Hey Glossies,

Recently, I went to the first holiday party of the season.  It was fun times with fabulous friends!!

I planned to do a smoky look with my newly-acquired NARS Night Breed, but I decided to use the L’Oreal HiP Duo in Electrified. Electrified duo =  plum-infused silverish-taupe and metallic plum.  I love this combo!!!

I also wore the FACE Atelier Diamond Pink lipstick.  I love pink lipstick because every woman, regardless of skin tone, can wear a shade of pink.   I like the Diamond Pink color because it is sheer yet buildable. The texture is great and when the color, finally faded, my lips were left soft and supple.

Face Atelier Diamond Pink Lipstick

On my face, I wore

• MUFE HD Foundation 177
• Clinique Clinique Perfectly Real Liquid Foundation – 47
• Napolean Perdis Foundation Stick #7
• FACE atelier’s Ultra Loose Powder – Translucent
• MAC MSF Natural – Medium Deep

I really liked the FACE Atelier Loose Powder. A little goes a long way, so to my Women of Color, do not fear this product does not ash.  Since the MSF Natural products do not reduce shine, I suggest wearing the Loose Powder under the MAC MSF Natural.  The Loose Powder kept shine at bay for hours and I love that. My skin is not oily in general, but since the weather has turned cold, the heat goes up and the sweat can begin. lol

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Mix Maven

As summer winds down, I am still clinging to my the bright summery colors… So I finally played with the L’Oreal HiP Duo (Matte) in Perky.  The colors are a mid-tone green (similar to MAC Wondergrass) and slate blue (maybe charcoal).  You know the Matte and I do not get along as a lid color, but I heart green, so had to purchase it!!

L'Oreal HiP Duo Matte Perky

L'Oreal Hip Duo Perky FOTD (w/o flash)

L'Oreal Hip Duo Perky EOTD

The green side is not that dark as it appears to be.  I used HiP Color Rich Cream Crayon in Authentic (Green) as base.  The color is forest green.  I like the Color Rich Cream Crayons because they do not budge at all!!

Products used are:

Face

• Revlon Custom Creations in Deep (#4)
• MAC Natural MSF in Medium Deep

Eyes

• MAC Matte Gel
• HiP Color Rich Cream Crayon in Authentic (Green)
• HiP Duo – Perky e/s (Both sides)
• MAC Patina e/s
• Lorac Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Star Style – The Lightest Shade
• L’Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner – Black
• Barry M Kohl Pencil – Black
• Tarte lights, camera, lashes! mascara – Black

Cheek

• Revlon ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powder – Sunkiss

Lips

• NYX Barbie l/g

I think the result is cool, but I am going to try Delft and Pharoah Paint Pots to see if Perky (green side) will have a different look.

Well, I found some new music that also has me feeling perky because even though with all that craptasticness that is out there, I am glad to know there is good music still being made.

My new favorite British singer is Gary Go.  He is a melange of ColdPlay, Sting and U2. One reviewer called him a one-man ColdPlay.  His sound is broody and moody, voice mellow…Lyrically he is solid.  The song that sucked me in is ” Wonderful”:

And all your ammunition’s gone
Run out of fuel to carry on
You don’t know what you wanna do
Cause what you want does not want you
If what you want does not want you
And you’ve got no pull to pull you through

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”

Just amazing lyrics.

I love the quietness of “Black and White Days.”  The chorus reflects “You color my black and white days. /Color my black and white days. /You do. You color my black and white days. /Color my black and white days.”

Gary also takes on Lady Gaga.  He rearranges “Just Dance” from the high-octane dance frenzy to a reflective, haunting ballad.  I am looking forward to him having a wonderful career.

Gary Go’s cover of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”

If you like good music, Gary Go is a must have!!

What is perking you up these days?

Mix Maven

More L’Oreal HiP Duos.  One of the e/s I picked up at the Ulta BOGO Free sale (Still going on @ Ulta) was Mischief, a champagne gold shimmer and smokey grey/black matte. (There seems to be debate on the dark color).  I find this duo to be quite blendable and pigmented.  The champagne gold has the right amount of shimmer. I think it can be used as a highlighter or lid color.

In the FOTD, I used the lighter color on the lid. Because of the shape of my eyes, the lid color turns a soft smoky champagne hue. I like it.

Face

• Makeup For Ever Full Coverage Concealer #14
• Revlon Custom Creations Foundation – Deep
• Natural MSF – Dark

Eyes

• MAC Matte Gel
• MAC Painterly Paint Pot
• Makeup For Ever Matte Brown e/s
• L’Oreal HiP Duo – Mischief (both sides)
• La Femme e/s – Beige Pink
• Barry M Kohl Pencil – Black
• L’Oreal Voluminous mascara – Black

Without Flash

Without Flash

Mix Maven

Recently, a family friend asked for drugstore brand eye shadow recommendations.  She wanted to a teal or turquoise look for a wedding she will be attending in mid-summer.  I instructed her to check out the L’Oreal HiP Duos in Sassy and Showy.  I love the teal shimmery side of Showy and the greyish-taupe side of Sassy.  While the HiP duos tend to be pigmented I recommend  using a colored eye shadow base (MAC Delft paint pot or L’Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Teal)

In the FOTD below, I used:

Face

• Makeup For Ever HD Primer #6
• Estee Lauder Double Wear in Truffle/Rich Ginger
• Natural MSF – Dark

Eyes

• MAC Matte Gel
• MAC Delft Paint Pot
• L’Oreal HiP Duo – Showy (Teal side)
• L’Oreal HiP Duo – Sassy (Gray-Taupe side)
• MAC Black Tied e/s
• L’Oreal HiP Duo – Adventurous (Tan side)
• L’Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner -Black
• Barry M Kohl Pencil – Black
• Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash

With Flash

Without Flash

I think the Showy (lid color) is similar to MAC Shimmermoss, Talent Pool and Too Faced Nepture.  Plus, the other side of the duo is a matte navy blue, definitely works well together.

Keep It Glossy,

Mix Maven

I have been eying Too Faced Beauty Mark for awhile. The duo is part “Black Foil” and “Gilded Rose”.  The “rose” side is a soft neutral color that could work well for day and night and is  similar to MAC’s Expensive Pink.  The color payoff is less gold on me than Expensive Pink.*I just love it*

Too Faced Beauty Mark Duo

I do not recall all the products that I used
other than Too Faced Beauty Mark.

So I have decided that, once and for all, I am giving the Pink e/s a rest (as in acquiring more).  For some reason, most brands, Too Faced and Nouba are the exceptions,  have healthy fall out.  Is there an ingredient in the color that does not agree with my skin…probably.

Anyhoo, if you are a WOC and like Pink e/s, I find the best bases for them are:

1. Benefit Pre-nup creaseless eye shadow – A metallic rose
2. MAC Nice Vice (from the Fafi collection) – A reddish purple.  (Hard to find, so check your local CCOs)
3. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Hot Pink
4. HiP L’Oreal Color Rich Cream Crayon in Unmistakable (A deep pink)

Stay Pretty,

Mix Maven

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the lovers in the world.

Mr. Maven and I chilled out today.  We hung out with friends and met some cool folks.  We have decided to take out the Parents for Valentine’s Day because we love them very much and they have been quite helpful to us.

I love the Threesome mineralized trio eye shadows.  The medium pink is gorgeous and pigmented.  It is nothing like its recent ancestors.. so smooth.

So I decided to try the Studio Sculpted Foundation.  I really like this foundation.  The coverage is medium and build-able, similar to Studio Tech, but WOW oh WOW does it feel very light. At times during the day, I forgot I was wearing foundation. *Love it*

I am so in love with Blonde MSF.  Initially, I decided to bypass the Blonde Brunette Redhead collection. The collection looked quite dupable and I did not want to waste money on MAC colors that I already have.  So when I strolled into Macy’s, I had no intention of purchasing anything from the collection.  I swatched on my hand and it was smooth.  (I guess you can say that SMOOTH is the word of the day).  The color was brilliant and definitely would work as an eye shadow. I am glad I bought the Blonde MSF.  *Thanks Mama Maven for the Macy’s Gift Card*

All MAC Products unless stated.

Face

• NC 50 Studio Sculpt Foundation
• NW 43 Studio Sculpt Foundation
• Natural MSF in Dark

Eyes

• Matte Gel
• Benefit Lemon aid (More about this one later)
• Hip L’Oreal Crayon Unmistakable
• Purely Cosmetics Cream To Powder Bronzed Brown
• Outspoken Trio m/es
• Plum Dressing e/s
• Satellite Dreams e/s
• HiP Flare Duo (Tan Gold side)
• Phone Me side of Duo Pencil
• Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Eye Pencil
• Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Eye Pencil
• Napoleon Perdis mascara

Cheek

• Hello Kitty Tippy Blush
• Blonde MSF

Lips

• Hello Kitty Popster lip conditioner
• NYX  Salsa l/g
• Hello Kitty Big Bow l/s
• Neo-Sci Fi Naked Space l/g

I can be easily wooed by “free stuff” as in gift with purchase.  NARS Cosmetics had a promotion right before Christmas, if customer spent $60, said customer would receive one of four NARS eyeshadow duos.  Since, I was eying some blushes, I decided to pick up a few and a nail polish (the best nail polish I have ever worn).  My “free” gift was Belly Dance duo (a metallic green and an aubergine matte).  As many of you know, I love, love, love the green.  Definitely a good purchase.

All MAC Products unless stated.

Face

• NC 50 Studio Tech Foundation
• NW 43 Studio Tech Foundation
• Natural MSF in Dark

Eyes

• Matte Gel
• Benefit Lemon aid (More about this one later)
• NARS Belly Dance Duo
• Purely Cosmetics Cream To Powder Deep Purple*
• Outspoken Trio m/es (<— very pretty purples)
• HiP Sculpted Metallic Duo (Dark side)
• Revlon Make A Sheen – Espress’o Yourself (<— 50% off at CVS)
• Barry M Liner – Black
• Napoleon Perdis mascara

Cheek

• Barbie Fab Blush
• Petticoat MSF

Lips

• NYX  Salsa l/g
• To Swoon For  l/s

I really like NARS metallic shadows, definitely worth the money.

Mix Maven

Happy New Year!! Hope your New Year’s Eve was eventful.

One of my Beauty new year’s resolution is to rediscover products in my stash.  I decided it was time “rediscover” my purple e/s. The NYX Purple ultra pearl mania is one of my favorite purple e/s.  The shimmer is gorgeous.  I foiled it using MAC’s Fix +, which gave the shimmer, a more brilliant shine.

Another product that I discovered was the Waveline fluidline (f/l).  The color is similar to blue ink (with a slight purple tint.) I bought this product when MAC had the 15% Friends and Family sale.  I think the fluidlines are better bases than the paint pots because the crease factor is non-existent.  The only problem I see is that they can stain the skin, so I always use the matte gel as base for the fluidline.

All MAC Products unless stated.

Face

• NW 43/ NC 50 Studio Tech Foundation
• Natural MSF in Dark

Eyes

• Matte Gel
• Benefit Lemon aid
• Waveline Fluidline
• NYX Purple Ultra Pearl Mania (used with Fix +)
• Nocturnell e.s
• Glamour Check e/s
• Too Faced Shooting Star Baked e/s
• Tan side from the L’Oreal Hip Duo Adventurous
• Milani Color Brilliance Eye Pencil – Black
• Nouba Kajal and Contour #32 (Deep Purple)
• Stila Multi-Effect Mascara in Black

Cheek

• Neo-Sci Fi X-Rocks
• Neo-Sci Fi Spaced Out

Lips

NYX Tea Rose l/g
To Swoon For l/s (Adoring Carmine: 3 Rose lips)

Live abundantly,

Mix Maven

Tan pigment sat in my makeup case waiting to be used. The blaring shrill of the Tan Pigment called me out on Friday and I had to answer the call. I used the color a few months back and I loved it, so I decided to use it again for a neutral church look.  *Mind you, I have no problem wearing green or purple e/s to church (unless I am upfront, of course).* I have small eyes and any hint of color is beautiful against my skin.   Why Tan p/g goes unused, is beyond me, but I am pulling this one out at least once a month. If you do not have it, you need to run to your local MAC freestanding or online and pick it up NOW! lol

All MAC Products unless stated.

Face

• NC 50/NW 43 Studio Tech Foundations
• Natural MSF in Dark

Eyes

• Matte Gel
• L’Oreal De-Crease
• Soft Ochre Paint Pot
• Tan Pigment
• Purely Cosmetics’ Cream To Powder Shadow in Bronzed Brown
• Glamour Check e/s
• Mystery e/s
• Gold side from the L’Oreal Hip Duo Flare
• Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Eye Liner
• Nighthawk Dual Edge Eye Liner
• Stila Multi-Effect Mascara in Black

Cheek

• Stark Naked Blush
• Porcelain Pink MSF

Lips

• Sweet Tooth Tendertone
• NYX Golden Pink l/g

The inspiration: A Classic One

*From “Coming To America”*

Mix Maven

But it is easy to wear green.  I love wearing green eye shadow.   I love shades of olive and emerald greens.  I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF COLOR.  What some fail to realize that green is a neutral color.  When starting out use a color on the lid, place browns and/or smoky versions of the color in the crease and outer v.

Anytime, I try a new brand of makeup, I must get a teal or green e/s.  So I decided to try Barry M dazzle dusts. I have seen swatches, tutorials and reviews, so I had to get some for myself.  I purchased from asos.com, a UK online retailer.  Asos lists currencies for 5 different countries, so the customer can see the price at the current exchange rate.  Over the last few weeks, the US prices have been lowering, even the shipping cost has lowered.  *Check them out!* (More on Asos in a future post)

I purchased three Barry M Dazzle Dusts, one of which was the Emerald.  The Dazzle Dusts, loose eye shadows, are similar to MAC pigments and NYX Ultra pearl mania.  I think the Barry M marketing photos suck.  I will say, despite the official pics, they are worth adding to the collection. *I will post some swatches soon* A little bit goes a long way.  (Sidebar: the Emerald green dazzle dust was mixed with Moss Scape Paint Pot, so if used with another base it will not look olive green.)

Face

• MSF Dark
• NYX Concealer in Nutmeg

Eyes

• Matte Gel
• L’Oreal De-Crease Base
• Moss Scape Paint Pot
• Barry M Emerald Dazzle Dust
• Purely Cosmetics CTP in Bronzed Brown and Copper
• Glamour Check StarFlash
• Brown side from the L’Oreal Hip Duo Forgiving
• Retrospeck (Highlight)
• Tan side from the L’Oreal Hip Duo Adventurous (highlighter)
• Stila Multi-Effect Mascara in Black
• Urban Decay Gash and Zero Eye Liners
• Too Faced Foiled Liner – Black Beauty

Cheeks

Stark Naked Blush

Lips

• Sweet Tooth T/T

Mix Maven