My Mystery Crease Color

Lately I have been reaching for a not-often-talked-about shadow for my crease. So what's this mystery color?

MYTERY by MAC!!

 Left: Mystery, Right: Smut

Mystery is in the same shade range as the popular shade Smut, but it Mystery (satin finish) is warm toned and Smut (velvet finish) is cool toned.

Left: Mystery, Right: Smut (without flash)

Left: Mystery, Right: Smut (with flash)

Mystery is a great alternative to using Carbon if you are looking for a shade that is less harsh but still gives the impact of a dark shade. It complements everything from neutral looks to colored looks, for smoky eyes to contoured eyes....it is a very multifunctional shadow!

Here I used a few random pigments and shadow colors, and used Mystery in the crease:

Mystery is quickly becoming a go-to crease shade and if I had a February Favorites, this shadow would top the list. Speaking of, do you want me to start doing monthly favorites? 

Choo Choo!! Do You Have a Makeup Train Case?

I do. It is big and bulky and I love it. =) (Note to self: I should take a picture of it and show you.)

When I was perusing the beauty counters at Nordstrom the other day, I saw this MAC train case:

It is a professional artist case that is temperature controlled so if you left it out in the car in the summer, nothing would happen to the makeup inside because it maintains the temperature inside the case. 

I really like all the compartments, but I feel like there are so many sliding trays and such that I couldn't stuff it to my liking, so I don't know how much I could actually fit in here. And I always want to carry more products than I actually need....cuz you never know....and I don't think this would work too well for me. But I still like the idea of it.

Oh, by the way this costs $225. Forget the case....you know how many lipsticks I could buy with $225?!?!

What do you think? Do you have a train case?

My Addiction With Costco (and Kirkland Makeup Wipes Review)

If you have been following me for awhile, you know that I am OBSESSED with Costco. I love shopping at Costco, I love browsing at Costco, I love eating at Costco, I love samples at Costco, and I even look forward to getting my monthly Costco coupon book. Yes, I need CA....Costco-holics Anonymous.

Back to beauty.

After reading all the rave reviews of Costco's makeup wipes, the Kirkland (Costco's brand) Daily Facial Cleansing Towelettes, I just had to get them for myself. 

So after trying these out for a few months, what's my verdict? These wipes make me love Costco even more than I already did! Here's why:

1. The wipes take off ALL makeup, including waterproof mascara and long-wear eyeliner
2. The wipes are thicker than most so they hold up well and don't rip easily
3. One wipe is more than enough to take off all my makeup, even stubborn eye makeup
4. The wipes have a fresh scent, similar to a light cucumber smell, that is clean and refreshing
5. The wipe amount in each package is varied...the Costco box includes 4 packs of 30 wipes and 2 packs of 15 wipes......ideal for traveling
6. The wipes are cheap! You get a total of 150 wipes for about $11! And some months there is a coupon for the wipes!

So will these permanently replace my beloved MAC wipes? Maybe. There is only one thing I don't like about these wipes: the packaging. The opening is supposed to work like this:

However, I keep ending up with this problem:

The little plastic piece keeps coming loose, and often slips off the package entirely, meaning the package is exposed and the wipes could dry out. Now, I travel a lot and my wipes packages get tossed all over the place, so that might be why I experience this issue. If you only use these at home and keep them on a countertop, you probably won't have to deal with this. It's just a bit frustrating because I don't want my wipes to dry out, and I never had this problem with the MAC wipes. My MAC wipes would get tossed around as well, and since I used to use the 100 pack of MAC wipes, as opposed to the 30 pack of Costco wipes, one pack would last longer and endure more tossing around. But I still never had packaging issues.

All in all I probably will keep purchasing the Costco wipes and just hope they improve the packaging.

Kajal Couture Rating: A

Anushka Sharma's Makeup in Band Baaja Baraat

 Since I have been sick and therefore stuck at home all week, I was able to catch up on my Bollywood movie watching. I have been wanting to watch Band Baaja Baraat. In a nutshell, this movie is about two University students who graduate and start a wedding planning business together, and the movie follows their masti (fun) and struggles as they build their business. I have been wanting to watching this FOREVER because I always wanted to be a wedding planner (still kinda do...but that's a whole other story):

The lead actress Anushka Sharma is a Bollywood newbie and throughout the whole movie she has an incredibly fresh and natural look. 

Of course I couldn't help but do a quickie makeup breakdown for how to achieve this fresh-faced look:

Face:

A good moisturizer like my fave MAC Lightful Ultramoisture Creme

Tinted Moisturizer

Concealer under the eyes on on red/dark spots

A natural peachy or apricot blush to give some color to the skin

A light dusting of powder

Eyes:

Fill in brows, even if you have solid eyebrows, to make them stronger and create a frame for the face

Apply a peach or golden shadow to the lid

Draw a thin line on the upper lash line with a dark brown gel or liquid liner

Line the waterline if you want to (she does this sometimes in the movie)

Curl lashes and apply black mascara

Lips:

Apply a sheer pink stain to the lips and top with clear gloss, or apply a lightly colored pink gloss to the lips

What do you think of Anushka's look in the movie?

Twist Up A Little Rosy-ness! Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint Review

Bobbi Brown is known for creating products that give a natural and pretty look. The Sheer Color Cheek Tint fits this mold exactly.

This is a twist up blusher that is a cross between a gel and a cream. It applies very easily on the skin and is VERY easy to blend. When I first got this blush, I thought it was really small and would run out after just a few uses, but you really need just a tiny swipe on each cheek to get some color, so I know this will last me awhile.....several months if I were to use it daily. 

Sheer Color Cheek Tint in Sheer Raspberry

I got what I thought was the darkest shade, knowing that all the shades are sheer. Sheer Raspberry seemed to be the darkest, but when swatched, it is still lighter than I expected:

Left: Swiped straight from the stick, Right: Blended out

I like this product because it gives a natural lit from within glow. It is a bit on the dewy side, which is more natural looking and looks like skin. I also like this it is so portable and takes up very little space. It makes blush application super easy and quick. I get the best results when I blend with my fingers, so if you like to touch up blush, you can carry just this and you won't even need a brush. This can also be used to add a tint to the lips. 

Kajal Couture Rating: A-

You might like this if:

• You like a natural flush to your cheeks
• You like products that are easy
• You are new to using blush
• You like carrying blush with you in your handbag

Skip this if:

• You prefer a matte look to your entire face
• You prefer a bold cheek

Sephora Reward

Hey dolls. It is 65 degrees here in Philadelphia and I really really want to go outside. For those of you who are lucky to not have to go through a real winter, 65 degrees is like heaven when temperatures have been down in the 20s and 30s the past few months. Unfortunately, I have a bad cold and am stuck inside. =( I don't even have the energy to put on or play with makeup right now.

But I can still think about it!

Several months ago I redeemed my Sephora Beauty Insider points for the following Smashbox gift:

It includes mini sizes of the following:

1. Photo Finish face primer

2. Photo Finish lid primer

3. Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pout

4. Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion (highlighting liquid) in Flash

5. Bionic Mascara

I've used the face primer before and I like it, and I like the consistency of Smashbox glosses. I have yet to try the mascara and luminizer. Overall, I think this was one of the best 500 point rewards that Sephora has had in the past. 

Have you tried any of these products? What was your fave Sephora reward gift?

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to wish you a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! 

If you have someone special in your life then I hope you enjoy a sweet evening with him/her. If not, then I hope you have a great day hanging out with your friends and keeping positive about how awesome you are! 

Glimpses of Costa Rica!!!

You dolls are lucky....you are the FIRST to see photos from my Costa Rica vacation! I haven't even posted them on Facebook yet! These are just a few glimpses.....enjoy!

 Sunset on the beach

 We saw sooo much wildlife....a lot of which is unique to Costa Rica and Central America....and we saw all the animals in their own habitat....not in a zoo or anything! These monkeys were playing on a tree about 1 foot in front of us!

Me lounging in a hammock....I am absolutely OBSESSED with hammocks!  

 A frog with crazy red eyes! 

An old tree with new trees growing around it

A view of the green (inactive) side of the Arenal Volcano. It was foggy on the day we went to the black (active) side

MAC Wonder Woman

Hey Ladies! So MAC's Wonder Woman collection releases in stores in the States today, and I am curious to know your thoughts. I am not a fan of the packaging...looks like play makeup to me. I don't plan on getting anything....except maybe a Mineralize Skinfinish...and only because I am addicted to them and want it just for collection purposes.

Are lemming anything? Were you able to get your hands on anything already? What are your thoughts?

Costa Rica Cooldown: Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel

I knew the hubby and I would be spending a lot of time in the sun in Costa Rica so I took this along as an after-sun treatment:

This Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel is an after-sun moisturizer that helps moisturize and cool the face and body. It is very refreshing and cooling on the skin, and the effects are better if you put this in the refrigerator before application. Although it says it is a gel, it is more of a combination gel and lotion:

Left: drop of the gel from the tube, Right: blended out

This moisturizer is very soothing on the skin, and when I applied it twice over my husband's sunburnt neck, the redness disappeared after one day! He didn't even peel! I didn't try this on my face because I am so particular with facial moisturizers, but it really gives a refreshing, cooling, and calming feeling when applied to the body. The only negative about this is that it is slightly sticky. If you are sensitive, then you might feel the stickiness all day. If you are not too particular, it will go away after a few minutes.

Kajal Couture Rating: B+

Kajal Couture Overall Opinion: I really liked how this felt on my skin and loved that it helps heal sun burns and rashes. I am not a big fan of the sticky factor but I think most after sun gels are somewhat sticky.

Stay tuned....tomorrow I'm posting a few pics from our trip!!

Stila Eye Shadow Trios Make Shadowing an Ease

A trend in makeup that we have seen a lot in the last year is adding multiple colors to one powder product. I am all for this since it's like getting multiple products in one, making them easier on my storage issue and for travel. One of my new faves are the Stila Eye Shadow Trios:

Stila Eye Shadow Trios in Venus and Rocker

One of the cool things about the packaging is that you can pop out the little shadow pan, which is magnetic, and insert it into another palette, such as the ones from Stila or the MAC 15-pan palette (if you take out the shadow separator).

Stila Eye Shadow Trios in Venus and Rocker

Getting 3-shadows in one palette makes it super easy to do a contoured eye, a smokey eye, or just about any type of coordinating eye look. And as with most Stila shadows, the quality of the shadows are great...they are super smooth and blend-able, and very pigmented.

Swatches of Stila Eye Shadow Trios in Venus and Rocker without Flash

Swatches of Stila Eye Shadow Trios in Venus and Rocker with Flash

Here is a quick look I did using the shadow trio in Venus:

I used the middle-pigmented lilac color all over the top lid and the first half of the lower lid, the darkest shade towards the upper lash line and on the outer half of the lower lid, and the lightest shade to highlight and in the inner corner of the eye. I didn't use any eyeliner, but I did curl my lashes and use 1 coat of MAC Plushlash mascara.

Here is a full face view:

Face: 

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder

MAC MSF in Comfort as a bronzer

MAC Sur Blush

Lips:

MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick

Zoya Happi is Bringing Happiness to My Winter

This winter has been pretty brutal here in the States. Just about every part of the country has had more rain or snow than ever before. I was so happy that the hubby and I missed a MAJOR snowstorm while we were in Costa Rica, and what happens the night we fly back to Philly? More snow!!

So, to keep myself in warm, summery spirits I decided to try out one of the new Zoya polishes that I ordered a few weeks ago. And what better shade to use than Happi!!

I LOVE nail lacquers with duochrome and this shade has such a lovely pink and gold duochrome! It is just perfect for spring and summer and every time I look at my nails it really does make me Happi!! =)

As far as the quality of the Zoya polish (since this was my first time using Zoya), I was impressed. The polish does not apply streaky or thick, it was very smooth and the brush was a good size, not too big or small. After wearing the polish for a few days I will let you know how well it wears. 

Do you do silly things like me and wear summery nail polishes or makeup to help deal with the winter blues? Have you tried Zoya?

Oh, and Happy Chinese New Year to those of you who celebrate!!! Gung Hay Fat Choi (excuse the spelling)!

I'm Back!!!

Hey Lovelies, I am back from vacation! It is a little bittersweet because it was very warm in Costa Rica and the hubby and I had a great time there and are sad to be back at work and in the snowy Philly weather. However, it was a crazy busy adventure through the rainforests, mountains, and beaches and we are glad to be home and sleep in our cozy bed.

I will definitely post a few vacation pics when I upload them to my computer, but in the meantime, you can take a look at what makeup I took with me:

• Smashbox Halo powder
• MAC Cremeblush in Uncommon
• MAC Technakohl eye liners in Smoothblue and Graphblack
• MAC Moistureblend concealer
• MAC Plushlash mascara
• MAC Pro Longwear Foundation
• Shu Uemera lash curler
• MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect
• MAC Lipstain Marker in Sunset

Believe it or not, this was waaaay to much! makeup Costa Rica is a laid back country that calls for nature adventures....hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, whitewater rafting, and other sweaty sports.....and makeup isn't quite suited for those activities. Thus, you can understand why I barely wore half of these products! At most, I used the face primer, foundation, lash curler and mascara. 

Makeup or not, I had a great trip, but am glad to be back home and look forward to catching up with you lovely ladies and discuss some great makeup....after all, I haven't really talked about or worn much for the last 10 days so I am in withdrawal!