Christmas Makeup FOTD

So let's start this new year off by pretending it's still relevant to post Christmas makeup!
K? K.

You may have noticed a few changes here 'round the blog. It's a work in progress! I was messing with a few things and I have just been experimenting, really. But believe me I know for right now, it clashes. But I can't wait for it to all come together!

In addition to that I have changed the font in my watermark and have experimented with changing the watermark up in general. I know that's a subtle change that probably no one will notice but me. But, what do you think? Do you like the old one better? Should I leave the ".blogspot.com" at the end? Leave your thoughts in the comments, por favor!

This is a look I threw together Christmas morning and it's equal parts tacky and stereotypical.
On one hand, it's stereotypical because it has all the things you associate with holiday makeup- red lips, red or green eyeshadow, and gold. It's tacky because most people don't wear all of them at once.
But I do! Because I really don't waste time listening to conventional rules and I do what I want anyway. SO. I think it turned out not half bad!

I think what I'm most proud of in this look is the eyeliner. Somehow it turned out just right!

I took a mixture of Swag & Underground from the Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box and put it all over the lid. Then I took the red shade from the BH cosmetics 120 palette and blended it into the crease. I could have blended it more, for sure.

Then I lined my bottom line with the green shadow from the BH cosmetics 120 palette

As is my new thing, the colors I used are marked with a daisy!

Other products used in this look:
Jesse's girl waterproof liquid eyeliner
Urban Decay primer potion
Covergirl Lashblast Volume mascara
Covergirl 3 in 1 outlast foundation
Physicians Formula translucent powder
Elf eyebrow kit
NYX soft matte lip cream in Amsterdam

So I hope you all had a great holiday! Tell me all about it below!

Halloween 2013: Pop Art costume

 {Warning: this is a pic heavy post!}

Nothing like posting about Halloween just shy of Thanksgiving!
But let's be real...Halloween is, like, my favorite holiday. I'd like to drag it out as long as possible.
Also, I'm slow. and lazy. but let's go with I love halloween!

pumpkins my friends and I carved...mine is on the far right, the disney castle symbol. No stencil!

Big Lots & Dollar Tree Haul

When nouveaucheap posted that there were sightings of China Glaze, Zoya, and OPI and even Essie at Big Lots, I knew I had to hightail it over there ASAP. There is only one big lots around me (a few more if I'm willing to travel a bit) and I had never even thought of looking there for makeup! I didn't realize that they have actual brands, not knockoffs or cheap no-names. They have nice brands there! For CHEAP! 

Unfortunately in my venture I did not find any Zoya, China Glaze, or Essie. But the trip was not a bust! I still got all these great products!

First I found this lovely emerald shade of nail polish by Julie G cosmetics called *****. I have also seen this brand be called Jesse's girl so I really don't know which to call it. The packaging says Julie G, though, so we'll go with that.I have seen lots of bloggers talk about this brand but since it is only sold in Rite Aid and online, I figured I would not be seeing it anytime soon. There are no Rite Aids around me and I am not one to order online very often (this is usually because I am broke) . When I saw this shade for only a dollar I couldn't pass it up! 

I have since used it on my nails and can definitely say that I am pleased with the formula so far!

 

I have never tried any magnetic nail polishes before. But for $1.60 who can resist? I figured it was worth trying!

 

I have had one experience with "shatter" or "crackle" nails and let me just say, it was not a good one. I was not impressed at all. However when I saw this OPI Nicki Minaj **** polish for only $1.80 I had to snatch it! I am a sucker for a good deal. I am hoping the effect works, and it's cool to have a novelty polish like a Nicki Minaj one.

I got another magnetic polish, this time from Sinful Colors. Mostly what drew me to this was the pattern it has...unfortunately, I didn't realize until I got home that it didn't come with the magnet! I am still going to try using the Sally Hanson magnet, but it won't give it the same pattern it has on the tag :(

So that was my haul from Big Lots. 

Luckily (unluckily for my wallet) there is a Dollar Tree right next to my Big Lots...so of course I had to stop in! and I found more goodies there!

This is my favorite find. It's a gorgeous purple with gold shimmering purple glitter in it. It's beautiful, and it looks great on the nails! It is Milani brand which I have never tried and it is the shade totally cool . That it is, Milani. That it is.

 

I'll admit this was a little of a goofy buy. I don't have any hope whatsoever for the polish in there, but I couldn't pass up those cute little stencils, for only a dollar. 

This is another fun color called Treasure Island by LA colors. Another brand I've never tried but I really liked the color so I hope the formula is nice!

I picked up Elf's shimmering facial whip in lilac petals and I think it might be a little to pinky to work as a highlighter for me. I haven't tried it on my face yet though!

That's it for my dollar tree haul but I have ONE more item that I found at CVS on clearance. I know that most people don't like or prefer black lipstick of any kind but I am really into the vamp-y kind of look.  I got this lipgloss for only 1 dollar and some change!

Rimmel Stay glossy in black

Ignore the extreme closeup of my lips. But here is the gloss on my lips alone, without anything underneath. 

This is layered on top of Urban Decay's sellout. As you can tell I layered the product a bit more this time. It tends to pool at the edges so maybe a lipliner would help prevent this?

This is the gloss layered on top of CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Saucy Plum 450

I layered it over this because it's darker and I felt would accent the black more. It's still spotty in places as you can tell on my upper lip.

The 3 lip products next to each other for comparison (sans flash)

I am still searching for a true black lipstick or gloss. They all seem to be spotty and sheer at best. The search continues! But for a buck and some change, I'm not complaining.

I advise everyone to go to their nearest Big Lots and see if they can score any high-end polishes for the low! Let me know in the comments if you found anything good at your local one!

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling