'Tiny Sephora, YSL, NARS HAUL'

I don't know what I would do if I did not have Sephora in my life. That store is seriously chuck-full of amazing brands and products. AMAZING I tell you!! I picked up 3 things the last time I was there...



NARS eyeshadow duo in "Sugarland" ($33)

YSL Rouge Volupte #1 "Nude Beige" ($34)

YSL #1, Sugarland duo

I absolutely love this YSL lipstick. It feels much like the MAC Sheen Supreme lipsticks, very creamy and glossy. However, I wouldn't describe it as a nude beige, as there is quite a bit of pink in it!
Sugarland is a great duo by NARS. I love how the purple/lavender color has an apricot sheen that matches the other shade in the duo. You can really see the sheen in the picture of the duo!
I haven't tried the nail polish yet. It is Sephora by OPI in "Already Famous" ($9.50). This one will probably be in my next NOTD, you will be able to get a better look at it then!

Do you have any of these products?? What do you think of them?!

Xx-

Bethany

'SMOKEY Inspiration' to LIVE FOR...

The smokey eye is a look that is NEVER going away. It will always be "in" in one form or another! Although I will always love my cat-eye black eyeliner ;) I have recently found myself drawn more to a messy smokey eye. Here are some pictures that have inspired me lately...

Love a smokey eye paired with a bright lip!

Ooh Cameron.. It's like she just woke up with her smoked out eyes and perfectly tosseled hair :)

A gorgeous super dramatic smokey eye paired with a nude lip. Always a classic.



Have you been loving any different makeup looks lately?? Do you have a favorite eye look? Comment below!

Xx-

Bethany

'MAC Haul' to LIVE FOR...

I don't know about you, but I always have a running list of things I want from MAC (among other stores!). Attending the MAC Master Class was the perfect excuse to finally purchase some of the products I have had my eye on for a while, as well as a few others!

Top to Bottom: Clear Lipglass, Matte, Clear Brow Set, 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush

So this group of products are not all that exciting...

Clear Lipglass... This product is great because it can go on top of anything. It doesn't matter if you are wearing red lipstick, pink lipgloss, or glitter on your lips! Clear lipglass will add a beautiful super high shine!
MAC's Matte... I don't care if you are a man or a woman.. nobody likes looking shiny in photographs! Apply this matte-ifying cream on the T-zone or a balding head to get rid of shine.  :)
Clear Brow Set... I was in desperate need of a replacement brow gel. It is one of those things that without, my whole face feels unfinished. No more "crazy brows" for me!
188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush... I purchased this brush to use for my face highlight powder. Duo fibre brushes don't pick up as much product as a normal fluffy brush. They are great for things like extremely pigmented blushes or highlight powders where less is more! (This is just my opinon! You can use this brush for whatever you want. For example, MAC Senior Artist Jane McKay likes to use this brush to blend out foundation.)



Golden Bronze Loose Powder, Sheen Supreme in "Bare Again", Lustre eyeshadow in "Aquadisiac" 

Golden Bronze... Ok this loose powder is seriously soooooo gorgeous. For medium to dark skin tones this is an amazing highlight powder. For light skin tones, mixing this with a lighter highlight can really warm up the color and give you that sun-kissed look. I love!!!
Sheen Supreme Lipstick "Bare Again" ... I love the formula of these lipsticks. They are like cremesheens, but even more creamy and glossy! I first saw this shade on "Miss Natty's Beauty Diary" and knew I had to have it!
Aquadisiac e/s... This eyeshadow is going to look amazing in the summer for a pop of color with golden bronze looks.


Bare Again Lipstick, Aquadisiac e/s, Golden Bronze Loose Powder



Left to right: Silver Dusk Loose Powder, Silver Dusk & Golden Bronze mixed, Golden Bronze Loose Powder.

So these were all the goodies I got from MAC!!

Have you been eyeing anything at MAC?? Share below!!

Xx-

Bethany

'Lancome HAUL' to LIVE FOR...

Lancome is having an AMAZING deal this month. If you buy $35+ worth of products online you get 5 free lipsticks. Yes, you read correctly, 5 free full-sized lippies!! (Not to mention the 2 sample products they always add with every order.) All you have to do is use the code MARCHBDAY at the checkout and they are added to your cart automatically.
Now, I didn't particularly want or need anything from Lancome, but I wanted the 5 free lipsticks so I browsed around on the website until I found something I wanted to try. Does that make me crazy? To buy something I didn't need just to get the free stuff? I blame it on my makeup addiction =) Here's what I got...

Lancome's Bienfait Multi-Vital Teinté in "2 Sand" ($45) ... It is a tinted moisturizer with SPF 30. I love wearing tinted moisturizers in the summer if I am just going out on a boat or just to the beach. And as much as I know I should wear SPF when I'm in the sun, I normally don't. So having SPF 30 in this is great for me!
Really I think $45 for a tinted moisturizer is a bit excessive..buuuut here are the freebies I received that helped me justify my spending!


Lipsticks from left to right: "Natural Beauty" Cream, "B-List" Cream, "Pink Attitude" Shimmer, "IT Girl" Sheen, "The New Pink" Sheen.





Natural Beauty, B-List, Pink Attitude, "IT" Girl, The New Pink

Yay how pretty!! I also received a sample size mascara and another "IT Girl" lipstick as my two free samples with my order.
Sheesh.. I still have a couple hauls coming up, next will probably be a MAC haul from the class I went to. But I wanted to let you see these first so you could have the chance to jump on this opportunity too before it ends 3/31 if you are interested!

Have you been hauling anything recently??

Xx-

Bethany

MAC Master Class!!

Earlier this week I attended a MAC Master Class focused on bridal makeup. The presenter was Jane McKay, a Senior Artist from Toronto, Ontario. She talked about everything from how to cultivate a clientele, to when she did Snooki's makeup for a recent event! Jane also showed how to do two different bridal makeup looks on a couple of the girls who worked at the MAC store.


Some of the products Jane used in her tutorials.

What I really liked about the class was all the information we learned about different MAC products. Jane talked about some key products she likes to keep in her kit, and who they are best suited for. For example MAC Strobe Cream: great for mature skin and dull winter skin, NOT good for dark skin tones or oily skin.


Jane McKay explaining why she used a certain foundation shade on the model.

It was great getting some tips on products that beautifully compliment dark skin tones. I have never gotten to experiment with makeup on anyone with darker skin, so it was especially nice to see what Jane recommended!

The two beautiful MAC girls who modeled for us!

A few products Jane used:

Model on the left: Strobe Cream, Studio Sculpt Foundation, Greensmoke e/s on the lid, Mulch e/s to blend into the crease, Espresso e/s to fill in the brows, Silver Dusk Loose Powder as a brow and cheek highlight, and Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink.
Model on the right: Studio Sculpt Foundation, Amberlights e/s on the inner half of the lid, Espresso e/s on the outer part of the lid and into the crease, "Eye Brows" Pencil on Spiked, Golden Bronze Loose Powder as a cheek highlight, and Tinted Lip Conditioner in Soothing Beige.


Just a picture of people milling about after the presentation.

All-in-all I had a really great time at the class! And I came away with some awesome goodies too ;)

HAUL to come!!



Xx-

Bethany





'Estee Lauder HAUL' to LIVE FOR...

So, yesterday I visited my Estee Lauder counter to purchase their Double Wear lipliner and to check out some of their other products as well. Let me tell you, I am SUPER impressed!

First up, Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil in "07 RED" ($19) ... I LOVE red lips, but I am always a bit paranoid of it rubbing off and me not realizing it! The answer? A super long-lasting lip liner to apply under your lipstick, duh! ;) I wanted to try the Double Wear liner because it was recommended by Pixiwoo in one of their youtube videos, and I LOVE THEM! I have high hopes for this one!!

Double Wear Lip Pencil "07 RED", ShadowStick Duo "02 Pink Teal"

ShadowStick Duo in "02 Pink Teal" ($20) ... This shadowstick is part of the Estee Lauder Summer 2011 Bronze Goddess Collection. I swatched this and I am telling you once it sets it does NOT move! These two colors are going to be so great to wear this summer!



Estee Lauder Ideal Light Brush-on Illuminator in " 01 Light" ($24.50) ... I am always on the search for a product to cover the dark circles under my eyes. They just won't go away! Swatches are below.

Now for the crazy part.. the free gifts with purchase! Here are some pictures.

Pure Color Lipstick in"Rubellite", Lip Conditioner SPF 15, High Gloss in "Berry"

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in "Black"... Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex... Take It Away Total Makeup Remover... Pure Color Lipstick in "Rose Tea"... DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15... Pure Color EyeShadow "Cool" Quad

And swatches!



Pure Color Lipstick "Rubellite"... High Gloss "Berry"... Pure Color  Lipstick "Rose Tea"

   

Pure Color EyeShadow in "Sugar Cube, Lilac Whimsy, Smoky Ember and Wild Truffle"

(Terrible swatches of the above quad.)



Can you believe these free gifts?! It really feels like a million times more than what I purchased... I mean seriously! I may do a few reviews if I start really liking any of the products, or if I really hate them I suppose =)

Ok enough of me going on and on. Have you tried any of these products?? Let me know what you think!

Xx-

Bethany

'INs & OUTs' to LIVE FOR...

IN:

RINGS - It doesn't matter where I shop, I am always on the search for unique statement rings.. especially rings that I can wear on my index finger :)

SAMPLES - I am constantly getting samples from stores/brands like Sephora, Dior, Bobbi Brown, etc, and I never seem to use them! I am making it my goal to start using my samples and jot down pros/cons of each. Then I will write a post and share with you the outcomes!!

SHEER LIPSTICK - I have been using some of my more glossy sheer lipsticks, and loving it! Lippies like MAC lustres, Dior Addict High Shine lipsticks and Chanel Rouge Coco Shines. These formulas are great just to pop on as you run out the door..super moisturizing and you don't need a mirror to apply them!



OUT:

BEING PALE -  I have been trying as hard as I can to embrace and work with my pale winter skin.. but I give up!! I broke down and started tanning. I KNOW it's terrible for me, it's my guilty pleasure! However, I just need to get a base tan then I can start using my St. Tropez. =)

CLUTTER - I moved into my apartment a couple months ago and still have a few boxes laying around. I think it's time to do some spring cleaning!

WINTER FEET - It is easy to neglect your feet when you are always wearing socks. No more dull dry feet for me.. I see a pretty pedicure in my near future!!

Xx-

Bethany