Glamour Doll Eyes Halloween 2012 Sets and Swatches!

Hey Everyone!!!!

   I have quite the exciting post for you today! I have been looking forward to this for a while since Halloween is my FAVORITE time of year and Glamour Doll Eyes is one of my absolute favorite makeup companies, I was super excited when I saw that Vee posted on the GDE Facebook Page if any bloggers would be interested in purchasing the 2012 Halloween Sets a little early to blog about them! So of course, I jumped on the opportunity to purchase them so I could have them all swatched for you by the time the sets come out!

Fist off, how cute is this packaging that the sets come with?! I absolutely LOVE the stickers too!

 Here is what the Halloween jar top stickers look like!

And now for the swatches! Underneath each swatch photo I will follow with my description of the shadows :)

Each shadow was swatched over GDE Control Freak Primer.

Each of the photos are taken in artificial light with no flash.

Halloween Set 1:

From Left to Right: Frankie's Girl, Permanent Address, Gruesome, & Corpselike

Frankie's Girl is the perfect "pea soup" green color for Halloween; this shadow is a matte finish.
Permanent Address is a deep taupe color with baby blue and purple shimmer throughout.

Gruesome is a bright, vibrant pink, similar to Phyrra but without the strong purple undertone.
Corpselike is the perfect highlight shade, it has a slight golden hue to it.

Halloween Set 2:

From Left to Right: Bat Wings, Vampire Wedding, Macabre, & Apparition (Eye Light)

Macabre is much prettier than I anticipated, it is a mustard-like yellow with very slight shimmer over a matte finish.
Apparition is an absolutely gorgeous eye light (glitter) with purple, yellow, and green glitter.

Bat Wings is a beautiful black with deep blue, purple, and green shimmer throughout.
Vampire Wedding is a deepened brick red color with slight red and gold shimmer throughout.

A darker picture of Bat Wings to show how truly black this shadow is and the shimmer throughout!

Apparition close up

I really cannot choose which Halloween set is my favorite because they both have colors in them that I absolutely am in love with! For Set 1, my favorites are Frankie's Girl and Corpselike and for Set 2, my favorites are Apparition (It's one of the pretties glitters I have ever seen!), Macabre, and Vampire Wedding!

Both of the sets will be available October 1st, 2012!

Are you planning to purchase either (or both) of the sets?! Which shadows are your favorites?

- Alicia

***Disclaimer*** All products shown in this post were purchased by myself and all opinions are my own.

10% Off Your Entire Sigma Purchase!

Hey Everyone!!

   Sigma has another discount code for the month of October! If you use the code DEAL 2012 as you are checking out after making your purchase from Sigma, you can get 10% off of your entire purchase!

-Alicia

Nylon Lip Tar Swatches

Hey Everyone!!!

  Apparently today I am on a roll with blog posts haha! I wanted to get this one up since the product I will be showing you is a limited edition one and I am a little late on the band wagon for this one haha!

The product that I will be showing you is Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' Lip Tar in Nylon!
It took me a little bit to order it because I wasn't sure how much I would like it but after watching Leesha's video comparing Nylon and MAC's Candy Yum Yum lipstick, I just had to try it out!

Nylon is a very bright, vibrant neon/bubblegum pink and it is very in your face! Nylon has more of a satin finish than some of the other Lip Tars that I own, which are mostly Matte and I actually like this finish better, it doesn't feel as drying on the lips!

Photos were taken in artificial light with no flash

Bare lip photo for comparison

I really do like this lip tar and it is a very fun and bold color!

Nylon can be found exclusively at Sephora online; remember, it is a limited edition item so snatch it up while you can!

Have any of you tried Nylon out yet? How do you like it?

- Alicia

Review: Sedona Lace Vortex Professional Brush Kit

Hey Everyone!!

   I hope you are all enjoying your week so far and if it's Fall where you are, the cool crisp Fall weather that is making its way in!

I have a long awaited review for you today, the Sedona Lace Vortex Professional Brush Kit. I received these brushes as a Christmas gift last year and I have been using them every day since, so I figured I would do a review on them since they are pretty much my favorite brushes that I own!

The Sedona Lace Vortex Brush Kit contains 13 brushes as well as a brush belt that is included with the purchase. There is an option for a brush belt that zips, which I will include the link here. I will list the descriptions of each brush from the Sedona Lace website and state what I like using these brushes for as well.

Brushes:

Jumbo Fan - FB 01
Face Brush
Everyone needs a fan brush in their life. This multi-purpose brush is large and luxurious and can be used with a number of powder products. Use it with loose powder and pack it under your eyes to catch fall out. It’s also great for setting your foundation with powder. Use it on an angle to get a nice, even distribution of blush, bronzer or highlight. The large shape also makes it great for applying body shimmer. High grade goat hair.

I really enjoy using this brush for making a defined contour. It fits perfectly beneath my cheek bones and blends the color beautifully.

Tulip Contour - FB 03
Face Brush
The tulip cut makes this a great contour brush.  Use it on its tip and it fits perfectly into the hollow of the cheeks for contouring or onto the tops of the cheekbones for highlighting.  From the pointed tip, the bristles taper off to help with blending.  In a pinch, this brush also works great for applying bronzer, blush or setting powder. Top quality goat hair. 

This brush is my favorite for applying a less defined bronze over the face and contour. It blends beautifully and really gets into the more defined areas of the face due to the tulip shape.

Dome Contour - FB 05
Face Brush
For some serious contouring, this compact, dome shaped brush comes in handy.  The bristles are tightly packed giving the density needed to really buff in contour powder into the cheek bones, temples, and jaw line.  You can also use this brush for liquid or cream foundation as the dense bristles help to blend out the product and apply it with maximum coverage. High grade goat hair.

This is my absolute favorite highlighing brush. I definitely want to pick up another one to use as a contour brush as well!


Flat Top Buffer - FB 07
Face Brush
A flat top buffer brush is everyone’s best friend when it comes to foundation.  The compact, flat top helps buff in powder, liquid, or cream foundation for an airbrushed finish.  No need to worry about liquid or cream foundation staining these brown, synthetic bristles.  You can also use this brush on its side to get a precise, contoured edge on the cheekbones. Synthetic hair.

I use this brush to apply my powder foundations as well as to apply my setting powders. I find that it really packs on powder but blends it beautifully so that it doesn't look caked on the face.

Universal Blender - EB 09
Eye brush
This is the universal blender because it can do everything.  Use the brush flat on its side to pack on eyeshadow, and use it on its tip to apply crease and contour color.  This is also an amazing brush for applying all over lid color in a snap. Top quality goat hair. 

As with the other blending brushes that I own that are similar to this one such as the MAC 217, I really enjoy using this brush for crease work. You can never have too many blending brushes like this one!

Flat Synthetic - EB 11
Eye brush
Synthetic brushes are ideal for cream and liquid products as they prevent soaking up of excess makeup.  The large head of this brush makes it perfect for applying creamy eyeshadow base or concealer in seconds.  The dense, smooth bristles also make it ideal for packing on shadow – both cream and powder. Synthetic hair.  

This is my favorite brush for applying pigments wet as well as applying glitters. This brush is dense enough to concentrate color and also to apply a more sheer application of color as well. 

Synthetic Blender - EB 13
Eye Brush
This brush is not only great for eyeshadow but concealer as well.  Makeup artists have been using crease brushes for years to help blend out creamy product like concealer or eyeshadow base.  This brush was formulated with synthetic bristles to apply the perfect amount of product.  The bristles are also nice and dense to for easily blending out darker crease colors. Synthetic hair. 

As you all know I use this brush in almost every single tutorial that I do. This brush is AMAZING for blending and if you are new to blending I would highly recommend this brush because it really does all of the work for you.

Pointed Crease - EB 15
Eye Brush
The best thing about this crease brush is that it comes to a nice point at the top.  This is perfect for even the smallest eye spaces. High grade goat hair.      

I like to use this brush for outer V crease work and to blend out that area of the eye for a sultry effect on the eyes.

Brow Spoolie Duo - EB 17
Eye Brush
The key to better brows is having the right tool set.  This duo is perfect for applying brow color effortlessly and then blending it out to look completely natural.  The angled brow side has more stiff, textures bristles so that you can really get it there with your brow color.  After that, use the spoolie side to blend out harsh lines and create consistent, even color. Synthetic hair.  

I like to use the spoolie to brush out my brows every day and I also use the angle brush on occasion to fill in the thicker portion of my brows if I want a more dramatic brow


Bent Liner - EB 19
Eye Brush
If you have problems applying liner, this bent brush will solve all your problems.  The ferrule is conveniently angled so that you can apply gel or liquid liner without having your view obstructed by the brush head.  The tip of the brush was created to be dense and pointed to give you a clean line. Synthetic hair.

I personally don't use this brush that much because I find it harder to apply liner with bent liner brushes, but if you are good at using these brushes, it really is a good quality brush.

Detailed Shader - EB 21
Eye Brush
For advanced eyeshadow application, a small shader brush is essential.  Use it to fit into all the nooks and crannies of even the smallest eyes.  This is great for getting into the tear ducts with a highlight color or even onto the lash line for smudging out color. Pony hair. 

This little brush is great for applying an inner corner highlight as well as an under the brow highlight if you just want a little hint of shimmer underneath the brow.

Angled Detail - EB 23
Eye Brush
This angled brush was created specifically to have extremely thin bristles and a deep, diagonal cut. You’ll never have a problem with applying the perfect winged liner with this brush. Synthetic hair.  

This angle brush is amazing for applying brow color, it really concentrates the color and also creates crisp lines.

Capped Lip Brush - LB 25
A lip brush is essential to get a clean lip line.  This style was formatted with a cap to keep your brush sanitary when not in use.  Snap it onto the end of the brush while using it and you have a full sized lip brush that’s easy to handle. Synthetic hair.  

This is a great lip brush and I really enjoy using it as it creates crisp lines and really defines the lips.

Overall I really like this brush kit and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a new set of brushes! They are reasonably priced at $89.95 and this includes free shipping as the order is over $50.00. 

I hope you all found this review to be helpful! 

Have you tried out Sedona Lace brushes? Which are your favorites?  

-Alicia 

Makeup Monday Disney Villains Look!

Hey Everyone!!!!

    I come to you today with a look inspired by a Disney villain! Jacqueline from A Brilliant Brunette does what she calls Makeup Monday, which occurs once a month and this is where her readers can come up with a look and send it in to her to be featured on her blog! I have never done her Makeup Mondays before so I decided that I needed to start because it's a great opportunity to practice unique makeup and come up with looks based off of topics she chooses!

The Disney villain that I was inspired by was Scar from The Lion King. Since he is so unique in the movie I thought that it would be cool to try and come up with a look that really represented him. I love the scar that he has over his eye so I really wanted that to be a huge focus of the look.

I really hope that you all enjoy this post and you should all try out Jacqueline's Makeup Monday!!!

Face:
Revlon ColorStay Foundation in 150 Buff Chamois
MAC MSF in Light Medium
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer
MAC Buff & Blush Baby Blushers

Eyes:
TFSI
Inglot Shadows: #326 (M), AMC #63, #361 (M), #366 (M), DS #477, #384 (M)
MAC Shadows: Handwritten, Cork, Mystery, Passionate
Sugarpill Goldilux
Ardell 103 Lashes
Maybelline Mega Plush Lash Volum' Express Mascara in Blackest Black
Milani Liquif' Eye Liner Pencil in Black

Brows:
MAC Brun, Mystery
Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown

Lips:
OCC Lip Tars in Strumpet & Demure


- Alicia

NOTD: Fall Leaves!

Hey Everyone!!
  
   Clearly I am really into Fall this year (which isn't normally the case!) but I am having so much fun with Fall colors and creating tutorials and nail designs! Today I came up with this nail design inspired by Taime (aka BeautyByTaime) from YouTube. She had nails similar to this in her most recent Fall tutorial and I fell in love and had to create something like it!

 I used the sponge method similar to what others use for the galaxy nail designs.

China Glaze Agro, OPI Warm & Fozzie, OPI (no name on the bottle, sorry guys :( ), ORLY Glitz & Glamour, Seche Vite Top Coat

What are your favorite color combinations for the Fall?


-Alicia

Candied Sparkler Makeup Tutorial

Hey Everyone!!!!

    I am finally uploading a new tutorial for you all! School has been so crazy and we started our clinical assignments this weekend so I just couldn't find any time what so ever to upload, but luckily I have 3 days off this week and I plan to bust my butt to get some goodies out for you guys! I had originally made a tutorial for this look but I wasn't a huge fan of how it came out so I redid it and I am so happy I did! This look is really fun yet subtle at the same time! I really hope that you all enjoy it!

Face:
Revlon ColorStay Foundation in 180 Sand Beige
MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in N5
MAC Supercontinental Blush
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

Eyes:
TFSI
Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy
Glamour Doll Eyes Shadows: Sparkler, Obsecure
Fyrinnae Damn Paladins
MAC Carbon & Brule
Inglot #77 Gel Liner
Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara in Blackest Black
Ardell Demi Wispies

Brows:
MAC Brun & Mystery
Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown

Lips:
MAC Lipstick in  Fleshpot
Inglot Sleeks Cream #101

Smoked Leaves Makeup Tutorial

Hey Everyone!

  So now that we are finally getting into Fall here in the US I wanted to do a Fall inspired look! I also wanted to recreate a look that I did a year ago and make it more smoked out and use different pigments!  This is the look that I came up with and I hope that you all enjoy it!

Face:
Revlon ColorStay Foundation in 240 Medium Beige
MAC NC35 Studio Fix Powder
MAC Blushes in Buff & Mocha
theBalm Mary - Lou Manizer
Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Eyes:
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Glamour Doll Eyes Foil Me
Glamour Doll Eyes Shadows: Dazzle Me, Crystal, Chocoholic, & Urban Trash
Elf Liquid Liner in Black
Milani Liquif' Eye Liner Pencil in Black
Maybelline Falsies Volum' Express and Loreal Collagen Mascaras in Black

Lips:
Rimmel Obsession Lip Liner
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rose Velvet

Brows:
MAC Mystery & Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown