Mirror Mirror On the Wall…
Posted by Heather | Filed under Beauty Support & FAQ, My Collection
A few weeks ago I went to my college roommate’s house to spend the weekend and I came across a hugely important discovery…it’s all about the mirror!!! I had to try to get ready in a normal bathroom for two days…and some of those times I wasn’t allowed in the bathroom because someone else was using it, so I had to use one of the little compact mirrors that is embedded in a tiny compact. Lame. And so incredibly difficult!
Therefore I am sharing with you one of my beloved beauty secrets:
Ta-da! It swivels out from the wall, has a light around the rim and 3 different magnifying areas: normal, x3 and x5! Seriously, it blows the mind what you’re able to see in a close-up mirror with extra light! It’s one of the best birthday presents ever (from my dear husband). Problem is, it spoils me, and I have such a hard time doing my makeup well without it! I hate leaning over the counter to get good eyeliner or make sure my foundation is completely blended. I think this one was from Linen’s N Things, but you can find them at that type of store. I want to say it was $70-80 but soooooo woth it (and you could probably find them cheaper)! It plugs into the wall for it’s electricity and you could leave it plugged in since it has an on/off switch, but since my plug is on the other side of the counter, I only plug it in when I need it.
Anyway, long story, short story - my mirror is awesome and I think all beauty junkies like myself need to have one!
Review/Swatches: Bobbi Brown Pastel Palette
Posted by Heather | Filed under Bobbi Brown, Eyeshadow, My Collection, Product Info, Reviews, Swatches
While doing some online shopping at Neimen Marcus, I had to reach a certain amount for a free gift, so I browsed their exclusives. What a little beauty this was!
The colors are all really pastel, and I haven’t used them yet except for the teal one (second from the left) and I was quite impressed. It has a descent texture and the color came out nice. The palette itself is kinda small, and you only get a little strip of each color, but there are a lot of colors! Seriously, when’s the last time you saw so many colors in one little palette?? At first I didn’t like how they were all packed in there, but I think I actually appreciate that they didn’t waste space on dividers. I can use the 239 brush or my trusty 213 and get only that specific color very easily. I’m not planning on mixing any of the colors together before they’re on my eyelid :-)
See swatches and color names! Read the rest of this entry »
Collection: Don’t Brush It Off
Posted by Heather | Filed under Beauty Support & FAQ, Brushes, My Collection
BRUSHES! Your makeup is utterly useless without them. They are the tools of the trade. If you want beautiful makeup, you have to invest in some good brushes.
Here’s my brush belt. Most of them are MAC brushes, but I have a few Lorac and Chanel ones as well. No, I do not use ALL of them every single day. I did some close-ups of my frequently used brushes (Read more to see pictures!).
Basic rules for brushes:
- Clean them often. At least once a week for ones used daily. If you use them with creamy cosmetics, then use one side one day, another side the next day, and then clean it. I use generic baby shampoo to clean mine.
- Dense bristles pick up more color. The more dense the brush, the better it picks up color, thus the heavier the application. It’s not always important how soft it is or whether it’s natural hair or synthetic.
- Hold the handle. Depending on where you hold your brush, you’ll have a heavy hand or a light one. Hold the brush closer to the brush head, and you will apply heavier color. Hold it near the end, and you can put on a lighter, more whispy wash of color.
- There’s no right way to use a brush. No matter what the MA tells you s/he uses a particular brush for, that’s not the only way to use it. Also, just because it’s labeled as a powder brush doesn’t mean you can’t use it for foundation or cream blush etc.
- All brushes are not created equal. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Getting some good ones is a wise investment.
- Different brushes do different things. Though it’s not impossible, it would be extremely difficult to recreate any of my looks using only one or two brushes. It would be like trying to cook a gourmet dinner with only one pot or one pan.
Any other questions about brushes? Let me know - I’d be happy to answer!
See close-ups of my frequently used brushes! Read the rest of this entry »
Collection: Blushes & Shimmers
Posted by Heather | Filed under Blushes/Shimmers, My Collection
MAC Blush Palettes
More pictures of my collection here for you: Blushes & Shimmers. I haven’t finished all of the eye products yet, but it was pretty easy to get the cheek items together. The names of each color is not labeled, but as always, if you’re interested in knowing any of them, please leave a comment and I’ll get back to you!
MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes :-)
There’s a lot more where that came from!! See more! Read the rest of this entry »
Collection: MAC Depotted Eyeshadow Palettes
Posted by Heather | Filed under Eyeshadow, My Collection
(As of January 12, 2009) EDITED!!!
I’ve decided that I will post pictures of my collection for the world to see! I realize that I am opening myself up to much criticism by showing this, but here goes nothin’… It will have to be in many parts because my collection is so large.
This post is the first because it’s easiest to photograph and organize. These are all of my MAC depotted eyeshadows that I keep in these palettes that each hold 15. I label them on the outside with a label maker and store them vertically in a carrying case so that I can easily flip through to find the certain palette I’m looking for. They’re separated mostly by color. The two exceptions are the PRO palette which contains all of the MAC shadows that can only be found at a PRO store and the Neutral colors which are further separated by LE (Limited Edition) and Perm (Permanent) colors.
I have and do continue to use almost every single color, although it’s apparent that some are more favored than others. This is a collection I have accumulated over MUCH time, and it is how I choose to spend my extra money (while other girls might shop for clothes or shoes or jewelry etc.). Of course I have a few of those other things, but I’d just as soon buy my clothes cheaply at the late Mervyn’s or Target, but buy high end makeup! It makes me happy!
Read on and you will be able to see close-ups of each one of my palettes! Read the rest of this entry »
Collection: Other MAC Eyeshadows
Posted by Heather | Filed under Eyeshadow, MAC, My Collection
Whew! Here are my MAC quads! These all came pre-assembled, usually with various launches. They’re all glued in there, and I don’t really care to take them out right now. It’s easy to tell which one is my favorite, eh?? That one at the top is called Sweetie Cakes (Look shortly to follow) and I actually have a back-up of it.
More pictures to follow are: special packaging shadows, cream shadows, and mineralized shadows.
Keep going for more pictures! Read the rest of this entry »
Collection: MAC Pigments
Posted by Heather | Filed under Eyeshadow, MAC, My Collection
Here is part 2 of my makeup collection (as of January 13, 2009) - MAC Pigments!
Pigments are exactly that - loose pigment. They work the same as eyeshadows except they do not contain a binding agent (that most pressed shadows have). So this makes them versitile enough to use as shadows alone or to be mixed with agents like gloss, nail polish, or even water for a liner. I often blend them with MAC’s PRO product, Mixing Medium, and use them as eyeshadow bases. Amazingly, it keeps my look vibrant and doesn’t crease all day…though not quite as good as UDPP with a Paint Pot IMO.
I took pictures of all of the pigments open, somewhat organized by color. The pictures are labeled underneath. So keep reading to see closer pictures!! As always, ask any questions you’d like! Read the rest of this entry »
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