Beautifully Flawed

Going, Going, Gone... Coastal Scents BRUSH CLEARANCE!!!!

2012-02-28T04:55:00.001-08:00

I stumbled upon the most AMAZING bit of news while visiting Miss Natty's Beauty Diary... Coastal Scents is having a HUGE brush clearance to make room for their new inventory!!! What does that mean exactly? It means that YOU can get up to 50% off of their already extremely low prices for some good quality brushes.

I personally LOVE the Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush

(which is currently $6.98)

and the Doe Foot Angle Blender

(currently $1.98)

So I picked up 2 more of each, along with a bunch of other brushes I'd been eying. This is a great chance to try something new, add to your collection or pick up some backups of your favs before they are all gone. And NO, I am not in any way a paid affiliate of the company... I'm just a sale-loving, repeat customer who spent my OWN money on some great quality brushes for cheap!

If you're interested in picking some up, you can find them here.

What are YOUR favorite makeup brushes?

-Miss Brina

FOTN: Smokey & Bright

2012-02-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! I wanted to post my look for movie night with the family. I went for an easy smokey look and decided at the last minute to rock Viva Glam Nicki... still trying to see how I feel about this one LOL Have a great weekend!!!

Products Used:

Inglot AMC Cream Foundation

Yaby Concealer

Milani Rose D'Oro blush

Ben Nye Mojave Luxury Powder

Inglot Gel Liner #90

Almay I-intese (Brown Eyes)- Crease shade: Dark Brown

WetNWild Vanity Palette- Matte Caramel & Cream shades

MAC Viva Glam Nicki lipstick

-Miss Brina

MAC Viva Glam: Nicki Minaj

2012-02-24T02:19:00.001-08:00

I wasn't one of the many who hopped all over the Pink Friday lipstick that MAC brought out awhile back. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for snatching up the LE items... I just refuse to buy something KNOWING I am not going to use it. And I WAS NOT going to wear that bad boy. Fact is, it would've looked HORRIBLE on me. Could I have freaked it with some liner and gloss and made it work? YEP. But I really didn't feel like spending $15 on a lipstick that I'd have to do some major altering to in order to NOT look ridiculous.

When I got the email with the Viva Glam ad for this lipstick, I immediately thought... here we go again. But I skipped my gut feeling and did a little research anyway to see if this one would be wearable for me. What I found were some comparisons to Pink Friday and a handful of swatches that looked promising; though in the end I had to make an executive decision since there weren't many swatches on darker skin for reference. So, I gave in and bought it since I figured it was for a great cause regardless of how things panned out.

I've had it a few days and have tried it various ways, and I can say that on my skintone, I find it barely wearable out the tube. It does compliment warmer tones better than Pink Friday, but if it had not been Viva Glam... I would be $15 richer for sure. The consistency is a little drier that I expected (I'm a creamsheen woman), but it's certainly full coverage in one swipe, and not drying to the lips. The staying power is great, so be sure to throw a balm on underneath that bad boy to cut down the risk of staining (I woke up the next morning with pink tinted lips even after removing my makeup for the night).

Overall, I think this would look better on fairer skin, or really deep hued beauties, but certainly can be for anyone with a bit of tweaking. My favorite combo thus far is Viva Glam Nicki with Iman Tan liner and Buxom Monica gloss.

What do you guys think about the new Viva Glam Nicki? And... enjoy the swatches!

( Excuse the bare face... lipstick not as pale as it appears here )

Straight from the tube (more True to Color here)

Viva Glam Nicki with Iman TAN liner (toned it down)

Viva Glam Nicki with Iman TAN liner and Buxom MONICA gloss (My FAV combo)

-Miss Brina

EOTD: Valentine's Day Look

2012-02-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Here's my Valentine's Day look. I decided to keep it fairly simple on the lid and add a pop of color and some bright lips. Please excuse the hair, I was still in the process of getting ready :-) Have an amazing LOVE DAY and I hope you all like!

Products Used:

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

UltraFlesh under eye concealer duo

Milani Rose D'Oro blush

NYX HD pressed powder

NYX Milk Pencil

Sleek Redstone shadow (Avoir peche palette)

Inglot gel liner #73

Stila Stay al Day liner (black)

Essence Gloss liner (black)

Stila Topaz liner

Essence I love Black mascara

Laura Geller lip spackle

Covergirl lip liner in Smokey

NYX Xtreme Lip cream in Strawberry Jam

I touched up the smudges later but forgot to take close ups...

-Miss Brina

A Quick Rant on recent events...

2012-02-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

I normally try to keep my opinions regarding these things to myself, but there has been so much garbage going around that I felt the need to put in my two cents. The first being Whitney Houston's untimely death.

As a HUGE Whitney fan, I was shocked to find out she passed. Even with her history and current struggles, it just wasn't something that I expected. I can remember singing along to my Whitney #1's VHS when I was a child so much that everyday my grandparents had to take it out and let it cool down for fear it would simply melt. There isn't another artist yet who's voice and sheer talent can surpass that of Whitney's. She was just amazing, and regardless of the matter, deserves to be remembered with respect. I say this because I am VERY bothered to constantly hear people blame Bobby Brown for her death. How completely insensitive. That man is mourning her just like eveyone else, and even moreso. They were married for over 15 years, and while it was a lot of drama, they loved each other the best they could. So let that man mourn. And I'm sure that blaming him doesn't help their child cope with the fact that she has lost her mother. To be real, Whitney was a GROWN woman, and responsible for her own choices... good and bad. And she would be the first to tell you, nobody MADE her do anything that she didn't want to do at that time. Throughout the beginning of her career, she had a team of people who micromanaged her career and image so much that we really don't know what she was like before she stepped out with Bobby. And I highly doubt that he introduced her to drugs in the first place, she just had a team who made sure that anything she did was out of sight. If you want to pass the blame someone, blame the woman's handlers. Because the fact is, if you're working for (with) someone who has a history of substance abuse, then there are certain measures that you need to take to ensure that person's sobriety and well being... if not for that person's care and safety, then at the very least do it to preserve your livelihood since the checks stop when they're gone. But the last thing we need to talking about at this time is whether or not her ex husband (who is 2 years sober btw) is to blame for her death. But regardless of how I or anyone else feels about how or why it happend, I pray that she's found some peace and I pray her family can shut out all the outside mess and get through their loss.

Secondly, I am a little irritated with a post I read on Miranda Lambert speaking out against Chris Brown and his Grammy performances. To be honest, I like Chris Brown, but I wasn't impressed with either performance. So I'd have to agree with criticism regarding that, but that wasn't what bothered her. It's been over 3 years, and people are still trying to crucify this boy for what happened between him and Rihanna. I don't believe a man should ever hit a woman, and I also believe a woman should never fix her fists to hit a man. And 3 years later, you still do not know what happened between them, but that is besides the point. I feel that the Grammy's (and any other awards show) are a representation of what's hot at the moment. Fact is, he had a good album, good sales, amazing airplay.... so why wouldn't he be asked to preform. It is a music awards show, and he is a musician who had a great year. If you want to be mad at somebody then be mad at the people booking the shows, buying the records, playing the music and attending the concerts. People get into mess everyday, and the boy doesn't have a repeated history of abuse, so why do people feel the need to continually bash him? No one is so outraged at Charlie Sheen, BeBe Winans, Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson (all of whom have been charged with domestic abuse) for being accepted back into their fields. Hell, even Ike Turner was inducted into the Rock N Roll hall of fame after he beat Tina Turner for YEARS! Give Chris a break, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but at some point you've got to be a little more responsible for your own actions. It's crazy how some people let their own beliefs and dislikes turn them into bullies themselves.

I know this was a bit off topic and a bit gloomy compared to what I usually post about, but thank you for letting me let it out.

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's Day and I will hopefully be posting a look soon.

Sneak Peak!

2012-02-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

Hey you guys! I've been testing out something new for a little while now, and I thought I'd give you a little teaser on an upcoming post...

I think I may have found the ONE. lol

I LOVE IT!!! NYX Xtreme Lip Cream

2012-01-29T02:35:00.000-08:00

Let me just jump right on into this... Oh how I love these new lip creams! It was literally love at first sight when I saw these, my only dilemma was, which color do I buy first? If you've seen my review on the Soft Matte Lip Cream, then I'll simply say THESE bad boys blow those out the water!

One of the major differences of the Xtreme and Soft Matte Lip Creams are the finishes. Soft Mattes are a creamy matte finish while the Xtreme lip creams have a dewy/moist finish. Also, the Xtreme lip creams ALL have a much more opaque application with just one swipe. I found that with the Soft Mattes, I had to build a couple of layers to get the coverage I wanted and the color you see in the tube. But all the issues I had with those seem to have been addressed and the corrections applied to the new Xtreme Lip Creams.

NYX Xtreme Lip Creams in SPICY & SKINTONE

Doe foot applicator

L-R: Spicy & Skintone

Indoor lighting: SKINTONE

Indoor W/Flash: SKINTONE

Low Lighting NO Flash: SKINTONE

Indoors W/Flash: SPICY

Indoors NO Flash: SPICY

Low Lighting: SPICY

What I love most, besides the full coverage of these beauties, is the fact that they are non-drying! I don't even need to apply a balm to get that smooth and even coverage, I just swipe the wand over bare lips and I am ready to dash! And for only $6 each, I'm going to grab a couple of the other colors that I really liked, as well as a few backups of SKINTONE.... which turns out to be my HG nude lippie!!!!! Though a bit warmer (which I LOVE... stops that washed out look), it's pretty much a dupe for the discontinued MAC Underplay. See Photos!

(w/ Flash) L-R: NYX Skintone, MAC Underplay, NYX Soft Matte in Abu Dhabi (for reference)

(NO Flash) L-R: NYX Skintone, MAC Underplay, NYX Soft Matte in Abu Dhabi (for reference)

(W/Flash) Top Lip: MAC Underplay, Bottom Lip: NYX Skintone

(Indoors) Top Lip: MAC Underplay, Bottom Lip: NYX Skintone

(Natural Light) Top Lip: MAC Underplay, Bottom Lip: NYX Skintone

(Low Lighting) Top Lip: MAC Underplay, Bottom Lip: NYX Skintone

As you can see from the photos, SKINTONE is darker and a bit warmer than UNDERPLAY on the hand, but when applied to the lips... you really can not tell the difference!!!!!

What do you guys think of the NYX Xtreme Lip Creams? Anybody else jump at the chance to try these bad boys? If not, what shades would you like to get your hands on?

P.S- How's everyone's 2012 going so far?

With Love,

Ms. Brina

Haulin' in 2012: LA Colors Jumbo Eye Pencils [swatches]

2012-01-12T23:53:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, Happy 2012 to all you lovely people! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, so obviously, my New Year’s Resolution is to give my blog the love & attention it deserves LOL. That being said, I’ve completed my 1^st haul of 2012!!!! I’ve got a few [inexpensive] goodies to show you guys over the next few weeks, so stay tuned for some great finds and swatches!

I’ve seen and heard great things about the NYX Jumbo eye pencils over the years. And after noticing it in a couple million youtube videos, I even picked up one in Milk after realizing that a good base works wonders for eyeshadow color payoff and longevity. Did I like it? Yeah. Was it life changing? Not really. Did I buy more? Nope. Call me crazy, but I’d rather splurge and drop $20-$30 on a primer like Nars’ eyeshadow base [which I can use on every look] rather than drop $4 for a colored pencil that only really helps if I’m using something in that particular hue. Now, I’m no mathematician, and it may even prove cheaper to go the pencil route, but I always choose convenience [i.e- Nars’ primer, UD shadow insurance, etc.] over what’s trending.

So… I’ve said all of that to bring us to this review of an alternative to the NYX jumbo pencil that is just as great [maybe even better] and much cheaper!

I give you the LA Colors jumbo eye pencils!!!!

L-R: Tropical Bliss, Vacation, Sun Kissed, Popsicle, Caribbean, ,Summer Love, Summer Time, Limeade.

So colorful, so creamy, so pigmented…. so VERY affordable! I’m talking $1.50 a pop! Yes, I said $1.50 per pencil… not on sale…. that’s regular price… have I got your attention? Good. There are currently 24 shades to choose from, and if they all are like the 8 I picked up then I’ll end up with the entire collection for sure. They smudge and blend very well, and were crease free for about 4+ hours when used over my Nars base.

Enjoy the swatches!

L-R: Tropical Bliss, Vacation, Sun Kissed, Popsicle, Caribbean, ,Summer Love, Summer Time, Limeade.

Have you all tried any of these pencils yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts on these or any other bases that work wonders for you.

~Brina

Coastal Scents Haul: Go Palettes!!! (Me Likey)

2011-10-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

When I first received the email regarding the new Go Palettes from Coastal Scents awhile ago, I immediately knew I would end up with most (if not all) of them. Why? Because I'm simply a sucker for convenience, and let's face it, that's what a palette offers... multiple looks in one tiny package. And while my inner makeup diva urged me to "buy them all," sensible Brina eventually won the battle, and I placed 3 of the most intriguing (to me) in my cart. They retail for $8.95, and while the palette is fairly compact, the shadows are the same size as the rest of the coastal scents 88 palettes... so you get a nice amount of product AND 12 well coordinated shades. I would DEFINITELY recommend picking up at least one of these, my favorite of the 3 I bought so far being the London palette.

Here's the Booty LOL

Side by Side: London, Cairo, Beijing

I also picked up the liquid version of their Black Soap, which I LOVE! I've been using black soap for awhile now, and I find it to be a chore to cut up to use and store, so I jumped at the chance to grab some in a no hassle bottle. YAY ME! LOL

Lastly, I got a sample of their #12 foundation, as well as a sample of their mineral concealer.

I'll post complete palette swatches in a couple of days when I get done running with the family this weekend.

Anybody get their hands on any of the new Go Palettes yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts on them.

Have a great Weekend!!!!

-Miss Brina

Sephora + Ulta HAUL!!!

2011-10-01T01:16:00.000-07:00

While out with the family, I made a few spur of the moment purchases that I wanted to share with you guys! I'll do a full review and swatches once I've used all the goodies a few times. Enjoy!

Laura Geller Spackle Trio $33

Bottom of bottle

L :(no flash), Top of Trio Label, R: (flash)

Sephora Moonbaked Shadow Palette $28

10 Shadows: Top pic (Flash), Bottom pic (No Flash)

UltraFlesh Ultracover Concealer in Muted $24

Stila Wonderful in Waikiki Palette $14

** Not pictured: Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara $25**

RAVE: Smashbox Studio Skin 15 hour Foundation

2011-08-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of days I have been trying out the New Studio Skin 15 hour foundation from Smashbox. It retails for about $42, which is kind of pricey in my honest opinion, but it's some pretty awesome stuff! Now, I bought it in shade 4.1, which is one of the darker shades, but it's a little too dark, so I am going to exchange it for 3.4 tomorrow.

It's med-full coverage, and covers/ builds soooooooo flawlessly. It DOES NOT leave you looking cakey at all. And I can completely omit concealer with this stuff. Another plus is the fact that even with it's coverage, it feels really light on. I can't attest to the 15 hour wearing power, since I never wear my foundation that long, BUT I can say that after a nearly 12 hour day, I was a bit oily yet it was still going strong. I would definitely recommend this foundation to anyone who desires a long lasting, lighter feeling, full coverage foundation.

Has anyone been able to try this out yet? What are your thoughts?

-Miss Brina

RANDOM TIP: Turn ANY lipstick into a Matte

2011-08-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

Love the look of a matte lip but HATE the dry, cracking feeling that comes along with it? Opt for a nice moisturizing lippie instead and pat some silica powder over that bad boy! Not only will your lips have that gorgeous matte look you desire, but they won't suffer the consequences to get it! Not to mention you also save a few bucks by using lipsticks you may already have with a 2 in 1 look. Have you tried silica powder?

Want to see the results? Head on over to Anatomy of Beauty to see the AMAZING effects of silica powder!

Want to get some silica powder? Head on over here or here.

Update: NYX Matte Lippies

2011-08-04T00:27:00.000-07:00

Hey you guys! I know it's EXTRA late, but I've finally posted the swatches for the NYX Matte Lipsticks. You can find the updated post here.

Have a happy thursday!

E.L.F. Cosmetics Haul/ Review

2011-08-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

I was recently given the opportunity to review a few products from E.L.F, and overall, I am greatly pleased with the quality of products that they churn out so cheaply! After watching numerous youtube videos over the last few months, there were a few standout products that I jumped at the chance to try, so let’s just get right into the review.

(Photo courtesy of eyeslipsface)

It’s no secret that I am on the search for the PERFECT foundation. I’m almost embarrassed to admit to how many products I’ve purchased, used for maybe a month or so, then given (or sometimes tossed) away due to ill matches or unfavorable performance. That being said (and for $6 a pop), you KNOW I had to give their Flawless Finish Foundation a chance. Now I will say that when this item arrived, I was a little put off by the fact it had leaked in transit, and had this been a more pricier foundation I’d have returned it immediately, but I sucked it up and grabbed my foundation brush, ready to get to swatching!

(Poor leaky foundation)

I’ve heard so many people complain about the size of the foundation (.80 oz), but honestly, for the price it’s great. And truly, as someone who has had to dump many foundations after they’ve thickened and oxidized too dark after a few months, I find this smaller bottle more appealing and convenient…. Not to mention it cuts down on product waste considerably. After a little deliberation, I opted for the shade Almond, and while it is not the perfect match for me, it is a great foundation. The coverage you get with this stuff us UNBELIEVABLE! Honestly, I have a few brown marks on my cheeks from popping the occasional pimple, and I didn’t even need to use any concealer (THAT’S how amazing this foundation was for me)!!! I just wish the color selection was a bit broader and more specifically, I wish this foundation was a bit more yellow, then I’d surely move it into the daily rotation.

(Photo courtesy of eyeslipsface)

I also picked up a few lip products from the Mineral line that E.L.F has, and I was least impressed with the Mineral Lipstick. I grabbed the shade Rosy Tan, and man… that bad boy is pretty darn sheer! It took some serious building to get the payoff I THOUGHT it would deliver out the tube. It wasn’t sticky, it wasn’t overly waxy, but unless they found a way to make it more opaque I won’t be picking up any more of these. **SIDE NOTE: I hopped on the 60% sale E.L.F had a few weeks ago and got 4 more of the mineral lippies a few days before this arrived. The pigmentation was a bit better, but my earlier verdict still stands…. NOT FOR ME.

(Photo courtesy of eyeslipsface)

But the mineral line has been redeemed!!! I am in absolute LOVE with the Mineral Lipgloss! I needed a clear gloss, so I figured, WHY NOT! First, it’s so NOT sticky, it’s NOT thick… it is a gloss lovers dream product! It glides on so smoothly, and I don’t even feel it on my lips when I’m wearing it. I’ll be grabbing a few more backups, as well as trying a few more colors from this line. If I can only recommend one product as a MUST HAVE… this is it!!!!!

(Photo courtesy of eyeslipsface)

Now, on to the eyes! I got the Professional Studio Pro Endless Eyes Palette after hearing so many great things about it. Even my sister raved about it after she got one for Christmas, but sadly, I wasn’t too blown away. Let me start off by saying I wanted to LOVE this! It has such a beautiful mix of colors all in one (large) 100-shadow palette, but it was really too hit or miss for me. I found quite a few of the shades to be very sheer, and it was hard to pick up any product from some as well as they were very hard pressed. But people RAVE about this; who knows, maybe I got a dud! Also, one color was damaged upon receipt (see photos)

but I held on to this palette for review after deciding it wasn’t worth sending back over one crumbled shade I wouldn’t have used much in the first place. I think that if you’re on a budget, or prefer your shadows more watercolor-esque, this palette is going to tickle your fancy. But as with ALL of the products from E.L.F it’s worth picking up just for the price alone ($10).

(Photo courtesy of eyeslipsface)

But it wasn’t all bad in the shadow department, as I fell into an easy and effortless routine with the Professional Studio Matte Eyeshadow in Chestnut. I got it thinking it would be a great blending shade, and it really is. I think that anyone NC44/45 and beyond should really pick this up and add to their beauty arsenal. I mean, $3 for .05oz of product and a little brush (even if I don't use it) is worth it. And the pigmentation of this shadow is great too. It’s true to color, and would even make a good crease color for fair skinned women looking to rock a more natural look for work. If you’re listening E.L.F…. YOU NEED MORE MATTE SHADOW COLORS! This is one of the BEST items I’ve tried from this company, and I really would love to see the range grow. Mint and Baked Berry… I’m coming for you next!

(Photo courtesy of google images)

The last item I picked up was one of the Essential Beauty Book Eye Edition sets in Neutral ($5). These 12 coordinating shades were surprisingly pigmented and blended very nicely to achieve a variety of work suitable looks. I LOVE the little liner and mirror that accompanies this. The size of the palette initially threw me for a loop since I figured it would be smaller than what it really is, and the cardboard housing made for a lightweight, yet sturdy product. It would be great to travel with, just be sure to keep it in your carry-on to avoid any smashing or potential breaking disasters. ***SIDE NOTE: This item is no longer listed on their site.

To make a long story short, E.L.F really has this bargain cosmetic game on lockdown! They are currently offering Celebration specials (for their 7th Birthday extraveganza) as well as FREE SHIPPING deals until August 1st, so if you’ve been curious about any of their products, or even if you’re already a tried and true fan then NOW is the time to pickup a few beauty essential from their website! ‘Cause with products starting at $1…. Twenty bucks will go a long way with E.L.F.

EOTD: Sleek Curacao palette

2011-07-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

This has replaced my Bohemian palette. I LOVE each and every color, and decided to do a quick look before I stepped out with the little one and her father.

Products used:

Sleek Curacao Palette- Blue Hawaiian, Green Iguana, Purple Haze & Singapore Sling

WnW Vanity Palette- Shimmery Beige

Dior Show Extase mascara

Very simple look, and the quality of Sleek eyeshadows are remarkable. I recently picked up Scandalous blush, and like Pan Tao.... the pigmentation is OFF THE CHARTS!!! Swatches of Scandalous, as well as the Monaco, Curacao and Oh So Special palettes coming soon.

How's everyone's week going thus far?

-Miss Brina

RAVE: MILANI BAKED BLUSH

2011-07-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

I saw these beauties while I was browsing through target today, and I am so glad I picked them up. I was surprised how pigmented they were, just one swipe with my tapered blush brush from Sigma was more than enough product to do both cheeks. I can't find my receipt, but they were about $6 a piece. The packaging is really simple, yet sturdy, and comes with a mirror and mini brush in a compartment under the blush. I've never really cared much about the marbled blushes, bronzers, shadows or beauty powders before this purchase... I just figured it helped with aesthetics, but I literally had a GLOW when I applied Rose D'Oro to my face! The gold veining really did wonders.

Left: Rose D'Oro, Right: Luminoso

SWATCHES

Left: Rose D'Oro, Right: Luminoso

I'll pick up a few more shades on my next trip, that's for sure!

UPDATED!!!! Review: NYX Matte Lipstick

2011-07-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

By now ya'll can tell I LOVE me a good lippie! High end, YES. Drugstore, YES. Homemade, YES. I live for a great lipstick, so you can understand my excitement when I saw these NEW matte lipsticks from NYX. I mean, the Soft Matte Lip Creams were AMAZING, so these have got to be just as great, right? WRONG! They unimpressed me so much that I've had them for almost a month now, and am just getting around to even writing about them. I know they are a matte lipstick, but the majority of the colors wear VERY dry on your lips. The real and only wow factor (for me) is that you can pretty much count on full color coverage in one swipe. I ordered mine from BeautyJoint, which processed my order on monday and had them on my doorstep by tuesday afternoon!!! Great service, but even their site displayed the colors slightly off from what you truly get. Take a look at the photo below for a more realistic swatch of what you'll be getting when you order (FYI- Butter, Bloody Mary & Audrey are mislabeled on the chart). I'll also be posting swatches of the colors I bought for reference this week.

For example, I ordered Perfect Red, but it came looking more like Pure Red. But it's not a real FAIL for me, as they do have some great colors and the wear time is pretty much all day, even with eating and drinking. With the exception of a couple colors I purchased, like SIERRA, PERFECT RED and STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI, I'll more than likely be pairing them with a good lipbalm, liner and clear gloss to be able to wear them and not feel like my lips are going to crackle and fall off.

Has anyone else tried these lipsticks out yet? Did you have the same issue with ULTRA dry lips like I did?

UPDATE: Here are the swatches!

The Backyardigans!!! I need your help...

2011-06-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the backyardigans. I love the storylines, the music... but more than anything, I love to watch my daughter watch the show. Her head whips around, and her face lights up as soon as she hears that theme song LOL

It's hard to believe she'll be one next month, time just flew by!

My reason for this post is to ask you all to be on the lookout for a BACKYARDIGANS MUSICAL RIDE ON toy. I've searched online and in stores here in Cali for months and have not been able to find a thing. I'm DYING to get her a ride on now that she's on the go more, and I would prefer it to be from her favorite show. I've only found one, which was being sold in Canada on openlist, but I have not been able to locate a new or one in EUC. I've only been able to find the trike at toys'r'us, and it's too boy-ish for me. So, regardless of where you are at in the world, if you happen to find this ride on,

please let me know where you found it. If I can't get it in the states, I'd be willing to pay for the item, shipping and a small handling fee for anyone who can locate this ride on and get it for me.

Hope you all are having a FANTASTIC THURSDAY!

RAVE: Sara Happ The Lip Scrub

2011-06-19T04:10:00.000-07:00

I love all things red velvet. Always have, always will. So when I came across this lip scrub, whether it worked or not, I had to have it. Fortunately, it works... and well!

The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ is pretty much a sugar based scrub for your lips infused with hydrating elements to give you kissably smooth and moisturized lips. This is by far the best lip exfoliator that I have used, and it smells so AMAZING!!! I can't say it smells just like red velvet, but it is pretty close... and the taste is great. All you do is apply a bit to your fingertip and rub in a circular motion across your lips, then wipe off.... easy, right? And even though the granules are very noticeable, you're not left feeling like you've scratched your lips off.

I do have to mention that the red velvet lip scrub was a limited edition flavor, but the line has many others available, such as: pink grapefruit (my next one!), peppermint, almond creme, cocoa, creme brulee, vanilla bean, brown sugar, and cinnamon. And for about $24 for an ounce of product (which should last awhile), I say it's worth it for the feeling you get after using it. Sara Happ also has an accompanying balm called The Lip Slip which I am DYING to try!!!! I mean, it has to be absolutely GREAT given how well the Lip Scrub preforms. And HOW CUTE is the little box it comes in!?!?!?!

Have you tried any of the Sara Happ Lip Scrub products? Where you as impressed as I am?

Enjoy the pics!

And be sure to wish all the deserving men in your life a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!

-Miss Brina

Forget Carmen San Diego... WHERE in the world is my INGLOT order!?!?

2011-06-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've ben slacking on the blogging, but if it's not one thing it's another. First it was just me being crazy busy, then it was my laptop crapping out on me... but it's fixed and I'm ready to dive back into this blogging game :-)

Now...

I placed this order April 15th, and more than a month later... still NO Inglot! No email stating my choices were backordered or anything. So finally, after looking at my calendar and noticing how much time had passed, I call the company to figure out WHERE MY MAKEUP IS? And lo and behold, it turns out my order was somehow overlooked and never even pulled! Normally I would be a bit pissed, seeing as though my cc was charged but I never received my order, but the customer service woman was SO professional and apologetic. I mean Inglot truly has some great customer service because not only did she make sure my order was pulled and shipped that same day, she also upgraded my order to OVERNIGHT shipping AND refunded the initial shipping fees I paid. So by 10 Am the next day, I had a box full of Inglot (including some nice samples) on my doorstep.

So worth the wait. I got 17 shadows and a few palettes: the 10, 5, 3, and 2 pan palettes. My only complaint is that the 3 and 2 pan palettes DO NOT stack/adhere to the 10 pan palette at all. No matter how I place it, the magnet just does not attract.

Swatches will be up soon!

Where've you been????

2011-05-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a little bit since I've done a post, but life has been running me ragged! But I did want to take some time and talk about a few items I've been testing recently that I may or may not do in depth posts on.

FIRST! I've been experimenting with mixing and pressing my own pigments/micas from TKB Trading. I have to say I am VERY impressed with their selection and quality. I've researched and watched videos for months prior to placing and order just to get a feel for the whole process, and I'm in love! The ability to custom make your shadows is so appealing to me, and I also have gotten pretty good at pressing them. I purchased the sample sizes (which are HUGE!!!) and have not yet run out. I decided to go the TKB way, rather than CS because they have the tin pans (which fit into MAC and ELF pans AND require NO MAGNET) which take less time and provide less bulk when preparing your shadows. I ended up with about 20 colors to start and will be going back for more in the future.

Now, being the foundation junkie that I am, I recently went back to an old trusty (BOOTS No. 7 Anti Aging foundation in Walnut 45)... and I now remember WHY I love this foundation so much. You get great coverage & a good color selection for reasonable prices! I also tried one of their plumping lipsticks, and they're ok. Color took some building, but it's not drying at all. You get quite a bit for the $9 price tag.

SIDE NOTE: Rimmel Match Perfection in Natural Caramel- Me likey! (even though I need a little CS color corrector to make it perfect!) It's a good stand in for now.

I also was able to try a few items by Victoria Jackson Cosmetics, but I'll have to do a full post on that later.

Just wanted to do a quick "I'm not dead" post LOL and see what's been new with you all?

TTYL,
Miss Brina

SLEEK Avoir la Peche Collection

2011-04-23T04:44:00.000-07:00

I own a couple of the Sleek Palettes, but this new collection has replaced my beloved Bohemian palette as my all time favorite. I LOVE the gorgeous peach colors that fill this palette, and they all are nice and pigmented. Sleek also did a little something new and added the individual shadow names on the plastic insert protector... very helpful IMO. My only complaint is I wish the palette was made with the same illustrations as the box it came in (it's so beautiful).

I also grabbed the tinted lip conditioner in Sugar May, which is a light peach, and very moisturizing without any sticky feeling to it. It also has a nice scent and faintly sweet flavor. I've always been interested in the lip pots but never actually made a purchase until this collection came out, but I will surely be picking up some more colors... and you get alot of product too.

Lastly, I bought the coordinating blush in Pan Tao, which is a bold, orange toned peach. I LOVE THIS BLUSH. I was taken aback when I opened the package because it was so small, but you get a lot of pigmented product in the package, which is very compact. I actually prefer the Sleek blush compact over any other that i own because you still get alot of product, but it's not a bulky item taking up more space than needed to house the blush pan... and it comes with a mirror and the cute floral design I wish the palette had. Please keep in mind this blush is VERY pigmented!!! I barely tapped my brush in the pan it was more than enough to do both cheeks (I looked so ridiculous when I first applied it, had no idea it was that concentrated... must get more!).

Overall, A+ on this collection! It's my favorite thus far, I would LOVE for them to make the Paraguaya shadow palette and Pan Tao blush permanent.

What do you guys think of Sleek's newest collection Avoir la Peche?

Blogger Award!!!

2011-04-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

I've received my 1st blogger award from the gorgeous Meme! Thank you sweetheart... and make sure you check out her blog, she's got some great things going on over there.

Here's how it works...

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered new bloggers
4.Contact these bloggers and let them know they've received the award.

7 things you may not know about me...

I. I'm a mother to a beautiful 8 month old and am LOVING everything about it!

II. I've had a serious lifelong crush on Sean Connery and Dallas Raines (local weather man).

III. My favorite color is green.

IV. I LOVE to read, I generally read a book and a half a day.

V. I am semi-obsessed with Jimmy Neutron and the Backyardigans (I can't even blame it on my child, I've watched these shows for years LOL).

VI. If I could live anywhere in the world I'd choose Ireland.

VII. I have a serious aversion to getting into trouble. So if you're going to act up, do it elsewhere because I WILL tell on you LOL

And these are the wonderful ladies whose blogs I've recently found and enjoy!

WitchHazel

Makeup Love XO

Lipgloss and Leopard Print

The Jazzy Spot

FacesBySarah

Miss Natty's Beauty Diary

UPDATE: 24 hr contest (April Fools) ... except I'm serious! LOL

2011-04-02T01:35:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Jinz for winning the 24 hr April Fools giveaway. Be sure to check your inbox for further details.

And thank you to everyone who entered. I've got a few more treats in my beauty box, so stay tuned for the next contest and your chance to win!

24 hr contest (April Fools) ... except I'm serious! LOL

2011-04-01T01:32:00.000-07:00

Hello and Happy April Fools Day to everyone! I'm all for a good prank here and there, but I prefer alot more treat and alot less trick. That being said, I've got a BNIB LE Yash lipstick from MAC's SOLD OUT Mickey Contractor Collection... and it's all yours.

Simply leave a comment stating what type of eye look you'd pair with Yash (including products used). One entry per person, but you can earn 1 additional entry by creating the accompanying eye look & submitting a photo and/or 2 additional entries for posting this 24 hour contest on your blog and linking back to Beautifully Flawed. All entries must be received no later than April 1st. Winner choosen by random drawing.

If the perfect nude lip interests you then be sure to enter below!

Have a Happy Friday ya'll!!!!

Subscriber Giveaway: WINNER

2011-04-01T00:54:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone who reads this blog, as well as all the beautiful ladies who entered the giveaway. And without further adieu, the winner is.....

StealMyHeartLove

Congratulations! Check your inbox for further details

INGLOT Haul SWATCHES/REVIEW

2011-03-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

After playing with my products, I finally got around to swatching my Inglot haul this afternoon. And let me say, that I do not believe that there is a single gel liner on the face of this earth that can hold a candle to those produced by INGLOT! Not only do these things swatch creamy and true to color, but they have a RIDICULOUS staying power!!! I literally had to scrub my arm after I did these swatches with a textured eye pad full of waterproof makeup remover... and still had traces of #87.

INGLOT GEL LINERS: 73, 81, 87, 90 w/flash

INGLOT GEL LINERS: 73, 81, 87, 90 w/o flash

I did not experience ANY irritation or flaking from these, even after applying on my waterline. I did however get some on my contact lens before it set on my waterline... which resulted in me having to change the lens in order to see, but no biggie.

As for the foundation, I was only able to try to AMC Cream foundation since the Mousse and powder were way too dark upon sight. I picked up MW200 and DW100, but right off the bat I could tell DW100 was NOT GOING TO WORK (Might work more for a NC50). It feels so light when you apply it, and the staying power is so so in my opinion, but it blends flawlessly. MW200 is a bit dark for my face, but it blends so seamlessly and evens my skin out so that there is not such a huge color difference between face, neck and body. I really fell in love with this foundation.

AMC CREAM FOUNDATION MW200

(UNBLENDED)

I have seen reviews on this product, stating it was full coverage, and I can't see how. It applied more light to medium for me, but is surely buildable. When I paired it with the concealers it gave a flawless finish. But the cream face concealer dries fast, so you have to blend it pretty quick or risk looking spotty. As for the undereye concealer, I feel the consistency is too watery for my liking, and it creased like CRAZY! I preferred to use the regular cream concealer under the eye, as it offered a bit more coverage AND actually made it look brighter!

The last item I was able to try out was the Inglot Slim Gel lipstick in shade #42 (far right in above photo). I LOVE the consitency and texture of this lipstick. It reminds me of MAC's Slimshine lipsticks, only better. And I say this because it is a bit drier than the MAC lipstick, which offers a better staying power, yet still giving that creamy/moist look. And although I said it's drier than MAC's slimshine, PLEASE do not believe this to be a dry lipstick, because it is not. It simply is not as creamy/slimy as the slimshine applied, and isn't so soft you feel it might break when you apply it. I will definitely be picking up more shades in this product.

Hope you enjoyed my 1st Inglot haul... I feel another one coming on soon!

P.S. the SUBSCRIBER GIVEAWAY ends at 11:59 PST tomorrow... be sure to get your entries in for a chance to win a great prize! Good Luck!

Quick Rave and Giveaway update!

2011-03-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

They done went and messed up now! lol

I got my order from Inglot this week, and I have been in absolute makeup bliss since tearing open my box like it was my "birfday!!!!" I picked up a few foundations (two of which were obviously too dark and will be going back... along with the next item), a pressed powder, a lipstick, 2 concealers and 4 gel liners.

I have been waiting for this company for my whole life LMAO... but really, I am so smitten with the quality and range of these products. The gel liners... how should I put this, if they were a man... I'd marry them! They are sooooo creamy and soft, pigmented, easy to apply AND I have found them to have great staying power once set. My latest obsession, I will most likely pick them all up at some point.

In depth review, with pics and swatches coming soon!

Also, I've enjoyed reading your giveaway coments... keep 'em coming! Remember, you have until 11:59 PST on the 31st to enter!

Subscriber GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-03-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon everyone, just popped in to express my gratitude to to all my beautiful subscribers and everyone who reads this little ole blog of mine! I know 25 doesn't seems like alot to most people, but I truly appreciate all of you. That being said, I'm having a GIVEAWAY to say THANK YOU to all you lovely readers!!!

I figured what better way to show my appreciation than to pick a product that I actually LOVE, so I am giving away 5 NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream colors of YOUR choosing.

To enter the giveaway is simple, you just have to be a follower of this blog, and leave a comment (with your email) telling me your favorite LIP product/color, and why it's your favorite... easy, right?

You can enter as many times as you would like from NOW- March 31st (11:59 PST), and the winner will be chosen & posted, via random.org on April 1st.

Good luck to everyone, and thank you again!

- Miss Brina

RAVE & REVIEW: Moroccan Oil Hydrating Cream & C. Booth Apricot Oil Lotion

2011-03-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

While we really don't get a true winter her in CA, this time of the year does terrible, terrible things to my skin! And since I've had my child, my skin just seems to laugh at most lotions and oils that I apply... it's getting to be a little embarrassing lol I mean, within 10-15 minutes of moisturizing after a shower my skin looks like it's never even heard of lotion before... very sad. But I just so happened to be browsing the aisles at my local Rite Aid and found the last C.Booth's Firming Apricot Oil Lotion on the shelf and quickly snapped it up. Why, you ask? Not because I'd heard great reviews, because I hadn't. And not because it was some sort of sale, because it wasn't. I simply love the brand, as I use the Green Apple Microderm Scrub to exfoliate, and figured since that works so well (and there was only ONE left) I might as well give it a go. And a pat on the back to me for this purchase, because it is my salvation!!! No matter when or how I apply this lotion, is sinks into my skin, leaving it smooth & supple. I can't really attest to the "firming" capabilities of this product since I don't really need it yet, but I can say the light citrus fragrance is soooooooooooo delicious! It's not greasy at all, and for around $6, I WILL be going back to stock up on bottles, since this is the only thing that has been able to combat this dry winter skin of mine.

I also was on the prowl to find a moisturizing, yet fairly natural product to use on my child's hair for styling purposes, and I was directed by a saleswoman at Planet Beauty to Moroccan Oil's Hydrating Styling Cream. Even though I was reluctant to pick up a $32 hair product for a 6 month old, I broke down and bought it... since nothing is too much for my baby ;-) And I LOVE IT!!! First, it smells AMAZING! It has such a clean hair smell to it, and it truly is moisturizing, without feeling heavy or greasy on the hair. I've even begun using it on my hair daily to style and lay down any flyaways. This is a MUST HAVE AT ALL TIMES product as far as I am concerned. I'm still tempted to try Miss Jessies Curly Pudding (for myself), as I've heard it is great for us curly haired folks.

If anyone has tried Miss Jessies or knows of any other products for curly hair (think Alicia Keys), please leave me a comment. I'm always on the hunt for a good hair product.

Cherry Culture Haul SWATCHES!!!!

2011-03-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

I've had some time to play with most of the products that I ordered from cherryculture a week or so ago, and I have to say that I am VERY impressed with the pigmentation of the L.A. Colors palettes, especially the SAND CASTLES palette.

The Jordana lipsticks are definitely worth trying out, they offer smooth application, nice pigmentation, and are so moisturizing. They do have that cherry aroma to them, so if you're sensitive to scents you might want to stay away from these, the smell is definitely noticeable. Also, two of the shades I ordered were supposed to be matte, but that was not the case at all... I guess you can say they have a soft shine to them, but they aren't even close to being matte.

On to the swatches! Hope you enjoy!

L.A. Colors Cafe Au Lait Palette

L.A Colors Eye Candy Palette

L.A. Colors Sweet Pleasures Palette

L.A Colors Mineral Blush in Plum & Chai

L.A Colors Mineral PP in Sand

L.A Girl Pro HD concealer in Warm Sand &

L.A Girl Perfecting Liquid Makeup in Honey

Jordana Lipsticks

L-R: Coffee Blend (M), Haute Red (M), Cinnamon Spice, Pom-Tini, Hollywood Red, Dessert Wine

Lip Swatch: Cinnamon Spice

Lip Swatch: Pom-Tini

Lip Swatch: Hollywood Red

Lip Swatch: Dessert Wine

Lip Swatch: Coffee Blend (matte-ish)

Lip Swatch: Haute Red

Jordana Lipsticks

L-R: Hollywood Red, Pom-tini, Dessert Wine, Cinnamon Spice

L-R: Coffee Blend, Haute Red

L.A Colors Mineral Spa Palette

L.A Colors Sand Castles Palette

Hollywood Red and Pom-tini look very similar in the photos but in person, Hollywood Red is truly bright red in color, whereas Pom-tini is a plummy-pink color.

As for the foundation, I like the texture and how it applies, but the color Honey is a bit too light for my face. I can make it work with a darker powder, but I think if these inglot foundations I ordered don't work out I'll try the next 2 shades down.

Out of the entire haul, my favorite items thus far are the Coffee Blend l/s and the PP in Sand.

Have you tried any of the products/ brands above? And FYI, Cherry Culture is currently having a 20% off sale, just use code M20 at checkout. Expires 3/17

Cherry Culture Haul!

2011-03-12T05:42:00.000-08:00

I remember thinking as a child that lipstick was so old woman-ish. I would watch my grandmother put on her bright pink lipstick, dust on some perfumed talc (which I couldn't help but play in) and set out about her day, and think to myself while trying on her lipstick, what's the big deal? I was in utter dislike for the stuff... the waxy feel on my lips, the smell, the taste, the texture, the blinding brightness lol... no, lipstick was not for me. And that was ok, because other than these Toddlers & Tiaras children, what 6 year old needs to be wearing lipstick?

It's funny now, that in my 20's, I've developed such a LOVE and appreciation for a great tube of lipstick. Maybe it's a way for me to remember and feel closer to my grandma, or maybe it's just an age thing, but I almost feel naked with out it. Honestly, the right shade can brighten my mood and put a little more sway in my hips... It just makes me feel like such a woman LOL I've graduated from flavored Bonne Belle chapsticks and Jordana lipglosses and it's out of control! I mean I rarely can walk into a store without picking up a new shade... it's a sickness ;-)

That being said, here's my most recent haul from cherry culture! I thought the Jordana lipsticks were a nice compromise between 6 year old me and 26 year old me... full on color with glossy shine and that trademark cherry scent! Enjoy!

L.A. Colors Eye Palettes

Jordana Lipsticks in Dessert Pom-Tini, Dessert Wine, Hollywood Red,

Cinnamon Spice, Haute Red (M) & Coffee Blend (M)

L.A.Colors Mineral Blush in Chai & Plum

L.A Girl Pro Concealer in Warm Sand & Foundation in Honey

L. A Colors Mineal PP in Sand free balm in Bubblegum

Check back for the swatch post coming soon!

Rock & Republic Shadow & Powder Swatches

2011-03-10T23:43:00.000-08:00

I ordered a few shadows during the last Rock & Republic cosmetic sale, and while I love hautelook, it takes a good week & a half to get the items you order... and I am not a very patient woman either. Anyway, these were my 1st R&R shadows, and I am VERY impressed with the quality and staying power of these bad boys. They are so silky when applied and are pretty true to color, although Tribal had me fooled. I bought it expecting it to be a deep, matte, mud brown, and when I saw it... I thought NO! Not chocolate!!! I was all set and ready to pout until I swatched it and thought, now THIS is what I'm talking about... deep, matte perfection (far right).

I also picked up another pressed powder (Angora), bringing my grand total to 3, and I am still loving them. I'd say Angora is a bit dark, probably comparable to MAC's MSF Natural Dark. And these powders are also finely milled and just melt right into your skin, perfect for setting your foundation.

I've heard so many positive reviews about this brand, and I can't wait to pick up a few blushes (now that I've narrowed done my shades). Also, the packaing is SO DAMN CUTE!!! All the items come in very ornate, mirrored compacts that have just enough weight to make you feel very old hollywood glamorous when applying it. And if that wasn't already enough, each compact is then sealed in a it's own "hatbox" with the item name on stickers, which seal it shut. Rock & Republic really put some thought into their presentation and product... I LOVE it!!! Anyways, enough blabbing, picture time! Enjoy!

Shadows w/o flash

Fade

Tempting

Love Rocks

Tribal

Emerge

Emerge, Fade (you can really see the lilac here), Love Rocks, Tempting, Tribal

Exhibitionist Pressed Powder in Angora

Powder Swatches: Angora, Cashmere, Chenille

Angora, Cashmere, Chenille

All and all, very happy with my purchases and will be going back for more. Do you own any Rock & Republic cosmetics? I'd love to hear what you have and what you think of them.

NOTD: Essence Colour & Go Walk of Fame

2011-03-03T22:54:00.000-08:00

I picked up a few polishes from Ulta awhile back & am just getting around to posting on them. They are called Colour & Go by Essence, and retail for .99

They apply pretty well, and have a cream-like finish. I applied two coats in the photos, but you can get an even and opaque coverage in one. The color pictured is called Walk of Fame, which I'd described as a nice lavender gray. The wear is also shockingly awesome! I applied 2 coats over a base coat & NO topcoat and was chip/peel free for 6 days!!!

Have you tried any products from Essence? What polish are you rocking now?

EOTD: Green & Gold

2011-02-28T07:25:00.000-08:00

I was short on time this morning & opted for an eye look in lieu of any other makeup, so I dug out my old UD Book of Shadows and came up with this look... not bad for 6 minutes IMO.

Products Used:

UD Shadows in: Graffiti, Protest and Baked

WnW Vanity Palette (lightest matte color for hi-lite & matte caramel for blending)

Stila All Day Waterproof liner on top lashline

Mark Nowhere to Run liner on waterline

L'Oreal Voluminous Millions Mascara

Here's to having an OUTSTANDING day!

TAG: Products I'm Using Right Now!

2011-02-27T20:53:00.000-08:00

Recently, Natalie from Miss Natty's Beauty Diary did a post on the items she currently has in rotation & I thought it was a fun idea... so here we go! LOL

Shampoo: Nexxus ProMend (review coming soon)
Conditioner: Nexxus ProMend
Treatments: Nexxus ProMend Leave-In & Overnight conditioning treatments

Styling products: Moroccan Oil Hydrating Styling Cream, Organic Root Stimulator Edge Control, NYM Kinky Moves Curl Cream
Styling Tools: Boar Hair brush & wide tooth comb for everyday (naturally curly) look, GHD or Brazilian Heat flat irons & Hot Tools 1in curler

Shower Gel: None, just my ABS (African black soap) from Nasabb
Body moisturizer: C.Booth Apricot Oil lotion, Burt’s Bees Apricot Oil, Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel (for face)

Deodorant: Secret
Fake Tan: lol None
Cleanser: NeaClear Liquid Oxygen Wash, ABS

Exfoliator: C.Booth Green Apple Microderm Scrub

Primer: Too Faced Primed & Poreless for liquid foundation or Stila One Step for Mineral
Foundation: Jane Iredale Loose Base, NARS Sheer Glow, Yaby

Foundation brush: Sigma retractable flat kabuki for mineral & CS wide flat-top kabuki for liquid

Concealer: L.A Girl pro HD, Milani Secret Cover

Powder: MAC MSF, RR Exhibition pressed powder
Blusher: MAC Gingerly
Highlighter: NARS Illuminator

Eyeshadow base: NARS smudgeproof base
Eyeshadows: CS 88 Mirage Palette, WnW Vanity palette
Eyeliner: MARK Nowhere to Run, Stila All Day liquid liner/kajal liners
Curler: E.L.F
Mascara: L’Oreal Voluminous Millions

Brows: Tarte EmphasEYES brow pencil, MARK Nowhere to Run

Lipstick: MAC Underplay or Yash, NYX Antwerp Soft Matte lip cream

Lipgloss: MAC Revealing or Flesh
Nail Colour: OPI San Tan-tonio

What about you, what's in your beauty rotation? have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

Coastal Scents 88 Mirage Palette: Swatches

2011-02-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

After getting a few requests, I decided to sit down and swatch this palette in it's entirety for ya'll. I had some difficulty with the 1st few columns (my own error), so I'll re-swatch and edit later... just wanted to get them up & running ASAP. I truly love this palette, so I hope you enjoy the swatches!!!

**SWATCHED IN COLUMNS ACROSS PALETTE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM (L-R on screen)**

COLUMN A

COLUMN B

COLUMN C

COLUMN D

COLUMN E

COLUMN F

COLUMN G

COLUMN H

COLUMN I

COLUMN J

COLUMN K

P.S- Mirage Palette is back in stock, get yours here.

STILA E! Red Carpet Looks palette

2011-02-23T19:28:00.000-08:00

I picked this baby up awhile back & am just getting around to posting. There are actually 3 palettes, all of which are gorgeous, but I chose the GLAMOUR GODDESS because it seemed the most useful for me since I like neutral looks for everyday wear, and it came with a liner. Each palette contains 6 shadows, a kitten highlighter & a convertible color + a bonus (either a liner, shadow or gloss depending on the palette choice) for $25.

I've never picked up a Stila shadow before, and I should have, because they are GREAT! This brand has been surprising me a lot lately, so you'd think I would just stop BSing and get on board already, right? The shadows in this palette are so pigmented, soft and blendable... and they've arranged them in 2 color coordinated looks for you to pull off.

On the inside left of the palette, there is a mirror and instructions on how to create the featured palette look, which I thought was not only cool... but helpful for makeup newbies like myself. The palette itself is fairly thin, and about as tall as your standard memo/address book with a small magnet closure so it's handbag friendly. The look pictured below was done using the 1st two shadows (glitz & on the list) for the signature look and the crease shade (star) for the 2nd look, as I found it created a more natural and subtle look than the dolled up Glamour Goddess. And let me say, I am in LOVE with the waterproof smudgestick in LIONFISH (a deep bronze liner)... I'll have to grab a few more colors to add to my arsenal ;-)

I'd say it's a tremendous value for what you get, and easy/practical to use... so well worth your money to purchase. I'll be going back to Ulta to grab the other two palettes soon, as well as hitting up my local Nordstroms Rack to get a few Stila shadows.

Has anyone tried these E! Red Carpet Palettes? What do you think about them?

NOTD: OPI SAN TAN-TONIO

2011-02-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

OPI recently launched their new Texas collection, and it's actually pretty hot! Though I feel alot of the colors are similar to what they already have in their permanent collection or can be easily duped, I did see a few that I want, such as IT'S TOTALLY FORT WORTH IT (a GORGEOUS lavendar/grey sparkle) and GUY MEETS GAL-VESTON (a bright coral), and the one I've already picked up... SAN TAN-TONIO! It's the ULTIMATE nude shade.

OPI describes it as "the perfect honey tan," and they couldn't be more correct. It looks so great on my nails with my skintone, I'd HIGHLY suggest this color for anyone who loves that nude/natural nail look... would look GREAT on all the NC44-50s!

Take a look for yourself & tell me what you think!

** Please excuse the chipped base coat in the photos... It's a week old & I was too excited to remove it and re-apply before adding color LOL

Are you planning on grabbing anything from the TEXAS collection?

EOTD: AUTUMN INSPIRED LOOK (88 MIRAGE PALETTE)

2011-02-21T03:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick EOTD using the Coastal Scents 88 Mirage Palette. I was inspired by the colors in one of my child's toy cases lol

For Reference: 88 Mirage Palette

Inner/Lid: E6 & D1, Crease/"V": F5 & H1
Highlight: A4

(top) L.A Colors Liquid Liner (brown/black)
(bottom) MARK Nowhere to Run liner
No mascara

Hope you guys enjoyed the look... Have an AMAZING day!!!!

February Birchbox

2011-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

I'm a few weeks late on this posting, but here it is nonetheless...

This month's Birchbox shipment was actually pretty darn good, containing a few products I'd actually been curious about in recent months. If you're not familiar with Birchbox, it's a great concept: for a mere $10/month you will receive a shipment of 4-5 deluxe makeup samples from various well-known cosmetics brands. You also get a discount on any full size item from the shipment you buy, as well as loyalty points for rating the products that you can in turn save and use to purchase full sized items. How amazing is that!

In my February shipment I received:

I. Bare Escentuals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara
II. Befine Exfoliating Brown Sugar Cleanser
III. Nars Orgasm Illuminator
IV. Pomega5 Green Tea Mattifying Moisturizer
V. (bonus) SweetRiot Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs

I've heard so much about the Nars Illuminator in Orgasm, but just never really got myself to give it a go. I've only used this sample a few times, and it's not at all what I expected, yet I really like it. First, it has such a light and smooth texture to it... you can't feel it on at all. It has a light citrus scent, and the color is a nice, peachy-bronze color that it goes well with any skintone. It also doesn't leave any sticky feeling or residue behind, which is an added plus. I'm not sure if I will be buying a full size of this item since I'm not a big user of highlighters/illuminators, but I will surely use this sample up.

Another great item was the Befine Cleanser. Now, I've used a few products from this line, and have been pleased with them all. And I've seen this cleanser in stores and while it sounded lovely, I've stayed away from it (and any other sugar cleanser/scrub) because I HATE the feeling/ residue that they leave on my skin. And while this smells great and actually exfoliates well, it STILL left me with that tacky feeling I dislike from sugar scrubs (no matter how well I wash it off). But if sugar scrubs and cleansers are your thing, this is absolutely something worth investing in.

I'll be doing a more in depth review on the BE Mascara and Pomega5 Moisturizer (excited about this) as I use them. As for the candy, I'm not a fan of dark chocolate, but I'll update once my SO has a taste LOL

Have you subscribed to Birchbox yet? Tried any of the items? I'd love to hear what you think!

RAVE & REVIEW: L.A Girl Pro HD Concealer (cherryculture HAUL)

2011-02-15T22:22:00.000-08:00

YES, YES.... YESSSSSSSS! I have found my HG concealer in L.A Girl's Pro HD Concealer... this stuff is down right AMAZING! I recently went and got the Kat Von D concealer, and frankly wasn't too impressed. It had really great coverage, but I found it to be cakey, and fairly drying... plus I had to end up mixing ALMOND & CARAMEL to attempt to find a match... and let's be real, at $25 a piece... I expect for it to be perfect. Needless to say, Kat Von D was a major FAIL for me.

Then , while browsing cherryculture.com during one of their promotions, I saw the L.A Girl pro concealer and decided that at $2.50 a pop I could pick up a few and hopefully find some luck... and I did! First off, the swatches on the site need some work. The colors are pretty off, but the undertones of the shades are pretty correct. I ended up picking up 7 shades to try, totaling $17.50, which is $7.50 cheaper than ONE Kat Von D concealer.

Did I find a match? Yes! How's the coverage? This stuff is so opaque, you only need a little, and it spreads/ blends so easily. As for the texture, it's not runny at all, but also isn't too thick that it applies patchy or dry. Ready for the best part... it lasts ALL DAY!!! ALL.DAMN.DAY.... for only $2.50!!!!

Now, let's talk about how much product you get in L.A Girl compared to Kat Von D. Kat Von D yields .58 oz, while L.A Girl contains .25 oz of product. But when looking at value, although Kat Von D has more than double the product that L.A Girl contains, L.A Girl is clearly the better value. Fact is, you can buy two or three of the L.A Girl concealers to match the product content of the Kat Vond D concealer and STILL come out between $17.50-$20 cheaper than purchasing ONE Kat Von D concealer. And you have 18 color options to choose from, whereas Kat Von D only boasts 8 colors shades.

And out of the 7 shades I picked up, I found a couple dupes for the Kat Von D shades I bought previously! I definitely think this was an amazing buy, and will be picking up a few more in my shade to have on hand, though I feel one tube will last awhile since a little goes a long way.

If anyone is interested, I will be selling the shades that were not a match for $3.50 (shipping incl.). A couple have been opened and swatched 1X, while the rest are unopened and sealed still. The shades being sold are: ALMOND, TOAST, TOFFEE, BEAUTIFUL BRONZE.

I also grabbed a few eyeliners that I'd been eyeing for awhile, but are almost always sold out. I picked up Styli-Style's Bullit Kajal liners in BLACK/BROWN & SOFT BLACK, and Jordana's semi permanent liquid liner in ENDLESS BLACK & NONSTOP CHARCOAL. I was VERY shocked to see how small the Kajal liners were... smaller than my pinky finger, but it's ALL product. And trust me when I say a LITTLE is all you need. I simply DOT (not glide) it on in a few places since it's so soft & smudge or blend to cover the entire lashline. I have not tried the Jordana liners yet, so I'll have to do another review once I've tried them a few times.

If you guys want a few swatches of these items or anymore info, leave me a comment.

Hope you enjoyed!
«

EOTD: ROSE GOLD & OLIVE LOOK USING THE 88 MIRAGE PALETTE

2011-02-15T02:20:00.000-08:00

I received my Mirage palette from Coastal Scents a few days ago, and have been in absolute LOVE with it since I opened the package! It is so much more beautiful in person... photos truly do it no justice. I checked the site a few days ago and this palette was sold out, but they will be restocking by the end of this month, and I STRONGLY suggest you pick this palette up... it's THAT great! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, THIS is my favorite palette... EVER! It contains a nice mix of matte, satin and shimmer colors, and ALL have excellent payoff. If you guys want to see swatches of the palette then let me know and I'll try to set some time aside to make that happen.

Anyways, here's a simple look I did using the Coastal Scents 88 Mirage Palette. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but the lid color is a GORGEOUS pinkish-gold! I was asked if you can skip this if you already have the Metal Mania palette, and honestly, I'd say HELL NO!!! This palette has so many wonderful colors that you cannot find in the metals palette (like the deeper greens,purples,and blues) as well as some that are close in shade, and the finishes of a lot of them give you the same effect. So really, if it comes down to choosing, I say go for the Mirage Palette... unless you're recession proof and can swing them both LOL

And now that my initial review is done... on to the look!

For Reference: 88 Mirage Palette

On Lid: D8, Crease: I5 & I6, Browbone: E2

To highlight I used the matte cream shade from the W&W Vanity palette
To deepen the crease I used my Palladio Herbal Shadow in Black Onyx
I used Stila All Day waterproof liner on the top lashline &
MARK Nowhere to Run liner in Jet Set (lightly) for the bottom lashline and
topped the look off with Voluminous Millions Mascara

Hope you guys enjoyed it!

*All products were paid for by ME for my own personal use*

FOTN: Purple & Coral look

2011-02-09T23:43:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of trying new endeavors, I've decided to give it a go at posting my very 1st EVER Face of the Day/Night!!! Tonight happened to be the birthday of the man who gave me the greatest gift ever (my child ;-D), and since he's into more natural looks, I kept the look pretty soft and focused on the eyes using mainly purple & coral shadows from my coastal scents 88 palette.

For reference

Products Used:
Revlon Camera Ready Foundation
Rock & Republic Exhibition Pressed Powder
Milani Secret Cover Concealer
MAC Gingerly Blush
Coastal Scents 88 Palette: A6, I2- I5, K7
ELF waterproof liner pen
L'Oreal Voluminous Millions Mascara
MAC Oak liner
MAC Revealing lipglass

Hope you guys enjoyed the look!

VOTE for ME: Black Opal True Beauty Contest

2011-02-09T04:44:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! If you haven't already heard, Black Opal is hosting their True Beauty contest until Feb. 28th!!! Why is this important? Well, besides being a leader in the cosmetic industry for WOC, they are giving one lucky woman the opportunity to be the face of their new campaign, an all expenses paid professional shoot in NY a $20,000 college scholarship as well as a year's worth of Black Opal products.

What can you do to help? That's easy... I need you to VOTE for me!!! And it's easy, simply go to Black Opal's website, register (which will take all of 30 seconds), and cast your VOTE for ME! You can vote ONCE a DAY, EVERYDAY, so don't forget to go back and vote for me... and tell your friends too!

I'm kind of going out on a limb by submitting my entry, but life's about taking chances... you can't expect to do great things if you're too scared to make a move, right? So, if you'd be so inclined as to go here and register, and click HERE to vote for me, I will truly appreciate it. And if you're interested, enter yourself... you never know what can happen :-)

Remember, you can VOTE once a day, everyday until Feb. 28, 2011

Thank you for taking the time to support me, and good luck to anyone else who have entered!

CoastalScents 88 Mirage Palette

2011-02-07T03:29:00.000-08:00

So.... I just got around to checking my emails and saw one from coastal scents advertising their new 88 Mirage palette. Upon first glance, I was smitten. It's full of deep, rich jewel and earth tones.... in all honesty, this is probably their best palette to date. Needless to say, I bought this baby! They will be on sale for $21.95 through midnight EST on 2/7/2011 so I'd suggest you pick it up by then if this tickles your fancy, otherwise it'll jump up a few dollars to it's reg. price of $24.95

Look for a review and swatches/photos later in the week...

SHADOWFEVER (Karen marie Moning)!!!!!!

2011-01-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

Let me start off by saying... I LOVE THIS FREAKING SERIES!!!! My mother actually turned me on to this author a few years ago, and I have practically inhaled every book she's published ever since. After finishing Dreamfever last year, I've been (not so) patiently waiting for this book to be released, and damn near cried when it was pushed back to a january release.... but it's here!!!

Now I must confess, I pre-ordered this book... but after pre-viewing the 1st two chapters on her website, I ended up buying it on my kindle (LOL) on it's release date (1-16-11) because I was literally laying in bed wondering what came next. I finished it last night, and I have to say... well done Karen.

She came out swinging on the final(?) book. From the 1st chapter, you're getting answers and are drawn into the action that left you slack-jawed from the last installment. I'm not going to post any spoilers (even though they don't stop me from reading and enjoying a book) just in case you guys haven't read or are currently reading it. But if you have not read any of the fever series... you have no idea what you're missing... get into it! And while you're at it, check out her Highlander series as well... she has a knack for drawing you into her characters. Someone really needs to turn these books into a series/miniseries/movie ASAP!!!

And honestly, out of all the books she's written, and I own them ALL in hardback... IMO this one is absolutely the most beautifully packaged/designed. The ornate detail of the dustcover it great, as well as the double/see thru cover (clear printed dustcover reveals another cover on the hardcover) that play on each other.

That's pretty much it, just had to share my excitement for this book, and say that while there were alot of pieces I pretty much already guessed, she did a great job on this one... even though I was not really happy with the ending. BUT it did leave off with a semi-promise for potentially another installment... so yea me!!! Now, I'm going to re-read this few more times, and I suggest that if you guys like fiction/action/romance novels, head to your local bookstore, walmart, target or if you want a signed copy (like I purchased) go here and order the book.

So... read any good books lately?

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review + Swatches

2011-01-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

I know 2011 just started, but I think I've found my favorite lip products of the new year. NYX has been steadily becoming one of my favorite cosmetics brands over the last year or so, but they've really outdone themselves with their new Soft Matte Lip Creams. It currently comes in 11 different shades, and leaves a beautiful creamy, matte finish on the lips. The color is opaque, and unlike most mattes, this product is non-drying when applied with the doe tip wand. I love the packaging, it's very simple and slim (about 3.5- 4in long), so it will fit in your pocket or bag without taking up much space. The lipstick is true to color in the tube... but the swatches online are garbage!!!!!! I'd suggest you either do the research and find some real swatches of the actual product or buy them in store to avoid being disappointed because the color you ordered looks nothing like the image online. For instance, Monte Carlo looks like a deep rust color in the online swatch, yet in reality, it is a deep crimson color.... this color discrepancy is true with at least 4 other shades as well. But at $6 a piece, you can't be too upset if the colors don't match up because they are still lovely shades that compliment everyone. And they have pretty decent staying power too!!!

So far, I'd have to say Abu Dhabi (which is the perfect nude for NC44-45 ish tones), Antwerp (a gorgeous peach shade) and Sao Paulo (a vivid pink) are my absolute favorites! Now, that the formalities are done... on to the swatches!!! Enjoy!

Lip swatches in same order as they appear in the above photo.

FREE ZOYA NAIL POLISHES- ends 1/7/11

2011-01-07T03:20:00.000-08:00

I was checking out EmeraldC's blog when I stumbled upon this great little tidbit... until Friday January 7, 2011 ZOYA is giving away your choice of 3 nail polishes for FREE (jjust pay shipping) So you know I had to rush to the site and select my three shades, for a grand total of $6.95... which was the shipping rate.

Hurry and claim your three while you can!

1. Pick your 3 desired shades and add them to the basket

2. Enter code FB2011 at checkout

3. Select your choice of shipping and voila! Three free polishes are on there way to YOU

I'd love to see swatches of what you picked.

Awww... the joy of free items LOL Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Aromaleigh haul + swatches pt.2

2011-01-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today is rather bittersweet for me… my final Aromaleigh order came in. I ordered 11 shadows (mostly mattes) from their various collections, and once again, I am kicking myself for not getting multiples of certain colors. The color intensity of every color is pretty damn good, I applied each shadow in the swatch photo WITHOUT a base, and they apply easily and blend well (even the mattes). A few of the shades show up chalky in the photo due to my cleaning the brush in between swatches, but it is not the case when you are working with them. I wouldn’t say they are creamy, but they do apply fairly smooth. I got them during their going out of business sale at about $2.50 a pop (full size), which was pretty amazing. I’m actually wishing that somehow Aromaleigh pulls a “phoenix” and comes back from the ashes (so to speak) because they had some truly amazing and unique shades that I have yet to see anywhere else… they were really killing the mineral eyeshadow game!!!

I. II.

III. IV.

As for my favorites so far, I would have to say STARFISH, WISTERIA, UMBER, and ROOM SERVICE are really doing it for me. I wish I’d have grabbed another jar of STARFISH, UMBER and WISTERIA (and a few more colors I passed on) because I have a feeling they will be getting used A LOT, as STARFISH is such a great neutral eye color for anyone and UMBER is just that great deep, flat brown that everyone needs in their collection.

Swatches in order of appearance on pictures:

I. Moss(m), Lagoon (m), Luella

II. Starfish (m), Mela, Room Service

III. Wisteria(m), Umber, Violette(m)

IV. Marsh(m), Severina(l)

Were you able to grab any Aromaleigh before their final curtain call? I’d love to see some of the colors you managed to pick up and hear what you think.

And here’s a belated Happy New Year for you!!!

P.S- Any resolutions for 2011?

Teena Marie - If I Were A Bell (live)

2010-12-27T10:37:00.000-08:00

I still can't phathom the truth in this. I can hear any one of her songs and be transported back to a specific memory of something grand in my life. Prayers go out to Alia Rose in the wake of her mother's passing. There will never be another one as talented, charismatic, poised and gracious as Lady T.... REST IN PEACE.

Aromaleigh haul + swatches pt.1

2010-12-22T23:56:00.000-08:00

OH DANG!!! My Aromaleigh vault order came in the mail today & I just about lost my damn mind when I got my hands on these beautiful pigments that I ordered LOL As most of you know by now, Aromaleigh has closed down shop, but before they did.... one helluva sale ensued!!! Now, I'd purchased samples from the company before, and LOVED them, but I'm more of a collector than a user... I'm trying to be better about it. So in all honesty, I've never bought a full sized pigment from ANY company regardless of how much I liked them because I didn't really know what to do with them, but they were selling their full sized pigments for $3.50 and $2.75 A PIECE!!!! WTF! I'd have to be a dummy to not get in there and do a little bit of damage.

Now, this is titled pt.1 for a reason, as I have another order with the company coming within the next few weeks containing pigments from their reg. line/collections... swatches and reviews to come ASAP. In this shipment, I got 8 pigments from the WONDERSTRUCK, SPELLS, & MYTHOS collections... and after receiving my order, I'm pretty pissed that I didn't order more and duplicates.

The colors I picked up were (in order of appearance on the pics):

1st pic:Pass the Tarts, Mimsy, Curious and Curiouser, ...but this is my dream, Curious Dream (all from the WONDERSTRUCK collection)

2nd pic: Selene (from the MYTHOS collection), Orchidious, Rictusempra (both from the SPELLS collection)

I absolutely fell in LOVE, LOVE I tell you, with Selene from the MYTHOS collection. I even rushed and did a quick EOTD using it on the lid & my Sleek Bohemian palette because I was so smitten. And BE KIND, I literally started practicing my eyeshadow/pigment application a few months ago... like I said, I was always more of a buyer/collector than a "user".

Did any of you get a chance to grab up any Aromaleigh during their farewell sale?

Not Your Mother's Hair Care Review

2010-12-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

I was in walmart not too long ago picking up some christmas decorations for the house and ended up in the hair aisle... like I always do... and stumbled upon a new brand of products called NYM (Not Your Mothers). Everything in the line retails for under $5 at Walmart, so it's certainly affordable... but is it actually any good? Hell to the yes... go grab you some lol

I picked up four of the 6 items that my local walmart had (passed on the thickening spray and the tease me hairspray... I don't need any thicker or teased hair LOL). I have not used the KINKY MOVES curl cream yet, so I'll have to review it separately when it stops raining and I can go back to my standard wash 'n wear curls... but here's the rest of the review for ya'll.

All of the items have a GREAT scent to them. I'm usually rather sensitive to scents, and while it's fairly strong, the raspberry smell did not bother me when I was using the products. And it made my hair smell great even after heat styling. I started out by applying the SMOOTH MOVES cream to just washed, damp hair and combing through before spraying my entire head with the BEAT THE HEAT protectant & blowing my hair dry. Neither product left any stickyness or waxy residue on my hair like alot of the blow dry lotions/creams do. I noticed that my hair got pretty darn straight in a shorter amount of time than usual (as my hair holds water something awful)... which was a plus!

Next, I parted my hair into 4 sections and used my brazilian heat flat iron to straighten my hair, freshly applying more BEAT THE HEAT protectant spray as I went along. Again, NO sticky feeling or white residue on my hair... and for ONCE my hair smelled of raspberries and NOT hot hair (you know what I mean?). I ended up pin curling my hair for the night and set it with the ALL EYES ON ME hairspray and wrapped it up for the night. When I woke up in the morning, I had beautiful, shiny, bouncy curls that still had a hint of raspberry smell to them LOL.

I so LOVE this line and the products I've tried and will making them a staple in my haircare routine from now on. I know walmart tends to switch out lines pretty often (or at least my store does), so I will be going back and grabbing multiples before I can't find them anywhere else. I did a search for this line and came up with some ridiculous prices for these products, which were being sold in salons, so your local walmart is the best bargain for these amazing products.

Had you ever heard of the NOT YOUR MOTHERS hair care products before? If you've tried them, what do you think about them?

Buried Treasure: Palladio Herbal Eyeshadow + Sally Girl Blush

2010-12-20T00:13:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love it when you find things you forgot you even had? Re-discovery is the best... especially when it comes to makeup lol. Well tonight, while searching through storage boxes for christmas ornaments, I came across a box that had these beautiful little gems inside!

I bought these when my SO and I went to camarillo awhile back and had only swatched two of the shadows. First, they blend soooooooo well, and are so freaking creamy!!!! They're comparable in texture to the MAC matte2... possibly even better. The colors I picked up were Matte Brown, Navy Blue and Black Onyx. After finding and playing with these beauties again, I can surely say I will be heading to my local sally's to pick up a few more shades for my ever-growing collection. I can't recall the exact price, but I'm pretty sure that they were only a few dollars a piece. And the blush by Sally girl is called FLUSHED... and it is such a beautiful coral-pink, one of those good on anyone colors. I also had a Sally Girl eyeshadow quad in GUM DROPS.... but the color payoff wasn't any good IMO so I decided not to even post it (if you want swatches of that palette anyway let me know & I'll post them.

My hidden treasures: Palladio Herbal Shadows

L-R: Matte Brown, Navy Blue, Black Onyx, Flushed

For the quality, amount of product and payoff you get, you can't beat the $$$ of the PALLADIO Herbal Shadows (which are $3 per shadow... I googled it LOL). If you haven't tried them, go out and grab a couple, you deserve a few stocking stuffers of your own LOL And if you have been lucky enough to own any of these babies... were you as in love with them as I am?

My DECEMBER Birchbox

2010-12-13T20:18:00.001-08:00

I received my 2nd Birchbox shipment a few days ago and I have to say I really LOVE this one. Excuse the pics, as I didn't get the time to edit them. Included in this month's order was:

1. BLOW- Bow up volumizing spray

2. JOUER- Luminizing Moisture Tint (I LOVE IT!!!!)

3. SERGE LUTENS- L'Eau

4. STILA- Lip Glaze in Kitten

I really like the color of Kitten, but this is the 1st time I've tried Stila's lip glaze... and I am not a fan. It was really thick and sticky, and left my lips pretty dry when I wiped it off... and it left tissue stuck to my mouth, so I had to end up using olive oil to get the sticky off. But, the item that I just flat out fell helplessly in love with is the Luminizing Moisture Tint from Jouer. The color I received was Deep Bronze (which was a shade too dark... but I made it work). This is probably the best tinted moisturizer I have ever used. It actually has pretty good coverage for a moisturizer and made for a GREAT base under my Jane Iredale mineral foundation. I would definitely reccommend this product. The Jouer site offers this product in a full size AND a travel size tube for $38-$20.... which is a bit high, but it is soooooooo worth it.

As for the Serge Lutens perfume, I liked it... can't say I would buy it, but I would love to get it as a gift LOL I mean damn.... $105 for 100ml... we're still in a recession!

Have you guys tried Birchbox yet?

Thank the LORD for giveaways!!!

2010-11-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

MzFashionCloset GIVEAWAY!!!!

YEA BUDDY!!! This has got to be one of the greatest giveways in the history of giveaways... a pair of POUR LA VICTOIRE shoes of YOUR choosing!!! You can't see my happy dance right now... but TRUST I am soooooooooooo doing it LOL Pour la Victoire has to be one of my FAVORITE brands out there... their quality & attention to detail is part of what makes them a force in the shoe game. To enter and view all details, go check out MzFashionCloset and while you're there... take a long look around at all the fabulousness that is her! And me... I'm about to send a prayer up that I win this contest ;-)

Sugarpill... taking over the world! Review w/PICS

2010-11-06T01:33:00.000-07:00

I recently placed my 1st order with Amy at Sugarpill after seeing a few great reviews about the brand. First off, there is soooooo much detail and thought put into the brand, imaging and product quality!!! The box itself was stamped in the lower lefthand corner with the sugarpill cat logo (so cute). The actual products were carefully wrapped in bright pink tissue paper, which follows the basic packaging color scheme. Both the actual product AND the box it comes in are decorated gorgeously. I picked up a 4 shadow palette (mirrored) as well as 2 single shadows... and let me tell you... I was PLEASANTLY surprised to see how HUGE the shadows are. They are bigger than a MAC shadow... about the size of a MUFE single shadow (if not a tad larger). Color intensity is great! What you see is what you get. The eyeshadows apply very even and creamy, not at all chalky and would blend well. A neat feature of the palette is the product names and colors are printed on the back so there is no confusion AND it has a magnetic closure so you don't have to worry about it popping open or damaging the shadows trying to get it open. The clasp on the single shadows closes tightly and was very easy to open and close, and has a cute little "tattoo" detail on the clear flip lid.

Overall, I LOVE Sugarpill!!!! Prices are great, cheaper than MAC and MUFE ($12 for shadows, $34 for palettes), yet you get more product... and the color payoff is AMAZING, as you can see in the pictures below (swatches were done dry WITHOUT primer or base). Have you tried Sugarpill yet? Tell me what you think about their products.

Eyeshadow/Palette Boxes(front)

Palette shadows: Love+, Flamepoint, Poisen

Plum & Buttercupcake

Single Shadows: Midori & Tako

Back of single shadows

Back of actual palette

Palette & Shadows (back view)

Palette & Shadows (front view)

Swatches!!!! No primer/base

HIDDEN TREASURE PRIZE!!!!

2010-10-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

An EXTRA big thank you to Ms. Tina over at TheFancyFace for her Hidden Treasure pt.1 game.... that I won!!!!!

I received my package from Tina in the mail a few days ago & have swatched my beautiful prizes from MAC's Venomous Villains collection: "De-Vil" eyeshadow and "Violetta" lipstick. De-Vil is a gorgeous rust color that appeared rather shimmery/metallic when swatched... can't wait to use it! And Violetta is a down right BEAUTIFUL violet shade of lipstick that applies creamy and highly pigmented... I've never really worn a purple-ish lip before, but this is so cute that I'm certainly going to find a reason to rock the hell out of this lipstick LOL

Thanks for stopping by & Hope you enjoyed the swatches!

-Miss Brina

Stila & Urban Decay Mascara Review

2010-09-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've got a favorite mascara... it's magical. Not only does it make my lashes longer, fuller, darker and curlier... it also makes me an all around happier person when I'm wearing it LOL Am I reviewing that mascara? Sadly, no... but I did get the chance to test out two new mascaras, as it never hurts to have a backup (or even find a new #1)

The 1st mascara I tried was Urban Decays Skyscraper . Let me just say that the packaging was absolutely ADORABLE!!! Honestly, that's why I wanted it. The brush is nothing new or original, but helps to comb out and separate your lashes abit. As for the formula itself, I didn't notice any clumping or flaking, and it was very light on my lashes and left them flexible (although lashes started "grouping" together after additional coats).

Two coats of UD Skyscraper

I also tried Stila's Lash Visor (which is a steal at $12.50). The brush, while large, is nothing to write home about... but this mascara is pretty great. It gave me soft, nicely separated lashes, added a bit of length while holding my natural curl, but was lacking in the pigment department. If you're looking for a nice and defined natural looking lash, Lash Visor is definitely for you. Out of the 2 mascaras, this one comes out ahead in my book.

One coat of Stila Lash Visor

Both mascaras are nice in their own right, but I won't be ditching my all time favorite Kevyn Aucoin mascara just get. Hope this was helpful!

NYX 10 Color Palette Review & Swatches

2010-09-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

I own more makeup than I could ever use in a lifetime. Do I use a quarter of it? No. Do I have a place for all of it? No. Will any of that stop me from acquiring more? Of course not. Hell, I just ordered some Lorac lippies on Hautelook this morning... but that's a whole different post. Today, to my absolute pleasure, I recieved my NYX 10 Color palette in Champagne & Caviar AND 3 single shadows in HIGH LITE, BROWN, and MOROCCO.

First off, I LOVE this palette!!! The shadows are sooooo soft & apply creamy. I've heard NYX shadows were pretty nice, but I just never got into the brand, so I was a bit surprised at the quality for the price. As its name suggests, the palette contains 10 coordinating matte and shimmer shadows that can be used to create amazing day, night or smokey looks. I definitely believe this is a palette everyone needs to have in their stash... it contains all the staple shades as far as I am concerned & would work well on ANY skintone. I'm still learning how to create eye looks, but I'll be posting a look using this palette just as soon as my baby lets me... newborns run the show!!! ;-)

The single shadows are just as soft and creamy as the shades in the palette, but I did find that I had to do a bit more building to get the pigmentation you see on the swatches. I really like Brown, it's a great matte shade for blending on deeper skintones. High Light is a nice, warm beige color that would look great as a brow highlight or inner eye brightener. And my FAV so far has to be Morocco, which is this beautiful jewel toned blue... it appears to have some purple shimmer in its undertone... I LOVE it so much.... it brings out the green in my eyes like you wouldn't believe!!!!

Hope you enjoyed yourselves & the swatches!

*ALL swatches done with NYX jumbo pencil in Milk as base.*

NYX Round Lipstick: Review & Swatches

2010-09-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

During the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy, I became suddenly obssessed with lipstick. I've always been a pretty faithful lipgloss girl, but for some reason I found myself wanting to buy lipstick everywhere I went. Now that I have had my daughter and am pretty much homebound until she has her first shots later this month, I've re-discovered the joys of online shopping... and cherryculture.com! After hearing some pretty great things about the Nyx lippies, I decided to give them a second chance (I'd purchased Frappaccino before at Ulta and it was dry, plus the color didn't suit me). SO glad I did, because I am seriously in love with them. I bought 8 shades (all but one fairly neutral), and am pleasantly surprised by how pigmented and creamy they are. They also apply pretty darn even, and at $2.25 each, I will definitely be trying more shades in the very near future. Check out the swatches below.

DOLL

HERADES

TAUPE

URANUS

MARS

STONE

ECHO

CREAMY BEIGE

So far, I am really loving Uranus and Herades. I've also recently purchased Hermes, which I will swatch and add later. Have you tried any of the NYX Round lipsticks? What's your opinion of these?

2010-07-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

TAG: MY FIRSTS
This oughtt to be fun...

Do you still talk to your First love?
YEP... WE'RE BEST FRIENDS NOW
What was your First alcoholic drink?
IT WAS A SIP OF BUDWEISER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
What was your First job?
FOOD VENDOR
What was your First car?
MITSUBISHI GALANT
Who was the First person to text you today?
MY HOMEGIRL
Who was the First person you thought of this morning?
MY DAUGHTER
Where did you go on your First ride on an airplane?
TO TEXAS TO VISIT FAMILY
Who was your First best friend & do you still talk?
MY 1ST BEST FRIEND WAS ADELLA, AND YES WE STILL TALK
Where was your First sleep over?
MY AUNT STEPHANIE'S
Who was the First person you talked to today?
THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
Whose wedding were you in the First time?
MY COUSIN ALLISON
What was the First thing you did this morning?
ROLLED OUT OF BED
What was the First concert you ever went to?
NEW EDITION
What was your First broken bone?
NEVER HAD ONE... AND I PRAY I NEVER DO
What was your First piercing?
MY EARS AT ABOUT 3 MONTHS OLD
First foreign country you've gone to?
NEVER BEEN TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, JUST U.S. TERRITORIES
First movie you remember seeing?
LAND BEFORE TIME
When was you First detention?
I THINK IT WAS 1ST GRADE FOR SWINGING MY BACKPACK
Who was your first roommate?
MY BROTHER WHEN WE WERE KIDS
If you had one wish, what would it be?
TO HAVE UNLIMITED WISHES
What is something you would learn if you had a chance?
LATIN
Did you marry the First person to ask for you hand in marriage/you asked to marry?
NOPE
What was the First sport you were involved in?
TRACK
What were the First lessons you ever took?
BALLET & TAP SIMULTANEOUSLY
What is the First thing you do when you get home?
SIT MY PURSE DOWN
Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
I HAVE NO CLUE

The end is near....

2010-06-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

So, I originally started this blog with all the hopes and expectations of delivering makeup reviews and general chit chat... then found out I was PREGNANT!!! Now, this was exciting news for me, and I couldn't wait to blog about it.... until the MORNING SICKNESS hit... which actually lasts ALL DAMN DAY!!! But now I can say, that after 7.5 months of one of the greatest experiences of my life, I am actually motivated to get back on this thing and start this blog rolling. I've got about 6-7 weeks before my little girl arrives and a whole lot of energy, so stay tuned for what that turns into LOL....

Black People These Days....

2010-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

Alright now, I've just finished reading my latest issue of EBONY magazine and can't seem to shake this feeling of irritation that is sitting on me. Basically, certain folks took offense to Reggie Bush being on the cover of last months magazine spotlighting our fantasy black men... so much so that they wrote countless emails and letters, which resulted in a full article addressing the issue in THIS month's issue. WHY, you ask, was there such an uproar? He's dating a NON black woman. (OH THE HORROR) lol Most of the letters were down right ridiculous, even spouting such crap that refers to Mr. Bush not appreciating black women or being a proud black man because he is involved in an interracial relationship. So let me get this straight, Reggie Bush is a disgraceful, black woman hating, black heritage loathing man.... all because the woman he's currently dating is NOT black like him? And this is such a serious offense (as one woman wrote) that black women should not consider him a fantasy man? LMAO They even went as far as to blame him for the low self image of black women in today's society... he must be a powerful ass dude to single handedly bring down the self esteem of the entire community of black women in the world. Fact is, I am a black woman, who has a VERY high level of self esteem... and while I appreciate the fineness that is Mr. Reggie Bush... could care less about who he's giving it to in his personal life. I don't know him personally nor do I have any hopes of dating him in the future, just like the idiots writing these dumb ass letters.... so why the hell does it matter that is woman is not black like him? It almost embarrasses me to be black when I read comments about this man being unworthy of being recognized as an accomplished and positive black male because his woman is not black. How that draws the conclusion he hates black women and black people completely baffles me. The article was to praise positive black men, the type of man most women fantasize about... and his relationship does not take away the fact that he IS a black man, he IS accomplished, he IS a role model in the community and he IS fine as hell LOL. You'd think that since these folks believe themselves to be so damn perceptive they'd be able to see that they are only strengthening the stereotype of the angry and bitter black woman. To these women I would like to say... relax, because REGGIE doesn't want your ass anyway!!! LOL NOT because you're black, but simply because you're IGNORANT. I notice that no one has a problem with Paula Patton being recognized as proud black woman and role model in the black community.... and she's married to a WHITE man. And just so we get it correct, I have no issue with her or her cutie pie husband ROBIN THICKE... just trying to prove a point. Anyway, had to get it off my chest, but I'm still a bit amazed that people these days can still be so closed minded and misinformed.

What the hell.... new chick in the building!

2009-12-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

So, after MUCH pressure from my boyfriend, my family, my friends and a few of my instructors at school... I am OFFICIALLY a blogger! LOL Truthfully, I have been thinking about this for awhile now as I tried, without much luck, to google makeup swatches to compare them on women of color. I was shocked to find it so difficult to find swatches for the darker toned women online, so I figured I'd help solve the problem by creating a blog where all of that and more can be found. Now, depending on the day you might get makeup tutorials, product reviews & swatches, relationship posts, food recipes, my take on the latest celeb gossip or just me going in on life's daily BS in general... I'm treating this baby like an extension of myself, meaning there will be a little bit of EVERYTHING on this page!!!

Now I've been asked, why "BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED," and the reason I decided to title my blog this is because I want to provide a service and some entertainment while encouraging people to find favor in their imperfections. People need to remember that no one in this world is perfect, but there's potential in EVERY flaw....