Goldiestarling's Art of Beauty Blog

Raquel Reed Inspired Makeup Tutorial

2012-01-20T07:20:00.001-08:00

Loved this request posted on my Facebook page so I decided to film a tutorial based on it. I didn't have the right eyeshadow for the lid but I made due with a sparklier version. I love the way this turned out and I hope all you purple lovers will enjoy it!

Products:

PRODUCTS:

EYES-

Urban Decay Primer Potion

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Raving Beauty Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Spring Violet (http://www.ravingbeautycosmetics.ecrater.com/)

Sleek Acid Palette (http://devucosmetics.com/)

Sugarpill Eyeshadow in Poison Plum

Makeup Forever Eyeshadow in #92

Inglot Gel Matte Eyeliner in #77

Black Mascara

False Lashes (unsure of the number)

FACE-

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory

RImmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Transparent

Black UP Blush in BL01

LIPS-

Hot Pink Lipliner

Milani Lip Flash Pencil in Flashy

Milani 3D Glitzy Gloss in Fashion Diva

ZombieStarling

2011-10-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

In my previous post I mentioned that I would be doing two Halloween tutorials for Shape.com. I already shared GoldieSwan and now I present ZombieStarling. I wanted to do an easy Zombie look using products that you could find anywhere. No prosthetics needed. I also learned an amazing Zombie Hair trick from the mega talented Sokolum79. She used conditioner in her hair to make it look like dirty well lived in hair. I highly recommend her channel and you can find it here

Now onto products used:

I paled out my face using grease paints. I bought a stack of four from Party City and supplemented the rest from the Makeup Forever Flash Palette.

I then set my face using Ben Nye's Neutral Set Powder. Any translucent powder will work.

For the open wounds I used eyelash glue. Liquid latex would also work. And then filled them in with red and black grease paints.

To finish off the look I mixed up a bit of fake blood using corn syrup and food coloring. This got extremely sticky and dripped all over my shirt. I think it really added to the look though.

For my costume I cut up an old t-shirt and sprinkled baby powder all over. I had a total blast filming this one... BRAINS!

GoldieSwan

2011-10-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Goldieswan here. In between filming a bunch of Halloween tutorials for Youtube I have also been busy filming a few videos for Shape.com. They asked me to film two videos for their site, namely a Black Swan tutorial and a Zombie tutorial inspired by AMC's Walking Dead. I am super excited to share these videos and they should be up on their site next week. I'll update this post when they're live and ready to go. I also will be on my local Fox tv station doing a live version of the Black Swan makeup next Monday. They want to do a little piece on my work and cut in and out during the broadcast as I do makeup. I am super excited and nervous at the same time. I've never done anything for tv, hopefully it will be an awesome experience! In the meantime I wanted to do a quick post on the products I used in my Black Swan tutorial. So here we go!

For the pale foundation I mixed a white foundation with my regular foundation.

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation in RF100

Revlon Colorstay in 110 Ivory

I did use a bit of concealer to cover up any dark circles.

It! Cosmetics Bye Bye Under eye in Light

I set everything with Ben Nye's Neutral Set Powder which left my skin looking like porcelain.

On to contour, I applied Clinique's New Clover blush into the hollows of my cheeks and layered Makeup Forever's #33 Eyeshadow over it.

For the eyes I used a super black gel liner, eye drops and a silver pigment.

Inglot Matter Gel Eyeliner in #77

Sugarpill's Chromadust in Tiara

Clear Eyes Eyedrops

Black Mascara

Under the black wing shape I lightly applied a red grease paint. In the pictures I saw there seems to be a hint of red.

The lips were a bit tricky. I outlined my lips with a black eyeliner then applied Mac's Diva lipstick and patted a purple eyeshadow over the outer corners.

How to Make a Black Lace Hat ala Pam from True Blood

2011-09-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Today I'm gonna post a little how to on my black lace hat from my Halloween tutorial "I've Got the Rots." If you've seen the video and are curious to see how I made the hat keep on reading. It's super simple. Promise!

First step: Grab a witch hat, flip it over and push the pointy tip inside out. This will create a nice little pocket for your noggin.
Step Number Two: Trace the hat's shape onto a piece of foam poster board. This will make it super sturdy.
Step Three: Get to cutting guys! I used an Exacto knife.

Step Four: Trace another circle in the center. Make sure it will fit your head. In this case I found a bowl that fit my head and used it as a stencil.
Step Five: Place your huge foam donut onto the hat and glue that badboy onto the witch hat. Pay special attention to the inner and outer rim.
Step Six: I draped black lace on top and began hot gluing it to the inner rim. Be careful, hot glue burns HURT!
Step I don't know I lost count: Trim the excess lace from the perimeter. Try to make it as even as possible.
Last Step... phew finally: Twist the excess lace and glue it around the inner rim. And ta-da! You have your very own black lace hat ala Pam. See you guys? That was easy. : )

INGLOT SWATCHES!!!!

2011-06-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

Katy Perry E.T. Alien Make-up Tutorial

2011-03-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

Products:

FACE-

Gluestick

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Prestige Eyeshadow in White

EYES/FACE-

Make-up Forever Eyeshadow in #72

Sugarpill Eyeshadow in Dollipop

Glamour Doll Eyes Shadow in Skin of a Killer

Wet N' Wild Megaliner in Black

Mehron Tropical Paradise Palette

Mutant Eyelashes (a pair I cut up and painted the tips pink)

LIPS-

NYX Eye Pencil in Electric Blue

OCC Lip Tar in Rx

Mac Eyeshadow in Meet the Fleet

NARS Copacabana Illuminator Review

2011-03-24T08:20:00.001-07:00

I was browsing Sephora as I often do out of boredom and came across this product from NARS. A liquid illuminator. Hmm ok I'll bite.

What it is:

A multifunctional face product that gives skin a refreshed luminosity.

What it does:

This light reflecting liquid glides on to refresh and enhance the complexion, creating a shimmering incandescence. Wear it alone, or pair it with makeup to transform your skin from ordinary to extraordinary.

Price: $29

Where: Sephora.com

Size: 1.2 oz

Do I like it: Yes

Would I buy it again: Yes but I doubt I will need to for a long time considering the size

Pros:

-Easy to work with and blend into the skin

-Leaves a pearly finish

-Only takes a little

Cons:

-Price, like most NARS products it's a bit expensive and I'm not convinced that I couldn't find an equal illuminator for less

-In outdoor/natural lighting it can look a bit glittery

My Favorite Brushes

2011-03-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

FaceFront Cosmetics Ouro Fino Collection

2011-03-18T20:35:00.001-07:00

I recently received a package of goodies to review from Facefront Cosmetics. I have heard a lot about the company and was excited to see what they are all about. They sent some items from the Spring/Summer Ouro Fino collection and a few of their Artistic Pigments.

Let's start with the "Fine Gold" collection shall we?

Facefront's description of the collection:"Ouro Fino is Portugese for "Fine Gold." This delicate collection is finely milled and infused with small 24 K gold nano-particles, imported from Peru. The set consists of 5 Artistic Pigments, 1 Blush, 4 Bronzers and 2 Lipglosses. These products are never tested on animals and are cruelty free."

Blush and Bronzer

From left to right: Rewrite Pink, Third Kiss and Loco Cocoa

Re-write Pink ($15.00) is a mineralized blush. It looks beautiful on the skin and gives the cheek a natural healthy glow. It's pigmented so a light hand will go a long way with this product.

Third Kiss and Loco Cocoa are rocket bronzers($17.50.) Facefront describes Third Kiss as a steel finish (to me it's finish is similar to a satin eyeshadow.) Loco Cocoa is a warm matte bronzer. For my skin tone I prefer the Loco Cocoa, once blended out it gives a healthy glow. Third kiss doesn't look so good on my skin but I can imagine it working for skin tones that aren't so melanin challenged.

Artistic Pigments

From left to right: Amarela, Retro-Robotic Violeta, Octopus Ink, Shadow Keeper and Nylon Garden (All of these were swatched over a primer)

Amarela ($15.50) is a steel finish pigment. The color is a little sheer for me but the yellow really showcases the gold particles beautifully. It will need a base/primer to achieve the color in the jar.

Retro-Robotic Violeta ($15.50) is also a steel finish. This one was hard to photograph correctly but it's a nice mauvy purple that sparkles on the lid.

Octopus Ink ($10.50) is a semi-matte. This black is super black with a multi-colored glitter living happily among the darkness. Again my camera couldn't do justice to this one. I found it a little hard to work with as is the case with most mattes. With the proper base I think it would look amazing.

Shadow Keeper ($15.50) is another steel finish and is one of my favorites from this collection. I would describe it as a dirty purple that reflects a light pink. BEAUTIFUL!

Nylon Garden ($15.50) is, yes you guessed it, also a steel finish pigment. It's similar to MAC's Sumptuous Olive but a tad bit more green. I love this one too.

Artistic Pigments

From Left to Right: Rabid Volcano, Tigresa Morpheta and Early Spring

Rabid Volcano ($10.50) is a pewter finish pigment. It's lovely in the jar and lovely on the eye. It's not incredibly unique color.

Tigresa Morpheta ($10.50) is AMAZING! This color is a steel finish and would KILL on blue eyes. This is my number one favorite out of the whole bunch.

Early Spring ($10.50) is a pretty unique color. It's a steel finish and looks like a muted turquoise. You will definitely need a base with it because it can come off sheer.

All in all I'm impressed with the quality of Facefront products. I like the Artistic Pigments. I think the eyeshadows are the real star of the show.

What would I recommend and why?

Tigresa Morphesa- It's a beautiful metallic orange that makes blue eyes pop

Shadow Keeper- I love that it looks like a dark purple but reflects a light pink

Nylon Garden- Olive greens always capture my my attention

Loco Cocoa- It's a matte bronzer that works on my pasty skin... YES!

Re-write Pink- This one is pigmented but if used lightly will give a natural result.

Facefront can be found at select retailers and online at facefrontcosmetics.com

Adele Inspired Make-up

2011-03-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

I love Adele. Her voice, her style... her MAKE-UP! I consider her look to be a mix of Mod/Twiggy lashes with classic pin-up liner and a light coral lip. It's simple, elegant and timeless.

Product List-

FACE:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Ivory

Make-up Forever HD Powder

Milani HD Concealer in Light

EYES:

Mac Paint Pot in Painterly

Mac Eyeshadows in Blanc Type, Dark Edge and Shroom

Raving Beauty Eyeshadows in Gentle Brown and Sparkle Beige

Wet N' Wild Megaliner in Black

Laura Mercier Full Blown Mascara in Black

Salon Perfect Eyelashes in Demi-Whispies

LIPS:

Rimmel Lipliner in Addiction

Wet N' Wild Lipstick in 903C

Mac Dazzleglass in Smile

Smoldering Embers

2011-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Heys guys! Today I have a grunge-ish kinda look. If you follow me on twitter you may recognize this look from my avatar pic. I also posted this look on Facebook and asked for you guys to help me name it. The winner was Roxanne and she brilliantly suggested Smoldering Embers. Thanks for all the suggestions. Now onto the goodies... the products of course!

Products used:

FACE-
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Ivory
Mac Studio Fix Powder in NC 21
Milani HD Concealer in Light

EYES-
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Raving Beauty Eyeshadows in Carmine and Carbon
Mac Pigment in Blue Brown
Mac Eyeshadow in Blanc Type
Stila Smudgeproof Eyeliner in Stingray
Sugarpill Chromalust in Lumi
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

LIPS-
Mac Paint Pot in Painterly
Mac Lipglass in Soft Wave

Drugstore Favorites Give-away!!!

2011-03-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

Who sits in the parking lot of Walgreens to film a give-away video?
Anyway I want to offer you guys a chance to win some of my favorite drugstore products. Give-aways are fun and I want to do them as often as I can. Hope you enjoy and enter... cause you never know! ; )

Updates and looks on my Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Goldiestarling/110393895647738
Chat on my Twitter: http://twitter.com/goldiestarling

Rules:
Be a subscriber
Be 18 or have permission from a parent or guardian
Leave a comment on Youtube under this video telling me your favorite band, musician, song etc.
Please only ONE comment per user (keep it fair!)
Give-away is open to everyone, including my international subscribers
There will be two winners
I will announce the winners on facebook and twitter (I won't be making a video)
I will contact the winners through Youtube
Contest ends March 19, 2011 at 11:59 EST

BTW this give-away was not sponsored by Walgreens in any way. They probably would have kicked me out of the parking lot if they knew I was filming this.

Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow Review

2011-03-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Up on the plate today we have a review of Sugarpill's pressed eyeshadows. I've been using these lovelies since last year and they continue to impress me each and every time. Anytime I want color I reach for these. I've read some reviews comparing these eyeshadows to Make-up Forever's shadows. They are similar in size and quality. There is a price difference. Make-up Forever singles are $19 a piece and Sugarpill are $12. Unlike Make-up Forever, Sugarpill offers three different palettes of four eyeshadows for $34. To me that's a steal... these shadows are awesome and will last a long time. If you love color you'll adore these badboys.

On their site Sugarpill describes them as:

"Richly pigmented, velvety smooth, luxury pressed eyeshadows for all-night party wear."

Richly pigmented- Check

Velvety smooth- Check

Luxury pressed- Check

All-night wear- Check

I applaud Sugarpill for living up to their descriptions.

Color Breakdown:

Love +: The perfect matte red.

Flamepoint: An warm matte orange.

Buttercupcake: A rich golden bright matte yellow.

Midori: A slightly shimmery green with a dash of yellow.

Afterparty: A medium bright blue shimmer.

Poison Plum: A purple matte with a dash of red.

Dollipop: A matte Barbie pink.

Bulletproof: A solid matte black.

From Left to right

Top Row: Love +, Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Midori

Bottom Row: Afterparty, Poison Plum, Dollipop, Bulletproof

Overall I highly recommend these. The color payoff is superb. The texture is smooth. They blend well. The packaging is adorable. The price is worth every penny.

You can find Sugarpill here.

E.L.F. Studio Blush in Gotta Glow

2011-03-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

I picked up this blush when E.L.F. was having a 50% sale on their studio line. I'd read great reviews on it and thought... hmm $1.50... OKAY! My order came pretty fast and I was super impressed with the way it was packed. Also it's worth mentioning that when companies have sales it often takes two to three weeks to receive the order... That was not the case for E.L.F. I had the products I ordered within five days. Thanks for that E.L.F.

Now onto the blush. On their site E.L.F. lists this as a description for their blushes.
"The soft sheer texture blends into the skin for a silky finish. Designed to be worn alone or layered for more depth. Highlight your complexion with a subtle healthy glow!"

I do have a bit of a problem with that description. The texture is soft... too soft for my tastes. When I swipe my finger through this product it feels like I pick up a ton. It is a bit flaky as well. However when you blend it out it does create a nice light gold highlight. I wouldn't label it subtle but it does work. Besides the softness the only other problem I have with it is longevity. It doesn't seem to last on me. Layering it over a cream product would fix that problem but when I'm in a hurry the less products the better.

Overall I would not buy it again. I think it's a steal for the price but I have eyeshadows that would give me the same effect.

Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Make-up Look

2011-03-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! I wanted to post this look in time for the week-end. I know a lot of you guys will want to wear red eyebrows to the club... Right? Crickets.... All kidding aside a lovely subscriber requested a tutorial for this look and I found the make-up very intriguing. Check out the tutorial below.
Also I wanted to mention the feather hair clip I'm wearing in the photo. I've been collaborating with The Truth About Lucy (A super awesome Etsy store and website.) The owner Myriah handmakes these intricate one of a kind accessories and she was kind enough to design this piece for my tutorial. Click here to see more of her beautiful pieces:

Now onto products used:
FACE:
Gluestick to cover eyebrows
Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Ivory
Mac Studio Fix Powder in NC 20
Hard Candy Glamoflage Concealer in Light
EYES:
Wet N Wild Pride Palette (Matte White Eyeshadow)
Wet N Wild Night Elf Palette (Sparkly Black Eyeshadow, a Matte Finish would work as well)
Mehron Tropical Paradise Palette
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Red Rhinestones from a Nail Wheel
CHEEKS:
Make-up Forever Eyeshadow in No. 33
Rimmel Blush in Berry
LIPS (I opted for a Matte finish):
Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor in Top Tomato
Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner Definer in Red Diva

Sweethearts Giveaway

2011-02-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Cupid has come and gone BUT you still have a chance to win some Sugarpill! Check out my giveaway on Youtube, leave me a comment on the video telling me something sweet you have done for someone and you're entered! Simple as a dimple.
xoxo
Angie

Pixar UP! Inspired Mask

2011-02-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share a look that I'm entering into Tsunimee's BFF (Bird, Flower or Fruit Inspired) Contest. I was inspired by Kevin from Pixar's movie UP! and this picture of a parrot I found on Google.

Products used:

Face-

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Ivory

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC 20

NYX Blush in Taupe

Eyes/Mask:

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Sugarpill Eyeshadows in Buttercupcake, Poison Plum, Flamepoint and Love +

Ben Nye Eyeshadows in Cosmic Blue

Wet 'N Wild Creme Eyeliner in Black

Wet 'N Wild Mega Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Rimmel Eye Kohl in White

Rhinestones in various sizes

For the eyelashes I glued several pair together

Lips:

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Liptar in Safety Orange

Sugarpill Eyeshadow in Buttercupcake patted on center of the lips

Sugarpill Eyeshadow in Love + added to the outer corners of the lips

Clear lipgloss

Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer

2011-01-31T10:54:00.000-08:00

I was out shopping with my mom on Saturday and ran across this new nail buffer from Revlon. Since I was in the market for a new buffer I decided to pick this up for a mere $2.99.

What does Revlon say about this product?:

"The secret to the 10 second manicure. Creates 400% more shine than bare nails. Unique, comfortable shape for easy use. Green side smoothes and evens out nail surface. White side polishes to an outrageous shine. Creates topcoat in minutes."

Does it live up to these claims? Yes. In my opinion it is a fantastic nail buffer. I've never had such shine to my bare nails before. It does remind me of a topcoat. The egg shape is quite fun and ergonomic. My hands didn't get tired holding it like they do with the rectangular shaped buffers. With that being said I do have to mention that you can only use the outer edges of the green side. The middle of the buffer is useless unless you want to scratch up your cuticles. I think it would have been better to line the edges with the green buffer material and have both sides be covered in the white polish finish.

Now on to the most important question... Would I buy it again?: Probably. But I think I'll stick to the buffers I buy at Sally's due to the fact that I can use the entire surface on my nails.

My results:

A P!nk Look!

2011-01-24T06:04:00.000-08:00

P!nk F**kin' Perfect Make-up tutorial

Last Sunday I decided to recreate the look Pink was wearing in her newest music video. This is a great copper smoky eye and it would look great on anyone, but especially nice on blue eyed lads and lasses. Hope you enjoy! Oh and how was everyone's weekend? It was freeezing in North Carolina!

xo Goldie

Products-

Eyes:

Mac Paint Pot in Painterly

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Black Bean

Sedona Lace 88 Metal Palette

Mac Eyeshadow in Tempting

Mac Eyeshadow in Blanc Type

Stila Smudgeproof Eyeliner in Stingray

L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Revlon Lash Flares Individual False Eyelashes

Cheeks/Face:

Wet N' Wild Blush in Pearlescent Pink

Elf Blush in Gotta Glow

Lips:

Stila Lipglaze in Kitten

Bright Blue Smoky Eye of the Day

2011-01-20T06:38:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! I loved my color combination yesterday and wanted to share a quick little post about it. Not sure if a tutorial will follow but if you like I can film one. I would file this one under a bright smoky eye.

Products-
Prep: Too Faced Eyeshadow Insurance
Base: Mehron Paradise Tropical Palette- I used the blue on my lid
Eyeshadows:
Ben Nye Cosmic Blue (lid)
MAC Meet the Fleet (crease)
Ben Nye Azalea (blended into the crease about Meet the Fleet)
Ben Nye Cosmic Violet (transition color above the Azalea)
MAC Blanc Type (browbone and inner corner highlight)
Stila Smudgeproof Eyeliner in Stingray
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Hot for Houndstooth Nails

2011-01-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

"Introducing the hottest invention in nail color. Sally Hansen Salon Nail Effects Real Nail Polish strips creates an instant fashion manicure you can't get from a bottle. Real nail polish with no dry time and lasts up to ten days. Get a salon effect anytime, any place. Designs include neon, metallic and high-shine patterns and will cost just under ten dollars for a set containing sixteen strips, a cuticle stick and a mini file-buffer."

Last week was my birthday week so I decided to treat myself to a set of these Sally Hansen nail effects. At $8.50 a pop my inner skeptic said no, but my love for Houndstooth said YES! I have recorded a video of my initial reaction and application which I will attach below. Also you will see pictures of the nails throughout the week.

Day two: My memory card decided to eat my initial pictures but here we have a picture of day two. I thought it was super easy to put these on and by day two I was surprised there was no chipping. I expected the strips to wear down on the edges of my nails but I didn't notice anything.
Day four: Manicure is still going strong. I have noticed tiny chips on the thumb nail and slight peeling around the cuticle of my middle and ring fingers. I'm impressed considering I have been pretty tough on my hands the past few days (ie. dyed my hair, drawing, typing, washing dishes etc.)
Day seven: Day seven and my nails look like day four. Day Nine: I am super happy that I tried these because they have staying power. I was worried that these babies would peel off by day three, but much to my surprise these strips delivered on their promise. Overall I would definitely recommend them. I do think they are a bit pricey however they would look amazing for a special occasion (prom, date, valentine's day etc.)

Tron Inspired Make-up Tutorial

2011-01-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

Possibly the cut crease of the future? Maybe... just maybe. Anyway today I decided to start blogging again and I wanted to start off with a post on my newest Youtube tutorial. Even though I haven't seen the new Tron I decided to do a look inspired by it. The make-up in the movie looks pretty sweet. Pretty sweet indeed! The make-up artist who designed the Tron make-up, Rosalina Da Silva, wanted a reflective quality to the make-up and used black on the eyes to suit the actor's skin tones. She also muted the lips and drew in heavy eyebrows with MAC's Blacktrack fluidline. The result: super dramatic eyes/eyebrows and nude lips. Haunting indeed.

Sedona Lace's Brush Set vs. Sigma's Brush Set

2010-06-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I was recently sent a set of brushes to review from Sedona Lace Cosmetics. Upon receiving them I noticed immediately how similar they were to the set from Sigma. And since Sigma is fairly well known I thought I would do a comparison between the two. As you'll see not every brush is identical but the quality is the same. So if you are looking for good brushes for a bit less than Sigma check out Sedona Lace here. For the 12 brush set (without the brush roll) Sigma charges $69.00. Sedona Lace charges $49.95 for their 12 piece set which includes a brush roll.

In the pictures below the Sigma brush is on the left and the Sedona Lace brush is on the right. You can also click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Powder Brush

As you can see from the picture these two brushes are nearly identical. Bristle length and density is very similar. The shape may appear different but I attribute that to the Sedona Lace brush being fresh from the brush roll. Both brushes when washed did bleed and shed a bit which is fairly normal and expected. I really like these for applying a setting powder over foundation.

Duo Fibre Brush

Again these two look fairly similar. The only differences I can pick up would be that the Sigma brush is slightly denser than the Sedona Lace one and that the Sigma has a slightly larger ferrel. I also experienced bleeding when I washed both of these brushes, but the Sedona Lace bled a little less. This is my go to brush for applying liquid foundation.

Angled Contour Brush

I would have to say these two are nearly identical. The only thing was that the Sedona Lace brush was VERY slighty less dense, and by VERY I mean VERY. I use this brush to apply blush and contour powders.

Foundation Brush

These two brushes are identical. I like using these style brushes to apply moisturizer especially if I am working on someone else's face.

Concealer Brush

Again no words, these are identical. I do like these brushes for appyling concealer to the face, but nothing works like your ring finger for applying it to you undereye area.

Pencil Brush

These two are definitely different. As you can see the Sigma's ferrel is slightly wider. The Sedona Lace brush is more tapered which makes it easier to work with. I mainly use these brushes for defining my crease and blending in small areas.

Tapered Blending Brush

And here we have the two brushes that are the most different. This Sigma brush is quite popular but I never reach for it. I tend to prefer looser, softer brushes for blending out color. Which is why I like the Sedona Lace brush. It's fluffier and works very well at softening lines.

Eye Shader Brush

This is one of my favorite brushes to use for packing on color and I can't see the difference between the Sigma and the Sedona Lace. Again to me these look identical.

Large Shader Brush
This is another brush where the similarities are evident. The Sedona Lace brush is wider and the brush hairs are longer. But in all honesty they work the same. I like these brushes for applying a wash of color to the lid.

Medium Angled Shader Brush

These two are different as well. As you can see the Sedona Lace brush hairs are longer. I actually prefer the Sigma brush because I primarily use it for crease work and I think the Sigma does a better job at applying the color.

Small Angle Brush

These two are super similiar. I am not a fan of this brush for eyeliner, which is what it is intended for. I think it's lines are too thick for my personal taste. But it does make an excellent brush for more artistic stuff, linework, detail etc.

Eyeliner Brush

Again I am not a fan of this brush for eyeliner. I do however LOVE it for lips. I use it all the time when I'm going for a precise lip application. And as you can tell from the picture these two brushes are identical, well minus the Sigma one is a tad stained from lip products (namely the OCC Lip Tars).

Quick Run Down Of Hair Dye and Products

2010-06-06T00:05:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, red hair is a PAIN to keep from fading, but I think it's a lovely color and worth the effort. It's taken me a bit of time to get the color I've wanted (we're talking months here) but that may be due to the residual black dye that was clinging to my hair for it's life. Seriously... if you are thinking about going jet black make sure to do your research and find a dye that will come out of your hair. But we're not going to delve into the pain of lifting out black dye... Instead let's paint our roses red... umm I mean hair red.

All products can be found at Sally's Beauty Supply. Everything I've listed is also available online if you don't have a Sally's near you. Be sure to check out their Beauty Club too cause it's a nice little discount that comes in handy.

Ion Color Brilliance Creme

Permanent Hair Color
Medium Intense Red Blonde

305163
2.05 oz

$4.99

(This is also available in a liquid)

Ion Sensitive Scalp 9% Developer in 30

8 oz.

$2.99

Colorful Protein Color Filler

#10 Red Red

Intensifies color and can be used to refresh color

2.5 oz.

$5.29

Processing Caps
3 count

$0.89
Mixing Bowl

$2.39

Tint Brush

$0.79

Miracle 7 for Heavenly Hair

Leave in mist (conditioner)

5 oz.

$12.99

Batiste Dry Shampoo Original

Refreshes hair between washes

5.3 oz.

$7.49

Interpreting McQueen with Makeup

2010-05-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

Quick little post for this one: Alexander McQueen Inspired Mask

Not much can be said for the genius of McQueen, the words haven't been invented... yet. So I decided to pull inspiration from one of his pieces for this mask. I didn't use a ton of products so it's really inexpensive if you fancy a go at it. Hope you enjoy!

Products:

Mehron Basic Paradise Palette (I used the bright yellow and the black)

Ben Nye Eyeshadow in Sun Yellow

Hard Candy Walk the Line Eyeliner in Asphalt

MAC Eye Kohl in Feline

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Halloween False Lashes: Spyder Woman

Avon Lipliner in Wild Berry

American Beauty Lipstick in Berry Blend

Revlon Lipgloss in Rock Royalty

Seadragon Inspired Eyes

2010-05-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

I am LOVING greens, blues and golds lately! I think it's an exciting combo for the spring and summer seasons. And well since it's springummer right now I did this quick look using the 120 palette. It's such a great little palette since everything you need is all in one place, which is great for people like me who need that extra sleep in the morning and don't want to drag out all of their make-up for one look. So I present to thee: Seadragon Eyes! The first picture below is a diagram of color placement. The second is a chart of the colors used. The numbers correlate. I thought this would be a quick and easy way to see what I used.

Product Breakdown:

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

120 Eyeshadow Palette

Rimmel Eye Kohl in White

L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Avon Lipliner in Wild Berry

Rimmel's Lasting Finish Lipstick in En Vogue

The 120 palette came from Sedona Lace and can be found here.

Rocker Eyes with Raving Beauty Cosmetics

2010-05-06T12:43:00.001-07:00

Up on the agenda today we have ROCKER eyes! I absolutely love dark intense smoky eyes... oh those lucky rockers. And you can't have rocker eyes without eyeliner... it's a rock essential. I also think of metallics, so I have incorporated them all into this look. So let's get down to the product breakdown...

MAC Kohl Power Eyeliner in Feline- I used this as a base because of it's insane pigmentation. It's the best black eyeliner I have. The downfall is that is smears like a motherfrencher. It is limited edition but in reality any soft black eyeliner would work. Check out my last post to grab some tips on using eyeliners.

Raving Beauty Loose Mineral Eyeshadows

Exotic Bloom- A medium pink with a pink/purple duochrome. This is a great dupe of MAC's pink pearl pigment. Other colors that are comparable: Ben Nye's Cosmic Violet, MAC's Stars and Rockets and Urban Decay's Fishnet.

Haitian Flower- A true hot pink with a hint of shimmer. This is comparable to MAC's Post Haste eyeshadow except for the finish. Post Haste is a matte and Haitian Flower is a shimmer.

Carbon- A matte black. This shadow is super pigmented and works great wet as an eyeliner.

Silver- A gorgeous silver! This shadow is super sparkly and works really well as an inner corner highlight.

Find Raving Beauty here

Wet N' Wild Color Icon Palette in Lust

I used the cream color in the palette as a highlight. This is a wonderful little palette and there are many dupes for MAC eyeshadows in it. You can find these at most drugstores.

Rimmel's Lipcolor in Airy Fairy

A lot of you have heard of Rimmel's Airy Fairy, if not I highly recommend it. It is a gorgeous pink gold color and it doesn't dry out lips. It also lasts fairly long and it's quickly become my favorite go-to lipstick. It can be found at most drugstores that carry Rimmel.

Stila's Lipglaze in Kitten

This is also a pink gold color. It is easily dupeable but I like the formulation of Stila's lipglazes. They aren't sticky or thick. Kitten is available in Sephora and Ulta.

How to Prevent Eyeliner Smudges/Runs/Smears

2010-05-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

So yeah I don't think Captain Jack Sparrow worries about his eyeliner, but in all honesty I think he is the only one that can rock the raccoon eyes. With that said, ladies and gentlemen I give to you my first ever post on my brand new blog. And what is the topic at hand you may ask... Well my fellow make-up connoiseurs I present to you how to prevent eyeliner smudges. We have all witnessed the terror that smudged and smeared eyeliner can bring; the stares, the did you get enough sleeps, the honey grunge went out years ago comments. But the question at hand is HOW DO WE PREVENT these ghastly smears? As a fellow eyeliner lover I am here to share with you some of my favorite tips.

First let's begin with upper lid liner.

I find liquid eyeliner is the way to go on the upper lid. Not only is it simple to apply but you don't have to worry about sharpening a pencil or washing a brush. Also liquid liner offers the cleanest lines especially if you are going for that illusive cat eye wing. But liquid liner can smear. So how do we stop that? The solution is to find a good sealant. I highly recommend Kryolan's Cel Sealer. This product is designed for the stage which means it has amazing staying power. At first glance it looks like a bottle of eyedrops, but this little sucker packs a lot of bang for the buck. I purchased mine six months ago and have barely put a dent in it. To apply it you simply place a drop on your hand, pick up a small bit on an angled brush and sweep it over your liner. It only takes a few seconds to dry and after that you are ready for an all day eyeliner fest. It won't smudge or smear. And for you fans of gel liners and pencil liners, fret not, because it works just the same with them. Another added benefit of this product is it's ability to mix with loose shadows to make your own eyeliner. To achieve this you simply mix a few drops of the Cel Sealer with your favorite loose shadow and apply it just like a liquid liner. The best thing is this product is affordable compared to it's counterpart Benefit's She-Laq. She-Laq costs $30, Krylon Cel Sealer can be found for around $10. The best place to find it I have found is eBay. I ordered mine from FunHouseTheatrical (click on the name to find the shop). Some theatrical makeup suppliers also keep it in stock as well. I definitely think it's a must have for those of us who struggle with racoon eyes.

Now on to the lower lid...

The lower lid is a bit of a different beast. Where I prefer liquid liner on the top lid, I definitely use gel liners, pencils and eyeshadows on the lower lid. In my opinion liquid liner is way too harsh for everyday wear. I like to use soft pencil liners which are notorious for smudging. To combat that I simply pat a similar shade of eyeshadow over the liner. You can also skip the liner and just use eyeshadow for lower liner. Eyeshadow, as powder, and can hold up really well under the eyes.

Now it's time for the waterline....

Oh joy of joys! The waterline, which is the inner rim of the eye, is quite a pain to line. However lining it can intensify your eyes like nothing else! I really like using waterproof, smudge-proof liners like the Styli-Style Line and Seal liners. These liners are available in many drugstores like CVS and offer a wide variety of colors. They hold up better for me than the Urban Decay 24/7 liners and are a fraction of the cost. I do also like to pat similar eyeshadows over the liner as well. Any little extra I can do to make it last I will do. I have yet to find a guaranteed solution but these tips have definitely helped. So get to lining those beautiful eyes!