FOTD Friday-- Pink Eyes, but in a good way!

Happy Friday!!

Another week down, whoo! ;)

Well, lately I've been wanting to play with the whole pink eyeshadow trend, mentioned in this post, so last night I decided to go all-out before washing my face for the evening. By the way, that is the BEST time to try new things, because there's nothing to lose- you're just going to wash it off!

I used my Heidi Klum Exotic Jewels palette from a few seasons back~ the original review is here~ but here is a reminder picture:

I started out with just the pink shade and built from there:

Just pink alone~

Pink alone~ It oddly brings out the green, haha!

Pink with a little black in the crease and black liner

Pink applied wet, with more black in the crease and black liner- also, pink and black on lower

Close-up 

Look at how pretty the pink is! Electric!

Look from far away, just for good measure. ;)

Another close-up~

Ooooo...

I added some purple in the crease, just for fun~

Another far away, to see how it is as a complete look~

So-- what do you all think? Pretty or a little too '80s? I am loving it! I will totally wear this for my next night on the town, haha!

I think the keys to wearing pink are:
1. Wearing it with intention! If it's too soft or subtle, it will just look like your eyes or irritated or infected.
2. Choosing a shade that fits you-- your skin tone and eye color. And to figure this out, go to someplace like Sephora or Ulta where you can get your hands on some shades and just play!
3. You HAVE to have eyeliner, preferably black. The contrast really makes your eyes pop.

Some suggestions for electric pink, if you so desire to try it-- and if you do, please send me a pic to @BeautyMaven8 on Twitter or BeautyMaven8@gmail.com!!

Essence shadow in Big Bang, $1.99 at Ulta:

Urban Decay's Roller Girl set-- eyeshadow palette with 4 shadows, liner, and a gloss~ $32 at Sephora:

Also! Make Up For Ever has a number to choose from, $19 each at Sephora.



Speaking of electric colors, let's have a quick shout-out to Lisa Frank, shall we?

And, of course, Lisa Frank inspired nails:

Check out her how-to video here!! So cool~ 

You like that Konad nail thing? Yeah... me too... ;)

I think that about covers it! Have a great weekend!! 

Until Next Time--

~Beauty Maven

Technique Thursday-- Pin Curls!

Hello dolls!

The other morning I decided to try pin curls. I basically sectioned-off  1-1.5 chunks of hair, spritzed them with so refreshing spray to get them a little damp, and twisted them into a curl and bobby-pinned them.

It's easier to show with pictures. ;)

After I took them out~

After I took them out~

Front view-- and a silly "duck face"... can't believe I did that, haha..

After I pinned them, I ate breakfast and did my makeup, and then I hit them with the blow dryer and let them cool before taking the bobby pins out. They didn't quite come out like I had hoped, but I think 1. having them in longer and 2. starting with them damper/using more heat would make them come out like I had hoped.

Basically, I thought it might be a little something like this:

Here are some nice video tutorials of how to achieve the pin-curl look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTKrjRMf60&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57l_AjspIq8

This is also a fun video for "The Notebook" inspired hair!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00lJookeYoo&feature=relmfu

I'll definitely be trying this again! =)

Have you ever tried pin curls? Have success? Any tips for me? Haha! 

Until Next Time--

~Beauty Maven

What's New/Want It! Wednesday-- Another Trip with Cargo!! Pixi helps us for every single day, OPI eye-opener, Emma Stone is pretty, and a deal on e.l.f.!

Hey there!

So I got hit with the "Spring Cleaning" bug today and organized the bajeezus out of my closet and desk. Yay! Apologies for the late post, but I wanted to oblige my urge to clean while I still had it, haha.

Ok! This is a fun week. =D


First up! Remember the Cargo Safari set from a while back? Well they're coming out with a summer version! Cargo Mediterranean Collection, $34 at Ulta.
Set includes: Better than Waterproof Mascara, Classic Lipgloss, Swimmables Eyeliner, Shadow Duo, Blush, and Postcard Makeup Bag

"So much to do, So much to see, Pack your bags, Come (fly with me?)"

I am just so in love with these postcard makeup bags!! The blue is darling, and I like how they changed the bird zipper from the last one to a dolphin! How fun~


Next up! Pixi's new Week of Wakeup Makeup kit, $34 at Target stores and Pixi.com.
Kit includes: 21 powder eyeshadows, 7 powder blushes, and 8 lip colors.

This set is neat in that it lays out a different look for each day for you! This is perfect for those of you who might feel you're in a "makeup rut" with wearing the same thing everyday. The only thing I notice is that I would probably switch up the days~ Wednesday, for instance, looks more like a Saturday look to me, haha. It's a neat, and portable, little kit! Can't wait to play with it. =)


Also, check out this OPI Designer Series nail color-- I had no clue they were so pretty!! Anyone own any of these??

OPI DS Original

This is a random picture~ But how gorgeous does Emma Stone look here?! I love her hair, makeup-- everything!

These are the curls I WANT.

And to wrap it up~ If you've been curious about e.l.f. products, Target is running a special on their website through May 7th--- Buy 2 select e.l.f. products and get FREE shipping! Details here.

Hope you all are having a nice week!

Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven

Note!~

Hey there!

I got hit by the cleaning bug (which doesn't happen often) so I'm running with it, haha!

Post later tonight~ =)

Tried-It Tuesday-- Olay Total Effects Line and Dark Circle Minimizer

Hey there!

Hope everyone had a nice Monday~ I definitely spent most of my day in bed watching an America's Next Top Model marathon, hehe.

So--lately I've been getting lots of free stuff in the mail (a la contests and first 100-entries things) and I won Olay's new Total Effects Line and Dark Circle Minimizer, which retails around $20 at drugstores.

What it claims: Well, I'll let the box tell you! 

Instantly? Whoa! Let's take a look:

The box

You click the bottom to dispense product.

The brush

I got click-happy and the product got on the counter~ look how dark it is!!!!

Product on left, bare on right-- with flash

Product on left, bare on right-- without flash

I laid in on thick on the left side, thinking it would help... but um, no.

Okay. Right off the bat, I hate this tint. I had this same qualm with Garnier's Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller, (swatch here), in that the "universal color" is entirely too dark! I'm sorry-- I have on self tanner, and it is still too dark! And kind of orangey... hmm.. Not flattering on most people. And even if it was, it's so thin that it really doesn't make a difference, except for with a flash because it keeps that "wet" and reflective look. Which means in real life? You still have darkness.

Other than the color, which didn't work, I really couldn't tell any difference in the "dark-circle reducing" powers. **However, to be fair, I don't quite have any bags or lines at 23, so I can't review it accurately on the 7-in-1 effects.** I have read some great reviews about the Total Effects line, so it's worth a shot if you're looking for anti-aging products--- just NOT this particular one. The color alone is such a horrible turn-off. Also, I wore it under my normal concealer, and it made my concealer fade quicker than normal. =\ 

In a flash~

I'd pass on this one. If you need help in the eye area, get a cream, not a tinted product. 

What do you think? Do you use an eye cream? If so, what is it? If not, when do you think you should start using one? 

Until next time--

~Beauty Maven

Mascara Monday-- L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale

Hello!

Hope you all had a nice weekend! I was actually ready for this Monday, which is one of the weirdest feelings, right?! I think I felt like that only because, for me, Monday = lazy. I'm totally down with that!

And because it means Msacara Monday, and you know how much I like LOVE MASCARA!!

Up for today we have L'Oreal's Voluminous Naturale, $7.49 at drugstores.
(Many thanks to my L'Oreal insider who gave this to me-- I love trying new things!)

What it claims: 
The new lightweight volumizing formula glides onto each lash smoothly and evenly to enhance fullness, without any clumps. The patented volumizing definition brush perfectly builds and defines lashes, for a clump-free, defined lash look. 


I decided to compare this one with Voluminous Original~ review here.

Naturale on top, Original on bottom. 

Naturale on top, Original on bottom.

Close-up of Naturale's Brush~  a molded bristle brush. 

Bare lashes

Bare lashes

Naturale on left, Original on right

Naturale on left, Original on right

Hahaha omg I didn't know I had some lingering hairs in between my brows-- oh geez! The things pictures show.. Just more evidence that you should take a picture of yourself BEFORE an event so you can see if anything is showing up odd....

That's a shame...

Anyhow! The review:

To be honest, I didn't find a noticeable difference in the two formulas. The Naturale is maybe a tad thinner? But you have to really pay attention to notice, haha. The main difference is the brush-- the molded brush gives more definition than the original, or course, but that's really the only major difference between the two.

As far as the overall effect-- to me, the Original gives a slightly more volumized look, whereas the Naturale lends toward a lengthening look (on account of it being so well defined).

The Original can clump at times-- almost randomly, haha!-- so it is nice to have the Naturale on hand to get rid of any potential clumps. I think the Naturale is a great "beginner" mascara-- it gives a dramatic enough look to tell that you're wearing mascara without the worries of clumping.


In a flash!~
Not bad, but the Original gives a more volumized look. Great for mascara newbies, though!


What mascara are you using now? Do you ever use two for a combined look? Do you prefer the molded brushes? Leave me some thoughts! =)

**BTW I wanted to put a note in here addressed to my regular readers. It really means a lot to me to get texts/tweets(@BeautyMaven8)/Facebook messages about things you've seen on here! I just want you to know that your kindness is so incredibly appreciated. =) It gives me even more reason to always have my desk in shambles, haha!

The things I do for you... ;)  And yes, that is a "Draw Dinosaurs!" book/kit.

Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven


**Edit**

I decided I should share a dinosaur drawing with you. Behold, the Dapper 'Raptor!

I've been reading too much hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com, haha!