Fun Summer MOTW

Currently this is my manicure of the week. I got inspiration from Bethany who is a Youtube Beauty Guru by the name of macbarbie07. She's the sweetest, most down to earth, and most cheerful guru on Youtube. I adore watching her videos and in a lot of her recent videos she's been rocking this manicure. I loved it so much that I wanted to re-create it on my own nails. I had similar colors, but not exact. She had more of a bright hot pink, whereas I have a bright neon mid-tone pink color. The color I used on my accent ring fingers are similar, but not exact to hers. They're both a shimmery metallic color that's for sure. Here's some photos:

For my accent ring finger I used China Glaze's Swing baby and for the rest of my fingers I used Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in Tropicalia.

Late Easter Sunday Nails

Here is the manicure I had on during Easter Sunday. I took this the day I painted them, but misplaced the photo. I just found it and felt like sharing it because I thought it was cute. It's fairly easy to achieve. All I did was paint each of my nails with a pastel color to represent pastel Easter eggs. I love it because not only is it inspired from Easter, but it's also perfect for the pastel Spring trend. I really wanted to use a pastel yellow nail polish, but I didn't own any so I opted for a bright sort of pastel-ish coral color.

For this manicure, I used OPI's Second Honeymoon on my thumbs, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Lacey Lilac on my index finger, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Mint Sorbet on my middle finger, OPI's What's with the Cattitude? on my ring finger, and Essie's Tart Deco on my pinky.

Nail Polish Haul

Throughout April and May, I've made various nail polishes purchases here and there. I thought I'd share them in case anyone out there is on the hunt for these particular colors as well. I've been really wanting to get my hands on some of the new OPI color shatter nail polishes. I've seen so many reviews on them and would really like to get the blue, silver, white, and red ones. Anyway, the first picture is actually a nail polish haul that can be purchased at the drugstores. I bought these at CVS. The second picture consists of nail polish

es that my husband purchased at a beauty store in a shopping outlet as a gift for Mother's Day. They are all OPI nail polishes.

From left to right:

I was so excited to finally get my hands on the infamous Seche Vite top coat. I've used it twice already and I love it! Combined with my OPI Drip Dry Nail Lacquer Drying Drops, it works like a miracle! My nails are dried to the touch right away and does not get nicked or get ridges even after I start touching things like it usually does.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pedal to the Metal is a gorgeous metallic gunmetal color with hints of silver and purple. I haven't tried it yet, but cannot wait to!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Fairy Teal is the perfect teal that I've been searching for. Teal is my favorite color of all time and I haven't had success in finding the right teal color that I've always loved. Most people describe teal as a light bluish turquoise color, but that's not the color that I love. My kind of teal is a dark greenish blue color. I'm so glad I've found this nail polish color because I adore it!

Essie's Tart Deco is a very neon bright coral-ish color. It's a bit milky, but when applied it's actually is pretty opaque. I've just experience slight streaking. I like it, but I've still not succeeded at finding the right cream coral nail polish color. Either it's too pink or too orange. The closest thing to a coral is OPI's Melon of Troy, but it's a shimmer.

Essie's Chinchilly is a very pretty slate gray color. I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but I definitely will once Fall comes 'round.

Last, is Milani's Nail Lacquer Neon in Fresh Teal. It's just like Sally Hansen's Fairy Teal, but a neon version and is much brighter. I like it just as much as the Sally Hansen one. It applies very opaque and really impressed me for I've never tried one of Milani's nail polishes before.

From left to right:

I finally bought myself a stark white cream nail polish color so that I can create french tips or just basically paint all of my nails white. It'll look gorgeous especially with a tan. This is OPI's Alpine Snow.

OPI's Skull and Glossbones is a light grayish bone cream color. This is actually a color from the new Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides collection. I don't own any light gray colors so I thought this would be nice to have on your nails for the summer with a tan of course.

Next, is OPI's Stranger Tides which is a very light greenish gray cream color. It's very unique and I thought it'd be great to have it in my collection. I haven't tried it on so I don't know how it looks on the nails, but I'll def take a picture when I do. This one also came out with the Pirates of the Caribbean collection.

OPI's Mermaid's Tears is a beautiful sea-foam green cream color. It's kind of a minty, mid-tone green and not too bright as well. This is the last of nail polishes that I got from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection. It's super pretty on the nails, but I forgot to take a picture of it. Will do next time I paint them that color.

I bought OPI's Mod-ern Girl because I was searching for the right coral color and it looked perfect from the bottle. Disappointingly, when I applied it it's more of a pinky reddish coral color. It's still a very pretty color, but applies quite streaky. Even after two coats, I can still see spots of my actual nails underneath.

Lastly, I've been eyeing this color for a very long time. This is OPI's Mystery from their DS (Designer Series) line. It's a very beautiful deep plummy purple color with lots of gold shimmers. It's going to be perfect to wear for the colder seasons.

What's in my Makeup Travel Bag?

I figured since I never get enough time to do my makeup at home before I leave somewhere, it'll make my life easier if I have all the things I need in my makeup bag. I wanted to share some of the stuff I keep in there from full on face products to eyes and lip products. These are usually what I carry when I go on long trips as well.

Now, mind you, these are products that I only carry with me if I haven't

already done my makeup. If I have already then I would usually just

throw an eyeliner, blot powder, and whatever lipstick/gloss I'm wearing that day into

my purse so I can reapply throughout the day.

Here is my makeup bag that I put everything in. It is fairly big and amazingly fits a lot of stuff in it. I bought if from Sephora a couple of years ago and it's proven to be incredibly durable. I love that it's hot pink and very simple.

Here are the brushes that I carry with me. I carry 3 face brushes and 3 eye brushes that I use most for my everyday makeup routine. Starting on the left row: MAC 109 (for blush application), ELF Blushing, Bronzing, and Blending brush (for contouring), Coastal Scents Flat Mineral Bronzer Buffer Large brush (for powder application). Now for the right row: Sonia Kashuk Angle brush (for filling in eyebrows), MAC 224 (for blending e/s), and Sigma E60 (for packing color on lid).

Next are my face products that I have been using every single day nonstop. Top row from left to right: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light (I love this primer! It makes my skin super smooth therefore allowing flawless makeup application.), Stila Illumination Tinted Moisturizer in shade 2 (I don't really like this tinted moisturizer because like its name, it is illuminated and gives off a very shiny effect. It contains shimmers in it because it's purpose is to give off that dewy/glowy look. Because I have oily skin, I feel that it just adds on to my oil and makes me look like a disco ball. I would not recommend this to others with oily skin like me. A big tip/suggestion to those who do have it and want to take away the shine is to apply powder over it. Preferably matte. I'm just really trying to use it up for my money's worth.), Bare Minerals Summer Bisque Multi-tasking Minerals (I'm basically trying to use this powder up. It gives pretty good coverage, but is not matte. It's perfect for a light dusting over foundation or tinted moisturizer.), MAC Blot Pressed Powder in Medium Dark (I use this throughout the day when I want to reduce shine. I like that it doesn't add any more coverage or color to your makeup because that would make it look overly powdery. It's good to have in your purse for touch-ups.), lastly MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle (This gives a very nice and subtle highlight to my cheekbones. I never use it on my T-zone because it will add onto my oily skin. I like apply it only to the high points of my cheeks so that I can have a hint of glowiness.)

Bottom row from left to right: MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Strada (I use this to contour my cheekbones, my nose, and my jaw area. It's unfortunate that this product is discontinued. I love it and have been using it for quite a long time now. I like how it's not too dark so that I can build up the color.), MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Dame (I love using this to give me a light flush of color on the apples of my cheeks. It's a blue-toned pink so it's nothing too bright and because it's a satin finish it's not overly shimmery either.), lastly is MAC's Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NC30 (For the longest time, I've strayed from this concealer because it is very cakey. I've recently started using it in determination to use it up. I think it's gotten creamier being untouched throughout the year. Before it would apply very thick and cakey, but now it applies much better and smoother. It almost feels like liquid on my skin now, which I much prefer over cream concealer.)

Here are the eye products that I use. Top row from left to right: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (My all-time favorite eyelash curler. It never pinches my lids like all of the other eyelash curlers I've tried because I have a hooded lid and the excess skin always gets pinched. With this baby, however, it never happens and it always gives a nice dramatic curl.), Coastal Scents 12 palette that contains my 7 MAC eye shadows, 2 Coastal Scents Hotpots, and 1 SMH eye shadow (I love all of these colors to work with for a nice neutral eye to a dramatic smokey eye or a fun colorful eye.), Covergirl Lashblast Hydrofuge Waterproof Mascara (My HG mascara! This is my third tube and I will never get tired of it. It amps up my lashes and gives them maximum volume which I love!)

Bottom row from top to bottom: Two Faced Eye Shadow Insurance (I love this product, but it never lasts for more than 6 hours on me until it starts to crease. I'm just trying to use this product for my money's worth.), Eyes Lips Face Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter (I've had this product for the longest time. It works decently as concealer for my under eyes. I hardly use the highlighter though.), L'Oreal Carbon Black Linear Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner (I've drifted from liquid eyeliners for a long time because I've had such bad experience with them when I was younger, but wanted to try them out again especially for lining my eyes when I have false eyelashes on so that it can cover the gaps of the false eyelashes and not make them as noticeable. I love this liquid eyeliner! It does not flake off whatsoever and lasts pretty decently throughout the day. I also love that the handle has two slanted ridges that makes it easy for you to hold steadily to create a nice thin line.), MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Stubborn Brown (I love this eyeliner for lining my waterline because it is a very intense dark brown almost black color. I love that it's not as dramatic as black, but is dark enough to make my eyes stand out. It's supposed to be waterproof, but it's really not. After 2-3 hours, it will begin to smudge and transfer down my lower lash line.)

Lastly, the lip product that I use. I usually just pack a lipstick because I'm not a big gloss fan. I like using it occasionally, but not everyday. Only when I want a little shine. Here I have MAC lipstick in Marquise D' from the MAC Wonder Woman Collection (One of my fave lipsticks. This lipstick has a nude-ish pink color with gold shimmers perfect for every day wear. It is super pretty and I love it!)

Perfect Coral Lipstick for Spring!

Rimmel's Lasting Finish Lipstick in Crush is a prime example of a good coral lipstick. I've had this lipstick in my collection for awhile, but have sort of strayed from it. The reason is because I've never had the nerve to rock coral lips, but since the hot new trend for this spring season are orange/coral lips I've been wearing this lipstick out all most everyday and have been putting it to good use. It's not a true bright orange so I still feel pretty safe wearing it. There are hints of nude in it as well. Yet once in the light, you can definitely detect the coral color. This color is definitely build-able so you can apply more if you want a more orange-y tint.

It does have a frosty finish, which is the main reason why I've strayed from it. I'm not a big fan of frosty lip colors because it makes my lips look overly shimmery thus making it look totally unflattering with my skin tone. (I'm an NC30-35 in MAC shades.) Lately, I've been putting up with it because I really like the color. With the the frostiness, you hardly need gloss. Just be sure to moisturize your lips before applying because it can be a bit drying.

Overall, I think it's a very pretty color minus the frostiness and would recommend it for anyone on the hunt for a very pretty yet subtle coral lipstick. =]

MOTW

Here is my manicure of the week. I have on OPI's Japanese Rose Garden, which is a gorgeous mid-tone pink. It does contain slight shimmers, but they're hardly noticeable. It basically just looks like a cream polish. For my accent ring fingers, I applied 2 coats of OPI's Teenage Dream on top. I love how it just gives a glam pop of glitter to what would have otherwise been a very simple manicure. I love it.

Hope y'all do, too! =]

A Little Bit of Haulage from MAC!

Wednesday 04/06/2011 was my husband's day off so we went on a little adventure down south. He had to drop off some arrow pens that he makes at the Archery shop located there and I wanted to take some of my depotted MAC eyeshadows to exchange for a lipstick as part of the Back to MAC program. There are no MAC stores or counters located where I live so I have to travel if I don't want something without going through the hassel of ordering online.

My husband and I didn't even know that there was a MAC store and counter located in this city that we visited for the day, but I looked up the stores on the MAC website and it listed them. After we were done with my husband's business, we went there and to our amazement it was a very nice mall. Surprisingly it wasn't overly crowded like most malls, but it was HUGE! It had a very clean and modern atmosphere packed with 2 levels of stores I don't get to see everyday.

I read some reviews about the MAC customer service in this mall and was alarmed to see so many negative feedbacks so I was already expecting it. Yet, when we went to the MAC counter in Nordstrom, I was pleasantly surprised that the ladies there were super friendly and helpful. They addressed me right when I got there and asked if I needed any help. When I found the products I was looking for, they made sure I got them quickly and that I was happy with them. I was very pleased with how they treated me and their overall exceptional customer service.

There's a comical story that came with our little adventure. Before we went to the MAC counter, we grabbed some frozen yogurt on the second story and I spotted Sephora on the bottom level. My husband then stated "I bet MAC's right across from it." and I corrected him saying that the MAC counter is located in Nordstrom. Yet, after I got all my stuff and we explored more of the mall, we came to the Sephora I spotted and what do you know? The MAC store was right across from it like my husband said! LOL! I didn't want to go into either of them because I had already spent so much money on my haul. Then I thought about it and realized that those negative reviews about the MAC employees were the ones from the MAC store, not the counter. I was super relieved that I went to the counter instead because to me, customer service is everything.

All right, enough with my ramble. Here are some pictures of my haul. This is everything I got that day. I only bought four items (the ones that are in boxes) and it came out to around $80! I got the lipstick in exchange for my depotted Back to MAC eyeshadow containers. I bought two of their eyeshadows in Brule and Wedge to complete my MAC palette. I'm so silly because my palette has nothing but colors and no transitioning shade or highlight color. So two of these colors are more of a necessity than a splurge. Yet, I still splurged nonetheless. =/ I seriously splurged on these two products. I got their Studio Tech foundation in NC35 (even though I've got enough foundation to last the year) and their Pro Longwear Concealer in NC35 (although I'm not even through my other concealers yet). I've tried both of these today and was pleased with their quality. The only downfall is that the foundation is a tad bit darker than I am. I had requested for NC32, but they were out and the MAC MUA suggested NC35 because it's going to be summer soon and I'm going to get tan anyway. So in a way, it's a good thing I got it but I can't use it just yet.

I loved the concealer though! I have horrible skin with a lot of ance scars and uneven skin tone so I use concealer like it's a second layer of foundation. I need the coverage! LOL! Because I use a lot of concealer, it's important for me to find one that has full coverage without looking extremely cakey. This concealer did an amazing job at covering up dark ance spots and because it's liquid, it didn't look or feel like I was masking my face in makeup. A lot of people that reviewed this concealer complained about the pump because it would pump out too much product and goes to waste, but not for me. Because I use a lot of concealer anyway, it worked out great! I used to use concealers that came in a tube with a doe foot applicator and it was always so difficult to get enough product on the applicator so I can apply it to my face. I love this pump mechanism and am so happy I got this concealer! Lastly, I got the lipstick in Hue in exchange for my 6 Back to MAC items. I swatched this color and it was just the prettiest nude pink color so I had to get it. I'd also heard a lot of good reviews about it as well and I agree that it definately lives up the the hype.

We had a really good time there and plan to visit soon. =]