EOTD: Dramatic Smokey Eye

This week, a makeup group I'm in on Facebook is doing a dramatic makeup challenge. It's not a competition, just a fun way to break out from our normal makeup routines and do something crazy and fun. I ended up doing a smokey eye because I was having some technical difficulties with the cut crease I was initially going for. Does anyone else ever have those days, where you end up redoing your makeup like six times because it's not quite right? Anyway, onto the look!

EOTD: Blind Ralphie

I'm in a group on Facebook where a lot of green looks are being done lately, so I thought I would do one, too. The standout shade in this look is Blind Ralphie from Darling Girl Cosmetics. This shade will be my Pick of the Week when the shop reopens after Christmas, which means it will be on sale!

EOTD: Naked Palette!

I told you there'd be more Naked palette posts! Today's look is done with the original naked palette. I was initially going to add some glitter on the lid, but I decided against it.

EOTD: Naked 2

In anticipation of the arrival of my Naked 3 palette (squee!), I decided to do a look today with the Naked 2 palette. Expect to see more Naked palette looks in the next few posts as I show my somewhat neglected palettes some love!

PRODUCTS USED:
Urban Decay Anti Aging Primer Potion
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
Benefit They're Real Mascara
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Genius Brow Powder in Medium Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Brow Pencil in Brunette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

HOW TO APPLY:
1. Prime your lids with UD Primer Potion.
2. Apply the shade Foxy from the crease to the brow.
3. Blend Tease into the crease to act as a transition color.
4. Pat Bootycall onto the inner third of the lid.
5. Mix together YDK and Verve and pat onto the middle third of the lid, blending with Bootycall.
6. Apply Blackout to the outer third of the lid and blend with YDK and Verve. Also blend up slightly into the crease.
7. Line the upper lash line with Perversion in a winged cat eye shape.
8. Curl your lashes and apply two coats of They're Real.
9. Fill in your brows.
10. You're done! :)

Cold Chemistry: A Pictorial!

This will be my first ever pictorial post! I hope to be able to do more in the future. Today's look is going to be done with three of the four shadows in the Sugarpill Cold Chemistry palette.

Keep reading after the break to see how to create this look!

What I'm Using Now

After seeing Phyrra's blog post with this tag, I decided that I would go ahead and do it too. I tag anyone who's reading this to do it too!

Makeup Brushes
Sigma! I really, really, REALLY love all of my Sigma brushes. They are super soft and are made well and I've noticed my blending improve since I've started using them.

Shampoo and Conditioner
Matrix Biolage Fortetherapie. I don't really have any particular reason to love these other than the smell. They do a good job of cleaning and conditioning, but the smell is my favorite thing about them.

Styling Products
When I actually bother to do my hair I always use Straight Sexy Hair heat protectant. It works really well at keeping my hair from getting too damaged with drying and flat ironing.

Shower Gel
Actually, I'm not using a shower gel right now, I'm using a homemade bar soap from a cute little shop in Cape May. It's raspberry and it smells heavenly.

Body Moisturizer
Dreaming Tree Soapworks Lotion in Nevermore. It keeps my skin so soft and I love spicy smells so it's perfect for me.

Fake Tan
I'm not currently using a fake tanner, nor do I think I ever will. If I want to be tan, I'll just spend some time outside.

Cleanser
I'm actually using my bar soap for this right now. The soap is super moisturizing and it gets ALL the makeup off. It's probably not the right thing to be using but it works.

Toner
None. I've never used a toner. I don't see the purpose.

Exfoliator
Clarisonic Mia. Paired with whatever soap/cleanser I'm currently using on my face. I'll usually only use it once or twice a week. More than that, and I break out.

Peel
I've never used a peel before.

Mask
I've never used a mask before either. I've always wanted to try one though.

Serum
Lancome Genefique. I got it for free doing a study for the Loreal Consumer Testing Panel. I can't really say that I see any results, but it was free, so I'm going to use it up.

Face Primer
Smashbox Photo Finish. I don't notice my makeup staying on any better or longer, so I don't think I'll bother to repurchase when it's gone. I've never really had luck with any face primer.

Eyeshadow Primer
Urban Decay Anti Aging Primer Potion. I have a sample of it that I'm trying to use up. Once it's gone I'm going back to my favorite Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Foundation
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation. I only use powder foundation and this one is the best. Period.

Concealer
I'm not currently using one because I've given up on finding one that will actually cover my undereye circles and not crease  like crazy.

Powder
I don't have a need for one since I use powder foundation.

Blush
I've been using Darling Girl Cosmetics blush in Neon Trees a lot lately. It's gorgeous, everyone should have it.

Bronzer
Don't have one because I don't use it. I'm too lazy to add in the extra step of contouring.

Highlighter
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade. Its glowy and gorgeous.

Eyeliner
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eye Liner in Perversion. All day every day.

Curler
I have a Tweezerman one. It gets the job done.

Mascara
I've been alternating between Benefit They're Real and Covergirl Lash Blast Volume.

Lashes
None currently. I don't do falsies for everyday wear.

Lipstick
Tarte Lip Surgence in Exposed. Its quick to put on and the color goes with everything.

Lipgloss
I'm not a lipgloss girl. Something about my body chemistry....every gloss turns into a goopy mess within minutes.

Nail Polish
I'm not currently wearing any polish. I need to change that.

Let me know if you'd like to see more tag posts. I've been thinking about doing the "perfect palette" one.

Blue and Brown, A Favorite Combo

I really love pairing blue/teal on the lid with brown in the crease. It's a color combo that I find myself using often. Today's blue and brown combo is done with shadows from Darling Girl Cosmetics.

Darling Girl Cosmetics Christmas Look

I posted this look a few days ago on Instagram and thought I would share here all the products I used and steps I took to create it. I am really loving these new Christmas shadows from Darling Girl!

Darling Girl Cosmetics Twas the Night Before Christmas Swatches!

My first blog post! I'm excited to try to get into blogging. I tried briefly before but didn't commit to it. Hopefully this time around will be different. Anyway, today I am excited to bring you swatches of the new Darling Girl Cosmetics 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' collection. This collection includes eight eye shadows and one blush. This post will be focusing on the eye shadows. (I'm new to actually swatching shadows and photographing them, sorry if the quality isn't perfect.)