Fun with False Lashes!!

Hello!!

Ok---Story time:

In college I lived in my Sorority house, and for my last Formal a local beauty joint set up shop in our basement and offered spray tans and "permanent lashes" at a discounted price. The lashes are normally $50+ and now they were a flat $30, so I decided to splurge. I was so glad I did!!

The lashes looked AMAZING-- I mean, brightened my whole face and made me look more awake, even without mascara. I know, right? All I needed was concealer. It made me so flippin' happy.

Recently I was in Ulta and saw a Duralash Starter Kit (on sale!) and it was the same that the woman used... even then I noticed these things. ;) I decided to give them a shot for New Year's Eve.

The kit includes lashes in short, medium, and long, and also tweezers for easier application along with adhesive and remover. (Trust me, you want that remover!!) These promise to last "for weeks." Thanks for being so specific. We shall see how long they do!

Here are progressive pics of applying~

And more...










Adjustments..

Side view..






















Decided to add more!






















































I'M IN LOVE.

I seriously want to wear these Every. Single. Day. Words cannot express.

Application was a smidge tricky. The initial one took about 15 minutes per eye, and I went back later last night to add more-- why not, right? I love the results!! I used the short ones near the middle, and the medium for the rest. The long ones were simply too long for me. I also trimmed where the short met the medium with a pair of cuticle scissors to make them blend better.

I hope they stay intact 'til Friday night!! =D

What do you think? Ever tried these? Or any false lashes? Going to do anything special for the New Year?

Leave me some thoughts!!

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

Chanel!! Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Hello!!

Hope everyone had a great Holiday Season 2010!! Now on for 2011, eh? I'm personally so ready for a new year-- good feelings for this one! ;)

Yesterday I spent some of my Christmas money on the new Chanel Ombres Perlees eyeshadow palette-- Inspired by Coco Chanel's love of pearls-- and it is simply stunning!! Just take a look~























Next to a MAC shadow for size reference~




















Swatches:

















On-- Lightest shade on browbone and inner corner, pink on the lid, and purple on left in crease, green on right in crease, with the blue/gray as liner:




















.......Purple............................................Green.......

Well the purple didn't seem dark enough, so I applied some more!









.......Purple............................................Green.......

It's odd-- the purple shade on seems to have a lot of greenish-gray in it-- not the same color as I swatched on my hand. Weird.

It really illuminates your eyes!! So fresh and pretty.





















The texture is beautiful-- a nice velvety application which blends very nicely. It reminds me of Stila's texture, but maybe a tad creamer. And the finish is simply lovely-- shimmery without being the least bit glittery or frosty.

I've read on other blogs where they compare it to a cream-to-powder eyeshadow. I must disagree-- it's not that creamy.

I tried to find some similar shades in my shadows-- here is my attempt, haha!

Top: MAC Nylon, Stila Kitten, CG Forever Fig, Green and black from a Maybelline quad.
Middle: Chanel swatches
Bottom: Shades I tried to match from my e.l.f. 100 eyeshadow palette.






























I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in this palette. I had really hoped the purple and green would be more color but they have a grayish tint to them. Hmm. =\
It is a very beautiful palette, and they were incredibly well-- I just feel fancier wearing them, haha!-- but for what I was hoping for, the price tag was a bit steep. Deciding on whether to keep this puppy or not.

Thoughts? What have you spent your holiday money on? What would you like to spend it on?? Haha!

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

New Year's Dress-Up pt. 2!

Okay so now let's play with some New Year's makeup!!

Here is a pic of what all I used in this trial:





















Revlon PhotoReady Compact Makeup
Mac Strobe liquid
Mac To the Beach Bronzer
Mac eyeshadow in Nylon
CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Liner in black
Flirt! Look of Love Eye Pencil in Gold Tease
Maybelline Stylish Smokes in Amethyst
VS Beauty Midnight Glamour Hyper Gloss Eye Shimmer


I began with applying Mac's Nylon to the brow bone, (the white in the quad was too stark), and then took the eyeshadow quad and applied the purple to lid, dark purple to crease, and black to outer crease, blending and blending. Then I lined the upper lashline and lower inner lash with black liner, and gold liner on the bottom for subtle yet shimmery definition.
(click to enlarge)


























I then added some hyper gloss eye shimmer for some sparkle! =D
Swatch on hand: It's a little gray-ish, but oh-so-sparkly!!














































Pictures really don't do the eye gloss justice. It is simply amazing. It really opens up the eye and is just crazy gorgeous!!

Hair and Makeup together:

























How do you think you'll do your hair/makeup this holiday season??

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

New Year's Dress-Up

Hi there!

Lately I've had hair on the mind. More specifically, hair-do's for New Year's. Why, you ask? Because I have mid-length hair and I'm wearing a dress that I believe asks for an up-do. Which isn't the most fun thing with short-ish hair.

I played last night-- wanted to share in case anyone else is having my same woes!

I started out by using a 1" curling iron to make curls all over to create texture:
(*I curled my bangs backward because I wanted to try putting them up.)






















Then tease with a brush that has plastic bristles and boar bristles, like this one from Sally Beauty Supply (about $6):










Tease away! Make it bigger than you'd like, since you'll be brushing it down to smooth:





















I took the top half of the hair, smoothed it, and then twisted it and pushed it up for more volume before pinning along the twist. I then took chunks from the back and twisted and pinned, trying to make it pseudo-French Twisty.










































These were taken in the mirror, but I think you can see:











































I really love the back! Not quite what I was wanting from the front though~ I might play again and leave my bangs down so I'll have something framing my face. Hmmmm decisions!

How do you normally wear your hair for formal occasions? Depend on the crowd, or the dress?

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

I found it!

Ever since seeing Rachel McAdams at the premier of her movie "Morning Glory," I have been keeping my eye open for her lip color.

Do you blame me? Look how gorgeous!























(Not to mention, I wouldn't mind my hair looking EXACTLY like that. Sadly, not on the makeover toy, haha.)

Such a natural but fun pink. Love!

At Ulta today, I checked out some new colors from Maybelline's Color Sensational line, and behold~ Pink Satin!



































And on:



































How great!!!!

This makes me so happy. =)

What lip products are you loving right now?

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

OPI Burlesque!

Hey there!

I know these have been out for a while, but my Ulta still has them, and they are gorgeous! I wanted to post some pics:

Tease-y Does It, a nice purple/brown-ish base with red and gold shimmer:
(My new fave color!)





















Show it and Glow it, Purple glitter:





















Sparkle-Licious layered over Revlon's Perplex:



















Have you been wearing any glittery/festive nail colors??

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

Makeover fun~

Needless to say, this week is going to be a bit busy--- actually, up until New Year's, probably! I do not see any product reviews in that time, (sorry), but I'll have some beauty thoughts and also we can chat and talk about the fun sets that came out for the holidays and also things for Spring, whoo!

Lately, I've had hair on the mind. Not too long ago I dyed my hair a little darker, the same night my friend had me highlight her hair. I'm starting to get some roots-ish, (probably something only I notice), and have been thinking about what to do with it.

For the past hour or so I've been playing with InStyle.com's Hollywood Makeover Tool. It is so much fun!

Here are some random pics:

Emma Stone's enviable red (though not at the moment):





















Cat Deeley's volume:





















Mischa Barton's hair in Brown with highlights:





















Carey Mulligan's Pixie:



















Carrie Underwood's mid-length do:





















Nicki Minaj's PINK hair:





















You can also so "Complete Looks" with hair and make-up:
Kate Winslet's glam look:






















Hahaha--- silly, I know... but SO MUCH FUN! =D

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

SPARKLES!

Hello!!

Last weekend when I got my beloved Lash Stash, I also found the elusive "The Sparkler" from The Body Shop.

Get this: I walk into the store, and the sales lady immediately greets me, (I love them!), and asks if I want to "Spin the wheel." I say "Sure!" and spin, and receive "50% off any Seasonal Item." I ask her if they have the "Perfume looking sparkler thingy" and she leads me to it. I try to look real innocent and ask if it happens to be a "Seasonal Item" and she says, "Well, I'm not sure! Here's another one from the wheel, 50% off 1 item! Here you go!" Seriously-- could she be ANY nicer?! Made my day even better!!

These body shimmers have been popular this season, here are a couple that are out there:

Bare Escentuals Body Lingerie Luminous Body Shimmer, $29














Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Shimmer Dust, $39















and The Sparkler!



















This puppy has been sold out online, and there were only 2 in this store (1 now, heh heh)!!

It's a little hard to capture exactly how fabulous it is~ when you squeeze it there is a grand POOF of sparkly shimmer!






















And it is most definitely NOT "glitter," so you don't look like a tween headed to a Miley concert, but rather a glistening, gorgeous Lady. ;) Also, it does NOT come off-- I wiped it once to get the initial excess off, but it still looked at luminous as before. Makes me giddy! =)

I just couldn't help myself. It's perfect for holiday parties and New Year's, plus is looks SO GREAT in my Corner o' Fab:




























(Barbie tin with "I wasn't designed to do housework," 50th anniversary re-make of the original Barbie, "Slap on a little lipstick, You'll be fine" book, pink ruffle shoes and clutch, Tiffany box, Victoria's Secret bag, champagne flute from a New Year's party, and an empty mini-bottle of Disaronno.)

What do you think??

Have a great weekend!

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven