September Favorites!

Hey guys! I can't believe it's October!! I don't know about you but I can't wait for Halloween! Are you guys going to dress up? What are you going to be?

Here is a list of my September Favorites and where to get them.  And if you haven't seen my September Favorites video yet, check it out below!

Happy October and let the Halloween decorating begin!

Balm Jovi Palette by theBalm: http://www.thebalm.com/balmjovi.html

Galaxy Chic Palette by BH Cosmetics: http://www.bhcosmetics.com/products/eyes/galaxy-chic

Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme: Any drugstore or online drugstore

Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil: http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/100108/

Julep Nail Polish in Lucy: http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/100108/

Sephora Outrageous Prisma Chrome Eyeshadows (while they last): http://www.sephora.com/outrageous-prisma-chrome-metallic-eyeshadow-P377193?skuId=1437813

e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadows: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyes/eyeshadow/baked_eyeshadow

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light: http://www.sephora.com/100-pure-argan-oil-light-P380805?icid2=josiemaran_lp_argan_josie%27sarganfavorites%20carousel_P380805_image

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4950087

Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain: http://www.jordanacosmetics.com/p-160-twist-shine-moisturizing-balm-stain.aspx or at your nearest Walgreens

Jordana Made To Last 12HR Eyeshadow Pencils in Continuous Almond and Stay On Black: http://www.jordanacosmetics.com/p-155-12-hr-made-to-last-eyeshadow-pencil.aspx or at your nearest Walgreens

New Series: Drugstore Dupes for High End Beauty Brands: M.A.C and Benefit Cosmetics

Hello all! I am starting a new series with this post which will be called Drugstore Dupes for High End Beauty Brands. Basically, anytime I come across a product from a drugstore brand that is exactly like (or almost exactly) another product from a high end brand I will let you all know asap! Fun right?

For the first post I've got two dupes one highlight powder, one bronzer (perfect for summer!)

Dupe #1

High end:  M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade $30.00
Soft candlelit beige with multidimensional shimmer

Drugstore:  e.l.f. Cosmetics Studio Baked Blush in Pinktastic $3.00
Light pink-gold shimmer

 Side by side:

Left: Lightscapade, Right: Pinktastic

In the pan the e.l.f. blush looks a little more peachy-pink than lightscapade but swatched on the skin they look almost identical.

Left: M.A.C. Lightscapade, Right: e.l.f. Baked Blush Pinktastic

Both give beautiful sheer wash of beige-gold shimmer.


Dupe #2

High end:  Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer $28.00

Left: Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Right: e.l.f. Baked Bronzer St. Lucia

A very pretty and universally flattering matte bronzer

Drugstore: e.l.f. Baked Bronzer in St. Lucia $3.00

Left: Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Right: e.l.f. Baked Bronzer St. Lucia

As you can see the color in the pan is pretty much identical. The only difference I can really find is St. Lucia by e.l.f. has just the tiniest bit of shimmer to it and Hoola is completely matte.

Left: Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Right: e.l.f. Baked Bronzer St. Lucia

Again both are very pretty bronzers and almost identical except for the slight sheen that St. Lucia has. So if you're looking to try a bronzer and a highlighter but don't want to spend a lot check out these e.l.f. options. They are very affordable and the quality is amazing.

You can find e.l.f. Cosmetics online at http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/baked_blush or at your nearest Target.

And if you want to check out the high end brands, you can find Benefit Cosmetics at http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ or http://www.sephora.com/benefit-cosmetics or at your local Sephora and M.A.C. at http://www.maccosmetics.com/


Have a great day!
-Gab

Arabic Inspired Eye look with Forever 21 Palettes

Hi guys! I wanted to try out the palettes that I got from Forever 21 a while ago so I sat down to play with them last night and here is a pretty Arabic purpley-bronzy look I came up with. 

I was pleasantly surprised how well these eyeshadows and cream shadows worked out. The only thing you have to watch for is some glitter fall down from the powder eyeshadows, but if you do your eyes before the rest of your face you'll have no problem. Hope you enjoy the look!

I applied the bottom left cream shadow to the inner corner of my lid and crease and applied the bottom right cream shadow from the middle lid and crease to the outer corner

I applied this shimmery golden shade from the inner corner to middle of my lid and crease

Then I applied the golden purple shade from the middle to the outer corner of my lid and crease

Finally I applied this black/pink shade to the very outer corner and lash line and lower lash line

Other products used: 

e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer in Sand

e.l.f. Tone Correcting Powder in Cool

Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit in Light

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow (as an inner corner highlight)

Essence Waterproof Eyeliner in Smokey Gray in the waterline

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Extreme Black

Click here to check out the palettes at Forever21.com. 

Hope you are all having a great day and I'll see you tomorrow with a new post on waterproof makeup!

-Gabs :)

March Favorites!

A quick list of some of my favorite things from March and where you can find them!

1. real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Expert Face brush and Powder brush

The Expert Face brush is the best brush I've ever found for foundation application. It's synthetic bristles are soft and very gentle on the face  gives the most flawlessly blended foundation. Since I bought it I have been using it every single day.

The Powder brush is also very nice. It is a huge soft and fluffy brush that gives a natural powder application. It also works great for applying mineral foundations. Both brushes are a bargain! The Expert Face brush is $9.00 and the Powder brush is $10.00.  They can be purchased at Ulta in-stores or online.

2. MAC Eyeshadows in Woodwinked, Sable and Naked Lunch

All three of these eyeshadows are beautiful neutrals and should be in everyone's makeup collection. Woodwinked is a beautiful shimmery warm gold-brown and can be worn in several different ways. Sable is a soft warm shimmery brown that looks great in the crease or lid area. Naked Lunch is a perfect light beige-pink that looks great all over the lid or as a brow bone highlight. If you don't have these shadows you are missing out!

3. BH Cosmetics Malibu Palette

 

This cute little palette gives you many different looks in one easy to carry place. You can go for an everyday neutral look or jazz it up with a bright pop of teal, green or blue.  It also has two blushes, a bronzer and a highlighter! I this little guy when I don't want to carry a bunch of makeup with me or if I'm in a hurry everything I need is all right in front of me. You can pick up this bad boy at bhcosmetics.com for only $10.00! They also have two other palettes in this collection in different color combos.

4. e.l.f. Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose

My favorite nude-pink lip of the moment. It looks great by itself or with a pink gloss on top. It has great staying power and lasts several hours. It also smells and tastes really good. :) You can find it at Target or eyeslipsface.com for $3.00.

5. Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter

This is a wonderful smelling moisturizing cream for the hands and cuticles. I put it on at night before I go to bed and anytime my hands are feeling particularly dry. It is a little pricey, but a little bit goes a long way and you get quite a bit in the little tub so I feel like it will last long enough to be worth the price. You can find it at Lush stores or Lushusa.com for $16.95.

6. It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In

My hair is very unruly and needs serious help with detangling and conditioning. This is a very thick spray leave in conditioner that really helps smooth frizz and detangles my crazy curly hair so that it doesn't take half and hour to comb it out after a shower. My hair will never be the same (in a good way). 

7. Forever21 Sunglasses

I picked up these awesome sunglasses at my Forever21 store for $5.80 and I love them! I have gotten so many compliments on them. They are perfect for spring and summer!

Hope you guys enjoyed this post! Leave me comments below telling me what your favorites were last month! Have a great day!

-Gabs :)

e.l.f. Cosmetics Haul & Swatches

I ordered a few things from eyeslipsface cosmetics recently and thought I would share some swatches and opinions with you.

I picked up four Jumbo Lip Gloss Sticks, a Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow and a Contouring Blush & Bronzer Duo.

The Jumbo Gloss Sticks are pretty sheer with some being more glossy than others on the lip. I purchased the colors Coco Loco, Sangria Starters, Pink Umbrellas and Flirty & Girly. The packaging says that they stain the lip to create a lasting color but I found that only one of the four I have had any staying power. Flirty & Girly is quite a bit more pigmented than the other three and has shimmer. That said the others are nice if you are looking for a tinted lip balm look and they only cost $2.00. These come in 8 shades.

The Pressed Mineral eyeshadow in Wine Tour is a really pretty dusty wine color with a pretty chunky gold glitter. It feels soft and looks really pretty in the pan. It swatches a little light but I have not tried it with a base yet. I'm also not sure if the glitter is going to fall down a lot. I'll update you after I try it on the eye with a base and let you know. The pressed mineral eyeshadows are $3.00 and come in 10 shades.

The Contouring Blush & Bronzer in St. Lucia is so pretty! I bought it because it looks so much like the Nars Blush/Bronzer Duos. Now, I don't own any of the Nars ones so I can't give a comparison or say if it is a dupe or not, but I can tell you the elf duo is a really good product. The blush and bronzer are both really pretty colors and they blend out very well. There is a little bit of shimmer in the bronzer but it doesn't really show once its blended. The Blush & Bronzer duo is $3.00 and come in 3 shade combos.

I hope these swatches and reviews are helpful! Go checkout eyeslipsface.com and pick up some goodies!

-Gabs :)

Left: Pink Umbrellas, Right: Flirty & Girly

Left: Coco Loco, Right: Sangria Starters

Top to bottom: Flirty & Girly, Sangria Starters, Coco Loco and Pink Umbrellas

Wine Tour

Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow in Wine Tour

Blush & Bronzer Duo in St. Lucia