't wait to try them out so here they are!

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Mulberry:

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Shame:

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb:

So that's that! Thanks for reading!

Haul: Sephora

I had a $20 off a $50 purchase from Sephora, so I bought some high-end lip products I don't normally go out and buy! I got the Skin Rev-er Upper to have as a back up. The small lipstick is a 100pt reward. It's Urban Decay's F-Bomb. I didn't get to pick the color, but I'm looking forward to trying one of their lipsticks in a smaller size to decide whether or not I want to buy the full size. Samples are great way of trying products for free in a small, manageable amount to prevent purchasing a product you don't like.

LOTD: Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette

I used Angel on my entire lid and into my crease slightly. Then I intensified the outer third and crease with Defy. I blended it out with Undone and then used Bobby Dazzle as a highlight. I lined my eyes with Ulta's automatic liner in Black and used Blinc's mascara in Black. I filled in my brows with MAC's automatic brow pencil in Lingering. For my face I used Urban Decay's NAKED Skin foundation in 3.5, bareMinerals Foundation in Medium and Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Frosting and e.l.f.'s blush in Berry Merry. For my lips, I used Bite's Luminous Crème Lipstick in Pomegranate. 

It's just a nice neutral eye look that can pair nicely with neutral or bold colors. Thanks for reading!

LOTD: Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette

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For this look I used Sonic on my eyelid until the crease with Bondage in the outer-v and crease area. For a highlight, I used Bobby Dazzle. I then used Undone to blend out the shadows into my highlight.  I lined my top and bottom waterline with Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner in Black and used Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara. For blush I used a NAKED Flushed sample I recently received. For my lips I used NYX's Chunky Dunk Hydrating Lippie in Pomegranate Margarita. So far I'm loving this palette! It's great  for fall!

Haul: PMD, Urban Decay, MAC, Sigma & e.l.f.

I have completely neglected this blog! This summer I have been enthralled in finishing school, passing my boards, and starting a new job, but I have done just that and I am back! In celebration of all of my recent accomplishments and a few sales/discount codes, I made a major splurge haul! I can't wait to use these products! 

LOTD: Peachy Pink

How did I get this eye look you ask? I used all Urban Decay eyeshadows but first I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion. The first eyeshadow I used was from the original NAKED palette called Side Car. Then I used Sin as a highlight. I used a flat shadow brush with MAC Fix + sprayed on it and pat Dust from the NAKED 3 palette over Side Car. I used Side Car as a base to ensure my eyes didn't look super pink because my blouse and skirt were more peachy, pale pink. Over Dust I pat Buzz and Burnout over, using the same Fix +'d brush. As a crease color I used Nooner and as a transition shade I used Limit. It's a different look for me because I would normally use a darker shade in my crease, but I wanted this to be really subtle and soft. I finished the look with Sephora's Full Action mascara, Blinc Mascara over that, and Ulta's automatic black eyeliner.

For my face I used Urban Decay's NAKED Skin foundation, bareMinerals foundation, Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Frosting with Milani's Baked Blush in Dolce Pink over it. For my lips I used an EOS lip balm first and then Bobbi Brown's Rich Color Gloss in Pink Sorbet 9.

I thought it was a lovely Sunday pretty pink! What are you wearing today?