Dramatic Warm-Toned Smokey Eye Tutorial!!

I finally caved and decided to make a dramatic eye look tutorial!  I don't do crazy makeup like this often, but it's so much fun to do.  And I actually included some false eyelashes.. dun dun dun.  (If you don't wear them and don't have a lot of practice applying them, I swear they're not as daunting as you think!)

With my new Anastasia Lavish Palette and Kat Von D palette, I couldn't resist playing around with a really smokey eye.  This is a pretty "night time" look that I wouldn't necessarily rock for everyday wear.  It looks like it has a ton of steps, but I included THREE different "stopping points," if you will, in this look, so you can keep going to make it as dramatic as you want!

Tutorial after the jump!

Mini Clothing Haul! And SALE Tip!

There aren't many items to post for this haul, but I figured something was better than nothing!  I like to stock up on some spring and summer pieces while I find them on sale -- even if the weather isn't allowing me to wear any of these yet!

No matter how impossible you think it may be, after hours and hours of searching, you can always find quality items on crazy sale.  Most of the online stores I shop from keep their inventory constantly rolling, so more and more pieces are put on sale on an almost daily basis.  NastyGal, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, Romwe, Forever21, and similar sites slash prices when you least expect it, so keep your eyes peeled!

One tip I can suggest to make sure you never miss out on great sales is to.. subscribe to their email lists.  HEAR ME OUT, PEOPLE!  With the new gmail function "folders," you can actually sort all of your mail to automatically divert into a certain folder for storage.  Create a gmail folder called "Clothing" or "Shopping" or something similar, and make sure these emails go directly there.  Then, when you feel like doing some online retail therapy, just open your shopping folder, check out all the emails, and browse away!  And a lot of these sales carry over to brick-and-mortar locations as well, so if you're looking at a place like F21, H&M, TopShop, etc., they usually have the same sales going on in-store.

Anyway, I picked up some cute things from NastyGal and Urban Outfitters, so I thought I'd share them!

1. NastyGal "Chill Out" Dress - White ($28 ON SALE)

I saw this dress on a friend, and just HAD to get it.  It's like the perfect summer dress -- light, airy, and can be dressed up or down.  It can be worn on its own or with a lightweight jacket/cardi/kimono/etc.  What I love most are the small details: the front straps, the criss-cross back, the super-high waistband.  It takes a regular skater/circle dress and turns it into so much more.  I loved it so much that I got it in two colors :D

2. NastyGal "Chill Out" Dress - Black ($28 ON SALE)

This is like the darker, more mysterious cousin of the white version.  I can also see this paired with a straw sunhat and a denim coat for more casual events, or just on its own with a snakeskin clutch and pair of strappy heels for a night out.  It's. So. Perfect.

3.  NastyGal "Sandstorm" Knee-High Socks by TabbiSocks ($9 ON SALE)

I have a strange love for over-the-knee socks.  I wear them in the winter, in the fall, in the summer, in the spring.  I have my standard black and white pairs, plus a sporty pair with the double rings at the top.  But this taupe color was so unique, and definitely falls right within my color palette.  These socks are just begging me to pair them with a circle skirt, high-waisted denim shorts, or a cute romper.  And this color can also transition into any of the other seasons, which just adds to their versatility.

4.  UO Sparkle & Fade V-Neck Cropped Cami - Leopard ($10 ON SALE)

This crop is amazing!  I wear a lot of leopard print -- I always have, and I always will.  Whether this print is "in" our "out" of style at the moment, I still continue to be a tried-and-true leopard print wearer.  I know I'm gonna be matching this with my high-waisted denim shorts and flowy circle skirts hundreds of times this summer.  It's also adorable with black leggings and a plaid button down for when the weather is on the chilly side (think: those cooler, breezy summer nights).  I'm a HUGE fan of mismatching prints: stripes + plaid, leopard print + tartan, vertical stripes + horizontal stripes.. you name it, I've done it -- and I like it.

5.  UO Deter Split Wolf Tiger Tee (SOLD OUT; similar blue tee here)

Ughhhh this t-shirt is everything.  I have a strangely large collection of graphic tee's, and this is an amazing addition.  I can't decide if I want to cut this up and DIY modify it, or leave it as-is and just roll up and sew the sleeves.. but I can't wait to wear it either way.  For some reason I stumbled upon this shirt and couldn't get it off my mind til I bought it (and on sale for $9.99 at that).  It's fun and quirky and great in outfits for hanging out with friends or running some errands.

6. BDG Cheeky High Rise "Dree" Denim Shorts (SOLD OUT; similar here and here)

Let me first start off by saying I actually purchased this pair of shorts for only $5.  I'm not even kidding.  So do I recommend buying the ones I linked as "similar" for more than $50? Absolutely not.  [Wait til they go on sale.  THEY WILL!]  I do a LOT of DIY thrift-store mens-jeans-turned-high-waisted-shorts in the summer -- out of the maybe 7 pairs of jean shorts I own, I made 4 or 5 of them.  For around $5.  [I will get my hands on a pair of thrifted men's jeans soon and do a DIY tutorial for them!]  And when you can find pre-made jorts for $5? Great.  But don't waste your $50+ on a simple pair of denim cut-offs. Just don't.  (And I don't think I need to talk about how useful and versatile these are for spring/summer.  I wear them almost daily!)


All of these warm weather clothes are making me itch for summer.  It's the end of April and people are still wearing winter jackets in Chicago!!  But at least this weather lull gives you the perfect opportunity to stock up on some essential items so you're prepared for those 70/80+ degree days.. when they do decide to show up :]

xojaybee

DIY Backless T-Shirt-to-Tank-Top!

So I recently acquired a ton of my grandma's old clothes, from god only knows when, and a lot of them are so cool on their own that I'm keeping them as-is.  I'm telling you.. people back in the 80's and 90's got it right: batwinged t-shirts, henleys with elastic waistbands, big boxy cropped t's.. you name it!  But I did pick out a few plain ol' t-shirts -- I do a LOT of DIY shirts, and it was a good opportunity to do a few more.  [I will do more DIY tutorials about all of my modified t's in the future!]

The shirt I used in this tutorial is bright red.. aka a color that I don't usually wear in t's.. so I'm still deciding whether or not I want to bleach it (or even bleach splatter it).  But for now, it is what it is!

This DIY seems like a lot of "steps," but I promise you it is NOT complicated at all!

If you want to know the EASY PEASY steps to make this backless t-shirt, a DIY tutorial is after the jump!!

Quick "Lavish Palette" Review

I finally got my Anastasia Beverly Hill's "Lavish" eyeshadow palette!  All I want to do is play around with the three colors I was most excited about: Orange Soda, Rum Cake, and Sienna.  And it's finally here!

The thing that I didn't really ever take into consideration about the cosmetics world until I actually started immersing myself in it is this: makeup (and tools), just like clothing, go in and out of style and/or production.  Just like how you saw someone walking down the street in that amazing skirt, asked her where she got it, and felt a wash of disappointment as she explained it was from "H&M, but like three or four seasons ago," this can also happen in the makeup world.  Who knew!

Sometimes your holy grail mascara stops being produced, or that concealer you've been using since the 10th grade is all of a sudden being discontinued.  Never fear though!  There are always amazing replacements that you'll grow to know and love, and that old product will be a thing memories are made of.

Unfortunately.. this palette has lived that same fate.  It was released in Fall/Winter of 2013, and just re-released for a short time.  But when I checked the Anastasia website to find the hyperlink, I noticed it is already sold out again.  [Insert sad face here.]  You can still see the link here -- this palette re-release was only $24!  For whatever ridiculous reason, it's selling on online retailers for around $80! Don't. Just don't do it.  It's not worth it, and there are too many dupes that won't cause you to spend $80.  Hell.. half the reason I even bought it was because it was only $24!

It comes in a clear, plastic "case" or container.. which really confused the hell out of me at first (hence why one of the little tabs is sticking out on the end).  You take the little satin string thing and actually pull it out of the container.  I really don't like this, and wish it had an actual case or cover to close.. but hey.. it was $24 for 10 shades.

So I'm obviously a HUGE believer in Anastasia products.  I use 3 different kinds on my brows each and every morning alone.  But I have never ventured into their eyeshadows or any other cosmetics but brows.  I have heard and seen so many good things about this palette -- plus I'm obsessed with Orange Soda, Rum Cake, and Sienna -- so I figured this was a good first product to buy.

Dry application, no primer

Application over UD Primer Potion 

To be completely honest,  I wasn't blown away by a few of the colors in this palette.  Cream, Ballet, and Antique are surprisingly sheer and not very pigmented.  Orange Soda, Rum Cake, and Sienna lived up to their expectations.  Gorgeous.  They're the perfect shades for any coppery eye look, as well as warm-toned smokey eyes of every level of intensity.  I know I will rarely, if ever, use Moss.  Pink Sapphire was gorgeous but not a color family that I use often (uhh.. pink? me? have we met before?).  It almost reads as a chocolatey violet when on the skin, so we'll see how I can incorporate it.  Truffle is a pretty brown with some flecks of small glitter, but it was another shadow that was surprisingly sheer and unpigmented -- I'm somewhat disappointed!  And Black Diamond is beautiful -- a very, very dark and kohl-y black with a subtle amount of gold glitter.

I swatched Rum Cake and Sienna on their own with a shader brush and then buffed with a blending brush, just so you can see how dynamic these colors are.  I'm obsessed!

I would love to tell you all I recommend this palette for only $24(!) and tell you to go buy it, but please, for everyone's sake, don't spend more than $30 on it if you find it!  For as many sheer-ish shades there are here, it's just not worth it.

But.. I do love it, if you have it, or have access to it!  Tutorial using this palette will definitely be made :]

xojaybee

New Tattoo! [#13]

Okay ya'll.  Lemme just tell ya.  Tattoos are as addicting as everyone warns you about.  It's not a myth! It's not a joke!

Regardless. Just wanted to do a quick update about my latest tattoo!  I got it yesterday and I'm in love with it.  "CCCXVI" is "316," which is the number to my childhood home.  It's small but it's super meaningful.  And those can end up being some of the best kinds of tattoos.

The tattoo artist and I had a pretty great discussion about tattoos and the professional world.  He said that times are changing, and soon enough it'll actually be acceptable to have visible tattoos somewhere like a law firm.  "There is always going to be a group who wants things to stay the same, and a group who wants to change them.  But I think you'll be okay, you'll be just fine. Time'll tell."

I hope this ends up being true!

xojaybee

BIG Beauty Haul!

The stars must have aligned just right today, because I have three different store's worth of products for one haul! My Sephora and Nasty Gal purchases arrived at my doorstep, and I brought home some goodies from Ulta -- unintentionally all at the same time.  Let's just dive right in!


1.  Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in "Saint" ($36)

How gorgeous is this packaging? I have one of Kat's original eyeshadow palettes from years ago (I'm talking maybe 5 or 6 years ago, when her line first came out).  It's in a cheaper package, and the shadow quality is a little less superior than this one.  I am in love with how new-and-improved and beautiful her new products look.

I. Am. Obsessed.  This palette is a warm-tone-lover's dream.  I couldn't have asked for anything more -- except maybe one more matte shade(!), but I'm not being picky.  It even comes with an amazingly pigmented and creamy eyeliner pencil!  The shadow colors from left to right: "Heavens" (pearlized vanilla), "Enjoy the Silence" (pearlized butter-cream), "<3" (soft pink with sparkle), "Downtown (pearlized champagne), "Sunny" (pearlized gold), "Pray For Me" (pearlized taupe), "Bookworm" (pearlized brown), "Caravaggio" (dark matte brown), and finally the Mini Puro Amor Black Autograph Pencil Eyeliner.  ALL THIS FOR $36.

 

This is the application of the shadows without any eyeshadow primer on the skin.  Some of the shades are still pretty pigmented!  The lighter the colors go, the less opaque and more sheer they become.  And that liner!  It glides on the skin like a dream -- and it's SO black. (I even had a hard time getting the pigment off my skin using a wet makeup remover wipe!)

Here are the swatches over an eyeshadow primer.  Like.. seriously?  This is all I've ever wanted in a palette.  I know I'm going to be using this almost daily, and will definitely be creating a new makeup look for a tutorial soon.  In love.

2.  Sephora Collection Universal Lip Liner ($10)

For only $10 a pop, I think this is a pretty good deal.. it even rivals some drugstore brand prices.  I have been in the market for a clear, universal lip liner for a while, and I finally decided to go with the Sephora brand.  I couldn't really "swatch" a clear lip liner, but I can tell you that it glides on the lips with ease and doesn't leave them feeling too dried out -- which a lot of lip liners can do.  I not only apply my liner to the outer edges of my lips, but I also fill them in completely when I'm using a very pigmented lipstick shade. After a trial run, I can say that this definitely does its job!  There was virtually no feathering, and the lipstick stayed on my lips even after some snack eating.  (Pictures below.)

3. NYX Butter Lipstick in "Big Cherry" ($6)

So pretty!  I've become a huge fan of NYX products.  You honestly cannot beat the price for what you're getting.  Yes, of course the one downside to NYX that I've found is its lasting ability -- the products generally don't stay put as long as I would like them to.  But the cost of re-application is minimal because of how inexpensive they are to begin with!  This lipstick is surprisingly pigmented and very opaque with only two coats.  I wasn't sure what to expect with such a bright, bold color from a NYX Butter Lipstick, but I am very, very pleasantly surprised!

Me being an idiot #1

Me being an idiot #2 

And this is actually what it looks like :]

As always, it is a creamy and easy to apply formula.  The pigmentation is ridiculous for a $6 lipstick!  Yes, the lasting power may not be as great as some $20-30 lipsticks, but this is so cheap and so good.  And when used on top of a lipliner, you can't go wrong!

4.  E.L.F. Studio Makeup Remover Pen ($2.80 on sale)

This is seriously one of the coolest things I've purchased in a while!  It's basically just a felt tipped pen, almost like a clear sharpie, that is filled with liquid makeup remover.  All you do is "draw" on and "erase" any makeup that may have smudged while you're applying it.  You can even clean up winged eyeliner for a perfect finish.  So. Cool.

5. & 6.  NYX Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wands in "Tan" and "Fair" ($5 each)

I was pretty hesitant about buying $5 concealer -- it's a product that can go horribly wrong if not used properly and/or is a cheap formula.  For comparison's sake, the concealer I use (when needed) is Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer ($20), and it's probably the best concealer I have ever used.  So I was a little skeptical about this. But I've heard a lot of great things, so I decided to give it a shot.  And it's great!  The formula is very creamy and slick, and easy to blend in.  The only downside is that it isn't full full coverage -- I would say it is about a medium coverage.  And be sure to really blend this into your skin, because if you leave too thick of a layer it looks like it's going to settle into fine lines.  But overall I really like them, and I'm going to use this for a while to test it out.  [To get a flawless finish like in the last photo, I buffed out the product my fingers and then dabbed it out with a damp makeup sponge! See the below review for this sponge!]

[I bought two different colors for a few reasons.  One, the light color will be used for underneath my eyes as well as highlighting.  Two, the darker color can be used as a base underneath my powder contour bronzer to create added depth and pigment.  Three, the darker color is what I'll be using for general spot concealing around my face when needed.  And four, the two colors combined can sort of create a plethora of different shades, depending on how tan I am (if it's the summer versus the winter)!]

7.  NYX Blotting Powder in "Medium/Dark" ($12)

I swatched this so you could see how well it blends in

Another NYX product!  I already have an amazing loose translucent powder from Estee Lauder that I use when I need to set my face, but I couldn't pass this up -- it's called BLOTTING powder for pete's sake.  I have naturally oily skin in my T-zone, and this will be a perfect setting powder and touch-up powder for the coming hot, summer days.  I tend to get even oiler when I'm warm, especially because I have a condition called hyperhidrosis, which causes my scalp and facial sweat glands to profusely overproduce.  This leaves me pretty gross-feeling when it's hot outside.  But this powder -- which seems to do what it's meant to do so far -- will definitely help me out and leave my skin looking fresh all day!

8.  Real Techniques Powder Brush ($10)

Oh my god.  This brush!!  It is so big and fluffy and soft and velvety and big!  I wish you could see and feel it in person.  It's amazing.  And only $10?!  Done.  I'm going to use it for face powder and blush and setting powder and mineral powder and bronzer and anything I can fluff all over my face.  I used this brush to "swatch" the NYX blotting powder and the finish it leaves is so flawless and HD-like.  Buy this.

9.  Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($6)

$6.  That's right.  Six dollars.  Take that, beauty blender.  Now don't get me wrong -- the beauty blender is an awesome product!  But that's just my point.  When some unique and wonderful beauty product is developed and becomes a favorite in the market, it's only a matter of time until the world starts creating dupes.  And ladies (and gentleman), that time has come.  There are SO many dupes for the beauty blender out there right now.. this is just one of them.  And I love it!  ($6 compared to the $20+ for the original beauty blender is just unbeatable.)  There are 3 different sides to use with the Real Technique's sponge, and SO MANY FRICKEN USES.  This video, made by the creators of the sponge, does an excellent job at describing and visualizing how to use it.  Check it out!  This sponge is soft and springy and smooth, and can be used damp (which makes it bigger and softer) or "dry" (and it's still pretty squishy then too!).

10, 11, 12.  Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, Hair Cream, and Conditioner ($6 each) 

The first thing I have to say about these products is OMG THE SMELL.  It's the most wonderful, coconutty, beachy, oceany smell ever.  So fantastic.  And it actually lasts in your hair!  I am going to do a tutorial with these products in the near future, so I won't go into too much detail here, but I will say that these are the best inexpensive styling products I've used in a long, long time.  They honestly feel and work like much pricier versions -- think Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray ($26) or Undressing Cream ($29).  I have both of those B&B products, and I think these NYM products are giving them a good run for their money.  Plus I seriously cannot get over how amazing they smell.  They give a matte, piece-y, wavy look to the hair, without making your hair feel like dry hay.  [But I would still recommend using a leave-in conditioner after using this, just so you don't damage your hair because of the spray's salt content!]

Well.  That was a lot.  More than a lot.  Too much, even.  I feel overwhelmed.  I can't imagine how you must feel.  Just go, conquer, and buy & try these products!  I recommend them all.  Any questions, just shoot :]

xojaybee