LOTD: Christmas Day Look using the Tartelette In Bloom Palette

A little late, but here's my Christmas Day look!









To get this look I first primed my lids, then applied Smarty Pants to my crease and brow bone area, pat Rocker on my lids, with Funny Girl as a highlight, and Leader and Activist in my outer third and crease, I've been going a little bolder with my eyeliner wing, but have still been using the Ulta Automatic eyeliner in Black/Brown. I also used my regular trio of mascaras. For my lips I used Kat Von D in Outlaw. I love the formula of Kat Von D's liquid lipsticks, so I've been buying more shades. What looks did you come up with for Christmas?

LOTD: Tartelette In Bloom Palette

I was immediately drawn to this palette because of Firecracker, so naturally, that was the first shade I couldn't wait to use! I used a primer and then in a windshield wiper motion I applied Sweetheart in my crease up to my brow bone. After that, I pat Firecracker on my lids and Rebel over Firecracker in the outer one-third of my eyes, I used Funny Girl as a highlight, and Leader to deepen Rebel. I love the way the shadows blend! I bought the Tarte neutralEYES palette back in 2013 and ended up returning it because I hated everything about the shadows. I was extremely hesitant to purchase this one because of that, but had heard nothing but good reviews and sure enough, I am in love! They must have changed something because this is a night and day difference. One of my complaints about the neutralEYES palette was that the shadows weren't pigmented enough, but the ones in this palette are and are true to how they appear in the palette on skin. I especially love this palette because there are so many combinations that I can't wait to try, so check back for more looks!

Christmas 2015 Beauty Haul

From Caitlyn, the girl knows the key to my heart!



What fun things did you get or plan to get with your gift cards?

Ulta Haul

The Sephora VIB Sale got me good, but there were some bareMinerals things I wasn't able to purchase through them, so I leaned on Ulta to get them, and I avoid paying for shipping like the plague, so I always throw stuff in until I reach the bare minimum for free shipping. I usually go way over it though ha! Here's what I got:

Sephora Haul

That dang VIB Rouge sale was far too tempting, so I got my staple items and then they sent me $20 off a $50 purchase, so I picked up a few more things! I'm excited to try all of these! I seriously have so many new lip products to try it's not even funny!

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?