What's New/Want It! Wednesday-- Eyeshadows and Palettes and Nail trends, Oh My!

Hey dolls!

Happy Wednesday! Maybe? I hope it's going well for you~

Get ready for your weekly dose of beautylicious lusting. Enjoy. =)

First up! Maybelline has a new Expert Wear Eyeshadow Palette for their summer collection:

Those colors just SCREAM summer! I don't know how wearable they are, but I must get my hands on this, especially with Maybelline being 40% off at Walgreens this week!! (You're welcome.) 

While we're on the eyeshadow wavelength, let's take a look at MAC's new Packed to Go: 6 Cool Smokey Eye Shadows eye palette. This is only available via their website or in airports at the Duty Free shop.

I am in LOVE with all of these shades~ 

Ooooooo.......

Ok! Now we have some cheap nail polishes, yaay!! I love basically all of the shades just released by Wet n Wild for their Limited Edition Mermaid's Cove collection--- check out all of the swatches here. I LOVE this shade, however!! 

Also! Sally Hansen is releasing new patters for their Salon Effects line!! Which one am I excited about? I'll show you! Pink Leopard. Duh.  

Last but not least, let's talk about a new nail trend amongst some celebrities-- the "Daggar Nail." 

Essentially they are just really long nails, tapered almost to a point at the end.

Blake Lively, with a new hair color!!, wore these to a recent event.

Personally I think they make her fingers look almost freakishly long!

 What do you think of this trend? And of her new hair color??? It's for a movie-- she will be blonde again after, I'm sure~

Leave me some thoughts!! What are you lusting over right now? 

Until Next Time--

~Beauty Maven

Tried-It Tuesday-- Konad's Stamping Nail Art System!!

Hey Lovelies!

I've been dying to write this post, just so you know. =) I hope you enjoy!

After seeing this video on YouTube about how to create "Lisa Frank Inspired Nails," (don't laugh, you know you want them!), I decided I couldn't hold back anymore and just HAD to try the Konad Nail Stamp she demonstrates at around 4:12.

Stamper, Polish, Stencil, and Scraper. 

By the way, I ordered the Leopard Print stencil and received this one... still waiting for the correct one to come in...

But in the meantime I really wanted to try it out! She explains how to use it really well in the video, but here's a quick step-by-step-- you have to do it pretty quickly:
1. Put paper towel down to wipe blade on after you wipe.
2. Paint nail color on the stencil.
3. Wipe excess off with blade, and wipe blade on towel.
4. Roll stamp onto design, and then onto nail.
5. Seal with a topcoat-- (Seche Vite doesn't smear it.)
6. Admire!


Pictures!

Polishes I used! =)

My striped "base coat"

After using the stamp~ 

After cleaning up the excess.. kind of..

Both feet!

I think the leopard would have produced the desired effect, but this isn't too bad, either! A bit '80s, but I'm digging the fun color, haha!

I will say that they say you "have to use" the special nail polish--- It DOES work best because it is so thick, and most polishes you have to use 2 coats, you know? But if you have a really thick polish somewhere or want a more subtle look, then have at it! It's fun to just play around with it. =)

I found mine on Amazon, which I could recommend because all of these items cost me around $13! Not bad~

What do you think? Curious about this? How do you feel about the nail art trend? Prefer simple nails? Or would you rather just stick to the Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips, haha!

Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven

Mascara Monday-- MAC's Haute and Naughty Lash Mascara

Hey all!

Sorry for the absence-- it was nice to have a break, but I have missed these posts! =)

For today we have MAC's Haute and Naughty mascara, $18 on MAC's website and counters.

What it claims:

A two-in-one mascara that lets you choose if you want lashes to be naturally defined, or instantly combed and loaded for full-on drama. Easy to use dual-wiper system allows the lightweight formula to go on either way. One wiper refines the application for a clean sweep, while the other loads the lashes for greater impact.

Which looks remarkably like this.... hmmmmm.... MAC came first, btw. ;)

Imitation is the highest form of flattery?

It's not exactly new, but I wanted to post a review anyhow!

Essentially what this mascara does it have the wand able to be removed with two different "wipers"-- the diameter of the hole the wand comes out of-- which changes how much product is on the brush. More product generally equals more volume, and less means less volume aka lengthening. Make sense? =) It's the same wand, just pulled through a different wiper depending on where you unscrew the top.
With this mascara, the Pink wand is the lesser product one, and the Purple is more dramatic.


Pictures!

Bare lashes

Bare lashes on left, Pink wand alone on right. 

Pink wand alone

Bare lashes on left, Purple wand layered OVER Pink wand on right

Purple wand alone on left, Purple wand layered OVER Pink wand on right

Overall I REALLY like this mascara! The ONLY complaint I have is that the Purple wand can have a bit too much product on it-- I find myself having to wipe some back into the tube, which I hope doesn't dry it out faster. =/  

The Pink wand is a good natural look-- I prefer the Purple side, but I like a more dramatic lash. It is nice to have the option, and to only have to pack 1 mascara for day AND night! 

I noticed that layering them doesn't really vary from using the Purple alone. In order to be a true lengthening mascara, it would need fibers to build the length onto you lashes~ since both wands use the same formula, it makes sense to not have that type.. you can't exactly pile on a fiber formula and have it look good, haha. 

It's more expensive than the typical MAC mascara ($18 vs. $14) but if you think of it as a 2-in-1 than it's really not that bad. And actually, for a department store brand, $18 is nice, haha! 

What do you think? Have you tried this? Think you will? What about the Rimmel brand one? I'm so curious!

Until Next Time--
~Beauty Maven

Temporary~

Hey Lovelies!

I don't want you to think I've forgotten about you. I have had some time consuming things going on and unfortunately this, (my hobby), had to be the first to give. I am still taking pictures and notes of things, just not enough time to make posts! I will be posting still, but it probably won't be in the "Mascara Monday...." format; just random posts, haha.

Keep checking back-- I promise I'm still here!!

Until next time--
~Beauty Maven

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