Tutorial: Simple Neutral Eye

Todays' tutorial is a simple neutral eye and also happened to be my first makeup tutorial.The look is created using the Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary palette although you can use any brand to recreate it.

It's perfect for everyday office wear or even a back to school look. Check out my video below to learn how to create the look.



A full list of products are shown at the bottom of the post.

Nail Art Fail

Thanks to my little Sally Hanson Salon Effects strips I haven't been biting my nails (while the strips are on). I now have long pretty nails! Some of you might think that's not a big deal but any nail biter knows how big a deal it truly is.

Since my real nails are fingertip length I wanted to try my hand at the new nail art trend that's been going around. I ran across the blog Fix Your Face by Maryam Maquillage which includes tutorials for a bunch of nail art designs. I chose her newest design as shown in the picture below.



The design seemed straight forward enough. She even showed you what products to buy. I didn't use the same brand of pink polish but I went out an purchase two of the nail art pens by Sally Hansen.

Eye Shadow of the Day: Honey Pot

Not only did this eye make up get compliments today at work but my husband made a specific point to tell me he thought it looked really pretty. I think that warrants an Eye Shadow of the Day post, don't you?

The photos below are at the end of the day with no touch ups.

Review and Swatches: Tarte True Blood Eyeshadow Palette

As promised in my True Blood looks post, here's my review for the Tarte True Blood Palette!

The palette comes with 17 brand new shades inside a collectible True Bloodesque box. Also included are a trial size lifted natural eye primer, a trial size lights, camera, lashes! mascara and a full size emphasEYES™ aqua-gel eyeliner. The palette is available for purchase at Tarte Cosmetics, Ulta and Sephora for $52.

Check out my video below for a full review.



Don't forget to scroll down for photos and swatches!

Tarte True Blood Palette Looks

My review and swatches for Tarte's True Blood Palette are coming up! In the mean time, Tarte included four looks to use for ideas.

I've included all four here. The first two are my favorites.

The Vampy Vixen

Nail of the Day: OPI Last Friday Night

So for those not following me on Twitter, I've been a bit ill for the last several days. Please excuse the lack of posts.

This week's nails are brought to you courtesy of Katy Perry. I ran across OPI's "Last Friday Night" when I was inside a beauty store the other day and fell in love.



On the swatch in the store it is shown as a semi-opaque light blue glitter polish. I'm not sure how they got it to be semi-opaque unless they had massive amounts of polish on there or there was a base coat they didn't mention.

Review: Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser

I've had this facial cleanser about a month now and have been planning on trying it but never did. Laziness and running out of my normal facial cleanser did me in.

I've heard good and bad reviews on the Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser. Some flat out don't care for it, others love it, it broke others out, etc.

The facial cleanser is represented as a product that "rapidly dissolves dirt and makeup while deep cleaning pores" and is supposed to "soothe even the most dry and sensitive skin".

I used it for a week to test it out.


Image courtesy of Philosophy

Right away I really liked the product! The smell reminds me of Noxzema cleansing cream but not as overpowering. It's a very refreshing scent to have in the shower every morning.

Review and Swatches: Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Palette

I'm finally getting my review up of the new Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary palette. I've had it for a couple of weeks and have really been enjoying playing with the different colors.

The palette comes with 15 never before released colors inside a collectible outer box. The bottom is a purple velvet lined keepsake tray, the mirrored top has inlaid purple "jewels" with the initials U.D. and the edges of the box have a laser cut decorative edge. The palette is available for purchase at Urban Decay, Ulta and Sephora for $55.

Check out my video below for a full review.




Don't forget to scroll down for photos and swatches!

Five Minute Makeup

We all have that certain makeup we go to when we're in a bind for time. Makeup we know so well we really don't even have to pay attention when we're applying it.




My go-to makeup includes:

Eye Shadow of the Day

Here's the look I did on Friday. I always like punching up the color a little on Fridays but I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's because I'm excited for the weekend?

July Beauty Hits and Misses

Here are July's products that are new favorites and some that didn't work so well.



Products mentioned in this video:
Tarte Cameras, Lights, Lashes Mascara
Benefit They're Real Mascara
Milani Minerals Blush
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
ELF Glossy Gloss
Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips
NYX Sheer Gloss

Reviews and Swatches: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

So I tried the peel off nail polish without success but I kept seeing these magazine advertisements for stick-on nail polish.

I was very skeptical but I've heard great reviews on it and there is even a coworker at the office who said her friend loves the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.

I'll admit my curiosity got the best of me and at my last trip to Ulta I purchased a box of them. I wanted the lace print I saw in the magazine but they didn't have it so I settled for the multicolor glitter called Frock Star.

Remember Colorforms from back in the day? Maybe I'm showing my age here but that's what these remind me of except they are a little stretchy. They are little strips of "nail polish" that you basically press on top of your fingernail, file the edges and go.



It took quite a bit longer to do my nails with this than if I had simply painted them. Maybe these are just one of those things that takes a bit of practice to get a groove down. I had trouble getting them to stick to my nail even though I used the nail polish remover before applying to remove any excess oils.