FOTD - Natural Nancy

I've been trying to achieve that glowing, but not frosty, natural, but not made-up look for a while now. I think today I finally nailed it. There are so many tutorials for this kind of "natural" look, but they would tend to look artificial on me. What I realized last year and I need to keep in mind is that not all colors look the same on everyone! It took me a long time to figure out this combination, but finally! Here is my natural, glowing look.

Face

Sonia Kashuk tinted moisturizer in Tan

Laura Mercier Golden Mosaic bronzer

MAC Rice Paper highlight

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

MAC Stereo Rose, Coppertone

Eyes

MAC Indianwood paint pot

Inglot 368 (matte neutral peach)

MAC Soft Brown, Swiss Chocolate, Mulch, Bronze, Embark, Rice Paper

Urban Decay eyeliner in Demolition
Mary Kay lash primer

Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening mascara

Lips

Sonia Kashuk lipstick in Sheer Bronzey Nude

What are your go-to products for a natural look?

-Claudia

FOTD - Pearlized Purple

Hello fellow makeup lovers! I thought I'd share an eye look I was playing around with today. I've been wanting to create a look using an Inglot pigment (35) I bought not too long ago. Hope you guys like!

Face

L'Oreal Lumi foundation in W6

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer in Light/Medium

MAC blush in Blushbaby

Laura Mercier bronzer in Golden Mosaic

Eyes

Brows: Swiss Chocolate, Embark
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink

Lid: Inglot pigment in 35

Crease: Soft Brown, Swiss Chocolate, Vibrant Grape, Sketch, Inglot 382 (hot pink)

Bottom lid: Maybelline Color Tattoos in Gold Shimmer & Fuschia Fever

Inner corner: MAC Seedy Pearl

Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero

Lips

Nothing

I really loved this look, but couldn't figure out what lip to go with it. I tried a few pinks, but none of them looked right. I like the way I looks without lipstick.

What do you guys think? Would you wear a look with no lipstick?

-Claudia

FOTD - Gold Deposit

I had fun creating this look today! I wish I had a camera to take a better picture of this. A girl can dream...

Face

L'Oreal Lumi foundation in W6

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer in Light/Medium

MAC blush in Coppertone & Sunbasque

Laura Mercier bronzer in Golden Mosaic

Eyes

MAC paint pot in Painterly

Lid: Inglot 430 (gold)

Crease: MAC Soft Brown, Swiss Chocolate, Brick Red, Sketch

Bottom lid: MAC Humid, Inglot 59 (lime green)

NYX jumbo eyeliner in Sparkle Green

Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero

Urban Decay Blackout

theBalm mascara in What's Your Type

Lips

Revlon lip butter in Fig Jam

-Claudia

Bridesmaid Wedding Makeup

I was the matron of honor for my sister's wedding (because I'm married that makes me a matron, I guess). I've wanted to share this makeup look for quite some time. It's my favorite look that I've ever done.

My sister, our mutual best friend (Bree), and I went to a friend's house to have our hair done. We piled our makeup palettes, brushes, mascaras, fake lashes and God knows what else on her table. I wish I'd taken a picture of that disaster. It was so much more fun getting our hair and doing our own makeup, rushing to meet the photographer at my mom's apartment (we were late).

I think for bridal beauty it's more important to enhance your natural beauty than to blow it all out with a dramatic look. Ten, twenty, fifty years down the line you are going to want to remember what YOU looked like during the wedding.

Our friend, Bree, did my sister's makeup from a look we had both collaborated on.

My friend, Bree, and I waiting for the photographer to be ready for us. 

What I used:

FACE

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 330 Natural Tan

MAC Pro-longwear Concealer in NW35

Laura Mercier Shimmerbloc in Golden Mosaic

MAC blush in Coppertone

EYES

Maybelline Color tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (2nd half of lid only)

Laura Mercier Shimmerbloc in Golden Mosaic, peach tone (lid) + dark brown (lightly on outer V)

Urban Decay 15th anniversary palette, Flow (tearduct)

MAC Swiss Chocolate

MAC Ricepaper

Maybelline gel liner in Brown

Urban Decay eyeliner in Demolition

Ardell Individial Eyelashes

LIPS

NYX Lip Liner in Natural or Ever

Velvet Teddy

NAILS
Color Club "Get a Clue"

My sister's makeup. 

-Claudia

FOTD - Bronze Flare

Here's a look I wore for a date night with the husband. I tried winging out my eyeshadow more than usual to create a more dramatic eye. Hope you don't mind the messy hair, I hadn't gotten started on that!

FACE

Korres face primer

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation in "I'm so Glamber"/Amber

MAC Pro-longwear Concealer in NW35

MAC blush in Coppertone

Laura Mercier shimmer bloc in Golden Mosaic

MAC Fix+ spray

EYES

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Swagger Cosmetics in Tranny Chaser

Too Faced Glamour to Go Fairy Edition palette (bronze golden color)

Inglot eyeshadows in 335 (dark matte rust-orange), 325 (deep violet)

MAC Trax, Soft Brown, Ricepaper

MAC Brun for eyebrows

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

Elf shimmer eyeliner pencil in Bronze

Avon glimmerstick in Sugar Plum
Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero

theBalm mascara in Cheater!

LIPS 

ELF lipstick in Classy

-Claudia

FOTD - Goldilocks

Yet another FOTD! I recently purchased MAC's Rubenesque paint pot (review to come later) after months of drooling over it. I used it today in this look I wore to school. Hope you guys like!

I swear I'm not driving here! I just had half an hour to kill till class started.

FACE

Korres face primer
Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation in "I'm so Glamber"/ Amber
MAC Pro-longwear Concealer in NW35
MAC blush in Coppertone and Desert Rose
Laura Mercier shimmer bloc in Golden Mosaic
MAC Fix+ spray

EYES
MAC paint pot in Rubenesque
MAC Woodwinked, Expensive Pink, Mulch, Swiss Chocolate
theBalm mineral eyeshadow in You Buy, I'll Fly
Urban Decay eyeliners in Whiskey and Zero
MAC Brun for eyebrows
theBalm mascara in Cheater!

LIPS
theBalm Stainiac

I've been obsessed with gold lately, have you noticed? Don't worry. This'll be the last golden look for a while.

Do you wear makeup to school?

-Claudia

FOTD - Golden Yellow Eye

I decided to go all out with a yellow eye look today. I had been wanting to try this look out for quite some time after I saw a model with a similar look on Sephora. I think the liner should've been way more dramatic, but I'm still learning how to apply it!

FACE

Maybelline Dream Fresh beauty balm in Medium/Deep

Laura Mercier Shimmer bloc in Golden Mosaic

MAC Pro-longwear concealer in NW35

Benefit Highbeam

MAC blush in Sunbasque and Desert Rose

EYES

Urban Decay primer potion in Original

NYX Jumbo eye pencil in Milk

MAC Soft Brown and Ricepaper

Inglot 60 (a very subtly shimmery, bright golden yellow)

MAC fluidline in Blacktrack

theBalm mascara in Cheater!

MAC Brun for eyebrows

LIPS

MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NW30

MAC Honeylove

MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar

****These lips are too light for the look, but I didn't realize that until afterward. I tan so easily. This color does not work on me right now, haha.

Hope you guys enjoyed the eye look as much as I did! Here it is from a different sun angle.


-Claudia

FOTD - Sweet Gold

Here's a look I wore for going out with my hubby. I decided to put a spin on my usual goldy look by adding some cranberry to it. I didn't take pictures until much later on in the day, so the pictures don't quite do it justice. I may redo this one down the line, because I loved how it turned out. :)

FACE

Korres Face primer

Mac Pro-longwear concealer in NW35

Benefit Hellow Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation in "I'm So Glamber"/Amber

Benefit Highbeam highlighter

MAC blush in Desert Rose and Sweet as Cocoa

Laura Mercier shimmer bloc in Golden Mosaic

Urban Decay All-nighter setting spray

EYES

Urban Decay primer potion in Original

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Gold Shimmer

MAC Patina, Woodwinked, Mulch, Antiqued, Swiss Chocolate, Ricepaper, and Soft Brown

Urban Decay Hustle

theBalm mineral eyeshadow in You Buy, I'll Fly

MAC fluidline in Blacktrack

theBalm mascara in Cheater!

MAC Brun for eyebrows

LIPS

MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar

Here's a picture of my cat, Logan and I. He doesn't care too much for pictures.

-Claudia

FOTD - Red-y For School

Whenever I start out wanting to create a simple, natural look, I always end up adding a bolder element. Here we have this great red lip. Not so great for school later--where I'll be meeting my ultra conservative Cog-psy professor for the first time-- but still great! :)

FACE

Maybelline Dream Fresh beauty balm in Medium/Deep

Laura Mercier Shimmerbrick in Golden Mosaic

MAC blush in Blushbaby

Benefit Highbeam

Nothing taming those wild brows as of right now, baby!

EYES

Bare Escentuals Buxom Mascara

LIPS

Jordana lip pencil in Cabernet

You can tell it's hot here in Chicago by the ridiculous amounts of bottled water we have stacked on our porch.

-Claudia

FOTD - Summer Princess

Friday was "Prince and Princess Day" at my preschool. Yes. This is a thing. 

I was told on thursday to dress up Princess-like, but seeing as how I don't have very many princess-y dresses (and I don't exactly want to wear my best in the infant room) I decided instead to come up with some Princess makeup.

Sometimes my job is awesome. 

Here's my makeup for the day:

 

FACE

Maybelline Dream Fresh beauty balm in Medium/Deep

Revolution Organics Freedom Glow beauty balm in Sunkissed

Laura Mercier Shimmerbrick in Golden Mosaic

NARS blush in Orgasm

MAC blush in Sweet as Cocoa

Benefit Highbeam

MAC Brun for eyebrows

EYES

Maybelline Dream Fresh beauty balm in Medium/Deep
Urban Decay primer potion in Original
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Painted Purple
Urban Decay: Ecstacy, Omen, Junkshow, Chase, Chopper, SWF, Sin
Too Faced blush from Glamour To Go, Fairy Edition palette
MAC Expensive Pink
Wet n Wild Petal Pusher palette, Purple crease and definer
Sephora 5-in-1 Palette (mix of one dark, one vibrant purple and a dark brown)
Urban Decay eyeliner in Burbon
Bare Escentuals Buxom mascara

LIPS

MAC Velvet Teddy + Kinda Sexy

I'm not quite sure why I'm making such a sexy pose here, haha, but alright. This is the dress I wore. I had a lot of fun creating this look! Hope you guys liked! :) 

-Claudia

Summer Makeup Tips

Hello all!

This has been a really tough Summer, weatherwise. Here in Chicago, it's been upwards of 90ish/80ish and at times over 100 degrees throughout these past few months. I've had a serious case of melty-face when it comes to my makeup and that has not been fun! I've since been looking into different techniques and products to try and come up with something that'll last more than a couple of hours.

Review: Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer

A few months ago, I purchased Laura Mercier's hydrating primer. After having tried LM's tinted moisturizer and LOVING it, I figured the primer would be win hands down as the best primer for me. Unfortunately (!!), this primer ended up being a regretted purchase. And I did end up exchanging it.

I had passed by the LM counter in Sephora quite a few times, always wondering whether to pick up this primer or not. It retails for $30, which for me is not easy to shell out. Well, I finally brought it home one day and tried it out. It was great! It didn't feel too heavy, like the other primers I'd been using. I was ecstatic to try it again the next day.

After a few uses, however, I noticed a change in consistency. The primer became a watery mess. I could not open the bottle without having it spill out onto my hands and floor. I thought shaking it might help, but even after shaking for minutes, nothing changed. I delayed the exchange process at Sephora, because I so wanted this to work, but it just did not.

I'm not sure if mine was a dud or if this is something that happens occasionally or often, but it was so disappointing that I just decided not to chance it again.


-Claudia

FOTD - Hunger Games Premiere

I usually don't dress up or do anything too special for movie premieres, but I decided to go all out for the Hunger Games movie last month. I tried to get a good shot of the makeup before I left, but the pictures didn't turn out so great. Anywho, hope you enjoy.

Face

Laura Mercier Foundation primer - hydrating

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in Beige

MAC Coppertone blush

Eyes

Urban Decay Naked Palette:

-Half Baked

-Smog

-Creep

Wet n Wild eyeliner in Purple/Violet

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette:

-Omen

Wet n Wild I (heart) Matte:

-"Crease"/Blue

Urban Decay eyeliner in Demolition

Avon eyeliner -glimmersticks diamonds in Sugar Plum

MAC Brun (eyebrows)

Lips

Sonia Kashuk lipstick in Sheer Bronzey Nude

If you're interested in recreating the look, I used the Haifa Wehbe tutorial from Pixiwoo.

-Claudia

Short Beauty Routine for Sick Days

I've been sick for just over a week now and I haven't felt up to writing a blog till now. I thought this might be as good a time as any to write about my beauty routine during sick or "bleh" days.























Step 1:

Always, always, always wash your face.

Even when I feel awful, when I am lying on the floor defeated by illness, this is a step that can't be skipped. No one wants to go through a long beauty routine when they're sick. If you put makeup on before washing your face, your face is going to feel dirty and you are going to feel worse. Plain and simple. This step just never gets skipped, even on my worse days.


Step 2:

Laura Mercier hydrating primer + tinted moisturizer

I can't skip primer. I know a lot of people skip this step, especially while sick, but primer is useful for a lot of reasons (**) and if I'm going to be applying any makeup, I won't be skipping this step.

(** I am planning a big primer post on all the amazing primerific facts, which will be coming your way soon)


I absolutely love this tinted moisturizer, because it's somewhat low maintenance. All you have to do to apply is slap it on using your own hands. No brushes, no buffing, just hands.

It's definitely not full coverage, which of course doesn't help cover everything when you are sick. But, honestly, I've found that doing more to cover up (full foundation, concealer, correctors) actually looks worse for me when I'm sick. So while I'm not 100% back to looking healthy, the tinted moisturizer still makes me look a lot better.

Step 3:

Blush

This step varies, but I tend to throw some blush on to help liven up my face. I'll usually use some kind of natural looking pink or peachy blush, like NARS Orgasm.



That's really all there is to my sick-day beauty routine. I try to keep it as simple as possible. Now I'm off to write some papers and, hopefully, finally get better!

FOTD - Natural Look

I'm trying out the '365' challenge. Basically you take a picture every day for a year. I set an alarm as a reminder, because without that I doubt I'd remember haha.

So here's the first picture..'purple.'

Face
Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Primer
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B50 - Beige
NARS Orgasm Blush
Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Golden
Benefit Highbeam

Eyes

MAC Zoomlash Mascara
NYX Eyebrow Kit in Medium

Lips

NYX Natural Lipliner
MAC Velvet Teddy

-Claudia

FOTD - Dusky Champagne

I decided to try out my new Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadow today, but the results were a little unexpected, haha.

What I mean is that the end result does not look purple at all. I started mixing colors in before planning anything out, but I'm very pleased with the result!

There's just the slightest hint of the purple left haha, but it's there!

Products I used:

Face

MAC Prep+Prime
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B50 - Beige
MAC Pleasureful Cream Blush
Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Golden
Benefit Highbeam
MAC Fix +

Eyes

Urban Decay Original Primer Potion
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Painted Purple
MAC Trax
Urban Decay Buck
MAC Mulch
Urban Decay Smog
Urban Decay Half Baked
MAC Woodwinked
Urban Decay Eyeliner in Demolition
MAC Zoomlash Mascara
NYX Eyebrow Kit in Medium

Lips

MAC Velvet Teddy

FOTD - School

My eyebrows have been getting progressively worse since I started the blog, but that's good! I'm growing them out!

Back in November, my sister and I bought a few beauty salon coupons off street salesperson. If it sounds like a bad idea, it probably is! The place ended up being no good...I got a haircut and an eyebrow wax and they managed to botch BOTH by burning me. The hairstylist burt my scalp and the wax lady burnt my eyebrows -_- The first apologized, but when I told the second lady the wax was too hot, all she said was "that's how it's supposed to be." UH..no! I've had my eyebrows waxed before!!

Anywho..my eyebrows have been a mess and I thought for a while they were not gonna grow back, but here they are again!

So sorry for the hairy mess. I promise it'll be gone the next time I post :)

Here's my FOTD:

Products used for the look:

Face

Laura Mercier Tinted Foundation in Sand
MAC Pleasureful Cream Blush
MAC Fix +

Eyes

MAC Painterly Paint Pot
MAC Woodwinked
MAC Swiss Chocolate
MAC Mulch
Urban Decay Eyeliner in Bourbon

Lips

Maybelline Yummy Plummy

I was being pretty lazy today. No face primer, no concealer, no mascara...lazy, lazy. Today's just one of those sleepy Mondays. It's also been quite a few hours, so the makeups a bit faded. Wish I had taken a picture before I went out for the day! Next time!