NEW MOON MOVIE TRAILER!

Be prepared to scream ladies! This is the New Moon trailer that was revealed at tonight's MTV movie awards (for any of you who missed it or just want to watch Edward again and again). It looks A LOT better than Twilight already! None of that weird bluish tint...and um after seeing this trailer, I have to say I have about a foot on the "Team Jacob" side LOL!

And they also won "Best Kiss" (as well as a few other categories)!

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Smashbox Lid Primer vs. UDPP

So a few posts ago, I reviewed and raved about the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer and compared it to UDPP and TFSI respectively, now based on my last challenge, UDPP fared a lot better than TFSI for me, so at the end of the day the lid with UDPP looked practically flawless, while the lid with TFSI was creased and almost gone. So how does UDPP fare up against the Smashbox Lid Primer?

The test: I applied the Smashbox Lid Primer on my RIGHT EYE and UDPP on my LEFT EYE, then applied my eyeshadow as usual at 6:30 am (one day last week), went to work, walked in the sweltering heat for a bit, and 12 hours later, took a pic of both eyes...

Here are the results!

SMASHBOX LID PRIMER- 12 HOURS LATER...

The Result: The Smashbox Lid Primer held up pretty well, slight creasing near the inner corner of my eye, but to me it's where I normally will crease because when I blink the crease just folds in, and my eyes get watery which could have contributed to it. But overall the eyeshadow still looks just as vibrant, no signs of creasing or absorption of oil on the lid; the outer-V shading and contour still in tact and not much color fading, eyeliner also still as good as when I left in the morning.

UDPP- 12 HOURS LATER...

The Result: With UDPP, the eyeshadows still help up pretty well, still vibrant but NOT AS vibrant as the eye with the Smashbox Lid Primer; there is noticeable creasing or fade in color in the outer-V and contour area of the lid (compare to photo above). The eyeliner also seems more "dull" in color than the other eye.

Overall: Even though UDPP won the challenge against TFSI (Too Faced Shadow Insurance), it definitely didn't win the challenge against the Smashbox Lid Primer for me. It's still a good primer, but in comparison to the Smashbox one, I prefer the latter. The lid with the Smashbox primer was more vibrant and looked just as good as when I left the house that morning 12 hours later, whereas the UDPP one had some noticeable fade in color in random spots. Again, this is just MY personal experience with both products, I am sure UDPP works better for some of you above other lid primers, but the Smashbox one is definitely my holy grail of lid primers at the moment! :)

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Ramblings...and New Moon love!

Hi my loves! Once again I've been MIA...lately I am finding that there aren't too many hours in the day for me to do everything I need and want to do, and actually stay awake for it! LOL. This year has been- and is going to continue to be such a busy year for me given that this is probably the first year that I am attending numerous conventions and makeup shows, and on top of that I decided I wanted to get back into dancing, more for fitness purposes over recreational, but haven't decided on what style of dance I wanted to explore...my sisters were both in ballet, and as much as I love how gracious it is, it's too slow for me. But belly dancing or tango sounds fun.

June-August is gonna be nuts. Monday is my birthday (as well as Cam's!), I probably won't be celebrating it this year because I feel rather old, LOL. Maybe dinner with some friends but that's about it. Then that Friday, my company is hosting a "Casino Cruise" in which we all go on a boat, have dinner, and gamble (which I am sure will be a good time since we have so many new people at my job). Then it's the Vegas show, and IMATS (yes I WILL be there y'all so say hello! I would love to meet you lovely ladies!); in July I am attending my first Comic Con show in San Diego (because the Twilight panel is gonna be there!) So that should be insane fun, then it's my 4 year anniversary with the BF, then it's HIS 28th bday August 8th, then finally Hawaii at the end of August. Whew! So many things to do!

I didn't post this last weekend because I was finishing up my traffic school online which I finally completed thank goodness because that was so boring! And I had a baptism to go to (I was the photog), so as you can tell, it's been busy busy busy! But it's definitely a good thing!

Anyway, my co-worker Kyle knows I love anything Edward Cullen related so he got me the dolls for my birthday! It was hilarious. So I might just start a "Where is Edward Cullen Series" and take a pic of him wherever I go, LOL. That would be funny. He is so helpful already, holding my eyeliner brush, HAHA. Also for you Twilight fans like me, there is great coverage on the making of "New Moon" on Twicrackaddict.blogspot.com in which they have the best behind the scenes and eye candy photos of Rpattz!

***The dots you see on him are for the CGI special effects in which he "sparkles" and the abs are airbrushed but nonetheless he looks yummy!





Um hello there gorgeous!








And KStew is doing her own stunts!


Here are the Valera peep toe pumps I bought from Target (as someone asked if I could take a pic with it on to see how it looks like), I love 'em, they are super cute and actually pretty comfortable:




I went to Ross (love that place) and found a pair of cute sandals for only $12.99! It's always nice when you find such great deals!

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Product Review: Kiss My Face Products

Here is a review of a few Kiss My Face Products that my bestie Erica tested out.



Product: 4 out of 5

Packaging: 3 out of 5

Quality: 4 out of 5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Price: $63.00 (includes: cleansing bar, Toner, face crème with sunscreen and deep cleansing mask. Items can be purchased separately)

Where to buy: www.kissmyface.com

Would I buy again: YES

What is it: Purely Organic Face cleansing products.

What they Say:

The use of natural and organic personal care products is increasing dramatically... not just in the United States but throughout the world. People are becoming more knowledgeable and concerned about the environment and the effect of toxic chemicals on us and the earth. Properly formulated natural and organic personal care products are not only good for you but are actually more effective than their commercially mass-produced chemical laden counterparts.

Safer and Healthier

Why are people consuming more natural and organic foods? Clearly, the absence of unnecessary chemicals and pesticides in the food and drinks we ingest make them safer and healthier for us. The use of natural and organic personal care products is just as, if not more important than, consuming natural and organic foods. While the body's digestive system is actually designed to filter out impurities, the skin, as the body's largest organ, absorbs 60% of what is put on it, directly into the bloodstream. (SOURCE: GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE)

Essential oils, for example, primary ingredients in any natural or organic personal care product, are the concentrated, odoriferous derivatives of therapeutic plants produced for their own survival and protection from disease. These precious oils influence the plant's growth and reproduction insuring a long and healthy life. The molecular structure of essential oils is very close to that of the fluids and oils of our skin, accounting for our skin's natural affinity to them. They are readily absorbed and penetrate to the deepest skin layers. Regular use of essential oils in skin care has been proven effective in helping correct problems such as wrinkles, excessive oiliness, dryness, blemishes, and tone. Essential oils have the capacity to promote the elimination of dead cells, regenerate new ones and to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Better for the Environment

Organic farming is safer for the environment. It helps to give back to nature by maintaining and replenishing the soil rather than depleting it. Organic farming is better for all of us in the long run. The use of natural ingredients over cheaper synthetic ingredients eliminates the release of hazardous bi-products released into the environment during the production of synthetic chemicals in laboratories and factories around the globe.

In a nutshell:

Kissmyface is a company that features all organic beauty products. Some of these products have been featured in such magazines as seventeen and Elle magazine. The all natural ingredients provide better moisture, texture and overall appearance for your skin as well as being Eco- friendly.

Pros: Environmentally friendly, all natural products with no hidden additives that may irritate your skin. Smell is decent leaves your skin feeling very clean and refreshed. Perfect for all skin types.

Cons: If you are allergic to things such as soy or mica or any other fruits you may have to check the products ingredients as a lot of there products contain this. If you have extremely dry skin I do not recommend the soap bar, although it does leave your skin feeling clean if you have extremely dry skin it may not be the best.

Overall: I loved the products! It made my face feel and look healthier and did not irritate or make my skin oily. I was a bit worried at first because some soy based products irritate me, but this was completely fine. The Soap bar made my face squeaky clean and combined with the toner and the face crème that contained sun block , it hydrated and gave me a great glow as well as protect my face from UV Rays. The fact the product is eco-friendly is a big plus , most of us want to do our part to help the environment and it’s great when you can do that and look great at the same time.

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Style Warriors Collection & Pictures

So did any of you ladies grab anything from this collection? Of course the one thing I loved about this collection was the animal print packaging. My favorite animal is the Zebra, so this collection was right up my alley!

Luckily the eyeshadows didn't appeal to me at all (other than "Night Maneuvers" which is a pretty color for a smokey eye look), I already have "Femme Fi" from the Solar Fields collection and reminds me of "Soft Force", and "Magnetic Fields" is somewhat close to "Night Maneuvers" (to me anyway), and I already have "tempting" and "vibrant grape" has crappy color payoff for me, and how often would I wear yellow eyeshadow?!?? So that crossed off "Bright Future" (it IS a pretty color I just know I would never reach for it).

The lipglosses "Gold Rebel" and "Style Warrior" were must haves for me, I love the gold peachy sheen "Gold Rebel" gives and warms up my skintone with a pop of warmth and color, and I love the deep earthy tone of "Style Warrior" and it's very wearable and not super dark. "Liberated" is a nice cool yellow lipgloss which is great by itself or over a lipstick, and "Fierce & Fabulous" reminded me of a few lipglasses I already have like "Magnetique", so I was trying not to get colors similar to what I already have.

The lipsticks are adorable in their tribal safari-esque packaging and I truly love "Brave New Bronze" lipstick! It's a gorgeous neutral lipstick with a subtle hint of pink. I definitely need to buy a back up of it! "Purple Rite" is a frost lipstick- if "Violetta" lipstick and "Bubbles" has a baby this would probably be their child, LOL. It's a nice subtle hint of purple on my lips, not bright, but completely wearable. "Sunsational" was way too sheer for me and didn't go nicely with my skintone, and I didn't want to buy it just to overlay it over another lipstick, "Tribalist" is a nice deep chocolate purple color, which I could never pull of but wished I could!

I also got the bronzing powder in "Refined Golden" (it's also permanent so no need to rush ladies but hurry if you want it in the special packaging!), it's a nice warm brown with a hint of shimmer for a nice bronze glow or to highlight your tan. "Solar Riche" seemed a bit too orangey for my skintone.

Beauty Powder Blush "Eversun" of course is a re-promote and is a nice medium peachy color that would look great on anyone, and "On a mission" is a nice soft plum or mauve color.

The Lustre drops are great as a highlighter, or you can mix them into your foundation or lotion for a subtle hint of shimmer and glow.

I didn't swatch the lustre drops or the leg sprays, but here are some pics!

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Stila Sale!

40% off Stila Cosmetics + Free Shipping at StilaCosmetics.com
Stila Cosmetics is having 40% off PLUS Free Shipping on StilaCosmetics.com until 6/17.
Promo Code: STILAPRO

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Milani Pretty Pair Lipstick & Lipgloss

Many of you have asked the nailpolish colors I had on in some of my recent posts so here they are; I hope to do a post soon with a bunch of nailpolish swatches:

- In the YSL Primer Post, I wore Nina's Ultra Pro Nailpolish (available at Sally's Beauty Supply Store) in "Sweet Nothings" (like a lilac purple).
- For my toes and nails (in the post where I had the strappy shoes from Target), it's Essie nailpolish in "No Boundaries".
- My sister's blue nailpolish (which was actually mine! LOL), is China Glaze nailpolish in "Frostbite".




Anyhoo, I recently went to Target the other day to get some body wash and was walking around the cosmetic aisle (because it's somehow euphoric and therapeutic to walk through familiar territory!) and I saw these new Milani lipstick and ligloss duos called "Pretty Pairs" ($6.99 at Target). Each shade name starts with a "Two", for example the one I bought is "Two Perfect", and examples of other shades are like "Two hot to handle" and "Two Cute".CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE COLORS.

Product: 4 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Shade I bought: Two Perfect
Additional shades available? Yes
Price: $6.99 at Target
Where to buy: Walgreens, Target, any retailer that sells Milani products
Would I buy again? Yes


They aren't anything like the stay on lipsticks such as L'oreal's Infallible lipstick, these are simply just a lipstick with a matching lipgloss in one with a pull out mirror on the back. They are pretty light-weight and tiny to carry around so it doesn't occupy a lot of space, the lipstick can be worn alone or with the lipgloss if you wish. It has NO SPF protection, but this is just a really basic lipstick and lipgloss set on the go, and at a nice price! The lipstick is creamy and easy to apply, the lipgloss is too and they both don't have a weird taste or smell (at least to me), the only thing I don't like is the lipgloss brush wand, it's stiff and super tiny; if they just tweak the brush wand it's perfect for me.

It contains:
- Shea butter
- Vitamin E & A
- Avocado and Jojoba Seed Oil

I LOVE the color I got, "Two Perfect, it's a nice nude-peach color in person, not super coral or orange, but a nice tinge of peach so it's pretty wearable and I think it complements a good majority of skintones nicely without being washed out or overpowering. I definitely want to check out the other shades they have soon!

PROS:
- Affordable, moderately easy to find in most stores here in Cali
- No weird taste or smell
- Love the shade I got!
- Has a pull out mirror
- Easy to tote around in your purse, not overly bulky or heavy

CONS:
- Lipgloss brush wand is a bit stiff and tiny
- Even though they currently have more shades, it's not a big selection, I think if they add more shades, that would be awesome!

Overall: Definitely like the one I got, and for you lippie lovers like me, definitely check it out the next time you are out and about!









Just the lipstick:


With the gloss:

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Official "New Moon" Poster!

I love it! I love Jacob's stance and his protective, yet fierce reaction- and Edward just looking over his shoulder at both of them, although I think Bella should have been more prominent in the poster rather than sorta in the backround, in the sense that "New Moon" represents the darkest part of her life and focuses mainly on the friendship she develops with Jacob; but nonetheless I am digging the poster!

So are you ladies excited for the movie to come out? What do you think of the poster?

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Shoe Haul & Other Random Things...

My sister arrived last Thursday from Washington to attend her BF's prom here in Cali (since hers was cancelled due to some stupid food fighting incident); so we've been busy hanging out (hence the missing posts haha). Her BF really wanted her to be his date so he bought her plane ticket here, crazy! She was only here for the weekend (thank goodness because she was driving me nuts!), I didn't do her prom makeup since she told me LAST MINUTE that it was on Friday and I had to work that day...so she ended up doing it herself. (Didn't take pics of her makeup since she was in a rush to get out the door...)

Anyway, did any of you ladies see Gossip Girl's Season Finale Episode! OMG it was good! I LOVED the end with Chuck and Blair, and he FINALLY tells her that he loves her! I was like awww! Chuck Bass can be romantic and sweet! I can't wait till the show comes back in August! I am excited to see how Georgina develops in the show, and was that Lily and Rufus' son?!??!! Craziness if it is!

Oh! And the "New Moon" (Twilight saga) poster will be unveiled today at 7 am! I had a sneak peak before it was taken down by numerous sites citing copyright violations as the Washington Post "leaked" it accidentally, so if it turns out to be the real deal, it looks sooooo good! I will post it tomorrow! I am a huge Twilight fan as y'all know, I love the series and read ALL the books in like a week because I was so excited to get to the end, (don't kill me please Twilight haters!) my BF hates it too so don't join him haha. At work, ALL the ladies are into the series too and we cannot wait for the new movie, I just hope and pray it's WAAAAYYY better than Twilight!

Anyway, I know many of you had questions and emails and I am trying to get to them as soon as I can, sorry for any delay I am not ignoring you, it's just hard since there's only ONE me and so many hours of the day!

Reader vinyliskillingme had a few good and useful questions recently then somehow the last one turned sour, so in response to your comment/opinion, where you said I was "stupid" for buying expensive products- that's your opinion and I respect that. Everyone spends their money however they see fit, doesn't make them "stupid" just because they buy something you yourself wouldn't spend money on. And to be honest I agree with you partly because there ARE certain things I think are really expensive for what it is (which is why the CON for the YSL primer was that it IS expensive), but if it's the only thing that does the job for me then it's worth it to me personally. (Such as the Korres Yogurt Moisturizer!) I DO think there are many products out there that are just as good of a dupe as the expensive brand, but there are some that are just not the same and I don't think it's fair to isolate one part of the population by only reviewing affordable or "cheap" products or just "expensive" products. As a beauty blogger I try to review a variety of products if applicable, many are at my own expense mainly out of curiosity to try a particular product (and because many cosmetic companies have a great store policy in case it doesn't work out) and others are sent to me complimentary of that particular company who contacted me to review their products. Not every post is Dior, YSL, or Givenchy products, as not every post is Revlon, or NYX. If I didn't take the time to review all types of products- both affordable and expensive, how would you know what to weed out and what you might wanna try? Perhaps there is a product that previously piqued your interest and after I have reviewed it you can now make the conscious choice to either cross it off, or add it to your list of things to try!

Anyway, here were some random paparazzi photos I took of my sis during her stay:

Her boy toy...she did her hair herself...


When she was leaving...




I came home to tons of packages!


And here is my recent shoe haul:
Valera Peep Toe Pumps from Target:


Strappy dress shoes, also from Target (excuse the redness in my feet I had my gym shoes before trying these on! LOL)


Rocketdog Wedges from DSW:


And my water shoes for Hawaii! Which have the water drain holes so that they dry faster!

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Prod. Review: YSL Flash Radiance Brush

Product: 4 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 5 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Where to buy: Sephora, Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, or any YSL retailer.
Price: $52
Would I buy again? Yes

What it is: A skin revitalizing complexion enhancer and makeup primer.

What they say: Top Secrets Flash Radiance Skincare Brush is Yves Saint Laurent's latest breakthrough product and the first of its kind. Inspired by the immediate and high-stress beauty needs backstage at fashion shows, this unique hybrid skincare and makeup product provides instant smoothness and radiance in addition to long-lasting evenness of skin's tone, texture, and hydration. It delivers a multitude of benefits. It revitalizes and softens the skin, erases signs of fatigue, and regulates the skin's pigmentation. This revolutionary formula creates a protective, moisturizing veil that sets the stage for a perfect, long-lasting makeup application.

In a nutshell: It's a primer in a built in brush which makes it easy to apply without having to use your fingers or hands to apply, you can also gently clean the brush with soap and water as it's synthetic. You twist the base of the brush (so it's on its side) to turn it "ON" and turn it back to turn it "OFF" so that it doesn't accidentally leak out. Just squeeze and the primer comes out from the middle of the brush, and apply on your face.

PROS:
- A really great primer, it totally made my face feel soft and smooth, thus creating a perfect, even canvas for makeup application (both mineral and liquid).
- Helps makeup last longer, and it didn't make me look oily like Smashbox's primer did.
- Built in brush comes in handy and makes it easy to travel with. I like how I can just apply it using the brush which probably helps prevent pimples since it eliminates the need to use your hands that have oils.
- Has a lot of product.

CONS:
- Super expensive! $52 for a primer is a bit ridiculous to me! But then again, it's YSL and we all know at times your just paying for the name...
- The smell! It's not a bad smell, it's just a bit too fragrant for me, like an overpowering perfume. I really wish they made one, or at least in the future make one without any scent or at least a much lighter scent. Because it annoying after awhile and I just couldn't get used to it.

Overall: It's a good primer, I haven't tried too many primers that made my skin feel so soft and smooth, and with the YSL primer my makeup went on smooth and flawless. Application is easy and you don't need to squeeze hard for the product to come out, and the brush makes it easy to apply the primer on your face. It seems like there's enough to last awhile since you don't need a whole lot.

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Happy Birthday RPattz!

Today is my man's birthday, LOL. (Again, wishful thinking!) And had to give him a shoutout in case Bella decides to get into makeup and magically stumbles on my blog...haha.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Edward Cullen...err... I mean Robert Pattinson!

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Stacey & Marc's Wedding

This past weekend I attended my co-worker Stacey's wedding, who just looked absolutely stunning and glowing (as she is also 6 months pregnant!) but you can't even tell in these photos since her dress just draped her perfectly. Her dad was crying before he walked his daughter down the aisle and it was truly a sweet moment. Could you believe this gorgeous wedding was done in a backyard of one of their friends' house overlooking the valley?! They said their own vows and I was trying not to cry, LOL.

The groom was actually a photographer for High School Musical (like the behind the scenes shots, etc for the books and whatnot) and was also the roommate of Lucas Grabeel (the guy that played Ashley Tisdale's brother in the movies) and he is actually an ordained minister! So he married the two, and a bunch of other actors and familiar faces were also in attendance.

The bride and her dad, he wore chucks with yellow shoelaces! How cool is that!??


Her friend made her gorgeous veil:


Wedding party, and the groom waiting for the bride...






My other co-worker Irina, and the bride and groom:




Made centerpieces:




Me and my other co-workers Cynthia and Natasha. My dress is from a brand called "Teeze me" that I bought from Macy's...


My look for the wedding, really plain faced other than the eyeliner, falsies, and lippie. So I am not gonna bother to list everything I used since it was really simple. The lippie however is Revlon's "Really Red' with MAC "Cult of Cherry" lipglass.

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Must-Have: Revlon Matte l/s in "Really Red"

Regarding my last post on the pepper spray, I had a few readers ask me where the BF got it from, and he got it at Sports Authority (formerly known as "Sport Chalet") but I am sure any sporting goods store shall have it. There are so many crazies in the world, gotta protect yourself!

Anyway, here is a gorgeous red lipstick that is a must-have (and it's drugstore!), not to mention very wallet-friendly! It's the Revlon Matte Lipstick in "Really Red", it's such a nice deep red that I think would complement any skin tone because it's just so pretty! And the best part, these lipsticks are under $10. (Varies from store to store, and of course state).

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Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies and mommies-to-be! I hope you all have a great time with mom today and let her know how much you love her! My mommy is out of state so unfortunately I can't take her out for a nice lunch, but thank goodness for iChat! LOL.

I am working today from home on a project/media kit for work so hopefully I can post later tonight!

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FOTD: Green look using "Princess Caraboo"

A reader requested I do a look using the "Princess Caraboo" eyeshadow from my lime crime post a few days ago, so here was a look I did this morning. Oddly enough it looks like a green look I did a few posts ago but used totally different products for this look, goes to show that there are so many dupes out there!

The BF was sweet enough to get me some pepper spray for protection, LOL and it's PINK! I didn't even know they came in colors! Years ago I had one, but it was all black...so I GUESS he's in some ways like Edward, always trying to protect me, PUHAHAHA!











What I used:

[Face]
- MAC Prep + Prime Base Primer
- MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC35
- Purely Cosmetics Mineral Foundation in "Olive Beige"

[Cheeks]
- Flirt! Cosmetics Bronzer in "Golden Minx" for contouring
- MAC Blush in "Nuance"

[Eyes]
- Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer (on right eye)
- UDPP on left eye (for a comparison)
- MAC e/s in "Sour Lemon" and "Eye Popping" on the inner corners
- MAC e/s in "Bio Green" (PRO) on the middle of the lid
- Lime Crime e/s in "Princess Caraboo" on the outer-V and contour
- NYX "Black" on lower part of the outer-V
- MAC e/s in "Shroom" with a touch of "Goldmine" as highlight on brow bone
- MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack"
- L'Oreal XXL mascara in "Blackest Black"
- UD Eyeliner in "Zero" on waterline

[Lips]
- MAC Cremesheen in "Creme d' Nude"

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Tagged: Getting to know you...

I was tagged by my lovelies Christiana and Erica.

Rules: Take a picture of yourself RIGHT now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture. Load the picture onto your blog. Tag some people to play.

I tag: Anyone that hasn't done this yet!



Me. At work. With my pink headphones in one ear listening to Paula Deanda's song "Good Girl" and drinking Welch's Apple Juice. :)

I was also tagged by Jacquelyn!

TAG: Getting to Know Me, Getting to Know You

Q: What made you choose your blog?
A: I just decided to write a makeup/beauty blog because I was having trouble finding swatches and reviews online of products I was interested in and thought it would be a great idea to help others who were in the same boat. I also love to "write" so it just came naturally to me to start a blog. Even if no one reads it, it would be my own personal little diary to help me keep track of the products I used for certain looks.

Q: What's your actual name?
A: Vanessa Garcia

Q: Do you have any nicknames?
A: V, Van, Ness, Nessa, Nessie (like Renesmee!), boomer (my co-worker calls me that and I don't know why, lol)

Q: Apart from the obvious make up / beauty hobby, what other hobbies do you have?
A: I like reading novels, painting (acrylics, oils, pastels), drawing when I have time, I also like to learn things on the side like cooking, etc.

Q: What do you do?
A: I work for an internet company (which shall remain nameless for obvious reasons lol) and I am an advertising account manager in which I help those who own an online business get more traffic to their site. Similar to Yahoo (which we work with) and Google.

Q: What would you like to do?
A: I love my job, we get massages on Mondays, free gym membership, and we get to wear jeans and flip flops to work, can't get any better!

Q: Tell us something embarrassing, but that you love doing?
A: Ummm, I have TONS of embarrassing moments, probably not any that involves makeup, but when people recognize me in real life I feel a little embarrassed because 99% of the time I think they think I am weird or something, HAHA. Although I DO LOVE meeting those of you I have casually ran into!

Q: Tell us a little something that we don't already know about you.
A: I am an emotional person, and I cry easily. Yet, I am the biggest jokester you will ever meet, I love a good laugh and my overall perspective in life is that you only live once so just enjoy everything while you can and don't let anything or anyone get you down. The more people say I can't do something, the more it motivates me to prove them wrong and work harder. I think I am a very nice person in general and go above and beyond for the people I care about, I think my pet peeve is when people just assume things about people without truly getting to know them because half the time you'll be amazed at what lies below the surface.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of?
A: Helping raise my 2 younger sisters as if they were my own. Being the eldest, I never had anyone to watch over me or "guide me" to the right path- so it's nice that my sisters can depend on me and can talk to me without feeling they're gonna be judged. I am also glad that I have always been pretty self-sufficient and independent, it's nice to know that even through the struggles, it got me to where I am today, and that I have an amazing set of parents from different backgrounds and cultures that have kept me grounded and focused.

Q: What do you most like about yourself?
A: That I can make other people laugh.

Q: What would you change about yourself if you could?
A: Umm, I wish I was more patient...physically there's a few things I don't like about myself but I accept it (just being honest), doesn't mean I want surgery or anything, but I would be lying if I said I was 100% happy with my body. LOL. Overall, it's not that important for me to even want to change a thing, just because I feel like I can offer a lot more outside the physical aspect.

Q: If you could have anything in the world (that doesn't cost any money), what would you want?
A: Well I already have happiness and love, I think id wish for everyone to also have happiness and great health and just for everyone to be kind to one another...but then again I wouldn't mind having Edward Cullen either, LOL!

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FOTD: A Rose Romance-esque Look

I tweaked the "A Rose Romance" look and made it more me by making it a little more vibrant, but also using the same key colors: pink, purple, and blue.

Just a quick run-down on what I used:

[Face]
- MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base
- MAC Studio Tech Foundation in NC35

[Cheeks]
- MAC Beauty Powder in "Blush of Youth"

[Eyes]
- Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
- MAC e/s in "Trophy Pink" from the Antiquitease Holiday Cool Palette on lid
- Lime Crime e/s in "Empress" on contour
- MAC e/s in "Ricepaper" as highlight
- Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen
- L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara
- MAC pigment in "Mutiny" and UD Eye Pencil in "Electric" on lower lashline

[Lips]
- MAC "Magnetique" lipglass

I also did a little Hawaii shopping and ordered a few things online for my trip; even though it's in August, so many good deals are going on right now I just couldn't pass 'em up! So I bought a few swimsuits, since I am gonna be there for nearly 2 weeks, and I also bought some water shoes because last time my sister and I went to Hawaii we cut our feet from the coral and the jagged rocks when we went snorkeling, and since I plan on getting "rugged" this time, I thought id get a pair of water shoes, and they are actually pretty cool as they have "drain holes" at the bottom for the water, and it's made out of the wet suit material so it dries fast. No walking around with mushy, wet, squeaky shoes!

Swimsuit from Target, I don't like it as a bandeau, but it comes with a strap so you can make it into a halter....you can bet im hitting the gym hardcore now to fit in it! LOL.


From Spiegel.com




From Landsend.com

A swimsuit cover up with a hood:


Watershoes:


And y'all know I LOVE Twilight, so I thought this was funny:


Oh how I wish this was true! LOL

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Product Review: Smashbox Lid Primer

Hi my lovelies! Thank you to all of you for the well wishes, it seems like everyone is getting sick these days or allergies are acting up. I have so many posts and product reviews to do so I am hoping I can hammer them out quickly! Did anyone watch "The Hills" last night? OMG, Audrina and Jayde drama! I personally am not fond of either of them, but I thought it was pretty hilarious, and Speidi, goodness, I really wish they fell off the face of the earth. I don't know why she stays with Spencer and puts forth all the energy of going to counseling and attacking the bartender- just leave the douche. LOL.

Anyway, I bought Smashbox's Photo Finish Lid Primer at Sephora a few weeks ago and I must say I really love this stuff. The one advantage it has over the infamous UDPP and Too Faced Shadow Insurance is that it really neutralizes the lid- so you can wear it alone if you really wanted to.

****I did not include the Art Deco Base eyeshadow primer in this review/comparisons simply because it's hard to find here in the US and wanted to focus on the main primers that are easily accessible.****

Product: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5
Price: $20, Sephora and Sephora.com
Shades: Only comes in one neutral shade to fit every skin tone
Would I buy again? Yes

To see my UDPP vs. TFSI challenge awhile back (to see which one held up better for me), CLICK HERE.

What it does:
Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer creates the perfect canvas for eyeshadow application. Wear this universal shade under shadow to increase longevity, or create the perfect nude eye by applying over the lid for an even tone.

-Patented Qusome: Delivers active hydrating ingredients that help reduce the signs of aging.
-Phytomoist: Contains a plant-based hyaluronic acid for sustained moisturization.
-Betaine: Contains skin-smoothing benefits.
-Soft Focus Pearls: Helps diminish the appearance of fine lines.
-Silicone Technology: Creates a silky-smooth, velvety texture

Ingredients:
Isododecane, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Beeswax (Cera Alba, Cire D'Abeilles), Silica, Boron Nitride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Talc, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina, Cire Microcristalline), Propylene Carbonate, Cetyl PEG/PPG10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-12 Glyceryl DiMyristate, Water (Aqua, Eau), Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Betaine, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract. May Contain/Peut Contenir: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron oxide (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

How does this compare/differ to UDPP and/or TFSI? The Smashbox Lid Primer itself has pretty nice packaging in the sense that the wand is long, the tube is straight, so you are utilizing all the product in the tube without wasting it or having to cut it open like UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion), where it's clear how much product is left that WOULD have gone to waste if it were not sliced open. UDPP and TFSI seemed a bit more watery in comparison to the Smashbox primer, not saying it IS watery by any means, but standing next to the Smashbox Lid Primer (which is nice and thick), they both seem "thin" when it comes to consistency and feel. When it came to vibrancy/pigmentation and endurance of wear, Smashbox was STILL a winner as you can in the photos below. It clearly brought out the color of my eyeshadows as well as lasting longer in wear in comparison to UDPP and TFSI.

PROS:
- Neutralizes my lid color which I love because that means when I have my no-makeup days I can just put a few dots on my lid, blend all over and voila! No dark areas!
- Did not crease on me.
- Has a bit of a thicker consistency compared to UDPP and TFSI which I liked because I felt my eyeshadows had more of a foundation to 'grab onto' thus, increasing vibrancy and wear.
- No odd smell.
- Longer wand, straight tube, so you get your money's worth and make use of all the product in the tube.
- Doe foot applicator makes it easy to apply a few dots on lid
- Easy to take with you in your makeup bag/travel.
- Neutral color goes with ANY skintone since it's a flesh color and disappears once its been blended
- Relatively affordable considering how long eye/lid primers last you, and as I say "If it does the job right, then it's worth it"...

CONS:
- None!

You might like this if you already love UDPP.

Overall? I love this compared to UDPP and TFSI. Since UDPP still has not changed their bottle/packaging, I feel that by paying $17 for it I shouldn't have to cut the tube to make use of the "forgotten" product that's left. TFSI, as you can see in my challenge didn't hold up for me so that's a negative. Hence I am loving Smashbox's new Photo Finish Lid Primer; it's definitely a prayer that has been answered: easy packaging, neutralizes my lid color, holds onto my eyeshadow for all-day wear without creasing, adds vibrancy, and affordable.





Even held up even after washing my hands!

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Still alive :)

Sorry ladies I haven't posted in what FEELS like ages. I have been feeling a bit sick (not Swine flu sick!) but queasy and headache sick. And on top of that i've been doing traffic school online so I haven't had time to post...but I have new posts waiting to be published! I am also in the process of answering all your reader questions, since there were so many (more than I expected), I am hoping I can focus on those this week.

So stay tuned and hope you all had a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

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