Blue Had Me At Hello

Here is a close up look to the Wet N Wild palette that is included in my giveaway: 

I love blues. I think every girl should own at least one shade in their makeup collection. This color looks good on almost every skin tone no matter the eye color. Blue eyeshadow was the first bold color I ever wore, and till this day it’s still my favorite. It is a perfect color to wear for a night out.

What I like the most about this palette is that it contains exact dupes for other blue shadows I have in my collection. 

This navy color (left) is an exact copy of Deep Truth by Mac (right):

And this bright teal (left) is a dupe for Deep End a limited edition color in Urban Decay’s 15th Anniversary Palette (right):

This sparkly black is almost identical to Urban Decay’s Oil Slick or Mac’s Black Tied, and the matte black is extremely similar to Urban Decay’s Black Dog or Mac’s Carbon.

See! How awesome is that? The palette also contains a sparkly silver that when paired with the matte black make an awesome smokey eye. 

I created this look using only the shadows that came in this palette, as well as with the primer, mascara, and eyelashes that are all included in my giveaway package (oh, and the brushes too):

There’s only a few days left, so hurry and enter the giveaway if you want to add this palette to your collection. Click here for more info.

All Time Favorites: Wet N’ Wild

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After much consideration, I can say with complete confidence that Wet N’ Wild eyeshadows have officially received my stamp of approval. 

Wet N’ Wild has been around forever. Some of my very first lip balms and glitters were from this brand. It was all the rage when I was in the 6th grade.

Fast forward many years later, Wet N’ Wild has really stepped up their game. They have quickly become one my all time favorite brands. I use these eyeshadow trios on a daily basis. I like that each trio comes with complimentary colors labeled as either eyelid, crease, or define, that way anyone can create a polished look. In addition, they are super pigmented, go on like butter, and last all day. I’ve even found several shadows as dupes for Mac and Urban Decay—it doesn’t get much better than that!

The best part about this brand is that it is inexpensive. Extremely inexpensive. At $2.99 per eyeshadow trio, you really can’t pass it up.

Find these at any drugstore. 

ps. Wet N’ Wild is buy one get one free at CVS! Hurry!

Guest Blogger: Dr. Suzy

The newest member in the BOS series is finally here and it’s a makeup lover’s treasure chest!

The shadows in this palette include several never-before-seen colors- which is very exciting news for long-time Urban Decay fans. All of these shades are very wearable. I feel like this palette is a cross between the Naked palette and the Book of Shadows III-lots of neutral colors mixed with a few subdued brights.

I like that this kit includes a new mascara and liquid eyeliner for us to sample.  Thank you Urban Decay for not including another 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in Zero! It also comes with a primer potion in the newer squeeze-tube packaging.

What truly separates this palette from the previous Urban Decay releases are the speaker and QR codes. There are 5 different codes to scan with your smartphone. These codes take you directly toYoutube where you can watch tutorials on how to create different looks with the eye shadows in this palette. They are pretty simple and easy to follow. You can attach the speaker to your phone to amplify the sound from the videos. I really like that they created a spot to insert your phone next to the mirror so that you can play the videos and follow along, step-by-step.

The new colors, products and technology in this kit are great. Thank you Urban Decay for another fantastic palette!

-Dr. Suzy

*This post was written by a guest blogger. Do you have a favorite product, makeup look, or outfit you’d like to share with me? Submit your posts to: lipstickandstockings@gmail.com 

(Dr. Suzy is the pharmacist I work with. Her husband took these fantastic photos for her. Aren’t they great? Check out his blog here)

Mac Me Over Collection For Fall 2011

It is so unlike me to buy anything from a Mac collection, much less go to the store and buy things the same day they launch. The lovely pharmacist I work with is up to date on all of the Mac collections and it only took a little persuasion from her for me to give in. I must admit that it felt awesome to go to the Mac counter and go a little crazy with the hot new items. 

Here’s what I got: 2 limited edition satin lipsticks and 3 eye brushes (#211, #226, #214).

I am over the moon with these two lipsticks. These trendy shades are perfect for wearing this fall. Runway Red (rich red blue) on the left and Rebel (pinkish purple) on the right:

And these brushes…I have no words to describe how excited I was to add them to my brush collection!

The #211 brush works perfect with my gel eyeliner, the #214 short shader brush effortlessly smudges out powder and cream products, and the #226 is perfect for blending colors in the crease. I have heard amazing things of this little brush, and I’m so stoked I got it. In my opinion, it works better than the #224 or the famous #217 for blending. (I’m kinda regretting not purchasing another one, as they are already sold out in my area! I was able to snatch another one!) 

If you decide to get anything from the Mac Me Over Collection, the limited edition #226 blending brush is a must have! You will absolutely love it.

Did you buy anything from this Mac Collection?

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette!

Yes. Yes, I did.

I haven’t been this excited about an eyeshadow palette since I got the UD Book of Shadows for my birthday. Before you judge me and say, Flor you certainly don’t need another eyeshadow palette, let me give you a little background story:

I had the worst day of my professional working career several weeks ago. It involved some mean/rude people, standing up for 8 hours straight, second guessing my career choice, and the cops. Yes, the cops. I won’t go into details, but I ran to my car during my lunch break and cried a good cry. I like to think that I’m a strong person, but I just had enough. 

Enter Sephora.

In the midst of my tears, I got a message from Sephora on my phone. After being on the waiting list for this limited edition palette for weeks, I finally got the green light. I was so happy. Who cares that I already have a million trillion shadows? Or that I really should be saving my money to pay for my tuition so that I don’t have to take out that extra loan? Who cares?! I needed that palette in that moment, so I ordered it. Straight from my cell phone:

My favorite colors of the set (Evidence, Junkshow, and Omen):

Best part? Not only does this baby come wrapped in a luxurious velvet box for safe keeping, but the shadows can be removed and the case used as a jewelry box! Genius.

Retail therapy never felt so good.

All About Brows

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I have gotten asked quite frequently how I do my  brows. By no means are they perfect. In fact, I have unruly, hard to tame, sparse eyebrow hairs. I can also thank genetics for that. 

A while back, I was looking at old photographs and noticed that my brows hardly showed up. In fact, the hairs were so sparse and uneven that it created gaps making them look a little crazy. I set out to find a solution to my problem.

You see, brows frame the face. I’m sure you’ve heard that 1,000 times before, but it is the absolute truth. You’re eye and face makeup could be flawless, but if you’re eyebrows aren’t done to fit your face, your look just isn’t complete. Eyebrows make a world of a difference, trust me!

Some gals are lucky enough to be born with nicely arched and thick brows, while others need a little help from the makeup department:

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I have been using Anastacia’s brow kit for years. Brow powder is the one makeup product I cannot live without. The colors are made to compliment a brunette (it also comes in a kit for blondes). There are three shades of colors that can be mixed to blend perfectly with your natural hair shade. The kit also includes three shades of highlight shadows and a clear brow gel to help set things into place:

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A kit like this requires an angled brush that is to be purchased separately. I personally like to use the Mac #266 angled brush to fill in my brows:

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To maintain their shape, I use E.L.F.’s eyebrow stencils (these are only $1). I pluck or bleach the hairs that don’t fall into the shape I want: 

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Everytime I do someone else’s makeup, I fill their brows. Especially if they have super thin over-plucked brows. It’s amazing how something so simple as filling the brows makes such a difference in someone’s face. 

For a more detailed explanation on how to properly fill in brows, watch this video from my favorite makeup artist:

INGLOT

I work with a pharmacist that is as obsessed with cosmetics as I am. We talk about our favorite brands/products, experiences, purchases, and wish list items while we count pills and go over prescriptions. It makes the stressful work day go by so much faster. 

She introduced me to Inglot which was a brand I had never tried before. It is mainly sold in Europe and unfortunately only has 5 stores in the USA. Lucky for me, one of the locations is in Newport Beach.

What I love most about Inglot is their freedom system, meaning that you purchase a palette with empty wells and fill it with whatever you want: lipsticks, concealers, foundations, eye shadows, brow powders, etc.

The palette cost $5 and each well only $4…I was like a kid in the candy store! Here’s what I filled my palette with: 3 concealers and two shimmer shadows. 

I highly recommend checking out Inglot Cosmetics to any one who is starting their makeup kit. They are high quality products with a great color selection. These palettes are so much fun to fill up!

All Time Favorites: Makeup Forever HD Collection

Makeup Forever (MUFE) has quickly become one of my favorite cosmetic brands. Their products are so rich and pigmented and of superb quality. I haven’t tried much of their eye products, but I can safely say I am a loyal customer when it comes to their facial products. 

I have been asked several times what my foundation routine consists of. Here’s what I use:

Microperfecting Primer: I have tried all of the MUFE primers, and I have found the green primer to be the absolute best. Green cancels out the color red, minimizing rosacea, broken capillaries, acne and breakouts. I have redness around my nose, cheeks, and forehead (thanks to genetics) and this primer is the only one that works for me. Unlike others, it is a sheer green that blends in with the skin. Not only will it minimize redness, it also keeps your foundation lasting longer.

HD Invisible Cover Foundation: I have raved about this foundation in a previous post (read about it here) and I am still loving it. This is my holy grail foundation, and honestly I don’t think I will ever find a better one. MUFE has 26 shades to choose from, you’re bound to find the perfect one for you. In addition, this foundation contains light reflecting particles which give a flawless appearance in photos.

HD Liquid Blush: One small pump of this product will give you enough to apply to both your cheeks and your lips. I absolutely love the color #2, particularly in the winter as it gives a natural berry flush to the face.

HD Microfinish Powder: Amazing. That is the only word that comes to mind when trying to describe this product. Again, I have mentioned this before (read about it here) and have yet to find another powder that will rival this one. It is a super finely milled translucent powder that sets any liquid or oil, leaving the skin matte and silky smooth. I suggest you feel the powder between your fingers yourself at the tester in Sephora…you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. I purchased the small “to go” jar, and it has lasted me over 6 months.

What is your holy grail primer, foundation, and powder?

Juicy Couture

I like to switch up my fragrances as the seasons change. This summer, I have been loving Couture Couture by Juicy Couture. It contains pink grape, orange flower, mandarin, blushed plum, honeysuckle and bold jasmine. Creamy sandalwood and rich vanilla top it off to give a sweet modern scent that is perfect for summer.

What is your favorite fragrance this season?