Tax Free Weekend Haul

YAY! Tax free weekend! How could I resist??

I had been holding off on the purchases until this weekend. And even then, I pared my list down and snagged only a few items. I definitely would have gotten more, but the BF was there to give me his huffs and puffs in Sephora and MAC.

First up is the LORAC Little Black Palette. It consists of 4 shimmer eyeshadows and a miniature eyeshadow primer. It has a black case that resembles patent leather over cardboard. This isn't the most travel friendly piece, however, since the shadows are spaced out so much and the primer takes up its own slot (unlike Urban Decay palettes).

These are the swatches from top to bottom. I think you can figure out which color is which though! They are pretty true to color in the box. I find that the shadows are extremely easy to work with. They blend easily and give great pigmentation. I had looked at the other palettes in the line, but this one stood out to me the most due to its high color payoff and creamy texture. The shadows itself seemed almost like a cream shadow texture. The finish is a high shimmer. A word of caution: due to the intense shimmer, these colors would most likely not suit mature or hooded lids.

The lightest shade works better, for me, as a inner tearduct highlight color. Not so well as under the brow. I think it would be too much.

Next up, Illamasqua Nail Polish in Untold. This nail polish was quite a let down. I am still thinking if I should keep it or not. The color is what is described on the Sephora website as "clear with red glitter." I was hoping it was a red with red glitter. This color is also the most widely duped as well. (Think: Zoya Nidhi, Color Club Yule Love it, or the most famous China Glaze Ruby Pumps) I currently have this color over OPI's Big Red Apple, so it looks great right now!
I ran into a friend on the street and she told me that BCBG was having a sale on their sale items! 50% off sale! I couldn't pass that up either! I ran to the shoes and picked these up. They are, to my dismay, slightly uncomfortable. But, since they are leather, I am stretching them out as I type.

Lastly, the MAC counter. As a makeup junkie, I really can not pass by any makeup counter without having a look. I was quite disappointed with MAC's Dame. While it is a lovely color, I just do not like the payoff of it. I feel as if I need to keep working the product on my cheek. After talking to the SA for a bit, I bought Pinch O' Peach. It reminds me of Dame but more pigmented with a slightly more red undertone.
Finally, I love MAC Get-Away Bronze from the To the Beach collection. I have been using it almost every day since I had first gotten it when it came out with the collection at the end of May. At the MAC counter, they had 3 left so I got myself a backup. This blush gives me a great slightly bronzed look.

I have even used this as an eyeshadow, when I was in NYC and managed to forget to bring ANY eyeshadow!

And that wraps my little haul up. While this says "weekend haul," it really was just a one day haul. heh

EOTD Something exciting

This isn't quite a normal day look, I would say. But I had some time to play with makeup while waiting for my boyfriend to get into town.

This works much better with matte colors and on lighter skin tones.

Eyes:

- Any base or primer (MAC's Paint Pots would work well)

- I blended 2 colors together (NYX Frosted Lilac and Coastal Scents 88 Palette middle purple color) since I do not own matte colors, which is what I was trying to achieve.

- Take the color up to the brow bone using patting motions

- Sweep the purple past the brow and up toward the temples

- OPTIONAL: line eyes

- I, again, blended two colors together (MAC Sweet & Punchy and Coastal Scents 88 Palette 3rd row, 3rd down yellow/green)

- Bring the color along the lower lash line and past the outer corner of the eye along the edge of the purple

- Apply neutral toned eyeliner along the lower waterline.

- Curl lashes and apply mascara

The rest of the face should look more neutral. For this look, it is best to have flawless skin, so use concealer liberally. For the cheeks, a light ginger or peach color works well and for lips, an orange-based peach toned lipstick brings the look together.

REVIEW: Urban Decay's NAKED Palette

Ok, so I am sure you have heard all extremely positive things about this palette. And rightly so. The first time I saw this baby I knew that I HAD to get it. I already own a couple Urban Decay palettes and eyeshadows and I am usually wowed by them, or at least I love the texture and color payoff.

I went around to several stores looking for this since the moment it hit stores, they sold out everywhere. I finally was able to pick it up at a local Sephora, where the SA had hid a few of the palettes so I could snag one!

The beauty of this palette is that it comes with 12 shadows and the highly-raved 24/7 eyeliner pencils in Zero (true black) and Whiskey (flat brown).

From left to right:

Virgin - nice, shimmery highlight

Sin - this works well as above the cheek highlight, I found out! Otherwise, nice on the inner tearduct area

Naked - this color is just a shade darker than my skin tone. It is, well, pretty much naked

Sidecar - one of my personal favorites out of this palette since it reminds me of MAC's Satin Taupe

Buck - I like this for crease color. It just slightly darkens the crease and brings a smoky brown eye together. Matte

Half Baked - while this color is beautiful, the perfect amount of gold and brown together with the silkiness and shimmer of the shadow, I wish it was a different color....

Smog - same as Half Baked. Obviously, it is a gorgeous color since it is in nearly every Urban Decay palette

Darkhorse - a nice, shimmery dark brown scattered with gold flecks. Another personal favorite

Toasted - a frost finish, this reminds me of MAC's All That Glitters or MAC's Pearlized Pigments in Scatterrays

Hustle - a frosty chocolate brown

Creep - glitter strewn black. I found this color to be a bit difficult to work with.

Gunmetal - blue grey color close to silver

Swatches correspond to the palette

Overall, I think this palette is great. It is versatile and you get good colors that have good payoff. The price is $44, which may seem high, but for 12 shadows, it is quite a deal especially for Urban Decay. Out of their palettes, this may be my all time favorite.

Oh, and the 24/7 pencils? Well, they are just about the easiest, smoothest eyeliners out there. They retail for $17! (Hefty!) But I do love these pencils. Since my lids are a bit oily, I set the liner with corresponding shadow.

Luckily, it will not be a limited edition piece so you can find it at Sephora, Ulta, or the Urbandecay website.

EOTD

My outfit had been looking a little....well, lacking in color. So, I decided to make it up through my makeup! I tend not to use primer....but I probably should have with this look since after about 9 hours I had some creasing.

NYX Jumbo Pencil as a base in Baby Blue

Coastal Scents 88 Palette 5th row from left, last one down all over lid

NYX Eyeshadow in Frosted Ocean for outer corner

MAC Blanc Type as highlight

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow Trio in Togetherness (middle purple color) on the lower lashline

L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Black as eyeliner

Bare Essentials Buxom Mascara

I also tightlined using UD 24/7 Liner in Zero

This is with flash

Closed eye picture without flash in natural light.

Noir Jewelry RINGS

The first time I saw these rings, I knew that I would be lusting for more of them! Noir Jewelry is an affordable line that includes rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. However, for me, it was the rings that really got my attention.

I have never really been a ring fan, but, boy did Noir change that for me! Their rings are both edgy and girly, yet eclectic. The designs are stunning and fun.

Pave Pyramid Ring ($80)

Four Stud Pyramid ($50)

How cool is this one?! Brooklyn Bridge ($250)

Penny the Peacock ($150)

Lee the Bee ($95)

Aren't the pieces cute?! I am sure to order more for them ASAP!

You can get these from Noir's website, Shopbop, and Zappos.