Vampy Lipstick, Day to Night

I can't get enough of deep red and berry lipsticks this Autumn, and it is definitely the perfect season for it. Though I am not too shy to rock a vampy shade during the day, even I have to admit that it can sometimes be a bit overpowering. Taking a vampy lipstick from day to night is easy, and makes me feel like I am doubling my makeup collection by creating different looks with just one product.You can do this with most any red, dark wine, plum, or berry lipstick of your choice. Here, I am using MAC Musky Amethyst (Semi-Precious collection), but I also love to do this with Revlon Black Cherry. DayA dark, vampy shade can easily be transformed...

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Posted in MAC , Tutorial

Zoya Marina- The only blue I've ever loved...

I don't do blues. Though it looks fine on other people, I am actually really anti-blue for myself.No matter how I work it, I look like a playboy bunny (and not in a good way) when I wear blue eyeshadows. I can't think of a single blue article of clothing in my closet.I own 2 other blue nail polishes, both of which have only been touched once. No matter the shade, it just simply isn't a color I gravitate towards. But I am about to eat my words. Zoya Marina, a shade recently released in the Mirrors Colelction, is the only blue I have ever loved. Just look at this shade! How could I not love this metallic, steely blue? Recently...

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Posted in Nail Polish , Zoya

NYX Circe (MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 dupe?)

Shortly after New Years, MAC will be discontinuing my first ever purchase from the brand and one of my favorite lipsticks of all time, Viva Glam Gaga 2. As of now, you can still buy MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 on the MAC website, and it is also available in a holiday gift set called Viva Glam Melt Your Heart Lip Bag, which also includes the pink Viva Glam Gaga 1 shade. Instead of stockpiling multiple backups and breaking the bank in the process, I went on the hunt for a more affordable comparable shade and stumbled upon NYX Circe. Is it dupe worthy? NYX Circe vs MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2Price NYX- I bought this off of Cherry Culture during a sale and spent...

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Posted in Dupe , MAC , NYX

Bare Faced Beauty: Flaunting my Makeup-Free Face and Thoughts on Cosmetics

Today, Franca of Oranges & Apples is hosting the Friend Friday Roundup on the theme of no makeup. See her post and links for all the other contributors here. Never shy to sport a statement lip or dramatic eye, this blog has served in part to archive and share my makeup adventures. However, the look that makes me most hesitant is actually the most natural one. No, not the 'it took me 15 products to look natural' kind, but a clean, makeup-free face. So here it is, my boldest look yet in all of it's naked glory:As beauty bloggers, many of us appreciate cosmetics in ways that the average person would find ludicrous. We lust over limited edition...

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Posted in Beautiful Brains , Beauty Industry , Blog Love , Body Image , Feminism

Fierce Femme FOTD: Really Red

One of my favorite bloggers, Mandy over at Prettymaking, posted a review today on one of my recent monthly favorites (see here) and top lipsticks ever, Revlon SuperLustrous Really Red. There is a lot to love here- it is really matte, really red, really long on wear time...generally really phenomenal. This is one of the only statement lip colors I feel confident rockin' for a full day because I know it can go a really long while without a touch up. Mandy reminded me that I had a FOTD featuring this gem in queue from when I wore it out bowling last week- check it out! FaceMaybelline SuperStay Makeup in Natural BeigeHard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy...

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day

October Sayonara Products

This month I finished up a whopping fifteen products; more impressive than that,eleven are cosmetic items! I have mentioned in other posts that I have really buckled down on makeup spending, buying only the products that I need, have thoroughly research, and/or have been really craving for a long time. As such, I am hauling less and focusing on and using up what I already have more! Here are the products that I said goodbye to this past month:Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Medium LightAs far as drugstore concealers go, this is one of the best that I have found. It is really creamy, has nice coverage, and lasts all day when set with powder. It...

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Posted in Almay , Bath and Body Works , Cover Girl , EOS , Estee Lauder , Lorac , NARS , philosophy , Physicians Formula , Revlon , Sayonara Products , Skin Care , Urban Decay

October Favorites (no flunkies!)

 Please excuse my tardiness in posting this month's favorites a few days late. I have been insanely busy this month (such is the life of a grad student), and thus my makeup routine has really simplified. My main concerns have been concealing dark under eye circles and adding some color to my cheeks to mask just how sleep deprived and crazy I feel. These past few weeks I have forgone eyeshadow almost completely, but have discovered that the trick to fooling people that your look is really put together is a quick swipe of red or berry lipstick! No flunkies to report this month, because I have really buckled down on spending.Yes to Tomatoes...

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Posted in Favorites and Flunkies , Maybelline , NYX , Revlon , Urban Decay , Wet n Wild , Yes to Tomatoes , Zoya

Fierce Femme FOTD & OOTD: Someone Like You (Adele inspired)

One of my favorite songs this season has been Adele's "Someone Like You." Not only is Adele a vocal powerhouse, but she is also absolutely, breath-takingly gorgeous. Additionally, I love seeing thick girls in the spot light, flaunting their talent and curves. This FOTD isn't a copy-cat look, but it is definitely heavily inspired by Adele's signature winged liner, white accents, and nude lips. FaceRevlon ColorStay Foundation in Medium Beige (probably mixed with some illuminizer or lighter coverage foundation- I don't recall, sorry!)Maybelline Dream Matte PowderHard Candy Glamoflauge in LightCheeksNYX Cream Blush in Boho ChicLORAC Spotlight...

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Posted in Adele , Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Fierce Femme Outfit of the Day , Power Femmes

Galaxy Nails

After seeing several gorgeous galaxy nail design floating around on nail art blogs, I had to try to recreate it for myself. Here is my first attempt- I think it is pretty, but nowhere near as mesmerizing or multidimensional as some others I have seen.Polishes used:Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Black DiamondZoya DoveZoya CreamyWet n Wild BlazedMilani 3D Holographic High ResSally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Strobe LightSally Hansen Hard as Nails in White TipHere is the tutorial, by youtuber CUTEPOLISH, I followed to create this desi...

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Posted in Nail Art , Nail Polish

Trick or Treat! My Biker Zombie Costume

Happy Halloween, my creepy ghouls!I am totally obsessed with Halloween, and Alex and I had a fantastic time coming up with our costumes this year. We are attending this year's Halloween festivities as biker zombies! Our back story is that we were on a ride and got into a crash. While at the hospital, the town was taken over by zombies. When the hospital was infiltrated by zombies, we failed to escape and we now walk the night and feast on brains!I did our makeup to look freshly dead, sallow, banged up, and hungry for human flesh. Here are a few shots of our costumes! Happy Halloween! What are you dressing up ...

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Fierce Femme Outfit of the Day

Zombies, Vampires, and Sluts-oh my! Some Thoughts on Sexy Halloween Costumes

All Hallows Eve is the one night of the year that the spirits of the dead can walk the earth, and women can wear lingerie in public without ridicule. Remember the film Mean Girls? New kid Cady arrives at a party in her frightening bride costume, only to discover that the other girls were using Halloween as an opportunity to wear as little as possible: The film humorously highlights a trend that I am sure most all of us are familiar with. But what is going on here? Why do women put on fishnets and bunny ears and call it a costume? What is going on in our culture that encourages this? Is it "slutty"; is it liberating? In this post, I would like to sketch out the debate and offer my own thoughts on the phenomena of women's hypersexualization via Halloween costuming. My friend Grace,...

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Posted in Beautiful Brains , Feminism

Sephora Friends & Family Sale Haul

Here are the items I picked up during the recent Sephora Friends & Family Sale. I resisted the urge to splurge, hauling only three "must have" products and one that I have been lusting after for a few months.The "must have" products are: Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted MoisturizerI adore Tarte's Amazonian Clay products, and read a bit of hype on this product, which is supposedly more like a light to medium coverage foundation than a tinted moisturizer. My oily prone skin has actually been, dare I say, more normal and balanced lately, and I have looking to branch out from matte finish, full-coverage foundations to let my well-behaving...

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Posted in Haul , Illamasqua , NARS , Sephora , Tarte , Urban Decay

Frankenstein Nails ft. Zoya Yara

Happy All Hallow's Eve weekend! To get into the holiday spirit, I recreated this Frankenstein design that I have seen floating around on some blogs lately. Despite the fact that my cuticles are a mess, I totally adore this mani. I used two coats of Zoya's Yara, a phenomenal olive green with gold shimmer, and a Kiss nail art polish for the desi...

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Posted in Nail Art , Nail Polish , Zoya

Breast Cancer Awareness Month- FOTD & Self-Exams

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and bloggers have been doing their part by posting information and inspired FOTDs. For me, the standout post has been Jessica's from Getting Cheeky- not only was her FOTD simple and elegant, but she also reminded me of the importance of performing monthly breast self-exams. As Jessica argues, we spend countless hours a month applying cosmetics, yet often forget to take 15 minutes or so a month to focus on our health. It occurred to me, though, that I didn't even know how to properly perform a monthly breast exam. After a bit of research, I discovered  some helpful information. Although the Susan...

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Health