{Beautylicious Mondays}

Just a little something I purchased over the weekend. I sampled a couple of the colors today, and they were highly pigmented without a base. I can't wait to swatch and create a look using a paint pot!

(Pardon the amateur photo...I took a quick snap just to

showcase the goods for your viewing pleasure.)

 

~

 

Until we meet again,

 

Live Glamourously.

:Beautylicious Mondays ~ Giveaway Time!:

**THIS GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**

I always like to ensure that you, my readers, are rewarded for taking a moment to stop by and give me a few minutes of your time each day...because you certainly could be doing something else, and I very much appreciate your continued support! It's all...

Therefore...it's GIVEAWAY time!

The winner will receive either an eyeshadow or a lipglass from MAC's permanent collection, which I'm sure you all know is quite extensive. The kicker is YOU get to pick which item you want and choose the color!

~

In order to qualify for entry, you must:

1. Be a follower of the blog, Diva Style.
2. Be a permanent follower of Diva Style on Twitter. (@DivaStyleBlog)
3. Be a follower of Diva Style on Pinterest. (http://pinterest.com/divastyleblog/) This is only if you already have or are able to get an account prior to the giveaway ending. If not, this won't be held against you since people are often waitlisted for Pinterest. The previous two and final, following critera are an absolute MUST, though!

4. Finally, comment on this post telling me what your favorite eye look to embellish your own eyes is AND which eye look you would like to perfect. I also want to know what your favorite brand and corresponding color of eye shadow is.

Easy, right?! You have until Monday, August 20 at 12AM to enter. After that, it's a wrap!
I can't wait to read you guys' responses!

~
Live Glamourously.

  

:Beautylicious Mondays:

I've gotten totally addicted to gel manicures...

I mean, these things last like 2-3 weeks (so badass).

...

I just couldn't resist posting all of this kickass nail candy.

You see me trying to be all creative and cutesy with it, right? Lol.

This magnetic set actually didn't turn out the way it should have, but the design was swanky.

Simple. Pretty in pink.

~

I love this concept because when I use regular polish,

I have to paint my nails around every 2 or 3 days. That SUCKS!

Thinking about buying this. After a few uses,

it'd virtually pay for itself with what I spend on these manicures.

It's on my wish list, so if anyone wants to gift me, holla! :-}

~

Bonus Flick:

These Pro Longwear shadows from MAC = da business!
In the photo above, I'm rockin' Sunny Outlook on my lid
and Make Your Mark blended into the crease.
I've purchased about 10 of them so far, and I'm very pleased with
the pigment vibrancy and the quality/staying power (sans eye primer).

~

Live Glamourously.

:Beautylicious Mondays {Tuesday Edition}:

I purchased this a few months back, and HAD to do a review! I can't say enough good things about Tarte's The Miracle of Maracuja! Tarte is the self-proclaimed "high-performance naturals" cosmetic company, and prior to getting this, I had only had experience with one of their products, which was their mineral powder bronzer in Hotel Heiress.

~

At any rate, this 8-piece set (which actually ended up being 10-piece, due to 2 rather generous sample products they included :-}) contains the following:

1 1.7 oz. bottle of pure maracuja oil

1 bamboo blush/foundation brush (I've found it to be dual-purpose)

1 maracuja bouncy airblush blush in shimmering poppy

1 beauty & the box eyeshadow quad, envoke the smoke

1 lights, camera, lashes! mascara

1 maracuja divine shine lipgloss in peaceful

1 maracuja creaseless concealer (I chose deep for my skin tone)

 1 cashmere waterproof gliding smooth eyeliner in black

~

Lipgloss in Peaceful

Creaseless Concealer in Deep

Swatch from L to R: Dark Ash, Purple Fog, Silver Mist, Pink Cloud

Bouncy Airbrush Blush in Shimmering Poppy

~

I seriously can't say anything bad about any of the products included. The oil is full-size, and that in itself makes the set a steal and an awesome deal! Felt great going onto my skin. The brush is also the bomb--the fibers feel silky and luxurious against my skin. I was also extremely pleasantly surprised with the blush. I normally don't really do cream blushes, but the color payoff in this one was wonderful, and being a brown girl, I was especially happy about that! Sadly, I haven't yet had a chance to use the eyeshadow quad, but the color choices seemed decent (see photo below). The mascara seems pretty good, but you just need to take your time putting it on in order to really define your lashes. The lipgloss was okay--moisturizing and didn't seem too sticky, but really nothing special in my opinion; it's a peachy nude color with lots of shine. I also haven't tried the concealer yet...probably due to the fact that I'm mostly a creature of habit when it comes to the foundations and concealers I use. The eyeliner is terrific, though!

...

What do you think? Did you purchase this steal of a bargain luxury set?

~

 Live Glamourously.

:Beautylicious Mondays:

{HAUL!}

The Bare palette from Sigma is kind of old news,

but I decided to purchase just last week.

~ 

This product is approximately $15 less than the Urban Decay Naked Palettes,

but IMHO, it's a totally different palette. I wouldn't really recommend purchasing

this as a stand-in for the coveted UD shadows, though I still like them pretty well so far.

~

I can't do a totally thorough review because I used only two colors

over the weekend (hitch and elope). I will say that elope was way too chalky,

but when I applied hitch over it for the desired look/effect,

the color combo was perfect and stayed on strong all day long

with my Urban Decay eye primer. Peep the swatches below...

(click photos to enlarge)

From L to R: Shine, Control, Snoop, Hitch, Act, Command, Elope, Approach

Will you be picking this up if it's not already in your collection?

~

Live Glamourously.



:Beautylicious Mondays:

Happy New Year, All!!

For my first post of 2012, I want to introduce you all to a product that I'm sure has been around for a while, but I just discovered and started using:

This stuff is GREAT! Beauty guru, KeetaRay would second that, and that's an opinion worth taking into account! The crystals contained in the product are very fine, but they do a bang-up job of exfoliating the epidermis. The product feels really good as you massage it into your skin. I would venture to say that it's probably gentle enough to use every day, but if you're not into that, I'd recommend at least twice a week.  However, as with any exfoliating rinse, try to keep your eyes closed as you're using. I got some crystals in my eyes one day, and, as you can imagine, it was not cute, LOL. 

Additionally, this product is very easy on the pockets, as I believe the one I purchased retailed at around $4.29, though you may be able to get it for cheaper in some places. I bought mine at an actual Sally's beauty supply store, but I'm sure you can get it at other retailers in-store or online. Below are the ingredients contained in this Queen Helene product:

Happy Exfoliating, darlings!

~

Remember to Always...

Live Glamourously.

:!Beautylicious Giveaway!:

*THIS GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED*
CALLING ALL MAKEUP LOVERS AND BIBLIOPHILES!!

...

Christmas is near, and it's giveaway time! I just want to express my gratitude to all my faithful, beloved followers this holiday season by giving you a chance to win this book:

It's full of stunning photos, makeup tips and advice on how to put

your best face forward and dazzle with unexpected looks, if you dare!

the fine print:

To enter this giveaway, you must be a follower of my actual blog, Diva Style and a continuous follower of @DivaStyleBlog on twitter. You must also leave a comment on this post about
what makes you feel uberglam and how you get all dolled/spiffed up for a night out!
Be sure to include your twitter handle in your comment so that I can identify you.

Entry ends on 12/24...

Good Luck & Happy Holidays!

~

Live Glamourously.

:Beautylicious Mondays:

These are a few of my favorite things...for keeping my skin looking flawless!

...And I gotta be honest--I stay getting carded!...Aaaah the simple joys in life... :-D

~

This first product has been around for a while, but I just

recently started using it, and I must say...I'm VERY impressed!

This cleanser does EVERYTHING it claims. It's one-step indeed, and it leaves your skin absolutely radiant and residue-free with zero traces of makeup if you actually wear m/u. I usually apply moisturizer after using this, but if I decided not to, my skin would still feel really good--not tight or itchy or severely dry, which is AWESIE! Purchase at Sephora.

Next up, two items from MAC....

The Studio Sculpt Concealer...this bad boy works wonders for covering blemishes immaculately. It has a mousse-like semi-whipped texture, and it only takes a little bit. I don't even bother putting on foundation when I wear this, because you simply don't need it. I reiterate--the coverage is fabulous, and when used with...

...the unmatched 109 small contour brush--the holy grail of brushes--BAM!--you'll be feeling yourself so much you'll walk around singing this.

So, there ya go. If you're in the market for a new facial cleanser

or concealer/foundation, I hope this helps you out!

~

Remember to Always...

Live Glamourously.

:Beautylicious Mondays:

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about my friend KeetaRay's blog and her makep artistry. Not only did I receive a makeover, but I also got a chance to do one on her. We had a fun night of makeupping and trading tips! I wanted to give her a look that incorporated brighter colors and really brought out her features more...this is what I came up with...

The Look

Products/tools used:

*Foundation: Black Radiance Color Perfect Oil-Free Liquid Makeup in Rum Spice (or 8413)

*Eye Shadow: MAC Pink Venus on lid; MAC Poste Haste in crease (applied with my Ulta professional tapered crease eyeshadow brush for a little bit of a cat eye); MAC Vanilla as a highlight

*Blush: MAC Breezy (lovely pink for us brown girls!)

*Highlighter: Nars Orgasm Blush (down center/bridge of nose) and MAC Style (my absolute FAVE highlighter right now--also in center of nose and under eyes, as well as applied in center of forehead and chin)

*Lip: Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in No. 48 and Victoria's Secret lipgloss in Honey Do (applied to center of lip and blended out across lips overall)

Close-up/No Flash...see how natural it looks? I LOVE the beautiful glow Style gives!

It is a FANTASTIC highlighter!

Keeta loved the look; what are your thoughts?

:Beautylicious Mondays:

For today's post, I'm doing reviews on two products... MAC's Surf, Baby! Skinsheen Bronzer Stick and Dr. Brandt Flaws No More r3p cream.

MAC recently debuted its Surf, Baby! collection, and though I was underwhelmed by the product offering, I decided to give one of the bronzers a whirl.

Surf, Baby! Skinsheen Bronzer Stick

The bronzer comes in three colors--Gilty Bronze, Tan-Tint and Billionaire Bronze, and it feels pretty good when applied--kind of creamy.  However, if you are going to use the stick directly on your face, use it sparingly--if you don't you might look a little cray cray aka crazy. Streaky makeup is never a good look. Quite frankly, I'm not sure that these bronzers will necessarily work well for some brown/darker skinned ladies. I'm an NC50 in the MAC world, and I purchased the Gilty Bronze. Though I was hoping to use it as a highlighter due to the shimmer factor (though it is bronzer), I soon realized it was too dark for such utilization, and it actually blended into my skin as though it were foundation when I used it. Once I had applied, I checked to see how it looked in various places under different types of light (in my house, at the mall...), and I couldn't really tell any difference between the product and my actual skin. I returned it the next day.  Myself and one of my favorite MAC store associates joked that the Billionaire Bronze could actually double as a foundation stick for us NC50 girls. I've posted a pic of the trio of colors below, but MAC's online colors are often not comparable to the actual colors in person, so if you want to look into this product, it might be best to get yourself to a store. :-) This product is packaged in a twist-up container and retails for $29.50.

from left to right:

Gilty Bronze, Tan-Tint, Billionaire Bronze

Hope this review helps anyone looking to purchase this product!

For my next trick, I'll be reviewing the Dr. Brandt facial moisturizer referenced above.

This cream, rich in peptides and other hydrating nutrients, alleges to diminish deep lines and improve the skin's texture.

A full size of this product is a bit pricey, retailing at $125 for 1.7 oz (I had a sample), but I have to tell you--after one use, I was wowed! I put it on before going to bed Saturday night (ok, ok--Sunday morning, lol) but when I woke up, it was as if the skincare gods had rained down refinement! :-) You know how your face looks all crunchy when you first wake up...because you slept so good/hard OR b/c you did something else so good/hard (teehee)--well, THIS may be your answer to obtaining that non-crunchy look. When I woke up on Sunday and looked in the mirror, it didn't even look like I needed to wash my face. I mean, it looked that good. I was really impressed, for my skin's texture did appear to be improved. One thing to watch out for is that there may be a slight stinging when you apply it. Now, I don't know if I had this problem due to other things I had used on my face prior, (cleansers/exfoliating products and a very mild, non-irritating toner--Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion) but the stinging only lasted for a few seconds. The second time I used, I experienced no stinging or tingling sensation at all. All in all, I liked the product. Oh, and I almost forgot to add--it has a pretty pleasant smell, so that shouldn't be an issue.

If you're willing to spend this much on a product, give it a try--but definitely stop by your local Sephora first to obtain a sample!

:Beautylicious Mondays:

I wanted to do a post about how to properly clean makeup brushes.

I've used a lot of different cleaning agents over the years, including actual brush cleanser, anti-bacterial handsoap, Johnson's baby shampoo...but I think I finally found the perfect cleaning combo!

1. 

Pour a quarter size of antibacterial dishwashing detergent

and about the same amount of olive oil onto a plate...

from what I observed, the olive oil actually helps alleviate smells

from the brushes,which made me oh so ecstatic. *major thumbs up for that!*

This combo also softens brushes and assists in preserving the fibers.

 2.

 Gather your brushes in small groups (depending on how many you have)

and wet the actual brush fibers.

3.

Gently swirl the brushes in the cleansing solution you've prepared.

 4.

Swirl the brush(es) in the palm of your hand

under running water as you press out the dirt.

Repeat this process until you see no further traces of residue.

5.

Press out excess water and dry using your preferred method.

I normally lay mine on their sides on a flat surface,

but this can potentially allow water to seep into the handles--

loosening the brush fibers from the actual handle.

There are a few ways that you can prevent this.

See the following video for one option:

Using brush guards will allow you to place your brushes into a glass, cup or mug

brush side down so that the water does not seep into the handle.

Using these covers will also assist in keeping the

original shape of the brush when in storage.

I hope this helps someone out there who's been

looking for the perfect brush cleaning method!

HAPPY MAKE-UPPING! :-)

:Makeup Mondays:

Mmmkay...so I wanted to do a FOTD (face of the day) for this post (MY 300th btw...YAAAY!!); BUT after uploading the photos, I realized that they weren't the best for actually showcasing my look or the colors I used. WOMP. I clearly need to become more acquainted with the alternative camera settings on my Android. However, I must spread the news! I found the most fabulous beauty accessory EVERRR last week-a lash applicator from Sephora; As everyone's favorite celebrity apprentice, NeNe Leakes would say: 

 BAM! ;-)

The minute I used this to apply my falsies yesterday, I was walking on sunshine! I normally just use a pair of tweezers, but these joints are the bee's knees. The tip of this apparatus makes it extremely easy to meld your two sets of lashes together (your natural set and the fakes). Two words: Utterly seamless.

Don't believe me? Lookie!

Can you see 'em?

Here's a close-up. Clearly, those are totally fake.

Looks like I overdosed on Latisse. ;-)

~

The applicator was $8. I think the lashes ran me about $5.

I give this applicator a perfect 10. ...Will you be picking up one?!

:Makeup Mondays:

As I relayed in this post, I did a lil' shopping this weekend. Retail therapy...it's my thing. *shrugs*

~ ~ ~

Some of the items pictured here (though not pictured is this smangin' tweezer set I purchased at CVS, along with a couple of other items) were included in my cosmetics purchases at a variety of retailers, including the cult favorite, MAC. Others were purchased online at NYX and Milani Cosmetics, after visiting one of my absolute favorite beauty bloggers, Erin over at Scandalous Beauty. I didn't have the opportunity to swatch these yet, but stay tuned--I'll try to get to it soon!

:Makeup Mondays:

This weekend, I was feeling inspired to get very creative with my eye looks and pulled an array of them out of my magician's bag. I call this look 'Envy', and though I have no step by step instructions for it, I have listed the products used, as well as a short summary of placement in creating the look at the bottom of this post.

Please ignore my caterpillar eyebrows.
I'm going to get them threaded today. :-)

*Too Faced Shadow Insurance eye shadow primer

*MAC Fiction eyeshadow (e/s) on browbone/crease

*MAC Humid e/s on lid

*MAC Gorgeous Gold e/s on inner corner of lid

and inner corner of lower lashline

*MAC Spiked eyebrow pencil

*Maybelline Lash Stiletto in Very Black

(This mascara works extremely well when

applied with the utmost care and precision!)

*Cover Girl Point Plus Eyeliner in Onyx

HAPPY MAKE-UPPING!

:Makeup Mondays:

HAPPY MAKEUP MONDAYS, DIVA STYLE READERS!

It's TUTORIAL TIME!! As a freelance makeup artist, I make a lot of trips to the MAC store. As a part of the pro community, I often get on the good side of a lot of the associates, and get the inside scoop on tips and tricks they use. For some time, I had been trying to determine how to depot all of my single shadows for use in palettes. Palettes are just more convenient to use when creating a look, as opposed to digging around searching for individual shadows. They also assist in easily accessing alternative color schemes when beating your face. After trying one suggestion from an associate, one of my shadows was nearly destroyed, so I swore off attempting to depot that way. BUT more recently, after talking to a different associate who happened to be more briefed in these efforts, the code's been CRIZZACKED!

Here's what you will need:

Shadows to depot

A flattening iron

Aluminum foil

Butter knife

Optional materials: Label-maker, Goo Gone

1. To begin, heat up your flattening iron. Use a surface that is heat-resistant and be extremely careful not to burn yourself during this process!

2. Carefully, pop the metal compartment of eye shadow completely out of the plastic MAC pot. At this point, it will still be enshrouded in a smaller piece of plastic. There is a tiny crevice at the front of the pot that will allow you to pop it out with relative ease, circled in the picture below:

3. Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil slightly larger than your MAC container and place underneath it. You can tear off a big enough sheet to double over in size to provide extra protection against the heat, if necessary. The foil is used as a barrier between the plastic shadow pot and the flattening iron, as not to melt the plastic.  Carefully place onto your heated flat iron.

4. Press down with the knife for 20-30 seconds to saturate the bottom of the foil with heat from the iron.

5. Gently lift from iron (BE CAREFUL: IT'S HOT!) and push through the aluminum foil with the butter knife to pop out the shadow tin.

6. (Optional Tip) : 

Once removed, the bottom part of the metal tin will be quite sticky (from the glue that holds it in the plastic pot). I decided to just live with this and placed in my palette anyway, as trying to get the glue off seemed like it would be a big headache and could potentially damage the shadow.

Important note: Leaving the glue will make it more difficult to remove your eye shadow tin from the palette once all of the product is depleted, but I recommend using some Goo Gone to help with the stickiness.

7. Once you depot your shadow, you can place it in the palette like so:

8. (Optional Tip) :

 Use your label-maker to create nametags for the shadows in their order of appearance in your palette, since they will no longer have labels on the bottom once depotted.



The labels are barely visible here, as I used clear ones,
but they definitely help with remembering names
and replenishing shadows once depleted.



End Result:

Lots of empty MAC pots...Can you say makeup for FREE.99!?!?!



Shadows depotted in one sitting

VOILA!!:

Final Product

9. Take to your nearest MAC store and redeem 6 empty containers for a free lipstick, lipglass or eyeshadow!

HAPPY MAKE-UPPING!

:Makeup Mondays:

This is a makeup look I pulled out of my hat over the weekend for my friend Livvie...we were going out and my inspiration was her colorful ensemble: 

The Look:

(All MAC products (including brushes) used except for foundation, eyeliner, mascara & lipliner)

Foundation: A Mary Kay color that matched Liv's skin perfectly applied with a makeup wedge/sponge

Lid: No base (forgot it, shame on me!!), Post Haste shadow applied with the 217 brush

In crease to outer corner of lid: A little bit of Plum Dressing shadow mixed with a lot of Beauty Marked--both applied with brush 223

Highlight: Expensive Pink mixed with Gleam also applied with brush 223

(Sidenote: Used a Q-tip to pack more Post Haste on the lid at the end for layering to ensure the color popped!)

Mascara: Guerlain 'Le 2 de Guerlain' Mascara in Noir (top & bottom lashes)

Eyeliner: Covergirl Perfect Point Plus in Onyx on upper lashline and waterline

Blush: Pinch Me mixed with Peachtwist for a bit of shimmer applied with brush 168SE

Lip Liner: Mary Kay Signature in Dark Chocolate

Lip: Personal Taste Lipgloss topped off with Rags to Riches Dazzleglass

You like?